What doesn't kill you...

Posted on 27 Oct 2013 @ 6:57pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Taryn Galepsie & Commander Luke Wyatt
Edited on on 27 Oct 2013 @ 7:04pm

2,105 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Holodeck (firing range)
Timeline: MD 03 1200

ON:

Taryn was wondering around the Galileo. She didn't really have a true propose for what she was doing but she was antsy and sitting in her quarters with the catty women she lived with didn't sound like fun. It wasn't long until she found herself at the ship shooting range.

Taryn wasn't at much of a shot. She could operate a phaser in a pinch if she needed too, but she wasn't good with them. She was better with blades. She saw that someone was already utilizing the place.Despite her dead arm she was determined to work to improve her skill. "Hi" She announced simply as she moved into the area next to him.

Luke had decided he would get some range hours while they were being towed by the Borg and since being a Marine liaison meant sitting on is ass all day drawing pictures of atomic bombs and war planes for the invasion of Earth.

He was just about ready to call it a day when someone else walked into the range. "Hey" He replied putting his weapon to his side and taking of his protective glasses to get a better view of the woman.

"Petty Officer Galespie." She started with a grin. She grabbed a phase pistol and set it on the counter next to her station. Her bad arm was still in the sling and she was beginning to wish she could just remove it in the mean time. She extended her still good hand to the Marine standing not far from her. "Hope I am not bothering you." She was still in her uniform despite the fact that she wasn't officially apart of the crew yet.

Luke shook her hand noticing the other was in a sling "Not at all, How'd ya manage that" He pointed with his free hand to her obviously non-free arm. He was sure he had seen her face before but wasn't one-hundred percent sure.

"Tried to get it ripped off by a Borg drone." Taryn replied with a laugh causing her curls to bounce slightly around her face. "I killed the bastard so at least I took revenge." She slid off the sling and shrugged off her service jacket as best she could with her arm. Once it was off she replaced the sling and turned back toward her company. "Are you good with pistols?"

Luke frowned "Pleeeease! I'm good with any weapons Love I'm a Marine" He joked, "Need any help or tips... I'm your Man, Im fare better than those security types" He gave a cheeky wink.

Taryn let out a light laugh. "I may have to take you up on that." She started. "Hand to hand...bladed weapons...close quarter...that I can do." She started as she plucked up the safety glasses. "That I am actually really good at...Marksmanship...not so much."

"Then we have something that both of us can help the other with, I'm mostly useless in meele" He admitted glumly. "Hey Lets make a deal, I help you with shooting you help me with close quarter?" He offered frowning somewhat.

"What is with the frown?" Taryn started with a smile. "I like that idea....It sounds like a very fair trade." She turned back towards the range and let off few shots. She wasn't off by much, but it was by enough to make it obvious that she wasn't as good as she could be. "Unless you have already changed your mind."

"I don't like to admit I am bad at anything, sort of a Pride thing" He admitted smiling as quickly as he could "But every day is a learning day so I don't mind admitting it once in a while"

"Good, I was hoping you wouldn't have already changed your mind." Taryn let out a frustrated huff. "I know my arm throws things off, but damn." She shook her head. "So you wanna start this barter relationship now?"

"Sure, first things first your stance is completely wrong!" He stood behind her straitening her arm and using his legs to move hers making sure he was easy so that he didn't hurt her "You want it so that the recoil is adsorbed though the longest part of your body so through your arm down you back and into the ground through your leg that way you can fire quicker and more accurately"

Taryn relaxed so that the Marine could help her into the correct stance. She couldn't help but grin at a thought that went through her mind. "So, Marine..." She started. "Do I get to know the name of the man who is being so kind to push me around? Not that I am not appreciative." Once she had herself in line, she looked up at him. "Like this?" She asked as she got into what she thought he was looking for.

Luke rolled his eyes as he took her hips and straightened them with her back, making sure her shoulder were also aligned and not slumped "That's better, and don't forget to breath!" He said nodding as he examined her positioning.

Taryn couldn't help but laugh to herself as he spoke. "Thanks...I am just going to call you Marine." She took a deep breath and released it slowly as she took aim and pulled the trigger. Her aim was better but not by much. "Well, that feels better. Do I have to compensate for any drift like with projectiles?"

Luke still withheld his name, he found it somewhat funny he was just being refereed to as 'Marine' "It will most likely drift top right so when your controlling your breathing make sure you hold your breath and then fire. You'll naturally do a figure of eight so shoot when you reach the centre." He stood back and allowed her to shoot.

Taryn closed her eyes for a second. Trying to remember everything he said. She took a breath and watched the end of her pistol. On her second breath she held it at the peak just as she let off another round of shots. She was a little more please with herself then she should have been as she let out a little squeal of joy. "Now the trick will be if I can repeat it."

"Just repeat the process" He said slowing taking the phaser out of her hand somewhat trying to avoid skin contact. Luke primed himself and let off three shots all mostly in the same area. Turning to Taryn he smiled "Now your turn" He handed back the phaser.

He was impressive Taryn thought as she took the phaser back, oblivious to any contact between them if there was any. She held the phaser in her hand and corrected her stance as she had tried to copy what he had done. She let out a breath trying to calm her nerves for a moment. Taking a deep breath she let it out and pulled the trigger. The shots were better then she they had been, but not as good as the last time. She let out a frustrated huff before lining up again. This time the shots were better.

Luke smiled "See, its not so hard but try to relax into the shot if your all tense and nervous it will make things so much difficult" He said slumping his shoulder. "Believe your ALOT better than some people I've seen!"

"I know I am not horrible." Taryn said as she tried to focus this time. She pulled off a few shots before she turned to look at her teacher. "I am more likely to throw this at the enemy..." She referenced the phaser. " And use a knife." She turned back towards the paper and pulled the trigger two more times.

Luke laughed "And if you do that you'll be minus one weapon and you'' most likely die. The Borg are stronger than you and they are more resilient you bets bet it to fight from afar were they are least effect" He stepped forward straightening her arm again "Keep your arm straight and lean your shoulder into the shot."

"I almost got my arm ripped off because of a phaser." Taryn replied with a sarcastic tone. "It was the knife I sank into his brain box that saved my life." She quickly ran though her process that she was still trying to log into muscle memory. "Like this?" She asked as she leaned forward slightly.

"Yes" He said stepping back again, "You was obviously not doing it right if a Phaser of all things almost ripped your arm off" The thought even made him laugh though it was silently contained.

"Hardy har har." Taryn responded with a roll of her eyes. "I am not saying they are not good weapons. I would just prefer to get in there and end the fight before I get shot at...or ripped apart by Borgs." She dropped her arm rolling her neck around. Her neck was tense from holding the gun. She lifted it back up and fired it off again. "So you will let me know when you want me to pay for this lesson?" She asked nonchalantly.

He laughed "Payment? Just survive long enough to by me a drink if your offering" He put his hand on top of her arm "To much practice will make you complacent" He smiled gently meeting her eyes.

"Sure, I can buy you a drink sometime." Taryn started. "I was more referring to my end of this bargain. Once my shoulder is fixed I can help your with your hand to hand." She dropped the phaser to her side and placed it on the counter. Reaching up with the same hand she removed her glasses placing them next to the gun.

"Oh right. Of course." He felt slightly embarrassed "Well That can always wait, I don't want your arm getting worst! What sort of person would that make me!" He placed his protective eye wear next to his which had spent the last few minuets on his head. "By the way my names Luke, though most call me Gunny"

"Nice to mean you Luke." Taryn said simply as she chose to dieregard the nickname. "You would only make my arm worse if you actually landed a few blows." She gave him a little wink as she set about putting her jacket back on. "I am just kidding...I am good, better then most, but I am sure you would still get at least a few chances."

Luke moved and helped her get her jacket carefully over her shoulder and finally her arms "I am Sure I would put you on your sweet merry ass" He laughed. "Besides No one can beat a Marine I am basically a god amongst men!" He joked

"I am not a man." She laughed. "And you would have to be damn good." She grinned. "Thank you for helping with the jacket." She looked over the Marine for a second. "This whole useless arm thing is getting to me." She wasn't checking him out as the phrase went, more sizing him up.

"It gets the best of us! I don't think there is a bone in my body that I haven't broke as a result from fighting!" He made sure she was comfortable before stepping back "You should be better in no time! You seem to be a tough nut!"

"Thanks." She smile. "I will be. I can hold my own in the mean time." She bumped him playfully with her good elbow. "Now that I have a better idea of how to shoot this thing." She put away her weapon before turning back to Luke. "Thanks for your time...I hope I didn't keep you from anything."

He shook his head sidewards "Not at all, I was just finishing up and I would have only been annoying someone somewhere out of pure boredom so doing things like this is natural to me!" He assured her.

"Good to know." Taryn turned and extended her hand toward the Marine. "Thank you again for your help. I look forward to returning the favor." With a nod of her head she turned and headed back the way she had come.

Luke smiled before proceeding out of the other door down the opposite direction of the corridor. 'Nice girl, Lets hope she survives the next few days' he told himself turning into a turbolift.

OFF:

Gunnery Sergeant Luke Wyatt
Marine Liaison
USS Galileo

&

PO1 Taryn Galespie
Security Officer
USS Galileo

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