Book 1, Ch. 4- More Trouble with Rest & Relaxation

[Matthew Reynolds]

The one problem that Matthew Reynolds always had with R&R it always felt like it dragged on forever. They had been at Assailant for almost two weeks now and he was itching to get things underway. He had yet to speak to his first officer about the promotion of a certain individual, but he had promised himself that he would get that taken cared of before they got underway.

"Computer have all new crew reported in?" Matt asked as he looked at the stacks of padds on his desk. He knew that everyshore leave the Jefferson would be getting new crew but he seemed to always forget to do the paperwork.

"Affirmative"

"How many new crew?" Matt asked.

"Twenty seven comprising of four officers and twenty three crewmen"

"Damn, means I have to learn twenty seven new names," Matt said as he took the first padd and began to read it," Reynolds to Commander Garrett, please report to my office I have something important to discuss with you."

(Megan)

[Matthew Reynolds]

Having secured a positive response from his number one, Captain Matthew Reynolds was ready to issue his final order of shore leave. After discussing how he should proceed with the promotion with Commander Garrett, both agreed that a small ceremony would be the best option. Matt had been planning a promotion party, but realized that having drunk officers showing up for their shifts was never a good idea. Even though there would be no party, Matt was not going to deny himself the opportunity for some fun at the expense of two of his officers.

"Lieutenants Tavik and Quindara report to my ready room immediately," Matt said trying to sound as annoyed as possible. Now that everyone knew the two were an item, this was the perfect chance to make them sweat a little bit. Matt waited quietly for both of them to arrive.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

(Valad)

"Captain... I'm sorry but I don't know..."Monica began before Matt cut her off mid sentence.

"Monica we all know why we are here right now," Matt said as he turned his back to his two officers," there has been a little rumor going around and I don't like it one bit."

(Valad)

Already knowing that he would not be able to be such a jerk off for much longer, Matt picked up the little wooden box that held Valad Tavik's new pip.

"Valad Tavik as of stardate 2396.0128 you are hereby promoted to Lieutenant Commander, with all the responsibility and respect that comes with your new position."

(Valad)

[Valad Tavik]

"What the hell are you two doing?"

Valad looked at Monica and then back at the Captain. "I'm not sure what you are talking about sir? I've been on shore leave as you ordered."

Monica also responded. "Captain... I'm sorry but I don't know..." Captain Reynolds cut her off.

"Monica we all know why we are here right now," Reynolds began as he turned his back on them. "There has been a little rumor going around and I don't like it one bit."

While the Captain's back was turned, Valad looked over at Monica and mouthed, "Was it that obvious? Ok I'm saying it."

Valad spoke. "Ok. Captain, I suppose there is something you need to know and Monica is better at explaining it." As much as he was sweating, Valad decided to playfully push Monica forward. He knew he would pay for it later, but he figured it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

(Monica)

As Monica finished talking, the Captain picked up a small wooden box and said, "Valad Tavik as of stardate 2396.0128 you are hereby promoted to Lieutenant Commander, with all the responsibility and respect that comes with your new position."

Valad for once was shocked! He had been played. He looked at Monica and smiled. "I don't know what to say sir. Other than thank you!"

(Matt)

[Deleted]

Two weeks after being locked up

Nathan looked up when the forcefield was snapped off, brows furrowed in annoyance as he was disturbed in the study of a particularly tough text of which he understood precious little. Ship tactics were just well beyond him and he doubted he'd ever get the hang of it, even though he would try his hardest. "I wasn't expecting visitors," he announced stiffly, shifting his eyes back to the PADD in his hands.

"Well, this time I'm not a visitor," Jayden announced as he stepped forward, into plain view, "I've come to take you home."

"Home?" Nathan obviously didn't understand. "What do you mean home? I'm in prison, serving a sentence..."

"Yeah and that's time served already. Two weeks are up love, you're home free, to a degree of course." Gently, the marine took the PADD from him. "You can study later, right now you're coming home with me, and we're going for a swim later. Just you and me, some private time. Hannah's watching the kids."

Nathan smiled, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet when Jayden reached out for him. "Time flies indeed. Has it really been two weeks already?" Being alone so much, the guards not beeing too talkative and having no sense of time, Nathan had indeed lost track of time. Yet he appeared quite happy to be free again. "Let's go home. I'm in need of a good long shower."

Jayden grinned. "We are," he corrected slyly. "Come along now dear, time to go home. Shower, swim then have another long soak...we got the evening to ourselves too."

Nathan smiled happily as he walked down the corridor with his mate, their arms wrapped around eachother. Time to go home and time to enter a new era. In the morning, he'd contact Megan about training. He wanted to do it right this time.

[Deleted]

OOC: Joint Post between Myself and Doctor Nathan van Breughel

It felt good to get back to her usual routine, following the long period of ‘vacation’ routine. Resting was not something she generally sought out, and after only a few days, she was ready for it to be over, but never one to change the plan just because of her personal feelings, Megan stuck to the schedule she had set for herself and kept busy with science projects, holodeck training, paperwork, and working out a few future mission details. It helped quite a bit and was nice to give more attention and time to things that normally were on the backburner, but it was even better to get back to normal. Signaling for the turbolift to take her to the bridge, she heaved a sigh of anticipation. Not that she hadn’t been on the bridge every single day anyway, but this was going to the bridge at the usual time knowing she would be there for her regular shift, and somehow, that made it feel all the better to her.

Nathan spotted Megan at the turbolift doors and jogged up to her, carrying his bag with swimming gear. He was alone, though it was clear he hadn't been only a minute before as his right shoulder was covered in a milky substance. "Commander!" he called out, as he approached. "Commander, a moment please?"

“Of course, Doctor,” Megan replied, as soon as she had broken out of her eager anticipation to realize who was speaking to her, after a mild mental scolding for allowing her attention to be distracted like that. “I hope that you are feeling better.”

The doctor smiled. "Yes ma'am, I certainly am. I was just on my way to the pool." He looked away for a few seconds. "Ma'am, about that training you mentioned two weeks ago, I was wondering how soon we could start on it, before something comes in between again. I have been studying, though some of it barely makes sense without the practice part attached to it. I'm afraid I don't do well on just learning from books, I need example." He looked up, meeting her eyes. "I want to do this, and I want to do it right," he added.

He certainly wasn’t backing down from the challenge, and she appreciated that. It was the first indication, hopefully of many more, that he was beginning to learn and change, or at least wanting to do so. “We can begin as soon as you are physically ready. I want another doctor to make sure you’re fully recovered from your injuries and that your heart is completely sound before we begin, as I wouldn’t want to risk your health. I appreciate your determination to do this the right way, but part of that is to start at the right time. If you get the all clear from sickbay today, perhaps we could begin this evening...if you’re free to and feeling up to it,” Megan suggested.

"I'll make sure I'm free," Nathan replied, wondering where the concern for his health suddenly came from, and how it entered the equation. "I'll get Hannah to perform a full medical check-up," he vowed, "and forward you the result. I mean I'll get her to forward it." It was clear he was eager, and certainly mentally up for the task. "I still haven't been cleared for duty, as I'm still suspended," he added.

“That suspension will be lifted as soon as we receive our next assignment, as we will probably need you in sickbay then,” Megan supplied. “I gave you a lot to read without much direction, which is probably why it’s so difficult to understand all of it at once. I will also help you go over the information in more detail and in the proper sequence, but it will help that it is at least somewhat familiar to you now. It is more important to know when to use training than just receiving it, so the information is equally important if not more important than the actual physical training will be.”

Again, the doctor nodded. "I understand, Ma'am," he replied carefully, "and I wasn't inquiring after when the suspension would be lifted. I was merely trying to state a fact, implying that I would be free for training instead. Might as well make myself useful otherwise, right?" He gave a half-hearted chuckle, clearly not too happy about not being allowed near sickbay other than for a medical check-up. Matt's prohibition was still very fresh in his memory, and he was sticking to it, no matter what. "I will head for sickbay after my swim," he promised. "You'll have the results by lunch-time."

Also nodding, and completely understanding his impatience to get back to work, she replied, “I’ll send you a message suggesting possible times to begin once I’ve received the report.” As the turbolift arrived, Megan stepped inside, turning to address him once again as the doors closed. “I will most likely see you later this evening.”

"Yes, Ma'am," Nathan offered his best attempt at a salute, then turned to leave. He slung his bag back over his shoulder and headed for the pool, the only place he could truly clear his mind, and relax as well. He dove in, pulling across the long pool in strong strokes without resurfacing. He repeated this several times until he just lounged a little to the side, thinking.

[Deleted]

Having received the medical report from Nurse Lowell, indicating that Nathan was indeed recovered from his injuries and in good shape to return to normal activities, including physical training, Megan had sent the Doctor a message indicating they should meet in Holodeck Four at nineteen hundred thirty hours. After receiving his confirmation, the First Officer had returned to her duties, trying to keep her mind focused on them until they were completed. She had a lot of preparation to do, but it would only delay it if she did not remain concentrated on the tasks at hand first.

Fortunately, although shoreleave was officially over, they had yet to receive their next assignment, and so there was still less work to be done. It wasn’t in her nature to do so, but Megan actually did leave early, having completed everything required of her with time left over to begin the lessons and training structure organization. After a quick shower and meal, Commander Garrett made her way to the holodeck to begin to create the necessary programs. The material was already available to her from other programs, but some alterations needed to be made before it would be suitable for Nathan’s level of previous training, which was practically zero now.

By the time it was nearly half past seven, Megan was ready. The curriculum was established, and the accompanying programs created and edited through the first five lessons. Now she just had to hope it was tailored at the correct rate of speed and difficulty, not too fast or difficult for Nathan, but also not too slow or easy either. There was only one way to find out for sure: basic trial and error. She could make adjustments either way based on what she would see from him during the training.

”I have to go now,” Nathan told Jayden, shortly after they had finished dinner, “I don't know how long it'll take, but I don't expect to be home within an hour.” He looked a little apprehensive, but also quite eager to finally get to do this, and do it right. He caught his own reflection in a mirror and gave himself an appreciative nod; he was wearing dark blue trainers and sweats, underneath which he wore a white t-shirt. Starfleet-issue sneakers finished off his appearance. A large white towel was slung across his neck and he held a water bottle in his hand. “Not sure whether I'll need it but I'll take it just in case.”

He smiled, gave Jayden a departing kiss then left for the holodeck. He went at a slight jog, feeling he shouldn't arrive on cold muscles, despite his extensive swimming earlier in the day. He wasn't even out of breath as the doors parted before him and he smiled nervously. “Doctor Nathan reporting for training,” he announced formally, though not without a slight hint of mockery, not at her, but at himself.

Restraining a smile at his eager appearance, Megan instead nodded. “Before we begin, I know you engage in regular cardio activities with swimming, but what type of, if any, strength training do you currently do?” Commander Garrett asked him.

”Strength?” Nathan thought for a moment; he never really went to the gym to engage in any weight activities. “None,” he answered after a few seconds, “other than swimming, which I see as both strength and cardio. Why?”

“It’s important to have both to be physically prepared for any sort of combat,” Megan replied. She had always hated strength training, but after training as an athlete in school and then for Black Ops in the Academy, she had grown to simply accept it as part of what was required. “Swimming does improve muscle strength as well, but only specific muscles in specific ways. Because combat can involve all types of movement, strength training is needed to ensure you have all the tools available at your disposal to use.” Reaching into her bag and retrieving one of the padds in the pile, she handed it to him. “This will get you started. It’s not fun, but it’s important.”

”Anything can be fun, if you allow it to be,” Nathan replied casually, reviewing the PADD, “how does this work?” He looked up. “I'm not sure I've ever done this before. Oh, I've started to learn velocity, does that count in any way?”

“It indicates a series of exercises designed to strengthen a particular muscle. You will find all the machines required in the gym and weight room. I started out with a basic number of exercises with repetitions. As you progress, more exercises and repetitions will be added. Just follow the progression indicated there, and if there is a particular exercise that is too difficult, consult with Ensign Vorien, and he’ll help you adjust the program to be more specific to you. This is just a general program. And as for Velocity, that is good. It will get you more comfortable with the phaser and improve your reflexes, dexterity, and general fitness, all of which is important.”

Nathan nodded as he stuffed the PADD in his bag, presuming that he'd start this later after his next shift, when he was allowed back on duty again. “I will,” he promised, then waited expectantly. He had no idea what exactly was expected of him, nor what else she had in store for him. It wasn't that he was physically weak, no, he just missed certain skills, especially when it came to defending himself, or even others.

“Very well,” Megan moved on, “so the first thing we need to focus on is to actually develop some of the skills you need for physical combat and defense before we apply them specifically. You already are in good shape, and the additional strength training will improve that. Velocity is also helping to shape them as well. I will also be focusing on increasing your knowledge of how and when to use these skills by studying regulations and protocols, which you have already begun. I will provide you with a more detailed and organized course after we have finished for today.”

Moving towards the center of the room, expecting him to follow, Megan ordered the computer to begin the first program. A small hoverball, somewhat similar to the target in Velocity appeared next to her. “Defense is just as important, if not more important, than offense. The first skill I think you should learn is dodging, which is an extension of your reflexes. Instead of using a holographic character, armed or otherwise, we’ll start with this ball. It will attempt to strike either your arms or your head, and your goal is to move out of the way to avoid the hit. It will also attempt to strike me, moving from one to the other so that you can see what I do as well.”

Again, Nathan nodded, shifting his stance a little. He already knew he was going to be very tired and very sore before the evening was done. “Only step out of the way?” he enquired as the ball zipped towards him. He took a single step sideways and the ball zipped past. “This seems easy enough,” he grinned.

She smiled as the ball next moved quickly towards her, and she also stepped out of the way. “I have it set to start out easy. You will have little difficulty at first but the program will learn with you, growing increasingly more difficult and adapting to your responses.” As the ball turned back to him, and he again easily avoided a hit, she continued. “Eventually, the ball will become more difficult to track as it moves faster, so although it’s currently easy, place all your focus on that ball. Think like the three of us are the only objects that exist right now,” she suggested, again dodging the ball.

Nathan followed through the first minutes with relative ease, following her example, following the ball with his eyes and stepping or jumping aside as it bounced or flew his way. After a while, the ball was indeed harder to track and he needed to rely on other senses to avoid it. He started as the ball struck his side and jumped aside, tripping over his own feet. He barely managed to keep to his feet, scowling under his breath. He was already panting for breath as this was something he wasn't used to doing. “I'm getting old,” he grumbled as he managed to just barely avoid the next track hearing it whizz past his head.

Megan continued to doge the ball as well, in between its attempts on Nathan. It was actually harder to do this than to run a defensive combat simulation, as an actual opponent could betray future movements and was a lot larger to track. Eventually, the ball stopped heading for her altogether, as the pause to regain his footing and prepare for another ‘attack’ needed to shorten to increase the difficulty. The doctor made the adjustment without comment, focused completely on the ball and avoiding the hits. He was doing pretty well actually, whereas if she’d begun with a holographic opponent, he most likely would have had a harder time mentally focusing like this. ‘This is going to work out well,’ she thought to herself as she watched her ‘student’ continue his training. ‘In fact, I think that this is going to work out very well after all.’

After a while, Nathan stopped, panting for breath. “I think we should take a break,” he breathed, grunting as the ball zipped towards him and he made no move to avoid. “I need some water.” He took off his sweater and tossed it aside, revealing a drenched shirt. His hair was plastered to his face. “This is unusual, but fun,” he commented with a sheepish grin.

“I believe that is actually enough of that particular exercise,” Megan agreed. It was good to see that he also knew his limits and was able to speak up if it was time to stop. She hadn’t always been so good at that... “Now, I want to demonstrate the eventual application of what you’re learning. It will be some time before you get to this part, but this is what you’re actually learning,” she stated moving back to the center while he got a drink and activating the more advanced level of the program.

This time, an opponent appeared, a Klingon with a knife. Initiating the program, the warrior began to slice in her direction with the knife, and each time, she dodged out of the way, making no move to take or knock the weapon from his hand. After a few moments, she paused the program and turned back to Nathan. “This may appear entirely different and far more difficult, but it isn’t,” she explained, providing a few more orders to the computer. The knife and hand of the opponent were replaced by the hoverball and program reactivated, revealing that dodging the ball was the same as dodging the hand holding the knife. “This is nearly a comparable challenge.”

Nathan watched on in awe, the bottle frozen somewhere halfway to his mouth. She was good. He had known she was well trained, but not that she was this good. He'd never be able to match her, he realised. His eyes were on the ball and followed it's trajectory. “What else?” he asked, remembering she said enough of this exercise. He was sore and tired, but not yet ready to call it a night. He took a sip of his water, staring past the bottle at the first officer. His query indicated what else he was going to have to expect to learn. His eyes belied his eagerness, even though his body had other ideas.

She could see his doubt and surprise at the sudden change in tone of the exercise. He hadn’t expected that, and it was clear from the expression on his face that he didn’t think he could face the Klingon, even though she knew better. He wasn’t too far removed from facing an actual opponent, though she wouldn’t have him do that until he was much further along. His challenge was more mental than physical. “I think that’s actually enough of physical training for the time being. For now, I think we should begin phaser training, but we will stick with the ball similar to Velocity.”

”I've been playing Velocity with Jayden,” Nathan offered, “though we haven't advanced very far and I still don't like phasers. I doubt I ever will be really comfortable with one, it goes wholly against the grain of being a doctor. I've managed to improve though, I can actually hit a stationary target now. A mobile one is still a challenge.” He was still breathing heavily, though he was starting to get it back under control. As he waited for her response, he took the opportunity to check his pulse and nodded in approval; he was still safe.

“Well it’s something to build on,” Megan replied. “I think we should actually start there though. We will stand a few feet apart and take turns. A still target will appear and whoever’s turn it is will take a shot. If you hit it, it will disappear. If you don’t, I’ll take a shot. We won’t push too much farther than that today,” she decided, moving to the console to adjust the program. “Are you ready?”

The doctor nodded, picking up his phaser and hefting it in his left hand as if to test it's weight. “Ready,” he acknowledged, taking up a comfortable stance.

Nodding, Megan activated the program, feeling they’d had a very good beginning. He clearly wasn’t cut out to be a security officer, but by the time they’d finished, he would hopefully be less of a danger to himself and others and belong on a starship'.