EXETERRPG: (3 - 1700) CO Cpt Trip Williams and Physio Lt(jg) Cerise Blake

[Mark Howard]

Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express

Day:03

Stardate: 2445.12.03



(USS Exeter – Gym - Physio Lt(jg) Cerise Blake and CO Cpt Trip Williams -
1700)



Cerise was in the gym, once more stood at the head of the track, lining up
for the performance that would utterly cement her position into the Terran
gymnastics team.



The Produnova double twist was not only her centrepiece, it was the most
difficult performance ever to have been attempted by a human.



At her peak, she had been utterly utterly confident that she could pull of
the maneuver that would cement her name into legend, in practise, she had
landed it each time into the crash pads.



That, though had been the day before the graduation party. Only 36 hours
later...she had lost everything. Including the ability to walk.



Years later now, and horrific training, and physiotherapy, her persona,
her  psyche had changed, she stood, her figure stood in tight lycra,
because she found it comfy, not because she considered it attractive,sher
persona, previously competitive and angsty, was now utterly placid, calm,
and reflective, her persona utterly devoid of attachment to romantic
tendencies.



However the tiniest grain in her, the one atom of her old life wanted to do
that one jump. It was for that reason that she stood at the top of the run
more times than she had ever considered been able to count.



“Don’t do anything too risky.” Trip said with a smile and he walked past
the area of the gym where Cerise was. He was headed to the boxing ring and
was going to initiate the ESH, emergency sparring hologram. He was filled
with anger, rage, and just disgust at the behavior of two of his closest
friends and colleagues. He was so riled up that he felt the only thing that
could calm him down was to beat up a hologram, because he was certain that
at this moment if he sparred with a person he would probably hurt them.



She didn’t look round. Trip may be the Captain, but here it just felt like
high school all over. “I can do it Trip.” She sighed, her nerve gone again.
“What gives?”



“Just don’t want to see you get hurt. Believe it or not, I care about you.
And not in the I’m your captain kind of way, or the new freshman jock
wanting to have an in with the cheerleaders, but because, over the last few
months, I’ve just seen you be a solid decent person. Would hate for
anything bad to happen to you.”



She nodded, her soul happy to be talking to someone as a friend, and equal,
someone who neither wanted nor needed anything from her.



She motioned at him toward the point where she was standing. “You ever
stood here?”



“No, my body isn’t the fly through the air type. It’s the run your ass over
type.” He said with a laugh.



Cerise laughed gently. “I remember.” she exhaled gently, motioning to the
vault.



“Eighty-two feet. That’s all you have to build up enough momentum. The
vault catapults you at an angle of about 45 degrees if you hit
it...precisely. The rest is up to you. Become one of the greats, or crash
and burn.”



“When did you become a mathematician and a philosopher.” Trip chuckled.



“At the level I was, gym was math, and science. I was a horrible horrible
student, and a bad person, but the older and less limber I get, the more I
realise that this could be a metaphor for what you, Ailynn, we all do.”



“Yeah, well right now I feel like I’m burning. Just wait until the rumors
start. Did you hear, the Captain just beat the shit of Ire, that’s why he’s
in the brig.”



“I’d heard rumours. Kneel. Cross legged. Close your eyes and breath.” She
did the same. “As you breath you’re going to come in thought the nose, and
out through the mouth.”



Trip looked at Cerise with a blank expression. ~She can’t be serious.~
Still he decided that it couldn’t hurt so he closed his eyes and began to
take deep breaths.

“I said!..breaaathe.”  She stood up and moved around his back, resting her
hands on his shoulders, kneading the muscles gently.



Trip turned and smirked, “Look, uh, I appreciate this, but if I needed this
kind of physical release my wife would be more than up to the task.”

“Easy there Flyboy I’m sure she is. Not that kind of massage.” She held his
left arm and pushed against the shoulder blade, the crack echoing through
the room.



“Oww, that...that...felt good,”



“See? Now..other side. You can offload as I do this, consider it patient
privilege.” she moved her hands around, gently feeling the muscle, and then
doing the same to the right as she had to the left. “ So...Ire’s in the
brig, and he and Ravok…? Have you been at the bourbon? One pint or two?”
she said somewhat sarcastically.



“Well I’d never drink a pint of bourbon, thats asking for trouble.” He said
with a smile.


Cerise laughed gently, a warm rich sound, “well, never the best idea, but
not always the worst.” She quipped. “So talk to me, let it go.” She
massaged the tense muscles between the shoulder blades.



“Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking. Both went through trauma, not
even 24 hours ago. I thought some bro time would help. Ire….he’s not coping
well, blew up at Ravok. Threw a punch, knocked his cybernetic eye out. Then
Ravok punched back. I got in the middle to break it up and Ire hit me in
the shoulder. Honestly, he doesn’t have that strong of a punch. But I
defused the situation by putting Ire in a sleeper hold.”



“Wait...Ire threw the first punch?”



“yes. Honestly…..I feel like a shit captain right now. I want to to talk to
Ash about it. But I….just want to beat something up first,”



“She took the advantage and wretched the upper back each way. That’s about
all I can do as you are. Couple more sessions maybe you’d loosen up a bit.”
She paused. “Look, if it’s weird, Ash has had a pregnancy massage twice a
week for a month now.” She smiled, “I can spar a bit?”



"I umm. Not a good idea right now. I'm going to have the sparring hologram
on its highest difficulty.  That's how stressed I am."



She nodded. “I know. Fair enough.”



"You know, I could have gone pro."



“Oh?” Cerise answered gently, eyeing up the run again.



"I got offers to join a professional mixed Martial arts league. Would have
fought all over the alpha quadrant. But I turned it down to stay in the
academy. Of course I still kept fighting and then almost died."



“James,” she said, more talking toward the teenager that she’d know than
the man before her. “That happened to all of us, myself included. Hell,
let's face it, especially me. I hate to burst your bubble but you are not
the only one, and you are far from the worst. Sure you went through a lot,
but you don’t get that luxury when you’ve seen the things I have.”



"I guess that wasn't really my point. I guess It'...could I have been
something else."



“Regrets?” her figure stepped around to face him.



"I'm happy with my life don't get me wrong. But sometimes it feels like I
have to be perfect all the time. You don't need a captain who makes
youthful mistakes. I'm 23. Im supposed to be getting into trouble. Instead
I have 500 souls to take care of. I'll never get to adventure in the way my
age peers get to."



Cerise sighed, shaking her head. “...but…” she spoke, an edge of irritation
in her voice.



"I was talking to one of the wait staff Earlier and it just made Me think.
Normal 23 year old officer, here's a phaser. Don't shoot yourself. Me, Here
are 500 people You're in charge of And a Kid. And part of me just screams
saying, îcan't I just go bowling instead. Im being spoiled I know. But Trip
Williams the fighter, he'd be more free to be 23. But….sorry...you had your
future robbed. I shouldn’t complain about being blessed."



“I made my bed.” she answered. “I’m moved on. Took me a year.”



"I'm really sorry . This is why i don't Unload outside my Quarters."



“There’s no apology necessary, offloading is just focussed releasing of
stress. Something that you need to learn to do.”



"Well, I do have one outlet. But its private." Trip laughed



Cerise laughed warmly. “And has already got you into trouble with Ash I
see.” her eyes twinkled with fun.



"Well yes. But only because she hated what I made her wear."



Cerise raised an eyebrow. “Oh no you didn’t?” then laughed horribly. “can’
t believe you just…” she fanned her face theatrically.



"Oh...ummm no not that. Not sex." Trip blushed. "It may come as a shock
Because I'm A Jock But I love Shakespeare. I perform it sometimes to Cope
with stress. Only Maybe 6 people on board know. Ash Didn't like her costume
for Romeo and juliet."



“I’m not surprised.” Cerise quipped. “It lasted 3 days and 6 people died.”



"When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes," Trip began from memory.



"I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate," Trip hopped onto the platform
dramatically.



"Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

>From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

       That then I scorn to change my state with kings."



“I remember that. English class, senior year.”



"Sonnet 29."



“I’m no scholar, but strikes me that the poem is telling you that you are
looking for a lot in the wrong places.



"I know this is where I want to be. But more than anything it's a reminder
to me that I would only change my fate if it meant keeping Ash. What is
fame and fortune without the one who gives it meaning."



Cerise smiled gently, “That’s so sweet. I love you close you guys are.”



'But enough about me. You doing ok?"



Again, a simple smiled and a gentle blush. “I’m...really happy. I mean, the
last couple of days have been horrible, of course, but all that aside; I
feel so complete here, I feel like a stick, bobbing down a river. I’m not
sure where my destination is, but I’m stupidly happy with my surroundings,
the current is a nice speed for the most part and apart from a few rapids,
and the odd little waterfall, I love my life.” She blushed gently again.



"I'm glad. You've really changed for the better. Proof that hope is real."



She sighed, “I know, and I feel, I’m not sure, I had a lot of time to
reflect on things, it taught me a lot, about life, about myself, others,
the universe and my own little place in it.” She smiled in half regret, the
death of her classmate in the same crash that had changed her destiny,
would always be a millstone around her neck.



"I'm glad you and Ash buried the hatchet."



“You are such a lucky boy. She’s such a dear, comes in twice a week for a
pregnancy massage. I’d kill for a complexion a tenth as good as hers.” She
smiled.



"What about you and Ailynn?"



Cerise drew a breath. “Professionally, she’s fine. We haven’t spoken much,
no malice I’m sure.” She frowned slightly, “She has a very different nature
to Ash. Ailynn is like a tigress, and she forgets nothing. I need to have a
very long conversation with her, but she’s either working; way, way too
hard I may add, or staring doe eyed at her date.” she winked gently.



"Yeah. Just call Ash, I'll bet she can doe eye Ailynn into giving you an
hour."



“That would be good. I don’t like too many things hanging over me. I’ll do
that.”



"Look Cee, I need to get my work out going but Thankyou for Listening."
Trip smiled and gave her a hug.



She knew that Trip was being friendly, and she took the hug in the spirit
that it was intended, she couldn’t however stop herself tensing awkwardly.
She hugged him back somewhat awkwardly.



“Any time. I need to head anyway, early physio appointment.” She pulled
away, and walked gracefully across the floor toward the door, making sure
she half jumped over the run up to the vault, a force of habit that she
could never break.



(Reply none)

(Posted by Mark and Will)
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