EXETERRPG: (1, 1830) ACEO Lieutenant Janice Hammerfield and SO Ensign Chris West

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Auld Lang Syne

Day: 01

Stardate: 2445.12.28

(USS Exeter – Gym– ACEO Lieutenant Janice Hammerfield and SO Ensign Chris
West– 1830)

Walking into the gym Janice had taken the opportunity to head back to her
quarters to get more appropriately dressed for it. Sporting a tank top and
a pair of shorts with her com badge attached to the bottom right leg.

It wasn't the first time she had been to the gym on the ship but more often
than no she preferred doing her routine in her quarters more privately.
Looking about she spotted ensign West and moved over to him, “Howdy - how's
your day been?”

“Good, It’s been good,” Chris said as he walked up to her. He was wearing
the standard Exeter physical training gear. It was a grey tank top with
Exeter written across the front. The shorts were science/medical blue with
NCC-1672-C written on the left leg. “How’s your day?”

“It's been a full day,” she nodded glad that her shift was over, “but i
can’t complain i get more done when people are off ship.”

“Yeah. I’ve been up here all day, just finding whatever I could to keep
myself busy and productive, and noticed.” He said with a laugh. “Haven’t
made it down yet. What about you?”

“I’ve had no trouble with that - there's always something that needs
checked or fixed,” she gave a smile pulling out a small band to pull her
short hair more neatly up behind her head and away from her eyes.

Chris nodded. “So what do you know about throwing a punch?”

“Only what we went through in basic really. My main focus in training was
self defence and marksmanship. I imagine the self defence class cares
little for the rules of boxing. Given my relative size and weight they put
more emphasis on technique and manipulating my opponent's movements to give
me an edge. They were typically open handed - grabs - throws and holds.
Straight up brawn - I'm more likely to get steam rolled.”

“Well that’s the thing, boxing isn’t straight up brawn, its also technique.
Not just upper body, but the whole body.”

Janice looked a bit puzzled, “I gathered there would be a bit of that - i
think i was expecting more force - after all the objective is to put the
other person on the floor from a punch,”



“It’s like, like a machine ya know. Everything working as one, gears, and
pistons, circuits and what have yous. Engaging the mechanism and firing on
all cylinders.”

“I see,” the aura of confusion lifted from her mind, “Less about how one
part work and more the whole in unison,”

“Stamina is important. I don't have a knockout punch, wish I did. But I can
outlast anyone, so most of my bouts were one by decision and not knock out.
Footwork is important. Keeping the hands up, and using your legs to throw a
punch. But my guess is more than anything you just want to hit a bag?”

“Understood - I’m sure that would get rid of a lot of frustration but
anyone can hit a bag. I’d rather learn to hit a bag properly at the same
time,”

Chris smiled, “So do you want to warm up first or do you want to get down
to business?”

“We can get right to it - consider this girl pre-warmed up already. Some I
much rather do in my own quarters. If I come down to the gym I want to make
sure it's all for work otherwise I'd just be stuck warming up the whole
time I'm here.”

“Well you just saved yourself about five minutes of jump rope.” He chuckled.

She moved over and picked up the rope placing it in front of her and gently
lifting her heels off the ground. With a sharp flick of her wrist she
started the rope spinning round as she jumped over it with short sharp
bounds until Chris gave the impression for her to stop.

“Why don’t we go over to the bag and you throw a punch, let’s see what
we’re working with.”

“Right…” Janice drew in a breath to relax her heart rate from the skipping.
Moving over to it she took a step forward with her left foot turning her
partially side on. Raising her arms up so her fists were in line with her
eyes but forearms spread widely as she took a swing at the bag with her
right arm moving her weight from back to front.

"Good, let's see that again, but this time get some good hip rotation
going."

Lining up again Janice pulled her arm a bit further back twisting her hip
round a bit more. Her first landed center of the bag, “ugrfff” Pulling back
again she repeated it.

“You okay Janice?” Chris asked. “That um urgff sound didn’t sound good. We
don’t want to pull anything.”

“No its ok… just making sure I put my weight into it. There's only some
much there,” she threw another punch and grunted again and another. “Unless
im not supposed to be doing that?”

“No, you want to put your weight through it, I just don’t want you to pull
anything.”

“I see,” Janice took a slightly more relaxed stance now and threw a few
more punches into the bag alternating between her arms. Looking at the bag
she landed a hit on it then another, “This bag needs to start leaking sand
soon,” she joked.

“Let’s take a break why don’t we. Hydration is key.”

She took a breath and wiped her brow a bit, “Sure thing,”

Chris handed her a bottle of water. “So Janice, if I can ask, what drives
your punch. I mean want demon are you trying to exorcise.”

Taking the bottle she popped the lid and took a quick drink, “Thanks. What
drives it. Right now it’s me being angry with myself. You know what I see
when I look at that bag - a mirror.”

“I get that.” Chris nodded. “I’ve been there.”

“I would be naive if I thought it was only me,” she took another small sip
from the bottle and sat it down beside her.

“So cut me off if I’m prying too much, but why are you angry with yourself?
Is it the red hair?” Chris laughed a little bit at his joke.

“You’re damn right - if only i through of changing it to blue,” she jested
back, “It not so much me now - It’s past Janice. All the mistakes, the what
if’s and the could haves. You know?”

“The shoulda, coulda, wouldas.”

“That's the one - It's not the person i want to see anymore and it makes me
angry seeing that person. I know i can't change that - but i'm hoping this
helps.”

“We could always go replicate some blue hair dye and color your hair. Give
you a fresh look.” Chris laughed.

“I’m sure if i did my mom would never forgive me. I can hear it now: ‘Why
did you do that?’”

“You’re a grown ass woman, who cares if you dye your hair. I mean
eventually the color fades.”

“In truth I like it the way it is - less on the looks more on the actions.
That's what we are punching out,”

“Isn’t that the truth though. We may love what we are on the outside, but
struggle with who we are on the inside. What we’ve done, or what we weren’t
able to do.”

“Indeed… at least this way i dont need to sit and look into a mirror i cant
break,” The last few weeks had been rough on her but with some counselling
throughout the trip to Risa she was starting to feel more normal.

“Give the bag a name, whether it be a trait, or a past sin, or a mistake,
and just beat the crap out of it.”

“Do you still need the bag in one piece?” she looked up at him almost with
a devilish smile.

“We can always get a new one.”

Moving back up to the bag she jumped a couple of times between her feet and
started to punch it slowly and methodically to begin with before each swing
became a little faster and more aggressive.

“Faster, let it all out. All your regret, in this next punch.” Chris said
with all the intensity of a coach.

Squinting her eyes she took in a deep breath and pulled her arm right the
way back. Following through she pushed right into the bag, “arghhh.” At
that she stopped and panted a bit her first still planted into it. A moment
passed and her body relaxed a bit dropping her arms back to her side.

“How’d that feel?’

“Much better”, she panted, “You didn't major or minor in psychology did you?

“No. I was an angsty teen who needed focus to stay out of trouble. Didn’t
have the best home life. Boxing gave me solace. Boxing was my way out.”

“I don’t think i can personally relate to that but i certainly seen a few
get dragged into security every now and again,” she pondered for a moment,
“I wonder what they would have been like if they had some proper outlets,”

“Well that’s what the multiverse is for right.” He smiled. “We are the
product of our past, of our environment, and all it takes is one moment,
one person, one activity to change us for the better or for the worse.”

Janice gavea quick sigh, “I guess that is true,”

“Now then you want to keep going, or are you feeling good?”

“Much better... any tips to go with the boxing at the moment though?” she
enquired.

“Just keep with it. Next time we might work on footwork and hitting a
moving target. If you know, you want a next time that is.”

“I would like that… thanks for the lesson,” she smiled feeling a lot better
about herself now.

“Any time,” he said smiling. “You know, if you ever wanted to head down to
the planetside, I might not be opposed to going with.” Chris said with a
smile. “Just food for thought.” Chris nodded and then made his way out the
door.

Janice nodded over to him as he left and gave a small wave as she moved
over to an exercise bike for a quick cool down before returning to her
quarters.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Adam)
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