A Quick Learner

Posted on 14 May 2020 @ 1:14pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kala Gorvel
Edited on on 29 Jun 2020 @ 12:46pm

2,939 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Holodeck
Timeline: MD 03, 2200 hours

[ON]

Sitting exhausted on the top of the Pyramid Kala drank from her water bottle sweat dripping from her forehead. Parrises squares was something totally alien to her and in fact, this wasn't even her own program. Kala had stumbled upon it whilst repairing the holodeck and thought it was something to do with building blocks or something. She couldn't have been any more wrong and after an hour of being beaten by something they called the iron mallet she had finally given up, she didn't understand anything.

Seeing that the program was already running, Matt walked into the holodeck. He was already dressed to play and he needed the time to unwind from the stresses of the day. He said, "Ay?! You like the program huh?"

Looking down at the new arrival from her seated position, Kala shook her head fringe bobbing left to right from its dislodged position which covered most of her eyes. "This game makes no sense!" She pushed up and stepped down from the central pyramid before stopping just short of the man whom she knew to be Lieutenant Junior Grade Plumeri, the girls on the ship talk. "I guess this is your program then?"

Matt balked, "Huh? It makes perfect sense. Girl? I know I didn't hear you dissin' the Squares?" He sounded like he was serious but he had that grin which betrayed his tough words. Matthew took a look at her. She was cute. He'd love to find out if the spots went all the way down. The girl was athletic and she probably had some moves on her that would be good in and out of the court. Matt shrugged and said, "It ain't my holodeck program necessarily. Came with the ship. Maybe I tweaked it a little to be more...interesting. Like what we play on Titan, or on Delab, Iho or Concordia...you know, the rest of the galaxy?"

Kala wasn't ignorant to where his eyes went nor what was going through his mind, she could word for word guess them anyway. Rolling her eyes ignoring her inner thoughts. "Well why don't you try and convince this girl that this sport is anything other than..." She put her index finger to her lip, with her arms crossed as in a thoughtful moment, "what's that 'British Earth word... Tosh?"

Plumeri said, "You had to have played the squares at some point. I mean c'mon. You're standing there with that look on your face and seriously telling me that you never played Paressis Squares?" He looked at her as if she had just stepped out of a time warp. " 'cause I'm thinking that you would have been snapped up early to play."

"You call that trying?" Kala teased hands now hands on hip. "I prefer mountain climbing and adventurous sports this," She said her left hand presenting the pyramid behind her "Is just damn barbaric. What is even the point of it all less to senselessly beat the opponent to death with those marshmallow sticks and until now I thought it was pronounced Paris Squares, in honestly I thought it was a math problem until those thugs turned up and beat me into an inch of my life"

Matthew grinned as he enjoyed this bantering verbal jousting match, "Uhh...huh!" he said with mock indignation. "Looks like somebody has been seriously misinformed about one of the-greatest-games ever to come out of the Deltan Triathalon. Parresis Squares is so much more than just the mindless mosh pit you characterize it as." Matt said playfully and teasingly; he was clearly enjoying the opportunity to educate someone so badly unappreciative of the fine art that was 'the squares'.

He was dressed in his old Titans uniform. His black cleated shoes for running the court terrain, the black and red socks that covered his muscled calves. Black and yellow singlet was worn and weary from playing so much. The helmet in his hands and the jaw strap dangled lazily about. When playing, the whole uniform reminded one of a greco-roman wrestler's uniform. Matt's tattoo peeked out just beneath the singlet.

Like a practiced soccer player, he found the black and yellow ball and with his foot he spun it up and then bounced it on his knee before letting it land on his fingertips. His eyes were alight and merry with fire and he was so confident. He playfully grinned and asked, "It's obvious that you ain't never seen a decent game? I could show you? Show you how its done? But first..." he stopped spinning the ball and put it in the crook of his arm, "...what position do you play?"

Kala had to think for a moment, she didn't know any names of the positions for this particular sport but she had played other sports like it before and knew that there would likely be an attacking part of the team and defending part. "Attacking," She said simply, her athleticism and aggression would surely make for a good attacker, so she believed. Kala threw Plumeri a smile of reassurance.

He grinned back, "Attacking" he said. He knew she didn't know the game very well. The position she was referring to was the "driver" but he let it go. "I figured you would be a Driver! You certainly do have the body for it." He replicated her the proper gear, shoes, socks and a helmet and jaw strap and mouthpiece. Then a team was replicated. A Naussican team.

"Basically, the goal is to use all the surfaces of the court to get the ball from your side to the opposite goal. You dunk the ball into that goal post there. The squares also move. Up and down and left and right and they change size within the limits of course. So you have to jump and run and be aware of your surroundings and your team mates. A lot of people think that playing the Squares is solo work. It isn't. Your team mates back you up and you have to back them up. Just because you're the driver doesn't mean that someone else on the team playing the field can't make a goal. The game changes all the time, the field, the tactics, the strategy. It's never the same old game twice."

The rest of the team appeard in holographic players, A Klingon forward, two Humans as defensive splits. A Caitian runner and an Andorian goalkeeper. A holographic crowd materialized with noise and banter, "I like playing to a crowd. Helps me focus. OK? Ready. First set is up. I'm Captain and you're my driver Kala. Get that ball across the field and into that goal post. The Nausciccans will try and knock the shit of you." Matt motioned to the team, it's your ball Kala. We'll keep them off your back." He put his fist in the middle of the huddle, the buzzer sounded and he gave them all a fist bump. "Set!"

It's my ball? Set? This guy is crazy! She thought to herself having quickly changed and stood in the position he had pointed to. Looking across at the opposing team Kala's stomach did a flip, she wasn't ready for what was about to come. As the buzzer sounded the opposing 'driver' literally drove his body through hers sending Kala's body flying halfway across the playing field leaving her slumped and ball-less on the floor. The crowd obviously went wild at the prospect of her demise.

Matthew came over to her and offered a hand up, "Computer? Pause program!" The simulation stopped. "You alright? You took quite a hit!"

Laying on her back Kala looked up towards the ceiling and Matthew's head spinning around her. "I'll... Be fine" She said defiantly and reached up to take his hand. Pulling herself up she used his shoulder to remain balanced. "Lets go again" Her vision began to focus again and she was determined more than ever to do well.

She had taken a direct hit from a Naussican twice her size. Still, it's not how many times you get knocked down; it's how many times you get back up again. Plumeri responded, "Aight! Computer? RESET!" Matthew walked alongside her as the simulation came to life again, "You want some advice? Get rid of the ball. Pass it. You're small, fast, get up high and we'll pass it to you." He meant it only to help. He adjusted her chinstrap and put his mouthpiece back in. The buzzer blared again and they took their places for the reset. 5...4...3...2...1!

The Naussican's launched towards Kala again just as before. This time, the Klingon foward tackled one to the ground that was going to hit Kala again. Matt jumped up on a square as it started to ascend, the shouts from the crowd were wild and loud.

Kala was completely engulfed by the sport the second time around, looking around her heart raced. Spotting Plumeri, she pulled back her arm and threw the ball towards him "Heads up!", She gathered that he'd catch it with ease so didn't spend another second waiting as she leaped onto a moving square and sidestepped an opposing winger whose head bounced of the square she had just left, the sound of his grown made her smile. She did this a few more times as she gracefully and quickly made her way past two more players before she found herself open and near the goal.

The ball sailed from Kala's hands in a high, strong, brilliant arc. Matt saw it coming and put the brakes on his forward motion. He pivoted to the right, reversed course and indicated with a hand that one if the two field players of their team should attempt a block. He could see that Kala was quick on her heels and that she would pass him. Matt took a leap and caught the ball tucking it into the crook of his arm he landed on a stationary square with a grunt. The crowd roared and shouted their holographic support. Plumeri was up and running down the middle. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kala high and tight. The Naussican team wasn't stupid and they went after Kala. Knowing that Matt would want to pass the ball to her when she got close to the goal. The field players had both been tackled and were down. The Klingon teammate was too far away to catch up.

Matt pumped his legs up the side of the court as fast as he could with a Naussican after him. When he got as high as he could on the side, he spat out his mouth piece and yelled, "KALA!" and threw the ball with a center, flat angle towards her. Then, he was tackled by a Naussican and slammed against the side of the court in a thud. The ball sailed high above and was bending towards Kala now. The Naussican goal keeper slapped his hands together and squared his shoulder to defend his post. The crowd was on their feet and cheered her on. "CATCH IT!" they yelled.

Kala whirled around from the standing position she was in, her hair sticking to the sweat on her face. Without needed further prompting Kala's hands raised as the ball arced towards her through the air. Her eyes locked on she leaped catching the ball in both hands before falling into a forward roll. The ball slipped awkwardly out from under her as she righted herself. "NO!" She shouted diving for the ball again.

A burly Naussican scooped the ball up away from Kala and took off with it. The crowd shouted "AWWW!" as the first goal of the game now was in the hands of the Naussican team. Matthew was up and on his feet to intercept. The Klingon now caught up and both he and Plumeri jumped on an ascending square. The Naussican player, like a bulldozer, barreled forward. The Klingon player rounded him and spun him off his feet but the Naussican quickly passed the ball to a smaller player on their team. Matt saw his chance. Putting the mouthpiece back in, he sighted the player and ran after him. Plumeri jumped from square to square tracking the Naussican below. The square ahead of him was in his way and Matt had to jump off. He aimed as best he could and used his body to crash into the Naussican sending the ball bouncing off the side of the court and bouncing back behind them. The Nuassican was pissed and was rough with Plumeri by sending him into the wall. The holodeck safeties protected them from serious injury. A Human player now said to Kala, "Here comes the ball Kala!"

Catching her name Kala again clocked the ball, this time more confident and determined to score she jumped over one opposing team's block and slid under a moving square before catching the ball. Jumping to her feet and with a renewed interest darted towards the goal where no only one Naussican stood growling. Faking to the right she accomplished putting him off balance before using all her weight and momentum to barge into him sending him barreling to the floor. Triumphant she threw the ball with a large grunt.

The crowd cheered in support as finally, her endeavors paid off and the buzzer indicating a goal had been scored sounded. "YES!" She shouted, "HAVE THAT!" Kala was radiating jubilance!

Plumeri pushed the Naussican away and went out into the court smiling and clapping. He slow jogged towards Kala. Enjoying her victory almost as much as she was. The other holographic players congratulated her. The buzzer sounded. End of the first set. Matt jogged over to her, "Now that's the way we do that! Really nice! Really, really nicely done!" he said enthusiasticaly and gave her some high-five slaps. "You are a natural! So...what do you think now ay? Gots to use brains and muscle in the Squares" he said smiling and offering her a fist bump. "You're quick, you're fast...a natural driver."

Still exuberant from the goal she had scored she nodded and bumped her fist to his "Its, ok I guess" she teased shrugging before again her team mates congratulated her, a little too excited she hugged Plumeri. "Sorry, got a little carried away" she said peeling herself from him. She glanced to the clock above the set timer and groaned audibly "Im going to be late" she had already surpassed her own holodeck time and now was most certainly going to get a scolding from her mother for calling her late for the second time in a row.

He laughed, pausing the game and welcomed the hug. It felt so good and he was starved for intimacy. Even so, Starfleet has strict regulations concerning officers and NCO's. He had tried for so long now to abide those regulations. But he was so lonely too. When the hug was over he said, "Don't apologize; I don't mind" he smiled back. After she groaned about the clock he wanted to say more. He started with, "Hey Kala, uh...I could...' and then he stopped and thought to himself, ~You could what? Teach her more about the game? Help her with the pennant? It's just a game man!~

He struggled with feelings that came at him all the sudden and he couldn't think fast enough. This is why he didn't like 'feelings' as they tended to just get in the way. He took three steps towards her and searched her face. He was blowing it but good. ~Dammit!~ stupid feelings. "Do you have plans for later? Do you want to have dinner?" ~Gawd you sound stupid man!~ He pushed that down and managed, "I mean...dinner with me. Do you want maybe to meet for dinner? With me? Maybe later?" ~Ugh! that hurt!~

Kala's face grew warm and turned a slight shade of red, even more red than it was from running around. "Ok" Said said simply caught a little off guard from the suggestions, she gathered it wouldn't hurt to have dinner with the man, just an innocent dinner. "Where?" She added quickly after.

He smiled, "Really? OK, wherever. How about the Callisto bar? Nice views of the...volcano I guess?" He shrugged if that was OK? "When do you get off your shift? I can meet you there."

"That sounds like it would be nice," Kala said her heart returning to a normal resting heartbeat, "If you can wait till 2000hrs tomorrow I'll be just finishing work, we're in between shifts at the moment because of all the work being done. "You're doing just fine Plumeri" She added with a slight teasing note, "I best get off thank you for taking the time to teach me." Kala leaned in and hugged Matthew again holding the hug a moment longer than before. "See you soon I hope."

He returned the hug and had a stupid grin on his face, "Cool. Yeah. I'll see you later then. 2000 hours. I'll be so hungry! See you! I'll just finish up my game here." He waved 'goodbye' very happy inside. This was going to be something to look forward to. After the doors closed behind her he couldn't stop smiling, "Yeah! Game on!" and he resumed the Parresis Squares game.

[OFF]

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Chief Petty Officer Kala Gorvel
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Wyatt]

LTJG Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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