Phaser training

Posted on Tue Nov 29th, 2022 @ 2:37pm by

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Weapons practice holodeck.
Timeline: Back post.

CJ stood on the holodeck with the firing range program running, he picked up a type two phaser aimed and fired at the target. At Commander Wagnor’s suggestion some holodeck time had been reserved for people who wanted to learn phaser skills. It was his turn to over see the program, so far nobody else had shown up.

Paige was hesitating outside of the holodeck again, it was the third time in less than a half hour that she'd walked by with the intent on going in and had not. One part of her was angry she'd been forced to this state, and the other part was embarassed that she'd never learned how to shoot anything more archaic than a bow. More of her was angry though, and she finally raised her chin and entered the Holodeck.

"Good afternoon ma'am," Boucher smiled. "I mean Paige."

He corrected himself quickly remembering that she didn't like being called ma'am.

Her mouth quirked upward in a smile at the correction "It's kind of you to remember that, CJ."

I do my best, I'm glad to see you here." He with his boyish grin, "with this simulation the phasers are perfectly harmless. All the holodeck safeties are on.

He gave her a warm smile smile and Motioned to the weapons sitting on the table.

"Of course they are. " Her voice came out much more bitter than she'd intended and she heaved a huge sigh. "Sorry." she apologized, to him, knowing it wasn't CJ's fault she was in this situation.

CJ nodded and went back to target shooting, giving her a chance to compose herself.

"Can you make it so I'm not a liability?" she asked quietly, something tight in her voice.

"You aren't a liability, I sorry anyone gave you that impression." He smiled, "Ren... err Commander Wagnor is gets a little to intense when it comes to safety. I will teach you to use a Phaser. Whether you will learn it or not, you don't strike me as a damsel distress type. I have a feeling when the chips are down and you're gonna do just fine."

"No one is insensitive enough to say it to my face you mean." That tiny little smile was back on her lips, but this time it was clear it was born out of hiding how she felt about that statement.

"I don't speak for the whole crew but that's definitely not what I mean." CJ smiled. "Now I've offered phaser training to people of all ages and never failed to improve their proficiency."

"I appreciate it. I'm a good student for the most part." This time the smile was genuine and warmed her eyes, to a pale green.

"We'll continue with the Type two." CJ smiled. He handed her the phaser.

Taking it from him she nodded slowly. "Type two. Holographic so no possibility of me injuring you or myself.'

In answer CJ picked up the other phaser pointed as foot and fired, beam hit his foot and an alarm buzzed.

"Please practice proper safety," the computer said.

"Sorry that was a demonstration." He said with a boyish grin.

Paige gave an audible squeak as she jumped back from the table and then giggled weakly. "You know just how to give a girl a heart attack."

"If it's any consolation to you I'll have to fill out an instant report for that and probably get probably get cussed out by Commander Wagnor." Ha laughed.

"No doubt you earned it with that.." Her brief flash of panic was fading, and it was starting to be funny. Her smile was hesitant but genuine.

"Now that you can see how safe you I'm hoping your hand eye coordination is good as it seems." CJ smiled.

"I'd like to think it's pretty good, but..." trailing off she shrugged in helplessness. "No real idea, so talk me through it."

"Of course," He "Let's start with your stance, Get your feet shoulder with a part with your dominant foot slightly forward."

Glancing down, she adjusted her feet so that they were shoulder width apart, and slid her dominant foot forward. It was a little awkward, but when she shifted her weight onto her back foot it felt better. "Is that right?"

"How does it feel, do you feel like your balanced?" CJ asked. I can show you the Fleet way, but your not and you don't need to be. Let's learn to do it your way."

"I guess I do. I've never really thought about balance before in this scenario." If he wanted balanced, that she could do she thought. Her body shifted without thought, bringing her more into profile but the hand that held the phaser steadied. So too did her breath, and it felt like she was holding a saber instead of a phaser.

CJ nodded in approval, "now point and shoot."

Instinctively she rolled her shoulder back to bring the sight of the phaser to eye level and she squeezed the trigger as she'd been shown. She was surprised to heat the target, and not only hit it, hit the line of the first ring of color outside of the bulls-eye.

"Looks like you're a natural," CJ said with a grin.

"Luck" she countered quietly, her mouth agape.

"That's a load of hooey girl," Boucher laughed. "Now if you'd been aiming at a moving target I might agree, but you just hit a stationary target twenty meters."

"I...Ive never...." she stammered, staring at the target and shaking her head in disbelief.

"Here," CJ press a few buttons on the control in front of him. Four targets appeared at about the same distance as the one she just hit. "Take your time point and shoot."

She focused on the next target and repeated exactly what he'd told her before for the second of the four targets, only to hit the target in practically the same place on the opposite side of the black circle.

"Like I said you've got a good eye, do you use a bow or a crossbow?" He smiled

"Yes I have shot a bow." She mentioned it pausing to think about it. "I wasn't much good at it."

"Your hand eye coordination is impressive."

"Thanks thanks. "She said her voice the tiniest bit shrill and squeaky from the shock of her unanticipated skill. Her eyes flickered between the two targets that she'd hit nearly dead in the black, and she wondered how it was possible for her to be good at something like this.

"Remind me not to give you a reason to shoot me," Boucher grinned.

"I can't imagine there'd ever be a reason that I'd want to point a weapon at someone, especially you."

"Stanger things have happened," he chuckled.

"I don't even want to think about such a thing" Paige shuddered and shook her head. "I...ugh"

"Hey, I hope you won't have to." CJ said softly.

"I'm not even going to entertain the possibility " she said with a firm nod of her head.

"I'm sure ship security will do our best to help you with that," Boucher said quietly. "The galaxy a dangerous place knowing how protect yourself is important. If more of us listened to you science types things might be different, but here we are. So I'm going to show you how to use this weapon and do my best to make sure you n ever have shot anything but targets."

"I... appreciate that. I am not a fighter by nature " she admitted quietly.

"Fortunately I'm unfortunately I'm never sure which, fighting is a natural part of our survival instinct." He sighed. "I've seen a lot of good people protect themselves and their loved ones when they needed to."

"I suppose you are right."

"Of course I am," He gave her his boyish grin. "I'm the instructor."

Paige couldn't help but giggle again at his smile and easy confidence. She was not immune to his charming nature. It made her more at ease.