Posted by Ensign Franklin Gallagher (Security Officer) in Gym

Posted by Lieutenant Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Gym

Posted by Commander Heathcliff Rinker (Counselor) in Gym
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“A vid,” Rinker raised an eyebrow. “Of you playing tennis… that is a little narcissistic. I have much better things I’m not allowed to make videos of than you.”

Rinker

Mardusk heard the comment and laughed hard enough he missed the next two balls that came his way. “I do not even want to know, Doc.” and then he set himself on the base line and said “Okay. Let’s get this over with. You serve. It’s ‘serve’, right?”

Mardusk, CoS

Rinker shook his head. He held two balls in one hand and smoothly threw up one in the sky, before striking it with an over the top spin. It allowed him to hit it with a slightly higher arc over the net, but not with nearly the speed of a typical serve. It would be easier to return if Mardusk could recognize the action of the ball. If not immediately, it wouldn’t take him long to figure out that as the racket cut across the ball the ball would spin in the opposite direction.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Rinker called as the ball left his racket.

Rinker

Mardusk’s eyes focused on the ball and as it came down and bounced up in front of him, he swung at it with a decent forehand… and the ball bounced off the racket and flew in a straight line across the net, past the court markings, and slammed into the wall behind Rinker.

Mardusk scowled at the offending ball, offending racket, and then the Counselor. “Why do I get the feeling I have been set up here, Doc?” he said with a slight grin before motioning for another serve.

Mardusk, CoS

Rinker continued to smirk. “No, not really, I just picked a game where the strongest doesn’t have a significant advantage… finesse, technique, control… all things you have or can learn… but you just can’t crush the ball and think you’re going to win.” He bounced the ball a few times.

“Keep the racket parallel to the net, and when you follow through bring your racket upward… it will put topspin on the ball why taking some power off. It should help keep the ball down, you just have to aim just over the net.” Rinker’s smirk returned… it might take a couple of serves before he got it right.

Rinker

“Take a look at me. ‘Finesse’ isn’t exactly a strong point for me.” he said with a laugh. But he took the instruction, made a few practice swings and then said “Ok. I think I got it. Let’s do this.” He set his feet apart, and held the racket with both hands so if he needed to switch hands he was ready.

Mardusk, CoS

Rinker served the ball again, this time a little ‘flatter’ taking some of the spin off and slowing down the ball even more. It should be easier to hit because of the speed and the increased bounce. Mardusk looked more like he wanted to tackle the ball as opposed to hitting it with a racket, but that would come with time.

Rinker

Gravel waited for the bounce and, keeping his eye on the ball, swung at it and hit it flat in the middle of the racket. The ball went over the net, but landed out of bounds. “Well… at least it’s better than last time.”

Mardusk, CoS

Rinker’s smile dipped just slightly… the security officer was learning quickly… too quickly. “Can’t have you beating me so quickly… You should have more respect for your elders and pretend not to pick up the game.”

Rinker tossed another ball in the air and gave him the exact same serve, demonstrating a degree of repetition that only came with a great deal of practice.

Rinker.

bump

Gravel simply smiled at Rinker as the ball came over the net. Again focusing on the ball and hitting it in the middle of the racket, he sent it back at Rinker in a controlled and slow arc, landing it squarely within the box.

Mardusk, CoS

Rinker chuckled slightly as he fought off the urge to crush the ball. The return was a meatball and if he had ever gotten a ball that easy he would have scored with a laser-like crossing shot. Instead he tossed an equally bouncy and slow return right into Mardusk’s forehand. Even an amateur would have no problem with it unless he got too excited and tried to over-power it.

Rinker

Mardusk did get excited. And he did try to over-power it. Fortunately (unfortunately), he was pretty dexterous for his size and sent a crushing forehand shot across the net… and directly at Rinker, on a straight beeline towards his face. Even as the ball left the racket, Gravel’s facial expression showed that the shot was unintentional, but still traveled at a velocity more akin to a bullet than a tennis ball.

Mardusk, CoS

Heathcliff wasn’t on his toes and ready for a shot quiet like that. If he though Mardusk was going on head hunting mission, it wouldn’t have a chance of hitting him. But the surprise and the speed of the shot only allowed him to spin slightly and pull his head back lessening the impact… akin to rolling with the punch. It despite all his efforts hit him right on the snout.. eliciting a ‘ummph.’ and a groan.

“Well technically, that would be your point because it hit me before it went out of bounds.” Rinker commented as he turned slowly back with his hand over his nose… “Am I bleeding?”

Rinker

Mardusk dropped the racket and came over to Rinker’s side. He lifted the man’s hand off his nose gently and looked. “No… no thanks to me. Really sorry about that.” and he cast a glance at the racket Rinker had. “These things should come with warning labels or something.” and he looked at the Counselor. “Seriously though, I’m really sorry.” and he looked at Rinker’s nose again. “Doesn’t look broken, but it is gonna have a really nasty bruise if you don’t get it taken care of. How about we postpone our game, and I’ll buy you a drink in the Lounge after we swing by Sick bay?”

Mardusk, CoS

“A tennis ball. You want me to go to the infirmary for taking a tennis ball off the nose.” He shook his head, “No thank you. Mr. Mardusk, I’d be hearing about that for the next two five year missions.” He could feel the blood rush to his face and his nose in specific.

“I have a med pouch in my quarters. I can take care of it myself. ” If Mardusk didn’t know Rinker was a psychiatrist and a psychologist. He had a medical degree and was more than qualified to handle most medical tasks himself.

Rinker

bump

“Well then, let’s head that direction. Once you patch yourself up, first round is on me.” he said and put a friendly, albeit gigantic hand, on Rinker’s shoulder and began moving towards the exit. “Really sorry about that. Next match, you can smack one at me.” he added.

Mardusk, CoS

“I’m afraid if I hit you with a ball… we would be putting a bandage on it… as opposed to you.”

Frank walked in with a towel and a ton of energy to let loose on the bench press. “Lieutenant Mardusk whenever you’re done would you mind spotting me?”

Gallagher, Security

OOC technically we are on the holodeck right now.... but whatever the more the merrier.

Luke