Posted by Lieutenant Kyle Anders (Chief of Security) in Side-Sim: Gym Junkie (Open to all)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Vanessa Lofton (Counselor) in Side-Sim: Gym Junkie (Open to all)
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Cadet Rodier entered the Challenger‘s gymnasium, not for the first time (it had been on his tour of the ship), but certainly his first time out-of-uniform. After the more formal setting of the rest of the ship, it felt odd to step into such a space, dressed only in basketball shorts and an old Academy shirt, which was only accentuated by the presence of the Lieutenant Commander. Henry felt remarkably comfortable around her, but that officer-cadet dynamic was still there.

Hesitating slightly at the door, Henry entered, choosing a treadmill two to the right of Vanessa. Activating the health monitor, he looked through the machine’s available settings, hoping his favorite from the Academy was still there. It was, and with a few clicks (he clicked the wrong button a couple times, glancing with some embarrassment to his left) a rural road appeared in front of him, lined on both sides with layers of trees, many showing the bright reds and yellows of early autumn. The Cadet then switched on the treadmill, starting with a walk and slowly moving up to a jog. He absentmindedly started to hum Kryptonite, a favorite classical tune of his.

~ Cadet Henry Rodier - Security

Vanessa’s vision was focused on a point off in the distance, her ears hearing only the rhythm of her own footfalls on the treadmill, so she was blissfully unaware of Henry’s issues with the treadmill. She didn’t notice him at all until a new beat interrupted the static echo of her pace, and she glanced to her right. He was ramping up his pace and she made eye contact with him briefly, offering a nod and a half smile before focusing back on the view ahead of her. A quick look at the treadmill display showed she was nearing the three mile mark, her goal for the run. Just a couple more minutes. What next? she mused.

She slowed her run when the machine beeped that she had reached the target distance, walking for a few minutes to allow her body a cool down before she deactivated it and stepped off. She pulled a towel and water bottle from her bag, wiping the sweat from her face and arms before taking a deep swing from the bottle before replacing them both and carrying the bag across the room to the calisthenics and combat area. The people occupying it earlier had left, so it was empty now. She pulled a judo-gi from her bag and tied it on, beltless.

=^= Computer, male opponent, judo program… 3. Random. =^= The computer beeped in response and a male human opponent appeared in the same uniform. The two bowed to each other, and then began circling. He reached and grabbed the shoulder of her uniform, pulling toward him. She stepped in and dropped to one knee, grabbing his arm on the way down. The momentum shift spun him up and over to slam on the mat. She quickly stood again, while he shook his head - an affectation, of course, as he was computer generated, but designed to react as a human opponent would.

This time she didn’t wait and attacked first. He was heavier than she, and taller, so leverage was difficult, but she applied a circular upward jerk at the end, increasing torque, and he again flew to the ground. It was clear he was trying to position himself to counter as he landed, but that jerk had off-balanced him, and she roped an armbar before he could do anything else.

The two stood again, eyeing each other, and then clashed again.

Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS

Henry heard sounds of exertion behind him, and, glancing down, saw that he had already surpassed his goal of 3.2 miles, and had gotten lost in the rhythm of the trees. That number was what his coach had made him run in middle school twice a week, what he ran almost every day in the days leading up to his enrollment at the Academy. He now took a heavy swig from his water bottle, pressed a button (choosing correctly this time), and the treadmill slowed, turning off a minute later.

With a few jumpy steps, Rodier stepped off the machine, took another sip of water, and, after a brief break, started doing jumping jacks for a few minutes, all the while watching the Lt. Cmdr. in her epic brawl. He had not been untempted to ask her to spar, but after considering it he realized it might be overstepping his bounds. Nevertheless, he needed to exercise, and as he made his way to the leg press in the corner of the room, Henry wondered how he would fare in a bout. He didn’t doubt his abilities, nor his ability to win, but having just watched the Counselor body-slam someone (even just a hologram) onto the floor, he wondered what other surprises she might have in store.

~ Cadet Henry Rodier - Security

Vanessa hit the ground and spun to her knees, then paused to gasp for breath as her diaphragm struggled to find a rhythm. She held her hand palm out and the hologram relaxed. She stayed kneeling for a moment, catching her breath, before standing. She tapped her hands to her sides, and the hologram did the same, and they bowed to each other.

=^= Computer, judo practice, non-competiton, resistance level 6. =^= The hologram shifted into a fighting stance, hands up.

“Shoulder grab,” she ordered,” and he grabbed the shoulder of her gi. She spent the next few minutes refining several techniques until she was satisfied with them, and her muscles started to burn. Again she bowed, then dismissed the hologram and drank deeply from her water bottle.

She spotted Henry still here, working on the weights. “So, Cadet Rodier,” she called to him as she removed her gi top. “How are you finding your stay aboard the Challenger so far?”

Lt. Cmdr. Lofton - CNS

Kyle snuck in behind Lofton and leaned against the wall with that same child like grin as he watched the Counselor and one of his strongest cadets work their way through the makeshift gym space.

-Lieutenant Kyle Anders: Chief of Security-

Henry paused in his leg presses. “Well, I’m still getting used to the routine, but so far it’s been good. It’s great to finally be where I’ve been working towards, and Lieutenant Anders has been more than welcoming.” As simple a routine as it had been, it was Rodier’s dream. In fact, he had a call with his parents later that night to tell them just that.

Hesitating before continuing, the Cadet wondered if Lofton was doing her job as the Counselor, or simply trying to make small talk. “What about you, Counselor? Surely you can’t have been aboard long and kept up judo work like that” he said with a smile.

~ Cadet Henry Rodier - Security