Circus Exercitium (Said)

[Jane Fields]

==

[Samira Khasim]

==Holodeck==

Seeing it was some time before getting to know the ship, Nira made for the holodeck. She wanted to get to training, to practice, and she was rested after her journey to Titania. She was anxious to hit the holodeck.

As it so happened, there was a unique training scenario she found on the starbase, and so she brought a copy with her: Circus Exercitium; the former word referring to arenas for entertainment, not just the typical circus; the latter word referred to the word "exercise," so it fitted the training aspect. It was essentially a training arena where people are free to spar or wait as they watch the practicing face holographic waves. It even came with a ranged practice mode so Nira could practice her shooting.

The arena range can wait momentarily, and Nira was anxious to practice her melee skills. Once the program was active, she stepped in and there was a circular arena with seats. Anybody available could come and watch, but Nira didn't care.

"Computer, level one training level, starting mode," Nira ordered. "Begin."

An opponent appeared, and Nira did her tumble for drawing her blades from her boots, a way to practice unsheathing her daggers for close combat.

[Samira Khasim]

Okay, it seemed too easy...ah, the sparring can wait. Time for target practice.

She breathed in calm; she needed this, especially given whenever she thought of Sothrick. She needed to focus.

"Computer, phaser and display targets. Circus Shooting Range, Level Three training level. Begin."

The targets appeared. Keeping her focus, Nira shot as many targets as she could.

==Tag anybody who's interested in joining in==

[Amila Ra'an]

Amila had just finished watching a message from her parents and needed to get some air. Her relationship with them was complicated at best. Communication felt forced and when Amila did respond she never felt like she could really say what she wanted to. She changed into lightweight joggers, running shoes, and a white tank top and planned for a run on a holographic beach. Something long and hot, with crashing waves, she thought. Nothing like a little physical torture and the illusion of nature to get your mind off of things.

She was busy trying to not think about the message and didn't notice the occupied light on the control panel outside of the holodeck and found herself walking right into a running program and one of the new transfers shooting at targets.

"I am so sorry!" Amila exclaimed. "It wasn't locked, and I wasn't paying attention. I should have looked. Sorry again. I can just go run at the gym," Amila offered somewhat embarrassed about barging in.

==Tag Nira==

[Samira Khasim]

As Nira was taking in her shots, she whirled to try to hit another target and ended up having a sight path right into a walking officer. She broke off and gasped.

"Computer, freeze program," she ordered, and she breathed in relief. She recognized the officer who walked in: Amila Ra'an, from the party.

"Ah. Apologies, Amila," Nira said, and then she smiled. "I didn't mind it wasn't locked; the program is open for anybody. It's basically a training program, and can cover exercise, so it can function as a gym in the holodeck. Circus Exercitum, that's what I call the program," she added with a smile.

"Given "circus" more refers to circle," she explained, "it's a perfect arena for any kinds of training. With spars, with exercise, hence the second name, and with other talents. Like to join me?" Nira offered. "We can do some exercise - obstacle course running, for instance. Or do a training range, like I was earlier."

==Tag Amila==

[Amila Ra'an]

"Nira right? I hope the safety was on," Amila said good naturedly when she realized she had stepped in front of a target.

"Um," Amila looked around as she considered the Security Officer's offer. She turned around to look at the target behind her. "You know, I can't remember the last time I fired a phaser. We qualify every year, but that's about it. A few years ago there was an incident on an away mission, but security and command pretty much threw us science officers behind them while they secured the situation. I practiced for a couple of months after that, but I didn't stick with it."

Amila turned back to Nira with a somewhat sheepish look. "Do you mind?" She asked.

==Tag Nira==

[Samira Khasim]

"That's right, and the safety is on," Nira said with assurance. And at the offer to practice her shooting - seeing that she couldn't remember it (which meant it was far too long) - Nira nodded.

"Of course. I'd be glad to help you refresh your memory for phaser firing," she said. "Computer, Level One targeting."

And targets emerged on one side of the circle, in typical shooting gallery fashion. "Okay, let's start basic and we can go from there," she said, her eye being assessing.

==Tag Amila==

[Amila Ra'an]

"Alright... Computer, Phaser Type 2," Amila called out causing a phaser to appear in front of her. She took a hold of it and tested its weight in her hand before squaring up to the target. "I think I can still handle this part. Stationary target. no pressure other than a senior security officer looking over your shoulder."

Amila checked the settings then held out her arm and took aim at the first target. Not a bullseye, but she hit the inner circle. She aimed again and hit near her first shot. On her third try she almost grazed the bullseye line, but on her fourth, she was on the outskirts of the inner circle, almost in the red. She stopped briefly after that and dropped her arm and let out a sigh and scrutinized the target again. Five and six were much like the fourth, still hitting the yellow, but just barely. Her first three shots being much better than the last three.

She looked over at Nira. "Well that went the wrong direction."

[Samira Khasim]

Nira smiled. "It's okay, it's probably a show of rustiness. I was the same way when I started out on the range. The trick is to keep focus as best as possible. Basic aims can be okay, and, if you're in a real fight, at least you'll be able to get other nonvital body parts. Depending on the setting of the phaser, it'll be easy to down a targeted person through stun or kill. If on the highest setting, well, it probably won't matter where you hit," she finished with a shrug.

"It's a good call, focusing on the bullseye. I won't be asking for demonstrations of marksmanship, but try not to drift your aim away," she finished.

[Amila Ra'an]

"I'll keep that in mind," Amilla responded with a nod. "So what level were you just practicing at?" Amila asked as she stepped over to the next target.

[Samira Khasim]

"Level Three," Nira said. "Advanced difficulty level, with targets being mobile. Computer activate."

The targets appeared around and they moved. "Watch, please," Nira said to Amila, and then she proceeded to shoot. Her eye coordination enabled her to get as many targets as possible in a time limit.

Once the time limit was up, Nira had her score. "Twenty targets in thirty seconds," she said. "I only got this good from constant practice. And even then, never necessary to get a bullseye."

[Amila Ra'an]

Amila watched carefully, dividing her attention between the targets and how they moved around, and Said's focus and movements as she aimed and fired. Peripheral awareness was key, though Amila, something her brothers taught her well when they were teaching her to fight as a child.

"Nice work," Amila commented with a sincere nodded, impressed at the the security officer's speed and accuracy with the weapon. "I think I can try this one. No need to worry about the bullseye right? This isn't darts," Amila winked at who she hoped was becoming a new friend.

"Ready?" Amila did a small wiggle of sorts relaxing the muscles in her body before initiating the program. She readied her weapon. "Computer, activate Level Three."

As the targets appeared Amila imagined they were Breen soldiers and her weapon was set to kill. Without worrying about where on the target she hit, she moved a lot more quickly through the program, the moving targets and the pressure she had put on herself sending a course of adrenaline through her body. When the program ended it came as a surprise to Amila - she was on the balls of her feet ready to move either direction and flinched when the targets suddenly disappeared. She turned to look at Nira, slight breathless and feeling a little sweaty from the adrenaline, but smiling from the rush.

"Fifteen in thirty, is that terrible?" Amila asked. "I know I missed a few." She wiped her palms on her pants and shook them out.

[Samira Khasim]

"Actually, it wasn't bad," Nira said. "Plenty of schools would give it a B minus grade, but I'd count that as good. Those were good reflexes," Nira added.