Getting Along Swimmingly
Posted on Sat May 7th, 2022 @ 9:08am by Lieutenant Junior Grade Thex sh'Zoarhi & Captain Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Wed May 11th, 2022 @ 2:47am
1,368 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Gym - Deck 7 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD010 1500 hrs
A smile was on Thex face as she stepped into the ship's small gym. The fact the room was empty didn't bother her, she could exercise alone, but the fact no one was using the rooms small holodeck made her happy. Stepping over she activated the swimming pool program she began removing her gym clothes until she stood in her swimsuit. With a short stride to the diving board she stepped on letting her mind go into a state of complete calm before jumping off and into the warm water below,
Another person came into the Gymnasium, Edmund Merrick, wanting to check the place out and also get some exercise. The place was quiet, and he didn't see any evidence of anyone there, and he started to head towards the treadmill when he decided to take a look around. He noticed that there was a small holosuite and it was occupied. He checked to see if it had the security indicator of someone occupying it and was a do not disturb. It didn't have it, with a sense of curiosity, he poked his head inside. He was amazed at what he saw, a swimming pool with a diving board. He stepped inside and let the door close behind him.
Thex had been practising her diving when she heard the faint sound of the door's opening. Rising she pushed her long white hair from her face as she gave the new arrival a smile." Hello, there you didn't have this reserved had you?" she inquired.
"No, I actually don't. I just got curious as to what sort of program was running. I do apologize for interrupting you." giving a slight smile. "I'm Edmund Merrick, Marine XO. Do you mind if I watch your dives?" he looking at the lovely woman there.
" She's a free ship and I didn't lock the door." Thex replied from the diving board as returned the smile. " I'm Lieutenant Junior Grade Thex sh'Zoarhi by the way it's nice to meet you Edmund." She added as she readied herself fro another dive and with a slightly smaller jump lept high into the air and into the warm pool waters.
Her dive reminded him of the group of Mermaids he had been commissioned to sail in a boat at one time. They did their graceful dives off his ship. "That was a great dive there." he remarked when she broke the surface, Merrick moving over towards the edge of the pool, and crouching down.
" Thanks. " Thex said as she swam over to the side and put her arms on the side of the pool. " Been swimming since i could remember and the artistic side since i started the academy."
"Artistic side like synchronized swimming or the graceful way you dive off the board and into a pool of water." giving another smile. "I shall need to remember this program, well, at least the swimming part of it when I come to the gym next."
" A little of both." the replied with a sly smile. She had been a busy girl at the academy. " I can send you the program after I'm done if you'd like."
"I would definitely like that, very much. Tell me, what did you do at the Academy. The sort of swimming you did. Also, what else do you like to do?" Edmund rolling up the legs of his sweats and taking off his joggers to dangle his feet in the water.
" Oh, a little of everything I could manage. Synchronized, diving, free, scuba and Olympic. I'm always up for trying anything especially if a friend enjoys it. Growing up in an Andorian doomsday cult will make you really appreciate life if you can escape it." Thex said as she leaned back and allowed herself to float near the surface.
"That is impressive." Edmund paused for a few moments then asked. "Care for some company? That water looks rather inviting." it did look inviting, though he was feeling like he maybe intruding as well. "Or I can leave you to your exercise and I'll head back to the other area and do my work out"
" I'd have locked the door if I wouldn't be up for company." the andorian grinned in reply.
Edmund's cheeks turned a bit dark pink then he laughed. "Well, I will be right back." he was out of the area quickly, then a few minutes later he came back in with a towel and was in a swimsuit. "Okay here I am." giving a smile, then he dove into the water. He rose to the surface, "This is really nice." swimming over near Thex.
" It is. Doesn't beat the waters off California, but it will do." Thex responded.
"Well at times that's what you gotta do is, make do with what you can. And I agree the water off of California is great. For both swimming and sailing." Edmund responded.
" Never tried sailing on Andor's seas, but I've heard it worse than earth arctic oceans," Thex responded.
He gave an unconscious shiver, "I have heard of that so.. never go sailing on the arctic sea without good warm gear. Well for someone like me that is. so.." he went quiet, for a moment, then he asked, "What sort of foods do you like to eat?
" Oh, I'll try anything once. Earth food some of my favourite. Far more flavour than my homes." Came her reply.
"That sounds a bit like me, I'll try something once but it is something i don't like I won't eat it anymore. It has to have a good flavor. So any favorite sort of Earth food you like to eat?"
" Any with cheese. Nachos are one of my favourite. " Thex said looking across the pool? " Race?" She asked
"Sound good, care to wager?" giving a teasing grin. There was a good chance he'd possibly lose due to her being more of an athletic swimmer, but hey why not it would be fun.
" What wager do you have in mind? " The andorian inquired.
"The one who wins gets taken out to dinner?" Edmund giving a smile. "That would make the one who wins and the one who comes in last, a winner as well as both will get to eat." his smile broadening into a grin.
" Very well. " Thex said as she paddled over to one of the sides. " On three?" She inquired.
"Yes, on three." paddling to the other side of Thex, "Okay ready.. One, Two, Three!" he pushing himself off the side of the pool and cutting through the water. His strokes were strong and sure.
Thex took off with a speed that one would only see in an Olympic athlete or other professional swimmers. She could feel her blood pumping as she made her way through the warm water until with a half punch her fist slapped the side of the pool.
Edmund got to the side of the pool a few seconds behind her and slapped his hand on the rim, then rose upwards to look at Thex, "Looks like you are the winner of this race. Okay like I said in the wager, you won a meal. Where do you want to eat, and when?" grinning through the trickle of water coming from his hair. He pushed back the hair to stop the water from getting into his eyes.
" The lounge I'll call you when I see what times I'm free." Thex said as a five-minute alarm started beeping. " Well, times almost up." she said disappointingly.
"Yes, indeed." Edmund looking up when the 5 minute alarm went off. He got out of the water and held out a hand to Thex, to give her a hand up. He then walked over to get his towel and dried himself off. "I'll see you later, Thex." And with that he disappeared from the holosuite.
" See you later." Thex called after him as she dried herself off.
A Joint Post By
First Lieutenant Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Thex sh'Zoarhi
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
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