Target Practice "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.17 2040

Hunter was on his way down to see Dr. Northrop to see if she was adjusting okay. As the doors of the turbolift she was waiting outside. Hunter smiled, "What a coincidence, Doctor, I was just on my way to see you."

"Well...you found me." She smiled slightly, "What can I do for you, Captain?"

He stepped off the turbo lift, "I was just going to see if you were managing alright, I trust ops found you decent quarters?

"Yes....my quarters are just fine. And I'm fine.....managing ok." Alyssa leaned back against the wall.

Hunter nodded at the box she was carrying, "an archeology relic Doctor?"

"No...it's not an artifact. It's my personal protection." She smirked.

Hunter turned his head sideways, "protection?" He smiled, "what's in there?"

She scowled, then opened the box. "Phaser pistols," turning it around so he could see them.

Hunter, who himself was an avid collector of weapons smiled, "Very nice Doctor...May I?"

She nodded. "They're weighted for me....so they'll probably feel a little off in your hands....but, have a look."

Hunter respectfully picked one up and inspected it. "Nice pieces, they look like they've been around." He said, placing it back in its place.

She looked into the box. The nickel plating was a bit scratched and nicked. "Yeah....well....they've gotten me out of some tricky situations."

Hunter chuckled, "Why do I get the feeling that understatements are a habit with you Doctor?" he said looking at her with feigned suspicion.

She gave him a smile."Perhaps because I don't like to toot my own horn?"

Hunter squinted slightly, "So the next obvious question is, where are you going with a pair of custom phasers?"

"Holodeck. I need to get some target practice in. I only scored 90% on the Phaser Quals. That's poor for me." She shrugged.

Hunter nodded, "I wouldn't be happy with that either, Mind if I join you Doctor?"

Northrop shrugged, "If you'd like, Sir."

As Hunter turned around the turbo lift doors opened, "After you Doctor," After stepping into the Turbolift, Alyssa pulled out a pair of leg holsters from the box and began to strap them on.....so she could holster her pistols.

Hunter turned and watched, "You seem to have a penchant for non-standard gear." he said with a chuckle.

"Well...you go for functional when you do the sort of work I do. retrieval is a dangerous line of work. They might have been dead for a LONG time....but they really don't want you getting their stuff."

The turbodoor opened and the pair walked toward the holodecks, "I see," said Hunter.

She nodded, then began tapping on the console next to the door. The doors opened up....showing what certainly wasn't a standard training program. It looked like an old temple....with some high tech hints to it. "I hope you're armed...or this could hurt." Confidently, she walked in and disappeared around the corner.

Hunter took up his side arm and checked the setting, not knowing what to expect he moved to a defensive spot

Hunter could hear her footsteps on the hard stone floor echoing off the hard walls and ceiling. She hadn't drawn her weapons yet....but then again, nothing was happening as of yet.

That was...until the first target appeared. He was a fairly ugly looking fellow.....and he brought a bunch of his friends. She drew and began firing.....each shot taking down a different target.

"Nice shooting Doctor," he said.

Hunter heard movement behind them and pivoted firing at targets behind them. Alyssa kept herself in motion, shots whizzing past......her firing back.

The number of targets steadily increased, Hunter rolled to another defensive position and continued to return fire.

After approximately ten minutes, the targets, both fallen and otherwise, vanished and the room was filled with the computer's voice. "Level Clear. Player 1: 98% Player 2: 97%." Alyssa holstered her pistols. "Level 2 comencing." The room shifted....to the old west. Targets began popping out of building windows, doors, and from around corners. The point of this one was target selection and shot accuracy.

Hunter smiled, the challenge was definitely more intense, he aimed and squeezed off shots as fast as he could that were 'threat' targets. Then mysteriously his phaser stopped working. He had to evade his opponents as he checked the weapon. A few minutes later the practice was over.

Alyssa had posted a perfect score. This was always her favorite part of the program. "Ok Captain.....up to you....we can go to the next level...or go get a drink?"

Hunter tried to fire at a distant object but his phaser would not fire. The Captain holstered his phaser, "Looks like my phaser is dead and and you got your aim honed in, how about a drink?"

"You buying?" She smirked and slipped her pistol back into her holster.

Hunter smiled, "Losers buy, eh Doctor?"

Northrop called for the program to end....and walked out the door....not bothering to take the pistols off her hips.

As they walked down the corridor Hunter asked, "Would you like to go to the Officers lounge or Mirandas?"

"You lead....I'll follow, Oh Captain My Captain." She smirked...and waited for him to lead on.

"Miranda's it is," said Hunter.

* * * * *

They found a table that was out of the way. A waitress came up for their order. Hunter ordered an Irish Cream. "What would you like?" asked the waitress of ALyssa.

She looked the waitress up and down, then smiled. "Um....Saurian Brandy, please."

As the waitress left, Hunter turned his attention to Alyssa, "That was pretty good shooting, where did you learn that?"

"I had to....one of my recoveries almost killed me.....so...I spent some latinum and made sure that wouldn't happen again." She looked at the table.

The waitress returned with the drinks. Hunter swished his drink around and took a swallow. "It sounds like you have lots of stories to tell." he said with a smirk.

Alyssa shrugged. "I don't know.....maybe."

"So tell me about your brother."

"Which one?" She looked Hunter in the eyes.

"You have one being held by the Federation right?"

The brunnette nodded, "Yeah....he's a R&D Engineer....they did want to risk him leaving....like me and my other brother did."

"When was the last time you heard from him?" asked Hunter with geniune concern.

"Before I left for my last dig. That was almost a year ago."

"I see," said Hunter, "...I have family on Earth too. I understand."

She only nodded. "I want so much to just go get them...but I don't stand a chance against Starfleet Security...not by myself."

"It would take more than an armada I'm afraid," he added.

"Or a cloaked ship and two small spec ops teams." SHe looked at him.....letting him know she had a plan to get them out.

Hunter smirked and drank down the last of his drink.

She sipped her drink slowly, "Yeah....well...That's why I joined the Maquis."

Hunter sat back, "well, we're happy you are onboard." he said.

"Thank you, Captain. I just hope I can help."

Hunter stood up, "Well, I should be going, Doctor, come and see me sometime, we'll talk some more."

"I'll do that, Captain. Thank you for the drink."

Hunter turned and left Miranda's.