A Swim

Posted on Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 @ 11:13pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Lieutenant Percy McWire

1,816 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 110 - An Endeavor in Discovery
Location: SB400 - LEVEL 803 - POOL
Timeline: MD2

[ON:]

STARBASE 400 - LEVEL 803 - POOL


Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Plumeri stepped through the doors from the gymnasium to the large olympic sized swimming pool. He had just finished a workout in the gym and jis muscles were already telling him they were taxed. He thought that a swim would help him relax a bit. He found an open locker and placed his water bottle and a few of ther personal effect in there. He popped the wireless earphones out of his ears and the music of Bach's English Suite No. 6 in d minor, Allemande was heard. He wiped the sweat from his forehead on the t-shirt he was wearing and placed the earbuds into the locker and closed it. Grabbing the towel, he went to get a shower first. As he walked towards the all gender showers, he looked out over the pool and saw a few people here enjoying the pool. Stripping his sweaty gym clothes off and entering the showering area he made it short - enough so that when he got in the pool he didn't leave an oil slick behind.

Now in swim trunks, wrap around eye glasses firmly attached to his head, he went for the side of the pool and seeing that no one was coming, dove in. The water felt good and cold and clear against his lean body, he made it to the middle of the pool and took a look around.

After his shift Percy thought of going down to the pool to relax and swim a few lanes. He stopped by his quarters to grab his swimming trunks, a towel and his swimming goggles. A few moments later he arrived at the pool and headed straight to the lockers. It took him not long to change into his swimming trunks.

He had a very quick cold shower as he wasn’t a great friend of cold water.
Then he made his way to the pool. At the pool he saw two diving boards, he thought if he should jump in or use the ladder, he chose to jump in. He made sure that lane was free before he jumped. It has been a long time since he was last swimming, he enjoyed the moment as he jumped and seconds late as his hands touched the water. He stayed as long as possible underwater and swam 15 m, before he had to come up for fresh air.

Matt stretched out as flat as he could on the surface of the water. He lay there, floating as he stared up at the ceiling before he closed his eyes and relaxed some. In a bit he'd swim but for now, he just wanted to float, to drift on the water. That was until someone jumping in the pool made waves. He flipped the goggles up on his forehead and took a look. Only the waves were visible. Someone was staying under the water and swimming very well. Then he saw that it was enisgn McWire. "Time to have a little fun" Matt said to himself.

Swimming over to the lane area of the large pool, he waited until Percy started on the return swim and then swam to intercept him. Matthew dove as deep as he could manage and swam as quickly as he could to intersect McWire. He got closer and closer and as he did so he wondered how hard it would be to invent an underwater cloaking device just for this purpose.

Percy's senses noticing that some was trying to catch up diving even deeper than him. He wondered who that might be.

Matt aligned himself with Percy and swam underneath him. Swimming underneath and looking up at him as he kept about two meters of space between them. And, when Percy looked, Matt waved at him while looking up at him. Then rising out of the water, said, "Boo!"

Percy stopped swimming as he saw Matt waving and then emerging from beneath him and said hi with BOO!!. „Hi Matt, I didn‘t know that it was you that was following me. That was funny when you waved at me underwater. How are you?"

"Hey McWire, I saw you after you jumped in the pool. I was wondering who disturbed my water float by diving in. I guess you have a pretty good form for swimming ay? I mean, you swim like this isn't your first time in a pool?"

"You are right it is not my first time in the pool. It began with Father who taught and gave me swimming lessons, my mother on the hand thought that it was a waste of my time and talents to learn swimming, but it became my passion and a part of me that I don't want miss anymore. During my studies at university and later in the academy, I joined the swimming team. One time I came quite close of winning a gold medal, but in the I became 2nd and I was very happy with myself that I made it thus far. I enjoy it so much thats why I am always here after my shifts, it is also my way of relaxing after work." Percy said.

„What about you your not bad either.“Percy asked.

"You were part of the Academy swimming team? I was on the Parresis Squares team. 2393 we went to Titan and won the pennant. If you're on the swim, or were, then you must have been part of the same group that went to Titan Olympiad? Yeah?" Matt asked now very interested in Percy's athletic achievements.

Percy didn't respond and so he changed the subject a bit, "There were a lot of people there too. I'm not surprised that I missed seeing you. I would have said hello to you much earlier but I didn't know you then man." A grin crept onto his face as he teased. "Race you to the deep end?" and then he took off for the deep end of the pool.

Still in thought of Matt’s questions and getting lost in his mind. Then he noticed after Matt‘s question that he took off „Ehm yes !“ then he chased after Matt to try to keep up. „ He is very good . I‘ll gonna get him“ he thought, getting closer and closer. Matt has woken his competitive spirit. He was still getting closer and almost catching him.

Percy was faster, sleeker and stronger then Matthew. Percy had a swimmer's body and Matt had bulked up and was slower. Reaching the wall of the pool a few moments after McWire, Matthew laughed, "You are good! Ha ha!"

„Sorry that I didn‘t respond earlier I was lost in thought and completely blanked out. Yes I was part of the swimming team back then at the Academy. I probably have been on the same team, it has been a long time I cant remember all of it, it was a fun time. "

"No worries man, we've all been working long ass hours and I go home after every shift with my brain dripping out my ears. You ever play Parresis Squares? You know the game?" Matthew asked as he wiped the water from his face. He lifted himself out of the pool. Muscled arms and shoulders raised his lean body out of the water and onto the level platform around the pool. He whistled to an attendant who tossed over two towels which Matt caught with ease. He looked at Percy and offered him a dry towel.

Percy lifted himself out of the water and sat on the Plattform next to Matt and took the the towel that he offered him. „ I never heard of this game ‚Parresis Squares‘. What is it all about? Is that a game you played in the academy? The name sound very interesting.“ Percy replied.

Plumeri looked him as if he had just come out from under a rock, "You're shitting me right? You never heard of Parresis Squares? Are you for real?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

" Well, no one told me about it. You can show me how it works and we can play it some other time. Please tell me more about your time in the Parresis Squares team at the Academy? Percy ask curiously.

Matt used his hands and arms to "draw" the dimensions of the game field in the air, "Big ass playing field, goal posts at either end of the field and two in the center? Variable gravity and two teams? Oblong ball and crazy fans?

You ever hear of The Titan Dragons? Majestic Moonriders? Mariner's Revenge?
The Abermaal Phantoms...the Academy's own team were the Worshipful Band of Bandits. It's hella fun to play and yeah, its a contact sport. You can get your ass smashed if you're not careful. Got to think on your feet, read the field and move. I love it. I was Captain for two years and we got three pennants. Starfleet gave me a scholarship so I could be here. I mean...there. Sometimes I miss it." He looked up and smiled, "I heard there were folks like you. People that never heard of the Squares. Never thought I'd meet one of you though. You'd probably be pretty good at it."

“Thanks for the compliment Matt. It sounds very interesting and fun. Have you ever been hiking before? There are great mountains on Risa. I stayed there for two weeks.” Percy said.

"Sure, I like to hike. Tell you what. I've never been to the mountains on Risa, but I have been to the forest on Lyto VII. Tree trunks as big as a house, and mountains with flowing rivers inside them. I've got some holodeck adventures that we could do. I mean, until we get enough shoreleave to go to the real thing. You up for that sometime?" he asked as he slung the towel over his shoulder.


“Oh yes I’m up for it sound like a great plan. I love seeing new places even if it only in Holodeck for now and once we have gathered enough shore leave I will join you to a visit to Lyto VII, I would love to see the real deal.” Percy said.
He put lyto VII on his list of hiking places to go. “This will be a fun trip.” He thought to himself.

Matt nodded and semed pleased, "Well alright then. I'll tap you when I've got some down time and see if we can coordinate. Until then", Matthew got to his feet, "I'll see you around ay? Got to get back to work."

„Most definitely. Thanks for getting to know a little. Oh man time fly’s when having a good time. See you around Matt.“ Percy said in a happy voice.

[OFF:]


Percy McWire

&

LTJG Matthew Plumeri

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