Batting Practise
Posted on Sun Feb 14th, 2021 @ 2:28am by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri
632 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Episode 109 - The Dust Settles
Location: SB400 - Deck 806 - Batting Cages
Timeline: MD2 - later
[ON:]
STARBASE 400 - LEVEL 806 - BATTING CAGES
"CRACK!!"
The baseball striking the bat made Matt's hands and forearms sting. The baseball flew towards the netting inside the batting cage and was caught. It felt good to go through a couple-three tubs of baseballs. Wearing a helmet and batting gloves, Matthew Plumeri got ready for the next pitch. He heard the baseball dispense into the basket and the familiar whirr as it was pulled by the spinning wheels. He raised the bat, gripped it tighter and stepped into the swing.
"CRACK!!"
Another hit and the ball flying into the net. As Matthew adjusted the helmet and got set for another pitch, he thought about the problems of the day. Especially about what a few in the Science department were working on. The gem stones, the Tholian civilization, the Tholians themselves, the cultural artifacts...the Librarian. What the hell was it all about anyway? He asked himself that question many times during the day. And what about the matter of the time elements? Why did the gemstone act so differently when back on the planet Mendak? Why was it so different now here in the lab?
"CRACK!!"
The baseball sailed straight ahead this time and the bat rang out. Matt shook his arms out and relaxed his shoulders. "Man I could use a backrub!" he said to himself. He thought about going to the Promenade and getting a massage. He rubbed his hands again and then picked up the bat and got into stance. He thought about how good it would feel to have the Lauriento masseusse work a warm oil massage.
"MISS!!"
His mind on the masseuusse and her tender touch and he missed. "Focus!" he said to himself. Making grooves in the dirt, he took a better stand and exhaled a long sigh. "Eyes on the prize boy-o" he said again to himself. The ball entered the basket. Bat up, high, on the balls of his feet, stepped into the swing.
"CRACK!!"
"Better. Yeah." he said. His mind wandered back to the work. He was getting no where. He would think about it later. The other batting cages were mostly empty, a few other people using two other cages. It was a slow night. He remembered what the date was, specifically what the day was, stardate 74620.3. "OK, see how far back you can go in history...let's see. 2377, I'm six-year's old and I read about the Starship Voyager returning to Earth. And in 2371, the year I was born, Voyager goes missing. Matteo Tomasso Plumeri, born to Carlo and Yannirs Plumeri, on Fontalis."
"CRACK!!"
"A little out of the way place nobody ever heard of. Except for the Nervi'ai, the Borg...the Scipii." He adjusted the helmet and continued. "2367...the Federation almost goes to war again with Cardassia. 2257, the Teullan advance, the enthronment of Coro." He readied himself, the ball was dispensed and he swings and,
"MISS!!"
"Ach! Damn." He raps his helmet with the bat, "C'mon man...." He sighs. "2297, Khitomer Accords between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. 2197, Agrippa starcluster is first viewed on long-range."
"CRACK!!"
"Sensors! Yeah man...that's the way we do that. 2097? Huh. Tholian Assembly first view Earth from their telescopes on Tholia. I can't get away from you Tholia. Even in a batting cage. Better to leave on a hit than a miss." He said to himself and switched off the automated pitching machine. Gathering the baseballs and returning them to the supply tub, he left the batting helmet on the hook. Wiping his baseball bat off and then taking his gloves off, Matthew left the batting cages. He returned to his quarters and shortly after that, dressed in comfortable clothing, he got that massage after all.
[OFF:]
LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
ACSO, Historian
SB400
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