Are you feeling lucky?

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Having grabbed a few of his standard weapons as well as the letting Tara carry the Colt, Heath had grabbed the one other 20th century weapon he'd acquired, a Ruger pistol. With his bag and rifles slung over his shoulder, Heath was almost skipping with excitement at the thought of shooting something, anything, with any of his lovely array of weapons.

Once at the phaser range, he spoke with the crewmen on duty, explaining what he would need in order to use the 20th century weapons. While the man gave him a bit of a wary look, he directed Heath to a far area of the range and gave him access to set up the desired targets and fields that would basically 'catch' the bullets and render them harmless. It also allowed him to re-use the bullets so he didn't have to get more made or resort to replicated ones.

"Alright, Tarmac. Let's see if you're up for the challenge," Heath grinned back over his shoulder as he fished around in his bag for the cartridge for his own.

"You gotta love the feel of real, honest to goodness weapon designed for the sole purpose of destroying your enemy. No stun. No second chances. It was an all or nothing time and way of life. You sure you're up to her?" He asked, inclining his head to his gun that she now carried.

Heath happened to glance back over and see the security officer who was stationed in the range looking a bit pale and almost frightened as he listened and watched their encounter. Heath chuckled when the man insisted he put up an extra security barrier so noone else could get in or out of the area.

"Suit yourself," Heath said with a shrug as the officer activated a protective field and dashed back to the main entrance. "Pansies. All of them." Heath muttered shaking his head.

"So what shall it be. Standard target? Moving target? Take your pick." Heath turned the console towards Tara allowing her to see the large collection of targets that were programmed into the system. All the while Heath tossed around her final comment from quarters in his head. ‘Anything,’ she’d said. Tara just may live to regret those words someday, Heath thought with a grin as he allowed himself to examine her rather perfect backside. He chuckled to himself as he turned back to his weapon.

“Oh, just one more thing. These guns can really kill. That’s what they were designed for after all!” He eyed her as he spoke those words. He trusted her and he surely hoped that trust hadn’t been misplaced. Haven’t misjudged a character yet, he reminded himself. “Alright, so are you ready?”

Tag Tara/Any

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"Alright, Tarmac. Let's see if you're up for the challenge."

"Oh, those are fighting words, Ellerton," she said, squinting her eyes at him. He waxed poetic about weaponry and Tara nodded her head in agreement, "I hate stun settings. If you are going to knock them out, why not use a perfectly placed fist. Why mess up a gun with a stun setting."

"Pansies. All of them."

She heard his comment, though she doubted the security officer did. "Are we frightening the rabbits," she asked. She looked over at the man in yellow and threw him a kiss.

"So what shall it be. Standard target? Moving target? Take your pick."

"A particular little white dress, perhaps," she laughed. She leaned over to make her choice, unaware that Heath was checking her out. Tapping her finger on the screen, she selected a stationary target for starters. She knew better than to take chances with an unfamiliar weapon. She loaded the six cartridges into the Colt as he cautioned her about safety. "Don't shoot the rabbits... got it."

“Alright, so are you ready?”

"More than you know," she replied, donning ear and vision protection. She closed her eyes for a second, glorying in the moment before a shoot. She held a piece of history in her hands and was not about to rush it. "Okay," she smiled, "here I go..."

Her hands were steady as a rock as she sighted her target, placing her stance shoulder distance apart, with her left foot slightly more forward and her right arm almost straight. She took in a breath, exhaled half of it, then fired the round by slowly squeezing the trigger. The sound reverberated throughout the range and Tara looked over at Heath, the excitement shining in her eyes. The target lit up where it had been hit.

"Damn," Tara said. She was a bit to the left of center.

Tag Heath

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath stood back to the side, simply watching her as she prepared and fired. Not bad, he thought, not bad at all. She hadn't hit the mark, but she was a good shot with an unfamiliar weapon. Pushing off the wall he'd been leaning on, he moved forward and gave her a hearty pat on the back.

"You'll get the hang of it soon," He grinned. Then donning his own protective gear he set up a similar target and sighted with the Ruger. In a matter of seconds, he'd fired 3 rounds, hitting the target dead on with each shot. A wide grin spread over his face.

"Now, that's the way to do it," he quipped, winking in her direction. "Watch it Tarmac, you may never want to go back to those other weapons," he jerked his head towards the phasers and rifles piled in the corner. Even though the feel of a these classics was a rush, he wouldn't trade his phaser rifles in the midst of a real battle. They meant the difference between life and death in a world that had revolved far beyond these types of simple point and shoot weapons.

Tag Tara

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"You'll get the hang of it soon."

She gave him a look, then stood back as he prepared to shoot. "Damn!" She nodded with each shot.

"Now, that's the way to do it. Watch it Tarmac, you may never want to go back to those other weapons."

She glanced between the 24th Century weapons and the one she held in her hand. "Our history is built on the backs of these," she said as she ran her hand over the smooth metal, "but I suppose we are creating a new history with those," she cocked her head to the new weapons. "Unfortunately, with all of the new-fangled targeting in them, it's no longer an art form." She squared off again, and took another shot at her target, this time coming closer to the center, "a shame, really."

She smiled as she checked out his target again, "you can have my back any day."

Tag Heath

[Major Heath Ellerton]

He nodded his agreement to her words, noting that her shot had improved tremendously. She had skills, not that he expected anything less from a Marine.

"you can have my back any day."

"The feeling is mutual," he tossed the words over his shoulder as he prepared to shoot again. Of course, he could think of many things he'd be happy to do while covering her back. A sly grin snaked its way up to his face as he shot the Ruger off again.

As they continued their target practice, Heath felt more at ease around her. It was like being with any of his other marine brothers. When he finally felt the late hour creeping up on him, he turned to her.

"I'm for bed." He grinned, then added, "To sleep of course." Though he knew she would be reluctant, he took both antique weapons, gathered up the cartridges that the field had protected, and waited for her to do the same. Unless she had other plans, they mid as well walk back together. Once he knew her plans, he hoisted his bag and made his way out of the weapons range, ready to call it a night.

Tag Tara - End Heath

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan was originally going to make his way to his quarters and call Tara there but after finding out her location from the computer, he was intrigued. Seeing what she can do and tell her off, killing two birds with one stone.

Jonathan made his way through the ship until he stopped at the range door, he moved forward and the doors opened for him but that was the only sign of his arrival. Jon side stepped and watched Tara, he didn't mind if she wanted to continue for a while or even ignored him for a whole hour, it was a test after all.

Tag: Tara/Any

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"I'm for bed. To sleep of course."

She smirked at him, "pleasant dreams." She reluctantly handed over the Colt. "I am not tired, so I think I will get in a few more minutes of practice." As Heath exited, she could see the security guard visibly relax now that the ancient weapons were out of the room. He turned off the secondary protective field. "Ready to use a real weapon now," he asked. She shot him a glance. "You are just jealous." He reddened and Tara laughed. "Maybe if you are nice to him, he will let you play with them someday."

She picked up a Marine Assault Rifle and selected the moving targets, points of light floating and moving different distances and speeds in front of her. Determined to set things right in the universe after her less-than-perfect showing with the Colt, she was a woman possessed as she lost herself in the moment. In Tara's world, this was where she belonged, where she breathed freely. Her movements were fluid and intuitive, almost as if the weapon had a mind of its own. She had no idea Jonathan had even entered the room.

Tag Any

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan watched her, his eyes skimmed along the position of her arms, the quick twitch of her finger that seemed more than ready for any kind of handle in the universe. Her shots were fluid, fast and accurate. Despite the reason he was here, Jonathan smiled.

Redemption was not always five letters, it could be one action.

Jonathan considered his options on greeting, this was after all not a social call. After a micro second, he had decided. "Impressive, private." He said softly from the door. He wanted to see how far her pride stretched, too much of it could be oh so costly in the wrong situation.

The long second passed and Jonathan continued, the smile that was previously on his face had been carved back into his features as a stone marine look.

"Care to explain why you were snooping around Mr Rapolski's cargo?" He asked hard, he knew that some people could get riled up at the most smallest of things, even the wrong simple adjective could throw a man into a fit of rage and bulldoze himself into a wall.

Tag: Tara

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"Impressive, private."

In the heat of her practice, his words caused her to swirl around, her ponytail whipping her in the face, as she pointed the rifle between Jonathan's eyes, but immediately checked herself and raised the barrel up and away. "Thank you, Sir," she said as she stood at attention.

"Care to explain why you were snooping around Mr Rapolski's cargo?"

Her face registered her shock. Word traveled fast; she hadn't even been asked her name. The Klingon must have searched through the crew logs to find her and then had squealed on her to the Colonel. He was obviously not in the target range by coincidence. Swell. She swallowed her pride and looked him straight in the eye, "curiosity, Sir. It was not the appropriate action and it will not happen again." She was glad Heath wasn't there to see her humiliation.

Tag Jonathan

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan smiled inwardly at the shock on her face, the seemingly omniscience of higher rank officers was always a good impression for the lower ones. He watched her reaction and listened to her apoligetic words. He didn't say anything but he did move, forward and towards her until his large frame blocked her view of the door.

"I certainly hope so, private." With that, Jon turned on his heel and walked to the door but stopped as the doors opened for him. "Curiosity killed the cat, and we haven't entered the jungle yet." He left.

End Jonathan

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"I certainly hope so, private. Curiosity killed the cat, and we haven't entered the jungle yet."

"Yes, Sir," she muttered as he left. When he was completely out of sight, she let out a long breath, then shot a glance at the security guard, "not a word," she said, waving a finger at him.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he laughed, "no one likes being caught with their hand in the cookie jar." He got a gleam in his eye, "want to take out your frustrations on another set of targets?"

Tara grinned, "weapon therapy... nothing comes close." She readied herself, "give me something hard."

He eyed her and raised an eyebrow.

"Why must all of you men think with the area below your belt!" She shook her head and he laughed, then he said, "fine... you asked for it." He punched a few buttons to start the simulation. The targets not only moved around, they also shot out tiny jolts of electricity at her. Half an hour later, she called an end to it. It had been painful, but worth it.

The guard squinted at her, "you're not sweating at all," he said in amazement.

"That's because I'm a woman," Tara said sweetly, handing him the gun. He nodded as she left, "yeah... a woman with an eye like that... deadly."

End Tara