An Interesting Exercise

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath arrived to the gym before Joe and found himself a spot on one of the walking machines. He preferred the track most of the time, but over the past few days, he and Joe had developed a bit of a competition to see who could walk the farthest at the highest degree of incline. Heath wasn't wasting anytime getting down to business as he set the treadmill at nearly half his normal maximum. By the time Joe arrived, he'd already be trudging along just to show him what he could do.

It was odd, but since he and Joe had started talking and showing off their machismo a bit in the gym, Heath had stopped thinking of him as a 'Fed' and more as a friend. He wondered what today's workout would bring.

Tag Joe/Any

[Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Munroe]

The moment Joe entered the gym, he could almost sense the competitive spirit oozing out of the marine. The corner of his mouth quirked up in a half grin as he noted the angle and speed of the tread. So, Heath was trying to get a head-start on things it seemed.

"Climbing a mountain?" Joe joked as he walked up behind Heath towards the tread next to him. He shook his head and then stepped on, setting it to match the other. Within moments, he was working up quite a sweat. Their competition pushed them onward. Joe was well-built and in great shape, but in truth, he knew he wasn't going to match the marine who spent more time training than Joe was ever wont to have.

Finally after reaching the incline and speed that they had last challenged each other on, Joe slapped his hand onto the controls and as soon as the machine stopped he bent over and drew in deep, gasping breaths. His body was already covered in sweat, yet Joe was grinning like a fool.

"Now that was a workout!" He stated as he righted himself and looked at his new chum. "How in the world do you keep it up?" He asked incredulously.

Tag Heath[/Any

[Commander Nicholas Grant]

Nick had already run about five miles on the upper track when a couple of others showed up below. He recognized Joe Munroe but not the other guy. He was actually in the gym at an odd time for him. Usually he was here in the late afternoon ship time. Since he worked third shift, that was his personal early morning.

He grinned and waived as they did their stationary thing. He'd thought about putting up the holographic track but he just wanted the mindless exercise while he thought about other things.

Alexis was getting her department ready for the away mission to Evadne and had told him what she could. But, he had yet to hear from Phoebe any hint of who might be going down from the medical team. He was fairly sure it wouldn't be her or Travis with his new family. He was just returning to work with any regularity. On the other hand she might just send a medic.

Well, he thought, no use trying to figure it out. She'd let them know soon.

He went around again... 6 miles.

Tag any

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath laughed and then found himself gasping for breath at the intensity of his own workout. Turning off the machine, he hopped off. Leaning on the piece of equipment he took a few moments to catch his own breath.

"Nicely done, Joe," he said, slapping his new friend on the back as he grinned at the sight of him leaned over, nearly panting for breath. Heath could have continued, but he wouldn't have taken nearly as much pleasure in that as he had in the earlier exercise against Joe.

"Lots and lots of time with nothing else to do on this blasted ship." He replied to Joe's question, "besides, we marines, have to be ready for anything."

"What do you say we try something else?" He asked, grinning like a school-boy who was savoring the chance to revel in his masculinity and strength.

Tag Joe/Any

[Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Munroe]

"Something else?" Joe asked incredulously. He didn't know if he could handle keeping up with Heath's stamina.

"How about a short break? Or something alittle less intense. I just saw a friend of mine. Come one, let me introduce you to him." Joe motioned Heath to join him and when he did, he led the way up to the overhead track.

"Nick!" He called out as the doctor rounded the bend. Joe didn't want to admit it but he was using this as an excuse to build up his own stamina again. If he dived into another workout again so soon, he might need to visit Nick for an entirely different reason. He waited with Heath at his side for Nick to join them.

Tag Heath/Joe
(Moved Heath to the track with his permission)

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

Tara burst into the gym, having asked the computer the location of Heath. Looking around, she spotted him on the upper track and she hurried up. Scowling, she said, "Hi Joe," then turned to Heath, "what do they mean we're not going on this mission," she said, indignation in her voice, "why are we even here? Why are we forced to parade around in these uncomfortable uniforms and then sit around while the Feds get to have all the fun?"

She glanced at Joe, "no offense."

She threw her hands up in the air, "next thing we know, we'll be babysitting while the parents run off and play cowboys in space." Glancing around, she realized they weren't exercising, "what are you two doing here, anyway?"

Tag Any

[Commander Nicholas Grant]

Nick waived at Joe's call, he had someone with him he'd seen around the ship but hadn't met yet. He smiled as he got closer and then another person appeared.

"next thing we know, we'll be babysitting while the parents run off and play cowboys in space."

He paused and ran in place "Hi Joe" he said "I still have another 4 miles to go if you feel like joining me." he nodded to the others. "I'm Nick" and he started to run again

He laughed as he ran away.

Tag any

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"I'm Nick."

His laughter was most certainly a challenge in Tara's mind. Throwing Heath a grin, she pulled off the outer jacket of her uniform top, then the shirt, leaving only the thin tank top, and tossed it all at him, then she took off after Nick. She paced behind him for a bit, learning his stride, then slowly began pulling ahead.

"Tara," she said as she passed him.

If she knew anything about her commanding officer, she knew Heath would be soon to follow. The wildcard was Joe. He seemed fit, but appearances could often be deceiving. Tara remembered a very big, very muscular marine in her old unit. He could bench press more than anyone, but could barely pass his physical stamina trials.

Tag Any

[Major Heath Ellerton]

He'd followed Joe up to the track, which had been just the short break Heath needed to regain his breathing and heartrate and be ready for another workout.

He'd greeted Nick, but only seconds before Tara came bursting in, angry and upset over the fact that the marines were not included in the upcoming mission. Before he could explain anything, she'd accepted Nick's challenge and darted off.

"Well, dammit, she didn't even give me a chance to explain. Come on, Joe!" Heath called as he took off after the others. He'd used a burst of speed to catch up to them and had soon fallen into place beside Nick and Tara.

"You know, Tara, I didn't have the final say on this. Talk to the XO. I follow orders, just like you." Heath grumbled a bit, unhappy that they were going to be sitting this one out. If this was what this trip was going to be like he would soon be wishing for the chance to go back to his old corp, where they at least saw action on a regular basis.

"Nice to meet you, Nick," Heath called over, noting the other man's muscular structure. A slow smile formed on his face. Oh, yeah, Heath could take him on. He was sure of it. "Care for a little challenge? See who makes it to that red tag first?" Heath had pointed out a marking on the wall on the other side of the track.

Tag Any

[Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Munroe]

Joe was grinning like a fool in a matter of minutes. Their little two-some competition had turned into quite a gaggle. Well, he was not about to let them throw out such a challenge and leave him in their wake.

Legs pumping, Joe did his best to catch up to the others. He was still quite a few paces behind them when he heard Heath's challenge.

"You're on, Heath!" Joe called out and started to pick up his pace. Could he overtake the others and surpass them? Probably not, but he sure as hell was going to try!

Tag Any

[Commander Nicholas Grant]

"Tara" she said as she ran by. He said "Nice to meet you" to her back and just kept going. Nick was a marathon runner out for a light workout this morning only 10 miles.

He watched her sprint passed and thought she was in pretty good condition and from the little he'd heard, probably a marine. He wasn't in to sprinting and knew that in the end... he'd probably run past and keep going another few miles.

"You know, Tara, I didn't have the final say on this. Talk to the XO. I follow orders, just like you. Nice to meet you, Nick. Care for a little challenge? See who makes it to that red tag first?"

Nick just chuckled. "No thanks." he said...."see me in another... oh... 10 miles? I've already done 6."

He grinned as Joe came pelting by and just shook his head. Barely breathing hard he continued his distance running pace.

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[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"You know, Tara, I didn't have the final say on this. Talk to the XO. I follow orders, just like you."

"Ha," Tara said, but that was all she got out before Heath challenged Joe. There was no way in hell she was going to ask Mr. Twinkle Toes anything. She knew better than to challenge the authority of a Starfleet XO.

She watched the two men blaze past her after some silly flag and she rolled her eyes. Turning around, she ran backwards while facing Nick, "sixteen miles? Impressive. I usually average only nine or ten." She turned back around and dropped back next to him, pacing him. "After that, it's an hour of target practice." She glanced at him, "are you in security?"

Tag Nick/Any

[Commander Nicholas Grant]

The woman laughed at Joe and Heath just as he had. He smiled as she turned around and ran backwards looking at him. He didn't normally chat while he was running so this was a novelty.

"sixteen miles? Impressive. I usually average only nine or ten. After that, it's an hour of target practice. Are you in security?"

"Thanks. I like to do distance." he said and continued answering her question "No, I'm a doctor." he said. Then he looked ahead and pointed with his chin "You'd better turn around we're coming to the curve and you'll end up in the wall." He'd done it once himself and ended up falling head over heels. So now, he watched.

"I'm betting you're a marine right?"

Tag Tara/any

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"No, I'm a doctor."

Tara frowned. She was usually a good judge of people. "Have you always been a doctor," she asked. Something about him said 'trained'... and more than in the usual jock way. His concern that she would fall made her laugh to herself. At least he wasn't one of those who liked to watch people fall flat on their faces for their own enjoyment.

"I'm betting you're a marine right?"

Gesturing at Heath's back, she asked, "guilty by association," then nodded her head. "Are you going on the mission," she asked, "or are you going to stay here and collect the casualties that resulted from them not inviting the marines along?" Tara was still sore about it all. "Maybe I can come empty bedpans while everyone is away." She took a deeper breath, calming herself just as she did when she was shooting. It wouldn't be good to get her blood pressure up while exercising.

She saw Joe gaining on Heath. Secretly, she hoped the counselor would win.

Tag Any

[Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Munroe]

Joe could feel his lungs and legs burning, but he pushed onward. Crazy, perhaps. But he found the challenges that he and Heath kept setting up quite invigorating. Just as they neared the reg tag, Joe surged forward just a few paces. It was enough. He had beaten Heath to the mark.

Leaning over, hands on his thighs and grinning like a fool, Joe tired to catch his breath from the rather fast paced run. He could see Tara and Nick running at a better pace a short ways back. Good, he'd have time to catch his breath before they caught up, he thought.

"Nice run," he said to Heath, reaching up to catch the other man on the back. "Our little competitions might just be the end of me," Joe joked, still grinning as he looked over to Heath.

Tag Any