Alternative workout.

Posted on 28 Feb 2025 @ 10:49am by Lieutenant JG Gabriel Lyons

Mission: M4 - Falling Out
Location: Gymnasium then Holodeck 16
Timeline: 0600
1003 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

The roar of activity in the security gymnasium halted Gabriel in his tracks in the doorway. It was like being struck by a wall of sound, and he was physically incapacitated by the unexpectedness of it. There were an astonishing amount of people trying to to work out at this time, and it was unusual. When his dark eyes spotted the class of new officers doing a PT exam, he sighed deeply. He wasn't going to get anything done today in this area, and he guessed nowhere in security was safe. A gentle tone reminded him that he was holding the door open, and that the computer would like to close it. The sound startled him out of the state of paralysis the surprising influx of people had created in him.

The holodeck it is. I am not dealing with this rabble.

Walking in to the holodeck, he checked the availability of the resouce.
At this time of day the availability of the resources was plentiful. Holodeck 16 was on this deck and was open for use. Maybe he'd use it for phaser qualifiers later, after all he suspected that the newbies would need that as well today. Might as well be useful after he started his day in the way he was accustomed....with a workout! He placed his hand on the scanner pad so that it would register his presence and entered once the great doors slid to open. Just as swiftly they slid shut behind him, and he was alone in the stark expanse of the inactive holodeck. He glanced around at the geometric crossing of black and gold lines in the standard grid pattern and heaved a huge sigh.

"Ooookay. Computer, arch."

The arch appeared obediently around him and he tapped on a display of workout programs. One tap led to two, to three then he just scrolled mindlessly through the titles of various standard exercises. Every so often a title would catch his eye and attention but they didn't appeal to him right this very moment. The climbing and mountain trail ones could be fun for later, but he didn't feel like putting on hiking boots. He wanted to run, but he held down the save icon for those so they didn't get lost in the shuffle. None of the options available for running truly grabbed his interest in any way. Chewing his lower lip, Gabriel sighed again more deeply, frustration coloring his exhalation of breath. "Maybe I need to do this the old fashioned way".

"Please restate inquiry "

"I need somewhere to run. Outside, in the breeze." He had fond memories of track and field as a child done in the open sky, with the elements to affect his body and his ability to make time in a track.

"Refine search parameters."

"Earth." He paused a moment to think and then grinned showing bright white teeth. "Chicago, 21rst century. Lake shore drive, southern end. Early morning."."

The image warped and shifted and Lyons was now facing a rippling blue expanse of water. It was dark, the sun just lightening the horizon with tendrils of yellow and pink. A misty haze filled the air with the scent of humidity and made the dim light seem to shimmer and twist around him.

Glad that he was wearing leggings for the morning air was cool enough to make him shiver, he walked into the mist. That had the effect of making it swirl around his feet in liquid eddies that he watched for the sheer beauty of the patterns. The mist itself rolled off the lake in waves as the waters edge ebbed and flowed against the beach underneath the berm. A painters pallet of blue and grey would turn into silvery sand and every shade of blue imaginable if he waited for the sunrise to bring illumination to the area. A deep breath of the crisp cool air tickled his nostrils and had him laughing after a moment.

"Perfect.". A ribbon of concrete going north indicated where he should go, and he'd probably stop at the rivers marina, to get some breakfast.
Plan made in his head, he set his gaze on the path ahead and settled the earphones he liked for music over his ears. He didn't switch them on yet, as Gabriel liked to hear the sounds of the waking city. A siren cried in the distance adding authenticity to his run.

Start slow to warm your body and muscles. This allows your body to remember that it enjoys this kind of work.

A brisk walk turned into a jog in 600 yards or so, and Lyons quickly settled into a rhythm that was both ground eating and comfortable for his long legs. He stopped being cold after a few moments and he forgot that he was wearing the possibility of music in his ears as his body settled into the pace.

A thread tickled his neck and when he reached up to absently brush it away, he felt the earphones. He activated them, and knowing his preferences were set to random queued up a song.

He caught one foot on the other as 'Shake shake shake senora!' in the dulcet tones of Henry Bellefonte blasted into his ears. The stumble from surprise could have ended his day right then and there but Gabriel pinwheeled his arms to stop his forward momentum twisting himself around on the track. Catching himself and his breath simultaneously, he enjoyed the beat for a moment. It took only a moment before the beat and his love of dancing got the better of him.
Head thrown back he shook himself like he was a callipso dancer, and shimmied his non-existent breasts all the way around 180 degrees. It got him situated to the direction of path once more before setting out again at a faster pace.

The grin he'd acquired dancing like a lunatic in the middle of ancient Chicago never left his lips the rest of the day.