Training Day

Posted on Fri May 9th, 2025 @ 5:26am by Petty Officer 3rd Class Raven Mattel & Lieutenant Daniel Keith

Mission: Outside the Box
Location: M.S.S Qaraq - Crew Area
Timeline: After departure

ON:

The first day onboard the Qaraq had been nerve-wracking for Raven. Not only was this her first mission as a Non-Commissioned Starfleet Officer, but also her first undercover assignment. The dangers they were about to face in the Neutral Zone were daunting for the new recruit, as it would be for any officer. But Mindo had prepared them well with information and she had the utmost faith that this crew could pull it off.

Still, Raven was learning to like preparedness. She had spent most of her adult life flittering, dancing, and talking her way through most situations. The gift of the gab had gotten her out of many a tough spot - including on the Pandora previously. For this mission, however, she wasn't going to be able to talk her way through it. She needed to be able to handle herself. Her time in the NCO Academy had provided adequate basic training, but it was always with the caveat that the Starfleet Officers, those with years of highly precise combat training, would take the lead. Without a Starship of officers to protect her, Raven knew she needed to prepare herself.

Hence, she had woken early Day 2 on the M.S.S Qaraq with her own mission in mind. Dressed in her black workout gear, she had prepared a space in the small crew area onboard the vessel. She had moved away the tables and chairs that usually occupied the area and made a space to train in. She had also extended an invitation to Lieutenant Keith to help provide her with some real Starfleet skills.

After receiving a note from Raven with an invitation to help her with some self-defense skills. Daniel rose early, kissed Olvia as she lay sleeping and dressed in gray sweatpants and sweatshirt and sneakers, Daniel then headed for the crew area. Arriving, he found Raven had already cleared a small area for them to train in. he was already impressed with her willingness to protect herself. "Good morning, Raven." He greeted her pleasantly. "I see you have already been hard at work this morning." He looked at her, "You sure you want to do this?" he inquired. He was more than glad to help her, but she had to be willing to learn.

"Morning," Raven smiled, as she was pulling her dark locks back into a tight ponytail. "I definitely do. If things get sticky on this mission, I don't want to be a liability to the crew. I want to be able to hold my own."

Daniel nodded and returned the smile. "That is good to hear and know. I will tell you right now before we get started that the best weapon you can have is your mind and the ability to think clearly in pressure situations. You have to be able to take a step back so to speak and look at the situation and what options you have."

Raven relaxed her stance and she nodded, "Situational awareness. Yes, they said that in the training." She pursed her lips as she looked around the room ever so slightly with a turn of her head. "Those chairs could pack a wallop." She nodded to the chairs she had pushed up against the wall. "But I don't know if I could unstack them quickly enough."

Daniel nodded, "True enough and correct, so if the chairs can be an asset in helping defend yourself but there are questions about using them quickly enough, what is your next course of action? And" he added, "You only need one chair."

"I do." Raven nodded, she continued to look around her peripheral vision, trying not to take her eyes off from the Lieutenant. She spotted a pile of her casual clothes and a rucksack, which she had placed on a bench as she got ready earlier. "My stuff is over by the counter. I have a weapon there. It would take roughly eight steps to get there."

Daniel nodded, "All true Raven however once you reached your stuff, you'd have to dig into it to retrieve your weapon. All takes precious seconds you may not have. May I offer a suggestion?" He asked and then without waiting for her reply he went on. "Improvise. Use the bench to deter your assailant, then time permitting you can get your weapon or just use the bag itself."

Raven eyed the bag, its distance from her standpoint, her mind considering how long it would take. She frowned. “Okay then. Assuming no weapons. What can I do with just myself?”

Daniel grinned broadly at her, "Now Raven you know what it means when you assume. Besides, you are the best weapon you have." He added. "You have hands and feet to use, fingernails to scratch and claw. Feet to kick with and a mouth to scream and teeth to bite. You are a walking arsenal."

Raven turned on her hip, “OH Honey, I know. Best believe I have checked a few of the girls on the strip when I’ve had to. And I’ve had my fair share of pushy customers thinking they can get fresh with me, who quickly found out what ‘look but don’t touch’ means.” She shuddered at the memories of her nights working in clubs, dealing with unruly people. “But I’m looking for something a little more… Starfleet. I did basic training over the past year but I really want to know how to throw a dude.”

Daniel nodded at her explanation. "Ah, got it. I believe I can help you in throwing someone be they man or woman." He stepped closer to her, "Throw a punch at me." He ordered her.

Raven bit her lip, hesitating. But she could see the Lieutenant was serious, and she likely knew he would defend himself. She took a took a half-step forwards, dropper her shoulder, and made a half-hearted swing with her right arm.

As soon as Raven started her swing, Daniel was already moving he stepped close to her, turned into her grabbing her arm and throwing her over his shoulder where she landed with a resounding thud on the mats. "If you are worried about hurting me or not going to give this a 100 percent effort, you are going to get hurt Raven." He stated flatly.

"Oof!" Raven breathed out as she hit the floor. She blinked for a few moments, but the Lieutenant's words brought her back to her senses. "Of course." She said, a little embarrassed to be called out. She started to climb back onto her feet again. "Sorry."

Daniel nodded and reached a hand down to help her up again.

Jumping up, Raven shrugged off her embarrassment. "Again?" She asked.

"Absolutely." Daniel answered. " Throw a punch at me again." He instructed.

Raven ready her shoulders and this time launched her fist as hard as she could at the Lieutenant.

Again, the results were the same. Daniel grabbed her wrist as the punch was being thrown and with a simple twist and tug sent Raven flying for a second time.

Raven landed with a harder thud this time, as the extra strength she put into her punch was used to propel her faster into the ground. "OH!" She gasped as she landed on the mats. After a moment, she shook her head. "Okay, that was a lot. I wanna learn how to do that."

Daniel grinned down at her, "I thought you might." he answered as he helped her to her feet. "The key is using your opponent's force against him." He faced her, "Stand in front of me and move your legs apart to shoulder width."

Doing as instructed, Raven shuffled her feet slightly, arms raised and ready.

"Good." Daniel stated, "Now, twist slightly and lower your shoulder. I'm going to throw a punch, grab my wrist with both your hands and pull, throw me over your shoulder. Ready?"

"Twist, pull, throw." Raven repeated, as she readied her stance and affixed a serious look upon her face.

"Yes." Daniel replied. "You have the order right, now put it into effect." As he threw a punch at her without warning, to see what Raven could do.

“Oh!” Raven cried out as she saw the fist come towards her. She grabbed hold of the Lieutenant’s arm, before twisting her body and pulling him forwards. She wasn’t able to muster enough momentum to fully flip Daniel, but did manage to send him staggering forwards and, crucially, not get punched.

Daniel staggered forward a few steps from Raven's attempt to throw him. Turning to look back at her, he smiled. "Well, it could have been better but on a positive note, you didn't get punched, and you got me out of your face. So that's a win. I take it you would like to try again?"

Raven nodded, putting herself back in the right stance. “Yes. I think… I think I need to twist more.”

Daniel nodded, "Alright, we'll go again." Then turned and faced Raven and without warning threw a punch at her, hoping the surprise would spur her to react without thinking the steps through and get the desired results they both wanted.

Raven yelled a word that rhymed with 'truck' as she hastily grabbed the fist coming towards her. She pulled forwards and, in her panic, swung her hip wildly as she turned, managing to twist Keith over as she sent him hurtling towards the ground.

Thankfully Daniel had extraordinary reaction time and reflexes. So, even as Raven grabbed his wrist and tug him over her shoulder to send him crashing to the ground, he was already in motion to minimize the impact and jumped back up on his feet. "That was much better Raven!" he acknowledged.

Raven clapped joyously. "I did it!" She exclaimed.

"You sure did!" Daniel agreed. "Would you like to continue so you can become more fluid in your motions?"

“Yes please. But first, a drink.” Raven smiled as she went over to a nearby counter and grabbed two water canisters. She held one out for the Lieutenant. “Here.”

Daniel took the offered water canisters gratefully. "Thank you." He replied while taking a sip. It was cool and refreshing as it went down his throat. "If you want to learn more, let me know I'll be glad to show you. The hip/shoulder toss is good as it gets your opponent away from you and gives you room to move."

"Yes, definitely want that." Raven nodded, "I want to practice so I don't freak out when it happens. I wanna be fast like you." She demonstrated her twist, pull, throw again through the art of mime. "Bam! Like that." She gave a laugh. "I mean, what's it like when it's really happening? When you're in that situation?"

Daniel smiled at Raven's excitement. "You will get fast through practice I promise you that." he paused when she asked what it was like when it was happening. "I can't speak for you Raven but for me, everything is clear. Time seems to slow down. It becomes second nature, you don't think, you react like you have been taught."

Raven took that in, nodding slowly. “And have you…” she trailed off, biting her lip. She wondered if this might be too sensitive of a topic for someone she was still getting to know. “Nevermind.”

Daniel looked at her, his eyes on hers. "Don't do that." He replied slowly, evenly, "I mean don't start to ask a question and stop. Ask what is on your mind. I'll either answer it or not."

"Yes, sir." Raven nodded. She paused, choosing her words. "Okay. Have you been in a situation where you've had to kill someone to defend yourself?"

"Raven, when we're here like this this you can call me Daniel. Now in answer to your question. I have been several situations where I've had to defend myself, but I haven't killed anyone yet."

"I see." Raven nodded, "Sorry if that was a weird question, uh, Daniel, but that's been on my mind. I'm not sure I could do... that."

"Don't apologize. it wasn't a weird question." Daniel assured her. "Killing someone should only be a last resort when there are no other options available. I wouldn't stress on it Raven. You will do what is needed if the time ever comes for a decision like that."

Raven took in a deep breath, "I hope so. I don't want to let anyone down. My biggest fear is that I'll freeze up and not be able to defend my friends."

"You aren't going to let anyone down. I trust you." Daniel answered simply and honestly. "As for your fear. Let you in on a little secret. It is something we all deal with. You just have to trust in yourself that you will be able to do what is needed when the time arises."

Smiling at that, Raven nodded, "I will remember that. Thank you, Daniel." She readied herself. "Alrighty, let's go again."

Raven let out a war cry as she launched herself at the Lieutenant.

OFF