Ensign Jack Holland eyed the targeting dummy as it erratically moved from side to side in a way no Jem’Hadar moved ever. Yet, someone at command had determined that this was a great way to keep the security division ready for conflict with the Dominion. 

Lifting his phaser rifle he sighted down the barrel.  Squeezing the trigger he waited for the dummy to move into a predictable position and fired.  Of course the dummy zigged when Jack had expected a zag and his shot went wide. Swearing he adjusted his aim, this time knocking the target right in the center of mass.

T’Val entered the shooting range with her own phaser rifle. She was a decent shot with it, having placed on the top half of the Academy, but was working on being better. Perfection may be unachievable but there had been several other cadets above her and she certainly did not think that humans should be any better than her. Sure Andorians were practically born with a phaser rifle under their arms but not humans. 

“Ensign Holland,” she nodded. He had more experience as a security officer. T’Val had thus far avoided any direct conflict with the enemy and thus her security work had mostly been dealing with Starfleet officers who had gotten into intoxicants on shore leave and had then decided to make a fuss. Of course now, with the Dominion stretching deep into Federation space not even the orbit around Vulcan was really safe.

”That second shot showed marked improvement,” she observed.

He looked at T’Val, his first reaction was to be snarky. He was still mad at himself for missing. Smiling he spoke in a good natured tone, “It was wasn’t it? Oh well, that’s what I get for anticipating a direction rather than just taking my time.”

“Sometimes we do not have the luxury of time,” T’Val said, “anticipation can be a logical skill to develop. Though that would be the human term, I would call it ’judging the percentage likelihood‘ though that is not as easy to say as the human concept.”

“Do you consider yourself a good marksman?” she asked.

“I have been told, I am” he said with a shrug with no hint of false modesty. “As a Vulcan I expect you never miss.”

T’Val shook her head, “We are not perfect. A Vulcan can display greater mental discipline and physical control but that is not the only thing. At the Academy the top marksmen were always human.”

He raised an eyebrow at her giving her a perfect Vulcan expression,  “I expect it’s specific to the individual.”

Nodding T’Val inserted a fresh battery pack in the phaser rife and took her position next to the other Ensign in the range, “It would be fascinating to run a statistical analysis on the last ten years or so of Academy range scores. I would expect that Andorian as an average score the highest with Vulcans quite high, and humans having the largest range from worst to best. That is based not on a complete data set however.”

”Humans contain the most variety, your culture allows for extremes in a way that most other species with far more rigid expectations of our young do not. How would you suppose our new allies the Romulans would do on a test?” she finished with asking. Though she had no real first hand knowledge her assumption was that Romulans were good marksmen, and liked striking unseen from distance.

“In Vulcan speak, we’re a pain in the ass,” Jack said grinning and lifted his rifle downrange and made five careless shots. Four hit their mark, the fifth going just wide.

Nodding T’Val aimed and took a shot, hitting a target, “I have heard that colorful idiom, and usually it is applied to Vulcans. Humans can often find us stubborn, and too structured. Though did you know that Ambassador Spock’s mother was a human. It is when I learned that that I understood that humans are not so easily understood as one might believe. Neither are Vulcans, I am not like my brother, though perhaps you might find us similar at first contact.”

“Your bother?” Jack asked curiously, “Should I know him?”

”There is no reason to, I was merely providing an example of two Vulcans who are quite different,” T’Val said, “Perhaps such an example was not required.”

“Or perhaps just be more specific for us dumb humans,” Jack teased as he plicked off an aerial target.

“That is not what I suggested,” T’Val objected, taking aim a second time and firing. This hit the target as well, though not as dead center as the first shot had. T’Val was careful to properly rested herself for what was next.

“No, I imagine not,” Jack said with an Infectious grin.  “I was.”

T’Val nodded but said nothing. She was feeling that he was playing with her but it was difficult to tell. Humans were that way, they often said one thing but meant another or made logical leaps that were not warranted by the statements. Things that could be quantified such as phaser blast shots hit were much easier, a simple scoring mathematic. You either made the shot or you did not.

”Query, are you attempting to be ’friendly’ with me through camaraderie or hostile? I am unable to determine,” she said lining up her next shot.

“I don’t know about all that,” Jack said rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand. “I’m certainly not being hostile unless you consider self-deprecating is hostile. I know my place. Compared to you in intellect i am but a bumbling idiot.  I lack the metal discipline,  nor do I want it. I reckon I get by just fine as I am.”

“You are a security officer aboard one of the finest ships in Starfleet, you are certainly more than okay,” T’Val said calmly. Self-deprication was not something she understood that well, why hide your qualities behind a fake layer of foolishness? Where was the logic in downplaying your best qualities, it was not that just anyone would notice them, why make them work to see them.

”You are known to be clever, and clearly you are engaging in a human way. I am very Vulcan, and while that brings some advantages it also brings downsides. You can relate to a greater variety of species and tell abnormal or suspicious behaviors in a way that I cannot, all useful as security,” she said.

Jack shrugged,  “Well, you got a point.  I have learned not to argue with Vulcan  logic. You’ll lose every time.”

”Perhaps because I am speaking the truth,” T’Val said, “Logic is just an adherence to fact with the removal of emotion. I am confident you are capable of such a thing.”

Jack simply shrugged,  turned his attention back to the shooting range and fired.  He missed the target drone. He smirked at himself.  He had been careless.  Possibly even showing off to the Assistant Chief Tactical Officer.  But why? He shoved that question down. Some questions were best left unanswered. Sometimes if you go digging you won’t like the result. 

Noticing the silence coming from the other Ensign, T’Val respected it and said nothing. She focused on her shooting, hitting eight of the ten next targets dead center. When she felt she had honed her skills sufficiently she began to put away the rifle, “Will you train more, if you are nearly done we could ingest fluids together. I understand studies have shown that social interaction can aide team morale which is important to humans.”

Jack shrugged,  “I think I’m at a plateau.  There’s always a point where one no longer attains benefit from an endeavor.”

T’Val’s mouth down turned slightly as she tried to parse the answer. In the end she was just going to be direct. “So is that a yes, you would wish to injest liquids with me?”

Jack laughed,  “That’s what I get for trying to sound smart. I confuse folk. Yes, I will ‘injest liquids’ with you.”

Removing the battery pack from the phaser rifle and storing it, T’Val cleaned up after her target practice. One of the many things about Starfleet uniforms that appealed to her was that there was not need to change to alternative dress, and so she was soon ready to head to the lounge with her fellow Ensign. Selecting an unoccupied table the ordered a still room temperature water and sat with Jack.

”How do you find serving on the Denver?” she asked, trying to think of a question that a human might ask. Something casual like how he personally found an experience.

“Uh…” Jack took a sip of whiskey before continuing, “it is not what I expected when I went into the Academy. I don’t have other ships in the fleet to compare to.”

”The war has created a great change in how things are versus what we expected when in the Academy. This is not the Starfleet I joined, though it is logical to continue to serve,” T’Val agreed.

“If I’m being perfectly honest l, don’t like fighting.  I don’t like shooting… I take that back. I enjoy shooting,  just not at people.  Unfortunately it’s one of the few things I’m actually good at.”

T’Val nodded, “You are quite good at that. Still you are correct, I would anticipate given that most of Starfleet’s recruiting materials emphasize the exploration and discovery aspects of the service, that not a lot of officers are comfortable with being soldiers. Still it is logical that we fight to preserve out ways of life. Dominion by the Dominion is an unacceptable outcome.“

”Do you plan on having a long career in Starfleet or finding civilian work?” she asked.

“Funny, had you asked me that a year ago I would have said a career, no hesitation, but now, I don’t know.”

”It would be a shame for Starfleet to lose your abilities,” T’Val said, “but the war has changed the outlook on what we do. It is logical that you asses your desires at some point.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Jack said flashing her a smile of modesty.   Finishing his drink he set the glass down. “Well Ma’am I suppose I should turn in for the nignt.”

“Good night Ensign,” T’Val nodded. She would see him in the future, a factor of living and working on the same ship and in the same department.

“Good night,” Jack said with a wink.