Working Out
Posted on Mon Mar 31st, 2025 @ 8:18am by Major Hastios Eilfaren & Staff Warrant Officer Coen Hughes
Edited on on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 9:23pm
1,389 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Like Sands Through The Hourglass
Location: Gymnasium - Starbase Kok
Timeline: MD002 0630 hrs
Coen's workout plan for the day was a 20k run on the treadmill. He alternated treadmill runs into his workouts as an alternative for trail runs on the holodecks because he liked the mental discipline that running on a treadmill fostered. It also fostered a steady pace, like keeping time with a metronome.
Starbase Kok had many gyms on board. The vast population of the station led for the requirement for so many and Hastios was thankful for that. He had found a favourite in a short time, near the airlock for the Herodotus which was a perk. It was vast, well stocked with weights and a wide array of other pieces of equipment for those who liked cardio and other such activities.
Hastios had just finished on the bench press, hanging the large heavy weights back on the rack he then picked up his towel and wiped the back of his neck as sweat made a run an escape down his back.
Coen walked into the gym wearing a sleeveless blue t-shirt and black running shorts. He had a Starfleet issue gym towel thrown over one shoulder and was carrying a water bottle. He nodded at the other man he noticed working out and flashed him a grin before stepping onto the treadmill. He took his communicator out of his pocket - a design unique to Herodotus crew - and placed it in plain view on the treadmill before he started to fidget with the controls.
"Is the station busy today, do you know?" Coen asked before he started the treadmill program.
"Traffic is picking up." Hastios replied as he moved to stand from the bench. He cleaned it down before turning to face the man more prominently. This was when he noticed the communicator. Another Herodotus crew member, they were multiplying, but as they were soon to depart it made sense the station would have a lot of them on board.
"I see you are joining Captain Thorrin on the Herodotus." Hastios commented as he took up the position on the treadmill next to the man. As he did so he nodded towards the communicator noting his recognition and the reason for his assumption.
Coen eyed the communicator briefly, and noting the empty gym elected to through his towel over the commbadge as he turned slightly to see who had spoken to him. "Yes, that right. Coen Hughes. I'm a nurse. Are you a crewmember as well?" When he spoke it was with the accent of those from European region of Earth, namely England.
"Hastios Eilfaren." he bowed his head respectfully. "Chief of Security on the Herodotus." he affirmed the mans question.
"Ah, a pleasure then," Coen responded. "From the sound of things it doesn't sound like we'll be making it back to the Starbase all that often. I'm glad to have a decent gym on board, but I figured I should spend some time off of the ship while I had the chance."
"I'm afraid the only gym you'll find on the Hero is what you create in one of the two small holodecks." Hastios replied. "The nature of the ship, its components take up a lot of the interior so we are left with not a lot of recreational space." It was a shame for some, but more of a blow for those like Hastios who liked to keep fit and doing a different variety of workouts. "But you're right. I don't think we'll be docking with bases unless we take significant damage or need a restock."
"Well, I suppose I could create any gym I want then, right?" Coen answered back with a cheeky grin. "Maybe we could make a sort of gym schedule on one of the holodecks, for those who don't mind a bit of group atmosphere while they exercise."
"Sounds like a good idea." Hastios nodded. "I've always found that after a work out I feel much better, body and mind. I'm actually surprised that Starfleet hasn't thought of that, how to keep their crew active even if it was just a small gym on board." he shrugged, his large shoulders rippling as he jogged slowly on the treadmill. Looking around to see that no-one was close by, "What do you think of the mission of the Hero?" he asked. "Not exactly your standard ship, or missions we'll go on normal by any means."
"No, no it is not," Coen replied, his crisp English diction punctuating the words. "I'm quite looking forward to it," he replied with enthusiasm. Coen couldn't confide in anyone his real reason for finding a way to be assigned to the mission. It would take someone to earn his deepest trust and position as a confidante before he could divulge his true motivations. But his enthusiasm for being here was real.
"And what about you?" Coen asked. "Are you excited about it?"
"Time hits my people different." Hastios replied somewhat cryptically. "I am looking forward to the journey we all go on. It's something new and in my experience people can stumble when trying new things so I hope to be there to protect us all should that happen. I think that's possibly why the captain, or whomever, chose a marine to be their security expert." he shrugged as his shoulder muscles rippled.
Coen's face perked up at the Marine's mention of time hitting his people different. "Do you mean to say that you are one of the other El Aurians on board then. If it isn't too rude of me to ask," Coen replied.
"Not rude at all. Yes, I am. Nearly 300 years of life under my belt." Hastios replied. "Thankfully we can blend into Human society quite easily and are often thought of as being Human. People's eyes tend to go a bit wider, such as yours, when they find out we are considerably older than they think we are." he smirked.
"That is still quite young in El Aurian years as I understand it," Coen replied with a playful grin.
"Oh yeah, your talking probably an equivalent of maybe 27? 28 maybe?" Hastios smirked back. "Most El Aurian's don't complete education on our world until they are 40 years of age then you go into a speciality field such as engineering, science or other services. Really by 55/60 you are still considered to be very young, but you'll have at least just finished your studies by then." It sounded like a long process, but when you don't age like the rest of those around you all you have is time.
"And here we are trying to figure out life's secrets by twenty-five. It usually takes us until we're around forty to realize we know nothing, and likely never will," Coen quipped back. "It will be an interesting mix of life perspectives that we'll have on board. Another bit that I'm looking forward to," Coen said cheerfully.
"Yes, we have the captain who is also El Aurian, some others who seem to have a mix of our blood. There is also a Lanthanite and an Orion so at least we'll have a lot of different backgrounds on board. Should keep our lives interesting if nothing else. Not that jumping through time and space isn't interesting enough." Hastios chuckled.
A flash of a memory, Coen's wife, her smile, laughing just days before she'd left for a mission, most likely with the Department of Temporal Investigation, and never to return.
"Yes, it should be quite the experience to say the least," Coen replied simply, only a brief flicker revealing the darkness behind his eyes. Coen forced a smile again, "Anyway, I've interrupted your workout for far too long. I should let you get back to it."
Hastios nodded. "I will see you on the ship no doubt." he replied. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hughes."
"Same to you, Sir. I look forward to it," Coen replied with a friendly nod before turning back to the treadmill controls.
A Joint Post By
Major Hastios Eilfaren
Chief Security & Tactical Officer
Second Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Staff Warrant Officer Coen Hughes
Nurse
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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