Swimming Lessons Round 2

Posted on Sun Apr 11th, 2021 @ 11:07am by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Captain Gary Taylor & Ensign Olivia (Carter) Voight

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Gallia's Quarters and Holodeck
Timeline: After""Arriving"
3777 words - 7.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary walked down the corridor, he was going to fetch the Elysium's blueberry for another round of swimming lessons. If these went as well as the last ones, Tayalas would be swimming on her own in no time.

He had on his thermal suit just like last time so he could stand the water temperature and it be comfortable for Tay. He reached Gallia's quarters and rang the chime and waited.


Olivia was off duty for a change for the day and taking a bit of time to relax a bit for it had been awhile since she had been able to do something just for herself. It was then she got word that a certain little blueberry would be getting to have another swimming lesson with her favorite Sana. She went and got changed into something more appropriate for a swimming lesson for the little blueberry.

"Mommy, door." Tayalas called to her mother, hoping she would open the door for whoever was there. When she didn't come, Tayalas went herself and opened it, seeing her beloved Sana, "SANA!!! SANA!! COME IN!!!"

Gary beamed at her, "Hiya sweetie." He replied as he did as Tay asked and stepped into the quarters. "Was wondering if you are ready for another round of swimming lessons?"

"YAY!!!" Tayalas exclaimed, happy to swim with Sana, "We go now?"

Gary chuckled at Tay's excitement. "Well, you need to change into your swim suit, get Ducky and don't we need to call Dr. Voight as well?"

"Uh huh. Mommy, Sana here for swimmy swim." Tayalas said, "We call Wivia now?"

"Aye, that we will." Gallia said as she entered the room, "We'll call 'er right now."

As Tayalas ran off to get Ducky, her fren as she said, Gallia dialed Dr. Voight, "Hello, Olivia."

“Hello Commander,” Olivia replied when she answered the incoming call. “Is our favorite little one getting another round of swimming lessons?”

"Aye, that she is." Gallia replied, knowing that Olivia called her Commander by mistake, no doubt thinking Gary was on the line, but it felt good to her, "She's all blue with joy."

"I'm sure she will have all sorts of fun learning more from her favorite Sana," Olivia said. "Plus, she will get to show me what she has already learned as well. Main thing is that Tayalas gets to have some fun in the process of her learning new things, while staying safe."

"Aye, that she can. An' she loves ye besides, Olivia." Gallia answered, not sure whether or not she would tell Olivia she loved her as well, but knew Tayalas would tell her before swimming lessons were over for the night.

Olivia smiled a bit. "I love her as well," Olivia replied. "Besides anyone that doesn't love a certain little blueberry after getting to know her some needs to have a medical and mental check up done, for something would have to be wrong with them." Olivia thought for a moment before continuing. "Another thing to think on some is to arrange another baking lesson for a certain blueberry as well. We need to be able to do the special deliveries that we didn't get to do after the last lesson."

"Thot we do." Gallia agreed, "We'll set that up after her swimmin' lesson."

"Sounds good," Olivia replied. "So do I need to come there or meet up at the holodeck for the swimming lesson?"

"Well, le's just ask the boss about that, hey?" Gallia said, calling over to Tayalas, "Tay, do ye want ta have Olivia come ere or go to the holodeck?"

"Wivia come here!" Tayalas exclaimed, all caps as she did when she was excited.

"Well, there ya haff it." Gallia laughed, "Come on over then."

Olivia laughed a little at how excited Tayalas was in having her join in on the swimming lesson that she would be getting and having her along at the same time. "Sounds like a plan," Olivia replied. "I will head your way then."

"Right, we'll leave the light on for ye." Gallia promised, "Well, looks like it's jus' us and Sana until Olivia gets here then."

Olivia went into her bedroom to get changed into the swimsuit that would work best for her while she was in the water some during Tayalas' swimming lessons. The swimsuit that she had chosen was a body suit of sorts for it had short sleeves and the legs went down to just above her knees. After getting changed, Olivia made sure that she had on shoes that would be easy to slip on and off as needed while around the pool. She also grabbed a towel before heading out of her quarters and head towards the quarters for Gallia and Tayalas.

Tayalas waited for Olivia with bated breath, she needed her friend to be there with her, "We gonna go swimmy swim." She said excitedly, "We gonna swim with Wivia."

"Indeed we will darling, as soon as she gets here. Then you can show her how well you swim and we'll work on learning new stuff." Gary told the precious toddler.

"We wearn new stuff?" Tay asked, wide eyed, "You teach me new stuff, Sana?"

"I sure will sweetie, all kinds of new stuff so you can show mommy and Livia." Gary said with a smile.

"I wanna show mommy Kawa." Tay said sadly. She wanted to show her everything, but she was gone, and didn't appear to be coming back, that broke her little heart.

"I know you do sweetie. Tell you what, you learn to swimmy swim really well and we'll make a tape of it so Mommy Kara can see it. How does that sound?" Gary asked the tyke.

"A tape of mes?" Tay asked, wide eyed, "Yay!!!"

"That's right. A tape of youse swimmy swimming." Gary chuckled at Tays wide eye wonder and happiness.

"Yay!!! It wike she nevew miss anything!" Tay smiled as she exclaimed her joy, not knowing that it was causing her mom to cry thinking about Kara.

"That's exactly right sweetie pie. Won't miss anything."

"I swimmy swim so good." Tayalas pledged, "We make tape for Mommy Kawa, she watch it and make hew wanna come back."

Gary got down on his knees, wrapped his arms around Tayalas and hugged her tightly. "That's right precious, Mommy Kara will see what she is missing and come back. Don't you worry."

Olivia got off the turbolift and walked down the corridor towards for Gallia and Tayalas'. Reaching the quarters, Olivia pressed the buzzer to announce her presence on the other side. She could some excitement from Tayalas inside the quarters.

"Tha's WIVIA!" Tayalas announced, she had no indoor voice, "WIVIA, COME IN!!!"

Olivia laughed a little as she entered the quarters when the door opened for her. "It would appear that a certain little lady is ready for her swimming lesson today," Olivia said. "Do I get to have a hug?" Olivia got down on her knees to be on the same level as Tayalas.

Olivia didn't have to wait for that, more like she braced for impact, as Tayalas jumped into her arms and wrapped her arms around her neck, "YAY!!! Wivia is here, I wub you, Wivia!"

Olivia wrapped her arms around Tayalas in return. "I wub you too, Tayalas," Olivia replied. "I heard that there going to be some video of your swimming lessons to show mommy Kara to catch up on what she has been missing out on with you little one. We have to make sure to get video of your next baking lesson as well then to show her what else you are getting to learn."

"Yay!" Tayalas exclaimed, happy to have Wivia there.

"Plus, I'm sure there are other things that your mommy will want to have video's of over time," Olivia said. "So is everyone ready for swimming lesson?"

"Yeah." Tayalas smiled, hoping it would lead to many videos and bring Kara back sooner. At that time though, for reasons unknown even to her, Tayalas was thinking about Sib, "Wivia, do horses wike to swimmy swim?"

"Yes, some horses do like to swim," Olivia replied. "They have also been known just to get in the water at times part way to cool off some when the weather is really hot on the planet. How about you ask S'hib if he likes to swimmy swim the next time you get to see him."

"Okay, I ask Sib." Tayalas nodded, he was the one she was thinking of when she asked, so it seemed to fit, "We get him wif us next time."

Olivia smiled as she nodded as well. "Sounds like a plan little one," Olivia replied. "You will have lots to show him when he gets to join in on the next swimmy swim time."

"YAY!!! We swim with Sib!!!" Tay squealed, "We swim with Mommy?"

"Not this time, darling." Gallia declined, this was Cdr. Taylor's time, "But next time we'll swim with Sib. If that's okay with you, Sana."

Gary felt like he had become a third wheel in the conversation going on around him. His mind had wandered but was jarred back by Gallia's question. "What? Oh, sure that's fine if Tay wants to swim with Commander S'hib."

Olivia softly laughed a little as she looked up at Commander Taylor. "Don't worry Commander," Olivia said. "A certain little blueberry will still want her Sana giving her swimming lessons, I'm sure. Plus, it always a good idea to have a swimming buddy around that can help out should something unexpected happens. Main thing right now is to make sure this little lady gets to have some fun while still learning how to be a strong swimmer."

Gary smiled in return. "You are right Doctor. The most important thing is that Tayalas enjoys herself all while learning."

"Plus when S'hib does get to join in on a swimming lesson for this little lady," Olivia replied, "he will get to see how well she has been learning to swim. Plus, he might even know of a special game that he can teach each of us to play in the water to learn something new as well."

"Perhaps Doctor, in any event you make good points and I know Tayalas would love to learn a game she could play in the pool." Gary replied

"I'm sure that the game that S'hib comes up for little Tayalas here," Olivia said, "it will be one that helps strengthen her swimming a bit more." Olivia reached over and tickled Tayalas' sides a bit. "Now who is ready for their swimmy swim time?"

Tayalas giggled and said, "Me! I am!"

"Then we had better get going so that you will have plenty of time to learn everything that Sana has planned to teach you this time around during this swimmy swim lesson," Olivia said.

"Okay. We go now." Tayalas said, turning to her mother, "Bye, mommy, I wuv oo!"

"I love ya te, Tay. Swim good." Gallia replied, blowing a kiss to her little girl.

Olivia stood up and held out her hand for Tayalas to hold onto while they headed towards the pool area. "Make sure you hold onto one of Sana's hands as well and we will head off for swimmy swim time," Olivia said.

Tayalas dutifully reached for one of Sana's hands and said good bye to her mommy again, happily humming a pretty melody to walk to.

Gary's hand gently closed around Tayalas's tiny hand. "Alright, the Musketeers are off to go swimmy swim and see how well Tayalas does.

Olivia smiled as she listened to Tayalas humming her little melody as the trio headed out for swimming lessons for little Tayalas. "Would you like to teach Sana and I your song little one?," Olivia asked.

"Doesn't sound like the Baby Duck song. What is this one called Tay?"

"This one the song Enna teached me." Tayalas said, the song was in Russian, she didn't understand it, but she loved it none the less, "Enna teached me it and I wuv it so much."

"I can see that you do sweetie, so how about you teaching Wivia and me it so we can all sing it together?"

"I would like to learn it and the baby duck song," Olivia said. "Maybe during your next baking lesson you can teach me the baby duck song."

"Okay!" Tay giggled hard, wanting to teach the baby duck song, but knowing that wasn't the song sana wanted to hear. So she sang the song Enna had taught her, it was about a T-34 tank, the Fighting Girlfriend, but she didn't know that, she only knew the lyrics.

Olivia was enjoying listening to Tayalas sing the song she had learned as they continued to walk towards the pool area. When they reached the pool area, Olivia looked around and took note of what was in the room.

Tay had just finished the song when they walked into the pool area, she was excited and out of breath already, but it was good, she looked around a took it all in, "Wow, Wivia..."

"Now we get to have some fun in the pool," Olivia said. "Main thing is that Sana made sure ahead of time that the water temperature was just right for you to be able handle while learning the new skills he has planned for you this session."

"That's right." Gary answered even as he was getting into the pool. "Alright sweetie, put Ducky in the pool so he can watch you and see how well you do. Then you come on into the pool." He glanced over at Olivia, "You going to come in or sit there and watch?" The last said with a smile.

"I will be joining you two in the pool," Olivia replied. "Can't let you two have all the fun." Olivia walked to the steps for the pool and stepped down onto the first one and waited for Tayalas to put her ducky in the pool and join her at the steps.

Tay put Ducky in the pool, letting him float free as she did, and stepped onto the first step with Wivia, who she leaned against, "This fun, Wivia, you see."

Gary waited for Tay to come down the ladder, "Alright precious, I'm waiting for you and Ducky is watching you."

"We will all have some fun little one," Olivia replied as she smiled down at Tayalas. "How about you show me a little of what Sana taught you during your last swimmy swim lesson. Sana is close to the steps here and I will be here if you need any extra help."

"Okay." Tayalas said, and began to swim sweetly, showing Wivia exactly how much she had learned.

"Very good Tay." Gary told the toddler, surprised at how much she remembered. "One thing sweetie, cup your hands." He showed her what he meant, Let your hands pull you through the water, don't smack the water."

"You did very well Tay," Olivia said. "Your skills will improve more and more with each lesson that you have with Sana. So what will the lesson today?"

Today's lesson will be twofold, one Tayalas will begin to learn how to swim underwater and two she will also learn how to make tumbling lessons in the water. Or I should say racing turns."

Olivia took another step down into the pool and the sat down on the upper step so that she could be at eye level with Tayalas. 'You are getting to learn the turns early on," Olivia said. "I didn't get to learn that skill until several lessons later when I was learning to swim when I wasn't much older than you are now. Learning both of these skills together is a good way to practice both of them together, for you would be under water when doing the turns and pushing off the side of the pool."

"Okay, Wivia." Tayalas smiled, she liked Dr. Voight and this was part of the reason why.

"Once Sana shows you both new skills," Olivia said, "you will get to work on both of them. Another thing to consider later on once you work on these skills, if you hold onto the side of the pool and kick your legs up and down, it will help build up strength in your legs for some of the swimming skills. I can help some with that once Sana teaches you what he has planned."

"Yay!!!" Tayalas shouted and grinned, "We kick Wivia and we be good at it??"

"Yes, we will be good with the kicking skill here in the pool with practice along with practicing all the other skills as well," Olivia said. "Now to see which skill Sana would like to start with on his lesson."

"Yeah, what I gonna leawn, Sana?" Tayalas said.

Gary laughed at Tay's eagerness. "Well darling, you are going to learn how to breathe while you are swimming."

"Da's good, Sana!" Tayalas giggled, "We do it now?"

"Yes, we do it now darling. I'll show you how first, so you watch me." Gary told the toddler. Standing in front of her, he turned sideways, took a deep breath, placed his head in the water, took four strokes , lifted his head slightly out of the water, turned and took another breath. He repeated the process again so Tayalas could see it again.

"Now you try it precious, to begin with, just stand here and we'll practice first. Then we'll do it with you swimming. Okay?"

"Okay, Sana." Tayalas said, dipping her head and taking the breaths.

Gary watched as Tayalas began to copy what he had shown her. He was pleased with her movements. "Very good Tay." He told the child.

Tay didn't know what she was doing, but she figured she must be doing something right because Sana was pleased with her, she took delight in that as she did it again.

Olivia smiled as she watched Tay practicing the breathing technique that she was shown how to do for when she would be swimming.

Tayalas giggled as she completed the technique, happy to be giving her friends so much delight as she was.

"Looks like you have that skill learned well," Olivia said. "Just be careful and not have your face to close to the water when you want to laugh a little. Don't want you swallowing the pool water and having a coughing spell."

"That's very good sweetie. I think you have it. Now you stand there with Wivia and I'll show you how it looks when you swim." Gary told the toddler as he took a breath and began to swim the length of the pool, so Tayalas could see what it looked like. His body knifing through the water, he swam two lengths of the pool before returning to Tay and Olivia. "Were you watching darling? I want you to try that. I'll be right beside you as you do, so you have nothing to worry about. Wivia will be watching you as well."

"Okay, sana." Tayalas said, "I do now?"

"How about you swim towards Sana since he is close," Olivia said. "Then he can help guide you from there. Maybe then swim towards Ducky. That way he can get a good view of your swimming ability."

"Okay, Wivia." Tayalas smiled, swimming first to Sana, then to Ducky, who she came up and grabbed into a hug.

"That's very good Tayalas darling." Gary told her, "Now, lets try a little farther." He announced as he drifted back several feet.

"Okay, Sana." Tayalas said, turning to Ducky and asking her friend to, "Stay with Wivia."

"Ducky will do just that as you swim towards Sana," Olivia said. "He will get to see you swimming a little further this time and get to compare it to when you were swimming towards him."

"Okay." Tayalas said, taking a deep breath and swimming again all the way to Sana.

"That is excellent sweetie." Gary said to Tayalas when she reached him. "You are doing very good. One thing though, use your legs to help you swimmy swim. Don't just use your arms. Okay darling?"

"I'd say your star swimming student is doing very well," Olivia as she moved a little more into the pool water. "Plus, I will work with Tay some on her kicking once you have gone everything that you had planned for your lesson for today."

"Okay, I do." Tayalas said with a smile, "And we work on ow kicks, Wivia."

"Tay, how would you like to learn to make flip turns while swimming? It's like tumbling in water." Gary told the child.

"It good, Sana?" Tayalas asked, "You show me how?"

"Sana will show you how," Olivia said. "Then you get to try it out. If needed Sana can do it more than once just in case so that you understand how to turn and push off the side of the pool."

"Is very good darling. I'll do it slow so you can see how." Gary replied as he swam back a way in the pool, took a breath and swam towards the pool wall, just before reaching it he ducked his head down and pulled himself over in a tight ball, his legs hitting the wall where he was able to push off and continue swimming. He swam a few feet and turned back to Tay and Olivia. "You see sweetie?"

"Uh huh, uh huh." Tayalas was about to nod her head off, "I twy now." She announced, attempting the maneuver in the pool as she did.

"Alright sweetie, you try. Lets see how you do." Gary answered smiling at Tay and her excitement.

"Okay, Sana." Tayalas smiled, and proceeded to do just that, "I do good?"

"You did good Tay," Olivia said. "You will also continue to improve as you practice each skill more over time. Some skills will be more challenging as Sana teaches them to you over time. Right now it is good to get a good foundation of each skill to be able to build upon as time goes along in your lessons."

"Okie." Tay grinned as she agreed that Sana would teach her so many skills and that she'd get better with time, "We do that."

"How about you do one more under water turn to push off the side of the pool and swim towards me," Olivia said. "I will have duckie here with me and then Sana can teach you the next item he has planned for today's lesson."

"Okay." Tay grinned, "We do it, duckie be good for Wivia, okay?"

-End