[Fanfic] Ping-Pong (Trektober 2024)

[spacedogfromspace]

Ping-Pong

Trektober 2024

One of the rec rooms has a new ping-pong table.

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Fandom(s): Star Trek TNG
Character(s): Data, Geordi La Forge, William T Riker
Tags: Ping-Pong

Rating: General Audiences
Content Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 638
Type: Oneshot, Standalone

Collection: Trektober 2024

trektober-challenge

Trektober Day 30
Prompt: "Rec Room"

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Geordi and Data were walking from the bridge down to Engineering to start work on fixing a warp phase decoupler that was giving the ship some trouble as of late. As they passed one of the rec rooms, they heard a great deal of excited shouting coming from within.

Data paused mid-step. "There seems to be quite a commotion going on in there today," he observed.

"Hmm?" Geordi hadn't immediately noticed that Data had stopped and had kept walking for a couple meters. "You're right. It's awfully rowdy in there."

"I wonder what's going on."

"Only one way to find out," Geordi said. He and Data shrugged at each other, and Data opened the door.

Inside, a large crowd of people were gathered around a ping-pong table. On one side of the table was an Ensign posed in a dramatic visage of defeat. On the other side was Commander Riker, paddle raised in victory.

"Huh," Geordi said. "New ping-pong table. That explains it."

Riker spotted them standing in the doorway. "Ah ha! New challengers!" He exclaimed, drawing the room's attention to the two engineers. "Which one of you will try to defeat me first?"

"We're on duty," Geordi said.

"We were simply investigating the noise we could hear from the corridor," Data said. "We shall be going now."

"Come on, Data!" Riker said. "Just one game. I promise I'll beat you quick, so you can head back to work."

Data cocked his head to the side, considering. "Well, I have never played ping-pong before. And I value new experiences." He looked at Geordi, who sighed.

"One game," Geordi said, then added quietly, "and kick his ass."

Someone handed Data a paddle, and Riker quickly explained the rules of the game. "First to three points, since you're on duty," he said. "Your serve." He tossed the little white ball to Data, who caught it with mechanical precision.

Data served the ball politely to Riker, who was ferocious in returning it. Data had to move quickly to keep him from scoring. As Riker kept hitting the ball back with more and more force, Data started to follow suit, and managed to sneak a fast one past Riker, scoring his first point. The crowd, who had been watching Riker play undefeated all day, roared at this new development.

"Beginners luck," Riker said. He passed the ball back to Data.

Riker got the next point, and the next, and the crowd began to lose hope that the reigning champion would finally be defeated. But when Data tied up the score with the next point to win, the crowd turned electric.

Data and Riker worked hard for that winning point. Riker was sweating from the exertion. If Data could sweat, he would be too, but he couldn't, so he wasn't. After two minutes of an unbroken back and forth battle, it seemed like neither of them would ever score.

"Data, we have work to do," Geordi said from somewhere behind Data.

"I'll be right there," Data said, and the next time the ball came his way, he wound his arm back and hit it back with an inhuman force. The ball cracked down on Riker's side of the table and ricocheted right into Riker's forehead, spinning straight up into the air as Riker collapsed to the floor, knocked out cold. The crowd was silent.

The broken ball hit the floor. Data had scored.

The crowd exploded. The champion had finally been defeated.

Data and Geordi escaped back into the corridor and resumed their way to Engineering.

"Nice shot," Geordi said.

"Thank you," Data answered. "Do you think Commander Riker is okay?"

"I'm sure he's fine," Geordi assured him. "It's not like it's the first time you've knocked him out while playing a sport."

"That is true. Commander Riker has a rather hard head."

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