More Than A Little Hand-to-Hand
Posted on Fri Jul 26th, 2019 @ 1:16am by Major Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Edited on on Sat Jul 27th, 2019 @ 11:33am
1,905 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 7 - Home Again
Location: Holo Deck Three
Timeline: MD006 1700 hours
ON
Jayna was a little out of practice with her hand-to-hand training. Since the ship was on shore leave, she took the opportunity to find a holodeck program that would help her get back up to speed.
She changed into shorts, a tank top, and a good pair of sneakers and headed to the holodeck.
Mik was wiping down an area of matting as he heard someone approaching. The holo-figure looked up at a young woman peering in from the entrance.
"Hello," he called out, "Can I help you miss?
"I was told this was the place to come to brush up on my hand-to-hand training," Jayna said, her eyes scanning the facility.
"Well," Mik said gruffly, "We ain't doin tea parties or anything like that. Let's get a look at you."
The old man eyed her over, walking around her and mumbling. That's when Mira realized he was working through her records jacket: specifically defensive tactics training and recorded martial abilities.
"Right!" Mik said after a minute, "You need some work, lets get you warmed up."
For the next thirty minutes, Mik had Mira skipping rope, working through some generic timed punching and kicking drills and sprint drills.
"So," Mik said, "Given your line of work, how do you feel your defensive training is? Up to standards, needs work or mind your own damn business old man?" He gave her a crooked, toothy grin as she grabbed some water.
"I'm good enough for short fights as I rely on my martial arts training and my strength, but I can always do better. And, since I will be working more with Marines here, I need to do better."
Nodding, Mik considered that and said. "Well, let me tell you about Marines. That CO of the Cure is getting fat. He's barely spent a handful of hours in here lately. And the Pioneer seems to be on shore leave more than they're at space tending to business."
The old man shook his head, "But, at least it keeps more attractive ladies like yourself coming by my gym. Makes an old man feel young again, it does. Now..."
"What it doesn't do," a voice said from the shadows and Neil walked out, giving the old man a look. "Is keep certain gabby holo-trainers onto the subject at hand rather than flirting with said females as they come here for help."
"Yeah, what would you know about flirting, Neil." Mik retorted with a sly grin. "You're denser than a post when it comes to women's wiles!"
Neil shook his head again, then looked at Mira. "I don't know why I put up with him..."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the exchange. "Because he's good at what he does?" She turned to Mik, her smile turning to a grin. "And sometimes a girl likes to be flirted with, even by a hologram."
"Hah," Mik said, "Truer words have never passed more lovely lips my dear." He glanced at Neil and said, "Take some lessons youngster and you wouldn't look like you've been pulled through a keyhole."
"You two should spar some," Mik announced then, "Go get yourself ready youngster."
Neil could only shake his head again and headed for the locker room. "Aye aye, you old pain in the posterior."
***
Neil returned about eight minutes later having changed into testing pants, tank top, and sparring shoes. He was finishing wrapping his hands as joined them at the sparring ring. He climbed in, then began pulling on sparring gloves.
"Right," he said as he stretched out his neck and rolled his shoulders, warming them up. "Full contact, boxing, no holds...what's your opinion of a good time, Mira."
"Well," she said, flashing him a wicked grin. "It doesn't involve gloves."
Neil eyed her as he bounced on the balls of his feet, and said. "You're as bad as he is," he said, tipping his head towards Mik, who was on the gym floor, leaning against the canvass ring, leering at Mira. Then the Marine chuckled, "I suppose grappling is an option."
"Good." Grappling played to her strengths. So did keeping him off-guard. She watched him bounce, wondering how he telegraphed his moves. She'd find out soon enough. Hopefully.
Just to see what would happen, she said, "Hey, Mik, what are his weaknesses?"
"Last I checked," Mik grinned broadly, "It was blondes. The black haired dame didn't make it too far."
Neil decided to ignore the old man. He had his hands down to his sides as he shifted his weight to the balls of his feet as he faced Mira. "Alright Ms. Jayna, lets see what you've got."
"Well, that takes me out of the running," she tossed flippantly to the trainer, her eyes still on Neil. She didn't want to hurt him, but she did want to acquit herself. She spun around and connected with a back kick to the knee and a right to the jaw.
Neil went down, limiting the damage to his knee by taking the fall and as his knee collapsed and the blow to his jaw as he went down. Her strikes had kept her in close and he twisted as he hit the mat, sweeping her legs out from under her and then he rolled, gaining distance and came to his feet, moving toward her with a grin, feinting a blow at her head, stamping his feet as he pushed her across the ring.
Jayna went down and rolled to dodge the feint.
Once she rolled to the ropes, Neil stopped and grinned, making a come on gesture with his hands.
She got to her feet, grinning back. This time, she went in for a punch and flipped him onto the mat.
Neil hit the mat again and this time, entangled his legs with hers, tripping her and rolling her, trying to pin her arms.
She rolled with him, fighting to keep the upper hand. He clearly had her on technique, but she had more strength, and she wasn't afraid to cheat. But then, she was pretty sure he wasn't, either. She stopped on her back and grabbed his hands, forcing them away from her.
Realizing she was stronger than she looked, Neil abruptly brought an elbow down into her midriff, getting his arms free and then began raining punches at her head.
She grabbed his wrists long enough to headbutt him and flip him over, pinning him to the mat.
Neil abruptly brought his knees up, catching her backside and shooting her center of gravity forward. As she was forced to let go of his arms to catch her balance, he wrapped his arms about her waist, burying his face in her chest as he wrapped his right leg over her left and rolled on top.
Then he wormed his way backwards, sliding over her and pushing off her legs to avoid kicks as he gained his feet and moved to a striking stance. "You're strong, Ms. Jayna, I'll give you that. Nice ground work too."
"It's all thanks to my mother," she said, pushing herself to a crouch. She went low, hitting him in the gut with her shoulder and then tossing him onto his back.
Grunting and nearly losing his wind, Neil wrapped his legs about her waste, got one arm around Mira's neck and began grinding his middle fingers knuckle into the pressure point of her left ear.
She cried out in pain and grabbed his hand, snapping it back so sharply it broke. And then she bit him.
Neil saw white then and his mind processed the pain. He forced his good hand up between her teeth and his chest and applied pressure to the tip of her nose, directing her head to his left as he wormed his legs beneath her and shoved away, trying to gain ground.
She let him go and moved out of his way. She was done fighting. "I yield," she said to both Neil and Mik. Before either of them could stop her, she stepped out of hte ring, her head aching. "He's going to need a doctor," she added.
Neil just collapsed on the mat then and tried to catch his breath. "My fault," he said after his heart started regulating. "I should have quit before I went after that ear pressure point." Rolling up onto one elbow, he looked at Mira. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head and winced. That had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. Her life had been in danger on many occasions, and she'd had to fight to stay alive, but she'd never come so close to killing or being killed by someone who was supposed to protect her.
"Damn kids," Mik grunted, walking over to Mira and approaching slowly, hands up as he moved in to examine her ear. "Looks alright," he said. "But you'll want to check with medical if you have hearing problems."
She nodded, but it made her head hurt more. She couldn't afford to have hearing problems in her line of work. She had to rely on her senses not only to get the job done, but to stay alive. As a Vulcan, she relied on them more than most. "You almost killed me, didn't you?"
Neil didn't say anything for a moment, then said. "When you broke my wrist and bit me, I saw just about lost it and instincts kicked in. I don't know if I'd have killed you, but a broken neck would definitely want a lot of paperwork." He half smiled and shrugged, "I am sorry, for what it's worth."
"Thank you." She appreciated the apology. "I've always found a way to avoid killing. Even as a child." Her words were soft, measured. She was trying to regain her balance, both mentally and physically, and to work through what just happened. Both of them acted on instinct, and both pushed too hard. It gave her a lot to think about.
Neil rolled under the bottom rope and onto his feet, glancing down at the bite wound to his chest and letting his wrist dangle. "Which is why they call in the Marines as a last resort. If things have went bad enough that the Federation lets us loose..." at that point, Neil could only shrug lightly.
"I know. I've worked with a lot of Marines," she said. "I've always admired their self-discipline." The pain in her ear was easing and she was getting back her equilibrium.
Jayna walked over to Mik and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks," she said.
She then went over to Neil. "I don't blame you for going off instinct and training," she said. Then she kissed him on the lips. "And I'm sorry for pushing you that far."
She turned and headed to the door, still mentally dissecting what happened.
Neil sat there watching her go and then looked at Mik, who grinned at him. "My boy, you are well on your way, hehe."
Neil sighed and shook his head, go get your medical kit will you Mik? Computer, activate trainer mode." The old man nodded, went and fetched his medical bucket and began treating Neil's wounds.
First Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Warrant Officer Mira Jayna
Infiltration Specialist, USS Pioneer
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