A fine blade and a quick hand

Posted on 15 Sep 2019 @ 5:16pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari

Mission: Mission 1 - In the pale moonlight ...
Location: Gymnasium Deck 11
Timeline: MD7 1600
1736 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Amelia had just finished her duty shift and had decided she had not exercised in a few days, now was the perfect time to burn off some excess energy. Having changed into a workout leotard she headed down to the ship's gym. Entering, she was surprised to find Aidan there, twirling around brandishing a couple of swords. While up to this point she had never really bothered with them preferring unarmed combat, she now found herself stood watching him while she stretched out, impressed at his skill.

Usually, Aidan went for his training sessions bright and early, but today he had an off-schedule which had prevented him to go. So he was here now, engaged in a deadly dance with an unseen opponent. His face a mask of concentration as he whirled around, pivoting and twisting as if for evasion. He was just swinging out as he spotted the XO. His concentration broken, he misstepped and made a rather inelegant tumble which led him to land at her feet. "Ma'am," he mumbled in embarrassment while trying to get back to his feet.

With lightning reflexes, Amelia narrowly dodged one of the blades and caught the handle of the other. As she assisted him back to his feet, she admired the sward she was now holding. "A fine weapon to be sure and some impressive moves on your part. Also, we're off duty so Amelia will do fine." She smiled as she presented the handle back to him.

"Yes ma'am," the younger officer replied, gratefully accepting his weapon back. "I'm sorry I almost hit you, I should pay more attention though I hadn't expected anyone to come in." He arched an eyebrow at her. "People usually have more sense than coming this close too," he added, somewhat apologetically.

Amelia raised her finger in mock chiding "I told you..... Amelia... Lose the ma'am off duty. It makes me feel old. And you seemed to be in control before the little mishap. I'm sorry I interrupted you. It looks very impressive. Did it take you long to learn?"

"These particular swords, I learned to use when I was eighteen, but I grew up with bladed weapons ma-" he caught himself, smiling a little. "My foster father started teaching me when my parents were still alive. Obviously, he wasn't my father yet at the time...he's Andorian and well.. combat is everything to an Andorian, right?" He handed the replica back to her for inspection. "These aren't real, they're blunted so all they should be able to do is bruise."

She examined the edge of the sword and on closer inspection, she could see it was dulled. "At the academy, I focused more on unarmed combat. Growing up with two older brothers I had to learn to.... shall we say lookout and keep my wits about me. I got bruised on several occasions but I also gave as good as I got. Still..... an elegant form of combat."

"I never focused on unarmed combat, I always had a blade of one form or the other." Aidan smiled at her now. "I keep my very first sword in my quarters too, on display. Though I believe the captain was going to teach me how to box... He had me practice on this bag for a while. It was... different."

She smiled wistfully "Ah yes. Boxing is just one form. It can be quite useful but its a bit.... shall we say all fists and not much tactics although I'm sure the Captain might disagree. First of all you have to know yourself and know your enemy. You have to appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak. When you are far from your enemy, make him feel that you are near. Of course, the supreme art is to subdue your enemy without fighting."

In a sudden move and Amelia spun around and swept Aidan's legs from under him and pinned him to the deck.

The Trill yelped in surprise, swords dropping from his hands as he tried to catch himself. "Whoa," he managed, while lying flat on his back. "And now?"

"You're subdued aren't you?" She smiled at him and let him up off the floor. "He will triumph who knows when to fight...... And when not to fight." as she offered a hand. "Maybe you'd be interested in learning some more. Maybe you could show me some sword techniques?"

"I can do that, but it'd be unfair to pull anything when you barely know how to handle a sword," Aidan answered, accepting the hand up. "Unless you know how to handle a sword?" He handed her one of his own again after picking them back up from the mat. "Which hand is your dominant one?"

"Right" Amelia replied. "And as to handling a sword..... The pointy end goes in the other person." she quipped.

"That's generally the idea," the Trill chuckled, switching his remaining sword from left to right. "I'm predominantly left-handed but for your benefit, I'll give myself a handicap and use right as well." He proceeded to show her how to hold the sword and had her perform a few experimental swings. "If this is too heavy for you, we can try to replicate a lighter version? I'm used to their weight, after all."

She tested the weight of the weapon in her hand. "No, I think I'll be able to cope with this." as she copied his grip on the handle. "Hmmmm, not bad." She then looked him square in the eye and with a mock serious tone recited "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Then added with a small chuckle "Sorry, I couldn't resist. it's from a very very old film that I watched when I was young."

"I see..." Aidan stood at ready, watching her. "Attack me," he suggested, now adopting a somewhat relaxed stance, blade pointing downward. "I could attack you but that'd not be fair as I know what I'm doing and you don't. Even though I'm sure without blade you'd have an idea of how to disarm me?"

“That’s probably true but let's give this a try shall we?” As she thrust with sword catching Aidan slightly off guard.

Surprised at her quick response, Aidan stepped aside and countered with a quick and practiced swing of his own.

Amelia parried one of Aidan’s counter-attacks and clipped his arm. Dropping her guard a moment, she added. “Don’t go easy on me just because I'm A woman and your commanding officer.... Owwwww. I deserved that” as she rubbed her side with her free hand.

As she spoke he smacked her side with the sword. "I would never do such a dishonorable thing," he said as he swung the sword around again, expecting her to block the strike. "How would you learn if I went easy on you? A real opponent won't either."

Amelia managed to block the strike but the force caught her off guard and she fell backward, landing on her bottom.

“Oooof! That’s going to leave a mark!” She said as she picked herself up. “It seems I've still got a lot to learn. Again?”

Aidan nodded, taking a few minutes to give her a few pointers. "Focus on your stance when you swing your sword," he added, stepping back a few paces. "Watch.." He made a few practiced swings and stabs, slowing a little for her benefit. "Are you ready?"

Amelia flashed a quick smile. "Always." As she raised her sword.

Smiling back, Aidan raised his own, holding it with both hands. "Attack me," he told her, stepping back with his left foot while pointing the blade down before him.

Amelia grinned. “If you say so.” Having watched him go through the motions, she was feeling a bit more confident now she started an attack. She was doing rather well until she failed to block a rather ferocious blow from Aidan which connected rather sharply with her left arm. There was a sickening crack and she suddenly had to bite her bottom lip hard to prevent a cry of pain escaping her lips.

Unaware of the force of his swing, and her failure to block, Aidan pivoted away, fully expecting a counter-attack. When none followed, he paused, panting for breath. "Ma'am?" he asked as he noticed her pained expression. "Why didn't you counter?"

Through gritted teeth, Amelia replied “Aahhh counter..... It was on my list of things to do.”

She gingerly felt her arm and almost passed out from the pain. “Ok, let’s not do that again. I’m pretty sure that’s broken.” She handed her sword to Aidan. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to call it a day for now as it looks like I have to report to sickbay before finding you some plasma conduits to scrub clean.” She quipped.

Concern crossed the young Trill's face as he watched her, then gently probed her arm with a skill not many knew he had in this area. "That's definitely broken," he said apologetically, "and you didn't think I'd let you go alone did you?" He wrapped his arm around her, holding her up with one arm while holding both replicas with his other hand as he wasn't leaving them behind. "We'll go together."

Amelia winced as she rested her weight on him. “You know normally I would say I’m quite capable of getting to sickbay on my own but, I'm In rather a lot of pain so I’ll allow you to help me this once. You know next time, I won’t let you score a single touch.”

"If that's a promise ma'am, then I'll keep you to it," Aidan promised, "and you know what they say, practice makes perfect, and you did score a few good hits too." He was sure he had some nice bruises to prove his point.

As they walked Amelia continued “As well as unarmed combat, I’m going to teach you some poker. Just as useful but fewer bruises.”

"That's a deal then ma'am," Aidan smiled as he supported her to sickbay. "We'll just get you patched up first."

OFF:

●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda


●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer
USS Andromeda