Blowing off some steam

Posted on 10 Mar 2020 @ 2:49am by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Gym
Timeline: Mission Day 6 05:00
2143 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Michael felt restless, uneasy with a bit of extra energy.The situation with the Cetea, the havoc the imposter had caused, just had him on edge. And yes can't forget the planet killers that were out there. Feeling the need to let off some of the pent up energy, Michael headed for the gym. Early hours he liked, and he definitely was going to need the work out he planned. First thing on the agenda would be the treadmill, or better yet, the beginning kata's for his martial arts with a work out on the bag. He stepped inside the gym, it being the first time on this ship.

He admired the layout of the room, and whispered, "Hello beautiful" to the room.

"You call a room beautiful?" Aidan stepped into the gym, glancing around. "It's a little sterile don't you think? It serves its purpose, but it's hardly beautiful?" He paused, as if to gather his thoughts. "I understand I have you to thank for saving my companion's life?"

Michael jumped a little, having not heard Aidan come inside. He chuckled. "Just putting out a positive entrance before coming in." His smile faded as Aidan spoke of Sherlock. "You must be Lieutenant Datari. I am glad I was able to help out Sherlock. I don't know what caused his injuries, but it wasn't normal as to what happened. How is he doing?" walking further into the room.

"Anxious to fly again and a little pissed at having to stay put. But he'll be alright. Syvar said he'll fly again and that's important." He followed the other man in. "Call me Aidan, I'm not on duty," he added with a small smile. "And Sherlock is most grateful for your assistance. It was Lieutenant Fox's counterpart who hurt him, I just hope he won't hold it as grudge against our own XO. I'm not sure he's capable of seeing a difference, I've not really had dealings with a mirror universe before. Have you?"

"All right, Aidan, you can call me Michael."He looked relieved at the news of Sherlock, then frowned at who had caused the injury to Sherlock. "That woman has caused quite a lot of pain. I won't even call her by our XO's name. I have instead called her Jane Doe. Perhaps he can see a difference in her scent compared to our XO? As for a mirror universe, those who command Avalon Station, they have had some experience as to some counterparts in another universe. In fact in some strange instance, they had found themselves in their counter-parts bodies. Their counterparts in theirs. It was rather disconcerting from what I had heard."

"I know what it feels like to be possessed," Aidan admitted slowly as he surveyed the mostly empty gym, "and Sherlock can possibly tell a difference by reading emotions. I'm not always sure how he does it, he communicates with me through feelings, emotions and images, but only because we're connected. I feel what he feels too, most of the time." He gestured towards the mat. "What's your usual routine?"

Michael nodded, "My usual routine, if I don't have anyone to spar with, would be kata's followed by a good bout with a heavy bag. I had thought to do treadmill but... with what is happening I am feeling the treadmill won't be enough."

"What do you usually spar with?" Aidan prompted, now realizing he had actually forgotten his replicas. What do you mean though, with what is happening?"

"The mess with the Cetea, and the imposter. Especially the Cetea having the planet killer. And I would like to ... shake some sense in that imposter. I haven't gone to see her yet, however I have a rather high dislike for her right now. She's hurt a lot of people on this crew." Michael said. "As for sparring there are several I use, swords for one as well as knives. I do use staffs and escrima sticks as well as empty hand."

The Trill's eyes lit up at the mention of bladed weapons. "Knives?" he queried, "what's an escrima stick?" He knew his way around weapons but there was always something new to learn, he reasoned.

"Its a stick of rattan about 24 inches to 32 inches in length, something that is used in lieu of a bladed weapon. There are people who fight with it and those that use it for practice so there won't be any injuries caused by blades. Though a good solid hit from an escrima stick can cause bruising or can break something. Back in the 21st century, I had read of a man who had his students make practice sticks out of newspaper. If that stick was made well enough, they were able to break a brick with it."

"I would like to see this," Aidan said, clearly thrilled about learning something new. "I'm used to training with replicas, or live blades, but I've never trained with this escrima before. Can you show me?"

"I would love to do so. I will need to go back to my quarters and grab my gear bag and then I can start teaching you." Michael said, smiling.

"I'm not going anywhere," Aidan promised with a grin, "I'll wait right here."

Michael disappeared out of sight heading to his quarters with a quick jog. A few minutes later, he was back with a large bag. Stepping over to where the mats were, Michael unzipped his gear bag pulled out four rattan sticks which were a light brown with dark scoring from where they had used fire to cure the rattan to make it stronger.

He glanced over to Aidan, "Care to look inside at what I have?" Inside the gear bag would be two hook swords, two sai's
and a mek'leth along with some protective gear.

Kneeling beside the bag, the Trill peered inside and drew in a sharp breath. "Oh wow..." he marveled, "I would love to spar with those sometimes. Oh I really need to replicate a new ushaan-tor. I lost mine last mission, sadly it was never recovered. Maybe we can even try your weapons against mine. On the holodeck of course, safe environment and all." He looked up, casting the man a sheepish look. "I'm sorry... I grew up with bladed weapons."

"That would be fun,and I am all for it. I've been a part of a seafaring crew, my grandfather has a ship based on the Tall ships back when sailing on the open sea, beneath billowing sails of white. In fact we know how to fight with blades, we've had sea skirmishes, plus... we've had pirate festivals in my home town.I'm no stranger to the sound of clashing steel, glinting beneath the sun." he stopped, and looked at Aidan in admiration. "You had an ushaan-tor? Those are marvelous blades. Oh definitely, you need to replace it. Did yours have a household insignia?"

"It did," Aidan acknowledged, "that of my foster father. He gave it to me when I was a child, and taught me how to use it. I feel terrible at having to replace it, but that's the way it is. I still hope it'll turn up somehow, that someone will trace the insignia and return it to me." He sighed. "Until then a replica will have to do. I grew up training with blades as they helped my foster sister with focus and balance. She's deaf and has no antennae, so their lack disrupted her balance as a child."

"That certainly makes some formidable challenges to face. How did that go for her? I'm sure she must have become rather adept in different areas." Michael said with a smile.

"She's a marine," Aidan answered proudly, as if that said it all, "a career marine and a surgeon, so I'd say she did alright. Oh and she's joined...second host to what is considered a young symbiont I suppose. I don't know a whole heck about those, nor do I really want to."

"That is fantastic!" Michael exclaimed. "I don't know much about the symbionts myself. I will say though, her accomplishments are amazing." He picks up the rattan stick, hands Aidan a pair. "Would you like to put on some protective gear or we just start out slow to where you won't need the protective gear."

"I'm an expert swordsman," the Trill answered confidently, "do I need protective gear?"

"Second nature for me to offer. So you are old school then, much like the sword masters of old."Michael grinned, as he slid out of his shoes and walked barefoot to the mats where he waited for Aidan."Have you fought with two weapons before?"

The Trill's eyes gleamed. "Oh yes," he answered, "most of the time when I practice with my swords. I learned to use them both when I was seventeen, and I've been practicing with them ever since. I rarely use the real blades though, but they've seen actual combat." He looked up while weighing the rattan sticks in his hands. 'Have you?"

"Yes, I have fought with two weapons as well. Okay, lets see your moves, all you need to do is pretend these are your blades." Michael stepping back to watch what Aidan could do.

"Oh is that all?" Aidan smirked as he launched into what might look like a deadly dance, had his sticks been actual blades. It was like he was battling an invisible opponent for just a few short minutes. Then, he stopped, his breathing a little heavier but not yet out of breath. His tunic however, was starting to stick to his body as he watched his opponent. "Good enough?" he asked. with a grin.

Michael gave an answering grin, "Magnificent, it looks like we are going to have lots of fun sparring together. And even do some battle scenes against other opponents?" quirking up one eyebrow.

Then he demonstrates his skills, his own deadly dance against an invisible opponent, fast furious for a short few minutes. Michael stops, wipes the trickle of perspiration from his brow. He walks over to his bag and pulls out a couple of towels tossing one to Aidan. "We can even spar empty handed."

"Hand to hand isn't something I'm very adept at. My father focused on fighting with blades, and the Ushaan-tor. He also taught me what it's really used for of course. Having grown up in the arctics did have its advantages I suppose." He held up his sticks. "Shall we?"

"I can teach you hand to hand if you are willing, it will use some of your fighting skills just no blade. However, lets rumble." bringing up his sticks and moved towards Aidan.

A rather intense sparring session followed in which they were drawing quite the crowd. The crashing of the sticks against each other, as well as skin and fabric, was rather loud. Panting for breath, sweat soaking his clothes, Aidan finally had to give up. He was exhausted and though he felt they were evenly matched, this was not a sword, and this was a weapon he was at a disadvantage with. And so, he had to give up and surrender, which he did, gracefully so.

Michael bowed to Aidan with respect, his own clothing wet with sweat, panting from the exertion. "Thank you, Aidan, that was exactly what I needed. And I am looking forward to when we spar again." grinning at the thought.

"Perhaps we can use swords next time," Aidan breathed, "on the holodeck of course. Or those hooked things you have? What are they anyway..."

"I would love that. These blades have several names, the Hook Sword, Hu Tou Gou, Shuang Gou, or the Fu Tao. It depends on who you come across who uses these weapons. I can teach you how to use them and you can teach me how to use the ushaan-tor. I truly think that you and I will be apt pupils of either weapons."

Aidan grinned happily. "Oh I think so to. It's been so long since I had a proper sparring partner. The only thing I have to do is make sure not to get hurt, I don't think Emme or Sherlock, but mostly Emme, will be very happy with me if that happens."

"And I don't think Sherlock would be too happy with me hurting you. We'll set things up where we won't get hurt, and definitely have a bit of fun." Checking the time, "Well, looks like I've got just enough time for me to get cleaned up and report for duty on the bridge. Thanks once again, this certainly has helped to clear my head."

---

● “ Ensign Michael Hawkins“
Chief Operations Officer
USS Andromeda

●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer/2nd Officer
USS Andromeda