The First Rule... (Part One)
Posted on Tue Oct 3rd, 2023 @ 1:49am by Lieutenant JG Ghemora & Lieutenant JG S’Ers-a Kelek t’LyrZor, Maa t'Lyr'Zor
Mission:
Repairs and Retribution
Location: Holosuite 2 - Deck 2
Timeline: Post Kanar Rescue
While there were always the traditional facilities for athletic training, there was nothing like actual sparring that tested and conditioned one to be ready for a grueling fight at any given time. Even if as an Intelligence Officer, and now especially an Intel Chief, it was unlikely that Ghemora would be put in a situation where she was forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat, she knew better than to rest on her laurels. Having learned through a mix of traditional Cardassian schooling, the need to survive, and the training from Starfleet, the woman was a very capable fighter.
Even if she'd only been onboard the Sunfire for a short period of time, all of her holosuite time had been spent going through the same standard list of hand-to-hand combat simulations that all Starfleet vessels seem to have on file. She only had two problems, though. The first was that she would often lose track of time and only stop once interrupted by whoever had the holosuite reserved after her. The second was that her superior Cardassian memory allowed her to learn all of the nuances of the holo-opponents' styles and tactics, making them relatively easy work for her.
The programming allowed for a wide variety of opponents, but Ghemora had quickly come to find a few favorites that really pushed her to her limits, especially when she increased the difficulty. Today it was the Vulcan opponent, who could easily match if not exceed the Cardassian's own strength, but lessened the advantage of her increased durability as well. The only aspects that benefited Ghemora the most were her creativity in using a combination of styles and her ability to quickly anticipate and dodge her opponent's strikes.
Panting breathes and grunting with each sharp weave and counter-strike, Ghemora didn't notice when the door to the holosuite whooshed open, nor when the Vulcan Security Chief stepped into the fabricated 'dojo' to see the Cardassian Intelligence Chief deep in the midst of a battle with a Vulcan hologram that didn't look to terribly different from the real Vulcan. With a small trickle of blood coming from the corner of her brow, Ghemora dipped right to throw a looping right hook as she weaved back up, cracking her fist across the hologram's nose.
The sharp sound of the cartilage cracking broke through the sounds of heavy breathing and soft steps. Almost immediately, green blood started to pour from the hologram's nose, which seemed to be only the latest of damaging blows to cause the Vulcan's blood to flow. From the look of things, it would be clear to S’Ers-a that the Cardassian had disabled all of the safety protocols, which only made sense if one was looking to make the most of a challenge of hand-to-hand combat training. It would also be clear that, even at its elevated difficulty setting, Ghemora was quickly getting the best of her holographic opponent…
Sera silently placed her training bag on the ground next to the holodeck arch that held her personal belongings that she brought when training. Her eyes did not leave the sparring intelligence chief, however. She unzipped her overcoat and sloughed it off, folding it neatly on top of her bag. Sera had hoped that her obvious motions would alert the other officer that they had gone over their time.
The woman was…competent, and it was only logical to accept and acknowledge skills in others, regardless of any irrational feelings she may still be processing.
She allowed another sixty seconds before saying anything. “The strength parameters are incorrect on this fighting simulacrum. It is not demonstrating accurate strength levels for a Vulcan male.”
S'Ers-a considered that perhaps that could been seen as a form of insult. Although...maybe...no. NO. Definitely not.
Recalling the numerous sparring sessions growing up, S'Ers-a had discovered that after a certain point - no matter how good her skill was - she was utterly outmatched on a physical level with her male counterparts. Speed, skill, and unpredictability were paramount in fighting with a Vulcan - at least that's what she had learned...and she had become very good at it - but to take on a Vulcan male willingly was to accept the odds were you were going to be injured.
Ghemora's back had been to the holosuite's entryway as she needed to stay completely focused on her opponent. The sudden sound of the unexpected voice caused her to freeze for just a moment to glance back, giving the holographic opponent the chance to land an extra heavy blow that sent her stumbling back. Her butt only hit the mat for a moment before she scrambled back up to her feet with a suddenly new desire to end this contest imminently.
"Noted," Ghemora answered but didn't have the opportunity to say anything more as her opponent charged forward to grapple her in the anticipated way. Raising her hands to take hold of him just as he gripped high on her shoulders, the Cardassian didn't allow the Vulcan to reach for their customary 'pinch', but instead turned her hips and used his momentum to throw him over them towards the mat.
Shifting quickly, her hands found his wrist as she went to the ground with him, extending her legs over his chest as she pulled his shoulder between her thighs and ripped his arm down to her left side. A sharp popping sound came from the hologram's arm as it was suddenly bent past its normal range, causing the Vulcan to yell out in pain before tapping on her leg with his free hand.
Sera tilted her head and raised a brow. “If you…desire to test your strengths in the most accurate manner possible, I would have thought that my observation would be of benefit to you. ”
As she untangled herself from the holographic opponent, Ghemora's eyes came up to stare at the Sera for a silent moment before she ordered, "Computer. End program." Pushing herself up to her feet and turning to walk over to the small pile of clothes and towel that she'd had in the corner of the room, the Cardassian snatched up the towel to wipe the sweat and blood from her face and arms as she responded to Sera without turning back, "Vulcans are already one of the strongest species in the galaxy, and usually a competent opponent, but once you learn and remember the limited tactics the programs are installed with, artificially increasing their strength, speed, and aggression is the only way to make it a challenge."
The holographic fighter disappeared without further ado. S’Ers-a did not want to speak with this woman, but her wants were irrelevant over reality. It would not do to discourage one from honing their physical skills, as such honed abilities had proven necessary in the ‘world’ they now lived in.
"I have found the holographic fighters to be useful...to a point." Her mouth tugged ever slightly in a manner that was definitely NOT a smirk. "Somewhat similar to replicated food; it misses something...visceral. What say you?"
Sera's presence told the Cardassian that she'd gone past her allotted time once again, causing her to gather up the rest of her things, but simply toss them over her shoulder before she turned back in anticipation of exiting. Slowing her step at the Vulcan's observation and appraising her for a moment, Ghemora momentarily frowned in thought before replying, "I'd disagree, personally. I find that they fulfill my 'visceral' needs, but lack the intellectual challenge a *real* opponent presents. The combat programs lack the true ability to improvise and react to mixed fighting styles."
Sera tilted her head to the side and regarded Ghemora in the same manner a German Shepard would home in on a juicy bone. What an interesting statement…
Returning to her previous pace toward the exit, Ghemora paused as she came shoulder-to-shoulder with the Vulcan, turning her head to address her to add, "Starfleet frowns upon full-contact sparring between personnel for fear of injuries and creating lingering hostilities between crewmembers. Otherwise, I'd have a signup sheet posted outside of my office. It would certainly be a better challenge than what the holodeck library has to offer…"
Stepping out of the door, but stopping to turn back to the Security Chief, the Cardassian added, "I do apologize for delaying your scheduled time. I need to work on being more mindful of the time, but it's difficult given the difficulty I require to really test myself. A fight is not over until one side has been decimated, and I'm not one to give up before I have made my opponent submit." Lingering, a moment, Ghemora was curious what the Vulcan would say in response, especially given the opponent she'd witnessed the Intel Chief defeating.
“Apology is not required, Lieutenant…a…word of advice – a Vulcan male’s flanks are particularly…vulnerable.” She was uncertain why she was giving unsolicited advice – but this interaction was not progressing in a satisfactory manner in Sera’s mind.
The Cardassian woman's head tilted at the Vulcan woman's remark, drawing her ridged brows in for a moment before a slight smirk slowly spread across her face. While she appreciated the advice, especially from the elder Chief, the specificity of it Ghemora found strangely curious. "...Noted, Lieutenant," she replied after the momentary hesitation. Assuming that would have been the end of their interaction, the Intel officer had just started to turn away when the Sec officer's voice caused her to halt.
“Would you care to continue? It would appear that you have not satisfied your objective in the holodeck yet, and although regulations perhaps…frown on full-contact sparring – engaging with corporeal opponents is more effective in improving neuroplasticity regarding spontaneous response to external stimuli.”
“Consider it a…training exercise? I have found that correct phrasing is sometimes all that is required to circumvent questionable rules.” Sera added as she regarded the Cardassian intelligence officer who appeared ready to bolt.
Initially surprised by the offer, a biologist she was not, though Ghemora did find the Vulcan's explanation of why sparring against an actual person amusing but slightly less so than the Security Chief's creative interpretation of Starfleet's own Rules and Regulations. Involuntarily releasing a chuckle, she smiled at the woman, offering her a slight shrug, "Sure. If you don't see it as a violation, then I certainly have no reason to turn down such an offer."
Offering a hand invitation to the woman to lead the way, once the holosuite's door had closed behind her, the Cardassian seemed to suddenly become stiff with reluctance as she clutched the items tossed over her shoulder. "Wait," she ordered in a casual yet still serious tone. "If we are going to do this, then we must treat it and each other with the same regard and respect any two friendly combatants training together must. No ranks or titles or chain of command."
Stepping forward and offering a hand in greeting, which was clearly a product of her Earthly assimilation, "Ghemora," she proclaimed, though it wasn't as if the common moniker was unknown or unused by the majority of the crew. Cardassians were just that way about names. "And you prefer 'Sera', correct?" she asked, though spoke the name as such with the confidence of one that would have been calling the Chief that since their initial meeting.
Continuing to hold her hand out and waiting for the Vulcan's response, the Cardassian wondered if she would return the act of respect, or if this was yet another who concealed dark discriminations for those of her species...
TBC
