<< a slight BackLog, taking place shortly after the promotion ceremony in the cargo bay>>
[USS Charon, deck 10]
She stood by the work desk in her quarters, the perfect picture of a completely bemused Vulcan if there ever was one. In her left hand she held a surprisingly light sword of a design that was both familiar and completely alien while the fingertips of her right hand tapped the smooth, cool surface of the desk.
"Hm."
"Hm."
It wasn't as if she'd completely absorbed the recent events concerning Lyrilia yet, and here she had to deal with more unexpected circumstances.
Lieutenant.
Without so much as a 'by your leave' so to speak.
The scenery in the cargo bay as well as the Commodore's … unorthodox words to her crew certainly deserved to be called fascinating. And it drove home yet again the point that whenever the young woman thought she might at least have gained a rudimentary understanding of The Sundered, she should prepare to have every theory challenged again.
"Hm."
Lieutenant.
Without so much as a 'by your leave' so to speak.
The scenery in the cargo bay as well as the Commodore's … unorthodox words to her crew certainly deserved to be called fascinating. And it drove home yet again the point that whenever the young woman thought she might at least have gained a rudimentary understanding of The Sundered, she should prepare to have every theory challenged again.
"Hm."
Finally, Sakarra weighed the replicated Honor Blade in her hand and then placed it on the polished black surface of her otherwise empty desk. The design was certainly aesthetically pleasing, but somehow it did not 'feel' quite right. She allowed herself a brief smirk at the thought what a non-Vulcan might think of such a statement and proceeded to remove her uniform jacket, placing it neatly over a chair.
As always, the warmth and subdued lighting of her quarters provided a welcome respite. The jumble of thoughts and impressions racing and intertwining in the young woman's mind slowly began to resolve themselves like raging floodwaters from the mountains will join to become a large, peaceful river flowing like a silver band through gentle hills.
As always, the warmth and subdued lighting of her quarters provided a welcome respite. The jumble of thoughts and impressions racing and intertwining in the young woman's mind slowly began to resolve themselves like raging floodwaters from the mountains will join to become a large, peaceful river flowing like a silver band through gentle hills.
From the depth of that river a thought surfaced, and Sakarra moved towards an even more dimly lit part of her quarters, where a large wooden travel chest stood. The intricate carvings on it's dark surface were barely visible in the shadows, but what was placed on a simple, elegant stand sitting on top of the lid seemed to shimmer quietly, specks of copper light part absorbed, part reflected back from a surface darker than any shadow.
With a swift, practiced movement the young half-Vulcan took the sword from it's sleeping place and drew it, feeling the familiar weight and perfect balance. Simple, practical design of startling elegance, imminently logical in it's deadly beauty.
Her gaze wandered up and down the polished blade, seeking even the smallest imperfection, knowing there would be none. The artificial light played across the silver surface, almost like…
With a swift, practiced movement the young half-Vulcan took the sword from it's sleeping place and drew it, feeling the familiar weight and perfect balance. Simple, practical design of startling elegance, imminently logical in it's deadly beauty.
Her gaze wandered up and down the polished blade, seeking even the smallest imperfection, knowing there would be none. The artificial light played across the silver surface, almost like…
Eidetic memory has it's prices. Whether Sakarra wished it or not, the train of thought followed to the inevitable conclusion and in a flash, the Charon fell away to be replaced by desert sands. Nevasa's evening light created long shadows and bathed two swords in the color of alien blood.
------
A hunting K'Karee slithered away from the noise of two larger predators fighting, whatever prey there may have been here earlier, it certainly was not in the area any more.
Sakarra was subconsciously aware of the snake gliding across the sands no 800 meters away, but her immediate focus was completely occupied by parrying yet another blow from her opponent. He had ceased his easy, dance like movements long ago and was now relentlessly driving her across the rocky ground, one furious blow after another.
Sakarra was subconsciously aware of the snake gliding across the sands no 800 meters away, but her immediate focus was completely occupied by parrying yet another blow from her opponent. He had ceased his easy, dance like movements long ago and was now relentlessly driving her across the rocky ground, one furious blow after another.
'That's what you get for thinking you could throw that one off balance even for a second' the young woman mused with a mixture of amusement and mild annoyance. Each and every one of her own attacks had been deflected with almost insulting ease, and the ONE time a more creative approach had managed to open the tiniest crack in the tall, lithe Vulcan's defenses, the response had been as swift as it had been devastating.
Forced to give up more and more ground to the ever advancing Sovar, she considered her options. Continue to defend, hoping he would present an opening she could exploit - hm, chances of that occurring were negligible. Or let common sense and self-preservation instinct be damned and charge, thus forcing and end to this one way or another.
Not really a tough choice.
Forced to give up more and more ground to the ever advancing Sovar, she considered her options. Continue to defend, hoping he would present an opening she could exploit - hm, chances of that occurring were negligible. Or let common sense and self-preservation instinct be damned and charge, thus forcing and end to this one way or another.
Not really a tough choice.
He saw the glimmer in her eyes the fraction of a second before she leapt into the air. It was not difficult to brace himself for her assault. What was difficult however, was not to be distracted by the sight of her slender figure half turning in mid-air before she brought down her sword on his with a force that would have been bone-shattering to quite a number of other species.
He calculated she would require at least 0.4 seconds to regain her balance and turned to where a soft sound indicated she had landed with the elegance of a Le-Matya after the jump. His counterattack ran right into the one she had been about to unleash. Fascinating, and quite unexpected.
He calculated she would require at least 0.4 seconds to regain her balance and turned to where a soft sound indicated she had landed with the elegance of a Le-Matya after the jump. His counterattack ran right into the one she had been about to unleash. Fascinating, and quite unexpected.
Two swords crashed into each other and by all rights they should have been broken apart by the sheer force of impact. A dull pain traveled up Sakarra's arms, forcing a small gasp from her lips. It was all he needed.
0.8 seconds later she found herself pushed against one of the large rocks littering these hills, the only thing between Sovar's blade and her throat the sword she was still clinging to with stubborn determination.
"Will you yield?"
His face was so close she could feel the heat of his breath and noted with a tinge of satisfaction that it was just slightly faster than usual.
'A couple of more hours of this, and he might actually show the first sign of exhaustion. Of course, by then he will have taken me apart limb by limb.'
"I think not."
0.8 seconds later she found herself pushed against one of the large rocks littering these hills, the only thing between Sovar's blade and her throat the sword she was still clinging to with stubborn determination.
"Will you yield?"
His face was so close she could feel the heat of his breath and noted with a tinge of satisfaction that it was just slightly faster than usual.
'A couple of more hours of this, and he might actually show the first sign of exhaustion. Of course, by then he will have taken me apart limb by limb.'
"I think not."
Was there a spark of humor and - oh, really, pride? - crossing his otherwise perfectly calm features? Interesting.
She took the only action left to her, although of course he would expect the unexpected. But maybe...
Forcing every muscle in her body to relax she let herself fall against the rock, ignoring the pain of her shoulders being pushed into the stone and the rather unsettling sensation of cold metal against her throat.
Yes. Carried forward by his own weight and the force he'd used to keep her pinned, Sovar's perfect balance was disrupted for less than a Vulcan heartbeat.
With a triumphant huff, Sakarra pushed off from the rock and crashed into the warm, hard-muscled body, determined to make use of whatever advantage she might have just gained.
She might as well have tried to topple one of the stone columns outside the Science Academy. Barely flinching, he simply took one step back, brought his sword around in an elegant arc… she realized her mistake too late, and as usual he'd seen the opening even before it presented itself.
Ah, damn it.
She continued pushing on, if she had to concede yet another match she might as well fight until the last second.
She took the only action left to her, although of course he would expect the unexpected. But maybe...
Forcing every muscle in her body to relax she let herself fall against the rock, ignoring the pain of her shoulders being pushed into the stone and the rather unsettling sensation of cold metal against her throat.
Yes. Carried forward by his own weight and the force he'd used to keep her pinned, Sovar's perfect balance was disrupted for less than a Vulcan heartbeat.
With a triumphant huff, Sakarra pushed off from the rock and crashed into the warm, hard-muscled body, determined to make use of whatever advantage she might have just gained.
She might as well have tried to topple one of the stone columns outside the Science Academy. Barely flinching, he simply took one step back, brought his sword around in an elegant arc… she realized her mistake too late, and as usual he'd seen the opening even before it presented itself.
Ah, damn it.
She continued pushing on, if she had to concede yet another match she might as well fight until the last second.
With a startled yelp, Sakarra realized her attack had carried her right into the arms of her opponent who was falling backwards … What the ….
They crashed onto the ground, sending up clouds of sand and dust.
They crashed onto the ground, sending up clouds of sand and dust.
Flat on his back, a foot stuck in a patch of shifting sand and a most confused, sneezing Sakarra in his arms, Sovar blinked. "Fascinating."
"Quite." She looked down at him, obviously still trying to figure out what had happened and quirked a brow.
Part of the young woman's tightly braided hair had come loose in her frenzied attack and the black curls fell down onto his chest like a silk curtain moved by the evening breeze.
Acutely and almost painfully aware of her mind's familiar resonance, Sovar forcefully pushed away any thought other than how to escape their current predicament. One wrong move and the shifting sands might trap more than his foot. And lifting his hands to bury them in that black waterfall saturated by Nevasa's warmth, letting it cascade through his fingers … it might well be the last move he ever made.
She stirred and the sensation made him inhale sharply. Sovar's free arm shot up around her waist, telling her not to move, but just as he sought her eyes and reached for her mind, he realized she was already fully aware of their situation and looking for a solution.
Following the gaze of her dark eyes, he saw the rock 1.31 meters away. Not quite solid ground yet, but literally a possible stepping stone. It might as well have been a thousand meters away.
"Quite." She looked down at him, obviously still trying to figure out what had happened and quirked a brow.
Part of the young woman's tightly braided hair had come loose in her frenzied attack and the black curls fell down onto his chest like a silk curtain moved by the evening breeze.
Acutely and almost painfully aware of her mind's familiar resonance, Sovar forcefully pushed away any thought other than how to escape their current predicament. One wrong move and the shifting sands might trap more than his foot. And lifting his hands to bury them in that black waterfall saturated by Nevasa's warmth, letting it cascade through his fingers … it might well be the last move he ever made.
She stirred and the sensation made him inhale sharply. Sovar's free arm shot up around her waist, telling her not to move, but just as he sought her eyes and reached for her mind, he realized she was already fully aware of their situation and looking for a solution.
Following the gaze of her dark eyes, he saw the rock 1.31 meters away. Not quite solid ground yet, but literally a possible stepping stone. It might as well have been a thousand meters away.
Her eyes met his and he saw in them precisely what she planned on doing.
"Risky."
"I am open to suggestions."
"Very well."
"Risky."
"I am open to suggestions."
"Very well."
Minutes of agonizingly slow, carefully calculated moves that tested not only Sovar's physical abilities but quite frankly his mind's ability to focus, and one daring jump later, the two young Vulcans found themselves standing on solid ground again.
"Sovar."
He looked down at her upturned face, the last rays of Nevasa lighting her serene features as T'Khut's looming bulk rose over the hills.
"I believe you can let go now."
"Sovar."
He looked down at her upturned face, the last rays of Nevasa lighting her serene features as T'Khut's looming bulk rose over the hills.
"I believe you can let go now."
-----------------------------
Sakarra slowly shook her head, mildly amused at her self-indulgence before she filed the memory away to it's proper place again.
Looking from her sword to the blade resting on her desk, the young woman realized it could never have the same meaning as the one she was holding, the one made for her, the one that silently spoke of much more than memories.
But maybe it did not have to.
Looking from her sword to the blade resting on her desk, the young woman realized it could never have the same meaning as the one she was holding, the one made for her, the one that silently spoke of much more than memories.
But maybe it did not have to.
28.7 minutes later, the dark haired woman stood by her desk again, the Vulcan sword once more slumbering in the darkness while the warm light and scent of meditation candles filled the room.
With a small smile she appreciated the fine irony of the arrangement and then swiftly proceeded to the food replicator.
With a small smile she appreciated the fine irony of the arrangement and then swiftly proceeded to the food replicator.
In the quarters which no one could mistake for those of any other than a Vulcan's, an alien Honor Blade caught the eye. The light glinting off the scabbard proudly announced it's presence on the wall over a helmsman's work desk.
[End Log]
Lieutenant Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman
USS Charon
