[USS Charon, Holodeck Two]
Tapping on the arch's console Khiy downloaded a pair of holographic specifications from the Quantum Fury's computer. Next to him, floating in the air, two glinting daggers materialized. He turned and looked towards the shade, his dark eyes squinting at the brightness of the harsh sun. Behind him the arch disappeared leaving only a jagged desert landscape "these are Kalen" Khiy said- but he did not elaborate about their origin.
They were one of the few reminders of his past other than the scars of his childhood. Before grabbing the daggers he unzipped his uniform jacket and tossed the lanky thing into the desert sand along with the undershirt. Then he carefully removed his shoes and socks. Letting his bare feet dig into the hot sand he looked at Sakarra "are you ready?" he asked his hands moving towards the hovering blades.
They were one of the few reminders of his past other than the scars of his childhood. Before grabbing the daggers he unzipped his uniform jacket and tossed the lanky thing into the desert sand along with the undershirt. Then he carefully removed his shoes and socks. Letting his bare feet dig into the hot sand he looked at Sakarra "are you ready?" he asked his hands moving towards the hovering blades.
"Indeed."
She had been standing at perfect balance since the blades had appeared, and watched the young man's every move with a calculating gaze. Perhaps she should not have been surprised at his choice of weapons, but for some reason she was, if only slightly.
What did produce an outright look of astonishment, was the abundance of scars that became visible when he removed his upper garments. It would have been rude however to show more interest than a passing glance, so she merely gave another nod of acknowledgement and slammed the Lirpa's blunt end into the sand, inclining her head ever so slightly without ever taking her eyes of the young man.
The artificial sun was shining directly into her face, but it was only polite to remove the disadvantage from one who was not accustomed to it.
"Klee-et, Khiy Kanryth."
Motionless as the still, hot air, she waited.
She had been standing at perfect balance since the blades had appeared, and watched the young man's every move with a calculating gaze. Perhaps she should not have been surprised at his choice of weapons, but for some reason she was, if only slightly.
What did produce an outright look of astonishment, was the abundance of scars that became visible when he removed his upper garments. It would have been rude however to show more interest than a passing glance, so she merely gave another nod of acknowledgement and slammed the Lirpa's blunt end into the sand, inclining her head ever so slightly without ever taking her eyes of the young man.
The artificial sun was shining directly into her face, but it was only polite to remove the disadvantage from one who was not accustomed to it.
"Klee-et, Khiy Kanryth."
Motionless as the still, hot air, she waited.
Khiy's fingers wrapped around the blades, his eyes still squinted. He waited for the right moment. Silence and stillness encompassed him- only the beating heart of the desert stirred; long soft winds gently shifting grains of the hot sand- whispers which echoed through the rustic sky. A small whirlwind twisted around him and he closed his eyes whispering a prayer to the elements.
As the last grain of sand grazed his cheek his eyes burst open and he sprinted towards the shade. His eyes were still half open when he hit the darkness and instead of directly attacking he leapt into the air and landed on one of the stone benches. Pivoting a full 180 degrees he then dived at Sakarra, his eyes now fully open.
Fast.
It was her first thought, and her second was 'unusually fast'.
The Lirpa moved as if by it's own will, and the curved blade appeared right in the young man's flight path. Hardly unexpected, he avoided it with another graceful spin, but Sakarra had been waiting for that.
Gliding lightly across the sand on her soft desert boots, she brought the staff around in a swift arc, right where his feet touched the ground. HAD touched the ground. He was already moving again.
Fascinating.
This time it was she who had to execute a brief but lightning fast turn to narrowly avoid the blades moving towards her. And although her counterattack was already in motion before the young Vulcan had completed her spin, she already knew it would not reach him in time.
The Lirpa's deadly blade rushed through the hot air in a blur, but the hands holding the daggers were already rushing off towards the left.
Well, if that was to be the dance…
This time she allowed his incredibly fast attack to breach her defenses far enough to let the daggers connect with the Lirpa's staff which had conveniently appeared in his path at literally the last split-second.
She did not push back, not yet.
But she took due note of with just how much force the blow had been delivered.
As the last grain of sand grazed his cheek his eyes burst open and he sprinted towards the shade. His eyes were still half open when he hit the darkness and instead of directly attacking he leapt into the air and landed on one of the stone benches. Pivoting a full 180 degrees he then dived at Sakarra, his eyes now fully open.
Fast.
It was her first thought, and her second was 'unusually fast'.
The Lirpa moved as if by it's own will, and the curved blade appeared right in the young man's flight path. Hardly unexpected, he avoided it with another graceful spin, but Sakarra had been waiting for that.
Gliding lightly across the sand on her soft desert boots, she brought the staff around in a swift arc, right where his feet touched the ground. HAD touched the ground. He was already moving again.
Fascinating.
This time it was she who had to execute a brief but lightning fast turn to narrowly avoid the blades moving towards her. And although her counterattack was already in motion before the young Vulcan had completed her spin, she already knew it would not reach him in time.
The Lirpa's deadly blade rushed through the hot air in a blur, but the hands holding the daggers were already rushing off towards the left.
Well, if that was to be the dance…
This time she allowed his incredibly fast attack to breach her defenses far enough to let the daggers connect with the Lirpa's staff which had conveniently appeared in his path at literally the last split-second.
She did not push back, not yet.
But she took due note of with just how much force the blow had been delivered.
Khiy realized his mistake a moment too late- the lirpa's staff might as well have been a gigantic boulder. He neither had the strength nor weight to push back. His eyes darted to left and then to right. A gentle breeze brushed past him and as it did he made his move. Sliding his hands across the dull backs of the daggers his palms found the lirpa's rod and like a graceful gymnast he pushed up vaulting over the Vulcan. Like a blur he watched as the Vulcan seemed to anticipate the move- the lirpa's curved edge twisted past him narrowly missing the bridge of his nose by a mere millimeter. He landed in the sand hard and felt a cracking sensation. His eyes widened slightly but he ignored the pain that was beginning to reverberate up his thigh "amazing" he said to her.
He was just beginning to realize she wasn't like his normal opponents. He caught only momentary glimpses of her gaze but every time he did her eyes were clearly focused on him. The level of concentration was incredible. Khiy spread his legs in a runners stance and prepared for another sprint.
I will have to be careful.
He could see her studying him closely. With a quick burst he ran at her again and sidestepped her like last time. She had anticipated but she was slightly too slow. He dodged her second strike just as easily but this time as he pivoted he hurled one of the daggers at her. As soon as it left his grasp he charged opposite of the thrown dagger and aimed for her arm.
I will have to be careful.
He could see her studying him closely. With a quick burst he ran at her again and sidestepped her like last time. She had anticipated but she was slightly too slow. He dodged her second strike just as easily but this time as he pivoted he hurled one of the daggers at her. As soon as it left his grasp he charged opposite of the thrown dagger and aimed for her arm.
It was like trying to anticipate where Sandfire might strike next.
Amazing indeed.
The distinct cracking noise she heard when the young man landed made Sakarra hesitate, and it nearly proved to be her undoing. Though she registered a distinct shift in his stance, he seemed unperturbed and charged again, flying at her with a burst of speed a Shavokh would have been hard put to match.
No, he would not go through an attack like this again, unless … the very moment the thought manifested itself, she more sensed than saw the dagger leave his hand. The intention was clear, as was the solution.
It was the execution of same that presented a problem, but there was no logical alternative.
Faced with the choice of being acquainted with one of two daggers, Sakarra opted for neither. Using the Lirpa's momentum to accelerate her own, she leapt away from her opponent in a perfectly calculated arc.
But he was pushing his attack, as well he should, and the Vulcan barely had time to regain the needed balance when the dagger came around again.
Amazing indeed.
The distinct cracking noise she heard when the young man landed made Sakarra hesitate, and it nearly proved to be her undoing. Though she registered a distinct shift in his stance, he seemed unperturbed and charged again, flying at her with a burst of speed a Shavokh would have been hard put to match.
No, he would not go through an attack like this again, unless … the very moment the thought manifested itself, she more sensed than saw the dagger leave his hand. The intention was clear, as was the solution.
It was the execution of same that presented a problem, but there was no logical alternative.
Faced with the choice of being acquainted with one of two daggers, Sakarra opted for neither. Using the Lirpa's momentum to accelerate her own, she leapt away from her opponent in a perfectly calculated arc.
But he was pushing his attack, as well he should, and the Vulcan barely had time to regain the needed balance when the dagger came around again.
Even as she charged, she could see Sovar's amused and mildly chiding face in her mind. Unwise. But if there was one thing Sakarra had never mastered, it was to give ground when it seemed prudent to do so.
Fortunate indeed it was only a holographic dagger or she might have ended up with a rather nasty cut to her side. And fortunate for him that he was indeed faster than anyone the Vulcan had ever fought.
Faced with an opponent who ran right into his attack, he did an astonishing job avoiding the Lirpa's blade, but she had never intended for it to connect.
Instead, his evasive maneuver led him right into a waiting knee as she allowed herself to fall, but rather than deliver the jolt that would have knocked the air out of a full grown Vulcan, there was only the sensation of a much too light body being lifted away.
And another sound that did not bode well.
Fortunate indeed it was only a holographic dagger or she might have ended up with a rather nasty cut to her side. And fortunate for him that he was indeed faster than anyone the Vulcan had ever fought.
Faced with an opponent who ran right into his attack, he did an astonishing job avoiding the Lirpa's blade, but she had never intended for it to connect.
Instead, his evasive maneuver led him right into a waiting knee as she allowed herself to fall, but rather than deliver the jolt that would have knocked the air out of a full grown Vulcan, there was only the sensation of a much too light body being lifted away.
And another sound that did not bode well.
Sakarra impacted the sand on her back, allowing her momentum to let her slide across it rather than suffer the blunt effect, and every instinct screamed to roll into a crouch, because he was fully aware of her brief disadvantage and was already on the way to make good use of it.
Three possible choices. Only one was logical.
She let the split second that she might have had to counter his assault pass without moving, and calmly gazed at the hand holding a dagger to her throat.
"My compliments, Khiy Kanryth. I do not believe I have had such a challenging opponent in quite some time."
Three possible choices. Only one was logical.
She let the split second that she might have had to counter his assault pass without moving, and calmly gazed at the hand holding a dagger to her throat.
"My compliments, Khiy Kanryth. I do not believe I have had such a challenging opponent in quite some time."
It took a moment for the adrenaline of battle to pass. He held the holographic dagger against her throat but then pulled back and bowed "that can be said for you as well. It has been a long time since someone has been able to keep up with me."
He tossed the dagger into the sand, his fingers tracing the thin muscles of his thigh and hip. A pin-prick pain sensation caused him to wince slightly- he had damaged something.
He tossed the dagger into the sand, his fingers tracing the thin muscles of his thigh and hip. A pin-prick pain sensation caused him to wince slightly- he had damaged something.
She acknowledged the statement with a courteous half-bow and then studied his changed stance with a practiced eye. The wince might have been due to a simple sprain, although something made Sakarra doubt he would display any outward sign of such a minor injury.
"You have incurred a fracture." It was not so much a question as it was a statement. "I must apologize for my clumsiness."
By her calculation, this should not have happened. But it was entirely possible her estimate of his weight had been wrong and she had therefore caused this ... inconvenience.
"Tenai t'nash-veh." she slowly inclined her head, while another brief gust of wind stirred the sands around them.
"You have incurred a fracture." It was not so much a question as it was a statement. "I must apologize for my clumsiness."
By her calculation, this should not have happened. But it was entirely possible her estimate of his weight had been wrong and she had therefore caused this ... inconvenience.
"Tenai t'nash-veh." she slowly inclined her head, while another brief gust of wind stirred the sands around them.
Khiy looked up at her and shook his head "it is not a result of your actions. I have brittle bones- even the slightest action can cause them to fracture."
He smiled weakly "I am not built for combat. This is the first time that I have trained against another person in a long time. A good test is refreshing."
He paused and admired the desolate scenery "the crew on the Quantum Fury are afraid of damaging me and most refuse to train with me and those that do are too conscious of my condition. I should thank you instead. Pain is nothing to me, so there is no need to worry and I apologize for disrupting you earlier."
He smiled weakly "I am not built for combat. This is the first time that I have trained against another person in a long time. A good test is refreshing."
He paused and admired the desolate scenery "the crew on the Quantum Fury are afraid of damaging me and most refuse to train with me and those that do are too conscious of my condition. I should thank you instead. Pain is nothing to me, so there is no need to worry and I apologize for disrupting you earlier."
It explained some things, while it gave way to many more questions.
Sakarra's serene gaze rested on him for several more heartbeats, and then she nodded. "I understand. If during your stay you should wish to train once more, I shall be at your disposal. However, I should point out that my awareness of your condition is likely to make me a slightly less aggressive, although no less determined opponent. I shall simply have to be less .. predictable."
Sakarra's serene gaze rested on him for several more heartbeats, and then she nodded. "I understand. If during your stay you should wish to train once more, I shall be at your disposal. However, I should point out that my awareness of your condition is likely to make me a slightly less aggressive, although no less determined opponent. I shall simply have to be less .. predictable."
Her inner clock told her she had about 3.64 minutes of holodeck time left, so she gestured towards their discarded clothes on the benches.
"And I must express gratitude as well. I have received a reminder to be more vigilant when assessing my opponents."
"And I must express gratitude as well. I have received a reminder to be more vigilant when assessing my opponents."
Slipping on his uniform Khiy could feel the desert sand course through his shoes as jacket- however they disappeared as soon as the simulation ended and the vast, desolate expanse was replaced by the holodeck gridding. He looked at Sakarra "the Quantum Fury will not be here much longer and now that you know the truth of my condition I doubt it will be as rewarding as the first."
I shouldn't have told her- he thought but then shrugged the suggestion away. She shouldn't feel responsible for his injuries.
"Farewell." He said and headed for the exit. There was a lot to digest. He made a mental note to visit Vulcan as soon as possible to follow up on some items of interest.
I shouldn't have told her- he thought but then shrugged the suggestion away. She shouldn't feel responsible for his injuries.
"Farewell." He said and headed for the exit. There was a lot to digest. He made a mental note to visit Vulcan as soon as possible to follow up on some items of interest.
"Be well, Khiy Kanryth." Sakarra looked after him for a long moment, and then went to retrieve her sword from where it rested on the holographic stand. The wood dispersed into nothingness as soon as the blade was lifted from it and the young Vulcan stood very still and deep in thought for several more heartbeats.
The Guardian, and T'Pelar.
Something about this felt as wrong as the scent of tin on the desert air.
She slung the blade over her shoulder and was met by the wide eyed gaze of a young Ensign as the landscape around her changed into a tropical resort and she came striding towards the doors, an air of darkness preceding her.
The Guardian, and T'Pelar.
Something about this felt as wrong as the scent of tin on the desert air.
She slung the blade over her shoulder and was met by the wide eyed gaze of a young Ensign as the landscape around her changed into a tropical resort and she came striding towards the doors, an air of darkness preceding her.
[End Log]
(A) Cmdr Khiy Kanryth
Commanding Officer
USS Quantum Fury
Commanding Officer
USS Quantum Fury
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
USS Charon
