The Ringer.

Posted on Sat Jul 4th, 2020 @ 5:53am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Ensign River Lokaa

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Deck 32, Marine H2H T-Fac
Timeline: MD10
2006 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

River had heard about the Hand to Hand Combat Training Facility down on deck 32 from some marines she had met drinking with, it was amazing how humans could get so easily drunk for her drinking didn't have much effect unless it was something special but she enjoyed doing it none-the-less. Wrapping her hands as she stood in the empty room she listening to the silence her eyes clothed as she started to let the anger, disappointment, and emotions build-up inside of her. Being Elasian meant a few things, she was beautiful and delicate looking but strong as an OX and fierce warrior it also meant her motions were either non-existent or radioactive never really in between and finally, she cried tears that drove men crazy, being Elasian sucked when you weren't on Elas. She finished the Wrapping and moved to the set of punching bags with her water and towel, placing them on the ground next to her she began throwing well-co-ordinated jabs.

A regular to the facility, Naxea instantly spied the new-comer and began to watch her, gauging the woman's ability as she worked the heavy bag with impressive jabs. She nodded to her sparring partner. "Train with Duros some," she instructed before stepping out of the ring and made her way over to the woman. "Hi," she called out. "Haven't seen you in here before so I thought I would see how you're doing."

River punched the bag one more time the impact creating that dull thud which was music to her ears, each punch was one less thread in her stressed state. She turned as beads of sweat forming around her forehead began to trace their paths down her cheek and her hair a little damp. "I'm doing good" She replied indifferent, the exercise only a small workout compared to what she was used to. Of course, the woman in front of her was Azhul Naxea which she knew from S'hib descriptions and from the fact River had looked through her file. "I figured this was a good place to blow of some steam" She added, wondering if coming here was the greatest idea.

"Trust me, it is. I'm Major Azhul, Marine Detachment Commander," she formally introduced herself. "You know, sparring is a better stress reliever than hitting this heavy bag if you're interested."

River looked past the Major and to the ring where two men were already sparring, she just wasn't sure if sparring with part of the problem was a good idea. Doubt showed on her face as she focused back to the female Marine Officer. "I don't know Major, I tend to get carried away." She explained, though the idea had started to show its positives.

"I see. Well, this is definitely the place to learn control if you want to. However I won't force you," she grinned at the woman.

Looking back to the ring Rivers objections faltered and so she nodded "I guess one sparring session wont hurt I suppose" She rested her arms either side, "So who am I going to spar?" Though River already knew the answer.

"Why not me," she said as she motioned for the younger woman to follow. She turned to the ring. "Duros, McMasters, make way," she called. The two Marines nodded and climbed out of the ring.

River obliged and followed the marine to the ring, the young Elasian watched as Azhul ordered the two men out of it. Taking this as her queue River jumped and tucked her body under the ropes the movement looking nature to her athletically muscular body, it wouldn't be the first time River stepped into a ring and it probably wasn't the last. "So, rules?" She asked the lights a little bright for her liking.

"One, get some protective gear on," Naxea instructed as she donned her protective head gear on with the aid of a nearby Marine. "And try to pull your punches. I just want to see what you got, this is sparring, not a real fight." She wondered if the woman would be able to keep her anger in check. Either way, Naxea would be on her toes.

River looked around and just like the Major there was another marine holding her protective headgear and sparring gloves, she walked over, and with his help tugged them on a gumshield was brought over, by another marine who began explaining that he got the sizing from the computer. Go Figure She thought and turned back to her opponent, the ring suddenly felt smaller as more Marines took a break from their training, apparently an outsider fighting their boss was quite the spectacle. "Rrready?" She asked her speech compared by the gumshield as she tapped her gloves together.

Naxea nodded. "Ready," Naxea mumbled through her guard and made her way towards the center of the ring and moving to the right, bringing her hands up.

Not needing a second invitation Rivers right arm shot towards the Majors defense she wasn't really aiming at any body part but merely testing her opponent's blocks and parry, that's where most people went wrong. She had pulled back on the punch but even then there was a vicious bite behind the jab, River just didn't really know how to go easy.

Naxea blocked the jab, feeling a light sting in her arm in the process. She returned the jab almost instantly and she moved around the ring. Several cheers and calls from the Marines around the ring began to spill forth.

The jab hit River cleanly, though it was intentional the young Elasian wanted to see if the Major over stretched her jabs and which was her strongest, this of course have cause for the marines to cheer on their leader. For her opponent's reward she arced her right first in a sideward motion towards Naxeas left cheek.

The blow struck Naxea harder than imagined as she brought her left hand low and up towards Rivers in an attempt to exploit the opening left by the punch.

Having exposing her body River knew the punch was coming but instead of defending herself her left arm traced the path parrell to the Majors and both at the same time their punches hit their Intended targets, River gritted her teeth as the Majors balled fist hit her flank.

Naxea grunted as the other woman's punch landed. 'Woman's not bad,' she thought as she stepped back to create space between the two before snapping off another jab.

Her opponent stepping back allowed River to reset her own posture and this time was able to parry the incoming jab, a little battle thirsty River threw a punch again which hit something, she wasn't sure if it was a block or if it hit the mark but this time she followed through with her elbow whatever her initial attack had done the elbow would follow through. An illegal move in most sports but to her fighting was just a way of life.

In blocking the punch, Naxea missed the elbow as it landed on the side of her head hard. She was instantly grateful for the protective head gear but it was soon replaced with shock and anger as she held up a hand for the match to stop and spit her mouth guard out. "What the hell was that?"

River stepped back from the woman, "I apologies Major. I thought our motive was to spar? Our opponents arnt always going to punch us" She said as if this was a perfectly normal thing to do. On Elas any form of combat training or not was considered mostly no bars even at the academy this was the one thing she never budged.

"This is boxing. It's a terran combat sport but it's not full contact," Naxea explained, forcing her anger down. "There are no headbutts, kicks, low blows, or elbows. Only punches and the occasional holding that is used if the opponent is giving you too much trouble."

River looked at the woman blinkered, "Boxing" She said trying the word, it wasn't the first time she had come across the phrase but she had never watched or tried it for herself. "Do you wish to continue? I didn't intend to hurt you" Well she did, but not in the manner of it being out of line. "Or if you'd like we could if you want to try a style of Elasian combat, its actually not as violent more of a dance." She offered as an olive branch.

"Alright, let's see this dance of yours," Naxea said, letting out a sigh that carried her anger with it and stepped towards her closest corner in the ring.

A little nervous River hadn't really performed the fighting dance to anyone that wasn't Elasian she stood herself in the middle of the ring and closed her eyes letting the rhythmic beats of her heart take over. Sticking out her left foot pointed she traced a circle, this was her zone and anything within it was hers to protect. Next, her hands come together with her fingertips softly pressed to one another.

She could hear the mutterings of marines around her and chose then to decide which direction to take from her right a low murmur her leg shot out, her body followed as she brought her knee in and around her body spinning motion before arm jabbed out and her clenched fist paused just a fraction away from the man's nose her index finger uttered out tapping his nose before her head flicked behind her and she cartwheeled back into her 'circle'.

The next prompt was from in front of her she could hear the intake of air and this time she rolled forward into a one-leg kneeling position where she swiped the floor in front of him with her free extended leg, from her here she slid upwards her elbow gliding in an arc-like motion behind her back, her body following and stopping short of his cheek snapping her head round she blew him a kiss before spinning back into her circle, she was like a yo-yo of graceful violence.

To finish she leaned back, arching her body into a handstand and in a flurry twisted her legs around rolling out to her left and finally adopting a pose where she was leaning the main portion of her body over her right leg her right arm above her clenched, her left leg and arm out to one side, she held it before standing and with arms either side of her body, she bowed towards the Major her eyes now only opening.

"Very impressive," Naxea commented with a grin. She hadn't seen any fighting discipline like that before and if she tried half of those moves, she would likely pull something. "You are very agile and talented."

"Thank you, it has its negatives and positives its usually just for show but we incorporate it into our actual fighting techniques if you'd like one day I could show you how to use them" She smiled, having taken out her gum shield, "I am sorry for elbowing you." River still felt a little guilty that she had allowed herself get carried away.

"I think several people, myself included could benefit from learning this style. You should look into becoming an instructor and don't worry about the elbow. It was more of a shock, just try to learn some restraint."

She nodded accepting the fact that it was true, she did need to learn some restraint. "Ok, we can sort something out at a later date." River replied, before adding. "I think I need to go get take a shower and prepare for my duty shift. It was a pleasure meeting you and your... team" Her eyes looked around the ring the other marines had already started to dissipate.

"Good meeting you as well," Naxea replied as she began to remove the rest of her protective gear.

Ens. River Lokaa
Security Officer

Major Azhul Naxea
Marine Detachment Commander