Maiden Voyage

Two

The recreation room was quiet except for a few off-duty officers weight training. Pike selected a work-out room, programming the computer for the bout to take place.

"Computer, load program Kintaru, designation, Pike. Set contest to new, match point at eleven."

The captain then strode over to his locker and suited up in his kinarugi armor. It was lightweight despite its origins of old, bulky environmental suits. This armor resembled a padded bodysuit with the individual sensor components augmented as protection for both combatants. Color was a matter or personal taste, but Pike chose red. He stretched as he awaited his opponent.

Kintaru was a recreational form of mixed martial arts. Integrating disciplines from Andorian, Human and Vulcan cultures, it had become a favorite amongst those who had taken the time to master it. Unlike most sparring, the sport was a test of controlled contact. Through sensors in the boots, chest plate, gloves, headgear and kneepads, a computer application measured the pounds per square inch of strikes. The participants set the minimum and maximum contact value, wherein points were assigned when contact was made in that range. Exceeding the maximum value deducted a point, a minimum value awarded a point. The concept of the martial art was to control aggression, even when adrenaline through physical stimulus was increased.

Number One entered the rec room with Pike into his stretch routine. She was already dressed in her kinarugi. Her color choice was white. Joining him with her own limbering up form, neither made eye contact. They were both in the zone mentally for the challenge about to confront them. As if they had previously rehearsed, both combatants stopped, assuming the starting position in the middle of the mat. Side stances, outer foot to outer foot, back of the hands touching. Now they made eye contact.

"Ready?" Pike asked his executive officer. She took her position. "Computer, begin match, red verses white."

A claxon sounded, signifying the start of the match. They double tapped gloves to begin the scoring process. Slowly, they broke the stance. Stalking each other like prey in small confines, Pike struck first with middle attack followed up with a low knife hand strike.

"Red: two, white: zero," the computer reported the hits.

Number One attempted a snap kick, but Pike blocked with a rising block. No points awarded. The designation of Pike loaded all previous matches, augments to the program and personal modifications. Blocks scored no points. The data recorded progress. Scores were manually entered, should the existing program not know how to award points from conflicting sensory data such as blocks and takedowns. Sometimes scoring was awarded for creative or unusual maneuvers. Since they wrote the original application prior to the newest innovations in artificial intelligence, it was up to the individual operators to add additional parameters. The designator would teach the AI as the sport progressed beyond the original programmer's limitations.

Pike landed another knife edge chop. Number One countered with a backhand to his headgear.

"Red: three, white: one."

Apparently to Number One, Pike was opening with the Andorian disciplines. The race had long been known for skills in knife fighting. Adopting those talents was a natural inclusion into Kintaru, as the artform was simply beautiful to behold, of course without the knives. Inevitably, the match resembled a musical waltz in four-four time. A blitzkrieg of furious action was difficult to defend against once a rhythm was established. She had taken part in many matches with her captain. This was Number One's advantage. Over the years, and knew his tendencies. This did not make it any easier. In fact, it made it a bit more challenging, as if he set the tone for the match. She would constantly be on the defense. Not tonight.