Sparring Match

Posted on Mon Feb 12th, 2018 @ 5:53am by Ensign Vex Krylore & Petty Officer 3rd Class Avery Stiles
Edited on on Mon Feb 12th, 2018 @ 5:54am

Episode: The Deuterium Argument [Rebooted]
Location: Holodeck 1
Timeline: MD-01, 2145

Avery hit the ground hard, knocking the wind from his lungs. He groaned and rolled over before getting back to his knees, casting an annoyed look in Vex's direction. They were both drenched with sweat and panting. They had been sparring for the last 45 minutes and once again, Avery had fallen for a relatively simple move. 

"I hate it when you do that," Avery said. Vex walked over and offered a hand to pull the other man to his feet. Avery took it and stood back up. "I also hate that I fall for it every single time."

Vex shrugged. Avery was improving but he still managed to telegraph a lot of his moves and he often tried to overcompensate with brute force. The Unkari martial arts were designed to counter brute force, a tactic that had been favored by several generations of Jem'Hadar.

"You're getting better though," Vex offered honestly, as they walked towards their water bottles and towels. "Theo would be proud of you."

"Theo doesn't say that a lot," Avery pointed out.

"Mayb he doesn't to you," Vex responded. "But he is proud of you Avery, I think he's right when it comes to the fact that you could have been an officer just as well as he is."

Avery took a long drink of water and then shook his head. "No way, Theo's incredibly intelligent... just don't tell him I said that, he'll probably accuse me of being biased or something."

"Your culture still confuses me sometimes," said Vex. They both sat down on the bench. "You and Theo are close, right?"

"He's my best friend... more like a brother really."

"And yet you seem to have problems expressing emotions."

"Hey," Avery said. "We can express our emotions, we just don't do it a lot because well... I mean I guess we don't need too. Theo cares about me, I care about him... we don't need to say it all the time."

"Do you love him Avery?"

Avery spit water all over himself, prompting an amused smirk from Vex.

"Um, I'm not in love with my best friend."

Now, it was Vex's turn to shake his head. "I know you aren't otherwise I would have to challenge you to ritual combat for his heart, I asked if you loved him."

"Of course I love him!" Avery said. "He's pretty much the only family that I have."

"Have you ever told him that?" 

Avery searched his memory. "Um, maybe once... yeah for sure at least once. Did you tell your best friend that you loved him?"

"Yes, a lot actually," Vex replied. "Expressing emotions is one of those things Unkari do very honestly. Which can be a but off putting to some species."

"I can understand that," Avery replied. "What brought this on all of sudden?"

"Just curious I guess," Vex replied. 

"Look as exciting a topic as Theo is, maybe we should talk about something else. Because if you spill any secret plans I am obligated to tell him."

"You are?"

"Totally."

"Then yes, perhaps we should discuss something else... like your love life?"

"Oh no," Avery said, waving his hands. "We do not need to go through that horrible situation again. Let's just say that I realize I might be single for the rest of my life."

"I don't think that's going to be the case," Vex said, as he stood up. "Come on, one more round and then we can get something to eat, after that you can attempt explain this human game were you through a tiny ball and it it with a bat."

OFF: