Lt.JG Kayla Drex: Trial by Fire (NT, Backsim JP with Maddi Hyden)
Kayla Drex
((239109.14 - Starfleet Academy - San Francisco, CA - Earth))
::Kayla hadn’t been in the gym long, but her heart rate was already well over 130 bpm. The beating she was giving the holographic sparring partner looked like he’d said something particularly offensive about Kayla’s mother. The door to the gym hissed open, but Kayla didn’t register the sound at all, focusing instead on her training.
::She didn’t hesitate as a large Hirogen fist barrelled toward her stomach. Deftly stepping aside, she used the momentum to swing up onto the back of her would-be assailant, wrapping her legs around his midsection and landing a flurry of punches to the base of his skull. The padding armor he wore made it impossible to reach her, and her legs were too strong to disengage in front.
::A final jab resounded with a loud crack, and the hologram dissolved, dropping Kayla to the mat. She lay there panting and rubbing her bruised knuckles. Only now did she look toward the door.::
Drex: ::panting:: Hi
Hyden: ::Shyly:: Hello
:: The unexpected hello threw Maddi for a loop she didn’t expect, usually, when she came to the gym it was empty. She realized she was wearing a top that revealed her tattoo something she kept hidden. The person saying hi seemed to be very athletic from what Maddi observed, but she still didn’t know what she should do. She knew most people would say more, but she wasn’t most people. She just stood there awkwardly. ::
Drex: ::Getting to her feet:: Um … how much of that did you see?
Hyden: Well um….I saw you murder that holographic Hirogen like he did something to you...kinda frightening, as a first impression.
Drex: See the thing is, I'm not usually so, er, decisively violent when I train. I just had a really trying morning.
Hyden: I don’t normally do this, but what’s wrong?
Drex: There’s this guy in one of my classes… German Galven. He’s been getting on my nerves, which is no small task.
Hyden: Ahh well I have found the best way to take out my aggravation is doing the same, like you, but if you’d like a sparring partner I’d…….I’d join you. ::she said hesitantly.::
Drex: I think that'd be fun! I um … won't do what I just did to the Hirogen
::Kayla laughed a little embarrassed add she toweled off, got a drink of water, and tightened her gloves.::
Drex: What are you in the mood for? Is there a particular martial art you practice?
Hyden: Well to start I feel an introduction is in order I’m Cadet Maddi Hyden. Also, I don’t think you’d get the chance with me that you got with that Hirogen. ::She laughed.:: Where do I start?
I am a 10th Degree Black Belt in Judo, Karate, Jujitsu, Kenpo, and Tai Kwon Do, but I’m still learning more. The real question is what do you want to practice?
Drex: You're absolutely right! Where are my manners? He must have gotten to me more than I realized. I'm Kayla. Kayla Drex. ::The two shook hands:: It sounds like you're very well-rounded, Maddi. Do you want to just improvise? My primary art is Jiu-Jitsu, but I've got a few others in there too.
Hyden: I don’t usually talk to someone this soon, but I can say it’s great to meet you Kayla quite a stunning person if that’s ok to say. Improvisation? Hmm, what do you have in mind?
Drex: Mix it up! You know, a bit of this, a bit of that.
::Kayla assumed a standard defensive Kung-fu stance, but arranged her hands in a Karate ready form.::
Hyden: I see if that’s the case.
::Maddi assumed her cover down position and got serious. She immediately lunged at Kayla, but not how she was expecting instead she swept her legs and took her to the ground. A slam could be audibly heard as Kayla hit the mat. She let out a small groan as she hit the mat. Maddi stood up and motioned for Kayla to get up.::
Hyden: Ok I’ll admit that was dirty, but you did say mix it up. ::she winked.::
::Kayla stood up and smiled. Ok. She’d underestimated this new girl. Best not to do that again.::
Drex: Maybe a little dirty, but that’s part of improvisation, right?
::She watched Maddi as the pair began slowly circling. Kayla became instinctually aware of the smallest twitches of muscles in the girl’s arms and legs. She had scars on her arms that looked like she’d learned some hard lessons from weapons that weren’t exactly blunted for practice session.
::Kayla shifted most of her weight to her right foot, leaving just the toes of her left in contact with the mat. Her hands assumed a ready aggressive form. She assumed Maddi would not make the same attack twice, but assumptions are what landed her on the mat last time. When Maddi lunged this time, Kayla didn’t defend. She took the punch full in the stomach, flexing her abdominal muscles to absorb as much of the impact as possible. The wind was still knocked from her. She had the opening she needed though. Her ready left leg hooked between Maddi’s and arced upward.
::The move was a good one. It had landed even Philip (Kayla’s brother) on his butt countless times in their training. Kayla was therefore surprised to see Maddi roll backward and up to her feet with alarming speed.::
::Though Maddi didn’t expect the move she expected something, but she brushed that off and got back up. The speed and reaction seemed to shock Kayla. Good it might let her understand just what Maddi knew. Maddi noticed her eying the scars on her arms. The truth was still as painful as when it happened. Abuse and pain from her childhood. The thoughts fueled Maddi’s adrenaline. She stood straight with feet facing forward. A usual fatal flaw in fighting. Kayla cautiously started an attack, but she had left her side open. Maddi immediately got into a defensive posture and threw a roundhouse quick with precision and speed that showed hours of training. Kayla faltered slightly, but didn’t fall.::
Hyden: Your form is good actually the best I’ve seen in awhile, but sometimes you have to know your opponents move. I know that sounds crazy, but it can be done. I see you’ve been looking at me quizzically why?
oO Though need I actually ask. Oo
Drex: Honestly? I’m trying to figure you out. I hope that doesn’t sound weird….
Hyden: Well, I don’t exactly know what you mean.
::They circled once again as Kayla continued::
Drex: Your scars - they don’t look particularly fresh, but they clearly happened over quite a span of time. My best guess if you’ve gone through some … difficult times. If they’re from training, your trainer was kind of a jerk. Still … the fact that’s all you have means you’re a formidable opponent, and a quick learner.
::Though not unexpected it threw Maddi off the way Kayla seemed to guess correctly in a way.::
Hyden: What are you trying to get at?
Drex: Well, there aren’t two scars too close to each other. That means you didn’t make the same mistake in defense more than once.
oO It means I can’t use the same attack twice Oo
::Kayla dove just to the right of her sparring partner as Maddi’s foot came swinging down in response. This time, Kayla responded correctly. Catching the foot with her crooked legs, she used her own momentum to unfoot her.::
::Maddi fell to the floor, but instead of getting up tears starting running down her face. The past seemed to haunt her.::
Hyden: These scars are not from training. They have come from something much much worse. A pain and a fear that I still seem to cling too. ::She rubbed her fingers over the scars feeling ashamed.:: Abuse and bullying were a big part of this, but that’s two of the reasons the last well it’s the deepest secret I have and it’s the darkest moment of my past.
::Kayla didn’t really know how to respond to that. That was a lot of honesty from this otherwise quiet girl. Kayla rolled up to her knees next to Maddi, gently picked her hand up in her own, and simply held it. The two girls’ eyes met, and Kayla hoped that all the feelings coursing through her were conveyed.::
Drex: You’re here. Your past happened. However bad it was, you rose from the ashes. Is … is that why you have the phoenix?
Hyden: ::wiping a tear from her eye:: Yes, but it also reminds me of the fire I’ve brought in my life. My past has built me to be strong and take nothing from no one. Those ashes are numerous and they still reappear. I feel like I can trust you. My deepest pain is something I hope no one has to ever go through.
::Maddi pulled down her top revealing scars that explained just what she was hiding.::
Hyden: There’s more of these on my body and it has ruined my body. All the beauty of my body is now defiled and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Drex: Maddi …
::Kayla paused for a moment to consider her words. The other girl said she trusted her. That spoke volumes about her strength of spirit. To go through such pain, but still retain the ability to trust - that took incredible fortitude. Kayla just couldn’t figure out how to convey this to the tear-stained, broken but rebuilt girl before her.::
Drex: You can trust me. Always. And not that you need it, ::rubbing the spot where Maddi’s fist had connected:: but I’ll have your back, ok?
Hyden: Thank you I’ve never opened up to anyone with this. It’s the one thing that haunts me and it seems like that will never go away. I’ll reverse your words and say I’ll have your back. This secret is something I hope we can keep between us.
:Maddi’s face changed from the tear touched face to a face of resolve and strength. She stood to her feet and helped Kayla up. She embraced her in a hug something that entwined Maddi’s trust in her forever.::
Hyden: Well after that what should we even do?
Drex: I think there’s only one option. We need brownie sundaes.
::The two chuckled as they walked, an arm each still around the other, out the door toward the smaller of the two dining halls on campus.::
~ End ~
Simmed by:
Lieutenant JG Kayla Drex
Science Officer
USS Eagle, NCC-74659
Image Collective
Writer ID: E239510KD0
Science is life, art is soul, love is home
~ and ~
Ensign Maddi Hyden
Security Officer
USS Atlantis - NCC 74682
A239511MH0
There is no real security except
for whatever you build inside yourself.