Making it to deck 15, the training holodeck was usually open. You could run other programs on it, but recreational programs were frowned upon as it was reserved for the Recon and Security teams’ usage. Pulling up the program he used with his classes, the room changed views. The walls were an off-white brick, punctuated with white ceiling tiles abundantly spilling what looked like natural light. The flooring was highly polished antique heart pine, the darker hue providing needed contrast. On one wall were a variety of blades—everything from daggers, short swords, several polearms, and the odd staff weapon.  

Gus had changed into a charcoal gray cotton karate Gi. It provided freedom of movement and warmth. He sat on a softer cushion near the center of the room, waiting for T’Leya. 

The Vulcan Ops officer entered after a short time, ten minutes almost to the second from when Gus had said it in fact, dressed as ever in her gold Starfleet uniform, the only change being her hair which was now put up, rather than being about her shoulders as it had been minutes before. T’Leya offered no particular greeting, she considered none was required. All that could be said was an observation on the obvious, that she had arrived and was ready for whatever Gus had planned and that she was ignorant of the established form of dress for such an activity. Starfleet Uniforms were supposed to be somewhat Universal. It was hard to go wrong with one, although she did deposit her jacket to the side of the space, her form now a full ops gold from the waist up, the only interjection the pips on her collar. She looked at Gus expectantly. 

He motioned for T’Leya to follow him. “Basic design of the blade can indicate your actions.” For our lesson today, we shall concentrate on one style. “This is a Roman Gladius. This short sword’s lack of range balances nicely against the higher speed.” Next to it was another. “This is the Japanese Katana. Notice the curve of the blade makes it better at slashing than chopping, but it will chop. “Lastly, this is the Ghurka Kukri.” It was similar in size to the previous swords but had a downward curve starting halfway down the blade. Picking it up, he raised it in a slow-motion mock-cleave and a few slow blocks. ”Better at cleaving and chopping.”  

As I mentioned before, this is a very near-surface mind meld. I will be passing only memories of practices and techniques. Combined with the practice now, this will allow you to make highly advanced initial progress. Do you have any questions before we begin?” Gus asked T’Leya. 

“I do not,” she replied. “Please continue.”

A simple thick mat was on the floor. Gus sat down and bade T’Leya to join him. Sitting sideways facing each other, Gus closed his eyes briefly before reaching out to touch the pressure points on the Vulcan woman. “My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts.” Images flooded in both directions. His mental shields up, Gus previewed the recent interactions with T’Leya. Thoughts of kinship, camaraderie, and shared common upbringing. He didn’t block his near-instant attraction to her; it would be apparent and pointless to waste the energy doing so.  Moving past that, he shared how he trained his students. Basic moves, common corrections, and simple parries. Reinforcing her technique allows them to share consciousness and train at the speed of thought. Once he knew the information was mutual, he ran her through several practice sessions with the Katana and Rhihannan blades and differences with the downward curve of the kukri sword. Not only moves but capabilities were shown. Blades like this could remove limbs, massive torso strikes, and even decapitation. As a final showing, he gripped the long straight Romulan blade like dart, as threw it a halfway through a simulated target.

A sharp intake of breath denoted T’Leya’s exit from the mind-meld. Her eyes fluttered open, her mind going over the things she had learned, the basic moves with each sword, corrections and parries. The attraction from Gus stayed in her mind a moment, before being filed. T’Leya was not surprised by this. It was something she had been told a good-few times before, she was above average it would seem, when one looked at it purely from a numerical perspective. The camaraderie was more important to her, it was nice to feel a kinsmanship and she had shared this as well with Gus during the meld. She had also shared the commonality of rejection she suffered from more staid Vulcans, usually those from the home-world or of rank who found her curiosity and open-ness distasteful.

“Curious…”

The practice sessions went well. T’Leya could execute the basic moves shown to her in the meld, her body now acquiring the real feeling of the motions.

“I can see why one might choose such a weapon,” she commented as Gus went to retrieve the sword that was thrown, still wobbling slightly in the target. “Especially against an enemy such as the Jem’Hadar.”

“Indeed. Also, the Klingons. The Bat’leth is a weapon of terror, not utility, but I digress. The more you practice in the gym, holodeck, or sparring competitions, the more the neural connections the meld started will strengthen, transferring the information from the brain to muscle memory. I also lead a sword class every Thursday.”

“I could use a new activity,” T’Leya mused, practicing a parry a few times. “I will admit I miss the physicality of farming. I never slept so well as when I was home.”Gus nodded in agreement. “Perhaps join me for something parallel as well. Sword Tai Chi is excellent for stretching and practicing sword moves. 32 exist normally, and we can run a few variations if you are interested.”

“I am,” T’Leya replied with a slight upward inflection in her tone – what could be considered eagerness for a Vulcan. “I hope this will not constitute an over-abundance of new information. 

“There is no reason for concern. The meld will fade over the next day, making the retention more efficient if some practice is done. Once we get through some basic moves, I am confident the information and skills will be acquired permanently.” Gus countered.

“Then should we practice?” T’Leya asked. “Let’s start with some basics, follow me through some Tai Chi forms. The slow muscle movement will reinforce muscle memory.” Gus offered. Putting on some light music, he guided T’Leya through the forms. He could see she was having a bit of trouble with the sword. “The slight shaking will subside over time as the muscles develop in your arms and core. Holding several kilos of steel at arm’s length steadily takes practice to master.”

“Curious,” T’Leya remarked, observing the shake herself. “I would have supposed Vulcan strength would mitigate the effect but it seems not. Perhaps it is just as much about condition as strength.” T’Leya followed the forms through as best she could. The meld had helped her be more advanced than most beginners, but she was still that, a beginner. Still, moving the sword and her body in a particular way did put her in mind of farming back home. She missed the physicality of it. T’Leya resolved to apply herself to learning the sword and mentioned all of this to Gus.”Holding a kilogram or more at arm’s length repetitively over time isn’t normal. The Tai Chi with the sword will help. Since they were very recently linked, Gus could feel her slight wavering. The muscles were there, but the movements were still bonding to them, hence T’Leya’s difficulty. After fifteen minutes, she was steadier but still wavering. The weight would tax nearly any student, Vulcan heritage or not. Taking T’Leya’s sword, he placed it back on the rack and put his own in a temporary slot. Grabbing a pair of Kendo sticks, he tossed one to  T’Leya when he was close enough. “Wrapped bamboo with metal hilt. The weight is similar enough for practice, and the damage is quite minor, and they are excellent for speed work. 

“Now that we have run through the sword Tai Chi. I would like to do the same exercise but at twice the speed. Your form is adequate enough to transition to actual attacks and parries soon.” Gus advised.

 T’Leya nodded and started the routine again, feeling the difference in weight distribution of the new weapon, trying to keep her movements fluid and remember everything. It was a lot of information to process.

Gus felt the weight of her thought through the link and offered a knowing nod and smile. “Maybe we let the connections solidify your body and mind more. Even without the self-defense component, it is excellent cardio.” He sheathed his sword while asking her. “Vulcan youth normally attend rigorous survival training. Sword skills were a normal addition historically. Less of one more recently. Something I believe is a failing and one especially so in close quarters combat. T’Leya wobbled a bit as she tried to complete the movements with fluidity and listen too. 

“I have not yet… made the connections… to do this without significant concentration…” she said. However she was doing extremely well for one with such little experience. “Perhaps… I should teach you baling… and then I would have the upper hand… that is excellent strength training. It’s been a few years but… I am sure I would acquit myself well…”

“I have little doubt, as you well know, about your abilities. The difference is one of polish to make an analogy. Swordsmanship was something of a hobby even as a young teen. With a few training sessions, your skills will solidify rapidly.” Gus paused. There was something about T’Leya. “What are you doing for dinner?” He said bluntly.

T’Leya paused mid-movement in a position that would cause most to lose stamina fast. Fortunately she was extremely fit. She finished the move after a moment and stayed in the resulting pose.

“I have not yet determined that.” She responded and then carried on with the movements.

Gus wasn’t sure if he should take that as surprise or interest on T’Leya’s part. “I find your company agreeable. It is that simple. There are only so many connections to be made on a crew. Finding someone as…unique as myself and yet different in interesting ways was…unexpected.” He said, adding a genuine nod. His companion finished her movements and stood up straight, the sword now by her side.

“I also find your company agreeable, Gus Viat” she replied with equal candor. “I take it your inquiry is a precursor to a suggestion of us having a meal together.”

“The location should be a unilateral decision. Unless you prefer a location of choice or a more public venue.” Gus offered. 

“The choice of location for an event between two parties being unilateral is illogical, unless… the decision-making process is extended over multiple events and handled on a turn-by-turn basis.” T’Leya responded.

“Since we are likely to be crewmates for an extended period of time, I would find this agreement quite acceptable.” Gus countered.

“Then we have an accord,” T’Leya confirmed. “Now convention dictates we require an object of chance or superstitious ritual or game to ascertain who makes the first unilateral decision.”

Normally I would defer the decision as I am indifferent to the location. However. there is a childish game that can easily provide random selection—best two out of three wins. 

The game is called rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock. In rock paper scissors lizard Spock: scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and rock crushes scissors.” Gus showed her the hand gestures needed to participate. 

And battle commenced. In round one T’Leya’s paper beat Gus’ rock. In the second the logic puzzle of trying to anticipate the opponent’s action came to naught, but by sheer luck T’Leya’s scissors cut Gus’ paper. In the final played just for form Gus recouped some ground by predicting T’Leya would choose Spock and thusly her kinsman was poisoned by Gus’ Lizard.

“A tense standoff indeed, T’Leya said flatly with what could possibly have been some sort of Vulcan humour. ”But the decision is mine. We are limited for venues aboard ship but the obvious choice is the lounge. Nineteen hundred ship time?”

“Nineteen hundred hours, agreed.” Gus said nodding, taking his sword and packing up. T’Leya grabbed her jacket and after she had shuffled into it and done it up she thanked Gus for he lesson and departed, debating in her mind what she would have for dinner.