Jadoh

Zek twisted his torso to the right, both of his feet still facing towards me, adding additional strength to his swing as he, mid swing, switched his attack to a lunge. I thought I might try deflecting the blow but knew I wouldn't be able to raise my own sword in time, so rather, I dodged right, allowing his thrust to strike air. I brought up my weapon to try and strike a blow against his own sword, but he brought it back in time so as my slight swing missed. It was fine. I had not invested too much strength into it and so was easily able to move back into a ready position, the blade in good defensive position. Who would strike next? Me, or him?

I watched him. "Read your opponent," I remember hearing Boss say. "Analyze every detail of the man trying to kill you from his limbs to his torso to his face. Read them right, and all will tell you what he plans on doing next."

I watched. Looked into his eyes. He was focusing, his eyes darting around me, looking for an opening, so it would not be a surprise when he attacked, but rather, when. And so he did. Lunging forward, he swung at my right side, I moved to defend with all my might, no, wait, he moved back. It was a ruse. His transition from a right strike to a left one was nigh completely fluid, and before I knew it, he had his blade moving for my exposed left side.

My blade still to my right, ready to defend against Zek's fake blow, I used my right hand to propel my blade to my left side. It wouldn't be as accurate, but I wasn't hoping for accuracy. All I needed was for my blade to get in between his and me.

And so, it managed to suffice, and the clacking of the two sticks told me through closed eyes of prayer that I was still standing. He brought his stick back to a practice position, ready to go for his next blow, but despite the exhaustion already beginning to wave through me, I decided it best to throw him off his guard, and so lunged forward.

It was true, he hadn't been expecting it. He managed to deflect my stab at his chest. My blade off to the side now, seeing Zek's own weapon coming towards me in a rightmost arc, I ducked, the practice sword swinging over my head. I now brought my own blade towards his legs, where I was in the perfect position to hit him. Unfortunately, Zek was quicker than I, and deflected the blade. I was at a disadvantage now, in a kneeling position on the ground.

I threw myself backward so as to avoid his upward slice that would have knocked me from under my chin had I been in the same position I'd been in just half a second ago. My balance was off, and I barely maintained my grip on my sword. He swung left, I blocked. He swung upwards, I managed to block too. He swung left again, and I managed to block, just barely. His onslaught was not letting up and I was on the defensive, taking more and more steps backward barely maintaining my footing until, just as he swung again to my right, and I was unable to block it, but rather, dodged backwards, my legs gave way, and I could feel them surrender to the conditions beneath me. I fell backwards, tucking my head into my chest, readying for the impact until I only heard my sword fall, and opened my eyes to see Zek's hand grabbing my own, saving me from the fall that awaited.

"You surrender?"

I sighed. "Yes."

"So you concede defeat?"

I smiled in annoyed bemusement, uttering, "Yes. I concede."

"And so admit you're a pussy-ass bitch?"

My smile grew into a devious grin now as I tucked my head in, preparing for the impact that awaited as I said, "Suck a cock."

The hand let go, and I fell the last 2 feet to the cold metal ground beneath me. I'd been expecting the impact. There was no pain to be had, jus some slight annoyance. This hadn't exactly been the first time this had happened."

"Round 13 goes to Zek," yelled Boss. "Again."

"Thank you, Boss! Real helpful!" I exclaimed as I rose to my feet.

"You fell for his feint."

"You told me to try to read my opponent. Everything said he would attack."

Boss approached me, a towel in hand, throwing it to me as he said, "The author can always write a lie. You have to read deep enough to see what is and what isn't the truth."

"Something you need to do too," said Zek. "I'll give you this, your sudden attack there definitely struck me by surprise, but in an effort to get me off guard, you sacrificed your defense, threw yourself off balance, and eventually sealed your fate."

"And you tried relying on a trait you don't have," said Gordez who had appeared out of nowhere. "You're strength. No offense, but you don't have enough muscle so as to overwhelm any of us as of yet. You have speed though. Use it."

"So you came out just to watch?"

"Of course I did. I needed some fresh air after being in that damn engine room for so long."

"I was under the impression you'd carved out a nice little hovel down there for yourself. I assumed you were right at home," said Zek.

"Oh I was, but I'm not exactly the most enthusiastic about the houseguests."

"The newbies giving you some grief?" I asked.

"Hey. Careful with the word, 'newbie', you're still second-newest."

"So what the fuck is Ka'lira?"

"A lady," answered Zek. "And we respect ladies aboard this vessel."

"Oh now that's a fucking lie," said Ka'lira who had, last I seen, been reading a book, not paying too much attention to the fighting. "You're just worried I'll kick your ass if you talk out of line."

"That too," acknowledged Zek.

I was waiting for Boss to say something until I saw that Gordez was speaking to him in what seemed to be private. Boss motioned him to wait and he turned to me and Zek, who was cooling off, drinking some water, and said, "You two. Up for round 14?"

"Always," said Zek with unbridled enthusiasm, closing his flask of water and dropping it to the ground, unsheathing his practice stick.

"Is that really necessary at this point?" I asked. Believe it or not, I wasn't in the best mood to have my ass handed to me once more. And it was still the morning.

"Yes. We'll go up to 15 for this afternoon. This time, I want you to play on the defensive. Only take calculated risks. Play on your strengths, not your weaknesses, and don't get fooled by your opponent. If you feel you can, try clouding your own pages. You don't want to be read. Now go."

I sighed, wiping my hair back, allowing the droplets of sweat to drop to the ground. "And Ka'lira!" I heard Boss say. She shot to attention. "Yes, Boss?"

"Mind bringing up some water to Luke and checking on him? Make sure he's still breathing?"

"Got it."

She went about her task, and I to mine, taking one last gulp of water, unsheathing my blade, and readying myself for the humiliation that inevitably awaited me.