<USS Avalon> "Demons in the Night" by Lt. Marksbury

"Demons in the Night"
By Lieutenant First Class Elissabeth Marksbury
 
 
 
Drowning.  
 
Cold and helpless, she was drowning.  
 
The grey void consumed her, pulling her under, spinning her around, knocking 
her into things that weren't actually there.  The water clawed at her face, 
ripping at her eyes, invading her mouth.  It spilled its way into her lungs, 
driving out the life giving air.  And she panicked.
 
Her arms thrashed wildly, reaching for anything and everything.  She was 
desparately crying, losing her life by the second.  
 
Then came the moment of dispair - that moment of acknowledged futility when she 
gave up clinging to those last painful moments of life.  And she sank.
 
An arm roughly grabbed her, hauling her to the surface.  No sooner had she 
broken the water, coughing and sputtering, than she was berated. 
 
"You gave up.  You hear me, Lyryn?  You gave up.  You panicked.  You froze.  
And you almost died.  Have you learned nothing?  How many more days do I have 
to throw you into this water until you get the lesson into your head?  Hmm?  
Tell me."
 
She could do nothing but cough and shiver, crying.  The large man pulled her 
out of the water.
 
"You disappoint me, Lyryn.  You disappoint me."
 
"I'm sorry, sir," she whispered.
 
*            *              *
 
Lissi awoke tangled in the covers from sub-consciously acting out scenes of her 
past.  She sat up slowly and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
 
"Not anymore.  That is not me anymore," she told herself.  The repressed 
memories lingered like fog on a moor and she began pacing about her quarters.   
"Computer - lights." 
 
The lights flared to life and she flinched, finding the light just as 
unsettling as the dark.  It was her mind she could not escape from.  
 
Changing into PT gear, Lissi headed to the holodeck.  Standing outside, she 
told the computer, "Martial program.  Authorization Marksbury delta three 
kappa." 
 
"Program loaded," came the dry response.
 
Marksbury stepped inside the room to find herself in an ancient Chinese dojo.  
Seated in the center was an old master.  She kicked off her shoes and light 
jacket before approaching the master.  He spoke to her in Chinese.
 
Cheeng Jeen. (Come in.)
 
Sie-Sie.  (Thank you.)
 
Dong ma?  he asked. (You understand?)
 
Shr ah. (Yes.)  She knew it was a double edged question meaning, 'Do you 
understand what it is you are doing here?' and 'You understand this language?'  
To which both answers were yes.
 
Suo-yo duh doh dhr-dang. (All is proper.)
 
He stood.  They faced each other and bowed in respect.  In a blinding flash, 
the master wasted no time putting her on the defensive.
 
She ducked his chest high kick while lightly jumping off her feet to avoid his 
follow-up sweep with the second foot.  Lissi could've swore she saw the old man 
smile.
 
It didn't take long before she fell into the rhythm of dodging blows, looking 
for the opening to strike.  It was an eerie but beautiful dance; one that 
focused her mind in a single place, on a single event.
 
The master's palm once made contact with her chest, sending her flying backward 
breathlessly.  Lissi used her momentum to back roll onto her feet in time to 
side step another blow.  The old man missed and didn't recover fast enough to 
avoid being kicked in the kidney by the spry girl. 
 
Or at least it is what Lissi thought.
 
He had lured her into a trap, placing her at severe disadvantage to regaining 
her balance.  It only took a quick sweep with his right foot to knock her off 
her feet.  In an instant, the master was straddling her chest, palm flat to 
strike the killing blow.  He froze in this pose.
 
Lissi sighed.
 
Nyen ching-duh.  (Young one.)  The master smiled, then helped Lissi to her feet.
 
Tsai boo shr.  (Again.)
 
Lissi bowed to the master, took up her stance and began again.  She would 
repeat the process the rest of the night, never winning, but keeping the 
personal demons at bay.  It was victory enough.



                
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