Melee (Maal and Wes)

[Maal Lah]

The increasing pressure caused a slight flutter in Colonel Maal Lah's ear as he turbolifted through the lower accesses of the Delteon Military Defense Base. Maal clenched his teeth and rode out the nausea that washed over him. Stupid turbolifts

WhooshThe door hissed open, not quite noiselessly. Maal turned left and continued down the snakelike passageway. A minute later, he was rewarded by the sight of a access terminal. Maal stepped up to it and announced, "Maal Lah, Colonel."

The door hissed open. "Your combat session will begin in five standard minutes. Enjoy your fighting" Maal entered, fully prepared to enjoy his fighting.

The room was circular save for two tapered ends with doors at opposite points. One Maal had just entered. The other was waiting for someone else. There were two storage lockers off to the side as well as a footlocker. The dome of the room rose for ten meters and then stopped in a cacophony of durasteel. Everything was hard, cold, unyielding....Just like I shall be to my opponent Maal thought. Maybe it was cheesy, but Maal liked cheesy. And I like death even more

A beep made Maal's pondering face rise. The door opening across from him riveted his attention. A foot entered, followed by the body and uniform of a Federacy officer. "Welcome, Lieutenant..."

[Wes Lorrani]

Lieutenant Lorrani faced his opponent, and gave a crisp salute.

"Colonel Lah," greeted Lorrani.

Light bathed over Lorrani, but he refused to squint. He kept his eyes on his opponent, analyzing him. He kept his breathing calm, and waited for the excersie to begin.

"Three minutes until session begins," came the pleasant, but emotionless computer voice.

Lieutenant Lorrani did some quick stretches, not moving his eyes off his opponent, and heard several pops. When he finished, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slowly let it out.

"One minute until session begins," came the voice.

[Maal Lah]

Maal ran his eyes up and down the young lieutenant's body. His opponent was wearing the tight, crisp uniform of a fleet officer. Of course, that was nothing to wear during combat. In contrast, Maal wore a lightweight, but loose workout suit. It may make all the difference.

Maal swept his uncut black hair over his head, and stared right at his opponent. "The first stage, Lieutenant Lorrani, will be unarmed, unarmored combat. Our combat will last until one conceded forfeit. Remember, you still have several other stages. Conserve your strength or play it all out, the choice is yours. But the Federacy looks down upon those who are weak."

The lights within the room seemed to dim, as if it were getting ready for an epic battle of seasoned warriors. If this officer fights an eighth as good, this session will be profitable. I wouldn't count on it. Maal thought as he strode toward the center of the room. Lorrani hesitated a moment, then followed suit. Maal removed a plasteel square with one button from his pocket.

"Ten, nine..."The voice counted down the remaining seconds.

"Five...four.. .thr-" The voice was cut off as Maal depressed the button. He threw the square to the side, shifted into unarmed combat stance, and addressed his opponent in one fluid motion.

"Whenever you're ready,"he challenged.

[Wes Lorrani]

Right from the beginning, Lorrani realized his stupid mistake. Wearing the uniform was a poor choice of clothing, for it limited his movements.

Lorrani took off his jacket, and threw it aside in a fluid motion. The tight bodysuit underneath the jacket showed off Lorrani's muscular body, which immediately tensed when Lah threw the square.

What is that thing? he wondered. He shook his head inwardly, and told himself to focus. His brown eyes tightened when Lah gave his challenge to him.

He softly said, "Yes sir," and stepped forward and lifted his leg as if to do a snap kick to the chin. But before the leg fully extended outwards, he brought it back in slightly, quickly turned his body sideways, and swung his heel towards Lah's cheek in a hook kick.

[Maal Lah]

Maal pivoted upon his left heel and checked the kick with a simple forearm block. Instead of grabbing the leg, as he would have normally done, he pushed Lorrani's leg out in front of him. I have learned not to be so impulsive

Lorrani caught his leg and planted it to regain his balance. Now the Lieutenant was parallel with Maal and in front of him. A predator's grin, one of Maal's qualilties he was proudest of, spread across his face. Maal sidestepped right and brought his right hand into a razor edge heading for Lorrani's kidney, while bringing his left hand up into a guard position.

[Wes Lorrani]

Lorran backpedaled, and swatted the attacking hand away from him with an outside crescent kick. He planted his foot in front of the other, and skipped forward. He lifted his other leg, and pushed his heel towards Lah's stomach.

[Maal Lah]

Maal saw his attack batted away, and his opponent starting a new move, but everything sleemed slower than it had been before. The young lieutenant was raising his foot, but it didn't matter; Maal knew that he would try a front thrust kick. A strange sense of euphoria washed over Maal as Lorrani's knee snapped up and then straight out at him. But by then maal was already in motion.

The easiest counter to a front thrust kick was a sidestep with a inside forearm block. But easiest wasn't always the best. When Lorrani's leg whistled through the air, Maal instead sidestepped, then planted his right hand upon ground. With a dexterity born of Federacy combat academy, Maal flipped his body through the arc of Lorrani's kick and brought his feet down on either side of the officer's left leg, forcing it down. The young man lurched as his foot reached the ground unexpecterdly, hands akimbo and off-guard for a split second.

More than enough time to send a blow at Lorrani's head.

[Wes Lorrani]

Immediately, Lorrani leaned back slightly, and Lah's strike hit nothing but air. Grinning slighty, he grabbed the striking hand, and twisted it, bringing the arm over his shoulder. Lorrani took his shoulder, and used it to push against Lah's arm. Lorrani then released his grip with one hand, and went for an elbow strike to the gut.

[Maal Lah]

Maal took the blow in his ribs, pivoting so the hit avoided his kidneys. Finally, some hits start landing. However, he was sure to not let out any sign of pain. I would very embarassed if I did so.

Maal then continued his pivot, bringing his right leg around so that he was in combat stanceat a 45 degree angle behind Lorrani, with his left leg grazing the young officer's right. Smooth and easy he thought as he brought his left leg up, taking Lorrani's right as he did so. Smoothly, he then brought his left hand in a knife across the lieutenant's collarbone and cut in towards the ground. Easily, Lorrani's leg went up, his chest went down, and his balance went out of sight.

[Wes Lorrani]

Lorrani somewhat awkwardly landed into a roll, and rose up into a fighting stance, several paces away from Lah. He frowned.

He's good. He's very good. But I can be better, thought Lorrani.

Lorrani rushed forward. At the last moment before colliding with Lah, Lorrani sidestepped to the left, and brought his other leg up into a crushing front roundhose for the nose.

[Maal Lah]

Stubborn, this one Maal noted. At this stage, most would have conceded and moved on to the next stage of the exercise. But this one seemed to want to duke it all out on this level.

Maal saw the rising intensity and rage within the lieutenant as he came out of his roll. when the charge began, Maal remained calm, knowing it was an effect of the other man's rage. When the shift left came, however, Maal realized he still could execute sly maneuvers.

But still a simple maneuver. Maal crouched a little and swept his arm in a windmill, allowing the rotation to sweep the arm over his head. He then, with his back to Lorrani's back, threw an elbow at his guts and spun around. Not caring whether his blow landed, he queried, "Do you concede this round?"