Shiarrael slipped into one of the holodecks aboard Starbase Republic and locked the door with a command level access code to keep anyone from trying to join her. Granted, the station's commanding and executive officers could get in, but she doubted that they would. Skimming through the available programs, she selected one of the hand-to-hand combat training scenarios marked "advanced."

She smiled grimly as an arena of sorts appeared around her, a dirt ring bordered by ropes and, beyond those, rock. Nodding her approval, she waited for the computer to call up her first opponent.

She didn't wait long before a human fighter appeared for the "warm-up" level. Knowing Federation systems fairly well, she knew the hologram wouldn't move until she did – at least on this level. She paused for a moment, recalling her limited experience with Starfleet Martial Arts training, then engaged the holographic opponent for the warm-up drill.

Shiarrael discovered quickly that the techniques in the drill had been part of her "crash course" of the Starfleet program. The drill lasted five minutes before the hologram vanish. Shiarrael took advantage of the pause to disable the holodeck's safety restrictions. Combat didn't feel real to her with the restrictions in place.

The next hologram, another human in a different fighting uniform, appeared. Shiarrael faintly recognized the color and markings as one of the master of the art. This might be interesting.

Unlike the first hologram, this one activated on its own, launching itself toward Shiarrael before she was completely ready. She narrowly avoided the crushing blow and struck back more out of reflex than training.

Her opponent was only slightly unsteadied, but it gave her a mild advantage that she immediately took. She launched an attack of her own, a combination of Romulan and Terran strikes, but the hologram was ready for her. It seized her arm as she approached and sidestepped her, using her own strength and momentum against her. She yelped in pain as she felt – and heard – her shoulder twist apart. She landed on her back, the breath knocked out of her.

The hologram surprised her, stepping back to allow her to rise. Rise she did, though slowly with her teeth gritted from pain and humiliation. She knew better than to continue, but she advanced anyway. Before she reached her holographic sparring partner, however, it darted nimbly out of her path and attacked from her left, kicking her in the side at the bottom edge of her rib cage.

With a short cry of pain, Shiarrael staggered sideways and fell to one knee. "Freeze program," she barked harshly, halting her opponent before it struck again. "On second thought, end program." The holographic scene vanished, replaced by the black and yellow grid of an inactive holodeck. Shiarrael hauled herself upright and left, cursing in Romulan under her breath.