„Hiraku – San keep your arm up and hold the katana at this angle." Demonstrating.

"Another swordsman can just as easily go for the neck. " illustrating her points. "As for the heart." Pointing with her sword.

"Decapitation will kill you just as dead as sword through the heart. "she said dryly.

Spock had paused to watch. The new yeoman Zheng Dhanji was sparring with Sulu. And she was excessively good at it.

He remembered thinking just how Vulcan she was. She came from the Yamani Islands off the shores of Tortall on the planet Tamora. A rather primitive planet for the most part, having only just discovered warp.

She nearly never betrayed any emotion in her visage. Always very efficient in the tasks assigned to her. And had a knack for extrapolating what files and information someone would need before they asked her for it.

Now she portrayed 2 other valuable abilities. She was a warrior. And apparently she spoke Japanese.

"Hai, Sensei." Hiraku said.

Spock watched as she continued to instruct Sulu. This was not the first time she instructed someone in martial arts. That much was obvious.

When they took a break to re-hydrate themselves. Yeoman Dhanji turned towards Spock. She walked to the bench and pulled out a data-pad from a bag and gave it to him.

He raised an eyebrow and looked to what it contained. It contained the files he was going to request from archiving.

He nodded at her. "Yeoman Dhanji, since I am sure you can again come up with a logical conclusion as to why you have a file ready that until 1 hour ago I did not know I would request I will not bother asking. However. " he switched to Vulcan " would you care for a sparring match? I would like to access your range of capability to find if you might not be better suited for other work."

She bowed formally and answered back in flawless formal Vulcan "I am honored commander by your attention and would be honored if you would deign to spar with me. I however would humbly ask you to leave me within my current posting. I like my work and am efficient." she paused. "Have there been any complaints to my work?"

Spock switched back to English having confirmed that she spoke Vulcan as well.

"No, there have been no complaints about your work. Is weaponless hand to hand combat acceptable to you.?"

She nodded/bowed. And the both of them moved to the middle of the room.

Sulu as soon as he knew what was going on sent out word what was to happen.

And there was quickly an audience building up.

"It would seem that I am not the only one that wishes to assess your abilities."

"So it does." She answered.

They bowed to each other formally and then they started. And the audience was able to follow, barely.

Spock and Zheng were fighting at about 1/2 their actual speed and strength. And not all of their ability.

They were trading blows like it was nothing. It wasn't easy to see who the aggressor was or who the defender.

They sprang apart. Both landing crouched. Both looking like cats about to pounce.

Both gracefully rising to stand straight.

"You are holding back!" both of them accused each other at the same time.

The audience was astounded. THAT was holding back? They started mumbling and murmuring to each other.

A smirk of the most evil kind pulled at their lips and they looked like mirror images of each other.

Zheng spoke "All out?"

"All out" Spock confirmed.

And then they collided again, this time even faster and stronger than the before. Both dodging, twisting, hitting and kicking so fast that they were not only blurred but the audience nearly never was able to tell what was going on. They moved fast, flawless and with a flexibility previously only seen on contortionists.

There was a pause when Spock had Zheng gripped with her arm twisted behind her back.

They breathed slightly quicker than normal but it was only barely noticeable.

"Give in" Spock said.

Zheng smiled. She then did something that astounded every one.

She kicked Spock in the stomach he flew back several yards. But in the process Zheng's arm was dislocated.

Bones wanted to move forward to help. But something no one ever saw happened.

With her "good arm" Zheng pulled the dislocated arm out and then snapped it back in herself with and audible pop.

The audience winced.

Zheng looked at Spock who had stood up. And watched Zheng with no expression whatsoever.

Zheng moved back into a fighting stance to signal she was ready to continue.

So did Spock.

And they collided again. Much like before. Having her shoulder dislocated seemed to do nothing to slow her down. In fact it seemed to make her more determined.

Both of them fought like none in the audience had seen before. Moves were executed that were thought to be only possible with CGI special effects in movies. Zheng moved nearly unpredictably. She seemed not to limit herself to one discipline. Some moves were recognized to be Capuera, some karate, other Tek Won Do again some seemed to be a combination of Kong fu and Kick boxing.

However after about an hour of incredibly intense fighting. The fight shifted. Spock began to tire. More and more strikes and kicks got through his defense. And even Zheng was breathing more deeply, still she seemed mostly unfazed. She was regaining the upper hand.

When at last the fight ended, Zheng was on top of Spock. One hand was aimed at his heart and the other was around his neck ready to choke.

"I concede." Spock spoke.

Zheng got up immediately, so did Spock. They bowed to each other.

The audience applauded loudly, whistling and cheering.

Both of the fighters turned at the audience.

Zheng was impassive.

Spock how ever looked around, looking slightly annoyed. "Is everybody here off duty?" he asked.

And lo and behold. Almost everyone left quickly.

Kirk, Bones and Sulu were left, they approached the two fighters.

"You held back when we fought." Sulu stated.

"Indeed Hiraku-San, to go all out would have taught you nothing. But slowly increasing the difficulty in training and instructing you properly actually taught you."

"I will never be as good as you." He said wistfully.

"Probably not but. I believe there is a great deal that you can achieve. But do not concern yourself with being as good as me. Only be the best fighter you can be. Besides Hiraku-San I am over 300 years old. I do not doubt that given centuries you might have beaten me."

"Hm 300, really?" Captain Kirk asked wide eyed.

"Did you not read my file sir?"

"Yes but honestly I thought your birth date was a typo. I thought the order of the numbers got mixed up."

"No they did not." Zheng stated.

Spock looked at Zheng. "You are 300?"

"Yes" she confirmed.

"It has been a long time since I had such a challenging sparring match. " Spock stated.

"For me as well." She countered.

She smiled at him. A sweet smile that took all men's breath away. As Zheng usually never smiled. "I thank you. Perhaps we could spar again some time?"

"Never mind that, let me have a look at your arm." Bones demanded.

"Doctor I am fine. My kind heals at an extremely accelerated rate. Even broken bones only take minutes to heal. This is nothing."

"Is that the reason for your age?" Spock inquired.

"Yes,I aged normally until I was in my early twenties. Then something happened and my body started showing incredible regenerative powers. At the rate my body is regenerating it will take me approximately 370 earth years to age the equivalent of 1 Earth year."

"Fascinateing." Spock (who else?)

"Uh-huh yeah, uhm I'd say your talent is wasted doing what you do no matter how good you are at it." Kirk.

"Captain I am taking this round off. And nothing you can say can make me do otherwise." Zheng said stubbornly.

He looked perplexed at her. "Every 30 years or so, I take time off from being a round the clock warrior. I would go crazy if I hadn't a break now and then. I keep on training because you never know what might come. But I really enjoy my job in data collection. It is extremely simple and easy. It is relaxing. If it comes down to 'do or die' I'll fight don't worry. But for everyday business just pretend I am nothing more than a slightly psychic data collection yeoman."

Spoke raised an eyebrow. "Psychic?"

"Well no it actually isn't that. Actually my ears and eyes work 10 times better than those of an ordinary human, in the way that I see and hear everything. My brain and my subconscious process everything every bit of data. And can extrapolate things from seemingly farfetched and/or unrelated circumstances. I never question it when I think. Hey why don't you prepare a file on x for person y. It is only when I am asked to explain I actually think about how it was extrapolated that I know." Zheng explained.

"That is extremely logical and very fascinating." Spock.

"Now if you excuse me gentlemen I will take a shower, oh and captain, commander if you have a problem with my wanting to keep my position talk to Admiral Pike tell him authorization code X5-452 629." She paused. "Doctor McCoy you should see my file as well. I will be in need of your assistance 2-3 times a year. Good day."

And with that she left.

Captain Kirk looked at the others. They agreed to get the file at once.

Nothing in their history could have prepared them for the truth of Zhengs Story.