Chapter Four
Ari walked into one of the gyms in the Physical Education Building. No one was there yet. After all, she was early. With this opportunity, Ari looked around the silent gym.
In the centre of the gym, there was a large, open area with mats laid out on the floor. The sides had various strength training machines as well as a small track and dummies. There were even a few gymnastics devices mixed in. This gym really was quite well-furnished.
Ari checked the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes. She decided to practice her tumbling on the mats for awhile. She walked to the edge before running out headlong into an astonishing tumbling run worthy of a gymnast. After all, this was one area which her people were made for with their small, agile bodies.
She went through a few more runs before she decided to do something else. She walked over to the side and quickly stretched out her splits. They hadn't challenged her for years.
While she sat in her middle splits, she heard a group of students walk in. She heard gasps when they saw her. Undoubtedly, they continued to watch as she turned into one of her side splits without getting up. She heard still more gasps as she lifted up her back calf and touched her foot to the back of her head.
Soon after, Ari picked herself up from the ground and turned to see who had entered. About ten students were standing near the door watching her. Near them, Spock stood, watching her as well. He seemed to be watching more objectively, as would be expected from a Vulcan.
Ari walked over to Spock and asked, "Is this the whole class?"
"Yes," he said simply.
"Then we had best begin," she said.
With that, Spock stepped forward and said his whole spiel again, though it was much shorter this time. After that introduction, he said that at all costs, they must avoid under-estimating their enemy. An example came next.
He pointed at an Asian student and asked, "What is your name, Cadet?"
"Hikaru Sulu, Sir," the Cadet answered.
"Do you believe that you could win against me in a fight?" he asked.
"No," Cadet Sulu answered quickly.
"Do you believe that you could win in a fight against Lieutenant Tresina?" Spock asked.
"Yes," the Cadet said confidently. Ari's eyebrow shot up at his tone.
"Please demonstrate," Spock said, gesturing to the large open space on the mats.
The Asian Cadet stepped forward, as did Ari. While the Cadet crouched into a distinctly Japanese offensive position, Ari simply stood straight, watching him. After several seconds, Cadet Sulu ran forward at her, attempting to throw her on her back. Ari stepped to the side before jumping up to kick him in the back. That sent the overconfident cadet to the mats face first. He groaned and rolled over to his back.
The rest of the class began to clap while Ari bent down to help Cadet Sulu get up. As soon as he was standing, Spock said to the class, "That is the result of underestimating your enemy. Remember: smaller opponents tend to be faster and more agile, while larger opponents tend to rely more on brute strength. Pair up with someone who is not the same size as you. You will take turns fighting before we tell you your errors."
And it was so.
oooooooooooo
When the class was over, Ari hurried out without talking and went straight to the place Leonard, Cadet McCoy that is, had said. She sat there and waited for fifteen minutes before said person arrived, towing along another cadet.
"Who's this, Leonard?" she asked, seeing a man almost the same height as her friend. He had blond hair and blue eyes, which was apparently normal for a human.
"I'm Cadet James T. Kirk. And you are?" the cadet said charmingly, shaking her hand.
"I am Lieutenant Anari Tresina," she returned, sending the doctor a questioning look.
"Alright, Jim, enough mooning over my friend. We still need to eat," Leonard said, moving between the two before leading the way to the mess hall.