Asha took her time making her way back to her quarters. She wanted to familiarise herself with the Enterprise and some of its personnel. Besides, its winding corridors and crooked hallways made for a nice walk. She soon found herself approaching the recreation decks. The Enterprise was rumoured to have some of the best facilities in Starfleet.
As she approached the main gym she suddenly noticed a large number of people wearing martial arts uniforms. Intrigued she made her way to where they all seemed to be gathering. Walking up to a Vulcan man wearing a rather high quality judo gi, Asha asked, "Excuse me, but what's going on?"
The Vulcan looked down at Asha and replied, "Are you referring to the high number of personnel gathering for the competition?"
Puzzled, but now more curious, Asha quickly replied, "What type of competition?"
"It's the Enterprise's annual martial arts competition", the Vulcan answered curtly.
"Oh really?" Asha replied apparently a bit too enthusiastically for the Vulcan who raised one eyebrow in response.
"Yes really." He answered.
Pursing her lips in thought she looked back up at the Vulcan, "Who do I talk to about entering?"
"You can sigh-up at any computer terminal but…" The Vulcan stopped.
"But what?" Asha asked.
"This competition is for advanced trained personal only. And not to be rude but by observing your overall physical appearance you do not appear to have the physical stature for such a contest." The Vulcan rattled off as if he was bored.
Glaring at the Vulcan, Ashe replied, "We shall see about that won't we?"
Ten minutes later, Asha had completed the sign-up process and found a replicator to produce some proper clothes for the contest. Instead of traditional martial arts gear, she went with simple yoga pants and a tight black tank-top. She had found that judo and karate uniforms tended to give opponents more surface area to grab onto. By making herself as slick as possible, grapplers would be easily frustrated.
Soon enough all the competitors were called into the main gymnasium. If was filled with all sorts or men and women from walks of life ready to rumble. All trying to surreptitiously size each other up by making small talk as they awaited for the competition bracket to be posted.
Asha became aware of some of the more rugged individuals looking in her direction and laughing to themselves. To them she probably looked like an innocent pilgrim in an unholy land. She also caught more than one person checking her out in more a more carnal manner. She forgot sometimes how she looked in tight clothes. Her small waist and ample hips and breasts tended to draw attention even in serious situations such as these.
With a quick computer alert the competition bracket displayed on the main wall in the gym. There was a push of movement in that direction as all the entrants tried to see whom they would first be fighting. Eventually, she was able to get close enough to see whom she would be fighting in her first match.
All she had to go on was the name, 'Giles Waterstone'. However she could tell by the name he was probably human, which suited her fine. Humans tended to be good solid but clean fighters, unlike some of the other races in the Federation that seemed to prefer fighting dirty and throwing any sense of honour out the window.
Without warning Commander Worf walked out into the middle of the floor and announced the contest was about to begin.
Clearing his throat he spoke in his normal gruff manner. "I want to review the basic rules of the competition so please pay attention as any one deviating from them will be disqualified. First each bout will consist of one five minute round only. You can win in one of three ways. First, your opponent can submit. Second your opponent can be incapacitated or lastly, if neither of these occur, three judges will render a verdict. Remember, this is about discipline, good clean fighting and honour. Anyone fighting dirty or attempting to permanently hurt his or her opponent will be disqualified. Good luck." With that he walked over and sat down at the judges table.
Asha was a little disappointed to not have Worf competing as she wanted to see him in action. He had quite the reputation in Starfleet for being a rather formidable warrior.
Wanting some space to herself to warm up and stretch, Asha found her way to a bit of empty space away from the bulk of the crowd. As she warmed up she felt very alone. Almost everyone else at the competition had someone there either in the competition with them or at least cheering them on.
She then began to question why she was even entered the contest at all. She had nothing to prove, she knew how good she was. She then debated forfeiting and leaving but right as she was about to leave she noticed the referee motioning for her to come to the centre of the gym.
Apparently, the first match was over in less than two minutes as the Vulcan she had previously been talking to easily defeated his opponent with a simple Vulcan neck pinch.
As she strolled her way to the centre of the gym, she noticed most of the competitors were men, though there was a few women here and there. It really didn't matter to her one way of the other expect that males did tend to be more aggressive but that was always not the case. Some of the most vicious targets Asha had eliminated had been women, as a result she learned the hard way to never to assume anything.
Walking onto the slightly raised gym mats that represented the fighting area, Asha could hear a few snickers from the crowd. She must have looked completely out of her depth especially compared to most of the bigger and tougher looking opponents. Here she was, this super feminine looking, 170 centimetres tall, harmless appearing woman wearing yoga pants entering a martial arts competition consisting of some of Starfleet's finest personnel. Inwardly laughing, Asha thought, 'This isn't the first time someone has misjudged me by my looks and it won't be the last."
On the opposite side of the mat from her, Asha got her first look Giles. He was a rather tall, lanky fellow of human decent. His neat, short blond hair suited him and he seemed overall to be in very good condition. A fine example of Starfleet training no doubt.
He was adorned in a simple, white karate gi and was warming up by jogging in place. She could tell he was well conditioned just by how his body moved and he also had a certain charming swagger about him. Noting all of this, Asha already knew how she would approach him. He would be aggressive and fast right out the gate. All she had to do was avoid too much damage and wait for him to let his guard down one time.
The referee, a plain looking, older human woman, signalled for the bout to begin. As custom at such things, both Asha and Giles bowed towards the judges then to each other before moving to fight. Asha could not help but notice the odd look Worf was giving her. She made a mental note bring this up with him later.
Just as predicted, Giles was immediately on her feigning a kick followed by two jabs and hook. However, with practised grace, Asha simply glidded out of the way blazingly fast. Which resulted in all of Giles' strikes finding nothing but thin air. He then without delay attempted a round house kick to where he assumed Asha was moving away. Unfortunately for him, as soon as his leg left the ground for the kick, Asha crouched and latched on to his kicking leg from below.
Then standing with full force, Asha shot up and forward driving Giles quickly backwards. With only one foot on the ground and unable to keep his balance, Giles crashed hard on his back as Asha relentlessly drove forward. By the time Giles' head had bounced off the floor, Asha's bare foot was already pressing down on his neck while simultaneously maintaining firm control of his kicking leg. Pivoting her weight to her forward foot that was pinning Giles' neck to the floor, she waited for him to make the next move.
Not even pretending to still be in the fight, Giles knew Asha had bested him and tapped the mat three times signalling that he was done. Waiting for the referee to signal the bout was over, Asha released Giles and helped him to his feet.
The audience and the other competitors just stared and were at first silently stunned at what had just occurred. Then a round of polite applause filled the gym as they acknowledged Asha's victory. As she walked past the judges to await her next match, she noticed Worf's expression had become much more intense.
Over the next few hours Asha, had two other matches all of which were over relatively quick. She had not even worked up a sweat so far, although the Tellarite woman she had faced landed a few solid punches to Asha's ribs before going on to eventually lose.
Asha's next bout was against the Vulcan man she had met right before the contest started and as it so happened, it was also a the semi-final bout. If she got past him, she could possibly win the whole contest. However, unlike her other opponents so far, the Vulcan was very skilled and intelligent fighter. His style was much like Asha's in that he waited for his opponent to make a mistake or show signs of an obvious weakness before he attacked him or her earnest. He also had that whole Vulcan neck pinch going for him. Asha knew she would have to keep him at bay while they fought. If they grappled he most certainly would have the upper hand, so to speak.
As the two approached the mat, Asha heard several people cheering on the Vulcan with words of encouragement and to her surprise there were a few voices supporting her as well, which in turn forced a small smile from Asha despite her desires to keep a more serious façade.
Once their bout began, it was, at first, quite boring. Each of them sizing each other up physically and also keenly observing how the other moved on their feet. Then without warning, Asha feigned a few attacks but the Vulcan easily read her intentions and didn't fall for her fake attacks. However, without Asha charging him, he was a bit befuddled on what to do. Asha, could tell he was clearly used to more aggressive opponents and which resulted in him being a bit lost.
With the clock ticking away, Asha knew she had to do something. She quickly slipped in closer to the Vulcan and threw a very quick jab solidly landing square on his nose sending green blood gushing down his face. But true to his Vulcan heritage he easily ignore the pain. Wasting no time, Asha threw two more jabs and then a kick to his ribs that sent him reeling back a few steps gasping for air.
Judging his gasps for air was her sign to attack further, Asha quickly went for a leg sweep but the Vulcan was not so hurt as he appeared and abruptly snapped his right leg forward in a classic karate front kick connecting to the side of Asha's head causing her to stumble backwards.
Trying to shake the cobwebs, Asha automatically went into defensive mode as the Vulcan wasted no time attacking her again. She tried a quick jab to keep him at bay but still a little groggy from his previous kick, her punch was neither as fast nor as hard as it should have been and the Vulcan easily blocked it. Stepping quickly forward, with his free hand, the Vulcan reached for Asha's neck.
A shot of adrenaline pulsed through Asha, clearing the haze from her mind and without thinking she spun backwards on one foot putting her body ninety degrees relative to the Vulcan. In doing so, his hand missed its mark and grabbed on to her upper arm instead.
Searing pain instantly shot through Asha's arm where the Vulcan's hand touched her. Running on pure instinct now, Asha swiftly grabbed the Vulcan's wrist and pulled it forward and then snapped it back all in a instant. A sickening sound of bone breaking echoed through the gym as the Vulcan's wrist broke.
When the Vulcan tried to back away, the referee quickly jumped between the two fighters to separate them. Glaring at Asha, she spoke, "I'm sorry but you are disqualified."
Eyes wide in anger, Asha shot back, "For what?"
Swallowing before she spoke, the referee answered, "Unsportsmanlike conduct. The rules state anyone attempting to severely or permanently hurt his or her opponent will be disqualified."
Becoming more agitated, Asha replied, "I didn't do it on purpose. I was just trying to defend myself. And how is it fair he gets to use his Vulcan disabling pinch thing anyway?"
The referee stood silent as she tried to ignore Asha's remark.
Simmering Asha looked over at Worf and demanded, "I want the judge's ruling." She was hoping they would see that she was just defending herself and not trying to really hurt the man which she did feel bad about.
Without hesitation Worf calmly said, "Sorry Lieutenant the ruling stands."
"You can't be serious?" Asha said reaching the level of incredulous tonality.
Standing up and speaking louder, Worf said, "Yes I am and you acted dishonourably."
"Dishonourably? How is defending myself against an unfair advantage dishonourable? Was I suppose to just let him knock me out? I thought the whole purpose of this was to fight at our best ability?" Asha nearly shouted.
Clearly angry at Asha questioning him, Worf answered, "Lieutenant! My word is final and you will show some respect or you will be put on report."
Throwing her hands up in the air in frustration, Ashe replied under her breath, "Your report can kiss my arse."
Speaking though his anger Worf asked, "What did you say?"
Determined, Asha stepped over towards Worf, looked him straight in the eye and in a perfect, slow concise voice spoke, "I said, your report can kiss my arse. Did I say that slow enough for you to understand this time?"
Eyes glowering in disbelief, Worf seethingly replied, "You can consider yourself on report Lieutenant and you are also confined to quarters. And I suggest you keep silent before you do any more damage."
Shaking her head in anger, Asha walked away without saying another word.
By the time she got back to her quarters there was already a message waiting for her on her data pad. Opening the message she could not help but laugh. It appeared that Captain Picard himself wanted to talk to her at her earliest convenience.
Rubbing her forehead in aggravation she whispered, "See…this is why I don't like serving on starships."