SITN9

Disclaimer: Do NOT try this at home.

Author's notes: Moon, sorry, the old A and O test stands for Alert and Oriented times three. Most commonly used by paramedics when they come across a person who may be concussed. They ask them three simple questions, and the responses tell them how out of it the person is. Usually it goes: What's your name, how old are you, what day is it I don't know how they figure days in the Andromedaverse, so I changed the last few questions.



Once inside the ring, Regina took a deep breath and let it out. As she exhaled, she imagined letting every outside concern go with the out rush of air. Everything outside the circle disappeared for her, and she settled her focus on her opponent. Tyr stood at his end of the mat, looking at her with the same intense focus.

When one engages in combat, it is not purely physical, as most untrained people tended to believe. The mind is very much a part of the battlefield. Indeed, if you can intimidate your opponent before the opening move, you will win the engagement. It doesn't usually show much between seasoned fighters, just a little flinching around the eyes, but it is there. Ice always referred to the mental attack as 'mind-hit' and considered it the most important part of any match. Tyr must have had a trainer with a similar philosophy because he met her eyes with a smile that promised violence. Regina imagined he must have had great success, but she was not so easily intimidated. In truth, she found the smile incredibly sexy.

Tyr looked deep into green eyes, waiting for that waver in concentration. He knew she would not fall prey to intimidation; she liked to fight too much. He had not missed that smile on her face while she was greatly outnumbered in the brawl. He gave a little smile of his own. Regina was about to find out she had a good deal more trouble on her plate now.

As if by mutual consent, they moved toward one another. They both made a few feints and jabs, testing the other's speed and reach. Tyr could feel the jolt up his arm each time he blocked a punch or kick, and realized she did hit a good deal harder than even most men. He wondered if she was going all out, or if she was pulling her hits. Most Nietzchean sparring matches were full bore. No male wanted to lose, it would affect his status, but he didn't know if females fought like that. He was pleased to note that Regina did not give any sign of pain from his blows; on the rare occasion he landed one, so he suspected that this female expected him to fight to the best of his ability.

Regina managed to land a punch to his abdomen, and Tyr grunted in surprise. She did hit harder than he would have believed, even after feeling the shock on his forearms from the blocks. He wondered, in passing, if she spent a lot of time training in her native gravity.

Totally forgotten by the combatants, Ice, Callisto, and Diane watched with great interest as the fight progressed. They watched in silence for a while, but soon began kibitzing the fight.

"He's very good." Callisto noted with a wince as Tyr sidestepped and kicked Regina in the ribs.

"He may be good, but don't count our little chimera out yet." Ice said with cold satisfaction as she locked his arm up to the shoulder and brought him to his knees.

"Very nice move. Glad to know all those trips to sickbay with a broken arm and ribs were good for something." Diane commented as Regina kicked Tyr's exposed ribs.

"Huh, but there's the counter move." Callisto pointed out as he twisted out of Regina's grip.

"Ooooh, that's going to leave a mark," Diane said with sympathy as Tyr managed to whip in behind Regina and punch her in the kidneys.

"That's what nanobots are for." Ice said blandly, just the tiniest hint of a smile on his face. He had taught her well. She was landing solid blows, and taking fewer hits than he had expected. Tyr had her for reach and mass, and was nearly as fast as she was.

"Well, they're certainly going to earn their keep today, for both of them." Callisto shook her head as Regina buried her fist in Tyr's gut, only to be rocked back as he elbowed her in the side of the head.

Tyr was pleased with Regina's speed, and knew that he had to keep her from getting inside his reach after feeling the strength of her blows. If he could keep her at his range, he could pound on her until she got tired enough to drop her guard for him to land scoring blows. Or he could…there! She overextended slightly, trying to connect, even though she was a little out of range. As the punch came in, Tyr swept his arm up in an outward block, forcing her arm wide and opening up her entire torso to him. The same arm that had blocked shot came back in to hammer-fist her temple.

Regina realized what she had done as she felt her arm driven outward, and she could not possibly get a block up. She did the only thing she could think to do, and moved with the momentum of her arm. As she did, she tucked her body in and down, bringing herself around in an almost textbook position for delivering a back kick. She lashed out with her leg as she glanced back over her shoulder to make sure it was aligned correctly.

Tyr watched in surprise as his target spun away and down. He saw the kick coming, and brought both his hands down to form an X. When the kick connected with his hands, he trapped her foot. He twisted his hands open sharply while holding on. The force of his movement pulled her off balance and around. He lashed out with his foot, almost casually, and took out her other leg.

Regina dropped to the mat, hands out to transfer the shock of hitting the floor. She drew her free leg up and wheel-kicked him on the outside of his thigh. There was a nerve running the outside of the leg that, if hit with sufficient force, would cause you to lose, temporarily, control over the limb.

Tyr dropped beside her and immediately rolled into her. He trapped her body under his, his hands capturing hers. Not even the pins and needles sensation in his leg could distract him from the fact that he was pressed the length of her body.

Regina looked up at him with flushed cheeks and burning eyes. She thought she could probably throw him off, but that might create more friction between their bodies than she could take. It was very hard to focus on the fact that they were sparring. She kept thinking that she would really rather he was above her for a different purpose. Then her eyes went cold as she remembered the first and only time she had offered herself to a Nietzchean male. She set herself and heaved, putting all her force behind it.

Tyr felt her tense, and settled himself more firmly against her. She was not getting up until she yielded the match. When the push came, it was almost enough to dislodge him, but he kept himself centered and rode it out. "I suggest you yield." Tyr said, his breathing still heavy from the exertion of the battle.