"Computer; enhance audio of approaching romulans. Determine number and distance," he said to himself. The onboard computer quickly began projecting intermediate calculations through the small, round, visual receptors in his mask.
A soft, female, computerized voice originated from within the mask. "Romulan count; two. Proximity; nine point three meters and closing at point nine six meters per second."
"Too late," he proclaimed to T'osa. He jumped clear of the door. It immediately slid shut with a click. It had been a couple of weeks since he worked out last. Hopefully, that wouldn't be too much of a determinent. A minor tingle in his right side reminded him of his fresh surgery. He shook his head quickly. Thoughts like these were distracting. He dropped to a three point stance, took several breaths and closed his eyes.
breath His heart rate slowed.
breath His mind cleared.
breath Stephen could hear the breathing of the incoming romulans.
breath His muscles tensed.
Romulans were physically similar to vulcans. They are stronger and more durable than humans. One strike most definately would not be sufficient to incapacitate one. He opened his eyes as two tall, thin romulan guards came around the corner. They have been rather inexperienced. Although their weapons were in-hand, they weren't ready to fire.
Kirk launched from his three-point stance at the guard on the right, grabbing his weapon and pushing it to the side with both hands. He shot his left foot at the weapon the left guard was holding and pinned his hands to the corner. Surprised and pained, the guard instinctively dropped the weapon. As the right guard staggered backwards from the surprise attack, Kirk took the opportunity to twist the disruptor free as the left guard dove for his fallen weapon. Stephen quickly tossed the disruptor down the hall where the transponder room was located.
His left foot back on the ground, he quickly shot his right foot at the right guard's chin. It connected solidly forcing him to take several steps back. The left guard retrieved his weapon with his left hand and spun around. Kirk caught the guard's left hand with his right as he turned, however, and continued his spin so that he pinned his left arm to the wall just past the corner. With his left hand in a fist, Kirk struck the romulan's pinned wrist. The guard let out a cry as he dropped the weapon yet again. The guard swung wildly with his right hand and grazed Kirk's cheek as he attempted to avoid the blow. Despite missing the total force of the punch and the lining of the mask, it still stung. The rumors were right; romulans WERE quite strong.
Kirk arced his left knee into the left guard's stomach. The romulan winced, but continued to break free of Kirk's grip on his left hand. He could sense the other guard was beginning to move towards him. Stephen repeated the knee kick four more times in rapid succession before the romulan in front of him bent forward in pain. Taking the opportunity, Kirk grabbed him by the back of his neck with one hand, the romulan's rear end with the other, and shoved him into the opposite wall. The romulan hit the ground with a thud and a moan.
Stephen spun around to see the right guard charging him, his right fist drawn. As the right guard approached, he threw the punch. Kirk easily grabbed his right hand and forced the romulan to continue his swinging arc into the farside wall next to his partner. He cried out in pain, then shot a foot backwards towards Kirk's face. The left guard forced himself to his knees.
Kirk caught the foot of the right guard and held it as he shot his own foot into the back of the head of the kneeling left guard. The romulan's head went flying back into the wall. With that second hit, the left guard crumpled to the ground motionless. The right guard wrenched his foot free, then spun around and struck Stephen in the chest with his left hand. Thankfully, the vest absorbed most of the force, but the impact made Stephen take two steps back.
The remaining guard seized the opportunity and charged Stephen again, both arms out, meaning to grapple with him. Kirk watched him approach then, at the last moment, shot both his fists straight out at the oncoming romulan. Both fists impacted the guard's chest. He gasped for air and abruptly stopped, staring blankly at the masked intruder. Kirk sized up his opponent, then shot his right leg up and out at the dazed romulan's head. It hit squarely in his face, causing green blood to drip from his nose. He staggered back and dropped to one knee. The guard's dialeted eyes desperately looked for a weapon, but none was to be found.
Stephen spun around in a circle and shot his left leg out. Once again, it connected with the side of the guard's head. The now helpless guard spun a half circle as he fell the rest of the way to the ground. Kirk stared at him for several seconds, then grew amazed as the guard began to stir. You've got to be kidding me, he thought. He took a few steps over to the prone guard, raised his right foot, then brought it down with authority on the romulan's head. There was a dull thud as the romulan's head hit the ground and bounced.
As Stephen headed back to the transponder room, the right guard began to moan. Kirk shook his head. As the romulan started moving his hand, Kirk raised him up by his head, then drove his left knee into his face. The force of the shot sent the romulan on his back. He hit the ground with a thud. Satisfied the two guards were finally incapacitated, he returned to the now closed door of the transponder room.
He stared at the door curiously as he saw sparks coming from the upper left corner of the door. "What are you doing?" He yelled at the door.
"Trying to cut the electricity to the doors!" came the muffled sound of T'osa on the other side. "I don't suppose that guard had a weapon?" She asked. She had been trying to cut her way out since the fighting started, but had barely gotten two centimeters.
"There were two guards," he answered with pride, "and, yes... they both had hand disruptors."
"You're my hero!" She shot back sarcastically. "Grab one and help me burn through this door."
He grabbed the disruptor he kicked down the hall. "Nice to know you care about my well being." He replied with his own sarcasm.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she replied. The sarcasm was virtually dripping from the door. "Are you alright?"
He began fidgeting with the slider setting, trying to figure out the maximum discharge setting. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Actually, his side did hurt considerably. "I think I have this one at maximum setting. Stand back and I'll just blast the doors."
"No, no, no!" She screamed. "The doors are shielded. You have to readjust the beam and power level setting and cut through it at the edge like I'm doing."
He started resetting the controls. "How do you know that?"
"I almost took my head off a few minutes ago when I tried it." She answered. "Move the slider on the top left of the disruptor down to half. Press the third symbol from the top in the middle of the panel, then rotate the dial on the right to the second lowest setting. Then, press the disruptor against the edge of the door and pull the trigger. Start at the bottom."
He made the adjustments, then put the disruptor to the bottom left corner of the door. He pulled the trigger and sparks began to shower the hall. "We'll have you out of there in no time." He remarked.
"I hope so," she replied from the other side. "We only have twenty-two minutes before the transporter goes off!"