Ripping the Colours from the Mast - Part 3

Posted on 30 Jul 2012 @ 8:36am by Commander Scarlet Blake

1,260 words; about a 6 minute read

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Scarlet frowned as she circled the room slowly. Her eyes were fixed on the man opposite her. She simply wore her normal clothing, a black jumpsuit, she had no further protection. "Are you sure about this?"

Jeroen nodded as he watched her, his blue eyes warm before he motioned her closer. "Yes...I am sure. So just do it and we can see how you do."

Scarlet ran her tongue nervously over her bottom lip, her long dark hair twisted up and pinned back, but some stray wisps were moving with her. She finally stepped forward and hit him in the shoulder, lackluster, weak and clearly worried she'd hurt him if she hit any harder.

He watched her before grabbing her wrist, leaning closer. "Okay..." he said and let go. "First lesson..." he made her stand straight in front of her. "You are tall. That's good...now..." he took her hand and bent the fingers, so that two of her knuckles stood out. "A punch with this grip to the adam's apple can bring a man, no matter the size, to his knees."

"Well then I'm definitely not practicing that on you," she laughed softly, watching him with strangely shy eyes.

Jeroen watched her before chuckling gently. He took her hand and put it on his throat. "If you need to, that is where you want to hit...okay?"

She nodded, frowning as she took a deep, steadying breath. She felt the area, judging the strength it might need, and the reach she'd need if she was closer. "My usual tactic is duck and run."

"Sometimes, that is best. But other times, you have to stand and fight," he pulled back slowly when she was done. "You should also kick. A sharp, hard kick to the kidneys, or for a man, the groin...it can do a lot so that you can get away."

"Oh! Oh, that I can do!" she assured, bringing her leg up sharply, kicking for his side.

He turned to grab her leg, breathing harder. "You are fast," he said and smiled warmly, taking a breath. "Need to be faster."

Scarlet nodded, frowning with concentration as she settled back on her feet before trying again, sharper, faster.

He groaned as she hit him, his eyes warm as he nodded, moving back. "Good," he said and motioned her to attack him again. "Aim for where you know it will hurt."

She considered for a long moment, taking a breath. She could trust him, she knew she could. She reached back, pulling a small flick blade from the belt of her suit. "Dad gave this to me."

Jeroen watched her with a slight frown, nodding as he took a breath. "Do you know how to use it?" he asked gently.

"I know you're meant to stick it in, that's about it," she admitted with a small laugh, biting her lip as she watched him fondly.

He nodded as he watched her, chuckling. "That is the basic idea...but more about where to stick it in, so to speak. To wound, to slow down...to kill."

"He didn't tell me. It was my birthday present when I was 10," she shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck with a slight frown.

"Shit," he whispered and shook his head, frowning. "What is wrong with just a teddy bear?"

Scarlet gave a small, half smile as she watched him. "I think he figured he'd done his part in making sure I was safe living on a Maquis base when he gave it to me."

"Yeah. Sort of not enough though," he said and nodded weakly. "Okay...I will teach you how to use a knife, girl."

Scarlet gave a small smile at that, glancing down as she shifted. "I wish I didn't have to fight at all," she admitted quietly, but she knew it made her sound childish.

He watched her before nodding, with understanding. "I know. I wish so too...and you shouldn't have to fight," he admitted and sighed.

Scarlet watched him for a long moment, seeing the look on his face. It was clear this man had a lot on his mind, and shoulders. She gave a smile, reaching out to gently and playfully cuff his jaw with her knuckles. "Well, if we're going to do something, we may as well do it good, huh?"

Jeroen chuckled as he held her eyes, nodding before touching her cheek. "Yes," he said and took a breath, clearly focusing. "Okay, so you have a knife. You know where to stab to kill?"

Scarlet looked at the knife with a slight frown, tilting her head. "Do I have to stab to kill?" she asked lightly.

He watched her for a moment before taking a breath. "Depends on the situation. Knowing where to do it is good...that way, you can avoid those areas."

Scarlet nodded as she acknowledged the wisdom and logic in the words. She met her eyes with trust, smiling gently. "You're a clever man."

He chuckled softly and nodded, watching her for a moment. "Okay....major veins are here..." he tapped his own body, so that she could see. "Never cut those."

Scarlet nodded as she took it in, breathing deeply as she pointed and nodded to each place, to absorb the information. "Got it."

He met her eyes, nodding as he let out a breath. "Disabling someone can be as simple as a single stab..." he patted his chest, watching her. "Or cutting something..." he pointed to his hand. "Cutting tendons renders it useless."

She reached out, taking his hand gently to lift. She studied it, tracing the tendons as she tilted her head. "And the ankle and foot. Achilles?"

He nodded as he watched her with warmth. "Just like the legend," he said tenderly.

"Although that was an arrow," she laughed softly, shaking her head as she walked around him in a delicate circle, balancing up on toes. "The only part of him not to have been dipped into the River Styx."

Jeroen watched her with warmth. "In Norse mythology, there is a similar legend. Balder, Odin's son, gets a prophecy he will die. His mother, Frigg, goes around and begs all plants and trees not to harm her son...except for the tiny mistletoe, that looks so small it was harmless. And Balder shows his strength and luck by inviting all gods to fire arrows at him. But Loki hears about it and makes an arrow out of the mistletoe, giving it to the blind god Hod and tells him to join the game. And the mistletoe kills Balder..."

"I like the sound of this Loki," she laughed softly, watching him with shining eyes and interest. It was clear that she found the story far more interesting than the training

Jeroen laughed warmly and nodded, watching her before taking a breath. "Now...remember...be quick with the knife. Like a dancer."

"Quick like a dancer," she said softly, holding his eyes as she nodded solemnly. "Attack and move," she nodded, holding the closed blade before moving to 'stab' his side before ducking and darting past and up behind him.

He laughed as he turned around, watching her with shining eyes. "You are good," he praised softly, before moving to slap after her, to see if she was quick there as well.

Scarlet ducked out of reach, laughing softly before prodding him in the ribs. "You learn to be."

Jeroen laughed warmly and nodded, his eyes shining. "Well, Kitten...you better remember to be that quick."

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