The Disciplined Storm

Posted on Wed Nov 9th, 2016 @ 6:29am by Commander Yuna Raza & Lieutenant Commander Siivas McKenzie
Edited on on Wed Nov 9th, 2016 @ 6:30am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Operation: Risa!
Location: USS Bonne Chance, Deck 7, Main gymnasium
Timeline: 2265

Siivas the main medical staff, except for the Sulamid, had arrived in the gym and were preparing to begin today's exercise regime. Xian had been told by him several days earlier to make sure that anyone who wanted to join them was welcome and observers were welcome, though they must be respectful and quiet if they weren't participating.

Siivas wore a sleeves tunic made of simple cloth, the tunic was open on the chest and fitted to his body. He also wore long pants that were similarly fitted and tied around his ankles so they wouldn't move and get in the way. With him, nearby, were a couple of long, thin curved scimitar-like swords with odd decoratively hooked guards and hilts.

S'tal had brought her own spears, two short ones, and Shareen had her own matching swords to Siivas' own. Xian had a three-piece staff and with all the weapons to one side, they stood and stretched gently and fluidly, in unison, preparing.

Andurean arrived and dressed in a top with long padded sleeves, exposed midriff and pants of a similar leather material. He was barefoot, barehanded and his hair had been woven into a skullcap of small braids and fastened to his head, exposing his pointed ears. He and S'tal, the blonde Vulcan female, exchanged pleasant smiles.

Meanwhile Lt Yuna Celes had just finished her own evening workout, and was currently stretching in the far corner, releasing the muscles she'd worked on strengthening and building. She regarding the contingent that had just entered with a curious eye.

Siivas glanced at the others and then eyed Andurean casually for a moment. Without a sound he spread his feet, the other medical personnel following suit and matching his posture. Arms relaxed, he bent his head and took a slow deep breath and with the slightest of pause, exhaled as slowly and bend at the knees and turned his feet outward about forty degrees. The other followed his movements with even less delay. Those paying attention noticed that their breathing was falling into synch.

As if practicing Tai Chi, without any hesitation, they moved as one into an incredible slow Posture. Turning onto the right foot leading, leaning backward on the heel to shift the foot and turning the body to alter the balance, the back foot turned more perpendicular as both arms can up. Almost fully extended, the arms reached forward with the left above the right, the fingers relaxed and the hands held open and tilted so the palms were tilted upwards. The torso leaned forward slightly and then swayed ever-so-slowly backwards with the hands flattening and looking more martial, though still relaxed.

Through seven Postures they moved in the same foot placement, only changing direction and upper body movements and turning their feet to maintain balance and steadiness in each of them. As one, they assumed an upright posture and like dancers, made graceful wing-like gestured downward with the arms as they exhaled and raised heads and opened eyes. There were soft smiled all around.

Andurean, all the time had watched seemingly impassive, occasionally fondling his odd necklace. Now that the others assumed their upright postures again, he seemed to frown a bit.

Lt Celes regarding the smooth movements, her mind ticking over to her own martial arts training. The basic forms of the level 1 Tai Chi resembled the ancient Trill forms practiced for thousands of years on her own planet. Tuning the mind and the body into one. Slight shifts of weight, tighten one muscle here, release one there, slightly angle the foot, breathing in complete unison to the movement. Most cultures had something similar and Yuna enjoyed learning each of the variants as they all had their merit. Standing from her stretch she made her way over.

"Would you mind if I joined in?" she asked.

"We would be pleased," Siivas smiled gently and gestured for her to stand to his left side. "Move as you feel inclined, pick up the rhythm of our breath and breathe with us. These forms are similar to Terran Tai Chi in passive mode and this is what I'm teaching today. Tomorrow we plan to teach Discipline," he added thoughtfully.

"I am familiar with the basics of Tai Chi," Yuna replied quietly, falling into rhythm with the rest of the group. The movements were simple, elegant, and spoke of a millennium of disciplined repetition.

Yet there were Postures in the forms that were different and as she saw the other moving into them and she moved to compensate, she felt a growing sense of companionship, of... union... amongst the others who moved through the Postures as if they were all fingers on the same hand. Watching them all come into synch disturbed her and she excused herself, retreating from the situation and the potential close encounter.

Ultimately, Yuna's inability or unwillingness to join as a part of something greater meant she missed the target- again.

 

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