ILLUMINARRPG: Illuminarrpg: (4- 1330) Security PO3 Hercules Devers and Jardek

[Al Muir]

Mission: A Cure Delayed

Day: 4

Stardate: 2445.10.28


(Xen’Tal - Vulcan Institute of Defensive Arts - Security PO3 Hercules Devers and Jardek - 1330)


Turning Devers faced the second Vulcan.


“I am Jardek,” the Vulcan offered and held out a hand.  “You have great skill, for a human.  We have an unfair advantage.  We are faster, and stronger than you can be.  With that in mind, I will give you 80%.”


Devers took the Vulcan’s hand.  “I look forward to our bout,” he replied.


With that Jardek stepped back, and bowed.  His clothes were similar to Teluk’s, but he wore a sash that was purple around his waist.  He stepped back into a fighting stance and prepared himself for the human’s attack.


V’yless ran into the ring and handed Devers a flask of water.  He leaned close and spoke softly.  “Are you familiar with the differences between ponn-ifla and kareel-ifla?  As you noticed, ponn-ifla takes the opponent's strengths and turns it against them. To its logical conclusion, there is no way to harm a practitioner of ponn-ifla, especially one as practiced as Teluk,  by attacking.  The only true win is to not fight.  However, kareel-ifla was developed in a time when logic was not the basis of our society, and brute force was a way to defeat your opponent.  It might be a form that is more familiar to your style.  It applies direct force to end a conflict as quickly as possible.”


Devers took the offered flask and drew deeply from it.  “Thank you.  This is why I am here, to learn, to observe and to test.  As my Kru has taught me to learn where I can. To train with the best.”  Handing the flask back to V’yless, “Thank you.”


Turning to face Jardek, Devers got into his fighting stance.  Jardeck had not moved while he waited for the human to regain his composure.


Jardek nodded to Devers, “You may begin when you are adequately recovered.”


Devers nodded, “You are most fair. I am ready.”


Eyeing his opponent, advanced slowly, starting with a conventional punch combination to gauge distances and test Jardek’s reactions.  Leading off with a Mat Neung (jab) combination, short fast punches.  The key to this fight, which based on what he knew and confirmed by V’yless, would play into his wheelhouse better.  Using punches and elbow strikes to set up a devastating kick attack.


Jardel easily slipped the jabs, knowing that this was a test from Devers.  He rolled under the third punch and took a drop step to the right, threw a driving hook into his ribs, turned to face his opponent then finished his combination with a cross to his exposed jaw.


~Game on!~ Devers thought to himself as Jardel landed a good cross.  Using the momentum he gained from the hook, he pulled his hand up and struck Jardek with a sok tat, the horizontal elbow strike.  A good counter, but not as much power as he could generate if he had a full lead in.  However he used the momentum to spin around, attempting a spinning mat wiang klap, the backfist strike, one of his favorite combinations that often surprised his opponents as it was a hard move to master.  Devers' flexibility and gymnastics helped him.


Jardek absorbed the shock of the elbow strike then ducked under the spinning fist coming towards him.  He shot back with an uppercut, followed by a right hook.  These were distraction moves as he switched stance and threw a stinging inside leg kick that landed squarely at the middle of Devers left leg.  He stepped back to avoid any counter that might follow.


Devers leg absorbed the blow, buckling slightly.  Devers took the momentum to the mat, and rolled away from Jardek.  Arching his back, he sprung back to his feet.  “Good hit,” he said as he resumed his fighting stance.


Jardek nodded in acknowledgement of the compliment.  In his own opinion it was not a good strike or a bad strike.  It was simply the strike he had intended.  He knew that Devers was not really giving him his best showing.  It was all too routine.  He wanted to see what the human was truly capable of doing.  He stepped out of his stance for a moment.


“If you would do me the honor,” Jardek said, “do not hold back.  Show me your best.”  Then he stepped back into his fight stance, bringing his hands down slightly.


Devers understood what Jardek meant.  The opening round was just to get an idea and judge his opponents reaction time.  Jardek was not kidding about the Vulcan speed.  He felt they were matched in strength, and Devers might have a bit of edge in flexibility, but he had to watch the fast reactions and counters.


He bounced up and down as he slowly circled his options in his mind.  If he could get Jardek in a clinch, he could take him to the  ground and launch a series of knee strikes.


Jardek held his ground watching as Devers moved carefully around him. He waited patiently for the right moment. When the human had arrived at 120 degrees Jardek whipped his left leg around at his face, spun on the balls of his feet then sent his right leg into an outside leg kick directed at the sciatic nerve at the midpoint between his hip and knee.


Devers watched as Jardek aimed a kick to his face, he threw a muay thai buok, the shin block, in combination with an arm block to catch the kick.  That opened him up and the Vulcan’s right leg kick landed cleanly.  Devers grimaced with the pain of the blow to his nerve. Relying on his gymnastic training, he was able to roll to his side into an aerial cartwheel, sticking the landing. Using his momentum, he lept into a khao yoa, a powerful knee strike aimed at Jardek’s chest.


Jardek brought his hands down to catch the knee before it penetrated deep enough to do any serious damage and then threw both fists to Dever’s chest connecting with his promised 80% power.  He was strong, even for a human, but his human body would not hold up long under the small Vulcan’s full power.


He stepped forward, lifted his arms to protect his head but exposed his ribs.  He nodded at Devers.  This was now a test of the human’s endurance.   With his sides completely open he said, “Proceed.”  Then he slapped his flanks.


Devers nodded, and moved in, swinging his arms out to the side of Jardek’s hands.  With a quick move, he brought his hands close together behind the Vuclan’s neck, partially pinning his hands to his side, executing the muay thai djab ko, a full clinch. If he could hold it, it was a devastating position to have your opponent in.


He started using his knee strikes, the khao khong, driving his right knee into Jardek’s side landing two and then a third blow.  Pressing his advantage, he tried to drive Jardek’s right side with a khao chiang, a diagonal knee strike.


Jardek breathed at each strike of Devers' knees, tightening his muscles around the bones of his ribs to keep them from breaking.  Then he slowly reached his right hand inside of the clinch and wedged it slightly apart.  But only enough for himself to reach through and grab the back of Devers’ neck.  His left hand reached over so they were now in a 50/50 clinch.  Then, directly after Devers knee struck his flank he shot his own knee strike back onto the human.


They went back and forth in this cycle for six strikes each.  Devers would strike, Jardek would counter.  Suddenly Jardek changed the pattern and struck twice in a row with left knee, pulling Devers down into the strike.  He released the human at the tail end of the strike to watch his shoot back away from the assault.  He looked down to see the green welt already forming across his midsection and nodded.  He was certain that he heard a small crack from the human’s bones but the man still stood there, ready to continue the battle.


Jardek stepped out of his fight stance and bowed his head towards Devers.  “I believe that will be adequate.”


Devers stepped back as well.  He was sure his ribs were cracked again.  The Doctor, well, he’d be due for another lecture about violence and such. He put his hands together, raised up to his eyebrows and bowed low, showing respect by executing the Wai.


As he stood up, he saw Jekkos walk into the ring, between the two combatants.  Devers pivoted to the side, and again bowed low to the master of the VIDA.


“We have seen today,” Jekkos said, “The skills of three masters in their field.  Meditate on what you have seen, and what lessons you can take from them to improve your skills.”


Jekkos turned to Devers, “You fought well and with honor.  You are welcome back anytime you wish Mr. Hercules Devers.”  He placed his hand up in the Vulcan Salute, “Live long and prosper.”


Devers nodded, and returned the salute.  “My mate will be most displeased if I do not bring you back to her so that she can heal those wounds. You as well Jardek.”



Jardek nodded stoically, as they walked off the mat.  “You hit hard.”

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