Episode 52. Standing Her Ground

After the confrontation with Admiral Michaux, I return aboard the Enterprise, still burning with anger. It hasn't faded. It has only intensified.

I storm through the ship until I reach the gym. I need to release it. To hit someone. To feel something other than this compact knot crushing my chest.

And I know exactly who I'm going to take it out on.

The room empties in a tense silence. Once alone, I remove my uniform and put on shorts, a sports bra, and sneakers left in my locker. I grab a container of chalk and rub it over my hands, my forearms, my neck.

I breathe hard.

Too hard.

I open another locker. Inside, a row of combat gloves. I grab one pair, then a second.

When Tarsi enters, escorted by a security officer, I'm ready.

The door closes behind him.

Tarsi observes the room, then looks at me. She immediately understands that something is wrong.

I pick up the gloves and throw them at her again, harder this time, ordering her to put them on.

Tarsi does not move. She stands her ground, her gaze steady, still refusing to fight.

My patience snaps.

I lunge at her without warning.

My blows come fast, too fast. Loaded with anger, frustration, and everything I can no longer contain. But Tarsi dodges with disconcerting ease. She pivots, ducks, steps back just enough. No wasted movement. A precise, almost elegant mastery of defensive techniques completely foreign to me.

I stop dead.

My arms instinctively fall to my sides.

I stare at her, stunned, unable to hide how unsettled I am.

A heavy silence settles between us.

Then, calmly, Tarsi bends down, picks up the gloves, and finally puts them on. Not to attack. Not to defend herself. But to set the rules.