Heart of The Mind. Lieutenant Commander Estelle Maguire watched her opponent with careful intensity. She knew he was making allowances for her inferior ability, but today she was determined to show him she could learn…learn and improve. He was lithe, devastatingly quick and well acquainted with both his experience and his exceptional ability, yet she still felt he had a weakness. All she had to do was find it, while avoiding the point of his deadly foil. Through the grille of her helmet she watched him as he waited patiently, perfectly balanced on the balls of his feet, his step light and sure. Her palm sweated, her forearm feeling the strain of the prolonged bout. His head lifted a fraction and, before she could consider what it meant, he thrust forward, his foil flashing as he sought to defeat her weakening defence. Once, twice, and again he struck, his blade whipping about with the lethal accuracy of a striking snake. She back-pedalled, strenuously trying to deflect his attack, her feet dancing across the strip. Knowing she was approaching the end of the run, she suddenly lunged at him, thinking with bloody-minded determination that she might as well go down fighting. The point of his weapon hit her firmly in the middle of her chest, the blade bowing under the pressure. Coming to attention, the combatants saluted each other and removed their masks. Panting, Estelle shook her head ruefully. “You have me at a disadvantage Captain…I am obviously outclassed…again” Gesturing to the bench, the Captain slowly removed his gloves. Picking up his towel, he wiped his sweating face and carefully laid his foil against the seat. “I don’t agree Commander. You scored two hits today and both your defence and attack show a marked improvement.” The woman sat and stretched out her legs in front of her, placing her hands behind her and leaning back. “I think perhaps that you may be humouring me.” Sitting beside her, the Captain lifted and hefted his sword before running the blade through a lightly oiled rag. “Not at all. How long have we been doing this…two months? You have made great leaps in your technique…you no longer drop your wrist…you’re more attuned to my strategies…in fact I would go as far as to say you have risen several levels in a remarkably short time.” Estelle chuckled, dabbing at her face and neck with her towel. “Thank you Sir, your kind words are much appreciated, even if a little…gilded.” She watched as he also chuckled, once again finding herself admiring him. She was very attracted to him, had been for some time. She had first noticed him when she came aboard at Starbase eight. He’d welcomed all the new arrivals and she was immediately drawn to him…to his classical features, his dark intelligent eyes and his unmistakeable air of authority. Once assigned to her new quarters, she took no time in looking up his service record. She knew of him of course…who didn’t?…his exploits were legendary. Gaining a posting to the Enterprise, Starfleet’s Flagship was the culmination of all her dreams. Finding the celebrated Captain Jean-Luc Picard both handsome and potently attractive was a very welcome bonus.
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