Hardcase's Downfall: The Hammer Falls

Posted on Sun Mar 8th, 2020 @ 11:53pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Commander Ethan "Hardcase" Duval & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 75: Through the Looking Glass
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1400Hrs - April 6th

Commander Tom Lasky was frustrated, he was in a bad mood most of the time these days and it was showing too, the dummy before him had receved the equivalent abuse to kill two separate people as Lasky let out a soft sigh. "Grr.." he growled ever so softly as he realized his emotions were out of whack simply because he hated Zara Tane for dragging him into not one but several major disputes that she had either caused or aggravated out of control between herself and many others, including many of the Yamaguchi family.

Lasky's fist smashed into the face of the target dummy with such force, he felt a wave of pain ripple up his arm at light speed to the pain receptors of his brain. He let put a soft growl as he sighed.

Rachael Yamaguchi regarded him. "Hey." she smiled. "I think you're getting tired of fighting dummies and holograms... How about a target thats unpredictable..." as she handed him a Bo.

"It would be an unfair match." Lasky responded as he accepted the bo from her.

"I'll go easy on you." Rachael responded with a wide grin. "Besides... I hear that you've been teaching Elizabeth the martial arts."

"She is a fine student, as is her husband." Lasky responded with a soft sigh. "I've been trying to sort the issues out with them for some time now..." he admitted while he regarded Rachael.

Rachael nodded her head. "She told me... She forgave you Tom... You are being too hard on yourself... Mom forgave you too long ago."

"I just-" Lasky sighed as he shook his head.

"Can't forgive myself.." Rachael responded in a soft tone of voice.

"Because it'll never come.." Lasky regarded her. "Others may tell me that have forgiven me... but thats them.. not me."

"You are too hard on yourself." Rachael responded as she twirled her bo and then she lifted it over her head, before she feinted a bo to his right, he saw it and blocked her first, second and third trikes that she chained together, a smile gracing her lips as she was rebuffed.

"You're too subtle Rachael."

"You are too formal Tom... Stop blaming yourself for the idiocy of others." Rachael then swung at him again, she chained three more attacks as Lasky simply parried them all with his bo. "Is that the best you got?"

Rachael swung her bo, the end connected with Tom's face and head with a loud crack. Sending Lasky to the deck.

Rachael raised an eyebrow, her eyes wide as she couldn't believe it, she had managed to penetrate his defenses. "Tom!"

Lasky blinked before he climbed back to his feet. "Rachael....I'm okay...I'm alright...really.. I was." Lasky paused and he stopped with a sigh.

"Distracted." Rachael supplied with a smile, meanwhile however the door opened while the younger woman turned her head. "Who's that?"

"Thats... oh thats the sergeant major."

Rachael raised an eyebrow as she regarded Duval as he went over and plucked two blades off of the wall behind him, he then slowly made his way over to Lasky. "Hello.."

"Whats up Sergent Major-" Lasky started before he stopped as Rachael interupted. "Thats not Sergent Major Duval."

"Hehehmmm.." Duval responded. "She's smarter then I've heard... She's right you know..." he added with a rather unpleasant grin. "My turn now.." as he handed Lasky one of the blades. "Full steel. First blood wins.... I've seen you with a phaser... So lets see how you fair with blades... Be warned... you are stepping into my domain."

"I am Hmm.?" Lasky responded as he rotated the blade over his wrists. "Well... I assume that walking away isn't an option."

"You won't get five feet." Duval responded in a rather evil tone. "I said first to shed blood losses."

Rachael sensed the overwhelming rage from Duval. "Tom... he's serious... I recommend you give him his first blood."

Lasky raised an eyebrow, he could tell there was something in Rachael's tone. "Very well.. Duval... Lets dance then?"

Duval growled deeply before he lifted his blade. "May you fight well."

"May you fall in battle." Lasky returned the traditional response before the two began their battle, their blades swung and crashed against each other again and again.

Rachael backed away as she watched in horror as this was no simple bout of martial skill but more to the point, this was a battle to the death and everyone present knew it.

Lasky threw everything he had into the dispute with his grace, finesse, skill and agility where as Duval brought raw power and ferocity to the battle.

Rachael watched the battle between the two men escalate in tone and ferocity. "Stop this!" the young woman protested. "Now!" she cried as the two men slashed one last time at each other, both men drawing blood before Rachael flung the two men apart.

Duval landed on his feet as he grinned. "You fight well...Lasky."

"Did I wrong you in another life?" Lasky inquired as he wiped his blade on his left sleeve. "You seem to enjoy this.."

"I do... Battle is what I live for." Duval responded.

"You're lying." Rachael commented softly as she regarded Duval, she regarded the man before her as she felt his ferocity and anger be redirected towards her. "You don't live for battle... you want to die."

"I do not recall you asking me what I felt. Little girl.." Duval growled softly.

"Nevertheless, you have it anyway... What you need is-" Rachael explained patiently before being interupted.

"I can kill you in forty different ways.." Duval responded softly.

Rachael Yamaguchi's fire was up and she was not backing down, she was also not someone to be cowed. "Then we will dance my lord and I will end your pain." as a rather decent sized longsword suddenly leapt off of the wall and flew across the room to her waiting hand. "Come then...." as she slowly grinned.

"Enough." Lasky spoke. "Clearly you need help... but neither I or anyone else can help you... But. I know someone who can.." he explained.

Duval raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"I'm going to send you to Deneva... To my brother... Lei Shen... He can help you. He at least will give you a run for your money... and I'll let him know that you are coming."

Duval snorted. "Please, one dead world is just the same as another... Why are you sending me to that husk of a world.?" the man responded with a sneer.

"What are you talking about... Deneva is my homeworld... and the last time I checked... the world was alive and well.. as were all her people." Lasky responded. "You.. might wanna explain that.." Lasky added.

"Deneva in my reality was a glassed husk of a world.." Duval responded. "Is it still.. pure... still pristine?" the older man paused. "This.. really is a different reality then ... the hell I left behind."

"Oh yes and I'm going to send you there for the help... that you need.. Come on.. let's go." and with that Lasky turned and led the other two people invovled with this dance out the door and down the hallway.