Where you can taste the fun (Sovaan)

[Fells Halgerdur]

[Gym]
Like so many times Fells stepped into the stale sweat filled air of his favourite spare time place...the gym. Why the air cleaning worked everywhere on the Base but here, he didn't know but he didn't mind at all. It reminded him of the small place he used to train in in Reykjavik.

"Good evening, Fells.....none of your usual sparring partners are here yet."
The android at the reception declared without any emotion.

The blonde sighed...."oh well. I can still pound the bags, right?"
"That's correct, sir."
He placed his hand on the reader to check in and then grabbed his bag from the floor.

[Sovaan]

[Deck 227, Gym]

Sovaan had been at the gym for about twenty minutes or so, going through the regular exercise and fitness regimen that he'd tried to build for himself. Being an Orion meant that he couldn't really follow human specifications; he'd worked out that he could go longer than one without all the effort to increase strength and stamina becoming unhealthy.

The Ensign was at one of the heavy bags, at first simply hitting it with slower jabs, trying to build himself up. So far, it had just been standard strength training, but now, he wanted to keep his boxing up to scratch. He had a certain edge with it that he'd maintained, and sparring sessions in the regular Academy and Starfleet Medical had gone well thanks to all the training he'd kept up with.

Sovaan's large frame took one step back as he adjusted his stance. Then, he suddenly stepped forward, twisting his hips and turng his shoulder inward as he struck the heavy bag in front of him with a powerful hook. The bag flew up for a moment before coming back, the orion catching it where it was hanging. He let out a deep breath, feeling somewhat satisfied that his body hadn't lost its power, at least. Not yet.

[Fells Halgerdur]

[gym]

After getting changed and warming up on the treadmill as well as some of the usual machines, Fells was looking around to see whether Tominsa or any of his other training partners had arrived yet. It looked like they all had different things to do though.
"Probably all out drinking..." He mumbled while he made his way to the heavy bags and fumbled with his sparring gloves to take them off.

There he spotted a guy, he had never seen at this gym before. It was practically impossible to 'miss' his impressive frame so he had to be new.
Fells wasn't small himself but in front of him was an Orion, who was at least a head taller and a foot wider than him.

With his water bottle in hand, the security officer watched the guy pound the heavy bag so hard that it almost became unhinged.
"Holy sh*t." He couldn't help the smile, that crept on his face.
"I wouldn't want to be at the receiving end of your punch." By now he was close enough for the Orion to spot him.

[Sovaan]

[Deck 227, Gym]

Sovaan patted the heavy bag, which still remained where it should. It had no doubt taken punishment of all sorts, from many stronger than him. He was always amazed at the way things like this were created; able to withstand so much, over such a long period of time.

His attention was pulled away when he heard someone talk, and the orion turned to look at the man who'd approached. "Well, it took me a while to get it right. Doubt I'd be able to hit a moving person with that, yet."

It took him a moment, but Sovaan realised he wasn't being sociable, yet again. He put out his hand towards the man, signalling for a handshake. "I'm Sovaan. I was sent here by Starfleet as part of the medical department on Columbus. How about yourself?"

[Fells Halgerdur]

[gym]
He expected everything: Attitude, rudeness, a challenge...but not a humble answer like the one he got.
Fells was pretty sure that the giant could punch his or any other opponents lights out within one or two rounds.
"That's very humble...." He smirked at the guy. "If I could throw a punch like that I'd brag about it!"

Then he even introduced himself with a good old earth style handshake.
Fells pulled the glove off and took the hand.
"Sovaan? I'm Fells. I work in security."

He stood back to watch the guy some more. Some little voice inside of him said 'ask him to spar with you' but he knew very well that they strength would not be a good match.

Nevertheless he asked after a long awkward moment. "Are you interested in sparring?"

[Sovaan]

[Deck 227, Gym]

Maybe this man was right; maybe he should learn to just take a compliment. He'd been told about it over and over again, and he was still trying to learn to do that. It might have come across the opposite way to some, as though he was being boastful and viewed some of his own achievements as inevitable. Alright, just take the compliments. He can do that.

"Good to meet you, Fells. We might be working together often; I'll be trying to put any troublemakers back together after you're done with them." He smiled, letting out a small chuckle at his own attempt at a joke. The ensign found that he relaxed more around other Starfleet personnel, or at least people with similar backgrounds.

There was a bit of a pause, as though Fells was considering something. Sovaan let him have his moment to consider whatever it was, but he wasn't expecting to be asked to spar. He couldn't imagine he'd hold up very well against someone in security who did this sort of thing all the time, but it would help him practice, definitely. "...Yes, I would be. I haven't had a chance to do anything like that since I got here."

[Fells Halgerdur]

[Gym]
When he said that they might be working together often, Fells instantly thought this was a jab at him and his team, who got hurt a lot and needed to be put back together but it turned out Sovann meant the criminals.
Had he heard about Fells' unusual interrogation methods?
He frowned briefly but decided that this had to be a coincidence.
"Yeah, sure....you can piece me back together after you put me on the mat." He joked nonetheless.

The man accepted his offer...
Fells wasn't sure whether this was a good thing.

He pointed to one of the sparring rings.
"We have to set up some rules though...none of this anything goes crap."
Silently he walked over there and rolled his shoulders.
"No more than three punches in a row, no martial arts....knees....throws....that kind of thingNo kidney punches....and you have to  use 60% of your hammer." He laughed. "I'm kidding....go for it but stop when I tap out."

Fells was prepared for a real challenge now. He'd better have one of his fast days.

[Sovaan]

[Deck 227, Gym]

Sovaan wasn't entirely sure about the joke Fells made; he got the impression the security officer might have underestimated himself. After all, he was doing this all the time. Sovaan hadn't been in a real fight for a while, and most of his experience was in grappling and wrestling. Still, he had a point. There was no sense worrying about scrapes and bruises when they had the kind of medical facilities that Columbus boasted.

He was just glad there were rules set up. It made things easier for him, and for him to get into a bit of a rhythm to exercise himself. "Got it. I'll stick with punches, try to speed it up as I go." He didn't want to wear himself out, so he was better off by pacing himself and working up to the higher speed. He'd acclimatise to it, that way.

Sovaan waited for a moment, putting up his fists into a boxing stance that seemed very orthodox and strict. Once he was sure that Fells was ready, he stepped forward, going for a one-two combination towards the man, first with a left jab and then a right straight quickly following it. Though he wasn't a professional, his punches were still already fast. Thanks to the training that Starfleet expected of him, and his understanding of relaxing and then tensing his arms and fists, he was quite precise.

[Fells Halgerdur]

[gym]

Fells had a feeling that there were no foul moves to be expected from his new sparring partner, who already demonstrated skill and respect.
After rolling his shoulders once more, he also lifted his fists and started moving his feet to be able to evade any oncoming hits.
His eyes watched Sovaans every move, mostly his eyes and shoulders because he was worried about catching one of those hard punches but the ones that his opponent threw were fast but not very hard, so Fells blocked both.
He kept dancing around him and 'tapped' him on his glove before he let a quick combination of straight punch and upper cut follow.
They were just warming up.

A few other gym members, who always enjoy giving unnecessary advice gathered by the ring and admire the massive newcomer.
"You gotta be a bit faster, Fells....oh wait....forgot...you enjoy a good beat down." One of them laughed but the Icelander knew it was all in good humor because they'd been on good terms after a little rough start.
"Yeah, shut up or do you want to give it a try?"
"I could!"

[Sovaan]

[Deck 227, Gym]

Sovaan was impressed with how quickly Fells was already moving away from his blows, weaving and avoiding them with a certain grace. There was an instinct he noticed in security officers, and some others he'd met on Earth with experience in combat. Their eyes seemed to be watching and waiting all the time, as though prepared for something to happen that hadn't already.

The ensign had to quickly bring his hands up to avoid a straight punch, and the uppercut that came after seemed to slice through the air in front of his chin as he whipped his head back, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow to the point of it. There wasn't much point in starting with a slow pace, then.

Sovaan felt a small smirk on his face as he heard the jokes and comments from outside the sparring ring, the friendliness that was already in the room. He decided to respond to Fells, and suddenly threw two jabs and then followed up with a hook punch as he stepped forward, trying not to let the other man escape his range so easily.

This time, they were faster, and certainly had more force behind them; Sovaan didn't want his new acquaintance to think he was underestimating him, even if not going so intensely at the beginning was more for his own sake.

[Fells Halgerdur]

[gym]

The speed with which Sovaan moved away was unusual for such a big man.
"Nice..."
Fells would really have to step up his game, especially after the next three punches.
He blocked one, evaded number two but when he tried to duck under number three, he caught it with his cheek because he had predicted a different attack.
His head took a bit of a twist but he shook it off and instead of stepping back to regain his composure, he threw a low punch towards his opponents chest and then an upper cut.
Only then did he allow himself to take a step back but kept his blue eyes fixed on those telling foot and shoulder moves.