Never strike a blow in anger.

That's the message that was repeatedly drummed into our heads in training. Keep cool, control your temper -- anger leads to mistakes, and mistakes can be fatal.

All very well when you're training with people who fight fairly and who believe that training is for the purpose of learning something.

But when the person you're training with sees it as an opportunity to prove a point, things change.

Today was the first time I've ever broken my own rules, the first time I've ever thrown a punch in anger and it was the most satisfying fight I think I've ever had.

It's been a long time coming; I've wanted to show that bull headed idiot a trick or two for some time now.

He thinks he's got it all together; that he's better than me...but that all changed when I got under his guard and landed a blow that left him with a bruised kidney.

*snorts* The look on his face when I pulled the Klingon manoeuvre on him was worth the detached retina *and* three days confined to quarters.

The bastard knows how to goad, but he doesn't know a thing about a fair fight.

When I had him pinned on the mat, he looked up at me and smirked all over his butt-ugly face as he said: "The only way you've kept your job is by screwing the captain, isn't it? Don't think we haven't noticed."

That was when I truly lost my temper. The red-necked arsehole had the audacity to think he'd won, that it was over.

It was far from over. He'd made it a point of honour and there was no way I was going to let him just walk away after that.

I've never yet attacked a man when he was off his guard. That's a coward's way. I yelled his name a second before I lunged and caught him round the mid-section as he turned to look at me.

I heard the air knocked out of him with a satisfactory grunt as we both hit the deck.

And I discovered something.

Anger doesn't always lead to mistakes. Sometimes it can sharpen your reactions. Sometimes it can give you a decided advantage. Cold anger, like I felt today only enhances the killer instinct..

I think I might happily have killed him if we'd not been interrupted by the tactical alert.

I think I still might, if I get a chance.

We both told the captain it was over...but somehow, I doubt that either of us really meant it.

~fin~

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