Preparation ...

[T'aral 0]

"Remember: the key to to keep your balance. Shifts should be swift and brief, so that you will always be ready to move again."

 

T'Aral drilled Tifa over and over regarding the calculated maneuvers of rolling, ducking, and shifting that is Navorkot. The moves were simple, and Tifa was inteligent. She would catch on quickly; with luck she would have extra time to drill Tifa in body language so that she could better read her assailants. While often not considered honorable, evasion was a legitimate tactic in any combat. The result was the desired one: to stay alive.

 

Even with the focused effort to train Tifa, a part of T'Aral's mind could not avoid considering the future. The bloodsport was of no consequence: either they lived or they didn't. What pre-occupied her thoughts was the threat of mental conditioning. This was an unacceptable state of affairs for T'Aral: there was much that she could tolerate, but her mind could not be allowed to be violated. A Vulcan's mind was the only thing they truly trusted - the only ally who would not have an alterior motive or a hidden agenda. To be unable to control or trust one's own mind was completely unacceptable.

 

She would have to avoid this 'conditioning': she could not sacrifice Tifa in any way, but all other options were open for consideration. To escape, to die in the attempt, suicide, or even voluntary capitulation were all acceptable outcomes. The only unacceptable option would be to look in a mirror knowing that she couldn't trust her own thoughts.

 

That was the Vulcan way.