Fisticuffs Part II
Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2026 @ 2:19pm by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Major Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Fri May 22nd, 2026 @ 3:10pm
1,857 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Hawke's Bay - New Zealand - Earth
Timeline: MD024 0900 hrs
Edmund saw the strike coming, he allowed it to hit, the end of the shepherd's crook hitting his stomach. The wind whooshing from his mouth, it leaving him breathless.
It was solid, the man still had it in him, it stung, Ed had gone with the blow, bending with the contact. The next move though he wasn't going to let it connect, and that was Jacob aiming for the jaw. He straightened up barely in time for the crook to miss its mark. He felt the air move from the attempted blow. Jacob meant business.
The last time Edmund had done any sparring with Jacob was before he joined the Marines before Vivian had died. Even then, they didn't or couldn't really get into it, both Vivian and Emily had stopped them.
Neither of them were around now. Edmund locked gaze with Jacob's a glint of steel in his.
Letting the jab toward Edmund's jaw act as a feint, Jacob stepped in with the crook end, going for a trip. Part of him was angry at himself for losing his temper.
But he was in it now and it wouldn't do to let this pup see that. He heard Milo barking and a growl emit from the dog. "Milo, sit!!" he said with force.
Milo looked confused but stepped back and planted his posterior on the ground, watching the two odd humans.
Edmund was rather glad that Milo was going to stay out of this. Not that he was afraid of the dog, a canine getting involved in a fight, Milo was rather good in defending the livestock.
The quick glance towards Milo almost cost Edmund his footing, feeling the crook of the staff start to pull. This caused him to hop on one foot, while trying to move his foot out of the grip of the hook.
He thought he would be able to get his foot out, but a quick deft twist, from Jacob, the man used to keeping a wayward animal from getting away. That made Edmund tumble sideways, he rolled with the motion, it still put him on the ground.
Twisting the crook to make it harder for Edmund to get free by keeping pressure on, Jacob dug the toes of his work boots in and began dragging his prey off the drive. Grunting at the effort, he said, "Ol’ dog likes to crap over by these bushes. Good place for the likes of you."
The weight Jacob was pulling suddenly lightened as Edmund's boot came off. Edmund rolled to his feet, a little bit lopsided stance as he was missing his one boot. He quickly moved back a few paces out of reach of Jacob's crook, slipping his other boot off. That's all the time he had.
Jacob had the advantage for the moment with the crook he held giving him more of reach. He'd be able to block Edmund coming for him barehanded. Edmund cast his eyes around to find something to even the playing field. His eyes landed upon a piece of wood, meant to replace the handle of an axe used to split logs. That would do.
Edmund sprinted for it, feeling the dirt and some gravel through his stocking feet. Preparing to dodge if he felt the displacement of air from a swing of the crook.
Watching him go, Jacob kicked the boot away and stalked toward Edmund, then tossed the crook away to the side and stood with hands in front of him.
Edmund whirled around, axe handle in hand ready to deflect the crook in case it came his way. There was no crook now, the axe handle dropping from his hand,landing with a dull thud to the ground, it teetering onto its side.
The stance of Jacob, told Edmund what he needed to know, the man wanted to fight, and so did he. Wish granted. Edmund moved in, not carelessly, testing, remembering how Jacob moved. The man still had his skills, his body hardened by hard labor. Just because Jacob was older than Ed, didn't mean a thing. That was a fallacy to think of. It made him more effective even deadly.
Jacob moved forward with purpose, slipping into a bare knuckled stance. Flexing his hands once as they moved up in front of him, Jacob lashed out in a jab driven by his hips towards Edward's jaw.
Edmund ducked under the punch, feeling the graze along his jaw, good thing he ducked that, for he could feel the force behind it. Much like the one he'd received from Jacob many years ago. It could have ended the fight, right then and there. That though wasn't going to happen, not this time. He delivered two quick jabs, to Jacob's stomach, before moving back.
Jacob caught the first jab on the elbow and twisted away from the other. That first blow did cause a tingling though, but Jacob ignored that and drove right after Edmund as he began falling back. "Where you going pretty boy," he asked. "Running away?"
A shake of his head. Edmund gave a bit of a rueful chuckle. "When are you going to quit pussyfooting around, Jacob"
Moving as if to make another frontal attack. Edmund sidestepped, pivoting to do a roundhouse kick to Jacob's side not pulling his kick.
Jacob must be slipping. He reacted to the feint and didn't see Edmund's roundhouse only a few heartbeats before it landed. He got both arms up into a helmet guard, though the power of the kick shook him and he stumbled slightly. Gritting his teeth to shake the blow off, he got his feet planted and lashed out with his own straight kick, deciding that if Edmund blocked it, he could possibly snake an elbow strike at the marines jaw.
Blocking the kick from Jacob the elbow strike towards his jaw, Ed barely registered it coming his way, he gave way to the strike deflecting the brunt of the contact.
It hurt, breaking the skin on Ed's jaw, his body doing a half spin, the marine stumbling, trying to keep himself on his feet.
Breathing heavier now, Jacob doggedly pursued Edmund. Seeing the half spin, Jacob stepped, trail foot dragging to avoid tripping on anything and lashed out with an off hand, rabbit punch aimed at Edmund's ear, to which he might be able to follow up with a jab to the face.
Through the seconds of combat, the bird noises had dropped and dog began barking at the two men as they scuffled.
Edmund spun avoiding the rabbit punch. He was in position to make an attack immediately ducking low, ramming his shoulder into Jacob, powering forward, sending both of them to the ground. Dirt flew up when they hit. Ed head butted, missing Jacob's nose, hitting Jacob in the jaw.
Jacob went down hard, though he was able to cushion some of it by landing partially onto Edmund as they dropped in a pile. He failed to get his arms up to block, but failed. Blood flowed and he got past the shock and jammed knuckles toward Edmund's suprasternal notch, his brain fuzzy on half-remembered ground fighting techniques.
The jab from Jacob to his throat, caused Ed to release his hold, on the older man. The marine swept up his arm to bat away another hit, rolling away, coughing and wheezing, adjusting himself just in case another blow was coming. He took a moment to wipe the blood from his chin, wincing at the contact.
Rolling to a half sitting position, Jacob glowered at Edmund and looked to the side spitting out blood and a tooth and grumped. "I'm getting too old for this..." What you looking for Merrick. Why'd you come here." Talking made his jaw ache and he reached up to test it gingerly wondering if the fool boy had broken it. When his hand came away bloody, he gave it a passing glance before wiping it on his jeans.
"I came here to-get the snot beat out of me." Edmund replied half joking and half serious. he smiled slightly then grimaced. "Honestly I came to say I am sorry, and wanted to clear the air between us. Its been eating at me for years. We had gotten along earlier, we had laughs, and bonded. I have a lot of respect for you, and just couldn't let things set how they have been."
Spitting again, Jacob scowled and twisted, albeit slowly, to where he could sit and catch his breath without his face being in the dirt. Sighing, he gave Edmund a long look and finally said "Parents shouldn't outlive their kids. When I lost Emma and then Vi...well the important parts of me died with them. I blame you for all of it."
More moments stretched by as Jacob wiped at his face and finally said, "Not very fair of me. You lost a chunk of yourself too. But you've got a chance to keep the best parts of you and her alive...tell people about her."
Edmund flinched, shock rippling through him.
"Em-Emma's dead? W-when did that happen?" Edmund felt like he'd been hit by a two ton rock. This hurt more than Jacob's punches.
Hanging his head lower, Jacob said "Ten months, six days and twenty-eight minutes ago. It was a Tuesday and raining." Dog crept up quietly and licked at his hand, then lay down with his head upon Jacob's knee. Jacob ruffled and smoothed the dogs ears and said, "Thought I let you know but guess I didn't. Sorry about that."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Edmund responded with a great amount of regret. "I stayed away as I didn't want to cause her any trouble, nor you."
There was a flash of a smile as a memory came to the surface. "You know I was fully expecting Emma to be coming out with her cast iron skillet, telling us we'd better stop our rough-housing or we'd get what for." Edmund rising to his feet and coming over to where Jacob sat.
Holding out his hand to help the man up. "Lets go have some drinks, and talk about Emma, and Vi. Its time to remember those whom we have lost." Edmund said quietly.
Nodding in acceptance, Jacob reached up and took Edmund's hand, as Dog lifted his head and stood, waging his tail tentatively. Levering himself up he gestured toward the barn. "Beer's in there. C'mon then," Jacob said turning to lead the way.
With a smile, Edmund clapped a hand on Jacob's shoulder, in acceptance and walked towards the barn.
Behind the two men, Milo gave a happy bark and followed after them, tail a wagging.
A joint post by:
Jacob Gray
Edmund's Father In Law
written by Tremble.
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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