Hail Warning

Philippine Sea — Aboard the Hail Nucleus

Kara Ramey, Gage Renner and Marshall Hail stood motionless, dressed in workout clothes in the ship’s gym. After their meeting was over, Hail mentioned that he needed to work out. Kara had jumped on the bandwagon and said she would like to join him. Renner, who hated working out, begrudgingly agreed to join them only because the lieutenant commander had asked all three of them if he could show them something in the gym.

Kara had thought that Nolan was going to dazzle them with how much weight he could press or provide a new regimen that could shave pounds from Hail’s waistline. Renner really didn’t care what Nolan had to show them if it wasn’t too strenuous.

All three stood in line on the thick matted floor facing Nolan. Nolan was standing in front of them with his arms dangling loosely at his sides.

The lieutenant commander said, “I know you guys are wondering what I want to show you, but I first wanted to tell you that you really need to get the kids on this ship to start exercising. I know that you spend a lot of time showing them how to fly, and they work after school in the wonderful shopping mall you guys built on board, but they aren’t getting much exercise.

“We have all sorts of stuff for them to do,” Hail said defensively. “We have a basketball court, tennis court, a small soccer court, a running track, this weight room and—”

Nolan interrupted, “I know, but do any of the kids use any of those things?”

Hail didn’t respond.

“But what I want to show you is cool. I think a lot of your kids will think its da-bomb.”

“OK,” Hail said.

“I want both you and Kara to attack me,” Nolan instructed them.

“What?” Kara asked, not sure she heard Nolan correctly.

“I want both of you to attack me at the same time,” Nolan repeated. “You know — rush me and take me down.”

Hail looked at Kara, and she just shrugged back at him.

“You do know that Kara had hand-to-hand combat training in the CIA,” Hail told him.

“Yeah, I’m scared,” Nolan responded in a dry monotone.

Hail smiled at Kara and whispered to her, “When I say go.”

Hail turned back toward Nolan and he yelled, “Go!”

Kara got to Nolan before Hail had taken his first step. She reached for Nolan’s neck and, with a quick upstroke of his arm, Nolan batted her hands up into the air and ducked beneath. By that time, Hail had reached Nolan, but there was no Nolan to be had. He was on his hands and knees. When Hail looked down, he saw Nolan shoot his leg out to the side, hitting Hail’s ankles and blasting his feet out from beneath him. Hail went down and he landed on his side with a grunt. Kara had regained her balance and turned back toward Nolan, just in time to experience her feet being kicked out from under her. By the time she hit the floor, Nolan had wrapped his arm around Hail’s neck and had used his other arm to lock it up. Before Kara had a chance to do anything but roll, Nolan scissored his legs around her neck and began choking her.

It all happened so fast. The total exchange had taken less than ten seconds, and now Nolan was simultaneously strangling both Hail and Kara. Hail made some choking sounds and began tapping on Nolan’s arm. Kara couldn’t make any sound at all, and she began tapping on Nolan’s leg a tap out, as it was called in mixed martial arts, indicating, “I give up, now stop choking me.”

Nolan let both Ramey and Hail go, and he rolled over onto his back. The lieutenant commander did a front leg kick, arched his back and bounded back on his feet — all in one swift motion.

Hail and Kara looked stunned. Kara more than Hail, since she had formal training in hand-to-hand combat.

“What was that?” Kara asked incredulously as she sat up on the mat.

“It’s called Brazilian Jujitsu.”

“That was amazing,” Kara said, making no attempt to stand.

“That was painful,” Hail said, still lying on his back.

Renner was laughing. “I’m just glad it was you guys. Thank you, Foster, for using them and not me.”

“No problem,” the lieutenant commander said, reaching out to give Renner a high five. Renner slapped his hand hard. Nolan closed his hand tightly around Renner’s hand. Before he could protest, Nolan said, “And, down you go.” With his free hand, Nolan grabbed the thick part of his arm, dug his hip into Renner’s gut, flipped Gage over his body and slammed him down on the mat.

Renner began to yell in protest, but before he could get any words out, Nolan had collapsed on him and placed his forearm across Gage’s throat. Renner’s eyes bulged, and he made little choking and coughing sounds.

“Tap out!” Hail yelled to his friend. “Tap out!”

Renner had no idea what that meant, but Nolan was not about to let Renner die there. He waited one more additional second for effect, and then he eased the pressure on Renner’s reddened neck.

“That sucked,” Renner croaked out. Hail and Kara laughed.

“That’s Judo,” Nolan replied with a smile.

“That was great!” Hail said. He made it back to a standing position. All three were looking down at Renner while he tried to regain his composure and what was left of his dignity.

“Is that what you wanted to show us?” Kara asked. She was smiling and massaging her throat.

“I just wanted you to know I can teach you guys some stuff. I’m not just a jet jockey. I have a few other skills I can share with you and your crew.”

“I like the idea,” Hail said. “It’s good to know how to defend oneself. And it looks like the grappling will be a good workout as well.”

“I agree,” Kara said. “Sign me up for some lessons.”

“Get me and Gage on the list as well,” Hail said.

“I don’t want to be on the list,” Renner said. “I like all my body parts right where they are.”

“Come on, Gage. We’re still young. We need to get in better shape. Really, wouldn’t you want the opportunity to choke the hell out of me?”

“Well, when you put it that way—” Renner smiled.

“OK, then,” Hail said. “I’ll get it posted and let the crew know they can sign up for Jujitsu lessons.”

Hail held up his hand like he was the karate kid. He then assumed what he thought was a karate stance, a sideways crouch with his legs far apart. “OK, what’s the first thing we need to learn?” Hail asked.

“You already learned the most important lesson. Tap out before you pass out,” Nolan said. “The second thing I’m going to teach you is called the rear naked choke.”

Renner raised his hand.

“Yes, Gage?” Nolan asked.

“Does that mean Kara has to get naked?”