Seeing the excitement on Kiff's face was enough to make Kirk smile too, to have that warmth blossom in his chest that came from the pride in seeing a student learn and do well. He had felt it when he helped train others at the Academy, felt it when his men and women had done well on the Enterprise or performed above and beyond.

"Good," he praised, moving back and resuming his start position. "I'm going to go faster this time, like in a more realistic fight. Do your best, and we'll call it a day after we stretch out. Then it's rest. Here I come." He breathed and lunged in, repeating the same pattern, but sped up to fighting speed.