Chapter 2 - THE LINE IN THE BLUE
As Avery took her position in the center of the ring, Sergeant Briggs stomped onto the blue mat opposite her, bouncing lightly on his feet to display his explosive athletic power. The crowd in the bleachers began to cheer, slamming their boots against the wooden risers in anticipation of a quick, dominant victory by the veteran instructor.
Briggs closed the distance, stopping barely two feet from Avery. He bent his knees slightly, bringing his broad face down to her eye level, trying to intimidate her with sheer physical presence.
"You don’t belong here," Briggs muttered, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper meant only for her. "This isn't a classroom, Mitchell. I'm going to put you on the floor in five seconds."
Avery’s expression remained entirely flat. Her breathing remained slow, rhythmic, and abdominal, her hands resting in a relaxed, open stance at hip height.
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In the front row of the VIP observation deck, forty-eight-year-old Commander Daniel Hayes leaned forward in his chair. Wearing a crisp combat uniform with senior command insignia, Hayes kept his sharp gaze locked onto Briggs. Having previously warned Avery that Briggs would use brute force to embarrass her in front of the joint brass, Hayes knew what was coming—but he also knew that beneath Avery's quiet exterior lay a skill set that defied standard military classification.
A loud whistle echoed through the facility as the referee gave the match signal.
