Cobra Kai

Part 3

Johnny Lawrence's POV:

I wander into some 50's style diner Downtown. Oldies music plays on the radio, but I don't register it much. I look down the restaurant and I see my most hated face. My former sensei John Kreese. Founder of Cobra Kai, who made my life a living hell. He nods to come over to the table. I hesitate, then walk over.

"Thanks for coming." he says.
I'm in no mood for this mock politeness.

"Let's make this fast." I say.

The waitress walks by, and he orders something, but I just want to know what he wants me for. He starts giving me some war story about how the waitress reminded him of a girl he saw in Panama. I cut to the chase.

"What the hell do you want?"

He studies me.

"Are you familiar with brumation?" he asks. I shake my head no.

"In the winter, some animals bury themselves in a hole and sleep there for months."

I'm confused. "It's called hibernation." I say.

"No. he says. "That's for warm blooded creatures. For the cold blooded like snakes, it's brumation. The snake buries himself in a hole. The only difference is, the snake doesn't sleep. He stays awake all winter, waiting for the right moment to emerge. And that moment is now."

"Oh is it?"

"Kid. He says. I've been all over the world. After Cobra Kai shut down, I knew I had to keep fighting to stay alive. So I reenlisted. I ran strikes in Desert Storm, I trained SEALS in Afghanistan. All off the books. Buried, waiting. But when I climbed out of my hole, the world wasn't the same."

He continues. "Our society has gotten weak. Kids today are coddled. They get trophies just for showing up. Somethings gotta be done. Someone's gotta step in and stop the ass-kissing and start the ass-kicking. That's why we're here. The world NEEDS Cobra Kai."

I take in what he said. I say sarcastically, "Well that's a nice little speech, the only problem is, there is no "we."

"I'm just saying I can help you." Kreese states.

I'm getting annoyed. "I don't need your help."

"You may not think you need my help, but those students-"

I slam the table. "Stay the hell away from my students, you understand? You ruined my life."

"Johnny we've had our disagreements, but ruined your life? Come on. You had no life before you met me. Remember?"

"Yeah. Yeah I remember. I remember you doing back then what you're doing right now. Trying to find my weakness. But I'm not a kid anymore. And you're not my sensei. There is only one sensei in Cobra Kai. Me. And that's how it's gonna stay. And you're right. The world may need Cobra Kai, but we don't need you."

I turn around and walk out.