A Twist of Fate

Chapter Four

Michael was already outside with the closed door by the time he managed to turn around. Slightly confused, he none the less made his way off the property. He had gotten a good way away from the house before he started thinking about events of his morning. Something was happening around here, things were very different than the usual routine that he had come accustomed to.

It was close to noon by the time Michael had made it to the old strip mall, its glory days long forgotten by most of the people in town. Its renovated incarnation of a Mixed Martial Arts complex with a Cineplex and shopping area, all thanks to the decisions of a traveling monk. Master Xin had traveled the known world, his travels bringing him here for reasons he never explains and has avoided at all attempts.

His reputation in the martial arts respected and feared by many, public demonstrations by many of his students, along with charitable donations to families in need or public organizations'. After this morning's events, this had become a two-for-one encounter. He wanted to have a chat with Master Xin about a few things, and there was a reasonable tailors in the strip mall. Master Xin was in the process of a beginner self defense class, so he went into the shopping area. After a about forty-five minutes Michael was walking back to the MMA complex, after finding a tailor with something reasonable, cheep and ready in just a few hrs time.

Master Xin was not in immediate sight when Michael entered the building, the receptionist nodding with a big smile as he came inside. A pair of house slippers were sitting on the counter waiting for him after just a couple of steps forward, so he dutifully removed his sneakers and slipped the slippers onto his feet. With the recommended foot ware on, he wondered around some of the training area. The students were all performing one action or another, most in pairs while a few had a third for training or coaching.

Master Xin had devised a surprisingly rigorous training for all age groups, spanning all the forms of martial arts from around the world. From early morning to evening he taught self defense classes, and heaven have mercy if someone used a lethal technique during that time. Master Xin was merciless to any who would violate that rule, often giving them a abject lesson by having them be a training dummy for take-down courses.

Michael was staying to the outer edges of the training area, taking note of who was doing a drill or move. As he watched all the training across the massive open floor, someone shoved him into a vacant training area just as his name was called out causing all attention on him.

"Michael Karnak!" Yelled an older problem student that waltzed into the area just opposite of him. Thomas Cavendish, a twenty two year old guy that self proclaimed himself to be an instructor. He was also one that was subjected to being Master Xins' training dummy on a very regular basis. Thomas would often barge into most people's training to show how something is done. He wasn't organized in anything he did with any of the other trainers, sometimes one wonders if he even worked there or not.

Michael noticed something moving near the edge of his vision, with a quick glance he saw Master Xin moving away. Letting out a sigh, two thing became abundantly apparent to him. One; he realized who shoved him into the training space, guessing this is part of today's training. Two; he just as soon realized that his opponent was about to go all out.

Just as Thomas throughout a left jab to the side of Michaels head, Michael had dropped to squat on a leg as he threw his other to Thomas's leading leg. Michael rolled away as Thomas broke his fall with aid of his thrown jab, as he pivoted around to kick at Michael. Michael had rolled onto his back and was rocking to his feet when Thomas's leg connected to his feet, so Michael shoved himself away using his momentum.

Keeping half the mat separating them, Michael was able to dodge and parry all of Thomas's attacks. Thomas had done all his moves in a textbook manner, and that was his downfall. Flowing around Thomas, Michael had tired him out enough to knock him down for a good moment.