A Twist of Fate

Chapter Eight

When Michael arrived at the MMA Studio, there was a sign taped to the door. In all the years it had been open, Master Xin never allowed such a thing. When he got close enough to read the script, he was taken aback.

Students,

Today is open study for your training. Ask those who have helped to do what is to be done.

Master Xin

Looking inside, some of the staff had groups organized into different sessions. Walking in, he felt tension creep over his body. A lot of people were worried without Master Xin present. A group on the far side of the floor was making a lot of noise, while a group of people by the front window worked through warm-ups.

"Michael?" came the voice of a young girl next to counter.

"Hay Vanessa." he replied as he looked at the different groups, realizing that it was more of a hodgepodge of people milling about.

"Thank goodness your here, things have been a mess all morning. Master Xin left a note for you, and a few others. Thomas grabbed them an isn't allowing anyone to read any of them." Her eyes wavered as she looked toward the commotion at the other end of the room. "Most of the senior staff has been trying to get them from him, unsuccessfully."

"He would think he be in charge if Master Xin left. Guess I'll have to disavow him of that thought." he said with a sigh.

Before going to where Thomas was, he made his way over to the group doing warm-ups. He spent a bit of time with them before moving to another group that was practicing blocks and parry moves. Then moving on to other groups, making a circuit through the room, bringing some semblance of order to the place. It was almost an hour tell he found himself standing outside the ring that Thomas's spectacle was being held.

A few of the senior staff kept trying to get to him, but he either beat them off or shoved them away into each other. As crude as his methods were, he was holding his own quite well. Just as Michael made it to the front of the crowd, Thomas let out a bellow as he punched one of his attackers, sending them back a couple of feet.

"YOU!!! This is your Fault!" he screamed, pointing at Michael.

"I only just got here. How is that my fault?" He replied taking a few steps away from the onlookers.

"Don't be coy with me, you know he left instructions for everyone. Everyone but me!" he yelled.

"You're not letting us read anything, kid. You barged in and grabbed the stack before anyone else." said Dan, checking over the one Thomas hit.

"Then WHY would his be sitting on the TOP!" He yelled, as he lunged for Michael.

Michael sidestepped him an grabbed his outstretched arm, rotating his arm as he tapped the back of his leading leg. Thomas fell to the mat with a huff, as Michael relived the stack of papers in his hand.

Michael tossed the crumpled stack over to one of the staff members as he released Thomas and backed away. Keeping his attention on Thomas, Michael noticed how the crowd pulled further away but contained more people.

Thomas flipped onto his feet, seething mad. After spending hours fending off the staff members, exhaustion was visible in his movements. He wanted to take Michael down quickly, but every move was countered or parried. He had spent days on end studying every lesson the Master taught, every style tell he knew every move and counter of the styles. Yet for some unknown reason to him, he couldn't get Michael into any submission hold or land a blow.

Michael studied Thomas as he came at him again and again. His movements were telling, making it easy to counter every move. Just when he thought Thomas would call it quits, he would attempt a take-down of one type or another. The spectacle had gone on long enough, if Master Xin was here he would have stopped this with a few words.