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  One left, behind her. Thirty seconds passed.

  “You have a choice,” she said without turning around. “You can go back to your Master, report what occurred here and receive death at his hand, or die here.”

  He drew a second weapon, making his choice.

  “I understand,” she said as she turned. She blurred before he could react and placed a palm on his chest giving a slight push and exploding his heart.

  Forty five seconds had passed.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  John realized that telling him to come back at one was a delay tactic. He expected they thought he was dojo storming at best or meant their Sensei harm at worst. In any case, he knew he could expect to face off against several seniors if he wanted to speak to the Sensei. He and Masami returned at a quarter to one. The young woman from earlier in the morning was behind the desk. As she looked up, a brief moment of surprise crossed her face as if she didn’t expect to see them again. She nodded slightly to John and pressed a button on her desk. Moments later, one of the largest men John had seen in a long time, came into the waiting area.

  “This is Terence,” the woman at the desk said. “He will take you to the changing area so you can prepare.”

  Terence bowed and in that one motion, John could ascertain the high level of skill he possessed. Terence turned and entered the dojo. John followed. He was led to a back room that served as a changing area and part storage. There were no lockers but small cubbies covered one side wall. A few benches were in the center of the floor, allowing for ease of changing. Terence reached into one of the cubbies and produced a worn white uniform. He held it out for John.

  “Clothes in there,” he pointed at the cubby. “When you’re ready, you go out this way,” he pointed to another doorway that led to the dojo area, at least that’s what the sign on the door said.

  John nodded ‘Thank you’ and began to disrobe.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” said Terrance.

  John paused a moment as he was changing.

  “Is there another way to speak alone with the Sensei?” John asked.

  Terrence looked at John and shook his head slowly.

  “Not really. Sensei doesn’t get many visitors these days.” said Terrence.

  “I understand. It’s not that kind of dojo.” said john.

  “No it isn’t. The students you will be facing won’t take it easy on you. It’s not personal. It’s just the way it is.”

  John nodded and kept disrobing. He understood the need for this, especially since he requested to speak to the Sensei alone. Terrence waited while he changed into the uniform that was provided. John headed to the door that indicated the dojo area. He turned to Terrence who bowed.

  “See you on the floor.” said Terrence.

  John wasn’t surprised that Terrence would be one of his opponents. He bowed. “See you there.”

  The dojo did surprise John. It was a spacious area without columns. He had trained in a few schools similar to this one. The ceremonial center, the shomen held the only scroll. It read Ren Ma, Zanshin, Mushin and Fudoshin. John was familiar with the concepts but he had never seen it in a school depicted as such.

  Like most traditional schools, the floor was hardwood and the smell of old wood mixed with sweat was stronger here and brought some pleasant and not so pleasant memories rushing back. Above the scroll work was a small shrine which was a familiar fixture to John. The door he entered had him facing the shomen-the ceremonial center. On his left was a row of students. John guessed they would be in rank order from those lowest, closest to him, to highest closest to the shomen and the sensei.

  The sensei or at least, John thought it was the sensei, sat before the shomen area on his knees in the traditional kneeling posture of seiza. John looked to his right and saw that Masami had been seated in an area that was off the dojo floor proper. She was still able to view the entire dojo floor. She looked at John and he could tell she was concerned. He also knew she could not intervene. He was on his own. He took several steps forward and then kneeled in seiza. He bowed, placing his left hand on the floor first, then the right, and then slowly sat up.

  “I sincerely thank you for this opportunity. My name is John Kane and you honor me,” said John.

  The Sensei bowed and signaled to the first student. John stood to meet his first opponent. She stood about five feet tall, with a thin wiry dancer’s frame. Her long black hair was tied in a braid and her deep brown eyes were piercing.

  She bowed to John.

  “My name is Erica Vasquez, second dan and it is you who honor us.” she said.

  Her belt had no symbols or rankings on it, if she had not told him he would have never known she was a second degree black belt. It seemed rank was not determined by stripes in this school.

  The protocol over, John knew they would be anxious to engage him. A second dan was nothing to take lightly. If she was the lowest rank, John couldn’t imagine what the last student on the line was. At first glance that last student appeared to be Terrence but beside him, dwarfed and hidden, sat someone else. When John looked closer, he recognized her as Lea, the Sensei’s daughter.

  Just great, thought John.

  “Hajime!” yelled the sensei.

  It was the signal to begin. The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, almost startling John. Erica assumed a left lead fighting stance that John had faced countless times. He knew they would be looking for any weaknesses or chinks in his defense. He had decided not to use his ability to blur, since it would give him an unfair advantage, which was part honor and part ego. He wanted to see if he could do this without having to blur. It was mostly ego.

  Erica glided in and launched a side kick meant to break anything it came in contact with. John barely sidestepped the leg only to have to block a descending elbow.

  Using a modified rising block, rather than meeting force with force, he received the elbow and redirected the energy, pulling the elbow down as he stepped back, forcing Erica to one knee. As she went down, he stepped around her, locking the elbow and placing her in a headlock. As he began to apply pressure she began to shift her weight, but he was waiting for that. Adjusting his stance, he applied more pressure until he was sure she was unconscious. Erica was going to wake up with one hell of a headache but she would wake up.

  Several students who were not part of the line came and collected Erica, taking her off the dojo floor. The next student stood and stepped towards John. He bowed, John returned the bow. No names or ranks were exchanged. From here on, it would only be fighting until John beat them all or was defeated.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Mikaela hated partners. It wasn’t a personal thing. David usually gave her the best to work with. It’s just that her operative style - for lack of a better term, made it difficult. Being highly intelligent, she didn’t suffer fools lightly and David knew that. So she knew her new partner would at least rate off the charts in intelligence. Not that it always helped. It wasn’t enough they were intelligent, they needed to be savvy, they needed to be adaptable, survivors. Mikaela sighed; she didn’t have a choice.

  She walked down the block from the makeshift base of operations David had set up located on Franklin Street. As she waited on the corner of Broadway and Franklin, a black Range Rover pulled up. She was mildly surprised to see the lone vehicle, expecting an entourage of trucks. The tinted window on the driver’s side lowered and David peered at her.

  “Hello Mika.” said David.

  She remained stone-faced, indicating that she was not pleased.

  “I know, Mika, just get in,” said David.

  She got in the Rover and sat across from David in the passenger side. In the back seat sat Helen. At least she assumed it was Helen. David turned to face Mikaela.

  “How are you?” said David.

  “I’m fine David, aside from the wet behind the ears squad you gave me –” began Mikaela.

  “It was the best I could do on short notice.
”

  David held up his hand to stop her response.

  “Hear me out. Mika.” said David.

  Mikaela sat back and looked at Helen, who only stared out of the window as if she were in the vehicle alone. Mikaela turned to face David again, cocking her head in askance about Helen’s aloofness.

  “I’ll get to that in a second. First let me say my piece then I will make intros. You, Mikaela are very hard on partners and my nerves. I thought Gustav would make the cut, obviously I was mistaken. You need to wrap up this Kane business, ASAP.” Mikaela made to speak and David glared.

  “There are things occurring that you are not privy to Mika. In order to facilitate a speedy resolution to your current situation, I’m giving you a new partner. Mikaela meet Helen Martine.”

  Helen turned then and looked at Mikaela. She had close cropped hair bordering on a screaming eagle military cut. Her green eyes took in Mikaela as if assessing what kind of threat she would be.

  “Hello,” Helen said. Her voice was clear and direct without an accent, at least not one Mikaela could detect.

  Mikaela nodded and turned to David.

  “No offense to my new partner here, but what makes her qualified to join me in the field?” said Mikaela.

  Helen turned abruptly to look out her window. She pulled out what appeared to be a 9mm Glock. Mikaela reached for her own weapon.

  “What the hell? David?” said Mikaela.

  “David,” Helen said in an even tone.

  “What?” said David as he turned to face Helen.

  “Are we expecting anyone else?” said Helen.

  “Not that I’m aware of. Why?”

  “I thought as much, you may want to tell them.” she said as she pointed out the window. David turned in time to see the figure crouch and launch an RPG.

  Helen had rolled out of the vehicle ending on one knee and firing her silenced weapon, hitting the crouched man holding the RPG launcher. David and Mikaela had both cleared the vehicle in time to see it go up in an explosion. David pulled out two desert eagles and Mikaela drew her modified Glock 20.

  “David I’m going to guess they were sent here for me.” said Mikaela. “How did they know where we were?”

  David looked around, the shadows seemed alive.

  ”That was just to get us out of the Rover, Mika. We need to move, that’s going to attract attention.” David said pointing to the Rover. They set off at a brisk pace north towards Canal Street with Helen bringing up the rear.

  “Was that for you or me, David?” Mikaela asked as they ran.

  “I would put my money on you. Was your team on site?” asked David.

  “Shit.” Mikaela knew the entire team was now dead.

  “Like I said, they are looking for you. The question of the evening is who sent them.” said David.

  They arrived at Canal and Broadway.

  “This is where we split up Mika. You and Helen keep heading north. I will stay here and deal with our new friends,” said David.

  “Alone? Even if you had enough ammo for ten of those cannons, there are too many variables. This is suicide, you can’t take them on alone.” said Mikaela, frustration creeping into her voice.

  David looked around the deserted intersection of one of the busiest streets in the city.

  “Mika, I am never alone.” said David.

  As if on cue, five of the largest men Mika had seen in her life appeared as if from thin air. One stepped forward.

  “Sir we have the area contained and anticipate contact in –” he looked down at his watch, “two minutes, Sir.”

  “Very good, brief the team. I would like one of them alive if possible. Let’s see if we can find out who they are.” said David.

  Mikaela could barely contain her surprise. David was much more than he let others believe. She made a mental note to not piss him off, too much. Placing an earpiece into his ear, David turned to face Mikaela and Helen.

  “You two need to go, now. Wrap up this Kane thing. Bring him in and do it fast.” he said.

  “And where exactly are we going? More importantly how are we going uptown? By subway?” asked Mikaela.

  “Helen will brief you on the way,” David said as he passed Helen some keys.

  “Subway, very funny Mika, like I want to be dealing with city officials asking why the subway is out of commission, which it would be if your friends follow you down. I swear, destruction follows you like a plague. Get out of here and don’t get killed.” said David.

  He turned back to the mountain of a man named Rogers and began coordinating the operation. Helen walked to another Rover parked half a block away, pressed the fob, opened the door and started the truck. Mikaela slid into the passenger side marveling at David’s forethought, which came very close to paranoia.

  “OK partner, where to?” said Mikaela realizing that her target was in Brooklyn and wouldn’t sit still for long.

  Helen handed Mikaela a folder.

  “David thinks CATT has been compromised, after that little stunt back there I’m inclined to agree, which is why I was brought in. My creds are in there in case you’re still curious if I’m qualified,” said Helen as she drove north on Broadway.

  After seeing her in action, Mikaela didn’t need further convincing about Helen’s physical ability. It was the mental ability that concerned her the most.

  “So we are going? –”asked Mikaela.

  “To meet a contact that can help us with the leak at CATT. Then to your target, it seems everything may be connected. At least David thinks so.”

  They rode on in silence as Mikaela read and Helen drove.

  Chapter Thirty Six

  John could sense this next student would be more of a challenge than Erica. He could feel the energy emanating from his opponent, the seated students and everyone else in the dojo, except the Sensei. There was an absence of energy where the Sensei sat. John knew this was not coincidental but rather an indicator of the high level of skill the Sensei possessed. It was something to think about later. Right now he had more immediate concerns to deal with. The student before him looked quite muscular. He was slightly taller than John. His face looked as if it was chiseled from stone, his square jaw just showing signs of a shadow. His fists looked around the size of sledge hammers and just as hard. His knuckles were callused from repeated hitting against a hard surface. John felt sorry for whatever he had been hitting.

  “Hajime-Begin!” said the Sensei

  “Before we start, may I ask your name?” said John.

  The student nodded, apparently confident in his ability to dispatch this intruder. With a thick Slavic accent, he said, “My name is Dragan, we begin now.”

  John dodged a fist the size of subcompact intent on removing his head. Dragan was fast, almost too fast for his size, thought John. Is it possible he is blurring on some level, maybe even unconsciously? John sidestepped an axe kick that would have broken his collar bone had it landed. It reverberated through the dojo as it hit the floor.

  John unleashed several punches to Dragan’s midsection, careful not to hit too hard. He actually heard one of the ribs crack. When he looked up at Dragan’s face he saw him smile.

  “That is good, now we fight for real.” He cracked his neck and unleashed a five punch combination. John managed to block and evade four, the fifth punch connected, forcing most of the air out of John’s lungs and forcing him back several feet. Unconsciousness hovered at the edges of John’s awareness.

  Mental note, do not get hit by Dragan again, he thought.

  Dragan did not push his advantage confident in the outcome.

  Blurring had several facets. It wasn’t only the ability to evade and move faster than the eye could follow. When blurring was channeled into a technique, for example, a fist, it had the same effect as a jack hammer, giving the attacker the equivalent of twenty strikes in one blow. John didn’t want to kill Dragan, but there was no way he was going to get hit by those cinder blocks he called fists again.

&
nbsp; He took a deep breath and opened his hands. The air around his hands began to shimmer. Once he felt centered, John approached. Dragan smiled again, with something close to admiration in his eyes. Apparently not many took a blow from him and continued to fight. John stepped in and to the right, avoiding a vicious left elbow strike. As the elbow grazed John’s head, John placed a hand on the triceps, effectively detaching it from its point of insertion. The strain was so great that Dragan’s bicep detached as well. John continued sliding to the right and pivoted to face Dragan. Dragan turned to face John.

  “What? Come fight me, or are you going to just touch me and run?” said Dragan.

  John stood back, knowing what was coming. The pain crashed on Dragan like a relentless wave.

  “Ahh! He is armed! What are you carrying you coward?” Dragan stepped back cradling his left arm. John stood back, hands raised to show he was unarmed.

  “Yasime,” said the Sensei. It was the command to stop.

  Dragan was escorted off the dojo floor. Terrence stood but the Sensei motioned for him to sit, looking at Lea instead. Lea stood and walked to the center of the dojo.

  “Thank you for honoring me. Please do not hold back,” she said as she bowed.

  John took a deep breath and knew this would be the hardest challenge. He bowed to Lea.

  “The honor is mine. I request your full commitment as you will have mine.” said John.

  The protocol was old but basically they had just declared that only one of them would walk away from this fight.

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  After twenty minutes, Helen pulled up to a townhouse at 1 West Twenty-Second Street.