Chickboxer
!!SPECIAL EFFECTS!! "THOUGHTS"
Chapter Two
"What?!" the crimeboss screamed. He, Ping and some of his henchmen were in a darkly lit room of his estate.
"Babette has run off," the man in charge of the group of hired thugs said fearfully, trembling under the watchful gaze of Boss Nobo.
!!SLAP!! "Idiot!" Then he turned to the manager of his brothel. "I guess you were right after all, Ping. But don't worry. We'll find this old woman and show her what happens when someone steals from Boss Nobo!"
At that point, the high ranking henchman began to breathe a sigh of relief. "That doesn't let you off the hook, fool!"
"Please! I'll find her myself!"
"Shut up, you idiot! You should have kept a closer eye on my favorite!" Nobo immediately grabbed the hapless henchman and !!CRACK!!.
The crimeboss dropped the man to the floor with his head askew to the horror of the others there. "Now I want you guys to scour the city and find Babette and bring her back to me!"
The dozen men ran out of there not only to do as Nobo had ordered but also to get away from his malevolent presence.
XXX
"Where are we going?" Babette asked, having a hard time running in the high healed shoes she was wearing.
"Not too much further now, child. But let's stop right up ahead for a moment," Pai said as the two fugitives ran towards the swamps and marshlands.
"While we're here, get rid of those shoes. In fact give them to me." As soon as the old woman took hold of the shoes she promptly threw the expensive high heels into a nearby quicksand pit where they sank into oblivion. Then the old woman turned towards her. "Now take off the dress you're wearing."
The young girl looked at her new mentor quizzically for a moment. "I'm not wearing anything else but a G-string under this dress."
"It's strange for you to be developing a sense of modesty now. Maybe that's for the best. No one can see us now in this darkness. We're also miles away from civilization so take everything off. They will surely have trackers after us and I'd rather they think you were dead. Goddess!"
"What? What's wrong?"
"I'm going to have to train you hard so you'll be able to fight off all the men who will surely try to possess you. You're only a little girl yet you have a body that would make the most beautiful of women green with envy."
"I'm not a little girl, not after what I've gone through!" Then Babette calmed down. "Some mad scientists experimented on me, making me develop at a much faster rate. And for some reason I don't even feel cold right now."
As the old woman threw the G-string into the sand pit along with Babette's other raiment she whipped out some rags from a hidden pouch of subspace. "All well and good but I want you to put on these rags. You're giving me an inferiority complex as it is."
"Aren't you too old to be worried about something like that?" the girl said putting the brown rags on which still left little to the imagination, making her look like a jungle girl.
"I thought I was too old to be thinking in such a manner too until just now. But I'll quickly get over it. This way. Right now I'm going to teach you how to jump from tree to tree. This is so we won't leave any foot prints. I've investigated you, finding out you were a gymnast. Even though you have acrobatic skills you need to pay strict attention to what I'm telling you."
Madam Pai ran up to one of the larger trees much like a cat or squirrel would. "That's how you do it. Now it's your turn."
Babette attempted to run up the tree, slipping down in each attempt. "You need to calm down. You're way too unfocused."
"Umph!" With a renewed sense of determination the young girl made a huge thirty foot leap up the tree, landing right next to the surprised martial arts master on the six foot long, six inches thick tree branch, giving her a look of triumph.
"That leap and landing was impressive but don't get cocky, little girl."
"Little girl?!"
"Enough! You still have a lot to learn. Now follow me. And be careful how you land. Some of these tree branches aren't as strong as the one we're standing on now."
"Are you saying I'm fat?"
"No, you silly girl! But you're a whole lot bigger than me so be careful."
XXX
"Where's my prize jewel?!" Boss Nobo demanded.
"We couldn't find her, boss."
"Didn't you search the whole town for her?"
"We did and Babette was nowhere to be found. She must have left town."
!!SLAP!! Ungh!"
"I don't want excuses! I want results! I don't care what you have to do. Find her!" The downed capo and the others ran away from Boss Nobo in a hurry as if their lives depended on it! Then the boss turned towards his second-in-command.
"I've spoken with the police. They've heard that there was a tall white woman running away with an old woman. We will have to send search parties into the wilderness and out lying cities. She couldn't have gotten too far."
"You're right, Ping. But then there's the problem of other crime bosses grabbing Babette for themselves."
"We can keep in contact with some friends of mine who will tell me if she tries to leave the country but as it is I intend to find out more about that old woman."
"You do that. As of now we'll going to have to get back to work."
XXX
"Welcome to my humble abode, Babette."
"How can I train here? This place is a hidden mountain with trees everywhere."
"Quit complaining! We're out of the way here so no one will find us."
"All right. So when do we start? And I'm hungry as well."
"You're going to have to learn how to survive in order to get stronger. We're right by a river. Surely, you can jump into the water and grab some fish. In fact that's the first thing you're going to do. Now hop to it!"
Babette looked at the old woman quizzically for a moment, tilting her head to the side before doing an about face and walking towards the nearby stream.
!!WHAP!! "Ow!"
"Move it, girl! We don't have all day!"
Babette ran off, moving her well formed ass towards the nearby stream, jumping into the water searching for fish. "I can't find anything. Oh! There they are!"
!!SPLASH!! "It's about time you came up!" Pai called out from the brook. "I was beginning to think I would have to dive in after you."
"I can swim. But why were you worried? I wasn't under the water that long."
"It wasn't worry. You were simply taking too long. Hurry up and bring the fish you have caught." "Babette was under the water for a solid four minutes. And she's not gasping for air either. I'm amazed at how much control she has over her breathing. It's obvious whatever those mad scientists did to make her so beautiful has made her powerful to the point that training her won't be a problem physically but her attitude has to change big time. Changing her from whore to warrior is going to take a lot of work."
!!SIZZLE!! "That smells good. What else do you have and where's the bathroom?"
"Listen, girl. My home is hidden in the wilderness as you can see. You can go over there," Pai pointed in the direction of a tree and bushes. "But there is nothing else to eat unless of course you find something apart from fish to eat out here."
"Are there herbs or vegetative plants we can eat in addition to fish anywhere around here?" the young girl asked.
"Maybe there is. Why don't you ask the maître d'?"
Babette looked around for a she turned back towards her new teacher. "I don't think there's a maître d' anywhere around here, Pai."
"Of course, there isn't, you idiot! What do you think this place is?!"
Babette looked upon the old woman with a pouting frown, her arms folded on her impressive bosom."This place reminds me of Yoda's swampland planet from the movie Empire Strikes Back."
"I've never heard of that movie! Now get your head out of your ass and pay attention!"
"All right! You don't have to be so mean about it! And if there weren't any vegetables around here you could have just said so."
"Spare me the drama, child. You might be able to find something out there but don't eat any of it until you bring it to me to inspect. Some of the herbs here are poisonous," the old woman explained pertly.
"All right."
A few moments later Babette came back with some wild onions, mushrooms and turnips, prompting a look of shock on the old woman's face.
"I used to go camping with my parents when I was little girl," Babette answered the unasked question.
"You're still a little girl but at least you're more resourceful than I would have thought."
"Little girl?! I'm bigger than you are!"
"Listen, child. You're still a wet behind the ears kid. Being chemically developed before your time and getting screwed by a bunch of perverts does not make you a woman. Now bring the vegetables you've brought. I'm going to inspect them."
After Babette had done what the old woman had commanded and Pai had inspected what the young girl had brought she turned towards her new student. "All right. We can use these. Did you learn how to cook while you worked in that whorehouse?"
"Yes. I'm a pretty good cook..."
"It was a yes or no question. If I want an explanation I'll ask for it. Now pay attention. I'm going to show you how to clean fish."
XXX
Inside the main meeting room of Boss Nobo's headquarters in Thailand Boss Nobo standing in front of a large table, having a meeting with some of his capos. "I don't believe this! It's been over two years and nobody knows where Babette and that old woman have gone off to!" !!SMASH!!
"Despite that horrible event, revenues are up. Let's not forget that Babette's clothes were found in that quicksand pit."
"I know that, Ping. But I still have the feeling Babette is alive and well. You know full well that it's dangerous for anyone to think they can either escape or defy me."
"But, of course. As long as everyone thinks Babette drowned in quicksand, no one will think you've been defied. Being stressed over something like that won't help at all."
Then Nobo's countenance brightened up for a moment. "You're right, Ping. And the fresh meat you had brought in from Finland and Russia has really increased our payroll."
"Yes. They were expensive but worth the price."
"I'm still in a standstill in expanding my power base. You've obviously done your part, Ping. What do you have to say, Mako?"
"We're still working on that, Boss. The biggest problem is getting around Shadowlaw. They own most of the arms and what they sell doesn't come cheap."
"Even though this isn't my area of expertise, I would like to make a suggestion," Ping interjected.
"Go ahead, Ping. You're the only one doing your job around here." Mako looked at Ping with barely concealed hostility but said nothing.
"While I was procuring women and other things for your brothels, Boss Nobo. A Russian arms dealer asked if I might be interested in some spare Russian guns and artillery."
"I find it hard to believe Russia would sell any of their arms for without charging a pretty penny for it. Stick to dealing with bitches and brothels, Ping. That's all you know about," Mako answered harshly.
"Shut up, Mako. At least he's doing his job! Continue, Ping," the boss motioned.
"As I suspect none of you know," Ping explained, giving Mako a sharp look. "Russia used to be the Soviet Union. The former Soviet Union was at one time in a cold war with the United States."
"What does that matter?!" Mako interjected.
"Don't interrupt again, Mako!" Boss Nobo ordered. Then he motioned for Ping to continue.
"Well, both these countries spent a lot of money on all kinds of arms. And despite the communist nature of the Soviet Union there were organized criminals working in the country."
"I know about the late Soviet Union, Ping. So I find it hard to believe that the commies would even allow any gangs in their country."
"They did, Boss Nobo. Communism isn't a very efficient system so at times they had to allow gangsters to do certain things the government could not."
"Like what?"
"Little things like good food and wine. Certain kinds of magazines and drugs in addition to vodka. That country was a mess. It's always been a mess. Even though the government hated the gangs they needed them."
"I see. How does that benefit me?"
"When the Soviet Union collapsed under it's own weight it still has all those guns and weapons including nerve gases and things like that. They have an over abundance of them. The man from whom I got those young girls told me he wouldn't mind selling arms to us as well for a good price."
"Hmm. contact him as soon as you can, Ping. In fact invite him over to Thailand so you can wine and dine him and his friends if you know what I mean. I know for a fact that the Russian Mafia has been selling all sorts of things." Then Boss Nobo turned to his other capo. "I want you there to discuss business with this Russian as well, Mako. Put on a polite face but keep it all business. Ping will do most of the smiling."
"I understand, Boss."
XXX
Gasp, child! I've been training you for four years and you've barely stopped growing," Pai said, regarding the six foot two inch, young girl who weighed 180 pounds with a 44 inch triple E cup bust-line, 30 inch waistline and 42 inch hips. In addition to those impressive stats her biceps and triceps measured fourteen inches around with imposing forearms and hands.
"Maybe it was all the training you put me through."
"It was but I'm still impressed at how fast you learned the gung fu(the ability to take a beating), iron skin(the ability to withstand killing attacks) and speed hitting(the ability to hit a target countless times in less than a second) I taught you. You actually learned these techniques at such a rate that I suspect your limited invulnerability is somewhat unnatural. Those mad scientists really did a number on you, Babette."
"That's just how I am. Besides, the tai chi you taught me was actually a little more difficult to learn."
"Yes, and very important. In addition to the kung fu I taught you I had a friend of mine teach you wrestling skills. Even though she was from Greece she and I had been through a lot together. She was a great wrestler who knew how to train women pretty well," Pai said, watching the sunrise wistfully.
"You also had a lady from Brazil train me in her jiu jitsu style. It was a lot like wrestling. Why have me learn Greco-Roman wrestling with a grappling art like jiu jitsu on top of it?"
"I'll tell you, child. There are many kinds of fighters in the world. Therefore I wanted you to be prepared for the ones who grapple using something as mundane and brutal as wrestling and something as sophisticated as jiu jitsu. But know this. The jiu jitsu style I had you learn is one of the best in the world."
"I sensed there was more to what I had learned," Babette replied.
"That's true. That's the same for the wrestling you learned. More than anything else you are my heir. Now that you're aware of what others can do let's get into some more training. In a few days I'll be done teaching you and we can start placing you in the Street Fighter Tournament.
XXX
"Boss! I have good news!" a capo called out, running inside of the main headquarters of Boss Nobo.
"Keep it down, Tak! The boss is in a meeting with some other bosses from different cities," Ping answered harshly with several other henchmen behind him.
"But it's important!"
"If it's so important, tell me what the big deal is."
"That girl from four years ago, Babette..."
"What about her? Be quick about it!"
"One of my sources shadowed some foreigners and followed them."
"What is that to me?!"
"The foreigners led them all the way to where Babette and that old woman, Pai, are holed up!"
"This better be true, Tak," Ping said with a cold look in his eyes, frightening the normally fearless capo.
"It is true! My source is waiting right outside if you'll let him in he can tell you all the details. However, as you probably well know, Madam Pai is a phenomenal martial artist."
"I know this. Why does that matter?"
"My source has told me that Pai has been training Babette in her woman's style of kung fu. And what's worse than that, Babette has grown to a height of 6 feet 2 inches tall, built like an amazon and practically invulnerable!"
"Invulnerable? I find that hard to believe, Dak. But her height might be possible though."
"My source has also told me Babette has mastered gung fu and iron skin training, faster than anyone else ever has. I rather not keep him waiting outside for too long lest he leave and lead someone else to where the girl is located."
"All right. Bring your friend inside and wait for me here."
A few moments later Ping came back to the entrance room along with a very impatient Boss Nobo as Tak and his source stood waiting for them.
"This better be good, Tak. You know what I did to the last guy who thought he'd found Babette."
"It is, Boss Nobo! It is! Tell him, Maki!"
After the tracker had explained everything the crime boss spoke up. "Let's bring a bunch of the guys to where my prize jewel is located."
"Didn't you hear what your henchman said? Madam Pai is a powerfully skilled martial artist."
Everyone turned to see, "Adon! What are you doing here?"
"I was bored and decided to show up here and buy a woman for the night. But now I'm even more curious about how Babette's doing. Maybe I'll show up there and take Babette for myself," the Thai-kickboxer said nonchalantly, his arms folded on his chest.
Then the crime boss turned angrily towards Sagat's best pupil. "She's mine! I paid a lot of money for that piece of ass and I'm going to collect!"
Adon glanced at Boss Nobo, not intimidated by the gangster's tirade. "Sagat sees you as a friend so beating up you and your men probably isn't the best of ideas. However. I'm going with you to see how things go. I would like to buy Babette from you permanently once you've gotten the girl back."
At that point Nobo's face instantly became a little more genial. "We can cross that bridge when we get to it, Adon. But right now I can't wait to get my hands on that traitorous bitch and her new benefactor. After I've killed that old woman Babette will suffer for even daring to leave me!"
XXX
Babette was going through her tai chi katas when Pai approached her. "I've been in contact with a friend of mine."
"Who is he?" Babette asked as she went through her paces.
"His name is Pak Ten, one of the best Thai kickboxer trainers in the country. I'm not intending for you to become a kickboxer but since we're in Thailand you should know as much as you can about Thai kickboxing."
"Will I start learning from this guy today?"
"Yes. I want you to take a good look at this map. This is where he lives."
"You want me to go there now?"
"Not yet. He should be here any time now."
"Greetings, Pai!" a voice called out.
"Greetings, Pak! So want do you think of my student?"
The middle aged man walked over to them with a slight limp. "I can tell how strong she is from here. She'll make an excellent kickboxer."
"Not so fast, Pak. She doesn't need to know everything about Muay Thai. I simply want her to be aware of what a Thai kickboxer can do."
"All right, Pai. But I can't promise she won't end up becoming a powerful kickboxer despite the rudimentary training I'm putting her through."
"I see. Now, Babette. I want you to pay attention to what Pak puts you through. His training may be painful and arduous at times but you need to know what Thai kickboxing is all about."
"Yes, Sifu."
"My home where I have all the Thai-kickboxing equipment with which to train you isn't too far from here. We should get there in about an hour."
"It won't take that long. Babette, you should have no problem picking Pak up and carrying him to his home. You've seen the map. Show him how fast and strong you really are."
At her master's command Babette picked up the Thai kickboxer and leaped away.
"Make sure you're back by 6 p.m.!" Pai called out to her departing student.
XXX
"So this is where Madam Pai lives."
"Yes, Boss," the tracker confirmed.
"It looks like someone has been training here. You're gonna have a hard time bringing Babette to heel if she's any where near as good at hand to hand combat as Madame Pai is reputed to be," Adon commented.
"We'll get her." Then Nobo motioned to the armed henchmen he had brought with them. "You guys search the place and find the old woman and bring her to me!"
As the men walked onto the area one of them entered into one of the small mud huts. "Yeow!"
"What's going on over there!" Nobo demanded.
"What are you people doing here?!" Pai stated as she walked out into the open.
"You stole my property, old woman. And for that you must die. But first, where's Babette?"
"Babette? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Liar! She left with you, woman. Did you think you could defy me and live?"
"There's no one here but me."
"You men gun her down!" !!RAT!!TAT!!TAT!!TAT!!TAT!!
"She's moving to fast we can't nail her!"
"Keep shooting!"
"Your men can't hit her, Nobo. You're just wasting ammo. Look, she's getting away!" Adon called out.
"Really? You think you can do better?!" the boss called out.
"I don't think; I know. Have your men stop shooting and I'll get her myself. I'm curious as to how powerful this woman is."
"All right. Stop shooting!" At that point Adon ran off in the direction Pai had run off to.
"Follow Adon but stay out of his way!" Nobo ordered as he ran after the Thai kickboxer.
Pai ran off, leaping from tree to tree. "I'll be safe soon. Whew! I'm not as young as I used to be. In an hour or so I'll come back and..."
"Tiger!"
!!WACK!! "Aaagh!"
"You're very skilled for a kung fu master but kung fu is no match for Muay Thai."
"Adon! Koff! What are you doing here?!"
"Tell me where Babette is and I might spare your life."
"Boss Nobo will surely kill me if he finds me."
"He won't be able to find a crafty ass monkey like you," the kickboxer said, looking down on the injured woman.
"Everyone knows how treacherous you are, Adon. Unlike your master Sagat you have no honor whatsoever." !!CRUNCH!! "Ooh!"
"Don't compare me to that old man! I'm much better than he could ever be! Now tell me where Babette is. I'd like to enjoy that bitch again."
"I'm not telling you anything!" Pai immediately got up and attacked the Thai kickboxer, using several well placed nerve strikes. "What the..."
"You're not dealing with some weakling. My training as allowed me to be invulnerable to shiatsu attacks like that. I'm even invulnerable to needles." !!POP!!CRACK!! "Now where is she?! Tell me, you old bitch!"
"There's no way I'll give up my legacy! You'll have to kill me, assuming you can."!!FWIP!!CRACK!!POW!!
"Ungh! Bitch! I don't give a hoot about Boss Nobo and his crew. I would have let you go after you had told me where Babette was. But now you're finished!"
"Don't be so sure of that."
"You can't beat me, bitch. Thrust kick!" Despite the speed of Adon's attack, Pai swiftly leaped into the air, avoiding the powerful attack.
"You're 100 years too young to beat me. As much as I like fighting, it's time for me to go. Koff! Koff! What is that?"
"No! Koff! Tear gas?! Nobo, what are you doing?! Koff!"
"I'm nobody's fool, Adon. I knew Pai was a great martial artist so I brought along some extra insurance. The gas has weakened you both. But don't worry, Adon. I'll return you to Sagat when you wake up. But the old woman is going to tell me where Babette is when my torturers have shown her what suffering really means," Boss Nobo said from the safety of his gas mask with his henchmen behind them, similarly protected.
"Never!" Although she was groggy, Madame Pai came straight at Boss Nobo and his men.
!!RAT!!TAT!!TAT!!TAT!!TAT!! "Got her!" one of the henchmen said.
"Ungh! Oooh!"
!!SLAP!! "Fool! We wanted her alive! Now we'll never find out where Babette is."
"It might not be so bad, Boss," another henchman opined.
"What do you mean, fool?!"
"All you have to do is spread the word that you had Pai killed. Then Babette will probably come after you. At that point..."
"Yes! I see your point, Bok. The old bag was obviously training Babette in her martial arts. Babette couldn't be that skilled so when she tries to get revenge for her master we'll put her back in her place and back to work."
XXX
Later on Babette returned only to find the place had been wrecked! "Madame Pai!" Babette screamed as she ran towards the violently dismembered corpse of her teacher. "No! No! Noooo!" the girl sobbed.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Be here next time as Babette takes stock in her future. Now I'd like to give props to the people who reviewed the last chapter.
They call me Bruce, Redzorin, AshK, Radio Driver, Felix, luger 7, Sir Thames