Origins: Part 3
-Sabertooth Tiger-
It was two years ago, I was just finishing up my freshman year... wait a minute... that's not right... Sophmore year, Christmas Break. More like 2 1/2 years ago. That is when it all started. My grandfather owned a small fish shop in China Town, Chicago. I helped out any chance I got since I was in the 5th grade. It made me feel like a "big girl". I know it sounds silly but I always enjoyed feeling useful.
So I enjoyed helping out my grandfather. And over the years he became more and more dependant on me. He went through employees like water so I was the one with the most experience in the store. I knew what went where and what needed to be done, what sold and what customers liked and demanded. In some cases more than grandpa.
December 21, 1990 was the day I got my coin. In some way's it was given to me as a birthday gift. Being that it was my 16th birthday and all.
The family was taking me out to breakfast. Ihop to be exact. But my grandpa needed to pick up some paper work to drop off at the post office. Problem was I put them away somewhere I couldn't remember. So the famiIy went to get a table while me and grandpa stopped by the shop.
I was in the back office looking for the papers when I heard the big commotion in the kitchen. Grandpa was checking on the workers when Javier discovered something one of the fish he was cutting.
I got back there and saw grandpa at Javier's table.
"What are they," one of the workers' asked.
"They look old," another said.
"They look expensive," Javier said. "I thought someone had put weight in it Mr. Kwan. To cheat you. That is why I cut it open."
My grandpa saw me in the doorway and waved me over. I walked over to the table and saw four coins on the inside of the fish Javier had cut open. Blood and... stuff covered them. I try and remember now which coins they were but at the time I didn't realize what i was looking at, so I wasn't paying attention.
"What are they, grandpa," I asked.
My grandpa wasn't disgusted very easily. Heck he was dealing with dead fish, blood and guts since he was a teenager so just picking one up with his bare hands was nothing. And I never liked showing people I was weak so I pretended like it didn't make me want to throw up.
My grandpa looked at the coin, almost examining it even though I'm sure he didn't know what to look for and said, "Something very old, and probably very expensive," he said.
Everyone responded with a "Oh," as if he said something very profound, even though he said what we were already thinking.
He ran the coin threw the water in the sink next to him. He dryed it with his shirt then handed it to me.
"That one is for you," he said. "Keep it safe."
I took it and admired it, "Thank you, grandpa."
He nodded then looked at Javier, "Clean the rest and put them in my office."
Javier nodded. We went to breakfast and that was that. I didn't exactly care. I just threw it in my jewelry box and forgot about it.
My grandparents lived next door to us and often came over in the morning for breakfast. Our kitchen had large double sliding doors which looked out to the left side of the backyard. My grandparents had the mirror image. So I have many memories of sitting at the breakfast table, eating cereal and watching my grandparents walking across our yards making their way to breakfast.
It was a few months later as we ate my grandpa asked, "Where is that coin I gave you?"
The way he asked sounded like he may want it back. I began to think. I honestly couldn't remember.
"I may have put it in my jewelry box," I suggested. I threw everything in there. For some girls a jewelry box is an over glorified junk draw. "You want it back?"
He quickly shut his eyes and shook his head. It was his way to express that you have greatly misunderstood him. "Just continue to keep it safe and don't let anyone know you have it."
"Why," I asked.
"Because, it is very valuable. And many people want it," He explained. "Good people and Bad. I gave it to you as a gift, but I don't want my gift to get you hurt."
And that's all he said about it. He quickly changed the subject, asking me about school and asking what time I would be able to make it to the shop that day. It was shipment day and he often liked having me there to over look the employees and make sure they put things away correctly.
He made me curious about the coin and I dug it out before I went to school. Over the next several weeks I carried it around with me everywhere. Looking and admiring it on the bus, or running it through my fingers as I lay in bed studing or listening to music. It first started as excitement that I had something really expensive and valuable. But then it just grew into a facination with the coin itself. I got a strange energy whenever I held it. I became curious about the image on the coin. It looked worn, probably because of the water and fish eating it. I couldn't seem to make it out.
I brought it with me to school one day. Well, on the day.
"Can you tell what it is," I asked my friend Richie.
He looked at it for a while. Squinted his eyes and all.
"A chupacabra," he said. Sounding more like a question.
I snatched it out of his hand, giving up on his help.
"Its hard to tell," he defended himself. "It looks really old and the image on it looks kind of worn."
I looked at it. Considering Richie's observation, "If a fish ate it, I guess it was underwater for a while," I said.
Richie huffed, "A while? Try several thousand years."
"Whatever," I said as I started to pack up my books.
We were studying at the library next to the school. We went to Foreman High School off of Belmont. Me and Richie always came here to study. It was much quieter than the school library. And this week was finals.
"Where you going," Richie asked, as if he didn't know. We went through this every time. But I have to admit, I enjoyed it.
"To my grandpa's fish shop, duhhh," I said, pretending his question annoyed me.
"I thought we were going to the movies," he said.
"That's later on tonight," I corrected him.
Then he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"What," I asked.
"I thought you meant after we studied," Richie said. He really looked disappointed. "I'm suppose to go somewhere with Monica."
I shook my head, "That's fine, Richie."
I turned to leave but he called out.
"I really wanted to go," he said.
I looked back and he looked too sincere and cute. How could I be mad. I was frustrated though.
"Its fine. Really," I said. I began to walk away then turned back. "I know it is none of my business, and I'm not making us to be anything more than what we are but if you're always trying to get away from her, why are you with her?"
He just sat there quiet, staring at the table. As if I shouldn't have called him on it.
"Can I call you later," he asked, avoiding the question. I guess I got my answer.
"Yeah," I said and started to walk off.
"It's complicated," Richie finally answered.
I looked back, nodded and left.
Complicated. As were me and Richie. See we weren't dating behind Monica's back. Even though I'm pretty sure Monica thought that. She just couldn't say much about it since me and Richie have been friends since the 3rd grade. Well she did try to forbid Richie from hanging with me when they first started dating last year, but Richie refused.
I've always had a crush on Richie and I have a feeling Richie feels the same way. Why we never started anything, well it's complicated. To sum up, I guess we were both to worried to mess up what we already have. A cool friendship. And I think Richie's dad is racist. Oh, he's nice to me to my face, but it's that fake nice you know. The "if Richie wasn't my friend" kind of thing.
Although of late things have been changing. We haven't had sex or anything like that but a couple months before this day Richie kissed me. Then the next time we saw each other, we were studing up in my room. My parents are cool with that since he is almost part of the family. Well, we didn't get much studying done cause it quickly turned into a make-out session. Almost an hour. His hands going places and all. But I got freaked out when he started unbuttoning my shirt. So we called it a night and he left. After that little things like that kept happening here and there. He even became more protective of me and gentleman like.
Strange part is we never talked about it. The kissing and making out. We just did it. Afterwards we wouldn't say a word. We talk like we always did. Except now there is this ackwardness. So to break the ackwardness we either go our separate ways or find a secluded place and make-out.
As I made my way to China Town, walking and taking the bus, I thought about how Richie made me feel. It was a guilty pleasure. Part of me hated it. I prided myself on being a strong, tuff girl. No bullshit. But whenever I was around Richie, and stared into his gorgeous baby blues, GOD I turned into such a girl! I'd just melt. I find myself giggling inside. I hated myself.
So that is the mind set I was in when I walked into the shop that day. Confused about what I was doing with Richie along with the dread of it being shipment day.
So when I saw my grandpa dangling from the hands of... some kind of Man Ape in what looked like golden armor it took me a second to register.
I just stood there staring as blood dripped out of his mouth and down his hairy chin. I looked and he had taken a bite out of my grandpa's neck.
That's when he noticed me. He seemed to wait for my reaction. I don't remember taking the coin out of my pocket but, odd as it sounds, that is when it dawned on me. The image on the coin.
"Sabertooth Tiger," I whispered.
The next few moments are hard to explain. It's one of those things you have to experience for yourself.
The moment I said the words, time slowed down, like bullet time. And it was as if the ape knew what was coming. I was paralyzed as I saw the arm holding my grandpa begin to move. I looked down at myself, probably trying to figure out why I couldn't move. Then I saw it. At the time I thought it was what was paralyzing me. Yellow... goo leaking out of my pores. I was terrified! What was happening to me? I looked back up and saw that the ape was in the midst of throwing my grandpa.
When you morph there is a black out moment. It is the moment when the goo encompasses your entire head forming the helmet. It takes a moment to shape the view. The moment before the black I saw my grandpa's head hit the wall and his neck rip.
When my vision came back, bullet time was over and the ape was right on top of me.
He tackled me. slamming me to the ground. Then he began to slam his fist against my helmet repeatively. Not given me a chance to respond. The pain, despite the helmet's potective cushioning, was unbearable. His punches carried a stength I never encountered that is when I felt it. It was the same feeling I felt before when I would stay up late admiring the coin. Only this time it filled me with rage. All the shit I had been taking from Richie, watching my grandpa die. He threw one last punch and I smacked it out of the way with my forearm. I must have surprised him cause he froze. Giving me enough time to kick him off and to my surprise with super strength. He went flying in the air and slamming against the wall.
I stood up. Finally putting two and two together. It was the coin. The coin was doing all this. When I looked up the ape was gone. I never saw him leave.
I ran to my grandpa but when I saw his body... well, it made me throw up. That is when I noticed the suit was gone. I wasn't wearing it anymore. The coin must have been reacting to my emotions. That is the only way I could explain it.
Which brings us back to the day after the dumpster. There he was. 2 and a half years later. It was pay back time.
-It's Morphin' Time-
There he was. After two years I finally find him. The thing that killed my Grandfather. A flying ape. And from the looks of it he was about to kill Blue Ranger.
"Sabertooth Tiger," I said as I morphed.
I quickly fired the rockets in my boots and made a b line straight for the ape.
He was already on the down sweep to finsh off the Blue Ranger. I swooped down after him and, thank god 'cause wings may have manuevering but when it comes to speed they have nothing on rockets. I tackled the ape about ten feet before he could finish off blue,slamming him into the ground. His large structure cushioned my own impact, allowing me to use the momentum to roll to a safe distance.
I quickly stood up, getting a little bit of a head rush. I saw the ape trying to stand, looking like he got rattled by the fall. I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. I pulled out my daggers and rushed towards him extending them infront of me. I couldn't have been more than 4 feet when a blast came from somewhere behind me hitting the ape and throwing him like 5 feet, hitting a tree before callapsing on the ground.
I looked back and it was the Red Duchebag Ranger. Mr Beefcake holstered his blade blaster and walked over like he had done something good.
"That was a close one, huh," said the Red Duche.
"Yeah," I said. "I nearly finished him and you butted in in the nick of time."
I turned to walk off and Red Duche came after me but infront of us was Skin N' Bones guy. I have to admit, even at this moment, the guy freaked me out. A simple skeleton was less scary than him. He looked worst than the guy in "Thinner". He looked... deflated and the fact that he was still walking around freaked me out even more. Of course Red Duche, with his duche courage, well he couldn't be frightened.
"Alright, you bag of bones," Red Duche said. "We just want to pick up Blue over there and get out of here. And I will snap you if I have to."
He was really eerie. He responded with a devilish smile. Red Duche started to walk towards him but I held him back. I was afraid to provoke... it.
"Hold on," I said. "He gives me the creeps."
"Come on," Red Duche said. "He's skin and bones."
Then he spoke, "Did you know Dinosaurs use to roam these parts."
I don't know what I was expecting, but it definately wasn't this. He began to kind of convulse then grow into, kind of like a T-Rex. Me and Red Duche were frozen in fear. He was now huge, slightly taller than the trees, and no longer skinny. He had the shape of a T-Rex but his arms were a bit longer, his legs not as fat and he still had his pale complexion. "Raaaaaaaa," but he roared like one. And that was enough to get me and Red Duche running.
As we ran I saw Black and Pink helping Blue up. He seemed to be alright. Probably just knocked out for a few secs. But me and Red Duche didn't have time to worry about that. If anything, the way I saw it, we were helping them by guiding this thing away.
We started to approach the main freeway with newly plumped Skin N' Bones guy. I started heading for it till the Red Duche yanked my arm and led me to the right.
"What the Fuc..." I said as he pulled me to keep running.
"The trees are the only thing slowing him down," he explained. "We head to the open road and he'll be running at full spead. Not to mention the innocent driviers."
I had to admit he had a point. We ducked behind a big tree. It appeared Plumpy T-Rex Wanna-Be had lost us. Then he did the most disgusting thing. He reverted back to his original shape. It was like watching a balloon deflate. Except for it is flesh. Then that is when we realized that he was wearing cloths before, and they were shredded when he grew, which made him naked now. A anorexic naked man is not attractive. How the poverty strickened people of Ethiopia and other such places keep having sex is beyond me. I mean they have to be having sex. They keep having all those kids with those boney legs and over inflated stomachs. If I was a woman there, I would not let a skinny ass man have sex with me. I'm already as skinny as it is. I need a man with meat on his bones. Can you imagine boney pelvis banging up against boney pelvis. Jesus, I'm going to be hungry and have to deal with bruises... Oh my god, I sound shallow don't I. I've been hanging around Pink too long.
Sorry forget I said all that. Back to the story.
-Tyrannosaurus-
Alright, so I'm going to tell you about how I got my coin, but I don't want to hear any, "Ahhhh," or "I'm sorry," and especially no, "Poor baby" crap. In other words, I don't need or want your pity. Life sucks and then you die. That is what I have learned and that is the key to surviving this world, understanding that concept. Bad things happened to me. Life took a big shit on me. Big deal. I'm just telling you how it happened. I'm not looking for comfort.
With that said, here we go. I grew up the son of a very wealthy man. A CEO type. He wanted me to grow up and be like him. I didn't want to.
See this has bugged me ever since he disowned me. What is it with parents? They raise you from sperm and all the way up 'til high school they lie to you. They tell you, "You can be anything you want!" They say it with excitement, with joy and love in their eyes. So much so that you believe them. They even go as far as to send you to get lessons, play on teams and compete in competitions. Some of them will even show up and cheer for you.
Then, all of a sudden you graduate Junior High and it is like a gear has shifted. Leaving you wondering, "What the hell just happened?" Now they are talking about "responsibility" and getting a "good paying job" with "benefits." And some how, your dream of becoming a martial arts star doesn't fit that description. And it is like a last minute thing too 'cause they basically give you 4 years to come up with something else. And insisting on your dream only causes them to be more vocal about their objection to your dream. The more you insist, the more cruel their words become. Until all of a sudden you find yourself at a stand off with your dad. Follow in his foot steps or remove yourself from his house.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is what happened to me. Some of you, I'm sure, can relate to this. Some more than others. But that is how I ended up in Denver, Colorado.
It was 1991, and the UFC was still not in existence. But rumors of something big in the works was circling around the dojos. So doing well in tournaments was being pushed. For some reason dojos thought this would be good for business and they would be included in the Federalization of the sport. As we all know now, it is all about the fighter, not the dojo they come from.
I had been living on my own for only a few months at this time. Still living off of money I had saved up living with my parents and money I won fighting in underground tournaments. My Sensai hated that I did those tournaments but he didn't have to pay my rent and he still insisted that I pay him for training me so I told him to fuck off.
I'm not exactly sure how the rounds went according to my Dojo. Frankly because I didn't give a shit about the other guys. They pretty much knew it too. I was here for myself today. I spent most of my money on getting here and the hotel. I was barely eating. Surviving on Top Ramen and eggs. So the other guys were going to have to fend for themselves.
The first round consisted of surviving two matches and the winner of that match would fight the best of its brother region. The winner of that would then advance to the next round. And then so forth.
I was the first to take the mat. As I waited for the announcer to do the introductions I thought about my long journey here. And how great it would all be if I won. There are many reasons why I enjoy fighting. The thrill, the excitement. The feeling of accomplicement at the cost of someone else's failier. But most of all, 'cause it tells me how much I am not like my father. I come from a long line of fighters, warriors and military leaders. It's only in the recent generations that the men in my family have hung up their warrior garb and picked up the 3 piece suit. Fighting is in my blood. Everytime I take the mat I feel like I am bringing that back.
The bell rang. I was fighting Farkus "Bulk" Bulkmeier. Big boy too. I just barely made middle weight and this guy just barely missed heavy weight. It was a three round fight. I threw a few punches, kicks, highs and lows. He takes them all and smiles. The fat ass smiles at me.
I get one damn hit to the head and I go down. I remember it felt like a 1 ton metal block smacked me in the temple. I couldn't have been out for that long 'cause when I woke up a couple of the guys of my dojo were just jumping on the mat to help me out, and they were declarind Bulk the winner.
As the guys dragged me out I could hear the laughter, and sense the satisfaction from the guys of my dojo. The cocky asshole who came here for himself got what he deserved.
I took the bench. No one was talking to me. Not even looking at me. Even my sensei was too busy with the guy going up next. He probably thought I got what I deserved too.
I had one more fight. I'd show them then. I'll take the first fight as a warm up.
My sensei called for me and I quickly went over
"Hey," I quickly responded. "Sorry about out there..."
"It happens," he quickly said, in a rush and didn't want to have a conversation with me. "We will work on it. Just get to the shower and clean up."
"What," I asked surprise. "I still have one more fight."
"No," he said. "We have one more fighter than the other dojos. First to loose is eliminated. That's you."
"No, no," I started to argue but he shook his head.
"Sorry," he said as he walked away.
After the match my dojo went out to eat. I lied and said I needed to take care of some stuff. It wasn't too much of a lie. I did need to figure out where I was going to sleep that night and how I was going to eat. I didn't have enough to pay for my room that night and I'm sure my stuff was already waiting for me in the lobby. See the movies lie. It isn't as easy as avoiding the person at the desk.
I knew what was going to happen if I ate with them. Their jokes would be the truth and their kindness would be the lies. I ended up at a bar not to far from where the competition was held. I wasn't twenty-one but the owner was cool with fighters and tended not to card if you weren't an asshole. I had decided by this point to throw in the towel and go back to my parent's house. I knew my dad would take me back. Heck that was why I needed to get drunk, 'cause I was about to hear a whole bunch of "I told you so!"
I sat there with the last of my money and had a whole game plan. I was going to drink my money until I had just enough for the payphone on the other side of the bar and see just how sober I was. Sounds stupid but in the midst of my self-pity, I thought it would make it fun.
It was a busy night. Not due to the competition. Something else was going on in the area, I'm not sure what it was, but it was drawing in drinkers and partiers that night. It really helped amplifey how sorry and alone I felt.
I was on my second to last drink. I kept looking for really strong drinks. Cheap, I was drinking well. I really wanted to be trashed when I called my dad. If I was going to fail then I wanted to look the part when he saw me.
I waved at the bartender and he gave me the you're next finger. I remember seeing him with a bunch of glasses in front of him. I began sorting my money. Trying to figure out how much I could spend while remembering about the phone call. I looked up and a guy about my age was trying to wave down the bartender.
"He's coming this way next," I told him. He was leaning on the counter and his waving was shaking the bar a bit. I wanted him to calm down.
"Oh thanks," he said.
I nodded and continued to look at my money. I was pretty drunk but not where I wanted to be. I was playing out the sceniores mathamatically based on how much each drink cost and weighing that against Amy memory of how drunk it can get me. At one point I became concerned on whether I would need enough for two calls. Incase he hung up on me first or if the phone would eat my first call.
"Jason right," the guy next to me asked.
I always hate when this happens. Always catches you off guard and you always consider lying and saying no in fear it is someone you don't want to talk to.
"Yeah," I said hesitantly.
The guy laughed, "Oh, I doubt you remember me."
I felt a little more at ease but the guy looked drunk. And there were people I owed money to. Not anyone as cliche as mobsters or anything. Just people not afraid to get into a fight or make an embarassing scene.
He offered me his hand, "Tommy, you kicked my ass when I was 8."
I smiled and eased up. I didn't remember him but I ran into that a lot. Someone you fought a long time ago and for some reason they remember a nice ego boost and I needed it.
"Nice to see you again," I said.
The bartender came over and asked me for my drink.
"Long Island," I decided. Figured it was strong and I can sit here a bit longer.
Tommy stopped the bartender from taking my money, "hey, if its cool with you dude, I'll take this one."
Automatically pride defends itself, "Ah, no you don't have to do that," I responded.
"No its cool," he said lundging the money in the bartenders hands before I could argue. "Its good sportsman ship," he said with a wink.
I was in no place to argue so I just said, "Thanks."
He looked up and around me, "Are you here by yourself?"
I nodded as I began to sip my drink.
"Scotch and cokes and a kalua," he ordered. "Ah, come and join us."
I shook my head, "Thanks I appreciate it but I'm good here."
"Nah, its cool," he said. "Its my going away party. Tomorrow I leave for basic training. A long ridged training ahead of me."
"Thanks, really," I said pointing to my drink. "But I'm working up the courage to make a dreaded phone call o my dad."
I was afraid I might have sounded a bit rude, but he was beginning to get on my nerves. He couldn't seem to get the hint that I wanted to be left alone
"Oh dude, I'm sorry," he said. "Are you alright?"
I had! "If you have to know...," I started to blow up but was interrupted by a pretty girl who popped in between us.
"What's taking so long with the drinks," was the manner in which she introduced herself.
Then the bartender arrived with the drinks. He appeared to have heard her.
"Oh, Sue," the guy pointed looked and directed her towards me. "This is an old friend of mine, Jason." Then looking to me, "This is my cousin, Sue"
She looked at me unimpressly, "Nice to meet you." Barely even looking at me. More taking advantage of the moment to lean over me and grab her kalua without having to say, "excuse me." The hand I thought she was offering for a shake bypassing mine.
But he made me feel bad. I was about to yell at him and here he calls me a friend.
"You coming," she asked him.
"I'll be right there," he said.
"Tommy," a guy screamed from across the bar with his arms in the air.
Tommy screamed back, "On sec, I'm talking to an old buddy."
So when he looked back at me and asked, "So what were you saying about calling your dad?" How could I not tell him?
I gave him a quick run down of it all. I defied my dad to pursue fighting, I failed at it and now I was crawling back on my hands and knees.
"No," he responded surprisingly.
"Yeah," I explained. "The plan is get super drunk and call dad."
"No I mean you're giving up," he asked with near disgust.
I was starting to feel bad about wanting to give up.
"Well," I said holding up my half full last drink. "This represents the last of my money. Not much of a choice."
With that said I downed the last of it. A shook my head feeling the rush and looked back at my new friend who was just looking at me. He had this far off look like he was looking through me. This guy had to be drunk. He was as trashed as I wanted to be. I was almost jeolous.
Just when I was feeling uncomfortable enough to break the silence he beat me to it.
"It feels wrong man," he said with a slight shake of his head. "I miss it. I still go to a dojo and spar and stuff but I stopped competing. Got too busy with being this military guy."
And that's when I realized it. This guy was who my dad wanted me to be. This guy was me if I had listened to my dad. He is what I would become if I made that call.
"I can't let you do it," he said lifting himself off the counter he was leaning on. He proceeded to reach in his back pocket and pull out his wallet. I was in such shocked Was this guy really doing what I thought he was doing? "I'll give you some money for the motel tonight and tomorrow you call my friend Ernie. He owes me a favor. Just give him this card and tell him Tommy said if he hires you and rents you that room alls squared away."
He then handed me a wad of cash. I wasn't so much silenced by shock as I found myself silenced by the indesicion of accepting the money or not.
"Here's 500 hundred," Tommy said putting 5 bills infront of me. "And the card has his number on the back."
"I can't just...," I managed to get out before I found myself not wanting to finish it. A part of me felt like I was suppose to accept this.
"Please don't take this the wrong way," he said as he began to walk away. "See this is why you beat me. You have more passion than me. I'm not giving you this money cause I look down on you. It's cause I'm looking up to."
And that's when I saw it in his eyes. I think he was high too.
"Sir your change," The bartender called to Tommy.
Tommy walked back and the bartender handed him some change. The coins making that clinging sound. Then Tommy walked over to me and put the change in my hand.
"You're need some change to call Ernie," he said and walked away. His friends teasing him for taking so long.
"About time," Someone said.
"He was cute, did you get his number," another teased.
I looked down at the change and amoung the change was the Tyrannosaurus coin. I of course didn't know what it was at the time, but I do remember seeing it right away. How I came to know what it was, well that's an even longer story.