Hey guys! Sorry for being so slow on updating. The work course is killer and I have semester exams all lined up making it pretty hard to write. But, I can always find the time to write so here is chapter 7 that is long overdue! But first let me answer some reviews…
Remember guys, Ben specializes in Codes/Cryptography/Math. No one comes close to his level except for his grandfather. So he is going to ace stuff that deals with code and math. Oh and A.M., the G shift cipher is one of the ways to write in the Caesar Cipher.
No more me talking, here's the chapter!
Chapter 7
I woke up in a good mood, I had aced my training yesterday with Grandad. Not only that, the new stuff I learned was totally going to help me in everything, from shooting guns to breaking into computers. So sue me for whistling a happy tune as I walked down for some breakfast.
I found Uncle Sam there eating a banana with the morning newspaper in his hand. He noticed me walking in with happy mood.
" Hey Uncle Sam, where's Emmy? " I thought that normally Emmy would be down eating breakfast.
" She is down with Dad in his workspace for training, " He went back to intently staring at the newspaper.
" Oh and kiddo, today is your hand to hand combat training with me. " Uncle Sam was now rubbing his hands with anticipation and I even saw a scary glint in his eyes. I froze.
" Oh no. " Apart from shooting, hand to hand was my worst area of spying ever. Compared to the other spies in school, I was a baby. We had people who could take three assassins in ago, beat shooters, and we also had Erica.
" Yep, yep, and yep. No more of that easy stuff with Dad. This is the big leagues boy, and if you can't take a hit, you're pretty much screwed. So let's hope you can take a hit? Cause you will be taking a lot of hits today. " Crap on a cracker, I was going to die. Uncle Sam looked pretty muscular and I had no doubts that he could take me even if I was armed with a machine gun.
He led me outside to the backyard, it was humongous, what might have been a nice lawn was filled with tons of pads, training dummies, and tons of other equipment. It was a minefield of stuff, and I kept on tripping over random pieces of equipment.
" Your cousin was here first. She is a monster on the battlefield. Completely takes me and Dad down at shooting and fighting. One of the best I've seen in the field. Unfortunately, she doesn't like me or Grandad, but me especially. " He looked so sad…
" Uncle Sam, what made her so bitter and cold? I know a girl who is like that, but she isn't really bitter...Just cold.
He sighed and was about to say something, but closed his mouth just as fast.
" That's a long story Ben, one I don't want to delve into. Let's focus on making you just a little better at fighting okay? " I nodded, time to prepare for a beating…
1 hour later…
I was streaming with sweat and my stomach was threatening to toss breakfast into the grass. It's only been one hour and I was already on the ground panting like a dog. Yesterday, I was the Golden Boy, the kid with all the answers. And now? I was completely at the mercy of hand to hand combat. Uncle Sam finished cracking the heads of some dummies and walked back to me, whistling and not an ounce of sweat on him.
I groaned and clutched my stomach. Uncle Sam grinned.
" That was only a hour of workouts and your already like that? By god, you're 100% thinker, but not much of brawn to back it up. "
I nodded, " I'm more of a problem-solver and a thinker than a fighter. I was never good at beating people up. " I winced.
Uncle Sam chuckled, " Well I can see that, but I know how to make you at least able to defend yourself from spy level enemies and not lunch bullies. "
I was confused, " What do you mean? "
" I mean, instead of playing offence, we'll be playing defense. I am going to make you an impenetrable force, people won't be able to crack the positions I will show you. And once you tire them out, I'll give you a couple of easy attack styles so you can take advantage of your opponent. Sounds good? "
I was actually excited, I was always better at playing defense. Maybe if I could perfect the defense positions, I could go toe to toe with Erica. And maybe then, I wouldn't just be the guy who hangs back and thinks. I looked at Uncle Sam in the eye.
" Let's go. "
Uncle Sam got that twinkle in his eye. " You're gonna get hurt Benny boy, you sure? "
I paled, but then hardened. I couldn't always rely on one thing. I had to get better, even if it meant getting bruises.
" Yes, I want to do this. "
He grinned like a maniac.
" I'll be teaching you two of the best martial art styles that are perfect for defense. Aikido and Krav Maga. "
I nodded, I heard of both of them I had actually seen Erica practice Krav Maga.
" Aikido is your best friend, and in my opinion the best for self-defense. There are no true attacking forms, there is only using momentum as your friend. "
He looked at me with a calculating gaze. " This is also perfect for you because this involves math at the highest levels. "
Finally something I could use.
Uncle Sam proceeded to teach my several techniques. He stressed that he wouldn't be able to make me a perfect Aikido fighter, he would make me less able to lose a fight.
He first taught me the evasive movement, taisabaki. It was pretty easy to use and I mastered it, after of course Uncle Sam nailed me a couple of times. He then proceeded to teach me uke and tori. Two Aikido techniques and the styles in each of them
Uke was attacking technique and tori was the art of neutralizing attacks. Uncle Sam of course taught me all tori techniques with only a bit of uke sprinkled in. And this lead to me getting bruised a lot. The uke he did teach me was mostly balance and use of energy. After three hours of relentless training, I was able to use the basic techniques to block and usel Uncle Sam's attacks. I do think he was going a bit easy though. He pushed me even further and sparred with me after every technique he taught me.
At around 3, he got me to start the tori techniques with throwing incorporated. So after I repealed the attack, I was supposedly supposed to toss Uncle Sam back, using the momentum techniques he taught me. He would rush at me, and I would use what he taught me.
I had no idea how this was going work, but I was going to show Uncle Sam I wasn't just brain and no brawn.
Uncle Sam readied himself, a few feet front of me.
" You sure about this kiddo? I don't want to you hurt you. "
I suddenly got angry, Uncle Sam didn't expect me to do it Well, I would show him.
" I'm ready, don't hold back. "
" Alright. " He rushed at me, at a breathtaking speed.
Time slowed, I calculated where exactly to grab so I could pull him back . Time sped back, Uncle Sam was almost on top of me, and then I crouched and pushed him exactly where I needed to hit him to make him topple.
Three seconds later, Uncle Sam was on the ground and I was in a defensive stance ready for more.
I had done it. I had taken down Uncle Sam, at least for a short period of time. Uncle Sam got back and dusted himself. He looked at me right in the eye.
" I think I underestimated you. "
" Gee, you think? " He grinned.
" Now that I know you can do this, time to go even further for three more hours. "
We trained Aikido for 3 more hours. Full blown defensive tori techniques. At the end of it, I was able to intercept and block quite well. And if I had to counter with basic uke techniques I could.
The downside was that I came in the house filled with bruises and caked in mud.
Emmy was there, she wrinkled her nose at me, but I could see a hint of a smile on her lips.
" The bathroom is that way. " She stifled a laugh.
" I know, " I grumbled and took a shower.
After I came out clean, Emmy walked up to me.
" What did Dad teach you? " She looked curious.
" Aikido today. " She smiled.
" Huh, he didn't teach me that. It was karate, krav maga, etc. Let's see what you learned. "
My eyes widened.
" Wha-" I was interrupted because Emmy attacked me.
Immediately, my Aikido techniques kicked in. I blocked Emmy's kicks and punches. I used taisabaki to dodge as well. Hit after hit, I used momentum to push her back or repel her. I was still being pushed back. She let loose a massive barrage of fast kicks and punches, I was flattened and I hit the wall. She pushed her elbow at my neck.
I stopped breathing. Was she going to hurt me?
She withdrew and smiled.
" Well done, see you tomorrow for your shooting training. "
And in a blink, she was gone.
Tomorrow
And that's chapter 7! So sorry for being slow! I promise I will try to update again tomorrow.
Ben's getting better...