CHAPTER 20: Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself
There will be an optional section in this chapter, you do not have to read if not interested. It will be labeled when it starts/endsJohn's POV
Once again, I wake up right on cue with the sunrise. This time, instead of going on my morning run, I decided to make breakfast for the five, in a way of easing tensions after last night's scare.
As I got into the dining hall, I looked at the supplies to see what I could make. Then an idea popped into my head.
'Hmm, how about a treat from home.'
I then got all of the ingredients to make a nice healthy batch of my mother's pancake recipe. That way, it will give enough time for me to finally follow Crane's request and allow the others to know me better.
Meanwhile.
THIRD PERSON.
Master Shifu casually awaits for the gong to sound for the students to wake up.
*GONG*
"Good morning Master!" All but for one said.
"Captain?" He asked.
Nothing.
"John, you awake?" Crane asked.
Shifu then decided to check inside the room. No one was in.
"Well then, he seems to have- wait a minute." Shifu picks up a note from John's bed.
It read:
Good morning Master and Furious Five.
I am currently prepping up breakfast in the kitchen. If I was any of you, I would start making my way if anyone is hungry.
John.
"What's that smell?" Tigress asked.
Viper sniffed the air and then smiled.
"I recognize that smell."
"Well then let's go see what it is." Mantis said.
"You guys go ahead, I need to speak with Shifu real quick." Viper said.
The others left for the dining hall.
"And how can I help you Viper?"
"Well, one of John's sisters came the other night with his stuff and she told me that his family flew from home. She said that her, her sister and their father would like to see him. Preferably today in the village."
"I see, well it helps for them wanting to see him today because I was gonna send him and Tigress to Mei Ling's parlor for his shoulder. So I guess it all works out."
"Excellent. Should I tell him?"
"No need. Later when I go and get you and the others, I will have an announcement to make as well."
"Ok. See you later Master."
"You too Viper."
John's POV.
I was just finishing up the final few pancakes when I heard the others coming in.
"Morning guys. I hope y'all are hungry cause I made us something from home."
Viper then came in not long after.
"Are you making what I think you're making?" She asked.
I then put the plates on the table.
"You bet ya. My mother's signature pancakes. Now I don't want you guys eating them cold, so sit down and dig in."
And so they did along with myself. I gave each person 2 each, knowing how they stuff even the biggest of stomachs.
Tigress on the other hand had a plate of tofu instead. She then took a seat next to Monkey.
As for me, I decided to wait before eating mine to see what they thought.
"Wow, these are delicious." Mantis said.
"Well, it's my mother's recipe. She knows her way around making some food."
"Don't tell her I said this, but you may have overtaken her. These are amazing."
"She's right, you know how to cook. Absolutely delicious." Crane added.
I simply blushed, I think I passed the test on knowing whether they were good or not.
"Tigress, you need to try one." Monkey said.
She first looked at me, then the others before saying.
"Well if everyone seems to say they're good, could you pass me one too Captain?"
"Sure thing Tigress."
The others were wide eyed.
"Umm, you guys ok?" I asked.
"When did you two become friends? Yesterday you almost killed each other." Mantis said.
"We talked yesterday after you guys left my room. We're cool now."
"I'm more surprised that she wants to eat something other than tofu for once." Monkey said.
"Am I not allowed to try something new once in a while?" Tigress countered.
I then set her plate in front of her. The others then looked at her like she was about to give some major news.
"Guys, will you let her try the damn thing without being in her face?" I laughed.
She then took a piece and ate it.
"I have to agree with the rest of them John. You know how to make some pretty good pancakes."
"Thank you. Although I myself am no cook. That credit goes to my mother."
"She must have taught you very well for you to make some pretty good food." Crane said.
"I try. Well now that we are all here. How about we do something that we were supposed to have done yesterday."
"And what would that be?" Monkey asked.
"How about I tell you guys about me. However, instead of me simply going through my life, you guys ask me questions that you would like to ask about me. Essentially a QA."
They all nodded in approval.
(Optional start, will not affect storyline for those who do not wish to know about John's life prior to becoming DW)
"Now before I let you guys ask me some questions. I will get this out of the way. My full name is John Dunn, aged 28. Born in Dallas Texas June 14th 1992.
So, now with that dealt with, Crane. Since you offered to do this, you can ask the first question."
"Alrighty then. How many years were you a part of the Air Force before coming here?"
"I enlisted when I was 17, accepted 2 years later Went through basic Military training, which took 8.5 weeks and then began flying for the Air Force a few months after my 20th birthday. So for about 8 years I flew for the US Air Force.
Good question Crane. Next question will go to Monkey."
"Ok. When you decided on becoming a pilot, was it because you always wanted to do that job, or was it a job you thought of doing because you didn't know what you wanted to do yet?"
"That's a good question. My family was always a part of the military. My dad flew in the Gulf War, my grandfather in Vietnam and even my great-grandfather during WW2.
As for me, I always loved aviation. Whether I'm in a plane flying or just seeing one fly overhead, I just smile. There's just something about seeing a giant metal tube weighing a few hundred tons fitted with wings that can fly so elegantly.
So take my love for aviation and mix that with me wanting to follow in my father's footsteps. Although he flew fighter jets, something I wasn't as interested in. So I took the alternative which was flying transport aircraft, which are the bigger aircraft such as the C5M SuperGalaxy that I flew for the majority of the time.
To make a long story short, I always wanted to become a pilot. My dream job, that became a reality for 8 years."
"Must have been hard to give that up so quickly." Mantis said.
"At first yeah, but at least I was able to fulfill my biggest dream. So that's a nice bonus. So Mantis, you're next."
"Oh. Well then let me change the theme of the questions. How long have you been a musician, and are there more instruments you are able to play?"
"Well I first started playing drums when I was 8 years old. All thanks to Pantera's last album. When I first heard it, I was blown away. Completely different from what I used to listen to prior. The perfect blend of thrash and groove mixed in one style. Known as the power groove.
From that point on, I wanted to pick up the sticks and play the drums. I only took lessons for 1 year, which I learned the basics, before I was able to hear what the song did and thus learn songs by ear.
4 years later, my friend Hutch, from my band, then asked me if I could show him the song Walk by Pantera on the drums. I said yes under one condition, and that was he teaches me how to play guitar.
From that point on, I was able to play both now for 16 years."
"I think it's safe to say that you were born to play those instruments John." Crane said.
"Hahaha, it would seem so." I laughed.
"I guess I won't be asking any questions since I already know you very well. So Tigress, you're up." Viper said.
"Hmm, how about a more opinion based question. Out of all the music in the world, what is it about heavy metal that connects with you the most?" She asked.
"Hehehe, this is where I might get into some trouble." (A/N: This is heavily based on my opinion, just a heads up)
"How?" Monkey and Mantis asked.
"I'm very vocal about the music I listen to. So, why heavy metal. Well, there are a few reasons why I love that genre, as well as the whole rock genre, but mainly metal.
Firstly, the many types of subgenres. There is something for everybody. If you want aggressiveness and brutality, then there's death metal. You want melodic singing but have some heavy feel, you have alternative metal. You want musicianship, you have proggresive metal and the list goes on from there.
Secondly, it's much less generic than what plays on most radio stations across the globe. For the most part, FM radio mainly plays what's the most popular and it is not only boring to me, but it gets very fucking repetitive. The same style of song, same style of lyrics and the same themes that get old very quickly. Whereas for metal bands, they make music not for cash, but because it's what they love doing. It's their livelihood, making this type of music.
Metal bands have very diverse songwriting themes.
From the negative points of drug use in the song Master of Puppets, protest songs like Refuse/Resist, and songs based on actual events like Aces High depicting an RAF pilot's POV during the battle of Britain in WW2. So many of these metal songs that I listen to, have these storytelling aspects that most mainstream radio hits don't have.
Finally, Rock and Metal music is made with ACTUAL instruments, played by REAL people in a studio.
Again, going back to the previous point. Most pop artists when making an album use sampled parts of already existing songs, use autotune to "fix their voice" and even go so far as to pay someone else to write their songs (it's true, look it up).
With the metal genre, the whole band who goes into the studio to write and record the album, are the ONLY ones with songwriting credits, because it's their own stuff, and they recorded it with actual instruments. No autotune, no drum replacement and no bullshit.
I could go on for hours about this topic. But since I don't wanna bore you guys to the grave, I'm gonna wrap up this rant by saying that if it weren't for metal music, I probably wouldn't have ever played the instruments I play today."
They chuckled after my little speech.
(Optional end, back to the regular plot of the story)
For the next hour, I talked about my life prior to becoming Dragon Warrior and I was able to know a few things about the 5 I hadn't known before. Such as Monkey's past as a stand up comedian and finding out Crane was a janitor at the same dojo he met Mei Ling in which he revealed feelings for her.
Eventually as we were putting our dishes in the sink, Master Shifu came into the room.
"If I could have everyone's attention for a few moments please, I have something to say."
We all regathered at the table to listen to what he had to say.
"So today will be a bit different from our normal training duties. Because of the Dragon's Warrior shoulder, he along with Master Tigress will be going to the local massage therapist and get his shoulder checked out."
"Not to sound like I'm protesting but why am I needed as well?" Tigress asked.
"Since you two made amends last night, it would be good for you and him to go down together. That and also keep on guard in case of any bandit activities."
We both nodded.
"As for the rest of you, you will be doing the morning training like normal. After that, we will meet with them, have some lunch and join on patrol duty."
"Yes Master." We all said.
Me and Tigress then made our way out of the dining hall and began our trip down the mountain.
Third Person.
"Umm, Master? Weren't you supposed to-"
"Already planned ahead, Viper. I had contacted Meil Ling and told her about John. She has been informed of his family wanting to see him by one of his sister's. She will be able to take care of that matter." Shifu said.
"Oh good." She said.
They then went to the training hall to begin their morning schedule.