Chapter XXVI: Identical to Memory
Humans slowly begin to file into the dojo. They are of many shapes and sizes, but all look to be about 13-17 years old. I can see that some of them don't like to be here, while others are glad to fight. I scan through them all in programming and none of them are any more then normal humans, plugged in.
They all stand on the fighting mat, talking with each other about meaningless things: That new Orlando Bloom movie, grades in education, each other, humans that are not present, and One and I. A few times they look over at us, but the glares we give back are enough to make them turn away. It gives me a grin of amusement to know that everything they speak of is completely false, and they don't know it.
"Rank in," orders Raikan, stepping onto the mat. They stand in orderly rows of six, by belt colors. Raikan stands in the corner near us as they quiet and stand still.
"Students," she announces, "These are two new Sensei to the dojo, Jason and Juan. As you could have guessed, they're twins. They are well versed in the style, but do not hesitate to correct them on anything if it is wrong. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." Come a dulled response from the humans.
"Excuse me?" She shouts back, walking in between the rows.
"Yes, sir!" They shout this time, and she smiles.
"A hundred jumping jacks! Go!" She gives me a look that means I have to do them, and so we do. It is tedious work, and the panting humans amuse me from such little work.
She takes us through several stretches, which I've never done in my life, but automatically know. Again, being a program has its quirks.
"Sensei Jason," She says, turning to me, "Take the white belts in the back room and run them though their forms, one, two and three. Sensei Juan," She looks over to One, "take the yellow belts in the back and work on their waza. Is that understood?"
I nod curtly, in unison with my brother. We exit the mat and walk down the small corridor, turning and then entering the other mat in the back, which is slightly smaller.
"So, who are you guys?" One of the white belts asks, "Are you like old students of Sensei's or something?"
"Those are really cool dreads," Says another.
"You're so damn pale…" Injects a third.
"You're just freaky, that's all," Says the first with an air of arrogance.
I turn to face the boy. He comes up to about my chin, with brown hair that falls to his shouters and daring green eyes. His skin is tanned, from exposure to the fake sun of the Matrix, and his lips are curled into a smirk, "I bet you guys don't even know anything, anyway. Sensei was just desperate for help."
The first thing that immediately draws my attention is the boy doesn't shrivel under my stare, like most of them do. He meets my eyes boldly, as the rest of the kids watch in awe.
"Is that so?" I growled softly, "You think that we were hired because she was desperate?"
"Uh huh," He says, nodding sagely, "I bet you know shit."
One raises an eyebrow at me with a hint of a smirk on his face. I grin back, "Do you want to see what my brother knows?"
"I want to see what you know, Sensei." The word is tinged with sarcasm.
The boy reminds me of Adrian and I suddenly have a surge to knock the human unconscious. I immediately remember that Raikan is paying us to teach these annoying children, so of course, I can't.
"Very well," I respond, "Stand against the back wall," I order the students, and they comply, "Sensei Juan, if you please."
"My pleasure, Jason," He responds.
//"Should we slow down?"//
//"We think not."//
One flies at me, his back leg coming up in a roundhouse, which I duck under and grab his foot. With a twist of his ankle, he flies, but lands in a roll and jumps back up, coming again. This time the attack is a front kick, which I sidestep and aim for his gut with a sidekick. The kick is blocked by his forearm, and he throws a reverse punch for a counter. The punch I can avoid, but the jumping, spinning roundhouse, which comes next, is barely blocked by my hands. Pivoting, he comes into a back kick, which again I duck under and step behind his pivoting foot on the ground. As he steps back, he trips over me and tumbles to the ground. I bow to his fallen figure and offer him a hand up. As we turn to the boy and his comrades, the shocked expressions we meet give us both nasty smirks.
"Can we fight, boy?" I ask him, standing rather close and leering down, "Do we deserve your respect?"
The boy's amazement is quickly masked, "That was choreographed."
"What's your name?"
"Adrian."
That blows me completely away. I step back from him, my expression mixed surprise and horror.
"Adrian, do you like to play games? Like….strategy games?"
"How'd ya know that, Sensei? Me and my brother Neil play all the time. We kick ass, too."
I step back from him and look at One, "Sensei Juan, can you instruct your yellow belts on their waza? Make sure the white belts work on their forms well."
"Of course, Sensei," He responds, hiding his confusion.
//"We will explain in a moment."//
Immediately I bow out and step off of the mat.