Chapter 23:
Well life has moved on, it's now the beginning of June when we got to the DOJO, I could feel the excitement in the air. Things were way different today, there was more people in the DOJO. It almost looked like an open house. We went and changed, and returned to the mats. I noticed Student after Student pairing up with masters, then the student would fight another student of a different master. I was paired up with Mr. Delaront, and fought another brown belt, who was bigger than me. What he had in height and weight, I made up for by being small and fast. We did fight to a draw. We bowed to each other as we both left the ring. I started to walk around and shake out the kinks as I didn't want to stiffen up. Grandma was impressive, she fought her opponent to a draw as well. A gong was sounded, and we were given a small meal, water, and allowed to relax. After about an hour the fighting resumed. This time I was pitted against a black belt who was just a little bit taller than me. I knew this would be a challenge, and slipped into primal brain, this was really going to be a fight. I was not mistaken it was a real fight, but I could see the moves coming, and fought accordingly. The rules were changed about halfway through, a second person attacked from my backside. I felt them there and fought with all I had. They were a team and fought as such, but I could still see the moves coming. I fought them to a draw again, but I was finished. I barely had the strength to bow to the masters, and walk off the mat before collapsing on the floor beside grandma. The rest of the fights concluded, and again we were offered a second small meal with water. The masters went over to a corner and sat down and started to converse. I got up and started to walk around, I found I was already stiff, but I soon moved freely again as I continued to walk. After about ½ hour of talking the masters got up and came to the mats. We all stood up to face them. We bowed to each other. Two masters went away and came back with a rainbow assortment of belts. Everyone went up a color except Vivian and I. I could see the hurt in Vivian's eyes as I was not offered a black belt, but it was ok. Then Oscar stood up and came to the center of the mat.
"Daniel, Step forward please". I went forward with a little bit of trepidation. As I stood before Oscar, I could see I bit of a smile on his lips, and he was feeling very proud of me. "As you can see Gentle mammals, we have saved the best for last. This three-year-old has beaten some of you and fought the rest to a draw". At the pronouncement of my age there was a Sharpe intake of breath around the room. "In all good conscious Daniel, I can't offer you a black belt, what I can give you is a double black belt. You fought two opponents at one time, and fought them to a draw. You are the youngest member of this DOJO to receive this honor". He then ties a wider black sash around me. the clapping starts shortly after this pronouncement. I bow to all the members, and bow to grandma, who has tears in her eyes.
"Vivian Wilde step forward". Grandma gets this deer in the headlight's kind of look, but does step forward. "As the oldest student we have ever trained, you have proven your worth. Your matches were not against brown belts as you thought, but both fighters were black belts. We did this because we could see the doubt you had in yourself. You were measuring yourself by what others thought not by what you could do. So, I present to you Vivian Wilde your black belt, you have earned it". Again, there was clapping as Oscar ties her black belt around her. We then all bow to one another and head for the change rooms.
Grandma is still over the moon with what happened today. "Did you know what was going to happen today Daniel? No, grandma it was as big a surprise to me as it was to you. How could I be a black belt? Well, he did say that you doubted your abilities". We both laugh. Later at home we're soaking in the tub, when I broach the subject that is on my mind.
"Grandma I think I'm going to have to go back to the institute. Daniel what are you saying? Grandma I'm going to have to let them think they kidnapped me. Why Daniel? Because we are going to need someone on the inside to pull this off, who better than me? What kind of help have you got? None at the moment, but I don't want to start everything till shortly before it happens. When are you planning for this to happen? I figure the carrot day festival in Bunny Burrow, at the end of august, would be the perfect place for this to happen. Large crowds, lots of noise, and no one paying attention to one more kit running around. Your right that would be a good place. So, what kind of plan have you got so far? Well, first off, we will have to get mom and dad to let us go, second, they can't know what's happening. We need it to be believable, and I don't think mom and dad can act that good as to make it believable".
"You know they will be mad at you when they find out? They will be mad at both of us, but I know you can act the distraught guardian. Me? They won't let me go alone, so I need you to come with me. Alright, I can see that, so what else have you got? Well DeDe has already hacked their main frame, and can control the power grid, she would cut the power to allow the Zcia in. So, you will be contacting the Zcia ? Yes, I feel there the group to have the least contact with the institute. So, how are you going to contact them, so the institute doesn't find out? I believe chief Bogo might be able to help with that, he has to have some contact with them. But how are you going to contact the chief? Well I figured I would present myself as a trainer to the ZPD. You would lie to him? Ah no, as a double black belt I can now train others. Wow I did not know that. It's in the charter of the DOJO but I will be responsible for the students I take on. So, when were you planning to contact the chief? Well I actually have to get mom and dad's approval first and I think that's going to be hard. Your right that could be very hard".
So, grandma and I make a special meal tonight, for when mom and dad get home. As dad comes in the door, He exclaims, "wow it sure smells good in here, is there some sort of special occasion? Well, there is actually, grandma says as they come in and sit down at the table. So, what's the special occasion, ma? We are celebrating the fact that I got my black belt today. Wow I didn't know you had it in you. Well to tell you the truth, I didn't know I had it in me either. So, Daniel, did you get your black belt today. No dad, I didn't get a black belt today. Well there's always next time. Ah, no dad, I didn't get my black belt today, because I earned a double black belt. Wow now I'm really impressed, what does that mean?"
"It means dad, that I can train others in the art. Daniel, you are only three, do you think others will listen to you? Not sure, how would you like some training? I would, if it would help me keep up with your mother. Har, Har slick, you are to slow to keep up. Well we can't do this here, I say, we need some kind of gym. The only gym I can think of is the gym at the precinct. That would be perfect, I say. Is it not open to police officers and their families? We will look into it, but don't get your hopes up. Well if it would help, you could tell chief Bogo, I offer my services for free. You would train police officers? Why not, if it stops them getting hurt on the job, how can that be bad?" Grandma just looks over at me in wonder and just shakes her head. We firm up a plan to ask Bogo in the morning.
We all head down early to precinct 1 to talk to chief Bogo. "Morning spots, says dad. Morning Ben says mom. Morning Mr. Clawhauser". At this Ben lets out with a Squeal, "O.M.G. Daniel, I haven't seen you in, like ages, how have you been? I've been fine" I say as I jump onto his desk. I give him a big hug, and jump down. "And to you as well Vivian, good to see you. Hey spots, is the chief in? He got in a few minutes ago, go on up". As we knock, we can't help but remember what happened the last in his office. "Enter" was all we heard. As we all enter and close the door, I feel the chief is a bit surprised, but you would never know it by his facial expressions.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of the Wilde's in my office? Chief were here to ask about the gym. The Gym? Yes, is it open to all members and their families? It is, why do you ask? Well, we would like to use it for a little sparing, and some training. What kind of training? Well the kind we hope will help police officers from getting hurt on the job. I'm all for this, who would be this trainer? That would be me Sir". The look on the chief's face was priceless. Grandma just shakes her head. The chief bust out laughing, "oh good one Wilde, you had me going for a minute there. Ah Chief, this isn't a joke, I'm being dead serious. I haven't seen you in what 15 months, and you now think you are some sort of trainer? Yes Sir, I do". Chief just laughs all the harder. But as he notices no one else is laughing, he soon sobers up. "What can you teach us Daniel? Well Sir, I have a double black belt in a martial arts discipline from the Dojo down on 4Th and 29Th ave". The chief raises and eye brow, as he knows how exclusive that DOJO is. "Who trained you there? Mr. Oscar Delaront. And you wish to pass this knowledge on? I do sir, for the use of the gym. And you would train any officer regardless of size or strength? Yes sir, I would. This I've got to see;" he says as he gets up and we all head for the gym.
Grandma and I head for the locker rooms and change into our Karateka, then head into the gym. There are mats on most of the floor with a boxing ring on one side. Some weights are over by one wall, and a few treadmills line the window area. Grandma and I go to the center of the mats and go into our routine. As we finish, we have quite the crowd watching us. We bow to each other and head for the ring, once in the ring, we bow to each other and do a demonstration of fighting. After a few minutes we break up, bow, and exit the ring.
"Right Daniel, I can see you are not blowing smoke, but who would you chose to fight. It doesn't matter chief you pick one. Fangmyer, front and center. Fangmyer comes forward, I want you to fight Daniel. But he's just a kit sir. This kit says he can beat your butt in the ring, and I've got twenty that says Daniel wins". Well the betting went fast and furious with most of them betting on Fangmyer. As we got into the ring, I could see she was scared of hurting me, so I sent her feeling of calm, and entered my fighting mind. We bow to each other and get into our stances. I can tell by her stance she is not well trained, she goes on the offensive and I just let her wear herself out, when she is just about done, I casually flip her over onto her back on the mat. This knocks the wind out of her, and she gives the tell. I just back up and bow to her. Everyone just claps and passes their money over to Bogo. "Well I say, the widows and orphan fund just got a boost today. Is there anyone else who would like to fight Daniel? I will".
As we all look for who said that, mom hops into the ring. I'm a little nervous, as this is my mom, the bunny who knocked out a rhino at the academy, and is the reigning champ at precinct 1. But she is my opponent, so I slip back into fighting mind. We begin to fight; I notice right away that mom does way too much bouncing and not enough flowing. But I know if her feet ever connected with me, I would be seriously hurt. She takes a lot of chances, and I use a few of them. Finally, she tries to come in from the side with a flying kick. With this I drop under her, and tip her just enough to start her tumbling. She lands hard on the mat, and gives the tell. I rush over, "are you hurt mom? No Daniel, just my pride is wounded". The clapping and cheering from the crowd were deafening. Chief Bogo walks over, "so when do you want to start training Daniel? Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturday mornings, Saturday afternoons and Sundays are still my days off". Chief raises an eye brow, "Well chief I still train at the DOJO Monday Wednesday and Fridays".
"Well Sir, we now know what "J" has been learning at that DOJO, it seems he has become a good fighter. He just beat the two best cops in precinct 1 this morning. He beat them? Yes Sir, quite handily I might add. So, it's going to be harder to reacquire him. Yes Sir, I might suggest we try to trank him from a distance and then just scoop him up. Yes, I can see the logic in that. Also, the grandmother is a black belt herself. So, what your saying is we either have to trank them both, or separate them. I'm afraid so. Boy this just gets harder and harder. Do we have any good news?
Yes Sir, our quarterly report says we have earned A whopping 4.5-million on investments. Wow that is good. Is this all due to subject "L"? Yes Sir, he is a financial genius.
How about "N" and "O"? "O" has built the next computer, and "N" has now programed it, it is even faster than the last one. Any luck at reverse engineering the old one, or the programing? No Sir, it stubbornly refuses to give up its secrets. We have a few language experts who think this new operating system is a language all on its own, but no concrete ideas on how to translate it. Well keep trying, I want to know what it is.