Chapter 8 - New Players

The door swung open as an energetic Brian strutted through. He inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of constantly sprayed fragrance. He exhaled as he entered the main office. Sitting at the desk, he looked over the sheet of paper with the daily morning duties. "You know, I kinda see why Hez and Aj hate opening this place." He stood at his feet and grabbed the duster off the desk and began to dust the trophies in the middle lobby. He could hear the door open again, as he turned, he saw Arianna and Donna. Arianna looked as bright eyed and bushy tailed as ever. Donna looked as if she could use another twelve hours of sleep.

"Morning Brian," Arianna said energetically before rushing to the basement.

"Morning babe," Brian said to Donna as he opened his arms for a hug. She dropped her face into his chest.

"Why are Mondays so tiring?" She asked him.

"But it just started," Brian joked. Donna slowly made her way to the basement to nap. Her sluggish movements brought amusement to Brian. Soon the rest of the staff entered the dojo in preparation. As Mr. Nichols entered he called everyone to the main workout floor.

"Two weeks from today is our home tournament. That means this week and next week we will focus heavy on forms and sparring. We will also have other schools coming to sign up so welcome them in to take classes as well." He explained the outline for everything. Brian and Tababa looked to Danny and Neil. They thought of ways to make these these two weeks taxing on anyone who entered the dojo. The classes for the junior students began. The school came alive with the shouts of hard working children. Katrina yawned as she took her break. She looked at her phone and noticed she had a text.

"So bored! Coming in today, see you soon," it read. She smiled knowing Hez wouldn't stay in bed for long even after the events of the weekend.

"Taking a break?" Katrina turned to see Aj.

"Adult class is starting soon so yea, teaching sucks on Mondays." She replied.

"I'm just here to throw hands," Aj said with a shrug.

"As usual, your partner in crime is on his way as well." She added.

"Fuck yea!" Aj pumped his fist into the air in excitement. He winced as his arm reached full extension with a sharp pain running through his side. Katrina noticed it but kept quiet. As the adult class neared, three men entered the dojo. They each walked into the main office where Brian was sitting at the desk.

"Hello and welcome to United Taekwondo Academy. Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked. The man in the middle was dark skinned and lean. His hair was cut close to his head. His eyes were narrow and his jawline pointy. For facial hair he only had a mustache and the few hairs sprouting on his chin. Brian judged his height to a six feet even.

"My name is Richard, I'm here to sign up for the tournament," the young man said. To his left was a heavier set man. His skin was also dark but he wore a beard that was only coming in as patched hairs around his face. His hair was in a small but wild afro. His face was round and eyes seemed to droop.

"I'm Armon, I too am here to sign up." He said. To Richard's left stood a quieter young man. He was tall and skinny. His hair was straight and hidden under a skulls only showing the bang that covered the left side of his face. He dressed himself in a black shirt, black skinny jeans that hugged his legs and black fingerless gloves. Slung over each of their shoulders were white gis wrapped in a black belt. "That is a brother Lyteef. He doesn't speak much but he's here to sign up as well," Armon added.

"No problem, just fill out these forms and you'll be all set," Brian said with a smile. "You guys are also in time to take class with us if you'd like." The three looked at each other before silently nodding and exiting the office. They found space at a table in the middle lobby to fill out their paperwork. The adult class was beginning and the students began to pour in. Hez had just run through the door and farted down to the basement to change. As he stripped himself of his clothing, he could hear the class beginning.

"Shit, I hate Monday traffic!" He shouted. "Well at worse I'll miss the first sparring round." He ties his belt around his waist as he raced up the stairs with his gear bag slung over his shoulder. As he exited the basement he saw a single sparring match under way. The spectators were silent as they watched Aj drop to the mat hard. Hez's eyes narrowed on his opponent. A face he had never seen before, he couldn't hear Brian or Mr. Nichols yelling about how that wasn't part of the rules and the match was suppose to be light contact.

"He's mine," Hez entered the workout floor calmly, knowing he and his friend still had pains. He even had to battle Ren in Kamen Rider Form. He attached his shin guards and put on his gloves.

"You'll be the next guy I make taste the mat." Richard said with a smug look. Mr. Nichols knew Hez was doing this both out of anger and for the respect of his friend. He also knew there was no stopping it. Katrina had a worried look in her eyes. Hez simply nodded to her as he placed his head gear onto his head and slipped his mouth piece into his mouth. Everyone found space against the walls of the workout floor as the two met in the middle. Richard watched Hez bow to him and only extended his fist.

"Begin!" Mr. Nichols yelled and Richard pushed forward instantly. He threw a jab and followed it with a cross, both Hez blocked and countered with a round kick to the thigh. Richard checked the kick and fired a front kick into Hez's stomach. His ribs felt a sharp pain and he winced. Richard used the same leg and rotated his hips to snap a round kick at Hez's Head. He blocked it and slid forward, catching Richard off guard with a cross. As Richard backed up, Hez pivoted his left foot and chambered his right leg inward before rifling our a side kick into Richard's side, causing him to topple over.

Hez took a step back, goading his opponent to stand. Richard's face twisted as he seemingly snarled while scrambling to his feet. Richard threw a wild looping hook. Hez slipped it and returned with a heavy cross that landed flush. As Richard stumbled, Hez chambered his knee into his stomach but whipped his leg up and pulled his hip through, delivering a hook kick that knocked Richard off his feet. As he landed on the ground, Hez stood quietly before returning to the group of students. Armon and Lyteef quickly motioned to Richard's aid.

"We aren't here to beat the life out of each other. Save that for real life situations." Hez spoke out, "sparring is suppose to be a friendly almost game like action. If you want a real fight, I'll be happy to grant you one as I did your friend." He glanced over his shoulder, both men glaring at him with venom in their eyes. Hez simply sighed, knowing his body was still in pain.

Mr. Nichols wrapped up class. He nodded to Hez and Aj in approval. He was secretly proud of his boys for fighting through their pain. They sat in the basement as they stripped away their gear. "What the hell was that?" Hez turned to see Arianna.

"No idea, but those new guys were a pain in my ass," Hez responded obviously annoyed.

"Those guys are jerks, if Aj was 100% this wouldn't have gone that way," Neil said. The group changed and parted their ways as they exited. Aj nodded at Hez before getting into his truck. Just as everyone pulled off, Hez felt uneasy. His eyes shifted from left to right. Before he could look back to his left, his window was smashed on and he was being pulled from the vehicle. He could only see three men dressed in all black. They threw him to the ground but he quickly scrambled to his feet.

"You like embarrassing people don't you? Why don't we show you true humiliation?!" He heard one of them hiss. He had a pretty good idea who they were at this point. He raised his fists as two of his attackers moved to his sides. All was still for a second, then a foot came rushing for his chest. He parried it but soon as he did he felt the force of a round kick to his face. Hez stumbled back before blocking a low round kick and parrying a punch. As he did so, his right side was open where he felt a fist slam into his ribs. He then felt a fist slamming into the opposite side of his face. He backed himself up against a wall, lowering the amount of blind spots he could be hit from. He blocked and parried move after move before he was kicked in his left leg and right temple. His body became to crumble as they continued their onslaught of attacks. Blow after blow Hez could feel old injuries and pains resurface. His body slid down to the floor. As they walked away his face was covered in bruises. His left eye swelled and mouth bled. He ached as he tried to stand and failed. Anger burned through his mind and body like a raging fire. He struggled to make it to his jeep before he succumbed to his pains and drifted from consciousness.

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"To take out a rider is no small feat," the voice of a cloaked man said as he stood before an orb. The orb showed Hez laying in his vehicle unconscious. "They may prove to be useful." From the hood of his black cloak sprouted a silver emblem in the shape of a capital Z. The cloak shrouded his face in total darkness but the red glow of his visor flashed from the darkness.

"Yes my lord," a kneeling figure said to him. "Do you wish for us to convert them into Jokers?"

"No," the cloaked being replied. "Give them the powers of a rider. I can feel their malice intent towards the world. With just a little power, we can manipulate them of their own free will. Bring them to me." The being ordered. The kneeling figure stood. The outline of his body shined while his armored back was to the light. He turned heel and exited the room, leaving his master to his orb. A low toned laughed bellowed as the being walked farther into the light. The laughter of evil echoed as it intensified.