For the next 6 months Kreese lead the Cobras in new directions. He was an efficient leader and all the guys respected and slightly feared him. Kreese had started a loan shark business and got himself plenty of money saved in various bank accounts. He had continued working the underground fight circuit. He would destroy his opponents even quicker now with his new skills.
He had also started training the other member of the Cobras Karate. He wanted his gang to be able to handle any situation. But he was also smart and made sure not to make them too good as he knew one day one could challenge him just as he had done to the previous boss.
He had his students put on gis and found it amusing that a lot had similar reactions to himself at first but all came around and listened to him as he taught his way. He actually found himself enjoying teaching and seeing them all improving. Kreese also used it to teach himself as now his Sensei had a bullet in his head he had no one who could teach him. So he practiced in the ring and in sparring his students and almost redesigned his system. Using different terminology and methods, getting rid of a lot of the traditional elements and making his style more street realistic.
After one class Kreese was leaving and removing his black belt when a young lad called Ricky ran over to him. Ricky was a new Cobra who had with the gang only a few months.
"Excuse me Mr Kreese?" he asks nervously. John turns to him.
"Excuse me boy when in this dojo you address me as Sensei is that understood?"
"Oh yes Sensei, sorry Sensei."
"Well what do you want lad?"
Ricky nodded and looked at him.
"I was just wondering about your style of Karate?"
"What about it?"
"Well what type is it?"
Kreese frowns and looks at him confused.
"It's Karate that's what it is."
Ricky nods an carries on nervously.
"Well yeah but theres loads of Karate isn't there. Shotokan, Kenpo, wado-ryu."
Kreese thinks about this realising he actually had no idea about his style or anything to do with Karates history and this Ricky lad was obviously some kind of Karate nerd.
"What does it matter? If you're in a fight no ones going to give a shit about what labels you fight with."
Ricky nods quickly.
"Yes Sensei sorry Sensei but I was just thinking we're Cobras right so maybe this is like Cobra style Karate. Like how Kung Fu uses animal styles this could be our style of Karate Kai."
Kreese frowns at him.
"Karate Kai?"
"Yeah that's the true name of Karate developed from Japan but here its been shortened to just Karate."
Kreese nods.
"So you think this style should be called Cobra Karate Kai?"
Ricky thinks about it for a second then shakes his head.
"Nah that doesn't really work does it. But how about Cobra Kai Karate or just maybe Cobra Kai. What do you think?"
Kreese considers it then shakes his head.
"Nah that's lame."
A few weeks later Kreese and a few men were planning a job. They wanted some solid cash so were planning an armed robbery on a jewellery store. Nothing fancy just run in get the cash and go. Kreese was addressing his crew for the job.
"Simple plan strike first strike hard go in get what we need get out. No one needs to get hurt not us or them. More than likely they won't put up much of a fight. It'll be easy work. Any questions?"
There was no response and in the following week Kreese and the 3 other Cobras park their getaway car next to the store. All men checked their weapons. 2 of them were using shotguns, another had a rifle. Kreese though had a preference for hand guns and was using a smith and western.
"Lets do this boys."
Kreese spoke with confidence and they stepped out the vehicle and pulled masks over thei faces. They crash through the door. Kreese runs to the security guard and drops him with a quick elbow to the jaw. The 3 men cover the shop while Kreese moves over to the guy on the cash desk and puts his gun in his face.
"Very simple, you want to live hand over the money. Don't be a hero you don't get paid enough for that."
The gang started gathering as much cash and jewellery off the crowd of people in the store when they heard police sirens in the distance. Obviously one of the workers hit the silent alarm.
"TIME TO MOVE BOYS." Kreese yelled out to the rest of the gang. With that they run out through the back of the shop to the fire exit into a back alleyway. Cops had surrounded their getaway car. Kreese quickly took control.
"Right guys split up and meet back at the base."
They all ran in several directions. 3 cops chased after Kreese. One jumped in front of Kreese pointing his gun at him.
"Freeze hands in the air." The officer yelled at him. Kreese began to raise his arms like he was surrendering but as he did he seized hold of the gun stepped to his side away from the barrel and twisted the gun out of the cops hand then followed up with a right hand that knocked the man to the ground unconscious. He started to run again and got to a fence. Just before he could climb it another cop grabbed him from behind. Kreese twisted round and kneed him in the groin and followed up with an elbow to the head and threw him to the side. He then leapt to his side and side kicked another approaching cop in the chest sending him flying back into the wall. He then scaled the fence and dropped down on the other side. Suddenly 10 cops appeared from nowhere all pointing guns at him and yelling. Kreese knew he couldn't fight them all so simply dropped to his knees and put his hands behind his head. 2 cops ran at him and pinned him to the ground and put handcuffs on him and threw him into a police van. Kreese cursed himself. He'd failed and now was in deep trouble.
The next few days were a blur to Kreese. When he'd arrived at the station his prints were taken and he was forced into a cell. He had then been interviewed and asked to give up the other Cobras involved in the robbery. But Kreese had refused to give up his crew. So he had been charged with armed robbery, possession of an illegal firearm and 3 counts of assault on a police officer. He was then taken to court for sentencing. He stared at the judge as he delivered his verdict.
"John Kreese, one week ago you took part in a robbery motivated purely by greed. You then assaulted 3 officers causing serious injury. You have not co-operated with the investigation and have offered no defence. Usually this crime would sentence you to 20 years in prison. But given the fact you are still a young man and are in good physical condition and in light of current circumstances we are willing to not put you in prison. Instead you will join the military and redeem yourself by fighting for your country in Vietnam. No appeal may be made against this."
Kreese was stunned as he was led away. Sure he was happy to not be doing time but in no way did he want to join the military. But like everything else the choice was taken out of his hands.
Kreese was kept under house arrest under he was due to be deployed for basic training. But on the last night he was allowed to have one night out on the strict orders I he didn't turn up he would be arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He had no intention of running. He knew he could probably call some contacts and get him some false papers to get out the country but he didn't want to spend forever looking over his shoulder. He walked into a bar he'd never been before to drown his sorrows. He'd considered contacting the Cobras but decided against it in case the cops were tailing him to catch them.
He was sitting in the bar drinking a beer when a small Asian looking man sits next to him. The guy was way shorter than Kreese and less built and was losing his hair. Kreee glanced at the gu but didn't say anything. The man looks at him.
"You look like man who sentenced to death." The man says with a small laugh.
Kreese looks at the guy and gives a small sarcastic laugh.
"In a way I have. I either join the army tomorrow or I spend the rest of my life in jail."
The man nods thinking of this.
"You commit crime. Maybe army good way to restore honour."
Kreese laughs and shakes his head.
"You sound like the damm judge. I don't need my honour restored. I couldn't give a dam about honour."
The man nods.
"You young so no understand honour you think life about money, getting girls, getting power. But one day all that be gone and you left by yourself and if have no honour inside you be as good as dead."
Kreese looks at him.
"Was I supposed to understand any of that crap."
He looks at him and sees the man wearing an army uniform.
"Oh you're one of the armies bitches so of course you think fighting wars is good."
The man shakes his head.
"War never good. No winner in any war. Even the winning side lose many men so how can be considered winners. Army teaches strength inner and outer."
Kreese takes a large gulp of his beer and orders another before speaking.
"I don't need any of that I'm a black belt in karate I know all about strength."
The man laughs.
"Ah you Karate student. You seem like man who has no true idea about Karate. You may know how to fight and hurt people but that's not the real Karate. Karate is about peace and balance. Not about winning war against others but winning war with yourself."
Kreese rolls his eyes.
"You talk like some damm monk. You talk like you understand Karate. You're about 2 foot tall you'd get squashed on the streets. Okay you talk about peace and wars within. How has it helped you in that way?"
The man frowns and looks down.
"Wife and son died recently. I could have broken and destroyed myself and lost my war but my balance keep me going."
Kreese nods slightly.
"Ah I'm sorry about your wife and kid." He raises his glass as if to toast them.
"Aye me to but you remember. War isn't good it changes people. But you can control what it turn you into. It could turn you into even more of a criminal or it can show you how lucky you truly are. Your choice."
The man sees a group of soldiers wearing the same uniform as him at the door.
"I must go. Good luck, maybe one day we meet again."
Kreese nods.
"Yeah see you round."
The man stands and gives a small bow then walks to his men. The leader looks at him as the man salutes.
"Ready to leave Sergeant Miyagi?"
"Aye sir, Miyagi ready."
A/N: Hope everyone likes the new chapter. I know its been a while. Also hope people like the last part. I wasn't sure about it. But I like the idea of the 2 meeting before the movies. I always felt that Kreese did have a small bit of respect for miyagi in the first movie I could be wrong but I interpreted it that way so I put it in. It's the most fan service I've written in and If people don't like it well it won't be in anymore chapters but please review. I appreciate feedback.
