Chapter 3: Train The Mind

The Next Day, Rust Flats Wresting & Fitness Center, Brooklyn, New York

King and Craig Marduk did an early morning workout together at this inner city fitness center in New York City. The owners of the center invited them over speak to some underprivileged children after the workout. Craig made the kids laugh with his taunts and boisterous language, while King was more self-controlled, not acting like a buffoon the way Craig was doing. The two prepared to make their leave out the building, until they were once again stopped by Mr. Miyashita Katsuhiro.

Craig (Exiting): "Remember you rug rats not to talk to strangers and if bullies mess with cha' use my special move ya got that!"

Kids: "Yes sir, Mr. Marduk!"

King: "Craig, did you just really tell them they are rug rats?"

Craig: "You Americans are too sensitive. My mom called me rug rat until I was 15."

King: "I'm technically not American, but I guess you never stopped being a rug rat."

Craig: "Hey. Only momma can call me that."

Katsuhiro: "Good morning gentlemen. I trust you session with the children went along smoothly."

Craig (surprised.): "What the? You're that guy in the limo yesterday."

King: "How did you find us?"

Katsuhiro: "My men followed your limo the whole time, but we have pressing matters to address."

The two wrestlers followed Katsuhiro back in his limo. Katsuhiro informed the two of their assignment.

Katsuhiro: "Alright boys, we need you to travel to Sydney and sabotage the grand opening of Chanko Paradise. The sumo wrestler Ganryu owes us some money for taking a loan out of our business, and he neglects to pay the fee. We will pay you twice the salary you earn in the wrestling ring. What do you think?"

Craig: "Yea I'm in."

King: "How can you agree so easily? Katsu…whatever…what do you mean by sabotage?"

Katsuhiro: "To be more specific, I want you to smash Ganryu's new restaurant. He has several more restaurants that have already opened along the Pacific Ocean, but the one in Sydney will plaster his face all over the media. We need to embarrass him! Make him learn not to fuck with our money! Is that clear enough King?"

King: "I hear you. I'm only doing this for the benefit of my homeland and orphanage."

Craig: "Atta boy King. Money, money, mooonnnney!"

Katsuhiro: "Good to hear. You will be leaving out of New York immediately, so pack your bags and afterwards we will escort you from your hotel."

So the two wrestlers turned mercenaries had their first mission to crash the establishment of Chanko Paradise, a restaurant Ganryu worked hard to expand after his retirement from professional sumo. Meanwhile back in Arizona, Julia tracked the flight of Christie Monteiro. She would land in Phoenix, tonight at 7PM. The only problem was, Armor King. How long was he going to train her? It was almost noon. Julia prepared to leave her hotel and wondered what would take place at the warehouse.

Noon time

Julia arrived at the warehouse just before noon. Armor King was inside helping Michelle count her abs exercise. Michelle was upside down doing crunches. Her feet carefully locked on a bar.

Armor King: "97…98…99…100. And rest."

Michelle (breathing hard): "Ah…Thank goodness."

Armor King: "Good job. I'll help you out of that."

Julia (walking closer): "Ahem…I'm back."

Armor King (Unlocks the chains, but is startled by Julia's voice. Michelle falls down.): "Eh…Julia? Now look what cha made me do."

Julia: "I'm sorry. I just didn't know, really."

Michelle (Lying down): "It's ok. But I think I need help getting up."

Armor King picks up Michelle and places her back on her feet. Her abs were too weak to move her body normally because of fatigue.

Michelle (Smooches Armor King's mask): "Thank you beastie."

Armor King: "Umm…yea anytime."

Julia: "Ooookay. Now what about training?"

Armor King: "Yes that. You have a test on that book you've read last night."

Julia: "I thought you were bluffing on that. You actually made a test?"

Armor King: "No, but I found it online, and it's pretty useful. So quit wasting time and get on it!"

Julia: "Okay but where do I go?"

Armor King: "Upstairs the middle door."

Julia went ahead upstairs to complete the test. Armor King was quickly not becoming well liked. He was doing her mom, which was not right in her mind. Not to mention, Julia over heard that King fought with Craig Marduk against Armor King. So King and Armor King weren't really friends. Why did her mother keep this a secret from her? Michelle dated a lot of men over the years, but dumped them all because of they were pussyhounds. Armor King was a wrestler, so he probably had several groupies. No way was Armor King seeing just her. With all of these unanswered questions, Julia struggled to remember the answers from reading the book. It took about an hour, but Julia finally finished, hoping it would be good enough to satisfy Armor King. Out of coincidence, Armor King enters the office.

Armor King: "Are you finished with the test yet?"

Julia: "Yes. Look can I start training in the ring now?"

Armor King (Grabs the paper.): "No. Your 48 hours are not up yet. You can't afford to bump your head again."

Julia (Upset.): "All thanks to you!"

Armor King (Ignoring.): "Hmmmm…Damn."

Julia: "What's wrong?"

Armor King: "Your mother was right. You really are a bookworm. I see no wrong answers here."

Julia: "Gee thanks mom. Anyway how did you two begin dating?"

Armor King: "I met Michelle while I was visiting my brother's grave. Her parents are buried in the same cemetery as him."

Julia: "Really?"

Armor King: "They're buried on the north side of town. But anyway Michelle and I started dating for almost a year now. You're lucky to have someone special like her as a mother."

Julia: "I know. Well it's just that I've never seen her get dominated the way you had her last night."

Armor King: "Hey. Your mother approached me and we felt an attraction ever since, but let me apologize for letting you see us screwing."

Julia: "As long mom is happy, I guess won't complain."

Armor King (Pulls out a drawer, with books. He places some on the table in front of Julia.): "Since you can't do physical training yet, why don't you work the brain muscles by reading more of these wrestling books."

Julia: "That's 3 more books! I have a friend on the way from Phoenix. You have to let me get her!"

Armor King: "You better hurry up and read then, or let Michelle deal with it."

Julia (Takes a book): "Ugh. At least bring mother here so I can tell her."

Armor King (Leaving.): "Very well."

10 minutes later…

Michelle enters the office, wandering what Julia meant by a friend coming over.

Michelle: "Julia, what's this I hear about a friend."

Julia (Stops reading.): "It's someone I've met at the King of Iron Fist Tournament. I promised her I would hook her up with another friend."

Michelle: "Oh. So you're playing matchmaker, but not dating yourself?"

Julia: "Mom, I don't think I will be done with these books in time, so can you please pick her up at the airport?"

Michelle: "And here I hoping it was a man."

Julia (Irritated.): "Mom!"

Michelle: "Alright! What's her name?"

Julia: "Christie, and she's brown skinned. Her plane arrives at 7PM from Dallas."

Michelle: "Ok. I'll go get her when the time comes. See ya later!"

Seven hours later…

Julia grew tried over the course of the day reading book after book. She fell asleep on the counter. There was a loud knock on the door, which woke her up from the slumber. The door opens. It is Michelle and standing behind her, Christie. Christie, looking beautiful as ever, wore a black casual dress which started from her shoulders and ending down to her thighs. Her hair was not in a ponytail, but with a vibrant smile she approaches Julia. Julia puts on her glasses, since they fell off her face, standing up to hug Christie.

Julia: "I'm glad you made it to America, Christie."

Christie: "Thank you Julia. It's feels good to be here. Michelle told me about you becoming a wrestler. Think you can do it?"

Julia: "I have no doubt I can. This is to refund my reforestation project back in my homeland."

Christie: "Oh yes. I noticed this country doesn't have many trees like where I'm from."

Michelle: "No, America has trees. You are in a desert state called Arizona. If you went east to Tennessee or Alabama, you will find many trees."

Christie: "That's sounds kind of far."

Julia: "It is, but come on let's get out here. I've been here all day."

Heading downstairs with the other women, Julia noticed that Armor King was missing.

Julia: "Hey mom, where's Armor King?"

Michelle: "Oh he went to a bar. I guess he forgot to tell you that he left. It will be ok, you girls have fun together. I'm getting too old for clubbing."

Christie: "I thought you two were sisters, Michelle doesn't look old at all does she Julia."

Michelle: "We get that a lot."

Julia: "Ok mom we'll see you tomorrow."

Julia and Christie went out on a night of the town. Julia had forgotten to contact Tiger about Christie's arrival. After getting harassed by men at every club they drifted to, the girls eventually made back at the hotel safe in the early morning hours. Before Christie slept, she asked a weary Julia about this person she wanted to meet.

Christie (yawns): "Julia I never did meet this mystery man you wanted me to see."

Julia: "Oh, I forgot. Crap. Hope he doesn't get mad."

Christie: "What's he like?"

Julia: "Well let's just say he's the type that loves 1970s culture."

Christie: "Oh. Should be fun meeting a guy like that."

Julia: "I'll call him first thing in the morning for you."

Christie: "Sounds great! Well sweet dreams Julia."

Julia: "Goodnight."

Notes: In the next chapter, Ganryu will get ambushed by Katsuhiro's men while King and Marduk get into a fight with a superhero. Meanwhile Julia introduces Christie to Tiger.