Act 1: Act in accordance with time and change.
Obligation
Billy Kane stood erect in the center of the large training hall. His eyes focused on a single slip of paper suspended from the ceiling by a nigh invisible thread. His toes raked lightly against the cudgel at his feet. The air was still, so the paper did not move. The anger inside him swelled the longer he studied the news clipping that showcased a picture of a blond man wearing a red baseball cap.
With uncanny dexterity, Billy rolled his toes under the cudgel and flicked the staff up to his waiting hand. With a perfect stance and a sure grip, he thrust the end of his cudgel toward the page. However, the target remained intact, being blown aside at the last second by a sudden rush of incoming air. The subject in the picture seemed to taunt him.
"Bollocks!"
Billy turned to the henchman, who had opened the door, with a reprimanding glare.
The henchman, in spite of his massive size, cowered under Billy's glower. "Sorry, sir. There's a boy here to see you."
"A boy, you say?" Billy snorted in realization. "See him in."
The henchman obeyed, and King entered the hall soon after. Billy chuckled to himself at his lackey's understandable mistaking of King for a boy, for she wore her usual style of dress that consisted of a dark blazer with matching trousers. Her crew haircut and lack of makeup added to the deception that she often used to protect herself on the street.
King regarded the expansive dojo and the many artifacts that decorated the walls—in keeping with the owners' predilection for Asian culture. She did not bother to remove her Gale wingtip shoes, a clear sign of disrespect, and she approached Billy with loud footfalls. "I thought I made it clear that I don't want anything to do with your gang?"
Billy rested his cudgel across his shoulders, giving her a clear view of his bare torso as she squared off. "If that's so, then what are you doing here, love?"
"To tell you that I have no intention of becoming beholden to another master. So, when Geese returns, you can tell him to keep his money." Her expression soured at the sight of Geese's portrait that was displayed prominently at the head of the room. "He would do better to hire an interior decorator."
Billy's usual smug grin faded. "I'm rapidly losing patience waiting for you to get to the point."
She took a step back in response to Billy's change in demeanor. "Was that not you that paid off Jean's hospital bill?"
"No, it wasn't us." His grin returned. "Sounds like you have a secret admirer."
King folded her arms and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time." She turned to leave, but once again found her egress impeded by the end of Billy's cudgel.
"Not so fast, dearie. You came all this way, so maybe you wouldn't mind answering a question for your old friend Billy?"
A raised eyebrow marked her assent.
With a sneer, Billy lowered the end of his cudgel from her face, stopping at her chest. "If not for family, what would it take to separate you from those beautiful... principles of yours?"
In answer, King leapt straight into the air, spinning as she struck the cudgel with her knee, disarming its master. At her height, she extended her leg, and her crescent kick cut the air over Billy's head.
He ducked, but reversed himself when he saw the bottom half of the paper floating to the ground. The top half of the page remained suspended on the thread undisturbed. He rose to stand nose-to-nose with King, who sported an arrogant smirk.
"You should practice more, Billy. There's nothing worse than a man who can't handle his pole."
Billy snorted. "Careful, love. You're cute, but not that cute."
With that, King resumed her egress only to be stopped again by the henchman at the door. She looked over her shoulder to address Billy one last time. "Move your tree, before I chop him down."
With a smile of amusement, Billy gave the henchman a sideways nod, and the big man allowed King to leave without further incident.
Alone again, Billy resumed his exercise. He retrieved his cudgel and, with renewed focus, bore his weapon down towards the expertly twained remains of the suspended page. His thrust was faster this time.
"Bollocks!"