“Teamwork, Master.”

“That's right, well, it’s a good start. You lost because they formed a duo, you had no idea of each other’s existence in the fight, you must remember that there are two of you for a reason.”

The two fighters nodded, eager to start their first training session since the pounding they had received last time. They were back at the scrapyard only this time the robots that were going to be used for training were already standing at ready.

Their training lasted for three hours, the focus on nothing more than timing and rhythm. In the beginning there looked to be no hope but Antony picked up on the task, noticing that there were moments of downtime on Uvo’s offensive, Antony tried hopping in, parrying a couple of the fight bots attacks, giving Uvo a brief period to resume fighting stance and re engage. The moment was not missed by Master Wen who made a mental note.

As it got further in, Uvo learned to take advantage of his downtime and used it to launch a peculiar attack such as a leg kick or gut punch, the fact that the robot was held up with Antony allowed Uvo an opportunity to strike at a weakness, the duo even managed to disable a robot completely when Uvo high kicked it’s head off.

The end of the session was called when Antony had become comfortable with the movement. Due to them being training bots they only had a set of movements, meaning, once Antony had fought with it enough he came to understand its movements, the bots stood no chance after that.

Master Wen was pleased with the progress, it was actually a lot more than what she had hoped for. Not only had Uvo learned how to fight alongside Antony but Antony had learned to read, remember and predict movements, far quicker and more accurately than she had ever seen. The bots had a total of a hundred movements programmed, his ability to comprehend them so quickly surpassed even her own when at his age.

Master Wen approached the boys who were toweling off at the end of the session, slipping dirty shoes on in preparation for the journey home. “You did well, I see you learned a great many things.” They both looked up and she could tell that they had done just that.

“You’re next fight is in two weeks and against a different, far less capable team. I have no doubt you can beat them.”

“Not the team we fought last time?”

“You may be ready for them after this next fight but certainly not right now, patience is something that I thought I had already taught you.” Uvo recovered from the disappointed expression and politely nodded.

“Continue your stretching at home, I have something to attend to at the moment, make sure you do your meditation as well.”

The boys nodded and said their goodbyes, excited at the prospect of their next fight.

Master Wen took off after the training, ashamed of calling her first ever lesson early but realising it was necessary she powered past the buildings and arrived at a towering monstrosity of a construction.

Reaching upwards of three kilometres, the building was designed with elegance and class much different to most of the buildings taking up the minimal space Earth has to offer. It was the centre of the city and the only transport out if you wanted to go into space.

The elevator took Wen to the 316th Floor, an executive sweet in the most expensive building in the city. She expected no less however so walked undaunted through the door, deciding not to knock in case she appeared too polite.

“Ah, Ms Wen, we’ve been expecting you.” A young man dressed in a black suit sat behind a large wooden desk stated monotonously. His expression giving nothing away, the gaudy and over the top interior placed gave the atmosphere a muddled feeling. Wen scowled at the man who made no move in retaliation, only ushering her towards one of the four doors in the hallway. She opened it unceremoniously, her eyes landing on the badly dressed man sitting on some sofas on the other side of the room. He was watching the Taijitu fight on a screen the size of the wall.

“Guranahan…”

“It’s Mr Hedley to you. As you are Ms Wen to me.”

He sneered violently, his teeth almost all made of some ridiculously expensive space rock. His rings had much the same treatment, he looked truly at home in the horrible decor.

“What did you want?”

“I want nothing, I only want to talk.”

“If it’s about my gym, I don’t want to hear anything about it.”

“Are you sure? Listen, you’re fighters are criminally subpar. You must know this.”

“They are at the beginning of their journey.”

“That they may be, but you are coming to the end of yours. You must understand you have limited time to see your name reach the highest mountains.”

“You do not have to tell me.”

“Then hear my offer, a new team, under the same name of course. Only, with my fighters.”

“No.”

“Oh, come on! I’m not even finished. You get a paid role as head coach and the gym refurbished, all off my back.”

“As I said, no thank you.”

Guranahan stood, flattening his trousers in the process. He poured himself a drink from a table in the corner, standing with his back to Master Wen.

“I know that you know what I’m capable of Wen, there’s not much on this planet I can’t do. You definitely don’t seem to have forgotten what happened last time your gym crossed me. What makes you think I’ll just sit down and let you do as you please.”

“Two reasons. The first being that you have no one stronger than me, so you can’t get it forcefully, the second being that it’s not for sale, you can’t get it financially.”

“Remember last ti…”

“Last time you waited for a day where there was no one but a novice coach teaching and murdered them. You can be sure that won’t happen again.”

Guranahan scoffed. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“Sure, and where there’s a dick, there’s a weak spot. You leave my gym alone and you won’t have your entire business torn to shreds before you can get dressed.”

The glass smashed under the pressure of Guranahan’s grip, his face contorted and his fists clenched he turned, but before he could shout he saw the door slam and suddenly he was alone.

“Jeeves.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“You got the girl yet?”

“I believe I may have found her, Sir.”

“Get A1 to kill her. I need you to kill Wen.”

“You know that violates the contract, Sir. If you offer the order again I am free to deny and break the…”

“YES, I KNOW! Guranahan thought for a while. If he killed the fighters she’d just find two more. As far as he could work out, the name Taijitu was out of his grasp. His anger, on the verge of spilling out was finally subdued by the idea of finally finding the girl that cost his business millions of GC (Galactic Currency). All his businesses were running smoothly at the moment, only his internal lust for power was driving him towards Taijitu, which had affectionately named the Billion GC Gym. Even his all-powerful Father had not succeeded in overthrowing Wen. He was very eager to finish what he had started, in his honour. “Jeeves.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Is Jerefiah dead?”

“I left it in the capable hands of A1.”

“Good.”

Guranahan sat back on the sofa, putting his arms behind his head he stretched and sighed. All the business talk giving him a headache.

“Brother…”

A dark room echoed with voices surpassing even time itself.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to visit.”

“Leave now, you are not my Brother. I do not want to be visited by you.”

“So rude after such a long time apart.”

“What kind of atrocious things have you learned in your time with Ola.”

“I think you would agree with their teachings more than you may think.”

“...”

“I came here to bring you back, Brother. Why do you waste your time on such a backwater planet.”

“I am unwilling to tell you.”

“I am unwilling to care. Tell me or I’ll reveal your location.”

“Everyone knows I’m here, I’m bound.”

“An honour contract? With who? Who on this planet is deserving?”

“Plenty are deserving, unfortunately not the one I am bound to.”

“You, stupid Alo, this is why I left.”

“You left because you are selfish.”

“I left because I am smart.”

“Leave now, I have Elders nearby who would very much like to tear you limb from limb.”

“Scary. Where is the brotherly love that you used to have?” Silence. “Suit yourself. You may find that we meet each other soon. I have found a slightly interesting lady and an old friend of our Fathers.” SIlence again.

Monty cut communication with his biological brother and slipped out of the space he had created, arriving back in the hotel room. Tracy came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her.

“A true gentleman, this will provide for Uvo and me for a long time.”

“It is the least I could do for the fun you provided.”

“I had fun too but I have to go, Uvo finished school a few hours ago and might get worried.”

“You haven’t told him you’re seeing me?”

“He knows the kind of work I do, so he knows I’m seeing someone. I see no reason to tell him any more than that.”

“As you wish.”

Monty placed his arm around her waist. “You have a safe journey back.”

“I’m sure I will,” she winked at him and left the apartment in her fresh clothes, her perky backside holding Monty’s gaze for the duration of her journey down the hall.

Uvo had been lying on his back on the floor for some time after getting bored with work. When he finally heard the door open he shot downstairs. Seeing Tracy standing there he smiled.

He noticed the shopping bags in her hand and smiled wider. “Good client?”

“Great client.” She confirmed.

They slipped upstairs and tucked into a hearty meal. Then went to bed on a real mattress, purchased with the very small amount of money left over from the fight and some of Tracy’s earnings. Their little room in the squatter's house was starting to be the envy of all the others.