My Predator System

I meet an interesting dude

Rogers gasped. "Hmmph_You're the underdog here, Brocelli. It's your word against mine. I 'found' a piece of dog hair in your soup kitchen, which means you furtively a_harbour animals within this grimy establishment!"

Maks glared at him.

Leo threatened to send it.

Roger stepped outdoors begrudgingly.

The staff whooped in celebration and so did Leo who took off his scrunchee.

"That went well."

Hailey smirked. "And send."

*Infamous Health Inspector attempts to frame bourgeois restaurant.

"Great going." Maks adjusted his sleeve. His stiff root hair was gone.

Hailey frowned drily. "Carlyle Rogers is a money-laundering scumbag. He's closed down reputable establishments all over Phoenix for decades. He's out of his line of work anyway." She shrugged.

He huffed. "You're right. Thanks again, Hailey." He said and they fist bumped smiling at each other.

"We still have that review coming and we still don't know if Carlyle's going to bark."

[ Bark indeed. ] He thought.

The inspector may as well post his side of the story online. He may even try to persuade the state authorities to close down Leo's restaurant.

Maks hoped that Karma's grip on him would continue to be as firm as it proved>>just the havoc he was hoping for.

Sigh*

His mind unconsciously mapped out other nearby jobs. Just in case.

Phoenix was packed with unemployed labour force at the moment. He needed something to fall back to. His fears crawled back on him.

To add to Maks's plight, his working hours were over. He hung up his apron and changed into his old clothes.

The door to the back of the restaurant opened behind him and Hailey Young emerged.

Her steely blue eyes lessened and her fingers unfurled.

"Come on, I know you have cash." Her blue eyes narrowed.

[ You've got to be kidding me.]

....

He whistled and took a cab home, he looked aside to the city and gazed at the refreshing view.

Tall glass buildings, a glimpse of trees, the clouds in the sky were almost nonexistent and the temperature was high enough to fry eggs as always.

Fear clung on to him like a wrap. He had been so preoccupied with going to work that he had not taken the time to give the soldier a good look. Something felt familiar about him.

He left the cab and his system cashed in his current scores. "Yeah yeah." He muttered and reached the house.

His chest heaved at the little girl in a blue gown peeking into through the casement window. Her curly brown hair wavered as she stretched up.

"Jessica?"

He was startled when her face looked bright red as ever.

She had been prying in as usual, her toy was abandoned in the lawn. He stepped inside.

The man inside possessed wispy raven hair, his jade-blue eyes smiled.

He had a few whiskers on his chin. Tanned skin that might as well be inborn. Even though he had been in the sun for too long.

His camouflage uniform had sharp wrinkles around them that could as well cut through pure diamond.

He and Doreen had been involved in a private discussion.

Maks nodded and dropped his backpack, his heart thudded at Jessica barged in.

The room felt stuffy and Doreen cleared her throat.

He recognised his insignia.

"Didn't I see you today? In the cab?"

"Hello. Gee, I almost didn't recognise you." He tipped his camouflage cap up.

His face showed. He looked harried.

"You're the guy from the cab?" His heart caught in his throat.

He recognised his voice and it was fair game after that snobbery in the car.

"That was me."

Doreen blushed.

"I uh...I'm from the US Marine. Major Reed Tucker. I served with your father, years ago."

"Oh."

He grimaced, not very surprised.

Doreen looked unsettled brushing her hair to the side.

He got the signal. "I was just getting ready for... training." He said and marched toward the bedroom.

"Maks."

"I'm not in the mood." He was heavily.

Hum*

You ah getin late.

Victor texted him.

I'm kinduv in a hurry. He replied back.

Click*

He rushed to his wardrobe and pulled out a cardboard box. It had his initials on it. M.A

He peeled off the cello tape and he grimaced at the fine silk material. It had a Yin and Yang sign on the back of the shirt.

He stuffed his backpack with them and heard a shriek from the front door.

Running. He walked hesitantly into the living room and found that Jessica was lingering by the Marine guy.

He smiled and the corner of his lips quirked. "We met when you were just two years old."

"I'm sorry if I don't remember you." His eyebrows furrowed. Looking aside.

Maks!!!

"It's okay. Two years is a tender age quite alright. Your father and I used to study together on the same training course. Great guy."

Maks's memory loaded with a mental image of himself. His nerves were on high alert.

He would probably cross the line if he asked why he was here.

"Uh, nice to meet you Tucker."

He went to the lawn scratching his head and he went to the academy.

At the Kwoon. It was cloudy with minimum sun rays bursting through the curtain of clouds into the outskirts of the valley.

The Kwoon was unearthly, like the valley had somehow been moved here in Phoenix by the very hand of a powerful celestial. He felt peaceful. The turtledoves fluttered by to the grounds and a bell rung in the distance.

A few people were practicing Taijiquan at the plains. They looked like dandelions that had magically come to life, gesticulating in the breeze, based.

He knotted the string on his shirt.

It was black with red hems and red embroidery of dragons. 'Neat.'

Why hadn't he asked for details?

A stately-looking man in a blue robe greeted him.

"Wei."

"Uh." He copied the same greeting move, fist over hand and a bow as he had always done with the Lee's.

"zěnmeliǎo."

[ What's up? ]

He quirked an eyebrow at that. "Um, follow me." He walked with his hand behind him.

Maks walked behind him to the dojo with metal columns, and red lanterns. Two lion statues.

He watched a female student practicing with a Bo staff by the edge of the dojo with prowess.

She looked surprised at him and then focused on her twirling.

Another played with light energy around his hands and his eyes dilated.

"Cool."

It riled him up and he hobbled along.

The training room was dimly lit by natural sunlight. There were wind chimes inside jingling too and abrupt chants and stumping of foots.

There were paintings on the walls, an altar with a painting lit up in a red ambience by many incense sticks with red hot tips and smoke swirled up around a man where he knelt raising two sticks of his own.

There was a large yellow podium where students practiced Kung Fu in synch and grunting some chants.

Feets thumped on the ground and the powerful stomps resounded making the dojo seem more isolated than it looked.

He liked it here somewhat.

"I guess I'm far off on your calendar."

"Not quite far, son." The young man said in English walking along an aqueduct.

"This is our station in Phoenix. My name is Tao Wu and I will be your guide.

For centuries, the academy has trained students far and wide in the art of self-defence. Knowledge of the arts. Drawing energy from the universe itself and more importantly, giving back.

We have studied and mastered many techniques and encouraged young people like you to adopt them. And choose Kung Fu not only as a means of self-defense but a way of life."

Someone in the open roofed square hit a gong.

The gong resounded and Maks cleaned his ear. "Cool, Chinese philosophy and stuff... there's summer vacation and

"Listen to me. I have a question for you. Why did you come here?"