Rama, Jet, and Mei stood outside of Sifu Ramos’ studio. It was strange for the siblings. The attempt on their lives had happened only two days ago. They fought for their lives in this mall, and the place acted like nothing had happened. People continued to shop, to socialize, to live their lives. Mei felt uncomfortable; the place no longer reminded her of times with friends but of when her brother almost died for her. Jet was indifferent, looking at his phone while Rama knocked on the door. They were all there later than they hoped, Rama having gotten an earful for what he did in class. Fortunately he only got a stern warning, the principal being more impressed than upset with his feat.

“Is he even here?” Mei asked.

“He told me to come today. This place should definitely be open.” Rama replied.

“Woah, bro you’re on the internet!” Jet said in shock.

“Huh?”

Jet showed the siblings his phone. On the screen was footage of what Rama had done. They could hear kids in shock as Rama dunked the ball, shattering the backboard. The comments were full of people asking how he wasn’t on the basketball team. Someone must’ve snuck their phone into class.

“Y-you actually dunked.” Mei uttered.

“I told you!” Rama affirmed. “Wait, you didn’t believe me?”

“Of course I didn’t! This is you we’re talking about. You're good at kung fu, not anything else.”

“Gee thanks for being such a supporting sister.”

“I’m just being honest. Were you always able to dunk?”

“Well…” Rama averted his gaze. “No.”

“See?”

“This is what happens when you get super powers.” Jet added. “I couldn’t be more proud.”

“And I couldn’t be more disappointed.” Sifu Ramos said from behind.

The kids looked up to see him looking down at Jet’s phone. Persol Ratti 23/91 sunglasses covered his eyes but they could tell he was upset.

“You weren’t subtle at all. I can see the Chi.” he said, walking past them to unlock the door to his studio.

Rama and Mei looked back at Jet’s phone and it was true, Rama emitted a very faint glow in the video. People in the comments mentioned it but thought it was due to weird lighting or editing.

Sifu Ramos opened the door, gesturing for the kids to head inside.

“If you want to use Chi like that, it’s gotta be subtle otherwise people are gonna start asking questions.” he continued, closing the door behind them once they were in.

“Sifu I’m more surprised you’re not scolding me for using it on basketball of all things” Rama mentioned, looking around the room.

The place was different than before. Covering the walls were massive maps, filled with notes written in red ink. Words were scribbled along the margins and a red line went along the maps, highlighting certain roads.

“Nah I don’t care about that. If you want to use Chi to look good in front of girls I won’t stop you. I know what that’s like.” Sifu Ramos acknowledged.

“Sifu that wasn’t-”

“Traitor!” Jet interrupted. “I thought we gave up on 3D women!”

“We did!”

“You what?” Mei asked, utterly confused.

“See what only matters about Chi is that you don’t hurt anyone with it. That’s the only rule I personally care about. The others like ‘being humble’, ‘be discreet’, and all that other stuff is malarky only the other Council members care about. Impressing girls is not a big deal. You’re a teenage boy, it’s expected.”

Rama sighed, realizing the conversation was getting very ridiculous, very quickly.

“Alright forget about all that,” he said. “Sifu, it happened on its own. I can’t control it.”

Sifu Ramos headed into his back room where the kids heard a racket of things falling over. After letting out some curses he yelled “Of course you can’t! Takes decades to control Chi. You're like an unstable atom! Only through intense mental training can you fully master it.”

He came back, wearing a different outfit. Instead of a gi he wore a black tank top with sweatpants of the same color yet still wore his glasses. He strode to Rama, putting a hand on Rama’s shoulder.

“Right now your body is…”

He began to laugh.

“Y-Your body is going through changes. You’re at that age.”

Rama looked at his master with a deadpan expression.

“Very funny Sifu.”

“Woah my boy is going through kung fu puberty” Jet realized.

“Bro please don’t say it like that.”

Mei shook her head at how juvenile all of them were being.

“It’s not a bad way to phrase it.” Sifu Ramos began. “You unlocked something and it’s going to take a lot of training for your body to acclimate to it.”

“But Sifu we don’t have years!” Rama pointed out.

“Right. We’re gonna have to make do with what we have.”

Sifu Ramos went to the map, pointing at where the red line began. They all knew where he was pointing, it was their city. He was about to say something but stopped himself.

“Wasn’t there supposed to be another girl with you?” he inquired, still looking at the map.

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“Lorraine’s grounded until she’s middle aged.” Jet answered.

“Hmm. She’s the one that used the Chi infused katana right?”

“Yeah from what she told me.”

“I’ll have to go to her home then. I’m sure I can convince her parents to let her go. I’m not comfortable leaving her behind.”

“Where exactly are we going Sifu?” Rama asked, seeing how the red line on the map kept going and going.

“Like I told you, I’m taking you to see the Council and that’s gonna require a road trip. We’re going across the country. The nearest Council headquarters is all the way over here.”

Sifu Ramos tapped his finger on where the red line ended: New York City.

“Why not just fly?” Mei questioned.

“Too dangerous. There’d be too many bystanders in a potential attack and if the plane crashed, people would die. Rama and I might live, but your friend Jet here wouldn’t.”

“Wait.” Rama cuted in. “It’s not just gonna be us?”

“Correct!”

“No no no no no” Rama said, motioning his disagreement with his hands. “I can’t put them in any more danger.”

“Bro I’m coming with” Jet declared. “In case you forgot, we got attacked even though you weren’t with us. Could happen again.”

“Yeah but-”

“What makes more sense? Us staying here, where we could be ambushed again, or us coming with and increasing all of our chances of survival? Teamwork makes the dream work. You know Lorraine, she’s gonna want to come with if her parents ever lets her out of the house.”

“But you all have school.”

“And you don’t?”

“I-....” Rama trailed off.

He couldn’t think of a counterargument. Jet was able to be surprisingly logical when he felt like it. It’s why Rama hated getting into fights with Jet. He could never win. He sighed and looked at his sister.

“At least you’re not coming with us.”

“Why not?!” Mei shot back, offended.

“Because you can’t defend yourself with those noodle arms.”

Mei examined her thin limbs. Compared with her brother, it really was quite the contrast. Her brother was lean but muscular. She was skinny and appeared fragile, unable to withstand a single punch.

“Well I can be attacked again too right? You think I can survive on my own?” she argued. “It’s better if you can protect me right?”

“What about mom?”

“Kids let me finish!” Sifu Ramos shouted. “I planned for all this! Don’t worry about your families, I know a guy. Your families will be fine. Besides, you all are the targets, not them. They’re most likely tracking your Chi. Rama’s has already manifested and so has this Buddhist friend of yours.”

He pointed at Jet.

“You must have potential but it hasn’t materialized yet. I’ll work on you.”

Jet gave a wide smile.

“I’m gonna get super powers?” he excitedly asked.

“Perhaps. You could be a dud. Regardless, don't worry about your families. I know a guy who can protect them.”

“Who Sifu?” Rama inquired

“Old friend of mine. He knows Chi and runs a private security company now. We trained under the same master so he knows his stuff. Not as cool as me, mind you, but it should be enough.”

Rama kneeled down so that he was eye level with his sister.

“I’m sorry but you have to stay back. You need to protect mom ok?”

Mei sighed.

“I don’t like it.”

“I know.”

“What if you don’t make it?”

“Then you’ll be an only child like you always wanted.”

“Oh great” she sarcastically said. “I’ve always wanted two rooms. I’m selling your stuff if you die.”

Rama’s face became full of worry.

“Now I really can’t die.”

Rama stood back up.

“Great!” Sifu Ramos exclaimed. “That makes the next part easier. In order to justify the trip for your parents and school, you’re three are becoming my students and we’re all going to a ‘martial arts tournament’”

He put air quotes around the last part for emphasis.

“And training starts today. We’re leaving in two weeks so we’re going to train our butts off until then. I even closed the studio just so I can focus on you all.”

Sifu Ramos began to stretch.

“Rama, I want to see you use Chi. Attack me with everything you got.”

“A-are you sure Sifu?”

“Yup, go all out. I won’t even fight back. In fact, I’m putting my arms behind my back.”

He did so, putting his feet together and straightening his back. Sifu Ramos put his chin out, leaving his face defenseless.

“Bet you can’t even hit me.”

“But Sifu I can’t. I have to have the right mindset. I’m not sure how it actually works.”

“You’re on the right track. Chi use is as mental as it is physical. First, focus. Clear your mind of all distractions, focus only on what’s in front of you. Second, breath. Be like water flowing its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If-”

Rama sighed.

“Sifu, I know the ‘be like water’ speech.”

“Hmph. Prove it.”

Rama got into his body stance, slowly inching his way towards his master as Jet cheered from the sidelines. Mei observed quietly, waiting to see the glow she had seen her brother emit before. Rama threw a high kick which Sifu Ramos ducked under. He stepped in, unleashing a flurry of punches. While staying in his spot, Sifu Ramos weaved around each attack, his eyes watching Rama’s arms.

“Not bad. You’re doing what I taught you.” Sifu Ramos noted as Rama continued to throw punches.

“Good form, good reflexes.”

Rama threw a punch but it was a feint, quickly going for a calf kick. Despite still looking at Rama’s arms, Sifu Ramos nonchalantly lifted his leg, avoiding the attack.

“Bro you gotta make the kung fu sounds!” Jet suggested. “Like in the movies. You gotta go ‘Hiyah!’”

“They never made those sounds in an actual fight!” Rama said between breaths, continuing his attacks. “Those were all edited in!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

“Man, everything I know is a lie.”

“I make the sounds.” Sifu Ramos admitted. “It’s fun.”

Rama was panting, breaking a sweat while his opponent was perfectly calm. Rama was beginning to get frustrated. The Chi finally appeared, flowing off of Rama’s body like steam. Sifu Ramos frowned upon seeing it. Rama’s punches became faster, his reflexes sharper. The attacks soon became a torrent, leaving Jet and Mei speechless. However, Sifu Ramos continued to evade each and every attack. After a few more attacks, Sifu Ramos shook his head.

“I’ve seen enough. Hiyah!”

He quickly whipped out his arm, hitting Rama in the side of the head, forcing the boy onto the ground.

“You’re angry,” Sifu Ramos stated. “That wasn’t water. That was piss.”

Rama stood up, frowning as he rubbed the side of his head. His body told him to keep going, to get payback. Anger boiled beneath the surface of his skin.

“What do you mean? I did it, didn’t I?” Rama questioned.

“Not correctly. You used anger to summon Chi. That’s the worst way to do it. When you’re angry you don’t fight smartly. As a result, while your attacks got faster, they became more predictable. It was easier to dodge your attacks at the end, not harder.”

Rama clenched his fists as his body still emitted light. Sifu Ramos put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“The type of Chi manifested is dependent on emotion. Anger is the worst one to use. That Chi is tainted, unwieldy. Didn’t you sense it?”

Rama shook his head, the light disappearing.

“It’s subtle,” he continued. “But it makes a world of difference. Any emotion taken to its extreme can summon Chi yet the best kind of Chi is the one devoid of all emotion. Ironic isn’t it? I wish I had more time to teach you but I’ll do what I can. Remember this: be water, not piss. Be untainted.”

Rama reluctantly shook his head, not really sure of what his master meant. He went over to Jet and Mei, his head still stinging.

“Bro are you ok?” Jet asked.

“Yeah I’m good. Guess I have a lot to learn.”

“If anyone can master weird kung fu stuff, it’s you.” Mei said.

“Good!” Sifu Ramos exclaimed. “Because the real training begins now. Get ready you two, we’re about to have so much fun!”