4692/Training Day

Training Day
Date of Scene:	19 June 2018
Location:	Oroku Saki's Office, StockGen
Synopsis:	Tyler has his first training session with Saki, and starts to learn a little bit of what he is getting himself into.
Cast of Characters:	Twitch, Shredder

---

Twitch has posed:
It's time for the meeting he'd been dreading for days. Tyler Grant has been directed to appear before Oroku Saki lest his people be placed in danger.

Tyler rides his motorcycle downtown to the Stockgen building he'd once tailed Oroku from, this time parking in the underground garage himself. He dismounts the Harley and removes his full face helmet, setting it on the bike before boarding the elevator to let him into the building itself.

When it opens Tyler finds himself in the lobby, a spacious and well appointed room. Not much time is wasted before he heads for the receptionist and speaks to them with a thoughtful expression on his face and hesitancy in his voice, "I've got an appointment to see Oroku Saki. It's probably under the name 'Grant.'" The receptionist checks their computer and confirms the young man's appointment, sending an electronic command to the nearby elevator to open up.

Tyler enters the elevator and takes a deep breath as the doors close. He looks around the interior of the enclosed space. Continuing to breathe deeply as the elevator reaches it's destination, Tyler prepares himself quickly by brushing off and straightening his clothes. The doors open to the businessman's floor and the young mutant steps out of the elevator.

Shredder has posed:
    StockGen offices are much nicer than the lab that Twitch met Saki in only a few days ago. Clean, pristine much less of a working class location, and much more a white collar environment. The receptionist promptly admits him.
    Behind the tall double doors is revealed a rather unique looking office. It looks very much like traditional Japanese dojo. The smell of incense hangs in the air, the floors are padded as if they were designed for sparring. Pillars along the side of the room are adorned with long thin oil paintings that have Japanese scripting upon them. The view should be amazing outside the window, but the natural sunlight is shielded currently by thin paper walls, allowing only the soft glow of the sun's light to filter through. Various stands containing traditional martial weapons are placed throughout the room, Swords, nunchaku, spears, ancient armor all give a very authentic feel to the office, as if it was part museum.
    Saki is sitting cross-legged in front of his desk, which rests at such a level that a small cushion is more appropriate than a chair. Unlike the other day, he is not wearing a suit, his hair is pulled up behind his head in a knot, and he wears an off-white gi.
    A pot of tea rests on the low table, and Saki looks up as the doors open.
    "Young Master Grant. Sit. I am pleased that you have arrived early. It shows some modicum of discipline."

Twitch has posed:
"Thank you, sir." As he enters the office Tyler takes everything in slowly, studying his surroundings until he notices a mat next to the door. Moving over to it he slips off his shoes and sets them neatly upon the mat. Once that's finished he makes his way towards the table and sits down across from Saki, inclining his head in the older man's direction. He remains quiet, breathing steadily as he waits to find out what comes next.

Shredder has posed:
    From beneath the low table, Saki places two small tea cups, and pours a modest amount of tea into each of them before sliding one across to Tyler. He takes the other in front of him.
    "You should know that such is the last time I will refer to you with the title master, as in western culture," he says blandly. "You are now Gakusei, a student. You will not presume your knowledge to have any authority while you are here, or I shall become displeased." He gives no emphasis to the word, allowing Tyler to decide the implication for himself. "Here I am the master, and a master does not answer to his student, nor do I wish to repeat myself."

Twitch has posed:
Mimicking Saki, Tyler takes the cup placed before him. Studying the older man carefully, Tyler is thoughtful as he nods his head and says, "I understand, sir." His body is still and he's concentrating heavily on keeping his breathing steady, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Making sure that his attention is focused completely on the man sitting across from him he can't help but gulp deep in his throat.

Shredder has posed:
    "You seem to have healed rather remarkably in these past few days," Saki observes, taking a sip of his tea. "Are there further abilities you would like to share with me before we begin?" he asks, observing the lack of bruises on his pupil.

Twitch has posed:
"I do not believe I have any further abilities, sir," Tyler replies before he too takes a drink from his tea cup, still trying to mirror Saki's movements. "I received medical treatment after you beat me." He continues his practiced breathing, keeping himself as even as he can. "The healer doesn't know how I became injured."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki measures this mentally for a moment, eyes fixed on Tyler, then nods. "Interesting," he says. He thinks about this for a few moments, and drinks some more of his tea. "Very well. Tell me, Gakusei," Saki says. "Why did you lose so pathetically when you faced me the other day?"

Twitch has posed:
As Saki drinks, so does Tyler, clearly reluctant to make a faux pas. When asked why he was defeated Tyler has to think for several seconds before he can come up with an answer, "I lack the level of skill necessary to keep up with you, sir."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki arches his brow with a smirk, "That may be," he says, "But I saw something else in your fighting," he answers. "You do not know what victory means." He places his tea back on the table. "I threw you against a shelf full of weapons, but you did not reach to take any of them," he observes. "To have taken one could have given you the means to kill me. Why did you not take that advantage?"

Twitch has posed:
As he listens to the master speak, Tyler can only nod his head slowly as a look of shame grows on his face. "I wasn't willing to kill you, sir, and I'm not familiar with the use of weapons. I might have put myself at further risk by using something unfamiliar to me."

Shredder has posed:
    "You weren't willing to kill me," Saki reflects. "Every combat is life and death," he says. "Every fight has the possibility to end in death. When you kill your opponent, you have won. If they are fully at your mercy, you have won." He gets up from his seat. "No man who wishes to be a fighter can truly excel if he is not willing to take a life," he says as he moves to the mat.

Twitch has posed:
Setting down his cup Tyler moves to follow Saki to the mat. As he takes the few steps there his lips press tightly together as he considers the master's words. "Yes sir." He sounds unsure of himself.

Shredder has posed:
    "When you answer, you will say "Yes master, or yes sensei," Saki corrects. "Now, how many men have you killed?" he asks, as if the number must be somewhere north of zero. He stands casually at the other end of the mat from Tyler.

Twitch has posed:
"Yes master," Tyler immediately repeats before taking a deep breath as the realization of what he just said hits him. "I've killed no one, master." His own stance is not nearly as casual. The young man is apprehensive enough that he's standing up as straight as he can.

Shredder has posed:
    The older man frowns, the slight wrinkles at the edge of his eyes creasing. "No one. Yet you believed that you would come out victorious. You assumed that I would be weak, a businessman who knew nothing of physical discipline. You assumed that I would be easy to overpower and intimidated. Assumptions without merit will kill you. This is why you must understand that every fight is life and death. If you are not willing to kill your opponent, but your opponent is willing to kill you, you will lose."
    He looks at the stance of Tyler. "Do you count yourself an honorable man, Tyler?"

Twitch has posed:
"Yes master, I made incorrect assumptions," Tyler says with a slow nod. At Saki's question Tyler is at first at a loss for an answer. Then he shakes his head, "No master. I lie and I use the advantages my powers give me to beat my opponents."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki nods satisfactorily. "Good," he says. "Honor is for those who are weak. In the end, the only thing that matters in a fight is who is alive, and who is dead." He motions, "Attack me," he invites.

Twitch has posed:
When told to attack Tyler says, "Yes Master." Then he approaches quickly, trying hard to let his prior training, suped up agility and superhuman reflexes combine to give him an advantage. Remembering the only blow he'd managed to score against Saki Tyler attempts to launch into a combination, starting with a jab at the face and intending to follow it with a series of punches and knee strikes thrown as fast as he can manage.

Shredder has posed:
    Saki responds to each of the blows, he himself bizarrely fast. It might be clear to Tyler that he is in fact faster than Saki, and in response, the older man deflects the blows in such a way that it takes more movement in order to make the next strike, giving him just the time he needs to be able to respond. In addition, there is a certain element of prediction as he reads Tyler's body movements, able to see where the next blow is headed. This time there are no blows that land. Finally, he speaks solidly, but not loudly. "Enough. You rely on your speed too much."

Twitch has posed:
When he hears the word 'enough' Tyler takes a step back and fades out of his fighting stance, "Yes master." His breathing is a little bit heavier than before, but the young man is well conditioned for throwing combinations and he's got it back down to normal quickly.

Shredder has posed:
    "I will be teaching you ninjitsu," Saki says. "You must first learn to overcome your fears, or you will be useless to me. Are you afraid of me?" he asks, a tilt of his head to one side.

Twitch has posed:
That's a very interesting question. One Tyler has to think on for a moment before he can come up with an answer, "Yes master. I'm afraid of what you'll do if you can't find a use for me."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki seems to weigh this response for a moment. "That is a reasonable fear, and one that should drive you when you train, but when the moment of action comes, remember that you must put your fears aside." He begins a kata to demonstrate initial forms. "Speed is valuable, but stability moreso. Your speed gives you and advantage. A powerful one. Should you be able to harness it within proper stability, you will be a nigh unstoppable fighter. Does that prospect excite you?"

Twitch has posed:
"Yes master," Tyler must remember to put his fears aside. He nods slightly, those words make sense to him. As the forms are demonstrated he pays close attention, trying to memorize every movement. The question doesn't need to be considered for very long before the youth supplies an answer, "Yes master, it does."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki continues. "That pleases me," he says, continuing the contrasting please vs. displease clarification. "You will be a powerful fighter," he promises, "But only if you follow my instruction. The art of ninjitsu is not for show. It is not a dance to practice for movie scenes. It is not even just a combat style. It is a way to think. You must be cunning and decisive. You must be willing to hurt someone before they hurt you, with or without cause. It is an art that requires not just physcal form, but mental discipline. Once you have learned these things, then I can truly begin to teach you."

Twitch has posed:
Without really meaning to Tyler has found himself excited by the prospect of studying under Saki and it's starting to reflect in his body language. He's very attentive, trying to pick up everything that happens before him. He nods at each of the statements as if in understanding. He's focused on what he hears. "Yes master. I'm willing to learn."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki nods solemly to Tyler. "That is good." A smile crosses his lips. "That is very good."