[center][h3]Act I: The Jig is Up[/h3][/center]
[center]The Hunt for the Grandmaster![/center]
[center][sub]Featuring: Tai Pei, Esmerelda Gripenasty, Colonel H. Stinkmeaner, Mrs. Dolemite[/sub][/center]
[hr]

Rows of ebony and blonde heads sat cross legged as Tai Pei stood in front of them. Small gi adorned each minuscule body, Tai Pei had hands clasped behind her back and her feet a little less than shoulder-width apart. To her students she issued,

“Breathing, most important. More oxygen makes it easier to?” a small girl with pigtails rose her hand, excitement lush,

“Think!”
“And better thinking leads to?”
“Better… um…” silence fell over the interior. After some time, Tai Pei interjected,
“Reaction! And better reaction means?” a welcoming tone from the sensei and her pupils responded in kind,
“Winning!” not [i]quite[/i] what she had been trying to imbue in them.
“Yes, but no-” elated faces deflated, “it makes it easier to [i]run[/i]. If someone is bigger or stronger or faster? Use your thinking!” she tapped her temple, “and get out of there safe!”
“Ohhhhh.” rang the children in unison,
“Dachi!” the students hopped to standing positions, feet together,
“Rei!” and they all bowed, Tai Pei as well. 

Not long after the students had left and Tai Pei was placing focus mitts, shin guards, and helmets in their assigned lockers there was a knock on the door. An elderly lady  with a handbasket of brownies and chocolate chip cookies, a linen scarf wrapped around her head and golden bifocals obscuring her eyes. She gave a smile, several teeth having abandoned her gums decades ago, and some golden ones replacing those which decided to stay.

“Yeyus, hello, baby! Would you like to buy some cookies? Help an old lady with her arthritis!”

“You don’t have arthritis, Esmerelda.”

“Couldja speak up a little, baby girl? Can’t quite hear you!”

“Esmerelda. Pl-”

The next thing Tai Pei knew, a floating hip toss had her lying on her back and another [url=https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11118/111182429/4070468-stinkmeaner.jpg]geriatric[/url] standing over her who spewed his eccentric voice at her,

“WHERE BUSHIDO BROWN AT, GUHL?”

Tai Pei coughed, she was sure some ribs were bruised,

“Agh!” she writhed,

“‘PEAK YO ASS UP! WHERE ‘E AT?” slobber and saliva misted at the grounded karate master,

“Y-you think I would t-tell you?”

“Y’EN GOT NO DAMN CHOOOOIICCEEE! HEEYAAAHH!” Stinkmeaner was about to level an axe kick to Tai Pei’s forehead before she rolled out of the way. Sideways momentum helped her get onto one leg and continue her sideways spin into a leg sweep. Colonel H. Stinkmeaner found himself lying flat on the dojo floor.

Glass shattered and scattered along the mats of the dojo as Esmerelda kicked the door off its hinges. Tai Pei dropped into a roll and Esmerelda tossed her basket of delectable sweets at Stinkmeaner’s head,

“Getcho ol’ ass up, Stinkmeaner! Ya dumb mothasucka!” Esmerelda tossed her linen scarf aside and assumed [i]mabu[/i], horse stance. Stinkmeaner kickflipped off the ground, glasses lopsided but never departed from his face.

“SHUT YA DAMN MOOUUTH, ESSIE!” Stinkmeaner drug his right leg along the mats of the dojo floor in a line in front of himself before he lifted that same leg straight up and positioned it to the side of his head where his foot touched the side of his ear.

“Now, sweet baby, Ms. Essie gonna ask you one mo’ ‘gain! Just tell us where he is! ‘Cause see, now, Ms. Essie don’t wanna have to put a foot in that pretty li’l ass! She been trynna change her ways, goes to church every Sunday! But if you lies once mo’ ‘bout where Bushido Brown is…” Esmerelda frowned, matronly sweetness subsumed by creases and wrinkles when she did,

“...you gon’ make me get to sinnin’.” a growlish and deep voice pushed her sentiment well into Tai Pei’s mind,

“I. don’t. Know.” Tai Pei smiled smug. Stinkmeaner and Esmerelda charged, so did Tai Pei.

Airborne went Esmerelda and Tai Pei first with Stinkmeaner staggering his own ascent to assure he would land the critical blow,

“YAAAAHH!” screamed Esmerelda,
“HEEEYAAH!” Tai Pei shrieked,

Esmerelda missed wide. Tai Pei landed a spinning back kick into Esmerelda’s chest which sent her flying through the dojo’s window behind Esmerelda and into the bustling streets,

“Awwwrgh! My arthritis!” Esmerelda expelled dramatically as she lie on the concrete,

“WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP, NYUKKUH!” Stinkmeaner planted a sidekick into the airborne Tai Pei’s sternum and sent her flying into the dojo wall behind her. She was knocked out cold. Stinkmeaner collected Tai Pei’s husk and tossed her over his shoulder. He would deliver her to Coffee. 

Once outside, he stepped over Esmerelda’s body. Shocked civilians circled around and some called 911. One of those ‘civilians’ was Mrs. Dolemite, owner of the Silver Satin club and the only person in Harlem who knew where Bushido Brown was.