Weakest link

CJ learns a lesson from Reece

"Boxing is a contest of character and ingenuity. The boxer with more will, determination, desire, and intelligence is always the one who comes out the victor."

The late, the great, the only Cus D’Amato

It was late, no one else was left Church Street boxing gym was echoing with the pitter patter of dancing feet and now the fading snap of failing punches. Only CJ was left in the ring with Reece, hitting the mitts. Sweat dripped onto the canvas from both of them.

“Ah fuck this coach. How many more we got to do?”

“You complain after you waltz in diva style late for a mitts session with me?! We go till I say stop killer. I said left hook!”

CJ threw another, half effort. Not much snap.

“Come on killer! Like you fuckin mean it girl!”

CJ snarled and threw again. No whip left.

“I’m done, I feel like my arm is about to get torn off here.”

“Take five ok.”

CJ slumped off outside and popped a cigarette. Reece followed her and smacked it out of her hand. The snarl formed right away, raised on the streets, CJ was about to kick off.

“You wanna go a few with me Cass? With a left hook like that? Best of fucking luck to you. Fight coming up soon, no smokes yeah?”

“Fine whatever.”

CJ was off in AR cyberland already, already onto something else.

Reece looked up and down CJ, she was sharp, fast, had aggression and could finish, she was an unholy ‘natural’ talent and enhanced up to her eyeballs, literally. But she didn’t have heart, not yet. She would cave when she took a beating, she had seen it before. This girl didn’t believe in it, she wasn’t fighting for anything except her ego and against her demons. She hadn’t paid the price yet in sweat and blood.

“Look Cass, shut the shit down in your eye and look at me yeah? I only go Madam Miyagi once for each fighter yeah. This is your moment so pay fucking attention yeah?”

CJ perked up, ears up like a cat, now curious.

“Teach me sensei.”

Came with a fake bow and an eyeroll and a wink, sarcastic Japanese teenage girl mode activated.

“Come here and look.”

Reece went back in the gym, over to a heavy bag. No gloves, she stood there for a second and then threw a prefect leaping left hook, lighting fast, no pullback, no loading, just static to go in one instant, like a pouncing tiger. It landed with a mighty crack and the bag shook, it didn’t swing, all the impact went in.

“That’s a fucking good punch coach, sure.”

“Why is mine better than yours?”

“I dunno, like you are faster and stronger?”

“No. You are twice as fast as me, better reflexes too, and with all the gear you are on…”

“Mostly peptides and SARMS, want to keep my feminine figure coach.”

“Whatever, I don’t know shit about that stuff, you’re probably stronger than me too. Definitely better conditioned.”

“So, like your technique is better?”

“Yes, but what does that mean?”

A shrug came as the only response.

“Look CJ, boxing taught me a few things about life. We only have like 4 punches, jab, cross, hook, uppercut…”

“Overhand, downercut, bodyshot and…”

Reece turned and yelled at CJ.

“Oh shut up you bossy little cunt! I’m not Kate yeah? I’m not one of your little dolls, don’t show off to me yeah, I don’t give a fuck Cass. Just fucking listen for once yeah? We only have a few punches, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Boxing isn’t about adding stuff. There is no more to add. Its not about more. More speed, more power, more moves. NO! Its about taking away, its about refinement, its about perfecting what you have, it’s about efficiency of movement.”

CJ did stop and listen to Sensei now.

“Your whole life CJ, you want more, more moves, more dance routines, more styles, more tats, more orgasms, more drugs, more partners, more versions of you, more cool shit for you to hide behind. Boxing doesn’t give a shit about your ego. You have to take what you have and make it yours, make it perfect. Less is more.”

CJ didn’t have anything to say.

“That’s why we do it over and over and over. My coach used to say boxing is like a chain, you are only as strong as your weakest link. Consistency and practice CJ, refinement and efficiency. One day you are going to fight someone more skilled, more strong and more talented than you. Only this…’

Reece gestured at the whole gym, all the bags, the mitts the kit.

“All of this, the fucking grind is going to save you. You get me?”

There was a long pause. Coaches punch had landed flush.

“Yeah coach. I get you. Sorry. Sorry for being a bitch and not taking it seriously.”

Cassandra Jiao did a little bow, slowly and non ironically for the first time in her life.

“I get it coach. Lets go again yeah, max effort. No more fucking around ok?”

“Good job killer. Left hook yeah?”

“Yeah”

SNAP!

“Again!”

CRACK!

Characters and connections

This scene is part of the CJ and Kate romance/cyberpunk superhero story. It fits inside Relationship Malware but I thought I would give it to you here as a little stand alone moment as well.

CJ is one of the central characters in The Three Moons Mythos 🌙🌙🌙.

Her main story is Connection.

She shows up to check in on her friend Amanda in a couple of her stories; Sapphire, The woman in the red dress and makes a little cameo tearing up the dance floor in Bliss.

Dr Kate Harper also appears in a short story where she gives a talk at conference on Quantum AGI.

Both CJ and Kate feature in my debut novel; “A queen of light and shadow”.

My thanks

My gratitude and for congratulations reaching the end of Act 1 of; A queen of light and shadow.

If you could now take a moment to consider supporting the work. I work with Jesus Santana and each chapter comes with original human made art. No abominable intelligence has touched the Three Moons Mythos 🌙🌙🌙, at all, in any way.

It is all a work of love by humans minds, hearts and hands.

If you feel like supporting me (and supporting Jesus Santana, you will mostly be buying him coffee) then please leave a small donation here.