Chapter Four: Attack of the Killer Potatoes
Ruby winced as her body slammed into a tree, her body flopping forward with her head being dangerously close to the sharp edge of a rock. Dragging herself forward and up, using the rock as support, the purple haired teen moaned in pain.
"That hurt," she barely managed to let out before the robotic menace of the let out a howl of rage. Ruby assumed that was its way of promising her excruciating pain, the thought caused a moment of pause. However, as it lifted its foot to crush her, her reflexes kicked into action and she hollered as she threw down the shnasty smelling smoke bomb.
As the mechanical monster looked for her in the surrounding area she took refuge in a crevice of rock. "Okay Nomicon," her breath came out slightly uneven as her heart raced, "please, please, do you have anything that can help me." Ruby had realized that the book was like a mentor, and no way in hell was she going to enrage it by acting all high and mighty. She was not going to gamble her life, or the lives of the countless others living in Norrisville by being disrespectful to the one thing that could help her through these situations.
The book flashed red before dragging her in, she took a moment to look at the drawings and scribbles that passed her as she fell into the pages of the book. Words arranged themselves, important context being underlined and highlighted for easier understanding, not that the message made much sense to Ruby at the moment, though she was sure she would figure it out soon. 'When faced with a mighty enemy, counter with a mightier force.' After reading the words of wisdom the young freshman was forced back into reality.
"Mightier force?" Her voice was laced with her confusion. "What is mightier than a killer robot?" It was just the young woman's luck that the robot spotted her. She barely managed to throw her body out of the crevice as the robot crashed through the top, stray rocks flying everywhere. Pulling out nunchaku (seriously how did all of this fit in the suit without causing pain?) she balanced herself and prepared for the oncoming fight.
Sadly, her weapon seemed to do no damage, in fact the robot ate it. Her mortification only grew as it burped in her face, and sweet Tazzelwurm she could taste that shnasty. "Shnasty, I could taste that. It's in my mouth." She hissed in disgust.
The robot paid her remark no mind and forced its claws at her backing her to an edge of a hole. At the moment of regaining her balance the Nomicon's advice rang in her head and she knew what she had to do.
Using a conveniently placed shovel she smashed the tool into the mechanical knee causing the monster to tip forward and fall to its doom. As it exploded she let out a happy whoop. Dodging the falling debris, she was reminded of good old gravity. Oh, sweet g= -9.8 m/s^2, she praised the acceleration of gravity. Of course, an unrefuted law would be mightier than a killer robot.
She did not realize as the ninja suit disappeared via removal of her mask, that her back pack was open or that a mechanical box slipped into it. She was more focused on making it to class on time, she had to keep her grades and attendance up if she wished to keep her parents unaware of her "extracurricular activities'.
*(^_^)*
As she slid into her seat as the warning bell rang she thanked her lucky stars above. She sat front and center, which did not bother the teenager as it allowed for easier focus. Howard came in a minute before the tardy bell leaving no room for discussion, not that there was much at the moment.
Her father had found out about the science fair and called Mrs. Driscoll and told the teacher that Ruby would be doing her own project, Mrs. Driscoll had readily agreed as she noticed how Ruby seemed to be doing all the work out of the pair and, though she could not prove it, she was almost certain Howard Weinerman was cheating off Ruby's test. It was the only explanation as to why he was making a C- with the minuscule effort he put into homework and labs.
It was no skin off Ruby's nose, she'd been working on a new programing for a coffee machine she and her dad were making, since it was already patented (under her name along with RumpleKittyCat Corp. surprisingly) she was allowed to bring the test one to the fair. She and her father had spent endless nights tweaking the design and fixing the programming to get it ready (not that Ruby was complaining it was quality time with her father) and last Saturday they had finally deemed it ready.
Howard, however, still had not started his project. He blamed Mr. Cunningham, and to an extent Ruby herself. Not that Ruby hadn't sat with him the day the project was due to decide his best plan of action. He had been too busy paying grave punchers to even recognize she was attempting to give him help. She had let out a frustrated sigh before heading home. It was now almost three weeks later and he had just realized that with the recent test and homework grades that he would not be passing unless he made an A on his project did he realize the gravity of his situation. (Oh sweet cheese did she just make a pun with reference to her earlier escapade?)
She knew he was going to come to her house and beg her to do his project for him, but she honestly couldn't as she had a Geometry test to study for and an English I quiz to prepare for. Mrs. Driscoll took attendance and reminded Howard of his situation informing him that "Failing science is not humerus."
Ruby had to refrain from beating her head on the desk at the pun. It was spreading like a disease.
*(^_^)*
As Marci, Viceroy, and Bash entered McFist's office the balding business man angrily accused Viceroy of coming in with news of another failed robot. His upper lip twitched in contempt, the ninja was destroying his creations faster than Viceroy could give ideas the Hannibal would claim as his own leaving the man restless and dissatisfied.
His anger did not dissipate when the mad scientist turned around to leave letting loose a quick 'Never Mind', needing an outlet the bearded man called him back in so he could yell at him.
Marci instead placated him quickly "Oh Hannibal inside voice."
McFist in attempt to make his wife happy conceded brushing of his wavering patience as Bash inhaled his lunch (he had been looking forward to Marci's home cooked meatballs for ages now) instead focusing on his wife. She just wanted the two most important people in her life happy and to get along.
"Viceroy," the blonde bearded businessman growled.
*(^_^)*
Howard was begging Ruby all the way home, which she answered with a strong 'NO' each time. She had to keep her grades up and as much as Howard meant to her she knew she would have to show him tough love in this situation. Dropping her book bag onto her bedroom floor she turned quickly when a resounding farting noise came from her backpack. Unzipping the backpack she pulled out a box that definitely was not an invention of hers, seriously it made fart noises. Even if she was not a typical girly girl she still found that absolutely disgusting.
"Must have come from one of McFist's robots." Howard jumped for it, snatching it from her arms.
"Hey this might just give me inspiration!" though she seriously doubted it she just shrugged her shoulders refusing to waste anymore of her time.
*(^_^)*
Ruby was able to dawdle that morning because she had already set up her project yesterday during her study hall (Howard had been sleeping). So as she slowly made her way down stairs she did not miss the conversation from her parents.
"Look Biffy Green Apple Splat selling in Norrisville, doe that not seem suspicious to you? I know you and McFist don't exactly get along," a grunt confirmed that yes her father was there and he really did not like Bash's stepfather, "but I would rather he dominate the industry than have Lynch Webber anywhere near our daughter."
"Lee, we have already done what we could at this point, trust me I do not like the idea of Webber being anywhere near our baby girl, but it is better than Hamates. Or the council, hell Finnwich is obviously watching him."
She heard her mother grunt, "Not that I trust the old man very much, besides he brought up more than Webber. Our baby is bruised Bif, Webber is opening a connection to Norrisville weeks after somehow contacting her, I'm sorry if I am a bit worried."
She could hear the shuffling of her father making his way across the kitchen to his mother. "No one can fault you for not trusting Finnwich, he tried to kill you once. But you have to trust in Ruby, working with her the last couple weeks I know she isn't getting into that stuff." She could hear the kiss on the forehead her mother received from her father. "Besides she would come to us for answers if she was really digging in that hole."
A moments pause then, "SHIT! I'm sorry Lee but I have a board meeting in twenty minutes," her father was promptly cut off by her mother.
"Go, I'll get Ruby to school, it has been a while since I drove her." The purple haired girl felt more confused than ever before; however, she took this as her cue to walk in. Setting down her backpack she went to give her dad a big hug.
"Off to work?" she questioned. Her father held her close for a moment. She could feel his larger frame, his stiff slacks and ironed button up, his love.
"Yeah lil lady, I'll be home for your mom's famous beef stroganoff though." He kissed the top of her head affectionately before grabbing his bag and walking out the door. Her mother sat a bowl of oatmeal and half of a raisin bagel in front of her and the freshman looked up appreciatively.
"So ready to wow the judges with science skills, what was the programming for anyways?" The woman that stood in front of the Norrisville Ninja (currently at least) pulled back the black part of her hair and brushing through red bangs with her fingers. As she was not needed to testify in court she wore a pair of pressed slacks, a blue short sleeve uniform top with her badge and nametag, and a pair of shoes (all of which were well worn and had clearly seen better days).
"Oh I was working on a way to heat the water with the least amount of steam along with an option of coffee to creamer ratio, given you pour the creamer in as part of the preparatory step." The adolescent smiled as she discussed the project with her mom. "One can all sync it with their phone to turn on with the phone's morning alarm, with this in mind the machine can prepare the coffee within four minutes of the initial alarm. Give or take a couple minutes."
Lee smiled at her daughter glad that she enjoyed technology as much as her father. As soon as Ruby finished her breakfast and cleaned the dishes she was on her mom's motorcycle (she had a cruiser at the station and saw no point in owning another car if it was not going to get used throughout the day). The drive was surprisingly quick with a tight hug from her mother.
*(^_^)*
Ruby had aced her English I quiz and was confident that her Geometry test had not been that terrible (she much preferred Algebra and Pre-Cal). So she really had no truly horrible feelings about the science fair as she walked in. Then she saw Howard using the fart box as his project. Sadly, for him, Mrs. Driscoll and Principal Slimovitz were not buying it. Looking over at her project she saw it was already graded, a yellow sticky note with A+ written on it. Mrs. Driscoll must have actually graded her yesterday when she had set up her stand.
That explained the questions and demonstration she had asked for.
Turning back to Howard she saw him beating on the machine only for a beam of light to shoot out at Bucky's battery potato, giving it life.
"Potato coming to life, no big deal" and really it wasn't. She and her father had accidentally done it on multiple occasions (the fry incident still haunted her nightmares). It ripped out its chord and started growling. Slipping into someone's 'changing room' project she pulled the mask over her head relishing in the relief that the form fitting suit gave her, including its ambiguity.
The fight began with her slamming her foot in its mouth, only for it to have no effect except to cause the potato to throw a table at her (she dodged of course but it crashed into another student's project and she couldn't deny the guilt). Punching it did nothing, and when she sliced at it regrew.
As if that was not enough, Bash's experiment turned out to also be a robot, a killer robot. In retrospect, it was made by Viceroy, a mad scientist.
She used it to her advantage though, it "mashed' the potatoes who retaliated by slipping it up causing its destruction. And then Howard was charged with cleaning up the gym. Luckily Ruby had another invention that helped move the cleaning process along supper quickly.
All in all it was a pretty bad day.