OK K.O.: The Fight

Chapter 7

"Alright, I know we all got places to be, and we all know what happened, so let's get right to it. Ms. Dendy," the principal said, pointing at Dendy. "You are an eye witness. I saw most of what happened, but I want your testimony."

"I have video recorded from my hackpack recorded on everything that happened," Dendy said. "Allow me to show you."

The recording hologram came up, displaying all the events from K.O. trying to walk out, to the power fist.

"Well, very incriminating on both you boys," the principal said. "You Mr. Scales for starting the fight and endangering other students. Not to mention what K.O. and Ms. Carol claimed to have happened yesterday.

"Yeah, I know," Max said. "I admit to everything I did, including yesterday in the bathroom. The reason I did everything I did was because I was scared. I came from a bad school where it was essentially survival of the fittest."

"Neo Riot Public correct?" the principal asked. "I think I saw that in your file. I'd agree you came from less than favorable conditions, but that does not take away from your actions today. Your will serve 2 months detention, be suspended for two days, and will be required to go to counseling for the remainder of the school year. Your father has been called and informed on these charges."

"Aw great," Max said. "I get to be further in the hole."

"Mr. Principal, would it be possible for his punishment to be taken away, or be less severe out of forgiveness?" K.O. asked as a mini fireworks show appeared above his head, spelling out the word "FORGIVENESS."

Carol chuckled a slight bit.

"What?" the principal said in a smart-alec tone. "Did you guys become friends and make up in the 11 minutes since you took him to the nurses office?"

"We did, actually!" K.O. said.

"It was quite the spectacle," Dendy said. "Out of all my calculations, the odds of that outcome were well below .0000001 percent."

"Wow!" K.O. and Max said in unison.

"I think you should consider that sir," said Ms. Quantum, who had been silent since the kids walked in. "I don't think he should be off scot free, since he did endanger the students, but I'm willing to believe K.O. that Max has turned a new leaf. He's one of my more honest pupils."

"Silence Quantum," the principal said. I'm afraid science won't help either of you. You're in trouble too K.O. You're getting three weeks after school detention."

"Aww…" K.O. said as he began to deflate. Dendy coded a bicycle pump and stuck into his side and she began to pump him back up.

"Seriously?!" Carol said angrily. She then approached the desk and got in his face. "After you saw video proof of the kid DEFENDING himself and his friend? And after I called you, and YOU failed to do anything about it?!"

The principal's face got red and he began sweating profusely.

"And after I informed you of what K.O. told me?" Ms. Quantum said. "You do realize K.O. saved the students from potential danger. I don't agree with this, sir!"

K.O. was pumped up back to normal. "Uh, mommy?"

"You kids might want to go outside for this," Carol said.

"I agree," Ms. Quantum said. "This might get hairy. Not to mention I've yet to see my bonus in my mailbox. I think it's time someone pays."

The three walked outside and sat back down.

"So, you said you're already in trouble with your dad?" K.O. asked Max.

"Yeah," Max said with a sigh. "We got into an argument the other night. Wasn't pretty. I know he's going to be disappointed in me. He barely even comes home because he works so much."

"Well, I bet he'll be happy that you made so much progress today!" K.O. said. "Sure, he'll be mad about most everything that happened, but I think he'll like that you learned from it."

"Maybe… I don't know," Max said.

A large figure then came walking from the end of the hall. It was a tall, long necked dragon in a suit. He walked up to the kids and breathed fire. "MAAAAAX!" he said as he voiced echoed throughout the halls.

"Hey dad," Max said.

"You picked a fight and now you're getting suspended," his dad said. "Care to explain yourself?"

K.O. was about to say something, but Max stopped him.

"Look, dad, I'm sorry," Max said. "There's no excuse for what I did, but we've moved two times this year, and at Neo Riot, I got beat up bad! No one ever helped me. I figured I'd have to fight someone first to avoid that, and well… that backfired. But K.O. here forgave me! He even stood up for me and tried to get my punishment lessened! I know I shouldn't have tried to fight anyone, but I felt I had no choice! But thanks to K.O., I know Lakewood is different! I can be myself again! And know we're friends! I know what I did was wrong, but please understand and be happy I learned something!"

HIs dad looked at him sternly.

"And things at home haven't been great either," Max said. "I understand you need to work a lot, but we don't get to spend much time together. And we're always at each other's neck over things. I'm tired of constantly arguing! It doesn't help our situation!"

His dad looked at the kids sternly. Eventually, he gave up the tough guy act and sighed.

"I guess I haven't been much help," his dad said. "I took you away from friends. And I've been working too much. I haven't been the best father. I've been so tired and angry lately, since your mother passed. Things at the office are terrible too. It is extremely stressful, and I'm afraid I've taken some of my frustrations out on you. For that, I need to apologize to you. I'm glad you were able to learn something before things got any worse."

"Yeah, K.O. is actually really cool," Max said, and he and K.O. fist bumped. "I'm not going to bully anyone anymore! I'm going to be myself!"

"Makes me proud to here that, son," his dad said. "But you're still going to be grounded for this incident. Even if you learned a lesson, it needs to be reinforced."

"I know dad," Max said.

"Hopefully you guys can become a lot closer now that you understand one another," K.O. said.

"Calculations don't need to be run to determine that's a 100% possibility," Dendy said.

"Say, where are you kid's parents?" Max's dad asked.

"We're going to my house today," K.O. said. "My mom is talking to the principal right now."

Just then, the principals body came screaming out of the door, and into some lockers. He was very dazed.

"K-K.O…." he said in a daze, "N-n-n-o punishment. Mr. Scales, no suspension, still two months detention. Urghhhh." He then passed out.

Carol emerged from the hole in the door, re-tightening her gloves.

"Thanks for the help, Quantum," she said. "I think that bonus will show up soon."

"Not a problem Ms. Kincaid," Ms. Quantum said. "Guy's a terrible boss anyways. No harm to me if I get fired. School board will hire me back."

"Oh hey, you must be Mr. Scales," Carol said. "The names Carol. How are ya?"

"I'm alright," he said as he walked over to her. "The kids were filling me in on the situation. Sorry about everything. We've had some troubles at home, and we've had to move a few times."

"Well it certainly scared me, but the kids became friends over it all, so I guess it all worked out," she said.

"I'm certainly glad about that," he said. He then started talking in a low volume, so the kids wouldn't hear. "Things have been hard for him. We lost his mother over a year ago. It's been hard for me too."

"Hey, I understand," she said. "I've lost someone close to me too. I've raised that boy his entire life. Single parenting has it's roadblocks, but it's well worth it."

"Hehehe, you're right about that," he said. "I just wish work didn't keep me so occupied."

"Why don't get a new job?" Carol said. "There's plenty of openings at Lakewood Plaza Turbo. It's close to the school. Your kid can walk their every day. That's what mine does."

They kept talking while the kids went back to comparing pow cards.

"Hey K.O., I want to give you this," Max said before handing K.O. a throwback Rippy Roo card. "This can commemorate our friendship. I'll give you an old El-Bow one Dendy. As an apology, and a gesture of friendship."

"That's quite alright, Max," Dendy said. "I accept your apology and accept your friendship."

Carol and Mr. Scales finished talking. They walked over to the kids.

"C'mon Max, let's get going," Mr. Scales said.

"Alright dad." Max collected his deck and turned to K.O. and Dendy. "Thanks guys. You really helped me."

K.O. and Dendy smiled as Max and his dad walked off.

Carol walked over and put her fists on her hips.

"Alright guys let's head to Gars to get snacks," Carol said. "I gotta get Eugene his allergy medicine."

"Woohoo!" K.O. exclaimed as the group walked out of the school together.

They went to Gars and stocked up while K.O. also told the whole story to Rad and Enid. Dendy, of course, played the video footage to back it all up. They both enjoyed the story for the violence and for its heartwarming ending. Mr. Gar was filled in by Carol and was proud K.O. stood up for himself.

K.O. and Dendy spent the rest of the afternoon together. They played video games, watched a few movies, some action, some science fiction (K.O. didn't like them, but he got them because he knew Dendy would). They practiced battle moves, had pizza for dinner, and they messed around with photo filters on K.O.'s phone.

It was very late at this point. Carol set up a mattress for Dendy next to K.O.'s bed while the two changed into their pj's. K.O. hopped into bed, while Dendy took off her glasses and set them on K.O.'s nightstand before laying under the blankets of the mattress.

"You kids had a long day," Carol said as she stood by the door. "Be sure to get some rest. We got more going on tomorrow. Love you K.O., night Dendy."

"Goodnight mommy!" K.O. said.

"Goodnight Ms. Kincaid," Dendy said.

Carol turned off the light and went downstairs. Mr. Gar would eventually show up after a late night and the two watched wrestling together.

"Boy, I tell ya Gene," she began. "That boy sure can leave an impact on people."

"I know," Gar said. "Employee morale is at an all-time high and sales are through the roof."

"Ugh, Gene!" Carol said before jabbing him in the chest, both laughing.

"I'm joking! I'm joking… kind of," Gar said. "I know what you mean. The kid is going to do great things. He's truly special. Probably gets it from his mother."

"Oh Gene!" Carol said. The two then shared a kiss.

Back in K.O.'s room, he and Dendy were still wide awake.

"So K.O.," Dendy said. "How does it feel to have Mr. Gar as a potential step dad?"

"I like it," K.O. said. "Having my boss be my big man and seeing my mom happy! Nothing could be better!" He then paused. "Hmm…"

"Something the matter, K.O.?"

"No, I was just thinking about the fact that… I'LL be married someday."

"The odds of that happening are heavily in your favor. You possess many traits that will develop into desirable traits that mature women love."

"I've actually been thinking about WHO I'd be married to. There's a lot of girls at my school. Then there's Enid, but she's probably going to end up with Rad. I know I'm only 6-11, but it's just fun to think about the future sometimes."

"I agree. It is rather amusing to ponder one's future. I don't even do calculations. It's a lot more fun to merely speculate." Dendy then began to close her eyes.

"Hey, maybe we'd get married! That'd be kind of cool!"

Dendy's eyes shot open, and she was blushing profusely. "What are you implying K.O.?"

"You and me. We're already best friends, and you're the girl I probably know the most. Not to mention we like similar things and fight well together. We could become a hero couple, like my mom and dad were."

"Um, yes. Maybe. I like your observation and use of logic K.O.," Dendy said nervously. "I think it's best we get some sleep."

"Right! Night Dendy!" K.O. then fell asleep a few seconds later.

Dendy would wake up later in the night and pull up K.O.'s profile on her hackpack. She updated his "allies" section to include Max. She also did some work on Max's profile. She was about to put up her pack and go back to sleep, she decided to make one final update to K.O.'s profile. She scrolled to a slot that read "love-interests" and put "Dendy (Self)."

"Perhaps one day K.O. One's future cannot be entirely calculated by numbers." She then closed the hackpack and went back to sleep.

While sleeping, K.O. decided to visit T.K.O.'s house. He walked into the house and saw T.K.O. playing some guitar hero esc game. "Oh, sup loser. Why have you blessed me with your unholy presence tonight?"

"Why didn't you show up when I was getting bullied?" K.O. asked. "Usually you like to weigh in on situations like this."

"Teh, easy. I loved watching you suffer and be all sad. The fact you bested him was a fluke. Somewhat impressive, but still a fluke."

"You tend to get angry at me when you think I'm being weak, since this is our body. Usually you like to scold me and tell me what I should do."

"Well, maybe I got lazy. Ever think of that?"

"T.K.O., you may be lazy, but you're usually one to take action."

T.K.O. then sighed. "Ugh, fine. I didn't help because I wanted to see you get over this yourself. I may be in your body, but we're separate beings. I wanted to see you get through it on your own, because I knew you could. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I was rooting for you. I didn't to be unleashed and cause more problems."

"So, you were trying to save others from destruction, and help me grow! Aww! T.K.O.!" K.O. then walked over and hugged him. "It means a lot that you care!"

"Yeah, yeah. TELL NOBODY!"

"Ohhhh kay. If that's what you want."

"Yeah, it is. Anyways, you wanna play drums on this game? It's getting kinda stale on my own."

"Sure! Let's do it!"

The two jammed out together for a bit. Eventually, K.O. grew tired and decided to go back to reality. He came to in his bed where it was 1 a.m. He looked over at a sleeping Dendy and smiled, thinking about all they went through throughout the day. He rolled over and went to sleep, knowing the sun would soon great him to a bright new day.