Chapter Eight, things are building!
Enjoy!
The red glow from his backpack on the way to school made Randy sigh.
"Come on Nomicon, not today" he sighed.
The glowing continued, and he stepped behind a tree dropping his bag. He pulled out the book, sitting before he opened it. Once more, he fell through the air as his mind was pulled inside the book. He landed in what looked like a forest, standing up and rubbing his head. Looking up at the sky, he saw the words from before floating there.
He rolled his eyes, "we have been over this."
The words shifted, the scene now showing the ninja standing among the trees. Randy read the words as they appeared.
"To know when to back down, is to know when to fight another day"
The figure of the ninja was attached, the two forms battling it out, till the ninja was forced to pull back.
He raised an eyebrow, "hey, I never back down from a challenge."
The words began to crumble around him, forcing him to dodge them, before he backed up and fell off of what felt like a cliff. He woke up in his body, laying over on the grass. The Nomicon snapped shut, the glow fading.
"So your going to get angry?" he picked up the book, trying to open it but it would not budge.
Sighing, he hurried over to Howard's house. His best friend coming down to the sidewalk.
"Howard" he stopped in front of him, "the Nomicom gave me another warning."
He had told Howard about the original warning about the Nomicon had given to him. Howard looked at him, and shook his head.
"Oh no, not today" he said, "we have a party this afternoon."
"I don't think that will be much of a problem" he rubs the back of his neck, "the Nomicon is kind of mad at me."
Howard sighed, the two walking along, "you two fight like siblings sometimes."
"So...like you and Heidi?" he teased a bit smiling.
"Ha ha funny" Howard rolled his eyes.
"I am sure the Nomicon just wants me to learn my lesson" Randy sighed, "kind of worries me about the warnings now..."
"Well stop worrying Cunningham" Howard frowned, "we do not need to ruin the party this afternoon if you're going to act like a shoob."
"Don't worry...I got this" Randy smiled a bit, "whatever happens, I always get it in the end and win."
"True" Howard nodded, "might get smacked around a bit, but you make a come back."
"Thanks for that" Randy raised an eyebrow.
Howard smirked, patting him on the back, "just doing my best bud thing."
"I have it all planned out" Viceroy said, as Terri finished getting ready for school, "everything is ready to go for this afternoon."
Terri turned to look at him, "is it another mission?"
Viceroy sighed, "thank goodness no."
Terri tilted his head, wondering what the other meant then. Viceroy smiled, walking over to stand by him.
"Tomorrow is when we step things up" he says, "but today is...a bit just for fun. A day off if you will, I think we could use it before we have to buckle down."
"What is happening tomorrow?" Terri asked.
"Tomorrow, you'll be out for a dentist appointment. That way, your cover as Terri Morgan is safe" Viceroy explained, "we will then launch an attack and draw the ninja out, where you will engage him for a field test."
So he was going to fight the ninja tomorrow.
"What if I fail?" he asks.
Viceroy paused, "well, depending on how badly you fail if you do, it can be repaired and I can convince Hannibal you just need a bit more time..."
"But if I fail fully..." Terri looked at him.
Viceroy hesitated then sighed, "Hannibal might decide to scrap the project altogether."
So tomorrow was a big deal. If he failed, he risked being destroyed. Viceroy caught the look that crossed his face, his expression warming a bit.
"Awe, your AI systems and emotions have come in nicely" he smiled, "don't worry...you have the power and skill, you just have to do your best."
Terri nodded then paused. He had been wanting to ask a question for awhile now since he had begun to become more self aware.
"What happens once the ninja is gone?" he asks.
Viceroy crossed his arms in thought, "there will be nothing keeping the sorcerer captive, so he'll escape. Hannibal believes he'll be rewarded with a power for himself. After that I am not sure, but if you succeed, I do believe that both will agree in keeping you around." He smiled, "after all, a powerful dark ninja would be a good help, and you deserve to keep living."
"Dark ninja" Terri repeated the words.
Viceroy chuckled, "like the sound of that huh? Today we will have fun, tomorrow you can show Hannibal what you're capable of. Don't worry about any of it, you will do great."
Terri nodded, before the two made their way to the car.
"Ah, to give an illusion" Viceroy pressed a button on his watch, the facade of Mr. Morgan returned.
The two spoke a bit more as they got to the school. Now with the disguise, Viceroy was able to drive him up to the front. As Terri got out, some people watched, and Mr. Morgan spoke up.
"Don't forget the invitations" he smiled, handing Terri a stack of what looked like cards, "have a good day."
He drove off, Terri looking down at the cards. Each had a name, one he could easily put with a face in his database. They were designed in an appealing way, based on what he had learned about with teenagers. It was his choice who to give theirs. He smiled, he would do as Viceroy had said, today was for fun, to enjoy himself. Looking up, he saw the two people he would invite first.
Howard and Randy were chatting as they walked up, noticing the car as Terri got out and Mr. Morgan drove away. They walked up.
"Hey buddy" Howard smiled.
"Looking forward to this afternoon?" Randy asked.
Terri nodded, "yeah, everything is all taken care of and..."
He handed both of them their invitations. Their eyes lit up a bit.
"Ooooo...it's official!" Howard held his up in the air.
Randy laughed, rolling his eyes, "thanks man, so who else are you planning on inviting?"
Terri shrugged a bit, "there is one for everyone that I have met so far...it would be fine to get to know them right?"
"Ha, so you can totally rub everything in their faces" Howard smirked a bit evily, "I love it!"
"He has a one track mind" Randy said.
They smiled, walking through the halls. Heidi slipped up beside them, the camera already turning on.
"This is Heidi Weinerman with an update on the new trend in school" she smiled, turning to Terri, "now that you have been here for a day, what do you think of our school?"
"I think it was a good idea to choose here" Terri said.
"Even after the monster attack yesterday?" Heidi asked.
He nodded, "yes, I did get to see the truth behind the hub about this ninja."
"Ah" Heidi smiled, "and what do you think?"
"It was awesome" Terri chuckled.
Randy smiled, nudging Howard slightly.
"So, anything to say to the student body?" Heidi asked.
Terri nodded, "we hare having a barbecue party at my house this afternoon, so I will be handing out invitations."
"And we were totally the first ones" Howard did a little dance off camera.
Heidi rolled her eyes ignoring him but smiled at Terri, "your second day, and you're already throwing a party?"
Terri nodded, handing her the invitation with her name on it, "what better way to get to know everyone and have some fun."
She gave a light squeal at being handed her invitation smiling, "sounds good to me, looks like anyone who is someone will be showing up." She caught sight of Randy and Howard, adding after a moment, "as well as some wannabes, but just means Terri has a good heart. I am Heidi, and this was your update on what is trending at Norrisville High."
The camera switched off, and Heidi smiled at Terri.
"This is so great, you don't mind if I do a live feed and updates at the party do you?" she asked.
Terri shook his head, "feel free."
She squealed a bit again, "thanks! I have to prepare." She took off, "bye Terri, Howard and Candy."
"It's Randy!" Randy called after her with a sigh.
"Forget about her" Howard said, "we have invitations to hand out and gloat about!"
People were already talking, as Terri and the two walked around the hall. People were excited to get their invitations and already talking about what to wear, or what might happen. They came upon Bash, who moved in the way with his friends.
"Hey new guy" he said, "heard you were having a party?"
"Yup, and only the most bruce people in school are getting theirs first" Howard said, waving his a bit as if fanning himself, "and of course Cunningham and I were first."
Randy rolled his eyes laughing a bit. Terri smiled, before handing one to Bash. He looked over it for a moment, reading it.
"The TV lady said that anyone who was someone would be there" he said, meaning Heidi, "I'm someone...and you were cool enough yesterday." He paused for a moment, "alright, we'll ne there. It is a party after all."
He walked away without another word, his friends following.
"Not even Bash is going to ruin this" Howard said.
"Totally, with the three of us and this party, it is totally going to be the cheese" Randy nodded.
They finished handing out the invitations, the bell ringing to signal that it was time to get to class. It was clear there were already rumors and talk circulating through the entire school now. Even during class, people were whispering and talking. Thanks to Heidi's update and Terri's invitations, the whole school was talking about it. As they passed them in the hall towards lunch, people made comments and said hey to the three of them. Howard was milking it, playing off as cool. Randy was glad both of his friends were happy, and that the entire school was responding well to it. They sat together at lunch, Howard asking questions, especially about the food. Terri did not mind answering them, though honestly he had little idea as to what Viceroy fully had planned. The mystery seemed to have things even more on the edge and hyped up. No one could wait for the bell to ring and the day to be over so they could head home and prepare for the afternoon.
