New Girl

Chapter 8: Shane's Karma

Part I

A/N: Well, here's the next chapter. Last time, Kennedi got a new bike to help her fight, and Shane and Dustin were jealous of that. They faced and destroyed a new enemy, and hopefully it will work out for them in the end. Kennedi's softball coach has suspicions about what she's doing that causes her to run off a good chunk of the time at the end of practices. What'll happen now on someone's special day?

Disclaimer: I only own things not originally in the show.


"Man, I'm worked," Dustin groaned as he and the other rangers walked into Ninja Ops after their intense training session. The boys and Tori were all sore and tired, while Kennedi felt quite the opposite. She felt energized and awake, probably because of the energy drinks she had before training, since it was going to be a long day.

"So am I," Blake agreed. "Ten mile run, two fight simulations, and an obstacle course."

"Don't forget two hours of hard meditation," Hunter added.

"You look tired," Dustin commented to the red ranger. "Training finally getting to you?"

Shane shook his head and stood upright. "I'm not getting a lot of sleep. I keep having this weird dream."

"You should pay attention to that," Kennedi advised. "Sensei says your dreams can tell you a lot about yourself."

"Speaking of dad," Cam piped up, looking toward Sensei's small hut. "Where is he?" Tori moved over to the hut, finding a small note.

"Look," she called them over. "'Rangers, I have gone on a meditation retreat to reflect and recharge my inner ninja. In my absence, enjoy a well deserved day off.'"

"Aw, yeah!" the guys cheered, grinning. Tori looked upset as she stood back up, and Kennedi didn't seem to mind that they had a day off.

"Well, I'm thinking maybe, uh, the track, then a movie," Dustin began. "Or a movie and then the track…"

Blake noticed Tori's sad face. "Hey, Tor, what's the matter? Come on, don't tell me you can't deal with a day off."

"No, a day off is great," she assured. "Especially tomorrow. I just thought that Sensei would be around for…you know."

"What?" Kennedi asked, completely confused as were Hunter, Blake, and Cam. Dustin and Shane seemed to be confused as well, yet had more of an idea as to what the blue ranger was getting at.

Shane realized it first. "Oh man! Are we stupid?" He turned to Tori. "'Cause tomorrow, it is your birthday!" He finished up singing the last few words.

"How about a beach party?" Dustin suggested.

"What do you say, Tor?" Blake asked.

"All right, sure," Tori agreed, smiling now. "Sounds great to me."

"All right," Hunter spoke. "Meet at the beach first thing in the morning."

Tori looked at Shane. "Just make sure you get enough sleep tonight. I think tomorrow might be something special after all."


"Sorry I can't go tomorrow," Kennedi apologized as Tori gave her a ride home. They had already dropped off the boys, and Kennedi had moved into the front seat of Tori's van as the older girl drove to the sports shop. "But I've been signed up for this thing for the past month. If I had known about tomorrow, I wouldn't have signed up."

"It's fine," Tori assured. "I mean, I would've done the same thing. You have a prior commitment, that's it. But promise you'll try to make it if you got time to afterwards?"

"Promise," Kennedi smiled.

"Good," Tori grinned. "So…what exactly is this thing you're going to?"

Kennedi took a sip of water before replying. "Reefside's annual sports competition. It's a fundraiser for the Relay For Life later in the year, and all the local sports teams for Reefside combined with the clubs put together a team and do this fundraiser. People have to sign up for the sports they want to participate in."

"And what are you participating in?" Tori wondered.

"Softball," the dirty blonde answered. "Me and my sister are playing softball, I'm also doing soccer, and she's also doing lacrosse. I have to cheer on her lacrosse game and my friend's soccer game. If all those are done before the day is, then I'll head back for the party."

"We'll still be able to reach you in case we need to, right?" Tori asked. "Just in case."

"Of course," Kennedi nodded. "I'll have it with me at all times, except for when I'm playing. Kind of can't wear it while I'm playing, and if I do, people will notice it."

"Well, good luck," the blonde wished as she pulled into the parking lot and Kennedi hopped out, thanking her for the ride.

Tori sighed as she pulled away. Hopefully nothing would go wrong with tomorrow.


Early morning found Kennedi in Reefside. Just about the whole town was at the high school, waiting for the games to begin. Kennedi and her sister had already checked in before Kira ran off to get changed into her lacrosse uniform, that being up first. The orange ranger was walking around in search of a few of her other friends. Just as the lacrosse game began, Kennedi found her childhood friend and his twin brother watching from the sidelines, the lighter haired of the two already in his soccer uniform.

"See you're ready to play," she commented, walking up in between them. Both boys jumped at being startled.

"Dude, can you not do that?" Eric McKnight grumbled, glaring at her.

"Can you stop using the word 'dude' so much?" she retorted with a smirk. She turned to his twin brother, Conner. "Did you just show up like that?"

Conner shook his head. "Already changed. After the guys lacrosse game is your soccer game, followed by mine, and then the softball and baseball games."

"I know," she nodded. "I have the schedule. I'm not gonna change until the guys game starts."

"I'm still a little surprised that you and Kira play sports," Conner mused. "I mean, you I can see playing them more than her, but still…"

"Well, it's your fault for getting me into soccer," Kennedi smirked. "And we got ourselves into softball, because our uncle coaches it, and Kira somehow got into lacrosse. Don't know how, but she did. Besides, I'm surprised you're not doing any other sport but soccer."

"It's the only sport I'm good at," he huffed. Eric had walked off, finding some of his other friends. "Plus it's the only one I'm really interested in and have a shot at getting scholarships from."

Kennedi looked to the field and watched as her sister scored a goal. "Point taken. So, dating anyone?"

"Don't start that again," Conner groaned. Every time they hung out, Kennedi would always bring up the subject of dating. She knew how Conner felt about her twin, and was trying to push them together. She also knew her twin felt the same way, but both were too stupid to realize the other felt that way. Kennedi was trying to get them to admit it, and so far, it wasn't working. "But no, I do not currently have a girlfriend."

"How'd you lose your last one?"

"Caught her making out with the football star," he shrugged. "Wasn't going to last, anyway."

"Because you're too in love with my sister to try and make other relationships work," Kennedi grinned. "Why don't you just tell her?"

Conner rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like it's that easy. And who's to say she'll believe me? My reputation will not help me with that."

"All right," Kennedi mused, getting an idea. "Let's cut a deal, then."

"What kind of deal?" Conner eyed her suspiciously.

"If you don't ask her out or you two aren't a couple by the time senior prom comes around," Kennedi began. "I get to do whatever it takes to get you two together. Gives you a little more than a year to get things straight."

Conner thought for a moment. "Deal."


As the last game Kennedi had to stay for came to an end, she heard her morpher go off. She groaned before excusing herself from her sister's side to answer the call. Cyber Cam relayed the issue at hand, letting her know what was going on. When she disconnected, she sighed and made an excuse to her sister so she could leave. Not even bothering to take her car and once out of sight, Kennedi ninja streaked into the woods. Deciding that the others would be able to handle monster attacks if any popped up, she set her sights on finding Shane.

She made it into the woods of Blue Bay Harbor rather quickly and slowed down her pace a bit. The woods of Reefside and Blue Bay Harbor were connected, but Kennedi knew when she had entered the Blue Bay woods. The dirty blonde figured Tori might get upset if she hadn't gone to the party after the games like she promised, but she also figured that ranger duties would take priority over it.

As she paused to take a breath, she saw something big and dark coming toward her. Thinking it might be the problem Cyber Cam talked about, she prepared herself and kicked it out of the way. It landed behind her, and as she turned to face it, she saw a fish like alien appear. "Whoa. Hey, don't you need a license to be that ugly?"

"Another worthless human," the fish huffed.

"Lothor's goons don't scare me," Kennedi rolled her eyes. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I am Vexacus," the fish stated. "And I work for no one. Now, give me the Carmanian."

"The what?" the orange ranger frowned, truly confused.

"Have it your way," Vexacus got ready to fight. Kennedi did the same, and the two charged at each other. Any hit she tried to land was blocked by him, and he managed to knock her down a few times.

Kennedi glared at him. "Ember Storm, Ranger Form!" she bellowed, morphing into her ranger suit. Vexacus fired at her and knocked her down before she could do anything else. The impact caused her to lose her morph.

"Foolish earthling," Vexacus grumbled. "Where is the Carmanian? Tell me!" Out of nowhere, a ball of light appeared as Kennedi found Shane beside her. In a moment, the two were gone and so was the ball of light.


"What's going on?" Kennedi demanded as she and Shane landed. Shane already knew the answer, or at least the general one. He had been walking along with Skyla, the Carmanian, when he spotted Kennedi taking on Vexacus, who he had a run in with earlier. Skyla had helped them get away, and Shane had helped Kennedi with escaping.

"Hey," Skyla turned back into human form, smiling at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I should be," Kennedi nodded. "But…what's going on?"

"Could ask you the same thing," Shane pointed out.

Kennedi rolled her eyes. "Cyber Cam told me that there was something odd in the woods and that he couldn't get a hold on you and he didn't want to disturb the others, so he called me. I decided to come check this out, figuring something ranger related was going on. Now, why are you here and not at Tori's party?"

"Those strange dreams I've been having led me here," Shane replied. "We should probably get moving. That fish faced freak is looking for her," he nodded at Skyla.


"We should get you home," Shane spoke to Skyla as the three walked through the forest. Shane hadn't been in the woods much longer than Kennedi had, but he did know a bit more than she did. "It's not safe out here." Skyla had introduced herself to Kennedi as they walked, and Kennedi was just trying to recall information she learned about Carmanians at the academy.

"How do you know I even live this way?" the dark haired girl asked.

"Well maybe you can help me out then," Shane shrugged and stopped.

"All right," Skyla smirked, before pointing up. "Up there."

"Right," Shane nodded slowly. "So you're some alien life form or something? Is that what you're telling me?"

Kennedi realized something. "You're the Carmanian that fish face was looking for."

"Wait, you're serious?" Shane raised an eyebrow. Skyla chuckled as she moved around, the other two following her.

"Hey, you asked," she shrugged.

"So…what's the deal with fish face?" Kennedi prompted. "He said he wasn't one of Lothor's goons, but he's definitely a threat."

"See what Cyber Cam says," Shane suggested.

"If Cyber Cam can't get a lock on you when you're out here, what makes you think we'll be able to contact him?"


The walk through the woods was long and seemed to go nowhere. Kennedi barely knew these woods, so she thought it best to stick with Shane and Skyla, figuring the red ranger would at least know where they are and how to get out if need be. Skyla was walking a bit far ahead of the two rangers, so they quickened their pace to catch up to her. "Hey, wait up!" Shane called. "Would you slow down?"

"Then keep up," Skyla shrugged, seeming a bit amused. "And don't be such a whiner."

"Whiner?" Shane raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you just called me?"

"Well, it is true," Kennedi mused. "You do seem to whine a lot."

Shane glared at her before he realized where they were. "Hey, I know this forest."

"You do," Skyla nodded. She motioned in front of them. "Look." The two rangers looked and found a strange dog house like structure that seemed to have a chimney of sorts coming from it.

"This was in my dream," the air ninja realized. "Okay. Now this is really starting to trip me out. What am I doing here?"

"Well, let's just say I owe you one," Skyla stated. "And this is where I pay you back."

"Payback…" a voice that caused the three to turn around and fall defensive spoke. Vexacus appeared before them. "I like the sound of that."


A/N: I figure here is as good as any place to end this chapter. Anyway, the next one will pick up right where this one left off and head into Shane's Karma Part II. What'll happen then?