C'mon, I'm hungry. I should be at lunch not dealing with… I turn around to check if what I think is happening is actually happening. Yup. I hope Norrisville High can pay for the inevitable damages, or not since no school would be nice. Bash had been transformed into a giant gorilla chimera. This time I took more time to study my opponent than last week.
It's safe to say that chimera's are larger than their animal counterparts and dumber. Though I don't think Bash could get any dumber. The creepiest part of the whole combination is how closely he still resembles himself. Part of it was his hair, Bash still had his double spike thing going on, but mostly it was his eyes. They were human, glowing and looking straight at me.
I travel just a little further down the hallway to the nearest trashcan. Nobody was about but one can never be too careful. Pulling the scar out of my satchel, I closed my eyes to avoid being blinded by the bright light. I've taken to carting the bag around because it's less suspicious than a bulge in my pocket. The ninja scarf is pretty long; the longest end comes to my knees.
In the time that it takes for him to rip some lockers out of the wall and lob them at me, I note that it's funny that his chimera form is a gorilla. His step-father's minions are mechanical gorillas. Coincidence? Totally. And those lockers I was talking about? They hit me square in the chest. I think the suit enhances my strength and recovery, because there's no way I could shove them off me and stand up afterwards otherwise.
I race forward shouting "Ninja rings!" Pulling a few out, I throw them and then grab my sword. Bash-Gorilla blocks the rings with his arms. Thin lines leaking red appear where they had hit him. I felt bad about hurting him, but I'm sure he has no such qualms about me. With no hesitation he charges down the hallway, roaring.
It may be lunch time, but there's two lunch hours. Right now, it is freshman and sophomore lunch. Teachers from the older grades are poking their heads into the hallway and quickly closing their doors.
Using my wings for extra lift, I jump right over his head. "Ninja jump!"This reminds me of bull fighting, though this is a heck of a lot brucer. His feet slide on the tiled floor, giving me a few precious moments to figure out how to return him to normal. As much as I would love to leave him like this and never see him in school again, Bash's chimera is a danger to anyone who gets in his way.
Previous experience tells me that the person's change is caused by something upsetting and/or personal. When the previous ninja 'killed' the Sorcerer, everyone returned to normal; the Sorcerer was the cause. Then something happened with Bucky and the triangle he always carries around…
Too much thinking is bad for my health. Bash-Gorilla's hairy foot is grinding into my stomach, content to squish me to death. Think Randy, think. What's Bash's problem? I push up on the foot with little result. Familiar lights appear; the ones having to do with the whole ninja-tattoo-thing. Block letters that read "A stick cannot be used in place of a rope" sway gently in the air. What does that mean? What did I do? I could feel the tattoos swirl angrily beneath the suit. All I did was defend myself against the bully! Where was the harm in that?
Despite the teachers keeping their doors shut, quite a crowd had gathered. They stayed at a respectful distance, but if Bash took offense there would be no safe distance. Their imminent danger encouraged me to think faster, but to give them any chance at all I have to save myself first. I run through a mental list of weapons and the most useful thing I can think of are the undiscovered ninja balls and the smoke bombs.
I free one of my arms and flick my wrist as if to summon a smoke bomb, instead a green ball with lime green patterns on it rolls out from the suit's sleeve and into my hand. I have no idea what it does, though I throw it at my attacker anyway. "Ninja ball thing!" Electricity erupts from it, momentarily stunning Bash. Rolling away, I stand up. I have few bruises and my wings are numb from being in an awkward position so long. Not bad at all.
The tattoos and lights that are alarmingly becoming something of a conscience are definitely trying to tell me something. I don't see a stick or a rope anywhere… It's safe to assume they think I'm responsible for this though. Maybe, just maybe, they think that using my wings for personal reasons is the wrong use for them? That something meant to help others shouldn't be used to save myself from an inconvenience? Which is honkin' weird since the wings aren't part of the ninja thing, right?
The chimera has lost interest in me and is after the closer targets. Unwilling to see what he has planned for them, I trust my gut and drop a smoke bomb. In the smoke I take the scarf off and prepare to face Bash as myself.
X
I walk back to the cafeteria, my glorious purple hair dripping wet. Howard is alone at the table.
"Hey man, save anything for me?"
"Nope." Came his reply as he ate the last of his french fries. At this point it would be too much effort to go up to the intimidating lunch lady and get food. "Wha' happen ta you?"
"Well, Bash tried to give me a swirly as revenge for getting him out during dodgeball." I sigh.
"Looks like he succeeded." Howard's pronunciation improved once he swallowed the fries.
"Oh I wasn't done. I then got away from him which insulted him even more. The Sorcerer stanked him, I became the ninja and fought him, but I had to surrender as Randy Cunningham to him so that he'd return to normal."
"Sounds wonk."
I silently agree with him. I'm still figuring out this whole business and the best I can figure is that the Sorcerer's magic is connected to strong negative emotions. That theory explains what happened to Bash. Why did I have to let him dunk my head in the toilet though? I never realized how complicated this ninja stuff would get. It makes my head hurt. And my torso, legs, back and shoulders. Ouch.
"Cunningham, did you hear the news?!" Exclaimed Howard, who was more interested in what he was about to say than what had happened to me. "The school is allowing McFist to place a snack machine in the building! And he's going to deliver it personally!"
"Are you serious? This is the cheese! We might even get to see him!" I now understand why he was so excited. As much as I dislike Bash, McFist Industries makes the best electronics, clothing, food and pretty much anything else! Howard and I like to consider ourselves his biggest fans. Plus having McSnacks whenever during school would be great too.
The bell rings and lunch is over. Students file out and we're at the end of the line, caught up in talking about McFist and his contributions to Norrisville. We almost walk out when the back door to the cafeteria opens and two robotic gorillas back in pulling a trolley with a very large box on it. The snack machine! After them came Viceroy, McFist's assistant, and finally, the man himself.
"Put it there," directed Viceroy. The two apes wheeled the machine where he had pointed. "No, more to the left… perfect."
"How much longer will installation take?" McFist asks Viceroy, sounding impatient.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch; it'll be done in just a few minutes." The robo-apes began to unpack it just as the principal walked in.
"I am so glad you were able to make it Mr. McFist." Principal Slimovitz is nice enough, but he always seems to be nervous. That could be because of students shape shifting and damaging school property. This is only his second year as principal.
"So am I. Viceroy…." Viceroy hit a button and the vending machine powered up, glowing like a firework in the night sky. P Slimz (A nickname we students gave the principal) smiled widely and clapped.
"Too bad there isn't a student we could test run this on…" Viceroy stated, shifting his weight to his right foot.
"Well, what about those two?" McFist said, pointing at us with his mechanical right arm. Howard and I had been watching from the background the whole time and it was paying off.
"They'd be happy to help, wouldn't you boys?" The principal gestured for us to come forward.
"Would we ever!" Howard starts to run, I jog, but I can keep up with him because of my longer legs. Maybe half a year ago now, McFist had had some sort of accident where his arm had to be amputated. Thanks to technology he now has a fully functioning arm.
"I call it the Automatic Dispenser of McSnackables, or ADOM for short. Choose a McSnackable, it's on the house." It was the usual McFist industries green and had seven rows and five columns of junk food deliciousness. Nothing could distract me from the moment, except for one thing. The Sorcerer's magic was creeping along the floor, keeping to the shadows. No one else seemed to notice it, which was understandable. I've been making a point to notice that kind of thing.
Howard went with the classic McSquiddles and I punched in a random code, still watching the mutating smoke out of the corner of my eye. This is wonk; I finally get to be within five feet of the brucest person in Norrisville and I'll probably have to ninja, ending this moment.
As it comes closer to our group, I panic. I had just finished with Bash! There is no way I could fight another crazy chimera. Unable to concentrate on the scientist's questions, Howard nudged me; probably wondering why I was being such a shoob.
The last few feet, my eyes wide with terror, it accelerated straight toward McFist. My mouth opens, I have to warn him, but no sound comes out. It's just as well; the magic dissipates at his feet, no harm done. The bell rings; the five minute passing period is over. I should be in Spanish.
"Well now. Wasn't that nice?" P Slimz says, "Don't worry, I'll send an email to your teachers excusing your tardiness."
"Thanks Mr. McFist!" Howard turns to leave. I must have stared too long. McFist looks at me.
"Run along now." Was it just me or did McFist's voice become deeper? Whatever happened there, I think the town celebrity may not be trustworthy.
A/n: no editing was done to this chapter so if there's a mistake tell me kay :)