Hello again! I would just like to, firstly, thank everyone who has reviewed so far!
Elcall: Thanks so much for reviewing! I believe you'll like what you find on here.
Endeavor4ever: Yeah, I'm not entirely sure how its going to end either, lol. Just kidding, I have a rough idea. But I'm still working on the finer details, so to speak.
Nomi Norisu: Don't worry, more chapters are coming soon. :-)
Guest: Thanks :-)
Kitt Rider: Um . . . sorry, I had to translate it online, but thanks for the thumbs up! :-)
Now, on with the show! :-D
Chapter 1: Nearly 800 years later
Jenna looked up Norrisville High School, feeling the inside of her coat pocket, reassured by the feeling of the silky cloth.
She was wearing her usual attire. Dark brown jeans, pale green T-shirt covered by a dark green, brown, and tan camo hoodie, camo leather boots, and neon orange backpack full of school supplies. Her light brown, chin length hair was cut in a slightly messy style, her bangs long enough to cover her bright violet eyes and most of her face.
She took a deep breath before stepping up to the building, re-shouldering her neon orange backpack.
Inside that same building, two students discussed a project that was going to begin in science class later in the day.
"I can't believe Mrs. Driscoll is letting us mix together chemicals today!" exclaimed Randy, the taller of the two.
"I know right? It's gonna be so bruce. Do you think we can get something to explode?" The shorter one, Howard, had been looking forward to this since she had announced it in class yesterday.
"We sure can try. Do you think she'll let us choose our own partners for this?" asked Randy.
Jenna easily slid past the other students. A few girls looked at her and giggled to themselves, talking among themselves. Jenna was a tomboy at heart, and merely rolled her eyes. Two boys were standing around her locker, one tall, skinny, and purple haired, the other short, chubby, and orange haired. She ignored to their chatter as she fiddled with the combination lock.
It was being very stubborn.
Randy and Howard took no notice of the new girl who was at the previously vacant locker next to theirs. There were so many people at Norrisville high and they didn't really bother to try and know everyone.
"What if the explosion, like, set the classroom on fire?" Randy had a mischievous grin on his face.
"And then we have to evacuate and school's cancelled for the rest of the day? I like the way you think Cunningham," said Howard as he nodded thoughtfully. Randy was about to reply, but the girl next to them suddenly kicked her locker.
"Stupid! Freaking! Hunk!" She whisper-yelled, kicking it again before looking at the combo for the what felt like the millionth time. She glanced the boy's way, thinking over their words.
"Your plan is stupid and could hurt a lot of people; don't do it." She said simply, and, after finally opening her locker, tossed in her books.
Randy spluttered. "We weren't actually going to do it!"
"Aw man, really? I thought you were serious. Not even a little fire?" Howard pouted. Randy sighed and took another look at the girl. Though he could care less about everybody's business, he knew he had never seen her around before.
"Are you new here?"
"You were serious; I could hear it in your voice. And yes, I'm a transfer from a town over." She replied, glancing at a dark grey, navy blue ringed book, a lavender ninja mask symbol in its center. It was tucked into her orange pack with a few notebooks, a binder, and some other stuff.
She zipped it up, and felt in her pocket for the silky cloth article, feeling a little more reassured yet at the same time a bit wary.
"Whatever," Howard said irritably, "So... if you're from a town over, have you heard about the Ninja of Norrisville high?"
The two teenage boys gave each other a knowing look and waited for her answer.
"Nope," She replied, just a little too quickly. She felt the fabric in her pocket and shouldered her pack.
"My name's Jennafern. What's yours?" Her backpack glowed navy blue twice, from something on the inside.
"I'm Randy, Randy Cunningham. And this is my partner in crime Howard," As he said this Randy put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you," Howard said in a way that suggested the opposite. "You seriously haven't heard of the ninja? I also suppose you don't know about what the Ninja protects us from? Well then, you're gonna be in for a big surprise."
Jenna gave a tiny wave. "Nice to meet you. I thought someone else protected the school, so," she shrugged, a nervous smile on her face. "My bad."
"Someone else? Who else would-" Howard began angrily, but Randy, sensing she was uncomfortable, possibly because of his friend's brash manner, decided to change the subject.
"So what's your first class?"
"Eh, English, I think, not sure. I give most things different labels than most people. One of the joys of being me." The last line she said sarcastically, ignoring when her backpack pulsed navy blue again.
"No honking way!" Randy said with genuine surprise. Howard, noting her sarcasm, immediately disliked her. Sarcasm was his gig.
"Oh joy, you have a locker next to us, you have the same first class. What's next? The same second hour?" Howard paused. "Please tell me science is not your second class."
"...yes?" She replied uncertainly, taken back slightly by his response.
"Howard, be nice. Jenna, right? Don't mind him, he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." The bell rings and the students shuffle off to their classes. "Well, do you know where Mr. Bannister's class is?" Randy offers graciously. Howard folds his arms grumpily.
"Nope. I'll just follow you guys. Never been here before. And I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers, H-man. Can you tell me what attacks the school?" She asks curiously, following after them.
Howard, suddenly feeling that he had the upper hand because he knew something she didn't, perked up.
"Oh you know, robots, possessed students that turn into monsters... that kind of thing." They were now at English class and taking their seats. Mr. Bannister motioned for Jenna to come to the front of the class.
Jenna rolled her eyes and walked up, pulling down her hood.
The teacher waits until the bell signals that the five minutes to get to class is over to introduce the new student.
"Take your seats... I'd like to announce that we have a new student. Her name is Jennafern Joans, I expect for you to make her feel welcome." There was a spattering of applause. "There is an empty seat behind those two there," he vaguely pointed at Randy and Howard.
"Thanks, Teach. Now my covers been blown." There was a light spattering of sarcasm about her words as she walked to her seat, slumping low and pulling up her hood.
The teacher furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't know if that's acceptable where you're from, Miss Jennafern, but there will be no such disrespect here. If that happens once more, you'll owe me an essay on the meaning of 'respect' and how it applies in school." Mr. Bannister sat down at his desk to take attendance.
"Word from the wise," Howard had turned around in his seat to face Jenna, "Don't get on his bad side. He loves grading essays."
"Got it, H-man. You said earlier that kids get possessed. Is it random, or does something happen that makes them turn into monsters?" She asked, pulling out a small blue notebook and a pencil.
On the page she turned to were sketches and scribbled patches of words, some underlined or outlined with gold or silver or red sharpie.
Howard opened his mouth to answer, but Randy, remembering what had happened with Julian earlier in the year, interjected.
"Oh, you know... there's rumors... like wearing your underpants five days straight or eating the caf's meatloaf," Randy glanced at the teacher, who was still busy with stuff at his desk. "I guess you'd have to ask the Ninja himself for the answer." Randy said quietly, subconsciously touching the satchel at his feet.
Howard seemed to find this funny and laughed. "It's definitely the meat loaf," he said, playing along.
"Hey what'cha got there?" Randy asked, leaning closer to her notebook.
She covered it with her hand. "My Secrets Journal. I like to learn more than what's in the classroom." She gave Randy a bit of a look. "And it isn't clothes or food, is it? That makes you a monster? It's something else. And I'm gonna find out." She said seriously. Jenna had a sneaking suspicion . . . well, she had that sort of feeling about a lot of things, but something just plain-out didn't feel right.
"Aw, you have a private diary? How cute," Howard smirked.
Randy on the other hand was more nervous. "Well, um, good luck with that." He suddenly tensed. Something was wrong. He couldn't place it, but after being the Ninja for a couple of months he had a sixth sense about these things. Mr. Bannister called for the class's attention and began to go over last night's Romeo and Juliet homework.
"It's a journal of secrets, but not my own. Peoples behaviors, quirks, secret locations. And I will figure out how monsters happen." She replied seriously, then seemed to mellow a tad.
"Sorry for the seriousness, everybody hated me at my old school. Liked to try and beat me up." She said quietly and lightly, as if it wasn't a big deal and it didn't bother her at all.
"It's all right, so you're a little curious, that's all," Randy shrugged. "But honestly there aren't many secrets around here. And if you're worried about being bullied, you could . . . hang with us. If you want, I mean." Randy knew he was taking a risk, letting her get close to them, but he couldn't help it. Protecting people was in his nature and if she thought people might hurt her. . .
"Cunningham, can I talk to you for a second?" The two began to angrily whisper.
"People were jerks 'cause of my family. No one knows or will know here. Should be fine." She replied, interrupting their argument. "I'll hang with you guys, if that's all right, of course."
"We seem to have a lot of classes in common so we might as well hang together," Howard resigned. "Do you play Grave Punchers?"
"Nope. I prefer to explore than play video games." She replied, turning to a new page, scribbling 'H-man' and 'Randy' at the top, drawing little arrows and fist bumps around the names.
Oblivious to her drawings, Howard and Randy tried to convince Dave to let them copy off his paper. And that's when they heard it. Out in the hallway, there was screaming and the echoes of metallic foot falls.
Jenna shoved her stuff into her bag and shouldered it, fingering the dark grey and navy blue fabric in her pocket. "What was that?!" She demanded urgently.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that robots attack the school also?" Howard said nonchalantly as if it happened every day. Actually it happens at least once a week. Randy quickly raised his hand.
"Mr. B, I gotta use the bathroom!" The teacher rolled his eyes, but nodded. Randy snatched his bag and took a hall pass from the automatic McPass Master.
"Me too!" Jenna declared, running out the door and grabbing a hall pass on the way out. What she saw outside the classroom was unexpected, but cool.
"Whoa. . .a Robug." A giant, mechanical praying mantis.
There was a flash of red from the boy's bathroom a little ways down the hall, but in the confusion most people paid it no mind. The mantis's exterior was a dull gray with green rivets. Each leg made a chink sound when it hit the titled floor. It walked down the hall, making halfhearted attempt to grab whoever was in its way. Blazing green eyes finally stopping their search, it focused on Jenna.
Jenna looked around and finally ran straight towards it, diving under its reaching claws and skidding behind it. "Hey, Robug! Come and get me, you sissy!" She shouted, scrambling to her feet and running back the way it came.
'Have to lead it out. . .can't let it hurt anyone. . .' She thought, sprinting.
"Oh come on, even I could think of a better name than that. . .like-" The figure who had appeared in front of her was knocked away by the giant metal pincers before finishing his comeback.
Jenna stared at the Ninja, before turning to glare at the mantis. "Lay off before I get a bug swatter!" She roared in anger, grabbing a metal object and swinging at its incoming leg.
Turns out, she grabbed the Ninjas dropped sword. She cut the leg roughly in half.
The Ninja was slightly confused that she was helping, however Howard helped him sometimes. She had his sword so she should be pretty safe. . .not like he thought he needed help or anything. Grabbing his Ninja Sai, he joined the battle. "Ninja stab!" he announced, thrusting the three-pronged weapon in a joint on the robot.
Jenna ran around the robot to distract it, trying to figure out its weak point, deflecting stray limbs that tried to hit with her arms and the sword.
Throwing the red scarf, it looped around the robo-mantis's neck allowing Randy to swing onto its back. He hung on for his life as it thrashed, trying to throw him off.
"Student-who's-name-I-do-not-know! You might wanna get outta here before you get hurt!" Randy had retracted his original thought. Even though she was doing well, this robot was not the usual kind. Without a leg or two, it was still fighting and. . .Okay, it had nothing to do with her well-being. It's just that students were watching and he was jealous that she scored a hit before he did.
'That sounds like Randy!' She thought with some disbeleif, scrambling on top of a locker before lunging at its neck, grabbing onto its head with one arm and hand.
"You're a bigger idiot that I thought if you're going to take on this thing alone!" She replied, jamming the sword tip into one of its eyes. She hadn't been entirely sure why Randy would've dressed up to fight some giant thing; then thought back to why she did it. To defend the people.
"Oh yeah? I do this all the time, thank you very much!" Randy gained purchase on the metal surface, flipping into the air while simultaneously stabbing the other eye. "Ninja eye poke!" He landed gracefully on the ground and a flash of red came from his waistband, distracting him. "Right now Nomicon? I'm a little busy."
Jenna held onto its head as it thrashed, gritting her teeth when it scraped her leg. "Just kill it already!" She shouted, waving the sword around as she struggled to hold on or slash it.
"But you have my favorite monster killing weapon!" Randy complained. "Wait. . .I have just the thing for this. . .Ninja rings!" Multiple red and black rings flew through the air, narrowly missed Jenna, and embed themselves in a connection point in its neck. The action severed important wires that lead the control function in the robot's head and the mantis sank to the floor.
Jenna pushed off, tumbling to the floor from 7-8 feet up, standing and backing up quickly as the robot toppled over. She looked down at her bloody right leg.
"Well, that was interesting." Walking over to the Ninja, she offered the sword back. "You okay? Anything broken?" She asked gently, ignoring her fiery-hurting leg.
The Ninja accepted the sword, replacing it in the hammer space of the suit. "Am I okay?" He waved his hands in the air. "You are bleeding for cheese's sake!" People never got hurt on his watch. He never even got hurt for the most part, the suit saved him from a lot of injury. "You need to go to the nurse's office!"
Jenna half flinched, half leaned away from his waving hands. "You got smacked pretty hard. Just trying to make sure you weren't hurt. It's what I do." She replied, not budging an inch. She always checked up on people, and she was still astounded on how he got out of that unscathed. He'd dented a locker, as in, it bent like a toothpick, and he was still uninjured.
Randy was near speechless; this is not how he pictured the morning going at all. "Um thanks. . .though I really should get you to the nurse. . ."
"May as well." She shrugged, turning to give the robot a solid kick with her left foot as they left.
"So, what's your name?" Randy figured he might as well ask it in case he slipped up and called her Jenna.
"Jenna. Yours? I'm new here." She replied, refusing to limp despite the pain it caused.
"Ha-ha, nice try but the Ninja has a secret identity to keep," he replied. He also noted that Jenna must be really tough to take on a McFist bot, get injured and not end up crying or something.
"Really? Never woulda guessed." She replied sarcastically, before glancing around for eavesdroppers.
There was no one in sight. She leaned conspiratorially. "Randy." She whispered, barely heard. She kept her expression neutral.
Oh my! She figured out his secret identity! Well, we'll have to see where this goes next chapter. Please review!