• Chapter 3: Kari’s “Job”

    “How’d you do yesterday?” Clark asked as Kari walked into the small roadside building. Clark was pretty much the secretary, though he liked to consider himself the “front-desk man.”
    Kari’s job was at an anonymous agency called NYPDDE. It stood for New York Police Don’t Do Enough. It was started by a man who noticed that there was way too much crime in New York (which is where they all live) and they wanted to stop it by going undercover and stopping the people in the act themselves. Of course, if they were discovered doing this, they might go to jail themselves. When they go out at night to stop the crime, they wear an outfit that kind of makes them look like ninja’s. They also make stands to stop things that aren’t illegal, but they believe should be. Sometimes they do some undercover work or detective work like CSI, and for the most part, it’s pretty dangerous since the people being investigated are usually armed. Kari was pretty much a detective, since she wasn’t quite considered old or experienced enough to work with armed people.
    “I got photos of them in the act, then they noticed me. They chased me down with three dogs. I heard them say something about Caddie’s today. I’m pretty sure that’s where they’re going to go. You might want to send several people. Really good people,” Kari responded, handing Clark the envelope with the pictures inside.
    “Is that why you’re limping?” asked Angie, who was basically the nurse, although she also would go out on “missions.”
    “Yea, but it’s no big deal. Their claws just scraped my leg up, that’s all. A better question is, who is that?” Kari changed the subject, pointing at a guy who looked like he was about 16. She was considered the baby of the group, being 16 herself. Seeing someone her own age was a little of a shock, since the next youngest was Angie at 32. His blonde hair, green eyes, and lack of freckles only meant that there was a possibility that he went to her school, since she really didn’t meet many people.
    “His name is Lance. He just joined today. We need you to help us train him, since you understand the 16-year-old mind, especially since you have one,” replied Clark.
    “Ha ha, you’re a funny man. Is that the order from the boss?”
    “Yup. His orders also require you to get to know him a little better, since that’s your new assigned partner.”
    Everyone in the business had a partner, except Kari. Everyone declared that she was too young to go on missions that required 2 people, so what would she need a partner for? Getting Lance not only told Kari that she was getting older and much better, but that the assignments she would be getting would be much tougher with more action, which Kari was very excited about.
    Kari walked over to Lance. “Hello, my name’s Kali,” said Kali, extending her hand out to welcome him. She really didn’t know much other way since this office was pretty much her life and they always greet either new members or guests formally and professionally. Since she hated people, she wasn’t used to having to meet them or being outside a working environment.
    “Lance,” replied Lance awkwardly grabbing her hand and shaking it, since he obviously wasn’t used to it. “So I guess you must be my new partner. Wait, aren’t you the new girl in our school?”
    Well, that answers that question. “Yeah, I’ve been home schooled until now. My dad had to get another job so he couldn’t teach me anymore because my mother died of cancer.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.” Mother? Who says mother? thought Lance.
    “Kari, I’ve just been informed that you will not have any assignments for at least one week. In a week, Lance’s training will be tested for progress, and you will find out from there how much longer it will be until you have an assignment,” said Angie, trying to be as formal as possible, and Kari knew it was to send a point across to Lance that this is a place of business and everything should be taken seriously.
    “Ok, thanks Angie,” Kari said right before Angie turned around and returned to her office. “Ready to start training?” she said turning back to Lance.
    “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he replied as they both turned and started heading to the training room.
    The training room had a flat, yet padded floor since everyone messes up sometimes. The walls were painted yellow, since that was supposed to make people to move faster. Kari always had described the walls as “looking like someone peed all over the walls” since the first day she walked into the building.
    “Here’s the ‘shining glory’ of the building. It’s probably the most well kept room in the entire place, since the floors are mopped every day. You have to mop voluntarily at least once a month, otherwise you will be forced to. To make sure you’ve mopped, you just have to sign the list over there,” Kari said, pointing at the list on the clipboard hanging on the wall. “If no one is here to mop, the last person in the building has to, even though you have to today, since you’re new. Now, let’s start punching.”
    Kari pulled out a punching bag shaped like a man that had been named Jeff. She showed him a bunch of basic moves and moves she learned by herself. While they did the simple practices, they kept a light conversation to get to know each other better. Once in a while, other people would walk by and show them some partner moves to work on together.
    After mopping the floor, Kari and Lance walked home together, talking in a somewhat deep conversation about political views and what NYPDDE stands for.
    Kari walked in the door, and there stood her father. Oh Crap.
    “Where were you!? I told you that you were grounded! Why did you disobey me? This isn’t like you at all! Go to your room now! From now on, you are to go to school, then go to your room, and no where in between,” her father screamed, not giving her a single chance to answer either of his questions or allowing her to defend herself.
    Kari walked to her room with a somewhat quick pace. She knew she had to continue going to NYPDDE since she not only had to continue teaching Lance, but she was going to be assigned better missions soon. She had made up her mind. She was going to have to sneak out. This wouldn’t be too hard, since she basically worked as a ninja, anyways.