71 year old John Dodge, retired military, now sits in a nursing home, his body riddled with cancer, waiting on the grim reaper to come for him when he is given another option.

Chapter 26

In her old life as John, Kat had always been a morning person not so much that she or back then, he couldn’t sleep, but out of habit. Growing up on a farm there was always chores that had to be done before school. Military life was no different for the then young man, the benefit of which was the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunrise most mornings as he and the rest of the men in his company did their ritualistic morning exercises the military term for which was P.T. many times jokingly called physical torture by many.
John had never complained about morning P.T. Having grown up on his parent’s farm he had seen the morning exercises as much less strenuous as the morning chores he had done each morning as a small boy. When he retired from the military he continued the morning routine until his health no longer allowed it.
Barely awake Kat could tell something was not quite right this morning, there was too much light coming in through her window and she felt off, almost as if she was coming down with something. Groaning she rolled over to look at the alarm clock on her night stand. An alarm clock that she had never bothered to set the alarm on since she was so accustomed to waking early. Kat’s eyes shot wide open when she saw the soft green Led that read, ‘7:46 AM’, “Shit!” she cursed under her breath while throwing back the covers and scooting her legs over the edge of the bed to sit up.
One hand quickly went to her forehead while her other hand to her stomach when the sudden movement of sitting up caused her head to start pounding and cramps in her stomach. Sitting there Kat came very close to laying back down, had it not been for the demands of her bladder she may have done just that.
Since she had gone through the process at DARPA that had changed her, Kat had felt better than she could remember. All the aches and pains she experienced from previous injuries were gone. She was stronger than she had been as a man, and so limber it continued to amaze her even though it had been close to a month since she had woken from the process.
Even sitting to pee wasn’t that big of a deal to her as she had been forced to do that for the last few years after her legs had become too weak to let her stand to pee. So why, she asked herself did some slight twinges of pain and some stomach cramps make her feel so irritable this morning.
At least I don’t have to wait for a nurse to come help me to the toilet any longer, Kat tried to convince herself to look on the bright side as she staggered into the bathroom. Letting her panties drop to her ankles as she pulled the oversized shirt up around her waist to sit down to relieve her insistent bladder.
Sitting on the toilet, Kat’s elbows went to her knees while leaning forward, holding her head in both hands, Kat noticed the blood in her panties. Just fucking wonderful! How can anyone go through life knowing they are going to feel this way once a month!
Finishing up on the toilet, Kat stepped out of panties, leaving them on the floor in front of the toilet then peeled off the oversized men’s tee shirt she had slept in before turning on the shower.
Opening the frosted glass door on the shower stall, she turned on the water and adjusted the temperature before stepping into the steamy cascade of water. Ducking her head under the stream, Kat stood there letting the warmth draw the tension out of her mind and body.
After finishing in the bathroom, Kat rinsed her blood stained underwear in the sink before filling the sink with water and leaving her panties in the cold water to soak.

~o~O~o~
“It’s alive!” Becky giggled from where she sat at the kitchen table when she spotted Kat entering the kitchen.
Without a word Kat shuffled to the counter and poured herself a mug of coffee before going over and sitting down at the end of the kitchen table and staring down at the coffee filled mug.
Becky leaned toward Kat, “You ok Kat?”
“I’m fine,” Kat mumbled.
Turning from the countertop, Deb looked over where Kat sat, “Hon, you don’t looks so great, is it that time of the month?” Kat looked up and glared at her mother.
Becky sat back quickly and began digging through her purse. Pulling a pill bottle out that she sat down in front of Kat, “These will help.”
Kat picked up the bottle reading the label, “Midol? You think some overpriced aspirin is going to make me feel better?”
“KAT!” Deb scolded her daughter, “Becky is only trying to help.”
“It does help.” Becky confessed, “You don’t see me going all bitchy do you?”
“You, right now?” Kat raised her eyebrows looking up from the pill bottle to Becky.
Becky nodded, “Take some, they do help.”
Turning the bottle around Kat saw the recommended dosage was two capsules every six hours, not to exceed eight per day. Opening the bottle Kat poured out four capsules into her hand and quickly tossed them in her mouth before washing them down with her coffee.
“You’re only supposed to take two!” Becky gasped.
“Right now I’d take the whole damn bottle if it would make these cramps and headache go away.”
“Maybe we should so shopping or something,” Becky smiled at Kat, “It will take your mind off it.”
“I do need to take a trip to the hardware store,” Kat stated.
“Hardware store?” Becky feigned shock, “I was talking about the mall.”
“I guess we could stop there first,” Kat grinned, “But we’ll have to take my truck for the stuff I need to pick up at the hardware store and lumber yard.”
“Do we really have to take your truck?” Becky grimaced, “Someone could see us in it.”
“Look on the bright side,” Kat smiled, “one of the things I plan on picking up is a paint gun so that once my new compressor comes in we can paint it.”
“I get to choose the color!” Becky grinned.
“I am not painting my truck, rescue me yellow!” Kat giggled.

Chapter 27

“Hello? Are you back here Deb?” barbara shouted as she rounded the corner of the house into the back yard.

“Twisting around in the patio chair Deb saw her daughter’s best friend’s mom and neighbor walking up, “Oh Hi Barb, come on over,” She waved.

Barbara came up and sat in one of the chairs beside Deb. “I took the liberty to grab your mail on the way back here.” Barbara handed Deb a small stack of letters, “So are you all ready for Kat to start school here?”

“Pretty much,” Deb sorted through the letters, “Oh good, I was waiting on this.” Laying the other letters down on the patio table Deb began opening the one she still held.

“What is that?” Barbara asked.

“It’s a letter about those placement tests Kat needed to take before she started school,” Deb explained as she read over the letter. “That’s interesting.” Deb mumbled.

“What is dear?”

Looking up at Barbara over the page Deb held in her hand, “It appears the curriculum is different enough that they felt Kat needs to repeat her junior year.”

“That will put her in the same grade as Becky,” Barbara stated.

“I know Kat won’t be happy about this, but at least she can look at that being the silver lining.”

“Speaking about those two,” Barbara formed her question, “Have you noticed anything different lately with them?”

“Not really,” Deb lied, “I try not to pry too much into Kat’s personal space. I’ve always felt it best to let Kat come to me with issues, rather than butt in and put her on the defensive.”

“What about Becky, have you noticed anything unusual with her?”

“No, if anything Becky seems happier.”

“That’s what I was getting at,” Barbara smiled, “Becky has been floating on cloud nine around the house for the past few weeks. She has become more helpful, even pushing me out of the kitchen and making her father and I dinner. It’s not like her.”

“Well you both did buy her that car without her having to put in the money you told her she had to put toward it.”

“Gerry and I had always planned to do that, we just wanted her to feel she had to work for it.” Barbara stated, “That maybe part of it, but if I didn’t know better I would say she is in love.”

“She hasn’t really been around anyone but Kat, so that couldn’t be it.” Deb hoped to derail the direction this conversation was heading.

“Deb, I don’t know any easy way to say this to you,” Barbara's expression concerned Deb, “So I’ll just come out with it. I hope you won’t let it get between our friendship or that of our two girls. So please keep an open mind when I tell you this.”

“Barb, you and Becky have been a godsend since we moved here,” Deb held up her hand interrupting her friend, “You would have to tell me you were an axe murderer to change our relationship, and then I would only try to get you help.”

“That’s good to hear Deb but when it comes to children, most women react to protect their child first, sometimes without thinking, I know I have in the past.”

“Whatever it is Barb, I’ll listen and if it is as bad as you are making it out to be, we’ll work something out.”

“I think Becky is in love with Kat,” Barb burst out, continuing before Deb could say anything, “I’ve known Becky was different for some time now. I thought, no I hoped it was some phase she was going through, but it’s not.”

Deb relaxed her posture, “Here I was all ready to put on my psychiatrist hat and help you through some deep troubling family secret.”

“But Becky is a…” barbara couldn’t say the word.

“Lesbian?” Deb finished for her, “And will you love her any less if she is?”

“No but what about Kat?” barbara quavered, “What happens if, when, Kat finds out?”

“Kat would never push someone she cares for away.” Deb smiled, “And from what you have said about how Becky has been acting at home, I would bet she has already told Kat how she feels.”

“Do you think so?” Barb’s eyes glistened with moisture, tears threatening to form.

“I do,” Deb continued, “Think about it for a moment, the way you say Becky has been acting. Would you act that way if you were hiding your feeling? Or if you had confessed those feeling and they had been accepted?”

Barbara's eyes went wide as she realized Deb was right! Becky must have told Kat how she felt, it was the only explanation for the way Becky was acting, “Do you think Kat, that Kat is one of, you know?”

“That is something she has never discussed with me,” Deb stated, “It’s something very personal and if she wishes to talk to me about it, I’ll listen. Although to answer your question, Kat has always been very competitive with boys, a real tomboy, so yes I could imagine she could lean in the same direction.”

~o~O~o~

The large truck pulled up to the entrance of the gated community stopping at the little guard shack that sat to one side of the closed gate. A uniformed man walked out carrying a clipboard as the driver rolled down his window. “Can I help you sir? The security guard asked.

“I have a delivery,” the driver picked up a paper from the passenger seat of the truck, “ it’s for a Mr. K. Marlete.” Then handed the wrinkled page through the window to the guard.

“Give me one sec, to confirm and make sure someone is there to accept the delivery,” turning he walked back into the small air conditioned outpost.

~o~O~o~

Deb picked up the cordless phone as it rang, “Hello Mrs. Marlete, This is Dan Boyd down at the main gate.”

“Hi Dan,” Deb spoke into the phone, “What can I do for you?”

“There’s a delivery truck down here, apparently Kat has ordered something else for that old Barn on your property.”

“Kat is at the Barn go ahead and send them straight up there, I’ll let Kat know it’s on its way.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Thank you Dan.” Deb turned the phone off after she heard it go dead.

“What did Kat buy now?” Barbara asked.

“Not a clue,” Deb said as she dialed a number in the phone. A few seconds later she could hear music start playing from inside the house. “Of course, why would she take her phone with her.”

“Let me try Becky on her cell,” barbara reached into her purse.

“No, she needs to learn her phone is not just for her convenience and also is so that others can reach her.” Deb grinned, “Let’s walk over.” Deb thought that surprising the two girls may be a good lesson, if nothing else it may get Kat to stop leaving her phone lying around when she leaves the house.

Chapter 28

“Rebecca Elaine Adams! What do you think you are doing?” Becky had Kat pinned against the side of one of the large support posts that held up the barn and was staring in her eyes after she had stolen a kiss.

Becky’s head shot around at the sound of her mother’s voice, “MOM!” Becky’s eyes wide, frightened at the thought of what her mother may have seen. “Kat thought she had something in her eye,” Becky quickly blurted out as she stepped away from Kat and turned to her mother.

“Um, Hi Mrs. Adams, Hi mom,” Kat waved at the two women standing at the entrance of the old barn, “Becky was just helping me get something out of my eye like she said.”

As the two women came closer to the girls Becky’s mother pointed to the side of her own mouth and chuckled, “Look more like Becky was helping you with something on your lips?” Kat you seem to have smeared the lip gloss that you are wearing.”

“I’m not wearing any…,” Kat’s hand shot up to her mouth, rubbing her lips she could feel the slickness of it on her lips. Becky gasped and turned so that her mother would not notice that her lip gloss must be also smeared.

Stepping up to Kat, Becky’s mother produced a tissue from her purse and helped Kat clean the smeared lip gloss off her face, “You two need to be more careful if you’re going to be kissing each other.”

Becky froze in terror at what she had heard her mother say so casually to Kat. Turning toward her daughter, “What? Do you think I didn’t know?” Barbara smiled at Becky. Opening and closing her mouth several times, Becky tried to say something but found no words. Kat looked over at her own mother who shook her head as if to tell Kat she did not tell.

“Oh dear Kat,” barbara sympathized, “You think your mother told me? It was Becky that told me, not in words but in how her mood has changed. I have never seen my daughter happier than she has been over the past few weeks.” barbara motioned for Becky to come to her. Once Becky was close enough barbara wrapped her arm around her, hugging her close to her side.

“How, how did you know?” Becky stuttered.

“I’m your mother, do you really think I would not notice my daughter was in love?” barbara smiled at Becky, “I’ll be honest dear, I really don’t understand how two women could feel that for each other, but what I do know is that I have never seen you this happy and I want my baby to be happy. If that means accepting you,” Barbara nodded at Kat, “and Kat as a couple, then I’ll support you both.”

“What about daddy?” Becky stiffened.

“Don’t worry about your father, he’ll probably be glad that he doesn’t have to worry about you getting pregnant.”

Becky threw her arms around her mother, “Mom, you’re the greatest!”

“And Kat, consider yourself very lucky that we caught you and not someone else,” Deb scolded, “We walked out here after I tried to call.”

“I left my phone on the counter in the kitchen, I didn’t want to take the chance of breaking it.” Kat replied, and then realizing that she knew Becky always had hers with her, “You could have called Becky’s phone.”

“I could have, but that isn’t the point,” Deb countered, “That phone is not only for your convenience, it’s for mine too, do not forget it again!”

“Yes mom,”

“You have a truck delivering something, it’s on its way up now.”

“Oh good,” Kat smiled, “I didn’t expect it here till later.”

“Well you should walk down the path so you can show them how to get back in here.”

“Okay Mom,” Kat began to jog out of the barn.

Chapter 29

The driver saw the teen waving him down and thought how that did make his job easier, someone sending her down to show him where to go. Pulling up beside the teen, “I’ve got a delivery for a K. Marlete, is this the place?”

“Yes sir,” Kat waved toward the dirt and gravel road, “Down that way to the barn.”

“Jump in kid,” The driver said, grabbing the gear shift. Kat jumped up on the driver’s step and held on to the side mirror.

The driver began staring at her on the side of his truck, “It’s not far,” Kat said. When she could see the barn Kat asked the driver, “What’s your height?”

“Twelve four,” he replied, knowing she would be asking the height of his truck.

“You’ll have to unload outside, doors only twelve.” Kat replied, “If you back up to the door, we can drop everything straight onto the concrete and not have to try dragging it through the dirt.”

Pulling the first pallet off the lift gate onto the new concrete floor in the barn, the driver looked around, “Looks like you are making one nice man cave for you father girl.” Becky giggled at the remark.

“Yep once everything arrives, it should turn out to be a really cool place to tinker on old cars.” Kat winked at Becky.

“Actually it’s not for her father.” Deb replied, “It’s just Kathleen and I, her father is no longer with us.”

“Then who…” The man stopped pulling the pallet jack across the concrete and thought for a moment, “Kathleen, as in K. Marlete? The K stand for Kathleen?”

Kat grinned at the driver, “Yep these are for me!” Then turned to one pallet he had already brought in and began tearing the boards off to uncover a very large two stage air compressor. While no one was paying attention Kat lifted it off the base wood of the pallet and sat it on the floor and started to drag it into position, pretending it was very difficult for her to do as soon as they heard the noise of it being dragged.

“That weights over four hundred pounds girl, You’re gonna hurt yourself!” The man yelled. Realizing that in her excitement she was doing something a girl her size should not be able to do, Kat quickly let go while pretending to strain on pulling the compressor, then let go and fell back on her rear.

“You're right, it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be.” Kat grinned shyly.

“There is no reason for you to be in such a hurry to get that in place anyway Kat,” Her mother said, “You don’t have any electricity out here yet.”

“Sorry mom, I just got so excited that these things arrived.”

The driver finished unloading the pallets then handed a clipboard to Deb, “Just need a signature that you received everything.” Pointing near the bottom of the page at a blank line marked by a large red ‘X’.”

“Can I sign or does it have to have my daughter’s signature?”

“Either is fine, but to be honest I would prefer if you signed it,” The driver glanced over where Becky was helping Kat un-crate another pallet, “I don’t think she is over eighteen is she?”

“No she is not,” Deb took the pen and signed for the items, “But in the future if I am not here her signature is fine.”

“Yes ma’am,” the driver nodded, then walked out, got in his truck and drove away.

“I’m going to have to head home, Gerry will be expecting dinner when he gets home and I haven’t started it.” Barbara stated.

“I’ll walk with you Barb, “Deb said.

Barbara turned to both girls, “No rolling around in the hay loft after we leave!”

“Becky, when was that farmer going to deliver the hay?” Kat grinned.

“I thought you were going to call him!” Becky giggled.

“How are we going to roll around in the hay when we don’t have any hay?” Kat put her hand on her hips looking at Becky before she began giggling herself.

“We could always just put a nice big fluffy bed up there,” Becky laughed.

“NO!” Both their mother’s shouted in unison then broke out laughing themselves.

Chapter 30

“I still don’t like it,” Kat complained while she ate the breakfast her mother made while her and Becky, who was now joining Kat almost every morning, went through their Tai Chi routine.

“Look at the bright side,” Becky looked up from her plate, “we have a lot of classes together!”

“But they stuck me in as a junior!” Kat whined.

“Boo hoo, I’m a lowly junior,” Becky giggled before leaning over and kissing Kat on the lips, “what more important being with your girlfriend, or being a senior?”

“Well I guess being in the same classes will have its perks,” Kat giggled.

“No kissing in school you two!” Deb chuckled, knowing they knew better to try anything like that.

“Aww, but mom!” Kat feigned pouting, “I like kissing her, it makes me feel all warm and gooey inside.”

“TMI!” Becky playfully slapped Kat in the arm.

“Who is driving this morning?” Deb asked.

“We’re taking my car,” Becky glared at Kat for even thinking it would be alright for her to drive that reject from the scrap pile truck to school, “No way am I letting her take that truck anywhere near school grounds, not to mention that I refuse to climb in that thing in a skirt!” Kat giggled.

Becky picked up her empty plate as she stood up also picking up Kat’s empty plate, she walked over and placed everything in the dishwasher before walking back over and sitting across Kat’s lap. “I thought you were ready to go?” Kat asked.

“Almost,” Becky grinned as she wrapped her arms around Kat’s neck and gave her a long passionate kiss. “Just needed that to hold me over until school's out.”

“If you do that again we’ll be late.” Kat’s face flushed.

“Why is that my love?” Becky purred.

“I’ll have to go change my underwear,” Kat whispered into Becky’s ear.

“Knock it off you two,” Deb chuckled, “Oh Kat, please don’t forget your phone.”

“No problem Mrs. M, I put it in her purse while we were getting changed for school.” Becky giggled.

Kat stuck her tongue out at Becky, “You know the government can track where you are by those things.” Kat thought back right after her transformation when they had tried to insert a subdural tracking chip in her. That was when they discovered her new genetically enhanced body rejected foreign substances. It hurt like hell coming out as her body literally pushed it out tearing open her skin as it came out.

Kat threatened to tear the lab apart when they suggested trying a different type of implant. Ten minutes after it happened there wasn’t even a blemish where it had come out, having inhuman regeneration did not mean she had an unusually high threshold to pain. If anything it made it worse as it hurt just as badly as her body healed the wound as it did when it pushed the tiny tracking chip out through her skin. Not that Kat was a wimp, but she was damn well not going to allow the quacks to start doing things that would hurt her just so they could measure how fast she healed.

Getting up off Kat’s lap Becky held her hand out to Kat, “Your chariot awaits.”

~o~O~o~

After locating a place to park Becky led Kat though the groups of students milling about discussing what they had done during their summer vacation toward the entrance and finally into the school's main office.

“Well hello Rebecca, How was your summer?” An older woman with short gray hair sitting behind the counter asked.

“Hi Mrs. Potts,” Becky answered, “It was the greatest summer ever, “I got a new neighbor and very best friend.”

“So what brings you into to see me so early?”

“Uh, my mom said she arranged for me to be Kat’s mentor. She’s new to our school and there is a mentor program for new students and all,” Becky tried to explain.

Typing away at her computer, Mrs. Potts must have found what she was searching for and looked up at the girls, “Oh yes, so you must be Kathleen Marlete?” Kat nodded, “Yes it shows that Becky has been assigned as your student mentor.” Looking over at Becky, “Why don’t you take Kathleen on back to see Mr. Bishop and pick up both your schedules dear.”

“Hi Mr. Bishop,” Becky has stopped at the open door to his office, “Come on in, I was actually just finishing up on the adjustments to make your schedule match up as close to the young lady you will be mentoring this year.” Looking at the young blond standing behind Becky, “and I am betting this lovely young lady behind you is Kathleen?”

“Yes sir,” Kat said, “Everyone calls me Kat.”

“Well Kat welcome to Roosevelt high,” Mr. Bishop held out his hand.

Kat stepped forward taking his hand Kat noticed he had a firm confident handshake, “Thank you sir. I hope I do alright here, it seems like forever since I stepped foot in a school.”

Mr. Bishop chuckled, “Yes summer seems to have that effect on all of us. ”So,here are your schedules, I was able to match you up in everything this quarter except your math classes. Kat you scored very high in that area and I felt it best to put you in college prep calculus. First block you are both in Mrs. Whitley’s English, second block Miss. Marchal physical Education. After lunch Becky you will be in Miss. Seghal’s algebra class, while Kat has Mr. Spinello for calculus. Then you both meet back up for Mrs. Berkowitz's social studies.” He handed each girl a printout showing their schedules, “You’ll also need to go see Mrs. Pierce before class starts and get Kat a school ID.”

“Yes sir,” Becky said, we’ll go there right now, “Thank you for going to the trouble of getting the two of us in so many of the same classes, I know that will make it easier for the both of us.”

“Yes thank you,” Kat included.

“No problem girls and if you need anything, remember my door is always open.”

Walking out another exit to the main offices Becky leaned against Kat and whispered, “Would you believe I had a crush on him my freshman year?”

“Mr. Bishop?” Kat asked, “never happen.”

“Yes him, and why not?”

“He has a strong firm handshake.” Kat stated.

“What has that got to do with anything?”

“A firm handshake is a sign of strong character.”

“So what’s that say about me?” Becky giggled.

“You’re a hugger not a shaker.”

“I thought you said I was a good kisser,” Becky stuck out her lower lip.

“You want someone to hear you?” Kat peered sideways at Becky, “And I never said you were a good kisser, I said you were a great kisser,” Kat grinned.

They walked into their first class with plenty of time to spare. Several students were already sitting on their desks and more were standing around chatting. On the far side of the front of the classroom a dark haired girl sat alone writing in a notebook, Becky headed straight toward this girl sitting down in the seat beside her while motioning for Kat to sit in the next seat. The girl glanced up to see who had sat down, then went back to writing in her notebook.

Kat was very conscious of the stares she received as she followed Becky across the room. She had tried to mentally prepare herself for this, but as the noise dropped to something close to silence she could feel all eyes in the room following her.

A moment later her pen stopped moving and she turned her head back toward Becky, “Becky is that you?” Becky turned to the girl and smiled warmly, “Oh my god it is you! I didn’t recognize you, I mean your different, um pretty, I mean not that you weren’t pretty before.”

“Stop babbling May, it’s the same old me inside,” Becky offered, “May this is my friend Kat, she moved in next door to me this summer.”

“Hi Kat, I’m May,” The small girl looked across to Kat while pushing her glasses up her nose slightly with a finger. May immediately thought the beautiful blond was the reason Becky now looked and dressed so much better. While happy that her friend could look so good, she thought she would probably not want to hang out with her old friends. May looked down at the floor.

“Something wrong May?” Becky asked.

“No,” the sorrow apparent in the girl’s voice, “I, I just, with you so pretty now I’m sure you don’t want to hang around me anymore.”

“Why would we do that?” Becky questioned.

“Because you’re pretty now.” May confessed, “I’m sure you’ll want to hang out with the popular girls now like Veronica.”

“Why would I want to hang out with that bitch?” Becky gasped and threw her hand up to cover her mouth when she realized how loud she said that. Lowering her voice, “Just because I may look like one of those bimbos doesn’t mean I have become one, you are still my friend and I’m sure they are still bitches.” May snorted at Becky’s remark about the cheerleader and her group of friends.

Leaning over as far as she could Kat spoke low enough so only Becky and May could hear her, “Honestly I envy your looks May, I hate how boys are always staring at me, it’s creepy.”

“You’re kidding right?” May couldn’t believe a girl with Kat’s looks wished she looked like May.

“No I’m not,” Kat continued, “I wish I looked more plain. Looking like this, all the boys stare at me trying to imagine what I look like with no clothes on,” Kat shivered.

“Eww,” May made a face like she was going to be sick, “That is creepy.” Before they could talk more the bell rang and the Mrs. Whitely was calling everyone to settled down and take a seat.

Kat found taking English again after so many years wasn’t any easier, nor was it any less boring and having to spend an hour and a half because of the fancy new block scheduling was torture for someone with Kat’s level of energy. By the time the bell rang Kat was actually looking forward to her P.E. class. She couldn’t wait to get outside and work the kinks out of her system from sitting around doing nothing for her first class. May walked out of class and part of the way to the girl’s locker room with them until she had to finally split off down another hall toward her science class.

Kat found there was a classroom inside the girl’s locker room that they all filed into. Miss. Marchal wasn’t the overweight grumpy, female version of a drill Sergeant Kat expected. She was actually rather pretty, her complexion flawless and lightly tanned with a body that would make any man sneak a second look. Her breasts, while a little on the small side, fit her figure perfectly.

The only thing Kat could find flaw with was her hair, while the pixie cut the teacher wore was flattering Kat had always preferred long hair on women. Kat’s love of long hair was the biggest reason she let her mother talk her out of cutting her own hair. The other reason she continued to leave her hair long was something she would keep to herself, secretly she loved how excited Becky got when she found some new style to try in Kat’s hair.

Once everyone settled down and Miss. Marchal finished taking attendance she started into a lecture on of all things feminine hygiene which was followed by a thirty minute video. When the teacher began another lecture on sex education, sexually transmitted diseases and birth control Kat was ready to scream. This was followed by yet another video that pertained to the subject of the lecture it followed.

Leaning over to Kat, Becky cupped her hand around Kat’s ear and whispered, “Not like I need to worry about getting you pregnant,” then playfully ran the tip of her tongue along the outer edge of Kat’s ear causing her to shiver.

“Miss Adams pay attention!” Miss. Marchal barked from behind them. Becky quickly straightened up and focused on the video.

When the video ended Miss. Marchal told everyone they could get up a stretch their legs, “Ok everyone you are free to talk among yourselves, walk around, whatever you wish as long as you listen for me to call your name. When I call your name please come up so I can give you your locker number and some paperwork.” Holding one page up waving it over her head, “This one your parents need to fill out. I must have this back tomorrow when you arrive in class. These,” holding up a short stack of pages, “are for you, this is just as important as the one your parents need to fill out within this is also the list of the apparel that you must have to attend and participate in this class. You must have all these with you when you enter class no later than Monday.”

Becky’s name was first to be called. Holding the papers out as she arrived, Miss. Marchal regarded how different Becky seemed to appear since last spring, she even seemed to carry herself with more self-confidence, “Becky you look different, it seems summer has been good to you.”

“Thanks Miss. Marchal,”

“Whatever you’ve done, don’t stop, it really agrees with you.”

“Kat has been teaching me Tai Chi and some of the other stuff she knows,” taking about Kat to the teacher caused Becky to blush.

“Kat?”

“Um, Kathleen Marlete,” Becky informed the teacher of her full name, “The girl I was sitting with.”

“Well it’s nice to see you interested in some form of activity, but be careful learning things on your own, you two could injure yourself.”

“Oh Kat knows what she is doing, She’s been doing it since she was like four years old and has something like three black belts.”

“Oh,” Miss. Marchal mused, she would need to find out if this new student was as good as Becky thought. If so, maybe she could be convinced into some demonstrations or even becoming a teacher’s assistant in gym. Handing Becky the handouts, Miss. Marchal turned and called out the next name on the list.

When Kat’s name was finally called, Kat walked up to the teacher, “I’m Kat Marlete.”

“Your Becky’s new friend correct?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Becky tells me you are good at martial arts,” Miss. Marchal inquired.

“I’m okay I guess.”

“Well there is a variety of different martial arts, which ones have you studied and what certifications have you gotten?”

“Um, well,” Kat wondered how much she should let this teacher really know, and decided that being honest about what she knew would work, just as long she stuck to the started at four years old story, “I have several black belts, Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kendo and Kuk Sul Do.

“That seems like a lot of training for a girl your age.”

“I grew up on an Army base,” Kat confessed, “Mom worked really long hours and there wasn’t much to do so I spent a lot of time at the rec center where those were taught.”

“Still belts in four different styles?”

“Yes they are different styles, not completely different things, even Kendo which is a weapon fighting style is still no more than learning how to move with the weapon. Before we Left Germany I was teaching a class in Tai Chi and had become the instructor’s assistant in scars training.”

“What is scars?”

“S.C.A.R.S, it’s an acronym for Special combat aggressive reactionary systems.” Kat explained, “It uses the idea that everyone’s body reacts in the same way to specific injuries and teaches specific strikes that will take down an aggressor by causing a temporary high level of debilitating pain.”

“Do you have anything showing these achievements?”

“I never did it for the awards, I did it because I liked it so I never got any copies.” Kat told the teacher, “But I’m sure my mom could get copies sent to us since it was all done on base.”

“Well if you or your mother could get copies of those I would be interested in letting you do some demonstrations and maybe even some instructing in class.”

“Really?” Kat asked.

“Really,” Miss. Marchal, “I think some martial arts practice for the other girls would not only be a beneficial exercise but also give the girls some self-defense knowledge in case of an emergency.”

“When you put it that way, I’d be happy to show them.” Kat smiled, “I’ll ask mom about getting my certifications faxed to us. I’m sure she can get them pretty quick since she works at the base here.”

Chapter 31

While the block scheduling they used at school was quite different from what Kat remembered when she had been through high school so many year ago, it was the lunch room that really threw her for a loop. Kat has been expecting the normal run of the mill chow line you find in every cafeteria across the world, where you pick up a tray place it on those metal bars and slide it along as ladies that stand on the opposite side of the counter slop ladles of food on your tray.

Walking into the cafeteria of their high school was much different. Instead of the single line everyone was forced to go through, there were several ‘islands’ of food each with a specific type of food. Kat saw a salad island, a taco bar, and even a food island with pizza and various pastas along with the ‘normal’ hot food line that Kat has been expecting.

Knowing it would take Kat longer to get everything she would need to feed her hyper metabolism, Becky headed over to the salad island, telling Kat, “I’ll see you at a table.”

Kat nodded and picked up one of the large flat trays to make it easier to carry everything and got in the hot food line. Once through the hot food line, Kat hit the Pizza island before paying for her food and then trying to locate Becky in the Chaos of the student filled lunchroom. Spotting a familiar looking arm waving back and forth in the distant corner Kat began making her way there, trying both not to spill anything in her tray while at the same time not running into or being ran into by any other students.

Reaching the table Becky was at, two large boys stood at the end looking down at Becky, May and some other girls that were at the table. Another has sat down beside Becky and had his arm around her shoulder, “You know you can come over and sit with us at our table sweetie, you don’t have to sit here with these losers.”

Becky smiled when she saw Kat walk up to the table, “Dan I told you I am not interested, and like I also said when you sat down you’re in my friends seat!”

“Is this your fiend?” He looked up at Kat, “She’s welcome to sit on my lap.”

Kat walked around behind him and sat her tray in front of the goon, “I believe you are in my seat, if you would be kind enough to move please.”

He reached out to her tray picked up a piece of Pizza and took a bite, craned his neck around smiling at Kat, “It looks like you brought enough for both of us babe.”

The other two boys were already backing away from the table, Kat realized she recognized one of them as the boys from the mall. “Uh Danny, I think maybe you should just get up and give her the seat man,” the one Kat recognized said.

“You dipsticks don’t really believe that crap do you?” The boy said from the seat, “A ninja chick? Maybe a ninja’s bitch more like it,” Looking up at Kat grinning, “All she needs is a little one on one with ole Danny boy to show her who’s her daddy.” The boy started humping his hips.

“Kat reached down grabbing the boy by the ear and twisted then began pulling him up and away from the seat. Once she had him up and out of the seat Kat raised her voice loud enough to be heard by most everyone in the cafeteria, “You have been asked to leave multiple times by multiple individuals. You then decided to make comments regarding my parentage, and after that you made an off color statement regarding my virtue. This is your one and only warning! The next time you bother me or any of my friends I will rip this ear off and shove it up your ass in hopes that by placing it closer to your tiny brain you will listen next time. Do I make myself perfectly clear!”

“Yes.”

“Yes what!” Kat yelled.

“Yes ma’am.”

I don’t think everyone heard you.” Kat yelled again.

“YES MA’AM!” He screamed as Kat twisted his ear harder.

Kat let go of his ear, “Now get out of here and leave us alone.” Kat sat down without looking to see if he had left. Everyone that had stopped to watch the scene quickly went back to whatever they were doing and the noise level increased in the room back to its normal deafening level during lunch.

Kat was on her third slice of pizza when one of the school’s security officers walked up. “Miss I need you to come with me.”

“I’ll be happy to once I finish eating.” Kat finished the last slice of pizza and started on the meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gray on another plate she had.

The man moved around Kat, placing one hand on her shoulder, “I need you to come with me now.”

Swallowing what was in her mouth, “It will take less time for you to wait until I am done, than it will take to pick yourself up off the floor if you try to make me come with you before I am finished.” Kat continued eating.

“Mr. Erickson,” Becky looked over her shoulder, “She eats really fast, it won’t take long.” Watching the girl eat reminded him of his days in the Marines, how after coming in off patrol men would sit and shovel their meal like starving coyotes. Kat finished her food at her normal pace, which was that of a ravenous coyote. Then turned to Mr. Erickson, “Thank you for letting me finish that, I’m ready to go.” Kat was led to Mr. Bishop’s office.

~o~O~o~

“Hello again Kat,” Mr. Bishop frowned, “I would like to say it’s a pleasure to see you again, but under the circumstance that would be untrue. Would you mind telling me what exactly happened between you and Mr. Pardue?”

“Is that the boy’s name that was hitting on my friend and I and then began eating my lunch?”

“If that’s what you say he did?”

“He did. We also asked him to leave multiple times which he ignored.”

“Of course his story sounds quite different and everyone heard you threaten him.”

“I made no threats,” Kat stated.

“What was that about ripping his ear off then?”

“A promise,” Kat stated, “Oh something you might want to inform that jackass of, I do not make promises I do not intend to keep.”

“Kat that is a threat.”

“No Mr. Bishop I disagree. When you tell your child, if you get straight A’s I’ll buy you a new car and they get those A’s and you buy them the car, was it a threat or promise? It was a promise.”

Kat continued to lecture Mr. Bishop, “When you tell the same child if you do this against my wishes you will be punished, you have not threatened them, you have made them a promise. The same goes for that jackass.”

Taking a deep breath Kat stated, “Now I see that you have two options, you can expel me or you can reign in those jackasses before one of them gets hurt. Now expelling isn’t truly an option because I have several witnesses to exactly what occurred, and I also only used just enough force to make the moron do as he was being asked without fighting back and causing further harm to himself or bystanders. Also any form of punishment that you were to give me would only solidify the jocks in thinking they can continue their brutish behavior to the girls in this school, which will eventually become a larger problem that may even lead to this school being sued when some girl is out right raped by one of those goons.”

“Kat this is the first time I have been told of any issues with the players on the football team.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Kat sniped, “I think you should call my mother then.”

“This is only your first incident, there is no reason to have your mother come in at this time.”

“I totally disagree!” Kat pulled her cell phone from her purse and used the speed dial. “Kat? Kathleen I told you this does not need to concern your parents!”

“Hi, Mom. Yes I’m sitting in the assistant principal’s office at school. I’m putting you on speaker so Mr. Bishop can hear you.”

“Kat wait, don’t put me on speaker yet. You didn’t hurt anybody did you?”

“No mom, only bruised egos, and you are on speaker.” Kat said, “Mr. Bishop seems to think I should accept punishment for insisting a boy leave Becky and myself alone.”

“Mrs. Marlete, this is Mr. Bishop the assistant principal, Kat is not being punished for what she thinks, she is in my office because she threatened another student with physical harm.”

“What did you say to this other student Kat?” Her mother asked. Kat relayed what she had told him word for word.

“Kat if this student bothers one of you again do you intend to do exactly what you told him you would do?”

“Yes ma’am.” Kat smirked.

“Then Mr. Bishop I would have to agree that my daughter would not view this as a threat she would see it more like a warning. Similar to a warning sign you see on a military base that reads danger trespassers will be shot, or a sign on a fence that reads Danger electrified fence.”

“Mom it’s not that it bothers me to accept whatever bullshit punishment he wants to throw at me, it’s that by accepting it he is by his act be showing these jocks they can get away with treating girls however they wish.”

“I wish I had pressed charges against those three at the mall now,” Deb spoke, “Mr. Bishop I know my daughter well enough to know when she is telling the truth and when something has her very concerned. I am on my way there to discuss this situation with you personally.” The phone went dead. Kat put her phone away and sat back in the chair with her purse in her lap.

Chapter 32

“Mr. Bishop?” Deb stepped into the office to find her daughter sitting in a hard wooden chair across from a nice looking man sitting behind a desk, “I’m Kathleen’s mother, Doctor Marlete,”

Mr. Bishop stood to shake the woman’s hand, “Doctor Marlete it’s nice to finally meet you, I apologize for the occasion though.” Bishop couldn’t help but notice the ID badge on her lapel that had D.A.R.P.A. is bold letters across the top.

“No apologies are necessary, it’s good to get things like this cleared up quickly so they do not cause further issues later.” Deb turned to Kat, “Kat, I want you to tell me everything that happened, full mission debrief.” Kat did as she was told and in the no nonsense fashion that would befit a military debriefing.

“That was an interesting way to describe the issue Kat?” Mr. Bishop said.

“Mr. Bishop I have worked for the US Army most my life. Kat was born in an Army hospital and grew up on military bases, you’ll find that this has instilled certain traits into my daughter, one of them is being able to describe the facts without letting your emotions distort those facts. She may try to withhold a fact from me but I can assure you she will never distort one.”

“Still the fact remains that she threatened that student. She even admits to doing it.”

“What I see here is a disagreement over a definition of a word.” Deb began, “The problem lays in that Kat is completely correct in that if she accepts any punishment over this incident, by default you are telling those boys that it is acceptable to continue sexually harassing any girl they wish. The only solution I can see is to punish the boy for the sexual harassment and punish Kat for threatening him.”

“But he hasn’t admitted to any harassment!”

“From what I have heard, I believe you have enough witnesses of his actions. What is your policy for sexual harassment?”

“Expulsion,” Bishop almost whispered.

“Then it seems prudent to call in the other girls that are witnesses, take their statements and if they all show the boy was sexually harassing the girls, he should be expelled. And Kat will serve whatever your policy is for threatening another student.”

“But he has never done anything like this before!” Bishop argued.

“Am I incorrect in your school having a zero tolerance policy?”

“But the boy is one of our star players, real clean cut boy.”

Deb looked around at the wall plaques and pictures of the football team that covered the walls in his office, “It sounds like you are hesitant to punish the boy because of his athletic ability.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way.” Bishop backpedaled.

“Well sir, you can see my dilemma too,” Deb smiled at Bishop, “If you do not wish to punish the boy, I cannot allow you to punish my daughter. As a matter of fact if you even attempt to pretend to punish her over this matter and not punish the boy, I will have a legal team bring this up in civil court. If they discover this is not the only incident of sexual harassment that wasn’t dealt with as per your school’s policy this could easily snowball into a real problem for you and your school Mr. Bishop.”

“I got an idea Mom.” Kat chipped in, “No one has to get punished, kicked off any team or thrown out of school and it would show those jocks that we are not their personal playthings to come around and grope whenever they feel like it.”

“So what this idea?” Deb warily glanced over to the suspiciously innocent looking teenage girl whom she knew had experience beyond her apparent age at causing trouble.

“Ms. Marchal, the girls PE teacher asked me if I would do a martial arts demonstration for the girls and maybe even show them some self-defense.” Kat saw her mother’s surprise, “I was going to talk with you tonight about this since you would need to get my records faxed from Germany since she would need the certifications for it to be all legal like.” Kat stopped to catch her breath, “What if I fought the football team for the demonstration?”

“Young lady those boy are three times your size!” Bishop's eyes widened with horror as the image of this young lady being torn apart by his players. There was no way that she could be serious.

“Exactly!” Kat grinned, “What better people to demonstrate with.”

“Those boys would tear you to ribbons!” Bishop spat.

“Care to wager on that Mr. Bishop?” Kat giggled.

“Mr. Bishop,” Deb interrupted, “Kat is quite talented, and it would be interesting. My only concern is Kat doing serious harm to one of the boys.”

“I seriously doubt your little girl could hurt one of my boys!”

“I promise, I’ll go easy on them Mom,” Kat grinned into Bishop's eyes. She knew she had pushed the right buttons with him, it was obvious he was very proud of the school football team and Kat and her mother had just insulted him by saying a girl could beat them.

“Doctor Marlete, I’ll need a signed permission slip from you over this, absolving the school for any injury that may occur to your daughter during this demonstration she wishes to put on.”

Deb smiled at Mr. Bishop, “Of course I would want the same thing of the boys. In the case that my little girl did accidentally happen to harm one of your football players.”

Chapter 33

May was very surprised to see Kat walk into her Calculus class and hand Mr. Spinello, their teacher, a note. When May saw the teacher motion for Kat to find an empty seat, May waved her over to one beside her. Once Kat sat down May leaned over and whispered, “What are you doing in here?”

“This is Calculus class right?”

“Yea, but why are you here?” May questioned.

“This is where the placement tests said I should be.”

“So you’re smart and pretty, now I really hate you.” May giggled.

“Is there a problem Miss Hudson?” The teacher singled May out.

“No Mr. Spinello I was just catching Kat up on what she missed so far.”

“Good thinking, carry on.”

“So how much trouble are you in for what happened in the cafeteria?”

“Not half as much as the football team is going to be in,” Kat grinned.

“They never get in trouble, Bishop covers for them for all the stuff those guys do.”

“They are up shit creek without a paddle and don’t know it yet.”

“How?”

“I’ll tell you after class.”

When the bell rang Kat walked with May to the door. Becky came running up the hall to meet them, “Kat what happened?” A group of students were gathering around that had seen the incident in the cafeteria and were curious.

“Bishop tried to punish me for removing that jackass from our table.” Kat replied.

“And?” Becky begged for the rest of the story.

“You know that Miss Marchal asked me if I could do a martial arts demonstration this morning right?”

“Yes so?”

“I suckered Bishop into volunteering the football team as my targets.”

“For some reason I don’t think you are telling us the whole story Kat,” Becky glared at Kat.

“Kat those guys are mean, they’ll hurt you on purpose,” May objected to this whole idea.

“That’s the whole point May,” Kat beamed, “They will try but all they will do is make a fool of themselves in front of the whole school! Not only will they be taken down a peg or two, a lot of the girls that see it will want to learn how to defend themselves once they see how little ole me can do it against the whole football team.”

“The whole team Kat? Are you insane!” Becky sputtered, worrying that Kat would get really hurt.

“Not all at once,” Kat giggled, “We came up with a bunch of rules, no more than five of them on the mat with me at any one time.”

“Five?” May’s eyes got really wide.

“Kat five are you serious?” Becky asked.

“Well yea, Bishop wanted it to be four, but I got him up to five before mom told me to shut up.”

“Your mom agreed to this!” Becky and May chorused.

“Oh yea, She was all for it. She got fed up with Bishop’s crap real fast. Mom even helped to set all the rules.” Kat continued, “When anyone goes off the mats for any reason they are out and cannot come back in. For them to win they have to get me off the mats, pin me to the mat for ten seconds or, “Kat dropped her voice to a whisper, “kiss me on the lips.”

“WHAT!” Becky yelled, “Not just no but Hell no! No way, you have got to get them to take that rule out!”

Giggling May looked at Becky, “Jeeze Becky you act like Kat’s your girlfriend!” May was shocked when she saw Becky blushing, but remained quiet knowing the hallway was no place to discuss something like that. Thinking quickly she asked, “So Kat what do you know about this rumor of a ninja?”

“It’s not true,” Kat stated.

“Of course it’s not, but those boys don’t know that. You have heard of psychological warfare haven’t you?”

“Well duh, I grew up on an Army base.” Kat giggled.

Walking into their last class of the day, “Do either of you have any plans after school?” May asked. Becky and Kat both shook their heads. “Good because I have an idea.”