Switched Opportunities

New Habits

Chapter 5

Kai was walking in a crowd with his head down low. He couldn't have someone recognize him while on his way to his destination. The blue cap he wore kept most of his face covered which he was grateful for. He glanced up to see the building he was looking for and his chest felt lighter.

'Thank Ninjago I can finally contact the others!' Kai thought as he quicken his pace. Being separated without powers or communication is very stressful.

Kai walked up to the door of Dareth's dojo and tugged on the handle but it didn't open. Kai then noticed a sign on the door that read, 'Closed for now! Ninja business!' After the words there was a silly drawing of a brown ninja that looked to be done by a kindergartner.

Kai's jaw dropped and he stared in disbelief. He jogged to the window and cupped his hands on the glass and brought his face in close to look inside.

The lights were out and there was no one in sight. As Kai searched someone bumped into him violently. Kai was pulled away from the window and he stared to the man that glared back.

"Watch where you're going punk!" The man spat and he continued to rush of. Kai couldn't help but be surprised by the interaction. Normally people were really polite and could tell he was a ninja.

'Is it my clothes? Does no one know what I look like when I'm not wearing red?' Kai thought to himself as he stared in the crowd. When his eyes went back to the window he saw his reflection and froze.

The man staring back wasn't Kai Smith, fire ninja, nor protector of Ninjago... no... it was a stranger. A stranger he recognized from the battle with the mechanic. 'The cameraman?'

Kai took off his hat in one quick move. He ran fingers through his hair, but nothing resembled the image he created for himself.

He held back a scream of fear and confusion. He couldn't draw attention to himself... His reflection got lost in the crowd of people and he started to connection the dots.

It all started at the ambulance when the EMT kept asking his name. He said that the ninja left and it was because... he wasn't.. himself..? They didn't know...

The hospital called him Vinny so someone knew him.. He couldn't go back to the hospital and find out more information.

Police station? They had contact with the ninja and if he said it was important maybe it would work. It could be risky but he didn't know if it was a good idea to walk around claiming he was a ninja.

Police station it was and now he was Vinny- Vinny somebody. And he had a mission! Hopefully the ninja knew what was going on and they were looking for him now.

Kai now stood in front of the police station that held the hopes of contacting his friends. He couldn't help but feel nervous and powerless. He was just a normal citizen that had seen the battle and he had important information for the ninja and ninja only.

He straightened his clothes out of a new habit and cleared his throat. He walked inside and eventually he was able to sit down with the Police Commissioner.

"What seems to be the problem, uhh-"

"Vinny" Kai answered too quickly.

"Right... I don't normally do this too often but the front desk told me you are a cameraman for... uhhh that- that news girl and you witnessed the battle. That was extremely reckless you know? People get hurt from being too close to a fight. The ninja have it covered so.. why? Why did you stay?" The Commissioner started while tapping away at his keyboard. He continued to switch his attention from the screen and Kai.