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Power Rangers: Dino Thunder Evolution

By: Shamrock Holmes

Rating: 13+

Day of Thunder, Part One

Disclaimer: Power Rangers and all its related logos are property of Disney Entertainment and/or Saban Entertainment and are being used with I am using them without permission on a non-profit basis. Any original characters belong to me. A/N: This fic takes approximately thirty-five years after the end of PR: Dino Thunder or around fifteen years after the end of Power Rangers: SPD. Familiarity with both series is recommended but not essential.


Kendrix Hammond was having a very bad day. In fact, it would be fair to say that the last month or so had been the worst in her life to date despite an excellent beginning. She had returned home to Angel Grove flush with triumph after winning the silver medal for figure-skating at the Winter Pan Globals on Io only to find that her father, the ex-Astro Ranger Andros Hammond, had been killed the day before along with two of SPD officers in a fight with several alien rioters. Due to the fact that her mother, Ashley Hammond, had died five years earlier she was now an orphan. If anyone had asked her, the seventeen year old would have made it quite clear that she wanted to stay in Angel Grove with either her Uncle Justin, or her godparents, TJ and Cassie Johnson. But the courts vetoed that (plus the more half-hearted suggestion of her moving to Mirinoi to stay with her Aunt Karone and Uncle Zhane) and instead sent her to the nearby city of Reefside to live with her maternal aunt.

The change of location meant breaking up with her skating partner and off-and-on boyfriend, Alex Lavelle, and saying goodbye to her friends. It also introduced the frankly terrifying prospect of having to start again at a new school over halfway through her junior year.


Kendrix woke early on the morning of her first day at Reefside High. After dressing in her usual uniform of a sleeveless charcoal blouse and black skirt, she went down to breakfast. Her uncle had already gone to work, but her aunt was in the kitchen eating breakfast. "Don't forget, you have a meeting with the principal at eight," she said, as Kendrix helped herself to some cereal and sat down.

"Good morning to you too, Aunt," said Kendrix, not unsarcastically.

"That was uncalled for, Kendrix."

Kendrix raised a dark eyebrow, but said nothing, devoting her full attention to her breakfast. After finishing her cereals and gulping down a glass of orange juice she grabbed her backpack and car keys from the worktop and headed out, pointedly not saying goodbye to her aunt.

Despite her lack of familiarity with the area, it took Kendrix only thirty minutes to find the high school. Nodding to the security guard at the gate, she slid into a parking space and hopped out and strode, falsely confident up to the front doors and went in. Then she paused, not sure where to go from there.

"Are you new?" asked a voice from behind her. She turned and saw a well-built older man with long grey-black hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Yes I am." Kendrix admitted, offering her hand. "Kendrix Hammond, sir. I'm starting as a junior today."

The older man took it, "Dr Tommy Oliver, I work in the science department." He paused, taking in her appearance. "You're Andros and Ashley's daughter, aren't you?" Kendrix nodded. "I was sorry to hear about your dad. He was a good man."

"You knew him?"

"Not as well as I would have liked. But we met a few times." Tommy admitted. "Is Principal Randall expecting you?"

Kendrix nodded, and glanced at her watch. "I've got an appointment with her in twenty minutes."

"If you follow me, I'll show you the way," Tommy told her. "My classroom is down that way anyway."

"Okay." They walked in silence for a minute or two, and then Kendrix decided to ask a question. "How did you know my parents?"

"We had some mutual friends back in high school. Your dad and I also worked together on a project for a while around the millennium." Kendrix had a feeling that he was hiding something, but decided to leave it there as they had arrived at the principal's office. "I'll see you in class later." Tommy said and disappeared down the corridor.


After her meeting with Randall, which hadn't been nearly as bad as she'd been expecting, Kendrix headed for her locker in the main hall. She had just finishing putting some of her things into it and was about to close it when someone came up to her from and shoved her into locker. Kendrix shook her head in an attempt to clear it and then looked around and saw a group of four seniors - two boys wearing football team letter jackets and two girls in designer clothes - behind her. It was the larger of the two boys that had pushed her. "Did you hurt yourself?" he sneered. "That was clumsy. Want me to kiss it better?" he offered and reached out for her.

"No I don't. Get off me!" shouted Kendrix, quickly assessing her situation and deciding that it wasn't good. She was outnumbered, didn't have enough room to maneuver or even get up and her dizzy head was preventing her from focusing.

Both boys ignored her, and moving in closer. The girls giggled at her discomfort but did nothing. They were just about to grab her when a strong male voice broke in. "The lady said NO!"

All five teens looked in the direction of the voice. Kendrix easily identified a tall, dark-haired, athletically-built senior in jeans and a red-and-white checked shirt as the speaker. There was a hard, slightly dangerous look on his face accentuated by his long inky-black hair that hung to his shoulder, and the two teens flanking him - a willowy, redheaded girl in yellow and white, and a shorter, dark-skinned guy in blue - looked equally intent. "Back off, Meyer! You won't like what'll happen if you don't."

Though she didn't know who he was - despite the fact that he did remind her of someone - she couldn't help but agree. Apparently, Meyer did too as he and his three cronies backed off, and then left. The blue-clad guy's expression softened immediately and he walked over to Kendrix, offered her arm to help her rise. Kendrix accepted it, groaning slightly as a bruised muscle pulled painfully. "Thanks."

"Any time," offered 'Blue'. "I'm Antonio Fernandez by the way. But my friends call me Tony."

It couldn't be that easy… could it? Kendrix thought. "I'm Kendrix Hammond, but I prefer Ken."

"A girl with a boy's name. Intriguing," noted 'Yellow'. "I am Katrina Cranston, but I am usually known as 'Trini'." "Tall, dark and silent over here is Jason Oliver or 'Jay'," added Tony. "You'll have excuse him, he's a little shy."

"Hi,"

"Hi, Jay. And thanks."

"You're welcome," Jay told her. "Wouldn't want to make too bad an impression on your first day would we?"

"How did you know it was my first day?"

Jay smiled. "I know all the juniors and I've never seen you before," he shrugged. "Plus my dad told me about you when I saw him a few minutes ago."

"Your dad's Dr. Oliver?" Kendrix asked.

Jay nodded.

"Not to change the subject," Trini interjected. "But it is almost time for class." She turned to Kendrix. "What do you have for first period?"

"Biology." Kendrix admitted after checking her schedule.

"I'll take you over there," Trini said. "I've got an experiment running in one of the laboratories at I need to check on. Tony, Jay, I will see you at lunch?"

"You bet," agreed Jay and headed off down the corridor. Trini helped Kendrix pick up her things and then they headed in the opposite direction.


They arrived at the science block a few minutes before the bell, was due to ring. Trini steered Kendrix in to an empty seat beside a wiry black boy wearing a green T-shirt over black jeans, and then excused herself after suggesting that Kendrix meet the three seniors in the cafeteria at lunch (a comment which Kendrix noticed several people reacting to). The boy waited until Trini was out of earshot, and then leaned over. "Are you new?"

Kendrix nodded. "Family problems. I'm Kendrix Hammond. What's your name?"

"Will Rawlings. I transferred here from Mariner High last summer."

"Why is everyone looking at us?" Kendrix asked curiously.

"Cos you came in with one of 'The Triad'."

Kendrix could almost hear the capital letters in the other teen's speech. "The Triad…? Oh, you mean Jay, Trini and Tony?"

"That's them. Anyone who's their friend is automatically one of the 'in-crowd'. No-one really knows why they - we - are, it just happened that way."

"Who's in this group?" Ken asked.

"Well, Jay, Trini and Tony, obviously… Jay's little brother David and Tony's sister Hailey, but they're freshman so you won't see much of them… then there's two more seniors you probably haven't met yet - Crystal McKnight and Oliver James - yours truly…. and now you."

"Cool." Kendrix paused. "What's it like here?"

"Like most places, good if you know the right people," Will offered. "You'll like Dr. Oliver, everyone does - except around exam time. Some of the other teachers aren't so good, but most of them are okay, Principal Randall's been in charge here for nearly forty years now and she doesn't take any nonsense from anyone."

Kendrix nodded, and then turned her attention to the front of the class where Tommy had just arrived to begin the lesson. After Biology, Ken and Will headed over to the Humanities Department for American History. "I hate history," Kendrix confided to Will as they slipped in behind their desks.

"Me too," Will admitted. "I've flunked it once already. Jay's a pro though, and he's always willing to help."

"That's good, I'm gonna need it."


"How was your first half-day, Ken?" Jay asked she and Will joined him at the Triad's usual table in the cafeteria. Kendrix had only a small sandwich, an apple and a bottle of water on her tray. Both boys had the full lunch complete with 'mystery meat'.

"Biology was good, your dad's a great teacher. I still hate history though, and there's only four months until the finals." Jay appeared to think over something, "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, why?" "Do you want to come over my house?" he asked. "I could go over some stuff with you?"

"That would be great. Anything to get out of the house."

"That's cool. What time?"

"Well, you can either come at eight-thirty and get started straight away, or you can come back with me after school and eat with us?"

"Dinner would be good," Kendrix said. "Uncle Titus is always extra grouchy after a long day at work. Your Mom and Dad won't mind?"

"Nah. Trini, Tony and Crys come over occasionally, and Will spends more time at my place than he does at home."

"Well, why not?" said Will, looking up from his lunch. "The food's better and I can understand the conversation at least half the time."

"Okay then, I'll take you up on it," Kendrix promised. "Meet you in parking lot at four?"

Jay nodded.

Neither Tony or Trini had turned up by the time the bell rang for the start of afternoon classes, which both boys admitted wasn't unusual.


Jay met Kendrix outside the science block after the final bell the next day. "Which one's your car?"

"The old blue-and-white VW," Kendrix admitted heading over it. "I hate the thing, but it does have sentimental value - it was an anniversary present to my parents from my great-grandmother - and my guardians won't approve the funds for another one."

"What would you get if you could get one?" Jay asked as he folded himself into the passenger seat.

"Probably a Thunderbird or a Viper," said Kendrix as she joined him inside the car and started the engine. "I'd really love one of the old Pontiacs, but gas costs a fortune and there's only about a dozen converted ones on the market."

"So they're expensive then?" Jay suggested, and pointed out the turn off towards Valencia Road.

"Over a hundred thousand," Kendrix agreed. "What's for dinner?"

"Tacos."

"Yumm," said Kendrix, licking her lips slightly. "I love Tacos."

"Good. Mom always makes plenty." Jason confided. "Take the next right."

"Got it," said Kendrix, spinning the wheel and turning the Bug down the dirt track ahead. A moment or two later, they arrived outside the Oliver house. Two cars - an antique Ford Scorpio convertible and an old-model Escape SUV - sat in the drive. Kendrix parked her car in a spot suggested by Jay and then they got out. Jay grabbed the two bags they'd stored in the small trunk of the car and they headed up to the house.

As soon as they came in through the door, a female voice called out from further inside the house.

"Jay, is that you?"

"Yes Mom! Where are you?"

"In the kitchen!" The two teens headed towards the kitchen with Jay in the lead, when they reached the door, Jay opened it and went through, holding it open until Kendrix had joined him. Jay's mother was standing at the stove, stir-frying vegetables for the tacos. She turned and looked at Jay. "Hello son. New friend?"

"Yes. Mom, this is Kendrix Hammond. Ken, this is my mother, Sabrina Oliver."

"Hello, Mrs. Oliver."

"I am pleased to meet you, Kendrix. Any friend of my sons' is always welcome," Sabrina told the brunette skater, then turned to Jay. "Jason, could you lay the table, then get the others?"

"Sure Mom," said Jay. "Ken, do you want a drink?"

"Sure."

"Pepsi?" Jay offered, crossing to the icebox and pulling out a can.

"Sounds good," agreed Kendrix, and deftly caught a second can that Jay tossed her before going to cupboards for dishes. She watched him for a moment, and then wandered over to a display of photos in the room next door. Most of the photos were innocuous enough: family shots with various combinations of Jay, his younger brother and his parents; some that included an older version of Tommy (Kendrix assumed it was Jay's Uncle David), a blond woman and a girl that by Kendrix' reckoning was about ten years older than she was; and even a few with what Kendrix assumed were Jay's grandparents. What caught her attention though were a series of a dozen or so pictures of various groups of brightly-clad teenagers and adults, two of which particularly caught her attention: a group shot of nine teenagers including Dr Oliver, her mother, her 'aunt' Cassie and her 'uncles' TJ, Carlos and Justin; and even more so a group shot of ten red-clad men including Dr Oliver, her 'uncle' TJ, her father and Lightspeed and Silver Guardians commanders Carter Grayson and Eric Myers. I wonder how Dr. Oliver knew Captain Grayson or Commander Myers? Kendrix wondered. Her line of thought was broken when Jay called her into dinner.


Over the next few weeks and months, Kendrix became a regular visitor to the Oliver house both after school and at weekends there while Jay (with occasional input from a visiting Trini) worked with her to bring up her grades. She also joined the four older teens in their martial arts training, a pursuit that the other members of the 'in group' often joined them in. Jay was the best, though Trini and Tony were a close and fairly equal second and third, with Will and Kendrix herself as the next best.

The next milestone in Kendrix's relationship with the group came in shortly before the exams. She had just finished watching Jason, Trini and Tony defeat all-comers (including a particularly brutal team from Haspar City) in the Ninja Tournament Finals and was waiting with Will, Crystal and David for The Triad outside the changing rooms. They'd been waiting for almost an hour and she was about to send David into the locker room to get the boys when they came out. Both had changed out of their uniforms - Tony was wearing jeans, a blue t-shirt and denim jacket and carried a sports bag over his shoulder, and Jason had on jeans and a red-tank top, and carried a Red Dragon Karate team jacket and his own sports bag.

"Sorry we were so long," Jason said. "Is Trini out yet?"

Kendrix shook her head. "She told me she was going to drop in at AGU on the way home to see her dad, so she'd get a lift back with him." Jason nodded and led the way out to the parking lot. When the six teens arrived at their cars they split up with Tony taking Will and the two freshman in his sedan and Jason joined Kendrix in her Bug.

The two teens rode in silence until they hit the freeway, at which point Jason looked over at Kendrix. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure Jay."

"Would you be my date to the Prom?"

Kendrix paused, "By date, do you mean, 'as a friend' or… something more?"

"Would it matter?"

"Not really," Kendrix admitted. "I'd love to go with you either way."

"Then why don't we see how it goes?"

"Works for me."


"Mom, can I borrow your car?" Jay asked several days later. "I don't want to take the bike and Tony's picking his date on the other side of town."

"Of course," agreed Sabrina. "The keys are on the hall stand."

"Have fun, bro," said David from the kitchen table.

"I'm sure I will," said Jay, then retrieved his tuxedo jacket from a hanger from the ground floor bathroom, slipped it on, then grabbed the keys to the Scorpio and headed for the garage.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled the gold Ford to a stop in front of the Hammond house. When he got out, Kendrix appeared at the front door and walked over to him.

"Nice car." she commented.

"Thanks, it's my mom's," Jay reminded her, then opened the passenger door for her. Once she was settled, he closed her door and then crossed over to the other side of the car and got behind the wheel. "You look lovely."

"Thanks, Jay," said Kendrix blushing slightly.

"I mean it." Jay told her, before turning his attention back to the task of navigating the big convertible through the streets of Reefside. They arrived at Convention Center ten minutes later, and Jay swiftly docked the Scorpio in a parking space and helped Kendrix out of the car. The two teens hooked arms and walked towards the main doors. They met up with Tony, Trini and Will on the balcony of the main hall.

"Hailey's gone to get some drinks." Tony admitted when Jay looked around for his date. "We'll hit the dance floor after that. What's wrong, Jay?"

Jay had staggered slightly, moaned and rubbed his forehead. Kendrix and Trini grabbed his arms to steady him. "Just a bad feeling that's all, I am sure it is nothing." At that moment, all the lights went out. "On second thoughts… maybe not." Jay concluded.

But before the five teens could react, a green portal appeared above them and pulled them inside.