Their friend fell.
The two women watched him, leaning through their eyes toward the monitor.
The rocks rolled out in his wake. Dust leapt and twirled in the air, hovering about the silent man.
Haley and Trini could help him. They could reach him. He was only a few yards from them. Their prayers blared and stretched out toward him.
But Tommy did not move.
Trini thought that he would roll or shift his head—or a finger. A hand even. Still garbed as a Ranger, his helmet lay as if a sculpture.
A line of black dripped into her peripheral vision. Below that, a black bar cut off her vision. Trini shuddered, tightening her throat and core.
The women were not a few yards away from Tommy.
Trini belted out a gasp. Shuddering, she shrank away from the monitors, clutching her heart and belly. But she stared and stared at Tommy's body—the last person to join their first team. Her friend of so many years.
Slipping off of a stair, she lurched backward, rolling on her ankle. She stomped her palm upon the floor, halting herself. Her arm trembled, her palm stung. Tears gathered behind her eyelids but she held herself suspended. To sink was to submit. But her arm quivered.
"Trini?" Haley whispered from the monitors. "Trini, talk to me."
Shudders interrupted Trini's gasps. Drawing in breaths she wailed. Unfurling her legs and releasing her arms, she flayed on the floor, whimpering now.
"Damn it," Haley exclaimed softly. "We can't lose it now!" she finished.
Trini did not care. Then she did. But there was too much pain though. "I have to go," she uttered, glowering at nowhere.
"Trini, be reasonable," Haley protested.
"I have to go."
"Let me contact the others."
"No." Yellow and white discharges crackled about Trini's body.
"Trini, be reasonable!" Haley called out.
But Trini flew through the ceiling.
"This could be exactly what Jason wants!" Haley shouted after her.
But the streak did not return. Haley knew it would not.
Turning back to the desk, she gaped once more at the image on the monitor. No longer morphed, Tommy's pale, partially obscured face lay sprawled upon the rocks and sand.
Haley shut her eyes—unable to take in more. Stop this, she coached herself. She could divorce this. Squishing her face together, she counted to three (foregoing the length of ten), and snapped back to work, activating the Com. Working consciously and automatically, she glanced again at the monitor. And then she saw it.
"Dr. O!" Trent hurled his voice across the valley. Dusk waned in the west.
Dr. Oliver lay immobile yards upon yards from the valley wall—from Trent. They're too far now, Trent thought, wetting his lips. I can't help him.
"Tommy!" he bellowed, hoping to hear even a faint retort. His echoes diminished among the rocks and cliffs. "Tommy!" he called again.
His heart rate quickened. He breathed in more air. None of his teammates had ever passed out during a battle. He racked his brains, rechecking. It had never happened.
Jason still remained, having not moved since he slashed Tommy's middle. Hooded now, Jason stood tall, watching the man. The tips of his cloak billowed.
Trent sprinted to the ledge's edge, determined to aid his mentor—ally—friend. The drop neared! He tugged his legs backward. Arms swinging, he dropped, skidding, his hands and feet carving ditches in the ground. Dust and dirt sifted into the air, swirling about him. He gaped, looking over the edge.
The path was gone. The one that he had followed out of the valley—it was gone. No groves or other paths sloped from the edge. Where…? he began. Grunting, Trent stamped to his feet. He searched, wiping his eyes around. Dr. O. needed his help; but he was stuck on top of this cliff! He could not find another path! He swore, punching his thigh. For now, he was stuck so he sighed. Then he prayed, staring at his friend's defenseless body.
A spear stabbed through Sean's heart. His hands dipped a millimeter from his high guard. Correcting the error and acknowledging his pain, he eyed Orion whilst listening and feeling the sounds and impressions around him. Dangerous of course, but necessary, he reminded himself.
Orion inched nearer to him, his attention undistracted.
Digging deeply into himself, Sean saturated himself with calm but no amount dissuaded his surging heart. Tommy was wounded—he needed help. Sean knew that in the three seconds he dematerialized for teleporting, he would be vulnerable. Goldar and Scorpina might pause during that; but not Orion—and certainly not Scorpio if Sean were in reach. Sean knew them. Thus, he waited, submerging himself in the discipline of a Samurai, for the time to strike and retreat. Orion and Scorpio could not be allowed to remain on Earth under Jason's control. Nothing else mattered.
Their communicators beeped. "Guys," said Haley, "Tommy needs your help now!"
Now anchored with calm, Sean searched for Tommy. "He is still on earth—in the state," he called out.
"He was fighting Jason and now he's down!"
"What?" Kimberly screeched from afar. Sean turned toward her.
Kimberly bunted a sword slash from Scorpina. "It's not like these guys are gonna let us leave," he exclaimed, dodging another slash.
"Correct, Ranger!" Scorpina snarled. She lashed out. Ducking underneath the blow, Kimberly stabbed back with her blade blaster/dagger.
"This is our battle," Orion declared softly. Sean turned back. Orion sprung, stabbing at Sean's side.
Sean side stepped out of range. Orion followed him. Sean deflected the wrist powered stab. "Your battle ended over five thousand years ago," Sean said. "And it was never with me." Orion struck again. Sean however, locked Orion's blade with his. "You do not belong here anymore."
Steel-hardened perseverance lit Orion's eyes.
Sean shoved him backward with a gesture. "Depart," he commanded, grounded in authority, his power building within him.
The Greek sneered at Sean.
"Guys, forget them," Haley insisted. "Tommy's hurt!"
"What's wrong?" Richie asked, respiting away from the duels.
"He will die if we do not reach him," Sean interrupted. Waves of the other's emotions crashed into him; but he withstood it because he knew how to.
Goldar and Scorpina grinned.
"Guys, Jason is still there," Haley said.
Growling, Goldar flung several flames at Zack and Kimberly, knocking them to the ground in a shower of sparks. "So even if you manage to get past us, will you last against your friend?" he taunted. "Did Sean mention that Jason is more powerful than a puny Ranger?"
Kimberly sneered at the retort—at the golden brute. Then she quickly realized that she still did not know how she thought about Jason. It shocked her. And then it annoyed her. She had taken herself out of the battle; she was no longer trading attacks with her teammates. Their defense had weakened.
Hitting Zack aside, Goldar advanced onto Kimberly, raising his sword overhead.
Charging forward, Adam cleaved his Axe through the air, locking his blade with Goldar's. "If we're so puny," Adam asked, "how come you never conquered this planet?"
"Whelp!" Sneering and snarling, Goldar and Scorpina pelted the rangers with yellow and blue flames from opposite sides.
Screaming and yelling, Zack, Adam, Kimberly, Billy, and Richie collapsed. Mustering themselves through their pain, they tried rolling away and to their feet. However Scorpina and Goldar, pelting them and the ground with stray shots. Kimberly screamed, covering her helmet.
Goldar laughed, halting his barrage. "Super Z Putties," he called. A score of them materialized around him and his wife. "Pulverize these pests into oblivion!" he commanded,. "Monarch, we do this for you," he added, holding out his hands at the sky.
Acknowledging, the Putty Patrol charged, some already drawing their bladed and sphered hands.
Gasping, groaning, and limping, Kimberly rushed to their feet and smacked a Putty from her. She bumped into another. Spinning around, she kicked it. It blocked.
Several yards away Sean parried more attacks from Orion. He needed to leave but he stalled, waiting. Something else happened, he said.
"Guys, something else," Haley chimed in. "Trini left the Lair."
That was what he had intuited.
Caressing his cold railing, Lord Zedd turned his supervision onto Haley.
"Haley, where is she?" Richie asked over the com.
"I'm checking right now," Haley said. But her hands hovered inches above the keyboard.
"That will cost you!" Lord Zedd declared, spraying Tommy's property with lightning.
Shaking her head, Haley divided one of the monitor screens, drawing up her locating program. California and Nevada appeared. An icon flashed in California. Her eyes glued to the icon, Haley zoomed in. Each time, the picture pixelated and refocused. "I almost got it," she. "Wait!" Snow twisted and blurred the image. The screen turned blank and white. She refreshed the screen. Nothing occurred. "Damn it!" Haley slammed her hands on the desk.
"What's going on?" Zack asked over the com. His voiced crackled and softened.
"Lord Zedd must be blocking me or her."
"Say again, Haley," Adam interjected.
"I lost her signal."
"Quit your incessant chatter!" Lord Zedd snapped, spinning his staff in his hands. Swinging it toward the Rangers, he fired. "And leave the distraught women alone!"
"Stay on it, Haley," Richie commanded. "I have an … need tha… —fied. We'll get—"
Haley nodded quickly several times, activating her signal diagnostic programs. "I know you will," she whispered, already assessing her contingencies. Just don't forget about Tommy.
Lord Zedd roared with laughter. "Oh, by all means don't forget about poor, dear Tommy! But what can you do tucked away in your cave?! Isolated like poor, little Trini?"
Miles away, Trini watched the saucepan. Water rippled and steamed within it.
Trini sat a mug beside the stove. The teabag resting beside the puddle of honey.
Richie needs to buy a teapot, she remarked, folding her arms.
She glanced left out of the window. She contemplated making a sandwich. Her stomach groaned again. Closing her eyes and rolling them, she sided with her nausea.
Deciding the water was hot enough, she poured it into the mug. The honey dissolved. The teabag bled into the water. Brownish red.
She looked away. The scent followed her, crawling into her nose. Trini closed her eyes, praying to escape. I could teleport again. But where? Where else could I go?
The scent remained. The tea's color. Tommy's ashen face. His eyes closed. The hairs on her arms stood up. Jason's aura brushed her own.
I could teleport away, she thought, her breathing quickening. Another planet. So many support life. She could find one.
Shivering, she sniffed. And go where? she scoffed. Mars? Aquitar? Edenoi? Places I've never been? She scoffed, shaking her head. This wasn't helping her.
Grimacing, she curved around.
Steam leapt and curled into the still air, carrying the tea's scent. It's tea, she reminded herself. Tea. It had always been tea. It smelled delicious. The color nauseated her.
Her lips and cheeks trembled. Mashing her eyelids shut, she whipped her head around several times.
But Tommy, she thought. His face flashed in her mind.
Straightening herself, she turned inward, drawing on her power. "Stay alive, Tommy," she whispered through prayer. "Stay alive."
Her heart steadied. Her hairs relaxed. She opened her eyes and stood, glancing about the kitchen.
Then she looked again at the tea mug. Taking hold of the handle, she brought it close to her mouth. The mug's warmth grazed her fingers and lips, soothing the tips of her lingering worries. Calmness and contentment spread about her. Deciding against burning her tongue, she replaced the mug on the counter. The color was just right, ruby red. It had not been blood at all. Pulling up the bag, she tossed it into the sink.
Gazing outward the half sized window, she took in the back yard. Three squirrels chased each other in a narrow strip of meadow, running across each other. Tree branches swayed overhead, reflecting a gentle breeze.
Nevertheless, her thoughts returned to her friends. Richie, Kimberly, Sean, Zack, Billy, and Adam (Adam, she lamented) were fighting for their lives now only miles away while she was safe in this house.
However that was not what had driven her. Even now, as it had been when she had first arrived here and scrubbed away all evidence of her rape, inaudible whispers lingered beyond her hearing. Intangible fingertips tickled her senses. The tickling had changed now. She glanced downward at the thicket near the center of the yard. Someone was hiding there. Trini froze.
Limping and staggering forward, Scorpio stabbed a pincer at Sean's shins and calves.
Sean hopped over it. Orion circled behind Scorpio. Sean backed up, holding his sword in a high guard. He pivoted, keeping Scorpio and Orion in his vision. His blade flashed emerald. Orion slinked forward beside Scorpio. Sean sliced down through the air. A torrent of emerald bolts slammed into and raked across the duo. Staggering and moaning, they halted. Sean slashed horizontally, striking them with more energy. Smote and overridden, they collapsed to the ground, twitching and wincing. Scorpio jerked its pincers, barely slapping the ground.
Grimacing, Orion glared into Sean's visor. He stabbed his fingers into the ground, pulling himself eight inches further but then sank onto his side, but clutching Sean's eyes with his. He puffed his cheeks. Then he opened his jowls, revealing his teeth.
Exhaling and breathing in, Sean eyed the warriors from myth. From history, he corrected and lamented. Memory. Turning his head away, he pivoted from them. "Rangers!" he called out, blowing his spirit into them.
"Sean!" Orion blared after him.
In answer, Sean sheathed his sword. "You were called to defend the earth over a decade ago. Now you must do so again whether whole or broken: persevere. Stand. Fight!"
"Come… back here!" Orion barked.
Sean glanced back at Orion. The warrior-turned-slave staggered in a crouched lunge, squeezing his fists in effort.
His pain must be excruciating, Sean quickly thought. A tear moistened his left eye. Blinking the tear back, Sean turned from Orion and stepped toward the fray. "Meet me when you are finished," he commanded his team. Satisfied, he teleported away.
"SEAN!" Orion roared to the sky. He stomped into a crouch.
Goldar stepped in his way. "Can you add to this battle, Earthling?" he asked.
Sneering and trembling, Orion gritted his teeth. "Out of my way!"
Goldar flicked the tip of his sword at Orion's heart. "You and your beast will return to the palace until you learn how you failed today!"
"What right hav—AHH!" Sprayed with yellow flames, he and Scorpio vanished.
Pivoting around, Goldar loomed before the Rangers, bloodlust soaking his eyes. Gnashing his teeth, he growled.
Billy knocked a putty to the ground.
"That takes care of those two," Zack commented from nearby.
Billy visually confirmed. Better odds, he calculated.
"Still leaves these guys," Zack continued, busy with another putty. "We need to cut this at the head."
"Agreed," Billy said.
Zack glanced at his friend. "I can't get to them though," he said.
"Not necessary." Dropping his lance, Billy stretched out his fingers and immediate wrath, seizing and clutching five nearby putties. Motionless and helpless in his grip, Billy hurled them overhead at Goldar and Scorpina.
The two fighters jumped and flipped over the hurled bodies, flicking molten flames at Billy. The Blue Ranger stumbled under the assaults. Zack pushed him out of the way.
"I'm alright," Billy said. "Cover me."
Zack nodded.
Landing already, Goldar and Scorpina spun around, leering at Billy.
His suit charred in places, Billy hurried to meet them, pulling his Lance to him. Whirling it around, he crashed it against the duo's double parry.
"You have our attention," Scorpina said, gracing him with a smile.
Goldar growled in amusement.
"Now what do you want?" she snapped. Kicking Billy away, they hurled fire at him.
Scorched further, Billy stood his ground. His inner fire burned hotter than theirs, funneled with his focus. He hardened his aura. The fire balls slid around and away from him. Advancing two paces, he parried and struck, searching for any weakness amongst the two, even if it was a strategy on how to exhaust them. All the while he maintained his poise. In his focus—his center—he had all the energy he needed.
"Dr. O.," Trent whispered. Sucking in larger breaths, he glanced around.
The ledge was steep, yielding no plants to cling to, or safe way down. Plus, he could not morph. He gnashed his teeth, snarling. Then he shook his head at those thoughts. Dr. O. needs help, he thought.
He jumped. Half tumbling and half sliding, he steadied himself with his hands and knees down the valley wall. "Dr. O!" he yelled across the quarry. Landing, he scrambled to his feet, and then charged toward his mentor—advocate—friend's side, his eyebrows high but his eyelids narrow. "Jason!" he barked. "Get out of here! Go!"
Jason continued standing there, watching Tommy. The edges of his cloak billowed faintly.
Trent sprinted now, pumping his arms.
Jason still remained. A shadow blotted the ground around Tommy's upper body.
Those aren't shadows, Trent thought. He quickened his sprint. Hold on!
A force crashed into him, hurling him into the air. He landed some yards back, his forearms scraped. Groaning, he looked up.
He gaped. He had been right. Magic hour sprayed Tommy's ashen skin with a pseudo-coat.
Panting, Trent glared at Jason, squeezing his hands into fists. "I told you to leave! GO!" Trent roared, his hair shaking about his head.
"How?" whispered the Monarch.
The younger man paused, considering. Once more he remembered that he had no powers and even though he had stood up to and fought a powerful monster with Kira, Connor, and Ethan without their powers, Jason was sure to be stronger than the Terrorsaurus—even Mesogog.
"How can you defeat me when Tommy couldn't?"
"I'm not Tommy," Trent replied.
"But you're frightened. Your stance is feeble." Trent tried to interject. "You don't even bore me."
Jason was right. The truth rattled Trent's knees. He struggled not to bow his head.
"How can you help Tommy?" Jason asked.
The question stoked the lit coals within Trent. Reckless and brave, he pulled his fist back, ready to charge and punch this man (monster even, he thought) before him.
Stay your hands, Trent, a voice commanded from his mind.
Trent staggered, staring downward and then around. Jason however raised his gaze, looking beyond Trent. Touching down from the sky, Sean materialized between Jason and Trent.
"Sean?" Trent asked.
"Do not attack him," the Ranger instructed.
Trent jerked a hand toward Tommy's head. "But—"
"I am aware of it or I would not be here. Stand and listen."
Glaring, Trent complied, folding his arms across his chest.
"Monarch," Sean addressed. Jason inclined his chin a centimeter toward Sean. "Would you stand aside?"
Jason breathed in and sighed. Seconds ticked by. His eyes did not move. "The air… it's nice this evening." A grace exuded from him.
Trent's stomach churned because he knew Jason was not lying.
"Indeed," said Sean. "However, I do not wish for nightfall to claim this man."
"He's a member of your team." Jason glanced at Sean. "I understand. Bear with me as I pay my respects." He cupped his hands before him, bowing his head to Tommy.
"No," Sean replied calmly.
Jason raised his eyebrows and breathing in, met Sean's gaze.
Trent bit his lip, swiveling his toes into the rocks underneath him. They sank a couple of centimeters but he did not notice. The men before him stood so calm in all appearances—clearly ready for battle if needed. That was expected. Nevertheless, goose bumps sprang up the back of his neck and his palms dampened. He inched backward. Sean and Jason continued staring into each other, neither one moving.
"You sent Orion and Scorpio against me," Sean said, "In an effort to delay or waylay me. Calculated… but I question if you were foolish in doing so."
"Rita and Zedd deserve the thanks. And my pride."
"Tommy is dying, you sack of urine!" Trent snapped.
Jason turned his eyes on the young man. "Again," he purred, "what can you do to help him?"
"What he knows cannot save Tommy," Sean interrupted. "My knowledge can."
Jason shrugged. "So do it… or are you uneasy?"
"Leave, Jason," Sean requested. "Please."
"No."
Silence swelled among them. More goose bumps sprang down Trent's back and legs. He waited, darting his eyes back and forth between the two. Both warriors looked as though they could kill the other—and with relative efficiency. Even with Sean's face blocked, Trent somehow saw and felt this. So if they fight, he wondered, who would win?
"He failed the test of the Samurai," Jason said. "You have no right to deny this honor from me."
You cocky, inhuman bastard! Trent mentally swore.
Jason jerked his right palm at Trent. Sean threw out his left hand at Jason. A gust rippled through Trent's hair and clothes. He gasped, holding his breath. What just…?
"Let him be," Sean commanded.
Jason pinned his eyes on Sean.
Meanwhile, miles away, Zack swatted another Putty Patroller away. The two second respite had been great, but Zack could not hurl a bunch like Billy had. Plus he doubted tossing Goldar, Scorpina, and the putties around would convince them to leave. If it would have Billy would have done it already. There's gotta be a way, Zack thought while exchanging blows. All we're doing is tiring ourselves out. If we can't destroy these guys…
He locked blades with one.
We can retreat, but if we run every time—and we're in a city that time, they'll overrun it. Can't let that happen. Have to find a way!
The putty snuck in a punch at his stomach, shattering Zack's breath. He toppled over. Cursing himself, Zack hopped back to his feet, tensing his arms in restraint. Destroying these putties, while possible, would only worsen their odds.
Man, if I just had the Mastodan, he thought, I'd crush these guys. Freezing this Putty Patrol with his old dinozord would have definitely stopped them. Even as he focused more on the battle he wished that he had some of his zord's freezing power. But that power had never been his. It belonged to the Mastodon. This was further proved when it had been reconstituted into the Lion Thunderzord,that power had never transferred. Ever!
"But I'm still here," Zack spoke under his breath, embracing the truth as he spoke it. Several of his friends had lived through several lines of Zords, some as much as six if not seven. Plus, the Power had always been there, changing in form and degree. Dozens of Power Rangers had lost their powers over the years but the Power was never destroyed. Zack was still here, a conduit of that Power. And he had even frozen a monster without the Mastodon: Turban Shell.
Zack yelled, focusing his energy and attention. Jumping into the air, he slammed his heel into three putty's chests, knocking them to the ground.
Even though the Lion Thunderzord was gone, Zack now commanded a powerful zord, the Liger Ninjazord, guided by a soul much more superior than either the Mastodon or Lion. Or…
He had to think about this before he could phrase it.
Perhaps Zack was wise enough now to tap into more of himself and his ranger powers than he could have back then. The Liger had changed from a Lion. What if I could change too? he wondered.
Kimberly had changed by tapping into her power unconsciously. Billy had trained with his for almost a decade. What if Zack consciously brought his out? He did not need to know what it was. Kimberly hadn't, he though, realizing immediately that the same could have been true for Billy. Zack had frozen Turban Shell's hide when he had sprayed it with water. Maybe he could do the same thing again. He glanced about him. There were no water sources around.
Zack sank more into the battle, feeling the rhythms and seeing the tides as they were. He could not defeat these putties as he was. It's like starting all over again, he thought, remembering his first battle with Rita Repulsa's 'regular' Putties. Even doing their best and making some progress, he, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Jason had ultimately failed as civilians. Only by morphing had they gained the upper hand; but their success had not been because of their powers. After that fight, Zack and his team had no problems fighting the putties as civilians. An idea came to him.
"Ninjetti!" he called out, "Liger!" His costume reverted to the fabric Ninjetti suit. His Sais vanished.
"Zack, you okay?" Kimberly shouted over to him.
Zack stepped around a Patroller. "Yeah, I'm good." Using his leather gauntlets and high boots, he deflected most attacks while dodging the others along with the concussive and fiery blasts. However, a trickle of doubt entered his thoughts, but he flicked it away. "No time for that now," he muttered. He bounced on the balls of his feet, diving into the Hip-Hop-Kido martial art he had fashioned. Half dancing, half fighting, he deepened his engagement, returning to his roots and merging them with his present. Aligned in his being, he stalled more attacks, and stood longer against the Putties.
Nevertheless, the rangers were losing. "Billy! Adam!" Richie called out. "We have to retreat!"
"No," Billy answered, crushing any objection. He then swung his Lance at Goldar. However, Goldar slapped the blow aside. Billy tilted off balance, straightening his feet. Goldar slammed his fist into Billy's solar plexus. Billy lurched, inaudibly gasping. Stepping backward, Goldar hurled a boulder sized fireball into Billy. Thrown back, Billy fell. Dizzy, he fought to stay conscious—to stay morphed. I must, he thought.
Leering and grinning, Scorpina pivoted around. Targeting the other rangers, she shot blue flames at them, knocking them off balance. The Super Z Putties fired, pelting the rangers.
Zack gripped his left upper arm. Blood splotched his gloved fingertips. Maybe not the best idea, he thought, wincing, to have morphed. He smirked. They're going for blood.
Pointing their blades and fingers at them, the putties coiled around the rangers, tightening their ranks. Goldar and Scorpina grinned, joining the ring.
Worn, bruised, charred, and scraped, the Rangers crouched and stood together, touching each other.
"Billy," Kimberly began.
"I know. Don't say it."
Zack stared at the score and their commanders. Now's a good a time as ever, he thought. He just wished he knew what he could do. Then it hit him! He did not need to know. He already knew. Closing his eyes, he meditated. Ice age, he chanted, ignoring skeptical thoughts from his ego. He exhaled. Fog and mist sprayed from his core and limbs, billowing around the patrol in front of him.
The putties wiggled, covering their faces with their hands. Patches of frost plated their bodies, holding them rigid.
Snatching up Scorpina, Goldar flew into the air, snarling.
"Great job, Zack!" Kimberly exclaimed.
Breathing in, Zack opened his eyes, dissolving his fog and mist. "They might thaw," he mentioned.
"Doesn't matter," Billy said. "Let's get out of here."
"Right!" they chorused. Clasping their belts they teleported away.
Goldar stamped to the ground, Goldar smote a stone with his sword. Flames sprayed from his sword. "Curses!" he roared.
"Goldar! Get those putties back up here before they shatter or melt!" Lord Zedd shouted in his ear. "And don't dawdle!"
"Yes, Lord Zedd. At once."
"I said hurry you simpleton!"
Bowing his head, Goldar growled but obeyed.
The katanas locked once more, staving off a double beheading. Jason and Sean stared across the torrents of steel.
His eyes nailed to the action, Trent shook his head repeatedly. Every blow is lethal, he thought. If they make a mistake… He blinked in awe.
Sean and Jason parted. Jason swung upward diagonally. Sean leaned underneath it. Stepping behind and rising, he swung at Jason's upper back but Jason lunged and stepped away. Stepping further away, they faced each other, resting their weapons at their sides. Neither one panted. Instead they glared across the air and sand, several feet further but equal distant from Tommy.
They're far enough now, Trent noticed. Nodding he crept toward Tommy. The ground rustled and groaned under his shoes. Still, he pinned his sight on the samurais.
Sean stabbed at Jason's center, but the Monarch stepped and pivoted from it. Impossibly fast, the two tornados spun about each other in blurs.
Eyeing Tommy peripherally, Trent slowly knelt down, stifling a gasp. Ignoring the blood moat, Trent leaned in, peering at Tommy's head. He sighed. His stomach jerked. He turned, forcing down the vomit. Successful, he resumed studying Tommy. He then watched the pair, wishing he could help but knowing that this battle was beyond his skill. If Jason did not leave, Tommy would die. And Trent could not call his team for help.
Bracing Tommy's head and arms, Trent turned Tommy over. More blood leaked out of the long slash. Unbuttoning his top shirt, Trent tore it off him. Bundling it up he dabbed at the wound. Blobs and creeks of waxy blood obscured its shape. This is no place for this, Trent remarked.
Stray discharges struck and crackled about him. He ducked, covering Dr. Oliver's head, and wishing again he had his morpher and gem.
"Haley!" Billy called. Crossing to the monitors, he and the others removed their helmets.
Haley glanced over her shoulder. "Good to see you guys. And congrats," she added to Zack.
"Celebrate later," he said. "What's going on?"
Pointing, Kimberly gasped.
"God," Richie swore.
"At least Trent's with him," Adam said.
"We need to get him out of there," Zack said.
"Guys, also," Kimberly pointed again. Several yards away from Tommy and Trent, Jason and Sean continued their lethal dance.
"Billy, what do you think will work?" Richie asked.
"Hard to tell."
"An Ultrazord would be great," Zack mentioned.
Kimberly nodded.
"I can access the zords by remote but I don't think you want to incinerate Tommy," Haley mentioned, showing her venom. "But we do have some contingencies." Her fingers snapped across the keyboard, pulling up a few simultaneous displays on the second monitor. "Take a look. Billy, can you—" She glanced at him.
"Sean won't split his focus. I can't get through."
"So what do we do?" Zack asked.
"Wait and stay ready."
"No offence, guys," Richie chimed in, "But can we match them?"
"I can," Billy said.
"Billy, I know you're strong, but… can you really?"
Billy glared into Richie's eyes. "Yes, I can," he spoke.
Sean stared across the locked blades, standing upon the sacred ground, the ground where Tommy had begun his journey as a true power ranger. Encouraged by this, he stared into his enemy. He pushed into Jason.
Breaking away, Sean back stepped into a lunge, stabbing his finger through the air at Jason, hurling the demigod backward. Jason slammed into the ground. An eighth of a second later, Jason rose to his feet, covering his right side with a hand. Tommy must have hurt him there. Sean had punctured Jason's defenses, defenses Jason had spent years mastering and adapting. Jason still needed to improve.
Sean advanced. Leaping forward, he stabbed at Jason. Stepping back, Jason leaned away and ducked beneath it. Pivoting around, Sean whipped his blade around, his hilt now aimed at Jason. The Monarch stood, bringing his katana to parry. But Sean dragged his katana across Jason's neck.
Jason collapsed, gathering his breath. Sean back-stepped out of range, leaving Jason time to choose to depart. The rocks behind him lay silent. The wind settled about Sean.
Jason rose his head, eyeing Sean, and nodded to Sean. You are my enemy, Jason, Sean communicated, Regardless of relation.
A pink laser blast struck the ground, scattering some pebbles and rocks.
Immediately, Zack, Adam, Kimberly, Billy, and Richie winged Sean. Cocked in cannon mode, Adam aimed his Axe at Jason. Kimberly notched an arrow. Billy, Richie, and Zack aimed their blades at Jason.
Sean smiled in honor of his teammates. "Welcome, my friends. I am glad you arrived," he said. "The details can wait, though."
A unison ki-yah met him.
"Impressive," Jason said. "Did you come for Tommy?" Jason asked, still bowing his head. "Or me?"
"Obvious, isn't it?" Kimberly answered, aiming her arrow at Jason.
"Vengeance doesn't become a ranger."
"Says an evil Ninjetti," Adam retorted. "Looks like Sean got you twice."
Jason touched the left side of his jaw. He examined his fingertips. "Three times," he corrected.
"Trent," Sean called out while staring at Jason, "Use my communicator." The band left his arm, materializing around Trent's wrist. "Contact Haley. Keep Tommy alive."
"I need him to stay," Jason said. He stepped forward.
Kimberly, Zack and Richie stiffened, jerking an inch back but straightened. "Not an option," Kimberly declared. She shot him. Jason dodged it, and shot back with chi, shoving her to her knees and hands.
Adam shot Jason with his cannon. The blast grazed him. Faster than sprinting, Jason swung his katana at Zack. Billy's Power Lance and Sean's katana swung across. Blocked, Jason stopped. Sean and Billy pushed Jason back. Jason switched his footing. Lance and katanas spun and clashed through the air, their clangs echoing throughout the valley. Again and again, Jason struck back. Billy and Sean swung their weapons through the air, weaving their assaults together, protecting their teammates.
Richie joined in. Zack followed. Kimberly, armed with her blade/blaster as a dagger, joined also. Still, as Sean feared, despite their numbers and skills, they could not beat Jason alone. Plus they had openings.
Ignoring them however, Jason targeted Billy.
Billy flicked a finger. A shockwave rippled through the air, tossing Richie, Kimberly, Zack and Adam away. Rest, he communicated. Advancing, he attacked Jason.
Stepping away and lowering his blade, Sean allowed this, watching his students.
Genius level nerd turned warrior, he held his ground against the demonized jock. Jason welcomed it. Former teacher and former student, chi projection against telekinesis—their energies protecting their weapons and suites, they tore through the air and ground. The clanging of their weapons drowned out their breaths. Still, they pushed on. Pride ignited within Sean. His students were almost equal.
Meanwhile, Kimberly, Richie, Zack, and Adam regrouped around Sean. The Green Ranger stood tall, watching the battle without even flicking a glance at the others. "Well done, young ones," he said. "Watch them," Sean instructed, nodding at Billy and Jason. "Listen to their rhythms."
The others watched.
"Now attack."
Leaping forward, Kimberly swung her bow down like a spear. Jason dodged it. She stabbed, and then swung at Jason's nearest arm. Jumping in, Adam plowed his Axe at Jason's heart.
Jason sliced through the Bow and Axe's handle. Spinning around, he stabbed through the air, scrapping Kimberly's hip. She collapsed, rolling immediately for safety.
Sean stabbed through the fray at Jason's heart.
Stepping out of the way, Jason vanished.
Sean felt for his student. "Discard your weapons; then resummons them," Sean instructed.
Kimberly and Adam did so.
"Adam, start forming the Power Blaster," whispered, pivoting. "We'll use my sword instead of Rocky's," he added.
"Already am."
"Alright," Adam said. "Power Axe!"
"Power Bow!"
"Power Daggers!"
"Power Lance!"
"Power Sais!"
"Sword of the Phoenix!" Sean added, tossing his sword above atop the crossbow cannon. Then he sensed him.
Jason materialized, looming over Tommy and Trent.
The younger man gaped and gulped at Jason, still covering Tommy's wound. Trent held his ground.
"Fire!" Sean ordered.
Winged by his teammates, Billy fired the Blaster.
Jason pivoted around. Six neon energy beams stabbed through the air toward him, tongues of crimson gold discharges whipping from them. Jason pushed out his hand. A gale of molten flames slammed into the Rangers' blast, halting it and beating them with heat waves. Stray discharges of mixed hues stabbed from their impact, strafing the ground. Bending at their knees, they held each other up. Still, neither side yielded.
"We're not getting closer!" Kimberly shouted.
"Keep going!" Zack yelled. "We have to!"
"Focus!" Billy encouraged, telekinetically pushing directly against Jason's surge. "Adam—if you can—push with me!"
Still contributing to the combined power, Adam focused a small bit of concentration at Jason's surge. The flames twitched backward somewhat. He continued.
"Extend your focus through the weapon's beams," Sean instructed, adding an extra portion.
In the Lair, Haley shook her head at her readings. "Guys, be careful," she prayed. "The Power Blaster was never designed for this." She sighed. "I wish I could help them."
The flames receded. Jason smirked. He breathed in, calm and relaxed in his center, legs unmovable. Then, increasing his power, he shoved with faster and greater force. His flames plowed through the Ranger's beams.
Releasing his shoulder grip, Sean jumped into the air.
The Power Baster shattered. Fire rammed into the Rangers, carrying them background into the air. They crashed and tumbled into the ground.
Flipping overhead, Sean stretched out his left fingers at Jason, pelting and enshrouding the Monarch in a fog of pale emerald lightning. Jason stood majestic at its apex, unflinching. Falling further, Sean drew his Dagger to eye level, aiming for Jason's forehead.
"Another time," Jason said and vanished.