"Friday nights should be a time where a girl could let her hair down and have fun with her friends instead of babysitting." Thought a teenaged brunette girl as she tuned out a woman who was giving the usual list that she heard dozens of times before. Granted most of her friends had dates or in the case of her boyfriend a group project with two of their mutual friends. She just felt that she was forced into doing a babysitting job alone. Especially considering this particular employer was lenient on the no boy's rule.
"And there is 20 dollars on the counter so feel free to order a pizza for you and Linear. Since it's a Friday she can stay up until 9 but no later. Understood?"
"Completely."
"Thanks for being able to do this on short notice, Kira. I should be back by midnight. Linear is in the backyard. Bye." The woman finished as she rushed out the door without giving her babysitter a chance to say anything. Shaking her head at the older woman she closed the door and went outside to check up on the child. The moment she set foot out the back porch the girl ran up to her wearing a white shirt with jean shorts and her long brunette hair in a ponytail.
"Kira, watch this." She cried as she did two cartwheels causing her babysitter to smile.
"Very nice, Lin. You're getting really good at doing that."
"Mommy says I get it from her." Linear replied, as she did a forward handspring back to Kira landing about a foot in front of her. Kira began clapping at the amazing feat performed by the girl. "What time is it?"
The older girl checked her watch quickly before returning her attention to Linear who continued to do all sorts of acrobatics. "About six. Do you want me to order a pizza?"
"Yes. I want one with pepperoni and cheese."
"My favorite. I'll be right back." She said as she made her way back indoors to make the phone call. In truth she preferred mushrooms, but that little girl was her favorite out of all the kids she ever babysat. Linear was always so well behaved and never tried anything remotely bad, so she wouldn't begrudge her over something as silly as pizza toppings. Now her friends on the other hand were a different story. When she was through placing the order she heard the little girl scream and immediately ran for the backyard. As she ran through the backdoor it slammed against a creature that Kira would have recognized had she been paying attention causing it to fall forward and to her right. The only reason she didn't notice the creature is because a woman she did recognize was standing in front of her with Linear in tow intending to drag her away.
"Let go of me!" Linear demand as she tried to pull away with all her might.
"What are you doing, Elsa?" asked Kira.
"Lets just say Master Mesogog has plans and she factors into them."
"I'm not going to let you take her."
"I don't see how you can stop me." Elsa pointed out as the Tyranodrones began to surround Kira on both the left and the right.
"I said let go of me you skank!" Linear yelled.
"What did you call me, brat?" Elsa asked pulling Linear fully in front of her and bent down so she could be at eye level with the girl.
"I'm not a brat!" Said the child before she delivered a hard kick to the villainess' shin causing her to let go and hold the injured area. "I'm a princess!" With that last piece said, Linear performed an almost picture perfect plam strike to Elsa's face breaking her nose. Seizing the opportunity she ran back to a stunned Kira and clung to her leg.
Shaking off the amazing display of bravery by the girl she turned to her. "Linear, run inside and hide. I'll hold them back."
"But…"
"Go now! While you have the chance." Linear blinked at the harsh tone then decided to follow her babysitter's advice. Before Elsa could give an order Kira unleashed a Ptera scream on all of the enemies thoroughly stunning them. Chancing a glance the teenager saw the little girl make it inside and breathed a small sigh of relief before bring her bracelet adorned wrist to her face.
"Hayley, I need help. Elsa just tried to take a child."
"Tommy already knows and is on his way as we speak. You think you can keep them at bay for a moment or two."
"No problem." Kira stated before summoning her morpher. Had she bothered with a second look she would have noticed Linear peaking behind the door to watch hoping that if she some how cheered Kira on from a safe place it would help her win. "Dino Thunder, Power Up! Ha!" As the morphing flash enveloped Kira and the ranger uniform covered her Linear's eyes widen in amazement.
"Let's go, Elsa." Kira stated as she pulled out her Thundermax saber.
"Attack!" Ordered Elsa before two pairs of energy blasts came from a certain ATV flying through the air knocking her Tyranodrones on both sides down. She turned around just in time to dive out of the way of a Brachio staff slash attack as the Black Dino Ranger quickly parked next to the Yellow Ranger.
"Just in time, Dr. O."
"Would have been here sooner if I didn't have to jump over the fence."
"Great. This is all I need." Elsa complained as she re-gave the order and the battle began. What Tyranodrones that still were able to fight attacked Kira while Elsa fought Tommy. Kira mindful of the girl being indoors made certain that none tried to make their way to the door without paying for it as she made precise and crippling blows to each one that did so. Tommy and Elsa battled it out as each fought with their weapons of choice. Elsa had swept Tommy with a feint and tried to bring her sword down as he landed on the ground only for him to block it.
"Nice try." He said as there was an audible click that caused the general's eyes to widen. Tommy than quickly pushed her weapon off to the side throwing the evil woman off balance and directly into the path of his next attack. "Brachio Staff, Wind Strike!" He yelled as his opponent was hit with the move causing her to fly about a hundred feet into the air before gravity took over. The good doctor was already on his feet by the time Elsa came back down.
Kira was almost finished with the Tyranodrones when she noticed the last one was approaching the door. Acting quickly she took off in a dead sprint and leapt over it before turning around. "I don't think so." Kira coldly spat out as she did two continuous somersault kicks causing the minion to fly into the air. She then proceeded to summon her signature weapon and held them at the ready. "Ptera Grips, Full Power!" The yellow ranger shouted and let loose a high energy slash attack that connected sending Tommy's co-creation into Elsa who was just now returning to her feet while she was spitting out grass.
"I think I should make a tactical retreat." Elsa muttered to herself as she pushed the now defeated creature off her. "This isn't over rangers." She taunted before summoning an invis-a-portal and jumping through as it closed behind her.
"Thanks for the save, Dr. O."
"No problem. What was she after?"
"Linear."
"Who?" Asked Tommy and as if on queue the subject in question came running out and immediately latched onto Kira's leg.
"Kira, that was awesome how did that thing with your sword and you beat up the bad guys…"
"Whoa… whoa… whoa. Slow down kiddo. First I'm glad your safe. Second I'm not this Kira person, and third where is your mom?" Stated the yellow ranger hoping she can distract the girl from her true identity.
"Mommy had to go to work. You're supposed to watch over me, Kira." The girl said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"She said she isn't, Kira." Tommy stated to gain the girls attention long enough so Kira can find a place to demorph.
"Mommy says you aren't suppose to lie. I saw Kira get into this costume with that yellow flashy light. Well I didn't see her get into the costume but she was there, and she said 'Dino Thunder, Power Up! Ha!' there was that yellow flash and then here she is in this." Said Linear tugging on a pinch of the fabric.
"I told you to hide." Stated Kira deciding to drop the charade.
"Yellow Ranger!" Tommy warned.
"I'm already busted with her so there is no use to keep going." Kira replied. "Power Down." The little girl felt the energy pass underneath her body as the uniform disappeared and saw Kira in her original clothing.
"Cool!" The little girl gushed before turning to the black ranger. "Will you do that too? Please, Please, Please."
"No can do. You already know Kira is the Yellow ranger."
"Why not?"
"Because as a Power Ranger you have to follow three rules and one of them is not to reveal yourself to others."
"That is a stupid rule."
"Maybe, but think of it this way. If Kira told someone she was the yellow ranger, and if that information got into the wrong hands she would be forced to do thing because they were threatening her family. Would you want that to happen?"
"No."
"Then you have to promise to keep Kira being a power ranger a secret, ok?"
"Mommy says it's not nice to keep secrets."
"I would normally agree, but this is something you have to do. If you don't not only people will know about Kira, but also they'll figure out who the rest of us are and that will be dangerous for everyone. Do you understand?"
"I guess."
"That's all I can ask. Kira, I'll see you tomorrow in the lab and we'll discuss what Elsa was up to."
"Sure thing, Black Ranger."
"Wait." The little girl stated to black ranger as she grabbed his hand before he left.
"What do you want, Ms…"
"Linear Serenity Devlin."
"What is it you want, Ms. Devlin?"
"Will you have pizza with us?" Linear asked putting on the puppy dog eyes that almost broke Tommy's heart.
"I would love to, but no. I can't eat with this helmet on."
"Then take it off silly."
"But if I did you would know what I look like."
"Okay." Linear pouted before she had a bright smile that caught the 5-time ranger by surprise. "Are you Kira's boyfriend?"
"What? No I'm not Kira's boyfriend."
"Why?"
"She not my type." Tommy stated with conviction.
"Gee thanks for letting me know I was wanted, Black Ranger." Kira teased with the most serious face she could muster.
"No I'm just saying that I don't think of you in that way."
"Oh so you're saying that I'm not attractive." Kira said in mock offense.
"No, I'm saying that while you are very attractive and that any guy would beg to go out on a date with you I just don't think of you as anything more then a friend than I would Hayley."
"Thanks for letting me know where I stand Black Ranger." Hayley's voice chirped in via the communicator with a teasing tone.
"I didn't mean it that way I'm just…" Tommy stopped mid sentence as he notice that both girls in front of him were doing their best not to laugh. "I'm digging myself into a hole am I?"
"All the way to China." Replied a giggling Linear.
"I better go." Stated a mortified Tommy as he got on his ATV and left with an amazing jump over the fence.
"Please tell me you recorded that." Kira said into her communicator.
"Naturally. I'm certain the boys will love to see it. See you tomorrow, Kira." With that the communicator cut out and Kira turned to Linear.
"I don't know about you but that was enough excitement for me for one day. Do you want to go inside and watch a movie while we wait for the pizza?"
"Let's watch Aladdin."
"Aladdin it is." Said Kira as she followed Linear inside.
Almost two and a half hours later Lin's mother walked through the front door with a bright but haggard smile on her face as her daughter ran up to hug her.
"Mommy!" the girl yelled.
"Hello, Mrs. Devlin." Said Kira meeting the older woman at the door. "I thought you wouldn't have been back this early."
"Same here. It turns out that my accountant just misplaced my file instead of throwing it away. Good thing too because I hate having to do paperwork."
"Mommy, when I grow up can I be a power ranger?"
"Sure you can sweetheart, but why do you want to be one?"
"Because the Yellow and Black rangers saved me today." Kira almost panicked thinking Lin is revealing her secret.
"Oh my, God! What happened?" the older woman asked looking at Kira.
"One of the rangers enemies tried to kidnap her for some reason while I was inside ordering a pizza. I heard her scream and ran out when I saw what was going on. I have to admit though Lin handled herself quite well escaping from the leader. Though I might want to talk to her about her language if I were you."
"I called her a skank." Lin stated proudly.
"Where did you learn that word?" Asked her mother with an intense stare.
"Uncle Jason." Linear stated as her happy exterior turned abashed. "Am I in trouble?"
"No, but Uncle Jason is. What happened next?"
"Well she ran behind me and I told her to get inside while I tried to fight them off. Thankfully the rangers showed up when they did."
"You did good, Kira. But the yellow ranger was awesome. She's my favorite, mommy." Lin said before giving Kira a smile that made her feel a sense of pride from this girl looking up towards her.
"Well after they saved us we thanked them and they ran off. Though not before Lin embarrassed the Black ranger and asking them to stay for pizza."
"How did she do that?"
"By asking him if he was the yellow ranger's boyfriend."
"Linear, you shouldn't have done that. You don't stick your nose into other people's business."
"Uncle Jason says you do it to him all the time."
"I'm going to kill, Jason." Muttered the older woman under her breath before turning her attention towards her daughter. "I'm allowed to do that because I'm a grown up and he's family. Anyway I think it's time for future power rangers to go to bed. If they don't they can't fight the bad guys."
"Okay, Mommy. Will you tell me a story?"
"Sure. I'll be there just let me talk to Kira for a second."
"Bye, Kira." Lin said as she left for her bedroom.
"Kira, thank you."
"For what?"
"For trying to protect Linear. If something would have happened to her… I wouldn't know what I would have done."
"It's no problem Mrs. Devlin. I'm just glad the rangers showed up when they did even if it was just two of them."
"You don't understand, Kira. She is all I have left of her father. Ever since he died in that accident when she was 2 I've been afraid of loosing her."
"As tough as she is I think she could have took out one or two of those guys on her own. She did break that generals nose with a palm strike."
"Well at least Jason taught her something useful." Commented the woman before she reached into her purse. "I better make sure she is in bed. So the usual fee?"
"Not tonight, Mrs. Devlin. After today's scare I don't think I earned it."
"Kira, you were there when I couldn't so please take it." Said Mrs Devlin as she placed thirty dollars into Kira's hand and escorted her out. "Have a good night, Kira."
"Night, Mrs. Devlin." Said Kira as she left the residence uneasy if she should have took the money.
Thirty minutes later Mrs. Devlin watched Linear sleep as she was safely tucked into her bed. Everything she told Kira was true. She wouldn't know what to do besides panic. Aware that something was up with her home town to cause the ranger's big bad to come after her daughter she left for the front room and proceed to make a phone call.
"Hey baby sister. What to I owe this pleasure?" said the voice in the phone.
"Two things. First what are you teaching my daughter?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." He replied evenly.
"I mean her saying the word skank."
"She said that?" Linear's Uncle Jason asked in surprise.
"Yes and she also says she learned it from you."
"I guess she must have heard me say that when I was talking to my business partner about his ex-girlfriend."
"Well from now on be careful what you say around her. She's just in the first grade and shouldn't be using those words."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was there when I said it. Anyway what was the other thing?"
"Linear was almost kidnapped to day." Stated the woman with a frighten tone.
"What?"
"It gets worse. It was by the Dino Thunder Rangers enemies."
"You've got to be kidding me. What do they want with Linear?"
"I don't know, but I think it might be a good idea if we had a chat with the Rangers to let them know who they just protected."
"Now wait…"
"Jason, please we don't know what the effects of a former ranger being a parent of a child are. It could be nothing, but than again who ever the rangers are fighting might of found something on her that would make her a target. I'm just thankful Kira was here. I swear I'm going to rip into my account if he ever looses my files again."
"You're right," Jason sighed on the other end of the phone, "I'll get right on it. I'll call Tommy and…"
"No. Don't call him." Ms. Devlin ordered.
"But,"
"Jason, after everything that happened I don't think I can face him if he got involved."
"I thought that has already been settled."
"Well one you're wrong, and two I don't want him to think of me as a widow and single mother."
"Tommy, won't do that."
"Please."
"Fine I won't call him. I'll get a hold of T.J. and he'll get me in touch with Andros. I'll be down there by Sunday morning at the latest. I should know who's on that team and where their base is by then knowing how fast Andros is."
"Good, I'll see you Sunday morning at the latest. Thanks, Jason."
"No problem, Kim."