Chapter 1
Year: 2009 A.D.
Place: University of Southern California (U.S.C.) Dorm Room
It was almost 7am and in their Dorm room Jonathan Castle and Michael Brown were sound asleep. They both tossed and turned in their beds and then coming to a stop with a loud snore. The two were such good friends that they synchronized even while sleeping. Outside a near window a bird landed and was about to squawk when the alarm went off and started to play, "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce. The bird jumped, made a very loud squawk and fell out of the window only a few feet before it regained its composure and took flight. At the same time Mike and Jon jumped in the air and fell onto the floor beneath them. They both got onto their knees and held their ears.
"Dude!", Mike screamed. "You have got to turn that down!" Jon was rolling on the floor trying to find where he was. "I try to!" he yelled. "But with us being awake enough to listen to loud music it would be very hard to adjust the volume..." Just then Keith Owens, one of their friends who was in another room off the common room, barged into the room and turned off the music. As he did, Jon finished his sentence, "... accordingly!"
After he said it he opened his eyes as the sound was gone. He looked up at someone standing over him. It was another friend of theirs named Ryen Byard; he shared a room with Keith. Ryen was just looking down at him as if he was nuts. "How many times are we gonna have to come in here and turn that damn thing off?" Ryen reached down and helped Jon up and he brushed himself off. "Sorry, Ry, (Jon's nickname for Ryen), but I was just trying to tell Mike that it's hard to turn it down to the most suitable volume because when we are awake..." Ryen took a hand and cupped it over Jon's mouth. "You know, I didn't ask for a lecture." Jon bowed his head and said, "Sorry".
Mike and Keith walked over to the two and put their arms around them. "Now, now boys. Let's not get all wishy-washy here. We have to get ready for the trip this morning." Just then Jon's head sprang back up, "Oh, Yeah! I forgot about that. Let's get going!" Ryen and Keith ran out of Jon and Mike's room and into theirs.
At this point it was a race to see who could make it to the showers first. Jon and Mike went through their drawers and picked out their individual things. Jon grabbed a pair of boxers soap and shampoo, and Mike had the same. They looked at each other and ran out their bedroom door. Ryen and Keith watched as Jon and Mike got to the door.
As he was gathering things Ryen said, "C'mon dude!" Keith grabbed a few more things and said, "Oh, you c'mon!" As he finished the sentence he finished gathering his things and bolted for the door closely followed by Ryen. As they reached the door to the common room Jon and Mike were halfway to the showers. As Jon and Mike ducked into the male shower room, they live on a co-ed floor, Michelle Day and Jessica Stevens walked out. In doing so almost walked right into Jon and Mike. Luckily Michelle saw them coming and grabbed her friend to pull her out of danger. "Guys, watch where you're going!" she said. Jon and Mike yelled without looking back, "Sorry!" Knowing that they really weren't listening they yelled back. "You better be! Or we'll get you later!" Both boys waved back at them, "Whatever!" Jon yelled.
"I knew they were gonna beat us." said Ryen. Keith nodded his head in agreement. "I knew they would too. They were already in their room; we had to actually go to are room, so they had a head start." The two of them were bickering to each other because they had, once again, lost the race to the showers. Just then, Ryen noticed Jessica walking down the hall with Michelle. "Hey!" Ryen called out. Jessica looked up and noticed Ryen, she waved back to him. They walked a little faster to meet up.
"What's up Ry-Ry?" Jess asked. Keith chuckled a little, looking at Ryen. "Ry-Ry?" "Yeah." Jessica said. "That is my nickname for him." "You know, I'll have to remember that one." Keith said, still chuckling. Ryen "bonked" Keith on the head. "Anyway," he continued. "So what are you gals doing?" "Nothing really." Jessica replied. "We just took our showers. Now we are going back to our room's to get ready to go." Ryen bonked himself on the head, "Oh, crap! I completely forgot about that! No wonder why Mike and Jon were in such a hurry." Michelle's face suddenly went red. "Are you okay, Shelly?" asked Keith. Michelle shook her head and looked up. "Um, yeah I'm good." She grabbed Jessica's arm. "C'mon Jessie. We have to pack." All Jessica could do was look back and wave as Michelle dragged her down the hallway.
Keith and Ryen finally reached the shower room and just as they did Jon was walking out of his shower stall. With a towel around his waist he walked to a bench that had his stuff on it. He looked at Ryen and Keith and said, "Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up." Ryen and Keith just ignored him and did "rock, paper, scissors" to see who would go first, and as usual, Ryen won. He walked into the shower stall and turned on the water. Jon slid some boxers under his towel and pulled them up. He undid the towel and smirked at Keith who was politely waiting for Mike to be done. "You know," Jon began. "You do realize that you will never beat us to the showers." Keith squinted his eyes and looked at Jon. "Oh we will, even if it's the day before graduation." Jon put the towel around his shoulders and sat down to wait for Mike. "Oh, please! The only way you will is if you have super powers." Keith pointed a finger at him. "If that's what it takes." Jon tilted his head back and laughed. "Now you're just talking silly."
Michelle and Jessica walked into their rooms. Jessica put her stuff away and before she could start to change there was a knock on her door, it was Michelle. Jessica let her in and they both sat on Jessica's bed. They sat on the bed in silence for minute. Jessica finally was about to say something but, Michelle cut her off. "Hey, Jessie?" Jessica looked at her. "Yeah, Shelly?" she replied. "Do, do you think Jon likes me?" Jessica's face light up. "Are you kidding? Every time he comes around you, he goes all nervous and can't concentrate on what he's doing. Plus you have known him how long?" Shelly thought for a second. "I would say about 17 or 18 years." Her head then dropped. "I figured he would've said something by now." Jessica put a hand on her shoulder. "C'mon girl. You should know by now that if you like him, you have to say something, because he is way too nervous to say anything to you." Shelly brought her head up and smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe he'll tell me over the trip!" Jessica put her arm through Michelle's. "Now you're talking sense!" The two girls laughed and Michelle left Jessica's room to go to her own.
Jon, Mike and Ryen were now finished with their showers and were waiting for Keith to finish. Mike looked over at Jon, "So, when are you going to talk to Michelle?" Jon's eyes widened. "Wha-what do you mean?" Mike stood up. "Oh, come on, dude! You've only had a crush on her since you were what, three? Four?" Jon put his hand on the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. It's just, when ever I see her I freeze and any thought of talking to her flies out the window." Mike sat back down where he was and Ryen spoke up. "You know, we could get him to talk to her either on the plane or while we are in Egypt." Mike sat up, looked and pointed at Ryen. "That's perfect!" Mike then stood up and started to pace. "All we have to do is get you both in the same area" He stopped and pointed at Jon. "and you'd have to say something!" Keith stepped out of the shower and continued the conversation as if he had been in it the whole time. "I've got a better idea. When we're on the plane, let's make sure they sit together." He bent down and pulled up his boxers underneath the towel. "We'll get Jessie to go along with it."
"Do you think she'll go along with it?" Ryen asked as they walked out of the shower area and into the hallway. Mike and Keith looked at him. "Are you mad, man?" asked Mike. "Yeah, she has been trying as hard, if not harder, than us to get them together." Ryen smiled. "That's her, always going all the way." He pointed in front of him as if Jessica was standing there. "Okay so we have the plan." Mike said waving a finger. "Ryen you talk to Jess and we'll go forward." Mike said gesturing to all in order. This whole time Jon is burying his face in his towel. Mike placed a hand on his shoulder. "You do want to be with her right?" Jon nodded, still with his head in the towel. "Okay then!" Mike said loudly while clapping his hands. "Let's go get ready, shall we?" They all walked in the common room. Jon sighed and walked into his room. He shut the door and sat against the it. "I hope I can do this." He sighed.
After a few minutes, he stood up and walked over to his bed and on it was a white and maroon suitcase. It was currently filled a most of the way up with random clothes and things he would need on the trip to Egypt. He reached into a drawer and took out a white t-shirt. He put it on and went back in to retrieve a pair of shorts.
He got dressed and sat down in a chair. He was contemplating what to do before they had to leave. He looked to his right and next to the dresser was a white and maroon guitar. He picked it up and looked at it as if thinking of what to play. After a minute or two he figured out what to play. He started to play a slow melody of sorts, the proceeded to a fast riff high on the guitar and went up and down as the song needed. Then he started to sing along with the rhythm of the song.
"They've got, a power and a force that you've never seen before.
They've got. the ability to morph and to even up the score.
No one will ever take them down.
The power lies on their si-i-i-ide."
Mike was in his room packing when he heard Jon playing his guitar. "There he goes again." he said. "Playing his guitar when he's nervous." Mike walked out of his room, into Jon's and picked up the next verse.
"Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!"
Then he pointed to himself as if to say he will sing alone now.
"They know, the fate of the world is lying in their hands.
They know, to only use their weapons for defense.
No one will ever take them down.
The power lies on their si-i-i-ide."
Then the two of them started to sing again together.
"Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!"
Jon then stood up and began a moderately long solo. Mike stood there and bobbed up and down. Towards the end Ryen and Keith walked in and joined along with the singing.
"No one, will ever take them down.
The power lies on their si-i-i-ide.
Jon played a quick riff, a really high note and then all for started to sing.
"Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
You Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!
Go, go Power Rangers!"
Jon held a note for a little bit and let it go. He looked up at his friends and blew some hair out of his eyes. They were all looking at him in astonishment. "Where did you learn how to play guitar like that?" Ryen asked."I've been playing for about," He thought for a second. "Ten years now." Jon said as he took off the guitar and placed in a stand on the ground.
Keith, still surprised said, "All I have to say is that you have defiantly mastered it. Especially because you played the best song to ever come out of Power Rangers." Mike nodded his head. "I am right there with ya, dude. The movie version of the song was so much better than the one from the TV Show. When I play it and people figure out what it is I don't care 'cus I still think it is awesome. I would like to find the person who decided to make a more heavy metal version of it and give him a nice long handshake." Jon nodded. "I know how you feel. When I play that song at home people do the same and yell at me because," He bent his fingers as if doing quotes in the air. "'I am too old to watch Power Rangers.' I'm like, please, it's my life, I'll live it as I see fit." Ryen nodded as well. "I hear ya. Also when I'm watching Kabuto or something like that they ask me why I watch Japanese TV shows. I tell them, 'Because I like to watch them.' I love their reaction too, they just look at me as if I'm stupid and leave it at that."
They all laughed just as Michelle and Jessica walked into Jon's room. Laughing, Jessica asked, "Why are we all laughing?" Ryen jumped a little bit at the sound of Jess's voice. "We're laughing because we are telling stories on how people find out about us liking Power Rangers, Sentai and other Toku stuff." "Ah." Jessica said as she nodded. She then looked down at the guy's empty hands and the half empty suitcase on Jon's bed. "Um," she began. "You do realize that it's 8:30?" She brought up her wrist and pointed to her watch. All in unison the guy's eye's lit up. They looked down at their watches and Ryen and Keith bolted for the door. Michelle and Jessica jumped on a nearby couch to get out of the way. They looked back into Jon's room and saw him starting to put things in his case.
After another five minutes, Keith and Ryen emerged from their room fully packed with their suitcase's. Ryen's was silver, Keith's was Red, Michelle's was an aqua blue and Jessica's was Pink. They plopped down onto a couch and waited for Jon and Mike to finish. "Would you two come on? My grandmother would be packed by now!" yelled Ryen. The gang in the common area laughed at the comment. Suddenly the door to Jon and Mike's room opened and they both walked out. Mike also had color coded luggage, his was Black with gold accents in places. They looked at their friends and nodded. "Shall we head off then?" Jon asked. Everyone stood up and nodded in unison.