DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Go figure. Kayla Tiann, Mullans, Charles, Apoc and a few others are my creation. This is a Crossover of three things. Initially two, but I couldn't figure it that way. This is Power Rangers, Witchblade and Men in Black (to a point). Enjoy. Oh, and in my opinion, the Silver Ranger was female and always will be. Thanks.
July 10, 2001
Los Angeles
12:00 pm
Kayla looked around her. The seven groups of three readied the boat, all dressed in scuba gear and wet suits. She had a proud look on her face as she looked at four of her best friends. Two of them, group leaders. The tallest, she had had a crush on since she had met him. Nearly three years ago.
"Kay, you about ready?" Jason asked as he wandered up to her smiling. She tensed slightly at a feather light touch upon her arm.
"Yea Jase, you?" He nodded slightly. Kay, as she liked to be called, felt her heart jump into her throat.
"Yea teach, we're ready when you are." Kay grabbed her tank and hulled it up on her shoulders.
"So, Jason. How does it feel to be the student this time?" She wondered as she readied the rest of her equipment.
The former Gold Ranger looked at her with a small smile. He had always thought of her as one of his best friends. But now, something was different. He watched as the twenty one year old scuba instructor fit her mouthpiece.
"Kay, we're all set over here." Adam called as he and his newly wed wife Trini set the last of the equipment in the boat.
"Alright, everyone on the boat." She called out.
July 10, 2001
Pacific Ocean
1:30 pm
The determined look on her face as she steered the boat, fascinated Jason to no end. No one noticed as he took silent account of everything she was doing.
This was the last test she had for her diving students. Jason and one of the other students David were at the top of her class.
The hot noon July sun beat down on her already golden skin. As she looked around, she could just barely make out the LA beach. Kayla looked at her anxious students. The youngest of the group, Justin who had just turned nineteen, was nervous. Anyone could tell. Kay smiled to her self; the young boy had fought evil space monsters, yet he was scared of the water. Her eyes wandered over to Adam. He was busy mulling over Trini. She sighed to herself. When was she going to find someone?
At a mile out, she cut the engines.
"Alright, lets get to it." Dropping the anchor, she turned to her students; "Group leaders, stay close to your groups. I don't want any problems. I will be on the boat with the safety lines. Any problems, just tug. You have one hour." With nods, the twenty-one people readied themselves before jumping into the calm salty water.
Kayla was left alone as she checked each safety line. Each had a certain mark letting her know which belong to whom. For the first time in weeks, Kay had a chance to sit and relax. As she leaned back in her chair, she heard the sound of another boat engine. Sitting straight, she looked around. For the two years she was with the Ranger team, and the year off she had had, she still grew nervous when she didn't know what was going to happen.
The small speedboat came into sight off to port. Kay stood and walked to the edge of the boat. As it came closer, she was able to read the one work along the side. Police.
The police speedboat pulled along side hers. A beautiful young woman about twenty eight was standing toward the side.
"Can I help you officers?" Kay offered.
"I sure hope so." The woman stuck out her hand; "Sara Pezzini. NYPD Detective." Kayla frowned as she reached over and shook Sara's hand.
"Kayla Tiann, scuba instructor. You're a long way from home Detective." Carefully, Kay pulled herself back to her boat.
"Yea, I know." Sara paused; "Question for you. Have you seen anything strange around here?" Kay was reaching to turn down her radio when the question was asked.
"What do you mean by strange?" She wondered as she reached up to toy with the silver Pegasus pendent she had around her neck. Sara leaned on her elbows against the railing.
"You know, strange people, boats, anything like that?" The woman's questions eyes looking for some sort of an answer. Kayla coughed slightly.
"Detective, I've been in Angel Grove for the past three years. You can't get any stranger then that." Sara nodded slowly.
Getting right to the point; "There was a murder in New York. The killer is here." Kay looked at the twenty-one lifelines that held snuggly to the side of the boat. Should she get Jason? This was more his department.
"Hang on a sec, let me get one of my divers up here. He might be able to help." Sara nodded as Kayla walked to the other side of the boat.
Kay was able to pick Jason's line out with out a problem. The red one. Reaching down, she gave a slight yank to the strong cord. Moments later, bubbles rose to the surface as Jason's head came out of the water. Taking his mouthpiece out and removing his facemask, he looked up at Kay. Her long brown hair made it way out of its holder and fell gently over her shoulder.
"What's up?" He asked as he swam to the boat. Kayla reached her hand out to help him up. He accepted with a smile.
"Jase, someone would like to talk to you." The young man frowned as he removed his tank from his shoulders. He set the tank down and followed Kay to the other side of the boat.
Sara swallowed hard when she saw the handsome man walk toward her.
"Jason Scott, this is Sara Pezzini. NYPD Homicide Detective." Grabbing his towel, he wiped his hand before reaching it out the she Sara's.
"Nice to meet you." He said softly. Frowning; "You're a long way from home Detective."
"Yea ..." As the two shook hands; Kay noticed the bracelet on Sara's wrist. The one thing she never thought she'd see. She had also noticed the look Sara had given Jason when she first saw him. She felt a small twinge of jealousy as Sara explained the reason she was there. The ringing interrupted Kay's thoughts.
"I'll get it for you Jase." He nodded as he turned back to the detective. Kay picked it up and hit the talk button; "Hello."
"Let me talk to Scott." The voice on the other end demanded. Kayla walked up to Jason.
"Here."
"Thanks. Excuse me for a minute." Sara smiled as Jason turned to speak with his Captain. Seconds later, another ring sounded. Kay froze for a second. - Please don't let that be who I think it is. - She said to herself. Nodding her head toward Sara, she walked over to her light gray backpack and rummaged through it. Finding her cell, she looked at the caller ID.
"Damn." She swore softly. She stepped closer to Jason; "Jase I'll be below if you need me." He nodded slightly as she disappeared from view. He couldn't help but stare at her ass as she walked away.
"Scott, are you listening to me?"
"Yes sir. Sorry I was distracted." Jason felt his cheeks flush as he turned his concentration back to his call.
Sara watched silently. She noticed the look on Jason's face as he watched Kay go below deck.
"Damn she's lucky." She said under her breath. - I hope Danny's right about these guys. - Her inner voice sprang up. Shaking her head, she waited patiently for Jason to finish his phone call.
Below deck, Kayla looked solemnly at her phone. She didn't want to answer, yet she didn't have a choice. Hitting the button, she put the phone to her ear.
"Tiann." Her voice unsteady.
"Agent Tiann. We have your next mission. In two hours you will be picked up at your apartment. Have everything ready." With that the line went dead. Kay shuttered slightly. This didn't sound good. But then again, it never did.
Jason turned off his phone and slammed it down on the table. His normally unleashed temper now flaring. Why now? Why did he have to send me on this now? Just when he was starting to ... get used to things. He would have to hold off talking to Kay for another time.
"Are you alright?" Sara asked as Jason walked up to her. A scowl on his face.
"Well Detective, it looks like we will be working together." Surprise reached Sara's face. This she didn't expect. Maybe Danny was right to tell her that her answers were here. Jason ran his hands through his dark hair; "Let me reintroduce myself." He looked her square in the eyes.
"Ok ..." She said a bit skeptical.
"Jason Lee Scott. Secret FBI Agent. Internal affairs division member of E.T.I."
"E.T.I.?" Sara questioned, not understanding.
"Extra Terrestrial Investigations."
July 10, 2001
Kayla's apartment
3:35 pm
Kay zipped up the back of her jet-black Lycra outfit. It reminded her entirely too much of her days as the Silver Ranger. But this had no fancy shield or design to hit her shapely figure. The phone call she had received when she arrived home, informed her that there would be an addition to this meeting. But before she could ask whom, headquarters hung up. - Who would they dare bring into this? -
Kayla finished loading her equipment into the two brief cases she held and sat down to wait the next ten minutes out.
July 10, 2001
Limousine
3:45 pm
Kay climbed silently into the limo that had pulled up in front of her apartment. Her neighbors had always wondered about her frequent limo rides. They thought she had a rich boyfriend or something, and never questioned.
"What have we got Trev?" She asked once comfortable. The tall man sitting next to her handed her a thick file.
"All I can say is, Ranger days are back again." Kayla frowned as she opened the file. Her eyes rested on the first page. Her brows shot up.
"Does Apoc know about this?" She inquired. Trev leaned back against his seat as the limo sped away from Kay's apartment.
"Yes. He already has someone from E.T.I. on it." Kay nodded as she continued through the file.
"We do have a snag though." The short man in front of her finally spoke. She looked at him through hooded eyes.
"And that would be?"
"That nosy cop from New York." She was informed. Kay rolled her eyes.
"Great." Closing the file, she leaned over and popped her brief case open. Slipping the file inside, she closed and locked it before leaning back; "Don't worry much about her. I have a feeling she might be able to help us with this."
"What makes you say that?" Kayla brought her hands to her face.
"Did Charles say anything about her besides the fact she was a nosy cop?" She wondered as she brought her arms down and rested her elbows on her knees. The short man shook his head.
"Why? What do you know?" Trev asked.
"She is in possession of something that I never thought I would see in my life time." The two men frowned. She threw her arms up; "Men." Shaking her head she slowly leaned back; "Have you ever heard of something called the Witchblade?"
Both men shook their heads. - Why does that not surprise me? -
"I thought it only a myth, however Sara Pezzini's bracelet has told me otherwise." In as little detail as she could, she explained what she knew. - No need for them to find out more then they need to know. -
July 10, 2001
The System
4:15 pm
Thirty minutes after being picked up, Kay found herself at her headquarters. The blue skinned being greeted her formally as she stepped through the door.
Koon aug. It greeted.
"Tang kno." She answered. After a bow of its head she proceeded; "Alright Charles, what do you have for me?" She called out to a fat man with a graying beard.
"Nice to see you too Kay." He smiled as the sight and sound of one of his best agents. He held out yet another file toward her.
"Cut the shit Charles, you know I'm supposed to be on vacation." She snarled as stuck her face into the file, trying to decipher what she was supposed to be doing.
"It's humanoid. That's about the best we have." Charles reached over the top of the file and flipped until he found the page he was looking for; "With a taste for human flesh." Kay's eyes rested on the gruesome photo that was attached with a paper clip. The body had no skin, just a mountain of muscle, blood and bone.
"Ug, you had to give me something like this didn't you?" She said as she felt her stomach start to turn. Closing the folder she handed it back to Charles. - Why me? -
"Of course, we couldn't leave you out of the loop on this one now could we?" Charles turned and walked to his desk.
"Yes you could have." She hated it when he walked away from her; "What does this have to do with me anyway?"
"I though maybe you had seen something like this in your Ranger days." Kay's handed finally landed on her slim hips.
"Not since Lord Zedd. I'm still trying to figure out how Zordon let you talk him into this."
"That my dear is for me to know and you to find out." Frustrated, Kayla walked over to the desk and sat on it.
"You aren't helping."
"Tiann, we need you to solve this one. And quickly. Twenty-seven bodies have been found in New York and thirty-eight here in California. The toll will climb if we don't figure it out." Charles folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. The man had an heir about him that Kay had always respected and hated simultaneously.
"Ok. So right now, we have a creature out there that looks human and goes around turning bodies inside out." Kay closed her eyes, hoping that somewhere along the lines she had encountered such an effect. None arose.
"Hey Charles, we have another one." A younger man called out as he stuck his head into the office.
"Shit." Both Charles and Kay jumped to their feet and bolted out the door.
"Up on the big screen." Kay called out. It was her investigation, she was calling the shots.
The screen came alive with sounds of screaming terrified people running in all directions. Kayla's trained eyes searching for something, anything that would give her a clue as to what was happening.
Then she saw him. The tall dark figure standing off to the left.
"Focus in." She ordered. The mans face shown closer and slightly clearer; "Magnify. Right corner." Again the screen fuzzed then cleared. The sight made Kay's stomach turn even harder. The man dressed in a black cloak, had the skin of his victim hanging from his mouth.
"Oh I'm going to be sick." She heard in the background. Along with other complaints.
"Towee goth." Kay said as she stepped to the controls. The four-armed alien controlling the screen moved to the side; "Those with queasy stomachs leave now." She yelled out. Stomping and groaning was heard from behind her. Focusing on the controls, she shifted the image to see the face.
She caught her breath when she saw him ... or it. The face dripped of blood and mucus. It's lips looked as if they were hanging there. The eye sockets, deep enough for a tennis ball to fit. Eyes seemed suspended. And it's skin, oh god ... its skin looked like its victims. Nothing but blood red muscle. She almost hurled herself, as it seemed to slurp the last of what looked like a finger into its mouth. Throat muscles spasmed as it swallowed. And just as if it happened then, it dissolved into what looked like thin air.
Kay knew better. Her finger suddenly flew over the computer controls. What she saw made her freeze.
"No. It can't be." Stunned she stepped back.
"What is it?" Charles asked, recovering from his sudden need for a bathroom. Kayla pointed to the small screen on the control panel. He stepped closer to see.
She was pointing to what looked like a map. A map of her hometown, Angel Grove. Near the high point of the mountain range. Kay gulped. The Command Chamber.
Though the Command Chamber he been deserted for some time since the rangers were now in space, it was hard to fathom that this thing had set up some sort of base there.
"Is that what I think it is?" Charles wondered. Kay only nodded.
"Is it safe to come back in?" A voice called from the outer door.
"Yes." Kayla said absent-mindedly. Almost with a swoosh, the workers reentered the control room. - Why the Command Chamber? - "Charles, I'm going back to Angel Grove." The older man studied her carefully. She couldn't let her emotions get to her. And the chance of this thing killing a friend of her was on the border of tipping her over the edge.
"When do you want to leave?"
"As soon as possible." Nodding, Charles reached for yet another file folder.
"Here is the info we have. You have to wait until your partner from E.T.I. gets here. You can leave then." Kay nodded as Charles walked away.
Her mind wandered. The only thing she could thing of were her friends Tommy and Kimberly. The two had just had a baby. A little girl. Kirstin Kayla Oliver. During one of Kay's missions, she had encountered the couple when Kim was eight and a half months. The mission turned sour and both had gotten caught up in it. They were the only one to know of her secret life. And the two intended to keep it that way. It started eight and a half months ago ...
(Flashback)
October 15, 2000
Outside the Angel Grove courthouse
5:43 pm
"Kay, what's going on?" Tommy asked in a rush. Kim's water had broken nearly an hour ago. And her labor was coming on full force. The stake out van was the only place they had to hide. An ambulance at this point would destroy all Kayla had worked for. She was going to have to deliver the baby her self.
"Tom, I can't explain right now." Kay grabbed the towel that sat next to her and dapped Kim's forehead. The pregnancy had taken its toll on Kim's petite body. If she couldn't deliver the baby soon, Kim's life could be in more danger then it already was. Kay looked Kim in the eyes; "Alright. This baby isn't going to wait till the mission is over." Kim nodded slightly between fits of pain.
"Do you know what your doing?" Tommy inquired as he sat behind Kim's head and held her small hands. Kay only nodded. Grabbing another towel, she set herself in front of Kim.
"Alright. Kim this is going to be kinda disgusting, but I need to check you cervix to find out how much longer you have."
"O ... ok." Squeezing Tommy's hands harder, she readied herself for Kay's hand. Taking a deep breath, she set her left hand on Kim's knee and her right near the vaginal opening.
- Man, I always wanted to see Kim spread eagle like this, just not delivering her baby. - No one knew of Kay's preference. And she wasn't about to make that known now. Yea, she did have a thing for Jason. It was plane to see for those who really looked. Yet, they never seemed to notice her casual glances toward Kimberly or Katherine.
Kim's scream of pain brought her back to reality. Concentrating, Kay checked the cervix to find it nearly open. - Oh God. -
"Alright Kim. The cervix is open. Now I'm waiting on you. When you feel you next contraction start. Push." Nodding, Kim glanced up at Tommy. Did Kay really know what she was doing?
The contraction came, and so did Kim's screams.
"Push. Kimberly push." She pushed. Kay's hand ready to accept the baby's head, instead became covered with blood and amniotic fluid. - This isn't happening. - Kay glanced up at Tommy. He was crouched over Kim whispering in her ear. Trying to calm her down. Kayla, for the first time since she accepted her job, became scared. She should be holding the baby's head after that fierce push.
"Do it again Kim. Next contraction." The scared look in Kim's eyes made Kay stumble in her actions.
Ten contractions later, still no baby.
"Oh god." Kay said in a harsh whisper. Reaching around Kim's leg, she placed her hand on Kim's belly. Man, she needed her equipment. She realized slowly why the baby hadn't made her appearance; "Kimberly. I need you to concentrate on something. Anything. This is going to hurt. Really bad." - What I wouldn't give for a pair of forceps right now. -
"What's going on? What's wrong with the baby?" The terrified voice reached her ears.
"She's angled wrong. I have to go in and turn her the right way." Kay explained. Kim looked worriedly at Tommy who just shrugged.
Kayla had delivered babies before. Just not human babies. And nothing was messier then this.
Slowly, and with precision, Kay reached into Kimberly to turn the baby. Kim's scream was ear piercing. Searching around, she felt something. A tiny hand. Flowing the hand up the arm to the shoulder, she felt the baby's neck. Then the head. The baby was sideways. Carefully, she pulled gently at the arm until the baby began to shift. Kayla guided the head to the cervical opening and withdrew her hand.
"Ok Kim, push. Hard." Without question, Kimberly pushed with all her might. Sure enough, the baby's head came out. Quickly Kay grabbed a towel and wiped the face clear of mucus. Kayla didn't even have to ask Kim to push again. The infant came out with an onslaught of fluid and blood following.
Kayla gripped the baby carefully. Toweling of the mouth so the little one could breath. Seconds later, a lusty healthy cry came from the baby's mouth. Kay smiled as she wrapped the baby in a clean towel. Reaching carefully, she places the tiny infant in Kim's awaiting arms.
Settling back down, she grabbed the piece of twine that was sitting next to her. Steadily she tied it tightly around the umbilical cord. Kayla slowly worked the cord until she felt the sac find it's way free of the lining.
"Alright Kim. One more push and your done." Baring down, Kim gave what energy she had left to the last push. The blood lined sac fell into Kay's hands. Quickly she wrapped into the next to last towel she had with her.
Reaching up, Kayla found a pair of scissors on the top shelf in the van. Grabbing another piece of twine, she moved to sit next to Kim and the baby.
"This will not hurt her." Kay informed the two new parents as she exposed the baby's belly from the towel. Tightly, she tied the twine around the cord two inches from the baby's stomach. Kim and Tommy watched, curious as to how she knew what she was doing.
With the twine tight, she grabbed the scissors. Kayla gave the two a weak smile when she saw the inquiring looks. With three clips of the scissors, the cord was free. Kay inspected the part still attached to the baby then covered her back up. Both Tommy and Kimberly were waiting for her to finish before speaking.
Kayla grabbed the last clean towel and wiped her hands. Weak as anything, Kay sat with a thud and grabbed her bag. Reaching in she found her phone. She glanced at Tommy and Kim who were cooing over the new addition to their small family. She smiled as she punched in an all too familiar phone number. And closed her eyes.
"Charles. I need an ambulance at the corner of Seventh and Amsterdam. Wait twenty minutes." With that she hung up. She was exhausted. The last time she had this much physical activity, was with her last boyfriend. Between sex and the attempted beatings, she was always exhausted.
"Kay?" Tommy's voice reached her ears. Kay dragged her eyes open.
"Huh?"
"Thank you." Kay smiled. She was triumphant at one thing that day. Slowly she dragged herself over to the three.
"You are very welcome." She said softly; "So, what are you going to name her?" Tommy looked at Kim's tired eyes. The new mother smiled and nodded slightly.
"We're going to name her Kirstin Kayla." For the first time in a long time, Kay was speechless.
"Re ... really?" The two smiled.
"Of course. That way she will always know of the wonderful person that saved her life as she came into the world." Kayla could only smile as she looked into the brightest blue eyes she had seen in a while. She smiled as she laid a gentle hand on the baby's forehead.
The ambulance arrived as she scheduled. And the happy new family was toted off to the hospital. Charles sent a hand on her shoulder.
"Good job Kay. None of us would have been able to do that." Kay smiled as she walked over to the van and climbed into the drivers seat. All and all a pretty good day. With that, she drove away.
(End Flashback.)
Kayla hadn't noticed the looks she was receiving as she sat at the control module. She flushed slightly as she stood and headed to her private quarters. Kirstin was the first baby from any of the rangers. Rocky and Aisha had the second. A little boy they named Jacob Sebastian. The child was adorable, with Rocky's unkempt hair and all. Little Jacob was with Rocky in New York while Aisha finished her veterinary training in Africa. Silently she wondered if she would ever have a child of her own.
Making her way over to the punching bag she had set up, she began to work her muscles. Stretching, pulling and unknotting every muscle she could before laying into the bag heavily.
She hadn't realized she had been working out as long as she had, until the sound of the intercom system came to her ears. Halting her assault, she warily walked over to her desk and hit the link button.
"Tiann."
"Kay, your E.T.I. partner is almost here."
"Give me a minute to gather my bearings."
"Make it quick." Turning of the COM link, she sat back. Charles as well as the rest of the system, knew that when she went into her office; the punching bag would receive a sever beating. Calming herself quickly, she headed out the door.
July 10, 2001
Los Angeles
12:00 pm
Kayla looked around her. The seven groups of three readied the boat, all dressed in scuba gear and wet suits. She had a proud look on her face as she looked at four of her best friends. Two of them, group leaders. The tallest, she had had a crush on since she had met him. Nearly three years ago.
"Kay, you about ready?" Jason asked as he wandered up to her smiling. She tensed slightly at a feather light touch upon her arm.
"Yea Jase, you?" He nodded slightly. Kay, as she liked to be called, felt her heart jump into her throat.
"Yea teach, we're ready when you are." Kay grabbed her tank and hulled it up on her shoulders.
"So, Jason. How does it feel to be the student this time?" She wondered as she readied the rest of her equipment.
The former Gold Ranger looked at her with a small smile. He had always thought of her as one of his best friends. But now, something was different. He watched as the twenty one year old scuba instructor fit her mouthpiece.
"Kay, we're all set over here." Adam called as he and his newly wed wife Trini set the last of the equipment in the boat.
"Alright, everyone on the boat." She called out.
July 10, 2001
Pacific Ocean
1:30 pm
The determined look on her face as she steered the boat, fascinated Jason to no end. No one noticed as he took silent account of everything she was doing.
This was the last test she had for her diving students. Jason and one of the other students David were at the top of her class.
The hot noon July sun beat down on her already golden skin. As she looked around, she could just barely make out the LA beach. Kayla looked at her anxious students. The youngest of the group, Justin who had just turned nineteen, was nervous. Anyone could tell. Kay smiled to her self; the young boy had fought evil space monsters, yet he was scared of the water. Her eyes wandered over to Adam. He was busy mulling over Trini. She sighed to herself. When was she going to find someone?
At a mile out, she cut the engines.
"Alright, lets get to it." Dropping the anchor, she turned to her students; "Group leaders, stay close to your groups. I don't want any problems. I will be on the boat with the safety lines. Any problems, just tug. You have one hour." With nods, the twenty-one people readied themselves before jumping into the calm salty water.
Kayla was left alone as she checked each safety line. Each had a certain mark letting her know which belong to whom. For the first time in weeks, Kay had a chance to sit and relax. As she leaned back in her chair, she heard the sound of another boat engine. Sitting straight, she looked around. For the two years she was with the Ranger team, and the year off she had had, she still grew nervous when she didn't know what was going to happen.
The small speedboat came into sight off to port. Kay stood and walked to the edge of the boat. As it came closer, she was able to read the one work along the side. Police.
The police speedboat pulled along side hers. A beautiful young woman about twenty eight was standing toward the side.
"Can I help you officers?" Kay offered.
"I sure hope so." The woman stuck out her hand; "Sara Pezzini. NYPD Detective." Kayla frowned as she reached over and shook Sara's hand.
"Kayla Tiann, scuba instructor. You're a long way from home Detective." Carefully, Kay pulled herself back to her boat.
"Yea, I know." Sara paused; "Question for you. Have you seen anything strange around here?" Kay was reaching to turn down her radio when the question was asked.
"What do you mean by strange?" She wondered as she reached up to toy with the silver Pegasus pendent she had around her neck. Sara leaned on her elbows against the railing.
"You know, strange people, boats, anything like that?" The woman's questions eyes looking for some sort of an answer. Kayla coughed slightly.
"Detective, I've been in Angel Grove for the past three years. You can't get any stranger then that." Sara nodded slowly.
Getting right to the point; "There was a murder in New York. The killer is here." Kay looked at the twenty-one lifelines that held snuggly to the side of the boat. Should she get Jason? This was more his department.
"Hang on a sec, let me get one of my divers up here. He might be able to help." Sara nodded as Kayla walked to the other side of the boat.
Kay was able to pick Jason's line out with out a problem. The red one. Reaching down, she gave a slight yank to the strong cord. Moments later, bubbles rose to the surface as Jason's head came out of the water. Taking his mouthpiece out and removing his facemask, he looked up at Kay. Her long brown hair made it way out of its holder and fell gently over her shoulder.
"What's up?" He asked as he swam to the boat. Kayla reached her hand out to help him up. He accepted with a smile.
"Jase, someone would like to talk to you." The young man frowned as he removed his tank from his shoulders. He set the tank down and followed Kay to the other side of the boat.
Sara swallowed hard when she saw the handsome man walk toward her.
"Jason Scott, this is Sara Pezzini. NYPD Homicide Detective." Grabbing his towel, he wiped his hand before reaching it out the she Sara's.
"Nice to meet you." He said softly. Frowning; "You're a long way from home Detective."
"Yea ..." As the two shook hands; Kay noticed the bracelet on Sara's wrist. The one thing she never thought she'd see. She had also noticed the look Sara had given Jason when she first saw him. She felt a small twinge of jealousy as Sara explained the reason she was there. The ringing interrupted Kay's thoughts.
"I'll get it for you Jase." He nodded as he turned back to the detective. Kay picked it up and hit the talk button; "Hello."
"Let me talk to Scott." The voice on the other end demanded. Kayla walked up to Jason.
"Here."
"Thanks. Excuse me for a minute." Sara smiled as Jason turned to speak with his Captain. Seconds later, another ring sounded. Kay froze for a second. - Please don't let that be who I think it is. - She said to herself. Nodding her head toward Sara, she walked over to her light gray backpack and rummaged through it. Finding her cell, she looked at the caller ID.
"Damn." She swore softly. She stepped closer to Jason; "Jase I'll be below if you need me." He nodded slightly as she disappeared from view. He couldn't help but stare at her ass as she walked away.
"Scott, are you listening to me?"
"Yes sir. Sorry I was distracted." Jason felt his cheeks flush as he turned his concentration back to his call.
Sara watched silently. She noticed the look on Jason's face as he watched Kay go below deck.
"Damn she's lucky." She said under her breath. - I hope Danny's right about these guys. - Her inner voice sprang up. Shaking her head, she waited patiently for Jason to finish his phone call.
Below deck, Kayla looked solemnly at her phone. She didn't want to answer, yet she didn't have a choice. Hitting the button, she put the phone to her ear.
"Tiann." Her voice unsteady.
"Agent Tiann. We have your next mission. In two hours you will be picked up at your apartment. Have everything ready." With that the line went dead. Kay shuttered slightly. This didn't sound good. But then again, it never did.
Jason turned off his phone and slammed it down on the table. His normally unleashed temper now flaring. Why now? Why did he have to send me on this now? Just when he was starting to ... get used to things. He would have to hold off talking to Kay for another time.
"Are you alright?" Sara asked as Jason walked up to her. A scowl on his face.
"Well Detective, it looks like we will be working together." Surprise reached Sara's face. This she didn't expect. Maybe Danny was right to tell her that her answers were here. Jason ran his hands through his dark hair; "Let me reintroduce myself." He looked her square in the eyes.
"Ok ..." She said a bit skeptical.
"Jason Lee Scott. Secret FBI Agent. Internal affairs division member of E.T.I."
"E.T.I.?" Sara questioned, not understanding.
"Extra Terrestrial Investigations."
July 10, 2001
Kayla's apartment
3:35 pm
Kay zipped up the back of her jet-black Lycra outfit. It reminded her entirely too much of her days as the Silver Ranger. But this had no fancy shield or design to hit her shapely figure. The phone call she had received when she arrived home, informed her that there would be an addition to this meeting. But before she could ask whom, headquarters hung up. - Who would they dare bring into this? -
Kayla finished loading her equipment into the two brief cases she held and sat down to wait the next ten minutes out.
July 10, 2001
Limousine
3:45 pm
Kay climbed silently into the limo that had pulled up in front of her apartment. Her neighbors had always wondered about her frequent limo rides. They thought she had a rich boyfriend or something, and never questioned.
"What have we got Trev?" She asked once comfortable. The tall man sitting next to her handed her a thick file.
"All I can say is, Ranger days are back again." Kayla frowned as she opened the file. Her eyes rested on the first page. Her brows shot up.
"Does Apoc know about this?" She inquired. Trev leaned back against his seat as the limo sped away from Kay's apartment.
"Yes. He already has someone from E.T.I. on it." Kay nodded as she continued through the file.
"We do have a snag though." The short man in front of her finally spoke. She looked at him through hooded eyes.
"And that would be?"
"That nosy cop from New York." She was informed. Kay rolled her eyes.
"Great." Closing the file, she leaned over and popped her brief case open. Slipping the file inside, she closed and locked it before leaning back; "Don't worry much about her. I have a feeling she might be able to help us with this."
"What makes you say that?" Kayla brought her hands to her face.
"Did Charles say anything about her besides the fact she was a nosy cop?" She wondered as she brought her arms down and rested her elbows on her knees. The short man shook his head.
"Why? What do you know?" Trev asked.
"She is in possession of something that I never thought I would see in my life time." The two men frowned. She threw her arms up; "Men." Shaking her head she slowly leaned back; "Have you ever heard of something called the Witchblade?"
Both men shook their heads. - Why does that not surprise me? -
"I thought it only a myth, however Sara Pezzini's bracelet has told me otherwise." In as little detail as she could, she explained what she knew. - No need for them to find out more then they need to know. -
July 10, 2001
The System
4:15 pm
Thirty minutes after being picked up, Kay found herself at her headquarters. The blue skinned being greeted her formally as she stepped through the door.
Koon aug. It greeted.
"Tang kno." She answered. After a bow of its head she proceeded; "Alright Charles, what do you have for me?" She called out to a fat man with a graying beard.
"Nice to see you too Kay." He smiled as the sight and sound of one of his best agents. He held out yet another file toward her.
"Cut the shit Charles, you know I'm supposed to be on vacation." She snarled as stuck her face into the file, trying to decipher what she was supposed to be doing.
"It's humanoid. That's about the best we have." Charles reached over the top of the file and flipped until he found the page he was looking for; "With a taste for human flesh." Kay's eyes rested on the gruesome photo that was attached with a paper clip. The body had no skin, just a mountain of muscle, blood and bone.
"Ug, you had to give me something like this didn't you?" She said as she felt her stomach start to turn. Closing the folder she handed it back to Charles. - Why me? -
"Of course, we couldn't leave you out of the loop on this one now could we?" Charles turned and walked to his desk.
"Yes you could have." She hated it when he walked away from her; "What does this have to do with me anyway?"
"I though maybe you had seen something like this in your Ranger days." Kay's handed finally landed on her slim hips.
"Not since Lord Zedd. I'm still trying to figure out how Zordon let you talk him into this."
"That my dear is for me to know and you to find out." Frustrated, Kayla walked over to the desk and sat on it.
"You aren't helping."
"Tiann, we need you to solve this one. And quickly. Twenty-seven bodies have been found in New York and thirty-eight here in California. The toll will climb if we don't figure it out." Charles folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. The man had an heir about him that Kay had always respected and hated simultaneously.
"Ok. So right now, we have a creature out there that looks human and goes around turning bodies inside out." Kay closed her eyes, hoping that somewhere along the lines she had encountered such an effect. None arose.
"Hey Charles, we have another one." A younger man called out as he stuck his head into the office.
"Shit." Both Charles and Kay jumped to their feet and bolted out the door.
"Up on the big screen." Kay called out. It was her investigation, she was calling the shots.
The screen came alive with sounds of screaming terrified people running in all directions. Kayla's trained eyes searching for something, anything that would give her a clue as to what was happening.
Then she saw him. The tall dark figure standing off to the left.
"Focus in." She ordered. The mans face shown closer and slightly clearer; "Magnify. Right corner." Again the screen fuzzed then cleared. The sight made Kay's stomach turn even harder. The man dressed in a black cloak, had the skin of his victim hanging from his mouth.
"Oh I'm going to be sick." She heard in the background. Along with other complaints.
"Towee goth." Kay said as she stepped to the controls. The four-armed alien controlling the screen moved to the side; "Those with queasy stomachs leave now." She yelled out. Stomping and groaning was heard from behind her. Focusing on the controls, she shifted the image to see the face.
She caught her breath when she saw him ... or it. The face dripped of blood and mucus. It's lips looked as if they were hanging there. The eye sockets, deep enough for a tennis ball to fit. Eyes seemed suspended. And it's skin, oh god ... its skin looked like its victims. Nothing but blood red muscle. She almost hurled herself, as it seemed to slurp the last of what looked like a finger into its mouth. Throat muscles spasmed as it swallowed. And just as if it happened then, it dissolved into what looked like thin air.
Kay knew better. Her finger suddenly flew over the computer controls. What she saw made her freeze.
"No. It can't be." Stunned she stepped back.
"What is it?" Charles asked, recovering from his sudden need for a bathroom. Kayla pointed to the small screen on the control panel. He stepped closer to see.
She was pointing to what looked like a map. A map of her hometown, Angel Grove. Near the high point of the mountain range. Kay gulped. The Command Chamber.
Though the Command Chamber he been deserted for some time since the rangers were now in space, it was hard to fathom that this thing had set up some sort of base there.
"Is that what I think it is?" Charles wondered. Kay only nodded.
"Is it safe to come back in?" A voice called from the outer door.
"Yes." Kayla said absent-mindedly. Almost with a swoosh, the workers reentered the control room. - Why the Command Chamber? - "Charles, I'm going back to Angel Grove." The older man studied her carefully. She couldn't let her emotions get to her. And the chance of this thing killing a friend of her was on the border of tipping her over the edge.
"When do you want to leave?"
"As soon as possible." Nodding, Charles reached for yet another file folder.
"Here is the info we have. You have to wait until your partner from E.T.I. gets here. You can leave then." Kay nodded as Charles walked away.
Her mind wandered. The only thing she could thing of were her friends Tommy and Kimberly. The two had just had a baby. A little girl. Kirstin Kayla Oliver. During one of Kay's missions, she had encountered the couple when Kim was eight and a half months. The mission turned sour and both had gotten caught up in it. They were the only one to know of her secret life. And the two intended to keep it that way. It started eight and a half months ago ...
(Flashback)
October 15, 2000
Outside the Angel Grove courthouse
5:43 pm
"Kay, what's going on?" Tommy asked in a rush. Kim's water had broken nearly an hour ago. And her labor was coming on full force. The stake out van was the only place they had to hide. An ambulance at this point would destroy all Kayla had worked for. She was going to have to deliver the baby her self.
"Tom, I can't explain right now." Kay grabbed the towel that sat next to her and dapped Kim's forehead. The pregnancy had taken its toll on Kim's petite body. If she couldn't deliver the baby soon, Kim's life could be in more danger then it already was. Kay looked Kim in the eyes; "Alright. This baby isn't going to wait till the mission is over." Kim nodded slightly between fits of pain.
"Do you know what your doing?" Tommy inquired as he sat behind Kim's head and held her small hands. Kay only nodded. Grabbing another towel, she set herself in front of Kim.
"Alright. Kim this is going to be kinda disgusting, but I need to check you cervix to find out how much longer you have."
"O ... ok." Squeezing Tommy's hands harder, she readied herself for Kay's hand. Taking a deep breath, she set her left hand on Kim's knee and her right near the vaginal opening.
- Man, I always wanted to see Kim spread eagle like this, just not delivering her baby. - No one knew of Kay's preference. And she wasn't about to make that known now. Yea, she did have a thing for Jason. It was plane to see for those who really looked. Yet, they never seemed to notice her casual glances toward Kimberly or Katherine.
Kim's scream of pain brought her back to reality. Concentrating, Kay checked the cervix to find it nearly open. - Oh God. -
"Alright Kim. The cervix is open. Now I'm waiting on you. When you feel you next contraction start. Push." Nodding, Kim glanced up at Tommy. Did Kay really know what she was doing?
The contraction came, and so did Kim's screams.
"Push. Kimberly push." She pushed. Kay's hand ready to accept the baby's head, instead became covered with blood and amniotic fluid. - This isn't happening. - Kay glanced up at Tommy. He was crouched over Kim whispering in her ear. Trying to calm her down. Kayla, for the first time since she accepted her job, became scared. She should be holding the baby's head after that fierce push.
"Do it again Kim. Next contraction." The scared look in Kim's eyes made Kay stumble in her actions.
Ten contractions later, still no baby.
"Oh god." Kay said in a harsh whisper. Reaching around Kim's leg, she placed her hand on Kim's belly. Man, she needed her equipment. She realized slowly why the baby hadn't made her appearance; "Kimberly. I need you to concentrate on something. Anything. This is going to hurt. Really bad." - What I wouldn't give for a pair of forceps right now. -
"What's going on? What's wrong with the baby?" The terrified voice reached her ears.
"She's angled wrong. I have to go in and turn her the right way." Kay explained. Kim looked worriedly at Tommy who just shrugged.
Kayla had delivered babies before. Just not human babies. And nothing was messier then this.
Slowly, and with precision, Kay reached into Kimberly to turn the baby. Kim's scream was ear piercing. Searching around, she felt something. A tiny hand. Flowing the hand up the arm to the shoulder, she felt the baby's neck. Then the head. The baby was sideways. Carefully, she pulled gently at the arm until the baby began to shift. Kayla guided the head to the cervical opening and withdrew her hand.
"Ok Kim, push. Hard." Without question, Kimberly pushed with all her might. Sure enough, the baby's head came out. Quickly Kay grabbed a towel and wiped the face clear of mucus. Kayla didn't even have to ask Kim to push again. The infant came out with an onslaught of fluid and blood following.
Kayla gripped the baby carefully. Toweling of the mouth so the little one could breath. Seconds later, a lusty healthy cry came from the baby's mouth. Kay smiled as she wrapped the baby in a clean towel. Reaching carefully, she places the tiny infant in Kim's awaiting arms.
Settling back down, she grabbed the piece of twine that was sitting next to her. Steadily she tied it tightly around the umbilical cord. Kayla slowly worked the cord until she felt the sac find it's way free of the lining.
"Alright Kim. One more push and your done." Baring down, Kim gave what energy she had left to the last push. The blood lined sac fell into Kay's hands. Quickly she wrapped into the next to last towel she had with her.
Reaching up, Kayla found a pair of scissors on the top shelf in the van. Grabbing another piece of twine, she moved to sit next to Kim and the baby.
"This will not hurt her." Kay informed the two new parents as she exposed the baby's belly from the towel. Tightly, she tied the twine around the cord two inches from the baby's stomach. Kim and Tommy watched, curious as to how she knew what she was doing.
With the twine tight, she grabbed the scissors. Kayla gave the two a weak smile when she saw the inquiring looks. With three clips of the scissors, the cord was free. Kay inspected the part still attached to the baby then covered her back up. Both Tommy and Kimberly were waiting for her to finish before speaking.
Kayla grabbed the last clean towel and wiped her hands. Weak as anything, Kay sat with a thud and grabbed her bag. Reaching in she found her phone. She glanced at Tommy and Kim who were cooing over the new addition to their small family. She smiled as she punched in an all too familiar phone number. And closed her eyes.
"Charles. I need an ambulance at the corner of Seventh and Amsterdam. Wait twenty minutes." With that she hung up. She was exhausted. The last time she had this much physical activity, was with her last boyfriend. Between sex and the attempted beatings, she was always exhausted.
"Kay?" Tommy's voice reached her ears. Kay dragged her eyes open.
"Huh?"
"Thank you." Kay smiled. She was triumphant at one thing that day. Slowly she dragged herself over to the three.
"You are very welcome." She said softly; "So, what are you going to name her?" Tommy looked at Kim's tired eyes. The new mother smiled and nodded slightly.
"We're going to name her Kirstin Kayla." For the first time in a long time, Kay was speechless.
"Re ... really?" The two smiled.
"Of course. That way she will always know of the wonderful person that saved her life as she came into the world." Kayla could only smile as she looked into the brightest blue eyes she had seen in a while. She smiled as she laid a gentle hand on the baby's forehead.
The ambulance arrived as she scheduled. And the happy new family was toted off to the hospital. Charles sent a hand on her shoulder.
"Good job Kay. None of us would have been able to do that." Kay smiled as she walked over to the van and climbed into the drivers seat. All and all a pretty good day. With that, she drove away.
(End Flashback.)
Kayla hadn't noticed the looks she was receiving as she sat at the control module. She flushed slightly as she stood and headed to her private quarters. Kirstin was the first baby from any of the rangers. Rocky and Aisha had the second. A little boy they named Jacob Sebastian. The child was adorable, with Rocky's unkempt hair and all. Little Jacob was with Rocky in New York while Aisha finished her veterinary training in Africa. Silently she wondered if she would ever have a child of her own.
Making her way over to the punching bag she had set up, she began to work her muscles. Stretching, pulling and unknotting every muscle she could before laying into the bag heavily.
She hadn't realized she had been working out as long as she had, until the sound of the intercom system came to her ears. Halting her assault, she warily walked over to her desk and hit the link button.
"Tiann."
"Kay, your E.T.I. partner is almost here."
"Give me a minute to gather my bearings."
"Make it quick." Turning of the COM link, she sat back. Charles as well as the rest of the system, knew that when she went into her office; the punching bag would receive a sever beating. Calming herself quickly, she headed out the door.
