Chapter 1: Desperate Allies

Tommy was a cold hearted monster. When Rita couldn't defeat the rangers directly even with his help, he suggested targeting their families. Now, everyone they loved were hostages of Rita, and they had an ultimatum... their power coins for the safe return of their parents.

Jason banged his fists upon the console. They had recently gained an advantage over their enemies, with the addition of the thunder zords and Ninjor to their forces.

Now, all of that was for nothing !

" Next time, I see Tommy, I am going to kill him !" Jason snarled. " And I don't care what Zordon's gonna think ..."

Trini placed her hands over his shoulder. " We're going to defeat him. We're going to get our family back."

" How ?"

Jason knew that if they handed over their coins, Earth was a lost cause, and they would all die anyways. Sometimes, as a leader, hard choices had to be taken, even if it meant sacrificing the people closest to their hearts.

But, as much as he knew he'd to take the right decision, it was not easy for him. At times, he wanted to surrender, and get his family back, however it was not a choice he was at liberty to make.

It pained his heart.

But he had no choice.

He had to let go of the hope of ever seeing his parents again, and concentrate on the war.

" With my help." A female voice, he didn't recognise, broke him from his train of thoughts.

He looked up to see a middle aged woman with red hair looking at him and Trini. Beside her, Kim stood, looking at her feet.

" My name is Jacinda Oliver." She stated. " I was the adopted mother of Tommy Oliver."

Jason glared at Kim.

" What have you done, Kim ? You literally brought the mother of the devil in the Command Centre."

"Jason, please listen. She can help." Kim insisted.

" Kim, this woman had a monster for a son. The apple doesn't fall that far from the tree ! Her son is about to kill our parents." He shouted.

" Please. I'm ashamed, enough as it is. He was a good kid. I never realised that he was a psychopath." Jacinda said, tears falling from her eyes. " He hurt a lot of people. But I won't let him kill your parents. If there's a chance I can get through to them -"

" I am sorry but your son is NOT under a spell. Your son is a genuine monster, the greatest evil mankind has ever produced." Trini said firmly. " Kim, before bringing her here, did you check for weapons and bombs. Alpha, check if she is under a spell or not ?"

" Aie aie aie ..." Alpha 5 approached her with a scanner.

" Yeah. The first thing I did." Kim replied." Guys, this is our only chance. We've to take it."

" This is not a trick. She isn't under a spell." Alpha confirmed. " Zordon ?"

" JACINDA, I DETECT THE GOODNESS IN YOUR HEART, AND THE LOVE OF THE MOTHER. BUT HOLD NO DELUSIONS. MAYBE SOMEDAY, WE CAN BRING TOMMY BACK TO THE LIGHT, HOWEVER, FOR NOW, HE IS OUR ENEMY. YOUR LIFE MAY BE AT RISK IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS. AT HIS CURRENT STATE, YOUR SON WON'T HESITATE TO KILL YOU IF HE SUSPECTS YOU."

"I know, but I have to try." The red-head insisted." I don't know where I went wrong."

" It's not your fault, Jacinda." Another voice joined in. Ninjor walked out of the shadows. " I speak from my own experience. I am Ninjor. I created the power coins the rangers use, to fight evil. But my student, Ninjakon betrayed me and joined the forces of evil. He is the reason why Rita Repulsa got the green power coin in the first place."

" Shall I alert Billy and Zack ?" Alpha asked.

" No. Let them sleep upstairs. We'll fill them in later. They're still tired from the raid, today." Kim replied. Ever since, Rita conquered Earth, they had been declared wanted criminals. The only place safe for them to live was the Command Centre. They couldn't even visit their homes or their friends. They had to totally give up their normal lives.

" So, what do we do ? Even if we trust you, we can't exactly send you to Tommy's lair defenseless, can we ? You'll get killed if he suspects you." Jason looked at her.

" That's a risk I'm willing to take." She replied.

" But we're not. Unlike the boy you adopted, we're not monsters. Even if you mean nothing to us, we can't just let you literally walk into your death." Trini rebutted." You are a civilian. You have no powers."

" She will."

" What ?" Trini turned to look at Ninjor. " We don't have any power coin to spare, and even if you give her some of your experimental ones, we can't take the chance that it'll fall into Rita's hands."

" I'm not talking about ranger powers. Her heart is devoid of evil, just like you and the other rangers. She can be a ninja." Ninjor said.

" What are you talking about ?"

" I can give you powers to defend yourself, should the need arise." Ninjor stepped towards her and extended his hand. " If you want, I can awaken your animal spirit and you can have enhanced strength and some magic to call upon, whenever you desire. "

" Okay." She said reluctantly.

" Take my hand and close your eyes."

Jacinda placed her hand upon his and closed her eyes.

" Think about the happiest moments of your life. Think about the deeds you feel most proud of, irrespective of it's consequences. Look into your soul and rediscover who you really are."

Suddenly, a bright white enveloped the Command Centre, and when it subsided, Jacinda was now wearing a green ninjetti garb, the golden coin in the centre of her chest featuring an image of a deer. She gasped as she opened her eyes, letting go of Ninjor's hands.

"JACINDA OLIVER, YOU ARE THE GREEN GAZELLE NINJETTI, KIND AND GRACEFUL."

" Green... Typical. Like mother, like son." Jason snarked.

" Jason, I know you don't approve of this plan, but this woman is trying to help." Ninjor rebuked.

" How can she ? What is she planning on doing ? Approaching Tommy and pleading him to release our parents..." Jason laughed sarcastically. " We all know how that's going to work out... with all of our parents and you dead."

" By using me as bait." Jacinda stated.

" Do you really think he cares ?"

" He does." She stated. " Even if he doesn't return your parents, he will find a way to bring me back to him. I will enter Rita's castle, find out where your parents are, and save them."

" It's better than nothing." Kim supplied. Trini found herself nodding.

" Rita will kill them if we don't do anything. Atleast now, we have hope."

Jacinda inhaled deeply, before she entered her son's former room. They were fine, before the moon witch interfered and twisted Tommy into a monster.

She remembered clearly, the day the green ranger barged into her home, scaring her to death. Then, he'd demorphed, revealing ththe face of her missing son. She'd rushed to hug him, not realising that he was not the same child she'd raised.

He'd offered her a life of luxury and peace with him, in the Lunar Castle. She'd refused, begging him to come back to his senses. He'd left angrily, but not before giving her a communicator, in case she changed her mind. She never thought she would ever use it, but here, she was-

Jacinda took out the silver bracelet from the table, admist the mountain of comic books.

She turned tearfully, her eyes wandering over the numerous medals mounted on the wall. If she'd known from before, she'd have never encouraged him to learn karate.

But that was in the past. Her son was not under any spell. He chose to follow Rita, of his own free will.

She pressed the comunicator, wiping away her tears, and faking a smile. No matter how much it hurt, she'd to do this.

"Mom." She turned around to see the green ranger.