As I walk across my college campus to my computer class, known to some of the students as Visual Communications Technology or VCT, I feel a breeze that sends a chill down my spine. As I'm bundled up in layers of clothing, I cross campus. I march through the slush in my black boots wondering if I'll ever get warm. As my backpack flops against my back, I pass the student union. As I pass the union I think about how awesome it is to have an almost complete glass building. That is my halfway point. Once I get here, I know I'm close to my class. As I look up at the clock and realize that I'm on time, for once. Although I'm usually on time to my classes, and I hate being late for classes. The campus is almost a ghost town, none of the students are braving the elements like I am.
"Why am I taking this class again?" I ask myself as another cold breeze hits my face, "oh yeah because it's a requirement for my major."
I pass the math building and suddenly feel warmer.
"What is going on? It's the middle of winter why does it feel warm?" I ask myself out loud. I don't bother to shed my layers just yet.
I look around and realize I'm not on my college campus anymore. People scream as they run away from something. Despite myself, I run towards the direction they are running from. I think about running away as well but I have to know where I am. As I enter the scene, which turns out to be a battle between five people and a weird looking thing. The five people I see are dressed in red, yellow, purple, white, and blue spandex costumes and curse silently to myself. I know where I am as soon as I see them.
I then walk towards a local pizza shop commonly known, to the people of Ocean Bluff, as Jungle Karma Pizza or JKP. I see a sign hanging from a brick building and a green jeep parked outside as I approach the building. As I enter the building through a red door with a window that is almost a rectangle but it has an arched top, with glass above the arch consisting of red, yellow and green. I also see in front of me a table with tiled in many squares with the same colors of the arch way. I also see a girl reading a book at that same table that's in front of me. There are servers taking orders and delivering the pizzas that the cooks have prepared. The smell of pizza is strong and overwhelms my senses. Many people are enjoying this wonderful meal. There is a jute box in one corner as a girl puts the money in order to change the song. I also see a pinball machine.
"Sweet, this place is a lot better in person than seeing it on television," I think as I continue to look around until someone approaches me.
"Can I help you?" a brunette asks me dressed in the standard uniform with a green top with the logo consisting of leaves in a circle with red letters reading Jungle Karma Pizza, zebra stripped pants and a red apron.
"Yes, I would like a thrilla gorilla pizza please," I answer without even looking at the menu.
"Sure one thrilla gorilla pizza coming up," the woman responds.
She walks towards the back and hear her say to the rangers, "Thrilla gorilla pizza for table 6."
I figured they had returned back from the battle not to long after I had hiked my way to the pizza place. A man covered in flower and dressed in a chef outfit exits out of the back room. I shake my head knowing that another one of the chef's creations have gone wrong. The owner, RJ, comes out dressed in his chef's uniform to put my pizza on my table, after he has cleaned himself up. His calm nature shows.
"Thanks, RJ," I say before I could stop myself.
"How do you know my name?" He questions me, "Better question, who are you?"
"I can't talk here, too many people," I say as I look around.
"Look you better explain yourself," RJ snarls. I can tell his wolf spirit is coming out.
"Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you at all. I have better tactics than that when to attack opponents. I have learned from my friends when and how to attack an opponent. Also you could beat me anyways," I explain.
"Fine," he snarls again.
"Is there some place I can talk to you in private?"
"Yes follow me," RJ says annoyed. I follow him up the steps to the loft and am amazed at the sight.
"By the way, why do you need to talk in private?" RJ questions me.
"I have a lot of things to explain," I say then add, "Which I will in time."
"Whoa this place is cooler than I thought it would be," I respond. I see the sparing mats, a basketball hoop, RJ's green chair that he always sits in, the monitoring system, and of course the living quarters.
"What?" RJ reacts with confusion written all over his face, "How do you know about this place?"
"All in good time my friend all in good time," I say calmly.
"Alright, let me get in my chair." I stifle a laugh at how many times I've seen him sit in that green lazy boy and watch the ranger battles. He finally gets comfortable, and waits for me to begin my story.
"Let me tell you what I know. I know you and some of you employees are power rangers," I explain. I watch as his jaw drops to the floor.
"No one is supposed to know that," RJ snarls.
"I know, but where I come from you are a show. I also know that there are three rules to being a ranger. First off never reveal your identity. Second, never escalate to a battle and third, never use your powers for personal gain. I also know, RJ that you are at master level at a secret martial arts school. You use animal spirits to protect the world from Dai Shi. I know the leader of the team is Casey and he's your red, Lily is yellow, and Theo is blue. Also you are purple and Dom is white. I also know your animal spirits. Casey is the tiger, Lily is the cheetah, Theo is the jaguar, you are the wolf, and Dom is the rhino," I rattle off as I take a breath and shed some of my layers I had on.
"Wow you know a lot about us, but I barely know anything about you," RJ remarks. I smirk a little because I wasn't surprised by his remark.
"Alright time to tell you about me. My name is Liz. I'm eighteen years old, a freshman in college, and I'm majoring in Technology education. I'm basically a computer teacher but I know that's only half my job. I have a roommate back home, who is probably wondering where I am. I know self defense enough to get by if needed and I know certain rules that can help me, my friends and I call them battle laws. I use those laws in life all the time. There a few that we throw at people. Some you have even used," I say as I watch RJ's expression, as he raises an eyebrow, "There is never underestimate an opponent, don't get cocky or you'll land on your butt, expect the unexpected and prepare for the worst hope for the best. I also don't know exactly how I ended up here. "
"Those are very close to what I say to the cubs," RJ utters.
I laugh, "Yeah I know." Suddenly the sirens go off, as a new monster appears.
"Well go do your job. Fran and I can hold it down here," I order sternly. RJ throws me a questionably look but I throw him a look that said do it.
"Fine you win, you must have been a yellow or a pink back in your home town," RJ remarks.
"Actually, I wasn't but hey having enemies where I have to throw a glare at them helps," I remarks.
I can tell in his eyes that he's worried about morphing in front of me.
"Just morph already. I'm not afraid of it. I've seen you and others do it enough times on TV that it doesn't freak me out," I snap.
RJ flips his morpher open and shouts, "Jungle beast, Spirit Unleashed." His uniform was amazing even though I had seen it a million times on TV. His purple boots, black covering most of his body, his purple helmet that is shaped like a wolf, and his purple gloves.
"If anyone gives you trouble, tell them, today is yesterday and tomorrow will be today."
"Get going and call the others," I order him. He is surprised by my tone but calls the others anyway.
I walk back down the stairs and grab an apron that is hanging on a rack.
"Fran, let's get to work. Can you make the pizzas and I'll take the orders?" I order Fran.
"Who are you?" She asks me as she turned around to see a brunette a little taller than her.
"Liz, RJ told me to help you. He had to run out. Oh and by the way, today is yesterday and tomorrow whatever that means. RJ told me to tell you that," I explain.
"Is that where the rest of them went?" The girl with pig tails asked me.
"Yeah, but don't worry I can do this," I say with full confidence. I walk out the swinging red door.
"Hi welcome to JKP. I'm Liz and I'll be taking your order today. What can I get for you?" I ask the current customers that I'm serving.
"Pepperoni pizza please," the blonde customer answers my question.
"Would you like anything to drink?" I ask her.
"Water please."
"With lemon?" I question her.
"Yes please."
"Coming right up." I walk back to the kitchen and get the water with lemon. I walk back out with the water on the tray and place it on the table.
Fran comes behind me with the pizza and I am prepared for it. I saw her making a pizza when I went into the back so I just told her add the pepperoni to it. I step out of the way carefully. I am about to head to the next table when I see the rangers walk in. They look like they went through hell.
"Go upstairs I'll be there soon," I order them knowing that they are badly hurt.
"What was that about?" Fran asks me.
"I can't explain," I say to Fran.
"Come with me to the back room," Fran says grabbing me in the process.
"I know about guys and their powers," Fran says.
"I do to," I admit.
"What!?" Fran exclaims.
"Long story, but I've got to go help them get cleaned up. I'll be down soon." I explain, hurrying up the steps that lead to the loft. RJ hears my foot steps as I enter the loft.
"I'm glad you're able to help. There is too much to do by myself," RJ comments.
"I'm glad to help. I've got Lily. It will be easier for me to do it then you," I say. RJ slowly nods. I walk into Lily's room.
"Who are you?" The long haired blonde asks me.
"Liz, I'm a friend. RJ sent me to take care of you," I say carefully.
Lily relaxes a bit knowing RJ sent me, but in her eyes I still sense worry that I'm an enemy.
"I won't attack you. I wouldn't do that to anyone unless they've earned it and I know you haven't earned it," I remark. She looks at me in shock but I smile.
"How do I know your telling the truth?" Lily questions me.
"RJ trusts me and if he didn't, he wouldn't have allowed me to help. Also today is yesterday and tomorrow is today," I answer calmly.
Lily gives in and lets me help take care of her.
"Alright let's take a look here," I say as I help her take of her shirt to examine the damage that the latest monster has done.
"Ouch!" she exclaims as I touch an area that doesn't look too bad but a bruise is forming.
"I'll get something to put on that," I say walking away, "Take it easy for right now."
"Alright," she answers but I can tell in her voice that she still doesn't believe me.
I see RJ taking care of three boys, an Asian boy, and two Caucasian. One of the boys with blonde hair was Dom and I could tell he had taken a pretty bad hit because as soon as he entered the pizza parlor he almost collapsed. The other with brown hair was Casey. RJ had to give him a glare to get him to relax.
Typical Red, I thought, always stubborn.
"Hey RJ," I yell as I walk past, "Where is your freezer?"
"Who is she and what is she doing here?" Theo questions RJ sternly.
"Relax, Theo," RJ says calmly, "She's a friend."
"She shouldn't be up here," Theo remarks, giving me a glare.
"Theo, be quiet. Also I've seen worse glares than that, so don't think that I'm affected by it," I snap.
"How do you know my name?" He questions me.
"RJ told me a bit about you," I answer, "RJ, do you have a bag of peas?"
"No, I don't," RJ answers, "Why do you need a bag of peas?"
"I need a bag of peas because they form better to the body than ice," I explain, "I learned that from my mom. My brother, who is a hockey player, got injured and we used a bag of peas because it formed to the injury better than ice. Lily got hurt in an awkward spot and the ice won't form properly."
"Ah okay, you'll have to run to the store if you need that because I don't have one," RJ answered.
I hear a groan and look around turns out its Casey.
"I've got it RJ," I tell him even though I'm also taking care of Lily, "It will be easier if we both take two that way we don't have to run ourselves too much."
RJ nods, "I agree. Theo can be a handful anyways."
I walk towards Casey and place a hand on his shoulder, "Lay back down you were pretty injured."
"Who are you?" Casey asks me.
"Liz, and no I'm not an enemy and yes I'm a friend. RJ asked me to help out," I explain.
"How did you know I was going to ask you that?" He asks me with shock.
"I went through the same thing with Lily," I answer.
He is still unsure on how to ask me questions I can see it in his eyes.
"I'll explain everything later. RJ already knows who I am and everything. He also knows I won't hurt any of you," I respond calmly as possible then mutter under my breath, "Like I could anyways."
"Alright, I'm Casey," He says holding out his hand which is a little sore. I take it and try not to put too much pressure on it to make the pain worse.
"Nice to meet you, but I already know who you are," I respond.
"How?" He questions me.
"Like I said I would explain later when everyone is back to full health."
"Alright you win," he says chuckling a little then enters a coughing fit.
"I'll be right back be very careful how you move," I instruct him.
"Where do you have to go?" Casey asks me.
"I have to run to the store. I need some things if I'm going to take care of you guys. RJ doesn't have everything I need to help you."
"Alright, I'll just rest until you return."
"Good. I thought reds were stubborn," I say.
"How did you know I was a red?"
"You wear that color a lot just like the original red so it wasn't hard to tell," I answer laughing.
"You knew the original red?"
"I'll tell you all about it when I return," I say as I walk back downstairs.
I walk past Fran who is doing a good job about holding down the fort and tell her I'll be back in a bit.