BROWN'S DILEMMA

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Reworking of "Another Brick In The Wall". Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. Yes, this chap starts off the same way as "The Split Flower", but the episode's not going to be the same, there is a reference to "The Spit Flower".

It was a beautiful day in Angel Grove. The sky was clear and birds chirped and sang. In the midst of this, two teens-a guy and a girl-were putting the finishing touches on a housing project.

"Wow, Kat. This house looks really good," the boy told her. Katherine beamed at the boy's comment.

"Thanks, Jason," she responded. Jason continued to apply the screw. "Wow. I can't believe that we were able to build this house as part of the Cleanup Club," she continued.

"Yeah, well, it's hard to say no to Trini," he commented and she laughed. Jason had a point there. Being fairly new to Angel Grove, she hadn't known Trini as long as Jason had, but even she knew that there was no point in arguing with the girl when she became passionate about something. What the two didn't know was that they were being watched. From her Moon Palace, Rita's eyes darkened.

"So, Katherine has a new project, does she?" she asked.

"Yes, and it's part of that 'Cleanup Club' that Trini started," Scorpina sneered.

"And it looks like they're almost done," Squatt commented.

"Well, we can't have that…now can we?" Rita asked. "Send the Putties down!" she ordered. Back on Earth, Jason was about to hammer in another nail when he became aware of the new presences.

"Kat! We've got company!" he warned. The girl turned around to see a group of Rita's Putties.

"Oh, great! I had a feeling that this morning was going too well!" she exclaimed. The two spread out and started fighting the clay creatures. Soon, it became apparent that fighting wasn't the Putties' main objective. No! I can't let them destroy the project! Katherine thought. She kicked and punched the Putties, trying to halt their actions with little success. Jason was faring no better. While he combated one group of Putties, another tore the building down.

"Oh, no! Putties!" they heard Aisha yell. The rest of the Rangers went to attack the clay creatures, only to have them disappear. Katherine looked at the ruined project, tears forming.

"I don't believe this. It's completely ruined," she said.

"Oh, Kat. Cheer up. We can help you fix this," Rocky assured, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"And then Rita will wreck it again. What's the use? I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," Katherine responded, jerking away. Then, she ran off. Jason started after her, only to have Kimberly grab his arm.

"Let me talk to her. After all, I can relate," she reminded him. Then, she hurried after Kat. "Hey," she said.

"Oh, Kim. Hi. I guess you're going to tell me I overreacted, huh?" Katherine queried.

"Absolutely not," Kimberly responded, shaking her head. "I know exactly how you feel. You put your heart and soul into something and then Rita just goes and destroys it," she continued.

"She did this to you too?" the Brown Ranger asked.

"Yeah. She destroyed a float I built. I was so crushed."

"What am I going to do?"

"Like Rocky said, we can help you fix it. After all, we don't want to Rita to win, do we?"

"Never." Katherine gave Kimberly a small smile and they walked back to their friends.

"Hey, girl. Don't you worry. We'll show Rita and Zedd they can't get to us that easily," Jason promised, taking her hand in his. Katherine smiled at him and nodded. He was right. She wasn't going to let Rita get to her. Everything would be okay. Back in the Moon Palace, Rita's eyes narrowed.

"OOOOOH! I could've sworn we had her beat!" she screeched as Zedd slowly walked up to her.

"What's the matter, my Sour Puss?" he asked.

"I wrecked Katherine's project and she bounced right back," she answered.

"But only after talking to Jason and Kimberly," Goldar pointed out. "The Brown Ranger is still fairly new to the team and if you get rid of the other Rangers, she'll fall into despair," he continued.

"What! That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Zedd blustered.

"Wait a minute, Zedd. Goldar's got a point. Katherine obviously relies on the other Power Pukes when things get tough. If we take away her friends, she'll have nobody to turn to and we can crush her easily," Rita pointed out.

"And how are you going to do that?" Zedd demanded.

"I'll call upon Lokar and have him battle the Rangers. Then, I'll have him transport every one of them except Katherine to another dimension," Rita replied. "She won't stand a chance by herself." She let out a cackle and started chanting the spell to summon the creature. Soon, the creature appeared and Rita and her minions laughed. The Power Rangers were in for it now.