A/N: Due to the confusing nature of the body-switching storyline without pictures, I've tried to simplify it. After the passage marked *, the comment being a real comment I'm sure some readers will have, all character names relate to who is IN the body! I've also tried to avoid pronouns and use the character names (believe me, it's as weird writing it as it is reading it I assure you!)
Just as a reminder...
Noah has been switched into Emma's body.
Emma has been switched into Noah's body.
Gia has been switched into Jake's body.
Finally, Jake has been switched into Gia's body.
Hopefully that helps make things a little clearer when reading it, and as always, hope you all enjoy it.
Jordan was on the computer, connecting to the Ranger Underground for an update of the aftermath of the attack on the White House. Now that they knew what Tranfercer could do, it didn't take much for them to figure out what he was trying to do. He had been trying to switch a monster into Zack's place. They didn't want to even imagine what kind of havoc The Armada could wreak if they had replaced world leaders with their own puppets. Peace treaties could be scrapped, laws could be changed...it didn't bear thinking about.
"So there was a secret summit in the city?" Jordan asked. He didn't find this a particular surprise. One of the benefits of growing up in General Edwards home, a man with fierce political aspirations, he was surprisingly knowledgeable about the inner workings of the Government. Despite popular opinion, world leaders actually met a lot more often than people thought, but for security reasons the vast majority of these meetings took place behind closed doors and in secret locations known only to a few. It was especially uncomfortable if tensions between the countries involved were high, or any meetings could be seen as controversial.
"That's the case." The screen replied. Although most of them knew who the Rangers most active in the Underground were, it was still considered safest if they didn't appear on screen or use real names or voices. The screen itself was just a Ranger Symbol, in this case the Mighty Morphin' emblem, and a line underneath that moved with the sound of the voice. "After the attack, all the leaders have been moved to secure locations. Only people we trust implicitly know where."
"And the President?" He asked.
"He was pretty mad he couldn't help out to be honest." The voice on the other end replied. Jordan just smiled. He knew that Zack had been one of the original Rangers. He knew how frustrating it was to be on the sidelines, given his time trapped in the Library.
"How about your team?" The voice asked. "How are they?"
"Uh...sorry, you're breaking up." He responded, fiddling with some controls, affecting the signal. I'm...I...you're..."
As he cut off the signal, he just sighed and looked to the others, who were all sitting in the examination room, while Tensou checked them over. Although they already knew they had switched minds, he wanted to be sure there weren't any other negative effects of the attack. Jordan hated lying to a former Ranger, but seeing the team in a state of confusion before him, he couldn't help thinking that right now, when the Underground was already tense given the apparent interest Vekar was showing in the World Leaders, now wasn't the best time to tell them what had happened. People were nervous enough without knowing about...this!
Noah was sitting, taking his glasses on and off, and squinting whenever he did so. Emma just sighed and looked to him.
"Would you quit that?" She asked.
"I know you always wore glasses, but I never knew how bad your eyesight really was." He commented. Jordan had to remind himself that although the body was Noah, it was really Emma inside. She was used to having 20/20 vision. Indeed, her love of photography was largely down to her keen attention to detail and seeing even the smallest sign of beauty in the world. It was more than a little strange to her to have that taken away. "How do you work on all those tiny circuits?"
"You get used to the glasses." Emma replied, shifting a little in her seat. "What I don't get is how you get used to all this hair! I can't stop it getting in my eyes!"
"Well maybe if you stopped slouching!" Noah reprimanded her. Jordan just shook his head.
"OK, this is just too weird." He remarked. He looked to the others, who were all rather uncomfortable in the whole situation. "OK, can we all agree on one rule? No...Weird touching."
"Agreed!" Emma, Noah and Gia replied. Jake...well...Jake's body just looked a little awkward. Jordan just groaned. "What?"
"Uh...that might not be much of an option." He responded. "I...uh...I have to go."
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Gia's body...really Jake replied. "Jordan..."
"Hey, it's not my fault!" Gia replied, holding up her hands defensively. "I'm not the one who pounded five sodas before the battle!"
"OK...so there are certain...functions you're all still going to have to perform." He said, conceding this point. Thinking about it, he had no idea how long they would be stuck like this. He was sure they were all going to have to go to the bathroom at some point, and they would possibly have to spend a few days like that...basic personal hygiene would be an issue. He really didn't envy them having to face the prospect of showering. "Can we all agree to just try and be adult about this?"
"And..respect the fact we're in each other's bodies?" Noah, in Emma's body asked, holding the glasses and pressing them back to Emma...in his body's face.
"Oh man, I really have to go!" Gia, in Jake's body replied, rushing out of the room. Orion was coming in at that point, and was almost bowled over as she left. He just looked to the room.
"Bathroom?" He asked.
"Bathroom!" They all replied in unison. He set down a roll of sticky labels he had found in the cupboards and some marker pens.
"OK, so I found them." He responded. "So what are these for?"
*"I think it's fair to say that this is going to get confusing!" Jordan responded, writing out some labels. "So, for now, everyone wear one of these, and for God's sake, answer only to your names! If I ask for Emma, I mean you!" He pointed at Noah's body. "Agreed?"
"Alright, that isn't a bad idea." Emma replied.
"And maybe we should get into something that's a little more comfortable." Noah suggested, looking down at what he was wearing. "I mean, within reason right, but if we're going to be like this for a while..."
"I think that would be for the best." Jake agreed, taking his name label.
"I guess if I'm going to be soldering, it would be a good idea to wear long sleeves, and trousers." Noah replied, getting up. "And I should really do something about this hair!"
"Hey!" Emma shrieked.
"I meant like tie it back or something!" Noah assured her. "Don't worry; I'm not going near scissors!"
"You sure as hell aren't!" Emma stated. "Otherwise this 'Fro is going by bye!"
"OK, this is going to get really weird isn't it?" Orion asked. Jordan just sighed.
"Oh yeah." He replied. "Come on, let's get back to the scanners and see if that monster shows up anywhere. The sooner we deal with him, the better."
Up on The Armada Command Ship, Prince Vekar was on the bridge, having finally gotten well enough to be around the rest of his cabinet. Lavira was by his side, looking overjoyed to have the Prince back in his place of power. Damaras seemed somewhat less thrilled about that. Now that Lavira and the Prince were...involved, he was keenly aware of how much stronger her position was with him. He had been plotting with Vrak to overthrow Vekar, believing that the Prince was unfit to take the reins of the Empire. Lavira gave him a knowing smirk, reminding him of his place now. Were she to ask it of her 'sweetums', she was sure he would have Damaras making no decisions any more important than when to replace the urinal cakes.
Transfercer was standing before them, relaying the details of the battle. He was very animated and excited, telling them with great passion about every blow and every attack. Prince Vekar listened to the story, looking more than a little unimpressed.
"The President slipped away in the confusion, but I did switch four of the Rangers!" He concluded his story. He looked to the Prince, awaiting his response. Prince Vekar just looked to Lavira, then back to him.
"So you're telling me you got a whole squadron of Bruisers and X-borgs destroyed, you failed in the one thing I asked you to do, and you're proud of it?" He demanded.
"No, your highness!" He protested. "Well...um...yes, but..."
"Calling you an imbecile would be an insult to imbeciles!" He yelled at him. "I should destroy you right now, but I wouldn't want to sully my hands with such a task! Damaras, dispose of him!"
"No, no!" Transfercer squealed. Damaras was about to grab him, but Lavira just held up a hand.
"Your Highness, perhaps this plan still has some merit." She suggested. "Transfercer can always try again at another date."
"But he failed miserably!" The Prince stated.
"True, but he DID switch the Rangers." She reminded him. "Imagine the confusion that will cause them in battle."
He just looked to her as she explained.
"Imagine if you were to switch bodies with say...Damaras here." She suggested. "You would have to get used to different powers, different levels of strength...in battle none of what you know about yourself and your limits and strengths would be true."
"Hm..." He said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. She leaned in closer.
"If you destroy Transfercer, then his spell will end and they all go back to their own bodies." She reminded him. "Why not let this play out for now. Perhaps...perhaps send in another, stronger Commander in the meantime, one that will test their limits at a time when even they don't know their limits."
"Lavira my love, you are as brilliant as you are beautiful." Prince Vekar responded, kissing her hand softly. Damaras just groaned seeing this. Lavira was the only one Vekar ever gave credit for her own schemes these days. "Is Argus ready?"
"He will require a little more time in repairs." She answered. "But I'm sure Damaras can find someone."
"Yes, of course, he's good at all that boring administrative stuff." He said, waving Damaras off. "Transfercer, go...somewhere out of the way until I call you again. Damaras...find someone strong to send against the Rangers."
"I will do as you ask." He replied gruffly, turning and leaving the room. The Prince just looked to Lavira and smiled.
"I can't wait to make you my queen and have you rule at my side." He told her. "You are the perfect woman for me."
Back on the Red Galleon, Jake was playing keepie-up, wearing blue jeans and a Harwood Hoodie top that he had found to make himself a little more comfortable. He had the name-tag on to make sure no one was confused who he was. He groaned as he lost control of the ball and it bounced across the work bench, nearly knocking over the double-key blaster Noah was working on.
Noah too had found something a little closer to what he was used to wearing, and had tied back his hair. He just looked up to Jake, removing the safety goggles he now had to wear since he didn't have to wear his glasses. He tied back the long hair, keeping it out of his face.
"Would you knock it off?" Noah asked. "I keep telling you how dangerous this is!"
"I'm sorry, I just...I can't get why I can't do this." Jake responded.
"Because you're in a different body!" Noah explained. "You have your own mind, but you have to get used to new muscle responses. Gia has different...physical limits and strengths than you do.
"Well you seem to be coping alright." Jake replied. Noah just smiled.
"I have to admit, Emma having smaller hands is kind of an advantage." He admitted. "I'm a little surprised how dexterous her fingers are...I guess I never thought about all the detail that goes into her artwork and her photo editing."
"Alright Noah, is this acceptable?" Emma asked, coming out of her room. She had changed into something that made her a little more comfortable, but even though he wasn't the most masculine guy; even Noah drew the line at pink jeans. He just nodded.
"Thanks, I really appreciate that." He told her.
"This is getting too weird." Orion remarked. Jordan just nodded, but jerked his head up when he saw Gia.
"It's about to get weirder." Jordan answered. Gia came in, putting away a mop and bucket in the cleaning cupboard.
"OK, that was not pleasant." Gia complained with a shudder, looking to the guys. "Seriously, how do you aim?"
"It's not as easy as it sounds is it?" Jordan said with a little chuckle. "What can I say? It takes practice."
"Well some of you could practice more!" Emma replied.
"And that still doesn't stop you cleaning up your misfires!" Gia added as she and Emma high-fived. Emma then looked to her hand, and back at Gia. "Don't worry, I washed up after."
"So...are you getting close?" Jordan asked Noah, trying to change the subject.
"According to these calculations." Noah answered, putting his safety glasses back in place to protect Emma's eyes. "I just need to clean this up a little and...OK, I think this is ready to test out!"
He picked up the blaster and looked to the others.
"OK, now all we need is somewhere to test it." Noah replied. The others followed him as they went to find somewhere safe to give the new blaster a test run.
A little while later, they found an old mine a few miles from the city. They needed somewhere they wouldn't be disturbed during the test of the new blaster, and more importantly, where they were unlikely to cause any unintended destruction.
"Alright, to be on the safe side, we should all morph." Noah told them. They all pulled out their morphers and keys, morphing into their Ranger forms.
"Alright Noah, let's pick a target." Jordan stated.
"How about that rock?" Noah suggested. Everyone looked around as the Pink Ranger answered. It was at that point, they all realised a mistake. They had all used the key they carried around, their own Corsair Keys. Orion just sighed.
"Now...this just got really strange." Orion stated. Jake just started laughing.
"Dude, you're pink!" Jake giggled.
"Yeah, well...remember Terry was a guy and he was the Pink Ranger." Noah reminded him. "And he kicked your butt remember?"
"And you complained about pink jeans?" Emma stated, putting her hands on her hips. Noah just gulped.
"Only on me...my body doesn't suit pink!" Noah told her. "Uh...how about we give this blaster a try?"
He went to his belt buckle, summoning up two keys. He held up two Pink Keys.
"I guess since I'm using Emma's powers, it's best to use the ones closest to her Corsair powers to be on the safe side." Noah explained. "There's no need to take any more chances than we need to. Two keys, double the power!"
Noah levelled the blaster towards the rock as the others made their way behind him. He got into a solid firing position, bracing the weapon with both hands.
"Alright, here goes nothing!" Noah replied, summoning up all his strength. He fired off the shot, which blazed through the air, hitting the rock and shattering it into millions of tiny stone chips. He smiled with satisfaction, pointing the weapon in the air, into a safe direction.
"Perfect!" Noah exclaimed proudly as the others came to his side.
"Wow Noah, that was amazing!" Gia complimented him. "That thing sure packs a punch!"
"Believe me; I would not want to be on the other end of this thing!" Noah agreed. "When that Transfercer guy comes back, with this thing, he won't know what hit him!"
"And we can all finally get back to our own bodies!" Gia added.
"OK, so until we get another crack at The Armada, we should probably get some rest in." Jordan suggested. "I say we get back to the ship for some food, and then call it a day."
"Man, I so can't wait to get a double cheese jalapeno burger with cheesy chilli fries!" Jake stated. Gia just glared at him.
"HEY!" She screamed. "You know I hate spicy food, it plays havoc with my stomach! That's not your body remember?"
"But it's so good!" Jake protested. Gia just glared at him.
"Do that, and I swear before we switch back, I'll drink enough prune juice to keep you on the can for a month!" Gia warned him. Jake just sighed.
"OK, no spicy food." Jake agreed as they left, heading back for the ship.