After the Battle, Command Center
"She kicked our butts." Kira said, leaning over with her head between her legs in pain. Ethan was nursing his elbow and Trent lay with his eyes closed on the couch. Conner sat in one of the swivel chairs in front of the computer, head resting on his arms, once again staring into space.
"Her power is greater than the evil white ranger's was." Hayley said from next to Conner. Tommy was still pacing. Trent sat up and gave Hayley and odd look. "No offense Trent, but your evil dino gem was much more powerful than your good one. Same with Aria."
"My little sister is really evil." Tommy said out loud, stopping his frantic pacing. He sat down on the couch at Trent's feet and burying his head in his hands.
"Dr. O, it's not your fault. Zeltrax got her at school." Ethan said calmly. "And she's apparently had a massive influence on Conner." He directed his attention to the red ranger, who was still not paying attention. Hayley smiled and nudged him gently. Conner jerked up and looked around, making the others laugh, even Tommy managed a smile.
"You're caught." Ethan smiled. "Hook, line, and sinker. Aria did a great job snagging you." Conner didn't even make a move to protest and just sat there, swinging back and forth.
"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day with you silenced." Kira said with a smile and she stopped and her face changed from playful teasing to serious shock. "You… you really love her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I do." Conner replied, but looked up at Tommy with slight fear in his face. Tommy smiled at the teen.
"Don't worry Conner; I know that you know she can kick your ass if you hurt her." His face sobered at the thought of Aria beating someone.
"Look, there's nothing you can do here, I suggest you all go get some rest." Hayley said to the group of rangers. They nodded and left the command center, heading to their homes.
One Week Later, Command Center
Conner parked his Mustang in Dr. O's driveway and sat there. School had taken forever in the past few days, without Aria there to liven it up, it was more like it had been before he'd become a ranger, boring and easily slept through. Everything seemed to remind him of her, even his car still smelled of her sweet scent. He knew she didn't wear perfume, but her shampoo or something, and a sweet vanilla odor that lingered around even when she wasn't there. Finally, he got up and went into the house, which had even more reminders of Aria littered around, from a pink sweatshirt to a pair of black converse laying by the door with their hot pink laces.
"Hey Hayley, any news?" Conner asked the redhead who sat at the computer, looking over maps and maps.
"Nothing so far. I have her power signature, but I can't find it." Hayley sighed. "Tommy's still freaking out, isn't he." She said, not so much as a question, but a rhetorical question that's answer was plain as day. So Conner didn't bother to answer it.
"I'm going out for a walk." He replied instead. Hayley nodded and Conner headed outside, walking through the woods behind Dr. O's house. It had been a week since Aria disappeared, and even Conner couldn't understand why he missed her so much. They'd gone out three times, and she hadn't even let him kiss her yet. Maybe the fact she avoided his advances so much made her all the more attractive to him, but the fact remained that they hadn't seen her in a week despite being attacked by a monster midway through.
"Wither must you wander." A voice said from behind him. Conner turned quickly and saw her standing there. Dressed simply in jeans and a pink t-shirt, Aria stood in front of him, looking mostly normal, but her eyes glowed an unnatural pinkish-red. "Oh, you probably don't get that literary allusion, jock."
Conner winced at the shot she took at him, especially the emphasis on the last word. Aria was one of the smart kids, getting grades that rivaled Ethan's with the personality of a sweet cheerleader. And she definitely had the body for it, if she wanted, but Aria Oliver was not that kind of person. "Aria, don't do this." He stumbled out. "This isn't you."
Aria laughed cruelly at his plea. "Of course this isn't me." Conner froze, stunned at her reply. He was replied for all the insults in the world, but the admission was the last thing he'd expected.
"What are you talking about?" Conner demanded, a new vigor arising in him. Aria laughed again.
"This girl is simply my vessel to use the dino gem powers." She said with a maniacal grin. Conner's fists contracted as his fury grew.
"You… little… you won't get away with this." He muttered under his breath. Again, the being that occupied Aria's body laughed at him.
"And how do you propose doing that? You won't dare hurt her, and she's trapped in here." Aria tapped her own chest and grinned. "You have no choice but to do as I say."
"And what do you say?" Conner asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
"Bring me the Shield of Triumph." She said simply. "Powered up of course; you have twenty-four hours." Turning on her heel, she disappeared through the invisiportal, leaving Conner alone and furious.
Command Center, ten minutes later
"So it's not Aria after all." Tommy said, sitting back into a swivel chair. Conner stood in front of him and Hayley, telling them about his confrontation with Aria in the woods earlier. "This is good news, if we can get Aria to fight the person controlling her, there's a better chance we'll get her back."
"Really? I'd think it's worse because we can't really hurt her." Trent said confused. He, Ethan and Kira were standing behind Conner, listening to his explanation.
"Then we'll need a plan." Hayley said. "I have an idea; it's going to be tough though. Are you guys up to it?" She asked the rangers. They nodded, fiercely ready to get their new friend back.
