Confession time: I don't own Power Rangers, and at the end I skimp out on the descriptions of… well, you'll see. Also, this is probably the most surreal chapter. Yeah… o.O This was clearly written in between Jungle Fury and RPM.
Chapter Six: Unexpected Company
Kim and Billy stepped onto the front porch as the time the three kids did. Arms akimbo the former demanded, "Who are you?"
"Oh boy, Chip either forgot to tell you or decided not to tell you," Vida rolled her eyes. Then she eyed Kim's outfit. "Probably the second option 'cause you're wearing pink."
"What's wrong with pink?" Now Kim was angry instead of annoyed. Madison whispered, "Vida!"
"Oh," Kim groaned in understanding. "You're Vida Rocca, Chip's best friend from Briarwood and that's your sister Madison. But who's the boy?"
"Xander. He was our ticket here."
Xander looked perplexed at the concept of being a ticket. Billy noted that he looked a bit like a young Tommy. Adjusting the straps on her backpack Vida informed Kim, "We're coming with you guys to wherever you're dumping off Chip and his sisters. So if you don't like it, too bad."
Then Vida stomped into the house. Kim looked over at Billy.
Why do I like her? I shouldn't, but I do.
You have to admire her spunk, he agreed. Looking at Madison and Xander he told them, "Would you two like to come in?"
"Yes, please," Madison nodded. As the foursome went inside she apologized, "I didn't know Chip hadn't told you we were coming, Ms. Hart. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Madison. Although I am going to have to talk to Chip about this."
Hearing an angry Vida yelling from upstairs, Kim tilted her head.
"Or Vida is doing that for me."
"Crikey," Xander muttered. "No one is going to care about how I talk with this chaos going on!"
"Hey, you're from Australia, like Billy's and my friend Kat," Kim noted with surprise. Xander smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah."
"Cool."
Ronny and Lily ran down the stairs.
"Kim, who the heck is that girl upstairs yelling at Chip for not telling you that she was coming?"
"Vida, his friend from Briarwood. This is Vida's twin Madison and their friend Xander. Be nice to them Ronny."
"Hey, I'm always nice!"
Kim rubbed her temples. This so wasn't the time to deal with domestic disputes between kids.
Want me to go deal with it?
No thanks, Billy. I can handle it; besides, Chip's my foster kid.
And so Kim trudged upstairs where Vida's yelling had only increased in decibel. Billy looked at the small swarm of kids surrounding him. He scratched the back of his head.
"Do any of you know how to play hide and seek?"
…
Out in the desert, there was an underground archeological dig set up in a mountain. The work day had ended, and under the lavender sky a family of three was eating a picnic dinner. Cordero Fernandez, a lanky Hispanic man with fluffy black hair and tawny skin, reached out for a ham and cheese sandwich.
"Your mom and I uncovered some Stegosaurus bones today. Want to see them tomorrow before work starts up again, Trent?"
"Sure!" grinned their twelve-year-old son, who took after his father. Mohala Fernandez smiled happily.
"They're so amazing, Trent. I can't wait for you to see them! They're the most incredible things I've ever seen!"
Cordero laughed loudly, and it echoed throughout the rising mountains. His slight Hawaiian-descent wife arched an eyebrow at him.
"What is it, Cordero?"
"Nothing, Mo. It's just I've seen two even more incredible things."
"What?"
"You and Trent."
With a broad smile Trent told his mother, "Papa's got you, there, Mom!"
"Men!" Mohala sniffed haughtily, but her dark brown eyes were twinkling. Cordero leaned over and kissed her soundly, causing Trent to make the required gagging noises. Cordero ruffled his son's hair, which was so much like his own.
"Ingrate, ruining my romantic moment with my wife!"
"Sorry, Papa," Trent grinned. As she grabbed a handful of potato chips, Mohala spotted someone approaching. She waved.
"Hello, Mr. Mercer."
"Hello, Mohala. Hello, Cordero. And hello, Trent," smiled the head of the archeological dig as well as the source of its funding. The Caucasian man was dressed impeccably in a cloud grey suit and silver tie. His slightly graying dark blonde hair was neatly combed, and his black Oxfords were still shining despite the desert dust. In contrast, the elder two Fernandez's were dressed in khaki pants, white T-shirts, and worn hiking boots while Trent wore black capris, a tan T-shirt, and dust-covered sneakers. Mr. Mercer smiled at the trio.
"I hope you three are celebrating the Stegosaurus find today. It is quite magnificent."
"Not as magnificent as my family!" Cordero beamed. Mr. Mercer suddenly looked a tad wistful.
"Nothing is as magnificent as a family, you're right Cordero."
Mohala offered kindly, "Would you like to have dinner with us, Mr. Mercer?"
"No, no, I can't intrude. Besides, I ate earlier. But thank you for the offer. Oh, wait. Cordero, Mohala; in a few days three college students will be coming to help out as interns. Their names are _ , Smitty, and Thomas Oliver. The last's records seem to be most promising, although his hair is as long as Mahala's!"
This rare joke from their boss got smiles from all three. Mahala's hair was in a sleek black braid that went all the way down her back. She swiped at it jokingly as she grinned, "Maybe we could trade hair secrets!"
Trent snickered. Looking at the boy, Mr. Mercer asked curiously, "And while your parents work, what do you do, Trent?"
"I… I explore, I read comic books, I draw my own, I clean up our site. If the dig's during the school year I have to study."
"Of course. Well, I hope you three have a lovely night."
With that Mr. Mercer walked off. That night, lying on his bedroll in his tent, Trent listened to his parents talk in the tent next to his.
"It's so sad, Mo. His fiancée died years ago- cancer I think. He's never gotten over her, really."
"I hope he moves on sometime. Don't take this the wrong way, Cordero, but you died I wouldn't mourn you forever. I'd have to move on sometime. But don't take this to mean that you can die any time you want."
"Same goes for you."
The two shadows on Trent's tent wall merged together. With a heavy sigh Trent crawled outside, clad only in black shorts. With ease he climbed up to the top of the nearby cliff. Dangling his feet off the edge, Trent lied down and stared up at the shining stars. He heard footsteps behind him, but didn't react until he heard Mr. Mercer's voice.
"Hello, Trent. Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Yes," he admitted, rising up to support himself on an elbow. "But I'm not sleepy."
"What if your parents check on you?" Mr. Mercer asked, sitting down next to Trent. The boy smiled one-sidedly.
"They're a tad busy right now. I still don't know whether living in tents is an advantage or a disadvantage."
"Oh dear," Mr. Mercer threw back his head and laughed. "Oh dear."
"Mr. Mercer?"
"Yes?"
"Could I ask you something?"
"I suppose so." Mr. Mercer looked into the boy's eyes steadily. "What is it?"
"Do you believe in true love?"
"I… I what?"
Trent squirmed uncomfortably. "You know. The kind you read about in fairy tales. The forever and ever love."
"Huh." Mr. Mercer leaned back to gaze up at the stars. He was silent for a moment, then he spoke.
"I think I do. There are many kinds of love out there, Trent. True love is rare, but I suppose it really does happen to a lucky few. Another kind of love might not be true love, but it'll last a lifetime. That's the type of love your parents share- that's the type of love my Darcy and I had. But part of me still wants to be one of those lucky few who finds true love."
"Me too," Trent nodded. "But only when I'm older. When I'm a hundred percent sure girls don't have cooties."
"That sounds like a plan," Mr. Mercer forced back a laugh, knowing the boy was perfectly serious. "Yes, that sounds like a plan to me."
The two sat there on the cliff for a long time, watching the stars and wishing on each and every one. Further out in the desert, a man hung from shackles in the center of an abandoned town. He had bright red hair streaked with grey, and a matching beard. His attire was a white shirt with puffy long sleeves, a long gold-orange tunic that fell to his ankles, and leather sandals. A monstrous, biped form approached him.
"General Venjix, self-proclaimed heir to the tatters of the Machine Empire. What do you want?"
"You are the Oracle," the General growled. "You know what has been, what is, and what will be. Tell me-"
"Did I not give you your answer months ago!" the Oracle yelled in bitter grief. "I told the truth- your infant Venjix Network would come closer than any other villain to claiming the Earth but that the R.P.M. Rangers would halt you."
"And so we found a way to shut down the morphing grid," General _ observed. "But the former Rangers are going to seek a way to revive it, and we have underestimated them one too many times. We need your help."
"Never."
When General Venjix opened his mouth, the Oracle smiled tiredly.
"You can not threaten me with the deaths of children this time, General. Whether I help you or not, innocent children will die."
Suddenly he frowned, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were a more vivid teal than before.
"Very well. I shall revive the minions of teams past, present, and future if you let me go after I do so."
"He himself can do nothing," commented a slender, warrior-like woman in a sleek black leather uniform. "That the Tribunal declared it so at the first Council. Why not let him go?"
"You will revive the minions?" General Venjix questioned. When the Oracle nodded, he seemed satisfied.
"Then begin- with a hundred per Ranger on the team they fought, fight, or will fight!"
Taking a deep, sorrowful breath the Oracle veiled himself in a gleaming teal light and began.
"First come 600 Putties."
"Then come 300 of the Z Patrol."
"Next are 100 Tenga Warriors."
"100 Cogs."
"600 Piranhatrons."
"700 Sting Warriors."
"600 Batlings."
"600 Cyclobots."
"600 Putrids."
"600 Kelzacks."
"500 Tyranndrones."
"300 Krybots, 300 Bluehead Krybots, and 300 Krybots."
"400 Hidiacs and 400 Styxoics."
"300 Chillers and 300 Lava Lizards."
"500 Rin Shi."
"700 Grinders."
General Venjix spun in a circle, admiring the thousands and thousands of mindless minions that were now his to command. Smugly he broke the chains that bound the Oracle.
"Go."
But first the Oracle had one final prophecy.
"I warn you; by calling upon the minions of all the teams you just might call into action all the teams."
General Venjix smiled coldly and gestured to his new, massive army.
"Then I'll just let them have some unexpected company, won't I?"
Grimly the Oracle vanished in a shimmer of teal light.