CHAPTER TEN – TRAGEDY STRIKES, PART 1

Tommy's Basement

"Come on guys get her in. Hailey," Conner yelled as they brought there battered friend into Tommy's Basement "Hailey, we need you."

"Oh my god what happened to her?" Hailey asked seeing the bruises, cuts, and pale skin complexion.

"We were on our way home and the Dark Ranger jumped us; we need a place to put her Hailey." Ethan screamed as tears ran down his face.

"Ok, let's get her to one of the beds… this way." Hailey said as she led Ethan and Trent who were carrying Kira to there emergency beds.

"Be careful… where is Tommy, he needs to be here." Conner yelled panicking at Kira's current state.

Trent and Ethan were being as careful as they could. Neither one wanted to put Kira in anymore pain than she was already in. "Ok we need to stop this bleeding, Conner get the first aid kit from the main room, Ethan I want you to apply pressure to her stomach wound; don't stop putting pressure on the wound, and Trent you need to keep her head straight. The last thing we need is adding to this mess." Hailey ordered trying to gain some control of the situation.

Quickly Hailey made her way to the computer screen and pressed an intercom link button to the up stairs of the house. "Tommy we have an emergency. You need to get down here now." Hailey yelled worried about Kira's condition.

Tommy came down the steps angry; the rangers and Hailey knew that he hadn't officially told Kim about his involvement with the new ranger team, and they all knew that she was with him upstairs. "What is so important," Tommy began to say with Kim hot on his heals for an explanation.

Quickly he realized the graveness of the situation, "What happened to her?" Tommy asked seeing the others frantically trying to do there best in a situation that none of them were qualified to make any better.

"The Dark Ranger attacked us," Conner quickly said bringing the first aid kit to Hailey.

With those words Tommy began to realize the full scope of the situation and started to take control, "Kim you need to get upstairs," Kim looked over at Tommy part that she was hurt and part that he didn't want her around for this, "Kim I don't have time for this. Hailey put in a call to Light Speed… we need Doctor Dana Mitchell here as soon as they can get her here."

Trent looked over as Hailey started making the call, "Dr. O she needs a hospital, look at her…"

Before Trent could even finish the sentence Tommy cut him off, "Trent, what are we going to tell a hospital if we took her there," he said then realizing that the young rangers thought he concern was more with there secret than there friend "Besides no one knows more about ranger injuries than Dr. Mitchell."

"They are sending her right over." Hailey yelled from over at the desk.

With those words the rangers all went to work, trying to buy there friend time until Dana would arrive.

It was less than thirty minutes till Dana arrived; medical equipment and all. "Where is the young lady?" Dana asked moving quickly knowing the time could be of the essence.

The rangers cleared way for Dana to get to work; "Ok I need to know everything that happened," none of them said anything for a moment "If you want me to help your friend I need to know what happened."

"We were walking home from school when the Dark Ranger attacked us; Kira took one of his blasts head on… that is when we brought her here." Conner said being the first one to speak up.

"An energy weapon," Dana quietly said, "Ok, I need you all to go. I need to get to work."

None of the rangers wanted to leave there friend, but eventually they all made there way to the kitchen hoping that Dr. Mitchell would be able to save Kira.

Tommy's Kitchen

It had been nearly an hour and not a word from Dana on Kira's condition. "I don't know guys, she wasn't looking too good." Ethan said fearing the worst for his friend.

The rest of them just stood in the kitchen, fearing that Kira wasn't going to be all right. Tommy started to make his way to the living room seeing Kim in there all alone, "We just have to keep hoping for the best; that is all we can do." He said as he put his hand on Ethan's shoulder before entering the living room.

No detective was needed when Tommy entered the room, Kim was mad. Quietly he made his way next to her and sat down. For a moment neither one said anything, they just stared at each other. "Why didn't you tell me?" Kim said stating the obvious question.

"I didn't mean to lie… it has only been a week, I was going to tell you…" Tommy said, feeling so angry at himself for not telling her.

Kim didn't say anything for a few minutes; Tommy was about to say something when she finally opened her mouth "So you are a Power Ranger again… believe it or not I can accept that you didn't tell me, but I am going to go walk around town for a few."

"Kim…" Tommy said trying to plead in that one word for her not to go.

"It is nothing like that Tommy, I just need to process everything. Plus it looks like you have got your hands full right now. I will be back." Kim said grabbing her coat and going out the front door.

Can this day get any worse was all Tommy could think. In less than thirty minutes he had one of his students fighting for her life and his new girlfriend mad at him. Only you Tommy could have this much fall on you at one time.

Then through the quiet a thunderous noise came, the door opened. Everyone moved quickly to get near Dana to hear what she had to say. "Ok I was able to stop the bleeding and stabilize her."

There was a collective sigh let out by all of them, Kira was going to be ok. "But…" all the rangers sigh were quickly replaced with breaking hearts with that one word from Dana "There is still a lot of internal damage, and she loss a lot of blood…"

"What are you saying?" Conner asked hoping that there was a silver lining to all of this.

"I can make her comfortable, but… there is nothing I can do. She lost too much blood; there is just too much internal damage to repair. I am sorry, I did all I could." Dana said hating that she couldn't deliver any better news.

They all stood there in silence, Hailey couldn't hold back her tears anymore and just let them flow freely. Not one of them could say a word, what more could be said. Dana had said it already; there was nothing more that could be done. All that was left to do for Kira's friends was to sit and wait for her to die.

Mesagog's Island Fortress

"Mesagog, I think I have some information that will please you." The Dark Ranger said walking into the throne room.

"What is it," Mesagog said already short with his partner.

"We will be down one ranger very shortly and…" The Dark Ranger said seeing the interest in Mesagog's eyes increase "I know a way to power the machine."

"Interesting," Mesagog said, "Please do tell."

"Are we alone, I mean Elsa isn't around?" The Dark Ranger asked raising the interest of the reptile.

"Why would it matter if Elsa were around?" Mesagog asked curious as to what the Dark Ranger was implying.

"Nothing," the Dark Ranger said trying quickly to change the subject "It is a long process but if you can get me the right equipment then we can pull it off…"

The Dark Ranger told Mesagog what he needed but all the while he could see that his reptilian ally had concern as to why he brought up Elsa earlier. Great, this fool is playing right into my plan, he thought continuing to weave his web.

Andrew's House

Andrew's training had become more intense the last few days; he realized that in there last encounter the Dark Ranger had the upper hand that would not be the case next time. As far as strength went Andrew knew he could hold his own, he was lacking on discipline. Hence all of Andrew's recent training had been all geared towards increasing his just that.

RING! RING! RING!

Suddenly Andrew's concentration was broke, I don't even exist in this world, why would anyone call me, he thought to himself as he made his way up stairs to the phone.

"Hello…" Andrew wasn't surprised that one of the Dino Rangers had called him, but what he was told devastated him "How long ago did this happen… No, you did the right thing calling me… I will be there as soon as I can."

Andrew quickly hung up the phone, terrified at the news he had just received. Originally he was going to run to Tommy's, but that would take too long and this was a matter of life or death. Focusing his energy Andrew used the Black Knight power to teleport himself to Tommy's house.

Flashback

"And we ask the lord to look over our brother in his kingdom, amen." The priest said finishing the funeral services.

It was fitting that clouds covered the sky; it was a gloomy day indeed. The six teens stood in front of the tombstone, all mourning for the same reason.

"It wasn't right," Megan said being the first to say what all the others thought.

"He was just walking home, he was caught in the cross fire." Dave said feeling remorse for the death that they all believed was there fault

Everyone just stood there thinking; the six all knew what they signed up for when they became rangers, but this was just a boy coming home from school, bait.

The others started to walk away as Andrew stayed behind for a few moments. Slowly he kneeled beside the tombstone, put his hand on it and tearfully said…

"I am sorry."

End Flashback

Tommy's House

"Dude where did you go," Conner asked Ethan on edge due to the current situation.

"I had to make a phone call; I don't think any of us want my parents coming over here, do we?" Ethan replied trying to take the pressure off of where he was.

"Calm down guys," Tommy said trying to keep the mood as calm as it could be "There is enough going on without us biting are own heads off."

There were five people in the living room, but not a noise could be heard. All five were still trying to cope with the recent news that Kira was going to die. Trent was about say something when a scream came from Tommy's basement.

They all ran as quickly as they could knowing the scream was Dana's, fearing that something could be dangerously wrong. When they arrived the site shocked and angered them all.

"You have got to be kidding me, what is he doing here?" Trent asked angered that Andrew even thought he belonged there by Kira's side.

Andrew said not a word to any of them, just stood by Kira's bed, crying. "I am so sorry Kira, that blast wasn't met for you… I am so sorry." Andrew said quietly but yet loud enough for the others to hear his quiet plea.

"You have no right to be here," Trent said moving closer to Andrew "How did you even know about this?"

"Ethan," Andrew said keeping his words to them at a minimum.

Everyone stared at Ethan like he betrayed them. Ethan didn't need them to say a word to know exactly what was going through all there minds; that why after all that they have been through with Andrew, after all that he has done would Ethan call him? "What, I am sorry but when Dr. Mitchell said she couldn't do anything; I thought that maybe Andrew could, so I called him." Ethan replied trying to justify his supposed betrayal to the others.

"You called him," Conner said angry at the actions his friend had taken.

"Listen this isn't about you or any of us… this is about Kira," Ethan said staring down all of them "Now I don't care about what he did if he can help Kira that is all that matters."

Trent moved right next to Andrew still furious that he was this close to Kira after what he pulled. "Tears, well you should be sad… this is your fault." Trent said angering the heartbroken Andrew.

You could see the look in Andrew's eyes shift from sadness to anger almost immediately after Trent's words left his mouth. Almost instantly Andrew grabbed Trent by the collar and threw him across the room. "You got anything else to say Trent?" Andrew said standing on the other side of the room.

"He might not, but I do." Conner said standing nose to nose with Andrew.

Dana checking the medical equipment hooked up to Kira making sure it was not damaged during that little display of testosterone said "You guys could seriously damage this equipment, and right now this equipment is the only thing keeping Kira alive."

Neither Conner nor Andrew backed down until Tommy got in between them. "Listen I don't like this anymore than you do, but if he can help Kira than we have to put up with him." Tommy calmly said trying to keep Conner from starting a fight so close to Kira.

"Fine," Conner said, backing down from Andrew "But only for Kira's sake."

"Can you help her Andrew?" Tommy said hoping that he would know something that could save the yellow rangers life.

"She took a direct hit," Andrew said looking around to the others for confirmation "Her ranger powers are the only reason why she didn't die on impact."

They all stood for a moment when Andrew continued speaking "There might be something, it is a long shot, but it is the only thing I can think of. There is an orb called the Orb of Dechalak, it has healing properties." Andrew's words brought hope to the Dino Rangers "The only catch is that it won't be easy to get if it exist here at all."

"Well at least it is something," Conner said getting his coat "Lets go; Kira doesn't have much time."

"No, this is a one man mission," Andrew quickly said seeing the look of frustration on Conner's face.

"Do you honestly think we trust you to do this on your own?" Conner asked furiously.

"You don't have to trust me," Andrew said turning his attention to Kira "You just have to trust that I won't let her die."

There was only silence after that; none of the rangers trusted Andrew but they all knew that if Andrew had anything to say about it Kira would live. Even Conner knew though he hated to admit it that Andrew would do anything to keep Kira safe. "Fine then go, she is counting on you." Conner said as he dropped the tough guy act and showed his true colors in this situation, a worried friend.

"I know," Andrew said as he used his Black Knight powers once again to teleport away.

The room was filled with silence after Andrew left, though there was a new hope for Kira that hope lied in a man that they didn't trust to find a object that they never heard of that might or might not even exist. Dana started looking at her machines and then turned to the others…

"I don't know what that man plans to do… but whatever it is he needs to do it quick. She doesn't have much time left."

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