Chapter 11
The resentment that I felt for my friends for being given the chance to resume their normal lives with no worries about the state of Angel Grove, or if they were going to survive this battle or that battle, or if they were being followed by Piranhatrons or any of Divatox's henchmen, and could sleep soundly for the rest of their lives, was pushed to the far corners of my mind with teaching the new Rangers how to pilot the zords, seeing to their martial arts training, weapons training, and telling them about their new enemy, I was pretty busy for that first week. Justin tried to help me out as much as he could, thinking that he knew it all when in reality, he didn't. Still, I let him help, it was all too much to tell and to do for one girl. It felt a little strange to teleport to the Power Chamber and see complete strangers, whom I was barley getting to know, instead of my friends whom I rarely saw anymore. Sometimes I would be surprised to see them in the Power Chamber, working at the computers or tinkering with the zords, then it would all come back to me. The whole process of being a Power Ranger, of morphing and fighting felt different. There were no more combined attacks that we would often unleash, no more of having playful arguments while we kicked butt, while Tommy would yell at us to stop messing around, no more of playing around in the zords, we used to play tag. Sometimes I would accidently call out to T.J. and call him Tommy, and sometimes I would forget myself and call out orders for the others to follow, they allowed me to do this a couple of times and A-6 would constantly remind me that T.J. was the leader now and that I would be taking orders from him one day.
"As soon as he finds his place within the team, then you can take the back seat." I glared at him, then limped away thinking longingly of Tentomon and how he would have told me to continue with the teachings until T.J. got the hang of being the leader of the Power Rangers. That goes to show how different A-6 and Tentomon really are. Speaking of which, the new rangers noticed how different Justin and I were. I spoke of caution and danger. Justin spoke about the glory of the battle and how nothing can hurt us. He even told them that no monster can beat us! And how we were invincible!! I had a long and stern talk with Justin, but for all the good it did, I might as well had been talking to the wall. Justin still thought that the rangers were strong and unbeatable and I debated whether or not I should tell him about times that the rangers had lost battles. Their first battle with Lord Zedd, the battle with the Evil Green Ranger, and the very first time that they faced off with Rito Revolto but I had a feeling that Justin would just ask.
"But they bounced back right?" when I had to say that yes, the rangers, after a time had bounced back he would just say.
"I knew they would." So I decided not to say anything, still I kept an eye on him, just to make sure that he didn't go over his head too much. I promised Tommy and the others. It became clear to me near the end of the week that he was showing off for the new rangers, because in his small and wacked out thirteen year old mind, he was the expert and T.J and the others were the rookies. He began to show off his fighting moves, his powers that came with the ranger suit and his weapon. Watching him as he boasted about the monsters that he defeated and about taking on five Piranhatrons all at the same time and all by himself. I would shake my head and teleport to Angel Grove or Leawood.
"He's just a kid Amy. Kids like to have fun and boast about their accomplishments, can you blame him for wanting to tell the new rangers about what he has done so far ever since he became a ranger." I gave an irritated sigh.
"I don't like this Dex, I really don't. Justin's going to get himself into trouble if he doesn't stop acting all superior. Other than really annoying me, it's dangerous."
"How, pray tell, is it dangerous?" I scowled.
"Divatox could overhear him and target him and him alone, with some powerful monsters that want to test out his "super strength and speed and awesome weapon skills" and he could wind up by himself, while the rest of us are off with our hands full with a monster of our own. He could get hurt or worse, he could get captured. And I've been captured enough times to know what they do to you when you're locked in a cell with no powers, and at the mercy of your captors."
"And talking to him hasn't helped at all?" I sighed and shook my head.
"No, he still thinks its all a big game, that we are "the super cool and invincible Power Rangers, nothing can hurt us or defeat us", its driving me nuts. And before you ask, yes, Tommy and the others have talked to him."
"Have you told him about all those times when the Power Rangers were defeated?"
"Yes I have but as soon as I come to the part that the Rangers gained new powers to defeat a new enemy, he just says "See I told you so, nobody can defeat us and we get new powers as a bonus" I just don't know how I'm going to get thru to him."
"I was never like this, I never boasted to my friends or parents that, sure I had this cool power, I wasn't defeat able or all powerful. I knew that I could be taken down, I've got the scars to prove it for god's sake! Not to mention all that I've lost!"
"Maybe you should tell Justin what you went through, show him your parents graves." I shook my head firmly no.
"I've thought about that Dex I really have. But if I do that then I'm going to have to reveal to him that I used to be an agent of Lord Zedd's, he could possibly tell Dimitria and A-6, they could ask questions. Questions that I do not want to answer!" I don't want to get those two any more suspicious than they already are. I was beginning to think that they knew that I had more knowledge of an evil mind than I had originally claimed. I can't let them find out that I used to be evil. We were silent for a moment.
"So what you are you going to do?"
"I don' t know, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on him and try to figure out a way to tell him that being a Ranger isn't all about fighting evil monsters and driving cool zords."
A few days later I was in my room pacing back and forth waiting for Kat to come home, glancing out my window I saw that night had already fallen. It still came as a surprise to me that everything in Angel Grove, and its people could still go about their daily lives as if nothing had ever changed, when a lot had changed just in the span of a few short years. Their lives are not touched by the changes that the Power Rangers have to go through, that I had to go through. Suddenly I felt isolated and alone. No one has or will ever go through all the pain and torture that I have suffered. I stopped in front of my mirror and looked at my reflection. My eyes looked tired, my face was lined with worries and stress and fears. I knew without even undressing that my body has known the punishments of war. I really am different, anyone who really knows me can see that. My eyes fell upon a picture of my family, all of us were standing on the front steps of my old house, my earth parents looking straight ahead with the merest of smiles, just like in all their other photos, my step brothers and sisters and I were busy grinning into the camera, laughing our eyes shining with youthfulness, unaware of the horror that was about to befall us. My eyes strayed on myself, how young I used to look, how carefree I seemed back then. Right now looking back at that time....it all seemed like a faraway dream, a fantasy life that I made up to while away the hours. I closed my eyes as pain flared up and I thought of everything that I had lost. I wish I could go back to that life, where everything was safe, where the only memories that I have are of my family and happy times instead of....memories of committing murder, of losing my mother, of losing my childhood. I looked into the mirror and was startled to realize that I was crying. Tears were streaming down my eyes as I put my forehead against the mirror and wept of everything that I had lost. I want my life back.
Kat came home about one hour later and I had already pulled myself together, washed my face and made myself presentable. I was a little nervous as I entered the kitchen to greet Kat who was rummaging around the fridge looking for something to eat.
"I made some chicken with asparagus and lemon pepper." I said to her.
"Ah, found it." She said as she pulled out a foil covered plate from the fridge and uncovered it to take a peek at what was underneath, she smiled covered it up again and popped it into the microwave. She sat down at the kitchen table facing me. She noticed that I was playing with my fingers, a sure sign that I was nervous about something. Well, here goes. I took a deep breath.
"Kat, I want to move out." Kat looked at me startled and at the same time the microwave turned off making a ding sound. This entire scene would be funny if it was happening to someone else.
"You want to move out?" she said, seemingly forgetting that she had a chicken dinner in the microwave. I got up and limped to the microwave took out her dinner, removed the foil and set it in front of her. She was still staring at me as I went over to a drawer, pulled it open and took out a knife and fork. All the while I kept talking.
"Yes, I think that its high time that I got a place of my own."
"But you're only sixteen!"
"A sixteen year old who is an orphan and who can make her own decisions."
"You're not an orphan."
"To the people of Angel Grove I am." I resumed my seat and looked at her.
"Look I've already thought about this for a while now....."
"How long?"
"For a couple of months." Not really a lie, but not really the truth either. There is no way that I am going to tell her that I have been thinking of moving out ever since she became the Pink Ranger.
"Do you have any money to get your own place? You've only been at your job for a couple of months."
"I've only got three hundred saved, and I know that it isn't enough but dad told me....."
"Zordon knew?"
"I only told him that I was thinking of moving out when I turned seventeen, and he mentioned to me that he and mom have been putting money away for me, the money is actually Eltarian money. He began to put some away when he found out that my mom was pregnant. After he came to earth and found mom and me, he sent Tentomon back to Eltar to bring the money. After using his powers to turn the money into earth money..."
"Earth money?" I ignored her.
"He then used the Command Center's computer to call a bank and open up an account to put the money in there. He told mom about and she's been adding to it."
"Have you also been adding to it?" asked Kat. I looked at her.
"With everything that's happened....I completely forgot about it, I only just remembered a few days ago, when I was putting half my paycheck into my savings." She was silent for a few moments.
"Have you found a place yet?"
"No, I was thinking of going to a couple of the apartment complexes that my mother used to clean and ask the managers how much their asking for."
"Clean? Wait. What was it that your mom used to do?"
"She cleaned houses and apartment buildings and sometimes she would take me along, sometimes to help her, but most times just for company." I thought for a minute.
"I'm pretty sure that a couple of the managers still remember my mother, and they probably have a space for me. She would clean in good neighborhoods." I said as an after thought. Kat looked at me for a few moments.
"You really want to do this?" I nodded.
"Kat, you and Kim have done so much for me, taking me in and all but I need to stop living off of other people's charity. You two have been great but...."
"You just want a place to call your own."
"Yeah."
"Okay, then." She was silent a moment.
"Do you remember the apartments that your mom used to clean?" A smile spread on my face. I nodded then went to my room to get the list of apartment addresses.
We set off for the apartments that my mother used to clean on Friday. Kat and I only worked half a day so we could begin our search, some of the managers remembered me and they expressed sympathy for me and my family. But the people in the neighborhood apartments looked a bit....shady to me. We thanked the manager then hit a few more. Each one of them remembered how my mother and I cleaned apartments whose tenets were moving out or going to move in. They couldn't believe how much I've grown, or how I resembled my mother a bit. But the empty apartments that they showed us were too small. Funny, I remember thinking that they were roomy and big. We hit a few more, until finally we came to an apartment complex where I remember clearly the manager who had given me candy or sugar cookies(I didn't like them, but just to be polite I ate them), looking into the two bedrooms and taking a peek into the closets and the bathrooms I knew that this was definitely the place for me. The manager was all too happy to rent out a room to me, since she and my mother had been good friends. I began to wonder if I had seen her at the funeral. She gave me her price and after looking at it and calculating how much I had in my savings account and the account that my father opened up for me all those years ago, and seeing that I had enough money plus a little left over, I happily took the apartment.
Packing didn't take very long, I was never one for frivolous things and I was moved into my new apartment by the following Thursday. Kim was very exciting to hear that I had gotten my own place and made me promise to call her as soon as I moved in, so she could spend the night. Unpacking didn't take long either(it took about three minutes, I was really excited, can you blame me if I used my powers a bit?) I didn't have any pots or pans so my friends took me out to eat to celebrate, and helped me make a list of what I needed to add to my place(my place!!) They said that they were going to help me out in furnishing it.
"First we need to measure the space to make sure that what we have in mind is going to fit in the rooms." I said. Blue Elf looked at me.
"Looks like you've thought this entire thing out Short stuff." I grinned. I had taken out all of the money in my two accounts so that I didn't fall short when I paid for anything. So all that week and the next we went to swap meets, garage sales and yard sales. We found a couple of pretty good furniture with pretty good deals. Hauling the furniture up onto the truck was no big deal and neither was getting them into the apartment(although Blue Elf kept moaning about why I had to choose an apartment on the second floor, and he wasn't doing any lifting!) After a couple of more trips, figuring out what went best where, and getting into arguments, the apartment was fully furnished. Luckily there was still enough daylight for a quick break and a trip to the nearest Chinese restaurant and a quick trip downtown to kick a monster's butt and send it packing. After Kat and I went to an appliance store and bought the a toaster, can opener, microwave, blender and we even got a phone from Circuit City. I was debating about whether or not to get a laptop computer, or a desk computer. I checked how much money I had left. Hmmm, only enough to buy a laptop. Okay, a laptop computer it is. With my purchases in my hand and a skip in my limp I exited the store and back to my place.
Within a week I was all settled in, Kim said that she was going to come by Friday to take a look at my new place, she was really excited laughing I told her that I wasn't the only ranger to move into her own place.
"The others have moved out of their houses, why am I so special?"
"Come on Amy, its because you are my sister, my own and only wittle sister." It's been a while since any one's referred me as their little sister.
"Besides this is the first time that you are officially on your own and you should celebrate."
"I would like that sis, I really would but I'm kinda low on funds, how about a night in my new apartment, we could make popcorn and watch scary movies." Kim agreed. So on that Friday Kim flew from Florida, we spent the entire day just walking around, visiting our old haunts and talking, then as darkness fell we sat in my bedroom in front of my new tv and watched a couple of horror movies and comedies. In the past two weeks I had grown to love my new freedom, waking up whenever I wanted to on the weekends and staying up as long as I wanted.Dex was excited for me as well, so I gave him a tour of my new place, he was glad of my new found freedom and was looking forward to getting a place of his own someday. I began to tease him about having that big old Endenoite palace all to himself.
"It'll be the ultimate bachelor pad for you." Dex laughed as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me hard on the mouth.
"You forget, I'm not going to be a bachelor for long. And other than having Edenio free that will be other thing that I'm looking forward to."
A week later the rangers and I were busily fighting Piranhatrons and a monster in downtown Angel Grove. The people had taken cover and were watching us fight, reporters and cameramen were there taking in all the action. Reporters were commenting on the battle and marveled at the speed and strength of the Rangers. Uh-oh. I thought as soon as I heard this. Justin, obviously, also heard this, for he began to get in the way and show off for the cameras. The cameras was on him as he actually shoved me aside and began to beat a Piranhatron senselessly, after he had knocked it down he began to charge at the other Piranhatrons, but I had leapt, grabbed him by the scruff and hit him on the back of the head.
"Hey! What was that for? I could take them all on!" I smacked him again.
"Knock it off! Stop showing off and fight!" I yelled at him.
"Alright alright! God why are you treating me like this? I'm not a little kid ya know!" Uh, yeah you are. But I didn't say so out loud, instead I turned and flung myself at the monster that was beating back T.J. and Cassie, it placed both of its hands on their stomachs and flung them high into the air, turned and was about to blast them when my sword flashed out, the monster let out a scream as its hands were cut off. They fell at its feet as I began to strike it again and again. Justin, leaped in front of me(lucky for him I managed to stop my sword from slicing him in half just in time) and began kicking and punching the monster, laughing at how the monster couldn't fight back. He didn't count on the monster having heat beam eye blasts though. I felt a twinge of satisfaction as I ducked as Justin flew over me and hit the ground hard and I couldn't help but recall my step father's words Sometimes a good hard kick in the pants is what it takes to set a kid straight. In Justin's case, I hope that's true. I thought as I shoved the monster back and offered to spare it's life only if it took a message back to Divatox. It started to agree when.....it was lifted into the air! All of us froze and stared transfixed as the monster began to struggle as whatever it was that had seized it was yanked away and landed a few feet from us. As it landed it let out another scream then exploded! Chill after chill ran down my spine and my entire body. Around me everyone was staring horrified at the place where the monster had landed, even the Piranhatrons seemed frozen, then as if on a signal, they vanished. Around me everyone was asking questions.
"What the heck was that?"
"Did you see that?"
"Who did that?" All the other questions except the last one flew past me, I know who did that, I just don't want to believe that it's him, I just don't want to believe that he can show up after all this time. I don't want to believe that what I felt, what I sensed was not just a trick or a figment of my imagination. In the back of my mind, I knew that he had returned. For out of the smoke that came from the explosion I saw the shape of a staff I knew all too well....
Sorry to end it like this, and sorry it took so look, I've been trying to figure out how to get up to this point. I hope you enjoyed it and if you have any suggestions or comments drop me a line.