Episode 9

"Confusion In The Command Center"

Jason and the other Task Force Rangers returned to standing ovation in the command center as the personnel greeted them as if the war was already over. Soldiers and Airmen patted Jason on the back as be walked in, but this did not suit Jason. He wasn't happy to receive applause, rather his mind was still very much set on the confusion that Goldar was somehow alive. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, but the war isn't over yet. And that battle that we engaged in was nothing more than a skirmish." Jason answered

"Oh, come now Colonel don't be modest, you are the greatest Power Ranger who has ever live!" one Airman said

"I said that's enough!" Jason spoke in a stern, but understanding tone. "Please, enough. I don't deserve any of your complements. Miss Zang,"

"Yes Colonel?"

"Have this analyzed. I want to confirm that this is Goldar" Jason tossed the severed arm at Miss Zang, she caught it in shock, but quickly regained herself.

"Right away sir." She said placing it in bag marked bio-hazard.

"I'll be heading home Miss Zang. Where is Miss Kwan?" Jason asked

"She left as soon as you morphed sir. I think she went home."

"Thank you." Jason said in a sad tone and walked away

Tessz approached Miss Zang holding his helmet still half morphed. "What's eating him?" he asked

"I don't know. I never seen the Colonel like this. Tessz, maybe you and the other Rangers should get some rest. Colonel Scott maybe having some personal problems, but he was right, the war is far from over."

Later at Trini's apartment.

Trini stepped into her home, tired, sad, and wondering. She couldn't be sure of what had just happened between her and Jason, but she knew in her heart that she had to tell Jason the truth. She sat her things down and rested on her couch turning on the Television; not too surprising the Power Ranger had made the top story again.

TV- Earlier today the Power Rangers of Task Force Zordon battled against an evil monster wearing black armor and welding a sword. The monster seemed to be defeating our brave heroes when a sixth Ranger wearing black and red came to the rescue and aided the injured Rangers. The monster soon escaped, but not without losing an arm-

The hands over her eyes felt warm and a little sweaty, the familiar voice called from behind. "Hey there babe" the voice said

Trini slowly grabbed the pair of hands and removed them. She looked at the Asian beauty behind her. "Hey" Trini said smiling "Lena, what are you doing here?" Trini asked as the Asian girl leaned over and kissed Trini softly. Trini returned the kiss, but in a manner that suggested she had to, and not necessarily wanting to. She looked at Lena and Jason came to her head.

Lena looked over and gave Trini a look of silly confusion "Trini?" she said smiling "Can't I surprise my girlfriend at home? Come on, I made you dinner." Lena grabbed Trini's hand and led her to the kitchen where a Romantic dinner had already been set up for her. "I made some Chinese, I know I'm not the best cook, but I think you'll like my Loa Mein"

Lena sat Trini down and took a seat across her. She seemed so excited for Trini, but Trini's mind was still on Jason. Trini quickly realized where she was and tried to get back into the conversation. "It looks great." she said optimistically

"Try it!" Lena said Trini took a bite of the Loa Mein with Chicken. "Well?"

Trini smiled again "I like it."

"I'm glad to hear it. So how was your day sweetie?"

"It was great... just great." Trini was trying desperately not to give herself away "Can you pass the Jason? I Mean Scott! I MEAN SALT!" she started to look sad "I mean pepper..."

Lena started to look confused. "Trini? Is everything okay? Is there something wrong?"

Trini looked up at Lena, her eyes starting to water. "Lena. Can you give me a moment alone? I mean, I want to be alone, can you let me be alone?"

Lena looked at Trini with a little hostility. "Is there someone else Trini? Is there another girl in your life other than me? Who is she?"

Trini shook her head grabbing Lena's hand. "No, no. There's no other girl Lena I swear. I, I just need some time to think that's all. I'm sorry I messed up this whole dinner you had planned. I'll make it up to you. Please try to understand."

Lena turned away from Trini, but Trini grabbed her and kissed her softly. "Please Lena... I just need to be alone right now."

Lena looked down. "You always now what to say to make me feel better." she smiled softly "You wrecked my romantic dinner, you big tease. I'll she you tomorrow."

Trini escorted her out giving her once final peck on the cheek "I'll call you tonight, I Promise."

Back at the Command Center

Miss Zang slowly studied the armor "There are variables I'm not understanding here."

"What are you talking about?" Tessz stated in some confusion

"I'm not sure, but it looks almost like... Tessz can I see your Dog Tags?" Miss Zang asked holding her hand out to him

"Sure Commander." he stated quickly relinquishing them

"Thank you. The Armor on Goldar's arm doesn't match anything I've ever seen Shinra use before, but at the same time it look's very familiar."

"You mean you've seen it before?" he asked

Miss Zang placed Tessz's dog tags into a lab container, then entering it into the same analyzer that Goldar's armor was in. "Oh, my God..."

"What?" Tessz asked

"Call Colonel Scott right now. He's gonna need to see this!"

Back at Trini's apartment.

Trini had been slowly crying to herself every since Lena had left. She felt horrible for what she did with Jason, she had never cheated on anyone in her life, and Lena had been Trini's first real relationship. She never thought of herself as a lesbian growing up in Angel Grove, but after Lena, she had gotten use to the idea, but now Jason was back in her life and now she couldn't make sense out of anything.

She kept crying to herself, trying to think strait, daydreaming only to have her train of thought broken by a knock at the door. Trini looked at the time on her clock 12:30, had it really been that late? She slowly walked to the front of her apartment letting go of the small pillow she had been using to cry on and opened the door. Jason looked very upset, almost as upset as she was. He didn't say a word, and neither did she, but they both knew what they wanted. Trini hugged Jason as he held her close to him. He looked at Trini and caressed her cheeks still wet from tears. He slowly bent down and kissed her, a feeling of relief came over Trini, and at the same time overwhelming sadness.

Trini slowly broke the kiss and led Jason to her couch where they kissed again. Jason couldn't believe this was happening, a year ago he thought he'd never see Trini again, but now he had finally found her, and had her to himself, or so he thought. That was when Trini regained herself... "Jason stop!" she said pulling herself away from his lips. "We can't do this!"

Jason shook his head "Trini? Why? Why do this to me Trini? I know this worries you, it worries me too. I know Shinra is on your mind, and the world, but we can make this work."

"No Jason we can't!" she said

"Yes we can Trini. Please just trust me. I won't let this interfere with my work I promise you that. Shinra won't..."

"Jason stop it! This has nothing to do with Shinra." Trini yelled beginning to cry. "I can't let you do this Jason! I really screwed up this time! I'm so sorry!"

"Trini? I don't understand."

Trini fought back her tears struggling to speak. "I can't tell you Jason. I don't have the courage to tell you. I don't have the strength, so I'll just have to show you." Trini grabbed Jason's hands and escorted him to the kitchen where the candle light diner Lena had made was still burning, the candles nearing their last flickers. Trini pulled out a picture from her pocket of her and Lena kissing in a picture booth, she handed Jason the picture.

Jason looked at the candle light diner of cold Loa Mein sitting on the table, he slowly looked at the picture of Trini and Lena in the picture booth and his heart began to break almost immediately. His hands began to shake as he slowly let the picture fall to the ground. "Her name's Lena. I met her a few months ago. I never meant to hurt you Jason. I tried to tell you, I really did, but..."

Jason slowly sat down and covered his face. "Jason I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. Please, listen okay... promise me you'll listen."

Jason wiped away the tears that were beginning to fall from his face. He stood up and headed for the door. "I gotta go Trini, I gotta go, I got some business to do, the command center..."

"No, wait Jason, wait. Just listen okay, promise me you'll listen." Trini began to follow Jason out the door crying her heart out but Jason didn't stop

"Trini, I gotta go, they need me in the Command Center, I'm in charge, and got... got some stuff to do."

"Jason, listen, please wait, wait, promise me you'll listen okay please."

None of the were speaking clearly anymore, both of their emotions had got the better of them; Jason began to open the front door and step out. "Jason wait, I gotta tell you this please, wait."

"I gotta go Trini, I can't be here okay. God I can't be here." be left and closed the door behind him

"Jason wait." Trini said as he slowly shut the door "Wait... wait" she collapsed on the floor and grabbed her pillow again. "Wait, wait, wait"

Jason could turn on his car and sat inside it crying. Suddenly his cell phone rang. He looked at the screen, TFZ. He wiped away his tears and tried to regain himself. "Uh, uh, hello, Colonel, Colonel Scott here,"

"Colonel, is everything alright? You sound sick?" Captain Tessz asked

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Are you sick? I mean what seems to be the problem?"

"Boss we analyzed Goldar's armor like you said, and you're really going to need to see this!"

"What is it soldier?"

"The energy readings on Goldar's armor sir... they match the Rangers."

"What?"

"Goldar's armor sir, its Ranger technology!"

To Be Continued... Episode 10 What Lies Within