A/N: I don't own anything, Saban and Disney own the Rangers and characters. Bob Costas belongs to NBC Sports and HBO, as does his show Costas Now, which at this time was called On the Record with Bob Costas. Iron Chef America, I believe, belongs to the Food Network as do Mario Batali and Cat Cora.
A/N 2: One of my reviewers asked me about the last chapter, and the papers that got Kim released from her guards. You need to go to Chapter 8 for more on that. Anyways...
Chapter 11 - Trini's Spirit Lives, Stone Returns
Saturday, August 1, 2004
Parts Unknown
Eight of Zordon's original 12 Power Rangers thought for sure they were asleep.
Yet, they weren't in a hotel room. They weren't lying down in a bed overlooking the seashore.
Instead, they were here. In an alternate dimension, but a beautiful one.
To their left was a spectacular jungle, with every kind of wild animal imaginable. Aisha was beaming with pride - it was these types she had taken care of during her stay in Africa.
To their right was a spectacular view of some sort of mountain range, with a gorgeous waterfall mixed in.
"You mean to tell me THIS is an alternate dimension?" Adam huffed. "This looks so damn real!"
"I've always thought of dimensions as horror scenes!" Rocky said. "Where the hell are we?"
"You're on MY turf now," came a voice that was distinctly female. It was a voice which also sent chills up the spine of every Ranger who was present. "As such, I brought you here. Welcome to MY playing field, my friends."
Every single Ranger whipped his or her head around, and gasped.
There, walking toward them was a figure that, though seemingly alive, seemed also to be translucent. If one was to try to touch the feminine figure that was walking towards them, his or her hand would go right through her. She had jet-black hair that went about halfway down her back, wore a yellow tank-top, and was surrounded with a serenity that made everyone present gasp.
"No way," Adam muttered.
"Impossible," Jason said.
"Not real," Zack muttered.
"No, it's really me guys!" the figure said. "Just in a different form. When that bastard killed me to get to Kim, my physical body died. Unlike Zordon and Mystic Mother, I am not an immortal being. I am human, and thus my physical body must die - it's inevitable. Being a Power Ranger did not excuse me from my fate - and both Zordon and I knew that going in. But my spirit remains, and Zordon gave me this dimension, which I now proudly call home."
"So that explains why we're here," Jason said.
"Yes," Trini said, nodding towards the original Red Ranger. "Though the bodies of Rangers may perish, our spirits still live. All of yours will too, after your time on Earth is done, and you'll get your own places just like I did."
"But, why are we here?" Zack said. "One minute we're dozing, next minute we're here. What gives?"
"You are here because I have something to say," Trini said.
Every single bit of commotion stopped, and every single Ranger present stood to attention.
"When my physical body died," Trini said, "I wanted to swear vengeance on Rick. Not just for killing me, but for everything he did to Kimberly."
All present nodded.
"But I couldn't count on it. All of us were separated. We all had lives. It seemed improbable."
She almost seemed choked up, as she struggled for her next words.
"But you...have proven...once again...to be some of the best friends I've ever had...you could have blown HIM off..." she said as she pointed to Justin. "...but you got behind him, and now, something I always dreamed of happening again is about to become reality..."
"You should have known to count on us! We're your friends!" Jason almost pleaded. "Some of us have been with you from the very beginning, way before we even BECAME superheroes!"
"I know, Jason," Trini wailed, "but think about it, how possible really was it? I just can't believe this is happening..."
"You've found a way, again," she continued, "and you've done it as only WE can..."
Everyone present all nodded. More work was still to come, but they'd accomplished a lot of the ground work already, and once again, they'd done it as a group.
"I'm...going to send you back now..." she said, "although Justin will stay for a few minutes afterward as I would like a few additional words with him. And Tommy?"
Tommy suddenly jumped to attention as Trini addressed him.
"Remember, second chances aren't granted very often," Trini said through her tears. "You're about to get another one. Do NOT let this chance pass. This chance of a lifetime - I can guarantee - will NOT come again."
At this, Tommy nodded.
"Until we meet again...goodbye my friends..." Trini said as seven of the Rangers disappeared.
Which left her and Justin face-to-face - alone. As she walked up to him, Justin's heart rose to his throat. Here was one of the very first Rangers he'd wanted to model himself after - right there with Tommy and Rocky.
'She just seems so unflappable,' Justin thought as he shook his head in amazement. 'Nothing seems to bother her even though she has some emotional breakdowns sometimes. And here I am, about to have a coronary not know what she'll say...'
"Hey, what's with the head shaking?" Trini said.
"I'm just amazed at how unflappable you seem," Justin said. "It may sound weird, but you were one of the first Rangers I put on a pedestal. You're also one of the only Rangers I ever feared."
To which she flashed him a smile and let him continue.
"I'm just amazed at how calm you always seem. Here my heart is racing 1000 miles an hour, and for you this is just another conversation. I should be thanking you for saving the world when you had the chance - without you I'm not here doing what I'm doing, yet I can't get the words out. There are no words for this."
"No, Justin, no," Trini said vehemently. "I should be the one thanking you for giving Kimberly something to believe - when she absolutely had no business believing in her own self. You've done more than I could have ever done in my 22 years that I was on Earth. Aisha was right about you - you are most wonderful and you deserve every bit of your moment in the sun. Kimberly is my best friend and has been since kindergarten, so when I heard about what happened to her ... I cried for days, knowing I couldn't help her and yet my physical body still gets killed..."
"It was a sad day for all of us, I know, I was there when she came back from Murianthias. I was scared to know that I was going to have to find a way to give her support and still be a Power Ranger at the same time, as a 12 year old kid," Justin said.
"Because of you, something I've always wanted is going to happen again - something I always pulled for..." Trini said as she broke down in tears. "They're going to get back together..."
The youngest Earth Ranger in history took a step back, in full knowledge that Earth's first Yellow Ranger didn't break down like this very often.
"Just promise me one thing, Justin," Trini said as she tried in vain to hold back her tears. "Please don't sell yourself short. Don't think there's a thing you can't do. Kim and Tommy back together is about the least likely proposition I ever expected to happen, and you did that."
He nodded as she took a step back.
"And promise me one thing," he said. "If you see that guy who ruined Kimberly's life at anytime, don't hesitate to let him know that Tommy and Kim said hi. That will sting just as much as a punch to the gut."
She nodded, and took a step back.
"Goodbye Justin, and always remember...may the Power protect you," Trini said.
Mesogog's Underground Base
Unknown Time
Proudly walking into Mesogog's throne room after completing a very hard 24 hours, Zeltrax stood beaming with pride at the turn of events.
"Well?" Mesogog boomed.
"Here is your newest monster - the one which will put those Rangers in a situation they will never escape. Behold - Portaltron!"
Upon Zeltrax's signal, his monster walked into the throne room. He was actually a gladiator like monster, with a sword and shield, as well as two hand-held cannons that contained powerful energy.
"How may I serve you, Lord Mesogog?" Portaltron said as he bowed before the dinosaur like creature.
"Ah, one that asks ME how I can be served. Exxxxxxcelent!" Mesogog hissed. The others clapped their approval as well, including Zedd.
"Your instructions are as follows. In a few days, we will lure the Rangers into a major battle. When we do, here is what I want you to do..."
Saturday, August 1, 2004
10:00 a.m. local time
Reefside, CA
They stood across from each other, panting heavily. For both of them, it had been quite a workout.
When Dulcea had asked Trent to face her in single combat in the lower arena of Mystic Mother's palace, she intended to use it as a way of mentally getting him ready for the tests that would be coming his way - maybe a 30 to 45 minute segment over the next couple of days.
She had not expected a four hour slugfest that had now pushed the experienced Master Warrior to her very limits. But Trent, clothed in his gold uniform, had indeed acquitted himself very well and had shockingly matched her move for move, drawing the slugfest out. Even when she went to her animal form, which typically befuddled those who had come before her, he'd solved that also.
"One more?" she asked.
"Yeah," Trent said. "I believe it's your move."
"Indeed it is," With that, she charged him again, and swung her sticks at him.
But she hit nothing but air, leaving herself open. Knowing he didn't have much time, Trent slammed his boot into her stomach, knocking her down.
Amazingly, Trent was standing over her, and said, "I win."
"Yes, you have won," she said as she shook her head while getting up. "You wore me out, my love. You wore me out. Usually those who face me for the first time throw heavy haymakers and are worn out quickly."
"I'm stunned, really," Trent said. "I knew I was good, but not THAT good. Hopefully I'll be that good the next time I go to battle."
2:00 p.m. Pacific
Conner was sitting in Hayley's Cyberspace, playing a game of arena soccer on arcade
As his team put one in the net, he shouted, "GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL! Take that, Beckham, you prick!"
"Wow, a little excited aren't we?" came a voice from behind him.
Conner smiled knowingly at who his visitor was - T.J., Tommy's Red replacement and later part of the Space team.
"T.J. man how ya doing?" Conner said.
"Chilling. Just chilling," T.J. said. "You're becoming a real expert at that game. Wanna challenge me at my game?"
Knowing there was an arcade baseball game nearby - and knowing that T.J. made a hefty chunk of change while coaching the University of California - Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team, he decided to go for it anyways.
"Yeah, why not. After all, your wife did challenge me to single combat this morning," Conner said as he flashed T.J. a smile. "You're on."
As they played, the two struck up a conversation.
"You know, your wife Delisha is really cool. I know Justin doesn't think so, but I do," Conner said. "Where did you meet her - she seems rather alien and if I remember hearing correctly she once belonged to Divatox."
"Yeah, she did," T.J. nodded. "Divatox was turned good, back to Deanna at the Countdown, and as a reward, Deanna's sister Dimitria who happened to be our mentor at one time, revived Delisha and purified her too. Delisha was kind of loyal to Deanna even when she was bad. If you want to get technical, I first saw her after I replaced Tommy in late 97 but that didn't go so well - we had to beat her in battle and that wasn't easy. But where she and I really hit it off was after the Forever Red mission in 02."
"Forever Red?" Conner said.
"Yeah. Bunch of us had to gather to destroy Serpentera again. One nasty-ass battle machine," T.J. said. "Anyhow, Delisha got close with the rest of our team, and kind of bounced around for a while with her fashion sales until KO-35 after Forever Red, which is where she and I really saw eye-to-eye with each other. I was sort of skeptical because she and Divatox kind of messed up our team back in the day - even though Ashley and Andros were telling me how different she was as compared to the first time - but she and I really hit it off in 02. She loved me from the word go. One year later, she's in Santa Barbara where I am and we were married. She was Ennivel, but now she goes by the married last name of Johnson like me."
"How much money does she make from her fashion sales?"
"Oh, those have become universal-famous, and she makes quite a bit of dough," T.J. said. "Her sales are part of the reason she and I own a pretty luxurious house in the 805 - it's not uncommon to see her take off for another planet for weeks on end. She's told me many times that her fashion sales is her way of making it up to us for what she did."
Just then, Conner's controller, Carl Pavano of the Yankees, fired a fastball past Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels for a strikeout.
"Nice pitch," T.J. said. "Vlad's always tough."
"Yeah he is," Conner said. "Much as I hate to admit it, Angels always give the Yankees problems."
"2002, baby, 2002," T.J. said, referring to the Angels World Series championship year, when they beat the Yankees along the way. The reference made Conner briefly grimace, as he'd had to deal with Angels fans for weeks on end after the Yankees had been eliminated that year. "On a serious note, Conner, Delisha said the same thing about you to me."
"That is?"
"She thought you were really cool too. We've both seen you fight and I want you to know that she and I support you."
"Really? I don't even get support on my own team!" Conner said. "Everyone thinks I'm a jerk!"
"All Reds go through a period like that," T.J. said. "Hell, as a former Red myself I thought Andros was kind of a dictator when he ran the Space team - at least when he wasn't hanging all over Ashley. But seriously, you've got talent and you led the Rangers over Mesogog the first time. Mesogog's a toughie, doesn't matter if he's not Lord Zedd, Rita, Mondo or Divatox. Yeah, you say some stupid things, but when haven't we said stupid stuff?"
"It's nice to see I have some support in the Red fraternity. You're cool too T.J. Thanks," Conner said.
"Don't mention it," T.J. said. "Remember: Believe in yourself, and you will conquer. I know my beloved would tell you the same thing."
Monday, August 3
7:00 p.m. local time
Athens, Greece
"That will be $310.52," said the waiter after several of the Rangers had finished dinner at their hotel.
It had been a rather extravagant dinner - and one the Rangers had never expected. Jason had wanted to go check out the town, but Tommy had decided against it, not wanting to get themselves in trouble in rush-hour Athens traffic.
"That was, quite frankly, better than I expected," Jason said. "But next time, I get to make the decisions on where to eat, bro, and that's final."
"You wish," Tommy laughed as he lowered his voice. "Remember who's had the most colors around here."
"Do you notice two people missing from our group?" Adam said. "And do you notice who those two people are?"
"I knew Justin wasn't here," Kat said, "and now I think I know who the other one is. Probably out there making sweet love to one another."
"Uh, let those two go," Jason said. "Like our friend said, he deserves his time in the sun."
"Boys, I'd say you're missing more than two from your little group. Besides, one of em is dead," came a familiar voice. The Rangers all looked around and at each other, wondering who might have said it.
"Uh, it's just me guys," someone said as a familiar figure stepped out of hiding. A tall, slender man who had seemingly kept in shape, he certainly had a COPS look about him as he walked towards the group. He also was wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball hat.
"Well, look at what the plane dragged in!" Rocky said.
"Very funny, Rocky," Jason said as he smacked Rocky in the head.
"No, it's really me guys," the newcomer said.
"Lieutenant Stone, I can't believe it," Adam said, as he went up and hugged the Rangers' old friend police officer. "But what the hell are you doing here?"
"Uh, what else would I be here for, Park? The Olympics!" Stone said as he shrugged his shoulders. "Imagine my surprise when I turned on HBO the other week and found our old friend on television."
The Rangers nodded, fully aware that they were still staring at a daunting task ahead of them, though it could be conquered.
"Got some tickets from some clients here in Europe. You guys probably don't know this, but growing up in Chicago I lived for sports and entertainment, and I always loved the Olympics. And since Kimberly was going to be competing here, they figured Ernie and I would want to come."
Every single group member's eyebrows were raised at the mention of that name.
Ernie.
"Is he here, by chance?" Rocky chanced to ask.
"Yeah. We actually just got right off the plane and came in for dinner. He's still back at the room setting up stuff. By the way, where are all the rest of the members of your group?"
"Uh, we got two on the beach and the rest couldn't come," Tommy said.
"You're telling me Tanya and Billy aren't here for this?" Stone said. "Wanna tell me why, cause I think I have a pretty good feeling what it is."
'Should we tell him?' Jason looked at Tommy.
'Yeah,' Tommy thought. 'If he saw the HBO show he probably knows who we are.'
"Uh, you can't tell anyone this," Jason walked up to Stone and said, whispering all the while, "but we are THEM."
"Yep, knew it," Stone said. "Had to figure, after I saw the special on HBO. After she said that she was the first Pink it was pretty easy to put two and two together. Your secret's more than good with me, kids. Was Ranger services needed?"
"Yeah," Tommy said as he walked up to Stone. "I actually, uh, have a team of my own back in the city of Reefside, and the three people that hate me most, Lord Zedd, Goldar and Mesogog are all back thanks to Zedd's son. Tanya and Billy decided to stay to help my team."
Stone nodded grimly, admitting that while he didn't know the ins and outs of Ranger business, that if Zedd was indeed back that the current team would have a tough task indeed.
"Well, it was nice to see you all," Stone said. "Wanna tell me where Aisha and Justin are?"
"Uh, out on the beach," Rocky said as the Rangers walked out after paying the bill. "Believe it or not, they've eloped."
"They've eloped?" Stone said. "Oh my God, I can't believe it. What the hell are those two thinking? I gotta see this, for reals."
Seconds later, Ernie walked in to join Stone, and noticing Stone's tense look, asked him, "Jerome, what's going on?"
"The guys - you know, THE guys, are pretty much all here," Stone said. "And I think you probably know why they're here - yes, even Tommy."
"No way," Ernie said, in disbelief. "They're here? Where are they?"
"They WERE right there," Stone said, "but just walked out. You just missed em - I didn't."
"DAMN!" Ernie near shouted.
"What's more, I've got breaking news," Stone said. "You know that young boy that's a part of their group?"
"Yeah, I think Justin's his name," Ernie said. "What about him."
"He's eloped with Aisha," Stone said. "And supposedly, they're right here on the beach."
"Oh my God, Stone, we've got to go see this," Ernie said. "An 18 year old with someone seven years older? No way."
"Reservation please," said the person at the front of the restaurant.
Stone," came the lieutenant's voice.
"30 minute wait, sir," the person said.
"Perfect," Stone said. "Ernie, let's go!"
Mesogog's Underground Base
"Is all ready?" Thrax bellowed.
"I believe so, Thrax" Goldar said.
"Yesssssssss, it is," Mesogog said. "The end of the Power Rangers issssssss at hand."
"Launch the attack at once!" Zedd shouted.
TBC....