"Good thing I did stop and change... sheesh this is really out of the way," Kimberly commented as she moved a branch out of her way and kept her eyes glued on the back of Jason who was moving at a steady pace in front of her. He turned and smiled at her words. She nearly collided with a branch as she focused on him.
"Careful," Jason commented as he stopped and allowed her to catch up to his side.
"I hope you know where we are," Kim said as she stopped and looked around at the tall trees and thick brush around them.
"I do... not much further now," Jason responded as he nodded ahead of them. They continued up the incline. Kim following in his steps as he led the way. After a few more minutes of walking the area began to get brighter and Kim saw a clearing up ahead.
"Wow," Kim remarked as they entered the clearing and she looked around them. It was a breathtaking sight to see the large canyon in front of her. She ventured a little closer to see if she could peer down into it.
"I wouldn't get too close, the rocks are loose there," Jason said as he stepped forward and took her by the hand. Kim gripped his hand tight as she allowed him to gently pull her back to him as a few loose rocks began to give away under her. Soon she was flat up against Jason and she was suddenly very aware of her own heartbeat.
"Thanks..." Kim whispered. He smiled before stepping back and putting his backpack on the ground. He knelt down and unzipped it. Kim watched as he removed some rope and hooks. She furrowed her brown.
"What's that for?" Kim inquired as she stepped around him. He stood up and began buckling the climbing gear around him. He pointed up. She followed his arm. She saw a large cliffside behind them and a ledge a couple of hundred foot above them. "Wait... are you going up there?"
"I am..." Jason answered. He looked up from his harness and gestured to the bag. "Are you not coming with?"
"Coming... up there?" Kim considered his inquiry as her eyes went from the pack to the cliff. "I... that's pretty high up."
"It is," Jason agreed. "But if you think the view down here is great, wait till you see it up there."
"It's that good?" Kim asked. Jason nodded and smiled. He bent down and retrieved a harness and rope for Kim out of the bag. "Well... if it's THAT good."
Jason walked over to the cliffside and began to synch up the main rope for them. Kim watched as he masterfully prepared everything. She knew he liked to climb but had never really seen him applying the skill in the wild. She admired him until he turned to her and at which point she began to fumble with her harness, unsure of how it went.
"Here," Jason said softly as he closed the gap between them and began to place the harness around Kimberly. He was intent and focused on making sure it was on her properly and she was focused on watching him do so. He was gentle, but she could tell everything was being secured tightly. After a few moments, he stepped back and shook his head, satisfied with his work.
"Thanks," Kim commented as she ran her hands over her harness.
"No problem," Jason replied. He gestured to the cliff. "You go first and I'll follow."
"Okay..." Kim said as she walked past him and over to the cliff side. She looked at the rope and down at her harness. Jason wordlessly moved in behind her and connected her to the rope.
"There... you're all set," Jason said, his face just inches away from her cheek. Kim felt a shudder go down her and she became very confused. She had no time to think about it though and grabbed on to the rope in front of her.
"Like this?" Kim asked.
"Yep," Jason answered. "Just pull yourself up the rope until you see places to grab onto and then just..."
"Climb?" Kim finished for him, turning to him and smiling.
"Climb," Jason replied matching her smile. "I'll be behind you."
Kim felt comfort at those words come over her and she turned and began to ascend up the cliffside. A few unsteady attempts to move over from the rope to climbing followed until she began to get the hang of it and was moving at what she felt was a pretty consistent pace. She glanced beneath her to see Jason was following patiently behind her. Clearly, he could move faster but seemed content to let her go at her own pace.
"Halfway there," Jason said from beneath her. She glanced down at him and saw just how far they had come. She fought a little bit of disorientation and gripped the rock wall tight. Jason sensed this and moved to where he was next to her but still only halfway up her body. "You okay?"
"Yeah... I just got a little dizzy," Kim replied sheepishly.
"It's natural..." Jason said as he moved his hand behind her and rubbed her back gently. "You got this."
Feeling emboldened at his support Kim nodded her head and began to climb. Jason stayed still until she was a full body's length above him again and he moved beneath her.
"From here on out the rock is much easier to climb," Jason said with a grunt as he propelled himself up a couple of positions in one swift motion. Kim glanced around to see what he meant. It was almost as if it was meant to be climbed now and she found hand grip much easier now. She quickened her pace and soon her head was above the ledge.
"Well..." Kim began as she pulled herself up onto the ledge and moved back to allow Jason to follow suit. "That was a bit of a workout."
"Oh yeah," Jason replied as he moved to sit beside her on the ledge. He was much bolder with his positioning near the edge than she was. She moved up a little.
"Wow..." Kim said as she took in the view in front of her. "It's beautiful."
"Told you," Jason replied as he reached down into a bag on his side and pulled out a water bottle. He took a drink and then offered it to her. She gladly accepted it as she was still a little out of breath.
"So this is where you disappear to?" Kim asked after her drink. Jason nodded. "I see why."
"It's a good place to clear your head," Jason stated. He pointed to a spot to the left of them. "Just over there is the Command Center."
"For real?" Kim asked as she tried to see if she could see it.
"Yeah... it's a bit hidden from here," Jason answered. "Squint and look between those rocks and over that tree... you see it?"
He moved closer to her and pointed. She followed his hand and did as he said and saw the top of the building.
"I see it," Kim said with a grin. "Wow... is that how you found this place?"
"Yeah..." Jason answered. "I went exploring around one day after leaving there and saw this canyon..."
There was a comfortable silence between them as Kim shifted to get more comfortable a bit more brave with her feet hanging over the edge. Jason noticed this and grinned.
"Jase..." Kim broke the silence turning to him. He looked at her. "Did you really sign up for the Peace Conference?"
"Mmm..." Jason responded before clearing his throat. "I did."
"If you are selected..." Kim paused.
"A lot of people signed up, it's a big if," Jason reacted.
"Not really..." Kim shook her head, confident in his talents. "You are a shoo-in."
"We'll see," Jason responded. He pulled his knees up and rested his arms on them.
"What will become of us?" Kim asked. This got his attention.
"Us... what do you mean?" Jason responded with his own question.
"The team... the Power Rangers," Kim clarified.
"Oh," Jason said as he looked out back over the canyon. "Zordon has a plan for it."
"A plan?" Kim reacted.
"Yeah..." Jason answered. "If any of us leave... I mean we have to be replaced."
"Replaced," Kim digested the word. She shook her head. "You can't just be replaced."
Jason made eye contact with her. Touched by her words.
"The powers will be transferred," Jason said. Kim was still shaking her head. She suddenly regretted bringing up the topic.
"I don't..." Kim let out a sigh. "It's a great opportunity for you but..."
"What?" Jason prodded as he sat up a little straighter.
"Selfishly I don't want you to go," Kim said with a whisper and a shrug. "I don't want the group to be broken up."
Jason nodded. He lowered his head. She watched him.
"It's for the best though... I mean... being a Ranger, it's about doing what's right for the world... this is right," Jason explained. Kim nodded. She understood, but that didn't make it any more palatable. "No matter what... we'll always still be friends right?"
"Of course," Kim's answer was quick.
"And I wouldn't be gone forever," Jason said, offering her an assuring smile. She couldn't help but reciprocate. She never could. She placed her hand on his arm, and he moved to wrap his arm around her and pull her into somewhat of a hug. They stayed that way for a couple of moments.
"Jase..." Kim's voice prompted Jason to pull apart from her and lower his arm. She watched as he made eye contact with her. She smiled. "I still hope you don't get picked."
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Noted," Jason replied. He ran his hand down the rope between them before giving it a tug to test the slack. "You ready to head back down?"
Kim glanced down at the rope and at the edge of the cliff. She crinkled her nose.
"Can't we just morph or teleport?" She questioned with a raise of her eyebrows. Trying to tempt their leader into breaking the rules. A cause she knew was lost before she even asked, but she loved to watch him pretend to contemplate it.
"Well... maybe Zordon would never know..." Jason replied.
"Jason Lee Scott!" Kim replied with a playful smack on his arm. "You cannot be seriously suggesting breaking the rules."
He grinned as he swung over the ledge, leaving just the upper part of his torso visible.
"Of course not..." Jason replied. "I'll see you at the bottom."
Kim watched as he disappeared out of sight and she took in the view once more before copying his actions from before, albeit a bit more tentatively. She began to descend down and glanced down to see Jason hadn't gone very far before waiting on her. Once he was she was safely over, he began to move down and she mimicked his movements.