PRJF 20
A tall blonde haired, blue eyed man walked off a boat, his backpack slung over a shoulder. He was wearing jeans and a gray pinstriped shirt. He looked at a piece of paper before folding it up. He was on a mission.
-0-
Smirking, the man walked into the busy Jungle Karma Pizza pizzeria. He set his backpack down on the floor. With a stern look, he walked over to the register and stopped in front of Lily, clearing his throat.
"Inspector Fuller, health department," he introduced. He quickly flashed his ID. "We've had some complaints."
He walked towards the kitchen. In the kitchen, the rest of the employees were working. Lily was following the inspector into the kitchen.
"Guys." Lily spoke. "This is inspector Fuller from the health department."
"My my my." He shook his head, his hands behind his back. "This is gonna be ugly. You'd better get the owner. These counters are filthy. Let's get this cleaned pronto."
He sniffed a tomato then placed one down on the pizza board.
"These should be fresh." Casey stated.
The inspector smashed the fruit with a rolling pin, splattering it everywhere. He took a lick of the mess that landed on the board.
"You are right." he agreed. He moved towards the fridge. "Let's check out this milk here. And this cheese...smells bad."
"It's not the only thing that smells around here." Allie said to herself as she walked into the kitchen from the loft having heard most of the conversation. Lily rushed by her on the way up to the loft to get RJ. "You're not the usual inspector you must be replacing George."
"That's right ma'am, from now on I'll be the health inspector here." The man said sternly then noticed the raised eyebrow on Allie's face. "There is no George."
"Correct, so start explaining before I start dialing for the police." Allie said with a dark look.
"It was a joke." The man started as he held up his hands in surrender just as RJ came down stairs.
"Whoa whoa whoa," RJ cried having been informed by Lily about the inspector. "What's going on here? We just had an inspection last…" That's when RJ recognized the man. "Dominic?" RJ smiled in question. Dom smiled in return. "Dom! I should've known." The two men shared a hug as the others frowned in confusion. "Hey, this is my old buddy from Pai Zhuq. Dominic, this is Casey, Fran, Theo, Lily, and Allie."
"Hey, gotcha." Dom said after RJ introduced them all.
"Hey come on upstairs man." RJ led his friend to the loft. "Where you been? Last I heard you were wandering the world like a nomad."
"Well…" Dom started.
"Oh and you gotta hear about Dai Shi." RJ continued as they disappeared from sight.
"Dai Shi." Dom echoed.
-0-
"So how long can you stay?" RJ wondered as he and Dom hung out in the loft.
"Only a day or two." Dom answered. "Too much time in one place and I get antsy."
The Rangers were by the counter in the loft, listening in.
"Well then we can catch up more later." RJ stated. "Right now, we've got work to do."
Three of the four employees moved to work Allie remaining where she was.
"Well I could help out if you want." Dom offered. "Yeah I'd love to make pizzas."
"Sure." Casey agreed. "I can find you a job."
They all disappeared leaving RJ and Allie in the loft alone. RJ came over and wrapped his arms around her from behind resting his chin on her shoulder.
"So what do you think of Dom?" RJ asked placing a kiss on her shoulder.
"I think he's a lot of fun." Allie answered with a grin. "He's going to drive the rangers crazy though."
"More than likely." RJ said as he nuzzled against her neck making her shiver as his lips ghosted over the mark on her neck. It had become a small thin crescent moon like scar that RJ still wasn't ready to explain to her, she was thinking about asking Master Gale about it.
"What is this?" Dom questioned in a sing song voice causing the two masters to jolt in surprise. "I knew it, the way you saved her name for last, the look, the way you said it, you got yourself a girlfriend." Dom smiled teasingly. "Well I will let you get back to what you were doing and Allie I will be vetting you later."
"Looking forward to it." Allie nodded as Dom gave them one last grin before he dashed back downstairs. "Looks like the rangers won't be the only one he dives crazy." Allie commented as RJ let his head fall back to her shoulder and she reached up running her fingers through his hair. "Don't you have groceries to pick up?"
"I don't want to move." RJ replied leaning into her touch.
"Come on love, work before pleasure." Allie said as she stood up starting to walk away, but RJ pulled her back into a searing kiss.
"Love you." RJ mumbled against her lips.
"I love you to." Allie said as they separated and went back downstairs.
-0-
"I'll inspect when you're finished." Casey handed Dom a scraper. They looked under the table to find all sorts of gum stuck to it.
"You want me to scrape gum?" he frowned.
"Well I'm cleaning toilets, so…" Casey before he stood to go do his job as Dom started scraping. Casey set his hat and sunglasses on the counter by Fran, who was folding towels. Dom waited until Casey was gone to take a seat at the counter.
"So did you go to Pai Zhuq too?" he asked.
"Oh, me?" Fran blinked. "Oh no. I've hardly left Ocean Bluff. The only places I have been to have been in books."
"Books?" he raised an eyebrow. He shifted the towels slightly towards the edge, knocking Casey's hat and morpher into the trash. "Seriously?"
"Yeah." Fran nodded. "Why, is that weird?"
"I always have a book with me," Dom sighed as he pulled one out of his pocket. "When I'm alone, they're kind of like my friends. Here. 'The Pirate Skeleton.' Arrr, why don't you give it a read matey, or you be a scurvy dog?"
"Oh, that's a good one." Allie said as she walked over joining them.
"You've read it?" Fran questioned.
"Yep, you will love it to pieces." Allie told her.
"So you and RJ huh?" Dom questioned.
"Yep." Allie said meeting his stare. "You got a problem with that?"
"That depends, favorite food?" Dom questioned.
"Pizza." Allie answered.
"Movie?"
"Harvey."
"Book?"
"Tarzan."
A few more questions later Dom nodded in satisfaction.
"I approve." Dom said.
"I'm so relieved." Allie rolled her eyes with a laugh.
"You really care about him." Dom said seriously.
"More than anything." Allie replied just as seriously.
"She really does, they're practically inseparable." Fran teased Allie who smiled with a small blush.
"So who wants to hear RJ academy stories?" Dom asked.
"Me!" Allie and Fran said together and before long Dom had them gasping for breath then Allie's morpher went off cutting the fun short.
"Oh, got to go, catch you later." Allie said and rushed out of the restaurant.
Fran and Dom were talking some more after Allie had left as Casey walked in going over to a table.
"Dominic." Casey called as he inspected the table. Dom was still talking to Fran. Jackie had disappeared to who knows where. "You missed a few…hundred. And have you guys seen my sunglasses?"
He was interrupted when he heard them beeping. The red ranger looked into the trash bin and pulled the objects out.
"Oh sorry I…" Dom started.
"How long have these been in the trash?" Casey demanded, cutting off the blonde.
"Um I don't know." Dom replied. "I could wash them." Casey ran out before he gave an answer. "What's up?"
"Well there's trouble." Fran motioned. "Oh forget about the gum. Go!"
Dom took off his apron and left.
-0-
"Don't tell me you started the party without me?" Allie said as she flew through the air bringing her sword down on the monster forcing it away from the rangers.
"Allie, good to see you." Lily said as they struggled up.
"Where's Casey?" Theo asked.
"I thought he was here already." Allie replied.
"Did you really think that would work on me." Crocavile snapped as he rushed forward to attack again. Allie slashed her sward, but he blocked with the shields he carried on his arms. Then he punched her back followed by the others.
"Stay focused guys that is one vile crocodile." RJ said as they stood up.
"I'm here now guys." Casey said as he ran over to them.
"Where were you?" Theo questioned as Casey helped the blue and yellow ranger up.
"Jungle Beast Spirit Unleashed." Casey said and transformed. "The odds just changed buddy."
The rangers attacked to together. They used the stair railing to launch some of their attacks until RJ, Casey, and Allie were thrown of the stairs then Theo and Lily were struck down.
The monster approached them as the struggled to stand ready to attack, but then Dom grabbed the crocodile from behind stopping him.
"Dom, get out of there." RJ called out.
"Don't mess around." Casey said.
The Crocodile broke Doms hold on him and started to attack, but Dom used a car to his advantage.
"Over here." Dom said then ducked through the car. "Wrong way, over here now."
"Come back here." Crocovile snapped as he tried to grab Dom when he rolled over the top of the car. Crocavile grabbed him throwing him against the car just as a skateboarder went by behind them. The crocodile went to strike Dom who ducked out of the way the car getting hit instead sending it at the skater.
"Look out!" Casey called out as he pushed the skater out of the way. "You alright?"
"Yeah." The skater ran away as the crocodile left as well.
"Dom are you ok?" RJ asked as he and the rangers rushed over to him.
"Never better." He replied. "You should have told me you guys were power rangers."
"Sorry I was late." Casey said as he came over. "I got held up."
"Wow, I can feel the glare through the visor." Allie mumbled.
-0-
"How could you not hear us call?" Theo wondered as all the rangers walked into the loft.
"Dominic knocked them in the trash," Casey added for his case. "It's not my fault."
"All right dudes, cool your jets," RJ ordered. "It's all water under the bridge. Let's just concentrate on the real enemy here, shall we?"
"I want to join you." Dom spoke up, causing them all to turn to him. "Help you fight Dai Shi. Master Mao told me I'd find my path when I least expected it. And man… I didn't expect any of this. I feel like…live I've wandered in the dark for six years and today the sunlight finally hit my face."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Casey voiced his opinion.
"Everything's a big game to you." Theo agreed with his leader. "Someone would get hurt."
"Please." Dom begged. "Give me a chance."
Casey and Theo walked away first. The girls were hesitant.
"You guys." Lily called. She followed them. Allie and RJ remained behind.
"You can't join the team…" RJ sighed.
"I know," Dom interrupted. "Unless they want me to." He thought for a moment. "So I'll make them want me."
"I'll help you." Allie said looking to him and RJ shot her a proud smile. "Put in a few good words here and there."
"So I have your vote to be on the team?" Dom said with a smile.
"Of course, after all the stories you shared with me about RJ how can I not?" Allie said with a smile and RJ's smile turned worried.
"Wait! What stories?" RJ asked making Dom and Allie smirk.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Allie teased as she walked away.
"What stories?" RJ demanded from Dom who just laughed.
-0-
"Checks on two and four, water on seven." Dom said as he breezed through the restaurant.
"The guys all over it." Theo commented as Dom walked by.
"Yeah, he's doing a good job." Allie nodded as she placed money into the register then followed Casey into the kitchen.
"Batter up." Dom through some dough and Fran hit it making Casey and Allie duck out of the way.
"Wow, what inning is it?" Allie joked to break the tense mood that Casey's annoyed look caused getting a small smile from Fran and Dom.
"Fill theses pepper shakers." Casey said tensely.
"Consider it done." Dom said as Casey left. Once he was gone Allie really started to laugh as did Fran and Dom.
"You guys try not to have to much more fun, I don't think RJ can foot the bill." Allie said with a smile as she looked around the dough on the walls.
"Yes ma'am." Dom saluted.
"At ease." Allie said without missing a beat then walked back out of the kitchen.
"You shouldn't encourage him." Casey said.
"And you should take the stick out." Allie replied as she handed a receipt to some customers.
"He's just a big irresponsible kid." Casey shot back.
"And you're a stuffy old grandpa, which is weird considering the flour fight Theo said he found you and Lily in." Allie countered. "Now stop seeing the bad in him and open your mind to the good."
Allie turned on her heal grabbing some of the checks and going to their tables, soon after Dom came out as well carrying the pepper shakers and setting the on the tables.
"You know I don't know why everyone complains about the lunch rush." Dom said as he walked over to Lily and Allie.
"Usually because we have to rush out to save the day and Fran is on her own." Allie replied with a shrug. Suddenly the customers were standing from their tables fanning their mouths like they were on fire.
"Water on the double." Theo ordered and Lily rushed off to grab some followed by Allie. They were raising the kitchen when Casey came in grabbing a jar on the counter.
"I said pepper, not hot Chili pepper." Casey snapped at Dom.
"Cool it Casey, it was an accident, could have happened to anyone like Theo with the salt in the parmesan shakers." Allie rolled her eyes as the rangers walked past Dom, Casey shooting him a glare. "When did you guys become such sticks in the mud?"
-0-
Allie was sitting across from RJ as he worked on his latest project handing him tools and putting her finger in places to hold down wires and such.
"And hold." RJ said as he connected three wires that Allie held together so he could fuse them. "Thank you love."
"No problem." Allie replied.
Dom was standing nearby snacking on something out of a big bowl while Theo and Lily sparred.
"That's good balance." Dom said as Theo and Lily paused with their weapons locked. "But here let me show you something. When you strike like this rotate you hand like this. More power." Dom showed Lily then turned to Theo. "And when you shift from side to side loosen your fingers. You are going to see a big difference."
"Thanks." Lily said and she and Theo started to spar again, but their weapons flew out of their hands. Lily's bo almost hit Casey up in the loft kitchen and a Tonfa flew between Allie and RJ hitting the fan and bouncing off causing Allie to fall backwards, chair and all.
"I couldn't hold it." Lily said as RJ ran over to help Allie up.
"There was grease on them." Theo said as he looked down at his hands. Dom looked down at the food he was eating in realization.
-0-
"This really is a great book." Fran said holding the book that Dom had given her earlier.
"Yeah, got me through many a boring rainy day along with some other choice literature." Allie said as they walked toward the kitchen.
"So he made his decision and decided to leave." Allie heard RJ finish saying as she entered the kitchen, with Fran.
"Dominic left?" Allie frowned.
"It's for the best, right?" Casey hoped. "We gave it a try, it didn't work."
"Did you?" Allie questioned.
"Did you really…try?" Fran pressed. "So he jokes around. I kind of liked it."
"Me to." Lily said.
"Me three." Allie added.
"Did you ever give him a chance to show you what he was really made of?" Fran added. "Even once?" Then the phone rang and she answered it turning away from them. "Jungle Karma. Yeah I'm sorry. I will get those pizzas to you right away."
She hung up the phone and turned back to the rangers. She grabbed the pizza delivery case and stormed out with Allie.
"Go." Lily urged Casey.
-0-
"Look." Fran pointed to a man sitting on a bench by the docks. Casey pulled the jeep to a stop in the area. "There's Dominic."
Fran and Allie got out quickly walking over to him.
"Hey." Casey called. "Where are you going?"
"You hurt my feelings Dom, left without a goodbye." Allie said as they sat on the bench behind Dominic and on either side of him and he turned to them.
"I didn't think anyone noticed." Dom scoffed.
"Of course we noticed." Fran piped in. "Okay well me and Allie noticed." The girls shifted to the bench he was on. "When I first came to the pizza parlor, I was kind of lost. But then they opened their hearts and the parlor became my purpose. Well, for the time being anyway."
"I wonder if I'll ever find my purpose," Dom muttered.
"You will." Allie said confidently. "Like Master Mao told me when he gave me the Vulpes Master Sword, 'The path is laid before your feet, all you have to do is start walking and your destiny will meet you along the journey."
"Just don't quit looking." Fran advised.
"Bye Dom." the two girls got up and walked back toward the jeep.
He turned back and looked after them. They were heading under a sign that was being lifted up. They stopped walking when they heard the wire snap. Allie grabbed Fran, but there was no time to push her away. She covered Fran with her body hoping her spirit would take the brunt of the damage.
"Fran, Allie!" Dom called out. "Rhino Power!"
Suddenly an arm pulled them close Fran stuck between Dom and Allie. Dom used his Rhino power to cut a circle in the sign. It fell around them and they were unharmed when he let go.
"You ok?" he asked the two as Casey ran over.
"We are." Fran answered. "Thanks to you."
"Yeah, we owe you one." Allie breathed out placing a hand over her heart.
"Hey Casey." Dom greeted as they moved away from the sign.
"Dominic." The red ranger returned. "Wow. I made a mistake. I'm sorry… you know, for thinking you were just a goof-off. I mean, you are a goof off, but uh, you're also a lot more. You've got the rhino spirit and the ranger spirit. And I think you should join us."
The morphers beeped.
"Yeah?" Allie answered. She heard the reply. "We're on it." She turned to Dom with a smirk. "You ready?"
-0-
"Strike rider high speed." Casey said as he charged in on his bike. "Attack mode go."
He shot past Crocovile hitting him hard then he ran over and joined the other along with Dom and Allie.
"You guys miss us?" Casey questioned.
"Dominic, I thought you left." Lily said.
"I almost left." Dom told her.
"Well right now you better step aside." Theo said.
"Hey, give him a chance, you're in for a surprise." Casey said and placed a hand on Dom shoulder. "Right Dominic?"
"I think it's time for your gift RJ." Allie said.
"Right, this will ranger up you Rhino spirit." RJ said as he stepped up to Dom handing him a bracelet.
"Thanks." Dom said. "Rhino Morpher, initiate." The bracelet changed into a bladed gauntlet. "Jungle Beast Spirit Unleashed." Dom transformed into the white Rhino ranger. "With the power of a Rhino, Jungle Fury Rhino Ranger!"
The rangers cheered in amazement at their newest ranger.
"A new ranger." Camille sneered. "Rinshi!"
"Bring it on." Dom said and started to attack the Rinshi with ease cutting through them with his morpher then blasting them away. He also showed his great strength as he moved on to more. "Your turn. Rhino Morpher Stampede!"
"Nice work."
"Amazing."
"Good job Dom."
"Now try me ranger." Crocovile said.
"Any time Crocovile, you think your fist is tough, bet you never met a rhino before." Dom said as he held up his morpher.
"That Croc has met his match." RJ said as they watched the two go at it.
"What do you mean?" Theo asked.
"The Rhino spirit is one of the toughest spirits there is and Dominic knows how to use every bit of it." RJ explained as Dom engaged the Croc in battle.
"Whoah." Allie said as Dom raised Crocovile over his head with one arm.
"Let's go for a ride." Dom blasted the Croc into the air. "Rhino blade."
Dom cut through the Croc then charged up his morpher.
"Rhino Blade, Super Slash!" Dom fired at the Croc blowing him up. "Later gator."
"Now that's Rhino power, welcome to the team." Casey said.
-0-
"Okay." Casey nodded as they all watched Dom walk around serving tables, the newest member of their team. "So he has a certain charm."
"And business is up since he started." Lily added.
"I've had time to catch up on my reality shows." RJ agreed.
"Reality shows or making out time with Allie." Lily said in a sing song voice making the masters blush.
It was no secret that recently during one of their more romantic meetings in the loft when they thought no one was around Theo had walked in and refused to talk about it. Lily had tried to get the details, but Allie refused only reassuring Lily that she was not the kind of girl who gave it away before marriage.
"Subject change." Theo said, his face as red as the masters.
"Something you wanted me to get." Dom placed a small gift wrapped box on the counter in front of Casey, smirking "But it took me a while."
"What is it?" Casey took the box. Dom went to serve a table as Casey opened it. He dumped the contents in his hand, revealing a giant, multicolored gumball to the others. "The gum? Ugh! Dom!"