PART TWENTY-ONE: This Present Darkness
Jason walked down the hall to be stopped by David. He scowled quickly, although he never knew why but he really didn't like David at all. "None of your business, excuse me." With that Jason maneuvered around David and walked into the main hall "Hey, I'm back, everything looking ok."
"Jason man where have you been, You're like an hour late." Dustin lectured.
"I know, I was busy."
"You can't be doing that Jason, not with all thats at risk. Just give us something to go on next time."
"I'll try Dustin."
Xander opened his eyes as well to see. The same thing he had seen for what seemed like an eternity. "No." Xander said crestfallen.
"Damnit, Maddie what are we gonna have to do to get out of here." He had only recently started to use that name a lot, she had told him her feeling towards him, but he wasn't sure what his were yet, though the barrier he had up was slowly breaking.
Tommy pulled himself away from Kat, wiping away a bit of her blood that was on his lips.
"I will Kat, and she will be very sorry this time. I have had enough of her foolishness. It is quite unfortunate that she is so invaluable to us. I would have killed her years ago if not. Ah yes, here she is."'
Tommy watched both Astronema and Kat as Astronema walked in. Inside he was laughing to himself.
He knew that Kat hated Astronema with every bone in her body for what Astronema tried to do. It was actually one of the reasons h kept Astronema around, it kept his wife on her toes a perceived threat is as good as a real one. "Astronema how good of you to finally show up. So late tut tut. Terrible. Now bow down and apologize." Before she even had the chance to do so; "NOT FAST ENOUGH!"
He summoned his staff as forced her down, slamming her body on the floor. He then lifted it up and threw it against the wall.
"Now Astronema. Why? Why must you constantly do these things, tardiness here, a slight failure there. These problems add up."
Tommy then sent his signature green lightning streaking into her body. "Why?"
Tori sighed and watched as David entered. She did not trust the guy but he was needed right now.
Aster looked up at Jason and waved her hand down to so Jason would be in front of her face. Which of course he leaned down. "You were with Karone weren't you?" She whispered. She knew bout the relationship only because she sort of figured it out. "You have to be careful." She finished whispering.
Tori walked over and lay her head on Dustin's shoulder. She knew how much Jason loved the kid but she also knew that because of what happened to Jason with his hand he could not be the girls godfather it was too dangerous. "Don't be so hard on him." She whispered in Dustin's ear. "He is our leader after all."
Madison sighed. "I know we have to get out of here. I just have this feeling something bad happened well we were away." She said quietly. She had gotten use to Xander calling her Maddie for now it seemed that was a close as he wanted to get to a relationship.
Kat smiled evilly as Astronema got her punishment. She just watched and would not say a word. She had more fun watching her Tommy make the ones who did not follow the laws pay!
Astronema winced but took the punishment bravely she knew Kat hated that as did Tommy. "I was trying to find a way to the underground hideout." She said as the lighting faded. Though she was sore and would be quite bruised she would not give into them.
Kat pouted. "Very disgraceful Astronema." Kat said as she walked over to Tommy and leaned on him.
Astronema looked up and gave Kat a sly smile. "When have I ever let you push me around Kat!" She said bitterly.
Kat wanted to lunge at Astronema! How dare she treat her like this! How dare she! "Bad Astronema." Kat growled looking as if she was ready to pounce on Astronema and tear her to bits!
Jason put a finger up to his lips and with a small "shh" He looked around to make sure know one else had heard. "Remember what we said, know talking about that. But dont worry Aster I am being very careful." Jason said with a hand on her shoulder.
"I can't help it Tor, way too much is at risk here." Dustin whispered.
"Well I think the fact that we are here, where ever here is, is proof that something bad has happened."
Xander looked through his spells once again before he slammed his morpher back into its case. "Useless!"
"Yes very bad Astronema." As Tommy spoke he grabbed Kat and pulled her behind him. "We are always looking for their hideout, that is NO excuse for tardiness."
He looked back at Kat with a slight sadistic grin on his face. An idea came to him, an idea which would really get Kat upset. Always a good thing in his eyes. His metal finger he reserved for Kat. He rarely ever used it one anyone else, and then it was typically to give someone he had respect for a quick death. He brought his metal finger up to Astronemas cheek running the not sharp back against it. Then when he got into the middle he made a few quick slashes on her cheek. The letters T and K connected at the stems; one of the symbols of the kingdom. He turned back and walked to Kat, and raised the finger to his lips licking off the bit of blood at the end. Again in order to piss off Kat. He then let go of the spell that was keeping Astronema in the air, and she fell to the ground.
"Never do this again or I will not be as gentle next time, understood?"
Aster used her fingers to pretend to lock her lips. "You better." She added.
David watch the scene and smiled. So Aster and Jason had a secret between them. He would tell Kat. He closed his eyes and smiled. Yes Kat how he wanted her but she was off limits though that had never stopped him before. Without anyone seeing his disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke and reappeared in Kat's room and waited for her.
Back at the underground. Tori sighed. "I know Dustin I know." She said as Jason and Aster had their talk. She was always curious what the two whispered about but it was not any of her business. "Jason did you find out anymore info on Kat, Tommy or our missing rangers?"
Madison walked over and hugged Xander. It was friendly gesture she did not really mean it for anything else. "We will get out this okay? Remember what Udonna always said and the others? Never give up! Never."
Kat's eyes flashed with anger. How dare he? "Bad boy." She cried as she turned and went into her bedroom. Why did Astronema always get in the way! Why?
"My queen." Kat looked over at the window and smiled. "My mole you come to check in." She said then a plan formed. It would make Tommy angry but he would not hurt her mole not unless he could not give them anymore information. She walked over to David her pink dress sweeping around her as she walked. She reached out and pulled David to her and kissed him. David enjoyed the kiss it had surprised him but he was not going to stop it. The kissed ended but she did not remove her hands. "What news have you brought me?" She whispered in his ear. He smiled. "The girl I can take her soon but Jason cannot be there. The two have a secret together and I am going to find out what it is for you my Queen." Kat smiled excitedly. "I can't wait."
Astronema stood and wiped her cheek where Tommy had left the mark. "That was not a very bright idea Tommy." Astronema never called Tommy and Kat, king and queen it was not her style. "You had better go after her." She said turning to go. That was where it ended. Tommy still was using her to get on Kat's nerves and it made her angry. She held her hand up to the mark and held back her tears. Jason was going be ever so upset and now worried. What was she going to tell him?
Kira had finally let Chip pass and he hurried over to Astronema who was limping. "Mistress!" Anger filled Chip but he pushed it aside it was all part of the plan and he had to let it go. "I am fine!" She said bitterly. "Lets get going we have a lot to do." The two left the throne room leaving Kira, Trent and Tommy alone. Kira walked over to Tommy. "Why do you always do things to make Kat angry?" She asked Tommy. She had always called the Queen Kat. She still considered her a friend. Trent smirked he had watched the whole thing. "Come on Kira you know that makes the King and Queen's relationship exciting." He said. "Stop trying to baby the Queen. She can handle herself." Trent said bitterly.
"Hey kiddo you know I will." Jason whispered with a wink. He stood up and turned to the others.
"No Tori, nothing. Every lead I have tried has failed miserably. Tommy and Kat are covering their tracks very well."
"Well what can you expect Jason."
"No less from those two." Jason stated.
Xander hugged her back understanding completely. "Yea, I know. This would be a lot easier to deal with if Udonna was here though."
Astronema left before Tommy had a chance to yell at her any more.
But Kira and Trent were still here. "Both of you shut up and get out of here."
Tommy turned on his heel and stormed off to their bedroom. Damn, this is not quite what I had in mind, but she is prone to these fits.
Tommy stopped outside the door, because he heard a male voice, so he put his head to the door and listened, catching the very end of the conversation.
He burst through the doors "And just what are you talkin-"
Tommy stopped in mid sentence. The room was fairly lit but well enough for him to see a slight amount of Kats makeup on the moles lips. His pupils turned dark green and he was beside the two of them before they could blink. He grabbed the man and threw him across the room. "Big mistake."
Aster nodded and knowing it was now grownup talk time she went off to play with her friends.
Tori shook her head. "Those two. With Kat not total there and Tommy all power hungry it is not a good combination." Tori watched as Aster played. If only they knew how to get her to show her power then maybe they could stop Tommy and Kat!
Madison sighed. "But she is not here." She looked around. "I know we have not explored a lot of this place but I think we should again. There has to be something we missed." She realized she was still holding Xander and let go and turned away. "There has to be something." She said trying to cover up her awkwardness.
Kira and Trent left to stand back outside of the throne room. Kira was a little worried bout Kat. She hoped she was going to be okay.
Kat growled and stepped in front of Tommy. "Big mistake! What bout you and Astronema?" She said with venom in her voice. "Do not hurt Billy again! We still need him!" She almost said 'I' but stopped herself and changed it too we. "Billy leave." She said without even turning. Billy would have preferred to keep fighting Tommy but he did not want to make Kat anymore upset stood weakly. "My Queen." Then he was gone in a puff of blue smoke leaving Kat and Tommy alone! "See you get angry when another man touches me luv!" She said bitterly ready for anything Tommy was going to hurt her with for her mistake. Though she had wanted that. She wanted Tommy to feel the same way she did whenever he got too close to Astronema! Kat had her nails ready to hurt Tommy a game it was at times but this time it meant trouble. Though deep inside it made Kat excited. She liked when her Tommy hurt her it was ecstasy.
Back in the underground Billy was in his room wincing. He knew he had a few broken ribs and was not sure how he would explain it to the others. He was so angry that Tommy had interrupted them! Hadn't he Billy loved Kat first? Though he had never told her which was his biggest mistake ever. He leaned against his bed wrest and let the pain drain away. He could still try to get Kat but she was in love with Tommy which she had been for awhile. He felt his anger flash again. How could he have been so stupid!
"Yea, our position has been stagnant for almost a year, no gain and no loss. As frustrating as it is for us. It must be driving Tommy and Kat more insane than they already are."
"So what can we do Jason?" Jason reluctantly shrugged. "For once I am out of ideas."
Xander let her go, though he wouldn't admit it he didn't want to.
"Yea which direction. This way." Xander took her hand; "Just in case, we dont know whats out here. Better make sure that we stay together." Xander started to walk in a direction.
To look at Tommys eyes was to look at a pool of green fire, the color was moving as his anger increased. As Tommy spoke he walked slowly up to Kat forcing her against the wall.
"Oh yes. I did touch her didn't I. But I did not kiss her Kat. There is a big difference!"
He slashed down her arm with his his blade-nail, then grabbed both her arms, pushing her against the wall.
"You need to get over Astronema. You should have years ago."
Though Tommy wasn't doing it intentionally, his blade-nail was digging into the skin of her arm.
Despite the fact that he was meaning to punish her, the scent of her blood was on his nostrils, and it was making this hard.
"If I ever catch Billy in here again. In the BEDROOM, I will kill him, I don't care how badly we need him."
His visage lightened a bit. "Kat you know you are a part of me, no other woman could ever mean anything to me."
Tori frowned. "Kat is more insane then Tommy." She looked over at Aster the girl was out of ear shot. "Though that happened when Kat disowned Aster." She said sadly. Then she looked at Jason. She sighed. "I think Kat sent a mole into our mists." She said seriously. "Look Jason I don't know who it is but Kat and Tommy are getting info bout us and the only way that would happen would be if there was a mole in our mists."
Madison held tight to Xander's hand. She followed hiding how much she was enjoying this. Would Xander ever consider her as more then a friend? She was not sure but she would enjoy what time she had with him until then. "I am a bit worried Xander. It is way too quiet here." She said nervously.
Kat actual whimpered. She had not intended on making Tommy so mad! Almost mad enough to kill Billy. "Not ever again I promise." She said in a whisper. She was not normally scared bout what Tommy did to her but she was right now. Her arm throbbed and the metal digging into it made it even more painful! Though she knew that punishment was coming. Tommy never kissed Astronema never ever. But she had just kissed Billy! That had been very wrong of her. Though Tommy's next words made her feel even worse! "I sorry." She sobbed sounded more like a child then anything else. "I so sorry." She whispered. "Should have known better." She murmured weakly. She knew there was still more punishment but she could take it. Her Tommy would make her pay. She should not have kissed Billy not at all! That was her mistake not really Billy's.
"That she is. You are right ya know. I've been suspecting such a thing for awhile now. The problem is I have no idea who it is."
"Well don't look at me man."
"I know, the best I can figure is that we are in someplace that is not a normal part of the space-time continuum." After he realized how nerdy that sounded he blushed slightly. "Hey Chip's been my best friend for years, that stuff has rubbed off a bit."
His eyes floated back to normal. He hadn't meant to make Kat like this. "Oh Kat." He moved his arms and wrapped them around her. "You know what I meant, but seeing you in another mans arms with your lipstick on him..." He moved around, his hands holding her face. "I'm sorry, just don't put me in that position ever again. Ok?" It was then that he noticed how badly he had hurt her in his anger. "Kat." He bent down and slowly dragged his tongue around her wound licking up all the blood. "Better now?"
Tori rolled her eyes. "Dustin we know it is not you." She chewed her lip. "For awhile I have felt uneasy when David was around." She told Jason and Dustin truthfully. "You think he might?" She asked nervously.
Billy opened his eyes and realized he had falling asleep and Aster had come to the door. "You okay?" She asked him. Billy smiled. "I will be. Took a bad fall." He could grab her now if he wanted. But no he had to wait and find out what she and Jason were whispering about.
Madison smiled. "If Chip was here I bet he would call this a Star Trek dimension thing." She said noticing the blush but did not say anything about it. "We have to try and find a way out." She said quietly. Then up ahead she saw a sort of cave. "Xander do you see that?" She asked him. Maybe it was the way out!"
Kat looked up at Tommy. "A little." She said quietly. "Never again I promise." She said knowing that Tommy meant every word if Billy was caught with her again he would be dead! "I love you. You know this." She said firmly. "I sorry for making you upset." She said sounding a bit like a child again. "Never again I promise." She lay her head on Tommy's chest. Why had she done what she had done? She did not know. It was Astronema she made her so angry!
Astronema was in her room and Chip was taking care of her wounds. She winced. "Easy Chip." She said bitterly when he finally finished. "It was my fault I was punished not yours." She said firmly. "Jason and I should have gone home hours ago." Chip picked up the stuff he had used to fix Astronema up. "Karone he marked your cheek." Chip said closing his eyes. Astronema sighed. "Chip enough. He marked my face up to make Kat jealous! You know this. He always does that. Though." She smiled a bit. "I think he made her really mad this time." She reached up and lay her hand on her cheek. "I am going to see Jason tomorrow not a word about what happened. Promise me." She said firmly. Chip nodded. "He knows Tommy was going to punish me he does not need to know that Tommy did more then mark up my cheek."
"I also have felt odd around him, but its Billy. He's been with us since the beginning. And I don't want to go around accusing everyone that I see just because."
"Well I knew it wasn't me, just had to be sure that you knew too."
"He would."
"Yea, I see it. A better lead than anything else we have to go on." With that he picked up his pace a bit going towards the cave.
Tommy kept one hand holding her against him, his other began to brush through her hair.
"Kat, you know I would never harm you, well not like that at least. You are my reason for existence Kat. I know this is because of Astro-." He thought better that to finish the sentence. "Look forget about her. She means nothing to me. She is a useful tool that is all. Promise that you wont let her mess with your head anymore ok?"
Tori sighed. "Then why did he want us to call him David in the beginning?"
"It was a caution." Billy said as he came in holding Aster hand. "I too have a feeling we have a mole in our mists. I had to keep my real name quiet until I knew for sure." Tori almost gasped when Billy came in with Aster. She wanted to grab her and get her away from Billy. Something was not right bout him no matter what Jason said!
Madison kept a hold on Xander's hand. "I hope it's not a trap." She murmured as they arrived at the entrance of the cave.
Kat relaxed in Tommy's arms leaning into his touch. Her punishment was over for now. "I won't." She said quietly. How could she even think that Tommy cared more bout Astronema? She lived for Tommy she gave up everything for him. She heard the child's laugh in her head again. She pushed it aside. "I mean more to you." She purred her anger toward Astronema gone. Though she still pouted a bit. "You marked her with our mark." She said pouting. "You don't do that anymore." She added. Though all of a sudden she felt very tired. "I'm tired." She whispered. "Can we go to bed now?" She asked looking up at her Tommy with mischief in her blue eyes.
When Dustins saw Aster next to Billy or David or whatever his name was, his eyes darted over to Tori's worry etched on them. "So you're Billy, the great tech genius huh?"
As Dustin spoke he slowly walked towards Aster. "Ya know we had a techie hard core nerd in our group as well, Cam. A little weird but ya know still a good guy."
Dustin then looked down at his watch. "Hey Aster did you see the time? Its time for bed." Dustin then took the hand which Billy was not holding. "Come on Tori and I will tuck you in."
"So do I." With those word they entered the cave.
Tommy kept Kat wrapped tight as she spoke. "Of course you mean more to me Kat I would give up everything that I have for you. You know that."
As she brought up the mark his face contorted into a wicked grin. "Oh no I didnt just mark her I put a slight curse on her. If she betrays us in anyway I will know. And the mark will burn into her skin forever. His grin grew even wider as she continued speaking. "Tired. Do you really want to go to bed if you are tired?"
Aster let go of Billy's hand and Tori took it. The three headed into Aster bedroom. Leaving Billy and Jason alone.
Billy was not sure what else he should say. He was not about to tell Jason he was working for Kat.
Madison shielded her eyes their was a bright light in the cave. "What the?" The ground opened up and the two fell down it.
Astronema looked at her watch she wanted to go see Jason. A few more hours that was all. She lay in bed the mark burned a bit but she ignored it. She had a feeling Tommy had done something more then marking her up!
Kat giggled. "Yes I am tired." She said though she really did not look tired at all! She had an evil gleam in her eyes. "I want some alone time with my Tommy." She said in a sing song voice. "No interruptions." She was ever so happy that Astronema was still paying for what she did. Now she could not do anything without Tommy knowing. Then she would be even more punished. Kat liked that a lot.
(end part twenty-one)