Chapter 21: Keys to the Kingdom
(The Boarding House)
If there was one valuable lesson the game of poker taught Kimberly was how to keep a straight face without letting your opponents know your hand. It was a game of chance, bluffing and deceit where the idea was to either go all in or bust. Now Kimberly found herself putting her poker skills to test in order to get the most powerful Empowered Human to fold and reveal his game plan. There was no way she was going to slip up especially with Gabriel and Cadence's safeties at risk. It is simple for Jacob to fool her son into thinking he's Tommy but not her.
Kim knew Tommy inside and outside and the bond and love they share with each other has magnified over the years. It was as if over time they became one heart and soul and expanded beyond soulmates and true loves. There were days they wondered if it was fate and destiny that attracted them to one another and if the universe told their love and relationship transcended beyond its limits. Kim carefully studied Jacob's mannerism discretely as his eyes studied the mantle with all of her family pictures. The idea that she was a living reminder of Jacob's one true love made the whole situation a little ironic but also complicated wondering what it all meant.
"I see you added some new pictures to the mantle huh Kim?" Jacob slightly smiled playing his role of her husband to the latter. She was trying to find a way to let Gabriel know something was up and for a four year old boy he was bright and clever. "I didn't see this picture here. When...when was this taken?"
"Daddy don't you remember? That's when we went to Beaufort!" Gabriel smiled.
"Beaufort?! What's in Beaufort?!" he questioned in confusion.
"Hey don't mind your "daddy" little man," Kim assured her son but playing it calm and collective. Maybe Jacob didn't know her and Tommy all too well especially when it came to why Beaufort, North Carolina is important to their family. "It's just your "daddy" didn't remember we got the pictures developed after we came back from our trip to North Carolina to introduce the Bennetts to Cadence. You know sometimes "daddy" has this habit of forgetting things especially when it comes to our yearly trips to Beaufort for Elena and Hayden."
"Elena and Hayden, how can I forget our adopted kids?" Jacob said putting the picture down. "Yeah I know how much it means to us that the twins still have a relationship with their biological relatives. We owe it to them for everything they did for Rosaline the first sixteen years of her life. The twins may not be biologically our children but they're love regardless as if they're one of our own."
"Mommy says they're also family too," Gabriel continued. "And I tell my friends at preschool I have three sisters and one brother."
"You should hear him bragging about how amazing his sisters and brother are. For a preschooler he knows a lot of things and the twins love Rosaline, Gabriel and Cadence no matter if they're blood related or not." Kimberly went to pick up Cadence from her playpen cradling the baby in her arms protectively while carefully keeping her eyes on Jacob suspiciously. "Sorry, don't mind me the kids manage to get sick with colds from daycare and preschool respectively. They already took their medicine."
"Is there anything I can do to help? I could take our little girl if you want?" Jacob asked. In Jacob's mind it never dawned on him how much the Wings of Fate value their children, both their biological and adopted ones. But for him, the twins were irrelevant and had no biological ties to Tommy and Kimberly, but he was unintentionally giving the young boy hints about how he discussed Elena and Hayden. Kim let out a chuckle knowing it will be easy to bait Jacob out given that if he knew Tommy better then he figured out that Tommy's bond with the twins also stem from his experience of being adopted as well.
"No, I think I can manage but first I need my special little guy to do something for me?" Kim smirked looking at her son. "Gabe, mommy needs you to "tidy up all your special toys" and put them in your big toy box? Can you do that for mommy?"
"Okay mommy I'll tidy up all my special toys and put them in a safe place," Gabriel smiled as she watch her son happily run out of the room. She went to check her phone and she can vaguely hear Tommy's voice on the other head mumbling and praying Kim was safe. Kim wanted Tommy to hear everything going on as she continued to protectively carry Cadence in the living room. However, without Jacob noticing, Kimberly secretly had Gabriel get Cadence out of the living room knowing her younger children would be safe from whatever happens next.
"Hey huh Tommy do you remember that time when we came home from the Youth Center with Hayden and we found the girls showing Gabriel one of Rosie's old photo albums?" Kimberly suddenly asked getting Jacob's attention. "Elena remembered it was her biological mother, Sarah Bennett's birthday. She and Rosie wanted to introduce their brother to an amazing mother who raised them and Hayden."
"It seems like a long ago distant memory to me." He simply said.
"That's funny because you always use to tell the twins that sometimes we had to remind ourselves where they truly came from. It was why you bonded instantly with them because of that feeling of being an adopted child. Despite having no biological or blood relation to them you promised you give them the same love their biological parents had for them. You told the twins that we can be happy with what we have and what we got in return, our family." He suddenly turned around to find Kimberly armed with a power blaster she had hidden pointing it directly at Jacob. There was a look of disdain on Kim's face.
"Kimberly...what are you doing?! Seriously, you need to put that away or else you could hurt somebody with that! Please, just give me the gun." He pleaded.
"That's funny because we only use this if there was a potential threat in our house, actually let me rephrase that my house!?" She stared angrily. "Did you honestly think you can fool me into thinking you're Tommy?! Buddy, this isn't my first rodeo tangling with doppelgangers or imitators. I know my husband inside and outside and I know who my true white falcon, my soulmate, my Winged Lord of the Skies, my heart and soul. It was only a matter of time before you let it slip so you have thirty seconds to tell me why the hell you are in my house Jacob? Then, you got another thirty seconds to explain to me your game plan and how it involves me, my husband and my kids!"
(NASADA)
"He has about a few more hours until Declan's magic is out of Aaron's system and as for Westbury's public enemy number one, he'll recover his magic." Bianca confirmed as she peeked into the conference room. Jason and Kat arrived a little while later with their kids and Declan in tow. However, they weren't risking taking the magic restraints off of Declan for their own safety as the Rangers kept an extra close eye on him. On the contrary, he did have some useful information and Declan was determined to distance himself from both the Coalition and facing the wrath of his coven. "Truthfully, he's still disorientated and his encounter with Aaron may have something to do with it."
"He emerges over after a year long desiccation coma for the Coalition to use him to go retrieve their hitman on retainer." Kat said as the group was back in the central control room. "Jason was able to read his mind and to describe the details of what Declan experienced at the hands of the Coalition is left beyond speechless."
"So the question is what do we do with him?" Zack asked.
"Any supernatural sanctuary is out of the question because of his association with Satsu and the Acadians. Sending him back across the pond to England is a jail sentence knowing his coven wants his head on a silver platter." Aisha explained.
"Yeah there is still a price on Declan for that." Kat sighed in frustration. "The fact that I had to beg them to keep him in our custody was tense. But this is Celeste's son and reluctantly Jason and I made a promise to her to ensure redemption for him. I owe it to her because of everything she did for me and my family."
"It's your call Katherine...literally you and Jason are going to decide Declan's fate." the others agree collectively. "What's going to happen to him?"
Before Kat could decide anything, the group was interrupted when Jason received an emergency call from Tommy. The day was already heading to a sour start when Tommy let him know that Jacob was already at the boarding house with Kim and the kids. Virgil, Shi-Ann, Christian and Rosaline already headed to the Youth Center to check up on the twins. For Jason, this was his little sister and best friend, the two people next to his wife and kids that mattered to him.
"I'm going over there because I'll be damned if my best friend and brother walks into a trap and two my little sister is stuck in a house with a guy who looks exactly like Tommy." Jason snapped grabbing some weaponry and anything else he can arm himself with. "I can handle myself and besides we're on the brink of a breakthrough once that satellite finishes its 100% internal and external scan of the Earth. This is our only chance to find that city before the Coalition and the Empowered Humans do."
"Hey Jason you need backup bro!" Adam explained. "You can't charge in there guns blazing against the leader of the Empowered Humans and their mortal enemy. At this point these warring sides don't care if they level out our planet with their fight."
"Adam's right pal they're powerful enough that with that much hate for each other they'll flatten out everything around them." Rocky added. "Besides, you aren't the only one who cares for our royal couple. Hey, you've been in military you know better than not to go into a battle without backup."
"Okay but we need to hurry." Jason ordered. "Billy see if you can get a fix on Tommy's location. Those warring factions are after the keys to the kingdom: the Claochladan which is in the hands of Kim. That computer has already completed a 75% scan of the Earth. Once we get the proximity of the Empowered's secret city then we can find that hidden temple of theirs. We need to get the Claochladan away from them: doesn't matter if it's away from the Empowered Human's hands or Ivan Ooze."
"Alright Jason I got a fix on Tommy's location. He's about four miles close to the boarding house just a little past Kingsley Bridge." Billy said pulling up the video feed but then noticing a motorcycle speeding towards Tommy's direction on the road. "Oh no, you guys better be ready to teleport right now. It's Ivan Ooze!"
"Let's get moving and keep getting a hold of Kim!" Adam and Rocky replied as they joined Jason. They were instantly teleported away from NASADA hoping to get to Tommy first before Ivan Ooze does. Meanwhile, Tanya and Aidan continue to analyze multispectral scans while the young Black Twilight Ranger works on his coding.
"Declan is singing like a canary," Kat observed the conference room. "Guys we can't get comfortable now. Apparently with Bianca spearheading the interrogation the rest of them are starting to believe what Declan experienced. They're going to great lengths to make sure Earth doesn't experience another so called insurrection. However, it's going to come at a steep price by compromising the safety of Earth."
"Our theory is whatever is buried in that secret city contains a massive surge of power or weaponry of global proportion," Justin added.
"Jason read Declan's mind and saw his memories." Kat replied as they continued to listen. "At this point, whatever they did to him shook him to the core. That young man is out of options and he is leaning towards heading back to Westbury and face his coven. It's either that or...let the Coalition get their hands on him again. Currently where we are position is right in the middle between a conflict between two longtime adversaries who united under a common goal. Ivan Ooze represents that bridging of the divide between good and evil against something he had a hand in bringing upon the universe: the Empowered Beings."
"And to them it was a representation of their dominion and authority being usurper despite allegiance." Billy said wiping his glasses. "These Empowered Beings symbolizes a transcendence beyond their own planetary genetics and it became an issue once the Anagenesis process became the solution to trigger the anomalies in their genetic makeup to alter their structure both physically, mentally and emotionally. Hence, an unholy alliance between good and evil formulated in order to preserve their respective power of authority regardless who their allegiance was to."
"So the line in the sand has been blurred?" Trini sighed. "Clearly the line between good and evil has been redrawn in a twist of cruel irony."
"But where does that leave us? Do we still hold onto the belief and everything we knew about the Line of Power?" Aisha questioned warily. "If the Coalition was able to do this on at least eight other planetary systems, then where does that leave us when good and evil band together against an insurrection?"
"You guys do what you need to do to protect the line and legacy of Power and the sanctity of Earth," Aidan suddenly spoke up surprising Tanya and the rest of the original veterans. "I think it was their intention to try to keep us neutral while these warring factions duke it out. Right now we can't look to the Order of Meridian for counsel with the line between good and evil redrawn. We look to you guys because we're a family and right now the only people we can trust is family. Gosh, I feel like I'm taking something out of Rosie's book speaking of loyalty and family. So...what's the game plan? Do we stay neutral while our planet gets turned into a battleground?"
"Staying neutral isn't an option anymore guys the day we found ourselves in uncharted territory," Tanya added looking at the computer and smiled. "Both sides want the keys to the kingdom huh? While they tear each other apart...we're going to make sure they'll be in a hell of a fight for both the lock and key to get inside. Computer finished the scan and it's narrowing the geographical location of our fabled secret city: deep in the heart of the Caribbean. Now, we got the region, we need the destination."
(Meanwhile)
Tommy continues to drive before eventually taking a right turn. When he glances at his phone, he finds that the call has suddenly ended and sighs as he throws it back onto the passenger seat. He's driving what looks like a back road near the lakeside residential estates when suddenly, his tires explode with a loud bang, forcing Tommy to come to a screeching halt. He skids off the road and nearly misses hitting an old information booth before stopping and getting out of his car to look around. Tommy familiarizes himself with the area realizing that he's not too far from one of the secret passages to the boarding house.
He sees a few wooden arrows impaling his left front tire and looks around to see where if he is being watched. Tommy abandons his car and heads into the woods on foot back to the boarding house. Just as he heads up the trail towards one of the secret tunnels back to the boarding house, a young man standing in front of him with a crossbow. He attempts to shoot Tommy in the leg with a bolt from his crossbow but Tommy quickly dodges it. Tommy looks at his attacker and realizes it's Ivan Ooze while he is reloading his crossbow attempting to shoot another one into his right shoulder. Tommy dodges the second bolt as Ivan Ooze tosses aside his crossbow in favor of pulling his Savage Hammer out of the scabbard strapped to him back as he walks toward him.
"So...we meet again, White Ranger," Ivan Ooze stares emotionless. "I can sense him you know, the spawn that is the Maistir Dhiaga. He and this filth have already polluted this planet for far too long."
"Let me guess you need me as bait to lure your great white whale out in the open?" Tommy snapped. "Wow, I got to say Ivan that seeing your true face underneath all that purple, this is a major upgrade. At least you don't look like a senile, old, cosmic asshole."
"I prefer youth over whatever they did to me in that little penalty box of theirs. Oh well, but bygones will be bygones and despite this tether my employers have already granted me amnesty for all my past transgressions." Ivan Ooze explained. "That amnesty was granted the minute a Claochladan became active and then the anomaly trash made themselves known. The Order knew that somehow my little projects somehow made their way to Earth and detected those with the genetic anomalies in them. It took twelve nomad, wayward bound shipwreck passengers to spawn this garbage on Earth?"
"The shipwreck near the Ancient Harbor? They were the first Empowered Humans were they?" Tommy questioned suspiciously.
"It was suppose to be twelve instead of eleven that was accounted for. Unfortunately, if you been following the colorful tales of the chronological battle eras between good and evil then you figured out a couple of intermissions occurred. Luckily, even some of the greatest paternity bombshells were taken to the grave. On the contrary, with both good and evil vying to get rid of a common insurrection to their dominion, you can say it does make for some strange bed fellows. Did Atticus honestly think he would take that little secret of his to his grave? Boy, he spat in the face of the Order the day him and that Empowered Human conceived that child, Jacob?"
"And me being a somewhat ancestral and long distant descendant of that bloodline, you pretty much want to rip me apart don't you? I'm a conundrum aren't I because somehow Atticus' transgression and Jacob's existence threw the balance of nature off course? Was that the same thing with Ceile, Jacob's one true love? We're conundrums aren't we, Kim and me? Then what about the prophecy? I'm guessing your part of the enemy aspect are you Ivan? The Wings of Fate, the very foundation that holds the Line of Power will fall: one by friend, one by enemy and one by family."
"Who says that I'm the enemy in this spoken prophecy? Jacob was the driving catalyst to get this prophecy going because you are his shadow version. Nature has its way of balancing out the universe and you don't understand how connected you and him are, just the others before him. The shadow versions of Jacob and Ceile always have this uncanny way of being drawn to one another in one lifetime or the next. Despite their aged long star-crossed love tale, what they did had unforeseen actions and a coalition who made it their objective to insure the balance of the universe stays in place. Not...everything is what it seems White Ranger and you'll soon find out."
"I think I heard that expression one too many times," Tommy said sarcastically. "It seems like I'm not the only one running on borrowed time wouldn't you say Ivan? What are you at right now? Your fifth lifespan? I know about the Everlasting Spell and how the eight everlastings linked their lifespans to yours and the Savage Hammer. If there is one thing we learned from you intergalactic cosmic beings: immortality isn't what it's cracked up to be."
"Then maybe you should ask Atticus' bastard son about that too," Ivan Ooze snapped. "I been patient with you Rangers despite my impulsive urge to strike anyone down despite their allegiance. I'm not going to warn you a third time around to step aside for I need the keys to the kingdom to rid your planet of this trash. You know what I want because it is in your possession and I know Jacob is within your domain."
"If you think I'm going to let you...or Jacob and his Empowered Humans waltz into my house and put my wife and family endanger, you got another thing coming." Tommy stood his ground blocking the trail from Ivan Ooze. It was a risk he was going to take but he couldn't risk the safety of Kim or their family for it. Ivan Ooze warned him to step aside but Tommy didn't move an inch but the urge inside of Ivan Ooze to fulfill his contract took over. In one swoop, Ivan Ooze releases a powerful blast of energy from the Savage Hammer directly hitting Tommy.
Tommy falls to one knee, allowing Ivan Ooze to kick him flat on his back on the ground as he pins him down with his leg and drives the tip of Ivan Ooze's hammer toward his heart, but Tommy takes the bunt of the hammer in his hands and uses all of his strength to keep him from plunging it into his chest. Tommy hands start to gush blood from the effort, and Ivan Ooze uses all the strength he can muster to fight against him until finally, Jason appears behind him and backhands Ivan OOze so hard in the chest with a crowbar that he flies several dozen yards backward into the nearby woods, his hammer flying far away from him to the right. Jason reaches down with his hand, which Tommy takes so he can pull him to his feet. He gives Jason a shocked expression as Rocky and Adam arrive at the scene too.
"Jason?! What are you doing here?" Tommy breathed a sigh of relief. "I owe you one bro."
"Don't sweat it. Besides, we're bros and best friends for life. It wouldn't be the same without Tommy Oliver around." Jason sighed with relief. "I hope I did the right thing for the moment. He's dead for now given the impact I struck him with. We have to go."
"We need to grab him before he comes back to life." Tommy argued looking around the area. "Ivan Ooze is going to self-rejuvenate again. We have to get rid of the body."
"Tommy, your wife and kids are on dangers ground. Trust us-" Adam interrupted. The gestures toward the woods behind them, where they direct their eyes to the trail opposite from near where Ivan Ooze landed. "The trail leading to the secret tunnels beneath the boarding house. Let's get a move on."
"Adam and Jason are right," Rocky added. "We dealt with one problem for now it buys us a few hours. We got another problem at hand."
"We only get a twenty-four hour window before Ivan Ooze rejuvenates again." Jason replied pulling Tommy in the direction of the trail. "Are you ready? Those guys are looking to grab their hands on the keys to the kingdom which Kim has. The Rangers are close to detecting the secret city and once we get the location, we're going to make sure there is one less weapon of mass destruction either side can use to nuke one another."
"You guys are right. We dealt with one problem for now." Tommy said continuing on the trail. "The Claochladan...we need to get it away from the clutches of Ivan Ooze, Jacob and the Empowered Humans. Knowing two warring factions, they look like they're going to tear the planet apart with this war and us caught in the crossfire. Who knew one object of unknown origins can turn out to be a key to unlocking a potential intergalactic WMD? At this point I don't care who I'm going through whether it's Ivan, the coalition or those Empowered Humans: no one messes with my wife or family."
(The Boarding House)
Kimberly was growing impatient with Jacob as he attempted to step forward towards Cadence's playpen only to find it empty. He attempted to calm down Kimberly and relinquish the power blaster in her possession, but it only agitated her as she release one shot. However, Jacob dodge the blaster shot and clearly, they found themselves at a standstill. For Jacob, being in the presence of the Pink Crane startled him because of her resemblance of Ceile and the constant reminder of the fate of his beloved. It was the universe's way of punishing him and Ceile by ensuring shadow versions of themselves would exist to maintain the cruel balance of nature.
"You have it all wrong," Jacob pleaded. "I ensure you that I am no enemy. I am simply just a man who has lived many lifetimes with others like me who are different and I am doing what I need to do to ensure their protection. It was the price myself and my one true love paid because we upset the balance of the universe by awakening the destinies of those who are different, but chosen for a higher calling. I'm not going to hurt you or the White Falcon because you two are the shadow versions of myself and Ceile, my one true love..."
"Buddy your sales pitch is falling on deaf ears." Kimberly snapped holding the blaster. "Please don't remind me how Tommy and me are the reincarnation of a star-crossed love story gone haywire. Just because Tommy looks like you doesn't mean anything. You are nothing compared to him. I know I can't kill you because you're an Empowered Human with immortality or whatever you call it. However, you didn't answer my question: what is your game plan and how does it involve me, my husband and family?"
"My intention is not to cause any harm to you although I may have rubbed a wrong impression on your daughter...my apologies to her and young Virgil."
"You little band of merry Empowered Humans caused an ruckus while we were in New Orleans. You almost let a young man die after your people provoked a retaliation in Australia and then you have the nerve to come into my house, impersonate my husband and risk my children's safety? Are you out of your mind? As for your apology towards my daughter and the rest of the Rangers and us you can stick it."
"You don't understand that despite your misconceptions of us, we are trying to ensure the Wings of Fate's survival." Jacob explained. "My father spent his entire existence fulfilling his oath, duty, and fealty to the Order of the Meridian as a Knight of the Meridian and the Guardian of the Twilight Realm. He found successors to the powers of the Denizens of Twilight and preserve the legacy and geology of Namine and myself. He may have done unspeakable acts that went against the credo of the Great Power but he believed in something beyond the greater good. I'm here to uphold and honor the wishes of my parents to protect the Empowered Humans and the Line of Power."
"What by igniting an intergalactic warfare with a cosmic coalition who despises you? Endangering our world by luring a cosmic hitman with a mandated contract to wipe any Empowered being off the face of the galaxy? Forcibly taking people born with alien genetics and making them undergo a transformation against their will? You wanted to fulfill Atticus' wishes by keeping watch over us? Did you have to honor milestones during our tenure by abducting innocent children and taking them to Alto Portum for many years?"
"No one wouldn't understand the changes those few chosen had embarked." Jacob tried arguing. "My father had told some lies in order to protect me and his secret because he knew there was something amiss among the Order. Yet, he still served them because he was a man of valor, loyalty and honor. I was a child when my mother died and for him to find out about her demise devastated him. However, he ensured my survival when he sent me across the sea to the free lands beyond the Ancient Harbor out of the reaches of the Acadians, the Progeny of the Source, Ivan Ooze and the Coalition. Everything I did was to ensure the survival of my people, even if I have to cross that moral line to do so."
"And what about the secret city you guys and the Coalition are hunting for?" Kimberly questioned. "The Claochladan, you need them to get into the city?"
"It was only by tales we heard of secret cities that existed throughout the galaxy designed to provide sanctuary for the Empowered Beings. Those Claochladan were left for us as assets to our survival by the ones who gave the Empowered Humans their abilities. However, the Coalition sees it differently and wish to usurper the power that is laying dormant beneath the Earth. This world is the last haven left for the Empowers to seek sanctuary and this time...they will not be silenced by the Coalition."
(The Lab)
While the standoff between Kimberly and Jacob continued, downstairs in the lab Tommy and the guys finally reached their destination. They sneaked in undetected and silently as the commotion upstairs heated up. Tommy was determined to barge upstairs and get Kimberly out of harm's way. As he walked around the lab with Jason, Rocky and Adam they heard rattling coming from one of the supply cabinets. He cautiously opened the door and to his surprise saw a smiling Gabriel and Cadence hiding in there. Tommy breathed a sigh of relief as he hugged his two youngest children.
"Look daddy, mommy told me to tidy up all my special toys," Gabriel smiled as he pulled out from his hiding spot the box containing the Claochladan. "She told me to take Cadence where I put all my special secret toys. Are you finish talking to mommy?" Tommy realizes why his kids were hiding in the supply closet and the code they taught Gabriel about "tidying up the special toys" meaning any objects of unknown origins. He figured out that Gabriel must have mistaken Jacob for him and it bothered Tommy by the fact that Jacob was desperate that he would endanger his kids.
"Huh yeah little buddy, mommy and I finished talking," Tommy said with a reassuring tone. He was holding Cadence while her little fingers was grabbing a hold of her father's shirt. Tommy was gently cradling the baby as she gurgled and made a few little noises. For a moment he was hearing commotion going on upstairs and then turned his direction back to the emergency secret exit of the lab. "Hey little guy, daddy needs you to do something for me will you?"
"What is it daddy?" Gabriel asked.
"Can you and your baby sister go with your Uncle Adam and Uncle Rocky out into the woods? I need you to take the special toy with you alright and keep it safe. They're going to take your backpacks with you alright? Uncle Jason and me are going to go get mommy upstairs. Can you do that for me?"
"Okay daddy Cadence and me will go out in the woods," Gabriel smiled. "And I'll keep the special toy safe in my bag."
"Good for you buddy. Remember always stay by Rocky and Adam okay? I love you both so much," Tommy replied as he handed off Cadence to Adam and turn to them. "I trust you guys to keep my kids safe. You guys know the trails out in the woods very well. Something tells me that those Empowered Humans want the Claochladan badly and we don't have a lot of time before Ivan Ooze comes back."
"Don't worry Tommy we'll keep the kids safe," Adam reassured him. "You have our word but you two better make it out in one piece."
"What about the Empowered Humans?" Rocky asked. "Our little key to the kingdom is like a homing beacon so it's energy will draw these guys out. Also, we don't have special abilities like them. We'll be sitting ducks if they come after us."
"You two got nothing to worry about," Jason replied drawing curious eyes. "I cast a protection spell over you guys to ward off anyone who may be a potential threat to you or the kids. Do you think I was going to let anything happen to my best friends or my godson or niece for that matter?"
"Alright that settles then," Adam smiled. "Nothing like having a pair of witches and warlocks in your pocket."
"Jason, I owe you one," Tommy said as they heard another blaster shot go off upstairs and then turned to Rocky and Adam. "You guys better get a move on. Get my kids out of harm's way and let the power protect you."
(Upstairs)
After Tommy and Jason had the kids escape with Adam and Rocky out the lab, the two made their way upstairs quietly. It was weird for Tommy to find himself once again confronting Jacob, the man who he was the shadow version of. There was no way he was going to acknowledge him and Kim were also doppelgangers as well for they have already dealt with one too many unexpected twists. However, the moment he saw Jacob subdue Kimberly with his abilities Tommy and Jason announced their presence.
"Hey! Alright Jacob you got my attention again!" Tommy snapped angrily. "You know I don't appreciate it when people drop in uninvited into my house and put my wife and family in danger. If you hurt Kim I swear to God I'll make you pay."
"You let my little sis go right now!" Jason added.
"You need to understand that time is of the essence, White Falcon and Pink Crane," Jacob addressed them as he released Kimberly. Jason rushed to her side to help her as he dragged his little sis over to him and Tommy's side of the room. "Do you think Ivan Ooze is the only one running on borrowed time? I know what you and the Gold Dragon did earlier in the woods. Another one of Ivan Ooze's lifespans has been exceeded and another Everlasting will expire. Though he may come back vicious and stronger, those lifespans can be gone within a matter of time."
"We know about the added addendum to the Coalition's everlasting spell," Jason informed. "Those marks are fail safes to ensure Ivan Ooze doesn't go to his final resting place without unfinished business. It is why you're seeking the city isn't it? To reverse the misfortunes of your people, the ones marked by the Savage Hammer?"
"Part of it...or maybe to reverse my own misfortunes and that of Ceile." Jacob replied. "Time becomes non-existent once you undergo Anagenesis and find yourself in the free lands across the sea. Alto Portum was the sanctuary for six thousand years: give or take. I honestly don't know how old I am or when I was first born. All I know is it is my destiny and mission to protect the Empowered Humans on Earth. However, there is still much we have yet to learn about our own existence, what our purpose is, how we came to be and why we are here. While the many legions and eras of the war between good and evil raged on, I was doing everything I can to keep my people safe. I admit like my father I have done questionable things in my time to ensure the protection of my people."
"What like abducting innocent children and taking them away from their families for years? Or subjecting those with the abnormal genetics to the amethyst crystals and putting them through anagenesis?" Kimberly asked. "That's why you want the Claochladan isn't it? To build an army to oppose the Coalition. You need soldiers to fight back and you're willing to endanger the lives of everyone on Earth for it."
"It's a systematic wipeout of our existence throughout the galaxy. They've done it on eight other planetary systems, do you think we deserve that same fate to fall on us because of what we are?" Jacob questioned. "Someone brought upon Empowered Beings in the galaxy and yet they were viewed as an insurrection not only to the dominion and authority of the United Alliance of Evil, but also to the Order of the Meridian. In their blind comradely it was by their will and ambition to seek out those who transcend the biology and genetics of their own planetary origins. If it was by their hand they activate the abnormalities in us, what gives them the right to dictate our fates?" He then looks at Tommy and Kimberly. "I know what it's like to be an instrument of the hand of fate and destiny. One doesn't have a say at times of the path their set upon."
"And what would you know of what we endured?" Tommy asked. "If you think that getting a hold of the Claochladan will change your fates and that of your people then you're wrong. You'll only excel the prophecy from being fulfilled: the downfall of the Line of Power. You talk about doing what you have to do to protect your people, the same will go with us. We will do whatever it takes to protect the line and legacy of Power. A lot of innocent people died for what we believe in and something tells me a lot more are willing to sacrifice themselves in order to get a hold of the Claochladan."
"Believe me I've seen it throughout time what was needed to be done in order to survive. However, this is the reality my people have come to know over the years: the desperate fleet to survive another day. You have your family to protect...I have mine." Jacob answered staring out the window. "You're not the only ones questioning everything you believe or your purpose. However, the difference between you guys and us is that just when we think we're close to finding the answers, we'll always find ourselves hitting a roadblock. I've seen shadow versions of myself and Ceile play out over the years, maybe fortune will be on our side just once. Everything you know about the "shadow selves" of the past is only half the story."
"What the hell do you mean by half the story?" Kimberly questioned. "Don't make us question our existence and tell us we're here because of nature's weird way of balancing the universe after what you and Ceile did."
"If it were only that simple but nothing is ever easy. I know the Claochladan is not here anymore because I would have sense it's energy." Jacob said sighing as he reluctantly took a step back. "However, you know my people and I will not stand down and find the last relic that may hold the answers we seek. The Coalition will see to it that the power laying dormant will not fall into our hands and they're on the move. The keys to the kingdom maybe out of reach, but there are other means of how to kick the door open." His eyes then gaze upon Jason with curiosity. "I know you've seen it Gold Dragon, what lies ahead should you all continue to pursue the matter. Now ask yourself if one knows the future can they decide whether to change it or let it run its course?"
"That's for us to know...and for everybody else to find out." Jason warned. "Like we said, you shouldn't underestimate us especially when the line between good and evil has suddenly blurred itself out. Now tell us, where are you going to draw that line in the sand?" The three of them saw Jacob vanish again from the room leaving them puzzled and more confuse. The three of them headed out of the boarding house making their way through the woods hoping Rocky and Adam were safe with the kids. Once they reached the main road, Tommy and Kimberly sighed with relief to see Gabriel and Cadence unharmed and with the Claochladan in hand as proceeded back to NASADA.
(NASADA)
Back in the 01915 Hangar, the Rangers saw another one of cosmic bodies of the Coalition begin to desiccate as they saw the ceremonial dagger fall out of the corpse's chest. They needed to make themselves useful while Aidan and Tanya awaited for the final topographic scan to complete itself. The Rangers were reluctant to let Declan have free reign around NASADA but he was willing to cooperate under the condition that Aaron was kept a safe distance from him. It was no secret that the Rangers and original veterans will hold it against Declan for the destruction of the Westbury elder council and Celeste's death and he knew he was cursed to live with that memory.
At the moment, the Rangers figured that as long as he had the magic restraints on, Declan was no threat as they continued to search through the hangar for information about the secret city and the Empowered Humans. Rosaline, Christian, Shi-Ann and Virgil arrived a short while later with the twins after hearing about the incident at the boarding house. She took the others back to command control center to hear back from her parents and follow up with Aidan and Tanya's progress. The other Rangers saw Declan looking around the hangar until he saw on one of the tables charts and pictures of the strange symbols the Rangers documented.
"What have you people gotten yourselves involved in?!" Declan asked staring at one of the pictures. "Those symbols...I've seen those before and believe me not one coven in Europe wouldn't dare mess with anything involving those omen signs."
"You've seen these markings before? Did the Westbury coven know about them too?" Bianca questioned.
"They were believed to be celestial energy that can be harnessed and there were landmarks throughout Europe that pay homage." Declan explained sighing. "If you think Expression is the worst thing to happen to the witch community, whatever this is...possibly ten times worst. Ask the Surrey coven what happened when they found one of those strange hallows with all those symbols on the cavern walls. They came upon this strange crystal and one contact with that, it leveled out a small hamlet settlement in the area. My mother...neither her or the rest of the elders wouldn't dare to speak about the fate of the Surrey coven."
"They perished didn't they? The Surrey Coven?" Penny asked. "You've heard stories but you wonder if they're true or not."
"I can't fix what I did but the least I can do is offer some words of advice." Declan stated. "Whoever these warring factions are desire control of whatever it is that lays dormant somewhere on this Earth. That hallow that took out that small hamlet and the Surrey Coven is a small sample of the extent of that power so I suggest you keep it padlock if you don't want a cosmic magnitude of energy to level out this planet. They tried setting up shop time and time again...until they got lucky. It wasn't the first time these peculiar beings establish settlements to activate a metamorphosis beyond human comprehension."
With everything the Twilight Rangers gathered from Declan, they rushed back inside to report what they learned about the secret city. They breathed a sigh of relief seeing Tommy, Kimberly and Jason back with Cadence and Gabriel. The original veterans filled the group in about the events at the boarding house including Jacob's attempt to obtain the Claochladan. They finally got the breakthrough they needed when Aidan and Tanya confirmed they got the location of the fabled secret empowered city.
"Here's what we know everybody." Billy address the group. "The Coalition and Ivan Ooze is on the move. Thanks to our veteran bros in arms Tommy and Jason they manage to use up one of Ivan Ooze's lifespans. It will give him at least twenty-four hours to self-rejuvenate but with each lifespan consumed it will make it difficult for us to combat him. With the Savage Hammer in his possession it's a deadly combination we're still up against."
"Well we can't forget the other faction to contend with," Rosaline stated. "Jacob and the Empowered Humans. They know about the Claochladan and it was a close call again for them obtaining it. It's not possible to assume that the Empowered Humans or the Coalition know how to use it."
"We can only assume that if either side gets a hold of the Claochladan they'll each have an expert who knows how to use it." Justin added. "The only advantage is as long as this thing is in our possession, we're the one thing standing in between both sides from kicking down the door. We can't let that happen, obviously and each warring faction wants to use the secret city to benefit their faction."
"Use it how and in what way?" Christian questioned.
"Based on our latest intel, there's something very powerful inside it ...a weapon and power of great magnitude." Tommy replied. "An ancient city that was established millions of years ago by the travelers from the stars."
"Are we talking chemical, biological, cosmic, mystical, supernatural energy-based...?" Shi-Ann asked. "How strong is this power within the secret city?"
"It's hard to determine and the energy itself, it could be anything." Kimberly added. "However, we are dealing with cosmic and alien properties at work."
"But as long as they don't get their hands on the Claochladan we'll be safe," Jason replied.
"While we were down in the hangar, Declan revealed that there was evidence of small Empowered Human ruins that housed to create an extinction-level event to kill millions of people. We have to assume that this weapon has the potential to do that." Desmond added. "It poses a threat to the supernatural community and humanity too."
"It's beecause bad guys love their WMDs." Billy continued. "Trick is, to activate the full power of the Claochladan, both sides has to take it to a specific place."
"It's like they need the keys to launch a nuclear warhead..." Chan replied. "But without a key they can't open the lock...a temple inside the city."
"Any idea where this temple is?" Rosaline questioned.
"Glad you asked...No. But it's in the city, and we now know where that is." Justin smiled. "Even better, Ivan Ooze and the Coalition nor the Empowered Humans doesn't know the location. Aidan do you want to take point?"
"On our mission to Australia, we hacked a military satellite network." Aidan explained. "Using that and a combined algorithm and linguistics binary and coding, we ran a multispectral topographic scan of the Earth, miles deep through the oceanic crust, looking to match ancient rock formations with the 3-D model of the city. And we found this spot."
"Isn't that in the Bermuda triangle? 'Cause that would explain a lot." Rocky slightly joked.
"Actually, it doesn't have anything to do with the triangle." Tanya smirked. "Apparently that was solved back in the 1980s."
"Uh, is it Atlantis?" Aisha replied. "We surveyed the location within the Caribbean."
"Try The Dominican Republic." Billy continued. "These white markers represent vertical air shafts that are close to the surface, possible entry points for the city, but most of them are under the ocean floor. Except for one...here, in old Santo Domingo, where we'll enter the underground city. A survey team will test the tunnel's structural integrity, then locate the temple."
"I have a contact in Santo Domingo who can be our guide in the city," Shi-Ann reported. "I can get Malcolm to put word out to do some surveillance."
"Good for now we need to cast a powerful cloaking spell so no one can't detect this sucker," Kimberly pointed out. "It's like the unholy homing beacon."
"Don't worry Jason and I can master that," Kat assured the group.
"So the secret city is in Santo Domingo in the Dominican," Rosaline added. "So we have the keys to the kingdom and the location of the kingdom itself. For now, it's safe in our hands and those warring factions can't battle one another for it. However, it means we're still going to find that secret city regardless. What happens then...if we get to the city itself?"
"We blow the hell out of it," Tommy simply answered looking at the group. "If it's true that the Empowered Beings had ruins and relics of ancient cities like the one in Santo Domingo, then it will give them more motive to go up against the Coalition. That city is too dangerous if those two sides are willing to kill one another for control of it and that's something we can't have. Each of them has a motive to find it but whoever gets to it, humanity is going to be collateral damage in the wake of it. That city is tied to the prophecy so there is no way in hell we're going to let another part of it be fulfilled to usher our downfall."