Episode 13: Part 1
Early the next morning, Kara stood at the edge of the balcony high atop the tall clock tower on the north end of the university's campus. From her vantage point, she could see clear across the college town and watch the early morning rays of the sun peeking out over the clouds, bathing the horizon in a gentle pink light. The Gold Ranger couldn't quite explain why, but the location felt familiar and strangely comforting.
Perhaps it was similar to her posting in the mountains, or maybe being high above the rest of the world reminded her of her old home of Eden in the sky. Admittedly, this was not home… in fact, Earth, or rather this city called Hyperion Falls had become a strange and scary new world.
At that moment, Kara felt a gentle breeze sweep by. She tilted her head slightly as she heard a familiar voice from behind, "You know… you're not an easy person to find."
Kara turned around slowly to face the Pink Vanguard Ranger who had now joined her on the clock tower balcony, "And it seems you're not an easy person to avoid Isabel Herrera."
"My friends call me Izzy."
Kara gave her a slow sidelong glance before turning back to the skies, "A strange nickname… and I wasn't aware we were friends either."
"We could be… if you'd let us," Izzy offered joining her at the balcony.
Kara frowned slightly in annoyance, "You do realize we are at war with the Cambion. Making nice with you and your other friends will only be a distraction… a waste of time."
Izzy shrugged, "Maybe, but it's a necessary one. If you said we five Rangers wouldn't be able to fight the demons on our own, then I doubt you can either."
Kara scrutinized the Pink Ranger carefully, "What are you saying?"
The Pink Ranger sighed, "I'm saying we can help each other. You can help train us to become better fighters and know our enemy. In return, we can help you adjust to a new life here, because whether or not you like it, you're stuck here. Besides, I doubt you want to live like a nomad forever."
Kara gave a dismissive sniff in reply.
"Listen, I know it must seem a little frightening, but you have to admit I'm right about that," Izzy continued.
The Gold Ranger remained silent for a moment considering her words. "I… don't know."
"You know, it's ok to admit that you're scared." Izzy said putting a hand on Kara's shoulder.
"I am not scared," the Gold Ranger replied sharply brushing Izzy's hand away. "I just don't understand why you people are doing this now."
Izzy turned to face Kara without fear, "Because you're one of us, and it's the right thing to do."
"I am not one of you," the Gold Ranger snapped back, "and you don't owe me any sympathy either."
The Pink Ranger frowned and turned back to look at the skies for a long moment of silence before speaking again, "Listen Kara, I can actually kinda understand where you're coming from. Growing up, I had always been one of those girls that everyone thought was pretty, and fun, and popular… you know one of those girls that everyone wanted to be around. For a while, I remember falling in with a group of other people like that who thought they were better than everyone else. Looking back, I'm kinda ashamed of some of the terrible things I said and did to hurt other people's feelings… especially when they never deserved it. So I sort of understand the way the Empyrians must have thought… and the way that they treated you... because I was kinda like them."
Izzy paused again and gave a sigh, "I know you've probably never had anyone give a damn about you, but my friends and I are not the Empyrians. We aren't carrying on their ways or dragging their baggage around either. We're just five regular people who are trying to keep the world from burning the best way we know how."
"You say that, yet a trace of their blood still flows through the five of you. You carry on their mission to defeat Gideon, and you tell me you aren't like them too?
Kara glanced over as Izzy faced her again, "We don't care if you're half Empyrian, or half whatever else. You're still a human and a Power Ranger. That's enough for us."
"You and your friends may wield the power of the Keyrunes, but you aren't ashamed of your human weaknesses?" Kara asked curiously.
Izzy shook her head, "Why should we be? It's something we all have to accept at some point... that we're not perfect. That's part of what being human is all about."
"You still don't understand Isabel, I can't be weak," Kara argued shaking her head, "If I am, I cannot hope to carry out my duty to destroy those demons who tore Eden apart. Those monsters destroyed my home. They took everything from me!"
The Pink Ranger grimaced, "If you're so serious about laying down your life in this war, then tell me Kara, who are you fighting for? You, or your duty to a long extinct race of people that pushed you aside?"
"I have to fight for them," Kara answered, "The world I once knew is gone and my duty to it is all that I have left. Without it, I have no purpose or direction in this world."
"Then find a new one," Izzy insisted, "My friends and I, and even Professor Bishop can help you find that way. There's no point in fighting to bring back Eden or to gain acceptance from an extinct race of people either. The world you knew is gone... but there's still a lot of good left here. Isn't helping to protect the legacy of your race a cause worth fighting for too?"
"You're asking me to forsake my Empyrian heritage... my duty to them?" the Gold Ranger asked carefully.
"No," Izzy answered, "I'm only asking you to embrace your human side because that is the world we live in now. You may have had a duty to protect your own race, but we human Rangers also have a duty to protect ours. That includes you too."
Kara fell silent again in thought as the two girls heard a knock from the clock tower door leading out to the balcony. As they turned in surprise, they spotted Nick tentatively open the door and approach, "Uh, is this a private party, or can anyone join?"
"Nick... I wasn't expecting you to come," Izzy said in surprise, "I mean, after our little argument yesterday and all..."
The Green Ranger sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, yeah... but when I heard you were going this morning to look for Kara, I was concerned and still wanted to make sure that you were ok. Besides, Danny asked me to come in his place anyway."
Izzy smiled softly, "Thank you Nick. Is he ok?"
"He's doing better now. Joe and Claire are looking after him," Nick nodded. Turning to Kara, he said, "Listen, Kara... I'm still not completely sure what to think of you yet, but I just wanted to say I think we all got off on the wrong foot. At the very least, I want you to know we're not your enemies. We're good people and you can trust us... if you want."
Kara maintained her neutral face but gave a thoughtful nod, "I'll consider it. I still don't think you Rangers are ready, but for what it's worth, I do regret accidentally hurting your friend."
Turning to Izzy, Kara said, "I'll admit that I was impressed by Daniel's courageous action on the battlefield. I apologize for injuring your beloved."
Nick stifled a laugh off to the side as Izzy sputtered in surprised outrage, "My what? I... Danny is not my boyfriend, or whatever you want to call it!"
"You made me laugh Kara. I guess you can't be all that bad," Nick grinned to the Gold Ranger while Izzy fought to suppress the growing blush on her face.
Kara remained stone faced but gave Nick a slightly more gentle nod, "and I suppose you aren't a completely simple minded ox after all."
"It's Nick," the Green Ranger grumbled softly, "I have a name, you know."
"Baby steps Nick," Izzy reminded him gently making Nick sigh in resignation.
After a long pause, Kara looked to Nick and said, "Before you came, Isabel and I were talking about our duty to fight the Cambion. Tell me, do you share this same feeling?"
The Green Ranger stopped and thought about it for a moment before nodding, "Well... yeah. I guess in a way, it's kinda become my purpose for being a Ranger. If I didn't, the demons would probably destroy the lives of many innocent people, and other living beings."
"But why?" Kara pressed, "No one is making the five of you fight. You don't have to keep risking your lives."
Nick shrugged, "Well, I guess it's just because I believe it's the right thing to do. The five us were given power that most other people don't have... so in a way, that makes us have to be more responsible."
"You two keep saying that," Kara shook her head, "that it's the right thing do, and that you have power... yet you both continue to believe that you're fighting from a position of strength. You five are only humans."
Nick narrowed his eyes on her, "You can think of us as weak Kara, but you have to realize something too. We humans are much stronger in a way that the Empyrian angels could never be. We have our own free will and draw strength from it."
Kara frowned and looked at him in confusion as he continued, "The Empyrians were powerful beings, but they were bound by their celestial laws. Those who broke those laws became Cambion monsters and enemies of your people right?"
Kara nodded.
"The Empyrians fought only because they were bound to do so," Izzy chimed in, "But we humans are free to choose our own reason to fight. We each have our own purpose to live for and if we believe strongly enough... and fight hard enough for it, then we can make it happen. We've already proven that time and again."
Kara narrowed her eyes into a thoughtful frown and remained silent before Izzy spoke again, "Remember Kara, you're part human too. You have that same freedom... and strength. We hope you'll find your new purpose and we hope it'll be with us."
At that moment, Nick put a gentle hand on Izzy's shoulder and gestured for the door, "Come on Iz. We should get going. Morning classes will be starting soon."
The Pink Ranger nodded and as she turned to go, the two stopped when they heard Kara say without turning around, "You two have given me a lot to think about."
Giving one last knowing smile, Izzy followed Nick back inside the clock tower, "We'll see you again soon Kara. I'm sure of it."
The Gold Ranger tilted her head slightly toward the departing Rangers and gave a small huff before turning back toward the bright horizon.
Later that day, the mountains around Hyperion Falls began to shake again as the Cambion forces under Minorous returned for more havoc. After recovering from his last battle with the Rangers, the minotaur had narrowed down the location of the missing zord to a large iron mine within the mountains. Taking a few more swings with his axe, Minorous snorted as his Magog soldiers waited patiently by the large yawning entrance of the mine. Either the human miners in there were too scared to come out or too stubborn to leave.
"We gave them their chance," the demon grunted as he began to make his way inside. "Remember, our job is to get the titan. I don't care about the humans, but if any stand in your way, kill them."
The Magogs gave a salute and fell in line behind their commander with their weapons and digging tools at the ready. As the demons delved into the darkness of the mountain tunnel, Minorous smiled to himself. He was now in his element and he knew they were close to their goal. His general had trusted him with an important assignment and he was not about to let Abaddon down.
After all, the consequences of failure would be much worse… worse enough that being destroyed in battle by the Vanguard Rangers would be preferable to the likely torment he'd receive returning to the Abyss in disgrace. But for now, Minorous pushed those thoughts aside and used his senses to navigate the dark labyrinthine mine tunnels. An Empyrian titan was at stake and he was going to be the one who'd recover it.