A/N: I decided to take a break from writing for about two weeks with all of the stuff I've got going on. From school, to preparing for our Christmas program at church, and going on college visits, I have been a little preoccupied as of late. So please, forgive me for my absence. Now, let's clip that cliffhanger from the last chapter and see if Trent manages to get through to Molly.
REMINDER:
- This story is an AU. It follows the events of the series; but for the sake of my O.C. Molly, the time frame in which each season of Power Rangers has lengthened. So yes, this story does take place during the season of Dino Thunder, but everyone's ages have been altered to better fit this original idea of mine. If you can't accept that, you might as well click away now.
- I have switched Tommy's profession to history at this point because I am HORRIBLE at science & chemistry and felt that writing about history would be a lot easier. Plus, I think that studying dinosaurs and fossils leans more towards the history side of the educational world.
- Tommy x Kimberly are the main pairing of this story, but there are SEVERAL other pairings that will be used during the course of this story as well. For starters, Hayley and Tommy are a couple when this story begins. As with most romances, theirs is going to take a while to blossom. So don't expect things to be all "sunshine and rainbows" in the beginning.
- Although I edit this story frequently, I do tend to make a few mistakes. So if you spot them, KINDLY let me know and I will take care of the issue immediately. Insulting my intelligence or skills as a writer for such minor mistakes is not only rude, but I will not tolerate it.
- Most importantly, I have made this story a personal challenge for myself and have written it ENTIRELY in the present tense so it seems like the story is happening right before your very eyes. It has proven to be a difficult challenge, but fun nonetheless. So I hope you guys like it too.
Disclaimer: I do not own the popular television series Power Rangers, which is based off of the Super Sentai series that air in Japan. I do not own the rights to any of the show's characters that are used in this story. Both aspects are being used for entertainment purposes only. I am the creator of Molly Hart, Samara and Austin Scott, and all other original characters featured in this story. The plot of this story was also developed by me. DO NOT REPRODUCE ANY ASPECT OF THIS STORY. Thank you.
"Guiding Light"
The Nega Ranger stares at Trent as he walks towards her, Tommy's unconscious form the least of her worries. Her original mission on the back burner, she walks towards the teen, her hips swaying with each step.
"It's high time you come to your senses Molly." Trent shouts, stopping his stride to stand his ground. The Nega Ranger stops just a few feet in front of him, her daggers still in her hands as she remains on her guard.
"You seem to be mistaken if you think Molly is calling the shots." the Nega Ranger speaks, her acidic tone filling Trent with fear. Still, he stands tall, not offering to show his fear to the evil Power Ranger. "She is lost to you and the rest of your teammates forever. If you don't want a repeat of what happened last night, I suggest you stay the hell out of my way."
"Or you'll what?" Trent snaps as he closes in on her, his eyes locking on her helmet as he tries his best to tell what is on the Power Ranger's mind. "You may claim that Molly is gone, but I know she is still a part of you. Molly would never cause any harm to her friends and family. She loves her father more than anything and the fact that you are using her to hurt him would definitely be a reason for her to fight back."
The Nega Ranger stares at him for a moment as she struggles with the decision to cut Trent down or let him keep talking. Her hands shake as she wills them to move, to do anything to get Trent away from her, but her brain won't register the message and she is left standing there.
"Molly was weak." she says, deciding to use her mouth as a weapon to make the un-morphed White Ranger tick. "She was so desperate to be a hero that she blindly and foolishly fell into the Master's trap. She used that Dino Gem without questioning its origins, bonded with the gem, and allowed herself to get lost in the adrenaline kick that comes with being a hero. It was easy for me to take root in her mind and now, she's too weak to fight me off. She's lost to you. Deal with it."
"If Molly was truly gone, you would have killed me by now." Trent says as he holds his arms out to prove his point - that he is alive and breathing. "I know she's still in there, and I will fight with everything I have within me to get her to see the light again. White Ranger, Dino Power!"
Trent quickly morphs into the White Dino Ranger and summons his sword, holding it above his head in defense as he slowly begins to circle around the Nega Ranger. Without warning, he fires his blade's laser arrows at the Nega Ranger, but she shields the blasts using her arms. With a growl, she finally regains full control of her body and throws her right arm forward with the intent of striking him, but Trent jumps back quick enough to avoid being hit. He then kicks her left dagger out of her hand, sending it skidding across the street before he turns around and strikes her with his blade. The Nega Ranger's suit sparks as she falls to the ground and rolls into the side of a parked car. Her eyes blazing with fury she jumps up to her feet and tackles him to the ground. The two of them begin rolling around on the street as they struggle for dominance, trying to pin one another to the ground. At this point they seem to be evenly matched until the Nega Ranger hits a pressure point on Trent's neck. He groans, his body going limp for a few seconds as the Nega Ranger calls her blade to her hand.
"You're finished Trent." she says with a laugh before swinging her blade down. Trent is ready for the attack and raises his own sword to fend of the Nega Ranger's daggers, both of their hands shaking as they once again struggle to overpower one another. Realizing that she isn't going to be able to overthrow him on her own, the Nega Ranger smirks. "Fire!"
Trent is thrown away from the Nega Ranger by a large blast, his body bouncing off the street pavement before he rolls onto his sore side. He looks up and frowns at the sight of Nebia and Kitana standing beside the Nega Ranger, their wands aimed at the tree roots and active water prison while their free hands are aimed at him. He curses under his breath at the realization that both witches can multitask.
"Are you alright Nega Ranger?" Nebia asks, her eyes never leaving Trent. "For a minute, I thought he had you."
"It's nothing I can't handle." she reassures the green-haired witch as she stands to her feet, brushing the dirt from the skirt of her ranger suit. With a growl, she rushes towards Trent, swinging her daggers as she attempts to hit him once more.
"We have to get down from here and help Trent." Kira says to Kimberly and Ethan as she takes a break from trying to cut herself free from the roots. "She'll kill him if we don't, and I couldn't bear to watch that."
Kimberly watches her daughter, fear gripping her heart as she and Trent engage in a battle of firing laser arrows at one another. It is more than obvious at this point that Hayley was right about Molly being possessed, and the Pink Crane Ranger can't help but to feel bad for mistrusting Hayley's words. Kimberly can see Tommy out the corner of her eye, a smile warming her lips when she realizes that he's beginning to stir.
"Doctor O, are you alright?" Ethan shouts from beside her, the Blue Ranger having also spied his teacher recovering from Molly's killing attempt. Tommy stands onto wobbly legs and watches as Trent does a few aerial somersaults to put some distance between himself and the Nega Ranger's energy blasts. Remembering that his teammates are still in trouble, Tommy summons his Brachio Staff before running towards the elongated tree roots holding Kira, Kimberly, and Ethan captive. With one swift movement, he summons an energy orb and fires at the roots, successfully cutting through them and freeing the three rangers.
Kimberly screams as she feels her body plummeting towards the ground, finally free of the prison but not out of harm's way. Tommy acts immediately, racing towards the Pink Ranger and diving to the ground just in time to catch her. The two of them skid across the pavement, their suits protecting them from most of the damage, as they come to a stop in the center of the street.
"Thanks." Kimberly says breathlessly as she stands onto wobbly legs and helps Tommy up. "I have to admit, you're pretty quick for someone who spent the past ten minutes unconscious."
"Hey Doctor O, did you forget about the other two people who just fell from the sky?" Kira asks as she folds her arms across her chest. "I'm fine by the way. Let's just say these few bruises and scrapes are helpful reminders that I am alive and well."
Tommy rubs the back of his helmet-covered head, a chuckle rumbling his chest. "Sorry about that Kira. It's a force of habit."
"Not that I'm not upset about the fall and all, but we have to save Jason and Conner." Ethan says as he points at the Red Dino and Gold Zeo Rangers still trapped inside the water prison. "I don't know the limits of our suits as far as oxygen is concerned, but I would estimate that they don't have much breathing time left."
"That's not our only problem." Kira says, as she pulls her attention away from her boyfriend to Trent and Molly's battle. The Nega Ranger is intent on killing Trent, all of her dagger's swings aiming towards vital points on his body. Trent is managing to fend off her attacks using his sword, but he is obviously still recovering from his injuries the night before.
"Give it up White Ranger." Molly shouts as she takes a step back before jumping into the air and swinging her daggers down. Trent sidesteps out of the way just in time before turning around and tackling her to the ground. The Nega Ranger slams onto the grovel, a growl scraping out her throat as she struggles beneath Trent's heavy body weight. The White Ranger works quickly to restrain her, straddling her chest before pressing the blade of his sword to her throat, immobilizing her. As the possessed Molly thrashes in his grasp, he sets his sword down beside him before snatching both Dragon Daggers from the Nega Ranger's hands. He tosses them out of the way before taking his sword back in hand and holding it at her throat.
"Nega Ranger!" Nebia shouts when she sees her comrade trapped beneath the White Ranger. Her broken roots forgotten, the green-haired beauty takes off in a sprint to aide the evil Power Ranger. Before she is halfway to her destination, she is tackled to the ground by Rocky. Kimberly and the others look towards the newly appointed, Red Zeo Ranger still clad in his pajama bottoms and white tank as he rolls off of Nebia and back onto his feet. Adam, Billy, Tanya and Katherine come running up beside him, the four of them also wearing their nightclothes.
"Glad you guys could join us." Tommy says as Kimberly slings one of his arms around her shoulder.
"We could have been here sooner if you had just woken us up." Billy says as he rolls his shoulders back, relieving them of the built up tension. "Now that we're here, let's take these witches out."
"You ready guys?" Rocky shouts as the others form a line behind him. "It's morphing time!"
"Zeo Ranger one, pink!"
"Zeo Ranger two, yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger three, blue!"
"Zeo Ranger four, green!"
"Zeo Ranger five, red!"
Kimberly and Kira blink a few time as they observe the Zeo Rangers' helmets. The Pink Pterodactyl Ranger can't help but to giggle at the star on Rocky's helmet.
"Uh Rocko, what's with the star?" she asks.
"It's not like I was able to design my own helmet." Rocky states matter-of-factually. "Besides, this suit used to be Tommy's. He wore it first, so laugh at him."
Nebia stands to her feet and dusts the dirt from the skirt of her dress. Her lips curl into a snarl as she glares at Rocky and the Zeo Rangers. "You'll pay for getting in my way. I'm not one to mess with Red Ranger."
"Power Sword!" Rocky shouts as he calls the blade to his hand. Nebia's eyes narrow as she takes her wand in hand, using her magic to transform it into a giant staff similar to Astronema's. The other rangers stand back, all of them on their guard as Rocky runs towards the green-haired beauty and takes a swing. She raises the staff to block the oncoming attack, the loud metallic sound of metal hitting metal echoing throughout the street. Rocky winds up again and she proceeds to block the hit, then another.
"Come on Rocky." Tommy says as he grits his teeth in frustration. Nebia is very quick he notes, but so is Rocky. One of them is bound to get the upper hand soon, and Tommy hopes more than anything that the Red Zeo Ranger will be victorious. With a loud cry, Rocky swings down like a woodsman swinging his ax, but Nebia jumps back just in time, the blade of Rocky's sword scraping loudly against the graveled street. Nebia laughs, the sound a cross between a bird song and a hyena, before she aims the tip of her staff at the Red Ranger and unleashes a powerful blast of green electricity. Rocky is sent flying through the air before he lands on the ground in front of the other Zeo Rangers. Adam and Tanya help him up before they all turn their attention back to the Green Witch.
"Had enough Red Ranger?" she asks.
"I'm just getting started." Rocky claims as he holds the hilt of his sword tighter and runs towards her again. Nebia smirks before extending her right arm out to the side, her fingers flexing as her lips move quickly. When Rocky is just a few feet in front of her, a loud explosion erupts off to their right, the ground shaking from the force. Tommy and the others gasp as a large tree root bursts through the side of a nearby building and comes racing towards the Red Ranger.
"Rocky, look out!" Tommy shouts as the Red Ranger takes off running. Much to everyone's shock, the root is moving at an accelerated rate, following the Red Ranger like a heat seeking missile. The root makes audible bending and crunching sounds, almost like the creaking one would hear on an old wooden ship, only louder. The ground's shaking only intensifies and the rangers can barely keep their footing as Nebia laughs, her right hand controlling the nature-made monstrosity.
"We have to help Rocky." Kira says to Kimberly and Tommy, her voice frantic. Kimberly spares a glance towards Trent and Molly who are still wrestling for dominance about a yard away before she looks back at the Yellow Ranger, who is staring at her impatiently. "Ms. Hart, Doctor O?"
"You and the others help Rocky." Kimberly says as she looks back and forth between the Yellow and Blue Dino Rangers. "Tommy and I are going to help Trent with Molly."
"Trent can handle her just fine." Kira protests. "The Nega Ranger is just one person. That root will destroy all of downtown Reefside if we don't do something to stop Nebia; and what about Conner and Jason? We can't just leave them trapped in Kitana's bubble!"
"Kira, don't argue with me on this." Kimberly protests, her voice firm. "Tommy and I might be the only two who can get through to Molly. I already lost her once in my dreams. I'm not losing her again."
With her mind made up, Kimberly helps Tommy over to Trent and the Nega Ranger, leaving Kira and Ethan behind. The two remaining Dino Rangers exchange a glance before turning their attention back towards Rocky and the tree root. The other Zeo Rangers are running around frantically trying to avoid being hit as well, the whole scene a nightmare.
"Come on Ethan." Kira says before running towards her comrades.
"D.E.C.A., launch a quick scan on the earth." Andros says to the A.I. interface, a clipboard in his hand as he reads over Zhane's activity log from the past few days. "We have to make sure there are no more barriers. Do a full sweep of the planet, and notify me of any negative energy you might detect."
"Understood Andros." The computer replies as he sets the clipboard down and heads out into the hallways. His combat boots thunk against the metal floor as he makes his way down the hall towards the room he and Ashley both share. With the three available Galaxy Rangers bunking with them during this space adventure, Ashley and Cassie had volunteered to give up their old rooms so they would have a place to stay. Maya would be staying in Ashley's old quarters while Damon and Kai shared Cassie's. It is a tight fight being that there are three extra Rangers to accommodate, but Andros isn't complaining.
The sliding doors to his and Ashley's room open and he is immediately concerned by the sounds of retching coming from the adjoining bathroom. His brows furrowed, he heads into the room and pauses in the doorway when he sees his wife bent over the toilet coughing up what he assumes is the rest of her breakfast. Andros moves to her side, crouching down besides her as he holds her hair back away from her face. The two of them stay like that for several minutes while Ashley finishes heaving. She then reaches a shaky hand up to flush the toilet. Andros stands to his feet and moves to the sink to fill one of the provided plastic cups with water before passing it to her. The Yellow Ranger takes it gratefully before downing it in a few gulps. She then stands to her feet and takes a deep breath.
"Okay Ash, now I'm worried." Andros says as he watches her move over to the medicine cabinet to fetch her toothbrush. "This morning you were complaining about a headache and now, you're getting sick. Maybe we should head down to the infirmary and get you checked out?"
"I'm fine Andros." She says as she squeezes a glob of toothpaste onto her toothbrush. "It's been a while since we've been up in space for this long. My body didn't handle the gravity adjustment too well the first time I was in space and it isn't handling it well now. I just need some time to adjust, that's all."
Andros doesn't buy her explanation, but he doesn't press her any further as she finishes brushing her teeth. She spits a glob of toothpaste into the sink before rinsing her mouth and heading back into their bedroom. Andros lingers in the bathroom doorway, watching as she slides into the queen-sized bed and pulls the blankets up to her chin. He moves to take a seat on the edge of the mattress, his hand resting on the side of her face as he gently caresses his cheek.
"I really hope you get to feeling better soon." he says, his voice laced with worry. "I hate seeing you like this."
There is suddenly a loud knock on the door, pulling Andros's attention from his wife as she drifts off into dreamland. He stands up quickly and moves to open the sliding doors. TJ is standing on the other side, a look of anxiousness on his face as he straps on his Astro Morpher.
"Teej, what's going on?" Andros asks as he observes his friend's behavior.
"D.E.C.A.'s sensors indicate that there is an attack in a town called Reefside. There is an overwhelming amount of evil energy being omitted into the morphing grid."
"That's where Tommy and the Dino Rangers currently reside." Andros says as he steps out of the bedroom and follows TJ to the Navigation Room to retrieve his own morpher from its locker. "Have you tried contacting him?"
"He wouldn't answer." TJ says as they step through the doorway. "Odds are, he probably knows what's going on. Still, I think we should go and help out, just in case. Should we tell the others?"
"Ashley's sick, so I want Carlos to stay behind to look after her. Alert the others and tell them to come to the jump tubes."
TJ nods before running out of the room to locate the others. Meanwhile, Andros unlatches his wall locker and takes his Astro Morpher into his hands. He can't help but to smile as he straps it onto his wrist, the familiar feeling of its strap pressing against his skin giving him a sense of nostalgia. Although circumstances are dire, he can't help but to be a bit excited. After all, this is the first battle he's fought in a while and he can't wait.
"Molly stop fighting me." Trent pleads through gritted teeth as he traps the teen's tiny wrists within his hands, pinning them above her head as he tosses his sword off to the side, no longer focused on using it to threaten the Nega Ranger. "Whatever evil has a hold on you, you are much stronger than it is. You can't allow it to control you. I know it seems nearly impossible to free yourself, but you have to trust me. I've been there. I know what it's like to lose all control to the dark side."
"Shut up!" The Nega Ranger snarls as she struggles to get one of her legs free, the idea of kneeing him in the gut or heel kicking him being her goal. Trent's weight only seems to increase on her chest and she finds that it is becoming harder and harder to breathe. No matter how much power the Nega Ranger possesses, she still only has the body of a tiny teenager. If she doesn't free herself soon, she'll pass out from exhaustion or a lack of oxygen.
"Trent!" Kimberly shouts as she and Tommy finally reach them.
"Stay back." Trent warns them as he tightens his grip on her wrists. "I don't want her to hurt either of you."
"Molly please, stop this." Kimberly begs as she watches the Green Ranger struggling to free herself. Her hands are sparking with green electricity and Trent is doing everything he can to avoid touching them. One shock could send him flying across the parking lot and the last thing he wants is to allow her to be free.
"Come on Molly, fight it." Tommy encourages his daughter. "I know you're in there kid. The Master will never be able to take you away from us, not completely. You can't give up now."
"Silence!" the Nega Ranger shouts as lightning begins to flash throughout the sky. Tommy holds Kimberly close as he feels the Green Ranger's power cracking through the air around them. A bolt shoots down from the sky, striking Trent; and although he slumps forward in pain, he does not let her go.
"Tommy, what are we gonna do?" Kimberly asks, her voice frantic. "What if the Master's hold on her is too strong? What if she can't break free on her own?"
"We'll have to help her." Tommy says, his eyes never leaving the two teens on the ground in front of them. "Come on."
Kimberly nods as the two of them slowly approach Trent and Molly, they linger behind the two teens, neither of them wanting to get too close, but close enough that she can hear their voices. Her hands trembling, Kimberly wraps her arms around Tommy's waist for support.
"I remember the day you were born." Kimberly says as lightning continues to strike the ground around them, the temperature rising from the amount of heat. "I felt so alone and scared, not to mention the fact that I was in agonizing pain. It took only ten minutes after I was fully dilated to push you into this world and suddenly, I wasn't alone anymore. You were six pounds and seven ounces with quite the set of lungs on you; and the minute I held you in my arms, you hushed instantly. You stared up at me with a wrinkled pink face and rosy cheeks, your teddy bear brown eyes peeking up at me and I was so overjoyed. From that moment on, I swore to myself that I would protect you and raise you to be strong and I have kept good on my promise Molly. You are my daughter, my little Dolly and I love you so much. So please honey, don't leave me. Not like this."
Tommy could hear Kimberly's voice wavering with tears and his embrace tightened to bring her what little comfort he could offer. He had not been in the hospital with Kimberly on that day and as much as it angered him, he was touched by Kimberly's memory. Although Molly had been older when he first learned of their relation, he had felt the same emotions that Kimberly had felt that day in the hospital. Molly's brown eyes bore into him, a mirrored reflection of his own eyes, and he was filled with this indescribable warmth, a never ending love that he never wanted to go away. From that moment, he swore that he would make up for lost time and protect her from harm, keeping her safe and reminding her to be strong in such a hard world.
The Nega Ranger stops thrashing in Trent's grip, stunning Tommy and Kimberly. The two of them lean forward, curious as to what could be happening, but they are suddenly blown back by a large energy blast. The two of them hit the ground and gasp as Trent lands right beside them, his grip having broken. The Nega Ranger slowly stands to her feet, her suit sparking with black and green energy just as it had when Molly first morphed with the damaged Dino Gem. Tommy helps Kimberly onto her feet, the two of them staring at their daughter in horror as she holds her arms out to the side, her body resembling a crucifix. With a growl, the Green Ranger summons her daggers back to her hands before walking slowly towards the three Rangers.
"Your dedication does not fail to amuse me rangers." she speaks, her voice a cross between Molly's and a demonic force. "You try and try, but you will never succeed. Molly is my vessel to do with what I please."
"She is not yours!" Trent snaps as he takes a step forward, summoning his Drago Sword as well. "Molly has a lot of people who care about her; and if you think we'd just let her fall victim to you, you are sorely mistaken!"
The Nega Ranger laughs as she twirls her Dragon Daggers in her hands she then crosses them in front of her before pulling her arms back forcefully. A large, green energy wave is propelled from the force, knocking the rangers back onto the ground. Tommy blinks a few time to clear his blurry vision before he looks up towards the Nega Ranger walking towards them once more. A loud explosion erupts off in the distance and he spares a glance towards the Zeo Rangers who are still running from Nebia's twisted root of evil. The severity of his injuries hit him all at once, both his broken rib and the gash in his back from his earlier battle throbbing in pain. He hisses as the sound of Trent and the Nega Ranger battling again reaches his ears.
"Tommy, are you alright?" Kimberly asks, her voice strained. She helps him to sit up and he is immediately worried by the blood staining her side. She shakes her head to silence him before he makes a fuss. Taking a deep breath, she stands to her feet and helps him up before pressing her gloved hands over the gash in her side, the blood staining the white gloves a deep crimson.
"This is bad." she says as Trent fires a barrage of laser arrows at the Nega Ranger who deflects them with ease.
"We almost got through to her." Tommy says as he recalls how the Nega Ranger faltered just before her attack. "I think Molly is starting to fight back and it's angering the Nega Ranger. We have to try again. This time, we'll get through to her. I know it."
Kimberly nods before taking his hand, her fingers lacing into his. Tommy looks at her from behind his helmet and smiles, knowing that she is smiling back at him. The two of them then make their way back to the battle.
Kira's heart is beating wildly in her chest, her breathing rapid, as she does her best to catch up with Rocky. Nebia's root is swerving throughout the open space, destroying every parked car, bench, and street lamp in its path as it tries to knock the Red Zeo Ranger out of its way. Out of all the times that Kira wished she had Conner's super speed, now is the most important. Rocky panics as he runs into an alley, the sight of a tall brick wall in front of him confirming it to be a dead end. He turns around and screams as the root closes in on him, but just before he is hit, Kira tackles him to the ground just in time.
The sound of glass breaking and bricks crumbling can be heard as the brick wall is destroyed on impact. His heart beating wildly in his chest, Rocky scrambles onto his feet before running out of the alley with Kira right on his tail. The two of them can feel the ground shaking once more and they quicken their pace as the root begins to retract from the building, Nebia ready for round two as she controls the root using her magic.
"Thanks for saving me." Rocky says in between breaths as they head up the street, out of sight of the other rangers. "I was about to be impaled."
"We have to find a way to cut off her magic." Kira says as their feet slap against the ground noisily. They quickly round a corner where several pedestrians are fleeing from the chaos. The can hear several civilians calling out for them to save them as they continue their race, the ground's shaking only growing stronger. Kira looks over her shoulder and shrieks when she sees the root racing after them like a locomotive racing down the tracks. Kira's eyes widen when she spies Nebia riding on top of the root like a rider on the back of an enraged bull.
"You can run rangers, but I'll catch up to you eventually." she says with a laugh.
Just as she raises her arm into the air to command the root to go in for the kill, she is struck by a strong force and knocked off the root and onto the ground. The green haired witch looks up and growls as an unfamiliar Red Ranger can be seen floating through the air on a levitating, red surf board.
"Mind if I drop in?" Andros says with a wave as she glares up at him. Zhane zips through the air on his Silver Cycle / Galaxy Glider and comes to a stop beside his friend.
"Hey there." he says as he crosses his arms. The Silver Ranger's heart nearly skips a beat as he stares at the Comdrite. Although her outfit and hair are entirely different from hers, Nebia's face is a dead ringer for his wife's.
"More Power Rangers?" Nebia says incredulously, ignoring her scraped knees and arms. She stands up and takes hold of her staff again, her hand emanating a warm green glow. A loud crash can be heard off in the distance, Andros and Zhane's heads snapping in its direction. They can see smoke and dust billowing up into the air, large flames stretching up alongside it as screams tear through the air. Zhane flies away from Andros, knowing the Red Ranger can take care of himself, as he moves towards the destruction. His eyes widen when he spies the root that had been chasing the unknown Red and Yellow Rangers when he had arrived. It has impaled a large building, a gas explosion having caused the fire. A fire hydrant has been destroyed nearby, its water spitting up into the air and out of reach of the orange and yellow flames.
"Zhane, come in." Maya's voice comes over his communicator. Zhane presses his right middle and index fingers to the side of his helmet to answer the call.
"I'm here Maya."
"TJ and I located the Zeo Rangers near a large demolished building. They were almost taken out by the root of a giant tree. They're all alright, but they said their Red Ranger was being pursued separately. The root finally stopped moving, but I heard an explosion in the distance."
"Yeah, I'm at the crash site. I saw the Red Ranger with another Yellow Ranger when Andros and I arrived to stop that Comdrite from killing them. There's no sign of them now. Send Damon to help me search for them."
"Roger that."
Maya ends the communication link and Zhane hops down from the Silver Cycle, the Power Vehicle taking to the sky to its holding place on board the Megaship. With his arms pumping, Zhane runs towards the end of the root in search of the Red and Yellow Rangers, his heart beating hard in his chest out of nervousness. Hopefully, they managed to slip away in time and weren't hurt too badly.
Zhane jumps back as a large metal beam from the damaged building falls down to the ground. Shielding his face, his steps through the large broken window at the front of the building and squints through the darkness. The smoke and dust in the air clouds his vision and he has to hold his arms out in front of him to keep himself from bumping into anything.
"Hello, is anyone in here?" he shouts, doing his best to scream over the sounds from the fire burning around him. "I am the Silver Ranger of the Astro Space Rangers. My team and I have come to assist you all. Please, if you can hear me, give me a sign!"
"Over here!" he hears someone shout, followed by a fit of coughing. Zhane runs in the direction the voice is coming from and is relieved to see the Red Ranger from earlier, the star visor on his helmet cracked and his brown eyes peeking through. By the looks of it, his shoulder his dislocated; and aside from the soot covering his suit, he appears to be fine.
"Are you alright?" Zhane asks as slings the ranger's arm over his shoulder.
"I'll be fine." Rocky says. "We have to find Kira though. She was with me when the building came down."
"Zhane?" Damon's voice can be heard off in the distance - more than likely from outside the building. "Zhane, where are you?"
"I'm here!" he shouts, his voice sounding hoarse as he helps Rocky maneuver through the wreckage. The two of them see the Green Galaxy Ranger just as he is stepping into the building and Zhane passes Rocky off to him. "Get him outside and to safety. There's still a Yellow Ranger missing. I'm going back in."
"I'm giving you five minutes until I come in after you." Damon warns him before moving back towards the broken window with Rocky. Zhane nods after him before moving back into the blazing inferno, his suit protecting him from most of the heat and flames. He winces as his knee comes in contact with a metal beam before he drops down and crawls beneath it in search of the missing Yellow Ranger. Remembering that the Red Ranger had called her Kira, he begins shouting her name, hoping that she can hear him among the chaos, but he receives no reply.
A loud crash can be heard behind him, and Zhane mentally hopes that whatever it was, it didn't block his way out. Scrambling out from underneath the collapsed beam, he stands to his feet and looks around the new area. He is in a large dining hall of sorts - several wooden dining tables and upholstered chairs scattered throughout the room, the fabrics of tablecloths and curtains ablaze all around him. He can spy part of the large tree root stretching through the dining hall, parts of the root engulfed in flames. He shouts Kira's name again before running towards the root in search of the girl. He pauses suddenly when he spies a small object on the floor. Crouching down, he picks the object up, his eyes widening when he recognizes it as a foreign, yet familiar morpher. It is shaped like the head of a pterodactyl, the coloring yellow, as a black wrist strap can be seen on the back. Realizing that the missing girl is out of her ranger suit, his heart begins to beat wildly with panic.
"Kira, answer me!" he shouts as he looks around for any signs of a trapped civilian. Suddenly, he begins coughing, the smoke from the fire finally becoming too much for him to handle. Desperate for a way out, he looks around through the smoke. He can see light poking through the smoke and moves towards it. The sounds of sirens can be heard and he feels relieved when he realizes that he has reached a large window like the one he had entered the building through. The glass is smashed open and he can see the street on the other side. Climbing out, he begins coughing as his lungs are relieved from the smoke-filled air. He runs a few feet away from the building, his chest burning from smoke inhalation, before he looks over his shoulder. He pauses suddenly when he sees a body lying in a heap on the ground, glass scattered around them. His breathing issues aside, he rushes to the person's side and flips them over. He is met with the face of a teenage girl, her hair a mess of brown curls and several gashes in her neck. Her face and clothing are covered with soot and blood from her wounds. Miraculously, she is still breathing.
At the feeling of being in someone's arms, the girl stirs, her eyes opening weakly as she tries to remember where she is. Her eyes settle on Zhane's helmet and her eyes well up with tears. "Are you Kira?" he asks her. She nods her head once before her head lolls off to the side, unconsciousness overcoming her. Zhane silently curses before scooping her up into his arms.
"Zhane, where are you?" Damon's voice comes over his communicator. "The Yellow Ranger's teammate Ethan just got here and he says the building is going to come down any minute. Get out of there!"
"I came out on the other side." Zhane explains quickly. "I found the Yellow Ranger, but she's hurt pretty badly. It looks like the impact from the root slamming into the building threw her through one of the back windows. Her morpher was torn from her wrist, so she was un-morphed when she went through it. I'm going to get her to a hospital."
"Roger that. I'll inform the others of what's going on, then I'll bring Rocky there as well."
"Silver Cycle!" Zhane shouts his command, summoning his Power Vehicle back from the Megaship. The cycle remains in its Galaxy Glider form as it stops in front of him, hovering in midair, as Zhane sets Kira's unconscious body on top of it. "Don't worry Kira. You're going to be okay. Galaxy Glider, Hang Ten!"
Kitana walks back and forth in front of her water ball prison, her hips swaying with each step, while Jason and Conner beat against the barrier from the inside. In spite of the prison being made entirely out of water, its walls seem to be a solid surface on the inside. Knowing that their efforts are useless, Kitana smirks to herself before about facing and resuming her stride in front of them.
"Hey Kitana!" Billy shouts, distracting the blue haired beauty from her catwalk. "Over here."
Kitana looks in Billy's direction and raises an eyebrow as he and the remaining three Zeo Rangers run towards her with their Zeo Pistol Blades drawn. She smirks before gripping her wand in her hand, transforming it into its staff form. The four Zeo Rangers close in on her before spreading out into an arch, the tips of their blades aimed right at her.
"You guys have a lot of nerve trying to attack me head on." she says with a laugh. "Haven't you learned by now? You Power Rangers are no match for me and my sister. We are Comdrites and we are the most powerful sorceresses in all the galaxy. You will never defeat us."
"We'll see about that." Adam says as he tightens his fist around the hilt. "Let's do it guys."
The Zeo Rangers charge towards Kitana with their blades, all of them swinging together in a perfect formation; but before they can even come close to hitting her, Kitana swings her staff down in a smooth sweep, forcing the water from the hydrant that trapped Conner and Jason to fly towards them like a solid wall. The Zeo Rangers are knocked to the ground, their weapons forced from their hands as they roll across the pavement. Kitana laughs before forcing the water to move around her like the tentacles of an octopus.
"What are we going to do?" Katherine asks as she spares a glance towards Conner and Jason who appear to be slumping over in the water ball prison, neither of them able to fight against it any longer. "They're going to drown if we don't get them out of there."
"If water is what Kitana needs to fend us off, we have to find a way to cut off her power supply." Billy says as the others gather around him. "We have to find a way to shut down the hydrants."
"That will take too long." Tanya disagrees. "If we're going to take down that water prison of hers, we have to take her down."
"We won't be able to get close to her with those water tentacles guarding her." Adam points out.
"What about her staff?" Katherine suggests. "It's what she's been using to control the water, just like Nebia's staff controlled that giant tree root. If we get a hold of it or cut off its power supply, we can free the others."
"I think that idea will work much better than Billy's." Tanya says with a nod of her head. "I say we go for it."
"Hey, my idea could have worked too." Billy huffs. "No matter, let's get that staff."
"I've got an idea." Katherine says. "You guys keep her busy.
Adam nods before motioning for Billy and Tanya to follow after him. The Zeo Rangers summon their Power Weapons before charging towards Kitana. The water tentacles surrounding Kitana easily fend off the rangers' weapons as they try to break through; but unlike the walls of the water prison ball, the tentacles aren't solid. Just as the rangers' weapons strike the tentacles, they reform as though they hadn't taken any damage. Thinking quickly, Adam jumps over Kitana's head before using his Zeo Power Punch attack to strike her in the back. She stumbles forward, having taken damage from the attack, and growls angrily before turning around quickly, smacking Adam away with one of the tentacles. The Green Zeo Ranger is sent flying through the air before landing with a thud on the nearby sidewalk. Just as Kitana turns around, she is struck with Billy's Zeo Power Axes. Kitana cries out as she takes the hit, her water tentacles minimizing the damage but not protecting her completely.
"Hey Kitana!" Katherine shouts, pulling the blue witch's attention towards her. "Pink Power Cloud!"
Katherine swings her arms around as she summons the necessary energy to complete her attack. She then thrusts her hands forward as a ball of pink energy is expelled through her hands, striking the staff. A surge of blue electricity shoots out of the staff and shocks Kitana, her screams shrilling in the air as she suddenly goes limp and falls to the ground.
"Kat, you did it!" Tanya exclaims.
The water ball prison suddenly comes apart, Conner and Jason falling from inside and to the ground as they begin gasping for breath. A recovered Adam makes his way over to the two of them, crouching down on the ground as he meets Jason's gaze.
"Are you guys alright?" he asks.
Jason nods. "We'll be fine. Thanks for getting us out of there. Drowning is not the way I intend to go out of this world."
"Where are Kira and the others?" Conner asks in between breaths. "Last I saw them, they were running from that giant tree root."
"We aren't sure what happened to them." Billy admits. "We were rescued by the Blue and Yellow Galaxy Rangers. They came down to help when they heard we were under attack. They ran off to find their teammates after they were sure we would be okay."
"Let's go." Jason commands as he takes off running. The others nod before following after him.
The Nega Ranger rolls out of the way as Trent fires off another barrage of laser arrows. Crouched down in a pouncing stance, she throws one of her daggers at him with a such a speed that Trent barely has enough time to dodge it. The dagger soars through the air and right past Tommy and Kimberly before it wedges into the side of a parked car. With one dagger remaining, the Nega Ranger runs towards Trent and takes a swing, their blades clanking against each other loudly as they push against each other, both the Nega Ranger and Trent trying to over power the other. Thinking quickly, Trent summons his Dino Gem's abilities and uses his super speed to quickly get out of the way. Confused, the Nega Ranger turns to strike him, only to find that he is not there. Her confusion growing, she looks around the area, her eyes unable to spot the White Ranger. She sees Kimberly and Tommy a little ways away, the two of them holding onto each other as they watch the scene unfolding before them. She then hears the sound of shouting and approaching footsteps as the Zeo Rangers race towards her with their Zeo Pistols in hand.
"Show yourself White Ranger." She demands angrily as she spins around, expecting to find him standing there, but she is once again met with no sight of him. Suddenly, she is tripped, knocked off her feet and sent sprawled out on her back as an invisible force presses against her chest. Slowly, Trent deactivates his camouflage and the Nega Ranger growls up at him as he presses his foot into her chest. Fueled by her rage, she swings her remaining dagger and slices through his calf muscle. Trent falls down onto one knee, biting back a slew of curses as the newly opened flesh wound begins to burn with agonizing pain. Just as the Nega Ranger rolls out from beneath him, she is grabbed in a full Nelson, her arms restrained behind her as her dagger is pulled from her grasp. She thrashes within the arm of her captor and can hear a pain filled groan.
"Hold her tight Tommy." Kimberly says as she steps into the Nega Ranger's line of view.
"You stay away from me." the Nega Ranger warns the Pink Ranger, but rather than take the threat seriously, Kimberly swings her arms in front of her as she powers down into her civilian form. The Nega Ranger stops her thrashing as Kimberly's gaze meets her own.
"Kim, what the hell are you doing?" she can hear Jason shouting as he and the other Zeo Rangers close in on her.
"Stay back Jason." Kimberly warns him, stopping all of the Zeo Rangers in their tracks as she gets closer to the Nega Ranger. "Molly, I know you're still in there. Honey, can you hear me? Please Molly, don't give up."
"M-mom...?" she stutters through gritted teeth, earning a hopeful look from Kimberly. "No...No! No, no, no!"
Gathering all of her strength, the Nega Ranger breaks from Tommy's hold, elbowing him in his broken rib and causing him to fall back. Kimberly takes a step back, fearful of the enraged Power Ranger before her. With a growl, the Nega Ranger draws her arm back before slugging Kimberly across the jaw. The Pink Ranger's head snaps to the right and remains there for a moment, pain searing through her face, before she slowly turns back towards the teen and forces a smile. Her rage boiling to the brim, the Nega Ranger summons the dagger Tommy had pried from her hand back within her possession before walking towards Kimberly.
"Molly, don't do it!" Trent shouts, his voice pleading. His cries stop the Nega Ranger in her tracks and Trent can see her body trembling as though she is struggling internally over her actions. "She is your mother! Kimberly loves you so much, can't you see that? All your life, it has been just the two of you together. You don't want to hurt her, I know you don't. I refuse to believe that you are gone Molly. I refuse to believe that someone that I care about more than anything has fully gone to the dark side."
"What do you mean...?" the Nega Ranger speaks suddenly, the demonic voice fading off her words as she cranes her neck to look towards him.
"Tell me Nega Ranger. Do you want to hurt me?" Trent swings his arms in front of him just as Kimberly had done earlier, un-morphing into his civilian form. His face his bruised and his arms and legs are covered with gashes and other injuries, but the White Ranger stands tall as he walks towards the Nega Ranger. She makes no indication that she is going to attack. Slowly, Trent raises his hand and rests it on top of hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. He can feel her hands shaking and he takes a deep breath to calm himself. "Do you want to hurt me?"
"No..." she whispers, her voice shaking.
"That's right. You don't want to hurt me because it is the last thing Molly would want you to do. Whether you like it or not, Molly is still a part of you."
The Nega Ranger moves quickly with the intent of stabbing him, but Trent uses his Dino Gem's abilities once more, tapping into his super speed so he can move behind her and restrain her just as Tommy had done earlier. The Nega Ranger doesn't put up as much of a fight as Trent forces her down onto her knees, hugging her from behind as he rests his head against her back. The other rangers watch, all of them on edge as they wait to see how the situation will play out.
"Molly please come back to us. I hate seeing you like this and I know you hate being controlled like this. I miss the happy brunette who has made me smile and laugh more in the past week than anyone has in my entire life. I need the girl back who loves to sing and ice skate. I need the girl back who loves gymnastics and staying up late to have heart to hearts with her dad. I want the girl who puts up with my fits of jealousy. I want the girl who makes my heart beat fast whenever she's near. I want the girl that I think I'm falling in love with."
Trent can feel the Nega Ranger trembling in his arms, but he doesn't loosen his grip. His eyes widen as a black glow begins to shine all around her. "Trent, you have to let go of me." Molly's voice suddenly reaches his ears. "I'm begging you, please. She's too powerful. I don't want to her to hurt you."
"I won't let go." he says as he holds her tighter. "You can fight her off Molly. I know you can."
"She's too strong. Stop...trying...to...resist me Molly...You...know...you want...this power...ah!"
The Nega Ranger doubles over as she audibly begins to struggle against the voices screaming in her head, her body becoming overwhelmed by the struggle of power. Kimberly takes a step forward, but is stopped by Tommy as he grabs hold of her wrist. She looks towards him, her eyes frantic, but he shakes his head to stop her.
"What can we do?" she asks.
"We can't do anything." Tommy says as he watches the Nega Ranger struggling to purge the evil presence from her body. "Molly has to break the spell herself."
"Tommy's right Kimberly." Katherine says as she and the other Zeo Rangers gather around her. "Back when Tommy was brainwashed by Prince Gasket, he was convinced that the others and I were his enemies. He attacked us and he nearly succeeded in destroying us; but once we showed him our faces and convinced him that we were his real friends, the evil programming in his mind was overpowered and Tommy fought it off. Molly has to do the same thing. We can't help."
"Get out of my head!" Molly screams as the black glow around her intensifies into a bright fluorescent green. "You...can't...control me...anymore...!"
The Nega Ranger suddenly screams in pain, the black glow that had been covering her shooting off of her form and up into the sky. It disappears in a flash of light while the Green Ranger suit fades back into its original state. Her shoulders are heaving as she takes ragged breaths when suddenly, she de-morphs with a flash of green light.
"Molly...?" Trent says, nervousness in the pit of his stomach.
Slowly, the brunette turns her head, revealing a pale face. Tears are running down her cheeks as she forces a smile. "I did it...The voice in my head is gone." she says, her voice just barely above a whisper.
Trent feels something warm streaming down his hands and his eyes widen. He shifts her within his grasp so that he's cradling her. He gasps in horror when he spies Molly's pale fists holding onto her remaining Dragon Dagger, its blade wedged into her abdomen as blood seeps through her shirt.
"Oh my God!" he shouts as her hands fall from the blade.
"No!" Kimberly shrieks as she and Tommy rush to their daughter's side. Kimberly crouches down and takes Molly's face in between her hands as she pleads with her daughter to stay awake. Tommy powers down before moving beside Kimberly and cradling the back of Molly's head with his hand as he looks into her eyes pleadingly. A ghost of a smile crosses her face before her eyes roll back into her head and she begins convulsing in Trent's arms.
"We have to get her to a hospital now." Tommy says, his voice shaking.
"Tommy!" a voice comes from overhead. The Rangers look up and see Andros as he guides his Galaxy Glider down to the ground.
"Andros, what are you doing here?" Tommy asks as he takes Molly out of Trent's arms and into his own.
Andros stares at the teen in Tommy's arm in horror. "D.E.C.A. alerted me and my rangers of an attack in Reefside, so we came to lend you guys a hand. It looks like things couldn't have gone any worse."
"What happened to Nebia and Kitana?" Trent asks as he recalls the two witches that Molly had brought to town with her.
"Maya and Kai helped me finish off Nebia before she retreated. There was no sign of Kitana on our way over here. I assume these other rangers handled her."
"Your board, is it fast?" Kimberly asks suddenly, pulling the two leaders from their conversation. "Our daughter is hurt and we have to get her to the hospital."
"This is your daughter? Oh my God."
"Yes, she's our daughter." Tommy says. "You have to get her to the hospital Andros, please."
Andros nods before moving aside so Tommy can place Molly's unconscious form on the Galaxy Glider. "My glider will get us there in a matter of seconds. Zhane is already there with your Red and Yellow Ranger friends. They were thrown through a building by that mutant tree root."
"Kira's hurt?" Conner speaks up, earning concerned looks from his teammates.
"I'm afraid so. Listen, getting this girl to the hospital is my priority. I'll fill you all in on what I know once we've gotten here there."
With that being said, Andros revs up the engine of his Galaxy Glider before shooting off in the direction of the hospital. Kimberly finally breaks down once her daughter is out of sight, and Tommy wastes no time pulling her into his arms. He holds her close as he does his best to soothe her, her body wracking with sobs as she lets all of her pent up frustration out. Looking over the helmet-covered faces of his allies, he nods, giving them permission to take their leave before holding Kimberly tighter in his arms.
Carlos walks into the Navigation Room and pauses in the doorway as Maya, Damon, and Kai remove their helmets and set them down on the table. Maya wastes no time removing her ponytail holder, her curly brown tresses raining down her back like a fountain as she shakes the tightened locks free.
"You guys are back." Carlos states, rather than questions. The three Galaxy Rangers turn around at the sound of his voice and nods. Carlos notices the dirt and soot on their suits and folds his arms over his chest as he waits for an explanation.
"There was an attack in a town called Reefside on earth." Kai says as he and the others remove the rest of their Power Suits for repairs. "Tommy Oliver is currently living there with his team of Dino Rangers. They were attacked by two of the Comdrites Karone warned you and the others about, along with an evil Green Power Ranger. As it turns out, the Green Ranger was being controlled by a Dino Gem that had been planted on earth by the Master. The host body - Tommy Oliver's daughter."[
"Oh my God." Carlos says while the others nod, none of them over the initial shock of their mission. "So what happened? Where are the others?"
"The Rangers took quite a beating, but Tommy's Yellow Ranger and his daughter got hurt pretty badly." Damon says. "Andros and Zhane took both of them to the hospital and they're waiting to make sure the girls are going to make it through surgery. They sent us back to tend to our few injuries and to check on Ashley. Cassie and TJ were helping the Reefside fire department to put out the remaining flames when we left, so they're going to be late getting back too."
"How's she been?" Maya asks as she recalled Andros telling her that Ashley had been sick that morning.
"She can't keep any of her food down." Carlos says, his brow knitting in worry. "She claims she just isn't used to being in space again, but I think it's something more. Maybe a nasty bug. Anyway, she's sleeping comfortably now, so I'll call Andros and fill him in."
Carlos nods as the three rangers make their exit towards the infirmary. He watches them go before moving over to Damon's helmet left on the table with the others. He picks it up and takes it into his hands, observing the difference in shape compared to his own helmet. His friends got off lucky by the sound of it, and he could only hope things would go just as well for him the next time he would be called into action.
Tommy winces in pain as his nurse finishes bandaging up his chest. His upper torso was completely wrapped in white bindings that stopped just above his navel in order to protect his broken rib, and he had a few other bandages on his arms and legs from the damage he sustained during battle. He and the others had claimed to have been caught up in the battle down town when the tree root destroyed the surrounding buildings. It was a good cover story, especially since there were at least fifty other patients at Reefside Hospital who had sustained injuries from the same situation.
"Alright Tommy." the female nurse, Paula, says as she reaches into one of the nearby cabinets and pulls out a white t-shirt. "I'm sorry that it isn't anything too flashy, but since your original shirt was damaged during the attack, it's all I can offer you."
"Thanks Paula." Tommy says with a smile as she helps him into the shirt. She then hands him a clipboard for him to sign himself out, along with a small cup of painkillers. Tommy does away with both tasks quickly before sliding off the examination table, his leg muscles stretching and aching.
"Ibuprofen will help relieve you of your pain, and be sure to change out the bandages on your arms and legs every twelve hours. Icing your ribs will help to keep the pain and the swelling down. I have you scheduled to see your physician in about six weeks for a followup appointment. Your rib should be fully healed by then. Any questions for me?"
"No thanks. You've been a big help."
"Alright then. Be sure to sign out at the nurses station when you're through."
Tommy nods as Paula heads out of the sliding glass doors to check on her next patient. Taking a shallow breath to avoid irritating his rib any further, Tommy steps out into the hallway just as Hayley is rounding the corner with a paper sack from Wendy's in her hand.
"I was just about to bring you something to eat." she says when she sees him. "The doctor released you already?"
Tommy nods as she gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "My rib should be healed in about six weeks. So until then, I should probably take it easy. In all honesty, it doesn't hurt all that bad. I'm sure I'll still be able to practice martial arts. I'll just have to protect my core from any unexpected attacks. So, any word on Molly or Kira?"
"Both girls are out of surgery." Hayley says with a small smile. "Conner is with Kira and her parents now. She woke up about an hour ago. Molly still hasn't come to yet. The doctors said she is still in critical condition, but I'm hoping that her ranger abilities will kick in and she'll heal up a lot faster. Speaking of the Green Dino Gem, what happened to it?"
"I have it." Tommy says as he pulls it out of his jeans' pocket and shows her. "It's back to normal. The black cracks are gone and it isn't pulsing with negative energy. As far as i can tell, Molly might be able to use it again. The black energy that was flowing through her body during her restraint flew up into the sky before disappearing. Trent and I theorize that it was the gem's evil energy."
"I hope you two are right. Well, I'm going to head back to the house and help Zack and Aisha finish blowing the air mattresses up. I want your friends to have somewhere comfortable to rest when they get back to the house. Pass the word along for me, okay?"
Tommy nods before Hayley presses a soft kiss to his lips. She smiles at him before handing him the Wendy's bag and taking off down the hall. With a sigh, Tommy turns around before heading to room B6 where Kira was assigned until she would be moved to a hospital room. He pauses in the hallway when he sees Kira's parents stepping out of the room, both of them looking exhausted and upset.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Ford." he says in greeting, the older couple turning to face him. "Hayley told me the two of you had finally made it in from your business trip. I'm sorry you had to come home to this."
"Doctor Oliver, do you mind telling us how this happened?" Mrs. Ford asks while her husband glares at him. "The nurse told us she was hurt, but she didn't tell us much of anything else. What happened to Kira?"
"I was giving a tutoring session at one of the restaurants downtown." Tommy says as he quickly develops a cover story. "I assigned a civil rights movement project to my history classes and Kira and the others asked for my input for their video. An attack started downtown and the Power Rangers were showed up to fight off the enemies. Kira and my daughter got caught up in the crossfire while we were trying to make our escape. I am really sorry that this all happened, but we had no control over the situation. Attacks happen in town pretty often, as you already know. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Indeed you were." Mr. Ford says, his glare worsening as Tommy shifts uncomfortably. "Every time my daughter goes to study with you and the rest of that meddlesome crew, she comes home all banged up. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were attracting all of this doom and danger in her life."
"I'm sorry you feel that way." Tommy says with a frown. Mr. Ford says nothing as he takes his wife's hand and pulls her down the hallway towards the elevators. With a sigh, Tommy pulls the door to Kira's room open before sliding inside.
Kira is sitting upright in the bed, her hair hanging loosely over her shoulders while several bandages are wrapped around her face and arms. Her eyes are barely open, the irises glazed over with exhaustion from what Tommy can assume is from the morphine in her system. Conner is seated in a chair beside her, his hand holding to hers as he squeezes it like a lifeline, the mounted television on the wall playing a rerun of Law and Order: SVU.
"Hey there Kira." Tommy says with a smile as he walks over to her. He leans over the bed and gently rests his hand on her shoulder. "Zhane filled me in on what happened to you when he stopped by my room. You okay?"
"I feel like I got ran over by a train." she replies with a weak smile. "The drugs they've got me on are helping with the pain, but they make my head feel like it weighs a ton. Still, I shouldn't complain. If Zhane hadn't found me when he did...I might not be here right now."
"Can we please not think about that?" Conner replies from beside her. Tommy spares a glance at the soccer star. His eyes have dark circles under them and they are puffy from all the crying he'd done. Tommy can tell how scared Conner is without even questioning him, and he offers the teen a smile as well to try and lift his spirits.
"Please tell me Molly's out of surgery." Kira says. "I could use some good news right about now."
"Hayley said she's out, but she hasn't woken up yet. I promise to let you know the minute she's awake." Tommy reassures her.
"Thanks." Kira says as he heads for the door. "Goodnight."
Tommy closes her door before heading even further into the emergency room unit towards room C3. Jason and Samara are seated outside of the room, Samara sleeping with her head on her father's shoulder, while Andros and Zhane are standing just outside the door talking among themselves.
"Thanks for staying you guys." Tommy says, alerting them of his presence. "I really appreciate you guys coming to help out today. We really needed you."
"It was no trouble at all." Andros says. "Besides, we were glad to help. Those Comdrites were just as ruthless as my sister was when she was still Astronema. Seeing them in action really makes me fear what the other three are going to be like when they finally make their debut."
"Anyway, we're going to head back to the Megaship." Zhane says as he stretches his arms above his head. "It's going on one in the morning and I have to do system checks first thing in the morning."
"I understand. You guys take care." Andros and Zhane offer a small wave before they head down the hall towards the elevators. Tommy then turns his attention to Jason. "It is pretty late Jase. Why don't the two of you head on back to my place? Hayley said Aisha and Zack got the air mattresses blown up."
"Thanks bro, but we're actually going to head back to Kimberly's house. She has two extra bedrooms outside of hers and Molly's. So if anyone needs a room, send them our way."
Tommy nods before heading into Molly's room. The sound of a beeping heart monitor could be heard over the television as it plays an old episode of The Nanny, the laughing track in the background echoing off the walls. Kimberly is sitting beside Molly's bed, her hands folded as though she's praying over the sleeping girl. Trent is asleep in a recliner in the corner of the room, his soft snores barely audible over the background noise.
"Hey there." Tommy says to Kimberly. The Pink Ranger opens her eyes before turning in his direction. She forces a smile, but it doesn't reach her swollen eyes. "I take it she's showing no signs of improvement?"
Kimberly shakes her head. "I'm glad that she was able to win against the Nega Ranger, but at what cost? The doctors said the blade had penetrated so deep into her abdomen that it caused slight damage to her spleen. I just want this nightmare to end."
"Kim, you dreamed that we lost Molly forever and that you were killed by the Nega Ranger's hand. The Nega Ranger is gone though and our daughter is right here. She's hurt, yes, but she is alive and well. I promise you Kimberly, I won't let anything like this happen ever again."
Kimberly sighs, earning a questioning look from the Black Dino Ranger as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed. "I still don't understand how you can be so optimistic all the time. Even when we were teens, you would take every bad situation we faced and turn it into something positive whether it be a learning experience or a sign that we were improving our skills as rangers. I'm glad things with you haven't changed, even after all this time."
"I'd like to think I've changed a little bit. You really think I'm that much of an optimist?"
Kimberly can't help but to giggle at his comment. "Do you remember when Ivan Ooze was released from his imprisonment?"
"How could I forget that?"
"When we lost our powers, the Command Center, and we nearly lost Zordon, you still kept a brave face throughout our entire journey. You stayed calm and strong for the sake of the team, never allowing your emotions to stop you from helping us to get the job done. When Zordon had passed on and we had lost all hope, you reminded us that Dulcea taught us that with the great power, anything was possible, including reviving our mentor. What you did back then sort of reminds me of how you came through for us today. I was ready to fall apart when Molly was mentally thwarting off the Master's evil, but you had faith that she would win. You knew she had the power within herself to fight off that spell and come back to us."
"I guess I'm sort of the guiding light for the rangers, huh?"
"You are and you always will be." Kimberly smiles before turning her attention back to Molly. She gently brushes her bangs away from her face before leaning back in her chair.
"If I'm some sort of guiding light, or an optimist as you say, it's only because you made me that way." Tommy admits, causing Kimberly to raise an eyebrow. "Kimberly, when we first met and I joined the rangers, You helped me find this inner strength and confidence that I didn't have before. When Rita snuffed out the rest of my powers, you were there to pick me back up again to remind me that I was more than just a Power Ranger; and when the Green Ranger powers were decimated completely, you wrote that song for me to remind me that I would never have to stand alone as long as you and the others were by my side. You taught me how to be strong Kimberly; and with you, I had no reason to feel alone, angry, sad or defeated. You helped me become the man that I am. You were the first person that I ever felt..."
Kimberly isn't too sure when it happened, but Tommy's hand had found hers and was holding it within his own, squeezing it gently. She could feel how sweaty his palm was, and his eyes were staring at her questioningly, as though he were unsure as to how to tell her what was on his mind. Their daughter was lying in the bed beside them practically comatose and they had all nearly been killed earlier that day. So perhaps all of this anxiousness was due to his adrenaline slowing down. Still, there is a hint of something in his eyes that makes Kimberly's stomach knot up.
"I was the first person that you...felt what for Tommy...?" she asks as she leans in closer to him. Her mouth suddenly feels dry and she can't stop the butterflies from fluttering around in her stomach, tickling her from the inside out. Tommy slowly leans towards her, his eyes sliding shut and Kimberly can hardly believe that she's leaning towards him too. Before she touches her lips to his, she feels the warmth of his lips against her forehead. Her eyes shoot open, confusion on her face as she tries to process what's happening.
She looks up and sees that Tommy's eyes are still closed as though he's deep in thought. He leans back in his chair and sighs, the ending of his sentence never leaving his mouth. Disappointed, Kimberly turns her attention back to her daughter. She gasps when she realizes that Molly's eyes are open, glazed over with a need for sleep.
"Molly?" she speaks, the name rolling of her tongue in relief. Tommy turns to the girl as well, his face lighting up when he sees her staring at the two of them.
"Mom, dad...?" she says as she looks around the room. "Where am I?"
"Hey there kiddo." Tommy says with a smile as he rests his hand on her leg. "You're in the hospital. You hurt yourself in order to force the Nega Ranger spell to leave your body. I'm so proud of you Molly. You won."
"Where's Trent?" she asks, her voice cracking from overuse. "I need to tell him something."
"He's sleeping right now honey." Kimberly says as she stands up to kiss her daughter on the forehead. "Can't it wait until morning? You need your rest. Today was very hard on you."
Molly's eyes begin to droop as she struggles against unconsciousness once more. "Can you tell him...I think I love him too...?" Her voice trails off as she says something inaudibly; and a few short seconds later, she begins snoring softly.
Kimberly stares at her for a moment, completely taken aback by what she had said. "Why would she say that she's in love with him? They haven't even known each other for very long."
"He said it first as I recall." Tommy says as he thinks back to the battle in downtown Reefside. "It's true. They haven't known each other for very long, but you have to admit, they've spent a lot of time together and they can't seem to get enough of each other. They understand each other and I know they care for each other Kim. It isn't that hard to believe that two people can be in love at first sight."
"You don't think so?" she says.
Tommy shakes his head before looking over to meet her gaze. He is silent for a moment, but he takes her hands in his and gives them a small squeeze. "When I first moved to Angel Grove, I wasn't sure I was going to fit in. I was going to be starting a new life in an unfamiliar place, and the only thing I had going for me was my martial arts skills. So, I entered a tournament to try and wow the competition and maybe make some friends in the process. Instead, I saw this pretty girl in a pink cowgirl hat across the room. I was smitten instantly and from that moment on, I knew that she was going to be someone important in my life."
Kimberly blushes as she recalls the day she first saw Tommy. They hadn't spoken to each other, but she couldn't take her eyes off the strikingly handsome young man in the black sweats and green tank. The way he carried himself was admirable and he seemed confident in all that he did. His martial arts skills were impeccable, he was charming, and he was very charismatic. Who would have thought that she would run into him the next day at school and be saved from Bulk and Skulls obnoxious flirting? Hence began a year and a half-long relationship that was one of the most memorable of her high school career.
"So you're telling me that when you first saw me, it was love at first sight?" Kimberly questions him, earning a smile in response.
"I may have been young, but I knew what I felt Kimberly. That little four-lettered word meant something to me because it described what I felt for you then and now. Do you honestly think that my feelings would so easily change over the past seventeen years? In spite of the way that things ended with us Kim, with you being back in Reefside the past week I can honestly say that I still-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Kimberly cuts him off as she shakes her head, her hands go to her head as she tries to come to grip with what is happening. "Thomas James Oliver...what are you saying?"
"What do you think I'm trying to say Kim? No matter how much time has passed, I'm still in love with you."
A/N: It has finally been revealed that Kimberly's feelings aren't just an unrequited love with no hope of blossoming. Now that Tommy has told her the truth, will she be able to admit it out loud for the first time since they split; and what about Molly and Trent? For two teens who are just getting to know each other, is it even possible for the emotions they are feeling to truly be love? The answers to these two questions and more will be revealed in the next chapter.
I have a dance competition this weekend, so I have to focus a lot of my free time into extra rehearsals, costume changes, packing, etc. So once I have finished competing and found my score, I will not only let you all know the results, but I will post the next update. Until next time guys!
-KairiAngel13
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