COMMAND CENTER
"Everything is so peaceful around here without that old wind bag around," Alpha said, in glee as he shuffled between the controls with slight jerks of his body. "Now that I have this whole place to myself I think I'll…," and turning he faced an angry helmetless Tommy, Kimberly, and Billy. "Ay…ay…ay…ay…"
"Alpha you have some serious explaining to do," Tommy growled as he tapped a finger of his crossed arms before the three stalked forward and Alpha shuffled back.
At once Alpha turned to activate the teleporter and froze, as he turned right into Rocky, Aisha, and Adam. "And just what were you just about to do?" Aisha asked, cracking her knuckles.
"Alpha what's that?" Billy asked when he saw the disk protruding from the slot in his back with parks flying from it.
As he reached for it, Alpha barked as the other restrained him. "Release me or I'll ionize this whole Command Center! Stop…" and was silenced as Billy wrenched it out and Alpha when limp then they all leapt back as he began to jerk wildly. "Data inaccessible! Reboot! Reboot! REBOOT!" he called out.
"What's happening to him?" Kimberly demanded, wide-eyed as Alpha continued to jerk about repeating the same thing over and over.
"Somebody must have reprogramed him with this…now his original programming is fighting to retake control but the new programming is acting like a virus," Billy explained.
"Is there anything we can do?" Adam asked, over Alpha.
"There is a way…but it's…risky…"
"If it gets us Alpha back do it!" Rocky snapped and with that, Billy marched forward and knocked Alpha on top of his head with the flat of his palm of his hand and the jerking a calling stopped.
"Oh my aching circuits," Alpha, moaned, placing a hand on his head and Billy faced the others who stared at him in surprise.
"Just like jump starting a car, and I said it would be a risk," he shrugged.
After blinking out of his stupor, Tommy marched forward. "Alpha what happened? Where's Zordon?" he asked, the robot who looked at him.
"Tommy, what happened...? What are you all doing here...? What are you…?" he started then faced Zordon's tube and froze. "ZORDON! He's been deenergized! Billy you have to help me find him!" he snapped out and at once, the two sprang into action.
"Come on Billy… come on…come back to us Zordon," Kimberly moaned, out and Tommy gave a comforting squeeze to her hand.
Then after a few minutes of hard work…"I've got something here!" Billy snapped and a second later, there was a flash of lightning and Zordon's face slowly appeared in his tube.
"Zordon!" Kimberly barked a smile from ear to ear on her face.
"Excellent work Rangers! Thank goodness you are here!" he said, beaming down at them.
"What was the problem Zordon? What happened?" Alpha demanded.
Before anyone else could say anything on the subject Zordon said, "All that matters is that Billy has fixed it, but with what happened it must have had some purpose. What has happened?"
"Well Lord Zedd and Rita got married we were forced to watch, Red Dragon was captured and taken away to fight like a gladiator we don't know where, and those Dragon things are back," Tommy informed him.
"Very disturbing indeed, together they will be difficult to defeat, now the first thing we should do is locate Red Dragon if we don't his life could be forfeit," Zordon said, and a wide eyed Kimberly grasped Tommy's arm her hand rocketing up to cover her mouth.
Looking at the others Tommy declared, "then we won't let it! He helped us get away its time we did the same for him!" and they all nodded in agreement.
THE COLISEUM
With a cry, Logan charged Rhinoblaster and at the last second kicked up at the monster before dropping low to drive his fist into the monster's midsection. Straightening up he drove his fist under the monster's chin and spinning around nailed him cross the cheek with a backhand. As he moved to punch the monster, again it caught his fist in midair.
"I expected more," Rhinoblaster muttered as he caught and locked out Logan's counter fist then drove his own hand back into his face before kicking him back.
Hurtled back to one knee Logan growled at the monster and before he could recover fully he was sized by the neck. Spinning around Rhinoblaster drove him back first into a pillar that cracked under the force. With a strike, Logan released the monster's grip on him and followed up with a punch to the monster's face.
Countering with a strike to Logan's chest, he grabbed Logan by the back of the head and lashed out at Logan's head. Blocking it with both his raised forearms Logan drove it down and followed up with a backhand to the face. As best he could grabbed Rhinoblaster by the back of the neck and drove his fist into the monster's gut again and again before driving his knee in a few times.
Spinning him around Logan lashed out with a solid roundhouse. It never reached its mark as leaping up spinning through the air and drove his fist into Logan's head sending him to the ground. Moaning Logan started to push himself up and Rhinoblaster gave him a solid kick to his gut sending him toward the arena wall.
Again climbing to his feet, he swung wildly at Rhinoblaster who ducked under it driving his fist into Logan's side followed up by fist down across his face. After rearing back after a second punch nailed him from the other direction before dropping to one knee as Rhinoblaster gave him a whack to his thigh. As he turned to face him, again he was given a solid kick to his chest sending him into the wall.
"I sure hope your friends put up more of a fight than you," the monster mused and Logan's face-hardened.
Regaining his feet, he charged Rhinoblaster and tackled him to the ground. On top of him, Logan drove his fists into his face again and again. After blocking one Rhinoblaster grabbed Logan by his head and delivered a powerful head but before rolling Logan off him.
"That's a little more like it!" and after seizing Logan again by the throat drove him to the ground and delivered punch after punch to his head cracking his helmet. Letting him go as the crowd around them roared. "You know me and Goldar have a bet on this," he gloated stepping back and Logan glared at him.
"About what?" Logan inquired regaining his feet again.
"What would break first…," and Rhinoblaster ducked under a swing from Logan and drove him into his rising knee before throwing him to the ground again. "Your spirit…" and with that, Rhinoblaster seized him and the crowd roared louder as he lifted Logan over his head. "OR YOUR BODY!" and drove Logan down back first onto his knee with a sickening crunch.
Rolling onto his front Logan as the monster as he raised his arms in victory. Moaning in pain Logan ran one hand over his back healing himself before slowly climbing to his feet again and the crowd fell silent. Turning to face Rhinoblaster Logan slowly raised his fists.
Before either could do anything an arrow shot out of the sky pink energy encasing it and hitting the ground exploded. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Kimberly screamed bow in hand, as she and the others dropped out of the sky behind Logan who turned to watched them and Rita, Zedd, and the crowd sprang to their feet.
"We're here for our friend! Kimberly, Aisha get Red Dragon…," Tommy started.
"NO!" and all eyes turned to Logan. "This is my fight! I'm going to finish it! Only know I don't have a reason to hold back!" and with that he raised his hand and both his Draco Blaster and The Sword of the Dragon shot from the box to Logan's hands.
"But…," Aisha started.
"Hang around but, STAY OUT OF IT!" Logan interrupted as more monster piled out of the gate weapons in hand.
For a few seconds Logan looked at them then with a cry Robogoat charged forward. In response, Logan slashed out with the Dragon Ninja Sword cutting the monster's weapon in two. As Robogoat stared at it, Logan spun around and drove the tip of the sword into the monster's gut. Face hard behind his visor Logan lifted the gurgling monster off its feet and threw him to the side where he exploded.
"TEAR THE BASTARD APART!" Zedd cried and at once, three more monsters charged him.
Holstering his Draco Blaster Logan blocked one blow with his sword then slashed out at him. Turning he slashed at another and following through slashed another across the gut. Facing the second again, he slashed at it again; the group stood still as Logan slowly raised one hand and brought the fist lightly against the handle making the blade sing, and monsters exploded where they dropped.
Looking at them again, he saw the monster flinch back. "What now that I can play fair you don't want to play anymore," he mocked.
Looking around him Rhinoblaster mused, "If nobody else has the courage," and stepped forward summoning his sword and waved it about. "I'm going to cut your heart out!"
"Then go on cut my heart out!" Logan egged on then saw the monster's eyes dart to his sword. "oh I see what your problem is mine's bigger than yours…it's not fair…I'll just throw it away…," and as he tossed his sword away Kim stepped forward but was blocked by Tommy and Rocky and they all looked at each other before looking back at Logan. "Come and get some."
And with that Rhinoblaster lunged at him and stepping to the side Logan broke the blade of the monster's sword in three with a chopping motion above and below from his hands. The next thing Rhinoblaster knew Logan was in front of him, rapidly pressing the tips of his index and middle fingers on various parts of his chest and body.
"Oh my god," Rocky muttered in a shocked voice.
"Is he doing what I think he's doing?" Aisha asked, just as shocked.
"I think so?"
"What is he doing?" Billy asked.
"Killing him," Adam answered as Logan finished.
"What was that supposed to do tickle me," Rhinoblaster demanded, as Logan faced Soccadillo who charged him.
Holding his ground, he made some rapid motions with his hands and drawing one hand back a yellow energy shimmered around it. And hit the charging Soccadillo full in the chest launching it off its feet and plow into the wall of the arena.
Turning at the sound Flytrap leaping through the air at him he drew one hand back as a swirling red energy formed bit by bit. Then leaping into the air thrusting his palm forward driving the ball into Flytrap's chest where it sank in. Passing him Logan drove a shuto strike into the small of the monster's back sending him to the ground hard.
Landing with a roll Logan nailed Grumblebee with a solid uppercut launching him into the air. After a few more hand, signs he pointed up with two fingers and a spinning funnel of air encircled the monster making him spin rapidly at the spot.
"What is he doing to them?" Tommy muttered almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth Rhinoblaster began to scream and writhe in pain.
The other rangers stood frozen in horror at what they were seeing as massive bulges grew all over his body. Looking over they saw Soccadillo emerge from the wall and literally turn to dust before their eyes as he fell to the ground. At a scream they looked over they saw Flytrap also writhe in pain as steam or smoke issued from him before bursting into flame and above Logan, Grumblebee screamed in pain and a second later his limbs became a bloody mess then shot out of his body.
"We told you guys that Logan and us went to the same Martial Arts Academies at different times…," and Tommy nodded. "They're finishing moves from a different school, water, earth, and air styles," Rocky explained.
"What's happening to him?" Kimberly asked, indicating Rhinoblaster as he clutched his bulging head.
"Have you ever shook a can of soda then dropped it?" Aisha put in and to emphasize it just then Rhinoblaster flung his limbs back. And a dark blood like liquid bursts through his skin and shot out from where his major arteries until the bulges and him exploded in a bloody mess.
"Who's next?" Logan growled standing straight facing Gator Face and Eyeguy.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Eyeguy stepped forward. "Don't think you'll be able to pull those on me I'll see it coming a mile away!"
"Then don't blink, now you see my hand," Logan said, and the others blinked as he raised his hand in front of the monster's face. "You see my hand?"
"Yes of course I see you're…," Eyeguy started then was interrupted, as Logan's other fist shot out and nailed him with a solid swing to the ground.
"Abracadabra, told you not to blink," Logan muttered, then after a few movements grasped his right wrist in his left hand and a blue electrical energy appeared in the palm of his hand with struck the ground with little bursts every now and then as Eyeguy climbed to his feet. Deflecting a blow from the monster Logan drove the energy into his chest and in a flash of light a streak of lightning burst through the monster and struck the wall of the arena behind him.
Turning again Logan made a few more movements with his hands before bringing his palms together as his mind reached back again.
He was back at the Thunder Ninja Academy it was a few months after his first meeting with Tommy and had just done his first successful Crimson Thunder. While the students around him cheered at his success, he turned and beamed at Sensei Hunter and Tommy who stood side by side beaming with pride. Pointing he rushed over.
"Sensei Oliver Mr. Oliver did you see me I did it! I did it!" he called out.
Beaming tommy knelt down putting a hand on his shoulder. "I always knew you could."
Drawing his hands apart and a orb of swirling red energy split into two. One in each palm he leapt at Gator Face and clapped the orbs against both sides of the monsters head. At once, the monster leapt back holding his head as he screamed in pain then with a loud pop his head exploded.
Breathing as if he had run a mile Logan stood straight looking back up at Zedd he said, slyly, "now let me see that makes it Rangers ten and you guys zero," then scanned the stunned crowd. "Anybody else want to play?" when nobody answered he turned back to the others. "I didn't think so."
As he walked, back to them his sword returning to his hand. "RED DRAGON LOOK OUT!" Kimberly barked out in warning and turning he looked and dodged the spell that Dragvox had fired at him.
"You think this is over! It's only just begun!" Zedd bellowed and thrusting his staff forward and lightning struck where the remains of the monster had been and at once, there was a multitude of explosions and giant versions of the monsters appeared.
"I did my part now you guys to do yours," and with that the others summoned their Zords and the battle began.
Logan watched from a safe position on the ground as one by one each monster fought and was destroyed by either Thundermegazord or Tigerzord in warrior mode. As the last one fell under the two double teaming zords Logan opened a portal and stepped through.
Coming out in his room of the penthouse stumbling he leaned against the wall and looking at the door as Celine opened it. "Logan I thought I…Logan what happened?" she demanded, quickly closing the door looking back at the state of him.
"Would it help if I said, you should have seen the other guy?" he said, lightly before powering down. As he stumbled, again she rushed forward and caught him. "I didn't think so," he moaned, as she helped him over to the bed where he started to heal himself.
When he was done he fell back eyes closed completely exhausted. "Are you okay now?" she asked, concerned.
He nodded. "Yeah, healing magic always takes a lot out of me. I just need to rest."
Smiling she climbed to her feet as she nodded walking toward the door. "Well you do that, I'll go order you some food, and can take the rest of today and tomorrow off to spend time with Ashely also…," and she paused opening the door looking back at him and saw he was already fast asleep. Smiling she opened the door and quietly closed it behind her.
The next day at the beach Logan sat in his lounger in his swim trunks and a black sleeveless shirt while Tommy and a few others were playing volleyball nearby all wearing swimwear. Laying his head back thinking about the day before when Ashley had woken him from his nap and after Celine's insistence had a nice quite lunch and candle-lit dinner together. He was jarred from her thoughts as the ball Tommy served went high and long and landed in the midst of a small crowd of girls.
Laughing Logan climbed to his feet and walked over to retrieve it. "Sorry about that they got a little carried away," he said when he reached the group.
Laughing a blonde hair girl picking up the ball and tossed it back to him. "No worries mate," she said in her thick accent as he caught it and held it between his hands as his eyes narrowed as he recognize her.
The smile still on his face he shifted the ball under one arm. "Well sorry again I'm Logan," he said offering his hand.
For a second she looked at him then took the offered hand. "Katherine, Katherine Hillard," she said and Logan blinked nodding.
"Let me guess? Kat for short?" and she blinked in surprise.
"Yes to my friends, have we met before?" she asked frowning.
Smiling he shook his head. "No I've just met people with the same name using the nickname," he explained and Kat nodded relaxing a little at this.
"Well I hope we meet again," she said smiling before turning back to her friends.
"I have a feeling we will," Logan, muttered walking away.
"About time you got out of that chair man why don't you come join us!" Rocky called to him when he got back to where they were.
Laughing he tossed the ball back. "I think I'll continue to enjoy the view!" and he turned back to watch Ashely walk out of the water in her red bikini.
"And what view might that be?" she asked, getting close hand on her hip.
Smiling he wrapped his arms around the small of her back. "What can I say you're walking art girl," and smiling she kissed him.
As they broke apart Tommy, Rocky, Kimberly, Dana, and Aisha came over (all the girls but Dana in a bikini). "Hey we have some snorkeling gear want to join us?" Kim asked.
Smiling Logan looked at her. "Hell yeah," and with that he pulled off his shirt and the group ran for the water.
The next day Logan wearing his suit that Celine had bought him before walked with her to the lobby eyeing the roaring crowd outside. "Everybody ready?" he asked, looking back at the group.
Taking a breath before grasping René's hand, she nodded. "Yeah, but you'd think I'd be used to this?" and Logan smiled.
As the limo pulled up Logan, Frank, and Joe stepped out before Celine and René. "Ok everybody we need you to take one big step back!" he called cupping his hands around his mouth and the crowd parted like the red sea then roared as Celine stepped out signing a few autographs or posed for photos as they walked to the limo.
The ride to the Opera House was pleasant the only incident when a bike messenger rode alongside the rider asking for an autograph. Once inside Logan and René escorted her to her dressing room and Logan waited outside while she changed. From there he with Frank next to him they escorted the pair just outside the stage
Pausing there, she waited for her queue as she turned to René. "Wish me luck darling."
Smiling René cupped her face. "That is one thing you don't need," and smiling she kissed him just as she got her queue and she stepped out and the crowd roared to life.
From his position, Logan stood with René watching and enjoying the concert every now and then he saw the others near the front cheering or singing along. It was near the end of the concert when he leaned close to René still watching her. "I'm sorry what was that?" he asked, over her singing Where does my Heart Beat Now.
"I said we made a last minute change last night!" he said, again and he looked at him.
"Does Joe know?"
René nodded. "Yeah and so does Frank," and Logan blinked.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
At that, the song ended and for a few seconds Logan couldn't hear anything over the roaring crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen I just want to say that I have really enjoyed my time here!" and again the crowd roared and smiling she continued into her mike, "so would you like to hear some more!" and the crowd roared their approval. "So for that I have a special treat for you! I have a new song for my next album and I would like to ask a dear friend of mine to come out on stage and help me sing it in a duet!" and with that Celine turned looking at a stunned Logan urging him out.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," René said, beside him and blinking Logan shook himself.
Thinking quickly he pulled out his earwig and mike and took the mike, that René offered him. "What's the song?"
"She said she spoke to you earlier about it?" René said, frowning.
Taking a breath, he nodded. "Right," he breathed out and walked out and crowd roared the others the loudest and wildest.
Waving at the crowd he made his way to her and whispered, "what's the song," whispering back he nodded. "Hi everybody! This one is for those near and dear to our hearts! And for all they've done for us!" and with that the band began to play.
"For all those times you stood by me!"
"For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all!"
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me!"
"Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me!"
"You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said, no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you!"
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me!"
"You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you!"
"You were my strength when I was weak!"
"My strength!"
"You were my voice when I couldn't speak!"
"Oh when I couldn't speak!"
"You were my eyes when I couldn't see!"
"When I couldn't see!"
"You saw the best there was in me!"
"Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me!"
"I'm everything I am,"
"Because you loved me!" And thrusting our mikes into the air the crowd roared and eyes closed memories of all the good people in his life flashed through Logan's mind like they had in the song.
Later after everyone had returned to the hotel for dinner, Tommy turned to Logan next to him. "The song was a big surprise for us," and looking at him Logan nodded.
"You guys weren't the only ones surprised," and at that everyone looked at him. "Though I thought it was a duet?" and he looked at Celine.
Smiling at him she shrugged, "it was."
"More like you were singing backup, you were like this is my stage and you may have my stage…," he started and she raised her hand to quite him.
"I've been warming up that stage for awhile now," and with that Logan smiled, turned to Ashely who beamed at him.
The next day the paparazzi left behind at the security checkpoint Celine saw the group to their plane. "It really was great to see you all again," Celine said, her arm interlocked with René's.
"The pleasure was ours Celine," Logan said, and smiling René pulled an Envelope from his jacket pocket and held it out to him. "What's this?" he asked, taking it.
"Your salary for the week and a little something for the duet," Celine said, as he opened the envelope and froze.
"Celine there's almost half a million dollars on this check," he said, and everyone's eyes went wide and held it back out to her.
Smiling she pushed it back. "Think of it as your collage fund if you want, or a means to treat Ashely out every now and then," she insisted and Ashely beamed.
On the plan ride back Logan again sat with Ashely and Tommy leaned over his seat to ask, "I think I speak for everyone when I say thanks for all this Logan," and smiling Logan patted his hand. "So what's the first thing you're going to splurge on?"
Opening his eyes to look at him Logan muttered, "I'm not one to splurge you know that," and Tommy chuckled sitting back while beside him Ashely pouted.
When the group was disembarking from the plane, they were in high spirits. "Logan the next time you take a vacation like that, consider…Mom," Kimberly was saying then stopped at the sight of her mother at their terminal a somber look on her face. "Mom what are you doing here?" she asked, smiling when they got closer.
Blinking her mother bit her lip before saying, "Kim…something happened…"
"What...? What happened…?" Kimberly asked, the smiled slowly disappearing from her face and Logan glanced at Tommy.
Her jaw trembling her mother continued, "Its…it's about Dad…"
"What about Dad? Where is he?" Kimberly said, almost frantic looking over her shoulder.
Slowly reaching out to take her daughter by the shoulders she said, "A band of LRA Congo Rebels raided the refugee camp your father was working…" and as she spoke Kimberly's face paled.
"No…no…no…,"she moaned, out and Tommy started to wrap his arms around her.
"They confirmed it yesterday…he was killed," her mother finished and Kimberly screamed in agony as she collapsed Tommy, Logan, and her mother holding her tight sobbing as though her heart was broken.
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