I have officially finished this story. I'll make some minor edits here and there between now and posting the remaining chapters, but the plot is finished and it ended exactly how I always imagined it to with some fun events in between. So, now I'm off to start work on the sequel. If I get far enough into it, you might get a preview at at the end of the final chapter.
Hope you all enjoy my favorite chapter thus far.
Haley ran her hand over her face as she stared down at the screen of the tracking device she'd been re-calibrating. For a moment, she'd had Kimberly's signal coming in strong, and then a moment later it was gone. She hadn't said anything yet, because she was desperately hoping that there was something wrong with it. Unfortunately, everything she'd investigated said that the device was fully functional and operating perfectly; which could only mean one thing. Connor had been right and they definitely needed the backup plan.
Ethan caught sight of the worry on Haley's face from where he was working with Billy investigating the rocks, acting as his older counterpart's hands. Connor and Rocky stood on either side of Billy, watching him like a hawk and making sure his hands went nowhere near the rocks. Ethan set his scanner down and walked over to her. "Haley? What's wrong?" he asked, quietly, not wanting to alert the others just yet.
"We were too late," she stated simply.
"What do you mean?" he questioned, frowning. Haley shook her head and handed him the device, casting her gaze to the floor.
"She's gone. The locator picked up her trail not far from here. One moment she was there, and then next she was gone. There's only one way she could have disappeared like that."
"You're sure the tracker isn't just malfunctioning?" Ethan asked, turning the device over in his hands and examining it. Haley shook her head again, but didn't speak for a moment.
"It's my fault."
"It's no one's fault," Ethan stated. "Except Mesogog. The more we investigate that rock, the more I'm sure it's his doing," he added in, looking over at Billy, Rocky, and Connor. Tanya had retreated upstairs with Aisha and Adam.
"Damn it," Billy suddenly cursed, hitting his fist against the table. Rocky and Connor jumped slightly as the former blue ranger gripped his head with his hands. "I can't think straight," he muttered, angrily.
"I think it might be time to put the stones away," Connor stated, and Rocky nodded agreement. Between the two of them, they got the rocks back in the bio chamber and helped Billy sit down in a chair, handing him a glass of water. Haley stood up and grabbed a bottle of aspirin, offering him two tablets.
"From what I can tell, the rock operates based on an energy signature that draws out a specific latent quality within an individual. Mesogog seems to have perfected it, so that it harnesses dark thoughts and intentions and brings them forward," Billy explained, taking the tablets and water and swallowing them. He gave Haley a brief smile of thanks. "But it will only work on those who have experienced those types of personality traits before. It's like a magnet," he continued. "It attracts those who possess the qualities. The longer and harder we resist, the more painful it becomes," he stated, rubbing his temples with the index finger and thumb of his right hand.
"We can't get rid of those traits within the others," Connor stated. "It's part of who they are."
"Precisely the problem," Billy stated. "So I'm thinking the only way to fix it would be to counteract the energy signature from the stones as they manifest within a human being. My theory is there is an alteration in the brain waves of the individuals infected."
"That makes sense," Haley stated.
"Problem is," Billy continued, "I'm having difficulty pinpointing exactly how to counteract the energy signature because I haven't had the opportunity to see differences in the brain activity of someone infected. I've got a few ideas that I think would be successful, but I have no way of testing them."
"There may be only one way," Rocky stated, shaking his head. "And you and I both know what it is," he told Billy, who sighed and nodded.
"I don't want to risk it. What if this is a permanent change? What if I can't find a way to change the brain waves back to normal?" Billy told him. Ethan, Connor, and Haley frowned at the two of them.
"If it's the only chance," Rocky told his friend, "then it has to be risked. We've got two options."
"What are you guys talking about?" Connor interrupted.
"Billy needs a test subject," Rocky stated. "Someone has to touch the rock, so that Billy can try to reverse the energy signature that it's giving off. We won't know if it works without being able to test it."
"Hell no," Connor stated. "None of you guys are touching those things. We've already got two confirmed evil rangers running around out there. Possibly three, as I'm pretty sure that's what Mesogog will do now that he's got Kira. We do not need to deal with any others."
"Connor," Rocky stated, shaking his head. "It may be the only way to get them back. Besides, Adam and Kim are the only ones who can make the choice. It can't be Billy," he continued. "He needs to help Haley devise the counter energy signature."
"It'll have to be Adam," Haley stated, shaking her head.
"You can't find her?" Billy asked. Haley sighed and shook her head.
"I did find her," Haley stated, "But I think someone else found her first. She's not in Reefside anymore."
"Damn it," Rocky cursed. If there was one thing that he thought would be worse than an evil version of Tommy, it was an evil version of Tommy and Kimberly on the loose. He pulled his wrist to his mouth and pressed the button on his communicator.
"Go ahead," Adam's voice told him, barely above a whisper.
"You alone?" Rocky asked him.
"The girls fell asleep waiting for Katie to wake up. Luke's out too. What's up?"
"Come down here," Rocky told him simply. "Alone," he added, ending the transmission. He set his expression into as stoic of one as possible.
"I don't like this idea," Connor stated and Ethan nodded agreement with his leader.
"Tough," Rocky told him. "It's not yours to make," he added in.
"So what's going on?" Adam asked, walking into the command post. Billy looked pale, while Haley wore an expression that seemed to be masking whatever her true feelings were. Connor and Ethan looked angry, and Rocky looked resigned, agitated, and worried all at once. "I'm not going to like this, am I?" he asked his best friend, who shook his head in response.
"Kimberly's gone," Rocky told him. "There's a pretty good chance Tommy, which means Mesogog, has her."
"Again," Adam growled in response, punching his left palm with his right fist. He cast his gaze to the floor for a few moments before looking up again. "But that's not it. If it was, you wouldn't have had me leave Aisha and Tanya upstairs."
"Adam, this has to be your decision. Billy thinks," Rocky began, looking over at his friend, and shaking his head. "Billy, you'd better explain."
Billy nodded and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. "I think I can devise a way to counteract the energy in the rock that is causing the dark personalities of our friends to be brought to the surface. Unfortunately, I can't know for sure unless I have someone to test it on."
"And with Kimberly gone, that leaves me," Adam stated, with a nod, understanding what his two former teammates were explaining. "You need me to touch the rocks and go evil so that you can try and cure me?"
"That's the gist of it," Rocky stated. Connor glared, and Ethan muttered something about it being a bad idea. Adam just shook his head slightly at the two teenagers.
"When do we start?" he asked, flicking his wrists and removing his zeonizers. He held them out for Rocky to take. Rocky blinked for a moment. He'd expected Adam to be willing, but he hadn't expected him to make the decision so quickly. He nodded and took the zeonizers from his friend, as Adam began to remove his communicator as well. Once he had all three pieces, Rocky handed them to Ethan, who opened a small safe and placed them inside.
"If you're going to do this, we should enclose you in a force field. Even without the ability to morph, you're going to be dangerous," Haley stated, and Adam nodded his understanding. "Besides, we need to keep a hold on you and keep you away from Mesogog."
"I'd prefer if we could do this out in the woods. I don't want to be here," Adam stated.
"I don't know how long it will take me to find a way to reverse it," Billy told him, pushing himself out of the chair and walking towards him. "It could be hours or days," he added.
"I'll be fine. This place needs to stay safe for all of you, and especially for Katie and Luke. I will not put them in danger," Adam insisted, meeting Rocky's eyes. His best friend exhaled sharply and nodded. "And I'd rather do this sooner than later. Tanya and Aisha will try and stop me if they know about it."
"Ethan," Haley commanded, nodding to Adam. "There's a force field generator on the top shelf in the back," she told him.
"Haley," Connor stated, frowning as Ethan reluctantly went to fetch what she asked for. "We've been working together for a while now, but it never ceases to amazing me that you have all this stuff ready."
"I try and be ready for anything," she replied, with a slight smirk. Connor sighed and shook his head, looking over at Adam.
"Are you absolutely positive you want to do this?" Connor asked him, and Adam nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "Billy said he isn't a hundred percent sure that the effects of the rock aren't permanent."
"I trust Billy," Adam told Connor, patting the younger ranger on the shoulder. "He has never led me wrong or failed me before."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Billy stated, shaking his head. "Way to add the pressure."
"I do this, you've got a minimum of three of us to save. More likely five. That enough pressure for you?" Adam asked him.
"I've faced worse," he stated, with a cynical grin on his face. "You guys got the force field ready?" he asked Haley, looking past Connor, Adam, and Rocky, to where the current blue ranger was standing holding three large crystalline devices. Ethan was talking logistics with Haley while she typed on the computer.
"Just finished programing it," Haley stated. "Ethan will set it," she explained, "and I'll switch it on from here when the boys give me the go ahead."
"Right. Billy, you stay here. Connor, Ethan, and I will go out with Adam," he stated, but Billy shook his head.
"If we're doing this, the more information we can get the better. I want a bio scan of Adam once he's turned," Billy stated, trying to be as delicate about his choice of words as he could. Adam looked a bit pale, but still determined.
"Can't Ethan take the scan?" Rocky asked, really not liking the idea of Billy being near the rocks or near another evil ranger. He, Connor, and Ethan had the capability of morphing if necessary. Billy didn't. "Just tell him exactly what you need."
"Billy," Connor spoke up. "He's got a point. Please?" he added in.
"Fine," Billy stated reluctantly, and Connor sighed with relief. He felt he'd failed to protect Kira, and Kimberly, and even Tommy and Trent. He couldn't protect Adam from the choice he was making, but knowing Billy would stay behind made him feel slightly better. He accepted the bio scanner from Billy since Ethan's hands were full with the force field.
"Let's get going before Tanya and Aisha wake up," Adam pleaded, and Rocky nodded, reaching into the bio chamber and pulled out a stone fragment. He caught Adam watching it from the corner of his eye.
"Connor," Haley called to the teenager. Connor's head snapped up so that his gaze rested on her. "Take him about a mile into the woods. There's a small cave that will keep him from being too exposed to the elements if he's got to be out there for a while."
"Well, that's a comfort," Adam laughed cynically, shaking his head. Connor nodded, and together the four men left the command post, Haley, and Billy behind.
It didn't take them long to find the cave that Haley had mentioned. Adam paused outside it and took a deep breath, before leading the other three inside. The cave wasn't deep, so the ambient light reached all the way to the back wall. Ethan set up the three crystalline devices the moment they were inside, so they created a triangle that was about four feet wide at its greatest point.
"You ready?" he turned and asked Adam, who shook his head. Connor handed Ethan the bio scanner he carried.
"I don't have a choice," Adam replied. "Could you three morph first? I don't want to do this without taking every precaution," he stated. It was partially true. The other part was that he didn't want to see their faces. He was scared enough as it is. Rocky nodded, and the three of them morphed, leaving Adam staring at two blue rangers and a red one. He sighed and nodded once, before walking into the circle of stones that Ethan had set up. He turned back to face the rangers, trying to keep the fear out of his eyes. He was willingly allowing himself to be turned evil. And he was doing it without the guarantee that he could be turned back.
"You're sure about this?" Rocky asked his friend, for the first time outwardly mirroring Connor's concern. He hadn't wanted Adam to know how worried he was before. Adam nodded once.
"Rocky," he stated, struggling to keep his voice even. "Please do your best to explain it to Tanya? And don't bring her here. Don't let her see me," he told his best friend. Rocky nodded and swallowed his emotions. "I don't know what I'm going to say or do," Adam added in, casting his eyes to the floor of the cave.
"We won't take any of it personally," Connor assured him.
"Billy will find a way to get you all back," Rocky added in and Adam attempted a weak smile. It didn't last long.
"Let's get this over with," Adam told them, and Rocky stepped forward, extending his hand and flipping it over so that it was palm up, revealing the piece of the rock he'd taken with him. It glowed red every few moments. Adam stared at it, but the other three didn't rush him. They understood the risk he was taking and the sacrifice that went with it. "What's going to happen?" he asked, casting his eyes away from the stone and to Rocky's helmet covered face. His hand that he'd extended to touch the rock withdrew.
"It'll throw you backwards, probably," Rocky told him. "As soon as you're unconscious, Connor will contact Haley to activate the force field around you. You won't be able to get out. My guess is you'll come to pretty quickly. At that point, Ethan will scan you with the bio scanner and he and Connor will get the info back to Billy."
"You need to go too," Adam told him. "You promised you'd explain it to Tanya."
"I don't want to leave you," Rocky told him sternly.
"And I don't want you to stay," Adam stated, he insisted. "Promise me you'll go," he added in. Rocky took a deep breath, considering his friends words and then nodded slowly. Adam swallowed and exhaled sharply, frowning and reaching his hand forward again towards the rock. He hesitated for a brief moment, before allowing his fingertips to brush against the hard stone surface.
Rocky was right. The rock flashed bright red and thrust Adam backwards. He hit the back wall of the cave and slid down, but otherwise stayed within the confines of the force field devices. Rocky instantly wrapped his fingers back around the stone and withdrew his hand.
"Now Haley," Rocky heard Connor state behind him. He didn't turn to look at the red ranger. Instead he crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched an electrical looking force appear between each of the three points on the triangle that Ethan had set up, completely circling Adam. He took a few deep breaths, searching signs that Adam was still alive. He pin pointed the rise and fall of his friend's chest, and let out a sigh of relief, stood, and turned to face Ethan and Connor. Connor was leaned back against the cave wall, while Ethan stood a bit closer, turning the bio scanner on.
"He's alive," Rocky stated, and Connor nodded. Rocky could tell from his stance that the teenage red ranger was anxious. If he was truthful with himself, he was too. He turned back around to watch Adam.
The three rangers didn't have to wait long. Within seconds, Adam began to stir, quietly. He flexed his finger tips and pushed himself into a sitting position, clutching his head in his hands. Connor stepped away from the wall, walking closer to Rocky and Ethan, instantly dropping himself into a defensive position. Rocky glanced at him, but didn't shift his stance to mirror the teenagers. He turned his focus back onto Adam, as the unmorphed ranger stood up slowly, using the cave wall to help steady himself.
"Adam?" Rocky spoke gently, trying to get his attention. Adam shook his head and rubbed his hand over his face, blinking his eyes a few times. He turned his head towards Rocky's voice, and zeo ranger three saw recognition flash briefly in his gaze before his eyes fell into a deep glare, and he charged forward, only to hit the force field and be driven backwards.
"Let me out of here!" Adam yelled, moving back towards the force field. He pounded his fists against it, trying to beat his way free. "Let me out," he added, his volume increasing. Rocky took a step back, disturbed by the pure hatred he saw in Adam's eyes.
"Scan him," Rocky commanded Ethan, turning away from his friend. Ethan nodded and took a single step closer to the imprisoned former ranger. Adam snapped his head to the side to glare at Ethan as he raised the scanner.
"Get that damn thing away from me you waste of human existence," Adam growled, lunging toward the teenage blue ranger. Externally, Ethan ignored him. Internally, he was nervous. Even angry, he'd never seen Adam so explosive before. He knew it was the rock's doing, but it still freaked him out. "When I get out of here, you'll all wish you were dead," Adam shouted, flicking both of his wrists, and glaring when his zeonizers didn't appear.
"Took those away from you, remember," Rocky told him, his voice flat and even. Adam snarled in response.
"You're going to die first," Adam told him. "Or maybe I'll kill Katie and Luke and make you watch," he stated, reigning in his temper slightly. He curled his lip in a slight smirk, noticing the tensing of Rocky's body. He couldn't see Rocky's face, but he knew he'd struck a nerve. Adam continued to ignore Ethan who was still scanning him, and focused solely on Rocky. "You wouldn't like that, now would you Rocko?" he asked him, with a bit of a sadistic laugh.
"You won't get a chance, Adam," Rocky replied calmly.
"You keep telling yourself that," Adam stated. "I was a ranger longer than you," he added. "You know I'll find a way out of here. You know I'll come after them. I can hear Katie's screams now. 'Daddy Ranger help me'," Adam mocked, his eyes dark and cold.
"Enough," Connor commanded, stepping up beside Rocky and placing his hand on Rocky's shoulder, trying to lend his friend as much support as he possibly could. It hadn't taken Adam long to identify Rocky's weakness. He understood now why Adam had refused to let Rocky stay alone. "Just shut up. You're not getting out of there until we say so," Connor growled at him.
Adam laughed cynically in response, shaking his head. "Ooooo… the red ranger is just so scary. Maybe I should do what he says," Adam taunted, snickering. Connor sighed and turned his attention to Ethan.
"You get the scan, Ethan?" he asked, ignoring Adam.
"Just finished," Ethan replied. "Thanks for distracting him to get him to hold still," he added with a laugh. Adam whirled around, glaring at him.
"You?" Adam growled.
"Yep," Rocky stated. "Distracted you long enough to get what we needed," he added, smirking slightly beneath his helmet. He was glad Adam had suggested they morph. He didn't need anyone to see how pale he was due to Adam's suggestions of killing Katie and Luke. Adam snarled, banging his fists on the force field again.
"Assholes," he cursed.
"Language Adam," Rocky taunted. "There are children present," he snorted a laugh, indicating Ethan and Connor. Both teenagers snickered, remembering the last time Rocky had scolded Adam for his use of a swear word. "We'll be back to check on you soon," he told his friend. "You just sit tight," he added, turning his back on him and walking out of the cave. Ethan and Connor followed after him.
"You won't get away with this!" Adam shouted. "I will kill you!" he insisted.
The three rangers ignored him, and put as much distance between themselves and Adam as they could before they powered down. Rocky, still effected by the zeo transformation, leaned forward, palms on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Connor looked him over, seeing the despair in his eyes.
"That wasn't Adam," Connor told him. "You know that, right," he added in and Rocky nodded reluctantly. He leaned further forward, bracing himself on a tree and heaved, the contents of his stomach coming up. Connor and Ethan stepped back, giving him the space he clearly needed. After a few minutes, Rocky stood up and wiped his mouth on the bottom of his shirt. "You good?" Connor asked him.
"Yeah," Rocky stated, his face still slightly pale. "Listen, when we get back," he told the two teenagers.
"You do the talking," Ethan nodded. "We won't tell them anything," he added in. Connor nodded agreement.
Rocky nodded once, and began the rest of the walk back to the command post. He stopped just outside the entrance and looked over his shoulder at Connor who sighed and nodded.
"Haley," Connor spoke into his wrist, "let us in," he commanded. The three rangers heard a slight hiss, and passed through the entrance, before the hiss repeated and they knew they were sealed in. Connor led the way into the heart of the command area, not surprised to find Tanya and Aisha both downstairs, looking distressed. Rocky walked past both of them and went to the bio chamber, slipping the rock he'd taken to turn Adam back inside it. He hadn't wanted to leave it any place where Billy might have accidentally come across it.
"It worked?" Billy asked Rocky, who nodded once and cast his eyes to the ground.
"What worked?" Aisha asked, upset in her voice. "Rocky? Where were you? Where's Adam? Haley and Billy wouldn't tell us anything."
"I promised Adam I'd explain," Rocky stated, looking at Aisha and Tanya. "I'm glad Billy didn't tell you. You both might want to sit down," he told them. Both women frowned at him, and moved toward the sofa. Ethan handed Billy the bio scanner, before taking the third seat at the computers between him and Haley. There was a lot of data to work through, and the sooner they got started working on a cure, the better Ethan would feel.
"Mommy?" a small voice echoed from upstairs just as Aisha, Tanya, and Rocky began to take seats. Aisha frowned, and moved to stand back up.
"I'll get her," Connor told them, moving towards the stairs. "You all might be down here a while," he added in and Rocky nodded his thanks. Connor nodded once and disappeared up the stairs to go keep Katie occupied. Aisha looked back at Rocky, trying to interpret the look on his face. She felt her stomach sink.
"What happened?" she asked him.
"We're pretty sure Mesogog has Kimberly again," Rocky began, sighing. Neither woman said anything, but their faces did pale slightly. "So there's a safe bet that we've got four evil rangers, well, three powered and one unpowered, coming after us. But Billy thinks there might be a way to reverse it."
"That's good, isn't it?" Tanya asked and Rocky nodded, casting a quick glance over his shoulder at the three working at the computers. Billy wasn't paying attention to their conversation, and he was glad of that.
"Yes," Rocky told her, "but to be sure, we all agreed that he needed a way to test his cures. He needed more data in order to make it truly functional."
"More data?" Aisha asked, searching her husband's face for an answer that wasn't the one she'd already reached.
"He didn't," Tanya stated, shaking her head in disbelief. "Rocky, please tell me Adam didn't volunteer."
"I can't Tanya," Rocky told her.
"You let him?" she shouted, a few tears pushing their way to her eyes. "You let him sacrifice himself?"
"He's not dead," Rocky told her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her as close to himself as he could. "I promise you that."
"Where is he? I want to see him," she told him, but Rocky shook his head and pushed her back slightly so that he could meet her tear filled gaze.
"No," he told her. "You don't want to see him like this, trust me. Besides, he made me promise I'd keep you away," Rocky added. "He did this willingly to help save Tommy, Trent, Kira, and Kim. I'm not going to break my promise to him."
"And what if there is no cure?" Tanya practically sobbed out. "What then?"
"Adam had faith in Billy. We have to as well," Rocky told her.
"Is he ok?" Aisha asked her husband, nodding slightly at his statement about Billy. She wrapped her arms around Tanya, who had cast her eyes to the floor, her tears falling quietly.
"Physically," Rocky told her. "He's safe. Not being here was his idea," Rocky added. "He didn't want us or the kids to be in danger," Rocky explained.
"Of course he wouldn't," Tanya muttered, shaking her head. "The sacrificial idiot," she added. "I should have known he'd do something like this. The man nearly killed himself to help Carlos get his confidence back," she stated more to herself than to anyone else in the room. "When do you go back to check on him?" she asked Rocky.
"As soon as Billy's got something, or around dinner time," he told her. "Whichever comes first," he stated. "And no, you're not coming. Neither of you," he told them. "I meant what I said." Both woman sighed and nodded. Rocky's look told them that he was not going to argue with them about it. Rocky just nodded once, standing and leaving Aisha to comfort Tanya. He knew she'd do a better job of it than he would. He walked over to Billy and leaned on the desk.
"Billy, they're all counting on you to fix this," he told him.
"I know," Billy replied simply, not taking his eyes off the computer screen.
I wanted to explain why this is my favorite chapter. First reason, as I've said before, Adam is my favorite character. He always has been since I was a kid. Quiet shy rangers could be heroes, so could I. Anyway, aside from that, it was a very emotional chapter to write. He's not going to die, but he still had to willingly sacrifice himself for his friends. If Billy fails, he's stuck like that and he knows it, as does everyone else. So lots of emotion in there. I like emotion better than I like action.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts and feelings in your reviews. As always I love reading them. Oh, and after this, there are only 4 more chapters. The story will end at Chapter 50.
Fateless
