Ranger In Wonderland
Chapter 8 – Thought of Me

"You think Queen Mirana is safe with him?" Shelby asked Kendall as they strode the corridors of Mamoreal.

"Heckyl is a nasty piece of work but they have him restrained and injured, it's unlikely he's a threat right now. Still hate it," Kendall added tersely.

"I wish we could contact the team," the pink ranger bemoaned.

"Knowing Sledge, he's probably keeping them busy but they'll come looking for us soon. Who knows what the time differential is between here and there? We should ask Alice."

They rounded a corner and Shelby threw out her arm to them, "Wait!" she whispered.

"I thought when you said you were pledged…"

"My dear, dear Alice, how could it be to anyone but you?"

Alice and Hatter were tucked into nearby pillar, embracing each other with such contentment that it warmed the rangers. "I missed you so much Hatter." Alice murmured in his chest, arms wrapped around his waist. "We must have met in the garden of dreams for tea every night for years and years."

"Aye sweet Alice," Hatter cradled her head. "Scarce was a moon-day that I didn't have tea and cake with you. You know sometimes I could still taste the sugar and cream upon waking. Mother warned me to stop ruining my breakfast." The pair giggled.

"Oh Tarrant, I'm so afraid."

"Of what?"

"Once we vanquish these monsters, I'll have to leave you again. I don't want to leave. Not ever. I have nothing left for me in my world. I've answered all my questions except one. Why is a heart like a hat?"

"I haven't the faintest idea," Hatter smiled. "As for your leaving, we won't know until we know and once we do, we'll figure out what to do. You mustn't dwell in future Alice, Time is not fond of it. Live in the Now sweetling as you are meant to."

"I'll try."

The girls shared a morose look and backed away to give them their privacy. "I hope she can stay," Shelby said quietly. "She's waited for Hatter for decades."

"Close to a century," Kendall murmured. "Our world is so different from everything she knew. But here, at least she'd have him. She knows this place. It's probably more familiar to her than the over world could ever be."

"I'm worried about the others too," Shelby added. "With us gone, I don't think Sledge and cronies would just leave them alone."

"Hopefully with all the main players here, if they do try something it won't be so bad," Kendall pinched her nose. "I wish we could get in touch with them. We could use the back up down here."

"Can't leave the surface exposed either."

"That's true. Look, we can't focus on that right now. We need to deal with Sledge and keep Underland safe. The guys have got this."

Amber Beach…

At first, they thought it was just bad luck. The girls leave and the Spikeballs and some random monster from Sledge's collection show up. Clearly this had no forethought put into the monster. It was a toaster oven monster of all things. Having two less hands in the field was definitely felt but they managed to hold their own. The monster went down first then the Spikeballs. All in a day's work.

"Phew glad that's over," Chase commented.

"I just can't wait for the girls to come back," Tyler stretched. "Lucky we didn't have to use the zords."

"Yeah kinda weird isn't it?" Riley frowned. "I mean think about it logically. Every single other fight we've had, the monster always comes back bigger. Why not this time?"

"Maybe Sledge didn't want to waste the power on that one. I mean come on," Chase scoffed. "A toaster oven? Why on Earth would Sledge want to use that in the first place? At least the other ones made sense lick of sense."

"But not this time. That's exactly my point. Something's changed." The boys shifted uneasily.

"We call Miss Morgan and Shelby," Koda proposed.

"Good idea," Ivar nodded. He used communicator to try and contact them. "Miss Morgan, Shelby, are you there?"

Silence.

Oh no…

"Shelby," Tyler tried on his, "It's Tyler, can you hear me?"

More silence.

"Oh god where are they?"

"I think I know." Riley was staring down at his cell phone, ashen-faced. He looked up at them with absolute terror and dread.

"What is it? What's going on?" Chase urged.

Riley opened his mouth but no words could come out. He just pressed play and turned his phone so the others could see a news clip of a reporter standing in front a destroyed building.

"No bodies have been recovered at this time. The Ascot estate, as many know, is the historical second home of famed turn-of-the-century tradeswoman Alice Kingsleigh. It is shame to see such an important part of Britain's destroyed so brutally."

"Are we certain that no one was caught in the wreckage?"

"There are rumours that there was supposed to be a business meeting of sorts happening regarding the estate collection however thus far, we cannot confirm such a meeting was taking place and if it did, if anyone was even present. The Yard is currently investigating, and we will be here to provide updates as they are given out. This is Carla Brenner for Sky News."

"Thanks Carla."

The clip ended and the boys were free fall. "No, no, no, no, no," Chase stuttered. "This not happening."

"If Sledge followed them to England…"

"No bodies found…"

"Okay," Tyler tried to pull himself together. "Okay. Ivan, call Prince Philip and tell him we need to get to London ASAP. Ms. Morgan and Kendall's lives are in danger."

"On it," Ivan went off to the side to call.

"Tyler even if we left right now, it's still a 10-12-hour flight," Riley stressed. "If they're in trouble…"

"It's our option right now," Tyler said gravely. "Listen everyone, while Ivan is setting up the plane, go home and pack a bag. We'll meet back here in an hour." The team dispersed.