Authors note: Just a special little shout out to two of my loyal readers. Brankel1 and zmonsta, both who have followed my stories from my very first chapter. I appreciate you guys for investing your time in reading and reviewing the stories I love to write. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Back to the beginning.
Chapter 8: First blood.
"Jason, what are we going to do?"
Tommy stared at the horde of putty patrollers marching towards them, still a way away, past the parking lot, but he could already hear them. Their nonsensical babbling was a sound they all never thought they would hear again. To make matters even worse, Scorpina and what appeared to be, a giant, silver Goldar, were tailing them.
Jason looked around the Bulkmeier's parking lot, and to his horror, he saw flanks of even more putties on either side. "There's no way out apart from going back inside."
"But, that would put the guys inside at risk." Zack commented.
"Exactly. So we have no option but to fight through." Jason responded.
"I don't like our chances." Tommy said, glancing in front of him and shielding Kat with his arm. The putties were now, only metres away.
Kimberly's grip tightened on Jason's hand, as other couples did the same with their partners.
Jason glanced to his left, and then to his right. The putties were a lot thinner on both sides.
"Man, what do we do?" Rocky said behind Adam.
"You do nothing Rocky. Not with your back." Adam replied, waving away his friend's protests
"Guys, the number in front of us is too large. But the ones on the sides is much smaller." Jason glanced at Tommy. "Do you have any morphers?" He asked him.
"Just the one." Tommy tapped his left wrist "You?"
Jason sheepishly smiled and lifted up his shirt to reveal his old power morpher attached to his belt. "We need to split in to two groups. One of us take the ones on the right, the other takes the ones on the left. We will have to fight through the flanks on either side and get out of here pronto."
"Yeah. I'll take the Zeo team and take the right. You take the originals and hit the left." Tommy replied.
"Sweet." Jason looked to his old team. "You guys okay with that?"
"I don't have a better plan." Kimberly responded.
"Yeah. Let's do this." Zack said.
"Affirmative" Billy said rather uncomfortably.
"Right." Jason replied, turning to Tommy once more. "We need to morph and protect everyone as much as we can."
Tommy nodded his head and morphed into the red zeo ranger, as Jason quickly morphed into the original red ranger and both led their respective teams to their sides.
"Kim. Stay close to me." Jason said, running over to the left, getting ready to combat the thirty or so putties ahead of them.
"I will." Kimberly let go of his gloved hand and got into the fighting stance.
"Guys, we all stay tight together. Don't take on too many, let me do most of the work." Jason said to his friends who all acknowledged his words with a nod.
"Here they come." Jason felt the suit, wrapped around his body, give him a surge of adrenaline, he felt its power course throughout his entire body.
The putties swarmed the original mighty morphin power rangers who reacted pretty well. They stuck close together as they defended the puttie's familiar yet simple attacks.
Zack defended a punch with his forearm and kicked a putty in its midsection, sending it flying backwards, and followed that up with a right uppercut to one putty, and an overhand left haymaker to another. He spun around on his heels and lowered himself to sweep the legs out of a putty attacking his wife.
"Thank you, Mr. Taylor." Trini said, crunching the fallen foe's face with her foot. She quickly straightened up and called on her chi. She stayed calm and focused on her breathing, bringing energy to flow through her body.
Time seemed to slow down for her, she planted her legs on the ground and used the karate stance heiko-dachi, and sent straight karate punches to each of the five putties in front of her, knocking them down like bowling pins.
"Damn baby. You still got it," Zack said to his wife, turning around and taking down two more putties with a capoeira kick.
Billy was faced with four putties, babbling away, throwing punches which were easily dodged by the former blue ranger. He thought back to all the karate lessons he had taken with Jason and the numerous times he practiced the power punches. He moved out of the way of a kick directed to his face and stuck out a sharp right cross which landed hard onto the putties' jaw.
Another putty grabbed him from behind and lifted him up, Billy quickly swung his head back and connected with his captors face with a headbutt, who landed on the floor with a thud. Billy watched on as Trini and Zack took out the remaining two putties.
"That's IT clay brain!" Kimberly shouted after completing her cartwheel to make space between her and her five grey attackers.
The putties broke rank and one came running at her. The former pink ranger did the splits and landed a hard punch to the Putties groin (a move she learnt playing lots of Mortal Kombat in her youth). She got up and smoothly performed a handstand. She then wrapped her feet around another putties head and yanked hard, causing its neck to snap and then the putty was thrown to the side with a hip toss.
Three remained, and they began to circle her. She quickly glanced at her friends but they were all busy fighting their own battles. She twisted her head around and saw Jason battling at least ten enemies at once. I can do this. She thought. She took a big deep breath and ducked as a punch came towards her. She came up with an uppercut, knocking out the putty and followed with a kick to the midsection of the second evil foot soldier. "Just one left." She mumbled to herself. To her own amazement. She gracefully jumped up into the air and aimed flying kick to her last remaining enemy who looked stunned before being taken out by the kick.
Jab, straight, uppercut, spinning back kick. Jason took out two putties in one go. He was throwing combos left, right and centre at the circle of putties surrounding him. He didn't feel threatened. He felt very comfortable. The ranger powers soaring through his body, giving him the strength and confidence, he was displaying. He dispatched the rest of the clay soldiers with ease. The last one taking a spinning heel kick to the face. The red ranger proudly glanced at his teammates who were taking out the remaining putties with a flourish.
"Sih, Sih, siyaaaa" Tommy shouted, using his extraordinary zeo powers to take out the putties in front of him. Leg sweep, flying kick, block, counter, spinning back kick.
Adam quickly dragged a putty away from Rocky who was struggling to fight the three putties in front of him. But Adam was busy, engaged in battle with his own set of putties. He had to hurry. And hurry he did.
Adam executed a flurry of rapid punched to the putties in front of him, whilst dazed, he finished them off with a side kick to each of their faces and hurriedly made his way to Rocky.
Tanya and Kat stuck close together. Making sure they were facing their enemies head on. They took out the putties one by one with excellent strikes to varying parts of their silvery grey bodies.
"That's the last of them," Adam said, putting his arm around his best friend.
"Thanks bro," Rocky replied, having successfully taken out a number of putties himself.
Tommy glanced back and saw Kat and Tanya finish off the rest of the foot soldiers. "Well done guys. Now we can get out of here." He said to them.
"Tommy. They're going towards the youth centre." The Red zeo ranger heard Jason's cry and twisted his head around to see that he was correct, though he did get the establishment's name wrong. The putties were in the parking lot of Bulkmeier's and were going towards the entrance. Scorpina were stood behind them, barking orders. The rangers couldn't make a run for it now. The innocent civilians inside were at risk.
The mighty morphin power rangers ran to the Zeo rangers as fast as they could.
"Guys, would you be able to defeat the putties whilst me and Tommy battle Scorpina and that other beast?" Tommy said, looking at his friends.
"Yeah, you bet." Was Zack's response, the rest of the group agreed.
"No matter what. Don't let them inside. There's innocent people in there." Jason said with urgency in his voice.
"We won't." Adam responded.
"We'll give it our all." Trini added.
Kimberly smiled at Jason who smiled back, though you couldn't tell from his helmet hiding his face. Kimberly was still in awe that she was watching him in his red ranger suit again.
"You guys better hurry," Jason said, the group watching nervously as the horde were nearly at the entrance to the building with the two large monsters behind them, staring at the rangers, preparing for attack.
The former rangers ran to foil the evil plan. "Look out for Kim for me bro." Jason whispered to Zack as his best friend ran past him and nodded. "And protect Rocky." Jason shouted after them.
"You ready for this bro?" Tommy said through his helmet.
"Hell yeah. Just like the good old times huh?" Jason responded.
"Yeah. And I thought I'd have a relaxing thanksgiving back in Angel grove." Tommy said as he and Jason briskly walked over to a patch of grass towards their two opponents who both had their weapons raised.
"It wouldn't be Angel Grove without the action though would it." Jason said, but was interrupted by the beast clad in silver.
"So, you two are Tommy and Jason huh?" He eyed them from top to bottom and smiled. "I was expecting much more."
"Well, I guess you won't expect it when we kick your ass" Jason said calmly now, a mere metre or so away from the beasts.
"Why would you strike my posterior?" Silverback said, looking to Scorpina for answers.
"It's a term these humans use, it means they think they are going to defeat us." She explained, her sharp and pointy sword raised.
"Oh, so you're not from around here are you." Tommy said.
"What's the deal with him Scorpina. We know what a snivelling little creature you are. But who is he? He looks like Goldar, but bigger." Jason asked, his hand silently hovering over his blade blaster.
Before Scorpina could answer, Silverback spoke up in a booming, intimidating growl. "I am the mighty Silverback. The last of the warriors of Persifca. The most feared warrior in the Andromeda galaxy. And the brother of the man I told you not to name."
Silverback swung his huge sword at Jason who nimbly dodged.
"You dropped us in it this time." Tommy replied, quickly ducking away from a stab of the sword from Scorpina.
"Power sword!" Shouted the red mighty morphin power ranger with his arm raised up towards the sky. The power sword loyally appeared right into his open palm like it had never left.
"Star riser!" Tommy shouted, his very own sword appearing into his outstretched hand.
"You ready?" Jason asked his friend, preparing himself for Silverback's attack.
"You bet'cha."
"There's too many of them." Kimberly shouted, finally defeating the putty that had almost rocked her just a few seconds ago.
"We can't give up yet." Zack responded, taking out three grey golems with a series of side kicks before being cracked on the side of the head by a grey fist.
"We have no other option. We have to succeed" Adam added, taking out two putties of his own. "Rocky behind you."
Rocky turned to see a putty so close to his face, a passer-by would have thought they were making out. "Hiiiiyaaah." Rocky shouted, headbutting the putty and sending him to the floor with a following knee to the stomach.
"Are you okay bro?" Adam asked him.
"I'm fine, don't know about Billy though."
They turned around to see Billy surrounded by a group of blabbering putty patrollers. They wasted little time and ran to their friend to assist him.
Left hook, right uppercut, spinning back fist. Rocky was able to take out three of them in quick succession with his limited move set.
Body kick, spinning hook kick, jumping knee, and a corkscrew taekwondo kick to the fourth putty.
Billy took the opportunity to finish off the remaining three putties. "You little clay heads spoiled my evening. TAKE THIS!"
Billy leapt up into the air and did the splits in mid-air, knocking two putties on the chin with his foot, rendering them unconscious. The remaining putty was left scratching his head, but was soon met by three combined side head kicks from the three rangers.
"Thank you, guys." Billy clasped hands with his two friends and they looked ahead of them to see more putties approaching them
"Take this you hideous play-doh face." Kimberly shouted, landing a perfectly placed head kick to the puttie's skull.
"Kimberly. We have to help Kat and Tanya." Trini shouted, laying waste to the putties that had previously attacked her.
Kimberly nodded and they ran to help Kat and Tanya.
"Huh. Oh no not these things again."
Zack turned around and saw Bulk and skull peeking their heads out of the door of Bulkmeier's. "Guys, go back in.".
"Why is it, that every time these things attack. You guys are in the middle of it?" Bulk asked.
"Yeah." Skull couldn't help himself and went back into old habits.
"Trust me, I ask myself that all the time. You guys need to get to safety." Zack said, holding onto a putty that came into his path.
"But we wanna help," Bulk confessed.
"Yeah, we wanna help."
Zack choked out the putty who fell to the floor. "Yes, you're right. We need you to go back inside and is there a way out from the back?" he watched as Bulk nodded. "Good, lock all the doors, take everyone and lead them to safety. Can you do that?"
"Hell yeah we can." Bulk replied.
"Thank you guys."
"Oh, and Zack."
"Yeah?"
" Look behind you!" Bulk screamed, running back inside with Skull and locking the door.
Zack turned to see a battalion of putties heading his way.
Jason dug his sword into the ground to help him back to his feet.
"Have you had enough, worthless human?" Silverback said with a howl of laughter.
"Nope. Not just yet, monkey." Jason got to his feet, his helmet dented and his abdomen aching from the hard kick of Silverback.
"I will admit, you do have heart, human. But that will not save you." Silverback stated, proceeding forward once more.
Jason slid under the monsters' legs and connected with a tornado kick right to his opponents lower back, causing him to fall to one knee.
"Have you become weak Tommy, or have I become stronger?" Scorpina teased the red zeo ranger after she sent him crashing to the floor for the third time with a vicious stab of her sword.
"I'm just out of practice." Tommy replied, gingerly getting to his feet once more.
"Well, this isn't practice, this is the moment where your life ends." Scorpina rebutted, lifting her sharp sword for another attack.
"I don't think so." Tommy mumbled to himself, charging his sword and shooting a blast at Scorpina hitting her square in the chest and leaving her unresponsive on the ground.
He's beatable. I can do this. Jason said to himself, preparing for a lunge with his sword. He charged forward and thrust the sword, missing Silverback's head by mere inches.
"Finally, someone to give me a bit of a challenge. You are good red ranger, but not good enough." Silverback stated, defying his size and quickly darting towards Jason. Jason tried to move but he just couldn't. Silver back's sword slashed at the red ranger. Hitting his chest multiple times, causing it to spark and damaging its armour. Jason fell to the floor from the force of the blows. His body almost in shock and his helmet cracked from the hilt of his adversary's sword crashing into helmet. His head was buzzing and he was staring into darkness. Trying with all of his might to stay awake.
"This is the end for you red ranger. This one is for my brother." Silverback raised his sword above Jason's prone body and lunged it downwards towards his heart.
Swoosh
A blast of energy blew the sword out of the Persifcan's hand and away from Jason.
"Not just yet Sylvia." Tommy shouted, his own sword raised, running towards the weapon-less Silverback.
"How dare you." He growled, malicious intent in his eyes.
Tommy regretted his tenacity because Silverback used his brute strength to grab the red zeo ranger into an inconceivably powerful bear hug forcing him to drop his weapon. Tommy felt his insides being crushed like a tomato, he felt all of the oxygen being squeezed out of his lungs. If it wasn't for his ranger suit, he knew that his ribs would have been turned to dust. He glanced in front of him at Jason who was not moving. Tommy tried with all of his might to break the grip but he couldn't. He was starting to black out. Was this is it? Was this the end?
"Let him go you overgrown monkey!"
A wonderful but aggressive Australian accent reverberated throughout the parking lot. Putty patrollers bodies were littered around everywhere, with hardly anywhere to move but the rangers made their way past them.
Silverback looked up to see eight ex power rangers stood facing the him. Though they were covered in scrapes and bruises, they were stood there with unfaltering conviction. He couldn't believe their tenacity.
"Put him down!" Kat shouted.
"Or what?" Silverback chuckled.
"Or else, you will feel the force of the OG rangers kicking your butt." Zack answered
"Why are you humans so obsessed with my behind?" Silverback said, throwing down Tommy onto a nearby bush and raising his fists, ready to destroy the rangers in front of him.
The original rangers and zeo rangers stuck together and walked up to the powerful warrior.
"You should prepare yourself to be vanquished." Billy announced.
"You mess with one power ranger, you mess with us all." Adam added.
The team surrounded Silverback and attacked him in one collective effort. Each ranger raining down punches, kicks, elbows, knees, everything and anything they could do to inflict damage on the beast in front of themm
Silverback was taken down to one knee, the strikes continuing to rain down in his head and furry body. The rangers were putting in years of training to damage the alien monkey.
That was, until Scorpina sent a beam towards them all, which sent everyone flying backwards or onto the ground.
Silverback took advantage of the window of opportunity placed before him, to fight back. He sent Rocky tumbling down in immense pain with a powerful kick to the midsection.
He raised Tanya up from the throat and slammed her hard onto the ground, knocking her head onto the asphalt.
"Don't touch my girl, you hideous beast." Adam cried, running towards the Persifcan warrior.
"Hiiiiyaaah." Adam launched a series of strikes, most of them blocked by the giant Silverback who then countered with a brutal punch that disorientated the former zeo green ranger. Silverback prepared to finish him off but was stopped by Kimberly and Zack who desperately clung onto his arms.
"You will never win, Scorpina." Trini shouted at the golden arachnid in front of her. Trini glanced at Billy and Kat on her sides.
"The forces of evil will never triumph." Billy said.
"Good, will always prevail." Kat added.
"We shall see about that you pesky humans." Scorpina charged towards the rangers with her sword raised, ready to do some serious damage.
Billy with some clever thinking, picked up a broken car door from the floor and managed to unarm Scorpina, who instead kicked the former blue ranger hard in the stomach.
Trini quickly capitalised on Scorpina's diverted attention and picked up Scorpina's weapon. Kat landed a number of punches onto Scorpina's face and allowed Trini to attack with the sword, slashing at the evil alien's body and legs.
Scorpina landed on the floor with a thud as Billy got to his feet.
Silverback swatted away Zack and Kimberly, freeing up his arms which he used to punch Zack repeatedly, giving him a bust lip and a cut above the eyebrow then one final swing of the fist , knocking out the brave black ranger.
He then confronted a terrified Kimberly. "Oh, you're a pretty human. It's a shame I have to destroy you."
"Ewwww. Why do all you monsters have a thing for me?" She replied, raising her fists to defend herself.
Silverback attacked, he landed with a couple of hard strikes to her abdomen before grabbing her throat and lifting her up with one hand. "There will be nothing left of you after this." The giant space monkey opened his mouth to reveal a large set of menacing fangs. "I bet you'll taste extraordinary."
The rest of the rangers saw what was about to happen and ran towards Kimberly to save her, but they were too far away. They wouldn't make it.
Kimberly closed her eyes, terrified of what was to come.
Blast blast blast
A series of red blasts hit Silverback in the middle of his back and on his legs.
"Don't you ever, ever, touch my woman again you piece of shit." Jason was back up on his feet. His power sword in his right hand, Tommy's star riser sword in his left. He came charging at Silver back with ferocity, using both weapons to slash and strike at every inch of the monster's large frame causing cuts everywhere to open and seep blood. The red ranger didn't stop, he continued in a fit of rage and deepened the oozing cuts with more slashes.
"Aaargh." Silverback fell onto his knees, Jason kicked the monster repeatedly on the chest until Silver back finally fell onto the floor.
Jason lifted both swords and attempted to pierce the monsters chest but was stopped by the Silver back raising his arms and deflecting the blow.
"Rangers. You may have drawn first blood. You may think you have won, but this is far, far from over."
Scorpina stood up, her sword flying out of Trini's grip, once again in the possession of its owner. She faced the rangers and grinned. "This was just the start. And I wouldn't try anything if I were you. We have your yellow ranger. If you try anything, we will execute her without hesitation."
The rangers were confused. The yellow rangers were in front of them. Trini and Tanya. But their confusion didn't last long.
"Aisha!" Rocky cried, clutching his back in pain, though his face wore an expression with even more anguish. The rest of the group faces were adorned with horror at the revelation.
What happened next was very quick. Scorpina seemed to grab a hold of Silverback and the next second, they were gone. It happened so quickly, that Jason's swords pierced the ground instead of their intended target, Silverback's chest.
The moon
"What, why have you given up." Silverback growled, lifting himself up from the moon's surface.
"We need to recuperate Silverback." Scorpina replied putting her arm around him and keeping him steady.
"We could have defeated them." Silver back stated, regaining his composure.
"I told you those power punks aren't to be underestimated. They actually defeated our putties." Scorpina replied.
"Those putty patrollers are worse than the Tenga's!" Silverback scowled.
"Yes, they are. But that number of putties should've defeated the rangers without their powers." Scorpina surmised, thinking back to the bodies strewn all over the floor.
"And I should have ended the red rangers. I was so close to destroying that Tommy." Silverback growled.
"Prince Gasket told you to defeat them and then call him so he could end them himself..." Scorpina looked confused and tried to read her ally's face.
"Yes. That's what I was going to do." Silverback quickly retorted.
Scorpina studied his ghastly eyes once again. "Anyway, We're here." She said, opening the door to the moon Palace. "Prince Gasket will not be happy with this failure, but he knows how those rangers are. The little pests."
"I am ready to return to battle." Silverback stated, freeing himself from Scorpina's support.
"No Silverback. You must learn to trust me and to trust master's plan." Scorpina patted her friends' arm. "We shall wait and see what Prince Gasket says." The two soldiers made their way up to the Palace throne room to explain what had happened.
Angel grove
"Kimberly, you okay baby?" Jason laid down his swords, knelt down on the floor and gently stood up his fiancé, cupping her face in his gloved hands.
"Yes, thanks to you Rex." She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm no weenie you know. But it's great to see you do what you do best."
Jason shook his head. "What. Put my wife-to-be and my friends in danger?"
"What could you have done Jase. This was an assault." Zack retorted, being fussed over by his wife, Trini who was dabbing away at his cuts with a tissue she retrieved from her purse.
"An assault that was most unanticipated." Billy added, rubbing his knee.
"Hey rocky, how are you doing." Adam asked, his arms wrapped around his shaken girlfriend Tanya.
"Forget about me man. What're we gonna do about Aisha?"
"Guys, He isn't moving."
The rangers were quickly distracted by a loud shriek behind them.
Tommy was laid motionless atop a crumpled bush on the outskirts of the parking lot with Kat kneeled over him.
They all ran towards their fallen friend as quickly as their sore bodies allowed them.
"Administer mouth to mouth CPR Kat." Billy said. "Do not touch his chest or body. We don't know the damage that was caused."
Kat looked around and saw nobody but the rangers, so she undid the latches on the sides of Tommy's helmet and took it off.
The former pink ranger pinched her boyfriend's nose and blew into his mouth.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
"If you wanted to kiss me, you coulda just asked." Tommy opened his eyes and gave his girlfriend a weak smile.
"Don't you EVER scare me like that again Thomas Oliver." Kat shouted, slapping the grass they were laid on.
"Be careful Kat. I think I may have a broken rib." Tommy replied, clutching his abdomen.
"You should go to the hospital bro. Get checked over." Jason said, now powered down and holding Kimberly's hand.
"Yeah, you're right." Tommy offered his friend a smile. "Hold on." The red zeo ranger was helped to his feet by Kat and Jason and quickly de-morphed.
"Thank you, bro. You saved me back there." Jason told him.
"As usual." Tommy replied with a cheeky smile accompanied with a wince. "Man, Goldar's brother ain't no joke."
"You can say that again. He could be the strongest monster we've ever faced." Zack said.
"All of us combined couldn't take him out." Adam added.
"Guys. I have something that could help." Tommy said, looking at all the rangers stood around him with a wince as he turned his torso. "Let me get to the hospital and we'll meet up again. But we need somewhere private."
"There's our place." Zack offered.
"Too far out, we're all in bad shape, come to our place instead." Jason said, turning around to Zack and Trini. "And I think you guys should come over to our apartment and wait instead of going back to your place."
"Yes, it may be more manageable if we stayed within reach of each other." Billy explained. "In the case of further attacks, it will be beneficial if we were in close proximity to one another."
"Okay. I can't argue with that. Rest up and I'll be in contact soon and update you all." Tommy told his friends, being guided towards his car which Kat would drive and get him to Angel Grove Hospital.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Jason asked.
"No thank you, I'm in safe hands." Tommy answered, glancing at his girlfriend.
"Okay. Take care bro. If you need anything, just call me." Jason shouted after him, receiving a weak thumbs up in response.
"Guys. How are you all?" Jason asked the remaining group.
"I believe that Zack and Tanya got pretty banged up." Adam answered, turning around to his best friend. "And this will have been tough on Rocky's back."
"Nah bro, it's just a cut. I'll be okay." Zack responded, Trini still tending to his injuries.
"I landed on my head. It's sore, but I'm okay." Tanya replied, putting her arm around Adam's waist and offering him a reassuring smile.
"Rocky?" Adam surveyed his friend carefully who was pacing around.
"Forget about me for God's sake. It's Aisha we gotta worry about. Why isn't anyone worried about her!" Rocky shouted, sounding much harsher than his usual, jolly self.
"We are worried bro and we will sort something out. Let's see what Tommy has up his sleeve and we'll think about the next steps." Jason looked each of his friends in the eye. "For all we know, Scorpina could be bluffing." He said in a hushed tone.
"We can't just risk that, Jason. She could be getting tortured by those evil bastards as we speak. Wish we could all just morph and get her out of there." Rocky retaliated rather loudly.
"Man, keep your voice down." Jason looked around carefully, making sure they were alone. "We don't know what's going on, but I promise you. I have never failed to fight for my friends before and I aren't going to start now, neither will the rest of us. We have never given up on each other." Jason said boldly.
"He's right Rocky. We never turn our backs on our friends. We will come up with a plan." Kimberly added, her hand still clutching Jason's.
Rocky nodded his head and walked over to his car.
"Guys, I'm really sorry. Since injuring his back and losing Aisha in his life. He's been feeling really down." Adam explained.
"No need to apologise Adam. We understand." Jason replied.
"Me and Tan better go see if he's okay. He might need a trip to the hospital too." Adam announced, waving his friends goodbye and walking over to Rocky.
"Man, that was some crazy shit." Zack said, putting his arms around Billy and Trini.
"You can say that again bro." Jason replied.
"Don't tell me you didn't enjoy morphing again though." Zack smirked at his best friend.
"Yeah, until I got pummelled by that big fucking monkey."
"Yeah, but in the end, you got the best of him and kicked his butt Jase." Kimberly stood onto her tiptoes and kissed her fiancé's cheek.
"Kimberly is correct Jason. You most certainly kicked his behind as he put it." Billy said with a grin.
"Man, it's almost as if we're getting off on this." Trini commented.
"It's been a long time." Jason smiled but it quickly faded away." I just hope Tommy and the rest of you are okay."
"Stop worrying about us all, you took some damage too Jason." Trini said.
"Yeah. You're right. But what the hell is going on. Who sent them, who made the putties? And Aisha, poor Aisha-"
Kimberly placed her palms on each of Jason's cheeks and turned his face directly opposite hers and stared into his eyes. "Jase, it'll be okay baby. Like you said, we will come up with a plan. Stop taking the responsibility for everything."
"She's right bro. And we will get to the bottom of this." Zack moved forward and gently tapped his best friends back.
"You're right. Look guys." Kimberly let go of his face and Jason looked around at his friends. "I think it's best if you guys stay at ours tonight. The guest room is full of boxes but the bed is free. We can sort out sleeping arrangements. I especially don't want you two separated from us." Jason pointed at Zack and Trini.
"I'm afraid I must go home. I've received numerous texts from marge, I'm putting her through enough heartache, I need to ensure she knows I'm safe." Billy said, waving his cell phone.
"I'm so sorry Billy. What a shit day for you." Trini told the former blue ranger, wrapping him in a cuddle.
"It worked out okay. I forgot all about my messed-up life." He responded with a smile.
"Keep your phone on Billy. We're literally around the corner if you ever need us." Jason said.
"I will. Let me know when Tommy gets out. See you later guys." Billy waved his friends goodbye and left in his blue Mercedes.
"We'll come down and wait with you at your place, and if it gets late, we'll stay over, but if this is all done quickly, we gotta head back home."
"That's cool brother." Jason replied.
"Why do you have to be a party pooper." Kimberly frowned.
"I gotta be at work tomorrow morning. All my stuff is at home." Zack grimaced, walking to his car. "At least we didn't have to beat monsters and then work back in the day."
"No, we just had to pass exams, do homework and work in the community instead." Kimberly said with a smile.
"Yeah, if we could do that, work will be child's play." Jason replied, getting into Zack car as they drove to Jason and Kim's apartment.
Once at the apartment, Jason and Kimberly helped Zack and Trini get comfortable in the guest room in case they stayed over and left them to lay down and rest for a bit.
"That was crazy." Jason said, closing the bedroom door and turning the lamp on.
"I know. What the hell is going on." Kimberly took off her pink socks and sat at the front of their bed. "Scorpina is back and she's brought along Goldar's bigger, meaner brother!"
Jason took a seat next to her and removed his t shirt. "I know, he's one tough SOB. And the putties! Who the fuck made them again?"
Kimberly shook her head, "I'm not sure. I just hope there's no big bad behind it all." She couldn't help but notice the bruise on the top of Jason's upper chest, right under the shoulder, which was almost glowing in the subtle glimmer from the lamp. She gently traced it with her fingers. "Oh no baby. Are you okay?"
Jason looked down at Kimberly's hand and smiled. "Hey I'm no weenie you know."
"Don't use my words against me." She gave him a gentle slap on the leg and smiled. "I'm glad I bought some peas that day. You can be the main course; they can be the side." She added with a wink.
"I'm okay you know Kim. It doesn't hurt."
"How many times have I heard that throughout our ranger days huh? Battle after battle, oh I'm fine. Oh I didn't get hurt. And then I find out you were covered in bruises. I'm not taking no for an answer.
Jason let out a little sigh and knew that Kimberly had made up her mind.
Kimberly came back in no time, clutching a large bag of frozen peas in her hand.
"What about you? I've checked your neck, there's no bruise but I know that bastard punched you on your tummy. Let me see." Jason said as Kimberly sat next to him on the bed.
"No, it's fine Jase. I feel fine." Kimberly didn't know why she was lying. Jason had always known when she was lying. This was no exception.
"Take off your shirt."
"Oooh naughty boy. I like it when you take charge." Kim said with a grin.
"Kim..."
"Okay, okay." Kimberly said with a sigh and slowly rolled up the pink shirt she was wearing and revealed a large bruise around her belly button.
"Oh no Kim." Jason grimaced when he saw the bruise. He slowly moved his hands towards her and unbuttoned her jeans.
"This is kinda hot you know." Kimberly said, her face almost touching Jason's as he laid his hands around her belt line.
"It is. And you smell amazing." Jason replied, brushing his lips down her neck as he moved lower.
"I don't, but." Kimberly gulped loudly. She still couldn't get used to how Jason made her feel. Goosebumps beginning to prickle her neck on the exact spot where he gently kissed her.
Jason quickly glanced at her and proceeded to slowly pull-down Kimberly's jeans to reveal that the bruise went a couple of inches below her belly button.
The red ranger prised the frozen peas out of Kimberly's hand and gently placed them onto her abdomen.
"But what about your-" Kimberly was stopped mid-sentence by Jason with a soft kiss on the lips. "Well, that's one way to shut a girl up. You're getting better at this." She smiled at him.
Jason looked into Kim's eyes with a slight sadness. "I love you Kim."
"I love you too, but what's wrong?" she replied, her lust being extinguished and replaced with worry.
Jason shook his head and bit his lip, he seemed very vulnerable to Kimberly in this moment which helped her relax but also making her heart tremble to see him like this. "I just, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something ever happened to you." Jason lowered his gaze down and stared at the bag of peas as though they just attacked his fiancé.
Kimberly pushed forward her head so both their foreheads were delicately touching. "Nothing gives me more confidence in my abilities and the belief that we will win, more than standing next to you in battle." She cupped his chin and lifted his face up so that their eyes met once more. "I remember when you left and Rocky or even Tommy couldn't fill that void you left in the team and in me." She offered him a little smile to combat the frown he had mixed into his expression. "I feel stronger and safer knowing that you're here, and that if I don't use everything you taught me over the years, Sensei Jason Lee Scott will kick my ass."
Jason's frown vanished and he let out a little chuckle. "Oh no, not Sensei Scott again."
Kimberly's mouth curved into a huge grin, happy to see him feeling better already. "Yes, sensei. I apologise for my cheekiness."
"And I'd never kick your ass. I might do other things to it though..." He said with a carnal smirk.
"Mmmm. What other things?" Kimberly's hunger for him growing again. The ice from the frozen peas began to trickle down her inner thigh. Or was it something else.
"I can't say. I'll just show you." Jason mumbled in a deep, gruff voice.
"Yes, please do show me. Now."
"I will. When you're rested up and the bruise doesn't hurt you."
"The bruise is on my belly Jase, not on my butt."
"I know. But I need you to rest up baby." Jason said, gently pushing her shoulders down onto the bed and then laying down next to her.
"But I can't. I need to offer our guests some food and drink. So we can have a quick display of what you have in mind."
"I'll order some pizza. You don't have to do anything, and we should wait until we are alone."
"Okay, but me and Trini need a girly chat too." Kimberly protested, still trying to get her way. She looked sideways at the Jason, who's masculine jawline was only highlighted by the shadows caused by the lamp. This
"About what?" Jason asked, innocently, his lips curved into a smile.
"That's why it's called a girly chat Jase. We don't tell boys." Kimberly traced her finger along Jason's jawline.
"Hmm. Okay." Jason said, kissing her fingers. "I'll go ask them what they want and I'll tell Trini to come in here? I don't want you getting up."
"Oh, stop it, I'm a big girl. It's only a little bruise. I'll come with you."
"But, your tummy."
"I'm fine Jase. I'll pull up my jeans and tuck the peas into them, they'll stay in place." Kimberly suggested. "But I think we will have to throw them away afterwards."
"Hell no. People use food in sex all the time. We'll just use the peas." Jason said with a grin.
"Yes, strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate Jason. Not peas. It's not very sexy." Kimberly replied with an amused chuckle, stealing a glance at Jason's lips as he moistened them with his tongue.
"Well, we shall never know until we try, I'll suck them out of your-"
"Shhhh. I think they're coming." Kimberly said, placing her hand over Jason's lips. Her whole mood now shifting into embarrassment. "Help me sit up please." She whispered, offering him her arm. Jason did as he was politely asked, and sat himself up too, both of them looking all innocent.
Knock knock
"Come in!" Jason and Kimberly said simultaneously, quickly glimpsing at each other.
The door creaked open and Trini popped her just head through, but not into the room itself. "Hey, I'm not interrupting, am I?" she asked.
"No." they said again, at the exact same time.
"I can come back later."
Kimberly quickly looked around the bedroom and once satisfied with the cleanliness and their presentation, " no, come inside Trini. We're just relaxing."
Trini pushed her head through further and into the room. "Zack is having a nap, and I was getting a bit bored."
"Zack is starting to behave like an old man isn't he." Jason chuckled." Come in Trini."
Trini opened the door as Jason and Kimberly scooted over to the side of the bed to make room for their friend.
"How are you two guys coping?" Trini asked, sitting down next to Kimberly.
"We're good, how are you and Zack?" Kimberly replied. Glancing at her jeans to make sure they were buttoned up properly.
"We're doing okay. Zack is a little roughed up but we're good."
"I'm sure we'll all feel better once we get some sleep tonight." Jason said.
"Yes. Definitely. It's not the first time." Trini said
"And it looks like it won't be the last." Jason took a big breath.
"Yeah. Crazy huh?" Trini asked
"Very. Angel Grove must be cursed." Kim said with a cynical laugh.
"Yeah. Maybe." Trini smiled at her friends. "But it's our cursed city. And it's our home."
"Too right. Trini, I was just about to order some pizza. Why don't you wake Zack up, we can get some food in us and chill a little?"
Moon palace.
"This could have been our only chance of getting then all at once!" Prince Gasket barked, punching his metallic leg out of anger.
"I know my Prince. Please forgive us. You know how pesky those rangers are." Scorpina carefully replied.
"I know that. But master is not happy at all." Gasket walked around the throne room at a relatively quick pace. "He was also very surprised that Silverback did not get the job done."
"I was very close Prince Gasket. I know that I alone can take out both Tommy and Jason." Silverback replied in his trademark low growl.
"Very close isn't enough. Master seems to rate you very highly Silverback."
"That's because master has seen first-hand, what I am capable of."
"Well, you are not capable of defeating a team of powerless rangers."
Scorpina quickly intervened, noticing the anger build up inside her fellow soldier. "Forgive me my Prince. But, you know how strong the rangers are. We were inches away from defeating them. Once we regroup, we can finish the job we started. We managed to injure many of them, they will be much weaker next time we attack."
"Be that as it may, we shall wait for master to devise our next move." Princess Archerina said from the throne she was occupying.
"Yes. Until then, go and wait patiently and learn from the mistakes you made today." Gasket dismissed his soldiers and made his way over to his wife.
"Do not be too harsh on them my darling." Archerina stood up to give her husband his seat on the throne and once again, sat on his lap. "After all, Scorpina is correct. We know how difficult it is to keep those awful rangers down."
"I know my dear, but Tommy will be going back to the miserable home he currently lives at. We may not get another opportunity like this one." Gasket replied.
"We will. We will make it happen if it does not occur naturally."
"Yes."
"And master is the best of planners. He has a few tricks up his sleeve yet."
"You are right my little snookums'. In the meantime, we shall continue to gather our powers and prepare to end those rangers for good!"
"I suppose you are going to see to your pet now." Silverback mumbled as he and Scorpina reached the staircase.
"Yes, but I shall be up to check on you soon." Scorpina replied.
"No need to check on me. I am fine."
Scorpina eyed her ally's cuts covering a large portion of his body. "Those need tending to. I have some brilliant ointment in my bag."
"Is there anything you do not have in your bag?" Silverback questioned.
"You'll be surprised." Scorpina made her way down the staircase. "Go rest in your chambers. I won't be long."
"I shall see you soon Scorpina."
"Yes, you shall." She replied.
Scorpina arrived at the dungeons and flung open the door.
"Oooh, what did you get me today?" Aisha stood up, slower than usual. Her energy levels very low.
Scorpina opened her bag and retrieved something from inside it and threw it through the cage bars at Aisha.
"Just fruit? I need something with more energy, I'm losing a lot of weight." Aisha said, opening the contents of the paper bag that was thrown at her.
"You are lucky to be even getting that you miserable Iittle human." Scorpina snapped.
"What's happened Scorpina?"
"Nothing! Be quiet before I remind you of your place." Scorpina drew her pointy sword and scraped it threateningly against the cage. "You should count yourself lucky that I don't beat on you anymore."
Aisha started to sob as she watched Scorpina exit the dungeons. She really believed that she had made progress with her captor, but something had changed. The hope that the former yellow ranger had, was now beginning to quickly falter. She wouldn't last much longer, and she knew it.
Angel grove
"Hey guys. Come in" Jason said, opening the door to Rocky, Adam and Tanya.
"Thank you, good sir." Tanya replied with a quick hug.
"Thank you, Jason." Said Adam with a little smile and fist bump, entering the apartment.
"Jase, I want to apologise for my reaction earlier." Rocky says, hanging at the door, wanting to make amends before he went inside.
"You have nothing to apologise for, dude." Jason replied.
"No, I do. My back was in agony and then learning about Aisha, it riled me up and I took it out on those closest to me." Rocky explained.
"Don't worry about it Rock. We're all upset, but determined to get her back. We know how much she means to you."
"Thank you, brother. I now know why Zordon chose you as the first ever leader of the power rangers."
"Thanks man. Come inside, I've saved you some pizza." Jason said with a smile.
"Damn, you know how to win a person's heart. Now I also know why Kim chose to marry you." Rocky said with a chuckle and a high five shared with his friend.
The rangers (excluding Tommy and Kat) all arrived at Jason and Kim's apartment. Some sat on the couches, and some stood up, and in Rocky's case, some eating some pepperoni pizza.
They didn't have to wait long before Tommy arrived and was ushered inside and onto sofa.
"What is the prognosis, Tommy?" Billy asked, leaning up against a wall.
"Fractured rib. It isn't too bad, I'll be okay in a couple of weeks." He replied.
"That's good to hear dude." Said Jason.
"What's with the bag bro?" Zack asked staring at the bag Tommy was holding, which looked like one of those brown money bags you see in classic films.
Tommy lifted the bag onto the coffee table in front of him. "This guys, this is the help we need."
Tommy opened the old looking cloth pouch and looked at his friends faces as he spilled the contents onto the table.
Everyone's jaws hit the floor at the sight of eight power morphers laid on top of Kimberly and Jason's coffee table. Power morphers that looked brand new. Power morphers that vibrated with energy that they all felt reverberate inside of them.
Phew. Action packed chapter hey guys? I hope you enjoyed it. There's much more to come in this story.
Please let me know if you liked it, and if you want me to make any improvements. I appreciate you guys so much.
RedDragon out.
Peace
