The Terrorist that Stole Christmas

By Didi

Disclaimers:  Characters are owned not be writer of this particular fan fiction.  Please do not sue me for I'm definitely not making any money off of this story and is for amusement only.

Warning:  Rated R for violence and strong language.   

Note:  This is my sequel to "What Lurks Beneath," where we learn much about the lives of our former Power Rangers as they rush to save the world from a creature out of their past.  Set eight months later, we face a new terror, of man-made this time.  The title should give it away some.

Age check:  Billy, Tommy, Jason- 28.   Adam, Rocky, Trini, Zack-27.  Aisha, Katherine, Tonya, Kimberly-26.  Justin – 20.

Author's Note:  This is my way of distracting myself when schoolwork becomes too much of a pain after a while.  The universe created here is not the same of the one in Saban so anything you think is strange just blame it on my imagination.  It would also help for you to read "What Lurks Beneath" where I first created this universe.  Sometimes I forget and add things from there, so it makes more since when you have the context from the other story to go on.  J

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Chapter One – And It Begins

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November 29, 2002 – 10:33 a.m. London Time

33 Grover Street – Trini Kwan's Residence

London, England

"Honey, are you ready?"  Jason called out as he grabbed the newspaper and a curious package from the front door.  "We're suppose to be there in an hour and the traffic is horrible this time of day."

"Just as a minute, I can't find my pearl earrings."  Trini called out from upstairs.  She was rushing around trying to get ready.  She had been so engrossed in the new report from the medical journal she got yesterday that she had lost track of time.  Her and Jason were supposed to be having lunch with two of her former colleagues from International Security Systems. 

It's been almost eight months now since her world changed dramatically.  Keeping mostly to herself, Trini spent the past two years traveling around the world taking down terrorists and writing detective novels to pass her time.  Her career as a virologist came to a stand still after her Nobel Prize award the year before that.  But she had been call back into science and ISS when a little present Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd left behind had decided to make it's presence known to the world by causing massive earthquakes that nearly toppled Poland and its neighboring countries. 

Also out of hiding, fellow former Ranger and ISS agent, Kimberly Hart had decided that they needed help in dealing with this new menace.  After much debate and doubt, they called up Billy and asked him to gather the former Rangers.  From there, all the truth came crashing out into the open.  And along with the truth, came the renewal of old flames, new loves, and engagements. 

Trini and Jason were traveling the world together now, visiting their many respective homes as they did so while still preparing for their wedding to take place in Angel Grove, their home.  Jason had come to her rescue years before and did so again in Poland, making sure she did not hurt herself in the process of helping others.  Their feelings had come tumbling out in the process and they were now engaged and happy together.  Jason, the architect, and Trini, the novelist, have six houses between them.  Money was hardly an issue as they both make millions as it is and had simply decided to keep the houses and see how that went for now. 

Kimberly and Tommy had gotten married in June after finding out that Kimberly was very much pregnant with Tommy's child conceived while they were all in Poland fighting evil, they had gotten engaged prior to finding out there was a baby involved.  It was a quiet ceremony with just family and friends and twenty reporters that crash the party.  The wedding of a former Olympic champion and former Nascar winner was something everyone wanted to see.  Trini and Jason seeing that had decided to keep their wedding as quiet as possible though Kimberly insisted that since she didn't get a huge wedding the way she had dreamed of, Trini would.  Tommy had suggested that he and Kimberly get remarried after the baby was born and make big splash out of it the second around.  It had been an idea that sent Kimberly into raptures. 

Aisha and Rocky had come to an understanding after Adam and Tanya had decided to give them a huge shove in the right direction, much to the two lover's dismay.  It had turned out wonderfully since the two were now closer and better than ever.  Aisha had quit her Boston legal aid job to take another as activities coordinator at the local children's hospital.  Adam and Rocky's jobs on the Angel Grove Police Department had them staying close at home.  Tanya had left her position with Habitat for Humanity to work as director of the local Red Cross.  It was a good move for them all.  It was be interesting to see how long it would be before Aisha and Rocky decided to tie the knot as well. 

The last Trini heard: Billy and Katherine were seeing one another.  It was hard to picture the shy quiet Billy Cranston with the perky cheerful Katherine Hillard.  But there it was and they were happy together.  Billy's career in NASA had kept him in Florida following the crisis in Poland; the long distance had been a factor that gave the relationship a rather shaky start.  But Billy has since transferred to the Angel Grove Science and Research Laboratory.  Schoolteacher Katherine couldn't be happier about the move. 

It was strange how their lives all change so dramatically since leaving the Power Rangers, crossing paths again, and now they all seem to be converging back to where it all began. 

"Trini!" 

"One more minute, Jason."  Trini called down. 

"No, I going to say there is a package from Kimberly."  Jason yelled up as he tore it open.  "Got sent to my Toronto place before being directed here."

"Well, take a look at it then."

"I am." 

Jason pulled out several newspaper clippings that he ignored for the moment and pulled out a sheet of pale pink writing paper that had Kimberly's handwriting all over it.

Dear Trini and Jason,

Two months before your wedding and you guys are nowhere to be found.  I can't believe this!  I hope this package gets to you before long, cause I have a feeling that it's going to be a long and horrible two months ahead.  First of all, everyone here is fine.  Tommy and I are doing well, as is the baby who seems to enjoy playing soccer with my bladder.  The doctor says that we probably have a little boy even though I asked him not to tell us.  You do realize that you and Trini will be godparents to this child.  We can't think of two people more qualified.  Tommy hopes that you get home soon, apparently the projects have been piling up on your desk.  More people want you to design houses now that your "Side of the River" is completed and displayed.  By the way, Edward absolutely adores the house you made for him.  Your people at the firm can handle a lot of things with you gone but they can't seem to learn to weed out the interesting projects and not the mundane ones. 

A side note, Adam was shot in the line of duty about a week ago.  I doubt you or Trini had heard about it.  Don't worry, he's fine.  It was a clean shot to the shoulder.  The idiot tried to take down a bank robbery by himself in civilian cloths.  Damn near got himself shot by the police before they recognized a fellow officer.  Sheese, do all former rangers act that recklessly?  I don't ever remember doing anything that drastic when I was with ISS.  Anyways……

The point of this letter is to inform you that the jig is up.  Someone, somehow, found about the wedding a week ago.  It was plastered all over the newspaper, in every newspaper across the country.  I cut some out for you. I think one of the caters may have dropped a schedule or something cause the reporters got all the details.  I'm talking about guest lists, menu and location and everything.   If you're hoping for a quiet intimate wedding, you might as well forget it.  You're going to have more reporters around than you can shake a stick at.  Hope you guys are prepared.  Call us if you need anything.

Okay, I getter go now cause Tommy Jr. is kicking mommy's kidney again.  I miss you both and can't wait for you to get back.  Hurry it up!

Love,

     Kimberly Ann Hart Oliver 

PS.  I'm thinking about shortening my name.  Signing it has become a chore. 

PPS.  Have you both talked about the name thing?  Is Trini going to keep Kwan when you are married?

Jason sighed with resignation and pulled the clipping out again.  He had a feeling that he wasn't going to be able to keep the wedding quiet forever.  Trini was too well known in the science community and his name was beginning to get around a lot more since the simultaneous opening for three of his houses hit the news waves.  Kimberly was right, every major newspaper in United States and around the globe has found out about his wedding.  Two weeks before, he and Trini had been in China looking for a spot to put his new design.  It was a lovely trip into the Chinese countryside and they had been without phone, fax, or Internet for almost two weeks.  What a treat that was!  They've only arrived in London the day before last.  Damn!

"Trini!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

"Honey, we have a problem."  He just knew Trini was not going to like this.

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November 30, 2002 – 9:34 a.m. PST

1680 Clay Hill Ave. – Oliver Residence

Angel Grove, California

"Why are we doing this again?"  Katherine asked as she put the padding on.  The strange contraption was known was a "Pregnancy Suit," that allowed them to simulate the effects of a pregnancy has on a person's movements and activities.

Kimberly grinned as she watched Katherine and Aisha put the suits Aisha had borrowed from the hospital on.  "So you guys can go to the Baby Convention with me."

"Why do we have to be pregnant to go?"  Aisha asked with a frown.  "This isn't like some sort of prank is it?"

Kat laughed.  "You've become so paranoid since Adam and Tanya got you and Rocky together."

"You would be too if you knew that your friends were conspiring against you behind your back."

"Stop bitching!"  Kimberly said trying to get up from the chair she had sat down on.  "That's my department right now."  Aisha and Kat both went over and helped the former graceful Olympic gymnast out of her chair.  "I feel like a beach ball on legs."

"You look it too!"  Rocky teased as he entered.  He had driven Aisha over from their apartment across town.  "What are you guys up to?"

"Going to the Baby Convention."  Kat explained as she pulled the second shirt over the big belly.  "Kimberly insists on this get up."

"I want you guys to feel the full effect.'  Kimberly said with a nod as she poured herself some juice.  "Besides, pregnant mothers get treated differently."

"Really?"  Aisha asked.

"Yeah."  Kimberly nodded.  Her feet hurt again.  The weight of the baby was doing a number on her back and legs due to her petite size.  One more month to go and she'll have her bundle of joy in her arms instead of inside her stomach.

"Well, have fun."  Rocky said giving Aisha a quick kiss on the cheek.  "I'm going down to the dojo with Adam.  Tommy and I are going to help him get some of the limber back into his arms."

"Sounds good."  Kat said as she sat down and realized that getting up was going to be a problem now that she had something keeping her from bending her waist properly.  "Try to get Billy out there too.  He needs to leave his lab more."

Kimberly smiled suddenly.  "Did he really recreate his old garage lab in his new place?"

"You better believe it."  Kat said with a grin.

"Men!"

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November 30, 2002 – 9:55 a.m. PST

The Tech-Hi Dojo

Angel Grove, California

Tommy stared at the plans and scratched his head.  Jason's drawing has always been like Martian to him.  When he had asked Jason to create something for him to surprise Kimberly with, he had no idea that Jason had already had something wonderfully perfect in mind.  Describing in vivid details, Jason had said to ask his firm for the designs and they'd get it to him.  The foundation was the only thing that needed to be redone.  And that would be easy to do as soon as Tommy chose a site for his new home. 

A baby!  He couldn't believe in one short month, he would be a father.  Only a year ago he had still been pining after his former pink ranger lost love…… or the first of the two…….whatever.  Now look at him, happy, married and expecting his first child.  A boy!  He was going to have a little boy.  And contrary to what Kimberly thinks, they are not going to name the kid Tommy Jr.  That was just going to be too weird, even for him.

"Hey Bro!"  Adam called out as he set the gym back down.  "You just going to sit there with that sappy grin on your face or you going to help a fellow former ranger our?"

"I think I'll just stay here," Tommy said with a grin. 

"Ha, ha."  He pulled the newspaper out from under his arm.  "You read this yet?"

"What is it?"

"They just sentence Hipken Trodue to death by electrocution."

Tommy frowned.  He hadn't been keeping up with the news too much lately.  Between running the dojo, taking care of Kimberly cravings, and helping Jason plan for his wedding, there just hasn't been time to do much else.  "The terrorist that bombed Building H in Washington DC?"

"Yeah, that's him."  Adam spread the newspaper over the blueprints on the table.  "Look here.  'Hipken Trodue is scheduled to be executed December 12 at 12:01 a.m.  Experts say that there is to be a high level of protest due to the violent nature of this execution.  The terrorists follower have been making noise on capital protesting the hypocritical action of a government found on the overthrowing another.'  Isn't is just typical that our country would have people defending murders?"

With a sigh, Tommy put the paper away.  "How many people died in Building H?"

"Two hundred and fourteen people died when the entire building collapsed."  Adam answered.  The man had taken the news hard.  More than any of them, Adam had retained that sense of innocence that had been so necessary when they battled monster like Zedd and the Machine Empire.  Even their little trip to Poland had yet to dull the gleam of justice that shined so brightly in that young man's eyes.

"You all right?" The man looked slightly dead in the eyes.  It's been a long and rather rough couple of weeks for him, the bullet wound may not have killed him but he lost quite a bit of blood.  The doctor had been amazed that he hadn't bleed out. 

"I will be."

"If you need to talk….."

"Thanks, but I'll manage.  The department has that shrink guy coming in to talk to me twice a week.  The only I want to do is shove him out the door.  Can't stand the little weasel!"

Tommy laughed.  Adam was nothing if not blunt. 

"Hey!"  Rocky said dragging a still protesting Billy in after him.  "Why are you guys just standing there?  Let's get started!"

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November 30, 2002 – 7:12 p.m. London Time

ISS London Headquarters – Director's Office

London, England.

"Are you sure about this?"  Director Jonathan Emmerman was not a happy, but that was nothing new.  After months of clean up after the affair in Poland, he's just received some rather disturbing news.  "This is not the time for some bizarre joke of yours."

"Please sir, I would not joke about this."  Agent Peter Fitz Patrick of the Warsaw office spoke quietly into to the phone.  The call was not a pleasant one.  He wished that he didn't have to make it.  Plus he was awfully embarrassed about it too.

"You're telling me, that an entire shipment of ammunition is just gone."

"Yes sir." 

There was a pause.  "Someone stole it."

Peter sighed.  "Yes, that would appear to be the case.  Nothing was touched but the guns and explosives."  He should know.  He and six of his agents spend three days confirming everything.  He could not believe someone stole equipment given to him by the French government was taken out from right under their noses.

"How much ammunition are we looking at here?"  Emmerman could feel his head start to pound.  This was looking to be not a good day after all.  Damn it, and he had promised his wife that he'd be home before eight tonight. 

"Enough to start a revolution."

Emmerman winced into the phone.  "Do we have any leads?"

"No sir."

"Do you know anything at all that would give me something to work with before I have to call up the General Lobarian and tell him that we lost everything that he's given us."  There was a note of exasperation there and annoyance.  This was not what he had in mind to be doing for the rest of the evening.  All he wanted to was spend a nice quiet night at home with his wife and his daughters, watching Monty Python on television. 

"No sir."

"You've been no help at all, Peter.  That's all I want you to know."

"I'm sorry sir."

Emmerman sighed.  "Yeah, yeah.  I'll call when I have something.  In the meantime, ask around.  See if any of your contacts on the Black Market have heard about the weapons coming out."

"Yes sir."

Hinging up the phone, Jonathan sighed again.  It looks to be the making of a very long night.  "Patty, get me the Prime Minister."

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November 30, 2002 – 1:34 p.m. EST

ISS New York Headquarters – Conference Room

New York City, New York

Director Richard Ballard had been seriously considering retirement for the last ten minutes.  Nothing had gone right today since he woke up.  Everything went to hell with three CIA and six FBI agents showed up at his door asking for a few moments of his time.  Two hours and thirty-five minutes later, he wished he had never gotten out of bed this morning.

"So you're saying that you've lost track of this guy's father, a fanatic who's publicly threatened the President of the United States."  Richard sighed and leaned back against his chair.  "What the hell have we been talking about all morning then?"

"Hipken Trodue, has just been sentenced to death yesterday.  The fact that we've lost track of Esera Trodue is a very big deal."  Agent Edmund Sanderson said in the same quiet voice that one would explain math equations in. 

"And he's got weapons?"

"No confirmation yet."  CIA assistant director Noah Whitman looked troubled.  "But it is safe to say that he's to be considered armed and dangerous."

"Okay, guys."  Ballard looked at them through tired eyes.  "I've got all that.  What does have to do with ISS?  This is a national thing, we're an international organization."

"We believe they may have been the ones to have stolen a truckload of weapons from your people six days ago in Poland."  Agent Sanderson said.

"Excuse me?"

"Six days ago, we intercepted a transmission from the French to your headquarters in Warsaw.  There was a truck, two drivers missing.  We believe Trodue's people are responsible."

If Richard could have screamed in exasperation at that very moment, he would.  "And…."

"And you are responsible for the retrieval of those weapon if they are the ones used by Trodue."

"And?"  He was getting tired of running around in circles.  If they didn't get to the point soon, he was tempted to kick them all out and going back to bed for the rest of the winter. 

"And we ask that you assist us in the capturing of Esera Trodue."

And there it is.  "So that's what you want us."

"Yes."

"I…."  The conference room door opened.  "What is it, Dave?"

"Director Emmerman of London on the phone for you.  He says it's urgent."

And the day just keeps getting better and better.

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November 30, 2002 – 11:39 a.m. PST

Lot 19, Warehouse B

Marina Del Rey, California

What was the most precious thing in the world to man kind?  Other than money and power that is…..

It was time that they all learn the price they will pay.

This would be a Christmas no one in the world would forget.  They shall learn you cannot take away a man's most honored prized and get away with it.  No one ever remembers that a man has many things dear to his heart.  And those things are not to be trespassed upon.  When that is done, he loses all sense of control and reason.  Or so they say.

He is in perfect control, knows exactly what he's going.  Everything was ready to make their first strike.  When you trespass, you pay the price for it.  They shall learn and they shall learn quickly and dearly.

It was time. 

And so, it begins.