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 Four – The Demand
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December 1, 2002 – 12:43 a.m. London Time
London International Airport
London, England
Trini may have been a good five inches shorter than Jason but she was a good six steps ahead of him. Her mind was racing with all kinds of explanation and reasons why this was happening, yet again! When are the Power Rangers going to get a little peace? It's like the whole universe was determined to fuck with them in some way or other. First the monsters, how this! As if their lives aren't complicated enough with relationships, engagements, the media, wedding plans, etc.
"Do you think there's a flight anytime soon?" Jason asked as he kept pace with her as best as he can. The woman can move when she wanted to.
"I'll buy a plane right now if it means we can get to California any faster." Trini replied in dead seriousness.
"You all right?" Jason asked with one hand on her arm.
"I'm scared, Jason." She turned to look at him without slowing down. "I'm really scared. Monsters and aliens I can deal. But this? I don't…."
"We'll be okay." Jason said as they made their way toward the ticket line. "I've got faith in us all."
"I'm glad you're with me. I don't know if I can do this alone." Trini took a deep breath. "Kim and the baby…."
"They're going to be okay. You said so yourself. Now believe in it." He hated seeing her like this, so very lost in all this mess. But she was in control when she needed to be. Jason was about to say something else when he spotted several men in dark suits moving toward them. "Oh, man!"
Trini turned and looked at that little exclamation. She might as well not have bothered to look. ISS agents were making their way toward their position.
Then something clicked.
"Jason?"
"Yeah?" He so did not want to see them tonight.
"You trust me?"
He didn't even hesitate. "Absolutely."
"Follow my lead."
He looked at her but nodded. "Lead on."
The men came to a stop right in front of them. Trini looked at Agent Lyman with her usual calm eyes. "Here's the deal. We leave now; I take the mission. I handle point. I pick the team. Temporary assignment. Take it or leave it."
Joshua Lyman's eyes flickered for a moment before he reached into his pocket. The cell phone was out and his talked rapidly into it. It took maybe thirty seconds for it to all end with a swift click. "We can have the jet in the air in thirty."
Trini crossed her arms and looked over at Jason who nodded his head. He knew needed benefits of this outfit even if he didn't particularly like the organization itself. "Then you've got yourself an agent."
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November 30, 2002 – 9:15 p.m. PST
The Tech-Hi Dojo
Angel Grove, California
The phone rang and Tommy shut his eyes. He dreaded picking it up. The last time someone called, it had been Adam with the bad news. His heart had stopped dead in its track and he wasn't sure if he could handle anymore.
Billy picked it up one the third ring when it looked as if Tommy was no longer registering anything. "Tech-Hi Dojo."
"Billy?" Trini's voice came through loud and clear.
"Trini! Where are you?"
"On a jet back to the states." Trini sighed. "It'll take a while but I'll be there in time to see the sun rise in California."
"Thank god." Billy turned to look at Justin who was handing Tommy a stiff drink. The man looked almost catatonic. "Tommy is in really bad shape."
"I can only imagine. Listen, I'm calling to tell you that Jason and I are in the air and on our way. Try to keep him calm. And ask if I can step up temporary base in his dojo."
"Base?" Billy frowned for a moment as his mind trying to make the connections before it hit him. "Trini, tell me that they didn't…."
"I needed a ways to back there fast and have the resources to do what I can for the girls."
The sigh Billy blew out was heartfelt. "Okay, I'll ask him though I don't think that's going to be a problem. Just get back here as soon as you can."
"We're trying. Take care."
"You too." Billy hung up the phone and glanced at Tommy again. The man had not moved since hanging up the phone with Trini an hour before. He looked as if he's aged 10 years in the last 3 hours. "Tommy? I need to…."
"WHAT HAPPENED???" Tanya's eyes were wild with fear as she crashed through the door. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???"
Billy grabbed her as she made her way over to Tommy. "Easy girl. Tommy needs a moment."
"Billy!" Tanya Sloan had never been afraid of anything in her life. She fought Lord Zedd, she has fought Rita Repulsa, she's looked death in the face so many times she's lost count, but never had she been more scared then when Rocky called her up with the news that her best-friends were now in the hands of mad terrorists.
"We don't know yet." Billy explained calmly. "You need to calm down."
"But…"
Justin walked over and helped Tanya sit. "Rocky and Adam as getting as much together as they can. We'll figure something out when we get more information."
She nodded and allowed Justin to give her something to drink.
Billy sighed. This was looking to be a really bad day for everyone all around. Two of his friends appear to be falling apart while the others are burying themselves in their work. It's moments like this, He wish to hell that he wasn't so rational so he can indulge in a fit of exasperation. But Trini and Jason didn't need to come back to find three hysteric friends. "Tommy?"
Thomas Edward Oliver had two fears. One, he would never get over Kimberly Hart. That little fear turned out to be unfound and unnecessary. Two, he would lose everything he's created for himself in this lifetime. Kimberly and the baby was everything to him at the moment. He could not even see his future without them being the biggest part in it. Them and any other children that may come along should Kimberly decide she wanted more than one. The thought of them in the most heart wrenching danger was doing a number on his mind and heart. God, he would trade anything in this world, in heaven or hell, to have them both in his arms, safe and sound.
"Tommy?" Billy's voice was distance but still there.
"What?"
"Trini needs a base of operation. ISS is coming in on this."
Tommy turned to look at his friend. "Dojo?"
"Yeah, if it's okay with you." He was glad that Tommy was at least still making coherent thoughts.
Tommy blinked. "Trini is going to get Kimberly and the baby back?"
Billy nodded. "Yeah, she's going to do everything she can to do so."
The nod was more for himself than for Billy. "She can have whatever she wants then."
Clapping an understanding hand on his shoulder, Billy tried to smile with some conviction. "It's going to be okay, you'll see. Kim will walk through that door and everything will be okay."
"It won't be okay until she's walked into my arms." Tommy stared at the silent but running TV, still showing scenes from the convention center. "In my arms."
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November 30, 2002 – 9:25 p.m. PST
Somewhere Unknown
Somewhere in California
Kimberly's fingers were getting tired of clutching the blanket wrapped around her shivering body. It was cold, getting colder, in the truck. They had been bouncing and rolling for so long that she wasn't sure if they were even in the same state anymore.
The women around her were crowded and cold, huddling together for warmth. Everyone was tired; it was getting on in to the night. Most of them would probably be asleep by now had they be home. But fear makes it hard to sleep. None of them knew what was going to happen. If Kim thought it wouldn't cause a panic, she would use her cell phone to call someone, anyone for help. Though she doubt that anyone half way across the world didn't know about the situation yet.
"Kim?" Kat reached out her hand and touched her arm. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Kimberly rubbed her belly. "We're both okay for now."
"What do you think?" Aisha asked, her voice calm now.
"I think that we're going to be staying with this guys for a while."
"Anything we can do?" Kat asked with her usual bravado.
"Nothing at the moment. Too many men, too many guns. If we make one false move, we could get all these people killed." Kimberly looked across the truck at three particularly pregnant women who looked close to their delivery time. "Can't take that risk."
"I agree." Aisha whispered back. "I say we watch and bid our time."
"Yeah, me too." Kimberly murmured. "Anyone know where we're headed?"
"It feels north." Kat said with a comforting arm around the two women's shoulders. "I think they are taking us northward bound."
"What's north?" Asiha asked.
Kimberly bit her lip and thought about it. "Country side."
"Easier to hide a whole much of people."
"Yeah." Kimberly sighed. She was going to have to find someway to get in contact with someone.
"Think they'll keep us all together?" Aisha asked with trepidation.
"No." Kimberly shook her head. "With this many women, they'll want to split us up. Make it harder for authorities to track us. If they do split us, one of us will have to stay with the other team. We can't allow them to hide them infinitely. ISS can track through cell phones."
Kat nodded. "I'll do it."
"Thanks Kat." Kimberly squeezed her arm. "We'll be okay."
"Yes we will." Aisha said with reassurance. "Cause we're power rangers."
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November 30, 2002 – 10:33 p.m. PST
Angel Grove Police Department – 5th Precinct
Angel Grove, California
Adam flipped through the dozen reports and looked up in time to see the lieutenant yelling into the phone at someone. He'd hate to be on the receiving end of that conversation.
Everyone else in the squad room was quietly watching the silenced heated exchange in the lieutenant's office. It was obvious that what ever was being said was not being taken too friendly.
"I wonder what that's all about?" Detective Janice Kellerman leaned herself against Adam's desk.
"You're guess is as good as mine." Adam said as he watched the lieutenant out the corner of his eyes. He didn't like that fact that the man was watching them from his office window.
"I hope we're getting the shaft on this catastrophe." Janice said. "I so don't want to be drag into this."
He didn't say anything.
"What about you?"
"I want in."
"Why?" She looked at him as if he's gone out of his mind.
Adam turned steady eyes to her. "I've got friends in there."
She looked stricken. "I'm sorry."
Shaking his head, "You couldn't have known."
"I'm still sorry."
"Don't worry about…."
"Descantos, Parks, get in here!"
Rocky and Adam exchanged glances before getting up from their respective desks. Before they could make it half way across the room, six men came into the squad room.
The lieutenant threw up this hand in exasperation. "For god sakes, I haven't even gotten off the phone with you for two minutes."
"Cell phones." The man in the blue suit looked at the two standing officers. "Adam Parks and Rocky Descantos?"
"Yeah." Rocky nodded and looked over at Adam.
"This way please." They gestured toward the door.
"Which agency? Interpol, Pentagon, ISS?" Adam asked as he reached for his jacket.
"ISS." The man waited patiently. "This way."
Rocky sighed. "Who's the agent in charge?"
"Agent Kwan."
The two exchange another look. It would appear that news travels fast.
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November 30, 2002 – 11:13 p.m. PST
Somewhere Unknown
Somewhere in California
The farm was huge, once belonged to his grandfather during the days when they were still farmers and land holders. The farm has long since been turned into a muddy field where nothing but weeds grew. It would have broken his poor ancestor's heart to see the lands he worked so hard to preserve during the great depression go to waste now.
The four trucks pulled into the lot and stopped with a loud squeak, attesting to the overly abused brakes. Men piled out of the following eight cars of all variety and size. The first phase of the plan has been pulled out beautifully. Now for phase two.
"Everyone out of the trucks."
Hurried, tired women were pulled from the tucks, standing on not so steady feet that had long since fallen asleep in the long hours of riding in the back. It was so dark now with only the crescent moon to illuminate the fields. They were all piled together, pushed together into a field where there was nothing but long yellowing weeds. The winter winds were biting as they stood there quietly, some crying silently, others sniffing into their sleeves.
The gray haired man looked over at them with a long moment of silence. "You will all be glad to know that I'm sure that this will be all over before you know it. The government will not allow a bunch of women with children to suffer long."
The women were all averting their gazes and brimming eyes looked at ground and observe the darken fields.
Men were running around, setting up equipment of some sort. Tall black poles and big spotlights were set up on either side of the crowd of women. One of the men was holding a camera that looked like ones that families would use when they had their picnics. They all seemed to be preparing for something.
Another man came out of the barn; carrying computer parts that looked sophisticated enough to frighten the women even more. This was turning out to be much more frightening that they had first suspected.
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December 1, 2002 – 3:10 a.m. EST
ISS Private Jet
Somewhere over the East coast of United States
Trini slept in Jason's arms. She's never been able to sleep on planes before. Perhaps it was some strange fear she had of flying but with Jason around, she never had to be afraid of anything. She could always sleep with him around.
Joshua watched the couple with interest. He's only worked with Dr. Kwan once in her years with ISS. She was hard working, friendly, incredibly talented, and damn sexy. But she always held herself at a distance from everyone else around her, as if she had some sort of secret that she needed to guard. Watching her now with her fiancé was strange. She was so vulnerably open with him.
"Agent Lyman," the other agent whispered quickly into his ear.
"Put it on." He looked over at Jason Scott who frowned for a second before shaking Trini wake. "We have a problem."
Trini came awake the same way she fell asleep, in a flash. "What is it?"
"The terrorist just tapped into the world broadcasting system." Josh was already turning to the television.
"Show me!" Trini held Jason's hand in a death grip.
It took but a moment.
"I am Esera Trodue. I have in my possession one hundred and thirty-two of your women, all mothers-to-be. My demand is simple. I want the immediate release of my son, Hipken Trodue. I understand that the President must approval this, and am willing patient to wait for when this happens. I will give you three days to comply. After that, I will kill a one mother and their unborn child every hour, on the hour, until my son is back with me. You cannot find me and you cannot stop me. I suggest that you comply. I will speak with you again, soon."
Trini's hand went cold in Jason's.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph." The one of the agents looked with horror at the gray haired man on the screen before it blinked out of existence.
The demands have been made. And there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the madman will carry through with his threat.
