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 Nine – Day Two, Complications
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December 2, 2002 – 6:35 a.m. PST
782 Ember Rose Lane, Apt. 2B – Tanya Sloan's Residence
Angel Grove, California
Adam frowned as he sipped the coffee and flipped through the files again.
"Hey, you want something else other than coffee before we take off?" Tanya asked as she fastened a small pin to her jacket lapel. "Hello? Earth to Adam?"
"What?" He looked up at her with his light eyes darkened with concentration. "I'm sorry, Tanya. I've been kind of…."
"Absorbed?" She suggested with a smile. "Don't worry about it. I asked if you wanted anything else other than coffee."
"No, this is fine."
Tanya shook her head but said nothing. How could a guy that's spent most of his life working out, keeping his body in the finest shape possible, skip the most important meal of the day is beyond her. "Okay, we better get going then."
"All right." He said distractedly, his nose still buried in his reports.
"Thanks for staying with me last night." Tanya said avoiding his eyes.
Adam looked up and watched as the competent woman moved around the kitchen with ease. "Tanya, you don't have to thank me. I totally understand that it's been hard on everyone and you can always count on me to help you out if you ever need someone."
She nodded with a smile. "Well, thanks anyways."
"Okay." He picked up his stuff and got ready to go.
"What's in the file that's got you so worked up?"
"I think I may have something for Trini."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'll explain in the car."
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December 2, 2002 – 6:58 a.m. PST
The Tech-Hi Dojo
Angel Grove, California
Justin rubbed his eyes clear as he locked the doors to his car and walked toward the heavily guarded entrance of the dojo. "Hey guys." He was getting use to seeing so many darkly dressed armed men around that it was slightly frightening.
"Morning, Justin." Billy called out as he resumed his position in front of the computer. "Sleep well."
"Better than you did I'm guessing." Justin took in Billy rumpled clothes and dark circles under his eyes. "You sleep here?"
"Yeah." Billy took his glasses off and took a swipe at it with his shirt. "I didn't really want to go home. Plus Tommy stayed here as well and I thought it be better if he wasn't alone."
"How's our fearless leader holding up?"
"Not bad with all things considering. Better since his talk with Jason."
"That's good." Justin looked around. "Where are the others?"
Billy yawned and poured himself some freshly brewed coffee. "Not here yet. The others went home to get some sleep, you're the first to get here this morning."
"Oh good, I thought I would be late." Justin said as he eyed the coffee pot with hesitation. He had given up coffee but now was not the time to be falling asleep.
"I've been…"
"Billy?" Trini smiled as she came through the door with Jason. They both looked refreshed and ready for action. "Could you pin point the location on these maps?" She pulled out three full-scaled maps of California. "I need to give them to the troop leader so that…"
"Trini," Rocky came in with an armload of paper work. "I need to talk to you again about the attack plan. I think we may have to revise."
Trini nodded her head and handed the maps over to Billy. "Jason, would you grab Tommy for me. I want him to sit in on this. Justin, can you help Billy out?"
Justin nodded his head while Jason went to the back for Tommy. Tanya and Adam came in just as Trini sat down with Rocky to look over what he had in mind. "Trini? I need a moment of your time."
"I'm working on..."
"It's about Trodue." Adam said as he sat down opposite of his friends. "I think I may have something that could explain this situation a little more. And I don't think we should move until everything is settled first."
Trini sighed and sat back. "Okay, let's hear it."
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December 2, 2002 – 7:06 a.m. PST
Farmlands of California
Somewhere, California
"Breathe!" The women called out to the laboring mother.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN DOING?!?" The poor woman's face was contorted with pain as the contractions continued to come every mine or so. "Ahhh….."
"Pant, girl. Pant it out slowly."
The women were all gathered around trying to help the soon-to-be-mom as she goes through this labor without any painkillers or medical help. Kat could only watch in helplessness. This was never part of her training as a Power Ranger. It was hard enough fighting putties and monsters, but to have to push something the size of a watermelon through a hole the size of a lime was hard to imagine.
"Bring more hot water."
"Come on, girl. You're almost there."
"WHEN?!?" the frightened mother was having a hard time keep her voice down as the pain become more horrible with each contraction. "Oh no, not again…"
"Breathe!"
"Why isn't the baby coming yet?"
"First time usually takes longer."
"Oh god."
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December 2, 2002 – 7:21 a.m. PST
The Tech-Hi Dojo
Angel Grove, California
Rocky shook his head. "Damn, Adam is right."
Trini held her hand out for the file. "So Trodue does have a second son?"
"Yup, one that was killed in the bombing caused by his eldest." Adam said with a shake of his head.
"Well shit!" Tommy muttered with disgust. "Then why…"
"Oh god." Trini murmured. "Listen to this. Franklin Trodue was transferred into that office the morning of the bombing. Trodue senior must think that the government knew of the bombing and purposely put his son into the building either to stop his other son or to punish them. That would explain by he grabbed pregnant mothers. An eye of an eye, a child for a child."
Adam nodded. "That's what I thought."
"Good catch on that one, Adam. But damn it, this complicates the problem to a whole new level." Trini said with a heart felt sigh of weariness. She shook her head to clear it and looked at her watch. "I'll need to speak to the commanders. We need to push this mission back and come up with something else. Frontal assault may not be the best opinion now."
Tommy stopped her as she made to get up. "Why? This doesn't change anything."
"It changes a lot." Trini said with sadden eyes.
Rocky reached over and touched his former leader's arm. "Tommy, Trodue isn't going to let the women go. He means to kill them all. That was what Adam and Trini were getting at."
That stunned the rest of the team that had yet to pick up on the military talk between the three trained agents of the law. The thought of all those women and their unborn children… It could not be allowed to happen. This was simply unacceptable.
Jason shut his eyes and tried to calm his suddenly racing pulse. "Trini, isn't here anything we can do about this?"
Trini sat there for a full three minutes working out every possibility in her head. She needed time but they didn't have any. It was going to be a rough and possibly dangerous mission. With this new information, Rocky's plan to go in with a covert team was probably the best means now. Trodue couldn't have more than six or seven men in one area at a time. If they were careful and armed to the teeth, they may be able to pull it off. They've faced impossible odds before and came out alive. She could only hope that they're luck holds out. Zordon, wherever you are, watch over us as you have always done.
"Okay," the original yellow ranger blew out a deep breath and steadied her hand. "We're going to go with Rocky's idea of a covert mission. But we've got to synchronize the mission so that not one team gets the jump on everything and allow someone to warn the others. Every one has to move at the exact same time, we don't get a second chance to do this. Jason and Billy will take the Yosemite team. They are smaller and possibly less guarded. Snow gear with twenty backup troops in civilian cloths. Adam, Tommy and Justin will take thirty troops and a boat to Catalina. Stand by on the boats and scuba gear for the three of you going in. I'll take Tanya and Rocky over to the Monterey for the farmlands with thirty troops in civilian cloths. We need to move fast. Taking out the guards is the main course of the action. I want them down for the count; I don't particular care how, just do it. The women are to be relocated to the nearest hospital. How does that sound?"
Justin nodded his head and didn't question it.
Tommy's eyes narrowed for a moment as he worked the plan in his head but nodded his agreement.
Rocky and Adam both never doubted it.
Tanya nodded her head in agreement as she patted Trini in the back. It was hard to be in charge.
Jason and Billy exchanged glances before nodding their heads in agreement as well.
"Okay then. I'll talk to the troops and when we've got everything, we move out."
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December 2, 2002 – 10:54 a.m. EST
ISS New York Headquarters – Director's Office
New York City, New York
"How is the backup looking, Travis?"
"Good, sir. Trini is dividing them up now. We should be ready to head out in an hour. I have people at the marina with boats and gear. Agent Rushton will meet the Yosemite team at the gates with snow gear for them. Trini's team has got everything necessary now but they've got to wait for the other to move into location."
"All right then. Make sure they have what is needed, Travis. I can't begin to tell you how important this is to us that live in the United States."
"Sir, I'm British." Travis made a face to the phone.
"You know what I mean." Ballard frowned into the phone. He always knew the man to be a pain in the ass. "Get it done."
"Yes sir."
Richard Ballard frowned as he set the receiver on to the cradle. The situation was grave indeed and he hate to say it but it would appear that the chances of them getting through this without losing lives are beginning to look slim to none. "Get me Director Emmerman."
Jonathan's voice sounded like his tongue had been dragged through sand. "What is it, Richard?"
"You okay?"
"Not really. What do you want?"
"You got the e-mail from Trini?"
"Yeah, read it too." He rolled his eyes at the ceiling and took a deep breath. "Well? What do you think of the game plan?"
"Jonathan, you know better by now that what you and I say really doesn't matter to Trini. Especially where Kimberly and her friends are concern. Our dear Dr. Kwan will do as she pleases and all you and I can do is sit back and pray that we're doing the right thing for everyone involved."
Emmerman sighed. "Yeah, I know."
"How are the other plans coming along?"
"Peachy. Just peachy."
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December 2, 2002 – 8:02 a.m. PST
Mountains of California
Somewhere, California
Kimberly took deep breaths. The stomachache was not going away as she had hoped. It was becoming worse slowly but surely. Great! Just want she needed now to complicate her life. Not only must she live through a horrifying ordeal, deal with thirty odd pregnant women, and try to keep this nasty food down, she's got a stomachache to top it all off. Life just can't get better than this!
"You all right?" Aisha murmured as she sat down next to the former pink ranger. "Have some water."
"Thanks." Kim sipped the cool liquid with relief. She could feel her temperature rise as the pain in her middle got worse. Plus the baby didn't feel like settling down. "How are the others doing?"
"They are hanging in there. Anything new from the PR front?"
"Only a short note from Billy saying change of plans and that they'll working on things right now." Kimberly had every confidence that her friends will pull through for her. Her only concern was the mental state in which Tommy must be in right now. "I hope Tommy is okay. I don't want him causing any trouble for Trini if she's running the show."
"Don't worry," Aisha said with a smile. "Trini can handle your husband. Plus, she's got Jason to watch her back if Tommy gets out of hand."
Kim watched her friend for a moment. "Worried about Rocky?"
"No more than you are about Tommy."
"That bad?" She said with a grin.
"Kim!"
The petite woman winced as another pain shot through her body.
"Are you all right?" Aisha asked as Kimberly breathed through her mouth. "What's wrong?"
"Stomachache. This food is not doing much for me."
Aisha sighed with relief. "Tell me about it."
"Everything all right?" Mrs. Millard smiled down at them as she brought over some bread. "Food?"
"No thank you." Kimberly smiled in return. "I'm not feeling too well."
"What's wrong?" A small frown marred the pretty woman's face.
Aisha thanked her with a nod of her head as Kimberly rubbed her stomach. "Stomachache."
"Really?" she frowned. Placing her hand on Kim's belly, she asked quietly, "What does it feel like?"
"Like the baby is squeezing my stomach and kicking it real hard." Kim smiled and wondered again if it was to be a boy or a girl.
"Does it come often?"
"Every once in a while."
"Oh dear."
Aisha and Kim exchanged looks for surprise. "What?"
"I'm afraid you may be having contractions."
"WHAT?!?"
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December 2, 2002 – 8:35 a.m. PST
The Nemesis
Off the shores of Catalina Island, Pacific Ocean
Franklin had been such a beautiful baby. Why he chose a government job was beyond his father's comprehension. He was a wonderful young man whose life got cut all too short.
He would have been twenty-nine this coming Christmas. Born on the day of Christ. He was a beautiful child. It wasn't fair that the good should die so young while all the corrupted people of Washington gets to live their lives gloriously. But father will avenge your death.
The world shall remember you well. Christmas shall be a day of great remembrance….and not for the birth of Christ. Oh yes, Father will give them something to celebrate!
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December 2, 2002 – 9:11 a.m. PST
The Tech-Hi Dojo
Angel Grove, California
Trini rushed in as the phone call ended. "Okay, I just got off with Pentagon. The president has Hipken Trodue ready for release but only on our word that there is nothing more we can do. We've got the next twenty-four hours to pull this off before the president has to release a mad bomber into the world again. Let's make this good. Billy?"
Billy turned from the computers with a smile. "Okay, these are print outs of the location area and everything I can pull from satellites. It should give us an edge. Each group will be turned into frequency 3 as main connection and each group will designate a frequency of their own to play with."
Rocky took the small equipment box out. "This is an attach collar radio transponder used by bomb squads and riot squads. The earpiece goes into the left ear and is attached to the microphone at the collar piece around your neck. This clip attaches the frequency button and the batteries are to be tucked into the back of your clothes for minimal exposure. These will be assigned to field agents only. All backup will use regular radios."
Adam pulled out several maps. "These are the islands near Catalina that have coves most likely used for cover. Scuba gear is in route and will be waiting for us. For underwater transmissions, we have sonar pieces that will be tucked under the helmet for usage. It's going to get tight to the wire."
Jason grabbed the two the backpacks in white. "Billy and I will be headed up now. Once we get to four thousand feet, we'll lose radio contract until we hit seven thousand feet. Once there, we'll be in touch. Snow gear is ready for us when we get to the foot of the mountain range."
Trini nodded to them all. "Okay, we all have our assignments. We'll use the night as cover and hopefully, this will be all over come morning. Remember, no one moves until we've all checked into position around eight p.m. Got it?"
They were all sober in their agreement. There wasn't anything else to say but their good lucks and good byes. They all knew the risk and knew that they had to do. It was time to go to work.
