Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Only my OCs.
Chapter 6: Nowhere to Grow
"Shouldn't you two be in bed?" Cam asked, walking past Dee and Liz as he took a seat at his computer.
"Shouldn't you?" Liz snarked, in a bad mood.
"Sorry, Cam." Dee apologized, "She hasn't really been the same since the Bradleys left." She blushed at the smile he sent her, "We're keeping distracting as much as possible." She pointed to his father's little house next to their table, "He gave us permission to spend the week in a couple of the back rooms here. Our parents think we're at a week long camp out."
"Who do they think you've gone with?"
"Our karate team." Dee grumbled, "It's how we've always gotten away with hiding Ninja events. Liz and Shane's parents are oblivious to anything, unless they're criticizing their lack of ambition, and the Brooks' are always traveling for business."
"At least your parents care about your hobbies. You dad's the one who taught you how to ride a motocross bike."
"True."
"Harsh. What are you working on?"
"A class project about major international and global events. We chose the invasion from 1998. It was a pretty big life altering event for the entire planet. A lot of new laws, committees, charters, military groups and conferences were created and built because of that event. We figured we could give a different perspective, with us being Rangers."
"Careful how you word things." Their laughed came to an end when the computer started beeping. They looked over to see Shane, Tori and Dustin morphed and fighting a flower-like monster.
"Do we need to go out there?" Liz asked, looking at Sensei.
"Hold off on that for a moment." They waited for a moment and saw the monster disappear, "Cam, call them back here, please. I would like to speak with them."
The genius nodded as he opened the communication link. "Guys, my father would like a word with you," he told the three, who groaned as Cam tried to hide his grin. The girls decided to put up their stuff and work on the project later. This was definitely something that they didn't want to miss out on.
The three primaries walked in, exhausted, "Man, I can't believe we got stalked by celery," Dustin groaned as they went over to where Sensei was waiting for them. Cam walked over and took his night-vision camera back from the Yellow Ranger.
"Here's a thought; maybe you're not getting enough sleep," Cam suggested as Shane frowned at him.
"I must see those seeds," Sensei spoke up, having seen the flower monster attempting to plant them. "We will discuss why you were out on a school night later," they groaned, and the girls couldn't stop the giggles.
"I'd hate to be in your skate shoes," Cam smirked as Shane glared at the girls, who just walked over to the computer with Cam.
"Dude, shouldn't you be cleaning ancient scrolls or something?" Shane turned his glare on Cam, who rolled his eyes. "And what are you two doing here?" He asked his sister.
"We're staying in the back rooms for the week." Dee snarked.
"Mom and dad were giving me crap about doing something with my life." Liz rolled her eyes with her brother, who gets the same speeches, "I have a big project due next week and I cannot be in that house right now."
"What excuse did you give them?"
"On a karate sponsored camping trip."
"Respect." He nodded and they shared a fist bump.
"Since when has Lothor been into gardening?" Tori asked as she raised an eyebrow. Sensei poked one of the seeds, and green gas poured out of it, making him cry out in disgust. A disgusting smell rose up, and they all covered their noses quickly.
"That is some serious stink man," Shane groaned as Liz and Dee ducked behind their brothers to hide from it.
"Smells like Dustin after Ninja training," Tori grinned mischievously, and Dustin laughed.
"Hey yeah, it does too!" he agreed as the others laughed.
"What are those things?" Liz inquired curiously.
"I'm not certain," Sensei shook his head. "I have an acquaintance, Dr Belrab. He's an expert on exotic plants. In the morning, you must visit him at his botanical laboratory," he told them.
"Why don't I go?" Cam volunteered. "This may require someone who actually has a clue about botany," he told his father, and Shane laughed.
"Rude." Dee whispered, making the genius blanch in chagrin.
"Dude, just so you know, not a very good pickup line," he mocked, and Cam rolled his eyes and Dee glared at her ex.
"Shane, come on," Tori and Liz slapped his arm, frowning.
"That's enough," Sensei spoke up. "All of you, return home. You must be alert for tomorrow. Liz and Dee, you have your assigned room. Lights out, please." They all nodded in agreement before taking off. "And Cam, be careful how you choose to get involved," Sensei told him sternly.
"Dad, I can help," he insisted as Liz and Dee hesitated at the back room entrance to watch while the other three headed home.
"You do help."
"No, I mean really help! I'm tired of sitting around doing nothing!" Cam exclaimed, frustrated with being stuck in Ninja Ops.
"I have my reasons. I want you here," Sensei didn't back down, and Cam rolled his eyes, giving up. He turned and walked off. The girls exchanged looks of concern before going off to be by themselves.
1-2-3-4-5
Tori pulled up in her van with Liz, Dee, Shane, and Dustin. As she parked, Dee looked over at the lab just as Cam was walking out.
"Hey, isn't that Cam?" she asked.
The others looked over in surprise. "Dude, when was the last time we saw Cam leave Ninja Ops?" Dustin asked, confused.
"Should we call Sensei and see what's going on?" Tori asked. Shane just shook his head.
"No, no. Not yet," he said, "You three go and talk to the plant guy. Liz and I will follow Cam, make sure he doesn't get into trouble."
Everyone nodded and got out of the van. Liz and Shane followed Cam into the woods, while the others went to talk to the Dr. Belrab.
1-2-3-4-5
Dustin, Tori and Dee made their way into the botanist lab and looked around. They came to the back and saw two people in lab coats.
"Excuse me," the Blonde said politely, "we're looking for Dr. Belrab."
The two turned around, showing what looked like a guy with sandy brown hair, mustache and glasses and a girl with a shoulder length brown bob.
"Dr, Belrab is a little tied up right now," The guy stated, "but we'd be happy to help. I'm Professor Treelove and this is my assistant –"
"Miss Roots." Th stuck her hand out and shook the three Ranger's hands, "Flora Roots." She giggled as she let go.
Dustin looked around, "You're a vegetarian." He said, looking at his sister, "How are you not freaking out right now?"
"By focusing on the task at hand." She sighed, ignoring the plants around her as she stared at the two people in front of them. Something was off and it was tickling her brain trying to figure it out.
Tori pointed at a large yellow and orange flower in front of her, "Whats this?" she asked curiously.
"This is a blossom," The assistant explained with a little too much excitement, "It's used for perfume. You want to smell?"
Dustin started to lean forward, but Dee stopped him "Hey! Wait a minute! I know you two! You're-" she was cut off as a puff of green smoke came out of the plant, putting the three rangers fall asleep.
"Nighty night, sleep tight." Marah said, dropping the pretense, "Don't let the evil space Ninjas take over the world while you're too tired to fight!"
"Don't talk okay?" Kapri said, looking at her sister in disgust, "Just… don't."
Florabundacus walked in looking at the rangers and two girls, "Lothor said you two were hopeless. Handle these sleeping beauties while I go tend to my children." She ordered and walked away, leaving the two girls to tie the rangers together with thick vines.
1-2-3-4-5
Cam stopped when he got to Turner Springs and looked around. He never noticed that Liz and Shane had followed him. They watched from the tress as he walked over to the water. He climbed up onto a fallen tree branch that hung over the springs and collected some water in a canteen.
"What is he doing?" Liz asked, looking over at Shane.
"I don't know." He replied.
"That should be enough." Cam muttered, putting it in his bag. When he stood up on the branch to leave, he heard a noise. He looked around and saw that Kelzacks had surrounded him on both sides. He leapt off the log and looked back, just as two Kelzacks fell into the water. The rest of them ran after him.
Liz looked over at Shane, who had just crawled down the tree she was standing behind, head first, and smirked, "Comfy?"
"Don't get any ideas." He looked back over, "Should we be helping?"
"I don't know. It looks like he can handle himself pretty well," she replied, look over at Cam fighting the Kelzacks.
Finally, she had enough, and jumped into the fray. She spun around, kicking out and knocked two into the water. She darted around a tree as more ran at her, and she delivered quick punches and kicks to their backs. Cam looked over at her, just as Shane joined them, kicking a Kelzack out of his way.
"What are you two doing here?" Cam demanded as the Red Ranger stood with them.
"Hey, good question. But you first," Shane offered, and Cam frowned.
"Boys." Liz rolled her eyes, and jumped away, punching another Kelzack. As she grabbed the arm of another and flipped it into the others that ran at her, she ducked another's arm coming at her.
"They're after the water. We've got to stop them." She looked over to see Cam chasing over the Kelzack who had grabbed his canteen. Shaking her head, she grabbed the shoulders of two them and kicked back into three other. She held up her hands and encased them in a dome of impenetrable black smoke. Manipulating it, she made them think they were fighting the teens, but in reality, they were fighting each other. When it cleared, the Kelzacks were defeated on the ground, not moving.
"How did you just do that?" Cam asked in awe.
"We all have a dark side, genius boy." She smiled, "What's yours?"
"Not going there."
"Hey, what was that all about?" Shane wondered, "Where did you learn to fight like that?" he turned to Cam, amazed by the genius' moves.
"Grew up in Ninja School. Do the math," Cam frowned, not liking how shocked the Red Ranger was.
"Hey, I'm just surprised. Didn't know you had it in you," Shane teased, and Cam just sighed.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Shane," he replied.
"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" Shane frowned.
"I gotta get the sample back," Cam didn't answer him as he picked his bag up.
"Hey, what are you gonna tell your dad?" Shane asked curiously, knowing that Cam wasn't supposed to have been out.
"Don't worry about my father, I'll handle him," Cam brushed that off.
"Yeah, right" Liz grinned as Cam tried to look determined, "Come on, Cam. Your dad all but grounded you to Ops. He's going to flip out when he learns of this."
Shane laughed lightly. "Yeah, sorry dude, but nobody 'handles' Sensei. You should know that better than anybody." he pointed out, but Cam turned around and walked away, shaking his head. "Hey, he just cares about you man. He doesn't want you getting hurt!" Shane defended Sensei as Cam stopped and looked around.
"Well, as you can see, he's got nothing to worry about," Cam shrugged, and kept walking.
Liz and Shane just looked at each other in question, shrugged, and shot ahead to catch up to the genius.
1-2-3-4-5
Tori, Dee and Dustin were just waking up in the greenhouse and noticed their hands were tied together by vines, "Oh, what? See, this is what happens when you play with you're food!" Dustin complained.
"Don't be such a baby." Dee rolled her eyes at her brother in exasperation.
"Relax," Tori told him, "I think I can get us out of here!" She focused her mind on a little fountain in the middle of the greenhouse and made a beam of water rise into the sunlight. The light was directed at the vines… or what was suppose to be the vines.
"Ow!" Dustin yelled, squirming beside her "Hot! Hot!"
Tori laughed "Sorry," she apologized "Just needs a little adjustment..." she adjusted the beam to go higher and the light burned right through the vines.
Dee shook her head as she focused her powers on the light and directed it straight at the vines on her own hands. "At least it wasn't me that burned you this time, huh?"
"This time." He sighed, moving his hands to help the light burn more vines.
1-2-3-4-5
"Almost there!" Tori said as the light cut through the last thread of the vines.
"About time." Dee said, sitting beside them, already free, "I was wondering if I was going to have to investigate this place on my own."
Dustin sighed as his hands came free, "Yeah, yeah. You could have helped her, you know." He complained, rubbing his wrists.
"I'll take that as a thanks!" Tori retorted.
"You know what I meant!" Dustin told her as the group started to crawl down the aisles, "Let's just get out of here!" he added "Sensei needs to know about this freak plant thing A.S.A.P." They turned a corner as they heard muffled cries coming from the closet.
"Do you hear that?" Dee asked. Tori and Dustin nodded as they carefully got to their feet and hurried to a near-by closet. She pulled the door open, and Dr. Belrab came into view. He was hanging by his feet, covered in vines.
"Oh, that must be Dr. Belrab." Dustin stated
"You figured that out?" Tori asked
"No, actually," Dustin said, "It says it on his name tag"
"Just get him down." Dee threw up her hands in frustration.
"Uh, right" Dustin said, turning and grabbing a pair of plant cutters and aiming for the main vine.
"No there!" The girls shouted, but it was too late. Dustin cut the vine and poor Dr. Belrab came crashing to the ground.
"Dude!" Dustin exclaimed "I am so sorry."
The doctor stood up, pulling the vines off of him, "A terrible creature is growing a Sudima plant in my basement!"
The teens frowned in confusion. What the heck was a Sudima plant?
"Okay, uh, go get help!" Dustin shouted, pointing to the door. Once the doctor had gone, the Rangers hurried to the door leading to the basement and carefully walked down the stone steps, "Dude, it's that smell again!" Dustin whispered, holding his nose as the stench from Ninja Ops reached them.
"It's some sort of nursery." Tori explained as they reach a pool of bubbling water with some plants growing in it.
Dee cringed at it, "Ew, gross! What would grow in that? It's totally gnarly!"
Florabundacus appeared at the top of the stairs behind the rangers, startling them, "Greetings!" she said in her high pitched voice, "Those are my flower children!" she exclaimed "So you might wanna back off before I put my petals to your metal! Can you dig it?"
"And people complain about how I talk." Dee whispered to Tori, who was distracted by something on the ground, "What's up?"
"Dustin!" The blonde suddenly shouted as vines started to move around their feet, making them jump out of the way, "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Ninja Storm!"
"Spectre Storm! Ranger Form!" The teens yelled. When they were morphed they realized the vines were already growing up, lifting the teens from the ground, "What?"
"Our weapons aren't doing anything!"
"Their not cutting!"
"Sprout, my children." Florabundacus cheered, "It's time to pollinate the population! Grow babies, grow!"
1-2-3-4-5
As Cam had gone back to Ninja Ops to deal with his father, Shane and Liz went to Storm Charges to look for the others.
"So, let me get this straight." His sister smirked, "You three went to the Academy for like, a year, and not once did you bother to get to know Cam? Like, at all?" She chuckled, "What's with you?"
"Okay, to be fair," Shane defended himself, "he never tried either. Actually, he kind of put us all off by constantly criticizing and putting us down."
"Doesn't mean anything." She shook her head, "He grew up in a Ninja Academy. How many friends do you think he has? Not many, I'm sure. The few he has or had were probably only friends with him because of his father."
"Well he still treats us that way."
"And you still treat him like a computer geek who should only stay in Ops because he's a nobody. What's worse?"
Before he could answer, his morpher went off. The two looked around to make sure no one was listening, and then crowded around one another, listening, "Go for Shane."
"Guys, the others are in trouble?" Cam said.
Shane and Liz nodded at each other, "On it!"
They looked around again before running for the changing rooms, and Shane ran into a woman coming out. "Excuse me." They pulled the curtains closed and looked at each other in humor. "How many people out there saw us go into the same dressing room?"
She blanched, "I don't even want to think about the backlash of that mess." They laughed for a moment and morphed. Ninja streaking from the store, so not to be seen, the two took off to help the others.
1-2-3-4-5
After getting to the Lab, they saw their friends tied up outside with vines.
"Whoa!"
"Guys!"
"Shane! Liz!" Tori yelled down at them.
"Hey guys." Liz grinned up, "How's it hanging?"
"Any day now!" Dustin complained.
"On it," Shane pulled out his blaster, "Hawk Blaster!" He fired at the vine holding Tori, barely making a dent, before regenerating. "What?" He asked confused.
Before they could do anything else, a large vine appeared and hit both her and Shane.
They rolled to the ground and Shane lifted his wrist for his morpher, "Cam! We're in trouble here!"
"Shane, I've been working on some programs to increase the tensile strength of your Ninja Sword Blades," Cam commented over the morphers, "Prepare to download!"
"Got it," Shane said, "one chopped salad coming up!" He pulled out his Ninja Sword before he activated the new code. "Ninja Sword, Power up!" Liz watched as Shane attacked the plant cutting into pieces before he went for the main part. "She loves me, she loves me not." He flipped back to the ground and the flower exploded. Liz ran over to their friends as they crashed to the ground.
"Good job, Shane," Cam congratulated, "is everyone alright there?"
"Yeah," Shane answered, "everyone's fine. Thanks to you."
They looked over when footsteps echoed around them and the Florabundacus ran out of the building fuming.
"Why you," She exclaimed "You destroyed my plant! That bums me out!"
All five Rangers got into their fighting stances. "Give it your best shot!" Shane yelled as they moved to the side at the same time as the monster.
They Ninja Streaked to a construction site where they started fighting the monster. Liz and Dee were using their staffs while the others were using their Ninja Swords. Liz dodged just as a vine was coming toward her. The vine wrapped itself around Shane, throwing him around.
"You really get wrapped up in your work, don't you?" Florabundacus asked, throwing him into Tori and Dustin making. Dee dodged just in time to avoid the hit. "I'm a flora you can't ignora." She taunted as she shot pollen at them knocking all five Rangers to the ground. But when the dust cleared, there was only straw dummies in their place. "Huh?!" She looked around confused, "Whoa, that was sneaky."
Tori Dustin came swinging in seconds later and slashed at Flora with their swords. Then Liz and Dee appeared and slashed with her with their staffs. Shane jumped up and kicked her back, before slashing her with his own sword. "It's a Ninja Sword and Weed Wacker all in one!" Flora stumbled and rolled across the ground away from the rangers.
"Let's put 'em together!" Dustin called, and they combined their weapons as Liz and Dee called on theirs. "Storm Striker!"
"Shadow Claws!"
"Wing Blades!"
"Fire!"
"Whoa, what a night..." the monster staggered towards them.
The monster fell to the ground and exploded, and the Rangers cheered for the moment before she reappeared, much bigger.
"That's some fertilizer!" she laughed as she towered overhead.
"Oh, man I knew it! Cam, we need the Zords!" Shane contacted the genius.
"You got it!"
"We'll meet you back at Ops." The girls called as the other jumped into their Zords, combining them to make their Megazord.
"This won't take long. Lightning mode!" Shane called, changing the shape of the Megazord to its streamlined form.
"You don't scare me!" the monster yelled back.
"Maybe this will! Ramp attack!" The Rangers called on their attack and rolled straight into the monster, sending her flying back with a scream.
"Power down to battle mode," Shane switched them back. "Let's whack this weed, once and for all!" Shane called.
"Right! Blizzard flurry!" the Megazord blasted her with an icy attack, before they called on a power disk. As the monster recovered, they called on their serpent sword.
"One to the power of three!" They created copies of their Megazord, "Serpent Sword, Triple Strike!" The copies took turns striking the monster, destroying her for good.
1-2-3-4-5
"Come on Sensei," Shane pleaded with their teacher as the six stood together.
"We never would have found those seeds if we hadn't been out late," Tori insisted.
"I have taken that into consideration," Sensei noticed, and they looked hopeful. "Nonetheless, breaking rules cannot go unnoticed. Everyone, ten-mile jog, please," Liz frowned, as the primaries groaned. Cam just laughed.
"Um…" She pointed to the whiners and then looked at Dee, "which one of us?"
"Yeah, no offense, Sensei, but I don't remember doing anything wrong." The White Ranger scratched her head as she looked at her friend, "Did I?"
"Actually, girls, I wasn't talking about you," Sensei told her, "You were up with my supervision and followed orders as directed." He turned to his son, "No. I was talking about you." Cam's smile dropped as his father spoke to him.
"Me? What did I do?" he complained as the girls walked away.
"Besides sneaking out, fighting Kelzacks, and disobeying my direct orders?" Sensei listed, sounding amused.
"How old does someone have to be to do whatever they want?" Cam complained.
"No one has ever lived that long, Cam." Sensei replied seriously. "Now go. When you return, we will discuss your future training," Cam's eyes lit up.
"Training? But what about your promise?" he asked, unable to stop smiling.
"There are other ways, besides that of the Ninja," Sensei told him, and Cam grinned before hurrying out to join in.
"What about us?" Dee raised her hand expectantly.
"Two options. Option one. Homework. Option two. Sparring."
They shared a look and shrugged, "Sparring."
