Chapter 19: Enter the Power
1:15 AM
Cranston Residence
The phone rings shrilly, destroying the uneasy silence. Billy walks over to the table slowly and clicks it on.
"Hello?" he asks tiredly.
"Billy, it's me. Mickey."
"Hey," he replies, wincing. "I am sorry I did not call but something has happened and some friends of mine are in trouble." Aisha raises her head and watches him with interest.
"Oh. Well I hope everything is okay."
"We don't know yet," he sighs, sitting down in a free armchair.
"Oh. Well I won't bother you then. Call me later?"
"Sure," he agrees tiredly and presses the off button, leaning his head back against the cushion.
"So, who was that?" Zack asks, the ends of his mouth quirking up just a tad.
"Michaela. Mickey. My…" he pauses, blushing faintly, "err… date."
"Well it's nice to see that not everyone has absolutely Zedd-screwed love lives," Rocky quips. Aisha stretches and lightly hits his knee.
"It's just a date," Billy replies defensively. Zack nods, smiling.
~*~
Time Unknown
Dulcea's Plateau
Phaedos
The bird settles right in front of Kim's booted toes. She kneels down, one trembling knee touching the ground, and raises her hand to run a finger down its soft neck.
"You are the Crane, Kimberly, agile and graceful," Dulcea announces with a ring of finality. Kim's multi-color outfit flashes and turns a solid pink. A hint of a disappointed frown crosses Kat's face, before a brilliant smile makes a home on it and she crouches down next to her friend. The now-former Pink Ranger winds an arm around Kim's shoulders in a whole-hearted hug. Kim wiggles her free arm around Kat's waist and they stay bound physically, but also held together by their emotional bonds, forged by their partnership, by their joint endeavor to look in the face of death and overcome it. Dulcea smiles mistily.
"Aren't you going to tell them the rest of it, D?" Alie asks, winking at her friend discreetly.
"Oh, of course…" Dulcea responds, flashing her a look of warning. "Katherine, please step forward." Kat and Kim lock gazes for a moment, something Dulcea can't identify passing between them. Then the blonde removes her arm from Kim's shoulder and stands up, stepping forward. "You have Power of your own," Dulcea informs her gravely.
"Wha-ah-at?" Kat stutters out. Kim breaks into a huge grin, stopping her petting.
Dulcea unties a small pouch off her belt and opens it gingerly. She dips her hand in and removes a small pile of blue dust. "Are you ready?" Kat nods mutely. Dulcea lifts her hand to her face. "Close your eyes and look deep inside yourself." Dulcea waits until the girl's eyes flutter closed and blows the dust toward her. As it reaches Kat, flames flare up around her, every color in the universe, matching all the colors on her outfit. They envelop her, toning down to a single shade. "Katherine, ever-watchful and flexible, you are the Python."
Alie catches sight of a large snake slinking behind a tree before the great flash explodes in a whirlwind of green around Kat. The tornado winds around her over and over again, until it merges into her body, making her glow green, then a dark red for a moment, and then green again. Her outfit flashes and turns the same color. A slow smile emerges on the lithe blonde's face and Alie can't stop the answering grin. Then the green fades and Kat opens her eyes.
"OH MY GOD!" Kim squeals. "You are the Green Python Ranger! That is so morphinominal!" The crane leaves the ground with a powerful lunge of the wings and Kim matches that lunge, tossing herself at Kat and gripping the other girl in a ferocious hug. Dulcea and Alie laugh. Kim lets go of Kat, realizing that she needs to breathe and turns back to Dulcea. "Thank you."
"It was my pleasure, little Crane," Dulcea says warmly.
"It is I who must thank you," Alie speaks up. "I have been the Beast's containment for many, long years. Your destruction of it freed me."
"Oh, well… we're glad to help," Kat replies, after a quick look at her partner. "Who are you by the way?"
Alie straightens, her carriage suddenly projecting a powerful aura. "I am Aliesienta Kallioc mir-Karadio. Also known as Her Majesty, High Queen of Karadio." Then she smiles and looks approachable again. "But please call me Alie."
"Okay then Alie. I'm Kim," Kimberly introduces herself and points at the girl next to her. "This is Kat."
"We should get to the Command Center," Dulcea interjects.
"Let's go then," Kim immediately commands.
"I wonder what my weapon is," Kat mutters and that is the last thing anyone says as they turn into four streams of color, two pink and two green.
~*~
1:37 AM
Command Center
The alarms blare and Alpha lets out a steam of aye-aye-aye's.
"WHAT IS IT, ALPHA?" Zordon asks, watching the robot scurry to the sensor arrays.
"Aye-aye-aye, they are teleporting back," Alpha replies, clicking off the alarm.
"ARE YOU CER…" Zordon cuts off as the four beams hit on the floor and transform into four women, only three of whom he recognizes on sight.
"We're back!" Kat announces.
"ALPHA, ALERT THE RANGERS," Zordon commands.
"Don't tell them we're back. We'll surprise them," Kim adds.
"Hello Zordon," Alie says, "I've heard a lot about you."
"This is Alie. I'll explain later," Dulcea's astral form replies in answer to his confused look and he nods. "Now while we wait," she starts, drawing the other women into the corridor to the emergency quarters, "I have to tell you what I saw Tommy do…"
~*~
1:40 AM
Cranston Residence
Rocky smiles as his favorite dream replays in his head. Mariah Carey invites him to a beach party and he asks her to dance. The music blares out across the sand. The sun shines softly upon his skin, warming but not burning. Then suddenly a fire alarm goes off. 'Fire alarm? That wasn't in this dream…' He blinks, then again, and finally recognizes the sound. "Yes Zordon."
"ROCKY, PLEASE INFORM THE RANGERS AND TELEPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER," Zordon orders.
"Okay. Be right there," he agrees, a single tendril of worry sneaking though his skin. "Yo! Wake up! Zordon calls!"
"Who? Huh? Where's the fire?" Zack leaps up and falls off the couch with a thump. "Oh. Zordon. Right." He pulls gently on the sleeve of his t-shirt, which had been conscripted to serve as Aisha's pillow.
"Mmm?" she mutters, rubbing the tips of her fingers across her nose. "Oh right." She rolls off the t-shirt and bumps her elbow into Billy's hip.
"Oww," he yelps and sits up with a jolt, his glasses askew over his face, one leg having slipped off the ear.
"Everyone up now?" Rocky asks, frowning. "And why do I always have to answer everything… phone… communicator… e-mail…"
"Your bad luck," Billy grumbles as he kicks the still dozing Tommy in the ribs. His lethargic action elicits a mild groan from the White Ranger. Billy sighs and rams his foot into Tommy's ribs again, this time with a bit of force.
"No, I did not chase the pink bunny!" he yells and sits up straight. Zack yanks the shirt over his head and gapes at the Ranger leader.
"I don't want to know," Rocky states firmly.
"Um. Sorry," Tommy mumbles sheepishly and tugs on the hem of his shirt nervously.
"Okay let's get a move on," Zack calls out, pulling his t-shirt down.
"We're missing Adam," Aisha interrupts.
"Anyone know where he is?" Rocky asks.
"Downstairs. Billy's secret lair," Tommy supplies.
"I'll get him," Billy offers, clicking something on his communicator. "His comm. link is down and none of you know the door code. He stands up and strides out briskly.
~*~
1:47 AM
Emergency Quarters
Command Center
"I can't believe him," Kat fumes, slamming her palm on the cot next to herself. Alie moves away cautiously.
"It's the Oliver syndrome," Kim supplies, her usually soft doe-brown eyes turning a very dark, almost black brown. "It's some sort of innate ability to say the worst thing possible and not mean it at all."
"Someone must speak to him," Dulcea muses, flicking a lock of honey-blonde hair out of her face.
"I'm beginning to feel bad for this boy," Alie mutters quietly, hoping that none of the irate women will hear her. Kat flashes her a glare and she sighs, her hope dashed.
"Tommy can be such a… guy sometimes," Kim defines, a hint of frustration in her tone. "Adam was just trying to help. Granted, trying to help Tommy when he's being all guilt-steeped and mopey is about as safe as putting your hand in the mouth of a hungry alligator… but still!"
Alie shakes her head. "What I don't get is why you two aren't mad about the whole love issue…"
Kat shoots to her feet. "We can understand how he can be in turmoil about that. What is beyond us is that he could possibly choose to go off on Adam like that."
"She's right. Adam is a sweetheart, plus he's very shy and sensitive. He will be able to forgive sooner or later… but this isn't something you can forget. Adam is insecure. He will be forever questioning himself," Kim adds.
"Aye-aye-aye," Alpha's voice breaks through the wall communicator, "the Rangers are here." Kat's lips curve into a small smile and she grabs Kim's hand, dragging her off the cot like a helpless doll and dashing off into the corridor. Dulcea slips off her own spot and offers Alie her arm. The two old friends link arms and follow the excited girls.
~*~
1:53 AM
Command Center
Tommy runs his fingers through his sleep tangled locks. Adam is leaning against the wall with one leg drawn up and bent at the knee. Aisha is chattering nervously at Billy and Zack. Rocky is literally twiddling his thumbs.
"RANGERS, THANK YOU FOR COMING," Zordon says, causing all the eyes in the room to focus on him. "I HAVE SOME NEWS." At this moment the doors slide open and Kat literally bounces inside with Kim painstakingly trying to keep up or risk her arm being pulled in two.
"OH MY GOD!" Aisha squeals and dashes forward, her arms thrown wide in an effort to encompass both of her too-long missed teammates. She barrels into them and the bear hug has them all staggering back, smacking straight into Dulcea and Alie. This goes unnoticed as Rocky and Zack and Billy and Tommy and Adam catch up a moment later, the last two as far apart from each other as possible, and turn the hug into a crushing vise around Kim and Kat. Alie backs away into the corridor and then moves forward carefully, like a plotting hunter, and slithers around the group quickly. Dulcea follows, a fond smile lighting her fair features.
"Can't breathe! Need air! Guys!" Kat yelps from within the huddle.
"Too freaking bad Hillard," Rocky responds and tightens his grip.
"DeSantos, I die and I swear I will come back to haunt you for the rest of your life, which will be pitifully short, and even after that," Kim threatens with a smile that is hidden somewhere under Zack's arm. Rocky pales immediately and draws back just a bit. "That goes for the rest of you!" This has the group loosening the hold around the two girls and pulling back to look at them properly.
"So am I to assume that the Quest was resolved in a satisfactory manner," Billy asks, relying on his well-developed vocabulary to cover his nervousness.
"You could say that Little Wolf," Dulcea replies.
"So?" Zack drawls, not quite knowing how to phrase everything he wants to ask.
"Well…" Kat starts thoughtfully, "it's my honor to introduce the Pink Ninjetti Ranger." She catches Kim's eye and the small brunette winks in response.
"NINJETTI – PINK CRANE!"
Kimberly stands clad in the loose-fitting pink Ninjetti gi and reaches to pull down the mask and toss back the hood, revealing a tiny smile full of mischief. "And it is my honor to introduce the Green Ninjetti Ranger."
"Holy…" Rocky gasps.
"NINJETTI – GREEN PYTHON!"
Katherine looks down, grinning behind her mask. Her gi is identical to Kim's, except for the color and the python emblem. She inhales slowly.
"NINJA POWER – GREEN PYTHON!"
Now she wears the powered-up version of the uniform, skin-tight and complete with a helmet.
"Hey, no skirt," she exclaims as she looks down.
"I resent that," Kim responds, pouting for all she's worth.
Zack blinks and begins to laugh hard, gasping for air. "She has Tommy's color." He bends over and smacks his palms over his thighs. That sets the rest of them off. The two morphed Rangers sneak to the side and power down.
"I'll be right back," Kim tells Kat quietly.
"You okay?" the blonde inquires worried.
"I will be, really. It's the fever acting up. I just have to say hello to my last meal," she responds and slips out the door.
"So, who missed me?" Kat demands playfully, slinging her arms around Zack and Billy.
"Damn girl, you've been gone too long," Aisha responds grinning. "I'm seriously drowned in testosterone."
"I resent that," Rocky announces, eyes twinkling happily.
"Can't argue with the fact that you, my friend, are a walking talking hormone," Adam puts in seriously.
"We're teenage guys. That's us by definition," Zack agrees. Aisha laughs, shaking her head, the colored beads clinking together merrily.
Kat worries her lower lip thoughtfully for a moment and removes her arms from around her friends. She takes a step forward that lands her directly in front of Tommy. He looks at her nervously.
"Can we go outside for a moment?" Tommy breathes out, taking the plunge.
"Of course." Kat takes his arm and steers him into the corridor. The laughter dies down almost instantly. Aisha tugs on a braid absently.
"Rangers," Dulcea starts, "I would like you to meet Aliesienta Kallioc, the lost Queen of Karadio." Alie steps forward, her aqua hair shocking in the glare of the artificial lighting.
"Hi. I'm Zack, former Black Ranger." He holds out his hand, starting off their introductions.
~*~
2:02 AM
Corridor #3
Command Center
"Kat."
"Tommy."
"Go ahead."
"No. Never mind. Ladies first." 'Just don't say you love me please.' Tommy forces a smile onto his lips that twists in a parody of itself.
"Well, okay." Kat nods at her own thoughts and her blonde ponytail slips over her bare shoulder and tickles her collarbone. "I don't know how to say this… but… when I received the Green Python Power I felt something. Something that affects us both."