Author's Note:
Okay, I'm going to go and hide now. I've been planning this ending now for a few months. I would mention who helped me come up with it, but I'm afraid they might get hunted down too. This is the last chapter, but I am planning an epilogue.
Danny
The last two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity for Trini Anne. Aunts Kim, Trini, and Kat had stepped in took over the plans for the upcoming Commitment Ceremony at Mr. Ko's Garden. She suddenly found herself getting fitted for a new dress, getting her hair done, and helping with the catering plans for the ceremony. She was exhausted by the time Friday rolled around. Of course it hadn't helped that Lolth hadn't let up with her attacks on the surface. It seemed that every day had a new monster or a squad of her drow warriors attacking the city.
Even Mr. Oliver finally seemed to be getting into the spirit of things, and had taken her dad out for dinner. She was glad to see that they were reconnecting. She'd missed the light in her father's eyes whenever Mr. Oliver was around. She wasn't sure what had been said between them, but she was glad that Jay's dad was finally accepting Kevin.
"Earth to Trini?" Jay said beside her with a grin. The two Rangers had finally found a few minutes of peace and quiet together in the park- away from the pressures of the team, school and of being Rangers. Trini turned to face him. That was another aspect of her life that was starting to get hectic. They weren't exactly dating yet, Jay was still only 15, but it had become increasingly obvious that there was more than just a best friends situation developing between them. She couldn't help but get lost in those deep chocolate brown eyes.
"Huh?" she asked.
"I was wondering if you could get free for a few hours tonight?"
She gave him a confused look, "What for?" she aked.
"I was uh… uh… kinda' thinkin' that you might want to go to the movies and maybe dinner."
She smiled back at him, "What you can't wait until after I get my dad married off?"
"Well, he and Dr. Carstonn ARE going on their honeymoon, and you'll be staying with the Taylors, and I don't think Uncle Zack would let you out by yourself while you're staying with him."
"Are you asking me for a date Jay?" she blushed and looked down.
She could see the panic in his eyes, "Uh… do you want me to?"
"Do you want to?" she asked softly feeling the tips of her ears begin to burn.
Looking up she saw Jay nod. He took a deep breath and added, "Yeah, I do." Then his eyes shining with hope, he asked, "Do you?"
She smiled back at him. "You bet." Damn it! If he's not going to take the initiative, I guess I'll have to. She leaned in quickly and brushed her lips against his. It was just a tentative kiss, barely a brush, but it sent chills down her spine that spread out from its base warming her entire being. She felt a shudder run through Jay as she pulled back realizing that one of them was moaning softly. She was surprised when she realized it was her. Suddenly she felt his hand reach up and stroke the back of her head pulling her back down into a more intense kiss.
After a few moments she pulled away and felt her world swim around her as she tried to clear her head. That was the most fantastic, intense feeling she'd ever felt in her life. If that was what just kissing was like she suspected that other things just might kill her. But what a way to go! "I think that's probably enough for right now," she said suddenly feeling shy and excited at the same time. Jay simply nodded as she added, "I'll pick you up around nine then?"
He nodded. "Sure. We can have dinner at Casa DeAngelos," he smiled find brightly.
"Sounds good to me," she still felt flushed as she turned toward where they'd parked the Jeep.
~*~
Jay sat quietly next to his mother in the front row of chairs at Mr. Ko's
Garden while one of the most important men in his life exchanged vows with someone it was obvious he cared about deeply. He had trouble keeping his thoughts on what was going on in the ceremony because his mind kept drifting back to yesterday afternoon in the park and then later last night on his front porch. He shifted his weight to relieve the discomfort that such thoughts caused in the front of his slacks. As he was coming out of his reverie he suddenly realized that his Uncle Jason and Kevin were sharing a brief kiss. With a sense of disappointment, he realized that he'd been so caught up in his pleasant memories that he'd missed most of the vows- something Trini Anne told him that Jason and Kevin had written themselves.
Releasing his spouse, Uncle Jason turned to the guests- mainly family and a few friends from the Dojo and said, "We would be honored if you folks would join us for some refreshments over there." The big burly man indicated a small pavilion over a table that groaned with the weight of food.
Jay smiled as the newly married couple dressed in matching black suits walked hand in hand toward the table. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Aiden standing there. "You two really pulled it off," the Black Ranger said to him.
"Pulled what off?" he asked innocently.
"Trini Anne's little campaign to get those two together," Aiden said. Then winking at him, he quickly added, "'Speaking of our fearless leader, I understand the two of you were seen at Casa DeAngelos last night. Quite late I might add."
"Who told you?" Jay asked feeling he blood rise in his face.
"'Mina," he answered. "She and Uncle Zack were coming back from a late night trip to IHOP and they saw you."
"Busted," Jay said.
"So, you two dating?" Aiden asked. Jay nodded. The young Asian American smiled and said, "Good." Then looking around, "Now we just need to find someone to aim at Alex."
"You're just wanting him off your back about Mina," Jay accused. What had been going on between the twins and Mina hadn't escaped his notice.
"Wouldn't you?" he asked. "I mean, it's starting to get annoying." Aiden smiled, "The boy needs a girlfriend."
Jay looked back over at his shoulder toward his Uncle Jay and Kevin, grinned and turned back to Aiden and said, "Or a boyfriend." He smiled as Aiden shuddered. Jay knew enough about genetics to know that if Aiden was straight then so would be Alex. "Just kidding Bro."
"Don't kid about that kind of thing, Jay," the Black Ranger said.
"Why not?" Jay asked. "You ashamed of Uncle Jase and Kevin?"
Aiden shook his head, "No, I'm not." He looked off into the distance for a moment. "It's just not what I'm about."
Jay nodded his head, "Okay man." Looking around, "Still you're right. We need to find your brother someone to occupy his time."
Suddenly an explosion rocked the ground around them. Jay watched in horror as the table where the guests were lining up for food exploded into a thousand shards of wood, metal, and plastic. Looking around, he saw the jet skinned forms of Lolth's drow warriors coalesce from shadowy shaped spiders that appeared among the guests.
Their long white hair flowing behind them, the drow drew their swords and charged the guests. Jay had had enough experience with these guys to know exactly how dangerous those swords were. He'd seen one cut neatly through a lamppost with a single stroke. Looking around, he saw Trini Anne duck a sword stroke to her head, grab the offending drow by the wrist and then repeatedly round-house kick him in the ribs. The drow crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth just before he disappeared.
~*~
Tommy watched in horror as his best friend's wedding suddenly became a battlefield. Just like old times he stepped back into a defensive stance, with the rest of the former Rangers. With surprise he realized that standing next to him was of all people, Dr. Carstonn. He had the look of someone who knew how to go about doing some serious damage.
Looking over to where the kids were trying to find a way to avoid revealing their identities, but not leave the guests undefended, he locked eyes with Trini Anne. Smiling, she briefly nodded in his direction and pulled the other Rangers behind a hedge.
Seconds later, the new GeoForce Rangers came leaping over the hedge, screaming like banshees. Tommy suddenly felt himself tackled from behind as one of the drow blades neatly took off the top two inches of his hair. Rolling to a stop, he found himself being pulled to his feet by Dr. Carstonn. The man grinned at him and turned back to face the oncoming drow. In a voice that sent chills down his spine the man said, "Be careful Tommy. I don't think Kimberly wants you to cut your hair that close again."
As Kevin backflipped across the lawn with a limberness no man his age who'd never held the Power should be able to muster, something inside Tommy clicked. He recognized those moves he knew that gymnastic routine. Only one man he'd ever known was that good at combining karate with gymnastics. He watched in awe as Kevin came out of back aerial into a flying kick to the side of the head of a drow attacking Kimberly.
The drow went down with thud as the ground began to shake. Tommy found himself fighting to maintain his feet as the earth under the table erupted and centaurid man-spider about the size of a Clydesdale came clambering out of a hole there. He had four arms, each holding wickedly serrated blades.
"Riss!" the Red Ranger yelled. "Not here! Not today!" she screamed drawing her sword and charging the four-armed creature. Tommy noticed that almost immediately the Blue Ranger also closed to back her up.
"Lolth chooses the time and place of her attacks Red Ranger, and she chooses now," the creature bellowed in a voice that reminded Tommy of Goldar. With lightning speed, Riss struck out at both Rangers. Tommy was surprised at the speed of his son and Trini Anne. All the blows were parried, and the creature was slowly driven back, as the former Rangers dealt with the drow warriors.
Before long, Tommy lost track of what the Rangers were doing, as he found himself in the fight of his life. These drow weren't the mindless drones that he'd faced in the forms of putties, tengas, and cogs. Instead they were seasoned warriors who could think and adapt. Half the time he felt like he was fighting one of the other Rangers.
"How're we doing, Bro?" Jason asked suddenly at his side.
"Tommy grinned. "These guys are tough," he replied as he ducked another sword stroke and kicked one of the drow in the ribs.
"I noticed," Jason replied as he blocked a kick and flipped the attacker backwards into a comrade and twisted to get out of the way of another attack.
Tommy grinned and asked, "Since when does your new husband fight like a meaner version of Billy?" he asked. Looking over at Jason, he realized in horror that the former Ranger leader was unaware of an attack coming at him from behind.
"Since he…"
The sword stroke was a perfect thrust, and Tommy knew there was nothing he could do to save his friend. Try as he might, he knew that there was no way he could cover the distance in time. "Jase! Look out!" Tommy yelled.
A sudden flash of blue fire appeared between Jason and the monofilament blade closing in on him. The fire dissipated to leave Kevin to stop the attack. Tommy heard the sickening sound of the blade sliding through flesh and bone as Jason suddenly stiffened. Tommy looked down in disbelief at the black blade emerging from his friend's chest. The sword stroke had passed clean through Kevin to strike at Jason as well. A wave of red and white fire suddenly washed across the former Ranger. With a primordial scream, he attacked the drow warriors between him and Jason.
Tommy didn't remember when the fight ended. For the rest of his life he could only remember the white and red rage that overtook him. His next memory was kneeling beside the bodies of his best Bro and his new spouse. Jason's midnight eyes looking up at him as the light slowly faded from them. A small rivulet of blood trickled down from the corner of Jason's mouth. "Did we stop them Bro?" Jason asked.
Tommy nodded, "Yeah, we stopped them."
Jason smiled and coughed again, more blood pouring from his mouth. "Good. Trini and Jay?" he asked.
"They're fighting Riss now," Tommy told him as he was joined by the other former Rangers. "Be still. Don't waste your strength."
Tommy saw Jason smile and then turn to Kevin. Tommy knew that Jason was just realizing what had happened.; that Kevin had hurled himself between Jason and the blow in a vain attempt to save him, giving his life in an attempt to repay all those years of his watching out for Billy. "Kevin?" he asked.
To Tommy's surprise, Kevin slowly pushed himself up, ignoring the gaping hole in his chest, and the bright red blood pouring from it. "I'm here Jase," he said weakly.
Jason turned to face the blond, and a reached out to touch his face gently. Looking down at the hole in Kevin's chest he gave the man a confused look. "Why?"
Kevin pulled himself over to face Jason and said quietly, "Because I love you."
"Love you too…," Jason shook his head and touched the blood on Kevin's coat. "You're not healing…" another coughing fit ended whatever he was going to say.
Kevin pulled Jason to him and said softly, his voice fading fast. "I tried to tell you last week. I'm human now."
Jason simply smiled up at his spouse as the light faded from his eyes forever, "You always were."
As the big man went limp in Kevin's arms, Tommy heard the wail of sirens in the distance. Turning back from the sound of the emergency vehicles, Tommy found that Kevin had slumped over Jase's body, joining him in death.
"Daddy!" Trini Anne's voice came from across the Garden.