Disclaimer: (Yawn.) Power Rangers...Saban. We got it, right? Oh, and
there's a mention of the movie "Jurassic Park" somewhere in here (good
movie). Steven Spielberg owns the rights to that film. (I don't think I
spelled his name right, but good job, Stevie-boy!) Although it might seem
to be the case, I actually did not base this story on that movie. It just
happens to relate, sort of.
A/N: Man, I love how you guys are so into this story! It's as much fun to write the story as it is to read the reviews! Thanks for being so interested, guys. I don't want to keep you in suspense for too much longer, so here's chapter 3!
FROZEN WITH FEAR
The three teens managed to tangle their way through a dense jungle. With every step forward, the temperature dropped at an increasingly rapid pace. The fragile woman in yellow rubbed her arms.
"You guys, I don't think we're going the right way." Plants were becoming scarce, and Trini was having her doubts about finding the Command Center. "What if we get lost and never find Zordon and Alpha? And that's only assuming there even in this time period."
Zack had taken the lead, and Billy was not far behind his comrades. He had taken an interest in the spectacular site of the should-be extinct vegetation and wildlife. "Don't give up all hope yet, Trini. Just because we are surrounded by unfamiliar species of life doesn't mean our Ranger instincts are completely useless. If indeed Zordon and Alpha occupy the Command Center during this era, then we should have no problem in finding our way."
Trini shrugged and kept the pace.
Zack was busy watching his breath turn to thin clouds of white as the ground began to shake beneath their feet. "Whoa, what was that?" The three fell to the ground and scooted together until the rumbling Earth ceased. "I don't think that was your average earthquake."
"Yeah," Trini exhaled. "Something had to have caused it, but what?"
As if appearing on queue, a massive figure stomped its way toward them. The three gawked at the black Wooly Mammoth that headed their way, and quickly got to their feet.
"I had to ask..." said Trini, as she backed up with Billy and Zack.
"No way!" Zack was impressed. "Is that a Mastadon? It's awesome!" He reached out an arm in attempt to 'pet' the approaching beast, but Billy yanked him away.
"Zack, I don't think that's such a good idea. If he gets the wrong impression, it could easily take you out with its tusks!" The animal closed in on the three, forcing them to back up still.
"Well I don't want to wait around to see that happening. I say we run for it. Come on!" Trini grabbed the arms of Zack and Billy, and dragged them in the opposite direction of the Mammoth. The creature followed, crushing bushes and ferns beneath its large elephant feet.
The three rangers somewhat stumbled along, regaining their balance every so often. They did not stop until they came to a fallen tree in their path. Its width easily increased Trini's height by three feet.
"Now what?" Zack yelled over the thunderous trumpeting of the Mammoth, who was not far from sight.
"We'll have to climb over it!" Trini shouted back.
Billy positioned himself by the tree, locking his fingers together and forming a sort of foot hold for his yellow team mate. "You go first! I'll give you a boost!" Trini didn't waste any time, and placed a foot on Billy's hands and held on to his shoulder. Pushing herself up with the support of Billy, she hoisted herself onto the top of the tree trunk.
"Come on! Give me your hand!" She reached back down to Billy and held his hand as he climbed his way up the trunk. Sitting behind Trini as if mounted on a rather large horse, he called down to the last of the trio who was still gazing in awe of the massive beast.
"Zack! Let's go! Take our hands!"
The boy turned away from the gaining creature, and held out his hands to his friends. They grabbed hold, and began to pull him up when the stomp of the Mammoth caused the earth to shake again, and Zack fell onto the ground.
"Zack!" Trini absently yelled at her comrade's fall. She looked up in a panic as the Mammoth stood just feet from where Zack sat.
"Get up!" Billy ordered, but to no avail. He clenched his hands into fists as the beast towered over Zack, lifting its powerful trunk and letting out a superior trumpet.
Zack couldn't move in his shocked state, and simply stared up at the mammal, gritting his teeth and expecting the worst. Beads of sweat were forced out through his pores as the Mammoth lifted his front foot off of the ground. Closing his eyes, Zack prepared himself.
Before they could say or do anything, Trini and Billy were flung from the trunk. They were tossed onto the ground on the other side of the tree, separated from Zack and the Mammoth. They cried out as the Mammoth's trunk released an icy blast, freezing the tree trunk that laid on its side, and Zack, who was last seen sitting against it.
"No! Zack!" As soon as the creature turned and retreated from the sight, Trini desperately tried to climb the solid hollow trunk in order to rush to Zack's side, but Billy stopped her with both hands to her shoulder.
"Trini! Stop! There's nothing we can do-"
"But he can't just be frozen! How could a Mammoth do that? It's impossible! Mammoths don't just breathe ice!" She was struggling in Billy's grasp.
The blue teen didn't give up. With a nod of understanding, he shared his thought. "His Zord did."
At this, Trini stopped struggling and lowered her gaze to the ground in realization. "But it couldn't have been..." she paused, and looked up at Billy. "The Mastodon?"
"It's the only explanation. Mammoths usually have... or had, rather, brown fur. But this one was covered in a tough black coat. I know it's hard to believe, but there's nothing else that could lead to why it spewed ice from its trunk." He shrugged guiltily.
"So then, what? We just... leave him here?" Trini's eyes pleaded with Billy's.
"We have to. We can't take him with us. Unless we find a way to melt the ice, he's literally stuck where he is." He hadn't intended the cruel joke, but it went unnoticed anyhow.
Trini looked sorrowfully at her feet and nodded. Could that have actually been the Mastadon that served to be the power behind their friend's morphing powers? And if it indeed was, could the other ancient animals be roaming their present location as well? Confused and afraid of what the reality of their predicament may be, the slim Asian shed a silent tear for her fallen comrade and joined Billy at his side.
Together, the two walked on ahead, with the slightest idea on what they would face next.
* * *
Jason and Kim doubled-over as the figure that appeared from the bushes sprawled on top of them.
Kim wriggled her way out from the bottom of the dog pile and clumsily crawled away. Her eyes widened as they focused on their attacker, and she yelled out in surprise. "Tommy?!"
The erstwhile green ranger sat on his knees now, wiping away an assortment of dried leaves and tree bark that clung to his shirt. He looked over to Jason who was lying on his back with a smile on his face. Tommy lent a hand.
"Man, I'm sorry about that, guys. I'm really glad I bumped into you two, though. I'm so confused! What's going on?" Before he could get an answer, he was pummeled by his pretty pink pal.
Jason laughed as Kim tackled the green ranger, catching him in surprise with a strong hug around the neck.
"Oh, Tommy! I didn't think we would see you here! Everything is so scary and weird!" She stepped away, giving her crush some breathing room. "You don't know how glad I am that it was you in those bushes, and not some lame monster!"
He didn't quite know what to say and chuckled. "Glad to see you too, Kim." He became serious now, and looked at his best friend. "But really, guys. Where are we?"
"Billy said we'd traveled back in time, to the Mesozoic era. Don't ask me how, though. None of us could figure that out. It just kind of happened." He shrugged.
Tommy became worried. "You mean, were stranded with animals from Jurassic Park?" he watched Jason and Kim nod. "Then that sound I heard back there... that was some kind of dinosaur? This is too weird."
The three stood silent for a moment amongst the ferns that surrounded the bog. Then, something else dawned on Tommy.
"Hey, speaking of Billy, where are the others?"
Kim answered. "We split up. Jason and I went searching for anything familiar, while Trini, Billy and Zack went looking for the Command Center."
"They were supposed to contact us as soon as they found anything," Jason added.
"That was almost half an hour ago." Kim sighed, her happy face altering to a worried one.
Tommy held her hand. "Well, who knows? Maybe they just got lost."
She shrugged one shoulder and smiled faintly.
Then, as soon as Tommy had finished his sentence, Jason's communicator went off. He answered it quickly.
"Billy? Zack, Trini? What happened to you guys? Did you find the Command Center?"
There was a moment of static, and then Billy's voice could barely be heard. The static was making it hard to understand what Billy was trying to say.
"Guys... attacked-Mammoth. Zack-ice-can't find-lost... " The message faded out.
Jason shook his wrist. "Billy? Billy, come in!"
Kim shook her head disappointedly. "Jason, what if they're hurt? We don't even know where they are!"
The muscle-bound teen responded. "Then we'll have to look for them. Come on. Let's go." He began walking once again though the thick trees and bushes, not waiting for the other two to follow.
Kim and Tommy exchanged glances, and still holding hands, they jogged up behind their leader.
Kim bit her lip as she and the others avoided the vines and branches above their heads. 'I have the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach that something bad is going to happen, and it's making me sick.' She sighed silently to herself. 'I just hope the others are alright.'
And the three walked on, unaware of the tremendous danger that lay ahead.
A/N: Man, I love how you guys are so into this story! It's as much fun to write the story as it is to read the reviews! Thanks for being so interested, guys. I don't want to keep you in suspense for too much longer, so here's chapter 3!
FROZEN WITH FEAR
The three teens managed to tangle their way through a dense jungle. With every step forward, the temperature dropped at an increasingly rapid pace. The fragile woman in yellow rubbed her arms.
"You guys, I don't think we're going the right way." Plants were becoming scarce, and Trini was having her doubts about finding the Command Center. "What if we get lost and never find Zordon and Alpha? And that's only assuming there even in this time period."
Zack had taken the lead, and Billy was not far behind his comrades. He had taken an interest in the spectacular site of the should-be extinct vegetation and wildlife. "Don't give up all hope yet, Trini. Just because we are surrounded by unfamiliar species of life doesn't mean our Ranger instincts are completely useless. If indeed Zordon and Alpha occupy the Command Center during this era, then we should have no problem in finding our way."
Trini shrugged and kept the pace.
Zack was busy watching his breath turn to thin clouds of white as the ground began to shake beneath their feet. "Whoa, what was that?" The three fell to the ground and scooted together until the rumbling Earth ceased. "I don't think that was your average earthquake."
"Yeah," Trini exhaled. "Something had to have caused it, but what?"
As if appearing on queue, a massive figure stomped its way toward them. The three gawked at the black Wooly Mammoth that headed their way, and quickly got to their feet.
"I had to ask..." said Trini, as she backed up with Billy and Zack.
"No way!" Zack was impressed. "Is that a Mastadon? It's awesome!" He reached out an arm in attempt to 'pet' the approaching beast, but Billy yanked him away.
"Zack, I don't think that's such a good idea. If he gets the wrong impression, it could easily take you out with its tusks!" The animal closed in on the three, forcing them to back up still.
"Well I don't want to wait around to see that happening. I say we run for it. Come on!" Trini grabbed the arms of Zack and Billy, and dragged them in the opposite direction of the Mammoth. The creature followed, crushing bushes and ferns beneath its large elephant feet.
The three rangers somewhat stumbled along, regaining their balance every so often. They did not stop until they came to a fallen tree in their path. Its width easily increased Trini's height by three feet.
"Now what?" Zack yelled over the thunderous trumpeting of the Mammoth, who was not far from sight.
"We'll have to climb over it!" Trini shouted back.
Billy positioned himself by the tree, locking his fingers together and forming a sort of foot hold for his yellow team mate. "You go first! I'll give you a boost!" Trini didn't waste any time, and placed a foot on Billy's hands and held on to his shoulder. Pushing herself up with the support of Billy, she hoisted herself onto the top of the tree trunk.
"Come on! Give me your hand!" She reached back down to Billy and held his hand as he climbed his way up the trunk. Sitting behind Trini as if mounted on a rather large horse, he called down to the last of the trio who was still gazing in awe of the massive beast.
"Zack! Let's go! Take our hands!"
The boy turned away from the gaining creature, and held out his hands to his friends. They grabbed hold, and began to pull him up when the stomp of the Mammoth caused the earth to shake again, and Zack fell onto the ground.
"Zack!" Trini absently yelled at her comrade's fall. She looked up in a panic as the Mammoth stood just feet from where Zack sat.
"Get up!" Billy ordered, but to no avail. He clenched his hands into fists as the beast towered over Zack, lifting its powerful trunk and letting out a superior trumpet.
Zack couldn't move in his shocked state, and simply stared up at the mammal, gritting his teeth and expecting the worst. Beads of sweat were forced out through his pores as the Mammoth lifted his front foot off of the ground. Closing his eyes, Zack prepared himself.
Before they could say or do anything, Trini and Billy were flung from the trunk. They were tossed onto the ground on the other side of the tree, separated from Zack and the Mammoth. They cried out as the Mammoth's trunk released an icy blast, freezing the tree trunk that laid on its side, and Zack, who was last seen sitting against it.
"No! Zack!" As soon as the creature turned and retreated from the sight, Trini desperately tried to climb the solid hollow trunk in order to rush to Zack's side, but Billy stopped her with both hands to her shoulder.
"Trini! Stop! There's nothing we can do-"
"But he can't just be frozen! How could a Mammoth do that? It's impossible! Mammoths don't just breathe ice!" She was struggling in Billy's grasp.
The blue teen didn't give up. With a nod of understanding, he shared his thought. "His Zord did."
At this, Trini stopped struggling and lowered her gaze to the ground in realization. "But it couldn't have been..." she paused, and looked up at Billy. "The Mastodon?"
"It's the only explanation. Mammoths usually have... or had, rather, brown fur. But this one was covered in a tough black coat. I know it's hard to believe, but there's nothing else that could lead to why it spewed ice from its trunk." He shrugged guiltily.
"So then, what? We just... leave him here?" Trini's eyes pleaded with Billy's.
"We have to. We can't take him with us. Unless we find a way to melt the ice, he's literally stuck where he is." He hadn't intended the cruel joke, but it went unnoticed anyhow.
Trini looked sorrowfully at her feet and nodded. Could that have actually been the Mastadon that served to be the power behind their friend's morphing powers? And if it indeed was, could the other ancient animals be roaming their present location as well? Confused and afraid of what the reality of their predicament may be, the slim Asian shed a silent tear for her fallen comrade and joined Billy at his side.
Together, the two walked on ahead, with the slightest idea on what they would face next.
* * *
Jason and Kim doubled-over as the figure that appeared from the bushes sprawled on top of them.
Kim wriggled her way out from the bottom of the dog pile and clumsily crawled away. Her eyes widened as they focused on their attacker, and she yelled out in surprise. "Tommy?!"
The erstwhile green ranger sat on his knees now, wiping away an assortment of dried leaves and tree bark that clung to his shirt. He looked over to Jason who was lying on his back with a smile on his face. Tommy lent a hand.
"Man, I'm sorry about that, guys. I'm really glad I bumped into you two, though. I'm so confused! What's going on?" Before he could get an answer, he was pummeled by his pretty pink pal.
Jason laughed as Kim tackled the green ranger, catching him in surprise with a strong hug around the neck.
"Oh, Tommy! I didn't think we would see you here! Everything is so scary and weird!" She stepped away, giving her crush some breathing room. "You don't know how glad I am that it was you in those bushes, and not some lame monster!"
He didn't quite know what to say and chuckled. "Glad to see you too, Kim." He became serious now, and looked at his best friend. "But really, guys. Where are we?"
"Billy said we'd traveled back in time, to the Mesozoic era. Don't ask me how, though. None of us could figure that out. It just kind of happened." He shrugged.
Tommy became worried. "You mean, were stranded with animals from Jurassic Park?" he watched Jason and Kim nod. "Then that sound I heard back there... that was some kind of dinosaur? This is too weird."
The three stood silent for a moment amongst the ferns that surrounded the bog. Then, something else dawned on Tommy.
"Hey, speaking of Billy, where are the others?"
Kim answered. "We split up. Jason and I went searching for anything familiar, while Trini, Billy and Zack went looking for the Command Center."
"They were supposed to contact us as soon as they found anything," Jason added.
"That was almost half an hour ago." Kim sighed, her happy face altering to a worried one.
Tommy held her hand. "Well, who knows? Maybe they just got lost."
She shrugged one shoulder and smiled faintly.
Then, as soon as Tommy had finished his sentence, Jason's communicator went off. He answered it quickly.
"Billy? Zack, Trini? What happened to you guys? Did you find the Command Center?"
There was a moment of static, and then Billy's voice could barely be heard. The static was making it hard to understand what Billy was trying to say.
"Guys... attacked-Mammoth. Zack-ice-can't find-lost... " The message faded out.
Jason shook his wrist. "Billy? Billy, come in!"
Kim shook her head disappointedly. "Jason, what if they're hurt? We don't even know where they are!"
The muscle-bound teen responded. "Then we'll have to look for them. Come on. Let's go." He began walking once again though the thick trees and bushes, not waiting for the other two to follow.
Kim and Tommy exchanged glances, and still holding hands, they jogged up behind their leader.
Kim bit her lip as she and the others avoided the vines and branches above their heads. 'I have the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach that something bad is going to happen, and it's making me sick.' She sighed silently to herself. 'I just hope the others are alright.'
And the three walked on, unaware of the tremendous danger that lay ahead.