Disclaimer: Thunder Storm and Ninja Storm Rangers belong to Buena Vista.
Arika and Clare are ours. Lightning Rangers and all that stuff belong to
us.
Authors' note: The following was written by Jade and Senga. To save time of having to describe the Ranger forms of Clare and Arika, we've described it before the story. Enjoy!
Clarice - (Clare) Age: 17 Lightning Ranger (Electricity) Dress: black and silver with navy trimming Design: No armor, skirt like Tori (black uniforms), upper arms expose silver trimming like the other rangers, helmet is black, silver outlines the face, has a silver circlet with Color insignia on it. Boots and Gloves, Gauntlets are black, with silver-plating on the gauntlets. Boots, gloves, and Gauntlets are rimmed with color of ranger. Belts are silver. Weapons: Twin Lightning Tsais that extend to length of a dirk
Arika (Rika/Aeri) Age: 20 Lightening Ranger (Lightning) Dress: black and silver with crimson trimming Design: No armor (skirt like Tori) black uniforms, upper arms expose silver trimming like the other rangers, helmet has silver circlet with insignia. Helmet is black, silver outlines the face, has a silver circlet with Color insignia on it. Boots and Gloves, Gauntlets are black, with silver-plating on the gauntlets. Boots, gloves, and Gauntlets are rimmed with color of ranger. Belts are silver. Weapons: Lightning Tsai that splits into two and can extend to length of a dirk
P.s. We just got new info on the Rangers' ages. Hunter is gonna be about 21. Blake is about 19, k? Oh also, the Wind Rangers will be about 19 too. Cam is about 23.
One more thing, sorry, but this is a slightly redone version of the first, it's a work-in-progress, so there's probably goin' to be a lot of redones here and there. But it gets better each time. And don't forget to review!!!
When the two Forces meet,
Thunder will roar and Lightning will flash,
And the Four shall be complete.
~~ Ancient Prophecy
Chapter I
"Umm, hello? Anybody home?" A girl of 17 called out as she entered Ninja Ops looking around the deserted area.
An older girl about 19 stepped in after, "Hey Clare, stay with me ~ and don't touch anything!" She raised her voice slightly on the last part as the younger was leaning over a small doll-like figurine of a hamster.
"I wasn't going to!" Clare yelped as she sprang up and whipped her hands behind her back trying to hide the guilty expression.
The older girl rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Yeah right, as if I didn't see your hand an inch away from that doll-thingy."
"Common Aeri, you don't trust enough," pouted Clare.
"Oh I do - I just don't trust you." Rika, only Clare called her 'Aeri', quipped with a sweet expression on her face while Clare only growled.
Clare took a closer look at the doll, suddenly she stepped back with a gasp, "Um . . . Aeri?"
"Yeah, what?"
"I think that doll just blinked."
Rolling her eyes Rika approached her stunned sister, who was waiting in a half guard-half fighting stance, "What'ev'."
Bending down she studied the little creature, "Hey, are you sure this is the right place?"
"Yah, I think, or maybe not . . ."
"Well, it's not like we saw this place at the Academy.
"True . . ."
Straightening, Rika cracked her back and slapped her sister's shoulder, "Common, let's go find Uncle."
Tossing one last suspicious glance at the doll, Clare followed her sister - or was about to when they heard, "Actually, I'm right here."
Whipping around both girls took up their fighting stance back to back as they peered wildly around the room.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Said Rika in a low, commanding tone that brooked no nonsense.
"Me. Look at me girls or rather look at the 'hamster,' one more thing, I am a guinea pig now."
Clare slowly dropped her stance and approached the little - er - Sensei until they were eye-level.
"Aeri? Uh I think the little ham - er - guinea pig just talked."
"What? Clare get back." Warned Rika as she bent down along side her unmoving sister to peer at the little creature. "No way, animals can't talk - ulp."
"True, but I'm not an animal, I know it's hard to recognize me but I can assure you, I'm your Uncle."
"Actually, he does seem to look like Uncle, doesn't he?"
Rika stared at her sister warily, "Have you lost it?"
"No! Of course not. But look at his clothes - er - miniature clothes, they sort of look like Uncle's."
"Clothes? Hamsters don't wear clothes, Clare."
"For the last time, girls, it's me Sensei of the Wind Ninja Academy and I am not a hamster! I am a guinea pig!"
Both girls still stared quizzically at Sensei, shaking his head the guinea pig Uncle sighed and called out, "Cam? Would you please come and greet your cousins and convince them that I am their Uncle?"
Stepping out of a nearby room, Cam who came out wearing khaki fatigues, green skullcap, sneakers and a green shirt over a black one, was smothering a laugh with one hand as he greeted his two younger cousins.
"Hey Rika, Clare. Wassup?" He threw his hands in the air in a "West- side/East-side" mode and threw his arms over their shoulders. "Oh yeah, and that little furry dude over there really is Dad or Uncle or Sensei or whatever you call him."
Rika cocked her head at Cam while Clare craned her head upwards and sideways as she staggered under her cousin's arm.
"Uh, hey umm, Cam. How are you?"
"Sorry guys, Cyber Cam, out." Said another Cam dressed in a green Ninja uniform and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Aww, common, the party was just getting start -" Cyber Cam never finished as he disappeared from view just in time before Clare collapsed.
"Sorry Dad, Clare, Rika. That was Cyber Cam, a hologram I've built to help me out around the place. And that is Dad." Cam stated flatly as he pointed at the guinea pig.
"Ok, I guess we believe, but what happened to you?" Rika cocked her head at her Uncle.
"And when did you become a ninja?" Clare cocked her own head at her cousin.
"Long story. The short of it is: Uncle Kiya is now Uncle Lothor and he turned Dad into a guinea pig and as for me? I'll tell you guys later."
"Girls, did you get the package," interrupted Uncle, with a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Oh, so you're the one who sent us the package. Uh, yeah and it had these weird wrist-watchy thingies." Both girls pulled out their morphers from various pockets and placed them on the table in front of their Uncle.
"But they don't tell time." Quipped Clare.
"And the necklaces," inquired Sensei, cocking his eyebrow.
Both girls reached up to their necks and pulled out two necklaces on black leather thongs with identical glass/crystal pendants.
"Good."
"But Uncle, what are these things for? And who or what is Lothor?"
"Remember Uncle Kiya?"
Both girls nodded, "Wasn't he that ninja who was exiled for using dark ninja magic?"
"Yes, but now he has returned. As for those 'wrist-watchy thingies' as you've so quaintly put it, are morphers."
Staring in shock Clare blurted, "'Morphers'? You mean the Power Ranger kind of morpher?"
Rika rolled her eyes at her sister, "Clare you watch way too much TV, Power Rangers don't exist!"
"Actually they do," Cam, silent until now, stood up, "Here let me show you."
"Samurai Storm, Ranger form! Haah!" Cam morphed into the Green Samurai Ranger in front of the two very astonished teens.
"You believe us now?" Cam asked cocking his helmeted head to one side.
Rika managed to squeak a "yes" while Clare merely stared with an open mouth.
Clare recovered, jumped up and walked around her cousin, "Wow!!! This is so cool! You look great, Cam!"
Cam gave up on trying to follow his younger cousin and turned to the still shocked Rika. "So what do you think?"
"Er - ok?"
"So, will Rika and I be able to do this with these morphers?" Clare asked as she finally calmed down enough to sit next to her sister.
"Yes, but you two will not be Samurai Rangers."
Clare's enthusiasm immediately deflated while Rika watched impassively and waited for their Uncle to continue, "So If we're not Samurai Rangers or Wind Rangers what are we?"
"Don't worry, you two have your own unique Ranger forms as well."
"So what are we Uncle," Clare blurted, Rika threw her sister a glare and Clare immediately shut up.
"Patience Clare. I will tell you, but first tell me about your abilities."
Both sisters shifted warily as they glanced at each other, "Um, what abilities, Uncle? We don't know what you mean."
"Don't worry, you two can trust me, I know that both of you were born with special abilities but I need you to show what each of you have."
The sisters glanced at each other and Rika nodded, "Alright Uncle. Sorry that we hesitated, but we gave Mom and Dad our word to be careful about showing our abilities in public."
Sensei nodded in agreement, "I know and I expected no less."
Rika held up one cupped hand as if holding a ball but strangely a ball of brilliant white light formed that crackled with energy.
"Ah, I see that Rika has the power of Lightning. And you Clare?"
"Right here Uncle." With that Clare held up her own hand and a ball of electric blue lit the room crackling more audibly with snake-like strands emanating and circling the sphere.
Both Sensei and Cam were forced to shade their eyes against the brilliance and lowered their arms when the two girls extinguished their forces by closing their hands into fists.
"Good. With your powers, only you two are the only ones who can activate the Lightning morphers. Furthermore, I'm sure that you two know how to harness and control your powers, correct?"
"Of course Uncle, we had to, otherwise there wouldn't exactly be much around now would we? Although Clare still slightly loses it when she has strong emotions."
"Hey, I do not!" Protested Clare, poking her sister in the ribs as Cam covered a smile with his hand.
"Uncle, did Mom and Dad know about all this morphing stuff, well, we already know that they knew about our powers but . . ." Rika drifted off, unable to continue to talk being reminded of their late parents.
"Yes, they did, I told them when you, Rika, were born and again when Clare was born and had discovered that she had her own powers as well. Now you two, pick up the morphers and place them on your left wrist and try to activate them."
The two girls got up from their respectful kneeling positions from the cushions, picked up and strapped the morphers onto their wrists.
Rika, the more serious one thus the usually less creative one had absolutely no idea of how to activate the morpher. "Um, Uncle? What are we supposed to do now? Say something?"
"Yes, repeat after me, 'Lightning Storm, Ranger form' and 'kiyaa' at the end of the phrase. Then tap the ends of the morphers."
"Er, can't we just say it and then tap it?"
"Oh common Aeri! We have to make it cool and all! Let's try it!"
Rika rolled her eyes, noticing Cam restraining himself from laughing, she glared, "All right, let's do it!" With that Rika held up her fist across her chest and called out the phrase . . . and absolutely nothing happened. Cam really did crack up then.
Clare sighed and shook her head, "Aeri, you're hopeless. Follow me. 'Lightning Storm, Ranger form! Haah!
She extended her right arm in a forward punching motion, while her left arm was pulled close up to her chest with her fist pointed up. She then retracted her extended right arm while extending her left. As she retracted her right arm, her hand shifted into a two-finger knife hand, which she then slid along her extended left arm until it tapped the end of the morpher.
A bright electric blue light filled the room as Clare morphed into the Navy Lightning Ranger. (For Ranger form description, see up at top). She looked down at her gloved hands, inspecting her silver gauntlets. She pulled the tsais from the sheath at her waist and ran her hand along the blades.
"Wow! This rocks!"
Rika stared while walking around her younger sister, "Sweet! This is awesome! You look great!"
"Ok Aeri, now you try. Did you get it?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Rika called the morphing call, "Lightning storm, Ranger Form! Haah!" Instantly a brilliant white light filled the room as Rika morphed into the Crimson Lightning Ranger. Clare jumped, "COOL Aeri!" Rika unsheathed her tsai and inspected the blade. She wondered, "Clare's got two of them, shouldn't I?"
Unknowingly, she imbued a small amount of power into her tsai, which split into two with a bright light filling the space between what was now two tsais, one in each hand.
Cam wryly remarked, "That answer your question?"
"Wow Uncle, this is so cool . . . er . . . how do we de-morph?"
"Cam will show you." Uncle nodded, gesturing to Cam.
Cam nodded, "Alright, you just have to say, 'Power down', and you should be de-morphed."
He threw his arms to his sides and called, "Power Down!" With a flash of bright green light, his Ranger suite shattered from his body leaving Cam clothed in his Ninja uniform.
"Oh, I get it. You only really have to say "Power down", it doesn't matter what you decide to do."
Rika and Clare nodded, "Power Down", both sisters performed a raving maneuver that stopped with their hands cupped over one another in front of their chests as their Ranger forms shattered from their bodies.
"Clare and Rika, now that you have been given these powers, you must use them wisely. Never use your powers in public or to escalate a battle. As Power Rangers, you two hold a great responsibility. Uphold the Honor Code of the Ninja and protect mankind. Do you swear to do so?"
Rika and Clare straightened and snapped to attention giving their Uncle a slight bow of their heads, "Yes Sensei, we know the privilege you bestow upon us and we accept the responsibility with honor."
"Now, Cam will show you two your room. Since space is limited, as Ninja Ops, which is what we call it, is home to few other students, you two will share a room."
"Haah!" Hunter ducked under Blake's incoming roundhouse and snapped back at Blake's open left side.
"Ugh! Dang bro, you need to lighten up. We're just sparring!"
Hunter stretched out a hand and pulled his brother up from the ground, with a look of remorse, "Sorry man, just having a bad day."
"You wanna talk bout it?"
"Nah, it's ok."
Blake jumped onto Hunter's back catching his brother in a headlock laughing, " Hey, I know what'll get you back up. Let's get some air at the track!"
"You're on" Hunter and Blake took off for the track each sprinting to be first.
The familiar odor of dirt and motor oil hit the Thunder's brothers' senses. Hunter sighed and wheeled his bike onto the track, with Blake trailing behind.
"Yo, I bet I'll beat you this time."
Hunter laughed, "Hahahah, in your dreams."
Both brothers squared off at the start line, and revved their throttles.
Whoosh!!! (Sorry, word's corny I know -_-; blame that on my sister, Jade, the rest of the Motocross stuff is mine.) Up the first jump, Blake was already first, twisting his head around; he could see his brother at the end of the trail, still quite near the startoff.
/Hmph, this ought to be easy./ With that he cracked the throttle a few more notches, and sped ahead of the rest.
Up, a few more jumps he took another glance and still saw his brother way in the back.
/Hmm, something isn't right, probably has something up his sleeve./
Looking ahead a turn was coming, with a few mental calculations, he leaned to the side while at the same letting his leg drag along the ground in a power slide, throwing up dust and dirt into the air, blinding those behind.
Turn left - turn right -turn right again, slide, jump. Blake twisted around, but the familiar crimson and white was no longer behind, as he turned to face forward he stopped and stared -- /What?!/
Right next to him was Hunter, seeing his brother he gave a slight nod, saluted with two fingers to his helmet and revved forward and cut off Blake on a turn.
/WHAT THE HECK?! HOW DID HE DO THAT?!/
Cracking the throttle, he caught up to his brother and both were neck to neck.
Hunter looked sideways, and smiled to himself,
/Haha, bet that got him./
The finish-line was steadily coming closer, both pushed their bikes to the max and crossed the line together, ahead of the others behind, leaving them to eat the brothers' dust.
Pulling his helmet off, Blake stared incredulously at Hunter, "YO! HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!?!?"
Wincing Hunter rubbed his ear and gave his brother a grin.
Blake pouted, "Dude, how'd you manage to go from last to almost first like that~?~!~?~!"
With a look of superiority, Hunter grinned "My little secret."
Blake chuckled, "Well, I bet I'm faster on foot. Race you to the beach!"
"Thanks Cam, we really appreciate you helping us and letting us stay here."
Cam laughed, "No problem, my pleasure."
Sensei replied, "Of course, you are family and are always welcome."
Arika dropped off her box, stretched her back, "I think there's one more."
Cam followed her out, "Here, I'll help you, that last one's pretty heavy."
Quietly he asked, "How are you guys doing?"
"Clare's ok, she's young. I hope she adjusts quickly." Arika sighed, holding one arm above the elbow.
"Don't worry about her, she'll be fine, but how are you doing?"
Shrugging, "It's hard, but I'll live."
"It's ok, we're here for you." Stepping closer he hugged her around the shoulders.
Arika looked up into Cam's dark brown eyes behind black iron-rimmed glasses, "Thanks, I know. You've always been like a brother to me."
Entering Ninja Ops, Clare ambushed her sister bouncing a volleyball, "Hey Aeri, wanna hit the beach?"
Hesitating, Arika replied, "Uhm sorry, I'm not really interested. Thanks, but you guys should go."
Clare pouted, "Cam's busy, and besides he's no fun."
Cam exclaimed from behind the huge box he was carrying, "Hey! I object! I'm plenty of fun!"
"Please, pleeeease, pretty please?"
Laughing at Clare's puppy eyes, Aeri gave in, "Ok - ok, I'll go."
The other Rangers were chilling on the beach watching Tori catch the enormous swells that crashed onto the shore.
"Whoohoo!!! Yeah Tori!" yelled Dustin as Shane watched with a huge grin on his face.
Tori flushed with adrenaline, jogged up to meet the panting Thunder brothers. "You guys didn't race from the track again, did you?"
Hunter barely managed to gasp out, "Yeah - gasp - we did"
Tori smiling asked, "Who won?"
Shane rolled his eyes, "Hunter, who else?"
"Blake, when are you going to learn that you might be younger than your bro, but he's definitely more experienced than you?" Dustin laughed.
"Never," smiling at his brother, "Besides, its fun to see him knock himself out trying to beat me!"
Hunter turned and growled, "Ok, now you've done it," and took off in hot pursuit after the fleeing figure of Blake.
A little distance away from the Rangers, two girls were setting up volleyball net. "Common sis, let's see if you can get past me." Laughed the younger girl, who had straight black hair and a twinkling smile.
The older girl, snorted, "Ha, you're so short that you couldn't try to block me even on stilts!"
The older girl also had straight jet-black hair that ran to the middle of her back. "Ok, Here goes . . . Jump, set, SPIKE!"
Screaming the older girl jumped into the air and with precision timing, slammed the ball across the net.
The other girl leaped up and managed to return the ball, as it glanced off her hand and ricocheted straight towards the Ninja Rangers.
Blake seeing the ball on a direct collision course in their general direction ducked and yelled out, "Yo, incoming!"
Hunter whirled and seeing the oncoming ball, managed to catch it just before it impacted with his chest.
Grunting, Hunter stumbled back a couple of steps as the older girl ran up and apologized, "Oh man, I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"
Hunter had already been having a bad day and the prospect of nearly being bludgeoned by the rogue volleyball did nothing to improve his already sour mood.
"Hey! Why don't you watch where you're hitting!"
The girl was slightly taken aback as were the other teens, immediately stiffened and retorted, "I didn't know that the beach belonged to you. Sorry."
With a huff, she yanked the ball from Hunter's hands and walked away fuming to herself.
/What a jerk! Are all the guys here jerks? I wish we'd never moved here./
The bell rang and Blake, looking at his watch, sprinted out of the classroom. "Man! Hunter's gonna be pissed if I'm late again."
Bent only on reaching the store before Hunter, Blake wasn't watching out where he was going.
Clare was outside and had already changed for her soccer practice. Juggling the ball alternately she slowly made her way down to the field where her teammates were walking into the locker rooms to change.
Bored Clare began to kick the ball around off her surroundings.
Snapping her foot, the ball flew and slammed against the school wall, flying back she jumped and let it impact on her chest. Bringing her knee up she tapped it back into the air, letting it fall back she shot it back up with a slight kick of her foot.
Leaping up, she round-housed the ball at a nearby tree; coming back too fast she jerked her head to the side as it passed within inches of her face. Spinning around she turned just in time to see the ball fly on a direct collision course with a running guy wearing a navy blue t-shirt and jeans.
"Heads up!"
Before Blake knew what happened, he felt something collide with his stomach and with a grunt, lost all the air in his body.
Doubled over, he felt someone near him ask a question, "Oh gosh, are you ok?"
It was an Asian girl with black hair.
Blake grimacing managed a, "Urg - yeah, I'm fine."
/She looks like Cam./
Blake shrugged the idea off and struggled to his feet, "Whoa, that was some kick, how long have you been playing soccer?"
"Eh, a couple of years. By the way, I'm Clare, I just moved here, "extending her hand.
"Blake."
Smiling Clare replied, "Pleasure to meet you. Do you do any sports?"
"I Motocross."
"Really!" Clare exclaimed, "I've always wanted to try that."
Blake scratched the back of his head as he laughed, "Hmm, you're the first girl I've ever met who'd wanted to try Motocross. Well come by the track sometime, and you can."
Clare flashed another smile, "Definitely."
Blake looked at his watch and panicked, "Oh crap. My bro is gonna kill me!"
Clare blinked, "Why?"
"My bro insists on being on time and I'm supposed to be there in 10 minutes!"
"Haha, I see, well you better get going then," Clare winked and walked away, stopping she turned her head slightly, "Hey, if your brother gives you any flack, just tell him you were talking to me," and flashed one last smile at Blake.
Stunned, Blake shook himself and sprinted towards the shop.
"I can make it - I'm gonna make it!" Blake sprinted into the store; inside he threw his hands up in victory and jumped up and down. Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from directly behind him. Turning around the first thing he could see was a chest covered by a crimson shirt with two arms crossed, looking up he saw his brother's face and immediately dropped his hands.
Hunter was scowling, "You didn't make it."
Blake raised his hands half in defense, half in earnest and cried, "I can explain! Really, I can!"
Hunter rolled his eyes, /Great, this oughta be good/
In a rush of breath, Blake exclaimed, "I met this girl."
Hunter knew that his brother was less inclined to be mindful of time, but this was the fifth time in the last two weeks. He started to swell in anger.
Blake seeing his brother on the verge of an outburst, raced through his brain for something that would deflate his brother, /Oh shoot, gotta think of something. Think - THINK!/
And Blurted the first that came to mind, "She looks like Cam!"
Hunter who was visibly preparing to chastise Blake, let out a not a long planned rant but rather a very loud and surprised, "WHAT?!"
Blake thankful that his brother's mind was on something else, continued in a rush, "Yeah, I met her while I was walking - er - running through the park. Actually it was more like her soccer ball met my stomach."
Sympathetic, Hunter winced mentally, but kept his face impassive, "Ouch."
"Yeah so anyway, she's new here, so I kinda invited her to drop by the store sometime." Scratching his head, "Wait I think it was the track, no I think it was the store . . ."
"When?"
"Uhm someday."
"Someday when?" Cocking his eyebrows.
Blake looking sheepish, "Err someday."
The older Ranger sighed in resignation, "Well at least did you get her name?"
Blake flushed and then panicked, "Of course, it's . . . Oh man! I can't remember her name!"
Hunter laughed, "Dude. You're so hopeless!"
Just then, a telltale beep signaled the Thunder Ranger's attentions.
Surreptitiously Hunter raised his right wrist with his morpher/communicator close to his mouth,
"What's up Cam?"
"I'm picking up a signal at the quarry."
Nodding to his brother, Hunter jerked his head towards the door, "Let's go."
Together, they sprinted out the store and snuck around to the back, making sure no one was around or watching, got into their positions.
Together they jumped to the roof in a streak of crimson and navy and traveled from rooftop to rooftop to the quarry.
Leaping off the last building the two brothers flashed across the empty field bordering the quarry, regardless of the steep cliff, they freefell, flipped and landed in crouching positions.
Springing up the two simultaneously morphed,
"Thunder Storm, Ranger Form! Haah!"
"Ah, why it's the itty-bitty Thunder Rangers! Oooh, I'm sooo scared!" taunted the monster pretending to have her knees quake.
"Yeah? Well you should be!" Retorted Blake while Hunter silently sized up the monster.
"Ha ha, yeah right! I am Voltra, prepare to meet your doom!"
Hunter still wary kept his guard; behind his helmet, Blake rolled his eyes, "Whatev'. It's not like we haven't heard that before."
Charging, Blake and Hunter flipped into the air, Blake slashed the monster across the midriff with his Tornado Star ducked and spun out of the way as Hunter struck a blow to the monster's head with his Short Staff.
Hunter switched his staff and rammed the end into Voltra's stomach, turned and stuck it back into the stomach again earning a pained grunt.
Blake used his Navy Antler and grabbed Voltra from behind, Voltra kicked Hunter with a front kick at his back while gathering energy from her body and forced it into her hand and released it behind, catching Blake full in the abdomen.
Blake felt his body loaded with voltage and excruciating pain, dimly aware of his body flying through the air, until he slammed his back into a wall of jagged rocks.
Hunter watched his younger brother's flight and flinched in pain as he heard his brother's faint groans, he once again charged and flashed into hyper-speed. Seeing Voltra directly in his sights, he attempted to land a blow with his staff, but instead of feeling the solid contact with alien flesh, he merely swung at air and stumbled forward in surprise.
Staring widely around he searched for Voltra; Blake fought his way through the waves of pain, looked up and saw a bright flash.
"Bro, look out! Behind you!"
Spinning around once more, Hunter saw a flash of light racing towards him, jumping out of the way he felt a current of air whoosh by.
Suddenly he was only aware of the intense pain in his body as he saw through the haze of pain, currents of raw electricity traveling up and down his body. Screaming, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest. He lay there panting trying to regain his breath. Struggling to his knees, he used his staff to try to lift himself back up.
Abruptly he heard more screaming, but realized that he was not the one. Seeing another flash of raw electricity, turning he saw Blake, his arms locked by KelzaKs and on his knees, staring up into the eyes of Voltra readying another volt of electricity in her hand.
Arika and Clare winced as they watched the Thunder ranger's fight. "Whooh, that monster is one hellish bitch!
Arika agreed, "Yeah, no kidding."
Hovering over Cam's shoulder, Arika and Clare watched as the Crimson Thunder Ranger took a full blast of raw electricity in his chest.
"Uncle! That monster can use raw electricity! Can they handle it?" Clare's eyes began to glow.
Arika placed her hand on her sister's shoulder, "Don't worry, Uncle wouldn't have sent them if he didn't think they could handle it."
Clare jerked away from Arika, "You know that they can't! Uncle, send us in."
*The Navy Thunder Ranger's scream wrenched the girls' attention back to the screen.*
"Uncle, send us in. They can't take anymore." Arika's own eyes started to glow and her fists began to clench.
*Sigh* "Alright, both of you go and be careful."
Arika and Clare called upon their powers. "Lightning Storm, Ranger Form! Haah!
Morphing into the Lightening Rangers, they flashed just as Cam spun in the chair and opened his mouth, "Hey Rika, Clare - wha'? Where'd they go dad?"
Sensei simply clasped his hands behind his back and turned to the screen.
On the screen, two new rangers flashed from the rooftops and landed one knee down onto the gravel. Slowly rising from their positions they stood and raised their heads; both fists were clenched, fury blazed in their visors.
The smaller of the two newly arrived rangers visor and fists were crackling with pure energy, the taller one's visor and fists were ablaze with blinding light. Both shifted into their specialized fighting stances.
The smaller ranger flipped over Voltra's head and let out a blast of electricity from her fingertips at the KelzaKs as they held the Navy Thunder Ranger. Sufficiently weakened, the cowardly KelzaKs dropped the Ranger and fled.
The smaller Ranger pulled her hands, her wrists attached, to the side of her waist gathering the energy from her surroundings.
Sufficient with the amount of power, she thrust out at Voltra, who was still unaware of her imminent danger. The bolt sped through the air leaving the smell of burning ozone behind.
A second before contact, Voltra turned slightly away from the fallen Navy Thunder Ranger, catching the full-blast in the chest.
Through a freak accident the volt was released from her hand, and struck the Crimson Thunder Ranger in the chest, who had managed to stand, leaning heavily on his staff as a crutch. Flying backwards, he hit the gravel on his shoulder and slid/rolled to a stop at the front of a rock face.
KelzaKs immediately swarmed over the Crimson Thunder Ranger, while the Navy Thunder Ranger was dragged away by more KelzaKs.
The two Lightning Rangers turned their helmeted heads to each other and nodded. Splitting, the taller of the two flipped to the fallen Crimson Thunder Ranger's side and fended off the attacking KelzaKs.
Pushing the Thunder Ranger behind her, she pulled her tsais from her back; splitting them with a current of lightning momentarily flashing between the two and shifted into her "guard" stance.
The Crimson Thunder Ranger struggled to pull himself up by putting his back to the rock face and leaning onto his staff. He reached out to put his hand on the Lightning Ranger's shoulder. But before he could touch her,
"Don't. I don't want you to get hurt." She told him without turning around to face him, "more than you already are, at least," under her breath.
/Hmm, he's barely able to stand on his feet and he's trying to still fight for himself, you've got to be kidding me. Still, I would do the same . . ./
Grimacing in pain, Hunter pulled his hand back away from the strange new ranger. /Arrgh - who is she? How'd she do that? And what is going on?!/
Holding up her tsais the glow from her weapons transferred to the rest of her body, completely blazing with blinding light, she jumped into the air and became a blur of light flashing from one place to another.
The light was so bright that Hunter had to cover his eyes despite of the automatic dimming of his helmet visor, as he squinted watching this stranger take action.
In, out and through the KelzaKs, suddenly, she reappeared standing back into her fighting stance in front of the Crimson Thunder Ranger once more, one hand above her head and with the other extended in front her, shifting like liquid light she thrust her hands to her sides, raised the twin tsais, attaching them, crossed her arm above her neck and slid her tsai into the sheath on her back.
/Whoa, did I just see what I just thought I saw?!/ Hunter blearily thought to himself through the waves of pain wracking his body.
"Thank you."
The Lightning Ranger turned slightly back towards the injured Ranger but gave no response and walked to the other Lightning Ranger just as the Red Ninja Wind Ranger ran up to the Crimson Thunder Ranger putting his arm over his shoulder. While the Blue and Yellow Wind Rangers helped each other pick up the Navy Thunder Ranger, one arm over each of the Ninja Storm Ranger's shoulders.
Stumbling closer together the Rangers flipped their visors up, the older Thunder Ranger's first words to his brother was,
"Hey bro, you ok?"
Wincing, the younger Thunder Ranger only wearily nodded.
All five Rangers turned to watch the other two new Rangers, the Red Wind Ranger was about to help out but Blake, barely held up by Tori, stopped him,
"Stop. No Shane, that fight is theirs. They can handle it."
Stopping in his tracks Shane turned back and stared at the Thunder Ranger.
"Blake's right, I think they're the only ones who can stop this freak," agreed Hunter supported by Dustin.
Shane stared at the Thunder Rangers and turned to look at the Lightning Rangers, nodded once and turned to his teammates.
"Alright."
Tori, silent until now suddenly exclaimed, "Hey look at that!"
The Five Rangers watched as the taller of the new Rangers shifted back towards the five, looked at them and turned to watch as the smaller Ranger readied herself to fight Voltra.
The small Ranger slowly turned to Voltra; she readied another blast, her voice low trembled with fury,
"You coward. You have no sense of Honor, striking someone while they're down. But then again, that's all you can do isn't? You shall meet your doom by a Lightning Ranger and a Lightning Ranger alone." With that she turned her head slightly towards the other Rangers as if warning them to stay away.
"What?! How dare you call me a coward! Ha, besides you will destroy me?! What a joke, your so short that when you sit on the sidewalk, your feet dangle! Hahahahah!" Laughing at her own joke she called for more KelzaKs. "Now let's see how well you can fight!"
"You call that an insult?! That's one of the oldest in the book! Shuttup and let's go!"
With that she stood up and slowly turned to face her enemy, with her head still bowed, and pulled out her tsais from under her crossed arms. Sliding the blades together, electricity traveled up and down the weapons emanating from her hands. Strangely the sliding took longer that it should for such short length, and the Rangers saw why: pulling the blades apart from contact from each other the center blades were now as long as dirks, just as strong and just as powerful.
"You ready?" The Lightning Ranger asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, pointing her tsai/dirks at Voltra while shooting a current of power at the monster.
The monster flew back from the force, landed on her back, struggled upright and clutched her chest as she screamed,
"You won't get away with this! I am the Queen of Voltage!!! No one can destroy me! I will be back!"
Turning Voltra spun turning herself into a blur and disappeared into the sky.
The Wind Rangers and Thunder Rangers slowly approached the two new Rangers, but stopped at the slight shake of the head from the taller of the two.
The taller Ranger walked to the smaller Ranger who was still slightly crackling with energy, and put her hand on the smaller Ranger's shoulder. Jumping slightly the smaller turned her head to the taller and nodded.
The taller took a step away, "See yah back at Ninja Ops," her hands moved in a swirling motion, raising them above her, she vanished in a column of light.
"K, later."
The smaller Ranger looked at the speechless Rangers. Giving them a slight wave, she turned and took a step towards the cliff face, abruptly flashing into a blur and then a current of pure electricity up and over the cliff.
The Rangers stared disbelievingly at each other; Blake recovered first and stuttered what they were all thinking,
"Did she say 'Ninja Ops'?!"
Authors' note: The following was written by Jade and Senga. To save time of having to describe the Ranger forms of Clare and Arika, we've described it before the story. Enjoy!
Clarice - (Clare) Age: 17 Lightning Ranger (Electricity) Dress: black and silver with navy trimming Design: No armor, skirt like Tori (black uniforms), upper arms expose silver trimming like the other rangers, helmet is black, silver outlines the face, has a silver circlet with Color insignia on it. Boots and Gloves, Gauntlets are black, with silver-plating on the gauntlets. Boots, gloves, and Gauntlets are rimmed with color of ranger. Belts are silver. Weapons: Twin Lightning Tsais that extend to length of a dirk
Arika (Rika/Aeri) Age: 20 Lightening Ranger (Lightning) Dress: black and silver with crimson trimming Design: No armor (skirt like Tori) black uniforms, upper arms expose silver trimming like the other rangers, helmet has silver circlet with insignia. Helmet is black, silver outlines the face, has a silver circlet with Color insignia on it. Boots and Gloves, Gauntlets are black, with silver-plating on the gauntlets. Boots, gloves, and Gauntlets are rimmed with color of ranger. Belts are silver. Weapons: Lightning Tsai that splits into two and can extend to length of a dirk
P.s. We just got new info on the Rangers' ages. Hunter is gonna be about 21. Blake is about 19, k? Oh also, the Wind Rangers will be about 19 too. Cam is about 23.
One more thing, sorry, but this is a slightly redone version of the first, it's a work-in-progress, so there's probably goin' to be a lot of redones here and there. But it gets better each time. And don't forget to review!!!
When the two Forces meet,
Thunder will roar and Lightning will flash,
And the Four shall be complete.
~~ Ancient Prophecy
Chapter I
"Umm, hello? Anybody home?" A girl of 17 called out as she entered Ninja Ops looking around the deserted area.
An older girl about 19 stepped in after, "Hey Clare, stay with me ~ and don't touch anything!" She raised her voice slightly on the last part as the younger was leaning over a small doll-like figurine of a hamster.
"I wasn't going to!" Clare yelped as she sprang up and whipped her hands behind her back trying to hide the guilty expression.
The older girl rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Yeah right, as if I didn't see your hand an inch away from that doll-thingy."
"Common Aeri, you don't trust enough," pouted Clare.
"Oh I do - I just don't trust you." Rika, only Clare called her 'Aeri', quipped with a sweet expression on her face while Clare only growled.
Clare took a closer look at the doll, suddenly she stepped back with a gasp, "Um . . . Aeri?"
"Yeah, what?"
"I think that doll just blinked."
Rolling her eyes Rika approached her stunned sister, who was waiting in a half guard-half fighting stance, "What'ev'."
Bending down she studied the little creature, "Hey, are you sure this is the right place?"
"Yah, I think, or maybe not . . ."
"Well, it's not like we saw this place at the Academy.
"True . . ."
Straightening, Rika cracked her back and slapped her sister's shoulder, "Common, let's go find Uncle."
Tossing one last suspicious glance at the doll, Clare followed her sister - or was about to when they heard, "Actually, I'm right here."
Whipping around both girls took up their fighting stance back to back as they peered wildly around the room.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Said Rika in a low, commanding tone that brooked no nonsense.
"Me. Look at me girls or rather look at the 'hamster,' one more thing, I am a guinea pig now."
Clare slowly dropped her stance and approached the little - er - Sensei until they were eye-level.
"Aeri? Uh I think the little ham - er - guinea pig just talked."
"What? Clare get back." Warned Rika as she bent down along side her unmoving sister to peer at the little creature. "No way, animals can't talk - ulp."
"True, but I'm not an animal, I know it's hard to recognize me but I can assure you, I'm your Uncle."
"Actually, he does seem to look like Uncle, doesn't he?"
Rika stared at her sister warily, "Have you lost it?"
"No! Of course not. But look at his clothes - er - miniature clothes, they sort of look like Uncle's."
"Clothes? Hamsters don't wear clothes, Clare."
"For the last time, girls, it's me Sensei of the Wind Ninja Academy and I am not a hamster! I am a guinea pig!"
Both girls still stared quizzically at Sensei, shaking his head the guinea pig Uncle sighed and called out, "Cam? Would you please come and greet your cousins and convince them that I am their Uncle?"
Stepping out of a nearby room, Cam who came out wearing khaki fatigues, green skullcap, sneakers and a green shirt over a black one, was smothering a laugh with one hand as he greeted his two younger cousins.
"Hey Rika, Clare. Wassup?" He threw his hands in the air in a "West- side/East-side" mode and threw his arms over their shoulders. "Oh yeah, and that little furry dude over there really is Dad or Uncle or Sensei or whatever you call him."
Rika cocked her head at Cam while Clare craned her head upwards and sideways as she staggered under her cousin's arm.
"Uh, hey umm, Cam. How are you?"
"Sorry guys, Cyber Cam, out." Said another Cam dressed in a green Ninja uniform and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Aww, common, the party was just getting start -" Cyber Cam never finished as he disappeared from view just in time before Clare collapsed.
"Sorry Dad, Clare, Rika. That was Cyber Cam, a hologram I've built to help me out around the place. And that is Dad." Cam stated flatly as he pointed at the guinea pig.
"Ok, I guess we believe, but what happened to you?" Rika cocked her head at her Uncle.
"And when did you become a ninja?" Clare cocked her own head at her cousin.
"Long story. The short of it is: Uncle Kiya is now Uncle Lothor and he turned Dad into a guinea pig and as for me? I'll tell you guys later."
"Girls, did you get the package," interrupted Uncle, with a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Oh, so you're the one who sent us the package. Uh, yeah and it had these weird wrist-watchy thingies." Both girls pulled out their morphers from various pockets and placed them on the table in front of their Uncle.
"But they don't tell time." Quipped Clare.
"And the necklaces," inquired Sensei, cocking his eyebrow.
Both girls reached up to their necks and pulled out two necklaces on black leather thongs with identical glass/crystal pendants.
"Good."
"But Uncle, what are these things for? And who or what is Lothor?"
"Remember Uncle Kiya?"
Both girls nodded, "Wasn't he that ninja who was exiled for using dark ninja magic?"
"Yes, but now he has returned. As for those 'wrist-watchy thingies' as you've so quaintly put it, are morphers."
Staring in shock Clare blurted, "'Morphers'? You mean the Power Ranger kind of morpher?"
Rika rolled her eyes at her sister, "Clare you watch way too much TV, Power Rangers don't exist!"
"Actually they do," Cam, silent until now, stood up, "Here let me show you."
"Samurai Storm, Ranger form! Haah!" Cam morphed into the Green Samurai Ranger in front of the two very astonished teens.
"You believe us now?" Cam asked cocking his helmeted head to one side.
Rika managed to squeak a "yes" while Clare merely stared with an open mouth.
Clare recovered, jumped up and walked around her cousin, "Wow!!! This is so cool! You look great, Cam!"
Cam gave up on trying to follow his younger cousin and turned to the still shocked Rika. "So what do you think?"
"Er - ok?"
"So, will Rika and I be able to do this with these morphers?" Clare asked as she finally calmed down enough to sit next to her sister.
"Yes, but you two will not be Samurai Rangers."
Clare's enthusiasm immediately deflated while Rika watched impassively and waited for their Uncle to continue, "So If we're not Samurai Rangers or Wind Rangers what are we?"
"Don't worry, you two have your own unique Ranger forms as well."
"So what are we Uncle," Clare blurted, Rika threw her sister a glare and Clare immediately shut up.
"Patience Clare. I will tell you, but first tell me about your abilities."
Both sisters shifted warily as they glanced at each other, "Um, what abilities, Uncle? We don't know what you mean."
"Don't worry, you two can trust me, I know that both of you were born with special abilities but I need you to show what each of you have."
The sisters glanced at each other and Rika nodded, "Alright Uncle. Sorry that we hesitated, but we gave Mom and Dad our word to be careful about showing our abilities in public."
Sensei nodded in agreement, "I know and I expected no less."
Rika held up one cupped hand as if holding a ball but strangely a ball of brilliant white light formed that crackled with energy.
"Ah, I see that Rika has the power of Lightning. And you Clare?"
"Right here Uncle." With that Clare held up her own hand and a ball of electric blue lit the room crackling more audibly with snake-like strands emanating and circling the sphere.
Both Sensei and Cam were forced to shade their eyes against the brilliance and lowered their arms when the two girls extinguished their forces by closing their hands into fists.
"Good. With your powers, only you two are the only ones who can activate the Lightning morphers. Furthermore, I'm sure that you two know how to harness and control your powers, correct?"
"Of course Uncle, we had to, otherwise there wouldn't exactly be much around now would we? Although Clare still slightly loses it when she has strong emotions."
"Hey, I do not!" Protested Clare, poking her sister in the ribs as Cam covered a smile with his hand.
"Uncle, did Mom and Dad know about all this morphing stuff, well, we already know that they knew about our powers but . . ." Rika drifted off, unable to continue to talk being reminded of their late parents.
"Yes, they did, I told them when you, Rika, were born and again when Clare was born and had discovered that she had her own powers as well. Now you two, pick up the morphers and place them on your left wrist and try to activate them."
The two girls got up from their respectful kneeling positions from the cushions, picked up and strapped the morphers onto their wrists.
Rika, the more serious one thus the usually less creative one had absolutely no idea of how to activate the morpher. "Um, Uncle? What are we supposed to do now? Say something?"
"Yes, repeat after me, 'Lightning Storm, Ranger form' and 'kiyaa' at the end of the phrase. Then tap the ends of the morphers."
"Er, can't we just say it and then tap it?"
"Oh common Aeri! We have to make it cool and all! Let's try it!"
Rika rolled her eyes, noticing Cam restraining himself from laughing, she glared, "All right, let's do it!" With that Rika held up her fist across her chest and called out the phrase . . . and absolutely nothing happened. Cam really did crack up then.
Clare sighed and shook her head, "Aeri, you're hopeless. Follow me. 'Lightning Storm, Ranger form! Haah!
She extended her right arm in a forward punching motion, while her left arm was pulled close up to her chest with her fist pointed up. She then retracted her extended right arm while extending her left. As she retracted her right arm, her hand shifted into a two-finger knife hand, which she then slid along her extended left arm until it tapped the end of the morpher.
A bright electric blue light filled the room as Clare morphed into the Navy Lightning Ranger. (For Ranger form description, see up at top). She looked down at her gloved hands, inspecting her silver gauntlets. She pulled the tsais from the sheath at her waist and ran her hand along the blades.
"Wow! This rocks!"
Rika stared while walking around her younger sister, "Sweet! This is awesome! You look great!"
"Ok Aeri, now you try. Did you get it?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Rika called the morphing call, "Lightning storm, Ranger Form! Haah!" Instantly a brilliant white light filled the room as Rika morphed into the Crimson Lightning Ranger. Clare jumped, "COOL Aeri!" Rika unsheathed her tsai and inspected the blade. She wondered, "Clare's got two of them, shouldn't I?"
Unknowingly, she imbued a small amount of power into her tsai, which split into two with a bright light filling the space between what was now two tsais, one in each hand.
Cam wryly remarked, "That answer your question?"
"Wow Uncle, this is so cool . . . er . . . how do we de-morph?"
"Cam will show you." Uncle nodded, gesturing to Cam.
Cam nodded, "Alright, you just have to say, 'Power down', and you should be de-morphed."
He threw his arms to his sides and called, "Power Down!" With a flash of bright green light, his Ranger suite shattered from his body leaving Cam clothed in his Ninja uniform.
"Oh, I get it. You only really have to say "Power down", it doesn't matter what you decide to do."
Rika and Clare nodded, "Power Down", both sisters performed a raving maneuver that stopped with their hands cupped over one another in front of their chests as their Ranger forms shattered from their bodies.
"Clare and Rika, now that you have been given these powers, you must use them wisely. Never use your powers in public or to escalate a battle. As Power Rangers, you two hold a great responsibility. Uphold the Honor Code of the Ninja and protect mankind. Do you swear to do so?"
Rika and Clare straightened and snapped to attention giving their Uncle a slight bow of their heads, "Yes Sensei, we know the privilege you bestow upon us and we accept the responsibility with honor."
"Now, Cam will show you two your room. Since space is limited, as Ninja Ops, which is what we call it, is home to few other students, you two will share a room."
"Haah!" Hunter ducked under Blake's incoming roundhouse and snapped back at Blake's open left side.
"Ugh! Dang bro, you need to lighten up. We're just sparring!"
Hunter stretched out a hand and pulled his brother up from the ground, with a look of remorse, "Sorry man, just having a bad day."
"You wanna talk bout it?"
"Nah, it's ok."
Blake jumped onto Hunter's back catching his brother in a headlock laughing, " Hey, I know what'll get you back up. Let's get some air at the track!"
"You're on" Hunter and Blake took off for the track each sprinting to be first.
The familiar odor of dirt and motor oil hit the Thunder's brothers' senses. Hunter sighed and wheeled his bike onto the track, with Blake trailing behind.
"Yo, I bet I'll beat you this time."
Hunter laughed, "Hahahah, in your dreams."
Both brothers squared off at the start line, and revved their throttles.
Whoosh!!! (Sorry, word's corny I know -_-; blame that on my sister, Jade, the rest of the Motocross stuff is mine.) Up the first jump, Blake was already first, twisting his head around; he could see his brother at the end of the trail, still quite near the startoff.
/Hmph, this ought to be easy./ With that he cracked the throttle a few more notches, and sped ahead of the rest.
Up, a few more jumps he took another glance and still saw his brother way in the back.
/Hmm, something isn't right, probably has something up his sleeve./
Looking ahead a turn was coming, with a few mental calculations, he leaned to the side while at the same letting his leg drag along the ground in a power slide, throwing up dust and dirt into the air, blinding those behind.
Turn left - turn right -turn right again, slide, jump. Blake twisted around, but the familiar crimson and white was no longer behind, as he turned to face forward he stopped and stared -- /What?!/
Right next to him was Hunter, seeing his brother he gave a slight nod, saluted with two fingers to his helmet and revved forward and cut off Blake on a turn.
/WHAT THE HECK?! HOW DID HE DO THAT?!/
Cracking the throttle, he caught up to his brother and both were neck to neck.
Hunter looked sideways, and smiled to himself,
/Haha, bet that got him./
The finish-line was steadily coming closer, both pushed their bikes to the max and crossed the line together, ahead of the others behind, leaving them to eat the brothers' dust.
Pulling his helmet off, Blake stared incredulously at Hunter, "YO! HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!?!?"
Wincing Hunter rubbed his ear and gave his brother a grin.
Blake pouted, "Dude, how'd you manage to go from last to almost first like that~?~!~?~!"
With a look of superiority, Hunter grinned "My little secret."
Blake chuckled, "Well, I bet I'm faster on foot. Race you to the beach!"
"Thanks Cam, we really appreciate you helping us and letting us stay here."
Cam laughed, "No problem, my pleasure."
Sensei replied, "Of course, you are family and are always welcome."
Arika dropped off her box, stretched her back, "I think there's one more."
Cam followed her out, "Here, I'll help you, that last one's pretty heavy."
Quietly he asked, "How are you guys doing?"
"Clare's ok, she's young. I hope she adjusts quickly." Arika sighed, holding one arm above the elbow.
"Don't worry about her, she'll be fine, but how are you doing?"
Shrugging, "It's hard, but I'll live."
"It's ok, we're here for you." Stepping closer he hugged her around the shoulders.
Arika looked up into Cam's dark brown eyes behind black iron-rimmed glasses, "Thanks, I know. You've always been like a brother to me."
Entering Ninja Ops, Clare ambushed her sister bouncing a volleyball, "Hey Aeri, wanna hit the beach?"
Hesitating, Arika replied, "Uhm sorry, I'm not really interested. Thanks, but you guys should go."
Clare pouted, "Cam's busy, and besides he's no fun."
Cam exclaimed from behind the huge box he was carrying, "Hey! I object! I'm plenty of fun!"
"Please, pleeeease, pretty please?"
Laughing at Clare's puppy eyes, Aeri gave in, "Ok - ok, I'll go."
The other Rangers were chilling on the beach watching Tori catch the enormous swells that crashed onto the shore.
"Whoohoo!!! Yeah Tori!" yelled Dustin as Shane watched with a huge grin on his face.
Tori flushed with adrenaline, jogged up to meet the panting Thunder brothers. "You guys didn't race from the track again, did you?"
Hunter barely managed to gasp out, "Yeah - gasp - we did"
Tori smiling asked, "Who won?"
Shane rolled his eyes, "Hunter, who else?"
"Blake, when are you going to learn that you might be younger than your bro, but he's definitely more experienced than you?" Dustin laughed.
"Never," smiling at his brother, "Besides, its fun to see him knock himself out trying to beat me!"
Hunter turned and growled, "Ok, now you've done it," and took off in hot pursuit after the fleeing figure of Blake.
A little distance away from the Rangers, two girls were setting up volleyball net. "Common sis, let's see if you can get past me." Laughed the younger girl, who had straight black hair and a twinkling smile.
The older girl, snorted, "Ha, you're so short that you couldn't try to block me even on stilts!"
The older girl also had straight jet-black hair that ran to the middle of her back. "Ok, Here goes . . . Jump, set, SPIKE!"
Screaming the older girl jumped into the air and with precision timing, slammed the ball across the net.
The other girl leaped up and managed to return the ball, as it glanced off her hand and ricocheted straight towards the Ninja Rangers.
Blake seeing the ball on a direct collision course in their general direction ducked and yelled out, "Yo, incoming!"
Hunter whirled and seeing the oncoming ball, managed to catch it just before it impacted with his chest.
Grunting, Hunter stumbled back a couple of steps as the older girl ran up and apologized, "Oh man, I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"
Hunter had already been having a bad day and the prospect of nearly being bludgeoned by the rogue volleyball did nothing to improve his already sour mood.
"Hey! Why don't you watch where you're hitting!"
The girl was slightly taken aback as were the other teens, immediately stiffened and retorted, "I didn't know that the beach belonged to you. Sorry."
With a huff, she yanked the ball from Hunter's hands and walked away fuming to herself.
/What a jerk! Are all the guys here jerks? I wish we'd never moved here./
The bell rang and Blake, looking at his watch, sprinted out of the classroom. "Man! Hunter's gonna be pissed if I'm late again."
Bent only on reaching the store before Hunter, Blake wasn't watching out where he was going.
Clare was outside and had already changed for her soccer practice. Juggling the ball alternately she slowly made her way down to the field where her teammates were walking into the locker rooms to change.
Bored Clare began to kick the ball around off her surroundings.
Snapping her foot, the ball flew and slammed against the school wall, flying back she jumped and let it impact on her chest. Bringing her knee up she tapped it back into the air, letting it fall back she shot it back up with a slight kick of her foot.
Leaping up, she round-housed the ball at a nearby tree; coming back too fast she jerked her head to the side as it passed within inches of her face. Spinning around she turned just in time to see the ball fly on a direct collision course with a running guy wearing a navy blue t-shirt and jeans.
"Heads up!"
Before Blake knew what happened, he felt something collide with his stomach and with a grunt, lost all the air in his body.
Doubled over, he felt someone near him ask a question, "Oh gosh, are you ok?"
It was an Asian girl with black hair.
Blake grimacing managed a, "Urg - yeah, I'm fine."
/She looks like Cam./
Blake shrugged the idea off and struggled to his feet, "Whoa, that was some kick, how long have you been playing soccer?"
"Eh, a couple of years. By the way, I'm Clare, I just moved here, "extending her hand.
"Blake."
Smiling Clare replied, "Pleasure to meet you. Do you do any sports?"
"I Motocross."
"Really!" Clare exclaimed, "I've always wanted to try that."
Blake scratched the back of his head as he laughed, "Hmm, you're the first girl I've ever met who'd wanted to try Motocross. Well come by the track sometime, and you can."
Clare flashed another smile, "Definitely."
Blake looked at his watch and panicked, "Oh crap. My bro is gonna kill me!"
Clare blinked, "Why?"
"My bro insists on being on time and I'm supposed to be there in 10 minutes!"
"Haha, I see, well you better get going then," Clare winked and walked away, stopping she turned her head slightly, "Hey, if your brother gives you any flack, just tell him you were talking to me," and flashed one last smile at Blake.
Stunned, Blake shook himself and sprinted towards the shop.
"I can make it - I'm gonna make it!" Blake sprinted into the store; inside he threw his hands up in victory and jumped up and down. Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from directly behind him. Turning around the first thing he could see was a chest covered by a crimson shirt with two arms crossed, looking up he saw his brother's face and immediately dropped his hands.
Hunter was scowling, "You didn't make it."
Blake raised his hands half in defense, half in earnest and cried, "I can explain! Really, I can!"
Hunter rolled his eyes, /Great, this oughta be good/
In a rush of breath, Blake exclaimed, "I met this girl."
Hunter knew that his brother was less inclined to be mindful of time, but this was the fifth time in the last two weeks. He started to swell in anger.
Blake seeing his brother on the verge of an outburst, raced through his brain for something that would deflate his brother, /Oh shoot, gotta think of something. Think - THINK!/
And Blurted the first that came to mind, "She looks like Cam!"
Hunter who was visibly preparing to chastise Blake, let out a not a long planned rant but rather a very loud and surprised, "WHAT?!"
Blake thankful that his brother's mind was on something else, continued in a rush, "Yeah, I met her while I was walking - er - running through the park. Actually it was more like her soccer ball met my stomach."
Sympathetic, Hunter winced mentally, but kept his face impassive, "Ouch."
"Yeah so anyway, she's new here, so I kinda invited her to drop by the store sometime." Scratching his head, "Wait I think it was the track, no I think it was the store . . ."
"When?"
"Uhm someday."
"Someday when?" Cocking his eyebrows.
Blake looking sheepish, "Err someday."
The older Ranger sighed in resignation, "Well at least did you get her name?"
Blake flushed and then panicked, "Of course, it's . . . Oh man! I can't remember her name!"
Hunter laughed, "Dude. You're so hopeless!"
Just then, a telltale beep signaled the Thunder Ranger's attentions.
Surreptitiously Hunter raised his right wrist with his morpher/communicator close to his mouth,
"What's up Cam?"
"I'm picking up a signal at the quarry."
Nodding to his brother, Hunter jerked his head towards the door, "Let's go."
Together, they sprinted out the store and snuck around to the back, making sure no one was around or watching, got into their positions.
Together they jumped to the roof in a streak of crimson and navy and traveled from rooftop to rooftop to the quarry.
Leaping off the last building the two brothers flashed across the empty field bordering the quarry, regardless of the steep cliff, they freefell, flipped and landed in crouching positions.
Springing up the two simultaneously morphed,
"Thunder Storm, Ranger Form! Haah!"
"Ah, why it's the itty-bitty Thunder Rangers! Oooh, I'm sooo scared!" taunted the monster pretending to have her knees quake.
"Yeah? Well you should be!" Retorted Blake while Hunter silently sized up the monster.
"Ha ha, yeah right! I am Voltra, prepare to meet your doom!"
Hunter still wary kept his guard; behind his helmet, Blake rolled his eyes, "Whatev'. It's not like we haven't heard that before."
Charging, Blake and Hunter flipped into the air, Blake slashed the monster across the midriff with his Tornado Star ducked and spun out of the way as Hunter struck a blow to the monster's head with his Short Staff.
Hunter switched his staff and rammed the end into Voltra's stomach, turned and stuck it back into the stomach again earning a pained grunt.
Blake used his Navy Antler and grabbed Voltra from behind, Voltra kicked Hunter with a front kick at his back while gathering energy from her body and forced it into her hand and released it behind, catching Blake full in the abdomen.
Blake felt his body loaded with voltage and excruciating pain, dimly aware of his body flying through the air, until he slammed his back into a wall of jagged rocks.
Hunter watched his younger brother's flight and flinched in pain as he heard his brother's faint groans, he once again charged and flashed into hyper-speed. Seeing Voltra directly in his sights, he attempted to land a blow with his staff, but instead of feeling the solid contact with alien flesh, he merely swung at air and stumbled forward in surprise.
Staring widely around he searched for Voltra; Blake fought his way through the waves of pain, looked up and saw a bright flash.
"Bro, look out! Behind you!"
Spinning around once more, Hunter saw a flash of light racing towards him, jumping out of the way he felt a current of air whoosh by.
Suddenly he was only aware of the intense pain in his body as he saw through the haze of pain, currents of raw electricity traveling up and down his body. Screaming, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest. He lay there panting trying to regain his breath. Struggling to his knees, he used his staff to try to lift himself back up.
Abruptly he heard more screaming, but realized that he was not the one. Seeing another flash of raw electricity, turning he saw Blake, his arms locked by KelzaKs and on his knees, staring up into the eyes of Voltra readying another volt of electricity in her hand.
Arika and Clare winced as they watched the Thunder ranger's fight. "Whooh, that monster is one hellish bitch!
Arika agreed, "Yeah, no kidding."
Hovering over Cam's shoulder, Arika and Clare watched as the Crimson Thunder Ranger took a full blast of raw electricity in his chest.
"Uncle! That monster can use raw electricity! Can they handle it?" Clare's eyes began to glow.
Arika placed her hand on her sister's shoulder, "Don't worry, Uncle wouldn't have sent them if he didn't think they could handle it."
Clare jerked away from Arika, "You know that they can't! Uncle, send us in."
*The Navy Thunder Ranger's scream wrenched the girls' attention back to the screen.*
"Uncle, send us in. They can't take anymore." Arika's own eyes started to glow and her fists began to clench.
*Sigh* "Alright, both of you go and be careful."
Arika and Clare called upon their powers. "Lightning Storm, Ranger Form! Haah!
Morphing into the Lightening Rangers, they flashed just as Cam spun in the chair and opened his mouth, "Hey Rika, Clare - wha'? Where'd they go dad?"
Sensei simply clasped his hands behind his back and turned to the screen.
On the screen, two new rangers flashed from the rooftops and landed one knee down onto the gravel. Slowly rising from their positions they stood and raised their heads; both fists were clenched, fury blazed in their visors.
The smaller of the two newly arrived rangers visor and fists were crackling with pure energy, the taller one's visor and fists were ablaze with blinding light. Both shifted into their specialized fighting stances.
The smaller ranger flipped over Voltra's head and let out a blast of electricity from her fingertips at the KelzaKs as they held the Navy Thunder Ranger. Sufficiently weakened, the cowardly KelzaKs dropped the Ranger and fled.
The smaller Ranger pulled her hands, her wrists attached, to the side of her waist gathering the energy from her surroundings.
Sufficient with the amount of power, she thrust out at Voltra, who was still unaware of her imminent danger. The bolt sped through the air leaving the smell of burning ozone behind.
A second before contact, Voltra turned slightly away from the fallen Navy Thunder Ranger, catching the full-blast in the chest.
Through a freak accident the volt was released from her hand, and struck the Crimson Thunder Ranger in the chest, who had managed to stand, leaning heavily on his staff as a crutch. Flying backwards, he hit the gravel on his shoulder and slid/rolled to a stop at the front of a rock face.
KelzaKs immediately swarmed over the Crimson Thunder Ranger, while the Navy Thunder Ranger was dragged away by more KelzaKs.
The two Lightning Rangers turned their helmeted heads to each other and nodded. Splitting, the taller of the two flipped to the fallen Crimson Thunder Ranger's side and fended off the attacking KelzaKs.
Pushing the Thunder Ranger behind her, she pulled her tsais from her back; splitting them with a current of lightning momentarily flashing between the two and shifted into her "guard" stance.
The Crimson Thunder Ranger struggled to pull himself up by putting his back to the rock face and leaning onto his staff. He reached out to put his hand on the Lightning Ranger's shoulder. But before he could touch her,
"Don't. I don't want you to get hurt." She told him without turning around to face him, "more than you already are, at least," under her breath.
/Hmm, he's barely able to stand on his feet and he's trying to still fight for himself, you've got to be kidding me. Still, I would do the same . . ./
Grimacing in pain, Hunter pulled his hand back away from the strange new ranger. /Arrgh - who is she? How'd she do that? And what is going on?!/
Holding up her tsais the glow from her weapons transferred to the rest of her body, completely blazing with blinding light, she jumped into the air and became a blur of light flashing from one place to another.
The light was so bright that Hunter had to cover his eyes despite of the automatic dimming of his helmet visor, as he squinted watching this stranger take action.
In, out and through the KelzaKs, suddenly, she reappeared standing back into her fighting stance in front of the Crimson Thunder Ranger once more, one hand above her head and with the other extended in front her, shifting like liquid light she thrust her hands to her sides, raised the twin tsais, attaching them, crossed her arm above her neck and slid her tsai into the sheath on her back.
/Whoa, did I just see what I just thought I saw?!/ Hunter blearily thought to himself through the waves of pain wracking his body.
"Thank you."
The Lightning Ranger turned slightly back towards the injured Ranger but gave no response and walked to the other Lightning Ranger just as the Red Ninja Wind Ranger ran up to the Crimson Thunder Ranger putting his arm over his shoulder. While the Blue and Yellow Wind Rangers helped each other pick up the Navy Thunder Ranger, one arm over each of the Ninja Storm Ranger's shoulders.
Stumbling closer together the Rangers flipped their visors up, the older Thunder Ranger's first words to his brother was,
"Hey bro, you ok?"
Wincing, the younger Thunder Ranger only wearily nodded.
All five Rangers turned to watch the other two new Rangers, the Red Wind Ranger was about to help out but Blake, barely held up by Tori, stopped him,
"Stop. No Shane, that fight is theirs. They can handle it."
Stopping in his tracks Shane turned back and stared at the Thunder Ranger.
"Blake's right, I think they're the only ones who can stop this freak," agreed Hunter supported by Dustin.
Shane stared at the Thunder Rangers and turned to look at the Lightning Rangers, nodded once and turned to his teammates.
"Alright."
Tori, silent until now suddenly exclaimed, "Hey look at that!"
The Five Rangers watched as the taller of the new Rangers shifted back towards the five, looked at them and turned to watch as the smaller Ranger readied herself to fight Voltra.
The small Ranger slowly turned to Voltra; she readied another blast, her voice low trembled with fury,
"You coward. You have no sense of Honor, striking someone while they're down. But then again, that's all you can do isn't? You shall meet your doom by a Lightning Ranger and a Lightning Ranger alone." With that she turned her head slightly towards the other Rangers as if warning them to stay away.
"What?! How dare you call me a coward! Ha, besides you will destroy me?! What a joke, your so short that when you sit on the sidewalk, your feet dangle! Hahahahah!" Laughing at her own joke she called for more KelzaKs. "Now let's see how well you can fight!"
"You call that an insult?! That's one of the oldest in the book! Shuttup and let's go!"
With that she stood up and slowly turned to face her enemy, with her head still bowed, and pulled out her tsais from under her crossed arms. Sliding the blades together, electricity traveled up and down the weapons emanating from her hands. Strangely the sliding took longer that it should for such short length, and the Rangers saw why: pulling the blades apart from contact from each other the center blades were now as long as dirks, just as strong and just as powerful.
"You ready?" The Lightning Ranger asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, pointing her tsai/dirks at Voltra while shooting a current of power at the monster.
The monster flew back from the force, landed on her back, struggled upright and clutched her chest as she screamed,
"You won't get away with this! I am the Queen of Voltage!!! No one can destroy me! I will be back!"
Turning Voltra spun turning herself into a blur and disappeared into the sky.
The Wind Rangers and Thunder Rangers slowly approached the two new Rangers, but stopped at the slight shake of the head from the taller of the two.
The taller Ranger walked to the smaller Ranger who was still slightly crackling with energy, and put her hand on the smaller Ranger's shoulder. Jumping slightly the smaller turned her head to the taller and nodded.
The taller took a step away, "See yah back at Ninja Ops," her hands moved in a swirling motion, raising them above her, she vanished in a column of light.
"K, later."
The smaller Ranger looked at the speechless Rangers. Giving them a slight wave, she turned and took a step towards the cliff face, abruptly flashing into a blur and then a current of pure electricity up and over the cliff.
The Rangers stared disbelievingly at each other; Blake recovered first and stuttered what they were all thinking,
"Did she say 'Ninja Ops'?!"