A/N: Ah. Another chapter uploaded... for anyone wondering, I'll try to
update every Wednesday and Friday, so look then. Also, does anyone know how
to remove my previous reviews? I want to start over in review count without
having to delete the entire story, but I don't know how... Let me know!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Zeo Rangers teleported in and instantly began to fight the Putties that were terrorizing a group of terrified picnickers. Unlike in the past, these Putties wouldn't disintegrate with only one punch or kick, and soon, the Power Rangers tired.
" What the Devil? These guys are like Putties on steroids!" shouted Rocky, as he tried to take on 4 at a time.
" Seriously!" Tommy kicked a Puttie in the stomach.
" Hey Tom! You and the girls can go after the monster! I think Rocko and I got it!" Adam ducked as a Puttie swung at his head.
" Speak for yourself bro!" Rocky jumped away, just as two Putties ran into each other. Tommy nodded, and the three hurried towards the monster called FlingSling, leaving Adam and Rocky with about a dozen Putties each.
" Your days are up FlingSling!" shouted Tommy, and pulled out his Zeo pistol and began to shoot the monster.
" You wish Red Ranger." A slingshot appeared and the monster flung a large, flaming orb at them. They leaped out of the way, and instead, the sphere hit the lake nearby with a sizzle and splash. Tanya brought out her double- clubs and tossed them at FlingSling just as Kat threw her discs. Sparks flew all over the park, and little fires shot up all around them, making the victims scream and cry. That attack shook it up, but other than that, did nothing.
" What are we going to do guys? We've done everything we can, and it's not fazing him!" worried Kat.
" Just keep at it! We've beaten these things before!" Tommy drew out his sword and charged. FlingSling chucked another orb, and Tommy barely dodged it.
" Kat, watch out!" screamed Tanya, as the fire orb meant for Tommy hit Kat and threw her up against a nearby tree. Only a light moan proved that the crumpled Ranger was even alive. A few moments later, Kat unmorphed.
-In the counsel of Evil-
" The poor, poor Pink Ranger," muttered Lord Zedd.
" Send more of my Putties and drain the last of the Rangers' energy!" screamed Rita, waving her staff about.
" No! Make FlingSling grow, grow, grow!!!" cackled Divatox.
" Let me send some of my followers, Toxica and Jindrax, and finish them off!" Roared Master Org. Master Evil pursed his lips and thought for a moment before speaking.
" We shall leave them for now, just as a warning. Then it will make the final battle so much more satisfying..."
~*~
Just as soon as the monster and Putties arrived, they just as quickly left. The four unmorphed, and Tommy ran to his wounded girlfriend.
" Kat? Are you okay?" He ran his hand over Kat's bruised face, and lightly shook her shoulder. She didn't move.
" Billy, come in."
" Billy's left with Justin and Trip. Are you all okay?" came Jason's voice.
" No. Kat's really injured. Can you transport her back?"
" Yeah. Hold on." A pause came from both sides, before Kat streamed away in a beam of pink light.
" Jase... take good care of her, and call me if anything happens."
" You got it bro." As soon as Kat was gone, a holographic being appeared.
" You have only felt the tip of the iceberg Rangers. You've been warned." The holographic Master Evil laughed, then disappeared, leaving the injured rangers to help the victims out the battle weary park.
~*~
" Kat?" Jason was attempting to awaken her as he stroked the back of her hand.
" J-Jason?" Kat murmured weakly. Her head spun, and it was hard to focus.
" How're you feeling?"
" Like parp... think you could knock me out so I can sleep again?" Jason chuckled and kissed her forehead.
" I'll go get some painkillers then contact Tommy, okay?" Kat nodded hazily, then closed her eyes and grimaced. Jason sighed and left the room. By the time he came back, Kat had dozed off in a dreamless sleep.
~*~
" You all did really well," said Trini, as she dabbed antiseptic onto some of Kat's minor wounds. She had been going in and out of consciousness, but at least she had stabilized.
" We failed," Tommy shook his head, " People were hurt, and one person even died."
" Hey Billy? Can you come here real quick?" Jason called to his friend, who was currently bandaging Rocky's bleeding arm.
" Yeah. I'll be right back, okay?" Billy got up and walked over to his pensive friend.
" What is it?"
" I was thinking while you were gone... Do you think we could evacuate the Angel Grove citizens into the Stone Canyon caves? It'd just be temporary, but they'd be safe from this."
" Well... we'd have to consult with the mayor of Angel Grove and Stone Canyon, but if the Power Rangers are the requesters, it's very possible." Jason rubbed his chin.
" Want to find out?" Billy grinned and nodded. Both pulled out their old morphers. And at the same time, yelled:
"It's Morphing Time!"
~*~
A few days after the park battle...
" Hey Kat, how are you feeling?" Tommy walked slowly into his girlfriend's room, but soon realized that she was missing.
" Kat?? Where are you??" Maybe he was overreacting, but she was hurt, and Dana said she might be in a lot of pain.
" I'm over here love. What's wrong?"
" You should be sitting down!" He led her to a nearby chair and kneeled next to it.
" Don't baby me Thomas Oliver. I'm a grown woman."
" I know..." He stared at her features, marveling her loveliness. Yes, he was a lucky man indeed, to have such a beautiful, caring, amazing girlfriend, and he knew he had to act.
" Katherine?" Removing her eyes from his hand on hers, Kat looked up. He never called her Katherine.
" What is it Tommy?" He reached into his pocket and handed her a velvet box.
" I can't afford a diamond ring right now, but when I can, I'll ask you properly." It was a thin silver band with an inlay of abalone shell.
" This is a promise ring, so that as soon as I can, I'll ask you to marry me."
" Oh Tommy!" Kat threw her arms around him.
' I don't care if this isn't exactly a proposal. Tommy loves me, and it's close enough.' Kat gently took the ring and slipped it onto her left ring finger. It was a little loose, but still, it was lovely.
" Thank you my love..."
~*~
In the other room, Tanya and Rocky had moved away from the group so she could bandage his arm. Gingerly, she applied antiseptic, but he still hissed in pain.
" You're such a baby."
" So?"
" Um, how are you doing Rocky? I mean with all this?" Tanya waited for an answer while re-bandaging his arm.
"Okay, I guess. I just wish we knew something about Master Evil or the counsel, or something! I mean, if he's this tough and was going easy on us, what will it be like when he decided to go hard?" said Rocky, rubbing his short cropped hair.
" Wait. Oh! Brainstorm!" Tanya jumped up from her conversation with Rocky and hurried to find Tommy or Adam.
" What? The heck are you talking about Tan?"
" Guys!" Tanya finally found Adam, Tommy, and TJ talking in the mess hall.
" What happened Tanya?"
" Morathi, Evil, speak, me!"
" Baby, slow down." Adam took her hand.
" Morathi, the wise man back in my village in Nigeria, may know something about Master Evil. If you let me go, I can speak with him, and maybe he'll be able to tell us about his past or his goals for the future."
" Well... we'll need as many Rangers as possible..." mumbled Tommy.
" I thought of that. Why not I pick up Zack and Aisha on my way home?" Tommy and Adam exchanged doubtful glances, while TJ contemplated.
" But what if you get hurt or something? Nigeria isn't the most medically advanced country you know." asked Adam, walking over to his girlfriend.
" Well, if you're so worried about my safety Adam, maybe you should come with me," said Tanya, sarcastically.
" You know, that's not a bad idea. Okay Tanya, if Adam goes with you, you two may go." Said Tommy, crossing his arms.
" Really! Yes! Oh, please Adam, will you go?" Tanya pouted her lips and looked at him expectantly.
" Oh... alright, fine. I guess seeing Zack and Aisha would be good..."
" Oh you're wonderful!" Tanya kissed him hard on the lips, and then skipped off to go phone Aisha.
" Sorry Frog Boy, I didn't mean to back you into a corner."
" S'okay. I guess the kiss makes up for it..."
~*~
"Tanashati, it is good to see you back in Lokoja," Kimoni, the village chief, hugged the young woman that he hadn't seen in almost a decade. After flying for 5 hours, then driving almost 100 mi. from the capital city of Abuja, Tanya was glad to be home. Well, her former home.
" It's good to see you again, Chief Kimoni. You too, Anana." Tanya smiled and looked at the old man and his wife. They were just as she remembered him, with him bald and strong, and she with long white hair and kind eyes.
" Why are you here? Have you come home for good?" Tanya grabbed Adam's hand, and shook her head.
" No. We're here to see Morathi for his wisdom."
" Ahh. And who is this young man? Your... husband?"
" No!" Adam was a bit hurt at the quick answer.
" Oh. I see. Now, let me have someone go tell Morathi you are here to see him."
" Why not me?" Tanya and Adam both jumped at the unexpected voice.
" Jabilo?" Tanya turned and looked into the tall man's black eyes.
" Welcome home Tanashati," he whispered, then tossed his head in Adam's direction, " And who's this foreigner?"
" This is Adam. Adam, this was my... well, this is Jabilo. He's Morathi's son."
" I'll take them to father, my Chief." The chief nodded, and off the three went, Adam looking funnily at Tanya.
~*~
" Father?" Jabilo called, opening the flap that covered the entrance to their hut.
" I am in here my son. And it seems you have visitors. To discuss Master Evil, perhaps?" Only Adam seemed surprised at the dead-on reason.
" Yes sir. It's me, Tanashati. Remember me?"
" I'd never forget such a lovely girl. Or shall I say woman?" Morathi smiled and kissed both her cheeks.
" So do you know about Master Evil, Mr...?" What was Adam supposed to call him?
" Just call me Morathi. It means 'wise man'. It's not my actual name."
" Oh. Well, Morathi, could you tell us about Master Evil?"
" Yes boy. Jabilo, leave for now. This can only be heard by these two."
" Fine. I shall be seeing you Tanashati...for that be sure." Adam stiffened and looked at Tanya, who was blushing. She reached out and held his hand tightly, as if saying 'He means nothing, I love you.' Morathi could see this exchange and smiled.
" Now then, shall we continue?"
~*~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Zeo Rangers teleported in and instantly began to fight the Putties that were terrorizing a group of terrified picnickers. Unlike in the past, these Putties wouldn't disintegrate with only one punch or kick, and soon, the Power Rangers tired.
" What the Devil? These guys are like Putties on steroids!" shouted Rocky, as he tried to take on 4 at a time.
" Seriously!" Tommy kicked a Puttie in the stomach.
" Hey Tom! You and the girls can go after the monster! I think Rocko and I got it!" Adam ducked as a Puttie swung at his head.
" Speak for yourself bro!" Rocky jumped away, just as two Putties ran into each other. Tommy nodded, and the three hurried towards the monster called FlingSling, leaving Adam and Rocky with about a dozen Putties each.
" Your days are up FlingSling!" shouted Tommy, and pulled out his Zeo pistol and began to shoot the monster.
" You wish Red Ranger." A slingshot appeared and the monster flung a large, flaming orb at them. They leaped out of the way, and instead, the sphere hit the lake nearby with a sizzle and splash. Tanya brought out her double- clubs and tossed them at FlingSling just as Kat threw her discs. Sparks flew all over the park, and little fires shot up all around them, making the victims scream and cry. That attack shook it up, but other than that, did nothing.
" What are we going to do guys? We've done everything we can, and it's not fazing him!" worried Kat.
" Just keep at it! We've beaten these things before!" Tommy drew out his sword and charged. FlingSling chucked another orb, and Tommy barely dodged it.
" Kat, watch out!" screamed Tanya, as the fire orb meant for Tommy hit Kat and threw her up against a nearby tree. Only a light moan proved that the crumpled Ranger was even alive. A few moments later, Kat unmorphed.
-In the counsel of Evil-
" The poor, poor Pink Ranger," muttered Lord Zedd.
" Send more of my Putties and drain the last of the Rangers' energy!" screamed Rita, waving her staff about.
" No! Make FlingSling grow, grow, grow!!!" cackled Divatox.
" Let me send some of my followers, Toxica and Jindrax, and finish them off!" Roared Master Org. Master Evil pursed his lips and thought for a moment before speaking.
" We shall leave them for now, just as a warning. Then it will make the final battle so much more satisfying..."
~*~
Just as soon as the monster and Putties arrived, they just as quickly left. The four unmorphed, and Tommy ran to his wounded girlfriend.
" Kat? Are you okay?" He ran his hand over Kat's bruised face, and lightly shook her shoulder. She didn't move.
" Billy, come in."
" Billy's left with Justin and Trip. Are you all okay?" came Jason's voice.
" No. Kat's really injured. Can you transport her back?"
" Yeah. Hold on." A pause came from both sides, before Kat streamed away in a beam of pink light.
" Jase... take good care of her, and call me if anything happens."
" You got it bro." As soon as Kat was gone, a holographic being appeared.
" You have only felt the tip of the iceberg Rangers. You've been warned." The holographic Master Evil laughed, then disappeared, leaving the injured rangers to help the victims out the battle weary park.
~*~
" Kat?" Jason was attempting to awaken her as he stroked the back of her hand.
" J-Jason?" Kat murmured weakly. Her head spun, and it was hard to focus.
" How're you feeling?"
" Like parp... think you could knock me out so I can sleep again?" Jason chuckled and kissed her forehead.
" I'll go get some painkillers then contact Tommy, okay?" Kat nodded hazily, then closed her eyes and grimaced. Jason sighed and left the room. By the time he came back, Kat had dozed off in a dreamless sleep.
~*~
" You all did really well," said Trini, as she dabbed antiseptic onto some of Kat's minor wounds. She had been going in and out of consciousness, but at least she had stabilized.
" We failed," Tommy shook his head, " People were hurt, and one person even died."
" Hey Billy? Can you come here real quick?" Jason called to his friend, who was currently bandaging Rocky's bleeding arm.
" Yeah. I'll be right back, okay?" Billy got up and walked over to his pensive friend.
" What is it?"
" I was thinking while you were gone... Do you think we could evacuate the Angel Grove citizens into the Stone Canyon caves? It'd just be temporary, but they'd be safe from this."
" Well... we'd have to consult with the mayor of Angel Grove and Stone Canyon, but if the Power Rangers are the requesters, it's very possible." Jason rubbed his chin.
" Want to find out?" Billy grinned and nodded. Both pulled out their old morphers. And at the same time, yelled:
"It's Morphing Time!"
~*~
A few days after the park battle...
" Hey Kat, how are you feeling?" Tommy walked slowly into his girlfriend's room, but soon realized that she was missing.
" Kat?? Where are you??" Maybe he was overreacting, but she was hurt, and Dana said she might be in a lot of pain.
" I'm over here love. What's wrong?"
" You should be sitting down!" He led her to a nearby chair and kneeled next to it.
" Don't baby me Thomas Oliver. I'm a grown woman."
" I know..." He stared at her features, marveling her loveliness. Yes, he was a lucky man indeed, to have such a beautiful, caring, amazing girlfriend, and he knew he had to act.
" Katherine?" Removing her eyes from his hand on hers, Kat looked up. He never called her Katherine.
" What is it Tommy?" He reached into his pocket and handed her a velvet box.
" I can't afford a diamond ring right now, but when I can, I'll ask you properly." It was a thin silver band with an inlay of abalone shell.
" This is a promise ring, so that as soon as I can, I'll ask you to marry me."
" Oh Tommy!" Kat threw her arms around him.
' I don't care if this isn't exactly a proposal. Tommy loves me, and it's close enough.' Kat gently took the ring and slipped it onto her left ring finger. It was a little loose, but still, it was lovely.
" Thank you my love..."
~*~
In the other room, Tanya and Rocky had moved away from the group so she could bandage his arm. Gingerly, she applied antiseptic, but he still hissed in pain.
" You're such a baby."
" So?"
" Um, how are you doing Rocky? I mean with all this?" Tanya waited for an answer while re-bandaging his arm.
"Okay, I guess. I just wish we knew something about Master Evil or the counsel, or something! I mean, if he's this tough and was going easy on us, what will it be like when he decided to go hard?" said Rocky, rubbing his short cropped hair.
" Wait. Oh! Brainstorm!" Tanya jumped up from her conversation with Rocky and hurried to find Tommy or Adam.
" What? The heck are you talking about Tan?"
" Guys!" Tanya finally found Adam, Tommy, and TJ talking in the mess hall.
" What happened Tanya?"
" Morathi, Evil, speak, me!"
" Baby, slow down." Adam took her hand.
" Morathi, the wise man back in my village in Nigeria, may know something about Master Evil. If you let me go, I can speak with him, and maybe he'll be able to tell us about his past or his goals for the future."
" Well... we'll need as many Rangers as possible..." mumbled Tommy.
" I thought of that. Why not I pick up Zack and Aisha on my way home?" Tommy and Adam exchanged doubtful glances, while TJ contemplated.
" But what if you get hurt or something? Nigeria isn't the most medically advanced country you know." asked Adam, walking over to his girlfriend.
" Well, if you're so worried about my safety Adam, maybe you should come with me," said Tanya, sarcastically.
" You know, that's not a bad idea. Okay Tanya, if Adam goes with you, you two may go." Said Tommy, crossing his arms.
" Really! Yes! Oh, please Adam, will you go?" Tanya pouted her lips and looked at him expectantly.
" Oh... alright, fine. I guess seeing Zack and Aisha would be good..."
" Oh you're wonderful!" Tanya kissed him hard on the lips, and then skipped off to go phone Aisha.
" Sorry Frog Boy, I didn't mean to back you into a corner."
" S'okay. I guess the kiss makes up for it..."
~*~
"Tanashati, it is good to see you back in Lokoja," Kimoni, the village chief, hugged the young woman that he hadn't seen in almost a decade. After flying for 5 hours, then driving almost 100 mi. from the capital city of Abuja, Tanya was glad to be home. Well, her former home.
" It's good to see you again, Chief Kimoni. You too, Anana." Tanya smiled and looked at the old man and his wife. They were just as she remembered him, with him bald and strong, and she with long white hair and kind eyes.
" Why are you here? Have you come home for good?" Tanya grabbed Adam's hand, and shook her head.
" No. We're here to see Morathi for his wisdom."
" Ahh. And who is this young man? Your... husband?"
" No!" Adam was a bit hurt at the quick answer.
" Oh. I see. Now, let me have someone go tell Morathi you are here to see him."
" Why not me?" Tanya and Adam both jumped at the unexpected voice.
" Jabilo?" Tanya turned and looked into the tall man's black eyes.
" Welcome home Tanashati," he whispered, then tossed his head in Adam's direction, " And who's this foreigner?"
" This is Adam. Adam, this was my... well, this is Jabilo. He's Morathi's son."
" I'll take them to father, my Chief." The chief nodded, and off the three went, Adam looking funnily at Tanya.
~*~
" Father?" Jabilo called, opening the flap that covered the entrance to their hut.
" I am in here my son. And it seems you have visitors. To discuss Master Evil, perhaps?" Only Adam seemed surprised at the dead-on reason.
" Yes sir. It's me, Tanashati. Remember me?"
" I'd never forget such a lovely girl. Or shall I say woman?" Morathi smiled and kissed both her cheeks.
" So do you know about Master Evil, Mr...?" What was Adam supposed to call him?
" Just call me Morathi. It means 'wise man'. It's not my actual name."
" Oh. Well, Morathi, could you tell us about Master Evil?"
" Yes boy. Jabilo, leave for now. This can only be heard by these two."
" Fine. I shall be seeing you Tanashati...for that be sure." Adam stiffened and looked at Tanya, who was blushing. She reached out and held his hand tightly, as if saying 'He means nothing, I love you.' Morathi could see this exchange and smiled.
" Now then, shall we continue?"
~*~