~
Kim hummed quietly to herself as she walked outside of the Command Center. It was 3 in the morning, and she doubted anyone was out here, making it the perfect place to reflect. Just as she reached the pond, Kimberly heard rustling in the reeds.
" Hello? Who's out here?" There was more rustling, but no answer.
" This isn't funny! Zack, if that's you, I will hurt you."
" How about I hurt you Ranger?" Divatox came splashing out of the water, a dozen of Piranhatrons along with her.
" I've had more than enough trouble with you Divatox!" yelled Kim, hoping that she would wake someone, but she was so far away from the base...
" I'm sure you have Miss Kimberly, but I think a little more wouldn't hurt. Piranhatrons, attack!" It was 12 against one, and Kim was quickly being defeated.
" Now, get her!" screamed Divatox, as Kim felt a rag being pressed against her mouth and nose, before horrible fumes replaced any thoughts.
~*~
" Good morning TJ, Andros, Tommy; Morning Ashley and Kat," said Cassie cheerfully, as she entered the large kitchen. They were all half asleep and munching on cereal.
" Did you sleep well Cass?" asked Tommy, sneaking a glance at a blushing TJ.
" Very well. Hey, do you think I can ask you something TJ?"
" Um, sure. What is it?"
" Can we go outside? It's kind of personal." TJ almost gagged on his Raisin Bran, as the others looked from one to the other.
" Yeah, uh, sure we can." TJ got up and walked with Cassie out to the patio.
" Something tells me that Miss Chan has the hots for TJ." Said Tommy, chuckling.
~*~
" What did you want to ask me Cass?" TJ asked nervously.
" Okay, um, how do I say this?" She struggled to find the words, without seeming either ridiculous or giggly.
" It's me Cassie, you know you can tell me anything." That sentence alone somehow lifted a great weight off her heart.
"Okay... I wanted you to know I was awake last night when you put me into my room." A light blush crept onto TJ's cheeks.
" Oh. I'm really sorry, because I thought you were asleep, and-"
" Would you like to spend lunch together? I was hoping to eat down by the pond. For a moment of silence, ya know?" Cassie interrupted. TJ nodded quickly and grinned at her, his heart feeling giddier than it had been in a long, long time.
~*~
" Has anyone seen Kim? We were going to practice some katas an hour ago," asked Alyssa, walking into the Power Chamber.
" No... and Aisha said her bed wasn't slept in last night either... you don't think she slept with one of the guys?" Katie looked horrified.
" Not even close. This just came in guys. The council has kidnapped Kim." Said Jason, his face drawn.
" And just on time... the council's just attacked Tanya's village and Australia. You have to go." Said Alpha, his arm around Circuit.
" We have to look for Kim! She's more important!" Tommy yelled at Alpha as he burst into the room. The news had just reached the breakfast people, and they had rushed over as fast as they could.
" Tommy. Shouting at Alpha 6 will do nothing." Kat said gently, putting her hand on his shoulder. She was a little hurt at her fiancé's anguish, but kept reminding herself that Kim was only a good friend.
" Why not we split up and some of us go to Africa, some of us go to Australia, and some of us search for Kim? We have to decide soon!"
" Danny's right guys. Astro team, can you all stay and look for Kimberly? Then Red, Pink, and the sixth Rangers, go to Newcastle. The rest of us, to Lokoja. Now, LET'S GO!!!" yelled Cole, making the decision for once. They all agreed and ran off.
~*~
As they arrived in Lokoja, they saw the villagers fighting with their lives. The Rangers broke up to help them, except for Aisha, Tanya, and Adam, who couldn't believe the sights.
" Chief Kimoni!" Aisha, who had stayed in the village for a while, ran over to help the bleeding man.
" Save my people Bandele... save my village..." He fell unconscious, and had to be dragged by Lucas out of more harm.
" Dembe!" Tanya screamed, as a Mutorg attacked her injured brother. Abeni, she saw, was huddled against a tree nearby, clinging to her crying baby.
" Adam!!! Get Abeni out of here!" Adam nodded and rushed over to the curled up woman.
" Abeni? It's me, Adam! We have to get out of here!" Abeni shook her head and whimpered.
" You are aren't Adam! Get away from me!!!" She drew Tupac closer to herself. Adam sighed, and against his better judgment, unmorphed.
" Adam? Adam!" Abeni hugged him close.
" Come on Abeni, we have to get out of here NOW!" Adam literally picked her up, and pulled her over towards the nearby forest. Just then, a loud blast, and they were thrown into the air, and landed with a dull thud. With a groan, Adam got to his knees and crawled over to Abeni.
" Are you okay?"
" Yes I think... wait. Where's Ade????" With a shriek, she began to search for her son, inching closer and closer to the battle.
" Stop Abeni!" But then she spotted her son. In an almost maniacal run, she scooped up her son... right before an electricity ball slammed into her side. Adam sprinted over and morphed, then knelt down besides Tanya's best friend. She was dead. Gently prying her arms open, Adam extracted little Ade. He was sleeping soundly, as if nothing happened.
" If only you knew what your mother sacrificed for you," Adam whispered, before placing him out of the way.
" Hey are you all okay??" Joel called to a group of villagers who were huddled in a damaged hut.
" Yes, but my wife is hurt. Help us please!" called back an older man.
" Coming!" He leaped into the shelter, just as it caught on fire.
~*~
"How many casualties?" asked Carlos in monotone.
" Too many," Adam glanced at Tanya, who was cradling her best friend in her lap, tears running down.
" How's the chief Trini?" Max asked worriedly.
" He'll live, but walking is another story. A branch hit some nerves in his lower back and severed them."
" Wait... where's Joel?" Kelsey and the others looked about, until they saw him propped up against a tree, almost half his uniform burnt.
" Joel! What happened man?"
" I had an accident with some pyro stuff."
" Let's get you up. I need to see if you have any serious burns." He stood up as Billy and Trini checked his charcoal blackened skin.
" I wonder how the others are holding up?" Justin asked, scanning the ruined buildings.
" I hope better than us. The monster got away again," Rocky said, punching a rock.
~*~
After helping the survivors put out he fires and bury the dead, the Lokoja team returned home to hear what happened in Australia.
" Nothing as bad as you guys. Our monster spewed water, so the worse was that the floods wrecked cars and streets and stuff." Said Zhane, putting his arm around Karone.
" Did you at least get the monster?" asked Taylor.
" Nope. It managed to slip away just as it sent another flood," said Ryan crossly. Dana could only pat his shoulder.
" Don't worry guys. Next time we'll beat him."
" I hope. D-day's in a month and a half."
" Can I talk to you Kat," Tanya whispered, tugging at her best friend's sleeve like a little girl. Kat nodded and the two went outside.
" So did you find anything on Kim?" Jason asked Andros.
" No, but we have located a forcefield around a section of the ship that is stronger than anywhere else. We think that that's where Kim is."
" We'll keep monitoring the spot and see if the field gets any weaker." Said TJ.
" Good. I hope she's still okay..."
~*~
" Hey Kat", murmured Jason, as he stepped out onto the balcony. The blond was staring off into the distance, her eyes softly glistening in tears.
" Jason, I want no more of this," whispered Kat, "No more pain or death. Right now, people are sheltered away in Stone Canyon's caves. The children have no sunlight, no play, no happiness, until this is over. People are dying in the world by masses. I just don't know..." More tears streamed down her cheeks. She had tried to seem strong, to be unaffected, but she had met Abeni once.
" Katherine, look at me," he said in his 'leader' voice. Turning her head, Kat looked into his dark eyes.
"As for the people dying by the masses, have you forgotten about all those people we've managed to save? Out of a 100,000 people in Newcastle, only one person was seriously injured and no one died. And think about this. At least for now, the children are safe. If they weren't, you know I would be doing everything in my power to move them. Also, the refugees are going to be transported to Terra Venture for safety when the colony gets a little closer to Earth. Karone has already left to speak with Leo and the heads of Terra Venture."
" Really? You mean the children will be safe and happy?" The tearful blue eyes began to once again sparkle.
" Hopefully."
" Wait. Who ordered this?"
" Well, first I inquired, then it went through Captain Mitchell who spoke with the heads of Terra Venture, then finally, the mayor of Angel Grove spoke with the California's governor and the President."
" Jason! You're wonderful!!!" She leaped into his arms and began to shed tears again, only this time it was joyfully then sadly.
" You're welcome Kat."
~*~
Kim awoke to find herself in a prison cell, with thick chains keeping her from getting out.
" Ah Miss Hart. You're finally awake." Master Evil traced her chin with his gloved finger, and was amused when Kim tried to bite it off.
" You're a feisty one, eh?"
" Well you're an evil monster!" yelled Kim, a sneer riding on her lips. She desperately tried to release herself from the shackles on her wrists and ankles, but to no avail.
" You say I'm Evil, pretty Pink Ranger? You have no idea what Evil really is..."
" Feel my hatred Pink Ranger. Feel the hate that courses through my very veins." Master Evil shoved his thumbs onto her temples, and Kim felt pain rush through her mind...
~* Flashback*~
A young boy ran and searched for his mother, who had been carried away by the stampeding crowd. They had been shopping in the marketplace, when all of a sudden; shouts and cries filled his head, and had taken his mother away.
" Please sir! What is happening??"
" Those damned Power Rangers! They're attacking the town!"
~*End Flashback*~
Kim cried out as different memories rushed through her as if they were her own. Death, destruction, anger, sorrow, and pure, unadulterated Hate were some of the emotions she felt, and finally, when it ended, Kim was on her knees sobbing.
" Now you know how I feel." He swept away, his long black cape swishing behind him, leaving Kim on the floor, crying her heart and soul out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Ack. I've been hit with the Flashback bug. Anyways, I hoped you like this chapter, and for anyone who's wondering, I was trying to capture the quote, " Evil is never truly Evil" with this chapter, so if I succeeded, cool, if I didn't... well, I'll try again some other time... yeah, that's what I'll do... ~Alli
PR fan: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you're enjoying this!
Lady Lightspeed: You're welcome... I'm not a big C/D fan, but you know what? Every couple deserves a little something, right?
Devistation: Yes, I did do it! (Get your mind out of the gutter! ^_^)
Dagmar: Well, the reason I did the food fight with Taylor and Eric is, not because Issa requested it or for some humor, but because I wanted to play off the scene in "Re-enforcements from the Future" where he steals the book and he and Taylor play around... that was a bit OOC, no? So perhaps that just shows they are frivolous, only just around certain people. Does that make a little sense? Also, they both need to lighten up, especially in a grim situation, and I can just picture Eric trying to help Taylor do that... or that could just be me!
~
Kim hummed quietly to herself as she walked outside of the Command Center. It was 3 in the morning, and she doubted anyone was out here, making it the perfect place to reflect. Just as she reached the pond, Kimberly heard rustling in the reeds.
" Hello? Who's out here?" There was more rustling, but no answer.
" This isn't funny! Zack, if that's you, I will hurt you."
" How about I hurt you Ranger?" Divatox came splashing out of the water, a dozen of Piranhatrons along with her.
" I've had more than enough trouble with you Divatox!" yelled Kim, hoping that she would wake someone, but she was so far away from the base...
" I'm sure you have Miss Kimberly, but I think a little more wouldn't hurt. Piranhatrons, attack!" It was 12 against one, and Kim was quickly being defeated.
" Now, get her!" screamed Divatox, as Kim felt a rag being pressed against her mouth and nose, before horrible fumes replaced any thoughts.
~*~
" Good morning TJ, Andros, Tommy; Morning Ashley and Kat," said Cassie cheerfully, as she entered the large kitchen. They were all half asleep and munching on cereal.
" Did you sleep well Cass?" asked Tommy, sneaking a glance at a blushing TJ.
" Very well. Hey, do you think I can ask you something TJ?"
" Um, sure. What is it?"
" Can we go outside? It's kind of personal." TJ almost gagged on his Raisin Bran, as the others looked from one to the other.
" Yeah, uh, sure we can." TJ got up and walked with Cassie out to the patio.
" Something tells me that Miss Chan has the hots for TJ." Said Tommy, chuckling.
~*~
" What did you want to ask me Cass?" TJ asked nervously.
" Okay, um, how do I say this?" She struggled to find the words, without seeming either ridiculous or giggly.
" It's me Cassie, you know you can tell me anything." That sentence alone somehow lifted a great weight off her heart.
"Okay... I wanted you to know I was awake last night when you put me into my room." A light blush crept onto TJ's cheeks.
" Oh. I'm really sorry, because I thought you were asleep, and-"
" Would you like to spend lunch together? I was hoping to eat down by the pond. For a moment of silence, ya know?" Cassie interrupted. TJ nodded quickly and grinned at her, his heart feeling giddier than it had been in a long, long time.
~*~
" Has anyone seen Kim? We were going to practice some katas an hour ago," asked Alyssa, walking into the Power Chamber.
" No... and Aisha said her bed wasn't slept in last night either... you don't think she slept with one of the guys?" Katie looked horrified.
" Not even close. This just came in guys. The council has kidnapped Kim." Said Jason, his face drawn.
" And just on time... the council's just attacked Tanya's village and Australia. You have to go." Said Alpha, his arm around Circuit.
" We have to look for Kim! She's more important!" Tommy yelled at Alpha as he burst into the room. The news had just reached the breakfast people, and they had rushed over as fast as they could.
" Tommy. Shouting at Alpha 6 will do nothing." Kat said gently, putting her hand on his shoulder. She was a little hurt at her fiancé's anguish, but kept reminding herself that Kim was only a good friend.
" Why not we split up and some of us go to Africa, some of us go to Australia, and some of us search for Kim? We have to decide soon!"
" Danny's right guys. Astro team, can you all stay and look for Kimberly? Then Red, Pink, and the sixth Rangers, go to Newcastle. The rest of us, to Lokoja. Now, LET'S GO!!!" yelled Cole, making the decision for once. They all agreed and ran off.
~*~
As they arrived in Lokoja, they saw the villagers fighting with their lives. The Rangers broke up to help them, except for Aisha, Tanya, and Adam, who couldn't believe the sights.
" Chief Kimoni!" Aisha, who had stayed in the village for a while, ran over to help the bleeding man.
" Save my people Bandele... save my village..." He fell unconscious, and had to be dragged by Lucas out of more harm.
" Dembe!" Tanya screamed, as a Mutorg attacked her injured brother. Abeni, she saw, was huddled against a tree nearby, clinging to her crying baby.
" Adam!!! Get Abeni out of here!" Adam nodded and rushed over to the curled up woman.
" Abeni? It's me, Adam! We have to get out of here!" Abeni shook her head and whimpered.
" You are aren't Adam! Get away from me!!!" She drew Tupac closer to herself. Adam sighed, and against his better judgment, unmorphed.
" Adam? Adam!" Abeni hugged him close.
" Come on Abeni, we have to get out of here NOW!" Adam literally picked her up, and pulled her over towards the nearby forest. Just then, a loud blast, and they were thrown into the air, and landed with a dull thud. With a groan, Adam got to his knees and crawled over to Abeni.
" Are you okay?"
" Yes I think... wait. Where's Ade????" With a shriek, she began to search for her son, inching closer and closer to the battle.
" Stop Abeni!" But then she spotted her son. In an almost maniacal run, she scooped up her son... right before an electricity ball slammed into her side. Adam sprinted over and morphed, then knelt down besides Tanya's best friend. She was dead. Gently prying her arms open, Adam extracted little Ade. He was sleeping soundly, as if nothing happened.
" If only you knew what your mother sacrificed for you," Adam whispered, before placing him out of the way.
" Hey are you all okay??" Joel called to a group of villagers who were huddled in a damaged hut.
" Yes, but my wife is hurt. Help us please!" called back an older man.
" Coming!" He leaped into the shelter, just as it caught on fire.
~*~
"How many casualties?" asked Carlos in monotone.
" Too many," Adam glanced at Tanya, who was cradling her best friend in her lap, tears running down.
" How's the chief Trini?" Max asked worriedly.
" He'll live, but walking is another story. A branch hit some nerves in his lower back and severed them."
" Wait... where's Joel?" Kelsey and the others looked about, until they saw him propped up against a tree, almost half his uniform burnt.
" Joel! What happened man?"
" I had an accident with some pyro stuff."
" Let's get you up. I need to see if you have any serious burns." He stood up as Billy and Trini checked his charcoal blackened skin.
" I wonder how the others are holding up?" Justin asked, scanning the ruined buildings.
" I hope better than us. The monster got away again," Rocky said, punching a rock.
~*~
After helping the survivors put out he fires and bury the dead, the Lokoja team returned home to hear what happened in Australia.
" Nothing as bad as you guys. Our monster spewed water, so the worse was that the floods wrecked cars and streets and stuff." Said Zhane, putting his arm around Karone.
" Did you at least get the monster?" asked Taylor.
" Nope. It managed to slip away just as it sent another flood," said Ryan crossly. Dana could only pat his shoulder.
" Don't worry guys. Next time we'll beat him."
" I hope. D-day's in a month and a half."
" Can I talk to you Kat," Tanya whispered, tugging at her best friend's sleeve like a little girl. Kat nodded and the two went outside.
" So did you find anything on Kim?" Jason asked Andros.
" No, but we have located a forcefield around a section of the ship that is stronger than anywhere else. We think that that's where Kim is."
" We'll keep monitoring the spot and see if the field gets any weaker." Said TJ.
" Good. I hope she's still okay..."
~*~
" Hey Kat", murmured Jason, as he stepped out onto the balcony. The blond was staring off into the distance, her eyes softly glistening in tears.
" Jason, I want no more of this," whispered Kat, "No more pain or death. Right now, people are sheltered away in Stone Canyon's caves. The children have no sunlight, no play, no happiness, until this is over. People are dying in the world by masses. I just don't know..." More tears streamed down her cheeks. She had tried to seem strong, to be unaffected, but she had met Abeni once.
" Katherine, look at me," he said in his 'leader' voice. Turning her head, Kat looked into his dark eyes.
"As for the people dying by the masses, have you forgotten about all those people we've managed to save? Out of a 100,000 people in Newcastle, only one person was seriously injured and no one died. And think about this. At least for now, the children are safe. If they weren't, you know I would be doing everything in my power to move them. Also, the refugees are going to be transported to Terra Venture for safety when the colony gets a little closer to Earth. Karone has already left to speak with Leo and the heads of Terra Venture."
" Really? You mean the children will be safe and happy?" The tearful blue eyes began to once again sparkle.
" Hopefully."
" Wait. Who ordered this?"
" Well, first I inquired, then it went through Captain Mitchell who spoke with the heads of Terra Venture, then finally, the mayor of Angel Grove spoke with the California's governor and the President."
" Jason! You're wonderful!!!" She leaped into his arms and began to shed tears again, only this time it was joyfully then sadly.
" You're welcome Kat."
~*~
Kim awoke to find herself in a prison cell, with thick chains keeping her from getting out.
" Ah Miss Hart. You're finally awake." Master Evil traced her chin with his gloved finger, and was amused when Kim tried to bite it off.
" You're a feisty one, eh?"
" Well you're an evil monster!" yelled Kim, a sneer riding on her lips. She desperately tried to release herself from the shackles on her wrists and ankles, but to no avail.
" You say I'm Evil, pretty Pink Ranger? You have no idea what Evil really is..."
" Feel my hatred Pink Ranger. Feel the hate that courses through my very veins." Master Evil shoved his thumbs onto her temples, and Kim felt pain rush through her mind...
~* Flashback*~
A young boy ran and searched for his mother, who had been carried away by the stampeding crowd. They had been shopping in the marketplace, when all of a sudden; shouts and cries filled his head, and had taken his mother away.
" Please sir! What is happening??"
" Those damned Power Rangers! They're attacking the town!"
~*End Flashback*~
Kim cried out as different memories rushed through her as if they were her own. Death, destruction, anger, sorrow, and pure, unadulterated Hate were some of the emotions she felt, and finally, when it ended, Kim was on her knees sobbing.
" Now you know how I feel." He swept away, his long black cape swishing behind him, leaving Kim on the floor, crying her heart and soul out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Ack. I've been hit with the Flashback bug. Anyways, I hoped you like this chapter, and for anyone who's wondering, I was trying to capture the quote, " Evil is never truly Evil" with this chapter, so if I succeeded, cool, if I didn't... well, I'll try again some other time... yeah, that's what I'll do... ~Alli
PR fan: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you're enjoying this!
Lady Lightspeed: You're welcome... I'm not a big C/D fan, but you know what? Every couple deserves a little something, right?
Devistation: Yes, I did do it! (Get your mind out of the gutter! ^_^)
Dagmar: Well, the reason I did the food fight with Taylor and Eric is, not because Issa requested it or for some humor, but because I wanted to play off the scene in "Re-enforcements from the Future" where he steals the book and he and Taylor play around... that was a bit OOC, no? So perhaps that just shows they are frivolous, only just around certain people. Does that make a little sense? Also, they both need to lighten up, especially in a grim situation, and I can just picture Eric trying to help Taylor do that... or that could just be me!
~