Chapter 9 reports and hopes
Astro megaship mark2:
"Are we sure this is a good idea? Leaving the star speed team behind?" Zhane asked from the end of the table and Andros shook his head.
"Not really but we don't have much choice. The longer we wait the less chance the earth has."
"How's it coming with the bullets?" Mike asked looking to Kendrix who sat between Ashley and his brother.
"We've been doing some experiments with particlulizing the metals." She looked to Karone who gave her a nod, then went on. "We've isolated the right molecules and we've been trying to incorporate them into the blaster beams." Kendrix paused glancing at Andros. "When it's ready we might need a couple of you to try it out on the Simudeck so we can see what bugs have to be worked out."
"I'll give you a hand." Leo nodded over to his wife.
"I've also found a way to particulize your suits, that way when we morph to fight the suits will be as lethal to them as the blasters." Kendrix told the group.
"When Do you think you'll be able to make the zord beams and weapons as deadly to them?" Damon wanted to know.
"We're going to use the same ions when we finish with the blasters." Ashley put in thinking how ironic it was that she was playing scientist now when she'd had such a hard time with that particular subject back in school .
"How long before you think you'll want to begin testing?" Mike asked thinking of their trip. They still had another god two days. before they hit Ko-35.
"I'd say tomorrow morning." Kendrix replied then there was a long silence.
"And you're going to check in with Carter?" Mike asked looking to his little brother.
"I…" The sound of a com going off had Leo tapping his screen.
***
Neo Aquabase: conference room, earth:
"Alright, what's happening bro?" Jason asked from where he sat beside tom. They'd been called in off patrol while the rest of their team was still out there.
"We've received news from the megaship mark2," Captain Grayson began slowly and the as he saw he had everyone's attention he went on grimly. "Mirinoi was taken."
"What?" Wes Asked in surprise, how could that have happened? They'd not been in the true thick of it had they? Not that he'd heard.
"How can that be?" Cole asked confused by the information they now had. He'd not been a ranger as long as the others but he'd never known a whole world to be taken over.
"The sar and Somet warriors mounted a huge attack." Brian explained from where he sat arms folded over his chest.
"Did anyone survive?" Tom asked and Captain Grayson nodded.
"They saved five thousand citizens and they only lost four rangers." He clarified.
"Who?" Jason asked frowning in concern.
"TJ, Carlos, Maya, and Kai." Brain informed then grimly.
"Where are they now?" Eric spoke up for the first time since they'd learned the news.
"I'm patching into Andros now, so we should know something any minute." Captain Grayson informed them.
"How about the metal?" Tom asked grim faced.
"Hey…" Cole began but Brian broke in.
"No, it's a valid concern. They have it."
"Thank the heavens." The red Zeo ranger sighed in relief.
"That's what we thought." Wes said and Eric nodded.
"Have you heard from Ryan and the others?" Tom then asked and Captain Grayson sighed.
"Leo did, they had to make an emergency landing on a small planetoid by the name of Oron Blue." the captain informed the gathering
"They're all ok?" Wes asked concerned since he'd been friends with Ryan, as much as any could be.
"Yes, no one sustained more than minor injuries." Captain Grayson found his first real smile.
"Good." Eric nodded.
"So what do we do now?" Cole asked.
"Well…" just then the come went off interrupting anything else Brian could have said.
"Hello." Captain Grayson called.
"Captain Grayson its Andros." Came a not so staticy voice.
"What's happening?" Captain Grayson asked.
"We're on our way to KO-35."
"Do you have the star speed team?" Brian asked before his captain could.
"No, they are going to wait until a day or so have passed and then when some of the danger has moved on make their way home. "Andros replied solemnly.
"I see." Captain Grayson knew his wife wouldn't be very happy about that but too he knew it was a very good idea. if they all traveled together
"Ryan wanted us to tell Dana that actions speak louder than words." Leo said joining in on the conference call.
"I'll tell her. How's Cassie holding up?" Captain Grayson asked.
"She's been in her cabin since we lost TJ." Andros said sadly, it was obvious to them all that this was rather hard on him, the Karovians eyes were shadowed and his face pale.
"Man, tell her we're al sorry." Tom said knowing all to well how it hurt to lose a good friend. When Trini had died it had hit them all pretty hard.
"I will. Her phantom should be here soon so that should help." Andros said and there was a little hope in his voice.
"Good, has he found out anything?" tom asked now.
"No, no one's talking." this from Leo who looked annoyed by the situation.
"Fine. Contact us when you arrive on planet." Captain Grayson told his old friends and both men nodded before ending the transmission.
***
Light raider:
The hours seemed terminal. The time passing with all of the speed of a snail race, the stillness of the medical bay disrupted only by the steady beeping of the
Heart monitor her only remaining patient was connected to.
The pink clad nurse kept her solemn vigil as she fought back her own fears. She had to get this all perfectly. True she was a trained and experienced nurse but she'd usually worked with a staff or at least a doctor. Now though she had one very sick man and a concussed girl. What if she screwed up?
"Hey general?" The voice had her turning slightly to find a weary looking Devon standing in her doorway.
"Devon what are you doing? You're supposed to be resting." She frowned at the black sweat suit clad young man. She'd only released him a few hours ago.
"I think you should be, you're the one looking half asleep." He smirked as he came further into the room, leaning against Dana's bed.
"I have to watch over Hollie." The nurse replied evenly and he shook his head.
"Why don't you let Ryan do that?" Devon asked and she shook her head.
"Because he's on the bridge taking a shift so Chad can rest."
"Well maybe it's time to put the ship on auto and switch up." Another voice said and Sarah found their leader coming into the room a folder in hand.
"Your now officially off duty." Ryan informed her coming into the room; he looked as if he'd never even thought of letting her alone.
"But…" Sarah looked from Ryan to her patient and then back. Hollie was only resting at the moment so it would probably be alright, as long as they made sure she didn't slip from slumber into a coma or anything.
"Come on general." And Devon was helping her from her seat and guiding her through the door before she could blink.
***
Neo Aquabase, Earth: "hey doc there you are."
"Kelsey?" Dana asked surprised to find her old friend there, standing looking at her.
"How's everything going?" The ex-yellow ranger asked and Dana felt a pang. Why it was lately the only time she saw her friends was in a crisis? Then it hit her why the very pregnant woman would be visiting her then.
"Not too bad. I take it you heard about the star speed team?"
"Yeah Kim told me she heard when…"
"I came in for the sonogram." The first pink ranger, Kimberly Scott, informed the doctor as she came in the door.
"Kim? Kelsey?" Ok, things had to be really bad when they all rallied.
"And don't forget me." The second pink ranger had Dana really trying to think, what was going on? Had there been some bad news?
"Kat? I don't understand what's going on?"
"Operation relaxation." All three of Dana's friends smiled at her.
"But…" Dana tried to understand how this had come about but she was tired and things just didn't make all that much sense. "I have work…"
"Nope you are going to veg out with us and watch chic flicks." Kim said moving to pull back Dana's chair.
"I have too…" But then when Kat went for her communicator Dana knew they'd bring Carter in and he'd make her go. "Fine but let me clear this off."
****
Astro megaship mark2:
Clang! The sound had Kendrix glancing up from her current work. She saw Leo standing there, obviously having just set the trey of steaming food on the counter at her elbow.
"Oh," She glanced at her watch and noticed it was nearly nine o'clock. Man the time really got away from her when she was working.
"You skipped dinner." Her husband explained pulling up a spare stool.
"I'm trying to make sure everything will be ready for the tests in the morning." The young scientist sighed, running a weary hand through her gold curls.
"Kendrix honey," Leo turned her to fully face him. "I know this is important, I know we have to hurry but working yourself into the ground won't help anyone."
"How can I stop? Leo if I do I see Maya and Kai and…" the tears welled up in her sad eyes and he reached over and touched her cheek.
"You know that what happened to them was no more your fault than it was mine?" Leo said and she nodded." Then you know Kai and Maya would never want you to kill yourself like this."
He was right, she knew that after all how many times had Maya come to her workstation when she was doing over time and dragged her out? The memory made a sorrowful smile touch her lips.
"Now you need to eat." Leo said sliding a fork into her hand as if to prod her into eating.
"And I thought Kai was bad." Kendrix mumbled looking down at the food on her plate.
"Hey if someone didn't remind you you'd completely forget there was a world outside of this place." Leo teased removing the lid from her tea. She was mildly amused when he added a single packet of artificial sweetener.
"I guess I do get a little wrapped up in my work." She admitted with a little grin.
"We all do." He shrugged remembering how he'd been after her sacrifice. He'd dove into defeating Trakeena and her forces. He'd been so angry, it had been with the help of mike and Karone that he'd come through it. Karone had helped him see that life had to go on; that getting himself killed fighting the enemy wouldn't bring Kendrix back. Mike had just been there, forcing to rest and just being himself.
"I guess." She replied taking a bite of the sinthitron version of chicken stir-fry. Her expression was laughable but he knew how much she loved this stuff.
"Not like mom used to make?" He asked with a wink and his wife giggled, smiling at him she began to eat in earnest.
"Leo?"
'Hmm?"
"Do you know how much I love you?" She asked, a soft smile touching her lips.
"As much as I love you?"
"More." She then kissed him, forgetting all about work, her food or anything else.
***
The Light raider:
The medical bay was silent as Ryan sat there, watching her sleep. It was amusing, even hooked up to a heart monitor Hollie still looked like herself. True she more resembled his little sister. Yes, she looked as Hollie had back in the hospital after the fire.
Was it true that all women who were so courageous and strong could be so fragile? Gees what was he thinking? She was a friend, sort of, not his girlfriend.
Then what was with that dream earlier? Man he was getting more and more out there.
Hollie was not his girlfriend. Hell he did not want or need one.
"You know if you take a picture it will last longer." The voice muttered and Ryan jumped slightly.
"You're awake." He heard himself saying stupidly and she rolled her eyes. That had to be a good sign he thought to himself.
"Well I do open my eyes when that happens."
"And it's good to see that lump didn't effect your tongue." He smiled at her.
"What time is it anyway?" She asked when she moved her arm and didn't find her watch.
"About three." He said and waited for her to go off. Sometimes she could be so predictable.
"Oh gees…" She muttered forcing herself onto her elbows.
"Woe, your not going anywhere. You've got a nasty bump and…" he began but almost laughed when she growled at him.
"I am sick of laying down I want to go and that beeping is really annoying." She practically winded.
"Well…" Ryan glanced around the room thoughtfully. He knew a place that would be peaceful. Sarah would kill him. But he could understand Hollie's annoyance to this set up. He'd been there himself. "I know a place where you can relax."
"You do?" Hollie asked desperation replacing the annoyance in her green eyes.
"Yeah." He said and for a minute he felt as if he was falling, spinning into those big emerald eyes.
"Where?" She asked wondering where he could be thinking of. If it was his quarters she couldn't do that. She didn't want their friends getting the wrong idea about them.
"You trust me?" He asked and brought her back to the situation and she bit her lower lip a second before nodding.
"Yes."
***
What do you think? Hope it wasn't' too confusing. I know it might be a pain, but if you have time I'd appreciate a few reviews.