Chapter Sixteen: Challenges

Chris felt her back shake as she was trying to sit up strait listening to Captain Mitchell drone on about the fight. The shaking wasn't violent just her back spasming like she was moving yet she wasn't. It was like she had way over worked herself lifting or running or something like that. All she wanted to do was get out of there and get far away from Mitchell's voice that just kept going. Her steel trap mind recording every word, but she really didn't care. He was going over what was done, stuff that couldn't help them at this point in time, it wasn't what they had failed at or done wrong. It was the fact that they had been taken completely by surprise as they were already tired, which is a big thing for Chris who prided herself on very few occasions being take by complete surprise she mused as pain shot through her back. The only thing they need was medical attention, food, and rest. Her thoughts were once again on her back.

"Your thoughts Chris?" Captain Mitchell asked.

"My back hurts… a lot I'm having trouble getting beyond that. We all need medical attention,

food, and rest. Nothing else will help us more than that." She replied looking up over her hands on which her chin rested. Captain Mitchell looked over the rangers each was obviously tired and looking worse for wear. He had to admit Chris was right. He took in Chris carefully she wasn't slouching but she didn't sit with a ridged back as she normally did instead her back was arched. Though her eyes told of no pain or discomfort.

"Alright dismissed." He said, "Chris a moment"

The other shot both looks of thanks and pity as they walked out the door. Chris remained seated waiting on the Captain to talk.

"I'm not sure what you were thinking going after Kelsey but-" He started as Chris interrupted him.

"That if we didn't take a chance we'd likely loose her." Chris said, "I'm not going to waste time coming back to base if I have a clue to follow."

"If you had been captured we would have been down two Rangers instead of just one." He said.

"It's different when you've lost someone and didn't take the chance you had to find them." Chris said evenly not even looking like she was going to explain why that was.

"Dismissed" came a sharp reply.

Chris stood and walked out she headed for her quarters she had bumps and bruises but nothing doctors could actually treat to make her feel better immediately besides something that would make her sleep. Chris abhorred pain medication because it made her sleep un-naturally never feeling truly rested and she seemed to react to most kinds, not so wonderfully though it was determined that it was psychological reaction instead of an actual biological reaction either way she didn't have a good reaction to any pain medicine that was stronger than aspirin or ibuprofen.

Chris walked into her quarters noting that it was just about 12:30 AM she decided to take a shower hoping it would help her back. After showering she walked over and booted her computer. She was just checking her mail when an instant message window popped up.

REdAPeMAn: Hey chica hows it going?

PurpleRyuRei704: it's going amigo, u?

REdAPeMAn: Getting ready for bed, gotta lot to do tomorrow, oh Jason seemed on edge today, any clue?

PurpleRyuRei704: A friend of ours is in the hospital. It's Carter Grayson the Red Lightspeed Ranger. CRAP!!!

REdAPeMAn: Que`?

PurpleRyuRei704: I forgot to tell Carter what Jason said, I'm gonna go over to the hospital to talk to him. Don't tell Jason I forgot it's been kind of wild around here. Love ya Rocko talk to you later. Sweet Dreams.

*PurpleRyuRei704 has logged out at 1:45AM.*

Chris closed her laptop as she stood up and changed clothes, she stepped out of her room and headed for the surface. She had hopped that she had been cleared to see Carter after hours, she wasn't blood but she was family. Carter was the little brother she never had and she treated him as such. She didn't bother with any transport she just hopped a late night bus to the hospital. Noting that there was only about one other person on the bus besides the driver. She stood up as the bus came to the stop just down the street from the hospital, when she climbed off she shivered. Giving herself a mental shake she started down the street to the hospital then she walked right up to the ER station. After giving her name and a few minutes of waiting she was given a pass to see Carter. She leaned against the elevator wall as she rode the elevator up to the floor. The shower had gotten rid of the spasms in he back, but her back was a little sore considering what could have been, she guessed she got off fortunate. Stepping out of the elevator she walked briskly to Carter's room. She knocked softly but didn't hear anything slowly she opened the door and saw Carter sleeping softly. She quietly slipped in and sat down.

"You know I was really worried." He said. Chris's mouth twitched with a smirk and a smart-ass remark popped in her head but she chose to ignore it at that moment.

"It's been busy." Chris said.

"Funny thing Ryan called earlier to tell me Dana was fine and then he started saying a few things about you that weren't flattering I didn't get a chance to really talk a nurse came in." Carter said, "Dana called me a little later to talk telling me about he blow up between you and the others. She had to go saying that you had called in and Kelsey was in trouble and that you had gone off on your own. I actually got to tell her that you could handle you're self just fine."

"Well I found Kelsey, Vypra tried to steal a card but couldn't get not sure why. The Others went to check it out and ended up battling Olympius. I found trouble got a little over whelmed called the others we beat off Loki, Vypra and Batlings then another monster showed up and kicked our butts all over the place. I figure the card Vypra was trying to steal held the monster we ended up fighting." Chris said.

"So did it just take off or did you make/beat the monster and it left?" Carter asked.

"I got a few good shots in and forced it to back off." She said nonchalantly, "I think I'm going to end up kill Ryan or just kicking his ass."

Carter chuckled at Chris statement but had no doubt one of the two would occur.

"He's just not used to the whole group thing." Carter said.

"There's an understatement." Chris said, "He also has some issues believing that women can handle themselves."

"Umm well… just don't break his noise" Carter said trying to come up with some defense but he knew he couldn't say anything to deter Chris. She was a force to be reckoned with he knew that well.

"So where was Kelsey?" Carter asked.

"Trapped in a cave by Loki, I managed to get in but Loki knew I was around." Chris said, "but I managed to slip out with Kelsey but we didn't extremely far before we had to fight. It was a matter of fighting and running until we were surrounded and overwhelmed sort of." Chris shrugged she said the words. Suddenly her eyes were glued to the Television on which there was flash of the NEWS Carter turned it up as soon as he caught sight of it as well.

"At this late hour a monster is prowling the streets of our City." Said the news man when there was a crash off the Camera and as the Camera swung around Chris's eyes narrowed. Vypra and Batlings stood people were scattering away from her.

"Is that Camera broadcasting?" She asked in a cold voice there were nods and voices saying yes. "Good, Red Ranger you have been challenged by Ars'kar to a fight one on one in one hour at the Qwen statue in the Park be there or the city will suffer." Vypra said as she disappeared in a flash of energy. Carter turned wide eye and looked at Chris.

"You are not seriously…Chris! You can't! It's-"

"Dangerous, the hell I'm not!" Chris said as she was walking out, "Unfortunately I have to go back to the base to get a few things fist so it's going to be difficult getting out."

"Chris… just kick that Ars'kar's ass." Carter said, as Chris turned back she smiled and nodded then she walked out and closed the door. She started down the hall at a light run. Not bothering with the bus system she grabbed a cab hopping out at the base. She pushed passed everyone she saw which included Ms. Fairweather. She was not stopping until she got to her quarters and what she needed.

Captain Mitchell had just made it to his quarters when he had been informed an appearance of the Monster just as the broadcast had happened. He was out, about, and giving orders. Of course he had not been happy when he had been informed Chris was not on base. He was surprised when he had learned that Chris was actually moving towards base instead of away from it. He was working through people trying to find Chris after he heard she had come back to base.

Chris had walked directly into her quarters and pulled out a box from under her bed. In the box were a few weapons she had brought with her which included her favorite swords. She grabbed her Kitana and her English Board sword along with her pair of Sais with the three weapons she walked out her door. She came face to face with Ryan behind him were the other Rangers, Ms. Fairweather, some base personal, and Captain Mitchell working his way through the group.

"You can't go" Ryan said.

"It was a challenge for me I'm going now get out of my way." Chris said evenly. She didn't break eye contact from Ryan to even spare a glance at the others.

"That thing nearly killed us all how do you think you can defeat it by yourself." He challenged.

"Because it can be hurt and this time I'm ready for it." She said and make a move to pass Ryan wouldn't budge. Chris walked up and got millimeters from his face. "You have no idea what I can do, now get out of my way."

"You can't do this alone." Kelsey said.

"I have to." Chris replied never looking away from Ryan.

"Why?" Joel asked.

"I was challenged, it's a matter of honor." Chris said.

"Lieutenant-" Captain Mitchell started.

"Let's face facts if it was Ryan, Joel, Carter, or Chad we wouldn't be having this conversation nor such heavy discussion." Chris said sharply, "I was challenged I'm going wither anyone likes that or not."

"Chris" Dana said.

"Just be careful" Chad said. Chris started again but Ryan wasn't going to let her pass. Chris instantly had several ways to get Ryan out of her way. A second later she had another one and decided to go with it. Another second later Ryan was sprawled out flat on his back and Chris was walking passed everyone.

"That was cheap" Ryan shouted as he picked his self up, "You sucker punched me."

"You set your self up for it." She said as she started away turning back she said, "When this is all said and done we'll fight Ryan, you and I not a battle but a sparring match fair and square."

"If you come back in one piece" Ryan said.

"I will, that's a promise" Chris said walking towards the exit unopposed no one wanted to get in her way as she had swords and Sais.

"Don't make promises you can't keep" Ryan said.

"I don't." She replied.

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