Part 3
Jason looked over the cliff at the ruins that sat below him. This was his favorite place to come and think. He had been thinking a lot lately and knew that it was time for him to leave. After all the years of hearing the stories that his parents told him it was still difficult to believe that Angel Grove had ever been more than a just a burned out crater. While his parents had fond memories of high school and hanging out at the Ernie's Juice Bar all he could see was the a huge hole in what had been on of the most fantastic cities in old America. His parents had told him many stories about their days as the Power Rangers and how many times that they risked their lives saving the city and even entire Earth from one threat after another that would come from beyond the galaxy to try to take over the little blue-green world.
The were always happy to tell him of their adventures and it brought smiles to their faces when he asked but when asked what happened on the day that the Vandairre came all they could say was that they weren't ready. After a lot of pressure on his part they would tell him stories of how all of the Rangers came together, of how Andros and his crew of rangers came back to Earth to help fight, of how Zack and Trini came back and of how Billy even left his home on Aquitar and rebuilt the command center. But they would never tell him about how the Earth was lost to the Vandairre.
Eventually he gave up on getting these answers but instead focused on doing something about getting rid of the Vandairre. To that end he asked his dad to teach him how to fight. After months of refusing his father finally gave in and began to teach him the martial arts. That was over ten years ago and now Jason felt that he was ready to go out and do what no one else could do. He would battle the Vandairre and restore freedom to the Earth. His mind flashed back to the night before when he told his parents that he was going to leave and to see if the power that they had used as rangers was still out there. Naturally his mother was upset and didn't want him to go. There was a big argument. Sure he understood that they they were worried but his argument was sound. They did the same thing when they were younger but they snuck around behind their parents backs to do it. At least he had told them what he wanted to do. Besides it was in his blood to be a Power Ranger and they couldn't deny him that. If the power was still out there it was his birthright to find it and fight evil.he had left to go sleep in the dojo that his dad had built for them in the backyard.
"Tommy, you're just going to let him go?" Kimberly asked with an almost furious tone in her voice.
"Believe me Kim, I don't want him to go either but this is something that we have to let him do."
"Tommy it's dangerous out there we can't let him go out there trying to fight monsters the way we did when we were younger."
"That's exactly my point Kim" Tommy said as he walked over to her "We used to do the same thing when we were younger than he is."
"Yeah and do you think that our parents would have let us if they knew about it? I mean seriously Tommy they would have killed us if they found out."
"But the difference if Kim that we do know and we can support him. Jason could us our experience and knowledge to help him."
"Do you know what your saying. Nicandros is more dangerous than Rita, Zedd, Divatox and the Machine Empire combined. We can't send him out there it's not safe."
"Look Kim I know it's not safe out there but Jason has been training to do this for most of his life. He's got a better chance to do this than we ever did."
"Look Tommy..."
Jason walked into the room and saw that his mom and dad were still arguing over his decision. "Mom please don't be mad at dad. This is something that I have to do." He said, attempting to stop their arguing. "I know that there are still powers out there and I want to find them so that I can get rid of the Vandairre."
Kim walked over to her son , she had never had children of her own but sje was just as close to Jason as she would have been if her was hers. She loved the young man and above all other things in this world and besides that she had sworn to his mom that she would protect him. After all what else could you do for the person that had given her life to save yours? She hugged him and looked into his eyes. "Jason do you know what your saying?" Kim asked him.
"I know exactly what I'm doing mom." the young man said looking into her brown eyes. "I've thought about this a lot and know that this is the right thing for me."
Kimberly peered into the eyes of the Jason Oliver and saw the determination in them. She had seen the same look before, when Tommy heart set his on doing something. "Jason I'll worry about you while your gone." she said with a smile.
Jason smiled back and then the two locked in a hug. "I know you will but I'll be okay."
Tommy walked over to his son and grabbed his hand. "I think it's time for you to have this." he said placing something in it.
Jason looked at the object that his dad had given him. It was a small gold colored coin the a little larger than a quarter. Both sides were blank and the object was actually heavy for soemthing of it's size. "What's this?" he asked.
"It's a power coin." his dad told him. "It doesn't have power any more but I want you to have it as a good luck charm."
"Here I want you to take mine to." Kimberly said pulling a similar coin that was attached to a chain her neck. "If you ever get into trouble look at these and think about us and everything will work out."
"Thanks dad, mom." Jason said as he ran upstairs. A few minutes later he came back down the stairs carrying a white duffel bag. "See ya later." he waved as he ran out the door.
Kim watched as he ran out the door. "Tommy did you see how fast he packed.
Tommy just looked up at the ceiling and whistled as he walked through the backdoor.
Mark knew that if he was caught at the cermony that he could geet into big trouble, but he had been with his brother every step of the way during his training and wanted to know if he was the chosen one. The young man looked over the fire as the village elder began to speak to the assembled warriors.
"Gather around my children" the elder started. He regared each of the young men that were gathered for a moment, walking between and taking the time to stop and look at each one. He then stopped in front of one young man and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. He looked at the young man and a smile came across his lips.
Mark leaned in closer to see who had been chosen and his heart jumped.
"The time has come for the chosen to take his rightful place of honor and receive the power of the mighty Panther Spirit." the elder said "You all have received the training and done well, but one among you has excelled in all of the arts and has earned his right to the power that will help to free our world from the evil that it has succumb to. Phillip Storm throughout the many years you have fought many battles, trained hard and won a place of honor among our tribe. It is for this reason that you have been chosen to receive the power of the Great Panther Spirit. Now step forward and look into the flame."
One of the young men stepped forward and stared into the flame that was blazing in front of him. "I will do my best to serve Panther and make sure that I use the power that has been granted to me for good."
The elder touched Phillip on the head. He grabbed the small medallion that he was wearing around his neck and placed it in Phillips hand. "I know you will my boy" he said. "This medallion was giving to me many years ago by another that served the Panther Spirit. He told me that there would come a time when the power of the Panther would once again flow through it and that with its power the world would be cleansed and become pure. He also told me that one would come along that was worthy of the power that it held and that the Panther would grant him strength."
Mark was so proud of his brother that he could hardly contain himself. This was a great day for him and he wanted so much to be at his brothers' side that he nearly burst. As he looked on the elder continued to speak "Phillip the time has now come for you to..." the elder fell to the ground and began to bleed from his chest. The young warriors surrounded him and began to look around anxiously.
"Destroy them!" came a yell from the other side of the clearing and several of the warriors began to fall as the sound of gunshots rang out across the night.
Mark suddenly became very scared and wanted to run away but for some reason when he turned to move his feet wouldn't budge. All he could do was watch as hundreds of Vandairre soldiers came running out of the clearing and began to slaughter the warriors that were gathered there. Mark saw his brother holding the medallion with his eyes closed as if praying to it . He looked as though he were begging for the power of the Panther to come to him but nothing was happening. The youngster tried to call out to his older brother as he saw one of the strange soldiers run up behind him but as much as he tried to give that warning nothing came out. All he could do was helplessly watch the mightiest warriors in his tribe get slaughtered. The young man began to cry but even then nothing came out. After what seemed like hours the Vandairre finally left and from what Mark could tell there was no one left alive. The youngster (finally able to move) walked around the scene of the massacre, still not able to believe what he had just witnessed. Finally he found the body of his brother and knelt down beside it.
A hand reached up and grabbed Marks arm and he jumped back a foot or so from his brother "Mark are you ok?" Phillip asked.
"Yes Phillip." he answered, "they never know that I was here."
"Good you must go and warn the tribe before those aliens make it there and destroy everything."
"What about you brother?" Mark asked.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine but our people have to be warned about this. NOW GO!!!"
Mark gasped as he suddenly relieved what would happen if he were to late with the warning. "I'll be back for you as soon as I can." he said as he broke into a sprint.
Aron looked up, the sky on this planet was a lot different then he was used to on Keldeha. It all seemed a lot darker then he was used to and also a lot colder. He was still slightly in shock that the device had actually worked and that he was now standing on an alien world.
The trip had been weird but not painful. It had actually tickled and Aron didn't think that he could get used to teleporting.
He decided that before he started looking for Jayna h had better find some food. He had been in that teleportation beam for hours and hadn't eating since he left his home back on Keldeha and he was starving. He decided that his best course of action was to find something to eat. So to that end he set out walking.
After hours of traveling across the desert Aron saw what looked to be a small town on the edge the forest. Just on the outskirts he spotted a little girl playing. She had a ball in one hand and a doll in another and was running not particulary watching where she was going.
He decided that it would be a good idea to just sit back and observe for a while before he entered the town. Then something caught his eye. 'No it can't be' he though to him. 'What are they doing here? Are they looking for Jayna to or are they after me. Damn!!!' As he looked closer he noticed more and more of the Vandairre waling around the city. All were wearing uniforms similar to the one that he had seen on Keldeha.
After a nearly an hour or so more of watching the people his hunger became almost unbearable. He had been watching to see if they were looking for someone, but it seemed as if they were actually just going about daily tasks and just hanging around.
Aron decided that it was safe enough to enter the town and at least try to grab a bite to eat. As he got closer to the town he saw the same little girl that he had seen earlier running across the street playing with her ball. He also saw a soldier walking in ths opposite direction no really paying attention to where he was going either. He had seen these guys in action before and had a feeling something bad was about to happen.
"Come in Kari" came a voice from a few houses away. The girl turned and looked towards the house and stopped in the road for a moment and then started to run towards the house. As she was running by she bumped into the soldier, who looked to be already off balance and stumbling. The soldier fell down with a loud thud.
"Watch where you're going brat" the soldier yelled at the girl as he stood up.
"She's sorry. It won't happen again." said a lady that was walking towards Kari.
"No she's not sorry yet, but she will be" the soldier responded as he lifted the rifle that he was carrying and pointed it at the girl.
Aron ran as fast as he could and leapt into the air. He came down right in front of the soldier surprising him. The soldier lifted his rifle at this new target but was to slow and Aron grabbed the rifle and pulled if forward, causing the soldier to come off balance and stumble. Aron grabbed the man by his arm and tossed him to the ground. The stunned soldier tried to stand but Aron kicked him in the face knocking him unconscious.
A crowd gathered around Aron and Kari's mother walked over to him. "Thank you, she said, grabbing his hand "If it wasn't for you Kari could have been seriously hurt."
"It was nothing." Aron said as he knelt down to check on the condition of the little girl that he had just saved. He stared at her for a couple of seconds. Kari pulled her hair behind her ears and turned her head to face her mom. Aron caught a glimpse of her ears and his eyes went wide. He quickly realized that with his pointed ears he would stand out like a sore thumb if he didn't cover them quickly. Not wanting to give people to find out that he was not from here he thought that it would be a good idea to get away as quickly as possible before someone noticed.
"I really appreciate what you did for my daughter is there anything I could do for you?" the girls mother asKed.
"Not really, I need to get going." Aron answered.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm looking for someone so I really have to leave now." was his response.
"Okay well thank you again." she grabbed her daughters arm and started to walk off towards their house.
Aron turned around and watched her walk away. It was then that he really noticed her. She was beautiful and after thinking about it for a moment he was still hungry. He ran up behind her it's getting late and I need a place to stay for the night. It'll just be until early morning and then I'll be on my way." he said.
Without hesitation the women agreed and they were on their way to her house.
Aron was glad that he had gotten out of there before someone noticed his ears. The last thing he needed was for someone to notice them and realize that he was alien. He was sure that the people of this planet had enough of aliens.
Mark breathe heavily as he made his way into the village. He had to warn then of the coming attack before it was to late plus the others back at the ceremony needed help. The aliens would be here soon and he know that if they made it before he was able get everyone away then his tribe wouldn't stand a chance.
His eyes went wide. He could believe what he was seeing. "Is anyone here?" he called out. There was no answer. He took a look around and didn't see anyone. There were no signs of attack so he doubted the aliens attacked. Or had his people went along quietly. He shook his head at that thought. Every person down to the smallest child hated the Vandairre and would have fought to the death. He know that none of his people would just let the aliens take them. But what else could explain what he was seeing. No villagers, no signs of battle and nothing to show where they had gone.
"Maybe they got away before the aliens arrived. That's the only explaination." He decided that it would be a good idea to get back and let his older brother know what he found. Mark turned around and headed back to the ceremony grounds.
It seemed to take forever but Mark finally made it back to the ceremonial grounds. He looked around and was able to find Phillip laying near the flame obviously trying to keep warm. He walked over to his older brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Phillip, I made it back to the village." he said. "It was empty."
"And the tribe?" Phillip asked.
"There was no one there. It was as if they knew what was going to happen before I got there."
"You didn't see any signs of a battle?"
"None" Mark answered flatly, "It was like they just disappeared from the face of the planet. I looked around but the village was untouched. It looks like the aliens never even made it to the village."
"What the hell. They took off in that direction." Phillip said, frustrated. "You didn't run into the Vandairre soldiers at all?"
A spark of light jumped from the fire startling both of the young men. Mark not really think anything of it walked to the spark, which had landed just a few feet away and lefted his leg to step on it. Before he could bring his foot down a voice boomed from the fire.
"MARK STORM! You have been chosen."
Mark stepped closer to the fire and looked into it. "What was that? Who's there?" he asked.
"You have been chosen to join the others" the voice told him.
Mark was startled by the voice and stepped away form the fire. "Come out here so I can you." He called out.
"What's going little brother?" Phillip asked.
"Someones here." Mark answered.
"Mark Storm come closer to the fire." said the voice.
Mark felt compelled to step closer to the fire. As he approached he could swear that he saw a figure form in the flames.
"I'm going to repeat myself, What the hell is going on?" He got no answer.
Frustrated he walked back to Phillip and leaned over him again. "I must be going crazy big brother."
"What's happening Mark?"
"I don't know but I could swear that I just saw something moving in the fire."
"You're not going crazy Mark Storm." came the voice once again.
Mark turned around to look at the fire once again. He saw a flame leap out of the fire and ignite a small patch of grass.
Mark quickly pulled off his shirt man ran towards the new fire to put it out before it spread. There was a large flash of light that forced Mark to cover his eyes. He slowly pulled them away and nearly passed out from what he saw. A large panther that looked like it had flames covering it's body. The flames were black and gave off no heat. Mark dropped to his knees as he realized that he was standing before his god.
"Come to your feet Mark Storm, you have no need to bow before me." The Panther Spirit told him.
Mark obeyed the creature and slowly rose to his feet. "How may I serve you?" he asked timidly.
"Mark Storm you do not serve me. I am no god. I am here to serve you." Marks eyes went wide. "I have come to tell you of your destiny."
Phillip rolled over to see what was going on. His eyes went wide just as Marks had. "The Great Panther Spirit!" he exclaimed.
"Phillip Storm the time has come when your family shall fulfill its destiny. You will join me and the others of your tribe in a distant place."
Mark stepped forward and looked angrily at the Panther "he can't leave he has to help defeat the aliens."
"Mark Storm that is not the destiny that has been set for Phillip Storm. His path lays somewhere else."
"No way Phillip has to stay here. We have work to do." Mark said as he grabbed his brothers arm.
A glint came across Phillips eyes as though he had remembered something that was long forgotten. He gently pulled his arm away from his little brother. "No Mark I think I ucerstand what he's saying. You have to go on by yourself. I'm not the chosen one."
"But Phillip you were selected by the elder to be the choosen one."
"The elder was wrong this is something more than he could have ever known. I think I have another destiny and it doesn't lay in fighting the Vandairre." Phillip said. "I can see it now. You are the choosen one little brother and it's time you realized that.
Mark flinched but held his ground "you're coming with me and that's final." he said as he reached down to grab his brother.
"Please Mark don't make this harder for me" Philip pleaded, "I want you to take the medallion and go."
"But if you stay here you'll die."
"I will not let the choosen ones brother die." the Panther Spirit told him. "You see Phillip Storm is also the chosen one, but for another mission. He will come with me to be reunited with your people." Phillip and the Panther Spirit nodded to each other. Phillip then looked over at Mark who was silently watching the exchange. "Little brother I need you to do something for me."
Mark took the medallion and looked at the plain gold coin. He couldn't help but wonder what power the tiny object held. He looked at the Panther "What is it Phillip?" he asked.
"The Vandairre didn't get our people." Phillip said. "The Panther took them away to a place where the aliens can't touch them." Phillip said, "Now it is time for you to go, you will find others that will join with you. Together you will be the only hope for our world. When you find them one will lead and you must stand by him at all times." Phillip looked a lot moe serious then Mark had ever seen him. Then he cracked a smile. "Plus I need you to kick some alien butt."
The Panther looked at Mark and smiled. "We must go now Mark but you will see your brother and the rest of your people again. For now go and bring peace and freedom back to the Earth." With that the Panther Spirit and Phillip disappeared.
Mark began to walk away; the young man knew that there would be no looking back.