Chapter 24- Underestimating the Enemy
Hail to the light that my baby watches me
In the darkness of the window
I can hardly get to sleep
Wish for the hour that
The night-time soon shall pass
And the morning dew will bring us
To a day our souls can last
Stare at a memory
You, through the grapevine, heard the truth
It's good to learn from your mistakes
But that only works in youth…
Meaning- Gavin DeGraw
"Elsssaaaa."
The dark haired cyborg turned to face Anton Mercer's alter ego with a bow of supplication.
"Yes Master?"
"I believe it is time…to rid ourselves of the Power Rangers once, and for all…and finish… what we started…sss sss sss."
"My Lord?"
"We have need of your… 'secret identity'," The reptilian tyrant chuckled and Elsa caught his meaning, nodding and scurrying away quickly to carry out her leader's will.
Mesogog meanwhile slunk over to a pedestal made of dark metal which currently held a reinforced container housing a pulsating pink energy, which had manifested itself gracefully into the smoky image of a crane. It was as if a radiant baby phoenix had been captured and confined to a jar, small but undeniably thrumming with raw power. Mesogog hissed with delight as his knarled fingers scraped around the outside of the jar almost tauntingly.
"Soon…all that will be left of mankind, will be a distant memory..."
"Oliver residence?" Hayley answered Tommy's house phone on the fourth ring, instructed to in case it was one of the former Rangers signalling their arrival in Reefside to aid Kimberly.
"Is Dr. Oliver there?" A slightly superior but disaffected sounding woman drawled on the other end of the line. That voice sounded shockingly familiar, and not in a good way, causing the red-head to pause and collect herself before replying,
"No I'm sorry he's not at the moment, who's calling?"
"This is Principal Randall, Tommy's boss?" She clarified, as if speaking down to a rather simple child. Hayley instantly disliked her, and from what she had heard from Tommy and the three Rangers she had good reason to.
"Oh of course, you must be wondering where Tommy was today." Hayley guessed, feeling somewhat awkward that she was making excuses to her friend's boss.
"Tommy, and Ms. Hart, she was supposed to be demonstrating a gymnastics routine with a group of her students, none of which appeared today, and neither did a note or call from either Dr. Oliver or Ms. Hart. I was told she was staying with him so I wonder if you had an explanation for this?" Randall asked coldly, sounding none too impressed, as if she would be quite happy to bring the cane down upon Hayley for even daring to speak to her in Tommy's stead.
"Um, yes, I can explain, both of their absences actually!" Hayley said proudly, as if having something to placate the sub-zero school-head with was a major achievement.
When she didn't continue Randall prompted her as impatiently as an uninterested and unamused person could sound. "And?"
"Oh, right, Kimberly- uh, Ms. Hart suffered an accident during practice yesterday, and required medical attention, she had to be hospitalized in fact, and Dr. Oliver is with her." Hayley supplied, reasoning that to be as close to the truth as she could go.
"Really? Nothing serious I hope?" The Principal asked, not sounding in the least bit concerned whether it was a scratch on the knee or whether half Kim's body had fallen off from the waist down.
"Quite actually, she's been unconscious for some time. Since the accident I believe."
"Oh, how tragic. I completely understand that Dr. Oliver would want to spend time with her during this difficult time. They are after all, quite close, are they not?"
"Good friends, yes." Hayley replied tightly, feeling slightly defensive of both the Pink and Black Rangers against this woman's scrutiny.
"Very well, though in future it would be preferable if Dr. Oliver could inform someone so that suitable arrangements can be made." Randall continued lazily.
"Of course, sorry for the inconvenience." The genius said cordially, while secretly hoping that as much inconvenience had been caused to the callous woman and any who were similar to her.
The line then cut off, without so much as a thank you in response. "Well, that's charming." Hayley rolled her eyes and put the phone down huffily. Some people had no manners.
Perfect, Elsa thought as she strutted down the clinical hospital corridors in her more human guise. She reached the reception desk and asked to be pointed in the direction of Kimberly Hart's room, as she was an old friend desperate to ascertain the severity of the gymnast's condition.
She was pointed to the right ward and room and smirked as she stood outside the door preparing to enter. She decided that smothering the Pink Ranger would be the simplest option, no mess and no fuss, especially from someone in a coma. Still, just in case she was ready to transform into her true form and summon her sword if problems arose. She smirked nastily at the thought of Oliver's face when he found his high-school sweetheart and 'true love' dead and gone once and for all, with nothing he could have done to save her. Oh how she treasured the opportunity to make that man suffer! She was surprised she was afforded this honour ahead of Zeltrax given his vendetta against the Black Ranger, but she supposed it must have been a reward from Mesogog seeing as how he made her stay close to the good doctor going so far as to make her his boss and so inevitably encounter him every day and have to be civil to him in the process! That and she was slightly more inconspicuous than a six foot metal cyborg with a large sword, perhaps.
She tossed the door open and strode in purposefully, freezing with the sight that greeted her. Dr. Oliver was in the room! Asleep in fact on the corner of the bed, the Pink Ranger's hand clasped between his own as he rested, a look of contentment on his face. The picture of tranquillity. It was sickening. Still, too late to go back now, this in fact was even better, two Rangers for the price of one, one of which was their greatest adversary in a completely vulnerable position, perfect!
But the crash from the door had shaken Tommy from his dreams- not quite as blissful as before as they were not shared by the woman who so often cameoed in them, merely a simple dream of better days when the two of them were still together and the world seemed much simpler. Bleary eyed he stirred, frowning and grumbling that Jason had once again interrupted a pleasant interlude from life, when his eyes focused on a not so expected sight, Principal Randall standing in the doorway, eyes full of malicious intent.
"Finally, I will put an end to our problems once and for all." Randall sneered- but more surprisingly to Tommy's sleep-filled eyes, she began to change. Tommy was on his feet then, dreams forgotten, arms up in a defensive stance. Something wasn't right here, Randall's appearance and strange behaviour and now- Elsa?!
Principal Randall had now vanished and in her place stood Mesogog's left hand henchman, sword in hand and leer on her face. He was at a loss to why he never noticed it before, the similarities in features, build, voice and colouring were uncanny, Tommy was dumbfounded that he had never realised he had been working under one of Mesogog's servants for months now.
"Elsa, get the hell out of here, now!" The palaeontologist demanded angrily, stepping out from beside Kimberly's bed to intercept her.
"Not until I finish what we started Dr. Oliver, first you, then the Pink Ranger, though perhaps it'll be more fun the other way round."
"Not gonna happen." Tommy said firmly, balling his fists, ready for the fight.
Elsa let loose a primal battle-cry and launched herself at the Black Ranger, sword swinging dangerously as she tried to skewer the teacher where he stood. Tommy dodged her high and low swings, thankful that the room was a private one, so larger and empty aside from Kim.
He kicked Elsa in the stomach and sent her crashing back into the wooden door, winding her for a moment to press his communicator and shout to Hayley and the team,
"Elsa's in the hospital, she's after Kim- oof" He was cut short when he was sent flying into the imitation pine table next to the sofa, and he crashed through the flimsy material and on to the linoleum tiles of the floor, magazines and a potted plant crushed beneath or on top of him.
"Tsk, tsk." Elsa wagged a mocking finger and chided, "Messy boy, that's coming out of your next pay check." She laughed scornfully and raised her sword ready to ram into his chest, but Tommy lunged up with his foot, catching the cyborg in the throat and sending her reeling back into the wall as he leapt back up, morphing in the process.
"Black Ranger Power!" He brandished his Brachio Staff and quickly hefted it up as Elsa smashed down at him with her sword.
"Whoah, leave the sharp implements to the professionals Elsa, I don't need the invasive surgery!"
"Looks like you're in desperate need of a lobotomy to me, here, let me help!" Elsa swung her blade at his helmeted head strongly enough to cleave it in two, and Tommy just managed to block it with his staff, before elbowing his adversary in the face, disentangling their weapons from the deadlock.
A nurse who was doing the rounds checked casually through the window and froze, her eyes widening at what she saw. She spun to the wall beside the door and pressed herself against it, eyes squeezed tightly shut, insisting she had been imagining things, before she opened them once more and had another peek. One of the Power Rangers was having an all out battle with a woman in black brandishing a sword in one of the private rooms- complete with patient inside! Shaking her head she scurried off down the hall to find someone to tell.
Elsa stumbled back, clutching her nose to make sure her precious appearance wasn't compromised before glaring angrily at the Black Ranger, then over at Kimberly. Tommy caught her intent just in time and sped to the right side of Kim's bed as Elsa reached the left, slashing her sword down- intent on splitting the Pink Ranger in two. Tommy's Staff shot out to block the blow and Elsa smirked nastily, swinging again for Kimberly's head, forcing Tommy onto the defensive to keep his lover alive. He blocked all of her blows, fast and malicious as they were, but how could he not? If he messed up these blocks, it was game over for Kimberly. Tommy was so busy matching Elsa's parries to protect Kim he did not realise she had raised her sword not in aim of the Pink Ranger and sent a crackling burst of green energy straight at him, sending him crashing back into the hospital wall with a crunching of plasterboard. He was on his feet instantly as he saw Elsa ready her blade to end Kimberly and in desperation, knowing he could not get one of Brachio-Staff's energy attacks ready in time to save his beloved he did the only thing he could.
"Brachio-Staff, full power!" And he launched the Staff at the cyborg, the weapon flying as if shot from a bow. As it travelled it gained energy, beginning to radiate black energy that crackled around it, before it pinioned into Elsa, impaling her in the shoulder. Mesogog's servant screeched in surprise and anger at being thwarted, falling backwards into the door. Pulling out the Staff she stood back up, livid with rage and glared hatefully at Tommy who now stood on the left of Kimberly's bed, effectively cutting off her route to the Pink Ranger.
"You will give up the Pink Ranger to Lord Mesogog or we will take her ourselves when we destroy this hospital along with the rest of this pathetic town!" She demanded, his Staff still clutched tightly in her hand and just out of his reach.
"Just try it, I'll be right here to stop you." Tommy challenged, fists still raised. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the still peacefully slumbering Kim, painfully unaware how close she was to death at this moment. He seethed at Elsa and Mesogog's audacity to even attempt to attack Kimberly in the hospital, while she was comatose and helpless. Just when he thought they couldn't sink any lower, they managed to surprise him. He dared not lunge for his Staff as it would leave Kim open to attacks so settled with bristling in anger as the cyborg smirked at him, wiggling the weapon tauntingly- almost daring him to try and retrieve it so she could attack Kim- before raising her sword to strike the ground.
"We shall see. This is not the end, Black Ranger." Elsa vowed, before slamming her sword into the floor and disappearing into the swirling portal that had arrived with the action.
Tommy stared after her, his fists balling tightly while he thought of Elsa's words, feeling weakened without his Brachio-Staff, but filled with new determination.
It is for you, Elsa.
"It's alright guys, go back to bed, we're both fine." Tommy insisted for the tenth time. The three Dino Thunder Rangers had been awakened instantly upon hearing their teacher and mentor's startled cries for assistance, already on edge from previous events with Zeltrax, and now Elsa?
"You're sure you don't want us to come help stand guard Dr. O?" Conner asked, poised with one sneaker on and the other in his hand as he had struggled to dress before Tommy's second call that the crisis was averted had come through.
"Yes! I'm sorry to have woken you, I didn't have time to change the frequency to just Hayley's line." Tommy apologised, though knowing in his mind if the battle had continued it certainly would have been purposeful him getting other Rangers down here. As it was Jason was already out of the door into the car and speeding through the woodland by the time Tommy's stand down command was issued.
"Wouldn't it be better if we stayed awake just in case Dr. O? Y'know, if one of them comes back?" Kira chimed in from her bedroom, having been more efficient than the boys by staying dressed as she had collapsed into bed, and so poised and ready for action, if a little drowsy.
"No! Sleep, now. We can handle it, you're no good to anyone asleep on your feet from exhaustion, you've gotta look after yourselves before you can look after others. Rules of Rangering 101. I promise, if we need you, we'll call you."
He was answered with another round of half-hearted arguments before the three yawningly agreed that perhaps the Rules of Rangering were for the best, and they bid him good afternoon.
Jason however was not so easy to dissuade and had arrived at the hospital about ten minutes ago, now commanding the hospital staff to double security and make sure guards were patrolling the hospital wards, in case of another attack, taking on the role of outraged 'older brother' that he did so well, chewing out security guards for allowing the most dangerous female robot since Terminator 3 onto the grounds let alone into a comatose patient's room, and threatening loudly to sue. He reasoned the Power Rangers would not be able to guard the hospital and the fight was an isolated incident. The Red Ranger knew however that now it would be even more difficult to get Tommy to leave Kimberly's side.
"Jase, if I hadn't been here Kim would be dead right now! It just shows how Mesogog will go to any lengths to get what he wants, there is no way I am leaving now after what just happened!" The teacher thundered, stalking back and forth next to Kim's bed.
"Bro, Elsa won't try again after this, especially not with added security, and we already decided someone will always be here with Kim. You're being irrational, you need more sleep and to think about this reasonably. We know you don't want to leave her but you've gotta trust the rest of us. We're a team, remember? You'd trust us with your life wouldn't you?"
Tommy frowned and looked up at Jason sincerely, "Of course I would."
"Well then trust us with Kim's, she did. You're the leader of a young team, and they need your guidance now, more than ever. And you're gonna be neglecting them if you can't get your head outta Kim and on to the situation here." Jason said firmly but not unkindly.
Tommy sighed heavily and looked rather pained but reluctantly nodded. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right, haven't you learnt that by now bro?" Jason grinned winningly and then got serious. "Why don't you want to leave now Tommy, the guys told me even the last time Kim was hospitalised you weren't this obsessive."
"The last time I didn't have evil megalomaniacs with a personal vendetta against me and my loved ones and homicidal cyborgs prepared to infiltrate a hospital to attack her. Plus the others made me." He added sheepishly. "One thing to be said for this whole ordeal is that I've learned from past mistakes, I've risked Kim more often than I realised, and underestimated my enemies, which was a rookie mistake to make in the first place, and I didn't pay attention to my feelings until it was too late. If I'd have told Kim how I felt from the start, if I'd admitted it to myself earlier-"
"There is no point worrying about that now. You've got to concentrate on the now, on protecting Reefside and Kim, and finding a way to get her back to health and bring Mesogog down." Jason averted a major guilt trip before it had a chance to get underway. "There's something else isn't there, why you're reluctant to leave?"
Tommy scrutinized Jason closely, "Have you suddenly taken up mind reading?"
"I know you better than you know yourself." Jason teased, "Now go on, spill."
"It's childish." Tommy coloured slightly and guided his chocolate gaze down to the ground. "I… I kinda…wanna be the first one she sees when she wakes up. I couldn't bear it if anyone else got to see her open her eyes before I do, if they got to be the first to hug her and kiss her and make sure she's alright, y'know? It's silly I know, and selfish, but, I just miss her so much and I have all these feelings and nothing to do with 'em... I'm sorry."
Jason was silent for a long moment, then he sniggered, then snorted, then burst into a fit of laughter. Tommy looked slightly put out and glared in annoyance at his best friend. "What's so funny?"
Jason took a deep breath between laughs and shook his head, slinging an arm around Tommy's shoulders companionably. "Oh Tommy, man, you gotta warn me before you say these things." At Tommy's thunderous look he held his free hand up and smirked knowingly. "Bro, you've gotten all romantic on me. That's nothin' to be ashamed of, we all know how you feel about her and how worried you are, I completely understand. You marshmallow!" He shook his head again, and had to restrain the chuckles. "Tommy, seeing someone else's face before yours isn't gonna make her love you any less, or not appreciate how much time you've spent with her or whatever. But if that's all that's worrying you… if she wakes up, whoever's here can throw themselves to the ground as soon as they see her move, crawl commando-style out the door on their hands and knees and go call you with the Tommy-signal on the roof, before barricading the door shut so no-one else can get in and see her before you!" Jason then couldn't hold back any longer and began to laugh once more, and Tommy was sure that if his eyes weren't squeezed shut there'd be tears of hysteria in them.
"Okay, okay, that's enough. Whatever happened to your sensitive side?" Tommy snapped, as unamused and Jason was entertained.
"I'm sorry bro, couldn't help it. But I'm serious about one thing, whoever's here will call you the minute she wakes up, and wait outside so you're the first adoring face she sees. Or we can chloroform her so she's knocked out again 'til you get here?" He chuckled again and Tommy hit him over the head with a magazine from the wreckage of the faux-pine table.
"I knew I shouldn't have told you."
Jason became serious then, with some degree of effort.
"Look, all I'm asking is for you to get some sleep, then you can come back. She's unlikely to wake up 'til we get the Crane spirit back in her, or we do something drastic to try and heal her, I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"Oh believe me, I have plenty to worry about." Tommy sighed.
"Did you say Elsa stole your Brachio-Staff?"
"Yeah."
"That can't be good."
"No shit Sherlock." Tommy retorted, but his eyes were twinkling and he seemed to be over Jason's impromptu stand-up comedy routine.
"Reckon she might just, give it back?" Tommy looked at Jason somewhat incredulously,
"Have you been spending too much time with Connor?"
"I don't mean it like that but, maybe they'll have rigged it and just hand it back, or they won't be able to work it."
"Everyone always seemed to manage the Dragon Dagger and Saba when they got hold of 'em."
"True. Man you should really learn to take better care of your stuff if your weapons are that easy to steal."
"Thanks for that newsflash Jase."
"Wait, this looks like a better newsflash." Jason turned the volume up on the television that was hooked to the wall for patients to watch. What good it would be to the comatose inhabitants was anyone's guess.
Tommy raised a brow and turned his attention to the screen. "Oh no."
"This is Cassidy Cornell with exclusive Breaking News from ReefsideHospital
"Less than an hour ago, Reefside General was the scene of chaos and panic when news emerged that a Black-Clad female- often seen accompanying the various monsters that plague our fair city- had been spotted inside the hospital, doing battle with the Black Power Ranger inside a private room, which- reports confirm- was occupied with a patient. The woman's reasons for being there, and the identity of the patient inside the room for now remain a mystery, but it is reassuring to know that whatever the time or the place, the Power Rangers seem to be always here to defend us. More news as we get it."
Tommy rubbed his forehead. "Well, it could've been worse I guess."
"That's the spirit."
"Except that now reporters, journalists and cameramen are gonna be swarming this place, and sooner or later, some nurse or attendant is gonna let slip that it was this room, and Kim who was inside it. Hell someone already has or Cassidy wouldn't have found out."
"You're saying we need to get her out?"
"And soon. And I may just have a way to do it…"
"And then the Black Ranger came in and told us our co-operation would be appreciated in not talking to the press under any circumstances, to avoid any commotion and keep those involved safe. He said the woman's name was Elsa- weird huh?- and she was very dangerous so no-one should approach her, and that he had seen her entering the building, chased and cornered her and room 288 happened to be the room she ran into. He doesn't need to worry we have doctor/patient confidentiality after all, don't wanna be slapped with a law suit. Did you see that guy who-"
Jason had slowed to hear the nurses gossiping at their station and smirked at Tommy's bright idea, it seemed that the best way to get anything done was for a Power Ranger to ask for it, but it seemed as if they were safe. As long as no-one got greedy over an exclusive interview and spilled Kim's identity, no-one would be any the wiser, although hopefully it wouldn't matter if they did. He continued out of the double glass doors of the hospital and was met with a shocking, if somewhat expected sight.
It was a media circus out there, camera crews all set up and people with microphones standing and gravely reporting news that even hospitals weren't safe from monsters and the like, and all trying to find out how the Power Rangers (it had now increased from one to all of them) had reacted so quickly and caused Elsa to flee, and whether the patient was targeted or just happened to be in the room, and why a monster did not accompany the woman, if it was a typical attack. Luckily as Jason didn't look like anyone important no-one paid any attention to him, and they were all confined behind barriers set up by hospital security, especially as there was no breaking news any longer.
"Guess you were right about the news spreading after all Tommy." Jason muttered, shaking his head, this was after all a hospital and not a zoo, to quote the unamused nurse from earlier. She would probably be having a fit at all the noisy people, seeing as how it wasn't 'conducive to healing' etcetera etcetera. Jason just hoped the others would arrive soon, so they could start helping Kim.
The attention of two former Rangers and one genius was focused on the stairwell as the door slammed shut upstairs, and Jason strode down into the command- centre basement of Tommy's home.
"What happened J?" Rocky raised a brow.
"Wasn't the intention to drag Tommy away from Kim's bed's side and back to his own?" Adam agreed.
Jason sighed and rubbed the back of his neck and sat down, opening a can of beer that had thus far escaped consumption and took a swig. They thought they heard the door slam upstairs once more and a creak on the stair, but Jason just shrugged and leant back into one of the leather chairs near the consoles.
There was a definite creak and a bang, and Adam and Rocky exchanged slightly worried glances, Adam remembering a fateful study session where he fell asleep and had some pretty scary dreams about horror movies.
"Tommy's house isn't…haunted is it?" The former Black Ranger looked around warily.
They heard a laugh then a groan and both then shot up, wide eyed, scanning the room nervously.
"You could've left the door open for me Jase." The very familiar voice of Tommy Oliver sounded from their right and the two spun, noticing Jason's amused look and not seeing the humour of the situation until the figure of their former leader appeared seemingly from nowhere in front of them. And more than that, he was holding an unconscious Kimberly in his strong arms, still clad in very attractive hospital gown.
"T-Tommy?" Rocky stammered, as well as one could stammer with mouth hanging open in any case.
"In the flesh. Non ghostly." He nodded with a grin, but then swayed, staggering to the side before Jason was at his side helping him stand. "Thanks, help me get her to the bed?" Jason kept his hands out to steady his best friend as Tommy carried Kim over to a simply made up single bed in the corner, looking like a regulation bed from the army more than something someone would actually want to sleep on. Tommy tucked Kimberly in tenderly and then glanced to Hayley.
"Got the monitors all set up?"
"Sure thing." Hayley moved to attach the circular stickable discs to certain points on the Pink Ranger's body to monitor her vital signs. "We've had to reconfigure this part of the system, and reroute some extra power, but it should be quite sufficient to make sure Kimberly gets the best attention."
"Thanks Hayley." Tommy said softly and the red-head nodded before turning back to his three former team-mates.
"At least now, hopefully we can get you to get some sleep!" Jason said, his lips twitching into a smile.
"Well I certainly feel better about Kim now she's at home." Tommy said, then realised his mistake and coughed to cover his embarrassment. "Um, I mean, y'know she-"
"Tom! We know." Rocky smiled and patted him on the back.
"Uh, yeah." Tommy smiled bashfully and ran a hand through his hair.
"So, ya wanna explain the Houdini appearing act?" Rocky said somewhat indignantly after a moment of silence.
"I knew it wouldn't last." Adam muttered darkly and Rocky huffily punched him in the shoulder.
Tommy laughed and held up his hands, "Sorry about that guys, guess I forgot to mention that my Black Dino gem gives me the power of invisibility, and with a lot of concentration and effort, I managed to stretch it to cover Kim as well, we sneaked outta the hospital and past those wonderful journalists without 'em knowing." He now sat down on the edge of the elevated platform that housed the control consoles, looked rather drained.
"So why'd you come all the way home like that?" Rocky frowned.
"Yeah, wouldn't it have better conserved your energy to become visible again once you were clear of the hospital?"
"Well, me and Jase decided it'd be good to scare ya." Tommy grinned and both the former Rangers exchanged shocked glances and then with twin smirks, picked up doughnuts from the box on the table and launched them at the palaeontologist.
"Hey, it was Jason too!"
"Hey don't get me involved!"
"Get 'em both Ads!" The two most legendary Rangers hit the deck, trying to protect themselves behind the chairs but were soon beaten into submission with the sugared pastries, ending up somewhat sticker than when they had arrived, and Tommy remembered his own fatal mistake...underestimating the enemy.
As I thought today's was a rather weak chapter, and I wanted to fit quite a bit in as it still felt a little empty, today's was quite a bit longer, hope you didn't mind! It ended a bit lighter than usual, hope you didn't mind that either! The rest of the Rangers will be making their appearances imminently so there will be more action and more plot progression in the next couple chapters, these have been more filler and I'm sorry if they're not up to scratch, still I hope you enjoyed reading, thanks for coming, thanks even more if you push that little button to review!
Catch you on the flipside!