Chapter 27- Silence
A.N:I am so sorry, college, work- blah blah blah. But you don't want my excuses, you want the story- there's a little bit of everything in here. It is extraordinarily long to make up for the weeks I've missed, (blushes) if you think I should split it into 2 for easier reading inform me, but I'm warning you in advance- thanks for reading, please review- and forgive me!
"An Evil White Ranger?!" Nine voices chorused as one as Tommy resumed his pacing a ditch into the floor.
"Bro, are you alright?" Jason asked perceptively, knowing Tommy's feelings would have been tumultuous enough if any old stranger had stolen Kimberly's energy from under his nose, but an apparent evil Power Ranger parading round in Tommy's most trusted colour, they were definitely heading towards Oliver emotional train-wreck territory. Luckily Tommy was too angry to be angst-ridden at the moment.
"Fine," Tommy said shortly. "He must've known what he was doing, or seen some value in the energy, that means we still have time. He might try and ransom it off, or turn up looking for a fight. We'll have to stay alert and be ready for anything." Tommy was off in planning mode now, whenever things went wrong it was either brood mode or plan mode, and at the moment planning was the best they could hope for.
"We're never gonna get him to sleep now," Rocky muttered in Jason's ear and the senior Red Ranger nodded with a perturbed sigh.
"This was all we needed."
It was approaching midnight so the assembled knew they wouldn't be getting anything more done tonight. Tommy dismissed his team once more and the three reluctantly trudged out to Conner's car with glances of sympathy from the other Rangers. It had always been the older team's philosophy to work on a problem until it was solved, no matter the time, but as Tommy's team were also his students he seemed to be a lot more strict with their timetable than the original team had ever been.
"Tommy man, would it be so bad if you let the kids make their own decisions when to hit the hay, they're just like we used to be, they're old enough to be involved, we'd never have bailed on a problem when we had the choice." Rocky ventured, then instantly regretted it when Tommy rounded on him with a hard look in his eyes.
"They're my students, they're my responsibility Rocky, don't try to tell me how to run my team." He snapped tersely.
Rocky held his hands up to quell the Black Ranger's anger.
"Whoah, Tommy it was just a suggestion, I didn't mean anything by it man, chill." He couldn't begrudge Tommy his mood swings, the palaeontologist was under an enormous amount of stress commanding a team, protecting Reefside and having to deal with watching the love of his life hanging between life and death on a fragile string.
Tommy's face fell and he ran a hand through his black spikes tiredly.
"Man, I'm sorry Rocko, it's not your problem its mine, I just… I don't know what to do, what to think anymore." He sighed quietly, in an admission of helplessness he never would've shared outside Jason and Kimberly back in their early days, but through the years the man Tommy had matured into trusted every one of his team-mates with all his insecurities, just as they trusted him. He found no shame in admitting weakness or doubt to his closest friends anymore, he knew they wouldn't judge him for it.
Trini was by his side in a moment with a comforting clasp around his hand with her own.
"We know how you feel Tommy, we're scared for her too. But we will get through this together, all of us." She said firmly, glancing over at the peaceful figure in the corner who looked as if she were nothing more than slumbering.
The other former Rangers nodded and Tommy smiled gratefully.
"Thanks guys. Look, I've got a spare bedroom upstairs with a double in it, a pull out sofa-bed in the lounge and another camp-bed in here, as well as my double in my room. And all the chairs and couches of course, so its first come first served." He shrugged.
"We'll take watches, make sure Kim's not alone. Do it in pairs so no-one falls asleep." Jason got back into organisation mode and Tommy nodded in assent of the plan.
"Hayley, if you want to go home, we know you've got a business to run and you've done a lot already." Tommy offered the redhead.
"No way Oliver, you're not getting rid of me as easily as you did the kids. You and I can take first watch," She said resolutely. Tommy's eyebrows raised and he caught Jason's smirk as he glanced at the Red Ranger.
"Sure." He nodded, knowing he was planning on taking first watch anyway, though slightly unnerved that Hayley could predict him so easily.
"Zack and I will take second, Billy and Trini third and Rocky and Adam can do fourth, as we know they get more energetic the later it gets." Jason teased.
"Well, one of us does," Adam glared at Rocky who was already bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "And he has enough bounce for the both of us."
"It's settled then, we'll do it in two-hour shifts, Hayley and I will be on until two and I'm sure y'can figure out the rest." Tommy motioned to the stairs. "I suggest you all search out a bed and catch as much rest as you can, we're gonna need the energy. We'll come wake you and Zack in two hours Jase."
"Gotcha." Jason nodded and glanced at the others, then with a mischievous smirk made a running start towards the stairs, and once this registered was closely followed by the rest of the Rangers, all shouting and clamouring about the Red Ranger cheating in getting the best bed.
Once the dust had cleared Tommy slumped on the chair nearest to Kimberly with a heavy sigh. Hayley swivelled in her own seat to look on the fearless leader in his moment of fear.
"I was so close." Tommy murmured despairingly, rubbing his face in his hands.
"You'll get another chance." Hayley said gently, regarding the teacher as if he were a house of glass balanced together with no glue.
"But what if I don't? We don't know what that Ranger wants with the energy, he might have destroyed it already and then what will happen to Kim? God Hayley I just…I couldn't bear to lose her again, not now, not ever."
"We'll get her back. You know you will Tommy, its Kimberly," Hayley smiled gently. "You won't let her down."
"I wish I had your confidence." The palaeontologist muttered darkly from his hands.
"Hey, I'm the genius remember, when am I ever wrong?"
Tommy raised his eyes to Hayley and returned her light grin. "I guess there's no arguing with that."
"Certainly not."
The night (unfortunately-in Tommy's view) had passed without incident by the time Trini and Billy traipsed up to the lounge to find Rocky sprawled across the pull out sofa-bed and Adam squeezed onto a chair at 6am. They had been hoping against hope that a move would be made by the White Ranger tonight so that they could beat something up and put an end to Kim's awful situation, but at least the quietude gave the visiting Rangers an opportunity to spend some time with Kim and digest the day's events.
"Scnarh! Just a few more minutes mom…" Rocky mumbled, waving his hand half-heartedly as Trini shook him to wake him up. Adam who had wakened straight away rolled his eyes and simply threw a pillow at the blue Zeo Ranger.
"Wah- oh, right, watch-duty time?" Rocky asked, blearily squinting up at the first Yellow Ranger.
"I'm afraid so Rocky." Trini smiled sympathetically at the incoherent martial artist.
Rocky sat straight up, ran a hand over his short crop of hair and rolled out of bed and to his feet in one quite surprising movement. "Coffee?"
"There's a pot brewed down there." Trini informed him with a smile before climbing over Zack who was on a bed of cushions on the floor and following Billy to the stairs to get to the spare room which they had claimed as their territory.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Tommy comes down to check on you presently, he'll inevitably want to relieve you to stay with Kimberly, just direct him back to his room and don't take no for an answer." Billy added quietly from the stairs.
"It won't be the first time then?" Adam enquired with a knowing smile.
"No, he tried to pull it on us and Jason and Zack several times." Trini chuckled.
"He's nothing if not persistent." Billy agreed and the two climbed the wooden stairwell to bed.
"Come on then, let's go check on our sleeping beauty," Rocky said without his usual humour as he pulled Adam up from his chair and led the way down to the basement lab, prepared for two long hours with nothing but the steady bleeping of Kim's heart monitor for company.
Trent collapsed on the floor of the warehouse with a groan, feeling like death warmed up. He knew he must have fallen, or he wouldn't be on the floor- but he couldn't actually remember the action, or anything past getting home from his shift at the Cyber Café the afternoon previously. Laboriously he tilted his head to look up and take stock of the unfamiliar surroundings and found himself staring at a reinforced glass container housing a very strange looking gas that glowed a bright pink, as if radioactive. Inside was the outline of a small but graceful bird, weaving through the smoke-like substance as if in flight.
"What the-?" Trent frowned before a sharp shooting pain seized his stomach and ran all the way through his body, culminating on his left wrist, where a curious and somewhat familiar silver band inlaid with a white gem rested tightly. He let out another moan of pain before an explosion of white enveloped him and he knew no more.
"Now…my feeble minded minions…what, is the best way…to lure out…a Power Ranger?" Mesogog rounded on his two henchmen with his beady glare. The two did not flinch but had they been more mind than metal perhaps they would have been wise enough to.
"Err…multicoloured clothing discounts?" Zeltrax ventured, believing this comment to be at the height of wit, he glanced to Elsa to see if she was amused by his little joke. She was not. And neither it seemed was Mesogog who let out an infuriated growl and sent a beam of mental energy at his clueless general.
"No…you halfwitted mound of metal…chaos- chaos is what the Power Rangers…cannot resist. A monster…and a lot of mess… It seems Dr. Oliver is having a little Ranger reunion in Reefside… but for now he is on the same level, as us…this…White Ranger has little Kimberly's energy. We just need to get to it…and the White Ranger, before Oliver does. Do I make myself…clear?"
"Yes my lord, I know exactly what to do." Elsa drawled, rolling her eyes in Zeltrax's direction. "I will not fail you this time, we will ensure the White Ranger sticks around for an audience with you, and the other Rangers will be powerless to stop you."
"See that you don't Elsa… Too many mistakes have been made…this week." Mesogog glared at both of the cyborgs and stalked out of the chamber with a hiss.
"Last night was a disaster, the Power Rangers were stronger than anticipated." Zeltrax argued with the female as she set about choosing two genetic structures to base this monster on.
"Speak for yourself, I was running those Rangers into the ground before they ran away. A few minutes more and the only thing you would've been useful for is recycling." She sniped with a knowing smirk. "Your position on top of Mesogog's power pile is tenuous to say the least, better be careful another mistake doesn't topple you into the trash dump."
"I will not fail again, you had Oliver's Staff to aid you, without it you would be nothing." Zeltrax shot back sulkily.
"At least I managed to get the weapon from him, whenever you go near him you end up in a smoking heap on the ground with a bruised ego. Come, you have one last chance to redeem yourself in the Master's eyes, we must keep the White Ranger around long enough for Lord Mesogog to capture him and the Pink energy, and keep the other Rangers at bay. Try to keep up." She smirked scathingly.
Zeltrax growled internally, ignoring Elsa's barbs. This time he would prove himself not just to Mesogog, but to Elsa as well, and she would forget all about that pitiful Thomas Oliver and love him instead. The Power Rangers were history.
"Perfect, with this pink energy the DinoZord egg will be activated in no time at all." The White Ranger pressed a small button on the side of the container and a small vial rose from the centre of the lid, filled with a small amount of glowing pink liquid. Mesogog had obviously found a way to harness the pink energy into a useable compound for the evil Ranger was sure if he opened the top of the canister the Pink energy would escape or dissipate, since the energy itself seemed strangely sentient in its crane form, as if it was aware of its surroundings. The small bird seemed to watch him as he paced around the abandoned warehouse, and the White Ranger's malicious intent seemed known to it as its miniscule pink eyes observed him. Of course this could all have been products of an overactive imagination, but either way the White Ranger felt no feelings of remorse as the pure pink light inside the container seemed to dim as he removed the tube of liquid from the containment unit and dipped his Drago Sabre into it.
He fired the pink energy, infused with his own at the Zord egg and watched in satisfaction as the red lights on the side started to crackle with energy. "Soon you'll be ready for your debut, just a few more drops." He chuckled maliciously as the tiny crane circled agitatedly around its glass prison, sensing there would be no escape this time.
Tommy had tried his luck getting Adam and Rocky to go back to bed so he could stay up with Kim at least twice but was thwarted both times, and now all the former Rangers were awake, showered, dressed and eating a late breakfast in Tommy's thankfully large kitchen.
"-And then he knocked him into the pool with his ass!" The assembled seven all chuckled together at Tommy's recounted story and the many hilarious memories they each shared of one Farcus Bulkmeier and one Eugene Skullovitch.
"Man those guys pulled some whacky stuff tryna to find out our identities. I did wonder what they were up to these days." Zack shook his head and laughed.
"Tommy man, no offence, but these eggs taste like rubber." Rocky winced and pulled out a piece of eggshell from his mouth. "Mmm, crunchy."
"Oh boy, I know my cooking must be bad if I'm putting Rocky off." Tommy sighed good-naturedly. "Aren't you guys glad I let Trini and Billy handle the pancakes?"
"Definitely." The others chorused, and Tommy was glad for their presence, it was almost like old times again. Having his old team-mates and best friends around him was very comforting at a time when in the past he would have preferred to brood in self pity and angst alone, but it would never be right until Kimberly was there to share the laughter with them.
Their enjoyment and breakfast was cut short as a familiar bleeping sound cut through the laughs.
"Fire alarm?" Adam looked pointedly at Tommy who would probably be the only one outside Kim and maybe Rocky who could set the house on fire using only a toaster and himself.
"No, it's the alert for an attack. Maybe it's the White Ranger." Tommy leapt up and hurtled down into the basement where Hayley was already ensconced with a cup of coffee doing her watch duty before she was due at the Café.
"Sorry Tommy, it's a monster." Hayley informed him perceptively, pointing to the screen where a large being that looked like a cross between a snake and a Terminator endoskeleton was parading round with a bunch of Tyrannodrones.
"I just called the kids."
"I'll go with them in case the White Ranger shows up, we don't know what this guy's capable of." Tommy said decisively as the other Rangers began to trickle down the stairs. "Guys, stay alert we might need you." He directed at them and Jason nodded.
"We've got your back bro."
"Alright, Dino Thunder, Power Up!" Tommy set out at once on his Raptor Rider to reach the warehouse district at the same time as his students, unknowing just how close they were going to the White Ranger and Kimberly's energy.
"Dr. O, good timing!" Ethan greeted their mentor as he leapt from his mount and took up his stance with the three younger Rangers.
"Always here to help." Tommy affirmed, his grip feeling a little empty without his Brachio Staff as he saw his students brandishing their weapons.
"We'll handle the monster if you can handle the 'drones Dr. O." Conner offered.
"No problem." Tommy agreed before side-flipping into the crowd of Mesogog's minions and punching his way through their ranks, the power of his Black Dino Gem invigorating him enough to keep the mindless throng at bay. He elbowed one in the stomach before back-flipping over a second and kicking it into the back to knock into two others. While he was making good progress with the 'drones his protégés were taking it in turns to swipe at the monster with their weapons and kick it back away from them.
Tommy turned to see how the others were doing but as he turned back he found himself knocked in the stomach and tossed to the ground suddenly. He looked up in confusion and found Elsa standing there, his own Brachio Staff in her hands having been used to turn him into a Ranger pancake.
"Well fancy seeing you here Dr. Oliver, recovered from our little staff meeting yesterday I trust?" She smirked, twirling his weapon between her long fingers teasingly.
"You are going to regret showing your face here Elsa, you have something that belongs to me and you better hand it over."
"Oh I bet you'd just love me to give it back to you wouldn't you Tommy?" She leered nastily.
"Yeah, so do yourself a favour and do it, now."
"If you insist." Elsa grinned, "Brachio Staff, energy orb!" And she swiftly brought the staff around full circle, drawing the crackling ball of energy around her and with a swoop of her arm sending it in Tommy's direction.
The Black Ranger could not dodge fast enough as the ball hurtled towards him and hit him like a solid brick wall. Tommy cried out in shock and pain as he flew to the ground in a shower of sparks from his reinforced uniform, clutching his smoking chest and writhing on the concrete ground.
"Ooo my, that was fun. Now I see why you love using this thing so much." Elsa sniggered as she stepped over him mockingly and began walking towards the other Rangers.
Tommy forced himself back to his feet in a stagger and Elsa turned back round. "Oh no you don't, down boy." She commanded, twisting the handle of the staff once more. "Wind strike, full power."
A swell of wind with the force of a tornado hurtled into Tommy and flung him back into the side of a warehouse building with a so much force he went straight through the weakened wood and on into a support beam inside the abandoned building, causing a section of the roof to give way and send wood and plaster raining down in a heavy cloud on the Black Ranger as he lay prone on the floor.
"Man, I have a newfound respect for those monsters." Tommy mumbled weakly as he tried to recover his strength. He tilted his helmet up and found himself for the second time looking into a rather unwelcome soulless red visor.
"You seem to have inadvertently found yourself in my way once again Dr. Oliver. What a pity for you." And Tommy found himself blasted once more but this time with a burst of pink and white energy before the darkness swallowed him.
"That'll keep him quiet, now for the rest." The White Ranger stepped scornfully over the pile of rubble and the Black Ranger underneath it, taking care to toss the container of Pink energy into the air and with a blast from his Drago Sabre attach it to a steel support in the roof, encased in an amber like substance that wasn't going anywhere.
"Time to go introduce myself to the rest of the team." He chuckled nastily before heading out of the doors.
"Z-Rex Blaster! Fire!" The three Rangers had just despatched Mesogog's latest monster as the White Ranger strode from the warehouse.
"Wow, I didn't really need the welcoming party, but it's the thought that counts." He announced and the Red, Yellow and Blue Rangers spun as if they were forcibly pulled round. Elsa and her drones had slunk off to observe this from the shadows so hopefully the White Ranger would get the other three out of the way and leave Mesogog's plan unhindered.
"The White Ranger!" Ethan gulped, glancing at the other two.
"Who are you?" Kira demanded.
"And what do you want?" Conner added, the three taking up a defensive position as the stranger continued towards them confidently but not yet aggressively.
"Is that the way you greet all your new friends?" The White Ranger tilted his head and observed the three. "Let me see, who I am? Well that's something you just don't need to know. And as for what I want, all I want-" He withdrew his Drago Sabre and speedily sketched a multitude of energy arrows in the air.
"- is to destroy you." He finished as the arrows all directed themselves at the Rangers and then fired, pelting the newest Ranger team with dozens of energy beams causing the three to fall back with cries of pain.
Conner helped steady Kira and Ethan as the three staggered up, clutching their chests and backing away self-protectively.
"What is your problem? We're all Rangers, why are you attacking us dude, we should be on the same side!"
"Good is so last year, I thought I'd try something new. And right now, you're annoying me." Then with startling speed he flashed towards them in a blur, swiping them all across the chest with his sabre knocking them all back with force in a shower of energy sparks.
Suddenly a lone sound of clapping echoed across the empty district as the three Rangers struggled to their feet, the three half-turned, not willing to expose their backs to the White Ranger, whose attention had also been caught.
"Bravo White Ranger, you put on quite a show." Elsa sauntered from her hiding place clapping slowly as she approached the group.
"And who might you be?" The evil Ranger enquired disinterestedly, regarding the cyborg with an almost trademark cocked helmet. "This is a private party."
"Oh just a fan, with a proposition from Lord Mesogog. You have something that belongs to him, give it back and he will spare your life- and give you a right hand position to serve him once he has destroyed this pitiful civilization and rules the world." She lied, but in her opinion it was a very tempting one.
"Sorry, not interested in sharing. The Black Ranger learned that the hard way." The White Ranger replied easily.
"What have you done with Dr. Oliver?" Conner snapped angrily.
"He's safer than you are, for now." Their new enemy retorted, bringing his Sabre back before swinging it to point at them, knocking all three Rangers and Elsa back with a blast of pink and white explosive energy, sending them all sprawling to the floor. Then the new Ranger looked up, hearing a shrill cry from the warehouse.
"Sorry, I've got a place that's other to be." He turned and swiftly disappeared in a white blur back towards the warehouses just as purple storm clouds began to rapidly gather and the previously obliterated monster began to reform and resize to tower above the empty buildings.
"Forget him," Conner waved dismissively, "We've got bigger fish to fry. We need DinoZord Power, now!"
The Thundersaurus Megazord stood tall against the Robohiss monster as it sized them up, before spinning and whipping its rattle tale into the chest of the Zord sending the metal giant staggering back but not off its feet.
"Tricera-fist, let's do it!" The three Rangers chorused as the Megazord brought it's right arm back and delivered an earth shaking punch to the elongated nose and jaw of the monster.
"This snake's not so poisonous, we can finish him." Ethan reassured his team-mates who nodded. Suddenly an echoing screech rent the air and there was a loud bang as a large white Zord which looked similar to the Ptera-Zord but larger burst from the roof of a nearby warehouse. It perched on the end of the roof and let out the menacing call again.
"The guy's even got his own Zord? No fair." Kira exclaimed and the three watched in stunned silence as the Zord raised into their air with a flapping of its wings and let out a strong beam of white and yellow energy straight at the snake monster, causing it to instantaneously explode into hundreds of tiny pieces into the sea next to the docks.
"Whoah, did he just do us a favour?" Ethan asked incredulously, sounding quite stoked until the White Ranger's Zord swivelled it's head to look directly at them.
"You just had to say it didn't you?" Kira muttered as the Drago Zord opened its mouth once more and levelled the powerful beam straight at them like a laser.
"No!" The three teens shouted as the beam powered into them, causing the inside of the Megazord to begin to spark and explode like the monster just had and they found themselves flung forcibly from the cockpit of their Zord straight down onto the unforgiving concrete below, whereupon they demorphed on painful impact.
"That was really not fun." Conner groaned, rolling on to his back to see where the evil Ranger was now, praying he hadn't had enough fun with them to now go and level the rest of Reefside to the ground.
Then, all hell broke loose as the White Ranger appeared back on the street, so too did another couple dozen Tyrannodrones, Zeltrax, Elsa and six other Power Rangers, morphed and ready for action.
"Sorry we took so long, are you guys okay?" Trini helped Kira to her feet as Rocky and Zack helped Conner and Ethan get their breaths back.
"Better late than never." Ethan nodded gratefully.
"Yeah, that's Tommy's motto." Rocky chuckled.
"Hey, where is Dr. O? The White Ranger did something to him!" Conner remembered and the other Rangers all glanced at each other in concern.
"I'll go and search for him." Trini said decisively, worried for her former leader and the love of her best friend's life.
"Me too." Kira agreed, following her colour ancestor in the hunt for her mentor.
The two spotted a sizeable Tommy-shaped hole in the side of the warehouse the White Ranger had emerged from, and charged in to find the unconscious Black Ranger covered in rubble, still smoking from the point-blank shot from the evil Ranger.
"Oh my goodness, Tommy!" Trini gasped and the two raced over to clear the debris from the legendary Ranger. At their shakes and calls the palaeontologist groaned and stirred slightly, slowly moving a hand to his helmet- trying to stop the ringing in his ears.
"Anyone get the registration of the tank that hit me?" He groaned, pushing himself first to his knees, then falteringly on to his feet, and Trini and Kira's hands shot out to support both sides of him.
"The White Ranger?" He questioned, somewhat dreading the answer.
"Out there wreaking havoc, he basically blew us straight out of the Megazord." Kira informed him.
"Are you all okay?" Tommy asked in concern through the painful throbbing in his head.
"We'll live, how about you?"
"I've been better, but I've been worse. Let's get out there and put a stop to this guy." Tommy was back to leadership mode and pushed himself to stand upright without the help of the two women, striding back outside with new determination, and completely missing the glowing container of energy, still stuck to the corner of the warehouse roof.
1992 Valencia Road, Reefside. Aisha Campbell looked up at the rustic wooden house with the black jeep, blue ford, and blue and red convertible piled in the drive.
"This must be the place." She tried the door and found it to be open, so shrugged, hefted her bag and walked in, impressed with the digs Tommy had unearthed for himself. That teacher's salary must not be half bad, she decided.
"Tommy? Rocko, Adam? Anyone?" She called hesitantly, taking a moment to examine the small fossils and dinosaur skeletons adding decoration to the cosy wooden surroundings. She saw a pair of Kimberly's pink sneakers by one of the chairs and smiled ruefully, from what she had heard from Billy she had missed a lot, and now her best friend and the closest thing she had to a sister was lying powerless in a coma on the edge of death- and she had been in Africa completely unaware and unable to help her.
She headed down into what appeared to be the basement, the only place in the house with any sound evidently emanating from it.
"Hello?" She called and was met at the bottom of the stairs by a red-haired woman holding a baseball bat.
"Um, hi, I'm Aisha?" The African-American woman introduced herself uncertainly, hoping this woman was just a very overprotective ally and not someone who was about to knock her face in.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I should have known." The woman- who had an accent similar to Kat's but not as pronounced- dropped the bat and shook her head apologetically, offering her hand ruefully. "I'm Hayley, a colleague of Tommy's, they're all out at the moment fighting a monster and an evil White Ranger- long story." She motioned to the row of monitors along the far wall on which the entire chaotic battle was displayed. But at that moment Aisha was somewhat preoccupied as she spotted Kimberly in the corner, screen nearest to her still blipping away as a heart monitor.
"Oh god, Kimmie!" She gasped and ran to the Pink Ranger's side, clasping the hand which the IV line didn't adorn. "Oh, girl, how'd this happen to you? I'm sorry I haven't been here for you, I'm so sorry hon, you've just gotta wake up."
Hayley turned back to the battle to give Aisha what little privacy she could, feeling a little remorseful that she had let her jealousy make her think so little of Kim when it was obvious from all these close friends and team-mates as well as self evidence what a kind and loved person Kimberly truly was. She just hoped Tommy could get the Pink energy back this time before something else went wrong.
The battle was utter madness, with Conner and the White Ranger going at it with help from Ethan, Kira and Trini battling Elsa, Rocky, Adam, Zack and Billy dealing with the dozens of Tyrannodrones and Tommy and Jason double teaming Zeltrax.
Conner was sent crashing back into Ethan with a burst of fire from the White Ranger's Drago Sabre and the Blue Ranger's yelp of pain caught Tommy's attention.
"Go," Jason affirmed as Tommy glanced in his students' direction. "I can hold him."
Tommy nodded and rushed to the aid of the Blue and Red Rangers, blocking the evil Ranger's swipe at Conner with his arm and kicking the White Ranger back.
"You need a serious attitude adjustment, evil Rangers never last, believe me, I know."
"Look old man, I don't need the lecture, badder is better, where's the fun in being all goody-goody?"
"You don't know who you're messing with," Tommy growled, balling his fist as he sensed Ethan and Conner flanking him.
"And believe me, I don't care." The White Ranger mock yawned before shooting three short blasts of energy at the three male Dino Thunder Rangers, sending them all flying back. "Amateurs." He scoffed.
Meanwhile the two female Rangers were certainly holding their own against what passed for Mesogog's female representative.
"You take skanky to a whole new level Elsa. You look like you missed your mouth a little bit there." Kira taunted the cyborg, drawing a line down the chin of her helmet to indicate Elsa's interesting lipstick design.
"You're messing with the wrong women." Trini added, "And you've got something that doesn't belong to you, which we will be taking back."
"Why don't you try it lemon-fresh, I won't be defeated by two pathetic neon spandex adverts, squeal all you want." Elsa retorted derisively waving the Brachio-Staff at them invitingly.
"Don't mind if I do." Kira smirked behind her helmet and let out an ear piercing Ptera-scream, momentarily stunning all of the participants of the fight, though the Dino Thunder Rangers recovered first out of habit.
"Kira, let me give you a lift." Trini braced her arms together and Kira did a running jump up onto them and backflipped over the senior Yellow Ranger's head, landing a flying kick to Elsa's chest and causing her to fall backwards, the Staff flying out of her hands as the shock and impact forced her to let go. Kira leapt up and caught the weapon as it flew through the air in a graceful catch and she landed back on the ground in a crouch.
"Dr O!" She called as she straightened up, and as their teacher turned she flung the Staff to him and he caught it as he leapt up to avoid another energy blast from the White Ranger.
"Thanks guys!" He called to Trini and Kira who nodded and turned back to Elsa. He welcomed the familiar weight of the weapon in his hand as he turned his attention back to the new Ranger. "Two can play at your game. Fire Strike, full power!" A powerful burst of flame travelled along the earth to envelop the evil Ranger and finally knocked him back off his feet.
"Energy Orb, strike now!" He drew the Staff easily through the air and sent the crackling ball of light energy at the colourless Ranger as he staggered to his feet.
With a long overdue cry of pain the White Ranger fell to the ground clutching his side.
"Way to go Dr. O!" Ethan crowed.
"Let's keep him on the ropes." Conner advised and the three charged back towards him.
The four former Rangers had make quick work of the Tyrannodrones and Zack and Adam high fived as did Billy and Rocky as Blue and Black Rangers showed their solidarity.
"Sure makes you miss the days of the putties doesn't it, they were a lot smoother to hit!" Rocky joked, faux massaging his fist.
Jason side-kicked Zeltrax as the cyborg ran to impale the Red Ranger, causing Mesogog's henchman to trip and fall from the force. Rolling onto his back Zeltrax swung his sword up, hoping to catch Jason in the chest but the Red Ranger dodged and kicked the sword out of the metal being's grasp.
"Lets try playing fair and see how much worse you suck." Jason quipped, yanking Zeltrax to his feet and kicking him several times in the stomach while keeping his arm tight in his grasp. He ducked under a swing from Zeltrax's other arm and grabbed that one too, before dropping backwards to the floor and using Zeltrax's momentum to carry him up and over Jason's head, the Red Ranger kicked him once on the way past for good measure and the cyborg flew over to crash into a pile of empty oil canisters resting against the side of a warehouse wall.
Trini allowed Kira to cartwheel in first from behind to Power Kick Elsa in the back before the Earth's first Yellow Ranger leapt in with her Power Daggers, throwing both in rapid succession from the front before landing another kick to the cyborg's stomach. The two then ran in together and both delivered a scissor-kick to Elsa's chest causing Mesogog's left-hand woman to collapse to the ground with sparks flying and the two women posed.
"Yellow Ranger Power!" They chorused together and grinned, high fiving as they walked away from the crumpled cyborg.
The White Ranger, sensing he was now fighting a losing battle decided it was time to cut his losses and escape. He remembered the Pink Ranger's energy and deciding it could come in useful used his super speed to charge back into the warehouse to retrieve it. Seeing his retreat Tommy rushed after him, not willing to give up the chance to see who this Ranger was once and for all and attempt to get him back to the right side.
Zeltrax- who never liked Dr Oliver to escape from him- and needed to get away from the Red Ranger who was advancing on him once more- sped after them.
Tommy gaped as he realised that the Pink energy could have been within his reach all the time he was alone in the warehouse- ignoring the fact that he had been unconscious in his own mental chiding- and leapt straight at the White Ranger as he landed back on the ground after retrieving the container from its amber hiding place.
Zeltrax- and Elsa who had crept back into the shadows after the Yellow Rangers had gone to rejoin their team-mates, and so followed Zeltrax in pursuit- both saw the prized energy in the White Ranger's grasp and charged towards the Black and White Rangers. If either of them got that prize, Lord Mesogog would value them most highly- which would mean no more mental tortures- an opportunity neither was going to miss.
"Hand it over, and you can leave, I don't want to have to fight you." Tommy tried reasoning, gripping the White Ranger's shoulders tightly, unwilling to let Kimberly's energy slip away again.
"I'll bet you don't." The Ranger mocked him, "But this energy stays with me."
"It belongs to Lord Mesogog, give it to me now!" Elsa demanded as the White Ranger kicked Tommy in the stomach to force the Black Ranger to loosen his grip. Zeltrax charged at the evil Ranger and tackled him around the waist, sending them both crashing to the ground and causing the container to fly out of the enemy Ranger's grasp. Tommy lunged for it and caught it blissfully in his hands, feeling the swell of warmth and purity that radiated from it, now that it was back in the hands of good.
"I've got you Kimberly, you'll be safe now." He murmured before Elsa slammed her boot harshly into his stomach and yanked the canister from his hands.
"I'll be taking that for Lord Mesogog." She sneered down at him and motioned to Zeltrax. "Let's go, and leave the pathetic Rangers to their fights." Zeltrax chuckled nastily but the White Ranger shrugged.
"If I can't have it, no-one can." And he did what none of them expected- pointed his Drago Sabre straight at Elsa and fired.
A massive surge of white energy shot through the warehouse straight at the cyborg and hit her head on. The Pink Energy could still be seen through the white-hot glare of the onslaught of white energy, Elsa shrieked and there came an almighty bang as the glass container broke, and White energy met Pink energy. Then there was a moment of silence akin to a nuclear explosion as a ring of Pink energy formed in the centre of the White and then a terrible shrieking sound accompanied an ear-shattering roaring explosion as the Pink Energy combusted- bathing the room in a blistering pink and white light- and then there was nothing.
In the corner of Thomas Oliver's basement lab the rapid movement of Kimberly's doe brown eyes beneath their delicate lids suddenly ceased, and the heart monitor began to slow…
blip… blip… blip……blip………blip…………bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep………………