THE REASON - Part Thirty-Eight: How Far Will You Go?
Summary: Tommy drifts into dreamland where Kim tells him he may have but one chance to save her. Will he go for it?
Disclaimer: Power Rangers of any kind is not mine. Just the ideal and concept of the story. And to the inspiration behind the main title of the story, Hoobastank's "The Reason", thanks guys. Without it, this may not even have a title.
A/N: Okay, after the last chapter, I was hoping to pull this into some crazy mixed up plot, but figured I really couldn't. And if you haven't noticed, it will be hitting a more AU approach than I was hoping for. The episodes aren't delivering, and my time is growing short to be in front of the computer. School is now in session, but that's okay. I'm a senior. So, procrastination of school work is in my future. I just hope I won't fall too far behind in all of this. It's not what I'm hoping for. I mean, I'm just impressed I've made it thirty-eight chapters in, and it seems like some of you are really enjoying it. Thanks, readers new and old. Keep reading. And hope you enjoy. Sorry, this isn't any longer. I know you all want more T/K action, but remember, Kim is still captured up to this point. Just trying to make things short, but still have a plot to the overall story and a good-running chapter. May the Powers Always Protect You.
"At night I wish these nightmares will go away and things were okay between us, again. I won't give up on you. Or on us." –Eclyptyk Neo
It was late into the night.
I sat in the dimmed lab at the computer console. Not that I should really be getting any sleep, but these past few hours were a serious trip.
I remember in the early morning hours, I went to go talk to Anton about these monster attacks and our dino experiments. Yeah, not a good idea. I just can't seem to figure out why though. And that bothered me so. Adam found me in the woods, unconscious. With no real collection to what had happened at all.
Hours later, Trent gets a changed of heart. The evil encoding of the gem was now destroyed, and he was dubbed as the newest member of the ranger team. Not that I could oppose. I knew exactly how it felt. The wavering feelings of wanting to be accepted on a team that you once fought to get rid of. And Conner and Ethan were not too open about the idea. They won't for some time. I know. And it would take time.
I just hoped it wouldn't be that long. We had to move against Mesogog. And soon.
I opened up a file on the computer, looking through the subfiles to access one file: "Kimberly Hart, My Crane."
Not that it was bad enough having all files regarding the Power Rangers, past and present, was in this database, but even some of my personal files were too. Nor could I ask myself why I choose to leave such stuff on my laptop, which tends to be left in places it shouldn't be left at. I guess it comes with being in front of the computer more times than making conversation over a cup of joe.
As much as I'd like to go back to the past, in this day and age, too many things are done over the net. Kinda sad. And pretty soon, we're gonna have to be fighting a system of machines or robots to enable the survival of mankind. Matrix-style. Future city. Sorry, not the point.
But I clicked open the file and into another subfile: "Photos."
Inside was a collection of photos taken through years past, of us. In high school. Of the two of us together. At the park, the youth center, the mall, school events, etc. Not that the box hidden in my room had a lot of memories stored away, but sometimes being down in an underground lab by yourself gets you feeling a little restless. And bored. Every picture I saw, I saw happiness. Felt warmth. Not one picture could ever bring back painful memories. And that's what made it that much more painful now. When Kim was kidnaped, we weren't on good grounds. Hell, I wasn't even free from my amber imprisonment. And I let her slip away. Let this happen.
"Shit, Mesogog. What the hell do you want with her?" I groaned, trying to hide away my frustration. "It's me you want. And you'll have to destroy me first before you ever decide to harm her."
It was clear something happened at Anton's place. I know it did. But trying to remember it was not something I could really deal with at the moment. My head was hurting, like it was ran over by a truck. Or someone took a good swing with a bat and hit me in just the right spot to relay all memories after the moment I found myself in Anton Mercer's office.
BAM!
I hit my fist into the desk with some heated anger. I could feel an energy rise up inside me. The energy that I had felt years ago, when I was first dubbed in the green ranger suit. I felt so powerful. Unstoppable. Relentless. Nothing could stand in my way. And if it did, I would take it down. I did. The adrenaline rush of literally having no real soul other than to destroy all that stood in my way. To destroy the rangers. And nearly succeeding.
"I could have destroyed them." I heard myself say, a dark voice inside.
"But they never gave up." I protested, as I hit the floor with a rush of painful memories filling my mind. The mental strain was taking its toll as the memories that scarred me, the ones I had pushed away, began to play in my mind like a broken record.
I watched my dino gem glow with a hint of green beyond the usual black-gold hint it gave off. My breath escaped in short gasps as the enlightened power of a white light filled me. The echoing call of the falcon and white tiger filled my ears.
And the thoughts of evil deeds and thoughts were destroyed. The pure goodness of the white powers brought me back into reality and into a better life. And if I wasn't mistaken, it was doing the same for Trent.
I crawled back over to the chair, sat down, rubbing the pain outta the wrist that harnessed my dino gem. "What's going on?"
But before I could ask anymore questions, I felt a blanket of dizziness and tiredness fill my body. And I fell into a deep slumber.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself at Bluestar Cove, looking out at the ocean. And I knew it was a dream. Yet, it felt so real. I could smell the salt escape from the waves. Feel the wind blow passed me like a gentle touch. I looked down, touching my chest realizing I was now dubbed in my white ninja uniform.
"Thought you'd be here." a gentle voice came from behind me.
I turned around and saw Kim standing there in her pink ninja uniform, minus the gold encrusted coin of her animal spirit, a gentle smile across her face.
"Kim." I breathed. I ran up to her, wrapping my arms around her. The light vanilla smell she loved to wear so much filled my nose. "Is it really you? Don't leave me, baby."
"I won't, my falcon." she ran a hand across my headband, and down the side of my face. She placed a gentle kiss on my lips, stopping to run her thumb against the line of hair from the bottom of my lip to my chin. "You mean far too much to me for me to do that."
"Kim, I..." I tried to say, but she placed a finger to my lips.
"Let us hold each other for the time being."
And we did. I wrapped my arms protectively around her waist, pulling her close to me, as she found a comfortable spot to rest her head on my shoulder. I couldn't let her go. Didn't want to. But knew it was all in my head–our heads–as our thoughts intertwined. If this is what it was.
She began to hum quietly. It wasn't a tune I was familiar with, but it was soothing. Something that was always nice to hear on our moments spent together alone.
"Kim?" I said above a whisper.
"Hmm?" she replied.
"About that dino gem that you found." I began as she turned to look at me in the eyes. And what I saw there was fright. "The powers it has...."
"Illusion." she looked away. "But there's something wrong with the gem. With me."
"No. No. No." I shook my head, not wanting to hear such negativity coming from the woman I loved so much. "Don't say that. Trust me, Kim. We'll get you help. We'll find out why it won't bond with you. But it's yours. The gem doesn't just choose anyone to have it."
She began to sway with dizziness, as I caught her before she hit the ground, pulling her back up to her feet. "I can't..."
"Kim." I held my breath, in a panic. "Stay with me. Talk to me. I'm here for you."
"I can't!" she took a deep breath. "There is something wrong with the gem. Mesogog is doing something to me. To you. To the gem."
"Kim. Don't do this." I caught her as she collapsed to the ground. I wiped a strand of hair from her sweaty face. "C'mon, baby girl, talk to me."
"The gem." she breathed slowly. "Powers must be awaken by another." She groaned, as her eyes fell shut.
"No. No. No." I protested, pulling her up to look at me. "C'mon, stay awake. Kim. Do you hear me? Stay awake."
"I can't." she whispered. "I can't control it. Tommy, help me."
"Anything, Kim. Anything. I won't let any harm come to you, do you hear me? I care about you too damn much to let that happen. Tell me what I have to do." I breathed, shaking her awake. I looked down at my wrist, and saw my brachio morpher take form. The faded outline of my dino thunder ranger suit ran across my body. I could feel the surge of the powers combining: white, green, black. The significance of having the green dragon ranger powers, my first. The white falcon ninja ranger powers, my animal spirit. And the current status of my black brachio ranger powers.
"Harness up the powers of your own dino gem along with the powers of the falcon. You have but one chance, Tommy." she said slowly. "Don't..."
But her eyes shut, and her body fell limp.
"Kim? Kim?! Kim!" I shook her. But she didn't move. I caught my breath in fear, as her body began to take on another form as a crane.
I ran my shaken hands across the wings of it as it cooed quietly. The radiance of a pink light escaped from it into my dino morpher. The strength of it, pulled me to my feet as I let the crane fly off into the falling sunset. The crane sprinkled its pink shine across the ocean, as my own animal spirit, escaped from the gold encrusted coin on my uniform, took flight beside it. A unique dance crossed the two as they disappeared into the distance.
"Hang on, Kim. I'm coming for you." I whispered.
When I stirred, I could feel the coolness of the room fill my body. I opened my eyes, blinking slowly. I was back in the lab. But the light smell of vanilla still filled my nose.
"'But one chance.'" I whispered. But was it true? I had hoped not, but didn't want to take my chances and wait. It had to be done. I pushed a few buttons on the computer console, bringing up the three faces of my ninja friends. Rocky and Aisha appeared the most dazed and sleepy, while Adam appeared to have awoken from a meditative state. "Guys, heads up. We got one chance."
"One chance to do what?" Rocky yawned. "It's late."
"Yeah, no doubt. A girl likes to catch some shut eye once in awhile, Tommy." Aisha seemed a little annoyed.
"You're ninjas." I protested.
"Hey, Aisha's got a point. It's been a long, rough day." Rocky said.
"You found something, didn't you?" Adam asked.
"I might have. I need you guys to come by the lab. This mission is in need of a little ninja work."
"What for?" Rocky sighed.
"The one chance we may have to save Kim." I concluded.
To be continued....
A/N: So, will Tommy go for it? Will he go and save his one and only true love from harm? Of course he will, damn it! It's Tommy! And if you haven't noticed, I'm sorry for all those who oppose for Tommy getting the ranks of "World's Best and Greatest Ranger", but remember, I haven't watched any episodes since the original teams left aside from 'Power Rangers: Ninja Storm.' So, this is starting to tie into why I think he deserves those ranks. So, sorry to all those who oppose. I just hope I don't lose all of my readers. And if you're confused, I'll give you answers in the upcoming chapters. Keep reading. And stay tuned! You're gonna regret not doing so.