Chapter 4 a long day
The NASADA headquarters in Angel Grove
It had been three hours since Jason Lee Scott had received the call from his cousin and now as the large conference room began to fill with past rangers;
He hoped that this would go well. If the news reports were any indication Mariner Bay's danger rivaled any other ranger teams had faced.
Kimberly ran up to her best friend Trini Kwan and the pair hugged.
"Oh my gosh it is sooo good to see you!" she grinned and Trini just smiled. The Asian woman had learned over the years of their friendship that the woman in pink was always so bubbly, and so like her own husband's strange way of speaking she dealt. As if by thought she'd conjured her husband to her, Will Cranston appeared to also greet their old team mate. From a ways away a tall young woman spotted the group and began making her way over to them. Katherine Hillard Oliver was smiling as she greeted the three knowing only the two but always willing to meet fellow rangers past or present.
"Oh hi Kat!" Kim hugged the girl and Jason joined them Tom Oliver in tow. The group stood talking a moment and then as Andros and the Astro team entered they started to move to the table.
Andros spoke briefly to Leo Corbet the red Galaxy ranger before helping his very pregnant wife Ashley to her seat.
Leo glanced around himself for his girlfriend and found Kendrix talking to Karone of KO 35. In the time after Trakeena had been defeated they'd become good friends. Karone had since left Mirinoi but they still kept in touch.
The counsel of the sixth took their seats signaling to the last to do likewise. It was Tom Oliver the longest serving ranger on the counsel who began the proceedings.
"Alright, we have been gathered here to discuss a crisis facing the newest team of power rangers." He said and Jason briefly summarized the situation for the assembly.
"So you want to reactivate another team?" Andros asked and the original red ranger nodded.
"I believe it is the only way to save the city and the planet." He explained.
"But why not just send a single ranger?" Zack Taylor, the original black ranger asked.
"I'll let my wife answer that." Jason replied and Kimberly smiled at the assembly.
"Upon learning of this situation several of us have come to the conclusion that for the sake of the new team they must be kept in tact."
"That's impossible." Maya of Mirinoi, the yellow galaxy ranger began adding. "The pink ranger can't see."
"If there is nothing we have all learned of the power nothing is impossible for one with in its protection." tom Oliver said nearly mirroring his words of the past. The green-white-red ranger had been through too much not to think so.
"I don't understand either, how can the ranger fight?" Carlos Valarts, the green Astro ranger pointed out.
"You all know of the history of the power rangers do you not?" the phantom ranger, Tallon of Fatos asked and all nodded. "Then you also know of how the first earth rangers ventured to Phaedos to obtain the great power." He said and after a minute all nodded. "So you know of the Ninjeti animal guides, and their influences." He paused letting that sink in before going on. "The pink ranger may not ever see again but as with beauty, vision is in the eye of the beholder." Tallon said.
Cassie Chan smiled from where she sat beside her fellow pink rangers. Something was up. She'd known before though, her dreams had told her so. As the wife of a spirit warrior that was one of the many nifty gifts Cassie had. She'd also known they had to come because there was something Tallon had to do. She loved when he said such profound things. At first she'd not understood many of them but now after a year and a half of marriage she was beginning to.
"But how can the animals help?" Damon Henderson the green Galaxy ranger asked still not understanding.
"It's not just the animal guides that will help the rangers," Tallon began easily. Sometimes humans were so predictable. "It is also the trials of the quest."
"So they'll go and try and get the great power?" T.J. Johnson the blue Astro ranger asked.
"Yes, they will need the power to defeat Queen Bansheera and her minions in the end." Tom said and Tallon nodded.
"How will the quest help?" Justin Stuart the blue turbo ranger asked.
"The quest is made up of two challenges, the first one of physical ability, the second of mental, the rangers must survive both to be worthy of the great power." Talon explained.
"This will also make the team tighter and stronger in all ways." tom interjected.
"It makes sense, but the pink ranger will just be adjusting to her new situation how can she just pick up and go?" Rocky Desantos asked from where he sat between T.J. and Justin.
"For one she will have the power and her friends on her side and secondly, it will be best for her to learn all she will need to know at once."
"But how can she learn cane use, Braille, and general things she'll need to know there?" Tanya Slone-Parks, Zeo yellow ranger asked confused.
"Actually it makes sense; she will have to use a cane at least in a rudimentary sense on the hike through the jungle." Aisha Campbell, Yellow ninja ranger said from where she sat.
"The Braille will have to wait until they return but she'll pick up many of the other skills on the trip." Andros put in.
"Exactly." Tallon said and it was Mike Corbet who spoke up next.
"The question is which team will be reactivated."
***
Mariner bay
It was no nightmare. That was Dana's only thought as she lay there the next morning. The doctor's had checked her over, and wanted to give her something for the pain but she refused. She deserved it. If she'd used her head she wouldn't be in this situation. That odd tugging at her upper face was proof of just how much she'd screwed up. Then there was the fact that she couldn't see, not just because of the gauze or shields covering her eyes. It was a true and all consuming darkness.
Dana idly wondered if Ryan had completely left. He probably had to, the rangers probably needed him.
OH God the rangers, what would they do now? They didn't have a pink ranger but then she knew the back up. Call on another to take her place. She felt tears sting the back of her throat. It was over; she was going to be completely useless. She could no longer be a ranger, and there was no hope of her ever being a doctor either. She felt as if a gaping hole was opening and she was teetering on the edge.
"You're awake." Ryan called and she noticed how tired he sounded as if there was sand in his voice. He wasn't beside the bed either. But then he'd not been there during the doctor's visit. She could tell that, he was coming from the left, as if he'd just come in the door.
"I thought you went back to the base." She said and even she winced at the bitterness in her voice. It was not his fault she was laying there; she had been the one off brooding in the park.
"I wanted to check in with Dad." He said as if she'd not just sounded like a monster herself.
"Maybe you should have gone back to the base Ryan." Dana said and there it was again. She hadn't meant to sound like that; it was just that she felt so useless and angry.
"I stayed." Was all her brother said and his footsteps sounded loud as they came closer.
"Ryan, you know that their going to attack again, you should be resting. You're already down one ranger. If you're tired you will be at a greater disadvantage." She pointed out.
"Dane, I can take care of myself." He said gently taking her hand. "It's you I'm worried about." She was surprised to hear just how concerned he really was. In the time since he'd been back Ryan had shown hatred, rage, and a polite detachment. This was something completely different.
"Ryan, I'm a big girl, besides the city needs you." She said quietly.
"But Dane your still my little sister. From how I see it you need me more." He said. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Ryan, I." But he gave her hand a squeeze and called to the new comer to enter.
*****
"Hey," A hesitant voice called and Dana could tell that Carter still stood in the doorway; she'd not heard his shoes on the squeaky hospital floor. Was he afraid to come near her? The thought sent fear shooting through her. Was he afraid of her? If he was. His next words slightly allayed her fears.
"I didn't mean to interrupt anything." He began and Ryan dropped his sister's hand.
"Your not, Dana was just trying to get rid of me." He said and Dana could hear his attempt at lightness.
"Was she?" Carter asked but there was no real amusement in his deep voice. Dana knew that he was probably blaming himself for what was going on. He had a really bad habit of doing that. It was one of the things she'd been trying to help him over come.
"I'll see you later." Dana felt her brother kiss her cheek. Dana managed a smile for his sake. She knew he was really worried and she didn't want him to be he had enough on his plate.
Listening to the sound of his footsteps recede Dana waited for some indication of where Carter was but for a long time there was silence. She decided to break it.
"Shut the door?" She asked and she heard him comply. "Ok, now you can come over here and sit." She instructed. For another minute her newest instruction was met with silence and then she heard it, the quiet pad of his shoes on the floor, a brush of denim. She realized that for some reason she was able to not only hear those things but to know what they were. She realized she was frowning when he picked up his pace.
"Dana are you alright?" He asked urgently and she made her face relax.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking." She said and he seemed to relax slightly. "So have you found a replacement yet?" She asked and this time their was not even the slightest trace of bitterness in her voice. She was more concerned about her best friend right now. He was always taking things on himself, even when there was nothing he could have done.
"You know me too well." He said and this time there was a tiny hint of amusement in his deep voice.
"Yes, and I also know you're blaming yourself." She said.
*****
He'd been expecting to find her crying or something like that after all, her life was in pieces but then he knew better then that too. She was smart and strong, stronger than most of the people he'd ever known. She also knew him better than anyone. he'd tried to rest after calling his cousin but instead he'd lain awake staring at the ceiling, going over and over what had happened, trying to think of what he could have done. The weight of self recrimination had been eating at him since it had all started and it was typical that Dana would pick up on it.
"Carter, I know you think you should have done something but you and I both know it was my fault and mine alone. I knew the risk but went out alone anyway." She pointed out in her logical tone.
"Dana it wasn't your fault either, it could have been any of us, you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." He said and for the first time reached out to take her hand. It didn't surprise him how easily she wrapped her fingers around his. They looked so small, just as she did. It still baffled him how such a vivacious young woman, to this broken girl. The thing was his feelings for her just intensified with every minute he was here. He knew that was a bad thing, now she'd be virtually helpless and being around them would just put her at risk but it hurt to think of not being around her. Dana was just Dana.
"Carter you're wrong, it was my fault." She said and now he could hear more than her logic or her steady assurances. There was anger in her voice, anger and so much more.
"Dana?"
"Carter you don't even know why I was in the park in the first place!" She fairly shouted and he knew she needed this, in a strange way so did he. He needed to know and to be there for her.
"Tell me." He said softly.
*****
"I was Feeling sorry for myself, I was doing a Carter, blaming myself for things that I could never change." She said and she felt his thumb smoothing over her knuckles.
"We all do that Dana; I'm not the only one." Carter said and she really wanted to throw something, she hated him being so calm, how could he, how could he just sit and hold her hand. The fury was surfacing, swirling, and building.
"I almost died because I was stupid! If I'd just shown Ryan around."
"Dane, you would still have been upset. Think about it, Ryan wasn't the only one affected when he was taken." Carter said and she felt the dam break.
The tears began to stream down her cheeks; the sobs began to rack her frame.
Carter didn't think about it, he let down the railing on the side of the bed and gently lifted her so he could sit with her in his arms.
TBC