Chapter 9 Surprises
The faint slithering sound was accompanied by an ominous hissing and Dana knew she had to hold very still. It almost sounded like some sort of snake. She'd not had that much experience with the reptiles except at the zoo when she was little but still she had this image of a red glowing thing a few feet ahead of her. It was not very large, about a foot long but as fat as a submarine sandwich and probably as deadly as any rattler. From the outline she had in her mind's eye she knew that it was moving slowly in her direction. She knew she couldn't yell if she couldn't hear the others how could they hear her? Besides the sound might send the beast into an early attack. Instead she shifted her grip on her cane and prepared to take it out.
***
Ryan could barely breathe as he watched the scene unfolding; Dana was standing mere feet from the snake, as if there was nothing wrong at all. He knew if she even breathed it could attack her.
Carter weighed there options, they could wait and watch as it struck her or they could do something that might force the same end. He wished for all he was worth that he had his blaster; he'd fry that viper in less time than it would take to blink.
What happened next shocked all of the watching young people. A near by rock suddenly rocketed off the ground and came crashing down on the snake's head, crushing its skull.
***
Suddenly, there was a flurry of motion as the group hurried forward Ryan grabbing his sister, Carter and Kelsey checking to be sure the viper was dead.
"What were you doing wondering off like that?" Ryan demanded after checking to be sure his sister was unharmed.
"Ryan I'm not a child, I'm fine. I killed it remember." She said and found herself crushed in another pair of arms.
"Never do that to me again." Carter said fiercely and she didn't have time to agree as he kissed her just as violently.
"Ok, well what I'd like to know is how she killed it." Joel spoke up after a few minutes and Dana found even when the kiss ended she was not completely released, Carter keeping an arm around her waist.
"Yeah how'd you do that?" Kelsey asked.
"I don't know but can we please move on a little, I'd rather not hang around just incase that thing had family." She told them.
"Yeah that's probably a good idea. Ryan think you two can find somewhere to camp?"
"Not a problem, we spotted a nice flat area from the rocks." Ryan said and with little discussion they headed off towards the area the scouts had found.
"You're sure you're alright?" Carter asked as she let him guide her along. She had a feeling he need to do it.
"Yes, a little shaky but I killed the thing before it could hurt me." She said and he nodded. Then forgetting she couldn't see the gesture he agreed aloud.
"You really shouldn't have wondered off like that."
"I didn't wonder off. I just moved off to um…" she blushed and he felt pity well up. It would be horrible not to be able to answer nature's call on your own. He'd so totally hate that. But then as he thought about how she'd destroyed the threat the pity changed to admiration. It had taken a lot of guts to not panic and do…
"Hey Dane," Chad asked moving to walk beside his friends.
"Hmm?" She asked turning her head in his direction.
"How'd you know where to bring that rock down?" He asked and she wanted to smile at the puzzlement in her friend's voice. If she'd not been the one to do it she might feel the same way.
"Well remember how I was able to block my cane from hitting me?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Well, I kind of use the same energy field around me to detect it then I guess m y mind changed it into the image the disturbance most felt like." She tried to explain.
"So it was like an info red vision thing?" Joel asked having also been listening to the conversation.
"I guess so but the thing kind of looked more like a cartoon image."
"Well you still knew where to bring that rock down so it's a good thing however it happened." Chad put in wisely.
"Yeah well let's just hope it doesn't have to happen again." Ryan put in and they all laughed in agreement.
As they reached the area where they'd set up camp, Carter set Ryan and Kelsey to check the vicinity for any other living creatures so they'd not have another fun experience.
"Hey Kel…" Dana began when her friend rejoined them.
"Yeah?"
"Can you do me a favor?" Dana then didn't have to explain. Kelsey willingly went with her friend.
Then Dana and Carter started dinner while Joel and Chad set up the tent and the others gathered the fallen wood for a fire.
"You know it's been years since I've gone camping." Kelsey said and Dana nodded.
"Dad used to take me camping but with the demons and stuff there really hasn't been much time." Dana admitted trying to fill the camping coffee pot with water. She misjudged and spilled some over the top. Then she muttered to herself and attempted to pour some back in the power jug. It was the kind that when in its case it was virtually weightless. She missed and just got herself all wet.
"Need some help?" Carter asked but she shook her head.
"I need to learn to do things myself." She said knowing she sounded a little rattled but after her experience of earlier she was still a little out of sorts.
"Alright just let me know if you need a hand." He said and moved off to finish opening the dehydrated beef stew. She nodded and went back to her task of preparing the water. Once she'd gotten it on the mini camp stove she then let Carter know so he could add the stew. Well, they were off to a wonderful start.
***
Dinner was uneventful. The six ate the dehydrated beef stew and drank coffee. Then as the five sighted rangers watched the sky darken and it's blue green change to a deeper emerald. Kelsey got to her feet when the transformation was complete and headed for the perimeter of the camp.
"I've got first watch." The yellow clad young woman then left them to take her place as the camp's sentinel.
The other four sat in a companionable silence and Joel wondered what Ms. F. was doing. It had been only three days since they'd left earth but it seemed like forever since he'd felt the warmth of her lips on his. Well, it was not something he'd really ever expected to feel she'd made it clear time and time again she wasn't interested. Not that he'd ever let that stop him from pursuing her. She was just so pretty and sweet and he loved how she could be so riveted to her work. He felt like that when he was in the cockpit of a chopper or any kind of plane. He'd figured they'd make a perfect match for that very reason. That and he could keep her off balance and she him grounded. Now though he wondered why she'd actually done the big kiss. Was she so sure he'd not make it back? He was a little glad that she'd want the chance anyway but it bothered the sky cowboy that his pending demise was what had spurred the kiss. Would she go back to ignoring him when they got back, if they got back?
Glancing over at Chad he noted the young man studying the evening sky. It was funny, Joel mused gazing at Dana who sat fiddling with the sweatshirt she'd
Dawned upon the onset of nightfall. The temperature had dropped to around fifty five degrees. Now though what he noted was how she didn't seem to even miss her sight. She just sat there like she'd always been like that. He wondered what it had to be like, to have no way to see anything, to no see the face of a loved one, to not see the sunlight on your face… He didn't think he could handle it. True she had trouble, like trying to find a place to relieve herself but she was still being so brave. He'd be bitter and hate the world, and feel helpless.
"Well, I think I'm going to head off to bed." Chad said and got to his feet. Ryan watched his new friend go and then looked over at Joel; the green clad young man looked lost in his thoughts. He wondered what they were, Joel was so flashy and egotistical, and not that he didn't have a reason. He was an excellent pilot. It had been one of the things he'd learned in the months that he'd watched the rangers fighting the demons before his own debut. He'd also seen his sister's dedication, Chad's peace and stability, Carter's courage and Kelsey's wild streak. Now as he thought of the girl he wondered if she was ok. If anything happened he knew she'd alert them but still. ***
Listening to the crackling of the fire Carter looked over at the others, they looked tired but still ready to do this. He hoped for the thousandth time they were. He really didn't want to lose his friends or let down the earth. So much was riding on this trip. He'd been so caught up in thinking about Dana lately he'd not done much thinking of the trouble they were really in back home. How, with only five rangers would they fight? Even if they got this power, would it be enough? It was one of those thoughts racing through his mind as he glanced from face to face. Chad was looking the most alright, his dark eyes clear and although not concerned they looked somehow confident. Joel looked deep in thought, no doubt about Ms. F. Kelsey sat between Chad and Ryan staring at the fire her eyes lost in thought but her face alive with the light of the fire. She looked right at home, both she and Ryan did.
It struck Carter that they didn't even really know what it had been like for the new ranger growing up. He was so self contained that none really even knew all that much about Ryan Mitchell. In that he and Dana were alike, both could fight and had a strong sense of loyalty. Ryan's had just been one darkened by trickery. Now though Carter had the feeling that he'd give his life for their cause or for any one of them. He hoped that wouldn't be necessary. If they stuck to their plans they should be alright.
***
It was over an hour later when Kelsey's shift was up. She came back and sat down beside Ryan once again. Chad and Joel had gone to rest a few minutes earlier.
"That's my cue." Dana got to her feet, unfolded her cane and made for where she thought the edge of camp was and found Carter come up beside her. She wondered why he and Ryan had been so easy to pick up on. They weren't exactly people she knew well enough to pick up on smells. Then again most sighted people didn't go around smelling people.
"Carter shouldn't you go get some rest?" She asked and she heard him shift beside her.
"I thought I could keep you company." He said and she sighed. How could she put it and not insult him.
"Carter I…'
"Ok, Dana wait," he said stopping, catching her arm, and turning her to face. "I know you think I'm trying to keep you out of trouble, and I probably will try in the future but right now I just want to spend some tie with my girlfriend."
"Carter…" What could she say? He made sense, on this trip they'd have so little time and they were dating… She'd just have to adjust to that idea. It wasn't something she was sure about but then again when she was with Carter it felt right, safe and there was warmth about them. Lifting her hand she reached out, touched his shirt and ran her hand up until she found Carter's face. She tried not to gouge out his eyes as she found it. Then she reached a hand around Carter's neck. Then she pulled him down, letting him close the rest of the distance until their mouths met, brushed, sparks ignited and she didn't care about anything but the guy who pulled her close, the one that was drawing her into him.
It was almost ten minutes before they pulled apart. Both were breathing heavily and feeling not a little disoriented.
"I…" Dana began. "Don't… Think… I'll ever… get used… that…" She gasped and felt Carter's forehead rest upon hers.
"I know, who would have thought?" He asked regaining his breath first.
"Not me, although you were always pretty hott." At that she promptly blushed. She'd not meant to say that and his laugh made her feel entirely silly. "Sorry I…"
"Oh, I see." He smirked, not caring if she couldn't see it. So his dream girl had thought that? Well since he'd been crazy about her for what seemed like forever it was only right."
"Carter!" She squeaked and he laughed and kissed her once more. This time she kept her head.
"Carter, I'm on guard duty here, we can't…" But he was kissing her again.
***
Back at the fire Kelsey and Ryan sat in companionable silence. Neither felt like saying much but weren't' quite ready to sleep. Ryan glanced in the direction that the couple had taken and smiled to; at least he'd not have to worry about her. Carter would protect his sister with his life. He wondered if they'd be able to handle their lives after they made it home. She'd no longer be a ranger and would have so much to do. Carter would no doubt go back to being the perfectionist leader of the power rangers. Then it occurred to him that if they got the power and defeated the queen they'd no longer have to be active rangers. That got him to thinking, what would they do then? Dana would still be adjusting and Carter would be able to get a job as a fire fighter. Even Joel and Chad had lives. Joel would no doubt go back to his job as a stunt pilot. Chad would probably go back to working with fish. Idly Ryan's thoughts shifted to the dark haired girl sitting between him and Chad. She was pretty, smart and yet wouldn't use either, she'd go back to her sports challenges, not that it wouldn't take brains to do that but she could do so much more if she chose.
Ryan knew that he on the other hand had no real education. He'd been luck enough to know how to read. True the skill was not one he'd used that much but he'd managed to learn it back before the accident. He'd have to go to school to get the other skills. Even if he didn't go to college he'd need to be able to do more than add and subtract and do his ABC's. That would be great a twenty year old in the first grade, he thought bitterly as he thought once again of the reason for that. True Diabolico saved him from certain death but he'd nearly made him do some really horrible things. Then he'd hurt his little sister. Well, he'd not actually done it, that had been Vypra but still they were both demonic so they were really one in the same.
"Hey you ok?" Ryan hadn't realized he was clenching his fists until he heard Kelsey's concerned voice and he came back to reality to find her watching him.
"Yeah, I was just thinking." He said and forced his body to relax, getting worked up wouldn't do anyone any good just now.
"You looked," Kelsey paused, how could she describe the dangerous look Ryan had taken on? His eyes had gone nearly black with his fury, his jaw tightening and his shoulders straightening. He looked as if he could kill at that moment and something about that had struck her. Was he thinking about the demons? He had so many reasons to want to kill them, for brainwashing him, attacking his sister and just disrupting the city. Gees, I want to kill them for it too, she thought bitterly. She hated to see people she cared about so displaced. Not that Dana was doing that bad, she had lost her vision but Kelsey had the feeling what happened that afternoon was not all that would. Not the snake thing but the way Dana had described the way she'd seen the snake made her think that she was developing some new power. Hadn't she heard that when God closed one door he opened another? She knew that was true. When she'd lost her job with the diner on the interstate she'd gone rock climbing to clear her mind and had been chosen to be a ranger. Maybe now Dana was just getting some really funky new power. She hoped so, it would be great for Dana to be able to sort of see.
"Ok, now you're the one drifting." Ryan said and she sighed.
"I guess I'm just more tired than I thought." The yellow clad scout said and Ryan nodded.
"It's been a very long day." He said knowing it had to be after three by earth time.
"Yeah, I think that waiting can be almost as tiring as a three hour hike." She agreed.
"So you going to go to bed?"
"Yeah, I better. You coming?"
Ryan watched after her wondering if she was ok, she'd been great today but it had been hard, the day long and tomorrow would be longer, he could feel it. Getting up Ryan too headed for his sleeping bag.
***
The sound of hooing came to them on the night air as they made another weep of the camp. They talked and Dana found herself feeling as if things were almost normal. She was learning about her boyfriend and him about her. Sure they'd been friends for a while now but there was still so much they'd not known about one another.
When it was time for Chad's shift Carter left Dana to go find his friend. Minutes later he returned and they left their friend to go warm up by the fire. The rest of the evening was unaccountable. At least until around four when Joel was on the watch.
The green clad young man yawned and glanced at his watch once more. Soon it would Ryan's shift and then he could get a little more shut eye. He didn't mind taking turns; at least he'd not have to do this all night. He rounded the west side of the camp when he heard the faintest rustling. Frowning he peered into the darkness. He couldn't see anything and moved silently in the direction of the disturbance.
TBC