TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY 7
Fall Away
'So JJ attacked you! ?' Tori exclaimed as Kelly returned to behind the desk after the police left. She gaped at Kelly.
'Yeah but a blonde kid saved me from becoming a stabbing cushion for JJ...or worse...' she shivered. Tori nodded and smiled as Blake came from the back room.
'Hi' he said softly. 'I haven't forgotten about dinner tonight' he added. 'What time did you get her to set for?'
'After I changed the date? Same time I'm afraid' Tori smiled. 'She's annoyed I badgered her into changing it from yesterday to today. Now she's taking me out shopping...dress formally casual...Mom is a little strong on that point, we're going to dinner in La Bijou.'
'Don't you need a mortgage to reserve a table there?' murmured Blake.
'Not when your father owns it' murmured Tori. 'And the others on the planet.'
Cam entered tapping his pen tersely off a notepad. 'I found a diagram' he said softly. 'The swords in the Mara-Ishii...but I can't read the symbols...they're ancient!'
'Pity that girl didn't hang around' breathed Tori walking over into a huddle. Kelly whistled and broke their discussion over the note pad. 'I'm taking the cash to the bank' she said to the Rangers in a low voice. 'Watch the shop.'
She packed the sack of money into a bag and walked from the shop. 'I heard about JJ' Cam said. 'It's all over town. Who's the mystery guy that saved her?'
'No one knows' Blake shrugged. 'He vanished without a trace...according to Kelly he's like Bruce Lee or something'
'He wouldn't go two rounds with you' Tori said in a vapid voice, batting her eyelashes and brushing her back off Blake's chest. The contact was playful but the buzz of passion was incredible. A redness rose in Blake's face. Cam rolled his eyes and turned away. 'HOLY CRAP!' he exclaimed.
Kelly had just left Storm Chargers when a man in black had sprinted past her and grabbed the bag in her hands. Tori and Blake darted out to Kelly who had been knocked over. The guy in black was running away from them when a kick connected with his ribs. He shot back quite a distance. The young man wore black jeans and a white t-shirt he had a grey and red sweater tied around his waist and his blonde-brown hair was sharply spiked at the fringe, jutting out like a cliff. His sky blue eyes scanned the winded thief briefly.
'Bad idea' he said firmly. The thief groaned and lunged with a knife he pulled from his jacket. The guy winced in pain, clutching his head at that very moment, as if timing were against him. He wrapped his arms around the thief and dragged him down. He kicked the thief off him and got to his feet considerably swifter then the pathetic thief. Who rose, only to be kicked through the door of Storm Chargers. The glass shattered and he landed in a heap.
'You asked for this' the guy said. The robber rose again. Three spinning kicks connected with his face and torso before a jumping blade hick smashed him over the counter.
'Whoa' Tori breathed. Suddenly she could move again, the shocked paralysis that had come from nowhere disentangled itself from Cam and Blake as well. They stepped through the shattered window and looked at the unconscious thief. The blonde haired young man bowed swiftly to the beaten opponent.
'Nice try' he said. 'Justice won over'.
'Its you!' Kelly exclaimed. 'You saved me twice now!'
All eyes were on the mystery boy. 'I wrecked the door' he said quietly. 'I have to go now' he added and moved for the door.
'You're bleeding!' exclaimed Cam. 'You can't leave it untreated'
The young man blinked, he was about 17...he looked at the wound, set a few inches from his shoulder. He tapped it and winced. 'Ah...no I can take care of it...myself.'
'No you can't!' Tori exclaimed. 'You could contract a nasty disease from that blade! Let us at least bandage it for you.'
The boy was rubbing his head. 'I...I guess...' he mumbled.
======
'The Red ranger will return the book to us' Matriarchus said as she ran a hand through her purple and gold dreadlocks. 'And so you learn that there are easier ways to get things done then your way Demon.'
Toxica-D said nothing. Marah and Kapri shifted uneasily as the generals all organized into a line. Matriarchus strode up and down the room before Lothar. 'As soon as the sword is ours we can destroy the Rangers. Then there will be no one capable of standing against us!'
Lothar sighed and nodded. 'What does this sword do?' he groaned.
'It's the ultimate weapon' Toxica-D cut in on Matriarchus curtly. 'It can cut through a zord with no trouble, it can slice a flame in half and can even cut through the fabric of shadows...all who wield it become unstoppable...the trouble is they have yet to understand the prophecy.'
Lothar leaned forwards. 'And what is that?'
'That which wields the sword must have the key and use the door to open the gate of purest power' recited the Demon. 'Open the gate and open the truth should you face it you will be it and your full power shall return to the place it must be to be...'
'Weird' Kapri sniffed. 'It's like...a puzzle'
'It is' D said. 'One no one has solved for aeons...'
'But we will!' Matriarchus snapped at her protégé the Demon. 'Now, have you the dagger?'
The Demon held up the slender blade of gold with the red leather and bejewelled hilt that hummed vaguely. 'The Dagger was left in a case at the back of the museum, a spell later no one noticed I had taken it.'
Matriarchus handed Lothar the blade with ceremony. 'Feel the power' she breathed. 'Feel the power and its great benefits!'
'I can' Lothar said. 'Oh...Oh Rangers you will not live much longer...'
=====
Jason's eyes fluttered open; he sat up and looked around. 'Oh...my head' he grimaced.
'Speak for yourself' a voice grumbled. Adam sat up. 'I feel like I was caught in a stampede...of obese buffalo...'
'Anyone get the number of that truck?' groaned Rocky. 'Hey! Jason!' he exclaimed as he shot up and suddenly collapsed back down. 'Be with you in a mo'.
The door hissed open and Shane entered. His eyes lit up when he saw them all awake. 'Yes! You guys are up!' he whooped. 'I have to check on the girls then...there are some clothes in the press over there, Cyber Cam got them in... uhh long story' he added before Adam could ask. 'Look we'll show you around as soon as you're ready.
Jason's heart had leapt when he heard the mention of "Girls". 'Who are the girls?' he asked, praying and hoping.
'Uhh...wait a sec' Shane said. 'HEY CYBER CAM! WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE GIRLS?'
The shape of Cyber Cam crackled into life beside him giving the three others a shock that caused them reflexively to prepare for a fight. 'Kimberly Ann Hart and Trini Kwan dude' Cyber Cam said. Jason's breath caught in his throat and all he could do was nod. SHE was here...
'Oh man' he managed. 'I—have to call your mom Shane. I've not been into work since the corpse shot through the window...'
'Corpse?' Shane repeated. 'What corpse?'
'The one...remember the explosion in the building you guys were there. I saw you fight a black ranger through the telescope in your Mom's office...a corpse came through the window...folded in two and hacked up.'
Shane shook his head. 'Bet he's the one the Ninja got. I knew it wasn't random... Jason...I've got some news...Matriarchus has got my Mom...'
Jason's jaw dropped. 'Oh damn...' he gasped.
========
The "hero" sat on the counter of Storm Chargers sans shirt. He was staring out the window at the Good Christian Charity Shop. 'Can you not feel that! ?' Exclaimed Cam dabbing the small wound with iodine.
'Yes and no' he replied.
Tori was avoiding looking at his body...though it was nice...lean and muscled and... NO! She was sort of definitely kind of with Blake. They were having dinner at her parent's house restaurant...ugh...that was a thought. Her mother was like a shark with guys Tori knew. Only Shane, Cam and Dustin survived by the skin of their teeth.
'What can't you feel anything?' Blake asked.
'I can' the guy said. 'I just...sometimes I can't...I have Dempsey's Syndrome... don't ask...is Kelly all right?'
'Thanks to you' Kelly said walking back from the police. 'After a guy saves you twice you at least deserve his name!'
He hesitated. 'Christian' he said looking at his feet.
'Christian what?' pressed Tori. 'Lee, Rawlings, Grayson, Mitchell, Winslow? Give us a little more to go one please.'
He looked around and for a moment his eyes seemed to lock on something. 'Cross, Christian Cross' he said with finality. 'And you?'
'Tori Hanson, Cam Wantanabe and...'
'Call me Blake' her (insert appropriate word boyfriend, friend, comrade, colleague) said extending a hand. The blonde shook it and coughed lightly, a blush rising in his faintly sallow skin. 'Uhh could we finish this up?'
Tori looked at where he'd been looking. A lot of girls were staring at the half naked boy. Cam applied a bandage and gave a thumbs-up. 'There you go, bandaged away.'
Christian pulled his shirt on and rubbed his knuckles, he slipped his pendant over his shirt. It was a gold coin set in a bronze frame. Tori looked at it. 'Nice accessory' she said.
'Thanks' he said as she examined it. The bronze frame was removable; on the back was a window to the back, which was instead of gold a silver coin. 'I've had it all my life'
Cams notepad fell and Christian picked it up. 'Wow Shu-Tzu-Mi, haven't seen this kind of symbolical koji since...well I amn't sure of that.' He skimmed the page quickly. 'What's with the world and enchanted swords?'
Cam's jaw dropped. 'Twenty four straight hours I've been at that...and you crack it in three seconds?'
'Its easy' muttered Christian handing the pad to Cam. 'Shu-Tzu-Mi was a ninja grandmaster who created thousands of priceless works and arts. I go and see them at the museum a lot. Most are kind of...well colour bound. Always the same eight colours. Red, blue, yellow, pink, black, green, white and silver...go figure must've been a shortage of colourings.'
Blake paused and looked at Cam. 'Could you read a large body of this?' he asked as Christian pulled on his satchel.
'I guess so' shrugged the boy. 'But I have an appointment to keep...if you want help with that I can meet you guys here tomorrow. But I really have to run.'
He slithered off the counter with boneless fluidity and pulled on his jacket. Cam watched him leave and turned to the others. 'I have a bad feeling about him...'
'You have to be kidding, he's a straight arrow!' Tori exclaimed. 'He saved Kelly twice!'
'What if he's that shape shifting demon thing that works for Lothar? Or a monster of some sort. I mean what are the chances someone could read the language?' Blake asked firmly.
Tori said nothing. 'I'll see you later' she said at last. She kissed Blake on the cheek gingerly and blushed before rushing out.
'Kim' the single word from a familiar mouth sent vibrations up her spine. She turned drawing a faint rattling breath. She was wearing a long green denim shirt tied at her ribs, a ribbon pulled her hair back and she had cut her jeans to remove the singed parts.
Trini was dressed in a yellow Motocross jersey and a pair of Tori's jeans. Her hair was receiving a furious brushing to get the tangles and twigs out.
Jason stood in the doorway, bursting out of a sweater Shane had lent him, the crimson shirt stretching to burst. His trousers were karate suit trousers that had been dug up from a closet somewhere.
Rocky and Adam were dressed in Motocross shirts and again, gi trousers. The ex-rangers stood in the room, looking at each other. They hadn't seen each other for a while. Not since Kat and Tommy's wedding.
'Hi Jason' Kim managed.
'How are you?' he asked.
'Fine...Hi Rocky...Adam'
'Hi' the other two said. There was a stiff silence.
'Ah so you were all rangers'
The five young people leapt into the air and twisted on the guinea pig. 'Did that gerbil just talk?' breathed Rocky.
'That's Sensei Kanoi, Lothar turned him into a guinea pig partially by accident I think' Shane explained. 'You see we're in a bit of a hard place at the moment... its all thanks to something that happened way back when the sensei was a student...'
'The red ranger will turn the sword to us' smirked Matriarchus as she watched Jindrax-D raised Greta Clarke on a chained cage. 'And then we'll see what happens to you!'
She turned and vanished. Jindrax-D morphed into another shape. A young woman with tightly bobbed black hair and a cat suit. 'Please! I don't understand! Why am I here?'
'Deep philosophy there sister' the being said with a blank emotional slate. 'Why are any of us here? Well I'm here to inflict suffering and misery to the general population of the galaxy...you?'
'I want a reason!' Greta said firmly glaring at the girl, who stumbled backwards breathlessly.
'That glance! So like my mothers...' she rose upwards on a circle of spells. 'But I doubt they'll murder you like they did her! You're here to poke the red ranger into turning over a magical sword.'
'Why would the red ranger be concerned with me?'
D paused as she left and looked back, arms folded. 'Think long and hard about it'.
Greta's eyes widened. 'Shane!'
'Clever' in a flare of soul energy D was gone.
Marah sighed and flipped her hair as she strode along the Motocross track. 'Margo! ?' A voice called. Marah yipped and quickly put a handkerchief to her face.
'Mmm...Yes...I am Margo from Svayyyyy-den?'
'Hi' Dustin said. 'Are you okay?'
'Oh Yes, just a little cold' she said in a very bad Swedish accent. 'How are you?'
'Ummmm...good I just, I wanted to ask if you'd like to get some coffee?'
'I'd love to but I have...a cow—milking—seminar to attend...durn it...'
'Oh...' Dustin said looking crestfallen. 'I see...'
Marah panicked. What if her handkerchief slipped...if he found out who she was!
"HELLOOOOOO" a voice called. Rita-D was striding forwards, cobwebs leapt from her arms and hands trapping the people in the cocoons of shimmering web. "Isn't anyone going to play?"
Dustin glanced back at Margo...she was gone. Without a thought he darted in behind a tree and morphed.
"Well this entry" Christian said as he sat closer to Cam. "I about the Astral Ninja, apparently the Last Sensei was prophesised to break a most sacred bond and bring shame upon the ninja clan, he would also wound an innocent and forge a monster in the process...that's probably a metaphor for war."
Cam nodded. He looked at Christian; the blonde was apparently totally oblivious to his attractive powers. Cam knew that at least three of the guys who'd checked him out were straight. Christian had a kind of innocence to him that most guys wanted to "take" and that most women wanted to "have". His bright blue eyes leapt over the images on the next page. He swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbled in a "cute" manner.
Cam shook himself out mentally. He was NOT checking Chris out. They were just sitting in the mall at a smoothie bar, reading a book...close together. So close he could smell the gentle spearmint scent off the young man. Who wasn't so young, he was the same age as Hunter at the very least.
"Wow...this one talks about the Shinobi Seals. The Viper, The Falcon, The Mantis, The Turtle and The Wolf" Christian pointed to the odd Seals. "Only those who have wielded warrior faiths can hope to defeat them, others would be annihilated."
"What about...this?" Cam turned to the page on the sword.
"This sword is basically the Victor of Carnage. Many call it Lord's Law. It's a sword that many have wielded but ultimately been consumed by its power. Hey! It's got directions! Wait..." he leafed back through the pages. "It's in the Cavern of Bursa, a place that only a warrior can reach. But it only opens on a full moon...that's in two nights...the seals are there and they must be removed to open the barrier around the sword."
"Thanks" Cam said. "I have to go..."
"All right, see you whenever, I'll be around. Oh by the way the next entry is on an Astral Ninja. So just--"
Cam cut in on Christian as he rose. "I have time for one last bout of deciphering," he said. "Let's do this."
Marah and Kapri appeared beside Rita-D as she cobwebbed a group of men. The shape-shifter was cackling maniacally. "Oh I love my job" she cackled. The blaster fire hit the ground and she shielded herself. With a hiss she looked up. "They're here at last".
"Hold it right there!" Tori shouted. She leapt forwards and kicked Marah back. Shane angle tackled Kapri while Hunter, Blake and Dustin leapt at the Kezlacks and Rita-D as she summoned them. Sparks flew as Rita-D summoned a series of spells up blasting the rangers with her spell circles.
Cam slashed down at a Kelzack as it attacked Hunter. "Sorry I'm late but I have a hell of an excuse."
"Forgiven! For now" Hunter grinned as he slammed a fist into a Kelzack's face.
Rita-D hurled the scriptures at Tori and Cam. The slender paper slips glowed and struck the pair, the glowing patterns materialized on the air. Trapping the pair in the floating circles, lightening crackled, binding their arms and legs with shackles.
"One word from me and your comrades will have a real buzz to write home about!"
Hunter and Blake started and fought their twin urges to charge at her. She warped into Lothar. He laughed as the dragon headed staff glowed. "Where is the sword?"
"We can't deliver it yet. We need more time," Shane roared.
"Oh dear" sighed Lothar-D. He snapped his fingers and Greta Clarke appeared, held by Motodrone and Zurgane. "Then she must die!"
"Shane help me," Greta pleaded pathetically. "Help me, I can't fight them! Help!"
Shane paused. "She knows!" he gasped. "Mom!" The blast of black light hit Zurgane and then another caught Motodrone. There was a whiz of sound and suddenly the White Astral Ranger appeared at Shane's side with a large blaster (A/N: Like the massive blasters in Time force). He fired again. "Go for it" he said.
Shane didn't say anything he merely leapt forwards and slashed the Kelzacks out of his way. He caught his mother's arm and leapt away taking her with him. "MARAH KAPRI!" Lothar's voice roared from the sky. "BRING ME THE WHITE ASTRAL NINJA! FORGET THE WOMAN!"
Lothar-D vanished backwards with a smile. "Love to stay, but swords to find, deaths to cause. You understand!" in a blast of shadows she was gone.
Shane landed in the woods, his mother in his arms. "Shane! You saved me!" she gasped hugging him. "I was so scared!"
Shane paused and looked at the woman in the sitcom-mom dress and hair, both messed severely. He frowned...and turned away for a pensive moment.
The crossbow bolt exploded against his mothers back and she fell down. Shane looked up. The girl who'd given the book to Cam stood on the rock ledge above, the light from the trees touched her wavy blonde-brown hair. She wore a short leather jacket and black turtleneck. Her denim jeans had a studded leather belt in them and she wore black-heeled boots that disappeared up under the flares of her jeans. She lowered her cross bow.
"Look at her arm!" she exclaimed.
Shane hesitated and looked down. He gasped and pulled back. His mother's arm was a sharp talon that was very much not hers. It was Matriarchus's arm!
"Hot be cold and cool be warm, Demon Human be your true form!" chanted the girl. The flash ran over Greta Clarke and warped into the monstrous shape. Matriarchus rose slowly. She glanced at Shane as he raised his sword into a slash.
"Later" she rasped and vanished.
The white Astral Ranger looked at the other Rangers. "I am gone," he said.
He gestured and in a flash of white he had vanished from their plane of existence. Cam looked at Hunter. The Crimson ranger was staring at the vortex. "He's scared" Hunter stated. "And not dead"
"He's the Black ranger...right? You know, like...a split persona?" Shane mused.
"I think so" nodded Cam. "Well he was...but maybe they split apart, we did think they were dead...what if they're two separate people now? Not even related to who the Astral Ranger we fought was."
Tori looked to Blake. "I'm worried," she admitted. "Who is he?"
"He's someone who's scared and confused," Hunter said. "And I have a real headache pass me aspirin anyone?"
Tori kicked the van with her pointed shoe. She should never turn down a lift from her mother! She pulled at the slit of her aqua silk dress around a bit to march to the engine. "Stupid! Why do you do this to me? I cannot be late! Oh, if only I hadn't needed to do my make-up..." with a snarl she kicked the van again.
"Can I help?" the dark voice said. The young man had a black leather jacket on and black jeans with a poison symbol on the knee. His white T- shirt bore the same symbol and he moved with a snake-like subtlety to himself.
"Be my guest" Tori said stepping aside. The boy popped the front open and rummaged around for a moment before shutting the bonnet and giving Tori thumbs up. Tori climbed into the drivers seat and turned the ignition.
The engine sprang into life. "Thanks!" she exclaimed. "Can I give you a lift?"
"Yes" nodded the boy. "If you don't mind, I need to make it to the offices of Water and Power". Tori patted the passenger seat. The boy slid in. "My landlady is having trouble and I have to sort it out."
"Oh" Tori said. They drove in silence a little more before the offices came into view. "Well I hope it's still open."
"They'll open for me," he said. "I'm Huntington by the way...Hunt to...well I really can't say my friends...but if you ever have a problem I solve them professionally". He grinned and slid out of the car with a quick grin. Tori watched him walk towards the gates and drove off.
She didn't see the guard come out to stop him, the red light engulf the guard and snap his spine...or the gates wrenched back by red thoughts.
TBC: R&R plz. Tori's parents and Blake at dinner...hmmm...and I've settled on another couple PLUS the old rangers get serious butt kicking (pairings there are welcome)
Fall Away
'So JJ attacked you! ?' Tori exclaimed as Kelly returned to behind the desk after the police left. She gaped at Kelly.
'Yeah but a blonde kid saved me from becoming a stabbing cushion for JJ...or worse...' she shivered. Tori nodded and smiled as Blake came from the back room.
'Hi' he said softly. 'I haven't forgotten about dinner tonight' he added. 'What time did you get her to set for?'
'After I changed the date? Same time I'm afraid' Tori smiled. 'She's annoyed I badgered her into changing it from yesterday to today. Now she's taking me out shopping...dress formally casual...Mom is a little strong on that point, we're going to dinner in La Bijou.'
'Don't you need a mortgage to reserve a table there?' murmured Blake.
'Not when your father owns it' murmured Tori. 'And the others on the planet.'
Cam entered tapping his pen tersely off a notepad. 'I found a diagram' he said softly. 'The swords in the Mara-Ishii...but I can't read the symbols...they're ancient!'
'Pity that girl didn't hang around' breathed Tori walking over into a huddle. Kelly whistled and broke their discussion over the note pad. 'I'm taking the cash to the bank' she said to the Rangers in a low voice. 'Watch the shop.'
She packed the sack of money into a bag and walked from the shop. 'I heard about JJ' Cam said. 'It's all over town. Who's the mystery guy that saved her?'
'No one knows' Blake shrugged. 'He vanished without a trace...according to Kelly he's like Bruce Lee or something'
'He wouldn't go two rounds with you' Tori said in a vapid voice, batting her eyelashes and brushing her back off Blake's chest. The contact was playful but the buzz of passion was incredible. A redness rose in Blake's face. Cam rolled his eyes and turned away. 'HOLY CRAP!' he exclaimed.
Kelly had just left Storm Chargers when a man in black had sprinted past her and grabbed the bag in her hands. Tori and Blake darted out to Kelly who had been knocked over. The guy in black was running away from them when a kick connected with his ribs. He shot back quite a distance. The young man wore black jeans and a white t-shirt he had a grey and red sweater tied around his waist and his blonde-brown hair was sharply spiked at the fringe, jutting out like a cliff. His sky blue eyes scanned the winded thief briefly.
'Bad idea' he said firmly. The thief groaned and lunged with a knife he pulled from his jacket. The guy winced in pain, clutching his head at that very moment, as if timing were against him. He wrapped his arms around the thief and dragged him down. He kicked the thief off him and got to his feet considerably swifter then the pathetic thief. Who rose, only to be kicked through the door of Storm Chargers. The glass shattered and he landed in a heap.
'You asked for this' the guy said. The robber rose again. Three spinning kicks connected with his face and torso before a jumping blade hick smashed him over the counter.
'Whoa' Tori breathed. Suddenly she could move again, the shocked paralysis that had come from nowhere disentangled itself from Cam and Blake as well. They stepped through the shattered window and looked at the unconscious thief. The blonde haired young man bowed swiftly to the beaten opponent.
'Nice try' he said. 'Justice won over'.
'Its you!' Kelly exclaimed. 'You saved me twice now!'
All eyes were on the mystery boy. 'I wrecked the door' he said quietly. 'I have to go now' he added and moved for the door.
'You're bleeding!' exclaimed Cam. 'You can't leave it untreated'
The young man blinked, he was about 17...he looked at the wound, set a few inches from his shoulder. He tapped it and winced. 'Ah...no I can take care of it...myself.'
'No you can't!' Tori exclaimed. 'You could contract a nasty disease from that blade! Let us at least bandage it for you.'
The boy was rubbing his head. 'I...I guess...' he mumbled.
======
'The Red ranger will return the book to us' Matriarchus said as she ran a hand through her purple and gold dreadlocks. 'And so you learn that there are easier ways to get things done then your way Demon.'
Toxica-D said nothing. Marah and Kapri shifted uneasily as the generals all organized into a line. Matriarchus strode up and down the room before Lothar. 'As soon as the sword is ours we can destroy the Rangers. Then there will be no one capable of standing against us!'
Lothar sighed and nodded. 'What does this sword do?' he groaned.
'It's the ultimate weapon' Toxica-D cut in on Matriarchus curtly. 'It can cut through a zord with no trouble, it can slice a flame in half and can even cut through the fabric of shadows...all who wield it become unstoppable...the trouble is they have yet to understand the prophecy.'
Lothar leaned forwards. 'And what is that?'
'That which wields the sword must have the key and use the door to open the gate of purest power' recited the Demon. 'Open the gate and open the truth should you face it you will be it and your full power shall return to the place it must be to be...'
'Weird' Kapri sniffed. 'It's like...a puzzle'
'It is' D said. 'One no one has solved for aeons...'
'But we will!' Matriarchus snapped at her protégé the Demon. 'Now, have you the dagger?'
The Demon held up the slender blade of gold with the red leather and bejewelled hilt that hummed vaguely. 'The Dagger was left in a case at the back of the museum, a spell later no one noticed I had taken it.'
Matriarchus handed Lothar the blade with ceremony. 'Feel the power' she breathed. 'Feel the power and its great benefits!'
'I can' Lothar said. 'Oh...Oh Rangers you will not live much longer...'
=====
Jason's eyes fluttered open; he sat up and looked around. 'Oh...my head' he grimaced.
'Speak for yourself' a voice grumbled. Adam sat up. 'I feel like I was caught in a stampede...of obese buffalo...'
'Anyone get the number of that truck?' groaned Rocky. 'Hey! Jason!' he exclaimed as he shot up and suddenly collapsed back down. 'Be with you in a mo'.
The door hissed open and Shane entered. His eyes lit up when he saw them all awake. 'Yes! You guys are up!' he whooped. 'I have to check on the girls then...there are some clothes in the press over there, Cyber Cam got them in... uhh long story' he added before Adam could ask. 'Look we'll show you around as soon as you're ready.
Jason's heart had leapt when he heard the mention of "Girls". 'Who are the girls?' he asked, praying and hoping.
'Uhh...wait a sec' Shane said. 'HEY CYBER CAM! WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE GIRLS?'
The shape of Cyber Cam crackled into life beside him giving the three others a shock that caused them reflexively to prepare for a fight. 'Kimberly Ann Hart and Trini Kwan dude' Cyber Cam said. Jason's breath caught in his throat and all he could do was nod. SHE was here...
'Oh man' he managed. 'I—have to call your mom Shane. I've not been into work since the corpse shot through the window...'
'Corpse?' Shane repeated. 'What corpse?'
'The one...remember the explosion in the building you guys were there. I saw you fight a black ranger through the telescope in your Mom's office...a corpse came through the window...folded in two and hacked up.'
Shane shook his head. 'Bet he's the one the Ninja got. I knew it wasn't random... Jason...I've got some news...Matriarchus has got my Mom...'
Jason's jaw dropped. 'Oh damn...' he gasped.
========
The "hero" sat on the counter of Storm Chargers sans shirt. He was staring out the window at the Good Christian Charity Shop. 'Can you not feel that! ?' Exclaimed Cam dabbing the small wound with iodine.
'Yes and no' he replied.
Tori was avoiding looking at his body...though it was nice...lean and muscled and... NO! She was sort of definitely kind of with Blake. They were having dinner at her parent's house restaurant...ugh...that was a thought. Her mother was like a shark with guys Tori knew. Only Shane, Cam and Dustin survived by the skin of their teeth.
'What can't you feel anything?' Blake asked.
'I can' the guy said. 'I just...sometimes I can't...I have Dempsey's Syndrome... don't ask...is Kelly all right?'
'Thanks to you' Kelly said walking back from the police. 'After a guy saves you twice you at least deserve his name!'
He hesitated. 'Christian' he said looking at his feet.
'Christian what?' pressed Tori. 'Lee, Rawlings, Grayson, Mitchell, Winslow? Give us a little more to go one please.'
He looked around and for a moment his eyes seemed to lock on something. 'Cross, Christian Cross' he said with finality. 'And you?'
'Tori Hanson, Cam Wantanabe and...'
'Call me Blake' her (insert appropriate word boyfriend, friend, comrade, colleague) said extending a hand. The blonde shook it and coughed lightly, a blush rising in his faintly sallow skin. 'Uhh could we finish this up?'
Tori looked at where he'd been looking. A lot of girls were staring at the half naked boy. Cam applied a bandage and gave a thumbs-up. 'There you go, bandaged away.'
Christian pulled his shirt on and rubbed his knuckles, he slipped his pendant over his shirt. It was a gold coin set in a bronze frame. Tori looked at it. 'Nice accessory' she said.
'Thanks' he said as she examined it. The bronze frame was removable; on the back was a window to the back, which was instead of gold a silver coin. 'I've had it all my life'
Cams notepad fell and Christian picked it up. 'Wow Shu-Tzu-Mi, haven't seen this kind of symbolical koji since...well I amn't sure of that.' He skimmed the page quickly. 'What's with the world and enchanted swords?'
Cam's jaw dropped. 'Twenty four straight hours I've been at that...and you crack it in three seconds?'
'Its easy' muttered Christian handing the pad to Cam. 'Shu-Tzu-Mi was a ninja grandmaster who created thousands of priceless works and arts. I go and see them at the museum a lot. Most are kind of...well colour bound. Always the same eight colours. Red, blue, yellow, pink, black, green, white and silver...go figure must've been a shortage of colourings.'
Blake paused and looked at Cam. 'Could you read a large body of this?' he asked as Christian pulled on his satchel.
'I guess so' shrugged the boy. 'But I have an appointment to keep...if you want help with that I can meet you guys here tomorrow. But I really have to run.'
He slithered off the counter with boneless fluidity and pulled on his jacket. Cam watched him leave and turned to the others. 'I have a bad feeling about him...'
'You have to be kidding, he's a straight arrow!' Tori exclaimed. 'He saved Kelly twice!'
'What if he's that shape shifting demon thing that works for Lothar? Or a monster of some sort. I mean what are the chances someone could read the language?' Blake asked firmly.
Tori said nothing. 'I'll see you later' she said at last. She kissed Blake on the cheek gingerly and blushed before rushing out.
'Kim' the single word from a familiar mouth sent vibrations up her spine. She turned drawing a faint rattling breath. She was wearing a long green denim shirt tied at her ribs, a ribbon pulled her hair back and she had cut her jeans to remove the singed parts.
Trini was dressed in a yellow Motocross jersey and a pair of Tori's jeans. Her hair was receiving a furious brushing to get the tangles and twigs out.
Jason stood in the doorway, bursting out of a sweater Shane had lent him, the crimson shirt stretching to burst. His trousers were karate suit trousers that had been dug up from a closet somewhere.
Rocky and Adam were dressed in Motocross shirts and again, gi trousers. The ex-rangers stood in the room, looking at each other. They hadn't seen each other for a while. Not since Kat and Tommy's wedding.
'Hi Jason' Kim managed.
'How are you?' he asked.
'Fine...Hi Rocky...Adam'
'Hi' the other two said. There was a stiff silence.
'Ah so you were all rangers'
The five young people leapt into the air and twisted on the guinea pig. 'Did that gerbil just talk?' breathed Rocky.
'That's Sensei Kanoi, Lothar turned him into a guinea pig partially by accident I think' Shane explained. 'You see we're in a bit of a hard place at the moment... its all thanks to something that happened way back when the sensei was a student...'
'The red ranger will turn the sword to us' smirked Matriarchus as she watched Jindrax-D raised Greta Clarke on a chained cage. 'And then we'll see what happens to you!'
She turned and vanished. Jindrax-D morphed into another shape. A young woman with tightly bobbed black hair and a cat suit. 'Please! I don't understand! Why am I here?'
'Deep philosophy there sister' the being said with a blank emotional slate. 'Why are any of us here? Well I'm here to inflict suffering and misery to the general population of the galaxy...you?'
'I want a reason!' Greta said firmly glaring at the girl, who stumbled backwards breathlessly.
'That glance! So like my mothers...' she rose upwards on a circle of spells. 'But I doubt they'll murder you like they did her! You're here to poke the red ranger into turning over a magical sword.'
'Why would the red ranger be concerned with me?'
D paused as she left and looked back, arms folded. 'Think long and hard about it'.
Greta's eyes widened. 'Shane!'
'Clever' in a flare of soul energy D was gone.
Marah sighed and flipped her hair as she strode along the Motocross track. 'Margo! ?' A voice called. Marah yipped and quickly put a handkerchief to her face.
'Mmm...Yes...I am Margo from Svayyyyy-den?'
'Hi' Dustin said. 'Are you okay?'
'Oh Yes, just a little cold' she said in a very bad Swedish accent. 'How are you?'
'Ummmm...good I just, I wanted to ask if you'd like to get some coffee?'
'I'd love to but I have...a cow—milking—seminar to attend...durn it...'
'Oh...' Dustin said looking crestfallen. 'I see...'
Marah panicked. What if her handkerchief slipped...if he found out who she was!
"HELLOOOOOO" a voice called. Rita-D was striding forwards, cobwebs leapt from her arms and hands trapping the people in the cocoons of shimmering web. "Isn't anyone going to play?"
Dustin glanced back at Margo...she was gone. Without a thought he darted in behind a tree and morphed.
"Well this entry" Christian said as he sat closer to Cam. "I about the Astral Ninja, apparently the Last Sensei was prophesised to break a most sacred bond and bring shame upon the ninja clan, he would also wound an innocent and forge a monster in the process...that's probably a metaphor for war."
Cam nodded. He looked at Christian; the blonde was apparently totally oblivious to his attractive powers. Cam knew that at least three of the guys who'd checked him out were straight. Christian had a kind of innocence to him that most guys wanted to "take" and that most women wanted to "have". His bright blue eyes leapt over the images on the next page. He swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbled in a "cute" manner.
Cam shook himself out mentally. He was NOT checking Chris out. They were just sitting in the mall at a smoothie bar, reading a book...close together. So close he could smell the gentle spearmint scent off the young man. Who wasn't so young, he was the same age as Hunter at the very least.
"Wow...this one talks about the Shinobi Seals. The Viper, The Falcon, The Mantis, The Turtle and The Wolf" Christian pointed to the odd Seals. "Only those who have wielded warrior faiths can hope to defeat them, others would be annihilated."
"What about...this?" Cam turned to the page on the sword.
"This sword is basically the Victor of Carnage. Many call it Lord's Law. It's a sword that many have wielded but ultimately been consumed by its power. Hey! It's got directions! Wait..." he leafed back through the pages. "It's in the Cavern of Bursa, a place that only a warrior can reach. But it only opens on a full moon...that's in two nights...the seals are there and they must be removed to open the barrier around the sword."
"Thanks" Cam said. "I have to go..."
"All right, see you whenever, I'll be around. Oh by the way the next entry is on an Astral Ninja. So just--"
Cam cut in on Christian as he rose. "I have time for one last bout of deciphering," he said. "Let's do this."
Marah and Kapri appeared beside Rita-D as she cobwebbed a group of men. The shape-shifter was cackling maniacally. "Oh I love my job" she cackled. The blaster fire hit the ground and she shielded herself. With a hiss she looked up. "They're here at last".
"Hold it right there!" Tori shouted. She leapt forwards and kicked Marah back. Shane angle tackled Kapri while Hunter, Blake and Dustin leapt at the Kezlacks and Rita-D as she summoned them. Sparks flew as Rita-D summoned a series of spells up blasting the rangers with her spell circles.
Cam slashed down at a Kelzack as it attacked Hunter. "Sorry I'm late but I have a hell of an excuse."
"Forgiven! For now" Hunter grinned as he slammed a fist into a Kelzack's face.
Rita-D hurled the scriptures at Tori and Cam. The slender paper slips glowed and struck the pair, the glowing patterns materialized on the air. Trapping the pair in the floating circles, lightening crackled, binding their arms and legs with shackles.
"One word from me and your comrades will have a real buzz to write home about!"
Hunter and Blake started and fought their twin urges to charge at her. She warped into Lothar. He laughed as the dragon headed staff glowed. "Where is the sword?"
"We can't deliver it yet. We need more time," Shane roared.
"Oh dear" sighed Lothar-D. He snapped his fingers and Greta Clarke appeared, held by Motodrone and Zurgane. "Then she must die!"
"Shane help me," Greta pleaded pathetically. "Help me, I can't fight them! Help!"
Shane paused. "She knows!" he gasped. "Mom!" The blast of black light hit Zurgane and then another caught Motodrone. There was a whiz of sound and suddenly the White Astral Ranger appeared at Shane's side with a large blaster (A/N: Like the massive blasters in Time force). He fired again. "Go for it" he said.
Shane didn't say anything he merely leapt forwards and slashed the Kelzacks out of his way. He caught his mother's arm and leapt away taking her with him. "MARAH KAPRI!" Lothar's voice roared from the sky. "BRING ME THE WHITE ASTRAL NINJA! FORGET THE WOMAN!"
Lothar-D vanished backwards with a smile. "Love to stay, but swords to find, deaths to cause. You understand!" in a blast of shadows she was gone.
Shane landed in the woods, his mother in his arms. "Shane! You saved me!" she gasped hugging him. "I was so scared!"
Shane paused and looked at the woman in the sitcom-mom dress and hair, both messed severely. He frowned...and turned away for a pensive moment.
The crossbow bolt exploded against his mothers back and she fell down. Shane looked up. The girl who'd given the book to Cam stood on the rock ledge above, the light from the trees touched her wavy blonde-brown hair. She wore a short leather jacket and black turtleneck. Her denim jeans had a studded leather belt in them and she wore black-heeled boots that disappeared up under the flares of her jeans. She lowered her cross bow.
"Look at her arm!" she exclaimed.
Shane hesitated and looked down. He gasped and pulled back. His mother's arm was a sharp talon that was very much not hers. It was Matriarchus's arm!
"Hot be cold and cool be warm, Demon Human be your true form!" chanted the girl. The flash ran over Greta Clarke and warped into the monstrous shape. Matriarchus rose slowly. She glanced at Shane as he raised his sword into a slash.
"Later" she rasped and vanished.
The white Astral Ranger looked at the other Rangers. "I am gone," he said.
He gestured and in a flash of white he had vanished from their plane of existence. Cam looked at Hunter. The Crimson ranger was staring at the vortex. "He's scared" Hunter stated. "And not dead"
"He's the Black ranger...right? You know, like...a split persona?" Shane mused.
"I think so" nodded Cam. "Well he was...but maybe they split apart, we did think they were dead...what if they're two separate people now? Not even related to who the Astral Ranger we fought was."
Tori looked to Blake. "I'm worried," she admitted. "Who is he?"
"He's someone who's scared and confused," Hunter said. "And I have a real headache pass me aspirin anyone?"
Tori kicked the van with her pointed shoe. She should never turn down a lift from her mother! She pulled at the slit of her aqua silk dress around a bit to march to the engine. "Stupid! Why do you do this to me? I cannot be late! Oh, if only I hadn't needed to do my make-up..." with a snarl she kicked the van again.
"Can I help?" the dark voice said. The young man had a black leather jacket on and black jeans with a poison symbol on the knee. His white T- shirt bore the same symbol and he moved with a snake-like subtlety to himself.
"Be my guest" Tori said stepping aside. The boy popped the front open and rummaged around for a moment before shutting the bonnet and giving Tori thumbs up. Tori climbed into the drivers seat and turned the ignition.
The engine sprang into life. "Thanks!" she exclaimed. "Can I give you a lift?"
"Yes" nodded the boy. "If you don't mind, I need to make it to the offices of Water and Power". Tori patted the passenger seat. The boy slid in. "My landlady is having trouble and I have to sort it out."
"Oh" Tori said. They drove in silence a little more before the offices came into view. "Well I hope it's still open."
"They'll open for me," he said. "I'm Huntington by the way...Hunt to...well I really can't say my friends...but if you ever have a problem I solve them professionally". He grinned and slid out of the car with a quick grin. Tori watched him walk towards the gates and drove off.
She didn't see the guard come out to stop him, the red light engulf the guard and snap his spine...or the gates wrenched back by red thoughts.
TBC: R&R plz. Tori's parents and Blake at dinner...hmmm...and I've settled on another couple PLUS the old rangers get serious butt kicking (pairings there are welcome)