A/N: Just to clarify things for all those shipper fans. Dustin/Marah. Tori/Blake. Trent/Kira. Hint of Conner/Kira Kira/Trent and Blake/Kira and Tori/Hunter. And for all those looking for action and a good story! I'm just getting warmed up!

Chapter 3: Darker Shade of Red

The dark clouds still remained over Reefside but the rain had finally stopped. Kira was drying up inside of cyberspace, she had a white towel wrapped around her. Trent came by and placed a warm drink in front of her before grabbing a chair and sitting down.

"You sure you're alright?" He asked, "Is there something else I can do for you?"

She reached for the drink and took a sip, shaking her head, "I'm fine Trent. Thank you."

The double door bursted open and Conner and Blake walked in. They looked around before spotting the two of them sitting in the distant. They walked over and caught their attention.

"Hey Kira." He placed his hand on the back of her chair, "I wanted to come by and check on you before I head to soccer practice."

"Blake." She smiled and looked pass Conner and at him, "What are you doing here?"

Conner took a step back and sighed, letting Blake move forward a bit. Kira removed her towel and pulled her hair back from out of her face.

"I just wanted to let you know that we might have a lead on where the others are." He explained, "Thought you'd like to know."

"Well." Conner interuptted the two, "I'm going so, later."

Kira waved as he swiftly left the cyberspace, leaving Blake, Trent and Kira alone with each other. Blake placed his hand on her shoulder and moved in front of her.

"Were planning on heading back to Dr O's to find out the full plan. You coming?"

"Yeah!" She exclaimed, "Just let me get my bag."

Blake nodded as she grabbed the towel on the chair and went into the back. Trent watched as the door fully shut before he turned to Blake.

"What are you doing?" He glared at him.

Blake arched his brows, "What?"

"You heard me." He took a few step forward, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." He shrugged, taking a seat, "I seriously don't know what you're talking about."

Trent was about open his mouth once more before Kira came out again. He backed away and just remained silent.

"Come on!" She grabbed Blake and dragged him out the door, "We should hurry!"

Trent stood there for a few seconds, sighing and scratching his head. He grabbed his drawing pad, shaking his head and chased after him.

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Conner drove down the street with his music on full blast. He patted the steering wheel to the beat of the music, turning and heading down a long narrow street towards the soccer field. He increased the speed, hoping he wouldn't be late. Suddenly the ground and his car began to rattle and he turned down the music. Looking back up, he saw Dustin standing in the middle of the road. Dustin launched a blast from his hand hitting the car and sending it flying it flying into the air. Conner grabbed onto something as it twirled and landed in the ditch.

"Oh.." Conner groaned as he opened his eyes and found himself laying on the roof part of the car, "That's so going to leave a mark."

He pushed himself out, holding onto his arm. He felt bruised as the smoke from the car began to rise. Taking a few steps forward, he turned and saw Dustin standing there.

"What do you want." He glared at him, "You just destroyed my car."

"You did that yourself Mcknight." He grinned, taking a few steps forward, "And that's the least of your worries right now."

Conner let go of his other arm and got into a fighting position, "If it's a fight you want. It's a fight you got."

"Oh such a threat." Dustin crossed his arms, "You're not my color."

"Neither was Ethan, but you weren't complaining." He grinned, "So come on, ready to take me?"

Conner used his dino gem power and sped forward and behind Dustin. Dustin turned and knocked his attack out of the way before slamming a fist into his stomach. He then grabbed Conner by the shirt and threw him into his own car. Conner fell to the ground and groaned, pushing himself back up. Dustin ninja streaked into the air and stuck out his leg to kick him. Conner grabbed his foot and with all his might, threw him on the other side of the car. Dustin hit the dirt hard, rolling to the side as Conner jumped down with an attack. Leg sweeping the dino ranger, Dustin swiftly recovered and flipped backwards. Conner pulled himself up once more and did a double spin kick right into him. Dustin grabbed his foot, canceling out the impact and twisting it hard. Conner fell to the floor and just groaned.

Dustin moved over and knelt down, picking him up by the hair, "I didn't know they make rangers so week nowadays." He grinned, "And they say the leader was suppose to be the strongest."

He picked Conner up and threw him against the tree. He fell hard to the ground, but used whatever strength he had left to lift himself back up. He clenched his fist and grew more and more furious.

"I don't have to prove anything to you." Conner sneered, "You're just afraid because you know I can out beat you any day."

"What are you talking about?" Dustin laughed, "I just pounded you."

Conner looked around and noticed his soccer ball that must had rolled out of the car. He grinned and glanced at him, "Pound this!"

He kicked up the ball and slammed it towards Dustin. The Yellow Ranger knocked it out of the way, only to see Conner coming full speed, tackling him to the ground. Dustin kicked him off, sending Conner back into the air. He twisted his body and pulled out his morpher.

"Dino Thunder! Power up!"

Dustin swiftly pulled out his morpher, "Ninja Storm. Ranger Form!"

"Hah!" The two of the chorus at once.

Conner landed on the ground in his full ranger form. The two rangers pulled out their swords and began to circle each other. Conner charged forward and the two of them locked swords. Slashing at each other, Dustin grabbed him by the arm and knocked the legs out from underneath him before kicking him away. Conner rolled on the ground and stopped, pulling out his blaster and firing it. Dustin jumped out of the way and fired his ninja blaster right back. The two attacks collided and exploded. Moving into the smoke, the Red Dino Ranger slammed into Dustin and hit him into the wall. Dustin knocked his arms away and jabbed him in the stomach before kicking him back. He then side flipped out of the way as a incoming blast came right at him. Dustin pulled out his lion hammer and knocked him back and onto the ground.

"Dammit." Conner grew angry, pulling himself back up again, "I am not going to let you defeat me."

"Careful now." Dustin grinned evilly, "Don't want the anger get the best of you."

Conner dashed forward and slammed into him, the two of them locked swords once more. Dustin swiftly pulled out of the way and came in with an attack but Conner blocked it and jabbed him in the stomach. He then pulled out his Tyranno Staff and slammed it into his helmet and back on the ground. He then charged forward and raised it to lunge down on him. Dustin unmorphed himself and held his arm, wincing in pain a bit. The Red Ranger looked down in his eyes, realizing what he was going to do. He lowered his weapon and unmorphed.

"Idiot." Dustin laughed as he flipped himself back up and spun kick him to the ground.

Conner hit hard, blinking a few seconds to see him gone. He breathed heavily, exhaling deeply.

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Dustin walked through Mesogog's lair and into the large room. He turned and faced a shelf full of glass tubes, reaching up to take out one that contained Lothor inside.

"Well." A feminine voice behind him spoke, "It only took you what? A half hour to screw up."

He turned and saw Tori sitting comfortably in Mesogog's chair, grinning at him. He glared at her before turning towards the Geno Randomizer.

"Shut up Tori." He snapped back, "He got lucky." He smiled with mischief, "But I won't let him get the best of me a second time. It seams this Mcknight has a few anger issues."

"And you plan to use that as an advantage how?" She arched her eyebrows, "This ought to be interesting."

He showed her the container that held their former evil villain in, "Mesogog was a fool to leave him around. I'll use him to capture Mcknight." He then looked around, "Where is Mesogog?"

"He seamed to be taken a leave of absents." Tori moved away from the chair, "But Anton Mercer had decided to show up on the map."

"We'll get rid of him later." Dustin responded, "Till then, its time to put my plan into action."

"What do you want with such a loser anyway?" She took the container from his hand, "What can he do that we can't."

"Deceive the rangers." He grinned.

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"I heard what happened." Kira turned on her chair inside the Dino Base as Conner Mcknight walked down the stairs, "Are you alright?"

"Do you know where Dustin went now?" Cam also added.

Conner shook his head, "Sorry. He left before I could even get back up."

"Well the important thing is, you are alright." Tommy patted him on the back, "We found a way to extract the power from the disc."

"Nice." He smiled, "The sooner the better."

"Let's get to work!" Blake clasped his hand, "I'll go grab the energy extractor from Ninja Ops."

"Can I come with you?" Kira spoke up, "I always wanted to see a ninja school."

"Sure." Blake looked at Cam, "I don't see why not."

"Hey Dr O." Conner whispered, "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure." Tommy responded, the two of them walked into a corner, "What's up?"

"When I was fighting Dustin. I had this strange feeling." He explained, "This anger that I just wanted to destroy him."

"That's perfectly normal in those kind of situation." He replied, "But you must learn to control that anger."

"The thing is though, what if I had done something dumb? Or in the future, what if it happens again??"

"I know you won't Conner. You will do the right thing. That's what makes you a ranger."

He nodded before the two of them joined back with the others.

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End Chapter