Chapter Three: The Trouble with Trees

"How far is it to your booth?" Diego asked Aki, looking doubtfully at the tall pile of crates in the back of the hovervan he'd borrowed from his uncle that morning.

Jason had discovered that Aki had booked a stall at the Stone Canyon County Fair the night before and had volunteered the services of himself and Diego to help her set up.

"A bit of exercise will do you good, hermano," said Jason as he got out of the passenger seat and joined the other two at the rear of the vehicle. "Get you in shape for the Regionals."

"Ha-ha, very funny. Let's just do this."

"I cannot thank you enough, my friends," said Aki, pulling a small box of equipment towards herself. "I will be ready much quicker today thanks to your help."

"That's what friends are for, Aki," Jason told her. "Hey Diego, why don't you levitate some of this stuff? It'll be good practise and we'll get the job done even quicker."

"You know what? I think I will," said Diego. He concentrated for a moment and two boxes of plants floated out of the back of the van and hung suspended in mid-air. Then he reached into the van and pulled out a third box. "Which way?"

"This way," said Aki, and walked off towards the south side of the park.

Jason removed two more boxes from the van then he jumped into the front seat and removed the keycard from the control panel cutting off the engine and then got out. He closed the door behind him and it automatically locked. He picked up his two boxes and the two friends strode after their mauve-shirted team-mate.

As Aki predicted it didn't take the three of them very long to set up the small tent and tables that she had brought to shield her bonsai trees from the harsh August sunshine. Once they were finished, Jason offered to tend the booth for a few minutes while his two friends got some breakfast. Aki and Diego agreed, and set off towards the food concessions, from which delectable smells were already being to emanate.

Half an hour later, they returned to Aki's stand where Jason still stationed. Diego handed him a still-warm bag. "Here's your breakfast. Aki and I figured you didn't get anything to eat before we left any more than we did."

"I didn't," Jason admitted and unwrapped the burrito, taking a large bite. "Hey, that's not bad. Tastes kinda familiar actually. You got any relatives working concessions?"

Diego grinned and nodded. "Tío Alejandro and Tía Isabella are here. We bought the burritos from them."

"We also had a look at the art and crafts area," Aki added. "Peter has a stall. Patty's with him."

"That's cool," said Jason. "I'll have to go over and say hello later. What time does the fair start?"

"The gates open in twenty minutes," Aki told him. "Is everything ready?"

"Yep" Jason confirmed. "Even your portable computer for processing credit chips."

"Excellent," said Aki. "Then all we have to do is wait for the first customer."

-

It didn't take long for the first customer to arrive, and many more followed keeping Aki extremely busy answering questions and occasionally dispensing advice as to which bonsai might suit a particular customer best. However, neither of the boys had any real interest in the subject matter, so both quickly became bored.

Excusing themselves to Aki, who was deep in conversation with a Kerovan couple, they left the booth and headed towards the fairground area. After trying out various tests of strength, they met Patty coming out of the Null-Grav Simulation Sphere that Knight-Stewart Technologies had donated to the event. She was dressed for the warm day in grey brushed-cotton shorts and a yellow and white bikini top.

"Brushing up on your acrobatics, gatito?" asked Diego.

"I thought I'd give it a go," Patty admitted. "It was kinda weird actually. I'm used to always knowing exactly where I am in my surroundings. Not having a real 'up' or 'down' was a little odd."

"Not too bad, I hope?" asked Jason, concern evident in his expression.

"It's not an experience I'd particularly like to repeat again soon," Patty admitted. "But I'll be fine. Have you seen Peter yet?"

"I haven't," Jason told her. "I've been looking after Aki's stall since we got here. How are you two doing?"

"Great. Peter's paintings are selling really well."

"That's not what I meant, Patty," said Jason, and both Diego and Patty recognised what they had from the age of ten called his 'Leader Voice'. "And I think you know that. Normally I won't butt into the personal life of two of my friends, but I think we both know that your situation is unique."

Patty bristled slightly, but then calmed down, and nodded. "Yes, I did know that. We're doing well. He respects me, and that that I'm different to other girls. I think he likes it to be honest. The real test will be next weekend."

"Indeed. Just remember, we'll be there for you if you need us. It wouldn't be the first time."

"I know. And I do appreciate it. But I think I need to try and find a normal way of dealing with my 'problems' and that involves getting a steady boyfriend. And I think Peter's the one."

"I hope so, hermana," said Diego. "It's been hard for you."

"Let's go and see Peter," said Jason. "I don't want to leave Aki on her own for too long either. I've got a nasty feeling that we're going to be in for an unpleasant surprise pretty soon."

-

Jason was right, Peter was just packaging up a painting for Jason – a small watercolour of a brownish-black falcon and a honey-brown crane flying together over the desert when the screams began.

"Trouble?" wondered Patty.

Jason nodded. "I'm almost sure of it. Those didn't sound like screams of delight." He backed out of sight in the tent proper and then raised his watch to his lips. The other Rangers and Peter followed him. "Professor, this Jason, do you read?"

"Reading you loud and clear, Jason," replied Billy. "My sensors are picking up a disturbance approximately two-hundred and thirty-nine metres west of your current position. Scans indicate an Avatar and a platoon of Macrobian Warriors. Aki's tracking signal puts her within fifty metres of the location."

"Alright, contact Bill and Gill. Have them meet us there."

"Will do."

Jason looked at Diego and Patty. "Let's go it, guys. It's Morphin' Time!"

"Dragonzord!"

"Sabre-toothed Tiger!"

"Tyrannosaurus!"

The three youths were instantly dressed in their Ranger armour, helmets in place. Green Ranger turned to Peter. "You'd better stay here, where it's safer."

"No way," replied Peter. "I want some payback for last time. Don't worry though, I've got a trick or two of my own."

Before Green Ranger could say anything, the Canadian painter closed his eyes briefly, then there was a metallic grinding sound and in a wave of silvery-blue energy his entire skin surface changed into shiny flexible steel. He also appeared to grow about ten centimetres and put on about thirteen kilos. "The only reason they got me last time was they took me by surprise."

Green Ranger nodded. "Let's go!" The three Rangers and Peter took off at a run towards the screams.

By the time they got there, pretty much everyone had fled. Aki was fighting a small group of Macrobes, but she wasn't doing very well as she was using only her electrical powers. Seconds later, the two remaining Rangers teleported in.

"I think we should morph," Gill declared, looking at Brian and Aki. They both nodded.

"Mastodon!"

"Pterodactyl!"

"Triceratops!"

The Six Rangers immediately regrouped and began a new combined attack on the Macrobes. Peter followed them, taking out any hapless enemy that tried out sneak behind the Yellow Ranger.

With their power levels at more or less full and the raw strength of Peter's steel form helping, it didn't came them too long to defeat the Macrobes. But before they could enjoy their success, a new threat appeared: a ten-foot tall humanoid resembling a walking plant. The Avatar shoot several vines at the heroes, catching the Pink and Blue Rangers off-guard. Green Rangers rushed over to them. "Are you two, alright?"

Both nodded. "The ablative qualities of the exo-skeletons appear to have absorbed most of the damage."

"Let's take this thing down. Fast."

"Right!"

This proved harder to do than Jason had hoped as the monster was a lot bigger and stronger than they were. They did, however, managed to draw it out of the fairground and into the nearby desert.

"Jason."

"Yes, Professor?"

"I suggest the other Rangers deploy their weapons immediately and destroy this creature. The chances o civilian casualties are high."

"Good idea!" Green Ranger declared. "Guys, the Professor says your weapons should be enough to finish this thing off!"

"Right! It's Power Blaster Time!"

"Power Axe!"

"Power Bow!"

"Power Lance!"

"Power Daggers!"

"Power Sword!"

The five Power Weapons locked together into their blaster-mode and flew down into Red Rangers hands. "Power Blaster… Fire!"

A powerful beam of multi-coloured energy burst from the Blaster and hit the monster dead centre. It roared in pain, but, to the Rangers' disappointment, promptly began to grow in size.

"I think we're going to need some extra firepower!" declared Black Ranger.

"I agree," said Green Ranger. "It's Zord Time!" With that, he brought his own blade up to his lips and played a few haunting notes. "Dragonzord, arise and evolve!"

"It's time for a Zord evolution!" declared the other five Rangers.

"Mastodon-Rhino Evozord Power!"

"Pterodactyl-Condor Evozord Power!"

"Triceratops-Whale Evozord Power!"

"Sabre-toothed Tiger-Cougar Evozord Power!"

"Tyrannosaurus-Fox Evozord Power!"

Seconds later, the six Rangers were in cockpits of their respective Zords. "Let's bring it all together, guys." Green Ranger ordered. "Activate Evo Megadragonzord sequence!"

Less than a minute later, the six Rangers were at the controls of the gestalt Zord. "All systems online!" reported Blue Ranger.

"Let's prune this shrub!" declared Pink Ranger.

"Right!" agreed Green Ranger. "Activate Power Sabre!"

The golden sabre materialised in the Zord's hand. Seconds later, it began to glow white-hot, flames licking all around the blade. The Avatar shot two vines at the Zord but both were easily defected, and the Zord retaliated with several shift slashes of its blade. The Avatar roared in pain, but this time fell over and exploded.

-

"How did the rest of the fair go?" Jason asked Patty and Peter when they joined the others at Ricardo's that evening. Because the Macrobes had trashed the plants and produce area, Jason, Diego and Aki and stopped only long enough to pick up her computer and whatever plants could be salvaged.

"Only a few of the die-hard regulars came back," Peter admitted. "I've still got quite a few paintings left that I was hoping to sell. Patty's got your painting."

"I put it in your home, back home," Patty told him.

"Thanks. Is not selling all your paintings going to cause a problem for you, Peter?"

"I'll be fine, I've got enough for this term's tuition payments and rent. There's an art festival over in Turtle Cove in October. I wasn't going to go, but I probably will now. Hopefully I'll be able to sell the rest there."

"Well, if you need a loan or anything, just ask," Jason told him. "Uncle David pays far more than he should more my part-time job at the dojo, and with Diego and Patty helping out with the rent I've got plenty of spare cash."

"I guess dinner's on you then, hermano," commented Diego. "Everyone dig in!"

Jason chuckled and agreed.

…TBC.