Chapter Four

"This is bad dude, really bad." Dustin said as he paced the floor of Ninja Ops, "Why would Lothor take Jasmine in the first place?"

"That is unclear to me at the present Dustin, but give me time to meditate on this and I am certain I can come up with an answer." Sensei replied.

"We don't have time dad." Cam said from where he sat at the computer terminal, "We have to figure out a way to get Jasmine back, and fast."

"Dude, what can you come up with to get us on that ship?" Blake asked Cam.

"I don't know." Cam replied, "I might be able to devise some sort of teleportation unit that can get one of us there."

"If you can make one, I'm going up there." Tori said. The male Rangers turned to their female teammate, shock covering each of their faces. Tori had remained silent during the whole conversation, and was now volunteering to enter a possible trap!

"I don't think that's a good idea Tor." Blake said walking over to his girlfriend, "If something were to happen, we might not be able to help you."

"Don't worry Blake," Tori said, "I'm just as capable as any one of you to do this."

"Blake's right though Tori," Hunter spoke up, "You don't know anything about Lothor's ship, Blake and I have been there, one of us will go."

"Why should I let one of you go?" Tori asked, her tone telling them all that she was tired of their arguments.

"Tor, listen to me," Blake said taking Tori's hand in his, "Hunter and I know the layout of the ship, we know where traps and alarms are."

"Then you can tell me everything you know." Tori said.

"Why is this so important to you?" Blake cried, "You barely even know Jasmine, and you're willing to risk your life to save her."

"I have to do this Blake," Tori's voice was calm, but it held an edge.

"Why?"

"Because there is something inside me telling me to." Tori said, "And I know that if I ignore this that something bad is gonna happen."

"Guys, you're talking like I've already got the unit made," Cam broke into the argument, "Just calm down and give me a couple hours, THEN we will decide who's going up."

"Cam's got a point you guys," Shane said, "We all just need to calm down a bit and think this through."

"I'm done being calm," Tori shouted, "I know I have to do this. Why can't you all see that." Tori ran out of Ninja Ops.

"Tor, wait!" Blake cried and started to go after her. Dustin grabbed a hold of his arm.

"Let her go dude, Tori needs some time to herself." The yellow Ranger said. Blake nodded his head in understanding.

~*~*~

"I'm growing tired of your insolence." Lothor said as two kelzacs pulled Jasmine from her cell and pushed her down at the space ninja's feet, "Either you will cooperate or I will force you to use your powers."

"Back off fungus breath. I don't have any POWERS, and even if I did I would never use them to harm anybody." Jasmine shot back as she pushed the kelzacs away from her and stood up.

"Why do you continue to deny what I know you possess?" Lothor's voice held an edge in it, even though he tried to sound calm and cool.

"Dude, you have serious issues." The teen replied.

"Uncle, uncle, uncle!" Mara ran into the room excited followed closely by Kapri.

"What is it NOW?" Lothor shouted at them. The two recoiled. Kapri shoved Mara towards their uncle. Mara scowled at her sister; "I'm waiting." Lothor snapped.

"Well see, we umm...we thought that maybe now that she's here," Mara said looking pointedly at Jasmine, "We thought maybe we could send some kelzacs down to defeat the Power Rangers."

"I don't CARE." Lothor said, "Just leave me ALONE!" The two aliens ran out of the room. Lothor sighed, "Now where were we. Ah yes," he got in Jasmine's face, "You will help me or I will force you to."

"Seriously man," Jasmine said, "pick up a toothbrush once in awhile, you have serious bad breath."

"Take her back to her cell." Lothor told the kelzacs, "She'll turn around eventually." The kelzacs grabbed the girl's arms and dragged her away.

~*~*~

A high pitched beeping sounded through Ninja Ops.

"Great, what is it now." Cam said as he looked up at the screen. Instead of the teleportation system that he had been working on, a horde of kelzacs ran around terrorizing the patrons of an outdoors diner. Cam sighed and pushed a button on the computer keyboard.

"What's up Cam?" Shane's voice echoed in the lair.

"Kelzacs." He replied simply.

"We're on our way." Shane said. Cam shook his head. Those goons always showed up at the worst times. He minimized the picture and brought his work back up on screen. He would continue with his work until the Rangers called him for back up.

~*~*~

Dustin dodged a kelzac, and kicked down another one. The amount of kelzacs seemed to be doubling. There was an endless sea of them surrounding the Power Rangers.

"Uh Shane man, you might want to call in the Calvary." He yelled over to the leader of the team.

"No need to." Cam's voice sounded behind the yellow Ranger, "I'm all ready here." The team continued to pulverize the kelzacs, but every time they destroyed one, two more would pop up.

"We can't keep doing this." Hunter yelled, "There's more of them than there are of us."

"We need to combine our weapons." Shane yelled back. The Power Rangers gathered together and combined their weapons. A great blast destroyed half of the kelzacs, but more sprung up.

"This is gonna take forever." Tori shouted.

"Here Tori," Cam ran over to the blue Ranger, "Take this and get Jasmine." He handed her bracelet that had a small box on top of it.

"On my way." Tori said. She pressed a button on the box and teleported away.

~*~*~

Jasmine rocked back and forth on the floor of her cell, gently humming to herself and toying with the necklace that lay at the base of her throat. She looked for all the world like she had gone insane. The truth, though, was she was simply reliving times when she had been normal. When she hadn't had to deal with Power Rangers, aliens, and evil space ninjas intent on taking over the world. It was hard to believe that she had only been in Blue Bay Harbor one day, and all this was happening to her. She continued to play with the moon shaped medallion around her neck. It was the only link she had to the real world.
Footsteps tapped silently on the marble floor of the space ship. Someone was coming. Jasmine hurriedly got to her feet, ready to fight if anyone tried to drag her from her cell and back to Lothor. A person, shrouded in darkness, stood before the cell door.

"Don't worry Jasmine, I'm gonna get you out." Tori stepped into the light, and Jasmine let out a small squeal of delight.

"I was wondering how long it would take one of you to get here." Jasmine whispered giddily. Tori took a small cube off a bracelet on her wrist, and placed it against the lock on the cell door.

"Just one second." Tori said, a soft click echoed in the room, "Got it." The Ranger pulled open the door and Jasmine walked out. The two girls grabbed hands and teleported off the ship.

~*~*~

Finally the kelzacs had started to wane. Only a few more were left, and the five male Power Rangers easily defeated them.

"That took way too long man." Hunter said as they all powered down and headed back to Ninja Ops.

"Definitely bro." Blake said as they wearily trudged down the stairs to the hidden lair.

"I am ready for a nice long nap." Dustin laughed.

"Me too, this day has been WAY too long, and totally weird." Smiles covered all the faces as the guys saw Jasmine stand up from her seat at the computer terminal.

"You know Tor, I had my doubts, but you did it." Blake said walking over to his girlfriend and kissing her before heading over and hugging Jasmine.

"It's great to have you back girl." Shane said following suit. Soon the whole team surrounded Jasmine and gave her one large group hug.

"Well it's nice to know I'm a part of the group." Jasmine said as she struggled for air in the tight knit hug, "But I'm having some trouble breathing in here people." The group pulled away and everyone laughed.

~*~*~

Don't even think for a second that I'm done with this story. I still have many more chapters to go before I can reach the end. Don't forget to cast your vote for either Dustin or Cam. The count is currently at Dustin- 4, Cam-5.

Does Jasmine have some kind of unknown powers? If so, what are they, and why does Lothor want them? And the answer to the question everyone is dying to know, whom will Jasmine fall in love with? All this and more in the upcoming chapters of A WORLD APART.