Chapter Six

A bright light flooded Jasmine's eyes and a cool breeze blew across her face. Her throat burned with heat and the fire slowly spread throughout her body. Jasmine's eyes snapped open her green-gray orbs wide with shock. She fought to calm her racing heart and her ragged breathing.
Jasmine looked around her. The Power Rangers stood crowded together, their backs to her. Jasmine struggled to sit up, but fell back down on the table with a grunt. She closed her eyes and fought to clear the stars from her eyes. A soft and gentle hand helped her sit up slowly. Jasmine opened her eyes and stared straight into Cam's.

"Hey." He said softly.

"What happened?" Jasmine asked as she placed her feet on the floor. It was then that she noticed she was sitting on the small table in the main room of Ninja Ops.

"You fainted." Tori said coming to sit next to her, "You had us worried for a little bit." Jasmine smiled slightly.

"Sorry." She stood slowly to avoid a head rush.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Cam asked worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Jasmine replied. Everything came rushing back to her suddenly, "Kirstin! I have to help Kirstin." She started towards the stairs and lost her balance. Dustin and Hunter caught her before she fell to the ground.

"We'll figure out a way to get your sister back." Shane said, "Right now you need to rest."

"I can't, not well I know she's in danger."

"I am afraid, Jasmine, that you have no choice in this matter." Sensei said jumping up on the table. The two male Rangers led Jasmine back to the table and sat her down.

"Sensei I can't just sit around and do nothing. I know I can save her."

"You are in no condition to go anywhere Jasmine." Sensei scolded.

"Yeah, you just sit back and rest and let us do the work." Dustin said kneeling down to look Jasmine in the eyes, "I promise we'll get her back Jazz."

"I know you guys will, but I can't help but think that I can do more than you."

"Well thanks for that vote of confidence." Blake teased. A beeping resounded through the room.

"Great," Cam said turning to look at the monitor, "More kelzacs."

"Dude, some weekend this has been." Hunter said sarcastically. The Rangers morphed and headed out to face the kelzacs. Jasmine watched them go and sighed.

"What is troubling you Jasmine?" Sensei asked.

"I know that I can help Sensei, why won't anyone believe me." Jasmine looked down at the guinea pig with sorrowful and questioning eyes.

"Your path is clouded Jasmine. You must do as your heart is telling you, then and only then may the answers you seek become clear."

"That's not as easy as it sounds." Jasmine uttered to herself. She looked at the entrance to Ninja Ops longingly and sighed, neither her nor the rodent beside her noticing the glow of her pendent.

~*~*~

Footsteps echoed in the hidden lair as the Power Rangers came bounding down the stairs.

"Well that was a waste of time." Hunter said balancing on the edge of the desk where the main computer sat.

"You're telling me." Dustin said, "Why in the world does Lothor keep sending down those goons if they just get their butts whooped."

"Don't look at me." Cam said throwing his hands up in the air, "Just 'cause we share the same DNA doesn't mean I understand his motives."

"Hey guys," Tori said looking around, "Where's Jasmine?"

~*~*~

Tree limbs tore at her shirt and jeans, and brambles scratched her face. Jasmine ran through the woods surrounding the Ninja Academy, or what was left of it. She didn't know why she was out there, she just knew that she had to be. A wave of scorching heat traveled through her body, and Jasmine fell to the ground crying out in pain. The wave passed, and the teen stood up, her body shaking. She pulled in a deep breath of air and exhaled slowly. Once her body stopped shaking, Jasmine was off running again.
Leaves crunched underneath her feet and twigs snapped in two. Her breath was coming in short ragged gasps and her lungs burned. Jasmine's heart was pounding against her ribcage and her legs were sore, but she had to keep going. The moon pendant thudded against the base of her throat, and Jasmine could feel the heat coming off of it. Another wave of heat passed through her body. Jasmine fell to the ground on all fours, biting back a strangled cry. It was too much for her to handle, and a loud shriek erupted from her throat.
Heavy footfalls sounded behind her, someone was running towards her. Jasmine tried to stand, but her legs were too weak, and she felt as if a thousand pounds weighed her down.

"Jasmine! I found her!" Dustin called. Soon the other Power Rangers had surrounded Jasmine who was sitting panting against a tree.

"Are you alright?" Tori asked looking at Jasmine's pale sweat drenched face.

"I don't know what's happening." Jasmine replied, her voice sounded raspy and unused. Heat swept through her, followed by a mind numbing pain. Jasmine fell over, clutching her side and fighting back tears. An animalistic cry wrenching itself from her throat.
Cam knelt down beside her, gently touched her forehead, and pulled his hand back quickly.

"She's burning up," he said flabbergasted, "It's like she's on fire."

"Um...you guys, what's that?" Blake pointed at Jasmine's medallion, which was glowing a brilliant red. Jasmine cried out, and Tori was instantly at her side.

"It's gonna be okay Jazz," She said gently, "We're going to figure out what's happening."

"Stupid Rangers," Lothor's evil chuckle sounded behind the group, "it is easy to see that your friend is dying." The Rangers turned around quickly and settled into fighting stances. Lothor laughed.

"For once I'm not here to fight you Rangers." The ninja said.

"Then why are you here Lothor?" Shane demanded, morpher at the ready.

"To collect what is mine, now step aside Rangers." Lothor hurled a bolt of energy at the Rangers, who had no time to react. They fell to the ground unconscious. Lothor advanced on Jasmine. The teen tried to stand, but the pain was too great and she fell back down with a whimper.

"What do you want?" she seethed between gritted teeth, her voice did not hold the defiance it had the first time the two met, now it held only pain.

"I think you know what I want." Lothor said kneeling beside her, he reached out slowly. Jasmine watched the movement of his hands as he got closer and closer to her pendant. He began to clasp the medallion in his hand when a bolt of red light filled the sky, and the medallion began to crackle and spark. Jasmine's eyes widened in shock. What was happening?
A spark struck Lothor's hand, and he pulled it away with a sharp cry. He stood and cradled his hand.

"It doesn't matter." He said to himself, "as soon as you're dead, I can take the amulet without trouble." Pain ripped Jasmine apart, and the medallion began to glow brighter and brighter. The ferocity of the sparks increased, and blood red lightening continued to pierce the sky. Jasmine felt as if she was being burned alive. Fire overtook her body, and she could not contain the piercing screams that erupted from her. She began to shake and tremble, sweat came pouring off of her in sheets. A red glow surrounded her, and the heat intensified. Jasmine lay on the ground screaming, Lothor's sneering face above her. She shut her eyes tightly, praying that God would have mercy on her and end the pain. Tears mingled with the sweat, and Jasmine gasped for air that was not there. The glow continued to grow brighter and brighter, and all Jasmine could think of was she never got a chance to tell her family she loved them, that she wanted them to work things out. She never got a chance to say good-bye to everyone in her life, and she never would see them again. The end was near, Jasmine could feel it. Her pain was worsening and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on to life. All she wanted was to slip into unconsciousness and drift away. Then all of a sudden, her body felt as if it was being ripped in two, and she let loose the most awful scream. The sky was lit by a blinding light, and the medallion was shaking and sparks were flying from it. Then it all stopped.

~*~*~

Don't you just love cliffhangers? I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I had a LOT of fun writing this one and I hope that you all like it as much as I do. I would like to tell all of you that the voting is now over with. Cam has won with seven votes to Dustin's four. I want to thank all of you who voted and all of you who have reviewed my story thus far.

What will happen to Jasmine? What was up with the medallion and what does it all mean? Why does Lothor want the medallion? Will the Power Rangers be able to save their friend? And what about Kirstin? Stay tuned to A World Apart to find out.