Disclaimer: Don't own it yet…
Jen has gone to find Steelix, but that crazy mutant has plans of his own…
Sorry for the delay in posting! I've been swamped with projects, but Spring Vacation begins Friday, so expect more updates!
The next few chapters will be short, as per they are a part of a mini series I am entwining into this.
Enjoy! Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far! You guys are my inspiration!
Roses and Thorns, part 1
His heart was beating fast. "Jen!" he called and walked down the alleyway, the voices of the other Rangers echoed behind him. "Jen." He said.
Sky looked around for any sign of his mother, but none was found. "She can't be gone." He whispered.
"Sky," someone said. Sky looked up to see his father, Eric and the other Rangers walking towards him. "Have you found anything?" his father asked.
The Blue Ranger shook his head reluctantly. "Nothing."
Lucas kicked a nearby trashcan. "Damn it!"
Katie sighed. "We knew she would do this, and didn't even pick up on it." Z patted her fellow Yellow Ranger's shoulder.
"We'll find her, don't worry." Jack said. "She can't have gone far anyway."
"Want a bet?" Syd said. Her eyes were glued to a bird-like creature squawking around in a garbage can.
"It's perfect!" it said and slipped a moldy jacket over his body.
"Piggy!" The SPD Rangers said.
Trip looked at Katie, then to Lucas. "What's a … piggy?"
"Not what, who." Bridge said and walked over towards him. The creature looked at the SPD Rangers and began to walk backwards.
"SPD? Hey now, look, I didn't do anything this time!" He protested.
"I'm looking for information." Wes spoke up. Piggy glanced at the Time Force Ranger.
He huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "Well, what's in it for me?"
"How about a bath and some fresh clothes?"Katie suggested.
Piggy began to tshout. "A bath? Are you insane? Fine, I'll answer your questions." He retorted. "What do you need to know?"
Wes took a card out of his back pocket. "Have you seen a creature running around like this?" The image flashed before him. "His name is Steelix, a mutant. He's got someone that belongs to us."
Piggy snorted. "Like who?" Sky's eyes grew fierce and he suddenly seized the creature.
"He's got my mother, you slime bag. Now, answer my father's questions!" Sky yelled. Piggy shook in Sky's grasp.
"All right, all right! Just… don't hurt me!" he said.
"Sky, ease up!" Jack and Z pulled him back.
Piggy fluffed his clothes again. "I saw some guy like that last night, he was lurking around and seemed to be looking for something. There was this one woman that came along…"
"It has to be here somewhere." Steelix gruffed. He dug through yet another can of trash, but stopped suddenly as a voice echoed through the alleyway.
"Steelix!" the voice said. A smile came to the mutant's face as he stealthy climbed the alleyway wall.
"Perfect." Steelix whispered as Jen came into his line of vision.
"I was just about to go to bed when I saw this strange woman dressed completely in white, and in a black cloak come into the square. She saw me and nodded, then began to move on." Piggy stated. "That's when the guy jumped her…"
"Come on you slime bag, I know you're here somewhere." She muttered. Jen felt a pair of hands go around her neck, Steelix's cold breath caressed the back of her neck.
"You don't know who close I am, Jennifer." He muttered and placed his gun towards Jen's temple. Instead, she grabbed him and flipped him over her shoulder, then drew her blaster.
"Hands up, Steelix!" she called. Steelix got up slowly and cracked his shoulder back into place.
"Lucky break," he muttered and grabbed his down gun. "You won't be so luck once I'm through with you!" Both fired a rapid round, the blasts deflected each other's. Jen and Steelix were knocked back towards the wall, both winced in pain.
"You won't win…Jen." The mutant panted. Jen slowly rose.
"I've brought you in twice before, I can do it again!" She said and charged in at him. Both clashed and began a fierce fight.
Jen tripped him as Steelix fell, but knocked her down as well. Jen jumped to her feet and went to hit him again, but he caught her fist and flipped her, pointing his gun towards her face. "It's over, Jennifer!" Jen rolled out of the way and tried to run, but he grabbed her. "Not so fast, Captain!" He spun Jen around and punched her hard in the face, knocking her out on impact. Her limp body fell to the ground.
"Then he picked her up and disappeared." Piggy said. "That's all I know."
Wes listened to Piggy's story, his heart broke. "No…" he whispered.
Sky was also speechless. "Thanks, Piggy." He said. "Come on, guys. We've got work to do."
Father and son rushed back towards Jeep, the Rangers following behind them.
Later
"Kill them, kill them ALL!"
"No!" Jen's eyes burst open as she awoke. The sunlight penetrated her eyes, causing her to squint. "Where am I?" she muttered.
"Easy, Miss Jen." A voice soothed. Jen turned her head and threw off the blankets that were draped over her, a friendly face smiled back at her. "You've had a long journey."
"Phillips," she smiled back. "am I back in Silver Hills?" The elder butler nodded.
"Yes, you are. I have taken the liberty of contacting Master Wes to tell him you are here." He nodded to the main that stood in the door. She walked in with a tray of chicken soup and a glass of milk. "You must be hungry, you've been asleep for a few hours."
The maid placed the tray on the bedside table as Jen nodded in thanks. "How did I end up here?" She took the bowl hungrily and began to chow down on the soup.
Phillips brought over some clothes for her to change into. "Our gardener found you outside on the lawn and brought you in last night. Miss, we thought you were dead. You had a weak pulse and your body temperature was low enough for a dangerous hypothermia. But you pulled through with flying colors."
"Where is she?" a voice said from the hallway. Jen watched as Wes walked into their room, a reluctant look came upon his face. "Jen." He hurried towards her and hugged her tightly.
"Are the Rangers here?" Jen asked. "Sky?"
Wes shook his head. "No, they're all back at headquarters in New Tech." Wes turned to where Phillips stood. "Phillips, if you don't mind." Wes stated. Phillips merely nodded and smiled.
"I shall have lunch awaiting downstairs, Master Wes." He said and bowed his head. "Just don't keep her up too long, she needs her rest."
The door was shut, as Wes turned back to where Jen sat. He moved a piece of hair from her face and let out a shaky sigh. "God, I thought I lost you." He hugged her again and rested his head on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, really." She said. Wes sat next to her and took her hand.
"Jen, what happened? Why did you leave?" he asked.
Jen sighed. "I wanted to find Steelix on my own."
"And the last time you did that, he put you under a spell that nearly killed both you and me. The same thing with Ransik, he almost killed you." He reminded her. "What happened though?"
"I went to find Steelix, then we battled it out. He knocked me out, then I awoke here." Jen took another spoonful of chicken soup.
"That's it?" Wes asked. "How did you end up here? Phillips told me that John found you laying on the ground, but had no clue as to how you got there."
Jen's face went blank. "I…I don't remember."
ch 10 up soon