Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Power Rangers. I only write about them.
Note: In case any of you were a tad bit confused on the Hunter-Tori relationship or how Hunter mysteriously knows how to surf, all is explained in In the Strands of Time, my one shot. Just in case anyone was wondering, this story is loosely based on concepts in that story.
To my awesome reviewers, thanks a bunch!
monkay-pooh:You know we always agree on pairings! And of course I agree!
MzDany: Thanks for the kind words. Surprisingly, I'm not articulate in person so I guess I have to compensate somehow…
Slshadowfox: Waggles eyebrows. Perhaps…Conner and Kira are getting kinda close, aren't they? Well, if I told you the answer to that one, it'd ruin the surprise I have in store, wouldn't it…
Shout outs also to CamFan4Ever, KirCo4ever, and Jorgitosbabe. You guys always find time to review, and I am so grateful.
Chapter 2
Shock Therapy and Destiny Realized
Kira plopped down into a seat, joining Conner, Ethan, and Dr. O, her face aglow with the rush of performing. The musician, normally critical of her live shows, was satisfied with this set, and much of the credit was due to Conner's birthday present to her.
Kira accepted praises from Dr. Oliver and Ethan with a small smile, but one voice was evidently missing. The musician glanced sideways at her friend. Conner was deep in thought, his doe brown eyes clouded with worry. Kira furrowed her brow as she nudged the preoccupied jock. Conner jerked, then turned surprise eyes to find a beautiful musician seated on his right.
"Oh, hey, Kira. Nice set."
The yellow ranger raised an eyebrow, "Wait, are you telling me you were listening?" she asked, skeptically.
Conner quirked a small smile, the first one Kira had seen his worn and tired face wear in three days.
"Well enough to hear that change you made in the second chorus of 'Freak You Out'."
Kira shook her head in exasperation. One would think that by now, she would be used to the red ranger's random astute observations. There was no getting used to Conner. Just when Kira thought she knew all the faces of the soccer star, he turned around and flashed her a new one. This particular face of Conner slightly concerned the yellow ranger. All traces of his trademark charm and lightheartedness were noticeably absent, and heavy bags lay under honey brown eyes normally alight with mischief. The musician prodded the subdued jock to catch his attention and stood up, holding out her hand. Confused, Conner grasped the outstretched offering and allowed himself to be hauled to his feet.
"C'mon, Jockboy. We're taking a walk."
The pair strolled along the boardwalks of Reefside's Hang Ten Beach. Leaning across the barrier, the red ranger breathed in the salty ocean mist, quelling the flames of his inner turmoil for the moment.
Kira glanced at Conner, troubled. "You can't beat yourself up over this, Conner. No one was hurt."
"What if someone was?" The jock whirled on his teammate, eyes blazing. "I can't help it, Kira!" The brush beside the two erupted into flames, punctuating his point. Conner grabbed an armful of sand and dumped it over the fire, extinguishing the flames.
"It happened again yesterday. I was lucky no one was around me." Kira could only stare at the despondent red ranger, words failing her. Conner fisted his hands through his hair. Throwing his head back, the soccer player let loose a frustrated roar, releasing pent-up aggravations.
"I became a ranger so that I could help people not harm them." Conner stated flatly. "But that's what I may end up doing." The jock shook his head. "I can't control it."
Kira inched closer to Conner. Reaching down, she grasped his strong hand, lacing her fingers through his. The soccer star looked down at their clasped hands then into Kira's hazel orbs.
"I don't know what I can do to help you," Kira admitted. "But, I'm here for you, Conner." The red ranger nodded as Kira wrapped her arms around him. Laying his chin atop her head, Conner sighed deeply, the inner conflict raging.
xxx
In the back garage of Storm Chargers, Hunter whistled softly to himself as he worked on the engine of Kelly's bright yellow Volkswagen Bug, fulfilling the promise he made to his boss. As he worked, Hunter pondered what had happened that day on the beach. The peculiar spark he felt that day hadn't transpired since, and the thunder ranger brushed it off as a fluke occurrence. Grunting as he tightened a gear, the thought still nagged at him. That was too weird to be a fluke…
Tori turned the corner to the back entrance of Storm Chargers and found her boyfriend hunched under the hood of Kelly's Bug, his jeaned butt sticking out in the air. The water ranger took a moment to marvel at Hunter's well-rounded posterior before sneaking up behind him.
"Ha!" Tori grabbed Hunter's sides as she yelled into his ear.
Hunter let out a yelp of alarm. Straightening up in surprise, the crimson ranger's head came in contact with the raised hood of the car. Staggering back, spewing expletives, Hunter cradled his throbbing head in a grease-stained hand.
"What the…!" The thunder sensei glared at Tori who was doubled over in laughter.
"Glad you find my pain funny."
Tori smirked as she perched herself on the edge of Hunter's work table, "Well, now we're even. Where are the guys?"
"Dustin's inside with a customer, Cam's at Ops working on something or other, and Shane should be here in a couple of minutes after a few runs at the skate park." Hunter rattled off, grumbling as he lifted the hem of his soiled tank top to wipe the grease off his forehead. Smiling inwardly, Tori gazed approvingly at the thunder ranger's rock-hard stomach. Hunter caught the water ninja staring and quirked a grin.
"Tori Hanson, are you checking me out?"
The blue ranger raised an eyebrow and tossed him a self-satisfied smirk. "Uh huh. And I was checking out your butt earlier."
Hunter cleaned the rest of the grease of his hands as he approached Tori sitting on his worktable, her long legs dangling off the side.
"Well, since we're sharing, I rather enjoyed the view I got of your behind when you leaned over the counter yesterday." Hunter positioned himself between the water ranger's legs. Grasping her hips as she wrapped her legs around his waist, the crimson ranger leaned in, his lips inches from her ear.
"Me likey."
Tori shivered slightly at his seductive tone. With her hands braced against his solid chest, the surfer smirked.
"Only 'likey'?"
A masculine chuckle rippled in Hunter's throat. "Uh huh." A lazy smile played across the corners of his mouth, the light banter a spark of happiness against the desolate thoughts in his mind.
"Because, you know, I was comparing it to mine." Before Tori could open her mouth in protest to defend her butt, Hunter captured her lips in a fervent kiss. Dizzy with passion, the two rangers lost themselves in their sensations.
"Ugh, c'mon, dudes. Would you two mind getting a room?"
Tori and Hunter broke apart, breathless. Blushing sheepishly, they directed their attention to the air ranger standing before them, skateboard in hand, a look torn between amusement and revulsion adorning his dark features.
"Sorry, Shane." The surfer managed to squeak out.
The red ranger rolled his eyes, "Ah, don't mind me. I'll just be scarred for life. No worries." Shaking his head, Shane walked in the back entrance of Storm Chargers.
"I'm just lucky I didn't walk into something more."
Hunter and Tori laughed as Hunter disengaged himself from the blue ranger.
"I should get back to work. Hand me a socket wrench, will you?"
Tori giggled as she passed over the tool. "Awesome, I get to stare at your butt."
Hunter grinned as he bent over the engine, wiggling his derriere jokingly, the moment of mirth replacing the pesky thoughts in his head for the moment.
xxx
Shane was still trying to rid his head of the image as he walked into Storm Chargers.
"Dude, Shane, is that you?" Dustin's head poked up from behind the counter. The earth ninja raised a questioning eyebrow at the red ranger.
"Are you okay?"
Shane nodded weakly, "Yeah, I will be. I kinda walked in on a Hunter-Tori love fest in the garage."
Dustin winced, "Ouch, dude. Scarring."
Shane's head bobbed in agreement. "Who'd of thunk that one? I mean, one second, those two are at each other's throats, the next their tongues are down said throats."
The earth ninja waved his hands, "Dude, dude, WAY too much information."
"Sorry." Shane shrugged, "But if that's the weirdest we're gonna get, I'll take it."
A loud crash accompanied by Tori's panicked shriek of "Hunter!" interrupted their conversation. The two wind rangers looked up in alarm.
"Aw, hell no!" Dustin shot an accusing glare at the air ninja.
"You had to jinx it!" The two ran out the back doors, halting as they took in the sight before them. Crimson thunder permeated through the air, the source: none other than the thunder ranger.
Hunter fell to one knee, the crimson thunder waves radiating from his body. Pain rippled through his veins, shocking every core of his body. Perspiration mingled with the spasms of thunder. He couldn't control his powers. They wouldn't obey his commands. As the agony coursed through him, Hunter felt the surge of dark evil, igniting a fear in the thunder ranger. Finally, the pain ceased, and he succumbed to the darkness.
"Dude, this is so Luke Skywalker when Emperor Palpatine totally fries him." Dustin whispered. Shane rolled his eyes as he reached over to smack the earth ninja upside the head. "What!"
As the convulsions ceased, Hunter slumped to the ground, exhausted. Shane snapped into leadership mode.
"Okay, guys, we have to get him to Ops. Dustin, grab him under the arms. Tori, go get your van. Hurry!"
xxx
"Put him over here" Cam ordered. Shane and Dustin, struggling slightly under Hunter's weight, managed to haul him onto the examining bed. Sensei Kanoi rushed in, alerted to all the commotion. Cam stood behind a computer as a red beam passed over Hunter's still form. The samurai ranger frowned as he read the diagnosis.
"Interesting." Tori appeared at his side, eyes clouded with worry. Shane and Dustin jointed them.
"Hunter's thunder powers are showing an exceptionally high concentration. So high that they have exceeded his control." Cam's studious face focused on the monitor.
"Since all your elemental powers are concentrated through your bloodstream as well as in tuned to your life forces, I'm going to take a sample of his blood. That may help me get an accurate diagnosis."
Sensei Wantanabe's voice knifed through the anxiety hanging in the air. "Shane, Dustin, Tori, go to Reefside and bring back the Dino rangers and Hayley. This concerns them too."
The three ninja rangers glanced at each other, curious. The same question resonated through their minds: What did the Dino rangers have to do with this? Unbeknownst to them, the wind rangers would soon find out.
xxx
Out on the boardwalk, Conner turned toward Kira and looked deep into her hazel eyes. Kira gazed tenderly back. His breath hitched slightly in his throat as their faces inched slowly together, and Conner's eyes closed in anticipation. As their lips were inches from meeting, the alarm from their Dino morphers cut through the affectionate moment, and the two rangers jerked themselves away.
"Conner here." The jock growled, raising the bracelet to his wrist.
"Is Kira still with you?" Dr. O's voice crackled over the gem, the mentor's voice sounding distressed.
"Yeah, what's up, Dr. O?" The two rangers glanced at each other, unsure of whether to be worried or annoyed.
"Get back to the Lair, quick."
Sharing a look of concern, the two rangers dashed away.
Conner and Kira trampled into the Dino Lair, faces etched with apprehension. As they processed the sight before them, the two rangers went immediately on the defensive. The ninja storm rangers stood before Dr. O, Ethan, and Hayley, grave expressions displayed on their faces, while their teammates expressed emotions torn between trepidation and anxiety.
"Um, you guys aren't here to kick our asses, are you? Because I don't think my ego could take that kind of beating again." Conner narrowly dodged a swipe Kira aimed at his head.
"What!" The red ranger demanded, "It's a valid question!"
Chuckling slightly, Shane stepped forward, "Don't worry, Conner. We're on your side." The red ninja sobered quickly as he was reminded of the seriousness of their mission.
"To be honest, we don't know why we're here. Sensei Kanoi requested that we bring all of you, Hayley included, back to Blue Bay with us. Apparently, it's really urgent."
Ethan raised a questioning eyebrow, "What's so urgent in Blue Bay Harbor that needs us?"
Dustin shook his head, "Hunter's powers went haywire and he gave himself some shock therapy. But we all think it's bigger than that. Otherwise we could have handled it ourselves." At the earth ninja's words, Tori lowered her head despondently. Kira caught the movement, and her woman's intuition sensed that the incident went deeper in the water ranger's heart.
"So we need you to come with us." Shane's expression was grim and his voice, pleading.
"Please."
Conner glanced at his teammates, all who sent him the same mental response, "Just show us the way."
xxx
The Dino rangers entered Ninja Ops, following their ninja counterparts. Dr. Oliver whistled at the vast size, and Ethan's face radiated with happiness as the computer whiz took in the ambiance of technology surrounding the rangers and Hayley.
"Try not to drown in you drool, Ethe." Conner remarked softly as he gently nudged the awestruck blue ranger. Ethan's goofy smile expanded to an impossible width, threatening to engulf his face.
"Don't worry, Jockboy, I'll have your sleeve to wipe it on." Ethan retorted.
Kira rolled exasperated eyes, "Boys." She muttered.
The light banter halted abruptly as the five rangers and Hayley reached the main chamber of Ninja Ops. Gaping, the Dino group stared in wonder at the sight before them.
"Dudes, am I going crazy, or are there two Cams?" Conner managed to squeak out, swearing his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Ethan's eyes grew to the size of saucers as he goggled as well, "Considering it's you, I'd suggest the former. But I'm seeing double too."
Sure enough, two Cam's bustled around the lab, one tending to a comatose Hunter, still lying on the cushioned table, the other analyzing the computer screen in front of him. Both teams of rangers look anxiously at the still form of the thunder ranger, light spasms of thunder waves continuing to dance across his body.
"Wow, you weren't kidding about shock therapy." Ethan intoned.
The Cam by the computer screen glanced up at the gathered teams and smiled, exhaustion evident in his reflective features.
"Hey, guys. Welcome." Crossing over to his double, the samurai ranger threw an arm around his shoulders.
"I'd like you all to meet my robotic replica, CyberCam."
Tori rushed to the techno whiz's side, "What's the diagnosis?"
Cam removed his arm from CyberCam's shoulders and adjusted his glasses, stalling slightly for time. Meeting the water ranger's eyes, Cam hesitated.
"It's an…interesting situation." Cam faltered as Tori hung on to his every word. The green samurai was tentative in how to explain the circumstances to the surfer. Taking a deep breath, Cam started again.
"Apparently, when Lothor brainwashed Hunter and Blake, he also injected a virus into Hunter's, and possibly Blake's, bloodstream. I'm guessing it's so they would be more susceptible to the mind control. Until now, the virus has lain dormant in Hunter's bloodstream. The interesting part is, I have no idea why it's chosen now to activate itself." Cam shook his head, befuddled.
"This is something I have never seen before. We need to get Blake down here. He may be having similar problems."
Tori's brow furrowed, "Can the virus be destroyed?"
Cam shrugged, "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out why now, of all times, Hunter's experiencing these pains. What's so essential about this time that has triggered the virus?"
"Perhaps I can help." Sensei's voice gently permeated through their conversations, and he emerged, smiling softly.
Conner stepped forward and bowed reverently to the aged mentor. "Sensei."
The other Dino rangers followed suit, inclining their heads to the wind sensei.
Kanoi placed a hand on the red ranger's shoulders, "Welcome, rangers." He turned to the group, his voice somber.
"The reason Hunter is undergoing this surge of power is a very grave one. My brother was working on this virus before he was disgraced. When the pinnacle of evil is reached, the virus is triggered. Rangers, I am afraid an ancient evil has arisen from the Dark Dimension. If we do not defeat him, the world we know will cease to exist. In order to defeat this monster, Hunter's powers are essential. You, Conner, are the key to both healing Hunter and the destruction of this new evil."
Sensei Kanoi's words hung thick in the air as the red ranger was hit with the burden of his destiny.
Coming up:
The first battle between a mysterious new evil and the teams
Conner's destiny and mission is revealed
All right, so there was the second chapter. Don't worry, Blake and Trent will be in the picture soon. Hope you all like action because the next chapter is chock- full of it! Until next time, tell me what you think!
Roxie
