Power Rangers: Different Shades PrologueChapter Two
"Zordon, what can we do? We can't fight them, they're just like Tommy was." Kimberly's words caused the Green ranger to flinch reflexively a reaction that went unnoticed by all but Jason.
"HAVE PATIENCE KIMBERLY. WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN."
"Theoretically we should be able to free them of whatever spell Rita has them under."
Tommy approached him and clasped him on the shoulder, "That's great Billy."
"Yes. Unfortunately we know so little about Rita's magic, devising a proper a method of cancellation could prove difficult."
His words deflated the Green ranger a bit even as Trini spoke, "I'll help you out Billy. We can do this."
"We'll all help out," Jason paused, "in any way we can. We have to help those kids. Somehow."
The others nodded their agreement.
"RANGERS. UNTIL FURTHER DATA CAN BE GATHERED THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY REMAINING HERE. RETURN TO YOUR NORMAL LIVES. ALPHA WILL CONTACT IF WE DISCOVER ANYTHING."
Five streaks of light departed the command center leaving Zordon and Alpha to stare at the one member of the team that had elected to stay.
Billy looked up at his mentor before speaking, "Zordon I think I may have an idea."
Back in Angel Grove, the group sans Billy relaxed in the Youth Center. Or at least they tried to. Kim and Trini sat a table overlooking the workout area, watching as Tommy and Jason were instructing a group of students with help from Zack. "Something seems to be bothering Tommy."
"Yeah. I think seeing more people under Rita's control is bothering him. I don't know what I should do."
"Maybe you should talk with him," Trini suggested.
Tommy finished instructing his students and stepped back as Jason began leading the class through a kata. Tommy watched for a bit then walked over to where the girls where and took a seat. "Tommy, are you all right? You can't let Rita get to you."
"I know it's just. That could have been me. If Jason hadn't have broken Rita's spell."
"Then we would have found another way to free you. No way were we going to give up and let Rita still control you.'
"Yeah, Tommy I knew we were going to beat her and free you no matter what she tried."
The Green ranger seemed to calm down and for the first time that day, a smile spread across his face. "You guys are right. I was thinking so much about myself that I forgot I have you guys as my friends. Thanks."
That got him a smile from the girls. Jason and Zack joined the trio at the table, in Zack's case, he borrowed a chair from another table to sit down. The Red and Black rangers seemed much more relaxed then they had been. "Man, this day's been crazy. I still can't believe we're out of school for a while."
"I know what you mean I was cramming for Mrs. Appleby's test on Monday. Now I have the opportunity to attend that concert" Zack was all smiles.
"And I can help my dad out in his workshop. He's finishing up a birdhouse for the front yard."
"Well I have to go home, my mom's probably wondering why I'm late. Can you walk me home, Tommy?"
"Sure thing."
The two rangers said their goodbyes with Tommy telling the others he would be back later. Jason, Zack and Trini watched them leave with mildly amused looks on their faces. "You know I wonder if they're ever going to be able to do anything separate again."
That brought a chuckle from Jason and mock indignation from Trini, "Zack." But she lightened up after a bit then she frowned. "Is there a problem Trini?"
"I don't know. Have you seen Billy? I haven't seen him since we left the Command Center."
Jason and Zack looked at each other then at her, "We thought he was with you."
"So then he just starts laughing and milk goes everywhere."
"Oh that's gross. Funny but gross."
Tommy just looked at her and they both started laughing. "So umm…" Kim tried to get their conversation back on track, "do you really have to hurry back? My mom, she's heard all about you and she's kind of curious."
"No, I think can stay and hang out for a bit."
They laughed for a bit and started walking again, Tommy slightly in front. They had gone only a few more yards when he tensed and stopped. Kimberly bumped into him and saw that he had a concerned look on his face. "What's the matter Tommy?"
"I don't know. I just feel something weird. Do you?"
She brushed her hair back behind ear, looking around as she did so. At first nothing seemed any different, then slowly it dawned on her. How quiet the park was, nothing, not even the bugs were making noise. Kim started getting uneasy, shifting her weight back and forth on her feet. The Pink ranger felt like she was being watched the whole time.
"What is it, what's going on?"
"Whoever's out there, Show yourself!"
The sound of someone chuckling answered Tommy's demand. Abruptly He spun around and looked behind himself. "Tommy."
He turned around again to see some bushes moving and a figure stepped into view. Tommy narrowed his eyes as he recognized the intruder, it was Jack. "Greetings Green Ranger."
"You. What do you want?"
"To finish what we were started Tommy."
Kimberly opened her mouth to speak but a movement behind Jack caught her attention. As she watched the girl she had been battling appeared. Kim tried to remember the girl's name, finally it came to her. "Sakura."
The girl seemed to acknowledge her name as she took up a position beside Jack. Tommy did his best to remain calm, "Listen we know you're not doing this of your free will. Rita has you under some sort of spell. Let us help you."
"You're the one that's going to need help Green Ranger. Now enough talk."
He charged Tommy head on and attacked. Beside him Sakura advanced, somewhat slower on Kimberly and the two rangers split to face off with their adversary. Tommy and Jack circled each other before Jack made the first move, aiming a kick at Tommy's mid section. The Green ranger blocked and threw a punch Jack deflected. Mutually each teen turned up the intensity of their attacks.
Kim did a few handsprings to gain some distance from her opponent, as she landed she assumed a defensive stance. Sakura merely dashed forward a bit until she was close to Kimberly again. Kim didn't wait for her to begin and made the first move, kicking at the girl's feet in an attempt to knock her down. Sakura stepped back out of range and stepped forward throwing a rising elbow at Kim's head as she did so. The Pink ranger was able to block the move but barely.
"Time to end this game" Jack growled as a set of two claws extended from the back of his hands. Simultaneously Sakura made a motion with her hand summoning rocks, tree limbs and other objects to rise off the ground. The debris started spinning and orbiting around her as she focused in on Kimberly. Jack advanced slowly towards the Green ranger taking each step with deliberation. After closing to within a few feet he stopped, looked downward while lowering his fists. At the same time, Sakura appeared to lose focus causing some of her impromptu weapons to fall to the ground.
Confused Tommy and Kimberly lowered their guard. As soon as they did so Jack snapped his head up and dashed forward with a speed Tommy didn't believe was possible. As he did so, Sakura sent all of telekinesis-powered missiles flying directly at Kimberly. Before either attack struck their intended target, Tommy and Kim vanished in streams of green and pink light. Jack's claw sliced thru a tree behind where Tommy had been as Sakura's missiles slammed together at the exact spot Kim had been.
"Green Ranger..."
Tommy and Kim rematerialized in the Command Center reeling from the suddenness of the attack. Looking around they noted none of the other rangers were present aside from Billy who seemed to be working on something. Tommy spoke first, "Zordon what just happened?"
"ALPHA WAS MONITORING THE PARK FOR ANY DISTURBANCES WHEN HE NOTED THE ACTIVITY OF THE TEENS AND YOUR BATTLE WITH THEM. I HAD HIM TELEPORT YOU HERE."
Just then, the Blue ranger emerged from one of the Command Center's many back rooms. He was looking at a printout when he noticed the presence of the others. "Tommy, Kimberly? Why are you here?"
Briefly Tommy explained, finishing up with, "Man we're lucky to be here. One more second and I might be feeling like a dartboard." Kimberly moved close and lightly took Tommy's arm in her hands.
"I'm happy you're all right and sustained no serious injuries" He paused to spare a glance at Zordon. "Zordon, this does seem to support my hypothesis."
"I AM AWARE OF THAT BILLY. HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT CONFIRM YOUR THEORY ON THIS MATTER."
"What theory? Billy what are you and Zordon talking about?" Tommy wanted to know.
"I have a theory that relates directly to this group of teenagers Rita is controlling and how it affects us. Alpha, could you call Jason and the others, I don't want to explain myself twice."
In a few minutes, red, yellow and black teleport streams appeared in the Command Center. After Tommy and Kim again explained what had happened in the park, Billy again examined the printout he held. Trini was listening to Kim while shooting glances from time to time at Billy. Zordon waited until they had finished their story before speaking.
"RANGERS, BILLY HAS FORMULATED A THEORY BEHIND THE ATTACKS OF RITA'S TEENS."
"Let's hear it Billy" Jason spoke for the group.
"My analysis of the data on them and of each encounter with them suggests they are following a predictable plan of attack against us. They seem to programmed to seek out individual rangers during battle."
Tommy blinked as he thought about what Billy said, "So you're saying they are attacking us based on a pattern?"
"Correct. You and Kimberly were alone in the park yet only two of them appeared to attack you. And it was the same two teens that had previously battled you. I believe they have been enchanted by Rita to seek out specific rangers in combat."
Tommy thought about the cold look in Jack's eyes and the echo of his words rung fresh in his mind. Jason interrupted his contemplation, "Billy if your right, then where we go, we can expect to battle the same opponent over and over again."
Zack seemed let down, "That's just great. Now I can look forward to seeing that big guy every time we morph. Great."
"RANGERS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS, BILLY'S THEORY MAY HELP PREVENT FUTURE SURPRISE ATTACKS."
"You're right Zordon. Thanks Billy."
"You're welcome Kimberly. I only wish I had more good news."
"Hey man, don't worry about it. We know more now then we did. We'll find the way to beat these guys."
Billy simply nodded in response.
Billy sighed as he walked, an assignment for his science teacher had turned into an invite to visit and tour one of Angel Grove's largest and most advanced science labs. Previously he would have been amazed and perhaps even awed by what he saw. However in service as a Power ranger, he had been exposed to technology and concepts he had only dreamt of. 'It's very difficult view the articles in Scientific American the same since becoming a ranger. They're still stuck on concept of only a few dimensions as opposed to many.'
Deep in thought he wound his way through another section of the lab. Ever since Rita's return, many businesses in the area had found themselves targets of collateral damage from the frequent battles with her monsters. Thankfully, one of the side effects of each victory for the rangers was the restoration of whatever damage had been inflicted. Still, some companies had either left the area or relocated. The lab he had been touring was in the process of relocating to a place further outside the city limits. As a result large sections of it were lightly staffed if at all.
Deep in thought as he was, he didn't notice anything was different for several minutes. A random blast of wind from nowhere pushed a box filled with parts off a shelf in front of him. He stopped short as it crashed to the ground in front of him. "Well that was unfortunate" he knelt to examine the parts. As he looked over each, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The wind returned this time stronger before dying down. Slowly Billy looked over his right shoulder behind him. Watching him with a casual air was Sheng, the teen he had theorized that was after him specifically. With deliberate slowness, Sheng unfolded his arms and assumed a fighting stance. Faced with this situation Billy did what any sane person would do, he ran.
Surprised Sheng watched him flee and then growled. He took off after the fleeing Blue ranger. Billy raced down thru the facility not sure what he was looking for. By chance he found himself in a storage area where empty glass containers lined the shelves. Hearing footsteps behind him, he paused ever so slightly and then raced down the aisle. As he did so the glass containers started flying off the shelves, pushed by the various wind gusts his pursuer generated.
Coming out of that lab, Billy looked down to see metal grating under his feet. Knowing that the other teen was still after him, he looked around and an unorthodox idea sprang to mind. Listening to the sound of glass crunching underfoot he decided to go with his idea.
Sheng emerged from the lab annoyed. He eyed his surroundings with a great deal of contempt as he searched for his target.
"Hey!"
He turned and focused in the direction of the voice. Billy was standing already morphed on the other side of the room amidst some materials and devices. The teen growled and charged the Blue ranger. Billy was already prepared for this and reacted. He jammed the end of his blade blaster into his hastily assembled converter and fired. The energy from his weapon was converted into electricity that raced through the metal gratings throughout the lab. Thanks to his armor and boots in morphed state, Billy was safe. Sheng however was not and the electricity coursed through his body, after a few seconds, it finished discharging and he slumped to the floor.
Billy quickly made his way over to the teen and checked first for a pulse. Finding one, he had to quickly decide what to do. After going over his options, only one seemed viable. He keyed his communicator, hoping he knew what he was doing.
"Alpha, Zordon. Come in, I have an emergency."