Author's Note: Hello? Is anyone still reading this story? If not, it's entirely my fault, since I disappeared without a word for nine months. For those of you who are still interested, thanks for sticking with me. You are infinitely patient, and I am humbled.

I finally decided to introduce a plot to this story, and I think I've figured out an approach that will make this mini-series work. This will be an alternative to the events in "Return of Thunder," injecting some more angst and suspense. And let me give out another big thanks to Holly for being my sounding board as I laid the foundation for the rest of this mini-series. This particular installment is in Hunter's voice. © May 2004.

Blues

Part Four: Distraction

I watch the sun slowly climb into the sky, the light stretching above the high mountains to cast its warmth on me. Daylight crawls along the landscape, burning away the shadows that lurk amidst the rubble.

I stare out at the devastation. Although it is long familiar, it boils my blood each time I see it. Charred wood. Shredded rice paper. Crumbled concrete. Dilapidated brick walls. Fallen trees. Scorched earth. And the utter silence of emptiness. Not a soul lives in this pothole that was once the legendary Thunder Ninja Academy. All that's left is the skeletal remains of the buildings, and the lingering smell of smoke and ash.

It was my home. It's the only refuge Blake and I have left. The only resources available to us are whatever survived Lothor's unprovoked attack. We have to fend for ourselves, and depend on ourselves, if we'll ever achieve our goal.

Never has my life been in sharper focus. Never have I had a greater purpose. There is a devil above me, flying high in that blue sky, looking down and laughing at me. Mocking my gullibility. Boasting his ability to deceive my brother and me to attack his enemy. Confident that he is untouchable; that all we can do is glare up at the sky and shake our fists helplessly.

Heh. We'll see who has the last laugh. He might be powerful and cunning, but so are we. His arrogance will be his undoing.

In a few short hours, Blake and I will be standing over Lothor's dead body.

I take a deep breath, welcoming the start of a new day. This is the day we will make our parents proud.

I jump over debris as I make my way to a small clearing, where I add the box of odds and ends I just collected to the pile of supplies we've scavenged. A quick calculation confirms we can carry these meager belongings on our bikes, giving us ultimate mobility in case we have to go into hiding after today's mission. It's a possibility, but I welcome it. I'll risk the wrath of Lothor's generals if it means ridding the universe of that conniving monster. I'll risk anything to feel his blood on my fingers.

Well… almost anything.

"How's breakfast coming, Blake?" When there's no response, I spare my brother a more than casual glance. He's not paying attention to the pot bubbling over the open fire; his gaze is far away as he mechanically stirs the broth.

My eyes narrow. He's been constantly spacing out since we left Blue Bay Harbor. Frankly, a Ninja should never be so out of touch with his surroundings. If I'd been one of Lothor's goons, I could've snuck up on him and killed him before he even reached for his Morpher.

The thought darkens my mood. I've lost almost everything I've ever valued in my life. My birth parents died before I was old enough to remember them. The parents who raised me and first taught me how to fight were murdered. Sensei Amano and the other Thunder Ninjas have been kidnapped. The Thunder Academy is ashes and broken memories. Everything is gone… everything except Blake.

I'm not going to lose my brother, too. But I have this creeping feeling that he's slipping away from me, leaving me behind. I know what's distracting him… and it's driving me crazy.

I hover over Blake's shoulder, waiting for him to acknowledge my presence. With each passing second, I grow more and more agitated.

Then, finally, the spell breaks… but not because of me. Rather, the pot boils over, steaming bubbles burning his skin and pulling him back to reality. With a yelp he draws back, grabs a towel, and pulls the pot away from the fire.

"You okay?" I ask him.

He takes a moment to examine his hand. "Nothing serious," he decides, finally looking up at me. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to have killed you; oh, four times over."

A faint wince as he turns away, pouring ramen noodles into two bowls. "Good thing for me I'm not on your hit list," he quips lamely.

I'm in no mood for jokes. I sit down across from him, taking the bowl closest to me. My eyes never leave him as I take a slow sip of the broth. "Bad thing for you that we're both on Lothor's list," I snap. I take a breath, letting my frustration settle. There's really no point in yelling at Blake. Not if I want to make him see reason. "We're on a mission; not a camping trip. We can't afford to get distracted by anything."

His flimsy grin fails. We've had this conversation before. Several times, in fact.

"You have to focus, Blake. Today's the day we avenge Mom and Dad." I swallow a hasty mouthful, looking up at the sun again. "We're meeting Choobo in a few hours, and from there it's straight into the lion's den. I need you with me, Bro. Physically andmentally."

Blake stares into his own bowl, and a bitter part of me wonders if he sees yellow noodles swimming in broth, or blonde hair floating in a breeze.

I just don't understand this… obsession! He's only known her for a few weeks, and most of that time she's been pissed off at him. Why can't he just get over this? Why can't he see that she doesn't fit into the plan? We have a job to do, dammit!

I throw my bowl in a burst of fury, hearing it shatter against a nearby stone. Blake stares at me, wide-eyed, as I stand up. "Blake, snap out of it."

"What?"

"I said, snap out of it!" I jab the sky with my finger. "Our parents' murderer is floating up there, laughing at us, and all you can do is moon over Tori! I hoped you'd get her out of your system when we left Blue Bay Harbor, but it's only gotten worse!"

He glares at me. "Lay off, Hunter… it's not that easy! I care about her, okay? And I hurt her, and it's eating me up inside."

I feel an insane urge to pull my hair out. "For God's sake, Blake, you lied to her! It's not like you maimed her or something. It's no big deal!" I fold my arms, smirking viciously. "Besides, if memory serves, she was into that surfer she was with the last time you saw her. I'd say she's gotten over you. So return the favor."

That was hitting below the belt, and I knew it before I saw Blake lunge forward, fists clenched. Is he really going to hit me? For her?

He catches himself before he strikes. "Shut up, Hunter," he hisses through his teeth.

I can't keep my fury in check. All control just disappears, and I'm suddenly livid. "Lothor killed our parents! I cannot believe you're wasting time worrying about some girl's hurt feelings!"

Blake's eyes harden. "You can really be thick when you want to be, Bro," he mutters. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe we should reach out to the Wind Rangers? Maybe they'd be willing to help us?"

A chuckle rumbles from my throat. "You've got to be joking."

"Why not?" he challenges. "Five Rangers have to stand a better chance than two. And Lothor is our mutual enemy-"

"Like hell he is! The Winds are just cub scouts out to save the world; this is personal with us! Ever since our parents died, we've been dedicated to avenging them. We've trained endlessly! We were willing to do anything. This is our mission in life! And now, you want to drag in novices who've never felt the pain we've gone through?"

"Don't underestimate them," Blake warns. "They may be inexperienced, but they know what they're doing. What's the point of infiltrating Lothor's ship if we end up getting killed?"

"If you're so worried about dying, maybe you should prepare for this battle instead of moping around! A month ago, you were my partner, Blake! I could count on you! But now, you're so far gone you can't even cook breakfast without zoning out! I can't trust you to do anything, can I?" My eyes slide pointedly to his reddened hand. "Not even to take care of yourself?"

I reach out, grabbing my little brother by the collar. His teeth grind as I lift him off his feet, but he doesn't struggle. Nose to nose, I reveal my deepest fear. "Any distraction on this mission is going to get you killed. I'm not losing you, too."

There, I said it.

Silence stretches between us, long and thick and oppressive. I can almost hear my words echoing as I slowly lower my brother to the ground. He drops his eyes, looking down at his clenched fists as he steps away from me.

I hold my ground, taking slow, deliberate breaths. The consuming anger has faded, giving me back at least some of my sanity.

"I'm sorry, Bro," Blake says, finally breaking the silence. He looks up at me, and I can see the indecision hovering in his eyes. "I… know you're worried about me. But still… I can't just pretend Tori doesn't exist. I don't know why, but I can't just tune this out. What I did to her; it's bothering me. And I keep kicking myself that I left without giving her a decent apology, at least."

And then what happens, Blake? You go and apologize, and then everything will be all right? If she forgives and forgets, do you honestly think you'll be able to walk away? Somehow, I don't see that happening. If you convince her to help us, you'll be so worried about her you won't be able to watch your own back. And if she refuses to listen, you'll be even more broken up about this.

Sorry, little brother. You're just feelingtoo much right now to be useful to me. And I'm too much the protective older brother to let you face Lothor and his goons when they have home court advantage, when you're this conflicted.

Of course, I say none of this aloud. Instead I watch him as he watches me, expecting me to provide the solution. Counting on me to guide him.

I manage a wry grin. "You've got one hour, Blake. Find Tori, get the guilt off your chest, and if she seems receptive, you can tell her about our plan. Then, when you get back, we'll meet Choobo."

Blake smiles widely, grabbing me in a bear hug. It's been a while since he's done that. He's always been the more affectionate of the two of us, but since our parents died… he's been distant. Aloof. In control.

I have to admit, it's nice to see him smile again. This whole experience with the Wind Rangers will, in the long run, be good for him. It's just too damn bad it happened now, when I need the cold, focused Blake at my side.

"Yeah, yeah," I grunt, taking a moment to ruffle his hair. He always hates when I do that; it just emphasizes how short he is.

He snorts as he draws back, grabbing his helmet along the way. "I'll see you soon," he calls to me, jumping on his dirt bike. "Hopefully, with reinforcements!"

The engine roars to life and Blake soon disappears into the surrounding forest, leaving me in the crushed ruins of our former lives.

I wait until I can no longer hear his bike, before I straddle my own. Hopefully, Choobo will be a little early. Maybe he'll see me waiting. Or, maybe Tori will distract Blake long enough for me to finish this mission alone.

I won't risk him. The way he's been acting lately; he's more of a liability than an asset. He's distracting me, and the best way to guarantee us an early grave is to face Lothor at anything less than our best.

I lean back, sliding my helmet into place as I gaze at the perfect blue sky. I know you're up there somewhere, Lothor. Laughing at me. Maybe even planning your revenge for our betrayal.

But I'm going to beat you to it. Soon enough, I will be standing over your dead body.

Infiltrating Lothor's ship was mind-numbingly easy. Once Choobo showed me the back door, all I had to do was slip inside.

I slink through narrow, darkened hallways, my Thunder Staff comfortably nestled in my confident grip. I know I'm good at stealth techniques, but still… something should've crossed my path by now. Zurgane always seemed to be underfoot when Blake and I met with Lothor -- I was sure I'd bump into him, at least.

This is where Blake would say something like "It's too quiet." And I'd agree with him.

My breathing is even as I finally approach the throne room. Darkness swallows the walls, but the creepy feeling of being watched puts me on high alert.

"Hunter," a mocking voice greets, "so good to see you again! Where's your better half?"

I glower at the throne, hearing the shifting of leather and feeling that cruel smirk even through my armor. "Otherwise occupied," I answer vaguely, my fist crackling with electricity. "It's just you and me, Lothor."

Chuckles float from all around me. Eyes narrowing, I channel more power into my fist. The sparking light reveals countless mutants, leisurely lining the walls, those with mouths grinning or smirking in my direction. I can even make out Choobo at the right of the dais, with Zurgane and Lothor's nieces.

Traitor. Obviously I gave the creature too much credit, thinking he actually had enough self-respect to leave a cruel master like Lothor.

Then, a bright light from above washes the center of the room in white, almost like a spotlight. Lothor sits casually on his throne, his ankle balanced idly on his opposite knee.

"A shame, really," the evil ninja sighs. "I'd hoped to kill both of you at once, and rid myself of one bothersome detail. But once you're out of the way, Blake will be easy to overcome."

A low growl issues from my throat. Like hell I'm gonna let that happen!

Crackling power flies from my palm, crushing the throne a heartbeat later. Only Lothor isn't thereanymore, and I spin around just in time to block his fist with my Thunder Staff.

"Nice reaction time," Lothor comments, unleashing a furious series of kicks and punches that force me backward. But none of them connect. "Very nice…"

I snort derisively. He must know it's impossible to move faster than a Thunder Ninja, trained to streak like lightning!

"You came to fight me," he states, a nasty grin splitting his face. "So stop hiding and fight!"

And with that, he grabs my Thunder Staff at the center, and snaps it in two.

I'm momentarily stunned, my hands falling to my sides, each one holding half of my trusted weapon, leaving me open to an impossibly strong punch to the stomach. I can feel the bottom of my ribcage crack even through my armor, and all air leaves my lungs.

Just as I register the first blow, Lothor's steel toe crushes the chin of my helmet, throwing me clear off the ground. Dazedly, I wonder if my head is even still attached to my body as I crash into the rubble of Lothor's throne.

He's strong. Stronger than I imagined…

"You still have much to learn," Lothor's voice mocks, "but your skills are impressive, nonetheless."

I don't know where the strength came from. I lurch forward, ignoring protesting organs and screaming ribs, and unleash streaks of lightning like a summer thunderstorm. That will wipe the grin off the murderer's face…

Only, my power doesn't strike him. He lifts one hand, and… catches my attack! It's almost like I've thrown yarn at him! The lightning streaks weave into a ball of glowing power, and then just… vanish!

Then, he glares at me, and suddenly… I can't move.

I can't move! I can't even breathe!

"And you're persistent, too!" Lothor compliments, strolling toward me. "If that little beam hit the wall, you could've done quite a bit of damage." His smirk widens. "And we can't have that, can we? My insurance premiums are already absurdly high."

My muscles strain against an invisible hold, begging to throw my fists into his mocking face. He moves into arm's reach, and has the nerve to… pet me!

"So much hate in you, my boy. Rage is your power. You could've been a general."

I wish I could spit at him… or at least laugh at his ridiculous idea. Me? Serve him? Even when we did work together, I made it crystal clear that we were only temporary partners. No way would I bow to this maniac! EVER!

"Shall I dispose of him, Sir?" Zurgane comments from the periphery.

Now I notice the burning in my lungs. The choking sensation in my throat. I can't breathe… I can't do anything!

A disappointed sigh. "Go ahead, Zurgane. But it is really a shame he's learned the truth. His hate and anger would've eventually brought him into my permanent employ. Just imagine the havoc he'd wreak to defeat the Wind Ninjas!"

Then, another voice speaks up. "Master, if I could make a suggestion…?"

A smile. "Of course, Choobo. This was all your idea after all."

"Anything a human can learn, Sir, he can forget."

Lothor's reaction is disturbing. His smile stretches into a Cheshire smile, white teeth gleaming in the overhead light, as he stares into my eyes.

"Hear that, Hunter? Sounds like we might have a use for you after all."

A horror unlike anything I've ever felt seizes me as I fall into darkness.

To Be Continued…