Part Eight: Lost
This must be the single most exhausting day of my life!
It started out tough, as I dealt with the anticipation of getting revenge on Lothor with the conflicting guilt of not apologizing to Tori. I couldn't go up on that ship and fight the battle of my life without at least trying to bridge the gap with her. I couldn't leave that on my conscience.
So I found her, and miraculously, I didn't screw it up. I talked to her. I laughed with her. And I found it so hard to leave her.
But leave her I did. Granted, I left well after Hunter's one-hour deadline had expired, but I figured he'd understand. I mean, we've been itching to avenge our parents for years now... what's another half an hour? I knew he'd be peeved, but he'd get over it. Hunter always gets over it.
Only, when I finally left Tori, I'd called him. And he didn't respond.
And suddenly all the excitement and relief of having patched things up with Tori simply evaporated, and a horrible fear seized me so completely, I thought my heart would stop. Where the hell is my brother??
Maybe... I'm overreacting. I mean, it could be a communicator malfunction. I don't really know how these things work anyway; maybe there's some kind of interference? Or, maybe Hunter's just... busy. I haven't been trying to hail him all that long, after all. He could just be busy.
Only, after losing so much in my life, it's almost impossible not to automatically assume the worst.
Hunter went after Lothor without me. I can feel it in my bones.
Dammit, Bro, what the hell were you thinking? And... where are you now?
My frustration makes me even more reckless than usual, as I tear through the thick forest circling the Thunder Ninja Academy at speeds crossing the line between 'illegal' and 'insane.'
"Hunter!" I scream, slowing as I approach the rubble of our home. "Hunter, answer me!"
Nothing answers me. Not even a chirping bird or an early cricket. I run right up to the clearing we'd made, where we stashed the supplies we collected. The fire I'd used to cook with was long-dead, the ashes cool to the touch. And Hunter's bike is gone.
Fighting against a shiver, I try my communicator again. "Blake to Hunter. Hunter, come in! Please..."
That unnerving silence persists for a long moment. But... what else can I do? I have no way to find him, no tracking device or...
...wait. The Wind Rangers have Ninja Ops. They were able to track down Hunter and me when we kidnapped their sensei and took him to the Mountain of Lost Ninjas. Maybe they'll be willing to help me?
Of course they will. I can count on Tori.
I jump back on my bike, revving the engine and following my own trail back out of the forest. After I cover about two miles of rough terrain, my communicator finally responds.
"Blake."
I almost sag with relief, and immediately pull over. "Hunter! Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine, and it doesn't matter."
I frown at his evasive reply.
"Are you okay?"
I wince guiltily at the question. "I'm fine. I know I ran a little late, but-"
"Listen, little bro, I need you to go to the Thunder Academy, and stay put. Got it?"
A shiver creeps up my spine. "Hunter... where are you?"
"It doesn't matter-"
"Yes it does! You're on Lothor's ship, aren't you?"
My panic only rises when I hear his resigned sigh. "Dammit, Hunter... you're in trouble! I know it!"
"Nothing I can't handle. This is something I have to take care of. Alone."
"What the hell are you talking about? We're a team! We never do things alone!"
"Stay out of it, Blake. I'll see you soon."
"Hunter? Hunter!!"
I take a slow breath to calm my fried nerves. He's not answering me. Again.
I squeeze the handles of my bike, flying back onto the road. I've got to get to Ninja Ops. Hopefully Cam can track down Hunter's power signature. If he analyzes my morpher, he'll have an idea what to look for. If he did go up to Lothor's ship, there must be a way to follow him.
I'm not losing you, Bro. I'm not sitting this one out.
I skid to a halt in front of the waterfall, setting my bike against a tree. I wish I'd been able to give the Winds a head's up, but I don't have the frequency of their communicators, so I'll just have to surprise them.
I step through the invisible portal, and race down the stone steps leading into the secret lair.
"Cam? Sensei?"
I freeze when I see Cam standing in front of a computer monitor, holding a classic ready stance.
"Easy, Cam," I hold up my hands as I approach. "It's just me."
"I can see that," he snaps with an anger I can't fathom. And then, to my complete astonishment, he leaps at me.
I barely have the presence of mind to dodge the fierce snap-kick that would've dislocated my jaw. Since when could Cam fight? And why is he fighting me?
I block his fists, bend away from his kicks, and feel myself forced backwards. Soon I'll hit the wall, and then my maneuverability will be shot.
"Cam, what is wrong with you??"
"You're not taking my father," he snarls, grabbing my wrist and twisting me around. I grind my teeth as I try to break his shockingly firm grip.
"Why... would I take your father?" I hiss.
"Cam! Stop this at once!"
I gasp my relief as Cam finally lets me go. Glaring at the brainiac whose martial arts skills I've grossly underestimated, I fight the urge to rub my sore wrist. "Did I miss something?"
He meets my stare before turning to the guinea pig that broke us up. "We can't trust him, Dad!"
I blink in surprise, but keep my mouth shut.
"It is obvious that Blake is not here to hurt us, Son," Sensei Watanbe states firmly. "He announced his presence instead of maintaining the element of surprise, and he appeared un-morphed."
Cam snorts. "It doesn't matter."
"Indeed it does." Then, the guinea pig turns to me, his beady eyes holding a strange insight that makes me... uncomfortable. "Why did you come, Blake?"
I shake off my sudden stupor, remembering the immediate emergency. "I need your help. I have to track down Hunter, and I don't have the equipment to do it. I think he might be on Lothor's ship."
I turn, watching Cam's eyes narrow. "You're kidding, right?"
Cam's stare sets me on edge. "What do you know that I don't?" I demand.
"For starters, you're guess about Hunter's whereabouts is way off," he mutters, turning back to his monitor. "He's not in orbit; he's in the city."
My throat closes. I stare, completely dumfounded, at the screen. The Crimson Ranger is there, laughing, throwing bolts of lightning at the Wind Rangers.
This must be a trick. This... can't be real. "This isn't funny," I snap.
"You don't hear me laughing, do you?" Cam snaps right back. "You mind explaining why your brother decided to go medieval on us?"
I take a few moments to scour my mind for any possible explanation. "I... don't know," I mutter, raking my fingers through my hair in frustration. "He was with me a few hours ago, but then I left to find Tori..." Horror widens my eyes, and I turn to Sensei. "Hunter and I were supposed to meet Choobo to get access to Lothor's ship. If Hunter went without me... is it possible Lothor did something to him?"
"The powers of the dark ninja are diverse and mysterious," Sensei comments, rubbing his chin. "It is possible he has convinced your brother to serve his ends, either by blackmail or enchantment of some kind."
I look up, watching the battle over Cam's shoulder. I wince as Shane takes a staggering kick to his kidney, dropping him like a dead weight. Then, Dustin and Tori attempt to double-team my brother with colored lasers, but a web of lightning deflects their assault almost effortlessly.
Then, he blurs into speeds too fast for the naked eye, and uses the Thunder Staff to throw both of them into a nearby office building.
I know Hunter is tough. He's been a protective shadow over me for most of my life. When I was younger, I thought nothing was beyond him... and even now, I'm confident that he can rise to any challenge.
But this is unreal. He's just ferocious out there... and the Winds don't have a chance.
"I'm going out there."
Both Cam and Sensei stare at me, but I only fold my arms, proving my determination. "I've got to talk to Hunter. I have to stop him before anyone gets hurt."
I turn, running to the exit when I hear Cam's warning. "The others think you and Hunter are in on this together. Don't be surprised if they attack you when you show your face."
My face is grim as I nod to the monitor. "I don't think they're in any condition to attack me."
Then, I hurry up the rest of the stairs, activating my morpher. "Thunder Storm, Ranger Form!!"
The sizzle of navy power is usually exhilarating, but this time I don't register the feeling. Instead, the moment the transformation is complete, I streak towards the battle, letting the forest and the city flash past me in a blur as I follow the ominous column of smoke rising into the blue sky.
It takes me mere seconds to arrive on the abandoned street where the Winds have made their stand against my brother. Though... "stand" isn't quite the right word. None of them are on their feet.
Dustin is lying atop a parked car, the crushed roof and shattered glass hinting at a very uncomfortable impact.
Shane struggles to pull himself upright, balancing most of his weight on his sword.
And Tori... I wince with every trembling inch Tori crawls as she reaches for her weapon. Smoke wafts from burn marks across her torso, and more than once she cringes, folding into herself and clutching her side.
And in the center of it all is Hunter, his shoulders quivering as he laughs mockingly.
He's... just laughing -- and the half-crazed sound pierces me right to the core.
"I think you've been humiliated enough, Rangers," he decides, his laughter stopping. I find the sudden quiet even more disturbing, and my eyes widen as he draws a metal ring from his belt.
A wind tunnel of sparking energy emerges from the ring before my very eyes. I watch, my jaw dropping as the funnel drops on Shane first, plucking the Red Ranger off the asphalt before he can even attempt to dodge.
What is he doing? A fresh wave of horror forces me out of my petrified stupor, and I race onto the street, screaming the whole way.
Hunter completely disregards me... or maybe the howl of the magical wind is too loud for him to hear me. The funnel skirts around him, and then whisks Dustin away.
"Hunter, stop!!" I scream. I don't even need to think about a destination; my feet are carrying me towards Tori.
Now, he can't ignore me. I'm gaining fast, and as he turns the potent spell on Tori, I'm in his line of sight.
"Get out of here, Blake!" he snarls at me. "This is over!"
Tori has managed to reach her Sonic Fin, but she doesn't get a chance to get a shot off. The funnel crawls over her, and she's gone.
I'm only two steps behind, and I don't even hesitate. My eyes narrow, I do the only thing I can think of.
I dive at the wind funnel right after her.
I hear the deep roar of the wind, and I'm almost certain I hear Hunter shout... but then the world twists and bends around me... and everything disappears.
To Be Continued...