Author's Note: Miracle of miracles, I updated within a month. This installment is told by Hunter. © August 2005.

Blues

Part Fourteen: Vulnerable

I would have thought the electricity would make him spasm, his fingers or feet twitching randomly. But instead he's completely motionless, as traces of crimson energy fade from his costume. The memory of a deafening scream pounds in my eardrums; I can't even tell who had screamed, me or Blake.

The first thing I do is throw the Thunder Staff as far away as I can. I... I should have... what? How could I have prepared for this? Dammit, Blake, you should've known better! Our powers are similar, but they're not the same! And you're not even morphed. Of course you're vulnerable to my attacks! What were you thinking?

I take a slow, shaking breath. It doesn't matter, what you were thinking. I'll ask you about it. Later. When we're off this goddamned island, as far away from this craziness as possible.

Shivering with a fear I've only felt once before, I lay my brother on the sand as gently as possible to check the damage.

Not only is he not spastic… he's not moving at all. Not even the barest twitch. No signs of life.

"Blake?" I force through my strangled throat. "Blake, come on. You're stronger than this..."

But my anxious search for a pulse is in vain. My god... I've... I've ki-

I stumble back, falling limply into the sand, dizzy with horror. No, this isn't possible! I came here to save him! Save him from Lothor, from those conniving Winds, from his own naive longing for friends, for allies... and I'm the one who...

I then gasp, all my grief lodged in my throat, when a new target for my rage comes into view. The Blue Wind Ranger approaches on unsteady legs, bracing a bruised shoulder with her opposite hand.

My hands come together, charging a pulse of crimson thunder faster than an eye-blink. "Get the hell away from us, Tori."

"Why?" she shrieks, and the anger in her voice hits me like a physical blow. "What could I possibly do to him that you haven't done already? You electrocuted him!"

It feels like I'm choking. Hearing that accusation… from a Wind Ranger, of all people… it's like a noose around my neck.

"All he wanted to do was save you from Lothor, and you tried to kill him!"

"Scheming bitch!" I growl hoarsely, but as I take aim, a flash of blue light freezes me in my tracks.

She... un-morphed?

I stare at her, my attack dying in my palms as I lose all concentration. She watches me, chin raised in defiance and cheeks wet with tears, as she lifts her wrist.

I blink in confusion at the beetle-shaped device. Blake's morpher...

"He trusted me with his life today, Hunter. That's why he gave me this. And I'm going to live up to that trust."

And with that, she closes the gap and kneels beside my brother, lowering her cheek to his nose. "He's not breathing."

Wasting no more time, she carefully tilts his head back, pinches his nose closed, and seals his mouth with hers, forcing deep breaths into his lungs.

I haven't moved. I'm still poised to strike, and I immediately realize that she is completely defenseless. The Yellow and Red Rangers are still recovering from my last attack, and I'm less than a yard away from her. I could reach out and snap her neck before anyone even noticed the threat.

Tori moves, planting her hands at the base of Blake's ribs as she begins precise chest compressions. She doesn't even spare me a glance, even though I'm close enough to spit on.

She's the embodiment of the rift that pulled Blake and me apart. She's the reason we were on this island fighting each other to begin with, instead of at the Thunder Academy figuring out our next move.

But... she's also trying to save his life.

The zeal to fight drains out of me as I realize it has no meaning. Hurting her now accomplishes less than nothing. If Tori fails... I'll lose everything that matters to me.

Frustrated and angry, and more worried than I'm able to admit, I sit down across from Tori, watching the life-saving process. My agitated hands sift sand, because they can't do anything useful, as I count the breaths (two) and chest compressions (fifteen) in each cycle. And I notice that each chest compression causes her to wince visibly, making me remember how she cradled her wounded shoulder earlier.

"Why are you doing this?" I demand of her. "What's he to you? Really?"

Blue eyes slide in my direction; if they could shoot fire, I think they would. "He's my friend. Why is that so hard to believe?"

I glare at her, trying my best to match the righteous anger in her eyes... but I come up short. And I can't articulate why I don't trust her, why I know the Wind Rangers are liars.

That nagging pain behind my eyes returns, and I turn aside, willing my helmet open. Squeezing my eyes closed, I rub the bridge of my nose, hoping to alleviate the tension.

And suddenly, voices float from a foggy, dream-like memory. "We're always looking after you." "Make us proud."

I know I've heard them before. I... I remember it.

Mom, Dad... I'm sorry. I let you down.

My hands draw away from my eyes, and I realize with some surprise that they're wet with tears. I hadn't even noticed I was crying. It's like I'd forgotten what it felt like, to cry... though I know I've cried before. Recently, even.

Gritting my teeth, I close my helmet. It's like grabbing at smoke, trying to make sense of the vague memories just out of my reach.

"Tori." I look up, noting that Shane has knelt beside Tori. "How's he doing?"

"Still no response, but that doesn't mean anything," she insists after two deep breaths. "We have to keep his blood pumping until we can get to Ninja Ops. Cam can take better care of him there. Until then, we have to continue CPR until the Megazord comes. There's an AED unit onboard."

"Right, for emergencies," Dustin contributes. "Listen, Tor, how about I take over for you, let you catch a breather?"

"You have to un-morph," she instructs, her tone insistent. "You're too strong otherwise; you'll probably crush Blake's ribs during compressions."

So that's why she un-morphed. She risked her life, standing three feet away from me completely vulnerable, to give Blake the best chance for survival she could. She trusted me; that I wouldn't take advantage of her exposure.

I wonder if she knows how close I came to killing her, just out of spite.

Suddenly disgusted, I rise to my feet. Shane braces himself, watching my every move, but Tori and Dustin pay me little heed, the former continuing the CPR while the latter releases his morph. Then, Dustin takes position at Blake's chest just as Tori delivers two more breaths, and the pair efficiently trades off.

I release an explosive sigh, and fix my cold glare on Shane. "This fight's over," I tell him, squaring my shoulders with some effort. "You win."

I turn back to my brother, watching as Dustin continues compressions while Tori counts aloud. And it dawns on me: these Wind Rangers, they're more than I ever gave them credit for. They're actually... heroes.

Heroes save lives. And Tori, Dustin, and Shane know when to fight, and when fighting isn't the solution.

I'm the Crimson Ranger. In the Academy, even when surrounded by other students of the Thunder Ninja discipline, my speed was famous. Strike like thunder… that's always been my style. Speed and power, leaving nothing in my path.

And I wasn't fast enough, or strong enough, to do a bit of good when my brother needed help. I don't know how to save lives. There's nothing I can do here.

I survey the beach through blurry eyes, until I find my Thunder Staff, half buried in the sand where the water creeps up the shore. Without a word I move to retrieve it, the weapon vanishing at my silent command.

"You think you're leaving?"

I feel Shane's eyes on me like a laser, and the shame burns just as hot.

I don't answer. Instead, I keep walking, drawing the portal-creating circlet that will get me off this rock.

"I knew you were a psycho, Hunter. I didn't know you were a coward."

My grip tightens on the circlet. "The fight is over."

"Fighting is easy. Making peace, that's the hard part. Getting past pride, resolving differences, helping Blake recover... that's a lot harder than throwing lightning bolts, and you know it. That's why you're bailing."

I take a slow, steadying breath. "Blake's in good hands. I know you won't hurt him."

"Of course we won't hurt him!" Shane responds sharply. "We'll do everything we can to help. But you know he's got a better chance with you by his side."

I turn around, and blink in surprise to see Shane, not the Red Wind Ranger, staring at me. His arms are crossed and his gaze is firm, but still, he's taken the first step. He's un-morphed.

"We won't hurt you, either," he adds, almost as an afterthought. "We're not about revenge. The fight is over between us, Hunter. Now comes the hard part."

He then turns toward the ocean. Curious, I follow his gaze, and my muscles relax with relief when I see a Megazord approaching.

"Looks like our ride is here," Shane notes with a nod. "You can hitch a ride with us; stick with your brother. If you want, of course."

It takes me a moment to shake off my surprise at the offer. "I find it hard to believe you're rolling out the red carpet."

Shane snorts. "I thought you were crazy ten minutes ago, and believe me, that hasn't changed. I think we're safer if we just leave you here; but Dustin and Tori think differently, and a good leader listens to his teammates."

That comment gets a rise out of me. Not the "crazy" part; I'd know Shane was lying if he claimed his opinion of me had miraculously changed… but his last phrase stung. "Are you lecturing me?"

He shrugs. "Not particularly."

Silence hovers between us, until the colossal Zord is close enough to wade waist deep in the waves.

"I'll bring her aground manually," Shane announces. "It'll make it easier for us to load Blake."

He lifts his wrist and morphs, immediately leaping into the air to take a seat in the cockpit for a precise landing. I watch him sail through the air, carried by his element, until he disappears into the primary-colored Zord.

Frowning, I make my way back to the others. Tori has resumed CPR, as Dustin rises from the sand, dusting off his black uniform.

"How is he?" I manage to ask. I try not to wince at the forlorn look on the Yellow Ranger's face.

"He's still not breathing on his own, but we're not giving up," he insists. Then, I practically jump from my boots when he places a hand on my shoulder. "Listen, we'll need you to carry him into the Megazord as soon as Shane lands."

My eyes slide from Dustin's hand on my shoulder, to his shallow grin. And I make one more decision.

"Agreed." I step back five paces, raise my morpher, and dissolve my morph.

Dustin stares at me for several seconds, eyes almost comically wide with shock. I don't know what my face looks like; if it's possible for red-rimmed eyes or a furrowed brow to communicate what I feel like right now, knowing my brother's life is hanging by a thread. But I know I feel like I'm on display, my misery revealed… my mask is gone.

But it's only fair. They're not hiding from me.

After his surprise wears off, Dustin's face changes. There's no mockery in his eyes, or gloating, or even a trace of satisfaction. If anything, he seems… nervous.

So I wait. For what exactly, I don't know.

He bites his lip, and runs his fingers through his hair. Yes, definitely nervous. "Look Dude, I know I don't know you that well… but I know you well enough." I raise my eyebrow, as he frowns in confusion. "I don't think that made sense. Anyway, what I mean is, I know you didn't mean to hurt your brother. It was an accident; any idiot can see that. And soon he'll be fit as a fiddle, and this mess will be behind us. So, don't beat yourself up about it. Okay?"

I would've thought it impossible, but Dustin's earnest smile and hopeful gaze actually are enough to lift my spirits a little.

The ground quakes as the Megazord approaches, and Dustin peers up at the giant machine. "Let's make tracks. The sooner we get to Ninja Ops, the better."

To Be Continued…