-1Sofia didn't take another second after being briefed from Kaori. She amused herself with the conversation Kaori must have had with her partner. Wondering why, for the seventieth time that her dear friend was allowed so many chances of failure. Had she been running the ship, he would have been out of the game, a long time ago.
As it was she had taken just barely enough time to gather her supplies, backpack on shoulder, and a very human outfit on herself. To Earth she would have represented very much the average teen of today. With her waist length hair up in a ponytail that then proceeded to turn into a braid.
flashback
When Kaori had come back from the phone call. Sofia had known that their plan had somehow gone astray. Sofia made it her call to walk right up to Kaori, after expressing some formality; she had then demanded if there was something she could do.
That's why Kaori liked Sofia so much. Sofia had a take charge personality, one that befitted her to be second in command.
Rather quietly, Kaori told her of the setback, still clinging a fake smile upon her face. For it'd be a crisis if all her noble guests found out that Kaori was having difficulty.
"Would you go down and retrieve Siena…your partner has…." Kaori's face contorted into a mixture of distaste. "For lack of a better term, 'misplaced' her."
Sofia gave a small smirk to herself.
"My goal? I mean," Sofia corrected her, "How much force should I attempt to use?"
Kaori gave a pause as she watched her guests intently. Sofia used to the odd sense of waiting for an answer, merely stood still. The perfect lethal weapon, she awaited orders from Kaori, and didn't care how long she'd have to stand before she was informed.
Sofia's fingers fidgeted against the soft fabric of her pale purple dress. On the norm Sofia would never want to be caught dead in such an improper piece of clothing. After all, it would be nigh impossible in the event of an attack, for her to defend her Queen, while in the garment.
Kaori responded with a kindness not known to many, reaching out her hand to pat Sofia's shoulder.
"I trust you like no other. Use as much as you deem fit, just," Kaori waned, "don't blow your cover. This ruse worked once, but I am not sure if we can afford a second ruin."
Sofia gave a curt nod.
"As you wish." Was the formal response. Sofia turned away from her Queen to make her way towards the exit.
"Sofia…" Kaori called after her. Sofia glanced up the very second she heard her name. Glance even with her superior's. "Ah…never mind, you go do your job, send Mae and Lori to me, if you see them."
Sofia once more gave Kaori another nod instead of directly answering. Then without further ado she slipped past the crowds to the hallway. There she stepped up the steps of the palace to her own personal room. It took her no more than two minutes to change into more comfortable clothing, consisting of a white t-shirt and dark jeans with heeled shoes. Sofia could barely acknowledge herself in the mirror in front of her. Slowly, she brought her hands up to her hair, which was piled on top of her head. With one deft move, a flick of her wrist, the clip holding her hair was plucked off. Allowing the hair to fall back into its normal position: hair in a ponytail and braided down the back.
end flashback
It would take Sofia several hours to reach Earth. Especially since Mae had destroyed their teleportation link. Speaking of, Sofia thought. There in front of her, as she walked to the docking station, was Mae and Lori.
Matie saw the look on his best friend's face and sighed.
"Maybe I…" Lexi's face turned to meet his blundering gaze.
"You're not coming with me, are you?"
Lexi's soft brown eyes, spoke with ten times the intensity as the words she had chosen ever so carefully. Her hands clasped his in a pleading motion.
Matie shook his head ever so slightly, barely registering as he took her hands off of his own.
Lexi's face contorted into a sad expression as she watched Matie go the way they'd come.
"This is not my cup of tea…You go have your fun, I'll wait here…" With that he started to speed off in the opposite direction. Tommy gave him an odd look but said nothing. It was easier not having to put him at risk or involving him in a large secret.
"You wanna go with him?" Tommy asked his daughter, understanding how torn she was. Even more than he'd ever be willing to remind himself.
"No…You said my dream would help…I haven't forgotten about that." Following the blonde lady, the two met up with Andros, half way. "Dad…" Her words died even as she started to give breath to them.
Tommy and Andros exchanged welcomes before both turned to Lexi. Tommy could feel his face heat up with pride as he finally introduced her to both of his old friends.
"Andros…Karone, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Lexi."
Lexi immediately spoke enthusiastically.
"I have heard a lot about you both, pleasure to meet you."
Karone laughed at that remark.
"I should have guessed, you look just like him, and your Mom. Welcome to KO-35's base of operations." Karone gave Lexi a warm smile making Lexi feel as if she was one of them: a ranger; as if this was where she truly belonged.
"Hello." Andros replied curtly as his mind was still entirely else where, "All right let's go to the board room. Figure out a plan…After it's been so quiet I'd hate to have this blow up in our faces."
"I am sure it's nothing…but you're right, better to be safe than sorry." Tommy mumbled lightly, noting the stress in Andros' tone and face. It unnerved him. Over the past few years Tommy knew Andros to be cautious without over-doing it. Lexi's voice broke in on Tommy's concentration.
"That's what mom told me this morning," No one responded, as if it was an understanding silence. Lexi, with a last glance back at the door where her friend, followed right behind the three adults.
In a lavishly furnished room, in the back of the second hallway, was where Tommy, Andros, Karone sat right at the moment. Lexi was in awe at the space that the huge room held, stood in the doorway, gaping. Tommy, Andros and Karone however eased themselves into three swivel chairs. The three circling around a large, polished, wooden table used to the glam of the boardroom.
"Let's here it." Lexi heard her father say in a down to business manner. "Have we found the kids yet?"
Andros' long face turned cold at the mention of the missing teens. His piercing eyes making contact with everyone in the room.
"I don't, no offense to you Lexi, but I don't think you aught to be in the room. This is-" Andros was cut off, intentions well placed, but highly misunderstood by Kim and Tommy's only daughter.
"A Ranger problem…I get it." To that Andros' jaw dropped. The fact that he was an old ranger should be a secret, only heard by other rangers. He gazed a stern glance at his old friend but Tommy just shrugged. Unable to give an answer to Andros' mute question.
Lexi came out of the doorway to stand by the empty chair, meant for her. Her palms folded on the curve of the headboard, leaning on it to enforce her opinions. " But I have to tell you if "S" and the rest are in trouble. I am going to help!" A mock affectionate tone came afterwards, "I want to help."
The strength and courage in Lexi's voice threw Andros back. She had such conviction and displayed more authority than any other fifteen year old he had met. Not that he had met many but enough to know their normal escapades.
"How'd you know their names?"
"I had a dream…" As Lexi started to explain to Andros in a friendlier manner, Karone and Tommy sat back, uneasy as they watched the fireworks start to form, bubble and burst. Karone leaned to the side, whispering:
"Tommy, you sure about this?"
Tommy was leaning, his elbow on the chair's arm. " Karone, can you not see what's obvious?" Was all he asked in return to her harboring question.
Karone with that sat back., toying with a strand of her blonde hair. Reading Lexi the same way, she might have as Astronema, when first meeting the Rangers. It was right there before her to decipher. A task she'd gotten used to dealing with in an effort to assist the survival of Earth's future. She had known all along, but hadn't pushed the concept forward until this very moment. When she was face to face with whom would be the newest Leader.
"She doesn't know?"
With a gulp, Tommy's heart started to race as if time itself was catching up to him. He chuckled at that, for in a way, time was.
"More importantly, Kim doesn't…" Facing Kim with this news was a task he was not ready for. He had spent the past five years evading his true love. His fear of telling her the news sequestering him into mere silence. "I don't know how to break it to her…" Tommy muttered.
"Well, I'd start with your daughter and work backwards…if this is her team that keeps going missing…Lexi's in more danger now than ever. Especially because she hasn't been told yet."
"Timing's never been right, Karone, but I guess that's the way it works." Once more they returned and focused their attention upon both Andros and Lexi, in a heated debate.
"You're the daughter of two Rangers. You've been hidden and coddled, what do you know about villains? You'll get torn apart….Brutally attacked, feel more physical, mental and emotional pain than you can even begin to perceive. I don't think you're prepared for that!"
Andros finally had found the attitude that he'd given the Turbo Rangers, on their first meet and chose now to blast Lexi into submitting to his answer; no.
"Yes." Lexi hissed, " We can fight about this…Or we can save those kids and get them on their merry way to become rangers. Isn't that the reason for your freak out?"
The line was clearly drawn in the sand and Tommy stood to help diffuse the fire. Treading on thin water.
"Lexi, calm down-"
A sudden blaring sound cut right through the argument at hand. Lexi immediately went to cover her ears to reduce the intake of noise.
"What's going on?" She whined.
Karone had bolted over to the large computer screen on the side. Tossing a chair down and out of her way. Tommy and Andros hot on her heels, Lexi followed the three a little less excited.
Karone punched in code after code until the sound was gone and flashing lights were the only clue of trouble.
An image appeared on the screen. It was of an older teen, her dark, curly hair drawn like a curtain around her face.
Lexi gasped.
"I know that face, she was in my dream." Lexi spoke with recognition. The adults turned to hear her words. "S…S-A," Lexi struggled to complete the name that was forming in her mind, "Sara, Sora, Sada…No, none of them are it," she shook her head. Eyes closed in deep remorse. Tommy gave his daughter a hug, in an attempt to comfort her. Just than, Lexi yelled out, "Siena!"
"We have a name to a face now, good work Lexica," Andros' words came out formally and swift.
Karone was already putting her back pack on.
"I am going down there…If we figured her out, Kauri probably isn't too far behind. I'll teleport down and-"
"Karone, wait," Lexi argued her eyes glued to the screen. Another form had just revealed itself. A female who's soft features was a façade for a more sinister plot.
Karone trusted Lexi's judgment, "What do you see…?"
"Another girl…I don't recognize her…but I get the sense…"S"-"A". " Lexi turned dramatically to the three, "She's got the same sounding name as our victim…but she's the exact opposite."
Karone caught on in seconds. "Evil…I'll take this her on."
Andros now doubly concerned, voiced his own opinion.
"Careful, Karone, promise?"
Karone gave her brother a quick hug.
"I've faced worse." The statement was as strong as steel. Karone pressed a button on the gadget upon her wrist, disappearing down to Earth.
Sofia walked down the street, closing in on her prey. The heels of her boots making a swift, sharp, noise as they hit the pavement. She didn't take her time as she made her way over to Siena. Stopping right in front of the distraught and defenseless girl.
"Hey…" Sofia spoke, in a semi-friendly manner. Siena shot her head up, fear written clear on her face. Not a word spoken she nodded her head to Sofia. "Kinda cold out here…You waitin for a-a ride?"
Siena struggled, " Y-Yeah…No. No, no one's coming," She gave in to the truth, tears starting to form.
With Siena's face down she didn't see Sofia smirk. Sofia then knelt down next to her victim.
"I am Sofia, what's your name?"
"S-Si-ena."
"Cool," using a term that Sofia had heard other Earth teens say, only to often.
A rush of cool air blew right at them and Sofia could see Siena wince, while trying to keep herself awake.
"Do you need some help? You don't look to well…My house isn't far…"
Siena barely could talk. The cold from the night before had sunk into her skin and bones. Causing her to tremor as her heart started to slow down. Sofia could sense she had to hurry before Siena became a lost cause: dying from being out in the cold the for almost twenty hours.
To Sofia's shock Siena started to glow a bright light as her untapped into power revealed itself before Sofia's eyes.
A ghostly form of the girl appeared, hovering over her body. It took several seconds for the apparition to speak. When she did the words were confused and shattered.
"Oh my god…I am…I…I am dead…"