Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers. So don't try to buy them from me. Please don't get all offended because I mocked your favorite Ranger. I try to mock them all. Besides, it's just for fun. I really do enjoy the show :). 'Hi" to all from AFPR…especially my fellow Psychos. Please let me know if I make any errors. I have no difficulty with receiving constructive criticism. Thanks to Joe Rovang and SirStack for their Writer's Guide to the Power Rangers Universe which I rely on a lot.
If you haven't done so, please read the first fifty stories in "When Rangers Meet." Thanks.
This is story number twenty-nine. It was requested by random. Please remember to have your requests in by the end of July.
To raven the half demon: I already paired up Kim and Kat (it's under 'When Rangers Meet.') Please choose a different pair of Rangers, thanks.
Adam and Conner
By
Eileen (Psycho Tangerine)
Adam groaned as he looked around the soccer field. He had wanted to sleep in a bit before the big high school soccer game later on in the afternoon. But he hadn't realized just what kind of stickler Principal Randall was for having every line even and every blade of grass be no more than one inch high. Damn that Tommy anyway for telling him about the coaching position at Reefside High. Randall was bad enough as it was. But his real bane was quickly approaching.
"Hey, Coach!" called an overenthusiastic Conner. "Here I am! I'm all ready for the game! I've been practicing all day and all night!" He absentmindedly rubbed his sore head, not even realizing that his current headache was the result of heading his soccer ball for sixteen hours straight. Conner frowned in dismay at the thought of the two hours he had wasted fighting another one of Mesagog's dumb monsters.
Adam looked up from the ruler he was using to measure the grass blades. "Mr. McKnight, how many times have I told…no begged…you not to come more than an hour before each game?" He had to get everything just right or Principal Randall would take him to the 'dungeon torture room' through the glowing door just past her office again. He definitely had to talk to Tommy about his suspicions about her.
Conner groaned. "An hour? We have to wait a whole hour to play?"
"No, we have to wait for six hours to play." Adam replied as he snipped at the grass with scissors. "I told you you're too early yet again." He looked up and noted the crazed look on the high schooler's face. "Why don't you go home and take a nice long nap? Please."
"Oh, but I want to help." Conner began to run around maniacally. "I could get the nets all set up. Or I could wash and polish the balls. Or I could make the lines for you. Or I could…"
"Fine, fine," waved Adam dismissively. "Just leave me alone."
"Yay!" shouted Conner.
Adam sighed in relief and continued his grass trimming in peace. Five minutes later, he was startled by some loud popping sounds. He looked up and saw Conner standing sheepishly by some now flat soccer balls. "What the?"
"This ball dryer's lousy if you ask me," commented Conner as he ran a machine over yet another ball, causing it to burst as well.
Adam glared at him. "You dolt, that's a lawn mower."
"Lawn mower?" asked Conner. "What's it for?"
"For cutting grass." Adam couldn't believe this. "Haven't you ever used one? Don't your parents make you mow the lawn?"
Conner grinned. "Hell, no. My dumb twin brother, Eric's got to do all those chores since he's flunked out of the Wind Ninja Academy. My parents let me do what I want since I'm a Rang…" He quickly clamped his mouth shut as he realized what he had almost done. Dr. O. had told them never to reveal their secret. Conner wasn't sure what would happen if he blabbed. But he was already struggling in science and didn't need to give his teacher any excuse to fail him.
"Well, maybe you should use some of that energy at home to mow…" Adam paused and then smacked himself in the head. He then tossed aside the ruler and scissors, then grabbed the mower and continued with his task.
"I'll go get the nets up," shouted Conner over the noise. He took his coach's non-response as approval.
Adam was halfway through the field when he heard the cry for help. Instinctively, he stopped the motor and reached for where his turbo morpher used to be, calling "Turbo Power!" Realizing his error he simply shrugged and turned around.
Conner had gotten himself completely twisted up in the two nets. "Uh, coach, could you give me a hand here?"
Adam clapped. "I didn't even think that was humanly possible."
"Oh, come on. Untwist me so I can get those lines painted for you." Conner looked beseechingly at him.
Adam glanced at the machine that made white lines and shuddered in horror at the mess Conner could make using it. "No way, Ranger boy. You're staying just like that until I'm done setting up."
"But Coach, I'm losing the feeling in my…" He stopped speaking for two seconds. "Wait, what did you call me? How did you know I was a Ranger?"
Adam leaned on the mower. "I'm one of Dr. O's friends from high school."
Conner stared blankly at him.
Adam pointed to the nametag on his uniform. "My name is Adam Park."
Conner continued to stare blankly.
Adam sighed in frustration. "Didn't you watch that recording Tommy made about the previous Rangers?"
"Yeah," said Conner slowly. Then his face lit up. "Oh, you're that Adam Park. You were a Ranger with Mr. O." He grinned. "It's cool that you were such good friends that you decided to work with him again."
Adam snorted as he tried to restart the mower. "Friends nothing. That glory hog took all the credit as well as all the cute girls. I got stuck with a nagging shrew who thought she could sing." He snarled at the mower as it continued to sputter and pulled the starter again. "The only reason I came to the crazed school is because Tommy promised that I could be the Black Ranger on his team if I'd coach the different teams. So, as soon as he finds the crystal, he'll…"
"Uh, Coach?" interrupted Conner hesitantly. "We've already had a Black Ranger for almost two months now. Didn't you notice?"
"WHAT!" screeched Adam as he knocked over the stubborn mower. "No I didn't notice! How could I when the Principal's crazy requests and rules keep me busy all day?" He squeezed his eyes closed and tried to get himself under control. "Well, I guess maybe it is time for some other high school kid to have the chance to be a Ranger."
"What kid?" asked Conner who had managed to get a foot loose from the net. "Dr. O's the Black Dino Ranger."
"WHAT!" screeched Adam again. He grabbed the mower and proceeded to run off the field with it.
"Where are you going?" cried Conner who was still struggling to get out of the net.
"To find my good friend, Tommy, and shove this mower up his…"
"Wait! You can't do that!"
Adam paused. "You're right, this is too heavy and conspicuous to run with." He then grinned evilly. "I guess I'll just have to inform Principal Randall of her science teacher's secret crush on her." With that, he ran off.
"Coach!" cried Conner. "What about me? I can't practice if I'm stuck like this. Hello? Anybody?" Suddenly, it began to pour. "Oh, great," he whined. "Now the game's gonna be cancelled for sure."