Chapter 18.
Just moments after Kira and the rest of the group left Conner's room, the hospital room lit up with a neon green light and two men appeared. Trent walked to the side of the bed as his partner walked to the other side. The two men regarded the unconcious teenager with distain. Trent let out an evil chuckle.
"What's so funny?" His partner asked.
"Nothing."
"Okay. I don't see what the big deal about this guy is. He's all banged up, he looks like trash."
"I did that. I'm the one who put him here. Look, we don't have a whole lot of time. If we are going to do this, then we have to do it now. Are you ready?"
"Yes sir."
"Okay."
With that, the two of them grabbed Conner's limp form and stood him up against Trent. As Trent held Conner up, his partner got in the hospital bed and hooked himself up to the machines. He looked up at Trent with a smile and Trent returned it with the same. Trent bent down and patted his partner on his shoulder.
"Remember, you're Conner now. Don't do anything that he wouldn't do. Don't let the other rangers on to who you are. You may look like Conner but if you act differently, they will know something is up."
"Dude, chill out. I got this under control."
"Already acting like him, you learn quickly."
"So what's the plan?"
"Right now, nothing. Part one was the switch. I'll let you know when Mesogog comes up with part two. I'll be in touch."
"How?"
"Don't worry about how, just know that you'll be hearing from me. I got to go, McKnight is getting a little heavy."
"Alright."
"Don't mess this up 'Conner', we can't afford any screw ups."
And Trent was gone, taking Conner with him.
At Tommy's house
Everyone was gathered in the living room, nobody knew what to say. Ever since the accident, no one had said much of anything.
The silence was unbearable and to make it worse, Tommy had started pacing. Everyone looked up at him as he paced back and forth across his living room, wearing a track into the floor.
"Tommy, will you stop?" Jason pleaded.
"What am I supposed to do Jason?"
"Nothing. It's all any of us can do. You said it to Mr. and Mrs. McKnight, no follow your own instructions. It's not going to help Conner any."
"Jason's right, Tommy. Let's just try and do something to get our minds off of Conner." Kimberly said.
"Hey, why don't Ethan, Kira, and I go do something and you three can go do whatever you want to do?" Anna suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea. Are you guys up for it?" Kim asked as she looked to her friends.
"Yeah, sure." Tommy responded.
"Why not?" Jason said.
The three of them got up to leave when Tommy asked. "Where are we going to go?"
The three friends thought about it for a moment until all three of them looked at each other with a smile on their face.
"Ernie's." They said in unison.
With that, the three of them left the house, leaving the three teens to themselves.
"So what do we do?" Ethan asked.
"I don't know, you tell me." Anna responded.
"Let's just go to a movie. It will take our minds off of everything. We need that." Kira whispered.
"Alright let's go."
At Ernie's
"Wow." Kimberly said as they walked through the doors of Ernie's Juice Bar. It wasn't the same as when they were kids but it still had enough nostalgia that it didn't matter.
"Just a little bit different than you guys remember huh?" A voice from behind said.
The three turned to see the familiar face of Ernie smiling right behind them.
"Ernie!" Kim yelled as she gave him a hug. Jason and Tommy shook hands and gave him a hug.
"Come on, guys, let me show you around."
"You really changed it up, Ernie." Tommy said.
"Yeah, well. Times change and you have to change with them."
"Yeah, but some things never change." Jason said.
"You're right, which is why, you three get your usual."
"You remembered?" Kim asked.
"How could I forget my favorite customers' orders?"
A few minutes later, he brought them their drinks, he sat down on the other end of the bar and started the conversation.
"So what's new with you guys? I haven't seen or heard from any of you in a long time."
"Well, I'm a Science teacher at Reefside High." Tommy answered.
"I just got a job in Reefside as a gymnastics coach." Kim said.
"I opened a dojo in Reefside." Jason answered.
"So, you're all in Reefside?"
"Yep, funny how things turned out huh?"
"You know, I hear there are power rangers up there as well."
"Yeah, we've seen them." Kim said.
Ernie gave a small chuckle at Kim's response.
"What?"
"Are you guys still rangers?" He asked.
"You knew?" Tommy asked.
"Oh yeah."
"Since when?" Jason asked.
"Right when you showed up, Tommy. I saw you in the karate tournament with Jason and when the Green Ranger showed up, he had the exact same style of martial arts. I know people follow the same kind but everyone has something different and I picked up on it."
"Well, to answer your question, we are not anymore." Jason said, pointing to him and Kim.
"But Tommy here, is a different story." Kim finished.
"Really?"
"Black." Tommy said, revealing his morpher.
"So that makes what, four colors?"
"You know your stuff." Tommy said.
Back in Reefside
"Well, that movie sucked." Ethan said.
"Yeah, it did." Kira responded.
"No argument here." Anna answered.
"So, are you guys looking forward to school on Monday?" Anna asked, already knowing the answer.
"No." Kira and Ethan replied in unison.
"I do know one thing, you better call the cops when I see Trent because I'm going to make him pay." Ethan said with venom in his tone.
"Don't do anything at school, Ethan. Wait until we see him in battle." Kira cautioned.
"Kira's right. You can get your revenge and no one will know it's you. You don't want to blow your cover or get in trouble at school." Anna said.
"Whether it's in school or in battle, he's mine."
"Only if you can get to him before me." Kira warned.
"Hey guys, I need your help." Anna said.
"With what?" Ethan asked.
"Getting my mom and Dr. O back together. Dr. O admitted that he still loves my mom and even if she won't say it, I know my mom loves him."
"You just don't give up, do you?" Ethan asked with a smile.
"Who, me?" Anna asked innocently.
"Yes, you. First Conner and Kira. Now Dr. O and your mom."
"Hey, if it's there, why fight it?"
"I agree."
"So, any ideas?"
"Nope. They aren't going to fall for it like Conner did. They've seen it all, they will see right through us before we even get started."
"Not if we do it right."
"I'll try but when they see right through it, I'm going to say 'I told you so'." Ethan said.
"I'll help." Kira answered.
"Good."
Angel Grove
"Well Ernie, it's been fun but we need to get going, it's a pretty long drive back to Reefside."
"Okay guys. It was good seeing you again. Any time you're in the neighborhood, stop in and say hi."
"We will. Take car Ernie." Tommy said.
Reefside
"Goodnight guys." Anna said as she walked into her house.
"Take care Anna."
"Bye."
Ethan and Kira continued walking home in silence until Ethan spoke up.
"You gonna go see him tommorrow?"
"Yeah, you want to come along?"
"No, you deserve some time alone with him."
"Alright, but I'll let you know how he's doing."
"You better."
They reached Kira's house and Ethan hugged her goodnight. She whispered her thanks before pulling away from him. Just as she went inside, Ethan let out a long sigh.
"Sleep well Kira."
Ethan continued his walk home on his own and when he reached his house he felt so releived.
"This has been a weekend from hell and it's not even over with yet." He said to himself.
"I promise you Conner, we'll get our revenge for your sake."
Trent watched from the lab as everyone said goodnight to one another. Mesogog entered behind him.
"The plan was a success?"
"Was there ever any doubt?"
"Where is he now?" Mesogog hissed.
"In the lower chamber."
"I want to see him."
"So go."
Mesogog started walking towards the lower chamber. When he got there, he was greeted by the sight of the battered and bruised Conner McKnight. He walked right up to his unconcious form and hissed in approval.
"Just how you wanted him?" Trent asked.
"He's perfect."
"So what's part two?"
"What is the most important part of the body?"
"The heart."
"Exactly. In part two, we take their heart. Or should I say Harts."
TBC.