Chapter 21
Jason hesitated for a few minutes, trying to think of what to say to the man who just answered the door. "What am I doing here? That's a good question that I don't think I have an answer for."
"You're obviously here for a reason or you wouldn't be here."
"Can I come in and talk about it?"
"Sure. Come on in."
The man stepped aside to allow Jason to enter the house. The men made their way to the family room and Jason occupied the couch as the man took the chair across from him. Just then, his wife came down the stairs.
"Oh honey, look who's come for a visit. Jason."
"Oh my, after all these years. Hello Jason."
"Hello Ma'am." Jason replied, still feeling a little uncomfortable about being in their home.
"So Jason, you never answered my question, what are you doing here?"
"I need your help. Actually, Tommy needs the help. Have you heard of the events happening in Reefside?"
"Yeah, that's where the power rangers are."
"Right, well Tommy is one of the rangers again. This time he has three high school kids to make the team. Kimberly has moved to Reefside as well with her daughter. To make a long story short, the enemy has kidnapped Kim's daughter and is holding her someplace. We cannot track her whereabouts because there is a firewall that is blocking any kind of rescue that we have planned for her. If we can't locate her, we can't rescue her. I'm here asking you for help because I don't know who else to go to. I'm not computer smart, but Tommy has a friend who is but she's trying to do it all on her own. She's about ready to break. She can't do it alone, she needs help. I'm not forcing you to come back to Reefside with me, that decision is yours and yours alone. Given our history, I won't be surprised if you do say no."
"What makes you think we want to get back into this lifestyle? We are happy here. Why go back to the way it was before?" The wife asked.
"I can't answer that, all I know is that there is a house full of people in Reefside that are looking for a way to help a teenage girl get home. I think that you two can make that happen."
"Would you mind if we talked it over with each other before committing to anything?" The man asked.
"Not at all."
"We'll think about it and we'll let you know when we have an answer. Leave Tommy's address and your cell phone number."
Jason wrote down the requested information and handed it to the man. He got up to leave and was followed by the couple before turning around to meet their eyes.
"Thank you for considering this. I was half expecting a flat out 'No'."
"Thank you for thinking of us to come help. We'll be in touch Jason."
"You're welcome and I'll be waiting."
As they watched Jason pull out of the driveway and down the street, the two of them wondered about what it would be like to help the man who had just drove away.
"What do you think?"
"I don't know. I never expected to be asked to help once again. A part of me wants to decline the offer and go on living like we have and another part of me wants to call Jason right now and tell him to turn around and take us with him to Reefside."
"That's the part of you that misses the action. I think it would be in everyone's best interest to help them with this situation. Here, call him back." She said as she handed her husband the phone.
"So that's it, we're going to Reefside?"
"Yeah, we're going to Reefside."
He took the phone and dialed the number Jason had just left. Jason heard the phone ring just as he exited the car at the gas station. He reached in his pocket and pulled the device out.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"Just down the street at the gas station. Why?"
"Can you come back and pick us up. We're going to Reefside."
"Really?"
"Yeah, if we can help in any way, we're there."
"Great, give me a few minutes and I'll be right there."
"We'll be waiting."
After filling up, Jason turned around and drove back to the house to pick up their new allies in this mission. Once loaded into the car, the three of them started the long trip back to Reefside.
At Tommy's
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Tommy asked Kim.
"Not too good. My little girl is being held prisoner by that freak. Who knows what's happening to her right now and there's nothing I can do about it."
"Anna's a big girl. She can take care of herself. After all, she is your daughter. I promise Kim, we'll get her back."
"In one piece?"
"I can't make that promise and you know it. But I will get her back."
"Thank you so much Tommy. I don't know if I could do this without you."
"I'm sure you could have. You are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. Just like Kira."
"Kira?"
"She seemed so helpless in the hospital but now, she's showing just how much fight she has in her."
"How do you mean?"
"She is certain that the person who took Anna was not Conner. She's not sure how but she knows it wasn't him and she called me on it."
"When?"
"About twenty minutes ago in the basement."
"What did she say?"
"She said that I once told her that anything was possible and that I shouldn't give up hope on her or Conner. That if there was a way that it wasn't Conner, we should look into it. She's so certain she's right, she'll stop at nothing until she knows the truth."
Just then, Hayley came up with Kira and Ethan in tow. She looked as though she had some information on something.
"What is it Hayley?" Kim asked.
"I've located them but since I haven't been able to break the firewall, we can't get to them."
"Them?" Tommy asked.
"I'm receiving four energy signals from the Island Fortress not three. I think you should come and check this out."
The five of them went to the basement to survey what Hayley had just discovered.
"You see, here is Anna. That Pinkish purple is her, the White is Trent and the red is Conner."
"You mean, Anna is stuck in the same room as Conner after what he did to her?" Kim asked.
"That's what I thought too, but look up here, next to Trent. There is a lighter red almost pink energy source and I don't know who that is."
"So where exactly are they?"
"The lower chamber at the Island Fortress. But until we can break the firewall, we can't do anything."
"Maybe we can be of some help." A voice from behind said.
Five heads turned around and saw Jason standing with two people.
"Have we met?" Tommy asked.
"Yes we have, but you won't recognize us." The man said.
"You sure have come a long way since that day I met you in the Alley in Angel Grove Tommy." The woman said.
Realization hit Tommy like a ton of bricks. Gone were Lord Zedd and Rita and in their place was Rita and John Zeddney.
"Why you? Why did Jason get you?"
"Because Tom. Who better than someone who has put up countless firewalls or something like them to keep us out of thier palace. They know how these barriers work inside and out. So the question isn't why Tom, it's why not?"
"Can you help get my daughter back?" Kim asked, standing face to face with the two former villians.
"I promise you that when we break the firewall, you will have your daughter back Kimberly."
"Then there's nothing to lose. Let's do it. Do what you have to do just get her back."
"Where do we begin?"
"Over here." Hayley called and the two of them started towards the computer, eager to help wherever and however they could.
TBC.