Author's note: sorry for the long delay, been really busy with school and work. Haven't had time to sit down and write. It's starting to slow down so hopefully the updates will come quicker.
Chapter 24.
The group entered the underground lab and went straight to work. Ethan and John went to help Hayley in any way that they could.
Kira, Rita and Anna were covering all the ways to get Conner out without drawing attention to themselves, while Tommy, Kim and
Jason sat on the stairs watching over everything.
"Hey Kim, doesn't that image bring back memories?" Jason asked.
"Oh yeah." Kim said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Tommy asked.
"Back when we found out you were the green ranger, the five of us were scattered throughout the Command Center trying to figure out how to break the spell and get you back."
"Really?"
"Yep, I was worried sick and Jason was trying to calm me down while Trini and Billy were trying to figure out how to break the spell. Zack was going back and forth between us to try and lighten the mood. Alpha was helping Billy and Trini and Zordon just watched us in silence." Kim stated.
"Mesogog has more than Conner, Tommy. He has a brother, a son, a boyfriend. He has a member of our family and it's time to
bring him home before something bad happens to him. Anna said he's fine for the time being but if we wait too much longer,
that will change." Jason said, slightly worried.
"How much longer till know something?" Kim asked.
"GOT IT!" Hayley yelled.
Everyone hurried to the computer to see what they had come up with.
"What is it Hayley? You got something?" Tommy asked.
"I know how to get in to the fortress but we can't get in undetected. You guys will have to be prepared to fight."
"Whatever it takes to get Conner back." Kira said with no hesitation.
Hayley looked around at the group and saw them all shake their heads in confirmation.
"What do we have to do?" Tommy asked.
"Give it a virus. Even if it only lasts for a few minutes, it only needs to get us in. After that, we can use an invisportal to get out. We just need to get in." John said.
"What kind of virus?"
"A computer virus. All of his barriers are connected to one main computer. If we can get that computer to shut down, we'll have access to the island."
"How do we give it a virus and how do we make sure it's the right one?"
"We've already found the computer. We just need to plant the virus."
"What happens once we get inside?" Ethan asked.
"We get Conner out of there." Anna said.
"What are you waiting for? Upload it." Kira said.
"Wait." Tommy said right before Hayley entered the code to upload it.
"What?" Kira asked.
"We need to think this through guys."
"What's to think? We get in there and get him out."
"It's not that simple Kira and you know it."
"What are you talking about?"
"Think about what they said. The next meeting will be the last. They won't hesitate to kill us." Ethan said.
"If we do this, we need to be prepared for anything."
"This is it."
"Give it a virus. Get inside and finish this thing once and for all."
"One problem. We only have three rangers, we'll need to be at full strength to even have a chance." Hayley said.
"I know what we can do. Where is the red morpher?" Tommy asked.
"Over there in the safe."
Tommy walked over to the safe and unlocked it. When he pulled the morpher out and turned to the group, he had this look in his eyes that was between uncertainty and fear.
"Dr. O. What are you thinking?" Ethan asked.
"We need a red ranger for this mission."
"How? The gem is bonded to Conner." Kim asked.
"The gem, yes. The morpher, no. When Hayley and I built these, we set them up so that the gem would choose their owner and bond with their DNA. The morpher will work on anyone. They just won't have the special powers."
"So, who?" Jason asked.
Tommy looked at his old friend with a smile. He walked up to Jason and placed the morpher in his hands.
"Tom?"
"Jason, I'm asking you for one last ride. I know the mission to the moon a few years ago was supposed to be it, but there's no one else that I trust enough to go there with me."
"Hey, what about me?" Kim asked.
"I trust you enough to get the job done. It's just that you have Anna to worry about and I don't think you would look good in red,
beautiful."
"Good point. Go ahead Jason."
"Tommy, I don't-"
"Jason, one last time as the red ranger. It's a different suit, yes, but everything else is the same. It can only be you. What do you say? Please help us."
Tommy extended his hand for Jason. As Jason looked at the morpher in his hands and thought about it, a small smile crossed his face.
"One last time? Yeah, I think it will be fun to kick some monster ass one more time. I'm in."
Jason shook Tommy's hand as they prepared to head to the fortress.
"Hayley, send the virus." Tommy said.
"Wait!" John yelled.
"What?"
"Do you really think we are going to let you go alone? Not a chance. You gave us the chance to redeem ourselves for our actions as Lord Zedd and Rita. If Jason gets one last chance to go into battle, why shouldn't we?" John said with a smirk.
At the snap of their fingers, Lord Zedd and Rita stood in the basement once again.
"The only difference: We fight for good this time. To the end, rangers. Hopefully when we return, we will have another with us."
Zedd stuck out his hand and one by one everyone in the basement acknowledged his gesture.
"To the end."
"Guys, let's do it." Tommy said, taking control.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
"DINO THUNDER POWER UP!"
In the basement stood the black, yellow and blue rangers. The black ranger walked over to Jason.
"You know what to do."
"Yes, I do."
Jason backed away from the group before yelling out:
"DINO THUNDER POWER UP!"
There stood the red ranger.
"Hayley, send it."
"Tommy!" Kim called out to her ex-boyfriend.
"What is it Kim?"
Kim reached up and unclasped his helmet so she could look at him. Not being able to find the right words, she pulled him down into a kiss. When they pulled away, she whispered in his ear.
"Be careful. When you get back, dinner's on me."
"Deal."
"Tommy, we're ready."
Tommy walked back to the group as they prepared to say goodbye.
"Okay guys, virus is sent. Good luck." Hayley said.
"Thanks Hayley for everything."
Just before they were sent through the invisiportal, Anna took a picture of the entire group assembled for this mission.
"Good luck, my family." She whispered.
Once gone, the three remaining girls held each other in a tight hug, fearful of what might happen in the fortress.
TBC.