Chapter 31: Times are Changing Part I

Kimberly was sitting at Ninja Ops concentrating on the screen in front of her. "What's going on?" Hannah asked worriedly. Kimberly let out a sigh and looked at the screen.

"Lothor's ship is growing stronger and I think I know why," she replied.

Sensei looked at Kimberly confused. The former Pink Ranger continued to stare at the screen. "Just as I thought," she whispered.

"What is the problem, Kimberly?" Sensei asked.

"My old Ranger powers are powering Lothor's ship…for a deadly attack."

Kimberly ran her fingers through her hair and let out a sigh. "What are you going to do?" Hannah asked. Kimberly stood up.

"I'm getting my powers back," she replied.

"Mom no!" Hannah objected.

"I have to sweetie. Lothor will destroy Blue Bay Harbor if I don't get them back."

Kimberly kissed Hannah's cheek. "Tell Hunter and Blake that I have to do this," she instructed. Hannah nodded and watched as Kimberly ran out of Ninja Ops.

(Lothor's Ship)

Kimberly looked around the ship and felt a shiver run down her spine. "Not many good memories here eh Kimberly?" A voice sneered. Kimberly gasped and looked over her shoulder to see Vexsecus standing there. She got into a fighting stance.

"Stay away from me," she ordered.

"Why would I do a thing like that?"

Kimberly did several back flips before she saw the machine that held her powers. She gasped when he grabbed her throat and pinned her to a wall. "What are you doing here anyways?" He demanded. She gasped for air and grabbed onto his wrist.

"She came for her powers," Lothor laughed.

Kimberly struggled against Vexsecus's grasp and glared at Lothor. "Let her go, I think she'll want to watch as we destroy Blue Bay Harbor with her powers," Lothor laughed. She fell to her knees when Vexsecus let her go.

"Y--You t--tried to kill me…and my sons," she hissed.

"Yeah well, that's the beauty of being evil my dear," Lothor laughed.

Kimberly glared at them. "Such fun to know that an old Ranger will be part of my plan," Lothor laughed.

"What are you going to do with me?" She asked.

"I'll have your precious sons and the rest of the Rangers hand over their powers," Lothor replied.

She shook her head. "No…they know I would die first before I let them give their powers to you," she snapped.

"That can be arranged. I nearly killed you before," Lothor laughed.

Kimberly closed her eyes and bit her lip. She got up and she ran for safety. "AFTER HER!" Lothor shouted.

She hid behind a wall and closed her eyes when they ran by her. She held her communicator up to her lips. "Sensei come in," she called.

"I can hear you, Kimberly," Sensei answered.

Kimberly looked at the machine. "Sensei, I found the machine that's holding my powers. I'm going to free the Ninja Students before I do what I have to do," she informed.

"What are you about to do, mom?" She heard Hunter asked.

Kimberly felt tears press against her eyes. "I---I can't let Lothor use my powers for evil. I'm going to destroy the machine and hopefully it'll destroy the ship," she informed. She heard silence on the other end.

"Mom, don't do it," Blake insisted.

"I have to. I don't have much time, I have this one chance."

"Mom…don't…" Blake was cut off.

"Do what you have to do, mom. We love you," Hunter put in.

She lowered her head. "I love you too, remember what I said to you Hunter on the hill after the gem of souls incident," she reminded.

"I remember," Hunter answered.

"And I mean every word of it. Goodbye."

She cut the transmission and she ran into the room where the Ninja Students were being held. "I'm letting you out," she informed. She freed the students and sent them back. "You, give me your weapon," she instructed. The ninja student handed her a weapon. "Thank you now go," she instructed. She watched them escape and let out a shaky break.

Kimberly snuck into the room and she saw kelzaks in the way. She fought them off and she made her way to the machine. Tears fell down her face as she raised the staff high above her head. She tapped into the little bit of ninja energy she had left. "NINJA CRANE POWER!" She shouted. She brought the staff down onto the machine.

"NO! STOP HER!" Lothor shouted.

The machine then blew up and Kimberly flew back and hit the wall.

(Ninja Ops)

The Rangers watched in shock as the ship blew up, with their mother, friend, and mentor inside. "MOM!" Hannah screamed.

"No…" Blake whispered.

Hunter lowered his head and tears pressed against his eyes. "She can't be gone…Miss Hart can't just die," Dustin insisted. Hunter walked a bit and he kicked the nearest wall. Tori wrapped her arm around Blake's shoulders and they watched as the Crimson Ranger kicked and punched the nearest wall. Hannah walked over and embraced her brother with tears falling down her face. The computer started beeping and Cam brought it up on screen.

"I hate to say it you guys, but we're not out of the woods yet," Cam informed.

They looked at the screen. "Lothor and his goons survived," Tori whispered angrily.

"Is there any sign of Kimberly?" Sensei asked.

Cam scanned the area. "Nothing," Cam replied. They all felt their hearts go into the pit of their stomach. Hunter got up from the floor.

"Well, you guys. Ready for one more? For mom?" He asked.

"Right," Blake agreed.

"I'm with you," Tori replied.

"No way I'm going to let her death make us lose this fight," Shane put in.

"Miss Hart would want us to fight," Dustin agreed.

"She would've wanted us to move on," Cam stated.

Hunter took a deep breath. "Ready?" Shane asked.

"Ready," they replied.

"NINJA STORM, RANGER FORM!"

"THUNDER STORM, RANGER FORM!"

"SAMURAI STORM RANGER FORM!"

Sensei watched as the Rangers left, and while they were gone, he was able to put himself back into his human form, thanks to Kimberly's help. She and Billy had developed technology to turn him back, but it just took time. Sensei lowered his head sadly. "Good luck, Rangers," he murmured as he watched them run out of Ninja Ops.

To Be Continued…