The Unmasking of Rex Red and Wolf McBlue
By: PernDragonrider (with major help from Ghost Zero)
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Note: I should have put this on the first chapter. FYI: Timeline for this is between the end of Wild Force and the beginning of Ninja Storm. Major thanks to Ghost Zero for the help I'm getting from him on this and the next chapter as well as massive thanks for helping pick out finishing moves and entrance music for Rex and Wolf.
Chapter Four"I can't believe that Wolf McBlue picked you up like you weighted nothing, Tommy." Rocky said as he drove his SUV back toward Adam and Tanya's house. "I was surprised that you didn't lash out to get down."
"I couldn't even think." Tommy said with a still stunned expression on his face. "One second I was looking Rex Red in the eyes and the next I was lifted off the floor and staring into Wolf's eyes. Let me tell you something. Rex is built better than TJ and Wolf is stronger than he looks. I'm glad I didn't automatically lash out because I think I would have gotten creamed."
"They were great weren't they?" Justin asked excitedly from the back seat. "I can't believe that I got to meet Rex, Wolf, Triple H, Stone Cold, Mankind, and the other wrestlers tonight. I really can't believe that Rex was able to pick me up like a little kid without even straining at all."
"I can't believe that TJ, Cassie, Ashley, Andros, Zhane, Karone, and Ryan are working at that place." Adam said with a small frown. "I thought they weren't going to advertise their existence outside of Angel Grove."
"Ryan did say something about the owners making them a good offer for the jobs they have." Tanya said with a small smile. "I imagine that the pay and benefits are great. Ashley is looking really good and I can't wait for her baby shower next month. Also, TJ told us that his job in AG went out of business. I imagine that he's happy to be working."
"I just hope that none of our team decides to start working there." Tommy said with a worried frown. "The Astro and Lightspeed Rescue Rangers are the only teams whose identities are know to the world at large. Any of the rest of ex-Rangers working at that place might cause some problems for the rest of us."
"I don't think we'd have a problem with that, Tommy." Rocky said with a smile. "Trini is in D.C. working at the State Department. Zack is in New York and working on his music and dancing career. Kimberly has her gymnastics studio in Angel Grove. Kat is in Australia dancing professionally at the Sydney Opera House. Aisha is STILL in Africa working with the animals and I have my dojo in Stone Canyon as well as stunt work with Adam during the slow times. Tanya has her radio station here in LA and Adam isn't planning on quitting the stunt business anytime soon. That's all of us accounted for."
"All but two." Tommy said with a sad smile. "Well actually, all but one. Billy is still living on Aquitar, from the IP address of his e-mails; according to Haley. Jason's e-mails and phone call always show up as him being someplace in California, but he's called a couple of times from some weird places, all across the country. He won't tell any of us what he's doing for a living and all of a sudden after an almost four year absence he shows up for that Red Ranger team-up on the moon. He didn't even hang around and attend the party with all of us afterwards. Now, about four months later, he's got all the others coming into town for a party next Friday night. Something isn't right about this, but I can't put my finger on what's wrong."
"Maybe there's nothing wrong, Tommy." Justin said with a small knowing smile on his face. "He must be doing all right or he'd have contacted one of you guys before now or his parents. Maybe he just wanted to surprise everyone and didn't expect us to have tickets for something that's been sold out for almost a year now."
"You're probably right, Justin." Adam said with a yawn. "I'm glad I got to meet those wrestlers tonight. Did you hear what Hulk Hogan was saying about Wolf taking him apart for injuring Rex's back further? What's going on with that? He doesn't move like he's hurt."
"Remember when Jeff Hardy tossed him out of the ring and he fell on the ladder Matt was pulling out from under the stage?" Justin said and smiled when Tommy, Rocky, and Adam nodded that they did remember watching that match on TV. "Maybe that's when he hurt his back. He did miss a few matches right after that."
"Yeah he did." Adam said. "I guess that's what Hogan was talking about when he said Vince would take off a few layers of his hide if Rex got hurt again."
"Vince wouldn't want any of his wrestlers injured, Adam." Tommy said with a serious expression on his face. "He might publicly scream, rant, and rave at them; but I'm sure he wants them in the best shape they can be."
"What was all that crap about the Center of Power and the Creator?" Rocky asked as he continued to drive toward where Tanya and Adam lived. "I never expected them to bring that into the room. It's like they really believe the crap they sprout."
"I don't know, Rocky." Adam said with a smile. "Maybe they've both taken too many drops on the head and they do believe it."
"Hey, can I crash on the couch tonight?" Rocky asked with a tired yawn as he pulled into the driveway of Adam and Tanya's house. "I'm too tired to drive back home."
"Sure thing, Rocky." Tanya said faking her own yawn. "You know where the extra blankets are."
"Thanks Tanya." Rocky said as they all got out of his Explorer and walked up to the house. "I can't believe that it's almost three in the morning and that place was really jamming when we left. What time do they close?"
"According to the times on the front door, they close at five in the morning." Justin told them his own tired yawn following his words.
"G'night everyone." Tommy said as he and Justin made their way toward the back of the house and the bedroom Tommy shared with Justin when he was staying with Tanya and Adam. "See ya in the morning."
"Night Tommy, Justin." Rocky called as he quickly grabbed an extra pillow and lightweight blanket from the hall closet.
"Night everyone." Adam and Tanya called as they went upstairs to their bedroom.
The next week flew by for Billy, Jason, and the other original Power Rangers of Earth. Tommy and Justin spent the week helping Adam get the outside chores done on the house and Rocky wound up staying the week to help them out. Billy and Jason spent Monday, Tuesday, and most of the day on Wednesday working with Paul, Triple H, and Terry, Hulk Hogan, in their in house gym and down at the Coliseum to perfect their fight for that coming Friday night.
On Wednesday afternoon, Jason and Billy were driving back from the Coliseum in Jason's Hummer; both men wore a satisfied expression as Jason drove back to his home thru LA rush hour traffic.
"Have you decided whether or not you're staying at the house or going to get a nice room near the Coliseum yet, Bill?" Jason asked as they were again stopped in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
"I believe that our surprise will be better delivered if I leave the house before Kimberly arrives tonight." Billy said with a smile. "Provided that we make it back home before the limo arrives from the airport; I plan to pack up our necessary costumes for Friday night along with some casual clothing. I will take my Diablo and check into the Hilton, the Radisson, or the Courtyard. Whichever has a nice two bed suite available until Friday. This way we both have a place to rest and relax before the program on Friday night."
"Good thinking, bro." Jason said as he kept his eyes on the road, but there was a smile on his face and if his dark Raybans hadn't hidden his eyes Billy would have seen a very mischievous gleam lighting up the chocolate brown depths. "Vince has given his approval for the match and I am looking forward to losing the masks. Danged thing makes my face itch when I sweat."
"Mine too, Jase." Billy sighed. "Have you thought about our contract renewal that is approaching in the next two months?"
"I am really undecided on whether or not to renew, Bill." Jason said with a small frown and a serious tone of voice overtaking the happier one he'd used moments before. "I mean Vince is a great boss; but we've got enough money coming in with the income from the Club and our shares of the REF that we could chose not to renew and still live very comfortably. I can't decide whether to renew for another year or not."
"Perhaps we can get some advice from the others over the weekend." Billy said with a sigh. "I too am torn about renewing our contracts. If we don't renew, I will miss working with all of the wonderful friends we've made over the last four years; however on the other hand it will free up more time for me to research more of Zordon's files and see what can be patented and released through our companies."
"Finally." Jason said as he signaled to let the people behind him know that he was exiting the freeway. "Maybe you should take your Hummer and leave the Diablo. I can always have Ryan or Carlos come out to the house and park it in the VIP parking at the club."
"I am very capable of driving my preferred vehicle back to the hotel, Jason." Billy said with a sigh. "I know that you are more comfortable and do not worry so much when I drive the Hummer you purchased for me; however I enjoy driving my Diablo more than the Hummer. Kim's plane isn't due in until after nine tonight so I can wait until after rush hour to leave the house and return to the hotel. I will just make our reservations on-line."
"All right." Jason said with a small note of worry still remaining in his resigned voice. "Thank goodness we're off the freeway and onto the main roads. Traffic should be getting a little lighter the closer to home we get. What do you think about letting Kim in on the surprise?"
"I think that she'd tell Trini and or Aisha and then one of them would tell Zack or Rocky and our surprise would be ruined." Billy replied with a smile in his voice. "I love Kimberly and the rest of our former teammates like they were family; however Kimberly would not be able to keep the secret from Trini or Aisha. Had Kat's flight been the first to arrive; then we could have let her in on the secret and we'd still be successful in shocking our friends with what profession we're in now."
"Well, I'm still concerned with getting Tommy to take off my mask." Jason said with a tinge of worry hiding in his happy voice. "He's going to have one of three reactions. He'll either be so shocked he won't be able to move, he'll be so angry that he won't talk to me, or he'll be so shocked and angry that he knocks my lights out before I get a chance to pin Paul. I would prefer the first reaction; but Tommy has always been unpredictable when he gets a shock like we're going to be handing him."
"True." Billy said thoughtfully as Jason continued driving toward their home. "However I believe that Adam and Rocky will be able to control him should he attempt to strike out at either of us."
"Hope so or else that Paul is keeping the belt because I'll be out cold." Jason replied with a smile. "Want to splurge for dinner tonight and have something unhealthy and fattening?"
"Pizza with everything but anchovies, a large order of cheesy bread, and a huge chocolate milkshake sounds good to me." Billy replied and both men smiled as their stomachs rumbled.
"Good, you call the pizza place and get the pizza and cheesy bread delivered." Jason said with a smile as he triggered the remote for the gates that blocked his driveway as he turned into it. "I'll get out the chocolate ice cream and the heavy cream to do up the shakes."
"Deal." Billy said as he opened his cell phone and called the pizza parlor that they used, infrequently, when they wanted to splurge; which wasn't often because neither man could afford to gain an excessive amount of fat instead of muscle.
Jason parked the Hummer in the garage and both men got out. Billy finished placing their deliver order and Jason was already getting the ingredients out for the milk shakes when the house phone rang. Jason answered the phone. "Hello." Jason said as he continued preparing the milk shakes for him and Billy.
"Hey Boss." Billy heard as he walked by Jason and Jason put the phone into speakerphone mode. Ryan's voice issued out of the speaker as he continued talking. "Carlos called the airport. Kimberly's plane is delayed and it won't be in until after ten tonight. He won't be leaving the club until around eight forty-five to pick her up. Is that all right or do you want him to leave as planned and then wait at the airport?"
"Carlos can use his discretion, Ryan." Jason answered as he loaded the blender with chocolate ice cream, chocolate milk, and Hershey's chocolate sauce. "Just remind him that he can't make any comments about me being his boss or that Billy is anywhere near Earth."
"Got it boss." Ryan said with a smile that could be heard over the phone. "Billy going to a motel until Friday night?"
"Yep." Jason answered. "Is that all you needed, Ryan?"
"Yeah." Ryan answered truthfully. "Have a good night and a nice visit with Kimberly, boss."
"Not a problem, Ryan." Jason answered with his own smile. "See ya Friday night. I'm hanging up because we decided to splurge and have chocolate shakes with dinner tonight. Gonna be running the blender."
"See ya." Ryan said and cut the connection.
"Pizza and bread sticks will be here in about ten minutes, Jase." Billy said as he made his way to the front door and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. I've got the bill for the food."
Jason's "Thanks bro." Was almost drowned out by his starting the blender to mix up their shakes.
Billy smiled and waited by the front door for the buzz that indicated that the delivery driver had arrived at the driveway gates.
Jason and Billy ate dinner and then Billy packed up their costumes and masks for the match on Friday night along with a couple of changes of clothes for himself. While Jason was cleaning up the kitchen, Billy walked through with their duffle bags that held their costumes and a small pilot's case that held Billy's normal clothing.
"I'm headed out, Jase." Billy said in passing. "Reservations are at the Radisson and I'll call your cell phone to leave the room number after I get checked in."
"Okay, drive carefully, bro." Jason said as he looked up and smiled.
Billy made it to the hotel without a problem or an accident. He checked into his room and called Jason's cell phone.
"I'm here Jase." Billy said as Jason answered. "Room number is 1002. Top floor two king sized bedroom suite. Nice, but not as nice as home."
"Yeah, I hear that, bro." Jason replied with a smile that Billy could hear and could see in his mind's eye too.
"Don't let Kimberly break Carlos's back with her luggage, Jase." Billy told his best friend and the closest thing to a brother that he'd ever had. "She's probably packed enough clothes for a small army."
"Yeah I know." Jason said with a sigh. "Just glad that this place came with twelve bedrooms."
"Well we can house all of our old teammates without having to double them up, unless they want to double up." Billy replied with a teasing tone of voice.
"I know. I know." Jason said distractedly and Billy could hear one of the sports channels on in the background.
"I'm going down to the weight room and work off dinner, Jase." Billy told him. "I'll see you tomorrow night, bro. Drive the Diablo down here because if you leave it in the garage one of our guests will hot-wire the thing to go joy riding in."
"Yeah and it would probably be Zack and Kimberly doing it." Jason replied with a smile. "I'm headed to the workout room here after I see the scores on last night's game. I missed them because of how late we worked with Paul and Terry and then we crashed when we got home."
"See ya tomorrow." Billy said and broke the connection.
Billy went to the gym facilities provided by the hotel and smiled to see almost the same state of the art machines that he and Jason had in their home gym. He spent the next two hours on the machines and then made his way back to his room and the large king-sized bed therein. Billy was asleep almost as soon as he head hit the pillow.
Jason was in the gym doing leg presses when the chime sounded that signaled that someone with the access code was opening the driveway gates. Jason tossed the red towel around his bare shoulder and went to the front door. He opened the door and smiled as he saw the Ranger Space's limo pulling up in front of the house.
Carlos jumped from the driver's door as soon as he'd put the vehicle into park and he opened the passenger door on the driver's side for his passenger to exit from. Kimberly stepped out and then looked around in shock. She didn't see Jason standing open doorway because he'd not turned on any lights in the house when he padded through to the door.
"Are you sure this is the address, Carlos?" Kimberly asked with some awe in her voice as she took in the huge mansion before her.
"Yes ma'am." Carlos said with a smile as he started unloading Kimberly's luggage from the trunk.
"Hey, Kimberly." Jason said and turned on the light so that Kimberly could see him standing in doorway. "Come on in and make yourself comfortable."
"Jase!" Kim cried happily as she ran up and stopped in her tracks with an "O" of shocked surprise showing on her face when she got a look at Jason clad in a pair of gold trimmed black bicycle shorts and nothing but a red towel thrown around his neck. "Wow!" Kim said as her breath whooshed out in surprise. "You must have been hitting the weights every day since you left. You look like one of those body builders, Jase."
"Thanks, I think." Jason said with a smile and then stepped forward and gave Kimberly a welcoming hug and a kiss on her cheek. "Don't want to get fat."
"Jason you will never be fat." Carlos said with a grin as he set the first two of Kimberly five pink Samsonite suitcases on the porch where Jason and Kimberly stood.
"You know Carlos, Jase?" Kimberly asked with a small frown.
"Carlos Valerte," Jason said with a smile. "Kimberly Hart, former Pink Might Morphin and Ninja Power Ranger. Kim, this is Carlos Valerte, former Green Turbo Ranger and current Black Astro Ranger."
"Jason?" Kimberly asked with a small frown on her face. "What kind of business are you in that you can afford to live in a place like this? Especially with the property tax costs in this part of LA?"
"Saved my paychecks, Kim." Jason said with a smile. "Well saved my paychecks and invested wisely. My business partner and I have done fairly well so far."
"You still didn't say what kind of business you're in." Kimberly said with a concerned frown marring her still beautiful elfin face.
"Entertainment, Kim." Jason said with a smile. "I'm in the entertainment business."