**************** Angel Grove park*******************
"I'm pooped!" Justin exclaimed, sitting down at the picnic table. He crossed his arms and laid his head on the table. He, Rocky and Aisha had just powered down after coming from a long shift at the youth center. There had been so many people all wanting answers or help or supplies and the rangers couldn't do anything because well... what could they do? They couldn't make more food appear from thin air or fix broken equipment or anything like that. The best they could do was make a list and prioritize.
The demands from some of those they rescued was down right disgusting and ungrateful.
"I'm tired too." Aisha spoke softly, a testament to just how tired she was, as she sat on the bench beside Justin.
Rocky sat across from his tuckered out teammates and pulled out the list he had taken down. He read it over once, then again, before refolding it with a sigh. "So many requests."
"And we can't do the majority of it." Aisha said. " I mean pretty sure most of those requests are not legal and for the rest we can't do it. Not without using the flying zords anyway."
"I still don't know why Kat didn't come with us. She felt fine at breakfast." Justin huffed quietly.
"Yeah I know. I hope she's feeling better." Rocky said quickly. "Probably just something she ate."
Justin gave a quiet hum of agreement.
"Still..." Aisha said, "Had I know being a ranger would be this much work. I might have said no."
"Really Aisha?" Justin asked, picking his head up from the table.
She smiled at the kid. "No, not really. I think I would still be a ranger. Even if I am this bone tired."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence just listening to the world around them. The day was bright and clear. A few birds sang in the trees. The lake sparkled just a short distance away. The water gently lapping against the shore line like a gentle lullaby. Rocky was happy this part of the park had been left alone and not hastily turned into a farm plot or a space for the few farm animals they had brought back from the moon. It was nice to have a little place of quiet. A balm for the worn out red rangers soul. He recalled how he had roller bladed this very area maybe a week or so before everything went down. That brought a smile to his face. Aisha noticed and asked about it.
Justin let his friend's talk, he was too tired to join the conversation about roller blades and sports but he liked hearing his friend's voices. He was so very tired and the sound of them talking was so very soothing. There was a strange plop of water sound that brought Justin's focus back to the lake in front of him. He was sure there had been a flash of brown... probably just a fish. He had just open his mouth to mention it when Rocky gave a shout of warning.
"Well well what do we have here? A couple of escaped slaves and that child?"
Justin felt a shiver run up his spine as he leapt to his feet. Rocky and Aisha were already in defensive positions.
"Goldar? With the tengu?" Justin questioned.
Goldar smirked, waving his sword, as the tengu fluttered around him. "This is perfect! Kimberly will come after you and right into my trap." He looked right at Justin. "After all, Rita never got a chance to play with you but I will."
Justin felt his knees begin to shake in fear at the thought.
"Tengu, get the boy!" Goldar commanded
"Over my dead body!" Rocky shouted, striking out at the closest bird monster. "Justin stay close!"
Aisha kicked another. "Should we morph?" Her moves were slow, her form off kilter. They all were off there game from being so tired.
Goldar's fuzzy ears picked up on that word like a spark catching dried grass alight. He narrowed his eyes. Oh course these humans would be the new rangers. That was just the kind of luck the lion- ape had. "Tengu! Stop them from calling for there powers!"
"Ninjetti the...Mhmmm!" Rocky's transformation was halted by a thick band of sticky purple stuff over his mouth. It was like duct tape mixed with super glue and slime. He scratched at his face trying to get the goo off but it wouldn't budge.
He watched in horror as Justin and Aisha struggled with the same goo. Only taking a moment to be thankful that while there mouth's were sealed shut, there noses were clear so they could breath. The tengus still moved to attack. Rocky went to kick one when another barfed the purple goo over his other foot affectingly pinning it to the ground.
The othres were getting trapped as well as the tengus circled and coughed up purple goo at them. This was it. Unless back up arrived it would be all over. Goldar stalked over to Rocky. Rocky took a swing with his fist even thought he couldn't move his legs. Goldar laughed easily stepping to the side of the swing. "Fools. Pathetic." Goldar raised his sword. "I will end you and the girl here now but take the boy alive as a bargaining chip for the rangers."
A blast of blue laser light struck Goldar in the chest. Not killing him but forcing him away from Rocky as Ninjor landed among the group. "Looks like you could use a hand."
"Mhm-Mmhhm!" Rocky tried to speak.
"Sorry Rocky. I can't understand a word you are saying. Now Goldar how about we finish this? Come if you think you can stand up against Ninjor the great and powerful!"
But Goldar was no longer looking at Ninjor but behind him. The great ninja barely had time to react taking a glancing blow to the arm from a sword behind him.
"Is this a private party or can anyone join?" Elgar asked, his red lips curving in a grin over his pointed teeth. The card sword in his hand was still hot from the blow Ninjor had just received.
"Elgar and Piranhatrons? Oh dear, this isn't good." Ninjor muttered, looking from one threat to the other. Even the great and powerful Ninjor had limits.
"Back off clown face. I was here first!" Goldar growled at Elgar.
"Go use your wings to stuff some cushions! I'm here for the golden key part!" Elgar growled back waving his sword at Ninjor. "And you're gonna give it to me."
"That won't be happening." Ninjor replied, as he tried to move in a way that would give him some space to fight.
"That's right because the key part is mine! Run home. I think I hear your Auntie calling." Goldar mocked Elgar.
Elgar shouted and charged at Goldar. Swords clashed as both ordered there 'troops' to attack the others.
Rocky continued to struggle with his bounds. No matter who won it wasn't looking good for the rangers.
Where the hell were the others?
**************************Youth center***************************
"How are your hands feeling Bulk?" Skull asked for the fourth time in an hour.
"There fine. Quit worrying. Aisha and Billy fixed them up."
Skull nodded. "I know but... geez Bulk. I was so scared and you were so brave and I just..." The skinny boy sighed and leaned against the back wall. "I felt so useless." Skull closed his eyes, trying to keep back tears. Sure, they were honorary power rangers now but what good was that if he couldn't even stand up to a monster.
Bulk patted Skull's shoulder reassuringly. "You are brave Skull. A couple months ago we both would have run for it but you didn't. You stayed right there and made sure they didn't take Kimberly."
"Well I mean, I couldn't just leave her on the concrete sidewalk unconscious."
Bulk gave his little buddy a smile. "And I was plenty scared while fighting."
Skull looked up at Bulk, surprise on his face. "You were?"
Bulk nodded. "Yeah but I couldn't, wouldn't, let those walking chicken dinner hurt you or Kimberly. We're rangers now, we're not on our own anymore."
Skull brighten up at that. "Hey your right! We've got friends. A whole bunch to rely on."
"Right so don't worry. You'll be brave when you have to be, we both will."
"YOU TWO! Where is Kimberly?!" Mrs. Kwan's voice was so loud in the room that everyone went quiet as she stomped her way over to Bulk and Skull. Ernie was already moving to interject.
"It's alright everyone!" Ernie assured the people in the center before lowering his voice. "Mrs. Kwan, please don't shout like that. We have several people here recovering from PTSD from the moon and..." Ernie was cut off by the voice of an angry mother.
"I don't care about anyone else right now. I want to know where Kimberly is! It's almost dark outside, she was suppose to be home hours ago and she last left the house with these two. So I will ask again. Where is Kimberly? Tell me or do I need to go find a police person?"
Bulk took a slight step in front of Skull. "She ditched us. We ran into Billy, they talked for a bit and she went off with him."
"You didn't try and stop her? Or ask where she was going?"
"Ma'am with all due respect. Kimberly never liked us much. We weren't friends before the incident just acquaintances. She was all too happy to go off with Billy someplace so no, I didn't chase her down to pry."
Skull glanced at Bulk. When had he become such a good liar?
The anger and need to blame in Mrs. Kwan's eyes seemed to fizzed out. "Oh dear.." She said softly. "I shouldn't have blamed you boys."
"I am sure she will come home soon. Or at least let you know she's safe. How about something to drink?" Ernie interjected placing an arm over Mrs. Kwan's shoulder leading her away from the teens.
Once the adults were far enough away Bulk spoke. "Better report in. Mrs. Kwan seeking out Kimberly could cause trouble."
"Yeah besides it's almost dinner time. She might be awake by now."
Bulk simply nodded as the two went into the bathroom, made sure they were alone, and teleported to the command chamber.