Chapter 4 - Secrets
The rangers landed back at Neil and NC's home. Brian and Donna looked around while Katrina, Neil, NC and Aj started towards their vehicles. "Guy's, anyone know where Hez, Ren and Arianna could be?" Donna asked. The group looked around as Aj unlocked his car.
"Follow me, Hez always goes to the same place if we get split up and don't know if something bad happened." Aj said as he opened his door. Donna noticed Arianna left the car as she go into Brian's car. Neil and NC road together in Neil's as Katrina road with Aj. Minutes later on the road and they arrived at a garage.
"Dude, what the hell is this?" Neil asked as he exited his car.
"It's a meeting place me and Hez set up back when we were in high school. If anything happened that we didn't know if other was safe, we would meet up here." Aj explained as they walked up to the door. Aj pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door. As they stepped inside, Hez was well at work on laying into a punching bag with strikes. Arianna was sitting on the side with Ren on the bench. The garage was very roomy, holding a mat through most of the room and one heavy bag. Along the walls were two benches across on each wall and a fridge in the back corner connected to an extension cord that ran through the window connection to a generator.
"What keeps this place running?" NC asked as they stepped inside.
"A generator powered by gas. It's a lot cheaper than you think this way." Aj replied. Donna ran to her sister, engulfing her in an embrace. Arianna returned the hug, happy her sister was safe. Ren made his way to the group, clasping hands with the guys and hugging Katrina. The sun's of fists and feet slamming into a heavy bag stopped as Hez turned to see everyone. He walked over as he removed his fingerless martial arts gloves.
"I see you missed us," Katrina joked as she smiled as him. Hez couldn't manifest a single word to say and Aj could almost sense the blood rushing to his face. Luckily his skin tone rendered his blush unnoticeable.
"So what happened to you guys? We were in the middle of fighting… things and next thing I know you guys vanish." Hez asked.
"I'm not sure exactly," Aj said, trying to choose his words carefully.
"It was a dark place," Brian interjected. "We were trapped in darkness and then, suddenly back at the house. It was creepy but luckily Aj knew where to find you guys." Hez looked at Brian puzzled.
"What the hell is going on with Angel Grove?" Ren asked. "We get attacked by rock monsters now? Like are they the reason behind all the crime now?" The group sat in wonder.
"Guys, whatever is going on and whoever comes our way, we will face them as a team." Neil said. The group stood together and laughed at how cheesy Neil sounded.
"So…. We gonna go celebrate or what though?" Brian asked while he danced a little jig. Aj immediately slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Oh come on guys, we have a week off from the dojo let's go live!"
"Hell yea," NC agreed.
"You know we down for some fun," Donna spoke for Arianna and herself. Hez and Aj looked ain't each other defeated.
"Let's do it," Hez said reluctantly. Brian looked triumphant as he raised his fists. It was as if time began to fly because the drive felt like seconds before they were standing in front of the double doors of a local bar. The sign read "The Red Cadillac" and to emphasize on the title there was a red Cadillac parked on the sidewalk in front of the club. Hez already had his face in his palm as the group walked through the doors. Music and the smell of alcohol washed over them the instant the doors opened.
"Woooooo! Let's get this party started!" Neil and Brian said in unison as they caught sight of Tababa, Danny and Chris in a corner booth already drinking. Arianna and Donna dashed straight to the dance floor. Ren, Hez, Aj and Katrina followed Brian and Neil to the table. NC sat at the bar ordering a drink.
"Wussup my guys?!" Chris yelled. Hez could smell the alcohol on his breath and already knew he was too far gone. He couldn't help but laugh as he clasped hands with the larger man.
"We just got here and you're already wasted?" Aj asked.
"You two better drink, it numbs the pain." Chris replied. Hez and Aj mentally admitted they were sore and the battle didn't help their bodies feel any better. Brian came from behind the two, wrapping his arms around their shoulders, dangling beers in their faces.
"Come on my mentees drink up!" Brian yelled.
"Aye let's get a toast going." Tababa suggested.
"Oh hell yea," Neil said holding up his bottle as the others did.
"To these guys, the last two to join the ranks and brotherhood." Danny said.
"To these two, the toughest guys I know cause they took a hell of a beating," Chris said.
"To Hez and Aj, your path to greatness starts now," Brian and Tababa said in unison after a quick glance. With a clasp of beer bottles they each chugged their drinks before the sound of bottles clanking with the wooden table were heard. Brian joined Arianna and Donna on the dance floor. Aj watched as he seemingly glided from end to end, moving to the beat of the music. Aj noticed that he could see everyone accept for Hez.
"Mentee, where's your drink bro?" Brian asked as he handed Aj another beer.
"How did you even get here that fast?" Aj asked puzzled.
"It's my old ninja secret, now drink up and where's Hez?" Brian asked as he looked around.
"He probably left you know this isn't exactly his kind of thing," Katrina said.
"Oh of course you know what your boo doing," Aj teased. Katrina punched him in the shoulder as she grabbed her jacket.
"He's my ride so I doubt he left without me. I'll go find him," Katrina left with Aj rubbing his shoulder and everyone snickering. Ren and NC sat at the table with a row of shots between them.
"Oh they gonna do the thing!" Katrina heard everyone yell as she left, not wanting to see the ending to their drinking game they called shot and pop. The game involved them taking a row of shots then finishing the pint of beer at the end. Winner slaps the looser and they've been drawn in deadlock for almost a year. Katrina sighed inward as she spotted Hez's jeep. The driver side door was open and she could hear "Bite My Rhyme" by an Asian rap group named Trikuza playing. She couldn't help but snicker at the irony. "So Mr. Taekwondo black belt man, what's a badass like you doing all alone?" Hez bellowed out a laugh before falling into complete hysterics.
"You know, you're much cuter when you don't try so hard." His words caught Katrina by surprise, blood rushing , her face as she quickly rounded the car, giving the red tint of her cheeks time to fade. As she entered the passenger seat Hez asked, "any idea on what you wunna do?"
"Drive," she said with a grin. As he pulled off, Aj and Ren poked their heads outside the club.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Ren asked. Aj nodded as they rushed to Aj's Ford.
"Cock block brigade!" Aj yelled as he pulled out. They were far behind Hez and Katrina but he knew where they were heading. Upon arrival' Katrina exited the car and headed for the clearing of the park where a large oak tree sat. As she got closer she decided to spring into a triple cartwheel, ending off her displace of acrobatics with a back handspring, landing on one knee with her palm pressed into the grass. Hez grinned as he followed suit with a triple cartwheel but ended in a no handed backflip landing with his legs wide and palm slapping the grass, similar to the stance spiderman takes when he lands.
"Bravo bravo!" Katrina clapped sarcastically with a smile on her face. Hez stood and bowed, returning the sarcasm. Hez smiled as a dodged her punch to his shoulder and playfully rounded the tree as she chased after him. Katrina jumped on Hez's back, giggling as he wrestled her off of him before sitting at the base of the tree. She sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Awe don't you two look adorable?" Aj said as he and Ren came into view.
"Dammit," Katrina gritted. Hez knew he wasn't living this down either. The two prepared for a long evening of jokes as Aj and Ren drew closer.
Brian lead his small group out of the club and noticed neither Hez or Aj's cars were in the lot. "Ugh where are those guys?" Brian asked annoyed.
"Just called, they will head back to my place for the night. No one's going home tonight mofos!" Neil shouted as he hopped into his car alongside NC. Donna drove with Brian as Arianna took her own car. By the time they reached Neil's house, Hez and Aj were going back and forth attempting a land a solid punch on each other while the other blocked, cupped or parried them attempt. It was a game for them and an amazing display of fluidity in their movements. Katrina was sitting on the steps, phone in hand while Ren sat looking off into space. Aj and Katrina walked over to the group ad Arianna sat beside Katrina. Hez continued the game with Ren while the others spoke low.
"Is it really ok to lie to them?" Donna asked.
"You heard the floating head, we tell them we lose our powers and the world dies. I don't know about you but I like my life." Neil replied.
"They are our friends though," NC added.
"Which is why we will keep them out of the battles. We have to protect them at all costs." Brian said. The group nodded as they looked over at the four knowing Katrina was apart of their secret.
"Hey, let's worry about this later," Neil suggested.
"That's right, we still getting lit!" Brian yelled. Aj slapped his face with the palm of his hand and sighed heavily as they joined the four on the porch and proceeded into the house for the festivities.