ATTENTION: Who should go to and stay in the REGULAR dimension, aka the GOOD Power Rangers dimension? Please vote in this poll at the top of my profile page (click on Rogue Ranger to the top left of this). Remember, you can also make your opinion known by reviewing.
Author's Note: This chapter is really different than any of the other chapters. One is that it follows multiple characters instead of centering around Tobi. Another is that I attempt to add some eeriness at one point and suspense or tension throughout the rest. It's mostly characters sorting out their feelings, but there is some action too later on. That's about all I can say without spoiling things! And, has anyone noticed that it seems like my chapters keep getting longer? The first chapter was about 2,000 words. This one is over 13,000!
Review Comments:
Thanks YellowPrincess your constant support for my unfolding epic and for putting up with some crazy stuff that happens! In this chapter, you will find out what happens to Hunter, the lost amulets, Sensei Omino, Dr. Oliver and see how people react to… what happens to Tobi. But things will NOT be resolved. Please read it to the end before you want to kill me! I swear, I don't mean to almost give you heart attacks. So, as a warning, this is not a happy chapter. Oh, and a couple reviews ago you mentioned Dustin kissing Hunter and I said your mention of that gave me an idea of why Dustin did it and something more about Dustin's feelings. Well, this chapter reveals what that is (if you can understand Dustin).
Thanks FinalJudgement for both considering the story awesome and for showing sympathy for Tobi (he thanks you for this)! And I'm glad I'm able to shock and surprise readers. More unexpected stuff in here. And yay, I make you like PRNS even more! Is that possible? But then, I'm partial. It was more believable that the rangers were ninjas first rather than ordinary people who get morphers and suddenly know ninja moves. And, I don't think I'm giving anything away to say that, yes, they will get back to their dimension. I agree with your assessment on this. But remember, the results of the current poll determines who will be there.
Thanks Magichalo for your constant insight into my chapters! You notice things I overlook. I know, how is that possible, right? But, anyway, there are some dark elements in this chapter and potential death (I leave their fates unclear). It's interesting that you say they were taking Tobi for granted and compared it to how the other Power Rangers treated him. I took this into account when I wrote some of the characters' reactions to what Tobi does and why. You'll probably notice a lot of elements from what you said buried here and there. Most significantly was you saying it would be interesting to follow the other rangers without Tobi. It was definitely different to write.
Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:
At the park, the rangers' Megazord battles against the seemingly indestructible Dragon Zord that can now breathe fire. After Tori makes it rain, Dustin sinks the Dragon Zord into the ground just as Mayor Lothor shows up. Goldwinger, Sensei and Tori convince Lothor that the Power Rangers are good and he joins them. Meanwhile, Marah is crushed by a tree and Tobi heals her. He also brings Destiny back to life, which nearly kills him in the process. When Frax and the Golden Guardians show up, Wes and Eric morph and help attack the Dragon Zord that managed to dig itself out. However, because the Dragon Zord's armor is too strong, Circuit ejects its memory panel and blows itself up in order to finally defeat the Dragon Zord by letting the Megazord crush its power supply. Dr. Oliver, Alpha 6, Billy and Kimberly emerge and fight, but the rangers manage to defeat them and steal Dr. Oliver's Shade Amulet, the source of his powers. But, then Sensei Omino shows up and steals both the Shade and Sun amulets. After using a morpher to bond with the Shade Amulet, Omino goes mad with power and, when his daughter Leanne dies trying to bond with the Sun Amulet, he starts killing at random. He is finally defeated by Tobi, but after Tobi heals Skyla, he is asked to heal Hunter, who is dying. But, without his amulet, it could kill him. And, as Skyla seeks out the amulet, Tobi heals Hunter, maybe at the cost of his own life...
Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 27 (Consequences)
"Dustin," was the first word out of Hunter's mouth as well as being the first person he saw. He also recognized the familiar warm, slightly calloused feel of Dustin's hand wrapped around his as the rain overhead stopped and the clouds parted. There was now a moon-lit starry sky above him, as the sun had apparently set during the storm.
Around him, Frax and Lothor were working together to secure the ninja students as well as Kimberly, Billy and Alpha 6. Dr. Oliver, it seemed, had once again evaded capture.
Tori was the first to turn back to Tobi. He was lying on his back and there was a peaceful expression on his incredibly pale face. "Tobi," she gasped, scrambling to his side.
Cam quickly dragged his medical kit over to the twins and set up a light while Blake helped his brother sit up. "How do you feel?" Blake asked Hunter, rubbing at some of the drying crimson blood around Hunter's mouth.
"A little dizzy, but otherwise fine," Hunter replied, shaking off his brother's fingers.
"You really had us worried," Blake continued.
"You're pretty strong," Shane conceded. "Almost as strong as me, but not quite," he added with a grin.
"No, it was all TZT," Dustin disagreed, looking over at Cam and Tori bent over Tobi.
"He's not breathing and he has no pulse," Cam told Tori, who gave him a worried look before nodding and performing mouth to mouth.
"He said he could do it and… Cam," she whispered, looking over at him as he performed chest compressions. "His skin…"
Cam examined Tobi's skin as it started to dry and flake. He immediately reached into his medical kit and began to assemble a needle. "I'm giving him a shot of Epinephrine," he told her. "Don't stop mouth to mouth." He then stuck a needle into Tobi's arm.
"He'll be okay, right?" Dustin asked, approaching Cam.
"I don't know, Dustin," he replied sharply as he resumed chest compressions, "but stay back." He motioned for Tori to pause as he checked for a pulse.
"This is all my fault," Shane accused. "I never should have asked him to heal Skyla's arm. Sure, it was bad, but—"
"Shane, this isn't your fault," Tori told him. "If anything, it's mine. I could have stopped him, but you saw Hunter. He was…" She cringed. "I knew it would take all Tobi's strength to heal him." She stared down at Tobi, remorseful. "Speaking of Hunter, how is he?"
"I'm fine," Hunter said, sitting up. "How's Tobi?"
"he has no signs of life right now," Cam replied coldly, motioning Tori back as he used electrical paddles on Tobi's chest.
"Can I help?" Hunter asked, signaling for his brother to help him up.
"You can all help by letting me concentrate!" Cam yelled before calming himself.
"Cam…" Tori whispered.
"Guys, I just need to focus right now," he said in a more subdued tone.
"My friends, I may be able to assist," a voice called as the others turned to see Goldwinger approaching. He removed a small glowing button from his body. "I use this little device to regenerate. It's not just how I keep my youthful appearance, but it helped me regrow my wings after the Power Rangers attacked me years ago. I used it just now, in fact," he added, fluffing his wings.
"Let me see it," Cam asked, before adding, "please."
Cam studied the device before pulling open Tobi's training outfit. He noticed the panel from Circuit and cd from Marah and gave them both to Tori as he placed the device on Tobi's chest. The device blinked, then stopped.
Dustin reached down to take Tobi's hand in his. "Is it working?" he asked.
"Usually it's instantaneous," Goldwinger replied. "Maybe it wont' work on humans or maybe he's…"
"Don't say it," Shane told him.
Goldwinger just shrugged his winged arms.
"Cam, he's turning… blue," Hunter pointed out.
Cam seemed to realize something. "Blue…regenerating," he mumbled. "Tori, give me your morpher," he hastily demanded, removing Goldwinger's device and handing it back to him.
"What are you doing?" Tori asked as she gave Cam her morpher.
Cam quickly removed the communicator from Tobi's wrist. "Tobi said he was able to morph using your morpher," he explained as he strapped Tori's morpher on Tobi's wrist where the communicator had been.
"And the suit has a regenerating ability," she realized.
"Exactly," Cam replied, grabbing a screwdriver and jamming it into the morpher. He leaned down and shouted into the morpher, "Ninja Storm, Ranger Form!"
Suddenly a blue Power Ranger suit materialized over Tobi's body.
"There," Cam said, putting his equipment back into the medical kit. "We need to get him back to Ninja Ops."
"I'll help," both Dustin and Hunter said at the same time. They looked at each other and nodded before lifting Tobi's morphed body.
Just then, grumpy Sensei hopped over. "How is he?" he asked.
"It doesn't look good," Cam replied, closing his medical case. "I don't think…"
"He was like this after he brought Marah's dog—" Blake interrupted.
"Destiny," Dustin offered, lifting Tobi.
"After he brought Destiny back to life," Blake finished. "He just needs that amulet."
"I will get Lothor—my brother to help me look for it," Sensei offered. "It is the least I can do, after he helped me see… clearer," he added before hopping off.
"Skyla said she thinks Doctor O. took it," Shane mentioned. "I'm going to see if Frax knows anything. I'll meet you guys back at Ops."
"Okay, let's go," Cam told the others as Dustin and Hunter streaked back to Ninja Ops with Tobi.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later," Blake said as he noticed the living versions of his parents being handcuffed in the distance.
Tori followed his gaze. "Okay," she agreed, placing a hand on his shoulder, "but don't take too long. Just remember, your real parents are always with you." She then turned back to Cam and they streaked off together.
Blake watched her go before approaching his parents.
"Blake," his mother noticed as she was being shoved roughly into a black van with barred windows.
"Hold up," Blake told the Golden Guardians that where near his parents. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
The Golden Guardians looked at each other before a voice agreed, "Sure." Blake turned to see Eric. "Listen, Wes and I owe Tobi a lot. If there's anything we can do…"
"You can help us find Tobi's amulet," Blake immediately suggested.
"I'll talk to Wes and Frax," Eric agreed before nodding toward the other Golden Guardians and leaving.
Blake turned back to his parents, who both had worried looks on their faces. "How is Hunter?" his mother asked.
"He's fine," Blake replied. "Tobi healed him."
His parents exchanged relieved looks. "Tell your friend Tobi thank you for us," his father replied.
"I can't," Blake said flatly. "He's dead."
His mother gasped.
"Son, we're sorry," his father said.
"Cam will figure something out or the amulet will be found," Blake assured them. "Tobi's not the weakling he looks like he is."
"Blake, we're sorry about those times we called you and your brother weak," his mother chimed in. "It was the only way we knew to make you stronger."
Blake gave her a confused look before figuring out she was talking about the other versions of him and his brother.
"Son, we've made our mistakes," his father began, "but we'd like to think we did at least two things right."
"What's that?" Blake asked.
"Adopting you and your brother," he father finished.
Blake sighed. "Look, I'm not your son," he told them. "My parents are dead."
"Blake," his mother whispered, "just because you're adopted doesn't mean that—"
"I'm talking about my adopted parents," Blake clarified.
"Blake Bradley, that is no way to talk to your mother," his father huffed.
"Chill," Blake warned them. "You both look… just like them and when I first saw you two, I felt something, but you're not them."
They both gave him a confused look.
"My parents are here too," he continued, gesturing around, "somewhere. They're ghosts or spirits or something. See, back in the dimension I come from, you're both dead."
"Oh, so… it is true," his father replied.
"Yeah," Blake agreed, "but not seeing them since I was a kid and then seeing you… alive…"
"We understand," his mother offered. "So, where are our sons?"
"Back in our dimension probably trashing the place," Blake replied.
"Oh," she mumbled.
"Yeah, so anyway," he said, taking a breath and looking away briefly. "I just wanted to know what you two know about the Sun Amulet."
"It and the Shade Amulet are both extremely ancient and extremely powerful artifacts," his father explained. "We honestly didn't think Sensei was going to use them, not with the dangers he impressed upon us, but you know Sensei's lust for power. It's… exhilarating at times."
Blake gave him a confused look. "So, you don't know how the healing properties of the Sun Amulet work?" he asked.
"Healing properties?" his mother repeated, looking at her husband.
He looked back at his wife. "it may be that the amulet has different powers depending on the user," he suggested.
"And Tobi could heal before he got the amulet," Blake realized. "he was only using it as a power source. SO, maybe something else…" He started to turn to go.
"Son, wait," he father called. As Blake turned back around, his father added, "there are two power discs in my back pocket. I want you and Hunter to have them.
Blake's mother looked at him surprised.
"You do know we're not really your sons, right?" Blake asked.
"I know," his father replied. "You two aren't pains in the ass either." A small grin curled up on his lips.
Blake gave him a surprised look. "Obviously you haven't met Hunter," he said, reaching into his father's pocket and removing two power discs. "What are these?"
"Attach them to your morphers," his father explained, "and they'll allow you to summon he Thunder Zords. They were meant as presents for you—for our sons, but they were belayed when we suspected that Dustin knew and was building Zords to complete with them."
"Also, we needed to keep giving them to our sons a secret from Sensei," his mother added. "And… we were waiting for them to mature. Maybe you ended up better off with out us in your lives."
"Mom," Blake began, "or… Mrs. Bradley, all the Power Rangers from this dimension were jerks. Maybe it's something in the water, but it's not all your fault."
"Thank you," they both said.
"Yeah, no problem," Blake replied, studying the discs.
"Will we see our sons again?" his mother asked hesitantly.
He stared at her. "I don't know. Your Sensei went on a killing spree," he pointed out.
His father frowned. "We took for granted that they would always be there, long after we were gone."
His mother nodded. "Blake, if you see our sons, tell them… we love them and… Sensei Omino was wrong about all of us. Our fates aren't bound to his. They'll know what that means."
"Sure," Blake agreed. "Bye…" He then turned and walked away, trying not to look back.
As he streaked back to Ninja Ops, Shane approached Frax, but he was interrupted by Wes. "Sir," Wes addressed Frax, "there's no sign of Doctor Oliver."
"Once the others are secure, you and Eric lead the team to track him down," Frax insisted.
"What about the amulets?" Shane asked.
Frax looked around. "I last saw them with that Omino person," he stated.
"What happened to Sensei Omino?" Shane asked. "Last I saw, he got blasted by Tobi. Is he alive?"
"I saw him melt into black goo after having a big hole in his chest," Eric answered, approaching. "There's no way he survived. And, Frax," he addressed, "Kimberly, Billy and Alpha 6 are already in route to the detention center. We're working on rounding up the last of those ninjas."
"Excellent work you two," Frax commended before addressing Shane. "It is possible that Doctor Oliver has the amulets you are looking for."
"It's only one amulet," Shane clarified. "It's gold and I need it to save someone's life."
"We'll help you look if you help us catch Doctor O.," Eric suggested, glancing at Wes, who nodded.
"Let's do it," Shane agreed before pausing. "Wasn't Sensei Omino there?" he asked, pointing.
"Yeah," Eric agreed, shining a flashlight on the ground and kicking at the mud. "No black goo anymore."
"And no amulet…" Shane added.
"Let's go," Wes told them, glancing back once before they began their quest.
Back at Ninja Ops, Hunter and Dustin set Tobi on the table in the middle of the main room while cam activated the computer.
"Son, what has happened?" Cam's father asked, hopping closer.
"Hunter was dying and Tobi healed him," Cam explained, studying the computer screen, "but Hunter was literally turning to dust and now Tobi is…" He paused staring at the screen. "…dead," he finished, turning from the screen back to Tobi's morphed body.
"Cam, what are you saying?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah, he can't be dead, dude," Dustin agreed.
Cam sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "The suit isn't healing him," he said, returning his glasses to his face. "It's only stopping his body from decaying."
Tori's eyes widened as she touched Tobi's body and stared down at him.
"Destiny was dead," Dustin pointed out, "like totally dead and Tobi saved her. Why can't he save himself?" He looked back down at Tobi. "He's awesome enough to…"
"I don't know," Cam answered, turning back to the computer. "I honestly don't know.
"Cam, may I speak with you?" his father asked.
"Sure," Cam said, sighing and then following the guinea pig out of the room.
"What do you want, dad?" Cam asked harshly once they were in his lab.
"I understand the stress you have been under, so I will let your tone go for now," his father told him.
"I'm sorry," Cam replied. "It's just been a really long day. Between being brainwashed, beat up, finding myself in another dimension, eating ice cream made out of human milk, readying the Megazord, tracking the Dragon Zord and my other father, preparing weapons, performing CPR on two different people…"
"It has been quite a day," his father agreed, "and you are in need of a rest, but I want you to consider something first."
"I'm listening," Cam replied, leaning his head on his hand.
"The Power Rangers from this dimension have access to our entire arsenal and may very well be using the Zords or other weapons against the city of Blue Bay Harbor at this very moment," his father explained.
"I know," Cam agreed, "but what can we do about it?"
"I is my understanding that Goldwinger has a Zord that can return us to our proper dimension," he continued. "We belong there and should leave at once."
"Normally, I would agree with you on that," Cam said, "but Tobi can't be moved between dimensions right now. The only thing keeping him from decaying is the suit and it fades when we leave this dimension. I can't guarantee that I can just realign the morpher and get it to activate once we're on the other side. What if the other Tori has hers active?"
"Son, Tobi is already dead," his father pointed out. "You said so yourself. You are not keeping him alive. You are merely preserving his body."
"What else can I do?" Cam asked. "I'm doing everything I can think of."
"And it is appreciated," his father replied calmly, "but you must consider that Tobi belongs here and it may be his destiny to die here."
Cam looked at his father sharply. "His destiny?" he repeated. "After everything we've been through, how can you still believe that you know Tobi's destiny? Dad, Tobi told me that he never felt like he belonged in this dimension. Then, he went to our dimension and he felt like he didn't belong there either. You know what I told him?" He didn't wait for his father to respond. "I told him he could belong in our dimension, that he could easily belong."
"I recall telling him that you might be able to relate to his feelings of being an outsider," his father conceded.
"You always thought he belonged here, but with the other Power Rangers here," Cam continued. "You believe in destiny and fate and 'the balance of the universe,' but Tobi always believed that your destiny is what you make of it."
"But are you not trying to make his destiny for him?" his father suggested.
"Dad, I…" Cam sighed. "He may have loved Dustin, but it was me who he always trusted and… I may not have always appreciated him, or listened to him. His suggestions were helpful, but I treated him the way I do everyone sometimes. Maybe I thought he'd be around at least until you insisted he leave and, even then, I hoped you'd change your mind like you did when it came to me becoming a Power Ranger."
"I will admit that I was wrong," his father said. "I failed to see your true destiny and I agree that I do not know Tobi's destiny for certain, but I do know our destiny does not lie here."
"We're not going back without him," Cam told his father.
"Cam, please consider—" his father began.
"I have," Cam replied, "but it's not just me. It hasn't hit the others yet. Maybe they think that I'll somehow save him, but what if I can't? What then? No one wants to leave him here. He's our friend. He's my friend…"
Back in the main room, Hunter was watching Dustin watch Tobi, though there wasn't much to see with the suit covering his body, when Blake streaked in. "Hey, any change?" Blake asked his brother.
"No," Hunter answered.
"Oh, hey bro, our parents gave us these," Blake said, producing the power discs. "Our other parents, I mean."
Hunter looked at him sharply. "I know what you mean," he told him, taking a disc. "I know who our real parents are. That's why I'm okay with not talking with… the posers."
"They're not all bad," Blake suggested.
"You were too young to remember them as well as I do," Hunter told him. "I think about them… a lot."
"But they're here," Blake said, waving his arms.
"Yeah," Hunter agreed, frowning. "I'm not sure how I feel about them being everywhere I go. I mean, you think they follow us into the bathroom?"
Blake blinked. "Man, I hope not!"
Hunter shook off the image of his parents watching him take a piss. "So, what do these things do?" he asked.
"They're supposed to summon our Zords if we attach them to our morphers," Blake explained. "I guess there was some sort of rivalry or something goes on between this dimension's Power Rangers and who was going to have Zords. I don't get it, but they might come in handy."
Hunter nodded, turning back to Dustin and Tobi.
"So, where's Cam?" Blake asked. "I wanted to tell him something."
"Sensei's talking to him," Hunter replied, staring at Tobi.
"What are you thinking about, bro?" Blake asked, noticing the look in his brother's eyes.
"I was thinking about the first time we met Tobi," Hunter recalled, still watching Tobi's body. "He walked into Storm Chargers with a huge chip on his shoulder. Me and you actually ended up fighting him. Who'd have known he'd end up saving my life?" He looked down and grimaced.
Tori walked over to the two brothers. "I think he only acted like that at first because he had to," she suggested. "Imagine living with those other versions of us. I'd be on edge all the time too."
"I always knew he was a good person," Dustin chimed in.
"Let me guess," Hunter said, "there was something in his eyes."
Dustin remembered using that line to describe why he had trusted Marah. "Nah, dude," he disagreed. "There was something in his heart." He pointed to his chest.
"Yeah," Tori agreed.
"Man, it's starting to sound like a funeral in here," Blake interrupted. "I don't know about you guys, but the first time I met Tobi, I thought he was a little punk with a bad attitude."
"Who you calling little?" Hunter asked him, standing so he could look down on his brother.
"I'm just saying!" Blake said, raising his arms. "You guys know he drove you crazy too. It couldn't have just been me."
"There were times," Hunter agreed.
"Bro, you were so jealous of him, it was funny!" Blake insisted.
"At least I never kissed him in a closet," Hunter replied.
"So shouldn't have gone there, bro," Blake said, standing on his toes to try to get up in his brother's face, which wasn't working.
"Guys," Tori called, pulling them apart, "we call all agree that Tobi was… difficult sometimes, but I seem to recall a certain two brothers who tried killing Shane, Dustin and me twice, not to mention Sensei."
Hunter and Blake looked down, frowning.
"I just don't get it," Dustin said to himself, still watching Tobi.
"What don't you get, Dustin?" Tori asked, turning around.
"I don't get why he can like save everybody, but we can't save him," Dustin clarified.
Tori walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know," she told him. "Maybe we're not as… special as Tobi."
"Yeah," Dustin mumbled.
"This is what I'm trying to tell you guys," Blake said. "He's gonna be okay. Shane'll get the amulet and Tobi'll heal himself. I've seen it before." He looked at his brother for support.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Blake's right," Hunter agreed, "but I should be out there helping Shane look. I mean, it's my life Tobi saved. I owe him… for a lot more than that." He glanced at Dustin, who was too busy watching Tobi to notice.
At that moment, Cam entered with a scowl on his face before sitting in front of the computer.
"Any change?" Hunter asked.
Cam studied the screen. "There is a .05% increase in his cellular decay."
"What does that mean?" Blake asked, approaching him.
"It means, the suit isn't stopping his body from decaying," Cam explained. "It's only slowing the process."
"You don't mean he'll be like a skeleton under there?" Dustin asked, studying Tobi's helmet with a horrified expression.
"Eventually, yes, Dustin," Cam replied, "but it won't happen anytime soon."
"Hey, Cam," Blake interrupted. "My parents—this dimension's version of them anyway—said they didn't think the amulet really had healing properties."
Cam turned to him. "Tobi healed his burns before he had the amulet to draw energy from," Cam realized. "Energy…" He turned back to the computer and typed.
After a moment, Blake said, "You're welcome," and walked way, giving Tori a "Cam's being Cam again" shrug as he passed.
Tori looked back at where Cam had come from, making sure his father hadn't followed him in. "What did Sensei want?" she asked.
"He wanted to tell me I'm wasting my time," Cam replied in a resentful tone," that Tobi is destined to die here and we should go back where we're supposed to be."
"He didn't say that, did he?" Tori asked, mortified.
"Yes, he did," Cam answered. "He's worried about what the other versions of us are up to. So, am I, but…"
"I know," Tori agreed.
"Tori," he said slowly, "have you considered the possibility that I might not be able to save Tobi?"
Tori cringed. "Cam, we have faith in you, but we also have faith in Tobi."
"Faith," Cam mumbled. "You might not know this, but Tobi chose you over his own sister."
"No, I know," she replied, blinking. "I… consider him my brother too and… that's why I have to believe he'll survive this." She wiped some stray tears from her eyes. "And, Cam, he was always spouting off all this wisdom that he said he got form you. And he always defended you, even when you didn't need defending. He said that, if he wasn't in love with Dustin, he'd like you best. He cared a lot about you. He cares a lot about you. You have to believe he'll get through this… somehow."
He looked at her. "I don't have the luxury of faith," he told her. "I just need focus. I have to be prepared for anything." He turned back to the computer.
"You really care about him, don't you?" she asked.
He just nodded.
"I know you like to keep this 'too cool' professional distance," she accused, "but you were making so much progress coming out of your shell. Tobi said you were misunderstood and 'sensitive,' but I wonder if you want to be that way. You told me you felt unappreciated, but you became more than the green Samurai Ranger. You became a friend, a very special friend."
"I'm to this our dimension what Tobi was to his dimension," he commented quietly.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Before he met up, he was ignored or ridiculed here in his dimension," he explained. "He felt unappreciated. But, then, when he came here he finally felt something more… and he said he related to me. And, I think I finally understand him."
"Cam…" she whispered, as he stared blankly at the screen.
He turned back to her. "Tori," he began, "under the circumstances, I feel there's no point in waiting to ask you this, so I'm just going to come out with it."
She looked at him quizzically.
He took a breath. "You know how I feel about you," he continued. "You are more than just the most level headed Wind ranger. You are also more than just a friend to me. And, I need to know, those times that you gave me a… kiss on the cheek or said something like, 'You always looked good in green,' was I reading more into that than I should have?"
"Cam…" she replied, blushing and fidgeting. "Uh… I like you a lot…"
He looked at her hopefully.
"As a friend," she finished.
"Oh," he replied.
"But that's not just a word to me," she continued. "You're very important to all of us. And you're important to me too."
"No, I understand," he said quickly. "I really knew as much. It's just that, with the thought of all the things I never told Tobi, I felt like I needed to… not keep that inside forever."
"Sure," she agreed. "And, Cam, I consider Tobi my brother, but I still feel closer to you. I hope that helps."
"Thanks," he mumbled. "He's… like a brother to me too." He sighed, looking back at the computer and typing. "And, like a brother, I didn't always fully appreciate him. I just want you to know that I… appreciate you."
She put a hand on his shoulder as he worked. "I know," she said softly, a small smile curling up on the side of her mouth. "So, what are you working on?" she asked, gesturing toward the diagrams that were flashing by on the screen.
"I'm trying to figure out a way to channel the energy from this," he said, revealing the Samurai Amulet around his neck, "into Tobi's body. Ah," he said, spinning round and walking over to and opening a panel on the other side of the room. He pulled out a bunch of wires and began connecting them to some nearby device. When he was done, he dragged the device across the room, wires dangling behind, and adjusted what looked like a laser on top of it. He then removed the green Samurai Amulet from around his neck and placed it inside the laser before aiming it at the morpher on Tobi's wrist. He then went back over to the computer and pressed a series of buttons.
The laser shot a green light at Tobi's morpher until the morpher began to glow. Then Tobi's suit began to glow.
"Is it working?" Tori asked him.
"The decay rate hasn't changed," Cam replied. "I'm going to try increasing the power flow."
Suddenly the morpher flashed and Tobi demorphed. Cam groaned, quickly deactivating the machine as Tobi's pale, lifeless body again lay before the others. In the light of Ninja Ops, his appearance looked worse and his condition seemed suddenly much more grim.
Cam immediately began repairing Tobi's morpher.
"What happened?" Dustin asked, his eyes wide as he stared at Tobi. He ran a finger along Tobi's skin and saw white flakes fall off.
"The morpher just overloaded," Cam explained. "I'm fixing it." He looked up at Dustin quickly, realizing he was keeping what Tori called his "professional distance" again. It was just so easy to slip into that, especially when he was tired and overworked, but he added, "Don't worry."
"I'm going to help Shane," Hunter announced, looking at Tobi and cringing.
Dustin suddenly stood up. "Don't go!" he told Hunter.
Hunter looked at the emotions playing out in Dustin's eyes. "I owe him my life," he told Dustin.
"I just…" Dustin began. "I don't want you to leave… not after…"
Hunter approached Dustin and placed his arms around him. "I'm okay now and I will come back," he assured him, "but this is something I have to do."
"But, I…" Dustin mumbled.
"Hunter will be okay," Tori told Dustin, "but if you want to go with him—"
"No, I can't leave TZT," Dustin insisted.
"But you can't do anything for him here," Dustin pleaded.
"Please, just let me stay with him," Dustin pleaded.
"Sure," Tori agreed, giving Hunter a confused look.
"I'll, uh, be back then," Hunter said, heading toward the exit.
Dustin ran up to Hunter and hugged him. "Good luck," he said, releasing him.
"Thanks," Hunter replied, leaning forward and giving Dustin a quick kiss on the lips.
Dustin blinked as he watched Hunter go.
"You can all go do whatever if you want," Cam offered, still repairing the morpher, "maybe get some sleep," he added, rubbing his forehead. "You're right, there's nothing more you can do here."
"Yeah," Blake agreed. "I'm beat. Hey, mind if I crash in one of the training rooms?"
"Be my guest," Cam agreed with a dismissive wave.
"Hey, Tor, you wanna join me?" Blake offered.
She gave him a strange look. "Uh, I'll be okay," she replied, turning to Dustin as Blake frowned and left the room. "How about you?" she asked Dustin. "You look like you could use some rest too."
"Nah, I'm cool," Dustin disagreed. "I just like need to know he's gonna be okay, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Tori agreed. She watched his eyes dart between the exit and Tobi. "You really care about both of them, don't you?"
"Yeah," Dustin agreed before looking her in the eyes. "Tor, can I tell you a secret?"
Tori raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had any secrets, Dustin."
He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm serious," he insisted.
"Of course, you can trust me," she assured him.
He fidgeted for a moment. "You know how I like kissed Hunter and then I kissed Marah and…"
"Yes," Tori agreed, "I'm familiar with your kissing spree." She grinned.
"You know why I didn't kiss TZT then?" he asked.
"Because you didn't want to do it in front of all of us?" she suggested.
"It's not just that," he disagreed. "See, TZT was the one who told me I was leading people on by making them care about me and stuff when I didn't care about them back."
"He said that?" she replied, surprised.
"Yeah, but…" he continued. "They thing is I do care about them. I like Hunter a lot, I like Marah a lot and I like TZT a lot too. I just don't love any of them. I told them I just liked kissing, you know, for fun, but it was more than that. I felt something… here." He knocked on his chest. "And I was afraid if I kissed TZT, he'd figure out it was just a kiss. He's always been able to like almost read my mind and I knew he'd figure out I was still leading everyone on because I like them all too much…" He looked down at Tobi and pouted. "I wanted it all. Man, I'm so selfish!"
"Oh, Dustin," Tori said, hugging him. "Your only problem is that you care too much. Have you stopped to think that maybe it's not that you don't love anyone, but that you love everyone?"
"You can't love everyone, Tori," Dustin told her.
"Why not?" she disagreed. "If you love life, then why not everything that's alive?"
"But I don't wanna kiss everybody," Dustin insisted. "Like, I wouldn't want to kiss you."
"That would be awkward," she agreed.
"Hey, don't be bagging on my kissing skills," he protested. "I happen to be an awesome kisser."
"I'll take your word for that," she conceded, "but there are other ways to show someone you care." She looked down at Tobi. "You can save their life, for example."
"Like TZT," Dustin agreed. "He'd give his life for anybody. I mean, he didn't even like Hunter that much. He really cares about everybody."
"For Hunter, right…" Tori replied, thinking.
"He didn't do it for Hunter," Cam said, not looking up from the morpher he was working on.
"What?" both Dustin and Tori asked.
"Dustin, you didn't exactly try to keep it a secret that you chose Hunter over Tobi," Cam continued. "He did it because… he thought you cared more about Hunter than him. He risked his life not for Hunter but for you, for who he thought would make you happy. You chose Hunter, so, he saved him. It's that simple."
"I knew I shouldn't have chose," Dustin replied. "I felt it, but I did choose and it seemed like it made sense. I was so selfish!"
Tori turned away, covering her face.
"Tori, what's wrong?" Dustin asked.
"I was the selfish one," she realized. "You chose Hunter, but so did I. I knew what could happen to Tobi, but I let him do it to save Hunter. Sure, I tried to tell myself he could do it and be alright, but I knew the risk and I let him take it. What kind of a sister am I?"
Cam sighed, looking up from the morpher. "Tori, it's not your fault," he insisted. "Tobi would have done it even if he had to knock you out to get to Hunter. Just forget I ever said anything."
"No, dude, you're right," Dustin disagreed. "TZT loved me and I couldn't make myself love him back. So I like went with Hunter just because… I wanted someone different from me and I thought TZT was like me, but he's so much better than me. I was stupid, okay?"
"Dustin, had you chosen Tobi instead of Hunter, Hunter would be dead," Cam reminded him.
Dustin's eyes grew wide and moist.
"Like I said, just forget I brought this up," Cam insisted before declaring, "There." Tobi's body immediately remorphed. "Now, back to the drawing board," he said, heading back to the computer.
Tori watched as Dustin's eyes got a far away look. She wondered if she should just leave him alone, but decided to ask, "What are you thinking about?"
Dustin made some motion with his hands. "I told TZT that he had to save Marah," he explained, "and that he had to save Destiny and that he had to save Hunter. But, why did he have to?"
"Because it was the right thing to do?" Tori suggested.
"No, Tor," he disagreed. "It was because I didn't want any of them to die. I couldn't deal with it. I couldn't deal with it. But I didn't think about what would happen to TZT. You said I love everybody, but how can I love everybody except for Tobi? I want to love TZT…" He then began crying.
Tori held his head against her as he cried. She wanted to say something, but all she could do right then was be there for him. If only she were Tobi, she thought. He'd know just what to say right now…
Meanwhile, Hunter streaked to the park, where he found Mayor Lothor with the grumpy Sensei on his shoulder. Both of them had flashlights, one full-sized and one small and they were following Goldwinger, who had a metal detector.
"Have you guys found anything?" Hunter asked them.
"No, sorry," Goldwinger replied. "How is your friend?"
"Not good," Hunter replied just as Goldwinger's metal detector began beeping like crazy.
"Ah, I found…" Goldwinger began as Lothor and Sensei shined their flashlights in front of them and then ran the lights up higher. They were standing at the feet of the giant, lifeless Dragon Zord. "Oh," he mumbled, disappointed. "At least we know the metal detector works. I got it quite cheep."
Hunter raised his morpher. "Shane," he called, "where are you?"
"I'm with the Golden Guardians and we're heading in the direction the Dragon Zord was going," Shane explained. "We're about to enter what looks like a carnival near that empty field where they're planning on having the US Action Games this year."
"I'll join you," Hunter told him before addressing Lothor, Sensei and Goldwinger. "If you guys find anything, contact Frax. I'll be with the Golden Guardians. And, Goldwinger," he added, "can you really travel between dimensions?"
"Yes I can!" he declared happily.
"Good," Hunter replied. "I heard Cam say he was worried about what the other versions of us are up to back in our dimension. You think you can check on things?"
"Will do, buckaroo!" Goldwinger agreed, raising his arm and saluting him. "But, if things look too dangerous, I'm out of there. I'll just use my MOTHs."
"Right," Hunter replied, confused. "Anyway, see you guys." He then streaked off. "Did you see how hot that blonde studmuffin looked?" Goldwinger asked Lothor and Sensei. "I thought I might faint!"
Lothor and Sensei just stared at him.
Shane found himself walking through an unlit carnival at night with Eric, Wes and about half of the Golden Guardians that had survived Sensei Omino. It was hardly an inviting setting, but, as a Power Ranger, he was getting used to this kind of thing. "I don't know about you guys, but this place is registering as off the chart on my creepy meter," he commented.
"You're not scared, are you?" Eric joked.
"No way," Shane disagreed.
"Who goes there?" Wes called, shining a light between two vacant game boots.
"Skyla?" Shane asked, approaching her and opening his visor.
"We're near one of the amulets," she whispered.
The others looked around. Wes motioned for some of the Golden Guardians to spread out and circle around.
"You can sense them?" Shane asked her.
"Yes, but I can't really describe it," she explained.
"It might be Doctor O.," Eric suggested to Wes. They both pulled their weapons out.
"I really wish we could morph," Wes commented, gesturing to his broken Chrono Morpher.
Shane watched Skyla staring at a nearby building. "You sense something in there?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied, still concentrating.
"Guys, we're going inside," Shane told Wes and Eric. "Check around back."
The others nodded as Shane looked at the sign over the building that read, "Fun House." Somehow he doubted it would live up to its name.
Shane and Skyla entered the building and were immediately surrounded by nothing but blackness.
"Here," Skyla offered, raising her hand. A glowing ball appeared in her palm that slowly began illuminating their surroundings.
In front of them were dozens of mirrored reflections of them. Creeping forward, their reflections walked with them. Shane looked at Skyla, but she just shrugged. When he looked back, though, he felt something wasn't quite right. "What's that?" he asked in a whisper, pointing toward a mirror that should have held their reflections. Instead, buried between the overlapping reflections of Shane, Skyla and her glowing ball of light was a single reflection of a figure entirely in black.
"It's here," Skyla whispered.
Shane nodded, drawing his Hawk Blaster and approaching the figure. As he stepped closer, though, it looked more like a shadow than a figure. There was no definition at all to it.
Then the shadow began to melt down the surface of the mirror, revealing Shane and Skyla's shocked reflections behind it.
Splat! The shadow leapt from one mirror to the next, plastering itself onto each surface like a black puddle before jumping to the next, each one progressively closer to Shane and Skyla.
"Get back!" Shane told Skyla as he began blasting at the liquid shadow. One by one, the mirrors shattered, but he could still make out the shadow leaping forward. He backed up, retreating toward the entrance as fragments of broken mirrors hit the floor, reflecting the red glow of the laser from his gun.
Eventually, the two were at the entrance and Shane scrambled out of the building, pulling Skyla behind him.
"Shane, what's up?" Hunter asked, approaching.
"There was something in there," Shane replied, standing back and waiting for whatever it was to emerge from the "Fun House."
"Something, right…" Hunter commented, removing his Thunder Staff.
Shane looked at him, frowning. "It was a… shadow?" he explained. "Look, I know it sounds lame, but—"
Suddenly Skyla gasped as she looked down at the ground. Shane followed her gaze to see a shadow stretching out from her toward the light, which of course didn't make sense.
He quickly shoved her back, forcing her to drop the glowing ball in her hand. As it hit the shadow, a screeching sound filled the air and the shadow spattered out like black water. Hunter immediately shot electricity above the ground, but the light from the sparks only served to reveal that whatever it was had disappeared.
Nearby, a trash can fell over. The three turned to see a black cat hissing at them, its yellow eyes reflecting the light from a dim overhead lamp. It froze for a moment as its eyes stopped reflecting and seemed to turn as black as its body. Then it lunged at them.
Hunter swung his Thunder Staff at the cat, but the can just latched onto his staff before leaping off of it toward Skyla.
Shane darted in front of the cat, knocking it to the ground, where it began choking before falling over. "Dude, I didn't hit it that hard," he insisted.
Suddenly the cat's body began to melt before exploding out in a burst of ash.
"Guys, we need to go," Eric called, running over to them. "We just got a call that the van carrying Kimberly, Billy and Alpha 6 crashed. It's only a couple miles away from the detention center, so units have already been dispatched, but it's probably Doctor O., so we're heading there now."
"But what about what's here?" Shane asked, still staring at the ground.
"I guess he was never here," Eric replied, heading toward the carnival's exit.
"There is something here," Skyla told Shane.
"Yeah, I know," he agreed, "but I get the feeling it's not what we're looking for."
"I'll agree with you on that one," Hunter offered as they followed the rest of the Golden Guardians.
"So, how's Tobi?" Shane asked Hunter.
Hunter frowned. "Cam hasn't found a way to help him yet," he answered. "He looks pretty bad."
Shane huffed before looking at Skyla. "He's the most selfless person I've met. I see why you chose him," he told her.
"I didn't choose him," she disagreed.
"Oh, destiny, right?" he asked.
She thought for a moment before grinning. "Right," she agreed. "If I had a choice, I'd choose you…" She suddenly looked away, embarrassed.
He stared at her for a moment before blinking and fidgeting. "Yeah, so let's go," he told them, a small smile on his mouth.
"Do you think Tobi saved me because Dustin chose me over him?" Hunter suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Shane replied. "No, dude, why would you think that?"
Hunter sighed. "Because, I was thinking, I was there helping save Destiny and her body was… burning from being shocked so many times, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't stand to see that look in Dustin's eyes. I'm sure it's the same reason Tobi saved Marah and it's probably why he saved me."
"What, and you think Dustin wouldn't have been pleading for someone to save Tobi's life?" Shane asked. "It's just Dustin can't stand to see anyone hurt, but he's not really aware of the consequences of his actions. I'm sure he had no idea Tobi would be like he is now. He can be pretty dense sometimes."
"Are you saying he's stupid?" Hunter asked defensively.
"No, dude," Shane disagreed. "He's my best friend and I love him to death, but he's not really aware of some things, if you catch my drift."
"Maybe he just believed in Tobi too much," Hunter suggested.
"I think you'll find Dustin is aware of a lot more than you think," Skyla offered.
The two looked at her with surprised expressions.
"He sees something in Tobi that tells him Tobi can do anything," she continued. "But, just because you're aware of something, doesn't mean you can't still take it for granted."
Shane stared at her with the same look he had in his eyes when they first met.
"What?" she asked, embarrassed.
"It's just… for a moment there, you reminded me a lot of the other Skyla," he replied.
"The other Skyla?" she repeated.
"Oh, yeah," he said, running a hand through his hair. "You see, the other Karminion I met was… you, as in the other dimension's version of you."
She nodded, thinking. "And you loved her," she commented.
He blushed and fidgeted, which only made her grin.
"That's why you acted that way when we met." She suddenly became serious. "Shane, I'm not the same person as her. Based on what you said, I really wish I were. She's everything I try to be and she still hold your heart…"
He blushed at her for a moment. "That… can change," he told her, earning him a surprised look from both Skyla and Hunter.
"So, uh, Skyla," Hunter began, glancing at Shane, "can you still talk to my parents? I wanted to ask how they feel about me and… Dustin."
She looked around. "They aren't with you," she told him, frowning. "They told me they were always with you."
"Oh," Hunter realized, disappointed. "Well, maybe they're with Blake."
"Maybe," she agreed, thinking.
When the group arrived at the site of the overturned Golden Guardians' van, Wes and Eric motioned for the Golden Guardians to fan out while Shane, Hunter and Skyla approached the van.
"He's probably long gone by now," Shane suggested, looking around, "with the Sun Amulet."
"You mean, Doctor Oliver?" Hunter asked. "Where would he go? He can't go back to the Dragon Zord."
"There is something here," Skyla told them, concentrating.
The others looked around until Hunter spotted a shadow creeping across the road. "Check it out," he told them.
"What, did it follow us?" Shane asked, pulling back out his Hawk Blaster.
Just then, a black SUV sped up, coming to a quick stop before Frax stepped out. "Wes, Eric," he called. As the two approached, the shadow leapt toward another Golden Guardian.
"What is it, sir?" Wes asked, running up to Frax.
"The mayor says he has Doctor Oliver and the others surrounded back at the park," Frax explained. "Hop in."
"Why would Doctor O. return to the park?" Eric asked as he and Wes entered the SUV before it sped off.
Shane nodded toward Hunter before grabbing Skyla and streaking off. In their haste, they had momentarily forgotten about a black shadow that have dove toward a Golden Guardian.
The man dressed in navy's eyes slowly turned black before he turned and headed for the park.
Meanwhile, at Ninja Ops, Tori approached Cam, who was still studying the computer screen in front of him. "Do you know what these things are that Tobi had?" she asked, showing him the memory panel and cd.
"One is Circuit's memory panel," Cam replied, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "The other, I'm not sure."
"Cam, you look terrible," she told him.
He opened his eyes to glare at her. "Thank you for your honestly, Tori."
She frowned. "I just mean, your eyes are bloodshot and I'm sure you can use at least a nap," she explained.
He returned his glasses to his face. "I'm fine," he assured her.
She gave him a skeptical look. "How about we see what's on the cd?" she suggested.
With a slight grimace, he stuck the cd in a drive below the computer. "It's a music cd," he stated coldly, preparing to eject it.
"Maybe it will help you relax," she suggested.
"I don't need to relax," he assured her.
"Cam, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way," she told him.
"Fine, I'm playing it," he said as horrible music began coming from the computer speakers. "What's that noise?" he asked, cringing.
"That's… Marah and Kapri singing," she recognized.
"Don't tell me the entire cd is full of this… 'music'," he said, grimacing as he clicked through the tracks. "It's like cats dying… very painful deaths."
"Dustin seems to have acquired a taste for their… style," she told him.
"Dustin eats whatever isn't moving," Cam replied. "I doubt his musical tastes are much more evolved."
"Wait, stop," Tori called. "Go back to the last one."
"Finally, someone who can sing," he commented.
"That's Tobi's voice," she recognized.
"Tobi?" Cam repeated, listening as he turned back to Tobi's morphed body lying on the table. Dustin had fallen asleep next to him. "Dustin can sleep through that noise?"
"This isn't noise," Tori argued. "Tobi's singing is really good."
"Not that," Cam said, turning back to her. "I agree, he has real talent. I meant the… other tracks."
"Cam, listen," she told him.
"he definitely puts emotion into his performance," he offered.
"He's singing about Dustin," she realized.
"That's not surprising," Cam replied, sighing.
"You're still jealous of him," she commented.
"Of Tobi?" Cam asked.
"No, of Dustin," she corrected.
"Well, he is more… likeable than me," Cam conceded.
"Only because he's more outgoing," Tori suggested. "He almost had his identity revealed on the front page of the newspaper because he's such an attention seeker."
"And I'm the Grinch," Cam declared.
"Hey, I happened to like the Grinch when I was a kid," she insisted.
He raised an eyebrow at her.
She looked at Dustin and Tobi. "If I were Tobi, I think I'd be happier with you than Dustin," she hypothesized. "Don't get me wrong. I would never trade Dustin for another Shane in a million years, but he can be a little clueless. If Tobi is anything, it's defiantly not clueless."
Cam nodded.
"And I'm sure you wouldn't lead him on or go on little kissing sprees," she continued.
"No, I don't believe I would," he agreed.
"Because you're responsible, Cam," she told him, giving him a little hug. "We all love that about you."
Cam's cheeks flushed. "But I'm no Dustin," he added as she released him.
"True," she agreed, "but you chew with your mouth closed."
Cam cringed. "Well, I suppose it comes down to the fact that… you can't choose who you love." He looked at her for a moment before turning back to the computer screen.
"Point taken," she agreed, watching him. "So, can you do anything with this memory board?" she asked.
"The transmitter that Circuit used to communicate with the future was on his body," Cam explained, "and the memory doesn't include any medical information or technical advances outside of the Power Rangers." He glanced back at her. "I suppose I could use it to come up with new weapons."
"I guess that's something," she replied, "but it doesn't help Tobi."
"No, it doesn't help Tobi," he agreed.
She watched Dustin sleep, his head resting on Tobi's chest. "So, if you can't choose who you love," she thought outloud, "Dustin choosing Hunter over Tobi really doesn't mean anything."
"It meant something to Tobi," Cam reminded her.
"Sure," she mumbled, watching her best friend sleep next to her brother.
At the park, Mayor Lothor and his remaining forces had Dr. Oliver, Kimberly, Billy and Alpha 6 surrounded. When Hunter and Shane with Skyla streaked in, they approached Lothor.
"It doesn't look like any of them can morph," Lothor told them as they arrived, "but they have hostages and are asking for an exchange."
"Exchange?" Hunter repeated, noticing the hostages now that he was closer. He immediately spotted that Goldwinger was one of them. "Why didn't Goldwinger go back to check on the other dimension?"
"He did," Lothor corrected, "but he said there was a Zord battle going on. Naturally, he didn't stay."
Shane and Hunter exchanged worried looks.
"So, what do they want for the hostages?" Shane asked.
"It's not just the hostages," Lothor commented.
"They want to trade amulets," the Sensei on Lothor's shoulder interrupted, "but we don't have the other one."
Shane looked toward Dr. Oliver quickly. "They have the Sun Amulet!" he shouted, beginning to push past Lothor.
"Wait," Lothor warned, blocking his path. "They're threatening to kill the hostages."
"With what?" Shane snapped. "Their hands?"
"Kimberly Hart has some device that she already used to kill two of my kelzack aides," Lothor explained.
"But we need that amulet to save Tobi," Shane insisted.
"Is one life really worth all the others who could die?" Lothor asked.
Shane growled in frustration.
"It depends on the life," Sensei commented.
"Sensei's right," Hunter agreed, "but if we had the other amulet…"
"We don't," Shane pointed out.
"We can fake it," Hunter suggested.
"With what?" Shane asked.
"I don't know!" Hunter snapped.
"I'll offer myself," Skyla said.
"What? You can't!" Shane insisted.
"I have some powers that I can offer and…" She paused. "I can feel that my time is coming."
"You're…" Shane's eyes widened. "No, it can't! Not yet!"
"When I pass on, I'll be able to give him a power maybe even grater than the amulet," she explained.
"I won't let you!" Shane yelled, grabbing her arm.
She looked at him with confusion and surprise in her eyes.
He immediately released his grip. "I'm sorry," he told her. "I just don't want to lose you… again."
"I can't stop what's happening to me, but I can try to save Tobi," she replied quietly.
Shane's eyes began to glisten as he looked to Hunter for a less partial opinion.
"I don't know," Hunter told him.
Shane grit his teeth. "I can't choose between you and Tobi. I can't let one of you die."
She frowned. "It's not death," she told him, "at least not for me."
Shane looked at Hunter, who reluctantly nodded. Shane then took a deep breath and stepped forward. "We have an offer to make," he told Dr. Oliver while producing Skyla. "This is… a Karminion. She had the ability to pass on her powers to someone else."
"I want the Shade Amulet," Dr. Oliver growled, "not some cheep alien knockoff."
"But the Shade Amulet is cursed," Skyla argued.
Shane looked at her, fighting back an array of emotions. "She's right," he agreed. "Look what it did to Sensei Omino." He took a step back. "I'll show you what… another Karminion gave me." He then activated his Battlizer mode.
The crowd's eyes widened as Shane's body covered with armor and he flew into the air before firing a massive beam of energy, vaporizing a tree and picnic table while leaving a huge hole in the ground.
As he landed, he deactivated the armor. "None of us know where the other amulet is anyway," he continued, "so it'll at least end the stalemate."
Dr. Oliver thought for a moment as Shane and Hunter noticed the Sun Amulet in his hands. Just then, Frax and the Golden Guardians finally arrived. They ran over to Lothor, who filled them in on the situation.
"I won't agree until I have the power she supposedly offers," Dr. Oliver announced.
Shane looked back at the others in frustration.
"I have the power you seek," a voice from the crowd of arriving Golden Guardians declared. One member with black eyes stepped forward. "And you have the power I seek." Suddenly the man sputtered and fell to the ground, convulsing before melting and exploding.
"What's happening?" Frax asked as a puddle of blackness leapt toward Dr. Olver.
Dr. Oliver dove out of the way while Kimberly tried using some device in her hand to stop the hopping shadow. Instead, the liquid shadow knocked the device out of her hand.
"Now!" Goldwinger yelled, smacking Kimberly to the ground before flying out of the way of the black puddle. "Sorry, girlfriend!" he apologized.
"Move in!" Frax immediately yelled, sending in his Golden Guardians as Lothor's forces also advanced.
Sensei flipped over to the device Kimberly had dropped and hastily retrieved it.
Meanwhile, Shane, Hunter and Skyla scrambled to find Dr. Oliver and the Sun Amulet. "There he is!" Hunter yelled.
Shane pulled out his Hawk Blaster and shot Dr. Oliver in the leg, forcing him to the ground as kelzacks dove after a nearby Billy.
"Bond with the amulet you have!" Billy yelled as he was tacked football style.
"No!" Kimberly called. "Tommy, it will kill you!"
"You have no choice," Alpha 6 said before being shot by Eric and Wes. "It is the most logical optio—option—I—I—I—Error."
Dr. Oliver reached out, placing the gold amulet over his belt morpher just as a shadow sprang toward him.
"I can't get a clear shot," Shane complained, as there were too many aliens in the way.
"The advantage of electricity is it arcs," Hunter said, reaching up and sending a bolt of electricity bending down on Dr. Oliver. Just as the blackness reached Dr. Oliver, the Sun Amulet was thrown clear of him, where it sparked on the ground.
Skyla was the first to dive for it as Dr. Oliver's eyes went black. "I have it," she called before falling forward in pain.
Shane streaked to her side and examined her. "Where are you hit?" he asked quickly.
"It's not that," she said, catching her breath. "It's starting…"
"What's start—" Shane began before realizing what she meant. "Hunter!" he called.
Hunter streaked over to them as Dr. Oliver stood up.
"Take her and the amulet back to Ops," Shane told him. "Save Tobi and see if Cam can help save Skyla."
"What about you?" Hutner asked.
"At last, a body I can dwell in permanently," Dr. Oliver announced in a deep voice while examining himself.
"I'm going to take this guy out once and for all," Shane said, standing and motioning Hunter to leave.
Hunter nodded, taking Skyla in his arms and instantly streaking off.
"But who has taken the Sun Amulet?" Dr. Oliver breathed.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Shane mocked. "You're going down, Dr. Oliver."
"I'm afraid you are mistaken," Dr. Oliver breathed. "I am not Doctor Thomas Oliver. I am Sensei Raijin Omino."
The others paused as they heard this.
"How's that possible?" Shane asked.
"I underestimated the power of the Shade Amulet," the figure that looked like Dr. Oliver explained. "It left me unable to take on human form when I was hit with my own power. But now… Now I am so much more than either Oliver or Omino. I am Dark Omega, the end of all things."
"You've got to come up with something better than that," Shane taunted.
"Oh, I will," the figure replied with a smile before shooting out a black tentacle, which penetrated straight through Billy, who immediately fell forward.
"Tommy!" Kimberly shouted. "I know you're in there! If you can hear me, fight him! Fight—" She gasped, falling forward, as she was also speared through the chest.
Another tentacle came toward Shane, but he dove out of its way. Instead, it stabbed through Shimazu. As more tentacles shot out, stabbing through the crowd, Shane activated his Battlizer mode and flew into the air.
"Stand back," he warned the others before firing full strength down at Dark Omega.
When he landed, there was just a giant hole with smoke pouring out of it.
"Thank you," Lothor said, approaching.
"We need medical assistance in the park, now!" Frax called into a communicator in his had as he assessed the situation. Suddenly a black tentacle shot right through his chest, sending sparks flying out.
"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" a voice asked as a figure rose out of the smoky hole.
"Not good," Shane mumbled to himself.
Meanwhile, Hunter streaked into Ninja Ops carrying Skyla. Dustin was asleep with his head on top of Tobi's morphed chest. There was drool dripping from his mouth and, despite the circumstances, Hunter couldn't help but grin.
"Hunter," Tori greeted.
"Why did you bring her?" Cam asked, spinning in his seat.
"She's dying," Hunter said quickly.
"I'm just… changing," she corrected.
"But first, I have the amulet," Hunter added, producing the Sun Amulet.
Cam didn't say a word as he ran over and deactivated Tobi's morpher.
Dustin's head snapped up. "Woah, dude," he grumbled. "I had the most whacked out dream ever," he said, rubbing his eyes. "I dreamed TZT was…" He opened his eyes and stared down at Tobi's pale, lifeless form as Cam reached out for the amulet.
Hunter gave Cam the amulet, which he then forced into Tobi's hand.
The four waited.
"Dude, isn't it supposed to glow or something?" Dustin suggested.
"Cam, Dustin's right," Hunter pointed out.
Cam ran over to the computer.
"Anything?" Tori asked.
"No change," Cam said, turning from the screen.
"Why isn't it working?" Dustin demanded.
"Cam, what if we try to attach the amulet to his morpher?" Hunter asked.
Tori gasped. "When Leanne did that, she exploded!" she reminded him.
Cam looked at her and then back to Tobi. "I'm out of ideas," he confessed.
"Cam, maybe we can come up with something else," she suggested.
"I believe it'll work on him," Dustin insisted.
"Dustin, you believed he'd survive saving Hunter," she reminded him. "What if it kills him?"
Dustin frowned, staring at Tobi.
"He's already dead," Cam pointed out.
"Shane to Cam," Shane's voice came from Cam's morpher. "Is Tobi okay yet? Because we have some serious problems over here."
"Hold on," Cam told Shane, lowering his morpher and looking at the others.
Just then, Sensei entered the room. "I have heard Shane's call for assistance," the guinea pig stated as he approached. "Hunter, you will find your brother asleep in one of the training rooms. Tori, you will join them."
"Sensei, what about Tobi?" she asked.
Sensei turned to Cam. "Son, do you have a solution?" he asked.
"I might," Cam admitted, "but it could just as easily permanently destroy Tobi's body."
"But could it save him?" Sensei asked.
"I don't know," Cam replied.
"Yeah, it can," Dustin declared.
Sensei looked from Dustin to Cam. "Do what you feel you must, Cam, but do it quickly."
Cam looked at the others and then down to Tobi. He took a breath before lowering the amulet toward the morpher on Tobi's wrist.
Tori turned away, suddenly burying her face in Hunter's chest. He was caught off guard but decided to put an arm around her for support.
Dustin watched with wide, hopeful eyes as Cam positioned the amulet until…
A hand stopped Cam. He looked up to see Skyla holding his wrist. "That won't work," she told him softly.
The others just stared at her in surprise.
Tobi opened his eyes and sat up. Surprisingly, he didn't feel any pain at all in his body. But, as he blinked at his surroundings, he noticed that everything looked hazy.
He was at the park and there were humans, aliens and kelzacks running around as what looked like Dr. Oliver sent black tentacles out of his body.
Tobi immediately jumped up, ready to do what he could to help when he realized he couldn't feel his feet standing on anything. He looked down and gasped. His entire body was glowing and transparent. He raised his hands and stared through them. "What's happening?" he asked outloud.
"Thank you, Tobi," a voice told him. He turned around to see two glowing, transparent adults standing in front of him. Squinting, he recognized them.
"You're… Hunter and Blake's parents," he realized. "But not the ones from this dimension, the spirits."
"Yes," the woman said with a smile.
"What you did for Hunter was incredibly noble and brave," the man added. "We owe you our deepest debt of gratitude."
"You mean, healing him?" he asked before realizing something. "Why can I see you?"
The woman looked at her husband before turning back to Tobi. She paused for a moment, watching him. "Tobi, you're dead."
He gasped, again looking at his ghostly form. "Dead?" he repeated. "But Hunter's alright?" he asked.
"He is perfectly healthy," Mr. Bradley assured him.
Tobi looked down at his hands again. "So, I…" he mumbled. "I guess I knew this could happen. But, everybody's happy that Hunter's okay, right?"
"They are," Mrs. Bradley replied, glancing at her husband.
"So, why are you two here and not with your sons?" Tobi asked. "I thought you never left their side."
"We had to make sure you weren't alone when you awoke," she replied.
"I appreciate that," he told her before thinking. "Look, I have a confession to make," he said, looking between both Bradleys. "I didn't do it for Hunter, not really. I did it for Dustin."
"Your motives are not as important as your actions," Mr. Bradley replied.
"Yeah, I guess the outcome's the same," Tobi agreed, looking at his body. "So, can I see them? Like to see if they're okay?" he asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Bradley agreed. "But first…" She turned to her husband.
"First," Mr. Bradley continued for her, "we may have a way to bring you back."
"Back?" Tobi repeated.
"Back to life," Mrs. Bradley finished.
To be continued...
Author's Note: The device Goldwinger uses to regenerate is actually used in the episode The Wild Wipeout, so I didn't just make that up. I did make up the song that Tobi sings, which was in chapter 25, but I've pasted the lyrics below. And, as you can see, by having Tobi be dead, I was able to do something I haven't done in any other chapter, which is to keep changing locations and following other characters. What did you guys think of that? And, what did you think of the other elements, such as the whole shadow entity thing? What would you like to see next?
And here's what Tobi sang (yes, I made it up, but I think it's a fitting way to end this chapter):
I've been on the outside looking in
I've been at a crossroads wondering where to begin
I wish I was carefree
I wish I was cocky
I wish I was crazy enough to believe in you and me
But dust to dust we're born
what we know not for
The one thing I know for sure
is I've been waiting for more…
You're heart's like a lion with it starts to roar
You're brave as a falcon when it learns to soar
You're smart like a dolphin who knows much more
You're love's like the thunder echoing from a distant shore
And now I know, you're the more I've been waiting for
You've been on the inside looking out
You've been at a crossroads without a single doubt
You know you're carefree
You know you're cocky
You're even crazy enough to believe in destiny
But dust to dust we're born
what we know not for
The one thing you know for sure
is I'm not what you've been waiting for
You're hearts like a lion…
(at this point, Tobi wanders offstage.)