CHAPTER 16 - SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Harry watched the last putty fall. He scanned the park, meeting Adam's eyes to confirm all threats handled. He turned to Kim in time to see Candy signaling clear, Harry nodded in confirmation when Kim turned his way.

"Park cleared," Kim said.

'Good,' Kit Kat responded. 'Join Zack- Oh shit. Putties attacking outside the courthouse. It's yours.'

Kim and Harry sighed in exasperation even as Adam and Candy teleported out. "We're on our way," Kim said.

The morphed Pink and White Dino Rangers appeared before the courthouse doors and quickly moved into battle. Though there were several people caught in the attack, once the two started fighting, Adam and Candy were able to clear everyone out and lead them to shelter.

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At the docks, Goldar managed to pin Trini against a wall. Zack tried to reach her but more putties kept appearing.

Blade ducked inside the remains of one of the buildings destroyed earlier in the war and called over the communications, "Zack."

'Busy here,' Zack hissed back.

"You can't reach her on time, Zack. Fire your blaster into the water."

A slight pause then, 'What the hell will that do?'

"Smoke and mirrors."

Zack started to question more when the phrase clicked. He moved away from Goldar and Trini, escaping the wall of putties, and did as he was told. The moment the laser hit the water, a whirlpool rose out of the bay at the point of impact and flew towards Goldar. The whirlpool wrapped around Goldar, pulling him away from Trini and throwing him into the bay.

Trini fell to the ground, gasping.

"You okay?" Zack questioned. Trini shook her head no, Justin teleported in the moment she responded, taking hold of her arm and teleporting out immediately. Zack continued to fire his blaster into the water, letting Blade's whirlpools take out the rest of the putties. He wondered if Zedd would actually believe the whirlpools caused by his blaster fire, though when he thought of some of the things Billy had created for the team it didn't seem too unlikely.

That completely, he called in.

'Shopping center,' Con responded. 'Blade, return to base.'

Zack teleported to Jason's side, moved out opposite Billy. As he scanned the streets, he placed Harmony and Rocky and saw when Striker joined them.

'Trini's healed and joined Dragon,' Con said even as Zack moved into the battle. Zack smiled at this news, glad both that his longtime friend was okay and that Tommy was no longer the only morphed Ranger on that battlefield.

A very wet Goldar teleported in the back of the attack. His angry gaze sought out Zack and he growled as he started forward, drawing his sword. Harmony stepped out and laid her hand on his wrist. "Now why you wanna be doing that, sweetie?" she purred. "Why don't you just sit over here and talk to me for a bit?"

Mesmerized, Goldar followed her into an empty building, where he laid down and went to sleep at her suggestion. As he never really looked at her, he would only remember a soft touch and enchanting voice when he awoke.

'Good job, honey,' Kat praised over the comm. 'Come on back to base now.'

Surprised at how tired she felt after that manipulation, Harmony gladly teleported back to base. She collapsed next to Blade, who looked just as worn out as her.

"Dragon did say it'd take more out of us to do this stuff unmorphed," Blade reminded when she mentioned her surprise.

"When they figure out what we're doing, we'll start morphing for battles," Connor stated. "Though I hope that's a long time off."

Harmony nodded her agreement. "Leave the flashy stuff to Dragon's Rangers. I can take feeling tired."

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"Aw fuck," Brandy cursed as putties appeared in front of the Youth Center back door. She stepped in front of the man even as the man pulled the woman protectively behind him and took out a … stick? Ignoring that oddity, she began fighting the putties. Cherry Pie and Sherry teleported over and joined the fight. Brandy took a closer look at Sherry when the other girl swung a double edged axe through the putties, taking out three in one strike, but quickly saw it was from the weapons locker, not her Ranger weapon. "Shoulda thought of that," Brandy murmured.

More and more putties kept appearing, the three Thunder Rangers found themselves surrounded, with two civilians in their midst. The man was still holding onto that stick of his but doing nothing.

Cherry hissed when a putty managed to knock her down and her head slammed into the ground. Blood flowed from several cuts as she pushed herself back up but the wounds healed even before she was all the way back on her feet. "Base," Cherry said into her communicator as she wiped the blood from her now uninjured face. "We're surrounded, can't get the civilians to the Youth Center."

'Hold,' Connor said in response. After a moment, he said, 'Dragon authorized bringing them to base.'

"Gottcha." Even as she acknowledged, Brandy moved in close to the man and woman and teleported out. Cherry and Sherry continued fighting the putties.

Kit Kat stood as they appeared. "Sit over there," she told the two adults, motioning to chairs at the side of the war room. "Brandy, take over comm for me. I'm joining my girls." Kat strapped on a sword from the weapons locker and teleported out.

Brandy took the seat next to Connor as Justin approached the adults and began a basic scan for injuries. "How are we?"

Connor glanced at Brandy before turning his attention back to the screens. "Everyone's doing good. Dragon's battle's interesting."

Brandy looked at the screen that showed Tommy's battle. She frowned in confusion. "No one's moving. How's that interesting?"

"He's a warrior. There was fighting a moment ago. The snake creature made a move towards the Yellow Ranger and Green stopped it. Remember what Dragon said? The one that makes the first move in a fight often loses 'cause they give away their timing. Or something like that, anyway."

"Dragon's lecture on patience," Justin said as he healed the small cut on the woman's hand, the only injury between the two. "You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect. In forcing the enemy to make the first move, their timing and strategy are revealed."

"Which was just as fun as his 'fight by appearing not to fight' lecture," Harmony complained.

Con said, "If you're rested enough to gripe about lessons, you can join Adam and Candy by the courthouse."

Harmony pouted but teleported out. Blade said, "I'm ready if needed."

"Shopping center?" Brandy suggested, pointing out the number of putties still searching the streets away from the main battle.

"Any civilians out there?" Con questioned.

"I don't - Yes. There," she pointed a block away from the main fight. Putties weren't there yet but were fast approaching. Con nodded to Blade who immediately teleported out.

'Putties cleared,' Kat announced, sounding exhilarated from the battle. Con directed Kat and Sherry to join Blade, leaving Cherry Pie to remain as Tommy and Trini's backup. She moved closer to their standoff and settled in to watch.

At the side of the room, Severus Snape watched in silence as the teens led what appeared to be a major war effort, intrigued by the story around him. Though he had many questions, he knew better than to interrupt during such a time. So he sat back and waited, watching and listening, deciding to get some answers here before resuming his search for Harry Potter.

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Continued - Let me know what you think. Review