Chapter 5
Jason walks in his front door.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home." He says and closes the door behind him. He sets his backpack down and walks into the kitchen.
"Where have you been?" His father asks.
"What?" Jason asks. "I went to the youth center after school. I thought I told you guys that."
"You did." His mother says. "But you weren't there."
"What are you talking about?" Jason says. "I was there."
"After the Earthquake, we wanted to make sure you were OK." His mother says. "We called your cell phone, but you didn't answer. We knew you said you were going to the youth center, so we called there. Ernie said he hadn't seen you for hours."
"We were worried." His father says. "After our argument this morning, we didn't know what to think when you didn't come home."
"Well, you can put your worries to rest now." Jason says. "I'm home. I'm safe. See?"
"That doesn't answer our question. Where were you?" His father says in a stern voice.
Jason took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't tell his parents the truth. First of all, they would never believe it, and secondly, he had promised Zordon that he wouldn't reveal his identity as a Power Ranger. "Here's what happened." Jason begins. "I was at the youth center, with the guys, and then the Earthquake hit, and we had to evacuate the building, so the police could make sure it was safe to go back in. We didn't want to stand around waiting, so someone, I think was Zack, suggested we go take a hike. I guess I don't cell reception out in the mountains."
"You went hiking in the mountains right after an Earthquake?" His mother asks.
"What are you, an idiot?" His father says. "What about aftershocks? If one struck when you were in the mountains, someone could have slipped and gotten seriously hurt, or worse."
"Believe me, it wasn't my idea." Jason says.
"No, but you went along with it." His father says.
"Yeah, only because I had no other choice." Jason says.
"How did you have no other choice?" His mother asks. "Did someone threaten you?"
"No nothing like that." Jason says. "It's just…"
"It's just what?" His father asks.
"Complicated." Jason says.
"Well, then let me make this as simple as possible for you." His father responds. "You're grounded. 1 week."
"What?" Jason says. "You can't ground me. I haven't been grounded since I was 12."
"As long as you live in my house, you'll live by my rules." his father says.
"But I made a commitment to the guys. I can't just bail on them." He responds. "If they need me, I have to go."
"They can live without for 1 week." His mother says.
"I don't think you understand the gravity of this situation." Jason says.
"Go to your room. Now!" His father says sternly. Jason grabs his backpack and heads up the stairs. His parents sigh.
Jason runs to his bedroom at the end of the hall and closes the door. He sets his backpack down on the bed and he sighs. He sits down at his desk and clutches his head. "Man, this sucks." He says outloud to no one.
Seconds later, his communicator goes off. "Great!" Jason says sarcastically. He presses a button on the side of the communicator. "What is it Zordon?" He asks.
"Rita has sent a Minotaur monster downtown." Zordon responds through the communicator. "You and the other rangers must teleport their immediately. There are soldiers there in serious danger."
"I can't go." Jason says. "My parents are already mad at me. If I "sneak out" now, for reasons that I can't explain to them, they'll kill me."
"Jason, the situation is urgent." Zordon says. "You, and the other rangers, are the only hope Earth has. You must teleport there now."
Jason looks at his door. "I'll be there." He says. He opens his door and looks down the stairs. He sees his parents sitting on the couch. He runs back to his room and closes the door again. He takes a deep breath and presses the button on the side of his communicator and teleports away.
Kim walks up to her house. She is in her driveway when she is stopped by a voice.
"So, you finally decided to come home?" The voice says. She turns to see Tommy standing in his driveway.
"Tommy!" Kim says. "What's going on?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Tommy says. "You and your friends ditched me while I was in the bathroom."
"The earthquake hit." Kim says. "We had to leave the building. I looked for you afterwards, but couldn't find you."
"Funny, I looked for you, too." Tommy says. "Couldn't find you, though. I did have a very interesting conversation with that Skull guy, though."
"Really?" Kim says. "What about?"
"About you." Tommy says. "Yeah, he claimed you were his girl, so I kicked his ass." Kim laughs. "No, I'm serious. I really kicked his ass, and that Bulk guy too."
"What?" Kim asks.
"Yeah, police had to break it up." Tommy says. "It was a whole big ugly scene. After I fought him I began to question whether or not you were worth it. I mean, you did ditch me."
"I told you, I looked for you." Kim says.
"Whatever." Tommy says. Kim's communicator goes off. "What was that?" Tommy asks.
"Oh, it's just… a new text message ringer." Kim says nervously. She pulls out her phone. "Oh that Trini." She says, and laughs nervously.
"Kim, what's going on?" Tommy asks.
"Nothing, nothing's going on." Kim says. The communicator goes off again. Kim laughs. "Actually, Tommy, I really have to go. Something just came up."
"Really?" Tommy asks. "Maybe I could join you."
"I don't think you'd really enjoy it." Kim says. "It's… um… girl stuff."
"Girl stuff?" Tommy asks.
"I really wish I could explain," Kim says "but my hands are kind of tied on this one. You know how it is."
"I do know about girls having their hands tied." Tommy mumbles to himself.
"What was that?" Kim asks. Her communicator goes off a 3rd time. "Never mind, it's not important. I really have to go."
"Kim, calm down." Tommy says. "It's not the end of the world or anything. It's just some silly thing with your friend."
"It's kind of a bigger deal than that." Kim says. "It's impossible to explain. I don't even know I'd begin."
"Kim, I get it." Tommy says. "It's obvious what's going on here.
"It is?" Kim asks, very confused.
"You have a date tonight with another guy." Tommy says.
"No, it's not that at all." Kim says.
"Then what is it then?" Tommy says.
"Tommy, I literally can't tell you." Kim says. "But it's not a date. I can tell you that much. I like you Tommy."
"Then blow this thing off tonight. Hang out with me." Tommy says. Her communicator goes off again. Kim looks at it, then back at Tommy, then at her wrist again. "I'm waiting, Kim." Tommy says.
"Look, Tommy, you're really cool." Kim says. "I want to get to know you, and if I would choose to hang out with you 100 times out of 100 if it was my choice…"
"Then let's go." Tommy says.
"But this isn't my choice." Kim says. "This isn't something I can blow off, and I can't tell you why. I'm not asking you to like it, or even understand it."
"Well, good," Tommy says. "because I don't understand. I don't understand how you can say you would choose to hang out with me 100 times out of 100, but choose not to hang out with me today. Maybe my doubts were right. Maybe you weren't worth it." Tommy turns around and heads into his house. Kim sighs. Then she presses the button on the side of her communicator. "What is it, Zordon?"
"The other rangers need your help." Zordon says. "Rita has sent a mighty Minotaur monster and it is terrorizing the downtown area."
"I'm on my way." Kim says. She looks around to make sure no one can see her, then presses a button on the side of her communicator and teleports away.
Jason landed in an alley downtown. He ran to the end of the alley and looked out. He saw the Minotaur monster running wild in the streets. Most of the soldiers had guns and were shooting at the monster, however, their bullets did not seem to have any impact. They bounced off of the creatures tough skin. The creature hit a couple soldiers with it's club, and following that charged at another group of soldiers. When it ran into them, the men were sent flying for a few feet. The creature let out a loud roar.
Jason pulled back into the alley. Billy and Trini teleported in next to Jason. Jason turns and see them and jumps. He catches his breath.
"I don't know if I'm going to get used to people teleporting in from nowhere." He says to the two of them. Zack then teleports in behind Jason.
"What's the situation look like?" Trini asks.
"Not good." Jason responds. "The soldiers are getting killed out there."
"So what's our plan, oh fearless leader?" Zack asks. Jason again jumps.
"When did you get here?" Jason says. "It doesn't matter. Let's scope this out for a few more seconds while we wait for Kim. Once she gets here, let's morph and stop this freak."
"Far be it from me to question our 'leader', but why should we wait for Kim." Billy says. "We have no idea how long it will take for her to get here, and by that time, these soldiers could be killed."
"I only said a few more seconds." Jason responds. "If she's not here soon, we'll have to start the fight without her."
The teens lean out of the alley again. They see the Minotaur charge at another solider. The soldier, dives out of the way, however the Minotaur does not take kindly to this. He grabs the soldiers feet and picks him up.
"I've seen enough." Zack says. "Let's stop this freak."
"Kim will have to join the party once she gets here." Jason says. "Alright. It's Morphin' Time!" He shouts. Each of the rangers pull out their power morphers, pull it back and then pushes it forward.
"Mastodon!" Zack shouts.
"Triceratops!" Billy yells.
"Saber-Tooth Tiger!" Trini yells.
"Tyrannosaurs!" Jason shouts.
Once again, the teens are covered in the different colored armor. They run out of the alley. Zack pulls out his Power Axe, and uses it as a blaster to shoot the Minotaur. The Minotaur is knocked back, and drops the soldier who runs away from the monster.
"Take that, Bullbrain!" Zack shouts. The monster turns to the rangers.
"He doesn't look happy." Billy says.
"OK, you guys fight the monster." Jason says. "I'll join you in just a minute, but we have to get these people out of here."
"Right." The other 3 shout in unison. They begin to fight the Minotaur.
Billy pulls out his power lance. He uses it to stab the creature and push it away. The monster gets up angrily and charges the 3 rangers. Trini uses her Power Daggers to hit the creature in the back. It lets out a loud scream, then pulls out it's club and starts swinging it.
"This isn't working." Billy says. "We're just making him angrier."
Meanwhile, Jason runs over to Colonel Freeman. "Sir, you have to get these men out of here." He tells him. Freeman glares at him.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" Freeman says. "I'm not taking orders from a brightly colored masked vigilante."
"Look, this is serious." Jason says. " Your men are no match for monsters like this."
"Listen here, little red riding hood, these men are some of the most highly trained soldiers that this world has to offer." Freeman responds.
"Yeah, and they're getting their butts kicked by a mindless alien." Jason says. "Now get them out of here before someone gets seriously hurt."
"I'm not taking orders from you." Freeman responds. "Men, re-engage the enemy."
The soldiers begin to shoot at the monster again.
"Seriously, call your men off." Jason says. "Someone is going to get hurt."
"Thanks for the advice, Red, but I call the shots here." Freeman responds.
Jason sighs. He shakes his head and runs to his teammate's sides. "I couldn't convince him to leave." He says.
"We've got bigger problems." Zack says. "This guy is tough." The monster targets the rangers, and gets ready to charge at them. It gets hit by a few bullets from behind, and it turns to see what this annoyance is. He spots a soldier. This is Miller, who had doubted the existence of aliens just a few minutes ago.
"How do you like that?" Miller shouts. He keeps shooting at the monster, who is unfazed. The monster starts to charge at Miller. "Ah! Ah!" Miller screams as he stumbles backwards. He is about to get crushed, when from seemingly out of nowhere, the monster is knocked aside by laser arrows. Kim, morphed as the pink ranger, lands on the ground between the other rangers and Miller.
"Sorry I'm late." Kim says.
"About time you showed up." Jason says.
"Ain't it just like a woman to keep us waiting." Zack says. Kim runs over to Miller.
"Are you alright?" She asks him.
"I'm fine, but who are you?" Miller says.
"We're the Power Rangers." Kim says.
"Power Rangers?" Miller asks.
"Don't worry about it." Kim says. "Now, get out of here, and get the other soldiers to go with you before someone gets seriously hurt."
"OK." Miller says and he runs over to Freeman. Kim runs to the sides of her teammates.
"Jason." Zordon says, calling him though the communicator. Jason pulls his arm up towards his mouth.
"What is it, Zordon?" Jason asks.
"Now that you are all 5 together, bring your weapons together to form the Power Blaster." Zordon explains.
"Alright!" Jason shouts. The rangers each grab their weapons and put them together with ease. Their powers gave them knowledge of how to put the weapons together. The power Axe is the base. The power Daggers and Power Lance serve as additional blasters. The Power Bow serves as a stabilizer, and the Power Sword is on top and helps to aim the weapon.
"Power Blaster!" Jason shouts. The others help him hold the newly formed weapon. The Minotaur monster stumbles back to his feet and stares at the rangers. He begins to charge at them.
"Fire!" Jason shouts. The rangers' weapon shoots out a powerful laser beam from it. Instead of knocking the monster back like the previous attacks, this attack completely destroyed the monster. It fell to the ground and exploded. The rangers begin to celebrate, but their celebration is short lived.
Freeman runs over to them. "Who the hell are you?" He asks.
"We're the Power Rangers." Jason says.
Freeman does not look amused. "That doesn't answer my question." Freeman says. He stares at the rangers.
Meanwhile, up in her moon, Rita is not happy that the monster was defeated so easily. "Finster!" She shouts. "Your monster was worthless."
"Perhaps we should have sent a team of putties with him." Goldar suggests.
"If I may say so, my queen, the Minotaur has not yet been defeated." Finster says.
"What?" Rita asks. "What do you mean?"
"Well, using your magic wand, you can make any of my creatures grow to an enormous size, even once they are defeated." Finster explains. "However, that is their final form."
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Rita says. She walks over to the edge of her palace and points her magic wand at the Earth. "Magic Wand, make me monster grow!" She shouts. As she does this, lighting comes from the top her staff, and Rita laughs maniacally.
The Minotaur monster, is reformed and now is the size, or larger, than the skyscrapers in Angel Grove.
Jason turns to Freeman. "Looks like the Q&A is going to wait a bit." He says. "Ready guys. It's time to call the Zords."
"Right." The other says. In unison the 5 rangers all call out "We need Dinozord power, now!"
The Dinzords appear seemingly out of nowhere. The zords are giant robots that are in the shape of the dinosaur they call out when morphing. They also are trimmed in their ranger color. The ranger jump up and are teleported into the cockpits of their respect zords.
"Zack, here. I'm in." Zack says.
"As am I." Billy says.
"I'm here also." Trini says.
"Kimberly, checking in." Kim says. "This is so totally cool."
"I'm in as well." Jason says. "Now let's show this freak what we're made of."
The Ranger's zords approach the large monster. The Mastodon zord shoots like an icy liquid from it's tusks. The Minotaur tries to avoid it, but is unable to. It lets out a roar. Both the Triceratops and Saber Tooth Tiger zords have laser blasters that come out of the top of them. These are deployed and shot at the monster. The Pterodactyl zord shoots at the monster from the skies. Jason uses the Tyrannosaurus zord's tail and swings it at the Minotaur. These attacks have a small impact on the monster, but it obvious to the rangers that this will be enough to defeat the monster.
"At this rate, beating this monster will take forever." Zack says.
"We've got to try something else, but what?" Trini asks.
"Rangers." Zordon says. "Combine your zords to form the Megazord. Only then can you defeat the Minotaur. There is a large button in your zords, featuring a picture of your individual zords. Pressing that button will begin the megazord transformation."
"Right." Jason says. The rangers all find the button and press it. The Zords all start to transform. The Triceratops and Saber Tooth Tiger zords fold up into legs. The Mastodon zord splits into two and forms cannons that can double as arms. The Tyrannosaurus zord connects to these zords. After connecting, the zords stand up, at which point the Pterodactyl zord becomes a chest plate completing the Megazord transformation.
The rangers all slide into the cockpit together. "This is incredible." Billy says.
"Let's do this." Jason says.
The Minotaur monster charges at the Megazord, but the Megazord is able to step out the way and push the monster past it.
Zordon calls the rangers in the cockpit. "Rangers, use the Mega-Power Sword." he says. "It is a powerful sword strong enough to destroy this creature."
"Right." Jason says. "Mega Power Sword!" He shouts and then presses a button. The sword flies in and the Megazord catches it.
"Where did that come from?" Trini asks.
"It just appeared out of nowhere." Billy explains.
"That's is so totally weird." Kim says.
"Who cares." Jason says. "It's here now, and let use it." The Megazord pulls back the sword and swings it at the monster. When it hits the monster, it slices right into the monsters skin. The monster begin to lose it's balance and falls to the ground. After falling to the ground, it explodes.
"Whoa!" Zack shouts.
"We won?" Trini says. "We won!"
"Don't get too excited." Jason says. "We won today, but now Rita knows we mean business." The rangers exit the zords and land on the ground. The Megazord deconstructs and the zords return to their docking bay.
The rangers look around, and once the realize it is safe to do so, they demorph. Jason looks at his communicator.
"Oh shit." He says. "I have to go, now. If my parents realize I went out after they told me not to, they're going to kill me. See you guys later." He presses the button on the side of his communicator and teleports away. The other look at each other.
"I better get going as well." Billy says.
"Me too." Trini says.
"See you guys tomorrow." Zack says.
Then the rangers all head out in different directions.
Back where the battle had originated, Freeman looks at his men. "Do any of you know what those things were?" He asks. None of the men seem to know. "I'm going to have to talk to Harrison about this."
"Do you think Harrison sent those fighters?" One of the soldiers asks.
"I don't know." Freeman responds. "I would have thought, if that were the case, that he would have at least informed me about the plan."
"Maybe he wanted to showcase his new weapons." Another soldier suggests.
Freeman glares at this man. "I'll talk to Harrison." He says. "'Power Rangers' does not sounds like to official of a name though. I don't think he had anything to do with it. Let's get out of here. There's nothing more we can do here." He then starts to walk away.
Meanwhile, on the moon base, Rita is infuriated with the result of this battle.
"Your monster was a failure!" She yells at Finster.
"My queen, I had no idea the extent of the Ranger's powers." He replies. "Now we know."
"This is true." Rita says.
"Should I make another monster to attack?" He asks.
"No…" Rita says. "Strength alone isn't going to win us this war. The Minotuar was a strong creature, but banding together they were able to defeat it. We need a plan before attacking again. Next time, those teenagers won't know hit them." She then starts to laugh maniacally.