Author's Notes – I know it's been ages since I last updated. I think last time was October 06, shame on me for backlogging this. Though in all fairness I was stuck for what to do, so you should all thank Rachel for given me the idea for this part.
Also I put it in the notes in part 1, I've gone back through, spelled Hayley and Conner's name correctly now in all parts, as well as making Tommy now 7 years old turning 8, instead of 11 as he was acting too young to be 11 even with being cuddled and sheltered by his dad during those years.
Summary – Even the best laid plans need a little extra help sometimes.
-o-
Friendly Advice
Jason
-o-
(Day 11, Dino Lair)
"I'm not letting him go back there alone." Standing in front of the three children, I must say Tommy has taught them well. They certainly know the fine art of stubbornness.
"What makes you think Mesagog will agree with you there though?" Because unlike you all, he doesn't know me, and I, I know him very well. Or at least part of him.
"We don't have a choice."
Looking as doubtful as the children, Hayley nevertheless seems to see my point. "He's right; it's too dangerous to send Tommy alone again. He still needed him to get the gem, but this time there's no insurance."
"Then one of us should go." Picking up the prop bracelet, Conner is clearly going to be my biggest problem. "Look I get your like his big brother or something, but you don't have access to any powers aside your original ones and you said yourself there's barely enough left there to sustain the morph. At least I can morph and I know how Mesagog operates. He'll be safer with me." In a way I agree with him, but I know it won't work if we do that. Mesagog will smell the setup.
"But Mesagog won't believe that you'd be willing to give up his gem just to get him back. He knows Tommy's trained you all, you especially. He knows Tommy would kill you if he found out you even considered such a thing. He won't buy it." Seeing the reluctant agreeance dawn in the Red Ranger's eyes, I know I've got him.
Looking just as unhappy as the rest, Kira nods slowly, reluctantly taking the bracelet from Conner and giving it to me. "He's right. This is our best shot."
-oooooo-
(Reefside Forest Reserve)
Holding Tommy's small hand tightly in my own, I'd still feel better if I didn't have to bring him along, but considering he's the one we need changed back I think it's crucial he be present. "Mesagog! Mesagog get out here!"
Waiting impatiently, I hope Hayley got the location right. She said this area still had remote traces of a portal, which means they should be monitoring it. Opening my mouth to call again I stop as a flash of green appears a few feet away, Elsa stepping out of it.
Pushing Tommy further behind me, I can feel his little hand shaking slightly. "I want to talk to your boss."
Sword in hand, she looks torn between taking matters into her own hands or doing as she was no doubt instructed by Mesagog. Finally it seems fear and loyalty win out. "Follow me." Stepping through the portal, she's gone, but I can still see traces of where the entrance is. This better work.
"Come on kiddo." Picking him up as I don't know if we'll be dropped out of the other side or not and I don't want him hurt, I still find it strange I can pick him up without it having to be over my shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Hold on tight."
Running for the portal I jump in only to find myself landing on a stone floor. Great, so back on the moon in the palace?
Squirming out of my arms, but still keeping hold of my hand, Tommy doesn't look pleased to be back here. I think I see why.
Looking at the shelves lined with jars of specimens, rather dangerous looking objects, and even examination tables in the room, going to take a guess and say this isn't the run down palace. Looks like evil has made a few upgrades to correspond with the times. "Well this is definitely a step up from the dark dimension."
"Wait here." Looking up just in time to see the woman retreat through a sliding door, I can see why she's not Tommy's favorite person to deal with.
"I don't like it here."
Crouching down so I can get on level with the boy, I give him what I hope is a reassuring look. "I know, we won't be here long, I promise."
"I see we have company." Standing as Tommy's arch enemy enters; I have to say those pictures on his computer and the news do very little justice to seeing the mutated creature in the flesh. "I wondered if the child would come alone." I doubt you expected him to.
"We're here to make a deal." Pushing Tommy further behind me, I suppose I should be grateful it's only the three of us. I don't think I could fight him and Elsa at the same time and still keep him safe. "You offered a trade, one I'm willing to make."
Advancing on us slowly, he looks too casual about the entire matter. "You came alone? No Rangers to protect you?"
"They wouldn't agree to this. Tommy's taught them to put the greater good first." Keeping my voice strong, I don't like this. He's too calm and with his face as it is I can't read his expression. The sooner we get this over with the better.
"And you?"
"I want him back." It's the truth, or as close as I can give. I honestly don't know what I would have done had we not come up with this plan, though there's probably a good chance it would have involved raising an eight year old.
Seeming pleased, or at least satisfied with that answer, he gets down to business. "The gem." At my negative head shake and slight tug on Tommy's hand, I make my point clear. "The gem first, then the boy. Unless you'd like for me to show you how impatient I can be."
As Elsa suddenly enters, it looks like there will be a slight change in plans.
Not left with much of a choice, I slip the fake bracelet from my wrist, throwing it to her and hoping she lacks the knowledge to tell it's not the real thing on first glance. "Now change him back."
"I'd rather not." Saw that coming. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so fast in refusing Conner's presence.
As the Tyrannodrones enter I know that if I get us out of this alive I'm going to be hearing it from the rookie for the rest of my life.
"Jason." Holding onto me tighter, if that's possible, Tommy is going to be the biggest problem. I might be able to fight them off, but not if I have to watch him.
"Go hide yourself." Pushing him back, I have to keep them away from him, solution to the spell be damned now.
"Attack!" Sending the creatures at me full force, I should probably be thankful there are only five. Any more I wouldn't have a prayer.
Ducting under the first and kicking away the second and third, I spare a glance back to see Tommy huddling down by the control panel on the far wall. I said hide, not lock yourself in a corner where there's no escape. Using the table, I flip over the group, coming face to face with Elsa.
"Why don't you just give up? You're powerless to stop us."
"As I recall Tommy was powerless the last time he was here and he got away with that gem you're holding." Lashing back and knocking an advancing Tyrannodron back, I have to find a portal out of here and fast.
"Don't think you'll be so lucky." Lunging at me, I barely manage to side step in time, sending her to the ground, the bracelet slipping from her grasp and sliding out into the hall. Seeing this too, she's quickly on her feet and after it.
"Jason!"
Turning to see a much larger problem, I feel my heart stop. Towering over Tommy, Mesagog has apparently had enough as the dagger in his hand is ready to come down. "Leave him alone!"
Pulled back by the Tyrannodrones I can't believe this is how it's going to end. It can't end like this! He's not going to be taken out as an eight year old child damn it!
"No! No don't!" Holding his hands up in preparation for the strike, Tommy pushes back as far as possible. No, don't do it, you can't do it!
"Yessss…no. No not now!" Suddenly reeling back, almost as if he'd been struck, Mesagog drops the dagger, falling to his knees. What was that? Do I care?
Using the moment of confusion to my advantage as even the dinosaur like creatures seem lost as to what's happened, I pull free, throwing two back into the hall and straight into Elsa. Well three down and-
"Thomas."
Attention drawn back to Mesagog and Tommy, I hold back a curse as I see the blonde male now in the mutant's place. I suppose in the grand scheme of things that's good, at least if he goes for Tommy again I have a better chance at killing him. "Get up and help me!"
Gaze finally leaving the scared child, Mercer is up and beside me at a surprising speed for someone who just altered his genetic makeup by sheer will power. I told Tommy he had to have some control over that change.
Helping me throw the last two back into the hall, he's across the room in a flash, quickly entering something into the control panel on the desk. As the doors slide shut, I breathe a sigh of relief.
Looking less then reassured by the strong barrier now between us and the raptor Tyrannodrones, he's quick to voice his concerns. "That won't hold them for long. What were you thinking? Bringing him here like this. And giving them the black gem." Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you are.
Helping Tommy up and making certain to keep myself between him and Mercer, I can't believe he has the nerve to stand there and lecture me after nearly killing the boy. "It's a fake. The real one's back at the lair." Don't tell me you're actually concerned about it being kept in the right hands.
"At least you have some sense."
"I'm not the one trying to take over the world." Tone scathing, I feel a pang of satisfaction as his head lowers and his response is muttered.
"I was trying to save it."
"The road to hell…"
Ignoring the beginning of my quote, his focus returns to Tommy who is still looking more then a little shaken. "What's happened to him? I know some of it, but only bits and pieces." Is that right. When I give him a look, he returns it with one of his own. "We may share a body, but he doesn't exactly fill me in on his plans."
"They turned him into a kid. Used some candle, or so we think." Looking towards the door as the pounding increases, that won't hold them much longer. We have to find that candle and get out of here.
"Candle…" Eyes roaming the room, he finally runs to one of the many shelves and amazingly enough produces a large black candle, the wax just barely melted on top. "Here." Shoving it into my hand, he heads back to the control panel. "You have to get out of here. I can send you back to his house, but I need a minute to enter the coordinates." Just has to be human now doesn't he.
As much as I hate to do it, I can't leave him behind. He's not Mesagog right now which places him in danger and thus makes me responsible for him living to see tomorrow. "What about you?"
Leaning heavily on the panel, he shakes his head. "I won't be able to hold them or him off much longer. Besides the important thing is getting you both out safely and Thomas back to normal. He can't stop Mesagog like this."
"Damn it, he's always right." I can't believe I'm starting to feel sorry for this guy. This guy who put my friend through hell and back, this guy who convinced him to use Ranger technology for whatever it was they were doing, this guy who…who is trying to save me and Tommy so his alter ego can be stopped.
"What?"
"Tommy. When he first told me about what'd happened, I tried to blame it all on you. He got upset, said it was an accident, said you were worth saving." I guess as reluctant to admit it as I am, he might be right. "He has this funny little habit of believing there's good in everyone."
Chuckling dryly, he gives a shaky nod. "Sounds like him. A little advice." Panting harder now, and clearly fighting against the monster inside, he turns to look at me dead on. "Don't take him or the time you have with him for granted. You'd be amazed how fast it can all be gone." Hand slamming down on the button, the portal is opened below us before I can respond.
To be continued………….