Katie stifled a yawn as she sat back on the couch. "Trip," she whispered to her green haired friend who was currently using her lap as a pillow. "Trip wake up."
Trip stirred slightly and muttered something incomprehensible, but didn't open his eyes.
Jen smiled, "we're going to read some more."
That got his attention. His head snapped up and he rubbed his eyes. "Why didn't you just say so," he asked in a sleepy voice. He sent a glare in Katie's direction. "Why'd you let me go to sleep anyway?"
She shook her head, "sorry, didn't know I was supposed to keep you awake all night."
"Well…you were," he said, the pathetic tone of his voice negating the ferocity of his mock glare.
Alex watched his friends in amusement, but his gaze turned stony and soon shifted to Jen. "You do know how much trouble you could get in for brining this here, right?"
She nodded slowly as she sipped on her coco. "You realize that you are here too? That makes you an accomplice," she said with an amused sparkle in her eye.
He gave her a surprised look, his eyebrows rising faintly and his mouth forming the letter 'O'. "Oh, I see how it is," he said laughingly.
"I know, I'm evil right?" She shot him a mischievous smile, "Katie must be rubbing off on me."
An offended "hey" came from the couch and a pillow slammed into Jen's face. "Didn't you mother ever tell you that it was rude to talk about people when they were in the room?"
No," replied Jen. "She told me it was rude to talk about them behind their backs!"
Katie laughed, "well…whatever. I'm not evil. Am I Trip?" She slapped him on the back, much harder than she had intended, and he flew off the couch.
"No, not at all," he replied with a wince as his knee connected with Jen's coffee table.
"Sorry!"
"It's ok," he said, rubbing his knee and grabbing the book of rules. "Forget about it."
241. Yes, the Dragonzord looks like Godzilla. No, that does NOT mean that you can bring it up from the ocean and send it to destroy Tokyo. (Besides, Conner, Ethan will kill you. Tokyo is where the best video games usually originate!)
242. If you switch bodies with a member of the opposite sex, you might want to stay home from school until you are switched back...Unless you want to embarrass yourselves till you're in college. (Kim, Billy)
243. Yes, you must pay any and all speeding tickets you get in your Zord... (Not looking at anyone Justin)
244. Trying to use the "sixth" ranger's morpher when it isn't geared towards you is dangerous to your health. (Carter!)
245. You are not allowed to write 'former power ranger' on you college applications. (Don't even go there Conner)
246. Rocky, stop throwing gum in Tommy's hair. Just because it will stick in his now-spiky hair does not make it funny. Watching him trying to get it out, now that's funny!
247. When Katie is arm wrestling with anyone, know that they can't beat her… (Ask Danny for confirmation)
248. The newest team of rangers tend to get really cool things... (Why didn't the originals get these things too?!)
249. Guys, if you get caught spying on the girls make sure you can run faster than them so they don't catch you and give you a makeover.
250. When your teacher just happens to also be you're mentor do not show up for a monster battle and then fake sick. It will result in multiple pop quizzes and an extra training session.
251. When going on a secret space mission... GO before you leave! The megaship will not make pit stops.
252. If you want to keep your powers, and your sanity, intact - don't pick on the guinea pig - his son is a genius and he will get you... (Yes Cam, we know you're protective of your Dad)
253. If your dating your best friends sister, don't tell her brother when you're in the middle of an alien base... (Yes, Zhane that is very bad timing)
254. When a fellow blue ranger is trying to get a girl's attention and her father show up, don't take advantage of your friend's situation by stealing the girl away! (Did you see the look on poor Max's face when you stole Nadira away Lucas?)
255. Walls are not always your friends. (If you don't believe me, just ask Bridge.)
256. Never ever mess with your teacher/mentor. They could ruin your entire summer by failing you. (Right Conner?? Got it?)
257. Xander, if you want to keep your butt, stop reasoning with the monsters, they don't want it.
258. When your leader is wearing different clothes, acting secretive, and your newest enemy is acting buddy-buddy with him, it's most likely NOT HIM! (Rocky, Tommy still hasn't forgiven you for mistaking him for his evil clone. I mean, really, anyone could see that wasn't him! -Kim)
259. No, Conner you cannot I repeat, cannot, go joyriding on your bike, you aren't as skilled as Blake, Hunter or Dustin as you think you are.
260. Don't throw 'reflective rocks' at your blue teammate while he's pouting. (Remember what happened last time Syd?)
Katie slammed the book closed just as Trip was getting ready to turn the page. "Oh my gosh! Look at the time!"
Jen glanced at the clock then out the window. The sky was already turning light blue as the rosy morning light cast back the darkness of the night sky and bathed the city below with the warm rays of dawn. She stood and stretched. "We've got to get to the Archives, before they open."
A sad look crossed Trip's face, "but we haven't finished reading yet," he wined.
Alex, who had been sitting quietly on the floor, nodded slowly. "I think we should take the airbus to he Archives," he said.
Jen tried to peer into his face but he had turned his back to the group, choosing instead to stare out the window as the city slowly came to life outside.
"Why," she asked, "you have a car, it'd be much faster…" she trailed off as a realization dawned on her. "We'd get stuck in traffic and have a legitimate excuse for being late…"
Alex turned back to face her, a small smile lighting up his eyes. He didn't speak but gave her a small nod.
"Alex," she said as they started for the door. "You've been hanging around us too long; we're starting to rub off on you."
He shrugged as the door slid shut behind them. "Who ever said that was a bad thing?"
-----
Conner collapsed onto the ground, his arms burning and his lungs crying out for air.
"Get up," he heard a cold voice yell from somewhere above him, but he was too tired and miserable to obey.
A few seconds later her felt two strong hands close over the fabric of his jacket and yank him to his feet. "No time to rest now," said the voice in his ear. "You've still got five more miles to run before it gets dark."
The hands gave him a shove and he stumbled forward, his wearily legs threatening to send him toppling back to the ground. He shook his head and forced his body to start moving in the direction of the road. The sooner he ran, the sooner he could go home and drown himself in the bathtub.
"I hate you," he muttered under his breath, unaware that the man was following behind him.
"Oh, I think you just earned yourself another mile."
Conner nearly started crying as glanced over his shoulder at Jason, "no," he mumbled.
Jason smirked, "let's go Conner, what happened to that cocky little attitude that I've heard so much about?"
Conner returned his gaze back to the trail in front of him, afraid that an answer would mean adding another mile, or worse, to his punishment.
Only two more weeks, he reminded himself. Only two more weeks of hell on earth, then I'm free from Jason forever! He risked a glance back at the man following him. If he and his brutal 'training program' don't kill me first!
A few hours later Conner collapsed into the dirt in front of his car once more. He didn't have to look up at Jason to know that there was a cruel smile plastered across his dark features, and when the order finally came, he was anything but ready.
"Well, while you're down there you might as well start pushing," said Jason from high above Conner's head.
Conner spit into the dirt and uttered a silent curse as he assumed the position and started pushing.
"Count 'em out," barked his trainer.
"Three…four…five…six….seven….eight…..nine…………thirty-three…..thirty-four…….forty-nine.……..fifty."
Conner collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted. "Please no more," he begged when he felt Jason's hand on his shoulder.
"I guess that's enough for today," he said as he started to walk away, then as an after thought, "I'll see you at five am tomorrow morning."
Conner laid in the dirt, unable to move as every muscle in his body throbbed wearily with each heartbeat, even some of the muscles he didn't know he had cried out for an end to his agony.
Well, he thought ruefully, still unable to get up and leave, at least I'll still be here at five am…
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