A.N / I know, it has been a long time. Really sorry about that. I have just been working with, what, five others stories?
In addition, the second part of this chapter is in Zach's point of view. Is it okay, or do y'all prefer someone else? I need major feedback on that.
Well not surprised at the fact Tommy and Kim knew about Andros's interesting time with Ashley, though until she becomes a threat to them or he does, they let him go about his business. Though that makes me think that they know about Kat as well.
~ Maybe, but you also have to figure in the fact that Kat has magic on her side, thanks to Rita's big power staff thingamabob.
Seems Jason is having issues in regards the supposed death of Kim as the result of Kim's ghost haunting him
~ Ooh yes. Makes me wonder how he'll react when he finds out she's evil, not dead...If he ever does.
Chapter Eight; Cold Blooded Killers
Thursday, Nov. 24 1998
4.07 p.m
Juice Bar
Ashley sighed as she put her hair back into a ponytail, ignoring the fact that today was one of the coldest days so far, and her neck was cold. She ignored the fact she did not have a jacket, that she was wearing tiny shorts and a tank top in the cold front that brought the temperature down to around sixty, at the highest. She ignored her own discomfort to concentrate on the orders of the three assholes in front of her.
"Um...how about the mayo?" One of the guys snickered, followed by his two buddies. "Do you suggest the mayo, or is our burger better without it?"
She knew exactly what they were insinuating, but she did not let the guys get to her. This group came in every few days to make nasty comments, acting like the stereotypical teenage guys they were. "I dislike mayo, but if you want it on your burger, it's another five cents."
"Only five cents, then?" Another of the three leered at her, "Because that's a real good..." She felt his eyes run over her body, and resisted the urge to gag. "Bargain."
Her patience snapped. "Look, order now or never. I don't have the time for your crap today." She knew that snapping at them would get her nowhere, and let them get what they wanted, but she did not really care at this point. She just wanted to finish her day and sleep.
"Hey, we're paying for your time." The third guy said with a mocking tone in his voice. "The least you can do is be nice to us."
She squeezed her eyes shut and held back a scream. God, sometimes she just wished they would shut up and leave her alone, or hey, vanish off earth. That would make her day, it really would.
"Order or leave. Choose now." The voice was hard, cutting and was pure cruelty in words, booking no argument. The tone that held velvet for her held nothing but ice for the three boys she was serving.
There was silence as Ashley breathed out in relief and opened her eyes, pencil touching her paper. "Um, er, hamburger. Whatever you think is best." One guy squeaked, eyes wide as he stared behind the waitress. "A-all of u-us."
"Thanks, boys. And hey, since I was so nice about it all, I think I should get a big tip," Her voice was cheerful, or at least more so that earlier. She might not like that stalker boy intimidated everyone around her, but she was not about to let the opportunity pass.
No one said anything else, so she spun around and stepped to the side of man behind her, knowing he was following her...probably after glaring some more at the guys. Sure enough, she felt the heat of him as he crowded against her back, hands on her shoulders as she stopped at the counter. "Hey, Adelle, I'm going to take a break real quick, okay?" It looked slow today, so it should be fine.
"Sure! Just leave to order on the counter and I'll have Mia pick it all up!" Adelle called out the kitchen. Mia was one of the new waitresses, and since she'd joined the staff, the workload had been lot less.
"May we have some French fries and a shake as well?" Andros tacked on to her statement, not bothering to holler. His voice was deep and velvety, and easily heard. Maybe he had a lesson in theater as a kid. The only other person she knew who could do the projection thing with their voice was Cassie, who was in theater and had the training.
Adelle did not answer right away. First, she stuck her head out the kitchen window and looked at the man with narrow eyes. "Are you her boyfriend?" The black woman finally demanded, noticing how close he was to her star waitress.
"I don't believe so," Andros replied, and Ashley giggled, shaking her head. "Just a friend."
"Alrightly, then. You can have fries. And I'm guessing a chocolate shake, right, Ashley?" Adelle asked the golden haired girl, who nodded. With that as her response, Adelle disappeared back to the hot kitchen.
"'I don't believe so'?" Ashley asked him playfully as she chose a table close the exit, a booth with enough room for both of them, or rather, him. He was not large as in fat, but she was not about to risk any of the chairs breaking under his muscle. It would come out of her paycheck, after all.
"Where I come from, we don't have that term." He shrugged, pushing a loose strand of hair out of his face. "While I am aware that the word translates roughly into 'lover', I'm not exactingly sure of the specifics that the term carries on earth. Why are you still laughing?"
He did not sound angry at being teased, so she did not stop laughing for a little while. "You're just very...well; I can't describe it, I really can't." Then she flashed a smile at Mia. "Thanks, Mia." She called as the girl smiled shyly and bolted away. "Jeez, you intimidate everyone, don't you?"
"I don't mean to." He kept his voice smooth, stealing a fry from her without thinking. "Now will you explain this girl-boy friend to me?"
She giggled, dipping her own fry into the shake and ignoring his wince. "Basically, its two people who enjoy, kiss, protect and cherish each other. They hang out and make out and go on dates, like out to the movies and out to eat. Kinda like friends, except the kissing and butterflies in the stomach feeling."
"Butterflies in the stomach feeling?" He asked when she made no move to explain. Taking a sip of the milkshake, he kept his dark eyes trained on her, wondering, what exactly, she was talking about.
Her chewing slowed, and she swallowed in slow motion before answering. "Ever been nervous around someone? Not bad nervous, but like you want to impress them, you want them to like and notice you, and sometimes, if feels like your stomach is about to drop out?"
He shook his head. "I rarely feel nervous or afraid, and everyone notices me." He smirked, "They even pretend to like me, so really, no I've never had that problem."
She sighed and swallowed another fry. "Okay, so maybe the wrong way to describe it. How about this. A girlfriend is a friend who you enjoy kissing and think of as more than a friend, BUT you only kiss them. That's what a girlfriend or boyfriend is on earth."
He nodded slowly, eating another fry. "I prefer my way." A smirk lit his features. "I see what I want and claim her as mine."
Ashley snorted and sipped the milkshake, stealing his straw for a second. "Well, what if she doesn't want to belong to you?"
"Then she is not what I truly want." He shrugged, and then went stiff, eyes on the mirrored wall behind her.
Ashley shifted her eyes from him to the door, trying to see what he had stiffened at. Jason, Trini, Billy and Zach spilled through the front door, laughing and smiling, though she could see the bags under their eyes from where she sat.
"Want me to introduce you to my other friends?" Ashley offered as she turned back to Andros, one eyebrow raised.
"They will not be happy to see me," He told her with a scowl, "And I am not happy to see them, but I will allow you to introduce us."
Ashley snorted, "You call me a friend one second, and then treat me like a stranger the next." She shook her head at him in amused confusion, though he did not seem upset at her words, "And I thought girls were supposed to be confusing."
He merely rolled his eyes at her, which caused her to break into howling laughter. On a normal person, the motion would be, well, normal, but on the formal alien? It was freakishly funny. "I'm glad to amuse you," He added when her laughter died down.
Ashley just shook her head at him and waved her hand, calling out, "Hey, Trini!" For some reason, she had always felt close to the yellow-clad girl and Jason. She did not know why, but she felt that they both understood her more than Zach and Billy.
The group turned as one and made their way over to her table, Billy talking to Trini and Jason pushing Zach with a laugh. "Hey, girl. Who's the new frien...?" Trini started to ask, and then trailed off when she caught sight of Andros's face.
"Hello," Andros told the group that was staring at him, and Ashley knew she was missing something major. The tension that was coming from the other group was palpable, and Andros seemed to be amused by it, "Trini, is it?" He held his hand out to shake, and Ashley thought Trini would hit him.
"What are you doing here?" Jason was the one that demanded it, and Ashley scowled. No matter what Andros had done or said to them, he did not deserve that kind of tone.
"Hey!" Her voice came out sharper than she intended, but it got the job done. Everyone shifted his or her attention to her. "I don't know what's going on between you guys and Andros, and I don't care. He doesn't deserve that kind of tone, not when he's been nothing but civil to you!"
"Do you know what kind of atrocities that creature has committed?" Billy demanded of her, blue eyes on fire behind his glasses. The fact that Billy was the one to say such a thing made her draw back, blinking in confusion.
"There's no need to speak to her that way," Andros growled, moving as if to stand up. Ashley's hand darted out and gripped his wrist lightly.
"Please, don't start a fight here," She asked them all, though mostly Andros. The big guy looked angry, still, and Ashley pouted a bit, "Please? I hate violence."
"For you, I will refrain from a physical duel," Andros conceded, ducking his head to her. Then he turned his head and glared harshly at the group, in which every member was gaping, or in Jason's case, glaring in hatred. "Next time we meet; do not expect this woman to save you."
Then her lunch partner did stand, and Trini moved back to let him through. He walked past Ashley, pausing only to drape his leather jacket over her chair. "It will be cold tonight. You'll need this." He continued walking after that last line, vanishing out the door while she watched.
Zach was the first one to sit down, "Ashley," His voice was, for once, dead serious. "Do you know what that man is capable of? Do you know what he's done?"
"I...I have no idea," She finally admitted, looking down from Zach's dark eyes. Then she jerked her own brown orbs up to glare at him, "All I know is that he makes me feel safe, glares at people who give me a hard time, and buys me food every time we meet! Now he probably won't even come back."
Trini took the seat beside Ashley, and Billy sat beside Zach. Jason grabbed a chair from behind him and straddled it at the head of the booth. He was also the next one to speak, "Good. Ashley, that man is very bad news. I know you have no reason to believe us, but please, trust me. You do not want this man around you or the ones you love. He kills without batting an eye!"
Ashley thought for a moment, "I don't believe you. He's not a cold blooded killer; he doesn't act like one," And trust me, she thought, I would know. "Plus, he's always so sweet and protective around me."
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, and Ashley felt a surge of anger. If he found her that frustrating, then he could just leave her alone. Before the words could leave her mouth, though, four soft beeps filled the air. The group exchanged looks, and then everyone stood. "We've gotta go. Sorry, Ashley."
"Its completely fine. In fact, I think leaving is a good idea right now." She informed them coolly, standing as well and gather the left over fries and drinks to take to counter.
Thursday, Nov. 24 1998
4.27 p.m
Angel Grove Shopping Center
"C'mere, big, green and ugly!" Zach yelled out, ducking and falling into a roll to avoid the bright green blast.
Their 'monster of the day' was a big green bird looking creature with a bright pink beak and fingers on the edge of its feathers. In addition it was one that was apparently capable of speech, as it was yelling obscenities at the rangers since they had arrived at the battle. Zach could not help but wonder what happened to PG-rated monsters.
Not that he had a lot of time to wonder, as the big green bird thingamabob was charging him again. He yelled out as he dodged and ducked once more, cursing the fact, he was slower than ever, and these monsters were faster than before.
Then Trini popped up beside him, her power blaster releasing a rather large charge. The Space Rangers had upgraded their blasters and weapons, though everything was still the same in general. The Space Rangers had offered them new morphers, but Jason – and the rest of the team – had felt that changing powers mid-war would be harder than having their existing powers upgraded.
The upgrades, though, were not complete, not even close. Which probably explained the reason monster was getting right back up from the direct blaster shot. "Where are the hot girl and her boy when you need them?" Zach asked cheerfully as he gave the monster a bolt from Power Axe.
"You know, I do have a name," Karone snarled through the headpiece as a flash of purple and silver raced past the black and yellow rangers.
The purple ranger jumped off by Jason and Billy, who were busy keep Zach and Trini's butt safe from a huge group of Black Putties. Karone joined them, while Zhane jumped off his surfboard thing, which flew straight into the monster and propelled it backwards (hey, a Billy word!). The silver ranger's board then made a complete one-eighty turn, thereby returning back to the rider.
"I'm guessing you guys need some help?" Zhane asked, and Zach wondered how the guy could sound so happy. They were in the middle of a battle, for christ's sake!
"Um, yeah." Zach said, ducking another green blast. "Also, the upgrades need upgrading." Damn it, a blast just caught his shoulder. Not fun.
Zhane turned fast, firing something from wrist, and a ball of silver hit the creature in the middle of the chest. "You okay?"
Zach shook off the minor pain, "Yeah, I'm cool. We need Jason and Billy, though, for the Power Blaster." He informed the silver ranger.
"I'll go take over their positions, then," Zhane was back on his board in a flash, and Trini gave another shot with her blaster before the monster could get at Zhane's back.
Soon enough, the four original rangers had their power blaster put together and were just waiting for an opening. Five seconds later, and the creature went 'boom'. The thing flew into pieces, and Zach wondered if it was supposed to be that easy. It had never been so before.
"Hey! Some help over here!" A feminine voice called over, and the team pivoted as one and raced over to where the purple and silver rangers were outnumbered. They seemed to be holding their own, and Zach said as much.
"Well, yeah. We're able to handle three times this many foot soldiers." Zhane said his voice in a 'duh' tone. "That doesn't mean we want to waste that much time." He punctuated the remark by throwing two Black Putties away from him and towards Karone, who finished them off. Dang, but the Silver Ranger really was good.
Seven minutes later according to Billy, who had timed them the rangers had finished with the Black Putties and demorphed. Now, the group of six stood staring at the blown up pieces of the monster and Zach finally asked, "Was it supposed to be that easy?"
Jason seemed to be thinking, "I think so. From what Zordon has told us about Andros, and the way the other attacks were managed I do not think these new Big Bads would make such a mistake. No, I think it was this easy for a reason."
"He's probably right," Zhane added his opinion, as he keeled down beside a piece. Then he pulled out a piece of metal, one with a backwards Z on it, "That, or they were recycling monsters. Isn't this Lord Zedd's symbol?"
Jason crouched down beside the silver ranger, pulling the silver symbol close to his eyes. "Yeah, this is definitely Zedd's symbol. I guess they were recycling monsters." Jason said slowly, though it still did not feel right.
This new enemy was freaking weird, and it was really getting on his nerves. So far, they had not followed any pattern, or stuck to any of the normal villain rules. Zordon did not even know about them, and that freaked him out more than anything else. What kind of villain does not follow the rules, stayed out of the field of vision of Zordon, and was great enough to invade Earth with no problem?
No, these new enemies were nothing like anything the Rangers had face before, and Jason just couldn't help the feeling that they wouldn't all make it out alive.