Heart of Crimson

Summary: What if Hunter wasn't the first Ranger to wear Crimson. AU for MMPR Season 2. Dairanger powers, sorta. TommyKim, JasonOC slash.

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I intend/desire to make any money off the Power Rangers/Super Sentai concepts and characters presented in this story. They are fully the property of their respective owners and are used with loving respect. Furthermore, this story utilizes concepts borrowed/adapted from Chris Claremont's run on X-Men. Certain aspects of the story are also due to my current obsession: Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger.

Note: I've made some design changes to the Command Center for this story. They're only alluded to in this chapter. I'll give more detail on them later. Also, if you want to see the new Crimson Ranger there's a link to a model based on the Actal template in my profile. And yes, I'm taking some creative liberties with the Gekiranger terminology.

Chapter 2: More Questions Than Answers

The Rangers teleported into the Command Center, powering down as they materialized. Jason immediately jumped up the short set of stairs to the raised control level. As he did so, the other Rangers fast behind him, Zordon's holopathic projection manifested.

"Zordon, what's going on? Who was that? Is he another Ranger?" the Red Ranger asked his team's mentor. The other Rangers came up behind Jason and looked expectantly at the holographic representation of the wizened Guardian's psychic presence.

"Unfortunately Rangers, I am uncertain." The Rangers couldn't suppress the looks of surprise that crossed their features. They were accustomed to Zordon not knowing everything, but his lack of knowledge was usually limited to the most recent monster. Even then, the Rangers often thought Zordon did have the answers, but wanted them to figure it out for themselves. But him not knowing something about a possible Ranger was a shock.

Zordon continued, "He is likely a Ranger, as I can sense that he is drawing on the Morphing Grid. However, how he is doing this is uncertain. All known morphers and Power Objects are currently accounted for. Also, the aspect of the Morphing Grid he is drawing from . . . before today I would have told you it was impossible to access that energy."

The Rangers were all quiet for a moment, considering the possible implications of what Zordon had said, when Billy spoke up, "Alpha, have you had any success analyzing the energy that enhanced the Z-Patrollers?"

"Aiy, aiy, aiy, Billy!" The automaton responded, "No, I haven't! The computers didn't have a match for the energy signature in the database!"

Tommy now focused on the secondary conversation, "So, it wasn't Zedd? Not some new power he's whipped out?"

"No Tommy," Alpha replied, "In fact, I couldn't find a trace of Zedd's energy in the Z-Patrollers at all after that strange energy overtook them!"

Trini voiced what they were all thinking, "So, it may be someone new."

The Rangers were quiet again, not liking the even darker possibilities that came with that realization, until Zordon spoke, "Rangers, you have done enough for today, go home and rest. Alpha and I will continue to work on these mysteries."

The Rangers all nodded and turned to leave, but Jason suddenly snapped his fingers and turned back, "Wait Zordon, I forgot one last thing. Before that . . . well, I guess we can call him Crimson Ranger took off I tried to find out who he was. All he said was "I am Phoenix." Does that help?"

Alpha stared to raise his hands as he often did before he spoke, but none of the Rangers noticed as they were all focused on Zordon, who responded, "It may. We will add that to our search."

"Okay Zordon," Jason replied as he and the other Rangers said their goodbyes and teleported out.

As soon as the energy from the Rangers' teleport pulses faded, Alpha spoke, "Aiy, aiy, aiy, Zordon!"

"I know Alpha. If it's true . . . the Rangers may never be the same."

Goldar teleported back to the Lunar Palace. As he entered the throne room, he saw his master, Lord Zedd, still standing at the balcony overlooking Earth. Right behind him, however, he saw an unknown individual with a sword strapped to his back. The loyal Camian warrior shouted, "Master, look out!" drew his own sword, and lunged at the intruder.

Draeveus spun and drew his own blade in less than an eye blink and caught Goldar's slash.

Zedd spun and yelled, "Goldar! Stand down!"

At his master's command, Goldar disengaged and stepped back, however he kept his sword at the ready and never took his eyes off Draeveus, who sheathed his own sword. Zedd stepped between the two and returned to his throne. Once seated, he spoke, "Goldar, this is Draeveus. He claims to be responsible for the energy that enhanced the Z-Patrollers."

Goldar just glared at Draeveus and flexed his grip on his sword. Draeveus merely smirked and said, "Perhaps a direct demonstration." He raised his hand towards one of the Z-Patrollers that stood on guard behind the throne. The shadows of the throne shifted, moved, and then slithered up the legs of the Z-Patroller, wrapped around it, and wormed their way into its chest medallion. The foot soldier's color darkened and its eyes were filled with a cold blue light.

Goldar's eyes widened and he took a step back. Zedd was quiet for a few moments and then said, "So, it is the power of Shadow. In all of my twelve thousand years, I have never actually encountered a true Shadowmancer."

Draeveus smiled, it was a cold, almost feral expression, "I am unsurprised my lord. The gift is extremely rare."

"It is an impressive power . . . and yet the Shadow enhanced Patrollers met with defeat!" Lord Zedd bellowed.

Draeveus' smiled faded, "I was unprepared for the Crimson Ranger. I was aware of only six Rangers on Earth."

Zedd calmed, "As were we."

The next day Jason walked into the gym at the Youth Center. As he scanned the room, he thought that he had never felt more nervous about entering this room in his life. Part of him was afraid that he had read too much into his meeting with Brandon yesterday. He half expected the other boy not to be here . . . until his eyes landed on the practice mats. Dressed in the same kind of satiny black, loose-fitting practice pants that Jason himself favored and a dark red tank top, Brandon was again working through the strange kata . . . no, waza Jason corrected himself, that he had been doing the day before.

Brandon came out of a spin kick and spotted Jason across the room. Amber brown eyes again met chocolate brown eyes across the room and his face lit up with a dazzling smile. Brandon grabbed his towel and water bottle, bowed to the people waiting to use the mat, and crossed the room to Jason. However, before he was halfway there, Farcus "Bulk" Bulkmeyer, oblivious to his surroundings as usual, lumbered right into Brandon.

"Hey!" Bulk bellowed indignantly, "watch where you're going!"

"Yeah, watch where you're going!" Eugene "Skull" Skulovitch echoed as he came up behind Bulk.

Brandon regarded Bulk and Skull with an incredulous expression and said, "Excuse me?"

"That's . . .," Bulk started to respond when he realized it wasn't an apology, but a question. "What?"

Brandon continued to stare down Bulk, "You slammed into me, but you're telling me to watch where I'm going? I'm not seeing dark glasses or a white cane, and your eyes appear to focus just fine, so I assume you are not, in fact, blind."

Skull started to laugh, until Bulk glared back at him, turning red. Jason had begun to move to intervene as Bulk got in Brandon's face and moved to poke him in the chest . . . Bulk's usual opening gambit for a physical confrontation. However, before Bulk could make contact, Brandon grabbed Bulk's hand in his left, and using three fingers of his right hand in a claw-like manner, grabbed the inside of Bulk's forearm . . . the much larger boy dropped to his knees. Brandon looked into Bulk's eyes for a few seconds and, finally seeming to be satisfied with what he saw there, let him go. Bulk, for his part, cradled his arm and whimpered quietly before getting up and making for the nearest exit.

Brandon watched Bulk go until Jason reached him. As the other boy turned, Jason caught a hint of something cold and hard in Brandon's eyes until they softened at seeing Jason and his face lit up. "Sorry about that," Brandon said.

"Don't be. Bulk tries that with everyone new. But, the way you handled him . . . wow."

Brandon made a dismissive gesture, "Just a nerve pinch. No big. He'll be fine in about ten minutes." Brandon studied Jason for a moment, and then observed, "You were worried I wouldn't be here."

Jason's jaw dropped slightly . . . how the hell did Brandon keep reading him like that? Out loud, Jason admitted, "Well, kinda."

Brandon just smiled at him and appeared to take pity, "Okay, I see I'm going to have to be very direct, 'cause compared to Portland, this place is damn near rural, so I'm guessing you've had limited opportunity to hone your gaydar." Jason blushed. "I wasn't just being nice yesterday, I would like to get to know you better, and in a more than friendly way." Jason's smile went from ear to ear and Brandon finished, "So, if you're willing to hang out while I grab a quick shower, maybe after that you can show me around Angel Grove. With the move all I've seen so far is our house, the University, and here."

"That sounds great," Jason agreed and started mentally planning a tour as Brandon nodded and headed towards the locker room . . . prompting Jason to temporarily suspend his planning as he admired the view of Brandon's retreating figure.

Jason showed Brandon all the places in Angel Grove that would be of interest to a teenager: the mall, the good (and cheap) restaurants, the other major hangouts, and Angel Grove Park. Jason's nervousness had faded as he spent more time with Brandon and he finally felt like he was acting like himself around him. They were walking home, as both were expected for dinner, and it turned out that Brandon's new home lay between the park and Jason's home.

"So tell me more about this falcon . . . what did you call it?" Jason asked.

"Jyuken," Brandon responded with a smile. "It's a form of Kenpo, and relatively young in that system. But, it's unique in that it takes the beast forms to the next level."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, as you learn the basic waza, the techniques that are universal to all the forms; they begin to put you in touch with your Geki, your 'beast heart'." Jason's questioning looked prompted Brandon to clarify, "Your Geki is the animal your spirit is most in tune with . . . kinda like the shamanic concept of a totem animal. Once your Geki is identified, that's the form you learn . . . or in some cases, like mine, that's the form you and your Master work together to create for you."

"So, how'd you learn? Yesterday you said there were only seven masters in the world."

"Luck . . . although Master Kandou would say it was destiny," Brandon responded with a fond smile. "He's the only Master in the United States, and just happened to be our next door neighbor. When I was five, I remember waking up early one morning from a nightmare or something and going to look out the window, because I could see the sun coming thought it. As I looked out the window, I spotted movement in the next yard. It was Master Kandou performing his morning waza. Apparently, I got up early every morning for the next week to watch him. At some point, he noticed he had an audience, talked to my folks and I became his one and only student."

"Wow . . . I started by taking classes at the Y," Jason responded.

Brandon laughed lightly, "Well, yeah, you studied karate."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Only that the Kenshi, the Jyuken Masters, view students more as apprentices. No Kenshi has ever had more than one or two students at one time, with the exception of Master Sha Fu, who taught three students at once. And then it was only because all three were cat Geki: Kandou Jan, my Master, the Tiger-ken; Uzaki Ran, the Cheetah-ken; and Fukami Retsu, the Jaguar-ken."

"You talk about them like they're family."

"In a way they are. Lineage is important. If I ever meet another Jyuken user, we would introduce ourselves by name, then Gekiwaza, and finally name our Kenshi." Before Jason could respond, Brandon stopped moving, smiled and pointed at the house behind Jason, "Well, this is me."

"Oh," Jason said, the disappointment evident in his voice.

"I had fun today," Brandon added with a smile.

"Me too," Jason replied.

Brandon stared a Jason for a moment, sighed, and then closed the small distance between them. He grabbed Jason's hand, gave it a squeeze, and placed a quick kiss on Jason's lips. Jason seemed too stunned to respond as Brandon slipped past him towards his house. However, Jason's stupor did not last long as Brandon pinched his butt as he moved past him. Jason jumped and spun, finding Brandon walking backwards to his front door with a mischievous smirk on his face.

"See you tomorrow?" Brandon asked.

"Yeah," Jason answered, just before he tried to shout warning, too late, as Brandon's heal met the edge of the front stoop. Brandon stumbled, but managed to right himself.

"So much for my dramatic exit," Brandon said with a laugh as his cheeks turned pink. Jason laughed with him. Brandon collected himself, and opened the door, but turned back just before disappearing through it, "Night."

Jason waved as the door closed, then turned back towards his own house, a spring obvious in his step.

Deep in the caverns under Zedd's Lunar Palace, Draeveus watched his minions complete their task. The tall, ebony humanoids looked like shadows brought to life, for that's what they were. As they finished making the final adjustments, they looked back at Draeveus, thier cold, glowing blue eyes their only discernable feature.

Draeveus' eyes wandered loving over the alien machinery, which, while composed of a silvery metal, in texture and form seemed almost organic and wrapped around a massive, shadowy crystal at its center. A cold smile played at his lips.

"Perfect, my children. The amulet is here, the presence of the Crimson Ranger proves that. The Holder appearing as a Ranger is new, but the colors and markings can leave no doubt. The amulet will be mine; the power I'll be able to harness with this ensures that. And once the amulet is mine, the Empire of Shadows will begin!"