Title: Quest
Chapter 5 – A Phantom Engagement
Original Posting Date: November, 2008
More than any one thing in the world he absolutely despised not being able to help. This was clear as Jason, wearing a thin pair of boxing gloves, threw punch after angry punch at the heavy bag tucked away in the back corner of the large gym. Each strike was accompanied by a loud, ferocious grunt and sweat poured heavily from his brow as it had been doing ever since he arrived at the gym nearly an hour ago.
Despite his actions, the only thing that he seemed to be able to focus on was Kimberly and Tommy going into the Neola Jungle without the other Rangers. Yes, Kimberly and Tommy obviously had the experience when it came to Phaedos, the Neola Jungle, and the Great Power, but that didn't mean the rest of the Rangers couldn't handle it. He couldn't understand why it had to be just them, why Zack, Trini, and he were being forced to sit on the sidelines when he still believed that they could be of some help.
His two closest friends going off on their own with no real knowledge as to what they were supposed to do when they got there, or if they were even supposed to go there at all, just did not sit right with him. He didn't trust the Phantom Ranger, and truthfully felt that by following the mysterious being's cryptic message Kimberly and Tommy were only setting themselves up to get hurt.
He beat his fists against the bag relentlessly, seemingly taking out every single ounce of pent up frustration his body could hold. The chain which supported the bag creaked with each and every thunderous punch he delivered, but Jason didn't seem to care. He just kept hitting it over and over, ignoring the burning sensation exploding up and down his exhausted, overworked arms.
Cocking his right arm back, he lashed out with one final punch that caused the bag to sway wildly in every direction imaginable. Waiting until the bag's momentum had slowed down some before reaching out and stopping it, he then snatched his towel and a bottle of water from the floor and walked away from the wobbling bag.
For almost two more hours he moved about the gym, making stops at a multitude of different stations set up throughout the building. He lifted every type of weight available, ran on the treadmill, pedaled furiously on a stationary bike, and ended his workout in a sauna where he finally allowed himself to relax, if it could even be called that.
His demeanor in the sauna appeared calm and collected as though nothing was bothering him, but inside his emotions were tumultuous at best. When he finally left the gym after well over three hours, nothing had changed. He was still mad that three good Rangers were being excluded from such an important mission, still worried that an oblivious Tommy and Kimberly were being set up, and still hating the fact that there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
Pushing his way through the gym's double doors he stepped outside and used his towel to wipe the residual perspiration from his face. No sooner had he felt the warm sun dancing on his skin then he heard a piercing scream coming from somewhere nearby. Temporarily forgetting his anger, he started running without hesitation towards the parking lot, in the direction of where the noise had originated from.
Ducking behind a large, black SUV he peered around the corner of the vehicle cautiously, trying to keep the element of surprise on his side. What he found was at least a dozen Quantrons circling a rather attractive, blonde haired woman who appeared to be completely defenseless.
"Not on my watch," grumbled Jason, revealing his presence to the Quantrons. "Hey tin heads! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
The blonde woman looked his way and smiled appreciatively as the Quantrons headed straight for him. Jason immediately sprung into action, grabbing a Quantron by the arm and driving his elbow right into the foot soldier's metal face. Three swift side kicks followed in rapid succession, starting at the abdomen of another Quantron while moving up towards its' head.
One by one the Quantrons dropped like flies as Jason fought with the most expert of martial arts ability. His punches were precise, his kicks flowing with the perfection of over a decade's worth of work devoted to his chosen sport. When all was said and done, only a pile of lifeless Quantrons remained littered throughout the parking lot.
Remembering why he'd been fighting the Quantrons in the first place, Jason started to turn around to check on the formerly endangered woman, but his body never made its' full revolution. Before he could get a good look at her he felt something slam hard into his back, causing him to roar in pain.
It took but seconds for him to slump forward and fall face first to the ground, the blow more than enough to render Jason unconscious. Smiling wickedly, triumphantly, the blonde woman approached Jason's motionless body and prodded his side with the toe of her boot to make sure that he wasn't playing possum.
In a flash of bright light, her appearance suddenly began to change from the defenseless woman she had just been to the one called Astronema. The pride from her victory was evident on her face as she summoned three more Quantrons to the area.
"Secure the Ranger, take him back to the Dark Fortress with you, and leave him in the first floor chambers," Astronema ordered, the Quantrons obeying hastily. Carelessly they lifted him into the air, treating Jason's body as thought it was nothing more than a sack of potatoes. "I said secure him, not throw him around like a ball. If I wanted him hurt more than he already is I would have done it myself you idiots!"
Being the ignorant, unintelligent creations they were, the Quantrons handled Jason with slightly more care, but not much. The foursome disappeared in another flash of light; Astronema rolled her eyes in disgust and followed shortly thereafter.
Arriving onboard the Dark Fortress, she made haste to find the one who had been practically itching to get his hands on Jason since the veteran Ranger had rejoined the team two days prior. Goldar was easily located in his personal chambers, lying atop a thin mattress in a room that was testament to his absolute unadulterated hatred for the Rangers, two in particular.
The room was almost completely shrouded in darkness, only a single dimly lit bulb preventing it from being totally black. The walls were adorned with various photographs of the Rangers, specifically Jason and Tommy whom Goldar hated with a passion that ran far deeper than his disdain for the other heroes.
As soon as he heard the door open, Goldar was on his feet. He grabbed his sword from the bed and immediately stood at attention as Astronema entered the room and started towards him.
"Astronema," said Goldar, "to what do I owe this visit?"
"I've brought something for you, Goldar; something that I think you will enjoy very much," Astronema answered, the slightest hint of a twinkle in her eyes. The look on Goldar's face implored her to continue. "As we speak the Black Ranger is being taken to the dungeons. He's yours if you want, but with one catch of course."
Goldar's eyes became as wide as saucers at the prospect of getting his hands on one of the two Power Rangers who had thwarted him at every turn for so many years. "I would love nothing more than to ring the human's neck like a wet towel," he replied firmly. "Name your price and it shall be done."
Astronema seemed to study Goldar for a moment before nodding. "Lord Zedd and Rita," she said simply.
"What about them?" Goldar asked.
"Dark Specter does not trust them, and frankly I don't blame him," Astronema answered to the expected surprise of Goldar. "I know your loyalty to them runs deep, Goldar, but the time has now come for you to pledge your allegiance to a new Mistress. Obey my orders, and the Black Ranger is yours."
Goldar's eyes narrowed, he too studying the person standing before him. "What would you have me do to them?"
"I need you to be my informant," said Astronema, smiling for she knew how badly Goldar wanted to tear Jason's head off. "Any plans they make behind the Alliance's back, anything suspicious that you see or hear I want to know about immediately. That is all I ask of you."
"That's it?" asked Goldar incredulously. "Spy on Zedd and Rita, and I can have the Black Ranger?"
Astronema nodded once more. "That and your loyalty to me," she replied. "Ecliptor has been faithfully by my side for many, many years, but I need a general who understands these Rangers and you have that experience while he does not."
Goldar's answer came quickly, without even the tiniest bit of hesitation. Bowing his head humbly, he lowered himself to one knee before Astronema. "I am at your bidding, Mistress. Your wish is my command."
"Good," said Astronema. "Rise, my warrior, and take that which has been granted to you."
With his head still lowered, Goldar slowly ascended back to his feet. He looked at Astronema, apathetic to the notion that he was betraying the ones he had served faithfully for so long. With the thought of torturing Jason looming overhead, he would have turned his back on anyone for the opportunity to eliminate the Black Ranger once and for all.
"Thank you, Astronema," Goldar murmured. "I will not fail you."
Giving the winged warrior a single nod, Astronema turned her back on him and left his room as quickly as was possible. Even for one as evil and sadistic as she, Goldar's morbid fascination with the Red and Black Rangers had been more than enough to send a flurry of chills running up and down her spine.
Goldar exited his quarters a few minutes later, but not until after he had mentally prepared himself for his impending confrontation with Jason. He'd waited for this moment for so very, very long and now that it was finally here he planned on savoring it for as long as he could.
If he had his way, the Black Ranger's death was going to be as utterly painful as it was painstakingly slow. He wanted Jason to suffer in the worst of ways imaginable; a long, horrific experience culminating in Jason begging for mercy. And when he finally did break down, Goldar would grant him the mercy he desired by ending his miserable existence once and for all.
The opportunities to do just that had been there numerous times in the past, and Goldar had failed to kill Jason on each occasion. This time, he didn't plan on making the same mistakes he'd made before.
He found Jason exactly where Astronema said he would be, in the first floor dungeons with his arms and legs shackled to a wall. The Black Ranger was still unconscious which Goldar quickly remedied with a powerful backhand to his face, Jason's eyes snapping open as he howled in pain.
"Wake up, Black Ranger," Goldar growled, pointing his sword at a disoriented Jason. "Do you have any idea how long I have waited to do this?"
Before Jason could reply, Goldar reached out and grabbed the collar of his black tee shirt, ripping it away. With Jason's chest exposed, Goldar took the point of his sword and lightly pressed it into Jason's left pectoral muscle.
Blood started to trickle from the wound almost instantly as Jason's head snapped back, his eyes on the ceiling as he roared in both pain and anger. He tried to get onto his feet only to find that he was being restrained, completely helpless to whatever twisted ideas Goldar may have had in mind for him.
"Come on, Goldar!" Jason bellowed, his face twisted with rage. "You don't have the balls to let me go and fight me like a man!"
Goldar merely laughed. "Foolish human, I shall release you soon enough, but for now," he said, repeating his action with the sword on the opposite side of Jason's chest, "I'm going to enjoy watching you squirm."
--
The lights in one of the Shadow Rider's many common rooms were illuminated dimly as Tommy and Kimberly sat on a couch made of black leather, watching a movie on a device that looked like a normal television, but wasn't. It had the same basic functions as a television, only it did not receive a signal from anywhere; essentially it was thousands of channels from all over the universe that simply played on the screen with no outside assistance.
The movie in question was Armageddon, a film with enough action to sustain Tommy's interest while still carrying a story that Kimberly could enjoy; it didn't hurt that Ben Affleck was the star of the movie, either.
They sat cautiously close to one another, just a foot or two of visibly awkward space between them on the large couch. Tommy had not yet said anything, but he had noticed Kimberly slowly inching her way closer to him ever since the first love scene between Liv Tyler and Affleck's characters which had been just over fifteen minutes ago.
As the film progressed and the small gap separating them diminished further, Tommy started to feel more and more out of place. There was just something about this current scenario that made him want Kimberly close to him, and not the way they were now. It didn't seem right that he sat with his arms spread out behind the couch when he had the woman who had always been the perfect cuddling partner sitting so near to him.
He surprised them both when he pulled the classic "yawn and stretch" move that saw him casually slip his arm around her shoulder in the midst of a loud, exaggerated yawn. When she felt his fingertips dancing on her arm she looked up at him and rolled her eyes.
"I can't believe you just pulled something that corny," said Kimberly with a laugh. Tommy was happily surprised when she didn't move his arm or say anything about this sudden, somewhat intimate contact. Instead, she finally closed the remaining space between them and curled up warmly against his side. "I missed this."
Gazing down on her, Tommy just smiled and nodded. He didn't say anything because the truth was that he was afraid to admit how much he was enjoying it as well. If he said what he was thinking, though, he would have told Kimberly that it felt right to him, and that he wanted her next to him every day for the rest of his life.
But Kimberly didn't need him to speak to know the truth about what he was feeling. She could tell by his demeanor, the look in his eyes, and the way he treated her with such care and affection regardless of the fact that they were not together romantically, that they were on the road to something more than just friendship. Whether Tommy was consciously aware of it or not, little by little his defensive walls were starting to crack.
"Have you thought about the possibility of reconnecting with out animal spirits?" asked Kimberly softly, her fingers toying with the hem of his shirt.
"I haven't stopped thinking about it since the Phantom Ranger disappeared," Tommy replied truthfully. "As soon as I'd made sense of what he said it was almost like I could feel the falcon buried deep inside me, just waiting to be released."
Kimberly's eyes widened with surprise. "I—I felt the exact same thing with the crane spirit."
"You know, I've actually thought a lot about this and I really don't think Ninjetti ever dies. It's like, once you've touched it, it's a part of you forever," said Tommy, smiling fondly. "I can't tell you what it felt like to be a Turbo Ranger or a Zeo Ranger, but I can still remember exactly what it was like to be a Ninjetti."
"I think you're right," said Kimberly. "I don't think the crane will ever leave me."
Smiling softly, Tommy nodded. "That's how it should be. I mean, our animal spirits aren't just some random power, they're directly related to who we are as people. I'm always going to be the falcon and you're always going to be the crane."
"I miss those days," admitted Kimberly, wearing a fond smile. "Remember when we used to take the Zords out? We'd race across the sky without a care in the world; just you, me, and the two fastest Zords ever made."
"Those were good times, weren't they?" asked Tommy casually. Kimberly nodded as he rubbed her arm gently. "I wonder if Dulcea's expecting us."
Kimberly just shrugged her shoulders, remaining silent as the pair turned their attention back to the movie. It didn't take long after that for her to get comfortable enough in Tommy's embrace to drift off into a light, peaceful sleep; one of those sleeps somewhere in between awake and completely out of it.
She could still hear bits and pieces of the film, but not enough to know what was going on. She could still feel it whenever Tommy moved or adjusted his position, but not enough to stir her into consciousness. Normally she would have hated sleeping like this, as would most people, but right now it didn't bother.
A very subconscious smile crossed her lips as Tommy gently lowered her body into a laying position across the long couch and then curled up behind her. For the first few minutes as he tried to fall asleep he lied with his hands at his side, inches away from touching Kimberly. That distance was closed, however, when Kimberly reached behind her back, took hold of Tommy's arm, and draped it around her waist.
With his eyes closed, Tommy let out a content sigh which only made Kimberly's smile all the more bright. She could practically hear the walls as they crumbled all around his heavily protected heart.
When Kimberly stirred slightly she unknowingly caused Tommy's eyes to flutter open. He looked at the back of her neck and smiled. The single, tender kiss that followed moments later was simply unavoidable. He saw the soft skin that he had kissed so many times and just could not help himself.
Luckily the kiss had not been enough to garner Kimberly's attention, or at least that is what Tommy assumed. He didn't see the single tear that escaped each of her closed eyes, sliding down her cheeks and over her smiling lips.
As Tommy gazed upon her sleeping form a multitude of thoughts began to swirl throughout his confused mind. Doubt, though, was at the forefront; doubt if he was doing the right thing by maintaining their title as friends. If he was honest with himself, they had started moving on the fast track towards something more shortly after he'd finished yelling his heart out at her.
The hugs, the way they looked at each other, the way they flirted oh so naturally without a care in the world; in his heart, Tommy knew what he truly wanted. It was his head, like always it seemed, that was preventing him from just reaching out and taking it.
Once stirred, falling asleep for Tommy became pretty much impossible as he could do little more than stare at Kimberly and listen to her soft, quiet breathing. His arm was quickly thrown away, however, when she shot onto her feet at the sound of the alarm suddenly blaring. Tommy was standing at her side moments later.
"Big surprise, huh?" he asked with a chuckle.
Smiling knowingly, Kimberly nodded. "They wouldn't be good at what they did if they didn't attack at the worst times possible."
"Let's get to the control room," said Tommy. "Hopefully Jason is back by now."
With an agreeing nod, Kimberly followed Tommy out into the long stretch of hallway that led to the control room. Side by side they sprinted down the winding path, not stopping until they reached the control room where Alpha-5 was already waiting for them.
"Alpha, what's going on?" asked Kimberly, the concern clear on her face.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi, it's terrible, Kimberly. A monster is attacking Angel—"
Before Alpha could finish his statement he was cut off by Zack who burst into the room with Trini behind him, his mouth moving a mile a minute. "What's going on? Is everything okay? Where's Jason?"
Tommy furrowed his brow. "You mean he's not back yet?"
Zack shrugged. "If he is, I haven't seen him."
"It's been almost five hours since he left. He should be back by now," said Kimberly firmly, turning to their automaton sidekick. "Alpha, run a scan of the entire ship and see if Jason's onboard. If not, scan Earth and see where he is."
Again, Alpha was prevented from speaking, this time by DECA whose voice echoed loudly throughout the control room. Kimberly's heart practically broke into pieces when she saw the robot hang his head dejectedly and turn his back to the Rangers.
"Jason is not onboard the ship, Kimberly. He is not on Earth, either."
Four sets of eyes went wide almost immediately, but it was Tommy, worried beyond recognition, who spoke first. "Well where is he, then?" he asked, his voice demanding answers.
"I do not know, Tommy. His energy readings are very weak and I cannot pinpoint his location which leads me to believe he has been imprisoned by the United Alliance of Evil. Their Dark Fortress is protected by an incredibly powerful shield that prevents even the strongest radar systems from locating them. I do, however, have an approximate location for Jason spanning a distance of three parsecs in the Koja System, near the planet Redna 2."
Kimberly's expression became one of great disappointment. "Great," she muttered, looking at Tommy sadly. "Redna 2 is nowhere near Phaedos."
"We'll have to worry about Phaedos later, Kim," Tommy replied. "Right now we've got two much bigger problems to worry about."
Kimberly nodded, her eyes never leaving Tommy. "Can you go after Jason while Zack, Trini, and I take care of things on Earth?"
"Kim, no way," Zack interjected, "that's suicide. One person doesn't stand a chance against all the firepower they must have on that fortress."
Tommy, however, was not seeing eye-to-eye with his blue counterpart. "I can handle it," he interjected.
Questioning Tommy's abilities was something Zack knew better than to do, so the Red Ranger's simple conformation was all that needed to be said for the argument to end. Taking her focus away from Tommy, Kimberly turned to a saddened Alpha-5.
"Alpha, once you have Jason's approximate location I want you running as many different scans on that area as possible," she said with a smile. "If there's anyone who can find Jason, it's you."
One compliment from Kimberly was all that it took for Alpha to immediately brighten up. "I will do my best, Kimberly," said the robot.
"I know you will, Alpha," Kimberly replied, returning her attention to Tommy. "Be safe out there, okay?"
"I will," Tommy answered, nodding.
Kimberly returned the gesture, and with a sudden sense of courage added one of her own. She crossed the few feet of space between them; pulled Tommy's head down, and planted a firm kiss to his lips. It lasted only a couple of seconds, but it was enough to leave both of their cheeks a bright shade of red. Behind them, the looks on the faces of Zack and |Trini were in a priceless state of shock.
"What was that for?" asked Tommy softly.
"Luck," Kimberly answered, patting his chest. "Now go."
After a quick handshake with Zack and a hug from Trini, Tommy was gone with a parting wave. It took a few moments after he had left for Kimberly to snap back into reality. Ignoring the smirks on the faces of Zack and Trini, she rolled her eyes and walked over to where Alpha was standing, running a multitude of scans at one of the control panels.
"Tell me about this monster, Alpha," said Kimberly, her hand on Alpha's shoulder.
"Ay-yi-yi," Alpha replied, turning around. "The monster's name is Electrotramp and he's in the middle of draining Angel Grove's entire energy supply. What's worse, the more energy he takes in, the stronger he gets. An image should be appearing on the viewing globe now."
The three remaining Rangers all turned their eyes to the viewing globe, watching as a dark gray, metal monster with the body of a Varox bounty hunter and a matching police officer's cap atop his head stalked the streets of Angel Grove. Electrotramp was already at gigantic proportions, crackling waves of electricity shooting from the nearby buildings into his body as he drained the city of its power supply.
"We have to stop him," said Trini, Zack and Kimberly nodding their agreement.
"We'll take the gliders," Kimberly replied, and with that they tore off from the control room en route to save Angel Grove. Fully morphed, they rocketed through space atop their gliders on a trip to Earth that was over in a matter of minutes. Once on the ground, Kimberly did not hesitate to summon the Zords with the call of, "Mega Voyager transformation, online, now!"
"Can we still pilot the Voyager without Jason and Tommy here?" asked Zack as the Zords came into view.
Kimberly nodded. "For individual use, they need someone inside to control them, but they'll still react to the transformation order and then I'll be able to take over once we're inside the Mega Voyager's cockpit."
"Well then let's do it," said Zack.
And they did, leaping into their Zords as they instantly began to mold themselves into the many pieces that eventually came together and formed the Mega Voyager. Inside the cockpit, the Rangers stared Electrotramp down.
"Oh look, a big giant robot. I'm sooo scared," said Electrotramp, his voice robotic and muffled as though he was gargling. "I'm turning the lights out on this town and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"We'll see about that!" Kimberly replied, her hands grasping the controls that moved the Mega Voyager towards the monster. "V3 Missile Mode, initiate!"
With a blinding flash of blue light the remaining piece of Zack's Zord appeared in the firm grasp of the Mega Voyager's right hand. As the giant robot walked towards its' target, Electrotramp extended his arms horizontally, channeling a rush of electricity from a nearby building which he then hurled in continuous waves at the Mega Voyager, causing it to seize and shake.
"He's draining our power!" said Zack.
"Activate the backup generators," Kimberly replied, trying to think of a way to break free from this electrical force field.
Zack shook his head as the Mega Voyager slowly crumpled to the ground. "We're already using the backup generators, Kim."
"Shit," Kimberly mumbled, the rare utterance of a curse word garnering her teammate's surprise for a moment. "We can't abandon ship or we'll get fried."
"So what do we do?" asked Trini, she and Zack both looking to Kimberly for leadership.
The truth was that Kimberly didn't know what to do. There was seemingly no way to escape their electric prison, but she could not let her teammates know that she had no clue what they were supposed to do.
"We—" Kimberly started, but she never got the chance to finish.
From behind Electrotramp came a loud, thunderous rumbling. Moments later a massive black vehicle somewhere in between a tank and an eighteen wheeler appeared a few hundred feet behind the monster, heading straight for its back. Electrotramp was elevated on impact, flipping backwards through the air as he released his hold on the Mega Voyager.
"We're free!" yelled Zack excitedly.
Beneath her helmet, Kimberly breathed a deep sigh of relief. "How long until we're back online, guys?"
"A minute tops," Trini replied, Kimberly nodding as a new voice entered their cockpit.
"Does this prove that I am not your enemy?"
Immediately recognizing the voice Kimberly's eyes widened in surprise. "Phantom Ranger," she murmured.
"Guess he really is on our side," said Zack.
"Thanks for the help, Phantom Ranger," added Kimberly.
"You are most welcome, Rangers. May the Power protect you; always."
The Phantom Ranger's Zord quickly went into reverse, backing over Electrotramp who had been struggling to get back onto his feet and ended up face down on the ground once more as a result of the departing attack. It was more than enough time for the Mega Voyager to recuperate its' lost power and return to a standing position.
"Let's end this guy once and for all," said Kimberly. Her thumb hovered dangerously close to the red button atop her control stick, but she forced herself to wait until Electrotramp was standing. Once he was on his feet, though, it was all systems go. "V3 Missile, fire!"
She pressed the button and watched along with Zack and Trini as the Blue Ranger's Zord was fired in a powerful eruption that sent it speeding towards Electrotramp. The monster didn't have time to react before the missile connected with his chest, causing it to explode on impact into thousands of tiny little pieces as the Mega Voyager posed victoriously for a few moments.
"Yes!" shouted Zack, clapping one time before exchanging high fives with his teammates. "Good work, guys."
Kimberly nodded. "Let's get back to the Shadow Rider and see if Alpha had any luck helping Tommy find Jason."
Seconds' later beams of pink, blue, and yellow energy shot through the eyes of the Mega Voyager and into the depths of outer space, the giant robot disassembling and teleporting away shortly thereafter. As soon as the Rangers arrived in the ship's control room, Kimberly was rushing to Alpha's side, removing her helmet at the same time.
"Have you been able to locate Jason, Alpha?" asked Kimberly.
"Yes, I was able to precisely pinpoint Jason's whereabouts and I relayed his location to Tommy," Alpha replied, Kimberly smiling proudly. "Unfortunately, their individual energy readings have been in the same place for almost twenty minutes."
"That means they aren't moving," murmured Zack, he and Trini now helmetless as well as they stood behind Kimberly.
"Which means something bad has happened," whispered Kimberly, wincing visibly at the possibility. "We need to get to the Dark Fortress right away. Alpha, I need to know exactly where it's located."
Alpha nodded in understanding. "The Dark Fortress is precisely one-point-three parsecs away to the northeast from Redna 2."
Without hesitation, Kimberly tucked her helmet against her side and brought her free hand to her belt as Zack and Trini instinctively fell into position behind her. "Let's go save our friends; back to action!"
--
In the dungeons of the Dark Fortress, Jason was no longer alone; now Tommy had joined his friend in shackled captivity, struggling to break free from their chains as Goldar watched them from a distance and laughed, showing them their stolen Morphers. Their wounds were many, the pair of men shirtless and covered in patches of blood both wet and dry.
Tommy had been captured and imprisoned by the Alliance, specifically Rito Revolto and an army of Tenga Warriors, just moments after sneaking onto the Dark Fortress. His face, like Jason's, was littered with pain, but neither man had stopped trying to escape since Tommy was thrown in as an added bonus for Goldar.
Jason had been nearing his breaking point shortly before Tommy's arrival, but seeing his friend in danger had given him a second wind of sorts. The same could be said for Tommy whose motivation to escape was only increased at the sight of his bleeding best friend. Like they had done so very many times in the past, Tommy and Jason were unknowingly keeping each other from slipping away into nothingness.
"We have to find a way to get out of here, bro," Tommy muttered under his breath, each and every one of his muscles burning from the pain that Goldar's hands, feet, and sword had inflicted upon them.
"You're preaching to the choir right now, T, and I hate to be the one to break it to you, but these things," Jason replied, shaking his head as he yanked the chains, "aren't going anywhere any time soon."
"Just have faith, Jase," said Tommy confidently. "These things always have a way of working themselves out in the end."
Jason nodded. "You're right; I'm sure the other Rangers are on their way."
"They have to be," whispered Tommy, thoughts of Kimberly and their fleeting kiss creeping into his psyche. He could still taste her lips on his, and it was at that moment he decided that he never wanted another woman to kiss him again. Wearing a half grin despite his injuries, he slowly turned his head to Jason. "She kissed me, bro. Right before I left the ship she kissed me."
Jason's eyes grew wide. "Kim?" he asked rhetorically, Tommy nodding. "Shit man, we gotta get you out of here. There's no way I'm letting that one go down in flames again."
And with that, Jason jerked at the chains once more to no avail. This time, however, he wasn't discouraged when the shackles remained in place, and instead continued his attempts at breaking out.
"Foolish humans!" yelled Goldar, pointing his sword at the two men. "You'll never escape the Dark Fortress!"
Tommy opened his mouth for a comeback, but was silenced by a new, fourth voice. It came from directly in front of he and Jason, but there was no one there.
"Remain silent, Rangers," said the voice, Tommy and Jason sharing a look of disbelief. A rush of invisible energy washed over the pair and suddenly the shackles were gone causing both men to fall the short distance to the floor. "Go with the shining light of Zordon and let the Power protect you always."
And then he was gone as well, the Phantom Ranger disappearing as quickly as he had come. Goldar, however, was quick to replace the mysterious Ranger's presence when he saw that Tommy and Jason had been freed.
"Trust him now?" asked Tommy, gingerly rising to his feet as Jason did the same, both nursing their battered and bruised bodies.
"I don't really have much choice, do I?" Jason grumbled in reply.
Tommy rolled his eyes. "Great attitude, Jase," he said teasingly, patting his friend on the back. "You're a real sweetheart, you know that?"
Before Jason could say any more the heavy pounding of Goldar's feet slapping against the hard floor reached their ears, rapidly growing closer. They looked to their left to see the winged Titan running straight towards them, his sword drawn at the ready.
"The idiot left the Morphers unguarded," Jason muttered in disbelief, Tommy sharing a similar expression. "Goldar is mine this time, bro."
Tommy nodded. "I'll get the Morphers."
"Let's go," said Jason.
Both men charged at Goldar who readied himself for two attackers, but at the last moment Tommy launched into a graceful front flip over the head of Astronema's new general. As soon as his feet touched the floor, Tommy was running in the direction of the Morphers and, with the release of Jason's rage that had been bottled and buried for so long there wasn't a thing that Goldar could do about it.
The winged Titan was on the defensive immediately, struggling to block the flurry of attacks that Jason threw at him. The pang of Jason's hands and feet slamming against Goldar's metallic armor filled the room as he connected with a forearm to Goldar's chest and sent him stumbling backwards with a snapping roundhouse kick to the shoulder.
"Come on!" Jason yelled, his face burning red as he beat his fist against his chest. Grunting, he started running at full speed towards Goldar and threw his body into a back flip kick that saw Jason's foot slam hard into the winged general's face. Instantly, blood the darkest shade of crimson imaginable began to trickle from Goldar's nose. "Look at you; you bleed just like a human. You're pathetic."
Jason spat on the ground as Goldar struggled to get back on his feet. Honor bound, Jason did not continue his attack until Goldar had risen, but as soon as he was up he was back down again, this time by a tornado kick to the side of his head. Goldar went down in a heap, unflinching as he lied with his discarded sword nearby.
Picking up Goldar's sword, Jason stood tall over him and with closed eyes raised the weapon high above his head. At the peak of elevation he took a deep breath, moments away from plunging the sword right into Goldar's chest when the sound of an extremely loud commotion reached him. He turned his head slightly to see Tommy running towards him with both of their Morphers in hand and at least fifty foot soldiers of all varieties following in hot pursuit.
"Gotta run," said Tommy, tossing Jason his Morpher as he sprinted passed him.
In one fluent motion Jason dropped Goldar's sword, grabbed his Morpher, and started running after Tommy. As they ran towards a sealed door both men strapped the Morphers on their wrists, Tommy leading the call.
"Let's Rocket!" he yelled, the pair morphing in flashes of red and black light.
Simultaneously they launched into flying side kicks that connected with the door, leaving it heavily dented but still in their way. With the Putties, Tengas, Cogs, and Quantrons growing closer and closer, Tommy and Jason kicked the metal door again and again and again until finally it snapped at the hinges, but the foot soldiers were now just a couple of feet away from catching them.
Tommy and Jason burst into a long, dark hallway, their legs moving as fast as the Power would allow them to go. Down the hall they went with no idea as to where they were supposed to be going. Right now their biggest concern was staying alive; finding an exit, while undoubtedly important, was a secondary objective for the moment.
Looking over his shoulder, Jason turned to Tommy and shook his head. "We're not making much headway, bro!"
Tommy turned his head back and winced, the foot soldiers still dangerously close to catching them as they turned a corner and started down another long stretch of hallway. It seemed like they'd been running forever when they reached an open door only to be stopped when Ecliptor appeared seemingly from out of nowhere to block their path.
"You may have been able to get passed Goldar, but defeating me will not be so easy," said the cyborg, his sword drawn as he walked towards Tommy and Jason.
Knowing that the foot soldiers were approaching rapidly, the look the two men shared was fleeting at best, but it was all that was necessary for them to form a quick plan. They ran at diagonals, crossing paths as they approached the hallway's walls and jumped towards them.
Pushing off the walls they launched themselves at Ecliptor, connecting with simultaneous kicks to the cyborg's chest. Ecliptor went down to the ground while Tommy and Jason started running once more.
"So much for being harder that Goldar, huh?" said Tommy jokingly, blasts of energy from Ecliptor's sword suddenly whizzing passed them.
"Let's hope you didn't speak too soon," Jason replied.
Moments later they turned another corner only to be knocked down when they collided with something, or rather someone; three someone's to be exact. As he clambered back onto his feet, Jason doing the same, Tommy's mouth fell open in surprise when he saw Kimberly, Zack, and Trini laid out on the floor.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Tommy, moving with Jason to help them up.
"Alpha said your energy readings weren't moving so we thought you might need a little help," Kimberly answered, smiling beneath her helmet as Tommy pulled her up. Looking over his shoulder, she saw the foot soldiers running towards them. "And judging by the stampede approaching, I'd say you do."
"I sure hope you have some kind of an exit strategy, Kim," Jason interjected as they all started running back towards where Kimberly, Zack, and Trini had come from.
Kimberly shrugged. "You could call it that."
Tommy rolled his eyes behind his helmet's shielding visor. "Why don't I like the way that sounds?"
"Probably because it involves us doing something like this," answered Kimberly, diving headfirst towards the row of windows on her left. The glass shattered all around the remaining Rangers as they ran to the broken window, three of them looking down to find Kimberly falling wildly through the darkness of space, Tommy following after her without hesitation. "Galaxy Glider, hang ten!"
Tommy called for his own glider seconds later, landing atop the board shortly after Kimberly had done the same. "You're freaking crazy, you know that!?" he yelled.
Kimberly just smiled as she looked back with Tommy to see Jason and Trini diving out the window and summoning their gliders. It took a little while longer for Zack to appear, and she knew that he had waited until the last possible moment before the foot soldier's caught up with him to debate whether or not jumping into outer space was worth it.
"Why can't we ever leave somewhere normally?" Zack called out as he leaned forward heavily on the glider to catch up with the other Rangers.
"We weren't exactly there for tea and crumpets, Zack," Jason replied. "I don't think Astronema was going to let us use the front door."
"Good point," said Zack, swerving wildly as something slammed into the back of his glider.
Smoke poured from the glider as the other Rangers looked back to see at least half a dozen Cog-piloted Quadrofighters flying straight towards them. Blasts of spiraled energy were sent their way, the Rangers struggling to avoid them while trying to reach Zack. Through the melee, Tommy was somehow able to break free and started on a clear path to the Blue Ranger who, with arms flailing, was barely managing to stay atop his out of control glider.
Getting as close to Zack as was possible Tommy toed the edge of his glider and reached out, but Zack was moving far too much to get a hold on. "Come on, Zack. Try and stay still," he said encouragingly, reaching out again to no avail.
It was mere luck that a Cog with bad aim had targeted Zack, the unseen blast rocketing into the side of the blue glider and throwing its' rider right at Tommy. Unfortunately, the blast also sent the glider hurtling towards Tommy as well.
"Oh shit," murmured Tommy. Without thinking he jumped from his board, flipping backwards to avoid Zack's glider. His feet touched down safely, and in one quick motion he dropped to his knees and turned around, reaching out to catch the wrist of a free falling Zack. "You really gotta learn to fly, man."
"That time wasn't my fault," Zack muttered in reply as Tommy pulled him onto the red glider. "Thanks for the save though."
Tommy nodded. "Anytime," he said, looking back to see Kimberly firing energy arrows at every Quadrofighter she could set her sights on. "Kim, come on! We gotta get out of here!"
"I already sent Jason and Trini back to the ship!" Kimberly yelled, her focus on the Quadrofighters never wavering. "You and Zack go! I'll take care of these guys!"
"Bullshit," Tommy muttered under his breath, turning to Zack. "You know I can't leave her here by herself, right?"
Sighing, Zack nodded. "Yeah, I know. What do you need me to do?"
"As soon as I get close enough to her glider to jump, get the hell out of here," Tommy replied, the glider's thrusters roaring as he turned it sharply in Kimberly's direction. He pulled up to the rear end of her glider and jumped onto it, landing behind her as he looked back at Zack. "We'll meet you back at the ship; go!"
Nodding, Zack turned the glider around and started after Jason and Trini. Firing another round of arrows, Kimberly looked over her shoulder at him. "What are you doing? I told you to go back to the ship."
"Call it insubordination then," Tommy replied, slipping around her to take control of the glider.
"What are you doing?" demanded Kimberly.
She tried to push passed him, but Tommy refused to let her by. "You can be mad if you want," he told her defiantly, kicking the glider into a hard, one-hundred and eighty degree turn. "But I'm not going to let you make that kiss on the ship the last one we ever have."
Had Tommy disobeyed her orders for any other reason than the one that he had given to her, Kimberly likely would have been furious with him. But just like always, Tommy knew exactly what to say to put a smile on her face regardless of the situation that they were in. Instinctively, her arms went around Tommy's waist as they tore off en route to the Shadow Rider, the Cogs still following after them.
"You still should have listened to me," argued Kimberly teasingly.
"Yeah, well don't tell me to do stupid things and I will," Tommy replied, he and Kimberly both trying to formulate a way to escape the pursuing Cogs who continued to fire relentlessly at the pair of Rangers.
Rolling her eyes, Kimberly returned to barraging the Quadrofighters with energy arrows while Tommy focused on piloting the glider. Through hairpin turns, sudden up and down movements, and a multitude of other evasive maneuvers that Tommy executed, Kimberly never once feared for her safety. She had all the trust in the world in Tommy, knowing that he wouldn't do anything to put her in danger.
Aiming at a nearby Quadrofighter she drew back on the bowstring and released, watching with surprise when it actually hit its intended target. The arrow pierced right through the Cog's metal forehead, causing the small space craft to swerve out of control and into another Quadrofighter, both ships exploding on impact.
"Yes, bulls-eye!" she yelled, pumping her fist excitedly. "Two down, five to go."
"Nice shooting, Kim," Tommy murmured, his eyes suddenly growing wide as he realized what they were rapidly approaching. "Kim, I uh, I think you might want to turn around now."
"What? Why?" she asked, looking over her shoulder. "Oh shit, is that an—"
"Asteroid field," they both said in unison.
Tommy took hold of Kimberly's free arm and pulled it around his waist. "Lose the bow and hang on tight," he told her. "I'm gonna get us through this."
Kimberly nodded and dismissed her weapon, holding onto Tommy's midsection with as much strength as she could muster. She spared only the most fleeting of glimpses behind them, her mouth falling open in disbelief as the Cogs followed them right into the asteroid field with no concern at all for their own personal safety.
"These guys don't know when to quit," muttered Kimberly, shaking her head
Tommy looked at the Cogs and nodded. "They're about as stupid as Rita's old Putties were. Let's see how they like this, though!"
He banked the glider hard to the left, avoiding by inches another giant asteroid. He didn't need to look back again to know that the floating boulder had taken out at least two more of the Cogs and their Quadrofighters; the thunderous sound of multiple explosions coming from behind him was more than enough confirmation.
"That was awesome, Tommy," said Kimberly, smiling proudly.
"Thanks," Tommy replied, looking back at her as multiple blasts of energy whizzing passed them, "but we're not out of it, yet."
Tommy didn't know how right he was.
"Duck!" yelled Kimberly.
She pulled Tommy down into a low squat with her just in time to narrowly avoid an asteroid flying over their heads. Staring at Kimberly through his visor, Tommy smiled and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"That was close," he murmured, "thanks, Kim."
"You can thank me when we get back to the ship," Kimberly replied, wearing a grin so wicked that Tommy could practically hear it.
By the time that the asteroid field came to its' sudden end minutes later, the barely visible Shadow Rider looming in the distance, only one lone Quadrofighter remained. Tommy's heart pounded against his chest, his adrenaline pumping from their high speed escape as Kimberly took out the final Cog with a well aimed arrow.
Tommy looked at Kimberly and found himself surprised by what he was feeling. From the moment he first met her in the hallways of Angel Grove High School he had always cared about her in a way that transcended friendship. While they were together he had experienced the same desires that every teenaged male with a beautiful girlfriend had, but they had never consumed him as greatly as they did now.
When they arrived safely in the hangars of the Shadow Rider, Kimberly remover her helmet, hopped off the glider, and immediately started for the control room in search of the other Rangers, but Tommy had other plans. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in close to him as he took off his helmet, long, curly, brown locks falling wildly about his shoulders.
Kimberly started to say something but Tommy cut her off, pressing his lips to hers as his arm slipped around her waist. She tried to resist, her head telling her that the safety of her friends was more important than making out with Tommy, but she couldn't stop. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him over and over again; and so she did, melting into Tommy's embrace as her arms slinked behind his neck. Only when the need to breathe became too much did she regretfully tear her lips away from his.
"We have to find the others," she told him in between deep, heavy breaths.
"They're fine, Kim," Tommy whispered.
He moved in for another kiss, but Kimberly stopped him with a hand to his chest. "What makes you so sure?"
Sighing, Tommy turned his body to the side so that Kimberly could see the red, black, and yellow gliders all lined up on the floor a few feet away from where the pink Galaxy Glider rested. When he looked at Kimberly and smirked, she rolled her eyes.
"Come here," said Tommy. Taking her hand, he pulled her in once more, this time turning her body around so her back was pressed against his chest. He gently brushed some of the hair away from her neck and proceeded to place a series of soft kisses on her tender flesh.
Kimberly couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips, nor could she control her hands as they reached back and wrapped themselves behind Tommy's neck, her fingertips running through the hair she had always loved to play with.
"Oh god, Tommy," she whispered, her heels rising and back arching as soft chills ran up and down her spine.
"Power down," Tommy murmured against her neck, the remainder of their uniforms disappearing in flashes of red and pink light.
"Would you think less of me if I told you I want to go to my room?" asked Kimberly, turning around to face him with eyes that twinkled mischievously.
"Is that an invitation or a way out?" Tommy questioned.
Kimberly took one of his hands and stepped in as close to Tommy as was possible, toying with the hem of his shirt. "What do you think?" she asked, winking while wearing a sly grin.
"I think I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone in my life," Tommy replied.
In one quick motion he wrapped his arm around Kimberly's waist and lifted her off of her feet. Her arms slipped around his neck, her ankles crossed behind his back as their lips met passionately once again. He carried her just like that through the hallways and up the stairs of the Shadow Rider, neither caring if any or all of their friends happened to see them.
Their kiss broke only for the briefest of moments when they reached the door to her personal quarters, Kimberly hastily slapping her hand all over the wall until she finally managed to hit the small red button that caused the door to slide open with a low hiss. Tommy walked into the room and laid her down softly on the bed, hovering over her as she struggled to remove his shirt.
Smiling, Tommy leaned back and started to pull at his shirt for her.
"This isn't your first time, is it?" asked Kimberly, leaning back on her elbows.
"Nope," Tommy replied, tossing his shirt to the floor, "Yours?"
Almost blushing, Kimberly shook her head. "I hate that Kat got to you first."
Staring deeply into her doe brown eyes, Tommy took her hand and placed it over his heart. "Finders keepers, Kim," he told her with a smile. "Besides, would you rather be the first one or the last one?"
A huge grin spread wide across her lips. She had dreamed of this day so many times before, but she'd never imagined it being anything like this, and it was with those thoughts in mind that it all finally hit her.
"This doesn't seem real," she whispered, closing her eyes as she ran her fingertips up and down the side of his arm. "But that's how I know it is."
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