So I guys, I don't own anything you recognize, yada yada
So guys, I don't own anything you recognize, yada yada. This is my first fic, so I'd really appreciate reviews! They'll help keep me going!! Sorry for the long wait!
This chapter is dedicated to sunsetbabe17! (Again)
Nicole dragged herself downstairs the next morning and began to make a pot of coffee. That was her routine, starting each day with a cup of the bitter beverage. Without it she wouldn't be able to function throughout the rest of the day. Fumbling a little through the unfamiliar kitchen, she began the automatic movements of starting the brew.
Staring at the drops of dark liquid slowly pouring out, Nicole noticed the silence. There was a distinct lack of the morning sounds that were becoming familiar to Nicole. The sounds of Tommy taking a shower, stumbling around his room getting ready… were all noticeably absent. Nicole frowned. She turned to look at the clock mounted on the wall. It was too early, he couldn't have already left…he must have overslept! How many alarm clocks did he have?
Rushing up the stairs, Nicole threw open her uncle's door. And, as predicted, there he was, lying in bed, snoring away.
"Get up! You're going to be late!" She shrieked.
Tommy jolted awake and, upon realizing the time, shot straight out of bed. Unfortunately, the only article of clothing he had on were a pair of black boxers. Nicole quickly threw a hand over her startled eyes, letting out a squeak.
"Uncle T!" She ran out and slammed the door shut. That was one image of her uncle she did not need to see. In fact, she saw a little too much.
"Shit!" Tommy scrambled to gather some clothes and run into the bathroom. He had to get ready first, worry about his niece later. Randall was so going to have his brachio hide… Running a hand through his short hair, Tommy decided he would have to forego a shower that morning. He stumbled down the stairs. He was in such a hurry he skipped a step and, if not for his quick reflexes that had been honed over his years as a ranger, would have fallen face first down the rest of the stairs.
He straightened his tie as he rushed into the kitchen. As he entered, there was a clang as slightly crisp toast popped up from the toaster. He grabbed one of the slices and started wolfing it down.
"Coffee thermos is on the counter," Nicole stated, sipping her own hot liquid as she sat at the table reading the newspaper. Grabbing the black thermos, he paused in his rush, eyes surveying the room. Something was missing. Nicole looked up at him.
"Briefcase is by the front door." He nodded his head in thanks and rushed out. But as soon as the door clicked shut, he poked his spiky head back in.
"Umm…about earlier," he began awkwardly. Nicole waved her hand in front of her face.
"Just forget about it." She at least was trying to, but she feared the image would be seared into her mind forever. Nodding, he rushed out and drove at a breakneck speed towards the school. Tommy was thankful that he used to race cars, for he still retained some skills that helped him reach the school just when the bell rang. Still late, but not as late as he would've been if Nicole had not woken him up.
Flustered, he entered his classroom and unceremoniously dumped his briefcase onto the desk. Turning to the class, he was faced with utter chaos. Instead of students in a classroom, the teens were behaving more like animals in a zoo, taking full advantage of their teacher's absence. Paper airplanes and spitballs were flying across the room. Tommy was pretty sure you could hear the chatter of his students from all the way down the hall.
He caught Kira's eye and saw a look of relief on her face. Seeing her, Trent, and Ethan all huddled together made Tommy realize that they were probably starting to wonder if maybe he had been kidnapped again. Sending a reassuring smile their way, he noticed the conspicuous absence of one soccer star. Where was Conner? Then the one person Tommy did not want to see poked her head in.
"Dr. Oliver, I highly suggest you take control of your class," Principal Randall scolded. She jerked a boy in front of her, pushing him none too gently into the classroom. "And I believe this belongs to you." Conner looked up at Dr. O sheepishly. Tommy raised his eyebrows at him, but said nothing and gestured for him to take a seat. Conner hurriedly took the empty one next to Ethan. Ethan leaned towards him.
"Yo, where were you? What's up today, both you and Dr. O showed up late."
"On the soccer field," Conner winced as Ethan laughed.
"Again?"
"Yeah, I just needed to focus and clear my head."
"I thought it already was pretty clear," Kira snickered as Conner scowled at her.
"All right, all right everyone, settle down," Dr. O finally began class.
&
The last bell rang, signally an end to what started out as a chaotic day. The four multi-colored teens made their way out of the school. Kira turned to her teammates.
"So, are we all meeting at Haley's?" Trent and Ethan nodded yes, but Conner declined.
"Nah, can't, I have soccer practice. Well, an unofficial practice, anyway, it's just the team. Coach won't be there."
"You sure you don't want to come? Nicole's going to be there," Ethan waggled his eyebrows at Conner, who promptly made a face.
"Dude-don't do that again. Ever." Ethan rolled his eyes. "And besides, Nicole doesn't even like me anyway. She'd have a better time if I wasn't there," Conner added, glumly.
"Now Conner, I'm sure that isn't true," Kira tried to console the boy.
"Actually…" Ethan began, but was stopped by a slap from Kira. "Ow!! That hurt!" He rubbed the back of his head where she had smacked him. Kira just smirked at him.
"Well, I guess we'll catch you later then, Conner," Kira said, giving him a wave as the group split and Conner walked off on his own towards the soccer field. Chris waved him over. His team was waiting for him.
&
Nicole quickly scribbled a note to her uncle, detailing where she would be, just in case he came home and she wasn't there. She didn't want to worry him for no reason. Kira and the guys had invited her to hang out at the Cyberspace that night. It would give her a chance to get to know them a little, and her stay would be so much more fun with friends, so she accepted the invitation. Anyway, from what she had gathered he would probably be at Haley's as well. She pinned the note to Tommy's refrigerator with a red ranger magnet. She would definitely have to make fun of him for that later.
On her way out, Nicole grabbed a black sweater to throw over her green top. Making her way into the woods, Nicole decided that she would definitely need a better mode of transportation soon. A girl can only walk so far.
Nicole pulled her sweater tighter around her as the wind picked up and the sky darkened. It looked like a storm was heading their way.
&
The three teens walked into the local teen establishment, Kira blushing as Trent held open the door for her.
"Thanks." Ethan made a gagging gesture, yet it was seen by none for it was normally Conner who reciprocated and took part in this ridicule with Ethan. Kira and Trent paid him no heed. Trent immediately went behind the counter to help Haley. Fellow waitress, Danielle, tossed him an apron.
"Hey guys, your usuals?"
"Yup," they replied as she started making their regular drinks: one banana smoothie and one blueberry.
"You meeting Nicole here?" She asked, looking up from her blender as it whirred loudly in the background.
"Yeah," Kira looked over at the clock hanging on the wall, "she should be here soon."
"I'll make her a drink then, too," Haley said as she handed the two their smoothies. Then she set about making a strawberry banana smoothie, since Nicole had told Haley it was her favorite. Just then the three colorful bracelets on the teens' wrists beeped. Simultaneously the teens grabbed their bracelets and shared a meaningful look. Then the boy in white turned to Haley. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he got anything out Haley interrupted him.
"It's okay, go. Your needed elsewhere." He shot a grateful smile to her and the three took off. As soon as they were outside Kira brought her bracelet to her mouth.
"Dr. O?"
"Guys, you need to get down to the park, now. Ran into trouble with some Tyrannodrones."
"We're on our way." The teens rushed off to help their mentor.
&
Conner was on the sidelines, taking a breather for a moment, when he heard the call. Discreetly looking around the field to see if anyone was looking his way, he brought the red gauntlet to his lips.
"Conner here. What's up?"
"Tyrannodrones. Park. Zeltrax just showed his ugly mug too."
"On it. I'll be there soon." Quickly Conner made the excuses that were becoming to routine to his soccer team before taking off. His team, the one that really counted, needed him.
&
At the park Ethan and Kira were battling the pack of Tyrannodrones back to back while the Black Ranger took on Zeltrax. Trent was fending for himself across the park against some Tyrannodrones. Ethan flew through the air from a vicious kick to the chest when Conner finally zoomed into view.
"Dino Thunder, Power Up! Ha," he called as he morphed into the Red Dino Thunder Ranger.
"About time," Ethan grumbled, getting back into the fight. Conner shrugged his shoulders.
"Thought I'd join the party."
"Better late than never," Kira responded, ducking to avoid a kick from an incoming Tyrannodrone. Jumping into the fray, Conner sent a Tyrannodrone staggering with a powerful punch to the gut.
A few feet away Tommy was battling the one villain that seemed to have a personal vendetta against him: Zeltrax. It was Brachio Staff versus sword. The two seemed to be evenly matched, while Tommy was obviously superior in skill, Zeltrax had brute strength and power on his side. Neither was gaining the upper hand.
"Why don't you just give up, Black Ranger. You'll never beat me."
"I wouldn't be so confident, if I were you. If I remember correctly, you were the one that ran away last time."
"Argh!" Zeltrax swung his sword so fiercely that Tommy struggled to hold it back. "I did not run, my master called me back! And if I were you, I'd be worried about my little niecey, all alone. Wouldn't want anything to happen to her, now would we?" Zeltrax taunted.
"Leave Nicole out of this! If you harm her…" Tommy let the threat hang in the air, battling back even harder than before.
"I think it's a little too late for that…" Zeltrax laughed.
&
Nicole walked into Haley's Cyberspace, happy to get out of the chilly weather. She looked around for the teens she was supposed to be meeting. Yet, they were nowhere in sight. She checked the silver watch on her wrist. It was a gift from her Uncle Billy, and she always wore it. Nope, she wasn't early. In fact, because of the walk, she was a few minutes late. They should already be there. She walked over to the redhead manning the blender.
"Hey Haley, how's it going?" She greeted her uncle's friend.
"Good, good. Hey, I made you a drink. Um…I think it's on the table over there," she gestured to her right.
"Thanks." Nicole picked hers up and noticed two abandoned drinks still adorned the table. "Have you seen Kira or the others by any chance?" Haley winced.
"Yeah, they were in just a little while ago. You must have just missed them. They rushed out, some emergency or something. Sorry, I'm sure they had a good reason." Damn, Haley, you are not a good liar, Haley thought to herself. She hoped the teens would be able to come up with a good story.
"Well, thanks for the drink, I guess I'll just head on home then," Nicole waved good- bye and headed back the way she came. They could have at least called or something. But if it was an emergency…
As Nicole was making her trek back through the woods to her uncle's house, she thought she heard a noise behind her. Spooked she stopped and surveyed her surroundings. Chill, girl, all of those old ranger stories have made you paranoid! Then she tripped over a large tree root poking out of the ground, face planting in the dirt. Gah! Why did her uncle have to live out in the middle of nowhere?
Standing up and brushing herself off, something stopped her. A green portal opened in front of her and a group of Tyrannodrones jumped out. Great, just great, she thought as she readied herself in a defensive position.
Just then the heavens opened up and torrents of rain came splashing down. The storm had finally come.