Disclaimer: I still don't own Power Rangers.
A/N: Happy New Years Everyone!
Crossing the Rockies was something Lance never wanted to go through ever again. Nicole apparently knew people who knew how to cross safely, although she never explained how she met the people who met up with the scouts every morning to show them the path. If she did explain, Lance never heard the answer, but then he was busy, between Elizabeth and the Earth ninjas and helping Macy he spent his time between sleeping and traveling doing something. At least he'd managed to get his dad as a driving partner.
Finally, they came over the last of the mountains and their guide led them into a valley where a small camp was already set up. Nicole, who had been walking her bike by their ATV grinned, "We'll camp here tonight. We have some work to do before we cross the plains and get to Corinth."
"You know these people?" Xander asked.
"Of course," Nicole replied with a slight grin. "You think we just happened to successfully handle a Venjix prison camp? These guys have it down to a science. They free camps and move people around so that Venjix can't get them again. Some of our people will probably opt for joining them, but the rest will come to Corinth with us." She slapped the visor down on her helmet and mounted her bike, zipping down the line to join the head of it just as they reached the camp.
"She's something," Xander said with a sigh. "Can you imagine, they've got a whole network up out here?"
"Knowing Nicole," Lance said as he straightened up, "she probably plotted the whole thing, started it, and runs it."
Xander laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised child of mine." When they got into the camp, after parking the ATV, Xander swore, using one of the words he denied knowing when Lance got in trouble for using them.
"What?" Lance asked.
"Of all people," Xander said wonderingly, "Come here, Lance. Some people I want you to meet."
They walked over to where Nicole was talking to a pair of men in ninja leathers, one was a dark skinned man, probably from the Pacific Islands in the red of an air ninja, and the other was a curly topped brunette in the yellow of an earth ninja. "We can handle whoever wants to say," the air ninja was saying.
Xander cleared his throat, "Pardon the interruption," he said, "but I believe I know you."
The two ninjas stared at him for a moment before the earth ninja laughed, "Xander Bly, what's up dude?"
Xander gripped the man's hand for a moment, "Dustin Brooks," he said, "of all people Nicole recruited I should have expected you."
"You remember Shane right?" Dustin asked.
"Right," Xander said, and shook Shane's hand too, "good to see you two made it out." He dropped his arm around Lance's shoulders, "I don't know if you remember our oldest, Lance. Lance, it's been a while, but this is Dustin and Shane from the Wind Ninja Academy, they were Rangers as well." Lance smiled at them both, suddenly feeling shy at meeting the two Rangers. He knew his dad was friends with their teammate Tori more than either of these two, but he had met Shane a few times, coming to visit Uncle Nick for some business or other.
"Well," Nicole said, "now that that's over with." She smiled a little, "I'll talk to my people. I'd like the earth ninjas to stay here. Going over the Plains isn't going to be easy for them."
"I wouldn't want to risk it," Dustin said, his smile fading a little. "I don't even like to leave the Roost much, it's not so bad here but it's a battle we have to fight every day."
Lance hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, "I'm a, a Healer, sir. I have something for Earth ninjas to help with the contaminated soil."
"He's right," Xander said, "that concoction of his tastes horrible, but it works."
"Thanks," Dustin said, "I'm good right now, but one of the guys at the Roost ran into something nasty. He's been sick for a few days now."
"I'll just get it then," Lance said and slid out from his father's arm. He ran back to the ATV to get put together a small bag with the necessary items.
"Lance," Macy said, "you're on supper duty tonight."
Lance smiled, "I won't forget, I just need to give this to Dustin. He's got an earth ninja that needs some Wolfsbane."
Macy smiled tightly, "All right dear. Just don't give everything away."
"I wouldn't do that," Lance said, "and Dustin's a yellow ranger like my dad. He wouldn't lie about something like this."
"Go on then," Macy said, "wouldn't want to keep the ranger waiting."
"Yes ma'am," Lance said with a cheeky grin. He trotted back over to the group, "Here," he said, holding out the bag to Dustin. "You have to heat a cup full to boiling then add a vial of the powder. Let it cool to drinking temperature and drink. It tastes like dirty socks, but it works. Do not try to make it taste better, sweeteners react badly, they can even make it poisonous. My suggest is to hold your nose and drink it fast then drink a lot of water. Not milk. You'll just end up burning at both ends if you drink milk within an hour of drinking that."
Dustin took the bag, "I'll try to remember it."
"I can write it down, if you're going to be around for a while. I have to help with supper now." Lance said and all but bolted back to Macy.
"Everything ok, Lance?" Macy asked as he came to a stop beside her.
"Yeah, sorry," Lance said. He jerked his head back, "Dustin was the first male yellow ranger, and my dad was second. Although there was an Elder Yellow, Dustin was made Senior a few years back, to keep the command triad in one team. Even though I don't have a morpher, Dustin's my Senior too, since I will be a yellow when I'm given a morpher."
Macy squeezed his shoulder, "Its ok to be nervous, Lance. I take it Dustin's something of a hero for you?"
"After my dad, yeah," Lance said, he smiled a little, "I guess I looked a little silly."
"Not really," Macy said, she glanced behind Lance, "he's coming over here."
Lance turned as Dustin approached, "So," Dustin said, "are you doing all right, Lance?"
"Yes sir," Lance said. "Pa makes sure I don't get into too much trouble."
"You just seem nervous," Dustin said, "and don't call me sir. I'm not a knight." Lance grinned weakly at Dustin's joke. "Shane and I will be spending the night, so if you would write down those instructions I'd appreciate it."
"I'll do that after supper," Lance said.
"Thank you," Dustin said, "this is going to be a lot of help." He eyed Lance, "You haven't been thinking about ninja training have you?"
"No sir," Lance replied, "I'm going to be a knight and a healer like my dad."