November 28, 2009
A/N: This story is occuring during the Jungle Fury season, after Dom joined the team. In case anyone was wondering in what time and space this was happening.
Chapter 2: Rhino Power
Dai Shi Temple
"Dai Shi, Dai Shi," Camille sang, "look what I have." The chameleon handed her master a newspaper that was two weeks old. Jarrod perused through the paper, leafing through it in search of what his general brought. "On page six," she beamed, proud of her findings.
Dai Shi's eyes widened, intrigued by the article. "San Francisco Museum of History is proud to host the viewing of the mythological Devil's Eye, which Mr. Andrew Hartford, renowned archeologist, donated after losing his son and colleague, Mack Hartford and Rose Ortiz, in the very cave in which it was discovered." Jarrod continued to read for a few more minutes. When he finally looked up, a maniacal grin adorned his face.
Jungle Karma Pizza
Lily hopped down the last step, disappointed to not see the jaguar anywhere. A humming sound and the voice of the TV led her to the serving area. There, the cheetah spotted Theo sitting at the counter watching a commemorative special of the two fallen Overdrive rangers. Lily sat on the stool next to him, the blue ranger still holding a dish cloth. The pizza parlor had closed over an hour ago, it being Sunday. Theo was assigned to wipe the tables down, and in Lily's view, he had done a terrific job, not a smudge of grease or grime to be found. "Hey," she nudged him to get his attention, "what are you watching?"
"They're doing a recap of the Overdrive rangers' quest to obtain the jewels of the Corona Aurora, highlighting mostly the red and pink ranger. It's really sad, I mean, it really puts things into perspective. One day your alive the next – poof." Theo turned his attention to Lily, the program going to commercials.
Lily looked into her hands nervously. "Yeah, it is a shame. I feel bad, not for the public, but the family and friends who knew them."
Theo was about to say something to comfort his crush when Casey burst into the parlor. "Guys, Camille is on the move, let's go." In less than a second, Lily had jumped out of her seat and was following Casey up to the loft. Theo pounded his fist on the counter in frustration, taking one last look at the documentary; he too, raced up to the loft.
San Francisco Museum of History
The Jungle Fury rangers caught Camille and her company of rinshi as they exited the museum. The sun was setting, slowly being swallowed up by the tall buildings. "Whatever it is you took, you can give it back," Casey told the chameleon.
"That's what you think," Camille laughed, ordering the rinshi to attack. RJ and Dom raced after Camille, while Casey, Theo, and Lily were swarmed by her henchmen. Quickly the trio defused Camille's servants. The five rangers regrouped, facing her.
"Give us the diamond," Casey commanded, extending his hand.
"What makes you think I even have your precious diamond?" she teased. The smirk on her face said they had been duped.
"It's a distraction – she's the decoy," RJ told the others, his mind reeling on the possible location of the stolen gem.
"Very smart, ranger, too bad, you're too late," Camille snickered. The doors of the museum exploded from their hinges, a monster resembling a rhino jogging up to the general.
"I have the diamond, Camille, just as you asked," he spoke dumbly.
"I also asked you to immediately return to Dai Shi, you bumbling idiot," she chastised.
"Give us that diamond!" Lily demanded.
Camille and the rhino watched the rangers charge. Panicking, Camille turned to her servant, "Rinsoar, give me the –"
"Don't worry, Camille, I got it," he spoke with a jolly tone. Still holding the coveted gem, the monster ran toward the rangers, meeting them halfway. Powerless, Camille watched her plan fall to pieces.
The rhino charged through the rangers, knocking them down like bowling pins. Quickly, the five rangers were back on their feet. Casey struck with his jungle chucks, but was disappointed to not even see a scratch. The rhino batted Casey into Dom. Lily and Theo double-teamed their enemy, but was destined for the same fate as Casey. Lily was struck to the ground, while Theo was rammed some feet away by the rhino's horn, resting on top of its head. The monster was about to squash Lily, but RJ swooped in; blocking the strike with a kick to the beast's mid-section, knocking Rinsoar off-balance.
RJ and the beast began to spar, even with the addition of RJ's morpher blast, it was useless. The bell ring was never a sound of victory. Eventually, RJ was struck down with a powerful blow. Lifelessly, RJ laid prey to their dimwitted foe.
"RJ!" Lily cried, rushing to her rescuer's side.
"Rhino versus rhino, pal," Dom challenged. Raising his rhino blade he swung with all his might. To Dom and his friends' horror, but Camille's delightful surprise, Dom and Rinsoar were at a complete stand still. Only able to push the beast back, Dom and Rinsoar were an even match. The two rhinos grunted their determination, trying to make the other succumb to their strength. Finally, Dom leapt back, resulting in the rhino stumbling forward. Lily's plea to retreat because of RJ being unconscious distracted Dom. The beast used the momentary confusion to knock the white ranger back several feet. Casey and Theo were about to intervene when a cloaked figure appeared from nowhere.
His silent entrance was given no fewer accolades than his strength. The rangers watched the mysterious figure block the rhino's strike with his forearm, twisting underneath the beast and flipping the rhino over. Like a tortoise on its back, the rinshi beast flailed its legs and arms. The cloaked figure pried the gem from the rhino's hands. "No," Rinsoar and Camille hollered. As suddenly as the stranger appeared, the mysterious figure left, zip-lining to the rooftop of a tall corporate building. Humiliated, Camille vanished along with the rinshi beast.
"Who was that?" Casey inquired out loud.
"I don't know, but we need to get back," Lily replied, trying to wake RJ.
Dark Alley
The cloaked figure looked about the dark alley, startled when a small, petite hand tapped the thief's shoulder. "I got what you asked." He handed her the translucent, red diamond. "Why not follow them back? Or go directly to them?"
"So beautiful," the other cloaked figure breathed; her voice soft and gentle. "Because we'll need the Devil's Eye for leverage if my plan doesn't work. Come, we need to go."
~ End Chapter 2