Chapter 7: True Colors
The X-Games were a success, Blue Bay was safe, and the Power Rangers once again saved the day. After the closing ceremony of the X-Games, the Power Rangers made an appearance at the arena, stunning everyone with their grand entrance via Power-Gliders. Once the crowd was settled, the Red Ranger took the floor.
"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for the help of a special person. Even in the face of danger, even when she was in the grip of Lothor and his goons, she managed to even the odds, save herself, get to us, and help us come up with a plan to defeat Zurgayne's Megazord. Her plan was a brilliant one, and to understand it fully, we must start from the beginning. Lothor kidnapped her to get her to come up with a plan to destroy us, the Power Rangers. Lothor's plan nearly succeeded, Zurgayne's Megazord was as powerful as our own Megazord. It was like fighting an exact replica of ourselves, but she came up with a counter-plan: in its simplicity came the assuredness of its completion. She proposed that we distract Zurgayne's Megazord with a skirmish while Yellow Ranger would sneak into Zurgayne's Megazord and steal the disk that copied the information of our zords. Once that was done, we blasted Zurgayne with all the power we had, resulting to a power overload on his Megazord. We destroyed the disk afterwards, thus saving Blue Bay once again. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's give it up for Jules Gailes!"
The entire arena stood up and applauded. Jules couldn't believe her ears. Her father and brothers were looking at her with pride and respect, Nathan nudged her to go to the center of the arena where the Rangers stood. With a deep breath, she made her way to them. Sudden pain shot through her legs, reminding her to take it easy. Suddenly, she felt like she was on a speeding train, and found herself standing with the Rangers. She looked and saw that she was in the arms of the Yellow Ranger. She let out a laugh, realizing that he had used his Ninja streak to get her to them.
"Mind if we borrow her for a minute, Mr. Gailes?" asked the Yellow Ranger. "We'd like to thank her, Ranger style," he said through the mike. Jules turned to look at her father and brothers. Since they were all "Mr. Gailes," she saw all of them nod with consent. The crowd was hushed as a second later, the Rangers were gone, the streaks of their colors already in the distance.
The Rangers had brought her to a waterfall in the forest. The Yellow Ranger set her down gently.
"What is this place?" asked Jules, looking around her. Before her were the six rangers: Red, Yellow, Blue, Crimson, Navy, and Green. She bowed her head, smiling.
"It's the entrance to our command center, as you like calling it," said the Green Ranger. Jules lifted her head, nodding.
"This is an honor, Rangers, thank you," she looked at each of them. "I understand you cannot reveal your identity, for that secrecy is what will keep you alive, though I'm pretty sure Lothor already knows who each of you are. I'm talking about the public, the people, your fans," she said. "I call it a command center because that's what the first Power Rangers called their meeting place with their leader."
"Whoa, wait," said the Crimson Ranger. "What do you mean 'the first Power Rangers?'" Jules looked at him, raising her brows.
"You didn't expect to be the first rangers of your kind, now did you?" asked Jules. That's when the Yellow Ranger piped up.
"Yeah, dudes! Power Rangers go all the way back to 1994!"
Jules smiled, "I guess someone's been doing their history homework," she teased. The Blue Ranger came and sat down next to her.
"How do you know this, Jules?" she asked. Jules momentarily looked away. Silence enveloped them all. When she came to her decision, she faced them again.
"I choose to tell you this because if I don't, it would be an insult to my sister's memory." The Rangers came closer, some sat down, some remained standing, but it was obvious they wanted to listen.
"Sister? There's another Gailes sibling?" asked the Green Ranger. Jules looked at him and sadly shook her head.
"No, Green Ranger, she was not."
"Was?" repeated the Red Ranger. "Do you mean…?"
"Yes," nodded Jules. "She's gone, but still in my memory. You see, I was not always a Gailes." She saw the Rangers stir, especially the Yellow one. "I used to be a Wang. The Gailes adopted me, as are the other Gailes children. So you see, Grey, Rex, Nathan, Erik, Mama and Papi Gailes, we're not blood-related." She sighed, "But they're my family. Family is more than just blood-connection; it's connecting with the mind, heart, and soul."
"But, how is this related to your sister?" asked the Navy Ranger.
"My sister, Trini, was the original Yellow Ranger. She told me not to tell anyone her secret. Of course she told me this when she wasn't a Ranger anymore, and was going to Geneva as an ambassador. After the car crash, everything changed. Mami and Pa drifted apart, I began living with relative after relative, until I ended up in an orphanage. It wasn't because they didn't love me, no. I know Mami and Pa love me; we just admitted that we didn't act like a family anymore, and there were financial strains as well. I understood their decision. I'm not angry at them, I love them dearly."
The hushed atmosphere embraced the Rangers. Even the volume of the waterfall seemed to mute when the weight of what Jules had just told them sank in.
"Oh, how I had dreamed of being a Power Ranger, to know what it feels like. Trini loved it, and she had found her friends there. But I understand if Fate has other plans for me. Look at it: I'm in the presence of the Power Rangers! I'm sure Trini's up there, smiling her sunshine yellow smile at me," Jules looked to the sky and opened her arms wide, as if basking in the sun's rays.
"We had no idea how much you loved the Power Rangers," came the Green Ranger's hushed voice. Jules looked at them once again.
"You're the only ones who know. Even the Gaileses don't know that Trini, my sister, was a Power Ranger. I felt like I could share that secret with you, since you know what she went through. Maybe that's the reason I came to admire you guys, and all the Power Rangers to come: this is as close I'll get to my sister now."
"What if…" said the Green Ranger, "You became a Power Ranger?" the Rangers and Jules collectively gasped.
"Is that even possible?" asked the Crimson Ranger. "Where are you going to get another morpher?"
"Hello, I built the zords, the morphers, I'm sure I can whip up something."
"Amazing," gasped Jules, "When it was in Trini's time, their technology came from space, and now, you can get your zords built here on earth! Wow," she gasped again.
"You sure know a lot," said the Yellow Ranger, "How do you know so much? I mean, aside from your sister's 411?"
Jules smiled. "I mentioned that she had friends in her Rangers. I'm still in touch with them, and throughout the years, they've been like an extended family of mine. Apparently they made a promise to Trini that they would watch out for me, and they have. I won't reveal who they are, of course, that as part of the deal."
"Oh wow, this is exciting!" said the Blue Ranger, "Another girl Ranger, I won't be the only girl anymore!" she took Jules' hand and squeezed it with delight.
"Do I have a choice of color, or is it Pink?" asked Jules, laughing with the Blue Ranger.
"Pink? Why Pink?" asked the Crimson Ranger.
"Well, Yellow, which traditionally was a girl Ranger's color, is now taken by a male. Or, I could be Black, or White, though Black has always been a boy's color, just like Red, but there has been girl White rangers instead of Pink. In different teams, if there's no Pink there's White, and if there's no Black, there's Green, and vice versa." Jules turned to the Green Ranger, "I guess I can't be Black, so it's either Pink or White."
"Are you sure you want to become a Power Ranger?" asked the Red Ranger. Jules stood up and faced the Rangers.
"I am deeply honored that you would consider me joining your team, but…" she took a deep breath. "The Gailes are leaving Blue Bay in two days. As much as I want to continue on my sister's legacy, I have a feeling now is not the time, but that time will come, I feel it." She went around to each of them and hugged them individually, saying her thanks.
"When I'm in Blue Bay, I'll be certain to give you guys a holler. After all, you have your command center, I think it can pick up my voice?" she teasingly smiled at the Green Ranger. Jules hugged the Blue Ranger, "Don't worry, I don't think you'll be the only girl for too long. But trust me, being the only girl has its perks." The Blue Ranger nodded and giggled.
When she went around the circle, she hugged the Yellow Ranger last. "For some reason, I feel like I know you," said Jules. Then she smiled. "Then again, maybe I don't. Who knows who's under that helmet?" She knew the Yellow Ranger couldn't say more, so she accepted his nod. He offered to take her to her house, and she accepted. After saying her farewells to the Rangers, she got behind the Yellow Ranger on his motor-bike and sped through the forest. Once they were near her house, they decided to walk the rest of the way so as not to disturb the neighbors. When at the back door, she turned and faced him.
"Thank you, Yellow Ranger, for bringing me home."
"That's ok, it was my pleasure, and honor," he bowed. Jules rolled her eyes and laughed.
"We seem to be talking much about honor today," she joked. "Kidding aside, I had a great time." Then she let out a soft giggle, "This sounds like we just came back from a date, doesn't it," she kidded.
"Hey, it does!" laughed the Yellow Ranger. "You know, I wish I could tell you who I was, but that would be–"
"Breaking the rules," they both said at the same time. "I know, so don't feel bad," reassured Jules.
"While you're off traveling the world with the Gailes clan, think about that position in our team, we could use another Ranger, Pink, White, or whatever color you want," he said.
Jules felt a smile pull at the corners of her lips. "Yeah," she nodded, "I think I will." After one final hug, the Yellow Ranger stepped back and bowed.
"Good night and farewell, Julia Gailes," he said, and streaked off into the night.
Jules looked up at the full moon, leaning against the backdoor, smiling. That day had brought her closer to being a Power Ranger, maybe one day she would be one. Only Fate had the cards to that. Pulling her jacket tighter around her, she glanced at the place where the Yellow Ranger disappeared.
"Good night… Dustin."
* * * The End * * *