AN: Finall got around to posting chapter four. My laptop still isn't back, so it's still hard for me to write. I have the next few chapter already written from a long time ago, but after that, if I don't have my puter (as Kaylee would say) back, the updates will be slowler (for those of you who read Christmas Cheer, you now have a reason for the lack of updates. I will try to get around to writing it, but the keyboard on the other computer really pisses me off.
Tierra: When Kaylee mentioned she's dealt with Will's kind before, she meant Shane. If you've seen Ninja Storm, or if you've read Kaylee's adventures in Ninja Storm, you should remember that Shane had one hell of a hard time working as a team. Kaylee didn't deal with the situation personally, but she knew Shane well enough, and figured her idea would help Will. Hope that clears it up for ya.
Don't forget to review after reading this lovely little chapter.
"So what do you think is inside the scroll?" Andrew asked, turning the Kaylee who was gently trying to open it.
"Only one way to find out," Ronny smiled. "Pop that puppy open!"
Kaylee unrolled the scroll and laid it down on the table. The Rangers looked down at the design in confusion.
"Anyone know what it is?" Hartford asked.
"Helicopter?" Ronny suggested.
"Helicopter?" Will frowned.
Ideas about what the picture was floated around the room as Rose examined the picture. She smiled and put her fingers in her mouth, whistling to catch everyone's attention. As they watched, she folded the ends of the scroll over.
"Look familiar?" she smirked.
"It's a sword!" Ronny smiled.
"It's Neptune's sword!" Hartford explained.
"But the sword is actually made up of three scrolls... not just this one," Rose finished.
-----Operation-Overdrive-----
A few hours later, Mack and Ronny slid down the poles leading to the base from the mansion.
"Found the mission scrolls?" Mack asked.
"Not yet," Rose frowned. She turned to the two and noticed Dax was missing. He said he was going out on a date, but it had been hours. The Blue Ranger had met a girl a few days previous, and after saving her from a monster, the two started dating. "Anyone seen Dax?"
Suddenly, Dax fell down from the pole, and landed with a thump on his butt.
"You're supposed to use the pole," Kaylee gently reminded him. Dax looked up at the pole and laughed nervously.
"Sorry, I was, ah... I was thinking about someone and forgot to use the pole."
"Forgot?" Ronny laughed, turning to Kaylee. The two smiled.
Dax caught the looked and frowned. "What?"
"Never mind," Ronny laughed. "Any luck researching more info on the sword of Neptune?"
Dax got up from the floor and walked to the table, where he found a sandwich waiting for him.
"No, I, uh... I was supposed to do research?"
"Are you alright, Dax?" Will asked, coming up beside Ronny and quickly sneaking a glance at her before turning back to Dax. "Seems like your mind's been a little preoccupied lately."
"It's love," Spencer explained as he entered the room, holding a piece of paper. "I've seen it happen before. A young lady has him under her spell."
"No way! I'm not under a spell!" Dax frowned, holding up his heart shaped sandwich.
"Yeah, we can see that," Ronny laughed. Dax looked down in shock and tossed the sandwich to Will, seeing as he was also sending off love vibes while he stood next to Ronny.
Will clumsily caught the sandwich and dropped it, hoping Ronny didn't catch on to what Dax was saying.
"Sir," Spencer said, handing his paper to Hartford. "While I returning from the mechanic's lab, I received this e-mail."
"Is it the monkey you promised me?" Kaylee asked, bouncing slightly as she ran up to Spencer.
"The words 'patience is a virtue' are lost on your generation," Spencer smiled, poking Kaylee on the nose. The blonde frowned at the butler, but cracked a smile shortly after.
Andrew folded the letter back up, after reading it and frowned. "It seems the other two scrolls were in the international Museum of Antiquities."
"Were?" Rose asked.
"About two years ago, they were believed to have been stolen by Lady Penelope Easterbrook-Smythe."
"You're kidding me!" Kaylee yelled, shock showing in her eyes.
"I know," Andrew sighed.
"She has a really long name!"
Andrew frowned at the blonde, glaring at her, telling her it wasn't the time to joke around.
"Lady Penelope?" Will asked, excited. Andrew nodded, only adding to the excitement. "The Gray Manx? Her heists are legendary! I've tried for years to recover artefacts she allegedly stole from museums. We've never been able to catch her with a thing!"
"Did you try using a doo hop?" Kaylee teased. Andrew glared at the blonde again, while Spencer chuckled.
"So, where would someone like her keep these scrolls?" Rose asked.
"Why would someone like her want the scrolls?" Ronny added.
"I imagine that, like most ladies, and Kaylee," Spencer started.
"HEY!" Kaylee frowned.
"She would keep her most precious possessions close to her. I believe she lives close by," Spencer laughed, seeing the look Kaylee was giving him.
"Let's go, guys!" Mack ordered.
The computer started beeping before the Rangers got far, and Spencer laughed as he turned to the blue Ranger.
"Master Dax, it's your young lady... again."
Will smirked as he clapped the blue Ranger on the back. "Third time this week, it's getting serious!"
"Dax, you can talk to her later," Kaylee smiled, knowing what it was like to date while being a Ranger. "We really need to go."
"Of course," Dax smiled following the others to the elevator, while Kaylee took the stairs. After the events in Atlantis, she didn't want to get inside a crowded elevator. "We've got work to do. Let's go!"
Dax stopped before actually getting into the elevator and smiled apologetically at his team. "Guys, uh... I'll just be a couple of minutes."
-----Operation-Overdrive-----
A few blocks away from Lady Penelope's mansions, four of the six Rangers were standing beside the Overdrive Jeep and the three ATV's as they waited for the sixth to show.
Dax came down the street on his ATV and stopped in front of the others.
"A couple of minutes?" Mack asked as the blue Ranger took off his helmet.
"We didn't think you were going to make it!" Ronny laughed.
"I even thought you were going to do something dumb like bring her along!" Kaylee giggled, but her laughter stopped when she saw Dax chew on his lower lip.
"I dropped her off around the corner," Dax gave his, his shoulders slumping. "But I told her to stay there!"
"Can we just focus for now?" Rose asked. "Will's not out yet."
All five Rangers turned and watched for the black Ranger to show up. Suddenly, they heard someone clear their throat.
"You guys waiting for someone?" Will laughed before being congratulated by his friends.
"Actually, yeah," Kaylee smiled. "He's about, this tall, black hair in cornrows. He wears a uniform like ours, only black. He's also got a huge ego!"
Will frowned at her.
"But he's a really nice guy!" Kaylee finished, hugging her friend.
"So, how did you...?"
Will pulled open his jacket, revealing the two scrolls which were tucked into his belt.
"Ta-Da! Sword of Neptune, volumes two and three!"
"FREEZE!" a guard yelled, holding up his gun at the Rangers. Another guard stood beside him, with his gun pointing at the Rangers as well.
"There's six of us, and only two of them!" Dax smiled. "We're Power Rangers! Let's do something!"
One guard lowered his gun and approached Will. He held out his hand, waiting for Will to hand over the scrolls.
"Hand it over. You took something that didn't belong to you," he said.
"It doesn't belong to yo-" Kaylee started, but was interrupted when the other guard aimed her gun at her. "Okay... Will, give the nice man his scrolls back."
Will handed over the scrolls and the guard walked back over to his buddy.
"You obviously don't know who we work for!" Mack stated.
"Evidently, you don't know who we work for!" the guard replied.
"Evidently? Who are you, the grammar enforcers?" Kaylee frowned.
Suddenly, one of the guards turned around and the second one lowered his gun as an elderly woman approached them.
"Lady Penelope!" they greeted, standing up straight.
"Enough of this!" Penelope frowned, grabbing the scrolls from her guards. "I'll take the scrolls!"
The guards nodded, and left the woman, heading back to work at the house. Lady Penelope smirked evilly at the Rangers. "Time to end your suffering."
The Rangers exchanged glances, if the old woman wanted to fight; they weren't going to back down. They all put up their fists and got ready to attack.
"Box an old lady, would we?" Lady Penelope asked, putting up her fists. "Then let's do it!"
Lady Penelope and the Rangers shared menacing glares before the old woman bent over laughing. As she straightened herself out, she pulled off a face mask.
"Spencer?" Mack laughed. He knew Spencer was a professional with disguises, but... he never would have guessed his butler was this good!
"Better get these back to the mansion for safekeeping," Spencer smiled, handing the scrolls to Kaylee, whose face was frozen in fear.
"But... Spencer?" Rose asked, unable to find words to ask the butler her question.
"The disguise?" Spencer laughed. "Master Hartford thought you might need a little help. Now, you get back with those scrolls. I'll only slow you down!"
Spencer turned to walk away, stumbling on his high heels. The Rangers laughed at the unfortunate butler, but Spencer couldn't blame them. It must have been pretty funny seeing as sixty-something year old man struggling with heels. He even let out a small chuckle.
-----Operation-Overdrive-----
One the way back to the base, the Rangers were suddenly attacked by a monster.
"Give me the scrolls!" the monster, Ultreg, yelled.
"Fat chance keyhole!" Kaylee laughed, jumping off her ATV and standing ahead of the others. "Ready guys?"
"Ready!"
"OVERDRIVE ACCELERATE!"
Mack leaped into a midair kick and landed no more than a glancing blow against the monster. Behind him, Will jump kicked, but failed to touch Ultreg. Dax tried to kick, punch and sweep the monster's legs out from under him, but Ultreg jumped into the air. Kaylee jumped up with him and tried a punch, but missed. Rose and Ronny tried attacking together, but to no avail.
This time, Ultreg went on the offensive, landing every blow against the Rangers.
Dax was thrown through the air and landed on his stomach. As he tried getting back up, Mira appeared behind the monster.
"DAX! Be careful!" she yelled.
"Get back, Mira!" Dax called, jumping to his feet and running to her, but Ultreg was faster. He grabbed Mira by the arms and held her in front of himself, as a shield.
"Toss me the scrolls if you want to save her!" Ultreg laughed, stopping the fight as the Rangers stood side by side, wondering what to do.
"We don't have a choice," Dax sighed. "Kayl..."
Kaylee was reluctant at first, but she knew the position Dax was in. If it was Dustin in Mira's place, Kaylee would be ready to do anything for him. She gave Dax the two scrolls.
The Blue Ranger walked up to Ultreg and gave him the scrolls. The monster laughed and instead of letting Mira go, he threw her up in the air.
Dax caught Mira before she hit the ground, but was too late to stop Ultreg from running off.
-----Operation-Overdrive-----
On the couch, Dax and Mira were sitting side by side as they got ready for a long conversation. Before he started, Dax reached out and grabbed Mira's hand in his.
"My friends think I'm changing," he said. "They said seeing you is interfering with my job. They think it will eventually jeopardize the mission."
"Maybe they're right... I've become a distraction to you! You know you're up to big things! You're the right guy, but the timing is all off!" Mira sighed, slumping back on the couch.
Dax's heart fluttered when he heard Mira call him the right guy.
"The right guy?"
"You and you're friends have to find those jewels," Mira said, before Dax got the wrong idea. "There's nothing more important than that!"
"Yes there is!" Dax smiled, pulling Mira into a small kiss. "You are! I can do this! My friends will just have to get used to it! We're still going to see each other! I'm just going to make this work!"
Mira smiled, pulling Dax into a warm up.
"Alright, so I'll meet you back here in half an hour?" she asked.
Dax nodded before letting Mira leave.
"AWW!" Kaylee cooed, popping up from behind the couch, with Ducky in her arms. "That was so cute!"
Dax did a double take, before seeing his leader, who had been eavesdropping. "Kaylee! What... but you... huh?"
"Yeah, the others are out in the city, fighting Ultreg," she laughed. "I came in to get you, but I saw you and Mira talking, so I waited."
Dax shook his head and laughed. He heard of how Kaylee was the matchmaker on her previous teams, so it didn't surprise him that she was so interested in his new relationship.
"But um... I'm going to go help the others in the fight," Kaylee said, her voice was now serious as ever. "You coming?"
"Actually, I'm meeting Mira soon... so call if you need help... okay?" Dax answered. Kaylee nodded slowly and ran out to join her friends.
"Kayl... wait!" Dax asked, grabbing her arm before she got too far. "Can I have those passes, before you go?"
Kaylee smiled, pulling two passes out of her pocket and giving them to Dax.
"Please don't make me regret this!" she told him.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
"Dax?" Mira called as she searched the mansion for her boyfriend. She finally found him in Hartford's office. "Half an hour's up! I'm here!"
"Great!" Dax smiled, holding the scroll in his hand. "I've got a surprise for you, just let me take care of this!"
He put the third and final scroll in a wooden box. Mira looked down at the box with interest, but quickly turned her attention back to Dax. He pulled two pieces of paper out from his pocket. Mira gasped and took the papers, while pulling her boyfriend in a hug.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
"Give me the third scroll!" Ultreg yelled as he knocked the last Ranger to the ground. Kaylee finally made it to the fight and stood protectively in front of her friends.
"NEVER!" she yelled.
Mack looked up at his leader and sighed when he noticed Dax wasn't with her. "Where is he?"
Kaylee knew who he was talking about, and looked down at him.
"Three guesses, first two don't count!" she replied.
"Mira..." Mack breathed angrily.
"There's still five of us!" Rose smiled. "Let's get him!"
She and the others got up, and prepared, once again, to fight Ultreg.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
"Passes to see Kira and Kaylee record professionally?" Mira exclaimed, holding the passes in her hands as she pulled away from the hug. "But... how... I thought Kira was in New York?"
"Naw," Dax smiled. "Kaylee told me she just got back after things went south. They're going to work a little more together, and these passes mean we can get passed the body guards!"
"You're the best!" Mira said, pulling Dax in another hug.
A loud beeping interrupted the moment. Dax pulled his tracker off his shoulder and frowned.
"I've just got to take care of some business," he said. "I'll meet you back here tonight. You know the way out?"
Mira nodded and watched as Dax rushed off to help his friends.
"Be careful!" Mira called after him.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
In the middle of fighting Ultreg, a mob of Chillers decided it would be fun to pop up and join the party.
Together, Mack and Will fell back. Mack turned to his friend and sighed heavily, wiping his forehead. "There's too many of them!"
"I have an idea," Will smiled under his helmet. He ran up to Kaylee and whispered something in her ear.
Next thing the Rangers knew, there was a loud ZWOP! And the Chillers were all gone.
"Where did they go?" Rose asked. Kaylee shrugged, before there was another ZWOP!
"Ah shit!" Kaylee groaned, turning back to the fight. She suddenly had another idea... but it was going to take time- a lot of time.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
Back at the mansion, Mira had just opened the wooden bow, and smiled as she pulled out the third and final scroll.
Dax stepped out from behind a mummy coffin, surprising Mira.
"You know, for a while there, I really believed that it was me you wanted," he said.
"Not as much as the sword of Neptune," Mira said casually.
"Didn't I mean anything to you?" Dax asked. His voice betrayed him, showing Mira he was actually heartbroken. It took everything he had not to let a tear fall.
"Ah... no."
"Who are you, Mira?" Dax asked.
There was a faint purple glow as Mira transformed into...
"Miratrix! And you won't stop me! That's the problem with the human heart. It controls everything.... and I control yours," Miratrix laughed, showing Dax out of her path. "Now, out of my way, Blue Ranger."
----Operation-Overdrive-----
After being attacked by Mack, Will and Rose, Ultreg finally landed a hit on Ronny, sending her flying through the air, and landing right in front of Will.
"Still no Dax?" she asked as Will helped her up, holding her steady. Even through his mask, the other could tell Will was enjoying her touch, but it went unnoticed by Ronny.
"No, this is getting ridiculous!" Will frowned.
"Just, keep them off me, guys!" Kaylee called to her friends as she stood behind them. "I've almost got it!"
----Operation-Overdrive-----
"Master Dax," Spencer said, approaching the heartbroken Dax as he played pool. "Might I inquire why you're not out fighting to save the world with the others?"
"They better off without me," Dax sighed, missing his shot with the pool cue. "I messed up everything! Why didn't I see it earlier?"
"See what, sir?" Spencer asked.
"That Mira was not the sweet, innocent girl of my dreams, but a cunning intergalactic warrior who was after the five jewels?"
"Believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel," Spencer smiled, standing next to the young man.
"You do?"
"Oh, don't let this cheery demeanour fool you. My heart has been broken on more than one occasion," Spencer recalled.
"So, how do you get over it?"
"Time. But one thing that will help you now is to rely on your friends. Oh, romances will come and go, but true friends are always there for each other."
"So, who was the girl?" Dax asked, looking up at the butler.
Spencer sighed. "My daughter passed away when she was twenty-one."
"Kaylee, Mack, Will and Ronny's age," Dax noticed. Spencer nodded and smiled.
"Kaylee reminds me of my daughter so much," Spencer smiled. "Hyper, happy, carefree..."
"No offense, Spencer, but I don't think that heartbreak is the same as mine," Dax said.
"When she died, her mother left... we were never married... and I never saw her again."
Dax reached out and put a hand on Spencer's shoulder, squeezing it slightly.
"I'm sorry Spencer," he breathed.
"That was years ago," Spencer smiled. "My heart is healed, but the scars are always there. My friends... my family helped."
Dax nodded before his tracker beeped again.
"Look, I need you to do something for me," he said.
"Certainly, sir."
----Operation-Overdrive-----
The four Rangers were on the ground after once again being knocked down by Ultreg and his Chillers.
"I don't know how much more we can take!" Mack groaned, trying to get back to his feet.
"Wait for it!" Kaylee smiled.
ZWIP!
A green glow surrounded the Chillers, and suddenly, they were all the size of tennis balls. Kaylee bunched them up together and stepped down on them.
"Zwip?" Rose asked, laughing as Kaylee rubbed her shoe on the ground.
"I Zwop to teleport, Zwip to shrink, and Zwoom for time travel... but I can't do the last two unless I use a lot of energy."
As she finished, Kaylee dropped to her knees. Ronny put a hand on her shoulder.
"Then sit this next part out," she smiled.
Miratrix suddenly appeared in a purple cloud of energy, with the third scroll in her hands. Though she had changed drastically, the Rangers still recognised her as Mira.
"Ultreg's absorbed the power of the first two scrolls. Five of you could never stop him!" Miratrix laughed.
"I knew Dax was too good for her!" Ronny growled under her breath.
Dax suddenly ran up, joining the Rangers on the battle field.
"Hey, I'm back and ready to rock!" he smiled.
"Give it up, Rangers. Thanks to Dax, we now have the three scrolls!" Miratrix smiled.
She held up the scroll and signalled to Ultreg. The monster smiled and blasted the Rangers and Kaylee. Dax dove under the explosion and pulled out his weapon.
"DRIVE VORTEX!"
He leaped thought the air and used the Vortex to attack Ultreg. Just as he finished, Mack, Rose, Ronny and Will blasted at Ultreg with their Defenders.
Finally, all at once, the five Rangers each hold out their defenders and aim for Ultreg.
"Let's pick this lock's pockets!" Mack called.
"NO! They cheesy lines start again!" Kaylee whined, slamming her fists on the ground as she watched the fight.
"FIRE!" Mack yelled, ignoring Kaylee and ordering his team to finish off the lock monster.
A blast destroys Ultreg, allowing the Rangers time to celebrate.
"Right in the keyhole!" Mack laughed.
"Seriously?" Kaylee giggled, getting up and running to her friends. A strong wind caught the Ranger's attention as Ultreg grew into the regular jumbo monster Kaylee's seen thousands of times.
"YAY, my first Zord fight!" Kaylee smiled, pumping her fists in the air.
"Kaylee, return to base," Spencer's voice said over the trackers.
"What? Why?" Kaylee frowned. "I understand last time."
"Back to Base, Kaylee Ann!"
----Operation-Overdrive-----
Kaylee was muttering something under her breath as she joined Spencer and Hartford in the base and watched the fight.
"Why couldn't I play with my friends?" she asked the butler.
"After the power you used?" Spencer asked. "I wouldn't let you morph, never mind fight in a Megazord battle!"
"You worry too much," Kaylee smirked. "But promise I can fight next time?"
"Promise," Spencer smiled, holding out his pinky. Kaylee shook it with her pinky as she bounced happily.
"It's a fake? Dax you tricked me!" Miratrix said on the computer.
"That's my cue... um, Kaylee, do you mind?" Spencer asked, turning to the blonde.
"Be careful, Spencer," Hartford said before Kaylee zwopped him to the fight, and stayed behind.
Once again, Kaylee sunk to the ground. Thinking she was going to be okay, Hartford didn't pay much attention to it.
----Operation-Overdrive-----
When the Rangers got back, along with Spencer and the three scrolls, Will put his arm around Dax's shoulder.
"I'm sorry for doubting you, Dax," he said. "I guess we all are."
"Hey, if it weren't for you guys keeping my eyes open, I might never have figured her out," Dax smiled, holding the third scroll close.
"What gave her away?" Ronny asked.
"For one, the only time I saw that monster, was when she was around!"
"But that's not much to go on," Rose pointed out. "That could be luck, or a coincidence, or..."
"But then she let it slip that she knew we were looking for the jewels. I never told her," Dax said.
"Ah," Will smiled.
"I'm sorry guys. I never meant to get side tracked like that," Dax apologised.
"I can't blame you. She was hot! Evil, but hot!" Will smiled.
"Wouldn't that make her even hotter?" Ronny asked. Rose turned to the older girl and frowned. "On top of having a sister... I also had five brothers... I know what turns boys on... sadly."
"Alright," Dax smiled, opening his scroll and laying it down on the table with the others. "Let's check out this sword!"
Rose smiled, lining up the scrolls. In a flash of light, they turned into a sword. Rose lifted it up, and saw the spot where the jewel was supposed to be was empty.
"The jewels gone!" she frowned. "Now what?"
Suddenly, the sword started to glow. It flew out of Rose's hands and stopped on a map on the wall, nearly hitting Kaylee in the head on its way there. The blonde ducked as she entered the room, then turned to where the sword landed.
"Anybody ever been to St, Lucia in the Caribbean?" she asked.