TWICE CHOSEN

RogueAngel82

It was the morning after Jordan had rushed from the house, and Kimberly had her first moments with Tommy in what seemed a lifetime, and still the caramel haired slayer had yet to see her young charge. It was not uncommon for the girl to be out most of the night, her calling as a slayer dictating a nocturnal life. However the morning had moved on, and Kim had yet to see any sign of her fellow slayer, she begun to worry.

Feeling very much like the worried parent that paces the house in concern for a child, Kimberly was doing just that pacing. The sudden knock on the door, caused her to gasp in shock, then hold her breath in anticipation.

"Jordan…" She managed to say as she reached for the door, swing in open wide she was greeted by a sight that she hadn't seen in years but had been in her dreams many nights.

Her friends.

She suddenly was in the arms of a crying, shaking, rambling yellow clad females. Trini Kwan stepped back to observe her oldest friend.

"Oh Kim…" She said softly, reaching up to wipe her tears away.

"Wha…" Was all Kimberly could get out, as the other woman clinging to her stepped back also; Aisha Campbell continued to hold her grasp on the ex-pink ranger's shoulders.

"Hey girl," she said before stepping back to reveal those standing behind her. Rocky DeSantos and Adam Park stood smiling before each pulling her into a hug. She managed a startled 'Oof' as Rocky's hug pulled her clear off the floor. After their greeting those two also stood back revealing the final face on her door step.

"Kim." Jason Lee Scott stood before her, the sight of her adoptive 'brother' was enough to almost push her into sobs, but she managed to stand firm as twin tracks of tears made their way down her cheeks.

"Oh my god."

"KIM!" With that he launched himself at her, as Kim met him halfway. Wrapping him in a hug that would have been punishing with her slayer strength, however Jason didn't seem to mind. Final he let her go, and stepped back. She took the moment to gather herself.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Wait…wait," Rocky chided softly, "There's one more."

"Huh..." She turned to her drive way, to watch a figure all but fall out of the newly arrived car. Smile breaking out, she watched as Billy Cranston made his hurried way towards her.

"Kim," He said, hugging her, "I can as soon as I heard that they found you."

"What!"

"I called the others as soon as we found out where you where," Jason admitted, smiling, "They all wanted to come."

"But you couldn't have waited for me?" Billy stated giving Jason a look.

"Well Zack wanted to be here, but he has a music deal in New York, he did give us a message." Trini explained.

"Oh…?"

"Yeah he said, 'tell "her" that if she ever pulls a disappearing stunt like that again. That I'm gonna hunt her to the ends of the earth.' And that's ditto from us all."

Kimberly gave a soppy giggle, whipping fresh tears from her face. Feeling for once, she was glad her friends had found her. She was thankful that Jordan, had giving them her address.

#SC#

"Can I or can't I morph!"

The questioned seemed to echo of the cavern walls, the tone carrying an almost imperialistic quality.

"You can," Elsa stated with a voice patience, she did not feel. "However the power of the gem is not enough to maintain a constant connection to the morphing grid."

"What do you mean?" Jordan looked up from or observation of her new gem encrusted bracelet, to glare up at the henchmen.

"You can morph but only for limited times and not often." Elsa explained, crossing to the computers.

"Damn!" Jordan hissed, "I have to find the rest of this gem!"

"Yes." Elsa stated in a bland tone.

"Well I guess it's time to make an entrance." Jordan's mode like mercury quickly changed. She moved into a stance, that seemed to come from somewhere in her instincts.

"DINO THUNDER POWER UP!"

#SC#

The peaceful morning was shaken as a horde of Tyrannodrones, moved down the street attacking anyone they passed. Property was destroyed, cars exploded into fireballs, and all that was left were smoking ruins. But the sight that was most disturbing was the sight of a lone ranger walking down the center of the street midst the chaos. Clad head to toe, in skin tight pink armor with black diamonds lined down her arms and sides. The clawed foot print on her chest showed her connection to the Dino Thunder team. She turned her head to taken in the damage, flames dancing across the dark lens of her visor.

"Let's have some fun."

#SC#

"I hate having to rely on a ranger," Mesogog hissed his words hung in the stillness. His gravelly voice was enough to make the bravest of the brave shudder. "But they seem to be the only ones to get the job done" said Mesogog as he made a sound that was halfway between a sign and a growl.

"Yes My lord." Elsa stated, after the pink ranger had left she had teleported back to her masters lair; where Mesogog had ordered his foot soldiers to follow the newly made evil ranger. While they sat back and watched the show, "She still has yet to tell us her secrets."

"Oh she will…" Mesogog stated, "Now, let's see how my new pet handles the situation."

#SC#

They had been on their way to school, when the signal of an attack came in. The Dino Thunder team gathered together and headed across town. They found themselves in what was a shopping court yard; cafes and shops surround them on split levels. Seconds upon arriving they were attacked by a swarm of Tyrannodrones.

"Hey guys," The red ranger stated, blocking an attacking before sending out a kick that knocked two of his assailants away. "Looks like there was a party, and we weren't invited."

"Oh no," a new voice said, "You were invite alright, and you're right on time."

As one the rangers turned to face their new treat but nothing prepared them for what they were about to see. Standing before them, seemingly without a care in the world in the middle of all the damage was a pink ranger.

"What?" The Blue Ranger uttered shaking his head, "Who...who are you!"

"Aliquant as ever I see," said the Pink Ranger. "Let's see who we have here. Well well well, Red, blue, and cute little yellow one."

"Hey! Look who's talking!" Kira snapped.

"I'm a new breed of pink." The new Ranger stated, spreading her arms, "And I'm taking you all down."

With that she launched herself at them with an impressive show of agility. One second she was in front of them, and the next she was behind them sending out a sweeping kick that sent Kira and Ethan spinning to the ground. She snapped out three kicks in quick succession at the red Ranger, one to the head, the chest and stomach, each one of them were blocked. Before throwing a leaping roundhouse, which connected painfully with Conner's helmet. The force sending him flipping legs over head to land on his shoulders. She backed off, dropping into a low fighting stance.

"Ok you're fast…" she stated, before leaping forward again, "I can deal with that."

She throw a punch at the recovered Blue ranger, before noticing Yellow approaching, she planted a hand on his shoulder forcing him to his knees before using him as a platform to kick out at Kira. Ethan recovered quickly before grabbing her hand and twisted sending her into a spin. Yet somehow she managed get her feet under her, landing lightly, before reversing their hand grip and pulling the same move on him. He land painfully on his side. The pink ranger gave Ethan a sharp kick to his stomach, sending him sliding backwards. His team mates gathered round him, helping him up.

"Damn she strong." The Blue ranger stated, clutching his battered stomach.

"Ok," Connor said, stepping forward. He called forth his Tyranno Staff, and watched as Ethan summoned the Tricera Shield and Kira her Ptera Grips. "I dare you to try that again!"

The pink Ranger hardly seemed impressed as she dropped into a stance. "Have it your way," she taunted. "Trano Destroyer!" she called and a duel bladed staff appeared in her hands, shinning silver and pink. Flipping the blade end over end, she moved forward quickly. In a flowing movement she swung it up, to knock Connors staff back, across to push Ethan's shield to the side, and down to move aside Kira's Ptera grips. Arching over backwards, she swept the blade over her catching each of the Rangers exposed chests. Sparks flow as her high velocity blade hit their armor skin, throwing them backwards.

"Guys I think we need back up," Ethan panted pushing himself up as he watched the pink ranger stork towards them.

"Agreed," Connor said reluctantly, he turned to Kira, "You call the others, and we'll keep her busy."

"We'll what!" Ethan clearly didn't like that plan.

"Come on," Connor said before rushing forward.

As Kira made quick work of summoning Trent and Doctor O. Connor and Ethan moved to meet the new Ranger. Blow for blow, the red ranger managed to block the attacks, even managed to get in a full of his own, which were quickly counted. She swung the blade around, only to have it stopped by Ethan's shield. He forcefully shoved her weapon aside, and refusing to let go of the blade, she was knocked back. Back flipping without even putting her hands on the ground, before jumping backwards. With an aerial roll she landed on the railing of the second story, staring down at them in a mocking way.

A cry and the sound of something falling over caught their attention and turning as if one, they spotted a group of people hiding behind the remains, of a coffee shop. The pink ranger raised her staff in front of her vertically. The highest blade gave off a sharp pink pulse, before she swung the blade towards the civilians.

Guess or knowing what was going to happening, the ranger team at once turned to her shouting. "NO!"

Too late however, as a sudden wave of pink energy arched out, hitting the shop front causing the window to explode out, and the wall the crumble and fall. Trent and Ethan were already running, grabbing people to pull them to safety. Kira having replaced her Ptera grips with her laser, started firing up at the pink ranger. Who lurched herself into a series of back flips to avoid the shots. It was then that she noticed the new arrives, standing side by side, the white and black ranger.

"Well, well, well," The pink ranger called down, "Looks like we're all here." She stood slowly from her crouch, putting her arms up in her familiar stance. She noticed just then the strange flicking of her morpher, and the feeling of weakness fluctuating throughout her body. Dropping her stance as quickly as she assumed it; she quickly disappeared through a portal, but her final works hung in the air.

"I'll deal with you later."

#SC#

Even though they were sore and achy from their run in with the evil pink ranger, the team had been unable to talk their science teacher out off driving them back to school. They gathered together when they had a spare moment, in the science room, to talk to Doctor O.

"It was quiet freaky," Kira admitted, "No scary, the way she attacked those people without even caring, and how she threw us around."

"I didn't think pink rangers could be that strong," Connor sighed.

Tommy shook his head, "Classic pink ranger deception," he stated, "They look all cute and innocent but…."

"We won't make that mistake twice then." Ethan said, shaking his head.

"I wonder how she is," Kira thought aloud, "And how she was 'turned'."

"We'll figure it out," Trent assured, rubbing Kira's arm gently. "Everything turned out okay with me, it will again."

Suddenly the class room door burst open, and a group of student froze. "Oh sorry," the front one said, "We...err…just wanted to use the T.V." As one of the other students had all ready moved to turn on the television.

Cassidy Cornell face filled the screen, giving the Reef Side High news update.

"In other news….Though considered a strong fighter but widely regarded as the weakest of the power rangers. The pink ranger is often a person of kindness and compassion. This new pink however is anything but that." The screen changed to a brief shot of footage of the fight that morning, "After attacking a number of civilians and destroying property this pink clad terror took on the other rangers…and won!"

The screen flicked back the Cassidy's face, as she rapped up the story. "Who is this new force? What does she want? We are going to find out!" with that she signed off

"Oh Cass what are you doing." Ethan moaned.

#SC#

Kimberly sat with her friends for the first time, in what had felt like forever. It was strange really, like she hadn't complete realized how much she missed them until this moment. She let her gaze drift from one to the other, soaking in the differences and the similarities to the people she knew in her memory.

They all looked the same, a little older maybe but weren't they all. Their faces had filled out in maturity as the soft lines of youth had given way to the sharp lines of adults. Their eyes shone with the experience of life, not just of battles. And she had missed it, missed their growth. Trini had kept her hair long, as had Aisha. Adam's was shorter, as was Rocky's and Jason's. "So much the same, yet so different" she thought to herself.

Kimberly then excused herself, heading for the kitchen. Opening the fridge to remove the milk for coffee, she closed the door. Only to jump at the sight of someone standing there who hadn't been there before.

Jordan

"Where have you been?" Kimberly explained, recovering from the fright.

"Around" Was the short reply.

"I was worried."

"You shouldn't have been."

"I know….are you alright Jordan?" Kim looked her friend up and down, as if waiting for a sign to pop up or something. She frowned as she took in Jordan's, new outfit. Black tank top covered in splashes of pink, as if someone had taken to it with flicks of paint. Ripped jeans finished the look.

"Fine…" Jordan stated, before titling her head slightly. "Who are those people in the living room?" she asked as her eyes narrowed.

"Friends…My old friends" Kim said softly, a little put off by the strange look in Jordan's eyes. "You were right I shouldn't have turn my back on them when I…Where are you going?"

Jordan moved off towards the back door. "I have to go to school."

"Oh I'll see you when you get back?" said Kim. The only answer she got was the slamming of the door.

#SC#

"Jordan!" The dark haired girl kept walking ignorant of the fact someone was calling her name. She was brought to a stop as Kira stepped in front of her.

"Are you ok?" The blond asked concerned.

"What do you want?" asked Jordan curtly.

"Oh," Kira blinked at the suddenly cold tone in Jordan's voice, "I was just…wondering if you were alright?"

"Ask me if I care really." She moved around the shell shocked Kira, only to be pulled to a stop as Connor caught her arm.

"Don't touch me." Jordan stated blandly, shaking off the grip before walking off down the corridor."

"What was that?" Ethan questioned as he came up.

"Kira!" Connor called after the girl as she ran off, upset.

#SC#

"I was able to run a scan on the energy the pink ranger was using" said Hayley from her seat in front of a computer in the Ranger base. "It's defiantly been corrupted. And I don't think there is anything I can do to reverse it. However that's not what I wanted to tell you." She paused as if thinking of a way the explain it. "The energy it's…not all there."

"What do you mean?" Tommy questioned pausing in his pacing behind her. Hayley turned to look at him.

"I don't think the gem is complete," She informed. "It's lacking the energy of the other whole gems. It's the only theory I can come up with but it fits."

"What are the side effects?"

"Unknown, it's unbalanced. Possibly how it was corrupted"

"Different from Trent," Tommy said.

"Different scenario." Hayley conformed.

"Well what do we do?"

"Well… if you can find the rest of the gem. I might be able to find a way to map the energy, trace it. And if we're lucky, stop it."

TBC