Twice Chosen
Rogue-Angel82
The two figures stood across the room from each other in silent observation. Not quiet enemies, and most defiantly not friends but something in between, a comrade of circumstances. Jordan had allowed Marcus to stand after stressing the point that she was not there for a fight. The blond vampire had moved to stand a short distance away, watching the pink ranger with an air of curiosity and…amusement.
"You wish an alliance of some sort," Marcus stated summing up her offers, "Intriguing I must admit. However how am I to know you will honour this?"
The pink ranger glowered at him, as best as her helmet would allow. "How do I know you will?!"
"A compromise." Marcus stated joyfully, "I give you something, and I get something in return."
By now Jordan was full out glaring at him, Marcus throw his head back and laughed. "My aren't you delicious." He commented, "Though I must ask something. How is it a creature the you came into existence?" He moved slowly towards her, reminding Jordan of those big cats she saw on the wildlife channel.
"A quirk of fate," Jordan stated.
"Hmmm," the blond vampire reached out a hand to run it just past her helmet and over her shoulder, not quiet touching. His hand came to hover just over her wrist. He left the fine hairs on the back of his hand rise at the feeling of dark tainted energy.
"It seems you and I have something in common."
#SC#
Marcus stepped him closer, his larger frame towering over the pink ranger. He lower his head slightly towards her, and sniffed.
"Blissfully dark," he commented with is exhale. His smile slipped as quickly as it arrived, "An aura a back alley magician could put together, you'll have to do better than that."
Fury snapped in Jordan's stomach, as lunged forward fist flying, straight over Marcus's shoulder as he dodged the blow. He responded with a swift punch to Jordan exposed stomach. Jordan jerk, even throw her armoured skin she felt that blow.
Gagging, it only took a moment for the power to rebalance her. She dropped suddenly moving to sweep him off his feet. Marcus jumped to move, before blocking the round house she threw at him. She dropped this time managing to catch his legs, he landed on his back laughing.
"You've got some fight in you Ranger I'll give you that," He said finally rolling to his feet. "But I'd know those moves anywhere. You've had slayer training."
"So a bad-ass Slayer, becomes a bad-ass Ranger, then decides to come play with the big bad." He laughed again shaking his head in amusement. "Oh this might be fun. She tell me little Ranger Slayer, or Slayer Ranger –which ever you prefer-, how is it that some one chosen by two powers of good ends up running to the other team with a power source full of dark energy?"
The pink ranger titled her head to one side, even though he could not see through the dark reflective lenses of her helmet Marcus knew she was glaring at him.
"What. Do. You. What" Jordan questioned through clenched teeth.
Flashing a smile Marcus lent in close, "I just want to meet the girl behind to mask is all."
Jordan spun on her heel and walked away.
"Oh come now," Marcus called out after her, "You need my help admit it." His smile turned slightly predatory "How else are you going to find to missing energy of your power source?"
Jordan paused turning back to stare at the grinning vampire. Marcus snapped his fingers. The air behind him shimmered as a cloak figure bleed into existence.
"My own personal Shaman," Marcus introduced, "Zor-Rok, evil pink ranger, evil pink ranger, Zor-Rok."
"You violated our agreement!"
"Uh uh uh," Marcus corrected, "You said everyone out. Zor-Rok was technically never in."
A series of hums and vibrations seemed to echo through the air. It took Jordan a moment to realise it was coming from the cloaked figure. The sound rose and twisted, rippling around them before vanishing completely leaving behind a heavy silence.
"Zor-Rok is good at sensing energy," Marcus informed, "Yours beautifully corrupted as it is. Is missing some. This is what I offer in return for our alliance. Though truthfully I have no idea why I am interested in an alliance with a ranger. But you bring with you such splendid possibilities." He tilted his head at her, "All I ask is a sign of good will. But if you've worried about us finding out who you our. I could find out if I wanted to."
#SC#
Jordan weighed her options, she did need his help in finding the missing peace of her gem. And if he was telling the truth, and she had a feeling he was, find her unmorphed and unaware would not be to hard with the use of his pet shaman.
"Power down," the words were barely audible through clenched teeth. In a flash was un-morphed and standing before the vampire in her civilian cloths.
"No that's more like it," Marcus nodded approvingly. "So what do you bring us with your half of the partnership?"
Jordan thought a moment, before a slow grin twisted her lips.
"How 'bout the location and defences of slayer bases?" She smirked, "Main those of the New York Headquarters."
#SC#
The command centre was quiet, lit only by dull lighting. There was no movement between the stone pillars. The only sound in the silence was the faint clicking of a computer keyboard. Hayley sat at the command console working dutifully, her attention spit between the monitor before her and Tommy sitting moodily besides her. The appearance of another evil Ranger had been a shock to the whole them, but none it seemed more so than Tommy. Perhaps it was the fact it was an evil Pink Ranger that had shook him up.
In Tommy's past experience the Pink Ranger had always been a person of deep caring and often the heart of the team. But to see this figure now a vicious enemy…
But Hayley knew there was more to it then that, the arrival of this new Pink Ranger seemed to coincide with the sudden appearance of the original Pink Ranger. Tommy was busy trying to figure out wether or not such appearances were coincidences or if Kimberly Hart was the person behind the Pink helmet.
Footsteps approaching caught her attention as she glanced over her shoulder, out of the corner of her eye she saw Tommy mirror the movement. Connor approached them slowly shoulder slumped and hands shoved in his pockets.
"Hey," Tommy greeted dully.
"Hey," was the monotone reply.
"What's the matter?"
"It's…" The Red Ranger shook his head, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"It's Jordan," a new voice stated, as Kira made her way across the room, "She's been acting funny."
"Funny?" Tommy echoed, "Funny how?"
"Distracted," Ethan supplied as he join the conversation, "She's missed a couple of days of school, and when she is there she seems like she's not really there. She was rude to Kira and Connor when they tried to talk to her."
Tommy nodded his head deep in thought, Kimberly was Jordan's guardian if anything happened to Kim it would surely effect Jordan.
"You guys had only luck finding the missing piece?" Kira questing to bring them all back the business. The issue of Jordan would have to wait.
"Actually," Hayley said in a strange tone, they turned to see her staring at a monitor. "I think you guys might be just in time." She pointed at the screen showing a satellite image of Reefside, with an area highlighted a flashing red, and the words.
"Energy Source Detected."
#SC#
By the time the Rangers got out to the site dawn had already begin lighting the horizon in a burning glow. Stars over head faded as the inky blackness of night gave way to clear blue.
One by one the Rangers made there way down the hidden bush track. Connor led weaving his way through the dense woods, pushing branches out of way and sidestepping snares. Ethan followed close sticking to the same path Connor tread, unfortunately get whacked by the branches as they snapped back in place.
Kira followed shortly after, with Trent right behind her. Tommy pulled up last.
"Watch your foot guys," He instructed, as their path steepened, "You can trip easy here," as if to prove his point his feet gave under him. He caught himself on and tree and straighten. Adjusting his clothing he said, "See what I mean… Just proving a point."
Dawn had past before they can to clearing. Together they stood staring out at the scene before them.
"This the place?" Kira questioned.
"These are to coordinates Hayley gave us." Ethan conformed.
Before them woods suddenly meet a rocky ledge, that sloped down to an expanse of water. A tall waterfall stood a one side, surrounded by trees and moss covered rocks.
"Crash site," Tommy guessed, "Must likely as meteor." The once scarred surface of the earth was now embraced by nature. The gorge was full of plants, and the song of birds.
Together they moved down the rocky slope to stand at the waters edge. "I think we're going to have to split up," Tommy stated. Nodding their agreement the team separated making their way around the rocky edge. It wasn't long before Tommy called out from near the waterfall. "There's a cave behind the fall," He called over the roar of water, "Connor come on, you're with me."
With a moody roll of his eyes the red clad teenager, slowly made his way up and around to their teacher. Grimacing at the feel of moss and mud under his hands as he climbed.
As the two disappeared on the narrow ledge behind the waterfall, Kira turned and made her way in the other direction. The incline steepened, and the way narrowed ahead of her until a path all but disappeared. Still Kira moved along, carefully hoping from rock to rock, when slipping landed her thigh deep in water. Water flooded around her legs, the weigh pulling at her jeans. With a huff and a roll of the eye, she moved on slushing through the water.
"Come on," She called over her shoulder to Ethan and Trent, "If I have to get wet so do you."
#SC#
It was damp, dark and cool behind the waterfall. The only sound the roar of the water, and the background drip of small puddles. Tommy and Connor split up both walking the walls on opposite sides of the cave. Searching for anything, any hint of anything. When a strange sound came to them, it rippled through the air like a vibration. It closed in around them, causing the fine hairs on the back of their necks to stand on end.
They glanced at each other to prove that they had both heard it.
#SC#
The air hummed as the sound echoed over the roar of the water. Slowly Kira back up the water level rising to her chest, but she didn't notice, she was to busy searching for the source of the sound. Before back brush a rock reaching back with one arm she steadied herself on it, as she slowly turned searching across the water. Her arm brushed something, both hard and soft at the same time, and wholly unnatural. At a snail's pace she twisted, looked back, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
It was a boot, pink with black trim. Slowly she lifted her head her gaze moving up the leg and body attacked to it. Until finally she found herself looking up at the Pink Ranger.
"Kira!" She heard Trent shout and knew the others had spotted the new arrival. Crouching down suddenly the Pink Ranger had a hand around Kira's neck, half pulling her from the water.
"Hey!" A stone bounced of the Pink Rangers side. Kira could see out the corner of her eye, Ethan reaching to scope up another rock as Trent raced towards them.
The evil Ranger stood of quickly Kira gasped in surprise as she was wrenched from the water, only to cry out as following the movement she throw Kira. Airborne for a second Kira landed somewhere in the middle of the water.
#SC#
Tommy and Connor glanced at each other again, before continuing their search. Both for the piece of broken gem and for the source of the sound they had both heard. When the COM unit burst to life, as Ethan's cry sent them both into a flurry of movement.
"The Pink Ranger's here!"
#SC#
The water rushed around her, pushing at her and flooding her nose. Kira twisted upright preparing to surface, when a faint glow caught her attention. It seemed dull under water but Kira could clearly make out it source.
Swimming down she came across a gorge in the bottom rock. Along the edge could she make out the outline of a creatures skeleton, the fossilised bones ran the length of the rock before extending out from the rock to a claw, cupped upwards as if holding an offering. It was the source of the glow. Moving closer, her curiosity overcoming her building need for air. Kira realised something.
She's found the piece of the pink gem.
#SC#
Ethan and Trent begun backing away from the morphed Ranger as taunting made her way towards them. She was steps away when she froze before swinging to look back out over the water, just as Kira broke the surface gasping for air.
"Guys!" she shouted swimming for the waters edge, as the Pink Ranger advanced on her along the rocks.
"What?" Ethan called, before everything clicked in his mind. It was the only explanation to the evil Ranger reaction. "You found it!"
"Yeah," Kira called brandishing her find.
After spotting her prize the Ranger became even more incensed, and focussed on Kira. Which is why a sudden kick to the side was enough to knock her to the ground surprised. She found herself looking up at a fully morphed Black Ranger.
Keeping his attention on the down Ranger before him, Tommy spoke to his team. "Guys get out of here."
Rinsing to her feet the Pink Ranger glanced at Kira, "Don't go far." She then turned to face her new opponent, "Your in my way." She commented.
"Yes," The Black Ranger agreed, "Right where I'll always be, between you and them."
"With me," The new voice caught her attention, she found the Rad Ranger standing just beyond.
"Then I guess I'll have to move you both." With that she was moving.
#SC#
The red Chevy Impala pealed around the pillar of the underground car park, the squeal of tires echoing around the empty cavernous space. The car speed down another level, shocks bouncing as the ramp levelled out. With a sharp move the car turned suddenly, spinning out sideways the come to a stop across a row of empty parks.
The driver's door was open before the engine was even switched off, then the only sound in the place was that of pounding footsteps. Faith moved like a person on a mission, as she crossed the sub parking area of the New York Slayer headquarters.
She new that over a dozen sensors, magical and other had detected her approach. As while as her mad hat driving. However she couldn't summon the need to care. Not with things the way they were.
Faith slowing her footstep, glanced around subtlety sensing the presence of a vampire near by. Though Faith had an idea of who it was, with only two vampires in the world were able to get inside the building without every warning system going off, Faith knew it was better to be safe then dead.
Turning around, it was the smell of cigarette and leather that told her she had guessed right.
"Spike," She greeted, now fully facing the blonde vampire.
"Hey pet," he returned flicking a cig bud away it with black painted nails. Faith watched it bounce off, sparking into the darkness.
"What do you want?" She questioned, turning away to continue her walk to the HQ entrance.
"Just wanted to know what had you all wound?" Spike questioned falling into step besides her.
"I've spent the last few weeks going through Council created red tap." Faith stated, "I've been trying to track down Kim. I know they sent her out to the new Hellmouth, but they won't tell me where."
"Why not get red to locate it?"
"Coz she can't, she tried," Faith informed, "Said there was something blocking her."
"Look your not gonna go up there and make a big fuss are you?"
"So what if I am?" Faith pulled up to look at him.
Spike shuffled his feet, looking slightly like a little boy –an undead little boy-. "I'd want to help is all."
Smirking Faith started off again. "I just want to find K is all."
#SC#
The Pink Ranger cleared Tommy's head in a flying summersault, landing behind him she lashed out a spinning backhand a Connor's helmet before flipping up and over the rocky ledge. With one glance at each other, the Red and Black Rangers followed.
Tommy was greeted with the powerful kick to the stomach before her fully landed. He was knocked back, and by the time he was back on his feet and moving the Pink and Red Rangers were already trading blows. The evil Ranger caught hold of Connors arm, directing him towards a near by tree. Inside of slamming into it, like the Pink Ranger had intended. Connor used their momentum, to run lightly up to tree and flip off it. She started after him again.
"You don't have to do this," Connor stated, holding his hands up in a pleading manner, "We can help you."
"But I having so much fun," The Pink Ranger replied, her voice practically oozing evil intent.
As she moved toward in again she was instead confronted by a blurred black blow. She blocked the move, taking a step back, as for the first time since her attacks started. The Pink Ranger was forced into the defence. Tommy's attack was obviously move then she expected.
Putting some distance between herself and the Black Ranger, she dropped into low attack stance. Unaware that as she fought, her moves were being assessed. Tommy watched her as she moved, feeling his stomach drop at her achingly familiar form. Kimberly moves defiantly, new and refined, but her flare. The style was almost the same, different yes from what he remembered, but still similar.
However there was a new deadly aspect to the moves, not just to slow or stop. Each blow was a move to kill.
#SC#
The main Slayer centre was exactly as she remembered it. A blend of old and new. Communication consols lined one wall along with the computer systems. A massive selection of books sat opposite. Ancient tomes of magic and demons. It resembled the old Sunnydale Library in some ways, just a lot more high tech. Faith remembered when she was stationed her, how Kimberly had like to sit at the computers watching the monitors and the computer trained Watches went about here work. She had said it reminded her somehow of her past.
"Faith? Good lord." It was the predicted response, so Faith smiled.
"Hey G." She greeted moving forward to stake his hand.
"How are you?"
After the typical greetings were said and done, Giles moved to business.
"What are you doing here?"
"Willow felt the opening of the Hellmouth. We knew the council would send someone, and we figured they send K." Faith explained, "I was going to come and give her a hand, I thought she might need it, especially with the council. But I can't find where the sent her."
"You can't?" Giles frowned, "Couldn't Willow…"
Faith explained the witch's problem location the Hellmouth.
"God lord," He said for the second time that day reaching up to polish his glasses. "Well I do believe she might need your help after all I seems, from both the monsters of the Hellmouth and from those in the council."
#SC#
It was growing boring for her, the whole fight. Jordan dodge another blow and sent out one of her own. The Red Ranger was knocked away and Jordan jumped back, weaving a series of attacks that had the Black Ranger moving back. She leapt at him, in a flying kick. The black Ranger dodged rolling out of the way, as Jordan flow over his shoulder. One foot landed on a tree behind her intended target, she twisted midair pulling her leg to another tree leaving her balanced between to trees.
With a quick move she pulled her legs together and pushed off a tree flipping backwards. Landing she produced her sword, flipping the blades around.
"You guys are so boring." She stated, slicing one of the blades through the surrounding trees. There was a groan and they fall as one, towards the Black and Red Rangers. By the time they had managed to free themselves from the mess of branches and leaves the Pink Ranger was gone.
#SC#
"Reefside" Faith read from the computer monitor. "What is it with sunny small towns and Hellmouths?" She pushed back away from the table and lent back in her chair. "It sure as hell isn't for helping the Vamps work on the tans."
"Are you going to head there now?" Giles questioned?
"Yeah sure," Faith said, "Need some action. 'sides nothing ever happens here."
Just as she finished speaking a siren like call went through the building as light flared, indication the magical barriers had been broken.
"Spoke to soon."
#SC#
Tommy and Connor reached the crest of a hill, over looking the valley and the small dirt track they had found on the way there. Tommy's car was still parked there, with Kira, Trent and Ethan standing beside it.
"Kira what are you still doing here?" Tommy questioned in the COM. "I told you to get that gem piece out of here."
Her response was had him rolling his eyes. "You have the car keys."
Tommy looked to the Ranger beside him, Connor just shrugged. "Power Down," Tommy stated and together they unmorphed and ran down the hill to meet the others.
They all piled into the car the moment Tommy got there, just as they did a row of trees next to them were wiped out by a blast wave. Glancing as one at the damage then across the road they all water as the Pink Ranger appeared between the trees, her double bladed sword gleaming in hand.
Realising in vulnerable position they were in, Tommy revved the engine to life even as Connor called "GO GO GO!"
They burnt off down the road dust and stones flying, and before long the Pink Ranger was out of sight.
Meanwhile Jordan stood in the centre of the road watching, as the dust cloud settled around her, the disappearing speck of the get away car. As she stood dead still the air around her started the hum as a ripple appeared just behind her. Zor-Rok reached out slowly placing a wraith like hand on Jordan's shoulder and together they vanished.
TBC
A/N: I hope that makes up for me not updating. I hope you enjoyed it, and please tell me what you think.
P.S Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year.