God Only Knows Chapter 4: So It Begins, a power rangers fanfic

God Only Knows
Chapter 4: So It Begins
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Started: May 28, 2010
Finished: July 29, 2010

Summary: The hardest part of faith is the last hour. - David Wilkerson
Rating: M
Characters: Kim, Adam, Tommy, Jason

Author's Note: Okay, so, this story is going to be a departure from some of the other stories I've done over the years, but in some ways, this story involves the one character I like to think I know best in the entire PR universe. This is not going to be a story returning the Rangers as we know them back to the way they were in the good 'ol days. The Rangers in this story have lives, real lives, and they're going through real, everyday experiences and for one of those Rangers, it means discovering what she's really made of. Life has not been kind, nor will it be in this story. What this is, above all else, is a journey of self discovery, of finding who you are and what you're made of, and in the end, it's learning that in each of us, there's the power, no matter how vast or how small, to change the world.

Special Thanks: Shawn, thank you for listening to me plot and plan, and for giving me tips when you felt I needed it. Ang thanks for the enthusiasm and support. Enigma thank you so much for the constant faith in my work. Liz, my dear, thanks for being such a sweetheart! And last but not least, Rapunzl, thank you for the wonderful balance, the quiet strength, and the unwavering belief in me you give. You five don't know how much I appreciate it all, or how much you've enriched my life simply by being who you are. As Shawn once said, thank you doesn't seem enough. I love you works best

Please Visit http : / www . valhallaboard . com / forum / (without the spaces) - this is the multi-fandom message board I co-run with the five people in my "Special Thanks" section.

gok

I feel so alone,
Can't seem to find my out of this low?
No, it don't seem right
I didn't have a chance to say goodbye.

In this silent space,
I close my eyes I can hear you say
That it's alright,
But my world's such an empty place tonight.
Cause I know that,
It's all part of life.

I wish I had the chance to say goodbye,
Yeah I still miss you.
So hard to see through the tears I've cried.
Yeah, I still need you.
Cause I don't want to,
If I don't have to ever let you go.
The longest I'll hold on... God only knows.

As the time goes by,
It gets a little easier to smile.
I know I'll never forget
Everything that you said.
You said it's alright,
It's all part of life.

And the lights above you will never fade if you keep looking up
Right around there is a better place if you believe in love.
Cause I know that, it's all part of life.

I wish I had the chance to say goodbye, yeah I still miss you.
So hard to see through the tears I've cried.
Yeah, I still need you.
Cause I don't want to, if I don't have to ever let you go.
The longest I'll hold on, the longest I'll hold on.
The longest I'll hold on... God only knows.
God only knows.
Ya, God only knows.
God only knows.
~~ Orianthi, God Only Knows ~~

gok

7:30 A.M.
Sunday
May 3, 2009
Emerald Dawn Martial Arts Academy
91495 Falcon Crest Ave
Angel Grove, CA

Yawning, his hands wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee, Adam watched one of his long time friends assault the punching bag set up in the corner of the main room of his school. For much of the last hour, the former Ranger leader had ignored everything around him. Adam knew with the clarity of years of friendship that the former multi-colored hero was pissed beyond belief about the incident with Kimberly earlier in the week. He himself was reeling over what had apparently transpired.

The trio of former Ranger men all felt angry and disappointed, but mostly, they were incredibly scared. While it was Adam's sixth sense to trust Rain, he couldn't help but acknowledge that Hayden hadn't really tried to hurt Kim, nor had he stated his true intentions. They assumed, thanks to Rain, that he was out to destroy their world and possess the powers that Kimberly supposedly guarded. But something inside Adam screamed Rain was right; of the three, only Rain had expressed respect for Zordon and his legacy.

He knew Tommy was having a hard time dealing with Kim's indecision. In his mind, Adam knew, the choice was clear cut, but for their petite friend, it was anything but. Hayden was offering her what her heart desired most – her son and husband to be alive, again. Adam knew Tommy's fear was that Kimberly would put aside the logic and experience of what her Ranger days had taught her and embrace whatever Hayden offered.

"You look troubled, teacher," a slick, hissing voice pointed out.

The mug in Adam's hands shattered when it hit the concrete floor. He spun to his left, hands immediately going into a defensive pose. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand?"

Adam's eyes narrowed as he watched Tommy threaten Hayden as the former Ranger invaded Hayden's personal space. "I highly doubt Kimberly would be pleased with you," the being taunted Tommy.

"Leave. Her. ALONE."

Hayden laughed. "Like you have for the last fourteen years? Let her lose any hope of a normal life? She knows what I can offer her, and she knows how to get it from me."

Adam's throat closed on him, his emotions running rampant. Hayden made Kimberly sound like a whore for wanting her family back. Before either he or Tommy could move, Hayden's power sent Tommy flying across the room and straight through the plate glass window at the front of the school. "TOMMY!" Adam's distressed voice shouted.

"Now, deliver my message to the protector, as well as stay out of my way, or you will all die!" Hayden promised before he vanished in a swirl of red and black smoke, leaving Adam reeling.

gok

8:00 A.M.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jason watched Aisha and Kim tend to Tommy's wounds while Tanya, Kat and T.J. proceeded to rip him and Adam new assholes for not telling them. "Adam, how could you?" Tanya accused.

"I have no choice," the former Black Ranger told his wife, imploring her to understand. Jason just shook his head, knowing to fight with a female Ranger was not the smartest thing to do when she was pissed off.

"I don't mean protecting Kim, cause in your place, I would have too. I mean not telling me! She matters to me too!" Tanya blasted him angrily.

Jason felt his stance toward Tanya's anger soften. She may not have served with Kim, may have met Kim during one of the worst episodes of Kim's life, but Tanya cared about Kimberly as if she'd served beside her; they were family. "We really didn't know what we were up against until recently," he supplied.

"And from here on out, all three of you will no longer be involved."

Kim's words drew protests from her friends, particularly Adam, Jason and Tommy. "No." Jason's one word would have brooked no argument from anyone else. It only seemed to piss Kimberly off more.

"Jason, think rationally. You can't help me without endangering your family, or yourself. I won't be responsible for anyone getting hurt."

"Out of the question," Tommy's stern voice silenced them all. "Whether you like it or not, Adam, Jason and I are linked to you and the outcome of this whole mission."

Kim rounded on him, prepared to argue, but one look at the bandages all over his arms stopped her. The sight of them hammered home how close she came to losing him, and how much she knew she couldn't bear the thought of him not being there. The emotions raging through her were so huge and so strong she had to literally shove them down, so she could focus on the moment. She'd examine them later.

"I'll be damned if we lose you," he gruffly told her. Kimberly stared straight into the chocolate gaze and felt her insides quiver. Her friends were all nodding in agreement; they weren't going to let her go through this alone.

"None but the teacher, protector and lover can be involved with your mission."

All seven former Rangers swung toward the door to Adam's office. Rain stood in the doorway, looking anything but pleased. "Rain," Adam greeted.

"Hayden should not have harmed you, Dr. Oliver; should not have been able to hurt you. Are you well?"

"Bumps and bruises," Tommy brushed off his inquiries.

Kim's expression was one of agony as she looked at Rain. She may not have completely trusted him, but she understood his intentions were much purer than either Hayden or Kallisto. "Protect them for me," she begged, tears welling in her eyes.

"I cannot," he answered, watching the tears be replaced by anger on her face. This woman, he knew, would protect those she loved at all costs. It would serve her well in the battle to come. "But they can protect themselves."

"How?" Kim angrily demanded, her voice trembling, giving away just how scared she truly was.

Rain walked to her, taking both hands in his. "As you have powers you are discovering, so I have been granted permission for them to share with you those powers. Those who have to remove themselves from the situation have given me the ability to help you, if in limited terms."

"What's happening on the other side, Rain?" Adam demanded.

Turning his eyes to Adam, Rain sighed. "Utter chaos. What I feared most has happened. Kimberly was only ever supposed to make a choice, but now, she will have to fight for the side she chooses. She will need the three of you now, more than ever."

gok

2:00 P.M.
Kim's House
1993 Canyon Grove Rd.
Angel Grove, CA

She stood in the doorway to the deck, watching Tommy walk along the shoreline of her beach. He was dressed in jeans and a black tank, feet bare, skipping rocks on the water. Just from the set of his shoulders, Kim knew he was still angry with her. He hadn't come out and said it but she knew. She also knew he was disappointed that she'd considered Hayden's offer. She'd spent hours in the last week soul searching because she was confused. Part of her really wanted to accept Hayden's offer. To have her family again was a dream come true. But Hayden's gift was hollow to her now. He'd messed with Tommy, damn near killing him.

Wrong mistake to make.

It had been one thing when he was toying with her, but she wasn't about to put up with any messing with Tommy, Jason and Adam. It would have been the same if it had been any of her friends, so he'd sorely miscalculated his hold over her.

With a sigh, she pushed away from the door and walked down to where Tommy was standing. Despite his feelings, Kim slipped her arms around his waist from the side and burrowed under his arm. He tightened that arm around her, making her close her eyes in pleasure and security. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I'm not angry, just disappointed."

She trembled at his words. If there was one thing she never wanted to do again was disappoint him. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but siding with Hayden isn't my choice. Messing with me is one thing, trying to hurt you or the others is something else all together." It made the grip of fear on her heart loosen when he seemed to relax.

"I can't begrudge you wanting them back, Kimberly; none of us can, or would. It's just…they died by horrible means, don't get me wrong, but it was a human death. They weren't killed by magic, or to get to you. He says he can bring them back, and maybe he can, but can just as easily take them away, or worse, he could make them something they aren't," he explained in a rush, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. She realized he'd thought a lot of the same things she had over the course of the last few days.

"I know," she choked out before she took a deep breath, Tommy's cologne filling her senses. "I'm so confused. Everything we thought we knew about the war, about Zordon and Zedd, about why we became Rangers, its skewed now."

Tommy could only nod in agreement. He too was having a tough time swallowing the fact that Zordon had blatantly lied to them. Everything they thought they'd been fighting for wasn't as it seemed, and it was a bitter pill to swallow for those who had taken the honorable route and fought for the safety of others.

Drawing in a long, deep breath before letting it out slowly, Tommy turned toward Kimberly, drawing her into a hug. Her arms were shaking slightly when she wound them around his waist. As they stood there together, Tommy kissed the top of her head and stared over her shoulder, his eyes narrowing. In the distance, he saw a dark figure watching them before it seemingly disappeared. They were being watched.

gok

8:45 A.M.
Monday
May 4, 2009
Prescott Architecture and Engineering
The Vanburen Building
1974 Russet Leaf Terrace
Angel Grove, CA

He hated wearing suits. Hated it with a passion. It felt restricting to be dressed up, against the grain for him not to be able to move with freedom. But his job required it. Grabbing his briefcase, he locked the door to his truck and headed into the tall glass building that housed the firm he worked for. Glancing at his watch, he realized he had to speed up his pace, or he wasn't going to make the management meeting on time. God, Monday mornings sucked through a straw. Instead of getting on with the important stuff, he had to start the week with a damn meeting where the firm's partners could complain about the money flow, the fact that they had few new clients with the way the economy was going, and they were still busting his and every other architect's chops about their design work.

He was almost to the door when he happened to look to his right and saw the extraordinary woman sitting near the fountain in front of the building. Eyes narrowed, chest tightening, he thought about ignoring her and continuing on his way, but he knew she wouldn't let him pass. With a heavy sigh, he walked over to her.

She sat quietly on the edge of the fountain, her long black hair streaming behind her. Her eyes were a shade of deep purple, luminously exotic and alluring, but with a hint of mystery, and at the moment seemed to stare back at him with an amusement he wanted to wipe off her damn face. She was dressed in what Jason could only describe as a medieval princess dress…it looked straight out of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was white, a purer white than he'd ever seen, and embroidered along the neckline, sleeves and waist in an intricate Celtic Knot design in gold thread. Her shoulders were left bare, the creamy skin luminescent in the morning sun. "What are you doing here?"

"Such hospitality," she purred, flipping her hair behind her ear.

"I don't have much love for you, or Hayden, at this point. What do you want?"

"Is Dr. Oliver alright?" The question threw him off.

Looking confused and frustrated, he asked, "You're a goddess, all powerful, and you're asking me something you could easily find out for yourself why?"

Rolling her eyes, she raised her chin. "Contrary to what you believe, some things are beyond even my power. I can't get near him at the moment, particularly because he's still with Kimberly."

"And what? You have no access to her?" He saw he'd hit the answer right on the head. "If you can't get near her, then neither can Hayden."

"Not true. He doesn't follow the rules, I do. Otherwise he'd have never gotten so close to the Teacher or Lover. It is within my power to protect the three of you for her. Without you, the balance tips in Hayden's favor. You three are central to her choice, and her power."

"Then you'll be happy to know that Hayden fucked with the wrong person," Jason hissed. "If he thought injuring Tommy as he did was going to make Kimberly happy with him, he obviously doesn't know her as well as he thinks."

Kallisto nodded. "This, I know. She loved her husband and child with heart and soul, but I understand what Hayden doesn't. Her connection with Dr. Oliver goes much deeper than any but Zordon ever suspected. Deeper than friendship, deeper than camaraderie, deeper than love; it's is a soul deep link between them that was forged by forces outside of themselves."

The former Red and Gold Ranger still didn't trust Kallisto further than he could throw her, and probably never would given that she was using his sister as a weapon, but he had to admit, the woman understood what so few had. Outside of their team and their immediate predecessors, Jason knew that only Chris had ever had any understanding of what lay between Kimberly and Tommy. Understood it, accepted it, and had still loved Kimberly endlessly. In the beginning, before that understanding had come, he'd been a normal guy, prone to a bit of jealousy where his woman was concerned, but he'd gotten past it, maybe not fully, but enough that he accepted Kim's friendship with Tommy.

"If you understand that, then why can't you help more?"

"I would if I could, Protector, but she alone can make the choice. I can guide her, I can help you to protect and teach her, as you three already love her, but the choice ultimately lies within her. Do you have so little faith in her that you fear her decision?"

Jason bristled at the accusation that his faith in his sister was not there. There were days when he felt he couldn't trust himself, but there had never been a lack of trust in the tiny woman he'd known since childhood. Even at her worst, and he'd seen her at tons of her worst moments, he'd never not trusted her. "No, but I'm also not stupid, and I know that hurts and pain have a tendency to cloud our judgment of what we know is right. Kim's human, and prone to the mistakes and missteps that come with being human."

"It's good that you understand that, Protector. Remember it when Rain gives you the aide you need."

Without another word, she turned and began to stride away before she disappeared in a cloud of power. Shaking his head, Jason looked down at his watch, and with some shock saw that it was the same time as it had been when he looked last. Pushing it away for now, he headed inside for the morning meeting.

gok

9:00 P.M.
Kim's House
1993 Canyon Grove Rd.
Angel Grove, CA

With a hot mug of tea resting on her nightstand, dressed in a pair of pajama pants and a pink tank top, Kim sat curled in the center of her bed. In her lap was the book she'd picked up at Kallisto's shop. She stared at the pages curiously, noting that more than halfway through the book they were…blank. It gave her a bit of a start to see that the story only went so far. Holding her breath, she opened it up to the last place she'd been. The breath she'd been holding whooshed right out of her when she read the next passage of the story.

After the death of her family, the young crane had wandered aimlessly around their home, hiding each time troops came or went from the battlefields. Her loneliness was ten fold now, as she longed for the family she'd made and for the flock she'd left behind years before. No matter what she did, something always reminded her of those she'd learned to soar with. She hid well day in and day out, until a group of humans came, and stayed in her home. But these humans were unlike those that had destroyed her family. These warriors, for they could be nothing else, began to repair the damage done to her home. It took her several days to realize these humans were wielding magic, great magic.

At the end of the first week, they finally revealed their true selves. From her hiding place, she watched in awe as they became a bear, an ape, a wolf, a frog, a lion, a dragon, and a falcon. Against all odds, her flock had found her after years of separation. She recognized the griffin was gone, and with an intuitiveness she'd not had before, she realized that her sister griffin had died. Shamefully, however, she found that she could not bring herself to reveal her presence to them. Her heart made itself known again when it cried out as they prepared to leave. And that's when the armies came back.

Kim trembled, though not as badly as before. After what had happened in the last week, she found she wasn't so surprised by the story. After all, hadn't Hayden tried to change the story of her life? What was to stop Kallisto from trying, if only in a different way, with this book?

gok

6:00 P.M.
Tuesday
May 5, 2009
Emerald Dawn Martial Arts Academy
91495 Falcon Crest Ave
Angel Grove, CA

Sweat trickled down his back, wetting his already damp shirt. His muscles were singing from the abuse he'd put them through. He'd never expected a day would come when Kimberly of all people would consistently beat him in a sparring session, especially since he held a fourth degree black belt in Karate and several first degrees in other forms. Kim was a beginner at best, but boy was she kicking his ass. He could hear Adam chuckling on the sideline every time he crashed to the mat.

"Jase, you're not even trying," she whined in complaint, bending over him.

"Sorry," he mumbled, accepting her hand and help up.

"I'm not going to get any better if you don't get your head in the game," she huffed. "After what happened Sunday…"

Jason nodded. He wanted to cuddle and protect her but knew she didn't want, or need, either. She wanted to be prepared. "GUYS!" Adam yelled, point to the television screen in the corner. A special news bulletin was coming through on the evening news.

"What the hell?" Kim hissed as they watched a building downtown being evacuated even as it was being assaulted by creatures.

"Looks like Hayden's at it again," Jason grumbled.

Kim's expression was grim. "The question is what are we gonna do? I haven't learned to use any of my powers; hell, other than summoning a little wind, I don't know what they even are."

"I've got Ranger powers," Adam reminded them. "Jason can take my Zeonizers."

"That'll leave Kim unprotected," Jason answered.

Kim cleared her throat. "We need to do something, NOW."

"Let's go!" Jason grabbed his keys and the trio headed out of the back room, a shout to Adam's assistants about an emergency and then the three were out the door and piling in Jason's truck.

gok

10 Minutes Later
Downtown Angel Grove

"Game plan?" Kim asked. She felt her heart up in her throat – her Ranger days were long behind her, but she knew she had no choice now – step aside and watch Hayden take over or stand and fight. She still didn't trust Kallisto, but she trusted Hayden even less.

"How about don't get killed?" Adam tried to joke.

Jason grinned and shook his head while Kim glared at him. "That was so funny I forgot to laugh."

Jason an Adam shared a chuckle as Jason swung the truck into the parking lot where the attack was taking place. "God I miss teleporting!" the former Red Ranger huffed as the three ran from the car toward the scene. Cops were already sealing off the area, so they had to act fast.

"How are we going to get through?" Adam asked.

"Up and over!" Jason commanded. The three sprinted forward and vaulted over the police barricades, causing alarm among the officers gathered.

They quickly landed and began another sprint, out distancing the cops in seconds, with Kim quipping, "There goes our secret identities!"

The guys could only laugh as they engaged the minions. Yet again, they were the Maligore wanna-be creatures and some weird beings that looked like a mix between a putty and a mummy. "DAMN!" Jason barked when he was kicked in the chest, the blow sending him stumbling backwards.

"Avoid getting kicked in the chest!" Adam shouted at Kim.

The former Pink Ranger rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, really, ya think?" Somersaulting backwards, she managed to avoid several strikes, only to find herself vulnerable enough that they grabbed her arms and legs. "LET GO!" she seethed.

"KIM!" Jason hollered.

Adam twisted and struck out, trying to get free to get to her. "NO!"

"So, my Lady, you've made your choice?" Hayden hissed angrily, grabbing Kimberly's chin tightly in his fingers as his minions held her still. She did everything she could to free herself, but found it was only making her tired. Finally, Kimberly took him in, really took in his appearance, perhaps seemingly for the first time. He wore the same black suit that he'd worn when she'd seen him last, the same dark tie and starched white shirt. His dirty blonde hair was slicked back, his goatee expertly groomed, and he wore shiny black shoes. But the look on his face and in those sizzling, electric blue eyes, it was utter madness. He wasn't just evil, he was insane.

Ever the defiant one, Kim stopped moving and glared up at him. "No, you made the choice for me when you tried to kill Tommy."

Hayden looked livid. "I'll destroy you!"

"You can try. Newsflash, we Rangers don't die so easily!"

It was one of those pivotal moments in life, and she knew it. She was so close to dying by his hand but against every odd, she'd made her choice. She would, at the expense of her own life, fight for those she loved, and for those who had no power to fight. Despite the disturbing information she'd uncovered about Zordon and Zedd and her time as a Ranger, it hadn't dampened her sense of right or wrong. Yes, the pain of losing Chris and Even had her questioning a lot of the things she'd always believed in, but Hayden had seriously overplayed his hold over her. There were other questions that she needed to ask, other feelings below the surface to be dealt with, but for now she knew one thing – powers or not, she would always be a Ranger.

And Rangers didn't give up, give in, or go quietly into the night.

Hayden's eyebrow arched when the brown of Kimberly's eyes completely disappeared and turned white. Her body also began to glow an unearthly white in color. "I suggest you release her!" a new voice cut in on the sounds of the fight.

All eyes swung around to the newcomer. He stood tall, his short dark brown hair flowing with the breeze that had seemed to have picked up around them, deep brown eyes filled with a fire and intensity as he glared at Hayden. Dressed in a black t-shirt and black jeans, he looked like any other ordinary man, except for the power radiating around each clenched fist.

"Rain, how good to see you. I guess you haven't stopped being Kallisto's lap dog?"

"I am no one's lap dog, Hayden," Rain responded, power swirling around his body. "I am merely the messenger, a watcher over the Guardian."

The longer Hayden's mummy creatures held Kimberly, the brighter she grew, until she was barely visible. Rain swore before flinging shields up around Jason and Adam. With a loud, inhumane screech, Kim's body cut loose, white power leaving her in a terrifying rush.

"KIM!" Jason and Adam yelled together, the shield around them blocking any attempt to reach her.

"RAIN! LET US GO!" Adam demanded.

When the smoke cleared, the mummy creatures and Maligore wanna-be things were gone, Hayden was several feet from where he'd once stood, his suit torn and his lips bloodied, kneeling and staring up at Kimberly. Rain, likewise, was kneeling, his black t-shirt ripped in spots, but his eyes were latched onto Kimberly's form as it levitated a good two feet off the ground. Her hair surrounded her, floating on the nimbus of power that filled her.

"The first to come is the power of Air," Rain whispered, smiling.

"This is not the end!" Hayden hissed before disappearing.

Jason and Adam stared at Kimberly, both realizing her powers were VERY real now, and were definitely not a remnant of her Ranger powers. "Holy shit…" Jason gasped.

"Guardian," Rain softly called, his voice a lilting, calm tone that played to Kimberly's overly stressed nerves.

"Watcher," she responded, though her eyes were still white and no one could tell where she was looking as she hadn't moved her head at all.

Rain grinned. "You've taken the first step," he told her, watching as her body lowered to the ground. Her legs buckled but Adam and Jason were there to catch her, Rain having released them from their shield. Slowly, Rain approached the trio, hoping to ward off any tension that Kimberly was sure to start feeling. He knelt before her and reached for her hand. "Do you believe now?"

Body still thrumming with power, Kimberly nodded. "I don't want to be a Ranger again, that time of my life is over."

"And so you shall not be a Ranger, but the Guardian, the Key, capable of using all the powers and skills one who carries such a title should. You will be the light and hope of your world, the last line of defense in the war that's to come."