"Let's do it again," said Billy as he reassumed a crouching position.
The sweat dripping down Robert's face began to blur his vision. They had been at this all morning. They had woken before the sun had even thought of rising that day. Billy had mentioned something about the moon being full enough to begin at 3am. If Billy hadn't intended to kill Robert with the three mile run, he was sure attempting to break him with this repetitive crouching technique. Billy however, hadn't even broken a sweat. He remained cool and discipline in his execution of the technique.
"Can we take a break? I mean even the masters allow their students a break to get some water," said Robert as he pulled his aching body from the crouching position.
There was no response from Billy. Robert was about to repeat his request when his legs were swept from beneath him. His body hit the ground with and audible thud. Robert pushed himself off the ground and assumed a fighting stance, but Billy was already out of sight. The next sensation was a hand on his back pushing him to the ground.
"How are you ever going to learn if I can't grasp the basics," said Billy. "Maybe I should have asked Tommy or Jason to teach you. I was never good at this mentor thing."
Still with a powerful hand on his back Robert pushed up and assumed the crouch position allowing him to strike Billy from a low angle. Just as he was about to make contact Billy sidestepped out of the way. As they spared he could feel Geki's energy resonate through him, which filled every fiber of his being with new found vigor. The purple aura began to envelop him. He could feel his body doing things he did not know how to do. He countered Billy's incoming attacks without thought. He even managed to move out of Billy's reach.
"Control it Robert!" was all Billy could say as he saw his pupil succumb to the spirit animals energy. He understood that without ranger powers from the morphing grid Robert would have a tougher time controlling the energy.
The ground beneath Robert was beginning to crack under the pressure. Billy could see the strain the energy was placing on his body. Without a second thought he placed himself behind Robert. The energy around him was heating up the air and crackling all around them. Billy summoned his own energy from Rogan and passed his hands unfazed through the energy. He placed an open palm on Roberts back while he out stretched the other in the opposite direction. Then with a single movement connected the second palm to Robert's back. Billy's blue energy pushed through Robert's and expelled Geki's aura from his body. Two majestic purple wolf silhouettes erupted from Robert's hands and then coalesced together, finally disappearing into the rocky walls.
Robert fell to the floor panting. His body shacking quietly as he attempted to resist the urge to give up.
"I'm sorry I've failed you," said Billy as he tried to help Robert up from the ground. "I should have known better than to push you too far. A proper master would have known your limits and worked around them."
"Stop it!" said Robert as he pushed Billy away. "I chose you to be my master as a ranger and someone with the same kind of animal spirit you are the best prepared to help me control it. Now you're telling me you're not good enough?
Billy couldn't really respond. He had never thought himself a teacher, a scientist; yes, a ranger; of course, but a mentor; never. Now here was someone asking him to guide them through their path in life, a path all too familiar to him. Cast aside for not conforming to the world they belong to, forced to wonder in hopes of finding a place they are accepted.
"Look I'll try my best, but I think we're going to have to bring in resources outside of my expertise. We're dealing with magic more powerful than I have ever seen. Geki's energy is different than Rogan's or Verrick's. I'm going to have to make some calls to some colleagues of mine."
"Hey I know you'll do your best to be my master, and I'll do whatever it takes to make you proud of me as your student," said Robert as he allowed Billy to carry him back into the Command Center.
Billy managed to lay Robert on an observation table in the main Power Chamber to be examined as he powered up the consoles. A symbol of a circle with curved line and dots appeared on the main screen. Then an image of a young Asian men sitting in front of a keyboard took it's place.
"Hello Billy. I thought I wouldn't be hearing from you for a while. Dad and I were just talking about you last night. He says he misses your tea," said the young man with a smile.
"Hello Cam, tell Sensai that I will send him a new batch next week. This isn't a social call though," said Billy as he looked over at Robert being examined by his equipment. "Remember you said that you would do anything for me to teach you how to harness Ranger technology?
"Does this mean you've caved in and the Great Master Cranston is going to divulge his ranger secrets to me?
"How about a trade? I help with the development of your own ranger technology, and in return you allow me and my student to train in the academy," said Billy with a sly smile.
"What's the catch William?" asked Cam.
"The catch my dear Camron is that it would have to be in secret and I would need access to all of the Wind Ninja's scrolls," said Billy.
"I'll have to discuss it with Dad first. By the way who's the student?" asked Cam as he continued to work on his computer.
"He's a Pai Zhuq student," said Billy with a grin.
"Oh Dad's going to flip when he hears that," said Cam with an equal grin.