Ethan's eyes popped open and he scanned the lab from his position on the floor. Cam and Haley were engrossed, standing by the bank of computer consoles in the main part of the room. Seated behind and between Tori and Kira was a young man with dark hair and dark skin, wearing navy accented motocross clothing. Although he wasn't part of their circle, he looked as though he was also meditating. Pacing behind Shane, Sensei Watanabe and Conner was a tall, blonde guy wearing clothing very much like the other guy, but with crimson accents. Ethan knew immediately who they were – Blake and Hunter, the Navy and Crimson Rangers.
Ethan watched as the others in the circle came back to awareness. Tori and Kira both looked serene; when Tori opened her eyes, she immediately looked behind her, as if she knew Blake was waiting there. Before a word was spoken, his eyes opened as well, and he gave her a welcoming smile. She scooted back as he scooted forward, and Tori grabbed him in an enthusiastic hug. Ethan caught Kira's eye and they grinned at each other.
Shane was the next to rouse. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes, and then he uncrossed his legs and stretched them out in front of him. Watching Shane made Ethan aware that he'd been sitting on the floor for a long time. He shifted to find a more comfortable position, and the aches that accompanied the movement made him wonder just how long they'd been sitting on the floor.
Sensei Kanoi stirred. The movement caught Ethan's eye, and he felt a growing concern that Conner hadn't moved at all. Not one inch. And Conner wasn't one for sitting still. Kira had gotten to her feet and walked over to hunker down between Ethan and Conner. She looked as though she wasted to reach out to him, but was afraid to disturb whatever was going on between him and Sensei.
"Do you think he's okay?" Kira whispered, as if speaking too loudly would give weight to her worries.
"I'm sure he is," answered Ethan in an equally low tone, "or he will be..." Both Dino Rangers watched Sensei Watanabe intently, as did Hunter who had paused in his pacing behind the Red Dino Ranger. Kanoi reached out a hand and placed it on Conner's head – it looked almost like he was giving a benediction. With a deep sigh, Conner opened his eyes. Kanoi moved back a way, allowing Conner the room he needed to execute a joint popping stretch. Ethan considered that his own aches and pains were nothing compared to what Conner was apparently feeling.
With a groan, Conner stretched out his legs in front of him and flexed his toes; then he reached forward and grabbed them. After holding this pose for a moment, he released his feet and reaching his arms over his head, arched his back. The backward movement carried him to the floor, where he let his arms relax. Then his eyes rolled back into his head, and every muscle in his body went slack.
Hunter reacted immediately; Shane was only a moment behind. Both the former Crimson and Red Rangers reached out to Conner, but seemed at a loss for what to do for him.
Alarmed, Kira reached for him as well, and this time did not hold herself back. "Conner!" she called. She shook his arm but got no response. Kira's distress attracted the attention of the others. The small group gathered around the unconscious Red Ranger.
Kanoi hastened to reassure them. "Do not fear, Rangers. Conner is not injured, merely exhausted. What was a dream for us was like running a marathon for him. He needs to rest, but he will be fine."
"Are you sure, Sensei?" asked Kira. She was more disturbed by seeing Conner in a complete state of vulnerability than she was able to express.
"I am sure, Yellow Ranger." Kanoi turned his attention to Hunter. "Can you move him to the couch, Hunter? He will be more comfortable there than on the floor."
"Sure, Sensei." Hunter looked relieved that someone had given him a job.
"I can help." Shane offered, but when he shifted his weight to get to his knees he fought unsuccessfully to maintain his balance. Kanoi firmly pushed him back to a seated position. "Though Conner did the lion's share of the work, you were fundamental as well, Shane. You too need to rest. Hunter can take care of Conner."
Ethan struggled to hide a pang of resentment as Hunter gathered up Conner and moved him to the couch. Not that he would have been able to lift Conner by himself, or make it look half as easy as Hunter did, but Kanoi didn't even ask. Conner was his teammate; he should've been the one to help.
Almost immediately, Ethan's common sense took over. Hunter was easily as tall as Conner, and probably bigger, whereas Ethan was smaller and would've had trouble maneuvering his taller teammate. Also, as Hunter was a body type of Ranger – at least that's what Ethan assumed – he probably was stronger than your average guy, and able to lift Conner's weight. Instead of being resentful, Ethan knew he should be grateful for Hunter's help, and once he thought it through he was grateful.
The gathered Rangers watched silently as Hunter settled Conner on the couch. It was as if they were waiting to make sure he was settled before they could move forward. Just as Hunter turned back to the group, and Kanoi opened his mouth to speak, Ethan's watch started beeping.
"Wha...?" Ethan looked down at his wrist with uncomprehendingly. Then he jumped to his feet in a panic. "Oh man! Oh man! Have we been out of it for that long?! Kira, we are so dead!"
Kira jumped to her feet as well. "Ethan, what's wrong?"
"That beep! That's the emergency you-were- on- the-computer-too-long-and-you'll-be-late-for-first-period-beep." Kira just stared at Ethan as if he was speaking Klingon.
Ethan started looking around frantically while keeping up his panicked commentary. "That's the alarm I set for Monday mornings because I'm always up too late on Sunday night. If I sleep through the other alarms, the two clocks and my mom yelling, that beep gets me up because I know there's no time left!" He snatched his backpack off the ground near where Tori and Blake were watching him with wide eyes.
"We've been a little busy this weekend and I'll never finish that assignment Mr. Post gave us in History, so I'll have detention, and what if something happens...with Dr. O and Conner out of commission, what are we going to do?" Ethan was so worked up he couldn't figure out how to work the straps on his backpack.
"First of all, you need to relax." stated Haley as she plucked the backpack out of Ethan's hand and put it on the floor.
"Haley? School." Duh was Ethan's implied tone as he tried to snatch the bag back from Haley.
"Not today." Haley smiled with satisfaction. "It's a snow day."
Kira looked incredulous. "Snow day? In Reefside? On the coldest day in January it barely gets below 50 degrees...and it's June."
Haley shrugged, "Figure of speech. Let's just say school's been cancelled. You and Ethan can stay here with no worries about being late, absent or missing anything."
Ethan looked at her with some suspicion, but he was intrigued. "What did you do?"
Haley had the grace to look a little uncomfortable under Ethan's scrutiny. "Well I knew that it was unlikely that we'd get Tommy and Dustin back before you had to go to school. And I knew we'd need you here. But there was no way we'd be able to convince your parents you'd need a day off – not without Tommy to invent a "field trip" for you guys to go on."
"But what did you do?" Ethan persisted, nearly squeaking with excitement.
"According to the California Code of Regulation – Title 19, chapter ...well you get the idea..." Haley actually seemed flustered. Cam, ever the gentleman, stepped in to help her out. "We shut down the fire alarm system. Without it, they can't open the school."
Kira's jaw dropped. Ethan's eyes started to glow, fascinated by the idea of engineering his own "snow day". "Ethan..." stated Haley warningly, as she switched moods from embarrassed to determined. "Don't get any ideas! This was an extreme emergency. And any day you get off now you have to make up later. So don't fool around unless you still want to been in school in August."
"No, of course not." But it was plain to see, Ethan was lost in his own mind. He wandered away from the group, absentmindedly picking up his backpack and ambling over toward Conner.
Kira watched him go then turned back toward Haley. "Not to add any fuel to the fire..." she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "but what if we need another "snow day" tomorrow?"
"We take out the plumbing." Cam answered deadpan.
Kira looked at him not sure if she could take him seriously or not. Then she just raised her eyebrows in agreement and walked over to see if she could talk some sense into Ethan.
The Wind and Thunder Rangers gathered with Sensei Watanabe, Cam and Haley near the computer bank. Kanoi quickly filled Cam and Haley in on the information they had exchanged with Tommy, and the plan to involve the Ninjetti Rangers.
"It's brilliant, Father." Cam shook his head, but his expression was full of admiration.
Haley agreed. "We've focused so long on attempting to beat Mesogog through increasing technology...I can only imagine that that's the only avenue he sees as a threat. And all of these Rangers are willing to help?" Kanoi didn't even have to respond. Haley could see something on the faces of the Rangers around her. This mission wasn't just about saving Dustin and Tommy. It was about Rangers helping Rangers – no matter how long ago they served the Power.
A shrilly ringing telephone was the only answer Haley needed. She jogged upstairs to grab the portable phone. Kanoi turned to Cam, "Is the teleporter ready, son?"
"Yes, that's how Blake and Hunter got here. Once the other Rangers start to call in, they can give me their locations. I should be able to pinpoint their energy signatures fairly quickly. Ninjas who were also Rangers have unique energy signatures, which will help." Kanoi nodded his understanding then removed himself from the immediate area. He knew from long experience that Cam did not like to be crowded while he worked. This work was for the young people – he would have his own tasks to do in the days ahead.
TBC