CHAPTER 2
The teasing started as soon as Trini returned Kim's car. "How was your date?"
"She's nice." Trini couldn't help smiling. They had just talked about their favorite movies, food and which class they hated most at school. Both liked martial arts movies. Alyssa had done a bit of kick boxing. Trini had changed the subject quickly in case it reminded her of what she couldn't do anymore. Whatever had happened to her leg was bad but Trini got the impression that the injury wasn't the worst of it. She wanted her new friend to trust her enough to tell her and as her father always said trust was earned, so that was her mission when she wasn't being the Yellow Ranger.
"I'm happy for you," said Kim sincerely, after hearing how Trini's parents didn't accept her being gay she was glad that the shorter girl wasn't allowing her folks to dictate who her friends should be.
"At the moment we're just friends." said Trini not wanting to get her hopes up. If Alyssa did like her then they still had to figure out how to deal with her parents and her Power Ranger duties. Of course Alyssa couldn't know she was the yellow superhero.
Kim just smirked. "So what's our search grid for today?"
Trini pulled out a map of Angel Grove and the surrounding area, Billy had drawn a spiral search pattern over it. The Rangers had been working their way outwards from the site of the battle. They had been split into 2 teams, Kim had a car and Jason had fixed his truck with Billy's help. Zack only came occasionally because of his mom. It gave the two girls plenty of time to become friends. It was a new experience for Kim as well, being a popular cheerleader had completely gone to her head. And she was the first to admit she hadn't been a very nice person. Being Rangers was bringing out the best in all of them.
The reason they were not using their Zords was they would attract far too much attention and while Alpha assured them they couldn't be tracked they couldn't cloak, so their own vehicles were the next best thing. They had handheld scanners that looked enough like cell phones that nobody would give them a second glance. At the beginning it had been exciting now they just wanted to find the green power coin before someone got hurt.
Trini still marveled at the fact that once they morphed that first time their power coins had merged with their DNA the only time they could remove them was in Ranger form. Billy had morphed briefly before that to stop Jason and Zack fighting but he couldn't control it. Alpha had tried to explain the science behind it but that gave her a headache, only Billy had got the gist of it.
Today their grid took them along the coast. At least the view was nice.
Suddenly they heard twin beeps from their scanners, the two girls shared a startled glance as Kim looked for a place to park. "Should we call the guys?"
Trini was reasonably sure the guys would find it first. "Lets make sure it's the real deal."
Kim nodded in agreement, finally finding somewhere to stop.
The scanners led them down a path to the beach and then to the waters edge.
"It's in the water," stated Kim, "We need a boat."
"Hey Alpha, we're picking up a reading but we think it's under water." Trini decided the little robot would know what to do.
"Your armour will allow you to look, I bet you never noticed you can breath when you swim down to the ship."
"You know I didn't," chuckled Kim.
"They will draw oxygen from the surrounding water."
"Thanks," grinned Trini, "That is so cool."
"Makes sense though," agreed Kim, "We never know what conditions we might have to fight in."
"Okay." Trini glanced around, seeing no one closed her eyes and morphed into her yellow armour. Kim watched for a moment, the tiny metal scales rippled along replacing her friends clothes and skin until they fused into a solid layer. She'd never get tired of seeing it or the electrifying feeling as it happened.
"You waiting for an invitation?"
Kim grinned sheepishly, she had been so busy watching her friend change, she took a deep breath and morphed then followed Trini into the waves.
"I hope a fish didn't eat it."
PRPRPRPRPRPR
Alyssa had gone for a walk after Trini dropped her off, she was curious how Trini was good enough friends with an ex cheerleader to borrow her car. She knew what popular girls could be like. Hell she had been one. Back then she wouldn't have given Trini the time of day and that would have been a terrible mistake. For the first time she found a positive in her situation. That was something she never expected. Alyssa headed home she still had homework to do.
"If it isn't Hopalong."
"Yeah where's your body guard?"
Alyssa groaned. She didn't have to turn around to recognise the voices of Angel Grove High's resident bullies. Bulk and his sidekick Skull. She kept walking wishing she hadn't taken a short cut down a back alley. The bodyguard they referred to was her cousin Tommy, he was usually carrying her books or just sticking close by in case she needed help. She did appreciate it but she hated the reminder of how little she could do on her own. They never bothered her when other people were around but once Skull had caught her between classes and knocked her crutch out from under her then left her on the floor as he walked away laughing.
"Well that's just rude," said Bulk stepping in front of her forcing her to stop.
Suddenly Alyssa was sick of them. "Move." Skull appeared at her other side and hooked his arm around her neck.
"We like it here, why don't YOU turn around and take the scenic route home."
That would more than double the distance. Back at her old school she wouldn't put up with their shit.
"I said MOVE!"
"You and who's army?"
"You think I need one to kick your asses?" Alyssa was furious. She was not a victim!
"Last chance. GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
"Ooooooo I'm so scared," laughed Bulk.
"You will be." Alyssa moved and shoulder slammed Skull into the wall.
"Hey!" Bulk reached out to grab her, the girl easily dodged under his arm then shoved him face first into the opposite wall to his friend. He turned around holding his nose, blood running between his fingers, "You bitch!"
"That the meanest thing you can think to say?" She say his eyes flick up over her shoulder, spun round and caught Skull's fist and squeezed.
Skull screamed. The sound rang in Alyssa's ears as she felt bones in his hand break. Two large hands grabbed her and threw her aside, she watched as Bulk picked his friend and they left as fast as they could.
"What did I…..?" All the anger drained away, Alyssa took a shuddering breath before bending over and began retching. When she got home she locked herself in her room and curled up on the bed, wondering what the hell had just happened?
PRPRPRPRPR
"I think a fish really did eat it," said Kim, they had followed their scanner to about a quarter mile off shore.
"But wouldn't it affect the fish?" asked Trini, "Like mutate it or something?"
"It did change Rita," agreed Kim slowly, remembering the way her green armour had been full of spikes.
"Heard any rumours about sea monsters?" Trini was only half joking.
"You know Jason's dad caught Rita's body in his fishing nets. What if someone caught the power coin or the fish that ate it?"
"Damn it could be anywhere," said Trini with a sigh.
"Zordon seems sure that it's still here somewhere."
"I guess we keep looking." The two girls swam to shore then morphed back into their normal clothes.
"I'll see if Zack wants a turn," said Kim, with a teasing grin, "So you can see your girlfriend."
Trini smiled as they got back into the car and headed home. She couldn't wait till she saw Alyssa again.
TBC….
A/N. Thanks for reading :) I am enjoying doing this. I hope you like it too. Please review. Have fun T-Rex :)
