After Darkness Falls
"New Members"
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, that is owned by Saban/Disney. Carri and all things related to Carri (including Jason's cougar ninjetti power) belong to KJ with many thanks. Everyone else belongs to me.
A/N: Kim's powers were inspired by KSuzie, but unlike KSuzie's she cannot travel between dimensions, only time. As always, reviews are appreciated.
She sat in her brothers house, still fuming over the fact her ex-boyfriend had also signed up to temporarily replace a ranger. If she had known he'd join, she most likely wouldn't have. Karone sighed, things hadn't gone so well for her and Zhane after the defeat of Dark Specter. They returned to Earth with her brother Andros and his friends, who eventually became her friends, but as time wore on she began to feel like she needed to find herself, and he was constantly, if inadvertantly, flirting with other women, and eventually they broke up and she left, returning to space. While she was travelling, she learned of the pink Galaxy Rangers death, and that the pink Quasar Saber was lost somewhere. After finding out it's location and retrieving it, becoming the new pink ranger, she joined the Galaxy Rangers until they arrived on Mirinoi. While serving with them she thought that she had begun to develop feelings for Leo, the red ranger, but in the end he was more of a brother than anything. After spending a year on Mirinoi with her new friends she decided it was time to return to Earth. One of the inhabitants, a man she knew as Bulk, asked her to take him with her, and she obliged.
After arriving in Angel Grove and dumping Bulk off by the lake, she went to see her brother and his fiance Ashley Hammond. It was then that she learned that Zhane had began travelling the universe, and had taken up his morpher again. She spent the rest of her time on Earth, subbing for rangers when they needed it, and spending time with her brother. She hadn't known he was alive until just a few years ago, and it was great listening to him tell stories about their parents, the parents she had never really known. Ecliptor had always been like her father, even though he was evil he still cared for her.
Karone looked over at Andros, who was trying to burp his baby girl, but having no luck. "Here, let me try," she said, holding her arms out for her niece, Cierra. Andros had said that she was named after their mother, and Karone just had to take his word on that. She was about a year old now, and Karone loved spending time with her, which is why she usually babysat her while Andros and Ashley would go out.
"You think you can do better?" he asked as he handed his daughter to her.
Karone took Cierra in her arms and said "Well I am a girl." After a few pats on the back Cierra let out a tiny little burp and Karone cradled her in her arms. "See?" Holding her niece kept her mind off of the man in the next room, Zhane. Both of them were supposed to report to the Power Chamber later that day to recieve the Zeo Powers. The way she understood it was that one of the rangers, Rocky, had been stung by a monster and was recieving treatment on Aquitar, and his girlfriend refused to leave his side, leaving the Zeo's down two. She had been the first person to respond to Tommy's message, followed shortly by Zhane. She had considered backing out due to that, but she wasn't going to let something like that stop her from helping an old friend. Tommy had helped her out a lot after she became good and abandoned Astronema. He had helped her to gain the trust of other rangers, not all, but most of them trusted her now, and Andros and the Astros helped her to fit in with the people of Earth, taught her their customs, which like her brother and Zhane, she found a bit odd.
"Here, it's time for her nap," Ashley said as she entered the room, holding her arms out for her baby. Karone handed her Cierra and turned to look into the other room, he was standing there in the door.
"Well, guys, Karone," Zhane said, looking her in the eyes, "I think I'm going to head on out. I'll see you at the Power Chamber later." With that he turned and headed out the door.
"It's about time he left," Karone muttered under her breath.
Andros stared at his sister before asking "Do you still like him?" He held his up in surrender at the look his sister gave him, and decided not to bring it up again.
Cairus sat in the throne room, it had been days since Sarahna left, and every time he attacked the rangers he had failed. She would not be pleased, at least he didn't think she would be. She did, afterall, make a big deal about leaving the green ranger, Jason, alive. Maybe he could find him when he was alone and attack, perhaps that would work. But first he would need a monster to distract the other two rangers. This was it, they were down two team members and were at half strength, this time he would succeed!
Jason stood in front of his students, a group of teenagers today, showing them how to defend against an attacker. He had shown this move so many times he didn't even have to think about it. What made it easier, somewhat, was that he was showing the move with old friends of his. Tommy had agreed to help him out today, since Rocky couldn't for obvious reasons, and Adam had agreed as well, leaving his own dojo for the day. Teaching the class today really took Jason back to his youth, when he and Tommy taught the moms of Angel Grove how to defend themselves. "Now remember," Jason said to his students "the most important part is team work. Adam, you be the attacker and Tommy and me will defend ourselves."
After showing the class how it was done he let them practice for a bit until calling it quits for the day. "Alright, I'll see you guys same time next week." He turned to Tommy and Adam and said "I really appreciate you guys helping me out today, I couldn't have done it without you."
"No sweat man, it's great that you're trying to keep the school running while Rocky's away. Just don't over do it. Your classes and his classes might be a bit much for you," Adam said as he grabbed a towel and began to wipe the sweat off his forehead. He and Rocky had been best friends for as long as they could remember, and if it weren't for him having to run his own dojo he'd try to run Rocky's too.
"That's why I volunteered to help out," Tommy said.
"Yeah, thanks again for that bro, but hey, I gotta be somewhere, so I'll see you later at the Power Chamber, see ya Adam!" Jason called out as he left. He was going to see about a condo he found. He had been working for Rocky for a few weeks now and had enough to afford his own place and quit mooching off of Carri. Hopefully everything would work out and he'd be able to get the place, if not then he would keep searching.
Tommy watched as his friend left, he thought it was great that they were reconnecting after all these years, if only things would go that smoothly with Kim. He wasn't quite sure what to do about whether he should ask her out again, or just leave things the way they are. He supposed he'd find out in time.
Kim leaned against the back wall behind the register at the florist shop she worked at, it had been a long day and it finally time to close and head on over to the Power Chamber where the Karone and Zhane would recieve the Zeo powers until Rocky and Carri's return, which would hopefully be soon. She felt great as she clocked out, it had been a busy day, but now it was over. She just hoped that Sarahna didn't attack later on, if she did Kim was prepared to give her a good old Muranthian ass-kicking. Right as she finished everything her communicator chirped "Yes?"
"Come on Kim, it's time," Jason's voice rang through. Thank God it's not an attack, she thought.
"I'm on my way, just had to straighten a few things before leaving work." With that said, she hit the buttons on her communicator and teleported out in a streak of red light.
When she landed she walked over and greeted the silver Astro Ranger and former pink Galaxy Ranger. She knew them both by reputation, Zhane she had heard was a bit of a womanizer, but a great warrior, and Karone she knew mainly as the former Queen of Evil, which made her a little unsure about her being on the team, but it wasn't her team or her place to decide who was on it.
"Alright, let's get this over with so we can be ready for an attack," Jason said, not really wanting to waste any time. He had a dinner to get to with a blond he had met outside the condo he had purchased. Her name was Lisa, and she worked as an accountant. That was all he knew about her.
Billy grabbed the Zeo crystals and Zeonizers that Carri had teleported back to them earlier that day, he just needed to make the appropriate modifications and they would be good to go. "Hopefully they won't take more than a few minutes to make, but we'll see," he said as analyzed them. As he did he made sure to store the information on the computer because he have to adjust them again to make the powers compatible with Rocky and Carri once they returned. As he continued on making the adjustments the alarms went off. "Guys, it looks as though there are attacks going on in two places, you'll have to split up."
Jason looked at what they were up against, Cairus was attacking the high school by himself, and then out by the harbor there was a monster and Courtadrones attacking. 'Tommy, you and Kim handle the monster and the Courtadrones, I'll take care of Cairus, then Zhane and Karone can join us once the power is transferred, got it?" He waited for everyone's acknowledgement before morphing and teleporting off.
Tommy and Kim landed in the middle of the Courtadrones and began attacking, trying to strike them below the chin. "You handle these guys, I'll go after the monster," Tommy said, jumping out of the crowd before Kim could protest.
She let out a frustrated grunt as he jumped away, she did not like taking orders from him. True he may have been a red ranger first, but she had been one longer. Her ability to travel through time coupled with her Murathian life span made her hundreds of years old as she would often teleport to a distant planet, or back in time before man existed and train her mind and body, she was certain that she was close to completely mastering her powers by now.
Tommy pulled out his sword and ran towards the monster who said "What? Only one ranger? Well I guess you'll do as an appetizer!" Tommy couldn't help but be repulsed by this monster, it looked like a combination of the Lizzinator and the Terror Toad, but with Rita's voice. That screech of a voice alone was enough to drive him mad. He couldn't believe that he had once served her, even if it was because he had been under a spell.
He struck the monster as hard as he could with his sword, knocking the monster down the ground with a chuck of its arm missing. "Maybe he's not so tough, Sarahna must be losing her touch."
Jason landed behind Cairus, kicking the alien into the ground. "What are you doing here Cairus?" he demended.
Cairus picked himself up and brushed the dirt off of his armor. "That should be obvious, I'm here to kill you!" He looked around and saw that Jason was alone, this was going to be too easy, just the way he liked it. He was guaranteed a victory this time around. Drawing his sword he ran to attack the green ranger, who managed to block his attack and counter it, sending the human fox back onto the ground.
"You're making this too easy Cairus, what happened? Has that warrior instinct left you?" Jason taunted, back in the old days he wouldn't have done that, but it had been a long time since he had been a teenager and he had changed a lot since then.
"Not hardly," Cairus responded in his gravelly voice as he snapped his fingers. When he did a group of Courtadrones appear around Jason and grabbed him, before quickly teleporting back to the Lunar Palace.
Kim lifted her leg up to kick the last Courtadrone and stomped him onto the ground before running over to help Tommy with the monster. She had seen the fight, and it was pretty much one-sided, this monster was unbelievably weak, it was no wonder Billy hadn't sent Karone and Zhane out yet. Just as the thought crossed her mind a blue and a white streak landed beside her and formed into the blue and white Zeo rangers. "Tommy, we're going to call on the Zeo Cannon!" Karone shouted to her old friend. Tommy backed up into formation with the others and together summoned the cannon and fired it at the monster, blowing him up.
"Great, now we need to see what's taking Jason so long," Kim said as they sent the Cannon away. Together the four of them teleported to Angel Grove High, only to see that both Jason and Cairus were gone. "Now that's odd," Kim stated. Just as the words left her mouth Jason stumbled from around the corner.
The four of them ran to his side and quickly asked if he was alright. He explained what had happened, and that just as the Courtadrones teleported him out he used his own teleportation power, and hit the ground as he de-morphed. 'But I'm fine," he said.
"Well still, we should have Billy check you out just to be safe," Karone said as she hit the buttons on his communicator before he could protest against it.
Cairus ripped the head off of one of the Courtadrones, he couldn't believe that Jason had slipped through his fingers like that. "If it hadn't been for his damn teleportaion power," he said as he threw the head down and smashed it. He had been so close, and yet he still failed. Though he did have one comfort, he had come closer to defeating the rangers than Sarahana had. Since he had been left in charge he had been able to incacitate one, forcing another to go with him, leaving them with three, and he had almost captured their leader, which had he not teleported and had they not found replacements, would have left them with two rangers. "Next time, next time they will not be so lucky."
Jason sat out on the patio of Bulkmeier's waiting for Lisa to arrive. He was trying hard not to show it on the outside, but on the inside he was beaming. Not only had Billy given him the okay to do whatever he pleased, but he had also gotten the condo he wanted. Other than nearly being kidnapped by fox boy, this had turned out to be a great day. He couldn't help but smile once he saw Lisa walk up and sit down, now the night would be even better than the day had been.
Zhane sat in his apartment, looking at his locket and the pictures it contained. So many thoughts raced through his head, he wanted to tell her how he felt, but he didn't know how to, not without getting a fist put in his face anyway, he had made some mistakes in the past, and he knew that. He just wondered what he could do to get her to forgive him. Snapping the locket closed he stuffed it back down in his shirt out of sight and walked outside to go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Deep within the M-51 Galaxy Sarahna looked in her left hand at the chrome staff that she had stolen from the auction house on Onyx, sitting atop it was a huge "Z", and her right hand she held the gold coin with the picture of the Mastadon rising up on it and a Lightning Diamond. She had killed a man on Karan to obtain it, and now she had three. All she needed now were the other three, and Jason then her plan would be complete, and sitting before her lay the means to accomplish this goal.