A/N: Four chapters to go in this story, yes folks we are headed down the stretch. In this chapter, the Rangers take a major step towards ultimate victory.

A/N 2: I own nothing. Power Rangers once belonged to Saban, then they went to Disney, now they belong to Saban again.

Chapter 32: One Down, One to Go

Saturday, February 26, 2005

1492 Valencia Drive

Reefside, CA

Hours later, the Oliver household was in mass chaos.

It had not taken long for the call to go out about what had happened. The second the word had got out that Conner and Kira were in trouble, everyone had stopped what they were doing and converged on Tommy's house.

It wasn't just Tommy and Kim that were pissed either, every one of the Rangers there now were fighting mad. Everyone wanted to go to the Moon and whip Adrianna's ass, but knew it wouldn't do them any good right now. They couldn't destroy her until Conner's child was born.

Besides, they preferred to support their own. And right now, two of their own needed help. Adrianna would get her receipt, but at a much later date.

Kimberly could feel the sadness of her fellow Pterodactyl; they embraced tightly as the tears flowed from Kira's eyes. Kimberly could see how Kira looked, and it wasn't good; her eyes were red, certainly sleep-deprived from the night before, and the stress was clearly evident on her face.

"We're going to get you through this, Kira...we're going to get you through this..." Kim tried to soothe her but the tears were still coming down.

"What if it doesn't happen this time, Kim?" Kira said.

"Admittedly, I will tell you that it's a lot tougher for us all this time. We've said it before, but Adrianna doesn't play by the same rules that the first villains we faced did. It won't be easy. But you can't be sucked in by the unknown," Kim said. "The power of optimism always prevails. It worked for us, and it will work for you all too."

"I wish there was a lot to be optimistic about right now, Kim..." Kira said.

"That's just how Adrianna wants you to feel though," Kim said. "She's the kind of woman that feeds off people like you, like us having fears of the unknown. Unfortunately for her, and fortunately for us, we've been through this. We've been blackmailed before, though certainly not to this extent."

"Basically what I'm saying is, we know how to handle situations like this. Have you noticed that Adrianna doesn't want to face us head on?" Kim said.

"Well, her being pregnant with Con's future child is certainly reason for that," Kira said.

"No, I want you to remember back even before Conner got captured, before he got hit with that spell, before all this started," Kim said. "Try and think, Kira, do you remember more than one time that she faced us head on?"

"Only one time, and that time, she lost," Kira said.

"That's exactly the point. She's trying to make you be afraid of her, when in reality, she fears us," Kim said. "That's why she sends her goons like Dischordia after us, and doesn't face us head on."

"This goes all the way back to 1996 too, in case you forgot," Kim said. "She didn't want to face us head on again then either, so what happened? That damn Letter."

"Unfortunately, we can't face her right now," Kira said.

"Maybe you're right but maybe if I talk to Dulcea, we can come up with something," Kim said.

Over across the room, the various Reds in the room were trying to work on Conner; they all really felt for the poor guy. He was expected to lead a team, and had been through so much. Clearly, his confidence had been greatly shaken though and he looked like he'd been through a war just from the previous night.

"I just wish this woman would go away," Conner said, face in his hands; clearly, he was beleaguered. "She has, literally, ruined my life and for what? Just because we are who we are?"

"But then, I guess that wouldn't work either, not until my child is born at least," Conner added. "I just wish she'd have the fortitude to come face us once. Just once. But I know she doesn't have that."

"If anything, that's actually reason to be proud of you, and us, Conner," Tommy said. "Even back in the day, she didn't want to face us. She knows that Kim and I combined, when we're together, she can't beat us. That's why she sends her goons after us to try to eliminate us because she knows she can't get the job done on her own."

"Yeah and that's why she sent the Letter, too," Conner said.

"The good news for all of us is, as a temporary solution, is that I can go do something that will alleviate a lot of our issues," Dulcea said. "We will have to deal with problems when the child is born, but for now I at least have a solution."

"What do you mean by that?" Trini asked. She knew Dulcea could so a lot of things, but what was she proposing this time?

"Just wait. You'll see," Dulcea said, and she left the room.

Zordon watched the whole thing with interest, and surmised that if he were a direct part of a team that this happened to, he supposed he would be mad too. Nevertheless, the strategy of the Rangers was one he agreed with; channel the energy positively, not negatively.

Conner and Kira were hurt, no doubt, but they would be OK as long as they had the older teams backing them up.

Later That Night

Adrianna Repulsa's Palace

M-51 Galaxy

As she climbed into bed, her growing child in her womb, she cursed those blasted Rangers again.

Conner and that blonde bitch of his just had to call the older team and the older team just had to gather the flock again and re-assure them everything would be OK.

As powerful as her dream the night before was, she knew that Dr. Oliver and that original Pink Ranger would find a way to counteract it. She'd probably try again some night soon just to test him, but she knew that dream was no longer going to be as good of an option. So too, was going to be any mental game she may have planned.

She was now caught between a rock and a hard place.

She knew she had to raise the stakes, somehow, someway. Had to make the Rangers sweat something out. Give them something to think about. But she knew the dangers of that.

She didn't want to confront the Rangers, not by herself anyways. As powerful as she was, she knew she was no match for the Falcon and Crane when they were together and working as one. They had made mincemeat of Dischordia and Croonia not long ago.

Not to mention, she needed that child alive. Going into battle could risk that child's life.

She could have aborted the child if she wanted, as she threatened to do in that dream, but she wasn't having that.

She needed that child for leverage. Her ultimate hope was that when the child was born, she could use that child as bait to bring Conner back into the fold. And even if that didn't work, she could mold the child into a soldier of evil, hopefully powerful enough to conquer the unvierse some day down the line.

Besides all of that, that child was hers.

It would be several months in Earth time for her plan to work and till she got Conner back in the fold, but she had patience. Anything worth having was worth exercising patience for.

She still remembered her time with him in bed, too. The boy had been so good, and she only wished she had more time with him before those stupid Rangers had set him free. As she drifted off to sleep, she actually dreamed of what she and Conner would do together once she got him back in her grasp.

She was so far asleep after awhile that she didn't notice the presence in the room, nor the hands that went across her body ever so briefly.

And she certainly didn't hear the whisper of an archrival of hers. Who wasn't here for her, by any stretch.

She was here for the child that was being carried.

"Young developing child, hold on to this energy, which will protect you in case this woman goes to battle with the Rangers. This power will also protect you should this woman try and kill you before you are born. You shall not die," the voice whispered as Adrianna's body flashed ever so briefly, then, just as quickly, the light faded, and the person disappeared just as quickly.

Sunday, February 27, 2005, early afternoon

1492 Valencia Drive

Reefside, CA

About 24 hours after Conner and Kira had arrived at Tommy's residence, things had quieted down somewhat. Conner felt a lot better about things after what he'd heard this morning.

Now, Adrianna couldn't kill his kid, even if she wanted to. He knew she was probably just bluffing, because he figured she probably needed the child anyways, but it was still nice to know his child would at least live to see its birth.

According to what Dulcea had told him, she put a protection spell on the child, so that at least until its birth, no force of evil could harm it unless Adrianna was destroyed, at which point the child would die as well.

Conner groaned inwardly when Dulcea told him that she had gone up to M-51 in the middle of the night to put that protection spell on the child, but he was thankful at the same time for what she'd done. That said, he didn't like that Dulcea had potentially risked a battle to go up there and protect his child.

He was simply glad it hadn't come down to that.

By early afternoon, the entire clan was eating a nice lunch out in Tommy's backyard; it was another beautiful Southern California afternoon, as it usually was, so Conner was lounging around playing with a soccer ball with his feet.

He was trying to stay off his feet as much as possible too; in his soccer training recently, he'd turned an ankle and even though the Power would help him with that when he got in uniform, it didn't do a damn thing for him with his soccer training. Ankle injuries, as any athlete would attest, took a long time to go away and this had only happened about a week ago.

"Mentally, how are you feeling now that you heard this news?" Trini asked as she and Jason came and sat by Conner.

"A lot better. I won't feel completely better until my child is safe and Adrianna is destroyed which will have to wait until this summer almost assuredly, but I know that for now at least, I won't have to worry about my child and school at the same time," Conner said.

"And that's why Tommy and Kim brought you and Kira back here at least until Tuesday when you go back," Jason said. "We've all been through the college stuff, about 99 percent of us. It can be the most fun four years of your life, but also the most stressful. You shouldn't have to worry about a child and school at the same time."

"That's very nice of them both, and we'll thank them obviously when we go back on Monday night. However, I have a feeling she's going to attack us when she finds out what's going on. Sooner or later, she will."

"Yeah, we won't be able to predict when she'll strike again. But always be ready. Get that ankle of yours good and ready for when it happens too. The Power will help obviously but we'll need you 100 percent," Jason said.

"One other thing I want to ask you too. Are you sure you can take on Adrianna by yourself if it comes to that?" Trini asked earnestly. "You know she's going to try to single you or Kira out."

"Are you kidding me? That's what I'm hoping happens," Conner said. "I HOPE she singles me out. Now that I know my child lives unless Adrianna is destroyed, she's going to feel my wrath."

Trini chuckled slightly. Reds were so predictable sometimes, so hotheaded. That said, it was good that he was channeling that energy in a positive manner.

"Ever thought that she might use your emotions against you? She's capable of anything," Trini said.

Conner sighed and knew Trini was right. The witch was smart, cunning, conniving. It would not be as easy to defeat her as it was to defeat Zeltrax and to a lesser extent Elsa. She'd already done too much to be underestimated. He of all people knew that.

But his determination hadn't wavered.

"On those things, you're right. She is all of those things, and it would be dumb to take her lightly. She could come down here at any time and put me under her control again," Conner said. "But I'm not going to let that happen."

"See I owe her some payback, too. It's not just Dr. O and Ms. Hart that have some payback to give her, of all the people here I may have been affected the worst."

None of them listening to the conversation denied what Conner was saying either. He had been far more affected by Adrianna than anyone else in the room, they had to admit.

Because Adrianna had brought him into Tommy and Kim's business Conner now had a child. A powerful child that had already played a role in this fight and it wasn't even BORN yet. Tommy couldn't say that, and Kim couldn't say that either.

"I'm not promising anything, but I can tell you I'm going to unleash my fury on her and at least put a few knocks on her head," Conner said. "My child needs a world to live in...free of evil. For that to happen I have to take her on and not fall prey to her."

Words were just words, but everyone on the patio sensed Conner's determination.

He knew that showdown was coming. And he not only wanted it...he was going to get it. He was going to have the chance to prove just how much he'd learned.

Thursday, March 3, 2005

5:15 p.m. local time

Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

He'd barely had an opportunity to sit down after coming in from study hall, and Kira had barely sat down also as she had music stuff the whole afternoon.

Yet their communicators were ringing.

Conner didn't have any doubt what this was. He felt lucky to have a few days off after the favor Dulcea had did for him. But he knew once Adrianna would find out what happened...and she would, she'd return with a vengeance.

"Are you ready, Jock?" Kira asked. "This is it."

"As I'll ever be, Rockstar," Conner said, and took a deep breath before he put his communicator to his lips.

"Conner here, go ahead," he said.

"Big attack, downtown Reefside," Hayley's voice sounded over his communicator. "Adrianna, Mama D, the whole rudy poo crew (credit to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for that line). The others are on their way."

"And Conner...good luck. Do your best," Hayley said.

"Thanks, Hayley," Conner said. "Let's do it, Rockstar."

"Dino Thunder, Power Up, Ha."

Conner, Kira and the rest of the Rangers who had come from Reefside, Angel Grove and all points in between touched down in the middle of the town, surprisingly, to find no one there.

They were the only ones that could be seen for miles. The Rangers brows furrowed under their helmets, but Conner was on high alert. His senses were tingling.

"I see no one here," Trent said. "Perhaps, we came to the wrong place."

"No, they're here, I can sense it. They're waiting for the right time to attack us. I've got a surprise for them though. Hold on a second..." Conner said as he focused deeply. His eyes wandered over near where a series of garbage and recycle dumpsters were.

"There!" Conner said as he pointed to the nearest dumpster. "Aim your weapons for that dumpster. Trust me."

"You heard the man," Tommy said. "Blade Blasters!"

"Thundermax Sabers," called the Dino Thunder team.

As one, they fired where Conner had instructed them to. Sure enough, a series of explosions brought Adrianna and her crew back into view, as they all crashed to the ground hard.

Adrianna picked herself up off the ground, clearly upset that her surprise attack had been foiled.

"You look surprised, witch," Conner said. "You didn't think I had some advantages too?"

"I must admit, darling, that was a good one. Using OUR child to track me and my army...pure genius. But do you really think you can take me on, without the help of your friends?" Adrianna said. "I must say, it is too bad that my nightmares don't work on you anymore."

"And it's a darned good thing they don't. As far as taking me on, I guess I should be asking you the same thing. You've never had the guts to come face us in the first place, you have to send your goons to do your dirty work, so why do you think you can beat me straight up?" Conner said.

"I like to call it self-preservation, sweetheart. You're good but can be pretty thick-headed and not understanding of that concept...perhaps you and I can look into that once I get you back in my grasp. Mama D, take you, the generals and the footsoldiers and deal with the others. The Red Ranger is mine and always has been."

Indeed, a swarm of generals, Tengas and Putra-Pods descended on the rest of the Rangers, leaving Conner and Adrianna alone.

"You know, you're lucky that the wretched witch Dulcea is looking out for you," Adrianna said in a smooth voice as she circled Conner. Conner didn't flinch though; his gaze was hard as steel.

"It's good to have friends," Conner said. "Not like you'd know anything about them. That's why your kind always loses, and that's why you're gonna lose too."

"Oh really?" Adrianna said, raising an eyebrow. "You can ask Dr. Oliver and his girlfriend about how much damage I can do to them. And if I can do that damage to them, then I can do the same to you. Beat you so far into submission you'll beg to come back to me."

"All I need is one good day, sweetheart," Adrianna said. "I could beat you any time I want and you know it."

"Except you've never had the guts to try it, so I wouldn't bet on it," Conner said.

"I'll be damned if I didn't think you called me a coward twice already," Adrianna said; she tried to put up a false bravado, but in reality she was half unnerved and half impressed. Most guys who saw her would shake in their boots; he obviously wasn't intimidated.

"If you think you've got guts, then fight me," Conner said. "That simple."

"I hate that it's come to this," Adrianna sighed as she drew her weapon, a staff similar to Master Vile's, and rushed at Conner.

"Tyranno Staff," Conner called, then deftly stepped to the side of Adrianna's rush, getting himself in better position. This surprised his opponent; she thought he'd rush into the attack leaving him vulnerable.

Throughout the fight, Conner reminded himself to be true to who he was; it helped him overcome a lot because Adrianna consistently tried at varying points to tempt him to be overaggressive. But because he wasn't taking the bait, 15 minutes in, the fight was at a stalemate.

"Just know that you made me go to this," Adrianna said as she extended her staff and two of her energy-draining snakes zoomed forth from it and latched onto Conner, wrapping themselves around him tight.

"Get these things off of me!" Conner screamed as he tried to rip them off, but it was no use, they had too tight a hold of him.

"I'm sure you're going to feel electrified by this," Adrianna smirked as she pointed her wand directly at Conner but more specifically, at her snakes which had him pinned tightly.

Suddenly, electrical charges poured from her snakes directly into Conner, who screamed in unimaginable pain.

"STOP IT, PLEASE!" Conner shouted.

"Sorry, my darling, but this is for your own good," Adrianna said as she giggled while her snakes continued to trap Conner in an electrical force field.

Kira was nearby and fighting some Tengas when she heard Conner scream. Dr Oliver said, "Go help him. We've got things over here."

Right as Conner was about to pass out and Adrianna was about to declare victory, Kira flew as high and long as she could, striking the two snakes with her Ptera Grips, ending Conner's pain. She then ripped the snakes off him, and immediately incinerated them with lasers from her Thundermax Saber.

Conner had to get a moment to get his bearings, but felt his strength return to him when the snakes that had him bound were destroyed.

"You OK, Jock?" Kira said as she knelt next to him.

"Yeah. I'll be fine, just give me a second," Conner said, and he stood back up. "God, that hurt. She tried to use those snakes to drain my powers. But I'll be OK."

A moment later, Conner did indeed stand back up along with Kira, ready for another go-round.

"You interrupted my private time with Conner, Yellow Ranger," Adrianna hissed as she glared at the two, but in particular Kira.

"Yeah, like I'd let him face you without help for 15 minutes, you cheap slut," Kira growled, readying her Ptera Grips.

Just then, Conner, Kira and Adrianna heard an explosion across the battlefield. Conner and Kira smiled and Adrianna frowned when she saw what had happened. The Power Blaster had weakened Mama D enough, and then Tommy and Kim had obliterated her.

"Looks like your right hand woman just went down," Kira said. "No more friends or footsoldiers to hide behind."

"Ha. That's what you think, Yellow Ranger," Adrianna said, then turning to Conner. "I'm leaving, darling, but rest assured I'll be back some day. Consider yourself fortunate to have fared well against me. Until then, here's a little gift from me to you. Enjoy."

Her wand then charged up with energy and it launched towards where Mama D's remains were. Moments later, not only was Mama D not destroyed, she was some sort of gigantic fish monster. Then, Adrianna disappeared back to her Palace.

Conner grunted in frustration as he and Kira rejoined the others, right as Mama D began her stomp through downtown.

"Typical coward move. Looks like we'll need all of us to beat her," Conner said.

"No, Conner. You and Kira both retreat, please. Kim and I have a score to settle with this lady; the Ninjas will handle this," Tommy said in a voice that left no room for backtalk.

Conner sighed, looked at his team and said, "Let's go, guys. Back to the Lab."

15 minutes later, Tommy's house

Surprisingly enough to Conner, the battle was over rather quickly. He expected a lot more of a fight from Mama D, but Tommy and Kim and the Ninjas had her outmatched.

It was clear that Adrianna had left Mama D to rot; an act of self-preservation no doubt.

But to Conner, clearly a coward move. She obviously didn't want to deal with him again, at least not under those circumstances.

Zordon nodded as he watched Tommy's prized charge. It hadn't been easy to go up against a girl like Adrianna who knew every trick in the book, and it was encouraging to know that Conner didn't get too down about how that skirmish ended. He was doing fine until she cheated.

He, and Hayley, watched Conner and knew he'd have to face Adrianna again, likely after his child was born.

But he now had confidence that Conner could not only fight effectively against her, but help destroy her outright.

It was only a matter of time. It was now one down, and one to go.

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