Power Ranger Triad
Chapter 5
After Jason and Danni's sparing episode things continued on a "normal" path for the compound although both Bill and Jason tried several times to speak with Tommy and the other guys in the compound but after a few awkward questions they both gave up. In the end Bill ended up talking to Kimberly and got the best advice. Just be yourself and ALWAYS consider the woman's pleasure first.
Jason's sparring session with Danielle somehow leaked out and soon Tommy was requested a sparring session with her. At first Danielle refused, knowing that the only reason he asked was to see if she was good as Jason and Bill had said. Then after a week's consideration Danielle send Tommy a message stating the time and place of their sparring session. As it turned out everyone was in the training room when Danielle entered the training room.
"Gee, I didn't know you sold tickets Tommy, should I ask for a percentage?" said Danielle as she came over and dropped her bag on the edge of the mat.
She was dressed in a tank top and shorts, normally for sparring she wore her martial arts clothes but she had a feeling this was going to be another tough session and she didn't want to give Tommy any advantages.
"We just wanted to see if…." started Adam and then sudden stopped as Kimberly's elbow made contact with his rib cage.
"It's ok Kim. I know why you're all here. The guys are here to see if I'm as good as Jason said I was. You girls, are here to see me whip Tommy's ass. Bill and Jas are here to see that I don't get hurt again"
At the guilty looks on each of their faces Danielle smiled.
"Remember guys, I AM a Master Time-Lord. Now are you absolutely sure you want to do this Tommy?" asked Dannie as she stood in front of him.
"Not chickening out are you Danni" asked Tommy.
"Thomas Oliver!" exclaimed Katherine from her place on the side.
Jason and Bill both took a few steps onto the mat before Danielle's voice stopped them.
"It's alright guys. I just want to make absolutely sure that you're coming into this session of your own free will" said Danielle as she stood calmly before him.
"I am," answered Tommy.
"Then let's begin," said Danni as she took her stance.
Tommy rushes Danielle and she easily blocked his strikes and side stepped his rush.
"Is that all you have Oliver," asked Danni as she stood there with her hands on her hips.
Tommy looked at her and saw Kimberly and Katherine trying unsuccessfully not to laugh.
"All right, no more mister nice guy."
"Bring it on Red Ranger," answered Danielle with a little "come and get me" jester.
After that all conversation ceased as both Tommy and Danielle tried to get the better of each other. In the end, once again it was Danielle that ended it with Tommy on his back and an arm on his neck.
"Concede or Die," asked Danielle as she looked down on him.
"Concede," said Tommy quietly.
Danielle looked down at him and then released him and offered her hand to help him up. Tommy hesitated for only a second and then took the offered hand.
"You did well Thomas," said Danielle as she took the towel Bill offered her.
"Thank you, Master" said Tommy as he bowed to her.
"Now can I make a suggestion? You'll have been working very hard on your training and studies.
I think that you'll deserve a break. Go out, together or separately I don't care, but leave the compound and have some fun." said Danielle as she wiped her face and arms.
"Sounds like a good idea. We haven't been to see my mother since we moved into the compound" said Kimberly as she and Adam left the training room.
"Katherine, you might need to take care of Tommy" said Danni as she watched the young man struggle with his bag.
"Come on Oliver, looks like you might need a little help" said Katherine as she came over and put her arm under his shoulder.
"Thanks Kat." said Tommy as he smiled at her and then looked back at Danni as they exited the training room.
Danielle was now sitting on the bench against the wall with her head back and eyes closed. Jason hadn't noticed when she moved slowly over to the bench until he saw Tommy look towards her.
"Danni?" asked Jason as he came over to her and brushed her hair off her face.
"I'm fine Jas," answered Danni quietly.
"The hell you are Danni, your hurt again!" said Bill as he came over beside her.
"Where Danni?" asked Jason as he put a hand on her forehead.
"My ribs and shoulder again. I think I re broke them" answered Danielle as she tried to take a deep breath but grimaced in pain from the effort.
"But we healed you the last time," said Bill as he knelt down in front of her.
"Remember your healings only accelerate the processes. It still takes time to fully heal, and when certain people keep trying to test my sparring skills" said Danielle with a little laugh which she stopped quickly as she grimaced in pain.
"Then I guess we'll just have to put the word out that you are NOT sparring for a while" answered Jason emphatically
"Oh yeah, and who's is going to stop me from taking you two on again?" asked Danni teasingly
"We are! And your ribs. Now be still while we heal you again." said Bill as he placed his hands on both sides of her ribs, while Jason healed her shoulder. After a few minutes Danni sighed in relief and once again opened her eyes to the concerned looks of Jason and Bill.
"I'm alright guys, I promise" said Danielle as she placed her hands on both man's check "Check for yourselves" then she opened her mind to them so they could see that her pain was gone.
"Yes but someone is tired and needs to rest" answered Jason
"Yes, Jas" said Danielle as she took the hand he offered and pulled her up from the bench.
They once again walked quietly to her quarter s but it was Jason and Bill who gave Danielle the chasten kiss on the check then left her standing in her doorway. She put her hand to her check and with a small smile entered her quarters.
For the next few days neither Jason nor Bill would let Danielle do anything more strenuous than work in the science or computer lab. Bill had even ran her out of his sparring session with the treat of siccing Jason on her. She had found out the hard way after Jason's sparring session that when Jason was intent on something he could be a real pest. So she conceded and spent the last few days working on different projects in the Science or Computer lab. It was in the Computer lab that Bill found her working at the main terminal.
"Hi ya Handsome, why didn't you go with the others?" asked Danielle as she turned around from the display in front of her.
Last night at dinner Tommy had told her that they were going out the next morning. It had been almost three months since they all had moved into the compound, Danni figured that Bill would jump at the chance to go out with his friends. But instead here he was standing in front of her in an empty computer lab.
"The group decided to go scuba diving, and after an incident in my past scuba diving is not one of my favorite past times," replied Bill
"Ah yes, the fish" smiled Danielle
She had seen the before mentioned incident in his mind when she made the first connection. She couldn't really blame him though, if something like that had happened to her she probably would have developed a phobia about fish to.
"So, what are your plans for today since everyone is gone?" asked Danni as she turned back to the terminal
"Well, I thought that maybe I could help you with whatever you were working on?"
"Bill, you need to relax as much as the others do,"
"And what about you? You've been working just as hard as the rest of us if not harder" replied Bill emphatically
"All right handsome, how about a compromise. How about a hike in the Texas Hill Country?"
"Danni, I hate to burst your bubble. We're in California, not Texas" replied Bill
"I know that, but I've just written a computer program for the holodeck of a hiking trail in the Texas Hill Country. Want to come along?"
"Are you sure you're up to it?" asked Bill
"Now don't you start too! I've done everything you both have asked for the past few days and I feel one hundred percent better"
"Well I must confess that you have been good about taking it easy"
"Right now, so how about it handsome. Meet me at the holodeck in about twenty minutes ready for an easy hike" said Danni
"Alright, you have a deal."
"Great!" said Danni as she threw her arms around his neck "Oops sorry, forgot" she said as she quickly withdrew her arms and left the lab.
"That's quite alright actually" said Bill softly to no one in particular. If he really admitted it to himself he really liked the feel of Danni's arms around his neck.
Twenty minutes later Bill was waiting for Danielle in front of one of the rooms that served as their training room. She arrived a few minutes later wearing blue jeans, hiking boots, a tank top and a long sleeve over shirt. Bill remembered the last time he had seen her wear that shirt just after they had found out the whole story of Mark and what she had been forced to give up. He wondered if she realized that she was wearing that same shirt now.
"Ready to go" asked Danielle.
"Absolutely," answered Bill.
Danielle pushed a button and the doors slide open to the most beautiful scene Bill had ever seen.
"Welcome to the great state of Texas!" exclaimed Danni as the door closed behind them.
After hiking until almost noon Danni and Bill decided to stop and eat lunch. They found a small patch of green grass under a small stand of trees. Bill didn't understand where Danni was going to get lunch from because she hadn't even brought a backpack with her more less a picnic basket. But a few minutes later she returned with a basket in one hand and a blanket over her arm.
"Here we go, I hope you like ham and cheese subs." said Danni as she handed Bill the blanket
"My favorite, but how did you….?" asked Bill as he spread the blanket on the ground.
"Simple, every holodeck has a replicator built in. All you have to do is ask the computer for the doorway and the replicator is on the right hand side" said Danni as she begins to take out the sandwiches.
She had thought of everything, not only were there sandwiches, but also chips, fruit and tea, lemonade or water to drink. She had even brought plates, cups, silverware and napkins. After a leisurely lunch and a little rest, Danni and Bill started back on the trail and about an hour later they were back at the start of the hiking trail.
"That was an excellent afternoon Danni, and very relaxing. Thank you." said Bill as they exited the holodeck only to be greeted by a very upset Jason.
"Just where the hell you two have been!" asked Jason as he stared at the pair, they looked like they'd had too much fun to just have been working in the Science or Computer lab all day.
As soon as he'd returned from scuba diving he'd wanted to tell Bill all about his dive. He knew that Bill wouldn't have gone diving with them but he had hoped that he would have been waiting for them when they got out. But he had begged off under the pretense of helping Danni in the labs. But neither were in the labs nor anywhere he could find. The computer had said they were on holodeck III but when he went there he didn't see any sign of them. So he had waited until finally they had emerged from the holodeck laughing and looking very relaxed.
"Jas, I….." started Bill.
"Don't bother Bill; he's too upset to listen to anything either of us has to say right now. Now if you'll excuse me." said Danielle as she pushed past him but stopped when he grabbed her arm.
"Just where the hell do you think you're going!" asked Jason loudly.
"Jas," said Bill cautiously.
"Let go of me Jason Lee Scott" said Danielle quietly but with enough force that Jason let go of her and took a step back. "First of all. You're NEVER to touch me like that again. Secondly, Bill and I spent the afternoon hiking on the holodeck."
"But you said that you wouldn't interfere in our relationship…"started Jason
"And I've kept my promise, which is more than I can say for you. Watch" said Danielle as she sent her and Bill's memories of the day to Jason.
He stood there ramrod straight watching Bill's and Danielle's day, then his shoulders sag as realization set in that she had been right. It had been an innocent day between friends. He turned to see Danielle standing with her back to him.
"Danni, I'm sorry" said Jason as he came up behind her.
"You HAVE to learn control Jason, and trust. This is twice now that you have jumped to a wrong conclusion about a perceived wrong you thought I have done."
"I'm sorry Danielle" answered Jason quiet.
"Jason, I just don't know what to do. I'm beginning to wonder if this triad will really work if you can't learn to trust me" sighed Danielle deeply and then with a hurt, sad look in her eyes turned to leave.
"Danni, wait!" cried Jason.
At his cry Danielle stopped but didn't turn around to face him, Jason reached for her but stopped just short of touching her for fear she would reject him. "I really want to trust you but…."
"There might be a way Jas. It won't be easy, either physically or mentally."
"I'll do anything," said Jason eagerly.
"Be sure Jason Scott; be absolutely sure. Once you start there is no turning back. Once the cycle has started it must run its course to its completion. Wither its good or bad."
"I'll do it!" said Jason.
"Just exactly what are you asking him to do?" asked Bill,
"The trials of Zicots" answered Danielle flatly.
"Jas." said Bill cautiously.
"I have to Bill, don't you see. If I don't we could lose her" answered Jason with a pleading in his voice
"Bill is right Jason. You must go to the library and research what I'm asking you to do. You must fully understand what I'm asking of you." said Danielle. "When you're ready send me a com and I will make the necessary arrangements."
With that said Danielle walked away from both of them possibly never to see either of them again. If Jason didn't learn to trust her absolutely this triad had no chance of working. She just hoped he had the courage to face what she was asking of him. Because if he didn't it would be Mark all over again except with one difference, her heart was involved this time.
With Mark it had started as lust and turned into the beginnings of love but she had lost him before it could turn into full fledge love. With Jason and Bill it was love at first sight, or as close to it as she had ever come. She hadn't hesitated for a second when the council suggested the triad. She knew instinctively that these two were for her and that if they succeed this triad would be one of the most powerful the universe had ever seen.
The only problem was that Jason still had doubts; Bill was closer than Jason to accepting the triad and everything that it involved but Jason still had issues with trust. Funny that because of the two she had expected Bill to be the one with trust issues given everything that had happened to him. But it was always the tough ones; they were so used to controlling everything and handling it themselves that they didn't know how to ask for, or except help. Well this was Jason's last chance, if he didn't pass the Trials of Zicot there could be no hope for the Triad. So she silently prayed to whatever gods were listening that Jason had it in him to trust her enough to pass the trials ahead of him.
"Oh Bill, what have I done" cried Jason as he fell into Bill's arms.
He had seen the look of disappointment and despair in Danni's eyes. Over the past few months he had slowly worked back some of her trust only to lose all he had gained with one stupid jealous rage.
"Come on Jas, I think we both need some rest." said Bill as he led Jason towards their quarters.
Over the next few days Jason and Bill spent all their time either in the library or locked in their quarters. Likewise Danielle was nowhere to be found. One the third day Jason sent Danielle a message that he was ready. She replied that she would start the arrangements and notify him when she was ready. It was another day before they heard from Danielle. They were sitting in their quarter under the pretense of reading when the comm came in.
"Danielle Marks to Jason Scott?"
"Jason here, yes Danni?"
"I am ready" said Danni in a monotone voice that Jason couldn't tell wither she was glad or sad
"Report to holodeck II for the Trial of Zicot"
With a deep sigh they both rose and headed for the door. Bill had told Jason on the first day that he was going with him. No matter how much Jason argued Bill was insistent that he was accompany him, well right or wrong at least he would have one of his loves by his side.
"Let's do this" said Jason as he took Bill's hand and walked toward his destiny.
When they arrived at the holodeck Danielle was standing outside waiting for them. They couldn't tell anything from her expression only that she looked a little tired.
"Hello Danni."
"Hello Jason, are you ready to begin" answered Danielle.
"Yes, we are" answered Billy.
"William, you will not be allow to go in with Jason, this must be his trial and his alone"
"But I want to do it to!"
"Are you absolutely certain?" asked Danni as she looked at him hard. She knew that the two of them had gotten close but she felt this was asking a lot of each other.
"Yes, absolutely!"
"Then you will begin your trial when Jason's has completed his" stated Danni then she turned to Jason.
"Jason Scott, you are about to face the trials of Zicot. Have you researched what is beginning asked of you and are you prepared to complete each trial?"
"Yes"
"Then you may proceed. You will be given three trials. Each will test your ability to rely on the three most important things to you. Each trial will be a little harder than the previous and you will know you have completed it when you hear a chime. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Master."
"Then proceed at your will, and good luck Jason" answered Danielle as she pushed the final button on the control panel.
Jason took a deep breath then moved forward to the doors that opened automatically at his presence, with a quick backwards glance he moved inside and the doors quietly closed behind him. Thirty minutes later you hear a loud chime signally the completion of Jason's first trial. Bill looked over at Danielle and saw that she was still at the control panel sitting there as if she was asleep. Bill wanted to go over to her and ask her how Jason was doing but he had a feeling he knew her answer. So here he stood waiting to see if Jason completed the last two trials.
Another Forty five minutes passed before Bill heard the second chime and still Danielle sat. Although when he looked this time she was leaning on the control panel a little more than before but still sat, eyes closed stock still like she was asleep. He wished he had the courage to go over and find out what was going on with Jason. He was sure that Danielle was mentally linked with what was going on in the holodeck but he didn't dare.
One of the first things that Danielle had told them both after she had formed the connection was that the uninvited touching of one's mind was akin to rape. And that was something that he just couldn't do, so here he stood hoping and waiting that Jason could make it through the last and most challenging trial.
Inside the holodeck Jason found himself standing on the top of a rock canyon. He was physically and emotionally exhausted but he knew he had one more trial to complete and this one would be the toughest of all. So calling on all the strength he had left in him he rose to his feet and waiting for the last trial to begin.
Soon the sky darkened and the clouds rolled in. In the distance Jason could hear thunder rolling in and see little flashes of lightening. A few minutes later the sky was pitch black except for flashes of lightening, within seconds the ground started to shake slightly and Jason found it increasingly hard to keep his balance. Minutes later the ground under his feet split and he had to jump to his right to find solid ground to stand on. From the cavern that used to be solid ground hot flames of nauseas gases burst for causing Jason to take a few steps backwards.
After that Jason could say that literally all hell broke loose, the ground began to shake more violently and chunks of the very ground he was standing on begin to break away and fall down. As more of the ground fell the gases became stronger and more heated. He could see in the distance a small section of what looked like solid ground and started to make a running jump only to be pushed back by a fierce blast of gas.
He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, and then it hit him. Danielle, if she could she would help him. Suppressing his pride Jason looked to the sky and in his loudest voice yelled "Danielle, help me!"
Outside it had been the call Danni had been waiting for, praying with all her heart that Jason would understand what these trials were about. In a brilliant flash of white light Danielle disappeared.
"Jump Jason," called Danielle from somewhere below. Jason couldn't see her but he was certain she was down there someone.
"I can't Danielle."
"Jason, do you trust me?" asked Danielle.
"Yes," answered Jason.
"Then jump! I will catch you."
With one last look at the cavern and the flames rushing forth, Jason closed his eyes and jumped. He could feel the hot flames licking at his skin, then all of a sudden his progress stopped and he was in Danielle's loving arms. "It's alright Jas, I've got you. You're safe now."
Then he heard the last chime and knew that he had completed the trials of Zicot The doors open to an equally exhausted and beat up Jason and Danielle. Danielle had her arm around Jason's waist with his arm on her shoulder. There wasn't one place on either one of them that didn't have a cut or burn and Jason was coughing like he had inhaled some smoke. Bill moved towards them but stopped at Danielle's voice.
"NO! Do you still wish to face the trials?" she asked as she faced Billy with Jason in her arms.
"Yes."
"Then prepare yourself. Your trials will begin when I return" and with that Danielle and Jason disappeared in a flash of white light.
Ten minutes later Danielle reappeared at the control panel. She still looked exhausted and was still cover in cuts and burns.
"Are you ready?" asked Danielle.
"Yes" answered Bill with a slight gulp.
"Then proceed at your will and good luck William," answered Danielle as she pushed the last button on the control panel and Bill moved toward to the doors. Almost two hours later Danielle heard the second call she had been waiting for and in another brilliant white light disappeared again.
"Come to me Bill."
"I can't Danni, the fish" answered Bill with panic in his voice.
"Do you trust me Bill?" asked Danielle.
"Yes."
"Then swim to me Bill. I will protect you."
With one final push the door opened and Bill was out in the open. He wasn't sure where exactly Danielle was but he knew she was here somewhere so he followed her voice in his mind and soon found himself wrapped safely in her protective arms.
Once again Danielle emerged from the holodeck supporting a member of her triad. In another brilliant flash of white light she and Bill disappeared. They reappeared in the infirmary where she placed Bill on a bed beside Jason's, adjusted a few buttons and then disappeared again as the soft blue light engulfed Bill.
Jason and Bill remained in the infirmary for four days awakening within hours of each other. Alpha prime was beside them and turned off the blue light before they rose off the beds.
"How long have we been here?" asked Jason as he rotated his shoulders and rubbed his neck
"Four days and fourteen hours Jason," answered Alpha Prime as he came over to them both and wove a machine at them that he held in his hand "You are both completely healed and the power regenerated." Then closed the machine and walked out of the sick bay.
"Well, I guess we can leave huh?" said Jason.
"Looks like it. I wonder where Danni is?" asked Bill as they walked towards the doors.
"Well Congratulations!" yelled Antonia as she almost ran into the two of them in the corridor "I take it you both passed, since you are still here"
"Thank you, Toni." "Have you seen Danni?" asked Jason.
"You mean she's not in there? I figured that since you both passed she would be sitting by your bedsides until you both woke up." said Toni
"Nope, just Alpha Prime" answered Bill.
"Well maybe she's in the temple, since you two were on the mend maybe she went to relax." said Antonia as she headed towards the temple.
She knew that was where Danielle usually went to relax, there or the park. As the doors opened in the distant she could see a small figure lying on the grass. There was a faint white light surrounding her and she was deathly still. "Oh my god! She couldn't…. She wouldn't!" exclaimed Antonia as she ran to her side and put her hand over her heart.
"Couldn't…. wouldn't what Toni?" asked Bill.
"The trials…in your research didn't you find out how it was done?"
"Yes, by the Council of trials…"started Jason then he stopped and looked at Toni "You mean…. Danni? She did all that by herself?"
"Yes, and because of that I'm afraid she is now dying" said Antonia as she stood up.
"No! Do something…..heal her!" yelled Jason.
"I can't!"
"Then we will, Jas" said Bill as he knelt beside Danni.
"Even as strong as you two are you don't have the power. She needs a re-infusion of the great power from ALL the great spirits"
"Then call them. Tell them what she did… what she needs!" said Jason
"I can't do that either! Remember what Danielle said about me just after we meet. I'm not blessed with the power from a great spirit. Oh I hold power yes, but I've never held the great power. Only someone who has a spirit guide can call the spirits to help her." said Toni as she looked down on her Master, she owed Danielle so much and now because of her stupidity when she was younger she couldn't help her.
"The Power Rangers! Jas, call the others" said Bill quickly.
"Jason Scott to the Power Rangers, please report to the temple immediately!" called Jason.
Seconds later all eight of the former Power Rangers appeared in the temple plus Trey of Trefoil and several of the Aqua Rangers.
"Guys, Danni is dying. We must call our spirits to re-infuse her with the great power." said Jason to the assembled group.
"Of course," said Trey.
"Tell us what to do, Jas" said Tommy.
"Of course well help Jason," said Trini.
"Thank you, thank you all. Now form a circle around her and call on your spirit," said Billy as he and Jason took the space beside her head.
In a few minutes the former Power Rangers and their friends formed a circle around Danielle and one after the other called upon their spirit guides. The guides filled the temple and circled around the former Rangers and Danielle diving in, out and around each of them. Toni looked around and was amazed at the number of spirit guides this group of people had held. Some she recognized but others were strange even to her. After several minutes of swirling and diving the spirits one by one dove into Danielle's body, as the thunderbird entered Danielle's body she gave a great gasp and her body slightly rose off the ground. Both Jason and Bill knelt down beside her and placed their hands on her heart.
"She's alive! Thank you, all" said Jason as he gently brush a strand of hair off her forehead. She still had all the burns and scrapes that he was sure covered him after they had left his trials.
"We need to get her to the infirmary Jas," said Bill as he looked into the eyes of his lover
Jason quickly picked her up called "Medical Emergency in Temple." a second later all three disappeared in a brilliant white light.
"Thank you all," said Antonia as she looked at those rangers that were left.
"Has the triad been formed yet?" asked Trey
"Not yet, but very soon I'm sure."
"Then I wish them all the best and may the great power protect them," said Delphina and with that said they all disappeared. Tommy and the others all left quietly to return to whatever they were doing.