Power Rangers Triad
Chapter 28
The next big crisis for the Universal Power Rangers came two years later when there was a bombing at a conference Jason and Bill were attended. Several months earlier The Universal Power Rangers had made a proposal to help set up an emergency response team for natural disasters' or homeland security threats. The military and governments had heard how well the Angel Grove first response team had done during the battle. So Danni, Jason, Bill, Jack, Kevin and all the staff at the compound worked with representatives from the Military, National Guard, and all the police and fire department to set up a worldwide response plan.
After many months of planning and numerous telephone and video conference calls a face to face meeting was set up. It was to be held in Washington with many high ranking officials attending. Danni had planned on attend along with Jason and Bill but an emergency with one of the children kept her at the Compound.
She was in her "Administrative Office" in their quarters when she got a call from the Command Center.
"Command Center to Danielle Cranston-Scott" called a male voice over her comm badge.
"Danielle here, what's up Greg?" asked Danni as she automatically hit her comm badge and kept on reading the report she was working on.
"Uhhhhh…Mrs. Cranston-Scott, I've been monitoring the conference and I've gotten a report of….." started Greg Mallory.
He was fairly new to the compound having just been assigned to the communications program only three months earlier. He was part of the military exchange and was in awe of everything that Danielle Cranston-Scott and her husbands had done with the compound and all the projects they were into. He hoped that maybe after he left the military he could work at the compound with them.
Danni smiled at the young man on the other end of the communication system. She knew he was military and it must be an emergency if he was calling her. Otherwise he would've reported to Rockford De Santos II or Rockford as he was called. Rockford like his son had a career in Communications but he was in the administrative part of it, a broadcasting executive for one of the local television stations. He also was in charge of the Communications system for the Compound and overseeing the Communications Internship Program.
"A report of what Greg?" asked Danni as she looked up from the report she was working on.
"There's been a bombing at the emergency response conference ma'am"
"What, Damn! I'm on my way" said Danni as she rose from the desk. "Mackenzie, Bryan, Ian. I need you three to look after your sisters and brother and don't leave our quarters! Understand" called Danni as she hurried out the door.
"Yes ma'am" called the older children just as the door slide closed behind her.
Danni raced to the Command Center to find everyone standing staring at a large view screen which covered one of the Command Centers walls.
"Report!" barked Danni as she entered.
"It seems that there was an implosion device set off in the underground garage. The whole building has collapsed in on its self." said one of the men at a computer terminal.
"Alright people, just like we trained except this is for real. I need a complete floor plan and a list of who and what was in that building floor by floor." said Danni as she went to the main terminal and started working feverishly.
The whole room erupted into controlled chaos and a few minutes later a voice called.
"I've got the information you asked for Dr. Cranston-Scott"
"Send it to my terminal and contact General Addison in Washington."
"Yes ma'am, coming on screen now."
Danni looked up to see the face of General Addison. She'd worked with him during the preparation for the last battle and knew that he was a good man but preferred to keep things within the military. That's one reason why she included Jason and Bill in the collaborations since they were former military they knew how things worked.
"General, it seems we have a situation…"
"How did you…..I was just informed of it myself a few minutes ago" replied the General slightly miffed.
"That's not important; the important thing is what we are going to do about it?" asked Danni slightly harder than she meant to; she didn't have time to deal with hurt feelings right now."
"Well we didn't plan…." started the General then stopped as the look he was getting from the young woman standing before him on the screen.
He'd heard about her temper and looks from several of his colleagues. It was said that even her husbands stopped and gave in when she looked at them that way. And now that it was turned on him he could see why. Danielle Cranston-Scott looked like she could physical murder someone right now and it was said that she had the skills to do it.
"General, with all due respect. I don't give a rat's ass who is to blame. Right now I have twenty five men and woman, two of which happened to be my husbands trapped in that building. I…." started Danni but was interrupted by a touch on her arm. She leaned into the young man. "What!" she exclaimed and was visible paler as she turned back to the screen. "You had children in that building!" yelled Danni. The whole Command Center got deathly quiet as they looked at the poor General standing before Danni. Most of them had only heard of her temper but if the rumors were right none of them wanted to be in the General's shoes right now.
"You have to understand Mrs. Cranston-Scott, that was the only building we had available and security…."
"I don't want to hear it! I'm getting ready to transport there, I want access to a computer and a team of search and rescue people waiting for me."
"Mrs. Cranston-Scott, I don't think…." started General Addison but stopped when Danni turned on him again.
"Damn it General! Do you want to rescue your people or not! Like it or not my team has the best chance of finding those people alive and I WILL NOT! lose my husbands because your to pig headed to see that! End communications" said Danni as she hung her head and closed her eyes.
She had to get herself under control. She couldn't help Jas, Bill or anyone if she let her temper get in the way. After a few deep breaths she raised her head to find the whole room watching her. Well she guessed that they'd just gotten a taste of the famous Danielle Cranston-Scott temper although that was mild compared to what it could have been. She had to focused, she had lives to save.
"Alright everyone, let's get busy. We've people to save and two of them are very important to most of us here. I need someone to contact each of the Universal Power Rangers and update them on what has happened then transport them to the site for the search and rescue."
"Done" called a voice from beside Danni.
"Next I need someone to notify the Support team and let them know what's happened. I'll need Jack Scott to coordinate with all the first responders. Linda Scott will be in charge of the medical teams, and Kevin Cranston will coordinate everything from here while I'm gone."
"On it." said a voice from the other side of the room. As the room erupted back into the controlled chaos that was the normal for the Command Center.
She sent a silent prayer up to whichever God was watching out for them to keep Jas, Bill and everyone else safe and let them know that they would be coming for them soon. As she looked at her team in action she smiled and then quickly left to return to their quarters. She had some explaining to do and very little time.
When she reached their quarters all six of the Cranston-Scott children were sitting in the living room waiting for her. Bryan, Ian and Mackenzie were now four years old and Gwen, Zack and Trini were two. She knew they'd probably picked up that she'd been upset but she didn't know how much they could feel or hear from her or the guys. If she let them into her mind she knew they could hear her but normally right now that was only by touch.
"Guys, I need to talk to you all about something really important." said Danni as she came and sat down one the couch. Everyone came and sat down beside her on the couch or the floor with Gwen and Trini in Danni's lap.
"Guys, there has been an accident. Somebody has tried to hurt a lot of people at the Emergency Response Conference that your daddies went to. They put a bomb in the underground garage and it blew up and the building imploded."
"What's imploded Mommy?" asked Zack as he looked at his mommy, she looked very scared and worried about something.
"It means caves into it's self Zack. Sort of like when a vacuum sucks something into itself." said Danni as she looked at her youngest son.
"And our daddies were in the building when it im..imploded?" asked Trini.
"Yes sweetheart, they were there with a lot of other people. And that is why mommy, Grandpa Jack, Grandma Linda and all your aunts and uncles are going to have to be gone for a while. We need to go to Washington to rescue and take care of them"
"Then who is going to take care of us?" asked Gwen.
"I don't know right now sweetheart, probably one of your aunts or uncles parents but I haven't been able to talk to them yet."
"It's ok Mommy, I'll help whoever takes care of us." said Mackenzie as she came up and hugged Danni.
Mackenzie was growing up so fast that is was scary. Danni was certain that whoever end up taking care of them Mackenzie would be a big help.
"Thanks love, now I've got to go and meet with the grownups then I'm going to teleport to Washington. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise." said Danni as she gave each of her children a hug and then headed towards the door.
Just before she got to the doorway Gwen called. "Mommy?"
Danni turned and looked into the smiling face of her youngest daughter, she was the spitting image of Bill right down to the "old soul" that was inside her. She came back and knelt down to face her blond haired angel. "Yes sweet one?"
"Don't worry, you will find our Daddies and all the other people in time."
At her answer Danni pulled one of her youngest daughters to her chest and just held her for a few minutes drinking in the childlike innocence that radiated from her. After a few minutes she pulled back with tears in her eyes.
"I know sweet one, but thank you for saying so." said Danni tearfully as she hugged her one more time than almost ran out of the door. If she stayed much longer she was going to start crying and that wasn't what she needed now. She had to be strong, her handsomes and a whole lot more people were counting on her.
About twenty minutes and a lot of arguing later Danni finally teleported to Washington. Kevin and Linda had both wanted to go to Washington to help look for their sons but after a lengthy and sometime heated discussion they were convinced that the best place for them was to stay here in Angel Grove. They'd planned to teleport all the survivors to the Angel Grove hospitals so Linda would need to stay here and coordinate their arrivals. Kevin was "second in command" if you will in the administrative duties after Danni so he was needed at the Compound to make sure that everything went smoothly on that end.
When Danni arrived she was instantly bombarded by the smoke, dust and mass destruction of what used to be a ten story building. They'd agreed on the building because it was centrally located to almost everyone and it had the facilities for the conference. They hadn't bothered with much security because they didn't figure the Emergency Response Conference was a threat to anyone but they'd guessed wrong and now a whole lot of people might pay the price for their mistake. Something Danni was not going to allow too happen.
"Mrs. Cranston-Scott" said a young man in uniform as he came up to her and handed her a hard hat. My condolences"
"Save it Major Reed. Their not dead yet, and I plan on keeping it that way." said Danni emphatically. "What's the status on the Universal Power Rangers?"
"They're all here and waiting for you in the Command Center tent." said Major Reed as he motioned for Danni to precede him to the Command Center Area. He'd heard she was a pistol but seeing her in person she was more like a Sherman tank. Do it her way or get bowled over in the process. She may be small in stature but she had the presence of a marine.
When Danni entered the Command Center tent she was instantly engulfed in an eight way hug. She stayed in their loving and safe arms for a few minutes then broke away and got down to business.
"Their alright guys, all of them. I'd know if something was wrong with Jas or Bill and right now all I feel is nothing." at their gasps she quickly added. "Which means they are both probably unconscious."
"Well that's better than the alternative" said Rocky trying to lighten the mood but he was instantly hit by his wife Aisha in the ribs.
"Rockford De Santos III!" yelled Aisha.
"Calm down Aisha, Rocky's right. It's better than the alternative. At least if they're unconscious they're not in any pain." said Danni with a slightly shaky voice. "But right now we need to concentrate on getting to them before anything else happens. You guys ready to get to work."
"Yes, Master" said all the Universal Power Rangers together. They all knew that in times like this Danni was superior to them all. Even with all their training and the specialized skills they'd learned this was going to take something only a Master Time-Lord could do.
"Alright what I need you to do is take your search and rescue teams and spread out over the rubble of the building. When you're in position let me know and I'll scan your area and tell you where there are survivors."
"You can do that all by yourself Danni?" asked Tommy with concern in his voice. It seemed like a monumental task even for a Master Time-Lord.
"I have to Tommy. The only other two people that could help me are somewhere in that rubble. I'll take it slowly and rest when I can, don't worry" said Danni with a smile. It was so like Tommy to take over the protector role when Jason wasn't here.
"Alright then, let's do this! We'll call when we're in position and you can open a link." answered Tommy as he looked at the rest of the team and then put his hand out. Each team member laid a hand over the hand that was below them until all eight team members where standing in a circle with one hand on top of each other. Tommy looked over at Danni and nodded. "Danni, if it weren't for you we wouldn't be the Universal Power Rangers. You're as much a member of this team as we are."
With that said Danny placed her hand on top of Adam's hand and smiled as each member called out. "Universal Power Rangers!" then broke to go in search of their team.
Rocky was the last one out of the Command Center Area and he slowly turned and went back to Danni.
"You know I was only joking, right Danni? I couldn't bear if something happened to Jason or Bill." asked Rocky with such a sad look on his face that Danni had to smile. Here was one of the jokesters of the group trying to justify the way he was.
"I know Rocky, and believe me when I say they're both ok. You stay just the way you are and try to lighten the mood whenever you can. I've a feeling it might get pretty heavy for some of us before this is all over." said Danni as she put her hand on his face and cupped his cheek.
At Danni's smile Rocky's mood lightened considerably and he almost bounced out the tent. A few minutes later Danni mentally heard each of the team members telling her they were in position. Danni took a deep breath and closed her eyes then opened herself to the other team members and then started scanning the rubble that was once the ten story Washington Doubleday Office building.
Almost every hour to hour and a half one of the rescue team members would filter in and out of the Command Center only to find Danni still sitting in the middle of the Command Center Tent, eyes closed almost talking to herself. They knew she was communicating with one of the Universal Power Rangers telling them where the survivors were. Over the past several hours several rescue teams had located survivors and were carefully digging them out. When the first survivor was pulled from the rubble, critical but alive she was able to make the call she'd been waiting almost 18 hours to make.
"Danielle Cranston-Scott to Angel Grove" called Danni after she touched her comm badge.
"Command Center here, go ahead Danni" answered Kevin almost instantly. He'd been waiting a very tension filled 18 hours watching the big screen as Danni broadcasted everything that was going on at the bomb site.
It was amazing that the bombsite looked like it was in total chaos but standing almost in the middle was a middle aged, small statured woman who radiated calm power. If you didn't know her you'd swear she was asleep but she was fully aware of her surroundings and coordinating several digs by several rescue teams.
"Kevin notify Linda that the first survivor is about to arrive."
Kevin quickly brought Linda into the communication link so she heard what was going on.
"What's their condition?" asked Linda as she entered the link.
"Critical but stable. Possible neck and back injuries. Heart rate and breathing shallow but stable. Possible broken left lower leg" repeated Danni as she heard the report from Trini.
"Affirmative, transport to Angel Grove General. We'll have a team waiting." said Linda as the nurses and doctors erupted into action to prepare for the first survivor.
"I have a lock on the comm badge, clear transportation field" called a man inside the Command Center.
"Transportation field clear." called Trini.
"Affirmative, transporting now."
As the white light of the transportation beam over took the first survivor someone else called. "I found another one!" called someone just a few feet to the left. Everyone quickly and carefully made their way to start digging out the next survivor.
Over the next several hours the teams found, dug out and transported multiple survivors several of them children. In several places they'd finally gotten down to where the child care center had been on the first floor. Luckily the places where the children had been in had folded in on itself and several of the beams had formed sort of a dome and air pocket so except for some of the kids getting bruised and cut up, with a few broken bones mostly everyone was alright. It'd been over twenty-four hours and Kevin had been watching the bomb site since Danni had opened the link when one of the men in the Command Center called out.
"Sir"
Kevin looked up just in time to see Danni sway and then crumble to the ground in the tent. "Trini!" called Kevin as he saw his daughter -in- law collapse. "Danni just collapsed in the Command Center tent."
"Affirmative, send Stuart" answered Trini as she left her team and ran to the Command Center Tent. She saw Danni laying on the ground and quickly ran to her, checking her over quickly and then yelled
"Medic!".
Two army medics entered the tent almost immediately and ran to Trini's side.
"Dr. Stuart Campbell will be arriving soon, make sure he's shown here as soon as he arrives." said Trini as she worked on Danni. Her heartbeat and blood pressure was weak but steady, with her breathing shallow.
A few minutes later Stuart Campbell and Carmella De Santos came into the tent. "How's she doing Trini?" asked Stuart as he came over to the two women.
"I think she's exhausted Stuart. She's been up for over twenty-four hours, linked with all of us and scanning the rubble for survivors."
"Sweet holy virgin, mother of Jesus" exclaimed Carmella as she crossed herself, then Danni. "All by herself?" she asked as she looked at the young woman holding Danni.
"Afraid so ma'am. The only two that could help her are Jason and Bill and their..." started Trini but then stopped as her eyes went out to look at the rubble.
Carmella reached over and put her hand over Trini's. "Any word on finding them dear?"
"Not yet. Danni say's they're still alive but unconscious, so we still have hope"
"There's always hope my dear. If anyone can find her young men it's our Danielle."
"You're right Carmella. I'm going to send the medic's back in here and then rustle up a bed and some food for Danni. Anyone want anything else?" asked Trini as she smiled at Rocky's mother and then headed towards the entrance of the tent.
"Don't forget her cokes dear" called Carmella with a smile.
"I won't dare!" replied Trini and then left the tent.
A few minutes' later two corpsmen came in and set up a cot with sheets and a blanket plus a small table with four chairs. They helped Stuart lift Danni onto the cot and promptly left. Five minutes later Trini returned with a tray full of food, cokes and coffee for them. She placed it on the table then looked at Danni.
"I don't know how good the food is but it's at least hot and filling. Given its military issue"
"I'm sure it will be fine for now dear. How long before Danielle wakes up do you think?"
At the slight moan from the bed Stuart turned and looked at the young woman. "I'd say right about now." then he went over and leaned over the bed. "How do you feel Danni?" asked Stuart as he took her wrist and checked her heart rate manually.
"Like I've been run over by a Mack truck" answered Danni as she tried to sit up but was hit by a wave of nausea that had her swaying once again. Stuart quickly grabbed hold of her and held her until she was steady.
"Think along the lines of a bull dozer or a Sherman tank and you'd be closer." said Carmella as she came over and handed the young woman a coffee cup. Danni took a tentative sip and then smiled up at the older woman.
"Thank you Carmella. What are you and Stuart doing here?" asked Danni as she finally registered the man standing before her.
"Taking care of you, young lady! It's a good thing Kevin was monitoring the rescue teams progress or we wouldn't have seen you faint."
"What time is it?" asked Danni as she looked around. She couldn't tell if it was day or night with all the bright lights shining on the bomb site.
"Almost two-thirty Thursday morning" replied Trini.
"Damn, no wonder I fainted. I'm sorry guys, I know I promised I'd take care of myself but I just got so involved..." started Danni.
"We understand Danielle, but you now must take care of yourself in order to find and rescue your young men." said Carmella as she came over and placed the tray on Danni's lap. "Now you eat this food and then rest. When you wake up I'll have some proper food for you all to eat." then she sat down and watched as Danni started eating.
"Trini has anyone found any more survivors?" asked Stuart as he pulled the young woman away from Danni. He knew if she heard she would want to be right back out their scanning again and the best thing for her now was rest.
"We sent the last survivor we found to Angel Grove Presbyterian about twenty minutes ago. So far we haven't found a sign of any more" said Trini quietly.
"Then I think everyone should take a break. If Danni is certain that they're still alive it won't hurt for the rescuers to break and get some rest too." said Stuart.
"I think your right Stuart, I'll notify General Addison" said Trini as she left the tent. A few minutes later she was back very hot under the collar. "That man is an absolute idiot! No wonder Danni doesn't get along with him"
"What's wrong?" asked Stuart as he looked back at Danni and then went to meet Trini at the entrance of the tent.
She had just finished her food and was now lying down almost asleep, but he knew that she would be up in a flash if there was a conflict with the General. He'd heard about the many "differences of opinion" that he and Danni had while they were trying to work out the collaborations for the final battle. Right now Danni needed rest more than she needed a confrontation with General Addison.
"He said that if "our" teams weren't up to the job then "his" would take over and find the rest of the survivors. If it hadn't been for Danni we wouldn't have found the ones we have so far. She told us just where, and how far down to dig for them. They go in there and they'll probably trample on whoever is left. We've found most of the children but there are still a few that are unaccounted for"
"Don't worry Trini; I'll deal with General Addison. You go tell your teams that they're to take a break and get some food and rest. And that's an order from me!"
"Yes sir!" said Trini with a mock salute "I feel sorry for the General" she added as she left the tent.
"I heard that" called Stuart.
"You were meant too." said Trini mentally.
Stuart meet with General Addison and convinced him through bullying and the fact that ever one of the survivors that Danni and her team's had pulled out of the rubble were alive to wait until the teams had eaten and rested before resuming the dig for survivors. He wasn't happy but he agreed partly because this was exactly why they'd started the collaborations with the Universal Power Rangers in the first place. They had powers and equipment that the military just didn't have, and like it or not. If they wanted everyone to be found alive they needed Danni and the Universal Power Rangers help.
So about ten o' clock Thursday morning Danni, the Universal Power Rangers and their rescue teams once again started scanning and digging for survivors in the rubble. It was around one thirty Friday morning when Tommy and his rescue team finally got to the last six survivors, which included Jason and Bill. They'd been at the front of the room with four other people when the bomb went off. The roof and wall collapsed on top of them trapping them in sort of a triangle of rubble. All of the other people had been dug out and sent to different hospitals in Angel Grove so all of the Universal Power and the rescue teams were working on locating the last six. Tommy and his team were at what was the north end of the building when someone called out.
"I've got someone!"
"Danni?" asked Tommy through the link.
"It's not them Tommy, but their close by" answered Danni. "Have someone move northeast, there is someone there too."
A second group quickly converged on the second site Danni mentioned and after a few minutes of digging called. "Found another one!"
After forty-five tension filled minutes of digging the first of the last group of survivors were pulled out. It was a 24 year old male who had been helping Jason and Bill with the presentation. He had multiple broken bones and internal injuries. He was quickly transported to Angel Grove General Hospital. The second survivor was a female Captain first responder from Canada. She was evaluated and then sent to Angel Grove Methodist Hospital.
"Tommy move a little to the west of your position. There are two people there and I think one of them is Bill" said Danni as she slowly made her way out of the tent. If this was Bill she at least wanted to see him, but had to stay focused. Jason and two more people were still under there somewhere.
"Move to the west a little guys" called Tommy as he and the rest of the Universal Power Rangers started moving large chunks of concrete and steel bars to get to Bill.
It took another hour before they finally got down to the blonde headed man that was William Cranston-Scott. He had a deep gash on his forehead and his right arm was lying at a strange angle. Lying almost beside him was another man. They moved carefully and put both men on stretchers and then carefully carried them out of the rubble.
"Danni?" called Tommy as he led the stretchers towards her.
At Danni's shake of her head they stopped. "I can't Tommy; I still have to find Jas and two others?" said the woman, her voice cracking and tears in her eyes. "Take him back to Angel Grove for me and I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Affirmative. Kevin transport us to Angel Grove General" said Tommy as he hit his comm badge.
"Copy that Tommy, transporting now." answered Kevin then he saw the white beam of the Compounds transporter beam engulf his son and the rescue team.
"Alright guy, we have two more to find. Give me a minute and I'll try and locate them." said Danni as she took a deep breath and then closed her eyes.
Stuart and Carmella had followed her out of the Command Center tent and were standing a few feet behind her watching her closely as Bill had been brought out of the rubble. She was trying her best to be strong but it was taking its toll on her. They'd gotten her to eat and rest earlier but that still had been almost twenty-six hours ago.
Carmella had taken over the preparation of the food for the rescue team members and he had to admit that it was a great improvement. They'd even gotten Danni too nibbled on a few sandwiches but she mostly drank her cokes. Stuart was certain that if he tested her blood sugar right now it would be dangerously high.
Now she stood about twenty-four inches away from the rubble that held her last husband, trying desperately to find him. Stuart walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her against him. She made no move to resist him only leaned back against him and relaxed a little. He'd a feeling that the scanning was going to be a little bit easier now that she had someone supporting her and he was glad to accommodate her, he like the rest of the Universal Power Rangers and Support Team owed Danni so much.
After a few minutes her face lit up and she smile. "There Zack, he's over there!" called Danni as she opened her eyes and pointed. He was less than six feet from where they were standing.
"How far down Danni?" asked Adam
"Not far down, about two maybe three feet. Oh hurry please, he's waking up" said Danni in a voice that was beginning to panic. "Hold on Jas, babe. We're coming!"
"Alright guys let's do this, we don't have much time" said Zack as all of the Universal Power Rangers and rescue team members converged on the spot that Danni had pointed out.
For the next thirty minutes everyone worked in frantic but complete silence until Kat and Trini pushed a huge concrete block over and saw Jason's face.
"We've got him Zack!" called Trini as she reached in to brush his face. "Oh hurry guys; I think he's going into shock!"
Seconds later the rest of the team was beside Kat and Trini pulling the rubble off and soon they got down to him and the man beside him. They transferred both men to stretchers and quickly moved them out of the rubble.
"Blood pressure low and breathing raspy. Let's move guys" called Trini as gave one last check to Jason and then went over to the other man. He was not in as bad shape, but they still needed to get him help quickly.
"He's stopped breathing Mrs. Taylor" said one of the rescue team members that were carrying Jason.