Disclaimers: I do not own Power Rangers. However the characters that exist as their children are my creation.
Their Children
Chapter Sixteen: Beyond Closed Doors
"Have you found anything yet?"
The redhead lifted her face from the console. "They do not appear to be on the planet we sent them to, nor are they back on Earth. I've initiated a universe wide scan to locate them. However, it does have its limits. We can only search one quadrant at a time. I've started with the neighboring galaxies to where the tests took place. And I will continue from there." She turned back to the computer screen. "Zordon, perhaps you should check with my sister. Maybe she could provide some insight as to our next course of action."
Zordon turned away from Phaedra, as if to hide his face. "I've already spoken with Reidyn. I'm afraid that she has nothing new to report." He ran his hand through his hair. "In fact, her connection to Tiffany is completely severed. How could this have happened?"
Phaedra looked to Zordon in concern. "Zordon, perhaps you should go rest."
Zordon sighed. "You're right." He headed to the double doors to make his exit, when he hesitated. "Phaedra?"
"Yes Zordon?"
"I want you to locate their parents." He stated this carefully, knowing the reaction he'd likely get.
Phaedra looked alarmed. "But Zordon, I don't think-"
Zordon turned around to face her. "Just locate them for now. We may have to contact them if…" He didn't want to finish.
Phaedra nodded her head. "I understand sir. I will do as you ask. But please, go get some rest." She turned back to the console before her as Zordon left the room.
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"Livvy! … Tommy! … Sammie! … Guys where are you!" Tiffany walked around the dark corridors in search of her friends. She's been walking around for what feels like hours. "This is ridiculous." She thought out loud. "Where could they have all gone?" With a sigh, she pressed on.
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The rangers have been following their pink clad teammate for two and a half hours. So far they've sauntered through corridors, both narrow and wide, making a right or left turn here and there. They were so turned around that they couldn't possibly find their way back to the room they started in. "I wonder where she's leading us." Asked Sammie.
"I don't know, but hopefully to a way out." Tommy answered.
"Guys, I'm not sure if following Tiffany is the best course of action anymore." Connor voiced what he had been thinking for the last thirty minutes aloud.
Alex sighed, "I can't exactly say I disagree with you, but we can't exactly leave Tiff to walk around alone."
"There's gotta be some way we can, uh, revive her." Marcus added, hoping for some change in plan. This walking around in what appeared to be circles is getting them nowhere.
Livvy shook her head. "We've already gone over this Marcus, we don't know what would happen if we tried."
"Livvy's right." Sammie agreed. "We don't want to indirectly hurt her. Plus, she could be leading us the way out of here."
"Well maybe we should vote on it." Marcus stated trying to be diplomatic, but by the look on Livvy was giving him, he quickly changed his mind. "Or maybe not."
Alex shook his head at his friend. "What do you think Con-man?" He asked looking to Connor.
Connor stayed quiet a moment before speaking. "Well, we don't know what would happen if we tried to force her. And there's no way we can keep her with us if we go our own way." He sighed. "We don't really have much of an option. But in the end, it's the leader's call."
All at once, everyone turned their gaze to Tommy. "So Tommy, what's the verdict?" Alex asked his best friend.
Tommy looked at his teammates, knowing that their safety was in his hands. His eyes wandered over to Tiffany, and they softened. He was concerned about what was happening to her. They weren't prepared for this. He began feeling the weight of what being a leader really was. He was going to have to make tough decisions. He was going to need to do what was best for the team. "We have no contact with the outside world. We don't know where we are. We can't abandon Tiffany. Besides, our best bet out of here is with her. Hopefully, she will come to in time, and tell us what it is that she is seeing. Until then, we follow her and hope for the best." Once he finished, he sped up his pace to catch up with Tiffany who just walked through what appeared to be a doorway.
The rangers all looked at each other. With a nod of agreement, they followed the other two.
A look of concern flashed across Connor's face. "I hope you've made the right decision."
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Tiffany glanced over her shoulder. Nothing. She glanced over it again. Nothing. After five more strides, she stopped walking and turned a one-eighty. Still nothing. She frowned. 'Why does it feel like I'm being followed?' She turned back around while shaking her head. She continued on her way. "This is ridiculous. Talk about paranoia." She tried to laugh the feeling off, but the humor didn't reach her eyes. Still she felt another presence. More like several.
Tiffany suddenly halted her steps. 'A dead end?' She was drawn here, but there's nothing. She felt along the rock. Whatever she sensed earlier was getting stronger. Her hand sunk into a hole and touched upon what felt like a lever of some sort.
'Pull it.' She heard a voice.
'What?'
Silence. Or at least thought she did.
Placing her free hand firmly against the rock for leverage, Tiffany pulled back with the other as hard as she could. It barely budged. "Where's Marcus when you need him?" She took a deep breath and tried again. "Uugh! Come on! Uuuggghhh… Click… there!" Once the lever pulled towards her, she immediately took a step back.
The rock shifted and pulled apart to reveal another passageway, but this time torches adorned the walls, and they were lit. Walking into the corridor the door shut behind her. But Tiffany barely noticed. She was in awe at what she saw. "Something tells me I'm not in Kansas anymore."
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"Aye yi yi! I've found something!" Omega exclaimed.
Phaedra was startled out of her own search and immediately left her place to stand beside Omega. "What have you found?" She asked. Without waiting for a response to her question, she looked over his findings. She let out an inaudible gasp. "Go and rouse Zordon." Omega just stood there at her order. "Now!" She yelled.
"Aye yi yi!" He cried on his way off the C-Deck.
Phaedra looked back over the information before her. "So this is where they've been taken." She began performing a narrower search. 'Zordon will not be pleased.' She thought to herself.
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"Why has she stopped?" Livvy asked her friends.
Tommy looked at Tiffany in concern. "I don't know." He looked over their surroundings. "There's nothing particular about this area."
"Yeah, just as dark, just as dreary with the same markings on… wait. Where are the markings?" Alex asked brushing his lit hand by the stone walls.
This question caught everyone's interest. Connor looked over the stone wall nearest him. "That is peculiar."
Sammie looked at Connor. "What do you mean?"
Connor tucked his hands into his pockets. "They've been present everywhere else thus far. So, why not here?" Connor asked out loud, not expecting an answer. "It's inconsistent."
"Well this area sure has gotten Tiff's attention." Sammie pointed out. "She's been on the move for over two hours and only now does she stop."
"Maybe we're getting closer to the exit." Livvy said hopefully. "And that's why the hieroglyphs have ended. Because they didn't feel it necessary if people were to be coming and going. No one would have time to admire the symbols."
"Maybe it's a fluke." Marcus stated. Livvy glared at him. Marcus threw up his hands. "Hey I'm just saying. Let's not put too much weight on the fact that the markings are gone. It might not mean anything."
Tommy nodded his head. "You're right Marcus. We shouldn't jump to conclusions. However, we have to keep our minds open to all possibilities."
"Yes you are correct Tommy." Connor said, keeping an eye on Tiffany. "And what Livvy said, I agree that we are getting closer to wherever it is Tiffany is leading us. And it might not necessarily be the exit."
"What do you mean? Why would you think that?" Asked Alex, who had kept silent until now.
"Haven't you guys noticed since we've been down here it has gotten cooler?" Connor asked his friends. When no one answered, he continued. "If there is an exit, it feels as if we are going further from it."
"That would be a standard deduction if we were on Earth. But considering that we might not be, we shouldn't rely on the truths of our world." Livvy argued. "For all we know, it getting cooler could mean we are nearing an exit on this planet. Seriously, if she isn't leading us out, then where is she leading us?"
Connor looked at Livvy. "I don't know. But I am concerned. It's just…" He hesitated, not sure if he should voice his feelings.
"What is it Connor?" Tommy asked.
"I've been getting a bad feeling about all of this, and it's getting worse. It feels like… guys I don't think this is our third test. I think something's gone wrong." There he said it. Connor informed them all of what had been eating at him and waited patiently for their reactions.
"I have to admit, the same thought has crossed my mind a time or two." Tommy admitted. "That is why I think it's important that we follow Tiffany. We have no idea what we've gotten ourselves into."
Marcus sighed, "But… if this isn't part of the test, then could someone else have interfered and brought us here?" He looked at his friends as they took what he said into consideration. "Furthermore, if someone else is to blame, then how do we know that someone else isn't controlling Tiff?"
"I don't know Marcus. I see your point, but doesn't it seem a bit farfetched. Plus, I don't think someone would be controlling Tiff. She did after all, call on her power herself." Alex pointed out.
Livvy looked at Tiffany worriedly, "Yeah, but Alex, we don't know that much about our powers. It's all so new. What if what Marcus is saying is possible?"
Alex thought about what Livvy said. He looked to his left. "What do you think Connor? Tiff's a telepath. Could someone really tap into her mind?"
Connor's forehead crinkled as he thought of the possibility. "Well, with my limited knowledge on the subject, which by the way is close to nil, I'd have to say… making an educated guess, then yes. That is, if it were by another, stronger, telepath." Everyone's shoulders slumped at this notion. "But that isn't to say that that's what's happening now."
Sammie brightened up a bit. "Connor's right. I'm sure we'll get out of here okay." She smiled, hoping to encourage the others. Luckily Sammie's smile was infectious and spread throughout all of her friends. Well all but one, she noticed as her eyes landed on Tiffany. Her eyes widened. "Hey guys, she's on the move! Let's catch up."
They quickly made their way to Tiffany's side.
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Tiffany looked at her surroundings in wonder. Not only was the corridor now well lit, but the walls, floor, and ceiling looked as polished as the day it was created. 'Okay, something's not right here.' She thought to herself. Touching the smooth cold surface of the wall, her expression changed to one of worry. Looking over the wall, she found no signs of hieroglyphs. 'Well that's odd.'
Tiffany pushed away from the wall. She squared her shoulders. "Okay," she began aloud, "let's find out where this thing ends." She started walking down the seemingly endless corridor.
After a few moments, Tiffany faltered in her step. 'What the…' She continued walking, only this time a bit more cautiously. Something was calling out to her, she could feel it. 'Whatever it is, it's getting the stronger the closer I get.' She unconsciously increased her speed.
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"What has happened?" The not so young boy demanded upon entrance to the C-Deck. Reidyn followed closely behind.
Phaedra turned to face him. "We have found them."
Zordon looked puzzled. "Why that's wonderful news. Yet you seem unsettled. What is it?"
"They are in the west quadrant of the Nexys System." She gravely answered.
"Why are you so…?" His eyes widened. "Do you mean to say they are…?"
"Yes." Phaedra interrupted. "They are on that Planet."
Zordon frowned. 'If they are on that planet, then it's no telling what they may find.' He looked at Phaedra. "I want you to locate them as soon as possible. Locate them, and bring them home."
Phaedra nodded her head. "The scan is near completion. We will have a lock on them in due time."
He nodded at her response, and then turned his head to the woman behind him. "Reidyn I want you to help with the search. Find Tiffany. We find her, we find the rangers. The sooner we get them out of there, the better."
'Yes Zordon.' She said telepathically, and then made her way to the console nearest her sister.
Zordon watched them work diligently. After a moment, he turned to leave the C-Deck. 'It's time that I prepare.'
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Alex was walking along with his friends as they followed Tiffany, now at a brisk pace. He was eyeing her cautiously. 'What are you after Tiff?' He thought. As he looked her over, he noticed that her face was pinched in concentration. But he could have sworn that before it was placid.
However, he was not the only one concerned. In fact, they all were. But what could they do. And Connor was right, it is getting colder.
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Tiffany turned one corner after the next. What she was looking for? She wasn't sure. But she just knew she had to find it. She turned one final corner and was immediately brought to a standstill. "This is it." She whispered to no one.
She slowly made her way to the great double doors before her.
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"What is it?" Livvy asked.
Marcus grinned. "Our way out?"
"It's possible. But we won't know until we open it." Connor pointed out.
Sammie looked at her brother. "What should we do Tommy?"
"I say we get outta here." Alex answered before Tommy.
Tommy looked over what appeared to be old ragged doors. "I say we try and open them. She led us here." He motioned to Tiffany. "It could be our way out."
"Alright, let's do this." Marcus declared, and walked up to the doors and gently pushed.
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'I cannot locate Tiffany. But I can sense the others. They are in the southern hemisphere of this planet.' Reidyn announced to her sister.
Phaedra looked pleased. "Thank you Reidyn, they will make this a lot quicker." She then entered select codes into the database to narrow her search. 'We will find them yet.' She smiled.
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Marcus gave it a good push. The door wouldn't budge. Deciding to make use of his strength, he gave it a much harder push. Still the door wouldn't budge. He sighed and looked back at all of his friends. "Uh, can I get a little help here? I think we may need everyone on this one."
Tommy, Alex, and Connor took it as their cue and walked up to the door beside Marcus and began pushing. Even Connor tried using a bit of his telekinesis and pushed with his mind.
Realizing the boys struggle, Livvy looked to Sammie, "Shall we?"
Sammie smirked, "Let's." With that agreed they left Tiffany's side and met the boys at the door.
"Okay guys, on a count of three, we push." Tommy said. Everyone shook their heads in agreement. "1... 2… 3, push!" They gave it a big push.
The door did not budge.
"Guys it's no use. It's not working." Sammie stated stepping back from the door.
"Well, what do we do now?" Livvy asked.
Connor looked thoughtful, and then looked at Tiffany. "If she meant to lead us to an exit, and this is the exit, then why has Tiffany not returned to normal?"
As his statement, they all looked at her. She was standing in the same spot, staring at the door. They were startled at her sudden movement. She began walking to the door. They jumped out of her way immediately. She placed her hands onto the surface of the door.
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Tiffany tenderly laid her palms over the door. She glided her hands across them. 'Beautiful.' The doors had intricate designs engraved all over. There were even some hieroglyphs, but Tiffany had not the talent to decipher them. She only felt an overwhelming urge to push. It was as though she was led to this moment and with one little push, all of her questions would be answered.
Steadying her resolve, Tiffany pushed.
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An alarm sounded. "Aye yi yi! We've located them!" Omega shouted.
Phaedra looked over the console. With a pleased looked, she ordered Omega, "Bring them home."
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They rangers stood in astonishment as the doors gently shook at the small force of Tiffany's soft hands.
"I don't believe it." Marcus muttered.
Olivia grinned, "Believe it. Never send a man to do a woman's job."
"I agree with Livvy." Sammie remarked, as she and Livvy shared a laugh. They then gasped in surprise as their bodies were covered in green and yellow ray respectively.
As they began to ascent, Marcus grinned, "Looks like we're going home." He said as he and Connor were soon bathed in grayish and blue rays, also ascending.
Tommy and Alex looked at one another and then to Tiffany as they were both pulled by their respective rays of white and red. They both reached out for Tiffany as they slowly ascended.
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Tiffany gently pushed at the magnificent doors. They slowly parted. She could feel a great power from behind.
'What is it?' She wondered. Then Tiffany saw a brightness of light emanating from beyond the doors, before she herself was engulfed in a pink ray and taken home.
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AN: Okay, I know you guys are like, "It's about time!" But there you have it, Chapter Sixteen! Yay! And it's pretty long too. See I haven't forgotten. I'm so ready to get this story rolling again. Let me know what you think of this chapter and the direction of the story.
And as always, PLEASE REVIEW!