Chapter 19 – Know Your Enemy
Previously - "My five minutes aren't up", Summer called out.
"Well I'm done listening princess", Shelby cried, "I don't even know why I came here". Suddenly the foundations of the house shook and there was a bright flash of light from the hills on the estate, "Oh yeah that", the pink ranger whispered to herself.
There were several flashes of light in the room and the two women found themselves surrounded by Vivix. Backed up towards Summer, the pink ranger hoped that this martial arts gear wasn't just for show. Otherwise she was defending Summer Landsdown without the ability to use her Dinovolver. Either way, Shelby Watkins was about to have a very challenging few minutes.
Ducking under an attempted punch from a Vivix, Shelby drove her knee into the gut of the creature and pushed it away. Kicking off her high heels she was beginning to regret her decision to wear a dress today. Turning her head slightly, she saw the sun reflecting off something shiny in the corner of the room. Grabbing Summer by the arm, she dragged them over to a sword hanging on the far wall. She pulled it out of its sheath and turned towards Summer, "Woah Shelby, I know we've never gotten on but this is a little extreme".
Smiling sweetly the pink ranger pulled Summer towards her. The older woman flinched when Shelby moved the blade towards her but much to her relief, she was just cutting her dress to a more appropriate fighting length. After doing the same to her own outfit, Shelby drove the blade into the nearest Vivix. The creature was immobilised but unfortunately the handle snapped off from blade, "Cheap piece of rubbish", the pink ranger grumbled.
"That cost $300", Summer cried.
"Then you were ripped off", Shelby replied smugly. She landed a straight kick to the jaw of another Vivix and grabbed hold of Summer again. To her surprise the Landsdown heiress shook her off and hit another one of the white suited creatures with a roundhouse kick. For the first time in her life, Shelby was impressed with something that Summer Landsdown had done. Confident that the blonde could look after herself, she was free to clear a path out of the gym. Backflipping away from a couple of Vivix, she grabbed a couple of small dumbbells from a nearby rack. With one in each hand, she smashed them into the temples of the footsoldiers. Next to her Summer had kicked away another creature, leaving them a clear route to the door.
"Quickly, this way", Summer called and ran out of the gym with Shelby close behind. The pink ranger had a quick look out the window and saw that more Vivix were in the garden but Riley and Jason were keeping them at bay. "Down here", Summer said when they reached a door.
"The basement, really", Shelby raised an eyebrow.
"It'll give us time to recover", the Landsdown heiress replied. With no other options Shelby sighed and quickly ran down the steps. She turned on a light and found that it was much different than she remembered. Gone were the old cardboard boxes and the smell of damp. In their place was a larger version of the gym that they had just escaped from. In the corner of the room was an old motorcycle with several spare parts sitting on some old newspapers.
"What is this place?" Shelby asked.
"My personal sanctuary", Summer replied, "a place where I can truly be myself". She walked over to a book case and pulled something out from between a couple of books.
"What's going on Summer", Shelby asked, "you've changed since the last time I met you. The Summer Landsdown I know wouldn't have helped me fight off monsters and she wouldn't have a battered old motorbike in her basement".
"Can I tell you a secret", Summer began, in her hand were a couple of pictures, "I met someone a year ago that changed my outlook on life". She handed Shelby one of the pictures in her hand and the pink ranger's jaw dropped. There were two Summer's in the picture, one was the sleek haired, made up woman she knew. The other looked exactly the same except her hair was a little darker and her eyes looked battle weary. The real shock was that this other Summer was dressed from the neck down in a yellow power suit, the design of which Shelby hadn't seen before.
"Is this some kind of trick", Shelby began cautiously, "some kind of photo shopped image".
Summer shook her head, "Nope they're really are two of me", he sighed. "Do you believe in alternate universes?"
"Thought it was all science fiction nonsense", Shelby shrugged. Then again fighting against creatures from the time of the dinosaurs was equally as crazy she thought.
"So did I until a couple of days after that massive alien invasion last year", Summer replied. "The other me comes from a world where most of humanity was destroyed by a computer virus. She is the yellow ranger for the RPM Rangers". Summer paused for a moment, "Apparently her mentor warned against tracking down the alternate version of themselves".
"But that Summer didn't listen", Shelby smiled, "sounds like you're very alike".
"We were, it was kinda spooky", Summer replied, "but she showed me that I could be more than a spoiled rich kid. Since that day I've started living for myself a bit more, doing things that interested me", she pointed over to the bike.
"I've heard of giving yourself a talking to but I don't think anyone's ever literally done it", Shelby laughed, "what's the other picture?"
Summer handed the picture over, it was another picture of the woman with a powerfully built Caucasian man. He was almost a foot taller than Summer and he had shaggy black hair, "He was my Dad's mechanic", Summer began, "I used to look down on him but once I got to know him, I found that I really liked him. We've been dating for six months now", she sighed, "shame my parents don't know".
The pink ranger handed the picture back, "We really do make a right pair don't we, what's the guy's name?"
"Well officially it's Steve", Summer began, "but he prefers to go by his surname of Dillon. I've been using some of my monthly allowance to help him care for his blind sister".
"Summer I think I owe you an apology", Shelby said, "I shouldn't have blown up at you like that".
"I think I deserved it", Summer sighed, "we could start again", she extended her hand which Shelby shook. The pink ranger was seeing a kindred spirit in Summer for the first time.
Suddenly Shelby's ears pricked up, "We need to get out of here", she could hear something banging on the door, the Vivix had found them. She shook her head, there was only one solution, "You've trusted me with your secret Summer, now I'm going to show you mine", She reached into her purse and pulled out her communicator, "Guys what's going on out there".
"Little busy right now Shel", she heard Tyler's voice call out, "we're coming your way".
"Alright I'll meet you round the side of the house", reaching into her bag again, she pulled out her Dinovolver, much to the surprise of Summer.
"That's one of the weapons that the Power Rangers use", she spluttered.
Shelby nodded, "Dino Charge Pink Ranger at your service", she smiled. Looking around the room, she saw a small window that was letting in some light into the basement. It was too small for the women to fit through normally, so she had to get creative. "Alright I'm going to try something but you need to trust me".
Summer nodded so Shelby led them to the small window. She placed Energem number 19 into her Dinovolver and turned the weapon towards her and Summer. Before the blonde could protest, the pink ranger fired the weapon. Instantly their bodies were flattened to the thickness of a piece of paper. Propelling themselves upwards they were able to fit through the gap and back up into the garden. The effects of the gem wore off and both women were returned their normal size, "Ok that was weird", Summer coughed.
"Yeah really don't want to do that again", Shelby replied. To her surprise Summer threw her arms around her neck and gave her a tight hug. Initially stunned, Shelby returned the hug, gently tapping her Dinovolver on her back.
"Did we miss something", she heard Tyler called out. Releasing Summer she looked over the group that had gone into the hills. They were soaking wet and covered in mud, Chase and Ivan even had a few scorch marks on their clothes.
"I could ask you the same question", Shelby asked, "I take it your little mission didn't go very well".
"Erm should we be talking about this with her here?" Koda asked.
"It's alright, Shelby told me she's the pink ranger", Summer replied, "so I take it this is the rest of your team", she asked the pink ranger.
Shelby nodded, "Most of it", she pointed to each person in turn, "that's Koda the blue ranger, Ivan the gold ranger, Chase the black ranger, Tyler the red ranger and finally that's Kiera our first lady of science".
"Where's Riley?" Kiera stated, looking around.
"Oh crap I forgot about him", Shelby exclaimed, "he's the green ranger", she added to Summer. "We probably should go help him", she started to prepare her Dinovolver.
"We'll go", Chase stated, "it'll look less suspicious". Shelby nodded and placed her Dinovolver back in her purse.
Alright let's do this", Tyler stated, "Dino Spirts, Dino Charge".
"Ptera Brace, Dino Charge".
In a flash of light the four rangers morphed, leaving Summer, Shelby and Kiera behind. "So what happened in the hills, why are you so muddy", Summer asked.
Kiera sighed, "We found a weird energy reading in the hills on your estate. Just as we were arriving, there was a massive explosion from below ground. Whatever was under the surface is gone now".
"Is that a good or bad thing?" Shelby asked.
"I don't know", Kiera replied, the young scientist excused herself and returned to Koda's van in the driveway. Summer and Shelby returned to the garden where the four morphed rangers were finishing off the last of the Vivix. Running over to an exhausted looking Riley, she knelt down to check that he was alright. The green ranger nodded, only having a few minor cuts and bruises to show for his workout.
With the last of the Vivix gone, the rangers took the thanks of the party goers before taking their leave. Shelby looked around, the garden was a shambles but no one appeared to be severely injured. "Shelby, what the hell happened to you", the pink ranger sighed, her Dad had arrived.
"I got caught up inside when those things showed up", she replied, "Summer and I managed to fight them off and escape".
"My Summer fighting", Marie snorted, "I refuse to believe that". She then turned to Tyrelle Watkins, "This is all your daughters fault".
"I can assure you that my Shelby had nothing to do with this", Tyrelle roared. The argument between the pair continued for a few more minutes with their daughters watching on. They had begun to draw a crowd, including Jason and Skull. After several nasty comments from both sides, the two women had enough.
"Shut it", they both shouted at the same time.
"Dad I love you but I can't do this anymore", Shelby began, "I'm not some trophy daughter that you can wheel out at these fancy party's. I like sports, I like martial arts and I even like my job at the diner". There were several outraged cries from the gathered audience that the daughter of a multi-millionaire would work in a diner.
"No daughter of mine will work in a diner", Tyrelle shouted, "this is not what I wanted from you".
"Yeah but it's what I want, aren't you even a little bothered that I could have been seriously hurt?" Shelby asked.
"Of course I am", Tyrelle snapped, "but did you have to lower yourself to brawling with them".
"I guess that's where you and I are different Dad", Shelby replied sadly. She took off her expensive diamond necklace and threw it onto the grass.
"I'm with Shelby", it was Summer's turn to speak up, "Mom, Dad I'm in love with Steven Dillon".
"That's greasy mechanic", Gerald Landsdown roared.
"That's right, I've even been giving him my allowance to help out his disabled sister", she added.
"That's ridiculous, a Landsdown has never helped anyone before", Marie stated.
"Well that's going to change", Summer removed her bracelet and dumped it on top of Shelby's necklace. The two women looked at their parents one last time before walking away.
"Don't walk away from me Shelby", Tyrelle cried, "if you do I'll cut off your allowance and accounts". Shelby didn't pause for a second as she walked away from the party and her old way of life for good.
Watkins Estate
A few days later Koda, Summer and Tyler were helping Shelby pack up the last of her belongings into the blue rangers van. The two women had temporarily stayed at the Dino Mansion, giving Shelby a chance to get to know the new Summer Landsdown. After a couple of days of living in a house mostly filled with men, Summer decided that she needed her own space. She had rented a place a couple of blocks away from the Dino Mansion.
Much to her surprise, Jason had helped her out with their initial deposit and reference, stating that he always helps out a ranger in difficulty. Summer protested that she wasn't really a ranger but Jason wasn't letting the small matter of the multiverse dissuade him from helping out. Having another civilian on covering for the rangers could prove useful in the long run he added.
The pink ranger though would make the Dino Mansion her home and the others were helping her move her belongings. Shelby was taking one last look at her family home when Tyler placed a hand on her shoulder, "Are you alright", he asked.
"Yeah, I just can't believe it's come to this", she replied. The pair noticed her Dad walking out of the front door and looking at the van and the occupants with distain.
"Last chance Shelby", Tyrelle called out.
She shook her head, "No Dad, it's your last chance". Tyrelle was unmoved and after a few moments, retreated back into the house. The pink ranger's emotional wall crumbled and she burst into tears, leaning into Tyler. The red ranger placed his arm around her until he was able to regain her composure. She wiped her eyes and thanked the red ranger, following him into the van.
Koda gave the two women a smile and fired up the van, Summer and Shelby sat in the front whilst Tyler huddled in the back with the cardboard boxes, "Alright Shel, next stop the Dino Mansion" the blue ranger called out.
"I don't know how you can stay in that man cave", Summer smiled.
"We're not that bad", Tyler tried to defend himself, Chase, Ivan and Jason.
"At least I'm there now to help keep you in line", Shelby smiled, putting her brave face back on.
"God help you boys", Summer laughed. Suddenly something got her attention in the bushes at the side of the road. She was sure that she had seen the RPM Yellow Ranger hiding in the undergrowth. She leaned over and checked the mirror but if there was someone there, they had gone.
"Summer are you alright?" Koda asked.
"Yeah, I must be seeing things", she replied. The conversation turned back to how to decorate the new home and Summer soon forget out what she had seen.
Summer though hadn't been mistaken, she had seen the RPM Yellow Ranger hiding in the undergrowth. The ranger walked the bushes and demorphed, revealing a young woman with long blonde hair, black jeans, black leather jacket and a yellow top, however, this wasn't Summer's counterpart from the other universe.
"Gia did you have to do that", a lanky teen with olive coloured skin, blue jeans and a black hooded top called out.
"Relax Jake, she didn't see me", Gia Moran replied, "I just thought it would be an appropriate disguise to use whilst spying on Summer Landsdown".
"Gosei will be annoyed", Jake Holling sighed.
"Not nearly as annoyed as he was when you accidently kicked your soccer ball into his face", Gia laughed.
Jake chuckled as well, "Yeah he was pretty pissed", he shook his head, "so did you find out anything?"
"Nothing of importance", Gia replied, "whatever caused that explosion at the Landsdown place wasn't related to the RPM Rangers. Based on Tensou's calculations that just leaves one possibility".
"I was afraid you were going to say that", Jake sighed, "we'd better report back". Grabbing hold of Gia's hand, the pair teleported away in a flash of black and yellow light.
A/N – Is that a team up I spy approaching in the distance? Quick note on Summer she might pop up again in passing but I consider her role in this story now complete so she won't be getting one of the missing Energems.