Chapter 46 – The Last Night
Griffin Residence
The sun had set across the city of Hunston Valley and there was a strange calm in the air. The news channels were reporting the strange appearance of the Ice Palace on the beach but there was no report about the incoming meteor. Either they were unaware of the danger or someone was keeping the news silent. The team had separated to spend the evening with the people they cared about the most before meeting up for the final battle the following morning.
Around the kitchen table of the Griffin farmhouse, Riley and Matt had summoned their parents to an emergency family meeting. In addition Riley had brought along his girlfriend Marissa, "Riley what's so important that it couldn't wait until we saw each other on Monday?" the red head asked.
Now he was confronted with the situation, the green ranger didn't know how to begin this conversation, "It's alright son", his Mom began, "if you're in trouble you can tell us".
"That's just it", Riley replied, "I'm not really sure how to begin".
Michael Griffin, now fully on the road to recovery after his heart attack, looked over at his oldest son, "Do you know what this is about Matt?"
"Yeah Dad", Matt sighed, "there's no easy way to say this but we're Power Rangers and if we don't defeat the leader of the Legion of Deboss tomorrow then the whole world is going to end".
There was silence in the room for a few moments before Michael, Claire and Marissa burst out laughing, "We're not joking", Riley said through gritted teeth.
"Oh you two and your practical jokes", Claire laughed.
"Come on Riley stop kidding around and tell us what this is really about", Marissa smiled.
"Fine if you don't believe us", Riley stood up from his chair and reached into the waist band of his jeans, "how about I just show you". He slammed an Energem into his Dinovolver and pulled the trigger, morphing into the green ranger, "Convincing enough for you".
Three set of jaws dropped before looking over to Matt. He pulled out his own Dinovolver and the Pachy Energem and placed them on the table. "You've been a ranger all this time and you didn't tell us?" Claire finally said.
Riley unclipped his helmet and placed it in the kitchen table, "How could I, we've been struggling so much over the last few months, I didn't want to stress you out any more".
"And all your friends are rangers too?" Marissa asked and Riley nodded his head in response, "that actually explains a lot", she laughed
"So you're not mad?" Riley asked his girlfriend.
"A little", she stood up and hugged him, "but I'm glad you've told me now".
"What's this you said about the end of the world?" Michael asked his older son so Matt explained everything about Chaos and the meteor that was due to hit tomorrow. "Well I guess we're going to have to go into the city then".
"Dad you can't", Matt cried, "what about your heart? You've only been home for two weeks".
"It won't make any difference if you don't beat this Chaos guy", Michael replied, "you're our children and we'll always protect you, even if it is against a prehistoric evil".
"The people of the city need protecting", Marissa added, "the whole school would fight in support of the rangers if needed".
Touched by the outpouring of support of them, the two Griffin brothers opened their arms and pulled everyone into a tight hug. They just hoped that it wouldn't be for the last time.
Hills above the city
Jodella looked down on the bright lights of the city and admired the beauty of the place at night. In the distance she could see the Ice Palace, looming like a shadow over the city. The palace and the Deboss were her past, now all she needed to do was think about her future. She wasn't powerful enough to constantly maintain her human form so getting regular work was out of the question. There was also the matter of her not being able to age so technically she was immortal. 'At least my beauty won't fade', she thought rather shallowly.
"Thought I'd find you here", Ivan called out as he took a seat beside her.
There was a pause before Jodella spoke, "Until tonight I didn't stop to look at the beauty of the world. I'm ashamed that I spent so long trying to destroy it".
"Torin said almost exactly the same thing", the gold ranger replied, "maybe if more the Legion did the same thing then we wouldn't be in this position".
Overhead a shooting star flashed across the sky and the pair gazed at it in awe, "When this is over what you going to do?" Jodella asked.
"You're confident we're going to win", Ivan smiled before taking a deep breath, "I honestly don't know, I haven't thought about anything for the last few months other than destroying the Deboss".
Another uncomfortable silence descended before Jodella said, "I was thinking of travelling, you could come with me?"
Ivan thought about this for a few moments, "I'd like that", she replied, bringing a huge smile to the face of the former First Lady of the Deboss. Ivan smiled back before placing his arm around the shoulder of Jodella. He had an even bigger incentive to destroy Chaos and the Ice Palace now.
Watkins Residence
Tyler sat in the driver's seat of his jeep and watched Shelby furiously banging on the door of her family home. She had been doing this for the last 20 minutes but no one was answering and the red ranger was contemplating how much longer to let this go on for. After speaking with his Dad, he convinced Shelby that she should try to patch things up with her father. That was a decision he was now regretting as he watched the increasingly distressed pink ranger pull out her cell phone for the fourth time.
Shelby sat down on the stone steps of her former home and ran her hands through her hair, all the time staring at her cell phone. She hadn't been able to reach her Dad but she was sure that she would be at home tonight. The latest round of the playoffs had been three days ago so he wouldn't be at a match. More in hope than anything she tried his number again, "You've reached the voicemail of Tyrelle Watkins, please leave a message".
The pink ranger didn't want to do this but she had no choice, "Hey Dad, it's me, Shelby", she began, "I tried to come round tonight but I guess you weren't at home". She paused for a few moments before continuing, "Dad this might be my last chance to say this but I love you, even though we haven't spoken for the last few months. I've also got something to tell you, I'm a Power Ranger, the pink Dino Charge ranger to be precise and tomorrow we're going to fight the big boss and there's a good chance I won't be coming back. I would've liked to have spoken to you one last time but I guess that wasn't to be".
Tyler had given up on his patient vigil and had gotten out of his jeep. He saw his girlfriend with her phone pressed to her ear and a couple of tears running down her face, "So if you get this message before tomorrow, call me", she added and hung up from her call.
"No luck then", Tyler asked and took a seat beside her.
"Nope", Shelby shook her head, "typical isn't it", she rested her head on his shoulder, "at least he'll have one last message from me".
"Hey don't talk like that", Tyler replied, "we're going to win".
Shelby snorted, "I wish I had your confidence".
"I've got confidence enough for both of us", he smiled and posed with his spare arm. Shelby looked up at him and laughed, wiping her damp face with her sleeve in the process, "Come on lets go for a drive, maybe he'll call back".
The pink ranger nodded and Tyler help her up, "Thanks Tyler, at least I've got you", she said and gave her a kiss. Tyler wrapped his arm around her waist and led her back to his jeep. Shelby was right whatever happened at least they had each other.
Dino Mansion
In the back yard, Kiera sat on a plastic chair and looked up at the stars. She had on her leather jacket, her Christmas present from Chase, to stave off the worst of the cool night air. "Have I told you that jacket looks good on you", Chase said as he entered the yard.
"A few times", Kiera smiled back.
Chase had a couple of beer bottles in his hand and handed one to Kiera, "Come on this could be your final day on Earth, live a little".
The purple ranger looked at him sceptically before taking the bottle. She took a small swig before choking on the liquid, "This doesn't taste as good as I thought it would".
"It grows on you", Chase shrugged.
"You're being very blasé about all this", Kiera said to her boyfriend.
"I'm blasé about most things", Chase replied, "that's why you all love me". Kiera raised an eyebrow at him, drawing a sigh from the black ranger, "Alright I'm scared, happy now".
"Not really", Kiera began, "but at least you've been honest with me".
"I guess when you've done a few tours of duty, you get used to staring death in the face on a daily basis", Chase replied, "the attitude's just my coping mechanism".
The pair took a few more swigs of their drinks, content just to be in each other's company. "After all this is over I'm going to pay a visit to my parents", Kiera said, "the Plesio Zord can fly in space and it's much quicker than any other ship I know of", she looked nervously at the ground, "would you come with me", she asked in a quiet voice.
"Taking me home to meet the parents", Chase replied, "that's scary enough for any boyfriend but when said parents live on another planet", he let his sentence trail off.
"So is that a yes?" the teen asked.
Chase gave her his best smile, "I'd be honoured Miss Cranston", he answered. Kiera smiled in response and gave him a kiss.
Kiera pulled back after a few moments and retrieved her tablet from the ground, "I've lined up something for you", she propped the tablet up on a nearby tablet. "I've been able to speak with everyone I care about today but you haven't", she added and loaded up Skype.
"I don't think there is anyone", Chase snorted.
"I'm a little insulted Chase", a voice called out from the tablet.
"Christina", Chase began, "this is a surprise".
"Kiera messaged me and said that you had something to talk about", Christina replied, "which is weird because I didn't think she had my number".
Chase looked over towards the purple ranger and she had a look of guilt on her face, "Yeah she must've gotten it from my address book", he said with a glance towards Kiera.
"Not that I don't like talking to you but I do have classes in the morning", Christina yawned and brushed her blonde hair behind her ear, "so this had better be important".
The two rangers looked at each other for a moment before Chase began, "Chris we've got something to tell you".
"Oh my God Kiera's pregnant", Christina exclaimed.
"What! No", Kiera waived her hands, "I mean we haven't even done it yet or anything. Not that I don't want to..".
Christina placed her hand over her ears, "Alright I don't need to hear about Chase's sex life, the dude's practically a brother to me". Once everyone had calmed down she continued, "So what's going on because you two are starting to worry me".
Chase took a deep breath, "This is a long story and it all begins at a diner in the center on the city".
Upstairs in the Mansion, Chloe was finishing tucking Kristy in for the night, "And that's how the red rangers saved the planet from Serpenterra", she finished off her bed time story to her daughter.
"Wow the Red Wild Force ranger sounds amazing", Kristy gushed. Chloe laughed to herself, if she ever met Cole Evans she would have to tell him about this, "You're going to win tomorrow aren't you Mommy?"
"We'll certainly try our best", Chloe replied, "now don't forget as soon as we leave, go to lab with Jason and don't leave until we come back".
Kristy nodded and pulled her quilt up to her neck, "Are you and Jason going to get married someday".
The aqua ranger choked, "I haven't really thought about it", she replied, "would it bother you if I did?"
The young girl shook her head, "No one will ever replace Daddy but I wouldn't mind Jason as my new Daddy".
Chloe smiled, perhaps she would make her daughters wish come true, "Night Kristy, I love you".
"Love you too Mommy", the girl replied.
The aqua ranger closed the door behind her and crossed the landing to the room she shared with Jason. She found the original red ranger spying on Kiera and Chase from the bedroom window, "He's given my daughter beer", Jason growled.
"Jason she's eighteen", Chloe replied, "cut her a little slack".
"It's still against the law", Jason grumbled.
"Like she's the only underage kid to have alcohol", she began, "I remember my first party during my freshman year at college". She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Also I remember Kimberly telling me about your High School graduation party. What I don't understand about her story is where you found that inflatable kangaroo?"
"That little witch", Jason muttered, "for the record that was all Kat's fault, she goaded me into that".
"Ah ha, sure it is", she replied and stretched up to give Jason a kiss.
"This is a little strange", Jason began, "it should be me waiting nervously for the final battle".
"Well you're not taking my morpher away", Chloe responded, "I don't think your ass would look good in that skirt".
"I wouldn't dream of it", Jason stated, "guess I'm just a little tense".
"Well I've got the answer to that", she replied with a saucy tone and gave Jason around kiss. She reached under his tank top and ran her hands across his chest. Jason ran his hands through her hair and pulled her in closer. Quick as a flash, Jason had pulled off Chloe's light blue top, leaving her in just her bra. In response, Chloe took a few paces back until she collapsed on to the bed with Jason on top of her. She removed his vest top and gazed deeply into his eyes before kissing him deeply again.
The pair were going to enjoy the night because after tomorrow, they might not get another chance.
A/N - Poor Shelby, there's still a little bit of time for her Dad to reach out to her. Now the stage is set for the final battle...are you ready?