Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. Saban and Nickelodeon own them. I also don't own any song lyrics used.
AN: Here's chapter 32! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks to all the great reviews too and here's notes to those individuals:
Alex B. Goode: Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story.
TommyOliverMMPRFan: Yeah, it's not looking good. Unfortunately things have to get worse before they get better, but they will get better. :)
Harry2: Vile support might be crumbling, but he's Master Vile parading as the President so he has power to back him up. As for Tori and Zedd being sprung, I'm afraid it's not that simple. ;)
MMPRFansince93: Sorry for all the suspense, but I like a slow build to my climaxes. This chapter has some good old character development which I think is interesting. It's not quite as action packed as past chapters, but I thought it was necessary. Hope you like. :)
WideOpenSpacesGirl045: Thanks, I'm glad you like the story so much. :) Yeah, Tori has some words for her dad in this chapter, Ronny has some choice ones for Will, and so on. Hope you enjoy. :)
XoxMountainGirlxoX" Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story. I know, it's weird writing Zedd as a redeemed character, but I find it really fun since he's so complex. :)
RHatch89: Yep and more drama to come. :)
Lmv16: Yep, Gorbin and company are dicks. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
Pinkrangerfan: Glad you're enjoying the story. As for Dax, he may be seeing the light, but the question is will he do anything about it? His viewpoint is touched on a bit in this chapter. Enjoy :)
fallingstar22: Yep, Hunter's been captured, as have Tori and Zedd. This chapter focuses on the characters a bit more rather than the action. But there will be major action scenes coming in the near future. Glad you're enjoying :)
Crimson Rising
Chapter 32: Without You
I can't win, I can't reign
I will never win this game
Without you, without you
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you
I won't run, I won't fly
I will never make it by
Without you, without you
I can't rest, I can't fight
All I need is you and I,
Without you, without you
I won't soar, I won't climb
If you're not here, I'm paralyzed
Without you, without you
I can't look, I'm so blind
I lost my heart, I lost my mind
Without you, without you
Song: Without You
Artist: David Guetta & Usher
Gorbin's Military Compound
Near Turtle Cove, CA
As the ion paralysis slowly wore off, Tori began moving around her cell, mostly to keep warm in the drafty space. She was dressed in shorts and a sleeveless shirt, ideal for California weather and the similar climate on the island where their base resided. She suddenly heard wolf whistles and glared, as she saw two officers bringing her a tray of food.
"Man, if this is what girl power rangers look like, sign me up," one joked.
"Yeah…maybe the General will let us get better acquainted later. How about it sweet cheeks? Wanna be with a real man?" the other taunted.
"First of all, call me sweet cheeks again, and I'll knee your balls into your throat. And as for a "real" man, neither of you qualify," she spat. But they only laughed. They were about to keep taunting her, but saw Dax approaching.
"Back to your posts, Gentlemen," Dax ordered. Though they didn't like it, Gorbin had made it clear that Will and Dax were their superiors.
"You know, I'm tempted to let you have at them. I'd love to see you make sopranos out of those jerks," Dax chuckled.
"Yet you work with them and since when do you care if I'm harassed?" Tori asked.
"Come on Tori, I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I don't even agree with you being locked up in here," Dax replied. Tori put her hands on the bars.
"Then let me go…come with me back to the ranger base. You can still make this right," she pleaded. He shook his head.
"Believe me, there's a lot of things going on here that I'd change if I could, but you know I can't. Gorbin's in charge for now and until the status quo changes, then I have to do what's best for me," Dax reasoned.
"That's selfish," she told him. He shrugged.
"But it's reality. I'm making money, I have the career I've always dreamed of and I'm still fighting the bad guys," Dax reasoned.
"But it won't last! And you're fighting the same bad guys as we are right now, but what happens when Gorbin blurs those lines by telling you that it's certain humans that the bad guys, like anyone that doesn't follow his agenda or isn't rich enough to fund his operations? Will money and a career be worth shedding the blood of innocents?" she asked. He shook his head in vehement.
"It won't come to that," he insisted.
"You're fooling yourself if you think that," Tori retorted. He sighed.
"I have to go. While you rot in that cell, I'm going to finally getting my film career off the ground. I achieved my dreams and maybe you don't agree with how I did it, but I'm not the one in a prison cell," he spat, as he stalked off. She huffed in annoyance and sat down. She picked at her food and ate a little, finding it bland and tasteless, but knew she had to eat it to keep her strength up. Finally not being able to stand anymore, she pushed it away in disgust.
"You've barely eaten anything at all," a voice mentioned. She turned to find her father there and then turned away again.
"It's gross," she complained.
"Sweetheart, you have to know that I didn't expect he would lock you up," Peter told her.
"And you believed him?" she asked incredulously.
"I wanted to…I just had to see you and explain things," Peter replied.
"Save it dad, I don't want to know why you left me to work for the government, because no answer is going to make it right," Tori said.
"I made a lot of mistakes and I never should have left you, I know that. But I really thought I was doing something for the greater good, you have to believe me," Peter pleaded.
"I believe you've deluded yourself and that you're a coward," she spat angrily.
"Well, I see the bad influence that boy has had on you," Peter retorted.
"Oh no, this is all me, but you wouldn't know that, because you don't even know me anymore," Tori pointed out.
"I'm trying to know you, but you're fighting me at every turn and it breaks my heart to know that you would choose that alien boy and your friends over me, your own family," Peter spat. That was the wrong thing to say and he knew it the moment he saw her sapphire eyes flash with hurt.
"Family? FAMILY? You may be family by blood, but you stopped being my family the moment you left," she spat.
"Shane and Dustin are my family, because they were there for me after you just disappeared. They were there for me when mom was too drunk to care. Sensei showed me that I was important in a time when I thought I was nothing. He helped me become the person I am. And Hunter…" she said, stopping for a moment to choke back a sob.
"And Hunter is the man I love. He would never choose to leave me. He is the kind of man that gives himself up to save five people that he doesn't even know," she said, as a few tears spilled down her cheeks.
"But yet here you are lecturing me about family when my family is probably worried sick about me and the man I want to spend the rest of my life with is probably being tortured," Tori cried, her voice thick with pain.
"Tori…" Peter tried to console.
"Just go…" she sniffed. He hesitated and she glared at him.
"GO!" she screamed. Sighing in defeat, Peter slunk away from his daughter's cell, each one of her sobs stabbing him in the heart like a knife.
"What I have done?" he whispered to himself.
The young boy, no older than twelve, stealthily pocketed the packaged goods while the store clerk's back was turned. Inside, he knew what he was doing was wrong, but they were so hungry. He skirted out of the store and into a back alleyway where a little dark haired boy waited, maybe ten-years-old at most.
"Here Blake…I got what I could," Hunter said, as they tore open the packages and started eating.
"Hey Hunter?" Blake asked, as he munched.
"Yeah?" the older blonde boy answered.
"What are we going to do now that mommy and daddy are gone?" Blake asked innocently. Hunter really had no clue, but he never let on to Blake that he was just as scared as he was.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out. Come on, let's keep moving," Hunter urged, as he took his brother's hand and they kept moving through the city.
Hunter jerked awake, returning to a world of pain. It had been hours since Xinshing had quite literally broken nearly every bone in his body and he found himself in and out of consciousness, as his body worked to heal. He hung limp by a pair of shackles secured to the ceiling and had nearly no strength. The amount of healing that his body needed had taken nearly everything from him and the tasteless gruel he had been fed a few hours ago only served as enough to keep him from starving to death.
The realm of his dreams hadn't really been dreams at all during his bouts of unconsciousness, but rather flashbacks of his life…good and bad. The shackles cut into his wrists and fresh blood trickled down his arms. Sharp pains shooting through his body began anew, evidence of his bones resetting and mending themselves, as the Phoenix fire that was both his gift and curse, coursed through his body. The pain being too much, Hunter passed out again, and delved into his memories again…
The Legacy Compound
Ranger Ops
Cam sighed deeply and tossed his glasses away. He rubbed his eyes and sat back in his chair. He had forgotten how long he had been sitting there, but judging by how stiff he was, it was probably a good twelve hours or better. And he had absolutely nothing to show for those wasted hours either. There was no trace of Tori, which baffled him. Their advanced system should have easily been able to hone in on her morpher, but the computers were picking up nothing.
As for Hunter, they knew exactly where he was, but such a rescue mission to Ivan Ooze's ship would prove to be sheer suicide. Still, he knew their crazy leaders were busy trying to hatch some kind of insane plan.
"You look like you could use this," Hayley said, as she a steaming mug down beside him. He raised an eyebrow.
"Tea?" he asked. She nodded.
"No offense, but I really need more coffee," Cam replied.
"You've had enough coffee. You need to get some sleep and this will help you relax," she replied. He looked at her suspiciously.
"Did my dad put you up to this?" he questioned. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"We're both worried about you. Drink your tea and then go to bed," she ordered.
"And if I don't, are you going to tell my daddy one me?" he challenged. She leaned down, bringing them face to face, and Cam wondered why he had never noticed just how beautiful she was…how green her eyes were and how her smile warmed his heart. He tended to lose himself in his tech world and often missed things like this about the people around him.
"How about I just drag you to your bedroom and if I have to stay there all night to make sure you get some sleep…I will," she said. He gulped.
"Go…seriously, Samurai or not, I will drag you there if I have to," she warned.
"Fine…" he relented, as she followed him out and they went upstairs to the residence wing for the night.
A Private Military Club
Downtown Turtle Cove
Ronny knew she was taking a risk. Being a former racecar driver, taking risks was nothing new to her. The others, Rose included, would go crazy if they knew she had snuck down to Ops in the middle of the night, slipped passed Alpha, and used the teleportation system to get her near Will's location. She had tracked him by his morpher, which would probably make Cam freak since she touched his precious system. But she had some things to get off her chest and she had to know why he was doing this. Spy or not, she didn't believe that she had never really known him as he so claimed. There were just some things that you couldn't fake…or so she wanted to believe. Regardless, she needed closure and Will Aston was going to listen to her or so help her, she was going to slap him silly.
She snuck into the ritzy club that she had tracked his morpher to and suddenly realized how underdressed she was. Ignoring that thought, she used her enhanced speed to zoom by the confused bouncer and then darted into a corner, while she looked around the room. She spotted him mingling with some other gentlemen, of which she assumed somehow worked for Gorbin as well. He had a very pretty brunette on his arm and she seethed, knowing exactly what type of girl this was. Unfortunately, she knew she would stick out like a sore thumb dressed in her normal clothes, so she decided she would sink to his level if only to get his attention. Will Aston was worth saving, even if she had to save from himself. She suddenly bumped into another girl and gasped, realizing that she might be exposed. Thinking quickly, she did her best airhead impression.
"Oh, I'm so clumsy, I'm so sorry," she faked in her best ditzy voice.
"Oh that's okay hon, girls like us have to stick together in a place like this," the other blonde said. Her voice heavy with a southern accent.
"Girls like us?" Ronny asked.
"You know, arm candy for these fine military men…and possibly more if you know what I mean," the blonde giggled. Ronny looked around and felt like puking her guts out. Why did these women allow themselves to be treated like this? As nothing more than cheap one night stands with men who had no respect for women.
"Let's go get you a dress," she suggested. But Ronny had changed her mind.
"No thanks, he's going to listen to me regardless of what I'm wearing," Ronny replied, as she dashed away, stunning the other woman. Will suddenly felt himself ripped away from the woman on his arm and shoved into the nearest room by a yellow blur. Ronny closed the door and locked it, before facing the stunned black ranger. But Will regained his composure quickly and smirked.
"If you wanted to talk Ronny, all you had to do was ask," Will said smugly.
"Oh, this won't take long. Sorry to interrupt your date with the brunette bimbo hanging all over you out there," Ronny spat in response. He grinned.
"Jealous?" he hissed, but she stalked toward him with a smirk of her own.
"You wish," she hissed back. He frowned and turned away to avoid her eyes that always seemed to look straight through him.
"What do you want? If my boss sees you, then I'm going to have to arrest you," Will told her.
"You'll have to catch me first, but I just wanted to have a quick little chat. Considering your female company tonight, it will probably be the first intelligent thing you've heard come out of a woman's mouth all night," Ronny snapped.
"Her name is Chloe and she's not an airhead," Will refuted. Ronny rolled her eyes.
"Please…I bet she just is so stoked that she's with a real power ranger," Ronny said sarcastically.
"Maybe she knows a real man when she sees one," Will refuted.
"Don't make me hurl," she spat.
"What do you want Ronny?" he asked.
"I want to know why!" she screamed.
"Why what?" he asked.
"Why you betrayed fifteen generations of rangers for this…fake life!" she yelled.
"From my point of view, this life is pretty damn real. Who the hell are you to come in here and judge me?! I'm trying to make a life for myself and if that means cutting ties with those that will hold me back, then so be it," he replied.
"Listen to me Will, Gorbin isn't going to do you any favors," Ronny tried to convince him.
"Don't you think I know that?! I'm not a moron," he snapped.
"Then why are you working for him?" she asked.
"I'm a spy…think about it Ronnie. I'm embedded now and privy to all GAMA's operations," he replied.
"So…you're actually helping us?" she asked, a sliver of hope in her voice.
"Don't delude yourself, I'm helping myself. When the time is right, I'll seize control of the entire operation from Randall Gorbin and tuck him away in a dark cell where he belongs. Then it will be my operation and we will be the planet's last line of defense. No one will stand against us," Will replied.
"I think you're the delusional one," Ronny spat. He scoffed.
"Yeah? I'm not the one hiding in God knows where with a multi-colored band of emotionally driven has been power rangers. Face it, none of this would be happening if they had done their jobs right in the first place," Will spat back.
"Really? Did Gorbin tell you that load of crap? Or did it come from a certain President of the United States…perhaps?" she hissed.
"What does it matter?" he asked.
"It matters, because the President isn't who he appears to be," Ronny replied. Will sighed.
"Not this again," he replied, sounding tired.
"Listen to me Will, the President is being controlled by Master Vile…" Ronny warned, but he cut her off.
"Save it Ronny, I don't care," Will snapped.
"You're lying…you may fool the others with that attitude, but I know you care," Ronny replied.
"Get out of here Ronny, before I'm forced to arrest you," he warned. She shrugged.
"If you were going to arrest me, you would have done it by now. You can't even look at me, because I know you care, but I'll leave," she relented. He gritted his teeth in anger. She was infuriating at times and he suddenly wanted her to hurt as much as he was inside.
"You're wrong…I don't care. The others are nothing to me…and that includes you," he lied, as he stared her straight in the eyes. He watched them glaze over with pain and betrayal.
"You were just the flavor of the week," he said stoically, using every bit of effort he had to keep his voice from cracking. This time, the pain in her eyes flashed to anger and he should have expected her to slap his face when it came.
"Go to hell Will," she spat angrily, as she dashed out the sliding patio door and escaped the private club's compound. She stopped a few blocks away and sunk onto a park bench in defeat, before sobbing almost uncontrollably…
Ivan Ooze's Spaceship
Hunter's flashback
She was gorgeous…especially when she was in her element. As he watched her walk in from the ocean with her board under her arm, he wondered how he could have let this happen. How could he have fallen for the same girl his brother had once had a thing for? He knew Blake had moved on, though he had never really told her that. There had never been much more than flirting between the two and maybe if Blake had stayed, there would have been. It didn't matter though. She would never see him as more than her friend. His thoughts were interrupted by a couple of male surfers, whose crude comments about his object of affection made his blood boil.
"She's so hot…I'd love to have a piece of that," one said.
"Fat chance…she's not worth it. One of the guys told me that he tried to make a move one time and he ended up on his ass. Trust me, you don't want to mess with that one. She's an ice queen," the other replied.
"I like it when they fight and I have ways to deal with ones that are hard to handle," the first one sneered.
"Dude…what are you talking about?" the other asked.
"The town beach party tonight…everyone's going to be there. If I manage to slip a couple pills into her drink, it'll take all the fight out of her," he chuckled.
"That's sick man," the other replied.
"Girls like her need to put in their place," the first one spat. That was all he could take and the two nearly jumped out of their skin when he was suddenly in their faces.
"Maybe you need to be put in yours," Hunter hissed.
"Dude…back off, we were just bullshitting," the first guy tried to claim.
"If either of you come near her tonight…or any other day for that matter, they'll be arresting me for murder," Hunter threatened.
"Dude…chill out, the bitch is all yours," the other said, trying to diffuse the situation. Hunter grabbed his shirt.
"Don't call her that," he said, as he shoved him back, sending them both his best death glare. They seemed effectively worried and quickly made an exit. Tori hadn't noticed the exchange, but looked up at that moment, her face becoming eclipsed with a smile at the sight of him. He felt his heart skip a beat and wondered idly if there was even a slight chance she could love him in return. He knew she could take care of herself, but hearing what those two assholes had been saying about her made him burn with the need to defend her honor. He was positive she would affectionately call it his "inner caveman".
"Hey…you're here early today," she mentioned. He shrugged.
"Leann is covering for me. I thought we could get some dinner before the party tonight. I've had a craving for ham and pineapple pizza and you're the only one that will eat it with me," he replied. She smiled.
"Sure, but we need to go by my apartment first so I can shower and change. Do you mind waiting?" she asked. He shook his head.
"Nah, there's a race on TV that'll keep me occupied," he replied, as they headed to her van. Little did he know, that night, his dreams would come true. The night they became so much more…
Music played in the background and the evening breeze ruffled his shaggy mane, as they walked barefoot in the sand. They had been dancing, but they soon agreed that there were too many people and it was way too loud, so they retreated to the surf along the beach nearby.
"You look like you have something on your mind?" he questioned, as he noticed how quiet and pensive she had become.
"It's…nothing," she replied vaguely.
"Come on Tor…something's obviously bothering you," he urged.
"You're probably going to hate me if I tell you," she said.
"Tori…nothing you could ever say could make me hate you, that's not possible. We're friends…you can tell me anything," he replied.
"That's just it…I don't want to just be your friend anymore," she admitted.
"What do you mean?" he asked, suddenly worried that he had done something to make her angry enough to not want anything to do with him.
"Never mind…I know you don't see me that way…because of Blake," she said sadly, as she started to walk off.
"Blake? Wait…Tori, talk to me," he demanded, as he reached for her arm and saw the unshed tears in her eyes.
"I love you…okay?" she blurted out. He was stunned to speechlessness for a moment, though he quickly realized that saying nothing was making it worse.
"I love you too," he finally admitted. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Does it really surprise you that I could fall for you? You're amazing, you know," he told her.
"I…I'm just not that girl, I didn't want to be that girl," Tori rambled.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"The girl that comes between two brothers…I told myself that I wasn't going to be her," she replied. And then he understood all too well why she might think he could hate her.
"Tori…you're not that girl. I'll admit that I have my own guilt about falling for you, but Blake isn't here. I love my little bro, but I love you too. I'd like to think he wouldn't want us both being miserable and alone, because we're worried about hurting him when he's not even in the picture," he mentioned, as he gently brushed a stray blonde lock from her beautiful face.
"I don't let just anyone into my heart, you know. But somehow, being the woman you are, you got passed all my insecurities, my fears, my broodiness, and didn't run screaming in the other direction. Most girls just don't have the patience for me," he admitted. She titled her head and suddenly wanted to strangle every stupid airhead girl that had ever dared to hurt him. She knew there was a few in his past and none of the relationships had ended well.
"Guess I know a great guy when I see one…one that's worth fighting for," she said. Never one to be shy, he leaned in and captured her lips with his own. Tori's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before closed them and eagerly kissed him back.
"I love you so much," he whispered. She smiled, as he held her close and she finally felt complete.
"I love you too, thunder boy,"
"Tori…" he whispered.
"Ugh…you know, saying her name isn't going to make her magically appear. Your dreams are making you delusional," Toxa said in disgust, as she paced before the broken ranger. His eyes snapped open and the pain was still ever present, but better than it had been last time he was awake.
"Well, waking up to you is a nightmare," he spat.
"Aw…and I bet if you let me, I could make you forget all about your little blonde tart," Toxa hissed, as she put her hand on his face. He shrugged away from her in disgust.
"And if I had anything in my stomach, I'd be up-chucking on your right now," he retorted.
"Normally, I wouldn't even consider a weak human worthy of me either…but then I guess you're not really human, are you?" she asked.
"Earth is my home, regardless of where I was born," he replied.
"Please…these humans are destroying themselves! My father only wishes to speed up their guaranteed demise. Your people are no better. They are power hungry, greedy, and selfish," she spat.
"Not all humans are like that," Hunter snapped.
"Really? Because from what I've seen, most of your own people have turned their backs on the rangers. Rangers who have protected them for years and they don't even want you on their planet anymore, because you weren't born there. Yet you still protect them," Toxa said, as if she was genuinely trying to understand him.
"It's the right thing to do. Not that you would understand that," he snapped. She smirked.
"You are quite attractive, especially when you're angry," she said, as he shrugged away from her touch again.
"Touch me again and I'll bite your hand off," he growled. She smirked. Since her father had ordered her to observe him, she had found herself enthralled by the Phoenix ranger. She had always been drawn to males with power, but never had she encountered one that she couldn't have…until him. He wanted no part of her, despised her, and his heart belonged to another, which only made her want him more. She traced a finger down his bare chest, enjoying the sight of his well-toned physique.
"Is it really my appearance that bothers you so? Because that can easily be changed," she said, as she morphed into another form. She delighted in torturing him, not physically, but emotionally, for she knew exactly what his reaction would be.
Her purple skin faded to a creamy peachy white, with a subtle tan. Her hair, once black as night, now flowed in flaxen blonde waves. Her purple eyes morphed into sparkling sapphire gems and her lips to a soft pink.
"Is this better?" she asked. He glared murderously at her.
"You're not her…not by a long shot," he spat angrily.
"But I could be…I mean, think about it. We could rule the universe if you joined me and if me looking like this is what you like…then I could get used to this form I suppose. I'm not really sure if I understand what you see in her though," Toxa said, as she examined the foreign blond hair with scrutiny.
"Go to hell," he spat. She smirked and let herself out of the cell, before turning the plasma bars back on.
"It's really too bad about what happened to her," Toxa mentioned. Hunter's head snapped toward her.
"What happened to Tori?" he demanded to know.
"Oh that's right…you don't that she was taken…" Toxa vaguely revealed, as she strolled off.
"Taken? TAKEN BY WHO?" he screamed. She smirked, as she kept walking.
"TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!" he screamed. She grinned evilly and morphed into her true form.
"I must say your emotional toying with him is far more effective torture than I would have imagined. Your father is very pleased," Xin mentioned, as he approached.
"Thank you…I must say that he is very entertaining," Toxa replied.
"Your father wants to see how the rangers deal with a full scale attack without him and he wishes for you to lead it. He of course will be forced to watch every bit of their destruction," Xin informed. She smirked.
"I'll leave at once," she replied, as she went to gather a team of warriors.
Gorbin's Military Base
Outside Turtle Cove, CA
"Dr. Cranston, I'm pleased to tell you that you have a cellmate," Gorbin said, as Zedd was shoved into the cell.
"This is your new home, your Lordship, for now, until the President decides exactly what to do with you," Gorbin continued.
"Your President is being controlled by Master Vile and when he's done using you, you'll be in here with us…or worse," Zedd warned. Gorbin chuckled.
"Are you still on that? I don't know who this Master Vile is, but I assure you he has nothing to do with this," Gorbin insisted. Zedd scoffed.
"You're a bigger fool than I thought then. But if you want to work for a man that will eventually melt the skin off your bones for his own amusement, then be my guest. Just tell me where Tori is," Zedd demanded. Gorbin chuckled.
"Your concern for her is touching, but she is in her own cell and she's fine," Gorbin assured.
"She better be for your sake," Zedd retorted, making Gorbin chuckle.
"And what are you going to do if she isn't?" the General taunted. Zedd smirked.
"Not me…but my nephew will rip through you like tinfoil," Zedd promised.
"Your nephew is as good as dead," Gorbin spat. Zedd smirked.
"You hope," Zedd taunted back, enjoying Gorbin's uneasiness.
"I warn you not to anger me. I may send my men in to deal with you and tell the President that you had an unfortunate accident," Gorbin threatened.
"Sure, send them in. I'm sure that I don't stand a chance with seven thousand years of hand to hand combat experience under my belt," Zedd replied sarcastically. Gorbin simply smirked.
"Perhaps we will test you later," Gorbin promised, as he left. Zedd sighed and noticed the curious scientist that also occupied the cell.
"So…you're Lord Zedd?" Alan Cranston asked cautiously.
"Just Zedd. I kind of dropped the Lord part when I decided I was no longer going to continue on a path of evil and destruction," Zedd replied.
"So Billy's journals were correct…you are reformed?" Alan asked curiously. Zedd nodded.
"Yes and you must be Billy's father," Zedd replied, as he sat down next to him, sharing a casual handshake.
"Are Billy and Carly safe?" Alan asked. Zedd nodded.
"Yes, Carly is fitting in rather well with our resident brainiacs and Billy is as well as can be expected," Zedd responded. Alan frowned.
"As well as can be expected?" he repeated in confusion.
"Oh…I suppose you wouldn't know," Zedd realized.
"What's happened to Billy?" Alan asked.
"Aquitar was destroyed. He and Trina were the only survivors," Zedd replied gently.
"My God…then Cestria…" Alan uttered.
"She died in Billy's arms during the invasion. I'm sorry," Zedd replied.
"I just wish I could be there for him," Alan said in defeat.
"I know what you mean, Ivan Ooze has captured my nephew," Zedd replied.
"The Bradley boy…the one that is Eltarian?" Alan asked. Zedd looked at him.
"You know about Hunter's origins?" Zedd questioned in return.
"Only in respect to his DNA. Gorbin threatened Carly and I did a full work up on his blood sample. I'm sorry, because I am responsible for creating the ion ray guns," Alan apologized.
"It's all right, you did what you had to for Carly and you quit working for them once you knew she was safe. That took a lot of courage, more than Tori's own father has shown," Zedd stated.
"I've tried talking to Peter, but he is convinced that if he keeps working for Gorbin that he will in turn offer protection for him and Tori, even though she is a ranger. I must say, the research I was allowed to do on your people before I learned what all this was really about was fascinating," Alan mentioned.
"Our makeup isn't all that dissimilar from humans, as I'm sure you know. We're just a far older version," Zedd responded.
"Your nephew's DNA is absolutely the most remarkable thing I've ever seen. Is it true that he healed from a bullet wound to his heart?" Alan asked. Zedd nodded.
"Yes…he is one of kind, just like his father was. There won't be another like him, at least until he and Tori have children someday, that is," Zedd replied.
"Do you think your nephew can escape Ivan Ooze?" Alan asked. Zedd sighed.
"I have to hope he can…because between Master Vile and Ivan Ooze, they'll ravage this planet until it is nothing unless they are stopped. The others will stop him, they are quite capable, but they need Hunter's powers to combat Ooze and Vile's magic," Zedd explained.
"Things aren't looking up, that's for sure," Alan added. Zedd smirked.
"On the contrary, Dr. Cranston, because with the power of the Ninjetti…all things are possible," Zedd replied mysteriously, puzzling the aging scientist.
The hidden island
Carly held on tightly, as Blake navigated the rough terrain of the hilly side of the island. This was their second ride and she found it thrilling. Normally, she would have had second thoughts about getting on a motorbike with someone, but she trusted Blake with her life. He stopped on a ridge that overlooked the ocean and they pulled their helmets off, as they dismounted the bike.
"I think this is a tradition I could get used to," she mentioned. He smiled and took her hand.
"Me too," he replied, as they sat down and hung their legs over the edge of the ridge.
"Do you miss MIT at all?" he asked. She shrugged.
"I miss some of my friends, but honestly, I've learned more here getting to work with ranger technology in just a few days than I've learned in six months at MIT," she replied. He nodded.
"Yeah, this experience is like nothing else, that's for sure," he agreed.
"Don't get me wrong, MIT is an awesome school, but I was having trouble focusing when all this stuff started happening. I wanted to be doing something that could really make a difference," she added. He nodded.
"I know what you mean. I was a little mad when Cam first called me back from Factory Blue, but then I realized that there's no motocross or anything for that matter if I didn't do this," Blake said.
"Will you return to Factory Blue when all this is over?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I'm not sure. Roger Hanna was pretty clear that he was done with me, but he may change his tune after the rangers save the Earth from Ooze for good this time. And that just makes him a poser so I doubt I'll go back even if he offers it to me. There's other things that are just more important," Blake replied. She smiled. They were about to continue when Blake's morpher chimed. He groaned.
"That's probably not good. Go for Blake," he answered.
"Blue Bay Harbor is being trashed. Morph and I'll teleport you there with the others," Hayley said.
"Got it, can you teleport Carly back there?" Blake asked.
"Yeah…I've got a lock on her too," Hayley replied. He nodded and stepped back.
"Be careful," she called. He nodded and initiated his morphing sequence.
"Thunderstorm, Ranger Form!" Blake called, as his navy armor enclosed around him. In a flash of navy and white, he was teleported to Blue Bay Harbor and she returned to Ranger Ops…