After school, Logan drove to the youth center, parked his bike out front and turned off the engine. He sat and watched as several people dressed in business suits came out the front door and walked to their cars then drove out of the parking lot. Puzzled, he got off his bike, stowed his helmet then walked inside the center.
He found Ernie behind the counter studying some official looking papers, looking up when Logan strolled in.
"You selling out, Ernie?" He asked, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder as he walked up, slipping off his leather jacket, revealing a black button up shirt with rolled up sleaves. It topped a pair of black jeans.
Ernie laughed, shaking his head. "Quite the opposite, dude! Because of you, my business has practically tripled so.…" here he moved the paper so Logan could see them. "…I'm able to do a few add ons," he said.
Surprised, Logan blinked at him then stared down at the plans. A pleased expression crossed his face as he muttered, "hmm...I see you're adding an outside bar with seating to the river and a stage, not a bad idea."
Ernie smiled at this. "Well I'm glad you approve... my investors certainly do and before you set up for today, I'd like to discuss something with you in my office," he said, motioning for Logan to follow him.
An angry exclamation burst out a few minutes later from inside the office...…
"No, no, no, no, and again no!" Logan growled adamantly, resting his hands on Ernie's desk and leaning into the man's face.
"Oh come on Logan! It is a holiday after all," Ernie cajoled him.
"No it's not," Logan said, sighing in annoyance.
"It is where I come from," Ernie said sincerely.
"Of coarse it is! He practically put you guys back on the map," Logan snapped angrily.
"Well, either way you don't have a choice because it's in your contract," Ernie said simply, pulling something from his desk drawer.
Logan snatched the contract from Ernie. "It does not…" he started to deny angrily then froze, bringing the paper closer so he could squint at the bottom lines.
Growling Logan jerked his head up and glared at Ernie. "That's not fair! You know darn well you'd need a magnifying glass to read that!" He snapped pointing at the miniature lines of print.
Ernie just shrugged and spread his hands, "Oh come on Logan, its standard on these things. Look, if you do it, I'll pay you double for the week."
Logan blinked at the offer then said, "make it triple and you've got a deal, but I am not wearing that!" He pointed to the poster on Ernie's wall.
Ernie just smiled and said nothing. In a huff, Logan left the office.
Some time later, Logan was looking over some song lyrics as he sat at the bar, when people started coming in including Billy and Trini. They waved when they spotted him and he waved back as they made for him.
"Hey Logan, I thought you rehearsed today's stuff last night?" Trini asked pointing to the papers in his hands.
He shrugged. "I did, but Ernie made a few requests for this week," he muttered and continued to read the lyrics over again as Billy and Trini placed their orders.
"What kind of request?" Billy asked.
He smiled at him. "You'll find out soon enough," he said as Richie laid their orders in front of them.
Just then Bulk and Scull came in, one dressed like he was going for a safari, the other the Civil War and made for the counter.
"Hey, where are our sandwiches?" Bulk barked.
"Yeah, we don't have all day!" Skull snarled, snapping his fingers.
Logan, Billy, and Trini gave each other a look then stared at the two.
Trini leaned closer to them and asked, "excuse me, but does that account for your rudeness?"
Bulk gave her a disgusted look and shoved his face in hers. "For your information, we happen to be on a Top Secret mission to find The Power Rangers...something you dweebs would never comprehend," he said rudely.
"Yeah! Hey Bulk what does 'comprehend' means?" Skull asked.
Logan and the others chuckled. "Well, at least we dwebs understand one thing..." Logan said looking back at the lyrics in his hand.
"Oh yeah, and what's that?" Bulk demanded.
Logan gave them a derisive look and said casually, "...the meaning of the phrase 'Top Secret.'"
"...and I believe the meaning of the word 'comprehend' means to understand," Billy added, making the others laugh as Richie got Bulk and Skull their sandwiches.
Just then, Ernie arrived with their drinks and after saying a few words to the others, he looked at Logan. "You ready?" He asked.
Logan sighed in annoyance as he took his attention off the lyrics. "Ernie, you've got to give me a little more time here. After all, you did kinda throw me a curve ball," he growled.
Smiling Ernie shrugged, saying, "sorry for that but you're still on in five minutes and don't forget these." He set down a pair of old style, square plastic sunglasses on the counter and left.
Frozen in place, Logan stared at the sunglasses then picked them up. "Wow! Five minutes. Not what I'm used to," he muttered then slipped the sunglasses on.
He turned to the others and asked, "So, how do I look?"
"I think you look fine," a sultry voice said from behind him.
Logan turned, smiling at Ashley who stepped around him and sat on his lap, giving him a peck on the lips. "My little Johnny Cash," she murmured, smiling.
"And you're my Ring of Fire," he said softly. She smiled and he slipped off his shades.
"Well I'm on. I just hope I don't disappoint Ernie. He idealizes this guy," he said with a lopsided smile as he got up and headed toward the stage, singing under his breath. He stepped onto the stage, his back to the mike, picked up his guitar and slipped the strap over his head then pushed the guitar behind him.
After taking a couple deep breaths, he rolled his neck around to relax his shoulders before turning around and switching on the mike. "Hi out there! How's everyone been doing today?" He called to his audience who turned their attention toward him, some giving high signs that indicated they were doing fine.
"Aw come on people! You're not convincing me much here! I repeat, 'how's everyone doing today?'" He called in a louder voice. More people actually shouted back but not everyone. "Sorry! I still didn't quite hear you!" He said coaxingly, cupping his ear to indicate he wanted more input. More people joined in but he wasn't satisfied. "I don't believe you!" The crowd finally shouted together answering his question.
He clapped his hands in appreciation. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" He complimented them, a few people laughed
"Now that I have you're attention. I want to tell you this week we're doing dedications to..." He began before a voice interrupted from the crowd.
"The Power Rangers!"
"Rangers Rule!" Others shouted.
Logan held up his hands for quiet. "Sorry...but no... I'm talking about a true renaissance man...a man who changed the face of American music forever. So let's have some shout outs for that king of cool...the man who put the rock in rock in Rock'n Roll... the man with the elastic hips," he built them up before spinning around, slipping the sunglasses on then spinning back around, he pointed at the crowd, taking a signature stance.
"Thank you...thank you very much," he said in his best Elvis voice.
People just stared at him, only a couple clapped with Ernie clapping the loudest as Logan swung the guitar forward and said, "let's start this shindig with an old favorite of the King's. Strumming the guitar, he launched into a familiar song.
"You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Ya know they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
You ain't no friend of mine"
While Logan was singing, he did a little Elvis style dancing. People had finally warmed up and were cheering at his antics as he slipped the mike from its perch and belted out another song.
"You can shake an apple off an apple tree
Shake-a, shake- suger,
But you'll never shake me
Uh-uh-uh
No-sir-ee, uh, uh
I'm gonna stick like glue,
Stick because I'm
Stuck on you
Gonna run my fingers thru your long black hair
Squeeze you tighter than a grizzly bear
Uh-uh-uh,
Yes-sir-ee, uh, uh
I'm gonna stick like glue
Stick, because I'm
Stuck on you
Hide in the kitchen, hide in the hall
Ain't gonna do you no good at all
'Cause once I catch ya and the kissin' starts
A team o' wild horses couldn't tear us apart
Try to take a tiger from his daddy's side
That's how love is gonna keep us tied
Uh-uh-uh
Yes-sir-ee, uh,uh
I'm gonna stick like glue
Stick, because I'm
Stuck on you."
Logan sang and danced while pointing at Ashley who blushed at all the attention.
Just then Kimberly skipped into the youth center, approaching the group as Trini said to Ashely, "it must be great to have all those love songs sung to you."
"Yeah, my man spoils me," Ashely replied with her best southern bell voice.
Kimberly waved Logan down when she got close enough to attract his attention just as he finished his set.
He nodded, returned the mike and took off his guitar as he left the stage to the cheers of the crowd.
When he reached her side, she demanded, "where are the other guys?"
"Down at the park playing football with Curtis and a few others...why?" Billy said as Logan sat down behind Ashley and put his arms around her.
"You do a good liking of The King," she said warmly.
"Thanks and it's just my luck to work for a man who lived in both Memphis and Hawaii," he sighed back.
Kimberly skipped around them waving a letter in her hand. "I just got some great news! I just got a letter from Tommy saying he's coming home at the end if the week," she declared smiling, taking a seat next to Trini.
"Hey, that's great!" Billy said, pleased.
"Thank god! It's getting a little boring around here without him," Logan said, relieved.
"Boring?" Ashley snapped, miffed at him..
"Ahh, I didn't mean you babe," he hurriedly said.
"Well this calls for a surprise party!" Trini cheered.
"My thoughts exactly. Come on let's get the others," Kimberly said smiling and the group got up to leave.
"Ernie I'll be back in a little while!" Logan called out to him
"Ok! When you get back, I'll have the bakery on the line for you guys!" Ernie said as they turned away and headed for the front door.
When they got to the park they were in time to see Curtis catch a touchdown and Jason brandishing his fist in triumph.
"HEY! YOU GUYS! TOMMY'S COMING HOME!" Kimberly yelled when they were in earshot.
"YEAH!" Zack yelled throwing his arms up.
"That's great! When?" Jason barked, a giant smile on his face.
"The end of the week!"
"Were going to throw a surprise party!"
"Oh yeah! I'm in the mood for a party! It's been way to quiet around here!"
"Your telling me Zack..." Logan started to say when he spotted something, "hey, isn't that Bulk and Skull?" He said pointing to a distant hill. Everyone looked.
"Must be on their secret mission to find The Power Rangers," Trini snorted.
"I wonder if that telescope is going to do them any good?" Logan asked, sharing a glance with Trini. They stifled a chuckle then Logan froze when he saw caught sight of something streaking across the sky heading for the hill.
A small explosion sounded as the object vanished on the other side of the hill sending everyone gaze toward it.
"Man, are they dynamiting up there?" Curtis asked.
"Not that I know of," Zack answered.
"Guys keep playing, we'll be right back!" Jason said, as he, Billy, and Logan darted off in the direction of the explosion.
The three quickly came to a small crater in the ground. "What do you think Billy?" Jason asked as Billy leaned closer to examine it.
After laying his hand down on the outer rim he drew it back waving it to cool it down. "I'd say something hot was here not too long ago," he said, wincing.
"If it landed here, where is it now?" Jason wondered aloud, looking around.
"That's a good question," Logan commented, bending down on one knee for a second before standing up and giving Jason a brief look. Jason only glared at him then turned his back on them and left.
Sighing Logan shook his head and looked back at Billy. "He still giving me the cold shoulder?" He asked unhappily. Billy sighed and put a hand on Logan's shoulder.
"Afraid so."
"Why is he giving me the cold shoulder? I didn't shot you and you're still alive." He demanded, irritated.
Billy shrugged and said, "you're his son, he thinks the apple didn't fall to far from the tree."
"Judge, jury, and executioner. What are your feelings toward it?" Logan asked turning to face Billy, hands on hips.
Billy was silent for a moment. "Well I'm happy to be alive, of course, however being shot wasn't fun," he said slowly then walked around Logan and went back down the hill.
"Salt on the wound," he muttered angrily, walking down the hill after them.
Back at the youth center, a little later, Logan did a few more numbers then changed clothes so he could work out. At the moment, he was in a full split, his ankles resting on two benches. His breathing came evenly as he made signs with his hands trying to clear his mind. Sighing he opened his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair before slipping back onto his feet.
A short while later he was moving fluidly through a serious of movements as he slowly practiced on the mat trying to settle his mind. He slowly came to a stop and opened his eyes just as slowly.
"What is it Trini?" He asked, sensing her behind him. Turning his head he eyed her questioningly.
She bit her lip as she walked toward him. "Billy spoke to us."
He gave a bitter smile as he picked up his bottle of water from the bench nearby. "Guess a guy can't keep his own problems to himself around here."
Trini didn't respond to that, keeping silent for a moment before asking him a totally unrelated question, trying to ease the tension. "Was that the Northern Dragon style?" She asked.
"...and Tiger," he answered mildly.
"That's an interesting combination, but I thought you learned Ninjutsu?"
He smiled wanly. "I did three different styles."
"Exactly how many do you know?" She asked, curious.
"Ten, not including weapons."
She was silent again as he cooled down. Then asked, "what was it like being raised by him?"
He blinked, rubbing his face then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hard, very hard," he admitted.
"Because of who he is?"
He slowly looked up at her, eyes hooded. "Because he demanded perfection," he said flatly, standing and walking away.
A couple days later at the youth center...
"We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can't you see
What you're doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say?
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds
So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?
Here we go again
Asking where I've been
You can't see these tears are real
I'm crying
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And be can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds
Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Let's don't let a good thing die
When honey, you know
I've never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah"
Logan sang the last note then flipped off the stage and danced his way to Ashley who was leaning against the bar smiling at him.
"You really are a fool you know," she said, grinning.
"Yeah, so you have a cure?"
"I might," she purred, standing then leaning forward to kiss him.
Before she could reach him, he reached out to her, caught her by the waist and dipped her, kissing her hard, while people around them clapped and emitted wolf whistles. As he brought her upright again, his morpher began to vibrate.
"Ernie, I need to take a break, ok?" He called out but didn't wait for an answer as he darted outside. Ducking around the corner of the building, he leaped on his bike, tugged his helmet on, started the engine then tore down the street.
"Red Dragon, put it on the screen," he ordered just as the sirens went off and an image of Thundermegazord appeared on his helmet screen.
As he raced down the street causing people to dive for any available cover. As he watched his screen, he saw not one but three monsters shoot lightning bolts at Thundermegazord, taking it down in a shower of sparks. Logan turned down an alley still driving at break neck speed, detaching his Dragon Gem then morphing. A second later, he roared into the sky.
He quickly came to the site and was in time to see the monsters become one then shrink in size. As the monster advanced, he put his bike into a roll and was about to open fire with his lasers when from higher up, a laser nailed his Dragon Rider Cycle. He struggled to keep control and came down hard between the monster and the rangers. He swiftly rolled away from the crash and was on his feet in time to see Goldar soar down to tackle him.
"Puny!... Waste of air!" Goldar snarled and threw Logan against a boulder chest first.
"Junk yard reject!" Logan yelled, picking up the boulder and hurling it at Goldar, catching him full in the chest and knocking him back before he could attack again.
"Sentinel!" Goldar roared. The monster came and stood by Goldar, waiting.
Logan cursed as the Sentinel's assistants appeared in a flash of light then charged forward. Gritting his teeth, he charge to meet them halfway.
"What are you doing here!" Jason demanded as Logan grabbed the first assistant around the midsection bringing it to the ground.
"Helping!" Logan barked back as the monster tried to kick him. Catching it by the foot, punching it down on the side of the knee joint then jumping up to drive his knee into the monster's face.
"We don't need your help!" Jason shouted.
Logan turned to grab another monster by the face then spun around to drive his fist into its back then putting it into a one arm head lock from behind.
"Didn't look that way to me! Now get your team out of here! I'll hold them off!" Logan ground out as he kicked the one behind him back down to the ground and swung the one he held in his grasp left and right as it threw thunder bolts.
"If you think I'm just going to…" Jason started to yell, Logan lifted the assistant straight up and kicked it in the face. He rounded on Jason.
"We don't have time for this now, Jason! No offence but they're too strong for your team, especially now when you're one ranger short of a Power Blaster!" He snarled angrily.
When Jason tried to step forward to continue the argument, Kimberly was there grabbing him by the shoulder. Snarling with fury, he turned toward her but she cut him off before he could voice his anger.
"He's right! We've got to regroup!" Jason scowled at her but looked at Logan for a moment then back at her then nodded tightly in agreement before the rangers all teleported away.
Logan sighed in relief then turned in time to see Goldar and the Sentinel charge him. Summoning The Dragon Sword, he lunged and slashed up at Goldar's face but the Sentinel leaping up to nail him in the side of the head, sending him spinning. One of the assistants grabbed him by his head then before Logan could hit him with an elbow to the face, a spinning the assistant sent her sword slashing into his side.
Ignoring the pain, he tried to counter the other assistant locking up his other arm but was nailed on his other side with lightning strikes. Yelling in pain, Logan managed to slash at him with his sword then spun around, knocking the other assistant off him before trying to attack Goldar. But he was too slow and was grabbed from behind, lifted up and thrown over Goldar's shoulder landing hard...face first on the ground.
Moaning, he started to get up and was in time to see Goldar's foot plow into the side of his face cracking his helmet and sending him wheeling to the ground again. Despite his spinning senses and the pain, Logan still tried to get to his feet only to have Goldar nail him with laser fire, after receiving an elbow to the face. He got a quick glimpse of the Sentinel and her assistants connecting their weapons and sending a powerful lightning bolt straight at his chest, launching him off his feet and sending him tumbling twenty feet through the air to come to a skidding, skipping, rolling stop face first forty feet away with his sword coming to rest right beside him, barely missing his body.
As he lay groaning on the ground, a new monitor appeared on his helmet visor that was dropping at a steady rate. 'Logan the power reserves are getting low!' Red Dragon barked in his mind.
'Ya think,' he thought back, unable to move, he cocked his head backward and saw to his horror, Goldar slowly approach his supine body, brandishing his sword.
"I am going to enjoy this," Goldar said maliciously as he got closer.
Desperately, Logan twisted back around and stretched his arm toward his sword.
"So ends the mighty Red Dragon Ranger!" Goldar declared, raising his sword to drive it through Logan.
As he continued to try and grab his sword, his thoughts were on how this was the first time in his ranger life that he felt stark fear for his life.
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