Sorry for the long delay; school is back in session and I've been beyond busy. Even though I don't work as much, I have a crap – ton more school assignments. I've basically traded one job for another. I can't promise I will be able to update as much as I used to but take heart! I have not forgotten about my stories and I still have my other ones waiting in the wings! Enjoy!
"Jason, you must destroy the Sword of Darkness. It's the only way to break Rita's spell and free Tommy," Zordon's deep voice advised from his communicator.
The Red Ranger nodded his head and quickly assumed a fighting stance as Tommy raced toward him, sword flashing in the sun as he sliced it through the air. Jason's own sword lay on the ground miles away; all he had was his Power Blaster to defend himself.
How am I going to destroy that sword?
He didn't have time to answer; the Green Ranger was on him in mere seconds. Jason dodged and weaved, throwing kicks and punches as he could. He couldn't fail; everything depended on him breaking Rita's spell. The consequences were huge; Rita would enslave the planet as Tommy was sure to enslave him. The Red Ranger knew what that would mean. Somehow he had to find the strength in himself to hang on.
The Green Ranger was in an absolute rage, swinging his sword wildly. The more Jason was able to avoid him, the angrier he became. This was not how things were supposed to go! The Red Ranger should be sedated and restrained right now! How dare he continue to disobey him!
"Submit, goddammit!" he roared, slicing his enemy across the chest.
Jason was barely able to hold back the onslaught; he fervently hoped that the others would be able to teleport in and help him. However, it didn't seem like that was going to happen. He was getting exhausted. The blows that Tommy did land were starting to bleed through his uniform.
Suddenly, an idea came to him. Quickly he backed away from the Green Ranger to disengage from the fight.
"Tommy, wait! I give up; I can't take anymore. Please, I'm sorry! I'll do whatever you want...Master!" He held up his hands as a sign of surrender and dropped to his knees. He trembled as he pretended to cry.
Tommy stopped, his sword suspended behind his head and panting heavily. He stared at Jason for what seemed like an eternity. Then slowly the sword lowered to his side. Seeing the Red Ranger cowering before him was delicious.
"That's right," he purred. "Master has a nice ring to it. I won't kill you but don't think you won't be disciplined for your behavior."
Slowly he began to advance on the Red Ranger, his mind racing with fantasies he planned to carry out when they were back in Rita's palace. He didn't even stop to think how strange it was that Jason was actually surrendering to such a brutal fate.
Jason watched Tommy walking towards him. The whole world seemed to slow down; all he could hear was his heavy breathing echoing in his helmet and his heart felt like it was in his throat. As the distance
between them grew shorter, the Red Ranger braced himself.
Tommy knelt in front of Jason and his free hand shot out to seizure his prisoner's arm. He realized too late that Jason had dropped a hand to the Power Blaster by his side; quickly the Red Ranger aimed and fired through the bottom of his holster, striking the Green Ranger in the stomach.
Tommy fell backwards, both hands clutching his stomach and his sword clattering to the ground. The pain was agonizing. At such close range, he thought for sure it went all the way through him. Tears filled his eyes.
Jason jumped to his feet.
"It's all over, Tommy," he calmly said as he took aim at the Sword of Darkness.
With one blast, the sword evaporated into nothing. A green glow surrounded the Green Ranger as he lay in the fetal position. He demorphed,leaving a stricken Tommy curled on the sand.
At that moment, the other Rangers teleported down; Tommy no longer was able to block it.
"Jason, you destroyed the sword! Morphinominal!" Zack cheered.
Billy and Trini knelt down to tend to the fallen Green Ranger. The pain was beginning to subside enough for Tommy to shakily get to his feet. His face was ashen and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. The Blue and Yellow Rangers each supported him under the arms.
"Tommy, are you ok?" Kimberly asked gently.
Images crashed down on him, every bad thing he had said and done as the evil Green Ranger. His face contorted with anguish.
Oh God, I killed people! Innocent people! I destroyed their homes! I tortured them!
He lifted his head and his gaze came to rest on the Red Ranger who had moved silently to stand in front of him. Unlike the other Rangers, he was still morphed. Tommy could see his reflection in Jason's visor; he didn't know what to feel. Happy because he didn't have to look Jason in the eye? Or disgust at seeing himself reflected back this way. Casting his eyes downward, he realized that the Red Ranger was still pointing his Power Blaster at him.
Tears slid down Tommy's cheeks. Its what I deserve...
"Jason..." he croaked. "I'm...I'm so...sorry." He began crying brokenly.
Jason just stood there without speaking or moving.
Zack put his hand on Jason's arm, confused. "Jason? Jason? Its ok. The spell's broken." Gently he guided his leader's arm down to his side. The Black Ranger could feel Jason slightly shaking under his touch.
"Hey we need to get to the Command Center. You guys need patched up," he said softly.
Slowly, the Red Ranger looked down at his bloody uniform and his red helmet bobbed up and down slightly. The mental and physical toll of the battle overwhelmed him then and he crumpled to the ground in a dead faint.