CHAPTER TWO
ADAM
He was alerted to a crisis as his alarm went off. Adam Park took a look at the readings and realized the unusual activity was in Blue Bay Harbor. The last time that had happened, three Power Rangers had ended up dead. He put in the coordinates and was teleported to the location moments later.
Nothing seemed wrong at the high school, but he sensed an unusual energy coming from inside. Adam snuck in through a side entrance and followed the energy he was sensing. It led him into the basement.
"What the heck...?" He wondered aloud softly as he spotted several teenagers battling against creatures he had never seen before. They were morphed, but Adam did not recognize their suits.
It's a new team, he realized. He watched from the shadows as they battled against the creatures and the woman who seemed to command them. Finally, in a dramatic poof of purple smoke, the bad guys vanished, leaving behind the obviously confused teenagers.
"What the heck just happened?" The girl in blue demanded.
"Guys, there's something I need to tell you," the boy in Red replied.
Adam realized he recognized their voices. Hayley Ziktor's daughter, Lula, was in Blue, and Cam Watanabe's son, Corey, was in Red. He wondered how many other members of the team he might know.
"You said 'it's Morphin' Time!' As in the Power Rangers?" The boy in Green asked. Adam didn't recognize his voice. "Are we... Did we just become freaking Power Rangers?" It seemed to suddenly be sinking in.
"Yes," Adam said, stepping out of the shadows. "I'm pretty sure you did."
"Uncle Adam?" Aria asked. With Kira being one of his Rangers, Adam was close to the twins. He often visited Kira, Dustin, and the kids with Tommy. That was also why he knew Lula, and the next Ranger who spoke.
"How did you know to come find us?" Tiger asked.
"Okay, first, it's time to drop your morphs," Adam began.
"We haven't figured that part out yet," Ryder replied.
"Just relax. Let the adrenaline of battle go. Breathe in and out to calm yourselves," Adam guided them.
Soon, the young Rangers looked like ordinary teenagers again. The one who'd been dressed in Black glared at him.
Well, he's certainly a teenager with attitude, Adam thought in mild amusement.
"Okay, kids... I know Corey, Lula, Aria, Ryder, and Tiger, but for our other friends, I'm Adam Park. Brace yourselves... I'm going to take us someplace where it's safer to talk," Adam said. He punched the coordinates in on the portable teleportation device Billy Cranston had helped him create and made sure it transported all of them at once.
"Holy what the ever-loving hell!" Aria cried as they arrived at Adam's base of operations.
Adam smiled at the random outburst of shock. "I know this is confusing," he began, "but I'm going to explain. First of all, I'm a Power Ranger. I was the second Black Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger, the Green Zeo Ranger, the first Green Turbo Ranger, and I'm the leader of the Retro Rangers, a team of veteran Rangers who still get deployed to help out in a crisis whenever we're needed."
"That is so cool!" Lula declared. "You're a legend, Adam!"
"I don't know about that," he replied humbly, "but I am very experienced with the weird and wacky world of evil villains trying to conquer the Earth. Why don't you kids tell me what happened?"
"Monsters are real. They came out of a crack in the school's basement. I think that makes the high school their evil lair. Makes sense to me!" Aria decided.
"What she said," Ryder chimed in.
"Oh, and there's this crazy lady named Layla who has freaking magic! So, yeah... Let's add witchcraft to the list," the Green Ranger added. "I'm Johnny, by the way."
"It's nice to meet you, Johnny. And...?" He looked at the Black Ranger.
The boy's only answer was another silent glare. "That's Vinny," Corey provided.
"Vinny. Got it. Alright, I'm going to look into this and see what I can find out about who Layla and her friends are," Adam promised. "Where did you guys find the morphers?"
"They appeared at our feet," Lula replied. She held the star charm in her right hand protectively, like she was worried someone might try to take it from her.
"You were all chosen for a reason. I just need to figure out who chose you... You must have a mentor."
"My dad told me the truth about himself," Corey explained a little bit sadly. "He was a Power Ranger. That's why I understood what was happening when we picked up the morphers."
"Your dad was a Power Ranger and you never told us?" Aria demanded.
"I couldn't. He swore me to secrecy."
"You can't reveal your identities, guys," Adam confirmed. "It's one of the biggest rules of being a Power Ranger. Breaking it could put you and everyone around you in danger."
"Awww man! 'Hey, Baby, I'm a super hero' was gonna be my new pickup line," Johnny joked.
"Here's what you need to know," Adam continued with a slight laugh. "There are two other rules in addition to protecting your identity. First, never use your powers for personal gain. That's just not what Power Rangers do. And second, never escalate a fight unless and until you have to. We're here to protect people, not to do harm."
"You're a Power Ranger, and Corey's dad was a Power Ranger..." Aria began. "Holy crap! Are my parents Power Rangers, too? Because you all run in the same circle."
Adam decided to go with the truth. The kids needed to know who could be trusted to help in an emergency. "Yes, Aria. Kira and Dustin were both Rangers. Kira is actually still active. She is part of my current team."
"And Dad?" Ryder asked.
"Dustin retired two years ago with what remains of his team. That includes Hunter and Tori."
"Wait... Tori?" Tiger repeated.
"Yes, Tiger. Tori was part of the Ninja Storm team, along with Cam, Shane, and Blake. The day the three of them died, Tori's grief was especially strong, and she walked away from being a Power Ranger. Hunter and Dustin are retired, but in an emergency, I know they'd answer the call."
"Blake..." Tiger shook her head. "It wasn't a freak accident, was it?"
"No, sweetie. It wasn't."
"What really happened?" Corey asked. It was clear he was trying to stay strong despite his grief for his father.
"It's complicated," Adam replied. "We can get into it later, after Tori, Dustin, Kira, and Hayley know what just happened."
"Was my mom a Power Ranger?" Lula asked in surprise.
"No, but she was an asset to Kira's team. She helped them train and worked on their tech. She was their unofficial mentor, along with Tommy," Adam explained. "You can talk to her about all of this and she'll understand."
"So are Johnny and Vinny secretly descended from Power Rangers and their allies, too, or what?" Aria asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Adam admitted. "But all of you were chosen for a reason. Everyone will bring their own unique skills to the team. You'll find out what those are as you start working together."
"What happens now?" Tiger asked nervously.
"You guys go home while I find out who your mentor is."
"That's it?" Johnny asked.
"Unfortunately, until I know more, that's all I can do. Try to stay safe. If anything happens, call me, Kira, Dustin, or Hayley. Any of us can help."
"What about Tori?" Tiger asked.
"Let me talk to her first. She's not going to be thrilled about this. It's better she hear it from me." He paused. "I'll send you guys back, and I promise I'll be in touch soon."
Before they could protest, he punched in the coordinates and sent the kids home. With a sigh, he texted Kira, Dustin and Hayley.
The kids know. Expect questions. New threat, new team.
With that, he headed off to tackle the hardest part of all... Telling Tori her daughter had just gotten involved in the one thing she'd hoped would never touch her life again.
TORI
The sun was shining as Tori closed up her surf shop. Part of her longed to go out to the water, but she hadn't been surfing since Blake's death. In fact, Tori actively avoided the water now because it reminded her of everything she'd lost. The only reason she kept the surf shop open was because it paid the bills.
She'd learned about three years after she married Blake that she couldn't have kids. She'd sustained a pretty severe injury a couple of years earlier on a Ranger mission, and apparently, the internal damage had left her unable to carry any pregnancy to term. She'd had two miscarriages before finding that out. If she hadn't had Blake, that trauma might have broken her, but he'd helped her get through both losses.
They'd eventually decided to try becoming foster parents, because they had a lot of love to give and those kids needed someone to care about them and fight for them. After all, Blake had been adopted himself. About two months after they applied, Tiger had been placed with them.
Blake fell in love with the girl immediately. He took to being a father easily, almost like he'd been born to do it. Tiger was pretty traumatized and shy at first, but Blake had helped her come out of her shell. Tori adjusted to motherhood pretty quickly, and after a while, it felt like Tiger was actually theirs. They both adored her, and she started doing better in their care. The placement became permanent, and as far as Tori and Blake were concerned, Tiger was their daughter, not just a foster child. They were planning to adopt her when Blake died.
His death had held up the adoption process. The social workers felt it was best to give Tori time to adjust to being a single mother before they allowed her to legally adopt Tiger by herself. The decision was still stalled, with Tori and Tiger meeting with social workers and therapists routinely, and Tori wasn't sure if they'd ever let the adoption go through. At least they hadn't tried to send Tiger away to another foster home. Tori wouldn't survive if she lost her, too.
She got in the car and drove home on autopilot as she continued thinking about the past. Her PTSD was already acting up when she spotted a familiar car parked in her driveway.
"Whatever it is, the answer is no, Adam," Tori said as she approached him.
"What if I just came by to check on you?" He asked.
"That's not your checking on you face. That's your I have to tell you something you're going to hate face. I know you, Adam."
He sighed. "I guess I'm busted. Tori, we need to talk."
"Is it about Power Ranger business?"
"Yes."
"Goodbye, Adam. Get home safe." She walked toward the front door.
Adam followed her. "Tori, there's a new threat here in Blue Bay Harbor."
"Go tell Kira."
"I already texted her."
"Great. Then we're done here."
"Tori... There's a new team of Rangers... They're still in high school."
"Good for them. Bye." She put her key in the lock.
"Tiger's the Pink Ranger!" He blurted out before she could slam the door in his face.
She turned very serious as she said, "The hell she is. That's not happening."
"You know we can't control who becomes a Ranger, Tor. It doesn't work like that."
"I am her mother!" Tori snapped as she tried not to picture Tiger rushing into battle and getting herself killed.
"I know that, and I know how much she means to you-"
"Then undo it, Adam!"
"You know I can't."
"Look... I fought and defeated countless villains without hesitating on not one, but two teams. I did my part and then came back to help again. Being a Power Ranger took away my ability to have kids, and I never complained. I kept working because it was the right thing to do. Then, Shane was murdered, and Cam was possessed, and my husband died in my fucking arms! I watched Dustin nearly bleed out as he was forced to kill Cam, and I had to watch as that broke him. Dustin is such a pure, happy soul, and watching him break hurt more than I can express. Then I buried my husband and my daughter's adoption was put on hold, all because of Power Ranger business. I will not lose Tiger to that world, Adam! Hasn't it taken enough from me already?"
Suddenly, a bracelet appeared around the doorknob. Baffled, Tori removed it. Adam's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the bright blue star on the band.
"Tori... The kids need a mentor," he said.
"No! Absolutely not, Adam," she replied firmly. She handed the bracelet to him. As soon as he took it, it vanished and reappeared on Tori's wrist. "Seriously?!" She cried in frustration.
"Tori... The Universe chose you to guide these Rangers," Adam said gently. "There has to be a reason for that."
"The entities that control all of this never ask, do they? They just take and demand and expect you to follow their every whim. Well, I'm not doing it! Alright? Do you hear me, assholes? I refuse to be your puppet this time!" She ripped the bracelet off and tossed it out of the front door.
Seconds later, it reappeared on her wrist. She sighed. "I don't have a choice, do I?" She asked.
"It looks like it's you or no one, Tori," Adam agreed. "The choice is whether or not you're going to leave these kids to fend for themselves."
She shook her head. "I don't think I'm mentor material anymore, Adam... These kids might be screwed either way."
"You did a great job with the students at the Ninja academy."
"That was a lifetime ago. I'm not that person anymore."
"I know this is asking too much after all you've been through, Tori, but you can do it. You're an amazing teacher. And once a Ranger-"
"Always a Ranger," she replied with another sigh. "I know... I know," she whispered it the second time as she fought back a few tears. It hurt to even consider returning to that world, but these Rangers were just kids. She couldn't abandon them, especially when one of them was her daughter. "Tell me about the team," she said as she finally reluctantly let Adam into the house.
"You know most of them already."
"I do?"
"Corey, Lula, Aria, and Ryder are all on the team."
"Corey... Oh God."
"He's the leader. Cam actually told him about all of this, so he's a little more prepared than the others."
"Do Dustin and Kira know? Or Hayley?"
"I texted them that the kids know, but not exactly that they're Rangers, just that there's a new team. That news is too big to just text to them."
"Who else?"
"A boy named Johnny and a boy named Vinny."
"I know Johnny. He's been Corey's best friend since they were kids, and he's one of Tiger's friends, too." She paused. "I'm not sure who Vinny is..."
"Angst incarnate, I think. The kid seems angry at the world."
We'll get along just fine then, Tori thought. She was about to pull out her phone when Tiger walked in the door.
"Oh!" She said in surprise. "I didn't think you'd be here, Adam. I figured you'd just call."
"This needed to be an in-person conversation," he replied. "Tori, would you like me to stay, or...?"
"I think Tiger and I need to talk alone," Tori replied. She tensed slightly as she spotted the pink star necklace that matched Tori's bracelet. That must be the morpher, she thought. This was real. The little girl she loved so much was a Power Ranger. I hope it doesn't destroy her world, too...
"Call me the second you need anything, Tor. Ranger business or otherwise. I'm here," Adam said.
"I know you are, Adam." She hugged him. "Thanks for being such a good friend."
"Always. I promise." With that, he left.
"Tori... Adam told me about you and Blake... What really happened to him?" Tiger asked.
"You just dove right into the deep end of this conversation, Kiddo," Tori said with a sad laugh.
"I'm sorry if it's too hard... You don't have to tell me."
"No. You were his little girl as much as you're mine. You deserve to know the truth, sweetheart. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before." She took a deep breath. She could do this. She had to.
"Two years ago, there was some strange activity in town. Cam, being our token genius, decided to try to figure out what was going on after an explosion in the woods killed a little boy. From the little bit we know, he found the source... An ancient evil was rising from beneath the ground... He'd been entombed there. Unfortunately, Cam somehow got in over his head. He called Shane for help." She paused.
"I remember Shane," Tiger said sadly.
"He told the rest of us that Cam was in trouble and needed help before going after him alone. By the time we got there..." Tori shook her head. "We were too late."
"They were already dead?" Tiger asked in horror.
"Shane was," Tori corrected her. How could she tell her the truth when still struggled to believe it herself? "Honey... This evil that was unleashed possesses people."
Tiger was smart. Tori knew she understood what she wasn't saying. "Cam?" She asked. "That thing possessed Cam?"
"I need you to understand that Cam was a good person. He was genuinely one of the best people I have ever known... But what we met that day wasn't Cam."
"Tori... What did he do?"
"He killed Shane and waited for the rest of us to show up. He attacked Dustin... Dus almost died, and while I was trying to help him, the thing inside of Cam tried to kill me. Blake... He..." She couldn't say it.
"He saved you," Tiger realized.
"He did... Dustin told me to go to him, and he died in my arms... I might have died, too, but Dustin and Hunter were still in danger, so I held myself together to try and save Dustin. Hunter was holding the thing off, but then it stabbed him. Dustin realized if he and I worked together we might be able to get through to Cam... Dustin has Earth magic and I have Water."
"You have magic?" Tiger repeated.
"It comes from our ninja training, but I haven't used it since that day."
"Wait... You're a ninja?"
"I was." She paused. "Cam apologized. I could tell he was devastated by what his body had done... And he basically told us the only way to stop the thing was to put it back in the earth. He asked Dustin to tell Cara, Corey, and Chloe that he loved them, and to do what he had to do... Then he lost control, and Hunter had to attack him..."
"Did Hunter kill Cam?" Tiger asked in horror.
"No... He severely injured him, and Cam probably wouldn't have survived, but that wasn't enough. The entity had to be sealed beneath the earth."
Tiger's eyes widened in understanding. "Dustin?" She whispered.
"He had to, and Cam had basically told him to do it, but it absolutely destroyed him. I have never seen Dustin so broken. He still hasn't completely forgiven himself. It's why he tries so hard to take care of Cam's family."
"But Cam's body was recovered. There was a funeral. If he was dug up-"
"Tommy Oliver knows some very powerful people. He had someone pull the entity's energy out of Cam's body and trap it in the ground for good. I don't know the details."
"Tori... The big threat hasn't shown itself to us yet... Just the foot soldiers and the Lieutenant. Blake told me that much."
Tori was stunned. "What did you just say?"
Tiger hesitated. "I hear him sometimes. I know it sounds crazy, but what he tells me always turns out to be true."
Tori felt tears in her eyes. "It doesn't sound crazy, sweetheart... Not even slightly," she said as she hugged her. "Blake loved you so much. Of course he's still guiding you. You could have talked to me about this sooner. You know you can tell me anything."
"I didn't want to upset you. I know how hard it is for you to talk about him."
"Tiger... Any time you need to talk, about Blake or anything else, I'm here for you," Tori said firmly.
"The thing is..." Tiger hesitated.
"It's okay, honey. Tell me what's on your mind," Tori encouraged her.
"I think it's connected, Tori... I think whatever we're supposed to fight goes back to what happened to Blake, Cam, and Shane."
Tori wanted to deny it, but she could feel it, too. "Then we'll put a stop to it once and for all," she said with determination. If Tiger was right, there was no turning back now.
ARIA
As soon as she and Ryder got home, Aria confronted their parents. "How could you guys not tell us you were superheroes?" She demanded.
"Hi Kids," her mother replied dryly. "How was my day? Oh, so nice of you to ask! It went great. How was yours?"
"Mom, I'm serious!" Aria snapped.
"My question is, why did Adam tell you? What happened at school today?"
"We fought monsters and one very angry lady in the basement and seem to have developed superpowers," Ryder replied calmly. "Did you finish that new song yet, Mom?"
"I did, baby. Thanks for asking," she replied. "So I take it there's a new team of Power Rangers and you're on it?"
"Yeah... Us, Corey, Johnny, Tiger, Lula, and for some reason Vinny Alvarez," Aria replied.
"Go easy on Vinny, Aria," her father said. "He's had a rough time of things."
"What do you mean?" Aria asked.
"It's not my story to tell, honey."
"Fine, but you know what is? You and Mom were Power Rangers!"
"Are," her mother corrected her. "I'm still active, and even though your dad's retired, he'd help if he was needed."
"Well, tell us about it!" Aria was dying to know more. As parents went, Dustin and Kira were probably the coolest ones around, so discovering they were secretly superheroes only made them cooler. She had no trouble picturing her mom kicking bad guy butt. She knew her dad taught Martial Arts, but picturing him in battle was a little bit harder because he was generally so mellow.
Her mom smirked. "Oh, I'm pretty sure we've got some stories for you," she said mysteriously.
Ryder curled up beside her like he was still a little boy and eagerly awaited story time. Aria sat beside their father and held her breath in anticipation of the recap of their adventures. This was going to be interesting.
JOHNNY
He was still trying to figure out if the events of the afternoon had really happened or if he'd been dreaming. He held his star in his hands and knew it was real.
"This is so cool," he decided. Johnny had always wanted to be more than an ordinary kid. Maybe this was the destiny he'd always sensed he was meant for.
He sensed someone watching him and tensed. He looked around but didn't see anyone. Then he spotted a stray dog. He relaxed and said, "Hey, girl... What's your name?" He approached her and reached forward to pet her. The dog seemed pleased by this. She rolled over, exposing her belly to him. How could he refuse that invitation? He started rubbing her belly.
"You're a good girl, aren't you?" Johnny asked. He noticed her collar. It didn't have an address or phone number on it, but it did have a name. "Stella? What a weird name for a dog," he said. Her name was surrounded by seven stars.
Seven stars, he thought. That's probably not a coincidence.
"Well, whether or not you're involved, you're a cutie," he said. "Are you hungry, Stella? Let's get you some food." He guided her toward his house. Stella obediently followed him.
"Jonathan Douglas, did you just bring home a stray dog?" His mother demanded.
"No, Mom," he replied, deadpan. "I brought home my new friend. This is Stella."
As the dog sniffed his mother's hand and licked it, she sighed. "Aren't you friendly?" She asked. "Alright, Johnny, she can stay for now, but you need to take care of her. And if we find her owner, she has to go home."
"Yes, Ma'am," he replied cheerfully before bringing Stella into the kitchen. He grabbed a bowl and filled it with water before finding some hardboiled eggs and cheese in the fridge. He knew both were safe for dogs, so he fed them to her and decided he'd pick up kibble on the way home from school the next day.
Stella seemed delighted by the meal. She ate it quickly before drinking more water. Once she seemed satisfied, Johnny left the kitchen. She eagerly followed him up to his bedroom.
Johnny plopped down on his bed. Stella jumped into the bed beside him. As he scratched her behind the ears, he started to hear something strange.
Thank you, Friend, a voice seemed to say in his mind.
"Um... Stella? Was that you, girl?" He asked.
Yes, Jonathan.
"It's Johnny," he clarified. "Unless I'm in trouble." He shook his head. "I'm talking to a dog... Should I be concerned about my mental health? Nah, it's all good. Talking to a dog's actually not the strangest thing to happen to me today anyway."
I'm not exactly a normal dog, Stella replied. I am a Hound of Light. I am here to protect you.
"Me or us?"
Both... But only you can hear me, Johnny. You share a telepathic bond with me. That is one of your powers.
"One of? Sweet! What else can I do?"
You can command me in battle, and you have the power to warp light. Each of you has a warping power in addition to your own unique gift you were born with that may or may not have been latent until now. In your case, it was.
"So how does my power work?"
Follow your instincts. Suddenly, dozens of tendrils of light sprang from within Stella. Johnny was confused, but as usual, he rolled with it and didn't question it. He touched one of the tendrils. It began shifting into something else, and soon, it turned into a sword made of light.
"Whoa..." Johnny mumbled. He held the sword and realized he could move it like a normal weapon despite it not exactly being physical. He slashed at the chair in front of his desk and let out a cry of surprise as the sword of light slashed it in half.
"Oh man... My mom's gonna kill me!" He mumbled. "I didn't think the blade could actually cut anything!"
You should have asked me before swinging it at an object you didn't intend to destroy, Stella replied. She was clearly amused. If a dog could smirk, Johnny suspected she would have.
"I'll remember that for next time. How do I put this thing away?"
Breathe and relax. It will return to its tendril form.
Johnny did, and the sword vanished. The tendrils returned to Stella, disappearing inside of her.
"Sweet!" He decided. "I'll get the hang of this in no time!"
Furniture beware, Stella teased him.
"I see you've already mastered the Art of snark," he said with a laugh. "I wonder what everyone else's powers are."
He would have to ask everyone if they'd unlocked new powers in the morning. For once, Johnny couldn't wait for school.