Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse: Chapter 16: Bully for Ethan
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: Ethan's got a problem he has to solve.
It was an early morning for the Rangers. Kira helped Dr. Oliver in the lab. Ethan and Conner were at school, both hanging out with their friends on opposite sides of the courtyard.
Lucy stood at her car, sifting through the gym bag in the back of her car, checking on her gear for after school. Crystal messaged her before she left the apartment, alerting her to some events that were beginning to happen at the academy that needed her immediately after school, namely the Academy Games in a few weeks.
The three academies gathered at the Thunder Academy this year to compete in a series of games to prove who was the top school. The Eclipse Academy hadn't competed in a long while, so most of the students who participated when they last did compete were older. Crystal mentioned Sensei opening the invitation to the Eclipse Academy once more, welcoming the Guardians and their students to compete.
Once satisfied with her gear all tucked away, Lucy shut the doors, locking her car while slipping her keys into her bag and making her way to school. She caught Conner's red uniform on the field, kicking goals with Derek, a bully through and through. She watched Derek launch a ball clear over the school.
Chuckling to himself, the Red Ranger set another ball down. "Missed again, Derek."
Derek rolled his eyes. "Oh, oh great, thanks." He joked. "I appreciate your support, man."
"You don't need support, dude." Conner folded his arms over his chest. "You need game."
Derek launched another soccer ball above the net. Conner yelled, watching the ball smash into Ethan's computer, knocking it into the wet grass beside him. The Blue Ranger whipped around, seeing Derek chuckling. "Hey!" He snapped, marching closer to the two soccer players.
"What are you complaining about, geek?" Derek returned.
"First of all, my name is Ethan." Ethan marched up to Derek. "And out of this whole field, you had to kick the ball over there. You really do need practice."
"Well, look E-than." Derek drew out. "This is my field, and I kick the ball where I want to kick it."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Obviously, everywhere except the net."
"That's it." Derek made a move to charge Ethan.
Conner shoved his way in between them. "Come on; the party's over." He glanced at Ethan and then back at Derek.
"Watch yourself, dweeb." Derek snarled in Ethan's face.
"Derek, chill." Conner shoved him away from his teammate. He turned around, motioning to Ethan to calm down before turning away.
Lucy stood off to the side, her head tilted, nearly identical to her sister, her arms folded over her stomach. The Red Ranger jogged to her. "Sup, stinky." She laughed when Conner shot her a mocking face. "Everything okay with the two of them?" She glanced over Conner's shoulder to see Ethan still steaming while Derek just looked on, laughing at the Blue Ranger.
"I don't know."
"McKnight, what are you doing with Albright's ex-girl?" Derek jogged over to the two, eyeing the girl up and down.
Lucy's nose scrunched in disgust briefly, then her face smoothed into a fake smile and quirked eyebrow. "I didn't think you cared so much." She drawled, tilting her head and folding her arms over her stomach, the muscles in her arms flexing. "And I don't think it should matter." She stepped closer to Derek. "Look at me like that again; I'll break your hand."
"That a threat?"
The Silver Ranger shot him a devilish smile. "I don't make threats." She pushed past Derek, her shoulder hitting his and forcing him to turn around.
Derek and Conner watched her head into school. Derek turned back to the Red Ranger. "She serious?"
Conner chuckled, nodding. "Very."
Kira breathed, dropping some papers on the table in front of her a little violently. "No offense Dr. O but you need some serious improvement in organization." She placed her hands on her hips, staring at the stacks of papers around them.
Dr. Olive nodded. "That's why you're here." He stated. "Thanks for helping me out."
Kira glanced around. "What is all this stuff anyway?"
"Odds and ends." The Black Ranger answered. "Mostly from before I joined up with Mercer. As long as I'm stuck in Ranger form, I may as well put the time to good use."
The Yellow Ranger lifted a photo of Dr. Oliver and the original Power Ranger team. "Wow, nice hair," She commented, laughing.
"Hey, it was in style back then." Dr. Oliver argued, taking the photo from her.
Kira picked up another one. "Is this who I think it is?"
Dr. Oliver glanced at the photo of Mercer, another man, and himself. "Man, that seems like a lifetime ago." He took the picture from her delicately. "This picture was taken at our first dig."
"Who's that guy?" Kira asked, pointing to the half-faded face opposite Dr. Mercer.
"His name is Terence Smith. Everyone called him Smitty."
"What happened to him?"
"It's kind of sad, really." Dr. Oliver stated. "He and I were up for the same job at Anton Mercer Industries. Anton chose me, so Smitty went to work for another company then there was his accident."
"Not really a happy family momento," Kira stated.
"I'm not even sure where it came from." Dr. Oliver held it out for her. "Just put it over there in that trash pile."
Kira took it, shrugging. "Okay." She released it, letting it float from her hand and into the bucket below.
Lucy made her way upstairs, her eyes on her phone, when someone wrapped an arm around her waist. She nearly yelled when she caught sight of a red shirt. Her golden-brown eyes found Conner laughing and grinning down at her. "Careful, you might run into someone." He warned her.
The Lunar Guardian nearly smacked him, shaking her head. "Sometimes, I really want to hit you, no matter that we're dating." She told him. "Oh, by the way, I found out that Katy Wallace and Brian are dating."
Derek turned to her. "How?"
"Making out like rabid animals downstairs." Lucy jerked her thumb over her shoulder to go down the stairs. She blinked a few times. "Didn't you and Katy date at one point?"
"Yeah, broke his heart," Conner answered.
Derek shot him a look, but Lucy chuckled. "Brian smashed mine, so…you and I are in the same boat. If you want."
Conner readjusted the red soccer ball in his hands, letting his girlfriend slip between him and Derek against the wall. She dropped her bag at her feet, her back pressed against the wall while she started conversing with a few soccer players around them.
"Conner, Lucy." Both Rangers turned to see Ethan walk up to them. "Did you get the answer for number 5 on Mercer's homework? I think it's gotta be a trick question." He asked, uncertainty on his face.
"Sort of." Lucy answered. "It's not what you think. Took me a few minutes."
Derek glanced at Ethan and then back at Conner and Lucy. "You know this guy?"
"What's that got to do with you?" Ethan returned.
"Look, geek boy," Derek stood straighter, pushing off the wall. "Isn't there some kind of sci-fi convention you need to go to?"
"You really are cliche, aren't you?" Ethan snarked. "Your parents must be so proud."
"What did you just call me?" Derek turned to the Red Ranger. "What did he just call me?"
"Why are you asking him? Can't you figure it out for yourself?"
"That's it." Derek shoved completely off the wall, getting in Ethan's face. "You're in need of a serious lesson."
Ethan stepped closer. "All right, bring it on."
Conner stepped up. "Ethan, are you sure you want to do this?"
Derek turned over his shoulder. "Look, stay out of this McKnight." He turned back to Ethan. "This is between the geek and me."
The bell rang that moment, making Conner and Lucy glance at it. Conner smacked the soccer ball in his hands. "You know what, for the first time in my life, I actually wanna go to class, so come on, guys." He guided Lucy away from the wall, letting her lead while he pushed Derek away from Ethan.
Derek stopped at Ethan's shoulder. "You and me. After school. Your friend won't be there to protect you." He snarled, moving away from the teenager to march into Dr. Mercer's class after the Red and Silver Rangers.
Lucy climbed to her feet the second someone yelled about a monster on the school grounds. She and Conner shared uneasy glances before the class headed out to see what was happening. Ethan and Kira stood across from Zeltrax and what seemed to be the week's newest monster, but the Yellow Ranger was the only one morphed when she jerked her head to the side. Ethan took off running from the fight.
Derek shoved his way past the two, pushing Lucy into Conner. "Check out your loser friend now." He turned back, glancing at the two. "I'm so going to kick his butt after school."
"Let me go take a look," Conner muttered but stopped when a hand was on his shoulder.
"Stay back." Dr. Mercer hummed, standing next to the two Rangers.
The two watched as Ethan returned to the fight, now morphed. The two took on Zeltrax and the monster all by themselves. That's when Mercer ushered his class back into the lab to finish the assignments he gave out before being interrupted.
It was quiet in the classroom; the students worked on the labs Dr. Mercer assigned. The two Rangers turned when the door opened, and Kira and Ethan scrambled in. "Hi, sorry we're late. Did we miss anything?" Kira asked.
"Nothing you can't make up in detention." Dr. Mercer responded calmly. "After school today."
The two Rangers made their way to their seat. "Why does this feel familiar?" Kira muttered, nodding to Lucy.
Ethan hit the ground seconds after that. He turned around and saw Derek sitting there. "My bad." The bully whispered, eyes narrowing at Ethan.
"Derek." Dr. Mercer called, earning everyone's attention. "I believe there are rules in the student handbook about treating your fellow students courteously and respectfully. Why don't you join us in detention today to review them." He turned around to the chalkboard. "Now, let's open our textbooks to chapter eight."
The four Rangers walked out of class. "Zeltrax wants Dr. O to surrender." Kira told the ninja, turning to see Conner and Ethan joining them. "You going to tell Dr. O about it?"
"Yeah, we will." Conner nodded. "But what about you, Ethan?"
"What about it?" Ethan returned.
Lucy turned to him. "Ethan, everyone knows about the fight. It's the only thing they're talking about."
At that moment, Cassidy and Devin walked by, arguing. "Ethan!" Cassidy grinned, cutting that conversation short. "Good luck for today, and if you happen to fall over and toward the camera, that would be really good for me!" She waved, taking off down the stairs with Devin.
"Unlike some people, we're your friends," Kira argued. "And we're not going to let you do something stupid. So Derek is a bully who can kick your butt; who cares?"
Conner leaned in. "You're not thinking about using your powers on him, are you?"
"No," Ethan sighed, turning to her. "I'm not going to be using my dino powers."
"Dude, no offense, but without it…." The Red Ranger trailed off.
Ethan turned to him. "There are other ways to deal with the bully."
Lucy turned to Conner. "We might wanna go update Dr. O."
"After you." Conner motioned, the two taking off.
The two barely got out of the doors when a holler stopped the two. "McKnight!"
Conner glanced at Lucy, recognizing the voice. He chuckled when the girl beside him rolled her eyes and shook her head. He turned around, finding Brian and Katy Wallace walking together. Brian looked like his typical sleazy self with his greased hair and leather jacket. Katy looked like she had not walked out of a fashion magazine in a good way. Her face was caked with makeup, and her outfit didn't match. Conner shot them a tight-lipped smile. "Albright. Katy."
"Conner." Katy giggled. She turned to find Lucy standing inches behind him. "Girl."
"I'm sorry, who are you?" The Lunar Guardian's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. She strode up to stand beside her boyfriend. "You might be familiar, but…" She paused, then chuckled. "It's…not ringing a bell."
Katy's jaw dropped, and she stomped her heeled foot on the concrete. "How do you not remember me?" She demanded, a small snarl growing from her throat.
Lucy blinked, glancing around in fake thought. She shook her head. "Nope, still nothing. Is there something I can help you with? I do tutor people, in case you wanna put more thoughts in that tiny, little head of yours."
Katy gasped, a hand flying to her chest. She huffed and stomped close to Lucy, nearly getting in the ninja's face. "I can make your life hell."
"You most certainly can. But, I will warn you, if you released that video, the whole school will know and maybe hate you. Not…exactly what you thought might happen."
"You think we're afraid of you?" Brian growled out.
The Silver Ranger scrunched her eyebrows together, pressing her lips together, feigning happiness. "Aw, the pup's got his bark." She challenged, her look morphing into a smirk. "Was there something that you really needed to talk about? Or am I just going to have to endure the gross smell radiating from you, Katy?"
"Hey, don't talk about her like that." Brian snarled between the two girls and stared down at the ninja, who returned it with a look that would kill Brian.
Conner stepped up. "Same could be said about you, Brian." He stated cooly, trying to be the level-headed one. "Why don't we all just…leave each other alone."
"You would like that, McKnight." Brian turned to him.
Lucy tilted her head. "You know what, babe? They really aren't worth anything." She slipped her hand into Conner's, walking back and tugging him with her. "They can have their one brain cell together."
Conner laughed, turning around, listening to Katy screaming as he wrapped an arm over Lucy's shoulders, tugging her close and laughing. "Man, that was cold." He planted a kiss on the top of her head.
Lucy laughed, leaning against him. "I've been waiting for her to confront me."
Crystal stood in the lab with Dr. Oliver, the two getting calls from the Rangers about something. The blonde turned when Conner and Lucy walked into the lab, explaining everything that happened during school today. "Tell me this isn't some ploy to get us out in the open?" Crystal asked, running a hand through her hair and scratching her scalp.
"We don't know." Conner answered. "That's what we've been thinking."
The Rangers turned to Dr. Oliver, but with his helmet, they couldn't read anything. "You're thinking about going." Crystal stated after the bout of silence from the teacher.
"Isn't that walking right into his hands?" Conner asked.
Dr. Oliver nodded. "Maybe."
Lucy shook her head. "Zeltrax is a bully. He's not going to stop pushing us around until someone stands up to him."
Crystal hummed, nodding. "Then why don't we go see what the general's up to."
"Right." Dr. Oliver nodded again.
The Guardians, Conner, and Dr. Oliver reached the warehouse roughly an hour later. Conner turned around as he walked, scanning the entire warehouse while the three other Rangers continued forward. "Where is that hunk of junk?" Conner asked.
"Stay focused." Dr. Oliver stated. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"When do you not have a bad feeling?" Lucy muttered, brown eyes flicking around. Her head snapped in a direction where she heard something. Crystal's head followed quickly behind with Dr. Oliver, and Conner's attentions joined seconds later.
The bug monster appeared. "You really are suckers for punishment."
"Man, is Mesogog just…creating freaks?" Crystal asked. "'Cause you are ugly." The four fell into stances. The four nodded to each other and took off running toward the monster.
Kira couldn't stop staring at the clock by the time detention started. She sat between Derek and Ethan to ensure they didn't get at each other's throats. She counted the seconds down, watching the hands tick by. Finally, the clock hit four, and she sighed. Dr. Mercer turned to the three. "You may leave."
"That was fun," Kira muttered.
Just then, their morphers beeped. Ethan sighed, leaning around Kira. "We are going to have to reschedule."
"I knew you'd try and get out of it." Derek shot back.
"Believe me, I want this over with as much as you, but something just came up." Ethan reasoned.
"He's not lying." Kira butted in. "It's important."
"As soon as I'm done, I'll be back," Ethan told him. "I'll meet you on the soccer field."
Derek leaned over. "One hour, and if you don't come back, I'm coming looking for you, and you won't like it when I find you."
Three of the four Rangers in the warehouse hit the concrete, landing near each other. Crystal avoided the hit that sent the three back, all of them slowly moving from the sudden pain. The Gold Ranger flipped back, landing in a crouch before pushing off and shouldering the monster away from the Rangers.
"Guys!"
Crystal turned around to find Ethan and Kira running to them. Ethan helped Conner up, then Dr. Oliver. Kira helped Lucy up. "Wait, I thought you guys said it was Zeltrax?" Kira asked, moving to stand on the other side of the Silver Ranger, her eyes trained on Crystal, backing up until she stood in front of the Rangers.
"It was," Conner grunted, pushing away from Ethan.
Dr. Oliver turned to the team. "I guess he was afraid to face me in person."
"Chicken." Crystal muttered.
"He'll be here. I'm just the welcoming party." The monster cheered.
"I guess we better change into our costumes then, ready?" Conner asked.
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
Dino Power!
Guardian of the Sun!
Guardian of the Moon!
Conner jumped up, flying through the air and kicking the monster back. He landed, wiggled around, and turned to the Rangers. "You posers are no match for me! Bug bombs!" He called, releasing his swarm of bugs. They hit the Rangers multiple times before Conner rolled out of the way and cleared them with his laser. "Hey! Those are my babies." The monster cried.
"Feel this baby." Conner challenged, swinging his staff around and striking the monster. He struck up and down, then planted the bottom on the ground. "Tyranno-staff." He swung around, hitting the monster with his feet. He lifted his staff above his head. "Let's put them together."
Everyone but the Guardians joined in on building the blaster. But the two paced their hands on Kira and Ethan's shoulders, drawing from their powers to the blaster. "Z-Rex blaster." Everyone called.
"No!" The monster called.
"Time to bug out!" Ethan stated.
"Fire," Conner called, firing the blaster that sent a load of exponentially more power with the addition of the Guardians, to the monster, destroying him in one swing and an explosion.
The Rangers scrambled out of the building with that familiar dark cloud, and suddenly, the warehouse roof shattered when the monster formed. "I'm a big, bad bug." The monster called, beginning his rampage through the city.
"Might be a good time to go mega," Crystal stated.
"You guys ready?" Dr. Oliver asked but spoke too soon.
Green lightning appeared, and suddenly, Zeltrax stood across from the Rangers, causing them to scramble to stand against him. "Rangers." He stated.
"Better late than never."
Zeltrax pointed his sword at the Rangers. "I'd say my timing is perfect. Give up and I call him off, or take your chances with me."
Dr. Oliver turned to the team. "You know what I choose guys?"
"Right." The five took off to their zords.
"Brachio!" Dr. Oliver called, watching the large dinozord rumble through the city, opening up for the Thundersaurus Megazord before calling on the Eclipse Megazord. The two stood shoulder to shoulder seconds later, the five Rangers ready.
"Nice hardware." The monster squealed. "I think I'll need it." He attacked the Thundersaurus Megazord first, pushing him back.
"We could use some bug spray," Conner stated.
"This bug needs a good swat," Kira suggested.
"Couldn't agree more." Crystal smiled, using the tail of one of their Dinozords to bat the monster away, watching him fly through the air to land on his feet.
Dr. Oliver brandished his sword. "Brachio staff." He called, running at Zeltrax. They ran past each other, turning around, and began to duel, pairing and blocking before they jumped up, fighting more before they pushed apart. "I'm getting pretty sick of meeting like this. I wish to tell me what it is you have against me."
"Does the Terrance Smith mean anything to you?"
Dr. Oliver's mind flashed back to the photo. "Smitty?" He asked, looking up in time to see Zeltrax slicing at him. Dr. Oliver tried to fight back, but Zeltrax had the upper hand when Dr. Olive was distracted. Zeltrax shoved him back into a pile of trash. "Smitty, but you were lost in that accident?"
"I was on the verge of a breakthrough when it all went wrong. Mesogog found me and put me back together again. He's a genius with cybernetic reconstruction."
"Oh man, Smitty." Dr. Oliver breathed. He ducked and dodged swings, pairing Zeltrax's swings with some of his own. They got locked in a grudge match. "Genius or not, he's the enemy. You shouldn't be fighting for him."
"He gave me life. Life you stole from me and now you will repay it with your own." Zeltrax shoved him back and attacked, continuously swinging back and forth to try and land another hit on Dr. Oliver.
"Don't do this, Smitty. Revenge is never the answer." Dr. Oliver stated, shoulder-checking Zeltrax back.
Zeltrax threw his arms in the air, freeing his blade to strike Dr. Oliver. "It is all that has helped me keep going." He kicked Dr. Oliver back. "Revenge is mine."
Dr. Oliver climbed to his feet. "My advice is…find another hobby." He charged, blocking the blasts Zeltrax sent at him. He pushed up, kicking Zeltrax back. "Give it up Zeltrax."
Zeltrax climbed to his feet. "Never"
"I hate to do, Smitty." Dr. Oliver spun his sword around. "Dino energy orb." He rounded his arms, forming a sphere. "Fire!" He sent the blast to Zeltrax, but the General could not block the powers and fell to his stomach. "Had enough?"
Zeltrax stumbled to his feet. "I'll be back. I promise you that." He disappeared in seconds.
Dr. Oliver breathed. "Smitty… man."
The Thundersaurus Megazord watched the smaller Eclipse Megazord ram into the monster, shoving him back before striking with their blade down his chest, causing sparks. "Let's dynamite this termite," Conner called, watching the Eclipse Megazord shove him away. "Dino Drill." The Megazord flew by the monster, striking him, causing him to fall and explode instantly.
"Crystal, can I get your advice?" Ethan asked when he and Conner pulled into the parking lot of Reefside High.
Crystal watched the Silver and Yellow Rangers walk off before she turned around, nodding. "Yeah, sure. What's up?" She asked, leaning against the car door, listening as Ethan told her everything, with commentary from Conner. Finally, after sucking on a tooth for a moment, Crystal spoke. "Do what you're good at, Ethan. You don't have to fight him."
Conner snapped. "His kicks are shot." He stated. "He misses every goal kick."
Ethan nodded. "I can work with that."
Crystal smiled. "See, brain not brawn." She winked.
Thirty minutes later, the sisters stood with Kira and a collection of students who wanted to see the fight between Ethan and Derek. Conner walked with Ethan, the two talking lowly for anyone to hear, but the Guardians had a pretty good idea. "Are you sure you wanna do this?" Conner asked Ethan quietly.
"Would you just trust me…for once?" Ethan returned.
Conner stopped in front of him. Derek nodded his head. "Out of my way, McKnight. This is between the geek here and me."
Conner glanced back at Ethan before moving around Derek and moving to where the girls were stationed. "This is the worst idea any of you have had," The Silver Ranger muttered, folding her arms over her chest. She turned her head just barely to see Kira and Crystal laughing. "What?"
"Can we just trust Ethan?" Crystal asked, still chuckling. "He's all brain, so he's already figured something out."
"Here's the deal," Ethan spoke. "I could fight you, but what would that prove? Instead, I'd like to make you a proposition."
"You're bailing."
"I think I can improve your game; if I do, you promise to back off my friends and me. My LT, please." Ethan accepted the computer, typing on the keyboard, then turned to Derek. "This is a computer image of you kicking superimposed against the image of a pro player from Manchester."
"How'd you do that?"
"I'm a computer geek, remember?" Ethan snorted. He pointed to the screen. "See where you're going. It's just that one little hitch in your kick."
Seconds later, Ethan planted a soccer ball on the ground opposite the goalie in the net. Derek shot off, firing the ball just as Ethan had told him to, sending the ball curving into the net. Derek stared at the net, then turned to Ethan. "Can't believe it worked."
"I told you." Ethan smiled.
"How'd you learn to do that?"
"The net…the internet, that is."
"It's pretty cool, and I'm sorry about that before. I just thought you knew a guy like you. You know, so smart, and all we want to talk to a guy like me because I was wrong."
"It's a brave new world out there, my friend."
Next Episode: Lost and Found in Translation
