Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Only my OCs.
Chapter 24: Passion of Conner
"There she is," Conner grinned, stepping inside the school doors with Andy, Ethan and Trent; gazing longingly at girl with long brown hair, "The future Mrs. Conner McKnight."
"Uh, you might wanna give yourself a little reality check just once," Ethan told him as Andy and Trent laughed.
"Dude, don't be a hater!" Conner told the Blue Ranger, clapping him on the shoulder, "Just because I've got the magic."
"I'm with Ethan on this one, Siegfried," Trent spoke up. "I know Krista from math class. She's kinda deep, and you're… well… " he trailed off.
"Not deep?" Ethan grinned.
"I didn't wanna say it." Trent chuckled.
Conner glared at them, "You guys are supposed to back me up, remember?" He told them. "Where's the love?"
"The love?" Andy chuckled, "Yeah, that previous love was Stacey the Cheerleader, Monica the Contortionist and Jasmine the fashionista." Ethan and Trent started laughing as Conner just glared, "Dude, that was just since Christmas. I mean, can you even do serious?"
"Watch me." He nodded as he looked back over at the girl hanging up fliers, "It's me." He smirked, "Now, observe."
Andy nodded as he held up his phone to record, "The girls would never forgive me." He shrugged as they started laughing again, watching their leader.
"Krista, right?"
"Yep, that's me," She nodded, ignoring him.
"Hey, wait!" Conner stopped her as she went to walk away. "I wanted to ask you about… your poster." He told her, and with a sigh, she handed him one. "So there's a tree that needs saving?"
"Yeah, behind the school. It's over 100 years old, and Randall wants to tear it out to make a new parking lot." She rolled her eyes in disgust.
"That seems like such an injustice!" Conner exclaimed as the other three Rangers continued to snigger.
"It's a crime against nature!" Krista told him loudly. "This tree has been part of the ecosystem longer than any of us have even been here! Dozens of creatures depend on it!" She told him as Conner stared at the passionate girl.
"Where do I sign up?" He asked her with a smile.
"Really? You wanna help?" Krista seemed surprised.
"You?" Raina asked, coming over with her own set of fliers, "Jock Boy?"
"Yeah! Just tell me what to do," Conner insisted.
Raina leaned around him and stared over at Trent, Ethan and Andy in question. They just shrugged, not knowing how to answer her look.
1-2-3-4-5
"I can't believe Conner's actually doing this." Jenna shook her head as she walked with Andy and Zoey down to the protest, "I mean, is he that desperate?"
"It's Conner." Andy shrugged.
"I don't know." Zoey nodded as they met up with Kira and Trent, "Conner may be an airheaded Jock Boy, but he's got a good heart. Maybe he actually cares."
"Krista doesn't agree with that." Trent pointed to the girl, who had stopped beside Ethan and Conner, and snap at Conner before storming off.
Raina, who had been with her, flinched as she patted the Red Ranger on the shoulder, not really sympathetic to him.
"That would have been Conner running his mouth." Andy smiled as the group laughed at their leader's predicament.
"Get those men working!" Randall's voice suddenly echoed through the grounds. They looked around to see her with a megaphone, glaring at the protesters. "I have permits!" She barked, and with a sigh one of the workers climbed into his digger. When Krista refused to move out of his way, the worker climbed out, but accidentally hit the release lever. Using his super speed, Conner tackled her out of the way.
"And that would have been him winning her back." Zoey commented before rushing over to join Tommy as he walked over to Randall.
"I think we need to talk before someone gets hurt!" He said, glad that his Rangers were there to help if something bad had happened.
"We'll talk..." Randall grinned slowly, "But there is nothing you can say that will make me change my mind."
Zoey hid a look of disgust at the look the principal had given her brother.
"Then we'll resume this tomorrow." She raised the megaphone to her lips, and the siblings just managed to cover their ears, cringing at the loud yelling, "EVERYBODY GET OUT OF HERE! GO ON! SHOO!" She then turned and walked away.
"Am I the only one that thinks that there's something off about her?" She turned to her brother, "I mean, it's the same feeling I got when you were under any spell in school. Ever. It's how I knew that there was something wrong with Kat."
"Yeah, she's never really sat right with me either." He shrugged, "No proof."
"So we just keep an eye on her." She tilted her head and smirked, "She still has a thing for you."
"Stop." He groaned as they walked away.
"It would almost be sweet if she didn't creep me out." He shoved her away and made her smile more, "How's she been treating you, now that you're back?"
"Cold." He sighed, "Somewhat. It's been hit or miss. I don't know if she believed the excuses we gave her for why I was gone."
She shrugged, "Too bad. The Superintendent believed it, that's all that matters."
"You're right. Now, keep an eye on Conner. Make sure he doesn't do anything…"
"Stupid?" They laughed, "All over it."
1-2-3-4-5
Tommy went back to the lab to meet up with Hayley and Zoey went with the others to the Cafe, just relaxing, "I'm glad Hayley found some more part time workers."
Andy nodded, "Agreed. With all the Ranger work and school, it's getting harder to help out around here when we have to just take off."
"Where are the Power Rangers? I have to find the Power Rangers!" Devin's panicked words made them all look up quickly, the boy rushed over to Cassidy, grabbing her and turning her around to face him.
"Haven't you been paying attention?" Cassidy rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but this time it's serious!" Devin whimpered. "I was attacked, by that freak Zeltrax!" Zoey clinched her fist and glared as they kept listening, "He's looking for the Rangers. But wait, but it gets worse!"
"How could it get worse?" Cassidy asked in a bored voice.
"Well, he stole the tree!" He yelled as they walked out. Krista got up, and after arguing with Conner, she ran out.
They walked over to the jock before he could follow her, "Dude, you know where we have to go." Ethan told him, looking at the group.
"Yeah, I know," Conner sighed.
Jenna patted his arm, "It'll be okay."
1-2-3-4-5
"Zeltrax is back?" Trent sighed, "How is that even possible?"
"He's gonna wish he wasn't." Zoey grumbled, standing by her brother.
"Do we know what he wants with the tree?" Kira asked, cutting a sideways glance at the frustrated Pink Ranger.
"I can answer both those questions." Hayley spoke up, and hit a button on the computer. The screen brought up footage of bubbling water, and they all frowned. "The tree must be growing over a life-force spring."
"You're talking about a fountain of youth?" Ethan gaped.
"Those are real?" Conner was equally amazed.
Tommy nodded, "Apparently this one is."
"There's quite a few of these springs all of the world." Drina said, meditating across the room with Raina, "They've just been hidden for their protection."
"So that's what kept the tree alive for so long." Kira realized.
"Not only that." Hayley shook her head. "The sap, being nourished for years by the spring's waters, must have amazing powers of its own."
"That must be what Zeltrax is after." Trent realized.
"I'm willing to bet that he's not the only one." Tommy added.
"Look, it's Krista!" Only a few minutes later, Kira spotted the screen change to show the girl walk up to where the tree had been. Conner immediately ran off, and after glancing to the others, Tommy ran after him.
The computer beeped and they up to see Krista appear on the scene as she walked toward the tree. Or, where it was. She stopped at the caution tape and looked at the hole in ground, dejected.
Upset, Conner headed for the exit, but Tommy and Zoey followed him, "Are you okay?" The teacher asked, concerned.
Conner sighed, "I dunno. Sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for all this superhero stuff!"
"Still having doubts?" Zoey asked softly.
"It's just, when you see someone like Krista, who believes so strongly in what she's doing, that nothing can stop her." He explained, "I don't know if I have that in me!"
Tommy chuckled, "You crack me up."
"What did I say?"
"You remind me so much of myself when I was you're age." Tommy explained. "I had this all this ability and raw emotion, but it took me a while to get the confidence to believe in myself and what I was truly capable of."
"I've got confidence." Conner smirked.
Zoey punched his shoulder, "And ego."
"Cockiness and confidence are two different things." Tommy added. "There's a whole world you haven't tapped into yet. Beyond Triassic Power and Super Dino Mode. But you gotta believe you deserve it, and when you do, you'll be blown away by what you can do!"
The computer beeped and they rushed back over to the mainframe with the others.
"What's up? Is it Zeltrax?" Tommy asked quickly.
"No, but it looks like some of his old friends are throwing him a party." Hayley said, watching as the screen showed a large hoard of Triptoids.
"We can handle the Triptoids." Conner nodded confidently.
"Trent, you stay here with Zoey in case Zeltrax makes an appearance." Tommy instructed. "Jenna, you come with us.'
"You got it." The White Ranger walked over and took a seat at the computer with Zoey as Jenna rushed off with the the others.
1-2-3-4-5
"You're so predictable." Elsa rolled her eyes as Conner, Kira, Ethan and Andy arrived on scene. "I knew I could count on you to show up! Attack!" she roared, directing the black and white Triptoids to action. The Rangers attempted to fight them off, but their sheer numbers meant that the four were quickly overwhelmed.
"Forgot about us?" Tommy and Jenna appeared, joining the fight.
"What's gotten into these guys? They're on fire!" Conner cried out as he was restrained by the strange creatures.
"Time to put the fire out!" Tommy put his hand to one of the creature's chests, and light shot out.
"What are you doing?" Kira called out as she saw him.
"Use your Dino Gem power!" Tommy told them. "It creates an energy that will deactivate the Triptoids!"
"Yeah it works!" Conner realized when he touched one.
"This is crazy!" Ethan exclaimed, excited.
"Well that makes this so much easier!" Jenna laughed as she did the same.
Kira looked back at her, "Shocking, isn't it?"
Andy shook his head, "I thought I was the shocking one?"
"Maximize your Dino Power!" Tommy called as he was shoved back.
"Okay. Full power!" The group then called on even more Dino power, and the creatures started to glow with them, finally disappearing from the battle field.
"You've been deserted!" Tommy called out, taunting Elsa as she glared at him furiously when the others started cheering.
"You might have beaten the Triptoids, but my master will have eternal life as soon as I get that tree back!" Elsa promised, seething in anger.
"Too late!" They looked up quickly. "You're all too late!" Zeltrax declared, and everyone was blasted by his powers. They barely managed to stay on their feet, as Zeltrax appeared between the Rangers and Elsa. His armor had completely changed, making him look even more intimidating.
"Well that's creepy." Jenna grumbled as they got ready to fight.
Andy nodded, "He looks like he took a large dose of mutant steroids."
"Zeltrax!" Elsa growled.
"Yes, I'm back and better than ever!" The creature declared. "And this time, I am not alone!" They looked up as a monster grew over them.
"Krista's tree!" Conner groaned.
"Not good." Ethan gulped as he took a step back.
"It's over Rangers." Zeltrax told them confidently.
"Whoa, who's in charge here?" Ethan groaned.
"I am, and no-one will stop me!" Zeltrax told him loudly. Elsa quickly escaped, leaving the Rangers to face Zeltrax, his monster and The White Ranger Clone.
"We'll take care of Zeltrax, you know what to do." Tommy told the Rangers, who nodded. Calling on their Megazord, the Rangers also called on the Mezadon Rover, and began to fight off Deadwood. However, he was powerful, and knocked both Megazords down.
"That's one tough tree!" Conner groaned.
"Conner-" Tommy was quickly cut off as Zeltrax grabbed his arm.
"I don't think so." He growled before getting blasted.
"Think again, Zeltrax." Trent called as he and Zoey ran over to assist Tommy and Jenna, "Are you guys okay?
"We're good." Jenna nodded before turning to Tommy, "You step back and make that call to Conner. We can handle this."
"Right." He looked up at the Zords and spoke into his morpher, "Conner, combine all the Zords to form the Tricera-Max Megazord!"
"Of course. Tricera-Max Megazord!" The Dino Zords all appeared, and combined with the Mezadon Rover, creating an even more powerful Megazord.
"Sweet!"
"Now that's a Zord." Kira nodded in approval.
"You're going down tree!" Conner yelled. "Turbo Fire!" with one blast, Conner destroyed the monster.
Down on the ground, the newly empowered Zeltrax was easily overpowering his opponents. The other Rangers leapt out of their Megazords and stood in front of their friends, ready to fight.
"You played right into my hands!" Zeltrax told them as he lifted part of the wreckage that had been the tree. "Eternal life is mine!" He blasted the Rangers off their feet, and disappeared.
1-2-3-4-5
Realizing that Conner had disappeared, they tracked him to a quarry where he was fighting Zeltrax. The robot had stolen the power of the spring and kidnapped Krista as means of leverage. Thankfully, Conner was able to tap into a whole new level of his Triassic Power and saved her.
"Now that's a Battilizer." Andy couldn't but laugh as they watched Conner taking on Zeltrax, now on equal power.
"Battilizer?" Kira raised an eyebrow at the Green Ranger.
He shrugged, "It's something only Red Rangers get."
"Only since the Space team." Zoey interjected, watching their own Red with a smile, "It was some sort of upgrade that the other team leaders didn't get."
Jenna laughed, "Personally, I think the Grid just did a system upgrade in order to help the fighting, which in turn upgraded the Red Rangers. And no one else."
"Unfair." They chuckled as they listened to Conner through the morphers.
"Had enough?" Conner asked.
"Never!" Zeltrax forced himself up.
"You asked for it!" Conner told him. "Dragon Yo-Yo! Fire!" He swung spinning fire at Zeltrax, slamming it into him before blasting him with cannons that appeared over his shoulders.
"Dude, that rocked!" Ethan told the Red Ranger as they ran over to him.
"Thanks," Conner grinned. Hearing a growl, they all looked around quickly to find that Zeltrax had survived, but his new armor did not. He was now back to normal.
"This is only a small set-back, you can be sure of that!" He warned them, and disappeared in a flash of red.
"We'll be ready!" Conner promised him.
1-2-3-4-5
"The only downfall in all this is that Zeltrax wiped out the Eternity Spring." Trent commented as the Rangers and Raina, minus Conner, walked over to where the tree had once been. "That could have done a lot of good for a lot of people."
"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "But like anything good, too much can be really bad."
"Ah, Ranger knowledge." Zoey chuckled, "You learn a lot from experience."
"I wonder what'll happen to Zeltrax." Kira wondered aloud. "Please tell me that we are finally through with his ugly mug."
"Unfortunately, I doubt it." Tommy shook his head. "Mesogog will be looking for him just as hard as we are."
"Well, hopefully they'll find each other first, and take each other out. That'd be nice." Andy mused, making them grin. "It happened with Lothor's Generals. One-by-one, there they went."
"Most minions want more power than what their master gives them." Raina nodded, "So they try to cause an uprising but, it never works."
They spotted Conner talking to Krista, who looked like she was warming up to him again. After a moment, he took the new tree sprout from her, and they watched as he planted it, and the onlookers applauded.
"Ah," Zoey cooed, "looks like little Conner is growing up."
Jenna pretended to wipe a tear, "I'm so proud." They chuckled, "Who's up for some Raptor training later?"
"Ooh!"
I know it's short, but it was mostly a fun filler chapter. I liked watching this side of Conner and wanted to add it in.
Catch you on the flipside!