MMPR Revisited

High Five Part 1

Being codependent always felt strange. Suddenly, group consensus held more weight than individual decisions. Zack found this shift quite unsettling. While he considered himself a team player, he cherished his privacy and indulged in some less-than-legal hobbies – a fact that didn't sit well with Jason.

"Seriously, Zack?" Jason crossed his arms and leaned against his locker.

Zack shrugged his shoulders, closing his locker. "What?"

"Don't you think it was a bit reckless to be so carefree, especially given the circumstances?" Jason pointed to his communicator, emphasizing their new responsibilities.

"Look, Jason, I appreciate your concern, but I've always been responsible with it," Zack retorted.

"That's not the point. We've never had to be ready at a moment's notice," Jason's tone turned serious.

"Jason, last week, all the changes were getting to you. We're all trying to find some balance again. There's no reason why I can't do what I did before. Plus, it's my birthday, so just cut me some slack," Zack's tone grew serious, and Jason fell silent. "I'll catch you later, man. I'm meeting Ritchie and Evan after school."

"Just be smart, Zack," Jason urged, but Zack dismissed him with a wave of his hand as he walked down the hall.

"Hey, Jason," Kimberly leaned against the locker next to him. Her smile faded as she studied his expression. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied without looking at her.

"And the Oscar goes to…" Kim's comment elicited a laugh but failed to change his mood. "Want to get out of here? Head to the youth center for a workout?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Jason agreed, and Kim took his hand, leading him toward the school exit. When they arrived, they spotted Billy and Trini standing under a rope, eyeing it with trepidation. "What's going on, guys?" Jason asked cautiously.

"Exactly. Up," Trini muttered, her voice low. "That rope is up. Way up. I don't think I can do it."

"I believe you can, Trini. It's all about mind over matter," Billy offered an encouraging smile, but Trini's expression remained downcast.

"I didn't know you were afraid of heights, Trini," Jason remarked.

"Yeah, it doesn't come up often. We all have our fears," she replied, sounding despondent. "This just happens to be one of mine. Some fears are too deep to conquer."

"Well, I think you'll handle it just fine, but you have to believe it," Kimberly said, wrapping her arm around Trini for support.

"Hey, where's Zack? Aren't we supposed to be celebrating his birthday today?" Trini's question prompted an eye roll from Jason. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's not you," Jason sighed. "I think that's still the plan. Zack's just indulging in some... herbal remedies."

"Like chai tea?" Billy's question drew laughter from everyone, even Jason.

"Exactly," Kim played along. They all headed to their usual table and piled their stuff in the center. Kimberly removed her communicator and stashed it in her backpack.

"What are you doing?" Trini asked, looking concerned.

"Oh, I can't balance on the beam with a loose bracelet," Kim replied casually. "Trust me, I'll hear it if it goes off. And if something really bad happens, we'll all find out without the communicator."

"Yeah, I'm taking mine off too. I have a class in a few minutes, and I've been preaching about how distractions can be disrespectful," Jason explained as he stowed his communicator in his bag.

"Not us, though. We're going for a hike at the Angel Grove Reservoir," Billy said with enthusiasm, and Trini rested her head on the table. "It should be an easier way for Trini to overcome her fear of heights."

Trini muttered to herself, "Clearly a lapse in judgment on my part for agreeing." She lifted her head and pouted. "Fine. Okay. I'm fine. I'm ready." She stood up. "Let's do this now before I can forget my sudden urge of bravery." Billy followed suit, standing up.

"Maybe join us later?" Billy suggested.

"Yeah, we'll see. Have fun, guys," Jason and Kimberly waved them off, and then they turned to face each other. Surprisingly, Ernie approached and placed two smoothies in front of them.

"Here you are, guys, on the house," Ernie said. "So, Zack's birthday cake was delivered here. When should we expect the party to begin? Around seven or so?"

"That sounds great, Ernie!" Kim said after sipping on her smoothie. Jason remained silent as Ernie walked away. "Come on, Jason. Zack's habits never used to bother you this much, at least not before."

"We weren't Power Rangers before," Jason replied in a hushed tone before taking a sip of his smoothie. "Things have changed. We can't afford to be... I don't know. My intention isn't to criticize Zack, but things are different now. We have to be different. Smarter," he maintained a serious tone. Kimberly tilted her head.

"You're really embracing the role of the serious leader," she commented. Jason rolled his eyes and chuckled. "See, there you are. Jason, it's our collective responsibility. It's shared. It's important to Zack too. Now come on, I just finished this smoothie, and I'm about to finish yours. I need a good workout."

"Alright, alright," Jason agreed. He stood up and headed to the bench press while Kim walked over to the gymnastics beam and began her cartwheel routine.

Meanwhile, Trini and Billy had just arrived at their hiking destination. Billy was brimming with excitement, but Trini was doing her best to feign enthusiasm. Billy parked his car in the visitor's lot, and they both stepped out.

"It's such a beautiful day today. I don't think we could have picked a better day, Trini," Billy's enthusiasm amused Trini, even though she couldn't muster the same excitement. "And we're lucky there doesn't seem to be anyone else around. So, it's just a Billy-Trini day today. We haven't had many of those since, you know."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Trini agreed. "Where should we start?"

"Okay, we'll take this trail, and it'll lead us to the top of those cliffs," Billy pointed to the path and then gestured to the tall cliffs, causing anxiety to churn in Trini's stomach. "The view up there is amazing."

"Yeah, let's just get up there first. I'm sure I'll love it... once I get up there," Trini said, failing to match Billy's enthusiasm. They set off down the trail, and Trini gradually realized they were ascending to higher elevations.

Angel Grove boasted some genuinely beautiful spots, a welcome contrast to the constant repairs in downtown Angel Grove. The lush trees, stunning rock formations, and vibrant flowers served as poignant reminders of what they were fighting to protect. After about 30 minutes of hiking, they reached the top of the cliff, and Trini was taken aback by the breathtaking view.

"Oh wow, Billy," Trini said in disbelief. "I can't believe I've never been here before."

"I know, it's beautiful, right? During the summer, I usually come here for environmental research or just to read," Billy set his backpack down, retrieved a camera, and began taking snapshots of both of them and the scenic vista. As he turned to capture more scenery, his camera inadvertently caught a group of Putties that had suddenly materialized behind them. "Trini!" Billy's cry snapped her attention to the approaching golems.

"Seriously?!" Trini groaned, throwing her fists up to defend herself. Billy set down his camera and backpack and assumed a defensive stance as well. Trini charged forward, elbowing a Putty in the chest and knocking it down. She swiftly swept her feet beneath another Putty, sending it sprawling, before leaping into a high kick to another Putty's head.

Billy, not as experienced in combat, struggled to land critical blows. He managed to parry their attacks but found it difficult to strike back effectively. He blocked a Putty's punch with his wrist and pushed it away. Another Putty leaped, aiming a kick, and Billy seized its foot, using its own momentum to throw it to the ground. When he tried punching another, it hardly did any damage, and he winced in pain.

"Trini, there's something different about these Putties. They seem stronger!" Trini hadn't initially noticed, but now it made sense as her limbs began to ache more than usual.

"Billy, maybe we should try to contact the others?" Trini suggested after kicking a Putty off the cliff's edge. Billy nodded and dodged under two Putties attacking from both sides, causing them to collide and fall over.

"Zordon, do you read me?" Billy said into his communicator.

"Yes, Billy, I read you," Zordon replied.

"Trini and I are being attacked by a group of Putties that seem... stronger than usual. Can you please contact the others? We need backup!"

"Yes, Billy. I suggest you and Trini morph. May the power protect you!" Zordon responded before ending the communication. "Alpha, try to reach Jason, Zack, and Kimberly. I fear Billy and Trini won't be able to hold out much longer."

"Ay-yi-yi-yi!" Alpha exclaimed as he input codes into the main console. He turned to the viewing globe and watched as Billy and Trini struggled against the relentless onslaught of Putties. "Jason? Kimberly? Zack?" Alpha repeated the names desperately, but there was no response.

At the Youth Center, Jason and Kimberly's communicators blared urgently. However, with Ernie pumping up the volume of the music, the beeps were drowned out amidst the thumping beats.

"It's no use; I don't think Jason or Kimberly can hear their communicators," Alpha panicked, smoke puffing out from him.

"Calm down, Alpha. I don't believe Zackary is with them. If you focus your efforts solely on him for now, you'll have a better chance of reaching him," Zordon instructed, and Alpha followed suit.

"Zack? It's Alpha, come in! Zack, can you read me?" Alpha repeated his message over and over into the communication grid.

Zack's communicator buzzed persistently, but he remained unresponsive. In the garage of his friend Richie's house, he and his pal Evan lounged on beanbags, surrounded by a haze of smoke.

"Zack, is that some kind of alarm you set?" Evan's speech was slow, and Zack almost ignored him completely. "I mean, your watch has been going off for like a minute." After this statement, Evan burst into laughter, while Richie just shook his head.

"No more for you, my friend," Richie said, looking at Zack. "But, yeah, can you turn that off?" Zack lifted his wrist, gazing at his communicator. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he shot up in a panic. "Are you okay, dude?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Zack's words tumbled out hurriedly.

"Dude, you're looking pretty paranoid," Richie observed.

"No, no. I'm fine. I just remembered I gotta call my Ma. Can I use your phone, man?" Zack hastily got up from the couch, not waiting for Richie's response, and slammed the door shut behind him. Before answering Zordon's call, he took a deep breath and pressed the button. "Zordon, I read you."

"Zack, thank goodness you've responded!" Alpha's voice chimed in before Zordon could speak.

"Zack, thank you for responding. Trini and Billy are being overwhelmed by a wave of Putties and need your assistance immediately!" Zack hesitated, mostly because he knew he wasn't in the right state of mind to deal with anything serious at the moment. He took another deep breath in an attempt to clear his head. "Zack? Trini and Billy need your assistance immediately!"

"I hear you, Zordon. Can you teleport me there?"

"Of course, stand by for teleportation," Zordon said. Zack muttered to himself, "Alright, Zack, get it together." A black light enveloped him, and the next thing he knew, he stood beneath the cliffs where Billy and Trini were struggling. Though his instincts urged him to rush and help them, his body refused to respond.

"Zordon's right, Trini. We definitely need to try and morph!" Billy declared after narrowly evading a joint attack from two Putties. He pulled out his morpher and raised it to the sky. "Triceratops!" A blue light enveloped him, and he transformed. "Power Lance!" he called out, and his weapon materialized in his hands. Trini reached for her morpher, but just as she raised it, a Putty knocked it out of her grasp, and it skidded across the rocky terrain.

"My power morpher!" Trini lunged to retrieve it but was intercepted by a Putty that yanked her back and delivered a swift kick to her abdomen. She cried out in pain and barely blocked another assault from another Putty.

"Trini, hold on!" Billy slashed one Putty across the chest with his lance, twirling it to create distance between him and the remaining golems. Trini once again attempted to reach her morpher, but her efforts were in vain as another Putty kicked her, sending her dangerously close to the cliff's edge. Her hands flailed, trying to maintain her balance and avoid falling over. She glanced behind her, seeing the precipice and screaming.

"Billy!" She called out, desperately trying to make eye contact, but it was futile. Another Putty struck Trini, knocking her off the ledge. She grabbed onto the rocky surface, scraping her hands and fingers as she clung to the edge, left dangling precariously in the air.

"Oh, no! Trini!" Zack exclaimed in horror. Realizing he had to act, he tried to move, but two Putties appeared, immediately attacking him. One swung its fist, and Zack knew to dodge, but his body reacted too slowly, and he took the hit, tumbling to the ground.

"Trini!" Billy shouted.

"Billy, I'm okay!" Trini called back. "For now. I don't know how much longer I can hold on!" Billy fought frantically to save her. He swung his lance, hitting three Putties in the torso, causing them to fall backward. He swiftly turned, striking one across the face, and then another. He continued to unleash a flurry of attacks, but a Putty grabbed his lance, yanking it away, while another delivered a punch to his back, stealing his breath. Then two Putties in front of him kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backward.

Billy fought to get back on his feet, but each time he attempted, he was forcefully thrown down again. His thoughts were consumed by Trini and the urgent need to retrieve her morpher to save her, but everything he did seemed futile.

He shook his head in a desperate attempt to clear the haze of pain and confusion. Pushing himself up, he unleashed a flurry of punches, taking hits and delivering blows with adrenaline-fueled determination. Unfortunately, the surge of energy didn't last, and his punches slowed down, the pain in his battered body becoming increasingly pronounced.

A new kind of pain erupted across the back of his helmet, a solid and direct impact that sent Billy spiraling through the air. He glanced up, realizing it had come from the Putty that had stolen his lance.

Struggling to his feet, Billy kicked a Putty on his right side but was immediately knocked down by one on his left. Regaining his balance, two Putties grabbed his arms, holding him firmly in place. His struggles proved futile as the Putty in front of him repeatedly struck him with the stolen lance, delivering four painful blows that left him grunting in agony. To finish the brutal assault, the Putty forcefully thrust the blunt end of the lance into Billy's stomach, sending him flying backward and crashing into a tree a few feet away. The impact was brutal, knocking the breath out of him as he collapsed onto the ground.

His vision blurred, and amidst the shadows, a blue light pierced through. When he regained some semblance of consciousness, he realized he was no longer transformed. Blood began to seep through the white sleeve of his left arm.

Despite the excruciating pain surging through his body, Billy attempted to stand. He spotted his morpher lying on the ground before him. There must have been a breach in his power that caused his detransformation. Panic set in as he reached down to grab it, but a Putty swiftly seized him and delivered a staggeringly painful punch to his stomach. Gasping for air and wracked with pain, he yelled for help. He was no longer a Power Ranger, just someone at the mercy of these relentless Putties.

"HELP!" Billy cried out, desperation in his voice.

"Billy! I'm trying! You're too high up!" Trini's voice rang out from above. Her fear of heights had paralyzed her momentarily, but she forced herself to ascend the cliff, albeit slowly.

Billy, overwhelmed and battered, couldn't hear her. He stopped struggling, lacking the energy to continue. Pain consumed him as he gazed up and saw the Putty holding his lance – which had somehow remained intact – breaking it in half, revealing a spear-like end. The Putty raised it menacingly.

Logically, Billy knew it was about to strike him down, the sharp end aimed at his chest. Death was approaching, and he was powerless to prevent it. He tried one last time to break free from the Putty's grip, but it held him firmly. The Putties emitted eerie cries, and Billy realized he was about to meet his end. He lowered his head, focusing on the ground and his morpher, the Triceratops power coin resting in the center. He had failed Zordon.

"Billy, hold on!" Trini's desperate plea echoed in his ears, but he remained still, consumed by the relentless pain and the impending uncertainty of his fate. All he could do now was wait for whatever end awaited him.