"Gayle?" Grant asked as he heard the phone pick up and he was greeted with silence. "Sorry- this is Grant- I'm just trying to return Gayle's call."
"Grant? You're the emergency number at the Academy?" Gayle asked, completely confused by why Tommy's dojo partner was answering at the Power Ranger Academy. She knew that Tommy had some staff, but she had never asked who that was. "Where are they?"
"It's not that simple. We had some other stuff kick up around here last night and Roberto is working on backtracking what may have happened with them," Grant said as she let out a frustrated sigh. "So far, it seems like…they may have gone to Thomas's world."
"I'm sorry. Did you just say that they've gone to another universe?" Gayle clarified as Russell stared at her and she just shook her head. "How can you be sure?"
"They have a very distinct signature and we're not picking up on it anywhere on Earth. We're continuing to scan this universe, but we're 95% done and they haven't been located," Grant stated as she let out a groan. "We can send someone to come get Jay and Kira. They probably…we might want to keep them in a ranger facility."
"What else happened last night?" Gayle asked as Rusell turned on the news and nudged Gayle in the side. She turned to see the Power Rangers being thrown around by some new beings and she let out another groan. "They were supposed to stay a few more days- we'll keep them and then if someone…"
"I'll call you back once we know who will be coming," Grant said as Gayle hung up and Roberto shook his head. "This is bad, isn't it?"
"Tommy being off the planet does explain why this Skyster thing decided to turn up last night," Robert said as Grant just shook his head. He understood a lot about the ranger world, but he didn't understand how Tommy could have that much of an effect. "It's like the Taliban playing nice in Afghanistan while U.S. Troops are there- if and when we leave- they'll take their chance to seize control again."
"So Tommy leaving Earth is the equivalent of the U.S. Army removing themselves from a war zone?" Grant asked as Roberto nodded and he continued to stare at him. That was definitely something that he was going to need to have a drink about later. "Should I go wake them up?"
"We'll let the scan finish to confirm it and then I'll go get them. It shouldn't be on you to tell them," Roberto stated as he leaned back in the chair and just shook his head. "When the shit hits the fan- it really hits the fan."
Julia groaned as she rolled over to her back and her eyes slowly blinked open. Her neck was surprisingly sore and as she strained to open her right eye, she realized it must be swollen shut. She had thought that the hit was bad, but not nearly this bad. She felt the bed dip as Axel sat down next to her and then felt him place an ice pack on her face.
"Thanks," Julia whispered as he gave her a hesitant smile and she felt the concern ripple through her. "What is it?"
"Roberto and Grant asked me to get you up and to the main bay," Axel replied as her head continued to throb. "You up to walking?"
"I'm not sure I'm up to sitting right now," Julia quipped as she let out a sigh. She had gone to sleep easily enough last night and had thought that she would be fine this morning. All of her injuries had healed quicker since she had moved in with Axe, but this must have been more serious. "I didn't realize I got hit that hard."
"Seems to be a recurring theme," Axel said as he gently pulled her to a seated position and she slumped against his waist and he gently rubbed the back of her neck. "Piggyback ride?"
"Maybe you can just fill me in later?" Julia asked and he shook his head no. "That important?"
"Yeah, apparently," Axel said as he steadied her as he squatted down in front of her. "Does it feel like a concussion?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know," Julia muttered as Axel brushed her hair out of her face and gently rubbed the side of her neck. She closed her eyes as it felt like the world was moving around her. "Piggyback ride is probably the best- if I have to go."
"Come here," Axel said as he opened his arms and she gave him a confused look. "You're small enough, just monkey on- it'll be safer."
"I hate this," Julia complained as she put her arms around him and he stood up before she wrapped her legs around him too.
"I know, but you should be healed in a day or so, so long as I stay close," Axel said as she rested her head on his shoulder and he chuckled. It spoke to how bad she felt that she wasn't even trying to hold her head up. Normally, she had too much pride to just lean into him this way. "I promise…we can spend the rest of the day in bed once we get this news."
"I'm going to hold you to that," Julia retorted as she felt the stares from the others but ignored it as the sudden nausea hit her from moving too much. "Yeah- I'd say concussion."
"That's not good," Brandon said as she peaked over at him, but didn't turn her head. "Your neck too?"
"He got her good," Axel said as Julia leaned against his side and he looked around the room. Cameron and Brandon had already settled down. So where was Patrick?
"Patrick just texted me back, he said he's five minutes away," Cameron said as Axel nodded, wondering where Patrick had gone after last night. He had been so focused on getting Julia cleaned up and comfortable that he hadn't paid attention to much else once they got back. "No idea."
"He'll tell us when he's ready," Brandon said as Julia let out a groan and they all looked at her in concern. "Jules."
"You're telling me he's seeing someone too and you knew?" Julia asked as the guys started laughing and she mock glared at Brandon. "What good are you at intel on these things?"
"They ask me to stay quiet- I stay quiet," Brandon said as Grant smiled over at him. "Even though they didn't really ASK."
"Any idea why we're here?" Cameron asked as Grant let out a sigh and just nodded. "No hints?"
"You'll guess it if he gives you any hints," Roberto said as looked between all of them. "You up for leading again, Cam?"
"Dr. O and I were going to evaluate that over the next couple of months," Cameron said as Roberto nodded and glanced over at Axel. Axel had been standing in while Cameron was at rehab, but it had never been activated. "If Axe needs to lead for right now- I don't have a problem with it."
"Why am I awake at 9 on a Saturday?" Patrick grumbled as he walked in with a coffee and looked over to see the others were worse for wear. "Damn Jules."
"I just want to get back to bed. What's going on Roberto?" Julia asked as she shifted her attention to him and he pulled up a scan report. "What were you scanning for?"
"Kimberly and Tommy. Gayle called the Academy emergency line late last night, early this morning saying that Kim and Tommy weren't there. There's no sign of a battle or something forcibly taking them. There's no sign of them in this universe," Roberto stated as the rangers stilled and stared at him. He felt the panic rising in the group, but he also knew that he couldn't comfort them. They were right to be panicked with Kimberly and Tommy being gone.
"So they're going after Kiros?" Cameron asked and Roberto shrugged. "What else could it be?"
"Abdalon is working his connections to try to get a confirmation from Thomas's world, but that is going to take at least a few days. I will say- that Skyster's timing to attack seems to coincide with when they could have disappeared," Roberto said as the rangers nodded. "I would assume that you are going to be it for at least the next month, maybe longer."
"What if they don't come back?" Julia asked as Roberto and Grant exchanged a glance. They seriously hadn't considered that might be a possibility? "Dr. O is good but…the rules…none of us know what they are going into."
"I need all of you to focus on keeping Earth safe. I'll keep you informed as we find out more about where they may be, but your primary concern needs to be this new evil," Roberto stated as the rangers nodded and he sank into his chair. "I wish I had better news, but this is something you needed to know as soon as possible."
"It's not your fault," Axel said as Roberto just nodded and he looked down to see Julia grimacing as she tried to get comfortable against him. "If you need us- I think we'll be taking it easy today."
"Shouldn't we be training?" Brandon asked as Axel and Cameron both shook their heads no. "Why not?"
"One- we have plenty of time to do training on other days. Two- you've been training consistently for nearly three years…we all got beat up last night. Let's enjoy the rest while we can," Axel said as Cameron smiled at him and nodded his agreement. If anyone else was going to be the leader- he made the most sense. "C'mon, up you go."
"He's mine," Julia grumbled against his neck as Axel smiled and she clung to him. "I hate this."
"I know, babe. Let's get you back to sleep," Axel whispered as he walked them out of the main bay and he ignored the feeling of eyes on his back. He was sure he would hear about it some afternoon when he was alone with them, but he didn't care about it at the moment. Julia wouldn't have left bed today if there hadn't been this kind of news. He settled her on the edge of their bed and helped her lean against the headboard. He took a couple of minutes to stuff pillows around her until she was comfortably propped up. "I need breakfast- what do you want?"
"I'm not sure I can eat this morning," Julia muttered as he gave her a look and she gulped. Ever since she had admitted that one of her ex's had judged her harshly for what she ate, Axel had been extra encouraging when it came to her eating in front of him. "It's not that. I'm not sure it would stay down."
"So oatmeal?" Axel asked and Julia barely nodded and immediately grimaced. She couldn't believe that even small motions were hurting her so much. "TV or no?"
"I'd like the noise," Julia whispered as he got the TV set up and then leaned down to give her a quick kiss. "Thanks Axe."
"I want you well baby," Axel said as he brushed her hair back again and she closed her eyes. He watched her fade back off to sleep and slowly removed his hand before he tiptoed out of the room.
"Wapush," Brandon said as Axel closed the door and turned to see the other three rangers watching him. "She's got you good dude."
"I'm not in the mood to joke about it right now," Axel said as Brandon held his hands up as he backed away. Axel was generally good natured about any shit that they gave him, but obviously he'd been pushed by this injury. "You haven't seen the side of her face under that bag of peas."
"That bad?" Cameron asked and Axel just nodded. He was sure her eye would be swollen shut by the end of day and there was already a brilliant purple bruise that was deepening to black. "You need anything?"
"The best thing for her is for me to stay close, so only come get me if the world sets itself on fire," Axel said as Cameron nodded and Axel went about making breakfast. "Cam- I still want you to get back to leading."
"Thanks, but I don't know if I'll ever be up to doing that again. Fighting is going to be hard enough as it is…I don't want any extra responsibility right now," Cameron stated as he clapped him on the back and Axel looked over at him. "But I do know that you're not trying to steal it or think that you'll do better and that does make things easier."
"Better?" Axel asked as Julia blinked her eyes open and looked up at him. She had no idea how long she had been asleep, but judging by the light coming in through the windows- it was probably all day. "You've been out most of the day- I think the pain meds that magically appeared with breakfast probably helped with that."
"Yeah, a lot better," Julia whispered as she snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes again. "Have you gotten anything done today?"
"Abadalon dropped off some tablet thing that has information on Skyster and I reviewed that, but mostly I've watched some new shows, napped, enjoyed how you fit just right there," Axel said as she opened her eyes and his stomach let out a grumble. "But I do need to get dinner. What do you want?"
"Can we get Thai?" Julia asked as she stretched against him and he nodded. He didn't know why, but one of the cutest things she did was stretch out in the bed each day. He smiled as she continued to stretch and she then barely opened an eye to look at him. "What are you looking at?"
"You," Axel said as he leaned over to give her a quick kiss and then rolled out of bed. "Green curry and drunken pad thai?"
"You're okay with those?" Julia asked and he nodded. He'd normally go for panang curry, but it wasn't about him tonight. "Axe…"
"I like both of them and I'm going to ask if the guys want anything as well," Axel hedged as she glared at him. "Jules, it's not about a happy compromise tonight. You're still sporting a nasty bruise and you haven't turned your head to your right since you've started stretching. You may feel a lot better, but just let me pamper you with food I know you like for one night."
"Fine, but the next time you're laid up like this- I don't want any complaints when I do the same," Julia said as she pushed herself up and immediately let out a groan. "Why does sitting up hurt so much?"
"I'll be right back," Axel said as she pouted and he decided to ignore it. If he kept comforting her, they were never going to get food and he was absolutely starving. "Guys! Want food?"
"Brandon just left to pick up some pizzas," Cameron said as Axel nodded and he saw the guilt flash across his face. "Didn't think…"
"Cam- not a problem. I was only coming to ask because I was hoping one of you would want panang curry and that I could steal some," Axel said as Cameron shook his head. "Jules doesn't really like when I get three dishes so that she has two of her favorites for a couple days."
"It's not like we're on a budget," Patrick said as Axel gave him a look. "What?"
"I don't feel right just spending more than we need to on food. Sure the Command Center provides a lot, but the Academy accounts we have…" Axel trailed off as Patrick just nodded. They made a good yearly salary for starting out in New York City, but Kimberly and Tommy still insisted that they use the Academy accounts for things like takeout as they got established. "None of you want to add on?"
"Go order and say I wanted some curry," Cameron said as Axel gave him a sideways look. "You're just now coming out for dinner- which means you haven't eaten all day. Get the damn food."
AN: The story is going to split for the next few chapters. A chapter from each location will be posted each week. If you want to read what is going on, on Earth in order you can read Chapters 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, and 24 once they are completed. If you want to read the Kimberly and Tommy chapters together- they will be chapters 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25, 26. Chapter 27 will then bring it all back together.