I only own the original character and the storyline. They haven't made me rich...yet.
Tommy, his younger sister Hanna and Adam are transported to an unknown island where their worst fears become living horrors. How far is too far when the lives of your loved one are on the line?
It was an early, spring day. Tommy Oliver reached down, grabbing a towel to clear the dripping sweat from his face as he finished up his third kata in a row. He was on the edge of Angel Grove City Park and had been hoping to clear his mind. He looked up from where he stood and watched as a group of clouds covered the sun and his brightly lit patch of grass shaded over. Tommy liked the way the sun warmed his skin, especially with the moisture that now covered his exposed body parts. When the wind blew, it was a little too cold for his liking. The Rangers had been unusually busy over the last few weeks. It seemed that King Mondo and his machine empire had a point to prove and decided to use everything in their arsenal in their fight against his team. Each day ended with the tall, Red Ranger needing a hot shower and ice to sooth his sore muscles. Looking back up as the clouds moved past the sun, Tommy remembered he was supposed to meet up with Hanna and Adam. He grabbed his bag, wrapped the towel around his neck and jogged towards the parking lot. He grimaced. Hanna and Adam were already there, waiting. He was already forgetful but had been extra distracted lately. His younger sister brought it up every chance she got.
"Take your time, good sir!" She shouted. "The peasants will simply await your grand arrival"
Adam stood up, walking to meet Tommy halfway across the parking lot.
"Here we go." Tommy muttered, slapping Adam on the back by way of greeting.
"She's been going for a while. You never stood a chance" Adam laughed.
"Awesome" Tommy replied, rolling his eyes. Hanna and Adam had been together for a few months now, after a year or so of longing and mutual stares across the room that the entire team were thankful was over. They were hesitant to act on their feelings since she was Tommy's sister, and he was the team leader. They wanted to make sure a relationship wouldn't come between the team as whole. It took a few weeks, but Tommy eventually convinced Adam to ask Hanna out.
"I know, I know." Tommy said, throwing his bag in the car as she held the door open and bowed.
"Your majesty…" She laughed. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence."
Without warning, a shimmering portal materialized in front of them. Before the trio could react, a powerful force sucked them in, tossing them through a whirlwind of bright colors and strong energy. Spinning with little control, they were disoriented and overwhelmed from the sudden free fall.
With a final jolt, the portal opened in the sky. Tommy, Hanna and Adam fell into the icy, turbulent waters below. The skies were dark, and stinging rain beat against their skin. Tommy surfaced first, gasping for air and battling the waves. He struggled to keep his head above water as his body was tossed about in the raging water. His lungs burned as he choked on the saltwater filling his mouth and nose. Frantic, he looked around for the others. He spotted Adam a few feet away, thrashing against the current himself, and further off Hanna fought to stay afloat, the weight of her soaked clothing dragging her down.
"Adam! Hanna!" Tommy shouted, his voice barely carrying over the crashing waves and rain. He fought his way over to Hanna, grabbing her arm just as her head slipped beneath a wave. Adam slowly paddled to them and together they struggled to swim towards the faint outline of a shore in the distance.
The swim was grueling. The cold water sapped their energy, and exhaustion clawed at them, threatening to pull them to the darkness below with each kick. Somehow, they made it to shore collapsing onto the wet sand just above the tide line, their arms unable to support them any further. Tommy's mind whirled as he lay there, gasping for breath, trying to comprehend what happened. How did they end up here?
The rain continued to beat down on them in sheets the wind driving drops from the sky in shards. He knew they couldn't stay there on the shoreline exposed to the raging storm, but his mind refused to tell his body to move. The brutal waves were creeping closer, threatening to pull them back into the ocean. Eventually, he sat up fighting the ache in every muscle of his body. Adam laid on his back, breathing heavily allowing the rain to his face. Hannah was facedown in the sand, unmoving. Panic surged through Tommy as he crawled to her side, gently rolling her onto her back. Her eyes were closed, her face pale.
"Hanna? Can you hear me?" He shook her shoulder and turned her towards him brushing the tangles of hair out of her face. She stirred, blinking at him with a dazed expression. Relief flooded through him, but it was short lived. He supported her as she tried to sit up, but she let out a sharp, involuntary cry, her hand shooting up to her shoulder.
"It's out!" She muttered through gritted teeth, her face twisting in pain.
Tommy's gaze dropped to her arm, and he saw the unnatural angle it lay in. Her shoulder had dislocated from their free fall out of the sky and landing within the stormy, open water. Tommy struggled to his knees, the wind nearly knocking him back down. They needed to get out of the storm's path before anything else.
"Adam, we have to move her!" Tommy shouted. Adam looked over; his eyes wide as he noticed Hanna's injury.
"Shit" he grimaced and fought to stand up next to Tommy. Together, they managed to lift Hanna, supporting her as they helped her to her feet, then half-carrying her as they stumbled forward. Each step was a battle against the wind that seemed alive and determined to push them back towards the sea. The rain was like icy needles against their faces, stinging and blinding them as they staggered inland. They pushed forward, their clothes soaked and clinging to them, their shoes sinking into the wet, shifting sand as they fought toward higher ground. The beach sloped up toward a dense, looming forest that offered the only hint of shelter in sight. Branches and leaves whipped around from the storm, but it was better than the exposed shore.
"Almost there!" Tommy called out, though his own legs were beginning to buckle under the stress and strain of their entire ordeal. Adam nodded grimly, gritting his teeth as he helped support Hanna's weight and doing his best to shield her from the worst of the rain.
Finally, they stumbled past the first trees, the canopy above offering some protection from the rain and wind. They sank down against a large tree trunk, the storm still raging but no longer able to reach them with its full force. Hanna slumped back, her face a ghostly version of itself and slick with rain, every shallow breath brought her closer to the darkness that threatened to take her over.
"Hanna?" Tommy whispered, bringing himself closer to her, preparing for what would have to be done next.
"I know." She responded, her hands trembling as she cradled her injured arm. "It's going to hurt like a bitch either way. So, just do it." Her voice was faint but resolute.
Tommy nodded and looked over to Adam.
"Ready?" he asked the other man. Adam nodded his head and looked down at Hanna. She opened her eyes looking back at him. The last thing either of them wanted was to hurt her, but this had to be done. Her arm was useless until they could force her shoulder back into place. All three of them needed to be as prepared as possible for whatever came next.
"On three, Han. Okay?" Tommy asked, using his nickname for his little sister. Adam steadied himself on the opposite side of her. She grabbed his hand with her free arm and nodded at Tommy.
"One…two…" he began. Hanna held her breath.
"Three." both men said at the same time. Tommy pushed, firmly guiding her shoulder back into place with a sickening pop. Hanna's strangled cry filled the air, her entire body trembling with the intensity of the pain. She squeezed her eyes shut, the shock of resetting her shoulder had been too much. She was dangerously close to passing out. Tommy and Adam hovered by her side, watching as she fought to stay conscious.
"Easy Han" Tommy said softly, steadying her. "Take deep breaths. We're right here" She managed a weak nod, but her grip on his arm was shaky.
Adam looked around, searching for anything that might help them make a temporary sling. The forest floor was littered with large leaves brought down in the storm, but he couldn't see anything of use in their immediate area. He couldn't get up and search, Hanna still gripped his hand, and neither of them were ready to let go. Finally, Adam noticed the sleeve of his own jacket and an idea struck him. He reluctantly pulled his hand from Hanna's grasp.
"Hang on." He said quietly. "Just a few more seconds"
He shrugged off the jacket and, with a quick look at Tommy, began tearing one of the sleeves off, making a temporary sling. Hanna leaned against the tree still struggling against the pain and dizziness.
Adam fashioned the torn sleeve into a passable sling and slipped it carefully around Hanna's arm, securing it in place. She winced, a fresh wave of pain rolling through her body, but the new support provided some relief.
"Better?" he asked gently, his eyes filled with worry.
Hanna took a steadying breath, the color slowly returning to her face as the sharp pain slightly dulled.
"It'll do." She whispered. "Thanks, both of you." She said looking up at Tommy.
They all sat huddled together attempting to keep warm and rest. He was sure his eyes had been closed for 3 seconds when they snapped open and Tommy stood up, looking around.
Adam glanced up at him, suddenly more aware than he had been a moment before. Hanna leaned against Adam's shoulder but didn't stir.
"You hear something?" he asked.
"I always hear something." Tommy sarcastically but honestly responded. Adam rolled his eyes and nodded his head in agreement.
"She's still out." he said, casting his eyes toward Hanna's form against him. Tommy looked down at them.
"You should try to get some more rest. I'm up now so, I'll keep watch." Adam knew Tommy was right, who knew what this island had instore for them, and they were already at a disadvantage. Tommy would push himself until he collapsed. They couldn't afford that; he needed rest as well.
"We'll take turns, man." Adam said. "You'll have to get some rest too. This isn't over."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Tommy said, sitting back down.
Adam allowed his body to relax as much as he could and drifted off into a fitful sleep, his exhaustion overwhelming his aching body.
Suddenly, he was being shaken awake by Hanna.
"Adam!" she urgently whispered. "There's something out there! Where's Tommy?" she questioned, sitting up.
"He's keeping watch. What did you hear?" Adam stood, brushing sand and debris from his pants. Leaning down, he helped Hanna up but tucked him behind her, looking around. The rain ended, and bright rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy. All in all, it was a beautiful sight. Lush, bright green leaves of every shape and size surrounded them. Water drops lingering from the storm dancing like diamonds as they clung to the branches above them.
"Tommy?!" Adam called, his Ranger instincts kicking in. Something wasn't right. Tommy wouldn't have just walked off without waking him. "Tommy?!"
"Tommy!" Hanna shouted his name as well, her initial attempt at whispering forgotten.
Nothing. No response. No sounds from the surrounding forest at all. They fell from a portal, landing on an unknown island and now, one of them was missing. Adam raised a finger to his lips and looked at Hanna. She nodded, taking his lead.
Tommy woke up in a chair. The chair was seated at a long table in the middle of the island's forest and covered in an abundance of food. Meats and sides, desserts and drinks lay across every inch of the tabletop before him. It was so out of place that Tommy almost laughed. Like a fantasy banquet hall with Tommy at the head. Royalty indeed. He looked around, his arms and legs unbound. He was more surprised at his freedom of movement than he would have been finding out he was tied up. He stood up but was immediately overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness. He was exhausted and at this point more than a little dehydrated. Sitting back down, he noticed movement to his right. He grabbed the table's edge to steady himself, preparing for a fight.
"Hello Red Ranger" a voice on his left called.
"Who's there?" Tommy responded, standing to his feet again but not quite ready to let go of the table.
"You are safe. Please sit down and eat your fill." The voice said again.
"You didn't answer my question." He replied, his frustration growing. There was no reply. "How did I…WE get here? Where are Hanna and Adam?" Tommy asked.
Again, there was no reply. Tommy started to walk away from the table, when a hand pushed down on his shoulder from above him. He looked up expecting to see someone taller than him, forcing him to sit but there was no one there.
"Please sit." The voice instructed again.
Tommy was at a loss. He was in unfamiliar surroundings, talking to someone or something he couldn't see but he didn't feel threatened. There was no animosity in the voice asking him to sit down. It was a gentle, coaxing request. The someone could touch him, but it hadn't attacked him. So, not sure what else to do, he sat.
Together, Adam and Hanna began making their way through the forest. Hanna trailing him, her arm still in a sling. It was unnaturally quiet. The woods at home were always alive with birds and small animals chirping and chittering to each other. They kept walking looking for any indication that Tommy had gone before them, whether on his own by force. Hanna turned her head, looking behind when she heard Adam grunt.
"Adam?!" She said, quickly turning back around. "Are you okay?"
He was on the ground. In his hyper-vigilance, he mis stepped over a tree root, tripped and fell. The shock from ending up on the ground was still evident on his face as he stood back up, more than slightly embarrassed.
"I uh…I think so? I don't even know what happened." He told her.
"You tripped. Happens to us not-Ranger folks all the time." She said with a smirk.
Adam glanced back at the ground behind him. Sure enough, there was a thick root growing through the brush.
"Let's keep going." Hanna said pulling his arm with her resuming their hunt through the forest.
They walked for several hours, the sun setting around them.
"I need to rest." Hanna told Adam. "My head is killing me. We've been walking for hours without water or food. We'll never find Tommy if we pass out from exhaustion." Even though she wasn't a Ranger, her brother, boyfriend and friends were, and she had picked up a few tips and tricks through the years. She trained with Tommy and Adam, worked with Billy in the Power Chamber and joined Kat and Tonya on their Ranger girls-dates. It wasn't usually an issue, but sometimes she resented having to stay behind and sit back while they risked life and limb saving the world. Tommy didn't like it when she made a fuss if he came home sore or injured. "Part of being a Ranger" he had explained over and over, he accepted the risks. As her life became more entwined in their 'Ranger World' the fear and anxiety she experienced every time the team morphed grew.
"You're right." Adam said, helping her to the ground. "You rest, I'll keep watch."
"Adam…" she started but he looked at her and she quieted. "Okay. Just a few minutes. Then we'll keep going."