Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter nineteen of "Running From Here." This chapter features some Tommy/Kim and Alan/Ellie. Ranger action will be returning very soon. It is likely the Rangers and the survivors will encounter a fierce dinosaur. Stay tuned for chapter twenty.
XXXXX
Chapter 19: Uncovered/Such Mayhem
The group reached a slightly denser part of the rainforest around six minutes later. Big brown bats flew past it on either side. They let out loud squeaks as they went above the canopy. Kim moved her head, seeing a boa slither up a tree. It reached a branch just above the middle and turned toward her. It seemed to stare her in the eye. She shuddered in disgust and glanced at Tommy.
"I wonder how many snakes live on this island," Kim muttered, her body shaking a bit.
"I don't think I want to know," Tommy admitted.
"The one place I don't want them around is my neck," Kim said, swallowing hard.
"I hear you," Tommy said while holding up his hand.
She looked up at the sky to find it was completely clouded over. "One thing is clear. It will be getting darker earlier than normal now."
"Unfortunately," Tommy said, turning in the same direction.
"I hope it does not rain while we are camping out," Kim whispered and shuddered in disgust. "The thought of getting wet and possibly covered in mud makes me ill."
He sighed. "It would make most people ill."
Tommy put his arm around Kim, who slipped hers around his waist. Alan and Ellie looked over their shoulders at them. They observed the White and Pink Rangers hugging each other. They tried not to smile, but they couldn't help themselves.
"Those two Rangers seem to be in a relationship," Ellie said as she and Alan looked at each other.
"They sure do," Alan agreed. "Of course, they can't let their feelings get in the way of fighting their enemies."
"That is true," Ellie commented and crossed her arms. "It is just like us not allowing our feelings get in the way of doing our jobs."
"Bosses really can't forbid their employees from having relationships outside of work, but they should warn them about displaying it within the place of employment too much," Alan said.
"I've read stories about employees who sneaked away from their tasks to make out and/or have sex somewhere," Ellie grumbled, rolling her eyes. "That is putting more work on the others."
"Some bosses see what is happening, but they do nothing about it," Alan hissed annoyingly. "They just let those employees screw around."
"One thing is clear. Karma gets those who goof off eventually," Ellie said, smirking.
"That it does, Ellie," Alan said, putting his arm around her. "That it does."
Alan and Ellie picked up their pace a tiny bit when Rexy and Mia started to go a little faster. Zack turned to see a false vampire bat hanging upside down from an overhanging tree branch. He stopped to watch it. It made eye contact with him. It spread its wings far apart, squeaks coming from it. It seemed to reach out toward him.
Zack moved his hand toward the bat. He jerked it back twice before petting it on top of its head. It squeaked in much pleasure. He felt something bite his boot and looked down. All of a sudden, a boa shot up and wrapped its body around his neck, chest, and stomach. He struggled to get it off him. The bat took off into the sky. It emitted fearful squeaks.
"Guys, help me!" Zack shouted in great fear. He grabbed the boa's head with both hands. "Please help!"
The boa tightened its grip on its prey. Zack fell to his knees, and his breathing became labored. His friends peered over their shoulders, gasping in shock. Rexy and Mia came to a halt. They lowered themselves toward the ground, allowing their riders to get off. Tommy raced toward Zack with the others right behind him. He grabbed the boa's tail and proceeded to unwrap it from around him. He jumped back when it snapped at him. It hissed as he regained his footing.
The boa slithered toward Tommy. It lifted its one fourth of its body off the ground. It flicked its tongue, staring him down. It leapt for him with its jaws wide open. He drew Saba, who fired his eye beams twice. It got two direct hits to the head. It fell dead on its side. Zack gasped loudly while holding his throat. Tommy sheathed Saba with a growl. He ran for him and knelt down next to him. Jason came to his side, getting on his knees.
"Quick!" Tommy shouted urgently. "Help me get his helmet off."
Tommy and Jason unlatched Zack's helmet and took it off. Zack took in a huge gulp of air once it was off. He panted heavily and held his chest. He managed to catch his breath. Alan, Ellie, Ian, John, Lex, and Tim let out shocked gasps.
"Zack is the Black Ranger?" Tim blurted out with raised eyebrows.
The other Power Rangers looked at each other. They shifted their attention back to their friends. Tommy reached up to unlatch his helmet. He took it off as he took a deep breath. Kim followed his lead with hers. Jason did the same right after her. Trini and Billy came last. Alan, Ellie, Ian, John, Lex, and Tim felt eyes became as wide as saucers. In fact, they looked like they would pop out as if they were slinkies.
"I can't believe it!" Lex exclaimed.
"You guys are Power Rangers?" Ellie asked in amazement.
"Yes, we are, Dr. Sattler," Jason answered and stood up to approach the group. Tommy and Kim joined his side as he pressed his lips together. "We're sorry we kept it from you."
Kim expressed regret along with her teammates. "We promised to never reveal our identities to anyone unless it was an emergency. We'd do it if Lord Zedd ever threatened someone we cared about."
"I never expected any of you to be Power Rangers, especially Billy," John said with a soft chuckle.
Ian exhaled. "Talk about incredible."
"I don't look like the type of person to be a Power Ranger. Zordon saw that I could handle the Power," Billy pointed out matter-of-factly.
"He is our mentor we tried to contact earlier in an effort to get you out of here. Alpha 5 is his assistant and longtime friend," Jason commented and sighed to himself. "Trini, Billy, Zack, and I fought Rita's forces for four months before Tommy joined us as the Green Ranger. She picked Tommy due to his exceptional fighting skills and turned him evil, but he broke her spell. He lost his powers after Lord Zedd took over. Zordon chose him to be the White Ranger."
Trini pressed her lips together. "It hasn't been easy fighting vicious monsters. We still wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian looked at each other. They knew this was going to take some getting used to. They had a hunch other people had figured out that Jason, Trini, Zack, Billy, Tommy, and Kim were Power Rangers. They were grateful to be friends with them.
"We will never tell anyone about you six being Power Rangers," John said truthfully.
"You can count on us," Lex commented with pride.
Alan licked his lips. "It won't be easy. We are still determined to keep quiet."
Ellie put her hand over her mouth. "Uh-huh. This feels so unreal. We are actually talking to the Power Rangers."
"It does. It will come to you naturally in no time," Kim responded gently.
"It sure will," Jason agreed.
Billy clasped his hands together. "We better get going. Time is wasting away."
The Rangers put their helmets back on. Rexy and Mia lowered themselves as Jason, John, Lex, Tim, and Billy went to them. They rose to their full height once their riders were on their backs. They resumed walking. Tommy, Kim, Zack, Trini, Alan, Ellie, and Ian went after them.
00000
Goldar threw a chair at a young man fleeing near Angel Grove Park's playground. The man dove for the ground. This caused it to miss. He got up and started running for his life again. His breathing came out in hard pants. Goldar caught sight of two young women running away. He fired his eye beams at them, but he missed when they ran out of the way. The women managed to reach the sidewalk. They charged down it.
Scorpina and Tigton slapped two teen girls across their faces. They grabbed their throats and tossed them to the ground. They forced them to their feet. They swung their arm at their feet, tripping them. The girls ended up on their backs. Scorpina and Tigton tried to punch them in their faces, only for them to roll aside. The girls jumped to their feet and ran away. Scorpina and Tigton formed energy balls in their hands and tossed them at the duo, only to miss when they ducked. The girls got to the sidewalk and charged down it.
"I love terrorizing civilians," Tigton yelled gleefully.
"Me too," Scorpina agreed and laughed evilly.
"Yeah," Goldar added as he joined her side. He spotted two teen girls running for their lives. He narrowed his eyes at them. "There are some more humans running for their lives!"
"Let's not wait here!" Tigton roared and curled his lips into a snarl. "Let's give them a little present!"
"Good idea, Dragontor!" Goldar agreed and charged his hand with lightning. His comrades followed suit with theirs. "Ready, set, go!"
The trio tossed their lightning at the girls. It hit the ground in front of the duo, exploding on impact and sending dirt high into the air. The girls covered their bodies with their arms. They resumed running for their lives once the debris cleared. Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton jumped through the air. They twisted their bodies to where they were facing them. They landed in front of them, blocking their path.
"You are not going anywhere, bitches!" Goldar announced with a snarl.
"That's right," Scorpina said, nodding sharply.
"Yep!" Tigton agreed.
The first girl whimpered. "Don't hurt us!"
The second girl cried. "Please!"
"Aw. The little girls are crying!" Goldar taunted and emitted a malicious laugh. "Too bad, so sad!"
Four Putties grabbed the girls. They gibbered as they tightened their grip on them. The girls tried to break free of their grasp to no avail. Goldar formed a big smirk on his face.
"All grabbed with nowhere to go!" Goldar shouted and pointed his sword at the girls.
"Let's give them another present!" Tigton suggested.
Scorpina snorted. "Throw them down, Putties!"
The Putties complied with eagerness. The girls looked up at the trio, whimpers coming from them. Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton charged their hands with lightning. They sent it into their targets. The girls cried out painfully. Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton ceased their assault on them. Tigton forced them to their feet. He slapped them across their cheeks. He punched them in their stomachs, knocking the wind out of them.
"Let's make them dance!" Tigton said.
"I will go first," Scorpina said, rubbing her hands together. "Yep."
"Now, it's time for you to dance!" Rita said, eyeing Goldar. "Goldar, you may go first."
Scorpina pointed her finger at the ground. She fired lightning at the teens' feet. They made a jump off to one side. She moved her finger in their direction to shoot more lightning. She fired multiple rounds of lightning. The teens leapt everywhere to avoid them. Goldar and Tigton clapped in a gleeful way. Scorpina stopped her assault and pulled her finger back. The girls became still. Heavy pants came from them.
"That was good, Scorpina!" Tigton shrieked cheerfully. "Now, it's my turn."
Tigton took aim with his finger at the girls' feet. He shot fire at them. He smiled when they a did a jump to one side. He repeated his action. He laughed as they leapt to the other side. He fired multiple rounds of fire at them. They jumped all over the place in their effort to avoid it. Goldar and Scorpina moved their bodies in sync with their jumps. Tigton ceased his assault. The girls panted a little harder after they stopped.
"Nice work, Tigton!" Scorpina said while clapping multiple times.
"Why, thank you!" Tigton said smugly.
"Don't get smug. It will bite you on the ass," Goldar warned sternly.
"I know," Tigton said with a roll of his eyes. "I am not stupid."
"Now, it is my turn to do some harm to these ladies!" Goldar said, eagerness lining his voice.
"Do it, Goldar!" Scorpina blurted out excitedly.
"Yes!" Tigton cheered, jumping into the air.
Goldar formed energy balls in his hands as the giant tiger landed gracefully. He tossed them at the girls, hitting them in their chests. They went flying through the air. They screamed very loudly. They collided with trees and sank to the ground. They ended up on their sides before losing consciousness. He tossed his sword from one hand to the next. His lips curled into a snarl.
"That is doing some damage!" Goldar shouted in much evilness.
"Yep!" Scorpina agreed.
"Your shot at those bitches was perfect!" Tigton growled and flared nostrils. "They deserved it."
"Let's cause some more mayhem!" Goldar commanded and raised his arm and his sword high.
"Yes, let's do it!" Scorpina commented.
"What are we waiting for?" Tigton said, pointing his finger at three fleeing young women and two boys. "Let's go!"
Goldar, Tigton, and Scorpina charged toward the women. They reached them and proceeded to beat them up. The Putties went after the boys. They started slapping them across their faces.