Chapter 11: Dangers & Obstacles.
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kim looks at her outfit with distaste, the rips and encrusted blood and dirt mixture making her look like she’s been living on the streets for months and hasn’t had a decent shower even longer. Kat notices her look and giggles. Kim glares, then bites her lip.
“Kat… Do you wonder if we have any power?”
“You mean enough to clean up our clown suits?” Kat replies thoughtfully. Kim nods with a glint in her eyes. “Let’s find out…” Kat tugs Kim down onto the ground and they settle into the lotus position, facing in each other. Their eyes close simultaneously and a sort of hum fills the air. A soft pink light covers them and their attire slowly mends. The threads come together slowly and the dirt and blood flake away. Minutes tick by as the process continues. Finally the garments look as good as new, and the pink light breaks into dots that speed away in all directions. Something stirs in the jungle. The young women open their eyes and look very pleased with themselves. Kim jumps up and offers Kat a hand, which she eagerly grasps. Arm in arm, they continue on their way. The road is relatively smooth, covered in leaves and some pebbles.
~*~
9:17 AM California Time // 12:17 PM Florida
Kimberly Hart & Bianca Rader’s Room
Bianca sits Indian style atop her bed, gazing absent-mindedly at an envelope in her lap. It’s addressed to her in Kim’s distinctive curled script, ‘Bia, open only in case of a dire emergency.’ She looks up, flipping back her light auburn hair. Kim’s pictures clutter her desk, with smiling faces of her friends invoking a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. Bia directs her cool gray-eyed gaze at Rocky and silently prays he doesn’t forget to call.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
An hour passes before the young women get very suspicious.
“Kat?” Kim tightens her hold on her friend’s arm.
“Mmm?” Kat replies.
“Shouldn’t something happen?” Kim bites her lower lip.
“Shush, you might jinx us,” Kat admonishes, trying to see the situation in a positive light.
“Oh please,” Kim huffs, “We’ve been jinxed ever since we said yes to saving the world from extremely uncreative super villains who have nothing better to do than bug our exceptionally backward planet.”
“Kim,” Kat cries in indignation, “our planet isn’t backward.” Kim raises her eyebrows.
“Ok fine,” Kat concedes, unable to argue with the truth.
“Anyway, it’s entirely too peaceful around here.” Kim frowns. “We’re supposed to be facing trials and stuff.” Kat shrugs and tugs on Kim as if reminding her that the road, or, in this case, the Path, waits for no one. They walk quietly, stepping surely so the leaves don’t crinkle and the pebbles don’t crunch. Something stirs in the jungle. Kim straightens her arm, holding Kat still.
“Can you hear that?” she whispers. For a moment they look frozen, straining their hearing.
Finally Kat shakes her head. “Nothing.”
~*~
10:32 AM
Cranston Residence
Aisha opens one eye and glances at the clock on the small table. The numbers stare at her with their angry red lines. “Damn,” she swears quietly and pushes herself up. She wanders over to hit play on the stereo system. The first thrumming notes waft out and the rhythm begins to blast, crashing over the previously silent room. The guys jump up as if simultaneously bitten.
“Wha?” Adam rubs his face.
“Who died?” Rocky grimaces, still tired.
“It’s 10:30,” Aisha sighs. “We’ve got to be at the park by 11:20.”
“Ah man,” Tommy whines, mad at himself, “our community service…” Billy looks at the ceiling and attempts to calculate something.
“Tommy, Rocky, you can take your turns with the master bathroom. Adam, you can use mine. Aisha, take the one in the basement.” Aisha frowns at the thought of using the lab bathroom. Walking through Billy’s lab is known to be hazardous.
“What about clothes?” Tommy wonders.
“Oh don’t worry.” Billy grins. “I think I have a collection of all your clothes by now.” The multitude of sleepovers has insured that on any day of the week any Ranger can visit any other Ranger and find some of his or her own clothing there.
Aisha giggles. “You gotta have a trunk full of my clothes by now,” she asserts.
“No kidding.” Adam grins, thinking to the piles of her clothes at his house.
“Alright, guys,” Tommy cuts the conversation off. “Move it.” The Rangers disperse quickly and within minutes the sound of pouring water drifts through the house along with the steam escaping from underneath the doors.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kim’s lithe legs move quickly, with a lethal grace. Kat’s own legs are equally impressive, with a swimmer’s strength guiding them effortlessly. Their speed has increased over the past few minutes. Kim can’t escape the feeling of being watched and it forces her forward as surely as does the desire to see Kat well again. Kat is simply following Kim’s lead, sharing in her agitation. The density of the jungle on either side prevents any meaningful search but both have trained their ears to respond to the slightest sound. They make none as they progress so as not to distract their auditory nerves. Every so often one will respond to a creak coming from within the foliage, but there is never anything to see. Soon, their nerve endings burn with anticipation and Kat tries to temper her breathing.
The deep roar doesn’t catch them by surprise and they turn in the direction of the sound, dropping into defensive stances. A dark form charges through the trees and vines and heads straight for Kim. She flips over its head and slams her foot into its back. It stumbles forward but quickly orients itself and rushes at Kat. It swipes a bulky, claw tipped arm toward her and she throws herself out of the way. Kim’s annoyance burns into anger as she finds herself flying backward, after a failed spin kick attempt. She slams into a tree and feels her skin scrape against the rough bark. Kat bends back to avoid the arm again. The creature roars, its musculature straining and a stench of ancient evil spreads throughout the area. Its eyes glow gold and its hair stands straight out. Kim rises painfully and spins around, bringing her leg into a roundhouse kick. It catches her leg and twists it the other way. Kim flips over and lands with a thump. Kat throws a quick punch and tumbles as she finds her arm bent backwards. The creature stands over the fallen and aching Pink Rangers and lets out another roar. Kim’s back and thighs are bleeding and her leg throbs. Kat’s arm is swelling rapidly. The creature starts to glow, golden strands covering its body, swirling around. The gold coalesces into a single aura, which breaks up into two beams that catch a hold of the two young women. They are lifted into the air, their backs arched painfully. Their eyes close and their breathing slows down. Kat’s last thought is of failure.
Kim’s mind grasps onto an image of the crane. She projects a silent goodbye as it shakes its head in response. It fades and Kim is left with a feeling of something unfinished. She reaches inward and a pink glow emanates from her, battling the gold. Her body breaks away and she floats for a second before flying up and landing on a tree branch. Kat is still caught by the gold, but the monster growls in disappointment. Kim concentrates, balancing carefully, and brings her hands in front of her chest. The pink aura rushes towards her hands and she lets loose with a pink fireball. It propels itself to the creature and hits its chest, exploding with a brilliant array of color. Kat is dropped to the ground. The creature is dazed and staggers back. Kim leaps down quickly and tugs Kat up. A path has opened into the jungle and she urges the dazed young woman to follow it before the creature regains its balance. They rush along the narrow path, branches reaching out to scrape their skin or tear their clothes. Kim watches Kat’s back as she feels the creature gaining on them. She glances back again and sees the glimmering gold orbs. Her hand lies on Kat’s back and it follows as Kat tumbles suddenly. Kim shrieks as she hits the cold water. Kat struggles up, sputtering. The creature’s radiance moves closer and the young women attempt to tread the water. Soon the creature joins them in the river and they back up quickly. It lunges and they throw themselves in opposite directions, a move long honored in the Rangers’ bag of tricks. They come back together and back away, legs and arms moving frantically. It lunges again and four long gashes appear on Kim’s shoulder. The golden glare burns into them and Kim screams. Kat moves quickly and drags Kim along, the tide assisting them.
Kim catches herself quickly and shouts, “Reach for the Power!” The pink shine envelops both of them now and there is fear in the creature’s shimmering eyes. They turn to each other and let their fireballs flow together as the water surges turbulently around them. The newly created firebomb speeds to its target and hits it. The creature whimpers pathetically and tumbles back.
Kat turns forward and realizes the river cuts off a foot away. “Kim! Waterfall!”
Kim spins around just in time to realize that without the Power supplementing them, the current will be hard to fight. However, it is already too late to fight as Kat’s nerveless body slacks and she plunges into the water. Kim lunges after her before thinking, and finds herself too close to the drop. A flash of multicolored cloth and one last scream and the cascading water claims them both.