Chapter 14: Weeds & Tears & the Best Laid
Plans.
1:09 PM
Angel Grove Park
The park is full of people, most of who have been forced into the lake by the hot California sun. Aisha tugs out a particularly stubborn weed and swipes her wrist over her forehead. She has already finished three huge patches of weeds but there are more left than she and Billy can handle. She looks around, the twenty or so volunteers all engaged in a war with human pollution and Mother Nature's amusement. Tommy has managed to do the least, his mind wandering everywhere, leaving his pile of dry leaves looking pitiful.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Aisha calls out.
It takes Tommy a few moments to realize that she is addressing him. "Hey! I resent that." Billy chuckles quietly next to Aisha as she waves Tommy over.
"Whaddya want?" Tommy pouts, strutting over.
"Well, let's see..." she taps her index finger on her chin, smiling mischievously, "We're here to do work... and you are doing... nothing... and look Tommy, see those nice weeds over there. Well pull them out!" He glares for a moment.
"I thought I was the leader."
Adam laughs upon overhearing this exchange and taunts, "Well you were wrong."
Tommy throws him a look and walks over to kneel in front of the patch Aisha indicates. "Girls... who needs them."
Rocky swats the back of his head, passing by with his fifth bag full of recyclables and reproves, "Be nice."
Adam stares at the pile Rocky has made. "Whoa, did you suddenly become the Flash while we weren't looking?"
"Ha ha," Rocky replies, sarcasm dripping. "No, one superhero mantle is enough for me."
"Oh come on," Aisha looks up, "you really think Rocky can handle two spandex outfits?" The boys shudder collectively.
Tommy grips a root and turns to look at Aisha. "What? Don't tell me you like spande... Ow." His harsh tugging sent him flying back, landing on his ass. His teammates burst out laughing.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kim finishes nibbling on a bone and tosses it behind herself. She leans back and reaches for a raspberry. "Kat, do you ever wonder what would have happened to you if you didn't become a Ranger?"
Kat reaches for another peace of meat and tilts her head, considering the question. "I don't know... I mean, it's one of the worst jobs of the planet. The stress is awful, the pay is non-existent, and your social life is... well let's just leave that. Plus, everyone who's not in the know gives you grief about all the stuff you miss because you're out saving the world." Kim smiles knowingly. Kat rolls over and lies on her stomach, crossing her ankles in the air. "But the company is pretty nice. Besides, I think I'd feel too helpless if I wasn't doing anything."
Kim nods slowly. "Yeah, now I can't believe that my first impulse was to run out when Zordon asked us."
Kat sighs, "Yeah well I can definitely understand. I think I would have said no too. You guys were the first and the only ones Zordon actually chose. That's a heavy burden to carry."
Kim pops another raspberry into her mouth and narrows her eyes. "Katherine Jayne Hillard, if you, even for one moment, think that just because Zordon didn't choose you, then you're a lesser Ranger, well then get your head out of your ass."
Kat blushes lightly. "Well Kimberly Ann Hart, not everyone can have your self-confidence."
Kim rolls her eyes. "My self-confidence? Oh you've gotta be kidding me. You should ask Jason sometime what I used to do after battles."
"Do tell,” Kat asks, looking interested.
"Na-ah, my humiliation is better shared when I'm not there. Anyway, we better get back to our fun little task," Kim reminds her, laughing.
Kat frowns and demands, "How are you feeling?"
Kim tries to stand up and quickly flops back down. "Well the world is doing this fun spinny thing and I feel like I'm stuck in a sauna, but other than that, I'm ready to fly."
Kat frowns and reaches to test Kim's forehead. She feels the heat before she makes contact with the skin. "Kim, you have a fever and we don't have anything to for you to take... we have to finish the quest quickly." Kim grimaces, preferring to worry about finishing the Quest rather than wasting time on her little health problem.
"No, really. Anyway, what are we going to do about that creature? I doubt it's just going to decide to leave us alone."
Kat feels her skin chill as a result of Kim’s words. "I think I saw it... that's why I tripped over you."
"Oh," Kim sighs, trying to control her shivering. Kat automatically starts packing the leftover food into leaves.
"Well I doubt we could finish the quest before it comes for us." She giggles, thinking of a silly idea. "We could always set a trap for it."
Kim looks at her oddly. "That's a good idea, Kat."
"Uh Kim, are you delirious?" Kat smacks her forehead. "Of course you are. Kim, we can't trap it."
"We have no other options." Kim shakes out her hair, the damp tresses covering her shoulders. "We can't run, and we need to keep going, so hiding is out too. Our cute little pink fireballs do some damage but obviously not enough. So I vote we set a trap."
Kat clambers up to her feet and starts to pace, agitated by Kim's refusal to see that she's wrong, as well as by the fact that there really is no other option. "Fine, if you're so smart, how do we do this?"
Kim scrunches her nose in response. "Let me think about it." She lies back, her eyes slowly fluttering closed. Kat watches as her friend's breathing evens out and she sinks into a deep sleep. She sighs and joins her, curling near her protectively.
~*~
3:27 PM
Angel Grove Park
Billy snickers as Tommy emits another yelp. "Guys, I think it's time we vote for a new leader. This one can't even pull weeds properly."
Aisha grins and nods, agreeing with him. "Plus, he has the great luck of being the White Ranger and wearing lots of white clothes. That boy's shorts are covered with grass stains," she taunts.
Adam is dumping another bag of trash onto his pile, attempting to rival Rocky. "Well not everyone can be as lucky as I am. Black never stains."
Aisha sticks her tongue out at him. "I blame Zordon. It's his fault that we have to wear our colors. Meanwhile, why do I have to be Yellow? That's sexist. I wanted Red."
Tommy, attempting to clean off his formerly pristine white clothes, smirks. "Wanna trade?"
"Not with you, grass-assed boy," she declines, giggling.
Billy shakes his head. "You know, sometimes I am embarrassed to be seen in public with you."
"Oh really?" Rocky's voice sounds in back of Billy, right before he is tackled onto the weed patch. Several more bodies pile on him and the tickling begins. He shrieks and tries to wiggle out. Aisha sneaks a hand down to his ribs and applies a mild pressure. He shrieks louder. Tommy finds his armpit and takes advantage of the situation.
"Hey! Guys! Move!" Billy hears Adam exclaim and sighs in relief. Adam chuckles and pokes the back of Billy's left knee, his most sensitive spot.
Billy growls, "Traitor." To better his aim, Adam shoves off Rocky, who yelps and lunges at him. Aisha grabs the opportunity and jumps on Rocky's back. Billy attempts to scramble away but Tommy pins him down and shoves the discarded weeds down his shirt.
"Ahem," the infantile Rangers freeze, "I guess this means you're done for the day?" Suddenly, all of the euphoria they have managed to gather up fades away and they're left with pervasive sense of guilt.
"Sorry Ernie," Rocky offers quietly.
"Don't worry." Ernie smiles kindly. "You guys did more than enough work. Why don't you go and eat something?"
Aisha nods and waves the boys behind her. They walk in a heavy silence. Adam's hands are hidden in his pockets. Tommy's face is taught and his eyes are stormy. Billy stops and tugs open the door of the Lakeside Cafe. The others follow without objection. Rocky picks a table near the window and they seat themselves around it. Aisha looks up and tries to smile. Her smile wobbles and her face crumples as a torrent of tears covers it. Tommy wraps an arm around her and pulls her close, tears escaping his closed lids.
"I'm guessing you need some time to decide..." the waitress speaks uncertainly. She frowns and smoothes her yellow apron. "How about I get you some herbal tea though?" Adam nods and she turns and walks away, her black tresses swinging.
Rocky sits, still as stone, fists clenched. "We should be doing something,” he grumbles.
"There's nothing we can do," Billy states, falling back on logic and rubbing his forehead tiredly.
"He's right," the White Ranger admits defeat. "All the things we could have done... now it's too late." His private guilt, though unspoken, is clear as day. On any other day, they would tear into him for thinking the world as his responsibility. But they share his guilt too, so they stay silent, a silence that condemns him and them as well. The waitress sets the cups and pitcher in the middle of the table and departs, feeling out of place. They all pull up a cup and hide behind it, excusing their silence with the hot liquid.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Several hours later, Kat forces her eyes open and rubs her face with the heels of her hands. Her arm is swollen and aching from when It twisted it, but there is nothing available to bind it. She looks over at Kim, who is tossing her head around and mumbling something under her breath, obviously in the fits of a dream and an unpleasant one at the look of it. She gently shakes Kim's shoulder, just enough to end the dream and Kim rolls over, sighing in what looks like relief. A wave of affection for this seemingly fragile girl hits Kat. She owes Kim a debt, which she could never repay... yet she is sure that Kim only sees it as a labor of love, with no pay inherent. She gets up, careful not to wake her sick friend. The food, which was neatly packaged, is lying next to the fire, hopefully still a bit warm. She casts her gaze over the jungle and freezes. A green coil is barely visible in the shrubbery and suddenly it's gone. Kat shakes her head.
"Great… now I'm seeing things."
"Kat…?" Kim mumbles, stirring. Kat rushes to her side, feeling rather weak herself.
"How are you feeling?"
"Pretty weak and really hot. You'll be lucky if I don't melt into a large puddle very soon." Kim chuckles feebly.
Kat frowns and kneels to reach for her face. Kim is still burning up and they have nothing of any use. She straightens up, joints creaking, and idly walks to the edge of the greenery. She runs her fingers over the branches and leaves and paces slowly, staring down at the ground. A pretty plant catches her eye. It has sharply edged leaves and tiny baby pink colored flowers. It looks like peppermint…
"Oh my god! Peppermint!" Kat cries out with glee.
"Huh?" a startled Kim groans and raises her head to see what the commotion is all about. She immediately regrets it as the world starts to swim.
"Kim, I found peppermint!" she announces and bends to sniff the leaves. The tangy mint scent invades her nose and she smiles happily. Kat gently curls her fingers around a stalk and pulls it out of the ground. She walks back to Kim and rips off a few of the leaves. "Open your mouth."
"What?" Kim does exactly what she's told in shock. Kat immediately stuffs the leaves in.
“Chew." Kim obeys automatically, still too confused and sick to really argue. "My grandmother used to grow lots of different herbs on her windowsill and she would tell me all about their medicinal purposes," Kat informs her and shrugs, "Peppermint is supposed to help with fever." Kim makes a face.
"I hate the taste of mint." She rolls over onto her side and props up her head with her bent arm.
"Deal," Kat commands.
"I'll get you back for this," Kim injects a dark threat into her voice.
"Ah-ha," Kat nods, "get me later, chew now." She sits down, wrapping her arms around her knees. For all her show of bravado, she is quickly loosing strength and will soon need Kim to support her.
Kim stops moving her jaws for a second and eyes Kat sharply. "You're not really feeling any better than I am, are you…" she accuses.
Kat starts to deny it, but under Kim's patented ‘tell me the truth or your ass is grass’ gaze she wilts. "Yeah, I'm pretty out of it too."
Kim resumes her chewing absently and decides, "Ok then we eat now, plan after and then we get moving." Kat nods and reaches for the food packages. She carefully unwraps the roast pig and apples and the last few raspberries. After splitting it all into three portions, she puts away one, hands one to Kim, and lays the third onto her lap. The young women eagerly start on their meager meal. A few moments pass by in silence.
"I think I have an idea…" Kim speaks, in between shoving bite-sized pieces of meat into her mouth.
"What?" Kat asks, breaking an apple in two.
"Well…" Kim swallows, "we know our fireballs aren't enough…" She tugs a bone out of the meat.
"True enough." Kat nods, biting into the apple.
"So we need a combination of tactics." Kim sits up slowly. "We need to create a fool-proof trap." Kat nods again, not bothering to speak with her mouth full. "First of all, I get to be the bait." Kim looks at her partner sternly.
"You're feverish and out of your mind," Kat states, matter-of-factly.
"No, what I am is more flexible and more agile," Kim reminds Kat of her gymnastics training with a glance, "plus your arm is not anywhere near the usable range."
Kat winces, the hope that Kim didn't notice her injury dashed. She frowns and motions for her to continue.
Kim puts down her food and looks around. "So here's what we do…"