Chapter 16: Encounters of Different Sorts.
Time Unknown
The Plateau
Phaedos
Dulcea kneels in front of her small pond. She watches as the Rangers order their meal and closes her eyes for a moment to block out the overwhelming tornado of depression that swirls around them uncontrollably. She breathes in deeply and opens her eyes to watch Rocky and Aisha admonish each other. A small smile curves her lips and she lets her fingers drift lightly over the teens’ faces. She gazes into Billy’s concerned face as he joins them at the table and tilts her head, forcefully shifting the image to find Adam. She observes him as he walks to the bathroom and smiles a little more brightly as he tries to prevent Tommy from damaging himself. However, her smile dies down as the conversation becomes stormy, emotionally violent. The feelings fly back and forth like weapons and she draws back, her mouth set in a very grim line as the argument grows more and more tempestuous. As the whole thing climaxes, Dulcea’s eyes narrow dangerously.
~*~
9:44 PM
Unknown Location
The large form flips impatiently through a small booklet and consults the large book again. “Shzhermi!” an old and particularly vile curse sounds loudly in the small chamber. “I’ll get you yet.”
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kimberly is flushed a deep sweltering red as she leads the way in the search for the Beast. Katherine follows her, watching carefully for any sign of, well, anything. Their boot-clad feet glide smoothly over the grassy ground, deliberately soundless. Kim’s brown eyes are sharp and attentive, despite the slight glaze of fever covering them. Sweat beads over her forehead, trickling down her face, and streaming in itchy rivulets down her neck. She drags her fingers over her heated skin, trying to assuage the discomfort.
Kat frowns, half of her mind on Kim’s well-being and half on finishing their task. She checks the tie on her messy blonde ponytail and carefully moves another set of bramble branches out of her way. A few natural wildlife sounds materialize here and there, but there is no sign of the Beast.
~*~
9:47 PM
Willow Lane
A pair of warm brown eyes look at Aisha with concern as she returns the hug with enthusiasm. The two veteran Rangers spin around with a glimmer of joy, the two neophytes close behind.
“Miss me?” The words come out with a whoosh as Zack finds himself in the middle of a five-person bear hug. “Hey, a man’s gotta breathe,” he says with a small smile. They ignore him, a large jumble of bodies crowding around him, drawing on him as a sort of sign from anything holy that everything will work out. He revels in the affection, starved for these friends whom he hasn’t seen in months… long cold months.
Adam pulls back a little, avoiding touching Tommy, to look at the former Black Ranger. Jet lagged… probably hungry… “We should take him home and feed him…” he muses, “Airplane food isn’t the greatest.”
“My house?” Billy inquires tiredly. Rocky nods and they start walking north.
“I thought we told you guys to stay put?” Tommy frowns, trying to dredge up any recollections of what it was they told the trio in Geneva. He fails and looks at his newly arrived friend curiously.
“You did,” Zack replies, smiling sheepishly. “I obviously didn’t listen, oh mighty brooding leader.” Aisha snickers, one of her arms still around Zack’s waist. Rocky chuckles quietly, while shooting Tommy a teasing look.
“Well now I remember what it is I missed about you,” Billy comments, grinning almost slyly, “it’s your ability to compliment and insult people at the same time.” Zack reaches a hand and punches him in the shoulder, smiling wickedly.
“You just wait till we get back to your house, Billy my man, you just wait,” the young man threatens, shaking his braids around. Aisha tugs one, her eyes alit with some positive feelings for the first time since the whole sorry mess began.
The group falls silent, eager to get to their destination and discuss everything safely. Billy’s house stands out in sharp relief, the blinding white façade startling next to soft pastels dominating the rest of the street. Billy unlocks the door and stands back to let everyone in. Zack bows dramatically, gesturing Aisha in. She giggles and enters the house. Zack follows her, wiggling his eyebrows. Rocky laughs, nudging the young man before him in the back. Tommy walks in, his shoulders set in stiff manner. Adam hangs back and Billy eyes him in obvious question. Adam shrugs and pushes Billy in, slamming the door behind them.
Rocky sprawls on the armchair nearest to the door, the one Aisha occupied when they were here last. Zack and Aisha wind up taking up the couch and hitting each other with the pillows in a half hearted pillow fight. Tommy sits rigidly in the farthest armchair, which no one used last time. Adam and Billy stand, sharing mildly amused looks as the phone rings shrilly. Rocky reaches for it.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kat stops, tugging on Kimberly’s arm. “Give me a moment, will ya?” Kim nods, eyeing her companion worriedly. The young blonde leans against a tree, breathing harshly.
Kim wrinkles her nose, not failing to miss the light trembling in Kat’s arms and legs. “Are you ok?”
“Don’t have much choice,” she wheezes. “We have to find it and destroy it.” She takes one final breath and straightens with a visible physical effort.
“Go ahead,” Kim decides, “You’re in no shape to watch your own back.”
“This from the girl with the fever,” Kat points out. Kimberly glares and gestures to the tiny path. Kat sighs and starts to walk. Kim follows, wiping her face with her own lightly trembling fingers.
~*~
10:22 PM
Cranston Residence
“Cranston residence. Sup?” Rocky says.
“Rocky, it’s Bianca.”
He smiles, her familiar voice anchoring him to his faith in happy endings. Zack’s surprise appearance did much the same earlier and Rocky’s smile becomes a full-fledged grin as he suddenly realizes that he has yet to reply. “Hey Anca. Everything ok?”
Bianca smiles at his nickname for her, shifting restlessly on her bed. The strange envelope lies beckoningly on the nightstand and she tears herself away from it to look at Kimberly’s collection of photos again. “I guess. Any news?” she asks, closing her reddened eyes tiredly.
“Nothing yet.” Rocky bites his lips, deciding whether it would help to update her anyway. “One of our friends flew in today. Zack.”
Bianca cracks open one eye and finds him on the old freshman year photos. “Yeah, I know him…” she trails off, not really knowing what else to say but reluctant to sever the link to her only source of information about Kim’s mysterious venture.
“He’s great,” Rocky replies, watching Zack and Aisha’s fight get more serious. Sha is hitting his shoulder as he cowers near the edge. Billy laughs, knowing from much experience that Aisha and pillows is a scary combination. “He’s a good tension breaker,” he comments thoughtfully.
Bianca smiles wryly at her end and allows her fingers to tug on the fuzzy edging of her comforter.
“Hey Rocko,” Zack yells out, realizing that the only person he knows that could be called Anca is Bianca. “Stop flirting with Bia and get off the phone.”
Rocky sniffs indignantly. “I have to go before Zack decides to get me involved in the pillow fight.”
“Ok. I’ll call later.” Bianca lays the phone back into the cradle and smiles.
Rocky mimics her actions all the way on the other coast. A pillow hits him in the head and he looks up, dazed, to see Aisha wink at him. He growls and lunges at her. Laughter erupts, and Zack falls off the couch, secretly pleased about his effect on the gang.
~*~
Time Unknown
The Path
Phaedos
Kimberly brushes back a wisp of hair that has been falling over her nose and sticking to the sweaty skin for the last half hour. She sighs silently, not wanting to make deciphering the cacophony of nature sounds any harder. Kat stumbles and catches herself, her pale hair swinging in Kim’s face. Kim smiles sardonically. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. She shakes her head, sharply focusing her senses on their surroundings. A small aqua bird flies overhead, chirping with a force that should be impossible, considering its size. Small and large animals move in the distance, leaves and twigs crackling under their paws. The river can still be heard, albeit very faintly.
“You know,” Kat mutters nonchalantly, “if I wasn’t so tired and achy, I’d almost be bored.” Kim snorts and nudges her partner’s shoulder, as if to hush her. Kat rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to trying to search out the familiar, if ominous form. She scratches her ribs, the small flies that have been buzzing around them for the past hour finding her sweaty skin to be an attractive meal.
Kat lurches back suddenly, Kim’s hand tugging her arm. Her gaze flies up and she catches sight of a sickly green-gold haze a few feet ahead. A chill swirls through her muscles and Kim is forced to shove her behind the nearest bush.
“I guess this is it…” Kim whispers, locking a determined, if trembling look on her friend. “Ready?”
Kat nods shakily, unable to utter even a sound.
The young brunette spies the Beast through the shrubbery and inhales deeply, closing off any and all nervousness. “Head back to the rendezvous point. I’ll take it the long way round.” She clasps her hand on Kat’s shoulder in encouragement and they exchange their silent agreement to see the plan through. “Be safe,” Kimberly Ann Hart utters and rises to face her possible doom.