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| Disclaimer: I own nothing except Garthon and Rissai. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When It Rains... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter 1 - Confrontation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No one ever said this was gonna be easy," Jeff muttered as he pulled himself up over the side of just the latest in a long series of rocks.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He was in the Andes, climbing this blasted mountain for what felt like the third time.� Although technically, it was.� A long series of wishes had caused him to have to do this again: scale a mountain, save a village, get super powers.� It was getting old really.� But Jeff knew that if everything had been reset again, then the village was in danger again and someone had to save it.� Plus, he wasn't sure he liked not having the power.� The Infinity powers, as their name implied, were forever.� There was no passing them on, not until you died that is, and Jeff wasn't dead yet. � | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff thought back on everything that had led him here.� A long series of wishes made to an alien genie had effectively changed the course of history - twice.� First his sister had been kidnapped by some alien bounty hunter and he had sought out the Infinity power in an attempt to find her, and then after he made a wish someone else ended up being kidnapped.� It appeared that no matter what anyone did, on one lazy afternoon, on the fifth day of Aquitar's thirtieth S'let cycle, a young child would be kidnapped by the being known as Darkonda.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff sighed as he pulled himself onto level ground once more.� There was a village here; he remembered children playing, adults working, the occasional llama meandering past.� None of that was here now.� The houses were still there, but an eerie wind blew through the air, emphasizing the missing life.� It seemed that in this, the apparently original version of reality no one had managed to defeat Garthon.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Life just sucks everywhere, doesn't it?' Jeff thought.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff gathered up his gear and made his way through the village.� He didn't know what he expected to find.� When he had come to this village before there had always been people.� It was the eve of Garthon's return then and he had managed to tap into the ancient power that had defeated him centuries before.� It was now several months after Garthon's scheduled return and return he obviously had.� What he had done with the village however, remained a mystery. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff approached the tomb at the village's center.� It wasn't much, just a stone box made to keep the ancient evil in.� Still, it gave Jeff the creeps as he walked inside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ah," a deep, booming voice said as Jeff came into the darkness, "a new slave.� I was getting so bored with the old ones." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hello Garthon," Jeff muttered as he walked around the room.� Garthon had worked his magic it seemed, to make the room bigger on the inside than it was on the outside.� Jeff seriously thought he could fit the entire population of Angel Grove Community College in that room and still have space for a couple of big rigs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My reputation precedes me," Garthon said, pride making his voice even more disturbing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Actually no," Jeff said, fingering a spear that hung on the wall.� "In an alternate version of reality I already beat you, actually that happened in two alternate versions of reality.� So now I'm gonna have to ask you to bring the villagers back and leave this dimension." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garthon looked at the boy before him for a moment.� He was young, strong, obviously had the attention of more than one woman, but all in all he was still a boy.� And even if he were a man, Garthon had defeated men much stronger than this one could ever be.� Honestly, the boy was wearing the most ridiculous outfit and had no weapons with him at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The evil lord laughed.� "You are a most amusing human.� For that I will not send you to the Sweltering Heat and Painful Light Dimension; instead I will keep you here to amuse me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No," Jeff said nonchalantly as he stepped before the evil overlord, "I think I'm gonna beat you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And how-?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Infinity Power!" Jeff yelled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There was a minute of silence.� "What was that supposed to do?" Garthon asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Um," Jeff had never thought that this would be a problem.� In both realities before this he had managed to get the Infinity Powers, but now- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay," Jeff said, "I'll beat you without super powers.� It's not like I'm completely incapable." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ooo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm completely incapable," Jeff muttered.� He was chained to the floor in that same room with Garthon seated high above him, blathering on and on about how great he was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And then I swallowed his pet bird whole," Garthon said.� "That's when he got really mad and charged at me.� He ended up getting impaled on the back of his spear, quite sad really." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff sighed, wondering what had gone wrong.� Garthon was supposed to be nothing more than a giant ball of goo that had centuries ago figured out how to change his shape.� Beating him should have been easy!� After having to deal with a little sister who had been turned evil, then the same little sister never being evil but being love slave to an evil prince, defeating a giant metamorphic ball of goo should have been easy, especially since he'd done it twice before! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Maybe he's gotten more power in the extra months of freedom,' Jeff thought, 'or maybe I'm really nothing without the Infinity Powers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'No,' Jeff's inner voice cried.� 'I can't give up!� Those villagers are counting on me!� The world (theoretically) is counting on me!� I must defeat him, even if I have to die doing it!� Because like Yoda said, "There is no try, there is only do."' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff stood, heedless of his chains to face his enemy.� The beast was now in the form of a man, what he preferred Jeff had found, and if there was one thing Jeff Hammond understood, it was men.� 'Thank God he didn't turn into a woman,' Jeff thought, stepping forward. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was then that Garthon noticed his slave's movements and stopped his stirring tale of evil triumphing over good.� Jeff, despite his lack of a plan or any clear train of thought for that matter, managed to hurl himself at Garthon with impressive speed and strength.� The evil being got ready to chuckle, remembering the chain that held the boy firmly to the floor.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At just the moment when the chain should have gone taut and pulled Jeff back to the ground with striking effectiveness, something amazing happened.� A great light filled the room, the sound of a chain shattering could be heard, and before Garthon could figure out what was going on a fist went through his head, shattering the back of his throne.�� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How?" the gurgling voice of Garthon's true form asked as he slithered away from this new and familiar threat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do not really know," Jeff said, "but you are going to fix things!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of- of course," the goo slithered over to the wall where it reached up to touch a strange stone set there.� The stone glowed and three figures appeared in the room, just as the sounds of people began to flow in from outside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The room shrank back to its original size as the three new men gazed upon the figure before them.� This was the warrior of old, the legendary savior of the village.� His thick armor seemed to give off a light of its own and while there was a sword at his side, he had not yet had need to draw it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you going to do now?" the figure asked the pile of goo before them, much as an angry mother would ask a naughty child. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Leave this dimension," the goo said sheepishly.� It reached up to the crystal once more but before it disappeared it called out, "I will return Ranger!� And when I do I will have my revenge on you and you alone!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Blah, blah, blah," the Ranger muttered as his armor faded.� "Hi," he said, noticing the men for the first time.� He recognized them from his previous adventures as the village elder and the village's two strongest warriors.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ooo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ashley Hammond was happy for what was perhaps the first time in thirty years, despite the fact that she was only seventeen years old.� She had survived three lifetimes and found that her heart always rested in the same place: with Andros, the Red Ranger of KO-35.� Said Ranger was sitting across the table from her and making a rather valiant effort to eat his breakfast while ignoring her constant stare.� He was not being rude, he was simply trying to preserve himself.� He knew, from experience, that if he looked up at her she would capture him in those eyes of hers and he would never finish his meal.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unfortunately for Andros, DECA suddenly broke the silence of the Jump Bay, surprising him into looking up.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is it DECA?" Ashley asked, snapping Andros out of his sudden stupor.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There is an urgent transmission for Ashley from Tanya Sloan." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Put it through," Andros said.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Audio only." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tanya's voice came over the speaker.� "Ashley?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah, I'm here.� What's wrong?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your parents have been freaking out.� A couple days ago your brother just walked out of one of his classes.� When your parents got home that night there was a note saying that he was fine and he'd be back by the end of the month.� They found out that he-" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He went to Peru, didn't he?" Ashley sighed.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah, how did you know?" Tanya asked, the confussion evident in her voice.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Have you talked to Justin lately?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No, but I heard something weird happened to him right around the time Jeff went AWOL." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah," Ashley said guiltily, "we should probably explain to everyone." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We've already compiled a list of all the people we need to explain things to," Carlos said, walking into the Bay and over to the synthetron.� "We'll be contacting everyone in the next couple of days." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ooookay," Tanya said, obviously still confused.� "So, you can handle the Jeff thing?"� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yeah, we can handle it," Ashley sighed.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Good.� Now, I gotta go."� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "See ya Tanya." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So..." Carlos offered after a moment of silence.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ashley grimaced.� "DECA?� Can you scan the Andes for any unusual activity?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course.� Scanning....� There is evidence to suggest that very recently a rather large amount of dark energy coalesced in the mountain range.� That energy has since disappeared to be replaced by a faint power signature." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are there people around the holder of the power?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No, he appears to be climbing down a rather large mountain." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Teleport him here please." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There was a flash of silvery black light and a man in many layers of clothing and climbing gear fell onto the floor next to the table.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey Jeff," Ashley said, her face lit with a brilliant smile.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ashley!" Jeff cried, jumping up and giving his sister a snowy hug.� "It's great to see you again!� I've been worried, a lot."� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know, but everything's fine now."� Ashley showed her brother to a chair and ordered him a plate of all his breakfast favorites.� When she turned to give it to him she stopped dead.� Carlos too, had frozen where he was, a look of worry and fear, for who Ashley wasn't sure, on his face.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andros and Jeff were having some sort of staring contest.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After what seemed to Ashley to be an eternity, Jeff spoke.� "Ashley is my little sister." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," Andros said.� He said nothing more so Jeff decided to speak again, but was cut off.� "I know how it feels to be an older brother.� I know the responsibility and the fear.� And I know how it feels to have a younger sibling fighting in a battle.� I also know how it feels to have a little sister who thinks she's fallen in love.� But I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make Ashley happy, even if that means letting her go to someone else.� And I will keep her safe, no matter what." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff was silent for a very long time.� "Okay," he finally said smiling.� "Now don't tell me you Space Rangers just teleport people off the sides of mountains, then refuse to feed them!"� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course not," Ashley laughed.� As she sat down next to her brother she gave Andros a shy smile.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll just be calling - everyone," Carlos said, sidling out of the room.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ooo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is so unfair," Garthon muttered.� The evil overlord was floating in a rather swirly dimension.� "I was so close to being free.� Just a few more slaves and I would have had enough energy to leave the mountain.� And then that boy had to come along in all his cockiness.� I should have crushed him when he started talking about alternate realities and-"� Garthon brightened, his gelatinous body took on a bluish-green hue and if he had had a mouth at that moment, he would have smiled wickedly.� "There is only one being in the universe capable of doing something like that- Rissai."� The giant goo-thing headed across the expanse to his ultimate destiny.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Fanfiction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Be Kind! Review this chapter! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||