Disclaimer: Should I even
bother? I’m not making any profit off this, only own
what you don't recognize, etc.
Chapter 7 ~ Dangers
Bria and Jess cautiously got out of the car and walked up the front steps to
the house. The front door was open, and the glass was shattered. The two walked
inside, their shoes crunching on the broken glass that littered the floor.
The house was a complete mess. Tables were overturned, the books had all been
de-shelved in the family room, and paper littered the floor. Glass from the
cabinets in the kitchen also lay on the floor.
“Mom? Daddy?” Bria called,
worried.
Jess walked in front of Bria, examining the kitchen, while Bria checked out the
upstairs. It was the same situation with the upstairs; the mirrors were broken,
the nightstands were overturned, and the beds half-unmade.
“Bria!” called Jess. Bria ran downstairs, worried about her parents. Jess
showed her a note.
Bria,
I had to do some shopping, and I dragged your father along with me;
heavens knows what he’ll do to repay me, but I needed someone to carry bags! We
should be home by one; if not, there’s sandwich meat in the fridge, along with
lemonade.
Love,
Mom
“They’re OK then,” said Bria with relief. She looked at the clock, which read
Jess grabbed a broom and went to sweep up the glass in the entryway. Bria
grabbed the dustpan to clean the glass in the kitchen. As she swept near one of
the cabinets, she noticed something. There was a hole in the cabinet that
looked like it had been burnt there. Just then Jess walked in with the broom
and a bag with the glass inside.
“Have a look at this,” Bria said. Jess crouched next to Bria.
“Weird,” she said, running a finger around the edge of the quarter-sized hole.
“It looks like it was burnt. What could have done this?”
“I don’t know, but I do know one thing; this person wasn’t messing around. Have
you noticed how everything’s a mess, but none of the drawers are open? All the
cabinet’s contents are the way they were before; it looks like they weren’t
looking for anything; or, if they were, they didn’t find what they wanted and
went crazy.”
Jess and Bria’s eyes met. “Maybe they weren’t looking for something, but
someone?” whispered Jess.
“OK, that’s plain scary,” said Bria, standing. “Give me the bag.” Jess handed
Bria the bag, and she threw it into the trash with the glass from the dustpan.
The two went into the living room and started to pick up books. After a few
moments, Bria spoke. “Maybe you’re right.”
“What?”
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe someone was looking for us. We are Rangers; maybe
someone is after us already?” Suddenly Bria froze. “Oh my!
Matt!”
Jess’s eyes widened. Bria ran for the phone. After a few rings, Matt picked up.
“Hey, Matt, it’s Bria. Listen, you might want to watch your back.” Pause.
“Someone broke into my house and trashed it, but nothing was taken; none of the
drawer were opened or anything, and we found this
weird burned hole in one of the cabinets.” Another pause.
“Yeah, so you might want to be on your guard. I know it comes with being a
Ranger, but be more alert, OK?” Bria chuckled. “Funny. I’m doing what I’m
supposed to do; watch your back, and tell you to watch your back. You know, I
just thought of something; why am I calling you? I could have used the
communicator...hmmm, I wonder if it works.” Pause. “Oh, be quiet. I’ll talk to
you later, OK? You need anything, give me a ring...or a beep, I guess.” Pause.
“Yeah, OK. See you.” Bria hung up.
“What was all that?” asked Jess.
Bria rolled her eyes. “He’ll be fine.” Looking around, she sighed. “We better
get back to work.” The two spent the remaining half hour until Bria’s parents
were expected picking up papers and books, righting tables, and making sure
there wasn’t any glass on the floor. Soon they heard car doors slamming.
Bria ran to meet her parents, hugging them both fiercely.
“Ugh, you have no idea! There’s so much to tell you!”
“That much has happened in two hours?”
Bria became serious. “Come inside; but you might want to prepare for the
worst.”
The two parents looked at each other, wondering what was wrong; they followed
Bria up the front steps, holding bags. Ashley gasped as the reached the front
door.
“We cleaned up all the glass; you should have seen the house before; it was a
mess. Uh, you’re going to need a lot of new glass.”
Andros and Ashley followed Bria into the house, placing their bags on the
kitchen counters. Bria told them about coming home, finding the house trashed,
and the hole in the cabinet.
“Looks like a laser,” commented
“I’m so happy to see you,” she said, hugging Andros and Ashley.
After they had finished cleaning the house, bringing in the bags, and
“Only two left, correct?” asked
“Maybe,” said Jess. “I’m really sorry."
“So am I,” said Bria. “Maybe if we weren’t Rangers...”
“The world would be a lot worse off,”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Bria hugged her father. She was so lucky to have such an
awesome dad. “Wait a minute...how would they know
we’re Rangers?”
“You’d be surprised; evil has lots of tricks up its sleeves,”
****
That night, Bria dreamed of a young man. He wore black, and was a Ranger. As if
from high above, she watched him fight a creature of evil. She wondered who he
was, and why she was viewing his life as a Ranger. In the course of the night, she
viewed a whole year of his life; how he was once evil, and redeemed himself,
becoming good. Yet all the vital pieces seemed to be missing; who he was, why
she was seeing this, what Ranger he was. She watched him hug the Pink Ranger,
and wondered what their relationship was. She saw all the things that had
happened over the course of the year; and when his last moments as a Ranger
faded away before her eyes, she learned who he was; the Titanium Ranger of
Lightspeed.
Another vision came before her, this time Princess Shayla. “You have done well
so far. You must hurry now! Already they are catching you!”
“They?”
Princess Shayla continued, “You must find the next Ranger. You will find him in
“Say what? And what was that dream all about?”
“You have just witnessed the life of the Titanium Ranger, when he was still a
Ranger and a small child. That happened a long time ago, and now he is grown
with children. You must ask him of his son; there you will find vital
information.”
“Whoa, whoa, you lost me.”
The Princess smiled. “Go to
****
Bria woke abruptly from her dreams. “Titanium Ranger?
“Mom, Daddy, what do you know about
“Morning to you too, sleepyhead,” teased Ashley.
“Oh, morning. So, what about
“I seem to remember the Lightspeed
Rangers being there,” stated
“Do you know of a Titanium Ranger?”
“I’m going to
“You’re what?” asked Ashley.
“What about me?” asked Jess.
“Hold on,” said
“You and Matt are coming too, Jess,” Bria said.
“You’re going where?” asked Ashley.
“Hold on,”
“Erm, the Princess said so.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you could say it’s...Ranger business.” Andros and Ashley just looked at
Bria. “I’m going to find the fourth Ranger.”
“Well then, you better get going,” said
“
“She’s growing up, Ash. We have to let her go. Besides, she’s a Ranger now. Who
are we to stop her?”
“Her parents! You know how dangerous being a Ranger is,
“Ash, she’s 17. You also knew the dangers of being a Ranger, as did I.
Did that stop us? True, your parents didn’t know, but still...she deserves
this. She can make up school work later. This is what she needs to do, and I
believe in her with all my heart.”
Bria heard Ashley sigh. “I do too, it’s just...it’s so hard to let my little
girl go.”
“I know, honey, I know.” Bria smiled, knowing her father was probably holding
her mother right now, comforting her. It was so nice to know she had their
confidence...even if she wasn’t supposed to know.
Bria quickly walked into her room. “How long are we going to be gone?” Jess
asked.
“I don’t know...best pack for at least a week though.”
“OK.” Bria and Jess packed, had lunch, and called Matt to let him know they
would pick him up in an hour.
“So we’re going to find another Ranger?” asked Jess.
“You bet. I don’t know who he or she is, but we’ll find them. We do know
they’re the child of a Ranger or two.”
After a little while, Bria and Jess said goodbye to Andros and Ashley. “We
should be back within a week,” said Bria. "I'll call you."
“Be careful,” said Ashley.
“Good luck, and watch yourselves,” advised
“Be right back,” said Bria, hopping out of the car and running up the front
steps. The door opened. “Ready?” she asked Matt.
“Let’s go.” The two walked to the car, put Matt’s bag in the trunk, and got in
the car. As they drove to
“So what was up with that whole break-in thing?” asked Matt. “Did you find out
why they broke in?”
“We think it’s because someone found out we’re Rangers,” said Jess. “We don’t
know how, but it kind of freaks you out to know that someone’s watching and
following you.”
“Uh, speaking of following, what’s that thing behind us?!” asked Bria, glancing
out the rearview mirror. A strange motorcycle-like vehicle was roaring after
them, with a weird creature that looked like it walked off a movie set riding
it; its head was snake-like, and it was robed in billowing black cloth. “Drive,
Jess!”
Jess hit the gas and wove in and out of the traffic, ignoring the angry honks
and protests of her fellow drivers. The motorcycle followed dead on their trail,
the creature shooting blasts at them from a weapon it held. Jess finally exited
the highway and screeched around a line of traffic; the motorcycle jumped over
the traffic.
“This guy just doesn’t give up, does he?” asked Bria. Unbuckling her seat belt
and standing with her upper body out of the moon roof, she flicked her fingers,
causing the creature’s robe to burst into flame. It swerved of the road,
screeching, and crashed into a tree. Suddenly the flaming wreckage disappeared
in a black-purple mist.
Sitting back down, Bria took a deep breath. “What was that?” asked Jess, face
white, as she got back on the highway.
“I don’t know; but why don’t we finish our trip to
“How...” asked Matt, referring to her attack on the creature using her power.
Bria spent the rest of the drive coaching Matt on his powers, and Jess listened
in for tips. Soon they pulled off the highway into
“Welcome to
“Good idea. You should also keep aware of your powers, Bria,” advised Jess.
“Got it.” Bria could feel the water power awaking; a
dull pounding, like waves crashing on the shore, started in her head. “This
should be fun.” A few minutes later Jess pulled up to a hotel.
“This cool?” she asked. Bria shrugged.
“Let’s just park here, walk around, and then check in.” The others agreed, and
the three got out of the car and walked down the street. Bria walked towards
the bay, not really caring if Jess or Matt followed her. She found a nice
little park by the water, with green grass and a bench or two. Lying on the
grass, she watched the sun set over the water, and just contemplated the past
week.
Bria heard footsteps, and turned her head to see Jess sit next to her. “Matt went
to find a place to eat,” she said. The two sat in silence, both enjoying the
water. After a little while, Bria spoke.
“Jess?” she asked softly.
“Hmm?”
“I don’t know if I can do this. The chase this afternoon made it so
clear; this is real. This isn’t one of our little games we played when we were
kids; this is really happening, and this is dangerous.”
“Bria, of course you can do it! You’re the Red Ranger; and you handled the
chase very well. Besides, it’s in your blood; you were meant to do this, just
like I was, just like Matt was, and whoever else comes along the way. So many
people believe in you. We know it’s dangerous; that’s why we stay on our toes,
and that’s why we’re going to defeat evil.”
“What evil? It’s only just begun.” Bria sighed. “I guess you’re right. Thanks, Jess.” Jess hugged her little cousin.
“No problem. Now how about some food?” she asked, seeing Matt walking towards
them.
“Sounds good,” said Bria getting up. She reached down a hand and pulled Jess
up, and they went to meet Matt.
****
That night Bria tried calling Kyle, only to find he wasn’t home. Tommy told her
he had left a few days ago, saying there was something he had to do; he hadn’t
heard from him since. After talking with Tommy for a while and successfully
avoiding answering his questions on where she was and what she was up to, Bria
said goodbye, adding that she was sure Kyle was fine.
But something made her wonder what he was up to.
****
The next day the three Rangers walked around the city, trying to find out where
Bria felt the strongest power. They talked while they walked, commenting on
“What is it?” asked Matt.
“They’re here...”
“Who’s here?” Jess asked.
“I don’t know!”
“You don’t know?” Matt asked Bria.
“No, I mean....I don’t know who they are, but I know they’re who we’re looking
for.”
“Oh.”
Bria pointed. “He’s the one,” she whispered. A tan young man with blonde hair
walked down the street, holding a surfboard under one arm.
“Ooo, he’s cute,” said Jess.
Bria smacked Jess. “Let’s follow him.” The three walked a little ways behind
him, looking for all the world like three friends out
on a walk. They talked like nothing was up, and they actually did a good job at
it. After while the blonde walked into a surf store,
and the three walked past the store.
“Now what?” asked Matt.
“Jess, if you think he’s cute, go for it,” Bria said.
“What?”
“Walk in, look around, bump into him, get his name, you know.”
“Oh. Do I look OK?”
“You look fine! Now go!” Bria pushed Jess. She and Matt sat on a wall and
waited. After a few minutes, the guy walked out of the store, smiling. He
nodded to the two on the wall, and they smiled back. Bria noted he had blue
eyes and cute freckles. He walked down the street and around a corner, just
before Jess came out of the store.
“Well?” asked Bria, jumping off the wall.
“His name is Josh, and he lives here in
“Did you find out a last name?” probed Bria.
“Yeah...it started with a ‘g’...Garrison? Grayson? That
was it; Grayson.”
“Are you sure?” asked Bria.
“Yes. Is that important?”
“Sure...” mused Bria. “He must be Carter’s son.”
“Who?”
“Remember at breakfast? Daddy said that the Red Lightspeed Ranger was
Carter Grayson.”
“Oh yeah...”
“Really, you are on top of things, aren’t you? I wonder...” Bria thought out
loud.
“What?” asked Matt, slightly lost.
“The Lightspeed Rangers seemed to lack that inborn ability to be Rangers; minus
the Titanium Ranger. It’s not that they were bad at it; they just didn’t instinctively
know how to use weapons, etc. It all came from technology. It shouldn’t be a
big deal though.”
“Uh, OK,” said Jess, lost now too.
“Never mind. What do you say to paying
a little visit to Mr. Grayson and family?” Bria asked. “Let’s say, tonight?”
“I’d say it’s a good idea,” commented Matt.
“Let’s go for it!” smiled Jess.
“OK then; tonight it is. First though, we’d better look him up.” The three went
back to the hotel, and Bria looked him up in the phone book provided in the
room. “G... Gardia... Gendry...Grayson, Carter and Dana.
“That would be good,” muttered Matt.
“Oh, shush,” scolded Bria. “Question: do you guys think we should check out?”
Jess shrugged. “Sure. After we get Josh, we should be leaving, right?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Why not? We can always check back in,” suggested Matt. The three checked out
and put their bags in the trunk.
“Ready to go to business?” asked Bria as she climbed in the driver’s seat.
“That’s not funny,” commented Matt, slipping in the back seat.
“She didn’t say it was,” Jess shot back in a friendly manor, sliding into the
passenger’s seat.
“I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Bria said.
A little while later they pulled up to a house. “This should be it,” said Bria.
Noticing a few extra cars in the driveway, she winced.
“I think they have company,” said Jess. The three sat in the car, just waiting.
“Too bad,” Bria finally said. “This is really important.” She slid out of her
seat and walked to the front door, the other two chasing after her. Bria stood
for a moment, then determinedly rang the doorbell. She
heard footsteps, and a few moments later the door opened.
“Yes?” asked a man. He had blonde hair like Josh, and Bria deemed this to be
his father.
“Carter Grayson?” The man nodded. “I’m Bria Lompire,
“Andros, the Red Space Ranger?" Bria nodded. "Ah, yes. The hair looks
familiar. Come in.” They followed Carter into the house, Bria muttering about
everyone commenting on her hair.
The four walked into a large room, where 4 others were sitting. A woman with
blonde hair sat on a couch, and Carter sat down next to her. Across the room
Josh sat in a chair, looking comfortable, and he frowned as he recognized the
three. On a couch nearby, two men were sitting; they looked somewhat alike, and
Bria presumed they were related. One was rather old, with silver hair and
mustache. The other was younger, with brown-blonde hair. Bria realized with a start
that he looked like an older version of the man she had seen in her dream.
“Have a seat,” Carter gestured. Jess and Matt sat, but Bria stayed standing.
“I’ll stand, thank you.” Bria looked around the room. After deducing who
everyone was, she looked at Josh and smiled. “Hello again.”
“Hey.” There was no need to speak the question in his eyes.
“Please forgive us for interrupting,” Bria said to everyone, “but this is very
important. You see--” Bria broke off, apparently listening.
“Wha--” Jess had started, when Bria cut her off.
Slowly she turned to a large glass window. Groaning as she realized Carter
would need a lot of new glass, she motioned for the others. By now they could
feel it too, and they stood next to her.
“Mr. Grayson,” Bria called over her shoulder, “you’re going to need a lot of
new glass.”
“Uh, sorry?”
“I’ll explain later...if it isn't explained by itself.” Suddenly Bria
froze as a thought came to her. By the look in Jess’s eyes, Bria could tell she
had the same thought. “Mr. Grayson, are there any small children about?”
“Yes. They’re upstairs. Why?”
“Jess, go!” Jess ran for the stairs, taking two at a time.
“What is this?” asked the blonde woman sitting next to Carter.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t explain right now. Matt?”
Matt nodded, and he and Bria dropped into a fighting position, facing the
window. Seconds later the glass shattered, and Bria held up an arm to shield
her face. Seven of the snake creatures they saw earlier swarmed in, and Bria
and Matt sprang into action.
Bria felt a clammy hand grab her arm. She grabbed the creature’s hand and
tossed him back out the window. Wheeling and kicking another in the chest, it
fell down and disappeared in the now familiar black and purple mist. Checking
to see how Matt was doing, she was happy to find he was doing just fine.
After all the creatures had been disposed of, Bria turned. She took a deep
breath and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. Remembering Jess, she held
up her watch.
“Jess, is everything cool?”
“Everything’s fine. I took care of a couple creeps, but that's all. The
children are so cute!” came Jess’s response. Bria
laughed, hearing the children’s laughter in the background as well.
“I suppose your wondering what all that was about,” Bria said to the 5 sitting
down, stating the obvious.
“Yeah, just a bit,” came Josh’s sarcastic reply.
Bria rolled her eyes. Jess came into the room and sat down. “Your children are
adorable,” she said.
“Thank you,” said the blonde woman.
Bria looked at her. “Before I say anything, I need to make sure everyone here
is who I think they are. Dana Mitchell...or should I say
Grayson?” The blonde woman nodded. “Captain Mitchell?” Both men on the
couch nodded. Bria smiled. “Captain Mitchell, and
Captain Ryan Mitchell?” Both nodded again, one after the other. “All right. Josh, I need to ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“Do you like water? A lot?”
Josh raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.”
“Good. Could I see you alone for a moment?”
Josh nodded, and the three Rangers followed him out of the room. He sat in a
chair in the next room over. "What's this all about?"
Bria knelt in front of him. “Give me your hands, please.” After a moment, Josh
conceded.
Bria went through the now familiar passing of powers. This time blue flashed
first, followed by the customary red. Bria stood. Again she said, as with Matt,
“Do you accept these powers and the responsibility that goes with them?”
“Powers?”
“Of water. Do you accept?”
After a pause, Josh answered. “Yes.”
“Stand.”
Again, they formed a circle, and Bria gave instructions on what to do. When
they let go of each other, Josh had water drops on his wrist. “What the...” The
drops shone and turned into a morpher.
“Welcome, Blue Ranger.” Bria smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m the Blue Ranger,” he repeated.
“The one and only.”
“Cool.” Josh watched his morpher turn into a watch with blue stripes.
The now four Rangers returned to the other room, receiving curious
glances from the adults.
Bria turned to Ryan. “I hate to pry, but do you perchance have a son?”
Ryan’s face clouded. “I did, yes. Why do you ask?”
Bria knelt in front of him. “I need to know what happened to him.”
Ryan took a deep breath. “He disappeared,” he said shortly.
“How old was he?”
“Six.”
Bria began to see a pattern between Ryan and his son. “Do you know what
happened?”
“He was playing in the yard. I went inside to get a drink, and then I heard a
yell. I went back outside and he was gone.”
Bria lowered her head. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you;
I just needed to know.” Ryan nodded, running a hand through his hair. Bria bit
her lip. Softly she said, “I will find him.”
Ryan looked up. “How? He’s been gone for seventeen
years. He might not even be alive,” he said, his voice slightly breaking at the
last.
Bria felt bad for this man. After all he had been through in life, and then his
son was taken. “He’s alive, sir. I know it. Otherwise I wouldn’t ask; otherwise
my instincts would tell me something different. Sir, when you were a Ranger,
you were well known for your awareness of your surroundings; that awareness
doesn’t just leave someone. Tell me you truly feel he’s dead.”
“I can’t,” Ryan said softly.
“He’s alive, and I will find him,” Bria said softly back. “What is his name?”
“Aaron. Why do you ask of him?”
Bria stood. “I have dreams, sir. Those dreams mean something, always. I didn’t
dream of your life as a Ranger for nothing; I didn’t dream of your son for
nothing. I am going to help you find him.”
Ryan’s eyes met hers. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. "I don't know why
you're helping, but thanks all the same."
Bria nodded and turned, going to the window, and wrapping her arms about
herself. “They follow us still; more are on the way.”
“Who are they? Or what are they?” asked Josh.
“I don’t know,” Bria answered, still looking out the window. “All I know is
that they’re after us; and we’re vulnerable until the team is completed.” Bria
turned. “Now is the time to leave. Those creatures will destroy this house.
Josh, can you quickly pack to last a week or so?”
“Sure.” Josh ran upstairs, Matt following to help. Bria looked at the four
adults seated in the room.
“I’m so sorry about the glass,” she apologized.
“Not a problem,” Carter assured her.
Bria smiled. “Josh will probably get in touch with you within the week, to let
you know where you can contact him.” Dana nodded. “And I’ll be calling you,
Captain Mitchell, about Aaron. Is there a number where I can reach you?” Ryan
gave Bria his number.
“Feel free to call anytime.”
Bria nodded. Looking around, she sighed. She knew the creatures were on her
tail; she didn’t want them to destroy Josh’s family when they got here. She was
lucky that no one had been home when her house was attacked. “I just wish I had
some way to protect them,” she swore under her breath.
"I'm sorry for just barging in like this, and I know you probably have no
idea what's going on," Bria said to the four adults.
Dana smiled. "It's all right. I think maybe we do understand."
Bria smiled back. Just then Josh and Matt came back downstairs. "Where are
we going?" asked Josh.
Bria fumbled for an answer. "Well...I don't exactly know yet." At
Josh's raised eyebrow, she hurried to explain. "I'll know tomorrow, if
that helps. I'm kind of just going with the flow here."
Josh looked confused, but he nodded anyways.
"Why don't you stay the night?" offered Dana.
"Oh, no, we couldn't," Jess protested.
"Yes you can," Dana insisted. "Then you can get an early start
tomorrow nice and fresh."
"Are you sure?" asked Matt.
"Positive," Carter threw in.
"Thank you very much," Bria said, meaning every word.
They sat around for a while, talking. Jess sat in a chair with Matt and Josh
seated on the floor nearby. Bria smiled as she looked at them. Her team was
coming together nicely. Only one more to go...