Pawns

Chapter Seven: Complications

It does kinda make sense... in a sick kinda way. Jason and Kim have always been pretty close... more than just friends. I always thought they were more like brother and sister, but hey, in her letter Kim said she loved me like a brother. He shuddered. But, that does explain why Kim didn't mention Jason's name in the letter... why she never brought it up earlier. Why Jason disappeared during the Pan Globals, and never even told us he was planning a trip to Florida.

He bit his lip, squeezing his eyes shut to quiet the voice in his head.

It was too horrible to be true. His best friend, and the woman he still loved... together. It just made bile rise in his throat.

I'm overreacting...he rationalized, There was nothing in that hug that necessarily points to a romantic relationship. A hug, kiss on the forehead, and flowers. It's not like they were... making out or something.

If that were true, why couldn't he shed the image from his mind?

I've gotta talk to Jason, he decided, before-

-and a jab in the face knocked him clear off his feet.

"Whoa, Tommy... I'm sorry!"

Tommy shook his head, and offered Adam a forgiving grin. "Hey, it's my fault. I'm the one who wasn't paying attention."

Rocky joined them from the side. "That's not like you, Tommy. We only have two days before the tournament- we gotta be in tip top shape!"

Tommy nodded, rubbing his jaw slightly. He then backed out of the ring. "I think I need to take five." And get my head together...

The Blue Zeo Ranger then smirked fiercely. "Adam, help me work on my spinning heel kick?"

His best friend met his eyes, and hesitated. "Maybe you should give it a rest, man-"

"Oh no... I'm not leaving this ring until I've mastered it." He then backed away, tightening the black belt around his waist.

Adam turned toward Tommy, hoping for some support. However, the leader was obviously distracted.

"Okay, let's do it."

Adam donned the padded glove, and balanced himself carefully.

Rocky came running from across the ring, his typically jovial face set in a deep frown. Once he came close, he thrust one leg around, spinning full circle with his foot aiming high.

Only he missed his mark... again.

"Dammit!" he hissed, pounding his fist against the padded floor.

"Rocky, you're trying too hard," Adam commented, bending to offer Rocky a hand.

Rocky heaved a deep breath, running a hand over his short hair. He pulled himself to his feet, bouncing from toe to toe to regain his equilibrium.

"Or maybe I'm not trying hard enough," he stated.

Adam noticed the glint in Rocky's eyes, and backed dangerously close to the edge of the ring to make enough space.

Rocky immediately launched into a ferocious kick, sheer momentum catapulting him over the edge of the ring.

Adam's jaw dropped as his friend cleared the protective ropes. "Rocky!"

The Blue Ranger tumbled helplessly onto the cold, unyielding concrete... his back absorbing the impact.

* * *

Jason watched as Kimberly slowly zipped up her black rubber wetsuit. A passive frown painted her features as she stared out at the bobbing ocean, the early morning sun streaking gold light upon the gentle waves.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Her eyes remained transfixed by the water, half-lidded. "Don't waste your money."

Jason frowned. "Uh uh, Kim... no clamming up now. I thought we already established I'm here for you."

She brought her hand to her forehead, slowly running her fingers down her face. "I... I just can't believe I'm doing this."

"Kim, I don't think one little swim will split your ends. Just wash with a hydrating shampoo, and you'll be good as new."

She looked up at him, blinking in surprise. She noticed his teasing grin, and rolled her eyes. "Ha ha," she groaned.

He answered with a laugh. "Just trying to get you back in the habit."

She was puzzled. "What habit?"

"Smiling."

She offered a half-smile.

"We're getting there," he conceded. He then inched closer, watching her face carefully. "Regrets?"

"No. It's too soon to regret coming back. I'm just... disappointed."

Jason bit his lip. "Well, we could go to the amusement park instead-"

She elbowed him. "Time to get serious, Jase." She held her breath for a moment, and then released her burden. "I'm disappointed in myself."

He frowned at her admission. "Kim, you've succeeded in everything you've put your heart to. I can understand you being disappointed in Tommy, and even the other Zeo Rangers... but why yourself?"

She stared back to the water, toying with a lock of hair. "I'm disappointed that I let all this get to me. Crush my spirit... keep me up at night. I'm disappointed that I still feel it. That I'm not over this yet."

"Kim your spirit hasn't been crushed. It's just... weighed down a little." He then tossed her a pair of goggles. "Let's go. Clear our heads a bit."

Kimberly nodded, pulling the goggles over her still-frowning face. They strapped on their oxygen tanks, and tumbled into the bobbing waters.

* * *

She'd never gone scuba-diving at sunrise. At first, she'd wondered what Jason was thinking when he rented a boat at four-thirty in the morning. What was there to see in a dark ocean?

But as she watched the sun's gold rays sear into the water in streaks, reflecting off tiny fish and large bodies of coral, she understood.

After nearly a year of Coach Schmidt's brutal seven a.m. workouts, she'd gotten used to the sunrise. As a consequence of living on the west coast, before going to Florida she'd never seen the sun rise over the ocean. In Miami, she'd seen that unique miracle daily.

Yet, seeing the sunrise below the ocean... that was an experience.

She breathed steadily, letting her body just float. Under the ocean waves, gravity had no hold on her. She just hung, weightless and carefree, as the sun vitalized the ocean surrounding her.

A blissful smile pulled her lip. This is exactly what I needed. To escape from the real world. To just float... take stock of my life from a different perspective. Jase, you're the best...

Her reverie was broken when suddenly, a large object floated out of the distant depths. She blinked in surprise, heart catching as the shadow approached.

Panic deadened into confusion when the shadow reached a streak of sunlight.

Bronze? It can't be a shark...

She didn't see the approaching fishnet until she was already entangled.

* * *

"Okay, whatever idiot got us confused with Chicken of the Sea has some major explaining to do!"

Jason glanced at Kim, who continued pacing on the waterlogged floor. Slowly, he turned full circle, taking in the dark, wet, metal room in which they found themselves, once they regained consciousness.

"Kim... this isn't a fishing boat." He pointed to his wrist-mounted dive computer. "We're still under water. Deep under water."

Kim's eyebrow rose. "Wait... I did see something weird in the water. It almost looked like a submarine."

Just then, a hatch pulled open. Jason instinctively crept closer to Kim, and the two former Power Rangers stood ready to face their kidnapper.

Both were visibly surprised when they saw a tall, leather-clad woman step through the hatch.

Her face (the half that was visible beneath her gold mask) wrinkled the moment her spiked thigh-high black heels touched the floor.

"Elgar!" she hissed, "You couldn't flush the bilge? These are designer boots!"

A white-faced mutant cringed at the rebuke before scurrying away. "Piranhatrons! Flush the bilge!" he hollered.

Kim and Jason heard a flushing sound, and suddenly, the ankle-deep water began to drain.

The woman's blood red lips pulled into a satisfied smile. "Much better." She then fully entered the dark chamber, and approached the two teens.

As soon as the strange woman met his gaze, Jason slid into a defensive stance.

The woman smirked disdainfully at the human's reaction. "Cute. Very cute." She then called over her shoulder "Piranhatrons!"

Four bronze-plated creatures with fish-shaped heads raced into the chamber, each grabbing the arm of one of the prisoners.

Years of battle ingrained into his mind, Jason responded to the threat with immediate action. With a deep cry, he wrenched his right arm free, and greeted the opposite Piranhatron with a fist in his face.

Surprisingly, the woman reacted with a deep, mocking laugh. "You've got spirit, Human!"

Kim watched in fascination as Jason pounded the two Piranhatrons that tried in vain to keep their hold. A cold grin pulled her lip when she noticed the two creatures holding her were also paying Jason their full attention.

Leveraging her weight on their grip, she thrust her legs out, kicking both Piranhatrons simultaneously. Her months of training lent her body added strength and agility, allowing her kicks to stun both attackers.

Falling back to her feet, a subsequent roundhouse sent the Piranhatrons reeling.

She turned to Jason, who threw her a grin. The lifelong friends inched closer together, muscles tensed and senses fully alert for additional threats.

Finally, Jason leveled his obsidian stare on the leather-clad woman. "Who are you? What do you want with us?"

The woman sauntered deeper into the chamber. Jason backed away from her approach, fists clenched for battle.

The woman's gaze shifted from the two unusually powerful humans, to the four Piranhatrons that struggled to regain their footing after the brutal pummeling they'd experienced.

A terrifying glint lit her eye. "I am Divatox, the Pirate Queen. And you... you aren't your run-of-the-mill humans, are you?"

Neither Jason nor Kimberly said a word.

Divatox's smirk only stretched wider. "Yes... I can feel that tingle. The tingle of great power... but faded. So tell me: where do humans get such power from?"

They made no response.

The Pirate Queen frowned at their stubborn silence. "Want to play games?" she growled, balling her fists. "Fine, we'll play."

She marched passed them, and threw open a porthole. "Hey! You in there!"

Kim heard a rustling in what appeared to be a neighboring cell. Then, two faces appeared at the opening.

"Ohmigosh..." she breathed.

Bulk and Skull.

The two punks-turned-police stared blankly into space. Their hair was oddly gray, and their skin was eerily pale.

What had that maniac done to them?

Divatox smirked at the horror on their faces. "Don't worry... they're a little confused, but they're unharmed. For now."

She then began circling the chamber, keeping her cold scrutiny on her captives. "See, Kiddies... I only need two pure hearts to sacrifice to Maligore, my husband-to-be. That pure energy will awaken him from his eternal slumber, and together we can wreak havoc across the galaxy!"

She planted her hands on her hips. "My idiot nephew found these two first. Some minor scanning has proven they're not pure enough to feed my fiancée. That means they're completely expendable."

She shouted over her shoulder. "Rygog! Seal off that chamber and flood it. No use keeping those two useless humans around!"

Kim and Jason traded urgent glances.

Finally, Jason released a long, weary sigh. "All right, Divatox. We'll cooperate."

* * *

The Power Chamber was flooded with a foreboding silence. Tanya and Adam worked at the communications console, searching for any clue as to what could have brought Lerigot, famed wizard of Liaria, across light-years to seek refuge on Earth. Until the diminutive wizard regained consciousness, the Power Rangers simply had no idea what they were up against.

Meanwhile, Katherine helped Alpha monitor Lerigot's recovery. The harsh heat of the African sun had taken it's toll upon the alien, and despite the timely appearance of the Pink and Red Zeo Rangers, Lerigot had expended far too much of his strength.

As his team kept busy, Tommy stood in silence in the back corner of the chamber. He ran his hands through his unruly hair, still damp from the swim he and Katherine had taken in an African river, and contemplated the situation his team faced.

This is real bad timing, he realized, Rocky's in no shape to help out, and from the looks of it, we're about to face a big challenge. Only a really formidable villain could have chased Lerigot halfway across the galaxy.

The leader of the Power Rangers folded his arms, body trembling slightly. Was it due to the cold, or perhaps... frustration?

He sighed deeply. "I'm going to contact Jason."

Everyone looked up from their respective tasks. "What was that?" Tanya wondered.

"We need a Blue Ranger to stand in for Rocky," Tommy explained. "Given the short notice, Jason's our best bet."

Zordon nodded. "A WISE DECISION, TOMMY. HOPEFULLY, HE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE BLUE ZEO POWER DESPITE THE TRAUMA HE SUFFERED DUE TO THE GOLD RANGER POWERS."

Tommy nodded slowly, anxiety written all over his face.

Katherine touched his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure Zordon and Alpha will run every test possible to make sure Jason can use the Blue Zeonizer without complications."

Tommy offered a half-smile at Kat's support... though in reality, his concerns were focused in an entirely different direction. The others didn't know about the awful suspicions that knotted the Red Ranger's stomach.

God help me... I can't trust him! Tommy realized in dismay, I wanted to talk to him about it... get his side of it. But it'll have to wait until the battle's over.

It was sickening, yet undeniably true. Despite three years of friendship, despite the dozens of times they'd risked their lives for one another... Tommy knew he couldn't bring himself to rely on Jason. He wouldn't be able to look his best friend in the eye.

Even brothers have been torn apart for love of the same woman.

Nothing's been proven, Tommy reminded himself, in a last-ditch effort to listen to reason, Until we talk about what's really going on between him and Kim, I can afford to give Jason the benefit of the doubt. After all he's done for me...how he trusted me after I nearly killed him as Rita's Green Ranger, the least I can do is offer him that same chance.

So easily said... but so difficult to adopt.

Finally, after silently wrestling with his dilemma long enough, Tommy released a deep sigh. Slowly, he walked to the communications relay.

"I hope Jase has his communicator on," he mused, activating the system.

Before the signal even went through, the Rangers all jumped at the sudden wailing tearing from Lerigot's throat.

Galvanized into action, the entire assembly migrated to the Liarian's side.

"What's happening to him?" Katherine demanded.

"He is receiving a telepathic transmission that is obviously upsetting him greatly," Alpha explained, nimble fingers flying over the controls, "Zordon, what should we do?"

"PERHAPS IF WE CAN SEE WHAT IT IS HE'S RECEIVING, WE CAN HELP HIM," Zordon surmised. "ALPHA, ATTACH THE CRANIAL TRANSMISSION SCANNER, AND CONNECT IT TO THE VIEWING GLOBE."

Alpha immediately followed Zordon's instructions. Moments later, a hazy image began to form on the Viewing Globe.

The Power Rangers were stunned to see and image of a masked woman, gazing into a mirror compact.

^Zordon,^ she greeted, casually refreshing her lipstick, ^I know you can hear me, so listen up. Lerigot must surrender. Say hello to Lerigot's family... Yara, the loving wife and caring mother to little baby Bitel.^

The image pulled away, revealing a cage behind Divatox, with two Liarians trapped inside. A Piranatron stood behind them, holding a mechanical cap about a foot over Yara's head.

^Don't you just want to pinch those adorable cheeks?^ Divatox sneered.

"Stop!" Kat pleaded, turning back to Lerigot, who was groaning pathetically, "Look what it's doing to him!"

"Kat, she can't hear you," Adam commented, "The transmission is only one-way."

^Bring him to me.^ the Pirate Queen demanded. ^Oh, and by the way, as a token of my appreciation, I'll spare a couple of your favorite humans.^

The Rangers stared at the globe anew, fresh anxiety quickening their hearts as their newest nemesis played her hand. They stood waiting as the image in the globe shifted to a dark, wet cell, with two individuals wandering near the wall. Apparently, they were taking a closer look at their prison.

^They're not much to look at,^ Divatox's voice drawled on, ^But rumor has it they used to be some of your... oh, what do you call yourselves? Power Rangers.^

The view focused on the smaller of the two. While her dark clothing helped her meld into the shadows, it was clear from her form that she was female. Long tresses of dark brown hair, dripping with seawater, clung to her back as she dragged her fingers along the far wall.

Finally, she turned around.

Tommy suddenly stopped breathing. A hand of ice enclosed his heart, freezing him in place. He didn't hear his teammates gasp as they recognized the prisoner. He didn't feel Katherine enclose his hand with hers, clutching him tightly. He didn't even hear his own voice as he breathed her name.

"Kimberly."

It was too incredible to believe. How did Divatox even find her? She hadn't been a Power Ranger in nearly year! And why would Divatox even bother going to Florida... thousands of miles from Lerigot's location?

He soon got his answer... for the view suddenly shifted, zooming in on the other prisoner. Clearly a man... a tall man, his athletic build perfectly discernible in the form-hugging rubber wetsuit-

"No..." Tommy breathed. The muscles in his stomach clenched as a dozen emotions whirled in his mind.

Horror, that his friends were in peril. Disbelief, that they could've been dragged into the conflict. Panic, that Divatox truly had the upper hand.

But just under the surface lay the sting of betrayal, as pieces began sliding into place all at once.

"Jason," he croaked.

Jason and Kimberly. Together.

To Be Continued...