19The Destiny Trilogy
Book One: The Legend of Chantri-Bova
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, I just own this little universe and these characters. Besides, with the stuff I'm about to do, Power Rangers wouldn't touch this with a ten-foot pole.
Author's Note: To a couple of you, some of these parts may seem familiar. Trust me, you're not going crazy; I had published a version of this before. But I wanted to take an opportunity to clean it up and repost these early parts because the following chapters are gonna hit hard and I wanted my readers to see where everything was coming from.
I really believe in this story and I want to present it in its best light. Indulge me. I believe you'll find the ride worthwhile.
Please read and feedback is always welcome.
Thank you.
Chapter 4: Duty Accepted
The Near Future...
Ptep looked at his prisoner, making circles around where he had been chained. Somehow, the Blue Keeper managed to get inside his palace, and in spite of being caught, the Blue Keeper kept up an appearance of confidence. Ptep found this amusing. Soon there would be no more of that smile...
"So you say you love her, do you?" Ptep taunted, stopping his laps to look the Blue Keeper in the eyes.
"With all my heart," said the boy. This amused the nobleman. There was little to no doubt that the poor fool believed his words. Ptep must set this delusional child straight.
"Look, human. What makes you think she could ever love a common, mortal like you when she can have a powerful conqueror such as myself?" At this the prisoner smiled.
"She can love mortal because she is mortal. And you're selling her short to think that she'll love you for your power. She loves me, as ordinary as I am."
"You seem so certain of yourself, Blue Keeper. But that won't help you. As strong as you think you are, you have a chink in your armor. Rest assured, boy: I will break you."
Back to the Show…
Helaprosti and the fallen pair rematerialized in the infirmary of the Grounds. Just being around all the potions and powders made him feel somewhat better. He laid the two in the Detox Sauna and then worked on himself.
He really needed to train. He had not expected to be hurled back into battle like this. And during briefing, he was never told that the Haezoh could merge. Yes, they all would have to go through training as soon as possible.
He dragged himself over to the stove and lit it with a spark from his fingertips, and then proceeded to gather the ointments, potions and bandages he'll need. He did not look forward to what he had to do next, but walking around with a gaping, infected hole did not appeal to him either.
He selected a knife from the tools cabinet and put it in that special stove. Moments later when he was satisfied that the knife was hot enough he took it in his hands and thought about how much this would hurt as he looked upon the knife with trepidation. But thinking back, he realized that he had experienced far worse pain—in more than one sense. At least this pain would preserve his life.
He placed the knife into his wound and did it hurt! He had to fight everything within him not to scream. Just a bit longer…he convinced himself, and moments later he withdrew the knife. The gash began to close.
When the wound closed up to leave behind a nasty scar, Helaprosti carefully stood up and made his way back to the Detox Sauna. He removed them individually and put them on their own tables and began working on Antoinette, figuring she'd be easier to deal with.
He unraveled a length of bandage and began smearing ointment on it, then asked for forgiveness from the unconscious Antoinette as he pushed up her blouse to reveal the gashes on her midsection. He then wrapped her in the bandages.
Helaprosti shook his head with a smile. He could always spot a fellow Likjatish. It was an honor to be in her presence once again…
Looking upon her made him homesick, but he knew that all the familiar places and people were long gone; he knew that there would be nothing left of the land he once knew. "Maxedes…" he recalled.
Just then Antoinette stirred, her eyes fluttered open. "Who's Maxedes?" she asked, trying to sit up. Helaprosti gently pushed her back down. "Who's Maxedes?" she asked again with a smile. Knowing that if he didn't say something she would continue to press, he sighed and relented.
"He was my dearest friend before…" Helaprosti's voice trailed off as he recalled what happened, and realized that he did not want to go into it.
"Before…?" Antoinette persisted, attempting again to sit up.
Gently nudging her back down, he avaded, "Do not concern yourself. Please, be still."
Yielding, Antoinette continued, "Yes, doctor." She paused.
"Did you break his heart?" Helaprosti shot her an angry glance but only saw genuine compassion; she wasn't teasing him. He softened his features.
"No. Unfortunately it was nothing quite so nice." The memories pained him. Antoinette noticed.
"Whatever it was, I'm sure he would've forgiven you."
Yes, he would have. Thought Helaprosti. But I can't.
"What suddenly made you think of him?" she asked, wincing a bit.
Correction: I always think of him, he thought.
"You," said Helaprosti. "You remind me of someone I knew from home." Antoinette raised an eyebrow but continued.
"What was that like?" Antoinette probed, propping herself up on one elbow.
Helaprosti allowed his mind to travel back to his home world. "Likjatbi was mostly desert," he began, as the memories of the landscape formed vivid pictures in his mind. "And some find that hard to adjust to, but I thought it was beautiful." Antoinette sat up fully. Helaprosti didn't even bother to push her back onto the table; he should've known she would be stubborn. He had to smirk.
"Our world had a beauty all its own. Sand that change colors with the seasons, and the most breathtaking sunsets a man could ever see in all his life. Even though it was mostly desert, the land wasn't devoid of scenery. Flowers did grow. The most beautiful and exotic flowers grew in Likjatbi. They were highly sought after on even other worlds!" he recounted, beaming with obvious pride.
"That sounds amazing…" Antoinette said in awe, trying to imagine it all—and finding it surprisingly easy.
"I figured you would." He smiled a knowing smile turning his attention back to Brad. "Indeed, you are very much like her. As you should be."
As I should be? Antoinette was about to ask the long-haired boy what he meant, but looking at Brad's unconscious form brought her back to the present.
She approached her friend's still body, noting that the gashes in his neck had all but disappeared, leaving behind ugly bruises. He looked so frail lying there on the table. Worry crept back into her.
"Don't fret," Helaprosti stated, his voice startling her. "He should recover in a few hours. Now he needs to rest, as do you," he finished, trying his best to sound reassuring.
"Perhaps you should take your own advice. You still look like hell," Antoinette joked. "Besides," she continued, "I should get back out there. My friends still need me."
"No, stay here and rest." Helaprosti emphasized, then putting on a nervous smile, he continued, "There will be other days," trying to sound cheerful even though they both knew that that fact was anything but. "I'm bringing them back anyway; even with your additional help, they still wouldn't fair well," Helaprosti reasoned. Worry not. Your friends will be fine, he mentally sent with intentions to reassure. And within moments John, Pete and Liz appeared in three beams of blinding white light.
Brad woke up with a start, and the first word out of his mouth was "Nette!"
While he was unconscious, his mind kept going back to the battle. How those vines caught him by the neck before he could react, how Antoinette swooped in and saved his ass, and how her sad face was the last thing he saw before blacking out.
"Hey, Brad! Glad you decided to join us!" Antoinette greeted with a smile, concern and relief etched all over her face. "How do you feel?"
"I've had better days," he replied, putting on a brave face.
"Well, you better get back on your feet soon. It's a little freaky to see you all laid up like this," she admitted, half joking.
You're telling me! Brad mentally concurred. "How do you feel?" he asked, recalling that she had gotten sick at the scene of the battle.
"I'll be fine as soon as I get some food in my stomach."
Brad then noticed something over Antoinette's shoulder, and for a moment his attention was divided. Liz…he thought.
She must've somehow heard him because at that moment Liz looked up to make eye contact with him and was coming in his direction. Antoinette then took one of his hands in both of hers and said, "Feel better, okay?" and left his side.
"Liz…" he said out loud. He didn't even realize how glad he was to see her. Like he hadn't seen her in the longest. He sat up painfully.
For a moment they just looked at each other.
She looked like she had been through hell, and it wasn't simply because she looked an unruly mess. Brad wanted so much to put her mind at ease. He took hold of one of her hands and gently guided her to him.
Liz sat at the edge of the table, continuing to look at him. Her gaze shifted from his eyes to his neck, and her brows furrowed as she reached out a hand to gingerly touch his bruised neck.
No, Liz, thought Brad. He didn't want her making herself upset over him. He intercepted her hand and took both of them in his. She smiled.
There it is, Brad thought, smiling himself. He ran his fingers through her wild dark-blonde hair and brought her into an embrace…
John was so anxious to get back to Antoinette. He hoped she would be awake and moving, for he imagined himself sweeping her up in his arms like the heroes did in all the movies. But his bravado left him as he once again saw her with him. His eagerness deflated and once again he was left feeling inadequate. Like the outsider...But he was still glad to see that she was alright, nonetheless.
John soon felt out of place and antsy, and was still squirming when Antoinette made her way to him. Plus, having her standing there looking at him the way she was didn't help in the slightest.
He suddenly became very fascinated with his sneakers. "I'm glad you're okay…I was worried…" he said, feeling, and probably sounding, like an indiot. He wasn't expecting her arms to be around his neck. He wasn't expecting her lips to be touching his cheek. But he did get to hold her in his arms like he had hoped…
Pete, on the other hand, was an unusual blend of exhilaration and uncertainty. He found it odd how quickly he had taken to fighting. The sense of control he felt using that metal bar was undeniable. He didn't know which freaked him out more: having to take on those creatures that were unlike anything he had ever read about in comics, knowing full well that they had been sent to kill him—or that he liked the feeling he got from bashing the creature's head in…
Even though Pete had been concerned about Brad and Antoinette's well being, he had a deep faith in Brad's ability to recover, and if Antoinette was up and about, Brad would soon be as well. The thing most prominent on Pete's mind was the battle they just barely escaped.
Pete had been recounting it with Liz, but he wasn't blind; he could tell that Liz's thoughts were preoccupied. He knew it had to be one of two people on her mind: John or Brad, so Pete wasn't too surprised when Liz excused herself.
Moments later Liz was in Brad's arms. Looking at the other side of the room, he saw John and Antoinette in each other's arms. Looking around the room at everyone else pairing off made him feel alone all of a sudden.
John's got Antoinette, Brad's got Liz and Pete's got no one. This wasn't out of the usual for him. But it stung like a bitch to just come from the fight of your life and have no one to fawn over you. To hold you like everybody else was being held.
John has Antoinette…Just then Pete got the feeling that there must have been something terribly wrong with the universe to grant someone like John such a great girl like Antoinette. It just didn't make sense…
Helaprosti stood aloof and observed with some degree of pleasure that most of his Chosen Ones had established personal ties, and that in general, they were all friends. This form of unity would prove vital if they were to have any success against the darkness that was bound to come.
He needed them to trust each other, so that there would be no question in anyone's mind to go to the aid of their teammates.
Being able to work as a cohesive unit was a precious skill that he didn't have the luxury of time to teach. Time was, indeed, of the essence.
Helaprosti took this opportunity to slip away. Besides, he wanted to do some research.
The recruiter made his way up the stairs to the Library, which also served as a surveillance, intelligence and conference room, and commanded the canvas viewing screen to become active as he took a seat in one of the conference chairs.
"Screen, show me Earth." The screen showed him a globe of the Earth.
"Display recent Haezoh activity." Spots appeared on the globe. Pink indicating the least recent activity, red indicating the more recent activity, and the blinking red light indicating the site they had all just left.
He was alarmed by this degree of activity. The screen indicated that Ptep had already unleashed the Haezoh onto the public and that already people have lost their lives.
"Show me the local news," Helaprosti commanded. The view of the globe minimized and was replaced with the news.
"Reports of strange occurrences have been popping up all over the city," said the female field reporter. "And police officers have been flooded with missing persons reports…" Helaprosti didn't need to hear any more. It had begun…
Antoinette took a look around the Infirmary at all her friends, mostly in bandages, but alive and well. This made her smile. But something occurred to her that disturbed her: what if they wouldn't always be together like this; alive and well? That brought an unwanted shiver down her spine.
"Man, this place is…unbelievable!" Pete's voice broke in. "I wonder what the rest of this place looks like." He met with agreement from the rest of the group.
"Hey, Nette, you comin'?" John asked, slightly concerned.
Antoinette put on a brave face and replied, "Yeah, yeah. I just wonder where the guy went…" And with that, they all broke off to go see what there was to see.
The girl recalled seeing him go up some stairs. Retracing his steps, she found the room Helaprosti was in, watching the news on a large screen. Antoinette cleared her throat loudly.
The young man looked up to acknowledge her presence, but he said nothing. The only sound that greeted her was the grim report from the news. It was in no way inviting, but if she were to wait for Helaprosti to do it, she'd probably be standing in the doorway all night.
"You disappeared on us, so I decided to come find you. Do you want some company?" Antoinette asserted, taking a step into the room adored with ancient-looking books and a large canvas screen. She noticed that Helaprosti was once again slipping back into his own thoughts.
"You ran away from us," she continued, making her way towards the bookshelves. "I didn't realize we were that annoying!" Antoinette joked, fingering the books, then settling on one, taking it off the shelf and thoughtlessly flipping through it.
"But I totally understand. This is a nice place to escape to," she finished. It was hard to make a joke with that depressing-ass news on.
After an awkward silence, she asked, "What are you thinking about?" making her way to the chair next to his at the table, book still in hand.
"I'm thinking about tonight's battle," Helaprosti answered finally, still not looking at her.
"Those things were fierce, weren't they?" Antoinette concurred.
"And it gets better," the young man continued. "They can merge!" he finished with mock glee. And here these creeps were, making news.
"What do we do?" Antoinette asked, afraid of the answer.
"We fight," Helaprosti said, matter-of-factly. "That is, if you and your friends choose to accept the responsibility," he added as if it were an afterthought. Just then the others arrived.
"Hey guys. Done already?" Antoinette asked. If anything, she lost track of time.
"Uh, yeah. We were looking around and we found out that this place is huge," Pete replied awkwardly, sensing the tension in the room. "There's, like, five floors to this place. Where we were in the Infirmary was only on the first floor. There's a Commons on the second floor, and dorm rooms and showers on the third. Since we found you, I guess we'll save the fifth floor for another time." He paused, cautiously taking a step into the Library. "Is everything okay in here?"
"Yes and no," Helaprosti answered. "Please, come in and have a seat." They all filed in. The news was still broadcasting the current state of weirdness.
"Dude, I think you have some explaining to do," Brad directed to Helaprosti.
"My name is Helaprosti. Please learn it for future reference," Helaprosti hissed with a cold glare.
"Those things we were fighting…I can't believe how…horrible they were!" Liz spoke up, finding it hard to come up with the right words.
"Yes, the Haezoh," Helaprosti began. "Ptep made sure they'd come out that way. Those things were once people like you or I, but without their souls, they are but mere husks of what they used to be.
As some of you have experienced, the Haezoh can merge, meaning they can do more damage. In fact, they have already begun taking lives. And unfortunately, they are not the worst.
"This is where all of you come in. You are this world's only true defense against Ptep and all he has planned, for you are the only ones on this world with your abilities." Helaprosti then leaned back in his chair to allow what he had just said time to sink in.
"I don't mean to pressure you, but your world needs you, and you are not yet fully equipped to defend it," he continued. "With my help you can be, but only if you choose to accept," he finished, hammering his point home by leaning into the desk.
After a pause, Brad spoke up for the group, "I think we should sleep on this."
"Of course," Helaprosti replied with a sigh.
The group of teenagers cleared the room. The young man shut the door behind them. He'd take this opportunity to get some answers himself.
He commanded the viewing screen to deactivate and withdraw. Taking a deep breath he began: "Ō Qȗpahedohi, utet ciole iesuocrovet qovsha." Oh, Great Ones, I beg your audience.
Moments later he heard a multiple voice answer, but as always, their presence was felt but not seen, instantly the Library became a good twenty degrees colder. Helaprosti stifled a shiver.
"Yes, son. What is it that you require?"
Clearing his throat, Helaprosti ventured, "I require answers, Great Ones. How is it that I was never informed of the Haezoh's ability to merge? How am I to best guide them if I'm not given all information?" Helaprosti almost swore he saw his breath.
"Do you not know by now, Son, that there is a reason for all that we do and all we choose not to say? As the good mentor you are, if you had known that they would be so overwhelmed, you would not have sent them to fight the Haezoh. But it was essential for them to become familiar with their abilities. Besides, if no one took the Haezoh on, they would have done far more damage than they already have." Helaprosti nodded his head in understanding.
"We still find it amusing that you insist on questioning our judgment." The multiple-voice chuckled. Helaprosti never quite got over how disconcerting that was. "As always, Helaprosti, you can come to us with any concerns you may have. And rest assured that everything that we may have you do is for a reason." And with that, they were gone; the room regained its warmth and Helaprosti could no longer feel their presence.
Meanwhile…
After taking a few steps in silence, Brad finally broke it. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm good for a shower." Everyone concurred.
"Wait a minute," said Liz, suddenly. Her serious tone stopped everyone in their tracks. "What time is it?"
Pete stole a quick a glance at his digital watch and offered, "Quarter to 12."
"Oh, my God!" Liz fretted. "Mom is gonna freak!"
Indeed, Liz had just made them realize that all their parents were probably beside themselves, especially if they just watched the news—unless, of course, you're John's parents, then you don't give a damn…
But they all worked out their stories and proceeded to pass around John's cell phone, attempting to convince their parents to let them stay out all night.
John found it difficult to relax but in spite of that he still managed to nod off.
And there it was, that same awful vision that he had back at the battle, with the same feeling of being in a body that wasn't his…
…Only this time it was coming from a different point.
This time the body was knelt amongst scores of other prostrate men, facing a large stone altar in front-center of the room, chanting in that strange language:
"Qȗpahedo, ciotet jwij ut iž wikosharavet hirguturochevet, eh luikaž sozukogthevet ics eh uc ciole vgoij dgohocro wazsthe." Master, you promised that if we sacrifice all we have, you would deliver us and hold us in your great presence.
"Lotet lujw iž lole woigjhi jwijvet sa qozuokoshara. Lujw iž lole qoda uc cio sa qozuokoshara." We believe this with all our hearts. We believe in you with all our being.
"Lotet ja jwo tuciz hirguturovet icjurudijoshara." We look forward to the final sacrifice.
Once the creed was said, the group of worshippers was then disbanded.
Everyone seemed to be leaving the mysterious building, but the body stayed, moving onto a chapel of sorts.
This room again…
"There will be no more putting off of the event," the voice spoke, cracking with remorse.
No, I don't want to see his face! John begged, when the body approached the mirror.
Put away that knife! John pleaded.
Please God, no!
The pain ripping through his gut startled him awake. There was no way in hell he was going back to sleep now.
Meanwhile…
Satisfied with her shower, Antionette made her way to the quarters, and put on the loose-fitting pajamas that were laid out for her. After fretting for about an hour she finally drifted off to a fitful sleep…
The sound of her own heartbeat flooded her ears, and for a time it was the only sound she could hear.
Gradually, her heartbeat turned into the sound of the hooves of a horse hitting the ground.
They sped up, and multiplied, becoming a teem of horses, hooves pounding, deafening like thunder.
She and an army on horseback charged across the sand, coupling the thunder with fierce battle cries.
But her battle cry was cut short; the wind was knocked out of her.
She looked down and saw the arrow that was robbing her of breath.
The thunder around her slowly reverted back to her own heartbeat.
It became weaker and weaker, until finally there was no sound…
Antoinette woke with a start, heart pounding in her chest and sweating profusely. "What the hell was that?" she gasped…
Brad was just a little too damn exhausted to think, even though he tried. It was just too much. Going from one physical exertion to another, then having all this dumped on his mind. It was just impossible to keep his eyes open. And so Brad began to drift off…
He wasn't certain whether or not he was dreaming it when moments later he saw his door part and Liz step through. But all was confirmed when she slid in next to him and whispered, "Hi." He smiled sleepily, drew her nearer and soon fell asleep.
Brad was so cute when he slept. This was definitely something Liz could get used to. She liked being in his strong like this. Liz stole a kiss and settled her head on his chest where she let the rise and fall lull her to sleep.
Pete, on the other hand, was too excited to sleep. He just laid there in the dark of his Quarters, letting his mind race. Even though it was unlike him to fight, he had to admit that he did like the thrill, and he was beginning to feel that being a defender of the Earth was his destiny, the one thing his life had been missing. He no longer had to live through fantasy books and comics. Now he was really needed!
Pete didn't know about everyone else, but he was more than willing to accept Helaprosti's offer…
Hours passed and Pete was finding it pointless to remain in bed; all he would do is think, so he might as well do it on his feet. He hopped off the bed, left his room and went downstairs to the Commons.
He still couldn't believe what was happening to him. Not to sound like a sci-fi cliché, but he was about to embark on a grand adventure and he couldn't wait to start.
Just then, John entered the Commons and a new thought came to him: if John accepted, would Pete feel comfortable with having his back? Could he trust himself to put aside his grudge to maybe save that guy's life? How odd…
Pete never thought in a million years that he'd be on the same team with John, or in two million years that he'd be friends with the guy! Odd…
Pete took a seat and acknowledged John's presence. They may become partners in the near future, but that doesn't mean he has to talk to John right now…
The light in the commons hurt John's eyes, but he just couldn't stay in his room. He walked in to find that apparently he wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep. John gave Pete his infamous upwards nods. He was a little too shaken up to actually talk.
For the rest of his life, John never wanted to have another dream like that…
Dream…John wasn't certain that was right. Dream…Nah, somehow, John knew better than that…
That damn Helaprosti! His life was going just perfect before that weirdo came along and fucked things up…Ha! Now the creep wants him to join him to fight those freaks on a daily basis!
But…there was something about being needed that made John really consider this offer. This was that golden opportunity to flex his muscles for a greater purpose, and show Antoinette that he was worthy of the chance she gave him. Maybe he could do this…
Antoinette yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she entered the Commons. Just because she was jolted from her sleep, doesn't mean that she stopped being tired. When her eyes were fully cleared she realized that there were other people in the room.
The girl would've been happy to see them had the tension not smacked her so hard.
"Oh my God, guy! You would not believe the dream I just had!" she chirped. "I was riding a horse. Excuse me! I've never ridden a horse in my whole life! It was so weird." Phew, good, a smile! Now, for business.
"What do y'all think about Helaprosti's offer?" she posed, carefully. She paused before continuing, "I'm thinking about accepting." There was silence. Too long, if you asked her. "Where are Brad and Liz?"
Back in Brad's room, as much as she liked being in Brad's arms, Liz couldn't help tossing. How could everything get so weird in one night? Yet there it was: she was picking up strange images from John, fighting ugly killer monsters and being asked to do it again, and then some…
What the hell? But if the world needed her protection, how could she refuse?
Brad was awakened by Liz's stirring. Even in the dark he could tell that she was troubled. Holding her close, Brad asked, "What's wrong, babe?" Even though he had a pretty good idea what it was.
"I was thinking about tonight…but I think too much…" Liz answered, cutting herself off.
"Then you must be thinking what I'm thinking…" Brad responded. "Call me crazy, but I'm thinking about accepting they guy's offer."
"Helaprosti, Brad. And I'm thinking the same thing," Liz replied.
Moments later there was a knock at Brad's door, and Antoinette's voice followed shortly.
"Umm…" she began awkwardly. "I knocked on the other door and no one answered…I mean, duh, it's like four in the morning, but…I figured you guys weren't sleeping, cause no one else could sleep…Umm…Everyone's in the Commons, if you wanna come out and talk? Okay…sorry!" Antoinette finished.
Brad had to laugh, and Liz was stifling a chuckle. "We're coming out!" Brad replied, between snickers. Brad and Liz crawled out of bed and went with Antoinette to the Commons.
By the time Helaprosti arrived, everyone else had already come together and were talking amongst themselves. Good, it was time to know their decision.
"Good morning," he greeted the group. All talk ceased. "What do you decide?"
Brad took a deep breath and spoke for everyone, "We accept."
The Arctic Palace…
As satisfactory as his Haezoh had been, he knew he needed to broaden his connections. He wasn't too proud to admit that he couldn't do this alone. But first things first…
Ptep looked around his beaten palace and realized that this place wasn't fit to receive anyone. How did he expect to instill confidence in those he wished to enlist if the very place he rested his head implied that he was falling apart? Ptep would take this opportunity to contact his greatest ally.
He closed his eyes and began. "Ō Qȗpahedo, utet ciole iesuocrovet qovsha." Oh Great Being. I beg your audience. Ptep couldn't understand how it could be possible for his drafty palace to get any colder, but the moment he uttered the last word, the temperature of the room dropped what felt like twenty to thirty degrees. Fortunately for Ptep, he liked the cold well enough, otherwise, how would he have been able to stand having his palace in the middle of the Arctic?—When asked why this location was chosen, Ptep was told that it was a way to keep his enemies close, but not that close.
"Great Being, I pray that you don't think me foolish or selfish to request this of you, but I find that the state of my palace holds some significance to our plans," Ptep requested.
The air warbled with the sound of a voice that sounded both distant and close as the Great Being replied, "My son, there is no need to feel that way. I trust your judgment and I understand. When you return, the palace will be as you remember it." Ptep smiled and thanked his superior, and within moments His presence could no longer be felt.
Ptep had used the method that had been so handy in the past, to mentally reconnect with the most powerful galactic warlords this century had to offer, and now he was seated with them in conference to request an alliance.
Ptep didn't expect a warm welcome, or to be taken seriously. So he wasn't shocked when the men seated at the conference table thought he was a joke. He looked over to one particularly amused member and thought to himself, I must remember to slit you throat once my mission is complete, then smirked at the man, and joined in the laughter.
"Oh gentlemen, you must really think me so naïve! And why shouldn't you? After all, I have been absent from such dealings for two centuries! But I assure you, gentlemen, that our benefactor, the Great Being would not have handpicked me if I could not deliver." At the mention of the diety, all laughter ceased.
"Do not think for a moment, my dear friends, that for my stay in those dungeons I have grown idle. But if, for some reason, you all still feel that I am not reliable, you might at least find my Haezoh of some use."
Ptep leaned back in his chair and basked in the buzz that filled the room. He was home.
9am, the Grounds…
John didn't sleep at all, because if he did then the time for him to leave would come all the faster.
He didn't look forward to leaving the place that already felt more like a home than his own house, but the time had come for them to depart, as they promised their parents the night before, and John didn't want to be left alone with that Helaprosti weirdo.
He was teleported a block from his house and he walked that one block as slowly as possible. He finally arrived at his door, broke out his keys and swung open the door to be greeted by the smell of dirty clothes and equally dirty dishes—and a booming male voice.
"Where the hell were you, boy? The little woman was worried!" his father thundered from where he was rolled up next to his woman-thing in his sofa bed.
"Out," John offered flatly, making his way up the stairs towards his room. And why the fuck should I care if she was worried! It's not like she's my mother! She had the good sense to walk out years ago! he thought to himself as he threw himself onto his messy bed.
John wanted nothing more than to catch some Z's.
9:15am…
Brad and Liz woke together and was teleported to their individual destinations.
Brad was teleported a block away from his house. "Mom, Pop! I'm home!" he announced as he unlocked and swung open his door, ,
His father craned his neck from the dining table to better view the front door. "Oh, I didn't hear you pull up in the driveway."
Shit! Brad thought, completely forgetting about his car that was still parked in the school's parking lot.
"Um, I took the bus," Brad lied. "I didn't wanna wake anybody just to drive me home, ya know?"
Just then Brad caught a whiff of what his mother was whipping up in the kitchen and realized he was famished. "Aw, man, I'm starved!" Brad declared.
"That's our boy, always thinking with his stomach," his mother joked.
Meanwhile…
Liz was teleported down the block and around the corner from her house, and opened the door to be welcomed by the sound of the morning news blaring from the living room television.
"Hey, mom. I'm home." Liz announced.
"Hi, míja. How was the sleepover?" her mother inquired from the dining table, sipping on a cup of coffee and thumbing through the paper.
"It was cool," Liz lied, smiling her usual sweet smile.
"How come I've never met this 'Helen'?" her mother asked.
"Maybe one day you will," said Liz, going over to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. For some odd reason, Liz didn't get a good feeling from the idea.
"How come Brad didn't drop you off?" the woman continued.
Jeez, mom. You're just full of questions this morning, aren't you?
"Mom, you forget, Brad went out celebrating with the other guys on the football team. Do you really think he's gonna get up early just to give little ol' me a ride home?" Liz reasoned, smiling at her cleverness.
"Well, you can never be too safe, what with what's been on the news and all…"
Cutting her mother off with another kiss on the cheek and a hug, Liz reassured, "Yes, yes, mom. But I'm here and I'm safe. Mom, you're so cute," Liz giggled. But inside she just wasn't sure how long that would be the truth.
9:30am…
Pete took one last lingering look at the inside of the room he slept in, took his time walking down the hall and took the stairs down to the Commons to meet Helaprosti so that he could transport Pete home.
Pete still couldn't quite wrap his mind around how Helaprosti was able to get them from place to place…and then something occurred to him: Where the heck were they, exactly?
"Um, Helaprosti?" Pete began, "Where is this place?"
Turning to him, Helaprosti replied, "New Zealand."
"Awesome!" Pete exclaimed. "Why New Zealand, and not, like California? It doesn't snow as much in California and I hear it rains a lot in New Zealand."
"Well, personally, I prefer the desert. But the location of the Grounds was not up to me."
Pete was about to ask who decided the location, but he thought better of it and asked instead, "How will we get back here?"
"You all will meet in one place, then I'll teleport you in a group at noon. Then when you get back here, I'll show you how to teleport yourselves," Helaprosti finished.
"Awesomeness!" Pete exclaimed, and then was gone in a flash of white light.
Noon…
Pete had successfully spread the word and after working out another lie to tell their parents, they all chose a meeting spot, and within moments, they were transported away. One thing they had to hand to Helaprosti: he was punctual…
Once they arrived, they all chose comfortable spots in the Commons and waited for Helaprosti to go into the next order of business…
"We haven't a moment to waste. If you go to the quarters, you will see your training gear waiting for you."
Helaprosti left them to get ready for training, and after following his directions; they all went to the fifth floor—the one floor they didn't get a chance to explore—to wait for him.
Pete could tell that everyone was a bit anxious as they waited for Helaprosti to start the training session. But John seemed to be particularly fidgety, and then looked over in his direction. To Pete's surprise, John was approaching him.
The bigger boy seemed to consider before he began, "Look. Now that we're gonna be on the same team, I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry about, you know, how I treated you in the past. And I know that you probably still hate me because of that and stuff. I don't blame you. I just hope that that won't get in the way of what we have to do, and maybe one day you would like, you know, forgive me."
Pete didn't even bother hiding his surprise. He was torn between laughing in his face—for John couldn't really expect him to accept that apology—and seriously considering what John was saying.
On the one hand, John had been a creep and the worst kind of bully, so he would definitely earn Pete's ire. But on the other hand, John's proven himself to be a pretty decent guy—thanks to Antoinette.
But then again, what if he's only pretending to be cool to get Antoinette to like him? After all, it was no secret that John liked her. But on second thought, it's apparent that Antoinette likes John just as much, so John wouldn't have to pretend. Damn, he was getting dizzy with all this speculating!
But just before Pete could reply, Helaprosti entered the room. Training was about to begin...
The white-clad recruiter looked around the room at his students, his Keepers, and smiled. The Great Ones had entrusted him with the responsibility of molding these Chosen Ones into the ultimate fighting team to defend this planet. He couldn't help but beam with pride.
"Welcome to the Training Hall. Today, we'll be doing some meditation, because without it, we can't tap into our full power. And trust me, we'll need all the power we can get."
Part of meditation, Helaprosti explained, was to be able to conquer negative thoughts, for negative thoughts allowed for no confidence of action.
But Pete was finding it difficult to conquer his negative thoughts, for they kept going back to John.
Back to that awful day in freshman year, with him on the ground absorbing the hail of fists and feet. He remembered catching a glimpse of John's grinning face as he delivered a kick to Pete's gut that knocked the wind out of him. Pete thoughtlessly felt for his ribs at the memory…
And just when he thought he would black out, in swooped Brad, pulling the bastards off him and throwing around punches—and bodies.
Who would've thought? A jock coming to the rescue of a nerd…
Pete came away with some broken ribs but a new friend that day…
But Pete knew what he could use to defeat his negative thoughts. He knew now that he had the opportunity to help people in that position, and that he had good friends who had his back.
Another part of meditation is turning those defeated negative thoughts into energy, which was formless and could be molded.
John defeated his negative feelings of guilt with the thought of Antoinette and the friendship she gave him…even if he didn't quite deserve it.
John was still blown away by the power of friendship. Not to sound cheesy, but there was nothing like having someone of your peers truly give a crap about you, and want to be around you, share a laugh with you…You couldn't get that through intimidation or force. He still had to shake his head at his luck.
And there was this new feeling brewing in him. He had developed feelings for Nette, and he smiled like a fool at the knowledge that she felt the same way.
There was something to be said about having that one person you'd do anything for...
The energy that he got from thinking about Antoinette was far beyond good. This energy was positively uplifting!
The third part of meditation was to take that energy and use it to tap into their abilities, to go beyond their basic awareness of it and into the more advanced uses.
For Brad, his energy floated around him like smoke. Then it began to shift into something more solid, forming discs with teeth-like grooves along the edges. Gears, huh? How fitting (no pun intended).
Brad's mind never did stop working. He was always thinking of the next possible move. Always strategizing. This skill came in handy on the football field, and sad to say, it would come in handy on the battlefield as well...
The meditation continued. The fourth part, Helaprosti explained, was to use their abilities like a bridge to their totem animals.
Antoinette was beginning to get it...all things were connected; one couldn't have one without the others, and all these parts were just symbols for who they were. In this session they would reconnect with themselves.
She found it a bit disconcerting to have thunder and lightning flashing above her head, but she knew that all this was under her control.
Under her control…was this her specialty: thunder and lightning?
Then the lightning turned into flames, and from the flames sprung up a huge bird. A phoenix.
Antoinette thought it was the loveliest thing…until she realized what the phoenix was: the bird that always died…yet never did…
The final part to this meditation session was to take that totem and turn it into the key that unlocks all other buried knowledge.
And there it was, hovering so beautifully before her. Liz's totem, the owl.
Liz smiled, for now she understood. The owl before her glowed with bright pink feathers, and in a moment she became the owl as it turned into pure light. In this state Liz could envision herself anywhere…and go there.
This, Helaprosti explained, was teleportation. Now Liz knew what it was to fly...
The meditation was like nothing they had ever experienced before. It was far more of a rush than scoring the winning touchdown in the big game, getting to the final level of Final Fantasy, or winning a fight.
It was like their minds were transported to a different place. A different time, even.
And on this new plane of awareness, they were one. Not just a team, but also a single, living, breathing entity.
There on that new plane of awareness, they understood their connection to their abilities and their totem animals. It was also there that they understood the Call that would expose them to even more power. The Call that would unite them as the Dalog Yodogh; the Keepers of the Power…the Power Rangers...
Now that the meditation was complete, it was time to move on with the training.
As urgent as the situation was, Helaprosti also knew that the best way to approach the Art was with an open and calm mind. One thing Keepers always had was the ability to become the Art. Perhaps in this way the Art could never truly be forgotten.
In order to get the most out of the Art, one's mind and body had to be flexible. Meditation played a big part of this; and if his team of Keepers were to stand a chance against all that would be thrown at them, they needed to have as much of the Art under their belt as humanly possible.
Before they knew it, Haezoh surrounded them. But they understood that teamwork was key if they intended to survive.
Liz readied her staff and struck, but not only did the Haezoh block; it disarmed her using a vine attack from its palm. Without hesitation, she levitated the Haezoh into the air, and while in the air, Brad shot it full of Fire Bullets, then turned his gun back into Sword Mode. Liz then let the Haezoh go, letting gravity do its thing as the Haezoh fell upon Brad's upraised sword.
The Haezoh was very still, but as a precaution Brad withdrew his sword and quickly sent the Haezoh's head flying. Moments later the Haezoh disappeared…
Helaprosti wasn't going to wait for the Haezoh to attack first. He marched up to one and did a tornado kick, resulting in the top of his foot connecting with the back of the Haezoh's head, then followed that with a side kick, then was drawing his sword and slashing upwards at the Haezoh before his foot fully touched the floor.
The Haezoh staggered backwards, but Helaprosti was not letting the Haezoh recover. He ignited his sword and ran the Haezoh through, then twisted the sword 90 degrees and sliced the sword out through the Haezoh's side.
He then turned the sword down and intuitively plunged the sword into the gut of the Haezoh trying to sneak up behind him. Then pulled the sword free and spinning-heal kicked that Haezoh.
Helaprosti looked over to where Antoinette was to see how she was fairing…
A Haezoh with its knives drawn attempted to stab at Antoinette, but she side-stepped and immediately plunged her weapon into the highs of its back. The Haezoh swung its arm out, but Antoinette blocked and sent the sai in her right hand into the Haezoh's side, then leaving it there, she sent her fist smashing into its jaw, and when the Haezoh was disoriented, she withdrew both her sais, and back flipped to put some distance between them.
Helaprosti came to Antoinette's side. The Haezoh she was dealing with was regaining its bearings and was being joined by three more of his compatriots. Antoinette electrified her sais, and Helaprosti readied his sword of white phosphorus.
One of the creatures launched one of its thorny vines in Antoinette's direction, but she blocked it with one of her sais, allowing the vine to wrap around it, and smirked when the electricity from her sai traveled up the vine, up the Haezoh's arm and electrocuted the faceless thing. Antoinette then cut the vine with her other sai and watched the remaining bit shrivel away.
Meanwhile, Helaprosti wasted no time laying to waste one of Haezoh that attacked him, mercilessly hacking the Haezoh to bits.
And then there were two.
Antoinette took on one of the two forcing it in one direction, while Helaprosti propelled the other one backwards with kicks and slashes. And when the two remaining Haezoh were back-to-back, Helaprosti ran his blazing sword through them both. And with that all Haezoh disappeared…
Pete held his short-swords at ready as he surveyed his surroundings. Okay, there were four Haezoh, and John was nearby, fighting off his own set.
All of a sudden, one of the Haezoh attacked him with its leaf daggers. Pete was soon engaged in a hand-to-hand battle, blocking and making wild slashes with his short-swords. He propelled the Haezoh back enough to notice another one coming his way.
Pete side-kicked the approaching Haezoh in the gut, and slashed the one he was fighting in the "face". That was enough to send the two Haezoh back, but they were slowly regrouping. And three more Haezoh were approaching from a different direction.
Shit! Pete thought to himself, and as an afterthought, Where the hell is John?
Pete began to back up, holding up his short-swords. Great, there were two Haezoh behind him, three in front of him and no John in sight.
Then, to Pete's surprise, one of the Haezoh in front of him was attacking the others! He held the other Haezoh in a headlock and drew an axe across its throat, then holstered the axe as he watched the other Haezoh fall.
Then the Maverick Haezoh continued his assault by launching a thorny vine in the direction of the third Haezoh. The vine coiled around its neck and the Maverick Haezoh began reeling it in as he readied his leaf dagger, protruding from the top of his hand.
Within seconds the Haezoh's "eye" connected with the Maverick Haezoh's leaf dagger. He then withdrew his embedded dagger from the Haezoh's "face" and let it drop.
What the Maverick Haezoh did next shocked the hell out of Pete: the Haezoh turned into—John! Then John took his place next to Pete, for now the other two Haezoh were beginning their attack.
"Wait a minute!" Pete balked. "How the hell did you do that?" But all John did was smirk.
Pete and John then stood back-to-back, and without realizing it, were moving in unison.
Pete readied one of his short-swords and John drew one of his axes, and they both hurled their weapons at the heads of their respective on-coming assailants, both weapons hitting their marks. Then both John and Pete quickly forward kicked their respective Haezoh, then dislodged their weapons and made a final slash to the "face". The two Haezoh fell and they, as well as the other two, disappeared.
All six of our heroes looked around the now Haezoh-free simulation room and took this opportunity to breathe.
Everyone went home that evening quite sore and tired. And each one knew that they'd have to come back the next day and do it again. But they also knew that it was paying off, and would all prove necessary soon…
And so the next day, the five came filing back onto the Grounds, threw on their training clothes and proceeded to get their butts kicked by the sheer rigor of the session.
And once again they all retreated home to catch up on some homework, and some Z's before having to go back to school in the morning…all, except one…
Antoinette wanted to talk to him a little more, see how much more she could discover. And from the looks of it, Helaprosti was looking forward to this opportunity as well.
"Antoinette, please have a seat," the young man offered, gesturing to the seat at the conference table at the Library. She felt all kinds of sticky; she hadn't yet hit the shower. She patted her forehead with her towel.
"I have some very important news concerning you," Helaprosti continued. His serious tone locked her attention. "The Great Ones have a message they wish for me to pass to you."
Ancients…Antoinette considered. "You mean the Gods you were talking about earlier?" she asked, even though she knew the answer.
"Yes," Helaprosti confirmed.
"Why would your Gods be worried about me?" she asked more to herself, now very glad she was sitting.
Sitting beside her he continued, "I cannot tell you the plan of the Great Ones. I don't know anything they do not wish me to know." Antoinette found it odd how rigid her body became at the mention of them, as if it knew to fear them.
Helaprosti placed a hand on her head and requested that she closed her eyes. Uneasily, she complied. "Open your mind, like we did in meditation," he instructed.
Willing her breathing and heartbeat to relax, her mind began to open...and flooding her blank mind were images she'd rather forget. Images of her and her friends dying horrible deaths…
"My God!" she gasped, breaking the trance. "What the hell kinda message was that?" she barked, outraged and shaken.
"One that you can prevent from coming to pass," Helaprosti answered matter-of-factly.
Skeptical as always she asked, "Was that real?"
"How real did it feel?" the boy countered. She thought about it, for indeed that image felt all too real.
"What can we do?" she asked, concerned.
"Not 'we', you." "What? Me? Shouldn't everybody be able to prevent their own deaths?" she demanded, outraged.
"Yes. If they knew when they were to die…" Helaprosti stated.
"They'll know when I tell them!" Antoinette spat, not understanding where the "if" came in.
"That's the thing, Antoinette. You will not tell them," Helaprosti rebutted calmly, a calmness that was beginning to get under her skin.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" she shot back, positively incensed.
"And you also won't tell the others about the Ancients beyond this point," he continued, ignoring her outcry.
"This is insane," Antoinette seethed, finally, getting up from her seat and heading to the door. She was steamed.
Just as she reached the door she stopped, whipped around and said to Helaprosti, "You know, you got some nerve. First, you expose to us those creepy swamp-things, tell us that we have to save the world from them and their crazy leader, then tell me in the future we all die and I can't tell the others…" She took a breath and shook her head, "You tell us that we're a team. That that's the only way we can win. If we all die, shouldn't we deal with it as a team? Just what exactly are you tryna pull?"
"It is no accident that you're here. You all belong here," he assured. But you were handpicked…"Please, Antoinette. Come back inside. I'll explain."
'(O_~)' Zen'Aku Lati, Monday, November 29, 2010