Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Four - Heather Ray (little red riding hood ebook txt) 📗

Power Coins with them... or could they be given to others?

What would the team... what would Angel Grove

be like without Jason, and his dependable strength and confidence?

She shook herself, banishing the disquieting thought. "There'll be dozens... no, hundreds

of applicants," she decided. "Chances are none of our friends will be picked."

Rather than actually considering those chances, she picked up a clipboard. "Lemme start matching up volunteers," she offered. "That way we can start letting groups out."

Kim agreed. "Make sure to assign volunteers by pairs. After what happened last night, we'd better take some precautions."

"You got it," Alexis stated with a mock-salute. She then walked toward the gym area of the Youth Center, where a large group of kids and teens were congregated.

"Watch closely, boys and girls," Zack sang, pulling off his top hat with a flourish, "as I accomplish the most amazing feat you will ever see!"

He tipped his hat, revealing its lack of contents to everyone watching. Then, he sat the hat, top down, onto a blanketed table. Theatrically clutching his cape, he waved his plastic wand over the hat's rim.

"Abracadabra! Bibbity, Boppity, Boo! Ala-kazaam! Voila!"

The audience snickered and giggled at his antics, watching with rapt attention as his free hand dove into the hat. With no further ado, he lifted his hand, carrying something white and fuzzy.

One young girl's smile fell. "It's not a real bunny!" she accused, "It's fake!"

His lips parting into his trademark smile, Zack descended from his "stage." "There's no fooling you, Trish," he admitted, "It's stuffed. You see, last time I did this trick, I used a real bunny. He got scared by all the noise, and ran away. We couldn't find him for hours."

He winked. "When we did find him, he left Ernie a 'present' in the kitchen. Ernie decided not to welcome pets anymore."

The teens and older kids laughed at the tale, and though Trish didn't quite follow, she laughed along with them. Zack gently tugged the young girl's ponytail, and set the stuffed bunny on her lap.

Alexis laughed with the others, separating herself from the spectators to finish taking count. Without warning, a warm hand enclosed hers. "So, we meet again."

The Purple Ranger froze, staring at the young man in open astonishment.

The knight... the

knight... grinned rakishly as he kissed her hand. His laughing eyes locked with hers, igniting a very similar peevish frustration he stirred in her the first time they met.

"Sorry," he demurred, though his gaze was anything but apologetic. "I seem to keep scaring you, Alexis."

"I wasn't scared," she defended, snatching her hand away.

He winked, casually waiting for her to simmer down. After a lengthy silence, she glanced at him again. "I see you traded in the full armor for something lighter."

He tapped the chain mail vest. "Yeah... the full suit looked great on display, but walking in it is a whole other story. I decided to tone it down for Trick or Treating, but I'm still every inch the dashing knight I was before!"

She chose not to comment. "What're you doing here? Do you go to this school?"

"I do now... I was transferred from Stone Canyon with some friends of mine." His grin widened. "And what luck! My second day here and I already find a familiar face!"

She smirked.

"So, are you assigning the chaperones?"

"Yeah... two per group of eight kids. I think that should keep the numbers pretty reasonable."

"Good," he agreed, peeking over her shoulder at the list. "So, how 'bout matching 'Darling' with 'DeSantos'?"

Her eyebrow quirked. "Gee, I wonder who 'Rocky DeSantos' could be..."

"Well, he sure sounds like a great guy to get to know! Besides, I hear he's from Stone Canyon... he probably doesn't know much about Angel Grove. He definitely needs to be matched with a local student."

Alexis elected to continue the light-hearted banter. "Too bad 'Alexis' has only lived in Angel Grove for a couple of months, and is terrible with directions."

He answered with an amused grin. "Good thing 'Rocky' can read a map in his sleep."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely. A skill perfectly honed after years of Zelda games. You just can't rescue the princess if you can't navigate the world map."

Alexis couldn't resist a giggle. "Riiight

," she murmured, making the appropriate checks on the list to fulfill his request. "I just hope 'Alexis' can handle watching nine

kids all by herself."

Chapter Twenty-One

Meanwhile, as all the other children and teens kept themselves occupied with conversations and candy, a group of six small kids strolled unobtrusively into the Youth Center. Unlike all the other children present, they did not arrive with a parent, nor did they ask any questions. Instead, after one curt nod from the White Ranger, they separated into groups of two, slipping seamless into the huddles of smaller humans... listening intently, but saying nothing.

Chapter Twenty-Two

When Tommy Oliver stepped into the Youth Center, absently knotting a handkerchief over his loose hair, he was treated to an amusing sight. Kimberly was standing on the table, calling out names and ushering groups of children into proper order. With a bemused grin, he watched her work.

"Adam and Zack!" she called. The young cowboy and magician stepped forward. "You take Group One out, and focus on these blocks," she advised, handing them a map. "It's less than a quarter mile from here, to the east. You'll be there in minutes."

She then waved them away. With a wide grin, Zack waved his farewell, and he and his new acquaintance made their way to their eight charges.

Zack's grin widened even further when he noticed two of the costumes. "Hey... the Yellow and Black Rangers!" he awed, kneeling beside the short children. "Terrific! You guys can watch over us while we roam the spooky streets of Angel Grove!"

The two children made no response.

He then lightly elbowed the Black Ranger. "You know... you're my almost-girlfriend's favorite hero."

Again, no response.

Zack just shrugged, rising to his feet again. "Okay, troops... let's mosey!"

As Group One departed from the Youth Center, Kim arranged the next group. "Alexis and Rocky, you guys take Group Two out to Somerset Avenue." She handed Alexis the map. "You know where that is, right Lex? By the Burger King."

The angel nodded. "We'll find our way. See you tonight, Kim!"

Kim waved at her friends, watching them lead the second group of kids, including the Red and Blue Rangers, out into the neighborhood.

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Did you find anything useful, Billy?"

The young genius shook his head, causing the white wig of his 'mad scientist' costume to sway gently. "Nothing," he answered, "All the cases I've scanned remotely haven't changed. Though I would like to take a closer scan... just in case there's something I've missed."

"THAT IS A WISE PLAN," Zordon conceded. "WE NEEDED TO RELINQUISH CARE OF YOUR FRIEND 'SKULL' TO AVOID SUSPICION OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE, YET WITHOUT CLOSER CONTACT WE ARE UNLIKELY TO IDENTIFY A TREATMENT."

"But how will Billy be able to examine the students?" Alpha wondered.

"I see no harm in visiting the hospital as the Blue Ranger," Billy proposed. "The condition of these victims is inexplicable to medical science. I'm sure the doctors will be willing to let a Power Ranger conduct a few scans."

Zordon nodded his agreement. "VERY WELL, BILLY. MORPH AND TELEPORT TO THE HOSPITAL."

Billy nodded, pulling his Morpher from underneath his cotton labcoat. "Triceratops!"

In a bright display of vibrant energy, sleek blue armor replaced the loose costume. With a brief nod to his friend and former leader, the Blue Ranger vanished.

Jason watched the afterimage fade, his mind rapidly spinning the right words together to broach a significant topic with his mentor.

"Zordon," he uttered, turning toward the near-fatherly figure, "there's a Youth Summit that's going on in Switzerland. Each year delegates from around the world are chosen to participate. The objective is to learn about other cultures, and create the kind of mutual understanding that could pave the way for global peace."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Alpha chirped. "It's such a shame people can't get along on this planet. Very few planets I'm familiar with have the kind of internal strife I've seen on Earth."

"IT IS A WORTHY CAUSE, AND A POTENTIAL STEP TOWARD THE PEACE THIS PLANET NEEDS TO CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH TO MATURITY," Zordon commented. "COOPERATION OF RESOURCES WILL OPEN UP MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUMANITY TO EXPLORE THE GALAXY, AND INTERACT WITH THOSE OF OTHER PLANETS."

Jason nodded his agreement. "Zack and Trini think this conference is the best thing since sliced bread." His hand found his forehead, and began rubbing a faint throbbing sensation. "And I'll admit, I'm interested, too."

He fell silent, suddenly unable to keep his gaze on Zordon. Instead, he glanced at the Viewing Globe. "I've put a lot of thought into it, and I believe there's a lot we can learn from this conference. It's a terrific opportunity to get to know this planet as a whole, and understand the different pieces that make the mosaic of human kind. And... there's a lot we can offer the others, too. Our time as Rangers has changed us,