The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 5 - Heather Ray (young adult books to read TXT) 📗

I checked out those old wedding presents we never bothered with --"

"And?" Zedd snapped impatiently.

"-- and, I found this!" she announced, holding up the crystal.

"What is it?" Zedd inquired.

"It's a Weather Warp," she explained with a smile. "They are magical creations of the Kenshin, a race of beings my father conquered during his spread across the M51 Galaxy."

"What does it do?"

"Zedd, it's called a 'Weather Warp'

. Therefore, it warps weather patterns. Duh!"

"Cheap parlor tricks," Zedd scoffed. "Count on Master Vile to give a useless present!"

"Don't talk about my father that way!" Rita snapped, turning away from Zedd. "It's already creating a massive storm front in Angel Grove. Weather is one of the most destructive forces in the galaxy! Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards...they kill hundreds of people every year!"

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to plant this crystal in Angel Grove, so it can have the greatest effect. Then I'll program it to bury Angel Grove in a blizzard! Considering it never snows in southern California, that weather disaster will be the most unexpected of them all!"

Rita began to laugh triumphantly, and Zedd shook his head. "I don't think it's going to work, Rita."

Rita glared at her husband. "Don't be such a stick in the mud!" she croaked, turning on her heel. She then vanished from the Moon Palace in a bright display of energy.

Chapter Six

Inside the Darling's house, Alexis busily organized the cardboard boxes that littered her room, with the aid of her friends Jason, Kim, and Aisha. Jason and Alexis were busy unpacking her clothing, while Kim and Aisha continued to carry boxes from downstairs.

"So," said Jason, opening a box with a pair of scissors, "what has the Purple Ranger been up to all this time?"

Alexis chuckled, putting some folded sweaters into her drawers. "Not much, really. With midterms right before the break in the marking period, I haven't had much time for patrolling. Not that it's all that much fun anyway. The crime rate in University City dropped about 44% since I first showed up about a year ago. I guess they figured that crime doesn't pay -- so long as the Purple Ranger is around to catch them."

"How is the solo fighting life?" Jason inquired. "It must be tougher than working as a team. Also, we know exactly who we fight. We don't go on patrol -- Rita and Zedd make the first move."

"It's really very different," Alexis admitted. "Actually, I picked up a lot from Spider Man. The adventure with the Lizard last year really honed my detective skills."

"I guess that makes you a purple Batgirl?" Jason asked with a grin. She rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't say that. So, how've you been? How's the Terran Ranger experience?"

Jason nodded, and grinned, "I love it," he said, "I didn't realize how much I missed being a Power Ranger until Zordon made me the Black Terran Ranger. It's a feeling that... just can't be described. It felt like a missing part of me was suddenly returned."

"I'm glad you got that chance," Alexis said, sitting beside him on her bed. "It was pretty obvious from our conversations over the Ranger-com that you weren't enjoying the Peace Conference as much as you expected. It's a worthy cause, but it's not your style. You save the world in your own way...with your fists

."

Jason laughed. "Yeah, I'm just addicted to the action. Discussing world peace seemed pretty boring in comparison. Especially considering nothing seemed to get done! I'm not patient enough to wait years and years for the slightest result. I like to see my accomplishments, so I'm sure I'm making a difference."

Alexis took Jason's hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm glad you're back, Jay."

She waited for a moment, expecting him to return to gesture. She was surprised when he moved away from her. He stood up, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Uh...I'm kinda thirsty. I'm gonna get a soda. You want anything?"

"No thanks," she said, watching him leave. She blinked, still surprised by his nervous reaction. Just a few seconds later, Kimberly and Aisha entered the bedroom. Both of them glanced back out into the hallway, and set the boxes they were carrying on the plush carpet.

"What's with Jason?" Kimberly asked, an amused grin on her face. "He looks like he's seen a ghost."

Alexis frowned. "I don't know what happened," she sighed. "He was fine and everything, but then I took his hand, and he freaked out!"

Kim's eyes widened. "You're kidding." Alexis' silence was answer enough.

"Maybe he's not comfortable with intimacy?" Aisha suggested. Alexis huffed.

"I wouldn't exactly call holding hands intimate

Aisha."

"What else happened?" Kim asked, sitting beside her friend.

"Well, we were just talking about Rangering, and I took his hand, and told him I'm glad he came back to Angel Grove. You know, so we can be together again. But he didn't say anything."

"He didn't say anything?" Aisha repeated.

"Nothing. He just sat there. I figured he'd say something along the lines of 'I'm glad you're back, too'. But not a word came from his lips. Then, he got up, asked me if I wanted a soda, and ran outta here."

"Well you two did kinda leave your relationship up in the air," reminded Kimberly. "You weren't officially dating before you moved, but there was something there between you. Maybe it's hard to pick up from where you left off?"

"I guess," Alexis sighed, sitting forward and clasping her hands together tightly. "We kept in touch pretty well, though, and I really thought something was blossoming. But when he moved back to the US, we kinda lost touch. Could he have changed so much in three months?"

"Jason is one to ease into a relationship," Kim offered. "Trust me on this one, I've know him almost all my life. He obviously likes you. That's why he gets so tongue-tied around you. He's a lot shier than you'd expect."

Meanwhile, just downstairs, Jason leans against the kitchen sink, taking a long sip of water. He breathed deeply, and runs his hands through his short black hair. He then pinched the bridge of his nose, and squeezed his eyes shut.

What just happened there? She only touched my hand, and I panicked! What was THAT

all about?! Its not like we haven't held hands before. But I just felt so...guilty

. Could this all be because of Katherine?!

Jason sighed, and took a seat at the kitchen table. He stared at the glass in his hands, and then back at the table.

How did I get myself into this situation? Well, my plan didn't work. I honestly thought that all I had to do was spend a little time with Lex, and suddenly, all the emotions I felt for her a year ago would suddenly rekindle. Well, I was wrong. I mean, she's still a fantastic person, but I don't think I love

her. She'll always be a friend to me, but I don't know what I feel towards her. That's not fair to her. I...I gotta tell her...

Jason rose from the kitchen table, when he heard someone coming up from the basement. He turned to the basement door, and saw Denise walk up. She tucked a loose strand of strawberry-blonde hair behind her ear, and smiled when she saw Jason.

"Good idea," she said to him, moving to the refrigerator. She poured a glass of water, and sat down on the table across from Jason. He sat back down to join her.

"So," she said, "how's the unpacking coming along?"

"Slow but steady," he said with a polite grin. "How are you feeling, Denise?"

"I'm tired," she admitted, "and my mother told me to stop exerting myself. I guess she's right. I just don't like admitting it. So, how are you, Jason?"

"I'm fine."

Denise's eyebrow rose as she gazed at the young man. "Funny, you look a little troubled."

"Really?" Jason asked.

"Jason, I'm a trained prosecutor," she said with a wry smile, "I know the look of guilt when I see it. Is everything okay between you and my sister?"

"Everything's fine," he said, rising to his feet, "I'd better get going. See you, Denise."

She nodded, and watched him walk up the stairs. Jason knocked on Alexis' bedroom door, even though it was already open. He then stepped in, and saw Kim, Aisha, and Alexis all sitting on the bed, with Alexis in the middle.

"Uh, I'd better get going," he told them. "See you tomorrow?"

"Fine," said Alexis, a weak smile on her face. "Goodbye, Jason."

"Bye, Lex. Bye girls."

With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him. With a slight wave to Denise, he left the house, and strolled down the street, his hands in his pockets, and his face cast to the ground. Alexis watched him leave her family's property from her bedroom door, and turned back to her friends, a frown on her face.

"Well," she said, "what are we sitting around for? We've got unpacking to do!"

Although she tried her best to sound enthusiastic, it was obvious Alexis was upset. Kim and Aisha traded worried glances.

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Denise knocked on Alexis' bedroom door.

"Come in!" she called. Denise walked in, and saw her younger sister busily styling her shoulder-length red hair in a French braid. Denise walked up behind her, and pulled her to the vanity chair.

"Hey!" Alexis complained as Denise took apart the braid. Denise rolled her eyes, which Alexis could see through the mirror.

"Lex, you've never been very good a braiding. Let me do it for you."

Alexis sighed, and watched in the mirror as Denise brushed through the thick red mane.

"So," Denise said, parting Alexis' hair, "what are you and your friends doing today?"

"I don't know," Alexis sighed, "Kim told me yesterday it was a surprise, and to be ready at ten o'clock."