Chapter Text
Chapter 26: A New Day
Students of all elements gathered around the arena for the demonstration. It was a new year and brand new students with freshly anointed colors were both anxious and leery, some wondering if they had the stuff necessary to make it. Others who had been attending for longer and were well on their way to graduation, enjoyed the energy in the air, watching their young sensei's demonstrate the techniques of the Wind and Thunder Ninja. It was exciting and made them hopeful that their own skills could one day reach such a level.
Two years had passed since Lothor's resurrection, defeat, and disappearance. They knew he was out there, probably using his dark powers to somehow persuade various beings to join his army. It had taken him over twenty years the last time to return with an army powerful enough, but Kanoi knew it would not be that long this time. Lothor was not done with them. This was evident by the string of bounty hunters that the rangers had fought in the last two years. They had all been defeated, but were a reminder from Lothor that he was still out there. While he didn't have the means to employ the best ones, he convinced many who had proved to be formidable in their own right, to take them on. If they won, it promised them instant glory and recognition. None so far had succeeded, but it was evident that Lothor's ability to deceive and art of persuasion was as strong as ever. Still, these six or seven, including Blake, were the most skilled and powerful ninjas either Academy had ever produced. Even without the aid of their prisms, that statement remained true and Kanoi enjoyed his retirement watching these young people flourish. His own son and nieces were family by blood, but he had come to think of them all as his children. And while Cam and Leann did not have children of their own yet, Hunter and Tori now did. And he was overjoyed to be considered one of the grandparents to the tiny blonde child in his lap currently.
Shortly after the ordeal with Lothor, Tori discovered she was almost four months pregnant. It had been unexpected, but welcomed wholeheartedly by them and their family. They married shortly after their daughter's birth and now they were already celebrating Sarah Elizabeth Bradley's first birthday that evening. His once small family had grown quite large and Kanoi had not been this happy in a long time, even with the ominous future he sensed on the horizon.
The last exhibition was beginning and electricity could already be felt in the air...literally.
Cam and Leann had gone first in an impressive spar, with Cam as the victor. Dustin and Tori had battled next with Tori winning the match. And now it was Shane vs. Hunter. Shane had edged out Hunter last year and he was looking to keep his winning streak, but the determined thunder ninja was hungry for the win. Tori rolled her eyes, as they stared each other down, each with a permanent smirk, and she sat down beside Sensei, fresh off her victory.
"Mama…" Sarah cooed.
"Hi baby…" Tori cooed back, as she took her daughter. The little girl pointed her tiny finger in the distance.
"Da…" she cooed. Tori smiled.
"Yes, there's daddy," she said. Kanoi smiled.
"Congratulations on your victory. I believe Dustin might decide to not skip so many training sessions this year," Kanoi mused. Tori smiled.
"Maybe, but I'm not sure it was so much that. Last year, Hunter and I lost I think not because of skill, but lack of sleep. Someone is sleeping through the night now," Tori said, kissing her daughter's head.
"Shane better watch himself," she added, as Kanoi chuckled.
"All the training in the world is useless if one is not well rested," he agreed.
Hunter struck first and his punch was blocked expertly by Shane, who attempted to sweep his legs out from under him. But Hunter backflipped to evade him and countered with a flying kick. It missed, as Shane took to the sky and landed on the edge of the arena. They smirked at each other and with lightning speed, red and crimson energy swirled in the palms of their hands. The air energy beam and the thunder energy beam met in the center of the arena with explosive force, causing a violent wind to sweep through the observing students. Shock registered on the newest student's faces and awe from some of the older students. Hunter's energy won out, but he nullified the thunder before it could hit Shane. This was just a friendly exhibition spar, after all. Shane traded blows with the blonde thunder ninja and a flying spin kick met its mark, knocking the red wind ranger out of the ring.
"They expect us to do stuff like that?" one of the new students asked. Tally smiled. Once an inexperienced, average fighter, she was now an accomplished water ninja in her own right, thanks to Tori's training.
"Their energy control is unparalleled. They are rangers, after all. But stick with your Sensei, and you'll become a great ninja," Tally assured him.
"Better luck next year," Hunter said, as he helped Shane up.
"Yeah, yeah, you got lucky," Shane replied, as he brushed himself off.
"I think Sensei would say there's no such thing as luck," Hunter said, as Sarah reached for him as he approached. He picked her up and kissed her hair.
"Hey Princess," he cooed.
"You're dismissed for the day," Shane said, as the students bowed respectfully to them and dispersed.
"So, we still grubbin' at La Casa de Bradley?" Dustin asked.
"Do you always think with your stomach?" Tori teased.
"He's Dustin, of course he does," Cam drawled.
"Dinner's still on, just don't fight over who gets to grill this time," Tori said.
As a wedding present, Tori's parents had presented her and Hunter with the title to their beach house. While they could have sold it, being that they were residing in Angel Grove now as part of a joint DEA, FBI, and Angel Grove P.D. taskforce, the house was paid for and they decided they wanted to keep it in the family. Tori and Hunter had been blown away and even insisted that it was too generous. But Jack and Alana knew how much Tori had loved growing up by the beach and wanted the same for their granddaughter. Naturally, outside Ninja Ops, it was a frequent gathering place for all of them.
"Let's clean up and go then. I'm getting hungry," Leann said. They agreed and Hunter and Tori left first, taking their daughter home.
~*~
Onyx
The disgusting, dusty Cantina on Onyx was bustling with the usual activity. Bounty hunters, mercenaries, soldiers, and minions alike milled about in the galaxy's well known watering hole for all shady characters, like it was a normal day. While most planets had various forms of currency, much like Earth, many systems also had the presence of a universal currency that could be spent on most worlds.
S.P.D was even in the process of trying to integrate the universal currency on Earth, being that many friendly aliens were now flocking to settle on Earth. Many worlds, including Onyx, had currency conversion stations, where a local currency could be converted into the universal currency, effectively known as Universal Standard Credits, or just simply credits, completely digital and easy to manage and trace, if needed. Though many criminals had many ways of making sure their transactions were erased to prevent them being traced.
"Make sure that conversion is untraceable," the hulking man ordered. He appeared to be humanoid, but his face and skin seemed to have tendril-like tattoos, blue in color on his ruddy colored skin. He was in fact a Bakurian from the planet Bakura near the M51 galaxy. He was one of the best mercenaries in the galaxy and on S.P.D's top ten wanted list. He had numerous scars to speak of, evident of his rough lifestyle and he was very well armed with two blasters and several sharp weapons, such as knives and daggers.
"Excuse me, but are you Krell?" the olive skinned Drakonian asked. The man lit a Bakurian cigar and exhaled a purple colored smoke.
"Depends on who's askin'," he responded.
"I am Siphon of the Planet Drakon, here on behalf of the King," he answered. Krell smirked.
"And whatever could the King of Drakon want with me? Doesn't he have his own legion of mercenaries at his beck and call? Krell asked.
"He does, but this matter requires the services of someone like you," Siphon asked, as he produced a small imaging device, displaying two rangers battling a Drakonian female. He vaguely recognized her as the King's daughter.
"You want me to kill a couple rangers?" he asked skeptically.
"These rangers slayed the King's daughter two years ago and he will not allow Heliya's death to go unpunished," Siphon stated. He scoffed.
"Give me a break. There's no way Heliya was killed by a couple of rangers from a backwater primitive place like Earth," he replied, as he kept watching the screen, witnessing the purple energy explode between the two and incinerate the Drakonian warrior princess.
"And you want me to go after them?" he asked.
"We've been watching them for the last two years and we are convinced that they must be separate in order to take them down. We want one of them, whichever presents the easiest opportunity, to be taken alive," Siphon replied. Krell smirked and exhaled another puff of smoke.
"You're going to throw one of them into one of your little games to be hunted, then?" he asked knowingly. Siphon clenched his jaw.
"Krato Agon is no game! They must pay for killing Heliya! The King is offering you a small fortune to bring one of them to Drakon, but I'm sure I can find someone else!" Siphon growled.
"Relax pal...I didn't say that I didn't want the job," Krell said.
"Good. Half the money now and half when one of the targets is delivered," Siphon replied.
"And the other target?" Krell asked.
"We will deal with them one at a time. Apart, they cannot use that mysterious power," the Drakonian replied. Krell nodded and finished his drink. He raised his comlink to his lips.
"Fuel my ship," he said.
~*~
Blue Bay Harbor
Skyla tossed the frisbee and both Shane and Dustin went for it, colliding in mid air. Dustin grabbed it, sending Shane into the sand.
"Sorry dude," Dustin said, helping his friend up.
Tori and Hunter walked in the surf with Sarah between them, holding each tiny hand, as she toddled between them.
"I can't believe she's trying to walk already," Marah said in amazement.
"I know...I can't believe it's been a year," Leann mentioned. Hunter picked her up so as to not tire her tiny legs too soon and they ventured over to the table they had set up.
"Time for presents and cake before she's too sleepy," Tori said. Sensei sipped at his tea and watched Hunter put a sweater with a hood on the tiny girl. The wind had picked up now that the sun was starting to set an he marveled at how much the young thunder ninja had matured over the years from a young angry kid, troubled with grief and loss to a strong, loving man, who was as devoted to his family as any young man Kanoi had ever seen.
Tori lit the candles on the birthday cake and though she didn't really know what was going on yet, they sang to her, while Marah and Leann cut and served the cake.
In the meantime, the young parents helped their daughter open her gifts. Sensei gave her a beautifully painted scroll for them to hang by her bed, scrawled with ancient poems to protect her dreams as she slept. The rest of her gifts were a combination of clothes, mostly from the girls and toys mostly from the guys. And Kelly had brought a package that was delivered to the store from Blake with her own gift. Needless to say, Blake and Kapri had gone about spoiling her with lots of toys.
There was one gift left in the form of an envelope and the Gridiron company seal on it soured Hunter's mood considerably.
"Dude, just open it. Maybe he really is trying to change," Dustin reasoned.
"Men like him don't change," Hunter insisted, as he opened it. There was a birthday card with the usual pink and glitter common in cards for little girls with the words for a special granddaughter on the front. He sighed and opened it to read it, finding another envelope inside.
Hunter,
I would have liked to send a more personal gift, but I know and understand that you're not ready for that level of involvement. But please accept the enclosed savings vouchers. I would be very honored if you contribute these funds to a college fund for Sarah. Best wishes,
Jared.
"A little college fund can't hurt, can it?" Marah asked.
"I'm just afraid that if we take anything from him that it will give him the opening he wants. He knows about our powers, our identities, and probably a whole bunch of other stuff we don't know about," Hunter said.
"And you're worried that one day, he might use that leverage to extort favors," Shane added. Hunter nodded.
"With Logan, it is wise to be leery," Sensei said, using his real name. Sarah was getting sleepy and they decided to call it a night. They would be having a bigger party in Angel Grove later that week since Tori's parents were insisting on throwing a party for their granddaughter and a get together for as many rangers as could come.
~*~
New Tech City
"All right Mr. Vasquez, let's go over this again. You claim on the day that you were arrested that the undercover DEA agents had help," the man stated.
"You won't believe me...just like the rest of the shrinks they've sent in here!" Palo ranted.
"I assure you, Mr. Vasquez, I just want to hear your story. I'm not inclined to agree with the doctors," he replied.
"Who are you?" Palo demanded to know, realizing that this man was not a psychiatrist or doctor of any kind.
"Special Agent Owen Tate, Space Patrol Alpha, Earth Division," he introduced himself.
"SPA? What interest do they have in this?" he hissed.
"SPA is no stranger to happenings that seem out of the ordinary, in fact, we specialize in all things...alien to this planet. We like to keep track of beings who may not be average people so to speak," Tate explained.
"These brats were far from average! There are entire pieces of my memory missing, but I remember them shooting water and lightning from their hands," he said.
"Water and lightning?" Tate asked.
"I know what it sounds like, but it's true!" Palo insisted.
"Thank you Mr. Vasquez, you've been very helpful," Tate said.
"I've helped you, so you can help me by getting me out of this place!" Palo spat.
"Oh make no mistake, Mr. Vasquez, you're a hardened criminal and former leader of a drug ring. Prison is your home indefinitely," Tate said, as he left the ranting man, yelling expletives at him. He joined Commander Cruger in the next corridor.
"He definitely remembers something. Sounds like a memory wipe," Tate reported.
"Then you believe Jack and Alana Hanson didn't apprehend him alone?" Cruger asked.
"Sir, if I may speak freely, I'm originally from Blue Bay Harbor. I've seen what he is describing from the rangers that protected that city in 2003, the same rangers that popped up again two years ago. I just don't know why they would have been involved in something like this. Why are retired rangers saving two DEA agents?" Tate wondered.
"It is an interesting puzzle," Cruger admitted.
"And a mind wipe? I was unaware a device like that existed on Earth," Tate mentioned.
"It does if Billy Cranston invented one," Cruger said silently to himself. He was sure Birdie suspected as such. Billy Cranston, Jason Lee Scott, their friends, and the ninjas of Blue Bay Harbor were likely involved: why he didn't know yet. Birdie wanted them all exposed. He wanted no more non-SPA sanctioned ranger operations and that included the secret ninja academy. However, Cruger wasn't ready to try to step in and confront them. It would only be met with resistance and aggression if they pushed too hard.
"Hmm...perhaps that is what Birdie wants," Cruger thought silently. He didn't want to think ill of the Admiral, but he had been known to make politically motivated decisions. Rogue rangers were not good for SPA's image. Earth's operation was in its infancy and wildly powerful rangers that refused to join SPA looked very bad. There would be pressure from the higher-ups to conform all ranger teams under SPA control.
Plus, SPA operated their ranger teams with pure technology, with no access to the actual morphing grid. They had a similar grid developed by a gifted scientist, Kat Manx. But Billy Cranston had knowledge of the original morphing grid like no one else in existence now that Zordon was dead. Billy had repeatedly turned down job offers from them in the last few years, seemingly happy to work for the FBI, which seemed ill-suited to his skill set. Birdie wanted that knowledge at any cost, but Cruger wasn't willing to cross such moral boundaries. Leaving Billy Cranston alone was their best option. If they were to threaten his family or friends, no security system, no matter how top-notch, could keep him out. A man like Cranston would need mere hours to hack SPA and he had a feeling there were things Birdie didn't want exposed about himself.
That in itself made Cruger highly uncomfortable. Politics blurred the lines of good and evil and he knew that you didn't advance the ranks as fast as Birdie had without questionable ethics violations. But he was still the Admiral. Cruger's loyalty had to ultimately be to SPA. That being said, he wasn't ready to allow Zordon's legacy to be trampled on for the sake of power. He would have to handle all of this delicately.
"I'll report our findings to the Admiral, thank you Lieutenant," Cruger said.
"Yes Sir," Tate responded.