Big Problems, episode 01-02

[Legends NPC]

Previously on Legends of the Power Rangers:

The evil space sorceress Rita Repulsa was reborn on the planet Earth. She sent her resurrected general Goldar along with an army of monstrous putty patrollers into the city of Angel Grove. Within an hour her army captured the majority of the city’s population.

Fortunately for Earth Zordon of Eltar a benevolent being who lost his body in battle with Rita summoned five teenagers with attitude to defend their planet. Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini and Jason were given the powers of the mastodon, pterodactyl, triceratops, saber-toothed tiger, and tyrannosaurus rex becoming the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

The five young heroes defeated Goldar and his putties sending the monster back to Rita in defeat. With evil army’s attack on the city now over the teenagers have been given 24 hours to decide if they wish to accept the great power and responsibility of being a power ranger. Meanwhile Rita Repulsa makes her plans to attack the Earth once again promising Goldar a chance for revenge against the heroes who defeated him.

What will the fate of our heroes be…

[Legends Red Ranger]

1:32 pm
Angel Grove High


Jason sat slumped at his school desk using his hand to help prop up his arm. He wanted to be pay attention to what Mrs. Applebee was teaching he really did but his mind was just all over the place today. Fortunately he was not the only one as most of the student body was tired and completely unfocussed on the day’s lesson. The rest had been whispering quietly and sending secret messages to one another all day. Even the teachers had taken several minutes out of their classes to talk with fellow faculty members. All these separate conversations of course revolved around the same subject, last night’s attack on the city.

Thankfully there had been no fatalities in all the madness and even the property damage to the city was minimal. To anyone who had not experienced the events might have thought the town was just hit by some kind of hurricane or other natural disaster. It seemed the most traumatic damage done to the people of Angel Grove had been the attack itself.
There was no explanation given for the attack. No answer to who the creatures were or how they came to be. And when they had all seemed to vanish as mysteriously as they appeared it had left the entire city in a state of shocked confusion. It wasn’t until the news broke of the invading army being defeated by five costumed warriors that the people felt safe again.

Jason had made a silent prayer of thanks when he watched the news with his family and the recovered security footage of the fight had no pictures of the five teenagers arriving on the scene or transforming into the armored heroes. He immediately began to wonder if he chose to remain a ranger would they always be so lucky.

He was not the world’s greatest liar after all. It had taken a surprising amount of self control for him to not spill everything that had happened to his family when he got home. Fortunately his parents had been so relieved that he was alive he didn’t really get a chance to say anything. His family had managed to stay hidden in the house when the putties came and Jason was thankful for that miracle. When they asked him what had happened Jason had stumbled through a rough explanation of his first run in with the putties, including the destruction of the family car and his hand to hand fight with the monsters. After that all he could think to say was that he had been beaten and taken away like everyone else. An outright lie that made him feel guilty but he knew it was for his family’s own good.

But if he kept being a Power Ranger he was going to have to continue the deception with his family and everyone else he knew for that matter. Would it really be worth it to live with that guilt? Would it really be worse than the guilt he’d feel if he gave up the power? These are the questions that ran through Jason’s mind as he pretended to listen to Mrs. Applebee’s not so thrilling discussion on the works of Shakespeare.

[Legends Black Ranger]

Angel Grove High 1:33 PM
English Class

Zack Taylor sat nervously tapping his pencil on the desk. He was zoning again. "Zachary," Mrs. Applebee called focusing her eyes on Zack.

"Huh," Zack said sitting up. His eyes fell on the pencil he was drumming against the desk. "Oh, sorry Mrs. A!"

Zack immediately set the pencil on the desk. Mrs. Applebee smiled at Zack politely for a moment and turned back to the chalk board. They were discussing "Romeo and Juliette."

The discussion of forbidden romance made Zack's eyes drift towards Angela who was actually listening intently to the lecture. Suddenly she glanced Zack's direction and scowled giving him a disapproving look.

Uh-oh! Busted Zack thought. He wondered if Angela would have the time of day for him if she knew he was the black ranger. Of course in the coverage there had been of the power rangers no one really knew who the group of super heroes that had saved the town last night were even called. At least not yet.

That was really what Zack was trying to keep off his mind. The black ranger. Zack knew in his heart he was going to accept his new secret identity. He knew Jase was in and pretty sure about Trini. Billy was a 50/50 but he was pretty sure Kim was going to be handing in her morpher today.

Zack felt bad about that. He'd seen Trini's eyes narrow when he looked at Billy and Kim when they had returned to the command center. It was not Zack's intent to judge them. He was pretty sure the yellow ranger could read exactly what his thoughts were. It wasn't that he didn't want Kim and Billy on the team. He was just worried about them. Nothing more. He did want both of them to stay on the team and he hoped he was wrong about Kimberly.

OOC: I will not be on til next weekend. I leave tonight and will be back very late the following Friday. A friend is going to have my computer to do some work on it as its been having problems. I probably will not get it back til Sat so I'm guessing Sunday Aug 16 is the soonest you'll see me.

[Legends Yellow Ranger]

1:40 PM
Trini, for her part, tried to stay focused on the lesson at hand and had thrown herself into her work even from the first bell. Reading, studying, doing next weeks homework, anything that would stop her from thinking too hard about the events of yesterday.

Now, literature, while not her strongest suit, was easy enough for her to along in so long as she understood the core themes in the book they were reading. This week it was Romeo and Juliet. And a little tragic romance did wonders for getting their mind off the painful reality that their world had recently taken a tragic turn. It was a good choice by Ms. Applebee from a strategic standpoint. All the other girls were completely enthralled in their books, sighing blissfully. Romanticism could inspire hope.

‘And loss, just as easily ,’ a treacherous voice in the back of her head fussed. She closed her eyes and tried to block it mentally. Too bad the school didn’t allow for ‘Meditation breaks’.

And so it had been all day. Even the smallest of things would trigger it and then she’d be back and forth with herself, arguing the futility of their situation and lose her concentration on the lesson at hand. If her grade point average dropped even by a decimal just because the world decided it was going to hell in a hand basket she was going to be pissed!

And how would she be able to keep up with her studies if she would be spending a large amount of her time helping to save the world and how would she explain a drop in percentage to her parents? While not entirely strict, they expected her best and she always strived for better…

But how could she say no when the world was at stake?

She glanced around, looking to every face in the class room. Everyone of them had the potential to be great, to offer so much to their society, to the world. And would protecting them not be enough? And if she failed?

Trini sighed, and forced herself to look at her book, vowing to glare burn holes into the page until she went cross eyed.

[Legends Blue Ranger]

2:45 pm
Angel Grove High
Computer Lab


The school bell rang out loud through the halls signaling the end of all the day’s classes. The noise startled Billy causing him to jump up from his computer station bumping his knees on the table. The young man gritted his teeth winching in pain as he grabbed at his sore knees. Fortunately for him the other students in the advance computer programming class were too busy making their exit to take notice of his embarrassing display.
As the pain in his leg quickly subdued Billy pushed his glasses up on his face and looked at the computer screen in front of him. He had only completed half of the day’s assignment. For anyone else this would have been more than satisfactory work, but for Billy Cranston who always managed to complete his assignments long before the bell came close to ringing it was like not even being there that day. This was not far off considering how distracted his mind had been.

He could not stop thinking about the day before and the meeting with Zordon. Between trying to wrap his mind around the amazing power and technology that had been shown and given to him, and grappling with the heavy factors of accepting these gifts his great brain was working overtime on its own. And though he had many ideas regarding it all a decision had not been concluded upon.

Billy gathered up his notebook and textbooks into his school bag. Swinging the heavy bag over his shoulder the young man made his way out into the hall. One decision he had made was to go back to the youth center after school in hopes that at least one of the other four would be rangers would be there. His self examination had not given him any answers so he hoped that perhaps discussing the shared event might help him clearly chose the path that would change his life forever. The thought of it all had Billy worried he was going to give himself a stress ulcer.

[Legends Pink Ranger]

3:15 PM

Kimberly had departed for school precisely around the same time as of yesterday and yet the walk to school felt even longer. The young gymnastic had kept a normal façade while her inner self continuously wanted to break free from her mortal body. Making certain as to avoid encountering the others just yet had taken great length by rerouting her direction to school arriving to classes within reasonable time and not ruin her reputation by receiving a detention. The night after the attack on the city Kimberly was hardly in any condition having dinner or sharing events of the day with her mother that very evening. What conversation shared between them were strictly on where Kimberly was during the point of the attack or why she had not called letting her mother know if she was all right.

Even the simplest details of the day was met with strenuous difficulty for the young brunette for she could not look directly at her mother’s face keeping several parts of the day out. It was not that Kimberly had not understood the importance of the secrecy in order to protect those around them and cherished deeply from possibly getting involved. Just that the two were very close like any mother and child there was no need keeping secrets from the other. This coupled with the tightness swelling within her chest grew even more intensified that she had to politely excuse herself from the table. How Kimberly distasted lying to her mother by using that the mobile phone’s battery had died out prior finding shelter to where she could make the call, but it was the only reasonable excuse to ease her mother’s concern.

Thankfully practice had not been cancelled prior to yesterday’s scare, which Kimberly was even more grateful needing something to take her mind off things for awhile longer. Shortly after changing into her casual clothing into her practice clothes, a pink top and black shorts within the changing room, Kimberly waited till the other girls filed out. When the room was completely empty Kimberly reached into her gym bag for her rolled up towel. Unfolding it very slowly revealed the Power Morpher. We were meant to be Power Rangers Why? Why us?! Why me?! Kimberly traced her fingers on the golden coin bearing the image of the Pterodactyl. Life was to be filled with the normal tendencies and problems that of a typical teenager. Surely there must have been some mistake made by the Wizard-Of-Oz wannabe and android. There was no way Kimberly would wish such a fate on anyone including them. Jason’s speech and the others continued to play throughout her very thoughts. It was for that reason a part was comforted and wanted very much to fight right besides them. However, there lies the very problem. I….I….I cannot…Kimberly’s eyes closed covering the morphing device back in the towel and place it back inside.

The first time was able to stand her ground from the training that she had placed in gymnastics, but there was no way she could do it again. Kimberly shook her head as Zordon’s words seep into her thoughts closing the bag for the second time. “Kim?” A voice called out “Are you coming? We’re about to start” One of her so-called friends called into the changing room.

“I’ll be right there” Kim replied taking her towel and shoving the gym bag into the locker. Walking away she paused taking a quick glance over her shoulder before joining the group on the floor. The decision was cast and knew deep within her heart they would not approve, especially one who she had hope to be friends with.

This post has been edited by Legends Pink Ranger on Aug 25 2009, 12:15 PM

[Legends Black Ranger]

3:02 School Hallway

School had seemed to go an eternity today. Obviously, Zack had ALOT on his mind. Naturally, the thing that consumed the Black Ranger the most was their appointment with Zordon later in the afternoon. That was when the new rangers would have to give their life changing commitment. Zack already knew his answer. He hadn't slept all night thinking about it but this was the chance of a life time. Zack knew Jase was in and pretty sure Trini would say yes. Zack even thought that Billy would probably agree to it. What worried him was Kimberly.

None of the five teens had really talked much during the day and obviously they couldn't discuss the ranger issue during school hours. Zack had passed the others in the hall several times and even seen the others at lunch. He couldn't help but notice the pink ranger seemed to be avoiding all of them. While Zack didn't have every class with the others, he did see them through out the day. Kimberly definitely had seemed to be steering clear of the group, even Trini.

Right now, Zack was looking for Jason in particular but was also keeping an eye out for Trini or even Billy. He was going to suggest they head to Ernie's for a round of milk shakes before the big meeting. Zack's plan was however, sidetracked momentarily.

Just down the hall fussing with her locker was Angela. It seemed she was having trouble getting her locker open and had a handful books. Quickly checking his hair in the reflection of the water fountain and putting on his trademark grin, Zack glided over to her.

"Having problems with your locker," Zack asked. "Because the Zackman is here to save the day!"

Angela glanced at Zack and rolled her eyes. "I got it," she said turning back to the jammed locker. "Here let me at least hold those..."

"No Zack..." was all Angela could get out before Zack tried to take hold of the books. Unfortunately, they were lopsided in her arms and Zack didn't get hold of the books firmly. Instead, Zack managed to pull the middle of the stack out causing Angela's text books to go everywhere. Her notebook hit the ground. The force of the impact caused the rings to snap open sending her assignments everywhere. Angela glared at Zack with disgust.

"Sorry, let me get that for you," Zack said bending over. '

"No don't! Watch out," Angela said as Zack stepped backwards onto one of her assignments leaving a foot print on it.

"My homework! You're..." Angela said.

"Huh?" Zack turned around spinning on his heel ripping the paper. Glancnig down mid-spin Zack tried to stop and pick it up while still standing on it causing the paper to slide on the carpet upsetting his balance. Instinctively, Zack reached out to grab the nearest thing to stabalize himself which happened to be Angela. This manuever sent both of them to the floor only further scattering Angela's assignments across the hallway floor.

[Legends Red Ranger]

“Ouch wipe out.” Jason commented as he made his way over to the fallen pair of Zack and Angela. He had happened to actually be looking for Zack when he came across the scene in the hall. Jason knew this had to be very embarrassing for his friend but couldn’t help chuckling to himself as he moved in to help already gathering up the fallen papers from the floor.

“Here allow me.” Jason offered politely taking Angela’s hand. He helped the young lady up to her feet.

“Thank you Jason.” The young woman accepted appearing more than a little flustered. Once she was standing again Jason handed her the papers he had collected which she promptly stuffed into her notebook. “It’s good to see some guys around here still have some class.” Angela complained leaning down to pick up the last of her papers on the floor.
“And you,” Her voice rose as she turned her attention to Zack. She reached down and yanked the half of her paper still stuck to her shoe stuffing it in her notebook.
“just stop it.” Angela glared down at Zack before marching off down the hall trying to restore her papers into her notebook.

Jason stayed silent and out of the way of the ladies anger. Once Angela had left down the hall he could not resist another small laugh at his friend’s expense. He reached out to Zack offering his hand to help him up. “Have you ever heard the expression, trying to hard?”

This post has been edited by Legends Red Ranger on Aug 26 2009, 06:06 PM

[Legends Black Ranger]

Zack glanced after Angela as she stormed down the hallway. Grinning he shook his head. "She's just playing hard to get," Zack said taking Jason's hand and standing back up. "The Zack Attack's charm is irresistible!"

Right Zack, he mentally scolded himself. He kept his grin and game face on. He was not about to let the shame and humiliation he felt show to his best friend or anyone else. He'd blown it big time and he knew it.

Continuing with his recovery and switching subjects Zack glanced at Jason. "Have you seen the girls and the Billster? I thought maybe we could grab a round of shakes at Ernies," Zack suggested. He need not tack on the 'before we talk to Zordon'. As that part was a given and of course it was not a good time to bring things up seeing they were still in public.

Zack was dying to hear what everyone had to say about their answer. In particular, he wanted to know if anyone had talked to Kimberly. He was sure she was going to reject the team and he didn't want her to quit. If anything, this was going to be Trini's save here. It was the uncertainty that was killing him. Of course Jason aside, he didn't know for sure that Trini and Billy were going to say yes.

In all the excitement Zack had nearly forgotten to get his books from his own locker. He motioned for Jason to follow him. "Locker stop," he informed the red ranger as he headed on down the hall and around the corner. Zack opened the locker and switched out a few books and made one final check to make sure he had everything he needed for the day. Satisfied he turned back to Jason.

[Legends Pink Ranger]

Practice proven to taken its desired course eradicating any self-doubting thought what Kimberly doing was not for the very best. In her most honest opinion, each of the others contributed something extraordinary to the team individually one way or another and did not believe they would not. Taking an empty spot closest to the balancing beam, Kimberly stretched out limbering herself further before taking the first position. Another aspect made the young brunette realize she could not continue much further avoiding the others. It was strongly inevitable to continue avoiding them knowingly they would soon each be giving their answer to Zordon and his robotic companion, Alpha.

Finishing the warm-up Kimberly took her place next on the balance beam with feet firmly on the beam and both hands extended outward on both sides. When practice concludes for the day Kimberly made plans to catch up with them afterwards before the dreaded meeting. Reaching the end of the beam, Kimberly pivoted around caught a glimpse at the clock mounted on the wall. By this time she was certain the others were out of their classes by now, wondering who she might run into. What she did not want to see walking into the gym mocking the girls were tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, otherwise known as Bulk and Skull.

“Great…” Kimberly muttered rolling her eyes back, “The circus just came into town.” Jumping gracefully off the balance beam moved to intercept them from even giving a thought into interrupting the other girls session.

[Legends NPC]

Bulk and Skull


“Heheha hey Bulkie, what do gymnast chicks and a two by four have in common?” Skull asked in an obnoxiously loud voice as the trouble making duo made their way into the community center.

“No skull what do they have in common?” Bulk asked in mock curiosity to set his skinny sidekick up for his punch line. As he did so his eyes wondered around the community center where said class of female gymnast were finishing their practice in their cute skin tight spandex outfits.

“They are both flat as a board and easy to nail. Heahahaha!” Skull laughed obnoxiously hard at his own joke his voice raising pitch in his laughter. He suddenly stopped noticing one of the girls giving him a weird look as she came up the stairs by the entrance. Skull responded to the look with a squinty eyed wink and come heather nod.

The girl shook her head with a look of utter revulsion before turning her back to them. For a fraction of a second Skull showed an expression of rejection before his buddy Bulk spoke up making him laugh once more.

“Yeah baby you know you want it!” Bulk called out making puckered lips at the girl. She turned her head back towards them just long enough to flip the two her middle finger before walking over to join her friends on the other side of Ernie’s bar.

“Ohh this cupcake is asking for it now.” Bulk grimaced rolling up his short sleeves.
Skull mimicked the action on his sleeveless vest shirt. “Yeah asking for it.”

[Legends Blue Ranger]

Billy sat alone at his table at Ernie’s next to the community center. He was sucking on a strawberry smoothie as he looked over three text books, a star chart and his laptop computer set up on the table in front of him. To any on looker he would have appeared to just be swamped with a strange and massive looking homework project. This assignment however was not given by any teacher and he doubted that any would understand.

Simply put Billy was trying to find some answers to the great mystery of Zordon, Alpha 5, the Command Center, and the power. Unfortunately with little information from the source the knowledge he was able to gather on his own was limited. However he was able to extrapolate a set of stellar coordinate for where Zordon’s battle occurred and from that make some theories on the possible space of origin for Zordon and Rita Repulsa. This along with some other interesting facts he was egger to share with the others. While the mystery behind all of this was intriguing Billy was much more excited about what the answers might be.

Billy’s research was distracted by the arriving voices of two classmates he did not want to see today.
“Heheha hey Bulkie, what do gymnast chicks and a two by four have in common?”

Billy only spared half a glance to confirm their identity as Skull’s obnoxious laugh was unmistakable. The sight of his high school tormenters immediately caused Billy to nervously tense up. He quietly scooted in his chair moving his back to the duo. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes hoping desperately that they would not spot him. The last thing he wanted today was a humiliating encounter brought on by the local Neanderthals.
“Ohh this cupcake is asking for it now.”
“Yeah asking for it.”

‘This does not bode well.’ Billy thought hoping that maybe if he ignored Bulk and Skull they would ignore him. He opened his eyes suddenly as he wondered if that was something he should be thinking.

[Legends Red Ranger]

"The Zack Attack's charm is irresistible!"

“Hah of course.” Jason laughed lightly at Zack’s bravado patting his buddy on the shoulder. One thing that Jason did know about Zack was he answered every set back with a joke. It was an attitude Jason appreciated and one of the main reasons he considered Zack his friend. It was something that would definitely be needed if they really continued this mission as Power Rangers.

"Have you seen the girls and the Billster?”

Jason shook his head in negative answer. “No I saw them in class and passing the halls but I haven’t talked to them or know where they are.”

“I thought maybe we could grab a round of shakes at Ernie’s,"

“That’s a good idea.” Jason agreed and turned around beginning to walk down the hall with Zack. “Let’s go on and head that way and see if we can spot them.”

As the two walked the halls begin to thin out from the student’s leaving for home. Jason nods at some of the classmates who recognize him and some he recognizes. “I lucked out with all the chaos yesterday coach Oliver canceled practice today. Hah I was thinking about quitting the team because I have too many after school activities. And here I am thinking about taking the biggest one ever.”
Jason glanced around making sure there wasn’t anyone in ear shot or paying any attention to them. Seeing the coast clear he continued with a sigh. “Man this is really screwed up isn’t it? I kept thinking maybe it was just a dream, and then I look around and see everyone still freaked out and they’re looking to these mystery heroes for answers. It’s just insane.”
He took a deep breath putting himself together. “Hah but all things considered it was kind of fun, wasn’t it?”

[Legends Yellow Ranger]

Trini shut her eyes, the wind knocking out of her chest and stomach as she was flung into the mat. She landed with a thud, her body bouncing against the rubber-like material before settling.

Her opponent kiai-ed, and stepped back, giving her the opportunity to compose herself and resume their spar.

Trini clenched her teeth and rolled to the side before pounding her fist into the mat.

“That is enough Ty,” master Li called from the sideline. “Go and take a lap.”

“Yes Sensei!” The boy said, snapping to an attentive position before skittering off to take on his lap.

“Miss Kwan?” Master Li spoke when Trini made no attempt to move.

Trini huffed and puffed through clenched teeth before getting to her knees, keeping her head low. “Yes sensei.”

“A foul wind blows about you today, my student.” Master Li nodded at his own assessment. “I do not recall ever seeing you as such…You can not hope to be effective in your current state of mind?”

Trini’s jaw ached from her constant clenching, her muscles sore from fatigue and her tense movements. Aggression hung over her like a cloud, hovering and invasive. Making her sluggish and sloppy. “No Sensei.”

Master Li nodded again and closed his eyes. “You are afraid.”

Trini blinked, her jaw unclenched as she let a small noise of surprise at his words rush out of her, she raised her head to get a better look at him. Surely the man wasn’t psychic?

“We are all afraid, child.” Master Li opened his eyes and met her gaze. “But fear is a basic human emotion. There is no shame in it. There is no cure for it…but it can be managed. It must be in such trying times as these. Courage-“

“Is not the absence of fear, Sensei.” Trini finished for him, averting her gaze to the mat as realization dawned upon her. “But the will to go on in spite of it.”

Master Li smiled kindly. “Precisely. Now…”

Trini looked up, regrading him quizzically.

The old man grinned. “Go take a lap.”

Trini groaned, but smiled and got to her feet, giving him a neat bow before she jogged to join Ty around the edge of the mat.

This post has been edited by Legends Yellow Ranger on Sep 2 2009, 10:20 AM