The Terran Rangers/The Spectrum Force/Sailor Moon - The Preliminaries Volume 5 by Heather Ray (warren buffett book recommendations TXT) 📕

surprise, before he saw anything, a stream of lightning crashed into the branch he was perched on, knocking him to the damp mud below. He sat up and tried to wipe off the mud from his uniform, searching for the origin of the lightning bolt. He found it -- a young brunette woman.

"Who are you supposed to be?" he asked.

"I'm Sailor Jupiter," she said angrily, her hands on her hips. "And who are you? An armored George of the Jungle?"

"The White Ranger," said Tommy, sweeping Sailor Jupiter to the ground. "And I don't take sneak attacks well."

Sailor Jupiter fell face first into the mud, and looked up at Tommy angrily. He was standing and holding Saba up defensively.

"You were the one hiding in the tree, White Ranger!" she barked, leaping to her feet, "Jupiter Thunder...CRASH

!!"

A thin antenna rose from the center of her golden tiara, and it collected electricity from the overcast sky. Then, she released the electrical energy in a web of lightning bolts, streaking in all directions, and slicing through the flora surrounding the two fighters. The White Ranger managed to dodge most of the lightning, and blocked one rather large bolt with his sword, deflecting it back to Sailor Jupiter. The bolt struck her in the stomach, and threw her back into a tree.

"Give it up!" said Tommy, "I don't really like hitting women."

"Don't worry," said Jupiter quietly. "You won't get a chance. Jupiter Thunder DRAGON

!!"

Thousands of blinding lightning bolts combined, forming a huge electrical dragon. The dragon then streaked forward, sending huge amounts of electricity through the White Ranger, as well as razing the jungle. Tommy painfully rose to his elbows, and reached out for his sword. He held Saba by the hilt, and a fireball flew from Saba's open mouth. Jupiter leapt out of the way, but the fireball sliced through a tree, which fell on Sailor Jupiter's leg, pinning her to the ground.

"She's trapped!" said Saba, flying from the White Ranger's grip. Tommy rose to his feet, and stretched his back.

"Nice work, partner," he said, approaching Sailor Jupiter. She struggled to get her leg free, and then looked up at Tommy angrily.

"Jupiter Thunderclap --" she started to cry. But a sharp blade held to her neck promptly silenced her.

"That's enough of that, Sailor Jupiter," said Tommy. "You've caused enough trouble as it is, razing this entire forest!"

"Oh, puh-lease! And you're like totally guiltless, eh? You did knock this tree on me!"

"Yeah, and that was probably the only tree left standing in a mile radius! Now, what's going on here?"

"Like I would know that!" she sighed frustratedly, trying to pry her leg free. She then looked up at Tommy. Even though she couldn't see his facial expression through his helmet, she could feel his anger building, and his patience thinning.

"You're unlike any monster I've ever encountered," he said quietly, holding his blade steady, "You're really dangerous. And very devious taking on a human form to throw me off. What's Lord Zedd's plan, and where is the Black Ranger?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Makoto yelled angrily. She could feel her own temper heating, and as a natural reaction, she began to absorb electrons in the atmosphere. Tommy remained silent, holding Saba just over Makoto's exposed neck.

"Tommy," said the sword. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he asked calmly, bringing Saba up higher. Makoto stared at him in shock.

"He's gonna kill me!" she said. "And he claims he's one of the good guys! Dirty, rotten, lying Nega-creep!"

Tommy growled angrily, and tried to bring Saba down in a final stroke. However, much to the White Ranger's surprise, the blade stopped in mid air.

"Hey!" Tommy yelled, fighting against his own sword. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm stopping you from making the mistake of your life, White Ranger," scolded Saba, flying from the White Ranger's grip, and facing him, "I don't know whats gotten into you, but you were never so ruthless in your fights before! You are the White Ranger, symbol of blamelessness and purity. You can't kill this young woman in cold blood!"

"Stop telling me what to do!" cried Tommy, "I hate being told what to do! I can make decisions, you know! I am the leader of the Power Rangers!"

While Tommy argued with his sabre, he didn't notice Sailor Jupiter's antenna once again rise from her tiara. She turned her head to face the large tree trunk pinning her to the ground, and released a single, concentrated lightning bolt straight through the wood. The tree was instantly reduced to splinters, and the shower of wood pieces rained on everyone present.

"Jupiter Thunder...CRASH

!!" she roared, standing up to face her enemies. The web of lightning coursed through the air, and slammed right into the hovering sabre. But, the electricity had an interesting affect on Saba. Suddenly, Saba pointed at the White Ranger, and began to approach his waist.

"Saba," said Tommy, stepping back, "what are you doing?!"

"I...I can't control myself!" cried Saba in panic, "I've been... magnetized!!"

"You got it," said Makoto. "It's a little trick I picked up in chemistry. Electric currents create magnetic fields. Its temporary, but it will sure provide me a good laugh. The mighty White Ranger, done in by his little partner!"

Tommy broke into a run, and Saba continued to follow him, edge first. Tommy then circled around, and began to run straight at Sailor Jupiter.

Saba must be attracted to the metal in my belt,

he thought as he ran. Clever move, Sailor Jupiter, but let's see if I can do better!

While he ran, Tommy unbuckled his golden belt. He then leapt over the head of Sailor Jupiter, and dropped it in her hand. She shrieked and dropped it to the ground, and then also leapt out of Saba's path. She watched as Saba plowed into the dirt, clinging to the metallic belt. While Jupiter's back was turned, a powerful round house kick from Tommy slammed into her left cheek, throwing her painfully to the ground. She lay unconscious on the mud, a purple bruise forming on her soft cheek, and a trickle of red blood falling from her nose. Tommy studied her face for a brief moment, taking off his white and gold helmet. His face was nothing but calm and cold, and he stepped over Lita's body towards Saba. Now, the electric current running through the sword had died down, and Saba was no longer a magnet. Tommy lifted first his golden belt, and attached it to his waist. He then picked up Saba, point down.

"You okay, Saba?"

"I'm fine, Tommy," said the sabre, "albeit a little winded. What of Sailor Jupiter?"

"She's alive," he said coldly. "Her chest is moving. She's breathing. But not for long."

Saba's eyes widened as Tommy walked towards the unconscious girl, holding the sword in a vice-like grip. He stopped beside Makoto, and held Saba with both hands.

"Tommy," said Saba harshly. "What's wrong with you?! Why on Earth would you kill this young girl? What has she done?"

"She sent us to the middle of the jungle!" yelled Tommy. "Who knows what she's done to Adam! And she tried to kill me!"

"She was only acting in self-defense, Tommy. Just as you were. And now, you're going to kill her? You don't even know a thing about her! You've never acted so callously before! At least, not since you were Rita's evil Green Ranger."

Tommy sat on the ground, and released Saba. Saba floated to eye-level with the White Ranger, and he could see confusion in the young man's eyes.

"What...what do you know about the Green Ranger?" Tommy asked quietly.

"I know that he was misguided. His morals were corrupted by evil, and his good nature was drowned out by magic. But as the White Ranger, you've been purified from all of Rita's dark magic. You are forever free from the darkness of the Green Ranger. Why do you choose his dark path today?"

"I...I don't know," Tommy admitted, "I just... want to finish her off. I want to prove myself the stronger."

"That's not like you, Tommy. If it were, Zordon would never had chosen you to lead the Power Rangers."

"You're right, Saba. Something is wrong with me! I...I almost..."

"Killed her. Killed a helpless, unarmed, unconscious young girl."

Suddenly, a chill wind blew over the dry heat of the razed battle ground. Tommy turned around, and saw a shadowy figure. Although he couldn't make out a face, Tommy could see the figure looked human.

"Tommy," said the man, "why did you stop? You could finish off this witch, and free Adam and return home. Home to your friends and family. You'd be a hero, my boy. You would've saved the day again."

"I never fought for glory," said Tommy. "You're right. You always fought for redemption. To ease your bothersome conscience, to make up for all the destruction you caused as the Green Ranger. You know, you were stronger as the Green Ranger! You were indomitable! You could've destroyed all five of the rangers by yourself, and you could've taken whatever you wanted. Instead, you choose to fight for Zordon, instead of for yourself. You are weak, boy. You are supposedly the most powerful Power Ranger, but you are weak. Your purity makes you weak."

"Who are you?" asked Tommy, approaching the dark being. "You're the one responsible for all this... this..."

"Manipulation?" he asked. "You're right. I guess I was wrong about you, Thomas Oliver. I thought you would be the winner of this little game. I thought I would have the privilege of calling you 'partner'

. I was mistaken, though. You refuse to give in to your dark side."

"I don't have a dark side anymore!"

"You know that's not true. We all have a dark side."

With that, Tommy suddenly froze in place. The dark being stepped out of the shadows and studied Tommy's frozen features.

"He may think he's pure and good, but I know he has a dark side. It's hidden deep, but it's there. I couldn't free it completely, though. Not with that infernal sword acting as Tommy's conscience. But, he's a valiant warrior, and he can really be pitiless knight, when properly convinced. Maybe next time, I'll be able to find out what makes him tick. But all isn't lost yet. There is still one fight to go. Two young men, who like to think they're cool-headed. However, they may very well be the most dangerous 'heroes'

of all!"

Part Nine