The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 5 by Heather Ray (novel24 .txt) 📖

from the windshield. As she worked, she didn't notice a flash of white light behind her. She didn't realize she wasn't alone until something slammed into the small of her back. She screamed in surprise and pain, and fell into the snow on the driveway. She picked her face up, wiped off the snow, and gasped when she saw about a dozen venomous Viper Putties. The Putty that had kicked her was standing only a few feet from where she lay now, and she rolled out of the way just before a stream of green venom shot from its mouth. The venom burned through the snow, and also into the asphalt beneath it. Kat struggled to her feet, and tried to strike the Putty with a roundhouse kick. But she lost her balance, and slipped on the ice. She growled again, and once again forced herself to stand on the ice. Although she had a problem, the Putties didn't seem to have trouble maintaining balance. They leaped at her with the grace of a cat, and she tried to move out of the way. She only fell again, and rolled off the driveway, onto the grass. Since the grass wasn't completely covered with snow, it wasn't nearly as slippery. She looked around carefully, making sure no one could see her. But there were people on the street, shoveling and driving by. Even though they saw the Putties and fled, Kat knew they were probably watching the battle from some hidden place.

"I can't morph," she whispered to herself, raising her communicator to her lips, "I need some help!"
Chapter Nine

At the skating rink, Billy and Adam were engrossed in a game of Street Fighter/X-Men

. Kimberly and Tommy were chatting quietly, sipping hot chocolate. Aisha was watching Billy and Adam play, cheering Adam, the underdog, on. Rocky was sitting quietly by the rink, observing everyone. He had lost at the arcade game, and therefore he had to wait until Billy was dethroned to play again. On the ice, Jason and Alexis skated hand in hand. Alexis glided on the ice with the grace of an eagle, soaring through the skies. Jason, on the other hand, was slightly less graceful, and was visibly tired from the skating.

"I'm a little tired," Jason admitted to Alexis. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Sure," she said, smiling brightly, "I'll have a Coke."

"You got it," said Jason, skating off the rink. As soon as he was at the snack bar, a tone signaled from his wrist. He looked up, and turned to Kim and Tommy, who were sitting nearby. They also heard it, and they were rising to their feet. Tommy beckoned Jason to follow him to the coatroom, where no one was currently. Aisha and Billy then joined the trio, and everyone simultaneously turned on their communicators.

"Kat?" asked Tommy. "Is that you?"

^Yeah,^

said her voice through the unit, ^I've been attacked by Viper Putties just outside my house, and I'm in full view of the neighbors. I can't morph, and I need some help!^

"We're on our way," Jason assured, as they all turned off their communicators.

"I'll stay here with Rocky, Adam, and Alexis," said Billy. "Contact me when you find something out."

"Right," said Tommy, taking another quick look to make sure the coast was clear. "It's Morphin Time! TERRA FIRE POWER!!

"

"TERRA WIND POWER!!"

called Aisha.

"TERRA EARTH POWER!!"

bellowed Jason.

"X-Ranger One!" yelled Zack.

"X-Ranger Two!" cried Kimberly.

After the five rangers morphed, they vanished from the skating rink in a rainbow of light. Billy then returned to Adam, who was waiting beside the arcade game.

"We might as well play another round," he said, dropping a quarter in. Billy nodded, and did the same.

On the ice, Alexis continued to skate, spinning in the center of the rink. She continued to spin until she was moving so quickly, she was a purple blur on the ice. Then, she broke the spin, and continued to skate on one foot. She turned her head when she heard enthusiastic cheering.

"Wow, Lex," said Rocky, standing up on the carpet just off the rink. "That was fantastic!"

"Thanks," she said, skating towards him. She glanced down at Rocky's feet, and giggled at the pink ice skates he was wearing.

"What?" he asked.

"They didn't have any others in your size?" she asked.

"Well, they're my sister's skates. They fit me perfectly, so I figured I might as well use them. So what if they're pink? My self-esteem is secure enough that I don't feel like an idiot. Too much, at least."

The two laughed together, and then a mischievous smile crossed Alexis' face. "Say, I don't think I've seen you on the ice all day."

Rocky blushed slightly. "I don't really know how to skate."

"That's ridiculous!" said Alexis, grabbing Rocky by the hand and pulling him onto the ice. "It's a snap! Here, I'll show you. Hold onto my hand."

Rocky's eyes widened as he began sailing over the ice. He grabbed Alexis' hand with both of his, and allowed her to pull him along. After a few seconds, he relaxed his grip a little, and his expression of panic was replaced with a smile.

"Having fun yet?" asked Alexis.

"Yeah," Rocky admitted. "This isn't so bad."

"Maybe you should try actually skating, instead of being dragged along like a wagon," she suggested, "Try to push with your feet."

Rocky did as suggested, and managed to push a little. Rocky grinned, and tried again. But this time, he tripped over his own foot, sending him to the ice with a crash, and pulling Alexis down with him. The two fell in a heap on the cold ice, and fell into a fit of laughs.

"Okay," Alexis said, letting go of Rocky's hand and pulling herself onto her feet. "Maybe I should keep pulling you along."

"Good idea," said Rocky, trying to rise to his feet. But unlike Alexis, he couldn't maintain his balance, and once again fell onto the ice. Alexis sighed, and extended her hand.

"Let me help," she said, pulling him with all her might. But she lost her footing, and fell backwards, pulling Rocky along. Rocky rolled off from on top of her, and they once again laughed hysterically.

"Remind me never to skate with you again!" Alexis giggled.

Chapter Ten

Meanwhile, Katherine continued to swing at the horde of deadly Viper Putties with a fallen tree branch she picked up. She gasped in alarm as one Putty spit venom on it, eating through the wood rapidly. She dropped the branch, and backed away from the Putties. It didn't take long for her to slip once again on the ice, allowing the Putties to surround her.

However, the ground began to shake, and suddenly, a column of rock sprang from beneath the ground, elevating Katherine about ten feet in the air. She turned around in alarm, and saw the four Terran Rangers, along with the two X-Rangers.

"You okay, Kat?" called the Black Ranger, as all the rangers immediately pounced on the Putties.

"Oh, I'm great," she answered. "Although you sure did a number on my parents' lawn, Jason."

"I'm sure we can fix it before they get home," Tommy said, slicing off one of the Putty's arms. As usual, the lost limb quickly replaced itself, and the battle resumed. "I wonder what Zedd and Rita are up to," said Zack, knocking two Putties off their feet with his Lance of Light. "Usually, Putties are part of a bigger plan."

"Whatever it is, its not going to be good for us," said Kimberly, aiming her Thunderbow. She fired a bolt of lighting directly into one Putty's chest, causing it to fall into convulsions, and disintegrate.

After a few minutes of fighting, all the Viper Putties were destroyed, and the Terran Rangers sheathed their weapons. The Black Ranger walked to the column of rock, and touched it with his hands. Faint energy passed from his hands into the earth, and the rock receded back into the ground. Soon, it was completely level with the rest of the Hillards' lawn, and Katherine was back with her fellow rangers.

"What happened?" asked Tommy. Kat sighed.

"Well, I was a little late coming to the party, so when I got out here, there was a few inches of snow. While I was cleaning the snow from my car, the Putties snuck up on me. I saw my neighbors along the street, and I knew they were watching. I couldn't morph, and I couldn't fight back effectively. Not with all this snow. I kept falling."

"But you're wearing snow boots!" X-Ranger One said, looking at her feet. Kat frowned.

"I realize that, Zack, but I'm not used to fighting in these conditions. It doesn't snow often in Sydney, you know."

"And it doesn't snow often here, either," said Aisha, rubbing her chin. "Guys, do you think maybe this weird weather is Rita and Zedd's doing?"

"I wouldn't put it past them," said Jason.

"How can we find out, though?" asked Kimberly.

"We need to run some scans on this storm front," said Tommy, glancing up at the cloud cover, "and that means we're heading for the CAC."

"I'll contact Billy," said Jason, activating his communicator.

Chapter Eleven

At the ice rink, Billy received the message from the Terran Rangers. He glanced at