Recognition and publicity always seem to come with ease to Abigail Madisson, in fact, many may even be willing to suggest she was born for the spotlight. Given she was the only daughter of one of New York City's most prominent defense lawyers, her surname oftentimes drew the attention of many. It was the way her father would essentially always brew up anxiety in others, that the young girl found herself fascinated with the idea of fear brought respect. Maybe it was due to how she liked the way others looked at him, or how nearly everyone in a room would be leaned forward at attention when he spoke. Another way, she knew she'd never be satisfied unless she was on top, all eyes on her.
It seemed unlike her twin brother Owen, Abigail wanted it all. Where he was soft and kinder, she tended to be harsher. Her edges had grown sharp over time, and it'd be a lie if she said she wasn't proud of this fact. Making it seem as if the cutthroat traits of a Madisson had skipped over her twin, and been bestowed directly on her. Never one to back down from a challenge, the woman would meet every twist and turn with a witty comment ready to collide.
Though as different as they were, Abigail was thankful for her brother, the two very close. It seemed opposites truly did attract, and she could with peace, call Owen her best friend. However, as they grew older, it seemed the two were set on two separate paths. Having attempted school for herself, Abigail found herself struggling. Not satisfied with her classes, she dropped out just three years in. All their secrets had never been kept from one another, at least until her twenty-fourth birthday when everything started to change.
■ WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? ■
It seemed her socialite world had slowly started to turn tedious. The promise of the latest style or party becoming dull in the wake of the many other things going on in the city. And perhaps this was why she first sought a change and landed herself directly in the grasp of the Devils. A gang she never once expected herself to get involved in, but over time started to love. The thrill it brought her was unlike anything else she had ever experienced, and the more she learned, the more she knew she could never go back to her boring life as nothing more than a face in the crowds of the city.
■ KEEP THIS AWAY FROM YOUR ENEMIES ■
The Devils gave her the chance to make something of herself, in a way that simply holding the last name of Madisson never did. Which was why when she fell for a strong witted male from the wrong side of the tracks, she thought nothing of it. But once she had slowly started to unearth his secrets, that which directly involved the Devils. She knew she wanted a piece for herself. Even after they separated, though she was sure they'd come back together at one point or another, Abigail stuck around. Making a deal with them as an investor, she became one of their biggest backers. And due to the money she brought in, she knew she could do whatever she liked within the gang. They owed her, and she enjoyed the power that gave her over them. Though beyond that, she had started to see them as family, and knew she'd never betrayed them.
■ RELATIONSHIPS. ■
■ Liam Woods: It isn’t that she doesn’t like Liam, she just wants the best for her brother. And in her eyes, no one is worth of him, thus that tends to reflect in her attitude towards Liam. Though she doesn’t know him well, her annoyance with the male is obvious.
■ Margot Yang: She respects Margot for her hustle, and looks up towards the woman. It’s not often you see someone who holds herself so highly.
■ Miguel Fuentes: When she first started involving herself in the Devils over a year ago, she found herself intrigued with the male. Something about him seemed dangerous, and brought a high unlike any other. They were hooking up regularly, and it even made her invest a little extra in the club, at least up until a few months ago when things changed, and it’d be a lie if she said she hadn’t considered visiting him again. After all, it’s just business.
■ Preston Henderson: Given her father is a lawyer, she tends to keep an eye on New York’s up and coming. This one has caught her eye, and it helps that he isn’t your average briefcase carrying male. She intends to get closer, and just keep him in her back pocket for a rainy day.
■ CONNECTIONS. ■
■ Owen Madisson > Twin Brother
■ Emerson Davis > Friend
■ Elijah Davis > Flirt
■ Juliette Derby > Oldest Friend
Abgail Madisson is a TAKEN character and is portrayed by Elizabeth GIlles who’s FC IS SEMI-NEGOTIABLE.
“I may live in France, but I have the heart of a Scot”
Full name: Mary Stuart
Years of age: 22
Title / Rank: Queen of Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Face claim: Adelaide Kane { Negotiable }
Availability: Taken
♔Biography
Born during a period of conflicts between England and Scotland, Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland when she was merely six days old. Her mother, Mary of Guise, was desperate to find an ally and a potential king to be her daughter’s husband. France became the ally that Scotland needed, and an agreement was made; she would marry Francis II de Valois when time came. Young Mary left home to be welcomed at the French court at the age of six. There she met her future husband and King. She was taken care of by the Queen of France, Catherine de’ Medici, who treated her as if she was her own daughter. However, when the French court was no longer safe, nine year-old Mary left to a convent in the countryside, in order to effectively hide from the English, Scotland’s enemies. Her life in the convent was peaceful. Aside of learning how to be a Queen and a lady —manners, behavior, dancing— she also learned six languages and received proper education. The life at the convent also taught her skills irrelevant to being a royal and a queen, such as milking a goat and cut peat. Everything was great until an attempted against her life took place at the convent. It was believed to be an English attack so she left and was taken back to the French court. This time, her life was not as peaceful and carefree at the French court. It quickly became apparent to her that the King, Henry II de Valois, and Queen of France were in no hurry to seal the ally by marrying Francis to her, and it was also quite obvious that Queen Catherine was not a mother figure to her anymore. In fact, it appeared as if she disliked her this time around. Mary, being a grown girl, and due to circumstances mature for her age, decided that if she wanted to protect her country she could no longer put her trust and faith for support to just hoping, she had to take a different approach and demand what was agreed from the French. She believed that she could ensure Francis’ support —at least at some extend— but she was no longer going to sit around and wait until the King of France would take the decision for her and Francis’ marriage to take place. She had always loved her country and her people and was willing to do almost anything to protect them and ensure their and her safety.
However, time passed and not only the alliance wasn’t sealed, but complications arose one after the other. First, it was Francis straying from her and seeking the company of others, and Catherine trying to keep them apart due to some prophesy. It was during that time that she started spending more time with Francis’ older brother, Sebastian de Poitiers. However, there was nothing romantic ever between them, even if Mary felt something for him. Eventually, she and Francis grew closer and even she tried to break things of to keep him safe from Nostradamus’ prophesy, he did not let her. The wedding was talked of taking place, but then King Henry II fell ill. He would act irrationally and the wedding was postponed once more. After the King’s passing and the crowning of the new King, Francis II, Mary was confident that she would get to marry him this time. Now, them being in love it was something they both wanted. The plague, however, disturbed the plans and the situation in Mary’s country had her leaving for Scotland in order to restore the Lords’ faith in their Queen. Reassure them. During her time away she heard gossip of Francis, things that she confirmed upon returning. Broke-hearted, she found a friend in Louis I de Bourbon, however the affair was only brief. Francis returned to her and they reconciled. After the war with England was over, and a peace treat with France was signed, she married Francis in a private ceremony, before having a public and vast wedding. As Queen of Scotland and Queen consort of France, Mary wished to do the best for both countries, but also balance that with her life with Francis, hoping they can soon expand their family and thus strengthen both their bond and the alliance. Her dreams and hopes were shuttered when first she had a miscarriage and the, suddenly, Francis fell ill. Despite the best efforts of the physicians that came to the King’s aid, the late succumbed to his illness and left her a window and with bearing no child. Mary was thankful that her late husband’s family came to both comfort and reassure her that she will always have an alliance with France, a friend. Urged by the now King, Charles de Valois, she remained at the French court until she can remarry or decide to go back to Scotland.
♔Virtues & Vices
patriotic, protective, kind-hearted
impatient, headstrong, impulsive
♔Relationships
Charles IX de Valois — Brother to her late husband and now the King of France, Mary is really grateful that Charles not only allowed her to stay in France, but asked her to stay in order to be better protected until she finds a new husband. However, the relationship between the two of them is still quite unclear, given the affair they have.
Kenna Fleming, Greer Norwood, Davina d’Ambly — The remaining three of her five ladies in waiting. Mary is both their Queen and friend, though she has become even more overprotective having tragically lost Aylee and Lola. Mary and Greer have grown closer, since Greer has started working a network of spies for her, having her girls gather information in favor of her and France.
Claude de Valois, Marie de Valois — Her late husband’s extended family and people she is quite close to, especially Claude since they have shared a room while she was staying at the French court as a young child. She and Marie are quite friendly, and she finds the older woman’s guidance very welcoming.
Catherine de’ Medici — Her relationship with her mother-in-law has improved greatly the past few years and they have a more understanding bond than they did before.
Sebastian de Poitiers — She and Sebastian have been close since day one. They have been friendly with one other and Sebastian has been there for her every time she needed him and she counts him as one of her best friends.
Anthony Fleming — Her distant cousin and now advisor, She trusts Anthony’s judgement for he has always proven his devotion to both her and their country.
Charlotte de Charny — A new found friend of Mary’s and a woman she feels rather comfortable speaking to. They share a mutual love for poetry and nature and the two women can often be seen outside, wandering or taking a picnic by the lake.
Louis I de Bourbon — She and Louis had a short lived affair after she returned back to the French court from Scotland. They were quite friendly with one another and since the latest events and developments, Mary really hopes that Louis is a man of honor as he won’t let ill tongues speak of what has happened between them, having word reach Charles’ and Catherine’s ears.
The ship was colder than the cave behind them. Maggie’s shoulders started to relax as they headed deeper into the one place no one had ever hurt them. Sure, there were attacks at the door, but no one had ever breached the ship itself.
The room holding Zack was dim and quiet. A monitor in the wall above his head showed his vitals and an image of his healing skull. His armor surrounded him, keeping him still, keeping him safe. The only real sign of life was in his chest rising and falling with each breath.
Maggie laced her fingers with one of Zack’s limp hands and took a deep breath. She thought she could handle the sight of that damn robot, that she wouldn’t freak out. Being wrong wasn’t exactly a surprise. Prince Gasket had fucked up her and Jason about the same as Lord Zedd.
“We’ve got this, Mags,” Jason said from Zack’s other side.
“Do we?” She looked up at him. “We just lost our cool on a hologram. What’s gonna happen in three days when he has his hands around one of our throats?”
“We use the next few days to get used to the sight of him, to work out our issues.” He ran a hand through his hair. “We have our team, our best friends. You’re going to do everything within your power to protect Alex and vice versa.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.” Her hands were still shaking. “Do you remember our conversation after the Warstar Empire attacked? I was willing to risk losing my powers to save her. We both know I have a dark side, one that Alex hasn’t seen. If Gasket lays a hand on her…”
Jason tilted his head. “Didn’t she go rogue to take on an entire anti-alien organization by herself for her dad?”
Maggie shook her head. “That’s different. He’s family, I’m just-”
“Just what?” Jason asked. “Just her fiance? Just the person she’s decided to spend the rest of her life with? She’s a Ranger now, Mags, and you know it’s not just because she knows us.” He reached over and took her free hand. “You’re not the only one here that does dangerous, insane shit to save people.”
Maggie snorted. “Yeah. Sorry. I just… Gasket is bad news.”
“So let’s go show her.” Jason’s wording served a purpose. Just as they had observed Maggie’s fight with the Phantom, they could view any battle witnessed in their armor.
Maggie let go of Zack and Jason’s hands. “Sometimes your great ideas are horrible.”
“That’s why I’m the leader.” He slung his arm over her shoulder as they headed out to find their friends. “It’s too bad the fight with the real Gasket won’t go as easily. That combo was pretty awesome.”
“I’d hope we know how to pull off awesome combos after this long.” Maggie grinned. “It helps that I was involved, though.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sure, it’s the Green Ranger that makes it awesome, not the Red Ranger.”
When they returned to the Pit, they stood on the ledge and watched the fight. Kim and Trini were back to back while Alex and Billy circled. Alpha was letting the bodies disappear, but he didn’t stop adding more. Maggie leaped into the fray, curious as to how she and Alex would work when hand-to-hand was involved. Jason moved in close to Billy, allowing Billy to fall back a bit more and have room to maneuver.
Maggie wasn’t at all surprised when she and Alex ended up in the same back-to-back position. She wasn’t expecting the two of them to fight so seamlessly together within the first hour, but she had a feeling the Grid was at work as well as their relationship. When they merged with Kim and Trini, Jason and Billy weren’t long in joining the group. Shoulder to shoulder, the Cogs, Quantrons, Ooze Goons, Putties, and every other enemy Alpha could throw at them had no chance. Maggie felt a current shoot through her moments before her armor encased her.
The last of the minions were destroyed within moments.
Maggie turned to watch Alex marvel at her new power. Alex was looking over herself, flexing the armor and twisting to get a feel for her range of movement. Maggie herself could feel Alex in the Grid the way she could the rest of her team. It wasn’t the same as Zack. It wouldn’t be. But it was still a comfort, a kind of profound affirmation.
“This is amazing,” Alex murmured, the awe evident. “I didn’t feel it on my skin; I felt it happening somewhere else.”
“Deeper than your bones?” Billy asked, as his face mask cleared.
Alex nodded. “Is that the Morphing Grid? And how do you do that with the mask?”
“Think about it,” Trini said, smirking as her mask faded away.
“Funny,” Alex drawled even as her face became visible. “Okay, what else can I do?”
One by one, the Rangers called on their weapons. Alpha filled the Pit with minions.
“Unfortunately,” Kim said as she pulled back her bowstring, “you don’t get to choose your weapon.”
Alex raised her fists as her face mask slid back into place. “Let’s do this.”
The minions charged. Alex sprang into the battle, Maggie a moment behind her. The team let Alex take the brunt of the fight so she could push her powers into creating a weapon. Maggie could feel the energy swirling around Alex, channeling to bring Alex to the same combat level.
The ax that filled Alex’s hands was different from Zack’s except for the black and silver coloring. It was double bladed where Zack’s had one side, and slimmer for quicker movements. Alex didn’t hesitate to put it to work, barely registering her new weapon.
When the Pit was empty of enemies, Maggie was the first to let her armor fade back into her skin. She knew she had to be the one to bring up Prince Gasket. The rest of the team would protect her and Jason from reliving the nightmare. “Let’s go inside,” she told all of them. “We need to catch Alex up on Gasket’s history.”
Maggie could see Trini and Kim trade a look while Billy double checked with Jason. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust her, it was that they were mentally preparing for what could happen. Maggie rarely spoke of Lord Zedd. Jason was equally silent on Prince Gasket.
“You didn’t say anything about history lessons,” Alex teased as they entered the Grid Room. “I don’t know if I wanna do this if I have to learn something.”
Trini replied before Maggie could. “So you’re an all-action girl, huh?”
Alex winked at Trini. “Lots of action.”
Kim shoved Trini away from Alex before they could get started.
Jason hopped up on his platform, and the others followed suit. Alex hesitated for a moment. She took a deep breath and watched for a reaction as her feet touched the faintly glowing pad. It darkened to the black color and hummed, but nothing more.
Maggie closed her eyes and brought up the memory of her and Jason’s capture. She didn’t remember all of it, but her suit and the Grid would. The room became the field they met Prince Gasket face to face. Maggie looked over at Alex and watched her wonder turn into rapt attention.
Sprawled around the field were four of the Rangers in varying states of injury and unconsciousness. Maggie was under Prince Gasket’s foot, her armor creaking. Jason lay at her side, a spear tip pushing down into his throat.
“Time and again Rangers have been turned evil against their wills,” Prince Gasket said as he continued to exert pressure on them. “I think it would be far more effective to have them forget they were ever heroes. What do you say we find out?”
This is the canon idea I’m basing Maggie and Jason’s memory off of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMq9_RhPS4
Chapter 7
5 Years Ago
Maggie wasn’t fond of the way the Machine Empire teleported organic matter. She barely avoided throwing up in her helmet. Prince Gasket’s weight sat firmly on her chest, and she couldn’t heave in enough air to breathe against the panic trying to settle into her bones.
She was in enemy hands again.
Jason was with her.
Prince Gasket had so many options with two Rangers at his mercy: one of them a spare worth killing, use one as a bargaining chip against the other, or, after making one forget they were friends, have the brainwashed one kill the Ranger who couldn’t whether to fight for their life or hurt their teammate.
Maggie was screwed no matter what.
Prince Gasket yelled for his Cogs, twisting his spear into Jason’s throat. The armor around his neck started to crack.
The Cogs brought over steaming, glowing buckets that made the air around them ripple with heat. Maggie braced for the impact, but she could never truly prepare for what happened.
Molten metal was poured on them. Starting with their legs, they were sealed to the ship’s deck. Their armor saved them from direct burns, but the heat was overwhelming. Pain and panic made her dizzy as the Cogs dumped a bucket around her torso. Prince Gasket’s weight was lifted, and she managed to expand her lungs long enough to breathe in the hot and humid smell of burning metal.
The liquid found its way into the cracks of her armor, expanding the fissures as it hardened.
Maggie lost the fight to maintain some semblance of control. She screamed. Her world went dark.
Alex wanted to move. She tried to leave the platform and go stand next to Maggie. But she was rooted to the spot. The memory, thankfully, jumped to the next “important” moment. Alex didn’t think she could handle watching Maggie being torn apart piece by piece.
Maggie was stuck to the floor. Not a foot away Jason lay in the same case of metal. Only their heads were visible. Maggie could barely breathe due to the way the metal melted into her armor, holding it in place. After passing out, she had woken to a strange device over her head. It was replying her life. Or, at least, she thought it was her life.
She could recognize the people and place and events, but only for a moment. Once the memory faded from her vision, it left her mind. She couldn’t recall what she had just seen no matter how hard she tried to cling to a single name. If someone was repeated, like her teammates, Maggie only knew they were important. She no longer remembered how they met.
Tears were soaking into her hair as she lost everything that made her life unique and worth living.
Jason was yelling beside her, trying to shout names so he could remember, only to trail off as he simply forgot.
Maggie couldn’t close her eyes. Even if they were shut, the device just played everything in her brain. She hated that their enemies could so easily get into their heads. They had powers enough to support every living organism on a planet but those same powers couldn’t protect their minds, couldn’t protect the very essence that made them Rangers.
Last night’s campfire flickered across her vision. Maggie sobbed, the noise cut short as she lost her own name.
Alex blinked back her gathering tears as Maggie and Jason were released from their metal shells. They stood, limp and compliant, the armor seeming empty of any real life. Alex’s hands twisted around the metal railing, forcing herself to watch as Maggie and Jason were ordered to attack King Mondo and Queen Machina.
Prince Gasket may have erased Maggie’s memories, but that didn’t mean new ones couldn’t be remembered. Though Maggie didn’t even know her own name or how she came to be in Prince Gasket’s service, she remembered everything that happened to her after being released from her metal tomb. The upside of Prince Gasket rushing his plans to be rid of his creators was in that he didn’t take the time to capture the rest of her team.
The downside resulted in him losing the battle against the King and Queen of the Machine Empire. The Cogs were a hive mind and though Prince Gasket had a substantial army behind him, obeying King Mondo was part of the base code of every Cog. With only two Rangers, Prince Gasket lost the battle for control of the Machine Empire.
Even with armor, fighting countless robots bruised her hands and feet. Being hit for hours without a break left many hairline fractures on almost every bone in her body. Without food or water, it was her connection to the Grid that kept her alive.
When the battle was over, Jason and Maggie found themselves on their knees in front of King Mondo and Queen Machina. The fates of all involved were decided swiftly and without theatrics. Maggie never understood why Prince Gasket was merely banished and not offlined. She didn’t think evil, megalomaniac robots were so impractical. But she supposed forcing Prince Gasket to exist with the humiliation of his failure instead of being erased was the worse punishment.
Jason and Maggie were organics and therefore of no use to the Machine Empire. However, returning them to Earth would make King Mondo’s domination of the planet that much harder. He sent them to the world of Onyx. The Milky Way’s largest gladiator arena was based there.
Maggie ate the gruel handed over to them with gusto. It was the first meal she could remember having. Neither she nor Jason knew what good nor bad tasting food was, all they knew was they needed the nutrition. When they were announced at their first fight, the mention of “Power Rangers” caused a stunned silence. The eruption of noise was a combination of cheers and panic.
Later, Maggie and Jason learned they were able to stay morphed because Onyx’s Zeo Crystal had no other Rangers to support. Due to being Onyx’s first Rangers in millennia, they were able to survive. Had they lost their powers, they would’ve died in their first fight.
For two days, Maggie and Jason slept occasionally, ate sparingly, were barely allowed to heal, and fought for their lives. The Machine Empire attacking Earth meant it wasn’t their team that saved them. The Power Rangers of Mirinoi responded to the rumors of a Red and Green Ranger at the arena.
Alex had seen Maggie go for kill shots. Alex knew Maggie was capable of being ruthless. Alex also knew Maggie preferred to de-escalate a situation. Watching the empty shell with Maggie’s face slaughter dozens of aliens made Alex’s heart ache. Some of them were monsters. Others? Others were trapped as much as Maggie and Jason.
Alex had done a few horrible things when her mind wasn’t her own but never killed anyone. Any death she had dealt out was done with her full knowledge and acceptance of the result. Alex had no idea how Maggie dealt with the experience and weight of killing people trying to survive.
Maggie sat on a bed in the medical section of the Mirinoi Ranger’s ship and took a good look at her body for the first time since emerging from Prince Gasket’s metal shell. Her knuckles were nothing but bloody bruises, as were the other points of her body she used to hit targets. The parts of her arms Maggie used for blocking attacks were dark with bone-deep bruising. She knew from brief glimpses her torso and legs were in the same state.
It was weird to be faced with the reality of her organic body. Waking up surrounded by robots had made her truly believe she was one of them, just a little different in programming. She hadn’t understood from King Mondo and Queen Machina had meant by “organic.”
Now she knew it meant pain and suffering. It involved a liquid diet until her organs healed. It meant being faced with an entire life she couldn’t remember. The Mirinoi Rangers didn’t know everything, they only knew what they had been able to pull from the leaders of the arena before burning it to the ground.
Maggie and Jason had been taken from their team and homeworld. They were forced to forget everything. Said homeworld and team had barely survived two long days against an entire, relentless army. With Prince Gasket gone from the Milky Way and the Machine Empire destroyed, there was no way of knowing how Maggie’s memories could be returned.
Even her name seemed weird on her tongue. It settled something in her mind, but it sounded odd.
The door to Medical opened, and Maggie looked up to see Kendrix enter with some clothing. She set a stack highlighted in red next to Jason and one in green next to Maggie. Wanting to get clean as soon as she could, Maggie carefully slid off the bed and picked up her clothes with a soft thanks. Jason asked Kendrix how they still understood language and time and such when they could remember nothing else.
Kendrix said something about Gasket wanting them to only forget who they were, not what. Having them forget how to function as an adult would be of no use to him.
Maggie didn’t know if Kendrix’s answer was a comfort or not.
Alex watched Maggie remember her life the hard way: much like they were watching the memory in the Grid, Maggie and Jason were shown their pasts as Power Rangers. The problem was how their minds reacted to being reminded. Breaking through what Gasket did to them almost broke them. The pain their minds endured to reconnect the memories just out of reach left them in agony. It took weeks. Jason and Maggie would push themselves until they fainted.
When the replay ended, Alex could only look to Maggie. The blank expression on Maggie’s face spoke of how much the events still haunted her. Alex left the pedestal and crossed the room. Alex didn’t care that they were now Power Rangers together and may have to face something as horrible or worse than when Alex just witnessed. She wrapped Maggie in a hug and had no plans on ever letting go.
“Say the word, and I won’t do this,” Alex said the moment they landed back in Alex’s apartment.
Maggie wrapped Alex in a hug and held her tight for a long minute. When she pulled away, she said, “This is your decision. You haven’t asked me to stand down. I can’t ask you to do that, either.”
“But being a Power Ranger is your thing, and I didn’t even come by this properly.” Alex was giving Maggie an out, but Maggie also knew how low Alex’s self-esteem could get, even now.
“Babe, all of us literally picked up our coins thinking they were cool shiny rocks.” Maggie led Alex over to the couch. “Zack was gonna sell his for money.”
“I feel like I’m intruding.” Alex dug the coin out of her pocket and put it on the coffee table. “And I killed for it.”
“No, Alex,” Maggie said, firm and locking eyes with Alex. “You killed Astra in self-defense. You had no idea she was a Power Ranger or that you would gain a Power Coin from her. There’s a difference, understand me?”
Alex nodded, the tightness in her shoulders dropping away.
“And you aren’t intruding.” Maggie tucked Alex’s hair behind her ears. “If we didn’t want you to know anything about us, you wouldn’t. If we didn’t want you as a Ranger, we would’ve found a way to take the coin without you knowing.”
Alex leaned back against the couch, considering the coin. Maggie gave her some time, getting up to get them some water. She would do everything to reassure Alex that she could, and should, wield the powers.
“Are you afraid?” Alex asked after a while, having sipped some of the water.
“Yes.” It wasn’t an easy admission. “When I stood up to Lord Zedd to save Kim and Trini, I thought he was going to kill me. It hasn’t gotten easier. No one who attacks us wants our surrender. A living Ranger, even one without powers, can fight back. They want to kill us.”
Alex nodded. “There’s part of me that’s exhausted. It hasn’t been a month since the Daxamites. But there’s also part of me that’s almost...eager? Super confident we can win this? I don’t know if that’s arrogance or just me knowing I can do this.”
Maggie smiled a little. “There’s more to being a Power Ranger than an ability to kick ass. Look, you told me how J’onn put you in charge once. There might have been some grumbling from older agents, but no one really questioned your command, right? Not all of that was just due to J’onn’s orders. We both know good leaders do more than give commands.”
They sat there for a few more minutes before heading to bed. Maggie knew she could sleep, her body was used to sleeping despite any anticipation. She didn’t think Alex would sleep deeply, if at all. There were still so many questions Maggie knew Alex wanted to ask, so many things needing clarification. A day in the Pit would solve Alex’s insomnia, though, so Maggie just curled up around her and hoped they made it through the next week intact.
Maggie woke Alex up just before dawn. She was grateful they had the day off, but now they would have to train and plan for Prince Gasket’s arrival. Alex got dressed with her eyes barely open. The teleportation woke them both up a bit more, and their destination did the rest.
The train car was chilly, but there was already a fire going in the pit outside. Bags of fast food sat in a stone alcove beside the flames. Maggie tugged Alex out to join the rest of the team for breakfast.
“This is from your ‘camping’ pictures,” Alex said as she sat on a log next to Kim.
“Easiest way to disappear for a few days,” Jason said around a mouthful of hash browns.
Kim handed over a thermos of coffee. “Don’t talk to Trini until she speaks first.”
Alex saluted Kim with the thermos and took the warning seriously. Silence fell over the group as they filled their bellies. Alex didn’t put away nearly as much food as those around her, but Maggie knew that would change after training. If Maggie and Alex were pressed up against each other, no one said anything.
The sun slowly rose, warming them and the surrounding land.
Once the food was gone, Billy packed up the garbage into his backpack, and they set off for the ship. Alex didn’t question why they were walking through an abandoned mine. Maggie actually missed the days of dodging mining staff and security. For all the team kept to some traditions, the world still changed around them. It made something in Maggie’s chest ache.
When they reached the second cliff where Billy had decided their fate, Trini took a running leap, Kim a moment behind her. Jason grinned at Maggie and Alex before taking off. Billy was mere moments behind him.
Alex’s jaw dropped as she watched the team jump over the small canyon.
“What the actual fuck, Sawyer?” Alex drawled, flipping off the quartet waving her over.
“This is how we had to get into the ship before the teleportation system was repaired,” Maggie said. “C’mon, Danvers. Not scared, are you?”
That was all the push Alex needed. She backed up a few steps and started running. The rest of the team cheered and whooped and clapped. Alex landed on her feet, skidding only a little. Maggie waited until she had an audience before making her own leap.
“What the fuck?!” Alex demanded, elated and confused. “How…? That was…”
“It gets even better!” Billy said, feeding off her excitement. He went towards the edge of the cliff and danced off of it.
Jason was laughing as he followed him over. Alex went to the ledge and looked over, but the sun was still too low for light to reach the bottom.
“No, Kim.” Trini’s stern voice pulled their attention to the couple. Trini had her finger pointed at Kim, who was currently incapable of looking at all innocent.
“But tradition, Trini.” Kim took a step closer, causing Trini to step back towards the ledge.
“I swear to God-”
Kim snorted. “You haven’t believed in God since the eighth grade.”
“That’s beside the po-”
Kim moved faster than Alex thought possible even with planet given superpowers. The duo was over the edge of the cliff before Alex could really comprehend Kim had tackled Trini.
“C’mon, you two!” Jason called up. “The water’s warm!”
“That deep in the ground?” Alex gave Maggie a disbelieving look. “Doubtful.”
Maggie grinned. “Only one way to find out.”
Alex sighed but jumped. Maggie followed a blink later, not wanting to miss Alex’s reaction. Maggie surfaced just as Alex caught sight of the way they were glowing. Alex didn’t have a chance to voice any wonder before Billy was tugging her under water.
Thankfully, Jason and Billy weren’t rude about leading her out of the water. They went through the ‘surface’ feet first, followed by Kim and Trini. Alex gave Maggie another look before twisting around and swimming through.
“How the hell am I dry?” Alex asked when Maggie landed next to her.
Billy pointed up. “That’s actually a shield to keep out anyone without a connection to the Morphing Grid. It dries us off.”
Alex gazed up at the rippling water. Maggie could see her mind whirling with the possibilities. They headed through the maze of rock and Alex got to see the sixty-five-million-year-old ship from the outside. She stood and stared. Maggie motioned the others ahead.
“All this, and you went along with it?” Alex asked.
Maggie shrugged. “To be fair, I spent the three years before meeting them mostly friendless.”
“Insanity better than nothing, huh?” Alex nudged Maggie’s shoulder.
Maggie nudged her back. “I am marrying you, aren’t I?”
Alex’s jaw dropped, appalled. Maggie laughed and took off for the Pit. Alex shouted at her and gave chase. Maggie jumped over the Pit, and when she hit the other side, Alpha brought up half a dozen Cogs to block Alex’s path. Maggie turned around just in time to watch Alex react.
Alex’s fist cocked back and flew into the nearest Cog’s chest. It stumbled back, and Alex got a taste of new strength and enemies. She grabbed the next Cog’s head and twisted until it snapped. Before the body could hit the ground, Alex had kicked one robot into another, sending them to the ground. She went after her first target again, grabbing the metal fist coming at her face and swinging the Cog into the two remaining upright. Using both her new strength and the rocky terrain, Alex dispatched the six Cogs in three minutes.
“That’s hot,” Trini said when Alex looked up at them.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose while Kim and Maggie nodded in agreement. Billy hopped down and started asking Alex about one particular move. Alpha set up a Cog for them to practice on in an alcove off to the side of the Pit. The rest of the team leaped down into the pit as a dozen Cogs appeared. Trini and Maggie were back to back as they speared into the heart of the group, falling into their oldest of habits. Kim and Jason circled around the outside, thrashing any robot in their reach.
Alpha, however, was a little shit. Between one moment and the next, Prince Gasket appeared in front of Maggie. Trini felt her flinch and immediately rolled their shoulders against each other to push Maggie out of the way. Kim moved in as well, letting Jason deal with the Cogs.
“I got this,” Maggie said over her shoulder.
Trini immediately let Maggie turn them around so Maggie could lay into Prince Gasket. She tossed him out of the knot of Cogs and Jason joined her in fear and anger fueled their movements. The hologram hit back harder than they remembered the real Prince Gasket doing so, reinforcing the idea that Prince Gasket was back to kill them, not repeat his attempt at making evil Rangers. Maggie lowered herself and slammed her arm into Prince Gasket’s chest, pinning him to the stone wall. Jason jumped into the air behind her and kicked Prince Gasket’s head off his shoulders.
Maggie backed away and let the robotic body fall to the ground. Her fists were shaking. Jason was breathing heavily next to her. Silence rang out in her ears.
“Let’s go check on Zack,” Jason muttered.
Maggie nodded and fell in step behind him, not looking at her team or fiance.
