RPM 4- “Bloodline”
“How much longer should I mix it?” I asked.
“Until it started to get firm peeks…but don’t over mix or it’ll break.” Mandy said.
“OK, I think I just about got it. But, Mandy, shouldn’t we be working on dinner before desert?”
“No, Mikki is bringing home dinner so I figured we could make a nice homemade strawberry shortcake for after. It’s Flynn favorite.”
I rolled my eyes, “Of course.”
“Ok, after you finish that whipped cream you can take the cake out of the oven, it should be just about ready.” Mandy said as there was a knock on the door, “I’ll get that.”
I heard her go get the door and speak to the visitor.
“Hey Flynn! I wasn’t expecting you until dinner.” Mandy said.
I sighed. I liked Flynn alright, but he and Mandy were so sugary sweet it was sickening sometimes.
“I’m here in a professional capacity.” Flynn replied.
“What? What business do you have at my house?” Mandy asked.
“Where’s Myli?”
“Myli?”
I heard my name and was confused, but curious. What did he need with me? I put down the cake I’d just got out of the oven and turned the oven off then I went to the door and stood next to Mandy.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I need you to come with me.” Flynn said.
“Why? Am I under arrest or something?”
“Of course not. Rangers don’t do much arresting. We just need to question you.”
“What about?” Mandy asked.
“Ziggy. He’s being charged with attempting a bank robbery and considering you used to date him we need to question you about your relationship and his involvement with various cartels.”
“Crap.” I grumbled.
“I told you that guy was trouble Myli.” Mandy said.
“Let’s get this over with.” I said.
“I’m coming with you.
We got to the prison, which is where the interrogation was happening. Coronal Truman was there. So was Mikki. Great.
“Mylina, you had better tell them the truth about that guy.” Mikki said.
“I have nothing to hide. Anything you wanna know, ask.” I said.
Mikki nodded, “OK. Myli, you go and answer their questions. I’ll be back to get you when you’re done. Mandy, I need you to come with me.”
“But Myli needs our support.” Mandy argued.
“No, Myli can handle this herself. This is her mess. And so help me Mylina, if you did anything illegal for that boy…”
“I didn’t.”
“Be honest. I’ll be back.” Mikki said as she started to guide Mandy away.
“Good luck My.” Mandy said.
“Thanks.” I said as I was led to an interrogation room. This was not going to be fun.
Mandy
~~~~~
“Mik, are you sure about this? I don’t feel right leaving Myli there.” I said.
“I don’t either, but there’s more important things
happening. Venjix is ruthless and if Ziggy is really convicted he’ll lose his
morpher. The Rangers can’t afford to be down a Ranger. It just can’t happen.
“Yeah? And? What do you need me for? To run some Ranger auditions?”
“Not exactly.” She said as we got to the garage and went inside.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
“Doctor K?” Mikki asked, ignoring me.
“Yes Mikayla, thank you for coming. Have you informed Mandalin of…” Dr. K started.
“No, I haven’t yet.”
“Informed me about what?” I asked.
“Well, remember how Flynn told you the Ranger Purple technology was ‘broken’?” Mikki asked.
“Yeah. They couldn’t even activate it in test mode.” I said.
“Right. There is a reason for it.”
“And that is?”
“It’s DNA activated.”
“All Ranger power is.”
“Not exactly. Once it is formally activated it becomes tied to DNA whereas this Purple power is tied to specific DNA with no activation whatsoever. It’s encoded in the power and there is no way around it.” Dr. K said.
“Ok. And that means what? We have to find a specific person to use it?” I asked.
“Someone from a specific blood line, yes.” Mikki said.
“Can’t the Rangers do that?”
“They don’t need to. We know which bloodline it is.”
“What? Who?”
“Ours.”
I looked at Mikki, “What?”
“Remember the legends of the great power the Sataurians held?”
“Yeah. Lightning, healing…”
“No, the other power. Of our ancestors like Michelle and Harlyn and Samantha.”
“Oh, well yeah. According to our history books Queen Michelle had power beyond belief.”
“It was Ranger power. Mandy, our bloodline is what can activate the Purple Morpher.”
“What? Seriously? So you, me, and Myli are the only three people left that can activate it?”
“Seeing as how any of our other known blood relatives died in the battle with Venjix, yes.”
“So, you’re gonna be a Ranger after everything you said about not using power?” I asked.
“No. I’m not.”
“Well Myli is too young and immature.”
“I agree.”
“Then…”
“Not Myli, and not me. You Mandy. You’re going to be Ranger Purple.”
Myli
~~~~
“So what do you need from me?” I asked.
“We need to know everything you know about Ziggy Grover.” the interrogator said.
“Ok, well what do you wanna know?”
“How did you meet him?”
I nodded, “It was not long after we got to
“Why were you trying to find a way out of the city?”
“To go look for my mom. I believe she is still out there somewhere. No one believes me but I know she’s alive. I will eventually get away from my sisters and go out there so I can find her.”
“OK, so you were trying to find a way out of the city.”
“Right. Anyway, I snuck out of the house and was sneaking through a back ally way when I saw Ziggy coming out of a building. He was looking behind him and literally ran into me. He apologized and…”
“I’m so sorry.” Ziggy
said.
I smiled at him. He
was kinda cute, “It’s ok. No worries. I haven’t seen you before.”
“I keep a low
profile.”
“I’m Myli Harkness.
It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hi Myli Harkness. I’m
Ziggy Grover.”
“Ziggy? What an
interesting name. Are you as interesting as your name would suggest?”
“Me? Oh, probably
not.”
“I’d like to find out.
Maybe when I get back.”
“Back from where?”
“Finding my mom. She’s
out there somewhere. I just have to get out of this dome and find her.”
“You can’t be serious.
You want to go out there?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not safe.”
“Exactly, which is why
I have to find my mom.”
“So you’re alone
here?”
“No, I have two
sisters.”
“So why aren’t they
helping you?”
“They believe she’s
already dead.”
“But you don’t?”
“No. I don’t.”
Ziggy nodded, “Too
bad. You’re really beautiful. If you can put your escape from the city off for
a bit I’d love to get breakfast.”
“Well…maybe I can wait
a little longer.”
“Awesome. You won’t be
sorry. I make great shadow puppets.”
“Breakfast and
entertainment. Sounds good.”
“After breakfast Ziggy and went for a walk and I lost all track of time. He ended up walking me home and I completely forgot I was even trying to leave the city that day. After that I didn’t want to leave because I didn’t want to leave Ziggy. His goofy but loveable personality had drawn me in and I just wanted to be with him.” I explained.
“But you didn’t tell your sisters.”
“No. I couldn’t exactly tell them how we met and I didn’t know if it would be lasting…by the time I realized it was something real I knew about his cartel involvement and I certainly couldn’t tell my sisters about that.”
“When did you find out about his cartel involvement?”
“I had snuck out and slept at his place and…”
Ziggy and I had made
love and I’d curled up in his arms. I was sleeping soundly when I felt him move
to get up.
“Ziggy? Where are you
going?” I asked.
“I have a meeting.”
Ziggy said.
I sat up, “Ziggy, I’ve
had it. You never tell me what you do but you’re always taking off at odd hours
for these ‘meetings’. You’re not telling me something.”
“It’s safer if you
don’t know.”
“I can take care of
myself. Tell me the truth or I won’t be here when you get back…or ever again.”
Ziggy sighed, “Fine.
I’m working with
“Whoa…the cartel
boss?”
“Yes.”
“You’re working the
cartel circuit?!”
“Yes. I’m gonna lose
you anyway aren’t I?”
I thought about it,
“No…no. I care about you and you were honest. I don’t think it’s a good choice
but I’m still with you.”
Ziggy nodded, “Good.
Now I have to go.
“I’m going with you.”
“No. Not a chance.
It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t care.” I said
as I started to get dressed.
“Miles, no…”
“You can’t stop me.”
And he couldn’t stop
me. I ended up going with him.
“And who is this young
beauty?” Bob asked as he kissed my hand.
“This is my…my…” Ziggy
stuttered.
“I’m his girlfriend,
Myli Harkness.” I said.
“It’s a pleasure to
meet you Myli.” Bob said.
“Oh, but the pleasure
it all mine sir.
“Hold on to this one
Ziggy. She’s a beauty.”
“Thank you.”
“Now if you’ll allow
me a moment with your boyfriend honey, we have some business to discuss.”
I nodded, “Of course.”
“So you never heard any details of the deals that went down?” the interrogator asked.
“No, not from Bob. I knew about some of it because Ziggy told me some stuff. He never seemed comfortable with the cartel life so I didn’t get why he did it, but he did.” I said.
“Did he ever tell you about any crimes he committed?”
“No. I preferred not to know. I know what the cartel does and what they are capable of. I certainly didn’t want to piss them off so I played nice, but I didn’t want details of their dealings either.”
“So you and Ziggy secretly dated?”
“Yes.”
“Were you in love?”
“Yes”
“Are you still?”
“Does it matter?”
“It could affect how much we can trust your answers.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not lying for that creep. He left me without a word.”
“You didn’t know why?”
“No. I know there was some deal that involved him driving a truck. I don’t know what was in the truck but I knew it was big because all 5 major cartels were involved. I also know he botched the deal.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I was the one the cartels came after when Ziggy skipped town.”
“They came after you?”
“Yeah.”
**knock, knock**
I answered the door.
“
“Where is your
boyfriend?” he asked.
“Ziggy? I don’t know.
He took off. I’d appreciate it if you’d take off too…please…” I begged.
“You expect me to
believe Ziggy just left without telling you where he went.”
“That’s what happened.
Please go.”
“Myli, who’s at the
door?” Mikki asked as she came to the door, “You’re…
“Yes, and you are?” he
asked.
“Myli’s big sister.
What are you doing at my house? You’re not welcome here.”
“Oh Mikki, please
don’t.” I sighed.
“Your sister’s
boyfriend took off with a large sum of our assets and we’d like them back. If
your sister just tells me where he is I’ll be on my way.” Bob said.
“Myli doesn’t have a
boyfriend.” Mikki said.
“Actually Mikki, I
do…did. But sir, I told you, I have no idea where he is. He left me behind
whatever happened.” I said.
“Fine, I don’t believe
you but I have other ways of getting you to tell us. You’re so young and
beautiful. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this.” Bob said as he left.
I looked at Mikki.
“We’ve gotta talk.
Now.” She said.
After I told Mikki and
Mandy about Ziggy they were pissed. I knew I’d be on their bad side for a
really long time.
A couple of nights
later I was asleep when I heard the door to my room open. I saw a shadowy
figure standing there and I could easily tell it wasn’t one of my sisters. I
screamed.
“Shut up!” the figure
said as he grabbed my arm and put a gun to my head, “Where the hell is Ziggy?”
“I told you, I don’t
know!” I screamed.
“Let her go!” Mandy
cried. She and Mikki were standing in my doorway now.
“Make another move and
I’ll shoot her in the head.” The intruder said.
“I told you, I don’t
know where Ziggy went! He left me!” I cried.
“She doesn’t know, please
let her go.” Mikki said.
“I don’t believe her.”
The man said.
“Too damn bad.” Mandy
said as she threw her hands up really fast and froze him.
“Good job Mandy.”
Mikki said.
“He’s lucky I didn’t
blow his ass up.”
“You know the rules
about using power.”
“Oh get over it Mik.
It’s better than burying our little sister.”
“A little help here.”
I said.
“Oh, right.” Mikki
said as she and Mandy helped pry the guy’s fingers off me. We also took his
gun. We ran back to the doorway so we were facing him. Mikki hugged me tightly
while Mandy unfroze him and pointed his own gun at him.
“You were saying?”
Mandy asked.
“I…holy crap…what the
hell did you do? What are you? A witch?” the man asked, clearly scared.
“Something like that.”
The guy screamed and
started to run away.
“Tell you friends!”
Mandy called after him.
“After that none of the cartels messed with any of the Harkness sisters again. I was glad it was over but I did miss Ziggy terribly. I cried about losing him, I wrote songs, I tried dating around, I did everything I could think of because I was so hurt…I thought I wanted him back more than anything…until I saw his weaselly little face the other day then I just wanted to kill him for everything he put me through.” I finished.
“So what are your thoughts on Ziggy? Could he have robbed that bank?”
I nodded, “I think so. Whatever did happen I know he took off with something that belonged to the cartels. After that I would think a bank would be small potatoes.”
“OK. That’s all we need. Thank you.”
I nodded.
Mandy
~~~~~~
“Me? A Ranger? Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes. I have to focus on taking care of the family and Myli is too immature to handle this sort of responsibility…besides you’re the most powerful, remember? Mandy, I don’t like this but it’s necessary. Are you up to it?” Mikki said.
I nodded, “Of course!”
“Good, because the Rangers need your help now. We’ll fill you in on your training and other aspects later. For now get out there and help your new team.” Dr. K said.
I nodded, “OK, let’s activate this.” I said as I took the Morpher, “RPM, get in gear!”
I Morphed and made my way to the battle. The Rangers were overrun.
“Backup is here.” I said.
“Ranger Purple?” Scott asked.
“Who are you?” Summer asked.
“Later. Fight now.” I said. I kept it at few words. I didn’t want Flynn knowing who I was before the battle ended.
After the battle we went back to the garage.
“Ok, who are you?” Flynn asked.
“It’s me!” I said as I powered down.
“Oh no…you? Why?”
“Well, it had to be me…” I said as I explained the whole bloodline thing.
“So the Purple Morpher was never broken? It just needed you or your sisters to unlock it?” Scott asked.
“Exactly.”
“It’s in the technology. Somehow only one bloodline can handle this power.” Doctor K said.
“Perfect, just what I didn’t want.” Flynn sighed.
“It’ll be ok baby, you’ll see.” I said.
“And the good news, I’ve been cleared.” Ziggy said walking in.
“Oh right. I forgot. Ziggy is back.” Doctor K said.
“Does that mean that you won’t need me?” I asked.
“We’ll need all the help we can get.”
I nodded, “Sweet…oh, and if you’re clear…that means…”
“Yes, yes. They let me go. Ziggy Grover, I don’t know what you did but somehow I seem to keep getting dragged into your messes. What the fuck was on that truck?!” Myli cried as she stormed in.
“Miles…I…um…” Ziggy stuttered.
“Mylina Jacquline Harkness, language.” I said.
Myli rolled her eyes.
“Mylina, calm down. Ziggy was cleared for a reason.” Doctor K said.
“And that would be what?” Myli asked.
“On the truck…that was medical supplies. There was an orphanage of sick kids…gamma sickness…they didn’t have supplies and I had a whole truck of them. I couldn’t let the cartel get the supplies over the kids so I took the supplies to them…then I fled town.” Ziggy said.
“And you could’t tell me because the cartels would come after the kids…”
“Exactly.”
Myli just stood there in shock.
“Miles, I think we could go home.” I said.
Myli nodded.
“Flynn, I love you baby, I’ll see you later.
Flynn kissed my cheek and Myli and I left.
“Ziggy saved those kids…and…whoa, wait, you’re a Ranger?” Myli said.
“Slow reaction much?” I asked.
“Too much to react to. I want to go on record as saying this is not fair and I’m pissed. I already got jipped in the Power of Three department, now the Ranger dept too. Seriously?”
“Yes, I’m Ranger Purple. Learn to love it.”
“I’ve had it. I’m going to bed.” Myli said as she stormed off. I knew she’d be mad for awhile but she’d get over it. She always did. And in the meantime…I was FINALLY A POWER RANGER!!!!