Power Rangers Dino Steel

Rina looked at Kida and nodded softly. ”Ah, daijobu.” she said softly.

Aaron nodded before picking up Mayumi's body and teleported out of the Command Center. When he arrived in her apartment, he walked into her room and gently laid her on her bed, carefully tucking her in. Once she was secure, he moved her hair out of her face as he held his head down. "I'll make this right.. I promise." He gently squeezed her hand one last time before starting to make his way out of her quarters.

Mayumi smiled a bit as her eyes drooped closed, falling asleep. She curled up under the blankets, sighing softly and feeling content. She just did'nt know what conversation was waiting for her when she woke up.

********

Back at the Command Center, JT nervously tapped her foot against the ground. With everything that has been going on with the team over these last two ordeals, they may have won those battles but it felt like they were taking a toll on the team in terms of morale. "Are you sure there's nothing else you can do for her?" JT finally spoke up, directing her line of questioning at Jameson. "What about your magic? Do you have any healing spells?"

"My magic isn't as strong here," Jameson said. "I did everything I could think of to help her, but trying to use my magic would probably have caused more harm then good. As for healing spells, the only one I had was a team spell that caused complications when a single person used it last time. Remind me to tell you about Harrison bungling that up some day." He sighed, rubbing his head softly. "I wish I had something to use. Unless something magic ends up falling into this dimension, I'm pretty limited with my powers, JT. I'm sorry. For all the good it does, I'm sorry..."

Rina looked at Kida and nodded softly. ”Ah, daijobu.” she said softly.

Kida nodded softly, rubbing Rina's arm. She looked over at JT and Jaxon, sighing softly. She knew she had to adress it, and she hoped her words weren't going to fall on deaf ears.

"I don't like this. THe last two attacks have been personal. AMaranth and the Overseer know what they're doing this time, coming after us individually. They're trying to get between us, causing discourse and making it where we're not communicating. Amaranth almost won by using me against you guys when I was most vulnerable, and now the Overseer's gone after Aaron by playing on his fears. It's only a matter of time before Ridenio tries something or the Overseer puts another plan into motion." She sighed, rubbing her neck softly and trying to think of a way ot word things without it blowing up in her face.

"I know there's still some tensions thanks to Amaranth's manipulations of my head and the resulting arguments from that, and I'm not asking everyone to forget it and be hunky-dory right away. I keep hoping that things will work themselves out, but so far I haven't seen it, and I know what the cause is. I'm probably gonna say something that'll piss someone off, so I apologize ahead of time, but fuck it. You both need to get over yourselves. You can't hold onto a grudge or refuse to say something because, even though you were in the right, you ignored other ideas. You two need to talk and get things figured out, because just having each others backs in the field isn't going to be enough since we're getting attacked personally and if they come after either of you, you'd want the other to be there to help. Love you both to death, but for Christ's sake, it's time to fix things."

Kida sighed, biting her lip. "I wanted this to be an inspirational speech but it turned out into a nag session. So I'm sorry for that. I Just....need everyone's heads in the game, and if that means giving tough love, so be it. Worked at SPD."

Rina glanced over at JT. “I don’t doubt your ability to lead, never have. It’s just when you wanted to burn her at the stake for what Amarath did, I just wanted to save you from being a “hot-headed red ranger” stereoxtype.” she said softly. “I’m married to one. I get emotions were hurt and I didn’t mean to add to it but what hurt worse was none of you were believing in me. I’ve already lost too much and have too many who stopped believing in me. I was hoping it was different here...”

Rina sighed through her nose. “The alternate solution would only intice more violence and there didn’t need to be anymore. Amaranth was already feeding into that. So yes, it did come across that none of you believed I could talk to her peacefully a third time. Weither it was an L or not. Our duty as Rangers and officers is suppose to see a situation through peacefully ortherwise everything just becomes more chaotic. And I believe that you’re a good leader and so does Kida and I was trying to get you to see that dispite you feeling like you wanted to hit something. I already failed someone who believed in me and Kida didn’t deserve that.” she said softly, brushing her hand against her cheek.

“I am apologizing. I was explaining that I understand in that moment tensions were high, but it still didn’t excuse you all still calling me a bitch or an ass when we were heading to the fight. I already did own up to it in that moment, but none of you care to listen anymore because you would just thought I wouldn’t of meant it.” Rina said softly, looking away.

Rina looked at JT and nodded softly. “You’re welcome.” she said softly.

Kida smiled softly, watching the two women. "Now this is how we should be. Now we can make things right and bring balance back to our team."

"Cool, so if that's all then I gotta jet. I'll see you guys later!" JT turned the dial on her morpher, transporting out of the Command Center in a streak of pink light.

***

With Mayumi safely in her bed, Aaron retreated to his trusted rooftop to get some air and clear his head. For him, it was an eventful day, He was recruited by Overseer to join his band of generals and it may have been his own impatience that caused him a valuable ally because Aaron was genuinely weighing his options but in Overseer's haste, he attacked the closest friend he has in this particular world and forced his hand. Those actions shocked the Black Ranger into the realization as to who he really is. While he is a clone and does bear some similar personality traits and skills to Proto, his love for people, compassion, and his will to be a hero allows him to differ greatly from the dark shinobi. Unfortunately for Aaron, it took the former White Ranger knocking at death's door to realize that and that guilt is something that he's going to have to live with for the remainder of his time on this planet. Unfortunately for Overseer, this development means that Aaron will be more determined than ever before to end his reign of tyranny and he'll quickly learn that a motivated Aaron Kane is a lethal one.

As Aaron was gathering his thoughts and thinking of how he was going to be able to look Mayumi in the eye when she wakes up, another voice shook him out of his zen place.

"I figured I'd find you up here." JT walked onto the roof, siting on the nearest vent. "How is she?"

"She's resting right now. She should be okay but because of me, she'll be damn near defenseless. No chakra. No powers. No jutsu... all because I fucked up, she's stuck."

"Frosty, you've gotta stop beating yourself up over all of this."

"Why? I couldn't get a hold of my darkness and because of that and because I didn't tell the team what was going on right away, she got hurt." Aaron turned around to speak to the Pink Ranger, still stuck on his personal guilt trip.

"She's a big girl. She knew the risks and took them anyway because she had your back."

"Yeah and look at where that left her." Aaron sighed as he slowly took steps in JT's direction. "Maybe if I did become Proto, I...." Before he could finish that sentence, JT jumped off of the vent and walked up to Aaron, slapping him in the face, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence! Giving into the evil is NEVER the better option." She shouted before letting out a deep sigh. "When I was a kid, I was told stories of guys who gave into the darkness and there's never a guarantee that you can necessarily come back from. Hell, this Proto guy fits in that same category! Now I get it. You were created by evil from evil for evil but you're still someone who can make his own choices and you made a choice today that not only saved Mayumi but the rest of us too!" JT spoke. Her conviction and passion was coming through with every word. "If we're going to win this and get home to our worlds, it's going to take all five of us and as much as I hate to admit it, you're good at what you do but we need you to have your head on straight for our sake and for Mayumi's."

She gently placed her hand on his cheek where she slapped him. In that moment, she felt bad because his cheek was slightly red where she made contact as she didn't intend on hitting him so hard. "Sorry..."

"No." Aaron slowly placed his hand on top of hers and showed off a small smile. "I deserved that. Hell, I probably needed it. If I want to make it right, I need to do it in the only way someone of my greatness can.. with a blade to the throat of Overseer."

"That's the Frosty I know!" JT smiled as her ninja comrade was starting to sound more like himself. The two stood in silence for a moment, looking at one another until it was clear that someone had to say something.

"Ummmm... it's safe to move your hand now. I think I'll survive." Aaron lowered his hand while JT quickly jerked hers away.

"Yeah sorry!" She nervously chuckled. She put her hand in her pocket while looking for the exit. "I'll uh see you later?"

Aaron nodded and JT darted away towards the door. "Oh and Princess?" JT stopped and looked back at Aaron. "Thanks." JT smiled as she made her exit. Aaron remained on the roof and briefly looked down at his hand before balling it into a fist. Although that guilt was still there, he was reminded that things were going to be okay as long as the team was united.