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estinoseThis is a piece that I liked too much not to archive, but one that Beth and I never really polished up. It has its rough spots, needless to say!
It's set shortly after Trent regains control of himself. Mesogog and Elsa pull a very old trick by making his bookshelf project into a monster. This is actually not that farfetched, because many PRDT/Abaranger monsters were a combination of three objects. It's not a bad read, actually.
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned below (with the exception of the unnamed monster) all belong to BVE, VRP, or somebody else.
Note: This is posted in Misc - Backburner for a reason. It's a fic Beth and I wrote over IM. It got cleaned up, but that's about all you can say about it. Beth graciously gave me permission to post it, but be aware that it is really a first draft and will never get to a second.
The Bookshelf Project
by Estirose and Tptigger
c 2005
"I can't believe this," Trent said in frustration as the screw refused to go smoothly into the hole.
"Can't believe what?" Conner asked from across the room.
"I can't believe this assignment we got," Trent said. "I mean, build things? Me?"
"You signed up for industrial arts, Trent, what were you expecting? To do Emo Leather work for the whole semester?" Conner asked as he sanded his board.
Trent tried again with the screw. "I expected this stupid screw to go in correctly was what I was expecting."
"Trent you need to..." Conner dodged as the screw flew away from Trent's screwdriver and nearly hit him in the legs. "...learn to control your strength, dude. What if I wasn't super fast?"
"Sorry, Conner," Trent apologized, bending down to look for his screw. "I'm not used to the change."
"Dude, I killed a soccer ball at practice the first week," Conner said. "You just gotta learn. And fast--Kira, Ethan and I didn't have Cassidy sniffing around quite so much."
"Yeah, well...." Trent retrieved the screw, inspecting it for damage gently, as if he was worried he'd bend it in half. "I'm trying."
"I know dude," Conner said.
Trent put the screw in the hole again, satisfied he hadn't bent it. "I wish I could tell my Dad's what's happening with my body. He's a scientist." He thought briefly about how his father was coping with being Mesogog, controlling Mesogog.
"Dr. O's incredibly good about that kind of stuff," Conner said. "He's been there before, you know."
Trent stared at the screw, willing it to screw itself in.
Conner handed him a screwdriver, grinning wryly.
"Thanks," Trent said, attacking the screw again.
"Take it easy, bro," Conner said supportively.
Trent managed the screwdriver better the second time, managing not to have his project flying all over the workshop.
"See, dude," Conner said. The bell rang.
"Thanks," Trent said absently, returning his work to its resting place. "Stay," he told it.
"It's not a dog," Conner said.
Trent shrugged. "I've had so much trouble with it, I just want it to stay there and not move."
"Come on, dude, we've got practice," Conner said.
Trent nodded, looked one more time at his project, and followed Conner out the door.
Neither of them noticed Principal Randall as they passed her, though she'd been watching the two of them with great interest.
She slipped away, intending to tell her master about the conversation between the Red Ranger and her master's disobedient son.
* * *
"Hmmm," Mesogog said, his head pumping back and forth like a lizard bobbing its head. "It would be bad if something happened to Trent's project. I don't think his father would be pleased."
Elsa simpered. "Yes, Master," she said. "I'll retrieve the project right away." She bowed and headed towards the nearest invisiportal to take her back to the high school, trying to figure out what she could do with a half-finished bookshelf project.
* * *
Trent walked into the workroom. "Where's my project?" he asked, confused. "I left it right here."
"It didn't just get up and walk away, Trent," Conner said.
"I know that," Trent said, exasperated.
Mr. Mayer, the shop teacher, approached them. "Principal Randall borrowed it, Trent. I'm surprised, she said she'd have it back by now."
"Oh," Trent said, exchanging a glance with Conner. "It wasn't finished. I was having trouble with the screws."
"I know, Trent, but she did promise that she'd have it back here in time for you to work on."
Trent frowned. What was up? Randall had been sniffing around their science class for weeks, but what could his half-finished bookshelf have to do with Dr. O's relationship with the team?
"So, what do I do while Principal Randall has my bookshelf?" he asked casually.
Mr. Mayer handed him a strip of leather. "Make a bookmark?"
Conner shot him a sympathetic glance.
"This is so not Emo," Trent muttered, heading for the leather tools.
Conner shrugged. "Hey, the principal might be a you-know-what, but she wouldn't...."
"Hold it hostage?" Trent asked as he attempted to work with the leather working tools, 'attempted' being the operative word.
"Don't cut yourself, OK?" Conner said. "Kira would kill me if I let you get hurt."
"I won't," Trent said, as he narrowly avoided cutting his leather in half.
"You be sure you don't," Conner said.
* * *
One Band-Aid later, Trent's bookcase hadn't come back. The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. "This is not good."
"Let's head over to the science wing and tell Dr. O," Conner agreed.
Trent resisted the urge to suck on the wound. "Good idea."
"What's up, guys?" Dr. O asked as Conner and Ethan walked into the classroom a few minutes later. He had his briefcase in hand and had hung his lab coat on its hook for the night.
"Principal Randall's been hanging around industrial workshop for the last few days, and this time, she took my bookshelves," Trent managed, almost in one breath.
Dr. O made a face. "That's odd. She hasn't... I mean... approached you in a way that made you uncomfortable or anything?"
Trent shook his head. "It's just... just...." To tell Dr. O about Principal Randall would to expose his father as Mesogog. "I don't know why my industrial project."
Dr. O frowned, unsure what to make of that. "Is there something you want to tell me, Trent?"
"Unless she heard me and Conner talking about how careful we have to be about how strong we are," he said, covering it up quickly.
Dr. O looked from one to the other.
"We were being careful!" Conner said.
"Yeah, but she thinks we're weird," Trent said. "She might have thought we were... um...."
Dr. O raised an eyebrow.
"Um," Trent said, looking to Conner for support.
"I'm not a mind reader dude," Conner said, eying him skeptically.
"Um," Trent said, waving his hands frantically.
"It's OK, Trent, spit it out," Dr. O said.
"I can't say it!"
"Why not?" Dr. O asked.
"She might have thought we were... um... doing drugs," Trent squeaked.
"Oh, I see," Dr. O said. "Doesn't know you two too well, huh?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing, Dr. O," Conner said. "I've made it a point to stay *out* of detention after the first week, thank you very much."
"Yeah," Trent echoed. "My Dad would be kind of upset."
"Just a bit," Dr. O said, a smile tugging at his lips. "But back to the bookshelf, what do you think Mrs. Randall's doing, checking the shelf for steroids?"
"Must be," Trent said, trying to resist the urge to check out Mesogog's HQ after practice.
"Well, she won't find any, so maybe you should find something else to worry about?" Dr. O asked reasonably.
"Right," Trent said doubtfully. "I just don't like the idea spreading around that me and Conner might be using drugs." He decided he probably should go up to Mesogog's headquarters and take a look around.
"Don't worry, we have so many student privacy rules that no one will know anything," Dr. O soothed.
"Thank goodness," Trent said. "But it's making me nervous, still." Make the trip to Mesogog's lair a definite, he thought.
The city's monster alert started blaring.
Dr. O raised his Dino Brace to his mouth. "Hales, what's going on?"
"Another monster," Hayley said. "You'd better get out there."
"Right," Dr. O said. "Conner and Trent are with me. Have Ethan and Kira meet us there." He turned to Conner and Trent. "Ready?"
"Ready," they chorused.
"Dino Thunder! Power up!"
The three morphed and hurried towards the disturbance. The monster seemed to slim and slender, almost T-shaped in the middle, the bottom of the T pointing out towards them. It was a blocky, almost wooden-looking form. Trent wondered vaguely if he'd just found his project.
"Dude, that looks like your bookshelf!" Conner observed.
"Mesogog had to pick up one of Rita's old tricks?" Dr. O shook his head. Even morphed, he looked more amused than angry.
"I'm totally going to flunk!" Trent exclaimed.
"We might be able to get it back. Chill, dude."
"Protect the city first, figure out how to B.S. Trent a chance to redo the project later," Dr. O suggested.
At this point Ethan and Kira arrived.
A flood of papers - some attached to thick bindings - buffeted the Rangers.
"Ow!" Conner exclaimed.
"Where's Blake and Hunter and their Thunder Shields when you need them?" Kira squeaked.
"Wrong city," Ethan pointed out, protecting her with his TriceraShield.
"That's one hell of a sturdy bookshelf," Conner panted.
"Yeah, if Trent made it you'd think it would've fallen apart by now," Ethan quipped.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys," Trent groused.
"Anything on the scanners that could help, Hales?" Dr. O asked.
"Working on it," Hayley said.
"Well, you have to admit it's not your strong point," Kira told Trent.
"Besides, I did manage to get the screw in without bending it in half."
Kira stabbed at a flying book with her Pteragrips. "Well good on you!"
"I don't suppose he has a screw loose, Hayley?" Trent asked.
The group groaned as another volley hit.
"Man, what is this stuff? Harry Potter?" Kira asked.
"Worse," Ethan said. "I think it's the Wheel of Time!"
"That's not a bad idea, actually," Hayley said. "We just have to find what you were working on last."
"Um," Trent and Conner looked at each other as if they could exchange glances through the helmet.
"Screws," Dr. O said helpfully.
"I'm thinking!" Trent exclaimed, dodging another nasty barrage of books. "Next time, Con, remind me to do a spice rack instead!"
"That would be *better*? Kira yelled.
"Spices are lighter!" Trent said. "Middle shelf, right side!"
"Got it!" Hayley exclaimed. "I'm feeding you coordinates!"
"Okay, fire," Dr. O commanded.
The five Rangers drew their laser blasters, concentrating their fire on the monster's weak point.
It obligingly exploded.
"And there goes my bookshelves," Trent said.
Dr. O reached out, squeezing his shoulder. "We'll figure something out. I don't want to keep you out of NYU just 'cause Mesogog used your project as monster fodder."
Trent sighed as a black cloud gathered over the monster's remains. "Speaking of Mesogog."
"Hayley..."
"Zords are on their way," Hayley replied before Dr. O could finish.
"Let's get this over so that I can try to explain what happened to my project," Trent grumped.
With that, the Rangers leapt into their zords.
The monster was just as easily destroyed in giant form, and was gone. "I hope my bookshelves are intact," Trent said, leaping out of the megazord.
The others followed.
But no trace of the shelves were in the wreckage.
Trent collapsed in a heap. "Great, just great."
"Don't worry too much, Trent, it'll be up to Principal Randall to explain what happened to your project," Dr. O said reassuringly.
"Yeah," Kira said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Trent sighed heavily. "Can we count this as practice for today, Dr. O?"
"I think so," Dr. O said. "I think it's time for all of us to go home."
Trent sighed with relief. And no fortress visit required. As much as he'd have loved to get a glimpse of his father if he could help it.
"Yeah, Ms. Naiko's essay is so brutal," Conner complained.
"It's good for you, Conner," Dr. O said, "builds character."
Conner groaned. "I'd better go."
Kira nodded. "I'll join you, I've got a performance," Kira said.
Trent's dinobrace bleeped. "I suspect I have a shift."
Kira grinned. "Yeah."
"And I have computer club," Ethan said. "I guess I can go, for once."
Dr. O smiled. "Off you go."
The four scattered off, to their own individual lives, Trent's project momentarily forgotten. Tommy Oliver turned away to return back to school. He had a project to save.
-end
It's set shortly after Trent regains control of himself. Mesogog and Elsa pull a very old trick by making his bookshelf project into a monster. This is actually not that farfetched, because many PRDT/Abaranger monsters were a combination of three objects. It's not a bad read, actually.
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned below (with the exception of the unnamed monster) all belong to BVE, VRP, or somebody else.
Note: This is posted in Misc - Backburner for a reason. It's a fic Beth and I wrote over IM. It got cleaned up, but that's about all you can say about it. Beth graciously gave me permission to post it, but be aware that it is really a first draft and will never get to a second.
The Bookshelf Project
by Estirose and Tptigger
c 2005
"I can't believe this," Trent said in frustration as the screw refused to go smoothly into the hole.
"Can't believe what?" Conner asked from across the room.
"I can't believe this assignment we got," Trent said. "I mean, build things? Me?"
"You signed up for industrial arts, Trent, what were you expecting? To do Emo Leather work for the whole semester?" Conner asked as he sanded his board.
Trent tried again with the screw. "I expected this stupid screw to go in correctly was what I was expecting."
"Trent you need to..." Conner dodged as the screw flew away from Trent's screwdriver and nearly hit him in the legs. "...learn to control your strength, dude. What if I wasn't super fast?"
"Sorry, Conner," Trent apologized, bending down to look for his screw. "I'm not used to the change."
"Dude, I killed a soccer ball at practice the first week," Conner said. "You just gotta learn. And fast--Kira, Ethan and I didn't have Cassidy sniffing around quite so much."
"Yeah, well...." Trent retrieved the screw, inspecting it for damage gently, as if he was worried he'd bend it in half. "I'm trying."
"I know dude," Conner said.
Trent put the screw in the hole again, satisfied he hadn't bent it. "I wish I could tell my Dad's what's happening with my body. He's a scientist." He thought briefly about how his father was coping with being Mesogog, controlling Mesogog.
"Dr. O's incredibly good about that kind of stuff," Conner said. "He's been there before, you know."
Trent stared at the screw, willing it to screw itself in.
Conner handed him a screwdriver, grinning wryly.
"Thanks," Trent said, attacking the screw again.
"Take it easy, bro," Conner said supportively.
Trent managed the screwdriver better the second time, managing not to have his project flying all over the workshop.
"See, dude," Conner said. The bell rang.
"Thanks," Trent said absently, returning his work to its resting place. "Stay," he told it.
"It's not a dog," Conner said.
Trent shrugged. "I've had so much trouble with it, I just want it to stay there and not move."
"Come on, dude, we've got practice," Conner said.
Trent nodded, looked one more time at his project, and followed Conner out the door.
Neither of them noticed Principal Randall as they passed her, though she'd been watching the two of them with great interest.
She slipped away, intending to tell her master about the conversation between the Red Ranger and her master's disobedient son.
* * *
"Hmmm," Mesogog said, his head pumping back and forth like a lizard bobbing its head. "It would be bad if something happened to Trent's project. I don't think his father would be pleased."
Elsa simpered. "Yes, Master," she said. "I'll retrieve the project right away." She bowed and headed towards the nearest invisiportal to take her back to the high school, trying to figure out what she could do with a half-finished bookshelf project.
* * *
Trent walked into the workroom. "Where's my project?" he asked, confused. "I left it right here."
"It didn't just get up and walk away, Trent," Conner said.
"I know that," Trent said, exasperated.
Mr. Mayer, the shop teacher, approached them. "Principal Randall borrowed it, Trent. I'm surprised, she said she'd have it back by now."
"Oh," Trent said, exchanging a glance with Conner. "It wasn't finished. I was having trouble with the screws."
"I know, Trent, but she did promise that she'd have it back here in time for you to work on."
Trent frowned. What was up? Randall had been sniffing around their science class for weeks, but what could his half-finished bookshelf have to do with Dr. O's relationship with the team?
"So, what do I do while Principal Randall has my bookshelf?" he asked casually.
Mr. Mayer handed him a strip of leather. "Make a bookmark?"
Conner shot him a sympathetic glance.
"This is so not Emo," Trent muttered, heading for the leather tools.
Conner shrugged. "Hey, the principal might be a you-know-what, but she wouldn't...."
"Hold it hostage?" Trent asked as he attempted to work with the leather working tools, 'attempted' being the operative word.
"Don't cut yourself, OK?" Conner said. "Kira would kill me if I let you get hurt."
"I won't," Trent said, as he narrowly avoided cutting his leather in half.
"You be sure you don't," Conner said.
* * *
One Band-Aid later, Trent's bookcase hadn't come back. The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. "This is not good."
"Let's head over to the science wing and tell Dr. O," Conner agreed.
Trent resisted the urge to suck on the wound. "Good idea."
"What's up, guys?" Dr. O asked as Conner and Ethan walked into the classroom a few minutes later. He had his briefcase in hand and had hung his lab coat on its hook for the night.
"Principal Randall's been hanging around industrial workshop for the last few days, and this time, she took my bookshelves," Trent managed, almost in one breath.
Dr. O made a face. "That's odd. She hasn't... I mean... approached you in a way that made you uncomfortable or anything?"
Trent shook his head. "It's just... just...." To tell Dr. O about Principal Randall would to expose his father as Mesogog. "I don't know why my industrial project."
Dr. O frowned, unsure what to make of that. "Is there something you want to tell me, Trent?"
"Unless she heard me and Conner talking about how careful we have to be about how strong we are," he said, covering it up quickly.
Dr. O looked from one to the other.
"We were being careful!" Conner said.
"Yeah, but she thinks we're weird," Trent said. "She might have thought we were... um...."
Dr. O raised an eyebrow.
"Um," Trent said, looking to Conner for support.
"I'm not a mind reader dude," Conner said, eying him skeptically.
"Um," Trent said, waving his hands frantically.
"It's OK, Trent, spit it out," Dr. O said.
"I can't say it!"
"Why not?" Dr. O asked.
"She might have thought we were... um... doing drugs," Trent squeaked.
"Oh, I see," Dr. O said. "Doesn't know you two too well, huh?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing, Dr. O," Conner said. "I've made it a point to stay *out* of detention after the first week, thank you very much."
"Yeah," Trent echoed. "My Dad would be kind of upset."
"Just a bit," Dr. O said, a smile tugging at his lips. "But back to the bookshelf, what do you think Mrs. Randall's doing, checking the shelf for steroids?"
"Must be," Trent said, trying to resist the urge to check out Mesogog's HQ after practice.
"Well, she won't find any, so maybe you should find something else to worry about?" Dr. O asked reasonably.
"Right," Trent said doubtfully. "I just don't like the idea spreading around that me and Conner might be using drugs." He decided he probably should go up to Mesogog's headquarters and take a look around.
"Don't worry, we have so many student privacy rules that no one will know anything," Dr. O soothed.
"Thank goodness," Trent said. "But it's making me nervous, still." Make the trip to Mesogog's lair a definite, he thought.
The city's monster alert started blaring.
Dr. O raised his Dino Brace to his mouth. "Hales, what's going on?"
"Another monster," Hayley said. "You'd better get out there."
"Right," Dr. O said. "Conner and Trent are with me. Have Ethan and Kira meet us there." He turned to Conner and Trent. "Ready?"
"Ready," they chorused.
"Dino Thunder! Power up!"
The three morphed and hurried towards the disturbance. The monster seemed to slim and slender, almost T-shaped in the middle, the bottom of the T pointing out towards them. It was a blocky, almost wooden-looking form. Trent wondered vaguely if he'd just found his project.
"Dude, that looks like your bookshelf!" Conner observed.
"Mesogog had to pick up one of Rita's old tricks?" Dr. O shook his head. Even morphed, he looked more amused than angry.
"I'm totally going to flunk!" Trent exclaimed.
"We might be able to get it back. Chill, dude."
"Protect the city first, figure out how to B.S. Trent a chance to redo the project later," Dr. O suggested.
At this point Ethan and Kira arrived.
A flood of papers - some attached to thick bindings - buffeted the Rangers.
"Ow!" Conner exclaimed.
"Where's Blake and Hunter and their Thunder Shields when you need them?" Kira squeaked.
"Wrong city," Ethan pointed out, protecting her with his TriceraShield.
"That's one hell of a sturdy bookshelf," Conner panted.
"Yeah, if Trent made it you'd think it would've fallen apart by now," Ethan quipped.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys," Trent groused.
"Anything on the scanners that could help, Hales?" Dr. O asked.
"Working on it," Hayley said.
"Well, you have to admit it's not your strong point," Kira told Trent.
"Besides, I did manage to get the screw in without bending it in half."
Kira stabbed at a flying book with her Pteragrips. "Well good on you!"
"I don't suppose he has a screw loose, Hayley?" Trent asked.
The group groaned as another volley hit.
"Man, what is this stuff? Harry Potter?" Kira asked.
"Worse," Ethan said. "I think it's the Wheel of Time!"
"That's not a bad idea, actually," Hayley said. "We just have to find what you were working on last."
"Um," Trent and Conner looked at each other as if they could exchange glances through the helmet.
"Screws," Dr. O said helpfully.
"I'm thinking!" Trent exclaimed, dodging another nasty barrage of books. "Next time, Con, remind me to do a spice rack instead!"
"That would be *better*? Kira yelled.
"Spices are lighter!" Trent said. "Middle shelf, right side!"
"Got it!" Hayley exclaimed. "I'm feeding you coordinates!"
"Okay, fire," Dr. O commanded.
The five Rangers drew their laser blasters, concentrating their fire on the monster's weak point.
It obligingly exploded.
"And there goes my bookshelves," Trent said.
Dr. O reached out, squeezing his shoulder. "We'll figure something out. I don't want to keep you out of NYU just 'cause Mesogog used your project as monster fodder."
Trent sighed as a black cloud gathered over the monster's remains. "Speaking of Mesogog."
"Hayley..."
"Zords are on their way," Hayley replied before Dr. O could finish.
"Let's get this over so that I can try to explain what happened to my project," Trent grumped.
With that, the Rangers leapt into their zords.
The monster was just as easily destroyed in giant form, and was gone. "I hope my bookshelves are intact," Trent said, leaping out of the megazord.
The others followed.
But no trace of the shelves were in the wreckage.
Trent collapsed in a heap. "Great, just great."
"Don't worry too much, Trent, it'll be up to Principal Randall to explain what happened to your project," Dr. O said reassuringly.
"Yeah," Kira said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Trent sighed heavily. "Can we count this as practice for today, Dr. O?"
"I think so," Dr. O said. "I think it's time for all of us to go home."
Trent sighed with relief. And no fortress visit required. As much as he'd have loved to get a glimpse of his father if he could help it.
"Yeah, Ms. Naiko's essay is so brutal," Conner complained.
"It's good for you, Conner," Dr. O said, "builds character."
Conner groaned. "I'd better go."
Kira nodded. "I'll join you, I've got a performance," Kira said.
Trent's dinobrace bleeped. "I suspect I have a shift."
Kira grinned. "Yeah."
"And I have computer club," Ethan said. "I guess I can go, for once."
Dr. O smiled. "Off you go."
The four scattered off, to their own individual lives, Trent's project momentarily forgotten. Tommy Oliver turned away to return back to school. He had a project to save.
-end
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