[color=silver][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/i4u5iz5.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/Ucp1KCn.png[/img]
[sub][b][color=319b54]LOCATION[/color][/b] — Command Center[/sub]
[sub][b][color=319b54]INTERACTION[/color][/b] — [color=BA55D3]Charlie[/color] [sup][@OGSG][/sup]; Vallory [sup][@Zoey Boey][/sup][/sub]
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[indent][indent]Truth be told, Ross hadn’t slept at all last night. His mind kept him awake. He drifted off a couple of times, but he didn’t get anything close that would be even remotely considered actual sleep. He just kept thinking about the terror that was yesterday and what happened at the Angel Grove Youth Center.

The monsters. The panic they caused. The destruction that was a result of their attack on the center.

And Gracie.

[color=319b54]“Gracie…”[/color] 

That’s what kept Ross up all night. After he left the command center and finally came home, after his family went through so much because of his brother’s accident and the darkening rain cloud it put over the Takahashi family, he felt mixed emotions when his mother embraced him as soon as he walked through those doors. He had never known his mother to hug him so tightly, to allow her feelings to be felt so clearly as he did yesterday. 

He remembered when he told her he was okay that there was something she didn’t say at the time, but he knew after that hug. She was more worried for him than words could express.

And as he lay in his bed, looking up at his ceiling, he wondered how afraid Gracie and her family were right now? Were they harmed in any way? He wasn’t sure if that basilisk monster had a heart. Did their kind even [i]have[/i] hearts? Or were they just soulless husks who wanted nothing more than to cause destruction anywhere they went.

He was angry. 

Ross was angry at those monsters for ruining what was supposed to be an amazing day for Angel Grove. Angry at himself for being powerless to stop them, but most of all angry at himself for failing. He wasn’t strong enough and wasn’t fast enough to stop Gracie from being taken.

[color=319b54]“That won’t happen again.”[/color] He promised himself as he sat up

Just as he did, however, his phone vibrated on his nightstand. For a moment, he had a delayed reaction to it, which was no doubt happening because of his lingering dread about his failures yesterday. But it wasn’t just that. He saw a photo of his older brother, [url=https://i.imgur.com/lqoAnxg.jpg]Yamato[/url], who had gone by Matt to avoid any confusion with anyone outside of the family. It hadn’t donned on him until maybe just now as he still was looking at the framed photo of Matt, the last photo that was taken of him before his accident, just how close he came himself to making his parents sonless.

And that feeling carried him into a few minutes spent just sitting there. The alert from his phone kept going off, vibrating every ten seconds but he ignored it for some time. He just sat there, thinking and sulking. Ross didn’t like that he did that sometimes. Usually it was when he was frustrated and needed to get out his dramatic irritations about a particular situation or sometimes a person. But this was so different. It was more personal.

As he got up, he grabbed his phone. Ross was still in his dark brown and green shirt outfit from yesterday (minus the black slacks he wore). He saw the text he received about ten minutes ago was from Charlie. It was a group text, from the looks of it. 

"Morning guys. Meet up at the Command Center Training Facility today at 9AM. Might wanna eat before you get here unless you want just some donuts and orange juice from two days ago, ha."

With everything that was on his mind and that had gone down at the youth center yesterday, it had nearly slipped Ross’ mind. That green gem...stone chose him, apparently. It was a lot to take in. First and foremost, Ross still couldn’t believe he was going to be a ranger. That carried its own fair share of pressure, but growing up the way he did, Ross’ life never had a shortage of hills to climb. From learning troubles to general tendencies that made day-to-day life difficult for him, Ross overcame them all by putting his all into it.

But that wasn’t the only thing. He had a personal responsibility to not only himself, but everyone who was at the center. Or who knew someone at the center. Gracie, her parents, his family, friends -- everyone was going to count on him and no matter what, he’d do it.

As he glanced at the time, Ross had a little over two hours before he had to be at the Training Facility. [color=319b54]“Two hours? Well, I usually need twice that amount to get properly ready, but I can do it.”[/color] Ross frequently talked himself up to help himself focus. It was one of the things that his therapist helped him with. Focusing on one thing and everything else will fall in line.

So he showered. And washed his hair before and after. 

And then he got dressed. Going there, Ross was going to dress to impress. On his back, he put on a [url=https://i.imgur.com/f6Jt75h.jpg]long-sleeve, button-up shirt and a pair of beige slacks with dark brown dress shoes[/url]. This was Ross, after all. If anyone even caught a glimpse of his personality and style, they knew they shouldn’t have expected anything else. But he also knew that this wasn’t training gear, so he would go prepared. In a [url=https://i.imgur.com/BJNktHv.jpg]green duffle bag[/url], he had a better outfit of sweats and an oversized shirt, plus any energy boosters and two eco-friendly water bottles because you had to stay hydrated, especially if you were going to become a Ranger.

After he was all set, Ross took the time to make himself a full breakfast. For him, that meant a sub-traditional Japanese breakfast, which really meant omurice with extra gravy, toast, and green tea. He also had an apple that was sliced into square sticks and sliced. He liked how the tartness of the green apple paired with the beef gravy.

And then Ross was out the door, telling his mom that he was going to head to the gym for a morning work out. There was a delay in time because he had to reassure her he wasn’t going to the center. Even though he [i]wished[/i] he could, right now it was a crime scene. He assured his mother for nearly ten minutes that he was just going to the gym for a few hours.

Again, lying to her made him sick to his stomach, but he knew it was the kind of lie people told that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. She...could be in danger if she knew where he was going. That’s why he had to keep this from her. Something like this was meant to be kept a secret, or at least until he understood more what [i]this[/i] was going to be.

Once he was sure she wouldn’t worry, Ross hopped into his Ford Focus. Within ten minutes, he had made it to the command center. He parked relatively close to the entrance they had used last time and as he walked, Ross found himself not feeling the same as he did last time. Last time, he was in awe and had become distracted by...everything. By the fact that the rangers were back. By the fact that he was chosen. 

But once they had arrived at where he figured their main [i]main[/i] base of operations were, he asked a bunch of questions. He always felt his mind was ever-curious, but whenever he was flustered like he was yesterday, Ross didn’t act like he usually did. 

Today was different.

Ross knew, on some level, what to expect. He was chosen by a green crystal. He had come prepared with a change of clothes that were  better suited for it. When he arrived, he made sure to use an empty room to change into his sweats and shirt and his sneakers were perfectly tight on his feet. And he watched Charlie grab a suitcase. Inside was revealed to be a couple of watch-like devices.

[color=319b54]“What are those?”[/color] Ross asked. 

He spoke instinctively and thought he was done being in awe. Apparently he was wrong.

Then Charlie explained, elaborating further on what was mentioned yesterday. The Morphing Grid was some kind of different dimension or something like that. Charlie explained it well and as simplistic as she could, Ross had no doubt about that. It felt like this was something out of the Twilight Zone or something. He wasn’t an idiot and certainly could understand complicated situations. 

Hell, he has followed the Kingdom Hearts games without needing his hand held through it. And that was the most convoluted, amazing mess he has ever experienced.

But [i]this[/i]? Ross had to take a minute to process it.

As she explained how the power could be overwhelming, Ross would only listen, looking over to Vallory with a worried expression on his face. Doubts started to creep in. Even though he had told himself earlier that he was ready, maybe he wasn’t. Maybe…

But then Charlie said something about [i]them[/i].

[color=319b54]“Y-yeah, that’s right! I also exercise as much as I can.”[/color] Ross was a nutrition freak, really. His body was a temple and only supplements that went into it were ones that helped with energy and protein. 

Something about her knowing that made Ross feel...well, it honestly put any doubts he had to rest. He smiled at Vallory with an invigorated confidence. [color=319b54]“Are you as ready for this as I am?”[/color] He asked her.
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