Legacy Rangers (Book Two of the Chosen Universe)

Chapter Three

MADDIE

There wasn't much that Maddie was afraid of. She prided herself on being fearless, although that wasn't quite true. The thing that made her "fearless" wasn't that she was unafraid, but the fact that she never let her fear stop her. Today, she was BASE jumping. It was a great rush, and she was looking forward to it. Her partner for the day was not quite as excited.

"Maddie... Not to hose your buzz or anything..." Zeke began. "But are you sure this won't kill us?"

"I've done it before and I'm still here," Maddie said cheerfully. "Although nothing in life is guaranteed."

"You are so not helping... If we were meant to jump off cliffs, we'd have been born with wings."

"That's what parachutes are for." She grinned at him. "Come on, Zeke. Live a little."

"I'd like to. That's why I'm reluctant to do this."

"Just shush for a minute. Look at that view. It's beautiful, right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"So let's get a closer look. You're a Power Ranger, Zeke. I've seen you face actual monsters without blinking. Are you seriously going to tell you this is scarier for you?"

"Alright... I'll try it."

"That's the spirit! Come on." She took his hand. Then she pulled him closer to the edge, making sure he was in a good position before jumping. She still held his hand, taking him with her.

"Oh shit!" Zeke screamed. "Holy shit!" After a few moments of this, he began screaming, "Whoo-hoo! Hell yeah!"

She let go of him when it was time to open their parachutes. Maddie's opened cleanly. A few scary seconds later, Zeke finally got his to open, too. They landed safely a little while later.

"We're alive," Maddie said with a smirk.

"That was insane!" Zeke said. "Can we do it again?"

"My, how far you've come." She pulled him into a hug.

"Where'd you get this crazy streak?"

"Mom always says life is only worth living if you actually experience it... So I try to experience everything. Or maybe it comes from my father, whoever he is."

"Tanya still won't tell you?"

"I'm pretty sure she'll never tell anyone... It's okay, though. I have my mom, and she's amazing. I don't need a dad."

"You should still know who he is... He's part of you." He paused. "And I have my dad, and he's great, but sometimes I really wish my mom was still around."

Zeke never talked about anything this serious. Maddie was surprised. "It's different for you," she said. "You knew your mom. I never met my dad. It's not like I can miss a stranger... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Zeke said quickly. "Sometimes, parents leave. It's no big deal. At least she's alive, last I heard... Josh has it worse. He lost both his parents."

"It's not a competition, Zeke."

"I know. I just refuse to feel sorry for myself. I've got my dad. That's more than enough ninety-nine percent of the time."

Their communicators began to go off. "We're here. What's up?" Zeke answered his, effectively ending their conversation.

"Rangers! A wicked beast is attacking in the park. Aye-yi-yi!" Alpha replied.

"What kind of beast?" Maddie asked.

"It's some sort of cross between a wolf and a bird... It's tearing apart everything in its path."