The Hellhound's Secret

Magical Storm, Ranger Form

Kali whistled as she looked around new soon-to-be new Ranger base. It was similar to Root core in the sense that it was hidden away in plain view and secluded, but it also wasn't like Root core as, for one, it wasn't hidden inside an old tree. Ninja Ops, as Cameron had called it, was built like an old storm shelter, and more technologically advanced than Root core could ever be.

"I'm not much of a cyber kind of girl, but this place is kind of cool," said Kali, looking back at Cam and Sensei. The pair were father and son, a notion that she also contributed back to Nick and Leanbow. It seemed saving the world was in more than just her own family's bloodlines.

Cam smiled and bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "Should I call the others for introduction's?" he asked his father.

"Not quite yet," said Sensei, twitching his furry nose. "There is much we need to do before you officially meet my students," he added to Kali.

"That's fine with me," said Kali. She knelt on a cushion at the small table in the centre of Ninja Ops, leaned against the edge. "Where and what do we start with?"

Sensei flicked his gaze towards Cam. "The Morpher, please, son," he said.

Cam stood from the computer and disappeared through a side door. Kali could hear him tinkering around and moving things aside before he returned with a small rectangular box with a symbol on the top.

"Wait, that's the Mystic Symbol for darkness," said Kali, getting to her feet and taking the box from Cam. She traced her finger over the intricate design and looked down at Sensei.

"This Morpher was made specifically with the Black Mystic Magic, and therefore can only be used by someone with the same abilities," said Sensei.

"How long have you been planning for this battle?"

"A long time."

"Tori, Shane, and Dustin were a last resort case," said Cam. "We had no other students to choose to become Rangers, but that's not the case for you. You were born with the ability to wield darkness, therefore the Morpher was designed for you."

Reverting her attention to Cam, Kali cocked her head to the side. "If there is one thing I learned when I was a Ranger, it's that there's no such thing as a last resort," she said. "You might find that Tori, Shane and Dustin were meant to become the Wind Rangers, just like I was meant to be the Black. Magic and destiny don't always work out the way we expect it, too."

Cam shrugged and took the box back. He opened the lid and revealed a slender looking device with a black leather strap. "Once you've put this on you're taking the oath to not reveal your secret identity to anyone," he said. "To only use your powers to defend, and not attack."

"You can save the speech," said Kali. "It's not my first rodeo, remember? It's only been six weeks since my last Ranger team ended, I think I can remember the rules."

"Briarwood knows that you were a Mystic Ranger," said Cam. "The local news outlets broadcasted the news statewide, so that means all of California knows. People are going to recognise you outside of here, we don't want them putting two and two together when the Black Ninja Storm Ranger appears."

Kali bit back a sigh and forced a smile. She didn't know Cam that well, yet, but at the moment he couldn't have sounded more patronising. "I got it," she said. She took the Morpher from the box and strapped it to her wrist. It felt weird and heavy, but she was sure that she would get used to it soon.

"All you need to do now is activate it," said Cam. "To do that, just yell out 'Magical Storm, Ranger Form!', your magic will fuse with the magical properties in the Morpher and it will be bonded to you."