The Terran Ranger Saga - The Preliminaries Volume 3, Heather Ray [urban books to read .TXT] 📗

or baby nephew.

"Johnathan is fine, but Denise--," Amanda cut off and looked into her daughter's green eyes. "Uh, she's extremely sick."

"Like, how sick?"

"Alexis, Denise has been diagnosed with full blown AIDS. She's so weak, what with the pregnancy and Martin leaving, the doctors don't think she'll... last long."

Alexis felt a lump rise in her throat. Her eyes filled with tears as she sat on her mother's bed, utterly motionless.

"Denise...is dying?" she whispered in disbelief. "But she's so young. She has such a brilliant future. She's almost done with law school at the University of Pennsylvania...I don't believe it..."

The strain of the news, added to her already weakened condition, made Alexis dizzy.

"Denise is very weak," said Amanda, sitting up and trying to compose herself, "and now that the two of us moved out here, there's no one nearby to watch Johnathan or help her out. She needs our support, Lex, and so does the baby."

Alexis stared at her mother, not fully understanding what was happening. Amanda rose to her feet and picked up the telephone receiver.

"I'm going to make arrangements for the two of us to fly to Philadelphia tonight," said Amanda, dialing the phone. "And then, I'll call my boss to get next week off. Lex, go and pack your things."

Alexis silently rose to her feet and slowly walked to her bedroom. She packed her suitcase in a daze, doing her best not to break down and cry.
Chapter Three

Alexis' eyes opened weakly and she released a silent yawn. Her vision was blurry, so she didn't recognize her surroundings. When her vision cleared, she stifled a cry of surprise when she noticed her surroundings. She wasn't in her pink and purple bedroom. Rather, she was in a conservative and neat bedroom.

Where am I?

she thought, standing up quickly. A rush of dizziness enveloped her, and she sat back down. She looked to the door of the bedroom, and noticed a single suitcase. She glanced towards the window, and saw the familiar skyline of-- Philadelphia?!

I remember, I'm here because Denise...is sick. I fell asleep on the plane, and then again at the hospital this morning. All this stress is really taking its toll on me.

She once again tried to get out of bed, this time, more slowly. She stretched out gingerly and opened the window. The cool November breeze rushed quietly into the hotel room, flooding Alexis' mind with memories. Wow, I didn't realize how much I missed cold weather! I doubt I'll ever be able to go ice skating in Angel Grove. Its just too darn hot, all year 'round!

Alexis searched her suitcase for something to wear. She selected a pair of brown oversized jeans and a cream turtleneck. She was busy tying her sneakers when a familiar tone sounded from her bedside. She rose and quickly grabbed her communicator.

"Alexis here," she said in an emotionless voice.

^Lex? Is that really you? Are you okay?^

came the answer. Even though Alexis was now some 3,000 miles away from Angel Grove, she could here the voice as clearly as if its owner was sitting next to her.

"I'm fine Kimberly. What's up? Is Lord Zedd attacking?"

^Well, no. I tried to call you at your house last night, but I didn't get an answer. I tried again this morning, and I still got the machine. I was worried.^

"I keep telling you guys to stop worrying about me," said Alexis with a sigh.

^Where are you, Lex?^

asked Kim quietly, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm in Philly. I have some...personal problems to deal with. I gotta go, Ma's calling me."

Before Kimberly could answer, Alexis turned off her communicator and placed it on the end table. Her mother wasn't really calling, but Alexis didn't feel like explaining her present predicament with the overly empathetic Pink Ranger.

I don't want anyone's pity. Not about Denise, and not about my powers.

Alexis knocked on the door to adjoining room. When there was no answer, Alexis opened the door and saw a small note written on an envelope. She picked it up and read it.

Honey, I'm at Ben Franklin General.
I didn't want to wake you--you've been sick for a while.
Come down when you're up to it.

Alexis sighed as she folded the envelope and stuck it in her jeans' pocket. She threw on her leather jacket and briskly walked out the door. She left her communicator and morpher on the dresser.

Chapter Three

Kimberly's face curled into a frown as she released the button on her communicator. She sighed and supported her head on her hands. She glanced over at the mat, where Tommy was sparring with Adam. Rocky was on the sidelines, cheering them both on. Aisha was in her yellow karate gi, slowly teaching Billy some blocks. She turned to the clock on the wall.

It's ten thirty,

she thought in frustration, they're gonna announce the names of the three students going to the Peace Conference in Geneva any minute, and Jason, Zack, and Trini still didn't get here yet. They just HAD

to go mountain biking this morning. And what's up with Alexis...

"Hey kids," called Ernie from the bar, "here comes the announcement!"

Ernie turned up the volume on the television, and the two dozen teenagers in the building crowded around the television in anticipation. Kimberly, who was already at the bar, turned her attention to the screen. She was soon joined by the other five.

"So, did we miss it?" asked Tommy, sitting next to Kim.

"No," said Kim quietly. Tommy was surprised by how cold she sounded.

"Is something wrong, Kim?" he whispered, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Kimberly was about to answer, but the news anchorwoman interrupted her.

"And in local news, three juniors from Angel Grove High School have been selected to attend a special worldwide Peace Conference in Geneva Switzerland. These peace talks were designed in the hopes that the youth of the world, our future, can reach agreements on critical areas of debate. The three teens are...Jason Scott Lee, Zachary Taylor, and Trini Kwan. These three teenagers will bring all our hope and love with them to Switzerland--"

The rest of the report was cut off by an uproar. Kimberly shrieked when she saw the photo of Jason cross the screen, and each of the other teens expressed their surprise and joy in similar ways.

"We gotta find them!" said Tommy excitedly, leaping off the stool, "They should be on there way here from the mountain!" With that, Tommy, Billy, and Kimberly ran out of the Juice Bar.

"I wonder what'll happen with the Power Rangers," whispered Adam to Aisha and Rocky. The two others shrugged silently.

Chapter Four

Alexis wandered through the streets of Philadelphia to the Ben Franklin Memorial Hospital. Once there, she saw her mother waiting in the lobby, sobbing silently. Alexis sat next to her mother and enveloped her in a warm hug.

"Oh honey," Amanda sobbed. "She's too young to die. Oh, God, she's so young! She's got a son to look after, and...and..."

Amanda's words stuck in her throat, and she continued to weep in silence. Alexis' eyes started to brim with tears.

No,

she said to herself, I'm not gonna cry! Someone has to remain strong, and since Dad's not here, it looks like it'll have to be me.

"Mom," she said quietly, "can I go see her?"

"Yes, it's still visiting hours. She's awake, too. Room 511, I'll be with you shortly."

Alexis left her mother sitting in the lobby, and made her way to the elevator. She was soon standing outside Room 511. Alexis took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

"Hey, kiddo," called a weak but cheerful voice, "come on in."

Alexis smiled at her sister, even though she was crying inside. Denise looked pale and small in the big hospital bed, with numerous IV units in her arm. Her thick strawberry blonde mane was in disarray, and her emerald eyes seem to have lost their glimmer. She looked old and tired, even though she was twenty four. She looked forty.

"What happened, Denise?" asked Alexis quietly, keeping her tears back. Denise's smile fell.

"Well, I've been feeling a little ill the past week, so I decided to get a check up. It turns out, I have full blown AIDS," she answered casually.

"But, how...?"

"Must've been Martin," said Denise coldly, "I mean, he left me for some waitress almost a year ago, and who knows who he's been with before that! I should've realized he was no good long ago. Well, its too late for that."

"What about Jonny?" asked Alexis, sitting down beside the bed.

"Jonny tested negative," Denise answered with a smile. "My friend Alice is watching him. I think they're done running tests on me, so I'll be getting my prescription and be going home."

"So, what are you planning on doing?" asked Alexis.

"Well, I plan to finish law school. After all, no one seems to know how much--time I have. I'm not going to let a little thing like AIDS stop me from achieving."

"When do you get out of here?"

"In a few hours. So, enough