This is a continuation of an ongoing series. It's best that you read Personality Shift, The Devil's Playground, and Old Friends, New Threats before reading this story.
Ethan looked up at the red-tinted sky. It seemed peaceful, and despite his knowledge of this world he couldn't help but feel masqueraded into a sense of tranquility.
"Looks like we're right outside of Angel Grove," Billy muttered. "Though I haven't been here in a decade."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Ethan asked.
The Phantom Ranger consulted a holographic projection from his Morpher. "It's good for you."
"What makes you say that?"
"On one end we're a stone throw away from a teleporter that can take us to the moon. On the other end, we're just that much closer to our own deaths."
"I'm sensing you don't trust me very much."
"It's nothing against you. It's just statistics."
"What are the chances of us breaking in and not getting killed?" Ethan asked.
"About a trillion to one," Billy muttered. "Anyway, what makes you so sure he's going to be there?"
"If the big baddy catches the hero where else would he take him."
"This isn't one of your video games," Billy said.
"Life imitates art," Ethan said as they both walked on.
Billy looked like he had something to say, but before he could get the chance the world was enveloped by a rushing roar.
The two Rangers ducked into an alley as the helicopter flew overhead.
"Do not be alarmed," a robotic voice spoke through some hidden speakers. "We are simply doing a routine scouting exercise."
There was a deafening silence before, "Report any suspicious activity to the local Sentries."
"Woah," Ethan said, "This is would make George Orwell himself blush."
Billy just laughed.
Ethan looked around again, it was unfathomable how different this world was.
"So why is the sky red?" Ethan asked as Billy seemed to be searching the area for any stray scouts.
"It could be from any number of reasons," the genus said, "But if I were to guess I'd say that it's because the universal decay is actually happening much faster in this dimension."
Ethan nodded, while he wasn't remotely close to how smart Billy was he'd seen enough movies to get the gist of what he was saying.
Suddenly Ethan's Morpher beeped, it was a sharp ring that only served one purpose.
Someone was trying to call him.
"This is Kira Ford," the voice from his Morpher said.
Ethan began to beam, "I knew she'd be okay!"
"I-I'm looking for help. Please. I'm in the subway station, there are thugs everywhere.
Please help me…"
Ethan felt his stomach freeze. Imagines of Kira desperately fighting wave after wave of savage thugs made Ethan nauseous.
Somebody had to go save her.
Right before he could break into a run Billy grabbed hold of the Ranger's arm.
"What are you doing?" He barked. "You heard her."
Billy tugged Ethan further into the alley. "You're absolutely right. But we're not the only ones that did."
Billy grew silent enough to let the roaring engines fill his ears.
"If those Sentries find us we're done for," Billy said. "We'll have to lay low for weeks, even months."
Ethan fought the urge to rush in, to morph and charge through everyone that got between him and Kira.
He fought himself and swallowed his pride.
"What are we gonna do then?" Ethan asked.
The Blue Ranger felt a chill down his spine. It was very clear from Billy's annoyed expression that he really didn't have much concern for what happened to Kira.
"Let me see your Morpher," Billy demanded.
"Yeah, sure," Ethan said reluctantly. As he stripped off his Dino Morpher he felt an overwhelming anxiety come over himself. Normally he would only shed his device when showering, and even that was hard.
This was unbearable.
Thankfully Billy worked at an unprecedented speed. His quickly cracked open Ethan's Morpher and connected it to his own Morpher via some stray cables.
"What are you doing?" Ethan asked awkwardly.
"I'm lending you some of my power," Billy replied.
Once complete Billy unhooked the cords and snapped Ethan's Morpher shut.
"Come on," he said and silently morphed into the Phantom Ranger.
Ethan just gawked a few moments.
"Come on," the Ranger urged. "Just morph."
Ethan nodded and let his blue armor envelop him. "Now what?"
Billy sighed and clicked the red button under Ethan's faceplate. In a few moments, Ethan realized he was completely invisible.
"It won't last forever," The Phantom Ranger said. "So we need to hurry."
"Where are we going exactly?" Ethan asked.
He didn't need to wonder very long because soon after a trail of what appeared to be heavily armored Rangers began to march through the street.
The Phantom Ranger activated his own invisibility and headed out.
Ethan followed.
The two invisible Rangers trailed closely behind the two Sentries. They stayed just far enough to avoid being heard, but still close enough to see where they were heading.
Ethan was still fighting to swallow. The thought of Kira getting caught in the crossfire flared a sort of panic inside his chest.
How had things managed to go south so fast? It wasn't even a month ago they were batting Mesogog on the down low and just trying to get through school. It had all sort of felt like a dream. A swirl of emotions and actions.
It had been fun, now it was a nightmare.
The two Sentries dismounted from their cycles and walked towards the subway entrance. There was some dialogue via their comms, but Billy hadn't been able to tune into them. The two each drew a small pistol that resembled a Dragon Dagger and they have a mutual nod before heading down.
The Blue Dino Ranger took a step but the Phantom Ranger stopped him. "Be careful," he barked.
"Relax," he replied. "I'm more experienced than you think."
"Not in this," The Phantom Ranger said. "This isn't Mesogog, this is a real war."
The indisputable sound of gunfire erupted from the subway.
"Kira!" The Blue Ranger screamed and rushed towards the entrance.
He didn't have time to think, no time for plans.
It wasn't until the energy blast hit him that he realized he was no longer cloaked.
His body flew back as the small orb of energy exploded and shed his armor away.
Light filled his vision and Ethan prayed to every god he'd ever learned of.
"Stop!" A voice called as the light returned.
The voice, he knew that voice. "No way…"
"Is that you?" She asked as her face cleared through the blinding background. "Ethan?"
The Blue Ranger looked to his side and saw the two armored Rangers handcuffed to the metal railing. Their helmets were taken and one had a bloody nose.
"Kira?" Ethan asked. Noticing her standing among five other figures.
"It looks like your plan worked," a brunette haired girl around Dr.O's age said to Kira. "I bit too well actually."
"Wait…" Ethan asked as his head cleared. "What the heck is going on?" Ethan looked for his Phantom companion but noticed he was seemingly nowhere to be found. He was disappointed but deep down Ethan knew it would happen eventually.
You don't get a name like Phantom Ranger, without a reputation for being scarce.
"Let me explain," Kira said. "This is Kimberly Hart," she said and pointed at the brunette, "you might know her better as the first Pink Ranger."
"Oh my god!" Ethan exclaimed as took another look at her. In all honesty, he had no idea how he hadn't recognized her.
"You can fanboy later," Kira said and rolled her eyes. Though under her facade Ethan knew she was just as happy to see him as he was to her. "This is Scorpina," she said and pointed at the other adult. "Before you freak out, she's on our side now."
"Oh man, the classic villain redemption," Ethan mumbled.
The three teens stepped out together. "These are the Mighty Morphin' Thunder Rangers," Kira said. "They're sorta the last Rangers on the planet."
"I take it you know him," Scorpina said.
"Well, we're kinda on the same team," Kira said. "If you hadn't noticed by the Morpher," she held up her Pterodactyl Dino Morpher. "But how did you get here?"
"I came here to get Dr.O," Ethan said.
Then there was an electric shock that ran across the room before giving a new silence.
"Well then," Scorpina said calmly, "When morning comes we can head our separate ways."
"Wait...what?" Ethan asked. "If you guys aren't trying to save Dr.O then why are you with them, Kira? And why are you guys kidnap those grunts?" He asked and looked at the struggling Sentries.
Kira blushed, "It's complicated, but they need my help."
"Dr.O needs your help!" Ethan screamed. He used anger to fight his hysteria. Mostly to distract himself from the fact he was terrified.
"You don't understand," Kira said. "This is bigger than Dr.O"
"How can you say that?" Ethan asked. "What could be more important than saving him?"
"We're going to liberate Earth," Scorpina said in a slow voice. "We're going to kill Lord Zedd."