Legal: I do not own Power Rangers or the associated names, places, events etc. Anything not covered by the above rights should be considered purely the creation of the author!
Rating: T – May be some mild adult themes.
The Rangers were somewhere out over the Atlantic, having left London far behind before Vrak could bring yet another attack their way. The city had suffered during their short time there, having been hammered with more than one major monster attack. As much as they never really ASKED to be attacked, the fact was whenever they were spotted in a city; it wasn't as though The Armada would leave them alone. Sometimes, the best thing they could do was be seen leaving so that the city wouldn't suffer any further, and so it was now standard practice to leave the cloaking device off until they were a significant distance from the city just to make sure the Armada saw them go and would know that they were no longer in the city.
It was one of the worst parts about their status as fugitives. There weren't any Armada outposts left on Earth. They had all pulled out when the Rangers first arrived, to prevent them attacking them where they could find them. While they knew The Armada would be scanning for them, they were generally quite careful when they went to a new city, but there was also one last way The Armada could find out that the Rangers were in the city. With the price on their heads growing after each and every battle, there was unfortunately no shortage of people willing to inform on them, hoping to collect. Some people still blamed the Rangers for the damage The Armada caused, and given the state they left some cities in; it wasn't hard to see why. For others, it was simple greed. The fact was that when there were hundreds of millions of dollars, life-changing values on offer for information that led to the Rangers being caught, it wasn't hard to understand why some people saw the money and not the loss of the Rangers.
Orion was sitting, reading a book, looking a little confused. With Emma and Gia making efforts to learn about Andresia, he had come upon the idea that perhaps it was only fair that he tried to learn something about the Earth. He held up a hand.
"OK, how exactly does a tea party start a war?" He asked. Gia and Emma just looked to each other before they started to laugh. "What?"
"That's not exactly what was meant by 'The Boston Tea Party.'" Gia told him, folding her newspaper and coming over. She slapped it down in front of him. "Here, why don't we give history a rest for now and look at some current events."
Orion picked up the paper and looked to it. He just shrugged.
"It's a wanted poster." He said as he picked up a cup of tea. "I've been a fugitive since I signed up with Lafitte, I've seen these before."
"But I bet you never had anything like this." Gia answered, pointing to the value on the paper. 175 million dollars were now riding on his head. He just looked blankly at her. Tensou just looked to him, and said something in Andresian. Orion spat out his tea, spraying it over the floor as he heard what Tensou said.
"How much?" He asked. By context, Gia figured that Tensou had translated for him exactly how much money was on offer for him.
"I guess running with us has increased your stroke as a pirate." Gia said with a smile. "Congratulations, I guess you're officially on the Most Wanted list."
"Hey, check it out ladies!" Jake said with a proud smile as he came into the room, flexing. With nothing to do most days other than train, all of them had increased their fitness quite a bit. While Noah had made the most obvious improvements in his physique, Jake was also looking pretty ripped these days. He had his shirt off, and threw it into the washing hamper. "Guess who just set a new record on the bench press?"
"Oh, my hero." Gia said sarcastically. "Could you put some clothes on?"
"Let him have his moment." Noah chuckled. "It's not every day a guy manages to bench 215."
"Unmorphed." Jake added for clarification. The suits did add a fair bit to their strength. Noah had done the calculations and told them exactly how much once, but no one really paid attention. All that mattered was that when they needed it, they had a little boost. Still, it was an impressive feat alright.
"215 pounds?" Emma asked. "That's...that's pretty impressive."
"How...how much is that?" Orion asked. Tensou quickly translated. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" Jake asked. "You think you can do better?"
"I used to haul heavier loads than that back at the mine." Orion told him with a shrug. Jake just rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it." He answered. It hadn't been lost on the others that Jake more than the rest of them was still sceptical about Orion's place on the team. He hadn't really warmed to him yet, largely out of resentment over the fact he was taking the role they had expected Jordan to be coming back for. He saw the paper. "Oh...that's the new rewards? What am I up to, let me see!"
He cleared his throat and started to read aloud.
"In first place, with a reward of 200 million dollars, Troy!" He called out. Troy just took a little bow hearing this. "In second place, with 180 million, Noah!"
"Well, you know, I do what I can." Noah said with a proud little smile.
"And with 175 million..." His words tailed off. "ORION?"
"Yeah, Tensou was just explaining..."
"You just joined the team!" He yelled. "How...?"
"I guess what Orion and I did to Argus earned us a major boost." Noah told him. Emma took the paper from him.
"175 million each." She said to Gia. "Hey, not bad, we're only a little way short of the others."
"And Jake is worth..." Gia said, pausing for emphasis. "150 million dollars!"
"How can the new guy be worth more than me?" Jake grumbled. Gia just sniggered.
"Oh don't be a cry baby about it." Gia told him. "That's Prince Vekar's schtick these days."
"Whatever." Jake muttered. "Why don't we see where we're going next? After that ass kicking we got in London, I feel like dishing out some pain!"
"Tensou?" Troy asked. Tensou just dutifully landed before them.
"Fine, but you have to think of a new way to make this up to me!" Tensou told them. They still hadn't figured out how to activate his tracking software without smashing him over the head, but now the Mr Brainfreeze costume was gone, he wouldn't have the satisfaction of watching one of them make a fool of themselves in the new costume. Troy picked up a hammer.
"OK, so...whose turn is it?" He asked.
"It's been a while since I did it." Gia sighed. "I guess it should be my turn."
She approached slowly, and lined up the hammer with Tensou's head.
"I'm so sorry about this." She said, before bringing the hammer down with a huge clang. The others immediately scrambled to get the recording equipment. Gia set Tensou upright as he started to regain his bearings.
"In the Dock of the Seafarer, seek those unwillingly tracked,
The team that saw off the demons that their home attacked,
Release them from their bonds, and gain their trust,
But beware the return of the privateer and his power lust."
Troy looked to the others, waiting to see if any of them had any idea where they were going.
"Well, there are only three Ranger teams' keys to get." Emma stated. "The Time Force, Lightspeed and Dino thunder keys."
"Dock of the Seafarer." Gia said as she thought about it. "Mariner Bay!"
"The Lightspeed team were fitted with the same tracking bracelets the Overdrive Rangers were." Noah reminded them. "Unwillingly tracked."
"Well, releasing them from their bonds...we need to get rid of those bracelets." Emma answered. "But then they have to go into hiding."
"Well, we can always see them to Briarwood or the Animarium." Gia suggested. "I guess it depends whether they prefer a town full of magical creatures or a jungle."
"There's one more problem." Troy reminded them. "The return of the Privateer."
"That sounds like we'll be seeing your old friend Lafitte." Jake commented to Orion. The Silver Ranger just glared at him.
"Lafitte is no friend of mine." Orion assured them.
"Alright, let's set a course for Mariner Bay." Troy answered. "Noah, The Armada's been using those tracking bracelets to keep tabs on the Lightspeed team since the beginning of the invasion..."
"But you think this might be one time we can use their technology against them." Noah surmised. "I like it!"
"See if you can find a signal that'll let us hack into their tracking." Troy told him. "Maybe if we can use their signal to find the Lightspeed team, we can find them, get a hold of them, and get out before The Armada have a chance to show up."
"It's worth a shot." Noah told him. "Never let it be said I don't like a solution that avoids a pointless fight."
As he went to a work bench to begin getting to work, Troy could only think about what the clue had told them. The last time they had faced Lafitte, while they had gotten away, it wasn't without cost. Between Colo and his remaining Ranger keys, he still had a lot of power at his disposal. Troy knew that they were going to have to face him again sooner or later to acquire the last of the Ranger keys that he owned, but he had a feeling that they still hadn't seen what Lafitte was really capable of. If he had a choice, he wanted to leave that battle until they had as much power behind them as possible.
Meanwhile, in Vrak's underwater base, Lafitte was just preparing for his journey. He knew that the Rangers were out there, and they had the power of the Ranger keys with them. He smiled to think about the position he was now in. He didn't really care much for politics, or the royal family. He didn't really care what issues Vrak had with his brother. All he cared about was his life of piracy. He had always loved the freedom it granted him, to go where he wanted, beholden to no one. While he wasn't especially worried about Vekar, having been on the run from him for years, he had to admit that he could only imagine how much more freedom he would have if he was no longer being pursued by The Armada's forces.
When he factored in having an entire army of Rangers behind him, he could only dream of the plunder that would be his for the taking. He could commandeer more ships, and raid planets and ships with impunity, taking whatever he pleased. He would no longer merely be a captain, but a Commodore of his own fleet. He smiled to think of it. The universe had so many riches, and it was all his for the taking, once he had his army.
As Colo loaded some more supplies, he paused as he heard Vrak calling him. He turned back, smiling as he did so.
"You called my Lord?" He asked. Vrak just glared at him. Right now, he needed Lafitte to fulfil his role in the war, to take the first steps in weakening his brother's grip on the throne. He didn't care for Lafitte, or his lack of respect, but for now, he was a powerful ally he could ill afford to lose.
"You're going to Mariner Bay." He told him. Lafitte just looked to him a little curiously as he handed Lafitte a scanner. "This signal is locked onto the frequency of tracking devices that have been planted on the Rangers there. If you follow that signal, it will take you right to them."
"Well, it takes some of the fun out of the hunt when you're led straight to it." He commented, before looking to Vrak. "How did you come by this frequency?"
"It wasn't cheap." Vrak told him. Lafitte just smiled.
"You have someone in your brother's court." He commented. "I wonder who it is. Not that walking tin can Argus, he's..."
"You needn't concern yourself with my affairs." Vrak told him. "You just do your part and I will do mine."
"Fine, I will." He responded. "I've been looking forward to being reacquainted with my old crew mate."
Meanwhile, up on The Armada Command Ship, Lavira went into Prince Vekar's chambers, carrying his latest meal. She was astounded to see the covers on his bed pulled back, and no sign of him in the bed.
"Your Highness?" She asked.
"I'm here." He called through. She made her way into his dressing chamber, finding him standing before a full-length mirror. There were some droids in the room, getting him ready. From the fact the faintly stale aroma that had built up around him in his depression, from spending all day every day in his bed without washing was noticeably absent, replaced with scented body oils, she presumed he had gotten himself cleaned up. The droids were currently dressing him, outfitting him with fresh robes and armour.
"Your...your highness?" She asked.
"What are you staring at?" He asked in response. "It's my ship; I can get up if I want!"
"Yes, but...your depression." She stammered.
"I can't lie around in my bed all day depressed, there's too much to do!" He said with authority as the droids started trying to strap his armour in place. "The Rangers grow stronger by the day, and in my absence, it seems my forces have accomplished nothing of note!"
"Yes, well...we've been busy replenishing our ranks." She muttered under her breath so he wouldn't hear the comment. His breast plate popped out of the grip of one of the droids as it tried to strap it in place.
"I'm surrounded by worthless...no wonder this operation is falling apart without me." He complained. "One of my serving droids informed me that scans indicate another enemy is in the area!"
"Yes, Lafitte." She sighed. "I don't know what he wants here, but coming back is a bold move indeed."
"The time has come for me to take back control of my empire! I cannot, I will not lose what is rightfully mine!" He declared, stamping a foot in a fit of temper as the droid lost its grip on the breast plate again, this time almost causing it to drop to the floor. "And what the hell is wrong with this armour?"
"Your highness?" Lavira asked him.
"This armour, it feels so tight I can hardly breathe!" He told her. "And these robes...they've shrunk! How did these incompetent droids shrink my robes AND my armour?"
Lavira had to stifle a laugh. During his weeks long sulk, he had taken to comfort-eating. Combined with the fact he barely left his bed in all that time...long story short, it was not the clothing that was the problem. It wasn't as though he was the most active of creatures anyway, but for weeks he had not left his room. The fact was he had noticeably increased in girth, but this was a fact that his followers were unlikely to bring up.
"Um...I shall speak to your stylist and have some robes brought to you." She told him. "And...I'll find the breast plate stretcher."
"You do that!" He announced regally as he picked up a cake from the tray Lavira had brought him and took a large bite. "I'm back, and the Rangers aren't going to know what hit them!"
As she left the room, she ran into Damaras, who looked confused as he saw serving droids buzzing around.
"What...what's going on?" He asked her.
"The Prince has decided to take back the reins." She told him. Damaras just looked to her.
"He's still alive in there?" He asked, looking to the room. "Well...I was starting to doubt it."
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and find the breast plate stretcher." She told him. Damaras just looked confused as she left.
"Breast plate stretcher?" He asked as she left in search of the fictional device. He looked to the door of the room, seeing more serving droids enter the room. This was a complication he hadn't foreseen. The Prince's absence had left him functionally in control of the ship. Now, somehow, the Prince had shaken himself out of his funk, and was no longer pouting in his room. Now, the Prince was back in the game.