Prologue.
The year is 5092. Humanity rose up from the confines of the Earth and visited the stars, only to discover that Pokémon were not solely of their lands. Fabulous alien races awaited, in time humanity assimilated and was invited to join the Galactic Council of the Stronghold. With the people all in it together, a fashion of peace reigned across the galaxy. At least until the arrival of Oblivion in the galaxy, a figure brought forth by unwitting scientists. Terror broke out, forcing the Galactic Executive Doctor Krengelore to task five cadets of the intergalactic law enforcement organisation Cosmo Force into becoming Poké Rangers and defending the galaxy. Max, Sandy, Lily, Nick and Diana fought several times, both against the threat of the Oblivings, pieces of the greater evil bringing out the worst in the people of the galaxy, and of galactic scum themselves. All in the name of a day's work, they fought on, their battle eventual being joined by their Commanding Officer, Peregrine 'Falco' Griote and Crane Edwards, a long dead former ranger brought back to life with the intention of being used as a weapon. They continued to fight, discovering three totems in the design of Regirock, Regice and Registeel that kept Oblivion locked away. Tricked into destroying them, they realised what they had done, forcing them into a final battle with the crime boss known as Samedi and the living incarnation of Oblivion itself, wearing the body of Doctor Krengelore. After a tough battle in the council chambers, the seven rangers managed to lock the two of them away forever, their battle complete.
In the aftermath, Falco stepped into the Galactic Executive chair, temporary ruler of the galaxy until a unanimous replacement could be found. Surrendering the control of his ship to Max, and his role as the Mirror Ranger, and with the departure of Crane to a time past, seven became five once more.
Even though Oblivion is no more, threats still exist in the galaxy…
The first thing Max had done upon settling into the captain's chair of the Night Hawk was to sack Gordon. He'd suffered through the obnoxious chef's meals once too often, getting rid of him had been an utter pleasure. He'd brought in a Nyurian, a Weavile-like Poké Alien, named Alenia who had quickly settled into the role. It had been a universally popular decision across the crew of the Night Hawk, Payne O'Roark, the Felaine first mate, Golde Featherclaw, the Aerobian pilot, Evelyn Bliss, the Blisserian medical officer, Doctor Katongo, the Psorian scientist and Chebek and Blister, the two engineers who were rarely seen above deck. The only one who hadn't welcomed getting rid of Gordon Blake was the ships AI, Techno Nine who had bitterly complained at his dismissal because she liked to talk to him. In front of him, he had a direct video link to the Stronghold, the face of his former Commanding Officer before him.
"Nice work with those smugglers on Retauri Nine," Falco said. "They were running quite the operation, yes?"
"Smuggling Blue Dust in statues of Arcellians," Max replied. "Nobody in their right mind would check one of those for any illegal activities. Not unless they wanted to burn for it."
"But you don't have those morals, do you?" Falco asked.
"Well, it takes a lot to burn me, Sir," Max said, letting a flicker of flame rise up across his hair to make the point. "I don't burn easily."
"I imagine," the Aerobian said. "What of you now? Where will you go from here?"
"Thought we'd fly back to the Stronghold," Max replied. "See if we can find someone to fill your boots as the Mirror Ranger. It's not an easy task, Sir, with all respect."
"I imagine that you can find someone in the service somewhere," Falco said. "Don't try to flatter me too much, Cadet Redwood. That was actually what I called you about. I would like to know my old morpher is in good hands."
"Don't worry, Sir," Max promised. "We'll find someone to wear it with pride. Someone we can trust. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to give Golde the instruction to make the jump into hyperspace as soon as possible. Any luck, we'll see you there this time tomorrow."
"Safe travelling, Cadet," Falco said. "Give my regards to the rest of the rangers, tell them…"
The screen went black in front of Max, cutting the Galactic Executive off midsentence. Reaching out to tap the screen, a confused Max heard the alarm erupt out all around him.
"Mr. Redwood, we have an incoming ship!" Techno Nine yelled. "They've blocked our communications, they're ready to intercept."
"What?" Max said, jumping out of his seat and reaching for the intercom. "Everyone, battle stations! Now!"
Down in the engine room, Sandy had been talking to Chebek and Blister about problems they'd been having. Chebek, the Charian, had been struggling to repair a fault in the part of the engine that maintained the onboard computer system. Blister had been probing for advice about his love life.
"See," the Blue Cosmo Ranger said, brushing back her long silver hair to its default position. She wore a grey Cosmo Force cadet's uniform with blue trim up the arms, and her one visible eye, the other hidden beneath her hair, was an onyx black. "I was using the system earlier and there wasn't any problem with it them. Bit slower than usual, but…"
"It's there!" Chebek insisted, as she turned to Blister.
"Now," she said. "You after another Typhig?"
"Nah," he replied. "She's a Flottel."
"Well, that could just end in tears," Sandy said. "Yours if she sprays you with water. If she's not interested, screw her."
"He'd like to," Chebek chuckled. "But she won't let him."
Blister reached out and hit him on the back of the head. In his other hand, he suddenly remembered he was carrying a wrench, shaking his own head at his inability to use it.
"Not what I meant," Sandy said. "What I was saying was…"
The alarm rang out, followed by Max's order over the intercom. Glancing around, she saw the secondary entrance hatch to the Night Hawk, some fifty feet below the main one. Already, the edges were starting to spark and crackle, meaning only one thing.
"They're cutting through!" Blister howled. "Whatever they are!"
"Grab a weapon!" Sandy shouted, already moving towards the door, her morpher up and ready to be activated. In her other hand, she brought out a Cosmo Blaster from the holster at her waist. "They're coming through that door and…"
In front of her, the door exploded off its hinges and crashed into her, full on. Letting out a scream, Sandy was hit by it and sandwiched between it and the wall, her eyes closed with blood running down from a cut on her head. Seeing her fall, both Chebek and Blister screamed and started to run round in circles, neither of them going for a weapon. A squadron of humanoid figures in featureless white armour broke through the door, blaster rifles in their hands. A flurry of shots, Chebek went down in a motionless heap. Blister screamed again and ducked behind the engines.
"Find him!" the leader of the squad roared. "Put him down! Then smash the engines. Leave them dead in the water."
Upstairs, Max, Lily, Nick and Diana had all found themselves forced into battle with more of the featureless soldiers; none of them given the time to morph. Payne and Doctor Katongo broke out of their rooms to join in the fight. Max threw a fireball at one of them, the armour growing scorched but not doing any damage otherwise. One of the soldiers shot him with blue energy fire and dropped him. One by one, Lily, Nick, Diana, Doctor Katongo and Payne all went down the same way, not dead but unconscious. Still the soldiers carried on, two of them breaking into the medical room and blasting Evelyn. Three burst into the mess hall, taking out Alenia with a crash of laser fire. One tried to kick the door of the cockpit in, only to find it securely sealed.
"Doesn't matter," their commander said. "Second squad should be taking out the engines as we speak. They ain't going anywhere."
Right on cue, the lights went out around them as the engines hummed to a halt.
"Excellent," the commander said. "Phase one complete."
Down in the engine room, another featureless soldier watched the screen as various phrases ran out across it in clear green letters.
Engines…offline.
Megazord system…offline.
Weapons...offline.
Shields…offline.
Communications…offline.
Artificial Intelligence…offline.
Air system…failing.
"Set the explosives," the same soldier ordered. "Set them, we'll be out of here in five minutes. Blow this thing out of the sky."
"Yes, sir!" another featureless soldier said, saluting him. "It will be done."
"As soon as the prisoners are on board, we'll be gone in time for the fireworks," the commander said, reaching a hand to where his ear would be if he wasn't wearing a helmet. "Alpha team, you there?"
"This is alpha team," a voice replied. "We have prisoners, we're extracting them now."
"Good," the commander said. "See you back on the ship."
"Roger that."
The line went dead, the rest of the soldiers already moving about their business.
"You heard that," the bravo team commander said. "Double time."
Five minutes later, the ship of the faceless soldiers broke away from the dead Night Hawk, the bombs set. No living beings had been left on board it, other than the one who had barricaded himself in the cockpit.
Or so they thought.
Already, the bombs were starting to count down, ready to wreak their havoc on the ship.
10:00
09:59
09:58
09:57
09:56
Author's Notes.
Yep, that's the first chapter of Forever Blue.
And I hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for the reviews on Legacy of the Lost. They were appreciated.
Only the first of many chapters of this. Although it will be at least three or four chapters before any other rangers appear in it.
The 'or so they thought' line, given the title of the fic, I think it might not be a stretch to assume who the one left alive is…
Anyway, thanks for reading.
Don't forget to review! Please!