GouGou Sentai Boukenger: The Next Generation

Prologue: A New Generation of Bouken Dreams

SGS Museum, 2031

"Good morning, Boukengers." Satoru Akashi announced as he entered the salon, his morning coffee in one hand. For a man now in his 40s, he didn't look much different than he had back when he was in his 20s and BoukenRed. The only difference was a few lines here and some grey hair there. He sighed as he took in this new generation of Boukengers, now celebrating their two-year anniversary since receiving their Accellulars, and smiled when he took in his now 18-year-old son among them.

Seated in front of her tablet laptop, writing down notes, looking ever so much like her mother, Sakura Nishihori-Takaoka, was the 23-year-old Kei Takaoka, the "Chief" of this new crop. He'd selected the young woman for BoukenRed himself, seeing so very much of himself in her. So far, she seemed to be doing a good job of being "Chief"…. even better than he had, since she had everyone liking her right away…and he was still working on getting Masumi to like him. Kei was a formidable, experienced and beautiful young woman, who looked so much like Sakura did when she was young that it was almost scary. The only stark difference was the widow's peak of white hair, courtesy of Kei's father, Eiji Takaoka.

Next to Kei, was the 22-year-old daughter of Masumi and Natsuki (Satoru had never had any doubts about those too, he was just surprised it took Masumi so long to propose), Belle Inou, although she preferred to be called "Rin". In Rin, there was a strong resemblance to her father, with the exception of the teeth. Rin was as experienced as Kei and when it came time to ask her to be Boukenger, she, like Kei, had only one condition: No yellow or pink. So, after making Kei the red and offering her the redesigned AccellSuit, Satoru had the black AccellSuit remade and gave it to Rin, allowing her to take up the mantle her father had left behind. Rin wasted no time in establishing herself as Kei's right hand woman and a Boukenger vastly different from her father.

Also tapping away at a laptop, was the only son of Souta and, of all people, Kaze no Shizuka, Tsubasa Mogami, a 21-year-old communications and information expert, who followed in his father's footsteps in more ways than one. Not only did Tsubasa look like Souta, he also BEHAVED like him, serious at times, but then, a complete flirt. It was amusing most of the time. When Satoru had approached the young man about being a Boukenger, Tsubasa had jumped at the chance and gladly taken Souta's spot as BoukenBlue, leaving Souta free to become the technician of SGS, much like the late Makino-sensei had been.

Sitting next to her older sister, like she'd always been, was Rin's little sister, Aurora Inou, who looked and acted just like Natsuki had. The clear exception was that Aurora, who preferred "Hikari", had her hair in a ponytail and didn't speak in 3rd person. When her big sister received the offer to become a Boukenger, Hikari, who was 20, had wanted to be one, too. So, Satoru offered her the pink spot and let her become BoukenPink. Hikari was less serious than Sakura had been, but was just as dedicated to the cause of protecting the world from the effects of a dangerous Precious.

And finally, Satoru's gaze took in his greatest Precious, his son, Satoshi Akashi. Following his adventures in space with Sakura and return to Earth, which included a promotion that lead to his current position as the Head of SGS Japan, Satoru had gone to the North Pole and began courting "Mini-Skirt Santa", who still insisted that he call her "Eve". Not too long after that, they'd married and Eve gave birth to their son, Satoshi. At Eve's insistence, Satoshi spent most of the year with his father in Japan, but he got to accompany his mother on her yearly trip around the world. Satoshi had been the second to last piece of the puzzle that made up the New Boukengers. Satoshi had been adventuring almost from the day he was born and his dream was to be a Boukenger, after all. He just never imagined that he'd be BoukenYellow. He didn't mind so much, for he understood that Kei was a bit more experienced than he was. He was just happy that he got the spot.

"Morning, Boss." Rin, Hikari and Tsubasa chimed in, smiling as they looked up from their morning routine.

"Morning, Dad." Satoshi said, thumbing through a book.

"Good morning, Satoru-san." Kei said politely. "What brings the great adventurer Satoru Akashi, head of SGS Japan here to see us, the lowly Boukengers?" She smiled as she spoke, her slight adoration of him clear in her dark eyes.

More like her mother every day…Satoru thought as he took a sip of his coffee. "Well, there's a Precious that's come into our radar that might have something to do with the disappearance of your father, Kei." Eiji had mysteriously vanished while doing Satoru a favor of investigating a Precious near an old tomb of Ashu and he had been gone for nearly a month. The police weren't holding out much hope, but Sakura was and so were Kei and her absent younger brother, Kando. "It's called the Sands of Memory and Time…apparently its some kind of hourglass."

Kei perked up at Satoru's words. "It may have something to do with Dad?" She sounded more hopeful than she had in a while.

"The last known location of the Precious…" Satoru paused a fished out a remote from his pocket and used it to activate the large plasma in the room, which displayed a map, which showed Eiji's last known location and then the last known location of the Precious. "…was right where we received Eiji's final transmission. We're not quite sure what it does, but the locations do seem awfully suspicious. I would like it very much, if you would go out, retrieve the Precious and bring it back so we can study it. Once we figure out what it does, we can find out if it had anything to do with Eiji's vanishing."

Satoru looked around for a moment and realized that the sixth Boukenger was missing. "Kei…. where's your brother?"

"With my mother." Kei said. "You know Mom. She may look cold sometimes, but she has a whole well of emotions under the surface. Dad's vanishing has really taken a toll on her. He'll be here soon."

Just then, the doors slid open with a ding and in came Kando Takaoka, the 19-year-old Dazzling Adventurer, who so strongly resembled his father that it wasn't funny. Kando had been the last to be recruited, like his father before him. Kando was brash and abrasive, but good at his job, taking cues from his big sister. Right now, however, Kando looked tired and he took a quick look at his sister and then at Satoru. "Fill me in, Chiefu."

"Basically put, Kando, SGS has been informed that there was a Precious signal at the last known place Eiji was seen." Satoru said. "I want you to go and check it out."

Kei sighed and closed her laptop. "Our mission: retrieve the Precious!" She smirked and stole a glance at Satoru. "Boukenger, move out!" She snapped her fingers to signal the start of the mission and the Boukengers left the salon, leaving Satoru there to finish his coffee.