Three days had passed since Kira disappeared and Ethan was captured. Soon after that Conner announced his loyalty to Lord Drakkon, the creature that had posed as Tommy to infiltrate the team and tear them apart. The Dino Thunder team was dead; it had collapsed and sunk into the murky depths.
Trent was the only Ranger Reefside had left. Unfortunately, he was in ruins himself. The loss of Kira hit him like a gunshot. He had cried and begged Hayley for any solution, but there was none.
"All we can do is hope she managed to find Tommy," Was the only thing she could say to Trent.
Hayley looked out the wide windows of Cyberspace. She had closed the cafe for the day, but she was still expecting several visitors.
At twelve o'clock sharp a jeep pulled in. A young man roughly the same age as Tommy stepped up to the door.
He flashed a charming smile, "I take it you're Hayley."
"That would be me," She said. It was radically uplifting to see such a cheerful expression. "And you're?"
"Adam Park."
Soon after two more cars arrived. A built man with a kind face and a dignified woman with a tall posture and a serious face stepped into the cafe.
Adam smiled and rushed over to the two figures. "Tanya, Rocky! It's been years!"
The three former Rangers engaged in a series of jokes and small talk. Hayley let it all play out. Despite the fact she was struck with a discrete jealousy it was interesting to see the iconic Ranger chemistry.
"So," Hayley finally said, "does everyone have what I asked you to bring?"
The three gave a collective nod and each of them drew their dual bracelet morphers.
"I gotta admit I didn't think I'd ever need my Zeonizer again," Adam said.
"No kidding," Rocky exclaimed, "I found mine under a pile of old blue shirts and a Playboy magazine."
The three laughed for a few more moments before Adam stopped and looked at the clock on the wall. "Hey, Hayley isn't Kat coming?"
Hayley shook her head, "Even Tommy couldn't find her number, it's like she disappeared off the face of the Earth."
Tanya lowered her head, "I heard she moved back to Australia after the breakup but that's all I know myself."
"Tommy also wanted Jason to take the mantle of Zeo Ranger Five in his absence but unfortunately I can't find him either."
"It's weird how we've all gotten so distant," Adam muttered.
"Yeah," Rocky said, "Tommy and Jason went to the moon without even telling us. I mean he took every other Red Ranger. He even took the Aquitian Ranger for God's sake!"
Adam put his hand on Rocky's shoulder, "To be fair you aren't exactly representing red very well." He said and looked down at Rocky's blue shirt.
"Haha, good one," Rocky said, "But I coulda wore my ninja suit or something."
"You were hardly red even when you wore it," Adam teased, "Everyone knew Tommy called the shots. You were more like second in command."
"Or Tommy's butler," Tanya joined in.
"Red's Red guys," Rocky said with a flushed expression, "No matter who's in charge."
"Did someone say red?" A voice called as two figures stepped into the cafe.
"Because I think we can help clear the vacuum," the other man said.
The two were both dressed in military uniforms. One wore a barrette while the other had a simple cap, they both carried the same silver badge on their chests/
"I know you guys," Rocky said, "You were all over the news a few years ago. Wes Collins and Eric Myers."
"In the flesh," Eric said with a sideways grin.
"Tommy kept close to the Silver Guardians," Hayley explained.
"Well he had to be talking to someone," Adam said, "and it wasn't me."
"Or me," Rocky added.
Everyone looked to Tanya, but she didn't need to speak to give an answer.
"Rest assured we're doing everything we can to keep an eye on Lord Drakkon," Wes said.
"So where's the new guy?" Eric asked, "You said there was still one Ranger left."
"Yeah," Hayley breathed, "Trent is taking things pretty hard."
"Well he can't just hide in his room," Eric said. "He's got a job to do."
"You don't understand," Hayley said. "It's all happening too fast for him."
"Well he better get a grip," Eric said, "Because the big baddies won't wait on him."
Trent Mercer stepped into his empty house. The sound of his shuffling feet was far too overwhelming. It had been weeks since he discovered his father was Mesogog, and weeks since his father had permanently disappeared.
Fear ran rampant through his body. What if Mesogog had completely taken over, or worse, what if that evil had done something unthinkable.
"Missing your daddy?" A taunting voice called out of Anton's bedroom.
Trent's blood ran cold. That voice was unmistakable.
Trent put his hand to his Morpher as the man stepped into the living room.
Lord Drakkon looked so much like Tommy it was unnerving. What only increased the creep factor was the devilish expression on his face.
"Oh relax," Lord Drakkon said, "If I was here to fight I'd have brought some backup."
"What do you want?"
"I thought it was time someone broke the news."
"What are you talking about?" Trent hissed.
"The passing of your dearly adopted father," Lord Drakkon spoke with a clear and formal dictation.
"You're lying!" Trent screamed.
Lord Drakkon merely dropped a heavily mutated hand and let it hit the floor with a dull thud.
Trent didn't think. Instead, he simply charged blindly at the evil Ranger.
Lord Drakkon caught Trent's fist flawlessly. "I was an orphan too you know."
"You killed my dad!" Trent screamed.
"Surprisingly I didn't," Lord Drakkon said. "And if you stopped trying to pound my face in maybe I could explain."
Trent lowered his hands.
"That's better," Lord Drakkon said and sat down in Anton's favorite lay-z-boy.
"Speak," Trent barked.
"Conner did it in self-defense. Your father was too far gone. There was nothing anyone could do."
"I hope you understand why I think that's bullshit," Trent replied.
"That's fine," Lord Drakkon said. "I hope you'll understand in time. I hope you'll learn to trust me."
"What do you mean?" Trent said. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
"I remember what it felt like to be lost," Lord Drakkon said, "With no one to give me guidance."
"I know what you're gonna say," Trent said. "And you're hardly Darth Vader."
"Conner has already joined me. Now, why would he do that?"
"Because you sociopaths love brainwashing people."
"You're not the first person to call me that," Lord Drakkon said with a smile, "But again, your assumption is far from the truth."
"Give me one good reason to join you."
"So you're considering it," Lord Drakkon said with a glimmer in his eyes. "Well, my fellow White Ranger, you need guidance. You need someone to lead you down the path to success."
"You expect me to think that person is you?"
"Well of course. I'm a fellow orphan, a fellow lost soul, a fellow Ranger."
Lord Drakkon held out his hand. Trent couldn't help but stare at it. He swallowed hard, feeling his body flooded with adrenaline.
"No," Trent spat out, "Not after what you did to Kira."
In a flash of white light, Trent transformed into the White Ranger.
"Kira's fine," Lord Drakkon said. "You may even visit her if you like."
The White Ranger lowered his blade.
"She was being irrational and violent. I spent her to my home dimension so that she could calm down. And who knows, she might realize how peaceful my practices are and return with an open mind."
In a flash of reflexes, Trent sent a volley of energy arrows at the alternate Tommy's head. "If Kira didn't trust you that's all the evidence I need."
As the arrows exploded around Lord Drakkon he remained calm and unshaken. Blood streaked across his pale face.
"Very well," he said as an invisportal opened behind him. "You will see my face among the burning cinders and you will recognize me as the man who set your world ablaze!" He then slipped into the portal.
The White Ranger tried to chase after him, but by the time he reached the portal there was only empty air.
Hayley was feeling sick again. It had been coming on periodically since she discovered Lord Drakkon's trickery. She supposed it was nerves or something of the sort.
It was a late night and the freshly recruited Rangers fled to their hotel rooms to rest. Hayley was thankful that Bio-Labs was willing to finance the living expenses because Hayley was admittedly a stone throw away from broke.
The doors to Cyberspace swung open and Trent rushed in. His face was ghostly and coated in sweat. He didn't look grief stricken, he looked terrified.
"What's wrong Trent?"
"Mesogog is dead!" The White Ranger blurred out.
"What? How do you know that?"
"Lord Drakkon came to tell me," Trent said.
"But why would he go to that much trouble just to tell you that?"
"Because my dad and Mesogog are the same people!" Trent exploded.
The truth came out, and the truth gave way to silence.
"This isn't going to get any easier is it?" Hayley asked, feeling more than a little fatigued.
Elsa threw the tray of food down at the mysterious prisoner's feet. She didn't understand why Lord Drakkon wanted to keep him around but she wasn't in any position to question him.
The Ranger dug into the gruel with his bare hands. Starvation robbed him of any dignity and it was rather disgusting.
In the corner of the same cell was Ethan. The poor kid hadn't eaten in the past four days. He didn't speak either, just sat in the shadows. Elsa had to admit she actually felt pretty bad for him.
"Are you just gonna keep letting him call the shots?" The prisoner called out. His green eyes were alight with hatred. "After he killed your master?"
"As long as I'm not in the cage too," Elsa muttered.
"You might not be in the cage but you're still a prisoner."
"Whatever," Elsa scuffed and walked off.
She entered the main quarters where Lord Drakkon was sparring with Conner. Or at least what was living in his skin. It was an insane transformation; it was greater than even mind control could do. It was as if a parasite had crawled into his ear and claimed control of his body.
She remembered when he had insisted on creating a video message to Hayley explaining his change in legions just to play with her fragile emotions. It was more diabolical than anything she could have thought of.
"Miss Elsa?" A rough voice asked. She turned to see Lord Drakkon's lackey, Finster, said. "Would you mind coming with me?"
"No," she muttered and followed him through the hallways. They passed the motionless Black Dragon, which apparently was Lord Drakkon's personal killing machine.
Finster had taken a laboratory deep under the island. It was a musky and decrepit part of the fortress. So much so he had managed to remain unnoticed for so long.
A foul smell hit Elsa's nose and she began to feel lightheaded. The unspeakable mess atop Finster's operating table didn't help much.
"Under Lord Drakkon's orders I was instructed to rebuild the one known as Zeltrex, only I'm supposed to omit the fleshy parts and replace it was more co-operable machines," Finster explained. "The only problem is that I'm running low on materials. Would you be able to help me access Mesogog's resources vaults?"
Elsa stared at the decaying flesh on the table. Her world had devolved into an utter madhouse. This was a living hell and the specimen on the operating table showed where her future may lay.
"Of course," she muttered. Well, it wasn't like he was going to miss it.
A/N: Welcome to the third story in my Personality Shift saga. If you haven't read The Devil's Playground or Personality Shift I would suggest doing that first. If you're all caught up I thank you for getting this far and hope you enjoy what I have in store for you.