Episode 2: Darker than Black
Doctor K whistles as she runs a hand on the underside of the Eagle Squad's prized Fighter. Eagle Prime. It is the flagship of the Eagle Squad, and only the Wing Commander of the Squad pilots it. Scott smirks as he watches her fascination with his jet. "It's a beauty, isn't she? More than enough speed to break the sound barrier two times over and holds enough fire power to level a city a quarter the size of Corinth."
"She is impressive," Doctor K remarks. "A very sleek and aerial dynamic frame."
"Want to see the cockpit," Scott asks as he walks up to the jet. He pulls himself up on the wing and offers Doctor K a hand. She reluctantly takes his hand, and is surprised as he effortlessly pulls her up to the wing with only one arm. She had known that Scott was strong, but still the motion surprised her.
"Did you actually just squeak," Scott asks.
Flushing, Doctor K quickly walks over to the cockpit. She presses a button on side of the glass dome surrounding the cockpit and stands back, allowing it to slide backwards. Scott chuckles from her reaction. "Here," he offers her a hand. "Have a seat."
After helping the shorter female into the cockpit of the large Fighter, Doctor K begins to quickly examine the layout of the controls. "This is quite a complex setup for a mere Fighter Jet."
"I know, right," Scott remarks. "Do you think that you can duplicate this same setup for the rest of the Eagle Squad Fighters? They are going to be grounded anyways for the foreseeable future."
"So you are offering me a job?"
"I am," Scott admits. "After what we talked about last night at dinner, I got to thinking. You said that you needed something to focus on, something that you won't have to deal with a lot of people with, and well... the Corinth City Council won't approve of any more funds for my birds to be upgraded. I figured we'll be helping each other out. And from what other materials that I can gather... you will have all the time in the world to work on any side projects that you may think that will benefit the Eagle Squad... or Corinth in the long run."
"Your father will disprove of this," Doctor K frowns slightly. "He already admitted to me that he did not want me in any position to potentially create another Venjix. He claims that I have already done more than enough to this world... which... I don't disagree with..."
"You leave dealing with my father to me," Scott tells her. "He may not like it, but he'll have to deal with it. Besides, I'm in Command of Eagle Squad. Not him."
"You have this thing about rebellion, don't you Mister Truman," Doctor K asks, amused.
"Only when my father is involved," Scott chuckles as he looks away briefly before returning his attention back to her. "He and I... even to this day, really still don't get along. Never truly did to be honest."
"Oh? I was under the impression that you two where in a better place following Venjix's destruction. He respects you as a leader and a hero."
"That may be true," Scott admits. "But...," Scott looks away for a second, unsure if he should continue but he decides to anyways. "He blames me for my mother's death."
"Your mother? I did read in your file when I was selecting the Operators for Project Ranger, but the file did not state exactly how she became deceased..."
"My mother passed away several years after giving birth to me," Scott remarks. "You see, my mother was a few years older than my dad. When they got married and had Marcus, she was in her mid-thirties. She was forty, I think when she gave birth to me. I guess at that age, carrying me to full term did a lot to her body."
"I see," Doctor K puts the rest together without Scott having to finish. "The combination of her advanced age when giving birth to you lead to further health complications."
"Yeah. She died when I was four," Scott shakes his head. "My dad and my brother… they held it against me for years."
"I... I apologize Scott. Had I known..."
"Don't worry about it," Scott smiles. "How could you have known? It was not in the file."
"Still," Doctor K bites her bottom lip. "It is not right. I would do anything to know who my parents were... and to be loved by them. Your father should be counting his blessings."
"Truman men are... we are stubborn," Scott remarks.
"I have noticed," Doctor K smiles. "Do you have any memories of her? Of your mother?"
"I have a few photos that I saved over the years. And her car."
"Her car?"
"Yeah," Scott smirks. "My 94 Nissan? It belonged to my mom. Last thing she bought for herself before she died. She loved sports cars… as least, from what I was told."
"Ah, I see. That is why your car is important to you. It is the last real connection you have to your mother," Doctor K's eyes are wide. She never knew just how much of the Red Ranger's past that she didn't know. But then again, he doesn't know hers either, other than the little she has let be known regarding her time as Alphabet Soup's captive. After a few moments, she makes her decision regarding accepting his job offer. "Okay Scott. I accept your proposal."
"Great," Scott grins. "First order of business, paperwork." Scott stands, offering his hand to Doctor K. She takes his hand and exits out of the cockpit. She then follows him to the edge of the wing where he easily hops off it. He turns around to offer her his hand again, only to find her blushing. Scott realizes that she is playing with the ends of her skirt and he smirks.
"Don't worry Doc. I'm not a peeker like you," Scott winks at her. He had completely forgotten that the Doctor was uncomfortable in anything other than skirts or dresses, having to wear nothing but Alphabet Soup uniforms her entire life.
"A peeker? Just… just what are you…"
"Ah, come on Doctor K. You do have some voyeurism habits. Me and Summer use to laugh at it when you thought we weren't looking at you, watching the rest of us."
"I see," Rolling her eyes, she eases her legs off the edge of the wing and allows Scott to help her down. "Well, I guess I would have to do better in the future then to hide my observations."
"You dont have to hide anything Doc," Scott playfully flirts. "I'm more than willing to let you watch me with all your hearts content."
"I'll hold you to that, boss."
"Ugh, don't call me that," Scott shakes his head. "Boss. I don't like it when the Eagle Squad does it, I won't have you do it either. Feels weird."
"Speaking of the Eagle Squad," Doctor K begins, refocusing Scott's attention back to the matter at hand.
"Right. Eagle Squad. After we handle the paperwork, I'll introduce you to the rest of the team. They are the only people within the Eagle Hanger that you may have to deal with, but they won't be a bother. Besides, you already know of Gem and Gemma being upgraded to Eagle One and Eagle Two status," Scott exclaims as he leads her to his office across the hanger. They pass by several other Jet Fighters, a bit smaller than Eagle Prime, but still rather impressive in their own right. "Speaking of which, the twins, as you know, have been out of the city for the past two months working on the dismantling of Venjix's palace and recovering any and all Venjix Tech that may have remained that we could possibly use."
"Why would we need Venjix Tech?"
"We don't need any of that dangerous tech laying out in wait for someone else to come and recover it. Oh, and just to let you know, the twins demolished Venjix's palace. This morning I was looking over the computers and a large explosion was detected at their coordinates. My father verified its destruction."
"The twins are anything if not thorough..." Doctor K muses, and then comes to a stop rather suddenly. "Is that... the Go-ONGER," she points toward a large recreational vehicle in the back of the hanger. "How did you salvage it?"
"Actually, it is a different vehicle. Same model though," Scott remarks with a grin. "You'll be surprised what you can find abandoned out in the Wastelands. Anyways, it's gotta have a lot of work done to it if it is even wanna compete with the original. Figured I owed it to my dad for getting the last one obliterated. Flynn was able to get it working again, but he didn't know all of the gizmos and electronics that dad had installed in it."
"Sounds like a side project for me," Doctor K grins excitably. "I am familiar with the original's designs. It would be interesting to improve upon its original design."
"As long as you don't put any canons in its refrigerator, I'm game," Scott chuckles as he opens his office door. "Okay, let's get to work."
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Gem whistles as he drives the large semi-truck through the streets of another abandoned city. The team had actually made good time. What had started off as a two-day trip back toward Corinth, they will get to Corinth at dusk. Since each vehicle, the semi's and the jeeps had more than one occupant, the need for stopping and rest was cut down as when one driver grew tired, another took over. Gemma is seated beside him with her jacket draped over her.
After hours of driving, of nearly having clear streets, Gem comes across a smoking wreckage in the middle of the road. "Aw man, this is going to put us behind. Who is going to crash in the middle... of... the..."
Gem slowly brings his rig to a stop. Behind him, one of the semi's blows their horn. Gem shakes Gemma, awakening her. Gemma rubs her eyes, blinking at her twin.
"What's going on?"
"There is wreckage in the middle of the street," Gem tells her.
"So? There is a lot of wreckage in the streets. We cleared a lot of it off when we were going to Venjix's palace the first time."
"It's still hot. The smoke is still black," Gem points out. Gemma looks in the direction that Gem is pointing and agrees. She opens her door and hops out, following her brother toward the smoking wreckage. Behind them, Hick and Vasquez follow them, having leaving their semi-truck as well. As the four get closer to the damaged vehicle, Gem's eyes widen. "Oh no!"
"What? What is it," Vasquez asks.
"The car," Gemma takes off in a sprint. "It's the Fury!"
"Dillon's car," Hicks' eyes widen. He reaches for his pistol and arms himself, Vasquez following suit as the four reach the smoldering wreckage. Gem looks inside the wreckage, finding nothing.
"I don't see anything. Or anyone for that matter," Gem remarks.
"Oh no," Gemma gasps as she finds several shards of glass next to grass. "Here is blood."
"Is it a lot," Hicks asks.
"No. Not much," Gemma stands to her feet.
"Look at these indention's on the body," Vasquez points toward the damage along the body of the Fury. This was not an accident. It looks as if it was attacked."
Gem and Gemma quickly glance at each other. They quickly switch from soldier mode, to scout mode as they began examining the area. By now, the other soldiers have unloaded from their vehicles to find out what is going on. After nearly ten minutes, Gemma announces her findings. "There was a battle here."
"A battle," Hick repeats. "Do you think it may have been from raiders? We have come across quite a few of them in the past few months."
"No," Gem remarks as he runs his hand alongside a nearby bus. "This right here, someone was punched into the side of this bus. Either Tenaya or Dillon. The real question is..."
"Where are they," Gemma finishes her brother's sentence as she walks over to the edge of grass where she found the broken glass and trail of blood. Her eyes widen as she spots even more blood, and footprints. "Oh! Oh! Another clue!"
"What did you find," Vasquez asks as she walks up beside Gemma.
"Another clue," Gemma bounces over to the footprints. "Someone is defiantly injured. Judging from the size and impression in the sand, I would have to say Dillon."
"Okay... well... where are Summer and Tenaya," Hicks asks.
"That..." Gemma's excited expression crumbles. "I don't know. But! But we can follow this trail!"
"Yeah," Gem remarks. "We'll take a Jeep and go this way! Someone else can drive our rig back to the city!"
"I don't know," Hick frowns. He is the highest ranking officer on site at the moment; the notion of splitting up doesn't sit well with him. "It could be a trap..."
"Even better! Gem and I will go and check it out," Gemma darts toward one of the now empty jeeps.
"And if we find anything suspicious," Gem smirks as he makes a motion with his hands, signaling an explosion. "We'll blow it up!" With that said, Gem takes off after his sister toward the Jeep which she has claimed and in no time, the two veer off the road and head in the direction that they believe Dillon headed.
"But...," Hicks sighs, dejected. "Okay team, let's head out. Corinth City is only five hours away from our current location. If the Boom-Twins find anything, I am sure we will hear it..."
"Um, Hicks..." Vasquez hostlers her pistol. "That was our Jeep that they took..."
Several soldiers chuckle at Hick's crumbled expression. "Great. Just great... I guess we are driving their rig back to the city."
"I call shotgun," Vasquez smirks.
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Chaz takes a seat behind his desk. He twirls around to his computer and strikes a key. Within moments a video screen for web chatting pops up with Doctor Q's face on the opposite side. "Well, is everything a go?"
"Yes sir. I am complying all the necessary evidence needed to out Doctor K. I expect the City Council will demand that she be handed over immediately and ask for Colonel Truman's immediate resignation. I am simply following up to make sure that our own ends are covered. Erasing any kind of trail that may exist."
"Excellent," Chaz smirks. "This is all going very smoothly. And what is the progress of our very own Project Ranger?"
"While I have been able to duplicate the technology, there is still something that I am missing that is preventing my Morphers from accessing the Biofield. Once Doctor K is arrested, you will make sure that all her files and data are handed over to me?"
"Of course," Chaz remarks.
"Then it should be no problem," Doctor Q remarks. "The Covenant will be pleased."
"The Covenant doesn't matter," Chaz remarks. "Out of all of them, my father included, are part of the old structure. They believe in manipulating from the shadows. I want to be in the spotlight."
"And by exposing Doctor K and her connection to Colonel Truman will surely help you win the election," Q remarks. "However, you have realized that by doing this, you may make an enemy out of Fresno Bob."
"How so," Chaz asks.
"From my spies, I have learned that Fresno Bob has been supporting that school that Doctor K and one of the former Ranger Operators, a Ziggy Grover I believe, from the shadows. While he doesn't earn any real money from the venture, it is a way to turn his dirty money, clean by investing into something positive. Despite the fact that she has reportedly left the school, it may hamper business once parents and the orphanage officials that work in conjunction with the school may pull out of the project. And you know well as I do that Fresno Bob does not like when someone interferes with his business."
"And what do I care of a bunch of motherless and fatherless children and dusty old nuns," Chaz snorts, rather undignified even for him. "The people who are sending their schools to the private sector are going to be the ones that are to be molded. Public school children are only good for grunt work and service jobs once they reach adulthood. And as for the orphans, when it all hits the fan, if you want you can take all those children and restart Alphabet Soup for all I care. I am sure that out of all the ones who live in that orphanage we can find at least one or two prodigies out of the bunch."
Doctor Q's face shows an expression of eagerness. Unlike many of the other children that were brought into Alphabet Soup, Q's family had been a part of it from the start. Q had found his calling and quickly moved up throughout Alphabet Soup to be one of the lead scientists, despite his family connections. "Of course, Mister Winchester. I just wanted to let you know though of the risk of dealing with Fresno Bob."
"When and if that happens, I will deal with Bob as necessary," Chaz remarks. "Nothing to worry about. He, as well as the rest of the Covenant are fossils. My father included. I have been plans for this city. Big plans."
"I am sure you do," Doctor Q nods, a slight smirk on his face. "I'll be in touch once I believe the data is all there."
"I will be awaiting your call," Chaz moves the mouse over the web cam icon and closes out communications.
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Doctor Q turns around from his desk after Chaz abundantly ended the transmission. He walks over to the corner of his private lab and stands before three large glass cylinders. The three cylinders each contain an individual person inside each, with wires attached to their bodies. There is a bluish hue to the liquid that is keeping their bodies from deteriorating. Attached to each cylinder is a computer station monitoring their individual life readings.
"Soon, real soon," Q taps the glass of the cylinder closest to him. Atop of the cylinder is a small screen that says Operator Subject Series 10. "Already my neural rewriting process is near completion. Once it is complete, you three will be my greatest creations! The most powerful Ranger Operator Series of all time! Upgraded with the highest Q-ware hybrid technology, and with over five deadly combative styles programmed directly into your brains, you three will be the ultimate Power Ranger Team!"
The male figure behind the glass does not budge. There is a small breathing apparatus attached to his face, helping him breathing, while still keeping him in an stoic and immobile state. Q makes his way to the other two regeneration tanks, overlooking their data. Satisfied at their readings, he licks his dry lips.
"The secret of total access to the Biofield may temporary elude me, but once I get my hands on Doctor K's files, this project will be complete! The nerve of the leaders of Alphabet Soup! They were ready to welcome Doctor K into the inner circle! The nerve of them! It was my genius who originally created the process for advance human cybernetics, which Venjix exploited to create his hybrid minions! Venjix corrupted my science! All because of Doctor K! Never the mind that even Project Ranger was taken from me and given to her to develop!"
"She was lucky to have escaped the facility before it was destroyed," Q takes a seat at his computer console once more and begins typing away on his keyboard. A large window appears on his monitor before him. A picture of a young Doctor K appears on the screen. "While she did take the bait of following that butterfly out into the sunlight to that open door I left open, I had hoped that she would have taken that time to try to escape, allowing her handlers to execute her on spot! No matter. She only did the Covenant a favor by creating Venjix. In one swoop, more than two-thirds of the undesirable human population was left eradicated in Venjix's first attacks. All I have to do now is to finish compiling all the data to be able to pin the blame on her, thus forever removing any potential of anyone learning of the Covenant... or even my connection to Venjix."
Q looks back over his shoulder, once more at the three cylinders. "And that is where you three will come in. You will help me destroy Doctor K!"
The eyes of the male inside the cylinder regeneration tube labeled Operator Subject Series 10 flutter just so slightly.
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Doctor K glides her chair across her new office, which sits right beside Scott's in the Eagle Squad hanger. While not as big as her own lab within the Garage, she knows that she can take any project back home to the Garage and work on in her spare time. After being given her employee badge, her mind has been running with ideas to get the older Jet Fighters up to caliber.
While she admits to herself, it is not the first profession she would have chosen, she is glad for the chance to use her intelligence for a more productive manner. After two years, she truly felt that she had accomplished nothing while teaching. The children at the school had more interest in what Ziggy and the other instructors were doing daily than what she had to offer. It truly made her felt unappreciated, while at the same time, she felt that she had no right in trying to teach children, granted that a good portion of the students were from the orphanage.
Orphans because of her.
"Hmm," Doctor K opens a drawer on the side of the desk, where all the files pertaining to Eagle Squad's jet schematics are kept. It is all neatly organized and she is quick to thumb through the files. "Judging from the model of the engines of these Fighters, I could be able to modify them with components from my Lab so that they could tap into the Biofield. That would give them a tremendous boost of speed making hour travel down to mere minutes... however the outer shells of the jets would need to be amplified to handle the speed..."
"Getting settled in Doc," Scott knocks on her door.
"Oh! Hello Scott," Doctor K places the file down onto her desk. "I was merely looking over the schematics of the Eagle Squad's Fighters. I already have an idea to modify them."
"That's great," Scott smiles. "Already hard at work. I was about to order Take-out for the crew for lunch. Anything particular that you would like?"
"I found myself quite enjoying that dish I had last night at that restaurant you took me to. I wouldn't mind having an order of that again."
"Consider it done," Scott turns around but quickly stops. "Oh, and just to let you know, we are expecting the Venjix Demolition Crew back today. Gem and Gemma will more than likely be bouncing through here tonight."
"That is good news," Doctor K smiles as she reopens the file. "I have missed my friends."
"Well from the emails that I have been getting from Hicks, he'll defiantly be happy to take a break from the two," Scott chuckles. "I'll leave you to your work then."
As Scott leaves her office, Doctor K decided immediately to get to work on Eagle Prime, Scott's Jet Fighter. To thank him for the opportunity that he has given her, she immediately decides to give his Jet the Biofield upgrade that it needs. Taping her pen against her chin, Doctor K quickly removes the top and begins to jot down several notes onto a pad as the idea quickly formulates in her mind, humming quietly to herself as she gets to work.
The remainder of the day passes by rather smoothly for the raven haired prodigy. After finalizing her notes, she requested the help of several soldiers in helping her remove several panels to Eagle Prime where she began to examine its engine carefully. She continued to work well into the afternoon, tweaking and prodding the Jet even after her lunch was brought in. She stopped long enough to eat and watch as Scott stood before a large mobile chalkboard where over thirty desks were seated for the newer recruits. As she watched Scott instruct them, she began to once more see the traits that she had originally searched for when she was searching for an Operator Series Red to lead her troops. Eventually, she snapped herself out of her stupor and returned to work.
Later in the evening as she was filing her paperwork into one of the locker in her office, Scott awaited for her. After locking up for the night, Doctor K turns and once more thanks Scott for the job.
"It was nothing Doc," Scott leads her out to his car. "Glad I could help."
"If it is no trouble Scott, could you possibly set up for a driver to pick me up and return me back to the Garage after my shift is over. Of all my knowledge and skills I have picked up over the years... driving is not one of them," Doctor K admits.
Scott chuckles. "Well, since we both live in the Garage, it won't be a problem for you to simply carpool with me," Scott opens the passenger door for her. Once she is seated, he closes the door and walks around to the driver-side. "Have you spoken to Ziggy yet?"
"Not since I barged out of the school two days earlier. Why?"
"I spoke with him earlier. To congratulate you on your new job, he is cooking dinner."
"Great," Doctor K sighs. "I don't think I could stomach another one of his Meatloaf surprises..."
"Me neither," Scott laughs as he starts his car up and backs out of the hanger. Waving goodbye to the night crew, Scott peels out of the parking lot and heads toward the Garage.
"Any world on Gem and Gemma," Doctor K asks as she looks out the window. Her long raven hair blows in the breeze, thanks to Scott's incredible driving. She notes how the real evening sky, not the holographic one that was projected above in the dome during the days of battling against the malignant computer AI, but the real sun, casts a purple and pink hue in the distance as it begins to set.
"No. Not yet," Scott remarks. "Which is surprising. I had figured that they would have reported in by now. However I did leave word with my assistant to notify me immediately upon their arrive back at the hanger."
Within minutes the two arrive back at the former headquarters for Project Ranger, and still home to Scott, Doctor K, Gem and Ziggy. Flynn and Gemma had moved out and gotten their own apartment close by, after much convincing to Gem on Gemma's part. One of the few things that the former Rangers were given for their victory over Venjix was continued maintenance to the Garage. After all, why would the heroes for the remained of the human race have to pay rent or a water bill? Scott pulls into the garage and parks in his normal spot. The two exit out of the vehicle and make their way further into their living quarters, where they find Ziggy and Flynn setting the table.
"Aye, there is the lass," Flynn smiles. "So, how was ye first day at the job?"
"Not to exiting today, I assure you," Doctor K responds, "However I have already come up with several projects to occupy my time in better maintaining the Eagle Squad's weaponry and engines. In fact, I will need to borrow some of your welding tools Flynn, for I need to design a new plate of shielding for the Fighters."
"See lad," Flynn slaps Scott on the shoulder. "I told ye that ye would figure it out!"
"Yeah, yeah," Scott rubs his shoulder as he begins to remove his jacket. "You guys need any help? If so, let me go change real fast and I'll come back and help..."
"Nah, take ye time lad. Ye too lass," Flynn notions to Doctor K. "The food is already done," he motions toward several metal containers seated above several small burners on the bar. "I convinced ol Ziggy that it would be less time consuming and quicker to clean if we ordered from a buffet! We got tons!"
"Yeah, it was a good idea," Ziggy rubs the back of his neck. "Um, hi. Hey Doc."
"Ziggy," Doctor K nods toward her former business partner. "I do believe that I will do just that Flynn. The hanger, not to mention my new office was a tad dusty. I do need to freshen up a bit."
Doctor K heads toward her lab, where her actual bedroom is connected to. When the Garage was first constructed, she had wanted her own living quarters and bathroom away from the other occupants that would eventually move into the Garage. So her own room was built inside her lab, away from all of her projects and the Ranger equipment, but close enough to get to encase of an emergency. As she walks through her lab, she takes a moment to gaze at the seven inactive Biosuits standing in their respective resting places. Smiling, she heads on to her room to change.
"Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Ziggy sighs. "I had half expected her to still be pissed."
"I told ya laddie," Flynn points a finger at him. "I saw this coming a mile away. She hasn't been happy with the school since ye began the project. I still don't know how she lasted as long as she did."
"I know," Ziggy sighs and he places several glasses around the table. "Hey, should I put out extra dishes for Gem and Gemma? I know that they were supposed to get back tonight."
"Hmm... aye. Leave em out," Flynn decides after a moments deliberation. "If not, ye can use em later for breakfast."
Ten minutes later, Doctor K emerges from her lab. She is wearing a simple black gown with a purple short sleeved, button down purple sweater with matching purple slippers. At the same time Scott emerges down the staircase leading to his room, sliding a shirt down over his neck and down his chest. For a split second Doctor K finds her eyes glued to his defined abdomen before quickly looking away.
As the two joined Ziggy and Flynn at the table, which have already begun eating, the four begin chatting away at the weekly events, obviously ignoring the rather obvious large elephant in the room concerning Doctor K's leaving of the school. Laughter fills the Garage from Scott and Flynn as they laugh at Ziggy's story about an incident that involved bubble gum and a chemistry set from the school. The group is so preoccupied with each other that they are completely startled when an Army Jeep comes skidding into a stop at the entrance to the Garage.
"Who in Odin's name..." Flynn stands to his feet.
"That is Hicks jeep," Scott drops his fork onto his plate and speaks, only to be cut off by Ziggy.
"It's Gem and Gemma," Ziggy instantly recognizes the two before they even hop out of the Jeep. They all quickly follow Flynn's lead and rush over toward the two, who have made their way to the back of the jeep and have opened the bed of the jeep.
"Gem, Gemma! What's going on," Doctor K asks. The four skids to a stop in horror as they watch Gem and Gemma haul Dillon up to his feet.
"Oh God, its Dillon! There's blood all over him," Ziggy remarks, reaching out to him. "He's hurt!"
"That's speaking the obvious," Doctor K remarks as she pushes open Dillon's ragged shirt. "Bring him over to the pool table, quickly."
Scott and Flynn take Dillon from the twins and haul him over to the nearby pool table. Scott and Flynn gently place him onto the table. "He is a mess. We need to remove his shirt to see the damage."
"Okay, knife, we need a knife," Ziggy is almost in a panic as he walks over to the table where he had placed the silverware earlier. He grabs a big knife, and turns quickly only to have Flynn take the sharp object away from the obvious spaz.
"I'll take that laddie," Flynn safely takes the knife from Ziggy. "We don't need anyone else, lying sprawled out on the floor, bleeding to death."
"Dillon, can you hear me," Scott leans over him and tries to get Dillon to focus his eyes. "Dillon, what happened to you?"
"Where are Summer and Tenaya luv," Flynn asks Gemma.
"We looked all over for them," Gemma shakes her head as she grasps Flynn's hands with her own. "We couldn't find them!"
"His car was totally destroyed," Gem states. "We found blood... followed its trail. We found him passed out at least thirty miles away from Corinth. The rest of the Convoy should be behind us... at least a good thirty to forty minutes."
"Ten... Tenaya..." Dillon moans in pain as he slowly regains conscious. "Summer..." He blinks his eyes open, but they are only in a squint. "Attacked... by... three... disks..."
"You guys were attacked by what? Disks," Scott asks Dillon, but Dillon's eyes close shut. He then looks up at the twins. "Did you guys see what could have done this?"
"No," Gemma remarks. "But the evidence was all there. They were attacked by something. Something strong..."
"And powerful," Gem finishes.
"Could it be Venjix related," Scott ponders out loud, looking over to Doctor K.
"When Venjix was defeated all active Grinders were disintegrated. The models that weren't active were dismantled. All of his known Generals that we still active when he attacked the City where all accounted for during the cleanup. Kilobyte, Crunch and even Venjix's remains are still in my lab," Doctor K remarks.
"Maybe it was..." Gem begins.
"Something else," Gemma finishes.
"Like what," Ziggy gulps, looking down at his friend's torn clothing and dried blood. "Like... like monsters? Evil space aliens? Underground demons? It looks like he went toe to toe with a chainsaw and lost!"
"Shush it man," Flynn remarks as he carefully takes the knife and slices the fabric of Dillon's shirt open. What is revealed to the group causes them to all gasp. Some in shock, some in fear, and for several of them in horror.
"My God, his stomach is ripped open," Ziggy takes a step back, gagging.
"Just the flesh," Doctor K remarks as she slides the cloth aside. The blood is everywhere, all over the clothing and his skin. "His stomach is still intact. However... there is a lot of exposed circuitry. More than he should have."
"What do you mean Doctor K," Gem asks as he looks on with fascination.
"During the time monitoring the grown of the Venjix-virus that was in his implants before, the only wires that were spread throughout his body were connected to his skeletal system. There is now almost twice that much in area's that it shouldn't be," Doctor K remarks as she uses the knife to peel back some of the tissue of his abdominal. "And judging from the burn residue surrounding the wound, it seems as if he were fired on with a high powered laser at close proximity."
"Look at his chest..." Gemma tells Gem. "There is a small puncture."
"Yeah, I see it," Gem rubs his nose. "Hey, Doctor K, wasn't there like a small opening on the ribcage that we found while examine Corporal Hicks after we found out that he was a hybrid? Kind of like a Firewire port?"
"Yes... yes you are right. We had deciphered that there were several ways to inject the Venjix-virus into a host body. Through a USB opening near the base of the neck, covered by flesh... and... oh no."
"The ribcage," Flynn finishes for her.
"Yes," Doctor K nods.
"You think that he is infected," Scott asks.
"The... the pro..." Dillon hisses as he struggles to sit up, consciousness returning to him. Gem and Flynn push him back down gently.
"Easy there lad," Flynn remarks. "You are not in the shape to be moving around."
"He made it through the desert just fine to the point where Gem and Gemma found him," Doctor K sarcastically remarks as she continues to examine Dillon's obvious wound. "We should get him stitched up asap. And to stop the bleeding. Once we clean out the dirt, he will begin bleeding again."
"Cog..." Dillon speaks clearer. He reaches out and grabs Scott's shirt, pulling him down toward him. "Professor Cog took them..."
"Cog," Scott grabs onto Dillon's hand, pulling his shirt free, leaving a large bloodstain. "Dillon, Professor Cog is destroyed. Remember? Jayden and I destroyed him on that parallel Earth years ago and when he was rebuilt, he was destroyed by the Megaforce Rangers."
"Cop... copy," Dillon continues, struggling to get the words out. "Has Summer... and my sister," Dillon growls as he lies back, hissing in pain. His eyes go blank as he begins to trash about onto the table, knocking Doctor K and Flynn away.
"He's going into shock," Doctor K remarks as she leaps down from the pool table. "Hold him down, I will get a sedative and put him out before he hurts himself further."
"I'm more worried about him hurting one of us," Ziggy gulps. "Dillon is strong!"
Gem and Gemma grab onto Dillon's legs while Scott and Flynn hold down his shoulders and arms. Ziggy stands beside the table, talking to him, trying to get Dillon to calm down, without so much luck. Doctor K darts back into the room with a syringe and injects Dillon in the neck with the sedative. Dillon's thrashing slowly lessens until he is no longer moving.
"There," K remarks. "That should keep him out until morning, granted that the implants in his body don't force it out of his system."
"Oh my God," Ziggy runs a hand through his hair in frustration. Gem takes his jacket and rolls it up into a ball and placed it underneath Dillon head. "This is... this crazy..."
"We need to get him into the lab," Gem speaks up. "Check his implants to see if he is infected with the Venjix Virus!
"If Professor Cog did this to him...," Gemma grasps onto Flynn's hand tightly. "Summer and Tenaya are in big trouble!"
"Professor Cog," Scott frowns. "Is it possible? That he survived again somehow made his way back here? That's impossible. That subway train that he built that dimensional technology into has been dismantled and is being reversed engineered at the OCD right now for Project Genesis."
"He said something about a copy," Doctor K remarks. "It is possible that Professor Cog had left a backup of his AI somewhere here in our dimension when you followed him to that parallel Earth. If that is the case, then he has been active this entire time! Possibly planning to attack Corinth!"
"We need to warn the Colonel," Flynn remarks.
"He isn't going to like this," Gemma remarks. "Especially disturbing him this late in the evening."
"Doctor K, I think it's time you got the Morphers and our Engine Cells out of storage," Scott sighs, looking over to her. "Looks like we got work to do."
xxxxxxxxxx
Inside Doctor K's lab inside a metal briefcase locked in a trunk rests the seven Engine Cells and their respected Morphers. A small dim red light from a small bulb build on side of the Red Operator Series Morpher slowly flickers on and off. A small untraceable beacon emits from it, signaling its location to the unconscious hybrid out atop of the pool table.
Soon... very soon.
POWER RANGERS
RPM
