Chapter Three

Location: The Supreme Temple of The Aquitian Rangers, Aquitar.

Tommy and Trini once again stand in a colosseum.

But it is an empty one.

They stand alone in the dark.

Tommy:"What's going on?"

Trini:"Don't know."

Tommy:"We can't morph."

Trini:"I know."

Tommy:"Any doors?"

Trini:"I can't see anything."

Suddenly a massive marble door opens.

Two figures run into the room.

With them comes illumination.

As the florescent lights flicker on an enormous stadium is revealed.

Above the rangers there is a dome constructed of a translucent material.

Trini and Tommy realize they are underwater.

The two figures reach them.

They are Power Rangers.

Their armor dissipates back into their bodies as they come to a halt only a few meters from Tommy and Trini.

Trini:"We are the Power Rangers of Earth, formally of Eltar."

The Warrior Woman:"Look, we don't have time for formalities, sorry. My name is Delphine and this is Corcus.

Tommy:"We came to request military assistance against the Machine Empire."

Delphine:"We know of their return. That's why we're so pressed for time. My men are fortifying our planetary defenses as we speak."

Trini:"You're a Power Ranger?"

Delphine:"Yes. I have declared martial law on Aquitar. Our people will allow this as they have already seen one war against the Machines. You are rangers too?"

Tommy:"Yes."

Delphine:"Then you will fight?"

Trini:"We have to care for our planets, surely you understand."

Delphine:"But of course."

Trini:"Then we shall return to your aid when we are able."

Tommy:"Do you have any information on when the attack is coming?"

Delphine:"What do you mean? We've already been hit. They came a week ago. An entire armada, it was a massacre. We have already felt great loss."

Trini:"Have they attacked since?"

Delphine:"No. We planned to mount an offensive as soon as our fleet was ready, but know with you, we will wait."

Tommy:"We are all that is left of the Power Rangers. We have no army."

Delphine:"Only two?"

Trini:"We will return when we are able to assist."

Delphine:"Very well. May the power protect you."

Tommy:"No, may the power protect you, you'll need it."

Delphine and Corcus run off through the door way, their armor re-emerging as they disappear into the hallway.

Tommy:"We need to recruit an army. A legion of Power Rangers."

Trini:"Everything in me is telling me not to do it. Never to place such a burden on another soul. But it seems I cannot be the person I want to. For this war calls for troops, and we will have to recruit them. More sacrifice. More death."

Tommy:"But for salvation. I didn't ask for this war, it just came. We have to step up. We must. For we are still the Power Rangers.

They teleport.

Location: Power Chamber, Command Center, Earth.

Tommy:"We have to make a statement to the public."

Trini:"I know. We'll need our new suits first."

Tommy:"Yea. Come on. Let me show you."

Trini:"alright."

They race through the halls of the newly constructed facility.

Trini:"Did you discover a decisive way to recruit the rangers?"

Tommy:"Yea."

He stops at a sealed doorway deep within the complex.

Trini halts as well.

Tommy:"This is it."

He steps forward and the metal plates sides open to reveal a vast factory.

Trini's eyes widen.

Conveyor belts shuffle all sorts of weaponry to and from.

Any and all imaginable tools in which a warrior would wield.

Hundreds of copies identical equipment.

Tommy:"Follow me."

He leads her to another door.

Trini:"There's enough for a full army."

Tommy:"What did you expect?"

Trini:"And I thought it wasn't operational yet."

Tommy:"It wasn't. I had the technological schematics sent over here a few days ago."

Trini:"Can we get this over with."

Tommy opens the door to a much smaller room.

A large robot is standing opposite them.

Trini:"Alpha?"

Alpha Unit #6:"Yes."

Trini:"But you where."

Tommy:"It's another version."

Trini:"I see."

Tommy walks over to a terminal on the wall.

Trini:"So this Zeo-Tech, how powerful is it?"

Tommy:"Powerful enough."

He hands a pill to Trini.

Trini:"We'll see."

She swallows.

Tommy does the same to his pill.

Trini:"I never asked, what of the Zords? Did you make new ones?"

Tommy:"Oh. They're beautiful. You'll see."

Trini freezes.

At that moment she is overcome with an overwhelming internal arsenal.

Tommy experiences the same.

Fibers weave through their cells.

Their bodies are altered once again.

Everything is improved upon.

Reflexes.

Dexterity.

Strength.

Accuracy.

Speed.

Agility.

Reaction time.

Everything.

They become superhuman once again.

Tommy:"It's all upgraded."

Trini:"I can see. And your red?"

She turns her attention towards Alpha.

Trini:"So you are here to serve us?"

Alpha:"Yes."

Trini:"Good."

Tommy:"Are you ready?"

Trini:"Why didn't you mass produce the Alphas?"

Tommy:"We don't have the resources."

Trini:"And if we did?"

Tommy:"Not effective enough."

Trini:"There's no way to avoid this is there?"

Tommy:"You mean the recruitment?"

Trini:"I mean all the graves I'm gonna have to dig. All the bodies I'll have to bury."

Tommy:"No. This is the only way."

Trini:"I want to say it isn't. But I can't. Let's go."

They teleport.

April 7, 2015 A.D.

8:57 a.m.

Location: Washington D.C. America.

Two armored warriors march through the capital city of the United States.

A crowd start to form.

People all over stop what they are doing.

They are Gods.

And are treated as such.

Tommy and Trini arrive at the Lincoln Memorial.

They now have an audience of hundreds.

News crews rush to the scene.

Trini whispers to Tommy:"Look at them. Do they even deserve to be saved?"

Tommy:"Never lose sight of our goal."

Trini:"I won't."

Tommy modifies his mask's audio output settings to an increased volume capable of being efficiently heard.

And speaks to his people:"Whatever uneasiness you may feel towards my colleague and I, you must put that aside. Today I have come to inform you of a threat. An alien empire has begun a military campaign to conquer the known universe. Allied planets fight as I speak. It is our responsibility to ensure the survival of the human race. Unfortunately, we are not equipped to combat a foe on such a large scale. Therefore I ask you to step up and support our cause. In the course of the next few days, seemingly random abductions will commence. Be assured that this will only happen to the most capable of men and women. For any that are summoned, are to serve without protest. Our method of recruitment may not be accommodating, but never forget what is at stake. The very existence of our people. Thank you."

Tommy whispers to Trini:"Lets go."

Location: Power Chamber, Command Center.

Trini:"Was that enough?"

Tommy:"Their news will take care of the rest."

Trini:"So what is the screening process?"

Tommy:"It's scientific. I have a program from Eltar. It breaks down the genetic and physiological attributes of the individual. Then it analyzes and compares the data to previously evaluated figures established thousands of years ago."

Trini:"If it's the system Zordon used. It's flawed. I would like to select a group of over qualified cadets to assume authoritative ranks. We'll be busy. Too busy to worry about the physiological damage the rangers will be dealing with. When I agreed to do this. I agreed to accept them as dead already. The is no use in treating them as people. They're just soldiers. You should do the same."

Tommy:"I agree with selecting ranking officers. But I cannot disregard the fact that they are human beings."

Trini:"When this war is over. The survivors, if there are any, will cease to be human."

Tommy:"You truly are lost. It hurts me to see you like this."

Trini:"This is who I am."

Tommy:"I still believe in you. Don't prove me wrong."