Mud kicked up behind the wheels of the Delta ATV as Styles sped up the steep incline along the side of the mountain. These switchback trails were established by people, while they were over grown, and untamed these were clearly constructed and at one time, well traveled paths. The lights of the Delta ATV were almost useless to Styles as he charged through the thick jungle vegetation, using his Judgement Scanner to guide him away from the deadly drops at the very edge of these paths.
"It's coming…" Styles whispered, unsure of just what that Troobian monster could hear.
The sound of trees being struck and knocked down thundered through the jungle behind Styles, it was clear now that the monster from the crater had been resurrected and had chosen Styles as it's new target. He hadn't let out another shriek, but it didn't have to, the violent noises related to it's movement in the jungle, quite clearly spelled out the danger it represented.
Ahead the silver rays of Miniroi's moon spilled through the thick vegetation, he had found another clearing. Styles didn't trust the elevation, and so he drew back on the throttle of the Delta ATV as he approached the edge of the leaves and vines.
"By the Five Lights! He exclaimed in awe as the leaves and vines were pushed from his vision.
The Delta ATV's wheels bumped across a lip that separated muddy jungle floor, from ancient marble stone tiles. He came to a stop in what appeared to be a massive circular landing pad. The tiles that had created this landing pad were broken, stained, and weeds had began to grow between some of the tiles. However, Styles couldn't take his eyes off of the glowing pearlescent corridor ahead of him. A tunnel of sorts, carved into the side of the mountain, lined with beautiful Mirinoian Ortholuna stonework. Ortholuna is a very expensive material to build with, ancient Mirinoians didn't just slap it anywhere. Ortholuna is the most readily available of the Bravialumos stones that emit light when exposed to certain radiation.
Styles dismounted the Delta ATV and began walking down the length of the corridor. His right hand steadying himself as he walked with an uneasy limp, still trying to adjust to his prosthetic leg. The tunnel didn't stretch far, it was well lit by the the ortholuna walls and floor, but the very end was made of silver, and ornately designed. The metal, upon inspection looked as though it had been weaved like cotton or wool. Styles's right hand rose to test the texture of the door, but as his palm came to rest on the doorway, a symbol appeared at the meeting of the two doors. It was a large symbol, proportionate to the door. A large star in the middle, and what appeared to be a star map of planets or moons orbiting it, came into view. The symbol itself faded between nearly every color in the rainbow.
KTSSSSHHHHH!
These large silver doors began to open in ward. The sound of dirt grinding against the bottom of the doors caused Styles to flinch and cover his ears. He didn't wait long, he stepped through the doorway as soon as the doors had parted enough to allow him through.
"So this is the lookout." Styles stated as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the Power Sphere from before, and held it up like a flashlight, expecting it to trigger the interior lighting.
"You are correct." Confirmed an ethereal voice.
"Lady Karone, I was sent by Gener-" Styles was interrupted by a small pink light forming near his extended hand.
The light expanded rapidly, as a hand, bathed in that same pink light, emerged and snatched the Power Globe from his hand. Styles recoiled, backing up ward the doors that had already begun to close behind him. The light from the tunnel soon turned into a pinstripe of light, before all became absolutely dark.
A head of Styles the hand that had taken his Power Sphere, remained there, still holding the sphere, as more of that same pink light appeared taking the form of a humanoid. The pink light would roll back like water leaving the shore a low tide, revealing an aged human woman. She was dressed in layered robes, each a different shade of pink, white, or gold. She wore black leggings beneath a layered knee length pink and gold skirt. Her blonde hair was long, down to her stomach, highlighted with silver. Her pink light acted as the singular source of light in the room, and so Styles had no choice but to look at her.
"L-Lady Karone?" Questioned Styles, very timid in the presence of what he knew to be a DemiGoddess. The echo of his voice would carry into the highest reaches of this massive room.
"Yes Styles." Replied the older woman, confirming her identity.
"May I have my Power Sphere back?" Styles questioned as he reached out for it.
"Not yet." Replied Karone as he wrapped her fingers around the Power Sphere and pulled back away from Styles's outstretched hand.
She would turn from him, walking further into this large chamber. Styles stepped forward, and stumbled, nearly tripping and falling into her. Instead, Styles's right hand came to rest on her's, as he leaned on her to steady his balance. Karone's pink light, didn't climb onto his body, but he could feel a tingling sensation growing in his palm as it pressed against the fabric of her clothing. The sensation could only be described as being electrocuted, but with such a low wattage that it didn't sting so much as it tickled.
Styles hissed in surprised and drew his hand back, looking for burns or disfiguration, those sensations don't come and go on their own. He wasn't sure if he was dealing with the actual Lady Karone, or an astral projection of her spirit; but neither option would afford him laying a hand on her again.
"Well that won't do." Karone said looking over her shoulder at Styles's uncomfortable form.
Karone pointed to the floor, and as though it had been told to, the energy that surrounded her body extended from her fingertip into the floor. A small puff of smoke and an audible 'POP!' came from where her energy had entered the floor. The familiar humming noise of electricity rumbled through these dark ruins, as the interior of the Lookout came to life. Golden walls, with tree-like archways lining them that formed a curved triangle, the intersection of a dome with its supporting arches. This was one giant dome carved into the interior of mountain, by the looks of the design, the Lookout must occupy the interior of the top of the mountain, including the rotunda above them.
Each archway was painted with a mural of each major battle that the Galaxy Rangers had fought as they made their way here. Above the both of them, painted in the rotunda was a mural of Ecliptor, with his arms stretched over his head, and a little blonde child, opposite of him, with her arms raised and outstretched as well. They appeared to be reaching for each other.
Finally, in the center of the room, a war table like SPD's flickered to life. It however did not display a holographic map of Space around Mirinoi, it instead displayed the intensely orange interior of Mirinoi's star, Epplei. There was a shape there that Styles didn't recognize, and so he limped toward the table. He could see now, there was a craft inside of Epplei, half as large as the star itself. The craft, unlike it's background, was displayed in white coloring, making it difficult for Styles to truly see all of the shapes of this ship. It appeared to have 9 flower petal-like extensions, all connected back to the core of the ship, a teardrop shaped core. The craft looked so organic, the projection of it even seemed to throb as though it were breathing.
"It looks like a bloomed flower." Styles mumbled as he leaned closer to the holographic projection of the craft.
"It should, it's the forebearer of all life in our Universe. That's the Star Forge, Styles." Karone explained as she set the Power Sphere down on to the war table.
As soon as the base of the Power Sphere rested upon the surface of the war table, it began to glow. The purple light that the Power Sphere emitted concentrated at the top of the metal housing that held the purple globe within it and display a holographic rendering of a purple dragon holding an orb shape.
"Is that why they call the crash site, Dragon's Fall?" Styles asked as reached for the Power Sphere.
Karone's hand grasped his wrist, stopping him from grabbing the sphere. Her grip was hot and tingly, again the energy that made up her form did not jump over to Style's body.
"Yes. They blamed the crash on the arrival of the Power Sphere, not your hunger for glory." She snapped as she pulled his hand away, and pushed it back against his chest. "Just wait."
"Yes, Lady Karone, I apologize." Styles replied as he jerked his wrist away from her grasp.
"I don't know how much Marcel told you. But the Troobians have identified the Star Forge, but they can't get it to it because of the radiation that Epplei emits. The Forge is safe until they figure out how to shield themselves from the radiation." Karone paused, her blue eyes rose to meet Styles's own. "The Galaxy Book took many decades to translate, but once Kendrix had access to this place, everything became more clear."
"The Morphing Masters created the universe, the Lost Galaxy is a trap door that keeps intruders from Epplei, and the Quasar Sabers, and the Five Lights were all placed here to guard the Star Forge… Right?" Questioned Styles with a cocky smirk on his face.
"Well, I wasn't expecting you to know so much already." She responded, frowning in response to his cocky expression. "Well, the Star Forge has done something that even I wasn't told it could do… It's created Ranger powers." Karone seemed upset saying those words. "That Power Sphere, is a whole new Ranger form. The Dragon Quasar powers." She added.
"Dragon Quasar?" Questioned Styles as he leaned down to the dragon symbol projected over the top of the globe.
"Each Power Sphere contains the energy of an entire galaxy. The Dragon Quasar Ranger is powered by a galaxy that the Star Forge created, but never released. That galaxy was formed around a gigantic purple quasar that took the shape of a snake-like dragon." Karone said as she picked up the Power Sphere and handed it to Styles. "I chose you to harness these powers, and to look beyond your own glory." She explained with a bit of sass in her voice.
"Why me?" Styles asked as he looked over the sphere.
"Because you're my great grandson Styles. You didn't know because my name carries a shadow of shame." Karone answered flatly.
"Why? How could that be, Lady Kendrix died, you had to take over the Galaxy Pink powers, there was no other option.. Who cou-" Styles's frantic questioning was interrupted.
"Because I was once known as Astronema! Daughter of Ecliptor, and successor of Dark Spectre!" She shouted, reaching up to cover her face with both hands. "I enslaved my own people, Styles. I nearly killed my own brother countless times." Karone whimpered from behind her hands. "I wouldn't allow my children or descendents to know where they come from." She added.
"Oh…" Styles replied, as a gold chill ran down his spine.
"History told us that Astronema was vanquished by Andros the Purifier. You were freed from her prison, and volunteered to risk your life to save others from Trakeena's tyranny." Styles didn't know what else to say, he had to get some clarity. "Did they alter recorded history to protect you?" He asked.
"No, I was brought before a Galactic court where I stood trial for my crimes as Astronema; but it was the testimony from Andros and the Space Rangers that saved my life…" Karone seemed hollow now, caught in a trance-like memory, staring through Styles as though he wasn't even there. "They proved beyond a doubt that I had been brainwashed by Dark Spectre's magic ever since Darkonda kidnapped me from KO35. So they rewrote history, separating me from Astronema." Karone's eyes fluttered as she snapped out of her trance. "They couldn't allow a monster like Astronema to also be pure of heart and command a Quasar Saber." She added.
"What else aren't you telling me?" Styles asked with a grim tone to his voice.
"I know who is leading the Troobian Authority…" Karone offered as she pulled her hands from her face, and began wringing them together nervously.
"Who?" Asked Styles as he lowered the Power Sphere and locked eyes with Karone.
"The Quantum Ranger." Karone replied as she used the keyboard built into the side of the war table.
The war table's holographic display dissolved, before reforming into a 3D projection of a woman wearing the Quantum Ranger uniform, and pulling off her helmet to reveal a human looking woman with long, red hair that had been braided into an ancient viking style. There was malice on this woman's face, and soon backed up as her left eye began to glow in red. The holographic image crumbled shortly after the energy leaving that left eye grew too bright to be recorded.
"Her name is Yeesildra, and I believe she's ex-Time Force." Said Karone rewinding the footage. "Even the Troobians following her have no idea where she came from… The future is the only possible explanation, given this evidence." She pointed to the morpher build into the left forearm bracer of the suit. "That's the morpher used by Eric Myers. It's from the distant future." Karone seemed fearful of the implications.
"Do you think that's how she knows about the Star Forge?" Asked Styles.
"Without a doubt." Karone replied staring at the looping footage of Yeesildra taking off the Quantum Ranger's helmet.
Soundtrack
[Yeesildra's reveal]
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