Forever Red 2
Chapter 7 – A Master at Work
In the Netherworld…
Master Org flexed his reformed limbs , curling and uncurling his fingers. Kired hurried in front of him and knelt. He said reverently, "Welcome back Master."
"Where am I? Who are you?" Master Org demanded.
"Perhaps you do not remember me, I am Kired, the last of the great Mut-Orgs. You are in the Netherworld, it was necessary to come here for your rebirth."
"You brought me back?" Master Org regarded the bent figure suspiciously.
"Yes my Master, from a mixture of alien DNA and the waters of the river before you I rehydrated the Org Heart pieces and this creature here," he gestured to the greatly weakened Octoroo, "used his powers to bring the pieces together and back to life. You now have the powers of Org, alien, and Nighlock – the beasts that once dwelt here."
"Indeed I do feel stronger," Master Org noted. "You say you used alien DNA as well?"
"Yes Master, I used to be part mutant before the rangers took that away but still I know the increased benefits of mixed genes." Kired nodded to the ground. "Besides, had I used the waters alone you would've have become dependent on it. So I mixed it with this," he held up the remaining half vial.
Master Org took it, tilting it ever so slightly, "Has this any energy of its own?"
"Of course, that is why I used it, I even tested some on myself which is why there is only half. The other option was to use something that would weaken you. The best part of it is that rangers cannot rob you of it like they did to me."
Master Org thrust the vial back, "Give it to the small one. I reward those who have served me well." Kired obediently took the ooze, added a little Sanzu water, and administered it to Octoroo.
The small wizard was back on his feet immediately and bowed as best he could, "Thank you Master Org. I am Octoroo and I am at your complete service."
"Very well then," Master Org said carelessly. "Tell me where did the alien DNA come from?"
"I stole it from the rangers Master," Kired returned to submissive position. "It was from a villain the first rangers faced. They destroyed him but for some ridiculous reason I am sure, they kept the liquid."
"Are they aware of your plans?"
"No Master, they have tracked me but they do not know of my intentions to resurrect you. I have seen eight and injured three prior to coming here, but I know them Master, I have been studying them. They have a habit of calling in reinforcements from other teams, their numbers could be high."
"Then we'll just have to reduce them." Master Org looked down at the Mut-Org before him, "You said I have alien powers now as well?"
"Yes master."
"Then arise Kired, I have a plan and I think it's time to pay the rangers a visit."
Shiba House…
Cole paced around the living room, every ranger eye on him. "I've been thinking about this ever since I heard about the Sanzu's properties, particularly the whole rehydrating thing. The Wildforce rangers fought an evil known as Master Org. A scientist named Viktor Adler was looking into the kingdom of Animaria and found Master Org's remains and ate them, taking on his powers. He killed his friends and research partners, Richard and Elizabeth Evans – my parents." The room looked around uneasily, some scared, some sad. "We defeated him but that just made him a true Org and he came back. Then he ate something known as the Org Heart which overpowered Adler's body and gave him powers like no other. To make matters worse, with the heart intact, Master Org just kept coming back. We destroyed the heart in the end but I've always wondered if the remains were out there."
"So you think this guy is trying to remake the Org Heart and bring back Master Org?" Tommy asked.
"I can't think of anyone or anything else that would make sense right now," Cole shrugged helplessly. Just then the samurai symbol started flashing red, the siren was going off.
"It's the gap sensor," Kevin explained reopening the map on the table. "Something just came out of the Netherworld….IMPOSSIBLE!"
"What?" Carter stood next to him.
"There's not activity or energy anywhere in the city," Kevin's eyes darted over the map. "Not in the woods, not anywhere in range."
"Maybe the gap sensor was malfunctioning," Connor suggested hopefully.
"No," Tommy shook his head, "something came through and it's left the city. Now what do we do?"
Jason sighed, "Look its late, there's nothing we can do until that thing comes back so let's get some shut-eye and work out another plan in the morning." Ji had already asked the reds to stay so they mainly congregated in the living room and the few beds in the infirmary portion of the house. The next day there had been no sign of the Mut-Org or another anything for most of the morning so the reds began to debate leaving Kyoto until the alarm went off.
The reds sprung up immediately, "What is it?" TJ demanded.
Jayden came into the room with Mia by his side. "Something from the Netherworld is here and it's powerful." The red rangers looked at each other and nodded, jumping into action. Jason, Andros, and Mac were to stay behind because of their injuries. They made a mad dash for the vehicles, speeding towards the activity.
Downtown Kyoto…
They tracked the power signal to an alley way and there stood Master Org in all his glory.
"Guys, that's Master Org," shouted Cole, the fear plain in his voice.
"Ah red ranger, how nice to see you," Master Org greeted.
"What do you want?" Cole raised his fists, ready to fight. All the others followed suit, forming a line in front of the powerful creature.
"How do you intend to fight me with no powers?" Master Org chuckled. "I know the Animarium is gone, the princess would have had to take your morphers as well."
"He may not powers," Eric called out, "but we do!" Cole backed up as the others prepared to morph.
"Ah, ah, ah," Master Org held up a finger. "Not so fast, I wouldn't do that if I were you." He extended his arms to the side and from the shadows emerged Kired with two women, who dropped on to the ground on their knees. One was Caucasian and blonde, the other Asian with dark hair. They were bound and gagged and looked very weak.
Tommy noticed Jayden went pale until Cole and Eric shouted –
"ALYSSA!"
"TAYLOR!"
"Don't come any closer or they're done for," Kired warned with two blasters, one pointed at each woman.
Cole had to be held back from going at fiends with his bare hands, "LET THEM GO!"
"Of course but on one condition," Master Org stepped around Kired and his hostages. "Call the Animarium."
"What?" Cole stopped struggling in shock.
"The Animarium only descends when needed so you have two options; one, use your connection to your wild zord to call them or two, my friends and I cause as much destruction and pain as possible starting with these two. What will it be red ranger?"
Cole and Eric looked at each other, the inherent ranger telepathy at work. There were thirteen rangers and only two of them. Although the plural form on friends wasn't missed, still the odds looked in their favour. Cole shook his head, "No."
"That is too bad," Master Org snapped his fingers. "Octoroo!" The red rangers were confused as a short creature with an octopus for a face appeared.
They heard Jayden mutter, "Dammit!"
"Drain them," Master Org ordered maliciously. The reds watched in horror as Octoroo pointed his staff at the women. Two beams of purple light issued forth, engulfing their entire bodies. The girls kicked feebly but they began to slump on to the ground now both Eric and Cole had to be restrained. "Change your mind red ranger?" Master Org cackled.
"FINE!" Cole shouted. "I'll do it!" He brought his fist up to his forehead, concentrating on his heartbeat, feeling for that connection with the lion.
Blazing lion hear me old friend. Master Org had returned and is about to destroy the tiger and the eagle. Please come back and help us!
On the Animarium…
The red lion's eyes flashed green and it ran to the cliff overlooking its home. Gazing into the heavens, the lion began to roar, loud and clear. The sound reverberated through the air, straight to the princess who lay in her enchanted sleep. The lion's call stirs her until she is awake, in an instant she could feel danger and fear in its voice. The princess runs to the enchanted pool and sees an aerial view of the scene with Master Org in the alley and what he is doing to her friends. She goes to the temple's alter and uses her strength to begin their descent. The wild zords can feel the movement, they know what's happening and call out. The lion roared above them all, raising his head up to the sky…
In the Alleyway…
Cole mirrors the lion's stance and roars with unhuman force. Alyssa and Taylor are also mimicking their animal spirits. Master Org acts as if the beastly sounds are music to his ears and starts to laugh. Cole comes down from his trance, "Alright, I've done what you wanted now let them go!"
"Of course," Master Org waves his hand and Octoroo used the connection to pick the women off the ground and fling them against the wall before breaking it. Cole and Eric ran to them, relieved to feel them breathing. "Goodbye rangers," Master Org bids them before jumping into a gap.
In the Netherworld…
Kired paced the length of the ship while Master Org sat in Xandred's place. "I do not understand Master, if the rangers' powers lay on the Animarium why call for it? Why not destroy them while they are weak?"
"Because the Animarium would still come and that stinking princess would just find new guardians," Master Org explained with little patience. "No Kired, I told you when we first kidnapped those two girls if you want to defeat the rangers, you have to cut their power off at the source."
