I do not own Power Rangers
But I do own my OC's
Chapter 9
The sun was just barely clearing the horizon as a certain ranger ripped through the forest on a dirt bike. Ever since that day when the academy was attacked he had found solace in these early morning rides and today was no exception. To him it was somewhat bittersweet though because he and Melissa enjoyed these back in the academy. He couldn't help but smile as he recounted the way they had met. They had quite literally just bumped into each other at the NetScape registration, and then quickly became friends.
His ride lasted for about an hour before he decided to head back. When he got close he looked up and saw the house the rangers called home come into view. He pulled up to the gate and entered his access code on the control panel, and when the gate opened he rode up the driveway and into the open garage, and after securing his bike he shut the garage door and went through the access door into the kitchen where he saw Alexis washing some dishes.
"What are you doing?"
"The dishes," She responded, "It was my night last night, but with yesterday's events I was kind of distracted."
"Speaking of," Ken began, "Did you?"
"I smoothed things over."
"Did you tell him?"
"No,"
"Why?"
"I didn't seem like the right time."
"Is that another excuse?" Brooke asked coming into the room,
"It is not." She replied, "I'll tell him, but it will be on my terms."
"Ok," Ken began grabbing a drink and heading out of the room, while Brooke just stared at the yellow ranger.
"So last night wasn't the right time?"
"Given the circumstances," Alexis began, "No it wasn't."
"If I were you."
"You're not me." Alexis snapped,
Brooke held her hands up, "I am just saying I wouldn't waste time," She explained, "Remember, I've been on death's doorstep twice." She finished, "That's why."
"Why what?"
"Why I told Jaden that I liked him, as more than a friend."
Alexis gasped and dropped what she was holding, and spun to face the pink ranger. She stammered and raised a finger to point at her pink counterpart.
"You and Jaden?" She began, "Since when?"
"Not long after we arrived at the academy."
"But that kiss."
"Jaden wasn't too happy about it," She began, "But after I explained," She finished.
Alexis shook her head and went back to the dishes, and Brooke joined her in drying what Alexis had already washed and she spoke.
"Don't miss a minute." She finished,
The two females finished the dishes in silence, while the blue ranger went into the study and boarded the elevator and rode down to NetOps. He strode into the infirmary to see Dr. Greyson working on Melissa.
"How is she?"
"Same."
Ken walked up to the girl and took her hand. He felt an electric charge run through him, "Get better Lissa."
Then it happened. And for a few seconds Ken didn't believe it, but he could not deny it. He heard Melissa speak, but that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was the fact that he heard it in his head. Her voice had been soft in fact he was surprised that he could hear her over his own thoughts.
"I'm trying." Was her soft reply,
He pulled his hand away, "Melissa?"
"What?" Dana asked suddenly,
"I thought I heard her speak."
"It was your imagination." Dana began,
"But."
"Ken," She began, "She is in a coma," She explained, "She can hear you, but she cannot respond."
"But."
"It was your imagination."
-meanwhile-
"Drago!" Cybra yelled, "What are you doing?"
"Planning something painful." He began as he worked on the computer.
"Well it had better get rid of the rangers or the pain will be all yours."
"Oh it will," Drago replied, "Slowly," He finished smirking, "It will."
As he finished he pressed a button, and watched as a green orb was launched from the academy grounds. It flew through the air and hit the barrier which kept Cybra contained. It struggled a little, but did manage to get through. It soared over the city and into the woods. When it landed the orb constricted and stretched taking on a form, and then the light shattered revealing the creature inside. It looked like a giant mechanical wasp, with a mini-gun on its wrist, and a saber in its other hand. Its wings started buzzing and it took off and headed for the city.
It roared through the air the buzzing sound of its wings making an unbearable sound causing everyone who was out and about to grab their ears, and drop to their knees. He aimed the mini-gun and opened fire on the civilians. Explosions rocked the street cars blew sky high before they crashed to the ground. The people ran as fast as they could.
"Run humans run," the creature spoke in a high pitched and squeaky voice right before a blast knocked him to the ground.
Drago hit the ground and bounced back to his feet as he saw the rangers come on to the scene.
"Shoo Fly," The red ranger chided as he and the others stared down the monster.
"Rangers it's about time."
"Man I got out of bed for this." Jaden added, "A giant cockroach."
The creature looked a little peeved, "I am a wasp, not a cockroach."
"Oh," Jaden replied, "Your mistake."
You could see the monster's eye twitch, and he opened fire with his mini-gun. The rangers leapt out of the way. Ken followed Alexis off to the side, while Jaden and Brooke took up flanker position on the other side of the street. Neo had leapt over the fire the wasp unleashed he put his hands on the creatures shoulders and spun twisting him around and then letting landing a kick firmly in it's chest sending him through the air.
Alexis smiled under her helmet and ran out. She slid down to get under it and he pulled her blaster and unloaded it into its back sending it upward. Ken, Jaden, Alexis and Neo converted their blasters to sword mode and struck the monster as he collided with the ground. Insectivore growled as he got back to his feet another weapon on his opposite wrist activated and charged up. When the rangers all charged in Insectivore flew up into the air, and when the rangers where right where he had just been standing, and fired.
An explosion flooded the street. It was as if someone had set off a napalm strike. Fire flooded the street and the rangers were thrown in several different directions. Ken landed on the hood of a car and bounced to the other side and hitting the ground. Jaden and Brooke flew through a glass window and into an office. Neo and Alexis unfortunately went through a wall and into a local store. The both landed on a display case which buckled underneath them.
The yellow ranger groaned and she rolled onto her side and coughed. Neo sat up slowly and slid over to her. Upon inspection he could tell she was having trouble breathing. He reached down and pressed a button on her morpher and her helmet dispersed, and then did the same to his.
"Lexi you ok?"
She coughed and then took in a deep breath, "Yeah," She responded as he breathing became a bit more regular, "Just got the wind knocked out of me."
He helped her to a sitting position, and took her face in his gloved hands, and checked her eyes. To his relief they were clear and focused.
"Well it doesn't appear like you have a concussion," He began.
"That's a relief," She whispered,
"You have no idea." He responded in an equally low tone and helping her stand,
Neither Neo nor Alexis had noticed that they were holding hands. When they did finally notice they quickly let go and reactivated their helmets. Both of them where fine to let the matter drop, when Brooke's words from that very morning fluttered through the yellow ranger's head, but Neo had already rejoined the fray with Jaden and Brooke. Alexis was about to jump in as well when three screams rang in her ears. She looked up and saw the red, green, and pink rangers collapse in a heap and demorph.
Insectivore laughed and strode up to the fallen rangers. He stood over a defenseless red ranger and aimed his gun at his head. Neo however was in too much pain to even notice the immediate danger. The barrel of the gun began to glow and right before he fired two yellow discs whisked through the air and slashed the monster diagonally across the chest. He staggered backwards and took a powerful blast in the spine. He dropped to his knees allowing Alexis to see Ken behind Insectivore with his sniper aimed at the creature. It stood and before the ranger's do launch another strike it disappeared.
Alexis and Ken powered down, and ran to check on their friends. Alexis knelt beside Neo who was groaning, and writhing on the ground. His skin was bright red and it appeared to be swelling. The same was true for Brooke and Jaden, and for a moment Ken and Alexis could see their friend's skin start going from a bright red to a darker shade, and the strangled cries that emanated from the three rangers did not fail to cause Alexis' and Ken's blood to chill.
"We have to get them back." The said at the same time, while looking at each other,
After a quick call Dana and Kat arrived in Neo's red hummer, and helped Ken and Alexis load the injured rangers into the vehicle. During the ride back to Net Ops Dana began administering medical care. Unfortunately when they got to Net Ops and got the rangers into infirmary beds. A battery of tests followed and when Dana had the results she turned to the blue and yellow rangers.
"It looks like they've been stung." She began, "They have all the symptoms." She continued, "But unfortunately the swelling is getting worse and it's spreading." She finished, "If it reaches their throats they'll stop breathing."
"What," Ken and Alexis yelled,
"If we don't get an antidote," She began, "And soon Neo, Brooke and Jaden will die."
"Well then let's break out an anti-toxin." Ken responded,
"I would," Dana began, "But their blood work reveals a type of venom I have never seen before."
"You see Master Cybra," Drago began, "I've combined the venom of every insect on earth," He continued, "Wasp, Hornet, yellow jacket and so on into a super venom." He finished.
"And?" Cybra growled.
"It is sure to relieve us of the rangers," He finished, "And send them out with a heaping helping of pain and suffering."
"It had better Drago." Cybra finished, "I had better."
Alexis sat beside Neo as he jerked and cringed. His cries of pain tore at her heart. His hand clasped hers and every so often his hand would clamp down on hers, as an intense wave of pain would rock his body. The tears that rolled down the red ranger's face pulled at her heart strings. She wanted nothing more than to sit with him, and do her best to comfort him, but she knew that she had a job to do, so she let go of his hand and stood. She leant down and kissed the red ranger's forehead before walking into the corridor where she saw Ken going into Melissa's room. For a moment she thought about going in there and pulling him out so that they could discuss strategy, but ultimately decided against it.
Ken sat beside the comatose girl. He honestly had no clue what to do. Neo was indisposed thanks to insectivore's venom, and if a cure wasn't found soon, his friends were going to die. He turned his gaze back to the girl in the bed.
"I could really use your help Melly," He began, "Neo and the others are out cold and could die an minute." He finished.
He sat there looking at her, hoping and Praying that she would answer, but the only sound she could hear was that of Melissa's heart monitor. He felt something rise inside him causing him to stand.
"I know I heard you speak before," He nearly yelled, "Melissa please," he continued, "I don't know what to do." He finished reaching into Melissa's bed and taking her hand, "I really don't."
"Ken?"
The blue ranger looked up and over his shoulder expecting to see Alexis, Kat or Dana, but when he didn't see any of them he slowly turned back to the only other person in the room.
"Melissa?" He asked,
Alexis paced the command center floor. She kept going over every conceivable method of defeating Insectivore, but she could find a million flaws with each one. She groaned and put her head on the wall, and slightly growled.
"How did you do this?" She groaned
"I don't think anyone will ever know how his mind works."
Alexis looked up to see Ken standing in the doorway, but before she could say anything he quickly spoke, "I have an idea."
Alexis searched the street high and low, and she was beginning to get a little frustrated, but her frustration was broken when she saw a blast speeding toward him. She jumped out of the way and morphed into the yellow ranger. Insectivore landed in front of her and looked around for a second.
"All alone?"
"I've got business with you," Growled flipping out her spinners, "So I suggest we get on with it."
He just smiled(if that was possible). He raised his gaiting gun, and opened fire, Alexis rolled out of the way and then jumped up and charged Insectivore. The two engaged in hand to hand combat where the yellow ranger took every shot she could get. Eventually they she got a big shot on Insectivore knocking him down. He got up and roared in some anger, and pulled out the hidden gun that held his stingers. She braced herself.
"I should've done this sooner," He yelled aiming at her, "Sting strike!"
He fired a yellow laser, at her. She clipped her spinners together and spun them. The laser hit it and Alexis felt herself being pushed back. It took a lot of effort to keep the spinners going but she did eventually outlast the attack, but unfortunately it also drained her. Alexis dropped to her knees. Insectivore cursed and strode right up to the yellow ranger and pulled out his saber and raised it ready to decapitate her, but before he brought it down a blue blast struck him dead in the chest. Ken appeared out of nowhere with his sniper.
"Nice job Lex," He added,
"So you weren't alone after all."
"I'll take it from here," He spoke, "Rest up."
"No need to tell me twice," She responded,
Ken put his sniper away and grabbed his blaster and pulled out his blaster and converted it to sword mode, and engaged Insectivore in combat. The two's swords clanged as they collided. He swung his sword over the monster's head and barely dodged the monster's thrust, and delivered a diagonal slash down Insectivore's body and as he spun he pulled out his rifle and fired into the virus' body. He flew backward and landed on the ground. Again the monster got up in a rage and took off into sky and before Ken or Alexis had time to react Insectivore unleashed his napalm strike. The explosion laid out both rangers causing them to demorph.
Again brandishing his saber he stood over Ken ready to kill him, but when he saw the yellow ranger on her side with her back to him he decided to save the blue ranger for second, and he walked over to her. He kicked so she was on her back. He held his saber over her and got ready to deliver the kill strike, but before he could something hard hit him and he again went flying. When he hit the ground he looked up and saw the Red, Green and Pink rangers.
"Impossible!" He yelled, "I stung you."
"Yes you did," Neo replied, "But thanks to Ken and Lexi we were able to decode your venom, and produce an antivenom."
"But how?" He asked and then suddenly remembering the sting strike he had used on the yellow ranger, which had been defended by her fans. The he rationalized not defended absorbed, then decoded. He again felt angry and stomped the ground in frustration.
"Jaden, Brooke," Neo began, "Get Ken and Lexi out of here," He finished, "I'll handle Insectivore."
Neither of them bothered to argue. They collected to the two fallen rangers and took them off site. Neo turned back to the virus. He pulled out his cyber sword, and his net blaster. The virus popped up his hidden gun, but it was instantly destroyed by a blast from Neo's blaster. Insectivore recoiled grabbing his hand and ringing it. Neo charged in and parried Insectivore's saber and pointed his blaster right in his chest and unloaded on him forcing him backwards. He then cranked the handle the handle and converted from blaster to sword mode, and made his father proud utilizing the shark technique. He sliced and diced Insectivore eventually knocking him down. He got up and used his minigun to fire on Neo, but the red ranger just jumped backwards beyond his range.
He spun his swords around and then threw them at Insectivore and then manipulated them like they where on strings to repeatedly strike Insectivore. Who wound up groggily firing at Neo, but the red ranger pulled the swords back to him and then used them to deflect the blast to the side. Reconverting one of his swords back into a blaster he pulled the blaster vertically opening a slot.
He inserted his sword into that slot, "Net Booster!"
The barrel of the blaster began to glow red and grow bigger and bigger. Neo pulled the trigger and a big red blast shot out of it, and struck insectivore and then went right through him. He crackled with lightning and yelled out an obscenity at the red ranger right before he fell down and exploded. Neo looked around repeatedly for Drago, but he never appeared and even after scanning the area for the dark knight's presence he found none so he returned to base.
- At the taining facility-
Drago hissed as he hit the ground smoke rising from him. Cybra reached down and grabbed the Dark Knight's throat and hauled him to his feet and chucked him across the room. Drago hit the floor like a sack of potatoes. Cybra brought his staff up, pointed it at Drago and then unleashed his power on him. The dark knight recoiled and screamed in pain as he was being electrocuted. Eventually Cybra stopped.
"I hope you've learned your lesson Drago," He sneered,
"Yes master Cybra." he replied, "I have."
"Good," Cybra finished, "Because next time I won't be so easy on you."
-Net Ops-
"Ken that was an excellent plan." Neo propped,
"Thanks man," He began and lead Neo away from the others, "But it wasn't mine."
"Then who?" He asked, "Lexi?"
"Melissa."
"Ken." Neo began only to be cut off,
"Come on and see then." Ken replied leading Neo into her room, "Take her hand."
Neo looked skeptical, but he did as he was told, but something weird happened. The red ranger went into almost trance. For a few minutes and then he returned to normal, and he turned to Ken.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Just us."
"Let's keep it that way." Neo replied becoming dizzy,
"It's a little disorienting isn't it?"
"Yeah." Neo replied feeling his world become a bit more stable, and when it felt right again he stood and put his hand on Ken's shoulder, "We can't use this all the time." Neo spoke, "Only in the case of emergencies." He finished, "We don't want to overtax her."
Ken looked like he wanted to object, but then thought about it. It was disorienting for him, so he could only imagine what it was like for her. He turned back to Melissa and Neo was walked out of the room. He walked down the hall to the lab where Matronix's hard drive was being decoded. He popped his knuckles and went to get to work, but couldn't focus. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't get started, and he knew why.
Alexis McKnight. His best friend, the woman he had grown to love over the life time that he knew her. The sole focus of his thoughts during the unimaginable anguish he suffered after being stung by Insectivore. Especially when he felt it getting harder and harder to breath. He stood and went back upstairs and found Alexis and Brooke sitting on the couch and talking about something.
"Lexi?" He began gaining the yellow ranger's attention, "I need to speak with you." He began, "In private."
The yellow ranger looked up at her friend, and excused herself from Brooke and walked off with the red ranger and when they were out of sight they turned to face each other, but before she could say anything Neo spoke.
"Lexi," He began, "I um…," He began trying to find the right words.
Alexis watched with a small smile, but before she could say anything he spoke, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to that music festival tomorrow." He finished, "You know with me."
Alexis' smile was radiant now, "Sure."
"Really," he responded with a little hopefully before he went back to his usual tone, "Be ready by six o'clock?"
"It's a date."
That's it for now.
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