A/N: I checked the view count for this story since I started, and it would seem that the number of people viewing each new chapter decreases as the story gets longer. It makes me concerned as to whether or not anyone is still reading this. Because if not, then this is kind of pointless, despite being very fun to write. The day after this chapter is posted, I'll start counting down. If I receive 10 new reviews and/or PMs by the end of my Spring Break (that's March 17th), then I will continue and finish the story. Otherwise, I really don't see the point of posting something no one will read. I'm not trying to be mean, guys, but I just don't know.
Chapter 10
"Karone, please don't do this!" He blocked a slash of her staff with his saber but didn't strike back.
She grinned evilly, "You can't stop me, Big Brother; you never could. Give up while I'm still feeling merciful, and I might spare your life."
Disarmed of his sword, he lunged forward, and the two grappled for her weapon.
"I won't give up. I'll keep holding out until I find a way to save you."
Suddenly furious, she wrenched her staff away from him and fired another blast, "Saving? I don't need saving from you. Especially when you're the reason Ecliptor is dead!"
"W-what? You don't understand. I didn't purposefully kill him; shattering Zordon's energy tube was the only way to save the universe."
She was beginning to lose her composure, "If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have saved me! When Darkonda kidnapped me from KO-35, he took me to the Dark Fortress and, through a series of excruciating experiments, attempted to extract my telekinetic abilities for himself. When I showed resistance however, he decided to just dissect my brain instead. Ecliptor heard my desperate screams and rescued me from that monster. I suppose he had pity on me; for instead of leaving me to die once Darkonda had fled, he wiped away my tears and allowed me to stay with him. He taught how to strengthen my mental powers; he trained me in the ways of the warrior; and he gave me the name: Astronema. And when word came that KO-35 had been attacked and my family killed by the Power Rangers, I had nowhere else to go."
"That's a lie! We were the ones attacked. Don't you remember what happened to Zhane?"
She ignored him, "It was then that I became the Princess of Evil and Ecliptor my general. He loved me; he treated me like his daughter. Even when we were recaptured and reprogrammed by Darkonda, Ecliptor still cared for me more than anyone else. But then, you came along and destroyed Zordon. And the first life that his energy claimed…was that of my surrogate father. Yet strangely, Divatox, Rita, and Zedd were spared the same fate and were instead purified into human beings."
"Karone?"
She began to scream, "GOOD energy reduced him dust! GOOD energy took my father away from me! Why? Why was I spared and not him? Why wasn't I killed as well? And why would you, someone so devoted to the forces of good, send him to his death?!"
Andros barely had time to think as she rushed him again. Fueled by rage, she pierced through his suit, knocking him down and forcing him to demorph. With a final strike, he was knocked flat on the ground; she raised her staff for the kill.
"You won't be the last. I'll hunt down every single ranger on Earth and in space. And when their blood cries out from the ground, only then will Ecliptor truly be avenged!"
The staff fell…and struck.
"NO!" Andros started awake. His face was covered in sweat.
TJ threw the door open, "I heard screaming; are you all right?"
"I'm f-fine, thanks. I just had a nightmare."
"Another one? That's the third time this month."
"Seriously, I'm fine."
His friend closed the door, "Andros, you may one of the most powerful fighters in the galaxy, but you're a terrible liar. Now, I am not leaving this room until you spill it."
"Fine. Do you remember what happened during Countdown to Destruction?"
"Which part? The part where we revealed our identities to the public, the part where Bulk and Skull led a crowd of civilians against Astronema's forces, the part where all of said forces were wiped out by the Z-wave, or the part where you finally hooked up with Ashley when the rest of us had seen it coming for weeks?"
"Leave her out of this, Theodore."
He grinned, "Sorry."
The red Ranger continued, "I was referring to the untimely demise of General Ecliptor."
With those words, TJ's grin faded, and both of them instantly became somber. Andros revealed his nightmare to his companion.
"And dreams like that one have been tormenting you for how long?"
"Ever since she became a Ranger."
"And you never told her what happened to her mentor?"
"I told her that Ecliptor died protecting her from harm. I just didn't tell her that the harm in question was me."
"And you think if she finds out, she'll try to take revenge?"
"It's a possibility."
The blue Ranger shook his head, "Andros, did it ever occur to you to just tell her—"
"I can't take that chance. Don't you understand? Don't you remember? How one of her monsters disguised itself as an SUV and nearly ran us all down? How she tricked us into a trap and turned us into data cards? How her creations, the Psycho Rangers, nearly killed you and did kill Kendrix? If Astronema returns, all of those nightmares would become a reality once again, and no one would be able to stop her. All of those reasons are why I made a promise. That by Zordon of Eltar's sacrifice, no one would ever have to relive the horror of Countdown to Destruction, even if it costs me my life."
(Back to Mariner Bay)
BREEEEEE!
BREEEEEE!
BREEEEEE!
BREEEEEE!
"The Monster alarm? Everyone, go to alert status." Both the Lightspeed and Dino Rangers raced into the briefing room.
"What's going on?"
The Aquabase's main technician, Dr. Fairweather, turned from the viewing screen, "The city is under attack."
Carter spoke first, "But that's impossible. We destroyed all of Queen Bansheera's forces."
"Regardless, you need to get out there and protect the city. Take the Dino Rangers with you."
"Yes sir." He turned to the others, "Are you guys ready?"
They nodded, "Ready."
"LIGHTSPEED RESCUE!"
"TITANIUM POWER!"
"DINO THUNDER, POWER UP!"
"WHITE RANGER, DINO POWER!"
When they arrived on the scene in Carter's Jeep, everyone looked around for the monster.
"Does anyone see it?"
"I don't see anything."
"Look up there!" Red lightning flashed in the sky as the beast revealed itself.
Why hello, Power Rangers. I bet you didn't expect to see me again.
For the first time since any of the Dino Rangers had known him, Thomas Oliver cringed.
"Dr. O, are you all right?"
"What's wrong Tommy?"
"TJ told me about this guy. That's Goldgoyle, the same monster that destroyed the Rescue and Turbo zords."
"Turbo zords? Our Lightspeed zords were rebuilt from them."
"What do we do, Dr. O? We still don't have our Dino Zords."
Dr. Fairweather's voice chimed in over their com-links, "Guys, try to keep him engaged as long as possible, while I scan for a weakness."
"Sure thing. Rail-Rescues, on track! SuperTrain Megazord online."
"I'm having a strange sense of déjà vu. No matter, you still can't defeat me."
"Carter, be careful. Goldgoyle can—Aah!" Powerful energy bolts rained down on the Dino Rangers, knocking them to the ground.
"You should be more concerned about yourself than your friends, Thomas."
"I know that voice…Prince Gasket?!" Indeed, the former ruler of the Royal House of Gadgetry had appeared before them.
"It's nice to see that I'm remembered. And by the time I'm finished with this planet, all will remember me as the one to defeat the strongest Ranger who ever lived."
"You and what army, Gasket?"
"I was hoping you'd say that. Triptoids, attack!" A multitude of the green-and-black underlings surrounded the Dino Rangers and charged.
Meanwhile…
"Keep firing!" The SuperTrain's turbine laser added its power to the other weapons, knocking Goldgoyle backwards.
"Carter, we have to recharge."
"Not yet, Ryan. He's absorbing our energy; if we stop now, he'll just fire it all back."
"Too late, we're overheating!" Unable to keep up with the strain, the Megazord's safety locks engaged, powering the weapons down.
"Another generation falls for the same trick. Say goodbye to your Megazord and your lives."
Unable to dodge, the Lightspeed Rangers could only watch as Goldgoyle unleashed his attack, directly hitting the cockpit. Smoke began to fill the area, some of the consoles caught fire, and small explosions went off all around them as the SuperTrain Megazord fell to the ground. Miraculously, none of them was seriously hurt, but one of their strongest machines was out of commission.
The Dino Rangers weren't doing much better. For every Triptoid one of them managed to defeat, ten more swarmed from all sides. Even using their super modes and Conner's Battlizer, they were eventually overpowered and demorphed. All except Tommy, who was caught in an intense duel with Gasket, his Brachio staff clashing again and again with the Machine Prince's sword.
"Is that the best you can do, Thomas? I spent years training and preparing to face you again, only to find you using an inferior copy of the Zeo Powers. Ah well, it doesn't matter anyway. Even if you had used them instead, the result would be no different. But before I finish you, I think I'll make you pay for underestimating me…by finishing your students first!" Knocking the Black Ranger aside, he fired a shot at the others.
"NO!" Without the protection of their suits, the remaining Dino Rangers took the full force of the blast.
"Did you really think you would do any better than the last team of Rangers I faced? My creator knew they would be no match for me from the very beginning."
"That's what you think, but we're not done yet. Engage Lightspeed Solarzord!" Ryan's Solar Shuttle attached itself to the secondary Lightspeed Megazord.
"And how will your smaller machine fare any better than the larger one?"
Firing a stream of red lighting at them, Goldgoyle was surprised to see the smaller machine avoid each blast and return fire.
"That's it guys. Keep shooting."
"But our small laser cannons aren't really hurting him."
"I know; just trust me."
"Your pitiful efforts are nothing to me. Behold the definition of true power."
"Carter, now he's taking in all the energy from the surrounding area. It's even stronger than the last one."
"One hit from that will total us for good!"
"Hold steady, guys."
The mass of power continued to grow.
"Steady."
"Goodbye Power Rangers." He discharged the attack.
"Now! Activate solar panels!"
Right before the blast struck, the solar panels activated, draining every bit of power from the attack and converting it into energy for the Megazord.
"What?"
"Divert power to weapons." Two giant cannons emerged under the robot's arms.
"No! This can't be happening!"
"Sure it can, Goldgoyle. FIRE!" His own power forced back on to him was too much for the monster. When the smoke cleared, electric charges were surging through his body.
"It's not over yet. If I go down, I'm taking you with me."
In an instant, long tentacles wrapped around the Solarzord, pulling it towards the crippled beast. The Rangers tried to struggle but were unable to break free in time.
"Quick, eject!" An instant after they made it out, Goldgoyle's body exploded, totaling the Megazord in the process.
Back with the others, machine had begun to triumph over man. As if sensing their imminent victory, the Triptoids regrouped and charged once more. Yet as the assault on Tommy continued, Gasket became increasingly concerned.
"This is just a stalemate. With all the powers inside him, he can heal faster than we can hurt him. There must be some way to dispose of him for good." And then he saw it, Carter's rescue jeep. The Lightspeed Rangers tried to stop him, but they were still hurt from fending off Goldgoyle. Too exhausted to continue fighting, Tommy couldn't stop his attackers from throwing him into the street, right into the jeep's path! Suddenly, a figure dashed past the other Rangers towards the helpless man. It was Katherine in her old Zeo suit.
"Look out, Tommy!" She pushed him out of the way but couldn't get out of the way herself. There was a screech of tires and a dull thud…
"Augh!"
And Kat was down, not moving. They all stared at her in a horror. Then Conner found his voice.
"Someone call an ambulance, quickly!"
(The Syndicate's headquarters)
"So, how did it go?"
"We destroyed two of their Megazords and crippled both teams. I'd call that a victory."
"Then do we launch a full assault while they're weakened?"
"Not yet, Trakeena. From what Havoc's told me, the Rangers are very resourceful. If we attack now while we're overconfident, we'd be helpless against any new scheme they had. Give them time to recover. I want them to have the illusion of hope; after that, we'll destroy everything they hold dear. Now then, time for our next assignment. Carter was once part of a mission to destroy the mighty zord Serpenterra. After said mission, Thomas gave blueprints of cog foot soldiers and the zord to each Ranger involved, in case of another attack."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with us?"
"The cog blueprints are stored in the Lightspeed Aquabase. But all of my attempts to hack it have failed." He handed her a flash drive, "I need you to infiltrate the base and copy the blueprints onto this, since most of the security will be in the medical bay. If this works, we shall have another group of soldiers to fight the Rangers."
"Okay, but why me?"
"Because you're the stealthiest one among us, and I know you can succeed."
"Well thank you, sir." She went off to prepare.
"Prince Gasket?"
"Yes, Havoc?"
"Did you mean what you said about Trakeena?"
"I was being truthful. Let me tell you something, General. I've seen entirely too many villainous team-ups fail because there was dissension in the ranks of evil. That was why I chose you all to assist me in this plan; each of you has a history of working well with others."
"I see. But what if she requires back-up?"
"Causing a diversion will seem too suspicious. If all goes well, they won't even know she was there."
"But what of the loss of Goldgoyle?"
"That's not a problem. The first monster destroyed their zords; the second will destroy their powers, the last will destroy them. Then the Syndicate will rule all."
"The Syndicate will rule all."
(End of Chapter)
A/N: I'm not sure if the story can stay K-rated after that. But I have heard someone get hit by a car on a family-rated radio show (he lived of course, but it was still pretty intense.) So, we see a little more of Andros's perspective, and the Rangers had their first significant battle with the Syndicate. Speaking of which, yes they're working together well. One of the biggest clichés I hate is the villains backstabbing each other. Mainly because if they didn't do that, they'd probably defeat the heroes easily. But Gasket worked with Archerina, Trakeena worked with Villamax, and Havoc worked with Divatox. That just makes them all the more dangerous. Anyway…
Trakeena: My turn to get in on the action and impress Gasket. Even it if is just a simple stealth-op. But if I play my cards right, then nothing can go wrong. "Ah-ah-CHOO!"