Chapter Nine. Against All Odds: Part Two.

Crane swung up his fist and punched Eevee-Beros square in one of his faces. The Vaporeon one to be precise. The monster barely registered it, although when blows came raining in on the Flareon and Jolteon faces closely after, he roared in pain. All three mouths opened up, he launched a Tri Attack at the Solar Ranger who flung himself aside.

"You want to play it that way?" Crane asked. He held out a hand and the golden rectangular block appeared within it. "Solar Striker! Sword Form!"
The golden block transformed into a sword, with that in hand he rushed Eevee-Beros and whipped several sharp strikes across the skin. Eevee-Beros howled in pain before hitting back with a Dragon Claw which cut across Crane's chest. He flung out a Slam attack with his tail and sent the Solar Ranger hurtling back across the ground, eventually rolling to a halt.

All three mouths opened up, sending a Hyper Beam towards him. Jumping up, Crane brought the Solar Striker before him.

"Solar Striker! Shield Form!"

It transformed into a giant shield, blocking the attack. Grunting with the effort, Crane pushed on, shoving the beam back towards a startled Eevee-Beros who was thrown back as the blow hit him. Inside Crane's grip, the Solar Striker changed again.

"Solar Striker! Light Beam!"
A pure burst of golden light shot from his hand, completely obliterating Eevee-Beros where he stood, only a giant black stain remaining on the sand where he'd stood once.

"Suppose it's only to be expected," he said thoughtfully. "But with three mouths, you talk three times as much."

Katie was engaging her own battle with Plusorb, the counterpart to Minnet. Plusorb was a Plusle humanoid. Its ears, hands, torso and legs are robotic, with only the head being organic. She jumped up and kicked him, her boot giving off a metallic thud as it connected with his chest. Plusorb threw a punch at her, she blocked it and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm.

"How hard do I have to twist to break this?" she wondered, slamming an elbow into Plusorb's face. He growled and let off a Discharge attack, the blast sending her flying across the battlefield.

As he advanced on her, the Red Genesis Ranger rolled over and brought both Heat Blasters up, red, black and gold blaster pistols. Jumping up, she fired several small fireballs towards him, the shots sending Plusorb staggering back.

"Hey! No fair!" he complained. "Using weapons is…"
She shot him in the mouth, cutting him off. Bringing both blasters together, she combined them into the Flareon Battle Rifle.

"Say hello to my little friend!" she quipped, pulling the trigger. "Flareon Fury!"
A ball of fire erupted from the rifle, transforming into the mystical representation of a Flareon which raced across the ground, growing bigger as it travelled before smashing into Plusorb.

"But… no…" he howled. "I wanted to see what the TV was like in this place…"

His wail was cut off as the blast hit him, sending him crashing to the ground where he exploded.

"Just like riding a bike," she said, resting the weapon across her shoulders. "And that was just as easy."

Julia had her hands full with the creature who had become known as CyberMariner. He gave her an evil look before starting to walk towards her.

"You think you can shock me?" he asked coldly. "Give me your best shot! First one's free!"

Apparently he'd seen CyberPurrie and CyberHead and thought himself to be just as tough. Julia aimed to prove him wrong.

"You're going to give me a free hit?" she asked incredulously. "Okay, I'll take it. Storm Gauntlets!"
A pair of yellow gauntlets appeared across her arms. Banging them together, she jumped up and threw herself towards CyberMariner.

"Thunderbolt Punch!"

She threw an electric backed punch into CyberMariner, hitting him square in the chest. Rather than staggering him, he grinned at her, showing giant metal teeth.

"My turn!" he roared, throwing up an arm to send her hurtling back through the air. As she hit the ground, she realised she might need to try something a little more powerful. Getting up, she held out a hand.

"Storm Boomerang!"
A yellow boomerang shaped like a Pikachu's tail appeared in her hand. Bringing it back, she hurled it at CyberMariner.

"Thunder Throw!"

The crackling weapon struck CyberMariner in the body, sending more electricity through his system. Still he grinned.

"You're going to have to try harder than that," he snickered. "Come on, one more free."

She had one option left, short of going into Prime Mode.

"Thunder Hammer!"
A yellow mallet with red spots and Black Lightning symbols on the sides appeared in her hands. With a battle cry, she ran towards CyberMariner…

Who opened his mouth and blasted her back with a Hydro Pump that completely knocked her off her feet.

"I got bored waiting," CyberMariner taunted.

Lily was fighting an opponent unlike any she'd dealt with before. A creature that had the head of a Xatu, with the body of a Kecleon and Xatu wings on the creature's back. On the arms and legs of the Kecleon body were metal bands usually seen on a Primeape's arms and legs.

"What are you?" she wondered, ducking under a punch from the creature.

"I am Xato-One. I have seen your defeat!"

"Oh terrific," she growled. "I hate you psychic things! You and your premonitions, you think you're so good because you think you know what's going to happen. You see this coming?"
She punched him in the face. Grabbing him by the throat, she tossed him up into the air, watching his wings flare out behind him as he caught a breeze.

"You must do better," he said emotionlessly.

She brought out her Cosmo Blaster and fired up into the air at him, the laser blast hitting him in the wing. He fell from the sky, but didn't hit the ground as she threw a flying kick at him. Xato-One threw a punch at her, before launching a Cross Chop into her. As she fell back, she brought out her Cosmo Baton and slammed it into his face. He staggered back, giving her the time to send glowing black claws erupting from her knuckles.

"Shadow Claw!"

She leaped out towards Xato-One and impaled him through, the monster falling back and exploding as she withdrew her claws from his body.

"You didn't see that coming, did you?"

Ryan was glad that at least he hadn't been drawn into a fight with something too complex. He'd found himself trading blows with a green Tyranitar robot.

Wait, he thought as a single punch from the monster sent him crashing to the ground. Why am I glad about fighting this? I thought my days of fighting robots were over when we did for the Dogbots.

Again, Alpha-Tyranitar tried to attack, this time swinging its tail towards him. He ducked back away from the blow and kicked the creation in the chest. It didn't seem to feel it.

"Man, you got to make things hard for me," he complained. It didn't answer. He went for the Genesis Blaster at his waist and fired several shots into the creature, its face registering the blasts but not showing any other signs of pain otherwise.

Robots don't feel it, he thought. Which means I need another plan. Smash it to pieces, that'll get its attention.

He held out a hand. A heavy-looking green hammer, the business end resembling a Leafeon's head, while a set of vines ran down the handle appeared in his grasp.

"Fauna Hammer!"

Ryan swung out the weapon and sent it crashing into Alpha-Tyranitar's face, the mechanical beast letting out a mechanical roar as half of its skull was caved in.

"You're not so tough," the Green Genesis Ranger crowed. "Let's see how you like this! Frenzy Plant!"
He slammed the hammer down into the ground, giant roots erupting from the sand to impale the creation where it stood. For a moment, nothing happened. And then the damage finally overwhelmed the robot, Alpha-Tyranitar exploding into a shower of metal.

Claire had CyberWhips to contend with. With a smile, she advanced on the Blue LZ Ranger.

"It's your time to die, sweetie," she said. "How would you like it? Hot, or very hot?"

"I'll settle for wet," Claire retorted. She jumped forward and hit CyberWhips with a flurry of punches and kicks, none of them really doing any damage. With a single blow, the cyborg sent Claire crashing back through the air.

"Wet isn't part of my vocabulary," she said. "Therefore…"

"You just said it," Claire shot back, jumping to her feet. "Emperor Claws!"
A pair of Empoleon-like claws appeared across her hands, complete with little jets across the backs.

"Aqua Jet Claws!"

Water shot from the jets, hurling Claire forward towards CyberWhips. The wicked fast claw attack struck the cyborg square in the chest, yet didn't do much. In response, CyberWhips opened her mouth and launched a Flamethrower at Claire which she barely dodged. Jumping up to her feet, she slashed at the monster, her claws barely making a dent.

"Uh oh," she muttered. "Need to try something else…"

CyberWhips caught her off-guard, the tails whipping her from behind. Falling to one knee, Claire brought both arms up and aimed the claws at CyberWhips' throat.

"Aqua Jet Claws!"

Shooting up from her crouched position, the claws slammed into the monster's throat at point blank range, at least hurling her back. Claire carried on, throwing five kicks into her chest before again trying to slam the claws through her.

Given what had happened to David and Julia, she really wasn't surprised when CyberWhips blocked the blow, grabbing the claws mid strike and kicked Claire in the chest, sending her flying back.

Falco was facing the creature known as Rossassin. He was a humanoid with a Rotom mask across his face

"Well, I must say I hoped for another round with the green ranger," the figure chuckled. "But I guess you'll have to…"

Falco decked him, sending him staggering down the floor. Growling in pain, Rossassin brought out a knife and slashed at the Mirror Ranger, Falco evading the blows before grabbing his wrist and twisting the knife from it.

"Hey, I like that knife!" Rossassin protested. "Guess I'll have to really give you the special treatment."

The air around him suddenly heated up, Falco retreating back after the sudden increase in temperature.

"All part of my array, everything a good serial killer needs," Rossassin chuckled. "That was a Heat Wave. Now how about…"

From his face, a cold blue beam of ice shot out towards the Mirror Ranger.

"Mirror Wing!" Falco roared, a riot shield shaped like a Pidgeot's wing appearing in his grasp. He moved to block the Ice Beam, his shield glowing with blue energy as he held it in front of him. Pushing forward, he slammed the weapon into Rossassin and watched him fly back through the air. Dropping a hand to his waist, he pulled out the Mirror Blaster and shot him down, the monster exploding as he hit the ground.

"A good serial killer needs putting down," he said coldly.

Duo had gone to fight the creature known as GallaBlade. He was a Gallade with his body covered in golden armour and his blades a shade of metallic green. As the blades came in towards him, he ducked the blow and kicked the creature in the stomach. His foot smashed against the armour, not doing a lot of damage to him. The blades swept towards him again, GallaBlade determined to try and hack him into two pieces.

"Better not try it," he warned, dodging it. "Better monsters than you have tried to do me in. I'm still standing here. And largely because of this."

Drawing a breath, he held out a hand.

"Shadow Sabre!"
A long black sword, with an Umbreon's head separating the handle and the blade appeared in his grasp. Not breaking movement, he swept up the sword to block the blades.

With the weapons locked into a clash, he punched GallaBlade in the face before hacking away at the armour. Two careful strikes and the breast plate fell away. With the chest exposed, the blade of the sword began to glow with a black energy.

"Night Slash!"

Duo spun and hacked the weapon through GallaBlade's body, sending him crashing to the ground. As he exploded, only a sword remained on the ground, a golden hilt and a green blade.

"Ooh, shiny," the Black Genesis Ranger said, making to pick it up.

"No!" someone yelled. "Don't pick it up!"

He didn't know who it was. Glancing around, he saw that most of the other rangers were still battling away. Shrugging, he brought up the Shadow Sabre and slammed it through the sword, shattering it.

He heard the scream of GallaBlade, before the sword exploded.

Picking himself up, Dice saw CyberPurrie circling him.

"Come on, Purrie," he said. "This isn't funny. The cat and mouse stuff doesn't suit you. Unless you're the mouse."

"Your attempts to provoke me aren't going to work!" CyberPurrie howled. "Payback is a bitch. And I am of the metal variety!"
"You're insane," Dice retorted. "Come on then! I'll dismantle your motherboard if I have to."

"You talk big, Green Ranger," CyberPurrie said, slashing at him in fury. Dice had to dodge the blows. "But this time, you cannot stop me. Defeat is not in my programming."

Dice brought out another Leaf Sabre and went for the creature, the blades bouncing off skin and metal alike. In return, CyberPurrie's claws hacked out, raking Dice's stomach. He gasped in pain and tried to kick the cyborg, only for CyberPurrie to grab his foot and twist him to the ground.

"What else do you have?" he asked simply. "Because…"

Dice slammed both swords together in combination.

"Magical Razor Leaf Blade Storm!" he yelled.

At close range, the attack hit CyberPurrie square on and sent him screaming up into the air, the combination of leafs and sword too much to keep him on the ground. Dice leaped up into the air after him, not only throwing a punch into his body but also slamming him into the ground. As the Green LZ Ranger stood up, CyberPurrie opened his eyes and smiled.

"I like this more when I don't die," he quipped.

Finally, Sandy was battling against a creature called FrostDrill. It was a Fearow humanoid with wings instead of arms and talons for legs. It was also wearing a helmet in the shape of a Fearows head with chain-mail over its torso.

Jabbing his beak at her, she had to dodge, kicking him in the stomach. If he felt the attack, he didn't show it. He opened his beak and launched an Ice Beam at her, she jumped aside.

She brought out her Cosmo Blaster and fired several times at him, the blasts leaving burns on the chain mail. He groaned, she jumped in and grabbed him by the throat, twisting FrostDrill the ground.

He rose up, slamming his wings into her body. She fell to the ground, dodging a powerful Peck thrown at her while she lay there. Sandy kicked him in the face, sending him staggering back.

"Want some more?" she asked, her hand glowing with a purple energy. "Because I got plenty."

Jumping forward, she chopped him with the glowing arm.

"Psycho Cut!"

He howled in pain, the damage overwhelming his body before he fell down and exploded.

"Guess you couldn't take it," she said.

As FrostDrill went down, one look around the battlefield saw that only the four cyborgs were remaining.

And from where he watched, Nixysis heard the voice in his head, lightly mischievous.

"Perhaps it should be taken to the next level," she suggested. "That cyborg program has an enlargement feature, does it not?"

"Yes, but…"

"Do it!" she roared. "And set another load of Blastbots after them. Really give them something to think about."

Sighing, Nixysis hit the button. At the back of the speeder, the blaster cannon aimed at the four cyborgs before firing a burst of energy.

As it hit them, they began to grow, towering high above the twenty one rangers.

"Now I'm really going to stomp you flat!" CyberPurrie howled. "All green rangers will tremble beneath my paws."

Author's Notes.

Whew…

Too long chapter. Way too long. Bit difficult to write, but it's over now. All I need to do is the inevitable Megazord battle, the Battlizers and then the conclusion. So yeah, it's almost over.

The good news been that as soon as it's over, it'll be time for Forever Blue.

Thanks for the reviews. All appreciated.

Will those things ever die? They haven't so far, but who can tell.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

Don't forget to review! Please!