Previously, on Power Rangers Cyber V: Doggie Cruger left Earth to speak to the Galactic Council in an attempt to take control of the battle against Kalask away from General Sauder. Subsequently, President Winters confronted Kat Manx in her office, with the latter revealing that SPD was aware of Winters' activities as a member of Alphabet Soup. Kalask sent two spies into Fort Myers... a small self-aware nanite and a monster that has taken the place of a newcomer to the base. Curiously, one of the newcomers, Lt. Thomas Conner, has been sending secret messages. Another newcomer, Private Mai Pei, has begun a romatic relationship with Matt following a Dread attack on the base. Having already taken Venjix nanites from Wendy once, Kalask schemes to steal more from the Twins using his monster spy...
BEGIN MISSION LOG...
Location: War Room, Fort Myers
General Sauder is viewing recent mission footage on the main monitors while the Rangers, Wendy, and Lt. Conner watch.
Sauder: It began when you two took that inadvisible journey into the city together.
Wendy and Jake wince as the screens show the battle with Fiddler.
Sauder: In the course of the conflict, Tem-Tar managed to steal a good portion of your nanites, one of only two sources on the planet now of Venjix technology.
Walter: Like we could forget? Fiddler made Wendy hit us so hard that I STILL have a headache.
Jake: (whispering) Nice Rita impression.
Sauder: FOCUS! After that, Kalask used a monster to attack the base directly, all so Dreads could infiltrate the compound. There's no reason to believe that it was nothing less than a second attempt to steal more Venjix nanobots.
Cindy: But they failed. We beat the monster and the Dreads were destroyed.
Sauder: Very true, but that was only because the Twins had a prototype weapon with them. We got lucky. We can't afford to rely on luck to win our battles.
Jeremy: There was also the Master of Weapons. That entire situation was strange. It was almost like he was stalling for something instead of seriously trying to beat us. Kalask didn't even bother to make him grow.
Anya: Jeremy's right. It was more like he was testing Wendy and Matt's abilities than our own.
Wendy: So you're saying that Kalask's been focused on the Venjixtech more than we realized?
Lt. Conner: It certainly seems to be the case.
Anya: The attack on the base worries me. It was far too direct and blunt for Kalask.
Jake: Think he was after something else?
Anya: Yes. It was obviously meant to distract us from something.
Jeremy: If that's the case, we need to figure out what it is.
Sauder: Regardless, we also need to put both of the Twins into protective custody immediately. You're both in grave danger and- Where is Matt?
Jake: Huh. I thought there was something dull and boring missing from this meeting.
Wendy smacks Jake upside the head.
Jake: OW!
Wendy: Yep. Still fun to do that.
Jeremy: We'll go find him, Sir. We can't afford any more distractions.
Jeremy gets up and goes to the door. It slides open, revealing Matt and Mai in the midst of a passionate embrace.
Jeremy: ...Nevermind...
Both Matt and Mai look at him.
Matt and Mai: What?
Power Rangers Cyber V
Created by Aaron Thall
Episode 11: Love and Joy
Written by: Aaron Thall
Location: Eltar
The Chamber of the Galactic Council is a complete recreation of the Command Center, down to the last detail. The only difference is a hologram of Zordon, long gone, but never forgotten, projected overhead. Walking towards it with purpose, Doggie Cruger and Kat Manx waste no time. Kat is in the midst of giving her report to Cruger.
Kat: And that's when R.I.C. escaped out of her window.
Cruger: So, it's as we feared. Alphabet Soup's been revived, and they've got their claws into the Cyber V project.
Kat: You think General Sauder's involved?
Cruger: He'd have to be. He was the one that recommended the Twins in the first place.
Kat: And the information you had R.I.C. retrive will be enough to convinve the Council to give S.P.D. clearance to take control of the situation?
Cruger: I hope so, Kat. Every second Alphabet Soup remains in control of the Rangers, the more danger they're in. Unless we do something, and quickly, this is going to end badly.
Location: Fort Myers
Wendy: This is going to end badly.
In the Mess Hall, she and the Rangers watch as Matt and Mai eat together.
Wendy: My brother doesn't know the first thing about dating. He barely knows how to EMOTE.
Jake: Yeah. Seems to be an epidemic around here.
He glances at Anya, who smacks him upside the head.
Jake: OW!
Wendy: Enjoying yourself?
Anya: No, but it IS oddly satisfying.
Walter: Yep. They're sisters, all right.
Jeremy: I dunno. I think it could be good for him. I mean, Matt's pretty shy... Maybe this will help him come out of his shell and start enjoying life a little.
Jake: No chance. The guy only livens up when he's in a Ranger uniform.
Finishing their meal, Matt and Mai get up.
Cindy: GUYS! SHHHH! They're coming this way!
Everyone tries to mind their own business as the two walk past. Matt pauses and glances at them.
Matt: First of all, my nanites give me super hearing. Second, I may be shy and not very lively, but at least I didn't blow it with the lady in under three hours.
Mai: Later, guys!
Walter glances at Jake.
Walter: Would you like some ointment for that burn?
Location: Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Time: Inapplicable
Kalask and his minions watch the Rangers through the nanite spy.
Emeralde: All is ready, my lord. Our spy merely awaits your orders.
Thrak: BAH! Watching them from the shadows! It's the move of a coward! I say we just TAKE what we want!
Midnai: Remember your place, Thrak!
Te m-Tar: Midnai is correct! Brute force has it's place, but a true leader knows that true power comes from knowledge. Knowledge our spies have been gathering for us for weeks now.
Kalask: Well said, Tem-Tar. But fret not, Thrak. It's nearly time for us to make our move. Have our infiltrator begin the operation. And send the Dreads to the city. We don't want the Rangers to figure out what's going on TOO quickly.
Tem-Tar: At once, master!
Location: Fort Myers
Matt and Mai are walking down a side corridor.
Mai: Well, your friends sure seem to find us interesting.
Matt: They're not used to seeing me happy, I suppose. Well, outside the Blue suit, anyway. I suppose we should just give them time to get used to the idea. It's still pretty new for me, too.
Mai: New can be a good thing.
She takes his hand.
Matt: No arguments here...
They stop and turn towards each other, slowly moving for another kiss. However, before they can reach each other...
Lt. Conner: HEY! There you are!
He runs up to them, not even remotely out of breath.
Matt: What is it?
Lt. Conner: The General thinks Kalask's targeting your nanites, and he's ordered me to be your bodyguard for the time being.
Matt: I appreciate the gesture, but I can handle myself just fine.
Lt. Conner: Sorry, but orders are orders. He wants you in lockdown right away. Wendy, too.
Matt: THAT won't go over very well.
Mai: So much for some alone time...
Alarms begin blaring. Sauder's voice comes over the P.A. system.
Sauder: Warp portal detected. All Rangers report to Cyber Cycles for immediate deployment. All other personnel... BATTLE STATIONS.
Lt. Conner: Come on!
Matt nods. They take two steps before realizing that Mai isn't letting go of Matt's hand. He turns towards her.
Mai: I'm coming with you!
Having no time to argue the point, he holds her hand a bit tighter as they head towards the high security wing.
Location: Combat Zord Holding Bay
The five Rangers run into the room, where several technicians are finishing preparations on the Cyber Cycles.
Jeremy: Teleportation's down again?
Tech: Afraid so. Sorry, Sir. Coordinates are programmed in.
Jeremy: We'll manage! Ready, guys?
Walter, Anya, Cindy, Jake: READY!
They all lift their left arms to chest level while they raise and pull back their right arms, palms facing out. As one, they shove their right arms forward, pushing the "disks" into the Cyber Ops.
All: CYBER OP ENERGIZE!
Jeremy finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a red battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Red!
Walter finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a green battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Green!
Jake finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a blue battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Blue!
Anya finds herself amidst more cascading binary that flows around her. It quickly forms a yellow battle suit around her body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at her shoulders and meeting at her chest's center. A short miniskirt appears as well. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on her, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around her head, created by data swarming around her head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. Her transformation completed, she was now Cyber Yellow!
Cindy finds herself amidst more cascading binary that flows around her. It quickly forms a pink battle suit around her body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at her shoulders and meeting at her chest's center. A short miniskirt appears as well. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on her, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around her head, created by data swarming around her head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. Her transformation completed, she was now Cyber Pink!
All five leap onto their respective Cycles simultaniously, while at the same time a ramp comes out from the wall. They tear out of the Holding Bay in no time.
Anya: What's the situation?
Sauder (over com): Looks like an attack downtown. Reports are coming in of Dreads assaulting civilians. No word on a monster or one of Kalask's subordinates, though.
Jake: That's weird. You think this is another diversion?
Sauder: I don't know, but I've ordered the Twins into lockdown just to be safe. You five just focus on defending the city for now.
All: YES, SIR!
Location: High Security Wing, Fort Myers
Wendy reaches the high security wing, escorted by two very grim and imposing MPs.
Wendy: Okay, I'm here. Now what?
MP 1: Our orders are to stay here with you and your brother, Ma'am. The General's not taking any chances.
Wendy: (exasperated) Fine... How long until Matt gets here?
MP 2: He should already be inside.
The MP opens the door to the wing, but aside from more MPs, there's no trace of Matt.
Wendy: Maybe he got held up...
She pulls a headset from her lab coat and puts it on.
Wendy: Matt? Matt, where are you?
No answer.
Wendy: MATT! Come in, Matt!
MP 1: Maybe he turned it off, Ma'am.
Wendy: No chance. And Matt wouldn't be late for THIS order. Recall the Rangers NOW! It's a diversion! Kalask's after my brother!
Location: Decommissioned bunker, Fort Myers.
Lying on the ground, Matt and Mai, not seriously injured, begin to stir.
Matt: W...what happened?
He raises his head and looks around.
Matt: The last thing I remember is... MAI!
He turns towards her and checks her vitals. Seeing that she's alive, he breathes a sigh of relief. Waking up, she looks at him, confused.
Mai: Matt?
Matt: Are you all right?
Mai: I think so... But I've felt better. Where are we?
Matt: An old bunker the military used to use to hold tanks and fuel. It's no longer in service. But I have no idea how we got here.
He looks around.
Matt: And I don't see any trace of Lt. Conner, either. Whoever brought us here could have done something to him...
Mai: Or it could have BEEN him.
Matt: Yes, it's possible. Can you walk?
She nods, and they both get up.
Matt: We need to move before our host gets back.
He checks his pocket, and sees that it's empty.
Matt: They've taken my headset. I can't call for a rescue. You?
Mai checks her pockets, and shakes her head no.
Mai: We should go.
Matt: No point. We're unguarded, which means Kalask or whomever's behind this is confident that we're not going anywhere. Probably a force field in place at the peremeter. My nanites might be able to override it, but it'll take time.
Mai: Well we can't stay here.
Matt clenches his fists, frustrated. Seeing no alternatives, he relaxes his hands and looks Mai right in the eyes.
Matt: Let's go.
Location: Downtown Horizon
A shopping center is the epicenter of a chaotic scene. Everywhere, civilians run for their lives as the Dreads spread out in all directions, launching blasts of hellfire that burn those they strike to the bone. One Dread targets a man and his young daughter, the latter having fallen during the initial horrors. Having already used it's flames to annihilate a security guard, it advances on the pair.
Man: Come on! I've got you!
Daughter: DADDY!
She screams as the Dread reaches for her. Instinctively, he bars the robot's path, earning himself a vicious backhand that knocks him flat on his back.
Man: No... GET AWAY FROM HER!
The Dread seems to laugh at that, but otherwise ignores the prone man as it pulls back it's fist to pulp the girl's head. She shreaks in terror as it begins to swing... Only to stop as a Data Blade stabs through the robot's head, annihilating it. Pulling the Data Blade free, Jeremy kicks the deactivated robot aside and honds his hand out to the little girl.
Jeremy: Are you all right?
She nods, too scared to talk. They look to the right to see Cindy and Walter helping her father up.
Man: Thank you, Rangers.
Walter: Just get yourselves to safety and we'll call it even.
The man nods and takes his daughter gently from Jeremy. His eyes say it all. Without another word, he runs for the exit with his precious cargo.
Cindy: I can't believe Kalask would go after a kid...
Jeremy: I can... Let's show him some Ranger hospitality!
The three run to join the others, who are already battling with the Dreads. Nearby, Jake leaps through the air and sissorkicks two Dreads while simultaneously unsheathing his Data Ray. As he lands, he fires a quick barrage that nails three more.
Jake: I hate to say it, but this is actually starting to get boring.
Busy boasting, Jake doesn't see another Dread coming up behind him. However, before it can strike him with hellfire, Walter rushes in and tackles the robot, sending them both into a roll. When they stop, Walter's on top, and he delivers a powerful punch to the robot's neck joints, severing them.
Walter: Man, you REALLY talk too much, y'know that?
Jake: ...Hmmm? You say something?
Walter: SIGH...
Back to back, Anya and Cindy each draw their Data Rays and begin firing in all directions, cutting the Dreads down.
Anya: This is strange. No monster? Kalask doesn't attack without some purpose.
Cindy: But what? It's not like there's anything here that'd interest him.
Anya: Nothing but us.
Jeremy finds himself surrounded by Dreads.
Jeremy: I don't have TIME FOR THIS! SCANNER BLADE!
He thrusts his hand out and the Scanner Blade appears.
Jeremy: ANALYZE!
Inside his visor, Jeremy sees the readout from his sword. He smiles grimly.
Jeremy: Hey! DREADS! CATCH!
Jeremy flings his Scanner Blade like a boomerang. Spinning as fast and as sharp as a buzzsaw, it lances through each Dread and returns to Jeremy's hands.
Jeremy: Hey, it's not MY fault you didn't catch it.
He turns around as the Dreads explode in a massive fireball. The others run to his side, all equally concerned.
Cindy: Is that all of them?
Jake: I hope so.
Anya: This was far too easy.
Walter: I hate it when you say that...
Lightning suddenly strikes where the Rangers are, scattering them in all directions. As they land hard, they look to see Midnai and Emeralde striding towards them.
Emeralde: Well done, Rangers. You defeated the Dreads. Too bad the real fight's somewhere else entirely.
Getting back on their feet, Jeremy points at the two villainesses with the Scanner Blade.
Jeremy: What do you mean by that? What's Kalask after?
Midnai: Oh, the usual. It's all in the spirit of the game. Think of it as a puzzle, if you must.
Anya: How about we MAKE you tell us?
Anya summons her Input Staves and moves to charge the two, but Jeremy blocks her with his other arm.
Jeremy: NO! Remember what Emeralde said. They're just here to distract us! Whatever's going on, we can't waste time fighting them!
Emeralde: Are you certain of that, Red Ranger? Do you dare take the chance that you're wrong?
Jake: Man, this is our chance to get rid of these two! We can't just throw it away!
Jeremy turns to Jake and Anya without moving his arms.
Jeremy: We'll get another chance. I can't explain it, but every instinct I have is telling me that it's the right move.
He sends the Scanner Blade away and turns from the two antagonists.
Jeremy: Let's go, guys.
Without waiting for the others, he walks away.
Walter: WAIT UP!
Cindy: We're coming, too!
They move to join him. Jake and Anya glare at the two.
Jake: This ain't over.
Anya says nothing, but growls in frustration as she and Jake turn to join the others. Midnai and Emeralde watch them go.
Midnai: Hmmm... The Red one's smarter than I'd give him credit for.
Emeralde: It doesn't matter. In moments, the Master will have all that he needs.
Location: Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Kalask watches as the Rangers ride back towards Fort Myers on the Cyber Cycles.
Kalask: It all goes according to plan, Thrak. Like flies to honey, the Rangers couldn't help but be drawn to the Dread attack, leaving poor Matthew and Mai oh so vulnerable.
Thrak: But why let the Rangers return to their base? They'll find their friends for certain!
Kalask: Of course they will. I'm COUNTING on it.
Location: Decommissioned Bunker, Fort Myers
Matt and Mai reach the exit to the bunker. Kicking the door open, Matt leads Mai outside and stops.
Mai: It's just like you said... We're trapped.
They look up and see a shimmering dome of energy covering the entire bunker.
Matt: It's worse than you think. We're not alone.
He turns slowly to face Tem-Tar, who chuckles to himself as he observes their plight.
Tem-Tar: How very observant. Well? Aren't you going to attack me?
Matt: You've mistaken me for my sister. It may be her nature to rush headlong into things, but it's not mine. Since you don't have any Dreads with you, I'm assuming you've got something else in mind other than killing me. My nanites, I presume?
Tem-Tar: Naturally.
Matt: And since you didn't bring backup, that can only mean you've already got someone or something here inside the force field. The same being that ambushed us and brought us here.
Tem-Tar: Getting warmer...
Matt: And since there were three of us when we were attacked, I presume your agent is Lt. Conner.
Tem-Tar: Who?
Matt: Lt. Conner! He's the only one of us not here! He HAS to be the one who attacked us!
Tem-Tar: I'm sorry, but I don't KNOW any Lt. Conner. And besides... Kalask has a flair for the dramatic... and he'd NEVER do anything THAT obvious.
Matt's eyes widen as Mai screams. He turns to help her.
Matt: MAI!
Suddenly clutching her stomach, Mai doubles over in agony.
Mai: Matt... It... It hurts...
She begins to collapse. Matt catches her and eases her to the ground. He checks her eyes. Glassy. NOT a good sign. He turns his head towards Tem-Tar.
Matt: What did you do to her?
Tem-Tar: Me? Nothing, I'm afraid. Oh, and as for who brought you here?
Tem-Tar chuckles, then, without warning, aims his arm at Matt. A blast of energy launches from his nanite tube and slams into the scientist, throwing him into the bunker's wall and away from Mai.
Tem-Tar: SHE did.
Mai screams again, and this time, a sickly light eminates from her mouth. It shines between her and Matt, solidifying into a white and pink creature covered in decorative DNA strands. The creature chuckles darkly.
Infiltrator: I am Infiltrator, Kalask's top spy and saboteur.
Tem-Tar: Infiltrator has a unique ability. She can bond to any subject's DNA, using them as a flesh and blood Trojan Horse without their knowledge. Infiltrator used the girl to spy on you for weeks now! She even disabled the Rangers' teleportation matrix to prevent them from arriving in time to save the day.
Matt glares at the two creatures as he pulls himself up.
Tem-Tar: Oh, don't worry. The girl had no idea she was being used. But then again, maybe you SHOULD. You see, Infiltrator's special power has one unfortunate side effect.
Matt: And what's that?
Infiltrator: In order for me to bond with a target... They have to DIE first!
Both Matt and Mai gape at the monster.
Mai: No... No, it can't be! I'm alive, damnit! I'm alive!
She staggers to her feet, unwilling to believe what Tem-Tar's saying.
Tem-Tar: True... and yet not true. Several weeks ago, right before you came to Fort Myers, Emeralde and Infiltrator came to you as you slept. Emeralde slit your throat with her blade, giving Infiltrator the opening she needed. She entered your body and revived you. She remained dormant inside your DNA, coming out briefly to give Kalask reports and, of course, to bring you to this location.
Matt: If what you're saying is true, why is Mai still alive? Infiltrator's out of her body!
Infiltrator: True, but we're still linked! As long as I live... SHE lives! If you can call unendurable agony LIVING...
Matt: You lousy...
Tem-Tar: Now now... I have a proposal for you. You can still save the girl. All you need to do is surrender your nanites, and Infiltrator will inject her with enough of her own DNA to sustain her for the rest of what would have been her natural life.
Matt looks at Mai, who's doubling over again. She drops to her knees, unable to stand any longer.
Mai: MATT! YOU CAN'T!
Even as she says this, the slash to her throat begins to become visible. Stunned by all of this, Matt closes his eyes and weighs the options.
Matt: Yes... I can.
Mai: NO!
Tem-Tar: A wise decision, Hybrid.
Mai: If you do this, Kalask will have all the power Venjix had! He'd become unstoppable!
Matt: He'd be harder to defeat, yes... But NO ONE's unstoppable, least of all Kalask. If he wanted to be invincible, he wouldn't play his games. And, more importantly... You'd live. Even if I'm branded a traitor... Even if I'm executed as a turncoat... I'd still do it to save you.
He turns to Tem-Tar.
Matt: Take them. Just spare her life.
Tem-Tar: Done.
Tem-Tar produces the same Nanite Extractor he'd previously used on Wendy.
Tem-Tar: Now hold still... This is going to hurt a LOT.
Location: War Room, Fort Myers
The Rangers, still morphed but carrying their helmets, run in to see the flurry of activity.
Jeremy: What's going on?
Sauder turns towards them.
Sauder: We've been played. While you were off fighting the Dreads, something abducted Matt and Private Pei. MPs found Lt. Conner unconscious in a bathroom.
Anya: We'll find them. I won't let Kalask take anyone else from me...
Wendy runs in, obviously distressed.
Wendy: Oh thank ZORDON you're back! I've found them! There's a large energy disturbance on the far side of the base! It has to be Kalask!
Cindy: We're on it!
Walter: Hell, we're already there!
They turn to leave.
Wendy: Please...
The Rangers stop, unused to hearing Wendy speak softly. She's crying.
Wendy: Please... Bring my brother back.
Unable to face the tears in her eyes, Jake gives her a thumbs up.
Jake: Let's go.
Location: Decommissioned Bunker, Fort Myers
Matt is on his knees, with Tem-Tar standing behind him, Extractor at the ready. Mai is writheing on the ground, in obvious agony. Infiltrator stands over her, ready to fulfill her end of the pact.
Tem-Tar: Sacrificing the world to save your lady love. And they say that chivalry is dead!
Matt: Shut up and do it already.
Tem-Tar shrugs.
Tem-Tar: As you wish!
Tem-Tar jabs the Extractor into Matt's neck, and he screams in agony as his nanites begin to drain from his body.
Mai: Matt... No...
Infiltrator: QUIET! Do you WANT to die?
Mai: Not like this! You'll kill him!
Tem-Tar: Probably, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Matt grinds his teeth together, struggling to fight against the pain wracking his body.
Tem-Tar: He isn't struggling at all! It's going MUCH faster than with his sister. At this rate, he'll be drained in seconds! Kalask will be very pleased. Very pleased indeed!
Jeremy: NOT ON OUR WATCH!
Just outside the force field, the five Rangers arriving, running as fast as they can.
Walter: This doesn't look good, guys.
Jeremy: FORMATION V... NOW!
Jeremy kneels down, along with Anya and Cindy. Jake and Walter remain standing. All five draw their Data Rays and charge to full power.
Jeremy: FIRE!
The five Rangers unleash a powerful blast of energy in the form of an energized V, which strikes the force field. Overloaded, the field shatters.
Tem-Tar: NO! When did they gain THAT move?
Jake: Doesn't matter. You creeps just made a special lady cry, and I won't forgive that!
Anya: Release them immediately and be annihilated!
Tem-Tar: Don't you mean OR be annihilated?
Anya: No.
Tem-Tar: Oh dear...
He backs away from Matt, who collapses, dangerously weakened, but alive.
Tem-Tar: Bah! It doesn't matter! I have what I came for! Infiltrator!
Infiltrator steps forward, purposely going right over the prone Mai.
Infiltrator: Time to rumble, Rangers!
Tem-Tar opens a warpportal and steps into it.
Matt: WAIT!
He pulls himself up weakly.
Matt: You... promised... to save her...
Tem-Tar shrugs.
Tem-Tar: You asked me to spare her life. I am. I'm sparing her a life under Kalask's rule. Never let it be said that I am anything but merciful.
Still chuckling, Tem-Tar vanishes into the warpportal, which fades away.
Matt: NO!
Jeremy: Be ready for anything, guys!
Infiltrator: Even THIS?
Infiltrator holds up a vial of red nanites. Without hesitation, she opens it and swallows the contents. Immediately, the nanites begin to multiply, restructuring her into a gigantic behemoth.
Walter: Okay, raise your hand if you saw that coming!
Cindy: Not now, Walter!
Jeremy: It's time to bring out the big guns! COMBAT-
Matt: WAIT!
They turn towards Matt, who's crawled to Mai's side. She's barely conscious and in obvious pain. He holds her gently.
Matt: You can't just fight this monster the normal way! I need a chunk of her to save Mai!
Jake: You need WHAT?
Jeremy: There's no time to waste on explanations! We'll do what we can, Matt. COMBAT ZORDS... MOBILIZE!
At the Holding Bay, the ceiling above Razor Bat slides away, revealing blue sky. The platform starts to rise, taking the machine to ground level. Razor Bat reaches ground level. It's engines start powering up, superheating the air around it. The engines ignite, and Razor Bat launches into the sky. The floor of the Holding Bay tips upwards, forming a ramp as the ceiling slides away to reveal open airspace. Each of the four Combat Zords, MortarTread, WeatherTrain, LightTank, and BlastTruck, activate their cockpits before revving to life and rolling up onto the ramp, two by two. The Vehicles quickly reach the surface and pick up speed, catching up to Razor Bat easily.
Jeremy: Let's take her down!
He and the others leap up into their respective cockpits.
Jeremy: LOG ON!
Walter: Ready to rock!
Jake: Time to make her pay!
Anya: All systems activated.
Cindy: Let's save Mai, guys!
Jeremy: CYBER COMBAT MEGAZORD... COMBINE!
Jeremy pulls the lever down. The effect is immediate. The transformation begins by extending the engine thrusters out, revealing them to be the feet. They continue extending into legs. Next, the tips of the wings separate, revealing themselves to be hand weapons, which are easily caught by twin arms that come out of the sides of Razor Bat's main body and extend. The wings fold backwards from their midway point, while the Bat head cycles forward, becoming a chestplate. A new head rises from the main body, a odd mix of humanoid robot and bat. The transformation complete, Razor Bat lands on it's legs and stands ready for battle, weapons raised.
Jeremy: Initiate linkup!
The Rangers all nod and unsheathe their Data Blades as slots open for the weapons. They slide the weapons in, and their helmets all flash with the phrase "Megazord Initialized". Razor Bat flies into the air as it's legs fold in on themselves at the knees. The blade weapons return to the wings as the arms return to the main body of the mecha. The laser weaponry on LightTank retracts into various ports, while WeatherTrain closes it's weapons array as well. Blast Truck splits right down it's middle, forced apart by retrorockets. The two halves continue to race forward. They are joined by LightTank and WeatherTrain, which brace as Razor Bat flies down, back facing the ground, it's legs locking into the backs of the two mecha before they speed up, allowing BlastTruck to meet them at Razor Bat's shoulders. Blast Truck's halves moves in closer, revealing connector ports that lock onto Razor Bat and snap into place. MortarTread splits into two as well, the top half rocketing off and flying in behind Razor Bat as the treads and main body ride up the impromptu ramp created by WeatherTrain and LightTank. As it reaches the top of the ramp, it slams down onto the chest of Razor Bat, locking into place and revealing a stylized Cyber V logo, the Data Blade and a circle of binary code separating digital style letters CV. The other half of MortarTread begins a transformation as well, as the turret extends away from the remainder of the main body and turns around, revealing a helmet. The barrel rotates down the back of the barrel before the helmet snaps into place over Razor Bat's head. Finally, the combined machine takes to the air. The front ends of LightTank and WeatherTrain rotate forward, creating feet. The cab sections of BlastTruck move upwards as well, revealing two large metallic black hands. The missile launchers and missiles rotate and shift as well, forming massive shoulders. The remainder of MortarTread snaps into place on the back. The transformation complete, the new gestalt lands on it's feet and poses dramatically, raising and lowering it's fists as it's eyes light up green.
Cyber V Rangers: CYBER COMBAT MEGAZORD... ON-LINE!
The Rangers appear in a combined cockpit made of their five Vehicles' individual ones. Jeremy is in front, Walter to his left, and Jake on his right. Behind them are Anya, behind Walter, and Cindy, behind Jake.
Jake: Firing artillery!
The chestplate of the Megazord glows and fires, striking Infiltrator. As she sparks, on the ground, Ami convulses.
Matt: AMI!
Infiltrator: Careful, Rangers. Any damage I take, the girl suffers as well... And I doubt she can take much more as it is.
Jeremy grips the controls tightly.
Jeremy: There has to be a way to fight her...
Infiltrator: Speaking of damage... It's time I CAUSED some!
Infiltrator whips her hands out. Tentacles suddenly spurt from her body and wrap around the Megazord, tangling it. She laughs maniacally as she sends energy through the tendrils, rocking the Megazord. Managing to remain on it's feet, the Megazord braces for another round.
Anya: There must be a way to sever the connection between them!
Jeremy: I'm already working on it!
His helmet's visor flashes as he pulls out the Scanner Blade and focuses it on Infiltrator. Even as she sends another energy pulse through her tendrils, blasting the Megazord again, he sees the analysis.
Jeremy: It looks like a straight symbiosis... Any pain we inflict on the monster gets duplicated on Ami...
Cindy: So what do we do? Unless we make a move, this monster's got us cold!
Jeremy: Cindy, you're a genius! Anya, transfer all power to WeatherTrain!
Anya: On it!
Jeremy: Walter! Get ready to hit Infiltrator with the biggest blast of cold you can create! Don't hold anything back!
Jake: Wanna clue us in, Leader Man?
Jeremy: Infiltrator's ability relies on her biology... So if we can hit her with an instant deep freeze, it might break the link with Ami... At least long enough to try and save her!
Anya: Power transfer complete.
Walter: WeatherTrain's good to go!
Infiltrator: You're boring me, Rangers. I think I'll just end this, once and for all!
Jeremy: NOW!
Walter hits the controls, and all of WeatherTrain's weaponry deploys. Before the monster can react, all the weapons unleash a gigantic blast of near-absolute zero cold.
Infiltrator: NO! YOU CAN-
She stops mid-sentence, frozen solid. The tentacles holding the Megazord snap off and fall to the ground, unable to support their own weight. Crashing near Matt, a large chunk catches his eye. He grabs it and holds it to Ami's stomach.
Matt: Hang on Ami!
Ami: Matt... I... I knew you could save me...
Jeremy: Good job, both of you! Now let's finish this!
Rangers: LASER FIST DOUBLE THRUST!
Cyber Combat Megazord punches the frozen Infiltrator hard with a glowing left fist, and follows up with a punishing right. The two blows shatter Infiltrator, and her chunks rain down upon the battlefield.
Jeremy: Mission complete!
The five Rangers leap down, landing several yards from Matt. As they run up to check on Ami, they see him holding the chunk of Infiltrator against her body.
Jake: MATT! We got her! How's...
Jake's voice trails off. Matt's cradling Ami in his arms. The chunk of Infiltrator crumbles.
Matt: It's gonna be okay, Ami. I promise... You'll be all right... Please wake up... You've got to be all right...
She doesn't respond. Jeremy instinctively holds out the Scanner Blade, but he doesn't need to see it's readout to know what it says.
Matt: You can't be gone...
He hugs Ami tightly, her body little more than a ragdoll now.
Matt: We saved you... We saved you...
Cindy looks away, burying her head on Jeremy's shoulder. Furious, Walter punches the wall of the bunker. Anya watches the display stoically. Jake glares at her.
Jake: Don't you feel ANYTHING?
Anya: I've lost my entire world. I live this every day, Jake. How do you WANT me to react? This is the reality of fighting Kalask.
Matt's tears fall on Ami's face.
Anya: Sometimes, people die.
Location: Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Tem-Tar hands the Extractor to Kalask, who nods, satisfied.
Kalask: Excellent work, Tem-Tar. This was well worth sacrificing Infiltrator.
Tem-Tar: Indeed, Master.
Kalask: And the girl?
Midnai: Ding dong, the girl's dead. Honestly, I don't get it. It doesn't matter what reality you go to... You just can't help killing off poor little Mai, can you?
Kalask doesn't answer. He's too busy admiring the Venjix nanites, the core of his next twisted game.
Location: Corinth Memorial, Horizon
The Rangers, wearing full military dress, watch as Ami's coffin is lowered. General Sauder stands grimly by the side of Ami's parents. Her mother, sobbing uncontrollably, breaks down completely as she's handed a folded American flag. As a 21-gun salute begins, the camera pans out towards a tree off in the distance. Sitting under it, Matt watches the proceedings with Wendy.
Matt: This shouldn't have happened.
Wendy: Matt, there was nothing you or the Rangers could have done. Tem-Tar wasn't exaggerating. Ami was already living on borrowed time. When the connection to Infiltrator was broken... There simply wasn't anything left to sustain her.
Matt: Knowing that doesn't help. I was happy, Sis. For the first time in years... I was genuinely happy. And now... I've lost that... Lost her... And all I can think about is nailing Kalask to the wall for doing this to her.
He looks at his sister, furious.
Matt: It's time to begin Operation T.
Wendy blinks.
Wendy: You've got it, Bro. We'll make 'em pay.
She places her hand on his shoulder.
Wendy: Together.
Location: Infirmary, Fort Myers
Lying in a hospital bed, Lt. Conner puts on his earpiece.
Lt. Conner: I assume you already know what's happened.
A pause
Lt. Conner: No, I'll continue observation. But the situation is going to deteriorate quickly. Time is running out.
Another pause.
Lt. Conner: Understood, Sir. Over and out.
Location: Eltar
On the other end of the transmission, Doggie Cruger looks at Kat Manx and scowls.
Cruger: It's worse than we thought, Kat. MUCH worse...
END MISSION LOG
Next time: As Alphabet Soup makes it's move to take control of the Rangers, Kalask puts the stolen Venjix nanites to dangerous use. And when General Sauder puts himself in the line of fire, a new mystery begins... What is Operation T?