Chapter 11
Rangers Back in Time, Part I
(Original Posting Date: June 29th, 2009)
Dana and Carter arrived at the Angel Grove marina in the Rescue Rover, accompanied by Bridge, Sophie, Jack and Z, shortly after the call regarding Cole's death. Eric and Taylor were waiting for them in the parking area. While they normally both carried themselves with an air of confidence and a certain cockiness, their current expressions were simply a mix of grief and anger.
"We're so sorry about Cole," Dana offered as they approached them, taking a moment to give Taylor a hug. She was surprised yet slightly saddened by the former fighter pilot's ability to keep her emotions in check. Not a single tear flowed from her eyes, not the slightest shiver coursed through her body. Most assuredly, Taylor was keeping the strong façade up for the benefit of her team, but Dana knew that she had to be devastated inside. Next to her, Eric kept casting worried glances in his girlfriend's direction, quite likely for the same reasons.
The others also extended their sympathies. The small group then quietly made its way to the area where the Wild Force Rangers and Eric had found Cole. As they approached the fallen Ranger, they noticed that his former teammates, who all stood nearby, had covered up his body with their jackets.
Danny Delgado and Max Cooper, the Black and Blue Wild Force Rangers, stood side by side. Both of them looked down at the covered body. Danny's hand lay on Max's shoulder. The youngest member of the team sniffled as he wiped at his eyes.
Near them, Merrick Baliton, the Lunar Wolf Wild Force Ranger, held Alyssa Enrile, the White Wild Force Ranger, tightly in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head. For a moment, Dana could almost swear she saw a tear form in Taylor's eye as the other girl caught a glimpse of the young woman falling apart in Merrick's comforting embrace.
As Jack and Z led the four Wild Force Rangers away and Carter walked off, retrieving his cell phone from his pocket, Dana got down on her knees by Cole's body and removed the jackets that had been laid on him. She remembered the first time she'd met him, shortly after a mission he'd been on with Carter and a group of Red Rangers. There had been a love for life and a childlike sense of joy and wonder in him, a constant gleam in his eyes. Now, those same eyes lifelessly looked up towards the darkened sky.
Dana tried her hardest to maintain her composure, knowing that now was not the time to mourn this loss. Gently, she ran her hand down his face, closing his eyes.
"Dana?" Taylor asked simply as he knelt beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"There's no sign of a struggle," she answered, looking the body over. "The positioning of the legs and the angle the head's at suggest a fall. I couldn't tell you from what height, though."
"Twenty floors," Sophie stated from behind them, where she was standing with Bridge. "Cybernetic enhancements," she explained, pointing at her eyes, catching the other Rangers' curious expressions. "A scan of the body shows that all of Cole's bones have been crushed, as if he'd fallen off a twenty-storey building."
"But how's that even possible?" Eric asked, taking a quick look around them. "There's not a single building around us or any crane high enough. This is a completely open spot."
"Unless he was nabbed and dropped from the sky," Bridge suggested, raising an eyebrow.
"I heard him die," Taylor recalled, standing back up, her voice breaking slightly, the words coming out slowly. "He had a feeling something was wrong and so he called me. A dog was barking in the background, I had trouble making out what Cole was saying. There was this thud, and then I lost Cole. I think his phone was knocked out of his hand. The barking got louder and louder and so did a scream that ended with a loud crash. I'll never be able to forget that scream. He's dead."
They all stared at Cole silently. Realizing that they would discover nothing else, Dana covered him once again with the jackets of his teammates, feeling her eyes moisten.
"There have been two more deaths," Carter said into his cell phone as he kept a weary eye on his wife. He hated leaving her by herself in a moment like this but he knew this took precedence.
"Rangers?" Bill Mitchell, his father-in-law and ex-mentor asked him.
"Kendrix Morgan, Galaxy Rangers, and Cole Evans, Wild Force Rangers," Carter confirmed succinctly.
"You don't think you're all being targeted because of the anniversary, do you?" Bill queried.
"I don't know," Carter answered, shifting his gaze to the other group of Rangers. "Maybe, but I don't want to take any chances. Dana and I need you and Sammie to disappear, whatever it takes. If we're targets, then it's quite likely our families will be as well."
The line stayed silent for a few moments as Bill contemplated the request and its implications.
"Carter," he started to say, "I know that I can't expect you to leave the others at a time like this."
"Don't worry," Carter reassured his father-in-law, "I'll bring them both back safely. I promise."
Z and Jack were trying their best to comfort the rest of the Wild Force Rangers in the wake of Cole's death. However, such a feat proved to be too much to handle, particularly when faced with telling them of the fate which had befallen Kendrix. As much as they wanted to shield the grieving Rangers from such news, they knew that was not a luxury they could afford. With three dead Rangers, they had to assume that all their lives were in danger and therefore, sugarcoating things was not an option.
Z had worried that Alyssa, who had apparently been most affected by Cole's death, would completely shut down. Fortunately, that hadn't been the case, but that was most likely due to Merrick's calming presence and his whispered reassurances. He walked off with her, and they both sat down on a crate, Alyssa leaning her head against Merrick's chest as he stroked the back of her head.
As for Danny and Max, they were both too stunned to react to the news.
"What the hell is happening?" Max asked, the sorrow in his eyes replaced by fear.
"I wish I knew," Jack answered, meeting the other ranger's gaze.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," Z promised, looking in Danny's direction.
"We have to," he agreed, nodding firmly.
"Yes you do," she echoed softly as her right hand went up to her necklace, her eyes cast downward. She felt Jack's right hand slide into her left one, squeezing it lightly. When she looked back up, she noticed Danny eyeing her curiously.
"Is something wrong, Danny?" she asked him, drawing him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry," he answered, smiling a bit. "It's just that I have a little girl, Elizabeth. Your eyes, they're just like hers."
Z returned the smile, but at the same time, she fought back the emotions that were tearing her apart. She wanted nothing more than to tell Danny she was his daughter, only she didn't know if she should. Almost as if he could read her thoughts, Jack slipped his right hand in her left one and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Nearby, watching them all as they dealt with the death of one of their own, a tall figure stood atop a large metal container, shrouded in shadows.
Camille had been there ever since the Lightspeed and SPD Rangers had arrived, looking on at the scene playing itself out before her.
"It's begun," she whispered, her features grim and tight. Shortly thereafter, she shimmered away.
Outside the domed city of Corinth - The near future
The Venjix Human Infiltration Attack Bot known as Tenaya 7 was unable to hold back a satisfied smirk as, on the holoscreen display before her, Venjix's latest creation was annihilated in a flaming inferno by the RPM Rangers. It was always the same routine. Venjix sent in an attack bot, the Rangers destroyed it. Venjix 'initiated the download', transforming the downed bot into a towering monstrosity, the Rangers, using one of their many Zord configurations, destroyed it yet again.
It was all so predictable, just as the banter that normally followed Venjix's defeats. General Crunch would make an insignificant remark that would get him blasted on certain days. Venjix and General Shifter would on the other hand make light of the day's defeat and focus on their inevitable upcoming victory.
Still, for all their talk, they always fell in the same old routines, sending in one attack bot after the next, not realizing that just as their own creations evolved in terms of power and technology, so did the Rangers' equipment and their numbers. And so, the endless stream of defeats.
As the holoscreen went blank and as Venjix voiced his disappointment with the day's turn of events, Tenaya 7 rolled her eyes, waiting to be dismissed.
Eventually, Venjix let them all go, staying behind in his throne room. Tenaya 7 wasted little time getting out, followed by General Crunch and General Shifter.
"You seem particularly content, Tenaya 7," General Shifter commented, having noticed the self-satisfied smirk on her face as they'd departed the throne room.
"Perhaps that's because I've figured out how to do what no one else around here can," she answered as she kept walking towards her quarters. The other two kept up with her.
"And what's that?" General Crunch queried as they followed her into her room.
"Destroying the Rangers once and for all," she declared, picking up a small metal box from her bed. Opening it, she pulled out a new cybernetic hand implant.
"You see," she explained, looking at the two generals in turn, "what we've been trying to accomplish here, it's been done before. Unlike you two and the big guy though, I did my homework. I'm going to send the Rangers back in time, to the day where their legacy became history."
As the two generals cackled excitedly, confident in the imminent success of Tenaya 7's plan despite not knowing its details, she contemplated the final destruction of the Rangers. She looked at the hand implant she held in her hand and a sinister smile formed on her lips.
Angel Grove - 2009
Jen and Wes were waiting for the rest of the Time Force Rangers, minus Eric, to pick them up. Having initially planned to enjoy their time in Angel Grove, Wes had made them reservations at a much-hyped small French restaurant downtown.
Their quiet evening alone had been interrupted just as they were waiting for dessert when Lucas had gotten a hold of them, reaching Wes on his cell phone. The news he had delivered had shocked them both, particularly with regards to Cole, whom they had both fought with.
After Lucas' call, Wes had quickly settled the check and he and Jen had started to make their way to the location where Katie, Lucas and Trip were meant to pick them up.
"I can't believe this is happening," Jen declared as a shiver ran through her body.
"Neither can I," Wes conceded somberly, taking off his jacket and putting it on his fiancée's bare shoulders.
"Thanks," she said, looping her arm in his as they walked down the busy sidewalk. In response, Wes turned his head in her direction and tenderly kissed her on the cheek.
"So, whatever's going on," he started, "is that why the others are in such a hurry to get back to the future? Is it that bad? I mean, they even want me to come along."
Wes' question took her by surprise, but in a sense it had been inevitable. Jen had dodged the matter ever since her friends had brought up their imminent departure from the year 2009.
"It's complicated, Wes," she said simply, looking down. "Just like everything about time travel."
She left it at that and was glad when Wes didn't prod any further.
"Here," he said as he turned into a small alley. "This is where the others are going to pick us up."
Jen followed him although she wasn't particularly crazy about the rendezvous point. Not only was the narrow alley deserted, but it was also quite dark. Even with the warmth provided by Wes' jacket, Jen felt shivers run up her spine.
They waited in silence for a few minutes until three familiar figures finally appeared at the alley's entrance.
"It's about time you guys got here," Jen told them as they approached them. "Let's go."
"I'm sorry, Jen," Lucas apologized as he got closer, flanked by Katie and Trip, "but you're not going anywhere."
"No, you can't do this," Jen objected, seeing the expressions on their faces. Seeing that they were blocking her off, she started backing away.
"Wes, let's go," she said to her fiancé as she grabbed his arm. "Wes?" she repeated surprised, realizing that he wasn't budging.
"Sorry, babe," he said coldly. "This is the end of the road."
Andros, Carlos and Zhane were on the Astro Megaship's bridge, using the ship's communications systems to track down the last of those unaccounted for. TJ and Ashley had run off to the lab after Mike had called in Kendrix's death.
"What's our status?" Andros asked as he entered a series of commands on the panel in front of him.
"Just heard from Jason and RJ," Carlos announced from his station. "Zordon's original twelve and the Jungle Fury team are all safe."
"Zhane?" Andros continued, the anxiety obvious in his voice. "Talk to me. Any word from Karone?"
"Nothing yet," Zhane answered, clearly as worried about her as her brother was.
"D.E.C.A.," he ordered the ship's sentient systems, "initiate a city-wide search for Karone."
"Scanning now," D.E.C.A. confirmed as a map of Angel Grove appeared on one of the bridge's view screens.
"We'll find her Andros," Carlos said, joining in on the efforts to find his friend's sister.
"Incoming call from the lab," Zhane announced as he patched it through. "Teej, what's going on?" he asked.
"I tried to check the camera footage from the lab," TJ told them over the ship's intercom system, "but the cameras were disabled prior to Kendrix's death. They came back on after, though, and they got something. You guys aren not going to like this."
On the bridge's main monitor, static filled the screen for a few seconds before they got a view of the lab.
"It can't be," Andros whispered, shaking his head, his voice catching in his throat as they watched her step into the frame, her hands and clothes covered in blood just as she calmly exited the lab, her face showing no emotion.
The domed city of Corinth - The near future
The mysterious young man known only as Dillon and Ziggy Grover, the Black and Green RPM Rangers, were on their way down to the location of the latest attack by Venjix's forces. Dr. K, the young scientist who had created their powers and Zords had alerted them of the situation and informed them that their teammates had already been dispatched to deal with the threat. At their current speed, which was already well above the allowed limit, they would reach their destination in less than five minutes.
"So, Dillon," Ziggy asked from the passenger seat, "do you think of me any differently?"
"What're you talking about?" Dillon responded, taking a moment to look quizzically at the young man sitting next to him.
"I mean, I know it was like a big joke when I became a Ranger," he said, looking down at his Rev Morpher, which was strapped to his wrist. "Everyone thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to the team. Here you were, big, strong and brooding, fitting in perfectly in the group. But me, I'm the guy everyone just expects to screw up."
"That's not true, Ziggy," Dillon told him as he clutched the gear shift, getting ready to accelerate slightly. "Remember the time the Sat Bot blasted me off that building and you just jumped after me to save my life? You've got a good heart. We'd all place our lives in your hands."
"Really?" Ziggy pondered out loud with a smile, frowning a bit.
"Well, maybe you still have to prove yourself a bit more," Dillon answered, unable to lie.
Right then, Dr. K's voice started transmitting through their Rev Morphers. "Ranger Operators Series Black and Green," she said urgently, "I've lost the others."
"What do you mean, you've lost the others?" Dillon asked angrily as he turned his steering wheel sharply to the left. His car swerved into a deserted street, skidding a bit before he regained control. Next to him, Ziggy, surprised by the sudden application of centrifugal force, found his face squashed against the window.
"I mean it's like they fell off the grid, Ranger Operator Series Black," Dr. K answered, her voice transmitted to him through his Rev Morpher's communication relay.
"Owww," Ziggy complained as he pushed himself away from his door and strapped his seatbelt properly.
"They're not dead are they?" Dillon queried, shifting gears as he slammed his foot down on the gas pedal.
"No, they're not," Dr. K responded. "If they were, I'd still be able to track down residual energy from their morphers. Whatever's happened, I just can't detect them."
Angel Grove - 2009
The moon shone brightly in the clear sky, casting a faint light down on the quarry where the Rangers had fought so many historic battles over the years, the quarry where so many of them were doomed to fall.
Karone was perched at the top of a cliff overlooking the vast expanse of sand and rocks. A cool breeze sent strands of her hair into her face, yet she didn't push them aside.
She knew they would come for her, that it was only a matter of time until they found her. It was inevitable.
Karone brought her hands up slightly and stared at them, her expression cold and unaffected. They were covered in Kendrix's blood.
To be continued...
Not much to say this time around other than a huge thank you to everyone who's been reading and reviewing. It always makes me smile when I hear from you guys and it makes writing this story so incredibly rewarding. You're the best readers I could have ever asked for.
Now, a little plug. Last week, I finished posting a little two-shot story. It focuses on Bill and Dana Mitchell and it's called Daughters. I don't want to say too much, because much like End of Days, it's a bit twisty and I don't want to give anything away. Nonetheless, I think it's a nice short character-focused companion-piece to this story, especially considering Bill and little Sammie Grayson-Mitchell might get some face time here.
On to your reviews, because there was an onslaught of feedback following Cole's and Kendrix's deaths. I'm evil, I know, but that's why you all love me and this story. Thanks go out to Ms. Fairweather, prophet144, Whispering Ranger, Linnea212, Original-Red-And-Pink-4ever, diamond, 100TenMillion, BadWolf95, ImaSupernaturalCSI, Grass King, LoneWolfVampire13, Red shadow Ranger, Traitor-Hero, aznphoenix95, Pinkranger888, k-power80, Iron-Mantis, snake screamer, ChernabogRocks, SmartGurl9552, Puggles Master, crazedchick & cloverbot!
So, um, the theories as to who did it have started coming in. Let's see some more, you guys!Grass King asked me in his review what the second link Kendrix clicked on was. For everyone's benefit, I'll say it right here, right now, the second link isn't essential to figuring things out. This, my friends is the question: what was the first link? Then again, considering the reveals in this chapter, maybe you don't need to figure out the answer to that question...
Next chapter, more RPM, more Time Force (it is going to be called Rangers Back in Time, Part II, after all) and more overall goodness! Very exciting stuff coming up, including the best line ever, courtesy of the unique, the awesome, the Ziggy, next chapter. In the meantime, remember to hit that review button and send me your feedback and theories!
Power down!