Chapter 12: On A Timer
Inside of Madame Odius' lab on the Galaxy Warriors ship, Madame Odius began snickering as she picked up a vile off a rack. Madame Odius turned towards a monster resembling a steaming tea kettle and handed it the vile.
"What will this do?" The monster asked Madame Odius.
"Inside that vile is a lethal poison," Madame Odius told the monster. "It will not harm you, but it will harm whoever you decide to use it on,"
The monster popped the cork off the vile and quickly chugged the substance down that was in the vile.
"Ah, the steam inside me is growing fiercer!" The monster said as she laughed.
"Now get going Toxitea," Madame Odius said to the monster as she opened the door.
"Does it matter which Ranger I get?" Toxitea asked Madame Odius as she stopped at the exit.
"No, but make sure you get one of them," Madame Odius told Toxitea. "Galvanax will come for both our heads if you fail,"
"I won't let you down," Toxitea said as she bowed to Madame Odius.
Toxitea quickly headed down the hall and left Madame Odius by herself.
"Once one of the Rangers becomes poisoned, I will obtain their Ninja Power Star for myself," Madame Odius said as she giggled to herself.
Over at her house, Beth came walking down the stairs and saw her mother looking on her phone in boredom. Beth's mother looked up and saw Beth heading towards the door.
"Where are you heading?" Beth's mom asked Beth.
Beth let go of the door knob and turned towards her mother.
"I'm going to work," Beth told her mother. "I have to get there early because I have a delivery to make,"
"Since when did an antique shop do deliveries?" Beth's mom asked Beth.
"I don't know, but this person wants this item delivered to them," Beth told her mother.
"Alright, be careful," Beth's mom said as she turned her attention back to her phone.
"I will, don't worry," Beth said as she opened the door and headed outside.
Beth pulled out her phone and looked down at the time.
"This guy wants that dagger before rush hour," Beth said as she began walking down the street.
At Mason's house outside of the city, Ben was knocking on Mason's bedroom door trying to get him to come out. Ben began banging on the door impatiently causing Mason's father to step out of his room in confusion.
"What's going on?" Greg asked Ben.
"Mason hasn't come out of his room in a few days," Ben explained to Mason's father. "He's been hiding in there since Christmas,"
"Mason?" Greg said as he walked up to the door. "What's the problem?"
Greg waited with his ear next to the door for a response.
"Come on, we can talk about this together," Greg said to Mason through the door.
Greg sighed as Mason didn't respond to him.
"See, that's what he's been doing," Ben told Greg.
"Well, you go on and I'll keep trying to get to him," Greg said as he patted on Ben's shoulder.
"Alright, I'll see you guys later," Ben said as he walked by Greg.
"Open the door Mason!" Greg shouted at Mason as he began wiggling the doorknob.
Greg groaned in frustration as he leaned against the wall across from Mason's door.
"Teenagers," Greg said as he slid down to the floor.
Down in the Rangers base beneath the antique shop, Jirou walked into the lab where Logan was working on the computer by himself. Jirou approached Logan and saw that Logan's eyes were struggling to stay open and bloodshot.
"Did you not go home last night?" Jirou asked Logan as he sat down next to him.
"No, I've been trying to adjust our Ninja Comms since yesterday," Logan said as he rubbed his eyes.
"And you were supposed to go with Beth to deliver that antique dagger," Jirou said as he crossed his arms.
"Oh crap, I almost forgot about that!" Logan said as he quickly jumped to his feet.
"Hold on!" Jirou shouted as Logan began walking towards the door. "You can't drive across the city in your condition,"
"No one else has a license though except Mason," Logan said as he opened the door.
"Then I'll go with you guys to make sure everything goes smoothly," Jirou said as he walked over to Logan.
"Alright then, let's go wait for Beth upstairs," Logan said as he and Jirou began heading upstairs.
Jirou and Logan made it upstairs and saw Jun sitting behind the counter with her head lying down on the counter.
"Have any of the others showed up yet?" Jirou asked Jun.
"No, but the dagger is sitting right here," Jun said as she tapped on a box sitting on the counter.
"Grab the dagger and we'll go wait for Beth in my car," Logan said as he walked towards the front door.
Jirou grabbed the box and began making his way to the door as Jun left her seat.
"Hold on, I'm not getting left here!" Jun said as she ran out the door behind Jirou.
"Fine, but you're cleaning up the shop after work today," Jirou said as he got into the car.
"Whatever," Jun said as she rolled her eyes.
"What's this about?" Beth said in confusion as she walked up and saw everyone in Logan's car.
"Logan barely slept last night," Jirou explained to Beth as he hung his head out the window. "So Jun and I are going with you guys to make sure he stays awake behind the wheel,"
"Ok, sounds fine to me," Beth said as she opened a door.
Beth got into the backseat with Jun and closed her door as Logan cranked the engine.
"Let's hurry and get this dagger delivered and never do a delivery like this again," Logan said as he began driving down the road.
Back at Mason's house, Greg was still sitting outside of his son's room against the door. Greg sighed in disappointment and rose to his feet. As he turned towards the door, Greg began knocking on the door in concern.
"Mason, you can't stay in there forever," Greg pleaded to his son. "You'll need to eat something and get cleaned up,"
"Only if you get someone for me," Mason said from inside the room.
"Alright, who?" Greg asked his son.
A piece of paper slid out from under the door causing Greg to lean forward and pick it up.
"I'll go see if I can find them then," Greg said as he backed away from Mason's door.
Inside of his room, Mason was sitting against the wall pouting.
"He just had to show up," Mason said as he clenched his fist.
Mason slowly rose to his feet and began to stumble. Mason placed his hand on the wall and caught himself before he fell.
"Hopefully she'll come," Mason said as he walked over and sat down on his bed.
Outside of the city, Jirou and the others were riding down the road heading towards the delivery location for the antique dagger. Beth looked over at Logan who was driving and saw him beginning to doze off. Beth tapped on Logan's shoulder causing him to raise his head back up.
"I really need a nap," Logan said as he continued driving.
"Well you can't nap until we get this dagger delivered," Beth told Logan as she held the box in her lap.
"We'll find somewhere to stop on the way back," Jun said to Logan.
"That would be nice," Logan said as he yawned.
"We should be coming up on the house right now," Beth said as she looked down at the GPS app on her phone.
Logan slowed down and stopped in front of a trail that led to a large gate.
"This guy is rolling in cash if he has a gate like that," Logan said as he looked out the window.
Logan parked the car and removed his keys from the switch. Jirou stepped out of the car as a gentle breeze blew by.
"Is something wrong?" Jun asked Jirou as she got out of the car.
"Let's just get this dagger to the buyer," Jirou said as he began walking towards the gate.
The others followed Jirou up to the gate and came to a halt when the gate didn't open.
"State your purpose here," An elderly voice said from the speaker.
Beth walked up to the speaker and leaned up towards it.
"Yes, we're from the antique shop you bought a dagger from," Beth said into the speaker. "We're here to deliver your dagger to you,"
"Very well, hold on a second and wait for the gate to open," The man said to Beth through the speaker.
Beth stepped back away from the gate and began waiting for it to open.
"How long do we have to wait?" Jirou wondered.
The gate slowly began sliding aside screeching loudly.
"He needs to get someone to oil that gate," Logan said as he and the others walked through the gateway.
"Let's just get this thing delivered and get out of here," Beth said as she led the others down the path.
Behind the Rangers, Madame Odius leaned out from behind a tree and began snickering.
"This is perfect," Madame Odius said confidently. "Two of the Rangers aren't here,"
Madame Odius was surrounded by purple flames causing her to instantly teleport away.
"Whoa, this place looks old," Jun said as she saw the house in the distance.
The house was covered in dying vines and had weeds growing around the front yard.
"He needs to hire a gardener," Beth said in disgust as she walked up to the front door.
The door suddenly came open causing Beth to gasp in astonishment.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," An old man said to Beth as he stepped out of the way of the doorway.
"What should I do with this?" Beth asked the old man as she showed the box to him.
"Just set it over on the counter behind you dear," The old man told Beth as he pointed at the counter with his cane.
"How long have you lived here?" Jun asked the old man.
"Nearly forty years," The old man said as he smiled.
Jirou looked over and saw a picture of a young man with a girl dressed in a kimono.
"You're Japanese," Jirou said to the old man as he continued looking at the picture.
"Yes I am," The old man said as he chuckled. "I moved here when I was thirty,"
"What made you leave Japan?" Logan asked the old man.
"Ah, I just wanted to make changes to my life," The old man said as he walked over to Jirou.
The old man picked up the picture frame sitting on the counter.
"It was after I lost her when I moved here," The old man said to the teens.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Jun said to the old man.
"It's fine," The old man said as he sat the picture down.
The old man walked over to the box sitting on the counter and opened the box. He pulled out the dagger that was in its sheath covered in jewels.
"This is an ancient Japanese dagger," The old man told the teens. "I collect old weapons from Japan,"
"I bet you have a lot of stuff," Logan said as he leaned against the wall.
"Oh I do," The old man said as he chuckled.
The old man opened a door opposite of the front door and revealed a room where many weapons lined the wall.
"Holy moly!" Beth said in amazement at the old man's collection.
"I have many things," The old man said as he sat the dagger on a rack. "From katanas to shurikens,"
Jirou noticed a book on a bookcase and walked over and pulled it out. Jirou turned the book over and noticed a symbol on the cover of the book.
"Where did you get this?" Jirou asked the old man.
The old man turned towards Jirou and saw the book he was holding.
"Oh, I bought that book at an auction in Japan many years ago," The old man told Jirou.
"Where at in Japan?" Jirou asked the old man. "Near Takayama?"
"Yes, that's the place!" The old man said as he remembered.
"This book is about my family," Jirou said as he carefully opened the book.
"Are you serious?" Jun asked Jirou as she walked over to check out the book.
"Boy, may I ask you a question?" The old man asked Jirou.
"Yeah, it's fine," Jirou said as he looked over at the old man.
"What is your name?" The old man asked Jirou as he placed both hands on his cane.
"Jirou Takayama," Jirou said as he handed the book to Jun.
The old man's eyes widened as he dropped his cane.
"You're the one they speak of in that book!" The old man said in disbelief.
"He's right," Jun said as she showed Jirou the book.
"Jirou, the son of the new grandmaster, Ichirou, sacrificed himself to help his father seal the Demon King away," Jirou said as he read the sentence aloud.
"That's you that the book speaks of," The old man said to Jirou.
"Yeah, it is," Jirou said as Jun handed him the book.
"Then the rumors were true," The old man said as he turned away from Jirou. "The Demon King was set free,"
"He was, and he's not alone this time," Jirou informed the old man.
"As I thought, other demons are helping him," The old man said as he became worried.
"Now, who are you?" Jirou asked the old man.
"I am a friend of yours grandfather," The old man told Jirou. "I am Katsu Ishihara,"
"This old dude is Kiyomi's grandpa?" Logan said in confusion.
"Logan!" Jun said as she slapped Logan on the back of his head.
"Ow!" Logan said in pain.
"Go ahead and take that book with you Jirou," Katsu said to Jirou. "I'm sure it will be helpful to you one day,"
"Are you sure?" Jirou asked the old man.
"Yes, it belonged to your family anyway," Katsu said as he smiled.
"Thanks," Jirou said as he bowed to Katsu as his Ninja Comm began going off.
"Dad, what's the problem?" Jun asked her father through her Ninja Comm.
"I'm picking up signals of Buzzcams in your area," Hitoshi said to the Rangers.
"That's not good," Beth said to the others.
"Katsu, get somewhere safe," Jirou told Katsu.
"What's going on?" Katsu said as the front door was blown off the hinges.
Evil laughter was heard as smoke filled the room.
"Who's there?" Jirou said to the person laughing as he covered his mouth with his arm.
"It's the next contestant of Galaxy Warriors!" Someone shouted as the smoke began clearing. "Toxitea!"
Toxitea continued laughing as she had her arms raised high.
"Now of all times," Jun said in frustration.
"What're you kids going to do?" Katsu asked Beth as she helped him into another room.
"Don't worry, we'll make sure you and your home are safe," Beth said as she backed away from Katsu.
Beth closed the door and quickly turned towards Toxitea.
"Look, you can't just barge into an old man's home and expect to fight us," Beth said to Toxitea.
"Then we'll take things outside!" Toxitea shouted as she flipped back outside.
"We can't let her get away!" Jirou shouted as he pulled out his morpher.
The Rangers instantly morphed as they ran out the door and came up to Toxitea outside of Katsu's home.
"You might be the next contestant, but you'll be joining the rest of Norio's cronies on the failure list," Jirou said to Toxitea as he pulled out his Ninja Star Blade.
"Kudabots assemble!" Toxitea shouted as Kudabots leapt over her shoulders and landed in front of her.
"Let's take out these bolt brains!" Jirou shouted as he and the others went after the Kudabots.
A Kudabot swung its staff at Logan and caused a smoke cloud to erupt in its face. Logan dropped down from a tree above and slashed the Kudabot across the back easily defeating it.
"What happened to the Basher Bots?" Logan asked Toxitea as he dodged a Kudabot's staff. "Did you guys run out?"
"These stupid Kudabots are getting torn apart!" Toxitea said in frustration as she watched Jun attacked a Kudabot with her Morpher in Claw Mode.
"They get easier by the day!" Jun shouted as she pounced towards a Kudabot and struck it with her Morpher.
"You've got that right!" Beth said as she fired an arrow at a Kudabot far from her with her morpher.
The arrow struck the Kudabot in the head causing its head to explode.
"Now here's one for you!" Beth shouted as she fired an arrow at Toxitea.
Toxitea swatted the arrow away and began running towards Beth.
"I'll make your skin rot right off!" Toxitea shouted as she fired a powerful blast at Beth.
Beth jumped up to the tree branch above her and narrowly avoided the blast.
"Too bad!" Beth shouted as she fired another arrow at Toxitea while hanging from the branch with her legs.
The arrow struck Toxitea causing her to stumble backwards.
"Nice shot!" Jirou shouted to Beth as took out three Kudabots with a single slash from his sword.
"You're really getting on my nerves!" Toxitea shouted as her body began glowing.
"What's she doing?" Beth said in confusion.
Toxitea spewed a cloud of purple fumes towards Beth as Jirou shoved another Kudabot aside.
"Beth!" Jirou shouted as he began running towards Beth.
Beth turned towards Jirou and was shoved aside by him causing the purple fumes to surround Jirou.
"What is this?" Jirou said as he grabbed his throat.
"Poison created by Madame Odius herself!" Toxitea told Jirou.
Jirou demorphed as he fell to his knees gasping for air.
"Jirou!" Beth shouted in horror as she watched Jirou begin sweating and gasping for air.
Jirou fell to the ground and fainted after breathing in the purple fumes. Toxitea began laughing as Madame Odius slowly walked up beside her. Beth ran up to Jirou and quickly knelt down to check on him.
"What did you do to him?" Beth asked Toxitea.
"You better hurry White Ranger, because you and your friends only have twenty-four hours to save the Red Ranger's life," Madame Odius told Beth.
"You monsters!" Beth shouted as she demorphed.
"If you want the cure, you need to hand over all of your Power Stars," Madame Odius told Beth.
"That's not happening!" Logan said as he shoved a Kudabot aside.
"Then you will all watch as your friend dies tomorrow," Madame Odius said as she surrounded herself and Toxitea with purple flames.
The two of them teleported away leaving the Rangers with a dying Jirou in Beth's arms.
"Hang in there Jirou," Beth said in concern to Jirou.
On board the Galaxy Warriors ship, Madame Odius stepped out of the control room and began making her way to her room. Ripcon stepped out of his room and began storming towards Madame Odius.
"What have you done?" Ripcon said to Madame Odius as he grabbed her by the shoulder. "The Red Ranger was supposed to be mine!"
"He wasn't the target Toxitea was going for," Madame Odius told Ripcon. "She was going after the White Ranger if you watch the footage,"
"I don't care who she was targeting!" Ripcon shouted angrily as he punched the wall. "You just possibly killed my enemy!"
Madame Odius knocked Ripcon's hand off of her shoulder and turned away from him.
"Then you better hope they find a way to cure him," Madame Odius said to Ripcon as she walked away.
"I will make sure you pay for this!" Ripcon shouted at Madame Odius as she stepped into her room.
Ripcon turned away angrily and punched the wall again.
"To think my brother would go down that easily," Ripcon said quietly to himself.
Ripcon stormed back into his room and transformed back into his human form.
"If Jirou's friends fail, I will make sure he lives so I can be the one to end him," Seiji said as he looked at himself in the mirror.
Seiji grabbed the mirror and slung it across the room causing it to shatter.
Back at the antique shop, Logan's car quickly pulled up near the front door as the tires screeched loudly. Ben and Hitoshi stepped out from the backroom and saw Jun and Beth quickly get out. Ben ran outside and saw Logan trying to get an unconscious Jirou out of the car.
"Let me help!" Ben said as he helped Logan pull Jirou out of the car.
"What happened to him?" Hitoshi asked the girls.
"He was poisoned by Toxitea," Jun told her father as Ben and Logan carried Jirou inside.
"Get him downstairs so I can check on him," Hitoshi said to the boys as they walked by carrying Jirou.
Jun looked over at Beth and saw a horrified look on her face.
"He's going to be okay," Jun told Beth as she put her hand on her shoulder.
"Oh Beth, Mason's dad looking for you," Hitoshi said to Beth as he poked his head out of the backroom doorway.
"What did he want?" Beth asked Hitoshi.
"He wanted your help with something," Hitoshi said as he went back into the backroom.
"You go and check what Mr. Denning wanted," Jun said to Beth. "We'll take care of Jirou,"
"Alright, I'll be back in a few," Beth said as she headed towards the door.
Beth stopped at the door and looked back towards the backroom.
"I'll be back for you Jirou," Beth said to herself as she opened the door.
Beth walked off down the street and began heading to Mason's house.
Down in the lab, Jirou was lying on a table with an IV stuck in his arm. Hitoshi took a blood sample from Jirou's arm and rolled over in his chair to a microscope sitting on his desk. Hitoshi sat the blood sample under the microscope and began inspecting the sample.
"See anything?" Ben asked Hitoshi.
"Oh yeah, his blood is tainted by some kind of toxic poison," Hitoshi told Ben. "I'd say he might not even have a day left in him,"
"There's got to be something we can do," Ben said as he crossed his arms.
"I'll try and make a vaccine with a blood sample," Hitoshi told Ben. "You and the others should try and find Toxitea and see if destroying her will work,"
"Alright, I'll go get Logan and Jun and head out," Ben said as he nodded.
Ben left the lab and left Hitoshi alone with Jirou.
"Everything will be alright Jirou, just hang in there," Hitoshi said to Jirou as he began working on the computer.
Beth arrived at Mason's house in a taxi and stepped out of the car after handing the driver money. Beth began walking up towards the front door as the taxi drive drove off. Beth came up to the door and rang the doorbell.
"Come on, I don't have time for this," Beth said impatiently.
The door opened up and Beth saw Ron standing at the door.
"May I help you Ms. Tolbert?" Ron asked Beth.
"Mr. Denning came by the store looking for me," Beth told Ron.
"Ah, he is upstairs trying to get young Mason out of his bedroom," Ron told Beth as he let Beth inside.
"I had a feeling this was about Mason," Beth said as Ron led her to the stairs.
"If anyone can get to Mason, it's you," Ron said as Beth began walking up the stairs.
Beth came up to the top of the stairs and saw Greg sitting outside of a door in the hallway.
"Ah, there you are!" Greg said as he noticed Beth walk up.
"Has he still not come out yet?" Beth asked Greg.
"No, that's why I came to get you," Greg told Beth.
"Give me a few minutes with him," Beth said to Greg as she knocked on the door.
Greg walked away and headed downstairs.
"Mason, it's Beth," Beth said to Mason through the door. "You can't stay in here forever,"
A click was heard coming from the doorknob. Beth turned the doorknob and opened the door. Beth looked inside the room and saw Mason standing by the window.
"Close the door and lock it," Mason said to Beth.
"Why're you in here?" Beth asked Mason as she closed the door behind her. "We haven't seen you since Christmas,"
"I see you liked the necklace," Mason said as he noticed Beth wearing the necklace he got for her.
"I probably would've liked it better had it been properly given to me," Beth told Mason.
Mason walked over to his bed and sat down as he sighed.
"Do you like me?" Mason asked Beth as he had his back turned to her.
"What?" Beth said in confusion. "Of course, you're my friend,"
"No, not like that" Mason said as he looked over his shoulder.
"Oh, you mean like that," Beth said nervously.
"Well?" Mason asked Beth.
"No, we're just friends," Beth told Mason.
"I figured," Mason said as he turned back away. "Is there someone you like?"
"Is this really why you've been hiding in here the past few days?" Beth asked Mason.
"Give me an answer," Mason demanded as he rose to his feet.
Beth groaned in annoyance and turned away from Mason.
"I don't have time for this," Beth said as she went to grab the doorknob.
"Of course you like him," Mason said in disgust as he walked over to the window.
"And who is that?" Beth asked Mason.
"Ever since he showed up you've been this way," Mason said to Beth as he stared out the window.
"Jirou and I have nothing going on," Beth told Mason.
"It is inevitable though," Mason said as he sighed.
"Mason, I'm not dating anyone," Beth said as she approached Mason. "I haven't been in the mood to date anyone ever since my parents got divorced,"
"Well you sure seem to be in the mood when you're with him!" Mason said angrily to Beth. "Ever since he showed up you've helped him on multiple occasions and ignored the rest of us at school before we became Rangers!"
"He needed help Mason," Beth informed Mason. "Jirou was hurt, confused and lost his family and friends when I found him,"
"Leave!" Mason shouted at Beth as he pointed at the door. "Don't come back either,"
Beth walked over to the door as her eyes began watering. Beth went to open the door as she sobbed.
"He's dying Mason," Beth told Mason.
Mason turned towards Beth and saw that she was crying.
"He's going to die by tomorrow, and it's my fault," Beth said as tears ran down her face. "It should've been me that got poisoned,"
"Don't say that," Mason said as Beth fell to her knees crying.
"It's true, he's going to die because of me," Beth said as she punched the floor.
"I'm sorry that I lashed out at you," Mason said as he knelt down next to Beth.
"What do I do?" Beth asked Mason as she looked over at him.
"Go be with him for now," Mason said to Beth as he held his hand out to her.
Beth took Mason's hand and was helped up to her feet.
"What about you?" Beth asked Mason as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Give me a little bit to clean up," Mason said to Beth as he opened his door.
"I'll see you at the store later," Beth said as she stepped out of the room.
Mason closed the door as Beth walked away. Mason leaned against his door and slowly slid down to the floor.
"She doesn't just care about Jirou," Mason said as his eyes began watering. "She cares about all of us,"
Beth returned to the antique shop and made her way down into the lab. Beth walked into the lab and saw Jirou lying on a cot with an IV tube stuck in his left arm. Beth approached Jirou and saw that he was still sweating profusely. Beth pulled a chair over next to the cot and sat down beside Jirou.
"You've already lost your friends and family before," Beth said as she grabbed Jirou's hand. "It's not happening again,"
Hitoshi walked into the lab and saw Beth sitting next to Jirou holding his hand.
"Did you talk to Mason?" Hitoshi asked Beth.
Beth gasped and let go of Jirou's hand as she quickly turned towards Hitoshi.
"Yeah, he's okay," Beth told Hitoshi. "He'll probably be back tomorrow,"
"Well, the others are still searching for Toxitea in the city," Hitoshi said to Beth as he sat down in front of his computer.
"I'm assuming they didn't find anything?" Beth asked Hitoshi.
"Nothing at all," Hitoshi said as he continued working on an antidote for Jirou.
"I had a feeling this would happen," Beth said with a worried look on her face. "It looks like we'll have to do what Odius wants,"
"Beth, you and the others can't just hand over your Ninja Power Stars!" Hitoshi told Beth. "For all we know, Odius could fool us with a false antidote,"
"It's the only chance we have at saving Jirou though," Beth said as she rose to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Hitoshi asked Beth as he saw Beth heading towards the door.
"To talk to the others about this," Beth said as the door opened in front of her.
Beth left the lab as Hitoshi sighed.
"Maybe there's a way we can trick Odius?" Hitoshi said as he thought to himself.
Outside of Madame Odius' room on the Galaxy Warriors Ship, Ripcon opened the door to Odius' room and quietly snuck inside. Ripcon made his way up to another door and opened it. As Ripcon stepped into the lab, a computer screen was lighting up the dark room and caught his attention.
"What's this?" Ripcon wondered as he curiously approached the computer.
Ripcon leaned forward and started reading the document opened up on the computer.
"So she poisoned my brother," Ripcon said to himself as he scrolled down.
Ripcon came across a folder and began snickering as he clicked on it.
"If anyone's going to kill my brother, it will be me," Ripcon said as he read the document. "Odius will be furious when she finds out my brother was cured of the poison she created,"
Ripcon closed the folder on the computer and quietly made his way out of the lab.
"Now to inform the Rangers of this cure," Ripcon said as he exited Madame Odius' room.
Later that night, Jun walked down into the base and came into the lab where her father was continuing his work on a cure for Jirou. Jun looked over and saw Beth struggling to stay awake while sitting next to Jirou.
"Maybe you should head home," Jun said to Beth as she walked up beside her.
"I'm fine, but thanks," Beth said as she rubbed her eyes.
"He'll be fine, you don't have to worry about him all night," Jun said as she put her hand on Beth's shoulder.
"Jun's right, you could use some rest," Hitoshi told Beth as he continued working.
"Alright, I'll head home then," Beth said as she rose to her feet.
"Be careful on your way home," Jun said to Beth as Beth left the lab.
Jun turned back around and looked down at Jirou.
"You'll be better tomorrow," Jun said to Jirou. "I promise,"
Jun walked over to her father and looked on the computer as he continued working.
"Any progress?" Jun asked her father.
"Nothing is working," Hitoshi said as he sighed.
"Then I guess we'll have to go with Beth's plan," Jun said as she pulled out her Ninja Power Star.
"Jun, you and the others cannot give up those Power Stars for what could be a fake antidote," Hitoshi explained to Jun.
"What other choice do we have?" Jun asked her father. "Jirou will die tomorrow evening if we don't do something,"
"You won't be giving Odius your Power Star," Hitoshi told Jun as he rose to his feet and made his way over to a table.
Hitoshi pulled a cloth off of the table and revealed another set of the Ninja Power Stars.
"Wait, how is this possible?" Jun said in confusion.
"These are fakes," Hitoshi told Jun as he picked up the fake Red Ninja Power Star. "The only difference is that these do not have power within them,"
"Dad, this could actually work!" Jun said in amazement.
"This still could end badly though," Hitoshi told Jun. "That cure could still be false and have no effect on Jirou,"
"I know, but it's worth the risk," Jun said as she nodded.
"Alright, you go on to bed," Hitoshi said as he patted on Jun's head. "I'll stay up for another hour and try to find a cure,"
"I'll see you in the morning then," Jun said as she walked over to the door.
Hitoshi sat back down in front of his computer as Jun left the lab.
"Come on Hitoshi, the weight is on your shoulders right now," Hitoshi said to himself as he began typing.
In the streets of the city late at night, Beth was making her way back home for the night. Beth came to a halt as she began waiting for a car to go by so she could cross the street. As Beth continued waiting someone began whistling. Beth looked over her shoulder and could hear the whistling coming from an alley behind her.
"I need to speak to you," Someone said from inside the dark alley.
"No thank you," Beth said as she turned away and went to walk across the street.
"Do you not want to save the Red Ranger?" The mysterious person said to Beth.
Beth turned back around and saw a pair of glowing eyes in the alley.
"Who are you?" Beth asked the person as she slowly approached the alley.
"Someone who wants to make sure Madame Odius doesn't get what she wants," Ripcon said as he transformed into Seiji and walked out of the alley.
"Ripcon," Beth said as she went to grab her Ninja Power Star.
"I'm not here to fight you," Seiji said to Beth. "I'm only hear to help you save my brother,"
"Why should I trust you?" Beth asked Seiji.
"Because you and the other Rangers have something in common with me," Seiji informed Beth. "We all hate Madame Odius,"
"How do I know you're not lying and you're trying to help her?" Beth asked Seiji.
"I despise that witch," Seiji said in disgust. "I would be pleased to see her suffer in the flames of hell if I could,"
"So you know how to cure Jirou?" Beth asked Seiji.
"Of course," Seiji said as he smirked. "Odius was a fool and left her documents open on her computer,"
"Tell me how to cure him then," Beth said to Seiji.
"I'm not going to tell you exactly how, but I will give you a hint," Seiji said as he turned away.
"That's not going to save him!" Beth said to Seiji in annoyance.
"Settle down," Seiji said as he began walking away. "The cure is right under your nose,"
"What does that mean?" Beth said in confusion.
"Think of one of your little fairy tales!" Seiji said to Beth as he walked back into the alley.
"Right under my nose?" Beth said as she thought to herself. "And a fairy tale?"
Beth walked across the street still thinking to herself and headed on home.
The next day, Beth arrived at the base and saw the others sitting around the lab. Beth looked over at Jirou in concern and saw him still lying in his cot unconscious. Jun was inspecting the fake Ninja Power Stars as Beth walked over to her and picked up her fake Power Star.
"Hopefully this plan works," Jun told Beth.
"Even if it doesn't, I have a backup one," Beth said to Jun as she sat the Power Star back down.
"You do?" Jun asked Beth. "What is it?"
"Not completely sure yet," Beth said to Jun as she walked over beside Jirou.
"Then how can it be a plan?" Logan said in confusion.
"I just hope Mason comes to his senses and helps us out if things go bad," Ben said as he sighed.
"He'll be there," Beth said to Ben.
An alarm began going off causing Logan to rush over to the computer.
"Buzzcams are in the park," Logan said to the others.
"Let's get out there and get that antidote," Ben said as he followed the others out of the lab.
Over at the Denning residence, Mason was staring at himself in the mirror in his bedroom. Mason sighed and began making his way over to his door. Mason grabbed the doorknob and hesitated to open it.
"Come on Mason, someone's life is on the line this time," Mason said to himself as he opened the door.
Mason stepped out of his room and began making his way towards the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Ron was dusting off a vase with a duster. Ron looked up and saw Mason coming down the stairs.
"Ah, I see you've finally decided to leave your room," Ron said to Mason.
"I don't have time to talk Ron," Mason said as he walked past Ron.
"That's fine, just be careful," Ron said as Mason walked out the door.
Ron began humming as he continued dusting off the vase in front of him.
Mason took off running down the street and began making his way to the others who were heading to the park.
"Hang in there Jirou," Mason said to himself as he continued running.
A few minutes later at the park, the other Rangers arrived and saw that no one was around. Jun looked over at Logan and saw him holding the box containing the fake Power Stars cautiously. Evil laughter was then heard causing the Rangers to quickly turn around. Madame Odius was standing alongside Toxitea and a group of Kudabots.
"So, did you bring the Power Stars?" Madame Odius asked the Rangers.
"They're right here," Logan said as he held the box out in front of him.
"Go get them," Madame Odius ordered one of the Kudabots.
The Kudabot walked over to Logan and was handed the box.
"Now where's the cure?" Beth asked Madame Odius.
"Right here," Madame Odius said as she revealed a vile in her hand.
"Hand it over then," Ben said to Madame Odius.
The Kudabot handed the box to Madame Odius.
"Let's see," Madame Odius said as she opened the box.
Madame Odius looked inside the box and saw the six Ninja Power Stars lying inside of it.
"There's only six!" Madame Odius said to the Rangers. "Where's the Green Ninja Power Star?"
"Crap, we forgot Kiyomi's!" Logan said as he covered his face with his hand.
"It looks like you won't be getting the cure!" Madame Odius shouted as she dropped the vile.
"No!" Beth shouted in horror as she watched the vile shatter as it hit the ground.
Madame Odius and Toxitea began laughing evilly as Ripcon hid behind a tree watching.
"Go ahead and finish them off too," Madame Odius said to Toxitea.
"Yes ma'am," Toxitea said as her body began glowing.
"Without your Power Stars, you humans are useless!" Madame Odius said to the Rangers.
"Now here come the fumes!" Toxitea shouted as she laughed evilly.
A blast of water shaped like a dragon suddenly struck Madame Odius and Toxitea and knocked them away from the Rangers.
"Mason!" Ben shouted as Mason ran up with his Ninja Star Blade surrounded by water.
"But how is he transformed without his Power Star?" Madame Odius said in confusion.
"The Power Stars in that box are fakes," Jun said as she revealed her Ninja Power Star.
"That's right, we tricked a trickster," Ben said as he tipped his hat.
"Toxitea, destroy them all!" Madame Odius shouted angrily as she slung the box of fake Power Stars aside.
"Let's finish this tea kettle off and save Jirou!" Beth said to the others as she placed her Ninja Power Star on her morpher.
"Ninja Spin!" The Rangers shouted as they spun the Power Stars on their Morphers and instantly morphed as the Kudabots began running towards them.
Ben ran ahead of the others and blocked a Kudabot's weapon with his Rockstorm Guitar.
"Move over you scrapheap!" Ben shouted as he shoved the Kudabot aside.
"I'm glad to see you're back," Logan said to Mason as he and Mason struck a Kudabot together with their Ninja Star Blades.
"Now's not the time for reunions," Mason said as he pulled Logan towards him.
Mason hurled his Ninja Star Blade at a Kudabot that was sneaking towards Logan and hit it in the chest causing it to fall to the ground with the sword stuck in it.
"Thanks," Logan said as he watched Mason pull his sword out of the Kudabot.
"Stay on your guard," Mason said as he took off running towards Toxitea.
"Here comes the Blue Ranger," Toxitea said to herself as she noticed Mason running towards her.
Toxitea released a cloud of steam causing the entire area to become engulfed in fog.
"How are we supposed to fight something we can't see?" Mason said to himself as he came to a halt.
A blast nailed Mason in the back causing him to fall forward to the ground.
"I can still see you," Toxitea said as she laughed evilly.
Beth walked up on Mason and saw him slowly rise back to his feet.
"Where's Toxitea?" Beth asked Mason.
"I have no idea," Mason said to Beth. "I can't see anything through this fog,"
Mason placed his Ninja Element Star on his Ninja Star Blade.
"This should take care of the fog though," Mason said as he spun the Element Star. "Ninja Water Attack!"
Mason stabbed his Ninja Star Blade into the ground causing a circle of waves to shoot out of the ground around him and Beth.
"What's going on here?" Toxitea said in confusion as the waves approached her.
The wave crashed down on Toxitea and wiped out the fog in the area.
"We can see again!" Jun said as she kicked a Kudabot aside.
"You're up Beth," Mason said to Beth as he stepped back.
"Right," Beth said as she nodded and pulled out her Ninja Master Mode Power Star.
Beth placed the Power Star on her Morpher and spun it causing it to activate.
"Ninja Master Mode!" Beth shouted as she transformed along with her sword.
Toxitea rose back to her feet drenched from the waves.
"It'll take forever for me to dry off!" Toxitea said in frustration.
Toxitea looked over and saw Beth approaching her.
"Uh oh!" Toxitea said in horror.
"This is for what you caused!" Beth shouted as she pulled the ripcord on her Ninja Master Blade.
The shurikens in the blade began spinning as Beth prepared to swing the sword.
"This is for Jirou!" Beth shouted as she swung the Ninja Master Blade at Toxitea.
Beth hit Toxitea with a powerful slash easily tearing Toxitea in half and causing her to explode.
"Nice going Beth!" Logan said as he and the others ran up.
The Rangers Ninja Comms suddenly began going off as the Rangers demorphed.
"What's wrong Hitoshi?" Beth asked Hitoshi as she answered the Ninja Comm.
"Jirou's conditions are getting worse!" Hitoshi said in horror. "I don't think he has much time!"
"Not even defeating Toxitea could cure him," Mason said in concern.
"No, but I know something that will," Beth said as she began walking away.
"Really, what?" Ben asked Beth as he and the others chased after Beth.
The Rangers returned to the base and hurried into the lab where Hitoshi was standing beside Jirou. Jirou's heartrate was increasing with every passing second. Jun turned away in horror as everyone else stood near him in concern.
"Come on Beth, we don't have much time!" Ben said to Beth.
"Hold on," Beth said as she thought to herself.
"What do you know about this?" Mason asked Beth.
"Ripcon said something to me last night on my way home," Beth told the others. "He told me that the cure was right under our noses,"
"What does that mean?" Ben said in confusion.
"It could mean that the cure is obvious," Logan told Ben.
"Or it's literally right under our noses," Mason said as his eyes widened. "Or in this case, Beth's,"
"Did he say anything else?" Jun asked Beth.
"Yeah, that the cure is related to some kind of fairy tale," Beth told the others.
Mason snapped his fingers as he began smirking.
"I know what it is!" Mason said to the others.
"What is it?" Hitoshi asked Mason.
"Our mouths are right under our noses," Mason said as he pointed at his mouth.
"What does that have to do with a fairy tale though?" Logan said in confusion.
"Sleeping Beauty!" Beth said as her eyes widened.
"That's it!" Mason said as he pointed towards Beth.
"Wait, doesn't that mean Beth must kiss Jirou?" Logan asked the others.
Beth's face turned red as everyone looked towards her.
"Oh, I guess that's right," Beth said nervously as she twiddled her fingers.
"Hurry up and get it done before he dies!" Jun told Beth as she pulled her towards him.
"Fine!" Beth said as she pulled her arm away from Jun.
Beth gulped nervously as she slowly leaned down above Jirou.
"Just do it!" Logan shouted at Beth.
Beth gently kissed Jirou on the lips and quickly rose back up as Jirou's body began glowing.
"I think it worked!" Hitoshi said as dark purple fumes began exiting Jirou's body and fading away.
"Please," Beth said quietly to herself as Jirou's heartrate began slowing down.
Jirou's eyes slowly opened and revealed Beth standing above him.
"What's going on?" Jirou asked Beth as he struggled to lean up.
"Stay down, your body is still weak from the poison," Beth said to Jirou as her eyes began watering.
Jirou looked over and saw the others smiling at him.
"Did I miss something?" Jirou asked Beth.
"Yeah, quite a bit," Beth said as she smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Well Beth did just kiss you," Ben told Jirou.
"What?" Jirou said in confusion as Beth looked towards Ben with an evil glare.
"Keep your mouth shut!" Beth shouted at Ben.
"Am I not supposed to tell him that he almost died?" Ben said as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Shut up!" Mason shouted at Ben as he slapped Ben's hat off his head.
On board the Galaxy Warriors ship, Ripcon made his way into the control room where Madame Odius and Galvanax were waiting on him. Ripcon sighed as he leaned against the wall.
"I wouldn't be getting so comfortable if I were you," Madame Odius said to Ripcon.
"Oh and why's that?" Ripcon asked Madame Odius as he leaned off the wall.
"Because you helped the Power Rangers," Galvanax said to Ripcon.
"Is this a joke?" Ripcon asked Galvanax.
"Madame Odius caught you sneaking into her lab on camera," Galvanax told Ripcon.
"And somehow the Red Ranger is miraculously cured of the virus I created for Toxitea to infect him with," Madame Odius said to Ripcon.
"Then it appears you were just outsmarted by the Rangers," Ripcon said as he chuckled.
"Then explain the audio file we received from a Buzzcam where we hear you speaking to the White Ranger," Galvanax said as he held a Buzzcam in his hand.
"Fine, I did give the White Ranger a hint at how to cure the Red Ranger," Ripcon told Galvanax.
"So he admits it," Madame Odius said as she crossed her arms.
"I did it because I want to be the one to destroy the Red Ranger," Ripcon said as he looked over at Madame Odius. "I'm not a coward; I'm a warrior who will kill anyone who stands in my way with my blades,"
"Then that's what you'll do," Galvanax said as he rose to his feet.
"What?" Ripcon asked Galvanax.
"You will be the next warrior we send down to Earth," Galvanax said as he pointed at Ripcon. "So you better get to training,"
"Whatever, at least I get what I want from this," Ripcon said as he stormed out of the room.
Ripcon turned a corner and stopped as he punched the wall.
"That damn eavesdropper ratted me out!" Ripcon said in frustration. "Once I'm done with Jirou, she will be next,"
Back at the antique shop, Jirou was lying in his bed reading the book he was given to him by Kiyomi's grandfather. The door slowly opened causing Jirou to look away from the book. Beth walked into the room with a paper bag in her hand.
"What's that?" Jirou asked Beth as he closed the book.
"Just a snack from the sandwich shop down the street," Beth said as she sat the bag down on the desk next to Jirou's bed.
"Thanks," Jirou said as he grabbed the bag.
Beth went to walk out the door as Jirou opened the bag.
"Is it true?" Jirou asked Beth.
Beth came to a halt and slowly looked back at Jirou.
"What?" Beth asked Jirou.
"Did you really kiss me?" Jirou asked Beth as he smirked.
"Ask me that again and I'll make sure I don't save you next time," Beth said as she walked out the door.
Beth closed the door as Jirou chuckled and left him by himself.
"He seems to be doing better already," Mason said as he walked up.
"Yeah, he does," Beth said as she nodded.
"He's lucky to have someone like you in his life," Mason said as he turned away from Beth.
"Can people stop acting like we're a thing because I kissed him?" Beth said in annoyance. "I had no choice!"
"Oh you'll be doing more than kissing when the times right," Mason said as he headed downstairs chuckling.
"Mason Denning I'm going to make you regret saying that!" Beth shouted angrily as she ran after Mason downstairs.
Inside Jirou's room, Jirou sighed while reading his book after hearing the commotion outside his room.
"Man, teenagers are so immature these days," Jirou said as he turned the page in his book.
Jirou closed his book and set it aside. He reached into the bag and pulled out a sandwich and took it out of the paper wrapped around it.
"Oh come on, she knows I hate mustard," Jirou said in disgust when he saw that there was mustard on his sandwich.