Chapter Twenty One. Project Apex.
Previously On Poké Rangers Genesis Overload...
As they didn't hear from Katie on her mission to infiltrate the Coppinger Blood Facility, the other rangers started to grow worried. Meanwhile, as her mutation began, Katie flipped out and used her heat powers to break free. Defeating both nurses, she hooked up with Tara and Paige who had come to find her. Going their separate ways, they each tried to find a way to stop Dennis' plot to kill everyone in Verger with a nerve agent. While Paige found an antidote, Tara faced Dennis, yet was unable to defeat him, even with the use of her Battlizer. As the fight destroyed most of the consoles, she made her escape. Meanwhile, Katie, still mutating, entered a biometric scanner in order to fly the Hunter Gliders. Taking command of one, she managed to shoot down most of the gliders before battling the leader. In destroying Poké Hunter K, she managed to get healed thanks to the antidote before lapsing into a coma for two days. Meanwhile, Bill started to work on repairing the glider that she'd stolen...
"Here's a wacky suggestion," Luke said, looking over from where he was reading a magazine on golf. "A really wacky suggestion."
"Go on, I'll bite," Xavier remarked, glancing up to him. "What's your wacky suggestion?"
"Mini golf," he replied. "That's what I'll do. Take her for mini golf..."
"I don't think that's such a great idea," Xavier said. "She doesn't really... I just don't think that it's a great idea."
"Any better ideas?" he asked. "If you're going to be so constructively critical."
"Well, I'm probably not the best person to ask," he replied. "Maybe you should go ask Duo. Or Ryan. Or hell, even Katie. Maybe Lance. That guy's probably had some major tail in his day."
"Bill, not so much I'd wager," Luke muttered, slightly cruelly.
"I don't know," Xavier said. "He and Miranda seemed pretty tight. You have to wonder if they ever..."
"Actually, I haven't," the purple ranger replied. "Believe it or not."
"I still can't believe that it took you this long to follow up on it," Xavier remarked. "It's only eleven long months since you collapsed on the floor in our old room in the Aquabase and professed your love for her. You don't half make things hard for yourself, I can't imagine the desperate lengths of obsession you've gone through in that time..."
"I'm not desperate."
"... And now, you do get her to agree to go on a date with you, albeit because she lost a bet..."
"That always sounds so much worse than it actually is."
"... You're free wheeling all over the place, turning into a panicking mess. Grow a spine!"
Gen-esis Over-load.
Season logo appears. Lightning crackles in the background, followed by rain and then fire. The Psychic, Grass and Dark symbols appear behind them.
Poké Rangers! Go!
Cities and towns of Verger appear. Peace occurs throughout.
Coming together to fight the evil
G-Force rangers face Regli. SDI rangers face Queen Misteria.
They will always save the day.
Katie flips through the air, firing Heat Blasters. Other rangers pose with weapons.
Poké Rangers! Go!
The Overload Megazord falls through the air, battling Garbot.
But then they lost their edge!
Rangers fall to the ground, old costumes vanish away. Dogbots celebrate their victory.
Poké Rangers! No!
The Coppinger logo appears on the horizon. Shadows fall across the land.
Gen-esis Over-load
Lance appears with his Dragonite. Bill and the Silver Gyarados appears behind him.
It's time to battle...
The rangers arrive on Ragnar Island. Rock shows them to the temple.
Poke Rangers! Go!
Xavier picks up the Water Stone. Xavier Jackson. Blue Genesis Ranger. Created by Blazin' Saddles.
Power of the Eevee!
Ryan picks up the Leaf Stone. Ryan Leopard. Green Genesis Ranger. Created by Hotrod198.
Poké Rangers! Go!
Nahir picks up the Thunder Stone. Nahir Moon. Yellow Genesis Ranger. Created by Famousgirl01.
Power of the Eevee!
Katie picks up the Fire Stone. Katie Myers. Red Genesis Ranger. Created by Blue Bongo.
Genesis Overload!
Duo picks up the Dusk Stone. Duo Roronoa. Black Genesis Ranger. Created by JMB2NAMI.
Poké Rangers!
Luke picks up the Sun Shard. Luke Sunderland, Purple Genesis Ranger. Created by MakubeDaKiddX.
Genesis Overload!
Paige sticks her head through a wall, smiling. Paige Martinez. Created by Famousgirl01.
Power of the Eevee!
The six rangers morph. The Cobra Rangers appear.
Poké Rangers! Go!
The Hover Chasers carry the rangers into battle. Explosions occur behind them.
Verger needs you!
Mal and Tim look around, inanely. Before being chased by Golbat.
To fight that evil!
Dennis, Arbok and other enemies appear. Dennis holds the Genesis Book up high.
And save the day!
Rangers search for artefact's. Dorlinda appears.
Poké Rangers! Go!
The six rangers transform into their Eevee forms. Then, they transform into their Zords.
Power of the Eevee!
The Cobra Rangers transform into the Silent Strike Megazord.
Fight! Fight! Fight! Win!
The Overload Megazord begins to form. It fires the Genesis Blaster.
Power of the Eevee!
The Coppinger Aerial Platform crashes to the ground and explodes.
Poké Rangers! Go!
Camera pans out to show the rangers relaxing on the Silver Gyarados. Dorlinda watches over them.
Genesis Overload!
Poké Rangers Genesis Overload created by Blue Bongo. Verger region created by Blue Bongo. All other rights reserved.
Poké Rangers! Go!
"I heard shouting," Duo commented, looking on into the room. "Who's yelling at who? Can I join in?"
"Duo," Luke said. "Just someone that I wanted to talk to."
"Really?"
"No, not really, but you'll do."
"Oh, thanks for that," the black ranger replied, sarcastically. "What can I do for your royal lowness?"
"That's a burn for a start," Xavier commented. "You want some jam, because you've been toasted."
"Okay," Luke said, ignoring both of them. "I'm calling that date in with Nahir..."
"Right..." Duo replied, folding his arms. "And you're telling me because..."
"Just looking for some personal input."
"And, you're asking me?" the black ranger asked. "Maybe that's not the best thing to do. I've got an awful record lately. Ever since what happened with Danni..."
"Could you just confirm something with that actually," Xavier wondered. "Is it true that Paige and Mitzi gave you a bit of a beating on the Kyogre MegaShip for the way you ended it with her?"
"Well, I couldn't turn invisible then," he replied. "So, no escape."
"Anyway, back to my problem," Luke said, sounding annoyed at the way it had broken away from him. "Just... It's not a particularly well kept secret that I like Nahir..."
"I didn't know," Duo replied. "Ryan doesn't know. Lance doesn't. Bill doesn't. She doesn't. And Katie..."
"Does," Luke said, shooting a glare at Xavier who began to whistle innocently. "And Xavier does as well... Which..."
"I only told Katie in a moment of weakness," the blue ranger protested. "Like you've never had a moment of weakness."
"Only because you've never told me any of your secrets."
"Can you blame me? You'd probably use them against me..."
"Anyway, what was your point?" Duo asked, breaking up the argument momentarily. "You've got a thing for Nahir... Actually, now you mention it..."
"I'm just trying to think of a way to get a second date with her," Luke explained. "Or, at least not to completely blow the first one."
"Ah, you've got a tough task there then," Duo said, breezily. "My advice to to you..."
"This ought to be good," Xavier muttered. "Really really good."
"... You've already got a good prior knowledge of her. Who she is, what she likes. Use it."
"Hmmmm..."
"Gah," Jake complained, as he and Hawk walked into the crowded conference room. Finding it already full of other Coppingers, everyone apparently waiting for the two of them. "We got here as fast as we could..."
"Yet, you're still four hours late," Dennis said, coldly. "Do you have any reasonable excuses? Any possible reason at all why we shouldn't destroy you for a lack of respect?"
"Because we've got half of one of the artefacts?" Hawk offered. "And it's more than the rest of you put together."
"Sit down and shut up," the Coppinger leader ordered, the two of them quickly taking their seats. "Okay, so the last plan was a failure..."
"I like the way that you let us in on that," Noland remarked. "Try to kill everyone in the region, while we're in there and unaware as well."
"Calm down," Arbok said. "That toxin would not have affected you."
"Since it was all destroyed, we're not likely to know if you're lying or not," Copper remarked. "Honestly..."
"If all we're going to do is hurl around insults like an Aipom will throw its own faeces," Harley interrupted. "Then, why are we here?"
"You know why we're here," Fuller snapped. "So cut the crap and stop trying to play peacemaker. You're just as prone to violence and fury as the rest of us. Don't pretend to come out with some pacifist crap."
"Well, I'm certainly harbouring non-peaceful thoughts towards you, Fuller," Harley replied. "I know why we're here, I'm just trying to get the conversation rolling before it turns nasty."
"Shut up, pillow biter," Hawk said. "That nasty enough for you?"
"Anyway..." Arbok interrupted, trying to get some attention. "Our collaboration effort is almost ready. For the last months, ever since we discovered our unusual powers, our own unique ways of getting things done, we've all put our own effort into creating the ultimate fighting machine. Capable of destroying both sets of rangers."
"The Cobra Rangers," Meredith said, breezily. "Whose general idea was it to unleash those on the world again? Because that was such a great plan."
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Dennis growled. "What have you done, other than pick a pointless feud with the yellow ranger?"
"Anyway, back to Project Apex," Noland said, interrupting the conversation. "We set this on the rangers, they won't be able to handle her. None of them will. She destroys them, makes decorations out of their bones and we conquer the region by finding the artefacts and..."
"Well, the suspense is killing me," Harley snickered. "How much longer?"
"Hey there."
Looking around from where she was leaning against the rails at the side of the boat, Nahir saw Luke coming over towards her. An uneasy expression on his face, as he came to join her.
"What's going on?" she asked. "What's up?"
"Well..." he replied, pulling at the collar on his shirt. "You remember that thing a couple of weeks ago? When the angel that was not an angel attacked us?"
"Yeah..." she said. "Incredibly, I do. Since I was more or less taken control of by the thing. How am I supposed to forget that?"
"Okay, that was a dumb thing to ask."
"Well, we're agreeing on that," Nahir replied. "So, let me guess. You're uneasy because you remember a certain bet that was made and you're trying to bring it up as a reminder."
"Okay, wow," he said, mock sarcastically. "That sounded so much better than the way I was going to broach it."
"It was just a guess," she replied. "But, you're easy to read. Like a book."
"No comment about me being thick coming up?" he wondered, raising an eyebrow. "I'm surprised."
"You expect too many bad things from me," she replied. "So, what are you...?"
"That date..." he said. "You over those traumatic experiences yet?"
"Just about," she replied. "So, when you want to do it?"
"How's tomorrow night for you?"
"Barring an unexpected monster attack," Nahir said, smiling at him. "I don't have anything on my schedule."
"Terrific," he replied, returning the smile. "So... I'll let you know what's happening tomorrow."
"Okay then," she said. "I look forward to it."
"This is..." Meredith muttered, looking down at the figure below them. "What did you do to her? Who was she?"
"Some wandering coordinator that we grabbed up off the streets," Copper told her. "Nobody missed her, we haven't heard anything on the law enforcement front."
"Helped out by the fact that we had her write a bogus letter to her family," Fuller said. "Under persuasion of course."
"That was your part of the project?" Harley asked. "Random kidnapping? Suddenly you look a whole lot less important than the rest of us."
"Everyone had their own role to contribute to this," Dennis growled. "That was rather an important part. Get a suitable test subject."
"It wasn't easy actually," Copper remarked. "Couldn't just grab anyone. Had to have specific readings..."
"Pre-requisites," Fuller confirmed. "We scanned about twenty people a night before finding her. And believe me, it's not easy to wander around sneakily when you look like this."
Upon saying this, she rounded away onto Noland. Loudly admonishing the former Frontier Brain.
"When are you going to work on those holographic projectors that can make us look normal again."
"Probably never," Noland replied. "I don't need them. I'll spend most of my time in the lab if need be."
"I can manage in disguise," Meredith said, looking over to Fuller. "But then again, no surprise that I can pull it off better than you. Because..."
"Disguise is a good look for you," Fuller snapped. "Because the less we can see of you, the better."
"Bitch fight!" Jake called, more out of hope than expectation. Both Fuller and Meredith shooting dark looks at him, both apparently wanting to claw him to pieces.
"Anyway," Dennis said, drawing back their attention. "We're almost ready to activate the Apex project. All it takes is..."
"For me to hit the button," Arbok interrupted, holding up a remote. "Because, we built her that way. Coated her bones with an indestructible metal, added some cybernetic upgrades to the vital organs to cope with it, healed the wounds with energy from the Genesis Book and then had Harley inject her with his venom and Jake send the powers of darkness running through her. All in all, we now have the Apex."
"What are you waiting for?" Dennis asked, annoyed. "Someone to burst into applause?"
"Just setting the atmosphere up," his henchmen replied, punching the button. The figure on the table instantly sitting up and looking around. Getting off the table, she began to take in more of her surroundings.
"Suddenly, I don't feel so ugly," Meredith commented, sarcastically.
"Me neither," Harley agreed. "I don't know what the dear was like before, but..."
One half of Apex's face was entirely machine. A huge red eye in one of the sockets, while the other half of the face seemed to be that of a Mew. Although, it did have one horn made of organic matter rising up out of the top of its head, while another horn, this one metallic could be seen on the metal half of the face. The body looked like a Mew's, but it was covered in black fur and the arms and legs looked more like a Machamps than those belonging to a Mew. At the end of the arms were Weavile claws, while the tail behind her resembled the rear end of a Seviper.
"Our monsters are not meant to be beautiful," Mitchell pointed out. "But, this is almost certainly the ultimate destroying machine."
"Project Apex activated," the figure said, in a low voice, responding to his words. "Ready and awaiting instructions."
"Your instructions..." Dennis remarked, a smirk on his face as Apex turned towards him. "Those will come in time. For now. Train."
"At once, sir."
"So, what are you going to...?" Ryan started to ask, before pausing. Almost like a thought had hit him. "Is that the reason that you arranged it for tomorrow night? So you've got the rest of today and most of tomorrow to think of something."
"Oh, I've already got most of it planned out," Luke replied. "She likes food from Sinnoh..."
"Not surprised, it's awesome," Ryan said. "Sinnoh food..."
"... Are you kidding?" Duo asked. "Johto food rules everything. It could beat Sinnoh food with both hands tied behind its back and heavily hung over."
"No, it makes you hung over with the amount of alcohol that they put in it," Xavier pointed out. "While Hoenn food is healthy, tasty and easy on the stomach."
"Yeah, I don't think that you're going to find anyone to agree with you there," Luke commented. "Having been raised in the Orange Islands... It's a lot of water type Pokémon meat, like Goldeen. It's quite easy to get hold of. This will be an interesting change."
"It's not like you've never eaten anything else though," Xavier remarked. "I've seen you do so in the Aquabase."
"I never said that I wouldn't," he replied. "But, Sinnoh food... Safe bet."
"Where are you going?" Ryan wondered. "Just out of..."
"Taste Of Sinnoh," Luke said. "It's a new place that opened up in Agueros Town. A friend of a friend recommended it."
"Ah," Ryan replied. "Well, let me know what it's like, I wouldn't mind having some home cuisine at some point."
"Well, don't show up tomorrow," Luke said. "Otherwise, I'll play Piebola with your head."
"She's like a machine," Harley remarked, folding his arms as the group watched Apex train in the makeshift area. Battling against the Dogbots that Noland had rustled up at short notice, she was easily toying with them.
"Technically, she is at least thirty percent cyborg," Mitchell pointed out. "So, that's why that looks like that."
"If I wanted to hear your opinion, I'd have asked," he sneered. "Just making a point."
"Proficient in several forms of unarmed combat," Noland said. "Deadly in even more."
"So, what's her weakness?" Jake asked, coming over while eating a sandwich. Watching her attack with violent intent, throwing out a fist to take down a Dogbot with scant concern. "Assuming that she has one?"
"Why would she have one?" Arbok asked, leaning over. "Assuming that we gave her one."
"In case she pulled the same act that the Cobra's did," Jake replied. "And turned on you."
"Her weakness," Arbok said. "It's in her head. A control chip. Remove that and she starts to shut down. Whether it would be enough to stop her on its own is debateable, but it would definitely render her weakened."
"Good thing it's surrounded by an almost impenetrable metal," Noland commented. "Otherwise, we'd be worried."
"So, if it's surrounded by that, how are you going to get to it if she turns on you."
"Self destruct button."
"Oh."
"Are you really sure that you want to go through with it?" Katie asked, glancing down at the yellow ranger. "Because..."
"Two things," Nahir replied. "One, it was your idea, and two, I'm not going to back out of it."
"Yeah, it was my suggestion, but you didn't have to agree to it."
"Because I never thought that I'd lose that bet."
"That's the chance you take when you gamble," Katie remarked, stretching out. Wincing slightly at the bruises that still marked her body. "Which is the reason that I don't do it."
"Isn't what you did recently with taking that mutating serum gambling with your life?" Nahir wondered. "If you want to get technical about it."
"Actually, that was more accidental," the red ranger replied. "But, it's not about me. More about you. And Luke."
"You should have seen him earlier," Nahir said, with a smile. "When he came up to me with the reminder. He was so nervous. It was kinda cute in its own way."
"Well, you never know," Katie commented. "You go on a date with him, it might go well. Maybe you end up on another with him."
"Anything's possible, I suppose," Nahir replied. "Some more possible than others. I mean... That wouldn't be the worse thing..."
"Nahir, how do you really feel about him?" Katie wondered. "As a whole?"
"Honestly?" she asked. "I don't know. I mean, sometimes he can be so annoying. He can open his mouth and be really callous..."
"Yeah, I do hang around with him, you know. It is something I have noticed."
"But, other times he can be a really nice guy. Really balanced and sweet. If I knew which Luke was constantly going to be there..."
"Well, that's the chance you have to take," Katie said. "You need to find out the real Luke and decide how you feel about him."
"Oh goody," Nahir replied, the resignation in her voice. Before perking up slightly. "Then again, it could be good. I mean, what's the worse that could happen?"
"Hmmm..." Dennis said, glancing over to Arbok. His scientist toying with the remote control for Apex as he returned the gaze. "What do you think?"
"About what?" Arbok wondered, tossing it up into the air before catching it in one hand. "What do you...?"
"You think Apex is ready to go out and start causing chaos yet?"
"She's been training for over a day," Arbok replied. "She'd probably have been ready to go after four hours."
Gritting his teeth together, Dennis closed his eyes for a moment. Almost desperately trying to avoid venting his fury at the scientist. A losing battle, he quickly realised.
"Then, why didn't you tell us that earlier?" he roared. Kicking the wall across from him, his boot leaving a dent in the plaster. "Other than making us wait this long?"
"Well, I've valued the time that we've all had together as an evil group of mutants," Arbok said. "If that's wrong, then I don't want to be right."
Letting out another frustrated growl of pain, Dennis made a move towards Arbok. Almost ready to throttle him in his anger, something that hadn't escaped the scientists notice, he quickly held the remote up.
"Quick reminder that I've got control of Apex," he said. "So..."
"Just set her loose," Dennis muttered, regaining his composure. "Preferably somewhere that the rangers won't be able to get to easily. Before I really lose my control with you."
"I don't know why you're mad with me," Arbok protested. "I mean... You never did ask. If you'd asked me for a progress report, I'd have told you the truth. So, where do you want me to sic her?"
"How about Agueros Town?"
"I'm just amazed that you remembered I like food from Sinnoh," Nahir commented, taking a bite of the Roast Staravia she had ordered. "Got to confess that..."
"Haven't you worked out that I'm full of surprises yet?" he replied, grinning across the table at her. "Because..."
"There you go again," she said. "Trying to be mysterious and smooth."
"What do you mean trying?" he replied, continuing the grin. "I never do things less than one hundred percent."
"I can tell," the yellow ranger remarked. "Just... Relax. You seem tense."
"Well, it comes with the territory," he said, glancing down to the morpher at his wrist. Partly hidden under his sleeve. "Any moment now, I can't help but get the feeling that something's going to come up and..."
"You're not expecting it, are you?"
"No, not at all," he replied, suddenly appearing slightly flustered by the suggestion. "In fact, I'm hoping that... You're not, are you?"
"Of course not," she said. "I mean... Personally, I think it's going well. A bit awkward in places, but on the whole..."
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" he asked. "Just something I've wondered about. How come that you travelled around the region for all that time and never got at least a little bit of an urge to at least try battling. And if you don't like battling, how come you got hold of your Glameow?"
"Well, that's an interesting thing to ask," she replied. "My older brother's a pretty good trainer, so I guess I thought that there wasn't much chance of matching him with his achievements. I guess part of that put me off. And... Well, Ashei was a gift from him actually."
"So, the whole reason that you don't like battling is because you're worried that you won't be as good as your brother?"
"I never said that, you're reading in between the lines."
"Is it true though?"
"Possibly. The main thing is that... I guess it's a case of you see some trainers get so worked up about battling. They scream and shout, heckle their opponents... I don't have a problem with the passion, but... Something about it says that it's not for me."
"You don't have to justify it to me," he said. "I was just wondering."
"So, how come you didn't?" she asked. "You've not got any elder siblings who you were worried about besting you, were you?"
"No, it was more under orders of the old man," Luke replied. "It was pretty much a case of go to the top quality boarding school, stay there for several years and then go work for him. Which I did until Dominic more or less kidnapped me. Good thing Dad's a reasonable guy and recognised that it was an important calling. Since the region getting destroyed is bad for business."
"Really, you went to boarding school?"
"Yeah, you didn't know that?"
"You might have mentioned it, but I think I forgot," Nahir replied, a little sheepishly. "So, what was that like?"
"I got used to it," he said. "It took a while, but I coped."
With those last words, something clicked in Nahir's head. Almost a realisation, some sort of answer as to the riddle that was the man sat across from her.
"Wow," she muttered. "How long were you there?"
"Nearly ten years," he replied, softly. "I only really got to see..."
Before he could finish, something hit the side of the restaurant. Repeatedly going for the action, striking the building several times, everyone present looked up to see plaster falling from the ceiling.
"Earthquake?" the yellow ranger wondered. "Is that... Even possible?"
"Anything's possible," Luke replied, seconds before half of the wall came crashing in on itself. To reveal Apex stood behind it, the cybernetic organism instantly making a move inside.
"We should be so lucky," Nahir commented, hearing a waiter let out a scream before turning to run. Dropping the tray he was carrying to the ground, the contents of it remaining unsullied. A lone pie there.
"What do you think?" Luke asked, as Apex moved into the building. Making to attack anyone who came close to her, throwing a screaming woman against the wall, she made her way through. "Morph and kick ass."
"What, in here?" Nahir wondered, rolling her eyes. "Come on. Need to find so way of..."
"Excuse me one moment," Luke replied, getting up into the aisle. "I'm going to just try something."
Taking a run up, the purple ranger jumped up into the air and hit Apex with a flying kick. Instantly bouncing off, he hit the ground and rolled. Apex apparently not having taken any damage from his attack, something he noticed as he scrambled back.
"What were you trying to prove there?" Nahir wondered. "Just out of interest."
"Seeing if that would slow it down," he replied, getting to his feet. "Obviously not. Your move."
"Bet I can slow it down more than you," Nahir retorted, glancing at the pie on the ground. "What was that word again? Piebola?"
Instantly moving, she jumped over to the fallen tray, taking a kick at the plate with the pie on it. Watching it sail through the air, splattering against the monster's face. Hot apple dripping down the metal skin the living half of the face glaring at the yellow ranger.
"Where did you hear that word?" Luke wondered, as they started to make a break for the emergency exit.
"I heard Ryan yelling at someone about it earlier," she replied. "Something along the lines of, what does that mean? And there may have been some insults at the end."
"Anyway," Luke said, pushing the door of the emergency exit open. "Time to bail. She looks annoyed with you."
"I can't tell," Nahir quipped, as she vanished through the door out onto the fire escape. "That pie on her head makes it kinda difficult to take her seriously."
Landing in the alley, the two of them started to bring up their morphers.
"You think the others are on their way?" Luke wondered. "Because, that thing... It's strong."
"Awww, are you worried?" Nahir asked. "If a little pie can slow it down, then..."
"Nice shot by the way," the purple ranger commented. "But, I think it's going to..."
Right on cue, something heavy hit the ground behind them. Instantly spinning around to see what it was, Luke was hit with a powerful punch. Hearing him crash into the ground, Nahir spun around to see Apex stood there. The remains of apple sauce on her face, the cyborg made a move for her. As the blow came out towards the yellow ranger, Nahir ducked. Hitting out into her stomach with a punch of her own. Just like when Luke had attacked earlier, the strike didn't faze her at all. Recovering from her own attack, Apex reached down to grab Nahir by the throat. Easily picking her up off the ground...
... Only for a flurry of laser fire to ring out into the back of the cyborg. Although it didn't seem to bother her with the lack of damage, it did force her into dropping the yellow ranger. Instantly getting back up to see the other rangers coming onto the scene with their blasters out, Luke and Nahir brought their own morphers out.
"Genesis Overload!"
Morphing into their ranger suits, the two of them went to join the rest of the rangers.
"You guys okay?" Katie asked, lowering the Heat Blasters. "Seems like we got here just in time."
"That's typical," Duo commented, shaking his head. "You spend all that time planning and..."
"Anyway, are we going to destroy this thing?" Nahir asked, interrupting the black ranger. "Because..."
"Way ahead of you there," Xavier said, bringing out his Tidal Trident. The other rangers going for their weapons as well. "Because..."
"Careful," Luke warned. "This thing is tough."
"We'll have to be tougher then," Ryan remarked, hefting his Fauna Hammer. "Let's do this!"
As the green ranger let out his battle cry, he and Xavier leaped forward. Crashing their weapons against Apex, the cyborg easily blocked them with her arms. Forcing the weapons back, she went on towards the two rangers, hurling them away with ease. As they hit the wall, Luke and Nahir went in with their own weapons. The Psycho Spear came steaming into the flesh part of Apex, the point penetrating it. Yet, it didn't seem to affect her, the cyborg yanking it out and using the blunt end to throw Luke back. As Nahir swung out with her Storm Staff, Apex blocked every single one of her attacks. Even managing to recover enough to block Duo's attack as he came racing in with the Shadow Sabre. Forcing the two of them back, she turned to be greeted by a storm of fire from the Heat Blasters. Bringing her hand up, she directed a blast of psychic type energy towards Katie, hurling the red ranger back against the wall of the alley.
"Unimpressive," she said, coldly looking around her to the rangers on the ground. "Threat. Negative."
"That's it!" Katie yelled, punching the ground. "I've had it with super powered women who aren't me."
"Seems like there's rather a lot of them lately," Luke muttered. "I mean... Can't the person coming up with this be original?"
"There has to be a way to destroy her," Xavier said, looking around. "I mean... There has to be."
"What gets me," Duo remarked. "Is how you tagged her as a women. Normally, I've got a sixth sense for..."
Interrupting him, Apex brought her fist down into the ground. Unleashing a powerful shock wave through the earth, the blast enough to send the grounded rangers up into the air, before coming bouncing down again.
"Man, we're screwed," Ryan muttered. "She's too strong."
"I highly doubt that we're going to get help from somewhere," Luke muttered, sarcastically. "That would be..."
"Preparing to eliminate Poké Rangers," Apex said, softly. "Elimination must be absolute. Moving in to..."
Racing in from out of nowhere, it struck her. A blaze of white energy, striking the cyborg several times. Each time seeming to deal more damage to the machine.
"What the hell is that thing?" Nahir asked, as the white energy continued to surround Apex. Rising up, it finally pierced the cyborg's head. That seemingly enough to destroy the monster, it instantly crashing to the ground.
"I don't know," Katie said, taking a step closer to the mysterious white energy. "But... It feels cold. What are you?"
Even as she brought a hand up, the ball of energy vanished from sight. Leaving just the six of them alone in the alley with the downed Apex.
"Whatever it is," Luke said. "I think we just caught a huge break."
"Oh damn," Dennis snapped, looking at the on screen image in front of him. "This is unacceptable. Why can I not get a win here?"
"Karma?" Arbok asked, quietly. Not loud enough for the head Coppinger to hear him. "I'm sure the universe will soon start evening itself out, sir."
"Whatever, it's time to use this," Dennis said, opening the Genesis Book. A ball of energy emerging from it before vanishing.
"You've just got to wonder..." Duo started to say, before seeing the ball of energy fall down through the air and hit Apex. Instantly getting her back up onto her feet and causing her to grow to a giant size.
"Let's hope she's less invulnerable in that form," Luke said. "Time to transform!"
At his command, the six of them grew into a larger size, quickly morphing into their Eevee forms. The purple ranger giving out another command, as his new form of Espeon flicked its tail in anticipation.
"Overload Zords! Megazord formation!"
Under the command, the six Zords turned into their robot forms and began to combine. The Vaporeon and Umbreon Zords laying down to the ground, their legs and tails retracting inside the bodies. Their heads went down to the ground, the rear part of their bodies raising up to form legs. Next, the Leafeon Zord came bounding down, its front and rear legs fusing together before joining with the top of the Vaporeon and Umbreon Zords. Next the Flareon Zord leaped down onto the top of the Leafeon Zord, its limbs and tail folding in, a humanoid head appearing out of the area where the tail had been. The Flareon head detached, forming a helmet around the top of the head. Finally, the Espeon and Jolteon Zords jumped up, attaching to the shoulders of the Megazord. Their bodies elongating out into a prone position, the heads formed the shoulders of the robot. The rear legs and the tail of the Espeon Zord formed the hand of the right arm, while the needle-like fur at the rear of the Jolteon Zord formed the hand of the left arm. The legs vanishing away into the robotic body. As the Megazord stood up straight, it stretched out its arms.
"Okay, let's hit this thing hard and fast," Katie said, activating the controls in front of her. Directing the Megazord into attacking Apex, hitting the Cyborg with a punch. As she reacted to the attack, she hit the Overload Megazord with a ball of psychic energy. Forcing it back, Katie hit the controls to command the Megazord into striking a kick into her stomach. As Apex doubled over slightly, Xavier gave a command.
"Genesis Blaster!" the blue ranger shouted. The compartment at the side of the Vaporeon leg opening up, the Megazord grabbing up the weapon.
"What do you think?" Luke asked, shooting a glance over to the other rangers. "Any suggestions on what to lock and load with?"
"She's part Mew," Duo commented. "Go with Dark Pulse."
"Actually, I'd suggest Hyper Beam," Ryan offered. "It's way more destructive which might be just the thing in these circumstances."
"In these circumstances?" Nahir asked. "I miss normal circumstances."
"Hyper Beam it is," Katie said, hitting the button. A burst of bright orange energy erupting out of the barrel, screaming through the air towards Apex. Smashing a hole through her stomach, sparks erupting out of the wound as the cyborg let out a mechanical groan of pain. Right on cue, her wounds automatically repaired themselves.
"Should have gone with Dark Pulse," Duo commented, slightly petulantly. "What was the point of that."
"Need to find a weak spot," Xavier said. "When the white light attacked earlier... The head. Need to go for the head."
"And we're back to zombie flick madness," Luke commented. "We need to recharge before we cap her in the head."
"Then I guess we're going to have to take another tactic," Nahir said. "Grab her by the head and we'll blast a Psycho Thunder Strike straight into her brain. Even if it doesn't get through, we should short circuit the thing."
"That's easier said than done," Katie said. "But, let's go for it."
Moving the Megazord into an attack position, the arms came up to grab Apex by the head. Sparks of both electrical and psychic energy instantly shattered away into the system, Apex's eyes started to flicker under the duress before the Megazord was blown back by the sudden explosion within.
"We did something..." Ryan commented. "Maybe..."
"I think it's time for the finisher," Katie said, hitting the buttons in front of her. "While she's defenseless. Genesis Staff."
At her order, the weapon appeared in the hands of the Megazord. Instantly being swept up and across by the machine, crashing against the body of Apex.
"Element Overload!" all six rangers yelled, the blade at the tip of the weapon starting to glow with energy. Sweeping out, it slashed against the cyborg six times, each cut glowing with a singular burst of light. Red, black, blue, green, yellow and purple, throwing her back to the ground where she exploded into thousands of pieces.
"Another one bites the dust," Duo quipped, looking at the flames on the ground, twinkling in the night sky. "Rangers a lot, Coppingers not as many."
"Pity that the restaurant was totalled," Luke said, looking up at the night sky above them. He and Nahir having retreated to a hillside outside Agueros Town. "But, apart from the getting attacked by an almost indestructible mutant..."
"This... This was good, actually," Nahir muttered, leaning her head back against his stomach. "Thanks for a wonderful time, Luke."
"No problem," he replied. "That's what I'm here for."
For a moment, the silence reigned out. The two of them looking at each other for that moment, before their heads started to move closer...
Author's Notes.
Ah, thought I'd get that Donphan in the room out of the way.
But, what does it mean for the love-hate relationship between them? Who knows, answers soon.
And the return of the white light. Which will be revealed next chapter... Just in case you haven't worked it out by now.
Anyway, thanks for the reviews. All welcomed and appreciated.
Oh, and on piebola... Long story...
Next one... Glace In The Hole: Part One. Preview below, up soon.
Thanks for reading.
Don't forget to review! Please! Apex is replying today.
Chapter Twenty Two, Glace In The Hole: Part One, preview.
Dennis: That's it!
?: It has come
Arbok: This monster will counter all of the rangers strengths. They won't beat him.
?: Time to reveal myself.
Katie: It's too strong.
?: From the shadows...
Duo: None of our weapons work!
?: I move to protect you.
Nahir: Another ranger!
?: White Glaceon Ranger!
Coming soon.