Power Rangers GPX Supercharged, Part 2

by DChan87

The GPX Rangers are now college students! They join their Red Ranger at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the spring semester. Of course, their Elven enemies are not going anywhere, and they have some new plan to deal with the Rangers. In order to fight the Elves, the Rangers will have to call on themselves and some new allies, too.

21. Arquen vs Tiris

Hitomi VO: "Last time on Power Rangers GPX Supercharged!"

Maria: "So tell me what's going on again?"

Hitomi: "How would my family react? I can't be gay! PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT GAY!"

Maria: "You're bisexual … You're in love."

Turelie: "If she had any self-respect, she [Gina] would find a male elf to consort with."

Eruvanda: "You have no time to get caught up in elven affairs, at least for now."

Gina: "THEN FORGET IT!"

Turelie: "I want you to return to the world of the elves."

Liz: "IF you had not been a petulant teenager and stayed to listen to me, you would have known that I will accept your assistance, just on a part-time basis."

Gina: "I want… to stay!"

Hitomi: "I'm in love with Gina!"

Gina: "I'm so happy."

Power Rangers GPX Supercharged, episode 44: Arquen vs. Tiris

:-:-:-: We're the best damn chance you've got, Pow-wer Rang-gers G-P-X, let's go! :-:-:-:

Arquen watched the video Tiris had sent them of the meeting he had with the students not too long ago. Most of the students, who had started the riots on Christmas Eve, looked on in skepticism at Tiris. The colonel fidgeted and wiped his brow every now and then, especially whenever a student pointed an accusatory finger at him, which made Arquen cringe in second-hand embarrassment. But he had to watch or else he could not figure how his best friend was doing.

"Not once have you told us whether the Queen has ulterior motives or not!" a student accused. "Tell us now or the deal is off!"

"She has NO ulterior motives!" Tiris pleaded. "She wants democracy like all of you!"

"HA! A fanciful story if I ever saw one!" a student laughed. "Will she do anything about this?" He held a picture up, both to Tiris and to the camera, of a dissenter, as the notes written on the picture indicated, about to be executed by a Suitroop. Arquen once again cringed at the sight of it.

"Of course she will!" Tiris insisted. He could tell by his body language that he was not lying. It was just that the body language of every other person in the room was hostile towards him.

And it was enough for Arquen to take. He stopped the video and closed the window on Sean's laptop. He rubbed his forehead and muttered a prayer for him. The date read "1/23/2011". Obviously, with this being so close to April, Tiris may have had better luck since then.

Didn't mean Arquen had his hopes up.

Eruvanda walked up behind him and slipped her arms around his neck from behind. She kissed his cheek and let her soft presence put him at ease. "You are troubled, my love."

"I hope Tiris is okay," he said.

"I hope so, too," she replied. "You miss him."

"Absolutely," he replied. "Although, I am certain he would be happy to know that I am not alone." He turned his head and kissed the Queen he loved.

"Get a fucking room, you two," Jimmy sighed, looking up from the mug of Tim Horton's he had.

"I have gotten sick of that phrase," Arquen muttered.

"Whatever," the Canadian Ranger trainee muttered before getting up and walking out of the house to see Sean getting ready to take AJ for a walk. "Mind if I come?" he asked his cousin.

"Sure," said Sean. "I'm heading to campus."

The two set out, with AJ in tow. They walked down Langdon Street, past a couple frats, which Sean flipped off while hiding his finger in his jacket pocket. They finally reached campus after about ten minutes of walking and turned onto Memorial Mall, where they would get some grub from the food carts.

Jimmy just so happened to turn around to see two people coming towards them. Aside from Ritchie, whom he heard coming from the direction of the bookstore, that is. But looking towards the west, he saw two girls who looked very familiar coming towards them.

It was Hitomi and Prof. Fox—Rusco's daughter. And they were holding hands.

He tapped Sean on the shoulder and pointed at them. "What's going on with those two?" he asked.

"Why the hell are you so curious?" Sean asked.

Jimmy didn't have to ask, because Hitomi and Gina noticed them and ran up to them. Sean's rolling eyes were a pretty good indication of what was about to happen next. If anything, their little display of cutesy PDA that was obviously a result of their naiveté when it came to romantic relationships screamed the obvious to him. Again, Sean's reaction and Ritchie mouthing something about PDA (at least that's what Jimmy thought it was) made their announcement nothing but icing on the cake. "We're dating," Gina said with a blush.

"HA!" Jimmy shouted, startling some of the passers-by for about a second and turning to Sean. "You owe me ten bucks! Pay up!"

"WHAT!?" Sean shouted. "What the fuck are you talking about!?"

"That bet, hoser!" Jimmy replied. "I bet you ten bucks they'd get together, now pay up!" Jimmy ignored Hitomi and Gina's embarrassment, and only focused on the ten dollar bill that Sean reluctantly handed over while muttering something about not remembering making that bet. "I'm the first one to point it out," he said proudly. Both girls blushed heavily, making Sean elbow his cousin.

"An interracial, interspecies, same-sex relationship," Ritchie said. "Sounds like some teabaggers are gonna bitch about liberal tokenization or something."

"Let 'em whine," said Sean.

"What about us?" Hitomi asked.

"Listen, Hitomi," said Sean, laying his hand on Hitomi's shoulder, "Just remember that this is a re-lay-shun-ship. It's not based on hugging or kissing, that's how you show affection. It's based on trust, respect, communication, and… damn, I forgot. Whatever, just work on it."

"Wow, that's mature," said Ritchie.

"Punch him for me, Jimmy."

"No prob."

"OW!"

"Thanks, Couz. Oh, by the way, I think I'll embarrass her a little more. You wanna know how she came out of the closet?" Hitomi blushed and hid her face as Sean said in a terribad falsetto, "No, no, I love her! I love Gina!"

Jimmy and Ritchie shouldn't have laughed, but they found it way too funny not to laugh at. Hitomi was relieved that her new girlfriend took Sean's teasing in stride, although she too was a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be teasing you," he said. "But big brothers do that! I do it with Tommy all the time, remember?"

"Hitomi, it's okay," said Gina. "He doesn't mean any harm!"

"Okayyyyy," Hitomi moaned. "I just wish Daisuke could be like him."

"Have you told Rich Boy yet?" Jimmy asked. Hitomi shook her head.

"He's gonna find out," said Ritchie. "And then that Old Hag is gonna find out too, dontcha know."

"And once Ragnar finds out, he's gonna be pissed, too," said Sean. "Actually, I can't wait to see that." His toothy, wide grin exposed his anticipation.

:-:-:-: PRGPX :-:-:-:

Needless to say, Ragnar was… not happy. It's not just the interspecies part. And it's not just the same-sex part. It's both. And a few other things, like the fact that Turelie FAILED once again to get Rusco's daughter over to their side, "And now it is likely she will never join her true people!" he finished.

Turelie stood across from his desk, her eyes and fists clenching up. He continued to chew her out for her perceived incompetence, a perception she didn't particularly like. But like any employee didn't dare yell back at their boss or a customer, yelling back to him was unwise in so many ways. Instead, she winced at every insult and cringed at each failure he listed. She opened her eyes to look at Phaedos just sitting down, talking with his Zordonian comrade Tirna. Oh, and Ragnar noticed she was looking to the side. "PAY. ATTENTION." He ordered.

"Yes, Commander," she said.

"You are lucky we are so close to unleashing our endgame," said Ragnar. "Otherwise, you know the consequences. That is why I am going to keep you on a short leash and away from the Rangers for the time being."

"Yes, Commander," Turelie said sadly.

"There must be someone who is not as incompetent as—" He was interrupted when Tiris burst into his office in a huff, bent over at the waist, trying to catch his breath. Ragnar rolled his eyes and turned to the Colonel, who quickly realized he was in trouble. "Tiris! This is the fourth meeting you have been late to this month! What is the meaning of this!?"

"I apologize, Commander," Tiris breathed. "I simply have no excuses."

"Nor explanations," said Ragnar. "At least HIS incompetence is not as likely to cost victories, unlike yours or Arquen's did." But once he finished his sentence, he glanced over at Turelie. Her saddened expression was gone, replaced by a sly one. "TIRIS!"

"Yes, Commander!"

"I have an assignment for you!"

"What is it?"

"Take a company of Suitroops to Madison," he said. "You know what to do."

"Yes, Commander," Tiris said with a salute.

"And one more thing," said Ragnar. "You must battle Arquen."

Tiris stood in his place without flinching, but his eyes subtly widened. However, he saluted again. "Yes, Commander! I will deal with the traitor as per your order!" he said before departing.

Once he was out of earshot, Turelie turned to Ragnar. "He seems eager," she said.

"Perhaps he is keeping up for appearance," said Ragnar. "Are you positive spies spotted him at the resistance meeting?"

"He must know we are suspicious," said Turelie. "Why have we not arrested him yet?"

"Because he is still needed," said Ragnar. "By the way, I will be attending the opera tonight. I HOPE there will be no embarrassments before then."

"I guarantee there will be none," said Turelie.

:-:-:-: Power Rangers GPX :-:-:-:

The pictures Arquen examined were said to be from the prison camps. He could certainly see that to be the case. In one photo, a Suitroop had its staff pointed at the head of an elf he recognized. His named was Glorfindel, and he was a critic against the monarchy and the military (in fact, the writing on the back of the picture confirmed this). And though the caption confirmed his morbid suspicions, the glowing stone in the Suitroop's energy staff and the way Glorfindel was position was that of an execution. It was taken just moments before his execution.

There were more pictures. Guards viciously assaulted an inmate. The "food", if it could be called that, was barely edible. There were bodies hung like ribbons, dripping blood. Though it had only been a few months, many of them were in such poor shape that death would be merciful. He gagged and almost choked as he put the picture down. There was far worse in those pictures, but the general could not continue on anymore. Seeing the suffering of his own people like that was heart-wrenching beyond all words, whether they be in a human or elven language.

Maria had walked into the kitchen to pick up a picture before promptly shuddering and dropping it. "Ay dios mio," she said.

"And this has been happening within the last few months," he said. "Even the construction appears to be rushed in such a way."

"I've seen favela houses with better construction," Maria said as she looked at one picture of a camp building.

"But worse is seeing my fellow elves being treated so horribly," said Arquen. "I feel like Maedhros when he had to stand by and watch as the Feanrin slaughtered his kingdom."

"Okay…" Maria said. "I do not know anything about elf mythology, but I'll take your word for it. OH! Or perhaps when the Apostles had to watch Jesus die on the Cross." She quickly looked up and made the Sign of the Cross.

"Perhaps these metaphors are not going to work," said Arquen. "Who is Jesus?"

"My Savior," she said while making the Sign of the Cross again.

"Ah, human religion," said Arquen. "I suppose it is not much different from ours. Is he a god?"

"He IS the Son of God," said Maria. "Born to a virgin."

"I have heard that before," said Arquen.

"Maria, are you trying to convert our guest?" Sean teased as he walked into the kitchen with AJ in tow. Maria glanced over to Sean and rolled her eyes. Arquen rolled his eyes as well and chalked this up to a playful lovers' disagreement.

"Get a room, you two," he quipped.

"We're supposed to say that to you," Sean replied.

Arquen displayed the connected index-middle finger gesture. Sean rolled his eyes. Upon rolling his eyes, he got a look at the pictures Arquen was looking at.

"What are you looking at?" Sean asked.

"My faith in elf-kind slipping away," Arquen said.

"Why? How bad it—Oh, my god." He had picked up a photo and dropped it like a hot potato. "Those things are alive, right?"

"Barely."

"And how long have they been there for?"

"Three months? Perhaps more. I do not remember Ragnar arresting enemies."

"Jesus Christ!" Sean whispered.

"Ay dios mio," Maria said as well, getting close to him.

Arquen had enough, and he picked the photos up. "I apologize," he said. "As if we needed any more proof that Ragnar is a vile creature."

"We have proof for the judge," said Sean.

"… I suppose."

The moment was interrupted by their beeping morphers. "Teleportation energy has been detected on the west side of Madison," said the Project Ranger agent.

"Allons-Y!" Sean ordered. They followed him out the door as they morphed.

They drove their Indys, the Indy Car-like personal vehicles they haven't used on camera since part 1, to the suburban, strip mall-infested west side of Madison. Of course, this had an advantage over the clustered downtown Madison and the UW campus, and that was they had much more room to do battle with the enemy.

Sean made that clear when he jumped out of his Indy into a mosh pit of Suitroops. His fist connected with the first Suitroop he came up to. He spun about, taking Suitroops down all around him. He grabbed a pair of Suitroops, spun and flung them through the air into the road and a tree. The Red Ranger ran and jumped through the air to land among the Suitroops. He kicked a Suitroop. The Suitroop blocked it. He followed up and knocked the Suitroop's head off. With enough room, he grabbed a Suitroop and slammed it into another one.

Kevin ran up to the hostages—a fact that didn't even surprise him anymore—and took out the Suitroops in front of the strip mall. The lead Suitroop grabbed a panicking hostage and held an energy staff to their head. But Kevin did not seem impressed, so he punched the Suitroop's head off instead. "Go on, get out of here!" he ordered to the hostages. They didn't hesitate to leave. The Suitroop that came up behind him did not fool him. He just kicked the Suitroop's head off.

Arquen punched the first Suitroop and elbowed one behind him in the same stroke. He spun out of the way as two of his former charges crashes into each other. He kicked another Suitroop in the head and ducked under another one, then he punched that same robot in its stomach. The Suitroops that came after him next met with the bottom of his boot and his fist. He danced and leapt to avoid a wall of Suitroops that came for him, then pulled out his blaster and shot them.

Maria, meanwhile, had already gone after the robot co-leading the attack, but had to fight her way through some more Suitroops that had blocked her path. She threw some punches and kicks at them. They blocked and countered. She blocked and countered, before spinning on her left heel to deliver a reverse roundhouse kick to the Suitroops surrounding her. She side-kicked a Suitroop that rushed up to her, then grabbed it and tossed it aside.

Now that she had a certain someone in her life, Hitomi fought like a new person. She spun and twirled through the maze of Suitroops, punching, kicking and elbowing all the while. A Suitroop rushed up to her, but she rolled out of the way and came back to deliver a powerful punch to the Suitroop. A Suitroop kicked her off her feet, but she landed on her hands and spun like a top, kicking the Suitroops off of her before getting back up and kicking another one.

As for Ritchie, he had it relatively easier. He rolled under a Suitroop, then jumped back up to deliver a Superman punch to that Suitoop. A Suitroop grabbed him from behind, but he took it and tossed it to the ground. He leapt out of the way of another incoming Suitroop. Some of them bared down on him, but he punched and kicked them to the side. As another Suitroop came for him, he extended his arm out to the side to clothesline the enemy into submission.

The robot watched all this and took aim at the Rangers. This new, sleek robot, which for some reason, looked like Gargotron, fired an energy blast into a crowd of Suitroops. Not the right decision you'd expect from a bad guy, but the massive explosion that, while destroying a storefront, grabbed the Rangers' attention, like it should have.

It also grabbed Arquen's attention, because when he saw who was accompanying the robot, his jaw dropped and his heart sank.

Tiris stood next to it, holding his sword and pointing it at him. "Arquen!" he announced. "I am here to collect a bounty on your head, traitor!"

"Please do not do this, Tiris," Arquen pleaded with a heavy heart. "Please—"

"I must, Arquen," Tiris replied.

But something happened. Arquen read his best friend's expression and saw something in it that the other Rangers, who were already casting insults at him, did not see. "Wait!" he said to his teammates. "I will deal with Tiris. You fight the robot."

"Don't!" Sean pleaded.

"It is obvious he is faking it," Arquen whispered. "I can see it in his eyes. He is acting so that Ragnar will not suspect a thing."

"Oh," said Sean. "In that case, LET'S GO, BOYS AND GIRLS!" He and the human Rangers broke away from Arquen and attacked the robot.

Tiris winked at him and Arquen got the signal. "So be it!" he announced as if he was serious, summoning his Green Ranger sword. Tiris also pointed his sword at him. The two lunged at each other and the fight was on.

They moved almost inhumanly fast and struck with laser-like precision. Their swords clanged loudly against each other's. They made the parking lot they were fighting in their personal battlefield. They were putting on a show to fool any bystanders, and hopefully, Ragnar. Kinda like pro wrestling.

Arquen broke away from Tiris and waited for his friend to attack. He waited for Tiris to thrust his sword, but Tiris's downwards swing almost caught him off guard. But he managed to block and parry the strike before backhanding a counter. Tiris jumped out of the way, looking very much like he was on wires all the while. Arquen ran up to him and started swinging away. Tiris blocked each attack just as quickly before backhanding his own counter that cut through Arquen's midsection, throwing sparks around. Arquen fell backwards but got back up and thrust his sword at Tiris.

His friend stepped out of the way, grabbed his wrist and elbowed his former superior in the helmet. Dazed, Arquen stumbled backwards until Tiris grabbed him and thrust his knee into the former general's midsection. Arquen collapsed on the pavement but began to get back up. "This is not over," he said.

"It will be soon," Tiris replied.

The robot tripped Ritchie off his feet and the Gold Ranger slammed to the ground. Kevin jumped over him to kick the robot. The sleeker robot blocked Kevin's kick, but Kevin punched it. The robot stumbled backwards and Kevin was now able to kick it. Sean ran up, grabbed the robot's leg and yanked its other foot out from under it. The robot then kicked him in the back. He stumbled forward, almost to the pavement but Maria caught him. He patted her arm and then bent down so Hitomi could jump off his back to punch the robot.

The robot staggered and stumbled backwards, but kept its balance. Maria and Sean ran up to the robot and kicked the robot in perfect synchronization. Who says being in a relationship hurts teamwork? The robot kicked at Sean. He jumped backwards, but Maria stayed put, summoned her Haz Daggers and backhanded swiped at it, but it grabbed her wrists. That is, until Sean tacked it.

Now Ritchie and Hitomit had their chances. Ritchie roundhouse kicked the robot, but the robot blocked it. That gave Hitomi an opening. She took it, and punched the robot's midsection. Even if it was always strange that a robot would double over at the midsection. But it didn't matter. Kevin ran up and tried to elbow the robot's head. But it got out of the way and kicked Kevin in the solar plexus.

Sean punched the robot. The robot blocked it and countered. It punched Sean in the gut. It was not unexpected for him to double over.

Hitomi saw an opening. She vaulted herself off his back, which he didn't mind, and kicked the robot down. She was about to go for the kill when she caught a glimpse of the DBZ-like speed at which Arquen and Tiris were fighting. "EEEEH!?"

"DAYUM," Sean gaped. The other Rangers were also so distracted, the robot took one big swipe and knocked all five of them to the ground.

Arquen glanced at his Ranger teammates for a second, but it allowed Tiris to elbow him in the head. The fight had now turned into a brutal, up-close-and-personal brawl, with both combatants hammering each other almost to a pulp (if Arquen wasn't wearing a nigh-indestructible helmet). He grabbed Tiris's uniform—a rather nice uniform, to be fair, and it looked brand new—and punched his jaw. "I apologize for hitting you that hard, but I will not apologize for doing what is right!" he said.

"Traitor!" Tiris said before he sweep-kicked Arquen off his feet. He lifted his foot to stomp on his head, but Arquen rolled out of the way. He got back up and waited for Tiris to rush him. He raised his fist. Tiris could see what was about to happen. Arquen right-hooked his jaw. And then, when Tiris was still recovering, he delivered a kick we like to call Sweet Chin Music.

At the same time, the human Rangers were still duking it out with the robot. It now pushed Ritchie down to the ground. The Oneida Rocket struggled under the robot's strength. But he bought enough time for Sean to deliver his own Sweet Chin Music. The robot stumbled backwards and Sean punched it as a follow-up. Again, Hitomi jumped on top of him and launched herself to swipe the robot with her GP Sword. She wasn't alone. Maria roundhouse kicked the robot in the back. And now that it stumbled forward, and Ritchie had gotten up, he clotheslined the robot.

"FINISH IT, KEV!" Sean bellowed.

Kevin walked up to the robot and lifted it onto his shoulders. Then, F5! An audible, yet satisfying crunch could be heard as the robot hit the pavement and Kevin roared, punched the air and shouted "FAUGH AND BALLAGH!"

The crunch was loud enough for Tiris to hear and he turned his head away from Arquen, who punched his cheek hard enough to leave a visible bruise for days.

Sean summoned the GT Sword. "SUPERCHARGE!" he ordered. The Rangers, except for Ritchie, took their keys out and jammed them into their weapons. "FIRE!" They fired at the stumbling and malfunctioning robot. Sean twisted his key, raised his sword, stepped forward and cut the robot in two.

Again, the resulting explosion distracted Tiris as he wrestled with Arquen. But this time, he knew it was time to leave. So, just to make sure the deal was sold, he defiantly punched Arquen before releasing himself from the grip. However, he quickly winked as he teleported away.

The other Rangers ran up to him and removed their helmets. He panted and sat on the pavement with his chest heaving. He too removed his helmet to show his face was flustered and partially bruised. "Arquen, you okay?" Sean asked when he tried to help him up.

"I am alright," he panted.

"What was that!?" Ritchie. "That was like an anime fight!"

"I was holding back," Arquen replied. "It was more like that strange sport you call professional wrestling."

"EH!?" Hitomi gasped. "Were you two faking it?"

"Ragnar must have tried to set him against me," said Arquen. "I could tell that he was playing along to keep up appearances."

"I already knew this," said Sean. "He already told me."

"That's good," said Kevin. "Let's just hope it fooled Ragnar."

:-:-:-: PRGPX :-:-:-:

The singer, dressed in ancient Elven battle armor, raised his sword and held his note as the audience stood in applause. Ragnar, watching in one of the luxury balconies, lowered his opera glasses and stood up to applaud as well as the curtains closed on the scene. The music ended and lights went up. "End of Act 1," the PA announcer spoke.

Ragnar sighed happily and adjusted his uniform jacket, sash and medals. "Ah, what a fine opera you chose," said Governor Lindir of Alfheim.

"I have always favored the story of Maedhros," said Ragnar. "Such tragedy. Thank you for coming with me, Governor."

"The pleasure is all mine," said Governor Lindir.

They heard a knock on the door to the suite amidst the bustling commotion downstairs. "Come in," Ragnar said.

Turelie entered the suite with Tiris in tow. He held a bag of ice to his cheek while wincing. The two officers saluted their superior. "Apologies for the interruption," said Turelie. "You have no idea how difficult it was to get him in here without a ticket."

"What happened?" Ragnar asked.

"I did as you told me," said Tiris. "I fought Arquen. It was a bloody and brutal fight. I wish I could have come out victorious, but the Rangers defeated—"

"ENOUGH!" Ragnar shouted and held his hand up. "I apologize. It is obvious you did your best despite the circumstances. The both of you are dismissed." The two saluted and left the suite.

"You lost to the Rangers again?" Governor Lindir asked.

"I assure you, we will—"

"I can have patience, but others cannot!" Lindir interrupted. Ragnar glared at him. The governor's blood chilled and his expression became fearful.

"Trust me, Lindir," said Ragnar. "I know what I am doing. And I suggest you do not question me. Now, I apologize. Let us enjoy the rest of the opera."

:-:-:-: Power Rangers GPX :-:-:-:

Ritchie VO: "Next time on Power Rangers GPX Supercharged!"

Therapist: "Come on, MOVE IT!"

Aaron: "This is driving me insane!"

Tirna: "We have finally found what we are looking for."

Sean: "Are you just making excuses?"

Aaron: "Get off my back!"

Tiris: "You do not want to know what comes next."

Ragnar: "We are almost there."

Ritchie VO: That's next time on Power Rangers GPX Supercharged!"

WOO! So, how was that? Sorry I didn't get this done or in earlier. I was taking a bit of another break from GPX, but don't worry. I'm still committed to this fic. I'm also in the midst of preparing the endgame, and although I cannot promise it will be epic and awesome, I'll do my damndest to make sure that it is!

This one was also a much-needed chapter. Yeah, I've been talking about camps and the like, but I had to show what Ragnar was doing. I saw Mad Max: Fury Road, and it changed my perception of the rule. So, even though I probably won't have room for it, I had to show at least something that made him out to be well, bad. And of course, he'd get suspicious of Tiris. OH! I also had to show Tiris talking to student resistance movement.

So what do you think? Was that awesome? Let me know! The review button is right down there!