Rangers On The Run

In one of the top secret labs at Longshot…

"So this is an early designed Supertrooper?" A scientist working for Garson looked at Cheyenne floating in a tank. "Pretty unusual if you ask me."

"They were working with some rather flawed designs in those days," Another scientist nodded. "Probably why she can't change her form."

"We'll find out why soon enough," The first scientist picked up a surgical knife.

"Just make sure the creature is sedated," Katya sniffed. She looked at the tank. "So you are the Ocean's Maiden the prophecy spoke of? I am not impressed. Sorry, but you will not be united with your…offspring any time soon. Except maybe your DNA in future experiments."

Just then Cheyenne's eyes snapped open. Wanna bet?

WHUMMMMMMM!

A huge pulse vibrated and shook the tank so hard it felt like the entire room was shaking. "What the…?" Katya gasped.

WHUMMMMM!

"She's using some kind of telekinetic pulse to break the tank!" A scientist screamed.

WHUMMMMMMM!

"Well stop her you fools! Sedate her before she breaks…" Katya yelled.

WHUMMMMM!

CRACK!

"Oh hell…" Katya growled as the tank broke.

The last thing Katya saw before she died was a torrent of water rushing over her and a very angry Cheyenne headed her way. Then incredible pain and oblivion.

"Look pal I know it's an emergency," The android and robot technician at Longshot sighed as he glared at Sanders. "They're all an emergency!"

"This android needs to have it's memory wiped and taken apart now!" Sanders snapped.

"Listen buddy! You see all these robots on my line?" The technician pointed to a huge assembly line. "I got at least thirty jobs ahead of you!"

"I don't really mind the wait," Buzzwang remarked. His arms and legs had already been removed.

"Shut up!" Sanders snapped.

"Really, I'm perfectly content to wait my turn," Buzzwang said. "I'm just saying that it wouldn't be fair to all those other robots if I cut ahead of them."

"Watch it or I'll do the job myself with a sledgehammer!" Sanders snapped. "I should have disconnected your mouth instead of your arms and legs!"

"You know he does have a point," The technician said.

"Do you want your arms and legs removed?" Sanders yelled.

BOOM!

"What was that?" Sanders asked.

PWEEEP! PWEEEEEEP! PWEEEEP!

"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGEEEEEE!" Bubblehead flew in with the Pweeps behind him.

"HEY! CUT IT OUT! GET THEM OFF!" Sanders and the technician screamed as they were attacked by Pweeps.

"PWWEEP! PWEEEP! PWEEEEP!"

"Nobody disassembles Buzz Brainless here but me!" Bubblehead said as he landed on Buzzwang's head.

"Thanks, I think…" Buzzwang said.

"GET THESE THINGS OFF OF ME!" Sanders screamed as he was overpowered by Pweeps. "I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS!"

"Buzzwang!" Zach Jr. called out as he, his sister, Noah and the Twins raced in.

"HI-YA!" Mata and Hari shouted as they gave a swift kick to Sanders and the technician, knocking them out.

"PWWEEP! PWWEEP!" The Pweeps cheered with glee.

"Little Zach am I glad to see you!" Buzzwang said as Jessica began to use the nearest tools to put Buzzwang's legs back on. "They were going to disassemble me and turn me into scrap metal and wipe my memory!"

"Why? Your brain's already pretty wiped," Bubblehead chirped. "Now to save the Goose! Pweep Patrol! Attack!" He led the pink birds away.

"Do you need assistance with that?" Noah asked as Jessica and Zach Jr. worked on Buzzwang's legs.

"Nah we've done this so many times I can practically do it in my sleep," Jessica said.

"Buzzwang tends to get blown up…" Zach Jr. explained. "A lot."

"I see," Noah blinked. "Look just get his legs and feet attached. We can do his arms later! Come on!"

"Let's go Buzzwang!" Zach Jr. carried one of his arms while his sister carried the other.

"Wait for me!" Buzzwang ran after them.

"What the hell is going on around here?" A black garbed soldier snapped to another. They ran into the dolphin tank and had the misfortune of standing a little too close to the edge.

"GOOOOOOOOOSEEEEEE!" Winter the dolphin charged and did a flip with her tail. Icharus did the same and both soldiers found themselves in the water.

"AAAAAH! MAD DOLPHIN! MAD DOLPHIN! AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" The soldiers screamed, terrified. "I swear if we ever get out of this alive I will never make fun of Flipper again!"

"Are you sure he knows what he's doing?" Cain asked. He was in a cell with an energy field around them with Doc, Waldo and Zozo. Zach was in a separate cell chained to the wall with special manacles restraining his bionics.

"Not really," Zozo shrugged.

"Come on, come on…" Doc focused his mind. "I know I can do this without my badge…"

BOOP!

A cup off coffee plopped down out of an automated food machine across the hallway. "No I don't want a cup of coffee!" Doc shouted. "I want this cell to open!"

"So you all discovered that your implants are evolving your natural talents?" Cain asked.

"Exactly," Zach sighed. "Although right now I could use the extra strength my badge gives me."

BOOP!

"NO! Not another cup of coffee!" Doc snapped. "This is harder than I thought."

"Keep trying Doc," Cain said. "Because I don't think any of us want to stick around to see what Garson has in mind for us. Which reminds me. Waldo I thought Andorians revereted to a more primitive form when in captivity."

"We do, but it's a cage that really sets us off," Waldo explained. "And since there are no bars here..."

"Got ya," Cain nodded.

"True it is only a technicallity but still..." Waldo sighed.

"I think I got it! I think I got it!" Doc was sweating now.

BOOP!

"You got another cup of coffee," Cain quipped. "Pity none of us can drink it."

"This could take a while," Zozo sighed.

BOOM!

"Or we could just wait and have someone else rescue us," Zozo blinked as the door was blown open.

"Found 'em," Ryder called out as he got into the room carrying a blaster. He used it to open the cells.

"No offense Doc, but I prefer their method," Cain quipped.

"Zachery!" Eliza called out as she and Stingray ran in.

"Eliza!" Zach gasped. "How did you….?"

"Long story," Stingray held up his blaster. "Hold still!" He shot off the restraints on Zach's arms and legs.

"Stingray I presume?" Zach looked at him. "How…?"

"Mass jailbreak," Eliza said quickly after kissing him. "We have to get out of here!"

"Got something for you!" Dea ran in and gave Zach and Doc their badges and Doc's CDU.

"I love getting presents," Doc grinned as he put his badge on.

"The others are breaking out Goose and Buzzwang," Eliza said.

"Cheyenne's here too!" Zach said. "We have to rescue her!"

"You go do that," Cain said taking a blaster from Stingray. "Doc I'm gonna need you for something else. You too Foxx."

"What do you need us for?" Zach asked.

"Insurance policy," Cain said. "Ambassadors you two go with Eliza and the others."

"Now who is this guy again?" Stingray asked.

"Commander Cain, we'll have a round of drinks later," Cain said. "Come on!"

Meanwhile Niko, Darkstar and Bogart had liberated Shane. After Niko had given a hard kick to Ares and knocked him out cold. "I can't believe you came to rescue me," Shane was stunned as he had just had an unexpected rescue.

"Someone has to save you from all the trouble you get into," Niko smirked. She gave him his badge and blasters. "Here! Dea found these and wanted me to give them to you!"

"Just what I needed," Shane grinned. "Now we've got to save Cheyenne before they fry her like a frozen fish!"

"Wait she's here?" Darkstar asked.

"She got captured," Shane explained as they raced through the hallways. "We have to save her before…"

BOOOOM!

To their shock they saw two guards thrown backwards and Cheyenne slithering out of a room. "Cheyenne! You're all right!" Niko gasped.

Of course I am! Like I've never had bozos try to dissect me before, Cheyenne smirked. They always have to learn the hard way.

"You let yourself get caught on purpose didn't you?" Shane realized.

I knew you were in trouble, Cheyenne gave him a look. I had to do something!

"How about we get out of here and then we can talk about who is saving who?" Niko said.

"Good idea," Shane picked up Cheyenne. "Let's go!"

Meanwhile Cain, Zach and Doc had made it to the main vault. "I expected a lot more resistance by now! But no sense looking a gift horse in the mouth. Especially if he has morning breath," Cain said. "Okay Doc here's where the Energy Star is! We need to get it!"

"Why are we taking the Energy Star?" Zach asked.

"Do you really want a crystal this powerful in the hands of Garson and his goon squad?" Cain snapped. "Besides I have a feeling it's gonna come in handy!"

"Just let me power up my tweakers…" Doc began. Then the vault opened.

"Or I could just use my access codes and give it to you," Dr. Kruger told them. He was with his chief of security.

"That would work," Doc blinked as the two men prepared the Energy Star for traveling.

"Why are you helping us?" Zach asked.

"Because Garson is a cruel man," Dr. Kruger snarled. "Longshot was never supposed to be designed for the experiments he wanted to do against you. I won't let him do any vile atrocities if I can help it!"

"Besides I got a feeling that that Energy Star would be a lot safer in your hands than in Garson's," Chief Daslyva nodded. "Never did like that guy."

"You know you could get into a lot of trouble for helping us," Zach said.

"I don't mind," Dr. Kruger smiled as he gave Doc the container holding the Energy Star. "You'd better get going! They'll be here any minute!"

"I told my men that are loyal to not impede your escape in any way," The chief of security said. "But there's still a few out there that are on Garson's payroll. Of course some of my men took care of some of his men."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

"And Gooseman's dolphins took care of a few as well," Kruger smiled.

"I thought we were able to run about a bit too freely," Cain smiled. "Nice to know it's not a trap."

"Hold it right there traitors!" Two guards ran in with their weapons pointed at them.

"Spoke too soon," Cain said.

"Kruger when Garson finds out what you've done…" One guard growled. Suddenly he was hit from behind by Zach Jr. with one of Buzzwang's arms. Noah had the other arm and hit the other guard.

"Thought I'd give you a hand," Zach Jr. smirked.

"Or one of my arms," Buzzwang said.

"Follow me!" Kruger said. "I can get you out of here! We've been saving something for a special occasion!"

"Oh goody!" Doc said as they ran. "I love surprises!"

They met up in a hanger with the others. "Flashfire? Wildfire? What is everyone in the galaxy here today?" Shane asked. "How did you…?"

"Commander Walsh sent me to…" Wildfire began.

"No time! We gotta go!" Cain pointed as a huge contingent of soldiers ran towards them preparing to shoot.

"DA DA DA DA TA DA! PWEEP POWER!" Bubblehead chirped as he and his Pweep Patrol attacked the soldiers from above. Then Bogart knocked the soldiers down. "POWER TO THE PWEEPS!"

"Pweep! Pwweep! Pweep!" The feathered friends chirped.

"Thanks guys," Shane smirked.

"Keep the home fires burning troops!" Bubblehead said as he landed on Shane's shoulder. "I shall return!"

"Take a look at this," Kruger pointed to a large space ship. "It's our latest stealth cargo space ship. It has stealth capabilities and even a small three person shuttle. You can use it to escape. It's all fueled up and ready to go."

"Thanks," Zach nodded.

"Don't mention it," Kruger smiled at Cheyenne in Shane's arms. "I'm just sorry we had to meet under these circumstances."

"Let's go! We gotta get outta here while the getting's good!" Wildfire barked. They boarded the ship and it took off.

"Bye bye!" Bogart waved with the Pweeps chirping cheerfully.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY ESCAPED?" Garson howled into his private communicator. "HOW THE HELL DID THEY ESCAPE? WHAT? HOW DID THEY GET OUT? WHO?"

"That doesn't sound good," Wheiner twitched. He was with the Enforcer and a few guards in Garson's office.

"Excuse me Captain Ares I didn't hear you correctly," Garson said. "I could have sworn you said they escaped with the aid of pink birds, dolphins and a Tortunan Gleck Lizard…I did? They did! For crying out…What? What do you mean they had friends too? Wildfire Carson? What the hell was he doing there? Kruger helped them get away huh? There's a shock! And what? At least two of the escaped Supertroopers too?"

"This is rapidly getting out of control," The Enforcer growled. "Tell them to put Katya on! I want to talk to her!"

"All right! Put Ranger Romanevski on! Why not? Dead? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?" Garson yelled.

"She's dead?" The Enforcer growled.

"Yeah that mermaid killed her!" Garson groaned. "Ares how did…What do you mean it gets worse? They stole what?"

"Just when I thought we could salvage something from this day," The Enforcer sighed. "Now what's going on?"

"They got the Energy Star? Listen you fool! You get back here with Sanders…He is still alive isn't he? Good! Get back here and bring a copy of the surveillance tapes! And throw Kruger behind bars pronto!"

"Hold on, are you saying that not only have Cain and the Galaxy Rangers escaped they got the Energy Star?" Wheiner asked.

"Picks things up quickly doesn't he?" The Enforcer growled at the two guards.

"We've got to call the media and inform them…" Garson was already in spin mode.

"Inform them what? That the entire Series Five and up Ranger Program has become a complete failure?" The Enforcer barked. "And they have a potential weapon that half the galaxy would trade their mothers for?"

"He's right," Wheiner said. "Earth can't appear weak! We need to keep this under the radar as much as possible!"

"Fine, we'll just wait for them and Walsh to make the next move," Garson growled. "And I know they will make the next move."

"And we'll be ready when they do," The Enforcer nodded.

"Stealth shields are holding," Doc said as he flew the ship. "I'm putting it on auto pilot."

"Good," Zach nodded. He and Doc went back to the main cabin. "How's everyone holding up?"

"I've got my arms back on!" Buzzwang gave a thumbs up.

"Too bad we can't disconnect your mouth," Bubblehead chirped.

"We're alive," Eliza let out a breath. Shane was looking distant. "But Goose has been awfully quiet since we took off. I'm worried."

"He's still a little in shock," Zach sighed. "Not that I blame him. Eliza, you're not going to believe it but Commander Walsh…"

"Is Goose's father," Eliza finished.

"We know," Niko admitted. "Wildfire told us everything."

"Wildfire knew about this too?" Shane turned around sharply. "What did the entire galaxy know about this but me?"

"Okay I know we found out about it because Cain told us," Zozo was confused. "But how did you find out about this, Wildfire?"

"Well that's a pretty long tall tale," Wildfire drawled. "You see…"

"Not now," Shane shook his head. "Later. Much later. There's something more important I have to deal with."

He went to the back of the ship. The Supertroopers were surrounding Cheyenne on the floor. There Cheyenne was holding her hands on Darkstar's shoulders. A golden glow surrounded the both of them. This is easier with you than Stingray, since my blood is almost as strong inside you as Shane's is.

"Blood?" Stingray was standing to the side. He felt more at ease and seemed much calmer. "You mean DNA?"

"Yeah Cheyenne is my…our main donor," Shane said. "Well one of them anyway."

"Then that means you and her are…?" Stingray realized something. "Bloody hell!"

"Tell me about it," Shane rolled his eyes. "How do you think I felt when I first realized she was my sister?"

"So she's like a mother to us all? Since we all have some of her DNA in most of us?" Hari asked. She crept closer to Cheyenne. Cheyenne smiled at her and nodded. Hari happily hugged Cheyenne and she hugged her back.

Niko could sense some kind of connection was beginning among the Supertroopers. Feelings of happiness and contentment began to emanate from all of them.

Shane then realized something. "Hold it! Is that why Darkstar was the only one that didn't go nuts when the incident at Wolf Den happened? Because of your DNA?"

Yes, the concentration in her body is very strong. That was why she was able to resist the negative influences of X-Factor. But I wasn't sure how it would affect your child. That's why I sent you all those dreams.

"She just wanted to make sure your baby was free of the taint of X-Factor," Cain smiled.

"I don't feel any different," Darkstar looked at herself. "And I still feel like I have my powers."

You still do. I was able to help you retain them.

"How come she still has her powers and I don't?" Stingray asked. "Wait, stupid question…" He looked at Shane.

"Sorry…" Shane apologized.

You meant well. You are just…inexperienced, Cheyenne said. Don't worry Stingray, within time you will regain your abilities. But this time you will find it easier to control them and that temper of yours.

"You seem to have a knack for saving people my dear lady," Cain smiled at her.

It seems I have come to your rescue again Cain, Cheyenne smiled. This is getting to be a habit.

"Wait you know her?" Shane did a double take. "He knows you?"

"Oh yes, we've met…" Cain smiled. "A long time ago…"

Flashback: Earth Forty Years Ago:

The era of the Alien Raider Wars. When invading aliens from pirate fleets tried to take advantage of Earth's lack of technology and try to conquer the planet. Earth defeated them and held them at bay but not without several vicious battles and costly fights.

One such battle we find two fighter pilots flying their perspective ships: Lieutenants Joseph Walsh and Edgar Cain.

"Walsh you idiot watch your left flank!" Cain shouted as he blasted apart an alien raider. "I know you're better at crashing your planes than bringing down others but try to keep up will ya?"

"Listen Cain I…" Walsh began but he was cut off by another alien raider attacking. Walsh and Cain got into a huge dogfight and Walsh blasted the raider. Unfortunately that was not the only thing he blasted.

"WALSH YOU IDIOT YOU CLIPPED MY WING!" Cain shouted. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP ME FROM GETTING SHOT NOT DO THE JOB YOURSELF!"

"Cain! I didn't…" Walsh was shocked. Then another alien fighter was on his tail. "I'll be back Cain!"

"BACK? I'M GOING TO CRASH NOW! WALSH YOU JERK!" Cain shouted as his ship crashed. "I SWEAR IF I DIE MY GHOST IS GONNA HAUNT YOU FOREVER!"

The next thing Cain knew his ship had crashed into the oceans below. "Come on! Come on!" Cain struggled to eject his ship. But he was trapped. His craft was filling up with water and he was rapidly losing oxygen.

Before he passed out he saw something golden swim towards him. A beautiful green eyed mermaid with golden scales and long flowing blonde hair.

"You know I'm pretty relieved that it wasn't a drunken hallucination," Cain finished his story. "The next thing I knew I was on the beach of some island. Fortunately for me there were some fishermen on it that had a radio so I was able to hitch a ride back to base."

"So…She saved your life…" Niko was surprised.

"After Walsh's mistake nearly killed you," Zach growled.

"And since that day not only have I had a real fondness for mermaid statues, I've also been a little peeved off at Walsh," Cain told them. "Oh Walsh tried to apologize for nearly blowing me up into little bits and drowning me but still…A guy tends to take those sort of things rather personally."

"I know Walsh isn't perfect but…" Shane let out a breath. "I don't know. I…I'm sorry about everything. It's because of me…"

"That we're all together now," Dea cut him off.

"Goose remember that story you told me a long time ago?" Ryder said. "You told me once that Cheyenne could only leave the ocean once her heart healed and that she would be reunited with her family."

He is right. If it wasn't for you I would have never even wanted to leave, Cheyenne nodded. You gave me a purpose Shane when I lost mine. Meeting you gave me the strength to change my destiny.

"For better or for worse Goose we're all together now," Flashfire said. "That's more than what most of us have had in a long time."

"I just wish our reunion could have been happier," Shane said. "This isn't the way I wanted it."

"Shane I'm sorry," Darkstar hugged him. "I'm sorry I said those horrible things to you and…"

"I think I deserved at least half of it the way I screwed things up," Shane sighed.

"Actually it was Walsh that screwed things up by betraying us!" Zach snapped. "Now what do we do? We can't exactly go to the authorities or the public! And we can't stay in this ship under cloak forever!"

"What about Premier Dutch?" Zozo asked.

"Publicly he won't be able to support us. It'll be our word against theirs and I'm pretty sure the public isn't gonna believe us," Cain sighed. "Look I know a place on Planet Nebraska where we…"

"No," Shane shook his head. "If we run now we'll be running for the rest of our lives. I can't do that. I won't do that."

"There's not exactly much choice in the matter Gooseman," Zach pointed out.

"Actually, yes there is," Shane looked at Bubblehead and Buzzwang. "We have the Energy Star right? And we have some equipment and some of the best technical minds in the Galaxy right here."

"What are you thinking of?" Darkstar asked.

"I have a plan, it's risky but it's the best chance we have of clearing our names and getting out of this alive," Shane said.

"I like it already," Wildfire smirked.

"Sorry Carson you're going to have to sit most of this one out," Shane shook his head. "Besides I need you to do something in case this plan fails."

"And that is?" Carson asked.

"I've been collecting information about the Board of Leaders and all their dirty dealings for years," Shane told him. "If we fail, I want you to go to the coordinates I'm going to give you and retrieve the information. And then post it. Get it out in the open any way you can."

"That's what you've been doing all these years?" Darkstar was surprised.

"I've managed to put a few of those bastards behind bars over the years but there's still too many out there," Shane let out a breath. "Also we need to contact Zoot Martin!"

"Zoot? Why him?" Niko asked.

"Because he's in the senate and the one person on the Board of Leaders we can trust," Zach told her.

"Okay Doc I want you to send a message on Priority Channel Five to Walsh that we need his help," Shane said. "Cheyenne's been injured in the escape and we may have a lead into who was responsible for the X-Factor Incident at Wolf Den besides Wheiner."

"But Ranger Gooseman, Cheyenne is not injured and we do not…" Buzzwang began. "Oh wait. I get it."

"Shane you realize that if you contact Walsh like this there's a chance that Garson and his buddies would pick up on the transmission and know exactly where we are going?" Zach thought.

"That's what I'm counting on," Shane smirked. "Jessica, kids I need your help. Let's get to work."

Unaware to anyone there was another passenger stashed away in the cargo compartment.

"So you think you can escape me huh Runt?" Kilbane snarled. "Well think again! As soon as we land I'm gonna make sure and finish the job once and for all! Good thing I did follow 'em to make sure the Runt was taken care of! I should have known stupid humans couldn't' finish the job! But once we get to wherever we're going…POW!"

Meanwhile Ambassador Domani ran into Walsh's quarters. "Joseph! I've been hearing these bizarre rumors! Is it true that your rangers have turned traitor?"

"No! It's not that…" Walsh told her. "Maggie…I've done some terrible things but I have to make it right."

Just then Walsh's communicator rang. "It's on a Priority channel!" He answered it. "Doc? Where are you? Did you get away?"

"We all did," Doc said. "Goose has a message for you. He thinks he might have uncovered who was really behind the incident at Wolf Den. But more importantly Cheyenne's been injured."

"Who?" Ambassador Domani asked.

"We need you to get Zoot Martin and meet us at these coordinates in an hour at Space Station Luna," Doc sent the message. "Can you do that without attracting any attention?"

"I'll try. I'll see you there," Walsh nodded. "Walsh out."

"Joseph what is going on?" Domani asked.

"Maggie listen to me, I need your help to save Shane and the others," Walsh said. "Can you help me?"

"Of course," Domani nodded. "Let me get my personal shuttle ready and I'll meet you in the hanger in ten minutes."

"Good, I'll get Q-Ball while you get Martin," Walsh nodded. "I'll explain everything on the way."

Not long afterwards….

"I've just gotten a call," Garson smiled. "It seems Walsh is planning a rendezvous with our little escaped Rangers. We've got them now."

Here we go folks! Things are gonna get wild now!