Civil War II

Niko's first instinct was to pull out her blaster, however to her shock it was expertly knocked away by the Enforcer with his large blade.

"You know I rarely make mistakes in my line of work but I admit I really screwed up all those years ago," The Enforcer growled. "I should have taken my time and made sure I killed everyone! As well as checked for any colonists that had been out of town. I'm not usually that sloppy. Oh well, I will put it down to a mistake of youth. A mistake I tend to correct right now."

He lunged at her but she expertly back flipped away from him. "What's wrong Enforcer? Can't hit a target that's expecting it?"

"Oh how droll…" The Enforcer snarled. Then someone tapped him on his shoulder. He looked around and was punched in the face by Shane. "YOU!" He staggered backwards.

"Did you really think I'd let her face you alone?" Shane snarled.

"Or we'd let them face you alone?" Zach said as he and Doc stood behind them. "I know you're not going to come quietly, but I'm gonna give you a chance anyway…"

"I should have known you'd blow up that flimsy door," The Enforcer growled.

"Actually there was a button right next to it," Doc shrugged. "You didn't really bother to lock it."

"Looks like you're making a lot of mistakes today," Niko snapped.

"It does, doesn't it?" The Enforcer smiled. Then he went on the attack. His moves were so fast and so swift the Rangers barely managed to get out of his way. Even when they tried to shoot him he blocked their laser blasts with his sword.

"Bionics?" Doc panted as he ducked a sharp sword.

"No, just plain old fashioned training!" The Enforcer laughed. He tossed some grenades at them.

"Stun gas grenades! Hit the deck!" Zach recognized them.

Niko used her abilities to create a shield around them. The Enforcer tried to break through but could not. She tried to use her telekinetic abilities to knock him down but to her surprise kept missing. "He's faster than I thought! And I can barely sense his mind!"

"Did you really think it would be so easy to defeat me?" The Enforcer snarled. "I have been fighting creatures like you all my life!"

"Oh good a challenge," Doc drawled.

"I've prepared for this eventually," The Enforcer smiled. He pulled out a small ray and turned it on. "I've made a little surprise just for you."

Suddenly a wave of nausea and pain hit all of them. "What…?" Shane gritted. Not even his bio-defenses seemed able to counter it.

"This is an Enhancement Incapacitator," The Enforcer smiled as the Rangers fell to their knees. "Specially designed to counter telepaths, bionics and bio-defenses."

"He's right…" Zach groaned. "I can't move my bionic arm!"

"My bio defenses aren't doing squat either…" Shane tried to shake his head but couldn't."

"The mighty Galaxy Rangers at my feet," The Enforcer sneered. "Did you really believe that you would triumph against the Black Rose Society? An organization that has helped govern and shape the Earth for centuries? We were behind the Magna Charta, The American Revolution, The fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of Earth's Space Fleet! And you insignificant freaks thought you could change that?"

"The thought crossed our mind," Doc hissed.

"You are all fools," The Enforcer sneered as he looked at Shane. "Just like your precious Max Sawyer. He was a fool up until the day I killed him…"

"What?" Shane felt a chill in his heart.

"It was child's play to call Brappo and place his men at the scene," The Enforcer laughed. "He still had some information I needed. A pity I wasn't able to kill the boy as well but then again he wasn't my primary target."

"You killed Max? Why?" Shane roared in agony.

"Nothing personal, orders from Garson," The Enforcer shrugged. "Max had some other information Garson needed on genetic projects and Garson wanted that particular loophole shut."

"Garson…" Shane snarled. "I should have known!"

"Garson was an idiot to trust any of you! But I will soon take his place as leader and I will create a new breed of Ranger using our base underneath the Ranger Academy," The Enforcer smiled as he prepared to strike Doc with his sword. "And I will train them all!"

"Oh shut up!" Doc snapped as he grabbed his blaster and fought the pain enough to blow up the weapon. "Egomaniacs like you ranting on about power always give me a headache!"

"WHAT?" The Enforcer yelled. "HOW…?"

"Gooseman's been giving me lessons," Doc grinned as he got up. He pulled his lasso rope from his back pocket. "But this trick is mine!"

The Enforcer leapt to escape Doc's lasso but to his surprise he found Doc actually roped his back leg, forcing him to trip. "Good move Doc!" Shane called out.

"I can't believe that you had the will and strength to fight back against my incapacitator!" The Enforcer snarled at Doc.

"That and the fact that I'm slightly less enhanced than the other three," Doc smiled. "No bionics, no bio defenses or psychic abilities for my implant to work on. Just one hundred percent good ol' fashioned brain power. And now you are gonna get a good old fashioned butt kicking!"

"This is for my family you bastard!" Niko gave the Enforcer a vicious kick to the face.

"This is for Max Sawyer and all those Supertroopers you tortured and killed!" Shane immediately punched him in the side.

"This is for the honor of Miss Abercrombie's Charm School!" Doc gave him a punch as well.

"And this is for…Well just because you're a scumbag, that's why!" Zach gave a bionic punch to the Enforcer.

"I promised myself a long time ago that I would never be a killer again," Shane growled. "But in your case I'm willing to make an exception!"

"You have to defeat me first!" The Enforcer made a smoke bomb and seemed to be gone when the smoke cleared.

"Nice try!" Niko frowned. "I can still sense you!"

"And I can smell him," Shane growled. "That smoke bomb leaves a pretty good stench."

"Eww…Even I can smell that," Doc agreed.

They chased him to another large room filled with machines. "Backup power generators," Zach looked around.

"And the room which will destroy you all!" The Enforcer laughed. Niko saw that the floor was wet and the Enforcer was standing on some kind of crate. There was a wire on the floor. And the Enforcer pulled the switch.

"It's a trap! Everyone! Link together!" Niko shouted. They held hands and were able to put up a protective shield around them just in time.

Then as one they expanded the shield violently, like sending a pulse. The combination of psychic energy and electricity created a reaction in the air. A reaction the Enforcer was caught in.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!" He screamed in agony as a lethal combination of electricity and psychic energy hit him. The pulse also knocked out the power in the room as well as the life of the Enforcer.

"That's the end of the Enforcer," Doc said.

"Good," Niko said, feeling a sense of relief. "I know I shouldn't feel like this when anyone dies but…"

"Trust me Niko, the fewer people like that there are in the universe the better," Shane growled. "Come on! We've got to rescue the ambassadors and Premier Dutch!"

The other team had gotten through the sewers and then the hallways with very little resistance. That was mostly because most of the other soldiers had decimated their ranks on both sides. Earth guards and soldiers had fought and killed each other earlier in a mad frenzy. Bodies of unconscious or dead guards littered the hallways and empty rooms as well as destroyed robots and the occasional dead alien.

"This is horrible," Zozo recognized a Broccoli like alien lying face down in green blood. "That's Ambassador Sendrak. I never liked him much but still…"

"Just be careful," Flashfire held the sonic incapacitator in his hands. "We don't know which of these soldiers are friends and which are foes."

Suddenly four alien ambassadors were running down the hallway being chased by several soldiers firing at them. "I'd say those ones are foes!" Darkstar snapped as she fired a laser, knocking out one of the soldiers.

"Over here!" Stingray yelled to the aliens. As soon as they were close enough. "Flashfire! Now!"

Flashfire hit the attacking soldiers with the sonic incapacitator and knocked them out. "They'll be out for a while."

"Thank heavens! I thought we were all dead!" A squid like alien let out a breath of relief.

"Zozo! Am I glad to see you!" It was Zozo's brother in law, Ambassador Zezaw. "This whole planet has gone insane!"

"I know," Zozo embraced his brother in law and then noticed his left arm was injured. "Zezaw!"

"It's better than it looks," He grunted. "I got it teaching a rotten soldier a lesson he'll never forget!"

"My sister! The Kiwi Kids…!" Zozo gasped.

"They're back at BETA," Zezaw sighed.

"Good then that means they're safe at least," Walsh turned the corner with a small contingent of soldiers. "Unfortunately these were all of our loyal forces that are left in the capital building."

"Where's Premier Dutch and the others?" Zoot asked.

"They've got them trapped in the Premier's Office," Another alien said. "We got through a crawl space and went to get help but we got ambushed! They can't hold out much longer! Your nephew is in there with them Waldo."

"All right, listen up!" Walsh ordered. "We're going for an assault. Stingray, Zozo we'll need your help. Flashfire, Martin…Since you two have sonic incapacitators we'll need you to cover the left flank. You can also take out more people than we can. The rest of you stay back and out of the fight! That includes you Supertrooper Kids!"

ZAP!

Mata had fired her weapon and knocked out a soldier sneaking up from behind. "Sniper," She said.

"All right, fine! The Supertrooper Kids can help protect the rest, but that's all!" Walsh grunted. "Where are the rest of the Galaxy Rangers?"

"We don't know," Eliza said.

"What about Cheyenne?" Walsh asked.

"We don't know," Darkstar said.

"Buzzwang and Bubblehead? I know, no one knows!" Walsh threw up his hands. "Well isn't this an organized rescue! Let's go!"

It didn't take them long for them to launch a surprise attack on the soldiers attacking the Premier's Office. And just in time for the large security door had been blown open. Between the sonic incapacitators, the element of surprise and the shooting skills of Stingray, Darkstar and the Supertrooper kids who had conveniently ignored orders it wasn't long before the invaders were knocked out.

"Thank heavens we've arrived just in time," Waldo let out a breath. He sharply turned to Stingray who was laughing. "And pray tell what is so amusing about this situation?"

"It's funny," Stingray made a wry smile. "I was created to defend Earth from the alien menace. But here I am, defending aliens from an Earth menace. It's just funny."

"Hilarious," Zozo grunted as he cocked his weapon.

"Are you all right?" Walsh asked the group. There were about thirty five humans and aliens in the room.

"Walsh what the devil is going on?" Premier Dutch shouted.

"The Black Rose Society is attempting a total takeover man," Zoot explained.

"We figured that out when half of the Senate ran off and left us here to get blown up!" The Premier's wife Madonna snapped. "One minute we're just minding our own business talking and having a lovely cocktail party and the next…"

"The next that insane soap opera came on the monitors!" A female senator snapped. "At first I thought it was just a joke!"

"Is there anyone else trapped in here?" Walsh asked.

"I think some others tried to escape another way but most of us were able to take shelter in here," Waldo's nephew said. "We were able to use our personal Andorian energy blasts to bolster the door but they were breached just as you arrived."

"We don't have time to look for stragglers now," Walsh grunted. "This way! To the hanger bay!" They managed to get the group to the great hall but found resistance there.

"Here comes more company," Zozo yelled as a large platoon of renegade soldiers broke through the other doors.

"Hold your positions and guard the civilians!" Walsh prepared for a battle. "WHAT?"

Suddenly something tore through the company of soldiers from behind. "Sir, they're not attacking!" A soldier realized. "They're retreating!"

It was the sight of Cheyenne writhing and slithering around like a serpent from hell that scared the daylights out of the soldiers. "She must be giving them some kind of psychic attack," Waldo remarked.

WHAM!

"As well as one hell of a physical one," Walsh blinked. "I did not know you could do that with a tail."

"GO MOMMY GOOSE!" Bubblehead cheered as he flew overhead. "YAY MOMMY GOOSE! KICK THEIR TEETH IN!"

"Now I know where you get your temper from, Darkstar," Stingray blinked.

"Thanks a lot," Darkstar said sarcastically.

WHAM! SMASH! THUD!

"Wow…" Darkstar was impressed. "She is good!"

"She's a real warrior!" Ryder whistled.

"And she's our…well, one of our mothers technically," Noah realized.

SNAP!

"YEAH MOMMY GOOSE! BREAK ALL THEIR LEGS! WHO HOO!" Bubblehead danced around.

"So uh…" Madonna blinked. "That's a hundred something year old Supertrooper huh?"

"Yup," Zozo said. "She's also responsible for Earth's Regeneration."

SLAM! THUD! CRACK!

"I believe that," Premier Dutch gulped.

CRASH! SLAM! THUD! POW!

"You know I do see a resemblance to our Gooseman," Waldo blinked. "It's just amazing! I mean you know how primitive genetic engineering was back in the 20th century! If someone like her could evolve from that imagine what our Gooseman could grow to be."

"I'm trying not to," Flashfire remarked.

POW! SLAM! SLASH! THUD!

"AAAAAH MOMMY! MOMMY!" An unfortunate soldier screamed.

"Whoa…" Stingray blinked. "Note to self, do not make Cheyenne angry. Ever."

"You would think a mermaid wouldn't be able to move like that on dry land," Zoot blinked. "She's moving pretty well."

CRACK! ZAP! SLAM!

"Ooh! That tail slam has got to hurt," Zozo winced.

"I almost feel sorry for them," Waldo remarked. "Almost."

"You know this really does explain a few things about Goose," Stingray remarked as Cheyenne wreaked carnage on the invaders. "Between Cheyenne and Walsh's blood in him no wonder he was always so good at fighting!"

WHIP! Cheyenne managed to grab a laser from a soldier and to their shock she was able to use her tail fins to fire perfect shots at a few more solders while taking on another soldier with her fists.

"And why he's so good at shooting things…" Stingray added as the remaining soldiers decided to flee for their lives.

Yes well…Cheyenne took a breath. The crash landings come from Walsh's side of the family. Jason Walsh could barely drive straight let alone shoot straight!

"Now that I think about it, a lot of my relatives had trouble when it came to landing aircraft or parking vehicles without crashing," Walsh realized.

"The final piece of the puzzle," Stingray moaned.

"Guys! We're here! Are you…?" Shane and the other Galaxy Rangers ran in. Then he saw the dozens of beaten and broken soldiers all around them. "All right?"

"By the looks of things they're more than all right!" Doc whistled. "What happened here?"

"Long version or short version?" Zozo asked.

"Short version," Zach said.

"Cheyenne got mad," Darkstar told them.

"Ah," Shane nodded. "Now this makes sense."

"Are you all right?" Niko knelt next to a panting Cheyenne.

I could really use some water now…Cheyenne felt woozy. Fighting like that on land took a lot out of me.

"It would take a lot out of Rambo," Madonna blinked. "Wait! I've got a bottle of water in my purse!"

"We're gonna need a bit more than that," Waldo gave her a look.

"I got this," Stingray saw a drinking fountain nearby. He shot at it with his blaster until it was destroyed and a strong stream of water spilled out. "How's this?"

It will do…Cheyenne got into the water and allowed it to soak her body. But I will need to go into the water soon.

"If you can hang on a little longer I'm sure there's a tank at BETA…" Walsh began.

"Sir this is Buzzwang reporting," Buzzwang spoke on Walsh's communicator. "I have good news and bad news."

"What's the good news?" Walsh asked.

"The good news is that the aerial assault on New Atlantis has been halted. Cain sent some reinforcements that managed to drive off the rebels. However the bad news is that according to my sensors and the data I have obtained on the main computer is that several highly explosive devices have been placed on the support beams under New Atlantis," Buzzwang reported. "They are set to go off in under thirty minutes. Also there seems to be a large number of robotic subs heavily armed guarding the bombs. About twenty of them.

"So they're gonna blow up the entire capital and New Atlantis will go the same way as old Atlantis," Doc groaned.

"Not if we disable the bombs," Eliza said.

I can take them out, Cheyenne told them. With my psychic abilities. I have a lot of experience with bombs.

"Cheyenne," Shane began.

Who else here can survive underwater? Cheyenne told him. I will be fine.

"She does seem to be the only one really qualified for the job dude," Zoot admitted.

"You can't go alone," Zach said.

"She won't," Eliza gave him a look. "They have a flying sub here. I'm going with her."

"Me too," Noah agreed. "And don't say no, as psychics we have the best chance of getting through their defenses."

"You need Niko with you," Eliza told her husband. "Zachery this is the only way. You must trust me."

"Mom…" Jessica pleaded.

"Your mother's right," Zach sighed. "Eliza…"

"I'm not going away again for another two and a half years Zachery," Eliza smiled. "I'll be fine."

"You're sure you can do this?" Shane asked Noah.

"I'll be fine," Noah said. "Grandma Ariel trained me well. And I'm still a Supertrooper and older than you!"

"I know something about bombs too," Jessica said. "I want to come too."

"Since when do you know anything about disarming bombs?" Zach gave his daughter a look.

"Well Goose once showed me…"

"Never mind…" Zach groaned. "I guess you are qualified after all!"

"I'll look out for her!" Ryder said quickly. "She'll be safe with me!"

"And who will look after you?" Noah gave him a look.

"Excuse me but are we seriously entrusting the safety of this city to a mermaid, a woman who just discovered her psychic powers and some children?" A senator shouted. "And the reason we are not using our well trained troops and bomb squad is why?"

"Dude they're like the ones who put the bomb there in the first place!" Zoot gave him a look. "Nearly every other cop and soldier in this city is like a traitor!"

"Garson was in charge of nearly every appointment of all the soldiers and personal guards in this facility!" Premier Dutch snapped. "You remember, the people shooting at us?"

"Were you asleep when they all tried to kill us just a few minutes ago?" Madonna screeched.

"And there's not enough time to organize another team because every one of our loyal forces are scattered all over the place fighting the rebels," Premier Dutch grunted. "Under the circumstances we have no choice!"

"This a really bad habit we have of placing our children in danger," Zach groaned.

"Buzzwang you go with them too," Walsh decided. "Meet them in the hanger bay. You'd better hurry. We don't have much time."

"Roger! Buzzwang out."

"Come on! Let's get to the hanger bay and evacuate these people!" Walsh said.

They got to the hanger bay quickly. "Hurry! We don't have much time!" Doc said as he directed the escapees into a large spacecraft.

"Be careful Mom," Zach Jr. said as he gave his mother and sister a hug. "You too Sis."

"The flying sub is over there! I estimate you only have fifteen minutes before the bomb goes off," Walsh said. The sub team raced off.

"You think they can do it?" Niko asked.

"Cheyenne brought about the Regeneration all by herself. I think she can handle a bomb and a bunch of tin cans," Shane grunted.

"Commander Walsh you get everyone else to BETA safely," Zach said. "The Goose and I will take a ship and go after Garson at his headquarters. Niko, Doc you go with them and make sure the Premier and the rest of the civilians get to BETA."

"Sure all we gotta do is fly through a fleet of hostile ships," Doc quipped. "Come one everyone! Hop on board the Galaxy Ranger Express!" Everyone started to board.

Zach went off but Walsh stopped Shane for a moment. For a brief moment the two men shared a look of sadness and resolve.

"Shane…" Walsh said hesitantly. "Good luck."

Shane nodded. "You realize after this is over we are going to have a long talk."

"I know," Walsh let out a breath. Then he returned to his usual gruff façade. "Well what are you waiting for Ranger? Go."

Shane nodded and ran off to catch up with Zach.

It wasn't long before the flying sub was underwater. Cheyenne was swimming ahead. "I can't believe she's as fast as a sub," Ryder grunted.

"She had to be I guess in order to stay undetected in the ocean for so long," Jessica remarked. "Targets dead ahead!"

"They are C Class Hyperion Subs," Buzzwang read the instruments. "And they have detected our presence."

"Get weapons systems online," Eliza gritted her teeth.

"Weapons systems online," Noah took the weapons controls. "I'll provide cover fire for Cheyenne."

"Here we go…" Eliza prepared for battle.

She was not the only one ready to undergo the fight of her life. "Enemy fighters closing in!" Niko shouted. She and Walsh were flying the ship. "BETA may be safe but we still have to fly through a whole squadron of Black Rose Society to get there!"

"Niko! Do you have enough charge in your implant to create a shield around us?" Walsh asked.

"Only one way to find out," Niko prepared herself.

"All right, we'll need to prepare the weapons systems and…" Walsh heard a loud scream. "What the devil is going on back there?"

"We have a problem…" Darkstar winced as a large puddle formed around her feet. "My water broke…I think I'm in labor."

"Oh goody…" Doc moaned.

Yup, things are gonna get wild! Stay tuned for more!