"Have you always wondered what that loud continuous sound on summer nights is? That noise is produced by this little guy." Sabin presented a clear glass jar that held a green winged insect. "This is a cicada and the sound that you hear..." Sabin paused to play a recording of the cicada's song. He let the song play for a couple seconds before stopping it and continuing. There was a mixture of reactions but the most common reaction was people covering their ears.
"This continuous sound is the song of the cicada males in hopes of attracting cicada females for mating. How does this little guy make something so loud you ask? Cicadas make that sound with a structure in their lower abdominal area called the tymbal. The tymbal is an exoskeletal structure that is mostly hollow allowing the song to travel. The tymbal acts like a soundbox. It is similar to the hollow part of a guitar that amplifies sound. The clicking sound is produced by the many vibrations of the tymbal that is comprised of thickened ribs. The song of the cicada can reach at least 100 decibels. The rapid clicking noise of the cicada is used for mating purposes, but it can be used as a defensive mechanism called echolocation jamming. Bats use echolocation to locate their prey and the cicada song can jam a bat's echolocation. There you have it, that earsplitting sound that we hear on summer nights is the song of the cicada." There was applause as Sabin finished his biology presentation.
"Very well done, Sabin. I look forward to reading your paper." Ms. Dillard said as Sabin presented his paper to her and took his seat. "Now who is next?
"Skarab! How is the progress on your new energy capture devices?" Zomlock called out as the pale robed figure with the snake staff appeared before the rotting corpse-like Zomlock.
"It will take time to create new devices, Master Zomlock. The Power Rangers have rendered the urn and the bracelet irreparable. I am doing a lot of research on how we may collect the energy of the humans, but it will take time."
"What do you expect me to do while you tinker around with your inventions? Destroy the power rangers? I might as well focus on destroying those pests so we can collect energy without their interference. You are dismissed to work on those inventions of yours."
Skarab nodded and faded away.
Zomlock turned to the viewing screen to observe the whereabouts of the power rangers. The viewing screen projected the red ranger giving a presentation with a green insect. Zomlock listened to the red ranger's presentation and became intrigued by this cicada insect. "Skale, how can the Rangers defeat something they cannot get near?"
Skale looked clueless as ever at Zomlock's question. "Uh...I don't know? They can't?"
"Exactly. They can't! Necros, retrieve that cicada!"
Sabin met with Erika, Kaila, Alex, and Chaice after school so that they may release the cicada into the nearby woods. The five of them packed into Sabin's jeep and they drove off to the east to the same park that Sabin had caught the cicada the night before. He was extremely lucky to catch it before it flew off to avoid capture.
While Sabin drove, Kaila held the jar containing the insect. She held it close to her face studying its anatomical features. She studied the features of its wings and its abdominal tymbal area. After a minute studying it, she held the jar close to Erika's face in a playful way.
"Egh get it away from me!" Erika squirmed away from Kaila but she didn't get far as she is sandwiched between Kaila and Alex. After a second Kaila removed the jar from next to Erika's face.
"It's crazy how such a little thing can make so much noise. I hear that one can go deaf if they are in close proximity to its song for an extended period of time." Kaila commented.
The teens completed their journey to the park that had a wooded area. They exited Sabin's jeep and made the trek to the wooded area to let the little critter go. "I wonder how many cicada are right beneath us right now. Another thing about cicadas is when they hatch, the nymphs burrow underground and they develop in the darkness of the underground until they re-emerge as adults." Sabin commentated.
"I can see you enjoyed doing your research." Chaice mildly teased.
"Yeah yeah yeah. I can't help being a scholar sometimes." Sabin returned the banter.
They reached the edge of the wooded area and began to prepare to release the cicada. Before Sabin opened the lid of the jar, ten dark circles appeared on the ground around the teens and necros rose to the surface.
Sabin rallied the teens to combat the shadow beasts. "We got some party crashers. Let's show them! It's morphin' time!" Each ranger produced their power crystals.
"Red Holy Power!"
"Yellow Holy Power!"
"Purple Holy Power!"
"Blue Holy Power!"
"Green Holy Power!"
The crystalline armor covered the rangers head to toe. The rangers' crystal swords materialized and they ran at the advancing necros. The necros double-teamed the rangers two to one so that when the rangers dispatched one, they have the other to contend with. The necros continuously swiped at the rangers while the rangers swung their crystal swords trying to sever the tails. It took a couple tries for each ranger, but they each managed to dispatch one necro each to make it a one on one fight.
While the rangers fought the necros, another necro appeared on the surface where the teens put the cicada down. The necro grabbed the jar and melted into the ground.
The necro with the cicada appeared before Zomlock in the temple. "Well done, my servant. What a magnificent specimen to use to defeat those blasted rangers!" Zomlock placed the jar with the cicada on the ground, stepped back, and used his three-pronged staff to unleash black lightning that struck the cicada causing it to morph into a cicada monster.
"I am Decicada. At your service!"
"Decicada, I have ingrained in you power to defeat the power rangers. Go and destroy them!"
"As you command!" Decicada spoke as he disappeared in many cicadas scattering into nothing.
The rangers were in the middle of fighting with their assigned necros when a bunch of cicadas appeared out of nowhere and gathered together into the shape of a cicada monster. "Hello, Rangers! Decicada is the name! I'm about to rock your world with my song!"
The rangers quickly dispatched each of their necros so that they may focus on the monster right in front of them. They cautiously kept their distance from the monster. It seemed they and the monster were in a standoff seeing who moves first.
"Come on, Rangers! I don't have no day to rock your world! Come at me!" Decicada taunted the rangers who were hesitant about making a move. "Oh don't tell me you are afraid of a little bug like me, Rangers! You are hurting my feelings!" Decicada dissolved into many cicadas and the cicadas burrowed underground.
"Yeah! He turned tail! He knew better than to mess with the Power Rangers!" Chaice shouted triumphantly.
"I don't think we've seen the last of him just yet. Everyone, be on your guard. He may pop up any second..." Sabin cut off Chaice's triumphant celebration.
As if on cue, many cicadas emerged from underground around the rangers and Decicada appeared between them. "Hello again, Rangers! Now hear my song!" Decicada's tymbal started vibrating at a rapid pace generating an unbearable sound. "Too much for you, eh, Rangers?"
The rangers covered their ears trying to tune out the horrible sound. They all looked like they were in agony due to Decicada's song. Decicada took advantage of the opportunity to attack the rangers. He threw punches with his strong front legs that have turned to arms. He landed blows on each of the rangers causing them to fall backwards. While Decicada attacked the rangers, his song stopped.
The rangers quickly retaliated with their crystal swords. All five of them swung their crystal swords at the monster at different angles.
"Oh no you don't! Here's an encore!" Decicada started his song again with the same results. The song was so strong it caused the rangers to drop their crystal swords to the ground and they knelt on their knees trying to block out the sound.
"Let's blast him together and finish him off now!" Sabin shouted over Decicada's song. The five rangers drew their crystal blasters, aimed them at the monster, and fired away.
The rangers expected the blasts to take the monster down like all the other monsters they have faced. They were stunned to see the monster still standing. Decicada brushed off a couple smoking spots on his body. "Oh that tickles! Is that the best you got, Rangers?" Decicada advanced on the rangers with his song still playing to the agony of the rangers.
"Everybody, we got to retreat!" Sabin called out. He could hardly hear his own voice over the constant ringing in his ears. He motioned to the rangers to teleport to the Crystal Cave Command Center. The rangers got the message and the rangers disappeared in five different colored flashes.
"No fair, Rangers! I will see you next time! Hehehe!" Decicada dissolved into many cicadas and disappeared.
The five rangers appeared in the Crystal Cave Command Center. They were still in their armor, but their helmet structures receded so that their heads were uncovered. Each of their ears were still ringing for a moment as they tried to clear their ears of the sound.
"Zircon, we couldn't get anywhere near that monster. Our crystal blasters had no effect on him, even together. He's tougher than what we usually face." Sabin took a step forward to the giant stalactite seeking an answer.
"It seems the Court of Darkness is elevating their game to destroy you, Rangers. You have destroyed their energy collecting devices and they are solely focused on destroying you. This is a very dangerous time for you when they are solely focused on destroying you. Zircon replied with the stalactite glowing with each word spoken.
Toof spoke up when nobody else said a thing. "If I may, Zircon, this may be the best time to give the rangers an upgrade on their crystal swords."
"I believe it is time, Toof. Rangers, it is time to give your crystal swords an upgrade that is needed to combat these stronger monsters of the Court of Darkness."
The rangers materialized their crystal swords one by one and handed them to Toof without hesitation.
"It will take some time to upgrade them, but we will send them to you as soon as we can.
Decicada appeared in the temple of the Court of Darkness with an air of triumph at causing the rangers to retreat. "Those rangers couldn't do a thing to me! Hehehe!"
Zomlock was not entertained by Decicada's bravado. "You failed to destroy them! Get back down there and destroy them! While you're at it, torment those humans with your song and that should draw them like moths to a flame!"
"R-right, boss! I'll get on it!" Decicada quickly dissolved into many cicadas to emerge onto the surface once more.
A concert was commencing at the outdoor amphitheater of Crescent City. A good-sized crowd cheered on a young local band in the middle of a song. While the musicians were playing and the singers were singing a swarm of cicadas converged onto the stage and Decicada formed between the musicians and their cheering audience. The sudden appearance of the monster caused the musicians and the singers to stop in shock of the monster's appearance. There were gasps of shock and horror from the audience as well.
"You call that music? Let me introduce you to my Decicada Song dedicated to the Power Rangers! It's a shame that they aren't here to hear it." Decicada then put his tymbal to work creating an amplified clicking sound causing all present to fall over with their hands clapped over their ears.
Gongs sounded and the viewing wall revealed the scene at the concert that Decicada is in the process of crashing with his song.
"That bug is really getting on my nerves!" Chaice indignantly commented.
"Toof is not done with our crystal swords yet. We'll have to do without them. Let's get those people out of there. Back to action!" Sabin reasoned seeing no alternative.
"I've got an idea! I'll join you all as soon as I can!" Erika said as she disappeared in a purple flash.
Sabin turned to the other rangers. "Let's do this!" They disappeared in flashes of colors to combat with Decicada.
"You humans are lightweights! Is it too much for you? It's such a beautiful sound!" Decicada taunted at the multitude on the ground covering their ears. "Not even the Power Rangers can stop-"
Decicada was interrupted by a series of crystal blaster shots at his tymbal. Decicada's song ended with the interruption and the monster's distraction trying to figure out who fired upon him. "Who dares interrupt my song?"
The red and green rangers stepped onto the stage from the backstage area with their crystal blasters trained on Decicada. While they distracted the monster, the blue and yellow rangers were busy getting the crowd to evacuate the area.
"Back for an encore, Rangers? I'd be happy to oblige! You and your weapons cannot stop me! My song will be the last thing you hear!" Decicada rushed at the red and green rangers and swiped at them with his strong arms. Sparks flew as he made contact and the two rangers were thrown off the stage area to the seating area below. The blue and yellow rangers rushed to their comrades to help them up.
Decicada jumped off the stage and approached the rangers. The four rangers aimed their crystal blasters at him and fired. Like last time, the blasts only left a couple smoking spots on Decicada. "Didn't you learn last time your weapons are useless against me! But my song is very effective!" Decicada began playing his song from the tymbal once more. The rangers turned and tried to flee from the monster's song but didn't get far until they collapsed with their hands clapped over their ears. "You can't stop my song! Hahaha!"
A purple flash appeared right behind the rangers and the purple ranger appeared. She had a pair of purple earmuffs over her ears. She had earmuffs of red, blue, green, and yellow on her arm. She quickly gave each ranger a pair of earmuffs. The rangers quickly put the earmuffs on and it made all the difference. One by one, they stood up to face the monster.
"No fair! No fair! You must listen to my Decicada Song!" Decicada angrily rushed at the rangers swiping at them left and right with sparks flying with each hit. The rangers threw a combination of punches and kicks at the monster. The blue and green rangers punched Decicada in unison while the yellow and purple rangers landed kicks in unison. The red ranger finished the rangers' assault with a flying kick causing the monster to roll away.
Zircon's voice spoke to the rangers from their crystal communication feature. "Your crystal swords are ready. We are sending them to you now. This upgrade on your crystal swords allows you to use the crystal sword star formation to defeat your enemy."
The rangers' crystal swords appeared in their hands. They can feel a new power emanating from their swords. "Alright guys, let's do this star formation thing and finish off Decicada!"
"So you got your toy swords back! I'm not afraid!" Decicada tried to sound tough but the monster is getting nervous inside.
The rangers placed their sword handles together in front of them. The red crystal sword was the top point, the blue and green crystal swords formed the star's 'arm points', the yellow and purple crystal swords formed the star's 'leg points'. The rangers called out in unison. "Crystal Sword Star Blast!"
A beam in the shape of the star formation emerged from the crystal swords shooting towards Decicada. The blast caught Decicada causing an explosion on impact. A motionless and heavily-damaged Decicada lay on the ground where the monster once stood.
"Mergana, if you please!" Zomlock ordered as Mergana prepared an arrow and firing it into the viewing screen hitting the nearly destroyed body of Decicada.
Mergana's arrow appeared and struck the body of Decicada and it glowed black and grew. "I'm back for an encore, Rangers!"
"We call on the crystal zords!" The rangers called out. The zords appeared and the rangers teleported into their individual cockpits.
"Let's crush this oversized bug!" Sabin called pressing a button causing the grizzly zord to rush at Decicada in a tackle. The grizzly zord's weight and force caused Decicada to be knocked over.
"I want in on this!" Chaice called out pressing a button.
"Me too!" Alex pressed a button to join Chaice in the rangers' blitz attack.
The wolf zord's claws extended and it pounced on Decicada's tymbal causing deep gashes to render Decicada's song useless.
"I'm not finished with you, Rangers!" Decicada dissolved into many cicadas that swarmed all over the advancing kangaroo zord.
"I'm in trouble!" Alex called out to the other rangers looking over his console for a button to push finding nothing that will help.
"I got you!" Erika called out pressing a button on her console. The butterfly zord opened up gusts of wind upon the kangaroo zord causing the many cicadas to be swept off the zord. The blown away cicadas formed the single Decicada who looked a bit windswept.
"Let's bring them together!" Sabin called out pressing the merge button. The rangers followed suit and the crystal zords formed together into the crystal megazord. "Let's end this!" The horse zord came galloping towards the crystal megazord and the megazord hopped on. The javelin appeared in the megazord's hand.
"Holy joust charge!" The megazord galloped towards the still-recovering monster with the javelin impaling the monster in passing.
"This is the end of Decicada!" Decicada spoke out as he fell to the ground resulting in an explosion. A cicada appeared where Decicada was destroyed and flew off.
"Holy Knights get the victory!"
After the battle and destruction of Decicada, the concert at the amphitheater resumed. The five teens were among the crowd cheering on the young band playing on the stage.
After a song, the lead singer addressed the crowd. "We want to dedicate this next song to the Power Rangers who saved the day! If you are out there, Power Rangers, thank you!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd and the five teens couldn't help but smile at the recognition, but nothing too big to reveal that they are the power rangers.
The band began playing and singing the original Power Rangers theme. The crowd including the five teens began dancing, shouting, and cheering to the song.
