Prelude - The Gathering
Sparks spat out from the ceiling, only partially, and inconsistently, bringing light back to the cavern before leaving it to be consumed by the shadows. Only for the cycle to repeat, again and again.
The five podiums that once still in the chamber, each highlighted with a bright glow surrounding their screens, were now strewn across the ground in completely different places to their origin. Screens were smashed, more sparks raining down across them.
Further down, at the end of the room, a massive tiki head hung from the wall; though more mechanical in appearance, with a gold and white colour scheme. One of its blue eyes was cracked and had lost its glow, and the elaborate symbol across its 'forehead' was hanging at an angle.
"You've seen better days, Gosei."
Suddenly, as if breathing into life, a low rumble came from the tiki head. The dim glow in its remaining eye grew minutely.
Another shower of sparks rained down at the other end of the room. Only this time, it illuminated a shadowy figure that wasn't present previously.
"You…"
The shadowy figure gave the slightest head tilt; just from voice alone, and his own damaged state, Gosei was on the defensive.
"Me?"
As sparks continued to rain down, the figure slowly stepped closer. Each brief flash of light giving a new detail away of the blank slate; a hood drawn up over the head, the ends of a trench coat dragging over the fallen podiums as he stepped over. The faintest glow of icy blue becoming more apparent under the hood as he drew nearer.
"Zordon warned me of you…"
The figure came to a stop, just beyond the limited reach of the light from the damaged tiki head. Only broad details could be made out, such as the collar of the trench coat was folded up.
Though the reason why he had stopped was unclear. It could have been the mention of the Wizard of Eltar.
Or it could be the limp body of a Red Ranger at his feet.
"Did he now?"
The figure looked to the motionless Ranger, giving the body a little kick to check for a reaction.
Nothing. Completely still.
"If that's the case…" The figure crouched down, looking over the Red Ranger more closely. His head tilted the opposite side, as one of his hands reached forward and grabbed a fistful of the red-and-gold spandex.
"Then I would have hoped you knew the consequences…for saying no to me."
Standing again, effortlessly half-lifting, half-dragging the limp Megaforce Red Ranger the short distance between where he had fallen and where Gosei was left hanging. He tossed the body to the ground before the tiki head, the momentum carrying the Ranger onto his back, revealing the full extent of the damage.
The gold accents were scuffed and dulled, the symbol over his chest suffering from a deep gash diagonally across. Dirt and rubble ruined the white trousers of the suit, tears appearing all across the Ranger uniform. The helmet-topped head rolled to one side, revealing the visor had cracked and had entirely fallen away over the left eye.
Giving insight into the bloodied, lifeless eye of-
"Troy!"
"He is not the first to fall," the figure commented, yet the underlying threat didn't go amiss. Flicking the back of his trench coat aside, he casually sat atop one of the collapsed podiums across from the damaged Gosei. He leaned in, the dim glow outlining some of the face hidden by the hood; namely short blonde hair partially visible, and a hollow smirk that didn't quiet reach the still-glowing eyes.
"And he will most certainly not be the last. But…"
He leaned back, both hands coming to gently rest in his lap.
"I'm giving you an opportunity; if anyone gets the bright idea of trying to interfere with my plans, to think they can…just, swoop in and save the day. You tell them to back off. Do that, you and your Rangers just might survive," the hooded figure threatened, the faintest glow of frosty blue glare peering through the shadows within the hood.
Gosei's face bore the constant expression of anger, so it was hard to tell what he was thinking exactly.
"You're a disgrace to the Morphing Grid…"
The figure's head tiled to the right ever so slightly; but Gosei was sure those shadows hid a cocky smirk.
"The Grid has suffered far worse than me."
"There are few who could compare to your crimes."
"Compliments aren't going to get you anywhere, Gosei."
The hooded figure leaned forward slowly, hands forming fists over his knees as the entire atmosphere surrounding him and Gosei shifted to a far more dangerous feeling.
"Make no mistake; the Wolves are under my protection, and I will not hesitate to slaughter ALL who get in my way. The Grid's defences do not scare me. But I've given the Grid plenty of reasons to fear ME."
"Wouldn't you agree?" that chilling feeling of a dark smile returned, and Gosei was suddenly that much more aware of his damaged, and vulnerable, state.