This chapter is for BraveRadin, whose birthday is today. Happy birthday, BraveRadin!
The Weakest Color
Chapter 35: The Battle, Part 1
Time slowed until everything barely moved. Frozen in fear, Boom watched as deadly pieces of shrapnel and metal drifted through the air. In that moment, everything was bright and sharp, the only sound a high-pitched ringing in his ears.
His hearing returned all at once, like a thunderclap. First came the screaming. Cadets were fleeing in terror, some dragging injured friends. Boom ducked away from the chaos and curled up against the wall.
Broodwing and his krybots appeared from the gaping hole, smoke swirling around them. The bat smoothly stepped over a fallen cadet and walked towards a control panel. He entered a code with his long gray fingers.
"Commencing transformation to Delta Command Megazord," the computer announced.
Kat sprung forward, claws extended to strike Broodwing. The bat caught her hand mid-swing.
"The infamous Kat Manx," Broodwing said with a sneer. He backhanded her, knocking her to the floor. "You will have a front-row seat to the destruction of Newtech City."
Cruger looked down at his mortal enemy. He held the point of the Shadow Saber an inch away from the kneeling warlord's throat. "It's over, Gruumm."
Behind them there was a tremendous noise, the sound of metal on metal from a gigantic transformation. As they watched, the Delta Base transformed into a megazord, firing lasers into the city from its fingertips.
Gruumm rumbled with laughter. "This is far from over, Cruger." He leaned on his staff and straightened. "We can continue our battle - or you can save your precious rangers. Which one are you going to chose?"
Cruger hesitated for a moment and then sheathed his sword. He growled and backed away. Gruumm watched his retreat and chuckled.
Piggy's restaurant was in shambles. It took the combined strength of both him and Z to shove open the front door. Piggy picked his way across the floor and opened a locked cabinet. Dozens of illegal weapons tumbled out and he dug through the stash, trying not to look at the ranger who was watching his every move.
"Found it!" Piggy said. He picked up a device that looked like a deep sea jellyfish. Tiny iridescent hairs ran along the machine, flashing blue and pink lights. "It navigates by thought transference. You hold it with both hands and think very hard about where you want to go."
Z shivered as he handed her the slimy device.
"One stray thought and you'll wind up floating in space... or worse," Piggy warned. "It's not a risk I would take, but..."
"I have to do this. Thank you, Piggy." Z clasped her hands around the teleporter and closed her eyes. She visualized the inside of the Troobian ship, drawing from the images she had glimpsed in Bridge's memories.
Piggy watched as she dissolved into lines of energy and light. "Good luck, Z."
Sky and Jack watched in horror as the the Delta Command Megazord slowly transformed.
"We can't stop it," Sky said. "We have to find Bridge." The two rangers took one last look at the battle before turning away.
On a low hill nearby, Sky saw a shadowed outline of a figure, standing out against the dawn. He slowed to a walk, expecting an eruption of blaster fire with every step. The attack never came. Bridge waited, unmorphed, as they approached, his hands empty by his sides.
Sky heard a muffled sound beside him, something between a growl and a battle cry. He looked over and saw that Jack was shaking with fury. The red ranger charged forward before he could stop him.
Jack morphed in mid-stride and covered the distance in seconds. Bridge morphed just in time, bringing his arms up in a defensive cross. He swung at Jack, but Jack grabbed his arm and twisted, following up with a brutal kick that flung him off his feet.
"Get up!" Jack said, his voice heavy with contempt.
Bridge tackled him instead, and they went sprawling in the grass. Bridge lashed out with his fists and elbows. He somehow managed to wrestle his way on top, pinning Jack to the ground. As he raised his free hand to strike again, a laser blast caught his side. The impact flipped him into the air and Bridge landed in an ungraceful roll.
"Bridge Carson," Sky shouted. His voice shook, but he held the blaster steady. "You are charged with conspiracy, treason, violent assault and endangering the public at large!"
A red streak hurtled towards Bridge. Jack moved fast, faster than he had ever seen. A foot struck Bridge's chest. As the green ranger staggered backwards, Jack drew his own blaster and fired in one smooth motion.
At such close range, the blast was agonizing even when morphed. Bridge fell to one knee, taking deep, gasping breaths of air. He looked up at Jack. The red ranger kept the blaster aimed steadily at his head. The helmet hid his expression, but his intention was clear.
Bridge spoke softly. "Are you really going to kill me... Jack?"
A/N: As always, reviews are appreciated. :)