Previously, on Power Rangers Cyber V: President Winters, after being defeated by the united Rangers, was infected with Venjix nanites by Kalask. She transformed into Venja and attempted to wipe Horizon off the map. While the Rangers stopped her plan, they were unable to prevent Kalask from recruiting her into his inner circle. Takuya/Tornado, a hero from another reality, recently joined the Rangers and seeks to atone for the rash actions he performed while attempting to take down Kalask alone. Anya is, herself, another refugee from a conquered reality, and defeating Kalask is virtually all she thinks about.
Location: Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Time: Inapplicable
Kalask sits in his throne, flanked by his followers. Kneeling before him is Venja, head bowed.
Kalask: Allow me to formally welcome you to our humble ranks, my dear Venja. It is actually quite the honor. I only select one being in each reality to join my army... And I have chosen YOU.
Thrak chuckles derisively.
Thrak: Yeah. Congratulations.
Venja says nothing, but the hatred radiating from her is nearly a physical thing. Midnai scrutinizes her cautiously, and with obvious disdain.
Midnai: My lord, I must protest this new recruit.
Kalask gives Midnai a bemused look. Clearly, this isn't normal.
Kalask: Oh?
Midnai: Just think of all the times this Winters harlot has interfered with the game! She'll bring nothing but chaos and destruction, and she knows nothing of the rules.
Kalask: Oh, I know. That's what makes it fun! But your points are valid, all the same. Very well then, if you're so concerned, my dear, by all means, put her to the test!
Venja looks up, confused.
Venja: The... test?
Kalask: Midnai, take our rookie player here and devise a strategy between the two of you. See how it goes. If nothing else, whatever you two cook up should make for a most amusing diversion.
He gets up and gestures, dismissing his minions. They quickly depart, leaving Midnai and Venja alone in the throneroom. Venja gets up and looks at Midnai, who sighs.
Midnai: I should have known better than to speak up... Alas, the die is cast. The test begins.
Venja: What do you have in mind?
Midnai: You're an expert on at least three of the Rangers. Use that knowledge to devise a strategy. But remember to follow the master's rules of fair play. No cheating.
Venja: And what's to stop me from just killing you and seeking my revenge on Kalask and the Rangers myself?
Midnai: Oh, by all means, give it a go. I haven't decimated a robot in at least a week.
Her hand sparks with magical energies, and Venja reconsiders.
Venja: I... understand. But I don't need time to devise a plan. I already have one, assuming your powers are up to the task. For the Rangers, it should prove to be quite the blast from the past...
Power Rangers Cyber V
Created by Aaron Thall
Chapter 38: Revenge of the Toad!
Written by: Aaron Thall
Location: Gym, Fort Myers
Wendy enters the gym and looks around, sighing heavily.
Wendy: Waste of time...
General Sauder steps up behind her.
Sauder: No, it's not. You yourself pointed out that when your nanites went on the fritz during the Horizon War, you didn't even have enough strength to knock over a Commandroid! And now that Winters has become some kind of cybernetic monster...
Wendy: No, not that... It's just that WITH the nanites, it's kind of impossible for me to get a real workout. Between them regulating my entire biology and the strength and endurance enhancements... Nothing here's gonna do any good for me.
Sauder: That may well be, but until Matt and Dr. Manx can devise some workout equipment that will do the job, you might as well get into a routine here.
Wendy: ...Wait, how come I'm not involved with designing the exercise equipment?
Sauder: Because the kitchen staff remember what happened when you upgraded their equipment. They're STILL trying to remove that wisk from the wall.
Wendy: Oh. Right. The Night of a Thousand Beaters of Death, they called it. Speaking of Dr. Manx, how are things in New York?
Sauder: She and Cruger have their hands full over there. B-Squad and the rest of SPD are trying to help repair the U.N., so don't expect them to come bail you out of this.
She winces.
Wendy: You know me too well.
Sauder: I practically raised you. I'd bloody well better know you by now.
Wendy: Why do I almost get the feeling you don't trust me?
Sauder: What do you mean "almost"?
Chuckling, he walks away, pleased at having gotten the last word for a change. Sighing harder now, Wendy glances at the equipment. She casually picks up a 300 pound barbell in one hand and twirls it before setting it back down.
Wendy: Well, might as well give it a shot...
She gives the room a harder look, trying to find something that might give her even the slightest difficulty. Instead, she hears soft music down at the far end. Curious, she heads over and takes a peek. She finds Anya and Takuya performing Tai Chi Chuan. They've clearly been at it a while. She just watches them move in complete sync, the form almost poetry in motion. As they finish, she gets closer.
Wendy: Nice to see you two getting along so well.
Anya: Hmmm?
Takuya: I don't follow.
Wendy: Sorry. It's just that you two were like mirror images of each other. Perfect harmony. Guess you guys've been bonding?
Anya: Unlikely. While I don't mind if Takuya joins me in Tai Chi, we are far from bonding, dear Sister. Point of fact, I have little time for someone so careless as to get my family killed!
Takuya: And I still don't understand how you can be so calm after everything Kalask took from you!
Wendy: I think I just opened Pandora's box... Guys, come on! We're all on the same side here. And you two have so much in common that-
Anya, Takuya: BUTT OUT!
They both push past her and storm out of the gym. Wendy groans inwardly.
Wendy: Well, I wanted a challenge... BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT! Guys, wait up! Come on!
She rushes after them.
Location: Midnai's Private Chamber, Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Time: Inapplicable
Midnai's chamber is vast, and filled with arcane tests and talismans. Her favorites, twelve stone tiles representing the Zodiac, adorn her wall. Midnai and Venja stand in the center of the chamber. Venja is using her control over her nanites to craft her new creature.
Venja: The body will be ready soon. Is your spell ready?
Midnai: It is. Recalling the creature's spirit from the netherworld is a simple task for me. Just make certain that the improvements you've mentioned are ready.
Venja: They're already complete. Once you've inserted the spirit, this creature will be the perfect tool for your game. And, as an added bonus, it will certainly prove amusing to see how one Ranger in particular deals with it.
Midnai: We shall see...
She takes her hand, which begins glowing green, and thrusts it into the body Venja has crafted. The two villainesses stand back as science and sorcery merge to resurrect a menace from the past.
Midnai: Still, as impressive as the creature is, I'm not convinced.
Venja: Ah, but the creature itself is just one half of the game. The second half involves stopping a clock...
Location: Outdoor Training Area, Fort Myers
Anya and Takuya head towards the Training Area, doing their best to ignore Wendy and each other. Wendy follows close behind.
Wendy: Guys, come on! Cut it out! What'd I say?
Anya turns to face her sister, clearly upset.
Anya: How could you think I'm anything like him!
She thrusts her finger at Takuya, who also stops and gives her the evil eye.
Takuya: I could say the same.
Wendy: But you ARE alike.
Anya: He's a reckless loose cannon! He got you killed, for god's sake!
Takuya: It just keeps coming back to THAT, doesn't it?
Anya: YOU can be silent! I tolerate your presence only because your Zord helps our cause! Kyubi is a welcome addition to our team. YOU, on the other hand-
Takuya: -Am about five seconds from removing the oxygen around your head.
Wendy: GUYS!
They both look at her, angry.
Both: WHAT?
Wendy: Errr... nevermind... Can't we all just... LOOK OUT!
Laser blasts strike the ground around them, forcing the three to dive clear. As they come up, they scowl. Materializing before them are Midnai and Venja, who is holding a strange circular device.
Anya: WINTERS!
Midnai: She goes by "Venja" now, my little rebel.
Wendy can't help but laugh, just once.
Wendy: HA! Oh, that's rich! The irony alone...
Midnai: The master felt much the same way.
Venja: Can we just get on with this?
Takuya: Whatever you're up to, it ends here.
He flicks his wrist and the Kaze Morpher appears.
Venja: Wrong! It's just beginning!
She throws the device at the Rangers. Wendy uses a quick burst of speed instinctively, getting her away from the device, while Takuya and Anya try to leap away from it. Only Wendy pulls clear before it activates. Chronal energy surges from the device, and it freezes in mid-air and radiates an energy bubble in all directions. Unable to move quickly enough, Anya and Takuya are caught in it's wake. There's a bright flash of light, and Wendy shields her eyes. As it fades, she turns to find the others... and sees that they haven't moved an inch. The bubble, over 25 feet in diameter, has enveloped them. They hang in the air as well, in mid-leap, totally unaware that time is passing. Indeed, for them, it is not.
Wendy: ANYA! TAKUYA!
She turns and tenses.
Wendy: You just crossed the line, Winters... Well, again, anyway.
She reaches to activate her Techno Op, but Midnai snaps her fingers, and lightning strikes at Wendy's feet, forcing her to roll clear.
Midnai: You don't listen, do you? I said her name is Venja now.
Venja: And by all means, little Wendy, free your sister and your friend. That is, if you can reach them inside the time bubble. The second you enter it, you'll be frozen in time, just like them.
Midnai: And just to make it more interesting, the rest of the Rangers are about to be in dire straits themselves...
Location: War Room
The alarm blares. Sauder turns to Lt. Conner.
Lt. Conner: Warp-portal detected, Sir! It's at the park! One alien lifesign!
The other Rangers rush in, Sauder raising an eyebrow that they're three short.
Jeremy: What's the emergency, Sir?
Sauder: Incursion at the park. Get going. I'll have the others join you.
Jeremy: Understood... Ready?
He holds up his Cyber Op.
All: READY!
They all lift their left arms to chest level while they raise and pull back their right arms, palms facing out. As one, they shove their right arms forward, pushing the "disks" into the Cyber Ops.
All: CYBER OP ENERGIZE!
Jeremy finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a red battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Red!
Walter finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a green battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Green!
Jake finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a blue battle suit around his body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at his shoulders and meeting at his chest's center. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Cyber Blue!
Cindy finds herself amidst more cascading binary that flows around her. It quickly forms a pink battle suit around her body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at her shoulders and meeting at her chest's center. A short miniskirt appears as well. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on her, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around her head, created by data swarming around her head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. Her transformation completed, she was now Cyber Pink!
Matt slaps the backs of his hands together, then brings both hands up and does so again. As they seperate, he brings each around and punches his fists together. Bringing his left arm back, he thrusts his right hand out, forming a V for victory sign. He pulls this arm back as the other thusts forward, then turns, until his fist points upwards. His other arm shoots out to the side as his victory sign fingers come together. He brings his arm back and those fingers strike a button on his Techno Op.
Matt: TECHNO OP ACTIVATION!
Matt finds himself amidst more cascading binary that flows around him. It quickly forms a Purple and white battle suit around his body. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on him, before a belt and holster appears. The Techno Grapple appears in it. Finally, the helmet forms around his head, created by data swarming around his head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. His transformation completed, he was now Techno Purple!
They teleport out instantly, and Sauder turns back to Lt. Conner.
Sauder: Contact the others immediately!
Location: Outdoor Training Area
Wendy's Techno Op beeps. She glares at Midnai and Venja. Midnai simply shrugs. Wendy answers.
Wendy: What's going on?
Sauder: There's an attack at the park, and I can't raise Anya or Takuya.
Wendy: Yeah, about that...
Sauder: There's no time to find them. Get to the park immediately!
Wendy: I can't do that, Sir. I've got an emergency situation of my own!
Venja: How good to hear your voice again, General.
Sauder: WINTERS!
Venja: Have you noticed they keep saying that like it's profanity?
Wendy: Oh, trust me, it IS.
Venja: By all means, Wendy's more than welcome to go help the other Rangers... But if she leaves, my new associate and I will very happily take your two remaining heroes back to Limbo, where you'll NEVER be able to reach them. Of course, if she stays, the rest of the team will be annihilated by the creature we've so thoughtfully brought back to life. I think you should be quite familiar with it. I believe it was known as-
Location: The park
The Rangers teleport in, and see people fleeing in all directions. It's not hard to see why. The creature, a disgusting bloated amphibian, sends energy blasts from it's horn. Matt's eyes go wide.
Matt: That's not good! I know what that creature is!
Venja: The Terror Toad.
Wendy's heart actually skips a beat.
Wendy: Patch me through to the others NOW!
Venja: I wouldn't do that if I were you, General. They'll just have to fight without her guidance... Unless she's willing to abandon her dear sister and your new recruit, that is.
Wendy growls and clenches her fists.
Location: The Park
Matt: It's called the Terror Toad.
The others look at him, confused.
Matt: When you spend as much time around Wendy as I do, you pick up trivia even if you don't want to. This thing's one of the toughest creatures to ever menace the planet. Whatever you do, avoid it's attacks at all cost!
Jake: Oh please! It doesn't look so tough.
Terror Toad: Oh, I don't look tough, huh? Well, you don't look so hot yourself!
Jake: Oh no. A trash talking lardass. Whatever shall we do?
Walter: Dude, maybe you should listen.
Cindy: I think Matt's right...
Jake: Please. He's fat, silly looking, and there's no way he's got any speed at all.
As if the prove his point, Jake charges at the Toad, who chuckles. Jake gets in close, and the Toad suddenly moves closer, surprising Jake. The Toad slugs Jake, sending him flying back. Jake lands hard and shakes his head.
Jake: Okay, so he's fast.
Terror Toad: And you're toast!
The Toad suddenly projects a band of energy from it's horn. It lashes out at Jake.
Matt: JAKE! MOVE!
The warning comes too late. The band of energy wraps around Jake, who cries out in pain... and suddenly transforms into a ball of energy. Adhering to the band, the ball is pulled into the Toad's mouth. He swallows twice, and Jake is simply... gone, save for an image of his helmet, which materializes on the Toad's massive stomach.
Jeremy: JAKE!
Matt: SIGH... My brother-in-law is an IDIOT...
Cindy: OHMYGOD! That thing just killed him!
Matt: No, he's alive. He's just trapped inside.
Walter: So how the hell do we get him out?
Matt: Cut off the creature's horn, then nail him in his neck, where a second face is. Do that, and anyone he's devoured goes free.
Terror Toad: Well? Come on already! I don't have all day! Who's next on the Ranger buffet? Step on up, because this toad's famished, and you all look good enough to eat!
Jeremy: We're putting you on a diet!
They summon their Cyber Weapons and charge the Toad. As they get in close, Matt fires his Techno Grapple, but the Toad swats the line away and fires a blast of energy, knocking Jeremy back and away from him.
Terror Toad: LAY OFF THE HORN!
He turns and swats Cindy away, then fires several more blasts at Walter, who dives clear and comes up aiming the Disk Launcher.
Walter: As always, I'm ready to save the day!
He fires several explosive disks at the Toad. The creature, however, sees it coming and activates his stomach's force field, deflecting the projectiles right back at Walter, who's peppered by his own attacks.
Terror Toad: Hey, whadda ya know? A self-tenderizing Ranger!
Cindy: WALTER! RUN!
The Toad unleashes his energy tongue again. Dazed, Walter's tangled by it before he can even think to move. He transforms into energy, and, like Jake, is quickly pulled into the monster's mouth. His helmet appears on the Toad's stomach, right next to Jake's.
Matt: This is bad. He supposedly gets stronger each time he pulls that little trick off!
Cindy: So what do we do?
Matt: Calm down. I have a plan... I hope.
Location: Outdoor Training Area
Wendy glares at the two villainesses, ready to tear them apart with her bare hands.
Wendy: Let me guess...
She points at Venja.
Wendy: Your idea?
Venja: Well, let's just say that all those mandatory psychiatric sessions you attended over the years gave me a great deal of material to work with. Who would have guessed that after mind control, your worst fear was getting eaten alive by a monster? Really, you have issues.
Midnai: In any case, your friends are already in terrible danger.
She gestures, and five colored orbs materialize in the air and begin floating around.
Midnai: Each time one of them is devoured, their orb will pop. If you can't free these two before the last one goes, we'll recall the Toad with it's Ranger-filled belly AND take these two along as a trophy.
Wendy hears two loud pops. She looks up, and has a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as the green and blue orbs shatter into dust.
Wendy: no... WALTER! JAKE!
Venja: Awww... Did the widdie Hybrid just lose her fool of a husband? You're more than welcome to JOIN him in the Toad's stomach!
Midnai: Now now... Once she's the last Ranger standing, you'll have permisison to rend her limb from limb. For now, let's watch and see what happens next!
Midnai gestures, and a warp-portal emvelops the both of them. Wendy lets them go, and forces herself to ignore the orbs. Instead, she picks up several rocks off the ground, and starts tossing them into the time field. She watches each one freeze in place and makes mental notes...
Wendy: Hang on, Sis... I'm coming...
Anya opens her eyes to nothing. She looks around, but surrounding her is an empty room of white.
Anya: Where am I? What is this place?
Takuya materializes next to her.
Takuya: We're on the psychic plane, Anya. Kyubi brought our minds here since our bodies are trapped. He felt we needed to... clear the air.
Anya: Trapped? What's going on?
Takuya: Look down.
An image materializes on the floor of the room. Anya sees Wendy throwing rocks into the bubble.
Takuya: She seems to be trying to figure out a way to free us without becoming trapped herself.
Anya: She will. I have complete faith in her.
Takuya: Which is more than can be said for me, hmm?
Anya: Can you truly blame me? You nearly cost me my family!
He sees the look in her eyes.
Takuya: They keep you grounded, don't they? The Twins, I mean. Even after you lost everything, you found them, and they became a surrogate for the ones you'd lost.
Anya: Yes, they did.
Takuya: You're lucky. I didn't have that. All I had left was Kyubi... Kyubi and my rage. We were... so alone.
Anya: As was I, once. Those early days in this reality, I was lost, and so very afraid. But then they came. Somehow, they made the hurt... less than it had been.
Takuya: So... That's why you didn't wind up like me? Because you had someone to turn to when you felt the darkness clawing at you?
Anya: We saved each other. And when I look at you, I see what I could have become. And what I occasionally STILL become. I know the rage within you, Takuya. It is the same as my own.
Takuya: I envy your bond with them, you know. No one on this team truly accepts me... Except maybe Jeremy. You all only want me around because you need my powers to defeat Kalask. But I can live with that. It's no less than I deserve after the things I did in the name of revenge.
Anya: That isn't true. Yes, they're angry with you, but if they truly didn't want you here, you WOULDN'T be. Before you betrayed us to seek revenge, we'd accepted you as an ally... The fragile trust you'd built up cannot be restored easily. And even if it could, it's clear you still hold onto the hurt and the anger. You stay at a distance from the rest of us, and never let us in.
Takuya looks away.
Anya: I no longer fight merely to avenge my reality, Takuya. I fight for my friends and family, and they, in turn, fight for me. I know you fight to avenge your world and your beloved... But what do you fight for besides the dead?
Location: The Park
The Rangers dive as the Terror Toad fires more energy blasts at them from his horn. They come up on their feet and turn to face him.
Terror Toad: Come on! I'm starving here! Put up a fight already!
Matt: Jeremy, Cindy, I'm going for his horn. Stay back and get ready to strike at his weak point.
Cindy: Matt... Be careful.
Matt: Who do I look like? My sister? MELEE MODE!
Matt shifts his Techno Grapple to baton mode and tenses himself.
Matt: NOW!
Matt takes off in a burst of superspeed. He slashes at the Toad's side, then immediately comes around again and slashes from the opposite direction. He repeats the attack several times, disorienting the monster. With it off-balance, Matt makes one final attack, slashing the horn right off of the creature's head! Matt screeches to a stop before Jeremy and Cindy, his back to the creature.
Matt: Now we finish this!
Terror Toad: SURPRISE!
To the shock of the Rangers, the energy tongue suddenly wraps around Matt, who takes this turn of events with his trademarked scientific detachment.
Matt: Well, that was unexpect-
Before he can finish, he's transformed into energy and pulled into the Toad's maw. His helmet instantly appears on the creature's belly.
Jeremy: MATT! But... How?
Cindy: HIS HORN!
They look. Indeed, the Toad's horn is still there, atop his head.
Cindy: Did he miss it somehow?
Jeremy looks at the grass and sees the severed horn.
Jeremy: No! He definitely got it!
Terror Toad: Didn't I tell you little morsels? Each time I eat one of you, I can regrow my horn! Thanks to Blue Boy, I'm still just as strong as ever! Heck, I don't even need to use Green or Purple yet!
Cindy: This is bad! We need the others!
Jeremy: General! What's going on? We're losing ground here!
Sauder: Anya and Takuya are in some kind of trap. Wendy's trying to free them. Just hang on!
Jeremy: Patch Wendy in! We need her knowledge of this guy without Matt here!
Sauder: I can't. If I do that, they'll automatically take Anya and Takuya, and maybe recall the Toad with the others trapped inside. I'm afraid for now, you're on your own.
Jeremy: Understood! We'll just have to make due! CYBERRANG!
The gauntlet materializes on his wrist.
Jeremy: BOOMERANG MODE!
He flings the Cyberrang, nailing the horn. The Toad backs up and growls.
Terror Toad: HEY! THAT HURT!
Jeremy: It's supposed to.
The Terror Toad advances. As he does, the spot where his horn had been begins glowing green. There's a flash, and his horn rematerializes as if it had never been gone.
Jeremy: And that's Walter's horn...
Terror Toad: Yep! He was minty fresh! And the last guy tasted like grapes!
He burps for effect, sending a chill down Cindy's spine.
Cindy: I don't know if I should be afraid, or disgusted, or both.
Jeremy: Definitely both!
Terror Toad: Come on, you two! We're not getting any younger!
He fires at them, and they split up, Cindy diving left while Jeremy dives right. As they come up, Cindy charges up her Protection Shield.
Cindy: DISCUS SHOT!
She throws her Protection Shield with all her strength. It slams into the Toad's head, severing the horn again. It drops to the ground, even as her Shield returns to her hand.
Jeremy: Nice one!
Terror Toad: HEY! These horns don't grow on trees, punks!
His horn hole glows purple, and in a flash, another horn takes the place of the last.
Jeremy: Last horn!
He flings the Cyberrang again, but this time, the Terror Toad swats it aside. Undeterred, Jeremy charges him with the Scanner Blade.
Jeremy: Fine, then we'll do this up close and personal!
He slashes at the Toad, who blocks the first strile with his arm and swipes at Jeremy. Jeremy ducks under the attack and slashes, striking him in his bloated belly. Inwardly, Jeremy winces.
Jeremy: Sorry, guys! But it's for your own good!
He charges up the Scanner Blade.
Jeremy: Let my friends go NOW!
Terror Toad: Why would I do that? They feel so good in my gullet!
The Toad launches it's energy tongue, but Jeremy dodges it and leaps into the air.
Jeremy: SCANNER SLASH!
He comes down, Blade blazing with energy. He strikes the horn dead on, and it goes flying as the Toad falls back, badly hurt by the assault.
Terror Toad: YEOW! YOU LITTLE CREEP! THAT WAS MY LAST HORN!
Cindy: And good riddance to it!
The Toad turns to face her.
Terror Toad: Waitaminute... Now that I think about it, the last thing I remembered before being brought back was another Pink Ranger shooting me in the face with an arrow! She's not here, but you are! And after that... I really HATE PINK!
He opens his mouth wide and fires a physical tongue out. It streaks right for Cindy, who's too shocked to move. Jeremy, however, is not.
Jeremy: CINDY! LOOK OUT!
Moving quickly, he leaps and comes down between the Toad and Cindy. The second he lands, he shoves her aside, but he has no time to dodge himself. He's immediately tied up by the tongue.
Jeremy: CINDY! RUN! GET OUT OF HERE! Go help Wendy free to others!
Terror Toad: SUPPER TIME!
He pulls hard on his tongue, and Jeremy goes flying right into the Toad's mouth, head first. The toad begins swallowing.
Cindy: JEREMY! NO!
The Toad keeps swallowing, and in only three seconds, Jeremy is gone as well, his helmet joining those of the others on the villain's stomach. The Toad's horn hole flashesred and the horn regrows. Perversely, he pats his stomach.
Terror Toad: And then there was one! Just you and me now, Pinky! I'll bet you taste like bubble gum!
Cindy takes a step back, unsure what to do.
Terror Toad: Aw, do you miss your boyfriend? By all means... JOIN HIM!
And with that, he fires his energy tongue again...
Location: Outdoor Training Area
Wendy throws one last rock with all her strength and watches it stop further into the bubble.
Wendy: Okay, that's enough testing...
She activates her Techno Op, which projects a holographic display. She begins entering the data and making calculations. She hears another pop. In spite of herself, she looks up and feels another stab of horror as she sees the purple one has vanished.
Wendy: MATT!
She drops to her knees and fights back tears. Steeling herself, she gets back up and wipes her eyes.
Wendy: Not gonna let you win, Winters. No chance in hell!
She returns to the calculations. Even as she finishes entering the variables, there's another pop. This time, she doesn't look. She doesn't have time to waste on that. As long as a single orb remains, she's still in the game.
Wendy: Hang on, guys... I'm coming...
She lifts her Techno Op up.
Wendy: READY!
Wendy slaps the backs of her hands together, then brings both hands up and does so again. As they seperate, she brings each around and punches her fists together. Bringing her right arm back, she thrusts her right hand out, forming a V for victory sign. She pulls this arm back as the other thusts forward, then turns, until her fist points upwards. Her other arm shoots out to the side as her victory sign fingers come together. She brings her arm back and those fingers strike a button on her Techno Op.
Wendy: TECHNO OP ACTIVATION!
Wendy finds herself amidst more cascading binary that flows around her. It quickly forms a grey and white battle suit around her body. A short miniskirt appears as well. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on her, before a belt and holster appears. Her Techno Lasher appears in it. Finally, the helmet forms around her head, created by data swarming around her head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. Her transformation completed, she was now Techno Grey!
She stretches her legs and unholsters her Techno Lasher.
Wendy: Ready... GO!
She bursts into superspeed, circling the time field. Faster and faster, until everything becomes a blur. She watches a readout on her helmet display as she reaches the speed of sound.
Techno Op: Warning. Procedure not recommended. Sustained use of speed boost will result in terminal power drain. Discontinue immediately.
Wendy: No can do! FASTER!
It becomes hard for her to breathe as she moves faster than air can hope to follow. Dark spots creep at the edge of her vision as she reaches near mach 5. Weariness already coming over her, she ignores it and focuses on the task at hand.
Wendy: NOW!
She suddenly alters her trajectory slightly and slams into the bubble. Immediately she begins slowing down. She nears the center of the bubble and the projector. With the last of her speed, she activates the lasher and swings it. She freezes in place, but the energy lash continues on, possessing more speed than her body. Still, it begins to slow... Slower... Almost stopping... but a microsecond before it can, the Lasher strikes the projector.
Suddenly, everything is moving again. The device explodes and the bubble shatters. Wendy's momentum picks up where it had been before, and she careens out of control, skidding on the ground for several yards before she slams into a tree, her suit sparking violently due to the impact and the power drain. Anya and Takuya collapse to the ground and look around.
Takuya: She actually did it!
Anya: You seem surprised. I told you, I have absolute faith in my sister.
Dizzy, Wendy staggers to her feet. She shakes her head as Anya and Takuya rush over to steady her.
Wendy: Could someone please make the world stop spinning? I'd like to get off now...
Techno Op: Power at fifteen percent and falling. Recommend immediate recharge.
Anya: Easy, Sister.
Takuya: I'll admit. That was impressive.
Wendy shakes the cobwebs from her mind.
Wendy: Oh man! We have to hurry! If you thought YOU guys were in trouble, the others have it even worse!
Anya: What is it?
Wendy: No time to explain! BACK TO ACTION!
She taps her gauntlet and teleports. Anya and Takuya exchange glances.
Both: LET'S DO IT!
Takuya grasps the ripcord handle of the Kaze Morpher.
Takuya: IT'S SPIN DRIVE TIME!
He pulls on the handle, and the dial spins wildly. He's suddenly surrounded by a vortex of mystical elemental energies. He gives himself over to it, and it spirals around his body, forming aqua and silver armor, first on his legs, then his arms and torso. Finally, a spirit fox howls and surrounds his head, forming a helmet. The transformation complete, he swings his Battle Board, ready for the coming struggle.
Anya lifts her left arm to chest level while she raises and pulls back her right arm, palm facing out. She shoves her right arm forward, pushing the "disk" into the Cyber Op.
Anya: CYBER OP ENERGIZE!
Anya finds herself amidst more cascading binary that flows around her. It quickly forms a yellow battle suit around her body, a 16-bit style triangle forming at her shoulders and meeting at her chest's center. A short miniskirt appears as well. White gloves and boots, trimmed with binary at the cuffs, appear on her, before a belt with two holsters appear. A Data Ray and a Data Blade materialize in these. Finally, the helmet forms around her head, created by data swarming around her head. Its visor is not unlike a VR goggle set. Her transformation completed, she was now Cyber Yellow!
Location: The Park
The three of them teleport in and immediately see how dire the situation is. The Toad has clearly been dominating the battle, for only Cindy remains. Even now, the only thing protecting her from being devoured is her Protection Shield's force field, which is deflecting his energy tongue.
Wendy: Oh man, they weren't bluffing! It IS the Terror Toad!
Anya sees the helmets of the others on the Toad's stomach. She blanches under her helmet.
Anya: Are they all...?
Wendy shakes her head.
Wendy: It's not like Munch, Anya. They'll be okay if we can free them. First things first. We need to nail his horn. Takuya!
Takuya nods.
Takuya: Leave it to me!
He leaps into the air and flings his arms out.
Takuya: INFINITE KUNAI!
He unleashes a flurry of throwing blades that strike the Toad, forcing him to break off his assault on Cindy. One kunai strikes his horn, severing it. Takuya comes down between the Toad and Cindy as Wendy and Anya rush to join them.
Cindy: Thank god you're here! He's already gotten everyone else!
Wendy: I know. I'm so sorry we didn't get here sooner.
Techno Op: Power at ten percent. Recommend immediate recharge.
Cindy: Careful! He keeps growing new horns each time he eats one of us!
Wendy: Send us the battle data.
Cindy nods and begins the transfer, Takuya and Anya watching the Toad warily as the transfer takes place. Once complete, Wendy immediately speeds through the information.
Wendy: Okay, I'm up to speed!
Anya: Do you have a plan?
Wendy: Maybe.
Takuya: We don't have time for maybe!
The Terror Toad, now recovered from Takuya's attack growls.
Terror Toad: So, ya finally made it to the party, huh? About time! I was getting bored playing with Pinky!
Wendy: The problem with my plan is that I'm so low on power, I might run out before we can pull it off!
Anya: So what do we do?
Wendy is uncharacteristically silent for a moment.
Wendy: Techno Op, siphon all non-essential energy from my nanites and channel them into my suit.
Techno Op: Not recommended. Procedure will place user's life at serious risk.
Wendy: DO IT!
There's a pause.
Techno Op: Power at eighteen percent and holding.
Cindy: Now what?
Terror Toad: Now ya stop yappin' and I chow down!
He launches his tongue, and the other Rangers dodge out of the way. Exhausted from maintaining her force field for so long, Cindy doesn't move fast enough, and the tongue wraps around her.
Wendy: CINDY!
Terror Toad: Come to poppa!
Cindy: OH GOD NO!
He pulls hard, and Cindy is flung towards him. She lands in his mouth head first, and he begins to swallow. Takuya flings more kunai at the Toad and Anya fires blasts from her Data Ray, but the Toad ignores the attacks as they strike him. Instead, he finishes swallowing her, even as she kicks and struggles uselessly. She vanishes down his maw, and her helmet materializes on his stomach. His horn hole glows pink as a new horn appears.
Anya: You filthy bastard!
Curiously, Wendy doesn't react to seeing her best friend devoured. Instead, she considers the new data presented to her, and the final pieces of information she needs fit into place.
Wendy: GUYS! I hate to say it, but what just happened to Cindy may have been just what we needed to finish this fight!
They both look at her like she's insane.
Takuya: How can Cindy getting eaten be a good thing? Did you hit your head freeing us?
Wendy: No, I'm seeing things clearly! My plan WILL work! Just hang back for the moment while I do THIS!
Without waiting for them to respond, she charges at the Terror Toad, powering up her Lasher.
Terror Toad: OOOH! A volunteer to be dessert! And she looks tasty!
He launches his energy tongue at Wendy, who swings her Lasher in response. The two bands of energy tangle, and Wendy pulls hard. The energy tongue shatters, staggering the Toad.
Terror Toad: YEOWCH! THAT STUNG!
Wendy: Then you'll love this! MELEE MODE!
She splits her Lasher into twin energy daggers.
Wendy: TWO SWORD STYKE: CROSS SLASH!
She speeds up, using her speed boost again. She blazes pastthe Toad and slashes with both arms, severing the horn. It falls to the ground, joining the rapidly growing pile on the grass. She stops to the right of the Toad and reconnects her Lasher before holstering it.
Techno Op: Power at eight percent and falling. Immediate recharge recommended.
Wendy: Transfer all remaining energy to strength enhancement. No arguements.
Injured, the Toad turns and glares at her.
Terror Toad: YOU LITTLE BITCH! I don't care if you taste like tofu! YOU'RE NEXT!
Wendy: Bring it.
The Terror Toad launches his physical tongue again. Wendy doesn't even try to avoid it. Instead, she allows it to wrap around her, pinning her arms to her side. She grabs the tongue with her hands.
Terror Toad: GOTCHA!
Anya: WENDY! NO!
The Toad pulls, but Wendy digs her heels into the ground and strains. To the Toad's shock, she doesn't budge.
Wendy: You know, considering you've got some experience fighting Rangers, you're terribly gullible, Toad. I LET you catch me.
Takuya: What's going on? Why isn't she toad food?
Anya: I... I don't understand.
Wendy: It's simple. I've studied the original Terror Toad. Once his horn is severed, he has almost no attacks. No force field. No energy blasts. No energy tongue. Just a physical tongue, strength, and a little speed. And I've got his tongue tied up at the moment. It occured to me that it was strange that he didn't retaliate against the two of you while he was eating Cindy. The only logical conclusion I could reach was that he COULDN'T retaliate. He can't move while he's eating.
The Toad's eyes go wide.
Wendy: I just hit the bullseye, didn't I, Kermit? Long as I've got you stuck playing tug of war, you can't do anything about the others!
The Toad begins pulling harder on his tongue, but Wendy refuses to budge and digs her heels in deeper.
Terror Toad: LEGGO! LEGGO OF MY TONGUE!
Wendy: Anya! Takuya! Nail him in his neck! That'll free everyone! And hurry! This is eating up my energy reserves!
Both: RIGHT!
Anya and Takuya bring out their weapons and charge at the Terror Toad.
Location: Midnai's Private Chamber, Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Time: Inapplicable
Watching the battle through a mystical mirror, Midnai sighs.
Midnai: It would seem the game is over. They've got your creature right where they want it.
Venja's eyes glow hatefully.
Venja: NO! I won't allow her to beat me! COMMANDROIDS! STOP THEM!
Midnai: There's no point! The battle is lost!
Venja: It's not over until she's devoured!
She lashes out, striking Midnai in the face. Midnai collapses to the floor, unconscious.
Venja: Ensure the end of the Hybrids at once!
Location: The Park
Anya and Takuya rush the Toad, who continues to struggle to either pull Wendy in or get her to release his tongue. It isn't clear which. They raise their weapons to strike... and are immediately bombarded by laser blasts. They fall back as a warp-portal opens and spews out a platoon of Commandroids, who continue to fire at them.
Anya: NO! NOT NOW!
Takuya: WENDY! HANG ON! We'll make this fast!
Wendy: HURRY! I don't know how long I can maintain the stalemate!
Techno Op: Power at six percent. Recommend immediate recharge.
Anya fires her Data Ray at the Commandroids farthest away, then spins and kicks one trying to grab her. Even as he falls, she throws her Input Stave into the head of another one. It ricochets into the faces of two more before returning to her hand. Nearby, Takuya gestures, and a powerful blast of wind knocks several Commandroids away. Turning, he punches another, then spins with his Battle Board, slashing two more trying to club him with their riflebutts. Behind them, a handful of Commandroids take aim at Wendy.
Wendy: GUYS! I NEED COVER HERE! I've got no shields left in my suit!
Takuya: DAMNIT!
He shoves a Commandroid away, even as Anya flips another onto it's back.
Anya: STOP IT!
She fires at the Commandroids, nailing four of them. Unfortunately, there were five. The surviving Commandroid fires at Wendy, striking her shoulder.
Wendy: AAAHHH!
Her shoulder bleeding and burned, her suit sparks, breached without shields to protect it. Still, she doesn't falter.
Wendy: Gotta hold... the stalemate... A little longer...
Techno Op: Warning. Suit integrity compromised. Warning. Power level at four percent and falling.
Terror Toad: Got a problem, girlie? Just give up and I'll make it all go away! I'll even let ya be with your friends! HA!
Two Commandroids grab Anya as she aims at the Commandroid taking potshots at Wendy. They force her to drop her Data Ray. Furious, she pulls free and chops both in their necks, knocking them backwards. At the same time, Takuya throws more kunai at several Commandroids attempting to get into sniping positions. The blades penetrate the robots' internal mechanisms, and they explode.
Techno Op: Warning. Suit integrity compromised. Power level at two percent and falling.
The Commandroid takes aim again and fires, striking Wendy in her right leg. Once more, her suit tears and her wound begins to bleed. She bites back a yelp of pain. This time, the blast is followed by one more to her left knee.
Anya and Takuya: GET AWAY FROM HER!
Anya grabs her Data Ray and fires, nailing the last Commandroid. However, even as it falls, it reveals that the damage has already been done. Wendy looks at them, completely spent.
Wendy: S-sorry, guys... I... can't hold on... any longer...
She staggers and loses her footing. Seeing his chance, the Toad pulls as hard as he can. Exhausted and injured, Wendy can't fight back as she's pulled right to him. To the horror of both Anya and Takuya, he grabs her and shoves her into his mouth. He begins to swallow. They charge him again, readying their weapons. One second passes, and she's already in up to her waist. They get closer, charging the Input Staves and the Battle Board with destructive energies. He swallows again, taking her up to her hips. They both see they can't reach the Toad in time and pull their weapons back. Again, he swallows, and she slides in up to her knees. They throw the Input Staves and the Battle Board with all their strength. The weapons streak through the air towards the toad. He swallows once more, getting her in all the way to her ankles. He pulls his upper jaw back, ready to bite down and end it.
That's when the weapons strike him dead on in the neck. The Toad's eyes bug out and he staggers backwards, the energy in the weapons creative a massive explosion. He's thrown backwards and lands on his side, knocked silly. He convulses, and five colored orbs fly out of his mouth, and hover above Anya and Takuya. The orbs suddenly shatter, and the other Rangers collapse in a heap on the ground, freed from the Toad's stomach.
Walter: Oh god, THAT sucked.
Cindy: That was the most disgusting thing I've ever experienced!
Matt: At least we're out of there.
Jeremy: Nice work guys. Thanks.
Jake: Wait... Where's...
Jake turns and sees, to hos horror, that Wendy's feet are still dangling out of the Terror Toad's mouth.
Jake: WENDY!
The Rangers jump to their feet and leap towards the Toad, who's starting to recover from the blast.
Jeremy: GRAB HIM!
Jeremy and Walter move quickly, grabbing the Toad's upper jaw. At the same time, Jake and Matt grab Wendy's ankles and start pulling.
Jake: LET... MY... WIFE... GO!
Matt: He's fighting us... Keep pulling!
Straining, they begin making headway. Slowly but surely, they manage to pull Wendy out of his throat. Seeing that his tongue is still wrapped around her, Cindy charges up her Data Blade.
Cindy: THAT'S ENOUGH!
She slashes at the tongue, severing it. Jake and Matt fall backwards, and the tongue loses it's grip on Wendy. It falls off and disintegrates. With her free, Walter and Jeremy kick the toad in the head as hard as they can, knocking him away from the team.
Techno Op: Power at zero percent. Terminating morph.
Wendy's suit vanishes. Burnt, bruised, and bloody, she looks up at the others, exhausted.
Wendy: Did... did it work? Or am I trapped, too?
Jeremy: No, you did it. You and the others got us back.
Wendy: Oh... Good.
Anya and Takuya move to join the others.
Anya: She was already weak after freeing us. Fighting the Toad must have taken everything she had left.
Jake: You always have to overdo it, don't you?
Wendy: Sorry... Gotta leave... the rest... to you guys... Give him one for me, huh?
She closes her eyes and blacks out. Jake lays her down gently on the grass.
Matt: She's just asleep. She's completely exhausted.
Jake: Man, if I ever need a reminder of how lucky I am to have her, SHOOT me.
The Terror Toad struggles to his feet, furious.
Terror Toad: HEY! I GOT HER FAIR AND SQUARE! I don't go ripping food outta your mouths, do I?
The remaining Rangers step forward, getting between the Toad and the unconscious Wendy.
Jeremy: Your reign of terror's over! We're taking you down once and for all! VALIANT LEADER: CYBER RED!
Jake: ROMANTIC LANCER: CYBER BLUE!
Anya: DRIVEN SURVIVOR: CYBER YELLOW!
Walter: LOYAL FRIEND: CYBER GREEN!
Cindy: GENTLE SPIRIT: CYBER PINK!
Matt: STOIC AVENGER: TECHNO PURPLE!
Takuya: The Brilliant Spitifre's sitting this one out, but you've still gotta face the WARRIOR OF THE WIND: TORNADO!
All: DEFENDING THE MULTIVERSE FROM THE FORCES OF DARKNESS: POWER RANGERS CYBER V... FOR VICTORY!
They flash a V for Victory sign. Anya and Takuya turn theirs' into thumbs down.
Anya, Takuya: AND YOU'RE GOING DOWN!
The Toad backs up, not liking where this is headed.
Jeremy: CYBER BLASTER NOW!
Walter attaches his Disk Launcher to Jake's Output Cannon. Anya's Input Staves attach to ports on both sides of the Cannon, even as Cindy's Protection Shield links to Walter's Launcher. Finally, Jeremy's blade retracts into it's hilt partially, before he places it between the staves' housings. The transformation complete, Jeremy levels the Cyber Blaster before him, the others bracing him. Walter and Anya on his right, Jake and Cindy on his left.
Jeremy: FIRE!
He pulls the trigger, and a cascading beam of five colors lances out, nailing the Toad. He's thrown back, but, to their surprise, he doesn't explode.
Terror Toad: I'm not... beaten... YET!
Anya steps forward. She's furious, but it's a cold smouldering fury.
Anya: We had to hold back before, monster, for fear of harming those trapped within you! But now we're united again, and I've got no more reason to restrain myself...
She thrusts her right fist forward. There's a flash of red light, and the Pegasus Summoner materializes upon it.
Anya: PEGASUS SUMMONER! ACTIVATE!
The Pegasus Summoner's eyes flash as the device unleashes a winged horse made entirely of energy. It gallops into the air and comes back down, slamming into Anya and breaking down into waves of cascading binary energy. Her boots and gloves transform to a black color, and red and gold armor materializes upon her torso and shoulders. Magnificent metallic wings spread out from her back, and the crest of the Pegasus Summoner spirals around before attaching to her helmet.
Anya: YELLOW PEGASUS RANGER!
Takuya: LET'S DO IT!
They both charge the Toad, punching the creature in the face and sending him flying back. Takuya moves in and slashes him with the Battle Board. The wings detatch from Anya's back and shift to form the Pegasus Smasher, which then attaches to the Summoner. Takuya steps back, and she takes over, charging the Pegasus Smasher up and slicing right through the Toad. Sparking badly, the Toad staggers, still not quite dead.
Anya, Takuya: GOOD RIDDANCE!
The Battle Board begins spinning like a buzzsaw. Takuya slashes with it, going right through the Toad. At the same instant, Anya performs the Galloping Slash, and attacks from the opposite direction. The two attacks crisscross. Satisfied, they turn their backs on the Terror Toad.
Terror Toad: Don't I get a last meal?
He collapses and erupts into a very satisfying fireball. They exchange glances.
Anya: Perhaps we have more in common than we thought.
Takuya: I was thinking the same thing.
Location: Midnai's Private Chamber, Shadow Claw, Dimensional Limbo
Time: Inapplicable
Venja glares at the mystical image, furious. She steps over Midnai's unconscious form and produces a red nanite.
Venja: NO! I was so close! I'll just make it grow, and he'll swallow them all up in one fell swoop!
She raises her arm to throw the nanite into the image, but a powerful hand grabs her wrist. She turns and sees a very displeased Kalask glowering at her, even as Midnai comes to.
Kalask: ENOUGH. I'm afraid you've failed your test, dear Venja. Sending in the grunts when the enemy's devised a winning strategy? That's just poor sportsmanship, and I will NOT tolerate it. And as far as attacking your ally goes... It simply isn't done.
He releases his grip on her and snaps his fingers. Venja suddenly sparks violently, digital pain coursing through her body. She drops down to her knees in agony.
Kalask: Oh, don't worry. You'll have another chance. But until then, take some time to... reflect on your mistakes... And learn your place!
Kalask and Midnai turn and walk away. Venja watches them go, furious. She fails to notice Tem-Tar watching from the shadows.
Tem-Tar: Yes, I do believe our newcomer will make an excellent ally when the time comes to make my move... An excellent ally indeed...
Location: The Park
Walter helps Jake get Wendy into a piggyback position.
Matt: I could carry her for you, you know.
Jake: Yeah, but she's my girl, y'know? It just wouldn't be right.
Takuya watches from a slight distance. Anya walks up to him.
Takuya: I'm beginning to understand you, at least a little. Why you chose to fight for them.
Anya: And have you figured out what you're truly fighting for yet?
Takuya: No, I can't say that I have... But having allies to share the burden with... It helps.
Anya: You will. In the meantime, I could certainly use the help keeping my sister from pulling boneheaded stunts like this.
Wendy begins to stir. She glances down at Jake.
Wendy: So... we won?
Jake: Yeah, we won. But next time, be a little more careful, huh?
Walter: This from the first guy to get eaten?
Jake: Criticism from the guy that was right behind me?
Jeremy: I think we can all agree that NONE of us came out smelling like a rose here.
Wendy: Well... At least I got a good workout for a change...
Anya chuckles at that. She and Takuya move to join the others.
Anya: Wendy, whatever possessed you to do something so... insane?
Wendy: I've done alot of crazy stuff today. You'll need to be more specific. Do you mean the crashing into a time bubble thing or the nearly becoming a monster snack on purpose thing?
Anya chuckles again.
Anya: The latter.
Wendy: I just thought he might've made you think about Munch again, and I couldn't let him catch you... I couldn't let you go through the same fear that messed me up for so long. Besides... He already had my husband and brother... I just wanted to protect you, Sis. It's what siblings do, right?
Touched, Anya hugs her sister. Wendy glances at Takuya.
Wendy: And I kinda wanted to protect you, too.
Takuya looks at her, confused.
Wendy: I mean, you came to us just like Anya, and you've lost everything, too... In a weird way, it kinda makes you like a brother.
Matt: Dear sister... You can't go around "adopting" regugees from other realities like they're kittens!
He grabs her ear and pulls. This pulls Jake off-balance as well, and he struggles to stay upright.
Wendy: OWOWOWOW! Careful! No super-strength right now, remember?
Matt: Then maybe you should think before opening your mouth once in a while!
Jake: Geez, man, you're gonna make us fall! Cut it out!
Cindy, Walter, and Jeremy can't help but laugh at the display. As the team heads back towards base, Anya and Takuya lag behind, shaking their heads.
Anya: Unbelievable.
Takuya: Does this mean she's finally gonna stop calling me "Windybutt"?
Anya: I doubt it. Still, it's not the worst idea... If you're going to be a part of the team, that is.
He shrugs.
Takuya: Well then, "Sis", we'd better go catch up to the others.
Anya: Oh, by all means, "Brother", after you.
They start walking. Up ahead, the chaos continues.
Wendy: COME ON, MATT! LEGGO! It isn't funny! OW!
END MISSION LOG
Next time: Both Matt and Takuya have loved and lost different versions of the same girl to tragedy. Now, a twist of fate grants them the chance to right that wrong... But to do so, they'll need to survive the perils of the Shadow Claw itself!