The Rangers returned to the base much sooner than expected. They'd always planned to meet up well before the deadline once they'd all rested up a bit so they could figure out what they could do about the latest and most powerful threat they were facing. Unfortunately it looked like after however many years Drakkon had been drifting in limbo, he was not patient.
He'd given them 24 hours to answer his demand that they had over their Power Stars, the Super Ninja Steel and the Nexus Prism, but since he had already sent one of his minions to shake things up, he'd given them the additional stipulation that just to make sure they were taking him seriously, he was going to send one of his minions to the city every two hours to round up hostages. He'd already taken Sandy, Victor and Monty, and the clock was ticking until he'd send the next of his minions down to claim more.
Levi was trying to comfort Emma, who was at a loss as to what to do. She didn't have a clue what she could tell her parents about where her sister was, and she wasn't in a position to do anything to get her back. Sarah and Preston were getting patched up after their encounter with his first lieutenant. The mood in the Command Centre was building to something, but most prominently the emotions running highest were frustration and hopelessness.
"So, from your description I've confirmed that it is Billy Cranston." Mick answered. "Well, a version of him at least. According to the records Tommy left us, he was the original Blue Ranger all the way back in Angel Grove."
"He kept talking about how his team abandoned him, about how he was aging too quickly or something." Preston informed them as Redbot checked him out.
"Well, here on our Earth, Billy did artificially age himself after the team was turned into children." Mick stated, checking the records. "But according to this, he went to Aquitar for treatment. He's still living there with his wife."
"Apparently that didn't happen in his reality." Sarah told them. "Now, he seems to have his own flashy set of mash-up powers now."
"It sure didn't look like his original suit." Preston agreed.
"As near as I can tell, it looks like he's merged the powers of his original power coin with the powers of the Phantom Ranger." Brody said, gesturing to an image of the new Ranger suit he was wearing.
"If he's got two sets of powers…"
"At least." Calvin interjected. They all went silent for a minute. It was bad enough with him possibly having at least double the power any of them had without making it any worse, but unfortunately none of them could fault his reasoning.
"So, now they're stronger than us, more experienced than us and they know every trick in our book." Hayley summarised. "So where does that leave us?"
"We tear up the book and start again." Brody answered truthfully. "First thing's first, we have to try and isolate them, take them one at a time rather than face them as a team. If we just run head first straight at them, then we're only going to get our heads caved in."
"So, anyone any suggestions?" Levi asked. They all looked around for a few moments, before coming to rest on Sarah. She was usually one of the first ones to come up with an idea. However, as they were staring at her hopefully, her mind just registered nothing but white noise. She just shrugged and shook her head, looking away.
"Alright, we've got a little while until the next deadline." Brody replied. "We'll keep an eye on the scanners, see where they come down. We'll defend what we can, but if they only send one like they did the last time, I say we take the opportunity to mug the hell out of them."
"That's it?" Calvin asked. "That's our plan?"
"Hey, if anyone's got anything better I am all for it." Brody admitted. "But right now we have to play smart. Full-on face-to-face isn't likely to end well, so we stick and run and make it count where we can."
"Alright, guys…I've been working on something I think might just help." Mick told them. "Levi…come with me. Um…best bring the first-aid kit."
As they left, the others started to split off to prepare in their own way. Emma was going on the computers, trying to find out everything she could about the original team. The others thought they had recognised Drakkon's followers when they first appeared, and with them confirming that one of them was indeed another version of Billy Cranston, it seemed likely that Drakkon had reformed a version of his original team with those he had somehow managed to convince or coerce into serving him as his own Ranger elite shock troops. There was no telling what differences had occurred between their own dimensions and wherever the others came from that led them to follow Drakkon, but there had to at least be some similarities.
Preston was staying with Emma, trying to help her with her research. Both of them cared deeply for Sandy, and were desperate to do anything to get her back.
Hayley took comfort from Kody. Normally she'd have been with Calvin, but things were still tense between them. Sarah could never have imagined seeing them breaking up. She was convinced that she would end up at their wedding sooner or later. Calvin went with Levi, Brody and Mick to help them, which left her to her own thoughts.
She wished Victor hadn't followed them. She knew he was brave, a complete idiot, but brave to a fault. He was no doubt trying to help them, but in the process had only managed to get himself taken as a hostage. She started chewing her nails, trying to imagine what they might be doing to him. It wasn't as though Cosmo didn't have reason to dislike him. Victor and Monty had been the ones that caused the damage to his ship that left them all stranded in space.
She couldn't bring herself to think of what had become of them. Brody and Mick had told her many horror stories of how people were treated on the Warrior Dome and that was people who hadn't all but destroyed the ship. She leaned back against the wall, looking up to the roof, remembering seeing Victor being taken, of him telling her that he believed in her and that things would be alright.
"Victor, that makes one of us." She sighed.
Up on the Warrior Dome, Monty came into the throne room, balancing a tray of drinks on each hand and another on his head. Cosmo had put him to work, and his new masters had been very quick to torment him.
"Hey, you got that root beer?" Zack asked as Monty tried to control everything he was carrying.
"Uh…I've…um…its right…on this tray." He said as he lowered his head. Zack took the glass and took a long sip, before spitting it all over the floor. "You call this chilled?"
"I…I brought it from the kitchen as fast as I…"
"Don't you know how to make iced tea?" Kimberly asked, dropping her glass on the floor. "Clean that up!"
"Of course, I'll just put this down and…"
"Say, weren't you supposed to be bringing pizza pockets?" Jason asked. Monty put down all he was carrying and ran out of the room as they laughed.
"So, as much fun as all this is, are we really just waiting for the new kids to decide whether or not they're giving up?" Jason asked.
"I gave my word to the people of Summer Cove." Drakkon reminded him.
"So?" Trini asked. "What does this dump matter? Somewhere down there is the power to make the multiverse the way it should be."
"Finally all this power will be good for something." Zack said as he started looking through the drinks Monty had brought. "But you know those kids won't just give up the Prism right?"
"I know we wouldn't have." Kimberly said, pacing the room. "If there's one thing that's consistent across all dimensions it's that Rangers are definitely a stubborn breed."
"Of course, I just have to give them a while to figure out that they're outmatched. A few more incursions should demonstrate that their efforts are futile." Drakkon told them. "No doubt they'll already be working on some kind of trick or scheme so that when the deadline comes, they can stand defiant."
"So why don't we just take them now?" Zack asked him in response. "We know they're not going to give up."
"But we have to let them put on the show. I wouldn't be surprised if they make a show of surrendering and then try to spring some kind of trap." Drakkon announced. "When they do, we'll be able to defeat the Nexus Prism's last line of defence in front of the whole city."
"Speaking of which, it's nearly time for another demonstration." Jason stated. "So whose turn is it this time?"
"Since you seem to be so restless, how about you burn some of that excess energy?" Drakkon asked him. "Oh, but Kim, would you mind going with him? There's not much point going to collect hostages if your man levels the city in the process."
"Sounds like fun." Kimberly replied, getting up from her seat. "Come on, let's show the newbies how out of their depth they really are."
Back at the Ranger Base, Levi came into the lab, looking decidedly less than happy. Brody, Mick and Calvin were a little way behind him.
"OK, OK, I'm sorry, but that attempt didn't work either." Mick replied. "But I think I've figured out just how to tweak it…"
"Mick, I was on fire!" Levi reminded him. "ON FIRE!"
"Well, yes…that was less than ideal." Mick stammered. "But we nearly got there and…"
"Mick, I can still smell my hair burning." Levi commented. "I'm going for a shower."
"Levi, LEVI!" He called out as the Gold Ranger left. Calvin just went to the corner to go and get himself a drink. Hayley took the opportunity to go over to him to try and clear the air.
"Cal, can…can we talk?" She asked him.
"I'm not sure now's the best time for personal dramas." Calvin told her.
"Cal, not to put too fine a point on it but there might not be a later." She said to him a little more honestly than she really wanted to.
"You think we're going to lose?" He asked her.
"No…I hope not." Hayley replied sadly. "But if, you know, something bad happens and one of us doesn't come back, I'd hate to think we didn't get the chance to talk about this."
Calvin couldn't fault her logic on the situation. There were no guarantees, especially against an enemy with the destructive power of Drakkon's Rangers. He took a seat with her as she prepared to begin.
"Cal, you know I didn't want to hurt you. I'd never want to do anything to hurt you." Hayley began, trying to find the words to explain to him why she had told his parents about his decision. "I know how tough you found things here at school. You think you were the only one that felt it when you got those tests back? Every time I looked at your face whenever you got one of those grades hit me too. When you decided to quit school, I just…I was worried you were doing it for all the wrong reasons."
"Hayls, it wasn't your place to tell them." Calvin told her.
"I know, and I know it hurt but…I didn't know how to tell you that it doesn't matter if you do great at school or if you go on to do some other courses or…"
"It was my choice to make!" Calvin reminded her.
"I know, and I'm sorry." She said softly. "Cal, I don't care if you end up a mechanic or a surgeon or one of those guys that stands on street corners twirling a sign that advertises condos. I love you."
"But you still went behind my back, you didn't respect my decision." Calvin reminded her. "Do you know what that feels like?"
"Cal, I didn't mean…"
"Hayley, don't tell me what you did and didn't mean, the fact you couldn't accept my decision says everything that needs to be said." Calvin interrupted her. "You know, I never cared what people thought of me. I know people don't think I'm the funniest guy in the world, or the smartest, or the most interesting or the best looking…but the one thing that mattered to me was that you did. But after this…you've just said you agree with all of them. It feels like you don't see me as a boyfriend, you see me as a kid, or…or a pet."
"Cal, that's not true!"
"But it's what it feels like!" Calvin answered. "And I don't know if I can get over that."
Just then, the alarm sounded. The team assembled in the middle of the lab, checking the monitors.
"Well, it looks like times up." Mick told them. "It looks like Jason and Kimberly are rounding up folks on Woodrow."
"That's only a couple of blocks from here." Brody answered. "Come on guys, let's show them what happens when they mess with our city!"
Over in a street a little way from the school, Kimberly and Jason were overseeing the Kudabots as they broke into houses, dragging people from their homes and rounding them up to be taken to the Warrior Dome.
"You know, it's at times like this I'm glad we ditched Maligore." Kimberly commented. "This is a lot more fun than his crew ever was."
"HEY!" Brody called out as the team arrived, morphed and ready for action. "These people have done nothing to you!"
"And that matters because…why?" Kimberly mocked them, before laughing. Jason came up beside her, at which they strode out towards the Rangers.
"Is this where you offer us the chance to give up before…?" Jason asked, before recoiling as a blast flashed out, burning his right cheek. He held his hand to it, before glaring at Brody, whose blaster was still smoking.
"No, we're just going to kick your asses instead!" He called out. Jason and Kimberly went for their morphers, dark energy shimmering around them as they sprinted at the Rangers. Jason's suit was red, with a large, crested helmet, bearing a Kanji symbol as the visor. He had a large, golden chest piece over the top of it, bearing Egyptian looking symbols. A large bastard sword appeared in his hand, with a long blade, etched with intricate designs and a hand guard that mirrored the kanji symbol on his helmet.
Kimberly's outfit was predominantly pink, but had a helmet with a long crest at the top, and large, white shoulder pads with spikes coming from them. Up the length of her sleeves and her legs, there were diamond patters. She had a large, feather-like sword hanging at her hip, while a bow appeared in her hand.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Jason yelled at him. "I'm going to flay you alive!"
Up on the Warrior Dome, Victor was in a cell, chained to the wall with only a screen for entertainment. On it, he was seeing the battle unfolding. Cosmo came in, grinning in a sinister manner.
"So, what do you think of the show so far?" He asked.
"I think the writing team could do with being replaced." Victor replied sarcastically. "Not to mention the show runner clearly has no idea what the audience wants."
Cosmo knocked the wind out of him with a punch to the gut, which Victor was unable to do anything to stop. He gasped hard, trying to get some breath back into his body.
"You know, you're a lot stronger than you look for a little guy." Victor wheezed.
"Yes, I am rather deceptive aren't I?" He asked as he started pacing. "I mean…you really do still believe that punch of yours meant anything at all don't you?"
"Maybe it made you a little better-looking?" Victor suggested. Cosmo hit him again. Victor's eyes bulged out as he felt the force of the blow.
"My dear boy, I wasn't always a promoter. But if my fancy clothes and outlandish personality give people the impression I'm someone not to be taken too seriously, then that just serves my purposes."
He drew in closer.
"I let you get that punch in. I let you think I was just some fop that you brushed aside as you set up Galvanax for destruction." He revealed. "Galvanax was long past his sell-by date, and I was hoping you'd get rid of Odious for me too. All to pave the way for the real power in this and all other realities."
"So, you sold everyone you knew out, is that it?" Victor asked him. "So, what do you get in response?"
"Exclusive broadcasting rights across the multiverse." Cosmo declared. "Soon, I will be the creative mind behind the greatest show in…"
"Wait, you're going to be the ONLY broadcaster?" Victor asked, before he started laughing.
"What? What are you laughing at?" Cosmo asked him. "Stop that! Stop laughing!"
"You…you want to be the only broadcaster? THAT'S your ambition?" Victor laughed. "Do you have any idea how much that's going to suck?"
"I'll have the greatest shows across the length and breadth of the universe!" Cosmo declared. "Everyone will see my face…"
"Because there'll be nothing else!" Victor interrupted him. "If you have no one to compete against, what are your ratings going to mean? Jack shit! What are your shows going to be like when you don't have to compete to be better or more creative than anyone else?"
"I'll…I'll…"
"Dude, one of the things that drives shows to get better is the drive to take chances, to make leaps that no one else will!" Victor told him. "When you don't have anyone else to compete against? You might have the ratings, but when you know you haven't earned them…how much are you really going to enjoy it?"
Cosmo started huffing loudly, before letting out a huge yell and punching Victor straight across the jaw. He shook out his hand.
"When I get you in the arena I'm going to make you squeal like a hog in front of the entire universe!" He screamed, before storming out as Victor started laughing. When he left though, he slumped down in his chains and started panting for breath.
Back down on Earth, the battle was raging in the street. Between the kudabots and the two veteran Rangers, the team had their hands well and truly full. Kimberly flipped nimbly away from Calvin and Preston as they fired energy arrows at her.
"Cute trick." She taunted them, before several energy arrows appeared in her bow as she somersaulted through their volley. She let fly, sending them straight at them, knocking both of them down. "Pity I was doing it before you two were able to spell the word 'arrow'."
Jason was locked in a deadly back and forth with Levi and Brody on either side of him. He wasn't a ninja, but even as a kid, he already had three black belts by the time he was in Senior Year. The power of his armour more than made up for any blows the two managed to get through his guard as he swung to either side. He finally managed to get the better of them, sending them sprawling.
"You two are good." Jason commented. "But not good enough."
"Jason!" Kimberly called him, gesturing to her communicator. "Drakkon wants these hostages."
"Sorry, looks like we have to cut playtime short." Jason said with a shrug, turning to walk away. "Alright, teleport all of these up to the…"
He was cut off as he was knocked to the ground by some blasts. He started to get up, seeing Levi holding his Rockstorm Blaster on him.
"Did you seriously just…?" He asked. "Get them up to the ship!"
The kudabots teleported out with the rest of the hostages, while Jason and Kimberly faced down the team. Kimberly pulled out her Drago Sword, creating energy arrows in the air. She cast them all straight up, at which Jason leapt into the air, spinning like a cyclone, charging them up with golden light, before casting them all down with his sword.
The team all hit the ground and de-morphed. Jason just started laughing as he re-joined Kimberly.
"Nice try kids, this was kind of fun." Jason told them. "Now I'm kind of hoping you don't surrender."
"Later." Kimberly said with a little wave as they both powered down, before teleporting away. Brody started to get up, clutching his head.
"Damn, that was…is everyone OK?" He asked.
"I'll tell you once I stop seeing three of everything." Preston answered.
"Uh…guys?" Hayley asked. "There's one thing I'm not seeing three of…or even one of."
They all started looking around, before they finally realised what she was meaning.
"Uh…guys?" Calvin asked. "Has anyone seen Sarah?"