SPEED OF THE DOLPHIN

A Power Rangers: Megaforce Story

By: Isaias Batista

1

Italics: When Your Whispering

*...* When Your Thinking

Bold: When Your Screaming

You were on your way to school, cautiously. Why cautiously... well, you're going to school. Kidding. The real reason why you were going in cautiously and also constantly looking over your shoulder was because recently, your city has been attacked multiple times by different monsters and aliens. One of the attacks even took the lives of your parents. This put you on edge and made you a lot more cautious than normal. Sure, you knew the Power Rangers would do their best to protect you and other people but, you were still at risk everyday. Personally, you wanted to fight back against the monsters but, you had no powers or weapons so, that probably wouldn't go so well. No matter how much you wanted to kick some monster butt, you couldn't do anything.

I should also mention my name. Your name is Mike Parker. Just letting you know.

You were about five minutes away from the school when you heard strange noises behind you and screaming. You look and see a bunch of green alien monsters attacking civilians. Some were even coming towards you. You gulped before turning around and sprinted away as fast as you could while the monsters were shooting at you. One almost got you in the head but, you ducked in the nick of time. You kept running until you got cornered into an alleyway. You turn back to the monsters, who looked ready to attack you. You close your eyes, accepting fate when you hear a voice.

?: Phoenix Shot!

You open an eye to see the Pink Ranger blasting the monsters with her weapon. She easily took the monsters down and they exploded, with the ranger not even phased by the explosion. Her weapon, the Phoenix Shot you were guessing, vanished as she walked up to you.

Pink: You okay?

Mike: U-Uh, yeah. Th-Thanks.

Pink: No problem. Next time you see those things, get out of there as soon as you can.

Mike: Uh, right. And when you face those things, watch your back.

Pink: I'll keep that in mind. Now get to school.

Mike: Wait, how did you-

Pink: It's a school day, and you have a backpack.

Mike: Touché. See you there? I mean, you are a teen. Right?

The Pink Ranger giggled a bit.

Pink: Maybe.

The ranger then jumped onto a rooftop and ran off. You sighed in relief, knowing that you were safe thanks to her. You then look at the ground to see two of the weapons that the monsters were holding. You looked at the weapons curiously. They seemed to be some kind of daggers. You looked around you to see if anyone was near or watching you. Once you realized you were alone, you quickly stashed the weapons into your backpack and started walking to school.

You finally got to school, without being blasted, and started making your way towards first class of the day which was science. You were able to make it there but saw that your friend, Emma, wasn't there. Usually, she was here before you but, recently she's been coming in late. You worried about her since you and her knew each other since 6th grade but, you also knew she could take care of herself, so you weren't too worried.

You sat down in your seat and Emma walked in as soon as the bell rang and sat down next to you.

Mike: Hey Em.

Emma turned to you and smiled.

Emma: Hey Mikey, what's up?

You loved it when she called you that. Really found it cute.

Mike: Nothing much, you?

Emma: Everything's great!

You couldn't help but smile at Emma's sweet and somewhat hyper personality but, still you knew something was up.

Mike: ...Nope.

Emma: Huh?

Mike: Em, I can see the bags under your eyes.

Emma: Oh, uh-

Mike: Job got you working late again?

Emma sighed. She never could hide anything from you.

Emma: Yeah but, I'm okay, really.

Mike: If you say so.

As class started, you opened up your notebook and started thinking about the weapons you found. What would you do with them? Well, any other person would probably get rid of them. But, you weren't any other person. Those aliens took your parents from you. Maybe you could get back at them. Sure, you'd be risking your life but, other people were at risk all of the time from alien attacks. Sure, the rangers had most of it covered but, everyone could use a little back up to protect people. That was it, you made your decision.

While school was almost over, you walked out of your last class only to run into the school's bullies, Bulk and Skide.

Bulk: Well well well, what do we have here?

Mike: Someone who doesn't have time for you two.

Skide: Make time.

Skide pushed you back into the classroom.

Mike: Seriously? Don't you guys have better things to do?

Bulk: What's better than pushing you around?

Mike: A really good book.

Skull: Pff, nerd.

You rolled your eyes and tried to get past the idiots but, Skide punched you in the gut before you could. You grunted in pain before retaliating by punching him in the face. Bulk punched you and the three of you got into a fight, two on one. It wasn't long before Emma and your other friends saw this happening and ran over. As Gia and Emma pulled you back, Troy, Noah, and Jake got Bulk and Skide away from you.

Bulk: Go die in a hole, you bastard! No one would miss you!

Mike: Go to hell asshole!

Gia: Mike, that's enough!

You started tearing up as other students watched the entire scene, recording the whole thing. You couldn't believe these people, recording a fight instead of breaking it up. But then again, you weren't that surprised. With the exceptions of Emma and the others, you didn't have a lot of friends. Ever since your parents were killed, you got a little depressed and didn't talk as much with others. This made you a social outcast and no one paid attention to you. Hell, you didn't even know if the friends you did have hung out with you because they liked you or pitied you. Thinking about all of this, you stopped resisting Gia and Emma's pull on you and let them pull you away. They got you out of the crowd as Troy, Noah, and Jake followed.

Emma: Are you okay?

You stayed silent as you looked at all of them with tears in your eyes. Emma, being the caring person she is, was the first to hug you.

Emma: Don't listen to them Mike. I'd miss you.

Troy: We all would.

You started crying on Emma's shoulder as the others joined in on the hug. After you calmed down, they let you go and headed off to do who knows what. You went home and took a look at your wounds in the mirror. You had a black eye and some blood had come out of your nose but otherwise, you were fine. After patching yourself up a bit and resting for a few minutes, you grabbed the weapons out of your backpack. You look at them and smirk, knowing what to do.

(Some Time Later)

The MegaForce Rangers were having some smoothies at Eddie's Brain Freeze when you walked in with your backpack.

Mike: Hey guys.

Jake: Mike! What's up?

You and Jake fist bump as you sat next to him and Troy.

Emma: Feeling better?

Mike: Yeah, I'm okay.

Noah: Good to see you're not letting them get to you.

Mike: Well, a few people opened my eyes.

You glanced at Emma when you said this and smiled. She noticed and smiled back, knowing you were grateful for her and the others being your friends. The six of you talked for about an hour before you heard a weird sound coming from the others' backpacks.

Mike: What was that?

Troy: Our phones. Something came up.

Mike: Wait, you all have the same notification sound?

Gia: Uh, yeah. We thought it would be cute to sync our phones' ringtones and notification sounds.

You could tell Gia was lying. She was hiding it pretty well but, you know your friends well enough to be able to tell when they weren't telling you something. You've noticed this out of your five friends recently. You decided not to ask though since you didn't want to pry into their personal lives.

Mike: Alright, do what you have to do. I will stay here.

They nod and run off to who knows where. You then grabbed your backpack, walked out of the smoothie shop, and watched someone run in. You saw he was out of breath and there was a hole in his jacket. The hole was steaming, so you knew it was made by laser fire. You ran out of the mall and went to the nearest empty location.

You pulled a bullet proof vest that you found in your dad's closet, a black t-shirt and jeans, a green jacket and bandana, and the weapons you grabbed this morning. You took off your clothes and put the clothes you took out of your backpack on before pulling the last thing out of your backpack: A baseball bat. You thought since it worked in movies, it should help you to. Right. Oh, god you did not know what the hell you were doing. You then put the clothes you previously had on in your backpack and hid it before running towards the nearest fight. You saw the Power Rangers were fighting those monsters from this morning which you heard the Rangers call them 'Loogies'. Weird name but, whatever.

You saw the Rangers were actually getting a little tired from fighting. It didn't surprise you too much since these guys have probably been fighting these kinds of monsters for a few days straight at the least.

Pink: These Loogies never quit!

Blue: And more are on their way!

You watched the Loogies carefully and saw one of them change their dagger into a blaster. The weapon looked exactly like the weapons you picked up. You looked at one of them and tried to do the same thing the Loogie did. Your dagger was now a blaster.

Mike: *Perfect*

You carefully aimed your blaster for a Loogie about to attack the Yellow Ranger. You then pull the trigger and a laser blasted the minion monster, killing it. The rangers took notice of this and the Black Ranger started laughing.

Black: Oh my gosh, they shot themselves!

You then notice a Loogie sneaking up behind him as he was distracted. You shot it before it could hit the ranger and that's when the rangers noticed you. Knowing that you couldn't hide any longer, you opened fire on every Loogie you saw. Some tried to slash you but, you blocked with the other weapon you picked up, still in its dagger form. You then slice the Loogie and then blasted it, forcing it down from damage. As you continued fighting, the rangers did as well. They wanted to stop you but, there were too many Loogies to deal with right now. That didn't stop them from talking though.

Pink: Who are you?!

The Pink Ranger was obviously talking to you.

Mike: Just someone who hates bullies, and loves this city!

You said while you kickfliped a Loogie before continuing to kick the crap out of the rest of the Loogies that remained as the Pink Ranger made her way over to you and started helping you out. The two of you fought the Loogies back to back as you had a conversation.

Pink: You need to get out of here!

Mike: Not while you guys are tired as all living hell!

Pink: How do you-?

Mike: I can tell by the way you fight. You guys have been doing this for a few days straight! You need someone to watch your backs until you guys get some proper sleep.

Pink: But, you're risking your life!

Mike: Don't you guys do that everyday?!

Pink: That's different!

Mike: Really?

As the last Loogie came into view, you and the pink ranger blasted it, making it explode. All of the Loogies were gone now, destroyed by you and the rangers.

Mike: I see no difference. We're all human here.

The Red Ranger walked up to you and placed a hand on your shoulder.

Red: We're protected by our suits. From what I can tell, you don't have that same protection.

Mike: I got some.

You pulled your hoodie up a bit to reveal your bullet proof vest. The Black Ranger scoffed at this.

Black: You think that'll protect you from a laser blast?

Mike: Maybe not but, it's better than nothing at all.

The Blue Ranger then walked over to you.

Blue: That may be true but, you have a really good chance of dying if you're hit.

Mike: Then I won't get hit.

Blue: You can't say that you won't because it'll happen eventually.

Mike: The same goes for the military.

Black: The military doesn't have to deal with these things.

Mike: No but, I'm doing what they do: Facing death right in the face.

The Yellow Ranger then tried talking to you.

Yellow: But your family and friends would miss you if you died.

Mike: ...I don't have family. They died in an attack.

The rangers back up in shock when they hear this.

Mike: And the rest of my family never gave a rat's ass about me. My friends...I don't even know if they like being around me. I think that they only hang out with me out of pity.

Pink: ...I'm sorry about your family...but I don't think your friends hang out with you because of pity. And if they do, just find new friends who do care.

Mike: That's the thing...no one wants to be my friend. They all see me as a waste of time. Look, my life is shit okay. So if I die...at least I'll die for my planet.

You start walking away but the Yellow Ranger stops you.

Yellow: Who are you?

You look back at her with a blank expression in your eyes.

Mike: ...I'm the Green Defender.

You start running and the rangers start following you. You were able to grab your backpack and hide in a bathroom before they could get to question you. They kept searching for you but came up empty handed. They soon regroup to discuss what was going on.

Black: That guy's nuts.

Blue: I think he might be depressed.

Yellow: What makes you say that?

Blue: He said he wouldn't care if he died. Why would a normal person say that? He might also be also traumatized from what happened to his parents.

Red: That might also be why he's depressed.

The Pink Ranger looked down, not wanting to believe that someone would just want to throw their life away just to beat up a few monsters. The Red Ranger saw this and patted her shoulder.

Red: Emma, you okay?

The Pink Ranger looked at the Red Ranger and nodded.

Emma: Yeah, I think I'm okay.

Little did the rangers know, you were listening in on their conversation and caught the Pink Ranger's real name.

You: *Emma? Could that mean...oh my gosh!*

You keep listening in on their conversation.

Emma: Whoever this guy is, we need to stop him before he gets hurt.

Red: Right. We'll look for him tomorrow though. He's right, we are tired.

The rangers demorph and you saw them…*THEY WERE YOUR FRIENDS*!

You: *HOLY MOTHER OF FUCKS!*

You tried to run but slipped and hit your head. You let out an 'ow', which got your friends' attention.

Troy: Was that-

Emma: Mike!

Emma ran towards the noise with the others right behind her. As you started to get up, you saw them running towards you. Troy and Jake helped you up.

Gia: Mike, you okay?

Mike: ...Not really.

Emma checked out your head and sighed in relief.

Emma: You'll be fine. It's only a bruise.

Mike: That is not the only thing bruised.

Noah: Mike, are you okay?

Mike: No, I'm not.

Troy: What's wrong?

Mike: You all were lying to me.

Emma: What?! We'd never lie to you.

Mike: Then why didn't you tell me you guys were Power Rangers?!

The others stepped back in shock, not just because you yelled but, that you also found out their secret. Jake tried to play it off as a joke.

Jake: Dude, I think you hit your head a little too hard.

You glared at Jake and pointed to his sweater pocket. His morpher was peeking out of it.

Mike: I saw you all de-morph.

Jake: ...Uh-

Mike: Save the excuse.

Gia: Mi-

Mike: Why?

Noah: Why what?

Mike: Why didn't you tell me?

Emma: We wanted to but-

Troy: We didn't want to draw attention to ourselves.

You sighed in frustration.

Mike: Whatever.

You start walking off but Emma stopped you.

Emma: Mike, please-

Mike: I know, I know, I won't tell anyone.

Emma smiled and hugged you. You were still mad but, you could never resist a hug from this girl. She was too cute and sweet to resist. You hugged her back as the others smiled at you. You and Emma soon separated and started walking home.

You: *So my friends think I'm not cut out for this? I'll show them! I'll show them all I can be a hero!*