2015 New Tech City
Jason Lee Scott ran as fast as he could down the empty street. His stiff uniform restricted his movement slightly but he pushed past it, determined to beat all the odds that stacked against him.
He'd done it once and was convinced he could do it as many times as he needed to.
He glanced down at his golden communicator as a holo-projection displayed the clock. It steadily ticked towards noon.
Three minutes left and a block to go… he knew that he could've made that easily in his prime, but that had long past and even with his continued training he could feel age creeping up on him.
For a moment he paused to catch his breath… he swore softly and exhaled.
"I bet Zordon would've said something like a true leader always makes preparations." Jason muttered with a smirk, "Or a true leader never lets his wife leave in the car without him."
It was then that he heard the trumpets begin and he knew for the first time in history he'd be late for the ceremony.
With his rest postponed Jason continued towards the center of the New Tech where the yearly celebration had already begun...
All eyes fell on the center stage and the four figures that gathered around it. The beautiful park lined with flowers and benches had once been a battlefield, and every single citizen of New Tech crowded around the statue of the marble White Ranger bravely wielding Saba against the vast unknown.
Zackary Taylor stepped up to the podium, an eyepatch covered the spot where he'd lost his left eye and his four-fingered hand wrapped around the microphone as he spoke,
"Ladies and Gentleman, there isn't a time I look at the statue of our world's mightiest hero and don't fight tears at the strength of his sacrifice."
Everyone grew silent, even the children in the crowd all watched intently as the man continued.
"That was the worst day of our lives. When everything seemed lost. When Rita and Zedd came to our doorstep with their army of monsters. Even I'll admit that I thought all hope was lost."
He lowered his head and whipped his eye.
"But Matt wouldn't give up. He stood tall when I couldn't. He refused to give in, even after they stormed the Command Center, even after the city was overwhelmed and the blood of so many innocents flooded the streets. He held off the Green Ranger, Rita and Zedd's greatest weapon, and allowed Jason to sneak into the Command Center, where he destroyed Zordon's tube and rid the world of all evil."
The crowd cheered in response, just as enthusiastically as they had the first ceremony and every one after that.
By then Jason has managed to sneak onto the stage, where his wife Trini stood alongside Kimberly and Billy.
"He's doing good," Jason said as he watched Zack.
"That's because he's watched you do it every year," Trini replied with a smirk.
"We must never forget that day," Zack continued, "We must never forget the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for our future."
The crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers and applause, causing Zack to bow as he stepped back and patted Jason on the arm, "I warmed them up for you."
Jason pulled Zack in for a hug. "Thanks, bro."
Jason then took the stand, looking out past the podium and to all of the citizens. Some of them remembered that fateful day like it was yesterday, some hadn't even been born when it had happened. But that day resided in all of their hearts.
He took a breath and tried to think of something that could top Zack's speech.
When suddenly the sky above their heads opened up, revealing a green-colored portal that hovered ominously.
The five Rangers snapped into action and drew their Power Morphers as the figure descended.
When her feet hit the ground her legs instantly bucked. Her long dark hair covered her face, and she looked up at everyone with wide almond eyes.
And she instantly collapsed.
"Be careful," Zack warned as Jason rushed to her aid.
He ignored his friend's advice and checked the girl over. She seemed unharmed, her leather armor seemed fresh and unmarked by any war blemished, just as she seemed to be as well.
As he examined her he noticed something strange written on her wrist. A tattoo in plain black ink.
It read simply, Echo: Null.
"I need an ambulance ASAP," Jason said to Kimberly who nodded and raised her communicator.
Meanwhile, everyone in the crowd just watched, totally stunned.
Six months later…
Victor Scott was doing what he usually did.
He trained.
His father had been given Promethea by Grace Sterling before her passing, and it was with their resources that New Tech City had been constructed from the ruins of Angel Grove. Jason had been elected mayor every year since the city was erected.
So Victor had some big shoes to fill.
His fists were practically blurred as they assaulted the empty air. He was doing his daily routine, but he'd' have been lying if he said that wasn't making it a little extra showy on that day…
Echo watched from the corner of the gym. She'd been drawing in a sketchbook but had decided to watch Victor instead.
Ever since her mysterious arrival, his dad had taken a special interest in her. He'd allowed her to live in their guest bedroom and even went to the trouble of filling her temporary dresser full of clothes, though she was more prone to wearing a standard Promethea uniform.
In that time Victor had been captivated by her, he'd spent months trying to sneak into her circle. He needed to understand her. Finally, a few days prior he had gotten his wish when the quiet and reserved girl had asked if she could watch him train, maybe even practice with him eventually.
Her pale cheeks flushed red as their eyes met, and she went back to her drawing.
Victor figured he'd had enough for the day and approached Echo. The mysterious girl had no memory of her life before she'd arrived from the portal but she had been assimilating well to the life on the base. She'd even thrown around the idea of enrolling in the Grid Battleforce, a group that functioned as the city's military.
He nearly choked as he smiled at her and said, "Whatcha drawing?"
She smiled back, "Nothing really," she said and showed him what was on the page.
"Holy shit…" he muttered at the near photo-realistic rose she'd rendered in pencil lead. "That's amazing!"
She blushed, her hair falling into her eyes. "Yeah?"
Victor was left weirdly stunned by their proximity but thankfully his communicator beeped.
"Hey Vic," Julianne Taylor said through the comms. "You said you'd help me with some kata today."
"Oh shit!" He said, "Sorry dude I'm on my way!"
As far as Echo knew her life had begun six months prior. Everything else was a blank, with only faint glimpses that stirred to the surface in her dreams. Harsh lights, hushed voices, and the smell of sterile air.
And dread, a powerful sense of foreboding dread. It was for that reason that she was sure whatever had existed before was something that she needed to run as far as possible from.
Echo followed Victor out to the park that surrounded the entrance to the base, the park that hosted the strange statue of the helmeted warrior.
She couldn't help but feel fascinated by it every time. It stirred something….deep inside of her.
Something she didn't understand.
Maybe even something she didn't want to understand…
Julie was an interesting character. She seemed lost sometimes, even in places she knew by heart. It was like her brain moved faster than the world around her, leaving her in lagged and waiting for it to catch up.
Alongside her was Bryan, a reserved redhead with large glasses. He always seemed ready for the ground to collapse under him.
Echo hadn't spent much time around either of the two, but a part of her wanted to. She felt a kinship that she couldn't explain.
But neither of them generated an internal response as powerful as Victor did.
"I even brought Brainyak," Julie said with an arm around Bryan.
"You told me we were going to the library," He replied.
"And you were dumb enough to believe me," she said with a cackle. "So what's on the agenda today?" Julie asked as she turned to Victor, "You finally gonna show us some of that badass kung fu your dad taught you?"
"I figured we could do something more basic today," Victor said.
"Oh come on," Julie said with a frown, "I know we have -left-feet, but still…"
"Actually, it's because Echo wanted to join us," Victor admitted.
"That's even worse!" Julie replied. "At least Bryan has some use for us."
"Hey Echo wants to join Grid Battleforce one day," Victor said, "She might be right alongside us on the front lines."
"I wouldn't even trust her to wash the laundry," Julie said, then turned to Echo, "No offense."
Echo felt her face burn, "Victor's been teaching me though."
"Oh yeah?" Julie asked, "So you've been giving her private lessons?"
Victor was preparing a response when everything came to a halt as another portal opened in the sky.
The green tear, in reality, stole all of their attention, especially Echo, who felt a sickly sense of deja vu.
A figure landed on the ground in front of them and Echo nearly fainted from the shock of it. It was a monster, just like she'd seen in the documentaries about the war twenty years prior. This monster was clad head to toe in armor with a golden hook extending from his right wrist, and a plated helmet that covered everything but his mouth full of sharp teeth and his yellow eyes.
"Oh wow," Julie said, "I didn't expect that."
"Yeah, for real," Victor said. His eyes spoke fear and shock, but nevertheless, he stood his ground and took a defensive stance. "Good thing we came prepared." He then raised a strange white and red pistol with a dinosaur head designed into the barrel.
"Do you think we should contact somebody for clearance first?" Bryan asked.
"Of course not," Julie replied, "They wouldn't have given them to us if we couldn't use them."
Victor then drew a small red battery and held it out, "Dino Battery, Charge Up!" He said before pressing a button in the middle of the cylinder and it began to glow. The other two teens followed the process and they all loaded them into the barrels of their guns.
"It's Morphin Time!" They all yelled in unison.
In a flash, they were instantly transformed before Echo's eyes. They became Power Rangers just like the one represented in the statue behind them. In a dimension far from this one similar suits were worn by the Power Ranger Dino Charge team, though these suits contained white on the chests and their helmets.
"Black Ranger, Ready!" Julie said and snapped into a fighting stance.
"Blue Ranger, Ready!" Bryan said and followed suit.
"Red Ranger, Ready!" Victor said in the center of the trio.
"Power Rangers Dino Force!" They each said in unison.
"That felt way cooler then training made me think it would," Julie said.
The creature didn't waste a moment longer and charged at the Rangers.
"Give me the Artifact!" It screamed and swung it's hook around.
"Even if I knew what you were talking about I wouldn't," Julie replied, "Not with those manners."
The creature then rushed forward and swung its hook at the Blue Ranger, throwing him back and pulling sparks from his armor. Julie raised her pistol and opened fire. Sparks shot from the monster as every third bullet hit their mark.
"Man even the auto-aim isn't helping me right now," She muttered.
The creature turned towards her but Victor intervened with his sword, the blue blade parried its hooked hand.
But the creature laughed and flicked its wrist, catching Victor's sword and pulling it from his grip.
Victor ducked under the next swing and tried to deliver an uppercut as he bounced up.
But the creature leaned away and swung his weapon into Victor's chest. The Red Ranger fell onto his back and the creature stomped his armored foot into Victor's stomach.
"Picking on kids," a voice from a few feet away from the battle said. "Really impressive."
The creature turned to see Jason Scott. The man held an emotionless gaze as he drew something from his side.
His Power Morpher ignited with energy and the original Red Ranger charged forward with his Power Sword drawn back.
He swung if forward, cutting into the creature with a massive wave of sparks.
And for reasons Echo couldn't understand the sight brought chills down her spine.
Jason moved with deadly efficiency, swinging the sword in another powerful movement, cutting into its chest before it fell forward with sparks racing around its body.
It hit the ground and exploded into a ball of fire that left nothing of it remaining.
Jason then looked to Victor, and demorphed, "That's how it's done, son."
The three Dino Force Rangers demorphed and followed behind Jason. But Echo was frozen, looking at the scorched ground.
And feeling weirdly afraid…
She watched carefully, from an alley, where no cameras could see her.
Doing what she did best. Hiding in the shadows.
"Have you attempted First Contact?"
"No… it's still too risky."
"Damn it! Can't you see we're running out of time?"
"I know! I'm working on it."
"I won't accept failure."
"Roger that…" she replied, feeling an icy fear crawl through her stomach.
She then watched the target follow behind the Power Rangers.
And quickly out of sight.
A/N: This is an idea I've been chewing on for a second. I'm curious as to whether it's something anyone else is interested in. It isn't directly connected to any of my other series.
All reviews are appreciated :)