Chapter 8: Great Power

Maddison brought the teens back to Rootcore, where she and Claire tended to their wounds. While the rangers were grateful for the assistance, they came for answers and were anxious to get them.

"Look, Miss Rocca..."

"Please, call me Maddie. After all, we're all allies here, aren't we?"

Troy nodded in acknowledgment before continuing.

"We appreciate the hospitality, but this detour wasn't on our schedule today. We came here looking for..."

"...I know all about why you're here, Troy. And I have every intention of helping you. Claire, if you would please."

"Sure thing, Maddie!"

Claire grabbed an ancient book off a high bookshelf, tripping a few times on her way to the others, much to Maddison's amusement. Some things never change. Taking the book from her hands, Maddison set it on the table, as the others gathered around her.

"Man, that thing is older than my Science teacher, and that's saying something!"

"Incredible! Based on the wear and tear, this book would have to be older than any known form of writing in existence! Possibly older than the invention of paper itself!"

"But what is it?"

Maddison smiled at their curiosity. She remembered a time when she was just like them, in awe at the unexplainable things around her when she first got her powers.

"This is the Xenotome. It contains the answers to any question you may have."

Maddison flipped to a random blank page. To the teen's shock, the page instantly filled up with all sorts of information on their allusive goal. The five read in silence for a few minutes, trying to soak it all in. But even after reading the page several times, they still were confused.

"It says here that to obtain the power that we seek, we must gain the trust of those who came before us. What does that have to do with anything?"

"An excellent question, Jake. Tell me, you have access to the powers of every team that came before you, correct?"

The five nodded, pulling out the keys for her own team to demonstrate that point.

"I see. But do you know how to fully use their potential?"

The teens remained silent. While they had, in their own opinion, used the powers they had morphed into wisely so far, they had been rangers less for a month. This was all still very new to them.

"You see Rangers, those keys of yours are more than just connections of eras long gone. Once you have unlocked their full potential, they will open the doorway to the treasure you seek. But only once you have proven yourselves worthy of using them."

"How do we do that?"

"A good question, Emma. While I cannot help you unlock all of the others, I can at least help you with my own. In order to determine your worthiness, I have set up a series of tests that you must complete. If you pass each of them, you will have my blessing."

Before any more could be said, a loud alarm blared through the room. Claire came running in, looking very distressed.

"Their back, and they're attacking the city as we speak!"

"Come on guys, let's go!"

Jake, Gia, and Emma were the first three out of the tree. Jake and Noah moved to follow them, but were stopped by Maddison.

"Let go! They need our help!"

"They will be fine. I need you two for the tests. I know you want to help, but if we do not begin immediately, then we will not get another chance. Trust me, you'll be a bigger help this way."

Realizing that time was of the essence, the two followed her out to begin. They didn't know what trials awaited them, but they knew it couldn't be good.

In town, Volcran and his squad of X-Borgs ran amok, attacking citizens and property a like.

"Run, pathetic Earth Scum! Nothing can save you from The Armada's might!"

"You wanna bet?"

Volcran glanced, only to be blasted back. Jake, Gia, and Emma ran onto the scene, looking forward to some payback.

"You lot again? Good, now I can finish what I started. Too bad there's only three of you!"

Confused, the three glanced around to find their teammates missing.

"Where are Troy and Noah?"

"I thought they were behind us!"

"Maddison must have taken them to do those tests. It doesn't matter, we'll just have to hold them off into they arrive!"

Nodding, Gia and Emma took Jake's lead as they got into a battle stance. Unintimidated, the X-Borgs charged right at them.

"Its Morphin Time!"