In the Crystal Dimension, Evox was storming around in a rage, smashing crystals with huge swipes of his fists. Blaze and Roxy were kneeling before him, flinching with every crash as he vented his rage, while Scrozzle scurried around, trying to calm him, and trying to protect his precious resources.
"Your evilness, please, try to restrain yourself!" He squealed pathetically as he tried to stay out of range, while snatching away some of his projects before Evox could destroy them in his tantrum.
"You imbeciles had ONE JOB!" He ranted.
"Master Evox, we tried, but the Rangers destroyed the truck." Blaze tried to explain for the hundredth time. Roxy sat with her head hung low, thoughtfully while Blaze tried to plead for mercy. "We were in the truck, we were driving it away, how could we have known they'd be desperate enough to blow up some of their precious Morph-X?"
"That's a good question." Roxy whispered thoughtfully. Blaze cast a glance her way.
"You idiots almost cost me everything!" Evox roared angrily.
"Master Evox, all is not lost!" Blaze rushed out. "We overheard the Rangers saying there's a fault in Tower 6. They can't drain it. If we attack there…"
"No, you two have failed me enough for one day!" Evox hissed. "It seems that if I want something done right, I need to do it myself! I will go!"
"But Master Evox! If you fail…"
"If I fail, then I will perish, much like I would if you all fail!" Evox interrupted Scrozzle's simpering, causing him to scurry away in fear. "I will go…"
"Master, wait!" Roxy called out. Blaze just looked to her in amazement.
"Really?" He asked. "You sit there without a word this whole time and now you want to pitch in and get us vapourised?"
"You are trying my patience, Roxy!" Evox warned her. "I tire of your…"
"Master, something about all of this doesn't feel right." Roxy told him. "Doesn't this all seem to be really convenient?"
"Roxy, what are you doing?" Blaze asked her. "Master Evox…"
"Think about it, all the Morph-X distribution centres were drained except that one within a couple of hours. Then the last truck, the Rangers were right there." She reminded them.
"Yeah, to try and protect it from us trying to take it. Which we did!" Blaze stated.
"Then they blow up the truck right in front of us." Roxy continued as she considered everything. "And then the Rangers are right there, in front of us when they get that call to tell them about the tower? Which they discussed out in the open, very loudly so we could all hear?"
"What are you…?" Blaze started to ask, before the penny dropped. "You think this is a set-up!"
"It's what I would do." Roxy told them.
"Master Evox, if the Rangers are setting up a trap, perhaps we should…"
"We need that Morph-X!" Evox reminded him.
"Which is why I think I have an idea." Roxy answered. "I say, if they want Master Evox, that's exactly what we give them!"
Back at Grid Battleforce Headquarters, Kendall and Meghan were still working on the Split Emitters. Devon was in the corner, watching them working, hoping beyond hope that between them they could get them to work.
From what he had heard from Kendall, the last time they'd been used, they hadn't worked entirely as planned. While it had separated Zenowing and Doomwing, it had left them connected on some level. Harming one would harm the other. In the end, the Rangers couldn't confront Doomwing without harming Zenowing. In the end, Zenowing had destroyed Doomwing himself so that none of the Rangers would have to feel guilt over destroying him too. Even now, years later, Kendall still felt responsible.
If the Split Emitters were used in their current state, then they could extract Mayor Daniels from Evox, but it would also mean they could no longer attack Evox without also harming Devon's father.
"I think I see the problem." Meghan said aloud as she examined some of the inner workings. "Your technology is pretty good, albeit a little basic, but with some refinement from the resources we have here, it could…"
She looked at Kendall, who had her brows furrowed. She just started to back off a little.
"Um, I did it again, didn't I?" She asked Devon, before looking to Kendall rather sheepishly. "Look, I'm sorry. I sometimes say and do things that rub people the wrong way. I um…I kind of find it difficult to know what other people are thinking or feeling and sometimes it means I can…well…let's just say I could open a Foot Locker in my mouth."
Kendall still didn't look happy. She was an intelligent person in her own right, with an education that placed her as one of the greatest experts in her field. It didn't feel good to have someone referring to her technology as 'basic', especially when she still regretted the fact it had failed to save one of her own team. Eventually, she offered a smile though, coming to Meghan and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I appreciate you saying that." Kendall told her. "I wasn't always the greatest with people myself, but I have a feeling it's not exactly the same."
Meghan just nodded in response.
"I did learn long ago though, not to turn away help from someone that can help just because my feelings are hurt. Especially when that person is clearly trying very hard." Kendall assured her. "So, you think you might have figured out the problem?"
Meghan went to the computer and started putting together some models. Kendall just watched her work, open-mouthed.
"So, you think I'm onto something?" Meghan asked her. Kendall just nodded.
"Let's get to work." She told her. "The others are already on their way to the tower. We don't have much longer."
Over at tower 6, the Rangers were getting ready along with as many of Grid Battleforce's security staff as could be spared. Everyone knew that drawing Evox out into the open would be a huge gamble. It wasn't so long ago that they had watched the Rangers bringing back what was left of the Ultrazord after one fight with him. No one was taking any chances.
As Ben and Betty were drinking some energy drinks and strapping on body armour, Cole came over to them, carrying another couple of energy drinks. He sat with them, setting down his rifle.
"They drafted you into this too?" Ben asked him in a big yawn. Cole just cracked open a can, taking a sip.
"Actually, I volunteered." Cole responded. "I was planning to work out, but what's more important, or a bigger workout than taking down the Big Bad, right?"
"Do you like, ever sleep?" Betty asked him. He just shrugged.
"I manage a few hours here and there." He replied. Ben fumbled with his blaster, while he was trying to prepare it. "Hand it here."
Ben handed him over the rifle, which Cole started to inspect and prepare for him. He satisfied himself it was ready, and handed it back.
"You keep that pretty well maintained." Cole complimented him.
"I just…I guess I wanted to be sure." Ben stammered. Cole just smiled a little.
"You're nervous, aren't you?" He asked him. Ben just nodded.
"Who wouldn't be?" He gulped. "The last time anyone went toe to toe with Evox, they barely made it back alive."
"Well, don't worry." Cole responded, giving him a little wink. "I'll take care of you."
Ravi came over to them, removing his helmet.
"You guys ready?" Betty asked him.
"They're setting up the perch as we speak." Ravi assured him. "Alright, just remember, the hot zone is right in front of the front door. We need you to lure him into the square directly outside the entrance. That's the best place for us to get a clear shot."
"Yeah, we're the bait." Ben sighed. "I know."
"Like I said, don't worry about it." Cole assured him, stroking his shoulders. Ravi just looked between Ben, Betty and Cole, before walking away to return to his perch.
When he got there, Nate was just finishing preparing the Beast-X Mega Cannon, he crouched down with them.
"Is everyone ready?" Zoey asked uncomfortably. Although she understood the plan, and knew that if all went well, they'd be able to freeze Evox before anyone got harmed, she was never terribly comfortable putting others in danger.
"They're all ready." Ravi assured them. "Ben looked a little out of sorts, but Cole and Betty are with him, so he should be good. Is there any word from Devon yet?"
"Not yet." Steel answered sadly. He just sighed.
"Then all we can do is hope for the best." He answered.
"I think we might just be out of time." Zoey replied regretfully. They all looked around, seeing some Tronics beaming in. The security team all took up position, laying down some fire.
"No sign of Evox yet." Nate commented.
"It's probably a feint. He's trying to see what resistance we've got set up." Ravi told him. "Everyone keep their eyes peeled."
"And there he is." Zoey called out, pointing out a glowing portal. They all saw Evox stepping through, turning his attention towards the security forces. "We should tell them to fall back."
"Not yet." Ravi interjected. "We need him to see them. If they see the guards running off the second they get here, they'll know it's a set-up."
"But…"
"Zoey, I don't like it either, but we've got to let this play out." Ravi interrupted her. They all watched as Evox started advancing slowly on the building, beginning to throw out energy blasts. Nate started to line up his shot.
"Nate, take the shot." Zoey told him.
"I need to be sure I've got it." Nate told her. "I won't get another."
He kept track of Evox as he moved closer and closer to the kill zone. With only one shot, he wanted to be sure that he had as little chance of anything getting in the way of his shot as possible. He looked down the sight, lining up.
"Just a little further Evox." Nate willed him. "Just a little further…"
Just before he pulled the trigger though, they were all hit with a blast, sending them scattering. Nate couldn't help loosing the shot, which flew wildly off target, striking a nearby car and encasing it entirely in ice. They all looked up from the ground, seeing Blaze and Roxy.
"Sneak attacks?" Roxy taunted them. "How entirely underhanded!"
"Guys, I lost the shot!" Nate told them.
"We've got bigger problems right now." Ravi growled as he and Zoey rushed to take on Blaze and Roxy. "You and Steel try and slow down Evox!"
Over in Grid Battleforce Headquarters, Commander Shaw was watching the battle unfolding nervously. She'd seen the shot fly wide, and knew their plan had failed. It meant that now, Evox was standing right in the middle of many of the people directly under her command!
"Commander, we're taking heavy fire." Joanne told her.
"Order our forces to fall back!" She ordered her.
"But Commander…"
"FALL BACK!" She screamed. "I'd rather lose a tower than any of the people under my care."
"But…"
"FALL BACK!" She screamed. "Rangers, the priority is covering the retreat. Repeat, let Evox through."
"Everyone leave Evox alone." Devon called through the communicator. "I've got him."
"Devon?" She asked. "Devon, whatever you're planning…"
"What I'm planning, I promise to take full responsibility!" Devon assured her. "Everyone else, get the Hell out of here!"
Evox saw the forces of Grid Battleforce falling all around him. The humans were nowhere near a match for him, and they were now starting to realise that. He could see those that were still on their feet, dragging their injured with them as they tried to get away. He just cackled, watching them scurry away. He would catch up with them soon enough, but for now, he needed to see to his own needs.
He was starting to make his way towards the Morph-X tower, when he saw Devon standing in his way, powered up into Beast-X mode. He just laughed seeing him.
"Step aside, Red Ranger." He warned him.
"No way." Devon told him. "You want that tower; you're going to need to go through me!"
Evox started to advance towards him, but as he did so, he shifted form, transforming into Mayor Daniels. He stared down Devon.
"Devon…"
"I'm not letting you through." Devon told him.
"Devon, I'm connected to Evox. He needs that Morph-X to live." Mayor Daniels told him. "If he perishes, I'll die too."
"Dad, I can't just let him through." Devon told him.
"Devon, I risked everything to save you." Mayor Daniels begged him. "Please, save me now."
Devon hesitated for a moment, but eventually stepped aside. Evox started to walk towards the entrance, at which Devon turned around.
"NOW!" He called out, kneeling down and planting one of the Split Emitters. The Purple Dino Charge Ranger appeared a little way off, planting another. Meghan teleported in, planting a third. They all turned on, sending up a shimmering, glowing field that held Evox fast. He let out a scream as he struggled.
"What's happening?" He screamed. "Is it…?"
"It's working!" Kendall called out. "It's working!"
They saw Evox shifting between his own form and that of Mayor Daniels, before they both started to be drawn apart. Before long, there was a pulse which sent both Evox and Mayor Daniels flying. They both hit the ground, once more separate entities.
"It worked." Ravi gasped. "I can't believe it worked!"
Kendall rushed over to Evox; her Dino Sabre drawn. She saw he was prone; she knew that this was one of the best opportunities any of them might have, but they needed to be sure it had worked. She brought down her sword on Evox's hand, before looking over to Mayor Daniels.
She stared very carefully at his hand, trying to see if he had been injured. She was relieved to see that he was fine.
"Devon, it's worked! Your dad won't be harmed!" Kendall yelled to him. "Guys, Evox is down! Light him up! Fire at…"
Unfortunately, it was all the opportunity he needed. He blasted her away, before screaming in anger. He teleported out, followed closely by the rest of his forces. Devon came over, helping Kendall up.
"Are you alright?" He asked her.
"It wouldn't be the first time I had my bell rung." She grumbled. She looked over to Mayor Daniels, nodding in his direction. Devon ran over, helping him up.
"Dad?" He asked. "Dad, are you alright?"
Mayor Daniels just looked to his son, relieved to be in control of his own body. He grabbed him, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you, son." He whispered wearily, the relief at finally being released obvious in his tone. "Thank you!"
Back in the Crystal Dimension, Scrozzle was checking over Evox. Blaze and Roxy watched on nervously.
"You'll be weakened for a while, but with the human no longer infecting you, you will recover in time." Scrozzle assured him nervously. "You won't need anywhere near as much Morph-X to power you. Some rest and a few millilitres of Morph-X and you'll be right as…"
"This is a blessing in disguise." Evox mused. "With the human within me, I was constantly being weakened. Without him plaguing me, I will recover my FULL strength."
He glared at Blaze and Roxy, his eyes burning in rage.
"It seems for once your bungling has yielded positive results." He sneered in response. "The Rangers may win the day, but in time they will come to realise the Red Ranger has denied them their greatest opportunity to destroy me."
"Humans and their need to save others." Blaze snorted. "Such weakness. If the shoe was on the other foot…"
Evox just glared at him, his eyes burning intensely. Blaze realised his mistake and held up his hands in terror.
"You know…if it was one of us." He stated. "Never you, of course!"
"So, what's our next move?" Roxy asked him. "We should hit them while they're still…"
"For now, you will stand down." Evox told them. "I've had enough of your failures for a while."
He activated a communicator.
"For now, I have another resource at my disposal." He told them. "Ryjax? It's time."
Over at Grid Battleforce Headquarters, the Rangers and Commander Shaw were in the infirmary. The staff there were stretched to the limit, with a number of their security staff being injured. She always hated when those under her command suffered, but she was relieved that for now at least, it seemed that they had managed to avoid anyone making the ultimate sacrifice.
They were all gathered around Kendall, who winced as the EMT checked over some extensive bruising in her ribs.
"There are a few fractures." He told her. She just nodded.
"Yeah, it's nothing that I'm not used to." She muttered. "I guess I'm a little out of practice at this."
"We can keep you until you recover…"
"No, it'll be fine." Kendall assured them. "Thanks to the Energems, we heal pretty quickly. Besides, there's a little girl that will be missing her mommy."
"Thanks again for your help." Devon told her. "I don't think we could have done it without you."
"Always a Ranger isn't just a slogan." She replied with a little smile. "Besides, Meghan was the real hero of the hour."
"Meghan?" Ravi asked.
"She helped refine the Split Emitters. Without her, the split emitters would never have worked properly." Kendall told them.
"We're lucky she's on our side." Zoey agreed. "But it might be worth us going to remind her of that."
"Well, if there's anything you need, just ask." Commander Shaw insisted. "Thank you again, Dr Morgan."
They all headed across to another bed, where Mayor Daniels was being checked over. Devon looked to the doctor.
"How is he?" He asked.
"I'd like to keep him for observation for a day or two, but he does seem to be pretty healthy all things considered." The doctor assured him. "The link between your father and Evox appears as if it was symbiotic, so he's actually taken pretty good care of him."
"Yeah, because he needed him to save his own worthless carcass." Steel said bitterly.
"How are you feeling, Dad?" Devon asked him.
"I'm tired, but I think I'll be alright." He answered.
"What was the last thing you remember?" Commander Shaw asked him. "Do you know anything about what Evox did while you were linked?"
"The last clear memory I have was going into the Cyber Dimension to save Devon." He answered, his face contorting as he tried to think. "It felt like something hit me, and then everything was a blur. After that, I don't remember anything until you pulled me off the pavement."
"Well, we'll take care of you for now." Commander Shaw replied. "Anything you need, just ask."
"Thank you." He told them. "All of you."
"Hey, it's what we do." Ravi told him. "We should probably leave you and Devon to it."
With that, they all left, leaving Devon to sit by his dad's bedside, grateful to once again have him returned to him.
In another part of the infirmary, Ben and Betty were waiting outside a curtained-off area. Ben was holding a large, brown bag, while Betty had some flowers. They both looked up as the doctor came out.
"Well, he's going to be sore, but he's awake." He assured them.
"That's great news!" Ben said excitedly. "Can we…?"
"He's already asking to see you." He told them. "Just try not to stay too long."
As he left, they both went in. Cole was lying on the bed, his right arm in a sling, and his left leg in a full-length cast. Ben smiled as he approached him.
"Hey there." Ben greeted him. "You had us pretty worried there."
"Had myself pretty worried." He agreed.
"What you did, that was pretty amazing." Betty complimented him as she looked out a vase for the flowers.
"It's nothing." He assured them.
"Nothing? Dude, you totally shoved my sister out the way! You took that hit for us!" Ben reminded him. Cole adjusted his position in the bed. "It was pretty amazing!"
"It's what we signed up for…"
"Don't sell it short." Ben warned him. "I know its something I'll never forget."
Betty just checked her watch.
"Wow, would you look at the time!" She stated.
"Oh, shoot, we still have a shift tonight!" Ben remembered. "Dude, we still have to arrange cover for you and…"
"Actually, I already called the Sergeant to arrange cover." Betty informed him.
"Well, that's one thing at least." Ben sighed, looking to Cole. "I guess we'll come and see you…"
"Actually, I arranged cover for both of you." Betty told her brother. He looked at her, a little stunned. "You were limping a little earlier, you should probably get checked out."
Ben mouthed the words 'thank you' to her, as she just smiled. She quietly slipped out of the cubicle, heading out. Ben sat by Cole's bedside, pulling some grapes out of the bag.
"So, I guess that means I can stay." Ben told him. "Consider me, your personal nurse." Cole just smiled.
"Maybe I should get blown up more often if this is what happens." Cole suggested, taking Ben's hand. Ben leaned in closely.
"Don't make a habit of it." He told him.
Some time later, Kendall stepped through a portal, appearing back in the farmhouse. She found the lights out and the house empty. She cradled her ribs as she started to look around.
"Matt?" She called out. "Matt?"
There was no answer. She saw a light blinking on the answering machine and headed over, pressing the play button.
"Hey, Kendall, its just me." Matt's voice told her. "I know you're probably wondering where we are, but mom figured you might like a little rest after…you know…and she offered to let us stay over after dinner. Claire's already down for the night. There's some food in the fridge, and we'll be there tomorrow morning. So, for now, just…enjoy the peace and quiet. Love you, honey."
She smiled as she heard this. She loved Matt and Claire dearly, and a part of her really wanted to see them, to hold them and be with them now she was back, but the prospect of some peace and quiet did sound pretty good, and she knew that Claire's grandmother was likely spoiling her rotten.
She headed to the fridge, opening it and pulling out a container. She smiled.
"Your mom's brisket and a quiet night to myself?" Kendall asked. "Looks like someone just hit the jackpot!"
"I was about to say the same thing!" A low voice growled. She turned slowly, seeing a creature coming into the room behind her. He was a huge beast, heavily muscled, with a face like a rhino. She held up the dish.
"Sorry, but this looks like a meal for one." She told him.
He started to rush her with alarming speed. She tried to summon her morpher but he covered the ground between them with amazing speed for such a large creature. He bowled her over before she could morph, scattering her onto the floor.
She grabbed her ribs, the pain shooting through her. She saw her morpher a little way off and started trying to drag herself towards it. She could feel the floor vibrating as Ryjax came towards her. Before she could get her hand on the morpher, he stood on her wrist, before reaching down.
She felt something encircle her neck, and could hear a locking mechanism snapping shut. Instinctively, her hands went to the object around her neck. He had put some kind of collar on her neck. She tried to pull at it, trying to move it, but it just wouldn't budge. Ryjax stood over her.
"Stop!" He told her. Kendall could feel something coursing through her, some kind of power she didn't understand running through her body. Her mind told her not to obey, to keep fighting, to try and get the collar off and get away, but she found her hands pulling away from the collar. "Stand up!"
She started to get to her feet, standing before the hulking creature. She tried to will herself to lash out, to fight back, but something wouldn't let her. It was like her body wouldn't respond to what her brain was telling it. He just looked to her.
"Stand on one foot!" He told her. She concentrated hard, struggling against the force within her, working on her body, but as she looked down, she could see her left leg lifting up, bringing her knee to waist height. Ryjax just laughed.
"What have you done to me?" Kendall demanded. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"There's no point trying to fight. With that compliance collar on, you couldn't disobey me no matter how much you want to!" He told her. "As for what I want? Well, you'll find out soon enough. Come with me."
As he turned and walked away, Kendall followed him, the collar taking command of her body. She had no idea who this creature was, or what he wanted with her. She could only hope that he now had what he wanted, and that those she loved would be safe.
FIN!
A/N: Well, that's it for this story. I wanted to keep the next story arc contained to itself. I have something in mind, and I've been looking forward to tackling it.
While I have your attention, I will also take this moment to make something of an announcement. This will be the last time I'm doing a full-season cover. While I have loved doing these now since all the way back in Jungle Fury, I can simply no longer give the time and effort required to a project of that size.
I still love Power Rangers and will still write fics, but beginning with Dino Fury, I will be restricting myself to shorts and self-contained stories. I want to thank my readers and reviewers and look forward to the future.