So yeah, getting back into the swing of things. With how close to completion Cyborg Stronger is, I figure I should at least get back to this. For those who don't follow both stories or check my profile, I'm putting Jojo New Universe on hold as Season 4 of Miraculous Ladybug gives us more information on the remaining unused Miraculous. Disclaimer: I don't own Super Sentai, Shonen Jump, or any other referenced media.
*Five heroes in colored armor suits speed along in modified motorcycles as explosions go off around them. A rainbow stream forms a stylized number 5 as music picks up with our title screen.*
Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, the Shonen Beginning
*The five Gorengers drive in their special Machines along the street. The seen switches to them running together in a V formation.*
Under a bright red sun, fighting behind a mask!
Dan Green as Yugi Moto/Akarenger *Yugi is seen fighting using his Red Bute whip and attacking black suited soldiers called Zolders.*
These five only have one wish... For a bright blue sky!
Matthew Mercer as Jotaro Kujo/Kirenger *Jotaro throws a Zolder with some judo techniques before riding in the sidecar of the Blue Machine.*
Yellow storms blow through town, sweeping away all evil!
Shelley Calene-Black as Medaka Kurokami/Momorenger *Medaka takes out a Zolder before destroying a few more with her Earring Bombs.*
Bright pink on the cheeks of five smiling soldiers
Johnny Young Bosch as Ichigo Kurosaki/Midorenger *Ichigo launches his Midomerang to take out a Zolder while flipping another one.*
Revving up, follow the wind, all for that great green Earth! Go! (Go, go!)
Justin Cook as Yusuke Urameshi/Aorenger *Yusuke take out a few Zolders before firing his Blue Cherry longbow.*
Combine these five powers in one, and make greater power today!
*The mighty ship Variblune starts up as the Gorengers drive their Machines into it.*
Shout out the cry that brings you victory, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger!
*The Variblune takes off from its loading bay before flying above the city.*
Chapter 28: Underground Infiltration
It was late at night, and a sudden earthquake rocked the city. Just outside of it, a tremor opened up and a large device rose up out of the ground. A massive torrent of volcanic energy shot out of the top of the device and started causing devastation all around. From a viewing window, Iron Man Mask Temujin watched with his latest subordinate, Iron Comb Mask. The comb-masked villain directed the Zolders to extinguish the flames. Both the device and the city it had just destroyed were actually models being used for demonstration.
"The magma emitted by this weapon is over 2000 degree Celsius," Iron Comb Mask explained to Temujin. He indicated the Zolders' futile attempt to douse the flames with water buckets. Temujin nodded, impressed by the device's destructive potential. He then turned to the scientist that was in the room with them. "You've done well, Doctor Yoshino. Iron Comb Mask, what's the status on the underground factory?" "Construction is underway," Iron Comb Mask replied. Yoshino stepped. "If that is all, I should take my leave."
"Not just yet," Temujin said, he and Iron Comb Mask blocking his path with their weapons, "Without your knowledge of the device, our plan to destroy Tokyo cannot succeed." "But you said you'd free me if the experiment went well," Yoshino pointed out, "I have no more obligation to cooperate." "Not yet, you don't," Temujin retorted, "But I've no doubt you'll cooperate... If you truly love your child that is." Yoshino gasped in horror. "You wouldn't... What do you plan to do with Tami!?"
Tami, a little girl, was sitting sadly on a swing in the park, not knowing that Iron Comb Mask was watching her from the nearby foliage. "Okay, there she is," he said to a young man accompanied by two Zolders, "Don't fail now." Back at the swing, Taro sat on the one next to Tami. "Hey Tami, do you know this riddle? A baby can climb it easily, but parents can't climb it. What is it?" Tami didn't answer, still melancholy. "It's a parent's back," Taro finished. The young man approached the swing and knelt down to Tami. "Are you Tami Yoshino?" Tami looked at the man and nodded. "I can take you to your father," the man said.
"Really?," Tami asked, perking up immediately. She started going off with the man, but Taro stopped her. "You shouldn't be going off with strangers like that!" The man quickly knocked Taro aside and picked up Tami, who was no longer willing to go with him after such a stunt. He tried to run off with her, but unfortunately for him Medaka stood in his way, having been at the park as Taro's chaperone. "Care to tell me where you plan on taking that girl?," she asked in a dangerous tone. When the man tried to run in the other direction, Medaka grabbed him by the shoulder before delivering a chop to his midsection.
The man tried to fight back, but Medaka was too well-trained, and she soon had him in a hard arm-lock. "Who told you to do this?" "You won't get nothing out of me!," he declared, running for the foliage. Medaka tried to reel him in, letting her get a good look when one of the hidden Zolders stabbed him through the stomach. As the Zolder ran, the man collapsed and uttered one final thing. "Construction... Site... Black Cross... Army..." Medaka had a hold on the man's wrist, and noticed some particular scars on his wrists.
"No doubt about it," Yugi said when he observed the scars, "He'd been handcuffed at some point. He must have been forced to work at this construction site." "Black Cross must be building a base of some kind," Medaka noted, "And somehow Tami's father is involved." Yugi nodded as he looked at the man's ID. "Track down his workplace. We may find Doctor Yoshino there. Or at the very least some clues as to what the Black Cross Army is planning." "There's got to be at least a half-dozen construction companies in the city doing work in multiple locations," Medaka pointed out, "Finding his workplace won't be easy."
In fact, the man didn't even seem to have a real workplace. None of the construction crews the duo interviewed had even heard of the man. "I could have sworn he said he worked at a construction site," Medaka said, "But then again, that may have just been my assumption." Yugi nodded in understanding. All of a sudden, a middle-aged ran by, bumping into Yugi as he did before falling to the ground. Medaka and Yugi noticed the man had half a handcuff strapped to his wrist, before he freaked out and hurried off. "Quick, after him!," Yugi called out. The man tried to lose the duo in a park, but Medaka split off to cut around. They soon had him pinned. "I don't wanna die!," the man called out.
"Calm down," Yugi said, "We're not with the Black Cross Army." "We're the Gorengers," Medaka clarified, "We're looking for information on Black Cross's latest plot after finding a worker who was killed by them." Yugi showed the man the picture they had, and his eyes widened in recognition. "Yeah, I know that man. We had worked together. Black Cross had us all building some sort of underground factory for an artificial volcano. At least, that was the impression I got from their conversations. Just seeing the prototype in action was terrifying. The fires were so strong water couldn't extinguish them." Just then, something struck and killed him through the wall. Yugi noticed that it looked like an iron comb tooth.
Temujin was not pleased by the sudden development. "You're saying the Gorengers now know about our plans?" "Unfortunately I wasn't able to silence the runner quickly enough," Iron Comb Mask admitted, "So they know about the volcanic detonator. But I was able to prevent him from saying anything about the location of the underground factory. Without that knowledge they cannot prevent its activation." "Don't underestimate them," Temujin warned, "The Gorengers are elite soldiers of EAGLE, as intelligent as they are strong. Double the number of workers and hurry the project along!"
Inside the Gorenger Room, Yugi had been thoroughly disguised in order to infiltrate Black Cross's work crew for the factory. "Not bad," Ichigo said, "There's no way anyone would recognize you." Yusuke entered and spoke with Edogawa. "We've confirmed known agents of Black Cross recruiting workers off the streets, paying cash up front." "Meaning they're desperate for workers," Edogawa noted, "Looks like our plan can work. Alright everyone, listen up. Our enemy's plans are starting to become larger in scale. And the Mask Monsters are growing more powerful. So the Gorengers must grow stronger in turn."
"Hence the modification of the Gorenger Storm with the New Power Operation," Medaka noted. Edogawa nodded. "In order for it to function, an enemy must be studied so that it's weakness can be made known. Sometimes it will be obvious, sometimes it won't. Yugi, are you ready for the infiltration?" Yugi nodded. "Once I've identified the Mask Monster I'll see what I can find out about him." Up top in Snack Gon, Jotaro was finishing off his sixth bowl of curry. Sitting next to him was Tami, who had been brought to the diner for protection.
Yugi walked up to the duo. At first Jotaro didn't recognize him, not until he got a really good look. "Whoa. I didn't realize you were changing your look, Yugi." Yugi smiled and sat down next to Tami. "Don't worry, Tami. We'll make sure you see your father again." Tami smiled and made a pinky promise with Yugi. "I've already seen the recruitment drive going on about five blocks from here," Jotaro said, "If you go now you should be able to slip into the crowd." Yugi nodded. "Just get ready for Phase Two."
Several people were gathering around as an announcer was pitching a job offer, promising triple the pay of most construction companies. Needless to say, there was no shortage of eager volunteers. Yugi played his role to perfection, at first walking up like he was interested in all the hoopla before acting excited when one of the recruiters told him of the increased pay and jumping into the truck. Once the truck reached the construction site, the workers were unloaded and surrounded by Zolders. The workers were soon chained by their wrists.
One tried to fight back, only to nearly be made an example, but Yugi was able to stop the Zolder by playing peacekeeper. He helped the man up. "Just go along with them for now," he whispered, "I have a team waiting to save you and the other workers here." With the Zolders placated, they started handing out gear and herding the workers underground. Yugi found a good spot to covertly drop a tracker where it wouldn't be seen easily. Not suspecting anything, the Zolders sent Yugi down with the other workers.
"We have a signal," Ichigo announced, "Tokyo District C Point 2-4." "Okay," Yusuke said, "Time for Phase Two." He flew the Variblune overhead, the Zolders spotting him. "Activating Radiation Camera." Iron Comb Mask came out just as the Variblune flew off. He noticed the scanner on his comb weapon going off. "Strange..." He followed the signal until he reached the transceiver Yugi had placed. "Who could have dropped this here? I'll find that person!" He walked down to where the workers were. Yugi had been speaking to a few to get information, and trying to get a sense of where the artificial volcano might be.
"Break for five minutes!," Iron Comb Mask announced as he arrived. The workers were allowed up top, several complaining about the difficult work conditions. Yugi spotted a moment to pick up the transceiver. "Moto here. Have you found anything?" 'The radiation camera picked up something interesting underground,' Yusuke replied, 'Some kind of huge machine, likely the artificial volcano.' Iron Comb Mask was listening in, throwing down the headphones in frustration. "Yugi Moto! He slipped in somehow! Find him!"
Yugi had already hidden and picked open the cuffs. 'I should feel lucky that they left the chain long enough to work properly. Makes this easier.' He opened a nearby door, spotting the volcanic detonator. "There it is." "So it is," Iron Comb Mask said as he and a group of Zolders appeared behind him, "Welcome, Yugi Moto. Take a good look at the instrument that will destroy your precious Gorenger base!" "Joke's on you," Yugi quipped, "Our base is also underground. Besides..." He got out his Ranger Buckle. "I didn't come here unprepared. Go!"
He transformed into Akarenger, then took out a couple Zolders before ducking into the room with the machine, Iron Comb Mask hot on his heels. Akarenger moved through the base, thrashing any Zolder that got in his way. Iron Comb Mask then appeared higher up on a catwalk. "Surrender Akarenger! Or Doctor Yoshino will die!" He snapped his fingers, and two Zolders came out with Yoshino in tow. Akarenger growled, remembering his promise to Tami. "How do I know you weren't planning on killing him after all is said and done?" Iron Comb Mask just cackled as he leapt down to pummel Akarenger.
Yugi and Yoshino were thrown into a cell together. "Guess he decided to call my bluff...," Yugi muttered as he shook his head. "Just who are you?," Yoshino asked, "You seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to infiltrate Black Cross's operations here." "Yugi Moto of the Gorengers," Yugi explained, "I came here to find you, and put a stop to the eruption device." "Doing so from in here would be near impossible," Yoshino pointed out, "We can't hope to escape." "Maybe not from the inside," Yugi admitted, "But I made sure my friends know where the base is. Don't lose hope yet. Tami's waiting for you." Yoshino sighed in relief at the knowledge that his daughter was safe.
Yugi then spotted the barred window installed into the ceiling. Yoshino considered it. "Could we somehow communicate with outside through this?" "Yes, but not with anything electronic," Yugi said, "They'd intercept the signal easily. Fortunately, we already anticipated this scenario." He took off one of his shoes and opened a hidden compartment in the heel, revealing a red balloon and a small CO2 compressor to inflate it, letting him send off a message tied to the balloon's string.
Ichigo and Yoko were in the park with Taro and Tami when the latter spotted the balloon. "There's something attached to it," Yoko noted. Ichigo nodded. "Go!" Activating his Ranger Buckle, Midorenger pulled out his Visor Weapon. "Midomerang!" The reliable Midomerang grabbed the balloon by the string and pulled it down so that the message could be retrieved and sent to Edogawa. "Yugi's been captured, but he's located Doctor Yoshino and the eruption machine. It's now time for Phase Two." The team nodded.
Imagine the workers' surprise when a ramen cart was being wheeled into the work zone. The Zolders were suspicious of where the cart came from, having not been authorized. Not to mention the cart driver was very familiar. It was actually Jotaro, but they didn't know that yet. Things got more suspicious when the Zolders spotted what looked like Medaka and Ichigo walking up to sample the noodles. "We need to get them to disperse," one of the Zolders said. Even Yusuke was showing up, sitting down to eat near where the Zolders were hiding. The Zolders hopped out to confront him, scaring the workers.
Yusuke smirked. "And Phase Two begins." To the Zolders' shock, he, Medaka, Ichigo, and Jotaro quickly attacked. Jotaro even slammed one into the noodle cart. "Waste of good ramen," he quipped. As the Zolders were taken out, the Gorengers helped the workers get to safety. They then headed underground to deal with the Zolders down there. The black-clad mooks tried to attack any worker that ran for the stairs, but the Gorengers were relentless in keeping them down. Soon enough the team reached the cell holding Yugi and Yoshino as klaxons started blaring.
The ground started shaking just as the cell was opened. "They've already activated the eruption machine," Yoshino realized. "We need to get topside!," Yugi called out. The machine lifted out of the chasm in the ground. "Everything's in place," Iron Comb Mask declared, "Start the Eruption Operation!" Just as the device went off, Iron Comb Mask and his unit got attacked by the Gorengers as they burst into the control center. Iron Comb Mask found his every escape route blocked. "Damn it! Not right at the finish line!"
"Akarenger!" "Aorenger!" "Kirenger!" "Momorenger!" "Midorenger!" "The five assembled!" "Gorenger!" "Assemble all you want!," Iron Comb Mask called out, "You're too late to stop the eruption machine! Soon all of Tokyo will be covered in magma!" He ran off cackling, leaving his Zolders to deal with the Gorengers. Which they failed at as per usual. The catwalks provided excellent height for Kirenger to toss the mooks to their death, and the narrow paths worked against the Zolders' numbers.
Aorenger slammed his Blue Cherry into a few Zolders. Nearby Midorenger and Momorenger hopped along the catwalks taking out the grunts. "Red Bute!" Akarenger struck with his whip, taking out several Zolders below him. "Blue Cherry!" Aorenger shot another Zolder with an arrow from his bow. Momorenger spotted more Zolders coming down the stairs. "Sakura Bomb!" She tossed one of her earrings, the small bomb taking out the group of grunts. Iron Comb Mask found himself confronted by the Gorengers, swinging his comb to attack only for them to duck out of the way.
Midorenger pulled out his boomerang and started whirling around. "Spinning Midomerang!" Iron Comb Mask managed to knock the thrown boomerang out of the air. "Megaton Head-Butt!" Kirenger charged at Iron Comb Mask, but got bounced back as the Mask Monster unleashed flames from his comb. "Iron Comb Fire!" The other Gorengers showed up and Iron Comb Mask turned his attention to them, but Momorenger was ready with her own Visor Weapon. "Momo Mirror! Reflect Flames!"
Iron Comb Mask was shocked as his own flames engulfed him. "This doesn't seem scientifically possible!" "No," Aorenger admitted, "But this is. Blue Cherry!" His arrow struck the center of Iron Comb Mask's face. "Red Bute!" Akarenger grappled the comb weapon with his whip. "Red Spark!" A discharge of 20,000 volts hit Iron Comb Mask through his own weapon, sending him reeling. "Time for New Power Operation!," Akarenger called out. The team got into formation, with Momorenger getting out the Gorenger Storm. "Gorenger Storm Bite! Ki!" "Mido!" "Ao!" "Aka!" "Finish!"
The Gorenger Storm kept bouncing off the walls as the hit passed it around, finally changing into a snapping turtle as it approached Iron Comb Mask, biting him right near the spot where the Blue Cherry struck him. "Ah! Too much pain! I can't stand pain! AHHH!" The turtle suddenly exploded, destroying Iron Comb Mask. "Now we need to stop the eruption machine!," Akarenger called out. Momorenger checked out the equipment. "They have it set on automatic, we can't turn it off from here!" "We can use Variblune's Drill Missile," Aorenger suggested.
The Variblune was called in via remote as Akarenger retrieved Yoshino and prepared to board. "Birdie!" The team followed him into Variblune as they neared the eruption machine. "Launching Drill Missile!," Momorenger called out. The missile fired off and tunneled into the ground before striking the eruption machine. Both the machine and the base around it were wiped out, as Variblune flew off in triumph. Black Cross Fuhrer seethed in his underground base. "Next time the Gorengers will find a challenge they cannot possibly overcome! Temujin will see to that!"
To be continued...
Yeah, I had to come up with some reason for why a snapping turtle was Iron Comb Mask's weakness, and it occurred to me that he didn't seem to respond well to pain, so I thought that had to be it. Also in the regular episode Black Cross Fuhrer never appeared on-screen. I corrected that. Read and review.