"Kara, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Kara, who knows who sent this distress call? It could be dangerous!"
"Take it from me... I've set one too many traps to know when you might be walking into one."
"K... I can't do this without you."
My eyes fly open, chest heaving as I struggle to control my breathing. The last thing I remember... what is the last thing I remember? Head still foggy with the remnants of sleep, I swing my legs over the side of the glass case- Wait.
Oh, God.
"Andros? Teej?" A cough wracks my body, voice crackling from disuse. I don't know why I expect my first and second-in-command to be there, though. I'd chosen to go into cryosleep when we'd received a distress call from another galaxy, one that came from a time in the future unknown to us all.
I'd looked around at my team. Seen that Cassie'd gone to finish college with a music degree. That TJ was traveling the world. That Ashley and Andros, some of my best friends, were living peacefully and happily together.
The only thing that might've kept me back was Zayne. He'd pleaded, begged even, for me to stay, and the memory of the last time I saw him sends tears to my eyes. We'd sat at the edge of Angel Grove Lake, watching the sunset over the horizon.
And for the first time, he told me he loved me. Loved me enough to let me go, to understand that I couldn't just let this call go unanswered. So I'd gone into cryosleep surrounded by my best friends, only to be awoken... now, I guess.
"Zayne..." Despite it all, a sob rips through my chest, and I swipe the tears away from my eyes. If I'm awake, then it must mean I'm in the year the call came from. Which means I've gotta get moving. I can almost hear Andros' commands from the bridge as I rush down the hallways towards it, like the responses from Carlos, Teej, Ashley, Cassie, and Zayne lead me forward.
I might not be in the same time as them, heck, maybe not even in the same universe, but I don't think I can ever forget-
A stranger stands in Andros' place.
"Alpha, I do believe our Aqua Ranger has awoken." The robot doesnt let DECA finish, instead turning to me as fast as his little legs can manage, then crushing me in an uncomfortable, but still warm, hug. Hopefully this doesn't mean he's overheating.
"Oh, Kara! Thank goodness you've awakened."
"Hey to you too, Alpha. Mind telling me what's been going on since I've been asleep?"
"Who are-" Honestly, I'm a little weirded out by the way the stranger just stops speaking the moment he sees me. It's almost like he doesn't see me at all, as if he's looking right through me. "Kara?"
"Uh. Yes?" Clearly, my confusion hurts him, which makes me flinch. Stranger or not, seeing people hurting will never sit right with me. Suddenly, the man strides towards me, enveloping me in a hug, and I freeze. No pun intended.
"Mom and dad were so worried... where were you all this time?"
And suddenly, I wish Andros and Karone were here.
"I hate to break up this... reunion," I hadn't noticed the other person there until he speaks, but I'm thankful that he just saved me a terribly awkward explanation, "but I'm going to need some help. Especially since it seems DECA's familiar with you."
"And I with her. I'm Kara." Just like old times, I muse as I step up to my station.
"Damon. You're a legend, Kara."
Wait. My chest aches, even as the question I need to ask sits at the tip of my tongue.
"Alpha. How long has it been..."
When the robot lets out a cheery chirp, I know something isn't right. Or maybe... it is.
"Barely three years, Kara! Everyone's still alive and well, and thankfully, so are you!"
"Three? That's it?" The man who'd hugged me, who I'm assuming is my long lost brother (God, where is Andros when I need him?), still hasn't said a peep.
"Yes! And judging by my calculations, even though I'd thought you'd been awoken too early..."
"The distress call came from this near in the future?"
"My teammates went through an interdimensional wormhole, and I need this ship to follow them," my "brother" explains, and I raise an eyebrow. Not the absolute craziest thing I've ever heard, but still. Freaking insane. And wouldn't I do the exact same for my friends, too?
"Well, then there isn't anybody better to help you out than a past Ranger."
At this point, I nearly want to beg Damon to put me to work. That way, I won't be focusing on all the doubts that cloud my mind. I'd went into cryosleep in order to preserve my physical body, in the hopes that if the call had come from the distant future, that I'd still be strong and ready to go.
I'd lost time with my best friends. Nearly three years that I'll never get back. It might not seem like a lot, but in this line of business, a single day is a blessing. To walk away from a battle alive means you're lucky enough to survive for the next one.
"Alpha, power to the starboard twenty-percent," Damon orders, and the sound of Alpha's button pressing knocks me out of my thoughts. I'll figure out my issues another time. Now, I need to answer the call I was meant for, "DECA, shut down all auxiliary systems. And kick the birds out of the exhaust pipes."
I can't help but laugh. This man already sounds like Andros, and it's barely been five minutes.
"Kara, I trust that you know what to do with the engines and acceleration."
"That I do, Captain."
"And you." Damon is talking to my brother. The brother I can't remember, the brother who needs to save his friends, "Step back, don't touch anything, and leave this to the pros."
"Engine and shields running at full power, Damon. But please do try not to hit anything," I announce, and he makes a noise of amusement.
"Was she always like this?" He asks Alpha.
"Affirmative!"
I can't even give a retort, since nearly the moment we lift off, the side of the Megaship slams against an apartment building.
"What did I just say?"
"Pros, huh?" My "brother" mutters, and I resist the urge to make a face at him.
"Well, shes a little groggy, but she's waking up." With that, we're off, and when I close my eyes, it's like I'm surrounded by family again.
"You were a Power Ranger?" Damon asks, incredulous, and I huff. Not even a day, and I'm already being teased by my new acquaintances.
"Why is that so hard to believe?" My brother, who I've found to be called Kai, shakes his head.
"My sister. A Power Ranger. You saved us while we were looking for you." He expects me to remember my past with him, and I can't bear to explain that I haven't got a single clue before the time... Honestly, I'm not even sure when my memories started again.
"Not alone, though," I correct, smiling softly, "I had the best first and second-in-commands. They're both still somewhere back on Earth. And of course, the two other girls that helped to balance out the hormones on the team." Before I can mention Zayne, my mouth slams shut. There's no need for me to freak out my newfound brother with the news that I dated another Ranger. Am dating? God, this is so weird.
"What about the other, Silver-"
This time, Kai saves me from Damon's question, straightening up and nodding to the object coming into focus on our front window.
"There. It's just like the one they entered. Alpha, will the ship survive the energy flux?"
My jaw nearly drops as I spin around in my seat to face the others. Don't get me wrong, I've faced plenty of near-death situations, especially when I faced off against the Psycho Rangers, but an interdimensional vortex is another thing entirely.
"What do you mean, survive? You took us this far- Ugh." Siblings, "I'm bringing shields back up to one-hundred-percent, and readying our reverse acceleration to pull us out of there if we can't make it through in one piece."
"Ai-yai-yi," Alpha exclaims, and I nod. It's got a point.
"I must be out of my mind," Damon mutters. He's got a point, too. At least, he does up until he pushes us forward, and into the vortex at full speed.
Truthfully, I've had enough of monsters to last a lifetime, but when I hear the growl of what's most definitely an in-human creature, I brace myself for a fight.
"Who's going to stop me?"
An unknown voice echoes through the trees in front of us, "All of us, that's who!" Nostalgia swipes at me with a heavy hand. Whoever they are sounds exactly like TJ. Always willing to fight for the underdog, to defend those who couldn't help themselves.
"Just the four of you?" The monster's voice grows louder and louder as we approach, and suddenly the opening of the forest appears ahead of us.
"Wrong!" Kai shouts, and then we burst into the open.
"The seven of us."
The four other humans, clad in black and armed with guns, smile at our arrival, albeit a bit confused at the new face. Er, my new face.
The monster that stands in between us looks almost like a deranged elf, but I can't underestimate it lest I want to be defeated.
"Attack!"
"Come on guys, let's go!" The tallest man there orders, and I reach out with my left arm. My morpher sits comfortably against my opposite arm, and despite the current situation, I smile. Now it's really just like old times.
"Let's rocket!"
But when I go to press the buttons to morph, nothing happens. I try again and again, but to no avail: it's broken. And as the others charge into battle, I know that it doesn't matter whether I wear my suit. What matters is what I choose to do next.
So, I run into the fray behind Kai. One of the monster's minions aims a high punch at me, so I duck low and kick out, knocking their legs out from underneath them. I come back up a second too late, though, because a creature catches me unaware and sends their own kick right into my back, knocking me over. Yet another godforsaken minion raises their weapon above their head, ready to take me out, and I almost smirk. Overconfident thing.
My fist clenches against the ground, and I grab a handful of dirt, flinging it up into my enemy's eyes, using its moment of hesitation to get back up.
The fight rages on, though, and try as we might, we're far too outnumbered. Not to mention, literally powerless. Even those these cronies would be easy pickings with my own team, right now I've only got my pure human instincts to rely on, and a body that's still recovering from cryosleep.
But those aren't enough for this moment.
I'm knocked against the trunk of a tree, the breath hurtling out of me, and I feel blood welling up against my skin. I can't go down like this. My bones and muscles ache as I pull myself up once more, but I know I've got to keep going. This is the call I left my family to answer. These people depend on me-
A scream rips from the first man who'd given the order to the others, and I glance over at him, alarmed. Is he-
Okay, he's most definitely not down. Instead, he's got a sword in his hands, and is pointing it right at the monster. And judging by the way the battle almost immediately stops, the weapon he's got is an important one. I manage to get to my feet, and I dash towards the group.
"Give me that saber, and I won't destroy you!"
"Should we try?" The blonde glasses-wearing girl asks, and the man nods. Behind us is the stone that he must have pulled the sword out of, and there sits five more swords.
Six in total. There are only six swords, which leaves out the other man I'd seen earlier. But as it is in the thick of battle, I can't dwell too long on these sorts of questions.
We step up to the swords, and I wrap my hand around the hilt of one. It's warm in my touch, just like how my morpher felt against my skin. That can't possibly mean... Then, in one smooth motion, we pull the swords out of the stone. Power crackles into my body, drowning out the exhaustion and pain, leaving me filled with pure energy.
"We've been chosen!" The brunette whispers, and I rotate the saber around in my hand, admiring its make and lightweight feel.
The awe-filled moment doesn't last long, though.
"If I can't have the sabers, no one can!" Before I can do so much as say another word, the monster slams it's own sword into the earth, sending power down into the dirt.
"Look out!" Kai screams, and just like I'd seen happen to the enemies back on Earth three years ago, the people of this planet begin to turn to stone.
"Let's go!" I guess in the face of imminent danger, my third-in-command voice comes back, and I turn, following the villagers as they dash out of their community. Somehow, we make it out of the forest, and in the moment it takes for me to catch my breath, the monster reappears across the clearing into front of us.
"Did you really think you can run away from me? Never!" Raising its sword above its head, it once again pushes the blade into the ground. This time, tremors erupt, splitting the earth right in half, and I dive to the side, pushing Damon and Kai into safety as well.
But there's one person who can't make it into safety.
The man who I'd seen earlier, the one who hadn't been able to get a sword, dives towards the crack in the ground, desperately reaching for the first man.
Suddenly, terribly, it hits me. They look similar.
Brothers.
It's over in a span of a few minutes. The older one falls, getting swallowed by the earth, and my stomach whirls at the bloodcurdling screams the others let out. They knew him. He must be an important figure on Earth at the moment.
"Oh, does little brother want a piece now?" The monster taunts, and my jaw pulses as I grit my teeth. If my morpher was working, I'd show the freak a piece of my own mind.
But maybe I don't need it. The sword in my hand glows with aqua light, and I glance down at it.
"What? The quasar sabers are more powerful than I thought!"
Even though none of us speak, this feeling is the same. When Andros had given us each our morphers, this same power had flowed into my being. I may no longer be a Space Ranger, but now, I'm something different. Stronger, even. So, with a silent nod, we lift the swords above our heads, letting their energy join with ours.
The aqua light, nearly blinding, fades, and I'm left cloaked in a brand new suit. Thankfully, still aqua, but that's where the similarities end. A jagged black stripe goes across my midsection, and my helmet looks different, too.
"Whoa," the Pink Ranger whispers, and I can't help but smile.
"It's nice to be back." None of the newbies questions why I say this, probably because they're too in shock to say much of anything.
"I've never felt power like this!" The Red Ranger exclaims.
"Silly costumes won't help against my power!" Oh right. The monster. The monster that'd just killed Red's brother.
"Oh, we'll find out about that," Red retorts, "Alright guys, this one's for Mike!"
"Stingwingers, destroy them!"
There's no way I'm going down with these new abilities I have, though. And judging by the battle cry the others let out, I know they know it, too.
Then, we're charging into battle, and for a split second, I see Ashley, Cassie, Andros, Carlos, TJ, and Zayne by my side. I won't let the time I lost with them go to waste.
I'll admit, I'm not the absolute best with swords, but during my free time, Zayne had taught me how to use his own saber. "In the event I'd have to use a sword", he'd said. Funny how things turn out.
As the creatures, I guess that are called Stingwingers, race towards me, I dodge underneath one, then turn around and slash against its chest as it faces me. Footsteps sound behind me, and I spin out of the way, lashing my sword out parallel to the ground. Even as that one falls, though, another takes its place, and I drop to the ground as it punches up, kicking its legs out from underneath it.
Oddly enough, my attacks seem to hit more accurately despite the sword still feeling a bit clunky in my hands, and when I dodge, I manage to come out unscathed. Benefits of my new powers? Dunno. All I know is that it's keeping me alive.
Shouts rise up from my teammates, and Kai rushes over to me. "C'mon, we've gotta get out of here!" He jerks a thumb towards the path we'd took out of the forest, and I gasp, seeing the vegetation swallowed up by the stone.
"You guys go! I'll hold off the Stingwingers!" Red, who I'd heard be called Leo by Yellow, orders, and I shake my head.
"We all go, or none of us go."
I can't see his expression behind his mask, but he stops bracing himself, instead turning around and running into the forest with the rest of us.
"Furio!" Red- no, Leo- exclaims, but Kai and I grab at his arms, hauling him back.
"Now is not the time!" The Blue Ranger argues, and I nod.
"Trust me when I say that none of us are in any place to take this guy down now! We can get him later."
As the Megaship looms into view above the trees, relief floods through my tired legs, but Leo still doesn't want to give it up.
"Mike! I can't leave him!" The anguish behind his voice makes my heart ache, but we can't help his brother if we don't survive this.
"You can't help him now, Leo, come on!" Kai echoes my sentiment, and I stand in front of the two as my brother attempts to pull Leo into the ship. The buzz of the Stingwingers grows louder, and I glance back at them.
"Maybe get into the ship quicker, please!" Thankfully, Leo allows Kai to pull, nearly drag, him into the ship, and I remove my helmet as I run, dashing into the bridge and taking my seat, getting the engine and acceleration prepped.
"Power Rangers? But how?" Alpha questions, and I open my mouth, about to reply, but Kai steals it.
"Later Alpha, right now, we need to get out of here!"
"I can't believe it! The Power Rangers are back! This is too good to be true!"
"Well, you better believe it, Alpha," I reply, making the last adjustments to the engine, "Welcome to the Megaship, folks."
"Everybody hold on," Damon instructs, and I grip the edge of my console as we re-enter the portal.
"I can't believe it," Yellow breathes, "Do you know what this means? Those swords, the Quasar Sabers, were put into that rock three thousand years ago. Every warrior in the galaxy tried to free them, but none could. Until now. We've been given an unbelievable responsibility to defend all that is just and right in the universe. Don't you see?" She pauses, turns around from the window to face us, "We've been chosen. To be Power Rangers."
The others are silent, awestruck, and I release my grip on the table, as I stand up. Deep breath in, out. It hasn't gotten easier to explain this to new people, especially those who don't know that I'm a Ranger. Was. Is... ugh, headache.
"Well, um. You see... uh-"
"Leo, Maya, and Kendrix. Meet Kara, former Aqua Space Ranger, and now your Aqua Lost Galaxy Ranger." Thank God for DECA.
The ship's announcement is met with silence. I hope they don't hate me, think that I think I'm better than them-
"What???"