tA/N: A very pleasant Tuesday from the Great State of Texas. Welcome to the main event of the Project Phoenix series. As a disclaimer, this series is inspired by Kctimes2's The Adoption. Before reading this, you should read The Crane's Destructive Path and its accompanying one shot, Granted Wishes. Hope everyone is staying safe in the middle of the coronavirus.

A/N 2: The title of this chapter is self explanatory. The Rangers fight for another planet's freedom on KO-35, as Jayden receives a startling revelation.

A/N 3: Couples featured are Jayden/Mia, Memily, Lantonio, Jason/Kat, Adam/Tanya and a slew of other old-school pairings. You'll have to read on to see if there is Tommy/Kim at the end...hehe.

A/N 4: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me. Used to be Saban, then Disney, then Saban, now Hasbro owns them.

Chapter 34 - Confluence and Consequence I

November 18, 2012

Somewhere near KO-35

After the surprise call from the Chamber of Command, the next day was pretty uneventful, to the surprise of many of the occupants of the Brachiozord Mark I.

But in one of the rooms, the Phoenix was starting to stir. He had just been informed by his animal spirit that KO-35's atmosphere was near.

Showtime was approaching again.

He'd also been informed by his spirit animal that they had gotten another piece of intelligence which could help give Andros and Zhane their planet back.

Sighing, he headed for the main command room.

'Listen to me very closely, young Phoenix, as you prepare to receive this next bit of intelligence. You are going to have a big decision to make very soon.' Atsila suddenly told him.

'It is time you learned some more history of Mia's family, since you may be seeing another of her uncles very soon. Though, at one point, he was evil but is showing signs of coming back to the light. This is one of the two individuals who is feeding you this intelligence.'

Jayden was confused.

'Mia's uncle, the one you know, is Sensei Kanoi, the mentor of the Ninja Storm Power Rangers and father to Cameron. But there is another Watanabe, Kiya, who did horrible things and became the monster known as Lothor because of it. The Rangers defeated him, and then beat him again when he came back in the Dino Thunder fight with Mesogog.'

Jayden nodded.

'When Mia became a Samurai Power Ranger, the claiming of her powers reversed Lothor's fate, destroyed the evil within, returned Kiya to his normal form, and gave him a chance to be good again. He was a member of the Wind Ninja Academy, but is still without his powers, a fate he accepts.'

'Why didn't he get involved in the fight against Xandred?" Jayden asked.

'Because he felt it was not his place to do so, and that the powers of both the Red Samurai Ranger and the Phoenix if necessary would prevail...and he was right.'

'When you claimed your powers, he saw it, and it obviously restored Mia's Samurai powers as well. It is pulling him back toward the side of good, if but slowly. Still, he is reluctant to get involved here, too, but your mother's evil half embarrassed him and he made the determination that Flammia most be destroyed, for the sake of us all.'

"Why didn't Cam getting the Samurai morpher during Ninja Storm pull him back?" Jayden asked.

'What he did was so treacherous, that though Cam is good, that alone was not enough to pull him back. Not even Marah and Kapri, who were also evil but saw the light eventually, could manage to bring him back. Only the Phoenix power, combined with Mia becoming a Ranger, is powerful enough to reverse what happened to Kiya.'

Jayden nodded.

'I think in his heart he would like to help, and I've told him as much but he's convinced that after all the suffering he put everyone through, and it was a lot, that Rangers would always hate him. That's why he is reluctant to get involved unless necessary.'

"I see," Jayden said. "At least he's helping us now, that's a start. Is there anything else I should know about?"

'In the last year or so, he has, secretly, found love with someone who was never evil. Someone who is trying to get the hardheadedness and the regret out of him, and has been somewhat successful but not quite. He is married to a former Thunder ninja named Nova, who was only expelled from the Academy after she was framed by Ninjas who were jealous of her ability.'

'Talk to Hunter and Blake about that. They know the story quite well. Ultimately, Jayden, only you can decide whether Kiya is to be trusted again or not. The Ninjas can give you advice, but you will ultimately make the call.'

Jayden nodded. He was indeed going to have a tough decision to make. One that could turn the tide of the war either way.

'In the meantime, go, and liberate KO-35.'

Jayden shook his head and went on to the main command room.

Main Command Room

Jayden immediately looked at Cam pointedly, with Cam nodding, almost as if he knew what Jayden was going to ask.

"What have we got?" Jayden said.

"Our anonymous source says that the biggest key to freeing the planet is destroying the plant just outside the city that these guys use to create power sacs for their Zords," Cam said. "Any destruction of this, so says our source, would cause a ripple effect that will make them surrender sooner."

"Hm," Jayden said, scratching his chin. "It's worth a shot. Here's what we'll do."

"Dad, Mia, we go first. Together, our powers can probably destroy the plant. We can take the birds and do that part."

"Space Rangers," Jayden said next, "I think it's only fitting that you guys be the second part of our plan. You guys and the Dino Thunder Rangers take these creeps on and liberate the planet and we will join you as soon as we can."

"All other teams, stand by for backup as needed," Jayden said, looking at his father and his lover as he said this. He then got in position, the assigned teams doing the same. "It's Morphin Time!"

"Let's Rocket!"

"Dino Thunder, Power Up, Ha!"

"White Ranger, Dino Power!"

A short time later, the three were in the skies above the planet's surface, heading for the capital city. The Falcon was in the middle, flanked by the Phoenix on the left and the Dove on the right. Jayden had the most power, but Tommy was still his father, so he let Tommy be front and center.

"I sense guards outside the building we need to attack. We need something to get their attention," Jayden said.

"My Zord can conjure up a pretty wicked wind storm," Mia piped up.

"Use it, Mia," Jayden said. "Dad and I can follow up with our firepower."

"I see the place that our intelligence talked about, I think," Tommy said. "Look to your right."

"Whoa," Jayden said as he took note of the massive warehouse-like structure that stood just outside the capital city.

In the next moment, Mia pressed a button on her Dove zord, and her Zords wings began flapping incessantly. The wind began to pick up, but a force field suddenly surrounded the three Zords, protecting them from major damage.

Meanwhile, they saw on the ground that the wind storm was giving trouble to the ten individuals who were guarding the place. They were still standing, but having trouble keeping their feet.

They then looked elsewhere and saw the Space and Dino Thunder Rangers about to touch down in the city itself. An understanding came over Tommy and Jayden, and together they both pressed buttons on their consoles.

Simultaneously, they pressed buttons on their consoles, which resulted in a wave of fire from the Phoenix Ninjazord, and rockets from the wings of the Falconzord racing for the surface.

The aim was true, and the firepower hit its mark, resulting in a massive explosion that reduced the warehouse holding one of Flammia's deepest secrets to nothing but ashes.

"Let's go!" Jayden said to his dad and Mia. "Zords, recall!" With that, they leapt from their Zords and teleported into the city.

Meanwhile, in the city, Conner and Andros were fighting a platoon of Tengas back to back when the blasts hit and shook the ground.

"You think that means?" Andros asked.

"I think so. Holy shit, look at that!" Conner said.

Monsters and Rangers turned wide eyed and saw the warehouse they had targeted go up in flames. Flammia's monsters simply stood there, in a state of shock.

"What did you power brats just do?" a Flamer shouted.

"Only destroyed your power source for your Zords. Too bad so sad. And it's about to get much worse for you, because the cavalry's on its way. You're gonna wish you were never born in a few minutes," Ashley said.

Within seconds, three strikes from a sword that came out of nowhere slashed against the Flamer; the sword had Cam's substance on it, so in seconds he burned to ash.

With that done, Jayden, Tommy and Mia joined the rest of the Rangers, all lined up as one as spectators who had been prisoners to their own dictatorship, just as the Triforians had been, came out of their homes to watch.

"You guys again!" Nepa shouted; she had been dispatched to KO-35 to aid in the effort to defend Flammia's rule there after Triforia had been surrendered and had been given full control by the acting ruler.

"We just destroyed your power source for your Zords and you know you can't beat me," Jayden said to Nepa. "I suggest you surrender this planet back to the forces of good, before we take it back and make it hurt."

"I do not intend to give up so easily, fledgling," Nepa said. "Attack!"

That order was a mistake, as the ensuing brawl was quick and decisive. All the footsoldiers who were involved in this attack were dead in 15 minutes.

"Who is that?" a bystander gawked nearby as she watched the crimson Ranger fight; though, she wasn't just any bystander, she was Kimana, the former queen of the planet before she had been deposed by the current dictatorship. Her husband had been killed in the coup as well though she managed to escape into hiding.

"I'm not sure who that is, but he's amazing!" one of her former advisors, Andrea, said. She became concerned again, though, as 500 more soldiers and the current ruler himself, Kali, came out of the palace.

"So this is the Crimson Ranger himself, huh. You've made quite a habit of embarrassing me and my Mistress," Kali boasted. "I'm not just some warrior though."

"You want some of me?" Jayden asked. "Do your worst, because you aren't at my level and you're about to find that out."

Angry, Kali charged Jayden, but he was still disoriented because of the fact that the power source for Flammia's Zords had been destroyed. He put up a good battle, but was not focused and simply swung at Jayden wildly. Thus, with his combination of discipline and skill, Jayden disarmed him in about 10 minutes.

"You gave me a good fight, I'll give you that, but I'm ending this now. Weapons, guys," Jayden said. "Phoenix Fire Cannon."

"Blade Blasters!"

"Quadro Blaster!"

"Spiral Saber Booster Mode!"

"Z-Rex Blaster, Super Mode!"

"FIRE!"

The torrent of firepower launched all at the same time, combining in a devastating blast that swallowed the current ruler whole.

"I CANNOT BE DEFEATED!" he howled as he failed to stay alive. "Someday, the Flame of Destruction will destroy you all!"

With those final, empty words, Kali was burnt to ash, leaving Nepa scared to death.

"I-I surrender, I surrender! This planet is yours, Space Rangers."

"What did you say?"

"I surrender. We are no match for your powers at this point."

The bystanders who had come out to watch at this point were in a state of shock. Was this really happening?

It was, as suddenly a stack of papers appeared out of thin air and Jayden and the former assistants to the now late Kali began working out the details of Flammia's army's sudden surrender, their second in a matter of days. It was something that not long ago, no one thought possible.

Finally, Jayden turned to the bystanders who had come out to watch the fight.

"Kerovians, your planet is now officially a democracy again. Kimana will once again be your ruler. Congratulations."

Cheers erupted far and wide. Nepa was still there, and her face formed a scowl.

"Enjoy your victory today Rangers and Kerovians, because some day, you will fall, and it will be hard...and swift."

With that, the remnants of her army all teleported out.

As soon as they teleported away from the planet, suddenly an earthquake shook the land. And not just on KO-35...everyone was feeling the earthquake throughout the universe. It was very similar to the events right as Jayden claimed his powers.

When the quake died down, Jayden's communicator began to chime.

"Shit," Tommy mumbled under his breath.

"Jayden here," he said.

"There's been a lot that's changed in the last couple of seconds. You need to return to Earth, immediately," Rhiannon said over his communicator.

"Thanks, Rhiannon," Jayden said, as the communication clicked dead.

Then, his communicator chimed once again.

"Goodness!" Rocky said.

"Yeah?" Jayden said.

"Jayden, it's Dulcea here on Phaedos. I heard what Rhiannon just told you, and it's true, but I think it's better that you and the rest of the Rangers stop on Phaedos so I can tell you before you find what awaits you back home," Dulcea said.

"I will put this very succinctly; that victory did something I did not see as fathomable: That win, combined with your win on Triforia and the Phoenix's power, created a confluence of power between the planets Triforia, KO-35 and Earth. It has incredible consequences."

"What do we want to do, guys, go home immediately or stop on Phaedos and get briefed by Dulcea first?" Jayden asked his father, aunts, uncles and girlfriend.

"Honestly, I have a funny feeling if we don't get briefed by Dulcea first, we're all going to be unprepared for what awaits us on Earth. Let's go to Dulcea," Tommy said.

About three fourths of the teams agreed, and so the decision was made.

"We're on our way, Dulcea," Jayden said.

"See you soon, Rangers."

"Space Rangers," Kimana said, "You know this planet best. Can you guys remain here, especially Andros and Zhane, to restore this planet?"

"Can you handle these thugs without us, Jayden?" Zhane asked.

"Yes. If we need you we will call you. Help pick this planet up, please," Jayden said.

"We are all indebted to you, Phoenix Ranger, and to you, Power Rangers of Earth. As long as I rule, you will always have a place to stay," Kimana said. "Here, take this before you go."

She handed Jayden a peculiar ray gun.

"What...is this?" he asked.

"We created this years ago, in case something happened to either Andros or his sister. We haven't needed to use it, even when Astronema existed, insanely enough, but I think you should have it considering the confluence that has just occurred. I feel you will have some big decisions to make."

"What does it do?" Jayden asked.

"Simply put, this device primarily scans anyone for any trace of evil. Do not let this fall into evil hands, Rangers. This device could prove critical in the days, weeks and months ahead," Kimana said.

"Let's go, guys," Jayden said as they teleported towards the massive Brachiozord which was floating above the city.

Review box is at the bottom. Please review/follow/favorite if you don't mind. Thanks.