"A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE"

Both General McKnight and Captain Mitchell found themselves sitting in the back of a black limousine. Gaining speed, the vehicle deftly moved through traffic.

"Who's the candidate, sir?" The Captain addressed his superior, General McKnight.

Tucked in the crook of his elbow was a leather-bound folder thick with notes. McKnight grabbed it and checked out the cover, which read: Cobalt Protocols.

Intrigued, McKnight opened it and began to read. "Justin Stewart." he told him. Captain Mitchell heard of the name before.

Justin Stewart worked in Public Safety Detonator Disposal with the local law enforcement. His days as a Turbo Ranger helped him to become highly knowledgeable in the detection, diagnosis and disposal of radioactive devices. His track record was impeccable. According to Justin's partner, the Blue Senturion, he was courageous if not reckless.

The limo drove further into town, and soon pulled up into a quarantined site. There were uniformed officers standing around, speaking quietly into their radios. They had passed one uniformed officer at the gate, here to keep the press out and the official vehicles in.

The limo was soon brought to a halt in front of a strip of yellow hazard tape, beside a couple of patrol cars and an EMS van.

"Sir, maybe I should go out there." Mitchell said. "It's too dangerous."

"I hate to pull rank on you, son." McKnight replied. "But I outrank you."

With folder in hand, the General popped opened the door and stepped out into the warm June weather.

Mitchell watched him from the limo as he went out into the taped-off site and found the Police Captain. Then, with a cloud of smoke, a man in a blast suit carrying a diffused detonator rushed out of the vacated building. The others took the detonator from him and disposed of it immediately.

Then, through the tinted windows of the limousine, Mitchell recognized the blast man as he pulled off his helmet and face mask to reveal: Justin. He and General McKnight spoke for a little while, and then he started pulling off his protective gear. Captain Mitchell watched as they came over.

"So Maligore has returned?" Justin asked McKnight as they climbed into the car.

"I'm afraid so." McKnight answered as the engine rumbled to life. "And time is of the essence. Because of your skills, you have been chosen to defend the city from him."

"With what, sir?" Justin asked.

The General looked at Mitchell. "Captain, if you will do us the honor?"

Captain Mitchell presented a large silver case on his lap. He unlatched it and swung it around to show the contents to Justin. Nestled inside was a shiny oblong object with the Lightspeed sigil on it.

"This is your Cobalt Morpher," he said. "The circuitry is too powerful for any ordinary human. But if used wisely, it will see you safely through your mission."

"ME?" Justin asked, "a Lightspeed Power Ranger?"

"Your partner, the Blue Senturion, has been training you for this very purpose, Justin." the Captain reassured him. "Speaking on the behalf of Mariner Bay, the city needs you, son."

"It's yours, if you want it." McKnight added, who kept Justin locked under his stern gaze.

Hesitating a moment longer, Justin finally nodded. Grabbing the morpher, he strapped it to his left wrist, where it felt cold and snug against his skin, "Where do you need me?" he asked.

This forced a smirk to the Captain's face. "We're almost there." he replied. "Driver, step on it."


Abandon Warehouse District.

The limo came to a roll stop in front of the city plaza.

Stepping out of the limo, Justin rushed out into the opposite direction of the clamoring citizens. "Get to safety! Hurry!" He called out after them. Justin ran down the sidewalk like lightning, rising a cloud of dust behind him. Soon, he reached the scene of the attack and came to a full stop and stared.

Smack dab in middle of a smoldering crater, a Super Demon stood there. Looking like a bulging mass of twisted muscle and overgrown bone, the monster revealed its face – a fiery furnace. The creature balled its fists, lifted its head and gave out a vicious roar. Adult Justin recognized the ugly immediately as Maligore, the great flame of destruction.

The destruction had been more widespread than it had been earlier. There was rubble and smoke everywhere.

"With the Nemesis Triangle, I will grow even more powerful!" Maligore rumbled aloud. "Soon the Power Rangers will be finished - FOREVER!"

"Think again, Maligore!" Justin shouted at the super demon. "Your brand of evil will never win!"

Maligore whirled about, eyes blazing crimson "Who dares such insolence?" he growled.

"Bet you didn't expect to see me again." Justin retorted.

"You-! Blue Ranger?!" Maligore snarled with rage.

"Once a Ranger, always a Ranger." Justin shouted, crossing his wrists in front of him, he grasped his morpher, "Cobalt Power!" Time seemed to slow down for Justin as his mind opened to its power.

Justin was suddenly in what looked like a shimmering tunnel. He threw his arms out, and a wide chrome shield appeared in front of him. It passed over him, the colors melding his body, forming his Ranger suit. His face guard formed and then his visor slam shut over it. And he was Rescue Ready.

"HAI-YAH!" The Cobalt Ranger somersaulted over Maligore's fanged head, and landed, arms outstretched, between Maligore and the downed Rangers. He knelt at Carter's side.

"You guys alright?" He asked.

"We'll be fine," Carter groaned. "But Maligiore is stomping us. Look, buy us some time, so we can evacuate the remaining civilians."

"You got it!" Justin shouted, whirling around into fighting stance. "Time to send this demon packing!"

"The only one who's going packing is you!" Maligore snarled, and a wave of Batlings sprang up in the street between him and Justin. "Batlings, get him!" Maligore yelled. With weirdly distorted shrieks, the Batlings dropped into fighting stance and charged at Justin. The fight was on.

"KAI-YAH!" Justin cried out, charging into combat. With this new power pumping through his body, he felt combat ready. Justin leap-frogged over one Batling, drop kicked the one behind it. "HUH-HAI-YAH!" Somersaulting and kicked another to the ground, Justin ducked and swept another's legs out from under it.

Those sparring sessions he suffered through with his partner, the Blue Senturion, was definitely paying off.

"Quick! Maligore's distracted," Carter said to his team. "Let's get these folks to safety! Hurry!"

"Right!" the team nodded and followed him immediately.

"GRAHH! You cannot escape!" Maligore bellowed as he charged forward through the burning rubble, initiating the ballet of combat between the two gladiators.

"HYAH!" Justin leapt forward slamming a foot into Maligore's chest throwing him into a pile of crates. The demon struggled back to his feet, groaning in pain.

The two began to spar all over the Plaza, Justin dodging the demon's punches and kicks, the demon bouncing back every time the Ranger dealt him a blow. "URGH!"

Justin managed to easily evade Maligore's swipes and retuned with a couple of his own with a crescent kick to his mid-section, followed by another to the chest.

"Hai-yah!" Justin breathed, crossing his forearms and striking a fighting pose. "You had enough?"

Standing up, the other Rangers strode up alongside him, ignoring their bruises. "Some friendly advice, Maligore" Carter shouted. "Stay outta Mariner Bay!"

"GRAAH!" Maligore growled with rage. "You haven't seen the last of me!"

"We're counting on it." Justin retorted, fist clenched.

With a snap of his fingers, Mailgore and his Batlings vanished away in in a twinkling, leaving a lingering sense of hope amongst the Rangers.

"Lightspeed, Power Down!" Justin shouted, his morphing suit fading in a flash. "Just like old times!"

The other Rangers mobbed him, eyes wide in excitement. "Dude! That was great!"

"I didn't know there was a Cobalt Morpher?" Joel asked.

"Guys, the Job is still not over!" Carter said. "Let's get back to the Aquabase!"

Down the street, perched on the rooftop of a nearby building was Vypra. Watching this entire event play out. Her almond shaped eyes illuminated with an amber glow of evil. "Drat," she scorned.

NEXT CHAPTER: "CHARGED FOR MORE"

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