CHAPTER 5 — A Protector's Moral

Nobody knew where king Hanoi had gone, but everybody knew who he had once been.

Former king of the Principality of Vaxia, Atmak Hanoi was an unparalleled strategist and a much kinder man when compared to former rulers. A specialist in defensive warfare during his princely years, his advanced fortifications had successfully repelled thirteen campaigns from the warring factions of Spinaria. The stability he provided allowed Vaxia to develop a prosperous economy that was primarily based around its quality textiles. As such, planetary relationships with its distant neighbor Xybria were at an all-time high.

Vaxia's people, however, kept bringing up the King's Curse. It had first started as hate-filled rumors, spread amongst the lowest caste to justify the cruelty of past dynasties, but time had ensured the King's Curse had been seared into the collective subconscious as an inevitability; a maddening blight that befell each and every man or woman that sat upon the throne after coronation.

In the peoples' eyes, Hanoi's altruism would soon plunge into the lingering darkness.

On his one hundred and forty-fourth birthday, king Hanoi addressed Vaxia from the Obsidian Square Garden and declared the launch of an assault campaign on their long-sworn enemies, the Spinarians. Through powerful alliances from the furthest corners of the universe, he had managed to amass war engines and skilled mercenaries, including Dracondian Cain, the relentless fugitive from the eastern fringes. In the short span of three months, he had crushed all opposition. But at that point, that victory was no longer enough to quench King Hanoi's thirst.

And so he turned his predatory sights on Xybria.

In this warring era that carries out to the present day, he is known as Vaxia's Traitor King, a man who has long abandoned his planet for the head seat of the evil Syndicate.

Twin gates ground open to yawning shadow. Silencers spilled inside the dim chamber, providing a ringed escort to a mutated alien creature.

'You have arrived,' King Hanoi's gravely voice echoed from the center of the room. As if personally willing it, his visage took form in the gloom. Sat upon a throne of dark glass, the king regarded his visitor with a penetrative gaze.

'I have been expecting you,' he said.

'Finally,' the alien croaked, its voice garbled, 'you have decided to negotiate.'

King Hanoi snorted. 'I do not negotiate with mongrels. You are here because your rebellious PL-48 kindred has been causing me trouble.'

'We are fighting for what's rightfully ours,' the creature snapped.

King Hanoi regarded the alien with a hard glare. It struggled to even speak. He indulged his visitor. 'And what would that be?'

'You're mocking me!' the alien roared. The Silencers surrounding it instantly directed their pincer blades at its hideous form.

'Choose your next words carefully, lest your venture was for naught,' king Hanoi advised.

The alien clenched its fists, regaining its volatile composure. 'Ten years ago,' it growled, 'you came and took everything! We were farmers, not warriors. We had nothing and you took advantage of that weakness!'

'You are highly mistaken,' the Traitor King countered, his voice level. 'I took over your primitive planet and made it stronger.' He clenched his armored fist to accentuate the last word. The metal protested under the applied pressure.

'Lies! All lies! You took our freedom! But I,' the alien paused to draw breath, 'I know your secret, Traitor King.' King Hanoi's glare sharpened, his grip on the throne's armrest tightening. The mutated alien went on. 'The rebels fight because freedom means everything to us, unlike you, king Hanoi. You're nothing but a pawn of—'

'Enough!' king Hanoi roared and the entire room quaked as he rose from the throne. His crimson armor seething with red, cosmic energy, Hanoi summoned the Sword of Storms, a hulking mass of steel whose broad tip was shaped like a harpoon. Despite its weight, the king appeared to wield the blade with ease. He pointed it at the visitor.

'I've had enough of your theatrics.' His voice had turned gravely. 'Come closer. Let me inspect your form.'

Hesitantly, the alien complied, approaching king Hanoi with heavy steps.

What the king witnessed was enough to make him recoil in disgust.

'Your Mistress of Pain did this to me,' the creature slurred. 'She laughed when I willfully offered myself to her. Conceited, she thought I was. But I survived, and my heart is still true and in the right place. I'll use this form — this new power — to strike a deal with you, king Hanoi.'

King Hanoi contemplated the idea. His lips peeled back to reveal teeth. Whether in a grin or grimace, the absence of light made it hard to discern.

Finally, he said: 'You have my attention.'

|| Aquila Hyperion Galaxy, Planet Xybria

Gahdeni Park was a refreshing spot of green amidst Illumise's towering skyscrapers. A commission from the newly appointed mayor and brilliant bachelor Kubu Dirira, Gahdeni Park was meant as a sign of appreciation for the city, as well as a token of gratitude toward his faithful voters from rural Xybria. Every day families would flock to the park and enjoy their evening in the greenery, its calming nature a testament to the Power Rangers' effort to uphold planetary peace.

Pyre stretched on one of the benches. She was gazing at a group of children that had formed a loose ring to play in. Among them, a young girl was pressing her index fingers on her temples. A boy opposite of her was giggling to himself. Pyre pointed at the girl.

'What's that one doing, Mwana?' she asked.

'Trying to read minds, I think,' said a boy who sat next to Pyre. It was the kid she had rescued at Guta village, a young boy at the cusp of pubescence.

'And that one?' Pyre's finger hovered to the right, towards a boy under a tree-shade. Seemingly oblivious to the laughter around him, the boy's eyes were closed. To Pyre, he appeared to be meditating.

Mwana chuckled. 'That's easy. He's playing seer.'

'How about those two over there?' Pyre said, now gesturing at twins. One was tossing a rock in the air while the other tried to grasp it with an outstretched, open palm.

'Telekinetics, for sure. They don't seem to be doing a good job, though.'

Pyre was smiling to herself. She turned to face her friend. 'How come?'

'None of their gems are glowing.' Mwana's hand instinctively hovered over the gem embossed on his forehead. 'They're too young, like me.'

'It doesn't stop them from trying, that's for sure. Why don't you join them, buddy?'

Mwana pouted. 'I find it silly. It won't help me get my powers any sooner.'

'Maybe you're a rarer kind,' she winked with playful mischievousness. 'A high-end possessor, perhaps…'

Mwana's eyes opened wide at the prospect. 'Really?' he asked enthusiastically.

'You won't know if you don't try.' Pyre nodded at the children running around, playing and laughing. 'Go on. 'Make some new friends, yeah?' she grinned.

'Okay!' Mwana beamed and set off.

Almost instantaneously he had blended with a nearby group of children, who had welcomed him with open arms. Pyre leaned forward, rested her head on her knuckles and watched with a fixed smile. Funny how I can't even feel my own gem, she mused. I'm not young like them, so why have I not blossomed? She tussled her mane, sinking into deeper thought. The smile gradually faded from her face. I wonder what's taking so long? Am I too weak-willed? No way. I am Xybrian and a Power Ranger. I gotta catch up with the others, somehow. I just gotta...

'I knew you'd be here,' said a voice from behind her.

Pyre gasped, jolting up and away from the bench. 'Geez, Star, you scared me!' she breathed.

Star giggled nonchalantly. 'Did I?'

'How long have you been standing there?' Pyre stammered, the question coated in awkward hesitation.

'Since…' Star thought about it and then flashed a bright grin. 'Forever. Don't worry about it. If you're concerned about me hearing your monologue or not, trust me, there's no reason for that.' She tapped her forehead, a finely filed, painted nail pointing to her pink gem. 'There's no off switch.'

To Pyre, Star had been a very strange person initially. Having a conversation with a telepath could be made without uttering a single word. Star, however, had long embraced her nature, turning her ability into well-meaning humor. Her statement was one such instance. It had gotten through to Pyre. She found herself chuckling. Star shared in her laughter, which helped alleviate the tension.

'Are you all alone?' Star ventured. 'Want some company?'

Pyre nodded for Star to take a seat. She did and for the first couple of minutes they watched the children play, drinking in their carefree enthusiasm in serene silence.

'You love coming here, don't you?' Star asked. 'Looking after them in your own, unique way?'

Pyre's grin widened. 'They give me hope,' she replied. The children's laughter became the backdrop of their conversation. 'The courage to keep going, too. I'd go crazy if I had to be a Power Ranger all day.'

'Because of this?' Star gestured to Pyre's gem, an amber piece of prismatic stone planted squarely on her forehead. 'You're worried about it.' The manner in which Star framed the sentence did not make it sound like a question.

'Yeah, about that…' Pyre shied away from the topic. Her hand hovered over her gem, hiding it under her palm. 'I don't need to think about it,' she lied through her teeth. 'I have been fine all this time without it, anyway. It might as well not be there.'

Star tilted her head, her soft features elevated by her smile. 'Did you consider my therapy offer?'

Pyre scoffed. 'Reliving my worst memories for a shot at awakening power? Sorry, Star, but it's a "no" from me.'

Star shook her head. 'It's okay. You know I'll never force you into doing it. I know it can be tough. It's okay to admit you're afraid.'

Sensing the awkwardness creeping back into their conversation, Pyre made to stand up. She inhaled, letting the cool, Gahdeni Park air into her lungs, then released it all back out in a long, refreshing exhale.

'Man, there's no point in hiding things from you, girl.' Pyre rounded on her fellow ranger. 'Especially someone who's like an older sister to me.'

To that, Star did not need words to express her happiness. A big, bright smile was enough.

'Let's walk home,' Pyre suggested, nodding at the park exit.

A toy Mover darted towards them.

Pyre caught it one-handed, turned it over and sent it flying back to the kids, who in turn cheered their gratitude. Pyre waved them goodbye and they did the same, Mwana at the front of their gathering. He had the biggest grin carved on his round face.

'You know, it just occurred to me,' Star began, 'that you don't need to be so concerned about Xybrian powers when you have these.' She pressed on Pyre's bicep, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Pyre's cheeks turned bright red. 'Star! Quit it!' she gushed. Despite her embarrassment, she could not help but chuckle at her friend's teasing.

'I'm sure the boys are jealous of you. I know I am, because who wouldn't want these babies?' she cooed, giving Pyre's arm another press.

'If you put it like that,' Pyre countered with a flex, the toned muscle instantly breaking Star's grip. Pyre let out a snort-guffaw at her surprised gasp.

'See? You got your own kind of strength. Did you know,' Star added, 'that Ace once told me he had high hopes for you because he sensed that strength in you?'

Pyre's brows lifted. 'Really? He did?' Star nodded. Pyre huffed, as if she were relieved to hear it. 'Well, you and the boss seem pretty close, so I'll trust you on that one,' she said.

Star was quick to respond. 'We're not that close.'

Pyre saw the chance to tease Star back — some lighthearted revenge for before –- but opted to change the topic instead. 'So how's work on Brute's secret project? Did he share anything with you?'

Star thumbed her chin. 'Last time I asked, he said the work is half done. Tensou 5.0 said the same for his calibrations.'

'That's so lame,' Pyre pouted. 'Even when he's only sharing it with you guys, he's still this secretive about it?'

'Hey,' Star said, suddenly focused on something else entirely. 'Do you smell that?'

'Mh? No,' Pyre replied nonchalantly, too absorbed in her speculations. 'I bet once this new project is done, we'll become powerhouses. Man, we're gonna kick so much Syndicate butt. Don't you think so, Star?'

She turned to face Star, but she was nowhere to be found.

'Star? Star?!' Pyre echoed, louder on the second try.

She looked leftward, then to the right. Craning her head downward shortly after, Pyre watched in stunned horror as Star lay collapsed to the ground, curled up and quaking uncontrollably. She clawed at her hair, her fingers sinking in a sea of coral-pink strands. Pyre could make out the outline of her forehead gem, radiating with vigorous brilliance.

'Star! What's happening?' she stammered and knelt by Star's side, struggling to come up with any manner of consolation.

Star struggled to form words. After great effort, she managed: 'Too much noise. Too many thoughts. Can't contain..!' She stopped, no longer able to hold back an agony-riddled cry.

Baffled and uncertain as to how she should proceed, Pyre's gaze wavered from her friend's suffering to drink in her surroundings. All around her, Xybrians were suffering from sudden panic attacks, collapsing to the pavement only seconds afterwards. The gem embossed on each and every person in the avenue, Pyre noticed, was glowing with an astoundingly bright light.

'What's happening to everyone,' she wondered aloud, 'and why is it not happening to me? No,' she reconsidered. 'I mustn't think of that now. What matters is taking Star to safety.'

Pursing her lips, the Yellow Supersonic Ranger reached for her Sonic Morpher. 'Tensou. Launch the Supersonic Carrier Zord, autopilot mode. Track my location. Deploy!'

The Zord had reached her in minutes. Gently, carefully, Pyre took Star, jumped into the vehicle and drove back to the Volcanic Base.