A/N: The Project Phoenix series has one more installment - this one. This one details the quest for the Legendary Ranger Keys, which are at present scattered to the wind after Flammia's defeat and Kim's resurrection. The Phoenix, with the aid of Rangers, Promethea employees and FBI agents must fight through the Armada to claim the keys and get them to Gosei and Tensou before the Megaforce Rangers can use them.
A/N 2: First chapter. Mainly formal introductions.
A/N 3: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me. Used to be Saban, then Disney, then Saban, now Hasbro owns them. Grace Sterling and Promethea are a product of Boom Studios.
Chapter 1: Graceful Union
July 1, 2013, late morning
1492 Valencia Drive
Reefside, CA
In the month since he had received his GED, Jayden's life had been a blur.
He, and his parents, also known as the Original Power Couple, had been in constant contact with Reefside Community College about getting Jayden signed up for classes in the fall. But they'd had enough contact that a lot of the heavy lifting was already done.
Tommy and Kim had recommended to their son that he go to an open house to meet with his new professors a couple of weeks before the college opened classes in September, and Jayden had readily agreed.
In addition, Jayden had made constant trips to Phaedos with the next generation of Ninjetti so he and Dulcea could train them fully on what was expected of them. As the prophecy had stated, once Flammia was defeated, the six new Ninjetti spirits had awoken. They had all journeyed to the Monolith and had received their powers in full.
Dulcea, though, had decided to graciously give Jayden and the kids time off this week because it was the week of the Fourth of July in the States, although the kids still practiced martial arts with their parents and uncles so they kept fresh even when not under Jayden and Dulcea's supervision.
As if that wasn't enough, in the past month Tommy had proposed to Kim, with Jayden present. Word had, of course, spread like wildfire and assuming nothing catastrophic happened, the two would tie the knot next spring.
Jayden was on his way to the kitchen to get some lunch when he heard his mother talking on the phone with someone. He didn't think anything of it, until a moment later he entered the kitchen, right as his mother shouted, "JAY-oh there you are, kiddo. Phone's for you."
"Is it another scam call, like we've been getting?" Jayden said. Kim had learned very quickly her son hated spam calls more than anything in the world…except maybe evildoers.
"Doubt this is a spam call, kiddo," Kim said. "The caller alleges they are from Promethea. Ever heard of them?"
"Actually, I have. They do work on tech stuff, and they do a lot of the things we want to do as well. Justin tells me he speaks with them all the time. Let me talk to them."
Kim nodded and handed her son her cell phone.
"This is Jayden."
"Jayden Oliver, it's a pleasure and honor to speak with the man who slayed a dynasty and made a legacy of Rangers proud," a female voice greeted him. "My name is Grace Sterling, and I am from a tech company called Promethea. At one time I was a Power Ranger myself."
"I've heard of you, thanks in part to our NASADA friend Justin, but we're in Southern California and you're in San Francisco," Jayden said, "so even though I like the city and have heard of you, it's tough to get up there."
"I hear you," Grace said, "but I think my organization can help you better find what you seek. The Ranger Keys. May I come down to Reefside, bring a few friends and offer my help? Or would you like to meet me some place?"
Jayden cast a side glance at his mother, who could hear that whole conversation as Jayden had it on speakerphone. Kim gave him a thumbs up as if to say, yes she could come.
"Mom says yes to coming, but I'd kind of like to wait till after the holiday," Jayden said, "after all, Dulcea who I help train the younger Rangers with told me to take the week off."
"Sounds fine. Dulcea is a fine warrior and extremely intelligent so it's wise to do what she says," Grace said. "Next Monday?"
"That sounds fine. I prefer the evening unless you really have to get back up there. Dad should be free as it's summertime and Mom maybe too, but a lot of the other Rangers work."
"OK. I'll come down there and do supper with you guys and we can talk turkey. By the way, I know your uncle Jason is distrusting of the government but one of Zordon's friends is an agent at the FBI office here in San Francisco and they have a team of about ten agents ready to help also," Grace said.
"Let's…talk about that in a week. I want to get input from every angle. We are going to have to deal with the Armada to get the Keys and it's not going to be easy," Jayden said. "In the meantime, I probably better get something to eat."
"True. I need to head out also," Grace said. "May the Power protect you, young man."
Monday, July 8, 2013
1492 Valencia Drive
Reefside, CA
When word got out about the phone call and what was going to be happening, word had of course leaked out quickly.
Any Ranger that could make it had dropped everything they were doing and ventured down to the now expanded Oliver estate. This meeting was that important.
Jayden had never been so glad he and his parents had used their powers to expand the house. The old Oliver home would never have been able to handle this much company. Now, it was fine, although the Promethea employees and Grace, as well as the few San Francisco FBI agents who had come down, had opted for a hotel in Reefside.
Tommy and Jason had been ready for their arrival, too. There was plenty of food for everyone. Burgers, finins and everything else.
Jayden had noticed that Grace Sterling and Justin, while only friends and colleagues, seemed to have a really respectful relationship. He had caught them bouncing ideas off each other several times since the two had arrived at the house.
Jayden happened to be sitting next to Grace at dinner, and asked her, "I'm curious, ma'am. How long have you known Justin?"
"Over ten years," Grace said, smiling at Jayden. "He is a young man of upstanding character and is the smartest person I know. For someone whose life was made a living hell by Divatox, his self esteem has markedly improved over time."
"It helps that she came back and reinvented herself, but yes," Justin said. "It's never been easy for me. I've had to earn everything I got."
"He's the reason you found out about me, no?" Jayden asked Grace.
"You could say that, yes," Grace said, smiling slightly. "He hasn't stopped talking about you since you arrived on the scene about a year ago. He believed in you as much as anyone else. Your development itself has been astounding."
"I set the goal at bringing Mom home and saving the Earth, and I still can't believe I did all that," Jayden said. "And the incredible part is our work is not done."
"Let's eat dinner first and then we will talk about that, young man," Grace said.
45 minutes later…
Everyone who had come that night was sitting somewhere in the spacious Oliver living room. As with the dining room, there was plenty of room for everyone.
"Thank you for letting me come over, Tommy and Kim," Grace said. "As the head of Promethea and someone who has constant contact with Justin, it was no surprise to me that I and my team learned of the existence of the Legendary Ranger Keys. We knew the Ranger Keys would be unlocked when Flammia was defeated."
"Yeah and we're going to have to go through the Armada to get them. God help us if they ever get those Keys," Jason said. "I hear a lot about you guys but how does your tech match up with the Armada's?"
"Well, if we had knowledge of the Armada's technology, then maybe we'd find out," Justin said. Jason rolled his eyes as if to say, "wise ass."
"Quite true," Tommy said. "Between these guys, Justin, Cam and Billy, I'm sure we'd be just fine, thanks."
"Agreed," Grace said. "Jayden, have you thought about who you want to come on this mission with you?"
"Actually, I have. I've talked to Mom and Dad and they're aware of what I have in mind," Jayden said.
"Aunts, uncles, older Ninjas…you guys are on the sidelines for this one as far as being in actual action," Jayden said. "I may ask for your input frequently, in fact I probably will, but it's time for the new generation of Ninjetti to step up and I promised my Samurai teammates when we went to Triforia that I would let them on a mission with me. Mia will of course come with."
"Actually, now that I think about it, I think the Space team and Karone should be involved as well," Jayden then said. "I'm better at space travel now than I was before but the kids are not. We need experience on that level because there are keys on Mirinoi, KO-35, Aquitar and Onyx."
That last one gave Karone shivers. That was not a fun place.
"FBI guys, I need to talk to you," Jayden said. "Which one of you is the friend of Zordon, in particular?"
"I am," a man who looked middle aged said. "I am his friend Zander, and have actually worked in the San Francisco field office since the year after the Countdown. The people I have brought know me the best and are the people I trust most to help me."
"Your head honchos have given you guys clearance for this, right?"
"That is right," Zander said. "The head guys at the San Francisco field office and the Hoover building in DC have given us license to do as we see fit whenever you are ready."
"Trust me, if you guys give us the order to let you guys take care of business, we will. That's the first rule Zander told those of us that accepted this mission," another of the agents said.
"And you'll probably have to do that, a lot," Andros said. "Still, the knowledge and the extra muscle that FBI agents possess will definitely help us in times of need."
"When do we start?" Matthew Park asked.
"Get yourselves some good rest," Jayden said. "We start a week from Monday. And we're going to start in the place the current legacy started…Angel Grove."
"The Morphin, Zeo and Turbo keys, I am sure," Tommy said. "I actually have a gut hunch they actually may not be in the city proper."
"The desert near the Chamber of Command?" Mia asked.
"It wouldn't surprise me. That whole area is ripe with pure power. That's why the Command Center was there," Aisha said.
"Last thing," Andros said. "I think the Space mission should be saved for last. That is essentially a Ranger only thing. I don't think the FBI guys, not even Zander over here, should come with us to space."
"I agree, unfortunately. Rangers are far more cut out for space travel than FBI agents are, even me. I haven't been to space in years and years, even though I was born on Eltar. By the way, I got a nice message from Queen Rhiannon after she reclaimed her throne," Zander said. "We are good friends."
"That's nice," Karone said. "OK, so it's decided. Angel Grove, next Monday. Probably a task that will start very early in the morning."
"Yep, I'm a morning person just like my parents," Jayden said.
As everyone either retired to their guest rooms, went to a hotel or went back home, Jayden retired to his own room thinking, "Showtime. No rest for the weary. Here we go again."
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