Episode 1 part 2: Start the Show Part 2
As the rangers headed back to the tour bus to figure out what to do, a figure who had not been knocked out gripped the wall with all his might, scared for his very life. He took some deep breaths and started to hurry away. His name was Danny Goldman, and he was not ready to involve himself in ranger business. Back in college he and his friends had been the victim of the Marchen Army. He still had nightmares about his monstrous form, the Jekyll Hyde Marchen.
He had moved away from Red Brook as soon as he could, as had his friends who were made into the Dracula Marchen and the Frankenstein Marchen. And now he was in Salt Lake City, which had rangers apparently. He had been planning to take a cross country trip lately, he should take it.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a monster in front of him. Danny realized his time was up. He accepted his fate, which for some reason he believed was being frozen solid and skinned. A distinctly female voice emerged from the monster surprising him, "Hey, are you a native to this planet?"
Confused, Danny replied with a simple, "Yes." The monster eagerly jumped up and down like an excitable child. She spoke again, "So do you know those native actors?" Danny was confused and said, "You mean those rangers? They were the members of Star Fall. They are on a cross country tour." The monster nodded and said, "Then its decided."
Danny blinked and said, "What is decided?" The monster rolled its eyes, "You are gonna be my guide to this planet and take me to view the fight scene. Oh, how rude of me, I am Anjell Eetee." She extended her hand in a friendly way, shaking Danny's. Danny merely muttered, "There's no way out of this is there?" Anjell cheerfully chirped, "Nope!"
Danny then said, "Well, since your shanghaiing me, do you at least have a human form?" Anjell nodded and suddenly a hard light hologram engulfed her, revealing a young woman of Asian descent with a surprisingly goth like style of clothing. She said, "Let's go!" and dragged Danny along despite not knowing where she was supposed to go.
As the rangers arrived in the tour bus Gene saw how down they were and asked, "What happened?" Roxie was her usual blunt self, "We had our butts handed to us." Gene was shocked and looked to Trent for a more positive spin but even the normally chipper Trent was glum.
Just when the occupants of the bus wondered how the situation could get any worse the strange monolith of technology let out a ding. As they stared it opened with a woosh of steam and an android stepped out. It was obvious this male robot was alien in nature, as no human had produced such an advanced robot outside of a movie or science fiction story.
Gene spoke first, "Let me guess. After ten thousand years your finally free and you're going to conquer earth?" The android quirked an eyebrow in a very human way and said, "Why would I do that. And I am pretty sure that I was only in that thing for a year, at most."
Trent decided to approach the alien and asked, "So you aren't with Warwol Studios?" The being looked offended, "No! I'm one of their foes! I'm Arrow, the Red Sonion Ranger! My planet of Sonion was the site of their latest shoot." The newly dubbed Arrow stopped for a moment, "My planet met the same fate all planets do when that Studio films on it."
He shook his head and shouted, "Well my friends may be gone, but I won't let them go unpunished! I won't let this planet," He stopped and asked, "What's this planet called?" Joey fell into the same pattern of answering that he usually did when Trent got fired up," Earth." Arrow shouted once more, "Earf, from being destroyed!"
Roxie rolled her eyes and said, "It's Earth, E-A-R-T-H." Arrow shrugged and said, "Whatever. But I can help. Those morphers used to belong to me and my team. I can get them working correctly again." The rangers were suddenly hopeful, and Candace let out an excited, "Really?" Arrow nodded and said, "Just give me the night and I can make the morphers work completely."
The rangers handed over there morphers, knowing such enthusiasm for anything could not be faked. They went to sleep while the android that was so much like Trent worked to ensure they could stop the studio.
Aboard the studio ship a scream ripped through the overly gaudy halls. In the lab of Dr. Xenos the mad jellyfish like alien was practicing surgeries upon the Boxing Headliner. Upon the helpless monster were the cruel operations that ensured the once well respected scientist would never work anywhere save at Warwol Studios. Indeed, even the way he went about it was cruel, as what was one degree separation from a vivisection was also conducted without any anesthetic whatsoever.
To the screams of the Headliner Dr. Xenos merely said, "Suck it up." His cruel demeanor remained unchanged by time, and had in fact gotten worse, unchecked by laws and professional ethics. His tendrils extended once more, allowing him to work on the entire body without needing nurses or other people aiding him during surgery. This very fact had allowed his sadism to remain hidden for so long, and now allowed him to upgrade the body of the headliner.
He muttered to himself, "That windbag wants realism, I'll give him realism." He made sure the body of the Headliner could resist the force that the upgraded gloves could produce. His hatred of the director could not be measured, but his desire to work his twisted artistry superseded any qualms he might have had when creating the B-bolts to destroy planets. Eventually he announced, "It is done." The Boxing Headliner however had passed out from the pain, requiring rest. Xenos muttered, "I guess this fits that jerks timetable."
Star Fall woke up to see Arrow still hard at work on the morphers. He looked up and said, "Just putting the finishing touches on the morphers. Gotta make sure you can summon the zords while making sure the casting call feature remains intact." Trent asked a single question, "Casting call?" Arrow nodded and said, "It's what Warwol Studios uses to tell you there next attack is beginning and where."
Roxie decided to ask what the entire band was thinking, "Ok, so what's the deal with this Warwol Studio?" Arrow finished his work on the morphers, turning his soldering iron off and said, "They are the most popular movie studio in the galaxy. What Galaxy Warriors is to game shows Warwol studios is to movies. In more ways than one." Kabir raised an eyebrow and noted, "We don't know what Galaxy Warriors is." Arrow nodded, "Essentially it's an insanely popular show that had a dark and illegal secret, seeking the greatest warriors to pull out these ninja star things from the Ninja Nexus Prism and gain ultimate power over the universe. Galaxy Warriors was stopped at Ninnin 3, but Warwol Studios is still around."
Joey didn't doubt this all was true he did wonder something, "If these guys have been going around and destroying planets, shouldn't they have attracted the attention of law enforcement? I mean they film and distribute the evidence on a mass scale." Arrow shook his head and chuckled darkly, "No, the studio is clever. They choose worlds like Sonion and Earth because they are not known to the Intergalactic Federation. They always film on planets that no one would miss. And there camera man Glut Eifor is able to edit the films perfectly. No one ever suspects a thing."
Candace was heartbroken by this, "No one misses them?" Roxie rolled her eyes and said, "No one misses them because everyone who knows of the world gets slaughtered." Candace was not consoled by this, "That's still bad! We can't let these guy go unpunished!" Arrow smiled and said, "You two remind me of my old friends. The ones who used these morphers before you."
Roxie looked at him oddly, "What do you mean?" He pointed to Roxie, "Your brash, combative and never afraid to speak your mind, just like Deesee, the Yellow Sonion Ranger." He then pointed to Candace and said, "Your kind and just give out the kind of feeling that you are an old friend, the girl next door essentially, just like Gaga, the Pink Sonion Ranger." Candace muttered slightly under her breath a question she didn't exactly want to be answered, "Did Gaga also have a smokin hot bod and yet have zero luck in the love department?" Arrow heard her and answered, "Actually yes." Candace blushed a luminescent red at this and tried to hide her face in embarrassment.
The rangers took there morphers just as the voice they now knew to be that of Seipan Warwol alerted them to the next attack. Gene nodded and said, "Go." The rangers raced to the scene, leaving Arrow and Gene alone.
A sky scraper exploded as the B-bolts chanted. People ran in fear as Boxing Headliner threw another energy punch. The cruel robot spoke in his strangely mumbling voice, "Gotta hand it to the Doc. He did supercharge my punches. Those rangers won't stand a chance."
Glut, who was filming the destruction of Salt Lake City, saw the rangers coming and muttered under his breath, "At least there on cue." Boxing Headliner began to do the traditional shuffle and air punches, not firing any of the energy punches while saying, "You back for another beating rangers?"
Trent smirked and said, "I think you'll find we are much more prepared than last time!" He shouted, "It's morphin time!" The Star Fall members all morphed, but unlike last time full knowledge of how to use the ranger powers filled them. They began the roll call they know knew as if by heart.
Trent went first, "Blazing through the cosmos, Star Ranger Red!" Joey went next, "Streaming through the galaxy, Star Ranger Blue!" Roxie was next, "Thundering across the stars, Star Ranger Yellow!" Then Kabir took his turn, "Riding the solar winds, Star Ranger Green!" Candace was last, but certainly not least, "Shouting through the dark matter, Star Ranger Pink!" All five of them shouted together, "Reach For The Stars! Power Rangers Star Strikers!" Behind them the run off of morphin energy created an explosion.
From the Studio Ship on his director chair throne Seipan Warwol let out an approving laugh, "So the rangers know there lines. Good, let the filming commence!" On the ground Glut stated, "Ok, The Dark Rangers from Planet Earth, Take two. And action!" He didn't have a clapperboard, but that role was fulfilled by the bell on Boxing Headliners belt ringing out.
This time the Rangers summoned there weapons, each resembling there instruments. Trent used the Light my Fire Axe, a weapon that was similar to his electric guitar. He wreathed it in flame, increasing the power of his strikes against the B-bolts. Joey fought with the Ocean Eyed Blades, a pair of katanas that started out and could become a great sword much like his bass. Roxie was absolutely going to town on the studio's forces, hitting even the Boxing Headliner with her High Voltage Clubs. These drumstick like clubs struck hard and fast, delivering an electric shock with each hit. Kabir used the Easy Wind Broadsword, a broadsword that was much like his keyboard. He blew the B-bolts away with gusts of wind controlled by his weapon. Lastly was Candace, who used the Make Me Shout Lance. This lance was similar to a mic stand, even having sound energy to attack with in addition to the pointy end. Candace quickly discovered that it could also become a trident for extra damage.
All in all, the only reason why the fate of the B-bolts could not be called a slaughter was because they were mostly robotic in nature. Boxing Headliner charged forwards and Trent yelled out, "Time to end this guy!" He shifted his weapon into its instrument form and played a sick lick on it, calling out, "Great Ball of Fire!" A massive ball of fire was shot from the head of the guitar, destroying the headliner instantly. The rangers cheered at their victory.
On the studio ship Warwol yelled out, "Vouge! Grow our star!" Vouge bowed and said, "Yes sir." She teleported down with her signature tool, the Glow Up Brush. This item was a makeup brush enlarged to the size of a staff. The rangers paused there mini celebration at the sight of Vouge. On the various movie soundtracks for Warwol Studios feature films this scene was one accompanied by an ominous yet hauntingly beautiful leitmotif. In most movies this scene was deleted, for the Dinosaur Headliner was mostly undefeated. In those rare cases where the heroes of the doomed worlds managed to destroy the monster Vouge would give him a touch up, growing him to gigantic size. This sadly was what sealed those worlds fates, as Megazord's were for some reason not used on those worlds.
Vouge strutted towards the burning scrap the Boxing Headliner had left behind and said, "You need a touch up." From the Glow Up Brush shot a beam of energy that was a chillingly beautiful blue whose color was somewhere between that of a calm ocean and a high end lipstick. The Boxing Headliner was reborn and grew giant, shouting out a single phrase, "Round three Rangers!" His belt rang out two times as he started to attack the city.
Elsewhere Glut climbed up stairs, this being the twelve flight. He huffed and puffed, utterly exhausted. He wheezed to himself, "I love Vouge. I really, really love her. Like I want to date her. But I hate it when she does this. I have to get to a higher place to film it. And I am not an in shape being." He opened the door to the roof of the building he was in and collapsed to the floor. He then heard a ding and realized that right next to the stairs was a working elevator. In disbelief he snarked, "You gotta be kidding me." He then began to film the destruction of Salt Lake City, as was his job.
Trent and the other rangers were unphased. Trent yelled out, "So this guy wants an encore? Lets give him one!" All five band members shouted in unison, "Summon the Zords!" At there command the Zords of Sonion obeyed, coming forth from the depths of the Morphin Grid. While Sonion was a dead planet, the ruined wreckage of which resembled an asteroid field, the Zords has escaped. While the modification of the powers by Dr. Xenos meant some Zords were lost, the ones that composed the Megazord were untouched by the doctors experiments.
The first was the Jetar Zord, Trent's new zord. This red jet with the motifs of a guitar flew high in the sky and began a bombing run on the Boxing Headliner with its missiles. Through the streets sped the Bass Speeder Zord, a blue bass guitar themed race car that was piloted by Joey. Alongside it was Roxie in her Drum Truck Zord, a yellow dump truck with elements of musical drums. The Key Hauler Zord rounded out the zords on the ground, being a green freight truck zord with keyboard elements driven by Kabir. And flying through the air was the Microcopter Zord, a pink helicopter with microphone elements piloted by Candace.
The band mates yelled in unison, "Form the Megazord!" The Key Hauler Zord swerved and became divided equally into two legs with stood up. Atop the legs came the Dump Truck Zord, forming the torso while its bed and grill detached. The Bass Speeder Zord became the left arm, its bumper detaching while the bed of the Dump Truck Zord became a shield. The right arm of the Megazord was the Microcopter Zord, grabbing onto the Megazord's weapon, an axe formed of the bumper of the Bass Speeder Zord and the grill of the Dump Truck Zord.
Lastly was the Jetar Zord, which landed upon the Megazord to form the head. The five Rangers shouted in unison once more, "Star Striker Megazord!" The Megazord was truly impressive, looking much like both a rockstar and an astronaut.
Boxing Headliner however was unimpressed and launched a few energy punches, each missing as the Megazord advanced. The two traded blows, but it was soon clear that the Boxing Headliner was punching outside it's weight class. Trent called out, "Lets finish this!" The other responded by yelling, "Right!"
The axe of the Megazord charged with energy as the Star Striker Rangers yelled out the finisher name, "Sick Lick Strike!" The sound of an epic guitar solo echoed out as the Megazord struck a powered blow with the axe. The Boxing Headliner started to spark and stagger, letting out one word in pain, "Knockout." It fell over and exploded while the Star Strikers yelled out a victory catch phrase, "Roll the credits!"
In the Studio Ship Warwol and his workers watched in shock at the fight. All braced themselves for Warwol's inevitable tantrum. But Seipan Warwol surprised them all, stated, "This. Is. Great!" Jors quirked an eye and asked, "What?" Warwol dramatically stood up and said, "My movies have been lacking in real variety as of late. But now we finally has antagonists that will give us a new real movie plot! This is going to be our best film ever!"
On the earth itself Glut waited to be teleported up. About ten minutes after the Boxing Headliner was destroyed and the Zords returned to their resting place in the morphin grid he knew that once again he had been forgotten. He turned and walked to the elevator only to find that at some point during his time on the roof the elevator had been labeled as out of order. Glut muttered to himself, "You gotta be kidding me." He turned to the stairs, dreading the long walk back to ground level.
The concert had gone off without a hitch, leaving thousands of fans screaming for more even as Star Fall made there final bow. Backstage both Gene and Arrow met the newly formed team of Power Rangers, to figure out where they went from this point.
Gene was smiling and said, "Great show guys." Trent nodded and said, "Ok, lets talk ranger stuff." Arrow piped up, "Warwol studios won't rest until this planet is destroyed and there film is complete." Gene nodded, "Yeah, so we should stop them. But I expect you guys to keep to our tour schedule." Joey and Kabir rolled their eyes at this but knew that it would be for the best. Candace raised a question however, "How do we explain Arrow?"
Trent hit upon an idea, "He could be our roadie!" Everyone else turned to him with a questioning look in there eyes and he explained, "We've been needing one for a while, and we would just need to give him room and board. It's perfect!" Joey, ever the devils advocate and the one who contradicted Trent when necessary, stated the very simple problem with that, "Arrow isn't human Trent. How do we explain that a robot is working for us?"
Arrow provided the answer, "I can actually look human." To demonstrate he suddenly disappeared in a flash, leaving a man in his place. The man spoke with Arrows voice, "This hard light hologram can allow me to be indistinguishable from pretty much any species."
Trent clapped his hands together and said, "Excellent! I think this is going to be the best tour ever!" Roxie matched Trent's enthusiasm and said, "Yeah, I'll be able to fight to my heart's content against the Studio without being punished!" She let out a gung ho cry and pumped her fist, inadvertently letting her drum sticks go which flew off and broke something in the distance. Roxie just let out a sheepish chuckle at that.
Despite the great burden the band now possessed they were eager to continue. All knew that Trent's prediction was probably going to come true. This would be there best tour ever.
author notes
thanks to Krockman18 for letting me write episodes of his stuff and for beta reading.
Danny Goldman and the Jekyll Hyde Marchen will technically debut in wonder force. Eventually. I wasn't going to wait until I debut them to start writing this. Again, everything is explained in Krockman18's series overviews, so go check him out.
The freezing alive and skinning thing Danny thought is based on Zalgo's MO. I based the inhabitants of Holostar off of him in appearance, given they share a sea angel theme.
The human form of Anjell is based on the E-girl trend, as that is her other motif. She is definitely a genki girl.
The spelling of Earth as Earf by Arrow at first is a reference to carranger, as is the recent addition of steam coming from the Marchen beasts mouth after they eat the cookie.
Galaxy warriors being stopped at Ninnin 3 is a reference to ninja steels source material being called Ninninger and it being the third sentai with a ninja theme.
Roxie is voiced by Morgan Berry. And the MOTW of the next star strikers episode, Pigeon Headliner, is voiced by Tom Lehrer. This is for his song "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park."
The ominous yet hauntingly beautiful leitmotif is the one that plays when Vouge grows the monsters. There's no exact one, so you can make your own judgement on what it is.
How Dinosaur Headliner can be grown and then reappear shrunken is a similar case to Goldar and Scorpina from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. IE we never get an answer.
And lastly to the guest reviewer on wonder force, the sixth ranger will be silver, while the seventh is green. If you have questions like that, go check out Krockman18's stuff, he has all the answers. The various weapons have names based on music, but I think this note is long enough. Go check out Krockman18's stuff for all the answers.
Edit: some voice actors i forgot to mention. General Crusher is voiced by Dwight Schulz doing his Dr. Animo voice, and Dr. Xenos is voiced by Anthony Hopkins, so think either Hanibal Lecter from the original films or Dr. Jones from Westworld.
Ok, next will be the debut of Pantheon Quest. Then chapter 4 of wonder force, and then star striker, and then chapter 2 of pantheon quest. Such will be the update schedule, or at least the close approximation of one, that I can make. At least until Krockman18's fourth series comes around with enough info to make a fic of it.
