Chapter 202 - Saga I - Raising the Sail
Episode 2 - A Pandora's Box of Mischief
by Brian Friedlander (jadeitesan@crystal-tokyo.com)
Disclaimer: Saban owns the Power Rangers and all related characters, zords, villains, and so such. Toei Animation, Noako
Takeuchi, Kodansha, and others own the Sailor Senshi. So, please, either of you, don't sue me. You probably wouldn't get
much anyway. :)
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Past events:
- The Space Rangers rescue Ami from the clutches of Dark Specter.
- The Rangers retrieve data disks from a fallen satellite for NASADA. (Satellite Search)
- Andros saves two misguided teenagers from Astronema's latest monster, Electrohog. (A Ranger Among Thieves)
- Cassie is pressured into a date when her diary is stolen. Andros introduces the Megatank, which enables them to save Cassie from one of Astronema's plots: stealing plutonium. (When Push Comes To Shove)
- A malfunction on the SimuDeck causes the Craterites to become real and storm the Earth looking for Power Rangers. (The Craterite Invasion)
- Cassie discovers a bee monster who not at all what he should be: A good guy instead of bad. (The Wasp With A Heart)
Now on with the story. . .
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5-4-3-2-1
Rangers in Space
And the Senshi, too!
Set controls to outer space now;
Flying higher than ever before;
Hyperushing past the moon;
Find the missing planets!
Rangers, in space!
Go Power Rangers, go Power Rangers, go Power Rangers, go, go, go, FLY!
Go Power Team, go Power Team, go Power Team, gooooooo, in SPACE!
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The Surf Spot. . .
The Rangers and Ami are gathered around a table, eating French Fries and drinking fruit smoothies.
"So, Ami," says Cassie, "What do you think our chances are of finding the other Sailor Senshi, or evening restoring your powers?"
"Well, as to finding the Senshi, that shouldn't be hard. I just have to attune the sensors to their biowavelengths. As for restoring our powers, I think that may be a problem."
"We'll just handle one problem at a time," says TJ.
Carlos finishes his smoothie up. "Well, maybe we should head on back to the Megaship and see if Alpha and DECA have found anything yet."
"Yeah," says Ashley. "It's been quiet today. No sign of Astronema."
"And I've managed to get caught up on my chapters and start initial repairs to the Turbo Zords. I still want to know what happened to the Rescue Zords though..."
Their communicators signal an incoming message. The Rangers and Ami walk to a nearby, empty corridor. Ashley makes sure to pay Adelle before leaving.
"What is it, Alpha?" asks Andros.
"Bad news, I'm afraid. Be report to the Megaship immediately."
"We'll be right up," replies TJ.
In six flashes of bright, rainbow-colored light and a white light, the teens disappear.
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Astro Megaship, Bridge. . .
The Rangers and Ami enter the bridge as Alpha finishes a few calculations.
"What is it, Alpha?" asks Ashley.
"If it's what I think it is, we may be in big trouble."
"Come on, Alpha. Tell us already," says Andros.
"It appears the Machine Empire is mining a meteor in the Korovian Sector, near the sun."
"The Diplorian asteroid! No!" exclaims Andros.
"What is it, Andros?" asks Ami.
"Those stupid machines don't know what they're doing. They're going to unleash the greatest threat to the universe, more dangerous than Dark Specter."
"What do you mean, man?" asks Carlos.
"Eight decades ago, the previous Rangers using these same powers we use sealed away the Diplorian Dragon, a fearsome beast which could destroy entire worlds with just a few blasts of its breathe. It almost did KO-35 in, until the Rangers, with the help of the Dinosaur-powered Rangers, stopped it. They sealed it inside several smaller asteroids and then fused the asteroids together with the power of the five Dinosaur power coins. And there was a special, but unknown, property of the asteroids which would keep the creature from breaking out."
"But if the Machine Empire mines it. . ." says TJ.
"Then the creature could break free and reign terror on the galaxy," finishes Andros.
"We can't and won't allow that to happen," says Cassie.
"DECA," says Ami, "Set course for the Karovian sector, hyperrush 9."
"Acknowledged," replies the intelligent computer.
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Diplorian Sector. . .
King Mondo enters the cave that his Cogs had dug into the asteriod they'd found in the Korovian Sector. Machina, his wife, and his son, Sprocket, follow him as they walk over to where Klank and Orbus stand, making sure the Cogs were doing things right.
"How does it go, Klank?" asks Mondo.
"Excellent, my lord," grovels Klank. "We have mined 25 percent of the Neo-Plutonium from the asteriod. Aside from a slight tremor, everthing is proceeding according to plan."
"Great, great. First the Power Rangers, then Dark Specter will fall to me, the great Mondo the Machine King!"
"Ahem," comes a voice. Mondo turns around to see Dark Specter's messenger, the same one who had contacted the Machine King to request that Mondo meet Specter for an evil conference. "Who will fall?" "Er," oilsweats Mondo, "The Power Rangers and more sectors than ever before!"
"That's what I thought," says the messenger. "Dark Specter requests an update on the Neo-Plutonium mining."
"Tell the lava lord that we've already mined a fourth of the asteroid and already reaching 30%," says Mondo.
"Fine," says the Messenger. He turns to leave, but pauses before exiting. "Oh, and Mondo, it would suit you to keep in mind that Specter could easily melt you and your family into scrap metal before you could blink an eye. He didn't have to rebuild you." The Messenger leaves.
"Curses. . ." mumbles Mondo.
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Outer edge of the Karovian Sector. . .
"I'm getting more reading from the asteriod," says Alpha.
"What?" asks TJ.
"The composite of the asteroid is Neo-Plutonium."
"With Neo-Plutonium, Dark Specter will be able to make his armies invincible," says DECA. "And not even the Astro Megazord will be able to defeat them."
"But," says Alpha, "scanners show that the composition of the Neo-Plutonium is such that it will be useless to Dark Specter until he can refine it and that will take two months."
"Warning," says DECA, "Ten Quadrofighters are approaching."
"Battlestations, everybody!" commands Andros. Andros takes the Conn. TJ takes Communications. Carlos takes Tactical. Ashley takes the Ops station. Cassie takes the Life Support station. Ami takes the Engineering station.
"Shields up," says Ashley.
"Megalasers ready," says Carlos.
The ten Quadrofighters split into two formations of five each. The first set keeps the Megaship's attention while the second set targets the Megaship's engines.
"Fire!" commands Andros.
The Megalasers swerve into position to shoot three of the Quadrofighters. The three Quadrofighters are destroyed.
"Fire two!
The Megalasers move into alignment with the remaining two Quadrofighters and fire. Their aim is true, and the Quadrofighters are destroyed.
"Andros!" yells Ashley. "Five Quadrofighters on our tail. Their attempting to disable our engines!"
The Megaship shakes as the Quadrofighters blast it.
"Shields down to 88 percent. Minimal damage to the port side engine," reports Ashley.
"The hyperrush engines are offline," says Ami. "Impulse engines at 92 percent."
"Let's see if we can maneuver into position," says Andros.
"Let me try something," says TJ.
"Ball's in your court, then," says Andros.
"Thanks," says TJ as he rushes out of the room. He jumps into his jumptube. A blue light shots out of the port forward side of the Megaship. TJ is morphed and on his Galaxy Glider.
He flies around the Megaship to where the Quadrofighters are shooting the engines.
"Alright, you robotic goons," says TJ, "You're going down hard!"
Two of the Quadrofighters turn toward him and prepare to fire.
TJ pulls out his Astro Blaster and splits it. "Astro Blaster, dual mode." He fires at the Quadrofighters and blows them up.
He then turns his attention to the last three Quadrofighters, which are still blasting at the engines.
"TJ," says Ami over the comlink, "If you don't hurry, we'll soon be without impulse drive and Mondo will release the Dragon."
"I'm right on it." TJ puts his blaster together.
"Astro Axe!" He holds out his right arm and pulls his weapon out of his pocketspace. "Astro Sniper," says TJ as he puts his blaster and special weapon together. "Fire!"
He uses his helmet computer, which displays the Quadrofighters on a grid with a distance meter and power guage adjusting themselve, and targets the Quadrofighters. He pulls the trigger and let's loose with a barrage of laser fire, blowing the Quadrofighters out of the sky.
"Whe-hah!" exclaims TJ as he flies back into Megaship.
"Good job, Teej," says Carlos.
"You were great," says Cassie.
"Nice work," replies Andros. "Ami, status of the drive systems?"
"Hyperrush is still offline, but impulse power is ready at 83 percent. Now, though, it will take us at least half an hour to get to our destination."
"Hmm...," says Andros. "Then let's hurry to the asteroid, before it hatches." _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Diplorian Asteroid. . .
"Klank, what is causing that shaking?" asks a furious Machine King.
"We don't know, milord," replies the henchbot. "According to the UAOE reports, this asteroid is stable."
"And I have enemies in the UAOE who would just love to see me destroyed," says Mondo.
The shaking continues to increase.
"It started getting worse the farther we mined into the asteroid," reports Orbus.
"Sire," reports a Cog, "The Asteroid is starting to crack open."
"I'm outta here!" Mondo scrambles as fast as he can to get out of the cave. "Klank, get the rest of the Neo-Plutonium and don't fail me."
"Yes, sire," vibrates Klank rejectedly.
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Outside. . .
The asteroid is already cracking open as Mondo makes the final steps into his space ship.
Bright light eminates from the crack as the space between two halves of the asteroid widen.
The Megaship finally approaches after 25 minutes of crawling at impulse speed.
"We're too late!" exclaims Andros as the Rangers and Ami view the Diplorian Dragon emerging from the center of the asteroid.
"Hard to believe something so beautiful can be so destructive," says Ashley.
A beeping is heard from the main control panel. Alpha and Ami move over to see what it is.
"Andros!" exclaims Ami in suprise. "I think we've found someone."
"What!?!" exclaims Andros.
"Who?" asks TJ.
"And where?" asks Cassie.
"If I'm reading the scanners right, I think it's. . . Minako! And she's. . . I can't believe this."
"What, Ami?" ask Carlos.
"She's in the Karovian sun."
"But how?" asks Ashley.
"Must be Senshi protection magic. Dark Specter must have thrown her into the sun here and the inherent potential of a Senshi that resides within Minako, even with the loss of her henshin, activated to protect her. She's alive, but she's also stuck there. Dark Specter must have known and did it for that reason."
"What do you propose to rescue her, Ami?" asks Andros.
"I'd like to take the Megashuttle with TJ and Cassie to go rescue her. Meanwhile, the Megaship can tackle the dragon."
"Even if I allowed it, Ami," says Andros, "The Megaship still doesn't have hyperrush capabilities and full power hasn't been restored. I'm not sure we can deal with the dragon without the Astro Megazord. And I don't know if the Megashuttle could stand the heat."
"Please, Andros," pleads Ami. "If the shuttle is a piece of the Megazord, I'd think it'd be able to take the heat. I don't ask for much, and every Senshi we find is another ally in our fight against evil."
"Even if they don't have powers," says Cassie.
"Besides, sensors show that the bubble protecting her is already starting to weaken," says Ami.
"Alright, Ami," says Andros. "Be careful. TJ, Cassie, I want you guys morphed the whole time. Ami, there should be a spare suit similiar to our morphed ones in your locker. Wear it with the standard helmet."
TJ and Cassie agree. Ami nods in acknowledgement.
"Let's go, people," commands Andros.
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Karovian Sector, 1st asteroid from the sun. . .
The Megaship opens and launches the shuttle toward the sun. After closing it's doors, the ship turns toward the Diplorian Dragon.
On the bridge, Andros, Ashley, and Carlos, each morphed, stand at their stations, ready for battle. Alpha stations himself at the main control panel.
"Ready?" asks Andros.
"Yeah," says Carlos.
"Ready," replies Ashley.
"Megalasers, fire!" commands Andros.
"Firing," reports Carlos.
Four beams of energy, in pairs of two, lance forth from the two main laser batteries. The hits connect, but don't appear to be causing any damage.
"No effect," reports Ashley. "It's heading towards us."
"I hope those guys hurry," mumbles Andros. "Full impulse, evasive maneuvers."
The dragon begins to move, too.
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Megashuttle. . .
TJ sits in the center seat, while Cassie is to his rear left in her usual sit and Ami occupies Carlos' position.
"Metaphasic shielding ready?" asks TJ.
"Ready," says Ami.
"Then let's go."
Suddenly, an alarm sounds.
"What is it, Cassie?" asks TJ.
"The dragon, it's headed right for us."
"Hold onto your seats and stomachs," warns TJ. "We're in for a bumpy ride."
Suddenly, the floor drops out from beneath them as TJ pulls a hairpin maneuver and power starts to drain away. Just as suddenly, the shuttle rights itself and lights come on at a dim minimum.
Ami and Cassie facefault as TJ sweatdrops.
"Oops, sorry," says TJ, "But I did warn you."
"Thanks," says Cassie woozily.
"Where's the dragon now?" asks Ami.
"Sensors went out. The shuttle wasn't really meant for maneuvers like that."
*CLANK!* A metallic sound is here, but no one pays attention to it.
"So we don't know where the Megaship is either?" asks Cassie.
"Well, we always have our own senses."
Cassie and Ami facefault again.
"Here we gooooooo!!" The sound of the engines can be heard, but the teens see they aren't moving.
"What's wrong!?!" TJ attempts to giggle the joysticks to get the shuttle moving. "We're at maximum speed."
"Er, TJ," says Cassie, "I think I know what our problem is.'
"What?" asks TJ.
"That." Cassie points toward a jagged edge visible on the upper windshield.
"The Diplorian Dragon has us," says Ami calmly.
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Astro Megaship. . .
"Andros!" yells Ashley.
"What?" replies Andros.
"The Diplorian Dragon...it's gone after the shuttle."
"Oh no," gasps Carlos.
"What's the status of the Mega Excelerator?" asks Andros.
"50%, Andros," replies Alpha.
"I don't like to waste them," says Andros, "But, DECA, load the torpedoes."
"Right away, Andros."
"We have torpedoes?" asks Ashley.
"Yeah," replies Andros, "But I only have so many, and the last place to have stock of them went out of business with a liquidation sell, and I managed to get these. So I have to be careful how I use them."
"Maybe we could build the torpedoes ourselves," says Carlos.
"No, the energy for them isn't replicable, and to get the energy would require too much risk."
"As much risk as going into the middle of the sun to retrieve a person who hypothetically shouldn't be able to survive there?" asks Alpha.
"Alright, everybody, let's handle the current situation, and after everybody is back, we'll discuss the feasibility of that."
"Torpedoes armed and ready," announces DECA.
"Full impulse ahead, then," says Andros.
The MegaShip turns toward the Dragon and the shuttle, and moves toward them.
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MegaShuttle...
"Structural integrity is falling," warns Cassie.
"Any ideas, Ami?" asks TJ.
"How about we give the creature a taste of our engines?"
"Good idea, Ami. Let's try it," says TJ as he flips the switches and activates the rockets.
A steady thrust of flames emit from the engines and rush down the dragon's throat, but it doesn't even flinche.
Suddenly, a shaking is felt and a scratching noise is heard. The lights in the cockpit start to flicker and the controls start to go out.
"What's happening?" asks Cassie.
"I think it's trying to eat us," says TJ.
Next, a different noise is heard.
"Look!" exclaims Ami. She points toward a distant object, which upon closer examination is revealed to be the Megaship.
"They're firing upon the dragon," announces Cassie. There is a sudden jerk and everybody falls out of their seats.
"Hey, look, we're free," says TJ.
Andros, morphed, appears on a side-mounted viewing screen. "TJ, prepare to connect for Astro Megazord power."
"Right, Andros." To the two ladies in the cockpit with him, he says, "Buckle your belts, lady. This might get a little jerky."
"Couldn't be worse than anything else, we've been through," says Cassie.
"Agreed," replies Ami to Cassie.
Ami's breathe is knocked out of her as she suddenly feels herself being pushed against her seat as the shuttle does a loop and hovers above the Megaship, which is already in Megazord mode.
The rear of the shuttle folds down as the top front of the shuttle moves up to reveal the Megazord's face. The head moves down to latch into place on top of the Megazord torso.
"TP, you think you can handle it up there?" asks Andros.
"Sure, Andros. I have piloted Megazords before, you know. And the name is TJ!"
"That might be true," replies Andros, "But this is your first time in space, you know."
"If you're worried about me damaging your precious ship, put those worries aside, I'll be careful."
"Uh huh," remarks Andros as he closes the channel.
He turns to Cassie. "Alright, who told him about the last fight of the Turbo and Rescue Megazords?"
"Not me," replies Cassie.
"Nor I," says Ami, grinning, "Considering I was on Eltar at the time."
"Yeah, right," says TJ, smiling under his helmet.
"Oh, my goodness!" exclaims Ami.
"What is it?" asks TJ.
"A Rainbow Crystal!" exclaims Ami.
"Where?" asks Cassie.
"Wait... wait... now I'm getting two locks on Rainbow Crystals. Darn, those signals are gone."
"Can we get on with it?" asks TJ.
"Yeah, let's go!" yells Ami.
The Megazord's thrusters activate and the zord rushes toward the Dragon. Both arm grasp around the Dragon's neck, trying to get a stranglehold on it.
The Dragon bolts back and forth.
"Hold on, guys," warns TJ.
"TJ," calls Ashley. "I've analyzed the meteor that was the prison for that creature.
"The Diplorian Dragon," comments Andros.
"Anyways, it was the Neo-Plutonium keeping it in. And now that the Machines have mined it all away, that solution won't work."
"So what do you have in mind?" asks the Blue Ranger.
"If you can, fly us by the sun and throw that creature into it."
"The Diplor...." starts the Red Ranger, but is stopped by a glance from Ashley.
"How come the original space rangers before you didn't do this, Andros?" asks TJ.
"One, we didn't have a megazord back then. Two, the ship they had back then, the legendary Delta Megaship, wasn't quite as sophisticated as the Astro Megaship. It wasn't until later that the Delta Mega got a warrior mode."
"While we're taking care of this beast," says Ami, "Can we attempt to rescue Mianko-chan along the way? Scanners show that she hasn't much longer."
"I'll program the trajectory," says Carlos, working at the station off to the side of the main control panel on the bridge.
"Hurry, Carlos," says TJ. "This thing's starting to go crazy on me."
"Almost done...., got it! Sending program to the Megazord cockpit right now."
"Receiving now. Program ready. Engaging thrusters NOW!"
The rear end of the MegaShuttle ignites and propels the Megazord towards the Karovian sun, Megazord carrying dragon with it.
"Releasing dragon NOW!" The Megazord releases its grip, yet the dragon remains attached to the Megazord.
"Andros! What's going on?" queries TJ.
"Damn! I forgot that part of the story. The dragon has magnetic feet."
"Andros!" yells Ashley. "We're losing energy."
"We're too close to the sun. The shields are what are draining our energy."
"Andros," says TJ over the comm unit, "We can't maneuver away. The dragon is keeping us here."
"If anybody's got any ideas, I'm open to them," announces Andros.
Suddenly, a second comm line opens. "...wer Ran... ld o..."
"What was that?" asks Carlos.
"I believe that was Minako talking to us. It sounded like she said to hold on," replies Ami.
"Look!" warns Cassie.
A bright light is building up in the sun. It takes on the shape of the sigil of Venus.
"CRESCENT MOON POWER! TRANSFORM!"
"What's she doing?" asks Ashley.
"I don't know," replies Ami. "She shouldn't be able to do anything."
"CRESCENT BEAM!"
The energy blasts out and knocks the dragon off of the Megazord.
"Astro Megazord Blaster!" commands TJ.
He aims the blaster at the dragon and fires away, sending the dragon into the firey pits of the sun, where it is destroyed.
"Hey, guys, how about coming to get me now?"
"We're on our way, Minako," says TJ. He shifts a lever and the Megazord morphs back into Megaship mode and heads off to
pick up Minako.
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Astro Megaship, Mess Hall. . .
"Ami-chan!"
"Minako-chan!"
The two girls run to greet each other as Andros comes back up his jump tube from bringing the blonde haired aboard his ship.
"Minako," asks TJ, "How did you do that attack?"
"From what we understand, Dark Specter destroyed your powers," says Ashley.
"He destroyed my *Senshi* powers, but I still had another set of powers at my disposal."
"Sailor V!" exclaims Artemis as he comes running in the mess hall and jumps up into Minako's waiting arms.
"I've missed you, old friend," comments the blonde.
"Ditto," replies the cat.
"Sailor Venus!" Luna and Diana enter the mess hall.
"Hi, Luna, Diana."
"And our little family has grown by one," comments Cassie, looking at Andros.
"So, Ami, did you ever figure out that Rainbow Crystal reading you got earlier?" asks TJ.
"Negative."
"This is a pretty nifty place here. Does it have a gym? Or at least where I can rest?" asks Minako.
"Sure does," replies Ami. "But why don't you join me down in the holding bay. I can feel you in while I work on my project. I still wish I knew what happened to the wreckage of the Rescue Megazord..."
"Hold it," says a dark and sinister voice.
"Dark Specter," mutters Andros. "What do you want?"
Dark Specter's ugly face appears on the Synthetron's control screen. "You may have Sailor V on your side, but beware. When the Neo-Plutonium is ready, it shall be the end of you all..." The link terminates.
"We're going to have to be more careful from now on," says Andros. *Especially since I now know we have a saboteur on
board after seeing that the hyperrush engines going offline was no accident.
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Astro Megaship, Bridge. . .
Alpha 6 had the night watch on the bridge. He was making adjustments on the main control board when something that hadn't been there a second ago was now there.
"Strange," comments Alpha. The object in question was a raised box. It had a slit in one, making it look like the disk drive of an old Apple Macintosh computer. Except this was high tech.
A note above the slit read, "Insert Input Cards here".
"Hmm," ponders Alpha. "DECA, what are Input Cards?"
"Unknown, Alpha," replies the female-aligned sentient computer of the Astro Megaship.
"Most curious..."
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Dark Fortress. . .
"Astronema," says a dark and sinister voice.
"Yes, my master," the blue-haired woman replied to her master, Dark Specter.
"I have discovered another threat to our plans of conquering the Earth and thus the galaxy."
"What is it?" asks Sailor Nemesis.
"Nothing major, yet it may be a threat."
"What could be something not major, yet a threat?" ponders Astronema.
"A being from the two dimensional world. He calls himself Nukus. He resides in Charterville, California, USA and he battles his own brand of superheroes, known as the Beetleborgs Metallix. If he is to beat them and get their powers, he may decide to get in our way next. And I will not have that."
"And what are the chances that he even knows about us?" asks Ecliptor.
"SILENCE! I want no chances taken. Either convert him to our purpose or get rid of him! And if you fail, consider yourselves dead." Dark Specter cuts the communications channel.
A few moments past for everybody's pondering before Astronema decides to inspirate them.
"Well, you heard him!" yells Astronema. "Let's get back to work!"
The End.... ::For Now::
Next Time: Another group of superheroes are brought into our little adventure as their arch nemesis recruits help from a different source. Find out next time.
Sailor Says:
Minako: I'm back. Everybody miss me?
Cassie: I guess.
Carlos: Minako? Minako who?
TJ: Wasn't she the one with auburn hair?
Ashley: She was the one with the big butt, right?
Ami: Wasn't she Sailor Mars?
Minako: What?!
Others: Joking!
Luna: *sigh* We're losing the educational value for sure.
Bloopers: Ami snorts into her smoothie; the flames on the Messenger go out; Ami and Minako run *past* each other on
their way to hug.