DISCLAIMER: Rangers/Saban, JLA, Titans/DC. Special thanks, and coauthor credit to Cinders for allowing me to use her storyline for the 'Once And Great Power.' Here goes...
ALTERNATE POWER PATHWAYS: INTO THE BREACH by: C.A. TURNER
Through his training with premier Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Billy Cranston had become pretty adept with his new power, the emerald ring that he now wore on his right hand finger. He could create intricate items, cause illusions, increase his own strength, and create dimensional doorways, the last one with Hal's help. It was on this latest training session that both Green Lanterns had picked up some errant, but urgent transmissions from another dimension, where Zordon had been captured by Dark Spectre, and was about to be drained of his power.
Zhane and Aisha, the Silver & Purple Lightstar Rangers, had come up to the Satellite for a quick training session, when they too saw the messages. Zhane, in particular, was shaken up. "Evil? Me? NO WAY!"
In any case, it sounds like they need our help. Contact the others, Zhane, we'll contact our guys, and go
from there." Billy shouted. ***
*** *** *** ***
Seconds later, both teams had met at the Watchtower, which was holding the Lightstar Rangers Megaship. "Will it hold all of us in getting there?" Isis asked.
Andros spoke with confidence. "You bet. Once there, we should hook up with our counterparts, and make sure nothing happens to them.
Batman soberly added "There may not be conterparts for Superman, or some of the others. We'll have to explain ourselves."
In minutes, The Megaship was well underway, coming upon a wormhole of green, created by 3 GLs,
and Zordon. As they entered, Zordon spoke "Good luck, and May the Power protect you all.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Ashley was going to check on Andros, when she saw... "BATTLE STATIONS! There's another Megaship out there!"
"We know. They're contacting us. They want to know who sent them a transmission." TJ frowned.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
"Thanks for your help, we really need it, considering how much trouble Zhane is now." Andros soberly added.
"He still has his powers?" Tanya asked
"And knowledge of who we are, along with Astronema. That makes hime twice as dangerous! Andros paused.
" Then we better start looking now. I'll look for Adam." Adam spoke up.
"I'll go with you." Nightwing added.
Chapter One: Adam
Private Location: LA California
"Cut!" The director stood from his seat, beside the camera. The group of stuntmen and actors, turned to face him. At this rate, they thought, the sequence was never going to get finished. The director couldn't make up his mind how he wanted the shot to go. They'd do it the wa y he wanted, then he'd stop it, and tell them something different.
Adam Park, rookie stuntman, hadn't thought that doing stunt work professionally, would be this hard. The stunt shows he'd helped put on in Angel Grove, were fun. And he looked forward to staging them. But now, he dreaded coming to work anymore. There was so much he missed.
His friends had all been scattered across the globe. He talked to Rocky, Justin and Jason once a week, but it never seemed like he had the time to visit them anymore.
"Park! Are you listening?"
"Sorry, sir." -Not half af sorry as I'd like to make you, moron!- he thought to himself.
"Now...Park, you'll bring the motorcycle up this ramp. The wall, there, will be burning. You need to hit it about dead center."
-No kidding, Sherlock?-"Yes, sir."
"You, Davidson, you'll be on the other side. You're wearing the fire gear. We'll start the fire on your arms, then it will travel and spread over your body. You'll have about ten seconds to get away from the wall, as the motorcycle comes through it. "These gentlemen will be there to put the flames..."
"Why put them out. They are so much more fun to start!" Adam spun at the sound of the voice. As he turned, a blast of light came toward him.
Putting all of the skills he'd learned, over the years, to work; Adam spun to the side, back flipping over a metal table beside him. Quickly, he grabbed the edge, pulling it down in front of him.
The blast hit on the opposite side. He could feel the heat of it around him, sucking the air from his lungs.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!?" An earsplitting scream filled the air around him. Being cautious, he
peered carefully around the table's edge, the metal, hot to the touch.
Another area of the
location
Adam Park, the Black Zeo Ranger, & Nightwing, had just la nded there to see all that was happening. "Hope we're not too late!" Adam frowned.
"Only one way to find out. Let's go!" Nightwing
yelled, and he and Adam raced towards the scene.
*** *** ***
Davidson lay in a heap of flames. Pulling his eyes from the man who'd been his friend for the last three months, he noticed a few more bodies laying around, they seemed unharmed. Everyone else was gone. He was alone. He slowly, gazed up at the building above the area. He couldn't believe his eyes. To make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, he gazed up one more time, just in time to see the Silver Lightstar Ranger leap three stories to the ground, and then start walking toward him.
"I was strolling to the Park, one day...Come out, come out, wherever you are!" He sang as he approached Adam's hiding place.
"Yo, Einstein! Heads up!" Arcus turned towards the voice, and saw a razorwing sa iling towards him. Hitting it's mark, the item mada a severe gash in his arm. "YIIIIIIIIIIIII! DAMN IT!"
Taking advantage of Nightwing & Arcus' fight, Adam raced
towards his other self. "Hi. Have I got a lot to tell you."
*** *** ***
Ushering his counterpart to a teleport location to the Megaship, Adam quickly replaced his other self, he quickly demorphed,took a deep breath, and stood from behind the table, facing the Ranger, and began settling himself into a fighting stance. "What the hell do you want, turkey?"
The Silver Ranger stopped and crossed his arms. -When did this Ranger engage in trash talk? Something's up.- Arcus thought to himself. There was a long, unsettling stretch of silence, then laughter filled the air. "So, that's what poor old Andros, that zebra headed freak, was talking about. They're looking for the former Rangers. "Only thing is...you're going to be so former, you won't be any hel p to anyone." Adam was trying to protect himself and comprehend what the Silver Ranger was talking about. He watched as the Silver Ranger uncrossed his arms, and brought his hand up before his helmet.
Adam, however,was ready, and as he watched as a ball of light began to grow within his hand, morphed back. "ZEO RANGER 4, BLACK!"
"You know, if you stood still, this would...WAIT A MINUTE!When did you get your powers back?" The Silver Ranger exclaimed in shock. Before he could toss the ball in Adam's direction, the Silver Ranger was hit by a razorwing, while being thrown forward.The ball of light disappearing in a puff of smoke, while smoke poured from the blast marks in the back of the Silver Ranger's uniform. A flying karate kick from Nightwing shut Arcus up for the time being.
"Now Andros!" Came the voice of the Black Ranger, the Yellow Ranger at his side, blasters drawn.
As the Silver Ranger found his footing, dr awing his blaster, he turned to face the Rangers, just in time to see them disappear as well. "Astronema is going to be pissed...I like that in a woman." Holstering his blaster, he too, disappeared from a sceine right out of the movies.
Finally, the director came out of hiding, his cameraman behind him. "I hope you got all of that on tape."
The cameraman turned a sickened,
disgusted gaze on the director. "Hell,no. You sick son of a bitch! People were being killed, and all you care
about was the shoot! I quit! You make me sick!" The cameraman walked away as he heard sirens in the
background.
***
Adam didn't know what was happening to him. It felt like it did when he used to teleport, but it was different somehow. As the ground became solid beneath his feet, he found he was still running, and a large, hard, metal wall stood in his way. Adam tried to stop, his shoes sliding over the metal floor. Then he and the wall met in the middle.
The Rangers quickly rushed to Adam's side, as he sat up, rubbing his head. Adam took the offered hand before him. "Do you think you guys could have teleported me while I was standing still?" He glanced up at the owner of the hand, and had to immediately stifle a laugh. "You...you must be Andros?"
Andros seemed confused. This man had only just arrived, and there had not been any names passed around. Andros helped Adam to his feet, "How did you know my name?" Andros asked, slipping his hand from Adam's.
"Well, the Silver Ranger mentioned you and by the description he gave, only you could be him." Andros accepted the explanation, and stood back, giving Adam a view of the bridge and the other Rangers waiting behind him.
Nightwing & Adam 2 teleported to the ship. "Are you all right?" The Black Zeo Ranger asked his counterpart.
"Actually, for someone who thinks he's a 'Twilight Zone' rerun, I'm doing ok. Alright, who's who here."
"Hi, I'm Cassie Chan. We didn't really have time to be properly introduced the last time." Cassie said, offering him her hand. Adam smiled and took the next offered hand.
"TJ Johnson. I agree with Cassie. We really didn't get a chance to be properly introduced."
"And I know you remember us." Adam took the offered hand, and pulled Carlos into a brotherly hug. Ashley leaned in to join the hug.
"It's been a long time guys. What's going on? I thought the Silver Ranger was one of you?"
"He was, until Astronema kidnapped him."
"Why were they after me?" Adam asked.
The Rangers looked at each other, then at TJ. "Our powers alone, are not enough to defeat Astronema. Especially now. We found an alternate power source. One we hope will be able to restore the Ranger powers you and all of the other Rang ers had."
Adam stood in stunned silence. The Morphin Grid. It wasn't a question in his mind. Somehow he knew. He looked beyond the Rangers, at the large containment field.
"The Morphin Grid." The words were barely a whisper on his lips.
"That's why Astronema and Zhane are after you, and will be after all of the former Rangers. We need your help locating the rest of the Rangers, before Astronema gets her hands on them." Andros replied.
"And we need to know where Billy is. We think he's the only one who knows how to access the Morphin Grid, and the Powers."
"Billy..." That was a name he hadn't heard in a long time. Though he thought of him every day. "I think he is still on Aquitar. At least I haven't seen or heard from him since he arrived there." Adam stated.
"Good. I know where it is. The Aquitians have helped me out a few times." Andros said.
"Just on e thing. Who are..." Adam asked.
"We're from another dimension. We got a transmission from here, and we came to help.There are counterparts of all the Rangers, and basically, I'm suprised to discover that we're comic book characters here." Nightwing added.
"I see what you mean. Talking to Nightwing is kinda throwing me."
"All right. Let's get together all of the former Rangers here on Earth, then we'll head to Aquitar." Stated TJ.
"I'll go to Stone Canyon for Rocky. He runs a dojo there." Adam said, looking at the gathered Rangers.
He then looked at his other self. "Is there...?"
"Yes, and ready to go into action." "Then we'll get Jason. He's a rookie at AGPD." Adam continued. The Rangers all agreed with the plan.
"Okay. We're on our way." Ashley said excitedly.
No one noticed, as Adam passed close to the Morphin Grid, a small te ndril reach out for him. But, unable to reach further, because of the containment field, it retreated, waiting for the time it could go home again.
Chapter Two: Rocky
DeSantos Dojo: Stone Canyon, California
Rocky made his way out of the office. His assistants taking over his classes for the day, so that he could get the book work done.
The Dojo was doing well. Nearly every session was booked solid, and there was hardly ever a day when there wasn't enough to do. Walking into the file room, he switched on the light and closed the door.
"Miss me?" Rocky, shocked, spun around at the voice in the room with him, the files he carried, falling and scattering across the floor.
"Oh, man Rocky, I'm sorry."
"What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you again, too." Adam responded, as he helped gather up the scattered files.
"You know I didn't mean it that way." Rocky took Adam's offered hand, pulled him to him, and hugged him. "It's been a long time. How are things going in the 'stunt' business?" Rocky asked.
He watched as the happiness of seeing each other again, slowly melted from Adam's face, to be replaced by worry. Rocky took the stack of files from Adam. "The Rangers need our help."
"Sure, what do they need?"
"Us."
"What?"
"They don't have enough strength to defeat Astronema alone, and she's taken the Silver Ranger, and has made him evil. The Rangers have found the Morphin Grid. They're trying to get all of us former Rangers together, then we're heading to Aquitar for Billy. He's the only one with the knowledge of how to access the Grid for the Powers. And, here's something truly weird, we've got some otherdimensional help. Our counterparts, who work with the Justice League, and the Titans.
" ;But, even with their help, we've got to be quick. Astronema knows what they're doing, and she's doing all she can to stop..."
Adam's words died on his lips, as he felt the building rumble, and heard screams coming from the other side of the door.
Acting quickly, Rocky pulled open the door. Young students were running everywhere. Some were huddled together in corners, the whole back of the Dojo wall had been blown in.
"Adam, help me get the kids out of here." Quickly they gathered up all of the kids that they could find, and sent them, quickly, out the front door.
Before they could get out of the doors themselves, a Blue Zeo Ranger began helping more kids to safety, while the Flash & a Black Zeo Ranger began fighting Quantrons and a Silver Ranger.
The Flash gave a high speed kick, sending the Silver Ranger's body sliding down it's glassy length, to curl up on the floor.
Adam looked around. There was a pile of ru bble where the Silver Ranger sat, before encountering the Scarlet Speedster.
"My, it's a little Rocky in here. Maybe I should put in a call to the BBB?" Arcus groaned from his spot.
"And you guys said that some of my stuff was bad?" Rocky turned just enough to see the Silver Ranger start to rise up and move toward them, the sunlight filtering in from the missing wall, glinting off of the uniform, only to get another suckerpunch from ...
"THE FLASH?!? But you're just a comic book hero! You can't be real!" Arcus shouted.
"As real as it gets, punk." Flash snarled.
"Besides, didn't anyone ever tell you that Silver's not worth as much as it used to be?" Rocky added.
The Silver Ranger stopped, and Adam gazed at Rocky in surprise. "Hey, I like you. Maybe I won't kill you after all. I could use someone like you to keep me amused."
"Who says we're gonna let you leave? We may decide to make you into mincemeat." Blue Zeo snapped.
Rocky smiled.-That's MY voice. Black Zeo has to be Adam from that other place. Why is his color black, though?- he asked himself.
"Your pathetic little friends still can't sneak up on me this time." Arcus laughed a rather nervous laugh.
"Who needs to sneak up on you, especially when we're standing right in front of you, dummy." The Red and Pink Rangers stepped out of the shadows. "That was pretty good, but I can do you one better."
"At least you didn't let them get away this time." Astronema said, from behind them. Her staff pointed at their backs. Rocky and Adam between them. Rocky looked at Astronema, Adam standing next to him, ready to fight.
"I was hoping this was a bad nightmare. Now I'm sure of it. It's freaking 'Night of the Living Dead' in here." Anger flared in Astronema's eyes, as she looked ove r the group, at the laughing Silver Ranger.
When he noticed the look on her face, he stopped laughing. "What? I can't help it, he makes me laugh."
"Shut up! We'll see who's laughing, who's living, and who's dead." She said as she started to put a foot into Rocky's ribs. Instead, she found herself in a scarlet tornado, going higher and higher. At the very top, she screamed, "LET ME DOWN FROM HERE!"
Flash snickered "I aim to please. GOING DOWN!" and he just stopped, and the tornado stopped, and Astronema wound up hitting the ground at high speed. WHAM!
Pink Lightstar observed "That's gotta hurt."
"Speaking of dead...I guess I need to find a taller building to throw you off of the next time, huh Andros?"
"Zhane, Karone! You have to fight them. It doesn't have to be this way. It can end here, and now, without another life lost, or any more JLAers kicking your asses." ;
"Ummm...No! And by the way, the name's Arcus." The Silver Ranger moved forward, going for their blasters, only to get several superfast slaps & punches from the Flash. "WHAT THE HELL DID I EVER DO TO YOU?!?"
"Have we made ourselves clear on this?" Flash frowned. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see both Adams and the Pink Ranger fighting off as many of the Quantrons that they could, with both Rockys getting in on the fight.
Suddenly, Rocky could feel the familiar tingling of teleportation. "Guess we'll have to finish this later." Rocky said, as he disappeared before Astronema's eyes, her staff, clattering to the ground at her feet. Soon, all that was left was Astronema, a few scattered Quantrons, and a very pissed off Silver Ranger.
"What just happened?" Astronema asked as she picked her staff up off the ground. She stormed to the Silver Ranger's side, pointing a finger at him.
"Well, duh! They got away...again. You've just got to stop making googly eyes at all of the men."
"What good are you? You can't even stop the Rangers when they're right in front of you!"
"Excuse me? I didn't see you do anything better!"
"You're worthless!"
"You wanna talk worthless, bitch?"
And on it went.
***
"I don't know if we'll make it, to find the rest of the former Rangers."
Cassie said.
"At least we're still alive." Ashley stated.
"Barely. It's just been luck that we've been able to escape Zhane and Astronema. I'm sure that it will only become more difficult as we go."
TJ finished.
Slowly, Rocky stood, slipping his shirt back on over his head. "One thing we've learned in our years as Rangers..."
"Was never to give up." Adam finished.
"There's too much to lose if we do." Said Andros.
"Well, I'm ready. Let's go get Jason." Rocky said, as he and Andros left the bridge.
The Grid could feel another presence nearby. Another host for it's powers. But, like the other,
they were beyond it's reach. Patience. It would wait. Soon. Soon that time would come.
***
Chapter Three: Jason AGPD Station: Angel Grove, California
Arcus entered the Angel Grove Police Dept.'s station. He was surprised at the size of it. Policemen, and women, were coming in and out of the building. Police cars were parked at the side, awaiting their drivers to come on duty. His pace slowed as he passed through the glass doors. Slowly he scanned the area, looking for the one person he'd come to see. Not recognizing any of them, he made his way to the front desk.
A young woman, dressed in a dark blue uniform, looked up from her paper work. "Can I he lp you?"
"Ah, yeah. I'm looking for Officer Scott. Is he on duty today?"
"He sure is, let me page him for you." She turned to a microphone at her left, and pushing a button, broadcast her voice throughout the station. "Will Officer Scott please report to the front desk? Officer Scott."
"Thank you." Arcus said, as he moved a few feet away, to wait for his next victim. It didn't seem like he'd been waiting very long, when he saw a large, muscularly built man, in a dark blue uniform, and short, dark hair, enter the lobby through a pair of doors, and head to the front desk. Arcus watched as the man leaned against the counter, listened to the woman, in matching attire, say something to him, then point in Arcus' direction. Calmly he watched the uniformed man approach. A shiny silver and gold badge on his left breast pocket. "I'm Officer Scott. You asked for me?" Jason extended his hand to Arcus, who was dress ed appropriately, in jeans and white tee-shirt, and a black leather jacket .
Arcus took the offered hand, shaking it slightly. "Yeah, that was me. Can we go somewhere, were we can't be disturbed?"
"Sure." Jason quickly went back to the desk, pointed to the front doors, got a nod form the woman, then returned to Arcus' side. "Is the parking lot all right? I could use some fresh air."
"That would be great." Arcus followed Jason out of the building, silently sizing up the big man in front of him.
They walked silently down the steps to the sidewalk, then stopped before a streamlined, black and white. "What can I do for you?" Jason asked, turning to face Arcus.
"Zhane." Arcus quickly gazed around them, checking to make sure the area was clear. Jason watched him, a little concerned about his actions.
"It's the Rangers. We need your help." Jason did a double take of th e area around them. "The Rangers?" Arcus carefully pulled back the cuff of his jacket, to expose the Morpher on his wrist.
"Where are they?" Jason could feel himself switching into leader mode. No wonder he'd decided to become a Police Officer after he left the team.
"In the alley. Over there." Arcus pointed to an alley, a few buildings away.
"Let's go then." Jason took off for the alley.
Unknown to Arcus, he caught the wicked grin on his face. Jason entered the empty alley, and stopped, looking around. "Guys?" He called, as he began to carefully walk deeper into the alley. Turning slightly, he saw Arcus enter the alley behind him. Then there were more steps behind him. Jason turned to see Arcus, surrounded by a half dozen Quantrons, and the evil woman everyone had come to know as, Astronema.
"You must be Arcus. I've got a little suprise for you." Jason gave a knowing grin, then c alled , as he took his fighting stance, "TYRRANOSAURUS!"
Jason wasn't surprised, when Zhane strode nonchalantly, to Astronema's side; wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her deeply. But both of them were when he changed into the Red Ranger. "What the hell is this?" Astronema screamed.
"Your Waterloo. You've been suckered!" Jason smiled.
"Great Scott! You're not going to cop out on us now, are you?" Arcus said as he moved to the front of the group.
"Lemme see. Astronema, is it? God, you're one UGLY bitch!" Jason chuckled.
That did it.Astronema slugged Arcus,rushing to stand face to face with Jason. "I want the death of the Rangers, but, considering our track record, I guess I'll have to settle for just you so far.
"Aww, poor baby. We just won't stay dead for the ugly bitch."
Jason really knew how to push her buttons. "AYYYIEEEEE! DA MN YOU!"
"You can damn me all you want, you're still one UGLY bitch!" Jason smirked.
Arcus spoke up "Why are you letting him get to you like that? besides,you know what they say about Jocks, don't you?"
A voice from the sky shouted "Why don't you educate us?" then finished with a blast of heat vision towards Arcus, hitting him square in the chest.
"Arcus, honey, you're
on your own." she said, screaming before teleporting away from the area. She knew exactly who just joined
their little party. Damnit, damnit,DAMNIT! Quantrons!" Arcus motioned to both Jason &
Superman.
***
Rocky, followed closely by Andros, started to enter the Police Station, only to be stopped by Jason. "Guys, what's going on here. I run into a mirror image of me, with some guy in a Superman costume, they get me over to Wendy's, and tell me to stay there for 10 minutes. What gives?"
&quo t;Long story, we'll explain on the way." Rocky ran down the steps toward the parking lot.
Just then, a shot echoed up to the station, from down the street. Rocky, Andros, and Jason exchanged glances before heading down the street in the direction of the shots.
As they passed an alley, they stopped and backtracked, when they heard the sounds of a fight further down the alley.
Following the sounds, they came upon Jason, beating the crud out of Arcus.
He stood, all of his weight on one leg, his free hand press firmly over a wound in his other leg, blood seeping between his fingers. His friend in the Superman suit was making spare vcr parts out of the Quantrons, with one punch for each one. "I suddenly get the feeling that's the real deal." Jason smiled.
"What a rush!" They heard him saying, through gritted teeth.
With a silent nod to each other, Rocky rushed the Quantrons, as Andros attacked Zhane. Arcus hear d someone approaching, and turned just in time to see the bottom of a boot heading his way.
Arcus dodged the attack, but his wounded leg gave out, and he fell to the ground. Looking up, he saw Andros, poised and ready to strike, and Jason 2 smiling, and saying "Give the ugly bitch my love."
Arcus screamed "Shut the hell up! We'll be back!" then disappeared. Andros quickly looked over at Rocky and Jason.
Jason was looking at his other self. "Man, what's going on here? Is that really..." he asked, jerking a thumb towards Superman.
"We need to get you onboard the Mega Ship. And yeah, that really is Superman. Shocked the hell out of me, too." Rocky stated, helping Jason to stand.
"Who was that guy you were fighting?" Jason asked.
"Oh, him? Just the tarnished Silver." Rocky stated matter-of-fact.
Jason chuckled. "Still the same old Rocky. I think you guys have a little explaining to do."
"Yes, we do." Andros said, as he approached them.
"I know for a fact that the 2 of us do." Superman finally spoke.
***
Adam and Rocky stood next to Jason, who was looking at his double in stunned silence. The introductions had been made earlier, and Rocky and Adam remained, alone with Jason, to explain what was going on.
"So, the Rangers are gathering together all of the former Rangers, so that we can fight against Astronema. How are we suppose to do that? We don't have any powers anymore. Remember?"
"Not yet. They found the Morphin Grid. We're rounding up everyone on Earth, our counterparts are with their Billy. They're heading for Aquitar, and our Billy. He's the only one, that we know of, who might be able to access the Grid, and the Power. So...are you with us?"
"Is there any question?" Jason shook hands with both men, a happy smile on his face. A smile that hadn't been there for a long time.