Disclaimers: Characters are owned not be writer of this particular fan fiction. Please do not sue me for I'm definitely not making any money off of this story and this is for amusement only.
Warning: Rated NC-17 for content and language.
Note: The former rangers have moved on in their lives but are pulled back into the game by a little gift left behind from an old "friend." While they fight for their lives yet again, they learn more about each other.
Age check: Billy, Tommy, Jason, Zack-27. Adam, Aisha, Rocky, Trini, Kimberly-26. Katherine, Tonya-25.
Acknowledgements: This one is for Shawn (Ozmandayus), for all the encouragements he has given me and for inspiring me to do this story with all this great writing. Thanks! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Nine - The Attack & The Formula
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April 23, 2002 - 7:23 a.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
There were ten. Ten of them will do for now. He needed more though. Many more. But ten will do for now.
Time was wasting but he needed to recover. Making the runners was difficult on him. They took all the energy he had. He needed more energy.
Food. He needed more food.
The runner obeyed only him. They were linked to him. They were part of him. His children.
Food. He needed more food.
He needed more runners.
It was time for another round. He needed another round.
Time, he needed time.
The voice weaker than before but as raspy and harsh in its tone. "Go."
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April 23, 2002 - 7:48 a.m. Berlin Time
Praça do Tempo (Translation: Time Piece Square)
Cracow Poland
They came and they killed.
People screamed and people died.
The troops moved in.
The bullets flew like hail in the streets. It barely made a dent. Pieces of the creatures were flying from the bullets but it didn't stop them. The pieces themselves were doing harm. If they fell on civilians or troops, it burned their way through their clothing and into flesh.
Cries of terror filled the streets as more troops moved in.
"Depressa!" (Hurry)
Tentacles grabbed one soldier and twisted viciously. The head came off with a pop.
"Por aqui!" (This way!)
The men came running but was stopped by a spray of fine green mist from three of creatures. The guns were dropped as they clutched at their burning faces in agony.
"Atirem, meus amigos!" (Shoot, my friends!)
The troops were being pushed back, the creatures' long extended tentacles grabbed limbs, tearing them off, burning through clothes.
"Let's blow them up, boys!"
The grenades were supposed to be last resort. But the guns were not doing much.
When the smoke cleaned, there were pieces everywhere. They were dead, but hundreds were burned. Troops fell and died.
And more men were taken as the ground rattled and shook with another quake.
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April 23, 2002 - 7:51 a.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
He howled in pain. Two of his runners were no more. But the other eight comes. They bring food.
Anger boiled. They will be avenged. His runners, his children. They will be avenged.
There shall be more. Earth will be brought to its knees. He shall win.
And he shall be rewarded.
He serves well.
Yes, his masters will be proud and he shall be rewarded.
Rangers. Must kill Rangers.
Food. Need energy to make more runners.
More runners will find Rangers.
Yes, Rangers. More food, more energy, more runners. Find and kill Rangers.
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April 23, 2002 - 7:51 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Dr. Trini Kwan's Quarters
Warsaw Poland
Trini came awake when the bed rattled and shook from the rumbling of the ground. Another quake! Just another quake! She yawned and snuggled against Jason for comfort. He grunted and tried to move his arm into a more comfortable position behind her neck.
Her squirming was causing his body to reaction unconsciously. She was a warm bundle when she slept. And she was a restless sleeper.
He groaned and tried to get on his back. "Stop teasing me Trini."
"Who's teasing?" She murmured as she stretched herself out half on top of him. He was so wonderfully comfortable to sleep next to. Like a great big sexy body pillow.
He smiled in reaction and closed his eyes to sleep again. Unfortunately, Trini found a rather sensitive area on his side just under his ribs. He groaned again in reaction and grabbed her hand. "Stop that!"
"I'm not doing anything." She whispered trying to pull her hand away. She loved it when he was all perturbed when she played with his magnificent body.
"Like hell you're not." His lazy voice belied his wakefulness. In one swift move, he had her pinned to the bed underneath his now completely aroused body. His fingers linked themselves through hers. "You're a pain in the butt, you know that?"
"Really?" Her eyes were all wide and innocent as she tried to withdrawal her hand.
He shook his head at her and moved her arms above her head, leaving her helpless to him. If she wanted to play, he'll play. His lips captured hers just as she was about to say something else. He tasted the heavens.
She squirmed more actively now under him, but he wanted to simply taste her mouth for a while. To feel her soft skin against his. He felt her panting breath as he kissed her along her jaw line. Her legs moved restlessly against him, trying to get him to move so she could touch him.
He had an inkling of an idea that if he let her have her way, he won't have lasted more than a few minutes. He wanted to go slow but knew that it would be impossible with his raging body in charge now. But considering he spent a better part of the night sleeping in a semi-aroused body, he could be forgiven for not being able to slow down now.
Her mouth was hot and wet as he captured it again. Her arms came around him, fingernail digging into sun kissed skin.
Their coupling was hot and frantic, eager and passionate. He wanted all of her, now, fast. And for those few brief moments, they caught a glimpse of the Elysian Fields.
She lay there content and relaxed, drawing small circles on his shoulders with her fingertips. She never knew love could be so wonderful.
When he finally found the strength, he got to his elbows. With a sigh, he brushed a lock of her hair. "You know, one of these days, we will make love in a nice slow pace."
She grinned happily at him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You complaining?"
"Who's complaining!" He said as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Trini, I hate to bring up this subject right now but...."
"What?"
"This is the second time we've been together and...." He swallowed. "And I haven't used any kind of protection."
"Pro...oh!" She smiled and kissed his chin. "Don't worry. I get regular Depo-Provera injections."
"Depo-what?" He looked rather puzzled.
Trini rolled her eyes. "Depo-Provera. Birth control shots. You take it every three months. No pregnancy, no problems." She slapped him playfully on the arm. "Do guys think that condoms and pills are the only way to prevent pregnancies?"
Jason rolled onto his back and shrugged. "Considering the only ways for guys are condoms and vasectomies, I guess. You girls come up with more and more ways everyday."
"That's because society and men expects us to be the ones that are careful." She leaned over and stacked her hands on top of his chest and looked at him. "Shall we try to sleep some more?"
"We better." He said pulling her close. "I got a feeling that we're probably going to need it. Things have a way of getting real hairy real fast."
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April 23, 2002 - 8:27 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Dr. Trini Kwan's Quarters
Warsaw Poland
The pounding on the door woke Trini and Jason up fast. "Dr. Kwan, Dr. Kwan!"
Trini pulled on the shirt on the bed grabbed the door before she made sure Jason was decent. When he nodded, she yanked it open. "What is it?"
"Come quick, there's been another attack!"
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April 23, 2002 - 8:29 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Agent Kimberly Hart's Quarters
Warsaw Poland
At the first loud knock, Kimberly was rolling out the bed and to the door. She was use to being woken up at all hours of the day. "Yes?"
"Another attack."
"I'll be right there." She shut the door and sighed.
"What happened?" Tommy asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and watched as Kimberly walked half asleep to the closet. "What is it?"
"Another attack." She pulled the suit out and wondered for a moment if she could dress more casually since everyone else was. "Get dressed."
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April 23, 2002 - 8:38 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Conference Room
Warsaw Poland
The watched the scene with a mix of horror and resignation. At least this time, they hadn't eaten anything yet.
Trini shook her head and got up. "Send me the bodies. I'll be in the containment unit if anyone needs me." Jason squeezed her hand as she passed. They offered each other comfort with a simple look.
Kimberly grabbed the phone. "Get me director Emmerman."
Jason and Tommy looked at one another and shook their head. Edward motioned for them to follow him outside. In the corridor, he looked around to make sure no one was around. "Listen, the military is getting desperate. Trini's working as fast as she could but they're backing Kimberly to a wall right now. They can't use nukes cause of the civilian population and the Versailles Treaty."
Jason shook his head. "Treaties aren't going to mean squat if the army boys are getting killed out there."
"I know." Edward looked over at Kimberly talking to the director. "The directors have things under control right now. I'm worried about Kimmy, though. This assignment is getting to her."
"Don't worry," Tommy said quietly. "She can hold her own."
"I know." Edward sighed. "Trini has something up her sleeve. I can feel it."
"She'll talk when she's ready. In the mean time, better get the survivors up here for a little talk."
Edward nodded. "Okay."
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April 23, 2002 - 11:51 a.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
Three more made. Four food source left. Yes, it will have to do for now.
Eleven runners, eleven chances. He needed more energy to make more. They will have to wait for now.
Six will be the seeker. Yes, they will find. They will find Rangers. They will find them for him.
He shall serve well. He will find the Rangers. He will kill the Rangers.
More food, more energy. More runners, more seekers.
The seekers can find the Rangers. They can find the Rangers. They will find the Rangers. But if they don't, they will bring food. Food and energy.
It was time. "Go."
The Cracow was no longer the only city in danger.
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April 23, 2002 - 12:56 p.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Science Unit
Warsaw Poland
The silence was beginning to get to her. Everyone knew about the attack. Everyone knew that only big explosives did any good around these guys. She could only hope that she could give them another opinion. Dropping the last of the base into the containment jar, she placed the whole thing into the micro frig.
She knew that the troops that had been on the scene are being treated for second to third degree burns. Most of them were going to be horribly scarred but they'll live. The military gears made it more difficult for the acid to eat their way through to their skin. Faces were another issue. It was time someone got these people some good face gears.
Kimberly and the rest of the team had been conducting interviews all morning. They needed as much as they can get. Trini had another hunch but this one she couldn't call up someone for a confirmation. It'll stay a hunch for now. She'll talk to Kimberly about it later.
Lunch had been called an hour before but she wanted to finish this formula first. If it works, she may have just given them an option to their problems. In the mean time she needed something more to test out another theory. Let's hope Edward can perform miracles.
Grabbing the sheet off her worktable, she left her workstation for the first time in over three hours. She rushed up through the encampment and headed for the conference room. People were milling about the room with food and was startled to see Dr. Trini Kwan in a dead run.
She leaned over the table and slapped the paper down in front of Agent Edward Van Bureau. Everyone turned to look at her. Edward's eyes were wide in surprise. "Want to do me a great big favor?"
"Do I get sleep with you?" He asked teasingly.
"Do you want to see how far up your ass I can get my foot?" She smiled in return.
"Not particularly." He put his napkin down. "What do you need?"
"Everything on this list."
He glanced at it quickly. "Could take a day or two."
"You've got three hours." And picked up a chicken leg, she was hungry again.
"Demands, demands," he sighed and got up. "Okay boys, the doc's got another list for us." Some of the men groaned and headed off with Edward to retrieve what was on the list.
Kat placed a plate of egg salad in front of Trini. "Eat!"
"She said the magic word." Tanya grinned as she put more food in front to Trini.
"What am I? A stuffed pig?" Trini laughed as she picked up a fork.
Billy leaned on his elbow. "You've got that look in your eye that says you're up to something. Like last night. So we're going to guess that whatever is on that list is going to help us defeat this thing."
"Just hunches."
Adam and Rocky grinned. "We love your hunches."
Trini was in the process of putting a forkful of egg salad in her mouth when she suddenly remembered something. She looked at Billy with concentrated eyes.
"What?" Billy was slightly disturbed by the look.
Trini's mind raced through her memories. "Billy, do you still have the cannons? The ones we used when we..." she glanced at the room full of people that were hanging on her words. "The one we use to use for fun?"
"You had cannons for fun?" One of the men asked.
"They were toys," Trini waved it off but knew that Billy understood what she was talking about.
"Yeah." Billy muttered. "But they're at home."
"Can you duplicate them?"
Billy looked up suddenly. "The photon ones?"
"Yeah."
The grin on Billy's face was a hundred times brighter than the sun. "Absolutely. Guys, I need a little help."
Trini grinned in return and went back to her food.
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April 23, 2002 - 1:06 p.m. Berlin Time
Prefeitura (Translation: City Hall)
Lublin Poland
"Diabo!" (Devil)
It killed as it went.
It searched as it went.
It found nothing but death and humans.
It brought food back.
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April 23, 2002 - 1:13 p.m. Berlin Time
Plaza (Praça) do Jardim de Flores (Translation: Flower Garden Plaza)
Katowica Poland
It searched, nothing.
It killed the people, tasted the blood, burn the flesh.
It searched as it went.
Nothing was found but death and blood.
It brought back food.
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April 23, 2002 - 1:17 p.m. Berlin Time
Rua Histórica (Translation: Historical Time Street)
Ostrava Poland
It searched, nothing.
It killed to no prevail. There was nothing here.
It searched more and more but no one here is a Power Ranger. No energy signature.
It brought food.
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April 23, 2002 - 1:19 p.m. Berlin Time
Praça do Leão Vermelho (Translation: Red Lion Square)
Wroclaw Poland
The screams filled the air.
It searched, it killed, it took.
Nothing.
It burned its image into men's minds. There was no stopping it.
It killed and it took.
It took food back with it.
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April 23, 2002 - 2:56 p.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Conference Room
Warsaw Poland
Colonial Daniel Sean Jackson has seen a lot of shit in his life, but this toped it all. "So you're telling me that those things melted my men."
Kimberly sat back in her chair and waited. Thirty-three of the US troopers that arrived in Poland the night before had been transferred up to Warsaw along with the rest of the injured. "According the scientist, the stuffs they spray and kill with are acids."
"To be more exact," Trini said as she walked, "It's mostly hydrochloride at about a hundred time the strength we normally see."
He turned to look at the pretty woman that walked in. "Hydro-what?
"Hydrochloride." She sat down across from him and next to Kimberly. "Gastric acid."
"Excuse me?" He blinked at her and turned to an equally puzzled Agent Edward Van Bureau. "Layman's term please."
"Stomach juice." Trini said as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "You guys got sprayed with stomach acid at very concentrated levels."
They blinked at her. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope!" Trini sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Where're the boys?"
Kimberly pushed a donut toward her. "Somewhere with Billy putting together that thing you wanted."
"Cool!" She sighed and shook her head to the donut. "I'm going to go keep working on that thing. Edward, ETA on the stuff?"
"I don't know." Edward said and put up a hand to wore off any protest. "It's on everyone's top priority list but I have to tell you, some of the stuff is going to be hard to get. Especially the suits. I don't know where...."
"Just get it, trust me." She got up again. "I'll be with the team if you need me." She left as abruptly as she came in.
The captain's followed her with a frown. "Who's that?"
"Dr. Trini Kwan." Kimberly explained.
He looked at her surprised. "The Nobel...."
"Yeah."
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April 23, 2002 - 3:18 p.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters - Science Unit
Warsaw Poland
Trini rubbed her eyes with her palms. She was tired and it was only a little after three. Of course the very few hours of sleep she got the night before certainly might have something to with it. She sighed and looked at the notes she's taken.
As she had suspected, along with hydrocloridic acid, pepsin, e. coli, there were also a number of enzymes that were not normal. One she identified as only existing in Dionaea Muscipula, a carnivorous plant. If that were the case then the bacillus thuringiensis she requested should do some real good. Now the problem is how to apply it. And actually getting close enough to the things was another problem all in itself.
The first sign of trouble came from Dr. Diana Russell. Her high pitch scream was cut off abruptly. Trini turned just I time to see the creature finish popping out of the ground and cut Dr. Russell in half at the sternum. The screams and cries started an earnest now as people dropped what they were doing and ran.
The creature lashed out with its tentacles, spraying acid onto the fleeing people, grabbing two in a vicious grip that tore limbs. It sniffed the air as if trying to locate something. The voice was not a voice but more of a rumble, like the quakes. "Ranger!" Then it tilted its head as if listening to some unknown source.
Trini froze in petrified horror. "Oh god." They were there for them. The Power Rangers were the targets all along. They had been right; it was from an old enemy.
The creature turned it eyeless face toward her, sniffing the air. Its mouth-less face told of its orders. "Bring!"
That moved Trini to action. Spring across the encampment, she avoided the tentacles like an old pro. Dodging the long arms, she backed flipped toward the micro frig. Her only chance!
She had seconds to yank on the protective gloves and pull the containment jar from the frig. The tentacles wrapped itself around her ankle and proceeded to pull her toward it. She screamed as she fell but didn't let go of the jar. She could only pray that this works.
Prying open the lid, she turned on her back in time to see the others rush into the area. The terror on Jason's face tore at her but she didn't have time to worry about him. "Stay back!" She yelled at the top of her lungs a second before she threw the content of the jar at the creature.
It splashed onto its face and chest, hissing and eating away at it. It screamed a horrible non-human cry of pain and the ground shook with it. The tentacles loosen and she scrambled back away from it. Like the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz," the creature melted away into a green and purple mess on the ground.
"Trini!" Jason grabbed her from behind but kept an eye on the melting creature. He's heart contracted and he thank all the heavenly beings for her safety. "Trini."
She pushed herself away from Jason and approached the thing slowly. Her voice shook as she reached around almost blindly. "Some……somebody…….any…… …anybody……..get a……get a sample of that……..before it…….it gets……contaminated." She was shaking so badly now that she couldn't stand. Jason caught her as her knees gave out.
"Trini!"
She was shaking hard enough for the others to see. "Well…….at….at least…….at least I know……that……that the formula…….. works." Then for the second time in her life, Trini Kwan fainted dead away.
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September 30, 2002 - This chapter has been altered from the original format to comply with FanFictions.Net's new ratings rule.