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!
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Chapter Fifteen – The Confrontation
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April 26, 2002 – 3:47 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters –New Science Unit
Warsaw Poland
Trini's eyes were blurring on her but she pushed the fatigue back. She still had another batch to go, now was not the time to be tiring. One mistake can cause too much damage to everything she's work for so far.
Jason had been so wonderful only hours before. Her eyes stung with tears just thinking of him. In a few hours, he would be facing one of the most dangerous things they've ever experienced. She needed to give him an edge, give him something, anything. God, now was not the time to cry!
The group had everything she could provide but what if there was something else. She thought about the experiment she had been conducting before. It might not have worked, but if she could find the right chemical…..
Trini got up from her seat before the computer and headed for the micro-frig. There has to be something in this mess of stuff that she can use. Come on, you can do this. Do it for Jason, for Tommy, for Billy….. Damn it, Trini. THINK!!!
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April 26, 2002 – 4:35 a.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
Another is made. Now, how many was that? Not that it really matters.
The Rangers, they will pay for hurting him. They shall pay dearly for everything they've done. He shall destroy them and he shall be rewarded.
Yes, he will serve well. He shall be rewarded. He shall be free.
Another, he needed to make another runner. They were good.
More food, food will be good. Energy is good. Runners are good.
Rangers will die.
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April 26, 2002 – 9:30 a.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters
Warsaw Poland
Men and women ran around preparing for what might be their most exceptional confrontation of their lives. Eight of the nine warheads were loaded and labeled with red biohazard labels or blue contaminant labels. Trini was still working on the last one.
The preparation was well organized and neat. Everyone knew their parts and knew just what to do. They all did it in silence; no one really wanted to talk about what was to come soon.
Supplies were readied along with first aid and other assortment of necessary stuff. Those that were going underground stood to one side. The hundred men and women that were to guard their retreat were dressed in uniforms already. All they needed now was Trini to explain a few things away.
"Okay, I'm sorry to take so long." Trini said as she came out rubbing her hands together. She had left one of the scientists to watch the boiling chemicals. "Guys, I'm going to explain the protection gear."
She moved to the pile of metal and black suits on the ground. "Every suit is head to toe. All overlapping will be away from the body. The suit itself is doubled layered, one for warmth and one for protection. The inner layer is starched and thermals. You're going into temperature of below zero degrees Celsius. The outer layer is soaked in enteric; it'll protect you from any spilled acid from the creature.
"The suit covers you head to foot, leaving only your face uncovered. You will wear military issued helmet and plastic shielding. These have been sprayed with neutralizers. Titanium plated metal pieces have been placed along all major extremities, chest, thighs, upper arms, back, and shoulders. They are heavy and coated with a special mixture of Base-Toxikon, it's slightly milder than any of the previous mixes. Point people will have extra plating on joint areas that are linked to other plates by chains made from titanium alloy.
"Every metal piece is coated with Base-Toxikon, impossible for them to get a grip on you without burning off their limbs. But the formula is also dangerous to us, which is why you can only wear this suit for one hour before the chemicals begin to leak into your system. You will not wear them until you're at the entrance to the cavern." She looked around and held back tears. This was a lot more difficult that she had expected. "Any…..Any questions?"
There was silence in the ranks.
"Good luck guys. I wish I can go with you all." The pained expression on her face had Jason going to her. She needed him, needed his comfort even though he was the one going. "Okay, I need to get back to work on those formulas or no one is going any where."
There was an observed moment of silence for those that has passed on before them and when Trini was ready with the sixth and final batch, they loaded up.
The loading took less time than anyone expected. They were ready to go before they knew it. They were almost about to get to the truck when Tommy turned around all of a sudden. "Kimberly?"
Her eyes lit up like fireflies in the night. "Yeah?"
Tommy ignored everyone that was watching them and just concentrated on Kimberly's eyes. "If….When I get back, will you marry me?"
There was a stunned silence as Trini, Billy, and Jason all tried to suppress the grins on their faces and the urge to nod their head vigorously in excitement.
Kimberly stared at him in complete shock. Then her eyes twinkled with amusement and excitement. She crossed her arms the best she could and struck a cocky pose. "Tell you what. I'll give you that answer when you get back here."
Tommy grinned. "You got yourself a deal, baby."
She blew him a kiss and he reached into the air to snatch it. Holding his fist close to his heart, he climbed into the van.
Jason rolled his eyes and kissed Trini on the temple then the lips. "I'll be back real soon."
"You better be," she gave his hand a good squeeze. "Please be careful."
"I will." He hugged her fiercely. She shivered in his arms. "I love you."
"Me too, Jason. I love you too." Trini's nails dug into his shirt.
"Get some rest, okay?"
She nodded her head and gave him another quick kiss the cheek before letting him get into the van with the others, though she rather never let him go. She held back tears and tried to be brave for him as they waved good-bye to one another.
Those left behind stood here on the steps of the base, watching the group drive off until they were merely specks in the horizon. It was going to be a long and terrifying wait for them.
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April 26, 2002 – 5:40 p.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
Tommy pulled at the collar of the protective suit. It was unbelievably tight, even more so than his old Ranger costume. He and Jason took point with Aisha and Kat flanking Billy behind them. The volunteered soldiers had the bombs with them with guards on both sides and Adam and Rocky bring up the rear. They didn't need to be caught from behind now.
They progress so far have been quick, not waiting to waste time since they only have an hour in these suits. There was no movement of any kind so far. The temperature inside and outside the tunnels was ridiculously different. It was freezing in the caverns compared to the relatively breezy weather upside.
Third cavern and still no sign of any movement. There were occasion rumbles as the ground shook underneath them. But by now they had gotten so use to it that it didn't even faze them.
"Shit!" The word was said a second before Kat let loose a stream of Base-Toxikon on to the face of a foot soldier that literally sprung up from the ground.
Once the first one attack, they call came at once. Tommy hit one in the stomach while Jason took two out in a wide spray. There were screams from the back as the soldiers were hit as well. The smell of melting decay plant flesh filled the chamber.
Billy squeezed the trigger to the spray too late as a long tentacle wrapped around his forearm. But the Toxikon coated plate left the creature in silent agony as its tentacles began to sizzle. Billy sent thanks to Trini and her seven wonders. His leg lashed out in an old familiar kick sending the creature reeling. Another thanks to Jason for making him practice that moved so many times that was now instinct.
Aisha wouldn't say that all this excited her, but it did bring back fond memories of her old Power Ranger days. The creatures were fast and strong, but a combination of her old fighting instincts and Trini's wonderful formula had them beating the enemies back.
Rocky and Adam both held their own against the enemy as they try to protect the rest of the soldiers from the sudden cropping of enemies. But the GI boys were well trained. They all knew what to do. Pick a target and take them down. They were mowing them down but more kept cropping up.
"How many of these things does he have?" Rocky called out as his fist found another creature in the stomach before the Toxikon took it out.
There were a few more minutes of fighting as the monsters came popping out of the ground one after another. They were taking causalities but not bad ones compared to their first confrontation. Three men failed to get away fast enough and had their faces burned with acid when their face shields came off. In the end, they lost three and had one minor wounded with a cut on the forehead from a fall.
"Looks like our boy has been busy while we've been working." Adam answered as he helped a soldier up from ground. He had caught the tentacle in time to keep the man's arm from being ripped off.
"You're telling me." Rocky muttered as he looked around. Several puddles of green goop were on the floor now. The attack appeared to have let up some. "Hey Tommy, let's get a move on it. We're on the clock here!"
Tommy nodded and looked at Jason who was scanning the area. It was just like old time again. The old Power Rangers together against an evil that they must defeat. "Remind me to thank your girlfriend."
Jason grinned behind his face shield. "Sure." He could feel his heart pound from the exercise. Moments before all he could think was the he had to get back. Tommy's impromptu proposal had placed an image of Trini, all soft and round with his child, writing her novels in that beautiful tower turned writing room at the top of the magnificent old house he had just bought in Angel Grove. His plan was to remodel it some and put his own style to it. It was an image he could no longer get out of his mind. "Let's move guys."
They moved side by side, each cover their proportion. They were going to come up to the main chamber soon. The ground rumbled under them but they all kept their footing. The creature was obviously mad. Nothing was going to turn them. But they have to be cautious, no telling how many more of those foot soldiers this thing has left around.
"Gentlemen," Billy whispered as he looked at the hand held scanner. "I believe the moisture in this area has become denser." The moisture readings were going off the chart for an area that was at freezing temperatures.
"In other word?" Jason asked his eyes shifting from side to side.
"We're almost there."
They fell silent.
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April 26, 2002 – 5:58 p.m. Berlin Time
ISS Warsaw Headquarters – Conference Room
Warsaw Poland
The base was quiet, almost eerily so. Trini sat there watching the sky from the window. Though she knew that she should be sleeping, she couldn't help but be here, praying for everyone's safe return.
"You still up?" Kimberly asked after few moments of observing her friend. She looked so lost.
"Can't sleep." Trini whispered as if any louder and she would break into pieces.
"They'll be okay."
"I hope so."
"Get some rest." Kimberly urged, she didn't like the pallor on her friend's cheeks. "You've been up for more than a day now."
Trini shook her head. "I'll have nightmares."
Kimberly nodded with understand. "He'll be back."
"I'm scared you know. I've never been this scared in my life." Trini looked at her friend and smiled rather pathetically. "I don't think I was this scared three years ago when I went into containment."
"You love him, that's all." Kimberly said.
"Yeah, I do." Trini whispered back as they both sat watching the blue sky. The day was too beautiful for the morbid thoughts they were having. It should be raining and dark, to suit their moods.
"He'll come back."
"He has to, Kimberly." She turned wet eyes to her best friend for more years that she cared to remember. "He just has to."
She nodded her head and hugged her friend. "They will, they will."
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April 26, 2002 – 5:59 p.m. Berlin Time
Underground Caverns
Cracow Poland
"Holy…" The soldier's mouth seemed to have hit the ground.
Rocky elbowed the man, harder than intended due to the metal plated elbow guard. "Hold it together man. Now is not the time to pee in your pants." He actually also felt like swallowing his tongue but years with the Power Rangers had him getting use to bizarre monsters pretty quickly.
The man shut his mouth and turned back to the warhead he was responsible for. The soldiers were all moving into their respective position as more of the creature's foot soldiers rose form the ground. The men were trying to hose them down as quickly as they can while trying to keep their footing. The monster was roaring with outrage.
"We'll give you cover!" Adam called out as he block three creatures allowing for two more warheads to get into their position. He was going to run out soon.
"RANGERS!" The voice was raspy and rumbled with the ground.
Tommy and Jason exchanged startled glances. The creature sensed their presence. Pouring it on, they plowed ahead and clear room for more warheads to brought in. They ignore sudden cries of pain as more tentacles lashed out, some from the main creatures hundreds if legs that were tucked under him and some from his foot soldiers. When one person fell, the others took over. Depending on how bad the wound, they helped each other.
"Ahhhh….." Jason gapped in shock as one man was picked up by his leg by the creature.
"Get it!!!" They fired Toxikon on it with no effect at all. The thick outer layer of the creature was simply too much for even the Toxikon to penetrate.
"Ahhhh….." the man was dropped into the massive open mouth of the creature. They could still hear his screams as he stumbled into the opening and fell against the rolls of sharp teeth on the inside.
"KILL IT!!!" The soldiers were whipped to frenzy now.
Three launched their missiles, aiming for the mouth while it was still wide open and devouring its victim. As angry as they were, the GI's were orderly as they moved into position. They knew what to do.
Aisha had a moment's notice before her legs were pulled from under her. "Ahhh……" She kicked it with her steel-toed boots, spiked at the front, digging into the wooden skin tentacle, cutting through the rough exterior into the soft flesh inside. The monsters hissed in angry and dropped her, she felt her leg break as she hit the ground from twelve feet in the air.
"Aisha!" Rocky reached her first.
"Broken leg." She grasped as he looped his arm around her and pulled her up ignoring her cry of pain. Her life was more important right now than her discomfort.
The Monster roared in pain as the three missiles in its belly detonated on schedule. The ground shook and tilted. It shifted in agony as the Base-Toxikon began to eat way at his stomach linings. The quakes became even worse as three more missiles were launched as scheduled, timing it so that it would land in the creature's mouth as it opened it to roar with pain. The army boys had good aim!
The cavern was giving away as the creature screamed in pain. "Get those neutralizers in the air!" Tommy called as they began their retreat.
The creature was in extreme agony now as it's tentacles lashed out without direction or aim. It stuck people by chance. Unfortunately for those that could not avoid it, the heavy wooden skinned lashing tentacles were heavy and dangerous, killing with one blow. There was simply no way to save those that were struck in the monster's outraged pain.
The three rockets exploded over head one after another, pouring a good five hundred gallon of neutralizers on to the creature even as it continue to shift and shake, rocking all of the earth with it.
The creature roared in outrage even as it cried in pain. The sound it made caused more rocks to slip and slide all over the place.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Jason and Tommy called as they tried to hurry the men along. The cavern looked ready to give under the heavy movements and if they were to be trapped in there, there would be no way out. "Come on! Come on!"
They were running, avoiding sliding rocks and stumbling along as best they could. There was no turning back. They dropped the gears that were no longer necessary and were slowing them down. They were trying to help each other as they moved along trying to get out of the cavern. Everyone was on the run now, trying to avoid the slamming tentacles and falling rocks. Retreat was the word.
Billy waited at the entrance of the cave until only Tommy and Jason was left. "Jason!"
"What is it, Billy?" Jason made one last scan of the area, noting with regret that several of the men were dead and were now in the process of being buried by the tumbling rocks as the monster continued to thrash about in agony.
"Here!" He thrust the canister into the man's hand. "From Trini. Pull the top and throw it at the guy!"
Jason didn't even question it. Pulling the tab, he hurled it as hard as he could at the center of the creature.
The container with the small C-4 detonator exploded on impact, spreading green material over the outer layer of the creature. It only took three seconds for it to react to the chemistry of the monster. It sizzled for a moment before the end result sprung to life. Fire spread out!
"Holy…." Billy stood there dumbfound as the fire spread. The more the monster tried to kill it with its tentacles more it spread over its body. "Greek fire."
"BILLY, LET'S GO!!!" Tommy and Jason shouted at him simultaneously.
That shook him out of his morbid fascination with the creature's eminent death. They took off after the others, all the tunnels and caverns of the place was coming apart as the monster of evil creations shook the earth with is pain and rage. "RANGERS!" It was loud and evident that in its death, it knew who was responsible for it.
The rockslide hit Billy from behind. Tommy and Jason grabbed his arms even before Billy had time to call out, half yanking, half dragging ran a good distance until Billy was back on his feet and running again. They were bring up the rear of a cave in and things felt out of control.
"Come on! Come on!" The shouts spurred them on as they three threw themselves out out of the entrance to the caverns just as everything came tumbling down. The creature's bellowing cries echoed through the lands as the earth continued the quake in response.
Being out of immediate danger did not stop their flight. They wanted as much distance between themselves and that thing as possible. The group of remaining survivors raced up the hill and away from the underground entrance as the howling continued. The flight left them all breathless when they came to rest on the top of the hill where the hundred soldiers that were to guard and secure the area waited to help them.
Taking the wounded, they all raced for the trucks and vans that were waiting on unstable grounds. The underground group was busy shedding their outer chemically covered layer of clothing, as the group got ready to leave in a hurry. The entire countryside felt as if it was going to collapse any second now. The thunderous noise had yet to cease as they climbed into the vehicles.
The engines roared to life and they lit out like bats out of hell, which was pretty much close to what they had just experienced.