The Corporation: Chapter I
Author's Notes: Hey there. This is actually a re-write of a PR story I started and got up to Chapter V here, "Things Change", but this time it's going to have a much darker slant to it. It takes place directly after Power Rangers in Space, as the Astro Rangers return to Earth for a well- deserved celebration. However, their celebration is soon cut short as a new evil is revealed: One that is much more earthly than any previous villian....
Inside dimly-littled corridors, people dressed in all-black attire, including helmets designed to protect that from chemicals, walk throughout it, hurrying to their stations. They do not want to make the new leader of their opeartion angry.
Down the hall, a group of men and women dressed in buisness suits entered a large room, and sat down at a strech desk. In front of them, a video screen suddenly came to life. On-screen, an older man, looking to be in his early- to-mid 50s, appeared, with a red streak down the center of his white hair.
"Greetings, high-ranking executives of the Angel Grove subsidary." the man said. "I am sure you have all heard of my plans, by now."
Most of the executives nodded, but some shook their heads.
"Well then, I will repeat myself. Again." the man said. "I, as you already know, am Andrew Darkhaven, owner and CEO of the Darkhaven Corporation, the the most accomplished creators of new military technology on the planet, especially with our advancements in chemical warfare."
The executives nodded in agreement.
"However, with our recent discoveries of the universe, thanks in part to the Power Rangers' fights with the forces of evil, the Corporation has come to realize where the real market for profit is." Andrew said. "With the evil of the universe destroyed and the current Rangers, the Astro Rangers, off-duty, now is our time to take over! That's right, the Darkhaven Corporation is going to conquer this planet, and use it as an intergalatic weapons bed! Think of the money we will make once this planet is converted into one big manufcaturing plant, selling advanced weaponry- based on ailen techonology we were able to save from the forces of Astronema- to the rest of the universe! With all of the evil lords of the universe gone, we will be able to supply the new, less-powerful ones that step up in their place with weapons to make up for the drop in power! We will help evil reach a new prosperous era, rising from the ashes like a golden phoenix, and make a profit off of it that defies the imagination!"
The executives all nodded in agreement and murmered amongst themselves.
"Be quiet, I am not done!" Andrew yelled out.
Instantly, the executives became quiet.
"As for how I will pull that off....well, I gave it some thought, and I knew that while they were off-duty now, I would eventually have to deal with the Astro Rangers at some poitn." Andrew said. "And I realized just how many people have failed to defeat them. Then, I realized that who could defeat a Power Ranger better....than former Power Ranger? And after the right amount of money was offered to her, I got one. Ladies and gentlemen, I will now change things over to the person who has arrived here in Angel Grove last week, the new leader of this operation, working under me of course, former Pink Ranger....."
The wall where the video screen suddenly went upward into the ceiling, revealing a dark chamber. On the left was a black Astro Ranger- different from normal ranger suits in that the spandex was very tight, made to hug the curves of the wearer's body- meaning that the person inside was obviously female. The suit had a number of metallic enhancements over it- like the Phantom Ranger's, only not as much metallic enhancements. The helmet was nearly identical to the Phantom Ranger's, as well. The ranger inside was not moving, almost as if she was in some sort of sleeping state- but she was standing up! There were two wires from the wall connected to two sockets on the helmet, as well.
To the right of the ranger, sitting in some sort of throne-like black chair, was....
"I give you former Pink Ranger, Katherine Hillard!" came Andrew's voice from the nearby speakers.
Katherine was dressed in all-black as well, with a strange smile on her face.
"Welcome to the operation." Katherine said. "Prepare for battle, my executives. We are going to destroy the Power Rangers!"
"But why would you, a former Ranger, want to destroy them?" one of the male executives said.
"The money, of course." Kat replied. "I saved the world enough times....it's time the world pay me back!"
The executives nodded, satisifed with this explanation.
And, to get back at a certain former Red Ranger as well.... Kat thought to herself.
"Who is that, exactly?" a female executive asked Kat. "Looks like a ranger."
"She's MY ranger." Kat said proudly. "With help from the techonology the corporation acquired, I designed this ranger, a new Astro Ranger. I call her the Robotic Ranger."
"Who's in the suit?" the executive asked.
"Another former Pink Ranger." Kat said. "Kimberly Hart. I kidnapped her and used the techonologies to erase her memory, and replace them with artifical memories I have created. As long as the wires are hooked up, she is in a state of suspended animation. She is, for all intents and purposes, my machine now, activated when I need her."
"But why not just use the powers yourself?" the executive questioned. "Why go through all this trouble to brainwash another former Ranger into doing your work for you?"
Kat hesitated.
"Ummm.....well.....because I don't feel like getting my hands dirty, that's all!" Kat exclaimed.
The executives nodded after a few moments, although realizing by the way she said her response, that she was lying.
The real reason is because of one Tommy Oliver! Kat thought.
Kat thought back to the fateful day, three months ago.......
Kat and Tommy stood out on a cliff, overlooking a large river. They had just hiked up here for the anniversery of their relationship, and both of them had something equally important they wanted to say to the other.
"Kat....I have something I want to tell you." Tommy said.
"Okay!" Kat said, her eyes lighting up. "You can go first!"
Maybe he'll ask me first! Kat thought.
"Kat.....I can't date you anymore." Tommy said, wiping a tear from his left eye.
Kat's world suddenly seemed to stop.
"Wh-what?" Kat managed to get out after a few moments.
"I'm sorry, Kat, but I can't do this anymore." Tommy said. "I can't love you, because......because I'm still in love with Kimberly, and I don't think I will ever be able to get over her. At least....not anytime soon, and it's not fair to you that I'm having a relationship with you when I'm in love with someone else. Kat....I'm so sorry, but I have to go find Kimberly in Flordia and convince her to come back to me. This is something I've wanted to done for so long.....I just haven't been able to find the courage to do it. Kat, I'm so sorry, can't we still be...."
"DON'T EVEN SAY IT!" Kat screamed.
She turned and ran, wiping a few more tears from her face. Tommy realized how hurt she was, but knew he was doing the right thing for both of them. He turned and walked the other way, now ready to go find Kim and get her back in his life.
Kat stopped running once she saw Tommy was gone. She took a small case out of her pocket- there was a diamond engagement ring. She was going to propose to Tommy. Angrily, she threw the opened case into the river, the diamond ring seperating from it and falling in as well. She wiped another tear from her eye.
"Tommy....Kimberly....I'LL MAKE YOU BOTH PAY FOR THIS!" Kat screamed. "IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO!"
Kat wiped a tear from her eye quickly, hoping the executives didn't notice.
Well Tommy....you want Kimberly? Kat thought. You can have her....only, she won't be your Kimberly. She'll be my Robotic Ranger, and she'll destroy you as soon as she's done with those pathetic excuses for Rangers!
"It is time to put my plan into action!" Kat said.
She stood up, and walked deeper into the dark room. The executives followed. They stopped in front of a black Quantron.
"I give you my new, improved Dark Quantrons!" Kat said. "I have taken Astronema's technology, and improved upon it! These new foot soldiers are programmed with my own previous knowledge as a Ranger, and unlike the incompetence of the former foot soldiers of the evil we went up against, each one of them alone could provide a tough fight for any Ranger! Together, in a large swarm, they will be unstoppable, and the Rangers will be crushed! Once manufacturing is complete, that is."
"How much longer will that be?" one of the executives asked.
"Only a few more weeks." Kat replied. "Once this army is finished, they will be able to take over Earth for us!"
Kat turned around and there was a gold robot with two gold missles attached to its back.
"In the meantime, I figured I'd give the Rangers a nice little warning shot." Kat said. "Let them know that there's a new evil in town. This robot, Misslecon, may even be enough to get a ranger or two at their current state!"
Kat pressed a button on a nearby control panel, and Misslecon's eyes lit up with an eerie golden glow.
"Missletron, I comamnd you to go and destroy the Astro Rangers!" Kat yelled.
Missletron nodded as Kat pressed another button on the console, revealing an opening hatch on the side of the building. Missletron used the missles on his back to fly out of the building and towards the Rangers.
"Now, for the real plan..." Kat said as the executives turned and left. "To make Tommy suffer...."
She turned to a teleportation tube, where five of the Dark Quantrons stood.
"I'm transporting you to the location of a pesky human I want dealt with." she said. "Use the hand-to-hand combat skills I have taught you to defeat him. I'm sending you to his current location- a Flordia beach where he believes Kimberly dissapered, and is searching for her. Go- do not kill him, just injure him severely! Make him suffer! The kill....is for the one he loves...."
The Dark Quantrons nodded as Kat pressed a button on a nearby wall pannel and the five Dark Quantrons were teleported out.
Meanwhile, Andros and Ashley sat together eating lunch at the new outdoor tables at the Surf Spot, just the two of them.
"I'm glad to finally be alone, Andros." Ashley said.
"Well, Zhane and Karone are out on their own date, and I have no idea where the other rangers went to." Andros stated.
"And that's a bad thing?" Ashley said with a mischeivious grin.
Andros smiled as well as he the two leaned foward and kissed.
Their romance was broken up, however, by a pair of explosions, sending their table- and them- hurling back!
"Next time, I will not miss."
Andros and Ashley turned to see Misslecon, as two new missles shifted into place from within his thick armor.
"What the hell is that?" Ashley yelled out. "I thought we completley eradicated all evil!"
"It appears to be robotic." Andros said. "There is no time to waste, we have to stop it!"
"Right!" Ashley agreed. "So much for our time off...."
The two quickly Morphed, and stood in front of the robot.
"Alright, we don't know who exactly you are, but we're sending you back where you came from!" Andros yelled.
"I will go back where I came from." Misslecon agreed. "Once the two of you are eradicated!"
It flew up into the air and fired two more missles, quickly reloading and using the new ones to stay in the air. Andros leaped out of the way, but one of the missles caught Ashley, sending her down to the ground, hurt.
"Ashley!" Andros yelled out.
He turned in an angry rage to Misslecon, and leaped up into the air, Spiral Saber drawn. However, as he reached Misslecon, Misslecon simply flew higher, dodging the attempted slash.
"I can fly too, once I do THIS!" Andros yelled.
He pressed a button on his Battlizer, activating the Red Battlized Armor. He flew up in the air after Misslecon, chasing him.
"Have a taste of your own medicine!" Andros yelled, and fired two missles of his own.
One missed slightly, but the other one hit Misslecon on his right shoulder, causing damage as the wiring was evident where the missle hit him.
"I have been damaged." Misslecon said. "I must return to HQ."
Misslecon flew off at a higher speed. Andros at first thought of following him, but realized he probably wouldn't be able to keep track of him since he couldn't fly at even close speeds to Misslecon's current speed. Besides, Ashley needed him.
Andros flew down to the ground and demorphed. He took Ashley's helmet off.
"Ashley, are you alright?" Andros asked her.
Ashley regained conciousness.
"Yeah, I guess." Ashley replied, demorphing. "Just a little stunned, nothing major. Come on, we have to go find the others. We need to find out who sent that robot after us, and stop them....before this becomes something a lot worse."
Andros nodded, and the two teleported to the Astro Megaship.
"KIMBERLY!" Tommy screamed.
He sighed. He had been out here searching all morning, just as he had been doing for the past four days, since Kimberly's dissaperence.
I finally locate her, and when I make it down here she's dissapered! Tommy thought. I have to keep looking!
Tommy remembered coming to her apartment only to find her hysterical parents. Their daughter had dissapered after a nighttime stroll out to the beach. They said she had been depressed over breaking up with her boyfriend- something that made Tommy only more intent on finding her.
As Tommy contineud to scour the beach for her, suddenly the five Dark Quantrons teleported in front of him.
"Woah." Tommy said. "What are you?"
The Dark Quantrons just replied with their normal beeps, and suddenly attacked. Tommy tried to take one on hand-to-hand, but it easily matched his moves, and then sent him flying to the sand with a powerful punch to the chest.
"Wow, those things are STRONG!" Tommy said.
He got up, only to be met with a flying kick to the chest by another Dark Quantron. He held his chest in pain.
"I don't think.....I can do it!" Tommy said, gasping for air.
The five Dark Quantrons began to approach the fallen Tommy, ready to make good on their master's wishes.....
To Be Continued.....
Author's Notes: Hey there. This is actually a re-write of a PR story I started and got up to Chapter V here, "Things Change", but this time it's going to have a much darker slant to it. It takes place directly after Power Rangers in Space, as the Astro Rangers return to Earth for a well- deserved celebration. However, their celebration is soon cut short as a new evil is revealed: One that is much more earthly than any previous villian....
Inside dimly-littled corridors, people dressed in all-black attire, including helmets designed to protect that from chemicals, walk throughout it, hurrying to their stations. They do not want to make the new leader of their opeartion angry.
Down the hall, a group of men and women dressed in buisness suits entered a large room, and sat down at a strech desk. In front of them, a video screen suddenly came to life. On-screen, an older man, looking to be in his early- to-mid 50s, appeared, with a red streak down the center of his white hair.
"Greetings, high-ranking executives of the Angel Grove subsidary." the man said. "I am sure you have all heard of my plans, by now."
Most of the executives nodded, but some shook their heads.
"Well then, I will repeat myself. Again." the man said. "I, as you already know, am Andrew Darkhaven, owner and CEO of the Darkhaven Corporation, the the most accomplished creators of new military technology on the planet, especially with our advancements in chemical warfare."
The executives nodded in agreement.
"However, with our recent discoveries of the universe, thanks in part to the Power Rangers' fights with the forces of evil, the Corporation has come to realize where the real market for profit is." Andrew said. "With the evil of the universe destroyed and the current Rangers, the Astro Rangers, off-duty, now is our time to take over! That's right, the Darkhaven Corporation is going to conquer this planet, and use it as an intergalatic weapons bed! Think of the money we will make once this planet is converted into one big manufcaturing plant, selling advanced weaponry- based on ailen techonology we were able to save from the forces of Astronema- to the rest of the universe! With all of the evil lords of the universe gone, we will be able to supply the new, less-powerful ones that step up in their place with weapons to make up for the drop in power! We will help evil reach a new prosperous era, rising from the ashes like a golden phoenix, and make a profit off of it that defies the imagination!"
The executives all nodded in agreement and murmered amongst themselves.
"Be quiet, I am not done!" Andrew yelled out.
Instantly, the executives became quiet.
"As for how I will pull that off....well, I gave it some thought, and I knew that while they were off-duty now, I would eventually have to deal with the Astro Rangers at some poitn." Andrew said. "And I realized just how many people have failed to defeat them. Then, I realized that who could defeat a Power Ranger better....than former Power Ranger? And after the right amount of money was offered to her, I got one. Ladies and gentlemen, I will now change things over to the person who has arrived here in Angel Grove last week, the new leader of this operation, working under me of course, former Pink Ranger....."
The wall where the video screen suddenly went upward into the ceiling, revealing a dark chamber. On the left was a black Astro Ranger- different from normal ranger suits in that the spandex was very tight, made to hug the curves of the wearer's body- meaning that the person inside was obviously female. The suit had a number of metallic enhancements over it- like the Phantom Ranger's, only not as much metallic enhancements. The helmet was nearly identical to the Phantom Ranger's, as well. The ranger inside was not moving, almost as if she was in some sort of sleeping state- but she was standing up! There were two wires from the wall connected to two sockets on the helmet, as well.
To the right of the ranger, sitting in some sort of throne-like black chair, was....
"I give you former Pink Ranger, Katherine Hillard!" came Andrew's voice from the nearby speakers.
Katherine was dressed in all-black as well, with a strange smile on her face.
"Welcome to the operation." Katherine said. "Prepare for battle, my executives. We are going to destroy the Power Rangers!"
"But why would you, a former Ranger, want to destroy them?" one of the male executives said.
"The money, of course." Kat replied. "I saved the world enough times....it's time the world pay me back!"
The executives nodded, satisifed with this explanation.
And, to get back at a certain former Red Ranger as well.... Kat thought to herself.
"Who is that, exactly?" a female executive asked Kat. "Looks like a ranger."
"She's MY ranger." Kat said proudly. "With help from the techonology the corporation acquired, I designed this ranger, a new Astro Ranger. I call her the Robotic Ranger."
"Who's in the suit?" the executive asked.
"Another former Pink Ranger." Kat said. "Kimberly Hart. I kidnapped her and used the techonologies to erase her memory, and replace them with artifical memories I have created. As long as the wires are hooked up, she is in a state of suspended animation. She is, for all intents and purposes, my machine now, activated when I need her."
"But why not just use the powers yourself?" the executive questioned. "Why go through all this trouble to brainwash another former Ranger into doing your work for you?"
Kat hesitated.
"Ummm.....well.....because I don't feel like getting my hands dirty, that's all!" Kat exclaimed.
The executives nodded after a few moments, although realizing by the way she said her response, that she was lying.
The real reason is because of one Tommy Oliver! Kat thought.
Kat thought back to the fateful day, three months ago.......
Kat and Tommy stood out on a cliff, overlooking a large river. They had just hiked up here for the anniversery of their relationship, and both of them had something equally important they wanted to say to the other.
"Kat....I have something I want to tell you." Tommy said.
"Okay!" Kat said, her eyes lighting up. "You can go first!"
Maybe he'll ask me first! Kat thought.
"Kat.....I can't date you anymore." Tommy said, wiping a tear from his left eye.
Kat's world suddenly seemed to stop.
"Wh-what?" Kat managed to get out after a few moments.
"I'm sorry, Kat, but I can't do this anymore." Tommy said. "I can't love you, because......because I'm still in love with Kimberly, and I don't think I will ever be able to get over her. At least....not anytime soon, and it's not fair to you that I'm having a relationship with you when I'm in love with someone else. Kat....I'm so sorry, but I have to go find Kimberly in Flordia and convince her to come back to me. This is something I've wanted to done for so long.....I just haven't been able to find the courage to do it. Kat, I'm so sorry, can't we still be...."
"DON'T EVEN SAY IT!" Kat screamed.
She turned and ran, wiping a few more tears from her face. Tommy realized how hurt she was, but knew he was doing the right thing for both of them. He turned and walked the other way, now ready to go find Kim and get her back in his life.
Kat stopped running once she saw Tommy was gone. She took a small case out of her pocket- there was a diamond engagement ring. She was going to propose to Tommy. Angrily, she threw the opened case into the river, the diamond ring seperating from it and falling in as well. She wiped another tear from her eye.
"Tommy....Kimberly....I'LL MAKE YOU BOTH PAY FOR THIS!" Kat screamed. "IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO!"
Kat wiped a tear from her eye quickly, hoping the executives didn't notice.
Well Tommy....you want Kimberly? Kat thought. You can have her....only, she won't be your Kimberly. She'll be my Robotic Ranger, and she'll destroy you as soon as she's done with those pathetic excuses for Rangers!
"It is time to put my plan into action!" Kat said.
She stood up, and walked deeper into the dark room. The executives followed. They stopped in front of a black Quantron.
"I give you my new, improved Dark Quantrons!" Kat said. "I have taken Astronema's technology, and improved upon it! These new foot soldiers are programmed with my own previous knowledge as a Ranger, and unlike the incompetence of the former foot soldiers of the evil we went up against, each one of them alone could provide a tough fight for any Ranger! Together, in a large swarm, they will be unstoppable, and the Rangers will be crushed! Once manufacturing is complete, that is."
"How much longer will that be?" one of the executives asked.
"Only a few more weeks." Kat replied. "Once this army is finished, they will be able to take over Earth for us!"
Kat turned around and there was a gold robot with two gold missles attached to its back.
"In the meantime, I figured I'd give the Rangers a nice little warning shot." Kat said. "Let them know that there's a new evil in town. This robot, Misslecon, may even be enough to get a ranger or two at their current state!"
Kat pressed a button on a nearby control panel, and Misslecon's eyes lit up with an eerie golden glow.
"Missletron, I comamnd you to go and destroy the Astro Rangers!" Kat yelled.
Missletron nodded as Kat pressed another button on the console, revealing an opening hatch on the side of the building. Missletron used the missles on his back to fly out of the building and towards the Rangers.
"Now, for the real plan..." Kat said as the executives turned and left. "To make Tommy suffer...."
She turned to a teleportation tube, where five of the Dark Quantrons stood.
"I'm transporting you to the location of a pesky human I want dealt with." she said. "Use the hand-to-hand combat skills I have taught you to defeat him. I'm sending you to his current location- a Flordia beach where he believes Kimberly dissapered, and is searching for her. Go- do not kill him, just injure him severely! Make him suffer! The kill....is for the one he loves...."
The Dark Quantrons nodded as Kat pressed a button on a nearby wall pannel and the five Dark Quantrons were teleported out.
Meanwhile, Andros and Ashley sat together eating lunch at the new outdoor tables at the Surf Spot, just the two of them.
"I'm glad to finally be alone, Andros." Ashley said.
"Well, Zhane and Karone are out on their own date, and I have no idea where the other rangers went to." Andros stated.
"And that's a bad thing?" Ashley said with a mischeivious grin.
Andros smiled as well as he the two leaned foward and kissed.
Their romance was broken up, however, by a pair of explosions, sending their table- and them- hurling back!
"Next time, I will not miss."
Andros and Ashley turned to see Misslecon, as two new missles shifted into place from within his thick armor.
"What the hell is that?" Ashley yelled out. "I thought we completley eradicated all evil!"
"It appears to be robotic." Andros said. "There is no time to waste, we have to stop it!"
"Right!" Ashley agreed. "So much for our time off...."
The two quickly Morphed, and stood in front of the robot.
"Alright, we don't know who exactly you are, but we're sending you back where you came from!" Andros yelled.
"I will go back where I came from." Misslecon agreed. "Once the two of you are eradicated!"
It flew up into the air and fired two more missles, quickly reloading and using the new ones to stay in the air. Andros leaped out of the way, but one of the missles caught Ashley, sending her down to the ground, hurt.
"Ashley!" Andros yelled out.
He turned in an angry rage to Misslecon, and leaped up into the air, Spiral Saber drawn. However, as he reached Misslecon, Misslecon simply flew higher, dodging the attempted slash.
"I can fly too, once I do THIS!" Andros yelled.
He pressed a button on his Battlizer, activating the Red Battlized Armor. He flew up in the air after Misslecon, chasing him.
"Have a taste of your own medicine!" Andros yelled, and fired two missles of his own.
One missed slightly, but the other one hit Misslecon on his right shoulder, causing damage as the wiring was evident where the missle hit him.
"I have been damaged." Misslecon said. "I must return to HQ."
Misslecon flew off at a higher speed. Andros at first thought of following him, but realized he probably wouldn't be able to keep track of him since he couldn't fly at even close speeds to Misslecon's current speed. Besides, Ashley needed him.
Andros flew down to the ground and demorphed. He took Ashley's helmet off.
"Ashley, are you alright?" Andros asked her.
Ashley regained conciousness.
"Yeah, I guess." Ashley replied, demorphing. "Just a little stunned, nothing major. Come on, we have to go find the others. We need to find out who sent that robot after us, and stop them....before this becomes something a lot worse."
Andros nodded, and the two teleported to the Astro Megaship.
"KIMBERLY!" Tommy screamed.
He sighed. He had been out here searching all morning, just as he had been doing for the past four days, since Kimberly's dissaperence.
I finally locate her, and when I make it down here she's dissapered! Tommy thought. I have to keep looking!
Tommy remembered coming to her apartment only to find her hysterical parents. Their daughter had dissapered after a nighttime stroll out to the beach. They said she had been depressed over breaking up with her boyfriend- something that made Tommy only more intent on finding her.
As Tommy contineud to scour the beach for her, suddenly the five Dark Quantrons teleported in front of him.
"Woah." Tommy said. "What are you?"
The Dark Quantrons just replied with their normal beeps, and suddenly attacked. Tommy tried to take one on hand-to-hand, but it easily matched his moves, and then sent him flying to the sand with a powerful punch to the chest.
"Wow, those things are STRONG!" Tommy said.
He got up, only to be met with a flying kick to the chest by another Dark Quantron. He held his chest in pain.
"I don't think.....I can do it!" Tommy said, gasping for air.
The five Dark Quantrons began to approach the fallen Tommy, ready to make good on their master's wishes.....
To Be Continued.....
