Chapter 02: Daniel's Revelation
As the team raced down the almost open highway Asa signaled them to get off on exit 19 toward the Ferris Heights Technology Center on the west side of town. Daniel held Setsuna tight as he carefully followed the others around the light traffic. They decided to stop behind a small building on the way there and deactivate their Ranger forms so they wouldn't be spotted going into the buildings. When they shifted back their cycles also transformed into average looking Ninja Motorcycles. Within minutes they were back on the road and nearing the Tech Center when A.J. noticed a large semi truck closing in on them. They hadn't yet noticed it but the truck was being driven by Gates whose sole purpose was to kill Asa first and foremost.
"What's with the tailgating?" Jerryca yelled to Amanda. "Something doesn't seem right."
"Let him pass, he's annoying me big time." Asa merged into the farthest right lane along with the others and the semi mimicked them.
"Well it's official." Jerryca sighed.
"Huh?" Amanda asked in confusion.
"The obligatory chase sequence is about to start. What do we do Asa?"
Asa carefully glanced over his shoulder at the truck as it accelerated. "Yea it's the ugly computer guy spoiling for revenge. Game plan goes as follows. Pink and Red get the green guy to the Tech Center, they'll recognize you as Rangers. and they'll treat him. Black and Blue lets jackknife that bitch."
"My name's Jerryca not 'Blue'!"
"And I'm A.J.! Come on and lets do this!" He yelled as he, Jerryca, and Asa accelerated and sped down Doris Highway which had been closed for construction. The truck plowed through the road blocks and nearly killed some workers as it closed in on the Rangers. "We need ranger power Asa! Lets stop and give it to the bastard.
"Not yet! We get to the end of the road to Luther drive where we can force him into the water. Maybe he'll short circuit in the lake or somethin!"
As the others were setting a trap for the surviving general Amanda and Daniel patiently awaited Setsuna's diagnosis from Dr. Lucid Bradley, head physician in the Power Rangers base disguised as a technology development center. Only Asa was familiar with the building for he was the only one of them trained in that location. The others were trained for months in a secret mountain facility and never knew much about who was behind the whole operation.
The middle aged Dr. Bradley peeked his head out of the operating room and spoke to them briefly. "He'll survive." He said. "He may be back in shape by next Monday which is what three days from now."
"Were his wound potentially fatal?" Amanda asked. Daniel shifted in his chair and kept his eyes on the floor as they talked.
"His heart was nearly punctured by a broken rib but with out technology we were able to easily fix that."
"I'm glad that he's ok. Aren't you relieved now Daniel?" She turned to him and her smile slowly dripped into a sad frown.
"I should have been able to help him." He mumbled. "How did this happen? How could I let this happen?!"
Amanda leaned down and grabbed his hand. He responded somewhat but still starred at the floor. "We all have to look out for each other. Hell I was right there and I couldn't do anything because like you I was being assaulted and had to wrench free from that to save Setsu. Cheer up He'll be ok, but we have to help the others. We can't be everywhere at once so we have to put our faith in others to do the job that you can't"
"Maybe you...are right. I don't know. I didn't think we could be damaged that easily while in our suits."
"You weren't supposed to be so easily harmed." The two jumped up and saluted their commander, Leon Reaper who was dressed in a black pinstripe suit with and black loafers. He ordered them to stand at ease. "Setsuna was hurt because the finishing program of the Synchrotech suits turned out to be flawed. Your morphers will have to be reprogrammed." He stepped back toward the operating room door and peeked in on Setsuna. "Its a shame though that this had to happen."
"I could have saved him, that's the sad part." Daniel hung his head in shame.
"Damn Daniel get over it!" Amanda grabbed him by the straps of his tank top and slammed him against the wall. "Asa was right, you aren't fit to be the leader. As long as you keep feeling sorry for yourself you're gonna bring the entire team down."
"Amanda...don't be so harsh on him. It's scary being a key factor in such a situation. Go and help the other's, Amanda." Mr. Reaper nodded to her and she turned toward the exit. "Oh and Amanda."
"Yes, sir?"
"Asa may come off as kind of a lecherous jerk but he'll settle down if you stay on his good side."
Meanwhile the others were engaged in a heated pursuit down the long and ragged highway. They finally stopped when they had reached the lake and activated their Ranger Sycncho suits. As they expected Gates didn't slowdown and instead attempted to plow right through them, killing them all if possible. The Rangers stood their ground at the edge of Lake Bowers as the massive semi sped toward them.
"When do we jump!" A.J. cried in distress.
"NOW!" Asa jumped high into the air and Jerryca and A.J. jumped to each side of the truck. They each fired multiple shots from their blasters at the cab causing it to blow up as it hit the lake.
"Damn he's gotta be dead from that. How can anything survive that shit?" Jerryca put away her gun and sat down on the grass. Asa sat down beside her and rested his head upon her shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"I'm probably resting my head, der!" He sarcastically snapped. She didn't push him away for she felt something comforting about him being so close to her.
A.J. turned around and noticed Amanda along with Daniel approaching on their cycles. "I hope they're bringing good news about Setsuna. Hey guys how long are you gonna stare at the lake? Jeez you two birds are hitting it off and I'm not gettin' none."
"What happened to the general?" Amanda stopped next to A.J. and glanced at the two sitting down and then at the lake.
"He's in the charred semi truck plummeting to the bottom of that deep ass lake. So what's up with Setsu? Is he gonna be ok?"
Amanda turned to Daniel and smacked his stomach with the back of her hand. "He'll be fine after a couple of days in the hospital. His family is their by his side right now and their is some disputes about him staying on as a ranger."
"His family doesn't want him to fight anymore but the decision hasn't been made yet."
Asa and Jerryca joined the others and removed their helmets. Jerryca added in her two cents and they all grew quiet. As they stood silent they were oblivious to the damaged general standing at the edge of the lake. He raised his blaster and aimed at Asa's head.
"DIE RANGER!!!" He fired the blaster but missed as the team broke away from each other quickly.
"Why wont you just give up and die, ya piece of computerized shit?!" Asa put his helmet back on and started to run toward the badly damaged cyborg. Daniel, however, stopped Asa before he could act. Daniel held his arm high and wore a determined frown upon his face.
"Stop, Asa. If anyone's gonna beat him it will be me! CYBER RANGER FIVE, RED!" He was then transformed into a never before seen fighting beast. The rage in his soul grew and grew as he went blow for blow with the enemy. They dealt incredible damage to each other with their strikes yet neither would succumb to the strength of the other. Asa couldn't standby and watch the display any longer. Daniel was doing far to much to avenge Setsuna and if something wasn't done Daniel would end up in a hospital bed as well.
"Daniel you fool get out of there!" A.J. screamed. Asa signaled him to tackle Daniel while he destroyed the general but Daniel cursed them for attempting to interfere.
"Fuck you Daniel! I'm not gonna let you sacrifice yourself to settle a score. "Hunterang Deadly Slash Attack!"
"Wait, Asa if you hit Daniel it will be the end for him!" Amanda grabbed him by the arm to stop him.
"Back off I got a plan. The only way to do this is to strike the ground near them causing them to fly through the air. That's when you guys shoot the computer chump!"
"Shit Asa you better not hit Danny!" Jerryca screamed as she readied her rifle.
"Let's make a bet. If I don't hit him I'll be lickin' your snatch tonight!" Asa laughed.
"Whatever just do it!"
"LET'S GOOOOOO!" Asa aims a little more than five feet away from the two and launches the glowing Hunterang weapon. The two battling could not react in time and were thrown through the air as the others blasted Gates directly upon his breastplate. "It's the end for you." Asa mumbled. Gates's body landed upon the ground like a rag doll and eventually blew apart like a ton of dynamite.
"I told you not to interfere!" Daniel limped toward the others, A.J. caught him as he was falling to his knees. "I wanted him to myself!"
"You would have died. The suits aren't that durable yet. You're lucky you are so strong or you'd be dead by now. Don't do that again or I'll bust you down to scrubbin shit from the toilets at the base!" Asa scolded.
"Don't be so harsh on him." Jerryca grabbed him by the arm. He twisted free slowly from her grip and grabbed her hand.
"Let's go. I gots sumptin I wanna do to ya!"
As they walked away toward their cycles the others wondered what their future would be like with Asa as the newly appointed leader.