Time frame: a month after The Mysterious Ranger

The Trap

By: Moonlit Sea

"Ecliptor I want to know who that Maroon ranger is! We don't need another ranger ruining our plans!" Astronema shouted.

"Yes my princess but it will not be easy. No one knows who the Maroon ranger is not even the rangers." Ecliptor replied.

"All we know is that they appear when the other rangers are trouble." Edgar said.

"Yes they do don't they…" she said thinking.

"You have plan." Ecliptor asked.

"Of course of I do!" she snapped then smiled evilly.

"Darkonda!" she shouted.

"Yes Astronema." Darkonda answered.

"You and Ecliptor will go down to earth and capture the rangers! Forcing the maroon ranger to help its helpless friends and here's how I want you to do it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Shane are we there yet?" Nicki asked for the nth time.

"We'll be there shortly Nicki." He replied.

"That's what you said an hour ago." She said impatiently.

"I Promise it's just up the road."

"Well okay then."

They were heading out of town to visit Nicki's cousin, who she hadn't seen since moving to Angel Grove. Nicki was excited to go and see Becky but also worried about leaving in case Astronema attacked and the other rangers needed help. But things had been quiet the past few days so she put her worries behind her and set off with Shane, but little she know that Astronema had other plans.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ha ha! It's time for your end Maroon ranger!" Ecliptor shouted.

"We'll soon see about that Ecliptor." The Maroon ranger replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Alert! Alert!" D.E.C.A said.

"What is it DECA?" Andros asked.

"The Maroon ranger is trouble." D.E.C.A answered.

"Let's take a look." Zhane said.

The image of the Maroon ranger fighting Ecliptor came on the main screen, the Maroon ranger was losing badly

"They need help." Ashley said.

"Right let's go."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Back on Earth the Maroon ranger was down and trying to get back up but failing. She could see Ecliptor coming closer and closer and was about to strike when he got hit six times, he stumbled backward.

"Rangers so nice of you to join us. Come to see friends' defeat." Ecliptor boasted.

The rangers all crowded round the Maroon ranger with four them keeping an eye on Ecliptor.

"Are you all right?" Ashley asked.

They helped the ranger to her feet

"I think the question you should be asking is, are you gonna be all right." The Maroon ranger said with an evil tone of voice.

And with that the ranger hit the Yellow and Blue rangers sending them down to ground. The other rangers turned round instantly when they heard the others go down only to receive the same treatment themselves.

"Why?" Zhane asked.

As they all watched the Maroon ranger walked back toward Ecliptor and stand beside him, but Zhane got no answer to his question. All the rangers tried to get up but they couldn't what ever the Maroon ranger hit them with it had taken all their energy!

"Heh heh you rangers are so easy to fool!" the Maroon ranger said.

Everyone watched as the Maroon ranger turned into Darkonda!

"We should of known." TJ said.

"That you should of rangers. And today's your lucky day, as we're not going to destroy you." Ecliptor replied.

"That's right Astronema has other plans for you" Darkonda added.

"Oh and what's that?" Andros asked.

But they never heard the reply as all the rangers blacked out and powered down.

"Perfect! Just as we planned."

"Right, let's take them to the cave." Ecliptor said.

"And wait the arrival of the real Maroon ranger!"

They laughed evilly

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*Beep beep beep*

"What's that sound?" Becky asked.

*-Uh oh I knew it was too quiet-* Nicki thought.

"Oh it's just my watch alarm."

Trying to think of some excuse as to why her communicator went off.

"I'm going to go for a walk, anyone want to come?"

She knew this was a bad idea but she didn't want to raise any suspicion as to why she needed to go so urgently.

"No it's okay I'll stay here." Shane replied.

"Me too." Becky added.

"Okay see you all in a bit." Nicki said as she started towards the garden.

"Woof woof"

Nicki laughed

"You to Laforge."

Looking at Becky's dog, she patted him on the head before heading off into the garden, when she as sure anyone couldn't see or hear her she answered her communicator.

"What is it Janeway?" she asked.

"The rangers have been captured." Janeway answered.

"What! By who?"

"Ecliptor and Darkonda"

"I thought it was a bit quiet around here *sigh* but why now of all times." Nicki said.

"I dunno, how should I know."

"Okay okay cool your circuits. *Sigh* I'll be right there."

She went deeper into the garden *-it's a good thing this is a big garden-* she thought and teleported back to her base.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the entrance to the cave Darkonda was wondering if the Maroon ranger would ever show up.

"What's taking that ranger so long?" he said growing impatient.

"Be patient they'll come, if they don't their friends are history!" Ecliptor replied.

They both laughed.

"Yeah in a way I wish that ranger wouldn't come so we can finish them of once and for all!"

Ecliptor walked back through the cave to check on their 'guests'.

"You'll never get away with this!" Carlos shouted at Ecliptor.

"We already have! And there's nothing you can do about it!" he replied while walking to the

back of the cave laughing as he went at the Black ranger's statement.

"Their waiting for the Maroon ranger." Cassie said.

"How do you know that?" Ashley asked.

"I overheard them talking over there." Cassie answered and pointed to the entrance of the cave.

"Why? What would they want with the Maroon ranger?" Zhane asked.

"Probably to find out her identity. I mean no one knows who they are not even us!" TJ said.

"Your right, they just turn up whenever were in trouble." Andros added.

"So we're the bait." Ashley stated.

"Looks like it." TJ said.

"We have to warn the Maroon ranger somehow." Carlos said.

"But how?" Cassie asked.

"Good question." Andros said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Janeway, do you know how the rangers got captured?" Nicki said when she arrived at her base.

"They impersonated the Maroon ranger." Janeway answered.

"Huh? But how can that be? Show me." She said surprised.

Then on the screen in front of her the way the rangers were capture was shown.

"Hm that Darkonda's tricky, so we'll have to be even trickier. Janeway I'm going to transfer your program to your computer body after I have activate defence program Kirk 7 of 9." Nicki said.

"Will do."

Nicki pressed a few buttons and transfer was complete.

"Now activating defence program Kirk 7of 9…

…Program activated" Janeway reported.

"Right now here's what were going to do…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"They're here!" Ecliptor said.

"What have you done with the rangers?" Nicki asked.

"Their right in here, Maroon ranger." He replied then put his arm out to indicate.

But Nicki wouldn't move it was all too easy for her liking and besides she had to buy Janeway some time.

"Do you think I'm stupid or something Ecliptor?"

Ecliptor put his arm down *-this rangers smarter than I thought-*

"Okay Maroon ranger have it your way, quantros attack!"

*-Just as I thought-* She thought to herself then said into her communicator "Janeway now!"

Nicki went into battle fighting the quantros but she knew she would lose. She just hoped Janeway would be successful or all was lost.

Inside the cave -

"Ranger's can you hear me?" Janeway asked.

"Yeah we hear you. Who are you?" Zhane answered.

"I am Janeway, the Maroon ranger's computer. I have come here to help."

"Great! Hey guys over here." Zhane said to the others.

Then a voice behind Janeway said, "the only help you'll be to the Maroon ranger is helping with their defeat!"

As soon as Janeway heard the voice she flew up causing Darkonda to crash into the wall

"Activating defence program Sisko-odo-sisko."

TO BE CONTINUED…

With Janeway fighting Darkonda will Nicki get the help she needs in time? Or has the evil finally won? Find out in the next episode 'The Maroon Ranger Needs Help'.

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Well what do you think? Good, bad, rubbish (!) please review and let me know how I'm doing. Cya next ep ;o)