Eternal Sentai

Guardranger

Episode 6: Hour of Doom Approaching! The Eternal Sentai's Darkest Hour

By David Anderson and Derek Pryor

A cold wind whistled through the trees as the moon hung in the sky overhead, an ivory disc against the ebony sky that surrounded it. Armag's cape blew in the wind as he strode through the forest. He barely felt a chill at all. His mind was anywhere but on the wind.

It appeared to be a hopeless struggle. The Guardrangers seemed almost indestructible. No matter what plans he created to get rid of them, no matter what destructive powers his warriors brought to bear against them, he had been foiled by those do-gooders at every turn. Prevented from claiming the power he needed to deal with enemies much more threatening than those brightly-clad miscreants. And any day now those other enemies would be arriving and he was not ready for them.

Damn them all, he thought in frustration, those Guardrangers are more of a nuisance than I'd counted on. Well, there's no more time to play games with them…I'll have to take drastic measures.

Armag turned to walk back to his cavern hideout. It irked him that his usually-refreshing evening hike had been completely ruined by the problem of the Guardrangers dominating his thoughts, but he'd have all the time he needed for peaceful thought after the Death Gar was in his hands.

As he walked through the false cliff face that hid the entrance to the cavern, Armag called out, "Arcume, come forth! Your Lord summons you to service!"

A hideous brute strolled out of the shadows. He was nearly seven feet tall, with dark red mottled skin and golden eyes. His muscles were enormous but there was, at the same time, an unmistakable look of ruthless cunning on his monstrous features. This was no muscle-bound oaf here.

"Yes, sir? What must I do?" he said in a rumbling voice.

"The time for subtlety has passed," Armag replied. "You are the strongest of my animated warriors. You are also my last, regrettably. It is up to you and I to obliterate the Guardrangers before my countrymen arrive on this planet."

"Of course," Arcume replied, "Let me face them, and I guarantee their deaths."

"No," Armag said, "I can afford no more such risks. Together they have overcome everything I have sent against them. Perhaps they are capable of defeating even you. No, we must divide them and render them helpless. Underestimating them has already cost me far more than I ever intended to pay."

"May I ask what role I am to play in this, Lord?"

"You may. Listen well then, Arcume. Listen… and learn."

Things were quiet as Ryuji locked up the Golden Bushel for the night. He didn't have much to complain about, though. His business was still doing well despite the demands on his time from his other job, which itself was going quite well. It seemed like no matter what those Garganstahs did, it was never anything they couldn't cope with. Frankly, he'd expected more from an empire that was supposed to be able to menace the whole world.

There was just one thing bothering him. When he'd called Hellscar, his Guard Beast, to help him fight the giant monster they'd last fought, Beservor seemed afraid of something Hellscar might do. He'd been like that too when Hellscar had first revived. But Ryuji couldn't figure why. Hellscar was like an extension of himself. What could there be to worry about? Sometime soon he'd have to make space to ask Bes about that. Ryuji didn't like the feeling that there was something, probably something unpleasant, that he didn't know about the Guardrangers' most powerful ally. Great, there went his good mood.

But as he started walking home, Ryuji felt safe about trusting Hellscar with his life. The dragon was his Guard Beast, after all, created to help him and follow his commands. And Hellscar hadn't shown anything but elation at being reunited with him after all this time (well, and a little guilt something Ryuji still didn't know about). Maybe Bes knew something he didn't, but he knew something the wizard didn't either. What it felt like to connect with another being the way he and Hellscar almost seemed to become one when they fought together. What could Bes be afraid of?

"Hey, bro! Wait up!" Jason came bounding toward him, white and blue-trimmed sneakers sounding rapidly against the sidewalk. He'd probably been late coming to meet Ryuji at closing time. The surfer jogged up to Ryuji's side.

"Yo, Jase, how'd the search go?"

"Still looking for work," Jason sighed, but smiled, "I mean, I've got more money than I know what to do with, but I don't wanna live off my contest winnings forever, y'know."

"Uh-huh."

"Still, I'm a smart, talented, good-looking young guy…" he grinned with no lack of pride, "I'll be able to find something soon."

"Uh-huh."

"Something on your mind, Ryu?"

Ryuji looked over at his friend, slightly abashed. "Is it that obvious?"

Jason smacked Ryuji playfully on the shoulder, "Don't play dumb with me, man. I've known you too long."

"Well, Jase…do you wonder about your Guard Beast? Bes told me we all have one."

Jason looked surprised by the question, but thought silently for a few moments as they walked along. Finally, he said, "Well, yeah, I have, a little. What kind of team would this be if only you got one?"

"Well, I don't think he's said anything to any of the others, but Bes seems afraid of the rest of the Guard Beasts. He's even afraid of Hellscar."

"That's not so weird. Who'd want to go up against a dragon?"

"Yeah, true. But I don't think it's that. I remember how when we had to fight that fire monster after he went giant and all, and Bes told me to call Hellscar, but like there was something he was afraid he'd do."

"Like what?" Jason asked.

"I don't know, but I'm positive it hasn't happened. I sure think I'd better find out, though. I just get the feeling that sooner or later we'll need all the help we can possibly get."

Jason gave Ryuji a strange look, "Wow, you've really gotten into this superhero thing, haven't you? I haven't been able to talk to you about anything lately without being a Guardranger coming into it. You've hardly even said a word about the Bushel lately."

"It's doing fine, I haven't forgotten about it. But I think our other job is a bigger deal. And don't tell me you wouldn't like having something like Hellscar of your own, either."

"Sure I would, but lighten up, dude. Being in charge of protecting the planet is fine, but it shouldn't cost you your sense of humor."

Ryuji fell silent. Was being Fireguard really changing him? He had to admit it wasn't that long ago that his only big concern was the business his restaurant did. But he'd come running when the others were in trouble, when only he could save them, even though a big business opportunity had fallen through for him. He had still come. He'd like to think he hadn't changed much because of this new, very large responsibility, but maybe his priorities had. He didn't know.

They drove to Ryuji's apartment while talking about less important things about their days and normal lives, then when they got there Jason said his goodbye and departed to his own place. Ryuji just sank into a chair, his mind still on everything he and Jason had talked about regarding the Guardrangers. He'd have to make a point of having a very serious talk with Bes soon.

The enormous crimson dragon cut through the clouds at a speed that would leave the fastest jetliner in the dust. It was a wild, free feeling, and Hellscar reveled in it, giving an exultant roar. Inside the giant beast, Fireguard felt the same thing. The day was bright and the sky the bluest either of them had ever seen. To think he'd honestly given back his bracelet before. That he might never have had such elevated experiences as joining forces with a powerful being like Hellscar. Sure, this was all just a dream, but he felt as if his sleeping mind had somehow met Hellscar's, and now they were both dreaming this together.

Fireguard grinned as he shared in the euphoria Hellscar was feeling. "You're enjoying this, huh, big guy?"

" AREN'T YOU?" the Guard Beast's mental voice thrummed in his mind.

Fireguard chuckled at his giant friend's rebuttal. Hellscar didn't always make it a point to actually speak in words most of the time; the emotional bond between their souls was usually enough to convey whatever was needed between them, but this was an obvious exception.

Suddenly, the sun began to dim and the skies to darken. Something was wrong. An awesome evil was nearby. Sure enough, a huge, devilish shadow, hundreds of feet tall, appeared in the sky before them. It had eyes like hot coals and talons as long as a city block. It reached out strike the hero and his beast from the sky. He knew at once they had no chance against it. Its evil chilled the very air around them.

As the creature's blow was about to connect, a bright light suddenly flared up in the distance, stopping it in mid-swing. The light soon faded, to be replaced by four smaller spheres, all different colors. Blue, green, yellow and white. They shot out of the distance and slammed into the shadow, driving it back, and as they did Fireguard almost thought he could see shapes in them. Like…animals? He couldn't tell, but they streaked toward the shadow and smashed into it. There was a thundering roar from the shadow, then it exploded into a billion shards of blackness that were blown away on the wind. The colored orbs of light hovered in the air a minute, regarding Hellscar and his master. The shapes in them became more distinct. Fireguard could make out a large bird, what looked like a giant fish, something large and with four short legs, and…an ape? He wasn't sure.

Then he felt a sensation in his mind, like when Hellscar communicated with him. The creatures in the light were trying to contact him in that way! He didn't hear words so much as feelings, but they were unmistakable.

Complete us…complete us? What did that mean? As he wondered, they sped away like comets, leaving Fireguard and Hellscar to ponder what they had said, and what they might be.

As the sun rose over Tokyo that morning, all the people awake to see it knew it was going to be a beautiful day. A beautiful day for killing a few superheroes, thought one.

Arcume lived for battle. He'd hardly slept the night before and an hour before sun up was out performing his meditation ritual that he did before he knew he'd be engaging in combat. Even Armag wasn't up when Arcume rose from his mental prepping to gird himself for battle, and he was personally overseeing this next attack.

Arcume entered his chamber in the cavern, the one they'd dug out when they came a couple of months ago. He walked over to the rack against wall where his weapons hung, and picked up his wicked curved sword. This weapon would go down in the annals of Garganstah history when the Guardrangers died upon it. Armag's other animated warriors had thought to achieve such glory for themselves as well. But Arcume knew he was different.

Was he not the ultimate product of Armag's animated warrior creation? Had he not been saved for last because he was Armag's trump card? He was more than a match for a few Guardrangers. They would be completely helpless against his power…

The sound of metallic feet in the hallway caught his attention. The Silicons, ordered to mobilize themselves at this time in preparation for the attack, were filing in. Then another set of footsteps approached, and given how well the Guardrangers had been picking away at his foolish comrades, Arcume knew they could only belong to his leader. The warrior hastily but expertly donned his battle gear and entered the hall.

Armag was standing there waiting, all right, in front of the small army that his remaining Silicons comprised, dressed in the sturdy but elegant gold-hued armor that denoted his office. It seemed he knew this was his last chance to remove the Guardrangers from his path, and was preparing for a do-or-die assault against them.

"I am ready, sir," Arcume said, bowing respectfully.

"Good. You know what is expected of you," Armag replied. Arcume nodded. It was a statement, not a question, but he knew to acknowledge Armag when the Baron was speaking. "Go then. We will follow you soon."

Arcume turned and left the hideout. As soon he was outside, he changed into a ball of light and zipped toward Tokyo. The cave was a few miles to the west of the city, but that bit of information didn't matter to Arcume. Whether they won or lost this coming battle, it'd probably be the last time he ever saw the place.

As he cruised undetected over the city, he saw that it was beginning to come to life as the citizens woke and began to go about their daily business. They had no idea that their fragile peace was going to be shattered once again.

Arcume touched down on the top of a building and resumed his true form. He wondered at these people. So often were the likes of him threatening them and demolishing their buildings, their homes. They could take away everything a person had in a moment, his family, his job, his very life. How did they go on living constantly facing such dangers from "monsters" like Arcume? He knew Garganstah wasn't the first.

But perhaps that was the answer. For every inter-dimensional army or secret cartel bent on taking over this ball of dirt, there was a team like the Guardrangers springing up to stop them at all costs. Funny, really. It was like some kind of cosmic law of equilibrium.

Well, today he was going to be breaking that law.

That hinged on finding the members of the Guardrangers, however. But he was prepared. He seated himself on the roof where he'd landed and cleared his mind. There was a certain uniqueness to the Guardrangers, being imbued with a supernatural power as they were. That power was completely undetectable to normal people, but he was hardly normal.

Arcume focused his thoughts on what he knew of that energy, the sensations of it he'd received from the Guardrangers while observing them in battle against his comrades before. The elemental energy that set the Guardrangers apart from the rest of humanity was not so strong while they were in their human forms, but it was still there and he could use it to find them.

Arcume focused, then thrust out with his mind. It felt as if he had left his body behind, but he was just stretching out with his psychic power. His detection flew through the streets at the speed of thought, trying to pick up that faint resonance of being something more than human that made the Guardrangers stand out. He sped across numerous streets with his mind, finding nothing out of the ordinary about any of the scores of people he detected.

As he was just about to give up and snap himself out his trance, Arcume suddenly felt the kind of psychic tingling he was looking for. He stopped and surveyed the area, tracing the source of the elemental energy he detected.

It was a young man, a native by the look of him, greeting a friend, who looked to be an American. It was from the first that the energy was coming. Excellent! He'd found a Guardranger! But wait…

The energy…there was too much for just one of them. Could it be? Arcume focused his senses on the American, confirming his suspicions. Yes, he sensed elemental energy invested in this person too! One had an aura of vibrant red that implied heat…and the American's was a cool, but powerful shade of blue that gave the impression of dampness…no doubt he'd found the soldiers of fire and water. Two Guardrangers already! This was satisfactory to the plan, so he stretched out with his power to contact Armag while still keeping an eye on these two as they walked down the street.

Sir, I've found two Guardrangers.

Excellent," Armag replied through the temporary telepathic connection Arcume had established between them, I'll create a diversion so that their friends don't give you any trouble.

I am already familiar with the plan, sir, Arcume replied. From the other end of the line came what sounded like Armag sputtering for a moment, but then he regained his composure.

I expect no less for you. You are my best soldier. Do your job, then, Arcume. Arcume shut down the connection. Then, before snapping out of his trance, figured out exactly where his two targets were in relation to him, then returned to the physical realm. He rose and smirked to himself, those Guardrangers were in serious trouble now.

"So Jase, any locations you've got in mind for the job search?" Ryuji asked as the two of them walked to the Golden Bushel to open it up for the day.

"Not yet, man. But I figure with a city this huge, there's gotta be something out there I'm qualified for," Jason replied. He was just glad to be talking to Ryuji about anything but being Guardrangers. Sure it was a big deal, but it was worrying Jason a little that it had almost taken over his friend's thoughts lately.

It was a great responsibility and Ryuji was rising to it admirably, but it seemed like he was becoming…less like Ryuji. Less like the fun-loving guy he could trade joking banter with; that little exchange they'd had in his apartment just before the incident in Izumo was the last time he'd acted like the person Jason had been friends with for years. His second encounter with Hellscar had him wondering about the Guard Beasts even more than before, it seemed.

Being a Guardranger was fine, Jason thought, but did it mean losing his best friend?

But before Jason could put anymore thought into the subject, all of a sudden, something huge and red dropped out of the sky into the street in front of them. Eight feet tall, with leathery red skin, black beady eyes and the face of an ugly fish crossed with an even uglier man, it could only have been a Garganstah monster. He wore body armor and helmet with the sheen of stainless steel, and a vicious-looking sword with a crescent blade hung at his waist. He leered at Jason and Ryuji, knowing he'd found his targets. There weren't many other people on the streets at that early hour of the morning, but those that were screamed and got the hell out of there in a hurry. With an evil guffaw, Arcume drew his sword and swiped it through the air. Energy formations shaped like the blade and glowing an evil cross of yellow and green jumped forth from the weapon and smashed explosively into the ground as the panicked civilians ran for their lives, just like he wanted them to. So he could deal with the two heroes with no interference.

Jason and Ryuji were hardly idle as he did this. "FIRE…FOCUS!"

"WATER…FOCUS!"

In a dual burst of red and blue light, the power of their elements flooded into them and swiftly wove their uniforms around them. Somehow this monster had singled them out, known to attack them. It was disquieting, that he'd clearly known who they were even in their human forms. But it was something they'd have to worry about later.

The Guardrangers immediately went into action. Just as Arcume was turning back to face them, Waterguard hurled himself through the air and drove his fist into the monster's face. His Shock Knuckles exploded with power as they made contact, shooting a very painful burst of electricity right into Arcume's kisser. He let out a yelp of pain and staggered back a few steps, but then looked at them again, smiling evilly. There was no mark at all on his face from the blow, and he advanced toward them.

"Dragon Hellriser!" Fireguard cried out next, focusing his energy. He spiraled toward Arcume, the familiar tornado of fire flowing from his outstretched fist around his body as he rocketed toward the monster. But as that fist was about to connect with Arcume's jaw, the monster grabbed it out of the air and stopped Fireguard in mid-flight, the fire trailing from his hand vanishing as his attack was foiled. Fireguard tried to pull himself free from the monster's grip, but Arcume's strength was too great. He raised his sword and with a vicious swipe, brought it down on the red-clad hero's shoulder, resulting in a cry of pain and a shower of sparks. Arcume grinned maliciously. This was even easier than he thought it would be!

Waterguard acted swiftly, whipping out the Eternablade at his side and hurling it at Arcume's head. The monster was as a swift as he was strong, though, and shoved Fireguard into the path of the blade. It struck Fireguard's back and bounced off his uniform with a burst of sparks, but he let out a yell of pain. Great, Waterguard thought, there's a good way to maintain a friendship. Arcume kicked Fireguard away, swinging his sword and launching a crescent blade of power from it toward the Rangers.

"Dragon Steel!" Fireguard shouted, his own powerful blade appearing in his waiting hand. With a quick swipe of it he deflected the energy blade harmlessly into the sky. He fell into a fighting stance, his eyes locked on Arcume. This monster was tough. Even using their weapons they'd probably be no match. So when Waterguard called up the Orca Brand and joined his teammate, Fireguard had other instructions for him than attacking.

"Call the others, man. I'll keep him busy."

"What? We don't even know what he can do. I'm not letting you fight this guy by yourself!" Arcume advanced on them, so Fireguard wasted no time with his friend.

"Which is why you should call the others while I hold him off. I think he's too strong for both of us. We need the whole team!" With that, Fireguard charged, swinging the Dragon Steel. Arcume met it in mid-air with his own blade and sparks erupted where the two swords met. They swung again and again at each other, their blades ringing with their repeated collisions. Then, with a lightning-quick move, Arcume's scimitar connected with Fireguard's abdomen. The hero stumbled back in pain and Arcume pressed his advantage, raking his blade against Fireguard's chest, creating a fountain of sparks. Another slash knocked him off his feet.

Meanwhile, Waterguard was doing as he'd been told. This was a truly formidable monster, and they could indeed stand some help. He concentrated on that otherworldly bond the team shared, reaching out to contact his allies.

He didn't even wait for them to acknowledge him before sending out his message, "Guys, we're fighting a monster in the middle of the city. He's too much for us and we need help. Hurry!" Waterguard's mind snapped back to the real world just in time, since Arcume had decided to move on to the Guardranger who wasn't hurt. The monster's scimitar came down in an arc toward Waterguard's throat, but at the last second he parried with the shaft of the Orca Brand. Arcume was caught off guard, giving Waterguard a chance to shift his weapon into its battlerod mode and blast the monster in the gut at point blank. Arcume staggered back a few steps, his breastplate smoking from where he'd been shot, blue light fading from the point of impact. But other than a mild scorch mark there was nothing to show he'd just been shot. Arcume let out a triumphant sort of chuckle and readied himself to continue the attack.

Fireguard climbed to his feet and ran to his friend's side. He only hoped they could hold out until their teammates arrived…

Naoko strolled down the sidewalk at a relaxed pace, unusual for a woman who prided herself on efficiency and the advantages of working at a fast pace. But things had been too hectic of late for her not to want to unwind a little at least.

Looks like there's something to be said for taking things easy after all, Naoko mused to herself as she took a sip from her paper cup full of coffee--one of those crazy-flavored concoctions that people lived on these days. Naoko wasn't a coffee person by nature, but she'd found herself enjoying it anyway.

As the Institute came into view, Naoko felt something brush against the back of her mind--the familiar sensation of soul contact quickly become dominant. But it was different this time--the call was tinted with an urgency she'd never felt before. Quickly setting her purse and cup in a safe spot and making sure no one was looking, Naoko brought her fingers to her forehead and concentrated.

"Guys, we're fighting a monster in the middle of the city. He's too much for us and we need help. Hurry!"

Jason, calm down! Naoko ordered. Where are you? Give me a location so I can--

"Well, well, well," a voice spoke from behind, "What do my eyes behold?"

Naoko felt her blood run cold as the inhuman voice grated in her ears. She spun around and was instantly confronted by the gloating face of Armag, who looked for all the world like he'd uncovered the world's greatest secret.

Which, unfortunately, was unbearably close to the truth.

"You…" Naoko breathed.

"And to think you pests were under my nose all this time," Armag scoffed. "I have to commend you, however; hiding in plain sight was an inspired choice. If not an entirely original one. You have my sincerest admiration, Guardranger."

Naoko's blood ran even colder. He knows…Kami-sama help us all… he knows!

Armag chuckled murderously. "Yes, I know exactly who you are, my dear Earthguard. I suspected as much when you didn't show yourself along with the other when I invaded the Terralogical Institute, but it's so satisfying to actually have concrete evidence before you."

"I'm sure," Naoko snarled with deep sarcasm. She was more angry at herself than Armag, even though logically there was no reason to be. She couldn't have known he'd be lurking around here, waiting to pounce on her, but it didn't make things easier to bear. "Well, now that you're among the informed, I suppose we should just skip the preliminaries and go right to the fighting then, no?"

"A woman after my own heart," Armag proclaimed, unsheathing his sword.

"Gomenesai. But since it looks like my friends need a little help with one of your toadies, we'll have to do this another time," Naoko said, and turned to dash way.

"Silicons!" Armag shouted, and several of his metallic foot soldiers sprang up out of the ground around Naoko. She was surrounded! "You'd be better served with preserving your own life first!"

"EARTH…FOCUS!" Once again the power of the ground upon which she stood rushed into Naoko's being, swathing her in the brilliant yellow uniform of Earthguard. Just in time, because immediately a Silicon raked his sword violently across her chest, creating a burst of sparks as she fell back from the blow. The group of metallic warriors swarmed toward her, weapons at the ready.

"SEISMIC. . .…FORCE!" she shouted out, bringing her foot down with ground-shaking impact. The Silicons were knocked off their feet, and Earthguard darted backwards to get a little breathing room. "As much as I'd love to stay and settle with you, I've more important matters to attend to." Earthguard dashed down the street as fast as she could before the villains could regroup.

Armag was still on his feet, though. He focused his power and suddenly turned into a blur of red light. He streaked past the fleeing Earthguard, striking her painfully across the back of the shoulders as he did. The blur reformed into Armag, whose lips curled up into an angry snarl. "You aren't going anywhere, my dear. Letting you help your friends isn't part of the plan …" His sword sang as it sliced through the air toward her head, only to be stopped at the last instant as she brought up her Eternablade to block the deadly strike.

Armag lifted his sword to strike again, but when he brought it down Earthguard had swerved aside and the unearthly blade shattered the asphalt where she'd been moments before. As she rose to her feet and prepared to arm herself with the Grizzly Claws, two chains snaked out of nowhere and wrapped around her wrists. The Silicons wielding them yanked, pulling her arms out to her sides. She was completely defenseless!

Armag sneered at his catch, then thrust his hand at her. Bolts of red electricity shot from his fingertips and danced agonizingly across her body. Earthguard growled, both in pain and aggravation. Her teammates were fighting one of Armag's monsters, and she was stuck here at Armag's mercy. If they didn't get some help soon, they'd be in serious trouble. And yet if she didn't get help soon, so would she. That was just the way Armag wanted it…

Armag struck out at her with his sword, the tip of the blade digging into her chest in a burst of sparks. He dragged it slowly, pitilessly across her chest, an evil smirk on his blue face. Earthguard raised her foot, about to try her Seismic Force attack again, but Armag brought his blade down onto her shoulder, driving the heroine to her knees.

"Pity. I was so hoping for more of a turnout than just you, my dear. Still, one less Guardranger to throw chaos into my work," Armag said with a sigh. But then there was a slight rumbling to be heard, then felt in the ground. All of a sudden the street opened up behind the bound Earthguard and two figures--Forestguard and Airguard--came flying out of a wind tunnel to land behind the Silicons holding Earthguard in place. With a swipe from their Eternablades the metal soldiers fell, sliced in two. Earthguard pulled her hands free from the now lax chains.

"Two more? Well, this is a pleasant surprise…I thought it was going to be just me and your yellow friend here," Armag said.

"What are you two doing here? I didn't manage to call for any help…"

"Didn't need to. We were on our way to help the others but Bes told us he sensed Earthguard fighting a bunch of Garganstahs alone. He thought we should come even the odds here first."

That's what he thinks," Armag thought, they've actually played right into my hands… He drew himself to his full, menacing height and brandished his evil sword. "Come face me, Guardrangers! I don't intend for there to be another meeting between us…" He wasn't fooling. There was almost no time left to remove them and lay claim to the Death Gar before his pursuers arrived.

"Well, at least we all agree on that much," Airguard quipped.

Forestguard cocked back his arm and swung the Gorilla Vine, which coiled around Armag's sword. The strength of desperation was on the Garganstah Baron's side, though, and he pulled with all his might on the sword. Forestguard was yanked off his feet and landed in a heap on the ground.

Airguard took aim with her bow, firing a silvery arrow straight at his chest. The point dug into his breastplate but did no damage, and with a malicious laugh Armag pulled it out and cast it aside. He thrust his sword in their direction, and balls of crimson plasma jumped from the blade and exploded at the Guardrangers' feet, hurling them backwards through the air. They slammed into the asphalt and rose, aching all over.

Armag seemed different, with an air of strength and resolve he hadn't possessed last time. And the Guardrangers knew this would be no easy fight.

It wasn't going any better for Fireguard and Waterguard. The Dragon Steel struck against Arcume's body armor but the monster seemed completely unfazed by the blow. Arcume gave Fireguard a nasty head butt that sent him reeling.

Waterguard attacked. He pressed a button on the shaft of the Orca Brand, then jabbed the weapon into Arcume's abdomen. Electricity surged from it into Arcume's body, and he shook violently as blue tendrils of power flickered and jumped all over him. For a moment Waterguard thought for certain he had this monster, but suddenly, he was being lifted off the ground by an unseen hand! He dropped the Orca Brand, and the electric discharge stopped. Still floating in mid-air, Waterguard let out a yelp of surprise as the invisible power holding him aloft flung him through a store window. He slammed into a counter and fell down, but before he could pick himself up and rejoin the battle a vicious shock surged through his brain, and he blacked out.

"I have to give you two credit," Arcume said in mock respect, "I thought this was going to be a complete slaughter. But now I'll show you what I can really do!"

This wasn't good, the thought occurred to Fireguard. Waterguard was down, and his own body was really starting to feel the effects of all this, now that he was holding himself still and had the dubious luxury of feeling pain. What was keeping the others? Well, whatever happened, he wasn't going down without a fight. He was the leader of the Eternal Sentai Guardranger. A fate he had come to accept. And that fate entailed fighting to the end.

Arcume had gone into some kind of trance, but as Fireguard's mighty Dragon Steel descended toward his head, the monstrous warrior snapped out of it and blocked with his own fearsome blade. The ringing of the impact could be heard for blocks. The two combatants pushed against the other with all their strength, trying to gain the advantage. Despite being the most powerful of Armag's animated warriors, the one he'd been saving for a last-ditch plan like this, Arcume found himself giving ground as Fireguard pressed him further and further back. Arcume staggered, almost falling over, and Fireguard struck, hitting the monster's sword with his own and knocking it into the air. It came down and imbedded itself in the street.

But Arcume laughed. Fireguard had broken his trance, but he'd gathered enough power to do what he needed right now. Arcume formed a circle with his thumbs and forefingers and from that circle lanced a bolt of azure power that bowled the red hero over. Waterguard was just coming around by now and jumped back into the street, but Arcume was ready for him and gave him the same kind of blast he'd just hit Fireguard with. The downed heroes groaned pitifully, but neither could move. Those blasts had somehow robbed all feeling from their bodies.

"I never thought I'd have to resort to my higher powers to beat you. Still, I'm going to be a Garganstah legend now for being a part of the plan that put the Guardrangers in the ground."

"What…the…hell…did you…do…" Fireguard sputtered, it being a Herculean effort to form each word and force it out through his lips.

"…to you?" Arcume asked, retrieving his sword and then grabbing each of them by the arm. "I triggered the sleep processes in your brains. In a few seconds both of you are going to be slipping into a very deep sleep. Not sure why but Armag wants you alive a little longer. But don't think about trying anything. I've paralyzed your motor centers, too."

In the few remaining seconds where he was able to form them, Fireguard's thoughts focused around one issue; were they really going to meet their end so soon after being reawakened? Surely things couldn't end like this. No, it was too soon. He'd never felt more alive than when he'd accepted his destiny. Was it really going to turn out to be having his life, and those of his new friends and comrades, snuffed out like candle flames this soon into the conflict? He had to gather his strength, had to fight back.

But he didn't get the chance. The world blurred, then faded into an inky blackness.

Armag lashed out with his sword, sending all three Guardrangers tumbling. He was fighting harder then before, and was no weakling to begin with. They had no time to guess why he fought so desperately, though. Armag and his Silicons closed in for the kill.

"GRIZZLY CLAWS!" Earthguard shouted, sinking her hands into the ground. Her fearsome weapons swiftly formed from stone and dirt. This fight was taking too long, and they hadn't heard anything from the others. They had to wrap this up and find out what was happening with Fire and Waterguard as quickly as they could.

The wall of Silicons advanced. There were at least a dozen and a half of them, but the Rangers weren't scared by those odds.

Earthguard swerved around, hands outstretched . "PETRA--" she intoned, her voice building in unearthly depth as a blizzard of white particles surged outward, catching three of the charging Silicons within the effect radius, their movements slowing to nothing as cocoons of stone began to form around them. Seconds later they were completely engulfed.

"--CROSS SLASH!" Earthguard lashed out in an "X" motion with both arms, energy and exploded, taking out the three trapped Silicons, and several of their comrades who were too close, with them.

Airguard dropped her bow, and cupped her hands together as several Silicons charged at her. "BOREAN BURST!" she shouted, a powerful bullet of compressed air forming between her hands. She hurled it at the Silicon in the center of the group rushing at her. It struck the ground at his feet and it detonated in a riotous outburst that reduced all of the Silicons nearby to lifeless hunks of metal.

Forestguard focused his power, then called out his attack, "AURA OAK BUSTER!" Glittering leaves of brilliant emerald energy began to fall, striking the Silicons and exploding as they did. The explosions blew chunks off the Silicons' bodies, and Forestguard didn't let up with the barrage of leaves until there was nothing left to menace him but a pile of smoking remains.

"Useless, utterly useless," Armag fumed, looking down at the debris that had been the last of his army. "Gods and minions, if you want something done properly…"

"Good help's so hard to find, isn't it?" Earthguard said dryly.

Armag assumed a fencer's stance. " It doesn't matter--I'd planned on destroying you all myself regardless. Now let's see if your power is as strong as your tongue," he spat back. The Rangers didn't need to be asked twice.

Earthguard swiped at Armag's face with her claws. He dodged back and swung his sword at her solar plexus, a shower of sparks erupting as his blade connected. While Earthguard reeled back from the blow, Forestguard attack. His Gorilla Vine darted through the air, but Armag swatted it aside with an almost effortless sweep of his sword.

"I trust this isn't the strongest effort you have to offer, Guardranger," he said, a bolt of burning red stabbing out from his good eye toward the ground Forestguard stood on. It detonated with the force of a small bomb as it made contact, and Forestguard tumbled to the ground, and didn't move.

Airguard didn't have time to make a move before Armag saw to her. His fist smacked into her torso, and a wave of paralyzing pain spread from the point of contact to every nerve in her body. After a moment of that, she lost all feeling and fell to the ground.

"Nani…? I…I can't…move…!" she gasped out helplessly.

Good old nerve blows, Armag thought, I'll never regret learning the technique for them. The effect was quite simple, using a good chunk of his energy to temporarily sever a foe's control over their body. The white Guardranger wouldn't be trouble him for a while. The same couldn't be said for Earthguard, however. She managed to recover and attacked Armag from behind, her Grizzly Claws digging into his back.

Armag turned at sneered at her. Dark blue blood dripped from the wounds she'd struck, staining his blue skin, but he didn't act like he even noticed. She slashed at him again, but he dodged back, tossed his sword into the air so that it came down straight into his belt, and grabbed the yellow-clad heroine by the wrists. Freeing one hand for just a moment, he toppled her with the same kind of nerve blow he'd used on Airguard. Earthguard tried to fight it off, resist the effects of the paralyzation swallowing her up, but it was no use. She fell limp to the ground, her voice straining to speak, but unable to get it out of her mouth.

Armag gasped for breath. Two nerve blows so close together had weakened him badly. He hoped the third Guardranger didn't have much left fight left in him. But the villain had no need to worry. For at that moment he heard a distant but familiar voice in his mind.

"Sir, I've caught the two I've been fighting. I'm following the next step now," said Arcume through telepathy.

"Excellent, I'm bringing another hero to play with," Armag replied, hoisting the incensed, but still helpless Earthguard into his arms with effort. He didn't feel he had the strength to ensure that his other opponents were dead, but soon it would just be the two of them. He turned into a ball of light the color of blood and flitted.

Airguard struggled helplessly, but she still had no control over her faculties. She looked over at Forestguard, who was still lying unconscious where he'd landed. She reached out with her mind, trying to make contact with the others, but the only active consciousness she could sense was Naoko's, and the strike to her nervous system kept her from making full contact.

A spiral of fear worked its way into Airguard's throat as she pushed harder. "Tochiro? Jason? Ryuji…? Someone…??? Oh, no…Kami help me…am I the only one left…?"

Airguard!

Airguard gasped as the mental voice touched her thoughts. "Bes? Is that you???"

What's happened, child? I cannot make contact with anyone else. Are you all right?

"Bes, it's awful!" Airguard rushed out. "Armag took Earthguard, and I don't know what happened to Fire and Water, and Forestguard--"

Airguard, calm yourself, Beservor commanded gently. I sense you are in some sort of physical distress.

"Armag did something to me…I can't move. He did it to Naoko, too."

It appears to be some form of temporary overwhelming of the central nervous system. Hold still, Miaka. At once Airguard felt warmth flow into her being, the touch soothing and welcome. Within seconds, she felt the feeling and sensation of movement returning to her stricken limbs. She sat up and flexed her fingers a few times to get the kinks out before walking quickly over to where Forestguard lay and shaking him.

"Tochiro…come on, snap out of it!"

Forestguard groaned and sat up. He shook his head from side to side, and asked simply, "Did we win?"

"No. We got clobbered."

"And he just left us lying here?"

"He paralyzed me and Earthguard and just disappeared. It was like…like this was all some kind of set up."

Earthguard felt like she was climbing out of a well as her faculties returned to her. Even though her visor was tinted, she was still momentarily blinded by the light when she opened her eyes. She tried to get up, but realized there was no feeling at all in her body. "Nanda???"

"Good, you're up. We were wondering how long you'd be," Waterguard said in his typical jocular manner.

She was lying on her back and staring up at the clouds. Since she couldn't seem to move her head to the sides to look around, she could only assume the others were in similar positions, "Where are we? And why can't I move?"

"We don't know where we are. We can't move to check either," Fireguard's voice came from her left, "That monster we fought has some kind of psychic power and made it so we can't move. How did you get here?"

"The rest of us were fighting Armag. He…hit me and suddenly my mind shut off and then I woke up here."

"We have to find some way to get out of here…"

"Hey, Ryu," Waterguard interrupted, "seeing as how we're trapped right this minute, can I get something off my chest?"

"Yeah, sure…what's on your mind?"

"You've changed lately."

Fireguard groaned involuntarily. "Jase, come on, man...now's not the time."

That was good, he'd called him by his name, not "Waterguard." But he wouldn't be deterred, "This may be the last chance I'll ever get to say it, so I'm gonna. You've changed, Ryuji. You've hardly cracked a joke since you stopped complaining about being on the team. What's happening to you?"

"Nanda?" Fireguard quirked a questioning eyebrow.

" You used to be so laid back and anti-serious about anything but the Bushel. When I found out you were a Guardranger too I thought it was gonna be great, best buddies fighting to save the world. But then you complained, and then you stopped joking with me, and I just wanna know for sure what this has done to you."

Fireguard just lay where he was. He hadn't even realized. But now that he thought back on his recent interactions with Jason, he had to admit thing weren't like old times. But it was easy for Jason to say, he wasn't the one who'd been handed the reins.

"Well I don't know about you, but I happen to prefer the new Fireguard," Earthguard interjected before she realized what she was doing.

"Oh yeah?" Fireguard asked, suddenly oblivious to death no doubt hanging over his head and his friend's complaints. Earthguard realized what she had insinuated by saying that before thinking, though, and didn't reply.

"Do you mind??" Waterguard cut in irritably, "I'm serious, Ryu. It's like you've become a completely different person since you accepted the uniform. It's like I don't know you anymore, man."

"Like having the fate of the world dropped on your shoulders wouldn't force a few changes in your outlook, Jase? Ugh!" Fireguard snapped back. Waterguard was right, he had changed. But so was he. He didn't value Jason's friendship any less now than he ever had, but being given the kind of task he had required a person to reevaluate their priorities. But did it have to involve giving up who he was?

Waterguard's voice went subdued and contrite. "Ryu...I'm sorry…"

Fireguard sighed, but not out of irritation. "No, Jase, don't apologize. You're still my best friend. I haven't forgotten that. Yeah, I've had to make allowances for stuff since I joined up and having all that to deal with can change a guy. But it's no excuse for not seeing your side of this. Gomen, man...I didn't even think about how you must've been feeling."

Waterguard didn't have to understand. He'd had these same thoughts about the effects of the kind of responsibility Ryuji had been given. It was just accepting it that he was having a hard time with. But as he heard footsteps approaching, he knew at least he wouldn't have to die without getting the weight of that off his shoulders.

Armag and his monster leaned into their fields of view. Both wore triumphant smirks.

"Guardrangers, Guardrangers. I must admit, you've given me much more trouble then I'd expected. But the game ends now," Armag crowed.

"Have your monster take this cheap brain freeze of his off us and we'll really give you something to complain over!" Fireguard spit back.

Armag scowled, and replied to this challenge by giving the helpless Fireguard a vicious kick in the ribs.

"You're pretty tough when we can't fight back," Earthguard said, for some reason trying to distract Armag from hurting Fireguard even if it meant becoming his target herself.

But he was no idiot. "Apologies, my dear, but I'm not one of those fool conquerors who can be goaded into making mistakes by a mild insult like that. You three have had your fun, but now it's time for me to have mine."

"Forestguard and Airguard will find you," Earthguard promised, but Armag didn't appear frightened in the least.

"If my monster and I defeated three of you, what threat could your two fellows pose? Let them come! I'll show them what a Garganstah baron can really do when he's at the end of his rope."

The Guardrangers gritted their teeth behind their helmets. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't move, muster their powers, call the others…Fireguard couldn't even seem to get through to Hellscar. Arcume hadn't left them with the freedom to do much.

"I suppose you're gonna plant a bomb or something and leave us to die, or something lame like that huh?" Waterguard spat.

"Heh. Hardly anything so grandiose, boy. We're going to dispose of you without sullying our hands on your blood, but we're staying right here to see that you're out of our hair for good."

"I can hardly wait."

Forestguard trudged along. He still ached from the battle, but he knew perfectly well, even though Airguard couldn't seem to stop telling him, that they had to hurry and find their teammates before Garganstah had the chance to do who knew what to them.

"Have you been able to find them yet, Bes?" The two Rangers were somewhere in the general wilderness area where Beservor had detected their friends' energies, but the location of the signals was constantly jumping around, and they'd no sooner been heading north than he'd told them he was now getting the signals from half a mile south.

"I'm afraid not. Nothing steady, at any rate. But what I am sensing is from the general area in which you are heading now."

"Maybe we should split up to find them," Forestguard suggested.

"Oh, no you don't, NO splitting up. After how bad we got clobbered before, I SO don't want a repeat performance of our last run in with Armag and his pet stooge. We don't even know what kind of power that thing has," Airguard replied.

"Point taken, but there's only gonna be two of us left to fight them at all if we don't find out where the others are."

"I will keep trying, I assure you, Forestguard," Beservor promised, "but I cannot even make mental contact with them. Either something is interfering, or…" All three of them gulped at what that could mean about their erstwhile teammates, and said no more. The two Rangers set off into the wilderness again, leaving their disembodied mentor to try to locate the others.

"Where do you suppose they could be, anyway?" Airguard said after a moment.

Forestguard rubbed at his chest as a twinge of pain passed through his ribs. "I don't know…and I'd say we're better off saving them before we have to find out."

Airguard was worried. She still considered it the highest honor to be enrolled in a sentai, but with her teammates in the clutches of the enemy she was perhaps realizing for the first time what the real risks involved in this business were. Permanent harm, even death. Unpleasant thoughts of the other Guardrangers, tortured and near death, flashed through her mind. She shuddered involuntarily but pulled herself together.

She would hold her head up high and always come through for the people counting on her. That was what it meant to be a sentai hero. Right now she and Forestguard had to come through for the rest of the team, and she couldn't very well do that if she was being plagued by grisly images of what might be happening to them.

"Miaka? Daijoubu?" Forestguard asked, tapping her shoulder. As usual he sounded like nothing in the world could bother him. And even though he couldn't see it, Airguard smiled. She wished she could learn to take everything in stride the way he did. Even with the obvious threat of their friends' deaths hanging over them, he was keeping a cool head.

"Just thinking about what we have to do. It's kind of scary that everything depends on the two of us."

"Maybe."

Airguard blinked. "Maybe?"

Forestguard nodded. "Maybe. We don't really know if Garganstah's going to let them sit a while before getting rid of them or what. I'm not saying we should just sit here on our thumbs, though."

"That's true. But how can we speed up the search?"

"By doing what Guardrangers do. Man, I don't why I didn't think of this before," he said. Before Airguard could ask what he was talking about, he added, "You can fly, right? Get up there and see if you can spot anything. I'll see if my green friends have seen anything suspicious."

Airguard nodded, then summoned her power. She lifted off the ground, then took off into the sky like a rocket. Forestguard wasted no time on his own self-appointed task. He focused himself, becoming one with the scraggly grass and bushes around him. He reached out to speak with them, to find out if they had detected anything unusual. Because as cool-headed and simplistic as he liked to be, he knew that the lives of his teammates were depending on what results of the two of them could turn up.

Fireguard's mind raced, trying to come up with something, anything, that might be able to get them out of this. He, Water and Earthguard had tried to contact their teammates, but it felt like yelling to someone standing at the horizon. They seemed to be too far away to hear. He could still communicate with the two right next to him, but what good would that do?

Armag and his monster tromped up a hill behind the prone Rangers. They had moved beyond his field of vision, but maybe Waterguard, lying headfirst in the direction they were moving, could see.

"What are they doing? Can either of you tell?"

Waterguard grunted irritably, still completely immobile. "I dunno, man. I can't even tilt my head back far enough to see."

"Don't worry," Armag called, as if able to hear them, "it won't hurt for long. We're just going to roll a boulder down on you."

"I have to say this is sloppy procedure, Armag," Waterguard called back, "You're not going to tell us your evil master plan before you spring your death trap?"

"He's about to flatten us and you're making jokes?" Earthguard hissed in irritation. No, she was on his back, great.

"It's either that go postal," he retorted.

"Naoko, let him alone." Fireguard said quietly, shifting his eyes in his best friend's direction, wanting very much to put an arm around him. "It may be his last chance."

"Why would I want to do a thing like that?" Armag asked, seeming genuinely surprised by the idea, "Besides, I gather you already know it." There was a creaking sound from where Armag had been talking to them, as if they were trying to lever something loose. The stomachs of the three Rangers tightened in dread anticipation of what was sure to come next.

"As I said before, Guardrangers," Armag said, sounding like he was getting ready to deliver parting words, "You gave me quite a fight, and what real warrior doesn't love that? Alas, all things must come to an end. That is, everything except my reign after you're out of the way. Exorn, Guardrangers!"

The creaking noise peaked, then was followed by the sound of something very large, and very heavy, bouncing once and then rolling down the hill in their direction…