Eternal Sentai

Guardranger

Episode 8:Unwelcome Visitors

By David Anderson and Derek Pryor

A huge, dark craft loomed over an innocently unaware planet Earth. It went completely undetected as it descended through the atmosphere. Aboard it, one of many passengers, stood a powerfully-built man in a black cloak and red armor. He gazed fondly out of a large circular window, at the planet his people had left so many thousands of years ago to roam the stars. Billions of life forms teemed beneath his craft, and none had any inkling of what was about to happen.

Garganstah was coming home.

"Emperor Brannoch?" a messenger said, entering the dark chamber.

"Yes?" replied the man in red armor in a voice that reflected awesome power, not taking his eyes off the approaching planet.

"The Death Gar is still where it was. Apparently Armag failed."

"Hardly a surprise. Armag was never a threat. The very idea that one petty sycophant could stand against Garganstah," Brannoch replied. "Even if by some uncanny circumstance he's still alive, I'll have him taken care of soon enough."

"Still alive, sir?" the messenger said, surprised, for the conquests of the warriors of Garganstah were many, "Is there anything on that planet that could have defeated him?"

Brannoch sighed internally. The ignorance of youth. "You're young," the emperor said, "but haven't you heard the stories of the ones who drove us off this planet in the first place?"

"Yes, sire, of course..." the messenger stumbled out. "But I thought--"

"--that they were just stories, of course. "

"Is the Death Gar your only news?"

"No, sir," the messenger said quickly, "The Empress would like you to be present in the control center with the others when we penetrate the atmosphere."

Brannoch drew his cloak tighter around himself. Devora, the one bright spot in the constant chaos that was the life of the Emperor of Garganstah. He wouldn't have left her side during their approach to Earth if he hadn't wanted to be alone with his thoughts about the planet of his people's birth for a while before the demands on him whenever they took a planet set in. He turned and, without another word, strode out of the room and down the hallway to share the moment of his empire's return to Earth.

Things were shaping up to be the start of a beautiful day in the city of Tokyo. Teenagers joked and exchanged the latest rumors on their ways to school. Businessmen pleasantly shouted into their cell phones on the way to work. There was an almost soothing rhythm to the stops and starts of the inner-city traffic. Everyone seemed at ease this morning. Except perhaps the people who had the most reason to feel relaxed.

As Ryuji walked among his chefs on the day of the month he'd appointed for inspection, his mind kept drifting away. To Armag's threat that soon enemies even more powerful than him would be arriving on Earth. His mind was full of questions. When would they arrive? How much stronger were they? What would the Guardrangers have to do to stand a chance against them? His mind was yanked back as he heard a yelp of surprise from bumping into one of the chefs.

"Boss? Everything all right?"

"Uh, yeah. I just slipped. Sorry, guys." Ryuji said hastily, making his way along trying to look as nonchalant as he could.

This might not have been bothering his teammates as much, but he was the leader of the Guardrangers. It was his job to make sure the team was ready for whatever came their way. And how could they be ready for even stronger enemies when they'd had trouble with Armag and his gang?

Satisfied that his employees were still their diligent and skilled selves, he left the kitchen and walked into the dining area of the Gulden Bushel. Here, he relaxed. All the smiling people gulping down food that had been prepared from his recipes and his place warmed his heart a little. He pulled up a chair at the counter and poured himself a glass of water.

Since accepting that he was needed as Fireguard, Ryuji hadn't been paying much attention to his business. In fact he'd almost forgotten about the concerns of his old life. Maybe he needed to just forget about Guardranger business for now, get back into his old groove and try to clear his head of all the things he'd been worrying about.

"What's up, man?" said a familiar voice as a familiar figure plopped down in the chair next to him.

"Jase?" Ryuji sounded genuinely surprised. "What're you doing here? I thought you told me you had interviews all day today."

"Yeah, I've got one in an hour, but I thought I'd drop in and see how you were doing. You've been pushing yourself awfully hard lately, Ryu."

"Yeah, I guess I have. But with all the tough fights we've had lately, can you blame me? Besides, just now I was thinking about how maybe I should take it easy for a while."

"That's cool," Jason said, thumping Ryuji's shoulder in a comradely manner. "Don't want to burn yourself out. We do still have lives outside of being heroes, you know."

"Yeah, I just remembered that," Ryuji replied, taking a swig of his purified water, ice cubes clattering in the glass.

"Well don't forget it, okay? I know we had that talk when Armag and his monster were about to kill us, but really, man, I don't want you to be acting like Fireguard all the time. He ain't who I'm friends with."

"Now Guardranger business is making you act all serious," Ryuji smirked.

Jason laughed and rubbed Ryuji's hair, "Now that's what I'm talking about. Where you been, Ryu?"

Ryuji chuckled at Jason's head-rub. "Worrying about what we'll do when those worse-than-him enemies Armag promised were coming soon show up."

"I've worried about that a little too, we all have. But take it easy, man. We survived that, we'll find some way to cope if we really do have to fight somebody even tougher than Armag," Jason said as reassuringly as he could, "Like I said, being a Guardranger is fine, but it shouldn't cost you your sense of humor. Just relax, dude, and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"I guess you're right, Jase. We've been through a lot lately. I'm not going to be much good if I burn myself out before anything important happens." He took another sip of water.

"Yeah. I'd say we've earned a little recovery time."

"Yeah. But will we get any?" He finished off the water, putting the glass down on the counter with a decisive thump.

Devora sat in her steel throne tapping long-nailed fingers against the arm. She sighed. They were finally coming home, and Brannoch wasn't here. How could he miss this?

Devora sighed. She was an attractive older Garganstah woman, with dark purple hair to contrast her skin and set off the bright reds of her fingernails and the jewels she was constantly adorned with. Devora's very presence, like her husband's, reflected an awesome power deep within just waiting to be unleashed. She sighed again, more of an edge of annoyance this time, and all the courtiers in the imperial deck involuntarily flinched, even though their Empress was about the least malicious person any of them knew. She was just irritated that in this, the moment of their long-awaited return to planet Earth, he was gone.

"Miranna, where is your father?" she asked of a young, simply gorgeous Garganstah girl. With a rain of dark hair spilling down her back, and the same unearthly white eyes and blue skin of that all Garganstahs possessed, Miranna looked much like her mother had when she was just entering her period of true womanhood, but whereas Devora's presence had always carried strength and unyielding will, Miranna's comportment was of gentleness and compassion. Devora hoped with all her heart that Miranna had a less trying reign than she.

"I don't know, Mother," Miranna replied, sounding somewhat depressed, "I don't know why he wouldn't be here, either. He hasn't talked about anything but 'coming home to Earth' lately."

"Which is exactly why I wanted some time alone with my thoughts before we arrived," Brannoch said, walking into the room. Immediately all the courtiers in the gathering chamber fell to one knee. Devora rose and embraced him

"I was worried you'd miss this."

"Never, beloved. Our wandering days are over. Soon Earth will be ours again." He turned, and found himself looking at Miranna.

"Does that mean no more fighting, Father?"

Sweet Miranna. The apple of her parents' eyes. Brannoch would do anything to please her. "Yes, Miranna. Once we have established Garganstah as the greatest power in this world, I promise there will be no more fighting."

"That's not what I mean and you know it," Miranna said miserably. "Haven't we done enough? All the suffering and pain we've inflicted on so many worlds...is taking Earth back by force that important to you?"

"I know, Miranna, and I am sorry. It's true we've subjugated many a world in our time, but it is all for the greater good. Most of them were entrenched in war when took control. Our rule brought stability and peace to those planets, daughter. And the people of those worlds thrived under our leadership. I understand your desires of peace, Miranna. Indeed, I share them as well. But we must be secure a permanent home on Earth again before we can cease all fighting. That is my duty to my family and my subjects," Brannoch replied. The courtiers started to applaud, but Brannoch silenced them with a glance.

Brannoch waved his hand at the far wall of the stately room, energy dancing along his fingertips. An image suddenly appeared on what had been a bare surface moments before, showing the Earth rapidly coming up to meet them. Brannoch stepped up to make a speech.

"For too long we have wandered the stars, acquiring power and additional numbers, but it has all been in preparation for this day. The day Garganstah returns home!" The courtiers began to cheer and clap. "I have waited for this day for many, many years, but I never doubted that it would come. Soon, Earth will be ours once again. This time, forever!" The sound of the courtiers' cheers and applause doubled. "Nothing can stop us now. Our power is insurmountable. Our warriors will overcome anything this planet sends against us. Now, my people... let us toast not to the success of an invasion, but of a reclamation. Our reclamation of our home planet." The courtiers cheered even louder, clinking goblets containing the wine of a hundred different worlds.

Brannoch did not join the revelry, he was watching the image he had conjured on the wall. A planet absolutely abounding with life, just waiting for them to retake it. And they would. The ship zeroed in on the island nation known as Japan. It was closest to where their home had once been, so why not start there?

Miranna got up and left the room, but Brannoch did not try to stop her. He knew she didn't approve of his policy, but soon enough there would be no more need for any violence. That he promised himself. But first, the business at hand.

"My Barons, come forth," Brannoch called into the crowd. Three people, two men and a woman, emerged from the crowd. Brannoch addressed the one in the center, a man with bulging muscles, a head of stark white hair and plentiful medallions on his court garments for his many victories in battle. "Sharaki, choose one of your men to send down and scout the planet to see what kind of resistance they have to offer. Things look to have changed a bit since we left," Brannoch said, observing the sprawling cities and other developments that hadn't been there four thousand years ago.

"Yes, sir. I shall await your orders to move out," Sharaki replied in a voice as strong as his appearance.

"Don't pick any old weakling, though. I do not plan to make the mistake of underestimating the capabilities of these mortals," Brannoch added.

"With respect, sir, none of my men are weaklings," Sharaki said.

"Of course not. Which is why I expect you to maintain your record of success."

"Yes, sir," Sharaki said, leaving to prepare.

Miranna walked in silence down the reflective black metal corridors of the Lemrios, leaving the cheers and the fanfare far behind. The entire affair sickened her--the way her people were reveling in the prospect of subjugating the Earth and its people. She had seen this far too often in her lifetime. There was truth in her father's words--there had been a great deal of unrest on the worlds that were now subservient to the Garganstah Empire before they had been conquered, but the resistance they offered, meager as it was compared to the Empire's phenomenal power, had cost far too many lives, and the suffering that followed was more than she could bear to watch at times.

Miranna came to a stop at the end of the hallway. Roughly ten feet ahead of her was a transparent layer of atmospheric shielding, and beyond that shielding, the starscape of space itself. The Earth loomed ahead of her in all its brilliant blue splendor, and Miranna found herself aching for the planet and its people even more than she had before. She approached the shield wall, her fingers tracing over it, as if she were caressing the planet's face herself and shook her head.

"Why?" she sighed. "Why does it have to be this way?"

"What other way should it be, sister dear?" The mocking voice behind her replied, tinted with laughter.

Miranna swung around, her shock at being heard quickly dissolving into mild anger at the sight of the person who'd spoken. Leaning against the right wall behind her was Treygan, her older brother and Brannoch and Devora's eldest child. He stood six feet tall in height and clad in blue and purple body armor, the same dark hair and white eyes as Miranna, but the similarities ended there. Where Miranna was compassionate and warm, Treygan was calculating and devious, eager to spill blood and bathe in chaos. he strode casually across the corridor toward his sister, his dark blue metal boots sounding against the floor.

"You're too soft-hearted, Miranna," he said coolly. "These mortal dogs aren't worth the bother of actually caring about. They're just like the rest of the weaklings we've crushed--mindless sheep and nothing else."

"Oh? Are you forgetting those 'mindless sheep' nearly destroyed our Empire four millennia ago?" Miranna regarded him with disgust. "You're as blood-thirsty as those fools in the throne room, aching to make war on a planet filled with innocent people."

Treygan snorted. "War and innocence have no connection to each other, Miranna. There are the conquerors and the conquered. We have the power, so it's only fitting that the weak should be subservient to us. Father would agree with me about that."

"If you believe that, you're a bigger fool than I ever thought you could be, Treygan. Father's as sickened with you and your bloodlust as I am. He isn't about to let you bathe in bloodlust and carnage where Earth is concerned."

Treygan laughed as he approached, closing the gap between them. "Father," he said, with so much self-assurance it made Miranna squirm inside, "will do anything to make the Earth ours again, sister. Anything. And it's our duty as his heirs to make certain that glorious moment comes to pass. You can rail against the inevitable all you wish, but it won't make any difference in the end. Earth's as good as ours."

Miranna narrowed her eyes, feeling her anger mount, but decided the effort wasn't worth the bother. She turned on her heel and walked away down the length of the corridor, but stopped short at the end, the heavy metal doors sliding open as she approached. Without turning around, she said, "One thing you should remember, brother…Father doesn't care for your policies, and don't trick yourself into thinking otherwise. You make war for its own sake, he makes war to better our lives."

Treygan frowned and was about to say something nasty, something to put his pacifistic sister in her place, but Miranna was already striding down the hall away from him.

Miaka panted for breath. Twenty laps around the schoolyard wasn't her idea of a good time. But if it was rough on her, it was even worse on Noremi, who nearly collapsed beside her.

"Hey Noremi, you still alive?" Miaka said, an exhausted smile on her sweaty face.

"Give me a second to check," Noremi gasped. Miaka gave a breathless laugh.

"Miaka, did you hear about that sentai again? I heard a bunch of metal animals came and fought off a giant monster a couple days ago," Noremi said a moment later after catching her breath.

"Yeah, that sounds like proof of a new sentai being around," Miaka replied innocently. Of course, she knew all about the battle Noremi was talking about. She had been there, helping to win that battle against the warrior Armag. Like Ryuji, she had been worrying a little about what Armag had said with his dying breath, that there would be those to follow after him, stronger even than he.

Had he been lying? Why would he? And there had been something…wrong about their fights with him anyway. Garganstah was supposed to be an entire empire. Why had they fought so few opponents to overcome its ruler?

But somehow, the Guardrangers would overcome even if bigger challenges lay ahead. Miaka believed it. She had to. How else could she face another day with that threat hanging over her head? And how unheroic would it be to panic at this?

"Miaka?" Noremi said, tugging at her shoulder, "Wake up. Coach is whistling for us."

"Nani? Oh, right, I'm coming." The two girls jogged over to where the rest of their class was lining up. As they did, Noremi turned to her friend, once more feeling like Miaka was keeping something from her.

"What were you thinking about back there?" Noremi asked as gently as she could.

"Just…something I may have to worry about after school," Miaka replied, but Noremi looked like she didn't quite believe that was all there was to it. They joined their classmates in line, and as they did, Noremi leaned over.

"Miaka, you can tell me about anything. You know that, I hope."

"…Not about this, Noremi," Miaka said, and Noremi turned away with a pained look, more so than before, because this was the second time Noremi had asked about that one thing Miaka couldn't tell anyone. It killed Miaka to do this. Noremi had been one of her best friends for years. But even she couldn't be allowed to know about Miaka's involvement with the Guardrangers. Especially if deadlier threats were yet to come. Maybe sometime, she'd think of a way to explain her situation without exposing her friends to the danger of being a superhero's confidant.

For now, though, Miaka would have to suffer knowing she couldn't tell even her closest friends about the biggest honor she would ever receive.

Sharaki strode proudly through the halls to Brannoch himself, dressed in his custom suit of black armor and carrying his famous two-handed sword. All the people who saw him stopped what they were and started to whisper among themselves. Sharaki had been chosen to lead the first attack on this planet, they said to one another. With his strength and skill, surely he'd bring even more honor to the name of Garganstah.

Beside him was a slight humanoid, wearing copper-colored body armor that was studded with reflective black stones. His head was completely bald, and his eyes were black with tiny yellow pupils. He was one of Sharaki's elite warriors, the champion of a world Garganstah had conquered and allowed to serve under Sharaki for his great skill. He carried no weapons, but Sharaki knew that this warrior did not need any.

Celebrating their return with his courtiers, Brannoch spotted Sharaki and his warrior approaching the room and excused himself. Time to get things underway. Brannoch wanted his planet back.

"We are ready to move out, sire," Sharaki said as Brannoch stepped into the hall with them.

"I take it your man here has been given the Animatium treatment?" Brannoch asked.

"Yes, sire."

Brannoch nodded. Unlike his other Barons, whose warriors were created from Animatium, that special metal they discovered that could bring to life any kind of soldier they might need, Sharaki's were already alive. They were just infused with Animatium before being sent into action to heighten their powers. It wasn't comfortable, but none of them had complained about their boosted abilities once they were back on the battlefield.

"Good. Just remember, this won't be a full-scale attack, I just want you and your man here to go down, cause some trouble and see what kinds of armaments the humans are capable of bringing against us," Brannoch said, "And if you happen to run into Armag, bring me back his head."

"With pleasure," Rodim said in a frighteningly raspy voice, eager to go into battle.

"All right, off with you then. But Sharaki," Brannoch said as they turned to leave, "don't let your guard down. Armag obviously failed, and something down there must have stopped him."

"We're ready for anything, sire, even them," Sharaki replied.

"Well then, go down there and find out what we're up against. But if you should run into them, let me know at once. I want to see this," Brannoch said, sending Sharaki and Rodim on their way. The two disappeared in a flash of light

Moments later, captain and soldier appeared in a plaza in the middle of Tokyo. Passers by turned and stared in wonderment at the two strange men who had appeared out of nowhere, but Sharaki swiped his enormous sword through the air. Spheres of radiant red fire flew from the blade and into the ground around the people, who screamed and began to flee in terror amidst a flurry of explosions. One unfortunate man tumbled to the ground, his skin aflame.

Sharaki grimaced. He'd only meant to scare them off. He swung his sword again, a wave of frigid air sweeping over the stricken man and extinguishing the fire.

"What did you do that for?" Rodim asked, having come here fully expecting to spill as much blood as possible.

"Never mind," Sharaki said bluntly, "Go out and start causing some trouble. I'll be right behind you. Just remember we're not here to hunt civilians."

"We're not?" Rodim said, surprised. Sharaki smacked him on the head with the flat of his sword.

"No, we're here to gather information on what kind of resistance this planet can bring against us. You forgot already? Now get going!" Rodim ran off.

Sharaki knelt down to attend to his accidental victim. Served him right for using such a show of force in a crowded area, he guessed. He pulled out a small tube with a swirling blue mist inside. He'd brought it just in case there was something around that could hurt him on a simple scouting mission, but Sharaki uncorked it over the wounded man. The mist, as if sensing where it was needed, seeped into his burns. Moments later rejuvenated flesh appeared over them, and the man began to groan as he regained consciousness.

"How the innocents suffer," Sharaki sighed to himself as he hefted his sword onto his shoulder and jogged off to catch up with Rodim.

Naoko heaped a pile of seismic readouts on her desk. She was finally getting a chance to catch up at work now that Armag was gone. The peace wasn't going to last, though, and she really should've known.

Naoko had been wondering about several things lately. Like why she'd been so concerned about Ryuji when he'd blocked a shot meant for her, then gone out to fight a giant monster despite his injuries. Did she really like him that much better without the whining? She hardly even knew him, for crying out loud. Never saw him besides when they met on Guardranger business. Why was she constantly worrying over a man she knew as little more than her leader? Why had she been so angry when he came to save them, aggravating injuries he'd sustained in the process? Why…Time to wonder about that later, though. For now, she had work in her real life to do.

She was just settling in to examine the papers in front of her and enjoy how quiet things were when she felt the brush against her mind of one of her comrades making mental contact. It was Beservor, and he sounded even more urgent than usual.

Rangers! Some kind of monster is blasting his way through downtown Tokyo! You are needed at once!

Naoko stood up and headed for the front door as quickly as she could without looking suspicious. Hopefully there wouldn't be too many questions about where she'd gone and why she didn't have anything to report about those readouts when she made it back. Nobody stopped Naoko or asked where she thought she was going in the middle of the workday, but as she entered the parking lot on her way to the nearest wind tunnel, she thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye. A guy who looked like Takeo, getting out of his car.

She turned her head slightly, curiously, and indeed that was Takeo climbing out of his car. Obviously coming to see her at work again. He opened his mouth to call out, but Naoko was already taking off down the street. She couldn't talk to him now, there was no time. And certainly no way of telling him that she had to go take care of a monster in town.

As she dashed, Naoko wondered about Takeo for a minute. Why did he keep pursuing her? And was there still a place for him in her life? Especially if…no, that couldn't be it. And anyway, there was no time. There was a monster out there waiting to be thrashed by the Guardrangers.

Skyscrapers exploded. Cars skidded out of control. People ran as fast as they could from the chaos. And Rodim reveled in it all. This was why he had agreed to join Garganstah instead of resisting to the last. His purpose was to conquer and destroy those weaker than himself. Finally, he was getting a chance to do just that.

Sirens filled the air as the police arrived. But as they surveyed the devastation Rodim could easily tell they didn't fancy taking on a being who had effortlessly laid waste to an entire city block. With shaking hands they fired their guns anyway, but Rodim laughed as the puny projectiles bounced harmlessly off his body. Was this the best this planet could do? They'd have it conquered in a matter of days if so. Rodim thrust out his hands and a wave of black energy flowed from his fingertips, engulfing the unfortunate police officers. They cried out, but it was no use. Like a rising tide the darkness swallowed them up, and when it cleared a moment later, there was no trace of them.

Rodim laughed aloud. This was too easy! Imagine how much more destruction he'd be capable of if this was the strongest resistance these humans could offer up. He caught sight of Sharaki jogging over to him.

"Anything to report?" the Baron asked.

"Yes, I just overcame a couple of armed men. They were no threat at all."

"Then give us a try, buddy!" a voice rang out just before a figure in blue seemed to appear out of nowhere and bowled Rodim with his trident.

"Who dares?!" Rodim bellowed, though the answer to his question stood before him. Five people, clad from head to foot in bright colors. The Guardrangers had come.

One at a time they spoke, and Sharaki took note of each one:

The first in red: "Soldier of the Inferno! FIREGUARD!"

The second in blue: "Soldier of the Ocean! WATERGUARD!"

The third in yellow: "Soldier of Stone! EARTHGUARD!"

The fourth in green: "Soldier of Wood!" FORESTGUARD!"

And finally the fifth in white: "Soldier of the Wind! AIRGUARD!"

"Elemental Soldiers of the Earth! Eternal Sentai!" Fireguard broke off as the group swerved into fighting stances and shouted in unison, "GUARDRANGER!"

Sharaki unlimbered his sword from his shoulder. They matched Brannoch's description perfectly. Helmets with the faces of beasts, a triangular symbol on the chest for the aspect of nature that was the foundation of their power, and wearing the colors of those aspects of nature. Sharaki called out a single word in response to seeing them.

"Silicons!"

At once a group of the metallic warriors appeared in a wave of liquid metal, ready for a fight. The Guardrangers went into their stances, not happy to see that Armag had been telling the truth about others, but determined to win now as they had then.

Rodim launched himself at the Rangers, not waiting for a command from Sharaki. The Silicons were right behind him, and within moments the sounds of close-quarters fighting rang up and down the streets.

Sharaki stepped back and withdrew a small blue gem from his pocket. He rubbed a particular facet and Brannoch's face appeared with the gem's azure depths. "Sire," he said to the gem, "I think you'll want to see this."

Brannoch stepped up to the platform where he had addressed his court before, and clapped his powerful hands a few times to gain their attention again. "My people," he began, "I have just sent an expedition to gauge how much trouble we can expect from the humans, and they have reported something very interesting indeed." Brannoch waved a hand at the far wall of the room, like before, and an image of the Guardrangers locked in battle with Rodim and his Silicons appeared.

"Behold!" Brannoch said dramatically, "Our ancient enemies, the ones who drove us from this planet millennia ago. They've come forth to fight us again, but this time, I promise you, the outcome will be different!" Cheers went up as he proclaimed this, and he settled in next to Devora to watch. She gripped his hand affectionately, knowing how long he had waited to take another shot at the Guardrangers. Devora looked at the plate of red metal covering half his face, put there to cover reminders of his last run-in with them…

"Is victory truly ours this time, beloved?" she asked quietly.

"I have no doubt, my dear. Our power has come far while we were away. They'll soon see for themselves."

Brannoch's words were true. As the Guardrangers fought back and forth, they couldn't help but notice how much more resilient these Silicons were than the ones they'd fought before. Waterguard dug into one with his Eternablade, dealing a blow that would've smashed one of the Silicons he was used to pieces, but the soldier merely yanked the sword out of its side and floored the hero with an uppercut.

Forestguard attacked another, shouting, "AURA OAK BUSTER!" A blizzard of energy leaves barreled out of his hands, colliding with a trio of Silicons closing in on him with lethal intent, but as the leaves struck and exploded, the Silicons ignored the small bits blown off their bodies. They hurled chains that smashed into Forestguard in a blinding wave of sparks.

Airguard fought a pair of Silicons, but as they threw punches at her she danced out of the way. They turned to renew the attack, more quickly than she was used to from the old Silicons, but she was ready. Her Eternablade was in her hand, and she channeled her elemental power into the sword. As the Silicons lunged at her, she swung at the nearer one, lopping its head off. The other was almost upon her, but she jabbed her Eternablade right through its chest. The Silicon spewed a few sparks, then fell apart. She laughed proudly. They hadn't even touched her.

Finally, Fireguard and Earthguard battled Rodim himself. Earthguard swung her Grizzly Claws at him, but Rodim held out his hand and a shield of dark energy materialized over it and Earthguard's claws smashed uselessly into it. Without warning the shield turned into a battering ram and knocked her down the street.

"You Guardrangers aren't living up to your reputation," Rodim laughed, "You're supposed to be the bane of Garganstah, but you're not even giving us a hard time!"

"I'll show you a hard time, pal!" Fireguard retorted, Dragon Steel in hand. He wouldn't let this monster win. He slashed with all his might at Rodim, who tried to block with another dark shield. But Fireguard knew he was fighting for everyone on Earth, and his determination poured into his strength. Blade and shield met, and Fireguard and Rodim pushed back and forth, but Fireguard pushed harder. The shield shattered and the Dragon Steel struck sparks against Rodim's chest plate.

Rodim was so shocked that for a moment he forgot to fight back. This human's powers had overcome his! He jumped back, narrowly avoiding another slash, and hurled a spear of dark power at Fireguard. The hero launched himself over it with a mighty leap, then knocked Rodim down with a great sweeping slash from his sword.

And Sharaki sat observing the battle on a chunk of concrete. This was most interesting. It amazed him that these warriors who fought so poorly could have chased his people off the planet thousands of years ago. They were being defeated by mere Silicons. The one in red, though…he was strong, holding his own against one of Sharaki's prize warriors. The female in white, also quite formidable. But with only two fighters of such caliber, how could they possibly have driven off Garganstah? The empire hadn't always been as powerful as it was now, but still, this made no sense.

While Fireguard fought free against Rodim, Airguard finished off the Silicons that were after her and turned to her teammates. They were putting up a fight, but didn't seem to do any damage to the Silicons they fought. What was wrong? The new enemies couldn't be that much tougher, she and Fireguard were having no problems with them. Punches and kicks struck with no impact, blades skidded uselessly off of metal hides. Even a shock from Waterguard's battlerod in trident mode only stopped a Silicon he was attacking for a second.

Time for something new. Airguard gathered her strength, and launched a new attack she'd been devising for when those stronger foes showed their faces. "HAWK--DIRGE!" she sang, her words vessels of hypersonic power that flared from her being in a shockwave of force and toward the Silicons, striking and smashing them all to pieces. Airguard darted over to see to her aching comrades.

Fireguard and Rodim still fought, Rodim managing to get in a few blows of his own and knock Fireguard down. Both were panting for breath, but Rodim was grinning. Now that he finally had a moment to spare, he could show this Ranger his real power. His yellow pupils began to burn brightly, but his body began to darken. Become more thin and insubstantial, taller, until he had transformed into a menacing shadow, only his bright yellow pupils remaining.

"Your turn to get hurt now, Guardranger," Rodim said, his voice distant and evil. He towered over Fireguard now, and without warning swung a massive hand, fingers tipped with a gleaming black metal, at Fireguard's head. Fireguard raised his sword and blocked it just in time, an awful CLANG ringing up and down the street. Rodim swung his other clawed hand, digging into Fireguard's flank. His side exploded with pain, but Fireguard refused to make a sound. He stabbed his sword deep into Rodim's body, but the evil warrior was not harmed. How can one hurt a shadow, after all?

Rodim lashed out with his other hand, knocking Fireguard into the air, to land at his teammates' feet. Sharaki got up and walked to his shadowy follower's side. Rodim felt his strength draining, and reverted to normal. This fight wasn't over yet.

Waterguard clutched his shoulder in agony. He hadn't even been able to fight a couple of Silicons. Were they really that strong now?

"I don't believe it. These guys are ten times as strong as Armag's flunkies. At least," he said in disbelief.

Rodim laughed at this, long and hard. Sharaki was amused as well, but held his tongue. Such conduct was unbecoming of a proper warrior, after all. Finally, Rodim's laughter subsided, "Do you hear that, sir?"

"Indeed, Rodim. A interesting conundrum to be sure."

"You've fought Armag. What a joke! He actually thought he could come here and take this planet over before Garganstah arrived. He was always a joke!"

Before the others could stop him, Waterguard blurted out, "A joke?! But we just barely beat--"

"They just barely beat Armag!" Rodim crowed, "No wonder they're so weak!"

"My henchman speaks the truth. Armag was a Baron of Garganstah like myself, but he turned traitor, tried to come here and occupy this planet before the rest of us could return. But he never had the power to do such a thing," Sharaki added.

"And you're taking the time to tell us all this why?" Fireguard asked suspiciously.

"Because I am still at full strength, and you have all been injured to one degree or the other fighting my henchmen. To press such a blatant disadvantage would be dishonorable."

None of the Guardrangers could believe their ears. An alien invader who believed in fighting fair? But he was just standing there waiting for them to stop taking in air in gasps.

"I want to finish off the one in red," Rodim said, still miffed that Fireguard had overwhelmed his dark-energy power, "See who's really the strongest."

Fireguard stepped back defensively, brandishing the Dragon Steel. He was wary of anymore tricks this monster might have. Still, he was determined to fight. And that's just what he'd have to do, as suddenly Rodim charged like a bull at the Rangers. Fireguard swung with all this strength at Rodim, expecting his teammates to also strike at the monster.

But only one did.

Maybe it had something to do with the battle, that all of them had fared so miserably. Maybe they were all mentally worn out from the rapid-fire ordeals they'd had to overcome lately. But only Airguard joined Fireguard in his attack, their swords digging into Rodim's armor and blocking his mad charge. Airguard bashed him with a backhand to his head and knocked him back.

"What the hell's wrong with you guys?!" Fireguard snapped. Here they were fighting for their lives and ultimately those of everyone on the planet, and three of his teammates weren't even putting up a fight! But there was no time for a psychological examination now. He lunged at Rodim, Airguard right behind him.

Earthguard felt ashamed. They were supposed to be the defenders of the planet Earth. But they just stood there while their teammates fended off Rodim. Why had they all choked like that? Fireguard had every right to be angry. She ran to help him, but a black blur intercepted her, and formed into Sharaki.

"So, one of you finally found your backbone," he said, sounding almost grateful, "And since you've had your rest…well, I don't have to tell you, do I?" With that he took a swing with his massive sword, catching her painfully across the abdomen. Every nerve registered pain, but she stood fast. "Impressive," Sharaki said mildly.

"PETRA..." Earthguard intoned, aiming her open hands at Sharaki, Grizzly Claws poised to let loose the familiar petrifying fog of her earth-born E-Factor. But just as she was about to let the attack loose on the Garganstah Baron, Earthguard was distracted by a clicking sound. The sound of a camera.

It was a reflex. If she was thinking about what she was doing, it wouldn't have happened. But in mid-flight she turned to see what was making that noise, and saw Takeo, standing across the street, holding a camera and snapping pictures of the fight.

And if she had been fighting anyone but Sharaki, that momentary lapse would've been her last. Instead of cutting her down while she was distracted, he jumped back and she sailed past him and landed heavily on the ground. "Get up," was all he said. She did, but she didn't attack Sharaki once she was back on her feet. She ran over to where Takeo was clicking his camera and dragged him out of sight.

"Baka! What are you doing here? Can't you see there's a fight going on?" Earthguard was more than a little annoyed. She'd just gotten her will to fight back, she didn't need a civilian getting in the way. Especially not Takeo, who just by being here was bringing up issues in her mind she didn't want to deal with at all, let alone in the middle of a fight. At least he didn't know who he was really being yelled at…

"That's exactly why I'm here," Takeo replied, popping a fresh roll of film into his camera. He gave her his patented childish grin, "You remind me so much of somebody I know. Lighten up. Your job must be stressful enough without making every single life your personal concern." With that, he slipped out of her grip and dashed off.

Earthguard nearly choked. Where did he get off telling her to take it easy when she was trying to save his life? She'd been created to protect people and fight the forces of evil. What was wrong with taking that seriously? Maybe she had been a little harsh, but it was his own fault for getting within firing range of a fight between superhumans. But she caught herself. There was a fight still going on. Why was she still sitting here puzzling this out?! She ran to rejoin the battle, hoping that none of her teammates would ask why Takeo got back before she did later…

Meanwhile, Forest and Waterguard had finally gotten themselves together enough to fight with Sharaki, but they could tell they were outmatched.

Forestguard cringed as he prepared to do what he had to. He hated fighting. He wondered sometimes why he had agreed to join when sentai seemed to know of no other way of accomplishing their goals. It made him feel like the weak link of the team, since only he seemed to have principals against violence. But he was here, and if he wanted to keep breathing, he knew he had to fight back. The Gorilla Vine snaked through the air toward Sharaki's head, but he turned it harmlessly aside the half-hearted attack with a flick of his sword. A fireball flew from Sharaki's free hand and felled Forestguard like a tree.

Waterguard was next. Gathering his strength, he fired his strongest attack, "ORCA MAGNUM TYPHOON!" A whirlpool of watery energy spiraled out from his Orca Brand, churning furiously toward Sharaki. For a moment it looked like the Baron had been overcome, as the funnel of energy washed over him, but suddenly he hurled his sword with all his might, through the cone of the whirlpool, clipping Waterguard most painfully and disrupting the attack.

And in the chamber where he and his court watched the battle, Brannoch crowed triumphantly as he watched his ancient enemies fall at the feet of his minions.

"This is priceless! The warriors who chased us off Earth, and they're being beaten senseless by a mere scouting party!" he laughed, taking a gulp of his favorite Adreinean wine. This had been worth four thousand years of waiting.

"Your concerns were groundless, beloved," Devora said, putting an arm around his waist resting her head on his muscular armored shoulder, "Earth will be ours again in no time."

"Indeed, my lady. Indeed."

Miranna watched the battle as well from the back of the room, feeling repulsed by what her father and his court were reveling in the sight of. And she knew Treygan, wherever he happened to be right now was doing likewise. She couldn't remember the last time she had been truly happy. Almost all her life she had been a witness to the subjugation of planets as her father fought to enrich the lives of his people. Fighting, always fighting to do that.

Miranna sighed. She had been hoping--no, praying that the Guardrangers would be able to finally stop her father's march of power, but it looked like Garganstah had just gotten too strong for them after four thousand years of conquering other planets. Forestguard and Waterguard stood up only to be sent tumbling as Sharaki turned into a blur of blinding motion and smote them with his sword, while Fire and Airguard struggled with Rodim and Earthguard finally reentered the fray, getting a sword smack from Sharaki for her bravado. Things didn't look so good for the planet's champions.

Garganstah and Takeo were not the only observers of the battle. Bes was too, and he knew why his charges were fighting so poorly in this drawn-out battle. But he didn't dare distract them by telling them why. He only hoped they could figure it out for themselves in time.

Fireguard, at least, was still at full force, and was doing his best against Rodim's dark energy constructs. But the monster was trying harder this time, pouring more power into his constructs. Shields jumped up around his body rapidly to block Fireguard's sword strokes, and this time he was unable to penetrate them. Airguard fared no better, unable to land a blow because of Rodim's shields. But she was so busy looking for a chance to strike, she didn't see a dark energy fist coming her way until it knocked her ten feet through the air to land with a skidding stop on the concrete.

As the shields appeared and disappeared, Fireguard also tried to find an opening, but he saw Rodim's fist coming in time to dodge out of the way. Another punch came, and he ducked under that. But as he did, Rodim fired a blast with his other hand, smashing into Fireguard's chest and pinning him to what was left of the wall of a building. Rodim charged up and grabbed him around the neck, planning on finishing this.

Fireguard gasped as Rodim's powerful hands tightened around his throat, but behind the monster, he spotted Airguard, back on her feet, and linked minds. Having fought against a monster all by himself for most of this battle, and with that same monster's hands now clamped around his throat in an attempt to make breathing difficult, he could really feel just how tired he was.

Airguard, while he's got all his attention focused on me, nail him! Quick! he mentally gasped out.

Gotcha! Airguard replied. She had really come to admire Ryuji since he had accepted what he was destined for. There he was, right in the line of fire, and he was telling her to attack anyway. That showed some serious commitment. He'd gotten as serious about this as she had. And while she was worried about hurting Fireguard, she obeyed. Painless choices weren't always how things happened in this business, she knew.

Once more she called upon the elemental forces raging within her, and sang "HAWK--DIRGE!" Her attack blasted forth from her vocal chords again, a barrage of sound and aerial power. Rodim heard, and turned to see, but as he did he loosed his grip on Fireguard, letting the hero vault free as Rodim was blasted through the wall by Airguard's attack. He fell to the ground in a daze.

Now it was Fireguard's turn. He'd also been preparing for the arrival of any new foes, and used what he had created now. Burning crimson power channeled into the Dragon Steel from his body. The blade began to glow red, then ignited in flames. Just as Rodim recovered enough to see what was happening, Fireguard brought down his flaming sword in a great sweeping stroke toward him, crying out, "DRAGON...HELLBURST SLASH!"

The familiar sound of Hellscar's thunderous roar split the air as a wave of fire leaped from the blade and screamed toward Rodim. He couldn't get away, and the flame burst smacked into him and exploded. The sound and flash carried for blocks, and the other Rangers and Sharaki paused in their fighting as they noticed. Takeo lowered his camera and shielded his eyes.

So did the observing Garganstah nobles. "Gods and minions, what was that?!" Brannoch exclaimed, spilling his wine, "Sharaki's warrior doesn't have the power to create an upheaval like that."

"Then perhaps some investigation is in order," Devora said calmly. Entire planets had fallen to them. She was not worried by a single bad sign like this. Neither was Brannoch, but surprise could affect even one such as him.

"I believe you're right, my dear. And everyone knows I've been waiting to put my feet on that planet's soil again…"

Fireguard panted, holding himself upright only with effort. He'd used up more energy than he'd thought during that battle. Airguard dashed up to catch him before he toppled over. "You all right, boss?"

"I'm in better shape than him, I bet," Fireguard replied, pointing at a staggering Rodim, who was charred and smoking. At any moment he looked like he'd keel over dead, but he stumbled over to where Sharaki stood waiting for him.

"Looks like my bud showed your stooge what was what, wise guy," Waterguard said, glad that at last something was going their way in this fight.

"Sir…" Rodim moaned, "…I failed."

"Never fear, Rodim," Sharaki replied, withdrawing a small pouch, "It is not over yet." But before he could open the pouch, a loud hum suddenly filled the air and something huge descended from the sky. As it came closer, the Guardrangers all felt a sinking feeling in the pits of their stomachs, while Rodim and Sharaki watched calmly, perhaps looking even a bit more sure of themselves now.

The huge object was a disc-shaped spacecraft. Towers of chrome protruded from the top. Strange writing covered the rim of the bottom half. And from the underbelly came two streaks of light. They hit the street, and formed into two humanoid figures. Brannoch and Devora. Their sheer presence was so stupefyingly awesome that no one moved. Even Takeo's camera fell silent.

"Nani? What now?" Earthguard asked a moment later, stepping protectively in front of her visibly weakened leader. Sharaki and Rodim fell to their knees before their Emperor and Empress.

Brannoch's good eye narrowed as he spotted Rodim, scorched all over from his duel with Fireguard. "Run into trouble already, have we?" he said.

"With all respect, sir, it's been quite a while since we left this planet," Sharaki said, defending his warrior, "I'm sure the Guardrangers have learned some new tricks in the meantime as well."

"So it would seem," Brannoch replied, looking at Rodim who was shivering with fear, then turning to face the Guardrangers.

"Guardrangers…" he said after a long moment, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" He touched a hand to plate of metal covering half his face, then fixed his steely gaze on Fireguard, still leaning on Airguard for support, "You don't remember this, do you? The…reminders you gave me during our last encounter."

"Nope," Fireguard replied, his mind racing, trying to find a viable course of action to deliver him and his team from these two other Gargs who were sure to be even more powerful than the ones they'd just been fighting, "This is our second time around, and what happened before doesn't stay with us."

"I know that," Brannoch said, "I've been preparing for our next meeting for our next meeting for a long time, after all. But I thought I'd see if elemental creatures were different on this planet."

"Let's just get on with it, beloved," Devora said.

"Yes, yes, Devora. Guardrangers, I'd like to avoid any prolonged trouble, so I'm giving you the option of peaceful surrender now. I may even give you portions of the Earth to command once I have situated my empire on this planet if you don't give me any trouble."

Waterguard's eyes bulged from behind his visor. "Say WHAT???"

The Guardrangers froze. There was power and charisma behind Brannoch's words, but also something none of them had ever expected to hear from a conqueror of terrible power; what sounded like sincerity when making such an offer.

"Why are you offering this to us?" Fireguard demanded.

"I'll not do you the discourtesy of lying, Guardranger. I had been looking forward to returning to Earth and wiping you out, but I do not intend to wander any longer. Earth is where my people came from and it is where we shall reside from now on. I could use powerful allies in making sure humanity doesn't object too strongly."

Their minds reeled for a moment. In almost no time at all mightier enemies had come to face them, and now those same enemies were offering them a place in their empire. All they had to do was betray their friends, their loved ones. From his hiding place, Takeo just knelt there, wondering what the answer would be and not even thinking to take a picture of a moment like this.

One voice replied. No one was surprised to see who it came from.

"No," Fireguard said, flatly and finally, "I don't know if I speak for my whole team, but I've never known a group who tried to instigate a hostile take over to be a good thing."

"Yeah, get back in your ship and take off!" Airguard added, her own confidence bolstered by Fireguard's defiance.

"Very well, I gave you the chance," Brannoch said. Then without warning one of his fists was swinging toward Fireguard's head.

Also without warning, though, Earthguard's arm shot out, Grizzly Claw meeting Brannoch's forearm in mid-swing. She growled, trying to hold him back, but a surge of power jumped from his arm, through her Claw, and into her. Earthguard was hurled through the air into Waterguard's arms.

"What are you, crazy? Why did you do that??" Fireguard asked, still surprised.

"Tell me why you did likewise for me last time and I'll tell you," Earthguard said in a voice that implied that was a smile behind her helmet.

Brannoch let out a sigh, sounding slightly annoyed, if anything could be registered from that. "Sharaki, give your warrior something for his injuries. I've nothing more to gain here." He and Devora turned and started to walk away.

"Ex-cuse me? You think you can zap in here, bark some sacred pronouncement and then zap right back out again? I don't think so!" Airguard shouted at his back, and, not waiting for a reply, prepared and hurled a Borean Burst at him.

Brannoch whipped around, an angry gaze locking onto the projectile. At once it disappeared, as if it had never existed. Then his gaze moved to the insolent Guardrangers, and the ground beneath their feet exploded with a pillar of flame half a mile high. They were all sent flying, smashing into the remains of buildings or anything else that happened to be in the way.

"Know this, Guardrangers," Brannoch said, "You haven't the faintest inkling of the power I wield. But I think I'll let my Baron be the one to boast of your defeat. Come, Devora. Let's leave Sharaki to his work." The two rulers of Garganstah disappeared back into the craft obscuring the sky above.

Sharaki took the pouch he'd been holding all this time and emptied it over Rodim's head. The golden dust that poured forth seeped into his skin and wounds, and he began to heal and grow in size. Within moments he had grown into a giant, and was completely unmarked by his previous wounds.

"Guess we all know what time it is," Fireguard said.

Forestguard winced. More fighting. And even higher stakes this time. For a moment he didn't join the others as they stepped into a line to send the call. Airguard had to drag him over with the rest of the team.

Together, the Guardrangers called out, "GUARD BEASTS, AWAKEN!"

And the great creatures of the elements roused from their slumber to answer the call. Hellscar flew free from a burning fissure in the ground. Tidalstorm erupted from the depths of the ocean. Terraclaw charged forth from her cave. Treebasher thundered through the forest where he made his home, and Windshear swooped down from the clouds. Within moments the Guard Beasts had arrived, and pulse of light issued forth from them that pulled the Guardrangers aboard. Five minds joined with the minds of their companion beasts, and the battle began anew. Again Takeo's camera began to click. He'd be damned if he was going to miss an opportunity like this.

Rodim aimed his hands toward the Guard Beasts, small darts of dark energy flying from his fingertips. The Beasts scattered. Just in time, as a block-wide area was blown to smithereens by the darts.

Hellscar and Windshear dove at Rodim from high in the sky, roaring and shrieking in a way that almost sounded like war cries. They wove back and forth in a double-helix pattern, moving closer with every passing second, and with a grin Rodim took aim at them. But before he could fire, they broke their pattern and flew by his sides, slashing him with their talons as they passed. Sparks exploded from the points of contact.

"Jase, let him have it!" Fireguard shouted.

"Gotcha! Let's do it, big buddy! TITAN WAVE!" was the reply, an enormous wall of water materializing from Waterguard and Tidalstorm's combined might over the element, and the giant killer whale rode it toward Rodim, washing over him completely. But suddenly the water seemed to explode, sending Tidalstorm flying head over tailfin, and was flung in all directions by a burst of dark power from Rodim.

"Is that the best you can do?" he jeered, his voice like rolling thunder.

"I'll show him," Earthguard said to herself. Terraclaw leaped into the air, then came down with a powerful impact that shook the ground. Rodim was knocked off his feet, but so was Treebasher, standing nearby the Guard Beast of Earth.

"Hey, watch it!" Forestguard cried, his voice a mixture of anxiety and indignity. He was having enough trouble focusing on the fight as it was, he didn't need his own teammates tossing him around too.

"Gomen," Earthguard replied, a little sheepishly. But Rodim was idle as they engaged in this miniature conversation, and lashed out with his foot, knocking Terraclaw onto her back next to the prone Treebasher. Seeing their allies in trouble, Hellscar and Windshear began to swoop down for another attack. But without even getting up, Rodim created and hurled a spear of his dark energy that completely coated Hellscar's wing. With that there, he couldn't control his flight and dropped like, well, like anything that could fly but in midair suddenly found itself with only one good wing. He smashed into the ground with a tremendous rumble.

Windshear tried to press the attack alone, but Rodim was now on his feet and just grabbed the giant bird out of the air. Darkness flowed from his hands around Windshear, forming a black cocoon, and Rodim tossed the trapped Guard Beast to the ground, completely helpless.

Terraclaw's legs flailed uselessly in the air, unable to do anything to right her boxy body. The agile Treebasher was back on his feet, though, and charged toward Rodim with a recovered Tidalstorm at his back.

Rodim fired a burst of energy, tearing up the ground between the two Guard Beasts and forcing them to flee from it in opposite directions. Treebasher snatched up a huge hunk of concrete from a decimated building. For a moment he thought of what the people inside must've looked like as the building exploded, then shut it out. He couldn't let thoughts like that distract him. He had to help his friends. Yes, that was it. Help his friends…

Treebasher hurled the chunk of debris at Rodim, smashing into his solar plexus with a satisfying shower of sparks. Rodim growled, "You'll be sorry for that, monkey," then leveled his hands at Treebasher to blow the ape away. But suddenly, two mouths clamped down on his wrists and foisted his arms into the air. It was Tidalstorm and Hellscar!

"Tochiro, nail him! We can't hold him for long!" Fireguard called to his teammate. Indeed, Rodim looked moments away from pulling his arms free. So Forestguard gathered his strength, about to command Treebasher to attack.

However, then an image entered his mind. Flames. Panic. The looks of horror on the faces of a group of office workers as the building they were in was obliterated. This monster had gleefully done that, he was sure. And it was now up to Forestguard alone to stop him.

But he couldn't do it. Forestguard knew he'd have to deal with this kind of thing when he accepted the Guardbrace. Life and death consequences and all. He felt his gorge rising, and wondered for a minute what would happen if he actually puked with this helmet on. He couldn't clear the picture of those terrified people as they met their doom from his mind. He could see Hellscar and Tidalstorm losing their grip on Rodim's arms, but as he tried to clear his head, focus on something easy to get him motivated and send Treebasher into his final attack, those terrified faces appeared again. It was no use.

Rodim laughed, slipping free of the Guard Beasts and jumping backwards out of their range before they could strike again. Then he concentrated, the black jewels studding his armor starting to glow darkly, if that was possible. And before the Guard Beasts who were still standing could do anything to stop it, bolts of darkness flew out of each jewel, smashing into dragon, killer whale and great ape. Explosions broke out where the blasts hit the mighty creatures, and they were rocked back on their heels. But Rodim didn't let up. Blasts kept coming with machine gun

rapidity. Buildings exploded, streets were torn up, and even the Guard Beasts who were already down were hit as well. Fireguard struggled to maintain the attack on Rodim, but Hellscar's vision was beginning to go dark already. But as it did, Fireguard could feel the Guard Beasts all starting to exert their energy, of their own whims, not because of anything the Guardrangers were having them do. He wasn't sure what was going on. This had never happened before.

The Guard Beasts slumped to the ground, battered and defeated. Rodim closed in to finish them off. But he was to be denied his chance. Without warning the Guard Beasts' bodies began to…soften, that was the only word to describe it. They became less substantial, then a moment later had reduced to streaks of colored light that flitted away in all directions.

Brannoch almost had apoplexy. "I don't believe it…I can't believe it…" After all that waiting, all that preparing, and the Guardrangers had slipped right through his fingers! He slammed his fists onto the arms of his throne in rage, and every courtier in the room screamed in panic at the thunderclap that resounded throughout the room from the twin impacts.

"Calm yourself, beloved," Devora said, slipping her hand within his, and immediately every trace of rage vanished from his being. "Why are you so upset? Can't you see? Our warrior won."

"Damnation, Devora. I can see that! But we could've finished them off quickly and had it done with. Now they've escaped," Brannoch replied, calmly but firmly, "Gods and minions, I should've crushed them myself!"

"Beloved, you are powerful, but we have warriors for a reason. You can't lead every battle, we have an empire to govern. Let the warriors make war and the rulers rule. Without structure, an empire is not an empire, is it?"

"Don't you think I know that, Devora? We haven't conquered five hundred planets by being weak or foolish. But I had the power and I had the opportunity. I should've finished them off."

"Patience, Brannoch. They'll be adorning our trophy room soon enough."

From the back of the room, Miranna smiled to herself. Perhaps things weren't going to be so quick and easy for them on this planet after all, if their enemies would be able to evade them even in defeat…

Before he even realized he was awake, Ryuji felt a splitting headache. It passed after a moment, but he didn't dare open his eyes before it did. When he felt brave enough to let his eyes receive light again, he saw that he was in the Earth Sanctum. In fact, they all were, sitting around the meeting table.

"Ohhhh, man...What happened?" Jason asked, clutching his head. Apparently he wasn't recovering from that as quickly as Ryuji had.

"You were very lucky," Beservor said, "The Guard Beasts used a very risky joint effort to escape back to their resting places and send all of you here. I don't think we'll be able to count on their help for some time."

"At least we can count on them at all," Ryuji said icily, looking in Tochiro's direction, " All right, Tochiro, let's have it. We had him. Why didn't you do anything?"

Tochiro had his face buried in his hands. He said nothing for a long time, then half-whispered, "I just froze."

"You just froze?"

"That's right," he replied, feeling and sounding completely pitiful. "I knew I should've attacked. That it was up to me to finish him off. But I couldn't do it. My mind just froze on all the people he must've killed before we got there. I couldn't shake that picture…and so I couldn't attack."

"Tochiro…" Ryuji said in a voice that didn't do much to hide disappointment.

"I'm not a fighter. I'm sorry. I thought I'd be able to adjust and take things in stride, but this is a bigger responsibility than I can cover up by trying to keep things simple. I just don't feel as ready as I should be for all this," Tochiro replied.

"I'm afraid it isn't just him. Most of you have yet to fully accept your duty with your whole hearts," Bes said, getting everyone's attention, "That is the main reason that last battle went so poorly."

"You were watching us?" Miaka said, surprised.

"I am always watching you when you are in battle. It is my duty, after all. And that is how I know why the fight was against you."

"Come on Bes, it isn't our fault. Those guys were a lot tougher than Armag and his flunkies," Jason said defensively.

"They are superior foes. That cannot be denied. But neither can it be denied that only Fireguard and Airguard are yet embracing their duty as fully as necessary for you to harness your maximum potential," Beservor said, sounding like a professor giving a lecture. The room fell dead silent as he said this, but he proceeded onward, "you have achieved victories in all your battles thus far, and I had believed you would learn by yourselves how dependant your powers are on how much of your heart you put into what you use them for. I was afraid that if you knew how much your powers depend on your commitment, it might work against you. But now there is no time just to hope. You must learn, and learn quickly."

Jason, Naoko and Tochiro sat in hurricane-eye silence. True, they had accepted the bracelets and the fancy suits. Accepted that they had to drop everything and coming running to the rescue when a monster showed up looking for trouble. But how wholly had they really let it into their lives? Tochiro had already said how he felt like he was in over his head. Naoko, as serious as she always was and as much as she had needled Ryuji about being the same during the early days, had always depended on someone else to lead her, to tell her what she needed to do. Jason wasn't much different. He had planned on just following orders and letting the weight of history sentai had (he heard) behind them as unbeatable defenders of the human race.

Ryuji stood up and started to walk along the length of the room. He wondered what he was supposed to do now, to remedy this situation. Tochiro was the biggest problem, it seemed. He was a great guy, friendly and calm always. Ryuji thought about how he wouldn't have minded having a big brother like that as a kid. He liked him a lot. But that was exactly the problem. They needed him to be a warrior. Tochiro had to become something else. Something he didn't agree with and had no stomach for. But on the same note, he was also a pacifist by nature; it seemed terribly unfair to make him just up and change just like that.

But how to get him to do it? Ryuji didn't like the idea of forcing change on someone, but what choice was there? They needed all the Guardrangers at their fullest. And they'd been created by the very planet with their powers over the facets of nature. He couldn't just find someone else with no problems with violence. It was who was there right now or no one.

"We can't just sit here on our hands," Ryuji said finally, "They could come back for another fight any minute now."

"I think you have earned yourselves a brief reprieve, Fireguard," Beservor replied, "However…"

"However what, Bes?"

"I may have an answer. There is a place called the Proving Grounds, where heroes go to test themselves. If you were to go and pass the tests there, which would require dedication and teamwork, you would gain the secrets of greater power."

"And you didn't mention this until now?" Naoko asked incredulously.

"Yes. The reason for this is because the Proving Grounds are very dangerous. There you wouldn't be able to henshin without all of your hearts at full strength and working in unison. Spiritual and mental, not physical power is the coin honored there. If you cannot tap into the full power of your hearts and work as one you would never survive."

Ryuji looked at his teammates. They had come through some pretty close scrapes before. But he hesitated about making the decision to go to this place in search of superior power. If it was as bad as Bes said, he might very well be the judge sentencing the Guardrangers to death by doing so.

Jason caught his eye, and before Ryuji could say a word, said something of his own.

"Ryu, I know what you're thinking. Sounds like certain death, right? But you can count on me if you think this might help, dude."

"You don't even have to ask, Ryuji," Miaka chimed in, "You're the leader, I'll go where you lead."

But they were the ones whose cooperation he knew he didn't have to worry about. His best friend and his charge who regarded their responsibility as a mission sent by a higher power. What about the others?

Naoko was next. Businesslike as usual, she said, "We barely defeated Armag, and he was just one man. Now we have to fight his entire empire. I can't think of why having some extra power would hurt us."

"Tochiro…?" Ryuji said slowly, shifting his gaze to his final comrade.

"I let everyone down back there," he replied, "I'd just be doing it again if I wimped out on this, too."

"You sure?" Ryuji asked, a little guardedly.

"I'd feel like a coward for backing out now…and however much I may not like violence, I'm not a coward. I'll do this. Besides, I have to make up for losing us the fight, don't I?"

Ryuji put a hand on his friend's shoulder, nodding. "Arigato. Okay, everyone meet back here in an hour. If you feel the need to make any goodbyes, make them now," Ryuji said, heading up the stairs out of the Earth Sanctum. The others followed, then split up to get ready. And Beservor sighed, his, disembodied immortal soul worried that he might have doomed the group he'd been assigned to look after for by telling them what he had.

Miaka went to a public phone to call home. Said she'd be spending the night with some friends, then hung up before her parents could ask who. It felt bad doing it, but the road of super heroism wasn't always a smooth one. She stepped away from the phone and back into the darkening street.

"Daijoubu?" Tochiro asked as she did.

"Not completely. I hate lying, but I didn't have a choice, did I?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," Tochiro sighed. "I wish there was an easier way."

"I don't think heroism and easy travel in the same circles, Tochiro," Miaka replied as they started walking down the street.

"Is Naoko still meeting us?"

"Yeah, she should be here in a minute unless I miss my guess." Tochiro's eyes looked over the area, then caught sight of Naoko's jeep rounding the street corner ahead of them. She stopped alongside the pair and got out, her expression grim.

"You look happy," Miaka said, trying to lighten the moment. "Are you all right?"

"The prospect of charging into certain death hardly thrills me, Miaka. But I don't see how we have any other option. We need the power the Proving Grounds can give us, no matter what the risk is." Naoko tossed her hair back over her shoulder, the mask of indifference on her face softening to genuine concern. "Ryuji and Jason should be coming soon. We should enjoy the peace and quiet while we've got the opportunity."

Naoko was right about that--the evening was clear and calm with a cool breeze blowing by. A blanket of stars glittered gently overhead, white moonlight filling the near-empty streets with soft, gentle radiance. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful--not one of impending war.

The wind tossed Naoko's hair gently, and she looked the absolute picture of serenity. To Tochiro and Miaka she seemed like a dainty young princess out of some ancient legend. The realization that she'd probably be tougher than either of them when she really put her mind to it made them wonder about what the woman were looking at all the more sharply.

Finally, Tochiro managed to ask, "Do you really think we're doing the smart thing, Naoko? Bes made it sound even more dangerous than those new Garganstah warriors."

"Of course. We've got a lot of improving to do to be ready for the next time we fight Garganstah, and Bes said that's what this place will make us do."

Or get killed trying, Tochiro thought, but kept it to himself. He was beginning to wonder if he had made the right choice promising to go along with this.

"Don't worry. If we all give Ryuji our best, he'll keep us alive. I'm positive about that."

Ryuji, eh? the two thought together without knowing.

Not really realizing it, Ryuji tried to appreciate the night too as he walked down the sidewalk, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket. With that on, he looked an odd sight with his old backpack on as well. Jason walked beside him in unnatural silence, his good-natured banter and playful joking seemingly lost beneath the growing minefield of anxiety in his mind. Ryuji looked at his best friend with empathy. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jason, seemingly reading Ryuji's mind spoke first.

"So...what do you think our chances are, Ryu? There's a lot riding on this."

"There always is, man," Ryuji sighed. "I can't believe the trouble we had back there with Sharaki and his pet stooge, Jase. We got whooped, bad."

"Yeah, no lie." Jason had guilt on his face.

Ryuji wanted to tell him to cheer up, to forget about how he had fought, that it was nothing. But it wasn't nothing. If it didn't change, and fast, they might all die in these Proving Grounds Bes had talked about. He didn't like the thought of that, but Garganstah had gotten more powerful since the last time the Guardrangers had fought them. The tests of the Proving Grounds would either force them to seize their potential, or kill them. And after that last battle, the promise of enhanced power was a very tempting one.

But how? How to get the others to become what they were meant to be?

Ryuji said nothing. And neither did Jason, though he was thinking pretty hard. He was wondering what he had to do, exactly, what he had to change to use his whole heart. It was hard to tell, since he hadn't thought he was doing anything wrong until a little while ago. Maybe he had to be braver, fighting harder, like Ryuji and Miaka had. Maybe he had to be able to call his own shots a little better. Maybe both, he didn't know. But he hoped he'd be able to find out in the Proving Grounds. They left to join the others.

The others stood at the base of Tokyo Tower, waiting for Jason and Ryuji to show up before they descended back into the Earth Sanctum. Tochiro shivered a little. He didn't like this situation at all, and wondered if it was possible to feel more in over his head. But he was still a part of the team, and whether he liked the situation or not, he promised he wouldn't fail them again.

Miaka noticed how on-edge he looked. "Hope you're not getting cold feet."

"No, but I am starting to wonder if I'm really cut out for this. I never thought I was destined to be some kind of superhero."

"None of us did, Tochiro. But we're here now, and there's no turning back. The world needs us. You'll do fine, I trust you."

"You really think so?" he replied, desperately wanting to believe it as much as she seemed to.

"I really think so. I can tell there's a hero in you somewhere. And when we really need him, he'll come out."

That was comforting, he thought. At least he knew there was one person who believed in him. Jason and Ryuji walked up to them, both looking fairly grim at the task ahead of them.

"Guess we better get going," Jason said. The door opened and they silently went down the stairs to their home away from home.

The inside of the Earth Sanctum had always been something of a soothing experience, a feeling that they were safe when they came here. Now, though, they felt like it was the waiting room to the afterlife or something. Most of the Rangers had been trying to avoid thinking about what could be waiting for them when they went to the Proving Grounds. Now, they couldn't help it. Images of pits of lava and undead warriors, among other frightening perils, flashed through their minds.

"Are you all certain you wish to take this step?" Beservor asked, any traces of hesitance or regret undetectable in his disembodied voice, "There is still time to reconsider."

"We're ready," Ryuji replied, speaking for the group. None of them wanted to back out, even Tochiro. All of them were serious about being a Guardranger, and understood that only they, of everyone on Earth, could be capable of producing sufficient force to stop Garganstah's warriors. The Guardrangers had to be ready.

"Very well," Beservor said, then paused. The lights in his orb began to fly around faster, the indication that he was beginning to use what remained of his magic powers. He chanted a series of ancient and obscure words, their meaning long forgotten. A moment later, a pinprick of light appeared in mid air, like when the door to the Earth Sanctum opened. But the light coming from the slowly expanding portal was brighter, and was evidently a much stronger one than that which let them into the Sanctum. Soon, it was large enough for a person to step through. And one by one, the Guardrangers did.

On the other side of the portal, the Guardrangers found themselves in a breath-taking primordial forest. The air was fragrant with the perfumes of dozens of otherworldly flowers. A deer-like animal leaped away into the underbrush as they materialized, and a pair of what appeared to be rabbits skittered into the safety of their hutch. A sun sank beneath the horizon, turning the sky yellow and pink. This place was beautiful. They were supposed to face traps and challenges here?

Behind the Rangers, the portal began to shrink into nothingness. Jason urgently called through it, "Hey, Bes! How do we get back?!"

"If you succeed, you will find the way," the wizard replied just as the portal blipped out of existence.

And suddenly, the Guardrangers felt very, very alone.

"So…now what?" Jason asked.

"Well, look like it's gonna be night soon. We can make camp and see what kind of trouble's waiting for us in the morning," Ryuji replied. That sounded good to the others, who found a shallow clearing to spend the night in. Tochiro collected dead branches and fallen bark and within minutes had a roaring campfire going. They all settled in and started warming up some food from the Golden Bushel Ryuji had thought to bring with him. Soon they were talking and joking, and almost forgot they were here to test their mettle. It would be the last time they were comfortable for a while.

Soon, the sun went down completely, and Ryuji divided them up into shifts for a night watch. Then they settled in to get some rest.

It was probably going to be a long day tomorrow…