Written by DTM666
Disclaimer:
The author of this piece would like to state that 90 percent of the
characters featured here are properties of BVS Entertainment Inc and
not that of the author. 10 percent of the characters featured here are
original creations of the author.
Also, the author understands that
this piece automatically negates events that occur any and all PR
incarnations that occur after Power Rangers Wild Force; hence no Dino
Thunder or Ninja Storm is featured here and hence Tommy is not a doctor
of anything. This is an AU, so to speak. Just thought we should be
clear on that.
---
Damn, Carter Grayson thought to himself as he stared blankly at a monitor screen with various figures, why did they change to a new OS?
In his office at Lightspeed Rescue HQ, Carter Grayson agonized ever having to look up anything in the Lightspeed Central Database. It wasn't that he couldn't use a computer; he had gained a working knowledge of both Windows and Mac operating systems over the past year of his tenure of commander. However, the Lightspeed database ran on neither of these traditional operating systems, nor did they work on any of the lesser-known operating systems such as Linux. Instead, the 'geniuses' at Lightspeed Tech (a separate R&D division not related to Rescue's own group of techies) designed a new operating system solely to be used by Lightspeed.
The system, dubbed LIGHTDOOR, was designed so that hacker attacks would be minimized or eliminated completely, but the high security measures of LIGHTDOOR came at the cost of fluent operating ease, as many of the system's features were difficult to operate. Even the most simplist of commands, such as browsing a network or saving a document onto memory, was an annoyingly difficult task, prompting Carter to wonder how he ever got around to using this system daily without tossing it into the nearest waste disposal slot.
One thing was for certain: the LIGHTDOOR system was the only system able to access the Lightspeed database, where most documents, files, and security plans were stored. Under normal circumstances, the Lightspeed database was openly available to all to use, provided one has the proper level of clearance to access the required file. But when Carter called up for files on the Wraith, he couldn't get through. Every time he attempted to open up the Wraith files, he was met with a ERROR - ACCESS NOT ALLOWED message. He tried entering his access code, but the system would not give. Carter cursed himself silently as the machine started taunting him with the ERROR - ACCESS NOT ALLOWED message. Carter knew he would have to search for the right code to open those "restricted" files, but he was presented with another dilemma; why would anyone keep him from accessing the Wraith files?
Realizing a plan, he pressed a button on his comm system. "Reno," he said, "I can't access the Wraith files. Could you help me with this?"
"Sure," a rugged voice blurted over the speaker, "I'm on my way."
Carter stared at the monitor for a moment until he noticed Reno through the window. The door opened at Carter's command. Walking in was a tall man in his mid-30s, wearing a green shirt with blue pants. A well-built man showing off an aura of intelligence, Reno was one of the participants of the Ranger Initiative program that Carter engaged fifteen months ago to recruit a new team of Rangers. Reno would have been a Ranger if it wasn't for a leg injury he suffered during a trial run, but Carter pulled some strings and offered Reno a spot as his right-hand man. Reno had proven himself to be a viable asset to the Lightspeed Rescue team due to his knowledge in computers and strategic operations, earning the nickname "Lightspeed Miracle Man." Taking his role seriously than most would, Reno lived up to his newly gained moniker, working with Carter on many files and over time the two became fast friends.
When the door behind him closed, Reno saluted Carter (with Carter returning the salute) and approached the system. "Something wrong, sir?" he asked in his usual rugged tone.
Carter turned to look at Reno's face who saw the urgency in his commander's eyes. "You do realize that anything we do or say comes out of this room?" Carter asked in a stern voice.
Reno looked back at Carter with a confused expression. He took a breath and stated, "I have no idea what you're talking about, sir."
Carter gave a reassuring nod and pointed to the computer screen. Reno grabbed Carter's vacant chair and positioned himself in front of the screen, working the keyboard and mouse with fluidity. Carter seemed impressed every time Reno worked the complicated LIGHTDOOR system with relative ease.
"This Wraith document looks like a standard Level-2 clearance file," Reno blurted at he studied the statistics, "so you should be able to access it. Your rank should be able to access all five clearance levels."
"Except I can't," Carter said impatiently, "and no matter what I do, I can't seem to override it because of this damned system."
Carter stood and offered the chair to Reno, who accepted by sitting down. Reno was typing on the keyboard, trying every code that he knows. After several unsuccessful attempts, Reno turned to Carter and said, "This may take awhile, sir. You may want to sit down."
Carter, not wanting to argue with his trusted right-hand man, tossed aside the mounds of hardcopy documents to eventually uncover a free spot of his half-buried guest couch, where he dropped on and looked up lifelessly. He sighed heavily for a moment and glanced at Reno, who was concentrated firmly on working the system to unlock the files. Five minutes passed by when Carter frustratingly got up from the couch and approached the wall-mounded safe. Pressing a couple keystrokes, the safe opened up to reveal a synthetron, a matter replication system capable of creating almost anything the user desires... or in the case of this synthetron, all sorts of beverages from over sixty quadrants.
"Want anything to drink, Reno?" Carter asked.
Reno smiled. "No thanks, sir. I just ate."
Carter nodded and inserted several key commands. In the small synthesizing chamber, a small glass containing greenish liquid formed in the chamber. He gently took the glass, sniffed it a little, and took a little sip. Carter found the beverage to have a sweet taste, but nothing he would particularly object to. He soon drank the whole glass down, stored the empty cup into the chamber, and closed the safe door.
"Alcohol, sir?" Reno inquired.
Carter shook his head. "Serum TK427. Something Dr. Mitchell recommended I drink once in a while when things are getting stressful."
Reno nodded. "If I knew that, I would have asked for-" His sudden quietness prompted Carter to take notice, but Reno's concern faded when a smile appeared. "I'm in!"
Carter approached the computer console and watched as various satellite pictures (the images were displayed in four shades of green due to Lightspeed's older satellite systems still in orbit) were on display in a slideshow. The images showed nothing more than a black mass behind a starfield and close-up images would should various rocky spikes. Carter's jaw dropped at the next image, which featured a beam of light cutting through a spherical object, most presumably a moon or planet.
Reno looked at the images with astonishment. "Whatever this 'Wraith' is, it's one powerful ass kicker."
Carter didn't register Reno's remark. He stared in awe at the bland yet disturbing images of a powerful threat to this planet. He couldn't find the words to describe the image he saw. After a minute of silence, Carter approached the keyboard typed in "Nukutal" as his next search term. Reno expected those files to be classified, but to their astonishment, only one file on the Nukutal was available and this was viewable to all levels. Even the rookie cadets could study these plans if they wanted to.
"Why would Lightspeed keep the Wraith files classified but not the bomb, Reno?" Carter asked.
Reno did not answer for a while, as he was studying the bomb plans. After a moment, he spoke with an ominous tone, "The bomb plans are pretty detailed, sir. I can't answer your question as to why."
Carter read some of the bomb details. There was a lot of information here that should be classified but for some reason isn't. "Reno, make me a copy on CD." he told his assistant, "I'm bringing some of this to the Rangers."
As Reno did so, Carter approached the safe and inserted a different keycode from the one he used earlier. Upon the last stroke, there was a short processing sound from the safe. When the sound stopped, the safe door opened, but the chamber behind was much larger in size. In the middle of the chamber was a wrist object that Carter was familiar with. He took the object out of the safe and mounted it onto his wrist.
"Your old morpher," Reno observed from the console. "Expecting to go into battle?"
Carter nodded. "You know I haven't used this thing in two years? Not since the Serpenterra mission, anyway. I wonder if it still works after all this time..."
---
"Recall all Quadrafighters back to the ship, we have to retreat."
At the command of the Machine King Aradon, the fledging battlecruiser, along with several Quadrafighters that have survived the encounter with a pirate cruiser just moments ago, slowly turned away from the Wraith planet-killer that was fast approaching their . Because of a ramming attack by one of the pirate fighters, the battlecruiser suffered heavy damage to their main engines and thus was unable to outrun the ship.
In the cockpit of one of the Quadrafighters, Andros looked ahead at the awesome size of the enemy. Their first encounter with this massive object, even at full operating capacity, had nearly resulted in the destruction of their vessel. The other Quadrafighters simply flew around to the side of the battlecruiser, but a couple were looking in the direction of the ship.
"Whatever you do, do not fire." Andros commanded to the other fighters through the comm, "we don't have the firepower."
Much to the surprise of Aradon (and the confusion of his two allies), the Wraith simply passed by the fleet without laying a single shot. In fact, the Wraith did not even bother to slow down. It was as if it did not notice the relatively small (and drastically weakened) Machine fleet. In the tactical station, Aradon watched the main viewer as it displayed the giant spiked vessel pass by them at intense speeds. Fortunately for them, none of the spikes were in the cruiser's path.
TJ looked on as the Wraith flew towards a blue sphere. "What is that planet over there?" he asked over the comm.
It took a moment before he heard a distorted Aradon over the comm. "It's a rogue planet," he said, "No life signs."
On the one hand, a sigh of relief. On the other hand, another planet was about to be destroyed.
---
Thomas Oliver stood in front of the structure, staring as if it was a ghost from the past.
In some ways, that's exactly what it might have been. The original home base of the original Power Rangers, destroyed once by means of an implosion device, but was soon restored and served as a entryway to the underground Power Chamber base. That base, along with this structure, was destroyed during the Turbo Rangers' battle with pirate queen Divatox and the ruins has been dormant all this time.
... or so everyone thought.
In front of him was the very structure thought to have been destroyed and never to return and yet here it is, just as it appeared ten years ago. Realizing he wasn't alone, he turned towards the two Silver Guardians. "You guys better regroup with the others," he ordered, although unsure of himself. "Form whatever strategy you can to find and stop the Varox."
"What about you?" Eric asked implicitly.
Thomas gave a sigh. "I have an old acquaintance to meet with... sort of."
The Silver Guardians nodded and took off, leaving Thomas alone before the massive Command Center, restored and reborn as a result of Project Prodigy, an experiment conceived by Zordon and initiated by William Cranston back in ninety-eight. Back then, nobody knew what Prodigy was even supposed to do because it took years for it to run its course. Thomas didn't care about the exact details, because the end result was standing before.
Shaking off the subtle nervousness that had enveloped him since coming here, Thomas made his way to the main entrance of the structure, which was opened. Thomas marched into the interior hall until he found his way into the main Command Center chamber. He was absolutely amazed by how much detail had gone into restoring every speck of light and matter to the way it was before. Thomas never did find out if this place had been around during their tenure as Zeo Rangers ever since he noticed the black wall that blocked the entryway to that room, even though the Power Chamber was much better equipped to deal with the invading Machine Empire. that last thought brought a slight chuckle to Thomas. It was hard to believe that there is almost nothing left of the regime, all thanks to something known as the Wraith.
Shaking his head, Thomas approached one of the consoles, specifically the one with the Numeral Pad. Keying in the numbers 5 - 3 - 9 - 4 and following that combination with a Pound key, Thomas turned to see a door of light emanate from the other side of the room.
Glad to see this still works, Thomas thought to himself as he approached the door of light and took the first step.
---
The Space Rangers and Aradon observe the Wraith as it approached a nearby rogue planet, presumably its next target. Left without options on how to stop it, they could do nothing but watch as the Wraith fired several of their pulse weapons at the planet. However, they've noticed that the flurry of energy projectiles from the Wraith did not destroy the planet. As they learned before, the Wraith usually destroyed worlds using a super-laser... so why the weapons fire on the planet?
For three straight minutes, they've watched the Wraith fire various projectiles at the same rogue planet. Finally, the barrage of projectiles stopped and a blue beam emanated from the Wraith to the rogue world. After several seconds, the planet was consumed in an aura of blinding light and what remained were several asteroids. The Wraith soon veered away from the rumble.
In the tactical room of the battlecruiser, there was silence, save for the background noise of engine humming and computer bleeps. Andros displayed a sense of confusion through his facial expressions, while TJ scratched his head. Aradon stared blankly at the viewer before approaching a console and pressing a few buttons. The viewer showed the Wraith and its barrage on the planet. Another button click and it showed the Wraith using its super laser to destroy the rogue planet. Another button click and it showed the asteroid field.
Turning to his crew, Aradon stared for a moment and spoke softly, "I believe we've learned something about our enemy."
TJ caught on to what the Machine king meant. "The laser isn't strong enough on its own, so the Wraith uses its weapons to cut the planet down." TJ noticed nodding heads of the crowd, so he continued. "So we have to figure out how to use that to our advantage." The nodding heads stopped and now made faces filled with confusion. Silence filled the room until Andros spoke up.
"I have an idea," he said in a light but serious tone, "but we're going to need a very important piece of hardware."
To be continued...