By Angel Mouse
The last of the Shackra were destroyed and Andros sighed, looking around at the devastation it had caused. He shook his head, it never ceased to tear at his heart to see what evil did, and the consequences were always bad for the innocents. They always suffered. He raised his wrist, nodding to Zhane as his friend came and stood next to him.
"Everyone report in."
"Karone here, we're safe and sound. The villagers are all safe in the caves."
"Ashley here, I'm tracking the ships in orbit, they're leaving." Andros looked around and sighed. He knew they couldn't leave without helping these people, but they also needed to track the enemy. He made a quick decision.
"Billy, how long will it take you to prep and stock the stealth ship for an extended trip?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"Great. Head back to the Mega ship right away and begin pre-flight and stocking it up. I'm sending Merrick with you. I want you to track them to their home planet. I want you to report your position every hour on the hour. I do not want to loose track of you guys. Once your pre-flight is done leave straight away. The Mega ship's sensors will be able to track them until your ready to leave. And be careful"
"Understood Andros. I'll see you when I get back."
"Good. Ashley, make sure you keep them on sensors until the others can leave."
"Got that Andros. Teleporting Billy up now." Andros turned to Merrick as he de-morphed. The other rangers quickly followed his lead and de-morphed. Andros turned to Merrick and ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Merrick, I want the two of you to follow those ships, find their home planet and I want one of you to go down to it and sneak around. Find out who's in charge down there, what they want, anything really. Any information you can gather without getting caught. If you get discovered down there, I want you to get the hell out of there and come back. We'll let you know where we are, once we leave here there's a few planets we need to go and check out." Merrick nodded.
"We can do that. Anything else?" Andros thought a moment and shook his head. Cam stepped forward and frowned.
"While your there, have Billy scan for anything and everything that he can think of. The more information we have about their planet, weaponry and stuff the better." Merrick nodded and Andros ran his hand through his hair again.
"Good thinking Cam. Remember Merrick, we're out of time, out of place and out of our depth in some respects Merrick. We also don't want to tip them off yet that there are Rangers back in the universe. No matter what, get back to us with the information." Merrick gave him a rare smile.
"I think I can manage to do that." Andros returned the smile.
"Ashley, teleport Merrick up and then once they've settled and gone, send down some medical supplies. We've got some work to do here."
"Understood Andros. Teleporting Merrick now." Merrick disappeared in a stream of white light and Andros sighed.
"Karone, begin leading the villagers back here. The three of us are going to do a final sweep of the village to make sure everything's okay. Then we'll help them with the wounded and some repairs before we leave."
"Okay Andros, we're on our way back. There's quite a few wounded, so you might want to set up somewhere for them."
"Understood Karone, I'll get Cam on it."
"Okay, see you in about 30 minutes. It'll be slow going coming back. We were in a rush to get here and took a few chances; I won't do that on the way back."
"I wouldn't expect you to Karone. See you when you get here." Andros closed the channel and lowered his arm and looked at the two remaining rangers with him. Zhane squeezed his shoulder in support and Cam nodded. "Come on, we have a lot of work to get done. Spread out, let's make sure this place is truly safe before these people get back here."
The stealth ship was very quiet, which is how Merrick liked it. Billy was sitting at the controls and had spent the last couple of hours giving Merrick a crash course in piloting it. Every hour they sent a coded message to the Mega Ship to let them know of their co-ordinates and progress. Merrick was quite surprised to find that he was enjoying the other wolf ranger's presence. The time he had spent with both Billy and Cam was pleasant and he had found himself opening up more than he normally did. The three of them were quiet individuals as it was, and they found comfort in each other's presence. Being out of time and out of place was more upsetting than they all wanted to admit. But having something solid to do, like track the enemy, was something tangible to do at last besides fighting. Billy stirred slightly and looked over at Merrick sitting next to him and gave him a small smile.
"Bored yet?" Merrick shook his head.
"No actually, I'm enjoying the peace and quiet. I mean, I like the others, but sometimes Zhane can be a little bit too enthusiastic, if you know what I mean." Billy laughed.
"I know. He reminds me of my friend Rocky, he's my red Ranger and a bundle of energy on a good day." Merrick gave a tiny laugh at that.
"It's just taking a little bit to get used to. I mean, we'll be here how ever long it takes for us to defeat this evil, but when we go home, only five minutes will have passed."
"Yes, I know. Time travel is always a strange one to play around with." Billy said nothing of his conversation with Cam the other day. Cam had asked him to keep it quiet, saying that he was working on something he'd found in the files and had wanted a second opinion about time travel, its effects and consequences. One of the things he had programmed the ship to scan for among other things was temporal particles. Anything to help them in this so far very one sided fight. Merrick fidgeted slightly and yawned. Billy grinned.
"There's a bed out the back, one of the things Cam and I made sure we had. I have the feeling we're going to be here for a bit. How about eight hours on watch, eight hours sleep? Since I didn't do much fighting down there, you go get some sleep first." Merrick thought a moment and then nodded. He saw the sense immediately of doing this.
"Okay. Come and get me in eight hours." Merrick stood up and nodding his thanks to Billy, he headed out the back of the small ship to get some rest. Billy watched him go and then leaned back in his chair, settling in for a long trip.
Three days had passed with the two rangers settling into a routine. After a day they had decided to limit their reports to Andros to every eight hours, as nothing was happening for the moment. They settled into a routine of spending a few waking hours with each other, sparring with each other to keep in shape. They then had a light meal and the other would go and sleep, with the other ranger kept watch. On the fifth day suddenly things began to happen. The Shackra ship was slowing down and heading towards a definite planet. Merrick was asleep and Billy left his post for a moment to go and shake him. He had barely put his hand out to touch him when Merrick's eyes opened.
"What is it?"
"I think we're there." Merrick threw back the covers and followed Billy to the cockpit. They sat down at their respective stations and began to work. Billy slowed the ship down and settled it into orbit in the shadow of one of the three moons circling the dark red looking planet. The Shackra ship entered the atmosphere and Merrick leaned over the controls, smiling slightly.
"Looks like this is it." Billy examined the readings and grinned openly.
"Looks like your right. I'm reading similar technology, life-signs, everything the same as what we're already seen. This is it Merrick. We've found their home planet!" Billy's excitement was catching and Merrick returned his grin with a very rare one of his own.
"What now then?" Billy took a deep breath and began working quickly.
"Well, firstly we'll let Andros know where we are. And then we'll find a nice quiet spot to teleport down to." Merrick raised his eyebrow and looked at Billy.
"We'll teleport down to?" Billy blushed slightly and looked up to see Merrick looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
"We could cover more ground together." Merrick shook his head.
"Billy, I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to run this ship. It's all I can do to send those messages to the others. Running a teleportation system and keeping this ship hidden is up your alley. I hate to say this, but I think I should go down their alone." Billy held his gaze a moment and then sighed, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair.
"I know, I know. It's just sometimes I hate being relegated to the side-lines." Merrick smiled gently at him.
"Each of us has our own special gift or talent Billy. Each of us has our own unique gift that we have brought with us. Andros is an excellent leader; he has the talent, the courage and the convictions to make the hard choices. Ashley is the highlight of anyone's day, her faith in people and the goodness shining from her soul is the perfect counterpart for Andros's seriousness. Karone brings innocence and strength of spirit to our little group. She has seen the darkness in us all and emerged a better person for it. Zhane, well, what can you say about Zhane. He's a unique person in a strange universe. The most powerful ranger ever, yet he's kind and innocent in a strange way. But he draws his inner strength from the faith of his convictions and the faith he has in Andros. Plus, he and Andros are an unstoppable team; I've never seen their like and most likely never will again. Cam brings intelligence, wisdom of the ages and a sarcastic wit that brings every one down to earth without hurting anyone's feelings. And you my friend, you bring intelligence as well kindness, gentleness of a spirit but with the strength of a century's old warrior. We are all different yet we have such a strong faith in ourselves that we work well together as a team." Billy mulled over his words for a few moments and then nodded.
"Your right." Billy gave him a wry smile and shook his head. "You know, for someone who's been asleep for the last three centuries, you make an awful lot of sense." Merrick looked slightly embarrassed and shrugged.
"Not really, I just learned from watching the Princess. She is the one who is extremely adapt at reading people's souls. Now, shall we get down to business? Have you found somewhere for me to teleport down to?" Billy nodded and they got ready to get down to business. He was mulling over Merrick's words, especially the look in Merricks eyes when he mentioned the Princess. Obviously this Princess was very important to Merrick. After a few moments Billy looked up.
"Well, I've sent off our co-ordinates to Andros and the others. And I've found a good spot for you to go down to." Merrick nodded and stood up, stretching slightly in preparation for his mission.
"Alright, let's get this done. Anything in particular I should look for?" Billy thought about it a few moments and then shook his head as he handed Merrick a portable scanner.
"Just anything you can find out. See who's behind this all, which is running things down there. Anything at all really." Merrick nodded, getting his morpher out.
"Alright then, I'd better get going. Keep a lock on me and I'll try and keep in touch. But if I need to get out of there in a hurry.." Billy smile ruefully.
"Don't worry; I'll come running as soon as you call." Merrick grinned slightly.
"Good. If I call urgently I'll probably be in deep trouble if I do call." Merrick held up his morpher. "WILD ACCESS!" Morphing quickly he was gone in a flash. Billy sighed, staring a moment at where he had been standing.
"Good luck my quiet friend. You're going to need it."
Merrick kept to the shadows high up in the rafters where he was hiding. He had been down on the planet now for about six or more hours, he'd lost track a little while ago. He'd seen all sorts of weird things going on. Weapons being built - horrible weapons of destruction from what he could tell. Massive machines that looked similar to the Zords that they used. Merrick had taken the opportunity while it presented it and had done some very discreet sabotage while making sure at the same time the scanner Billy had given him was always on. He admitted to himself that he enjoyed that part of this mission; sabotage was a lot of fun. But he had been seeing a lot of things that disturbed him greatly and he admitted to himself that perhaps it wasn't such a good idea that Billy had stayed behind. A lot of the things he had seen he didn't understand and was sure that the blue ranger would. But he had taken images of what he had saw and knew that Cam and Billy both would drool over them later when he got back. But some of the things he had seen were beginning to make him very worried. There were literally hundreds of thousands of warriors and soldiers that he saw training, and somehow watching them train something struck him as that it wasn't a natural thing for these large beings. It was while observing these training sessions that he'd finally came across another type of Shackra. He recalled what Zaron had told them, that there were three types of Shackra. This then must be the second type. He saw that they ordered the first type around and actually spoke some sort of high pitched language that he couldn't make out. And it was upon seeing them that found Merrick in his current situation. He had followed a couple towards a larger building, more of a temple really, into the centre of an ancient looking city. He had followed as best he could. Keeping to rooftops, shadows and any cover he could find. Luckily now it was twilight and the shadows were lengthening and providing him with more cover. He had the feeling he was about to see something very important. Unfortunately he didn't know how right he was.
High Priest Ba'la knew that things were bout to come to a head. Ever since the Elder One had arrived over three centuries ago, things had begun to finally go right for his people. They had been a dying race, living on past glories and legends. Their race was on the verge of extinction until the Elder had come as their most ancient of legends had said he would. He had brought them new knowledge, new technologies and a new sense of purpose for their people. And then they began to conquer the planets and galaxies bringing their thirst for destruction and devastation to the fore. And they're people revelled in it. They quickly became feared and pushed their thirst for conquest even more. After three centuries of unending conquest, battles and bloodshed when suddenly the Elder announced that he his preparations were complete. The Elder had announced that he had set things in motion in the past and the present to secure their future as rulers of the galaxy. High Priest Ba'la wondered though what was next for their people. All the planets that were classified as good or on the side of light had been destroyed. All except one. There was one planet left that was on the side of light. And The Elder said that he had come up with a way for them to finally remove that one last barrier to the side of light. High Priest Ba'la entered the central temple, unaware he was being followed, and went towards the altar where The Elder appeared when he came to them. There was a burst of light and swirling cloud and suddenly The Elder appeared and High Priest Ba'la dropped his head.
"Elder, you have appeared to us once more."
"I told you never to come in here without requesting an audience first!" The voice boomed out and reverberated around the massive temple and High Priest Ba'la cowed.
"I am sorry Revered One. But our troops grow restless and eager to finish off the light for once and for all. We are ready Revered One, why won't you let us attack the planet of light?" The figure stepped out of the light and he was robed and cloaked.
"We haven't attacked the last planet of light because all the pieces weren't in place. They are now." The High Priest raised his head and looked at the cloaked figure before him.
"How are they in place Elder One?" The cloaked figure paced back and forth, his words issuing in a tone that broke now argument.
"My travels through time and space have allowed me to put little things into place that have had devastating consequences in the millennia since they occurred." High Priest Ba'la was curious and blurted out his next words out without even thinking of the consequences.
"But what could you possibly do in the past that will affect the things of the future? Didn't you tell us that the witch in charge of the last planet of light brought the Legendary Power Rangers forward in time? How has your changes affected that! Those Rangers will stop at nothing to stop us!" The Elder one turned around in a whirl of anger and lashed out with his hand. A beam of dark light lashed out and suddenly the High Priest disappeared in a flash light. Silence descended on the huge temple and the cloaked being stared at the dark mark on the floor where the High Priest had been.
"Never question my orders or my methods." The cloaked figure shook his head and raised his voice. "Send me another priest! One that can listen and follow orders." Acolytes hiding in the shadows at the back of the temple scurried away to do it's bidding. From his hiding place in the rafters Merrick had watched with horror. Only the evillest of beings would do something like that to their minions. Merrick began to feel even more unease at what was unfolding below him. He settled himself in for a long wait, he had the feeling that whatever was going to happen next was going to be very important.
A few minutes later another priest came into the room. This time it was a female priestess. Merrick stared at it closely, trying to see if there was any difference between the two. They were both tall, about his height, with elongated heads. They wore dark red, almost blood red, over robes that covered their strong bodies. But apart from that they were identical to the other Schraka they had seen and fought. Merrick moved slightly closer, sticking to the shadows, trying to hear and see more of what was going on.
The cloaked figured stared at the kneeling priestess and studied her a moment.
"Who are you?"
"High Priestess Ka'la Elder One." The cloaked at her and then it nodded.
"Well High Priestess Ka'la. Can you follow orders and not question anything I say?" The High Priestess nodded.
"Yes Exalted one. What are your orders?" The cloaked one looked at her and nodded at her.
"The last planet of light will be ready to fall soon. My preparations in the past are almost complete."
"That is good to hear Elder One." Here she paused and then continued slowly. "Elder One, may I ask a question?" The cloaked figured stopped its pacing and came over to stand in front of her. Its tone was hard but slightly amused.
"You're very presumptuous for someone who's only just taken her position. But, presumption sometimes can be good. What is your question?" The High Priestess spoke softly but strongly.
"Elder One, what off these reports of Power Rangers suddenly appearing." The Elder One gave a throaty laugh, shaking his head.
"Oh I know all about them. I had a hand in sure that they would be brought here. I made sure that the silly Prophecy they are following was written. I have made sure that they have no allies, no chance of victory and no hope. You need not worry yourself about them. They have been taken care of." The Priestess looked up at him.
"How so Elder One if I may be so bold?" The cloaked figure gave an even throatier laugh. High in the rafters Merrick's wolf spirit began to get restless and he began to sense something more than the evil that were pervading the whole area. Something was stirring at his senses, something familiar but just out of the edge of his senses, just a feeling of unease that wasn't letting him go. Something was working at the back of his mind and it was frustrating. But, for the moment, he had to concentrate on what was happening below him.
"They have been brought here to try and stop us, but they will fail. Already the seeds of dissent among their ranks have been sown. And when we take the last planet of light, they will have no hope and no chance left. The survivors of our attack against that planet will be out of time and they will have no hope to return to their own times. I have planned this carefully over many millennia High Priestess, and no one will be able to stop me. Will they Luna Wolf Ranger?" The cloaked figure looked up into the rafters, his darkened face staring straight at the spot where Merrick was hiding. "Have you heard enough of my plans? I do hope so. Now, if you'll be so kind as to join us down here." He waved his hand and suddenly Merrick found himself flying towards the hard ground. Twisting his body carefully he managed to land on his feet, hand out to steady himself. He straightened up and stared hard at the figures before him. His heart racing, Merrick knew that he was in a bad situation. The cloaked figure walked down the steps from the top of the temple and began to approach him slowly. "I must say Ranger that I'm quite surprised to find that you and your fellows found my home so quickly. You've only been in this time a little over a month or so haven't you?" The figure in the black cloak began to circle Merrick slowly, staying just out of the Luna Ranger's reach. The sense of familiarity began to grow but was still frustratingly out of Merrick's grasp. "You are smarter than you appear. Or perhaps not, you wouldn't have come alone I imagine. So Ranger, what will you do now? Will you fight and try to escape? Or will you give up now and save yourself enormous amounts of pain? What is your choice Ranger?" Merrick looked at him; he was now standing in front of him. Almost casually Merrick put his hand on his sabre at his side and tilted his head slightly to one side.
"You must be joking right? A Ranger never gives up." His wolf spirit was almost screaming at him now and Merrick studied the figure in front of him intently. And then suddenly it hit him and he inadvertently took a step back. "You! You've betrayed us!" The cloaked figure laughed heartily.
"Well done Ranger. It's a shame you have to die now."
Billy was getting worried. More than worried actually, he was almost in a down right panic. Merricks signal had become very erratic in the last few minutes. He had been monitoring Merrick from his position in the shadow of the planet's moon. He had been keeping a track of his power signature and in the last few minutes that signature had gotten weaker and weaker. Throwing caution to the wind as he could see Merrick's power signature fade so much it was almost non-existent he fired up the ships engines and headed towards the planet. He flicked open the com channel and tried to contact his fellow Ranger.
"Merrick! Can you hear me? Are you alright?" There was an agonising silence as he approached the planet, narrowing down Merrick's location slowly.
"Need… help… " Frowning Billy threw everything into the engines and frantically began trying to lock onto Merrick with the teleportation system.
"Hang on, I'm coming. What's happening?"
"Be…" The com went silent and Billy cursed softly under his breath.
"Merrick! Merrick!" Throwing all caution to the wind Billy aimed the small craft at the last location he had Merrick and working faster than he had ever before, he managed to lock onto Merrick's signal and teleport him to the ship. Glancing behind him to confirm that Merrick was aboard, Billy turned the small ship around and throwing the engines to maximum he sent them off out of there, making sure the stealth shields were at maximum. Once he was sure they were out of the atmosphere of the planet and on the way out of there he finally turned to Merrick. He threw off his restraints and ran to the fallen ranger. Billy reached out and gently turned Merrick onto his back. Moments later there was a slight glow as Merrick's morph failed and Billy saw the extent of Merrick's injuries. Billy paled and reached out with an unsteady hand to check for a pulse. Thankfully he found one. Swallowing against the sight before him, Billy took a deep breath and gently lifted his newest friend up in his arms and staggered over to the bed. Laying Merrick gently down Billy got the medical kit out and began to do what little he could to save his friends life. But if he was honest with himself, Billy wasn't sure there was a lot he could do.
Tbc… the next chapter will focus on what the other Rangers and what they discover when they try to visit other Ranger friendly planets..