Chapter Twenty-Seven

Tommy and Melissa shared their opinions of Anton Mercer more, that night, telling one another what they really thought of him. Tommy told the truth, saying that didn't think that Anton was all that bad, because he once knew him as an old friend and it was a recent thing when he became this over-bearing demon who only cared about money and success. But, he knew that his old friend was still in there somewhere. He just hoped that he could help him find it.

Melissa found this intriguing and decided to do a little bit of research on what had happened to the once-peaceful man. She found herself sitting at the Cybercafe, looking up old newspaper reports on Mercer, yet she couldn't find anything that could help her. There were all stories of his accomplishments as a scientist and his urges to buy buildings that seemed to not be important to him; the Cybercafe being one. But, she found nothing suspicious on what would change his attitude about life. She was beginning to suspect that the money just went to his head.

She let out an exasperated sigh and got up from the cubicle, an empty glass in hand. Everything snapped and cracked as she stood. She had been sitting there longer than she realized. She walked over to the bar where Hayley was standing, taking a break from the rush of teenagers that had just entered the building.

"Another milkshake?" Hayley asked, not really paying attention to her, but being nice since she was a paying customer.

Melissa nodded. "Please."

Hayley let out an exasperated sigh and she obliged and fetched the triple-chocolate milkshake, one made with chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, and large chunks of chocolate. It was famous in Reefside. "Coming right up."

The two were silent for a moment, but Melissa just couldn't stand the silence; plus there was the fact that she knew that Hayley didn't like her and she wanted to know why. So, she figured that now was as good a time as any to ask. "Hayley, do you think we can talk?" She asked, kindly. She didn't want to scare her off by acting like a jerk.

"About what?" Hayley asked, thinking that this wasn't important. She picked at her nails as she leaned on the bar, letting the shake mix thoroughly.

"About why you don't like me."

That struck a cord. Hayley hadn't realized that it was that obvious that she didn't like Melissa. She thought she hid it pretty well. But, of course Melissa was no ordinary person. She tried to make it look as though she didn't know what the blond was talking about. "I don't know what you mean."

Melissa gave her a stern look as she leaned on the counter. "Please. I know you don't like me. You haven't liked me since the first day that I met you… And this isn't just my ability talking. I can tell when someone doesn't like me."

Hayley let out a long sigh before she answered. She didn't want it to come to this. She had hoped that she would never have to say it, but she figured that she had to now. "I… I just don't trust you. I feel as though you're playing some trick on all of us to make us believe that you're who you really are. Not to mention toying with both Tommy and Jason."

"Why would I toy with them? I love them both. Tommy is the greatest friend I could ever have in the world and I can't imagine ever not knowing him. And Jason… Jason's made me feel like I never could. I feel whole when I'm around him… So, there would be no way that I could toy with them. Either of them."

Hayley lowered her head in shame. She couldn't believe how terrible she had acted toward the younger woman. She now believed that she was telling the truth. There was something in her words as she spoke that told her the truth. "I am so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

Melissa wanted to give her some words of comfort, now that she knew that the two had made peace, but the familiar tones of her communicator going off distracted her. "Well, let's not worry about that, right now. But, no hard feelings, right?"

Hayley smiled widely. "Right."

Tommy sat at the main console of the computer, typing quickly as the alarm sounded. "Come on, where are you?" He asked as he watched the other rangers fighting a fully charged Zeltrax. The teens weren't doing so well. Zeltrax was more powerful than ever and they needed help.

A column of green light appeared behind him, from which Melissa and Hayley both materialized. "Sorry we're late. We had a little unfinished business to take care of. What's up?" Melissa asked.

"Zeltrax is back and the kids are struggling with him. He's too powerful for them to take on by themselves."

"You two have to get over there." Hayley said, pulling Tommy out of her seat by his shirt and replacing him in the seat.

"Right." Tommy said, turning his attention to Melissa. "Ready?"

"Ready!" She replied.

They both flicked their wrists to reveal their morphers. "Dino Thunder, Power Up! Ha!"

"Green Dino Raptor, Power Up!"

Conner and Ethan were both sent to the ground as Zeltrax attacked them both with his sword. The Blue Ranger's shield was tossed aside like a piece of scrap paper, while the Red Ranger's staff was sent flying into a tree, where it remained stuck.

Conner looked at Ethan as he panted loudly. "Man, who knew he had so much power?"

Ethan nodded behind his helmet. "I know. Where'd it come from?"

It was Kira's turn to attack with her Ptera Grips, but, she was no match for him. He sent her quickly to the ground, a loud cackle escaping from what someone might call a mouth. "It seems as though I am now too powerful even for the Power Rangers to defeat." He laughed once again.

"Think again, Zeltrax!" Melissa called out as she and Tommy pulled up on him Brachio-quad.

"There's still two more to deal with!" Tommy finished for her as they both climbed off of the vehicle and unsheathed their weapons. "Brachio Staff!"

"Raptor Whip!" Melissa called out to her weapon, bringing it down to snap on the ground.

Zeltrax turned to face them, quickly getting into his fighting stance. "Well, well, it looks like this is going to be a good day. Now, I can destroy all of you!"

"I'd like to see you try!" The Black Ranger said, charging toward his old foe. He swung his Barchio Staff at Zeltrax's sword. Sparks emitted from both weapons, sending both adversaries back.

It was the Green Ranger's turn. She stepped up, swinging her whip above her head. "Raptor Whip, Thunder Crash!" She cried out, bringing it down onto Zeltrax's torso. The hit sent sparks throughout his body and made him fall back from the force, but it didn't seem to do much damage.

Zeltrax let out a deep, throaty laugh as he regained his composure. "Not even the most powerful of Rangers are no match for me… Time to say goodnight." He said, raising his sword above his head as he charged it up for a full-force strike. Tommy and Melissa stood down, but didn't fear him as they both jumped out of the path of the blade, landing behind the cyborg.

"Double team?" Tommy asked.

"Right!" Melissa agreed as she put away her whip and pulled out her saber. They charged at Zeltrax, both missing him and getting hit in the process. They fell to the ground with a loud thud, their weapons flying from their grasps. Melissa could feel the anger running through her veins as she stared at the evil face of her enemy. That was the last straw. "That's it! I can't take it anymore!" She slammed her fist on the ground and rested on her knees, since she was too weak to get up on her feet. But, it didn't matter. All she needed was enough room to do what she was about to do.

Zeltrax chuckled loudly as he stood above her. "Too much for you, Green Ranger?"

"You wish." She pulled her arms back, cupping her hands, which were starting to turn red. "Raptor Blaze!" Flames started to emit from her hands as she reached back more as she became ready to shoot. "Fire!" A giant fire ball formed in her arms as she flung it at the cyborg.

Zeltrax fell back and landed with a thud on the ground, smoke emitting from parts of his armor. The Rangers stood up and slowly walked over to the smoking wreckage, careful for they knew what was usual about the monsters they had fought.

"Careful." Tommy said as he leaned over his former friend.

"We shouldn't be standing here." Melissa said.

"Why not?" Conner asked.

Before any of them knew it, Zeltrax exploded as he was finally defeated. The Rangers flew back and landed harshly on the ground, all of them unmorphing them all, their weapons disappearing from where they were laying.

"That's why." Melissa finished as she slowly climbed back to her feet, helping the others in the process.

"What a ride!" Ethan said as he regained his balance.

"Just for the record, let's never do that again." Kira said as she was helped to her feet.

"I'm all for that." Conner said as the two teens helped him to his feet.

Tommy didn't say anything as he stared at the spot where Zeltrax previously lay. "So long, Smitty." He said, softly.

Melissa put a caring hand on his shoulder for reassurance. "It'll be okay." She said.

He nodded. "I know."

The two adults quickly looked up as they heard a deep, maniacal laugh. The teens followed their gaze as their eyes set upon the creature before them. Their eyes all went wide at the sight.

"What do you want?" Conner asked, cruelly.

The creature laughed more. "Your destruction." It said, unsheathing its weapon as it charged toward the unmorphed Rangers.

Yes, I know it's been a while, but this chapter was hard to write, since I didn't have much motivation to write it, but now that I have, I am proud of it! Yea me!

So, please read and review so I can quickly get to uploading the next chapter!

thanks for reading!