MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS in THE
EIGHTH COIN - Part 7
Written by DTM666
Disclaimer: The author would like to clarify that Power Rangers and its characters is owned by BVS Entertainment and not the author.
Note: Yeah, it's later than intended. If you're still around, thanks and enjoy this seventh chapter.
---
Rocky looked on at the action progressing just outside the Command Center walls through the Viewing Globe, where the various monsters are now at war with each other. This sudden turn of events did nothing to calm him, because whoever walks away from that scuffle will have a very large target before them. He turned back to the others to check on them. He saw Billy working with Alpha on the console, hoping to break Kimberly out of her unconscious state. He saw Adam and Aisha each
"We obviously can't do much here now," Rocky whispered, "I suggest taking a brief look around the place to see if everything looks good."
Adam and Aisha nodded and left the main chamber. It wasn't the greatest idea, but it gave them something to do while Billy did his work. His eyes leaned back to the Viewing Globe as it constantly shifted images of the fighting. Rocky almost let out an audible groan as he saw more monsters teleport in.
"How's it going, Billy?" Rocky asked.
Billy turned to Rocky and gave a reassuring nod. "Good news is Kim's going to recover; it'll just be a matter of time."
"Excellent. What about the outside interference?"
Billy frowned. "Bad news is that even with a full team, we're still outnumbered and the odds aren't necessarily in our favor."
Rocky hung his head. That wasn't what I wanted to hear, Billy.
---
Through the uses of his enhanced vision, Zedd observed the distraught in-fighting going on between Goldar's forces and those sent by Dark Specter's upstart apprentice. While none could see the contorted expressions on his face, his posture alone gave away Zedd's apparent outrage and apparent worry (yes, he does worry. He just won't show it) that his glorious plan would fall apart once again, only without the Power Rangers' interference.
"This isn't going well," he muttered, "I'll have to think of drastic measures."
And so, out of options and in his hour of desperation, Zedd did the one thing he thought he would never have to do in this lifetime. The one thing that was a mere afterthought of amusement was now the one thing he had to do or else the coin would be lost to Astronema's puppet.
"Finster!" he called out, "Get down to the Alchemy lab! It's time to activate the Reaper."
---
The packs of Putties, Quantrons, and various monsters continued to fight brutally, with neither gaining a significant advantage on the other. Zedd's monsters, the mythological types from random objects and his own archive, were no match for the advanced robotic forces of Astronema, but they were holding their own. As the fighting among each other grew more stagnant, the duel between their respective commanders, Goldar and Ecliptor, was also closer to its end without a decisive winner.
"Your style has changed, titan," Ecliptor commented as he struggled to get a blow in. "It's too defensive."
Goldar smirked, managing to disarm his opponent's sword. "Merely a different approach, android."
The two dropped away from each other and extended their hands ahead, where lightning beams struck each other, creating an airborne explosion that knocked them back even further. Goldar shot several beams from his eyes, but none of them phased Ecliptor, who merely walked through them as if they were nothing. The Titan stepped back a little more until he bumped into another Quantron and, in a flash of anger, he dug his fingers into the Quantron's back and tossed the soldier at Ecliptor, who used his sword to slice the flying obstacle in half and continued his approach.
"You think tossing one of my soldiers will stop me, fool?" the black warrior grunted, "I assure you it'll take a lot more than THAT!"
Ecliptor broke from his methodical pacing to a quick run, but Goldar did not flinch. Instead, he took the warrior's sword that had laid on the ground and held it with his left hand. Ecliptor stopped in his tracks and held his arms up to block whatever attack Goldar would do with the two swords. No attack came, however, and when the bodyguard to Astronema dropped his arms, he saw the Titan extended Ecliptor's sword to him. Goldar turned to the fighting crowd and extended his sword upwards, prompting the fighting to slowly come to a halt.
"What are you doing?" Ecliptor demanded as he reluctantly grabbed his sword from Goldar.
"This fighting is getting us nowhere, android," the Titan murmered, "While we fight over who gets the coin, the Rangers and their 'ally' are probably developing a means to send the coin elsewhere and preparing for the eventual attack on their Command Center."
Ecliptor thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement. "I agree. So what do you suggest we do?"
"Let us combine our forces and take on the Rangers' Command Center," offered Goldar, "We defeat the Rangers, then we fight each other over who gets possession of the prize. With our great combined numbers, a common enemy can be eliminated and the prize we both seek will be fought in mortal combat." Goldar extended the free hand to Ecliptor. "Does this sound like an agreeable proposal?"
Ecliptor looked down at the Titan's hand. He knew that despite their alliance, Zedd would do anything to get the coin for himself. He knew this because that's what Astronema would do in a situation like this. Nonetheless, their combined forces would be a formidable and unbeatable group that the Rangers would have problems.
After some hesitation and with great reluctance, Ecliptor grabbed Goldar's hand and shook it. "I accept your terms. For now."
---
"They shouldn't be able to follow us," the hunter told the White Ranger, "I think we've covered enough distance."
White Ranger took a quick glance back at the mountains they had just traveled from. They had traveled a good ten miles of mountains in less than half an hour. He wasn't necessarily surprised that they wouldn't be followed, but he had expected Zedd to send in more troops on their way. His mind reflected back to the hunter, who bore the mythical eighth power coin that he assumed was the reason behind these recent strikes.
"I'm sorry about before," Gillian said suddenly, "I should have a little more open when I saw you guys."
White Ranger shook his head in denial. "Actually, it was my fault. I shouldn't have been so demanding as I have been, but we wasn't too sure about you."
The hunter smiled. "The coin does that. It's such a powerful tool that merely feeling its presence is enough for you to lay claim to it. You're not the first one."
Tommy merely shrugged in response. "So what are you going to do with the coin?"
Gillian shrugged back. "I dunno. Keep it, I suppose. The coin isn't going to work with anyone else unless I choose to give it to someone. Frankly, that isn't an option."
"You're going to be a walking target carrying it," the White Ranger pointed out.
"So what else is new?" she replied in a soft tone. "That's my life, Tom."
Tommy grinned. "Some life. So where are we headed now?"
"Back to my ship," Gillian replied, "It has some weapons we can use to take out the ground troops. I doubt Zedd has any major aerial forces, so we'd have an advantage on that factor."
Tommy nodded, then asked, "Why don't we just use the coin to do tornadoes and stuff like that?"
The hunter shook her head in disbelief. "It's not that easy. And I have no clue how to pull it off anyway."
That simple reasoning was all it took for Tommy to stop with the questions and the two continued on their way. For the most part, the trip was relatively peaceful and no monsters had attacked them yet. This struck White Ranger as odd, since the coin's readings should have been powerful enough to be tracked easily, regardless of detection. It was just another mystery surrounding this girl who held the coin and controlled its power. Placing these thoughts in the back of his mind, Tommy followed Gillian in complete silence.
---
Zedd and Finster proceeded the Alchemy lab that was situated deep within the catacombs of the moon. The lab was so well secluded that it wasn't even built under the palace, but rather several miles away from the palace. Zedd didn't appreciate having to walk there, but teleportation to and from the lab was close to impossible due to the sensitivity of the equipment there.
When they got there, Finster inputted commands into a nearby console that opened the large doors. The doors slowly squeaked open and then with tremendous speed opened widely, revealing a chamber that was pitch black. The only sources of illumination were five rainbow-colored glows and one glowing eye above them all, which belonged to Zedd's 'Reaper' monster.
The 'Reaper' monster, for lack of a better term, was actually a multi-tentacle creature that was practically hidden in the darkness of the lab. The various black-scaled tentacles, the only visible part of the creature aside from the glowing eye, were each connected to five dim-glowing glass tubes of varying colors. After several seconds, the glowing stopped, the glass faded away, and the mists contained within the tube were released, quickly filling the room and revealing the bodies that they hid. Finster quickly checked on the life-support console connected to the main apparatus and nodded in approval of his findings.
"Well, Finster?" the fleshman asked, "Are the specimens ready for action?"
"Yes, my lordship," the elder monstermaker said, "As per your specifications, the Reaper have completed the total energizing of the five specimens. They may not look like much, but they are formidable fighting machines armed with more powers than can every be imposed on a human being."
Zedd smiled beneath his cold iron mask as he looked on at the five lifeless masses wearing similar jumpsuits with diamond designs and a stylized "Z" logo on their chest. The face masks were crudely made, as if someone simply cut the eye and mouth holes out with a pair of scissors. The costumes were cheesy looking and they suited to the fleshman lord's needs perfectly.
"These Dark Rangers shall be the last line in the war against the Rangers," he muttered, "I want them ready in the event Goldar and Astronema's toy fail to acquire the coin."
---
"Guys, we have a problem." Aisha's comment had caused the remaining three Rangers to observe the viewing globe, which was showing images of Goldar and company starting their advances towards the Command Center. Adam gave a nervous glance to Billy, who was somehow able to maintain his composure. Rocky clenched his fists together and turned to Zordon.
"We have to slow them down, Zordon," Rocky said, "Even though we don't have the coin, they'll come here thinking we do and won't stop until they have it in their possession."
Zordon shook his head. "What you are proposing is risky and there is a good chance that you will not win this battle, Rangers."
That's when Billy stepped in. "Rocky might be suggesting something risky, but we're all out of options."
"Your powers are significantly strained over the last few battles," the sage cautioned, "I cannot assure that they will hold out under the pressure."
"That's a risk we'll have to take, Zordon," Adam added, "It's the only to go."
Zordon thought about it for a moment, but only came with one conclusion. "As I much as I am against this rash move, I agree that there is no other option. All I can tell you is to do what you can and may the power protect you."
The Rangers nodded. With that done, they each grabbed their own helmets, slipped them on, proceeded out to the main gate and the army of monsters that awaited them outside. Alpha said one last comment before they were out of the main chamber.
"Good luck, Rangers."
To be continued...