Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Disney and the like, which I am not affliated with.
Author's note: World Series champions. I can't believe it. Much love for the Boston Red Sox.
The monster was a hideous owl-type creature with a torso composed of a stereo speaker. Unfortunately, this owl had night vision in the form of lasers, and the sonic bellows of the speaker were destroying buildings left and right.
"I have no idea where Conner and Kira are," Hayley admitted as she and Ethan watched from the basement. "I haven't heard from them since they left the warehouse. How did you get out of Mesogog's fortress, by the way?"
"There's time for that later," Ethan said, handing over the red and yellow Gems. "Keep these safe. I have to go keep everyone else safe. I just hope it's not too late." He stepped off the platform, turning his bracelet into his morpher with the 'ready' command. "Dino Thunder, power up!"
Ethan charged the Tricerazord into battle, flanked by the Ankylo and Parasaur Zords. He couldn't get the Megazord without his friends, but he still had authority enough to command the auxiliary Zords that the Rangers. Plus, he was hoping the three-against-one odds would be beneficial.
He and the monster exchanged a few choice insults before launching into a furious battle. Parasaur and Ankylo double-teamed the beast with two tail whips, and Ethan lunged forward to butt his horns into the speaker, trashing the sound system. "That should cut you down to size," Ethan said, smirking behind his helmet. But his smile didn't last, because the monster responded by shooting at Ethan with his laser eyes. "Where is the Ptera-rang when you need it?" grumbled Ethan.
"Ethan," said Hayley over the communicator, "get behind Ankylozord. When he fires again, the beams should bounce off Ankylo's armor."
"And strike down speaker boy with his own weapon," Ethan finished. "Brilliant, Hayley. On it."
Ethan provoked the monster into firing again, by jabbing him once more with his horns. The owl eyes glowed, and Ankylo moved to the forefront to shield from the attack. As Hayley predicted, the laser beams bounced off Ankylo's armor, destroying the monster. Ethan whooped victoriously, disembarking from the Tricerazord, and finding himself face-to-face with a police officer.
"I wanted to say thank you for your assistance in saving the city," the cop said.
Ethan nodded. "You're welcome. Sorry it couldn't have been sooner, there were...ah...other matters to be dealt with."
The cop waved off Ethan's apology. "Understandable. Think nothing of it. The important thing is that you came at all. But if I may ask...where are the other Rangers?"
Ethan found himself blurting honestly, "I have no idea."
"Erm, sir, if I may..." the cop said hesitantly, and Ethan raised his unseen eyebrows at the idea of being called 'sir' by a law enforcement official, "earlier today we arrested two perps who were seen with red and blue bikes that we believe to belong to the Power Rangers." The Raptor Cycles that Ethan and Dr. O. had left at the warehouse. Conner and Kira had taken them back, Hayley had said...that explained where the missing Rangers were, in jail!
"Male, seventeen or eighteen, brown hair, brown eyes, six-one, and female, sixteen or seventeen, blond hair, hazel eyes, five-two." Definitely Conner and Kira. "They were claiming to be the Red and Yellow Rangers." Not good; very, very not good. With the real Red and Yellow Rangers 'missing', and Conner and Kira's names no doubt on file by now.
"Where are they now?" Ethan asked.
"In custody."
"I'd like to see them, if I may," Ethan said. "To thank them for retrieving our bikes."
"But sir..." the cop said, clearly still clinging to the belief that the 'perps' had stolen the bikes.
"I do need the bikes back, don't I?" Ethan said. "When the other Rangers return from their mission, they could come in handy." He had to make sure that Conner and Kira got released. He didn't need them in jail, that was for sure.
At the station, the cops fell all over themselves to return the Raptor Cycles and lead Ethan to the cell where Conner and Kira were being held. A windowless, locked room. An empty, windowless, locked room. The police were flabbergasted. Ethan was just worried.
Conner and Kira were more missing than ever.
Elsa was about to lead Conner and Kira to their cell once more, but Zeltrax chose that moment to come in the room. "Master," he began.
"Zeltrax," Mesogog said. "Please tell me you have some good news about the fate of Reefside."
"Sir, the Tweeter monster has been defeated," Zeltrax reported. Conner and Kira exchanged the briefest of smiles; as far as they were concerned, that was great news about the fate of Reefside.
"How can that be?" Elsa said.
"The Blue Ranger escaped," the cyborg said shortly. The Dino Gems were missing, Ethan was missing, and that could only mean that Ethan had their morphers and was back with Hayley. Conner gripped Kira's hand excitedly.
"Zeltrax, that is twice now you've failed me," Mesogog said. He turned to Elsa. "Throw him in the dungeon with our prisoners. Perhaps this time, they will not escape. And perhaps this time, Zeltrax might actually be of some use." Now he looked to Dr. O. "Come with me, Number Two," he said extra dramatically, obviously wanting to cut down Zeltrax. They left through one door, and Elsa pushed Conner and Kira through another.
"Don't screw up this time, Zeltrax," Elsa said, as she shoved the three of them in the cell, now with two shattered locks littering the floor in front of it. "The Master will have your head."
As her heels clacked down the hallway, Zeltrax let out a wail. "I have been demoted!" he cried in an agonized tone, whirling on the Rangers. "Once again, your pathetic teacher has taken my place. This is the last time, though! Never again will Dr. Tommy Oliver win the hearts of my teammates."
Kira raised her eyebrows at this statement, and Conner summed it up more bluntly, "Ew."
If Zeltrax had eyes that Conner and Kira could see, they would have been flashing dangerously. He unsheathed his sword and advanced on the Rangers slowly in the cramped cell. "I shall destroy you," he said menacingly. He raised his sword, and Conner pushed Kira behind him. "This is for the Master," Zeltrax said. The blade glinted as it lowered.