Power Rangers Digital Cosmos

Unlocking the Fire; Part One

Vanjer Kayde was walking through the corridors of Ooze's floating mansion. Newly appointed as one of his henchmen his first task was to succeed where Kadoka had failed; defeat the power rangers. However truly he was in two minds about whether or not to help Ooze for in reality, Ooze had a hold over Vanjer, a dark secret that would soon be revealed.

Rex was sitting at the Ernie's Beach bar, except Ernie wasn't running the bar any more. He had left months ago to travel the world and sample in its delights. Regardless it still had the same feel albeit without the best factor.

"Hey what you up to?" Tori had just joined for her lunch break.

"Have to try and right an essay on the movie 'Save the Last Dance'. Topic title being 'to compare and contrast the relative ease for Sara Johnson to adapt to the cultural shock and diverse community; with how it was for the community (namely Nikki, but additionally Derek and Chenille Reynolds) to accept her.'"

"Whoa, that's a mouthful. So, how much have you written?"

"About…1820 words and that's just comparing it," he grinned. Save the Last Dance was Rex's favourite movie of all time. He had seen it over a thousand times and still wasn't sick of it (though others were)! As he continued writing, they heard a crackle of thunder, as the sky seemed to flash purple for a second. They had become used to Ooze's monsters appearing at inappropriate times over the past months. Casting a worried look to Tori, the two got up and went to investigate. Vanjer clad in a silver trench coat and black leather pants confronted them. At the same time Kadoka appeared as if out of the blue to confront him.

"Why have I been summoned, it's humiliating enough to be replaced by a younger version…"

"I'm not here for idle chit-chat. Ivan has a task for you: he wants you to distract the other rangers whilst I go one-on-one with the red one…"

Kadoka stepped forward and grabbed Vanjer roughly, "How dare you use Lord Ooze's first name. He is our leader; and aside from your blatant disregard for him, I alone will be the one to confront the red ranger!" Vanjer looked at him and smirked, within a heartbeat he had managed to flip Kadoka over his head and now stood over him.

"Firstly, Ivan is your Lord; I'm here against my will; I have no beef with the rangers. But if I don't help the rangers I can't help my home world. And secondly, these orders came from IVAN himself; you wouldn't want to disobey them would you?" With that Kadoka rose to his feet and cursing under his breath nodded his head in approval. And then they were gone in a flash of purple thunder.

"Maybe we should…"

"…Tell the others? Yeah, I think you're right!" With that the two rangers fragmented into the command centre. Billy, Adam and Mrs. Rawlings were there working a power modification for their new weapons.

"I think Ooze's henchmen are up to something big!"

"What makes you think that Rex?" Without looking up from his work, Billy had managed to convey not only the fact that he was listening, but also the fact that he deemed this serious.

"Well, the fact that me and Tor overheard Kadoka and Vanjer talking about a plot to single me out in combat!"

"Well it's a good thing that we finished combat training then," said Rocky as he and Blake entered the main chamber. The training facilities were in a smaller annex of the command centre but had the entire feel to it of an ancient dojo (ala Ninja Ops). Blake looked sweaty and flushed but it was Rocky who looked worse for wear. Setting his work aside Adam looked at him squarely, half grin plastered on his face, before inquiring, "Let me guess, you're down 10-4!"

"Worse," Rocky replied giving Adam's forehead a sweaty kiss, "12-2! But it's all good; I think I need the practice!"

"Good then you'll have no problem with these then," to which Adam pressed a button on the table that the resident geniuses had been working on. Five square slabs, one for each ranger, rose up; each supporting a different weapon. Billy stepped in front of them and preceded to hand the weapons out.

"Rocky, this is your Mountain mallet; Adam, you have the Breeze Baton; Tori, the Aqua axe is yours to wield; Blake, you should be familiar with the Charged claw as it's a variation of you antler from your ninja ranger days. Finally, Rex, you have the Blaze Blade. It comes with three modes: Phoenix mode allows you to throw it with deadly accuracy; Dragon mode lets you wield it like a chakram; whilst Lion mode allows you to split it into two curved blades and carves up your enemy with them."

As if on cue Zordon appeared, "Rangers there are reports of two disturbances in the area, you have to split up for this assignment."

"Mrs. Rawlings, did Hailey manage to finish the modifications to our Cosmic Cycles?"

"Yes Adam, the cycles have been tailored to suit your powers. Adam's bike can convert into a hover bike, Rocky's can go off-road with ease, Blake has the fastest one, and Tori's can go underwater; whilst Rex, yours has the most fire power."

"Great; Tori, you Adam and Rocky go take on Kadoka and his new monster. Blake and I will take on Vanjer. That way if you need more help, Blake can be over as quick as a flash!"

"Cool," Rocky said before standing by his bike. The others followed suit and they all morphed. "DIGIMORPH, DATA DOWNLOAD!"

The blue, black and green rangers arrived by the pier, still straddling their bikes. Little did they now that Kadoka's new sidekick Rasa was also on the scene with a couple of dozen Slimers ready to destroy them!

Meanwhile, across town in the Hanging Gardens of Palmer University, Blake and Rex were scanning the vicinity for Vanjer, but to no avail. "Zordon, we can't get a lock on the other disturbance on our end. How are the others doing?"

"The situation looks grim; they are being outnumbered by slimers and Rasa, Kadoka's newest creation. They need assistance urgently!"

"Okay, we're on it!" Blake looked at Rex and even though there were two helmets obscuring their facial expression, they instantly knew what the other was going to do. "You're going to stay and do one more sweep of the area?"

"Whilst you go and help the others stat! Good luck bro!" They gave each other the thumbs up before Blake got onto his bike and speed of at lightning speed. It was just at that moment that Rex's scanner found the anomaly that was the cause of him being here. On closer inspection of the co-ordinates given, he noticed a small rip in the air. "What the…"

Before he could contact Zordon or anyone for that matter, a silver coated hand extended out of the rip, grabbing him by the shoulders. Rex's was caught off-guard and was forcibly dragged through the rip thus being launched into the oblivion within!

TO BE CONTINUED… (Sooner rather than later!)