Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Khyuss, Extengor, and the Dryads.
I know you all have waited long enough for this chapter so not much of the usual drabble except a shout-outs.
FireFlameJade: Thanks for the kind words. The answer to Khyuss' background will actually be answered in the next chapter.
Chapter 16
Relying on One to Make the Ultimate Sacrifice, Part II
The rangers stared upward at the machine beating its chest, the silver armor glinting in the dim light. Khyuss' cackling rose to a higher decibel as his blood red eyes danced with glee.
"Yes, Rangers, meet Extengor and prepare for the apocalypse!"
The team could only stare up at the monstrosity, words failing. Eric nudged Conner with his elbow, shifting to face his brother.
"Dude, you helped make that thing?"
"Kinda hard to resist when your elemental powers are being forcibly sucked from your body." Conner shot back grimly. Turning to the team, the Chosen Ranger gave a nod.
"Okay guys, let's power them up." Speaking through the communicator beneath his gauntlet, Conner addressed the two geniuses standing by.
"Billy, Hayley, we need the zords!"
"They're on their way, Conner." The ground beneath the rangers quivered again as the zords rumbled to their owners. In unison, the group leaped upwards to man their machines, and in a rush of motion, the rangers formed the Thundersaurus, Storm, and Thunder megazords while Cam's Samurai Star shifted to its own megazord. Trent combined the Drago and Stegozords for his mega version as Conner's Phoenixflame zord reverted to warrior mode. Settling to stand in front of the pilot's console, the inferno ranger's eyes flicked over the panels, checking over the systems.
"Alright, everybody in?"
"Roger that, Capitano. Ninja Storm's ready to go." Shane affirmed from the Storm cockpit.
"Same here, Conner. Thunder Storm's got your back." Hunter checked in for himself and Blake.
"Ready when you are" Cam assured.
"Just tell us when, Jockboy." Trent chimed in.
"Ditto to that, Dorkwad. Dino Thunder's right behind you." Eric's voice floated over the comm. system.
"And I'm standing by with the auxiliary zords, Conner." Dr. O spoke from the ground. The fire ninja nodded grimly, pausing to gather his composure. When he spoke again, the words were quiet but firm.
"We're going two at a time here folks. Shane, Trent, you guys get the first pass, Eric, Cam, the second. Hunter, you and me get the third. Keep going in that order for a while. We'll see if we can tire it. That way we can save the weapons."
"Read you, Conner. Ninja Storm's moving in."
xxx
The Storm Megazord rumbled forward, the Drago Stegozord hot on its heels. Both sets converged on the machine, throwing out punches and kicks. Extengor blocked the first advance from Ninja Storm, striking back with its own punch. Catching the arm of Trent's Drago Stegozord as it passed, the creation flung the white ranger's zord headlong into a mountain. Sparks flew as Trent's zord crashed heavily to the ground, crackling with energy.
"Trent, you okay?" Conner inquired, wincing at the rough fall.
"Yeah, Conner, I'm good. Zord's a little shaken, though." Wrenching on the controls, Trent hauled his zord upward, "I'll be fine for the next pass."
xxx
Extengor flailed, attempting to swat Cam's Samurai Star off its back. The green ranger held strong to the abomination, distracting the monster from inflicting any more damage.
"Eric, you guys better get a hit in here. My grip can't hold on much longer!" Cam's frantic voice crackled over the comm. system to the Dino Thunder Megazord.
"Hang on, Cam. We're on it." Charging forward, the Thundersaurus Megazord lashed out, striking the monster in the stomach before shifting around to attempt another attack on the second pass. This time, Extengor caught the blow, and grasping the megazord around the midsection, hurled the Dino Thunder zord away. Reaching back to disengage the Samurai Star, the monster bent over, throwing the samurai ranger into its fellows. The two zords tumbled to the ground, kicking up dust.
xxx
Conner's mouth thinned to a grim line as the inferno ranger witnessed Khyuss' machine a work. Glancing to his right, the Chosen Ranger glimpsed the Thunder Megazord waiting, and Conner hefted a determined sigh.
"Okay, Hunter, Blake, let's do this. Go in hard and fast. We just need to weaken it."
From his cockpit, Hunter nodded, "You got it, Conner. We're heading forward."
The Thunder Megazord rumbled ahead, meeting its opponent. The two machines circled for a moment before the megazord struck out, catching its fellow combatant on the shoulder. The monster retaliated back with another blow, staggering the Thunder Megazord, sparks fizzing from the force of impact.
Conner's amber orbs narrowed to stare furious fire at the hulking figure before him. Extengor gazed back defiantly, raising its metallic hands in anticipation. Conner's own hands clenched to fists, calling out a command.
"FISTS OF FIRE, TORNADO ATTACK!"
The Phoenixflame Megazord brought balled hands to cross at the wrists. Slowly separating them, a bright, warm flame flared. Rearing its hands back, the warrior zord flung the stream of fire to Extengor. The heat roared towards its destination, swirling around Khyuss' creation, encasing the abomination in its fiery depths. The machine struggled beneath its blanket of heat before flying back, showers of sparks being spewed from its torso, minute explosions snaking through its body.
"FLAME BALL, DISCUS THROW!"
Conjuring up a flat cylinder of smoldering blaze, the phoenix zord whirled, hurling the cylinder. The disc spiraled through the air, whacking Extengor in the head, staggering the monstrosity.
Seeing the machine weaken, Conner called out a hurried command, "Okay, guys, group attack! Bring out the artillery!"
Shane, Hunter, and Cam brandished their power discs. Fitting them into their slots, each ranger turned the handle, "Locked and dropped!" Three power spheres burst from their chests, flashing to reveal their respective weapons.
"SERPENT SWORD!"
"SPIN BLADE!"
"BEE SPINNER!"
The Thundersaurus Megazord settled into a fighting stance, the drill on its left arm rotating anxiously, the Dino Stegozord at its side.
"Dino Drill's ready to engage!"
From his side, Conner whipped out his Wildfire Sabre. Energizing the weapon with his elemental power, Conner plunged the sword into a slot in the center of his control console. The sabre glowed before materializing before the megazord.
"PHOENIXFLAME POWER SWORD!"
In a flurry of motion, the team converged on Khyuss' monster, their weapons held at the ready. The machine turned away every advance from the rangers. The weapons clanged off the monster's armor, leaving one a scratch behind. The group piled on top of the monster, wrestling it to the ground. From the depths of the jumbled of zords, the machine crouched. An amethyst blast tore through the zords, flinging them away.
Conner cringed, his eyes searching frantically for the team, "Guys, you okay?"
Weak affirmations drifted to Conner's ear through the comm. system, and the Chosen Ranger turned his megazord, the last zord standing at the moment. Bringing the sabre up, the two machines rushed. On the first pass, the Phoenixflame Sword caught the machine across the midsection. Extengor retaliated, its left fist transforming into a gleaming sword. The two machines traded blows as their weapons locked and clashed, the furious pace matching the ferocity of battle. Pushing Extengor away, the megazord raised its sword.
"PHOENIXFLAME SWORD, FIRE SLASH!"
Rotating the sabre in a large circle, the zord leaped high into the air. Spinning in its elevated state, Conner's zord conjured up waves of fiery heat before whipping its weapon down to deliver a flaming cut to the chest. As Extengor stumbled back, Conner directed a command to all his teammates.
"Okay, guys, put 'em all together!"
From their respective cockpits, Hunter, Shane and Cam brought out their mutual power discs. Fitting them into the slots, each turned their handles. In an instant, the three Ninja Storm zords sprung into action as the Ninja Firebird burst from its Power Sphere, connecting the three megazords. The massive combination reared back, stomping forward.
"HURRICANE MEGAZORD!"
Eric raised his morpher to his mouth, addressing his teammate waiting in the wings, "Send 'em in, Dr. O!"
The Brachiozord opened up its compartments to release the auxiliary zords. The smaller machines bounded towards its carriers as Eric powered up the Mezodon Megazord. As the humongous end result flashed its metallic eyes, Tommy and Trent joined the rest of the Dino Thunder rangers in the megazord.
"VAULKASAURUS MEGAZORD!"
As the two megazords completed their formations, Conner released a long breath, "Okay, my turn."
Crossing his fists at the wrists, the fire ranger threw out his palms to rest near the central control orb resting on the console. Fire energy flowed from the Inferno morpher, down his arms, and through his fingertips to be absorbed by the sphere. The circle glowed as a fiery heat engulfed the zord.
"PHEONIXFLAME, INFERNO MODE!"
The Phoenixflame Megazord emerged from its flaming cocoon stronger, faster, and more menacing. Flaunting a more potent sword, Conner signaled to his team.
"Let's end this now."
As one, the three megazords rushed on Extengor. The Serpent Sword collided with a shoulder plate, sending shocks reverberating through the Hurricane Megazord. Extengor swatted away the feeble attack. As it turned, the Pterarang clanged into the monster's head, staggering the abomination for a moment. Surfing down the Brachiozord's neck. The Valkasaurus advanced with an Anklyopunch, the attack connecting with the bug-like skull. As the zord passed, Extengor lashed out, catching the under side of the Stego Surfboard. The megazord spun out of control, tumbling heavily on the ground.
From the comm. system, Conner could hear the groans from his team as his teeth clenched. The inferno megazord charged on the creation, slashing out wildly. Strike after strike grazed Extengor, energized with Conner's flame and Khyuss' machine stumbled backward, explosions wracking the main torso. A wayward strike permeated the megazord's defenses, sending it back to its fellows.
The team regrouped, the three megazords huddled together. Before them, Extengor beat his chest furiously as Khyuss cackled with glee.
"It's too strong." Dustin choked out, "There's no way we can beat it."
From the Vaulkasaurus megazord, Ethan posed a question to their leader, "What now, Conner?"
From his cockpit, the Chosen Ranger frowned. They were right. So far, the monster had shown no signs of weakness. Thinking hard, the inferno ranger replayed the past battles. There was a common link to all three. As the jock pondered, realization smacked him over the head.
"That's it." Conner breathed. He got it. Every time the monster was attacked with fire, explosions occurred from within. The reaction between Khyuss' energy and his own elemental power was what fueled the monster, but when an overload of one energy occurred, Extengor was unable to control his power. So to destroy this metallic thorn in the side of Blue Bay Harbor and all of the universe, he need to create such an imbalance of energy to trigger a massive explosion and to do that...
"Conner?" Kira's inquiring voice snapped the Chosen Ranger from his revelation, and he took a deep breath.
"Guys, here's what we're gonna do. I need you all to eject. Get out of the zords."
Twelve "WHAT?"s floated over the communication at the Chosen Ranger's command and various protests reached his ears, but he cut them off with a single statement.
"Trust me."
After a period of silence and eleven different forms of sighing, assorted murmurs of consent drifted through the communication system. One by one, the rangers leapt from their zords down to the cliff below. Glancing back, the team expected their leader to be right behind them but his phoenix zord still stood at the ready.
"Conner, what are you doing?" Eric's inquiry hung in the air, the red Dino ranger gazing up at his brother's zord as it reverted back to its natural bird state.
Underneath his helmet where no one could see, the Chosen Ranger quirked a small smile.
"Destiny, bro."
The team stood in confusion as the phoenix zord activated its jets, shifting in the air to soar away towards the awaiting monster. Eric's brow furrowed as the Dino ranger mulled over his twin's words, and Tommy leaned to the taller boy.
"What is he doing?"
Eric gave a small jerk at the sudden query and shifted towards the science teacher, "Making a sacrifice." The team turned to watch the spectacle as the inferno ranger's zord hovered around Extengor, spouting bursts of flame.
xxx
Conner circled around Extengor, avoiding blasts from its fingertips. Diving in, the Phoenixflame zord latched onto the creation with a grappling hood at the end of one wing. One pass, two passes, three. Conner's mouth was set in grim determination while his zord confined the creation. Extengor struggled beneath his cord barriers, and with one final pass, the phoenix zord wrapped his wings around the monstrosity.
xxx
In the confines of his cockpit, Conner glanced down at his control panel, his honey eyes seeking the button needed. A tiny grin worked its way across his lips as the Chosen Ranger gazed out at his team, and a single statement drifted from his mouth before his finger plunged down on the glowing button. His amber eyes drifted shut, bracing the fire ranger for what was to come.
"Thanks for the memories."
xxx
On the cliff, the ranger team turned away, shielding themselves from the massive explosion that engulfed both Khyuss' monster and the Phoenixflame zord. Eleven pairs of eyes gazed in horror at the fiery mess, their voices uniting in a panicked scream.
"CONNER!"
"Where is he?"
"Do you see him?"
"Did he get out?"
The jumble of hysteric questions knifed through the atmosphere as the rangers searched the blaze for any sign of the Chosen Ranger. The group fell silent as realization of the situation presented itself and the possibility of the Chosen Ranger's predicament hung heavy.
A loud yell permeated through the silence, and the team looked to the source to find the body of their leader hurtling the air, limbs flailing, propelled by the immense explosions. The rangers winced as Conner sailed over their heads, his progress halted only by the side of the mountain. Rushing to his side, the team hauled the inferno ranger up.
"Dammit, Conner, scare us to death!" Blake huffed, cuffing the younger boy upside the helmet, "Don't you have the sense to eject before the thing blows up?"
Conner's shoulders shook a bit in slight laughter, "Wouldn't that require me to actually have sense?" The moment of mirth passed, and Conner grew serious.
"Okay, guys. Heads up. I just fried Extengor, and I serious doubt Khyuss is gonna be happy."
As if on cue, a purple orb of energy smashed into the ground before them, flinging the rangers to the dusty soil. Raising himself up on his elbows, Ethan glanced to the Chosen Ranger hacking up smoke.
"You were saying?"
xxx
His robes billowed out behind him, velvet waves amongst a musty background, the purple energy still crackling from his withered, white hands, his red eyes flashing menacingly, and his pale lips curved upward in a barely perceptible sneer. Anger radiated from the sorcerer's slight frame as he stalked to the group of rangers struggling to stand.
"You destroyed my general. You destroyed my beautiful creation. I think it would be quite rude to exclude me from all the festivities. Now, I shall destroy you."
The sorcerer's hands rose to the opening of his robes, and the fluttering garments pooled at his feet, leaving the villain clothed in a long, leather ninja uniform, and the rangers to final gaze upon the face of their tormentor. The pale, human-like head was small, the only difference in the two small horns protruding from the ivory skull. Khyuss waved his hands in a circular motion, a silver staff appearing in his grasp, an ornate orb perched at one end. The villain whipped the weapon up and around his body to rest under his armpit diagonally across his back, beckoning to the rangers.
Grimly, the team brandished their own weapons. With a terse nod from their leader, the group rushed, bearing down on the sorcerer. The villain's pale lips split into a grin. Whirling to his left, Khyuss crossed staffs with Eric, and spinning to the opposite direction, blocked another blow from Hunter's Thunder Staff. Returning his attention to the Dino ranger, Khyuss stabbed out, knocking Eric in the chest. Snapping the staff to his backhand, the villain caught Hunter across the midsection before sweeping the thunder ranger off his feet.
xxx
Khyuss dropped to a knee, thwarting a hit from Dr. Oliver's Brachio Staff. Wrenching his own staff around, Khyuss forced the weapon down. From his knee, the sorcerer brought the staff up, whacking the black ranger on the helmet. Pivoting his weight, Khyuss delivered a mule kick to the chest, knocking Tommy away. Front hand springing to his feet, Khyuss lashed out with a tornado kick, sending Blake to the ground. Parrying alternating blows from Kira and Tori, the sorcerer back flipped away, sending an energy orb spewing from his fingertips to blast the two rangers off their feet.
xxx
Khyuss cartwheeled through the air, avoiding the barrage of laser arrows from Trent's Drago Sword. Using his staff as a vault, the villain flipped over the white ranger, and landing on a knee, whipped his staff around to clout the ranger to the ground. Glancing over his shoulder, Khyuss spotted the samurai ranger rushing towards him. Jamming the ball end of the staff into Cam's stomach, the sorcerer flung the green ranger away, sending him airborne.
xxx
A purple ball of energy blew Ethan off his feet as the blue ranger advanced on the villain. The sorcerer backed away, fending off the onslaught of hits from Shane and Dustin. Khyuss leaped over a swipe from Dustin's Lion Hammer before sending the yellow ranger down with a crescent kick while a mule kick took down his partner.
xxx
Conner pressed forward, his Wildfire Sabre flashing in the gloomy overcast. Throwing the sword over his back, the Chosen Ranger blocked a swipe from the staff before chopping down in front to evade another attack from the other end of Khyuss' weapon. Forcing the end down, Conner whipped around, kicking out with a tornado kick. The sorcerer flipped away, snapping the staff around. The Chosen Ranger sidestepped to his right, parrying a stab from the villain before knocking the staff upward and whirling to slash Khyuss across the torso. Recovering quickly, Khyuss bore down on the inferno ranger, engaging the teenager in their furious dance. The weapons locked, bringing the two combatants face to face.
"I see you have been taught well, Chosen One." Khyuss hissed, his red eyes boring onto the dark visor of Conner's helmet, "You know you are powerful. Join me and together we can rule the universe."
"Sorry, I'll be content with ruling the soccer field." Conner retorted, his crimson helmet shining in the gloom. Khyuss cackled.
"So be it."
Wrenching themselves away from each other, the two warriors sent spheres of their energies hurtling towards their opposition. Conner flew backwards, skidding to a stop at the feet of his team while Khyuss tumbled away.
Staggering upwards, Conner sheathed the Wildfire Sabre at his side. Motioning to his team, Conner barked out a command.
"Alright, team! Put 'em together and let's finish this!"
Eleven weapons snapped into place to form the Z-Rex Blaster and the Thunderstorm Cannon.
"Ready, FIRE!"
Two bolts of energy flew at Khyuss as the sorcerer hauled himself upward. As the blasts flew at their target, the villain sneered. Rearing back, Khyuss thrashed his staff forward to meet the discharge, batting the twin orbs of energy back at the rangers. Conner's eyes grew wide as the spheres changed direction to hurtle back towards them. The rangers dove out of the way of the detonation, vestiges of the massive explosion catching the rangers as they collapsed on the ground, forcibly demorphed. Khyuss' pale lips split into a triumphant smirk as he approached the fallen rangers, and Conner groaned, rolling onto his stomach.
"I commend your valiant efforts, Rangers, but I'm afraid your pitiful attempts are futile." The sorcerer sneered, an energy orb taking shape in his palms, "This is the end."
The purple sphere sizzled through the air, drawing closer with each ragged breath the inferno ranger took. With his energy waning, Conner threw up a wall of fire, retreating slightly in surprise as a thunder shield materialized beside the flames. The fire ninja glanced to his left, finding Hunter alongside him, his palms thrown out in front, jaw set in concentration as Khyuss' energy ball collided with the barrier, ricocheting harmlessly away. The crimson ranger caught his leader's inquiring gaze.
"This isn't just your burden, Conner. We're all in this together." Glancing backwards at the team struggling to stand, Hunter's blue eyes shone with determination.
"And we're finishing this together."
Holding out his hand, Hunter grasped palms with the inferno ranger. With a wild yell, the two crimson warriors emerged from the shield, charging on the sorcerer. Khyuss' eyes narrowed as he witnessed the two unarmed, unmorphed humans bearing down on him. The two energy orbs he sent whistling in their direction crashed just wide of Hunter and Conner.
Hunter reached Khyuss first, approaching with a flying kick, which the villain deftly averted. Conner followed, sweeping a leg beneath Khyuss, who back flipped away. The sorcerer retaliated, lashing out with a tornado kick and numerous punches. Arms and legs flew in blurs as the three combatants joined in a dance of strikes and blocks. Grunts and the dull thud of contact was the only sound in the dreary sky as Conner, Hunter, and Khyuss fought on.
The tide of battle shifted abruptly as the sorcerer mustered up enough strength to fling the two rangers away. Khyuss chortled as he progressed to Hunter, the closer of the two, who lay back, panting from exertion. The sorcerer turned to the Chosen Ranger sprawled a distance away.
"How can the might Chosen Ranger save the universe when he can't even save his own teammate?" An amethyst sphere erupted from Khyuss' fingertips, and the crackling energy hovered in the atmosphere.
From his position on the ground, Conner's eyes flared an eerie white, and the Chosen Ranger's head snapped up. This must be it. Activating his Dino gem power, Conner's body reverted to a scarlet blur as the ninja scrambled to reach his teammate.
The glowing sphere bore down on Hunter, kicking up dirt as his burned its path to the thunder ranger. There was nothing Hunter could do except close his eyes and brace himself for the end.
But it never came.
xxx
Hunter peeked open a baby blue eye to find the Chosen Ranger standing before him, his eyes squinched shut with the effort of holding back the charging sphere. The contact from the two energies prompted a potent explosion, sending Hunter and Conner skidding back. The inferno ranger dug his heels in, struggling to keep the shield intact. Flitting his eyes to the thunder ranger, Conner bit words out through clenched teeth.
"Hunter, get out of here!"
The crimson ninja gave a violent shake of his head, "No, I'm not leaving you."
"Hunter," The Chosen Ranger halted the protestations with a single glance, "this is my destiny. Let me fulfill it."
"But - "
"Hey, man, you still have to propose to Tori." Conner cut him off, "Make sure you live for that."
Hunter wavered, unsure of whether to obey the jock. Conner encouraged the crimson ranger with a curt nod of his head. Slowly, Hunter backed away, still hesitant of whether he was doing the right thing.
xxx
Conner lowered his shield to face his opponent, "This is between you and me, Khyuss."
The sorcerer inclined his head to the Chosen Ranger, accepting the challenge, "To the death then, Chosen One."
Taking a flying leap, Khyuss bounded to a plateau slightly elevated from their previous setting. Conner pursued the villain, flipping up to stand before the sorcerer. The Chosen Ranger barely had time to set his balance before Khyuss charged, throwing out punches and kicks. Their movements blended together, each strike indiscernible from its predecessor. The pace was furious, both combatants pouring out months of frustrations into powerful blows, and the atmosphere of their battle was fierce. Grabbing ahold of his opponent's outer jacket, Conner and Khyuss grappled, fighting for control. Kicking a leg up, Conner shoved the villain away from him, sending the pair tumbling backwards in opposite directions. Khyuss was the first to recover, discharging an energy sphere that rocketed towards the Chosen Ranger. Conner ducked, the heat of the amethyst ball falling heftily on his skin. From his knees, the inferno ranger flung his own offering at the sorcerer. As another violet projectile smashed into Conner's fire shield, the phoenix song commenced its haunting melody.
xxx
Khyuss' eyes narrowed to scarlet slits as a monstrous energy ball materialized between his palms. The sorcerer concentrated all of his energy into this final discharge, the globe crackling and sizzling with the vicious power.
"I have waited fifteen thousand years for my resurrection." The villain spat from between a set jaw, "I will not be thwarted by your vain efforts."
As the purple sphere of energy knifed through the humid summer air, the cry of Conner's guardian spirit grew louder and more prominent, filling the Chosen Ranger's ears with its delicate melody, and Conner felt his heart sink. He had been wrong. Now was the time to choose. Pondering slightly, Conner realized the choice was never between his teammates, it was always for himself. Conner had to decide between his life and the joint life of the universe. The Chosen Ranger knew his choice. So he lowered his palms.
xxx
From the ground, the team exchanged worried glances as the barrier of flame protecting the Chosen Ranger vanished, Conner slowly turned his head, and his amber gaze sought out an inquiring hazel one. A silent message transpired between the two lovers, and Kira pleaded to the jock in silent protest. Her answer was evident in the remorseful glint shining in Conner's honey stare as the ranger shifted his attention to the oncoming sphere. The Chosen Ranger's body stood relaxed as with each moment that passed, the orb drew closer. His team watched in horror as an eerie melody commenced while Conner's body began to glow.
xxx
The jock's caramel eyes shone a pure white as the fire roared around him. Khyuss' sphere bore down on his body, striking Conner at the base of his throat directly on the Inferno Morpher. His body arched upward, leaving the ground, and absorbing the power discharged from the impact. From the ground, the rangers shielded their eyes from the harsh blaze radiating from their leader as the light intensified. With one final brilliant flash, a beam erupted from Conner's hovering body, hurtling towards Khyuss.
xxx
The beam struck Khyuss square in the stomach, blowing the sorcerer off his feet. Struggling to stay standing, purple lightning engulfed the villain, overwhelming the struggling sorcerer. The pain was immense, sucking every ounce of power from the villain's body, burning with the agony of those whom he had inflicted his own pain during his reign of chaos. His ears were assaulted with the howls of anguish from his countless victims, haunting him as his limp body crackled with energy, and with his own scream of agony, Khyuss exploded in a shower of sparks.
xxx
Conner floated for a moment in his elevated state before touching down to earth. His amber irises flickered back to their normal shade as the radiance encompassing the jock dissapitated. The inferno ranger wavered for a moment, his eyes blinking before rolling to the back of his head as he collapsed, his knees buckling beneath him.
xxx
With a panicked shriek, the team rushed to the fallen ranger. Kira reached him first, throwing herself down to her knees, cradling the jock to her. His chest rose and fell in rough, ragged gasps, and the team struggled to remove the uniform jacket. A faint burn wove its way across his chest, highlighting the faint scars already adorning the sculpted torso, and Kira reached up to gently stroke the chocolate strands.
At her touch, Conner's eyelids fluttered open, and he turned a bleary gaze to the musician beside him. His mouth quirked upward in a feeble version of his trademark grin, "Kira..."
The musician shook her head morosely at the jock, "Conner, you lunkhead. What did you do that for?"
The Chosen Ranger's shoulders lifted in a weak shrug, "Wanted to play the hero." Conner drew in a labored breath as he shifted his glance to his brother, "Eric, your ass is mine. I know you drove my Mustang on Thursday." His twin lifted a corner of his mouth in reply, nodding his head at the playful jab, the identical honey eyes shining his distress. Reverting his eyes back to Kira, Conner reached up to cradle her cheek, his thumb tenderly caressing its softness. The Chosen Ranger remained silent, drinking in the sight of her in his final waning moments. With his last remnants of strength, Conner's mouth curved in a mournful smile.
"I love you, babe." With his final words, the flame that fueled Conner's life force spluttered to darkness while the mischievous spark of life glinting in Conner's amber orbs faded as his lids drifted shut, and his hand plummeted from Kira's cheek as the Chosen Ranger breathed his last.
"What have I told you about calling me babe?" Kira choked out, searching Conner's face for evidence of life but she found none as the aura of the Chosen Ranger diminished into oblivion. Conner lay limp, unmoving, his caramel eyes never again to wink with his audacity and wit, his mouth never to flash the McKnight grin. Throwing her head back, Kira unleashed the heavy pain in her heart, her Ptera scream rippling in the gloom as the heavens opened up to join the rangers' mourning of their fallen leader, the fresh rain water mingling with their hot, salty tears. Time stood still on the cliff with the rangers while around them, life in Blue Bay Harbor and the universe continued, bustling with typical activity, brutally unaware of the sacrifice Conner McKnight made.
Coming Up:
The aftermath
Okay, before you all send me death threats and promises of my utter demise, remember: All things happen for a reason in a story! I've left some clues on the outcome of this story so look back and see if you can spot them. This story isn't over yet, and that's all I'm gonna say.
Also, I am in the process of writing a sequel so add in a review or email whether or not you would like me to post it when I have finished with this story.
Roxie
