Power Rangers: The First and Last Hope

Chapter 4: Shades of Black, Part 1

"Well done, Power Rangers!" Zordon beamed from inside his tube as Tristan and Ada returned to the Command Center. Ada, however, was having none of it.

"Well done my ass, you useless floating head!" Ada yelled up at him. "Tristan almost DIED out there! If I hadn't gotten my powers at the last second, he would have been killed by Araken! What's the point in our powers if they're so useless!"

"Your powers are most definitely NOT useless." Zordon replied, sighing. "I will admit, one-on-one, Tristan is currently no match for Araken. I knew that before I sent him out there."

"So you sent my brother out there to DIE!" Ada screamed at him, becoming more enraged by the second.

"I did no such thing." Zordon replied. "It was my belief that seeing your brother be defeated by Araken would cause the power within you to awaken, and allow you to morph into the Pink Ranger."

"So you gambled my brother's life on a hunch not once, but TWICE!" Ada screamed as she slammed her fist onto the side of one of the consoles.

"Ai yi yi yi!" Alpha yelled, but Tristan motioned for him to be quiet.

"If you EVER do that again, I'll personally crack that tube of yours in half, do you understand?"

"Young lady, I understand why you're so upset." Zordon replied. "But please know that I had no other choice. It was either this, or all of New York City meeting their end."

Ada had no response to that, simply leaning back against the console she had just pounded with her hand and giving Zordon an angry glare. Tristan, who knew better by now than to speak up while his sister was venting, finally spoke up.

"You said right now I'm currently no match for Araken." Tristan said quietly. "Will I ever be?"

"In time, Red Ranger." Zordon replied. "Face the viewing globe."

Both Tristan and Ada turned to face the viewing globe, and the globe showed all five Power Rangers, united with their Power Weapons held high in the air.

"Whoa, those things look cool!" Tristan yelled.

"How old are you, Tristan, ten?" Ada snapped at him. But she quickly turned back to Zordon and asked, "Why don't we have those? I mean, they'd certainly help."

"They would indeed." Zordon agreed. "These are the Power Weapons. Each Ranger uses one of these incredibly powerful tools, and with the weapon, you may be able to become a match for Araken."

"That's great, but how do we get them?" Ada asked, annoyed that he was avoiding that part.

"The only way to get the Power Weapons is to awaken all five of the Power Rangers." Zordon said sadly. "Until all five Rangers are awakened and brought together, the Power Weapons will remain lost."

"That's just great." Ada said sarcastically. "So we have to go on a giant scavenger hunt for three other kids of Rangers, and until then we're no match for Araken or anyone in the Zarset Empire. Boy, you're just a fountain of good news, anyone tell you that?"

"How are we even supposed to find the other three Rangers?" Tristan asked Zordon, speaking sincerely rather than sarcastically like his older sister. "Couldn't they be anywhere?"

"The hunt for the Rangers is not nearly as difficult as it may seem." Zordon replied. "You see, ever since the Zarset Empire came to the Earth, the five of you have been giving off slight energy reactions. That's how Alpha and I knew the time for your awakening was at hand. Eventually, these energy reactions should become strong enough for us to track with the Command Center's computers, and we'll be able to give you their location."

"So we can go and do, what, tell them they have to risk their life to fight against incredible odds with us?" Ada asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, I hear some people don't want to." Tristan remarked, looking at his older sister as he said it.

"Basically, yes." Zordon nodded. "We must hope they are more cooperative than...some of us have been."

"Oh, so now you're both making fun of me?" Ada asked them. "Well, then the two of you can just go fu..."

But Ada was cut off by the sound of the Command Center's alarms, as Alpha-5 yet out his trademark yell.

"Ai yi yi yi, the computer has picked up a Ranger!"

"Very good, Alpha, bring it up on the viewing globe." Zordon commanded.

Tristan, Ada, and even Alpha turned around to look at the viewing globe once again. Standing there was an African-American male who looked pretty similar to Zach, except his hair was in cornrows and he was a bit younger-looking.

"Who is that?" Tristan asked.

"That is Jerrelle Taylor, son of the original Black Ranger." Zordon replied. "It appears that his power levels are very high, and he is almost ready to awaken...as the Black Ranger."

Tristan and Alpha both nodded. Ada, however, hadn't said or done anything since she first saw him, as something about him just wasn't right. It finally hit her...it was what he was wearing. The gray uniform...with the small lightning bolt on the side...

"That uniform...I knew I've seen it somewhere before!" Ada yelled. "That's the human supervisor uniform of the Zarset Empire!"

"That means that Jerrelle is...a member of the Zarset Empire!" Tristan said in disbelief.

"Ai yi yi yi!" Alpha agreed.

Meanwhile, back on the mothership, the Scarlet Ranger and Araken each entered a large, dark room through separate doors on opposite sides. The room was almost completely dark except for a small amount of light near the back, illuminating nothing more than steel. The front was left in complete darkness.

"What are you doing here!" Araken demanded as soon as he spotted her.

"Probably the same thing as you." the Scarlet Ranger said.

Suddenly, the front of the room suddenly came to life as a gigantic screen lit up, illuminating the room in an eerie blue glow. The screen showed nothing more than a strange mass of blue energy, almost like a computer screensaver, except it was moving in a way that it looked...alive.

"I'm sure you're both here for the same reason." came a deep, robotic voice from the screen.

"I don't know about her, but I'm here because our sensors have located the Black Ranger's whereabouts, and I wish to take command of the mission." Araken said, bowing to the screen.

"I told you we were here for the same reason." the Scarlet Ranger grinned beneath her helmet. "I'm also requesting to take command of this mission."

"You're here for not even a day and already you're trying to take over my turf!" Araken yelled at her.

"Why should Command give you the chance to fail another mission!" she shot back. "If you give control of this mission to Araken, we'll have three Power Rangers united against us instead of two!"

"ENOUGH!" the voice screamed at both of them. "Scarlet Ranger, we appreciate your desire, but Araken's defeat last time was an unfortunate mistake that we don't think he'll repeat. Will you, Araken?"

"I gave them my honor and they spat it back at me." Araken replied. "I will NOT give them my honor again."

"Good. This satisfies us. You may have another chance. Either make the Black Ranger join us, or eliminate him."

"I won't fail you, Command." Araken replied as he bowed again.

"See that you don't." Command replied. "Scarlet Ranger, we are not overlooking you, but we merely believe that your great power is best saved for another day. Give Araken another chance. If he fails, the next mission is yours."

"I understand, Command." the Scarlet Ranger said, bowing as well.

"Good. We will see both of you again soon."

The screen suddenly flickered off, leaving the room covered in darkness again.

"You're lucky Command is feeling sympathetic today, loser." said the Scarlet Ranger with a sly grin underneath her helmet. "I bet they won't be feeling nearly as sympathetic after you fail again."

"Don't worry your pretty little head about that, Scarlet." Araken replied. "Because it isn't going to happen. I'll take care of the Black Ranger, and Command will begin to learn that your presence is completely unnecessary here. I hope they send you to a swamp planet next, you bitch."

Araken turned and stormed out of the Command Room, leaving the Scarlet Ranger to just stand there and nod her head.

"Poor, poor Araken." she said with a mock sigh. "Oh well, I'll be here to pick up your pieces."

Jerrelle was tired by the time he had finished his day's work. Living in a single apartment with his mom in Chicago, things were tough for them even before the Zarset Empire showed up. Now, he had to do what he had to do for both of them to survive. He wasn't particularly fond of his work, overseeing the slaves building a plant for god-knows-what on the outskirts of the city, but he didn't have much of a choice.

As he walked home to the apartment, Jerrelle thought back to the day he was first approached...

"You there!" a man in a black cloak yelled. "Jerrelle Taylor!"

Jerrelle turned around to face the man just as he was on his way down the stairs of his apartment building.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I'm a representative of the Zarset Empire." the man said. "I want you to come with me. We have a job offer for you."

"What kind of job offer?" Jerrelle asked skeptically."

"I've been told to come and offer you a job as a supervisor for a plant we're building outside of the city." the man replied. "The humans we've rounded up need a bit of guidance and...motivation, to do their work right."

"Whoa, you want me to be a slave driver!" Jerrelle asked him. "No thanks. Besides, why me of all people? Before all this went down I was just some dropout working three jobs trying to help his mom make ends meet."

The man smiled at Jerrelle's response.

"You're 16 years old. You're no 'kid'. And as for why the Empire wants you...we have our reasons. And I've been told not to take no as an answer."

"Well, sorry, but you're going to have to." Jerrelle said as he walked past him. "I got things to do."

"Fine." the man smirked. "I suppose we'll just have to take your mother in to slavery then..."


"Whoa, what did you just say?" Jerrelle said, spinning around and facing the man. "My mom's sick, she's been sick for a long time. She can't do any kind of physical labor!"

"Well, isn't that just a pity?" the man said sarcastically. "She'll just have to try and make do. Key word there being...try..."

"You punk!" Jerrelle yelled as he ran up and slammed the man against the wall of the apartment building. He only laughed in response as Jerrelle held him there.

"I wouldn't do that. I can have Minions on your ass faster than you can blink."

Jerrelle, despite his anger, knew he was telling the truth. While still glaring at him, he slowly released his hold on the smaller man, allowing him to slide back down to the ground.

"Alright then. I suppose that means you'll be taking my offer?" the man smirked.

Jerrelle silently nodded.

"Good. Some more men will be by later to give you all the information. You'd better be here when they show up, otherwise we'll just take your mom instead. Understood?"

Again, Jerrelle just silently nodded.

"I'll be seeing you again soon, Jerrelle." he smirked as he turned and left.

"Looking forward to it." Jerrelle muttered under his breath as he watched him go. "Damnit!" he yelled after he was gone, slamming his fist into the side of the wall.

The only thing running through his mind was...why me?

And it was a question Jerrelle still had no answer to, even almost three months later. Sighing as he began to walk up the stairs to his apartment building, suddenly he heard a scream...the scream of his mother.

"Mom!" Jerrelle screamed as he ran into his building and began running up the stairs inside to his apartment. He kicked open the door as he reached 3C, and saw his frightened mother looking up at the two people who had broken into her room.

Tristan and Ada.

"Who are you two!" Jerrelle screamed at them, pointing a laser pistol given to him by the Zarset Empire for his work at them.

"Whoa whoa whoa, you can put the pistol down." Ada said, raising her arms into the air. "This is all just a big misunderstanding."

"Yeah, we didn't mean to scare your mom like that, honest!" Tristan added.

"Jerrelle, I don't trust 'em!" his mom yelled. "It could be more of those anti-Zarset folks!"

"Anti-Zarset folks?" Tristan repeated.

"Yeah, the 'resistance'." Jerrelle huffed. "As if resisting at this point is really going to do any good..."

Ada turned and looked at Tristan, each giving each other a worried look.

"We're not from any local resistance, I can promise you that." Tristan said, then instantly regretted his choice of words.

"So what are you, part of some kind of worldwide resistance?" Jerrelle asked them in a mix of panic and fury. "That ain't any better!"

"Jerrelle...we're a part of the same thing you're meant to be a part of." Ada said.

"What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?" Jerrelle asked her, hands growing sweaty as he nervously grasped the pistol.

But before either one of them could reply, suddenly the glass was shattered by a powerful blast of dark energy, as Jerrelle's mother dived to escape the shattering glass. Tristan, Ada, and Jerrelle all turned to face the source...and it was revealed to be Araken, standing outside on the fire escape with a grin on his face.

"It's nothing more than a bunch of rubbish!" Araken screamed from outside. "Do not listen to them! You're a loyal servant of the Zarset Empire!"

"I ain't loyal to you guys!" Jerrelle shot back. "This is for almost blasting my mother!"

Jerrelle suddenly fired his pistol out towards Araken, nearly hitting Tristan and Ada as they dived for cover. The shots went through the broken window, but Araken leaped up out of the way to avoid them.

"Where is he?" Tristan asked as he stood up.

Tristan walked towards the shattered window, walking past Jerrelle's frightened mother, hiding underneath the kitchen table. He stuck his head out of the window and looked around, but couldn't find any trace of him.

"Maybe he teleported out." Ada said as Tristan turned her head to face them, shrugging.

"Man, you two had better start giving me some answers here." Jerrelle said, clearly shaken.

Suddenly, Ada spotted Araken drop down behind Tristan, having been hanging on a bar above the fire escape.

"Tristan, look out!" she shouted as Araken grabbed her little brother from behind in a sleeper hold and dragged him out the window.

Tristan shouted some muffled screams as Araken laughed, pulling him outside onto the metal of the fire escape. Ada ran, leaping out the window, and stared down Araken.

"Let go of my brother you creep!" she yelled at him. "You're nothing more than a big, whiny sore loser!"

"I didn't lose in a fair fight!" Araken shot back, clearly enraged by her comments. "This is my payback for betraying my honor!"

Araken spotted Ada reaching for the morpher around her waist.

"Uh uh, Pink Ranger, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Araken grinned. "I can kill your poor little brother before you can even begin your stupid little morph! Get your hands away from there!"

Ada, realizing she had no other choice, moved her hands back away from her morpher and raised them in the air. She was frightened, but she was determined not to let Araken see that, glaring at him angrily.

"Hahaha, it feels so good to have both of you Rangers at my mercy!" Araken screamed. "Now I understand why this dishonorable stuff is so much fun!"

Suddenly, Araken was having fun anymore- instead, he was being shot in the back by powerful laser shots! He screamed out in pain as the black lasers hit him, causing him to drop Tristan. Tristan gasped for breath as Ada leaned over and pulled him away from Araken, helping him back to his feet. Both of them, as well as Araken, looked over to see...Jerrelle, standing there with the Zarset laser pistol drawn! Ada saw another open window next to him- he must have sneaked out to the bedroom in the commotion and gone out that way, behind all of their backs.

"It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize you're the bad guy here!" Jerrelle shouted as he kept his pistol drawn at Araken.

Yes! I knew a real Power Ranger would do the right thing! Tristan thought as he watched Jerrelle.

"You traitor!" Araken screamed.

Suddenly, however, almost as if he realized something, his anger soothed and his smirk returned.

"What are you smirking about?" Ada demanded. "It looks like he's chosen his side, and it's not yours!"

"Oh, that's fine dear." Araken replied, turning back to her. "Unfortunately for all of you, I didn't come here for you. Hahahaha!"

Araken suddenly disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Tristan said as they all stood there in shock. "If he didn't come here for Jerrelle...who did he come for?"

Fear suddenly appeared in Jerrelle's eyes as moved the laser pistol back down to his side.

"MOM!" Jerrelle desperately yelled, hoping for a response. "Mom! Mom!"

Jerrelle shoved past Tristan and Ada and climbed through the broken window back into the kitchen, still yelling out for his mother. He looked under the table where she had been hiding when the glass broke, and found no sign of her. He kept screaming for her as he searched the entire apartment...nothing.

Jerrelle re-entered the kitchen just as Tristan and Ada silently climbed back into it, a look of rage on his face as he looked at the both of them.

"They have my mother." Jerrelle declared angrily. "The Zarset Empire...has my mother."