Author's Note: I made a small mistake in the ranger's colors. The colors are as follows:
Andros-Red
Zhane-Silver
Eri-Blue
Kai-Black
Raja-Yellow
Nala-Pink
Chapter Six
7 Mars Sign
The two rangers morphed as the ran toward the edge of the plateau, all the while telling the children to run for cover. When they came to the steep downward incline, both men jumped off the edge and simultaneously called for their Galaxy Gliders.
They sped towards the screams, their gliders giving them an extra boost of speed. Red and Silver fighting side by side for, what would be, the last time in years. They reached the core of the colony, and for a moment, they paused to survey the damage. The city was burning; the building were about to collapse, trapping hundreds in there wake. Red looked at Silver and nodded. Both summoned their weapons and jumped into the fray.
They split up at first, each going to deal with some of the many minions sent to the colony's surface. They held the minions at bay as the guards cleared as many of the civilians away from the battle as they possibly could.
Kai and Eri focused on the southern and south-eastern directions while Commander Raab, Nala, and Raja turned their attentions toward the northern and north-western areas. The newly-arrived Phantom Ranger, sent by Zordon after the conference two days ago, covered the west and south-west, while Zhane attacked the minions attempting to capture the river to the east of the main city.
Andros turned to head north-east when he was blocked by the space witch, Galactica. Andros tightened his grip on his weapon and stared into the witch's black eyes. She stood not more then a foot in front of him, her staff glowing red.
"The famed Red ranger of KO-35. I have heard that you are no more then a boy. Zordon seems to think that YOU can destroy me and stop the Dark Spector's plans. That's why he's the stupidest being in this, and any other, universe. Surrender boy, you've met your match. Even my incompetent apprentice can kill you. Isn't that right...Astronema?"
"Perfectly Mistress," The young witch crooned as she stepped smoothly out of Galactica's shadow, "Especially if I'm strong enough to kill you." Astronema spat out stabbed her mentor in the back with her fully charged staff. She laughed maniacally as Zhane, the Phantom, and the other Space Rangers watched as the Dark Spector's second-in-command collapsed at the young witch's feet.
"You're no longer needed, pity really, not." She cackled as her staff cracked with energy. "Now Power Pukes, it's your turn. Time to DIE."
Before anyone could move to stop her, she turned to face Raja and fired a lethal blast, even to a fully armored ranger. Eri ran to the yellow ranger's side and quickly ran a scan on her life signs. He glanced at Andros, his visor had disappeared, and his face told them everything that they needed to know. Raja was dead.
The remaining minions gathered around their still laughing Princess. They joined her in evil refrain. The cackles rose in volume as the anguish became more and more prevalent on Kai's face.
They may have fought constantly, but Kai and Raja had been in love. They had shared a love so deep that Raja's death had destroyed both Kai's heart and his sanity. He stood up from where he had been kneeling by Raja's body. Tears streamed down his visor-free face as he desperately clung to his weapon and launched himself at still-laughing Astronema and all of her minions.
His passionate attack wounded the teenage witch who instantly teleported away; her job was done after all, Galactica was dead and she, Dark Spector's new right-hand aide, would heal her one wound. Ecliptor whipped around and stabbed the heartbroken black ranger with his sword.
Kai fell instantly, joining his beloved yellow ranger in death. As he fell, the other rangers attacked, in unison, the remainder of Dark Spector's army. Andros and Zhane aimed several well deserved attacks at Ecliptor, causing the general to retreat the same way his Mistress had before him.
As the minions scattered, intent to cause destruction, the four remaining Space Rangers turned their attentions toward the two other, abandoned, generals and their troops. The Phantom Ranger ran for his cloaked ship and took to air to shoot down the Velocifighters that were reducing the once majestic buildings to mere rubble.
Andros and Zhane were once again split apart as one of the remaining generals forced Andros into hand-to-hand combat. Zhane and Nala were battling a score of minions on the other side of the science center when they heard Andros' scream. Instantly Zhane turned and ran towards where his friend was battling for his life. All thought of anyone else fled his mind as he rushed toward the one who he could honestly call his soulmate.
Author's note: Up next is Zhane 'death' and Andros' escape. Also, in the next chapter we'll learn about Eri's big secret.
Renee and Serene