SEQUEL TO: ORDINARY WORLD
SUMMARY: In the past, the entire team of Rangers works around the clock to find a way to send the DT Rangers back to their own time. But it is taking a toll on the white falcon ranger and black DT ranger. In the present, the other rangers try to find them and find a way to free Kim before Tommy finds out. But what will happen?
DISCLAIMER: It's done and said.
A/N: So, back to the nitty-gritty action. Whoo. I'm on the edge of my seat, even if I am the writer of the story. But oh man, this is getting really intense and really interesting. Oh yeah, for these next few chapters I'll be jumping between present and past throughout the chapter. Fair warning. I'm gonna have to cut these chapters shorter in order to get it done by my set date. Yet, I have so much freedom to do whatever I want with this. And I love this feeling. It is great. Beat that, Clancy, Brooks, Lucas, etc. Make way for me. J/K. At least not yet. Read on. See you when I do.
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"We gotta find a way back to our own time before things get changed completely.
I cannot afford to make a huge mistake here that could change all we have worked for in the present.
We gotta hang in there, no matter what." -Eclyptyk Neo
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Past. 1996.
The hours did seem like days, or maybe it was days. They weren't quite sure. Evil activity in Angel Grove had grown quiet and they were still searching out what needed to be done. Sending the DT rangers back to their own time. The Ninjetti team had just discovered the mentor of the DT rangers was Tommy, nine years down the road. And yet, they wanted more answers they couldn't risk it. And even Zordon didn't permit it.
The brains of the operation, Billy, Tommy, Adam, Alpha 5, Ethan, and Dr. Oliver used what brainpower they could muster to find answers, but again they were at a stand still. They couldn't even locate Zeltrax or have answers to that setback. The rest of the rangers hung beyond the main console of the command center. But not much conversation could be mentioned in order to preserve what future -- or present -- the DT rangers would be returning to.
"So, you guys got some pretty impressive powers," Rocky began slowly hoping to break some silence among the non-workers.
"Um...yeah. I guess so," Conner shrugged absently.
"Yeah, Trent. What's your deal? Why do you got the better looking suit? You run the operation like young Tommy over there?" Aisha asked.
Trent shrugged slowly. "Not exactly. It's kinda hard to explain without saying so much."
"Yeah, as much as we want to tell you guys about what goes on in the future we can't risk it," Kira stated.
"But you guys know quite a bit about us, huh?" Kim asked feeling some comfort in the yellow ptera ranger.
"You gotta thank Dr. Oliver for that," Conner said.
"Doctor?" Rocky breathed still not getting used to the sound. He had heard the DT teens address the older Tommy that way,
but couldn't believe it. "I still can't believe he would be a doctor. He isn't quite the most responsible type of guy or in that case, so smart."
"I heard that, Rocko," the man in black barked. "Watch how you say that. Or you might find me socking you pretty bad in the future."
"Yeah, try me, Dr. O," Rocky mocked. But lowered his head as he looked at the DT rangers. "He wouldn't, would he?"
"He's changed through the years," Kira said. "You'd be surprised at what he's gone through in the last few years of his life."
"Molded by many years of struggle, hardship and challenges," Trent added.
Meanwhile across the way, technical knowledge between those rangers were exchanged. But it was clear they were still on a stand still, and they weren't liking it. But it was also taking an unusal toll on Tommy of 1996 and Dr. Oliver of 2005.
A few steps around the main floor had each of them stubble. And as Ethan had requested they take a rest, their stubborness got the most out of the battle. They wouldn't rest until they found a way to fix this.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Present day, 2005. Island fortress.
Mindshatter had walked through the halls of the fortress as he came to stop in the main lab. Most of his time was spent here, but even he was getting annoyed at the lack of satisfaction he could find from his army or warriors. And he was sick of all of this. He had to take action now.
He turned to the shadows where he had sensed the presence of Dinoshade. Dinoshade emerged from the shadows, his red glowing eyes beamed to life as he bowed before his master. "You have requested to see me, Master?"
"Yes, Dinoshade. I have," Mindshatter acknowledged. "I have figured that the rangers have gotten enough time to dangle in the past. Go back and destroy them. Bring Mesogog with you."
"Yes, Master," Dinoshade bowed. "But must Mesogog be apart of this? I don't trust him. Ever since we captured the pink ranger he had been acting a little different."
"So, he has. You let me deal with that when the two of you return. But by then, the rangers should be destroyed and we can rule this planet with an iron fist."
Dinoshade bowed again as he left the room. He had a mission to complete, and he was glad to be out to finish it. He knew that he was getting restless about waiting to finish off the rangers. He knew it wouldn't take long for him to destroy them and that's what he was hoping to do.
Deep in the darkness of the fortress, many corridors had not been crossed by Mindshatter. Either he had no intention in exploring them, or he wouldn't bother with them at all. In one of the hallways, Mesogog stood with Kim. Secretly, and surely it was clear that Mesogog did have a change of heart. If he not had it the entire time and was putting up an act, Kim was not sure. Yet, even now it could have been a trap. But every time Kim had looked into his eyes, she knew he was a changed dino menace.
Or at least for the most part. He wanted to get rid of that pathetic excuse of a hunk of metal. He needed to rule over him, yet he knew he would need the help of the rangers to do so. And he also knew there were changes going on in him. He wasn't sure what, but something. And this entire mind controlling thing on him was an act. But that was for his reference alone. At times, Mesogog would seem to sleep and Anton would rise up at night. But due to the spell and the final set of experiments, he almost felt trapped in the dino menace. That he may remain in this state forever. He pushed those thoughts away as a mental note for him to battle on his own. But Mesogog's mind control was stronger and no one could take him down. Though, he heard words of wisdom come from his alter ego time and time again.
"My friends will make an attempt to try and rescue me," Kim spoke in a slight whisper.
The dino menace nodded. "I would have no doubt about it."
"But they need a safe passage. If we're lucky, we may be able to end this now," she said with a nod.
"It's not easy. Mindshatter is a tricky character."
"He wasn't against you obviously, Anton. That mind control of yours must have repelled it."
"Welcome to my world, Kimberly. Mind control truly only works on the minds of the weak. Humans are among the easist, but could very well defeat him if they're mentally stable."
"And trust me, they are. But I need a safe passage for them to go through."
"Near the lab. In the woods. There is one there," Mesogog said simply. "But I cannot be of anymore service to you..."
"Anton, please. You've been more than enough help, but this isn't over. And you know that," she stated.
"Once Mindshatter has found out I've given my service to his destruction, I could be right there on his death list with you.
But whatever it takes," he said slowly.
Kim thanked the dino-menace and raced back into the shadows and back to her room. She knew if they found out she was gone they would suspect something. Mesogog was in charge of watching her, but he had also been gathering what information he could muster to help out the rangers.
Mesogog turned and left the hidden hallway. He emerged back into the metal abyss of mystery as he made it back to the main level. He walked through the halls only to run into Dinoshade. A weary look fell over the dino-menace filled with jealousy and anger.
"We're requested, Mesogog," Dinoshade stopped the other dino when he didn't stop to converse with him. "Mindshatter wants us to report to the past and destroy the rangers."
"So, he wants me to come along to make sure you don't do anything stupid?" Mesogog hissed.
Dinoshade glared at him, but said nothing more as he headed up the hall. Mesogog followed closely on his heels.
-XXXXXXXXX-
Underground lab, 2005.
The unusual array of rangers had continued to search for the DT rangers. And with the given information they now knew about Mindshatter, they knew it would be harder to defeat him than they had hoped for. Yet, they were glad to have someone with a little more expertise on the field of their newest enemy.
Andros had paced the room for sometime, drawing attention to the zeo and ninja rangers. The technical directors continued their work on scanning through time to find their friends, but had not gotten anywhere. And they were slowly beginning to lose hope. And it wasn't what they needed right now.
As much as Jason had wanted to help out in the cause, Adam had requested he didn't. He had his own life to worry about, and with a newborn now under his wing, he couldn't leave his wife's side. Both he and Katherine had sent their regards to the team and wished them luck on their search.
"So, how do you guys feel about going on a suicide mission," Andros began as he looked at the rangers assembled before him.
"How come it doesn't surprise me that you would request that?" Rocky said in a slight mock tone.
"Because a ranger's gotta do what a ranger's gotta do," Andros said with a grin. "As far as I could tell, we need to get in and out of there as fast as we can. We don't want to try and bring attention to ourselves once we get there."
"And how do you plan we get there?" Rocky asked. "You know that Mindshatter will probably set a trap for us if he finds out we're trying to get Kim back."
"And that is true," Andros nodded. "Meaning we have to be cautious. We gotta keep our eyes open for anything."
"And how do we plan to get into the fortress?" Tanya repeated.
It fell silent for a moment as if time seemed to stop around each and every one of them. And no one was quite sure what was going on, but it seems there was more the ninja rangers knew than they had expected. They looked at each other as if words were exchanged mentally, only for them to understand.
Aisha, Adam and Rocky found their place at the main computer console behind their blue ninja counterpart.
"Is it just me or am I having a weird feeling of deja vu?" Rocky asked running a hand through his hair.
"I think it is more than just deja vu," Billy shook his head as he pushed a few buttons on the keyboard. The screen went blank for a second and then there was a lock on the dino gems, all were hoping to find sooner or later. He turned to look at his teammates. "I got a lock."
"In the year of 1996," Adam concluded.
"I'm sending a transmission now. Let's see if it works," Cam began, seeing the confusion falling on his ninja predecessors.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Command Center, 1996. Angel Grove.
Ethan must have short-circuited his head, or had no real idea how technology worked around the command center, but he was a stand still. Even with a knowledge of computers under his wing, he just couldn't get the answers he needed to find a same passage to get them home. He had worked alongside the young Billy and Adam to find answers, but got nowhere.
Alpha had walked over to the two dazed rangers now sitting on the cot-like table the white falcon ranger was once laying on.
He was using a scanner to run a bio-molecular scan over the two and the results showed some severe changes in the two.
"Ayiyiyi," Alpha shook his head. "You two are getting weaker by the hour. If we can't find a way to send the older Tommy back with the other DinoThunder Rangers, you both might lose your powers forever."
At the sound of the terrible news, the other DT rangers had raced over to their mentor's side. The other ninja rangers close behind. They looked at the two weaken rangers, and it was evident in how they sat that they couldn't last.
"Has anything extremely serious in the future happened to you, Tommy?" Rocky asked cautiously.
"I mean, it doesn't make sense. It was only one battle and it seems like the two have you have been battling for months in the same time period," Aisha stated.
The man in black let out a breath as he tried to recall the quick drain of power from his body. Even under the wing of his numerous powers hidden in the gem, it semed to drain him faster due to the amount of power there. He flexed his muscles to get a feeling of moving them again, but it ached. He didn't have any answers to give his younger counterparts.
"Do you think it was because we were in Super Dino Mode, Dr. O?" Kira asked slightly worried. "That does require a lot of energy from each of us to maintain."
"But it has to be something else. Even when I had to deal with it, it took months to attack," Trent stated.
The white falcon ranger shook his head. "One battle drained me when the Wizard of Deception decided to make a clone of me."
"But that's just it," Billy had met the team assembled before the legendary rangers. "You aren't clones of one another, which could conclude why your powers are getting drained faster. Since a clone is usually just a copy of yourself, there is still flaws in how it operates. However, since you two are both living and breathing humans with powers, it is draining you faster than we can find a way to get you guys back to your own time period."
"Still a genius as ever," Dr. Oliver spoke with a gentle grin. "You'll never change, Billy."
"Hey, guys!" Ethan called out from his place beside Adam by one of the panels.
The team raced over to see what it was. And as the other DT rangers noticed what was going on as they looked at the glowing hint of light escape from their dino gems.
"We're receiving a transmission from beyond this time period rangers," Zordon directed noting the beeping from an incoming message. "But due to some recent radiation we're receiving, the transmission isn't that clear."
"Hello?... Is... there? Tommy? Ethan? Conner? Trent? Kira? Can you guys read me, over?" the voice sounded distant and distorted, but came from each of the DT morphers.
Billy began to push a few buttons on the panel. "I'll try to re-transmit it to the viewing globe."
The team walked over to the viewing globe looking into the static abyss as a figure began to come through. And finally another. Soon, there was an array of figures, which the DT rangers knew, were in fact their mentors/teammates of 2005.
"Guys! It is you," Conner breathed a sigh of relief.
"You guys are not gonna believe where we're at," Ethan said.
"Don't worry. We already know. Let's just say we have a certain black DT ranger to thank for that," the older Billy stated from the viewing globe.
"So, have you guys any idea how to get us back to 2005?" Kira asked.
"We're still working on that," Hayley said as she looked beyond the assembled DT rangers. "Um...where's Tommy? And is that who I think it is behind you guys?"
A silence had fallen over the ninja rangers as their eyes locked with their older selves. Each of them seemed to stumble back in shock and disbelief.
"I look like that in nine years?" the younger Rocky said as he searched to plant his feet firmly on the ground.
"Look who's talking? I looked like that when I was 17?" the older Rocky shook his head.
The DT Rangers looked into the viewing globe again noticing the array of rangers now assembled in the underground lab. The red space ranger, the green samurai ranger, the yellow ninja ranger, the black ninja/zeo 4 ranger, the red ninja/zeo 3 ranger,
the zeo 2 ranger, the blue ninja ranger and the technical director.
"Okay, so now that you found us, you have no idea of how to get us out of here?" Trent asked.
"I told you we're working on it. We've sorta had our hands full," Hayley said.
"Yeah, don't tell Tommy..." Rocky said cautiously.
"Don't tell me what?" the man in black had finally made his way over to the viewing globe. He was still clinging to the panel for support. And it was clear in how he stood that he was weak and dazed. His younger self was clinging to his girlfriend for support.
"Oh, hey, what's up, man? Didn't think you were around," the older Rocky tried to hide his discomfort in what he just said.
"What's going on?" Dr. Oliver asked in a serious tone. And anyone knew the look in his eyes and the tone in his voice told each of them they had to spill the truth.
"Um... well, you see. We ran into a bit of trouble," Rocky began.
"And it just happened out of the blue. I'm serious, Tommy," Aisha said.
"We couldn't stop it," Tanya said.
"Spill it out already!" Dr. Oliver said in a low growl.
"Geez, I'll do it," Cam sighed shaking his head. "Bad news, Tommy. Kim got captured!"
It fell silent for only a brief second as Dr. Oliver looked away to catch his breath. The DT rangers knew instantly the feelings running through him and they didn't like it as they slowly took a step back, pushing the young ninjas behind them.
"What!" Dr. Oliver nearly exploded as the fiery rage grew in his eyes. "What were you doing? Sitting around doing nothing?
I give you guys a simple job to keep an eye on her and this is what I get? And what's your excuse, Adam? Didn't I tell you not to let her out on the field?"
"Now, time out, T. You didn't know the situation," the older Adam protested trying to calm his friend down. "The cybots were outta control. And she just so happened to be in the area we were investigating for your disappearance."
The argument seemed to go for some time. And it was clear that the man in black didn't care for the audience, or he just didn't realize they were there.
The DT teens absently looked away slightly embarrassed at the initial reaction to their mentor. But wasn't surprised. He was overpotective, if not highly protective, over his wife. And they all knew that, but sorta wish he wasn't.
"Do I seriously blow up like that in a few years?" the white falcon ranger asked cautiously to the DT rangers.
"You'd be surprised," Kira said.
"We've seen worse from you," Conner stated.
"Man, Tommy, if I would have known you'd be acting like that, I would have laid off all those disses and jokes," Rocky shook his head patting his leader on the back.
"Well, you might as well start now, Rocky," Kim suggested. "If they say they've seen worse, I doubt we want to see his worse side."
"Sometimes I wonder how this came to be," Ethan sighed as he looked back at his mentor blow-up to his friends. "I must apologize for his rude behavior. He's been under a lot of stress lately."
"I can tell," Aisha nodded. "Yet, years down the line I would have thought he knew how to control it. What has he gone through in his life, anyway?"
"Loss. Heartbreak. Death. Anger. The basis of any human life, except times that about ten times and you got what he's been through," Trent spoke cautiously in hopes they couldn't ask anymore about the future.
The DT teens knew how much they wanted to say to their young predecessors, but felt it not right to say anything at all.
It was on risk they just could not take. Not here.
"But he always seems to deal with stress quite well." Billy looked over at his leader in white. "You seem to hide it well right now."
"A couple years down the road and you're not so lucky," Trent said. He turned around and patted the shoulder of his mentor slowly. And when his mentor had turned and cursed, not intentionally toward the white drago ranger, it fell silent.
Dr. Oliver looked around the pair of eyes locked on him from within the confides of the room. He let out an angered breath as he looked back at the viewing globe to see the silence fall over his friends. He kicked himself internally looking back at his teammates, and had not expected to let the rage out. But it did.
"We'll get her back, Tommy," Andros began in hopes to relieve some of the fear and tension in each of them.
"I just got a lock on an invisi-portal outside of the lab," Hayley stated from another computer in the room beyond the viewing globe. "It isn't too far from here. E.T.: 15 minutes tops."
"Go. But be careful," Dr. Oliver said in a calm, steady voice.
"Don't worry, T. We're not planning to return until we get her back," the older Adam stated beyond the viewing globe as he gave a salute.
But soon the warning alarms and signals had gone off in the command center, bringing attention to the reality of the rangers in 1996.
"Rangers," Zordon bellowed over the sounding alarms. "I have detected tengas in the park with Rito and Goldar. It seems your little bout has them just as curious about our cybernetic enemy."
"We're on it, Zordon," the young black ninja replied with a nod.
"Tommy," the older Billy directed from the viewing globe. The DT team turned to him. "We're losing your signal. But now that we got a lock, we'll try to re-configure a safe passage for you guys to return. But it could take some time."
"We got our hands full here. But do what you can," Conner said.
"We'll try. Good luck, guys," the technical director from the ninja storm team stated.
And finally, the static came through and the signal was lost. For a moment, silence fell over the rangers in the command center. The man in black turned away, melted into his own world where he could find his calm again.
Zordon had requested his team assemble and take out Rito, Goldar and the tengas before they decided to destroy the city. And as eager as the young falcon ranger wanted to go, Zordon didn't allow it. He knew though he would be taking a big risk by sending the other DT rangers to help out, but anything to preserve what they now knew about the future.
The ninja ranger had all morphed, except for their leader. The DT Rangers were the same way, except for their mentor. And the nine rangers teleported out of the command center into battle, leaving them behind.
For awhile, it fell silent over the man in black and his younger self. Dr. Oliver was still in his own void trying to keep himself calm. He knew how much he could be way too overprotective of his wife, but he was only doing what he felt was right. And he didn't want to lose her. Couldn't afford to lose her again in any way possible. He would never be able to live with himself if anything should happen to her.
Alpha had walked up to the two rangers, but fear ran through his circuits. And it was clear he had been scared of the man after his recent rage.
"I'm sorry, Alpha," Dr. Oliver spoke quietly. "I have been under a lot of stress lately. If only you knew." He turned to look at the man within the tube. "I apologize, Zordon, for my actions. It's not that easy to guide a team of rangers with other things to worry about."
"I have never had any doubt about you, Tommy. You carry on a great legacy and I am grateful for all of your hardwork and dedication to this planet, whatever time period it may be," Zordon had announced with a reassuring nod.
The man in black had turned to the silent teen in white he knew as himself nine years ago. He placed a hand on his shoulder just as he looked up to meet the eyes of himself, nine years older. "The things you will go through, my friend. I wonder sometimes. I really do. But you're strong. You'll always be strong."
"So, what was that back there? Biting off the head of my fellow rangers?" Tommy asked.
"You'll understand in the future. I could tell you everything that goes on in your life up to the point to where I'm standing,
but I think I find it best you'll figure it out as you go. Just keep your options open and be aware of your actions."
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Angel Grove Park.
An army of tengas strolled through the park alongside Goldar and Rito. Goldar was, as one could describe, a big monkey in a gold suit with wings. Rito, Rita's brother, was nothing more than a skeleton with a rather huge odor problem, but something the rangers had gotten used to. One side was designed in army fatigue, the other was of a gray hint of bones.
"So, um... what exactly are we supposed to be looking for again?" Rito asked as he rubbed the helmet on his bony head.
"Anything suspicious," Goldar growled. "Zedd mentioned that there was some strange battle going on out here." He turned to the Tengas. "What do you know about this?"
Th teangas could only stutter an unclear answer. None of them were sure what to be looking for, let alone recall what had happened. They had fled the scene before any of them could see what went down.
Then the army of bad guuys came to a halt just as nine streaks of light came to a landing in front of them. As it cleaed,
nine rangers stood before them. And the bonehead and monkey boy took step back in confusion and fright.
"Wow! Since when were there nine of you?" Rito asked in amazement.
"You'd better pack up and go right back up to space, Rito," Rocky barked back. "Haven't you gotten tired of getting beat by us?"
"Hey, where's the white one?" Goldar noticed the team of rangers was missing their leader. "Did the last fight finally destory him?"
"In your dreams, Goldar," Kim said.
And without hesitation, the tengas moved aginast the assembly of rangers. And they had gone into battle. Rocky and Conner had teamed up against Goldar. Trent and Adam were working around keeping Rito at bay. The rest of the rangers had played around with the tengas before taking them out.
But time and time again, Goldar and Rito had the upper hand on the rangers as they hit the ground. But it didn't stop a few other rangers to pick up where their comrades could not. Even under the array of nine rangers though, Rito and Goldar managed to get the upper hand in the end.
But the battle continued, and the tengas were trying to keep the other rangers away from their friends tied up with Rito and Goldar. And it seemed to be working. By dividing them, their strategies were changed.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Reefside Forest, 2005.
The team had just realized where and when the DT team was. Now, it was only a matter of time before they could find a way to bring them back into the reality of 2005.
The technical directors were busy at work trying to find a safe passage for the DT team to return home. Hayley monitored the invisi-portal closely. She didn't know how she managed to get a lock, but it was the chance they needed to find Kim.
Andros had lead the team -- Adam, Rocky, Tanya and Aisha -- into the heart of the woods where they would find the invisi-portal. Each of them wore a black jumpsuit with a streak of their given color across the side. Not that it was a big deal to really wear their significant color to tell each of them apart. It was like that for a ranger. Once you're donned with the color, it sorta sticks with you and never tends to go away, even if you tried. It would allow them to melt into the shadows easier and hopefully get in and out undetected.
Each of them wore a small earpiece in order to communicate to each other and the technical directors. They weren't sure how far they would get into the fortress without losing a signal because if they knew their enemies, the undetection may not work at all.
"You guys ready to go?" Andros asked as they came to a halt a few feet in front of the invisi-portal.
"Any way to get Kim outta there," Rocky announced with a nod.
"We got a little under than 15 minutes. So, let's make it quick," Andros said.
The team nodded and one by one, they slowly walked into the invisi-portal as it slowly shut behind them. But didn't complete shut down, only got smaller.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Mindshatter sat in the throne he had called his own for some time looking at the monitors with interest. He had noticed the figures looming outside one opened invisi-portal. And he knew exactly what they were trying to do.
"So, we have a bunch of old rangers trying to save their fellow pink ranger," he said mostly to himself. He looked over to one of his cybots, a leader to his unit, and shook his head.
"I will deal with them myself. But get your troops ready. I will signal you if I need you."
"Yes, sir," the robotic voice of the cybot replied and left the room.
Mindshatter got off the chair and walked over to the main console controlling the invisi-portal units. He pushed a few buttons on it, only to realize the change in codes in some of the portals. He kept the comment to himself as he went back to his seat and waited for his new victims to come to him.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
The team of rangers had made it safely through the portal into the musky old metal smell that was now of the island fortress.
"Wow, doesn't this look familiar?" Rocky asked sarcastically as he looked around. "A little musky. More metal. But still the same torment as the old island fortress."
"I only wished it was destroyed in that last battle with Mesogog out here," Adam sighed as he slowly moved up beside Andros, who was now leaning against a wall alert.
"We don't have much time," Andros instructed again. "I won't be surprised if our presence is already detected by Mindshatter and his army."
"Well, then let's make it quick," Tanya said.
"Yeah, this is kinda creeping me out." Aisha shuddered. "It's too quiet. I don't like it."
"I second that," Rocky nodded.
Andros signaled the team to follow behind him. They slowly manuevered through the halls using the shadows as much as possible in hopes really not to avoid running into any unfriendly faces.
For awhile, it seemed like they were going in circles around the same corridor. It was clear since the last time they were in the fortress it was different. The halls were a little more distinguished, but now, it seemed like it was all the same thing.
"Um...does anyone have any idea where we're going?" Tanya asked.
"I swear, we've gone down this corridor forever," Aisha said.
Andros stopped short as they finally came to a door at the end of the hallway. He looked behind them to find no one there and looked toward the ceiling in hopes no one was hidden up there. But there was no one. It was quiet. The only noise came from the shuffling of their feet.
"Can I say I'm really freaked out about this silence?" Aisha stated.
"I think you already have, more than you would like," Rocky said.
"I'm serious. Something doesn't feel right about any of this," she shook her head.
Andros held up a hand to silence them as they moved through the hallway. He quietly tapped against the door as he listened in to find if anyone was inside. A small tap came from within, much like morse code. A small smile came to Andros' lips. He nodded toward the team as the yellow rangers worked to pry open the door. It was clear it was locked shut by a keypad, but it wouldn't keep them from getting through. The other two rangers moved down the other hallways listening for any intruders, but not while setting up small detenators that would react to heat.
Andros moved up the hallway, placing his own set of explosives, coming to a halt. They had only so much time left and they only would have one way out once they got Kim out. The way they hadn't traveled, but provided the shrtest distance back to the main console to activate an invisi-portal out of there. He had sensed something wrong. Time slowed around them as he looked back up the hall, his eyes meeting with the yellow rangers. He quickly dove to the ground just as the yellow rangers followed suit, a line of laser fire coming their way.
As the smoke slowly cleared, a set of red beady eyes leered on the rangers. Andros quickly scrambled to his feet as he raced down the hall, but stopped short as if by an invisible wall.
The other rangers called out his name as Adam and Rocky raced ahead to help him. But they didn't get far when Andros went flying through the air, crashing into them. They winced quietly as they slowly peeled themselves off the ground.
When they looked up, each of them seemed to freeze in their tracks as the figure emerged from the smoky mist. It was Mindshatter, and he didn't look too happy. Yet, he was amused to have a line of rangers in his mist.
"So, we meet again, red space ranger," the robotic leader bowed in turn. "I must say, you never could surprise me. You still have all that rage inside from what happened out there in space."
Andros forced out an angered breath, pushing away any thoughts of the past out of his mind. He looked over his shoulder at the two yellow rangers indicating they continue their fight to pry the door open. Rocky and Adam were at his side, not even flinching.
"I wasn't the one who ran away from the sign of an enemy. Why did you run, Mindshatter?" Andros took a step forward. "You could have destroyed us all out there just like you did the other rangers."
"Sometimes you must flee to fight another day," Mindshatter announced with some respect. "Though, I am truly sorry for your friend, the silver space ranger. He was quite the fighter..."
"You know, I've had enough of that shit coming out of your mouth," Rocky shook his head as he scoffed. "You don't scare me."
"Than we haven't been fully introduced, Rocky," Mindshatter growled as he turned to the red ninja/zeo 3 ranger.
Rocky kept his cool, though was slightly surpised to find that the evil being knew his name. Yet, he had to tell himself that Mindshatter was merely a machine. A computer-based soldier that could be destroyed, yet obtained power and knowledge as he could grasp it. Adam held his friend back by a simple grasp to the shoulder.
The guy rangers taking their before the evil being. They didn't expect to get very far without going into a huge battle in the hall. They could only hope they could all get out of there alive.
"I know more about each and every one of you," Mindshatter hissed as he took a step forward. As he did, it almost felt like the ground shook. "I know your weaknesses, your fears, your feelings and your thoughts. Human souls are among the most weak I've seen. That's way it is so easily to persuade you otherwise."
"You make that sound like you can run this planet pretty easily," Adam said coolly. "Only one question. Why haven't you already taken control? I mean, any true evil genius would find a way to destroy the people of earth -- or control them -- with no questions asked. Now, if you look at the options..."
"Enough!" Mindshatter groaned as his voice thundered through the hall.
"Hey, you don't tell him what to do," Rocky protested as he took a step forward. It was clear his competitive nature was getting the most of him. "You're just a lame excuse for a soldier who thought he could rule over humans. Haven't you learned anything? You haven't quite won..."
"And neither have you. I'm still standing," Mindshatter announced.
"And so are we," Andros said.
"But you've already lost some of your comrades. You'll be next."
"I'm trembling," Rocky stated sarcastically.
Then they heard the door slide open as the figure inside raced out into the protective care of her teammates.
"Did you miss us?" Aisha asked as a smile fell over her face as she quickly embraced her friend in a hug.
"I was only wondering when you would get here. I'm glad you're here," Kim nodded as she pulled her friends toward an exit.
Up the hall Andros had nodded to the other two rangers. They watched as the yellow team had locked Kim in their protection as they raced down the right corridor. Quickly and diligently, each of the rangers who held a power source to morph, had gone into their ranger mode. The red space ranger used his telekinesis to push back Mindshatter, catching him off guard. He bolted down the hall just as Adam and Rocky brought up the rear, pulling out laser pistols and fired at the explosives.
In a blink of an eye, the hall erupted with fire, smoke and debris. The guys barely cleared it as the impact nearly threw them off their feet. But they found their footing quickly as the explosion travled down the hall down the other corridors but ended only meters from the fleeing rangers.
But they came to a halt when a series of cybots had stopped the girl team short of their goal. Tanya had raced into the battle to keep the robotic army out of their way as Aisha directed Kim out of there. Or tired to, but they were pinned against a wall. Aisha was trying her best to keep the cybots away. The guys saw the danger and didn't hesitate to attack as they took down several cybots with laser fire and grueling attacks.
Stubbornly, Andros had told the girls to get the pregnant woman out of there as the guys had their hands full with the cybots. And like many times, they had refused to leave their teammates behind.
"Don't argue with me," Andros declared. And like any ranger wearing the red suit, they couldn't refuse. "The invisi-portal is gonna close in less than a minute. If you don't get her out of here, Mindshatter will get to her."
"We'll find another way out. We're not going down without a real fight," Rocky stated as he pushed two cybots to the ground.
Just as they had hoped, the explosion was heating up the walls to make the cybots falter and weak. There was a theory around it if exposed to excessive amounts of heat, they would malfunction much like any technological device. They were just more worried about Mindshatter because they knew he was smarter than to fall into their trap.
Adam made his way over to the two yellow rangers shielding the pregnant P.E. teacher. "I don't know if you know this, Kim, but we found Tommy and the others."
"In the past," she nodded looking at him like she already knew.
"In 1996. Yeah, I know. Kinda weird though..."
"We could discuss this later," he said pushing her up the hall. "You need to get outta here. We'll hold them off."
"Good luck," Aisha patted her friend's shoulder.
And as one, the girls had moved out of the hall. Their footsteps echoed beyond the battle as Adam turned to re-join the other rangers in battle. Andros and Rocky finally forced the cybots back into the fiery abyss of heat, slowing down their actions. And it was what they needed to catch their breath. Despite being weak, the cybots came in a huge number that forced them to work hard to keep them away.
But again, time seemed to slow around them as the rangers turned to look up the hall into the fiery abyss. A figure slowly emerged from the fiery abyss, unharmed and protected by a shield he had created with his mind. Mindshatter's eyes seemed to grow darker into a bloody red as he began to manipulate the fire around him. Its shape morphed and changed to create a face, aimed right at the rangers.
They exchanged a quick look before backpedalling and racing up the hall rounding the corners. The firey face raced toward them and erupted into bigger flames as it rounded the corners and demolished feet above their heads. They covered their heads, catching their breath as it cleared.
They sat up, glued to the wall trying to figure out what exactly happened. And they knew they couldn't win against that. They had to bail and quickly. Adam peered around the corner, Rocky sat beside him, to see their hardest enemy slowly stride toward them. He signaled over to Andros on the other corridor as Andros rolled over to them staying as low to the ground as possible.
Adam pulled out a smoke ball throwing it to the ground to divert attention as they quickly got to their feet and headed up the hall. The smoke filled the hall blinding all line of sight from the cybots and Mindshatter.
The three rangers made their way through the fortress to the main lab, but fell short when they saw the looming figure with spikes running down his back in the room. Mindshatter turned around slowly to greet the three rangers as the metal doors closed behind them.
"Whoa! How'd he do that?" Rocky took a step back as he felt the metal wall against his back.
"They don't call him Mindshatter for nothing," Adam explained.
Andros took a breath as the eyes of their enemy centered on him. But Andros held his ground as he raced forward, using all his weight to throw the robotic menace to the ground. Rocky helped to keep him down as Adam raced over to the main console controlling the invisi-portal system. He pushed a few keys and a portal opened up a few feet in front of him.
"Adam, go," Andros demanded as he fired his pistol at Mindshatter to divert attention.
Adam jumped into the portal without saying anything else. Mindshatter tried to go after him, but Rocky along with the spirit of his inner animal, the ape, threw the robot across the room. Andros shoved Rocky toward the exit as he found his footing aging before the robot. Rocky protested, but Andros pushed him through leaving the red space ranger alone with the evil being.
"You can't destroy me, Andros," Mindshatter growled as he slowly got to his feet. "I am far more powerful than anything on this planet. You can't win."
"And you haven't won yet, either. We're still standing," Andros announced.
"We will see. You'll meet the same fate as your silver ranger friend and those lost galaxy weaklings."
Andros caught his breath again as he watched the portal behind Mindshatter begin to close. He fired several shots toward Mindshatter to push him back as he jumped for the portal, but not without laying down a few laser fire toward the console controlling the portals.
The console exploded with sparks and fire as the portal closed behind the red space ranger.
Mindshatter growled as he looked at the damage. He turned and left the room without saying another word. Another time. It would be another time to destroy them.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Reefside forest, 2005.
Adam had hit the ground as he rolled to embrace the impact, nearly crashing into his ranger counterparts. He looked behind him to see the portal slowly collapse behind him. Aisha and Tanya pulled him to his feet as he caught his breath.
"Nice of you to drop by," Tanya commented as she cleared the dirt form his ranger suit.
"Thanks. But I take any of the things back about saying this would be easy. We got a real fight on our hands," he stated.
Then another figure emerged from the portal as Rocky came crashing to the ground. He winced quietly as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. Adam and Tanya helped him to his feet as he looked back into the quiet forest.
"Wait, where's Andros?" Kim rushed over to realize they were missing the red space ranger.
The team of rangers looked out into the distance seeing the portal shut. But there was no sign of Andros anywhere. It fell silent as they waited for sometime, hoping to find him pop up elsewhere nearby. But nothing.
"I don't know. It all happened so fast," Rocky shook his head.
"We were running from Mindshatter and the cybots and raced into the main lab. Mindshatter must have found an easy way to get there, because he was waiting for us."
"But I thought he was right behind you," Adam protested.
"He was, but..." the blue zeo 3 ranger began, but stopped when they heard a noise from behind them.
They fell into a defensive stance around the pregnant ranger, but quickly relaxed when they saw it was only the red space ranger. Adam approached him cautiously as he disabled his ranger suit. He had to make sure it really was the red space ranger and not some decoy.
"It's me, Adam," Andros nodded. He signaled his own power down process as the ranger suit dropped. Andros now stood in his space suit as he approached the other rangers. "I managed to shut down the invisi-portal system, but it won't take them long to get it running again."
Adam nodded as he raced over to the pregnant woman. He quickly examined her, as she refused to let him through. She had stated that she was fine, but he wasn't convinced. Even if she hadn't been gone too long, it was enough to say just to be sure. And for the sake of her husband.
"I'm fine, Adam. He didn't do anything to me. Mesogog kept an eye on me," Kim began.
"Mesogog? But he was the one who captured you," Aisha said.
"But you're not gonna believe this. He has a change of heart. I don't know, but I don't think he really is Mesogog. I think it's really Anton," she said. The other rangers fell silent wondering what she did learn while her stay on the fortress. "He really didn't want to hurt me."
"It's bait," Andros nodded toward her, "like I said. I don't think Mindshatter is gonna do anything until he can take out the leaders of the operation."
"What do you mean?" Tanya asked.
"I told you that Mindshatter wants to destroy us by having us destroy each other. If his plan works, we may not exist, or only the strongest survive. If he takes out the leader, the whole team suffers."
"Is that why he's taking a liking to you?" Rocky asked.
"I would assume so. Aside from trying to make me feel bad for the death of Zhane and the Lost Galaxy Rangers. Tactics only an evil being would use. Built up on fear and rage to make a person weak and bed to their whim."
"Well, c'mon. I think we should head back to the lab. Maybe our techs got an answer to bring Tommy and the others back," Adam stated.
The team had to agree as they moved out of the forest and back to the comfort of the underground lab.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Angel Grove Park, 1996.
The nine rangers -- the original ninja rangers and the DT rangers -- still had their hands full with Goldar, Rito and the tengas. And it was clear the frustration was getting the most of them. They had to send them packing now, but something was wrong. They seemed to work at a much powerful pace than they were used to.
Then it fell silent. The area exploded with a blinding light, shielding everyone's eyes. And when it cleared, the evil beings on one side, the good guys on the other, two figures emerged from the brightness.
"Whoa! Who are you guys?" Rito asked. "This is our fight."
"Stay out of this," Goldar growled.
The robotic dinosaur turned to the two nitwits, eyes glowing red. He forced out his hand, as a line of lasers flew from his arm toward the tengas. They hit the ground beside Goldar and Rito.
"Um... never mind," Rito stated. "We're outta here."
And with the wave of their swords, Rito, Goldar and the tengas were gone, leaving the rangers to deal with the two newcoming enemies. The team assembled themselves before the threat, the DT rangers on one side and the ninja rangers on the other.
"Um... lemme guess, the guy in the robotic suit was the one who sent you back in time?" the young red ninja looked at the other red ranger.
"Yeah, that would be him," the red DT ranger nodded.
"I have returned to put an end to your legacy, power rangers," the robotic dinosaur roared.
Trent had taken a few steps forward as his eyes locked with the dino menace he had known as his father. For a moment, he could see the hint of blue return to those eyes as they bore down on him. Fear and guilt ran through him as he hoped to not see the truth. But it was clear that the dino menace was his father. "Don't do this, dad. Please."
"Huh? Did he just say dad?" the yellow ninja ranger asked in confusion.
"Long story. You'll find out later," Ethan said.
"Are you ready to be destroyed, rangers?" Dinoshade bellowed.
The device he had used against the DT rangers hung around his neck like a necklace. The line of rangers exchanged looks, their gestures showed what must be done. They had to get that device in order to send the DT rangers back to their own time. With no hesitation, the team moved against the two dinosaurs. But they had expected their attacks, and even nine rangers didn't seem to have a chance against either of them working as a team.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Command Center, 1996.
The warning lights went off erractically as the white ninja ranger and black DT ranger shot to their feet racing over to the viewing globe. They watched as their friends were taking a huge punishment from their newest threats.
"Are they the two responsible for all this mayhem in your time period?" the young white ninja asked.
The black DT ranger caught his breath as he nodded. Rage began to run through his blood, but he forced it back into the depths of his soul. "That would be them." He raced back over to the robot and his old mentor. "Alpha, run a diagnosis. What's the status on the rangers?"
The robot shook his head in a panic. "Ayiyiyi, Tommy. It doesn't look good. Due to their battle with Rito, Goldar and the tengas, they have gotten rather tired and weak. They may not last a battle with those two dinosaurs."
The black DT ranger looked back at his younger self and knew what had gone through his mind. They were eager to get out there to help their team out, but it was a risky situation.
The white falcon ranger looked up to his mentor. "Zordon, we can't just stick around and watch them take this punishment. We have to help them, even if it drains us of our powers."
Zordon nodded. "I am well aware of the situation, rangers. And you must help them. I can only provide some protection for the two of you. But it may not last before you both suffer greatly."
"It's gonna be a risk we're gonna have to take, Zordon. I won't let Dinoshade destroy this legacy," the black DT ranger spoke like any leader would. "Then prepare for the power transfer."
"It's morphin' time!" the young white ninja announced as he pulled out his morpher.
The black DT ranger pulled his communicator into place as it morphed into his brachio morpher. He pulled out his key and let out his own morphing call. "Dino Thunder! Power up!"
Just as the light cleared from the two rangers, now suited up, Zordon used his own power source to feed into the two rangers. It powered each of them up, and gave tehm some more protection from being drained quickly.
And as one, they teleported out of there and into the battle.
-XXXXXXXXXX-
Angel Grove Park, 1996.
The nine rangers laid on the ground in pain. It was clear they were all out of energy and they wouldn't last any longer. One by one they tried to pull themselves off the ground, but all they could feel was pain.
"So, this is the end," the red ninja ranger winced. Dinoshade growled with satisfaction. "Time to end this, once and for all."
The rangers slowly scrambled to sit up as they back-pedalled away from their enemies. They were all out of options, and even under Super Dino Mode, the DT rangers couldn't win. Even nine rangers had no chance against them. But even during the battle, there was at time, the DT teens knew that Mesogog was hesitant to attack. Dinoshade didn't make no hesitation.
"I'll never get to see how my future is," Kim protested as she tried to find the strength to get to her feet.
Dinoshade turned to look at the small pink ranger and hissed with glee. He began to walk toward her, the soul target of his first annihilation during the battle. The other rangers called out to her, just as she was on the retreat.
And as Dinoshade pulled up his arm for the final blow, two lights appeared before him, blocking his way. Their stance held strength, confidence and power. It was the white falcon ranger and the black DT ranger.
to be continued...
A/N: Okay, so I cut you off in some weird places. But ot only builds up suspense. Yet, now that the past has been altered, what will it bring for the future? See to it and read on. I'm out and onto the real world scene. See you when I do. May the Powers Always Protect You.