Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Dissension within the Ranks
Chapter 18
Jack, Syd, Z, and Bridge were taking turns babysitting Chris and Simone. They drew straws to see who would get the first shift. Unfortunately for Jack, he drew the shortest straw. Jack, Chris, and Simone were in the recreation room. Jack had fetched some comic books from his room and gave them to Chris and Simone to read. It hadn't even been long since he gave them the comic books when the silence was broken.
"You're no fun!" Chris complained.
Jack was shocked. He happened to love those comic books they were reading. Besides, he liked to think that he was way more fun than Sky. Sky and fun don't even belong in the same sentence unless the word not is included. Jack had no idea why they liked Sky so much.
"These comic books are boring!" Simone whined throwing the comic book she was reading at Jack.
Jack let out a sigh. The comic books he gave Chris and Simone to read were his favorites, and they called them boring. Jack was at a loss for words. One thing was for sure though. Even though his shift just started, Jack couldn't wait to pass off the babysitting job to someone else.
"Well what do you want to do then?" Jack asked sounding slightly irritated.
Chris and Simone exchanged glances with one another. It was almost as if they knew what each other was thinking without speaking.
"Some babysitter you are!" Chris and Simone muttered under their breath.
Jack heard their remark though. He was fighting a strong desire to phase out of this room and let someone else watch Chris and Simone. Jack glanced at his watch. He tried to remember how long they agreed each shift would last. Hopefully it wasn't for much longer, because he didn't know how much longer he could put up with these two kids. If anything, Jack developed a newfound respect for Sky through all this. If Sky could tolerate extended periods of time with Chris and Simone, then Jack commends him for being able to do something that he could not.
"How about we watch some television? Do you two like cartoons?" Jack asked.
Chris and Simone ran over to the television and plopped down on the floor in front of it. Maybe just maybe Jack found something that they actually enjoyed doing.
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At Social Services, Marcus came out from behind the plant he was hiding behind and started to sneak up behind Sky with the knife raised.
"Sky, look out behind you!" LeAnn cried.
Sky spun around and waved his arm around in a circle. The force field he created sent Marcus flying backwards into a wall. The knife fell from his hand in the process. Sky stood in front of LeAnn so as to protect her from Marcus. Marcus picked himself off the floor.
"You'll pay for that!" Marcus warned.
Marcus picked the knife up off the ground and made his way over to Sky. He stabbed downward, but Sky caught his arm. Sky was struggling against the strength of the much bigger Marcus. Sky kicked Marcus in the gut. Then he kicked Marcus' hand sending the knife flying out of his hand. Marcus threw a punch at Sky, but Sky ducked. Sky swept Marcus' legs out from under him with a leg sweep.
"Yeah! Go Sky!" LeAnn cheered. She was enjoying this. She was the damsel in distress and her knight in shining armor came to rescue her.
Marcus got up to his feet and threw a punch at Sky. Sky sidestepped it. Sky knew that Marcus was taller and bigger than him, so he would have to rely on his quickness because there would be no way for him to match Marcus in terms of power. Marcus faked Sky out with a punch and then kneed Sky in the stomach. After Sky was doubled over in pain, Marcus scored with a knee lift to Sky's head. Sky stumbled back a few steps. Marcus wasn't about to let Sky get a breather though. He threw another punch. Sky caught his fist and pulled his arm behind his back. Marcus used his free arm to elbow Sky in the temple. Marcus then wrapped his hand around Sky's throat and hoisted him up in the air. Sky was kicking in a futile attempt to free himself. He gasped for air as he felt his windpipes being crushed. Sky tried to free himself from Marcus' grip with his hands, but to no avail.
LeAnn had a look of horror on her face. Her knight in shining armor was losing. She couldn't allow this to happen. She was trying to think of something she could do to help Sky out. LeAnn saw the knife lying on the floor. That gave her an idea. She went over and picked it up.
"Put him down!" LeAnn screamed.
Marcus let out a sinister laugh.
"As you wish," Marcus said throwing Sky into LeAnn.
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At Gruumm's ship, Gruumm, Morgana, and Giganis were watching the fight between Marcus and Sky unfold. They were all pleasantly surprised with how things were turning out thus far.
"Sky is a sitting duck without his morpher. Now is the perfect time to strike!" Gruumm commented.
Morgana and Giganis nodded their heads signaling they understood. Even though Sky was no longer a power ranger, he still must pay for crossing Gruumm. As for Giganis, not a day goes by that he doesn't think about his former best friend arresting him. That scene played itself over and over in Giganis' head. He had a personal score to settle with Sky. If Giganis had anything to say about it, Sky would pay for betraying him. Any remnants of friendship was gone as far as Giganis was concerned. The only thing he felt towards Sky was hatred.
"If, no rather when we destroy Sky, it will kill the morale of the power rangers. Then, it won't be long until we defeat them and Earth will be ours!" Morgana exclaimed.
Broodwing was lurking in the shadows listening to the whole conversation. He realized Sky didn't stand a chance against Morgana and Giganis without his morpher. Sky was already having a tough time with Marcus and Marcus wasn't even a part of Gruumm's forces. Broodwing decided to make a little trip down to Earth to thwart Gruumm's plan. It felt a little odd to him that he was even considering helping a former power ranger who used to be his enemy, but Sky did save Broodwing from Gruumm. Besides, Broodwing would do anything to upset Gruumm after the way he has been treated by Gruumm.
"What are you waiting for? Get down there and take care of that little worm!" Gruumm roared.
Morgana and Giganis teleported down to Earth. Unbeknownst to Gruumm, so did Broodwing.
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"This is a re-run!" Simone whined.
"Re-runs aren't any fun!" Chris added.
Jack massaged his forehead. All the whining that Chris and Simone were doing was starting to give him a killer headache. He much rather be battling one of Gruumm's goons than put up with babysitting Chris and Simone. At least Gruumm's goons don't whine and complain 24/7.
"Are you hungry? Do you two want something to snack on?" Jack asked.
"Nah, we're not hungry," Chris answered.
"Just bored," Simone added.
Jack rolled his eyes. He glanced at his watch. He had no idea how long his shift was supposed to be, but enough was enough. Jack was fed up with those two. It was time for someone else to watch Chris and Simone. He took Chris and Simone by their hands and led them out of the recreation room. Jack took them to the room that Syd and Z shared.
"Hey, you aren't supposed to enter our room without our permission!" Syd whined.
Jack felt like banging his head against a wall. First, Chris and Simone whined about practically anything and everything, now on top of that, Syd was whining too.
"You're shift isn't over yet anyways! You still have…" Z started to say.
"I don't care! I'm done! You watch them!" Jack said before leaving the room in a hurry.
Syd and Z looked at one another wondering what they just got themselves into.
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"LeAnn, are you ok? I didn't hurt you did I?" Sky asked while helping LeAnn to her feet.
LeAnn gave Sky a smile of gratitude.
"I'm fine," she answered.
Just then a purple energy blast nailed Sky in the back knocking him face first into the floor. LeAnn looked to see where it came from and saw Morgana and Giganis. LeAnn bent down to check on Sky.
"Are you alright?" LeAnn asked.
Sky groaned. LeAnn helped him to his feet. Sky saw Morgana and Giganis in attacking stances staring him down. He did not like the looks of this one bit. Without his morpher, he was done for. Even with his morpher, he probably couldn't stand a three on one encounter. Just then, he saw a jolt of electricity knock Giganis to the ground. Then another one knocked Morgana to the ground. Broodwing dropped down from the ceiling. Morgana and Giganis quickly rose to their feet.
"Broodwing, you are supposed to be on our side!" Morgana remarked.
Broodwing burst out laughing. Giganis and Morgana had puzzled looks on their faces as did Sky, LeAnn, and Marcus.
"You are a bigger fool than I thought Morgana! I was never on your side to begin with! I owe allegiance to nobody especially not Gruumm!" Broodwing exclaimed.
Marcus noticed that Sky was preoccupied with Broodwing's entrance and took the opportunity to attack Sky from behind. Marcus punched Sky in the kidney. Broodwing sent Marcus flying backwards with a jolt of electricity. Marcus' chest bobbed up and down rapidly. Giganis transformed one of his arms into a sniper and fired at Broodwing. The shot hit Broodwing full force, but didn't harm him the slightest bit.
"Is that all you got Giganis?" Broodwing asked.
Morgana sent energy blast after energy blast from her daggers at Broodwing. Each one connected, but still no damage was done to Broodwing.
"LeAnn, get out of here! It's too dangerous! You might get hurt!" Sky ordered.
LeAnn looked Sky face to face.
"No! I'm not leaving you! LeAnn yelled.
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"Rangers please report to the command center immediately!" Kat ordered over the intercom.
"Thank goodness!" Z said.
"Well, it looks like someone else will have to watch you two," Syd said while trying to sound sad.
Chris and Simone followed Syd and Z to the command center.
"Rangers, Sky is in trouble. Morgana and Giganis are attacking him at Social Services," Cruger stated.
"Ready?" Jack asked.
"Hold on, I'm coming too!" Cruger said.
Kat gave Cruger a suspicious look.
"Yeah, I'll go too!" Sam added.
Kat put her hands on her hips. She couldn't believe what was happening. Sam and Cruger were ditching her. They didn't want to be stuck babysitting Chris and Simone, so they made sure they left with the other rangers.
"S.P.D. emergency!" they shouted in unison.
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"So you thought you could cross me and get away with it Broodwing?" Gruumm said appearing at Social Services.
Gruumm used his telekinesis to lift Broodwing off the ground. With his other hand he smashed the glass case that his head was in with his staff. Broodwing started gasping for air like he was drowning. Gruumm knew all about Broodwing's inability to breathe in Earth's air. That's what the glass case was for. It created an artificial environment that allowed Broodwing to breathe without exposing him to Earth's air. Gruumm started blasting Broodwing with his staff while Morgana was nailing him with energy blasts and Giganis was firing his sniper at him. Sky had to do something to save Broodwing. He waved his arm around in a circle and created a force field. He ran towards the three of them. His force field connected with all three of them sending them flying to the ground and releasing Broodwing from Gruumm's hold.
"Broodwing are you ok?" Sky asked.
There was no answer. Sky noticed that Broodwing wasn't gasping for air anymore. He was too late. Broodwing was dead.
"Foolish human! You dare to take on the three of us?" Gruumm questioned.
Morgana sent energy blasts at Sky while Gruumm fired his staff at him and Giganis shot his sniper. Sky threw up a force field to block the incoming attacks. The three villains kept up the attacks though.
"You can't destroy what you can't even hit," Sky said while maintaining his force field.
Gruumm, Morgana, and Giganis laughed evilly.
"Silly human. You are weak. Your pathetic force field won't last much longer, and then we will rid this planet of your existence!" Gruumm remarked.
Sky was already starting to strain. He knew that Gruumm was right. He couldn't hold up the force field much longer. Sky just hoped the other rangers would find him in time.
To Be Continued…
A/N: I'm sorry it took so long for this update. As you know, school started although since I am in summer school at my college, it never technically ended. I'm trying to buckle down in terms of schoolwork although it's hard because I've been in summer school the whole summer. Anyways, so I have to make a tradeoff. If I devote more time to my studies, then that means I won't be able to update much. On the other hand, if I update often, I won't be able to focus on my studies as much which would probably be reflected in my grades. So I'm sorry, but I don't want to fail or have to retake any classes so unfortunately that means not being able to update all too often. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed my fic or just read it. It means a lot to me that you took the time to do so. If you choose to review, no flames please.