Thanks again to reviewers. If you read, leave me some comments and critiques. If you know rangerboard dot com, see AJ Oliver's fic SPD Year Two. It's off the chiz-ain and I highly recommend it. Until then, enjoy.
SPD: Return of the Machines
Chapter 6
The sight was horrid. New Tech City was suppose to a safe place to live without fear of large scale attacks like it had seen four years ago. The streets were littered with vacant cars, fires, and debris. As Gasket and his army progressed with their marched toward S.P.D., they made quick work of the automotive obstacles blocking their path by destroying them with their respective energy attacks.
Gasket and Archerina were now leading the pack instead of trailing behind it. Gasket had his sword drawn and pointed at the academy the entire time he marched. Archerina had her crossbow clutched in her left hand and the transporter laptop in the other. The computer still smoked from its last task and proved how invaluable it was in the resurrection of the Machine Empire. The sounds of rocking explosions inspired a satisfied grin onto Gasket's lips. His new and improved Quadrofighters provided the distraction he needed to keep the B-Squad busy.
"You're time is running out, Rangers," Gasket seeth in his cold metal voice.
Back in the distance the fight escalated. The S.W.A.T. Flyers worked fervently to put a stop to the menacing Cogs and their jets. The mobile Quadro Crawlers proved to be difficult for B-Squad to thwart. The Red S.W.A.T. Flyer pelted the legs of the craft in his trajectory. The attack merely flickered off the metallic shell before continuing on with its rampage.
"Their shields are too strong," Sky said from his cockpit. "We're not going to stop these things by fighting as separate units."
"You know what? Megazord mode isn't an option right now, Sky. " Z said from her cockpit. "Got a plan C?"
"I have your plan C, Z--"
"Guys, shut it!" Syd hollered over their comm link. "Their shields can't hold forever. Just keep at it."
The S.WA.T. Flyers fanned out from their joint-formation and fired away at the closest targets. Nothing was happening and the destruction of the city was quickly mounting. There seemed no stopping the Quadro Fighters and their mobile counterparts from leveling the city. The Blue S.W.AT. Flyer wove around a skyscraper and revealed the barrels beneath its undercarriage. A round of lasers burst outward, aimed for the Quadro Fighter's wing engines. Nothing came of the assault.
In S.P.D. ops, Commander Cruger and Commander Sage watched main frame closely quietly awaiting progress from B-Squad. A-Squad watched from behind. Sage's apprehension was woven on his plant-like facial features and was shared by his Rangers. Four of the five A-Squaders remained in their human form with Baccara, the Green Ranger, staying in his true Fernovian form. Mika's square-chin looks read deeper concern which he kept turned away from his team members. Seeing New Tech's demise inflicted the same guilt he felt from the Cog's assault on Fernovia. Mika's feet shuffled anxiously -- he wanted to help.
"Commander Sage," Mika spoke, "Please, allow us to assist B-Squad."
The black-garbed plant being turned to his Red Ranger and grimaced. "You five are not properly equipped. Without your Delta Runners, you will be destroyed."
"But the city--"
"Look!" Boom pointed to the new image on main frame.
Gasket and his army was shown marching toward the academy. There were yards away from stepping onto the campus. The lights in the Command Center started to wane again and then went out completely. Main frame read no signal then clicked off last. The emergency lights, as weak as they were, partially lit the room.
"He's done something to our power," Sophie said trying to bring her terminal back online. Her eyes lifted to where Cruger stood. "Commander?"
Doggie turned to Sage realizing what was about to go down. The look on his face was enough.
"Fine," the Fernovian commander responded. "A-Squad, go. Keep Gasket away from entering this base. We cannot afford another..." Sage stopped mid-sentence realizing what he was about to say. Mika already knew what it was as his and Sage's eyes locked. "Good luck, Rangers."
Mika turned to his squad. "Let's go, team!"
A-Squad filed out the Commander Center and down the darkened halls of the academy.
Back outside, Sky's mind worked overtime trying to find a way to shut down the Quadro Fighters. The only solution, the last he hoped to resort to, was to gain clearance to bring the S.P.D. base into Megazord mode. Destroying the jets by force appeared to be the only way.
"Red Ranger to Command Center! Do you read me?"
Static filled Sky's comm. link. He tried patching in again but to no avail.
"Something's not right, B-Squad. I can't reach the base," Officer Tate said patching in to the others.
"Same here. This is bad," Officer Drew echoed Sky's report.
"I scanned the base's coordinates, guys. We have easily a dozen units moving in its direction," Officer Carson reported from his cockpit.
"Shit," Sky seeth behind clenched teeth. It was rare to hear profanity come from his mouth. An explicative would indicate the severity of a situation, and Sky found this quite severe. "Blue, do you have a visual?"
"Negative. My scanners are malfunctioning. My flyer's riding rough, too."
"Damn it! I can't keep steady!" Z cursed over the comm. "My flyer's out of control!"
The Blue and Yellow Flyers began a sideways dive toward the street. The Pink Flyer was next, then the Red Flyer.
"All systems are failing!" Syd said unstrapping her harness.
"Double shit," Sky said unstrapping his harness next. "Rangers, get out now!"
In seconds, the four S.W.A.T. Flyers hit the pavement and created a mass explosion. Fire brushed past the vessels and consumed everything in the block. Gasket turned at the great sound. The flames reflected in the narrowing eyes of the Machine Prince.
"And so the Power Rangers of 2029 are no more!"
The Machines made a beeline toward the front doors of S.P.D. Inside the doors, the emergency lights struggled to keep on. The first floor commons were filled with personnel and students alike, including Sam. The teen was headed for the gym wondering what the issue was with the power, as the emergency lights had come on. Something didn't feel right Sam thought. Then his suspicions were confirmed.
Level 5 alert is in effect. This is not a drill. All cadets, personnel, and students evacuate into the nearest safety zone immediately, came the P.A. announcement.
Red lights stroked the floor from the vaulted ceilings and over Sam's face. His eyes instinctly moved to the front doors where others huddled to see the Machines stalking up the concrete stairs. Sam's eyes grew big. Right then, the security gate started to roll down over the doors by the might of several cadets. The gate was made of steel bars and touched down hard on the tiled foyer.
"Everyone get back! This is not a safe place! Hurry to the safety zones now!" one of the cadets ordered.
Sam remained where he was as everyone began to move away from the doors. The Machines were getting closer by the second. Nerve kicked into Sam's body as he reached out an open hand. If it was any time to use his power responsibly, it was now.
"Sam!" a voice yelled.
A hand grasped his shoulder. Sam spun around to face Novella.
"What are you doing? Let's go!"
A cadet ushered the two teens away before Sam could object. A-Squad ran into the commons as the crowds finished disbursing from the entrance. The Machines were now at the top of the stairs and were coming fast toward the barred entry. Gasket saw the obstacle and chuckled.
"Foolish," the Machine Prince said stretching out his hand.
A pulse of light blue energy transmitted from his hand and removed the bars from their place. The gate flew at A-Squad, prompting the five to roll clear. The bars crashed onto the tile with a loud clang and broke apart.
"It's time," Mika said drawing his morpher. The others responded accordingly, then made the call. "S.P.D. Emergency!"
The core Ranger colors ripped out the opened shells and looped up and over each officer. The colored lights enveloped the A-Squad and revealed their Ranger forms instantly.
Virbo, the gold-plated monster who earlier expressed his appetite for destruction, blasted away the doors with his arm cannon. The crashing glass littered the floor, allowing the Machines entry inside.
"Space Patrol Delta!" the A-Squad hollered posing in their respective battle stances. Their helmet sirens whaled next.
"How cute," Archerina said marching in first with Gasket at her side.
"You followed me into the past just to bare witness to the destruction you could of saved yourself from experiencing first hand. Fools. All of you," Gasket spat.
"You're not doing anything! Got it!" Red Ranger shouted, his face swelling with anger beneath the helmet.
"Your planet Fernovia begs to differ," Gasket said with a mocking gaze toward Mika. "Destroy them."
Before the Machines could respond, the Fernovian A-Squad drew their Strikers and fired. Gasket and Archerina dove out the way as their army was forced back outside. The laptop escaped Archerina's hands and slid across the tile. Lotus, the Pink Ranger, eyed the computer and made a run for it.
"No you don't!" Archerina said strumming a laser arrow on her bow.
The bow hit Pink Ranger in the shoulder and knocked her to the ground. Yellow Ranger landed beside her and drew her Delta Sword.
"You'll pay for that!" Jasmine cried rushing at Archerina.
Red Ranger and Blue Ranger dove at Gasket with their respective blasters in hand. Gasket ducked a spin kick from Mika then countered Zinnias' punches with a swift straight kick to his chest. Blue Ranger flew backward and smashed into a pillar. Brandishing his sword, Gasket swung at the Red Ranger, to which he caught between his laser pistols. Easily overpowered, Mika relinquished his hold on the sword and backflipped several feet away before the blade could make contact with his power suit.
"Your resistance is prolonging the inevitable, Ranger! Just give up!"
"Never!" Mika responded extending his lasers.
The twin blasts charged at Gasket, which he quickly deflected with his sword. Mika ducked the deflected attacks and rolled toward Gasket to land an upper-scissor kick to the shins. His feet instead were caught and wrapped around Gasket's legs.
"Don't make me laugh! I'm too strong for you!" Gasket said drawing energy into his sword.
"Forget it!" a voice cried with a salvo of blue laser pelting Gasket's mid-section.
The Machine Prince stumbled back as Zinnias landed beside his squad leader. He reached out his hand to help Mika up.
"Good timing," Red said standing to his feet. "Take the others and secure the fugitives before they regroup. I'll handle these two."
"Are you crazy? You'll be by yourself!" Blue protested.
"I know. I'll summon my battlizer and do my best. Baccara's already out there now go!"
"You don't have to prove anything by--"
"I said go!"
Grunting, Zinnias waved his teammates along and rushed outside. Mika found himself alone in the commons with Gasket and Archerina who now stood together. The couple started to pace slowly around Red Ranger. Mika moved with them, his hands clutching tight around his pistols.
"Your move, pedal pusher," Archerina hissed.
Jack pushed his way through the droves of people hurrying to remove themselves from harm's way. He made it to Park Avenue where he got his first hand look at the destruction. The Quadro Crawlers moved about the street tearing apart cars and smashing store windows with their tentacled legs. Jack's eyes grew afraid and angry over the things he saw. Gasket's creatures roamed about the city without anyone to stop them.
"Where's B-Squad!" Jack asked aloud, his eyes searching the sky.
More people ran and pushed past Jack. The nerve swelled in his veins. Powers or not, Jack was going to do something. He sprinted toward the Quadro Fighters at full speed. As he did, his entire being began to glow red.
The flames were high and wide around the destroyed S.W.A.T. Flyers. The street in which the vessels lay was vacant now. The Quadro Crawlers have since moved on to other areas of the city-wide playground. Within the flames, a figure limped out and crashed onto the ground. It was Bridge, consumed in a heavy coat of blue light. The light dissolved and morphed him back into civilian form.
"Guys?" Bridge asked struggling to stand.
A moment past, troubling the Blue Ranger. If his suit saved his life, the others should have been saved, too. Another moment past.
"Guys. ... Please..."
As if his whimper was heard, Sky limped out the fire next, then Z right behind him. The two collapsed on the ground consumed by their respective Ranger energies. They returned to civilian form instantly as their bodies hit the pavement.
"Guys!" Bridge yelled coming to their side.
"We're fine," Sky managed to say. His left arm was around Z's body. He didn't move his eyes from her.
"Syd? Where's Syd?" Z spoke.
The three turned to see the last member of their group crawling out the wreckage. The Pink Ranger, consumed in the light of her Ranger energy, demorphed into civilian form as she continued her crawl. Bridge came to her side and helped her up.
"Syd, are you okay?"
"I'll live," the Pink Ranger coughed. A line of blood dripped down the side of her mouth. Other cuts and bruised were shared on all of their bodies.
"The flyers ... they're gone," Sky said staring into the flames.
His hand slid from Z's side as he came to stand near the burning wreckage. What did they have to fight with now? The Delta Runners were destroyed and never replaced in lue of the new S.W.A.T. Mega Ship. The Command Center could not be reached to request Megazord transformation. Now, the Flyers were reduced to nothing but burning debris and their morphing power depleted.
"This isn't over," Sky said to himself. He turned to face his squad. "B-Squad, this isn't over. We're far from over."
Z, normally first and eager to contradict Sky, gave him an agreeing nod. This was about the team, not them. "He's right. Let's show those shits who they're dealing with."
Bridge and Syd exchanged glances and nodded.
Sky took the civie-laser from his side and powered it on. "Let's go."
The A-Squad, sans Mika, stood side by side on the steps of the academy as the Machine fugitives regrouped from their fall. The first to stand, a bronzed cyborg-humanoid with pale Asian features, extended his hands and charged his fingertip lasers.
"One good blast deserves another!"
The pale-gold lasers sailed toward A-Squad and smashed into the steps they stood on. The four leaped and executed identical scissor kicks to the Machines standing on the preceeding steps. The odds, however, were against the Rangers twelve to four. Three of the monsters grabbed a hold of the Yellow Ranger, tossed her into the air, and opened fire. Jasmine smashed into the concrete at the base of the steps and instantly demorphed in a burst of opaque yellow energy.
"No!" Pink Ranger cried trying to burst free from the Machines' hold on her body.
She, too, was tossed into the sky to meet the same fate. That end did not come, as the monsters poised to strike were struck down themselves. Ben leaped and caught Lotus in his arms. He hit the ground and rolled with her to a stop. The force of the impact caused her to demorph into civilian form.
"Gotcha," Ben said dismounting Lotus.
The smile on Lotus' face was short lived when she was brought back into reality. The still body of her best friend Jasmine smoked just yards away. Tears formed in her eyes. Ben looked at Jasmine's body, then back at Lotus.
"You don't know--"
"No," Lotus said cutting Ben off. "She is. I feel it..."
The remainder of C-Squad landed beside Ben after flipping down from the higher steps. Grace, a slender and petite Asian, brandished her civie-laser.
"No time to schmooze your gal pal, Ben. We got work to do," Grace said charging forward.
Ben scowled at her comment and took up his laser again. "Let's go, guys."
Bo and Jules, the remainder of C-Squad, rushed forward with Ben to assist the Fernovian A-Squad. Zinnias swashed his Delta Sword at Virbo and other similar-looking Machine. He slammed a back kick into the Machine coming from behind and used the momentum to propel himself into a spiral-spin flip. The Blue Ranger landed in a crouched position at the base of the steps right next to Jasmine. His face read horror.
"No. ... No!"
Zinnias turned and leaped up as he converted his sword into Striker mode. The lasers rained down on the Machines within its range, causing four of them to lose their footing. Baccara sent his green lasers in the same direction to clear a path for C-Squad who rushed onto the scene. Their lasers beat on the armored Machines but had little effect. The fugitives from the future dealt swift kicks and punches to the C-Squad cadets and sent them flying backward into each other.
"Powerless parasites," Virbo remarked, smirking.
Rage fueled Jack's steps as he ran toward the Quadro Crawlers. With red energy washing across his skin, he slammed a right fist into the tentacle of one vessel, followed with a left hook. The combo-strike tore into the inner-wiring of the tentacle, allowing Jack to reach inside and rip out the wiring. Another tentacle of the same Crawler snaked over and wrapped around Jack's waist, hoisting him into the sky. The Cog seated in its cockpit, though appearing void of emotion, anticipated the final strike against the nuisance.
"Try it!" Jack yelled at the Cog.
Tightening its grip, the tentacle began to squeeze the life from his body. The pressure only heightened the energy radiating from Jack and began to burn into the shell of the tentacle. The Crawler relinquished its hold on Jack, causing him to drop onto the ground.
"There's more of where that came from!"
Another Quadro Crawler moved in and readied its lasers to strike Jack down. Instead it found itself the target of another attack. A volley of lasers dinged into the shell of the Crawler and directed its attention away from Jack.
"Back off!" Z yelled stalking forward with her civie laser extended.
Jack looked up from his position and saw who it was. "Always having my back, sis."
"You know it ... bro."
"Save the chit-chat," Sky said cutting in. "Let's squash these bugs."
Jack shook his head. "Nice to see you again, too."
"Some things never change," Syd winked running past.
"Welcome back, Jack," Bridge said slapping his friend a five before joining the others.
Sky aimed his laser. "Together guys! Now!"
B-Squad, side by side, delivered another round of lasers to the Quadro Crawler. Their shields still were holding strong. Again their attacks looked futile.
"Damn it," Sky cursed continuing to fire.
"Juice is running low," Z spoke.
Jack shook his head and came behind his old squad. "Allow me."
Jack closed his eyes and concentrated. The red energy returned and flushed over his entire being. B-Squad stepped aside to allow Jack through. The former Red Ranger leaped into the air and drove a kick into the hatch of the Quadro Crawler, shattering it completely. He reached inside and took a hold of the Cog by its neck.
"...The hell?" Sky asked.
"Someone's learned a new tricked while away," Bridge grinned.
"This is my planet," Jack stared into the Cog's soulless hallows. "So keep off!"
Jack sent a fierce blow to the Cog's skull and threw him from the cockpit. The bot hit the street and broke apart upon impact. Jack jumped down and landed in a crouched position as B-Squad crowded around.
"Don't tell me it came with the suit because this time there is no suit!" Sky said pulling Jack into a half-hug.
Jack would of laughed if the situation wasn't grave as it was. "I'll explain later."
"The academy, guys," Syd reminded them. "Let's hurry."
Sky nodded and led them away. Jack, at his side, gave his old friend a nod as the five hurried away.
The outside of S.P.D. resembled the Troobians' last fight before Gruumm's containment. More Cogs had appeared via the transporter laptop, a chance Archerina was willing to take with the already over-accelerated hardware. The Quadro Fighters attacking the city were now attacking the academy to put S.P.D. at a further disadvantage.
"This is for Jasmine!" Zinnias said raking his sword down the chest of a Cog.
The sparks flew as he spun around to another Cog and repeated the same action. Baccara somersaulted into the middle of a group of Cogs and spun-kick them all in the head before performing a swift side-sweep to their feet. The Cogs fell, allowing him time to reconnect his D-Striker and shower another round of green lasers.
Ben blocked a Cog's punch with his civie laser and followed up with a left-cross punch.
"Damn it!"
The surface of the Cog's bust was beyond hard, impenetrable by human hands. The Cog grabbed Ben at the collar with both hands and threw him against a lamp post. Jules and Grace, standing back to back, sought their next targets. Jules, a fair-faced redhead of Irish decent, wrinkled her freckled nose at the oncoming bot.
"You ready, girl?" Jules asked.
"You know it!"
The C-Squad girls aimed their lasers and fired together at the Cog. The machine fell back with sprocket pieces coming through the newly made cavity on its chest. One of the machine fugitives, Dignor, stood on the side as his cohorts rushed past the Cogs that interfered with their annihilation of the A-Squad. Dignor stood six and half feet tall with drill attachments at his hands, head, and knees. His rustic armor and nearly featureless face could not communicate the sentient bot's impatience with this battle.
"This ends now!" Dignor said activating his many drills.
The machine charged toward the closest Ranger, Lotus, who remained unmorphed. Her back was turned as she tangled with a Cog. Baccara saw Dignor coming from where he stood fighting.
"Lotus!"
The Green A-Squad Ranger leaped from his position and dove at his Pink teammate. Lotus was safe with Baccara laying over her unmorphed form, but he wasn't so luck. A suppressed yell of agonizing pain came from Green Ranger's mouth as the drill pieces went straight through his power suit and into his back. Green energy crackled around the abrasions and then completely over his morphed form. Lotus looked up from where she lay and screamed.
"Baccara!"
A rocking explosion came next, knocking everyone on the steps of the academy off their feet. From the front doors came Mika sailing in the air and tumbling down the steps next to his team members. The impact demorphed his battlized Ranger form, revealing his bloody and bruised civilian form. Gasket and Archerina came and stood at the top of the stairs. Behind the couple, areas of the powerless S.P.D. base continued to be blasted by the Quadro Fighters. Gasket raised his sword high with an explosion ringing in the distance. His long-planned revenge was becoming a reality.
"This can't be happening," Ben said holding his shoulder as he struggled to stand.
"Take a look around, Rangers!" Gasket spoke. "Your world is at an end!"
As if things couldn't get worse, a thunderous boom rolled across the sky followed with an explosive mass of purple energy that rent the air. The same phenomena from the earlier time portals raced out toward the earth and smashed into the already broken concrete. Gasket lowered his sword and looked to his wife.
"We have enough reinforcements! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"
"I didn't do anything!" Archerina said inspecting the laptop.
"Well make it stop!"
"I can't! Something must be wrong!"
Another explosion of power came overhead, causing everyone to pay closer attention. The time portal grew large with great wind proceeding from within. Four vessels came barreling out the swirling pool of blue and purple energy and rushed toward the academy. Gasket's tiny mechanical mouth gaped.
"IMPOSSIBLE! The A-Squad!"
Gasket's outrage was expressed instantly as lightning shot from his sword and into the black clouds.
"Machines, destroy them all!" Gasket cried.
Before the fugitives could comply, the A-Squad of 2044 flew out of their cockpits and landed on the ground flawlessly on one knee. They turned and faced their foes. Gasket sent them a resentful glare.
"We're bringing you in!" Nova Ranger pointed.
"Don't bet on it!" Archerina hissed.
A-Squad made the protocol motions as their helmet sirens wailed out. "Force from the future! Space Patrol Delta!"
"Enough posing! Let's fight!" Gasket yelled.
"Yeah! Let's!" came another voice.
Everyone turned to see B-Squad and their former captain Jack Landors run onto the scene. They stood beside the A-Squad of 2044 as the remaining three members of the Fernovian A-Squad joined them. Together the teams stood poised for battle. Three top S.P.D. squads with twelve Rangers total were in Gasket's midst. The odds were nearly evened, but he didn't so much as flinch. Gasket had twelve of the worst criminals from the future who were more than able to secure his victory.
Gasket pointed his sword at the Power Rangers. "Attack!"
The Machines started toward the squads. Sky nodded to the collective officers. "Ready!"
"READY! RANGER POWER!"
Clouds of colored smoke pillared into the air wrapped in rising flames. In the presence of multiple Ranger teams, it was common for Power to show the enemy who they were dealing with through the colorful display. The Power Rangers, both morphed and unmorphed, charged at the Machines and the Machines at the Rangers.
Jack landed a powerful forward flip-kick at Virbo and went into a side sweep. The weight of Virbo's armored legs prevented him from falling. Jack, looking up from his crouched position, mouthed a profane word as Virbo released a blast of energy from his cannon arm. Jack phased himself, letting the attack pass through. Sky fought beside him, and Mika beside Sky. The unmorphed Rangers struck backward hammer fists to a Machine whose body looked like a steroid-infused version of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz. The Reds brandished their civie blasters and struck Contro's chest. Contro staggered backwards only stunned for the moment. The Machine stuck out stretching arms and took Sky and Mika up by the shoulders.
"I'm going to enjoy this!" Contro said setting his eye lasers to vaporize.
"Enjoy this!" Sky said with his glowing red eyes.
A red-tinted shield materialized before Sky and slammed into Contro's chest. The Machine flew and rolled in sparks across the ground. Sky and Mika dropped and landed safely onto their feet. Jack, having witnessed Sky's attack, gave him an amused smile.
"I'm not the only one with new tricks I see," he said.
"Guess not," Sky said before leaping back into action.
Zinnias, still morphed, threw a roundhouse at a thin-framed Machine called Bolt, named for his speed. Bolt ducked and returned the kick before Zinnias ever realized he had retaliated. Blue crashed backwards and rolled onto the courtyard. Bridge leaped over the fallen Zinnias and fired a round of civie rays. Most of the shots past by Bolt, who already made his way to Bridge with a flying fist to the gut. To Bolt's surprise, the officer caught the fist.
"WHAT?" the Machine screeched in his heavy grated voice.
"Saw that one coming," Bridge said, his eyes a-glow with blue light.
The psychic Ranger tossed Bolt's fist back and clocked him again across the jaw with the butt of his civie blaster.
Baccara flew through the air with his Delta Max on auto-shoot. The rapid fire of green energy rained around two Machines, knocking them both off their feet.
The Green Ranger, his chest heaving, stood above the foes with his D-Striker extended. "I won't rest until all of you are disassembled into a giant scrap heap and thrown into the pit of hell whence you came!"
One the Machines, portly and short in stature, reached out his hand and magnetically drew the Striker away from Baccara's hands. The Machine turned the weapon around and pointed it at the Ranger.
"Now who's headed for the scrap heap?" it asked through its unmoving mouth.
Not a moment sooner, a shower of lasers landed around the two Machines. Ben landed beside Baccara, then the rest of the C-Squad.
"Close call," Ben said touching Baccara's shoulder, to which the A-Squader shrugged off as he secured his Striker. Ben shook his head. "Yeah, you're welcome."
"Save the talk. We've got intruders," Grace said pointing her civie up the stairs where a gang of Cogs were headed to the doors.
"Those dudes are relentless!" Bo said charging up his blaster.
"Let's show 'em who's house they're in," Jules said charging hers.
C-Squad charged up the steps after the Cogs who were already inside. Still fighting strong, the girls of B-Squad tangled with a Machine called Xorna who had a sleek female shape to her chrome. Her disc-shaped eyes beamed yellow lasers at Z and Syd, causing them to roll clear.
"Stay put, you wretches!" Xorna screeched.
Flipping over Xorna came Lotus with her civie shooting at the curvaceous Machine. Xorna fell in a shower of sparks with a heap of pink energy eating away at her chrome.
"How about you stay put?" Lotus screamed back as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What's the matter, girlie?" Xorna asked rising up. "Your best friend got toasted, so let me help you join her!"
During the exchange, Z and Syd came up on both sides of A-Squad Pink and fired their lasers. Xorna flipped out the way and flew atop the canopy of the security booth guarding the entrance of S.P.D.
"You gotta be faster than that to get me!" Xorna laughed wildly.
"How about this? Electro mode!"
Xorna looked up as the shadow of Nova Ranger descended upon her. The wrist morpher released a heavy electrical blast and sent Xorna flying off the canopy to skid across the concrete bathed in sparks.
Nova landed beside the trio. "Now that's what I call girl power!"
Syd nodded and clutched her blaster. "Let's finish these creeps!"
The girls moved in with their teammates to continue the fight. Gasket and Archerina watched the mounting chaos from the same position since the fight began. The Machine Prince turned his gaze to the sky where the time portal was still swirling.
"Can't you stop it before more S.P.D. comes looking for us!" Gasket yelled at his wife.
"Something's wrong with the shutdown command, dear husband," Archerina said holding the opened laptop with one hand and typing with the other.
"Argh! Why'd that thing have to run Windows! Just do something!"
"If I reassign the portal to take us back to our hidden dimension, that'll force the portal to shut behind us from random matter overload."
"No!" Gasket said getting in Archerina's face. The smaller robot cowared in fear. "I'm so close to destroying S.P.D. and establishing my kingdom on Earth!"
"It's either we go now or we might not have a kingdom to establish at all!"
Gasket turned away from his wife, torn to make a decision quickly.
Inside the powerless Delta Base, C-Squad prowled silently across the deserted commons. Their blasters were set to fire at any given moment. A noise caught their ears, alarming Jules who shot a laser in the direction from where it came. The laser impacted the wall, causing a portion of the white block to crumble and fall.
"My bad," Jules whispered to his team mates.
"Shh," Grace said, her eyes skewered at Jules for her carelessness.
"This is what we trained for, guys," Ben whispered with eyes scanning the abyss ahead of them. "Don't f' this up."
"Said the f' up expert," Grace shot back.
"Not - now," Bo said stalking forward ahead of his team. "Shh, I think I hear something."
C-Squad now stood center of the commons where the emergency spotlight flickered overhead, lighting the center floor. The four cadets stood back to back in a circle with their civies extended. Faint gear-grinding noises echoed from the abyss. The noises grew closer and loud.
"I can hear them," Jules breath, her Irish skin paled beyond the already fare pigment.
Sets of eyes lit up from the surrounding abyss and encompassed the C-Squad.
The students in the crowded classroom were startled as the sound of fire power echoed outside their door. The door itself was barred, having been a desinated safety zone. The room, like the others on base, had the emergency lights on which looked close to failing. No doubt, the Machines' awesome power had influence over their energy, something Sam observed from the moment the lights were cut.
The redhead was standing near the door, his eyes searching as his mind raced over the possibilities of what could be happening outside. The classroom grew hot with the many people and aliens inside -- there was only standing room. Across from Sam was Nova, who sat atop the teacher's desk with a group of other girls who chatted amongst themselves. One of them laughed, then the other girls. Sam looked at the clique with an annoyed look. Nova caught the look and sent it back.
"What's your problem?" she asked coming to stand in front of Sam.
"This isn't a time for joking. There's something awful going on out there," Sam answered in hushed tones.
"And the Rangers are taking care of it. What's to worry?" Nova asked.
"The fate of Earth, does that qualify as cause to worry?"
"Save the drama, Sam. Power Rangers always win."
"Eventually ... but something's bad going to happen. if not already. I can feel it."
"You're a teleporter, not a psychic."
"Shh!" Sam said getting in Nova's face. "Not so loud."
"Sor-ry," Nova said rolling her eyes. "If you feel so strongly about it, go out there and help."
Novella walked away from a fuming Sam and rejoined the girls on the desk. Sam's attention was redirected as Ty made his way over.
"Bro, was she asking about me?" he whispered.
"Who?" Sam whispered back.
"Nova."
"I can't believe this. ... Look, Ty. I'm going out there."
"W-what?" Ty studered. "You're joking."
"I have to know what's happening. Maybe I can help."
"Sam, you're not a Power Ranger. Let the real Rangers do their job."
"I'm going, Ty."
"You're not joking. Bro, don't do it. It's suicide," Ty said lowering his voice further. "Plus, everyone will know you're a teleporter."
Sam stepped closer to Ty, his eyes having narrowed. "As if you haven't told people already."
A guilty look spread across Ty's face. The Triforian swallowed. "I only told Nova. I swear."
"I somehow doubt that."
Without another word, Sam teleported away. Like Ty had warned, people saw and began to buzz. Nova's mouth dropped as her eyes fell on Ty. The two shared convicted looks.