Ninja Storm: Rise of the Eclipse- Chapter 29: General Deception: Part II
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines. I only own Crystal and Lucy and anything else unrecognizable.
Zurgane plodded towards the downed Rangers. On the ground, Vexacus and Shimazu were watching the fight. Vexacus was laughing. Shimazu wasn't. "I thought you said we were going to get the credit," The warlord argued. "All I see is the Ranger Zords on the ground and Zurgane ready to take a bow,"
Vexacus turned to him. "You worry too much," He snapped. "Relax. If Zurgane takes a bow, it'll be his final one." He recrossed his arms over his chest.
"I hope so, for our sake!"
The Star and Eclipse Megazords turned around. They saw Zurgane move closer to the Wind and Thunder Megazords. Cam maneuvered his Megazord faster, blocking Zurgane's jab with his star shield. The Eclipse swung its rapier, slashing the zord back further.
"What?" Zurgane demanded.
The Eclipse Megazord threw its leg out, pushing Zurgane back. The Winds stood. "Whoa! Where did you get that mode, Cam?" Shane asked.
"I am the one in charge of upgrades, remember?" Cam questioned back.
The Red Ranger smiled, "Pretty sweet,"
"Huh?" The Green Ranger asked, turning around. Zurgane was about to strike Cam but the Thunders used their blasters to send him back. They moved forward, punching the zord in the stomach multiple times. Zurgane went flying.
"You guys ready to finish this?" Hunter questioned.
"So over this guy," Lucy grumbled. The Eclipse Megazord stepped forward with the Star Megazord.
"Locked and dropped," The four Rangers with disks announced. In seconds, the eight Rangers stood across from the general in the Hurricane Megazord. The stars on the front of the Megazord soon rapidly, sending out a hurricane-like wind. The force of all the Rangers causing sparks and lightning to dance around the sky. Finally, the Zurganezord fell to the ground, exploding violently.
Tori high fived Shane, "Awesome guys!"
"No more Zurgane," Hunter cheered.
"Don't be so sure," Cam stopped the celebration. "Zurgane's smart,"
"But we trashed his zord," Hunter turned his helmeted head to the Green Ranger.
"Even if he got out, he's got nothing," Dustin added, twisting in his seat.
Crystal shook her head, an arm slung around the head of her seat. Her helmet face Cam. "Something about that fight doesn't sit right with me. It shouldn't have been that easy,"
"You call that easy?" Blake turned to the Gold Ranger.
"Look, go back to your campsite," Cam ordered. "I've got to check something at Ninja Ops,"
Lucy turned. "We'll go with you. I'm over the whole camping thing,"
"Let us know if you find anything out," Shane told him.
Cam nodded. "I will. Keep your eyes open out there,"
"Man, I don't know if I can sit out here and have a good time after all this stuff." Hunter pointed out to the group while walking back to the camping site. "I need to chill out for a while,"
"I, for one, need to fill my grill," Dustin added, rubbing his hands together. "Cheeseburgers, here I come,"
"Aw, pickles," Blake stated. "Tell me someone brought pickles. Man, I can't have cheeseburgers without pickles,"
Shane tapped his chest. "Chill, bro. I brought 'em." He rubbed his hands together. "Seconds away from a meal fit for a king,"
When the boys got to the campsite, it was completely trashed. Chairs were on the ground. Trash was everywhere. Containers and various items were scattered around the site. It had looked like someone ransacked their campsite. "What?" Blake demanded. The four took off running to the site.
"Oh no," Dustin complained, throwing his arms to the side.
"I don't believe this," Blake breathed, walking over to the grill and lifting the lid. There were some hamburgers left, charred and black, but most were taken or eaten. "This can not be happening,"
"This whole nature thing is for the birds," Dustin insulted. "I say we bag it and go find some greasy fast food,"
"With what car?" Lucy questioned, pushing a branch away from her face. She huffed a breath, moving across the glen to where the boys were standing. "Tori's already back at Ops with Cam."
Shane raised an eyebrow. "Where did you come from?" He watched the Silver Ranger walk to them.
The brunette stumbled for a second, sticking her arms out to steady herself. "We have a flat and Crystal is using some rather un-ladylike words to describe the situation." She explained, scratching her head. "I was told to leave before Crystal really started using words we should never repeat,"
"So we're stuck — stranded, grounded," Hunter listed off. "We're the cast from 'Survivor',"
"This whole trip is turning out to be one bad idea," Blake noted.
Lucy clicked her tongue. "You boys are idiots." She glanced at the boys now staring at her. Her hands found her hips. "You four are part of a team of highly trained, kick-ass ninjas and you can't even figure out a way to rough it for a few hours." She sighed. "Haven't you guys ever heard the phrase: 'When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade'?"
"Well, I didn't see any lemon trees around here, and between you and me, lemonade really isn't going to do it for me right now." Dustin rambled.
"You boys are hopeless." Lucy buried her face in her hands. "Shane, you might wanna take over before I end up killing one of them,"
The Red Ranger looked around, finding some empty buckets lying around him and Lucy. "It's a saying." He threw a bucket at Dustin. "Let's see what does grow around here,"
Blake nodded. "Right,"
"Spread out guys, and nobody comes back without food," Shane pointed at them.
"I'm gonna head back, see if Crystal's calmed down enough to head home." Lucy nodded to the boys, disappearing the way she came.
When Lucy had returned to the jeep, she found Crystal sitting in the driver's seat. Wrenching open her door, the younger ninja slid in and buckled herself in. "You think Zurgane just gave up?" The brunette asked.
Crystal snorted. "No, if anything, he's more hell-bent than ever,"
"Great," Lucy muttered. "We really need a homicidal general after us with the intent to kill us all,"
"When you put it that way." A chuckle escapes Crystal's lips. "Then we're really in a hole,"
Lucy's morpher beeped. "Guys, sorry to tell you this, but we've got another emergency on our hands,"
"I hear you, Cam," Shane spoke first.
"With you bro," Blake added.
"Not without us," Lucy fired.
"On my way," Hunter reported.
"Right behind you dude," Dustin responded.
"Ready to kick ass?" Crystal smirked.
Lucy returned with a grin, "Ready,"
Eclipse Storm, Ranger Form
Guardian of the Sun
Guardian of the Moon
Zurgane's new zord turned from its stomping parade. It caught sight of the Rangers' Hurricane Megazord prowling towards him. The Zurgane Zord looked terrifying, even more so with the blotches of pale purple and black inked over its body. It was shaped like Zurgane; no mouth, no face.
"What's the deal?" Shane questioned, staring at the purple monstrosity.
"I'm back and you're through!" Zurgane growled.
"Zurgane!" Cam called. "I knew it,"
Lucy clenched her hands around her controls. "I'm gonna send him into next week,"
"Let's take him out," Shane ordered.
The Megazord lurched forward. It sent its fist flying to Zurgane, only for him to block it with his own punch. The Rangers went for a kick but came out with the same result. Zurgane blocked their hit. The star on the front of the Hurricane Megazord came off and formed a sword in its hand. They went for one swing. Another. Finally a jab. But nothing took.
"What's the matter, Rangers? You aren't surprised, are you?" Zurgane mocked. He leveled his fist and fired. The full hand came free, aimed right at the Rangers.
"Look out!" Shane called, forcing the Megazord high in the air to avoid the flying fist.
A well-aimed power swing sent Zurgane back a step. "I have another surprise for you." His chest opened up. A white and gold power sphere popped out, right into his hands.
"No way!" Tori exclaimed.
"It's a power sphere!" Shane pointed out.
Crystal rolled her eyes under her helmet. "This day just can't get any better, can it?"
Lucy leaned over and punched her. "Don't say that." She pointed a finger at the blonde. "You're gonna jinx it and I'm not ready to see what's store,"
"What a poseur," Dustin insulted.
"I knew it!" Cam shouted.
Hunter leaned forward in his seat. "This is brutal,"
"Totally brutal," His brother added.
"That's right — a power sphere cloned from your own technology," Zurgane explained. "It's your move,"
Shane spoke first. "You can't use our powers against us!"
"We'll see about that," Zurgane snarled. The sphere popped open. A sword appeared, with two long tips from the end of the blade. "Maximum Power!" He swung.
The Rangers used their star shield to block the hit, but it shattered the shield. The Megazord rattled back by the shockwave. "Whoa! Hang on guys!" Shane called out.
Zurgane went for multiple hits, slamming the Rangers back. Lightning skittered around the cockpit. The Rangers yelled out as the Megazord fell back.
"This isn't good," Lucy complained. "Everyone okay?" She got groans in response.
Zurgane moved to stand towering above them. "Now for the final strike." The sword was positioned over them. "Come on, Rangers!" He lifted the sword to strike. The Rangers called out, yelling for him to stop.
"Mammothzord, online," Cam called, strumming a cord. The zord came to the rescue, firing a power sphere. It then rammed into Zurgane, sending him away from the Megazord.
The general turned to it. "Never send an elephant to do an alien's job." He lifted his sword, casting his lightning at the Mammothzord. It slowed to a stop in front of him.
"He's immobilized it!" Lucy gasped, blinking rapidly to see if she was just imagining it.
"I can't believe it," Dustin groaned.
Crystal rested her head against her console. "I had to go and jinx it, didn't I?" She muttered.
"Let's put a new spin on things," The Red Ranger called. The Megazord's star whirled, collecting the air around it. The star then pushed the high winds out to Zurgane. But the general was waiting. He sent lightning back at the Rangers, sending them to the ground once more.
"Rangers, come back to Ninja Ops at once," Sensei ordered. "Use the Firebird to cloak your retreat,"
"Aw, man." Shane slammed his fist into his console. "On our way, Sensei,"
"I don't know what's worse," Lucy spoke up from her position on the floor. She was on her back, her head in Crystal's lap. "Having our powers replicated by Zurgane or him kicking our asses with it,"
Crystal frowned at her sister. "Both,"
"He's using our powers to attack the city," Shane noted from where he and the rest of the team were. They crowded around the computer the second they landed in Ops.
"We've got to get back out there," Hunter snapped.
"How?" Crystal fired off. Hunter turned to her. "We got our asses handed to us on a plater by a guy who doesn't even have a mouth. The zords are wrecked to the point where they are going to take time to repair. By the time they're online, Zurgane's demolished the city,"
"I hate to say it, but the odds aren't in our favor," Lucy added.
Blake turned to them. "When did you two get so negative?"
"The moment that I realized that Zurgane's out to kill us all," The golden guardian returned. "Kinda puts a damper on your mood."
Sensei flipped onto Dustin's head then landed on the table in front of the standing Rangers. "Think, Rangers. What other resources are at your disposal?"
"What about the gliders?" Dustin questioned.
"And the Tsunami Cycles," Blake added.
"Excellent thinking," Sensei commented. "Individually, your weapons would be overpowered, but together your resources will be significant,"
"All right guys," Shane spoke, glancing around at the team. "Follow my lead. Maybe we can draw him out of that thing,"
Tori nodded. "Right behind you,"
"I'll bring the zords when they're repaired," Cam announced.
"We'll need 'em," Crystal muttered, huffing when Hunter pulled her to her feet. The team took off, disappearing from Ops.
"Hey, Zurgane!" Shane called from his glider. Tori and Dustin were flying behind him on their own. "You gonna hide in that thing all day?" Below the three, the Thunders and Eclipse barreled through the city on their bikes.
"Yeah, come out and fight us!" Tori added on.
"Or are you too scared?" Hunter teased. The brothers kicked their bikes into higher gears, flying up and hitting Zurgane in the chest.
"Look, no zords!" Lucy sang from the ground. She, her sister, and the brothers watched the primary Rangers strike Zurgane over and over.
"Come and get us!" Tori barked.
Just as she said that Zurgane flew from his zord, hitting the three in the air. That sent them flying to the ground. "I'll fight you on my own!" He snarled.
"Let's go," Shane called.
All seven took off running, crossing each other while grabbing their weapons. Hunter and Blake attacked first, swinging high. Zurgane blocked with one of his swords, slicing across their exposed torsos. He went for another hit, sending the two to the ground.
The Wind Rangers earned Zurgane's attention, making him turn away from the brothers. That gave the two eclipse Rangers enough time to grab them. Shane, Tori, and Dustin fired their blasters at the general, but he blocked every blast then sent one back. The Rangers grossed when they collided with the ground.
Zurgane took off running towards the three. A golden blur hit the general, pushing him away from the downed Rangers. Crystal stood from her crouch, her rapier in her hand. The golden ninja took him on first, blocking the swing. She paired and block all of Zurgane's attacks. It was like they were in sync. The Gold Ranger got the upper hand, surprising Zurgane. She went for a low hit but hit him in the face. He fell to his knees but instantly got up.
Lucy pulled her rapier out from behind her back. Taking off towards Zurgane, the Silver Ranger hit his shoulder. She whipped around, hitting his back a few times. Lucy rolled, taking his leg out while she moved. When she stood, the brunette threw her leg out, roundhouse kicking Zurgane in the head. She dodged a swing from him, backflipping to meet her team.
Zurgane hit almost all the primary Ranger; Shane being the one to stop it. They struggled against each other, but the general was stronger. He flipped Shane over him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Tori and Dustin moved to stand in front of him, swords drawn. "Storm Striker!" Dustin called out, holding the primary Rangers' cannon in his hands. Tori and Shane stood behind him. "Ready?"
"Fire!"
A 100-ton ball aimed at Zurgane didn't stop him. Using one of his blades, Zurgane sliced the ball in two. Explosions popped up from where the halves landed.
"What?" Dustin questioned.
The Thunders and Eclipse Rangers stopped right in front of the three. "No way!" Hunter complained.
"There's more!" Zurgane landed, tossing his blades into the air. He shot his hands out, sending lasers at the seven.
Groans resounded as the Rangers crashed onto the ground. Crystal grunted. "That was utterly painful." She lifted her morpher. "Cam, any time now. We're out of options,"
"I'm on my way and I'm bringing some backup," Cam reported.
Lucy threw her head back. "Thank god,"
The ground shook. The Rangers cheered as the Lion zord appeared, stomping and growling. The Dolphin and Hawk weren't far behind him. The Swan and the Coyote trailed them, flapping and snarling respectively. The bugs and Cam ended the Congo line of zords.
"If that's how you want it — to the zords!" Zurgane snarked, disappearing into his monstrosity.
"It's on now," Shane challenged
In seconds, four Megazords stood against one. The smallest of the four, the Eclipse, stood center, its rapier drawn and down to its side.
The Wind and Thunder Megazords stepped forward. A flying fist knocked the three lumbering zords back. Zurgane went for a swing with his sword but blasts from the Star Megazord stopped him.
"Time to call out the Hurricane," Shane suggested.
"You got it," Hunter agreed.
Cam nodded. "Yeah!"
"Totally," Crystal added. In a flash, the Gold Ranger was sitting back in the Hurricane Megazord's cockpit. "Let's put this general down, once and for all,"
"I'm with you there," Blake agreed.
The two stood against each other. Zurgane with his sword. The Hurricane Megazord with theirs. "Charge!" Shane commanded, sending the Megazord forward.
It blocked a hit from Zurgane but could block the other two. The Zurganezord was more maneuverable, ducking, and attacking the Rangers. He jabbed at the Rangers, sending them tumbling.
"Full power!" Shane tried.
The Megazord went for a swing, but Zurgane disappeared before the hit could land. Turning around, the Rangers were met with Zurgane's tip once more. He used his full power on the Rangers, sending them back even further.
"It's over for you!" Zurgane cackled.
"Not even close!" Cam called. "Mammothzord, online!"
One rift had the Mammothzord was barreling its way down the street. The trumpets from his truck resounded throughout the city. The Mammothzord avoided the lightning Zurgane directed to it, making the general panic. The tides favored the Rangers when the Hurricane Megazord connected with the Mammothzord.
"Give up!" Zurgane called.
"You first!" Lucy returned.
The Megazord hit the back of the Mammothzord, sending different power spheres forward. The spheres opened and the tools inside latched onto the Mammothzord. One by one, the Rangers lifted their hands in front of their helmet. "Ready," They agreed. "Fire!"
The combined powers of the power spheres and the blasters on the Megazord was enough to end the general's zord. Once and for all.
"I cannot believe that the boys still wanted to camp, even after the fight with Zurgane," Lucy muttered, climbing out of Crystal's jeep. "I wanna sleep,"
"Me too," Cam agreed, glancing at the girls around him. "I just didn't want them thinking I was… well, lame,"
"You're anything but lame," Crystal argued. "But, us too," She laughed. She stood when her eyes landed on her boyfriend and teammates. Passed out in their lawn chairs, the boys were all sleeping.
"Maybe Zurgane's in worse shape than them," Cam suggested.
"No doubt," Tori agreed.
"Should we wake them?" Lucy tried to contain her laugh.
Crystal snorted in laughter, making the others laugh with her. "Maybe the ducks will wake 'em for us."
Two in one day! Figured since y'all waited so long for this duo of chapters, I would post them for ya. Hope you guys enjoy it. Shout out to everyone who has been here since the beginning. It is so sad that I can't finish a story in less than a year. But who knows, maybe 2021 will be it guys.
Next Episode: A Gem of a Day
