With a gasp, Matt opened his eyes. Searching the dimly lit area he froze. Overhead a single light rocked from side to side. Around crates lined the walls. Blood covered the concrete around him.
"They sent you to your demise child."
At the chilling voice, he spun. He was met with the image of his teammate. She was covered in blood leaking from numerous wounds. Her blue and black suit was torn to shreds. Her helmet was cracked revealing her golden eye. Her eye was wide in terror. as a sword plunged into her chest.
His only response was a yell before attacking. As he moved he drew his Quantum defender. In a heartbeat, it was in blade mode. Before his strike could land the monster caught his attack. Holding him by his blade the monster moved in a blink. It pulled its weapon from its partner. Before he reacts the blade cleaved through his shoulder.
As he hit the ground the monster leaned into the light. He looked human with long dark hair. Matt only stared up at him realizing who this was. He had survived fighting the robotic general Venjix
"Matt, hang on!"
Three shots caused Venjix to stagger. As his vision went hazy he saw a blur of green and white. A gloved hand lightly smacked his face. His vision cleared just enough to see his savior. Trip the green time force ranger knelt over him.
"Hey stay with us pal you're bleeding pretty bad."
As Trip's voice echoed in his head he saw them. The time force pink ranger looked down at him. She sighed sadly removing his helmet. Pressing down on his shoulder she sighed doing her best to tend to him.
"I gotta hand it to you you're very lucky." Trip held up his sliced-off arm.
With a limp slap, he high-fived the removed hand. At the sight, Matt looked where his arm once was seeing only red. With a heavy thud, he fainted.
With a scream, the quantum ranger sat up. Huffing he took in the room around him. He unfamiliar posters from various ranger teams. Turning to look beside him he found his teammate Alice curled up beside him.
Then the memory of the previous night returned. He blinked at the sight of his former partner appearing over her. Red hair faded into gold as he blinked.
"It was just a nightmare." He said to himself
Quietly he grabbed his arm from the table. With a click and hiss, the limb was attached. Rolling his mechanical fingers he puffed out a breath. It happened two years ago today. The memory of her haunted his dreams.
The smell of coffee drew him from his thoughts. Creeping into the kitchen to find Lily the mystic ranger stood clothes in an oversized t-shirt watching the coffee pot. Smiling at him she turned to him. She looked as if she has just woken up.
"Pleasant morning Matthew." She yawned out
"Morning." He said simply
Sliding into the nearest chair he frowned. Smiling Lily placed a cup of coffee in front of him. Sitting across from him she sipped from her cup. Her eyes twinkled knowingly as she watched him.
"Matthew who's Daniella?" She asked
"My former partner." He said empathizing "partner"
"I understand." She said simply
Two of us went in only one came out, mostly." He said
The witch's eyes widened in surprise. She understood him all too well. He had been lovers with this woman. With a click, he opened a secret hatch on his arm. Inside rested a gold Time Force Morpher.
"It's like she's still with me." He whispered
"So are we sharing nightmares now?"
Turning they found a shirtless Keith. For the first time, Matt saw it. A clean scar from his right shoulder to his left hip at the sight he went pale. Noticing his stare Keith laughed touching the scar.
"What this is just an old battle wound." He said nonchalantly
"Keith it wasn't just some fight. You survived an encounter with Dekker." Lily remarked
"That cheating son of bitch was just using me to send a message," Keith growled out
Sitting at the table Keith placed his head on his arm. His gaze turned distant as he thought back to that damned fishing trip. His hands clenched at the memory.
He had simply been walking home. Then from nowhere, this strange man blocks his path. He froze at the sight of the sword he carried. Taking in his obstacle the man seemed normal.
"Where is Jayden?" The man asked
"Uh who?" He asked
"Jayden Shiba, where is he?!" The man growled out
His response was not a smart move. He morphed attempting to attack the man. Before he knew it he was on the ground bleeding out. The man shifted into a monstrous form. In a blink, he was human again speaking calmly.
"Tell Jayden Shiba I await his challenge." He whispered
In another blink, the man vanished. As he tried to move a hand stopped him. He was met with the sight of his mother Lauren Shiba. She knelt over him using an unfamiliar symbol of power. Slowly his consciousness faded.
In a puff of smoke, Jenji appeared from his lamp. The cat Genji looked at the group with sleepy eyes. Yawning he spoke with urgency.
"Mechanical Meances are marching through the city!" He yawned out
