Once A Ranger, Forever A Hero
Chapter 11 – All Hell
It was too much of risk to send the megaship all the way to where the armada was so they planned to go halfway and then use Kira's pterodactyl zord which was much smaller and faster. It was still insanity but TJ informed them that the armada had stopped so it at least looked like Vile was keeping to his part of the bargain. Andros had yet to say anything and just stood off to the side as if he wasn't really there at all. "If nothing else he wants us," Kapri said unfeelingly. "Who knows what Lothor told him… if he thinks we betrayed the family, he's going to want to get his hands on us."
"All the more reason not to do this," Hunter growled.
"Please don't make me be the brave one right now," Kapri muttered and Hunter backed off.
"If things do go sideways though," Marah turned to Dustin. "If I don't come back -"
"Hey none of that," Dustin stopped her. "Both of you are coming back, that's it, end of story."
"Look none of us are okay with this plan," Tommy said with a quick glance at Kira. "I hate it. I hate it with a passion. But our options are limited and our resources even more so. Let's just try to get through this and then we can get back to doing what we do best, kicking ass and taking names."
Kira shook her head, "You make it all sound so simple."
"It's not, I know that," Tommy replied. "But we can't go into this thinking the worst. That's how we lose. Vile is planning to throw everything he has at us and it's intimidating but we've been through situations like this before. Zords crumbled to dust, powers broken, morphers shot, we've seen it all. Not only that but we won. Why? Because we never backed down."
"I really hope you're right T," Adam crossed his arms. "It's time."
"Okay," Tommy handed Marah and Kapri two small devices. "Hide these under your gloves. The button is designed to send out a signal to the Megaship. One press for all clear, two presses for danger."
"Got it." The sisters slid them into place.
"Be careful," Tommy kissed Kira.
"I will," the yellow ranger vowed. "Love you."
"Love you too," Tommy stood back and the women recuffed Andros. "Nothing stupid man."
"Like this isn't already," Andros countered lowly. The foursome made their way down to the loading bay where they would board the pterodactyl. The others tensely watched on the screen as the zord took off to what seemed like a fine line on the edge of space but was actually a thousand-strong force right on their doorstep.
*ORFH*
Vile and Lothor had see the zord approach and went down to the ship's bay door to greet them. A small port door opened on the side of the yellow zord and Marah and Kapri emerged, hauling a restrained Andros in tow. The two girls stood before their uncle and grandfather for the first time in many years. The silence only permeated by the sound of the pterodactyl closing and taking off. "Grandfather," the sisters chorused.
"Starlets," Master Vile nodded.
"First things first," Kapri flung a pair of heavy handcuffs at one Vile's Tenga Warriors. "Cuff that piece of garbage." She pointed at Lothor.
"WHAT?!" Lothor roared.
"Oh cut the crap," Marah scoffed. "You tried to kill us, did you really think we were just going to show up and act like it never happened? For what? A dramatic reveal?"
"You what?" Vile growled.
"Father they're lying, I swear," Lothor pled.
Now that you're evil, I suppose I can't really trust you, can I? Lothor's old voice rang out from a recorder in Kapri's palm. You were a little bit too enthusiastic when you were plotting with Shimazu against me!
But Uncle you told us to do that! Marah's voice pled.
Remember, we were all in it together to trick Vexacus into trying to get rid of your generals? Kapri's voice added.
Yes, yes, Lothor drawled. We had to make sure the abyss was at maximum capacity. But, you know, there's always room for two more! Choobo! Kelzacks! Take them away! The recording cut off and Lothor was stock still while Vile was vibrating in rage.
"Now then," Kapri tucked the recorder away. "We have something you want," she tugged Andros forward. "And you have something we really want." The sisters sent death glares at their uncle. "Shall we discuss terms?"
"Yes." Master Vile agreed. "Cuff him."
Lothor tried to struggle but one bone-chilling snarl from Vile was enough to get him to hold still and be restrained. The Tenga held Lothor by the arms as did Marah and Kapri with Andros. Master Vile led them to a room with a single table in the centre. Vile and Lothor stood on one side and Marah and Kapri on the other. The girls shared a surreptitious nod and both pressed the all clear on their gloves. "We'll keep things simple," Kapri said. "Unlike that…thing," she jerked her chin at Lothor. "We have never turned our backs on our family. He abandoned us, left us for dead. We would have died aboard his ship if it wasn't for our cousin. Then when he came back, he tried to kill us again to cover his tracks and you aligned yourself with him to also make an attempt on our lives."
"We are members of the imperial family. By the laws of our family that you taught us," Marah continued. "We deserve retribution for the crimes committed against us."
"Fath-" Lothor began.
"Silence." Master Vile breathed heavily. "What do you propose?" he asked of the sisters.
"For the two attempts on our lives, the false accusation of treason, not to mention the destruction of our home and the attack on those we hold dear, Lothor is to be handed over to us for…punishment." Kapri did nothing to hide her utter contempt. "As for you, Marah and I are prepared to accept the forfeiture of your son in-law and the immediate order for your men to stand down as reparations. Furthermore, the rangers wish to have no more conflict with you, now or ever. In that mind, they are prepared to hand over the one responsible for the slaughter of our family at the siege of the alliance. That should square things between all the parties involved."
"You've not forgotten your lessons on negotiations," Vile mused. "It is a fair deal…"
"But…" Marah intoned.
"Thrax. His death ought to be taken into consideration."
Kapri gave her grandfather a withering look, "Thrax picked a fight on his own accord. Tried taking on the rangers with a haphazard group of on-spot, recruited generals – each with their own self-interests. No forethought, no proper forces, his only arsenal being his father's sceptre. I've wept more for his stupidity than his life since I heard the news."
"I cannot say you are wrong," Vile supposed. "What's this I hear about you two taking up with a couple of rangers on Earth?"
"It's true, we are involved with two of them," Marah admitted.
"You realize that with Lothor in the custody of the rangers, you both are the heiresses to the empire? How do you envision taking over with a pair of rangers as your consorts?"
"The empire will deal with whatever we give them," Kapri smirked. "They do not decide our lives, we decide theirs."
"Another lesson of yours I believe," Marah added.
"Yes." Vile looked at Lothor, "I once yearned to be in the same room with my family again but never like this. You've disappointed me Lothor, more than that you have lied and betrayed me despite everything I did for you. I accept your terms starlets," he turned to the sisters, "I'll arrange the trans-"
"GRANDFATHER!"
