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Chapter 02: Lightspeed Rescue Part 2
Earlier
The Doom Marine had started his trek to the closest exit hatch toward the Barracks. Kicking down another door, he soon realized where he was. There were papers and computers knocked over. Several devices remained on the tables, either unfinished or under repair. Turning to the right, he came face to face with a display case for their completed projects and prototypes. He arrived at the Research and Development Labs. This wasn't his first fight with demons, and he never said no to more weapons and gear. The first item to catch his eye was a strange black bracer. It seemed more clunky than the others in terms of design.
From his helmet communications, Vega explained what he was looking at. "You are looking at the first successful prototype of the V-Mode Brace, colloquially known as the Battle Booster. While it lacks some newer features, you will be pleased that this model focused more on combat potential than modularity with later projects. It is capable of energizing the user's strikes several times over and projecting a personal shield."
More interested in the device now, he plucked it from his case and placed it on his right arm. The Praetor Suit was acknowledging the new item and securing it.
"Normally, you would need to input command codes manually, but I am interfacing it with the controls for your shoulder-mounted cannon. You should have the same ease of use. If you are interested, it is capable of interfacing with the item to its left, the Thermo Blaster."
Hearing that, the Slayer picked up the weapon for examination.
"It fires powerful energy blasts, not unlike the UAC Plasma Rifle. However, I find its utility mode more beneficial. Removing the power pack from the handle and inserting it into the upper barrel shifts it to Rescue Mode. It can extinguish fires and fire energy ropes, nets, or restraints."
The Doom Slayer raised a brow at that last one. He could use more crowd control options.
"When the V-Mode Brace is attached, it shifts into Hyper Mode, providing amplified energy blasts."
With that, he placed it in his Warp Pack for later. He was just about to leave until something big caught his eye. It was a large black and gray double-edged battle axe, not dissimilar to those used by the soldiers of Argent D'Nur. Seeing what looked like a trigger, he got his hands on it. The Slayer appreciated melee weapons which are also guns.
"What you have is the prototype of the Titanium Laser. The larger size than the current model is due to it being developed as a proof of concept for the internal mechanisms. It was too unwieldy for their purposes; however, it seems suitable to your build size."
The Marine couldn't agree more and magnetized it to his back. Shaking off the brief distraction, he ran before coming to a diving bay. Not wasting any more time, he dove right in. Contrary to his considerable bulk, he was still mobile underwater. Swimming toward his destination, he could hear the thumps of the underwater mecha. It didn't take long for him to make contact. The large black and gold zord trekked its way toward Pod 4, sword in hand. Putting two and two together, the Slayer dashed toward its estimated line of fire.
After getting within reach, the Lifeforce Megazord drew its right hand back, sword at the ready. As its swing began, several objects detonated against its arm, causing the titanic blade to strike the seafloor instead. This confused the batlings inside. What had happened? Their questions were soon answered as they felt more attacks against them. Turning its head, it found a strange green humanoid on the ocean floor with what appeared to be a rocket launcher.
Feeling this was no threat, the Megazord lifted its left foot and prepared to stomp on it. However, the being didn't move as the metal leg came crashing down. Sand and rocks swirled in the water below.
The Doom Slayer stood firm on the seabed with a palm raised above his head. Titans had tried the same attack at first, but they quickly grew to regret it. With a forceful push, the leg went upward, causing the mecha to nearly trip backward.
Swim dashing toward the Megazord, he shot multiple cryo grenades at the left leg joints, locking them in place. Then, for additional effect, rockets were shot at the base of the other leg, shifting its momentum.
With the sudden loss of balance, the Batling pilots of little experience oversteered and tripped the zord onto the ocean floor.
The Doom Slayer smirked as he immobilized his target. Time for pest control.
Back in the cockpit, the batlings were going stir-crazy. Had the rangers gotten a new Battlizer? The pilots managed to maneuver the mech's hand to push themselves up until they heard an ominous echo of creaking metal. Screens were flashing that their hull had been breached. Was that from landing on undersea rocks? They were regretfully mistaken.
As the life force of the pilots fueled the Megazord, it was sufficient to say that the Batling couldn't provide as much as the rangers. Moreover, the automatic repair systems were slow. By the time the hull sealed, they had thought their troubles had lessened, only for them to worsen.
The previous creaking soon turned into loud crashes. Monitors now warmed of internal damage to the Megazord's back. Suddenly, a flood of water came rushing into the cockpit briefly. When the demons regained their senses, one of them was lifted into the air by the neck. Head turned to see the same humanoid from a flick of its wrist, and he snapped its neck. The resulting explosion disconnected power from the zord. Before the others could stand up and retaliate, the armored warrior pulled out a heavy scoped rifle. With extreme precision and fluidity, there were five gunshots and five batling heads exploding into ash. Like the base terminals, the Slayer established Vega's connection.
When his ally started running diagnostics on their recent acquisition, he was less than pleased. "It is unfortunate that you couldn't commandeer the mech with less structural damage. It will need reconfigurations before it can be battle ready. "This Lifeforce Megazord is somewhat damaged, but it may still be useful. Thankfully, the Zords are modular. I will begin bringing mass transport from the Fortress service gantry and the Aquabase, but I recommend heading to the surface. I am detecting increasing levels of demonic energy."
On cue, the gemstone on his gauntlet shined. Something big was coming, and he needed a visual on the surface. Nodding in understanding, he waited, and a portal appeared within the cockpit.
Mariner Bay
In the city, the Omega Megazord placed a stone pillar where a few buildings once stood. Four tall stones aligned in a clear circle. In the Red Ranger's cockpit seat, Jinxer notes, "The circle of stones is almost complete, my Queen!"
Within Skull Caven underneath Mariner Bay, Queen Bansheera replies, "Then it's time for me to join the party! Ahahaha!" She holds the Golden Key in her hand as she laughs, the essential tool for said party.
On the city's streets, a cop is directing the flow of pedestrian evacuation. One frantic guy slammed into him and fell to the ground, prompting the police officer to help the man up. As he did this, he suddenly heard the sound of something large flying overhead. The cop, and all the civilians behind him, gazed upward in astonishment and fear.
The main mountain palace from Skull Cavern hovers in and lands in the center of the circle of stones! Queen Bansheera stood in the right eye socket and proclaimed, "Excellent! With the circle of stones nearly in place, my time of triumph is at hand! NOTHING can stop me now! Ahahaha!" The Omega Megazord put the fifth stone in place, just a few yards away from the newly inserted Skull Cavern palace.
Sprinting through, the Doom Slayer appeared in the city in chaos. A glance at his gauntlet showed that he was getting closer. The streets of what he assumed was Mariner Bay were torn up with crowds of people running in terror. Not too far away, he saw the second Megazord carrying a large stone pillar. It paid no mind as it crashed against buildings, tumbling them down. When the people noticed him, they immediately ran toward him for help. Wanting them out of the danger zone, he made quick gestures for them to continue running away from the mecha and toward the sound of sirens in the distance. Vega notified him that Emergency Services were already active, and he continued running toward the danger.
Overturned vehicles littered the streets. Many firefighters were already working on freeing those trapped inside, but they could only do so much at once. In one overturned car, a young woman cried out as she punched at the window glass to no avail. Smoke filled her lungs as her strength gave out. She believed she would die here. When all hope seemed lost, the metal of her door creaked before getting ripped off its hinges. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, she crawled out in joy. She expected a firefighter or perhaps one of the rangers, but the giant of a man in green armor was new. As intimidating as he seemed, her fear was overruled by her gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you!" He gestured for her to leave the area ASAP, and she wasn't complaining.
The closer the Marine got to the epicenter, the more lonely the area became. Finally, he reached a block closer before another building started to collapse. For a split second, he paid no mind, but in the corner of his eyes, he saw something move.
A child left behind tried to limp to safety. His eyes stung from tears. His dad was supposed to meet him at home, but the emergency sirens came. Usually, he would follow protocol with the others and evacuate as normal. This time, he was at the source. Everyone was in a panic. People were walking over each other, trying to get away. The same happened to him. In their panic, someone had sprained his ankle. Farther behind than the others, he continued to limp out, hoping that he would live and see his family again. Suddenly, another violent quake came. Turning to the left, he saw the building cracks expand. His stomach fell as the shadow over him grew. Before the kid could register it, he felt a pull before his sight went black.
Dust and smoke rose from the recently collapsed building. For a moment, it was as silent as the grave. Then, suddenly, the rubble began to rustle. The rustle grew to a shake. Soon, in a burst of concrete and debris, there stood the Slayer no worse for wear. His right arm held a young boy close. The little one passed out from everything that happened, and he didn't blame him. The pure hatred in the man's eyes burned once more in the thought of the demons. Looking at the child, however, a feeling of relief resurfaced. Despite his hatred, he knew what he had to do first. Tapping his helmet, he called for assistance.
On the other line, Vega answered. "Evacuations at the Aquabase are almost complete. The Android Rangers have been a help in diverting attention and culling their numbers. I'm sending a personnel evac to your location now." Mere seconds passed when it arrived. The Slayer was surprised at the design. It was a blue mechanical bird that seemed to have parts like weapons themselves. "Secure the passenger for treatment." Shrugging it off, he began strapping the young man in for emergency transport. As he finished, a screen on the bird's chest lit up.
"Marine? Do you read me? This is Captain Mitchell of the Lightspeed Aquabase. Please advise. Two of my men are engaging the Omega Megazord now." Just as told, two men, one red, one silver, came flying onto the scene.
Seeing things turning up a notch, the Slayer padded the Rescue Bird, signaling it to leave. Once the boy was safely out of sight, he turned his sights back on the mecha.
Meanwhile, high above planet Earth, the moon slowly slips in front of the sun. In the Skull Cavern palace, Queen Bansheera exclaims, "Excellent! Everything is going as planned! Haha! The eclipse is underway, and only ONE more stone must be placed before my evil reign can begin!"
The Omega Megazord carried the sixth stone into the city over its shoulder and walked into position next to the Skull palace. Suddenly, the Megazord gets struck with an energy bolt. Jinxer and his Batlings in the cockpit shook up. The entire place was shocked with sparks from the attack. The source of the sudden bombardment is revealed to be Red & Titanium Rangers!
As expected, they're on the Red Mobile Armored Vehicle, with Carter piloting it and Ryan riding atop. Titanium Ranger remarked, "Right on target! Carter, can you get us any closer?"
The Red Ranger nodded. "I'll see what I can do." The RMAV swoops through the air, maneuvering between skyscrapers.
Ryan aimed his weapon. "Titanium Laser, fire!" He blasted away as Carter added, "Missiles, fire!" Two large rockets from the RMAV launched, both striking the body of the Omega Megazord.
It's taken aback by the sudden blasts, nearly smashing the tip of the stone on its shoulder into the skull-face of the palace! Bansheera stands on the eye-socket balcony, shouting, "Jinxer, do something!"
In the Omega cockpit, Jinxer replied, "Yes, my queen. Blast them!" As ordered, his Batlings toiled at the control panels.
On the Red Mobile Armored Vehicle, Titanium Ranger told the Red Ranger, "Let's do it together, Carter. Ready?"
"Fire!" Ryan unloaded as much firepower from his Titanium Laser as he could as Carter shot off a few rounds from the RMAV's side blasters. Their attacks pummel into the Omega Megazord.
Because one of the Megazord arms held the stone, only the right arm could retaliate. It tried firing its wrist cannons, but attacks prevented that from happening. Jinxer and all the Batlings in the cockpit are showered with sparks. The Omega Megazord finally got its arm ready and fired its handheld cannon device. The large beams of heated light shot toward the Mobile Armored Vehicle, but Carter managed to dodge every one of them, instead striking into buildings behind them. The Titanium Ranger has a tough time hanging on while ducking simultaneously but holds on long enough for the blasting to cease. Just before he fired his Titanium Laser back at the Omega Megazord, something else joined the fight.
A loud crack echoes as a seemingly blue beam flies directly into the enemy's cockpit. In less than a second, the Batling in seat three was obliterated.
Both the Rangers and Jinxer turned their heads at the source. About two blocks away, a green armored man stood atop a rooftop holding a large two-pronged gun. As soon as his eyes laid on the warrior, a primal fear welled up inside of him. It was like an overbearing hated washing over him. This feeling, this fear, this hatred, he and his people only felt once before during the invasion of Dark Spectre, a being that even Queen Bansheera kneeled to in the past.
Not wasting more time, the Marine aimed again and fired. He proceeded to jump from rooftop to rooftop, getting closer to his goal.
In reaction, the zord rotated right, allowing the steel flechettes to strike against its armor instead.
Understanding that it was friendly, the rangers continued their aerial assault, disorienting it. The RMAV swooped back around, taking into the air and passing through the view of the sun, which is nearly a quarter eclipsed. As it flew off to gain more space, the Omega Megazord readied its weapon again. Ryan spotted it, telling Carter, "We're in their sights! Brace yourself!" They tried their best as the Omega cannon's blasts hit the RMAV, knocking it out of control.
From Skull cavern, Queen Bansheera grew tired of the games and demanded, "Hurry, Jinxer! Place the last stone!"
Jinxer hesitated for a moment at the sight of the Slayer but agreed. "As you command, my Queen!" The Omega Megazord turns its attention back to placing the final stone in its proper location.
The two rangers grit their teeth in agitation. Then, suddenly, a calming voice spoke. "Greetings, Ranger Carter, Ranger Ryan. To disable the zord, you must target the power cells on its back."
Not caring who it was, Carter answered. "I'll need a clear shot."
From the closest highrise, the Doom Slayer double jumped onto the Megazord's right arm. Getting closer to its wrist, he charged up his fist. Registering the mental command, the Battle Booster activated. "478. Confirmed." The blood punch had its power amplified ten times. Upon impact, the Zord's arm was immediately crippled, its wrist cannon falling to the streets below in sparks.
As the Megazord recoiled at the surprise attack, Carter made his move. He stood up alongside Ryan on the Mobile Armored Vehicle. Finally, when they were just about to come up on it, the Red and Titanium Rangers leaped from the Red Mobile Armored Vehicle, sending the flying machine slamming into the Omega Megazord's back! The RMAV explodes instantly, and the igniting of its advanced weaponry sends a surge of destruction ripping into the Omega Megazord. The stone in its left hand lowered.
Carter and Ryan dropped to the ground together, landing safely on their feet just as the Omega Megazord's back exploded. The explosion is so intense that the entire upper body, EVERYTHING above the waist, is obliterated! From the blast, the green armored figure from below drops nearby, looking back up at them before nodding.
Carter looks up. "Thanks for the help, but did it work?" The only part of the Omega Megazord's upper torso that wasn't demolished drops to the ground, its left arm, which still has the stone clutched in hand. It dropped to the ground, passed the legs, and instantly smashed into the streets. The arm lets go of the rock and shatter against the pavement, sending a wrecked truck flying into the air from the shockwave.
Carter sighed. "We destroyed the Omega Megazord, but we had to do it!"
The two Rangers covered their face as the legs & pelvic region of the destroyed Megazord toppled over explosively. When the smoke clears, something even more shocking is revealed. Carter puts it best, "What? Oh no! The last stone's in place!" All six stones have ended up in their proper position around the Skull Cavern palace, towering above the skyscrapers around it like a giant Stonehenge.
Hearing this for the first time, he turned to the two for an answer.
Ryan lowers the Titanium Laser and lets it fall, stunned. "Their ritual! It's about to start! We need some help!"
Suddenly, they overheard a friend. Chad shouted out, "Carter!"
The Red and Titanium Rangers turn to see their teammates racing down the ruined streets to their side.
A tearful Dana quickly jumped on her brother and hugged him. "Ryan!"
Not far behind, Joel and Kelsey catch up to them. While the unmorphed rangers were relieved that their friends were safe, they finally got a good look at what they assumed was Vega's friend."
Joel looked the guy up and down. "Dang. So you're the Doom Marine Vega was talking about. Thanks for the help back at the Aquabase. Great to meet a guy who appreciates the color green as well." The other rangers were also voicing their appreciation
A man of few words, the Slayer gave them a thumbs up.
Ryan lets go of his sister. "You guys got here just in time. The bad thing is the circle of stones is complete. We've got to stop that ceremony!"
With several nods, the rangers morphed. "Lightspeed Rescue!" In an instant, a light of blue, green, yellow, and pink transformed into their armored ranger uniforms.
Strangely, the Slayer felt a sense of nostalgia from the morph.
Unbeknownst to them, a lone demon limped out from the Omega Megazord wreckage. "Victory shall not deny victory!" Jinxer heaved before landing on his knees. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small case, opening it. Inside was no ordinary monster card. Instead, a lingering dark taint seemed to feed off the air around. It was a gift from Dark Spectre all those millennia ago. It was the strongest creation they had but also the most dangerous. Knowing that he was nearing the end, it was time to pull out all the stops. "Rise, Baphomet!" He slammed the card onto his chest. In an instant, the card grew black tendrils drilled into his body, absorbing his very life force. They then wrapped around the burnt metal of the zord.
The group was about to head to Skull Cavern, but a giant burst from the remains. The new enemy was a massive beast with a goat's head, black wings, and hooves. There was an air to it that gave off a sense of dread and despair.
With this new threat appearing, the rangers turned distraught. Beside them, the Slayer's blood boiled, his gem shining like his rage. He was familiar with this kind of demon. Before his journey past the void, he had faced two variations of it: Baphomet, aka the Icon of Sin.
The Blue Ranger backed peddled in surprise. "What the heck? Where did that thing come from?"
"I think you answered your question there, Chad," answered Kelsey.
Dana turned to Carter. "We lost all our Zords? How are we going to stop it and the ritual?"
Carter shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts for a plan. "I don't know, Dana. I don't know."
Joel turned to their new ally. "You were able to save us from the Megazord back at the base. Isn't there anything you can do?"
Controlling himself, the Marine turned to the Rangers.
As if God answered their prayers, a miracle happened. A new rumbling came as a titanic figure appeared over the horizon. While the Rangers thought its parts looked familiar, the Slayer would never forget the war machines he fought with alongside the Argenta Knights.
When the thrusters finished their descent, the composite Zord stood tall and true. Its limbs were black with gold and green highlights. On its chest was the familiar solar array of the Solarzord. Twin guns adorned the shoulders. The zord sheathed a bright red sword in its hilt. After looking at the cockpit, the rangers couldn't help but turn their head back to the Slayer to compare. The helmet was the same shade of green but had a pair of large horns reminiscent of a Viking helm.
Over his comms, Vega spoke. "Slayer, I present to you the Lifeforce Max Atlan."
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