Power Rangers: Solar Sheriff

by Toyturd

Following the events of ‘Beyond the Grid’, the ‘Void’ universe is now reconnected to the Morph’in Grid in an event known as ‘Rebirth’. Sentient creatures of zeo crystal are ravaging the universe as a result. This is the story of Power Rangers: Solar Sheriff

Following the events of 'Beyond the grid', the 'Void' universe is now reconnected to the Morphin Grid, sprouting new life in an event known as 'Rebirth'. The Zeo planet remains protected by Ellarien's team of Solar Rangers. With such a large amount of Zeo crystal coming back to power so quickly, the grid is overloading, leaking creatures of sentient zeo crystal throughout the universe. The grid naturally craves balance, and is appointing a new ranger to ratify the problem. But there are no Morphin Masters leading this quest, and the grid is a cruel master. By imprinting the powers of past Power Rangers onto selected new heroes it is creating rough replicas with immense power. This is the story of Power Rangers: Solar Sheriff.

Arlo sat. His empty pint had been sitting in front of him for nearly five minutes and the Frostbite was slow tonight. He stared at Marg, the bartender as he carefully wiped down pint glasses, examining each one for streaks before he put it away on the shelf. Arlo cleared his throat, still nothing. Marg was beautiful to look at, but struggled when it came to 'tending the bar.'.

"How about another here?" he asked. Marg's head shot up as if out of a trance.

"Hey, you got it, Arko," Marg replied. Folks here had been swooning over Marg since he started. Rumour had it he was a gentle lover, if you had tentacles, that is, which Arlo did not. "Gorgeous day out there today." Marg said, pouring way too much head. "How were the crops? You're working the crops, right?"

"I do, yeah, good memory!" Arlo said, grateful for the attention. "Pretty okay today, they just keep coming and coming. And it's Arlo, actually. Arlo."

"Of course it is." He replied, setting the drink on the bar. Arlo had placed four brass coins there in trade which the bartender scooped into his hand and turned back to his business. Four crogs. Ripoff. Frostbite claimed to be housing a variety of different draughts from neighbouring planets since Rebirth, but Arlo was pretty sure it was the same garbage with new labels.

"Any sign of Remi around lately?" Arlo asked. Marg kept his back turned polishing pint glasses, no doubt planning an early close.

"No...still no sign of the legend since I showed up around here. I keep my eyes peeled for her though." Remi was the previous owner of the Frostbite. She sold quickly after rebirth, but showed up now and then for a drink and connection. "You've met her before, yeah?" Marg asked.

"Oh yeah," Arlo answered eagerly. "Well, no, actually. I've seen her, but I've never talked to her."

"I see." Marg answered. He turned to face Arlo and leaned in on the bar. "She comes up a lot around this place. Funny what you hear when you're just the guy serving the drinks." he said with a wink and a smile.

"Oh yeah," Arlo said, playing along, "like what?" In truth he had probably heard it all a thousand times, but he liked where this was going.

"Just talk, you know. People say that she's responsible for the whole damn thing. Rebirth, I mean. Her and her little girlfriend, um..." he paused, looking at the ceiling.

"Ellarien." Arlo prompted.

"Right, Ellarien. Said that they tapped into an old power source and poof! The Praetor's gone and the universe gets turned back on like a lightbulb." Marg froze for a moment, staring into Arlo's eyes. Damn, he was beautiful. "I don't know, it's a nice story." He said, turning back to his pints, "guess we'll really only know the truth if she doesn't come in here and boast about it some time." He laughed to himself. It was quite a story. Arlo had heard it before. Noone around here had any details, but they all say the same thing. Remi, the local barkeep defeated the evil dictator and brought life to the entire universe. For their entire lives the Praetor was the only source of knowledge of the great beyond, and the great beyond, as they were told, was separate. Their universe was destined to die, and death was well underway. No energy source to fuel new life, only what was; slowly fading until there was no more. Their lifespan was to be the last. Procreation was discouraged. Same sex relationships were celebrated, 'do what you must, people would say, just don't bring an innocent child into 'the fading'.

"So, how're you liking the Frostbite?" Arlo asked. He had never heard Marg talk so much, he wanted to keep the conversation going. "And the Asteroid? I mean, you're new around here, right?"

"Yes sir," Marg answered. "People here have been great. Kind of stingy on the tips though.." He laughed loudly to himself. Arlo joined in to be polite, his mind nervously going over his tipping practices. "I was born in the Kajiki Galaxy, next over. I was working in a shithole there and decided to take my destiny into my own hands and work in a shithole over here, you know? How about you?"

"Oh, I'm local." Arlo answered, happy to move the conversation in another direction. "Well, I was born on Garwin 6. It's not far from here." He could see the back of Marg's head nod. "My brothers and I worked in a mine for my father. I was living with my family at the time of Rebirth. Everything was changing after that, and I came here. Seemed like I should be changing too."

"I hear that," Marg replied. "When the whole damn universe turns on in the middle of the night, you start to rethink things, don't ya?" He nodded to the far end of the bar and placed his pint glass down, working for another 'stingy tip', no doubt'. Marg was right though. Rebirth had woke Arlo up in the middle of the night. He felt warm and full of ecstasy. He thought he had peed the bed. His brothers had all left Garwin 6 not long after, everything was in motion. Arlo knew that the chapter of his life he was living had ended, the problem was, he didn't know where to be next. The Amethyst Asteroid was a cheap transport away, and Fogg's farm had hit the jackpot overnight. The rest is history.

Arlo finished his drink slowly and waited to see if there was anyone interesting coming in for him to meet. Marg had stayed at the far end of the bar after their conversation, a female octoplant had settled in for the night and he seemed invested.

"Well, I'm out then," he called to the bartender, "keep well."

"Fade well, Arko." He replied without turning from the octoplant. One of her thick orange tentacles was rubbing along the stubble on his cheek and she giggled.

"It's so prickly!" Arlo heard her cry out while Marg played along. Arlo couldn't help but have a moment of resentment toward his incredibly human appendages.

On his way to the door, Arlo passed a table of young men who shared his job at Forgus Fogg's. Arlo was usually working alone in some other part of the fields while these guys stuck together like honey badgers on sugarfoot. Barn, a pompous guy who always seemed to be leading the pack, was standing at his seat telling a story of some sort while all his mates watched on. Arlo was used to avoiding these guys. They were all at least a decade younger than he was and seemed to get off on making him uncomfortable every time he interacted with them. Barn stopped mid-sentence as he looked up and saw Arlo approach.

"Well hey there Arlo. Hows'a drink?" Arlo could hear the booze on in his words.

"Yeah, pretty okay." Arlo said, slowing his strides but continuing his trajectory to the door.

"You think you'd come sit down with your work buddies one night and shoot the shit, wouldn't' ya?" His friends were smiling, "Sitting alone like a broken guitar. You've got feelings, hun?"

Arlo didn't answer. He was obviously being an asshole, but if Arlo called him on it he'd be the one looking unstable. Besides, he didn't have any backup, this was all an ego boost for Barn, asshole. He looked down at the ground and became a small version of himself. "Well, we'll see you, Barn."

"Alright then, see you Arlo. Chin up, big guy." Barn called after him as Arlo left the bar. He heard one of Barn's lackey's laughing after the door closed behind him. Arlo was convinced that he could have fought hard and become one of Barn's lackeys too, if he just laughed here, silenced himself there. But he'd rather just be alone. Okay, so maybe he was lonely. But the selection of company on the Asteroid was scarce. That was why he enjoyed the Frostbite so much, that sense of adventure of never knowing who was going to stop in for a drink. He closed his eyes and felt the warm night air on his face. The drinks had taken more of a toll than he realized when he was inside. And he had to piss. The asteroid was tiny, growing everyday, as a result of Rebirth, but still very small. Less than 100 people called it home. But it was late, and no one was around. He stopped by a phospherant bush and pulled out of his pants. The bush, always flowing through colour changes, was harmless to the touch, unless it was in its green cycle. Then it would sting you like a mantarhino. The last time he pissed against one under the influence of the Frostbite, he had a blister on his spout for a week. But there he stood, relief and silence.

A loud cracking sound filled his ears. The tip of his penis fired under the touch of the green phospherant, and he teleported.

Teleportation is an aggressive way to travel. One would think that something so advanced scientifically would have been developed to be a pleasant experience, but in truth, it was nauseating, and sometimes painful. Never trust a man who likes to travel by teleportation farther than you can throw him. So when Arlo collapsed onto the cold floor after teleporting for the first time in his life, he thought he was dying. Not only because of the extreme shock of suddenly being ripped from one place and plunked somewhere else, or even from the physical effects of the teleprotation itself, but his crotch really hurt….fucking phospherant bush. Standing up, he could see he was in a massive arena of smooth crystal, all of it emitting the same blue hue. The effect was calming, and he found himself surprisingly clear headed. The cavern was completely empty..except for the floating white God staring down at him. It was wearing all white and silver armour, or was the armour it's skin?...he couldn't tell. Its eyes were cool orbs of light, and pierced right through him. A flowing pink cape drifted behind It, as if in water, as did Its long silver hair. Without a word, Arlo knew It was more than he was, older, wiser and good. He would have followed It to a war with impossible odds just to keep staring into Its eyes. They were able to conquer armies or comfort histeria, and he knew that they had done both.

It floated slowly towards Arlo until Its toes weightlessly touched the surface. It spoke to him without Its silver face moving a muscle. Telepathic? Something older. He was being imprinted with information.

"I AM SO SORRY," It told him. Suddenly Arlo's mind was filled with images. He relieved moments of his life. Of growing up on Garwin 6. Of his parents, his siblings. Each time he witnessed a memory came with it a farewell. He was mourning the life he had lived. He didn't know where the heavy emotion had come from, but knew that this was the time to honor his past. That things were about to change. He witnessed his move to the Amethyst Asteroid, and now he was here, present. "I AM A MORPHIN MASTER, TASKED WITH BALANCING THE MORPHIN GRID."

"What's a Morph'in -" Arlo started, still in a trance. Suddenly, images. A life source. The source of Rebirth. Power Rangers.

"MY SIBLINGS AND I TRAVEL TIME AND REALITIES GIVING RIGHT AND WRONG AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. YOUR UNIVERSE HAS BEEN ONE OF TRAGEDY SINCE IT'S BEGINNING." Arlo witnessed a planet made entirely of the same blue hued crystal. It was the battery source of an immense power. The Morphin Grid. He knew instantly that this was the source of Rebirth. The planet was orbited by seven colourful beings. Power Rangers. "THE ZEO CRYSTAL PLANET IS PROTECTED BY ITS RANGERS. BUT THE SUDDEN RECONNECTION TO THE GRID AFTER A MILLENNIA HAS CREATED CRACKS IN THE ORDER. IT WAS SIMPLY TO MUCH POWER AT ONE TIME TO MAINTAIN BALANCE." Arlo witnessed life awakening across the universe after a power source was reintroduced. He felt joy and hope as images of flowery fields growing across rock queries flashed through his brain. New species of life and ecosystems to support them were beginning life cycles for the first time. This was Rebirth. But also came feelings of discomfort as he witnessed spikes of the blue crystal jetting out through the planets, growing to sentience. Becoming monsters set on destroying whatever environment they had grown into.

"THESE ARE THE QUARRIES. THEY ARE SENTIENT ZEO CRYSTAL BEINGS APPEARING THROUGHOUT YOUR UNIVERSE. IT IS NOT THE GRIDS FAULT, IT WAS SIMPLY TOO MUCH ENERGY TO SIPHON THROUGH THE PLANET AT ONE TIME. THEY ARE RESULTS OF AN OVERLOADED ECOSYSTEM AND MUST BE REMOVED SO THIS UNIVERSE'S REBIRTH CAN COME TO PASS." It's gaze came back to Arlo, the images of happenings in the universe were gone and he was present, staring into the Pink God's eyes. "I AM THE PINK MASTER." Arlo noticed for the first time the amount of pink highlights on the God's armour. "I AM TASKED WITH DESIGNING THE PINK POWER RANGERS IN EVERY POWER RANGER TEAM IN EXISTENCE. I MANIPULATE THE RANGER'S CONNECTION TO THE GRID AND DESIGN THEIR POWERS, WEAPONS AND ZORDS. I AM AN ARTIST AND A MOTHER. BUT YOUR UNIVERSES REBIRTH WAS THE RESULT OF A PINK RANGER BEYOND MY DESIGN. A PINK RANGER THAT ALTHOUGH VERY SHORTLY LIVED, WAS THE MOST POWERFUL EVER TO BE CREATED. THE LIMITS OF HER POWERS DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE DISCOVERED. ONE KIMBERLY HART, WHOS CONNECTION TO THE MORPHIN GRID WAS HOSTED THROUGH THE RAPTOR, 'PTERODACTYL'."

Arlo witnessed images in his mind of a young woman's journey with her powers. In her youth, she was granted Pink Ranger abilities, and fought alongside teammates, friends. He witnessed her world being conquered by foes of the grid and her identity of 'protector' becoming one of 'assassin'. All the while her connection to the Pterodactyl powers remained pure. Their bond deepened. Her powers adapting and changing. Finally he witnessed her redemption as she joined a team of Power Ranger misfits from across the multiverse and combined their morphers with shards of pure Zeo Crystal. She became something close to the Pink God that floated before him now. "THE RANGER SLAYER, KIMBERLY HART COMBINED HER MORPHIN DEVISE WITH A RAW SHARD OF ZEO CRYSTAL. HAD THE PLANET BEEN CONNECTED TO THE MORPHIN GRID AS IT IS NOW, THE MORPHER WOULD HAVE OVERLOADED AND SHE SIMPLY WOULD HAVE PERISHED, BUT IN ITS WEAKENED STATE, INSTEAD CREATED A NEW PINK RANGER, THE PINK SOLAR RANGER. SHE BELONGED TO THE FIRST RANGER TEAM EVER TO EVOLVE IN THIS WAY. THEIR POWERS WERE GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS UNIVERSE'S REBIRTH. BUT AFTER A SINGLE BATTLE, THE RANGERS RETURNED TO THEIR UNIVERSES OF ORIGIN, LEAVING THEIR ZEO SHARDS BEHIND AND RETURNING TO THEIR ORIGINAL RANGER FORMS."

"THESE QUARRY MONSTERS ARE APPEARING THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE AT AN ALARMING RATE, BUT THIS UNIVERSE'S CONNECTION WITH THE GRID IS IN ITS INFANCY AGAIN. THEY HAVE NO SYMBIOTIC HISTORY TOGETHER, AND SO, THE GRID RECREATED THIS UNIVERSES SAVIORS." A spark of brilliant light appeared between the two. At first, Arlo covered his eyes out of pure instinct, but was surprised to find that as bright as it may be, he was able to see clearly. It was a bracelet of some sort. Jeweled with a pink translucent stone with a shard of crystal attached to its smooth surface. Straps hung from it as it floated in mid air. There was a strong instinct to snatch it and hold it close. "THIS IS THE PINK SOLARIX MORPHER. ITS BEARER WILL OBTAIN THE POWERS OF THE PINK SOLAR RANGER AND WILL ELIMINATE THE FISSURES FROM THEIR UNAPPROVED APPEARANCE THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE." Silence. Arlo stared at the Solarix and it seemed to stare back at him. He wanted to take it and never give it back.

"I'm no fighter," He sighed. "I want nothing more than to take this pretty thing and stare at it until forever but I can't give you what you need." His eyes were still locked on the stone. "I'm a miner, a farmer at best." They stood silent, Arlo staring at the morpher and the God looking down at Arlo. He elaborated "When Rebirth happened, I didn't travel to new worlds in search of adventure. I stayed close. I explored the local tavern. I've felt cowardly more times than brave. I'm no warrior for a god." He knew he spoke the truth, but the admission hurt.

"YOU WERE CHOSEN AND YOU WILL TRAIN," the master replied. "I DON'T KNOW WHY I AM CALLED TO THOSE I AM CALLED TO, I ONLY KNOW MY NEXT OBJECTIVE." Arlo knew that there was no real choice here for him. He felt the certainty of the God's objective imprinted in his mind. He could only get out of this cavern if he agreed and took the thing. Part of him was celebrating at this admission. Was this happening? He wasn't so drunk that he could be imagining this… and feeling this. No, this was real. He somehow had an amazing amount of acceptance. Was that the masters doing? Either way, he wanted to hold the Solarix like he'd never wanted to hold anything before. Arlo reached out and closed his hand around the morpher.

PARADISE

His head hurt. Or his hand. His hand hurt. Burned. Felt amazing. No, felt terrible. One of the two, or neither.

Arlo lay on a soft bed of hard crystal. It contoured itself to his shape. It breathed when he breathed. He opened his eyes and sat up. On first glance - It's disorienting to be in a room made entirely of transparent stone, but there he was. Through the floor, he could make out a staircase leading to a lower level. He noticed the morpher strapped onto the back of his hand. He turned it this way and that, staring at it in the reflective light. The straps weren't attached with any mechanism, they seemed to have just grown together.

"You're awake, mistress. I'll begin." A form was growing out of the floor of the room. It was the lean silhouette of a naked woman, made up of a burning orange galaxy.

"Ah!" Arlo called out. "Don't hurt me!" He backed against the corner of the bed. The being giggled and raised a hand to her mouth. She calmly opened her palm in his direction and made a shushing sound.

"No fear." She said, Arlo immediately felt all the anxiety and tension release from his body like the blood had from his face a moment before. He sat forward and stared at her. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Her body told the story of a living nebula. "I am a living entity of the Morphin Grid. I was created by the Pink Master to assist you on your path, my mistress." Arlo was transfixed in her body. He had never realized how much activity went on in a solar system. He watched as gases expanded across her legs and stars pulsed across her stomach. A shooting star shone across her breasts just for good measure.

"Where. Where am I?" He asked. He pried his gaze up to her face. Her eyes were almond shaped orbs of light. Her hair flowed as if underwater, lifting up towards the crystal roof.

"We are in the heart of the Zeo planet." she said, holding her hands up and looking around her, as if the rock walls provided anything of a view. "This is a safe space to learn to use your powers, while keeping me connected to the Zeo Crystal, so that I can detect anomalies, or 'Quarries'." At that term, the nebula of her body started to turn a crimson color. "They are appearing across the universe and we don't have much time. Rise. Let's begin." She outstretched her hand towards him to help him on his feet? Arlo stared at her beautiful fingers, then the room and finally the morpher strapped to his hand. He was so curious to tap into that thing.

"What the hell," He said with a sigh, getting to his feet. "Who are you?"

"I am a living entity of the Morphin Grid -"

"I mean, what is your name? What do I call you?"

"I have no name," she replied, her color quickly turning to a dark green, "I am newly created. This is my first interaction. I have imprinted an understanding of your language from your consciousness so that we can interact. You may choose a name to call me if that will make you more comfortable, mistress"

"Yeah, well, you imprinted it with some errors," he replied, "don't call me that. My name's Arlo. Just, Arlo." He stared at her. While the nebula made it hard to make out much character in her facial expressions, he could tell she was smiling. He chuckled. "Whatever. A name, huh. I'm going to go with Paradise, but I can choose something a little uglier if you stray too far from calling me Arlo, fair?"

"Paradise. Identity is saved. Now, mistress, let's get you morphed."This was real.

TRAINING

Arlo stood in the wide crystal amphitheatre. Paradise stood in front of him, only the tips of her toes were touching the floor and she was gliding from side to side. Her version of pacing?

"Your powers have two 'modes'," she began, the nebula that constituted her body having returned to its original orange color. Her voice seemed to be coming from the walls of the room itself. "Slayer mode, and Solar mode. Slayer mode is the direct imprint of Kimberly Hart's powers that the Zeo planet has recreated. Like all rangers, Slayer mode will give you heightened senses and reflexes. The powers will become as instinctual as a sixth sense when you're morphed. To access these powers, tap two fingers to your Solarix morpher and call out 'Slayer Mode.' This will prompt the appropriate morpher to appear. You may begin."

This was it. He was nervous. He was excited. He was reluctant. He knew that once he did this, he could never 'undo' this.

SHat_r

A shattering sound filled the room. The acoustics made it hard to bear. Arlo clenched his teeth and doubled forward as jagged forms began to emerge from the floor. Sharp edged arms, heads and torsos melting up to stand tall. "These are Quarries," Paradise said in a sing-songy way, "forgive me, but it is time for you two to get acquainted." She giggled and descended into the floor. He could have sworn she was turning a hot pink color as she did. She was enjoying herself...bitch. He was alone with four, no, five of them. They were terrifying. Humanoid in shape, mostly. Hands didn't exist, more like blades. Sharp crystal edges all over their bodies. Touching them would cut through skin.

"That's not training!" He called out to the room. No response, he was alone. He felt the morpher pulsing heat at the back of his hand. It was calling to him. He was imprinted with information on how to morph. He was excited about it. "Alright, it's morphin time!" He called out, locking his feet to the floor and tapping the solarix with two fingers.. "Slayer Mode, hah!" He extended his arm as a small silver box appeared. He received it in his hand and brought it back to look at it. It was heavy. In its center was a golden coin encrusted with the design of a flying dinosaur, a pterodactyl. The appropriate Morpher would appear, she said. "Here goes…" He reached the morpher out in front of him towards the Fissures and cupped it with his other hand. The morpher had a small button on the side of it, he knew to push it. The box popped open surrounding the coin with blinding red light and while staring at the creatures, Arlo shouted with more certainty than he had ever said anything else in his entire life…

"PTERODACTYL!"

Metamorphosis. The energy that makes up the Morphin Grid released from the coin in the center of the morpher and coated his body. It formed itself into a suit overtop of him. The process happened so fast. There he stood, the same Arlo, and yet a completely different creature. His body growing an exoskeleton of jet black. As black as the coal from the mines on Garwin six and was enforced with pieces of pink and white armour. His hands, now gloved white led to white gauntlets of armour. The gauntlets stretched almost to his elbows and were decorated with a pink arrow shape at their peak. Boots of the same design now protected his feet and shins, and strong pink continents of armour had appeared overtop of his thighs. Around his waist, he wore a white belt that carried the silver box with the gold pterodactyl coin across its front. Arlo would have thought that all of this armour would have made him feel heavy and slow, but in fact, he felt the opposite. The Quarries began to run towards him, propelling across the ground as if on ice, and he was no longer afraid. He pushed himself to a sprint as well. His strides were longer, he felt so strong. He was running differently as well. He could feel his toes throwing him to their furthest reaches to meet the next step. Some long forgotten instinct inside the coin had awakened and was thrilled to be hunting through him. He had become a bird of prey. He lept off of his feet and landed on top of the closest Quarry. It was a lot bulkier than he was. Had it grown in size as it ran toward him, or a trick of the light? He wrapped his legs around its body and closed both hands together in fists and began beating down on the creature's head. Each blow was shattering pieces of the crystal apart. He was so powerful. He could feel jagged appendages of the Fissure's body jabbing into him all over. They were painful, but the suit was absorbing the blunt of it and healing him as it did.

"Once the root of the creature is killed, the Quarry will die!" Paradise called out throughout the room. Whatever that meant. He continued to beat down on the creature's top half, its head was pummelled down to a nub at this point, and he could see a small yellow shard of crystal glowing in place where a biological heart should be. This must be it. Suddenly, jagged hands grabbed him around the waist and threw him to the hard floor. Another Quarries had grabbed him from behind and ripped him from his prey. Arlo landed sprawled out on the floor, and instinctively rolled over into an attack position. He could see the Quarries before him, including the one with the beaten down head. He could also see that the crystal he had worked away was slowly rebuilding itself. "Weapons!" Paradise called out. Yes, weapons. The grid had gifted him with weapons. He could feel a natural desire to hunt from a distance. He was the archer. He could see his weapon, he longed for it, missed it somehow, as if they had not only met before, but had been forced to separate lifetimes ago.

"Ptera bow!" He called out instinctively. He knew to close his hand right when it materialized to grip it. The ranger powers wanted to be with this weapon. They were both part of the same thing. He felt whole. Arlo began walking towards his targets and raised the bow to eye level and tilted it so he had a panoramic view. He wanted to see all of this. He reached his other hand over and felt an arrow appear between his fingers. Without thinking he pulled the arrow back and let it fly. The arrow he felt was pure energy. It was a solid beam of light that shot with direct intensity at the Quarry and landed in its target's chest. The creature froze and its body went limp. It began to get hairline cracks all over it until it shattered to dust. The glowing yellow shard hung in mid air for a second or two with the arrow sticking into it, until that too fell and shattered on the floor. The arrow disappeared to wherever it was it had come from.
"Game on…" Arlo turned his attention to the others. Shot, shot. CHUNK CHUNK, Two down. One of the Quarries made a throwing motion towards him and the jagged mass that made up its hand shot from its body and hit him in the shoulder. A streak of pain that dropped his bow from his hand. How dare he? Arlo turned, roundoff back handspring, jump - kick to its chest. It staggered back but seemed unharmed. There were two left. His bow had dematerialized when it hit the ground. He could call it, but the Fissures were in close range.

"You have more gifts. Find them..." Paradise's voice instructed. New information was being downloaded to his brain. The suit wanted more. The grid wanted more. It needed him to be the conductor. His fingers were sweating with anticipation. The grid was in charge now..

"Pterodactyl Thunder Whip!" He called out. Again, his outstretched fingers closed in time to grip the handle of the weapon as it materialized. The man in him broke the trance to risk a glance at his hand. His fingers were gripped around a small piece of pink piping with black tread for gripping. Two pink talons decorated its top protecting the opening between them. Arlo had no idea what it did...but the powers did. He spun the handle around his head as a whip of solid energy spat out and wrapped itself around the first Quarry. It squeezed the monster until its chest cracked in two and shattered its root crystal, disintegrating it to dust. "Tweedle Dee…" He spun the whip in the other direction and it cracked the final Quarries neck, decapitating it. Its head fell and shattered on the floor. Enraged, but seemingly unhurt, it ran at Arlo with more speed than he had seen from a Quarry so far. Apparently killing his friends and decapitating it had pissed it off. He stuck the handle out towards the monster who kept running until its chest was about to run into its talons. "...and Tweedle Dum." he said as the whip shot from the handle right through its chest. It made a shattering noise as it exploded. Dust of crystal shot at him and Arlo instinctively covered his eyes. He felt a hard shell over his face. Although his vision was different; tinted and crisper, he hadn't given thought to how his head's appearance had changed until now. He looked down at the crystal floor beneath him and stared back at a stranger. The beak and wingspan of a pterodactyl framed the black visor of the helmet he was wearing. Arlo turned his head and could see three talons jetting backward from the helmet. It symbolized the strength and agility he had felt in the battle. Arlo, without his permission, had become a pink power ranger.