Chapter 19 - Prep Time

"What do you want?" The cloaked figure asked. His three armored minions kneeled before him with a robbed man standing behind them.

"Lord Zed, we have brough to you the brother of Rita Repulsa as you've reuqested." Chromium Gold said in almost a hushed tone. Zed stopd from his seat and examined the man brought to him. He was a Skelton with Skelton bones for armor. His eyes had a crimson glow in the darkness of the sockets.

"Why is it that my brother in law needed to summon me by way of his… lesser minions," The skeleton said, the bones clicking as his jaw moved to speak.

"Ah Rito Revolto, there is much work to be done. The rangers are troublesome once more," Zed replied.

"Did you not purge the world of those color coded man filth years ago?" Rito asked.

"New team, I have come to the conclusion that the only way Zordon can keep the spawning of Rangers from happening, is to eradicate this world of humans." Lord Zed removes his cloak. His body was muscular without a layer of flesh. Each muscle fiber was visible as the red muscle fibers were separated by the white muscle fibers. His body had chrome lining around the muscles. His head dress was also chrome, with a wide oval shaped crimson visor. It exposed his brain which twitched every now and then. "I will need your help, with the death of your sister…"

"I know what you are asking and I know exactly how to replicate her abilities. The old witch still kept her book of spells tucked away," Rito cut off Zed. The two had neither lips nor mouths but you could feel the wicked grin. You could feel the malice intentions radiate into the thin air, almost suffocating all life around it. The Beetle Borges remained in silence.

"You three, prepare as many monsters as you can. Our conquest of the human world begins in one year. I want all resources pulled back to our mountain caves and prepared for all out war!" Zed yelled as he clenched his fist. "The rangers, Zordon, the human race will crumble before my heels and this planet will run crimson with their blood!" Zed spoke as he turned to his orb shaped image of Angel Grove. "I will reduce this place to hell, Fire and death," he said looking over his shoulder, "for Rita Repulsa!"

"For Rita Repulsa!" The three armored men stood and yelled in unison. Just behind them was an army of ghouls, demons, putty, bird people and devious beings. They snarled, growled, roared and screeched.

"Am I the only one with a bad feeling?" NC said as he slowly backed up, his fists in a guard.

"Nope, it's safe to say we are royalty screwed!" Aj said as he looked on from the dojo, seeing putty patrollers run through the streets. They flipped cars and smashed through building walls to cause chaos. The city was in shambles. Mr. Nichols was already evacuated the school. The school was empty as Katrina and Brian came running from the other workout floor. Neil, Brian and Donna were already out back fighting to insure everyone could make it to their cars.

"What's the plan?" Katrina asked. She then noticed the putty turn their attention to the school. "That's not good."

"Defend the school!" Brian yelled as he darted for the front door. Aj and Katrina we're close behind him. NC grabbed a bowstaff from the wall before following. The four burst through the door, meeting the horde head on. Ah slammed his fist directly into the face of a putty only for it to crack instead of being destroyed. Katrina flying side kicked another only leaving cracks in the chest where ass her usual attack would leave heavy damage.

"Did they get stronger?!" Aj yelled in confusion as he continued to strike the putty in front of him. NC swirled the bowstaff to give his Spears strike momentum as he struck to head of the putty. The head minorly cracked as the staff split.

"Guys… what the hell?!" NC yelled. He released his grip on the staff and pulled his nunchucks from his gi belt. These weren't ordinary wood, they were made from graphite. He spun them with great speed before striking the putty from many angles, it's body crumbling under the blows. Brian gripped the wrist of an attacking putty and turned, pushing his hip into the body of the putty and leaning forward, driving the body of the rock creature over his own and slamming it into the ground.

"These things have to thicker than usual, hit them as hard as possible!" Brian yelled out. The fight intensified but the rangers were overwhelmed.

"They're too damn strong!" Katrina yelled as she slipped a punch and quickly motioned behind the putty, driving her foot dead center into its back. The putty's body slammed into a car before recovering and returning to attack her. Just as it did, a tomahawk slammed into the side of its head. The putty stumbles before falling. A heavily tattooed hand gripped the tomahawk before a foot stomped into the neck to free it from the stone head.

"I thought I taught all of you better," the red haired man said calmly. He slid the tomahawk into the belt of his gi and wielded his axe in both hands. "No one fucks with my school, form up and hit them as hard as you can!" Mr. Nichols roared before driving the blade of his axe through the center of a putty. The putty was split in half, as the two halves fell, Aj and Brian charged past it with metal pipes found on the ground. They both held two pipes and began to strike at the joints of the rock creatures. Katrina continued to avoid every strike thrown before countering with her swift and deadly kicks. Sirens sounded as police officers in riot gear stormed the streets.

"As usual, the cops are late," NC joked before flipping off of a car to avoid a wild fist. The officers formed a line from one sidewalk stretching to the other. With shield held in front of them, they marched down the street, hoping to contain the violence.

"Stay out of their way!" Mr. Nichols yelled as he used his axe to hook the neck of a putty and swing its body into a car. The rangers each nodded to each other and rallied around their instructor. The group inches closer to the police until they heard the sound of a motorcycle's engine roar.

"Rider kick!" Two voices yelled as the familiar armored men sailed through the air. As they landed multiple putty were destroyed and the asphalt sink under the blow. A battle line was drawn as the sunken street separated the rangers and police from the putty with the riders in the middle.

"Was that just…"

"Yup," NC cut off Aj. Chalice and Garren stood in the ditch, suits cracked and damaged as the horde stood them off. The moment seemed like forever until the horde slowly backed up before turning heel and running.

"Well that was anticlimactic," Brian said as he eased his stance. The riders jumped from the ditch, eyeing the rangers and line of police behind them.

"Thank you," Mr. Nichols said with a hint of sincerity in his voice.

"I would rather not be labeled a villain than thanked," Claire said. "I trust the good boys in blue will put in a good word for us? Being wanted isn't fun you know."

"Seriously, we can't save the city and run from you guys forever." Garren chimed in with a joking tone. The two leapt into the air over the line of police and made a dash for their bikes. They weren't stopped as they rode off into the distance.

"Get back into your building," an officer ordered. The team was ushered into the dojo as authorities handled the clean up.

"If this is what we have to keep people safe from, we are turning up the heat on training daily, call Hez and Ren. I know it's their day off but none of that will help them fight these things." Mr. Nichols ordered as he stepped into his office. The team looked at each other as Brian nodded. NC pulled out his phone as did Aj.

It was only an hour before the duo showed up with Arianna tagging along. Nothing less to be expected, she was club to Ren like a puppy on a leash. "Hey guys!" Her voice loud and cheery as usual as she dashed onto the mats to hug her friends and sister. Aj and Hez clasped hands am stood by each other as Mr. Nichols emerged from his office in MMA shorts, a t shirt and MMA gloves.

"Alright team, I will not lie to you, after today's attack I realized that that Angel Grove is no longer safe and I have to think of my family. That means you guys. From here on out we will spend every free moment where, busting our asses to make sure every student, this school and ourselves stay safe." His words prompted the team to look at each other slightly with shifting eyes. Their next few weeks were spent training anywhere from two to three times a day. Their bodies pushed to the max as seasons changed, soon the days shortened and became cool. In time, snow lightly cascaded the ground.

"Hey guys, so Brian And Donna will have been together a year soon and Brian's got this idea," Neil explained with excitement in his voice. "We go to his family cabin-"

"Wait he has a cabin?" Ren asked, cutting Neil off.

"Word why do we know nothing about this?" Aj added.

"That's not the poin-"

"I mean is he batman?" Hez asked.

"You guys are idiots," Neil said facepalming himself. "Are you guys up for it or what?"

"I mean duh," Katrina added as she walked into the room. Everyone but Hez looked to her with smiles. He's avoided her gaze as he found it easier. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow, it's a bit far so it's gonna be a-"

"Road trip!" Brian yelled at the top of his lungs on the snowy morning. Aj and Hez threw their bags into his trunk. Neil and NC were already in Hez's jeep and their stuff took up most of the space. Between Neil and NC sat Katrina. The thought of her warming Hez internally on this cold morning. Riding with Aj were Brian, Donna Ren and Arianna.

"All these damn couples around here man," Aj joked as he caught a glimpse of Ren and Arianna's lips pressed together in his car. "Can we at least make it to the cabin without babies?" The two snickered as Ren pulled out his phone to see a text from Hez.

"Apparently G4 and G3 are both on scout patrol so we get this weekend off. Total RR!" It read. Ren smiled and looked over at his friend from the red vehicle. Hez sat in the front seat of his jeep and looked to the passenger seat with an annoyed expression.

"One of y'all gonna get up here? I'm not a taxi, someone get up here." To his surprise, it was Katrina climbing her way over the console. He didn't even need to look at her, he could smell the olive oil scent of her hair. The Japanese cherry blossom scent infiltrated his nose only seconds later and he found his heart racing yet his face was steady. A skill he had all but mastered in the recent months. She looked over and smiled her warming smile before her face scrunch inward as she made one of her signature weird faces. Aj's car started and the sound of Tupac and Snoop Dogg filled the air even with the windows down. Hez grinned and sighed out of relief as he placed the key into the ignition.

"Hey Hez," Neil said anxiously. "You guys aren't gonna-"

"Oh fucking yea," Hez said with determination. He could hear the three clicks of everyone's seatbelt as he pressed on the gas with his jeep in neutral. He eased up to Aj's position and looked over. The two smiles before stomping on the gas, their car's charging out into the empty road. It wasn't long before they slowed down and drove the city speed limits.

"You guys are nuts!" NC yelled as he breathed deeply, catching his breath.

"Isn't that apart of our charm?" Hez replied. His comeback earned a giggle from Katrina. Again his heart raced but face stay blank.

"How about some music?" Hez suggested. He pulled out his iPod and before he could do anything Katrina took it, attached the aux cord and the car was filled with the words of Hez's new favorite rap group Trikuza.

"We are the Trikuza,

My name is Kaz and I came from the rising sun,

Started in Brooklyn, squired the lightest touch

Practiced my skill and become the most mighty one

All my shinobi and all my high yakuza

This is the moment we've waited for fighter's come

It is our time, you can't hide from us

Try your luck, we are to fired up!"

As the beat dropped Hez rapped along to the Japanese and English mix of words. Katrina smiled as she kept up while NC and Neil were acting hype men in the back, performing the ad libs. Within 2 hours of driving, they arrived along a long driveway. The trees were tall and if you hadn't had the eye, of the GSP to aid you, you would surely miss the location. Aj pulled up to the left side of the log cabin which was larger than he expected. Hez pulled up to the right and marveled at the sight of it as he exited the car. "You sure you're not batman Brian?" Hez asked.

"Nah, just something my great Grandad built. So now we get to use it for life." Brian replied as he carried bags into the large wooden home. The front deck was wide and only showed two windows but as they entered, they immediately found themselves in a spacious living room. There were multiple single chairs and couches set up in a crescent moon shape around the fireplace. There were many bookshelves filled with books and a karaoke machine in the corner next to a door. On the back wall was a stairway that split into two different directions.

"To the left should be two bedrooms and a bathroom. To the right should be a bathroom, entertainment room and a bedroom." Brain said as he looked towards the stairs. The door on the corner was the entrance to the kitchen which lead to the side door and open dining area. Katrina charged upstairs choosing a room on the left side. Neil and NC opted to take the couches in the living room when they found out they pull out into full beds. Donna and Brian took the farthest room on the left side. Aj took to the entertainment room once he saw the recliner.

"Oh hell yea!" He yelled as he dropped his bags. Arianna and Ren took the room between Katrina, Donna and Brian. This warranted a look from Katrina when she realised what horrifying sounds she may be subject to. Her face first scrunched inwards before her face relaxed and left eyebrow raised in curiousify before finally falling into a look of acceptance. Hez chose the room farthest from everyone on the right side. He made his way to the room and closing the door behind him. He sighed as he lay his bags on the corner and relaxed on the warm bed. His room was small but comfortable. To his surprise it came equipped with a television.

A bit dated but I can work with this, he thought to himself. The team settled in as the girls each showered at the same time in one of the tree bathrooms. "Wait there are three?" Hez asked.

"Yup, the third one is a secret," Brian said with a wink. He's mentally threw up in his brain and quickly ushered his way to the back deck. "You can't escape, it's gonna be a long week bro, a long and loud week." Brian teased him while pumping his fists forward and back at hip level and thrusting his pelvis. Hez laughed his way out the back door to the deck. He marveled at the beauty of the cascading snow over the open land. The sky was grey with clouds and snow sprinkled down to the ground. He could see his every breath and feel the cold's gentle kiss as the slight breeze blew against him. His mind cleared as he fell into a total trance.

"So who's ready to relax?!" Neil shouted as he entered the room with a six pack of beer in his left hand and a case on his shoulder.

"Bet!" Aj yelled before disappearing into the entertainment room and coming back out with three cases. Brian and Donna came down with bags of bottles.

"To friendship! May our kidneys recover well!" Donna yelled as she began pulling bottles of Vodka, Bacardi and various other clear alcohol from the bags.

"This is so not gonna end in my favor," Ren said as his face was held in his hand. Arianna's eyes grew wide at the sight of the bottle of Vodka. Aj quickly snatched it, warranting a glare.

"Nah fam don't forget what happened last time. Barely one cup and you were a zombie," Aj teased before the group laughed. Katrina watched over the group and noticed Hez was nowhere to be found.

For a lively guy, he sure can be mysterious, she thought as she caught a view of him through the foggy doors. Maybe a little surprise attack will snap him out of his funk. A wicked grin grew on her lips as she remembered the layout of the cabin. If she climbed out of his window she could shimmy down the side of the ledge and get the drop on him. She quickly made her way to the room and slid his window open before stepping out into the soft cloud of snow. She walked on the tips of her feet to insure there was as minimal a sound as possible. Just have to time the perfectly, she thought before making a dash for the ledge and jumping. She twisted her body in mid air and grabbed the ledge. Soon as her finger gripped the ledge she swung her body forward, crashing into a surprised Hez but his reflexes took over. He rolled backwards with her, clasping his hands at the nape of her neck and sliding his foot into her stomach. Before he could use the momentum of the roll to flip her, he stopped all motive and lay on his back with her sitting on his chest.

"Why'd you stop? It would've been a perfect throw," Katrina joked. Her cheeks began to turn red from the cold.

"There is no universe created where throwing your ex is something that won't come with a consequence." Hez stated sarcastically. Katrina giggled, relieved he at least spoke. "You know, you're heavy." Katrina stopped and glared down at him.

"Are you calling me fat?" Her eyes bore into his soul as she pressed her fists into her hips trying her hardest to look angry.

"You were always too adorable for me to take seriously you know?" Hez said and within second he noticed her cheeks turned a darker tint of red. A grin grew across his lips. This prompted her enter face to turn turn crimson as she hid behind the salvation of her hands.

"You know, we do have rooms for this?" They both looked towards the direction of the voice as they saw the entire group was staring. Donna and Arianna had grins as wide as the open sea planted on their faces. Neil and Aj were in the background dust bumping in the most obvious way. Brian had his face covered by his palm and NC and Ren both nodded in approval.

This is going to be a long week, Hez though as he looked up to Katrina who seemed to be seconds from freaking out.