Chapter 21 - Calm Before the Storm

The ride home was filled with silence. The cars only noise was the music that kept the drivers focused. Brian held Donna in his arms tightly. She kept her eyes on him as he kept his eyes straight. That fire burned in his iris. She didn't need to hear his voice to know he was already willing to risk everything if it would save Angel Grove. She planted a light kiss on his cheek before resting her head onto his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. NC, who was sitting beside them, leaned against the rear passenger side door. His mind was off in the distance. His thoughts flow in a smooth current. He quelled his brewing fear, the fear of Zed winning. The fear of watching everyone he cares for die. Thoughts of his brother flashed through his mind as it began to ease. His resolve hardened when he pictured himself and his brother standing victorious.

"Yo Rza, yo razor,

Hit me with the major,

The damage, my clan understand it be flavor,

Gunnin', comin' comin' at ya,

First I'm gonna get ya, once I got ya

I gat you,

You could never capture

The method man stature"

The music blared through the speakers, calming the straight faced driver. Hez kept his eyes on the road but his mind was already on the battlefield. He now understood he would be fighting for so much more with his friends fighting alongside him. He glanced over at Katrina who was already looking at him with a smile. He could see the worry in her eyes and felt the tension in her touch as she placed her hand over his that lay upon the gear shifter. A light tremble was felt as she met his touch. Her warming smile deepened as she gave him a small squeeze. He sighed deeply in relief, knowing exactly what she was saying in her wordless display.

Ren sat quietly as Arianna spoke to him about something going on in a social media post. He nodded and gave minimal responses to appease her but his mind was far from their conversation. He thought to the time he almost died. How Hez went wild and found a new form. Was he the weaker of the two? Was he going to be the one Hez and everyone had to worry about? No, I will become stronger and I will help put an end to this madness! He thought to himself. His eyes squinted as if he were glaring.

"What's with that look?" Arianna asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing, think my eyes are strained from being awake all night." He replied.

"I wonder why," Neil joked from the front passenger's seat.

"Can we not turn this into a whole conversation about their extra curricular activity?" Aj asked as he continued driving.

"I'm just saying, something had to keep him up all night," Neil continued.

"You're a whole dick you know that?" Aj said, prompting a laugh from the entire car. Aj was seemingly calm on the outside but inside he was worried. He knew Brian was stressed and Neil was visibly stressed. He needed to do everything he could to keep the team together. Learning about Ren and Hez our a small dent in his idea but it was better than knowing two powerful would be enemies are friends. As their drive came to an end, the team each exited the vehicles and said their goodbyes. Aj road off first, Donna road with Brian as Arianna, Ren and Katrina loaded up into Hez's jeep.

"So guys, what do you have planned?" Arianna asked as Hez watched Neil and NC pull off.

"I think me and Hez will probably spend the day together," Katrina answered softly. Ren placed his hand on Hez's shoulder and he could smell the intent.

"And what do you two love birds have planned?" Hez asked with a devilish grin stretched across his lips.

"Well, we haven't really thought of anything yet," Arianna said. The jeep cam to a stop in front of Ren's Home.

"Protect yourself at all times," Hez said as Ren and Arianna grabbed their bags. Ren grimaced at Hez who simply laughed. As he pulled off he could feel Katrina's look. "I know you're worried-"

"Worried? I'm freaking the hell out!" Katrina cut in. "We have what, seven days to prepare for the fight of our lives?! Why us?! Why did we get chosen to possibly die?!"

"Who else would do it?" Hez replied calmly. "I've thought the same thing, why me? Why Ren? Dammit Ren was almost killed by those other three riders and I snapped. It's the only reason I unlocked my awakened form. Then I saw you guys and I thought why all of us but then again, who else will fight?" Katrina fell silent. "I know this shit is crazy, I know it's hard and I know it's unfair but we gotta do it."

"What if we loose? There was a team of rangers before us an-"

"There were many teams of riders who died in this war. I'm holding the powers of a dead man. I will fight in his honor for my home and my people." Hez turned to Katrina and smiled. "And I'll fight for you." Her face instantly flushed with red.

"You're such a dork," she said as she averted her eyes. The jeep came to a stop before Hez leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"But you love me don't you?" His words cut through her like a warm blade through butter.

"Yes," she said in reply.

Neil and NC took a longer route home. "Anything on your mind little bro?" Neil asked.

"Besides the fact that Hez and Ren are the riders that we fought almost to the death and now we get to fight Zed to the death in about a week… eh nothing." NC replied.

"Scary isn't it?" Neil asked.

"You bet," NC said.

"Remember when we were lost in the woods and I promised nothing would happen so long as I'm with you?" Neil asked.

"What are you getting at?" NC asked as he turned towards his brother, a look of confusion washing over him.

"That promise still holds," Neil said as he smiled. "I know we but heads but I'm proud of you little bro and so long as I breathe, nothing will happen to you."

"Don't you start that, don't go saying shit that sounds like final words. We will fight together and we will win together. No ifs, ands or buts about it." NC said as he placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Brian and Donna sat upon his roof, the A shaped frame allowed them to watch as the sun began to set over the mountain line. Something inside Brian told him that's where the final battle would be held. He could feel the gentle kiss of the cold winds on his skin be interrupted by the warmth of Donna's smooth cheek and she laid against him. They hadn't said a word but knew what each other were thinking. The brewing fears, the anxiety and anxious feeling. Their urge to fight for all they loved. Wrapping his arm around Donna and pulling her close, Brian inhaled her scent before relaxing himself.

Aj slammed fist after fist into his heavy bag, keeping a fast pace before ending his combo with a kick. He stopped to breath and as he reached for his water bottle, he found a picture of all his friends. He laughed internally before his face grew serious. This is what he was to be fighting for. He knew in just a few short days everything would be on the line. As the sweat dropped from his brow, he placed the picture back onto the shelf and returned to the heavy bag. Deep into the hours of the night, the sound of his fists slamming into the leather rang out through the garage.

The sun crept over the mountains and shined light upon Angel Grove. The past few days seemed to have run by fast. Hez ran his hands through his hair that was now coiled and laid back. "Something new?" Ren asked, grabbing his attention.

"Katrina thought I would sweat too much leaving my hair to just grow under my helmet." Hez replied.

"And that my friend, is true love." Ren jokes.

"That all?" G3 said as he walked up besides them, helmet tucked under his right arm.

"You guys better be ready, we didn't prepare an entire army for nothing," G4 joked.

"Don't worry," Hez said as he kicked his leg over his Hayabusa, "we are ready." He placed the helmet over his head and started the monstrous motorcycle. It's engine roared under him as he leaned over, grabbing the handles. Behind him, he could hear the sound of many other motorcycles starting. As the huge metal doors before them opened, the light shined into the hangar and showed that not only Hez, Ren, G3 who has now placed his helmet onto his head and G4 but an army of men in black suits. They wore all black BDUs with a black, metallic plated vest. Their helmets covered their entire face with an oval shaped visor and two silver antenna perturbing from the forehead. On their left hands were what looked large stingers with a handle and barrel at the end.

"You sure these guys can take on the putty?" Ren asked.

"Zect troopers are the best we have to offer," G4 answered.

"Good enough for us, Hez said as he road out into the light followed by the others.

"Let's go, Hez is on his way to the energy reading," Brian said as he stood from his seat in the command center.

"Rangers, this is the moment I have dreaded for years. I bet you be cautious and may the power be with you." Zordon warned them.

"Don't worry, we got this," Aj assured the floating head of Zordon as the team were whisked from the control center by lights of energy. As they landed in the open fields they could hear the roads of many engines.

"Looks like they aren't alone." Donna said in confusion.

"Well he did say he was bringing allies," NC said as the mass numbers came to a stop.

"Yo," Hez called as he got off his bike.

"Who in the hell are they?" Aj asked.

"Well there's G3, he's kind of cool and then there's G4," Ren said pointing to the bulky armored men. "The others are the soldiers from the organization, they're apparently Zect soldiers or something like that."

"We have no time for this explanation," Brian said as a portal behind them opened. It was two hundred maybe three hundred yards away. They could hear the groans of the putty on the other side. The various roads and snarls of the monster generals and lieutenants to lead them.

"Anyone got any famous last words?" G3 said as he pointed his blaster at the portal entrance.

"I can think of one," Brian said.

"I got one too," Hez added.

"It's morphin time!" The rangers yelled in unison.

"Henshin!" Hez and Ren yelled together. A flash of various colored lights transformed their friends into power rangers as the burgundy and black colored doorways stood before Hez and Ren. It was in that moment that the monster horde charged. Hez and Ren looked to each other before running through their doorways and dawning the suits of Chalice and Garren. The rangers followed suit, each drawing their power weapons. G3 and G4 charged, followed by the mass of black uniformed troopers. The war was started as Lord Zed watched from his throne.

"Brother, is there anything more you wish me to do?" Rito Revolto asked of his lord. He was met with silence as he watched on as the two forces clashed. Zed clenched his fist.

"Are the Tenga Warriors ready?" Lord Zed asked in his cold tone.

"Yes my lord," Revolto replied.

"You are to have Goldar take them directly into Angel Grove as apart of the third wave. These pitiful humans have no idea just how outmatched they are. I will rule this world and I will avenge the death of lover!" Zed slammed his fists into the arm rests. "Better Borges! Your mission is simple, you shall become my second wave. Take King Sphinx with you, I'm sure he will be more than willing to fight once he sees the Red Ranger still draws breath."

"As you wish my lord," the three entered bowing from the darkness. They turned heel and disappeared back into the darkness in which they came, followed by Rito Revolto.

"This day, this planet shall be ours my love." Zed pulled a statue of his deceased wife from his cloak. He stroked along the side of it slowly, "I will hang their heads in our throne room and then, I will come for Zordon. I will rename this planet in your glory, I will make those pitiful humans pay!"