Chapter 26 - Time For Time Force
"What's our next move?" Ren asked as his armor faded from his body. Hez stood from his seated position, armor still holding as he looked to the sky.
"We keep looking." His armor faded as he began to walk. Ren followed as the sun began to rise, shining light over the many bodies scattered over the battlefield.
"Hez, I don't think we are getting any closer to the goal here." Ren said.
"I'm afraid you might be right, our best bet would be to link up with the others, help take down Goldar." Hez said.
"It's too late." A voice called out from behind. The two whipped around to see six people in cloaks. Hez and Ren readied themselves for a possible fight. "Easy guys, we aren't here to fight you." The figures removed their hoods, revealing four men and two women.
"We are like you," the woman in the middle of the group said. Her bang covered her forehead and the rest of her hair swept back into a ponytail. She stood maybe five feet and four inches tall. Her jawline was strong and eyes kind. "I'm Jen, this is my second in command Wes," she said as she pointed to her left. Wes has dark hair combed to the side. His eyes were dark and his eyebrows as narrow as his eyes. "This is Trip," to her right was a green haired man. Shorter than Wes and notably smaller in muscle mass under the cloak. His skin was darker than his two companions, almost a tint of orange.
"I'm Lucas," a taller and slim man said. His hair was swept back and face exuded confidence.
"Hi, I'm Katie," her voice was soft. Her hair was long and curly, kept tied at the top of her head.
"That's Eric, " Katie pointed to the man who looked exactly like Wes. His demeanor was different and hair spiked.
"Now that you've gotten your introduction out the way, who the hell are you," Hez said stepping forward. His hands low but balled into fists. His eyes slowly shifted between them as he noticed Eric shift. Jen held her hands low and palms down.
"As I said we aren't here to fight you, we are here to help. We come from the future."
"Bullshit," Ren added.
"We don't have time for this," Eric cut in, "if we don't save your friends this planet will be lost."
"Then how would you explain your existence if we loose earth?" Hez said. Eric and him stared each other down before Hez could feel aren't forearm pressing against his chest. Jen and Katie held Eric back as well.
"What about our friends? What's going on?" Ren asked.
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Opening his eyes to complete darkness, his first instinct was to move. His arms not legs could move very much. Each movement brought the sound of metal slamming against metal. The fuck? Ah thought to himself. "Who's there?" He could hear. The voice was familiar.
"Katrina?" He called out.
"Holy shit Aj? Where are we?" She asked.
"Guys?" Donna said groggily.
"Least we know the gang's all here," both abc and Neil Said together ina matching sarcastic tone.
"Where the hell are we?" Katrina asked.
"No idea, let's figure a way out of-" NC was cut off by bright lights flashing. Below them was a sand pit as they were chained to stone walls in a circular ring. They could see many beats in the crowds who instantly broke into a hysterical cheer.
"You won't be going anywhere!" Goldar shouted from behind a throne. Seated on the throne was a muscular humanoid being. His body lined in silver and skin looked as if it was peaked to the last later. His head was covered in a silver helmet that had a decorative Z on the forehead.
"So these are the infamous power rangers? You look soft, frail and weak." Lord Zed stood to his feet. "But you have defeated powerful beings and killed many of my minions. So my curiosity is peaked. Today, you shall die entertaining my armies!" The crowd's cheers grew more wild. "You will fight in my battle pits until you die!" The chains that bound them to the wall vanished as they fell to the sand surface. The first thing Aj reached for was his morpher.
"Don't worry, I left your items in tact. I want to see you at your most powerful before you die," Zed's words shook the team to their core. They bunched together as they could hear the metal gates opening. Their anxiety rose along with the Gates. The four large gates finally stopped. Moments of silence went by as the rangers faced into the four tunnels of darkness.
"I don't like this…" NC whispered. Howling could be heard from each tonnel as hordes of putty ran through the gates.
"Rangers, divide and conquer!" Aj yelled. Katrina and Donna took to the left while NC and Neil took the right. Aj held his ground, fists tightly clinched and eyes narrow on the hordes ahead.
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"So you expect us to believe you're from the future and that we will all die if don't go through some portal to save our friends?" Ren said as he sat on his Hyabusa, arms crossed and right eyebrow raised.
"Yes, that's exactly what we are telling you, we are power rangers from the future and if you do not win, our future is destroyed." Jen's eyes bore into Ren's. Their stare down was cut by the sound of Hez.
"So where does this portal lead?" Hez asked. Jen cut her eyes to him, widening them slightly as she could feel the sincerity in his question.
"It leads directly to Lord Zed. The rangers are captured and Lord Zed makes them fight in his games. They fight for years as he continues his conquest. Their story inspired the Time Force Project."
"What the hell is that?" Hez asked now raising an eyebrow.
"I'll take this one Jen," Trip cut in. "To put it short, we built a time machine and a set of morphemes to tap into the morphing grid. Zordon was a huge help until his death. With what we had, we made enough time for a one way ticket and if we can help you win, our timeline will fade as should we."
"So it's a suicide mission?" Ren said. A silence fell upon the group as the question sunk in.
"Yes," Wes said strongly. "We know the risks and we are here to give up our lives to create a better tomorrow."
"One we will never see," Lucas added.
"Ren, break radio silence. G3 and G4 need to her their asses here now."
"Wait don't tell me you believe this shit," Ren argues.
"If the team is in trouble we have to help, and if it's a trap, we will kill all of you," Hez's eyes cut to the new set of rangers as he started his Hyabusa. It's roar added to the intensity of his glare. "I am taking the chance on trusting you, take our spare transport vehicle. You can find it five hundred meters south of here. Meet us at the command center." Hez road off into the distance followed by Ren.
"Do you think they will believe us?" Eric asked.
"They have no choice to, the world's depending on their trust in us," Jen answered.
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"This is such a terrible idea," Brian said as he clung to the edge of a ledge. He slowly shimmied his way across before an arm stretched out to him. As he took it, the arm pulled him to his feet.
"It's not that bad, yet." Enzo said as he pointed to the mountain. "Energy readings say we have to climb that.
"Isn't that just lovely," Brian said as he started forward. Two men taking point cut through the thick of the marsh with their blades. The sound of wood and plants crunching under their feet put Brian in an uneasy state. His eyes shifted to every minor movement around them. He could feel it, they were being watched and worse, being followed. He looked to Enzo who simply nodded without turning his head. He was well aware of the followers. Rustling was heard south of their position. Everyone stopped as the troopers surveyed the area.
"Stay frosty boys, we aren't alone." Enzo said. They continued their climb until they found a temple in the side of the mountain. The pillars were covered in the vines of thick green marsh. The vines hung overhead creating a sheetlike coating. As they made their way through, they could see the coin on a pedestal. Surrounding it were stone guards, their arms crossed over their chests. Beastly creatures with thick snouts and visible fangs.
"I don't like any of this," Brian said.
"Then grab the coin and let's get out of here," Enzo replied. Brian moves slowly as he grew closer. Before he could reach for the coin, a stone cover slid over it. The stone beasts came alive with color. Their armor and weapons turned from stone to metal.
"Engage!" Enzo yelled as he opened fire. Their blasts had no effect, Brian readied himself for the coming beast. He slipped and partied it's wide and wild swings. He counter struck with a side kick that did nothing. The best continued coming forward. Brian continued his defense, blocking the various slashes. His back pressed against the wall, he ducked as the beast brought its blade along what would've been his chest if he had not moved. He rolled to create distance and quickly regained his composure.
"These things are worse than super putty!" Brian yelled. He could see the other troopers fighting hard. Enzo clashes his blade with that of one of the beasts but are a kick in his chest. He dropped onto his back, wincing in pain before rolling to avoid the downward slash. Enzo stood to his feet and slashed the beast across its side to no avail. It was unaffected by his attack and back handed him across the face, sending his body crashing to the ground. Brian looked at his morpher, the power coin cracked with the power of the green Dragon Zoe's still shining through.
"Don't do it!" Enzo yelled, "it may kill you!"
"It's morphin time!" Brian yelled activating his powers. As he morpher he noticed he had no shield and no dagger. He attempted to call upon the sword of darkness but it did not answer. His power began to turn on him.
"No!" Enzo yelled before being side kicked. His body crashed into a wall before dropping to the ground. His men were each downed by the renewing stone beasts as Brian's power faded for good. The coin slowly turning to ash. Brian dropped to his knees as he was surrounded.
"If I'm going to die, it won't be on my knees!" Brian yelled as he lunged upward, striking the closest beast with his knee. It stumbled backwards, giving him enough distance to spin and land a spinning hook kick. His heel burned with pin as it made impact but cracked the stone jaw of the monster. "Come on!" Brian roared but the beasts slowly backed away. They returned to their place in the walls, returning to their complete stone form. Lifeless and ever watching.
"I have watched you since you fell onto my island," a voice said. Brian quickly spun to see who was talking but he saw no one. "You show honor, hope, courage and above all else, passion." Brian continued to turn, searching for the sound of the mysterious voice speaking to him. "You were a Ranger once and look to regain the power, yes?" The voice asked.
"Yes," brian answered as he stopped moving. He could tell the voice was behind him at this point. He could feel the penetrating stare he felt through the jungle.
"Then step forward and claim your new power!" The voice told him as the stone covering slid back into the wall. The coin shined brightly, it's decoration that of the tiger. As he picked it up and placed it into his morpher, a white light flashed so bright it blinding Brian and his team temporarily. As the light faded, Brian could see the new coin in his morpher. As he turned, a white sword with the head of a tiger at the bottom of the handle floated freely. The crimson eyes of the tiger bore into his.
"I grant you, Brian Salamat the power of the White Tiger. With it, I grant you myself. You have proven worthy to wield my power. Take me and use me on your conquest for peace and justice." Brian hesitates to move. What if this was a lie, a trap. He could see no other way to find out than to step forward. As he grabbed the handle of the blade, he could feel the power surge through his body. Within an instant, his suit formed onto him. His chest covered in a new black should, lined in gold. The emblem of the tiger covering his chest. The gold rings formed onto his biceps and black and gold gauntlets on his wrists. His helmet was white with the strips of a tiger on the crown of his head. He could feel his new power, it felt pure.
"You did it," Enzo choked out as he slowly rose to his feet.
"I did, now let's go save the world." Brian said. Enzo called in for transport but as he did a portal opened.
"You won't be leaving," Said Chromium Gold. "Your lives end here!" Brian pulled the blade from his holster as the putty charged. The troopers opened fire, coating the area in blaster fire. Enzo dropped to a knee, giving himself a better position of attack. Brian charged through the putty, his focus only one Chromium Gold. He was alone, without his team and he was beatable. As Brian got closer, Chromium Gold launches a side kick that was caught. Brian spun forward, gaining distance as he struck with a back elbow before landing a heavy side kick of his own. Chromium Gold slid to the side before regaining his composure. He lurched forward with a flurry of punches, each slipped and dodged before brian punched him in the chest with the hand wielding his blade. Staggered, Chromium Gold felt the blade slash across his chest twice before he dropped into his back, rolling away from Brian. He stood up to a knee and cover his smoking chest plate.
"What are you??" He bellowed, feeling defeated.
"With the power of the white tiger I am the white ranger!" Brian said with confidence. The transport ship was heard over head. Chromium Gold watched as the gunner obliterated his forces.
"Let's go!" Enzo yelled as the ship slowly lowered. He and his team loaded onto the ship and moments later, Brian jumped on. As the ship rose, Brian kept his eyes on Chromium Gold.
"Sir, there's something coming through on communications," a trooper said.
"Let's hear it," Enzo said as he sat back against the back wall. The trooper turned the dial on his radio. The voice that came through was Hez's.
"The rangers have been captured," he said. "We will need everyone at the command center, we plan to bring them back. If Lord Zed has his way, they will all die."
"Get this thing moving faster, we're heading for the command center!" Enzo shouted.