Red dust was kicked off the tyres as the two motorcycles and a jeep moved towards a series of rocky cliffs. To anyone who stumbled across this path, it would look like any part of the Chinese mountain range. The only clue that this was no ordinary path was the sudden appearance of two armed guards at the mouth of a natural passageway through the cliffs.
The bikes and car stopped allowing the guards to see who it was. the sight of the rangers made the guards snap to attention, "Rangers," the guard greeted with a salute, "welcome back."
Zang returned the salute and the rangers continued on their journey through the narrow passageway. Once clear of the cliffs, the officer got her first sight of her destination. Built into the side of the rocky red cliffs. The Thunderclap Monastery.
The main gates to the base opened and the bikes and car rolled towards the glass building near the bottom of the monastery. The rangers moved through the complex, quietly acknowledging the salutes of monks. Finally they stopped by the entrance to the central hangar, "So, is this the top secret project you've been working on recently?" Wukong asked.
"Yeah, sorry I've missed the last few poker nights," Quan Ling replied, "we've been working all hours trying to get this up and running."
"Really?" Pigsy sighed, "this better be worth it."
The main doors opened sideways, opening out into the large hangar and what she saw shocked her immediately. Sitting in the middle of the room was a large aircraft, predominately a ship it had special wings on the side shaped like Wukong's nimbus cloud and a white horse head on the bow, the rangers gaped for a couple of moments before asking, "Is that for us?" They turned to Quan Ling, "Are you giving us a ship?"
"Correct," a booming voice grabbed the attention of the rangers.
Zang immediately recognised the stern expression belonging to their mentor, "Gotama sama," he saluted, "I wasn't expecting you here today."
"At ease," Gotama nodded, "The Armada was a wake up call for everyone," he continued, "for forty six years we've allowed the Super Sentai to protect us from the current threat, for which I'd like to personally thank you for by the way."
"Always up for a thank you " Pigsy joked, "although why?"
"Can I continue?" Gotama replied, "the Armada showed us that we could be easily overrun if the enemy attacks with enough force."
"With respect Sir, we still won that day," Wukong stated, "it was a little touch and go at some points but we got the job done."
"The Armada is long gone and there's nothing to suggest they're going to be a threat again. In fact, weve been easily collecting scrolls." Sandy said
Gotama chuckled, "everyone seems to be building a Ranger team, some kid in her bedroom lab to take on those dinosaur monsters, even the Demons got themselves a team of Rangers a couple of years ago." The blue ranger heard that story, something about a fomer power ranger and misfit band of former villains becoming rangers, "Nevertheless you've been tasked with getting the scrolls, and getting them quicker than expected."
"Why summon us back?" Wukong asked.
"I want you based here in the monastery" Gotama continued, Wukong opened his mouth, a retort on the tip of his tongue but he managed to hold himself back. The Red Ranger turned away, slowly shaking his head. He willed his legs to walk away but Zang put his hand on his shoulder, helping calm his friend.
"This really is a rush," Sandy frowned, "is an attack imminent?"
"You worry too much," Pigsy placed an arm on his shoulder, Zang nodded slowly, he couldn't shake the feeling deep in his stomach that something was about to go horribly wrong.
