"The Others" Part 3

The teleportation effect dissipated and formed the ten Rangers as they looked out upon the city of Dallas. In the distance they saw the battle suits as the shot out beams of energy and brought their arms smashing through the tall buildings of Dallas.

"Move out" Jason said and gestured forward with his hand.

Zordon's five Rangers went to battle instantly, the Thunder Rangers however looked over at Rocky who nodded to follow. The rift between the teams was still evident, Jason just hoped it wouldn't cost them.

Jason and his team engaged the forward "putty" soldiers, kicking and punching them back with ease before withdrawing their weapons. Zack brought his axe down upon a golem, turning and doing the same to another as it came for him, they fell in two before his eyes. The Thunder Rangers had no problem killing the golems as they knew they were mindless zombies. Jason brought down his sword and looked over watching as the Thunder Rangers each withdrew a long staff and began swinging them knocking down the "putties" with hard shots.

The battle was heated as one by one the mindless creatures fell around them as staffs, swords, lances and daggers glided with agile skill into them. It was certainly a sight to behold and many civilians, and a TV crew for that matter, had begun to gather to see the awesome sight of the battle unfolding.

Jason delivered and flying kick knocking a golem down and brought his sword down hard into the creatures chest, he watched as it went lifeless. He withdrew the sword and looked up noticing the golden troops as they mobilised in the distance, as the last of the golem fell to them the Rangers regrouped and looked to them on the horizon. Before they knew what was happening a group of the Zedorian troops and raised what looked like bows and pulled back what appeared to be energy charged arrows.

"Look out!" Jason called to the others.

The troops let go, the arrows came flying through the air, dropping down upon the Rangers. They each rolled and ducked trying to avoid the arrows. Adam and Billy however were caught with two of the arrows and they were sent down hard as there armour caved and sparked from the blows. Trini ran to Billy as Kat did the same for Adam, both staggered to their feet and insisted they were okay.

"We won't be for long!" Joey shouted.

The troops now had a revolving gun turret set up and aimed their way. The soldier behind it gripped the handles and turned it directly to where Kimberly was standing. He pressed down the trigger and the discharges of energy flew out in alarming quantity toward her. Joey, who had noticed the turret, took a chance and ran for her. Kimberly had froze in place, she knew she wanted her legs to move but couldn't. Joey charged with a cry and speared her out of the way a mere millisecond before the discharges hit the ground and sent the dirt flying into the air. Joey and Kimberly landed hard on the ground, a few good feet from where they had been. Kim looked up at Joey and smiled under her helmet.

"Thanks" she panted.

"No problem hunni" Joey replied.

The soldier reloaded the turret and fired again, this time turning it as his pressed the trigger. The massive cannon vibrated as it fired toward the Rangers. Jason and Rocky turned to each other, nodded and took off with their boots into the air. They moved out of the way of the blasts as the other rangers remaining below dogged them. The soldier brought the turret up toward the incoming Red Rangers and fired. Jason took a few shots directly to the chest and came crashing out of the sky to ground below. The soldier smiled and turned his gun toward Rocky, but it was to late. Rocky brought his staff over his head and he came down and swung it around as he landed, hitting the soldier hard. In the distance the other Rangers took off and in a moment had joined Rocky as he engaged the troops. One brought up his rifle, Rocky knocked it from his hand and smashed him square in the jaw with a backhand blow of his staff.

As the others engaged the golden troops one had got an opening and decided to make to break for the turret. Kimberly noticed this as she stood in the distance and brought up her bow, targeted with her visor, pulled back and fired. The arrow went right through the alien's helmet and killed him instantly as the arrow lodged in his forehead.

"Come on!" Joey told Kim and took off toward the battle.

Kimberly was about to follow when she turned her head and saw Jason lying in pain on the ground a few feet away. She shook her head, looked over at the battle and saw the others had it under control, and took off with her boots toward Jason. She landed near him and quickly ran toward him and knelt down at his side. She got a chill thinking of the last time she had held a man she cared about in this way. She put her arms under him and lifted him up, noticing the scorch marks on the armour.

"Jason. You alright? Talk to me!" Kimberly shouted at him.

Jason groaned "Yeah, the shots didn't get through but I sure felt the impact of 'em."
Kim helped her leader and friend to his feet with a heave. Jason stumbled for a moment before straightening. He looked off into the distance where the others were finishing off the enemy troops. He noted that Rocky and his Rangers were not delivering critical strikes.
"Come on" Jason turned to Kim.

Rocky smashed his staff over a soldier, from the markings he appeared to be the captain of the squad, and brought the point of it down of his neck.

"Tell you men to stand down!" Rocky ordered him.

"That'll be the day" the Captain sneered back.

Before Rocky could say anything else Jason had cut in and brought his sword down, decapitating the alien with one quick slash.
"You didn't need to that!" Rocky cried at Jason.

"Yes I did. Even without what I told you, most of these men, including that one" he pointed to the ground "are the 'core' race. From what Zordon said they are same race as Zedd and will live and die at his command. Do you get it now?"
"No! Get out of my way!" Rocky snapped and moved back toward the others.

As the two of them came back into the battle they noticed Joey withdraw his blaster gun and shoot two troops at point blank range.

"Joey!" Rocky let out in disbelief.

"I'm sorry boss but he's right. This is war!" Joey replied and fired again, killing the last of them.

Rocky shook with anger that his own man had betrayed him like this and had turned to the others ways so quickly.

"Come on Rocky" Jason told his fellow Red Ranger "we can argue about the finer points of morality later. The battle suits are still attacking the main city. You lot have your Zords?"
"Only mine so far" Rocky turned back, his voice was still tainted with anger "but it has two modes. In its battle mode, the cockpit will fit all of my team. Master Kaku said it was the main cockpit for where we all go when our Zords are one."

"Right" Jason nodded "call it."
Jason turned away from him and raised his communicator toward his mouth.

"Zords, power and come to us!" He commanded into it.

If any of them were able to see Rocky's face they would see that it was one of irritation and anger. He however knew that there were far more important things to deal with. He lifted his own wrist, however instead of a communicator he pressed what looked like a key pad on his arm.

"Red Dragon Zord. Activate!"

***

Lighting struck and lit up the now darkened sky. As beneath the other Zords arrived for the original five a strange form began to break through the clouds. The Red Dragon Zord was similar in many was to Serpentera, its long slick figure arched as it shot out of the clouds. It gave out a mighty roar as behind it thunder clattered and lighting lit the sky again.

As the long figured Red Dragon swooped into toward the open ground where the Rangers resided, Rocky took off with his boots and landed on the head of beast. He opened the top hatch and went inside. The Thunder Zords were the next step of evolution for the Zords, inside instead of controls was an orb of energy, once the correct user touched this orb he or she had direct motion control of their Zord. Whatever move they made, the Zord made. Rocky pressed the orb and commanded with his voice the activation of the battle mode. As the Dragon came in for another pass it broke in two, the main body of beast now formed legs and beneath it a torso was revealed. The dragon head dropped down and beneath it was a humanoid one. Finally the arms moved into the place and the Red Dragon Zord Battle Mode was complete.

Beside it the Triceratops and Sabretooth Tiger arched up to form boots, the Masterdon split and formed arms, the Tyrannosaurus came down upon the boots and the Pteryadactyl came in to form the chest plate. The Megazord stood ready for battle. The five original Rangers now sat in the cockpit of the Megazord, the Thunder Rangers now joined Rocky inside the Red Dragon Battle Mode cockpit.

The battle suits looked up, their users looking on wide eyed as the two humanoid constructs came toward them. Megazord withdrew the "power sword" as at the same time Rocky called for the giant staff weapon. Rocky moved his hands around as through he was holding it and swung, bringing the staff battle ready. As he moved his legs forward the Battle Mode walked toward the first target and brought the staff down hard upon it. The battle suit fell back and brought its arm up firing bolts of energy back toward the Zord. The Battle Mode reeled back for a moment as a few shots hit and came back on the attack. Rocky lifted his leg with a kick and the Zord did the same kicking the battle suit down to the ground. Behind it Megazord was taking blows from the other battle suit. It fell back from two fists, then taking two direct hits from the shoulder cannons.

"I've had enough of these bastards!" Zack stated.

Zack brought the sword up over Megazords head and Jason and Kim brought it toward the target. Zack came down with a hard strike and slashed right through the battle suit. The two parts of it fell toward the ground with sparks. One down. They decided to leave the other to their new partners, Jason was interested to see what Rocky would do here.

Rocky brought his arms forward, the staff came down and took the right arm clean off the battle suit. He kicked forward with a straight kick and knocked it back down. Rocky then got onto the com system and sent a message to the enemy weapon.

"Stand down or I will finish this" Rocky told the Zedorian.

No answer. Jason got on the Megazords com, having heard the message.

"Rocky, he won't give up. Finish it. He's lying in wait, he's still got one cannon left!" Jason told his teammate.

"No! I won't! Your wrong!" Rocky shouted back over the other channel.

"He's firing! Take the shot Rocky" Jason cried.

Jason had been right, the battle suit raised it left arm and aimed directly as the head, where the cockpit resided.

"Rocky! Aim for the head!" Jason shouted.

"No!"
"Do it!"

Rocky cursed and before the Zedorian could fire he brought down the staff hard and watching as it buried into the head and chest of the weapon. The suit sparked a few time and went lifeless.

"You did the right thing Rocky" Jason said in a hushed tone.

"I hope your right" Rocky sighed.

Jason was about to reply when suddenly the Zords shuck from weapon impact. They frowned in confusion as they turned the Zords to face where the weapons fire was coming from. On the ground below were multiple tanks and US troops, above fighter jets circled them. It was the US army!

"Come out of the machines and turn yourselves in or we will destroy you!" They heard a gruff voice over a megaphone.

"There firing at us. The fucking military are firing at us!" Zack exclaimed.

"What do we do?"Rocky communicated to Jason.

"Withdraw to the CC" Jason replied, sadness in his voice.

The two humanoid Zords took to the air, below they heard "Open Fire!" The fighter jets followed them for as long as they could but the Zords had been designed with engines faster than anything known to man. They quickly lost them but the resounding message was clear. They were facing a war on two fronts now.

***

The equipment Master Kaku had been using in his own base was now being moved into the Command Centre with the help of the droids. Many of them now stood on the centre platform, listing to Zordon and Kaku go over a few details.
"Not being suspects Kaku, your Rangers are free to return to their normal lives. My own will have to remain here" Zordon spoke down to them.

Jason walked down the catwalk and came up behind Rocky, he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You ok bro?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. I just hate the fact that I had to kill that guy you know?" Rocky replied.
"I know" Jason nodded "but like I said this is war, at least its alien bastards and not other humans over some petty differences like most wars."

"Yeah" Rocky smiled, he then went deadly serious as a though occurred to him "what about our people? What if it comes down to us or the military?"
"We will not kill a human being at any cost" Jason responded sincerely.

"Thats good to know" Rocky sighed and extended his hand "partners?"
Jason took with with a smile and nodded "partners."

In the living area Kimberly and Joey were already being "partners." It had begun with Kimberly casually thanking Joey for saving her ass on the field and with her current mind set being what it was, it had soon ended up in her bedroom. Joey was a young, eager and testosterone filed boy and he was only happy to follow her lead. They now lay naked with each other, their bodies intertwined. Kim let out moans as Joey did the work.

The door on the far side of the lounge area slid back, Trini had come to grab some of her things, she moved over to her bedroom and as she walked over and opened a draw she heard the noises coming from Kimberly's room. She sighed, she knew that it was all her "fuck the world" attitude she had developed since Tommy's death but she couldn't help but be disappointed. She decided not to judge and simply grabbed her things and left.

Billy was outside in the corridor waiting for her, he smiled and noticed the thoughtful look upon her face as she approached.

"Whats wrong?" He asked.

"Oh nothing. Just Kimberly...getting to know one of our new colleagues a little better" Trini shrugged "if you know what I mean."
"Oh" Billy replied "right."

"Come on. The others are waiting for us" Trini said.

The two walked toward the main chamber where the others, minus Joey and Kimberly, were all gathered.

"...I am glad that you were able to put aside your differences and become the team you need to be. Lord Zedd is still alive and so long as he had the resources of his empire, he will be back" Zordon was saying as they entered through the main door and walked down toward the platform.

"We will be here" Jason said in response.

"I'm still not sure about killing. I will only do it when I have to" Rocky said to the group "but now we have a better place to put the prisoners we captured, I'm sure no one will object if we save as many as we can."
"Just make sure it doesn't come at the cost of victory" Jason turned to him.

"Of course" Rocky nodded.

Master Kaku then stepped forward and spoke "You should rest, you all fought well. Tomorrow I will tell you all the truth of where your powers and your weapons come from. I will also tell you where you may find the Temple Of The Three Tribes."

END

Next Time: Origins