Note: Sorry for the wait folks, been busy. Also sorry for anyone who read it before a proper proof read. All sorted now.

"The Dark Ranger Saga" Part 2

The peak of Mount Everest is the highest point on Earth, as such it is not surprising that a man like Lord Zedd would chose to land his convertible flag ship here and use it as his primary base of command. Here all of his primitive new subjects must now look up to him and his complete control over their planet and their lives. It also allows for clear communications reception from both planet side and the blockade above. Not to mention the tactical reason of being able to rapidly achieve orbit if needed in a moment's notice. Inside the black metallic bulkheads of this ship, Serpentera, he stands at the highest point that while in space is the vessels bow, in His personal chambers that are but a deck away from the command deck. He chooses it as such.

Upon his desk rests his metallic mask, rested against the wall is his staff and his normally armored, scared flesh is covered with a comfortable black material robe, the hood raised over his repulsive face. Even while at rest he did not wish to show that face to world, nor glaze upon it himself as he passed a reflective surface. He stands with hands rested behind his back, his shadowed eyes looking out upon the construction work of the permanent dome base that will serve as his command post until his business on this planet is concluded. His head twitches for a moment in reaction as his door chime sounds. Keeping his arms behind his back he moves over to the desk, reaches down with a hand and presses the communications panel.

"Yes?" His speaks firmly.

"He is here my Lord, he says you asked him to meet with you on arrival" comes the guards reply.

"Send him in" Zedd removes his hand from the receiver and looks up, adjusted the hood further over his face as the door slides back.

"My Lord, it is good to see you" bows Ritoro.

"Indeed. You requested to come here and I allowed it, now speak your query and leave me in peace" he sits at the desk as he speaks.

"My sister says that you are in need of further help here" Ritoro steps further forward towards the opposite side of the desk.

"Then your sister is misinformed. This colony is secure and its inhabitants in check."

"Then you have found a replacement for your Chief of Staff? Was the former not killed last year by the powerful resistance force that is still at large?"

Zedd shifts in aggravation, making an audible noise as such "I assure you that I have already taken steps to eliminate that threat and I need no help with it. Your sister should keep herself in line and not speak of such to you."

"Forgive me but are the two of you not to be joined?"

"Only by convenience I assure you. I hold no care for you or any of your pompous family."

"My Lord, with all due respect you would not have achieved this occupation without that convenience and giving me this position will not only strengthen that but also be a sound move on your part. My skills and qualifications…"
Zedd raises his charred red hand to stop him and speaks with exasperation "if I give you the post will you leave me be?"
"Why…yes My Lord."

"Then you are my new Military Chief of Staff. Now leave me be and if you fail me hope you death comes at the hand of the enemy. I will not be so merciful."

Ritoro smiles as he clenches his fist to his chest and bows "Thank you my Lord. You will not regret…"
"I already am! Leave!" Zedd bellows.

Ritoro reels for a second, nods and then quickly does so, exiting the door and leaving Zedd back in silence. Zedd sits back with a breath of aggravation and then reaches up and pressed the com panel again.

"Get me Bandora. I wish to speak to her regarding the new task force."

-THE DARK RANGER SAGA-

Heads appear from opening doorways, fearful and confused chatter beginning as the occupants of this floor of the New York apartment complex look at the walking figure. White boots walk upon the wooden floor, the green armor clinking as it moves and makes contact with it. The Green Ranger whistles cheerfully as he strolls nonchalantly down the hall, checking the numbers and stopping as he reaches the one he is searching for.

"93. Good year" He speaks to himself and then continues to whistle as he knocks.

Inside Rocky and Tanya jump from the couch in reaction, both looking at each other and then Tanya moving towards it asking "who…who is it?"
"Police Mam. Open up" Comes the reply.

"Why?" Tanya asks wide eyed.

"We have reason to believe you are harboring a wanted felon of the state."

"Um…just a minute" she swallows then turns back towards the Rocky.

"I know that voice" Rocky frowns at her "but if it's him then…why wouldn't he just call me? This doesn't make sense."

"What?" Tanya opens her arms and shakes her head "you have to go! Now!"
"yeah, you don't have to tell me twice. I just hope my armor has had time to repair" He walks over reaching down to his morpher on the table.

Outside the door the whistling Green Ranger waits no longer, reaching down for his blaster, drawing, lifting it and firing.

Rocky's fingers have just touched the device as he and a screaming Tanya are knocked to floor by the explosion, the remains of the door flying back and crashing into the wall behind him. Rocky holds himself as he looks up towards the dust cloud and watches as figure steps through it and comes in view.

"The the hell?" He manages to speak with an open mouth.

"How do you want to do this new boy?" The Green asks, hoisting his gun and seething his long sword instead "the easy way meaning you come with me and join my team. Or the hard way in which I cut you and your frail friend here into tiny pieces and just take your coin. Please go for option two."

Rocky lies for a moment, looking up into the covered eyes of the Green Ranger and trying to make some sense of this.

"What's the matter? Kat got your tongue? I know she'll have mine tonight" Rocky cannot see the mouth but he knows there is a grin behind the helmet "oh that's right. You don't know who I am do you? Well…other than the cheap knock of me that's been helping you."

"Actually…" Rocky replies, reacting fast so as to stand and grab his morpher, a fired blast barely missing him.

Without wasting another moment he jumps up onto the table calling out "Red Dragon!" And leaping down, drawing his sword and bringing it down into the Green Ranger's as he lands.

"…I do know you. And, unless I'm mistaken Tommy, you're dead."

Tommy withdraws his sword, swinging for Rocky and being blocked, and again, once more. Now its Rocky's turn to swing and be incepted by the opposing blade. Tanya looks up in amazement as the duel wages between the two. The Green Ranger is then able push Rocky's sword up and swing for him, however Rocky is able to used his enhanced dexterity to back flip back onto the table avoiding it. Tommy comes in again swinging with aggression and slicing the table in two as Rocky leaps over him and lands on his feet behind him. The Green Ranger turns reacting just in time to block another offensive swing of Rocky's sword.

"I always hated the colour red" The Green Ranger banters.

"You talk too much" replies Rocky and reaches for his pistol, bringing it up, crossing it over his blade and firing.

The blast is dazzlingly bright and deafeningly loud in the enclosed area, smashing the window and any other glass in the room and letting up a cloud of smoke where the Green Ranger had been standing that soon covers the room. Rocky squints looking over his arm to pear as the smoke clears, hoping to see the still or dismembered body of the Green Ranger. But he sees neither. Instead as the smoke clears the Green Ranger stands his ground unaffected but for a minor scorch mark on his golden shield.

"It's not just for show dumb ass" Tommy speaks in return.

He now runs forward, raising his sword to attack again, Rocky quickly trying to react and block it but does not do so until its too late, the blade slashing across his chest, the armour sparking and giving way to the formed metal. Rocky reels, stumbling backward and holding his wound, feeling a laceration in his chest. He does not have long to think about it though as soon comes another aggressive blow that forces him to drop and roll to avoid it. He needs to get this out into an open space and away from Tanya and any other people that this battle was placing in danger. He runs for the window, avoiding Tommy's attacks and leaping up into it. He then looks back with a start towards the table remembering he had forgotten something rather important but knowing he can't get to it.

"Tanya!" He calls to her and brings his sword up to block another blow.

Tanya stands, looking over at him in response, her face that of panic.

"Use that device on the table! Call for help!"

With that he turns, able to lift his leg up and kick Tommy back before leaping from the window and using his boot thrusters to lower him safely to the pavement street below. The Green Ranger waists no time in following, firing his blaster as he descends, Rocky able to roll out of the way of it and fire off and shot of his own that brings the Green Ranger falling hard from the sky with a yelp. Rocky knew it would not be long before troopers arrived, then he would have no chance. He could only hope Tanya was able to call for help in time.

-THE DARK RANGER SAGA-

Kimberly, Billy, Trini and Oliver were all now in the Power Chamber discussing their next move, the plans for counter strikes and what to do about Zack and Jason's departure. The mood had been heavy since then and all still reeling from it. Especially those close to them. Some sit, some stand, Oliver as straight as a solider as Zordon speaks.

"..Yeah we can ask them but will the coins react to a second user?" Billy speaks, Trini's head rested upon his shoulder as he sits on the top of one of the second level platform steps.

"Can the Tyrannosaurus one even work with a girl?" Kim adds.

"I do not know. But I would rather not bring in others into our group at this time. Not while we are wanted by your people" Zordon responds.

Oliver is about to reply but is cut off by the sound of beeping, a beeping coming from each of their wrists and ops console.

"Hello?" Kimberly lifts her communicator to her mouth.

"Umm…hi. This is Tanya, I saved your friend Rocky and he told me to use this to call for help" comes Tanya's voice.

"You were saying?" Trini sighs in Zordon's direction who does not give a visible reaction.

"Where are you? Why isn't he calling us?" Kim asks.

"He's under attack! Some guy in green armour like his…yours…"

"Wait! Green armour?" Kimberly's face grows pale as she looks over at the others who have now stood with a start, she gazes particularly at Oliver.

"Yes, why…?"

"You're sure? That's…impossible."

"Look, I don't know about that but he's in trouble. Those aliens will be here soon and I don't think he is fully healed from his injuries" Tanya now cuts her off.

"I have a location" Billy nods over to her from the panel he now works over.

Kimberly nods back and then lifts her wrist to speak again "we are on our way, stay put and let us know if anything changes."

With that she closes the channel and looks at the others.

"What about the other two?" Trini asks.

"We will have to proceed without them" Oliver replies "but you will need to follow my orders."

"Sure…"Billy looks over at Kimberly.

"Right. Move out" Oliver lifts his morpher up as he speaks "White Tiger!"
"Pterodactyl!"

"Triceratops!"

"Sabretooth Tiger!"

-THE DARK RANGER SAGA-

The Green Ranger strides towards his prey that is now knelt over, clutching himself from a further blow and forcing himself through the pain to stand.

"Looks like you damaged your suit. Oh well, it will fix up again for its next user" Tommy speaks as he swings his sword, knocking Rocky's from his hand and sending him back down, raising his blade for the killing blow "can't say them same for you though."

He looks down with a concealed grin of satisfaction and then swings to lower his weapon towards its intended target. But before it can reach him a blast comes from out of nowhere and strikes the blade, knocking it from his hand. The Green Ranger reacts for a moment before looking up in anger to see…Tanya holding Rocky's dropped pistol, smoke still coming from the nozzle.

"Leave him alone you son of a bitch!" She snarls.

Tommy looks at her for a moment and then erupts in laughter "you? I was expecting someone more colourful."

"Be careful what you wish for" comes another from beside him followed by a double blast to the chest that actually sends him stumbling back from its combined impact.

He looks over now, holding his chest, to see the Ranger's standing ready to attack.

"I don't believe it" Kimberly can hardly speak "is it…you?"

"Yeah it's me babe" the Green Ranger replies with glee "what took you so long?"
He then looks over at the White Ranger "oh and the cheap knock off. Glad to meet you, nice tiger look. Not so sure about the head on the sword though."

"How?" Kimberly shakes her head.

Before anyone can react or speak again the sounds of sirens and engines sound in the distance, prompting all to look and see police and Zeddorian troops approaching down the block.

"That's my cue. Those morons will only make things more complicated and we will have plenty of chances to do this later" he quickly rolls avoiding fired shots from the Rangers and smashes a hard punch to the head off Rocky, reacting down and pulling the Red Dragon coin from his waist. He then stands and salutes them, then disappears in shimmer of light before anyone can react.

"What the hell was that?" Billy asks in disbelieve "a ghost?"

"Let's discuss it later. Hostiles are approaching" Oliver replies sternly and runs over grabbing Rocky and lifting his wrist to his mouth "Zordon, emergency beam out of all personnel!"

With that they are gone. Leaving the cops, the troops and a silently shocked Tanya by themselves.

-THE DARK RANGER SAGA-

Zedd stands in a large room above Serpentera, a line up including Tommy and Katherine before him and Bandora behind him as she speaks.

"This is the complete team that has been trained after the coins reacted to them. You of course know the two veteran members" Bandora smiles with pride.

Zedd walks now, passing the line and looking at each of them head to toe.

"You all know what you have been gathered for and you all know your mission. All that is left is to activate your power and become a well oiled unit. You will then move out over the planet and do not return until you have defeated the Rangers. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" Comes the combined, military like response.

"Then go ahead and transform" Zedd gestures with his hand "my Dark Rangers."