After training, Alessandra arrived in an arena over in Panorama. Her biggest show to date was only a little way off, and she was intent on ensuring that she would be up to it. Although she had recovered from her shoulder injury, and she had been working out to get ready, she had not yet had a proper match in months.
The next big show in Amber Beach was going to be a huge opportunity for her. One of the biggest names on the independent circuit, Ricochet, a man who if the chatter was to be believed had already signed for a major company and was only running out his last few independent bookings had asked specifically for Alessandra as his opponent in his last match for Carl. It was a big honour to be asked for, especially for a farewell match, but she was also well aware that if he was going to a big company, then all eyes would be on his match, including scouts for other companies. She needed to ensure that would be the performance of a lifetime, and after so long out, she was a little nervous about it all. Carl had been good enough to fix her up in a warm-up match to ensure she was up to the task.
She was in a little bit of a hurry as she arrived; Carl had been kind enough to give her a ride to the arena. She managed to find the booker as he was overseeing the set-up. A few of the performers were hanging around, discussing the spots they were planning to do. She went to the booker, attracting his attention.
"Alessandra, always a pleasure." He greeted her, hugging her. "How's the shoulder?"
"I feel better." She told him.
"Trust me, when I saw that shit Eddie pulled, I was livid. That useless prick thinks way too highly of himself." He told her. "You know where the changing rooms are."
"Who my opponent?" He asked him. The booker looked to her and smiled.
"Anna Konda." He told her. Alessandra was delighted to hear this. Anna was a relatively young worker like her, but one she had worked with a few times. She was a gifted technical wrestler, with a good reputation for working safely, and being very easy to work with. Alessandra got on well with Anna, and was sure that the decision to pair them up was as much to put her mind at ease as it was because they had already had some memorable matches together. "She should be in the changing rooms."
Alessandra headed into the back, looking for somewhere quiet to get changed. When she got there, finding a seat, she was quickly joined and greeted by Anna. She grabbed Alessandra in an enthusiastic hug, squeezing her tightly.
"How's my favourite Luchador?" She asked her. Alessandra just smiled.
"I feel good." She told her. Anna sat around in front of her. She was a red-head, with pronounced freckles, and a mid-western accent. She looked to Alessandra as she started to unpack her bag.
"So, you're sending off Ricochet?" She asked. Alessandra just nodded. "Well, how are you feeling, really?"
"I nervous. Been long time." Alessandra responded honestly. "Wish Koda here."
"Koda? You mean that guy that tossed Eddie into the fourth row?" She asked, seeing the expression on Alessandra's face as she said this. She smiled. "Girl, you have some taste, I'll give you that!"
Alessandra seemed a little less happy to hear that, but she had known Anna long enough to know that she didn't mean anything by it. She was a flirt, but she did abide by a strict 'look but don't touch' policy when she knew someone was attached. She was, however, pleased to hear that Alessandra had found someone that made her so happy. Alessandra was just starting to get dressed when she took her hand.
"Listen, if you're up for it, I've got an idea for something really special as a finish." She told her. Anna just nodded, pulling in closer, listening intently.
Back in New Zealand, Dr Runga was setting up a display at his dig site. He had already managed to get a stage set up, with a large-screen television, a backing set complete with potted plants, and a massive sign declaring that a real-life dinosaur had been discovered. He was going to great lengths to ensure that everything was perfect. Namely that his own name and face was front and centre.
"Check that works. I don't want to take any chances." He told one of his assistants, indicating to the screen. Another was carrying a huge portrait of Dr Runga. "You, make sure you put that right up at the centre, right where the cameras are pointing!"
"DR RUNGA!" He heard a loud, very familiar voice calling out. He just sighed and rolled his eyes. He knew that he could expect this sooner or later. It was the biggest story in the area, there was no way Shelby wouldn't have heard of it. He looked to the reporters who were already starting to assemble.
"I just need to deal with this real quick." He told them. He sent them away as he turned to greet Shelby, who looked thoroughly livid. He was expecting that though, he knew what he had done was more than a little shady. "Shelby, are you here to see the unveiling?"
"You stole my video!" Shelby yelled at him, struggling to contain herself. Dr Runga was looking at her, and addressing her like nothing had happened. He didn't even seem to acknowledge that he had done anything wrong. "You can't release that video! You need to tell everyone that it's fake, that you've made a mistake!"
"Shelby, don't you realise what's happening here today? Never mind find of the century...this could be the most significant find in all of science!" He told her. "I've been doing this for decades! All those books I've written, those hundreds of discoveries...none of them mean anything compared to this!"
He gestured to the sign, declaring the discovery of a real-life dinosaur. Shelby didn't look to be in an understanding mood though. The way her right hand kept tightening up into a fist, Dr Runga was trying to decide if he needed to duck.
"But you've just revealed this to the world!" Shelby responded. "This isn't finding some fossils; this is a real, living thing! If you release that video, there will be literally hundreds of hunters swarming around here. It'll never have any peace!"
"Listen, I know I should have asked, but if you stay, I'll make sure you get credit." He told her. He started to move a little closer. "Just think, thanks to this, you can ditch that little museum. I could get you a scholarship; take you on as an apprentice! This...this could take your career worldwide!"
Shelby could hardly believe what he was saying. She knew he was trying to bribe her, trying to buy her off, but it was a very appealing proposal. She had always dreamed of going into the field, but so far she couldn't even afford the tuition for a basic degree, much less a doctorate. Offering not only a full scholarship, but also the endorsement of someone with his name and reputation was something that would propel her career by years! It was literally everything that she ever wished for being offered to her on a plate. He drew in a little closer.
"Come, I'll even let you stand on the stage with me." He told her. "Imagine, not even a student, and being credited with one of the greatest finds in history! You'll be famous."
"Credit?" She asked him. Her face slipped though, he didn't realise his mistake. "Like how you credited Ms Morgan for her work?"
"I don't know what she told you..."
"She told me everything about that paper." Shelby told him.
"Well...any academic institution owns the rights to the work published by anyone under their employ or any of their students." He told her. "It's a pretty standard..."
"You know what? Forget it." She told him. "You know, when I was a little girl, you inspired me with your books and your journals. You made me want this more than anything I've ever wanted anything in my life. Now...now I find out that all you care about is fame."
"Hey, none of this pays for itself!" Dr Runga told her flatly. "Do you have any idea how much a full scale dig costs? Do you think we can fund that by washing cars or collecting cans? You're only as good as your press, and that's only as good as your last work. With this, I could keep the team running for years!"
"You know, my boyfriend told me that I might have got you wrong. He told me I needed to give you a chance. Now, I see he was right. You're not as bad as I thought. You're a whole lot worse." Shelby said, looking at her one-time idol in disgust. "Your name may be Dr Runga, but you are NOT the man that inspired me. Not anymore."
With that, she turned and walked back to her friends, who seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief that Shelby hadn't done anything that would involve the local authorities. She was still clearly angry, but she was at least able to let it go and get back to what was important.
"What happened?" Tyler asked her.
"He's showing the video, no matter what happens." Shelby told them. "We need to find the Plesio Zord, and fast!"
As they were leaving, her phone bleeped. She just pulled out her phone, checking the message.
"What's that?" Chase asked her.
"Konua Caves?" She asked, looking to Albert. He lit up immediately.
"They're not far from here!" He told them. "They're plenty large enough to hide the Plesio Zord! It was one of the sites I wanted us to check!"
"Ms Morgan must have narrowed it down!" Tyler surmised. Chase looked a little puzzled though by this.
"Why would she send a text?" He asked. "We have our communicators."
"Chase, who else knows we're out here?" Riley asked him. "Come on, which way?"
"North!" Albert responded, running off. As they were running though, Ivan only got a couple of paces before he noticed Koda was nowhere to be seen. He turned to see him running the wrong way.
"KODA!" He called out. The Blue Ranger skidded to a halt, turning to see him. "We're in New Zealand. North is this way!"
Koda nodded in understanding, before running after him.
"Don't worry; I too am surprised the Earth is not flat." He assured Koda. The Blue Ranger just nodded.
"Oh yeah, why they change that?" He asked as they ran to catch up with their friends.
Back at the arena, Alessandra's match was well underway. The crowd was overjoyed to see Alessandra back and doing what she did best. The two were in the middle of the ring, with Anna in control. She had been working over the arm, using the fact that most of the internet-savvy fans were aware El Jaguar was only just returning from a shoulder injury. The crowd was throwing a lot of heat her way for exploiting the injury so blatantly as she held her in a tight arm-lock. Anna was milking the crowd's reaction, seeming to take pleasure in teasing releasing the hold, before dragging her back. She twisted Alessandra's arm behind her as she hit a backdrop in the ring, before attempting a pin. It didn't get a three, but she was quick to re-apply the arm-lock.
"Are you ready for it?" Anna whispered to her. Alessandra just nodded to indicate she was ready for the finish they had planned. Shoving her off, shoulder-first into the turnbuckle, Anna rushed in, grabbing her around the waist, before rolling backwards. When they regained their feet, she was about to hit a German Suplex, a move that she had won many matches with. However, this was where the plan went into effect.
Releasing the grip, Alessandra performed a full, back somersault over her, leaving her off-balance. The crowd was ecstatic to see the finisher reversed, but Alessandra wasn't finished. She leapt up, ending up sitting on Anna's shoulders, both of them facing forwards. She touched her head, indicating that she was beginning the move, before both tucked for a dual forward-roll, a move called a Victory Roll, as it ended in a pinning position. Alessandra hooked her legs as she logged the pin for the 3 count, ending the bout.
The crowd erupted! Anna rolled out of the ring, leaving Alessandra to accept the cheers of the crowd alone, but gave her a wink to congratulate her on a great first match back. Alessandra couldn't have wished for a better return match after her injury. Anna was always a generous worker, willing to put over whoever she was working with, and tonight had been no exception. She knew how important it was for Alessandra's confidence before her big match that she put on a strong showing, and judging by the crowd, she needn't have worried, she was ready! She only wished Koda could have been there to see it.
She slipped out of the ring, taking a moment to greet a few fans, while the next bout was being announced. After high-fiving a young girl, she started to walk down the aisle towards the back. She bumped into one of them as she headed down the aisle the opposite way. She looked up, seeing that it was Eddie and Vinnie, the Kolossal Koallition.
"Hey, clear the way!" Vinnie warned her, shoving her aside. Alessandra didn't say anything, deciding not to waste her time with them. She knew they were idiots, that much was obvious. However, clearly Eddie had taken offence.
"Hey, you got a problem? You got nothing to say?" He snapped at her, grabbing her and pulling her back. "You no speak the English?"
Alessandra just swiped his hand off her, and proceeded to walk away. Vinnie decided to get involved at this point.
"Hey, we're talking to you bitch!" He yelled at her, grabbing her by the mask. Alessandra pulled and fought to get loose, slipping on the floor as she lost her footing. As she landed on the floor, she looked up to see Vinnie staring at her, holding something in his hand. She reached up, clutching at her head, realising to her horror what it was. Her mask! It had come loose during the match, the laces had come undone. When she fell, Vinnie had been holding it, and the mask had come straight off.
Alessandra was painfully aware of what was going on as camera flashes went off. Covering up her face in a futile effort, she ran into the back, where Anna was waiting, having seen the whole thing. She grabbed Alessandra, holding her tightly as the Luchador broke down in tears.
Back in New Zealand, Fury and Meteor were on a beach, looking around the rocks. Fury had the map in his hand, checking it for landmarks.
"Are you sure Dr Runga hasn't sent us on a wild goose chase?" Meteor asked him. Fury just looked to him in response.
"He won't have if he knows what's good for him!" Fury responded matter-of-factly. "Now, hurry up and check that cave, it's the last one on the map he marked up for us."
"The last four were a waste of time." Meteor reminded him. "They didn't even seem damp, never mind..."
"Just shut up and get on with it!" Fury yelled at him.
"HEY!" Tyler called out as the Rangers arrived.
"What the hell?" Riley asked as they saw their adversaries. They knew that they too were looking for the Plesio Zord, but it was still a surprise to run into them so soon. They were hoping it would take them a while to catch up to them on the search. "How did he...?"
"Guys...my Energem!" Albert said, reaching for his necklace as it started glowing. "The Plesio Zord, it's close! It must be in the cave!"
"We can't let them get in there! Albert, try and get the Energem to the Plesio Zord! We'll hold off these bozos." Tyler called out. "Unleash the Power!"
The Rangers all morphed, before rushing to the attack. Fury called up some Viviks and responded in kind. Very quickly, he found himself locking blades with Ivan. The two strained against each other as they tried to secure footing on the loose sands.
"It looks like we get to finish what I started 800 years ago!" Fury said as he tried to overpower Ivan. The Gold Ranger stared him down as he adjusted his grip on the Ptera Sabre.
"This time it will be different Fury." He responded, before breaking the stalemate, leaping away as he sent a blast Fury's way, which he blocked. A little way off, Tyler was trying to clear a path for Albert to get to the caves.
"How the hell did they get here before us?" Tyler screamed as he smashed one of the Viviks into sludge with his Tyranno Fist. Albert was right by him, taking down some Viviks with his Dino Sabre.
"Something tells me they had a little help!" Albert said, pointing to the rocks. Tyler could see Dr Runga, clear as day, carrying a video camera, leaping across the rocks, heading for the cave. His blood started to boil as he realised this was all way too much of a coincidence. Dr Runga had sent the video from Shelby's phone to his own; he would have had the return number on his call register. He must have sent the message to check out that cave, sending the Rangers straight for Fury, who was looking at a map when they arrived. He had to put his anger aside though as Meteor noticed him too, and started to head for the cave as well.
"Albert, hurry up and get after him before he gets himself AND the Plesio Zord incinerated!" Tyler called out. The Purple Ranger quickened his pace, taking down Viviks as he sprinted after them.
