Dr Runga leapt across rocks, scrambling deep into the cave as he tried to get away from the battle. He had set the wheels in motion for the Power Rangers and the monsters that threatened his discovery against each other. He could still hear the blasts and the clashing of weapons echoing throughout the cave as he went.
He could hardly believe it when the monsters arrived at his dig site, and Fury had told him that there was a real-live dinosaur only feet away from his dig site. He'd heard all the usual urban legends and rumours, and he had noticed a recent upsurge in the number of claims that 'Tanifa' had been sighted, but until they had shown up, he believed it to be no more credible than the number of Elvis sightings that were reported every day of the week.
The footage he had stolen from Shelby had eliminated any and all doubt he had in his mind; these children had indeed found a real live dinosaur! The eight year old boy in him that had always dreamed of meeting one of these beautiful, fantastic creatures was overcome with the thought that he could. There were museums all over the world where one could see all the fossils and bones they wanted, but if his also contained an aquarium where a real living dinosaur could be viewed, people would come from all over the world and pay any price he asked! It would be like comparing Disney World to an amusement park with a tarot reader and a single clown. He had always dreamed of being on the front cover of magazines and on television, with this, he would be able to choose which ones he wanted to, and he would be clearing a space in his trophy cabinet for a Nobel prize!
He stumbled a little, and almost fell, struggling to clutch the camera to prevent it being damaged. Although he already had Shelby's footage, he couldn't resist going to see for himself, despite the risk. Fury had told the truth about the dinosaur, he saw no reason to believe that he would lie to him about them being Rangers. He knew that Power Rangers fought monsters, it was the reason they existed in the first place! Setting the Rangers against them, he hoped, would clear the way for him to get his prize. He didn't know what interest the Rangers had in a dinosaur, but whatever it was, this would be the moment of his career.
He climbed over some more rocks, coming around a stalagmite, only to hear a low rumble. He smiled as he saw something a little way off in the darkness, something that did not look like any rock formations he had ever seen. His heart raced as he prepared himself for the moment that he had dreamed of since he was a little boy. Turning on the light mounted on the video camera, he started it recording and raised it up. The beam of light confirmed that what he was seeing was no rock formation. Dr Runga furrowed his brows, seeing the way the light glinted off the surface as he panned across the creature. It was a deep purple, but it didn't look like any kind of fish or reptile skin as he knew it. It seemed more like metal. The creature stirred, and started to look towards him, slowly and sluggishly, opening a single, deep, red eye.
"What in the world?" He whispered, seeing the creature. He didn't know what it was, but it certainly didn't seem like any interpretation of a dinosaur he had ever come across, it didn't even seem like a living creature, its form seemed almost more like...metal? He heard some sounds behind him, and turned to see some of the monsters coming towards him.
"Come on! It's this way!" Meteor snarled at some Viviks, gesturing them forward. He could see Dr Runga up ahead, and realised what must have happened. Dr Runga had been the one to tell them where to look. "YOU! You set us up! We warned you what would happen!"
He launched a meteor straight for Dr Runga. He was only just saved as Albert managed to interject himself between him and the Meteor, smashing it back with his Dino Sabre. Meteor flew into the wall as Viviks started to surround them. Albert fought bravely, trying to clear his way to the Plesio Zord.
"I hope that footage is worth it doctor!" Albert scolded him as he took down some of his opponents. Dr Runga could understand his anger, but right now he was more concerned with the danger that now was coming his way. He looked between Albert and the Plesio Zord.
"This...this isn't a Plesiosaur is it?" He asked, noting the way it looked to Albert. It started to stir, like it was trying to move, but it seemed very sluggish, and lacking in energy. It let out a low moan, like it was in pain.
"It's my Zord!" Albert snapped at him. "It's low on energy, it's vulnerable, and now, thanks to you, you've brought these things right to it!"
Dr Runga couldn't help feeling guilty. It was true, in his desperation to be credited with the discovery of a dinosaur, he had brought the monster, the one determined to destroy it, right to it. He had underestimated the power of this monster; he had thought the Rangers would have driven it off by now.
He looked over to where Albert was fighting, struggling to deal with his enemies. Meteor launched a blast straight for the Plesio Zord, which slammed into it. The Zord let out a horrifying howl of pain as he did so.
"NO!" Albert yelled at him, running for Meteor to stop the assault. Dr Runga watched him fight, trying to overpower Meteor, while the Viviks headed for the Zord, attacking it.
"Leave it alone!" Dr Runga screamed, picking up a rock, and throwing it at one of the creatures. The Viviks turned their attention towards him, but by now Dr Runga was determined not to allow them to harm the Zord any further. It might not be a real dinosaur, but it was close enough for him. Albert couldn't help noticing his efforts.
"It's low on Energy; I need to get to it!" Albert told him. "It needs to be reunited with its Energem."
"Energem?" Dr Runga asked. He smashed the video camera across a vivik's face as he struggled to keep them away. "It needs a gem?"
"I have it!" Albert told him. Dr Runga suddenly got an idea.
"Throw it here!" He told Albert. The Purple Ranger could hardly believe his ears. Dr Runga had caused all of this, and now he wanted him to trust him with an Energem?
"Are you...?"
"I'm closer, and I'm not pinned down!" Dr Runga reminded him. "Please, I want to help!"
Albert was reluctant to trust him, but as he got slammed into the cave floor by Meteor, he realised he didn't really have much of a choice. He took out his Energem and threw it over to Dr Runga.
Joseph caught the Energem as he threw the remains of the camera at another vivik, taking it down. He saw the viviks standing between him and the Plesio Zord, and smiled. It had been a long time since university, but seeing them before him, all he could see was Wellington City's defence. He ran straight for them, slamming straight into the first and sending it flying several feet with a dismissive shoulder tackle. He broke out to the side, and fended off a few careless lunges. As he got to the last Vivik, he dove over the top of its tackle, rolling on the ground as he got to the Plesio Zord, throwing the Energem into its waiting mouth. It started to glow, and rose up, its eyes changing from red to green. It started to move, causing the whole cavern to shake. Meteor and the viviks all started to back away slowly.
"That was quite a run!" Albert complimented Dr Runga as the Plesio Zord caught a couple of viviks in its jaws, throwing them against the roof of the cavern, where they turned to sludge on impact. "A try for sure!"
"Auckland University Rugby Team." Dr Runga said proudly as they stood aside, letting the Plesio Zord start to get some room as its strength returned. "My coach wanted me to try out for the All Blacks."
They watched as the last of the viviks disappeared after a power blast from the Zord. Meteor turned tail and ran screaming from the cave. Albert looked to Dr Runga as he grabbed him.
"It may not be a Plesiosaur, but would you...?"
"No, this is clearly your honour." Dr Runga told him. Albert leapt inside as the Plesio Zord powered up its engines, starting to rise off the cave floor. Once inside the cockpit, Albert stood at the controls, placing his weapon into the console.
"Now then, what do you say we show these young ones what a Zord can really do?" He asked. "Plesio Zord, power up!"
Outside the cave, the Rangers and Fury were still fighting when they all heard a roar of engines. They all turned to the cave in time to see Meteor running for his life, bowling over viviks and even Fury in a display that would put many rugby players to shame.
They all stood aside as the Plesio Zord came into view, and flew overhead, firing blasts straight for Meteor. They all assembled, watching as it exacted its revenge for the earlier attack.
"Whoa, that thing looks PISSED!" Riley commented as Dr Runga arrived with them to watch it.
"I'm sorry, but I had to help after everything I've done." Dr Runga told them. "It isn't a dinosaur, but it is..."
"Awesome?" Tyler asked. Dr Runga just looked to them as it obliterated Meteor and nodded in agreement.
"Since when could Plesiosaurs fly?" Chase asked.
"Yes!" He agreed. Fury was only just starting to get up, spitting out some sand he'd swallowed as Meteor shoved him to escape. He got onto his communicator.
"Lord Sledge, the Rangers have the Plesio Zord!" He told him. "Fire the Magna Beam! Perhaps that overgrown ember can be of some use!"
"OK, that looks like our cue." Tyler declared as he saw Meteor starting to grow. "Dr Runga, get to a safe..."
"No need Tyler, my friend here is still looking for a little payback!" Albert assured them over the communicator. "Here, let me take him back where he belongs!"
The Plesio Zord snatched Meteor up in its jaws, before turning sharply upwards, and blasting straight into orbit. The Rangers could only watch on in amazement.
"So...Albert's Zord can go into space now?" Chase asked. "Is anyone else thinking we kind of got hosed on the hardware?" They all just de-morphed, staring at him as he looked back. "I'm just sayin', I mean...his Zord goes into freaking space!"
Meteor struggled in vain as he was carried out of the atmosphere, into orbit above the Earth. The creature was still stunned and disorientated, and he was keen to finish him off. Kendall appeared on his viewing screen.
"Ms Morgan?" He asked.
"Albert, you've done an incredible job, but I want to tell you how to get the best from your Zord." She told him. "I've got a read-out from my scans here; your Zord has a Megazord mode."
"Megazord?" He asked, looking around. "You are full of surprises, aren't you old girl?"
"Now, listen to me Albert, you need to synchronise completely with your Zord for this to work." She told him. "If you..."
"I think I can already hear her talking to me!" Albert said with a smile. "Come on; let's show them what the old-timers can do!"
The Plesio Zord started to transform, taking on its Megazord mode just as Meteor finally started to regain composure. He realised his position, and started to open fire, opting to go out swinging as opposed to just whimpering away, waiting for the end.
"That's a girl!" Albert yelled as it rocketed towards the creature, attacking with its arm. Kendall kept an eye on the schematics, keeping track of the battle.
"Albert, the Plesio Zord is now at full power, it's ready for its ultimate attack!" She told him.
"Let's send him back where he came from!" Albert called out. "Plesio Zord Rocket Punch!"
With a final anguished scream, Meteor was completely obliterated as the rocket punch hit. Albert cackled with delight as he realised that the battle was over.
"That was amazing Albert!" Tyler congratulated him. "I'll even let you say it!"
"Alright then!" Albert answered, striking a pose. "Monster extinct!"
"Albert, you were just amazing! Truly remarkable!" Ivan chipped in.
"Yeah, you totally did it for the kiwi boys." Chase added.
"I agree, you have more than shown that the Purple Energem was wise to choose you." Kendall agreed. "I can't wait to meet you when you finally get back here."
"Yes, well...that's just the thing." Albert told them as he took a deep breath. "I think there's something we really need to talk about."
Back on Sledge's ship, Fury and Wrench arrived in a drop pod, having utterly failed in their mission. Sledge came towards them, clearly livid. Poisandra and Curio were close behind him. Poisandra seemed positively giddy about their failure, knowing that Sledge was close to having exhausted all his patience with Fury.
"Master Sledge, please have mercy...!" Fury begged him.
"Save your breath! You have failed me enough times!" Sledge warned him. Poisandra lit up hearing this and started bouncing on the spot.
"Oh, please tell me we're going to incinerate him this time!" She giggled. Sledge just looked to his two officers hatefully.
"Believe me, the only thing you accomplished down there that's any use to us is building that re-animation device!" Sledge said, ignoring his fiancée's assertion as his viviks started to unload a ship that carried the parts for the device. "If it wasn't for that, I'd have left you down there for the Rangers to finish off!"
"Master Sledge, I promise my next scheme..."
"I've had ENOUGH of your schemes!" Sledge cut him off savagely. "From now on, I form my own plans."
He grabbed Wrench, hauling him towards the disassembled re-animator.
"Just thank your lucky stars that you're still useful to me." He said menacingly. "Now, get this back to working order and tell me when it's ready."
Back in New Zealand, the Rangers had returned to their hotel with Dr Runga and Albert. They were all gathered around in Ivan's suite, preparing to head out, but there were still a few things to tie up. Albert looked to the Rangers, who all seemed a little morose and somewhat disappointed.
"Are you sure about this?" Tyler asked him. "I know you didn't ask for this, none of us did, and I know you were a bit hesitant about it all to begin with, but, are you sure you want to do this?" Albert just nodded his head. Despite the fact there had been a few question marks over Albert as a Ranger at first, he had more than proven himself, and the Rangers were becoming used to having him around. They were starting to look forward to their adventures with him.
"I've been thinking about it for a while." He told them.
"But you're a great Ranger!" Shelby protested. "You can't just give up!"
"New Zealand is my home. I can't leave it." Albert insisted.
"Well, I'm from New Zealand too." Chase chipped in. "I miss my family like crazy, but..."
"But you're a young man; you have your whole life ahead of you." Albert told him. "You have a career in the states, you have friends, I understand you even have a special someone waiting for you. You might make a life out there, but me...my life is here."
"So, we can't talk you out of it?" Riley asked, looking a little hopeful. He was one of the ones that was most vocal about his concerns over Albert. He didn't want to think that Albert would be considering leaving because of him. He had more than proven himself in his eyes.
"I'm afraid my mind is made up." Albert told them, pulling out his Energem. "Being a Ranger is the most incredible adventure I've ever been on. I'm confident the Purple Energem will find you a suitable replacement."
Keeper appeared in the room at that point, using his power to transport himself from the States. The Rangers and Dr Runga all watched as he approached Albert.
"You were a fine Ranger, and the decision you have made is a brave and difficult one." Keeper told him. "Your task was to keep the Purple Energem safe. Now, you have completed that task. Albert, hold your Energem to the head of my staff."
Albert did as he was told. Keeper's staff started to glow as the Energem passed through it. As it got to the other side, Keeper took it, and handed it to Tyler.
"Your bond to the Energem is now severed. We are grateful to you for your service and wish you well in your life." Keeper told him. "You may no longer be a Ranger, but you will always be one of us."
"We're really going to miss you Albert." Shelby said as she hugged him tightly. "Don't go becoming boring or anything."
"I doubt I'll have time." Albert responded. "My new partner here is sure to keep me busy."
"Partner?" Tyler asked. Dr Runga just nodded, before looking to Shelby.
"Shelby, what I did, to you, to Kendall, to all of you...I truly am sorry." He told them. "When I look to you, and I see the kind of person I once was. I was never happier than just being out there, digging up fossils, taking lectures, but somewhere along the way, I got caught up in all the business and...I lost sight of what was really important."
He looked to the Rangers as he continued.
"What I did all those years ago, it was unforgivable. I could never make it right now, but for what it's worth, tell Kendall I am sorry." He told them. "I hadn't been published in a long time, and I was so desperate to get my name back out there, I didn't think about the hurt I would cause. I only hope that in time she can forgive what I did."
"I wouldn't hold my breath for that." Chase said under his breath. Dr Runga just smiled.
"I suppose I deserve that." He responded. "I know it doesn't begin to cover what I owe you, but I have taken care of that footage. I printed a full retraction, and said it was a fake. I've managed to convince the faculty at my university that I was taken in by a fake."
"I can't imagine that went over well." Tyler said, looking a little pained expression crossing his face. He imagined that after pitching it, he would be risking his career and his reputation to reveal the footage to be a fake now.
"My reputation and position allowed me to keep my career." Dr Runga told them. "But I insisted that if someone of my standing and reputation could be taken in so completely by what was obviously a metal model, then perhaps it would be best if I took a sabbatical."
"Sabbatical?" Riley asked him. "You've been suspended?"
"No, not quite, but I figured it was best for both sides if I take a little break." Dr Runga told them. "Maybe a little time just doing some digging, not having to deal with all the red tape and the politics will help me learn to love what I do again. Not to mention I am perfectly confident I have the best guide I could ask for."
"That really sounds like a great adventure." Tyler said, shaking Dr Runga's hand. "Good luck with that."
"Good luck on your adventure too." Dr Runga responded. "You can rest assured, your secret is safe with us."
"So, now that we have everything, I say it is time we took our leave." Ivan said as they headed for the door. "As fine as this room is, we have responsibilities back home."
"So, the only question is, which ride do we take?" Tyler asked, looking to the Purple Energem.
"I call Plesio!" Shelby chimed in as they departed their hotel room for the last time.
