Variations Of SPD
Chapter 27: Vampra's Arrival
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: January 12, 2007
Summary: The team meets their enemy for the first time and nearly loses another member of their team
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
Dedication: Angel for being a great friend and Shawn for letting me vent when I needed to!
An: Yeah, so, I got a few free moments the last couple of days, and this is the end result. Enjoy!
"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow." -- Dorothy Thompson --
--
"Your eminence, welcome to Earth," Viper grinned proudly as the mechanical covering on Vampra's windows opened and revealed the large, shiny marble-like object that Earth liked like from space.
"Excellent. Send down the Tengas first, I want to observe the Rangers before I destroy them."
"Of course," Viper agreed before striding from the room.
Vampra grinned down at the Earth before turning toward his bed where Anna lay, naked and unmoving. "Come now, my Pet, you can't be tired yet," he told her, dropping his robe at the foot of the bed before he climbed under the covers.
--
Sky walked into the classroom and frowned. The cadets were sitting on desks, chatting away. The room was in complete chaos. "TAKE A SEAT!" Sky hollered over the noise, scaring everyone present. Cadets scrambled into their seats. Some of them snickered while others whispered behind their hands, but they were all staring at Sky's back as he stepped up to the front of the room.
"And if you don't stop whispering about me behind those hands and snickering behind my back, you can join Cadets Delgado and Landors on the obstacle course," Sky threatened. He set his materials down on the desk at the head of the room before perching on the front edge of it. "Yes Kelly?" he asked the young redhead at the front, who had her hand raised.
"Sky, is Sydney really…?" she started. The emotion in her voice and the tears in her eyes had everyone quieting down.
"Yes," Sky answered, swallowing hard. "Sydney was killed during a rescue attempt."
One of the boys made a noise and then sneered at Sky. "So it's your fault she's dead, because we all know she was rescuing you."
Biting back his own grief and clamping down his anger, Sky crossed his arms over his chest. "Partially, yes, it is my fault. But it's mostly Vampra's. We're all hurting; Sydney was a big part of all our lives and she will be missed more than I can tell you."
"You only fucked her, why do you care?" the cadet mocked.
The room was silent except for the gasps of the cadets. Sky stared at the young man, who was about seventeen, and fought for control. He knew beating the younger boy to a bloody pulp was out of the question, however much it would make him feel better. "Not that it's any of your business, but what was between Cadet Drew and I, was between us. I loved her, and she loved me, no one except for the other members of my team is hurting anywhere near as much as I am at her loss, end of story. Now, pack your stuff up Cadet Marshall, and report to Cadet Landors. If you don't show up on the training course in the next ten minutes, I'll hunt you down myself, because I'm about to radio to him you're coming."
The young cadet stared at Sky like the Blue Ranger had lost his mind. "Excuse me? You can't be serious!" he complained.
"I'm dead serious," Sky told him. "This is my classroom; Commander Cruger has put me in charge of this part of your training. What I say goes."
"But we have a test on the material in a week. If I don't pass, I don't advance to the next squad level."
"I'm well aware of that," Sky told him. "However, shooting your mouth off just ensured you've got to find out what's going to be on that test on your own. Now get going."
--
"Well, Sky sounds like he's back to normal," Z commented. "From the sound of it he was a hard ass in class this morning."
Jack shook his head. "He's reverting to his pre getting-laid-by-Syd self," the Red Ranger countered. "He hasn't been like this since just after we took out Gruumm."
The Yellow Ranger looked thoughtful. "True. What are we going to do about it?"
Jack shook his head. "Once more, Cadet Marshall!" he called to the staggering cadet before turning to Z. He was going to work the mouthy cadet until he learned to have respect for the senior officers and Rangers. "The kid brought it on himself. He's lucky Sky didn't turn him to a crispy cadet strip with the fire power he's been carrying around in the palm of his hand. Other than that, what can we do? Sky's got to handle his business his way. There's bound to be lots of talk and snide comments about what happened until Syd's back with us."
Z stared at her brother. "You really think we can do this? That we're capable of bringing Syd back?"
The Red Ranger turned his eyes toward hers, a questioning look passing between them. "Don't you?"
"I don't want to get my hopes up," she murmured. Closing her eyes, Z pushed back the grief she felt at Syd's absence. It was hard to believe but in two years, the perky pink princess and feisty yellow former street thief had become more than friends; they'd become sisters. Z ached not having her "sister" around. Allison and Alana had become fast friends with her, but Z knew no one would take Syd's place; she and the Pink Ranger had been through too much together for anyone to ever compare to Syd in her eyes.
"Z, we are going to get her back, of that I have no doubt," Jack sincerely told her.
"I hope you're right," Z smiled sadly.
"RANGERS TO THE COMMAND CENTER!" Kat's voice blared through the PA System.
"Hey Jeff! Take over!" Jack called to one of the senior officers who was standing nearby before he and Z rushed off toward the base.
--
"We've got a problem!" Bridge called when the nine Rangers rushed into the Command Center.
"What kind of problem?" Jack wanted to know.
"Tengas!" Bridge responded. "And now Viper."
Jack, Aaron, and Sky shared looks before nodding. "We'll take care of the giant crows," Aaron announced.
"Good," Jack grinned evilly. "Viper's ours."
The two teams stood facing each other. "Ready?" Aaron asked his team.
"Ready!"
"SPD EMERGENCY!"
Jack's thoughts filtered to the group, making them smile. Bridge and Z had mentioned the comment the priest at the Morphin' Masters Council had made before they'd returned home. He figured there was no better time than now to use it.
"IT'S MOPRHIN TIME!" he yelled.
--
Syd felt herself tremble and instantly knew what was wrong. "Sydney?" Tommy called, materializing next to his daughter.
"Vampra's on Earth."
The legendary former Ranger nodded. He'd felt Syd's teammates morph, just as Kim and Sydney had, before a shadow had fallen across their link with the Earth and their former teammates. "Are you alright?"
"They're scared, nervous. They don't know they're going to face him," she spoke, almost as if she were in a trance.
Tommy turned his eyes to his wife, a look passing between them. Both could only hope Sky remembered what Kimberly had given him a few days prior. They were going to need it.
--
When the ten arrived on scene, there were no Tengas anywhere, and Viper wasn't in sight. "Okay, the last time this happened, we got ambushed," Brett muttered.
"Don't invite trouble," Alana scolded, receiving a glare from the Blue Ranger.
"Would you two zip your lips?" Jack growled, his body tense and on alert. Brett was right, the last time this had happened, it had been an ambush they almost hadn't recovered from.
"Too late!" Z called out as they scattered, laser fire heading their way from a central direction.
"So they send cowards to face me," a voice announced. "I see my assessment of Earth was correct – their powerful Ranger protectors are nothing but a bunch of pitiful, youthful cowards who cannot defend their own planet."
"That's not Viper," Travis managed, eyes wide and stuck on the figure ahead of them.
"Quite right, Green Ranger. Allow me to introduce myself; I'm Vampra, King of the Known Universe."
Several of the Rangers snickered at his introduction. "Excuse me if we don't acknowledge the title, Majesty, but Earth doesn't bow before tyrants!" Jack shot back.
"You must be the Pegasus," Vampra grinned wickedly. He looked like a man possessed as his eyes drilled holes in the Rangers. "Viper said you were cocky and brash, but an excellent field leader. Maybe I'll turn you to my side, to serve in my army, when I take over Earth."
"Fat chance!" Jack growled. "I'll die before I join the likes of you!"
"THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!"
"Dude, he's psycho," Brian muttered.
"Oh, contraire, White Dragon!" he grinned. "I'm sane enough."
"SCATTER!" Sky hollered. Once again, Vampra released a burst of energy, causing the Rangers to move from their grouped position to safer places.
Jack and Ally skidded to the left, with Aaron and Alana landing not far behind them. Bridge, Z, Travis and Brett scattered to the right, each landing on their backsides before bouncing back to their feet and hiding behind some cars. That left Sky and Brian, who were still front and center, behind an over turned car. "DAMN!" Sky hissed, rubbing his palm across his arm. When he pulled his gloved hand away, it was red instead of white.
"You okay?" Brian managed between gulping breaths.
"Shallow scratch, I'll be fine," Sky breathed, and then grabbed his communicator. "Kat, this is Sky. Vampra's on Earth. Repeat, Vampra's on Earth."
"We read you, Sky. The Commander says to be careful!"
The Blue Ranger rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Kat, we know to be careful! Sky out!"
"REGROUP!" Jack commanded.
Brian and Sky nodded and moved under the fire and energy Vampra was still releasing toward the others. When all ten Rangers were to the left of the scene, they managed to catch their breaths and start formulating a plan. "Please tell me we have a plan," Aaron groaned.
Jack, Bridge, Z, Sky and Brian shared a look and a thought. "You five up to playing bait?" Jack grinned.
Aaron looked to each member of his team and then back to Jack. "What did you have in mind?"
"We need to find his weaknesses, and we need to find out what's going to hurt him."
The Junior Red Ranger seemed to understand what Jack was saying. "You attack, we'll divert his attention," Aaron murmured.
Jack nodded. "Just be careful! No one is dying today, got it!"
"Aren't we always careful," Ally teased and squeezed his hand before the five junior Rangers got into place. Sky squeezed Jack's shoulder, the two sharing a knowing look. It was taking everything inside the Senior Red Ranger to let his girlfriend put herself in the line of fire.
"BREAK!"
Like mice, the junior squad scattered, drawing Vampra's fire away from their senior counterparts. "Ready?" Z asked.
"It's now or never!" Bridge announced.
"ALLY!" Aaron's voice ripped through the air, causing five heads to pop up.
Vampra had the Pink Ranger in a choke hold, her morph having dissipated at the mere touch of his hand. Jack jerked in Z's grasp. "We've got to be careful not to hit Ally."
"I'll go first," Bridge suggested. Stepping away from their cover, the Green Ranger called his powers to him. "PANDA QUAKE!" he summoned his power, slamming his hands to the ground, causing the dirt beneath Vampra to vibrate and shake like it would if a real earth quake had been happening.
"PEGASUS WINDS!" Jack beckoned his own powers, forcing what could only be described as gail-force winds at their opponent.
At the same instant, Z let lose with a blast of her own from the opposite side. "TIGER'S ROAR!"
Most of the junior Rangers hit their knees at the ear splitting sound Z released from her hands. Vampra didn't even flinch. "Pathetic," he smiled at them while he brought Ally closer to him. "Such a pretty little redhead. I sure do hope your energy is as tasty as another Pink Ranger's that I had not long ago. After all, it's said Pinks are the heart and soul of a team, and I've always found that kind of energy pure and delicious!"
"ALLY!" Jack's voice cried out when she struggled against Vampra, who was getting close to sinking his teeth into her neck.
"SPHINX FLARES!"
Vampra's howl of rage made the Rangers gasp, even as Jack sprinted forward to catch Ally after Vampra had thrown her away from him. All eyes turned toward the Blue Ranger who stood before them, his chest heaving and his hand out stretched, and an air about him that said he was pissed off more than they'd ever seen him.
Sky shook his head, trying to get the haze of anger to clear. Vampra's words had killed a small piece of his heart; the monster had no business, in Sky's opinion, to even talk about Sydney like that, let alone to think he could take another member of their team from them. "Eat fire, asshole!" Sky grunted.
"YOU WILL PAY!" Vampra hissed.
"DRAGON'S ICE!"
A wall of thick, frigid ice went up around Vampra, surrounding him in a column. The Rangers managed to get a good breather in before the ice exploded outward with a wave of pure power following it, which knocked them all off their feet.
Jack cushioned Ally as they flew backwards, while the others, who were grouped together, tried to minimize their own falls. Once the dust and smoke had cleared, Vampra stood before them, his chest smocking a sick black color. "You win this round, Rangers, but once my powers are at full, I will destroy you!"
In an instant, Vampra was gone, leaving a scorch mark on the pavement where he'd been. Aaron heaved a sigh even as Z and Alana ran to Jack and Ally. Brett and Travis were helping Bridge to his feet while Brian jogged over to Sky, who was on his hands and knees, his arm bleeding harder than before. "Well gee, no one got killed, that's something to be happy about," he muttered before he slowly made his way to his friends.
--
"DAMN THOSE RANGERS!" Vampra hissed as Viper and one of the medical staff looked at the scorch mark on his chest.
"Sire, you should have known better than to engage them!" Viper reprimanded, only to receive a hiss and glare for his comment. "You aren't at full strength yet, and they're still running off the emotions they have from the death of the Pink Ranger."
Vampra sighed. He hated to admit it, but Viper was right. "I shall rest for a while, my powers are almost back at full, but I want to strike again before they're once again at full strength. I believe I may have dented their spirit again by damaging their remaining Pink Ranger."
"Very well sir."
--
"How is she, Kat?" Z asked, the Rangers looking on as Jack sat with Ally in the infirmary.
"She's going to be fine. She's got some bruising we're going to watch, and her wind pipe isn't broken, so that's a plus," their feline advisor spoke. Her eyes were on Sky, remembering when it had been him and Syd in that situation. She knew what he was thinking and could only shake her head at it. "She needs rest, and she'll be back to good in no time."
The others watched in despair as Sky turned and fled from the room. "I'll go after him," Brian suggested, moving from the room as well.
"I want the rest of you to go and rest, we have no clue when he might attack again," Commander Cruger ordered, noting they reluctantly left the room.
--
"Want to talk about it?" Brian asked. Sky was in the gym, beating up on a punching bag.
"Not really."
The younger Ranger let out a deep breath and watched his older teammate carefully. "I know what's wrong, and I know how you felt out there, because I felt it too," he told the Blue Ranger.
Sky shook his head and leaned against the bag, his eyes closing and his breathing coming out in harsh gasps. "I…it was…"
"Just like Syd all over again, I know," Brian spoke. Sky turned around and the two of them shared a look. Brian smirked and chuckled. "You know, I expected you to be the last person I'd be standing here having this conversation with."
The Blue Ranger nodded. "It feels right though, doesn't it?"
Brian sighed. "Yeah. You know what, no matter what, I'd like to think we're going to be friends when this is all over."
Sky grinned and moved to ruffle Brian's hair. "Kid, you're stuck with me. Come on, we should go get some rest, and food, cause I'm starving."
"Sounds like a plan."