AN: Here we go again! Drafts of Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are all done so expect them all to be up in the next few weeks.

Once a Ranger
Chapter 10: Back to Action
By Daylight

The gathering of shadows writhed and flickered back and forth in front of the temple. They seemed to be scrutinizing the power rangers, evaluating them, scanning them, though they had no visible eyes with which to do so. The ghostly, black forms made no sound as they slid across the sand, their twisting movements creating an eerie scene in the dimming light of the desert suns. But they had yet to advance.

In their defensive stances, the rangers stood unflinching, but hesitant. The shadows seemed to toy with them standing between the rangers and their goal. After everything they had seen and experienced, they refused to give in to fear even at such a chilling sight. It was time to take action. They knew these were the ones who had laid waste to an entire planet. They knew these were the ones who had taken their friends. And they weren't taking any chances. Andros, Zhane and Trey glanced at each other.

"Let's rocket!"

"Gold ranger power!"

And the shadows surged forward, their movements so fluid they seemed almost liquid, but that was soon disproved as they attacked. Long, tentacle-like limbs reached out to swat at the morphed rangers as they rushed to face the creatures face on. Trey was knocked down, the limbs proving all too solid, but the gold ranger rolled with the blow and was soon on his feet again. The shadows were quick, but in his morphed form so was he. Bringing his staff to bare, he dashed amongst them striking out wherever he could get under their defenses. He knocked them back as his staff connected, but there was no reaction of pain, no hesitation before they once more pressed forward.

Behind the gold ranger, Andros and Zhane made an effort to stay between the shadows and their powerless friends. They dodged the arms as they swung at them and returned with attacks of their own, but though the creatures would be momentarily pushed away, there was little other effect. The silver ranger ducked under a punch aimed at his head and crouching to the ground brought his leg around to sweep the shadow off its feet. It landed on its back bringing up a cloud of sand, but before the sand had a chance to settle, the creature was gliding upward.

"Andros," Zhane called out blocking another punch. "This isn't working."

The red ranger didn't waste the breath to reply finding it difficult to adapt his fighting style to the creatures movements with his left wrist still sore and weak from his previous injuries. A roundhouse kick blew away the shadow that had been trying to pummel him, but he knew it wouldn't be gone long. They needed to find some way of destroying the shadows, but they were too busy being overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. Three rangers weren't going to do it.

"Trey, go for the doors. We'll cover you."

The gold ranger nodded pressing his attacks in the direction of the temple entrance. In unison, the space rangers raised their Astro Blasters firing at the dark shapes in his way. The power from the weapons caused the creatures to momentarily pause. It crackled over their forms as it was absorbed, the figures visibly increasing in size and strength.

"Alright," exclaimed Zhane sheaving his blaster. "Make note: No energy weapons."

Despite the set back, Trey continued to push towards the doors while the others attempted to follow. The Earth rangers clustered behind the Kerovians frustrated at their inability to help and itching to join in. Then one of the tentacles instead of swiping at the silver ranger grabbed a hold of his arm. Zhane immediately twisted his wrist trying to get free but the grip was too strong. Suddenly, he was brought to his knees by a wave of weakness as his silver armor began to flash and flicker. He feared he was about to demorph completely when another force knocked the shadow away freeing him from its clutches.

Andros placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Zhane replied already feeling the power restoring his strength. "But that was weird."

"Apparently these creatures can absorb more than just blaster energy."

With Zhane temporarily down, the break in defenses had brought the others into the fight. These rangers were powerless, but they weren't defenseless. Bringing all their training and experience to bear, the former rangers fought back to back against the shadows which now surrounded them on all sides. They dodged, ducked, and blocked and still managed to get in a few hits of their own despite their slower speed and lower strength. But it wasn't to last, for even as they neared the steps to the temple entrance, two black limbs wrapped themselves around Adam's throat.

The former black ranger grappled with the shadow attempting to get free, but his air was running out and an icy chill was spreading from his neck to the rest of his body. Grabbing a hold of the arms, Adam used them as leverage bringing both his feet to bear on the thing's chest, but it had no affect. A weakness, belying even the lack of air, was affecting him and he felt his knees start to buckle. The world seemed to be dimming as he felt his consciousness leaving his body.

But warm hands were suddenly there supporting him from behind as Rocky and Tommy appeared beside him knocking the shadow away with a double side kick. He gasped for air finding himself shivering unable to find any heat even in the hot desert air.

"Adam. Adam!"

He leaned heavily on his girlfriend as his friends kept the shadows from them.

"Are you okay?"

Tanya didn't find his weak nod very convincing.

Meanwhile, the others had reached the entrance. While Andros covered Trey's back, the gold ranger placed his Golden Staff into the depression on the front. A bright light radiated forth temporarily stunning the shadows as the doors split down the middle and began to open. As the doors swung outward, Trey immediately dashed through. Andros and Zhane quickly ushered the others inside behind him; then with one last glance at the converging shadows, they followed. The doors to the temple slammed shut.

Collectively, the rangers caught their breath. Tanya supported Adam rubbing at his arms as he continued to shiver. The former black and green ranger was pale and still gasping for air.

"Adam?"

"Just give me a minute." Squatting down, Adam attempted to regain his equilibrium. The world soon stopped spinning and he felt some of his warmth and strength returning as his breathing evened out.

Tommy crouched next to him putting a hand on his shoulder.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I went several solo rounds with one of Lord Zedd's monsters while in Antarctica. But I'll be alright," replied Adam as Tommy and Tanya helped him back to his feet.

"What did that creature do?" demanded Rocky.

"It was trying to pull the life right out of him," stated Andros as the others turned to him. "These creatures absorb energy. Blaster energy, morphing energy, heat energy, life energy, it doesn't matter. That's what happened to that planet. They took all the life, killed everything."

As the rangers took a moment to let this fact set in, the silver ranger scrutinized his best friend noting the way Andros had his arms crossed almost protectively across his chest. 'Is it your wrist bugging you or your ribs?' he sent.

The red ranger's helmet leaned slightly in his direction. 'Both, but I'm fine. What about you?'

'Fit as a fiddle, as TJ would say.'

Breaking the silence, Rocky once more spoke up. "They were waiting for us. How did they know we were coming?"

"They're searching for energy," Tanya deliberated. "Maybe they weren't here because of us at all. Maybe they were here for the Zeo Crystal."

"They must have been searching for a way in," Trey agreed. "And we almost provided it for them."

Feeling better, Adam straightened up. "So they're not looking for rangers in particular. We just happen to be tasty morsels for them. Like…" He glanced at Andros.

"Exactly." The red ranger nodded.

"Well, that's great." Rocky threw his hands up in exasperation. "We have hungry shadows after us and have no idea how to kill them."

Tommy put a hand on Rocky's shoulder, calm and commanding. "We'll find a way."

"How?"

"Has anyone else noticed the weird lighting in here?" interrupted Zhane frowning as he gazed around the room.

For the first time, the rangers took a good look at their current location. They stood in the entrance way of what, to the Earth rangers, resembled the inside of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Hieroglyphs that none could understand covered stone walls and tall columns. It could just be seen in the dim light. The only source, a white glow, appeared to come from the end of a long corridor that lay ahead of them.

The rangers were silent as Tommy led the way feeling inexplicably drawn forward by the light. The other Zeo Rangers were close behind. At the end of the corridor was a large chamber. Its high ceilings slanted inward reaching an apex at the center indicating they had reached the heart of the pyramid. And beneath that apex hanging suspended a few feet off the ground was the Zeo Crystal. Its light filled the room with an eerie gleam.

While the others stayed back, the four earth rangers surrounded the crystal and as one reached towards it. The light splintered from white into pink, yellow, blue, green and red. Where four young people had stood, now stood four power rangers.

"Alright," exclaimed Zeo Ranger 5.

Tanya stared at her gloved hands. "I never thought I'd experience this again."

"Ready for some action." Adam put a hand on her shoulder. She nodded in reply.

"Here we go again," muttered Rocky.

It was then Tommy noticed the pink crystal still hanging in the centre of the room. He carefully took it. The crystal glowed once then reformed into the pink zeonizer. "Just incase." The others gave each other silent looks.

"Nice of you to join us," interrupted Zhane. "Now we just need to find a way past our friends who I'm sure are still waiting for us outside."

The Red Zeo Ranger crossed his arms. "They must have a weakness."

"Well, we don't have time to figure it out. We've wasted enough just coming here," contested Andros. "We should leave now."

Tommy shot him a look indiscernible beneath his helmet.

"We can't find out much from here anyway," put in Adam eyeing the two red rangers warily. "Hopefully, the seven of us should be enough to stop them."

Trey nodded. "He is right."

Tilting his head to the side, Tommy mulled things over silently for a fraction of a moment before agreeing. "Alright. Back to action."

ooooo

Eight rangers stood in front of the temple: one yellow, one blue, one green, one gold, one silver, two red. The enemies by contrast were an absence of colour, a stream of black shooting towards them. Knowing that the shadows were little deterred by punches and kicks and only absorbed energy blasts, the rangers brought forward their special weapons as they confronted them.

"Payback," exclaimed Adam as he sliced into a shadow creature with his green hatchets. The creature barely paused as its body reformed before lashing back at the green ranger who quickly ducked. "This doesn't seem to much easier morphed."

"They have to have a weakness," Rocky called back bearing his arm blades as weaved among the melee of rangers and shadows. "Isn't there a law saying all bad guys have to have a weakness?"

Zhane used his Super Silveriser to knock back one of the shadows that had been creeping up behind the blue ranger. "I wish," he replied. Another creature tried to use one of its tentacles to grab hold of his arm. The silver ranger sliced it off as he dodged out of the way. "Not again thank you." The shadow's only reaction was to reach out with its remaining arm. "Hey," protested Zhane. "Let's see you try surviving being cut in two." Feinting up, the Astro Ranger got under the creature's guard and used his blade to slice through its middle. The shadow creature suddenly seemed to burst outward like a balloon causing Zhane to jump. It was closely followed by a tiny supernova of light that left him blinking. "I don't believe it. Hey, guys! I think I got it."

With this advantage, the rangers pushed forward, the Zeo Rangers drawing their Laser Blades. The battle was still fierce, but their superior skill quickly overcame the enemy's greater number until there were none left.

Breathing hard, they rested, but remained morphed., the unsettling memories of the shadows jumping out of nowhere leaving them wary.

"Great job, Zhane," praised Tanya.

The Kerovian gave her a thumbs up. "No problem."

Tommy eyed the gold ranger who remained alert gazing across the sands at the horizon. "Trey, is something wrong?"

"I don't like the idea of those things being on my planet." He clenched his fist as he continued staring into the distance. "They might have been the only ones or their whole fleet could be surrounding us as we speak. We would never know." His voice grew earnest. "We have to get back to the capital. If this is the start of an attack…"

Andros nodded. "Let's go."

The rangers ran back the way they came praying they were not too late, that the enemy they were searching for hadn't decided to attack them first.

Next:
Chapter 11: Long Distance Calls
As the rangers try to gather information on their new enemy, Andros finds out exactly what his sister has been up to.