She knew she had to quit smoking.
Not like in the sense that she was addicted to the stuff (which, in all honesty, she probably was), but she only had the one pack on her. If she ran out, she wouldn't be able to stop the nicotine fit that would result from her boredom. And she certainly couldn't drink while on mission.
Noire just wishes that Jessi would hurry the fuck up so they could get this over with.
She checks her watch. Less than ten minutes till midnight, at which point their window of opportunity will open. They'll need the noise from the New Years' celebrations as cover.
Numerous former Power Rangers had gone missing, alledgely kidnapped. General Taylor Earhardt had sent the Zenith rangers to investigate. Unfortunately, Piggy SPD's trust informant whereabouts were currently unknown to the SPD. Fortunately, there was a weak link in the chain who could be able to point them in the right direction. If tonight's operation went smoothly, Piggy would piss his pants and give up who ever was to blame for this in a heartbeat.
The crowd at the bar was starting to get restless. People speaking in alien languages about idle things, smoking, drinking, dancing, fucking around like everything was peachy. Noire didn't care what they did as long as they didn't bother her directly. Zero to Hero by Starlord started playing over the radio; at least this dive bar had good taste in music.
The door to the bar opened and in stepped Jessi Parks who, despite it being near midnight, was wearing shades. Noire didn't know if she did it for the aesthetic or to draw attention away from the scars on the left side of her face, but it sure as hell wasn't practical. Besides, at this point she knew better than to question Jessi's judgment on anything, even something as simple as fashion.
Jessi pulled a pack of cigarettes out from her leather jacket pocket and lit one up. She took a puff and blew out the smoke from her nose before turning her head towards Noire who was standing next to her table. She gave a slight nod to Noire before approaching the table and resting her arms on it.
"Oliver" Jessi addressed the younger woman.
"Parks" Noire responded, "All clear here."
"Good, good," Jessi said, drawing another puff from her cigarette, "Serisawa is scouting the perimeter and will be here soon."
Jessi then reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small photograph of their target before handing it to Noire.
"Piggy..." Noire muttered, "We should just put that motherfucker against the wall and be done with it."
"All in good time," Jessi said, "this ain't a hit, it's an op just like any other."
"Hmm," Noire said, pulling out her lighter and setting the photograph ablaze before dumping it in the ashtray on the table. She checked her watch; five minutes to midnight.
"You sure SPD won't get involved?" Noire asked.
"Doggie will keep them at bay," Jessi reassured, and a moment later another man, a dog like alien entered the bar wearing a dark trenchcoat. This was Anubis Doggie Cruger.
"Parks," Cruger said as he approached the table, "Been a while."
"Yep, " Jessi spoke, "This is Noire"
Noire gave a silent nod in Cruger's direction. Doggie did the same.
"We clear to move in?" Noire asked Cruger directly.
Cruger nodded, "Piggy in his apartment, but he's well protected. I can keep my men out of the area for 15 minutes but no longer than that. With luck, maybe the fireworks will drown the noise."
"That's very good," Jessi responded.
"Good luck," Cruger said,
"Don't worry," Jessi assured him,
Jessi leaves a couple hundred in Credits on the table. Noire does the same right after. Jessi then rubs her lit cigarette down on the ashtray before stepping away, and Noire follows after her.
Jessi and Noire exited the bar from the back entrance into an alleyway. Right as they exit a car pulls up and comes to a stop just in front of them. The driver exits the car and reveals himself to be Ren.
"'Bout time you two showed up," Ren grunted.
"Everything good?" Jessi asked.
"Yep, ready to kill the power on your go," Ren responded, walking over to the rear of the car and pulling out his morpher.
"It's morphin time" Ren said, Jessi and Noire approached and took out their morphers, " GO GALACTIC! " the three said morphing into their ranger forms.
Noire then followed Ren and Jessi up the alley.
"Do we really need to take this son of a bitch alive?" Ren asked.
"He's SPD's informant, you know we have to, beside he knows who'a behind this, but everyone else in their we can kill" Jessi said as she took out her trans dagger and activated shark fin mode, Noire and Ren did the same, Ren had his blaster mode and Noire had hers in dagger mode as they neared the outside of the complex. Only thirty seconds to midnight now.
"Twenty seconds, go."
Ren took off around the side of the complex. Jessi and Noire took up position behind the brick perimeter surrounding the complex. They got a good look through the sliding glass door to see eight minions a mix of Cogs and Putties completely oblivious to the fact they'll all be dead in a few seconds. Two of them were so drunk they could barely stand but that didn't matter.
"In position," Ren spoke over the radio.
"Likewise," Jessi responded, "Alright squad, let's help them ring in the New Year."
Noire's watch hit midnight, and right on the dot the power went out. Some of the putties inside started to panic, and this was the cue to move up. Jessi and Noire stood up from cover and jumped through the glass. Ren stepped in through the front entrance and fired into the group as well.
When the gunfire stopped, at least 6 minions had been killed. One of the survivors dropped to the floor almost instantly while another took position behind a column. Jessi and Noire rushed in as did Ren. The Cog on the floor reached for a blaster on top of the table before Ren put a few rounds in his back. The one behind the column opened fire, forcing Jessi and Noire to take cover by the table. Ren opened fire with his Blaster, before shooting the minion in the head.
There were panicked noises from upstairs as well, and the rangers downstairs heard glass shattering from above.
"Head up the stairs, go!" Jessi ordered, Noire took point as she rushed up the staircase and disposed of two hostiles, one armed with a shotgun who was firing blindly.
"Get to the rooftop! Go!" Jessi orders, taking point as the three Rangers went onto the rooftop, Jessi saw two hostiles in front of him that she dispatched with ease.
Another hostile came charging forward firing his blaster before Ren put a shot through his head.
Noire took point, but out from behind a chimney some fucker with a handgun whacked her across the head with it, causing Noire to drop her dagger in the process. A brief struggle between the two ensued before Noire managed to pull e lever on her omega morpher, electrocuting the minion, killing him. She then took a hold of the minions body and blaster, using the former as a human shield against two approaching enemies while shooting at them with the latter. Once the minion were all dead, Noire dropped the blaster and the body, and Ren and Jessi were pushing in front, giving Noire a moment to reorient herself and pick up her dagger.
Fireworks sounded out in the sky commemorating the New Year. Hopefully this would drown out the gunshots for long enough.
Ren had eyes on Piggy who was running across the rooftops and started to fire his blaster close to where his feet were.
"Watch it, Ren We need him alive!" Jessi ordered him.
"Ah, I'm just softening him up a little!" Ren responded.
"Tango on the left balcony!" Noire called out, and saw a cog readying an RPD he had mounted on the edge.
"Take cover!" Jessi shouted, and everyone dove for cover.
"Well, that's just fucking great!" Ren shouted, and by then the gunner started opening fire on them.
"Ren!" Jessi ordered, "You lay down suppressing fire! Noire and i will move up!"
"You gotta be fucking kidding me!" Noire complained, and by then Ren started firing on the position.
"Noire, with me!" Jessi called out. While Ren fired on the machine gun, this gave Jessi and Noire the opportunity they needed to move up and get closer to the gunner. After moving up far enough, the two of them were beneath the gunner's position and fired from below, killing the gunner and clearing the way.
"Let's move!" Ren took charge, firing his weapon at more hostiles. Noire followed behind Ren. Piggy was getting ready to jump off the rooftop while two more men covered him.
"Damn, this guy moves fast!" Ren said as he and Noire dispatched the two enemies. Jessi caught up with them.
Piggy had already jumped the gap as more cogs came to defend him. The three rangers then looked over the edge to see that they were all in the open on the opposite rooftop. All at once, the four of them jumped across the rooftop, firing their weapons and killing all the enemies on the building adjacent, excluding Piggy. Piggy was cornered and raised his hands as well.
Ren came forward and knocked the minion to the ground, pointing his gun at its face while pressing his boot to its chest. Noire kept her dagger pointed at Piggy he panicked. Meanwhile, Jessi casually strolled up to Piggy.
"W-We can work someth-" Piggy began to timidly speak before Noire broke his nose, the alien clutched his nose in pain as he fell to the ground, and Noire said, "You're up, Jessi."
Jessi approached Piggy and got on his knees, grabbing his jacket and holding him close to the edge.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait! No, no!" Piggy panicked.
"You're going to tell us where the missing rangers are, Now." Jessi threatened.
"I... I just handle the money. I have no idea" Piggy timidly responded. Noire rolled her eyes; how fucking typical.
"I don't think you understand the situation," Jessi informed him, nodding over to Ren who picked up the surviving hostile from up off the ground. In another moment, Ren kicked hard against its chest, and the minion was screaming as he fell off the roof before smashing against a car along the side of the road.
"Y-You Power Rnagers have rules! You have rules! You have to-" Piggy stammered.
"The rules changed, motherfucker!" Jessi shouted, "You took hostages!"
Jessi punched Piggy in the face twice. Noire didn't flinch; she had seen enough of shit that she was numb to it at this point.
After Jessi finished her beatdown, Ren pointd his blaster in in Piggy's face.
"W-Wait, wait!" Piggy pleaded, "Isle of the Lost!"
"This ain't fucking Disney, you sack of shit," Jessi spat, "Spill it. Where? Tell us of you'll end up like your friend down there."
"I swear, I don't know if Divatox is going to be there or not, but... She- she mentioned something about some deal at the Airfield tomorrow night!"
"What kind of deal?" Ren said.
"I don't know, I swear! They use coded messages of some kind, it could be anything! Drugs, weapons, intelligence... I don't know!"
"Alright, we got what we need," Jessi told him, "Tag 'em and bag 'em."
"Wait, I gave you-" Piggy stammered before Ren bashed him over the head with his gun, knocking him out cold.
As Noire opened up the door to take them downstairs off of the roof, Jessi said, "SPD will he here soon enough."
Ren activated his communicator, then said, "General, we got you a little present. Big shiny bow and all."
"He give up the goods?" Taylor asked from the other end.
"He sure did," Jessi told her, "Divatox is behind this."
The Rangers made it back down to their car, Ren got in the driver's seat with Jessi getting in the passenger's seat. Noire got in the backseat.
"So, Divatox huh?" Noire asked.
"Yep. It's always some kind of villain" Jessi replied coldly.
"Yeah," Noire responded, focusing away from the conversation as the car took off from the area. They heard police sirens in the distance, but their job here was done. Though they were successful tonight, Noire couldn't shake this gnawing feeling at the back of her mind that something was wrong. It was this same instinct she had developed and more often than not she was proven right. Something was gonna go down, she just knew it.
She just had no idea how far it would go.