Power Rangers: Hyperstrike
What has gone before…
The real Black Ranger, Seth Turtle, has been found. The only problem is, he's a prisoner and guarding him is the mutant piano, Fortissimodo. With Kyle facing the deadly Shadowborg and Ann out of action, it falls upon the Pink Ranger, Carter, to rescue her future team-mate…
And she'd better do it quickly…
Six Come Together, Part 3b: Darkening Shadows
Back at the warehouse, Pink Ranger spun in an arc, decapitating two Darkcrons coming in from opposite directions, before gutting one trying to attack her from behind. As she removed the Spiral Blade from the defeated creature, the last two ran at her. Thinking quickly, she leapt high before kicking them both in the head, throwing them apart. She then charged up her Blade and sliced one diagonally in half before spinning and similarly bisecting its partner, this one from groin to head.
The sound of clapping made the Pink Ranger look up. "Bravo!" Fortissimodo exclaimed as he applauded her. "A most excellent performance. Are you ready for the second act?" Carter brought her Spiral Blade up ready.
"Come and get me, tough guy."
"Tougher than you can handle." Fortissimodo retorted. Then he attacked. Instead of waiting for him, Carter followed suit. Seth could only watch as the two fought it out.
Unfortunately for Carter, Fortissimodo was as good as his word, using his cane as a staff to block her sword strokes, the spinning teeth continually catching on the apparently tougher material. Exasperated, Carter switched back to the normal short sword, but this left her with an increased difficulty in getting past the monsters defenses. As a result, the Pink Ranger was getting pounded.
Finally bored, Fortissimodo swung and knocked Pink Rangers feet out from under her. Carter rolled away, expecting a follow up if she remained prone. This, however, was not Fortissimodo's plan. Instead, as Carter was getting up he spun with the grace of a ballerina and kicked her in the chest, sending her flying back into one of the crates. Pink Ranger demorphed back into Carter and collapsed face first. In his chair, Seth cringed. This was not going well.
"Ah, my dear." Fortissimodo crooned. "It would appear that I am the victorious participant this time." Carter glared at him as she staggered to her knees, holding a hand to her nose, obviously broken, blood pouring down the front of her body, staining her clothes.
"Go to hell," she snapped.
"Go to hell?" Fortissimodo asked, chuckling. "My dear girl, I intend to take you there." He advanced on Carter, but she managed to scuttle away from him. "Silly girl," Fortissimodo scolded her. "Why delay the inevitable? Surrender and I might even let you... enjoy yourself before I destroy you."
"I'll stop you," she promised, inwardly cringing at how clinched that sounded.
"Oh please," Fortissimodo snorted in derision. "Such a frail, pretty thing such as yourself has no chance against a fine male specimen such as myself." Seth earned a lot of points with Carter at that moment by groaning at that line. "You don't agree?" Fortissimodo asked.
"I suppose the fact that you're a mutant piano from outer space has nothing to do with it," Seth replied sarcastically. Fortissimodo thought about that.
"You know, you may be right," he mused. He looked at Carter... then began to change, resulting in a human form with a remarkable resemblance to Johnny Depp, though still in a suit that the Penguin might have worn, if he'd somehow managed to lose weight. "There", he decided. "Now let's see how good you are."
"Let's not and say we did," shot back Carter as she lunged for him. 'Johnny' responded by smacking her across the face with his cane. He repeated the gesture, only for Carter to grab hold off the cane with both hands. "Get off." 'Johnny' snarled, trying to wrench the cane from her grasp.
"You wish you could," Carter retorted smartly, just before she kicked him in the groin. 'Johnny' yelled in pain, but merely redoubled his efforts to retrieve his weapon. After a few missed shots at her ankles, 'Johnny' fell back, lifted his foot and kicked Carter square in the gut. Her grip tightened on the staff as her stomach convulsed and she threw up all over his fancy shirt. Most of the rest ended up on the ware-house floor. In his capacity as a literally captive audience, Seth groaned again. Rangering had certainly seemed more glamorous on TV.
"You little bitch." 'Johnny' snapped. "Do have any idea how much these shirts cost to dry-clean?" A snarl was the only response. Before 'Johnny' could react, Carter leapt up, drew back her head and head butted him in the nose, smashing it completely.
'See how you like having a bloody nose,' Carter mused, with some triumph. He'd let go of his cane, she noticed and advanced on her foe. This time it was Carter's turn to smack 'Johnny' across the face, twice. Seth cheered, though the sound was still muffled by his gag, which was only just starting to come loose. Carter lifted the cane at the ready. "Fore!" she announced, before swinging underarm and striking 'Johnny' in his jaw, knocking his head back with such force Seth was almost sure it was going to fall off. The disguised pianist collapsed to the floor, but quickly got up again. Carter noted with some satisfaction that she'd managed to break his jaw with her last blow, shattering the chin. Seth finally spat out the gag.
"I'd have given that at least a 7." he quipped. In obvious pain, 'Johnny' whirled on Seth, wailing something that sounded like 'shut up', before he turned back to Carter and lunged at her. Throwing away the cane, Carter jumped, spinning over him. Time slowed as she started to come back down, drawing back her foot, which was suddenly glowing pink with energy. Swinging her leg forward with all her might, Carter smacked 'Johnny' full in the chest, sending him flying. She landed on all fours just as he crashed through some of the stacked boxes, sending several of the higher ones tumbling to the floor.
Smacking her hands in victory, she glanced at Seth making sure he was okay.
He glanced towards the demolished crates. "You think you got him?"
"For the moment." Carter looked back herself and grinned, admiring her handiwork. "That'll teach him not to mess with a woman."
"I'm sure he'll keep that in mind if he ever fights one." Seth commented. Carter smacked him across the back of the head.
"Do you want to be rescued or not?"
"Sorry." Seth repeated. It took a moment, but Carter was able to untie the ropes binding Seth to the chair. He got up, wincing. "I think my feet have gone to sleep." he complained. There was a noise from the pile of fallen boxes.
"Damn." Carter growled. "Guess I didn't finish him after all." This did not come as a surprise. She turned to Seth, pulling the Bat Morpher from sub-space with an audible ~pu-lip~. "Here. This belongs to you." Seth blinked.
"Me? Um, what is it?"
"It's your morpher." Seth blinked again.
"My mor..." His jaw dropped. "Me? A Ranger?" With a crash or two, Fortissimodo smashed his way out of the crates.
"That hurt." he growled.
"You gotta be kidding." Seth protested to Carter. "I'm a coward!" Carter did not have time for debate and did not bother wasting time saying so.
"Do you want to get out of this or not?" she asked. Seth considered this.
"Good point," he allowed. With only a little more hesitation, he took the morpher and put it on. Then, they turned and faced Fortissimodo.
"I'm going to silence you," the monster growled. "But slowly. I will orchestrate a concert of your screams before I finally let you die."
"You think he'd give up on the music jokes by now," Carter remarked. "Ready?"
"No." Seth quipped. Fortissimodo screamed in fury, then charged.
"WIND BUTTERFLY!"
"DARKNESS BAT!" Transformed, the pair leapt in different directions, letting the charging piano run through the space where they had been. "Not very bright, is he?" Black Ranger remarked.
"Typical man," Pink Ranger retorted in explanation. "Can't think with both heads at once."
Fortissimodo turned, unleashing a volley of musical notes, which crashed into the ground around the Rangers, sending explosions into the air, along with both spandex clad teens. The piano landed heavily, only for Black Ranger to leap up again.
"Enough!" he cried, jumping high into the air, straight towards Fortissimodo. Black Ranger ran towards the monster moving his hand to his belt. "Negasi!" He pulled out a long black-solored staff with a bat insignia on its head.
Fortissimodo reacted predictably, unleashing a blast of musical notes. Black Ranger nimbly leaped to the side destroying as many of the notes as possible with his staff. Fortissimodo growled and charged. Backed up against a wall, Seth waited until the last second then sidestepped, letting Fortissimodo slam hard into the wall. The impact, sadly, did more damage to the wall, especially when Fortissimodo came through the wall again instead of using the already available hole.
"Damn. What is this guy, made of rock?" Black Ranger groaned.
"Doe Ray Me" Fortissimodo began, blasting Black Ranger with the resulting notes. The blast sent the Ranger slamming in the far side of the wall. "Why do things never go as planned?" Seth groaned.
"Then we do things the unplanned way." Carter told him.
'They had a plan?' Fortissimodo wondered, preparing himself for anything. Pink Ranger brought out her Triangle Tri-bow.
"Take this. Split Arrows, fire!" Fortissimodo tried to dodge, but one on the arrows lodged in his leg, making him howl in pain. Black Ranger nodded. "My turn. Shadowed Slice!" The energy slice from Negasi sent Fortissimodo hurling through the air. The monster somehow managed to land on his feet, just outside the warehouse. The pair of Rangers ran out to meet the monster.
"Now what?" Seth asked.
"THIS!" Pink Ranger shouted. "Strike Blade! Thunder Mode!" Black Ranger watched as her blade converted to a large pink cannon. "Fire!" Even as he crapped himself, the piano was already jumping at Pink Ranger. The strategy paid off, the explosion's force picking him up and giving him enough momentum to collide with her, knocking them both to the floor and sending her Strike Thunder Cannon clattering away...
"Damn it!" Black Ranger cursed. "Carter!" Black Ranger rushed forward. "Strike Blade Thunder Mode!" Pulling out a huge black cannon aimed it Fortissimodo and fired. The blast smashed into both the monster...and Pink Ranger, neither of them having been able to get untangled from the other in time. Black Ranger paled under his helmet. "Crap. Carter's going to kill me..." Pink Ranger slowly rose to her feet and saw Black Ranger.
"Seth, when this is over, I'm going to KILL you." Seth gulped.
"Would it help if I said sorry?"
"No!" At this point Fortissimodo reminded them it was there by blasting Pink Ranger from his own position, knocking her to the ground again in a shower of sparks. In obvious pain, Pink Ranger climbed to her feet, leaning on her Thunder Cannon for support. "This has NOT been a fun day..."
"No kidding..." Seth muttered as he avoided a stray blast from Fortissimodo. Carter glared at him.
"YOU'RE part of the reason my day has been bad! You blasted me with your cannon! What are you doing?! Trying to get me killed?" She said in anger.
"No! I just... I don't think I'm cut out for this. Scott should've been Black." Carter sighed, her anger disappearing for the moment.
"Complain about it later. C'mon!"
"If we're still alive..." Black Ranger muttered.
"Details. Triangle Tri-bow!" Holding her bow in her right arm she grinned. "Lets go, ugly." Despite his doubts, Black Ranger copied suit, taking up a fighting stance with Negasi. Pink Ranger leapt, lashing out at the monster repeatedly and quickly learned a simple fact: a Tri-Bow is NOT a close combat weapon. AS the Tri-Bow clattered away, Fortissimodo saw an opening and brought his cane up between Pink Rangers legs. As Carter yelped in pain, a second strike smashed across her head... Black Ranger took aim with his Strike Cannon.
"Please let this work..." Seth muttered under his breath as Carter demorphed, unconscious. Fortissimodo stood over her and Seth quickly realised that if he fired, both would again be caught in the blast... and this one, Carter would not survive. Having run out of options, Seth made possibly the stupidest decision in the history of Rangerhood. There was one thing that might distract Fortissimodo long enough for Carter to recover. "Power down." Seth said, as his black spandex suit disappeared. The monster grinned. "That was your last mistake, Ranger!" He said as he advanced on Seth. He fired a note of power, blasting the boy off his feet. Seth struggled back up, hissing in pain. Fortissimodo charged forcing Seth to do a quick roll to the right.
However, for a piano, Fortissimodo was surprisingly agile, switching direction, spinning and lashing out to meet Seth on his way back up while Seth did the only thing he could think of; he gave a quick side kick to Fortissimodo. They hit each other at the same time, Seth getting hit in the chest while Fortissimodo took a blow to the keys. The hit to the chest sent Seth on a collision course with the warehouse floor. He winced in pain as he staggered back to his feet.
"Okay, powering down may not have been the brightest of ideas," he muttered under his breath. Fortissimodo staggered, obviously tiring. Taking advantage of Fortissimodo's tiredness, Seth took the time to morph. "Much better," he remarked as fresh energy raced through him.
"You won't win, Ranger." Fortissimodo declared.
"We'll see," was all Black Ranger replied, calling Nagasi as he spoke. Before the overgrown piano could react, he struck out with the staff. The monster replied by snarling and punching him in the head. Black Ranger winced. Even with the protection of his helmet he was going to have a headache after a hit like that. Ignoring the pain for the moment, Black Ranger returned the punch, following it with the hardest kick he could manage. Fortissimodo flew back, but managed to stay on his feet. But he was swaying. Black Ranger wasn't about to give the monster a chance to recover. Leaping forward, he attacked Fortissimodo with a cluster of kicks and punches. The monster was too tired to defend himself and pressing his advantage, Black Ranger continued his attack. However as tired as he was, Fortissimodo wasn't prepared to lose just yet and brought his cane down on the Black Ranger's helmet hard enough to stun the newest ranger for a moment. A swift kick sent Seth flying backwards. Fortissimodo laughed.
"Good performance, Black Ranger. But it is time for your final movement!"
"Those music jokes get old fast," growled Black Ranger as he got to his feet. "But I agree with you on one point. It's time to finish this." Pulling out his Strike Blade he called, "Strike Blade Thunder Mode!" As before, he fired the cannon at Fortissimodo. Only this time Carter wasn't in the way. Fortissimodo fell over and exploded, apparently from exhaustion.... the cannon shot passing overhead and smashing into a nearby building, obliterating it and the two behind it. "Oops..." muttered Black Ranger. "Hope I don't have to pay for that..."
"You really have to stop using that thing," Carter muttered, getting up.
"Are you alright?" Carter growled at him as a memory clicked into place.
"YOU SHOT ME!" she yelled. "OF COURSE I'M NOT ALL RIGHT!"
"I was hoping you'd forgotten that," muttered Black Ranger.
Black Ranger shrugged. "You better morph."
Carter gave him The Look. "A brilliant idea," she snarled. "Now why didn't I think of that?" Just then their communicators went off. "Yeah?" said Carter, answering her communicator.
"It's Ninjor. I need you two to go help against Shadowborg. The others are getting their behinds handed to them."
"Right, we're on my way." Black Ranger replied.
"And which way are you going?" was the sarcastic reply. Stopping short, he figured it out.
"Umm... Which way is Shadowborg?"
"Just stand still." Shaking her head, Carter transformed, ready for action. A moment later, Seth and Carter were teleported out.
~*~
"Ugh…" The Red Ranger lay on the ground, his vision swimming in and out of blackness. Through the pain Kyle wondered if this was how meat felt after being tenderized. While he was doing (he thought anyway) fairly well against the evil Beetleborg, it didn't take Shadowborg long to disarm his Star Sword and Strike Spiral Blade. He didn't clearly know how things went this good to bad, so quickly...
"I admit Red Ranger," mocked Shadowborg, standing over the fallen Ranger, "you were a greater challenge then I thought you'd be. Not enough of a challenge to stop me, but still, I thank you for the warm up. And in return, I'll share my plans with you."
"You… You won't win," interrupted Red, but the weakness in his voice and the sheer clichéd nature of the comeback robbed it of any power.
"Spare me the heroic defiance, Red Ranger. I don't think either of us could keep a straight face. Now where was I? Oh yes, my plans." Red Ranger didn't need to be able to see the evil Borg's face in order to know it was smirking at him as he toyed with the deadly black blade. "First of all, I am going to slice and dice you, so to speak, saving only your head. Then I am going to go watch Fortissimodo finish off the Pink Ranger, or do the job myself if she's still alive. Next, I'm going to let the would-have-been Black Ranger stew in his own fear, Ranger or not his fear is still very enjoyable, before I kill him. Lastly, I'm going to go after your precious little sister. That's what your head is going to be for, by the way, just a pleasant little gift for her before I tear her apart."
"Leave Ann alone!" shouted Kyle, struggling to stand. Shadowborg merely laughed and was just lifting the black kantana to deliver the final blow when two blurs slammed into him, knocking him back into a nearby building. Kyle stared as a Green Ranger helped him to his feet while Purple Ranger glared at Shadowborg. Judging by her body stance, Ann Star was well and truly pissed off.
"How about you shut the hell up and get the fuck away from my brother?" she snarled, Wing Shield and Hyperlaser at the ready.
"Who are you?" Kyle asked the Green Ranger, taking in his appearance. This clearly wasn't the Green Turtle Ranger the HyperStrikes still needed to find. He looked more like the Green Dairanger outfit, but with a Power Morpher, Blade Blaster and Zyuranger style gloves and boots. His helmet was a mix of both styles, in the image of the Fox, fur detailed in gold.
"Call me the Fox Ranger," replied the mysterious Ranger. "Come on, we better help Ann out." While the Red and Fox Rangers had been talking, Purple Ranger had switched her Hyperlaser over to Strike Blade mode and she and Shadowborg were trading blows. At a first glance the pair might have seemed equals, but a closer look would reveal that Purple was on the defensive, barely able to ward off the other's attacks.
"I must admit, I expected you to still be cowering under your bed, little girl," remarked Shadowborg. "After all, you've never been much of a hero have you? Ever considered long distance sprinting? After all, you're good at running away."
"You really are full of it aren't you?" snapped Purple. "Why don't you… just… shut… up?" With every word she attempted to get in a hit, but each strike was blocked. However just as her Strike Blade was knocked out of her hand, the Fox and Red Rangers joined the fight… not that it did anything but force Shadowborg to take a few steps back and start firing his Shadow Laser, blasting all three Rangers into the nearby buildings. "Ugh," groaned Purple. "Would someone please remind the homicidal robot that the Power Rangers always win?"
"I already did," replied Red, helping her to her feet. "He didn't believe me." A black flash to his left caught Kyle's attention and he slowly turned his head. 'God don't let it be back up for Shadowborg…'
"Need a hand?" asked the Black Ranger.
"Seth?!" asked Purple and Red.
"Glad to have you here," grinned Red. "Okay, everyone attack together!" With four Rangers, it seemed the tide was turning against Shadowborg. The evil Beetleborg was continually forced back, although it didn't stopped him continuing to fire on the group, especially Fox Ranger. The Hyperstrikes' ally's armour begun to flicker as his power started to fail and he swore.
"Guys, I gotta go!" Fox told the other three and disappeared in a streak of green just as Pink Ranger appeared.
"Where the hell were you?" asked Purple.
"Giving Butterfly a test run against Dantai's overgrown piano," snapped back Pink. Nearby Red and Black just looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Let's Finish this!" Kyle commanded as his team lined up beside him. "Hyper Lasers, Thunder Mode!" All four Rangers drew their pistols and expanded them into the large cannons. "And… Fire!" Four blasts of light boomed from the cannons, each in the rangers individual colour. Already wounded, Shadowborg shrieked in rage and pain as the resulting explosions swamped him.
The Rangers cheered. Black brought his cannon up and pretended to kiss it. "I love this gun!" he declared. The others didn't have to look to know he was grinning like a madman.
"Boys," Pink Ranger repeated, this time out loud. Purple Ranger chuckled and nodded her complete agreement.
"They're all the same," she told the only other female in the group.
"Guys!" Red Ranger said, snapping them to attention. "We're not done." Indeed, Shadowborg was walking out of the flames. His armour was smoking, cracked in many places, his Shadow Laser missing, but he was still mobile.
"You'd think at least one of Dantai's monsters would take the hint," Purple Ranger sighed.
"Do they ever?" Black Ranger countered
"Not so far," Red Ranger told him. His communicator beeped. "Red here."
"It's Ninjor. I'm sending you a new weapon configuration again: The Nova Sword. I'm assuming you know what to do with it..." The Rangers nodded as the information flashed up on their helmets and into their brains.
"Thanks, Ninjor," Red Ranger said, ignoring the sarcasm in the Morphin Master's tone. "Alright guys, let's put it together." Purple Ranger switched her Shield to cannon mode and Pink Ranger attached one end of her bow along the top of it. Black Ranger and Red Ranger added their own weapons in turn, resulting in a Jungle Sword-esque formation. That done, Purple Ranger, with a glance at his leader, held the weapon out to Black Ranger. "Seth, you do the honours," he offered. Black Ranger glanced at Red Ranger, who nodded, then took the gestalt weapon.
"Thanks," he said. Red Ranger and Purple Ranger formed up either side of him, with Pink Ranger behind them.
"Fools," Shadowborg rasped, as if he was having trouble speaking. "Strike me down and I shall rise up more powerful than before." The Rangers rolled their eyes in unison.
"Forgive us if we don't believe you," Purple Ranger replied dryly.
"Savage Slash!" Black Ranger announced, before twirling the weapon to charge it. Shadowborg decides to go for broke and began to charge towards them... too late. Black Ranger swung and bisected the robot with ease.
"The old ways are the best," Pink Ranger cheered.
"They'd have to be," Purple Ranger retorted. "They're the only ways we've got!" That said, the foursome took their weapons and turned their backs on the collapsing villain, posing as he exploded.
"Now, it's done," Seth grinned as the team demorphed.
"Later days, Shadowborg!" Kyle agreed.
"Now is he dead?" Pink Ranger asked.
~*~
"Are all the monsters that tough?" Seth asked as the Rangers materialised in the Power Chamber.
"No, he was definitely the toughest so far" Kyle said. "Man, I hope the rest of Dantai's forces aren't that strong."
"I'm afraid some of them may be even tougher." Ninjor told them. "But you handled the situation very well, even with your limited numbers. If there had been six of you and the MegaBattlezord at your disposal, no mere Beetleborg would have been able to stop you." Seth took the presence of Ninjor mostly in stride, but all eyes turned to the shadowed figure in the corner.
"We didn't do it without help." Ann commented. "Thanks for helping us out there. And for helping me get my head straight."
"You're welcome." Justin stepped into the light, surprising the others, but not greatly. "After all I 've been through, a little pop-psychology is nothing."
"Am I missing something here?" Kyle asked.
Ninjor and the older Justin just shared a look saying 'don't ask, don't tell'. Justin sighed as he faced the four Rangers. "I'm from a world where the events of the Turbo Rangers took a very different way."
"Still lost here." Carter commented.
Ninjor shrugged helplessly. "In our dimension Dark Specter arrived one year earlier and because of this, conquered the universe through Zordon's power drain. First, he acquired the Astro Morphers by killing the only Ranger with access to them."
"Andros." Seth realized.
Justin quietly nodded. "Yes. With his own band of Rangers he killed off the Turbos until only I was left. We tried getting the other Rangers to assist but by then Aquitar, Eltar, and virtually every planet in the Galaxy was captured and enslaved."
Awkward silence soon followed until Ann asked the question on their minds. "What about Dantai? What does he have to do with this?"
It was Ninjor who spoke next. "Dantai was imprisoned on Eltar for questionable practices into other dimensions by none other than Zordon. After Tyranus and Nitra released him, he soon found the gateway into yours."
Despite his heavy heart, Kyle nodded to affirm Ninjor and Justin's words. ""So what happens now?"
We keep searching." Ninjor said. "We still need two more Rangers to complete your team and their Zords to complete the Megazord and MegaBattlezord."
"Where are the missing Zords anyway?" Seth asked.
"In the Holding Bay." Justin replied simply. "But they'll remain there until the Rangers connected to them are found."
"Any leads?" Carter asked.
Justin nodded. "While you guys were fighting, Ninjor had a vision to describe him."
"And?"
Ninjor seemed to grin beneath his helmet. "Brown hair, about Seth's height, seems to shave often. I recognized a few buildings from when I recruited Kyle."
Kyle's interest piqued, he posed a question. "Scars?"
"One on the back of his leg, that's it. Why?"
"I think I know who we're looking for. An old friend. Joey Evans."
"What's he like?" Ann asked.
"He's...interesting..."
"We can track him down in the morning." Justin said.
"Agreed." Ninjor said. "After today, you could all do with some rest."
"Well, I'm going to take a shower." Carter decided. She grinned mischievously. "Care to join me?"
"Um..." Seth blushed.
And the Power Chamber filled with laughter...
~*~
Well, that went well..." Tyranus commented sarcastically.
"Indeed, the Rangers are quite impressive." Dantai mused.
"Though if it were not for that blasted Fox Ninja, Shadowborg would have had them." Nitra seethed.
Dantai thought about this. "I believe you are correct my dear. No matter. Tomorrow is another day and we have yet to test their full capabilities."
"We're only testing them?" Tyranus asked. "But what if our tests had destroyed them?" Dantai gave him a bemused look and Tyranus shook his head. "Yes, of course. None of us would exactly complain, would we? So what now?"
"For now, nothing." Dantai said. "Tomorrow, I suggest we each choose a monster to send down. I already have an... appropriate candidate."
"And if the Rangers somehow do acquire the full team?" Nitra asked.
Dantai smiled.
"Then, my sister, that's when things get interesting..."