The Rangers and Andrew Hartford were all crammed into Emma's submarine as it made its way through the ocean. Andrew was up at the controls with Emma, helping her navigate her way to the lost city.
In the back, Jake was giggling as the others waited for word on their progress.
"What?" Noah asked.
"It's...it's silly." Jake told him. "Just ignore me."
"No, go on." Gia pressed on. "It's not like we have anything better to do until we get there."
"I was just thinking." Jake continued to snigger. "If Jordan had assigned the sub to Gia..."
Gia just rolled her eyes and threw something at him as the others laughed.
"Don't even say it." She warned him.
"Guys, keep the noise down will you?" Emma told them. "You might want to see this."
As they all assembled near the front, they looked out and marvelled at the sight before them.
"If I hadn't seen it myself...Mr Burley would be sick with jealousy if he knew about this." Noah commented, taking a couple of images of the city. He knew that Mr Burley was incredibly fond of some of science's greatest mysteries and conspiracy theories. Despite his devotion to science, he had never earned the scepticism a lot of scientists did, and still believed not only in the mysteries of the universe, but also that science instead of being a tool to scorn and discredit these myths and legends, was a way to prove and explain the things mankind wasn't yet ready to understand. "I can't believe I'm really going to the Lost City of Atlantis!"
"Believe me; a lot of people would love to know about this." Mr Hartford informed them. "From the last time we were here, we figured out that the Atlanteans knew what was about to happen to them. Most of the city is built to create a natural atmosphere. People actually lived on Atlantis for years after it sank."
"So what happened to them?" Jake asked. "Why aren't there any Atlanteans now?"
"What happens to any great civilisation?" Dr Hartford asked him. "The Greeks, the Romans, the Babylonians, the Carthaginians...eventually they all just grew to their natural zenith and started to crumble. It's an inevitability of all civilisations."
"That's...kind of depressing." Emma commented. Dr Hartford just smiled.
"It depends on the way you look at it." He answered. "When a great civilisation collapses, it gives us another chance to begin again from scratch. To create something better."
"That's odd." Emma commented. "The external scans say the water temperature is increasing rapidly."
"It's probably down to the tectonic activity we measured earlier." Andrew responded. "It seems stable now, but it could be a problem."
"Great, like we don't have enough of them." Jake grumbled.
"The best thing we can do is make this quick." Troy stated bluntly. "We get in, get Mack and the keys and get out. This city sank once, and I'm damned if we're going to be here for it sinking again."
"I think I see the way in." Emma told them. She gripped the controls tightly, guiding the sub into the city. As they rose up into a bay, they found themselves coming to rest on a harbour next to Lafitte's ship.
"Atlantis, here we are." Jake said as they stepped out onto the docks. Before them, the city spread out in an awe inspiring sight.
"Multi-story sky-scrapers, cement, glass-shaping..." Noah rhymed off, beholding the architecture before him. "If they were building like this almost four thousand years ago...they really were light-years ahead of everyone else!"
Just then, they heard a slight cracking. They all turned to see some of the rock faces splitting open. Troy approached one of them, placing his hand close to the crack.
"The air coming through is hot." He informed them. "It looks like the tectonic shifts are worse than we thought. We need to get moving."
"Check this out!" Jake called to them. As they ran over to him, he bent down, picking up a coin and showing it to them. "I know the Atlanteans were advanced, but unless they were minting quarters almost three thousand years before America was colonised..."
"Mack's leaving us a trail." Andrew said with a smile. "That's my son alright. He's always thinking on his feet."
"This creep probably took Mack with him." Gia concluded. "He's probably worried about booby traps."
"It they're headed where I think they are, it's a smart precaution." Andrew said with a sigh. "Come with me. It's this way."
Meanwhile, deeper within the city, Mack was walking ahead of Lafitte's little party. Between the hulking ape Colo, and the five Ranger puppets, Mack knew he was outmatched. Right now, he was just doing what he could to delay them, hoping that the Rangers were catching up.
The Green Samurai Ranger shoved him roughly as he slowed down a little, much to Mack's annoyance. They were on a narrow walkway hundreds of feet above the city streets, heading towards a large, central building. It was the vault built into the temple of Hades. Just like the Underworld itself, it had been built to be inaccessible to all but those that were meant to be there. Its walls were made of a shiny metal that hadn't the slightest blemish, despite the many years it had been here. The gates were some distance away, approachable only by the bridge, and were forged with a massive image depicting Hades himself t the gates. Mack just gestured to the bridge.
"Well, there you go." He announced. Lafitte just looked to him sceptically.
"You there!" He called out, pointing to the White Mighty Morphin' Ranger. He then pointed to the gates.
Mack watched as the White Ranger made his way dutifully across the bridge. He didn't even get half way across before there was a huge, bellowing roar. As they looked up the tower, they saw a massive metal claw clamping down on the rooftop. Shortly afterwards, a robotic hound with three ferocious looking heads came into view.
The robot leapt down, narrowly avoiding the White Ranger as he back-flipped out of harm's way.
"Did you really think I'd not account for there being security measures?" Lafitte asked him. Mack just shrugged.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I know I don't have any idea how to destroy that thing." Mack told him. Lafitte just pointed at the creature, at which all five of his Ranger puppets attacked.
Mack watched them battle with the robot, their weapons smashing against its armoured hull as the hound slashed out with massive claws, and fired missiles their way. Lafitte was keeping an eye on the battle, but as he looked aside to Mack out the corner of his eye, he saw Mack looking to a statue that he hadn't noticed.
It was a gaunt, cloaked figure, cast in bronze. Its hand was outstretched. Lafitte saw that Mack looked at the statue, and made his way over.
"Of course, how foolish of me." He chuckled as he pushed the former Red Ranger out of the way. His Ranger puppets continued their battle as Lafitte inspected the statue. "I forgot to pay the ferryman."
He looked to the statue of Charon, and then to his party. He eventually made a decision, twisting off three of his rings. He placed them on the outstretched palm of the statue. Charon closed his hand around the rings, and pulled his hand inside his cloak.
At that moment, the robotic form of Cerberus suddenly stopped attacking. The robot simply turned around and leapt back up onto the top of the tower. Mack just looked to Lafitte.
"You know your legends." Mack complimented him. Lafitte smiled.
"I find it helpful at times." He replied. "Colo, I paid for three. Bring our guest. The rest of you, wait here. If you see anyone else approaching, deal with them."
Colo dragged Mack with them as they headed to the gates of the vault, leaving his Rangers to guard the entrance.
At that point, the Corsair Rangers arrived, with Andrew in tow. They saw the five Ranger Puppets arrayed before them. The White Mighty Morphin' Ranger, the Wild Force Wolf Ranger, the Green Samurai Ranger, the Silver Space Ranger and the Gold Samurai Ranger.
"Great, more puppets." Gia muttered.
"Damn, the Green Samurai was one of my favourites!" Noah complained.
"I don't think that's the most important point right now." Emma stated.
"Come on guys; let's make a show of this!" Troy called out as they all morphed, ready for action.
Andrew watched them take on the Ranger Puppets, and knew that time was growing short. Seeing that the vaults doors were open, he could only presume Lafitte was already inside with his son.
He saw the statue of Charon, and realising what he had to do, he took off his Rolex, placing it in the statue's hand. He ducked and dived, avoiding attacks as he ran across the bridge, hoping he was not too late to save his son.
Lafitte looked around as he saw the treasures within. There were some gems and some gold, but most of the room was filled with scrolls, books and scientific instruments.
"You can tell a lot about a civilisation by what it considers its most valuable treasures." He commented. "Now, where is the Heart?"
He looked around the room, inspecting each of the treasures in turn. Colo held Mack in place, ensuring he didn't try to interfere with the search.
Lafitte seemed to take his time, considering everything in turn, before his eyes rested on something in the middle of the room. It was a statue of Hades, sitting on his throne, observing the lands of the Underworld. As he approached it, he knocked on the chest, hearing that it was hollow.
"Of course." He chuckled in understanding. "The most advanced and intelligent people on the planet. People would expect a much less obvious answer." Lafitte commented. He pulled out his pistol, levelling it at the statue. As he pulled the trigger, the chest exploded, revealing a cavity within. Inside, he found a large, black gem. The Heart of Hades.
As he climbed up to the statue, and reached inside, he ignored The Heart completely, and instead, scrambled around, finding what he was looking for. Mack felt his heard growing cold as he saw the five Overdrive keys in his hand.
"Thank you for all your assistance Mr Hartford." He said with a smile. "I dare say I couldn't have done this without you."
"So...what happens now?" Mack asked him. "Is this where you seal me up in here to be found in a few centuries?"
"My plans are a little more immediate than that." Lafitte answered as he levelled his pistol Mack's way. He was only interrupted as Andrew arrived. He saw the scene unfolding before him, and doubled over, resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
"Ah...so you followed us." Lafitte stated. "Is this where you beg me to spare your son?"
Andrew looked up, seeing Colo holding Mack in place, and Lafitte standing in front of him. He smiled as he saw something else.
"Come on Mack. You're not going to take that from THEM are you?" He asked. Lafitte just started laughing.
"What exactly do you think he's going to...?"
His words were cut off as Colo was launched into him, scattering both of them across the floor. The surprise of the attack meant that Lafitte had dropped the keys. He dived across the floor, snatching up the keys, keeping his head down as Mack grabbed the statue of Hades, tearing it up out of the floor. Lafitte looked on in horror.
"Thanks for cutting off my bracelet." Mack told him, before throwing the statue at him, smashing into both Lafitte and Colo, sending them sprawling out onto the bridge. Mack snapped the manacles on his hands dismissively. "I could have done that any time! All I needed was the opportunity."
As Lafitte was about to attack though, the whole city started to shake. Everyone looked around as the whole place started to shake. Far below, the ground started to split open.
"Dad, what's going on?" Mack asked him.
"Nothing good." Andrew told him. As they rushed out of the vault, everyone was holding onto the bridge for dear life.
"We need to get out of here!" Andrew told them. "You need to get us back to the sub!"
Troy looked reluctantly to the Ranger Puppets, and Lafitte. There were ten Ranger Keys at stake, the five Overdrive keys, and the five puppets under Lafitte's control. As a large piece of stone fell, smashing on the bridge, he realised that there were more important things, like getting out alive.
"Come on!" Troy roared. "We're going!"
As the Corsair Rangers took out grappling hooks, hooking them to the walkways to begin the descent to the ground, Noah grabbed Mack, while Jake grabbed Andrew. They threw themselves off the bridge, quickly making their way back to the streets. They had to take great care not to fall into cracks that were slowly leaking molten magma into the streets.
As they ran through the streets, Troy managed to take a glance upwards, and saw Colo, with Lafitte clinging to him for dear life, climbing frantically, leaping from building to building in a frantic race to get back to his ship.
"Troy, heads up!" Noah yelled. Troy only just looked up in time to see large, red, reptilian creatures climbing up from the magma beneath the ground.
"Lava Lizards!" Mack yelled.
"What are they?" Emma asked.
"All you need to know is they're bad news!" Mack answered. Troy cut down two of them as they got to the harbour. He could see Lafitte boarding his ship, giving a little wave as he went.
"Troy, there are more of them coming in!" Jake told him, pointing to the Lava Lizards. Andrew watched them, and realised that far from attacking, all the Lava Lizards seemed to be concerned with was rushing upwards, towards the vault.
"Mr Hartford, we need to go!" Troy told him. Andrew didn't seem to respond, just looking up towards the vault as the first of the Lava Lizards reached the level of the Vault.
"DAD!" Mack called to him. "We need to go!"
Andrew just nodded, and boarded the submarine. The Rangers hurriedly made their way out of the city, gunning the engines to clear the city before its destruction. Once they were safely clear, Emma just sighed.
"The Scans show no sign of that other creep's ship." Gia told them.
"Lafitte." Mack told them. "He called himself Lafitte."
"Well, whoever he is, he just got away with ten Ranger Keys." Jake said in frustration. Mr Hardford opened his hand.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." He told them. Troy smiled as he saw this.
"You got them?" He asked.
"Lafitte believed he'd thought of everything." Mack explained. "But when he cut off my bracelet, I got my genetic power back. I just needed to wait until I could catch him off guard."
"Never underestimate a Ranger." Jake said sagely. "No matter how long they've been retired."
"He might have got away with his own Ranger Keys, but thanks to you, he didn't get any more." Emma said, sounding impressed. "So, that's a win."
"Well...maybe not." Andrew told them. "I was worried about going to Atlantis. There's a reason we've never gone near that city. The Ranger keys weren't the only thing there."
"Why don't I like the sound of this?" Jake asked.
"There were many dangerous artefacts in Atlantis, the most dangerous of which was the Heart of Hades." He explained. "Legend has it that Hades himself gifted a gem to the rulers of Atlantis in recognition of the power they brought him. Legend has it that the Heart of Hades possesses the power to restore someone from the Land of the Dead."
"Wait...you freaked out when you saw those Lava Lizards." Mack interjected, looking to his father. "You don't really think they'd bring him back do you?"
Before he could answer though, they were interrupted as the comms system burst into life.
"Guys, are you there?" Will's voice called out. "We've got a lot of company up here! The Armada's here, and they are seriously grouchy!"
"We're almost there." Emma assured him, checking her scanners. "Just hold on a little longer!"
Meanwhile, back in Atlantis, one of the Lava Lizards finally managed to get into the vault. It bent down, picking up the Heart of Hades, and let out a tremendous scream of triumph. Their patience had been rewarded at long last.