Troy was struggling against Colo. For such a large and powerful opponent, the huge gorilla moved with alarming speed, and almost as soon as he got space, Colo was right on top of him again.
He was forced up against a fence, where Colo was starting to crush him painfully, squeezing the breath out of him. Thinking quickly, he shoved his sword backwards, slicing through the chain link fence. As he tumbled backwards, he fired off his pistol, hitting Colo straight in the face, and staggering him. Lafitte just whistled as he realised that Colo was going to need some time to recover.
"You really are making this so much more difficult on yourself than it needs to be." He taunted Troy. "Simply give me the keys, your Zords and your morphers and I'll let you go with your lives."
"Really?" Troy asked sceptically as he got back to his feet. He took a look over to where Colo was still clutching his face, and stumbling blindly. He looked to Lafitte. "What exactly is meant to make me believe that once you've taken them you won't hand us in?"
"I guess you're just going to have to trust me." Lafitte answered with a smirk. "The way I see it, you don't appear to have much of a choice."
"Really? Well the way I see it..." Troy levelled his pistol Lafitte's way. "There's no one else standing in my way. It's just you and me, and by the looks of you, I'd say there's not much to worry about." Lafitte just laughed.
"You have no idea." He chuckled. "You believe just because I choose not to fight that I can't? I'm a privateer! I fight who I'm paid to fight, I steal what I'm paid to steal, and I kill who I'm paid to kill and nothing more."
"Nice speech." Troy snorted. "Let's see you back it up."
Just then, Lafitte heard some blasts from all around him. His Ranger puppets flew into view, landing on the ground a little way in front of him, before turning back into Ranger Keys. Shortly afterwards, the SPD Green, Blue, Yellow and Pink Rangers ran into view, aiming their blasters at Lafitte.
"Here." Gia said to Troy, handing him the red SPD key. "You look like you could use the power boost."
As he put the key into the morpher and turned it, just like with the other Ranger Keys, Troy found himself flooded with the memories and knowledge required to use the powers and equipment associated with the keys. He was startled that not all of the memories seemed to fit, a lot of them...hadn't actually happened yet! The year 2025 was stuck in his mind, a time when humans and aliens lived together largely in peace. He saw the occupants of the uniforms and realised that Gia's suspicions had been right. The kids they had found weren't the Rangers yet...but one day they would be.
"Right Lafitte, we asked you nicely, this is your last warning." Troy told him, drawing his Delta Blasters and aiming straight for him. "Your puppets are down, and your gorilla's in no shape to fight. Leave any other keys you have, and just back off."
"Well, I'm glad to see you don't believe I've sacrificed ALL of my keys." He answered, raising his trumpet with five more Ranger keys in it. "I think one more small sacrifice is in order."
He blew the trumpet, at which the Ranger keys started to glow, before turning into more Ranger puppets. The Gold and Silver RPM Rangers, the Solaris Knight, the Omega Ranger and the Titanium Ranger all stood before them.
"I prefer my battles a little more...one-sided." Lafitte told them. "Another day Rangers."
With that, he and Colo disappeared from view, at which the Rangers heard a roar of engines, before his ship, The Fancy disappeared into the distance. Troy and the other Rangers turned their attention back to the new Ranger puppets, who without warning, suddenly turned on the residents of the camp. Troy performed a forward roll, snatching up the white Mighty Morphin' key as he opened fire, sending the Solaris Knight flying as he was hit squarely in the chest.
"They're going after the campers!" Troy called out. "Raymond, get them out of here! We'll take care of these guys!"
Raymond and the other campers immediately started to scramble, grabbing as much of their possessions as they could carry. The Rangers did whatever they could to keep Lafitte's Ranger puppets away from the fleeing campers. Gia and Emma laid down a huge volley that took down the Omega and Titanium Rangers.
"Come on guys, we need to ramp this up!" Troy told them as he combined his blasters. He fired it off hitting the Solaris Knight again, this time he started to glow, and transformed back into a Ranger Key, which flew into Troy's hand.
"I only saw these guys once." Jake commented as he and Noah brought down the Gold and Silver RPM Rangers. He quickly morphed into the Black Overdrive Ranger, calling up the Drill Blaster. "I guess now I get to find out where they're from!"
Firing off, both of them turned back into Ranger keys, landing on the ground. The whole team assembled behind Gia and Emma.
"Let's bring it back to the originals." Noah suggested, at which they all morphed into the Mighty Morphin' team. They assembled the Power Blaster, levelling it at the remaining two Rangers. One more blast, and the last of the Ranger Puppets fell to the ground, jingling as the keys hit the ground. The Rangers all de-morphed, looking around the camp.
"Lafitte...?"
"He's long gone." Troy sighed.
"The campers?" Jake asked.
"By the looks of it they're gone too." Troy replied, looking around at the camp. Although they had tried hard to keep things restrained, there was a certain amount of damage to the camp. A few fires, and some of the shelters were destroyed.
"Those kids, they...they gave us the new keys." Emma reminded them. "We have to find them. We have to..."
Unfortunately, just then they heard some sirens in the distance. Noah just shook his head.
"I doubt they're going to come back here." He answered sadly as he bent down, picking up the Gold RPM Key. "I have a feeling that a lot of them won't exactly have a great relationship with the authorities."
"But we have to find them!" Emma stated. "We can help them, we can..."
"I wish we could too, but something tells me that if they don't want to be found, they won't be." Gia answered Emma, putting her arm around her. "I think we have to face the fact, they're gone."
"I know we want to help them, but from the looks of the setup here, I doubt it'll be too long before they find their feet." Jake assured her. "I have a feeling with Raymond looking out for them, they'll be fine."
"But they left behind almost everything they own." Emma reminded them. "Clothes, blankets, food..."
"Nothing I'm sure they won't be able to replace." Troy answered. "Remember, they have a kid who can walk through walls. I doubt it'll be too hard for them to find more supplies."
"It still doesn't feel right to leave them behind." Emma grumbled. Troy just picked up the Omega Ranger Key.
"Well, I guess all we can do is to take victory wherever we can find it." He answered. "Lafitte had to give up a lot of his keys. We're now a lot closer to having all the powers we need."
"Well, that's great and everything, but now we really need to get moving." Noah answered, pointing up as the sirens approached. "The campers might have been cool, but I really don't want to take my chances with the cops if I can help it."
"Thirty million looks pretty tempting on a civil servants salary." Jake conceded. Emma saw Gia smiling brightly.
"I know that look..."
"I think I know somewhere we can lie low for a couple of hours." Gia told them. Troy just looked at her completely unconvinced. "What? At least we'll be able to make it up to her for the trouble we caused earlier."
"Yeah, and I'm sure that's your only motivation." Noah said with a smirk.
"Alright, fine, we'll go to Cat's place." Troy sighed. "There's nothing there of any value to Lafitte now. I'm sure it'll be fine."
With that, the Rangers quickly departed, leaving the authorities nothing to find but some ruined shelters, and discarded belongings.
From a little way off, Z watched as the Rangers left. Although the campers had started to leave, she had remained hidden so that she could see them in action. Something about the battle had spoken to her. She barely noticed as Jack returned, nudging her.
"Z, come on." He told her.
"Did you see that?" Z asked him.
"What? You mean when the Rangers brought a bunch of monsters to our home and thrashed the joint?" Jack asked her. "Uh...it's kind of hard to miss."
"Jack, they couldn't help it. Those monsters came here looking for us." Z reminded him. "It's just...it's amazing. Haven't you ever dreamed of something more than this? Haven't you ever wanted to be part of something bigger?"
"Z, people like us don't get to be Power Rangers." Jack put down flatly. "Now, come on, Raymond's waiting for us. We need to find somewhere new to settle."
Z just nodded and went with Jack, casting one last look back on their former home. She couldn't help thinking that there was a reason she had seen what she had. She was sure something about what happened tonight would somehow shape her future.
Back on The Fancy, Lafitte was sitting on his chair as a droid saw to Colo's injuries. The gorilla just whimpered as he was treated.
"Don't worry Colo, I'm sure you'll get plenty of opportunities to pay the Red Ranger back." He told him. Just then, he heard a communications link opening.
"Ah, I was wondering when I'd be hearing from you." Lafitte remarked casually.
"You failed to retrieve those keys." The voice on the other end said sternly. "What's worse, you lost ten more of your OWN keys!"
"Sometimes you have to sacrifice something to gain something else." Lafitte told him, his hand stroking the chest next to his chair. "I still have ten more, and I have gained invaluable insight. I am confident our future encounters will go very differently."
"Well, that will have to wait." The voice on the other end told him. "I have some leads on some of the powers you have yet to find. Given your recent sacrifice, I believe it is for the best that you get a head start."
Lafitte looked to a screen, seeing the information his employer was sending him and sighed.
"Well, it looks like I'll be leaving the planet for a little while." He commented. "And the Rangers?"
"I have a feeling they will have plenty to keep them busy on Earth." The Employer told him. "I expect to hear good news from you soon."
As he signed off, Lafitte just looked back to the monitor.
"Well, it looks like you'll have some time to heal up before we see the Red Ranger again." He told Colo as he started to set a course off world. "Enjoy this respite while it lasts Rangers. Keep collecting those keys. It'll save me searching for them all."
Later, as the Rangers arrived at the apartment, it was Tamsin who answered the door. She just looked at them somewhat grumpily.
"I guess you didn't cause enough damage the last time." Tamsin grumbled. "So, what are you planning to do now? Set fire to the place?"
"Peace offering?" Troy offered weakly, holding up a large take-away container of sushi. "We felt badly about what happened..."
"And you think thirty dollars worth of sushi is going to make up for it?" Tamsin asked him.
"Did you say sushi?" Cat called through. Tamsin rolled her eyes as she took the container off them and showed them into the apartment. They all filed in, taking seats around the apartment. Gia sat with Cat as they made their way in. "You...you came back!"
"Our last battle attracted a little bit of attention." Troy told her. Cat just looked across to the TV, which was still reporting on the story. Troy just shook his head. "And of course you already know."
"It's kind of hard to miss." Tamsin responded, folding her arms defiantly across her chest. "Do you go anywhere that you don't completely level before you leave?"
"It's not like we WANT things like that to happen." Noah told her as he opened the sushi container. "Those kids, Jack and Z...they disappeared during the battle. We have no idea where they went."
Tamsin started to clap sarcastically, earning herself an icy glare from Gia.
"Tamsin, please." Cat said in a stern tone. "They didn't mean it I'm sure."
"I get the impression they're pretty good at disappearing." Gia told Cat, reaching for her hand. "I have a feeling they'll be just fine."
"So, how long are you staying for?" Tamsin asked.
"Just a couple of hours, until the worst of the heat dies down." Troy assured her. "We won't expect you to put us up for any longer than that."
"We'll be out of here soon." Gia told Cat, taking her hand softly in hers. "I'm afraid there's still a long way to go."
Cat got up, and went with Gia out onto the balcony outside. Emma watched her friend go, smiling. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Gia so happy.
Outside in the night air, Gia couldn't take her eyes off Cat. She started to stroke her hair softly.
"I'm really sorry you got hurt." Gia told her. "You can't believe how happy I am to see you. I've really missed..."
"Gia, there's something I need to tell you." Cat interrupted her. Gia just looked a little confused as Cat turned to face her. She could see from the look in her face that she was struggling to hold in tears.
"Cat, it's OK, you don't need to cry." Gia assured her. "I missed you like crazy too. You wouldn't believe how much."
"I've...Gia...this can't go on." Cat told her. Gia just looked a little confused. "Gia, I've been following your battles on the news. Do you know what it does to me any time I see you fight? Do you know how much it hurts every time I watch them put up the reward on your head?"
"Cat, it's OK." Gia assured her. "It won't be forever. We've already got 40 Ranger Keys! There only were a little over a hundred Rangers!"
"Gia..."
"Cat, I promise you, I'm being careful." Gia told her, holding her hands gently. "I'm not taking any unnecessary risks. And I know it's going to be tough, but when this is all over, when the Armada's gone for good, I don't care about reporters or anything like that. Once the reward's gone, I'll come back..."
"That's just it Gia, you shouldn't come back." Cat told her. "Not for me at least."
Gia just looked a little stunned by what Cat had said. She felt her heard sinking as Cat said this.
"Cat, what are you...?"
"Gia, I'm sorry but I'm not as strong as you are." Cat continued. "I just...I can't do this anymore. I can't spend every day terrified every time I switch on the news."
"Cat, please you can't..." Gia could see Cat trying to avoid her gaze as her tears began. She tried to sniff back some of her own as she tried to continue. "Cat, I know this is hard. Don't you think I feel it too? I love you."
As she said this, she saw Cat casting a glance back into the apartment. Gia just gulped as a thought occurred to her.
"Tamsin?" She asked. Cat just looked to her regretfully.
"Gia, I'm really sorry." She told her. "I just..."
"Don't say it." Gia begged her. "If it's over, if this is it, just...just say that."
"I'm sorry." Cat replied. As Gia wiped her eyes, she looked to Cat one last time.
"So am I." She answered. Just then, Troy came out onto the balcony.
"Gia, you really need to see this." Troy told her. Gia just nodded and headed back into the apartment.
The news had a scrolling banner declaring breaking news.
"That news one more time, within the last few minutes, we have received an exclusive broadcast from The Armada." The reporter declared. "We are now going to go live to a broadcast from the bridge of their flagship.
The Rangers watched on as the screen shifted to a view of the bridge of the command ship, shifting inside. It looked almost as much like a throne room as it did a working bridge. Seeing the regal figure sitting on his command seat, they had to do a double-take.
"Um...does that guy not look a lot like...?"
"The Messenger said that the leader of the Armada was Vrak's brother." Troy recalled. "I think this must be him."
"People of Earth, I am Prince Vekar, master of the Armada." He said with a regal tone in his voice as he looked out of the screen. His gaze was slightly disconcerting, almost like he could actually stare at the Rangers straight through the very screen. "I have taken this time to address you directly, to honour you with my direct attention."
"I don't like the sound of that." Jake commented.
"To my left, you will see my science officer Lavira." He introduced her. "On my right, Argus, my tactical officer. Given recent events, I have opted to dispense with the formality of envoys and address you from my own high council."
He leaned forward in his chair.
"Have I not been good to you?" He asked. "Have I not allowed you the freedoms I promised? Have I not spared you from my forces as I said I would?"
He shifted in his chair, leaning back and arched his fingers in front of him.
"I have done everything I can to make our occupation as painless and as free from suffering as possible, and yet still you insist on testing my mercy." He continued. "Your misguided Rangers continue to attack my forces. They have destroyed no less than three of my officers. They have murdered my Commodore, and attacked my ships wherever they have gone, causing untold destruction and suffering."
He gave the screen a sick little smile.
"For that, there will be...consequences." He announced. "The Earth will no longer receive the benefit of my continued patronage. To spare my forces further attacks, I will withdraw my garrisons from the Earth."
"OK, why am I not hopeful that's a good thing?" Jake asked.
"Maybe because he's probably not keen on shelling his own men?" Noah suggested.
"We will maintain our protection from on high. The last thing I want is any more battles on your streets." He told them. "However, another great crime must first be addressed. My brother, the one you know as Vrak has been murdered by the Rangers. I have lost my own blood. This is an affront that will not stand. And yet some of you still continue to view these criminals as heroes."
He then got up from his chair.
"For that, there must be punishment!" He said with authority. "The rewards for the Rangers have been increased as of this day. Ten million for each of them, with the exception of their leader Troy Burrows, whose reward stands at twenty million."
"Holy shit." Jake gasped. "Even I'm tempted now...he just doubled our reward!"
"Finally, to ensure there is no further mistake as to the costs of harbouring these dangerous fugitives, I have decided to make an example of one of your cities." He told them. "Tomorrow at dawn, I will launch an all out offensive on the Rangers' home city of Harwood. Perhaps once you have seen their home levelled, no stone standing upon another, you will realise that resistance only causes unnecessary suffering. Remember, you have the Rangers to thank for all of this."
With that, he signed off, leaving the news crew stunned. Troy turned off the TV.
"He's...he's going to wipe Harwood off the map!" Jake stammered. "Troy..."
"He's forcing our hand." Troy agreed. "But he's shown something else too."
"What's that?" Jake asked him.
"We've obviously got him rattled." Troy stated. "Now he's showing his face, he's no longer hiding behind underlings...it's clear we have his attention. Now we know who we're fighting."
"Why am I not hopeful Vekar isn't as bad as his brother?" Emma commented.
"Because if Vrak came on ahead, if Vekar could order him around, then either Vrak respects him or he fears him." Troy answered. "Neither of which is a good sign."
"We've got a lot of ground to make up before dawn." Noah told them. "We need to get moving."
With that, they all started to file out of the room. Gia paused for a second, giving Cat one last, long look.
"Goodbye." She stated. "You asked me not to say it before. Now we have to."
As she left, she brushed past Tamsin. The other girl just watched her go.
"Um...that was...she just gave me some serious stink eye." Tamsin stated.
"We broke up." Cat informed her. "She can't concentrate on the battles ahead if she's chasing some fantasy that we'll have some happily ever after."
"But what does that have to do with...?" She paused as she realised what had happened. "Did you tell her we...? Dude, I'm straight! Why would you do that?"
"I know Gia." Cat sobbed. "I know she'll never stop fighting for something she loves. I had to make her believe that we were over."
Cat just sat on the couch, grabbing Huffy, the little stuffed dragon Gia had got her when they first started going out, and hugged her tightly.
"I'm really sorry Cat." Tamsin told her. Cat just nodded as Tamsin sat with her, holding her tightly.
Fin.
A/N: And here we are, brought up to the starting point for the season proper. The invasion will be my version of the first episode.
Lafitte's taking a little sabbatical, but don't worry, we'll see him again.
Hopefully you've all enjoyed my storyline so far. I know it's going really far A/U, but that pretty much was always my intention. I plan to milk the pirate thing for all its worth. Thanks to all my loyal readers and reviewers. The new story will come soon.