Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Chapter 47 – Rangers at the Core
With Divatox now having returned, the Zeo Rangers were on high alert for the Machine Empire. They were not looking forward to facing Mondo again, though they wondered what exactly would happen with Venjix around also. Mondo wasn't exactly one to share his glory, and while he didn't really have a choice with all the other villains, Venjix had once been a part of his Empire; if they were lucky, Mondo would decide that Venjix had betrayed him and go after the Machine General, giving them a bit of a break, and if they were even luckier, Mondo would destroy Venjix, or the other way around, they didn't really care too much who destroyed who.
However, for as much as they knew that the Machine Empire was next, they didn't make an appearance for a couple months. There were many birthdays to be had over those months, March with Syd's ninth birthday, and April with Connor's twenty-seventh and Z's eighth. Parties were held by the Ranger parents for the younger, future S.P.D. Rangers, while those future selves who lived in the Clock Tower had their own parties with the Dino Thunder team. Although as it was their children's future selves, Dana and Carter, and Danny and Kendall, didn't allow it to go unmarked, sending gifts and a parent's love in place of their own future selves. When May arrived with still no Mondo, the Rangers relaxed slightly, though only slightly, and Eric's ninth birthday came and went, closely followed by Lillian Scott's ninth. As May was coming to a close, the Zeo Rangers knew Mondo's arrival was close at hand, they could feel it, and so they decided it was time to contact Trey on Triforia. Knowing he'd become a Ranger in the first place to stop Mondo from taking over his world, they were not going to keep him out of this fight, nor did they delude themselves that he wouldn't want to fight, but other forces, in the form of the also imminent birth of Trey's first grandchild, had other ideas.
"Grandchild?!" Tommy gasped upon hearing the news, he and the other Zeo Rangers, along with the ever present Kira and Connor, having all gathered at the Command Centre for this call. "But…didn't you say that your daughter was Kira's age?" He looked to his nineteen year old who stood next to her mate and impulsively pulled her away from him.
"Hey!" Kira cried in protest.
"You get her pregnant any time in the next ten years and I'll have to kill you." He growled at Connor, ignoring his daughter's protests.
"He won't be the only one out for blood." Jason growled as well. At their words, Kira gained a worried and hesitant expression and pulled away from her father to do stand by her mate.
"Kira…" Connor trailed off warningly, seeing through their bond what she was about to tell them.
"Well, now that you mention it…" Kira said, ignoring her mate. Her father and uncles all paled, knowing where she was going with this, while her mother and aunt merely rolled their eyes.
"You…you're…" Tommy stuttered.
"Kira, don't give your father and uncles heart attacks." Kim decided to put them out of their misery. "At least not right now. Wait until Thrax is destroyed."
"Yes mom." She dutifully replied.
"You mean you're not…"
"Pregnant?" Kira supplied when her father appeared incapable of saying the word, then smirked when the guys flinched. "No, I'm not. You think I'd continue to fight if I was? Let alone Connor who wouldn't let me within ten miles of a battle." The guys all breathed a sigh of relief knowing Kira was right and she'd never endanger her child like that. Kira shook her head in exasperation as she turned to face her mate, feeling the glare he'd fixed on her.
"What?" She asked.
"That was a cruel joke." He answered.
"Oh come on! They deserved it!"
"Not cruel to them, cruel to me!" he clarified. "What if they'd reacted differently and decided to kill me then and there instead of going into shock?" Again Kim rolled her eyes as the two started to bicker, before tuning back to Trey.
"Sorry about that." Kim apologized for her family, though Trey appeared highly amused.
"It's quite alright. Our families are not that different."
"So, your first grandchild…for all the joking I'm glad I don't know what that feels like." And she truly was, both her and Tommy, and all of Kira's aunts and uncles, were all incredibly glad that she'd escaped a teenage pregnancy, or rather would, officially, come August when she turned twenty. But even if she was still technically in her teen years, she'd escaped having a baby while in high school, and given how worried they'd been that Kira and Connor's relationship would work out exactly like Tommy and Kim's had, they all considered that a victory.
"Yes, it is very exciting. I do apologize, for normally I would not hesitate in fighting along side you, but since my wife's death, I am all my Trina has. And she is all I have." Trey's wife had died of illness before they could have that second child Trey told the Rangers they'd been trying for when he'd returned to Earth to reclaim the Gold Ranger powers when they'd started to kill Jason. Trey had been heartbroken at her death but had lived for his daughter, that little girl keeping him from slipping off the edge; he knew that even being King of Triforia would not have been enough had he not had Trina.
"The father's not in the picture?" Aisha asked.
"Oh of course he is. You do not get the Crown Princess pregnant and run away." Trey said rather dismissively while turning to face Tommy. "You are right that my Trina is of an age with your Kira, and while Triforian customs are different then those of Earth, and I must admit that he is a good man who loves my daughter," He added as an afterthought. "That did not stop me from wanting to drop Pyramidas on him for getting her pregnant out of wedlock."
"Overprotective fathers are universal I see." Kira muttered.
"Naturally." Trey answered before once again addressing the group as a whole. "If I am absolutely needed, I shall, of course, come. I would rather there be a future for my grandchild and miss his or her birth then the other way around. But, if there was another way…" He trailed off and although Jason wasn't always quick on the uptake, he got it quick this time.
"We would never wish to tear you apart from your family at a time like this." He said. "I would be honoured to take on the Gold Ranger powers once more." Trey smiled thankfully at his fellow Gold Ranger, having hoped Jason would say that.
"Thank you. It seems that my powers have been used by you more then myself."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"I will come now to transfer the powers." With a nod from the others Trey signed off and immediately teleported to Earth. Alpha had set up every Ranger, no matter what planet they were on, with the inter-Ranger communication system as well as their own teleportation system. It certainly came in handy at times like this.
"Hello friend." Trey said as his black and gold teleportation bean disappeared.
"Trey." Jason greeted, setting off the others, each of them coming forward for a handshake or hug.
"Here, Jason of Earth. The Gold Ranger powers are yours once more." He said, holding out the Golden Staff.
"What, no ceremonial words of transfer this time?" Jason joked, taking the staff and feeling its power enter him.
"None are needed. I was not joking when I said you used the powers more then me. They recognize me as their creator, but you as their primary user."
"And that's ok right?" Jason wanted to clarify. "They're not gonna stop working for you or anything?"
"No." Trey assured him. "They shall work perfectly when I reclaim them for the final battle against Thrax. Every Ranger shall be needed for that battle. Better to have both the Original Red Ranger and Gold Zeo Ranger rather then only one."
"We couldn't agree more." Said Adam.
"Now, I shall return to Trina. But do not hesitate to call if I am needed."
"We won't. And thank you." Said Jason as they bid Trey farewell.
"Right," Rocky said once Trey was gone. "What now?"
"Now we go fight those guys." Tommy answered as the alarms went off and the Viewing Globe lit up to reveal a large contingency of Cogs being led by Mondo himself.
"It never fails." Rocky muttered. "They always have the worst timing."
"Actually I'd call this pretty good timing." Adam corrected his friend. "They waited until after we gained the Gold Ranger powers."
"Far better then attacking just before Trey handed over the Golden Staff." Aisha agreed. "And it's usually one or the other."
"Ok, fine, you got a point there." Rocky relented.
"Um…guys?" Connor interrupted. "This is the Machine Empire right? Cause that doesn't really look like a machine." The Zeo Rangers all turned back to the Viewing Globe and saw that indeed Connor was right.
"Aye yai yai it's Hydro Hog!" Alpha cried.
"He and Mondo must have teamed up like last time." Said Kim.
"Connor and I will contact Delphine and the others." Said Kira. "No way they're going to stay away when it's Hydro Hog."
"Right." Tommy said. "We'll hold them off." Kira nodded and went over to the control panels to see that Alpha had already begun to initiate contact with Aquitar, while the Zeo Rangers all teleported out, arriving at the park, shocker there, moments later.
"Mondo!" Tommy yelled as they came to a stop some feet away, all of them falling in line behind their Red Ranger, who was actually wearing red, having started to do so ever since Divatox showed up. The red was paired with black, those being his two currently active Ranger colours, and the two were easy enough to match, especially as even all these years later he still had to work around Kim's fashion standards, but it was going to get complicated once Rita and Zedd showed up and another colour was added. He only hoped he could avoid green being added to the mix, though given how much stronger he'd felt Tom becoming recently, he wasn't so sure.
"Ah, Rangers." Mondo said, sounding quite pleased by their arrival. "Just in time to face your ultimate destruction."
"Haven't you tried, and failed, at that already?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, can't you just leave us be and go destroy Venjix?" Rocky added. "You know your general defected right?" This wasn't necessarily true as Venjix had always made clear his loyalty to Mondo and the Empire, but the Machine King wasn't exactly one to ask questions and ensure he came to the right conclusion before attacking so maybe they'd get lucky.
"Not quite Rangers." Or not, as the owner of the voice appeared, revealing himself to be Venjix, though at some point over the last few months he'd shed the body he'd had in 2002 in favour of the one he'd used when they'd fought him four years ago.
"Oh man." Tommy muttered.
"RPM's on standby." Came Connor's voice from the communicators, he and Kira obviously having seen Venjix's arrival and immediately told the RPM Rangers to be ready in case they were needed.
"I have always remained loyal to the Empire and my King. I conquered Earth in his name, as you very well know, and will prove my loyalty once more by destroying you! You would do well to fear us."
"Fear you?" Aisha scoffed. "Get real."
"Enough talk." Said Tommy. "Let's do it guys!"
"Right!" They replied, all of them activating their Zeonizers.
"It's Morphin' Time!"
"Zeo Ranger I-Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger II-Yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger III-Blue!"
"Zeo Ranger IV-Green!"
"Zeo Ranger V-Red!"
"Gold Ranger Power!"
It had been four years since they'd morphed into the Zeo Rangers, since last they faced Venjix, and although they couldn't say they were happy at having to morph, none of them could deny that the rush of power from the Zeo Crystal felt good.
"Zeo Ranger I-Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger II-Yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger III-Blue!"
"Zeo Ranger IV-Green!"
"Zeo Ranger V-Red!"
"Gold Zeo Ranger!"
"Power Rangers Zeo!"
Just like the last time, the Rangers felt weird saying their morphing call again, even if it was also their roll call, but they quickly got over it.
"Cogs to battle!" Mondo cried.
"Grinders!" Venjix called on his foot soldiers as well, before he too joined the battle. If there was any doubt that Venjix's Grinders were new and improved Cogs, it went out the window as they faced both foot soldiers at once, the Grinders giving them a fair bit more trouble then the standard Cogs. Hydro Hog stood off to the side alongside Mondo, apparently waiting for something to join the battle. A few minutes in he found what that something was, although no one could tell you what if you asked, for as far as the Rangers were concerned, one minute they were dealing with Cogs, Grinders and Venjix, and the next Hydro Hog had been added to the mix as well. Luckily for them, their friends from Aquitar chose that moment to arrive. A blast of energy came from behind them and hit Hydro Hog dead on, knocking the evil villain backwards.
"We came as soon as we heard." Delphine said as she and the other Aquitian Rangers came to stand next to the Zeo Rangers.
"You!" Hydro Hog snarled, seeing his arch-enemies, the same as the Zeo Rangers were the arch-enemies of Mondo and the Machine Empire.
"Yes, us." Cestro snarled back, not liking that Hydro Hog had returned one bit.
"We're glad you guys are here." Tommy said, quickly greeting his fellow Red, the only one he had time to greet.
"We knew you'd want in on this." Adam added.
"You would be correct." Tideus said.
"Why don't you suit up?" Rocky suggested, for the Aquitians didn't come morphed. "Then we'll take these guys out."
"A sound suggestion." Corcus agreed.
"It's Morphin' Time!" Delphine called the morph, wasting no more time.
"Red Aquitar Ranger Power!"
"White Aquitar Ranger Power!"
"Blue Aquitar Ranger Power!"
"Yellow Aquitar Ranger Power!"
"Black Aquitar Ranger Power!"
"Power Rangers of Aquitar!"
An individual roll call was apparently not a part of the Aquitian Rangers' standard operating procedure. That, or they were too riled up by Hydro Hog's appearance to care about it.
"Let's take them down!" Said Aurico, exchanging the Aquitians' more proper use of the English language in favour of borrowing a phrase often used by the Rangers of Earth. No one contradicted him, all of them in complete agreement, and so they did just that, all eleven Rangers calling on their weapons. The Zeo Rangers left Hydro Hog to the Aquitians, knowing only too well the pull one felt to destroy their own villain. Hydro Hog wasn't alone though and had summoned his own foot soldiers that resembled some scaly aquatic dwellers no one but the Aquitians had ever seen. Mondo stayed out of the battle as much as possible, preferring to watch rather then participate himself, but Tommy and Kim had other ideas. There was no way they were going to win this battle, with Mondo and Venjix teaming up, along with Hydro Hog, that was three arch-enemies, and as they were now, out of practice and not prepared for a final strike, the Rangers could only hold them off. Tommy and Kim decided the best way to do this, and hopefully send them on the run, would be to engage Mondo. While normally this plan of attack was usually not a good one, in this case they were hoping it was. Venjix had stayed near Mondo, protecting his King and they hoped that if they engaged Mondo, Venjix would get scared for the Machine King's safety and retreat. Of course this had the possibility of going in a completely different direction, namely Venjix blowing a gasket and becoming even more volatile, but that was why RPM was on standby. Luck was on their side, however, as not two punches in to having engaged Mondo a cry of "Sire!" was heard and the two were knocked back by Venjix who summoned the Cogs and Grinders to his side, surrounding the King.
"We must retreat sire." Venjix said. "They are too powerful and we cannot risk your safety my liege." Mondo did not seem happy with this answer, but Venjix whispered something to him and the two arch-enemies disappeared soon after, Hydro Hog following not far behind.
"What do you think he told him?" Aisha asked when the Rangers all re-grouped.
"Venjix knows about the prophecy, he knows about Kira and Connor's power." Kim said.
"But they are not here." Cestro said, confused. The Aquitians, like all Rangers in existence, had been informed of the prophecy.
"But Venjix knows we're Kira's parents and that she and Connor are always watching." Tommy explained. "As much as I hate to say it he's one smart bot. He'll know that Kira and Connor will rush in here, the ultimate power at the tip of their fingers, if they think we're in trouble. Which we would be if Mondo had truly fought us."
"But you guys aren't exactly powerless yourselves." Said Adam.
"No, but we pretty much have to snap to use our power. Which we may have, if the fight had continued and Mondo gotten the upper hand. But Kira and Connor would have stormed in long before that."
"Damn straight." Came Kira's voice, she and Connor having heard the entire thing.
"Come on, let's get back to the Command Centre." Tommy said, and hearing no arguments he teleported out, followed half a second later by everyone else.
"Power down!" All eleven Rangers cried upon fully appearing in the Command Centre. Proper hellos were said, and the Aquitians once again remarked on Kira's growth, though this time it was strictly unnecessary as they'd seen each other over the comm channel on occasion, and had seen each other in person, albeit briefly, on Eltar four years ago, though Kira supposed fifteen and nineteen were a big enough difference.
"I cannot believe that Hydro Hog has returned." Tideus said after a moment.
"Hey, he's your arch-villain like Mondo is ours." Adam, said, the voice of reason. "Thrax brought them all back, it's not that surprising that Hydro Hog's returned too."
"Yeah, just why he's joined up with Mondo again is the question." Aisha muttered.
"At least he is not attacking Aquitar." Said Corcus, before immediately backpedalling. "Not that Hydro Hog attacking Earth is a good thing, but his ability to pollute our water could be catastrophic, as it nearly once was. He can cause far less damage on Earth, is more like any other villain."
"But can't he pollute our water?" Connor asked, not liking the sound of that. What he knew of Aquitians told him that they couldn't survive without their pure water, but Earthlings couldn't survive without water either.
"Not to the same extent." Alpha replied, having refreshed his memory banks with the analysis of Hydro Hog he and Billy had taken the first time he'd come to Earth. "He can pollute the water, but the filtration systems humans create can purify the water again. He is especially dangerous to the Aquitians as their water needs to maintain its special purity, it cannot have even a drop of pollution or contamination, whereas Earthlings can survive with a low level of contamination in their water. Aquitar is also a planet made up of one giant ocean. There are no land masses anywhere on the planet, their cities are all under water. Should even a part of their water be contaminated it will spread to the rest of the planet, while contamination on Earth can be better contained as not all bodies of water are connected, especially fresh water."
"Ok…" Connor said. "Glad he's attacking Earth then. Wait, that didn't come out right…"
"We get it Connor." Kira assured her mate.
"So…" Rocky trailed off. "For the second time today I'm gonna say 'what now?' "
"We must return to Aquitar." Said Aurico. "We will return to Earth, Hydro Hog is ours to deal with, but we must make provisions and ensure we have absorbed enough pure water to be at maximum strength."
"Contact Billy when you get back." Kim told Cestro. "Not only will he be happy to see you, but he and his inventions can surely find a way to make things easier for you here on Earth somehow."
"Yours as well." Tommy added, coming up beside Kim and wrapping an arm around her. "It's always a sight to see when you and he get together and start inventing." Cestro smiled his thanks and he and the Aquitians teleported back to Aquitar, promising to return shortly.
"We'll get the guest rooms ready." Aisha said, leading the way down the hall, followed by Rocky and Adam, to the rooms Zordon had long ago created in case any of the Rangers should need a place to crash, and the Aquitar Rangers certainly would need them; Earth may become a haven for all alien life by 2025, but it wasn't 2025 yet. Jason too teleported out, wanting to get home in enough time to change before picking Lily up at her after school club, and leaving Kira and Connor alone with her parents, Alpha having returned to the control panels, his work load having greatly increased since Thrax's return, but their solitude didn't last long, for the Jungle Fury Rangers' Morphers went off. As quick as years of practice would give you, the two had their Morphers out and the sunglasses on their heads, bringing the mics down and seeing the video feed the main computer system at the loft was sending them.
"We could sure use your help!" Casey called through the comm system, he and the others getting hit hard by Dai Shi's latest monster.
"We're on our way." Connor assured his fellow Red.
"Duty calls." Kira said to her parents who smiled and nodded, sending them off.
"Am I a bad mom for not completely panicking whenever she goes into battle anymore?" Kim asked Tommy as the younger mates' teleportation beams left the Command Centre.
"Our daughter is the most powerful person in the universe." Tommy reminded her. "And she has a mate who is, if possible, more protective of her then I am, who also happens to be the most powerful person in the universe."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better about my daughter going to face monsters with enough fire power to destroy the entire planet?"
"No. Well, yes, it should, cause no one can beat her in a fight if it really came down to it, but you're a mom, so it won't. I know it doesn't make me feel better. I still haven't given up on locking her high in a tower far away from any danger." Kim laughed and stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss.
"Her Prince Charming would only climb the tower to rescue her."
"More like use his Tyrannozord to get him up to the window." Tommy muttered. "But maybe he's not the prince, but one of the dangers I'm talking about. I'm certainly gonna have nightmares from her little joke earlier."
"Yeah, that'd go over well." Kim scoffed. "Kira would kill you for even trying to lock her in a tower, even if the purpose wasn't to keep her away from Connor. And you deserved that joke. You and Jason. Ten years? Really? She's nineteen, Tommy, don't you think twenty-nine's pushing it a little?"
"No." He said flatly.
"Just be thankful she and Connor didn't turn out exactly like us and she got through high school without getting pregnant." Again Tommy flinched at that word used in conjunction with his daughter, earning an eye roll and shoulder swat from Kim. "Come on, let's go for a walk. We haven't been to our spot in the park for a long time." Tommy smiled at the suggestion.
"See ya Alpha!" He called, the robot merely waving in their general direction, not looking up from whatever it was he was doing. The two teleported behind a cluster of trees by the pond in the park, their favourite spot visible on the other side of the pond, and began walking hand in hand towards it. Neither spoke, both enjoying the quiet moment, but the moment didn't last. They heard the blast of energy that headed their way before they saw it, barely giving them enough time to jump out of the way. With not even a second of turn over time, the two jumped up and fell into fighting stances, standing back to back to cover each other.
"Putties!" Kim cried, seeing immediately that they were surrounded.
"And Tengas!" Tommy added. "Oh man, this isn't good. Two villains haven't shown up on the same day before…"
"Too bad for you, White Ranger." A low growling voice called and the two turned to face two of their least favourite former enemies.
"What do you want tin head?" Tommy demanded of Goldar, reverting back to the name-calling they'd often used as teenagers.
"Tin head? Who's tin head?" Rito asked, showing them he hadn't gained much of a brain in the nearly twenty years it had been since they'd last fought him. Goldar rolled his eyes at his companion, never having really liked Rito, but otherwise ignored him.
"We have a present for you from Lord Zedd." He answered Tommy.
"Unless it's his surrender wrapped in a pretty bow I'm gonna have to pass."
"Surrender? I think not!" The man himself, if he could be called that at the moment, said. Kim and Tommy whipped their heads around once again, this time to see both Rita and Lord Zedd officially making their appearance, but they weren't alone.
"What do you not understand about stealth?" Thrax chastised his father. Parents or not, Thrax was certainly the one in control.
"What does stealth matter when you have the power?" Zedd returned. "Hitting them in the back or the front makes no difference."
"But now he has a chance to escape."
"Get out of here." Kim said through their bond, as the two bickered and inadvertently revealed their plan, or at least a part of it. "They're not here for me, they're here for you. Get out of here!"
"No way in hell I'm leaving you behind." Tommy shot back.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?!"
"It comes naturally to me."
"Obviously, cause-"
"Enough!" Rita screeched, cutting off their own internal bickering, though her screech was directed at her husband and son. "Goldar, Rito, grab him!" Tommy and Kim didn't hesitate in back flipping their way out of the two minions' reach, but with all the Putties and Tengas around, staying out of reach wasn't really an option and they soon found themselves surrounded, their second battle of the day commencing. They fought hard, as they always did, and were preparing to morph, when they were both grabbed from behind.
"Tommy!" Kim yelled as her mate was dragged before Rita, Zedd and Thrax, while she was merely held back.
"You escaped me before, but you won't escape me again." Thrax said as he raised his staff, not his father's as they'd always thought, but one that was nearly identical. Rita and Zedd also raised their staffs and both Tommy and Kim knew what was coming. The power that left the staffs hit him dead on and forced great amounts of evil energy to course through him; none of these three could be considered weak.
"Tommy!" Kim cried again and rushed forward when she was released, Rito's orders apparently having been to only hold her back long enough for the evil to reach Tommy. "Tommy! Tommy, answer me. Look at me!" He tried, she knew he tried, but the evil that now surged through him was great, and the Falcon fought it with all his might, leaving no room to concentrate on anything else. Kim sensed this finally and closed her eyes, allowing the Crane forwards and willing it to help their mates. A pink glow surrounded her and she was vaguely aware of their enemies trying to stop her, for this had not been part of their plan, only to find that an impenetrable shield had surrounded the two of them. Tommy continued to struggle, for how long neither he nor Kim knew, but eventually he and the Falcon succeeded in forcing the evil from him, only it didn't happen in the way that they'd hoped. As Tommy calmed down as the evil left him, he became aware of a familiar presence and looked off to the side to see the one being he dreaded above all others.
"Hello Tommy."
A/N - Naturally I had to bring Trey and the Aquitians into the battle, but they don't get their own chapter, don't feel there's enough material on them to do one. They are the only Rangers who are not apart of a core Ranger team with their own season that will appear that. Meaning the Phantom Ranger, Blue Senturion, and any other such warriors I'm forgetting, aren't going to appear. Trey will return for the final battle, I just wanted Jason to have the powers for this battle as he was the Gold Ranger for most of the season.
I'm also calling Hydro Hog an arch-villain to the same degree that Mondo, Divatox, Mesogog, Dai Shi, etc. are arch villains. He's the Aquitian Rangers arch-enemy so in the season that never happened for them I'm gonna say he'd be the main villain. He's just working with Mondo for some reason other then it's an excuse to bring the Aquitians to Earth sooner then the final battle (I just don't know exactly what that reason is).
Review please!