Chapter 8:

Unaware of the status of his other teammates, Adam was still locked in pitched battle with the gigantic powerhouse known as Tank. Tank fired his heavy cannon at the Green Zeo Ranger narrowly missing each shot. "Damn but this guy is agile!" He said out loud as he squeezed off more shots. A blast from Tank's cannon hit a tree which Adam narrowly avoided being crushed by.

Simultaneously, both of them noticed the damage being done to the surroundings, each had differing reactions to the results. While Tank was feeling deep regret, Adam snarled, "You're destroying my city you monster!" Though furious, the logical part of his brain knew he was outgunned and outmuscled and without the other Rangers to assist, he'd have to improvise. "Close combat doesn't work, I'm just beating myself to oblivion against this monster and the Zeo blaster isn't putting him down, I need more power!" Whipping out his Zeo blade, he combined it with his Zeo blaster to give his weapon more range and more power. As Tank got set to fire another blast at Adam, the Green Zeo Ranger was the one who claimed the initiative. "Morphinominal!" He cried out as his blast made his foe lose his footing and slam into a car with a shower of sparks.

Tank groaned as he climbed to his feet. He staggered on shaky legs as he leaned against a car for support. "This doesn't have to go on like this!" He said in his thick accent.

"You're right it doesn't, it'll end when you surrender!" Adam countered as he advanced a few steps with his blaster at the ready. "Don't try anything funny neither; It's obvious you don't have much left."

The Soldier of the Future shook his head with a mixture of disdain and pity. He knew it was next to useless explaining to his foe why he was doing what he was doing. "I have my orders!" He barked out as he stumbled into the hospital.

"No, don't!" Adam yelled as he chased after him. He found out much too late that it was a sucker ploy by Tank. The huge armored fist caught Adam full in the face causing him to fly back and skid across the ground. "Of all the dirty things…"Adam groaned as he stood back up. Though his opponent was worse for wear, he wasn't in much better shape.

"I can't surrender stranger, the future depends on our success but I know you'll never understand that." Tank began while cracking his knuckles. "I also know you'll never stop trying to stop me so I propose we end this here and now."

The Green Ranger liked the sound of that but at the same time; his opponents words caught his attention. "Wait, you said you're from the future and your actions would save it? How? Why don't you talk and let me try to help you instead of this fighting?"

In response, Tank shook his head. "I see the character you possess and what we have to do, you just can't do. I doubt you could help me kill a man could you?"

It was abhorrent to Adam to even consider Tank's words. "If you're talking about murder then it's no deal! The Power Rangers don't kill under any circumstances!"

He had to admit, he liked his green foe; Tank and his friends' mission back in the future was much the same though he'd had to kill his fair share of people no matter how much it disgusted him to do it. His time on Babylon 5, raised and enhanced to become a killing machine had ironically taught him the value of human life but he was pragmatic enough to know that sometimes, there was no choice no matter how much he wished otherwise. The Captain's logic coincided with his own feelings; if one man's life would save billions…..

Shrugging at Adam's comment he said, "Well 'Power Ranger,' I guess that we have no choice then. I can't let you stop me even though I wish you would." Tank pulled out his combat knife, his stomach feeling queasy at what he knew he had to do. "Just to let you know, I take no pleasure in this."

Putting away his blaster and withdrawing his power axes, Adam clenched his fist in righteous fury. "Though you're wrong for doing this, you seem like an honorable man. Still, you've caused enough damage here today and it's got to end!"

The two charged at each other, growling with each successive step. As Tank's suit screamed at him that his power levels were at fifteen percent, Adam felt his own strength flagging. They both concentrated on focusing all of their power on one decisive blow. For the sake of Angel Grove, maybe the world, I've gotta put this monster down! Adam thought as he charged, the background becoming a blur.

I've got to complete the mission; I can't let this guy beat me! Tank thought alternately, his heavy footsteps shaking the very earth as he lumbered forward. It all comes down to who wants it more and I can't imagine that he has more to lose than I do.

Indeed, it did come down to who wanted it more but neither of them was willing to yield an inch in ground or ideals. The two collided in a shower of sparks that lit up the night sky. Both of them yelled out in a scream of agony. They both stood with their backs to each other breathing hard. Tank was the first to drop, his armor fading away into nothingness and his large frame collapsing to the ground. "I…I did…it." Adam said before dropping to his knees. With his own powers drained, his uniform and weapons also disappeared and he too fell unconscious. The wind swirled around, causing the intermittent fires to rise to the sky; it also tugged at the two inert warriors' clothes. There was no sound but their shallow breathing, the crackling fires and the wind.