DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN POWER RANGERS

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"We need to keep moving My Lord...", a creature remarked from the shadowy depths of Osirico's lair; "...We must attack".

"What do you have in mind?", Osirico patiently awaited an answer.

"Those Power Rangers have the support of the world behind them...", the creature continued.

"Your point being?", came the growled response.

"We take away the support...it will certainly damage their confidence, they won't feel obliged to fight anymore", he sneered.

"Well then...", Osirico stood from his favored seat; "What are you waiting for?"

"My Lord, I think it would be better if I did not reveal myself yet...", Osirico's eyes turned to fire as he glared down at his sub-ordinate's suggestion; "I mean, I need to wait until the right time", the creature added hastily.

"And when will that be?", the evil master questioned.

"Soon My Lord, I have a plan in mind".

"Very well...", Osirico snarled; "But you will pay the price if this goes wrong", he warned.

"Thankyou My Lord", the creature bowed deeply; "I shall send a warrior down at once".

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"Get off me you freak!", Kira growled as he wrestled to break free from the monkey-like arms of the evil empire's latest creation.

"Allow me", Adam rushed to his friend's rescue and leapt into the air, before withdrawing the Power Axe and slamming it into the ground.

The earth beneath the creature's feet shook violently, causing him to divert his concentration onto keeping his balance, which gave Kira the opportunity to ram her left elbow straight into his stomach.

The monster roared and staggered ever closer to falling over as the Rangers regrouped. However, unfortunately for them, the dim-witted creation had launched its initial attack in the center of the thriving shopping mall. Fixing its cold stare on the heroes, the monster knew that it needed to gain an advantage unless it wanted to be shown the fast-track to hell...

The long arms snapped outwards again, only this time they grabbed onto one of the few remaining civilians...a little boy, no more than six years old.

The evil creature held the now screaming child close to his body as the boy's mother ran towards him in horror; "Charlie!"

"No!", Tori put out her arms to stop the hysterical woman before she got herself hurt.

"But that's my son!", she argued as she tried to pull away from the Blue Ranger.

"No..." Tori repeated again; "Don't worry, we'll get him back for you, okay?"

The woman could do nothing but nod and whimper in response as she ceased her plight to get away.

"That's a new low buddy!", Xander accused the offending creature; "Even for the likes of you!", he pointed his Magistaff menacingly towards him.

"He's coming with us...", Kira continued, drawing out the Ptera Grips; "...Whether you like it or not".

The Rangers needed no other incentive as the charged towards the monster, bearing in mind that their priority was the terrified child.

Since the Power Axe was too clumsy to risk hurting the child, Adam took careful aim with his blasters, firing as he ran.

The lasers did their job and smacked into the creature's shoulder, instinctively causing him to drop the boy. The child fell to the ground, unharmed, when Tori followed up Adam's plan by rolling under a swipe from the monster's arms and scooping up the child as she stood again.

Narrowly avoiding a stray stream of laser fire as the other Rangers pounced on the creature, the Blue Ranger safely handed the boy back to his mother.

"Oh thankyou!", the woman hugged her son tightly; "Thankyou so much!"

"My pleasure", Tori turned to the boy; "You okay little buddy?" the still in-shock kid nodded vigorously from his mother's side before giving her a small smile. "Great, well how about you take your mom home, away from this monster?".

He broke into another smile before grabbing onto his mom's hand; "Come on Mommy, the Power Ranger told us to go!"

The woman couldn't help but grin at him; "Okay then, let's get home and see your dad".

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"Ahhh!", Adam hurtled through the air...

CRASH!

...And smashed straight through a store window. "Oomph!", several clothing rails toppled over as the Black Ranger found the floor and the monster watched with glee.

"Who'd have thought this would be so much fun?!"

"Well, I think it's about time we crashed your party!", Xander threatened as he whipped out his Mystic Morpher...

Vines seemed to spring out of nowhere as the Green Ranger's elemental powers took force. The long, green spindles wrapped themselves tightly around the unsuspecting villain as Adam picked himself up from amongst the clothes and shards of broken glass.

The tried and tested tactic worked perfectly as the three other Rangers wasted no time in finishing the creature off with a trio of laser fire.

"Another successful outing for the Retro Rangers!", Kira concluded as she hi-fived everyone jokingly.

"Yeah, but where's the supersize monster?", Tori furrowed her brow in confusion over the unusual lack of Megazord-vital action.

"Uhm..."

"Looks like they ran out of spells to make it grow", Adam mocked, unaware of the villainous plan at work.

"Shame...", Xander feigned disappointment; "I was looking forward to kicking his butt".

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"Guys? Are you there?", Hayley voiced her message to the Rangers' communicators from her chair in the Dino lab.

"Yeah, I read you Hayley", Adam's groggy voiced replied.

"What's up?", questioned Xander a little more enthusiastically.

"Mmmm?" was all Kira could manage. But that said, it was significantly better than Tori's reply...

"...."

"You are not going to believe this..." Hayley continued.

"This had better be worth getting up for", Adam interrupted jokingly.

"Yeah, this is way too early", Kira agreed.

"Whatever dudes, us tough Rangers can handle it..." Xander chipped in; "...Right Tor?", he awaited the Blue Ranger to back him up; "Tor?"

"...."

Xander frowned. "I think she's asleep man", Adam suggested.

"I don't blame her either", Kira added.

"I'll soon change that...", the Green Ranger cleared his throat; "...HEY TORI!", he all but yelled down his communicator.

"Huh?", a very sleepy and confused voice answered.

"There you go!", Xander announced proudly; much to the disapproval of the others.

"Tori do you read me?", Hayley asked.

"Yeah...yeah I hear you".

"Good, back to business then...", the tech whiz continued; "...As I was saying, I don't suppose any of you have read this morning's newspaper?"

"No...", they all answered slowly in unison.

"Hayley's voice sounded slightly concerned; "Well, I think you'd better take a look".

Adam strolled towards his front door in confusion and stepped outside to pick up the daily newspaper that had been carelessly dumped there. Unfolding the crease down the middle, he stopped and stared at the front page; "Oh dear".

TO BE CONTINUED...

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ALL REVIEWS MUCH APPRECIATED, THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONE SO FAR :)