Chas and Corporal Hicks were busy dispatching more guards as the Rangers and Dr. K continued on their mission. By now both of them were quickly finding themselves under pressure. Another blast sent debris flying from the corner Hicks was using for cover, causing a few minor cuts, though fortunately missing his eye.
"How are you holding up!" Chas called out.
"I'll live." Hicks told him, pulling out an energy cell and tossing it aside before slamming in another. "I'm down to my last power pack though."
"Same here." Chas replied, checking the shot counter. "I've got 23 rounds left."
"Well it looks like there are more troops on their way." Hicks replied as he started to look around, only to be forced back by another barrage. "It looks like we'll be out of ammo long before they're done."
"Dr. K how's that upload coming along?" Chas shouted down the comm.-link.
"It'll be complete in thirty seconds." She replied, covering the door with her sonic blaster. Suddenly, there was a huge pounding sound on the door and it started to flex inwards. "Rangers, I need your help, they're trying to get in. The download isn't yet complete!"
"We're on it Dr. K!" Scott responded. "We'll be there in seconds."
Hicks ducked away from another blast.
"What did the doc say?" He asked.
"Another 20 seconds!" Chas replied.
"Our ammo isn't going to last out." Hicks stated. "Even when the message goes out, only the people near a monitor or radio are going to hear. We're still going to have to fight."
"I guess we're in for a rough fight then." Chas told him, firing off another volley. He checked, seeing he now only had a dozen rounds left. As Hicks fired off another volley, a blast in return hit his blaster. The safety system bleeped loudly, warning him that the power cell was about to overheat. He threw the blaster away, saving his life as it exploded, but he was still caught in the blast. His charred, limp body slammed against the wall before falling to the ground. Chas could see that he was still breathing, but it was clear he was out of the fight.
Chas launched himself across the hallway to the other side, grabbing Hicks and dragging him out of harm's way as he fired off his last few rounds for cover. He checked over him, seeing that he was unconscious, though still alive. He drew his sword and breathed a sigh as he prepared to sell himself dearly.
"It looks like I didn't sign up for nothing." He sighed as he took a stun grenade from his belt. He threw it down the hall, causing a blinding flash that covered his charge as he threw himself headlong into the troops.
Meanwhile, outside the broadcast room, Mandrake and Nightshade were busy trying to knock the door down to get in. A blast narrowly missed them as a warning. As they turned around, they saw the Rangers standing behind them.
"Where's Gates?" Scott asked them. Nightshade pointed upwards in the direction of the roof.
"You go." Dillon instructed him. "We'll deal with the wonder twins. Summer and I have a score to settle with her."
Nightshade smirked as she recognised Dillon's voice.
"Fancy teaming up Ziggy?" Flynn asked him. "I have to have a little chat about my car with the walking artillery platform."
"Anything you say Flynn!" He replied. "I'll get us some room. Meet us downstairs!"
Ziggy lunged forward, distracting Mandrake with a swing of the Turbo Axe. As Mandrake ducked, Ziggy put his real plan into action, grabbing him and teleporting with him down into a larger office space. Flynn blasted a hole in the floor with his Nitro Blaster before leaping down to join them.
"Alone at last." Dillon stated as he and Summer prepared for battle. Nightshade pulled out a needle weapon and readied her claw, before launching herself at them.
Dr. K dropped her sonic blaster as she saw the progress bar hit 100 percent.
"Colonel, the upload's complete; we're ready for the broadcast." She told him, preparing a camera. "Are you ready?"
"Start the Cameras Dr. K." He replied, straightening his uniform. "It's time for my miracle resurrection."
Dr. K fired up the cameras, and hit the relay. At that moment, every television in Corinth turned to an image of Colonel Truman. A massive emergency broadcast screen outside the Central Command base showed his image. One by one, the soldiers started to notice and turned, viewing the screen in awe and wonder.
"Citizens of Corinth, do not adjust your sets, this is no trick." Colonel Truman began. "I come to you today with an important message."
Up on the roof, Gates watched the screen and roared in frustration as he watched the evidence of his crimes being broadcast to the entire colony.
"You're under arrest Gates!" He heard an electronic voice calling out as an aerial vehicle carrying troops to the roof came into view. "Put down your weapons and..."
Gates pulled out a powerful pistol and fired it, scoring a telling hit. The vehicle spun out of control and lurched towards the ground. Scott barged through the roof access door, causing him to turn around, pointing it at him.
"The game's over Gates!" He roared. "Everyone knows what you did! Give it up and come quietly."
"I can't do that Truman!" He snapped in response. "I've come too far to live beneath you and your god forsaken clan again! You and your family have held me down for too long!"
"You can't fight everyone Gates." He warned him. "Let it go."
"I can't fight everyone, but I can take you to hell with me." He replied. He threw his pistol over the edge. "I thought I'd take you down the old fashioned way."
With that, he drew a sword. Scott's blood boiled as he saw that it was the one that was awarded posthumously for his valour.
"It really is a beautiful blade, far too good to waste on a memorial." He told Scott as he called forth his Street Sabre. "Now I get to send you to meet your brother with his sword."
Down in the corridor, Chas fought as furiously as he could against the troops still surrounding him. Exhaustion was becoming a factor, and he was finding it almost impossible to avoid all the attacks. As he kneed one of the soldiers in the face, the butt of a rifle caught him on the side of the head, sending him to the floor. He reached for his sword, but one of the guards stood on his wrist, preventing him from retrieving it. A blaster was levelled at his head.
As Chas looked down the barrel, preparing to meet his end, the doors to the entrance lobby were finally breached, and the soldiers filed in from outside. To Chas' surprise, one of them fired a stun blast, knocking out the soldier about to shoot him.
"Put down your weapons!" Vasquez, the computer tech officer called out as the invading soldiers came in. "You've all been tricked. Gates is the real enemy!"
The soldiers surrounding Chas all looked around, confused by this statement. Vasquez held up a handheld computer, showing them Colonel Truman's announcement.
"Gates has played us all for fools!" She told them. She reached down, helping Chas to his feet. "The Rangers are fighting them as we speak."
"Those freaks are pretty strong. The Rangers could do with a hand." Chas told her.
"Sir, with all due respect..." Her words tailed off as she gestured to him. His clothing was dirty and blood-stained from numerous injuries. His body armour was scorched, and badly damaged, having done its job saving his skin more than once. Blood flowed down his face from a cut above his brow where he had been hit with the rifle.
"I'm still on my feet Vasquez." He said, limping towards the medical team who were checking on Hicks. "How are you down there?"
"I'm out of it." Hicks replied. "You did good Chas, for a stuck up egotistical airhead born with a silver spoon up his ass that is." Chas laughed.
"You did well too." He stated. "Now go and get some rest. You've earned it."
With that, the medical team took him away. Chas turned back to Vasquez.
"OK, we need to get up there and help the Rangers and Truman." He stated. "Who's the highest ranking officer still on their feet? We need some direction till we rendezvous with Truman."
"Well, the thing is an aerial craft crashed outside." Vasquez started to explain. "A lot of people were hurt..."
Chas just looked at her, hoping for an answer. Vasquez shifted a little uneasily before answering.
"Chas, it's you." She told him. Chas breathed a sigh, before gesturing for a soldier to hand him a loaded blaster.
"Follow me; we need to rendezvous with Colonel Truman!" He ordered them, gesturing to the stairs. "Use non-lethal ordinance only. We don't know how many troops in here still haven't heard the broadcast."
With that, they followed him as he limped up the stairs as fast as his legs would carry him.
Meanwhile, Flynn and Ziggy were busy battling with Mandrake. His blasters narrowly missed as Flynn and Ziggy returned fire.
"Ziggy, we need to take this guy out." Flynn yelled as they ducked for cover. Concrete flew in all directions. "Those blasters of his are tearing the place apart!"
"Flynn, we've thrown everything we have at him." Ziggy replied. "What else is there?"
"I think I have a plan." Flynn told him. "Take out the floor."
"What?" Ziggy asked him. "Are you serious? We're above the entrance lobby; it's like a 200 foot drop!"
"Trust me." Flynn replied. Ziggy powered up his Turbo Axe to full power and swung it at the floor, destroying it. All three fell towards the floor. Ziggy grabbed Flynn around the waist, as he caught an overhanging pipe.
"Ziggy, don't teleport us just yet." Flynn instructed him. He pulled out an engine cell, before calling forth his Zord. He threw the engine cell, causing it to solidify and grow to full size.
Mandrake hit the floor, and lay there unable to move because of the devastating damage. As he looked up, all he could see was the Lion Hauler falling straight towards him. He closed his eyes and prepared for the end.
Ziggy teleported with Flynn onto the balcony over the entrance hall, and looked at the scene of devastation in the ruined entrance hall.
"Dude, did you seriously just drop your Zord on him?" Ziggy asked in disbelief.
"Well it worked didn't it?" He replied with a shrug.
Summer and Dillon were locked in battle with Nightshade, trading vicious blows with her. Nightshade turned on Dillon and lunged at him, trying to stab him with the needle weapon.
"Not again!" Dillon called out, grabbing her wrist. He grabbed her hands with both of his own, holding her in place. Summer ducked underneath his arms, pressing herself to his body and her hands to Nightshade's chest.
"Are you ready Dillon?" She asked him.
"You know it Summer!" He replied as he prepared to power up his invincibility shield. Summer fired off her energy blast with all the power she could muster, as Dillon powered up his shield, protecting them from the worst of the damage. Dillon and Summer flew backwards several feet, landing in a heap on the floor and de-morphing, having depleted their energy. They looked up as the smoke cleared, seeing Nightshade standing there, a hole blasted straight through her chest. She fell to her knees before pitching forward lifelessly to the floor. Summer looked up, noticing she was still in Dillon's arms.
"I've missed this." She said breathlessly, laughing a little. Dillon tightened his grip on her, pulling her into a long, passionate kiss. As they finally parted, they realised Chas and the troops had arrived.
"Guys, there's a time and a place." Chas teased them, helping them up. The door to the emergency broadcast room opened, and Colonel Truman came out.
"Chas?" He asked him, noticing his appearance. "What the hell happened?"
"I discovered what it's like to work for a living." He replied. "I just came to rendezvous and hand back control of the regiment."
"Chas, maintain control here." He commanded him. "My son is battling Gates on the roof, and I want to be there to see him face justice for Marcus."
"Sorry sir, but I want to see this to the end." Chas told him. "I have my own issues with Gates. Vasquez, the regiment is yours. Sweep the building and make sure everyone knows what's happening."
"Are you sure you're up to it?" Colonel Truman asked him.
"I have your back sir." Chas replied as they both headed up to the roof.
Meanwhile, Scott was battling Gates ferociously on the roof. Gates kicked him away as he pulled his sword into view.
"You're no match for me, and neither was your brother!" He sneered as Scott struggled back to his feet.
"Marcus was a better man than you could ever be!" Scott replied, unleashing his burst attack. Gates flew towards the edge, though he stopped himself by ramming his sword into the concrete. He got back up as Scott retrieved his weapon. "You couldn't compete with him, that's why you murdered him! Dr. K..."
"Ah, the precious Dr. K, something tells me you wouldn't be so loyal to her if you knew the truth." He taunted him. "Back at Alphabet Soup, she created many powerful and deadly weapons. The deadliest of which was a computer virus that was too powerful even for her to control."
"You're lying!" Scott screamed at him. "She would never..."
"Have you never wondered how she knows so much about Venjix?" Gates interrupted him. "Did you never wonder how she knew the base codes? It's because she wrote them! The very woman you've pledged yourself to working for is the one responsible for everything. Dr. K created Venjix. Everything that happened is her fault."
Scott was stunned by the revelation. He didn't want to believe it, but everything Gates had said made sense. Gates took advantage of the momentary distraction by blindsiding him.
"Now I get to take out Truman's other son." He replied as he launched into a furious assault. Scott was quickly realising that Dr. K wasn't lying when she said that the Strychnine rigs were more powerful. Gates sent his Street Sabre over the edge of the roof, before slashing him across the chest, sending him to the ground in a shower of sparks.
"Leave my son alone!" Colonel Truman roared as he arrived. He drew his own sword, swinging it. It rebounded off Gates' own, before he was slashed across the side.
"Your time's up Gates." Chas told him as he joined the fight. Gates parried Chas' blows, but was unbalanced from the surprise assault. Scott rushed to his dad's side.
"Scott, I'll be fine." Colonel Truman told him, handing him the sword. "Chas is no match for him. You have to finish Gates."
As Gates kicked Chas aside dismissively, Scott rushed him, swinging the sword as hard as he could. With an ominous ring, Gates' sword smashed and Scott slammed into him. The momentum of the blow carried both of them over the edge. Scott was only just able to drive his sword into the concrete, holding them both precariously over the edge.
"Give it up Gates; you'll never survive this drop, not even with the suit." Scott warned him. "Give it up and live."
"I won't live under Truman's rule." He replied, bracing his feet against the wall and tightening his grip on Scott's wrist. "Now he gets to watch as I take his second son."
"NO!" Colonel Truman screamed as he rushed over, reaching over and grabbing Scott's other hand, holding him up with all his strength. Even with his additional strength, the sword holding them up started to slip, and Colonel Truman found himself being pulled further over the edge.
"Now I get to take you too Truman!" Gates said with an evil laugh. "I get to be the one that destroys the entire Truman legacy!"
Chas shook the cobwebs free and saw what was happening. He could see that there was no way for him to save all of them, and it seemed Gates was determined to take them with him. Grabbing up his sword, he rushed to the edge and swung it in a destructive arc with all the strength he could manage. Gates screamed as the sword came down, severing his arm completely, leaving him to plunge to his doom. Chas threw aside the sword and helped them back onto the roof.
"I can't believe he really hated us that much." Scott commented as he de-morphed, the battle finally over. "He was willing to die to destroy us."
"That's what hatred does to a man." Colonel Truman told him. "It dissolves reason."
Scott looked up at Chas and smiled, offering him a hand. Chas shook it.
"Thanks Chas." He said with a smile. "You really came through for us."
"I owe it to all of you." Chas told him. He looked down sadly at the broken sword. "Marcus' sword..."
"It's just a sword." Colonel Truman responded. "I thought Dr. K said the swords were unbreakable."
"Dr. K can make mistakes like anyone else." Scott muttered, thinking about Gates' revelation. "Maybe there was something wrong with the sword."
Chas looked at the inscription on the blade of his own sword and smiled.
"The oath." Chas told them. "He didn't use the sword to protect, he used it to destroy. He dishonoured the sword..."
"So it failed him in battle." Colonel Truman completed the legend. Chas turned his sword around, presenting the handle to Colonel Truman.
"I don't want to dishonour my sword." He told him. "Marcus earned his, I didn't. I want you to put this on his memorial."
"Thank you Chas." Colonel Truman replied, accepting the blade. "You're a better man than I thought."
"Sir, I'd also like to hand back my medal." He replied. "I didn't earn it. Consider this my resignation. After everything I've done, I know I don't deserve..."
"You made mistakes Chas." Colonel Truman replied. "But you were man enough to do something about it and make them right."
"Not all of them." He responded. "I released those stories about Summer."
"Well, I know you'll be man enough to do what's right." Colonel Truman replied. "Square things up with Summer, but I am not about to lose a soldier like you just when you've started to show me you're more than the arrogant snob I always thought you to be."
"You stood against half the military." Scott reminded him. "There's no way they can do without someone that tough."
"Go and get your wounds tended to." Colonel Truman ordered him. "You've earned that much."
Later in the day, the Rangers made their way back to the Garage following the huge battle. Dr. K came over to Scott as he opened a beer and started drinking.
"You did well in your battle today." She told him, feeling herself being drawn to him again. "I was scared for you."
"Thanks." Scott said a little coldly. "I'm fine though. Now, if you don't mind..."
"Scott, I wanted to thank you for everything you've done." She told him, feeling her chest tighten as she tried to express what she wanted to say. "I know it can't have been easy..."
"Dr. K, we need you for the weapons and the Zords." He interrupted her sharply. Dr. K was taken aback by the harshness in his tone and the anger in his eyes.
"Scott..."
"I'm Ranger Series Operator Red!" He roared at her, throwing down his bottle of beer in anger, causing everyone to look around in surprise. "You wanted to keep our relationship impersonal, and so do I!"
"Scott..."
"Don't call me that, you have no right after what you've done!" Scott snapped at her as tears began to run down her face. "Gates told me everything."
"Scott, please..." She started to beg as she grabbed his arm. Scott brought it up, striking her with the back of his hand across the face as hard as he could, sending her sprawling across the floor several feet away.
"Don't EVER touch me!" He warned her.
"Settle down there!" Flynn warned him, getting into Scott's face. "I don't know what she's done but if you touch her again, we're going to have serious problems."
Summer came to Dr. K's side, cradling her defensively as the young woman wept, looking up at Scott, completely heartbroken at the hatred she could feel from him.
"You won't be quite so protective when you know what she did." Scott announced. "She created Venjix. Everything that's happened, everything that's gone wrong, it's her fault."
"Dr. K pushed herself out of Summer's arms as the Yellow Ranger beheld her in disbelief. She looked around the room as the Rangers stared at her, feeling their anger and confusion. She rushed into her lab in a flood of tears and sealed the door behind her. She made her way into her bedroom and threw herself onto the bed, clutching a teddy bear to her chest and wept hysterically. This was everything she feared, and everything she wanted to avoid. She knew the Rangers would never trust her again, and she was once more on her own, a pariah. The thing that hurt most of all was the look of hatred in the eyes of the man she had fallen in love with.