The day dawned bright and clear. And, in spite of a late night, all three Wind Ninjas were awake bright and early, eager to meet with the Dino team for breakfast. Tori grumbled slightly, "If I'd known this was the way to motivate Dustin, I'd arrange a meeting with a new Ranger team for every day of the week."
"Aw, c'mon Tor! We're only going to be in town a few more hours. I can't waste them in bed when there are Rangers to hang with…" was Dustin's casual explanation of his miraculous ability to get up and dressed before Shane this morning.
The trio quickly packed and loaded Tori's van so they wouldn't have to make an extra trip back to the hotel after the surfing exhibition. Shane was elected to pay the bill because neither Dustin nor Tori wanted to deal with the clerk at the desk who was apparently pulling a double shift. A meaningful eye-roll from Shane was enough to get the other two laughing when he rejoined them at the van.
It was early enough that Tori had no trouble finding a place to park near Haley's Cyber Café. The three Wind Ninjas went inside and headed to the table they'd occupied the night before to wait for the Dino team. "Do you think Tommy's coming too?" asked Dustin as they waited.
"I doubt it," Tori replied. "I mean, it's great that he came to hang out last night. I guess he's really supportive of Kira's band and all, but you know he's so…" Tori choked a little as she rephrased, "…he's probably got other stuff to do."
Shane could practically see the edit Tori made trying to skirt around the fact that Tommy was easily 10 years older than them and might not want to spend his time hanging with a bunch of teens.
"Yeah," Dustin agreed completely missing the vibe Shane had caught, "but it was so cool that we got to talk to him last night." Shane and Tori agreed. They ordered some juice while waiting for the others, completely unaware of the fact that they were being watched.
Fealdor had presented his data analysis to Mesogog who was now watching the Wind Ninjas with great avarice. Fealdor continued speaking as Mesogog gazed at the former Rangers. "…if Zeltrax managed to snatch all three there would almost be more power than I'd know what to do with. But, according to my research and the results of the scans last night, just one would be more than sufficient for your needs. Their power potential is just amazing." Fealdor looked fondly at the Wind Ninjas like a proud papa.
"Excellent work, Fealdor. If what you say about their power is true, we could be looking at a brave new world before the sun sets tonight." Mesogog turned away from the monitors practically purring with pleasure.
"Yes, my lord." Fealdor practically beamed. His plan was ready to be set in motion. All that was left now was for Zeltrax and Elsa to snatch one of the Wind Ninjas. Fealdor was not counting on that to go smoothly, but as long as they got one of them…
Fealdor was privately hoping that the snatch and grab did not go smoothly. He was hoping against hope that when backed into a corner the three ex-Rangers would call upon the power within their reach. Then, he would be able to tell with far more accuracy which one would serve the Master's needs the best. So he sat quietly by, adjusting his instruments to be ready at a moment's notice, while Mesogog gave final orders and a warning to Elsa and Zeltrax.
"Do not fail me. If you do, there will be no second chances."
Breakfast at the Cyber Café was a boisterous affair. The camaraderie that had begun to develop the night before was just as strong the morning after. Unconsciously, the group had seated themselves again by color affiliation. But at such a small table, no one felt excluded. The topics of conversation ranged from comparisons of favorite and least liked school subjects (chemistry was not high on anyone's list), favorite types of music and musicians, and hobbies. By unspoken agreement, neither team brought up the topic of girlfriends and boyfriends; it made for a very pleasant morning.
Once they were finished eating, everyone piled in Tori's van. After parking, the walk to the beach was quick. Each ranger had a towel or blanket in hand. Almost as soon as their feet hit the sand, Conner and Ethan started arguing about the best place to stake out their spot for watching the competition later that day. Conner preferred a spot near the judging stand, but Ethan argued that it would be far too crowded and everyone would get in their way. Ethan proposed a slightly isolated cove, but Conner complained that they'd be too far from the action. Kira decided to step in. She turned to Tori.
"You know much more about watching this kind of thing than we do. Is there a best place to be?"
Tori looked thoughtful. "Well the judges are usually set up where they can get a good look at everything." Conner beamed. "But I like to watch the beginning of the run. If a surfer gets a good start on the board, the run will usually be pretty good. Plus, most people like to set themselves up to catch the end of the run. So going over there will give us a good place to watch, and a little breathing room." Now it was Ethan's turn to beam.
Following Tori's lead, the group headed toward the cove Ethan had pointed out earlier. Conner grumbled something about "blue bonds" as they walked along. "This looks like a good spot!" Tori announced as she snapped her towel and expertly laid it down. No one else managed to make it look as easy as Tori did.
"Cool!" Dustin clapped his hands together. "Who wants to take a snack run with me?"
"Dustin!" Tori yelled exasperated, "We just ate!"
"I just want to be prepared, Tor."
"It seems you failed that little test, Ranger." snarled a gravely, bass voice behind them.
Dustin spun around. The others jumped into fighting stances. Standing between them and the water was a strange assortment of creatures. A woman clad in black leather, worthy of any of Kapri's most outrageous get-ups, a man apparently completely encased in black armor, and a gang of bird-like, lizard creatures.
"What do you want, Zeltrax?" Conner snapped at the warrior.
"Them." Zeltrax pointed at the Ninja rangers. Wasting no time Elsa called on the Tyranodrones. "Attack!" she screamed as she rushed forward herself.
Rangers, old and new, instinctively grouped by color to deal with the onslaught from the enemy. Zeltrax rushed Shane and Conner; Elsa went for Tori and Ethan; Dustin and Kira were surrounded by a pack of Tyranodrones.
Fealdor leaned forward. He could hardly contain his glee. He hadn't been this excited about anything since before the change. This could be it. We could really pull this off. Then Mesogog will rule, dinosaurs will roam the earth, and I'll no longer be a freak.
He gasped with anxiety as Shane avoided a decapitating blow from Zeltrax. "You're supposed to CATCH him not KILL him you idiot!" escaped him before he could censor himself. He turned in horror to await Mesogog's reaction.
"So little faith in your peers, Fealdor?" Mesogog practically chuckled. "They will not fail, the price is too high. They'll bring a ranger home for you, and then you can play."
Shane dove to his right and rolled in the sand. He immediately jumped back to his feet to run to Conner's aid. He was impressed with how well Conner was holding his own against this metal dude, but they would not be able to hold out long against these odds.
Tori and Ethan met Elsa blow for blow. But every time one of them seemed to gain an advantage, a Tyranodrone would interfere. "Don't think you can get away from me that easily, girl." Elsa threatened as Tori flipped out of her reach. "I will be the one Mesogog rewards."
"Whatever that means!" Tori tossed back as Ethan covered her with a flying kick to Elsa's head.
Kira and Dustin were fighting in tandem surrounded by a circle of Tyranodrones. Kira was astonished at how easily they mirrored each other's moves. But for every Tyranodrone they took down, two more took its place. This was not good.
Elsa, Zeltrax and the Tyranodrones maneuvered the fight around until their forces surrounded all of the rangers. Kira landed in a sprawled heap at the feet of Conner and Shane after she was sent flying by a vicious kick. They helped her to her feet as Dustin skidded to a halt in front of her.
"Are you okay?" asked Conner concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine." she answered as she grabbed her arm.
Tori and Ethan joined the small circle as everyone regrouped and tried to catch their breath. Conner looked to Ethan and Kira. "Ready?" he called.
"Ready!" they responded. In unison they shouted "Dino Thunder! Power Up!"
"That's so cool!" Dustin laughed in glee. "I've never seen anyone else do that!"
"I think we can add a little something of our own to the mix," stated Shane resolutely. With a nod to Dustin and Tori, Shane moved into position between them. Together they reached with their right hands to their left shoulders. They pulled away the clothes they'd been wearing to reveal their ninja uniforms.
"Power of Air!"
"Power of Earth!"
"Power of Water!"
Ethan echoed Dustin's exclamation. "That's so cool!"
As they called on their ninja elements, Fealdor nearly fell over with excitement. "My Lord!" he exclaimed, forgetting to be restrained with Mesogog. "It is as I suspected. Look! Look at the readings now!"
Fealdor gestured wildly to the scans that were registering on the screen assuming Mesogog would know what he meant. "The power they are tapping into is enormous! It is unbelievable!" Fealdor hunched over the console as he tried to calculate how much potential energy the ninjas could now tap into.
The individual scans showed something Fealdor had suspected the night before, but had just been proven true. Though all three ninjas were powerful, one had more power at his disposal than the others. His power was solid. It was vast.
"The Yellow one!" Fealdor practically screamed. "They need to capture the Yellow one!" Fealdor turned to the screen nearly jumping up and down in his agitation. "Do it…do it NOW!" he yelled at the Zeltrax.
Mesogog was intrigued by Fealdor's excitement, but far be it for him to appear to take orders from an underling. Mentally he sent a message to Zeltrax. The Yellow Ninja. He is the one I want. Bring him to me now.
Tommy was in the lab, flat on his back under a console wishing he had anything remotely resembling a sledgehammer when the "monster alarms" went off. Saved by the bell you lousy computer.
Levering himself up from his position on the floor, Tommy glanced at the screen. The Dino and Wind Ninja teams had both powered up – at least as far as the ninjas could power up. They were surrounded and seemed heavily pressed by Mesogog's minions. Without hesitation Tommy yelled, "Dino Thunder! Power Up!" and quickly headed to the beach to join the fray.
Zeltrax circled the group, waiting to make his move. The Tyranodrones and Elsa were pushing hard. The Rangers were fighting back hard. Weapon blasts split the air on both sides. Shane landed with a thud and a groan near Tori where she lay winded. "Dude, we're getting crushed!"
"Tell me about it." She replied. "At least Dustin's still…" she was cut off as he came flying at his two teammates and landed flat on his back. "…on his feet."
The Dino Rangers created a loose perimeter around the fallen ninjas. "I don't know what those guys are about, but we need to help them!" Dustin gestured to their spandex clad friends as the three climbed back to their feet.
"Just what I was thinking!"
Kira and Ethan called out in relief. "Dr. O!"
"Nice of you to join us," Conner added with a smirk in his voice. Tommy nodded in response.
Elsa's eyes squinted in response to Tommy's arrival. "Dino Rangers party of four. Meet Tyranodrones, party of twenty!" From out of an invisaportal, more Tyranodrones appeared on the beach.
"Dang! These guys just won't give up." Conner yelled.
Zeltrax was watching the Rangers carefully. He noticed that the color pairs stayed close together. He hadn't been able to get close to the Yellow ninja, but the Yellow Ranger had left herself open. Zeltrax made a decision and attacked. With a yell, he focused all of his attention on Kira. Zeltrax directed the Tyranodrones to cut off their engagement from the main party.
Kira realized immediately how much trouble she was in. She'd fought against Zeltrax before, but never alone. Most often, he seemed bent on fighting Dr. O. one-on-one. This was a whole new experience for her, and already she was in a world of hurt. Kira hit the sand and rolled. With the breath knocked out of her, she barely had enough strength to look up as Zeltrax loomed over her. He raised his sword, and she knew it was the end.
From somewhere that seemed very far away, she could hear Conner and Ethan yelling her name. She tried to get a knee up to support herself. It was no use. Then from out of nowhere, the sand in front of her exploded, and up through the loose earth rose Dustin. He used Zeltrax's moment of surprise to throw him off balance and onto his face. "Dustin!" Kira exclaimed. Dustin gave her a hand up.
Zeltrax rose and turned. "Now!" he ordered. The Tyranodrones that had been keeping the yellow fighters separated from the main fight descended upon them. They were not looking to injure but to immobilize. Zeltrax opened an invisaportal above them.
Kira screamed, "NO!" but even her ptera-yell had little effect on the Tyranodrones surrounding her, there were just too many.
Tommy, from far across the sand heard Kira's scream. He could see the struggling Yellow rangers and recognized the tactic Zeltrax was employing from his own capture. Heedless of the rest of the fighting, Tommy hurled himself headlong toward the knot of Tyranodrones surrounding Dustin. I have to reach them. I have to help him! Tommy gathered himself for a massive leap, and landed square in the knot of Tyranodrones holding a struggling Dustin.
Elsa, seeing Zeltrax gain the upper hand with the Yellow Rangers shot off a series of blasts that knocked the remaining rangers off their feet. A searing burst of light temporarily blinded the Rangers on the beach, and when they looked up all of the Tyranodrones were gone, along with Zeltrax, Elsa, Tommy and Dustin.
Kira's faceplate snapped up. Her distress was clear in her tone and on her features. "Oh no…" she gasped. She reached out ineffectively. They were gone.