A/N: The Rangers (younger ones especially) train for their first battle against Adrianna's forces and then the battle begins.
A/N 2: I own nothing. Power Rangers once belonged to Saban, then they went to Disney, now they belong to Saban again.
Chapter 18 – The Freedom Part II
Monday, Aug. 30, 2014, early in the morning
Reefside Beach
Reefside, CA
"So tell me, what are we doing up at the butt-crack of dawn? And where are the others?" Trent wondered as his girlfriend Selena led him onto the otherwise deserted beach.
"We're going to be training, you and I, for the next several days until we go rescue the Falcon's friends and Jen," Selena said as she slinked an arm around Trent's waist. The connection of both White Rangers was growing stronger by the day. "This isn't going to be a fight for the weak at heart and you're going to have to be at the top of your game in both body and mind…the mind part in particular."
"Yeah, I remember your brother saying that Adrianna has hypnotic powers where she can put male Rangers under her power," Trent said, shivering as he did so. Though he was free from the corruption of the White Dino Gem, the effects of his time as an evil Ranger still resonated with him.
"Yes, in fact that is her main asset and I and some of the others are specifically worried that one of the main things the Dino Thunder powers lacked is the concept of mind block," Selena said. "Have you ever wondered why Dr. Oliver has been evil several times, but never was corrupted at all by Mesogog?"
"That's an interesting concept, because Kira was under a spell for a brief time during the Fossilador saga and obviously I was turned as well," Trent said.
"Well, my theory is the biggest reason that Tommy was never corrupted by Mesogog is that he practiced over the years being in-tune with his Ninjetti powers," Selena said. "He couldn't unlock them fully until he got Kimberly back, but he had some of the essentials and one of those is the concept of being able to block your mind from hypnotic, mind control spells. Rita had him under her power before he became Ninjetti and Gasket got him when his heart was broken."
"And when he wasn't fully in-tune with his power yet," Trent surmised. "And they'd already moved to Zeo so the Ninjetti powers weren't as strong with him then."
"Correct, and that's the reason Zedd, Rita and I were corrupted. We learned how to shield our minds but against an evil, old wizard like Vile, and a cunning sorceress like his bitchy widow Adrianna you have to be fully in-tune with your powers. We weren't at that level yet," Selena said. "Adrianna is going to attempt to dodge facing Tommy and Kim at all costs because she knows that would be the end of her. She could use any one of you or your teammates to do her bidding and she'll hijack your mind and you'll do whatever she says, even if it means hurting me or others."
"What a slinky, slimy, disgusting, revolting creature," Trent said. "I almost hate to ask, but if Dr. O and his Ninjetti team were turned against us, what would happen then?"
"They would easily destroy all of you and this world would be dead as we know it. The fight would be over before it began," Selena said. "Dulcea and Ninjor realized this and taught all the Ninjetti how to protect themselves against mind manipulation. In recent weeks, Tommy and his team have taught the six newest Ninjetti how to protect their minds as well because they are just as vulnerable as all of you."
"What about the others, aren't they supposed to be with us?"
"Dr. Oliver, Kimberly, Dulcea, Ninjor and the Wind Ninja Rangers have agreed to take them while I train you. Let's just say I pulled some strings to make this happen," Selena said.
"Well, I know the training is going to be intense and we don't have much time till we go up there, but I'll train in any way necessary to help."
"You'll be fine. The great thing is having been on both sides of the fight, I know ways of light and dark arts and how to control them without being corrupted," Selena said. "Just watch me and do what I ask of you and you'll be fine. Trust the process and your abilities. I don't think you'll ever be able to shield your mind as well as Dr. Oliver, the rest of his Ninjetti or the Wind Rangers, but having a simple concept of it can help."
The two then started Trent's rigorous training. Four hours later, the both of them were famished and greatly needed something to eat. Trent had succumbed to the various mental attacks and hypnotic powers Selena was practicing the first several times but greatly improved as the day went on.
"Dr. Oliver just called me and they're having lunch in town soon. Teleport back to your house and get cleaned up and then be ready when I drive by in about a half-hour," Selena said. "You did well today, Trent."
"OK then, I'll see you then. I love you," Trent said.
"I love you too, my darling Drago. Be sure to dress nicely."
One hour later…
Jim's Seafood Bucket
Reefside, CA
"Man, are you guys as tired as I am?" Ethan said. "Three to four hours straight of that and I'm spent…that shit's harder than actual physical combat."
After training, Dr. Oliver had decided to have everyone meet for lunch at arguably Reefside's best seafood haunt to unwind after the rigorous training. There weren't many days until they were going to try to get their friends, he knew, and even more than the training, Dr. Oliver needed his team to be able to unwind and enjoy these last few days. Tommy had also booked the meal just late enough to avoid the typical lunch crowd.
"Man, I don't know about you guys but that shit was intense," Ethan said. "I'm freaking pooped after three hours of that!"
"I can't say I disagree, I understand why Dr. O is doing what he's doing, but man those mental things he and the others were doing made it seem like a dagger was shoved in my brain," Conner said.
"Take a number. I somehow got better throughout the day, but she pooped me out," they heard Trent say as he came in with his love right behind him, arm slung around his shoulder. "An hour of that and I felt my brain was going to pop."
"Ugh, gross you two," Kira complained, looking at Trent. "Can't you two save the flirting for a non-public place?"
Trent and Selena, sitting in a tree…" Conner mocked.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G," the others immaturely finished.
"Hate on, haters, you'd do the same thing if she was yours," Trent scoffed as he sat down next to Ethan, with Selena taking the spot to his right.
"As much as I hate to say it, he's got me there," Ethan said, and the others nodded.
"In all seriousness, this training they're putting us through better pay off in the end. If we go through three hours of this every day and it's for naught I'm going to be incredibly pissed off," Kira said.
"It won't be for naught. Dr. Oliver knows what he's doing," Selena stated confidently.
Little did any of the Dino Thunder Rangers know how right she would be.
Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004
Adrianna Repulsa's Dungeon
M-51 Galaxy
As she always did, and as she dutifully had during the entire time of this, for the most part "silent war" between Adrianna's forces and the Power Rangers of Earth, the hooded figure walked into the dungeon to watch over Adrianna's prisoners.
And as always, once inside the cell, the figure pulled back her hood to reveal the beautiful face of Jennifer Scotts, former Time Force Pink.
Just below the hood was a shirt stained with filth, grime and nasty substances. Through it all, she persevered and held on for this moment. She had played her part to perfection, in the most dangerous of environments, she survived day after day.
Today, she had the feeling, was going to be it for her…one way or the other.
"So, are you guys ready to go home?" Jen asked the prisoners.
"What, you mean, we're going home today?" Shawna said. "Do you know something we don't?"
"I just have this feeling something big is going to happen, and you all are going to get to go home, even though I haven't spoken with the guys in forever," Jen said. "I can only hope to be so lucky."
"You'll be going with us," Ms. Appleby said confidently. "It can't end here for you, it just can't."
Jen mutely nodded, hoping against hope that Ms. Appleby would be correct.
7:45 a.m.
The Oliver Home
Reefside, CA
Everyone who gathered in the basement of Dr. Oliver's home that morning, 75 days after the restoration of the Falcon and Crane's union could sense it, smell it, feel it, touch it.
It was time.
The training, all week had been rigorous and demanding. Zordon, Ninjor, Tommy, Kimberly and the rest of their friends had pushed the Dino Thunder Rangers to the brink of exhaustion each day. Mind shielding was one of the hardest things the young teens had ever learned, but they were in much better control of that ability should they need it.
Andros and the Space Rangers had gone out in space that week to keep tabs on Adrianna and had reported that indeed Billy's prediction was correct. Adrianna had left on Thursday to go see her family, but had still left the majority of her warriors with the exception of Rito (whom she always took with her) in charge of the palace and the prisoners.
But with Adrianna gone, they knew that now was the time and now was the place. If they were ever going to land a major blow and make a statement and free their friends, this was it. All the Rangers who would be on this mission were at full power too. Zordon, as longtime holder of the Power, along with Dulcea, Ninjor, Dulcea and Selena had restored the Space and Ninja Storm Rangers' powers.
All Rangers for this mission and their friends were gathered; Marah had also come to wish Dustin well on his journey. Those two had also been an item since the fight with Lothor, as Dustin had long forgiven her for the Beevil incident.
Determination laced the face of all Rangers present, something that hadn't been the case for a long time. One month ago, they'd all had their hearts broken. It was time for some payback.
"Is everybody's mind completely ready?" Tommy said. "You all know how dangerous this mission is going to be."
All Rangers mutely nodded as Kimberly slinked an arm around Tommy's waist, and Tommy smiled down at her. With the Crane at his side, he knew there was nothing that couldn't be accomplished.
"Hayley, do you and Zordon have the coordinates to get right into her dungeon?" Jason said.
"Yep, we found the coordinates last night," Hayley said. "As soon as they start attacking Adrianna's weapons armory, I will open the portal near Reefside Beach. It's a ways over there so those who are in charge of that part of the mission should morph and head over there."
Everyone looked at Tommy, simply waiting for the word.
"If I may borrow a line from you, Divina, please," Tommy said, looking at the age old sorceress who was Dimitria's half sister.
"Go right ahead," Divina said.
"You want to know when we attack Adrianna," Tommy said, "We attack…now. IT'S MORPHIN TIME!"
One by one, the Rangers called their morphs.
"Silver Owl Ranger Power!"
"Lavender Hawk Ranger Power!"
"White Tiger Ranger Power!"
"Green Dragon Ranger Power!"
"Turquoise Dolphin Ranger Power!"
"Violet Elephant Ranger Power!"
"Orange Jaguar Ranger Power!"
"Silver Dove Ranger Power!"
"Beige Moose Ranger Power!"
"Gold Eagle Ranger Power!"
"White Falcon Ranger Power!"
"Black Frog Ranger Power!"
"Pink Crane Ranger Power!"
"Blue Wolf Ranger Power!"
"Yellow Bear Ranger Power!"
"Red Ape Ranger Power!"
"Let's Rocket!"
"Quantum Power!"
"Time For Time Force!"
"Ninja Storm, Ranger Form, Ha!"
"Thunder Storm, Ranger Form, Ha!"
"Samurai Storm, Ranger Form, Ha!"
"Dino Thunder Power Up, Ha!"
"White Ranger, Dino Power!"
In a brilliant flash of light that made everyone cover their eyes, 35 different morphs were successful and moments later, 35 Power Rangers stood in the place of these ordinary humans.
"You all know what to do," Tommy said. "Morphin Rangers, outside, It's time to call the Zords. Time Force, Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder, you know what your job is. Billy, do you still have your old Falconzord reader?"
"Indeed I do, and I can program it to have the Shogunzords join us in space when you deem it appropriate, Tommy," Billy said.
"I expect 36 Power Rangers and all our allies back here when we get finished, nothing more, nothing less," Tommy said, and as he led his veteran Rangers outside he said one last thing, "Do Your Job."
The M-51 Galaxy
As she relaxed in her mother's quarters while taking some time off from the daily doings of ruling her galaxy, Adrianna Repulsa pondered what her next move would be.
She had some advantages in the sense that Kimberly's trial with her mother was being pushed back to February. In her opinion, the longer that went on the better the chance that Kimberly would be forced to France and that was all the better for her.
Until then though, she still needed to do something drastic. Clearly, her trump card, or what she thought would be a trump card, wasn't working as far as luring the Rangers in. Not only had Oliver and his friends not attacked since their friends had been captured, they hadn't been suckered in since she had ordered Jason's father killed.
Were these really the same Rangers who would do anything for each other, she thought?
And that's when her communication device sounded. Of all the times…
She answered the device and found Goldar on the other end, with the alarms blaring throughout her palace.
"This had better be good, Goldar, I'm on vacation," Adrianna snapped. "What's going on?"
"It's a full fledged assault on your armory base my Queen!" Goldar said, panic clearly lacing his voice. "The Ninjazords, Astro Megazord and Space Rangers are headed right for the armory! They will be in range in 20 minutes!"
Adrianna gasped in horror. If her vast weapons base was destroyed, then she was going to be in a lot of trouble and she knew it.
"Get Cyclopsis out there AND STOP THEM YOU FOOL!" Adrianna screamed in irritation. As a reward for his service, Adrianna had restored Cyclopsis one year prior and had made it infinitely tougher for the Rangers to beat. "I will be boarding my war machine and I will be there in 30 minutes. They want to mess with something I cherish, they're going to pay the price!"
"Right away, my queen," Goldar said as the link clicked dead.
"Of all the times, it HAS to be when I go on vacation…and it has to be the weapons armory," Adrianna groused.
Adrianna Repulsa's palace dungeon
As the sirens continued to blare throughout the palace, Jerome Stone said, "That can't be for us, could it?"
"No, it's because I think the Rangers are launching an attack on Adrianna's weapons armory," Jen said, a devious smirk creasing her face as she put her hood back on so as to keep the ruse for a few more minutes. "It's a way to draw Adrianna's forces away from what I feel is the real mission, and that is us. Tommy's a shrewd battle general. We are going home today, I'm confident of it."
"From your lips to God's ears, I hate this place," Ernie said.
Review box is at the bottom. Please leave one if you wouldn't mind.