In the Ranger Base, Mick was nervously watching the latest battle, which was not going as well as he would have hoped. Tangleweb had already tried to use his vortex attack, but it seemed that even in his gigantified state, he couldn't grow large enough to hoover up the Zords. It was something of an unexpected turn of good fortune, but the flipside was that he was surprisingly nimble for one so quick. His limbs seemed to be reversible and operated just as well reaching behind him as they did reaching in front of him, something that Brody found out to his cost when he tried to grapple him from behind to hold him in place for the others to attack.
"Get this eight-legged freak off me!" Brody called out as he struggled to get free.
"I'm coming Brody!" Preston called out, circling round to come at him with a breath attack. Tangleweb saw him coming though and launched a web attack that bound him tightly. The Dragon Zord fell from the sky, crashing into the concrete below and started to struggle on the ground.
"I...I can't get loose!" Preston grunted as he tried in vain to break out. "His webs...they've been gigantified too! They're as strong as steel cables!"
"Preston, try and get free..."
"I'm webbed up too!" He interrupted Mick. "I can't get free!"
"Guys, if you can't get Preston free you won't be able to form up the Megazord." Mick told them. "Sarah, try cutting him free with your shuriken attack."
"You want me to fire on Preston?" She screamed.
"It's better his Zord takes a little damage from your attack than he's vulnerable to the spider." Mick told her.
"He's right Sarah!" Preston told her. "It's better to apologise later than to lose the battle."
Mick watched on as Hayley tried to keep Tangleweb distracted while Sarah circled round to free Preston. Unfortunately he saw this ruse coming and managed to web up the Zoom Zord.
"Stupid webs!" Sarah yelled as her Zord came to a grinding halt. "I am sick of this spider!"
"Mick, do you have any ideas?" Calvin asked as he launched a rock attack at Tangleweb. The monster turned so that he hit the Robo Red Zord instead, using it to shield him. "Shit, sorry Brody!"
"Sizzling circuits, he's got an answer for everything!" Redbot declared, seeing the battle going badly. "What are we going to do?"
"Shove him up the world's largest water spout?" Mick suggested weakly. He was unfortunately running out of ideas too. It was only as they were starting to let their despair get the better of them that Redbot noticed the Nexus Prism starting to glow.
"Mick, look!" Redbot called out. Mick turned to see the Nexus Prism showing them an image of large animals. He furrowed his brows, confused as to what it meant.
"What are those things?" He asked.
"I think...they're called elephants." Redbot told him. "They're the largest land mammals alive today."
The image shifted again, this time showing a green Zord that took on the form of an elephant. Mick finally understood what it meant.
"That's what we need, more power!" He stated. "He can't hold them if they have the power to break free!"
Redbot picked up a throwing star and looked to Mick, who just nodded his head.
"Go ahead." He told him. Redbot threw the throwing star into the Nexus Prism which spun and started to glow more brightly, before it launched out a green Power Star. Redbot caught it...or more accurately it lodged itself in his chest plate.
"Oh...I guess my reaction speed isn't up to catching Ninja Power Stars." He commented. Mick grabbed it, wrenching it out of his chest plate, before looking to the screen as he heard a crash.
"The Kodiak Zord is down now too." He stated. "I just hope I'm not too late!"
He rushed outside, knowing that the Power Star would need to get to the Rangers soon if it was going to be of much use. He activated his Ninja Comm.
"Guys, is anyone still in the fight?" He asked.
"Brody just got webbed to the parking structure!" Calvin told him, opening fire with his ninja blaster in a show of desperation more than any real kind of idea. "I'm still loose, but I had to abandon the Nitro Zord! He's got it trapped too!"
"Calvin, I'm sending a new Zord your way." Mick told him. "I call it the Rumble Tusk Zord."
"Alright Mick, I'm ready!" Calvin told him. Winding up the pitch, Mick threw the Zord Star high into the air, where it disappeared into the distance.
Up on the Warrior Dome, Cosmo was doing his utmost to commentate the match, but he was being drowned out by the audience of Sump Dwellers that had flooded the arena to see their home-town boy on the verge of destroying the Rangers. Watching from the production room, Odious was grinning, while Ripcon seemed somewhat less than thrilled.
"Your pathetic Sump Dweller is pathetic! He had all the Rangers trapped and he let them go!" Ripcon declared. "He was bested by a little indigestion?"
"He's done better than any of your so-called candidates." Odious reminded him. "He's already got five Rangers and six zords trapped. He's only got one Ranger to squash and then the Power Stars are ours for the taking."
"And you get to keep your Sump Dweller." He snorted. "I suppose you'll be setting up a championship match. Tell me, isn't it a conflict of interests since you manage both fighters?"
"You keep calling him a Sump Dweller. Tell me...didn't you used to live in The Sump?" She asked him.
"The emphasis there is on 'used to'." Ripcon said in disgust. "The first thing I did when the decent fight purses started rolling in was move out of that polluted, stinking cesspool!"
"That would be why Tangleweb has an arena full of fans screaming for you and your bouts are a little more of a deafening yawn." She taunted him. Ripcon didn't care for fans or being entertaining. He didn't go much for drama or showmanship, he only fought when he was paid, and finished his bouts as quickly and safely to himself as possible. While this was a sensible approach to prevent injury, it also meant he took a hit in the ratings. While many did watch his matches because he was one of the best fighters to grace the Warrior Dome, many much poorer fighters made significantly more money because they were entertaining. "I believe the phrase the Earthlings use is 'keep it real' or 'remember where you came from'."
"I remember where I came from!" Ripcon told her. "It was a shit-hole! The first thing I did is leave when I had the chance and I'm glad I'm never going back! I'm just honest about it!"
"Yes...because honesty sells SO well." She chuckled. "In the meantime, I'll just watch my man destroy the Rangers, bring in the Power Stars, and look forward to my major payday."
"Well, well, well, what's this?" Ripcon answered, pointing to the screen. "It looks like there's a new twist in the plot!"
"A...a...a...new Zord?" She stammered.
"It's...it's just one more new Zord." Wrench said, trying to appease the situation. "He's taken down all the others, what difference could one more make?"
Back at the site of the battle, Calvin was taking pot-shots at Tangleweb while he avoided his webs and his attacks. He threw himself aside as one of Tangleweb's legs came crashing through the building he was using for cover.
"When was the last time you saw a spider squash a human?" He cackled. "You're only delaying the inevitable Yellow Ranger!"
Calvin figured he had a point, but just as he was about to give up hope, he saw a glint in the distance. He ran and leapt into the air, snatching the Rumble Tusk Zord star out of the air, snapping it into his Ninja Sword.
"Alright Mick, let's see what this Rumble Tusk Zord can do!" He called out. The ground beneath him shook as the Zord rumbled into view, firing on Tangleweb with its lasers. The monster had to fall back under the assault as it arrived. Calvin leapt onto the Zord, taking up control of it.
"You think one more Zord can stop me? I'll take it down like I took down all the others!" Tangleweb answered as he launched a web attack. Before he could react though, Calvin found the Rumble Tusk Zord sucking up all the webs into its trunk, startling the creature. He smiled.
"Sucks to be you!" He commented. "But the best thing is, this thing also BLOWS!"
He reversed the flow, sending all the webs back at Tangleweb, who started to become tangled and caught up in his own trap. Calvin turned to the others.
"Alright, let's see if this works." He stated, drawing all the webbing off them, freeing them up.
"Nice one Cal!" Hayley said as she was finally freed.
"I say it's high time we finish this guy for good!" Brody announced. "Cal, you've taken the lead up until now, you want to do the honours?"
"Sure I do." He answered. "Rumble Tusk Megazord, activate!"
The zords came together, combining into their new combination. The Zord stood before Tangleweb, wielding a pair of huge axes as Tangleweb was finally able to free himself. Calvin took up the command position in the centre of the cockpit, taking up the Power Sword. He smiled as he pulled the rip cord.
"I always wanted to use this thing." He remarked. "Say hello to my little friend!"
"Final STRIKE!" The Rangers all called out together. The two axes started to glow, before the Megazord threw them, slicing through Tangleweb. The monster pitched forward, before hitting the ground and exploding as the axes came back into its hands.
"Say hello to my little friend?" Sarah asked. "Really Cal? You went with quoting 'Scarface'?"
"Hey, when it's your turn to use this thing, you can say whatever you want!" Calvin answered with a smirk, lifting the blade before him. "Show's over, Ninjas WIN!"
Back up on the Warrior Dome, in the production booth, they watched as the fight ended and Tangleweb was destroyed. Standing back from the screen with his arms folded over his chest, Ripcon just smirked.
"Well, so much for your Sump Dweller, eh Odious?" He asked. He looked around, but she was gone. She had simply vanished. When, he couldn't be certain, but there was no sign of her at all.
"You know, you do seem awfully happy that our side LOST." Wrench reminded him.
"Please, you can't tell me you seriously wanted HER to win did you?" He asked. "Where the hell does she go to anyway?"
"But...but...but...we're all on the same side!" Wrench stammered, trying to avoid the question. He knew where Odious was likely to have gone. When the battle started to turn, she had probably just abandoned Tangleweb to his fate. He knew her commitment to her charges was paper-thin, and she was only too happy to cut her losses. She already had something else in the works, what he didn't know exactly, but it had to do with the two humans in her lab. All he knew was that if she was so willing to cut one of her own contracted talent loose so easily, the last thing he wanted to do was find out what she'd do to someone like himself that she owed literally nothing to. "We're all trying to destroy the Rangers!"
"The Rangers will be destroyed, but not by the likes of her." Ripcon told him. "I don't trust her!"
With that, Ripcon left. Wrench just nodded as he went.
"Probably the smartest thing you've ever said." He responded as he went back to work, knowing that soon Cosmo would be coming by for his report on the viewing figures and to figure out strategy on how to put together the following week's show.
A couple of days later, Sarah and Mick were standing on the edge of the curb outside the school as Preston arrived.
"Hey, you guys got the message too?" He asked.
"Yeah, Hayley just texted me to meet her here." Sarah responded. "Did she tell either of you why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Preston answered, shrugging his shoulders. Mick smiled as he pointed down the street.
"But not as good as mine I'm betting." He answered. They all looked down the road to see Nitro rolling up to the curb, but there was one noticeable difference. Hayley was not at the wheel, this time Calvin was. They got out, coming towards their friends as Calvin twirled the keys around his finger. Hayley knelt down beside Kody, who had leapt out of the back, stroking him affectionately.
"Cal, nicely done!" Sarah complimented him. "I see the lessons have progressed beyond the parking lot!"
"Not just the lessons." Calvin told her, pulling out his wallet. "Say hello to my little friend!"
"No freaking WAY!" Preston called out, taking the brand new card from Calvin's grip, inspecting it. "You...you..."
"I was nervous, but after having to drive to help you guys out, I realised that driving isn't quite so bad." Calvin told them. "Don't get me wrong, I still totally prefer Hayley being behind the wheel. I still get really tense behind the wheel and everything. I know a lot of horrible things can happen behind the wheel, but...I guess now I realise that a lot of good things can happen too."
"You got your licence?" Sarah clarified. "Calvin that's awesome! You so have to bump this!"
Calvin fist-bumped with Sarah in celebration of his achievement as Hayley beamed proudly, putting her arms around her boyfriend's neck.
"He didn't just pass, he totally crushed it! He got a perfect score!" Hayley told them. "I guess all that caution really paid off."
"But...having Hayley in the car definitely helped me loosen up a little." Calvin stated. "Thanks a lot guys, I know I'm always going to be a little jittery behind the wheel, but thanks to you, I was able to face it."
"And now that you have, we even have a totally sweet ride to go with it!" Mick told them, bringing up a briefcase and opening it, showing the Rangers the contents. It held five stars, all exactly like the one Calvin had placed on the junker motorcycle. "These new stars will morph into your new Mega Morph Cycles! Any time you need them for a little speed!"
"You know you just said the magic words for me!" Sarah said, bouncing with excitement. "I can't wait to get a chance to use them!"
"So Brody, you're being pretty quiet, how did you do?" Preston asked, seeing the Red Rangers standing behind them looking a little reserved. He started to shuffle his feet and mumbled something. "Um...sorry, I didn't hear that, you what?"
"I failed." Brody reiterated. Sarah, Mick and Preston all looked to each other, before laughing a little.
"You're...you're joking right?" Sarah asked. His face let them know that he most definitely was NOT joking. "You...you FAILED?"
"Well...yeah." Brody said, looking a little sheepish about the whole thing.
"But...but all that showing off you were doing, you were great on the bike! You were great on that practice course..."
"The instructor said I was a little too reckless on the road just yet." Brody admitted. "I guess...I'll just have to try again in a couple of weeks."
"Aw Brody, I'm so sorry." Sarah remarked, now feeling badly about teasing him over it. She didn't really mean to tease him, driving was a difficult skill to master, and it was the duty of the examiner to make sure that any new driver was safe to be on the road by themselves. It had taken her three attempts to pass her own test. "It's not the end of the world, I'm sure you'll get it eventually."
"Hey, it took me more than one try to land a flying side kick without landing on my butt right?" Brody asked. "Anyway, who's up for ice cream? I could use some cheering up!"
"I call shotgun!" Hayley said, gesturing to the passenger seat. "I've been the chauffeur long enough, it's about time you drove me around for a little while."
"Oh, you don't need to worry." Calvin told her. "As long as you're next to me, I have a feeling I'll be in the driver's seat a lot more often."
With that, the Rangers and Mick all piled into Nitro, squeezing in where they could as Calvin started doing his pre-start-up checks. He could feel a little tingle in his chest and his fingers did get a little stiff. Driving still frightened him, and in his mind he knew that it always would, but he had come to learn sometimes a little fear could be a good thing. Another word for that was caution, and that just kept people safe. With the woman he loved sitting right next to him, how could that ever be a bad thing?