Phase 2 - Beauty or Brawn? - part 5
Authors Note: Was potentially planning another interlude but got into a mindset to finish up this Phase. Still undecided on the current format of following phases which mainly focus on specific rangers etc. I may change it up a bit as I introduce more Rangers. May also do villain focused Phases as I introduce more of the heavy-duty bad guys. Next drop will be an interlude.
End of notes.
Zoe found herself marching confidently out of the building she had woke in barely an hour ago. The power she had received now coursed through her body. The injuries had already begun to heal themselves and she felt a strength humming just below the surface that wasn't there before.
She needed to confront Chiwarri that much was certain. Although marching straight in could be dangerous for Mouse. If he was used against her as a hostage then her new found strength would be useless. Zoe halted on the steps leading down from the building. A quick glance back and she could see that it was an old hospital. One of the many abandoned buildings in this area after the Empire took over.
Zoe actually recognised this area it wasn't too far from her childhood home. One she hadn't seen in a very long time. She shook the thought from her mind, her memories were clear now and that meant even less reason to ever make that trip. Her next move was clear, first she would visit Dozer and then she would sneak into Chiwarri's and free mouse. If the opportunity came about she would take out Chiwarri as well.
The piece of paper Manta had given her told her the address of the medical bay that was looking after her friend. It was a quick journey from here, she hoped he was awake.
The walk was a quiet one, the voices of her two companions usually filled the air instead a solemn silence had replaced it. It had given her time to try and filter through the mass of memories now swirling around inside her head, the rangers, the empire. Zoe had been trying to figure out how to morph. The silent memory had shown no real useful information on that front. It had shown the red ranger performing some strange feats of skill in combat. A natural reaction it would seem that she hoped would replicate in her own battles to come.
The sound of the medical bay slowly rose as she approached. The usual sounds of panic and orders roared, it was a busy place. Not many medical places still existed and the ones that did were a mess of chaos and suffering. Another fallout from the Zodiacs oh so glorious reign.
Dozer was being held in a small room, apparently whoever Zordan was had enough pull to get that setup. Zoe quickly darted between the crowd, making sure to keep her head low. On the way, she had noticed people staring, shaking their heads and turning away. Cowards. Less than twenty-four hours ago they had been cheering and saluting. How quickly the fickle crowd turns.
The sight has she slipped into the tiny room caused the tears to again storm her eyes. Dozer was laid up in a bed that was clearly too small for the very large man. There were wires spawning from all over and a set of machines tracked his vitals with a steady beep. He looked terrible like death had touched him leaving a marked man. Zoe just stared at the unconscious lump that was once her lumbering friend.
"Dozer, this is all my fault. If I hadn't dragged you along on all those silly raids you wouldn't be here, fighting for your life." Zoe whispered as she took Dozer's hand. Letting the silence be her prayer. The sight had only increased her determination, she would save Mouse and bring down Chiwarri. The little rabid dog would pay. Zoe kissed Dozer on the forehead, heading to leave. Turning at the last moment and issuing her promise out loud.
"I promise Dozer, that monster will pay what he's done to you, what he's done to everyone." Zoe left the medical bay with the hope that Dozer would survive to see the promise come to light.
Zoe waited till night had fallen before heading to where Chiwarri lived. They had known for awhile the monsters location, after a few scouting trips they had successfully tracked him home. It wasn't hard when they didn't fear humans. Zoe hadn't dared sneak inside but based on the design, which was a standard large home from the old world. She was pretty confident of finding her way around,
A quick scout of the outside and Zoe decided that a ground floor window was the easiest option. Prying open the window with ease she slipped inside. As expected the layout was fairly standard. She had entered into a sitting room of some kind, one that once would have been filled with lavish furnishing and probably some expensive paintings. All trashed now, the corridor was filled with doors leading to more rooms that she expected was much the same.
The house strangely quiet, apart from a single room. A blue tight filtered out and voices accompanied it. One voice was distinctive, the high pitched squeal of Chiwarri hurt her ears. The other voice was a mystery. Zoe crept up to the door, peering round while listening to the conversation.
"Sir, are you sure, I mean humans defeating one of the zodiac captains?" Chiwarri squeaked.
"We are certain. A meeting with Prince Zed has just convened and that was his conclusion." The mystery voice boomed back. The voice sounded almost posh with a slight woof sound trailing the ends of the words.
"Impossible. The snakes have almost been complacent, I can assure you, sir, no humans will best the number one racer in the dog sector." Chiwarri proudly barked.
The conversation continued but a sound had drawn Zoe's attention. It sounded like panting. She snapped her head around and locked eyes with a pair hounds. Before she could move they howled, grabbing her by the shoulders and launching her into the door of the room. Her body crashed through the wood, splintering with a crack. Chiwarri growled, staring directly at her as a group of hounds surrounded and held her in place.
"Excuse me, sir, I have some vermin that needs exterminating." Chiwarri bowed and the screen fizzled out. Zoe felt her heart beat faster. She had walked right into Chiwarri's paws.
"How dare you enter my home! Interrupting my call with the general as well! You shall pay for such blatant disrespect." Chiwarri revved his wheels, they spun for a moment and then he was in front of her before she could even blink. He was so damn fast.
"Wait a minute, I know you. The silly human from yesterday, you didn't suffer enough and come back for more?" Zoe tried to meet him on even terms but she found herself lowering her gaze.
"Where is Mouse, is he alive?" Chiwarri instantly laughed. A laugh that sounded like a high pitched howl.
"Your pathetic friend? He is alive allow me to show you the consequences of your actions." Zoe watched Chiwarri click his fingers and a hound began to rotate a crank in the far corner of the room.
The ceiling opened and Mouse was lowered into the room. He was missing an arm, his face bloodied a stained a dark purple. Dangling naked from chains holding him up by the wrist. Zoe heard a mumble but she couldn't make out the words.
"You monster!" Zoe felt the rage surge inside her again. She overpowered the four hounds holding down. The strength of the morpher flowing through her. She threw her arms up knocking them back. Turning she punched one square in the face sending him flying. She felt a hand on her back, she replied by twisting and sending him crashing down over her shoulder. Zoe was struggling with the third when a blow connected with her stomach.
Her body was sent sailing through the air, crashing into the far wall hard. Within seconds of her body connecting she felt a second blow which completely winded her. Dropping to the floor she felt a tight grip wrap around her throat.
"Puny human, thinking of fighting me?" Chiwarri wasted no time in continuing his onslaught. Sending Zoe flying through the window this time and out onto the street. Zoe strained to pick herself up as she saw half the wall was taken out as well. Chiwarri sped out of the hole, connecting with a kick as she bounced along in the dirt. Chiwarri was laughing,
She struggled to her knees as hope began slipping away. A pack of hounds flooded out the now gaping hole in the side of the house. Falling in line behind their tiny captain. She had no hope, what had she been thinking.
No. Not like this, not again. Zoe stood.
Zoe watched the fury rise in Chiwarri's eyes. She raised her fists and screamed. Chiwarri smiled.
"Kill her hounds, I expect her bones for dinner." The hounds charged. Zoe waited for the end to come. She would take as many of the dirty dogs with her before she fell.
"Get down!" A voice screamed, she dropped to the floor. Just in time, a barrage of what looked like arrows swept the field in front of her. Zoe looked up to see a red blur connect with a kick, sending Chiwarri skidding backwards. The blur of red used the push to backflip landing just in front of her. Hope erupted inside her.
The Red Ranger stood tall. Offering a hand, which she took to get up. The ranger nodded and dropped a pile of chains at her feet. She welled up. He had saved Mouse. A new pack of hounds had formed. He pointed at her waist and dashed off leaping amongst the hounds as they began the slaughter.
Zoe looked at where the Ranger had pointed to a soft blue glow that constantly thrummed at her waist. Just like that she knew what to do, raising the morpher up she locked eyes with Chiwarri.
"It's Morphin time." Zoe felt a surge of energy as the world around her changed. An open space exploded before her, a frozen lake. A blue light swirled at her feet, spinning faster and faster until it shot away from her. She watched as it formed a creature. An arctic fox, it curved around behind her racing towards her body. Launching itself into the air it collided with her back the light splashing over her as it clung tightly to her body.
The force dropped her down on a knee. The light closing over her head as the fox sang in the cold air. She stood, her body covered in a cool blue like armour. Thin and light in build. Over her face, a helmet formed, a slim visor across her eyes. The rest completely blue. Long fox-like ears slicked back off her helmet. A crop top like body armour rested on her chest. Blue shorts at her waist. In the centre of her belt sat the morpher now centred itself by the hologram of an arctic fox.
Chiwarri howled a horrible scream. Racing forward in a rage. In her new form suddenly Chiwarri didn't seem as fast. Zoe's feet seemed to slide like skates on the floor. She dodged his attack and his return dash. He pulled up short turning in hopes of catching her off guard. Zoe instantly knew how to use a new power. Calling to the morphing grid moments before Chiwarri connected with a lethal blow.
"Frost clones!" Zoe instantly fizzled apart in a puff of snow. Chiwarri dashed through her his blow hitting the air. In her place, three clones surrounded the monster.
"Be careful Chiwarri, choose wrong and it could be very painful." Zoe taunted her opponent. Seeing him getting lost in a rage. Chiwarri shot forward picking a fake Zoe, the clone burst smothering Chiwarri in a cold icy mist. The cold slowed Chiwarri's movements. Zoe dropped to a knee.
"Frozen Terrain, fox fist." The ground at her feet began to freeze shooting away from her and covering the ground around her in a circle. Chiwarri tried to move, his wheels skidded on the ice as he lost control.
Zoe skated forward, using the ice to boost her speed as energy filled her fist with power, with a graceful twirl to provide even more momentum, she punched Chiwarri in the chest. There was a yelp and Zoe watched as the little monster crashed hard on the floor.
"I made a promise Chiwarri that you would die for what you did to my friends." The rage had been replaced with fear. Chiwarri had begun to realise he was no match for a Power Ranger.
A strange sound, a high pitched whistle. She glanced above to where the sound was coming from. A Large silhouette hovered in the air, a deep voice announcing his attack.
"Bulldog Barrage." Suddenly from all different locations over the silhouettes, body explosions sent rockets sailing towards her.
"Look out!" Zoe turned to see the Red ranger leap towards her, gathering her up in a swoop, gliding on little wing-like shapes formed under his arms. The swoop carried them both out of the line of fire moments before the assault left a crater in the ground where Zoe had stood.
Zoe composed herself quickly, seeing the new monster help Chiwarri to his feet.
"Bull-Bomber, what are you doing here?" Chiwarri squealed.
"The master doubted your ability to handle the situation if the rumours were true. It seems he was correct, the Power Rangers have truly returned." The gruff voice of Bull-Bomber barked back.
Zoe hadn't seen this creature before. A large monster with plane-like wings on his back, thrusters. His face resembled a bulldog, grumpy and angry. Two large rocket launchers sat at his hips and under his palms sat two more. His legs were bulky and attached to both legs were small multi-rocket cannons. The black sunglasses topped off his look. A walking bomber.
"Chiwarri, let's regroup we don't know the extent of their powers it's a fools battle to fight two of them with that level of knowledge." Bomber spoke, Chiwarri looked pissed. Zoe was enraged.
"No way I am letting you get away!" Zoe screamed as she stepped forward. The Red Ranger stopped her.
"Don't be stupid. You have your friend, we don't know if we can take two of them. " The voice sounded male, shy and soft. She almost punched him in the face.
"I made a promise to another friend that I would end that miserable runt's life! No way I am letting him just fly away." Zoe caught sight of Chiwarri leaping into Bombers arms, who promptly began to lift into the air. Chiwarri just stared at Zoe with hatred. If he could see her own eyes she would be giving him the exact same look.
"Follow me." The red ranger commanded.
"Excuse me?" Who did he think he was ordering her around? "Why should I listen to you?" Zoe was pissed. Chiwarri had escaped. She watched as the ranger leapt onto the roof, picking up Mouse.
"Do you want you, friend, to live or would you rather chase your vengeance?" He said before leaping back off the roof and slinking down a street. Zoe followed, for Mouse's sake she had to.
The journey was a silent one. Both of them stayed in Ranger form and they moved quickly. Zoe wasn't sure how long they had been travelling but they soon stood outside the exact hospital she had left earlier this morning. Manta stood just inside the door as they entered. To Zoe's surprise, Manta dropped to her knees at the sight of them.
"It is true, the Rangers truly have started to return." Only then did she realise her suit was still active. She watched the red ranger touch the morpher at his belt, de-morphing before stepping forward to hand Mouse to Manta.
Zoe followed red's lead, touching her belt and de-morphing. She looked at the man who had saved her twice back in the fight, who had also saved Mouse. He stood fairly tall, well built but not overly bulky. Pale skin and his face hidden underneath a hood.
"So come on then, who are you?" Zoe had said it more forcefully than intended. She was actually embarrassed about needing his help. He had after all defeated a snake captain entirely on his own.
"Oh, sorry." He dropped his hood, revealing a young looking face yet it was a face that had know hardship and seen pain.
Zoe watched as he looked at her properly for the first time. His eyes traced her body from top to bottom, pausing slightly at her chest and waist. She was still wearing the tank top and shorts both of which revealed more than that already did before the fight. She saw him blush and glance away, she answered with a smile and placed her hands on her hips.
"Names, Zane, pleased to meet you." Zane. He wasn't much of a talker, in fact, he seemed a lot shyer away from the fight. His confidence and authority had been strong. Never once doubting his ability to get the job done. This man blushed and averted his eyes at a bit of skin and a good pair of boobs.
"Zoe, I guess I owe you a thank you for saving me back there." Zane shrugged, muttered that it was no problem. Glanced at her once and leant against the wall.
"So Zane, trust me when I say I am pleased to see you but what are you doing here?" Zoe said. Zane paused for a moment.
"Zordan told me that another ranger might need my help, told me about this place and that dog monsters location." Zane crossed his arms. So Zordan had known she would accept the power. How? Who the hell was he?
"Thank you, truly, you saved my friend that means more to me than you will ever know." Zoe smiled, touching his arm gently. Zane smiled back, giving her a nod.
"Zordan said to stick around, he will be back, didn't say when though." Zoe was surprised to hear this. Was Zane staying? This made her happy, it was comforting to have another ranger around. Especially one who had been doing this longer than her.
"How long have you been a ranger? The rumours started a couple of weeks ago, no one believed them of course. Who could believe a member of the Zodiacs fell to a human." Zoe asked as they began to stroll the corridor.
"A month, not that I have done much since taking out Mamba-Drummer. The snakes have played defensive. Just managed to cause a bit of chaos here and there." Zane said.
Zoe nodded. A month was longer than a day, still, both of them barely knew what they were doing. What were they meant to do? Surely two people couldn't take on an empire. The previous rangers had tried, they had also failed.
"What should we do now?" Zoe didn't know why but she trusted Zane, him being here felt right. She didn't even want to think about the fact a short while ago there was clones, ice and a giant flying bulldog with rockets. This felt like it had always meant to happen. Like it or not they were in this together.
"Well, was thinking of causing a little bit more chaos, for the dogs this time. Besides didn't you say something about a promise you had to keep?" Zane didn't meet her eyes but he smiled. Zoe smiled back.
"Damn right I did, that bastard hurt my friend. I owe him more than a punch to the nose." Zane nodded in agreement. Zoe clenched her fist. The dog sector was about to be thrown into hell.
Authors Note:
Up Next: Interlude - Generals of the roundtable!