A/N – Quick note on the last chapter, I made an error with the name and backstory for Jason's ex-wife. I quickly amended this but some of you might have read the old version. Therefore if you read a version of the chapter with a character called 'Lena' then please go back and re-read chapter 33.
Chapter 34 – Dangerous Liaisons
Hunston Valley Park
The sound of blades clashing together echoed throughout the park as the latest Deboss monster clashed with the Dino Charge and Ptera Megazords. The monster in question was themed like a movie director, complete with clapperboard and megaphone. His head and shoulders were boxy and in the shape of movie projectors and in the middle of his silver chest was an empty can of film. The monster was one of Lady Jodella's, a rare creation for the First Lady of the Deboss. It was designed to make people fall in love, where they would then be drained of their excess joyful energy and trapped in another dimension.
Fortunately the rangers had been able to free the trapped citizens and a strong blast from Ivan and his Thunder Blade had defeated the monster, until the creature inevitably grew into a giant. The monster tried to tie up the Dino Charge Megazord with some film from its can. "Hold on, I'll get you out", Ivan called out. Using the sharp tips of the Ptera Megazord's arms, it sliced through the film.
"Thanks Ivan", Shelby said into the radio and directed her Tricera Zord to attack the midsection of the monster.
"Alright lets end this", Tyler began, "I missed lunch and I'm starving". The Dino Charge Megazord powered up its blade and slashed through the monster. The Ptera Megazord followed up with its flying bladed attack, crashing through the creature's midsection.
"Looks like this is the final cut", the monster cried as it fell to the ground and exploded.
The rangers jumped down from their zords and landed safely on the ground below. Their zords returned to their spirit form and disappeared into the Energems, "Well that's another monster down", Chase stated, "hopefully they'll give us a break for the rest of the day".
"Why have you got a hot date planned?" Tyler teased the black ranger.
Chase simply shrugged, "Perhaps, a true gentlemen doesn't kiss and tell".
"So why did you give me a blow by blow account of what happened with that Russian lady in Moscow?" Riley snorted.
"Nothing wrong with a Russian lady mate", Ivan smiled and let out an audible sigh, "brings back some good memories".
"Anyway", Shelby interrupted the gold ranger, "shame we beat that monster quickly, I know Chloe has been itching to get back out in the field".
"Tell me about it", Koda began, "all she's done for the last few days is fiddle with her morpher".
The group continued their walk across the park until they reached the main road, "Hey Ivan, me, Chase and Riley are going to grab something to eat", Tyler began, "fancy tagging along?"
"Thanks for the offer but I'm going to take a walk", the gold ranger replied, "it's too nice a day to spend sitting inside". In response the red ranger nodded and followed the black and green ranger towards Chase's truck.
"Oh before I forget", Koda called out to the gold ranger, "we've got some work for you at the shop. When you're done, why don't you stop by?"
Ivan smiled, "Alright I will", he gave the departing blue and pink ranger a wave before setting off for a walk around town.
The gold ranger was feeling much more at home in the city then he was a few weeks ago. He smiled to himself as he walked past an electronics store with huge plasma televisions on sale. Previously the sight of moving images on a giant screen would've shocked the gold ranger but now he had come to accept the strange technology of the 21st Century.
He still enjoyed the simple way of life and often felt wistful when Riley talked about life on the farm. Ivan had himself grown up on a farm and he was familiar with the lifestyle. He still saw Orion periodically and helped out where he could on the silver Super Megaforce ranger's ranch. Chloe had even found him a few temporary jobs as a labourer, allowing Ivan to finally pay rent towards his room at the Dino Mansion.
After walking for around half an hour, he turned back towards the center of town and headed in the direction of Valley Repairs. As he passed an alley way, he heard the sounds of someone crying. Turning down the alley, he saw a woman leaning against a dumpster. She was wearing a pink and white corset style top with a flowing white skirt. She turned to look at the gold ranger and despite her tear stained face, Ivan could tell she was very pretty. She looked a few years younger than Ivan and she was of Asian descent. Her long brown hair had a couple of pink streaks running through it, "Hey", Ivan began, "what seems to be the trouble?"
"I-I don't want to talk about it", the woman stammered and tried to shuffle away from the gold ranger.
"Hey I'm not going to hurt you", Ivan held his hands up, "my name's Ivan, could you tell me yours?"
The woman thought about it for a moment before replying, "Jo", she paused, "Anna", she paused again, "Joanna but my friends call me Jo".
"Alright", Ivan smiled, "Jo", he kept looking at the young woman, "there must be a reason that you're crying all by yourself in a deserted alley?"
Joanna pushed her hair out of her face, "Do you ever feel like you don't belong in this world?"
Ivan snorted, "More than you could possibly understand", he paused, "I'm from a small rural village in Russia, until a few months ago I didn't even know cities like this existed".
"That's not quite what I mean", Joanna struggled to her feet, refusing to allow Ivan to help her up. "I'm part of this group but they don't respect what I do. I try my hardest but everything I do keeps going wrong and then I get shouted at and punished".
"Doesn't sound like they're a nice bunch of fellas", Ivan replied.
Joanna didn't hear his response and kept on talking, "I try and fit in but all I want to do is make people happy. I'm don't want to take over or destroy the world I mean why would I, how can people be happy if they're all dead". She shrieked in annoyance, "They just keep me around because they need me and as soon as they don't, I'll be tossed out like yesterday's garbage". She began to turn around, "I mean I know I'm not the smartest...", she stopped as she was now staring down the business end of Ivan's sword, "I said that all out loud didn't I?"
"Fraid so love", Ivan replied and tightened his grip on his sword.
"See I can't even do this right", she waived her hands in front of her body and her appearance began to change.
"Lady Jodella", Ivan grunted, "give me one good reason why I should skewer you?"
"You wouldn't kill a crying woman would you", Jodella sighed and turned back into her human form.
"I'm not falling for your tricks", Ivan shouted but all this did was cause Jodella to burst into tears again. Ivan lowered his sword, he wasn't equipped to handle a crying woman, especially one who tried to kill him no more than an hour ago. He slowly made his way over to the woman but secretly activated the distress beacon on his communicator, "I'm sorry I shouted but you've got to admit that you're not the most trustworthy of people".
"I know", she sobbed, "I don't know what to do anymore". Ivan sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jodella responded by burying her head in his chest, much to the discomfort of the gold ranger.
After a few minutes, Jodella's tears stopped and she stepped away from Ivan, "Did you mean what you said about not wanting to destroy the planet anymore?" he asked.
Jodella thought about this for a moment, "I don't know, I want born to be a member of the Legion and it's kind of our purpose. I don't know how to be anything else".
"I could help you", Ivan replied, "I'm sure the other rangers would protect you as well".
Jodella seemed to be genuinely thinking about his offer but the sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation, "I see you've finally been useful Jodella", Ivan instantly recognised the voice of General Fury. He was flanked by General Sorrow, "Now finish the job", he added.
Ivan slowly backed away from the woman and he could almost see her internal conflict, "Well what are you waiting for?" Sorrow shouted.
Jodella looked up and her heart shaped axe appeared in her hands. She turned towards the gold ranger and Ivan was sure that she tried to mouth something to him but he couldn't make it out. Suddenly the axe came crashing towards him and Ivan barely had enough time to block the attack, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you", Ivan said.
"No, you shouldn't have", Jodella replied mournfully, "Deboss I was born and as a member of the Deboss I shall die". The axe and sword clashed around couple of times before Jodella took a mighty swing at Ivan. The gold ranger ducked out the way as the axe carved a huge mark in a nearby brick wall. Even in her human form, Jodella was still incredibly strong.
She dropped her axe and began to attack the gold ranger with her fists. Ivan blocked all of the strikes with one hand before kicking the woman in the stomach. She responded with a devastating straight kick to Ivan's chest that knocked him back a few paces. Jodella picked up her axe again and charged towards the stunned gold ranger. She swung directly for his head but fortunately Ivan regained his senses enough to dodge the attack. Almost on instinct he brought his own sword up towards Jodella's face. She cried out in pain as the blade nicked her on the cheek, "Alright now I'm annoyed", she said whilst inspecting the blood from the wound. She transformed back into her monster form and prepared for another attack.
"Looks like we agree on something", Ivan said and loaded a gem into his morpher, "Ptera Brace, Dino Charge", he called. Morphing on the run, the excess energy was channelled into his attack. Jodella was knocked back into the wall as Ivan continued to circle, "I meant what I said Jo", Ivan called out, "at least think about it".
Jodella hesitated for a moment before swinging again for the gold ranger. Their weapons locked and they were just inches away from each other. The First Lady of the Deboss looked over Ivan's shoulder and could see the cavalry arriving in the shape of the blue and aqua rangers. "I'm sorry Ivan", Jodella whispered, "I guess I'm just not strong enough yet". She pushed him away, raking the tip of her axe down his body in the process. The gold ranger flew back into the path of the onrushing sibling rangers.
"Ivan are you ok?" Chloe asked the gold ranger.
"Physically yes", Ivan groaned. He stood up with the help of Koda and called out to Jodella, "Maybe when you're stronger we can try this all again". Jodella paused and gave the gold ranger a small nod as she continued her slow walk towards her fellow generals. With the odds now evened up, the general thought better about continuing the fight and teleported away.
"Damn it and I was looking forward to a battle", Chloe groaned.
"You should never look forward to a battle", Ivan said as he powered down, "even if you're the best, something will always surprise you". He walked past the siblings and back towards the main road, leaving a very confused blue and aqua ranger behind.
Dino Mansion Lab
Later that evening, Ivan told the story of today's battle to the other rangers. They were a little surprised to hear the apparent change of heart by Jodella, some were more sceptical that others, "So what do you think old man?" Tyler asked Jason, "ever heard a tale like this?"
"It's not unheard of, a villain having a change of heart", the original red ranger replied. "The Time Force ranger's final battle with Ransik springs to mind, also Necrolai's face turn to help out the Mystic Force rangers. Even Ecliptor, a creature by his own admission of pure evil, had genuine affection for Astronema".
"That's still only three examples", Shelby stated.
"I never said it happens all the time", Jason shrugged, "it's just very rare and it usually happens for a reason. For a villain to suddenly declare that she's sick of being evil, that doesn't happen very often".
"So what now?" Koda asked the group.
"Not much we can do", Kiera replied, "I'm a bit sceptical so I'll believe it when I see it".
Tyler looked around and most of the other rangers agreed with Kiera's statement. He then looked towards the gold ranger who had been very quiet all night, "How about you?" he said to Ivan, "you were there, do you believe her?"
Ivan sighed, "I don't know what to think", he stood up from his seat, "sorry I need some air". He made his way to the lab door and teleported out of the room, leaving behind a very surprised group.
The gold ranger didn't go very far, only out into the backyard of the mansion. He looked up to the clear sky and counted the stars in the sky. He didn't want to say it in front of the others but he believed Jodella. He wasn't sure what made him think that, just a vibe he was getting from her. "Hey Ivan", he heard Tyler called out softly, "sorry I didn't mean to put you on the spot". Ivan could see that Tyler had been joined by Riley.
"That's alright Tyler", he replied, "I'm just really confused. She was so convincing about turning away from the Deboss".
"Then again, she was also really convincing about taking your head off", Riley completed the sentence of his mentor. Before he could continue, his cell phone rang and the green ranger excused himself.
"Kiera was right though", Tyler continued, "all we can do it wait and see. If she changes side then great, if not then at least she might not be so brutal in battle in the future".
Ivan smiled, "Yeah you're right". Just then Riley came back but he had a stunned look on his face, "Are you alright Riley, you look really pale?" the gold ranger asked.
"Erm, no not really", Riley replied, his voice quivering, "that was my brother on the phone, my Dad's been rushed to hospital. They think he's had a heart attack". The green ranger turned away from the pair but Tyler and Ivan could tell by his shoulders that he had started to cry. The red and gold rangers placed a hand on each of Riley's shoulders. Suddenly all the talk about Lady Jodella and her allegiance had been completely forgotten.