Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. I think Saban owns them again. It was Disney for a while, but whoever owns them, it's definitely not me. I also don't own any song lyrics used.
AN: Here's chapter 22! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Sorry for the delay. After Christmas is over, I should be back to more regular updates. Thanks to all the great reviews too and here's notes to those individuals:
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, glad you like it. Enjoy this next installment.
fallingstar22: Yep, compared to Ooze, the other evils are kind of peons. Glad you're enjoying it and there's more Hunter learning to use his powers in the chapter. Enjoy. :)
MMPRFansince93: Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
RHatch89: Thanks, enjoy this chapter
garnetred: Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
Harry2: You'll find out what Zedd means by Hunter wishing he was meditating instead of physical training. Enjoy. ;)
WideOpenSpacesGirl045: Yep, Ivan is up to no good and just think, he hasn't even actually confronted the rangers personally yet. And I know you were joking about the Carly comment, it's all good. :)
Skull RiderSP: Yep, you may be right. Enjoy this chapter. :)
Guest: Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story.
XoxMountainGirlxoX: Thanks, glad you like the story. Yeah, I guess the Ninja Storm rangers are kind of like Air Benders, I actually never thought of that. As for Tori, I don't like to reveal much about the plot, mostly because it's not written yet so not even I know exactly what's going to happen. ;)
Crimson Rising
Chapter 22: Decode
How did we get here?
Well I used to know you so well, yeah
How did we get here?
Well I think I know
Do you see what we've done?
We've gone and made such fools of ourselves
Do you see what we've done?
We've gone and made such fools of ourselves
Song: Decode
Artist: Paramore
Phaedos
Neola Jungle
Hunter panted heavily, as he ran through the Neola jungle as a part of his grueling training exercises. His uncle was following him with his Ninja streak, but Hunter had been strictly instructed that he was not to use Ninja streak and his own speed and agility. He could feel his Ninjetti spirit roaring inside him, something he was starting to get used to and with ease, he leapt clean over a large boulder that obstructed his way. Seeing more rocky outcroppings in his path, he jumped with ease, latching onto a tree branch, before sailing to another tree. He crisscrossed between tree trunks, before his feet hit the ground running again. Finally, he came to a clearing and heard his uncle signal him to stop. He bent over, hands on knees, and took in hungry breaths of air.
"You're fast, that will help you in your next training exercise," Zedd stated, as he sat on a tree branch above his nephew.
"Ugh, you're worse than Sensei Omino. At least he gave me a fifteen minute break once in a while," Hunter muttered. Zedd chuckled.
"Your speed will only get you so far. The Durionians give new definition to super strength, which is why it's fortunate that you have the potential to lift objects that are one hundred times your own body weight," Zedd replied.
"The potential?" Hunter questioned.
"Even Phoenix hatchlings have to work their way up to that," Zedd responded.
"Did you just call me a baby?" Hunter asked. Zedd chuckled.
"I am seven thousand some years old, after all. To me, and in the grand scheme of things, you are a baby," Zedd replied. Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Your opponents should be along shortly," Zedd stated, as he bit into a piece of exotic looking fruit.
"Opponents?" Hunter asked, as he suddenly heard an animalistic roar. He turned and his eyes widened in disbelief, as a skeletal Triceratops stalked toward him.
What…the hell?" Hunter wondered in disbelief. He heard another roar and looked the other way, only to find a skeletal Stegosaurus coming at him for the other direction.
"Are these the opponents you were talking about?" Hunter asked.
"Yep, from the bone graveyard. You know, before Vile destroyed this planet, the Phaedosans and these species of Dinosaurs actually coexisted. They used to ride them even. Their herbivores you know," Zedd mentioned.
"Oh really? That's funny, because I think they're going to try to eat me!" Hunter cried, as he ducked the Triceratops' swinging tail.
"Oh no, they're not trying to eat you. They just want to stomp you for trespassing on their land," Zedd mused, as he munched on his fruit.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're kind of sadistic…whoa!" Hunter cried, as he ducked away from the ramming Stegosaurs, causing it to hit a tree. Zedd chuckled.
"Many times actually," Zedd replied.
"What exactly am I supposed to do with these things?" Hunter called. Zedd rolled his eyes.
"Your speed and agility will help against them, but brute strength will win this battle. Use yours," Zedd instructed. Hunter ran between the creatures and yanked a rib bone from the Triceratops. It roared in annoyance more than pain and its jaws snapped toward the crimson ranger. He smacked the beast in the face with the bone and it broke. The Triceratops bucked him with his horned nose and he flew back into a tree. Hunter growled and climbed to his feet, getting angry now. He welcomed the roaring in his ears and felt the fire in his limbs. The Stegosaurs screeched, as Hunter grabbed its tail and lifted it off the ground. Twirling it around effortlessly, he slammed it into the Triceratops and the creatures exploded into a pile of twisted bones. Zedd smirked and jumped down.
"Nice…that will do for today," he said, as he tossed his nephew a piece of the pink fruit he was enjoying.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Purju fruit, it tastes similar to an apple, except it fills you up like something with a lot of protein would. Great for training," Zedd responded. Hunter took a bite and found it delicious, as he followed his uncle back to his mother's temple.
KO-35
The red space ranger fell to his knees in pain and exhaustion, his armor fading around him.
"Andros!" a Kerovian female called.
"Mother…where is Ashley?" he asked.
"Her arm is broken, but she'll be fine," she replied, as she noticed three morphers in his hand.
"Where are the other rangers?" she asked. She was referring to the three Kerovians that had been chosen to wield the space morphers after T.J., Cassie, and Carlos had relinquished them for good three years ago.
"Dead," Andros stated, grief thick in his voice, as he approached his wife.
"Andros…" she cried, as tears slipped down her cheeks. He kissed her forehead.
"I was so afraid…you wouldn't come back," she cried.
"I'm here Ash…" he assured her, as Karone squeezed her hand.
"What are we going to do? KO-35 will fall," Zhane stated gravely, as he put his arm around his fiancé's waist. Andros shook his head, having absolutely no idea what could be done.
"The Earth rangers are the only hope now," an elderly woman stated. She was one of KO-35's wisest sages.
"Most of the Earth rangers don't have their powers any longer, elder Kerr," Andros address respectfully.
"That changed just a few days ago, if my visions are certain," she responded.
"What do you mean?" Zhane asked.
"The scroll of Fire predicts that the Phoenix and nineteen other warriors will rise in our darkest hour and my visions show that the spirits of the Ninjetti have been awakened and the spirits of the giant lizards with them," the elder spoke.
"There hasn't been a Phoenix Ninjetti in six thousand years, elder Kerr. Are you sure?" Karone asked.
"I thought all that stuff was just legends," Zhane scoffed.
"Legends are just ancient history, young Zhane. But the son of Zander, the Phoenix Ninjetti and Dulcea, Princess and Master warrior of Phaedos lives. For centuries, the child remained unchanged with his mother in her cursed temple, but when the time was right, Zordon saw that his nephew was sent to Earth. He foresaw a great siege of evil would befall the Earth and knew his nephew would be needed to lead the fight," Kerr told them.
"That's great, but how does that help us?" Zhane questioned.
"We will be safe in the catacombs for now. You four must find a way to get to Earth and join the fight. The morphers must be returned to their Earth bearers," Kerr stated.
"Even if we could get past Ivan Ooze's ship and get to the Earth, we're not leaving our people at the mercy of Ooze's army," Andros refuted.
"Elder Kerr is right. We will be all right. They will kill rangers on the spot and you are of no use dead," Andros' mother stated.
"Your mother is right. The catacombs will protect everyone and we need a full ranger team to even go up against these guys," Zhane said.
"They just slaughtered three rangers! What are three more?" Andros roared.
"They were inexperienced and we all know that we need not only Carlos, T.J., and Cassie, but experienced rangers like the original twelve," Ashley reasoned.
"And if the Phoenix Ninjetti has been awakened, then he is the only hope for all of us," Karone stated. Andros sighed.
"I think you're putting a little too much stalk in that ancient scroll," Andros said.
"Not if he really is Zordon's nephew," Karone replied. Andros couldn't disagree with this.
"Fine, but we might not even make it. They'll be on the Megaship as soon as we leave," Andros said.
"We have to take that chance. We have to at least get somewhere to contact Tommy," Zhane responded.
"Have them ready the Megaship and then make sure everyone goes into hiding," Andros told his mother.
Stone Canyon
Military Base
Theodore Jarvis Johnson, better known to most as T.J. rattled the prison bars with all his might.
"Where is my wife, you son of bitch?!" he screamed.
"Your wife is in the women's cellblock, Mr. Johnson and unless you'd like my men to taser you again, then I suggest you shut the hell up," Gorbin spat.
"Cassie and I aren't rangers anymore and we haven't done anything wrong. You can't just lock us up like this!" T.J. hissed.
"Oh, but I can for your refusal to cooperate. Even without ranger powers, I need experienced soldiers in my ranks and your refusal to work for me allows me to detain you both, as well as your friends," Gorbin explained. T.J. smirked.
"Work for you huh? Against Tommy and the others? Thanks, but I don't join losing teams," T.J. spat, as Gorbin walked away with an uncaring air. T.J. sighed and sat down with the other three males in his cell.
"Wish there was a way to get a message to Tommy. He'd come for us, I know he would," Justin, now twenty-one years old, said. Carlos smiled at his younger brown haired friend.
"We'll think of something Justin," Carols promised.
"Yeah, Tommy and Jason will notice if they don't hear from me. I told them I wasn't interested in rangering up again, but that I would keep in touch. They'll start looking for us once they realize that we've all dropped off the grid," Zack stated.
"They've got their hands full though. We might be in here for a while," T.J. warned. Zack sighed.
"I just hope Angela and Tony are okay," Zack said sadly. He loved Angela, but she just didn't understand his time as a ranger. When his identity as Earth's first black ranger had been made public, a huge fight between them had ensued. It ended with her packing up, despite his protests, and taking Tony with her to her parents. Despite their angry parting, he was actually glad that she had left before they found and arrested him. He had made it clear to Gorbin that he and Angela were split up and since she was never a ranger, she knew nothing more than he had been one long ago. He hoped that was enough to convince them not to bother with her.
"Hey, Tommy and the others will come through. We have to believe that," T.J. said. The other three nodded in agreement.
The Legacy Compound
Ranger Ops
Cam sighed, as he monitored the computers in their new Ops room and removed his glasses, as he rubbed his tired eyes.
"Want a fresh pair of eyes?" Hayley asked warmly, as she returned with two large cups of coffee.
"Thanks," Cam said, as he took a sip.
"Wow…that's good coffee. You should teach my dad how to make good coffee," Cam joked. She smiled and sat down next to him at the terminal.
"Is there a battle going on in San Angeles?" she asked, noticing the concentration of evil over that area.
"I think Flurious just launched an attack on the Overdrive rangers. I haven't picked up any of Ooze's lackeys yet," Cam replied.
"I find it really odd that Ivan Ooze is letting Flurious continue to run his own show," Hayley said skeptically.
"Me too, which is why I suspect that he must have some sort of agenda of his own for letting Flurious run amuck. There it is again!" Cam cried, as a signal beacon suddenly popped up on the screen.
"It's coming from Boston," Hayley said in confusion.
"I've run it through all codes I know and it's not translating into anything decipherable," Cam replied.
"Hmm…let's get Billy in here. Something tells me that whatever this is might be important," Hayley responded, as she sent a call to Billy's communicator.
Training Gym
Tori ducked Billy's crossing kick and thrust a punch at him, which was blocked. Tori caught his side kicked and he back flipped, continuing their spar, while Blake sparred a distracted Ethan.
"Come on Eth…focus," Blake said, as he helped him up.
"Sorry…I'm just really out of practice I guess," Ethan apologized, as Blake helped him up.
"You know, most blues are usually the brains of the operation and I guess I never thought I'd be rangering up again," Ethan mentioned. Billy smiled.
"It's okay Ethan, believe me, being a ranger again was the last thing I ever thought would happen," Billy replied.
"Easy for you to say. You're a great fighter. I hold my own, but a Ninja, I'm not," Ethan replied, as Blake and Tori chuckled.
"You're doing fine Ethan," Tori encouraged.
"Tori's right and I wasn't always a good fighter. In fact, I was the worst. My first day as a ranger was also my first day as a white belt in Jason's class and I was a disaster. For a long time, I wondered why the power chose me," Billy told him.
"Sometimes I wonder why the gem chose me too," Ethan mumbled.
"Hey, no talking like that. Very few of us started out as what might be considered model ranger material. Shane, Dustin, and I were the worst students in the Academy before we became rangers," Tori reminded.
"Yeah and you know Hunter and I made some seriously tweaked decisions in the beginning too," Blake added. Ethan nodded, feeling a little better, as Billy's phone chimed.
"What's up Hayley?" he answered.
"Sorry to interrupt training, but there's a signal that keeps popping up on the monitors. Neither Cam nor I can make heads or tails of it. Can you come take a look?" she asked.
"I'll be right there," Billy replied, as he hung up.
"Do you think it's another attack?" Blake asked.
"Not sure yet. I'll let you guys know," Billy replied. The three of them returned to training with the others, while Billy headed for Ops.
Silver Hills
GAMA Guardians Headquarters
Rose sat dejectedly in a chair at their new headquarters, which was also the newly renamed GAMA Guardians headquarters. This whole thing felt really wrong and she had a feeling that Ronny felt that way too, though she was adapting better than Rose. Will seemed perfectly at ease, though Rose knew now that his life as a spy made him very hard to read. But he had been vying for the position as leader and had taken to it naturally. Dax too was impressed by the attention, new technology, and their leadership of the GAMA guardians. But Rose felt empty and thinking about morphing into her ranger armor without Mack beside her made her insides twist.
"Earth to Rose," Ronny called. The pink clad genius looked up and gave her friend a small smile.
"Sorry, guess I was spacing out there," Rose replied.
"Try to cheer up. Things will work out," Ronny tried to assure her. Rose gave her a look.
"I'm not sure they will. I think we've made a huge mistake," Rose whispered. Before Ronny could respond though, there was commotion, as Will stormed into the room.
"Flurious is at it again in San Angeles. Let's move out," he ordered. The girls simply looked at him for a moment and he glared at them.
"I said let's go. Is there a problem?" he snapped. They shook their heads and quickly followed him and Dax.
The Legacy Compound
Ranger Ops
Billy entered Ranger Ops and approached the computer terminal where Cam and Hayley waited.
"What do you have?" Billy asked.
"There's a weird signal that we can't decode and it's coming from Boston," Cam replied.
"Boston…" Billy said, trying to recall why that seemed familiar, as he watched the blinking beacon.
"Are you sure you ran it through all know encryption decoders?" Billy asked. Cam shrugged.
"Everything I know, anyway," Cam replied.
"Even Morse code?" Billy questioned.
"Who uses Morse code anymore?" Cam asked. Billy smirked and started typing away.
"My dad," he answered, as he ran the beacon's frequency through the computer's encryption decoder.
"I thought you said that your dad lived in Washington D.C. now?" Hayley asked.
"He does and that's why I think he's trying to tell me something. He's in some kind of tight spot and he might be trying to send me a message and probably is deliberately bouncing it off the cell towers around Boston," Billy replied.
"Why Boston?" Cam asked.
"My cousin Carly. She attends MIT. My dad raised her after her parents were in killed in a plane crash six years ago," Billy explained, as the translation popped up on the screen. Billy sighed, as he read the message.
"Billy, unable to leave D.C. Danger to Carly. Find and protect before Gorbin does. Will contact soon if I can," Billy read the broken message in disbelief.
"What does your father do for a living?" Cam asked in equal disbelief. The blue ranger sighed.
"My father is a microbiologist and a very good one. Four years ago, he was approached by the government with a job offer. He would be heading his own top secret research team and while he couldn't tell me anything, I'm guessing the research he was going to be doing was alien in nature, if you get my drift," Billy explained.
"He took it of course, because the opportunity was just too good to pass up. He and Carly packed up and moved to D.C. Then a couple years ago, Carly was accepted to MIT," Billy said.
"But now that Gorbin has seemingly taken over, which we still don't understand how that happened, he made the connection between you and your father," Cam reasoned.
"Or saw that he was hired because of my ranger past. This whole sector nine thing stinks of conspiracy theory," Billy mentioned.
"So now you think they might be threatening to hurt Carly if your father tries to quit his job?" Hayley asked. Billy nodded.
"That's what it looks like. Dad would just call me if he needed to tell me something, but he chose to do this instead, which means he doesn't want them alerted to his plan to warn me," Billy said.
"I can teleport you to Boston, but maybe you should take Ethan. He knows the Campus and you're fugitives so you'll need to sneak around," Cam suggested. Billy nodded, as the alert went off.
"Oh great, what now?" Cam wondered, as he zoned in on the disturbance that the sensors were picking up. He brought it up on the viewing screen and they saw Flurious and his minions attacking San Angeles.
"It's not Ooze," Cam said.
"Then Overdrive is on their own," Billy replied.
"Don't you think Tommy or Jason might want to send a few rangers to help?" Hayley asked. Billy shook his head.
"They don't want our help. We'll only step in if things get out of control and people are in danger of being hurt, but I'll let them know what's going on. Then I'll be back with a team to take with me to Boston," Billy stated, as Cam sat back to monitor the Overdrive rangers battle.
"Should we tell Mack?" Hayley asked. Cam sighed.
"I don't know, he's been through a lot, but he'll probably find out anyway since he's training with the other reds," Cam replied.
"I have a feeling that Ooze is just waiting for something like this," Hayley mentioned.
"Probably, we need to be ready," Cam replied.
San Angeles
Will smirked smugly beneath his helmet, as they successfully drove Flurious' minions back with the help of the GAMA guardians. He was convinced now more than ever that he had made the right decision, as hard as it had been, though he hadn't shown it. He would lead his team to victory against Flurious and then Ivan Ooze would be next. He would prove to the "legends" that he wasn't a rookie and he would do it without all the fancy powers that the Phoenix ranger possessed.
"Had enough Flurious?" Will hissed, as the frozen villain made his appearance.
"Are you deluded enough into thinking that this is even close to being over, black ranger?" Flurious shot back. With those words, the cawing of birds was heard, as Tengu warriors descended upon them. Three warriors appeared, striding confidently toward the battlefield.
"Step back fool and enjoy the blood bath," the Sharkanian general known as Sloxis hissed.
"Only four rangers? This is going to get very messy very quickly," the Burlot general known as Mantissis stated in a bored tone.
"Relax Mantissis, the others won't be able to resist staying out of this one when we get started," the Duronian general known as Datuun promised.
"Bring it…we can take you," Dax boasted.
"Guardians ready," Will ordered, as the men, armed with high powered laser blasters, the best technology Earth had to offer, surrounded the alien beings. Unimpressed by the display, the three generals chuckled in amusement. As the Sharkanian advanced, wielding his curved blade, two guardians fired on him. But the laser blasts bounced harmlessly off his hand, as he blocked them and with a vicious slash, the two soldiers were cut down effortlessly, their blood slowly pooling around their bodies, as they bled out from the slashes to their throats.
"Oh my God…" Rose cried in horror. The Overdrive rangers drew their weapons and charged into battle against the Tengu warriors, Burmite minions, and Sharkanian foot soldiers.
The Legacy Compound
Ranger Ops
As Billy was gathering his team, the warning alarms went off and Cam was on it.
"Ooze's soldiers have made themselves known and it's not looking good," Cam called.
"Billy, take the blues and go after your cousin. We'll handle this," Jason ordered.
"Better contact Hunter," Tommy added.
"Already put out the call," Cam said, as he prepared to teleport the four blue rangers to Boston, but Kimberly noticed Tori's hard stare on the screen, particularly on the black Overdrive ranger.
"This is going to be a big shock for Carly and another familiar face besides Billy might be a good idea. I'll go with Billy, Blake, and Ethan while Tori takes my place," Kimberly suggested. Tori gave her a grateful look and Kimberly gave her an understanding gaze. If someone had caused Tommy to be hurt the way Will had caused Hunter to be, then nothing would have stopped her from settling the score and she wasn't going to deprive Tori of that same opportunity.
"Okay, let's move," Jason called, as the two groups teleported out.
Phaedos
Hunter dueled Dulcea, their swords clinking together in a furious series of strikes and parries. He had quickly learned why his mother was referred to as Master warrior of Phaedos. In his first five minutes dueling her, she had disarmed him three times, but he was quickly catching onto the art of sword fighting and getting a feel for his weapon. Their swords locked, as his communicator beeped. They disengaged and Hunter answered.
"Go for Hunter," he said.
"Big trouble in San Angeles," Hayley's voice informed.
"I'm on my way," Hunter replied, as he gave Dulcea a quick hug, before he and Zedd were snatched up in a stream of teleportation…