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 23! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks to all the great reviews too and here's notes to those individuals:
ichie: Thank you. Glad you like the story. Don't worry, I will keep writing. :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thank you, more actions scenes to come in the next few chapters.
Harry2: Yep, Hunter is getting a feel for his new powers and he's definitely going to get some on the job training in the next couple chapters.
TommyOliverMMPRFan: Well, the next couple chapters are full of battle, so anything could happen ;) As for Scorpina...it does seem like something she may be involved in. Only time will tell.
RHatch89" Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
MMPRFansince93: The upcoming battle is here! Enjoy :)
WideOpenSpacesGirl045: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. :) As for Gorbin, I don't know when, but he'll get what's coming to him...eventually. ;) Yes, I know I need to get back to the romance. The next couple chapters will involve a lot of battle and action sequences. Then after that I will be delving into the relationships during the ranger's downtime. Billy/Kat will come, but it's really slow. I know it's chapter 23 already, but it actually hasn't even been a month since Cestria died in the story. It just seems like it has been longer since I've managed to pack 23 chapters into just a handful of days. Billy/Kat will come though, as well as more Conner/Kira, Tommy/Kim, various other couples, and of course Hunter/Tori ;)
fallingstar22: Yeah, I know it was a long time coming. Unfortunately, since I'm working with such a large cast, sometimes it seems like I forget some characters in the subplot. I haven't forgotten, it's just hard to fit everything in a chapter with so many characters and plots going on. The story is moving a little slowly, but that's just because I love detail and want to flesh out all characters and plots as much as possible. I'm glad you like the story, cause I am loving writing it. :)
garnetred: Will may get a little taste of how wrong he was in this chapter. How long will it take until he admits it and eats crow? Only time will tell. :) Glad you're enjoying the story.
Guest: Thanks, glad you like the story. And Will just may get his butt handed to him as you put it. I agree, Dustin and coffee are like Rocky and jolt cola. Don't mix them, lol. ;)
Crimson Rising
Chapter 23: Cross My Line
I will hunt you down in time, will have you in my sight,
can see throughout this night, will find your weakness.
Now, you belong to me solely.
Now, I will shatter your chances.
Now, say the power is on you now.
You have a reason, you have a rhyme.
*You have been thinking to cross my line.
You are/were the soul mate, you are/were the crime.
You've gone too far, you've crossed my line.
You've gone too far.
You've gone too far.
Song: Cross My Line
Artist: Aaron Waters
Blue Bay Harbor
Hotel Suite of Malcolm Renaldi
Malcolm Renaldi angrily tossed his glass, which was half full of brandy, against the wall of his hotel suite where he had been staying in Blue Bay Harbor.
"Idiots…I ask you to find her in this stupid little town and you come up empty every time!" he roared.
"We're sorry Sir, but she's not here anymore," one apologized.
"They're saying on the news that the rangers have all disappeared since they're wanted by the government," another added. Malcolm growled.
"I don't want any more excuses! I want that bitch dead and my son!" he ranted.
"Sir…there's something you should see on the news," a third guard said.
"What?" he spat.
"This is Crystal Rayman reporting live from San Angeles, California where the power ranger team known as Operation Overdrive was battling the villain known as Flurious. It seemed that the Overdrive rangers were slowly pushing his forces back, when a new batch of frightening creatures appeared and began to overwhelm them. More rangers have since shown up, the same rangers that are wanted fugitives," the reporter droned on.
"Get me to my plane. We're going to San Angeles," Malcolm hissed.
A Government Facility
Somewhere in Washington D.C.
Alan Cranston coughed violently, as two of Gorbin's goons finished their interrogation. Shortly after his coded warning to Billy had gone out, he had been discovered. Gorbin wasn't in Washington, but his ugly face was watching the whole thing and plastered on the flat screen monitor in the room.
"What did you tell your son?" Gorbin asked again.
"I told you…nothing important, just that I loved him and to be careful. Is that a crime?" Alan spat.
"Actually, in times of war where your son is a wanted fugitive, it is indeed. Now tell us what you really told him," Gorbin demanded.
"I told you already!" Alan cried, as he was on the receiving end of more fists connecting with his body, before the men dropped the scientist to the cold floor.
"I warned you not to cross me, Cranston. Now I'm afraid your niece will pay the price," Gorbin stated coldly.
"No…no Carly doesn't have anything to do with this!" Alan hissed.
"Perhaps not…but I have heard she is a gifted scientist herself. Too bad all that talent will go to waste," Gorbin said, as he turned to his men.
"Place the good doctor under arrest and transfer him to the maximum security prison on the Stone Canyon base with our other war criminals," Gorbin stated. One man raised a nightstick and struck the scientist, as blackness overtook him.
San Angeles
Sloxis chuckled, imagining the looks of shock that were probably plastered on the four Overdrive ranger's faces beneath their helmets, as he cut down another GAMA guardian. Human bodies littered the ground and blood spattered the concrete. He laughed out loud, as he watched the pink one sink to her knees.
"Get up Rose," Will snapped harshly, as he drew his weapon, preparing to fight.
"Will…this is insane. We don't stand a chance…we need help!" Ronny pleaded. Will scoffed.
"We can handle this!" he hissed, as he charged at the Sharkanian general, who for his own amusement idly fought the black ranger, clearly getting bored very quickly.
"Oh my God…all those people…" Kira cried sadly, as they stood atop a tall building and observed the carnage below.
"This is why fighting aliens should be left to rangers. These guys are in a whole different league than anything we've ever faced," Jason stated.
"Well, I suppose we should save Will's punk ass before that Sharkanian gets bored and goes on the offensive," Shane suggested.
"Right…let's go," Tommy called. Shane took point, as he Tori, Dustin, and Cam Ninja streaked onto the battlefield in Ninja form and began to fight their way through the shark creatures. Mack, already morphed, joined them.
Jason and Conner took the Dino team, minus Ethan to face the Burlot general and his Burmites, while Tommy took his, minus Kimberly and Billy to face the Duronian general and the Tengu birds.
"Mack!" Rose cried in surprise, as he helped her up. Though their visors obstructed their view, they knew their eyes were meeting.
"I'm sorry Mack…I made a terrible mistake, you were right about them," Rose whispered.
"It's okay Rose…we'll figure that out later," Mack assured her, they resumed battling the Sharkanian foot soldiers.
"Well, well, I see the real rangers have finally shown up. Maybe I'll get a workout today, after all," Sloxis goaded, as he batted Will away like a mere fly.
"Ready guys?" Shane asked, receiving nods, as they raised their arms into the air.
"Ninja Storm, Ranger Form!"
"Samurai Storm, Ranger Form!"
Blue, green, red, and yellow streaks could be seen, as they each took their shot at Sloxis, who put up an almost impenetrable defense. Angry at being shown up, Will leapt into battle with the Sharkanian as well.
A beam of water slammed into him, courtesy of Tori, but he strode through it, not affected by the element he was most used to.
"Sorry little girl, your water attacks are useless," he goaded, as he brought his blade down on her. Tori blocked him with her dolphin daggers and kicked him in the gut. Shocked by her prowess on the battlefield, he angrily knocked her away, before being blown back by one of Shane's air attacks. Not to be outdone, Dustin launched an earth beam at the ground beneath Sloxis, unearthing it and tossing the general on his back. With distinct hand movements, the yellow wind ranger disappeared beneath the ground and burrowed toward the shark-like alien. But Sloxis himself disappeared beneath the ground and burrowed toward Dustin head on.
"Land shark!" he cried, as he struck and Dustin was thrown to the surface, landing painfully on his back.
"That didn't go well," Dustin groaned in pain, as Cam and Shane helped him up.
"Let me at this fish freak!" Will called, as he charged at Sloxis
"Wait…we have to take this guy on together!" Tori called, but her plea fell on deaf ears.
"Dude is whacked in the head," Dustin scoffed.
"That may be, but we still need to help him or we lower ourselves to his level," Cam stated, being the voice of reason.
"Cam's right…even after what he's done, I'm not like him," Tori said, as they saw sparks spew from Will, as he fell on his back. Sloxis loomed over him, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
Meanwhile, Tori took both ends of her daggers and locked the handles together, forming a double ended blade. A string shimmered into existence, as did a canister of arrows on her back.
"Sweet bow," Dustin complimented.
"Thanks," Tori replied, as she strung an arrow and fired it at the Sharkanian general. It sparked with blue energy as it struck him and threw him to the ground.
"Nice shot…my turn," Cam said, as he called his energy and launched a blizzard attack, as the creature got to his feet. Sloxis growled and managed to endure the attack, but not without injury.
"You'll all pay for that…starting with you blue ranger!" he growled, as he disappeared beneath the ground again.
"Where is he?" Shane asked, as his eyes darted around.
"I don't know, I don't even see his creepy fin anywhere," Dustin cried, as he searched as well.
"GUYS!" Tori cried, as it was suddenly coming right toward her and Cam. He struck and the two of them were knocked hard on their backs. Fortunately, their more armored ranger uniforms prevented broken ribs or internal bleeding. However, Will was not so lucky. Sloxis hovered over the injured black ranger, who had been forced to rip his helmet up to cough up blood from obvious internal injuries thanks to the earlier blows he had sustained.
"Mmm…blood. Do you know what happens when a shark smells blood?" Sloxis hissed, his fangs dripping with salivation.
"We become absolutely crazed and we feast…" Sloxis growled. Will, his face usually an unreadable mask, couldn't hide the fear he felt, as the Sharkanian announced just what his intentions for him were. Sloxis roared and prepared to sink his razor sharp fangs into human flesh when a crimson thunder bolt struck him. He screeched in agony and convulsed violently in pain, as he turned and saw the unmorphed crimson ranger land, after jumping from a huge bird zord that cawed loudly and soared away.
"You interrupted my meal time, crimson ranger," Sloxis hissed.
"My heart bleeds," Hunter replied sarcastically, as his morpher flashed to life on his wrist.
"Phoenix Storm, Ranger Form!" he called out, as crimson flames engulfed him and his armor molded around his body. Sloxis charged at the crimson ranger with sword drawn and Hunter drew his own saber, disappearing into his ninja streak, landing multiple strikes to his enemy. Sloxis' smoking form twitched on the ground and he groaned in pain, as he slowly picked himself up.
"I won't be bested by a child!" Sloxis growled, as he disappeared beneath the ground again.
"He's heading right for you!" Dustin called, as they saw his fin set dead on for where Hunter was standing, but the crimson ranger remained where he was, smirking beneath his helmet. His teammates watched in complete amazement, as Hunter put his foot down…literally on Sloxis' fin and he skidded back slightly. Once Hunter stopped the struggling creature, who was now stuck beneath the ground, he lifted his foot and grabbed his fin, yanking him from the ground with his brute strength, before tossing the twitching creature unceremoniously on the ground.
"Your land shark thing is a bit useless against me now," Hunter boasted. Sloxis growled.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" he growled, as he charged again with his sword aimed for the crimson ranger.
"Time to roast this fish," Shane said.
"I agree, his smell is starting to make me sick," Tori grumbled, as she held up one of her arrows.
"Light please," she told her boyfriend. Hunter smirked and lit the arrow tip on fire. Tori threaded the arrow, aimed, and fired. The arrow struck Sloxis dead on in the chest and crimson flames slowly engulfed his body.
"NO…NO THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" he screamed, as he tried in vain to extinguish the flames.
"Oh it's happening and now it's done," Hunter said, as tendrils of fire swirled around him, gathering in his palms, and then shooting forth in a beam of crimson fire. Sloxis' scream of terror could be heard before he exploded and even his ashes were incinerated.
The wind rangers' visors opened, while Cam and Hunter's helmets folded back. Will stared up at them with contempt in his eyes.
"Guess you'll get your revenge on me now," Will spat bitterly.
"I'm not going to kill you. Good friends taught me a long time ago that revenge never gets you anything except blood on your hands…and I'm not like that anymore," Hunter stated, as turned to the blue Overdrive ranger.
"Get your friend some medical attention. If you wait much longer, it will be too late to heal his internal injuries," Hunter said to Dax, as he stalked off with his teammates following him. As they were about to join the others in their battles, Cam's phone chimed.
"What is it Hayley?" Cam asked.
"There's big trouble in Blue Bay Harbor. I'm sending a visual to your phone," Hayley said. Cam and others watched the video feed of a massive machine, with the likeness of a Scorpion, breathing fire on downtown Blue Bay Harbor.
"Shit…looks like zord time," Shane suggested.
"But Blake is still in Boston," Dustin reminded.
"Mom went over zord specs with me briefly. We can't bring them all together without him, but the Phoenix zord can combine either with the storm Megazord, with Blake and Cam's zords, or with all five when we're together. The navy dragon and green snow leopard zords also have warrior modes on their own. It will have to do for now," Hunter stated, as he put his phone to his ear.
"Tommy, you guys got this? Ooze has one of his zords wrecking Blue Bay Harbor," Hunter stated.
"Yeah, we got this. Go help Blue Bay," Tommy replied.
"Let's go," Hunter said, as they disappeared into streaks of teleportation.
Cambridge
Boston, Massachusetts
MIT Campus
"This campus is huge. She could be anywhere," Blake said, as they arrived in civilian form at the MIT campus.
"Maybe we can ask around?" Kimberly suggested. Billy shook his head.
"We'll be too easily recognized. Ethan, did you get hacked in?" Billy asked. The blue Dino ranger nodded.
"It's MIT Dr. C and I'm not you. I can hack into most systems, but this one is top notch," Ethan replied, as he handed his laptop to Billy. The genius sat down on a bench and went to work. It only took him a few moments to hack in and find Carly's class schedule.
"Great…her classes are over for today. She could be anywhere on campus," Billy said.
"Maybe she's in her dorm," Kimberly said.
"It's getting close to dinner time. We might catch her near the dining halls," Blake suggested.
"Okay, Ethan and Kimberly check out her dorm. Blake and I will head toward the dining hall," Billy replied.
Carly Cranston closed her cell phone again for what seemed like the tenth time that day. The Librarian kept shooting her dirty looks and gesturing to the no cell phone sign. But she was worried. It wasn't like her Uncle not to return her calls or call to check on her. With her cousin's identity being revealed a few days ago, she had feared for her Uncle's safety, especially since things in Washington had suddenly seemed to go insane. She wasn't so naïve to believe that they didn't know about her either. Though she had not seen anyone suspicious around, she knew she was being watched. Her roommate thought she was being paranoid, but growing up in Angel Grove around the original teams, she was gifted with their hyper sensitivity to anything weird.
"Hey Carls…" a voice said, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. The sandy blonde girl's wide green eyes turned to meet the eye of her roommate and friend, Lisa.
"Geez…you need to lay off the caffeine, girl," the African American girl stated. Carly sighed.
"Sorry Lisa…just a little jumpy I guess," Carly said, as she turned back to her book. Page 214, the same page she had been on an hour ago. Sighing, she closed it and shoved it away. There would be no studying today.
"Girl, there is no one after you. You need to relax," Lisa tried to console her.
"You're probably right," Carly replied, as two men wearing dark blue uniforms and red berets entered the library. Carly felt her heart start to pound in her chest, as they made their way toward her slowly.
"Girl you're white as a sheet," Lisa said, noticing how pale her friend was suddenly.
"Lisa…we need to get out of here," Carly hissed, as she started toward the back of the library.
"Carls…" Lisa called, as she stood up and noticed the goons behind her. She put her hands on her hips and stood in their way.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded. The man responded by pointing a gun at her.
"Out of the way," he ordered. Lisa helplessly put her hands up and sat back down, as the men stalked toward the rows of shelved books.
"Carly Cranston, we have a warrant for your arrest. Come quietly and we won't have to hurt you," the lead GAMA guardian called. A response came in the form of a heavy history book that beamed him right in the head. He grunted in pain and cocked his gun, as he and his partner combed through the rows.
Carly made her way into the back toward the emergency exit when a gunshot rang out. She screamed and covered her head, as glass from the now shattered light bar above her rained down on her.
"Stop right there, Ms. Cranston and we won't have to hurt you," the man ordered. Carly took her chances and darted out the door and ran as fast as she could, with the two red bereted men hot on her heels.
"Man…any sign of her?" Blake asked.
"Not yet, but she'll get hungry sooner or later," Billy replied, as they hung out near the dining hall. They had kept their sunglasses on and heads down for the most part, but the anonymity didn't last.
"Hey…" a voice called. The two turned to find campus security before them.
"Student ID badges please," he ordered.
"Um…" Blake stuttered.
"We don't go here, but my cousin does. We're just waiting for her and then we'll be on our way," Billy stated, hoping he would let it go.
"I'm afraid that's not allowed. If you're not a student here, you must go through the main office to obtain a visitor's pass," the man stated. Suddenly, they heard a gunshot ring out. The security officer turned away, allowing Billy and Blake to make a run for it.
"That came from the library!" Billy called.
"Stop!" the security guard called, as several more surrounded them.
"Ninjetti…The Wolf!"
"Thunder Storm, Ranger Form!"
Blue and Navy light engulfed them and they leapt clean over the approaching guards, before landing and they kept running. From the sky, Billy's wolf glider soared down and he jumped on.
"Blake, I'm sending your thunder glider," Zedd called through the comm in Blake's helmet.
"Thanks Uncle Z," Blake replied, as he jumped and flipped onto the Navy thunder glider, following Billy through the sky.
Carly screamed, as one of the men grabbed her and backhanded her. She hit the ground hard and tried to crawl away, but he was on her cuffing her before she could move.
"General Gorbin has ordered that you be brought to him, Ms. Cranston. I suggest you stop struggling if you want to save yourself anymore pain," he stated coldly.
"Go to hell," she spat, as he forced her to her feet. He pulled her to him and glared.
"Maybe we should teach you some respect on our way to California," he leered. Carly responded by spitting in his face. He drew back to slap her again when she stomped on his foot, tearing away from him, despite her cuffed hands. They started after her, but she heard a scuffle and looked back, finding the blue ranger there knocking them down. She screamed, as she was suddenly scooped up and soaring through the air.
"Relax…you're safe," Blake assured her, as his visor opened.
"I'm Blake," he said, as he stared down at the beautiful wide eyed girl in his arms.
"Carly…" she stammered. He smirked and his visor closed.
"Yo wolf man, I got your cousin!" he called, as Billy soared beside him.
"Thanks Blake, let's meet up with Ethan and Kim," he called back, as they landed near the dorms, despite the chaos they had created on campus.
"Billy…is that you?" Carly asked, as Blake set her on her feet. He pulled his helmet off and she dove into his arms.
"Man Carls…look at you, you're all grown up," he said in amazement. She rolled her eyes.
"Duh…I'm like twenty now," she retorted, making him chuckle.
"Kimberly?" she asked.
"Hey kiddo," Kim said, as she removed her helmet and hugged the younger girl. Carly noticed the last blue ranger, as he removed his helmet.
"I'm Ethan," he stated. She nodded.
"Ethan James…you were a student here too," she remembered, as Blake's phone chimed.
"What is it bro?" Blake answered.
"Trouble in Blue Bay. Ooze has one of his skyscraper sized monstrosities attacking the city. Zord up," Hunter ordered.
"Got it," Blake responded.
"We better go help the others in San Angeles," Kim suggested.
"Uncle Z, you got a lock on Carly?" Blake asked, as he commed his surrogate uncle.
"Ready when she is," he called back.
"Carly, we're teleporting you to safety and we'll see you soon, I promise," Billy told her. She nodded and was teleported away in a white streak of light. Now that Carly was safe, Blake teleported to Blue Bay Harbor, while the other three teleported to San Angeles to help their teams.
The battle rages on in the next chapter…