Power Rangers: Public Enemies
Chapter 3: Those that keep their heads bowed down.
"May I ask why you have not yet registered?"-Asked the Captain of the 55th Platoon, Tobias James. Theo and Lilly held each other's hands firmly, thinking hard about what to say.
"Sir, we have no need to register,"-says Lilly- "We aren't Power Rangers. Never were."
"That is not what our informant has told us,"-responds Tobias- "One of you is lying. We're bringing you in."
"You can't do that!"-Theo protests.
"Yes I can. I have been authorized to apprehend you,"-says Tobias- "I have also been given the authority to use force."
Theo gave deep thought to Morphing, and giving the soldiers a taste of Ranger power. However, Lilly squeezed his hand. It was her way of telling him- "don't even think about it".
Nick and Madison were watching television. Cassidy Cornell was delivering a report.
"This is Cassidy Cornell, delivering the news. Yesterday, the Operation Overdrive Power Rangers had finally registered. This act, which has been anticipated for over a week now, has put many minds at ease,"-she reports- "In a stunning show of cooperation, Red Ranger Mackenzie Hartford has also given the Government information regarding the identity of a few unregistered Rangers."
For but an instant, Cassidy's face seems to be filled with worry and concern. For whom, I can but guess, as I am certain you can as well. This look vanishes within a fraction of a second, replaced by her usual, professional look.
"Nick… do you think… Mack told them about us?"-asks Madison.
"Maybe,"-says Nick- "But don't worry, Maddie. Nothing will happen to us. They'll probably just send us a letter, or at worst, a couple of people here to remind us. Come on, Maddie, we're heroes!"
Madison kisses Nick on the lips. She cuddles next to him, and places her head in his chest. Suddenly, a knock on the door. Nick opens the door, and greets Sergeant Albert Nolan, of the 65th Infantry. He is accompanied by fifty men.
"Nick Russell and Madison Rocca, please come with me,"-says Albert- "You are under arrest for failure to register as ordered."
"Wait! We haven't done anything!"-says Nick- "You can't arrest us!"
"I have here an arrest warrant, for the two of you,"-says Sgt. Nolan- "And you have failed to register. As per orders from the President himself, that is cause enough for arrest."
"What will happen to us?"-Madison asks, frightened. With good reason, too.
"Nothing, if you come quietly,"-Sgt. Nolan responds. The couple follows him.
"This is Cassidy Cornell, reporting live from Washington DC,"-Cassidy says- "I am currently interviewing random people in the streets, asking them about what they think about the Ranger Act, and the Government's policies. Excuse me ma'am! What do you think about the Ranger Act?"
"I think President Sears knows what he's doing,"-says the old lady being interviewed- "I trust him, and I know what he's doing is right."
"Yeah, I mean,"-says the man being interviewed- "What I think is, all that's being asked of the Power Rangers is for them to just sign some paper! What's so bad about that?"
"The Power Rangers have no right to hide from the world! Not after all the damage they've caused!"-the angry man says to the microphone- "It's their fault my wife died!"
"I lost my only son to a disease that could have easily been treated by a simple shot,"-a woman tells the camera, her face in tears- "The only reason I couldn't get him that shot, is because of the disaster caused by the Power Rangers."
"I love the Power Rangers,"-says the nine year old boy- "My favorite are the Jungle Fury. I hope they register soon!"
"Well, what I mean is,"-says the college student- "I just don't see why they didn't register! It's not like we're asking them to quit being Rangers!"
"I believe that the Government has no right, demanding the Power Rangers to surrender their identities, and their powers,"-says the ACLU member.
"I think… it's a violation of their civil rights,"-says the Law student.
"What's a violation, lemme tell ya, is how I had to live in a stinking tent for seven months, just cause some (expletive) morons don't know not to pilot a giant robot in the city!"-says the bearded man.
"The world would have ended back in 1993 if not for the Power Rangers,"-says the Historian.
"I don't give a rat's (expletive) about those Technicolor freaks,"-says the young man.
"Jesus, is the only one who can save this world. The Power Rangers are blaspheming every time they claim to have managed such a feat, reserved for God!"-says the minister in the sixty thousand dollar suit.
"I believe that Jesus himself has sent the Power Rangers unto the world, to save us. They have, time and again, acted on God's will,"-says the minister of a local parish.
"Allah himself blesses the Power Rangers. Peace be upon them!"-says the Muslim.
"I gave my arm, and my eye for this country fighting the Nazis. I shed a tear every time I see those Rangers, because I know that they are keeping the good fight alive,"-says the WW2 veteran.
"I know what it's like, giving it your best, getting blamed when the (expletive) hits the fan. Power Rangers, I'm on your side!"-says the Vietnam War veteran.
"I ain't ever had a parade in my name, and I bust my (expletive) fighting crime every (expletive) day!"-says the cop- "(Expletive) the Power Rangers!"
Rose is confronting a crestfallen Mack.
"Mack… what…"-she can't find the words.
"Rose… I'm sorry, but… it's ok. General Miles said that they would have one last chance to register!"-says Mack.
"But Mack…"-Rose does not know what to say. Ronny, Dax and Will enter the room.
"Yo Mack! Heard the news,"-Will gives Mack a disapproving look.
"Mack, I mean, why?"-Dax is incredulous.
"General Miles said they wouldn't go to jail… they could register… after they were brought here…"-Mack was trying to convince himself.
"Is that why you became a snitch?"-asks Will. Ronny looks at Mack with pleading eyes. He buries his head in shame.
"No… I mean,"-Mack can't face any of his team mates- "It's just that…"
"Did General Miles say that your entire team was gonna get arrested, too?"-Max Cooper surprises everyone.
"How did you know!"-Mack is shocked.
"Because… he said the same thing to me,"-Max looks away.
"Arrest us?"-asks Ronny- "What do you mean?"
"General Wade Miles said that,"-Max stammers a bit- "If I didn't tell them what I knew about the unregistered Power Rangers… he was gonna arrest my whole team. He said the same thing to you, right Mack?"
"He was gonna arrest us!"-Dax is shocked, as are the rest of the Overdrive Rangers- "Why!"
"Because keeping information from the Federal Government is considered treason,"-Rose explains- "And treason is a very serious crime."
"But… I thought we had the right to privacy!"-says Will.
"Will, the Ranger Act is effectively a state of emergency, as far as we are concerned!"-says Rose- "And in a state of emergency, your rights fly out the window…"
"I had to give away information on the Ninja Storm team,"-Max says, tears in his eyes- "Did I do the right thing?"
"You're asking the wrong guy,"-Mack responds.
Madison and Nick were surprised to find themselves in an armored car. In front of them, Shane and Dustin sat quietly.
"You guys got ninja moves, right?"-asks Madison- "Why didn't you just resist?"
"Same reason you didn't bust out your magic, dude,"-says Dustin- "We couldn't hurt the soldiers."
"I pity them,"-says Madison- "After all, they're just doing their jobs… yet they must feel like trash, turning us in like that."
"Funny,"-Shane says- "The guys that were taking Tori in seemed just happy with the situation."
"What do you mean?"-asks Nick.
"I just think I saw one of them take a whiff of her hair, is all,"-Shane replies- "But I wasn't sure."
"Blake and Hunter had both registered,"-says Dustin- "I just kept putting it off. I mean, I thought no one knows I'm the Yellow Wind Ranger, so why should it matter if I register or not?"
"Because that Mack is a sellout,"-says Nick. Madison nudges him roughly.
"Nick, I'm sure he had a good reason to do what he did!"-Madison says.
In another armored car, Tori and Xander exchanged pleasantries.
"I have a bad feeling about this,"-says Tori.
"Come on sweet pea, Xandah's here,"-says Xander- "Nothing will happen to ya, alright mate?"
"I just think, the guy that came for me whiffed at my hair, you know?'-Tori says.
"Hey, it's a gorgeous head piece, eh?"-Xander smiles devilishly- "I'd take a whiff too if ya'd let me."
"You're… nice,"-Tori smiles, remembering how much she enjoyed Xander's company two years ago.
"You know, maybe I should have registered,"-says Xander, looking away. Tori sighs.
Casey gives Mack a death glare.
"Hey Mack,"-Casey says- "Thanks for selling us out."
Mack looks down on the ground in shame, as an angry Casey is accompanied by a very scared Chip.