Power Rangers: Public enemies

Chapter 14: Breather

Rose read the newspaper. Things were bad, and steadily getting worse. Unemployment in America was now at 21%. The Dollar had, once again, fallen in value. It now took seven dollars to buy a half gallon of milk. Rose closed her eyes, tears falling down her face. She just kept thinking about it, about how much harder life was going to be for everybody. The worst part is, of course, the fact that no nation in the world was exempt from this situation. She thought about Mack. He was coerced to work for the Government. The same Government that blamed THEM for this mess. The same Government that thinks it can barge into people's property without warrants, arrest people without just cause. The same Government that can't handle this situation, despite all those empty promises that were made last year. Empty promises, like the promise of a better day, like a cloudy afternoon that gives no rain whatsoever… like the ring on her finger. Rose gets up, and looks around the bedroom. She kneels down, and takes out a box. She opens it. She had sworn to herself, she would wear that lingerie the next evening Mack would allow himself one night to relax. She would wear it for him… if only to keep his mind free from the times, even if just for one night. The ring on her finger is a promise. The lingerie in her hands is another.

…...

Tori looks on sadly at the abandoned shack. Two years prior, it was her surf shop. Two years prior, it was the culmination of everything she worked for, her dream since she was a child. Then… the economy. The economy… is that what was at fault? Who is to blame for the end of her dream? The economy? The times? The Government? Herself? To blame the economy is easy, as is blaming the Government. It wasn't me, it was out of my hands. So easy, so simple… just like everybody else. It couldn't be her fault. She worked hard. She was diligent in her duties, always checking inventory, always paying the bills, the rent… until she just couldn't pay anymore. The Federal Government needed funds, due to the huge loss that came from the destruction of Angel Grove. Sixty Billion… that would have to come from somewhere. Taxes were raised. But… not everyone could pay. She was one of the many who couldn't pay.

…...

"So, here's the plan, guys." Casey takes out a map of the state of California. "As you know, the ruins of the Command center have been under US custody since 1999. What we're going to do is, we're gonna launch a surprise attack, and retake the Command Center."

"Why would we do that?" Ethan gives Casey a questioning look.

"This will be a very symbolic thing, you know?" Casey folds the map. "Like, we're announcing the Ranger's identity…like… uh…"

Kenneth interjects. "A manifest of our Dignity. By taking back the Command Center, which is like the 'root' of the Ranger tradition, we will be announcing our pride as Power Rangers. More than that, however, retaking the Center would be a heavy blow to the Government's ego." Kenneth's explanation makes Casey smile.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Casey pats Kenneth on the shoulder.

"I'm worried about how many casualties there will be." Ethan looks at his Morpher. His voice starts to trail off. "Seven years ago, I put this on so I could fight evil. Back then… it was easy to know who were the good guys…"

"We are STILL fighting evil!" Casey gets up. "We're just ordinary citizens, who were leading ordinary and unassuming lives. THEY were the ones who burst into our homes. THEY were the ones who forced us to give away our identities. THEY cuffed our hands. WE are using our powers for defense. THEY send their tanks and choppers at us. As far as I'm concerned, there's no difference between a Rinshi and an Army soldier these days. WE are the good guys here."

"Casey's right. We've done nothing wrong. The Government has brought this on itself." Kenneth grabs his Morpher, and stares at the setting sun. Tomorrow, they reach the Command Center…

…...

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is 'Butting Heads' with William 0'Chancey. Tonight, my guests and I will discuss the latest threat to our great nation: the Power Rangers. Joining me tonight are celebrated Radio Personality, blogger and political commentator, Janet Couture; Representative of South Carolina for the Liberty Party, John Wood; and last but not least, Former mayor of Turtle Cove, currently aspiring for a future Vice Presidential nomination, Edward Franklin Pierce. Let us begin by stating the obvious: Should this new 'rebellion' of the Rangers be seen as a terrorist attack on our great nation?"

"Allow me to answer that question, with but a single word." Janet Couture crosses her legs. "Yes."

"I absolutely agree." Edward Pierce takes a sip from his water. "Our Government has been more than fair to the Power Rangers! George Sears and Jeremy Irons have failed this great nation of ours. They have failed us by giving the Power Rangers far too much freedom and far too much time to unite their forces!"

"What are you saying, mister Pierce?" Janet fixes her glasses as she smiles at the man sitting next to her. "Are you saying the President should have arrested these Rangers while they were registering?"

"My lady, what I will say next may shock, and even anger some of our viewers. The Power Rangers are now, for all intents and purposes, a terrorist group. They have demonstrated a disregard for the lives of our boys in uniform." Pierce wipes a tear from his eye. Then, he pounds the table with his fist. "And what have Sears and Irons done to solve this problem! They sit in the White House, drinking their tea like the uppity eggheads they are! Ladies and gentlemen, after we impeach Sears and Irons, I personally guarantee to do EVERYTHING in my future power as Vice President to RID our nation of this threat- ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

"What's happening right now could have been avoided if that dunce Sears hadn't blamed the Rangers for the mess of 2010 to begin with!" John Wood intercepts, cleaning his glasses. "The problem was never with the Rangers, it was with the fact that too many buildings were Government owned. I, and many others of my Party, believe that this whole mess could have been avoided if America had kept to her pure, Laissez-Faire roots. My Liberty Party calls for an end to Government Intervention of the Market, and we stand for the Pockets of the average Americans. I also, personally, believe that we should NOT arrest any of the Rangers, save for those whom have already proven themselves a threat to this nation of ours."

"Well, I think that your party is full of it. I say that those Technicolor freaks should learn that when they act, the American people REACT!" Janet stands up, and addresses the camera. "People of America, don't stay at home eating Cheese Puffs! Get out there, and get angry! Tell your local Representative that you are mad as heck, and that you are not gonna take it anymore!"

"We've got a call" William O'Chancey signals Janet to sit down. "Yes, caller. You are on the air."

"Yes, I've got something to say to all of you. You people, have you forgotten? Have you forgotten Rita Repulsa, the Machine Empire and the Countdown to Destruction? Have you forgotten how many times the Power Rangers have saved the World! Is THIS how treat the people who save your lives!" The caller's voice is growing with passion. "You people make me sick! 'Oh, 2010 was the Rangers fault!' you say. I say you're full of it. Yes, 2010 was a tragedy. Yes, we'd all rather it didn't happen again. But what you guys are doing, and this includes the Government's current actions, is inexcusable! Guys like you just keep stirring up trouble, calling for people to get angry! Instead, you could have used your positions as public figures, to inspire people to move forward, and not let the Government to deny the basic rights of those whom we owe our lives! And why is the Government blaming the Rangers for something that's being solved little by little? Who gains from seeing the Rangers in jail? Things are not getting worse because of the Rangers! Things are getting worse because we'd rather look for people to blame for letting things get worse, than actively work to make them better! And what's worse is people like you, people who actively attempt to make things worse by encouraging people to seek scapegoats! People like you, who keep going on and on, pointing the finger at who's to blame, than pointing to the direction we should take to improve our world! My name is Farcus Bulkmeyer, and you can QUOTE me on that!"

…...

Bulk hangs the phone, and turns off the TV. He'd rather not keep watching. He rubs his eyes, thinking about what he had said. Someone is standing outside of his house, and picks up a stone. This stone, the person thought, would teach that anti-American bastard a thing or two. This person, however, stops when he sees a large group of people getting out of their houses, and heading towards Bulk's house. A young man rings the doorbell. Bulk gets up, nervous over the idea of getting lynched. He had said something many would not agree with, after all. He opens the door.

The crowd cheers for Bulk for saying what was in the minds of many, but on the lips of few.

…...

"Mack? Will you be coming home tonight?" Rose tries to fight the tears. It was rather late, but she promised herself she would wait for Mack to come home.

"Rose… I want to go home, I really do. But… they have me here… they won't let me go home until I do what they tell me." Mack himself was also on the verge of tears.

"Mack, tell them no! Tell them you have your rights!" Rose's tears were falling freely now. "Tell them you already did what you had to do!"

"I can't. I failed my last mission. Rose… right now, things are bad, and they look to get worse." Mack can't stop his own tears.

"Mack…next month.." Mack interrupts Rose mid sentence.

"That is the one thing I have no intention of missing, honey." Mack looks at his own ring. "I don't care what I have to do. I will be there."

Mack hangs up the phone. He starts crying again, but stops as soon as he sees Taylor.

"No, Mack. It's ok, you can cry." Taylor approaches him, and places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This is the one time, you have every right to cry."

…...

The three Rangers walked towards the ruins of the Command Center. The Sun rises over the California desert. Today, everything changes…