Episode 19: Part 2
Bishop stepped back as the Rangers morphed in unison, illuminating the cavern in their radiant light. With lightning speed, the 6 heroes drew their gladius short swords and fanned out while Jaral charged forward taking a wild swing with his mace. The traitorous warrior grunted as each Ranger took a turn charging at different angles trying to strike out at him. Despite being outnumbered, the Cambion fighter managed to dodge past their attacks or parry them aside.
As Kara attacked last and got shoulder checked aside, Jaral raised his mace to bring it down on his former friend in a counterattack. Before he could, Joe darted in from the side and slashed the demon's armored forearm with a well placed strike. While the Red and Gold Rangers leapt clear, Jaral growled and dropped his mace, clutching his wounded arm for a moment.
Seeing a sudden opportunity, Professor Bishop dove forward into a rolling somersault and swiped the mace from the ground, denying the disarmed demon his weapon. As Bishop recovered from his roll, Jaral growled in fury and lunged forward, kicking out at his newest foe. Bishop grunted in surprise as he was kicked in the side and fell over backwards.
"You insolent worm! What do you think you're doing?" Jaral snarled now looming over the professor.
Bishop gave a grim smile from the dirt and swung the mace back around as hard as he could, "Paying you back from earlier you bastard!"
A loud ringing sound echoed in the cavern as Bishop's desperate swing connected with Jaral's left kneecap. Despite being protected by armor, Jaral roared in pain as he heard a crunching sound and felt the force of the blow cause his leg to buckle slightly. Before he could stamp down on the defiant teacher, the Green Ranger dove forward and grappled the demon, shoving him aside.
Giving another growl, Jaral freed himself from Nick's grasp only to be hammered in the face by a surprise punch from the White Ranger. Having called her Whitesteel armor, Claire brought her gauntlet and buckler around, delivering a punishing shield bash to the monster.
Before Jaral could register what hit him, Claire's punch was followed up by a combined flying kick from the Blue and Pink Rangers. Regrouping, the first five Vanguard Rangers drew their Feather Stinger pistols while Jaral struggled to rise. He had put up a good fight, but the Cambion warrior's head was reeling. He had been pummeled hard and now had a wounded arm and broken knee on top of that.
"This is your last chance Jaral," Kara called, "Stand down and surrender now!"
"Never!" Jaral spat pitching forward drunkenly and rearing back with his mace is if to hurl it.
"Rangers on three," Joe called leveling his pistol.
"Three!" the others immediately shouted in response as all five Rangers unloaded a merciless barrage of blaster fire on the demon warrior.
Jaral howled and dropped his weapon as his Empyrian steel armor buckled and smoked under the withering hail of blaster shots. In a heartbeat, the Rangers let up their fire and Kara dove forward landing a finishing blow with her own sword.
As Jaral crumpled to the ground wheezing, the Gold Ranger lowered her blade and turned her head toward him with a hint of pity. The other Rangers powered down and stood back while Kara removed her helmet and knelt down beside her former comrade. From where they stood, the contrast of the two warriors' features was striking: Jaral's dark hair, scarred face, and demonic features against Kara's golden hair and angelic beauty.
"You should have given up," Kara said quietly shaking her head with a remorseful look.
"What good what that have done?" Jaral wheezed turning his head aside, "We both know it was more practical to strike me down. I'm too far gone for redemption."
The Gold Ranger shook her head again, "Maybe so, but to completely turn your back on your Empyrian heritage and resent the Cambions you serve at the same time... to be that alone, I can't imagine what it must be like."
"You're probably doing me a favor then Kara," Jaral coughed weakly, "Ending my suffering and all."
Kara shrugged and put her hand over the ruined cuirass of her former friend and comrade, "It's all that I can do... but it does not make me any less sorry for having to do it."
As she said that, Jaral put his head back and his body gently dissipated into black wispy ash and embers.
The other Rangers and Professor Bishop waited in silence as Kara bowed her head a moment before rising to her feet. She turned her head back toward them and fixed her features into a determined look of steely resolve. "You came to claim the Greater Powers, Rangers. The way is now clear."
Bishop gave a slow nod and led the Rangers toward the great doors of the Vault making sure to put a comforting hand on Kara's shoulder first. As the seven reached the door, they looked upon it and saw intricate seals and sigils carved into the thick metallic doors. At the center of the portal were five empty locks. When the first five Vanguard Rangers approached, they began to feel their Keyrunes vibrate gently and glow with power.
"This must be it," Claire said in awe as she watched her Keyrune resonate with a gentle white light, "Our powers must have some connection to this place."
"They're looking to be restored to their full potential," Kara explained gesturing toward the door, "The powers are calling to them."
The Red Ranger took a deep breath and stepped forward gathering his courage, "We've got the Keys to the Kingdom right here everyone. This is what these things were made for, so let's use them."
The others nodded and the five Rangers each inserted their key into the locks of the door. The colored gems on the heads of the Keyrunes glowed again and the Rangers removed the artifacts from the locks as the doors made a loud grating sound and slowly parted to give them passage.
The seven stood in awe as the path opened up into a great chamber adorned with gold, crystalline glass, and white marble stone. Magic anti demon wards covered the room, glowing gently in the form of beautiful angelic sigils. The light of the wards illuminated the room and reflected off the gold and glass architecture, giving the place an unearthly feeling of peace and beauty. In the center of the room rising before the Rangers was a pedestal on a wide circular marble dias. Upon the pedestal was a golden sun motif and what looked to be a torch, burning with a bright steady light.
The seven approached hesitantly and stepped at the edge of the magnificent pedestal to get a better look. When they did, the torch intensified and a figure formed amid the flames. It was a faceless elemental being shaped like a human with two pairs of brilliant wings that radiated from its back. Upon its body was majestic resplendent armor: greaves, pauldrons, gauntlets, and a cuirass. The armor looked to be golden colored but had the luster and durable look of steel.
The Rangers stepped back a moment in fear as a booming voice echoed from the magical fires.
"You who have entered this sacred place... step forward children of Eden and stand before those who would judge your worth."
"It can't be..." Kara murmured quietly to herself in wide eyed shock, "one of the Archons."
The flaming angel turned toward the Red Ranger, "I would speak with the one who wields my power."
Joe stood in fearful awe of the being before glancing down at the vibrant Keyrune in his hand. Swallowing hard, he stepped forward as the being addressed him.
"I am the avatar of Archangel Auriel, warrior of Eden and Commander of the Heavenly Host."
"I... I'm Joseph Hale... of Hyperion Falls, and uh, the Red Vanguard Power Ranger."
Auriel tilted his head slightly, "Power Ranger? Hmm... a curious name for a warrior. You come seeking my power, Joseph Hale?"
The Red Ranger glanced back toward his friends, who all looked just as intimidated, before he cleared his throat, "Yes. Our world is in danger from Archangel Gideon and his Cambion Legions. My friends and I have come seeking a way to defeat him."
"You young warriors have come a long way then," Auriel observed, "To have found this place and made it this far is impressive... but you cannot expect that we will just relinquish the legacy of the Empyrian race so easily."
"We?" Danny asked curiously from behind.
Auriel nodded and gestured around the large circular dias. From four sides of the circle on the cardinal directions of the emblazoned sun appeared four other glowing beings like Auriel. Each elemental being glowed with the other Rangers' corresponding color while bearing the same golden armor and four wings.
"My brothers and sisters," Auriel announced, "Fandaniel, Hashmael, Sandalaphon, and Ambriel."
Turning back to the Red Ranger, Auriel said, "We would have you shine the light of your Keyrunes. The reflection of your strength and character will tell us what we need to know."
The five Rangers exchanged an apprehensive look before nodding and following Auriel's instructions. From the background, Kara and Bishop watched as the chamber was lit brighter with the five colors while the five spirits of the ancient angels stood impassively observing.
When the light faded, Auriel nodded his head slowly, "You may yet be worthy Joseph Hale. There is Valor and a strong sense of Justice in your heart."
"Cunning and Sincerity within yours," Fandaniel spoke nodding toward the Blue Ranger.
"Strength and Loyalty," Hashmael added toward Nick.
"Intellect and Temperance," Sandalaphon noted gesturing to Claire.
"Compassion and Charity," Ambriel finished turning her head toward Izzy.
Nick cleared his throat and half raised his hand as if he were in class, "Uh... so, does this mean we passed?"
Auriel turned toward all the Rangers to address them, "We have deemed you worthy to inherit our powers, but while you have demonstrated admirable qualities, there is one virtue that must be developed over time... one virtue that is chief among the others. Wisdom."
The Rangers looked to one another as Auriel continued, "With great power comes a great duty to wield it for the good of others... especially those less powerful than you. That was the way of our people and that responsibility was meant to remind us to always exercise that sense of humility. Know that every element has a dual nature. It can bring benefits and life, or it can cause death and destruction."
Auriel gestured to the Red Ranger, "Fire brings light and warmth to others, but if it is not carefully controlled, it destroys everything it touches. Such is the way with each of your powers."
Looking toward the solemn faces of his friends, the Red Ranger nodded, "I think we understand Auriel. You have our word that we'll do our best to live up to that expectation."
The fiery avatar nodded his head, "Very well Rangers. Know that the powers we left you in your Keyrunes will be fully restored. You may have our strength, our armor, and unlimited flight."
"Very cool," Claire smiled quietly to the others, "I like the sound of that."
Auriel spread his fiery wings, "Our spirits join yours in battle against the demons, and upon you five rest the hopes and memories of our race. May the Light of the Past bring Hope to the Future."
The other four angelic avatar spread their wings and their auras intensified with light as well. At that moment, Kara took Bishop's arm and nodded gently as the two stepped aside and backed away from the dias. The five Vanguard Rangers stood in awe and wonder as the spirits of Eden's five champions hovered toward them and began to swirl about the dias in a maelstrom of elemental energy.
Both Bishop and the Gold Ranger raised their hands to shield their eyes from the intense light as they felt the air in the room blow and the resonating power cause their skin to tingle. In a brilliant golden flash of light, the surging power dissipated and the air in the room went calm.
When the two lowered their hands, they stood staring in wonder at the five Rangers who faced them from the dias. They were fully morphed and all five wore the ornate golden armor of the original heros. From their backs radiated two pairs of glowing ephemeral wings made of sacred energy. As they stood, the gentle light given off by the five angelic champions lit the room and added an exclamation point to their stunning transformation.
"This is unreal," Izzy finally remarked looking to her hands and admiring the new armor, "I feel even stronger than ever."
"I know what you mean Iz," the Green Ranger replied exhaling a long breath, "It's strange, but it's like I feel whole again... like I know exactly what I'm doing now."
"That's because the Archons are with us now. Auriel, Fandaniel, everyone," Joe said stepping down from the dias. As he nodded toward Bishop and Kara, he turned back toward the other four Rangers, "We've been given great power, but part of me can't help but feel that we're really going to need it... very soon."
Meanwhile, in the Abyss, Gideon stood looking out the throne room window of the Dark Spire, staring into the swirling hellish maelstrom of chaotic energy in the realm. He did not react when he heard the chamber doors open and a lesser demon warrior entered. The Cambion warrior fell to his knee and bowed his head, "My Lord Gideon, I bring word from Earth. We've lost contact with Jaral. Neither he nor his raiding party have returned to report in."
Gideon remained at the window and did not turn around, "If that is the case, then we can only assume he's been lost in action."
"What of Leviathan?" the warrior asked hesitantly, "General Abaddon is prepared to loose the beast at your command."
Gideon remained silent for a moment, pondering the question. "Do it. Send the sea serpent against the humans' coastal cities. If the Rangers are searching for Atlantis, then Leviathan will draw them away and crush them."
"At the very least, the destruction and misery caused will tear the Abyss seal even further," the demon soldier noted.
Gideon turned to address the minion with a diabolical smile, "I am counting on it."
A/N:
Alas, poor Jaral. Even if I had to kill him off, special shout out goes to Ranger Red 2.0 again for contributing such a great villain! Thank you my friend! Also, if any are curious, Auriel is an allusion to Archangel Michael, the figure from Judeo Christian lore who originally cast down the Devil. Otherwise, just sit tight. We've almost reached the end of the Atlantis arc.