Episode 20: Part 2
All six Rangers immediately took flight as Leviathan thrashed and kicked up several large waves that smashed the beach and ruined some nearby shelters and lifeguard towers. As the Rangers darted around the sky in different directions, Danny called out, "Let's split up and try a counter attack!"
Leviathan turned on the Blue Ranger as he gripped his spear and stirred up a violent swirling waterspout from the ocean below. The massive twisting geyser smashed into the chin of the serpent, but seemed to do little damage. As the beast shook off the attack, it was struck again in the side of the head by several icy arrows from the White Ranger above.
The others hovered and watched for a moment as Leviathan reeled and shook off the ice patch that had begun to form on its head. Claire gasped and swooped away just in time as the serpent lashed out trying to swallow her whole in one bite. While she did, the Green Ranger dove in and landed on the back of the massive beast's head.
In a flash, Nick drew his warhammer and brought it down in several powerful blows that rang loudly, but could not damage the serpent's scales. As the Ranger shook from the recoil of his own hammer strikes, Leviathan angrily thrashed its head, trying to buck him off. Meanwhile, the waters churned below it and the monster's great tail lashed out along the beach, smashing more stands and ripping apart the boardwalk.
After waiting for an opportune moment, Nick leapt off the back of the serpent and took to the air again rejoining the others. To their shock, Leviathan's head tracked their movement and it sprung upwards in a spiraling motion. At the height of its jump, the sea serpent opened it's large maw and unleashed an intense flamethrower as it spiraled downward creating a hazardous twisting cloud of fire for the winged Rangers to dodge.
"There's no way we're going to beat that thing like this!" Izzy called fearfully, "We need to call the Megazord."
The Red Ranger gave a nod in her direction and prepared to summon his own zord, "All right. Let's do it. Kara! We'll need you to buy us a few moments!"
The Gold Ranger nodded in understanding and summoned a powerful thunderbolt from her Keyrune, aiming down at the ocean waters below them. Leviathan roared in fury as the crackling bolt of surging electricity spread across the water and momentarily shocked the serpent, allowing enough time for the Rangers to regroup and call their zords.
Soon enough, the zords had been called and the Vanguard Megazord assembled to stand against the giant demonic creature. Amid the tumult of the sand and water, the Megazord raised its manta ray shield just in time to ward off another intense jet of flames from the breath of the sea serpent. Nearby, Kara and the Pegasus zord galloped clear of the flames and circled around for a better angle to attack.
"Oh geez, a fire breathing snake that lives in the water is just not right," Danny called as the Megazord batted away a sweeping tail strike and counterattacked with its other fist. A loud ringing thud was heard as the Megazaord landed a punch to Leviathan's head, but the beast simply shook it off and began coiling up around the zord's arm.
To the Ranger's surprise, Leviathan bound the Megazord's arms and legs like a giant boa constrictor snake and began to squeeze it in a crushing attack.
"I can't move our legs!" the Green Ranger called with rising fear in his voice as the Megazord shook and shuddered.
"The arms are pinned too," Claire added from nearby as she scrambled to try and free them.
"Hang on Rangers!" Kara shouted directing her Pegasus forward into a charge against Leviathan.
The winged zord gave a great cry and raised its hooves slamming into the coiled body of the serpent, but to little effect. As Leviathan let up slightly to allow the Megazord to free its arms, the monster reared back its head, then swatted away the Gold Ranger's zord with a fierce headbutt.
Meanwhile, the Vanguard Megazord used its free arms to grapple the beast while it continued to squeeze and cause more damage.
"We're not going to be strong enough to break free," Danny grunted furiously working his controls.
"Even if we did, it won't matter. We can't penetrate those scales," Nick replied grimly as Leviathan reared its head back around to go for a bite attack. "If only we had another opening."
"Wait! That's it! An opening!" Claire cried excitedly as she had a brainstorm. "Look! Leviathan is opening its mouth and there's no armor down the throat."
"Claire! You're a genius," the Red Ranger cheered following up on her idea. "Everyone, we need to hold open that snake's mouth long enough for Kara to pitch a shot down its throat. Full power to the arms!"
The Megazord lurched as Leviathan sprung and had its jaws caught. "Kara, We could use a little lightning power right now!" Danny shouted over their com to their ally.
Kara hesitated and clenched her fist, "There's a danger I may hit you in the blast."
"There's no time," Izzy responded as the Megazord struggled to hold open the serpent's teeth, "We have to take that chance!"
Kara nodded and readied her zord, "Very well."
While the Pegasus waved its head and gathered a surging nimbus of electrical energy around its head, the Vanguard Megazord pivoted and turned its grasp of the beast directly toward their ally while keeping its toothy maw open.
Leviathan gave another furious roar and ignited its throat, preparing to spew another great cloud of fire when Kara's Pegasus zord unleashed a supercharged bolt of thunder directly into the snake's mouth.
A tremendous fiery explosion erupted around the beast's head, violently throwing the Vanguard Megazord backward into the water. As the Megazord rolled onto its side to recover, the Rangers could see the blazing cloud dissipate and reveal the scorched head of Leviathan. The titanic monster gave a feeble growl and struggled to keep its head up now revealing the damage done to it.
Large ugly burns spread out across Leviathan's mouth and face leaving blackened smoldering patches around the serpent's head. The beast moved listlessly and slowly withdrew back into the waters, retreating from the battlefield.
"We need to go after that thing and finish it off," Nick growled clutching his controls but Claire restrained his arm.
"No Nick. The Megazord is in no condition to keep fighting right now."
The Green Ranger nodded as Izzy jumped from her seat and gave her fellow female Ranger a congratulatory hug, "Way to go Claire! That was great thinking during the battle!"
From her Pegasus zord, Kara watched the wounded writhing form of Leviathan disappear back beneath the waves in retreat. "We didn't kill General Abaddon or Leviathan. This feels more like a draw to me."
As the Vanguard Megazord righted itself on its feet, Joe removed his helmet and leaned back in his seat giving an exhausted sigh of relief, "We turned away the Cambion assault and gave the demons a black eye today. That still counts as a win in my book."
Beside him, Danny looked over to where the other three Rangers were beginning to laugh amongst themselves and exchange high fives. "Do you think we should be heading back to Santa Barbara? I'm sure Professor Bishop will be worried about us."
The Red Ranger glanced over to the others and smiled for a moment as he watched the others laugh and banter in the combined cockpit.
"We've still got a long way to go yet before Gideon is beaten," the Blue Ranger noted in an unusual moment of quiet seriousness.
"I know," Joe answered giving his second in command a gentle nod, "But for today, let's just be happy with how far we've already come."
Back in Santa Barbara that evening, the Rangers stepped outside their hostel after dinner to meet with Professor Bishop and enjoy the rest of their vacation time. Going down the boardwalk strip, colorful lights were strewn from the poles above creating a beautiful path of colors leading past the restaurants and shops along the way.
As they stood around deciding on what to do, Nick stretched out and gave a sigh, "You know, I can't wait until we get back to school and have people ask us what we did over our summer break. Me? I helped discover a lost city, hung out with some archangels, and fought off a giant sea monster. No big deal, right?"
"Sounds awfully tame for a Power Ranger," Joe chuckled giving his roommate a gentle elbow in the side.
Izzy waved it off, "Tame or not, I need to blow off some steam. Is anyone up for hitting a good dance club around here?"
"Count me in," Danny said first with a confident wink, "But if you're going clubbing, you're going to need to accessorize Iz."
The others gave him confused looks until he removed a bangled bracelet made of turquoise stone and offered it to her.
"I… it's beautiful. Where did you get this?" the Pink Ranger sputtered in surprise.
Danny shrugged, "Oh, it's just a little souvenir from the Grand Temple in Atlantis."
"You stole a piece of Atlantean jewelry?" Claire frowned.
The Blue Ranger shook his head, "I didn't steal it! Kara said it was ok to take some of that stuff. Right Kara?"
The Gold Ranger sighed and crossed her arms, "That was direct more toward Professor Bishop. Don't push your luck any further Daniel."
"Well, I have to admit, I kinda like the color," Izzy said trying the bracelet on and admiring it thoughtfully. "Ok Danny. You can come along. Kara, how about you? You want to go clubbing?"
The Gold Ranger gave a serious nod and began walking off with the two down the strip, "Very well. I have been meaning to learn how to... get down, and... bust a move, as you say."
"Well good for him. That looks like progress to me," Nick smiled to the Red Ranger as he watched Danny walk off with the two girls and get jabbed sharply in the side by Kara over some comment made out of earshot.
"Of course, giving a girl jewelry always makes things a little easier too," Joe laughed in agreement.
"Speaking of souvenirs, I was wondering if anyone would like to take a walk with me and do a little window shopping tonight," Claire asked hooking her arm around Joe's while giving him a hopeful look.
The Red Ranger smiled and shrugged, "Sure. Why not? As long as it's not mentally or physically taxing tonight, I'll do whatever you guys want."
Nick rolled his eyes to himself with a smirk and cleared his throat, "Tell you what. I'll let you two go on ahead, so don't worry about me, ok?"
The White Ranger gave a gentle laugh and hooked her other arm around Nick's "Come on Nick. You can come too. We can stop for dessert on the way back. What do you say?"
"You had me at dessert," the Green Ranger grinned good naturedly as he walked down the opposite end of the boardwalk with Joe and Claire.
Bishop smiled and watched as his students dispersed to enjoy the rest of their evening and a well deserved summer vacation. As he stood on the street corner, he wondered for a moment what he would do to enjoy the evening when he heard a man's voice call out from behind.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you Mr. Gabriel Bishop? Professor of History at Hyperion University?"
Bishop turned in surprise to see a tall man not much older than him. He had short yellow brown hair and looked to have a strong athletic build underneath the reddish orange jacket that he wore.
"Yes. I am," Bishop said with a slight frown, "Do I know you, sir?"
The man in the red jacket shook his head with a gentle smile, "No, but the government does. I've been sent to contact you about your research involving the Cambion demons who have been attacking the region."
Bishop's eyes grew wide, "The government? What on earth do they want with me? And how do you know about the Cambion demons?"
The man in red raised a hand to calm him, "Trust me Professor, you're not in any trouble. They actually think your research might be helpful, and so do the people I work with."
"I'm sorry sir. I don't think you even gave me your name," the professor said hesitantly.
The man in red smiled again and handed Bishop his ID badge. Bishop examined it and slowly looked up with wide eyes.
The man took back his badge and extended a friendly hand to the professor, "It's nice to meet you Mr. Bishop. My name is Carter Grayson, the Red Lightspeed Ranger."
A/N:
That's right everyone. I just went there! It was only a matter of time before Lightspeed Rescue got involved, right? Otherwise, that ties up the first half of this series and I want to give a really big thank you to everyone who has been following and supporting Vanguard, especially the readers, reviewers, lurkers, and anyone who has contributed ideas or characters. I love you all for it and you help to make it all possible.
I'm going to be taking a couple weeks off from writing, but I promise to update again soon and get the second half of the series started with a bang. See you all then and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!
*Fun History fact for anyone interested:
I had chosen the island of Santa Rosa, California as the site of the story's Atlantis Gate because it actually has a connection to ancient humans! The island is believed to have the earliest remains of humans in North America (Arlington Springs Man) dating back roughly 13,000 years ago to around the Ice Age. And who ever said reading fanfic couldn't be a little educational too, right? ;)