Episode 25: Part 1
Dr. John Dupre sat back in his seat and rubbed his eyes. It was getting late and the only light that illuminated his large lavish office was that of his desk lamp. With a sigh, he pushed aside the books he was doing research from and glanced at the brand new academic award that sat on his desk. Giving a self satisfied smirk, the arrogant professor reached to turn off the light on his desk when he noticed a new large shadow overlap his on the wall.
He gave a frown and prepared to brush it off as a trick of the mind when he turned his head and locked his eyes with that of a horrible creature. The Cambion demon in his office filled up the corner of the room with its large beastly form, the body of a bull, the front paws of a lion, and a feminine head wearing a mask. Folded upon its back were two large bird wings giving it an even fiercer appearance. While its figure somewhat resembled that of a legendary Egyptian sphinx, the demon padded forward revealing itself to be closer to that of another legendary creature, an Assyrian Lamassu.
Dr. Dupre froze and recoiled backwards at his desk. "What? Who are you? What do you want with me?" he gasped in pure terror.
The demon stepped closer and fixed the professor with its malevolent gaze. As it did, the eyes behind its mask seemed to light up. "I seek a worthy mind to challenge. I understand you are supposed to be quite intelligent... for a mortal."
Dupre trembled and nodded his head meekly. The Lamassu grinned, "Answer my question correctly and no harm shall come to you."
"And if I can't?'
The Lamassu gave a predatory laugh, "Then pray for mercy."
The Vanguard Rangers groaned as their History class was dismissed for the day and Professor Bishop handed out some directions for their semester term paper. Even Joe, the Ranger who normally got the best grades in History class grimaced as he sat in his seat and looked at the project requirements, "Huh... I'm actually feeling kinda intimidated now."
"Yes. This does look like a rather difficult assignment," Kara commented from a seat behind him idly flipping through her own handout.
Beside her, Nick rolled his eyes and gave the Gold Ranger a light elbow, "Kara, you're not even enrolled in any of these classes. It's not like you have to worry about this anyway."
"True," she replied, "But it cannot stop me from commenting on it anyway."
While the others packed up, they glanced up as the door opened and another familiar teacher at the university entered. She was a pretty red headed woman in her early thirties, a few years younger than Professor Bishop, but a longtime friend and colleague of his nonetheless.
"Hey Dr. Feldman!" Nick called giving a friendly wave to his Botany professor, "What are you doing here?"
Feldman smiled and approached Nick as well as Bishop nearby, "Well Nick, since my afternoon schedule just got cleared up, I came to see if Gabriel here was free to meet me for lunch today."
Bishop stopped in surprise before furrowing his brow, "Oh... geez, I'm sorry Maggie. I'd love to, but I can't today. There's a little bit of an emergency that came up. Do you think we could do a rain check on lunch?"
Dr. Feldman gave a disappointed look but nodded, trying to stay positive, "Oh... sure. That's fine. I guess I should have given you more of a heads up anyway. Um, maybe give me a call later and we'll talk?"
"Sounds great Maggie. Thanks for understanding."
Feldman sighed as she turned to leave, "Really Gabe, don't forget. You've been really busy lately and we haven't caught up in a while."
Bishop gave a guilty nod and raised a contrite hand, "I know, and I'm really sorry Maggie. I promise we'll talk soon."
As she left, the Rangers exchanged curious glances before Bishop approached them wearing a concerned face, "Everyone, I'm afraid I've actually got another special assignment I'd like you to look into with me... including you Kara. Last night, something happened to Dr. John Dupre, a professor of Anthropology here at the University."
"Dr. Dupre? Wasn't he the one who won some prestigious academic award recently?" Claire asked packing up her own books, "I thought you said you hated him professor."
Bishop grimaced for a moment before nodding, "He's a bit full of himself and someone I don't much care for... but he's still a fellow teacher. A night watchman said he was found in his office, in a near coma. The University is saying it was brought on by a sudden stroke."
"But you suspect otherwise?" Danny guessed raising an eyebrow, "Like maybe the work of one of our Cambion friends?"
Bishop's face darkened and he nodded again, "Maybe. Just recently, I heard about two senior professors at a city community college who were reduced to similar conditions after supposed strokes."
"Got it," Joe chimed in, "You want us to go look around and see if we can find any clues about Dupre then?"
"Yes," Bishop answered, "But I'd like to come with you too."
The others stopped and looked at him before Izzy asked, "Are you sure Professor? I mean, I'm sure we can handle this."
Bishop sighed and began moving his students along, "Well... yes. But ever since the five of you recovered your Greater Powers, I just feel like I should be doing a little more to pull my weight now... especially since there's nothing pressing to translate or study."
"Professor, no one here thinks that you're not making a difference," Joe began gently, "Things have just been a little quieter lately so enjoy it."
Bishop shook his head, "Please everyone. I want to do this for me. Just... let me come along?"
After exchanging another hesitant look, all six Rangers shrugged as the Red Ranger led the way, "All right then. First stop, Dr. Dupre's office."
Later that day, the Rangers made their way into the Natural Sciences hall to begin their investigation. At the far edge of the hallway, the university had posted a young campus security guard to watch over Dr. Dupre's office. As Professor Bishop drew the guard's attention with a litany of questions, Izzy joined in, distracting the guard with an occasional flirtatious smile or gesture.
While the two kept the security guard distracted, the others slipped by and made their way into Dupre's office to look around. Though the office was much larger and more well furnished than what they were used to, they were discouraged to find the office mostly tidy and untouched. Nothing was particularly out of the ordinary.
While Joe and Claire poked around the desk and bookshelves, Danny and Nick inspected the furniture. As they paced around, Danny asked aloud, "You know, I was just thinking... do you guys think Dr. Feldman's got the hots for Professor Bishop?"
Kara looked over in surprise while Nick gave a thoughtful smile, "Hmm, maybe. After all, the two went to grad school together here and have been close friends ever since. Plus, she's always been encouraging him to get out more and stuff."
"It wouldn't hurt him to try," Joe agreed while idly shuffling through some books, "Over the past year, Bishop's really devoted a lot of his blood, sweat, and tears to helping us stop the demons. He should really take some time out for himself sometimes, you know? Maybe going out with Dr. Feldman would be good for him."
"Well I think it's very romantic," Claire added with a smile as she looked over toward the Red Ranger, "Maybe she's been in love with him since grad school and hasn't been able to tell him exactly how she feels."
Danny exchanged a sly knowing glance with Nick before smirking toward the White Ranger. "I think you've been reading too many romance novels Claire."
"Everyone! I think I found something," Kara called, interrupting her friends' discussion. The other four gathered around the Gold Ranger as she knelt down in the corner of the room holding a tuft of hair along with a couple dark feathers.
"Strange," Joe commented with a frown, "I don't remember seeing any pets in here."
Nick glanced at the hair and feathers, "These don't look like they come from any common animals I know either."
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Claire chimed in with a grin, "Maybe we can use some of the school's microscopes or equipment in the bio lab. If we can get a science teacher to help us, then all the better."
"Oh? Who did you have in mind?" the Blue Ranger asked curiously.
Claire chuckled and gave him bright smile, "Why, Dr. Feldman of course! I'm sure she spends some time in the school labs running tests too. What do you say?"
"All right Claire. Sounds like a plan," Joe agreed gesturing for the door, "We got what we needed so let's get outta here before anyone else sees us."
As the other Rangers quietly slipped out of the room, Kara couldn't help but take one more curious glance before walking out with them.
Some time later, the other Rangers walked back across campus with Professor Bishop discussing their findings. As they did, they passed by the large auditorium building on the south end of the main quad and saw a lot of activity there.
"I wonder what's going on today?" Danny asked pointing toward several well dressed students and university catering staff entering. "The auditorium isn't normally so busy during midweek."
"If I remember, there's supposed to be an award banquet going on today for new students who won full academic scholarships," Bishop answered.
As they walked, Claire gave a little sigh, "And to think, I was only a couple points short of winning one of those myself."
Before she could speak again, a loud commotion was heard and the Rangers froze as they watched terrified people begin to flee the auditorium.
"Well Claire, you wanted to go to that banquet? I think you just your chance," Izzy said giving her friend a grim smile and urging the others to take action.
Professor Bishop gave a nod to the others and watched as his students rushed off to face whatever danger was threatening the people left within the auditorium.
Inside the theater, the Cambion Lamassu stalked around the main stage, circling a small group of terrified staff members and freshman honors students. As it flicked its tail threateningly and exposed its claws, the creature gave its prey a playful smile, "Now then? Which one of you is brave enough and smart enough to answer the riddle I just asked?"
Again, the civilians remained silent and cowered before the beast before the Lamassu whipped its head toward one of the Mathematics professors. "You! What is the answer?"
"I... I... I don't know," the professor gasped.
The demon shook its head with a predatory smile, "That's too bad mortal. I suppose you aren't as smart as you thought."
It's eyes glowed with mesmerizing light, casting some magical effect. The math teacher gave another gasp as his own eyes glowed for a moment before he collapsed to stage, twitching.
"Who's next?" the demon asked before a golden blaster shot struck its flank.
"I've got a riddle for you," the morphed Red Ranger called leveling his pistol from the doorway of the auditorium, "What's big, and ugly, and about to be vaporized by the Power Rangers?"
The Lamassu reared around furiously toward him then growled in surprise as Danny, Nick, and Kara leapt from the rafters with spread wings, bringing their weapons down on the demon.
From a side exit, the Pink Ranger burst in and waved the remaining civilians toward her so they could escape while Claire stood nearby keeping them covered with her own blaster pistol.
Giving a growl, the three male Rangers along with Kara struggled to keep the demon beast locked in melee combat until the monster lashed out with its large paws. The Green and Gold Rangers both dove clear while Joe and Danny were knocked backwards into the front row of seats.
Seeing the boys in trouble, Claire and Izzy dove in to help with wing assisted leaps of their own. Before they could land blows of their own, they were surprised as the Lamassu spread open its own bird wings and put them off balance with a powerful gust of air. As Claire dispelled her wings to regain some midair control, she tumbled sideways off into an aisle in an awkward roll.
Meanwhile, the beast flicked a wing and knocked Izzy out of the air sending her tumbling backwards. As the stunned Red Ranger rose to his feet, he gasped and caught Izzy as she fell backwards on top of him sending the two crashing back into the seats.
The demon creature grinned as the Rangers scrambled in disarray, unused to fighting in such tight enclosed spaces. As Danny stepped forward to cover his friends with his spear, the demon's eyes began to glow, preparing to launch a projectile attack when an empty coffee mug smashed into the side of the creature's head.
The Lamassu whirled around in fury to see Professor Bishop standing near the side entrance by an overturned refreshment table. Keeping his eyes locked on the demon, the professor crouched down and picked up a large wooden leg of the destroyed table to use as an improvised club.
"Hey! Get away from them!" Bishop called defiantly rising to his feet and making a threatening motion with his club as he approached.
"Professor! Don't!" Kara called out in concern, "Get to safety with the others!"
The momentary distraction bought Nick just enough time to jump to his feet and summon his warhammer. In one swift swing, he brought the hammer down on one of the beast's hind paws, injuring it.
The demon gave a furious roar and lashed out, with its tail, knocking Bishop over and scattering the Rangers before it spread its wings and took off into the hair. Everyone raised their arms and covered their heads as the Lamassu smashed through a large window overhead and made its escape into the late afternoon sky.
"Professor Bishop, are you hurt?" Kara asked hurrying over to his side and helping him sit up.
"Don't worry Kara. I'm ok," he grunted, shaking off the fall.
The Gold Ranger shook her head, "That was very reckless Professor! You didn't have to do that!"
"You kids were in trouble. I had to do something."
Nearby, Joe and Izzy groaned as they got back up to their feet with the help of Nick and Claire. Surveying the damage to the auditorium and the skylights, Danny lowered his spear and stepped forward taking momentary command, "Let's be glad we're all still in one piece right now. Kara, take care of Professor Bishop and get those samples to Dr. Feldman with Claire. Nick and I will do damage control here and make sure Joe and Izzy aren't too shaken up."
"Danny, I'll be fine. Don't worry," Bishop protested but the Blue Ranger shook his head.
"Professor, I know you want to help, but you've done enough for one day. Let the rest of us take care of the legwork on this for now, ok?"
Bishop sighed and nodded his head, letting Kara help him out the door while the other Rangers hurried to regroup after their sudden and unexpected battle with the mysterious new demon.
A/N:
Happy New Years everyone! I just thought I'd put out a chapter just in case anyone is going to be stuck at home tonight or in need of something to read. Otherwise, I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday weekend!