Episode 28: Part 2
"It's getting late everyone," Danny commented as he checked his watch and looked out the window of the hospital waiting room. While the sun had begun to set outside, Claire and her mother sat at the bedside of Dr. Li who lay sleeping. He had been sedated and remained stable just like many of the other patients who had suddenly contracted the mysterious plague spreading through the city.
After a long afternoon of helping the paramedics load sick people into ambulances, the Vanguard Rangers had come to give their support to Claire while her father remained hospitalized.
"Daniel is right," Kara agreed, "Perhaps we should all get back to campus and see if Professor Bishop can help us come up with a strategy."
Nick glanced over toward the hospital ward and gave a sympathetic sigh, "I'm guessing Claire will refuse to budge. She seemed pretty upset earlier, but I also think she'll need to rest."
Izzy nodded and turned to Joe giving him a light push toward the door of the ward, "The rest of us will head back. Why don't you go try talking to her and bring her home."
"What? Me?" the Red Ranger asked in momentary confusion.
The Pink Ranger gave one more gentle push and an almost knowing look, "Sure. You're team leader after all... and besides, she always does seem to listen to you the most."
Joe sighed as he watched the others leave and entered the main ward. There he saw an exhausted looking Mrs. Li sitting in a chair with a blanket, preparing to spend the night near her husband. At the foot of the bed, the White Ranger sat keeping watch over her father, no doubt thinking furiously of some way to try and reverse the disease.
"Uh... hey Claire. Sorry to bother you, but visiting hours are over."
She turned and looked slowly toward him with a tired look. He sighed an continued, "Listen... it's been a long day. You need some rest, so let me take you back home to the dorm? I promise you can come back and visit again first thing tomorrow."
"He's right dear. I'll be here just in case," Mrs. Li said to her daughter.
Claire nodded and said goodnight to her mother before leaving the ward. As the two Rangers walked into an empty waiting room, she turned to Joe and said, "I'm sorry about earlier."
The Red Ranger gave a puzzled look as she continued, "I completely froze up during the battle. I couldn't focus or think straight and I left you to fight Pestilence alone."
"Claire... it's ok. You don't have to apologize. We drove him off for now."
"But what about next time?" she asked tensing up, "He's going to be back and he's going to hurt more people. The Rangers need to be at full strength and I won't be any good to you guys if all I can think about right now is my Dad's safety."
The Red Ranger stopped and put his hands on her shoulders, echoing the words she spoke to him earlier that day, "Don't worry Claire. All of us will be here to help, especially me. I promise you we'll figure this out. We always do, right?"
Claire gave a small whimper and nodded before burying her face in his chest as he put his arms around her in a comforting hug. As Joe continued to hold her close while she cried softly into his shoulder, he couldn't help but wonder where to go from here. His heart did hurt for her right now. Claire had always been a reliable friend who had always been there for him and he wanted to be there for her too right now.
Like in the case with Izzy's cousin Carmen, one of the Ranger's immediate family members was in direct danger from an unpredictable foe. He could only hope that Bishop would be able to help them come up with a new plan before things got any worse.
The next morning, the Vanguard Rangers minus Claire gathered in Professor Bishop's office to go over recent events and come up with a plan.
"Whatever we're going to do, we'd better do it fast," Danny said looking at the news feed on his phone, "It looks like scores of people just contracted the Green Plague last night."
Professor Bishop folded his hands and frowned in deep thought, "It's interesting. From what you all described, it seems that the Horsemen all possess some kind of uniquely powerful area of effect ability... one that harms those who come within their aura."
"Fighting at range will only be effective for so long," Kara commented grimly, "We still need to get in close to finish off the enemy, but doing so against a foe like Pestilence will be incredibly risky."
"Then we have to find a way to shut him down or slow the spread of the disease, right?" Izzy asked. "How can we do that if the people he infects can become his zombie body shields?"
"Perhaps figuring out a creative use of our elemental magic?" Danny suggested.
Nick crossed his arms in thought, "Water and Wind would both be risky since they can be used to spread the disease. Fire might be effective if we want to try and destroy him outright."
"Yeah, but Pestilence will probably be ready for it now after I sucker punched him yesterday," Joe answered grimly.
Bishop sat back in his seat before speaking, "What if you froze him?"
The others stopped and looked at the professor as he continued, "Maggie Feldman told me once that sometimes freezing samples of bacteria can be used to preserve them for later use or study. However, it's common for cold temperatures and ice to kill the bacteria and micro organisms because it ruptures the cells. If Pestilence is carrying around a bacterial curse, maybe Claire's Ice magic would be able to slow Pestilence, if not neutralize his power altogether."
"Professor, that's brilliant!" Nick grinned, silently thanking his own Botany teacher for the assist. "Let's get her on the phone and..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Danny raised his smart-phone up again, "Guys, we've got trouble. Pestilence is back and he's causing chaos downtown again."
Bishop nodded and reached for the phone on his desk, "I'll fill Claire in. The rest of you, go on ahead."
As he watched the others rush out of the office, Bishop hoped Claire would be able to pull it together and be able to help the others in the coming battle.
In the central city hospital, Claire sat with her mother looking after Mr. Li as he slept. While she sat, Claire felt her phone vibrate and excused herself from the room to speak to Professor Bishop.
"Claire, get ready to suit up. Pestilence has been sighted again downtown."
The White Ranger stopped and nodded, "I... understand, but I've been so preoccupied. I haven't even thought about a way we might be able to stop that Horseman."
"Don't worry," Bishop reassured her, "This time, the rest of us have you covered. We thought up a new game plan and you're going to be the key to it."
"Me?"
"Yes. There's a lot at stake right now," Bishop replied, "Both the Rangers and your Dad need you to step up and stay focused right now. They believe you can do it and so do I."
Claire hesitated and glanced back into the room where her family was. Steeling her resolve, she nodded, "Ok Professor, tell me what I have to do."
The Green Horseman laughed as he galloped down the city streets spreading destruction and disease with his glowing mace. In his wake followed another growing legion of infected citizens shambling along. As he galloped into an open plaza, 5 winged shadows quickly passed overhead before swooping into the path of the monster.
Pestilence reared his horse as the Vanguard Rangers barred his path and drew their own weapons. "Look! The scared little Horseman came back for more," Nick taunted as he readied his hammer toward the monster. "You think we're going to be any easier on you this time?"
"No less than I will be on you boy," Pestilence cackled raising his mace and signaling his mind controlled plague bearing citizens forward.
"Uh oh. Change of tactics," Danny gulped, "What now?"
"Try to find an opening and break through the human shield without hurting them," Kara answered drawing her swords and rushing forward.
The others hesitantly readied their weapons and followed the charge, pushing and ducking past the mind controlled citizens to get to Pestilence. As they neared, the crowd became thicker and slowed the Rangers down even more, making it hard to bring their weapons to bear on the Horseman.
As they tangled with the infected people and tried to take flight, Danny and Kara were struck by projectile poison bolts from the Horseman's mace, causing them to drop and writhe in pain. Shoving past other body shields to help, Nick and Izzy readied to attack, but Pestilence raised another arm and sprayed them with a stream of noxious fumes, infecting and poisoning them too.
As the Green and Pink Rangers dropped to their knees choking and coughing, Joe broke free and prepared to bring his saber around on the Horseman when another infected citizen rushed up and stood in his way.
The Red Ranger froze, and abruptly stopped his swing for fear of killing the civilian, but it gave Pestilence just enough of an opening to counterattack with his mace. As Joe flew backward from the powerful blow, he felt the poison magic of the Horseman's weapon begin to infect him too.
As the crowd dispersed and fell back, the Green Horseman trotted forward, cackling at the downed Rangers. "Such weakness and arrogance. To think you could stop me. I will make you know real suffering now."
Raising his mace, the Horseman began to charge forward on his mount to trample the helpless heroes when a bright white light burst over the battlefield freezing the ground and chilling the air.
Pestilence roared in fury as his horse slid on the slick sheet of ice and wiped out violently. The Green Rider tumbled onto the ground and watched as a radiant White Archangel swept over the battlefield in a furious flurry of snow and ice that instantly destroyed his now vulnerable steed.
From where they lay on the ground, the poisoned Rangers struggled to their knees as they saw Claire arrive to protect them. The short White Archangel in golden armor tilted her head and said "Sorry I'm late everyone. I couldn't let this Horseman hurt the rest of my family."
"So, you've finally decided to stand and face me little girl?" Pestilence mocked hefting his mace, "You're too late to stop my plague Ranger. No human can."
Claire shook her head, "No. That's where you're wrong Pestilence. Disease and sickness has always reared up to plague us, but humanity has always fought back and beaten them. Bubonic Plague, Malaria, TB, and Polio. We've done it before and we can do it again."
"You intend to defeat me with modern medicine?" the Horseman jeered.
"No, but I'm still going to beat you with science," Claire answered defiantly pulling out her Keyrune. "It's time I put you and your plague on ice."
Pestilence sneered and fired a burst of poison darts from his mace, but Claire curled her wings together using them as a shield and deflecting them away. As she spread her wings, she fired a volley of blaster shots from her pistol in one hand and unleashed a frigid spray of ice from her Keyrune in the other.
The Horseman growled and deflected the blaster shots but could not avoid the torrent of icy air that began to coat him and slow him down.
"Hard to move when your disease starts becoming dormant, isn't it?" Claire challenged, slowly stepping forward while keeping the stream of ice on him.
"Enough of this!" Pestilence snarled intensifying his aura so that the infected people on the city streets would come to protect him.
Giving another wave of her Keyrune and beating her angelic wings, Claire called up a large ringed barrier of ice to wall off the plague zombies and isolate Pestilence with the Rangers.
"No! You can't do this!" the Horseman shouted angrily raising his mace and advancing on Claire. "I'll just have to kill you myself!"
The White Ranger shook her head and turned her Keyrune on the Horseman, directly hosing him with a continued stream of ice and snow. Pestilence cursed and shouted in fury as he fought against the stream, but slowly succumbed to the effects of the magic element. Eventually, his feet froze in place and three quarters of his body became encased in ice. To his surprise, the magic was slowing him and causing him pain. To the Horseman's shock, his aura slackened and began fading as the prison of magic ice contained him.
"I'll kill you girl... your Ranger friends... and your whole family!"
Pestilence roared again as the White Ranger angrily intensified her blizzard stream in response. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!"
When the blizzard faded and the furious White Ranger lowered her Keyrune, she took a moment to stare down the gasping Horseman and call her weapon.
"It's time to take your shots," the vengeful White Ranger called summoning her bow and readying two super charged ice arrows. "Take two and don't call me in the morning!"
Taking aim, she let fly the bolts of searing cold that lanced straight through the Horseman's head and instantly destroyed him in a powerful burst of ice crystals and energy. Claire watched closely as the rest of the Horseman's frozen body began to dematerialize and fall apart, melting the ice around him until there was nothing left.
She gave a deep sigh of relief and lowered her bow, turning to see her fellow Rangers slowly recover their strength as the Horseman's curse of poison and disease left them completely. After exerting so much energy in the battle and being driven by feelings of fury and revenge, she was completely exhausted.
"Well done Claire," Kara said as Nick, Danny, and Izzy hurried to give her a hug and hoist her up on their shoulders, "That was a most impressive display of inner power."
"She's got that right!" Nick laughed, "A new Doctor Li is in the house."
Claire nodded her thanks to the Gold Ranger before she glanced over toward Joe who was melting the wall of ice with a controlled fire from his own Keyrune. As the ice melted, Claire could see the citizens who had been infected and under the control of Pestilence were now recovering. The blotches and boils on their skin were fading and evaporating completely. It made her glad that she could restore all those people back to health and for a moment, she wished there was some way for her to put that on her med school application. In the meantime, she turned her gaze and happily settled on a proud nod and thumbs up from the Red Ranger across the street.
Later that day, the Rangers gathered in the hospital to visit Mr. Li who was now wide awake and recovering quickly. From their place in the ward, they happily watched as Claire exchanged hugs of relief and joy with both her parents.
"I'm so glad you're going to be ok Dad," Claire said squeezing her father's hand, "Mom and I were really worried."
"Thanks sweetheart," Mr. Li smiled gently brushing her cheek with his hand, "I still hope you were able to stay calm enough to help your mother though. I know that if something were to happen to me, you'd be strong and focused enough to take charge of the situation. That's why I think you'd make a great doctor someday."
Claire nodded and turned back to her friends with a smile, "Well, I had some help from my friends... but I'd never let you or them down if the situation called for it."
"I'm glad then," Mr. Li said laying back, "In the mean time, I think I could use a little more shuteye. Is that ok with you?"
Claire smiled and kissed her father on the cheek before leaving, "Get well soon Dad."
As she walked out into the hospital lobby with the others, Izzy put her arm gently around her friend with a kind smile, "Well Claire, today is definitely your day. What would you like to do when we get back to campus?"
The White Ranger stopped and thought a moment, "You know... I haven't eaten anything all day. How about we all go out for dinner tonight? Maybe that little Italian place north of campus that I like?"
"Sounds a plan," Joe smiled as they walked, "Your meal will be on us tonight."
"Oh, and one other thing," Claire added turning to the Red Ranger, "Maybe over dinner, you can tell the others about that little dream you keep having?"
Joe stopped for a moment and looked to the puzzled faces of his fellow Rangers before giving a nod and continuing on, "All right Claire. I guess it is about time I asked for help too, huh?"
She smiled and took his arm leading the group to dinner with the rest of the amused and curious Rangers following not far behind.
Later that night, Joe awoke again to the familiar feel of falling snowflakes and gentle warmth on his face. Again, he slowly sat up and turned around to face the glowing figure of Archangel Auriel standing watch over him. As he looked upon Auriel's bright fiery aura, he could now see a clearer image through the flames.
In one hand, the Archangel held a magnificent looking clarion trumpet at his side.
"Your horn? You're trying to tell me where it is?" the Ranger asked in awe trying to stay focused within the dream like state.
Again, the fiery Archangel raised its hand and placed it over its heart as it began to speak. Despite the clearer image, the voice remained distorted and muffled and Joe was only able to make out an occasional word, "Danger… within… protect… your heart…"
Again an icy gust of snow and wind obscured the angel before the dream faded and Joe awoke, sitting up in his bed. Laying back down in the darkness, he tried to calm his breathing. He was getting closer… but he had to know what Auriel was saying, or warning about. Giving another sigh, he prepared himself to be very tired for his morning classes because he knew at this point... it would be impossible getting back to sleep.
A/N:
Hey everyone, here we are at the halfway point of the Four Horsemen arc. Just like the real Horsemen of myth, their presence has set things in motion for the end of this series in the near future. Until we get to the final story arc, the heroes have 2 more Horsemen to deal with as well as a Red Battlizer to recover and some romantic subplots to tie up.
It's hard to believe we've come this far already, but I wanted to give a big thank you to all who have still been reading, reviewing, and following up to now. I promise I'll try to do my best to reward your patience and dedication with a strong Finale. Until then!