Episode 34: Part 1

It had been two days since the destruction of the Dark Cambion Spire and an uneasy peace had fallen over the battered city of Hyperion Falls. While a sizeable force of Magog soldiers remained, they had fallen back and gone into hiding. According to the accounts of civilians who had been taken prisoner by the demons, a beautiful golden Archangel had appeared from the heavens and freed them from their prison camps. It was not known where he had gone afterward, but the people of the city were both relieved and shaken by the traumatic events of the last several days.

It had almost looked like an apocalypse had fallen upon them, and yet it seemed to have been prevented, if temporarily. As no one in the city could even seem to explain the events, the people decided it was best to just start rebuilding from the massive damage caused by the last attack.

That morning, Danny Winthrope made his way downstairs to the dormitory cafeteria. He was still dressed in his night clothes and he found his fellow Rangers all sitting at a nearby table in a similar state. They all looked tired and disheveled from the last several days of non stop fighting, stress, and narrow escapes from death. Kara had stayed overnight sharing Izzy's room and today, the normally angelic looking Gold Ranger looked just as haggard as they did. If only their fellow classmates around them knew what was really going on.

As Danny took a seat next to Claire, she passed him a plate of toast and jam then slouched her head on the side of his shoulder. "Can't eat… too tired," she groaned.

Kara gave her a passing glance before turning to the others, "All things considered… everything has been well?"

From across the table, Joe rubbed his bleary eyes and took a drink from his coffee mug, "I'd say so. Campus isn't on complete lockdown anymore so that's a good sign… I guess."

Izzy stirred her bowl of cereal and nodded toward a television hanging from a corner wall, still reporting about the recent Cambion assault, "I heard that all the people who were captured in the city were let go and they witnessed Gideon destroy his fortress. A miracle, the newscasters were saying."

Kara gave a derisive snort at the notion, "If only they knew the truth. There has to be a way to expose him as a fraud."

"Short of us revealing our identities and calling him out in public, I doubt there's going to be an easy way Kara," Claire shrugged.

While the Gold Ranger clenched her fist, Nick turned to the others, "I got a call from my folks yesterday night. They were concerned for my safety since the college isn't too far from the city. I can't say I blame them because they said they were too scared to leave the farm during the attack."

Each of the other Rangers related similar concerns from their own families. During the invasion, communication had been cut off and everyone was in a complete state of confusion for a few days. Fortunately, with some semblance of order restored, the people of Hyperion Falls could get back to work fixing their homes and checking in on the safety of their loved ones.

After a long pause, the Red Rangers spoke again, "The demons may have withdrawn for now, but there's still a legion of soldiers out there hiding along with Gideon. I'm sure he knows what he's doing right now."

"Considering he played Shemhazai for a fool and almost killed us in his tower, I believe it," Danny remarked taking a bite of his toast, "He was one step ahead of all of us there."

"The sooner we confront him and put him down, the better," Joe replied darkly before Claire reached across the table and put her hand over his.

"I agree with you Joe, but we have to slow down for a minute. Look around. Everyone is tired and weary from all the battles."

Nick cleared his throat to get everyone's attention and pointed toward the newscast on the television, "Well, whatever we do, we'd better decide soon. It looks like the devil we know is at it again."

On the television was a live newscast coming from downtown Hyperion Falls where Archangel Gideon had descended to speak with the people of the city. The beautiful fair featured Empyrian angel was clad in a majestic suit of golden plate armor and the feathers of his six wings were tucked back, gently ruffling in the breeze. The Rangers continued to watch in chagrin as he was swarmed by an adoring cheering mob, wanting to thank him for "freeing" them from the demon prisons and for destroying the Dark Spire.

Amid the adulation, Gideon gave a serene gracious smile and invoked a blessing upon the people before beginning to speak to reporters and answer their questions. For now he would play the role of the gracious hero and lure the people into a false sense of security. Only when the time was right would he spring his trap and show his true nature.

"Do you think we should call Bishop on this one?" the Blue Ranger asked but Joe shook his head and quickly rose from the table.

"There's no time right now. We need to stop his message and reveal the truth about him as soon as we can. If we wait, the media will blow this up and Gideon will have access to national audiences."

Sometime later in downtown Hyperion Falls, Archangel Gideon addressed a crowd that had gathered within one of the central plazas. The Archangel raised his arms and spoke in a loud clear voice, "People of Hyperion Falls, I thank you for welcoming me. I've come to you with a message of great importance… one that affects your future, and the future of this entire world. Three days ago, your beloved city was set upon by an army of vicious demons… the same monsters who have plagued your home for over a year now. Those monsters had been drawn to the weakness and wickedness in human hearts and they sought to make this place their own."

"Today I come to you, under the mandate of a higher celestial power and implore you people of Hyperion Falls to repent from your sinful ways. I have come to protect you and show you the way."

The crowds suddenly began to murmur and Gideon looked up to see six morphed Power Rangers gently descend from the skies with their own angelic wings into the city plaza. As the crowd parted, Gideon curled his lip into an amused smile as the Red Ranger stepped forward to confront him.

"It's time to stop telling these people your lies Gideon," he said firmly.

Gideon stopped and gave a calm angelic smile, "Well, if it isn't the Vanguard Rangers. I see the six of you did survive the demon invasion after all. I don't recall you having been involved in banishing the Black Tower though."

"Quit lying through your teeth Gideon," Nick snarled while he clenched his fist, "You were the one who trapped us there and almost got us killed."

The shocked citizens around them began to murmur again, asking questions amongst each other while Gideon raised an eyebrow, "Are you suggesting that I am aligned with those foul monsters?"

"We're saying that you aren't what you claim to be," Joe retorted turning to address the startled people, "People of Hyperion Falls, this angel named Gideon has come to try and convince you to bow down before him, but he is not some kind of hero or divine savior. He is the leader of the demon army that has been attacking this city."

"Such nonsense," Gideon snorted, "I am an Empyrian angel. What other power could make people fall to their knees in humble reverence? I have come to show these people the way to light and peace. They have witnessed a great trial, and I wish to deliver them from any further suffering. Do you doubt my power Red Ranger?"

"No," Joe replied with a level voice, "But I understand where it came from, and because I do, I won't bow before you or submit to your authority."

A slight hint of irritation crossed the Archangel's face before he spoke again, "You claim that I am a fraud, but if that is true, then you Rangers are pretenders as well. I know for a fact that you are not who you claim to be."

The civilians turned to listen to the Archangel as he narrowed his features into a catlike grin, "The six of you masquerade as heroes of old but you are not angelic warriors acting under a divine mandate. You are common humans, just like everyone else here. Without the powers of my brothers and sisters, you are nothing but glorified vigilantes… unless you're willing to prove me wrong."

"Forget it Gideon. We're not going to remove our helmets or give up our Keyrunes to you either," Kara growled tensing herself into a ready state.

"Those powers do not belong to you child," Gideon fired back, "You would refuse to repent and throw your lot in with these thieves?"

"The same human blood still runs through my veins," the Gold Ranger said firmly, "They are my family now."

Gideon shook his head sadly, "Then I will pray for you child. You six may have fought against the Cambion demons, but you still stand in the way of these people's path to righteousness. It will be my sad duty to fight you if you won't submit."

The Red Ranger growled and reached for the hilt of the gladius at his side. Gideon was playing the crowd against them and winning. "If that's what it's going to take, then so be it."

The Archangel began to laugh and raised a hand to halt him, "There's no need to settle this here Red Ranger. Why endanger all these innocent bystanders?"

"What are you suggesting then?"

Gideon put a finger to his chin and tapped it thoughtfully, "You realize that our little conflict revolves around who the true heir to the Empyrian legacy is. We'll do this the old way…. with a formal challenge. We'll do battle at an agreed time and at a neutral location."

"Like a duel? Just between you and I?" Joe asked in surprise.

Gideon shook his head, "No. With all the Vanugard Rangers. This does affect all of you, doesn't it?"

Claire stepped forward and whispered quietly at Joe's side, "Do you think he's bluffing if he says he's willing to fight all of us at once? He seems awfully confident."

"We don't have much of a choice," Danny answered quietly stepping beside the Red Ranger from the other side, "Gideon is calling us out in front of the whole city."

Joe took several deep breaths to keep himself calm before turning to the others, "We put it to a vote then. Who here thinks we should do this?"

He watched as each of the other five Rangers slowly nodded their heads in silence. After a long pause, the Red Ranger turned back to face the fallen Archangel, "Then we accept your challenge Gideon. We'll meet on the Alabaster Flats, the plains just outside the city limits."

Gideon nodded, "Very well. At noon tomorrow then. I hope our trial by combat will finally settle things once and for all."

The Rangers and the citizens of Hyperions Falls watched as the Archangel spread his six wings and took off into the skies, soaring higher and higher until he disappeared behind a cloud bank. Immediately, the reporters and civilians in front began to clamor and surge toward the Rangers asking questions. Before they could get near, the Vanguard Rangers called their own wings and quickly took the skies, heading back to the quiet safety of their university campus. The situation had drastically changed and a final confrontation was now looming. As the six heroes continued to fly, they hoped they would be able to regroup and find a way to secure the victory they had fought so long and hard for.

Later that day, the six Rangers assembled in the Rookery building, all sitting in a circle around the wooden desk of Professor Bishop. Having told their teacher of the most recent confrontation with Gideon, the Rangers sat quietly, waiting for a reaction from their mentor. Instead, Bishop wore a stony look on his face and furrowed his brow.

"You accepted Gideon's challenge then," he said crossing his arms, "You're sure about this?"

"No," Joe admitted, "But this may be our one chance to end this whole conflict for good."

Bishop chewed his lip, "You don't really expect Gideon is going to fight fair, do you?"

"He may if his pride is on the line," Danny said from where he was sitting, "We already know that can be his greatest weakness after the last time we fought him. He's made a public spectacle out of this whole thing, we might as well try to draw some advantage from it, right?"

"Danny is right," Nick added, "Besides, we've said it before. We have all the tools we need to fight now. We have the experience and the will to win. I think if we fight smart and believe, we just might be able to pull this off."

Bishop remained quiet until Izzy tilted her head with a questioning look, "You disagree Professor?"

The History teacher gave another troubled look and shook his head, "I don't know... I just... I just feel like we're missing something here. I don't know why I feel that, but I just do."

Claire gave a deep sigh and tried to give him a reassuring look, "It's ok Professor. We know you're worried. Believe me, we're all scared too, but if this is what it's going to have to take to win the war with the Cambion demons, then we'll do it."

"It's only been a year, but you've all grown so much," Bishop sighed wistfully looking over his young charges.

"It's because of you Professor," the Red Ranger said rising to his feet, "If it wasn't for you gathering us together and working tirelessly on discovering the ancient secrets of our Keyrunes, we wouldn't be where we are right now. You taught us the importance of our own history and helped to make us better Rangers while doing so."

The others nodded in agreement, filling the Professor with an unusual moment of emotion. He put his hands on his desk and steadied himself before looking up slowly, "Everyone... thank you. Whatever happens, I want you to know that I'm proud to be your teacher, and I want to be with you on the battlefield when you face Gideon tomorrow."

"Professor..."

"Please," Bishop insisted, "I may have my responsibilities to all of you as your teacher, but a mentor's place is with their Rangers... especially when they need it most."

The Red Ranger paused a moment before his expression softened and he gave a quiet but appreciative nod, "All right Professor."

As he took another breath, Professor Bishop sat back down in his seat and moved to adjourn their meeting, "If that's been settled, then I think it's best we make the most of this day to rest and prepare ourselves. Come tomorrow, I know we'll all be grateful for it."