Breaking Black
Darkness. It had encircled her. The only light source she had was both her lightsabers. She had already ignited them, their blue glow illuminating only a couple of feet ahead of her. She walked forward, hoping that something would clue her in to where she could be.
All she knew at the moment was that this place was...anomalous. Unnatural darkness limited her sight. The air and atmosphere were absolutely silent. She could not even hear her own footsteps or her breathing. She felt nothing except her grip on her lightsabers, her chest rising and falling with each breath, and her heart beating slightly faster with each passing moment. The Force, the energy that she had known to be constantly everywhere, was not here.
She felt true loneliness and helplessness. Her adrenaline streaked throughout her body, its cold sensation causing her to lose courage with every step she took.
Then, she froze. Her legs refused to take another step out of fear, as her eyes caught the faintest outline that the light from her cerulean blades highlighted from the dark. The silhouette was human. Knowing this caused most of her courage to return to her, and she was going to face them.
"Show yourself. Step into the light."
There was brief moment of inaction. And then, just hidden in the darkness, two yellow glowing eyes glare menacingly back into hers. She did not expect it. She also didn't expect to see a familiar face that possessed those eyes either.
Chase stepped from the darkness, his face mere inches from hers.
She didn't back away from him. Her mind tried to figure out what had happened to him but could not find a solution quick enough. She asked him, her voice low enough to be a whisper, "What happened to you?"
"The same thing that happened to all of us."
Stepping into the circle of blue light, Tyler and Riley stand on Chase's left then Koda and Shelby appear on Chase's right. All of them looked forebodingly at her with the same yellow-tainted eyes that Chase had.
Chase broke his countenance. Instead of a threatening glare, he wore his usual, smile as he went into his calm, laidback attitude. This made him far more sinister and frightening as he spoke again, this time nonchalantly as if it was another normal day for him.
"Luckily, this won't affect you. You get off scot-free. Congratulations!"
She looked at him confusingly. She had no idea what Chase meant, why everyone looked different. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't sense him, their Energems or even the Force in this place. She didn't even know what this place could be or how it could even exist.
Chase knew what she wanted. "You have no idea what is going on here. Do you? Well, allow me to give you a hint."
Before she could react, Chase instantly grabbed onto both of her wrists. The strength behind his grasp was inhumanly intense, causing her to yelp as her hands lost their grip on her lightsabers. They deactivate as they fall onto the solid floor with a clank. Darkness immediately retook its hold on everything around her. She attempted to turn around and run but was roughly picked up by her neck as an invisible force began to constrict her breathing.
All of the yellow eyes that the Rangers had possessed were gone and were replaced with one set of crimson eyes. Their vicious, malignant existence glowed eerily bright, revealing Chase's face in a blood-tainted light. Barely able to focus, she saw that his face had obtained a ghostly pale tone and murky black etchings that had no curves but many lines with edges and corners.
"Your hint is this."
She was slipping away from the choke hold around her neck, as she heard the words in the most bloodcurdling tone of voice.
"Your connection to both Sides will save you from dark magic but will awaken the terror that you truly are."
She lost consciousness, slipping back into reality.
Moira struggled to open her eyes, waking up from her dreadful slumber. A haze clouded her mind as she sat up in the seat of her Starfighter. Her daily routine was habit, thus not requiring a focus thought process to accomplish. She picked up her jacket, which she had laid down immediately in front of her, and slowly put it on. Next, she pulled her boots onto her socked feet. As for her white, long-sleeved shirt and her denim jeans, she had worn them to sleep. She got out of the cockpit of her Starfighter and walked out of the cave, grabbing her backpack on the way out that held her notepad, two lightsabers and numerous other items. She had to get to the museum by nine, since that was the time that they all had agreed to have training every day.
With each step towards the museum, her mind began to clear from its daze. However, instead of admiring the walk to the museum like she normally would do, she thought about the nightmare she had experienced. It was surreal in every aspect.
"Maybe it was...a vision?" Moira mumbled to herself. She had just reached the outskirts of Amber Beach City. Just a couple more minutes and she would be there.
"But...their eyes were not theirs. And the Force was absent. I couldn't sense them or their Energems." She sighed as she stopped thinking on it. And then she realized something. "So...I couldn't see the color of the Energem I held in a vision years ago but could see in full color for this one?!" She sighed, "I hate the Force sometimes." She kept on her course on getting to the museum. "I can't get anywhere with this. Besides, I need to focus on the lesson that I'm teaching the Rangers today."
The Rangers were ready for their next training day. Each of them participated in a one-on-one with Moira using Dino Sabers. She was testing their fighting prowess without giving him any insightful tips this time around. All of them were able to at least get a few parries and blocks in, while none of them landed a hit on her.
Riley lasted the longest, which everyone expected that result. Riley had practiced swordplay ever since he could swing around sticks and broomstick handles. If he continued to progressing at the rate he was going, he would soon be an absolute equal swordsman in skill to Moira.
Second place would go to Tyler. While he was capable in wielding his Saber, his skill was not as great as Riley's. He parried and blocked several times before Moira held the tip of her borrowed Dino Saber near his neck. He had the great potential of gaining more skill in wielding his Saber.
Shelby is just behind Tyler, in third place. She lasted almost the same length as Tyler had. While she didn't parry and block as much, she dodged many of Moira's attempted strikes. Moira made a mental note to write this down in her notepad later. She would incorporate Shelby's dodge strategy into a specific point in training Shelby one-on-one.
Second to last was Koda. It wasn't because he was poor in his sword skills. It was because of his technique. Koda was from a different era. In his time, the key in winning a fight was to have strength and brutal, heavy attacks that had little strategy coupled with it. This was an advantage in certain situations but sometimes strategy and calculate attacks were how the battles were won. Another note to add and a new strategic practice session for Koda.
In last was Chase. It wasn't that he was awful in his sword skills. It was the fact that Moira was letting her emotions rule. He had attacked first, which Moira blocked. Then, she struck back with such intense and blunt force that Chase's Dino saber went flying out of his grasp, striking the cave wall before landing on the floor with a few clanks. The other Rangers saw it but thought that Chase just wasn't paying attention. Chase thought the same way, that he wasn't giving the situation enough of his focus. They were all partially right.
Moira apologized, saying that she had misjudged the strength behind her attack; and she asked for Chase to engage her again in a sword fight. He said it was alright, went over to pick up his Saber off of the floor, then began his training session again. He lasted longer this time, as Moira kept reminding herself that it had been a nightmare and Chase wasn't like that at all. Besides, he didn't have those devilish yellow eyes that she had saw in the dream either. After lasting a few attacks by dodging and attempted swings, Chase was disarmed again, only this time Moira had twisted the Saber, with the one she held, out of his grip.
The training session for the day was finished. It was also time for the Rangers to begin their shifts in the Dino Cafe upstairs. After putting away their Sabers and calling their Energems from the charging station, they all head out of the base. Only Kendall and Moira were left, as Keeper was nowhere to be found at the moment. Moira sat down in her usual place, at the small table just a few feet from the lab. She pulled out her notebook from her jacket pocket and began to jot down everything vital she received from the individual Saber training sessions.
This is one area of the training figured out...for now. They are each at their own level. Some of them are going to be naturally better than others, like Riley. He had a head start though. She paused in thought as she wrote down notes for him. Then, she continued down the line for each of them.
"Catch."
Moira quickly looked up to see an object flying towards her. She dropped her pen and caught it between both of her hands. She saw that Kendall had thrown her a Dino Com. "What's this for? Do you need me to fix it?"
Kendall moved out from behind the lab and over towards Moira. "No. That one is yours."
"But I'm not a Ranger." Moira stated bluntly.
Kendall nodded in agreeing. "While that is true, you are still a part of this team. Even though you are here to help find the Energem that you experienced in your Force dream, or whatever you call it, you are still helping the Rangers to get better in how they fight. Not only that, should you not be nearby when the Rangers get into a fight, like they did with Slammer a few days ago, you will be able to receive calls and contact both the base and the Rangers should you need help...or if they need yours."
Moira slid the Com into one of her inside jacket pockets. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Kendall left the base, heading upstairs to oversee the daily functions of the museum.
Today was going to be the start of a very long fight.
The Rangers were dealing with the beginning of the lunch rush. It was less than normal but that didn't make them any less busy. Riley and Shelby were in charge of taking people's orders and serving the customers their food. Tyler had control over the totaling the bills and ringing people up at the registers. Koda had his usual dishwashing and cleaning duties. Chase got to prep and make the orders, most of them being grill items.
A familiar beep sounded from Chase's apron pocket. "Hey," he smiled as he put down the spatula and pulled the phone out to look at the text he received.
Shelby rushed into the kitchen to pick up one of the burgers that looked finished. She was not too thrilled when she saw that several more orders had yet to be started, let alone made. "Chase, can't you finish anything?" Shelby quickly took the unfinished burger out on a tray.
Chase picked up the mayonnaise bottle and squeezed out some mayo for the burger. The only problem was that he didn't notice that Shelby had taken it out, because his focus was more on the text sent to him.
Shelby walked to one of the tables and placed the tray between a couple. "Here's your order," she said with a quick smile before leaving them to enjoy their meal.
She pulled out her notepad and was ready to take the next order at another table. Keeping busy on the customers would surely help in dealing with Chase's inattentive manner.
Hi. I'm Shelby. Can I take your-" Shelby did a quick double take. She didn't believe who was sitting at the table. "Chase?"
Chase was looking across the table from table. She was glancing back at him too, until Chase looked up at Shelby. "Hm?"
"Aren't you suppose to be manning the grill?"
Chase looked back at the beautiful girl across from him. "The grill?"
And then his mind clicked the two words he said together.
"The grill!" Chase quickly looked to see that there was a huge bellow of smoke rapidly filling the kitchen. He left the table and ran back to the kitchen to get it under control. "Oh, so sorry."
The fire alarm was already beeping annoyingly as Riley and Koda rushed around in the kitchen to get anything that would bring the fire down to manageable.
"I'll get the fire extinguisher." Tyler ran to get it.
All of the customers just watched the fiasco ensue. It was then that Moira walked in. She saw Shelby first and went over to her.
"Hey Shelby. I have a few questions about your preferred fight-" Moira dropped her sentence. She witnessed the boys slowly getting the fire under control. She looked over at Shelby, who in turn looked back at her. "I can see this isn't the best time to ask any of you...or get lunch here. I'll meet up with you guys later." She left the cafe, heading towards Amber Beach City get grab a bite elsewhere and to study over the notes she had.
Shelby sighed to herself. "It's going to be a long day."
Roughly an hour had passed since the incident. Every customer in the cafe had left, leaving the place empty except for the Rangers and Kendall. Kendall was not too thrilled when she had found out about what had happened.
Everyone stood around a table that Chase had found a seat at. Tyler sat down at the table as well, instead of opting to stand.
"Come on! One little fire." Chase said.
Kendall took off her glasses out of frustration, a common habit of hers. "That could have burned down the entire museum."
"And exposed our base." Shelby added.
Chase stood up from his seat. "Okay, I get it. I promise to pay more attention to-Moana!"
Everyone turn around to look at this Moana person. As they glanced upon her, they noticed that she was dressed very differently from the average person. She was dressed as if there was an air of strange mysticism in what her occupation was, if she had one. The fact that Chase knew someone like this baffled everyone there.
"Who is that?" Shelby asked Chase.
Chase didn't respond. His attention was on Moana. Who he hadn't seen for quite some time. "How are you? It's been a long time."
Moana embraced Chase, who gladly accepted it. She then pulled away and had a slightly worried look on her face. "Chase, I need your help." Moana pulled Chase over to the other side of the room, to make the conversation slightly more private, even though the others could still here everything Moana and Chase would say from that short distance.
"What is it, Moana?"
"I've had a vision. And...and someone is going to steal from me something of great value."
Chase felt that several pairs of eyes were staring at him and Moana. He looked over to them to give a bit of an explanation. "Moana is a Matakite. A Maori fortune teller from New Zealand."
Moana grabbed onto Chase's arms and turned him back to face her. "I need you to guard my shop."
"Really?" Shelby threw the question out into the open. "Chase is going to guard it?"
Kendall spoke too. "I hope you have a fire extinguisher."
Tyler couldn't help but laugh at that quick remark from Kendall. The others kept their enjoyment down to snickers.
Koda didn't laugh. he didn't get the joke. "What 'fire extinguisher'?" Tyler told him he would explain later what it was.
Chase rolled his eyes at the remarks as he figured out a strategy that would best benefit Moana. "What about the police?"
"Oh, they think I'm crazy." Moana glanced down at the small section of Chase's chest. "You have special strength, Chase."
Chase pulled out his Black Energem by the string it was connected to, letting Moana look at the object without hesitation. Kendall stood shocked and looked over at the others to see them just as confused as she was.
Moana looked directly into Chase's eyes. "Only you can help me."
Only me? Huh... He started becoming proud of that fact. "Well...okay," he threw her his usual smirk and agreed. He would do help Moana. After all, if it wasn't for her, he wouldn't be where he was now.
The fortune teller didn't waste a second. She nearly was dragging Chase out by his arm. He quickened his steps so that he wouldn't fall.
I can handle this. No problem. He just finished his thought to himself when he nearly ran into the back of Moana. She had stopped instantly, just before she had reached the doorway to the cafe. He and everyone else saw that Moira had come back into the cafe.
Moira stood looking directly at Moana. Moana was too looking right at Moira. Both of them knew something was off about the other. The air between them was silent until Moana gave Moira a quick smile.
"You too are just as special as everyone else in this room."
"Uh..." Moira trailed off. Her mind was working overtime on who this person in from of her was. She felt her presence in the Force to be very different from anyone she had met on Earth so far.
"Don't worry. We will cross paths again very soon, I'm sure." Moana didn't waste another moment. She walked past Moira, with Chase in tow behind her.
Moira walked over to the others. "I would ask what that was about but I'm pretty sure none of you know either."
All of them shook their heads and answered no. However, they could explain what had happened an hour ago in the cafe up until Moana showed up. It would take a minute or two, but the cafe was closed for the day. They had all the time they needed.
Towards the outskirts of the city was Moana's shop. Both the sidewalk and inside of the building were numerous objects, ranging in numerous sizes, shapes, materials and functions. From practical or illogical. If it existed and held some value to Moana and her customers, it was there in her shop. Of course, curiosity is a common trait in humans. Chase was no exception. He saw that Moana had acquired several new items for her shop. He went over to a mask that was lying on a shelf and put it up to his face.
"Hey, Moana. This Maori mask is cool."
Moana yelped as she quickly snatched the mash from Chase's grasp. "Touch nothing." She placed it down on a table near her, before giving Chase instructions.
"Chase, you must stay alert as all times. You never know when something or someone will cross your path."
Chase reassured her with him resting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Moana. I will protect your shop. Go on."
Moana smiled weakly as she grabbed a single suitcase that was at the entrance of the shop. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon."
"See you tomorrow, Moana." Chase waved to her before she left the shop, closing the door behind her.
That was it. He would be alone in the shop until Moana came back. The shop was closed for the day she was gone. Moana ran the business and made that call to close it instead of having Chase run it on his own, especially since she had a vision of someone stealing something. Surely, that would give Chase the advantage.
"Well, better settle in." Chase sighed as he began implementing his plan. He would make sweeps around the shop, through the many thin aisles that were the only spaces that did not have inventory on it. Then he would sit down for a bit, then go do another sweep. It was that simple.
For the remainder of the day, Chase went through each aisle to check for anything out of place. The routine, while thorough, soon got to be very repetitive. Chase quickly began to lose focus while doing the sweeps and his sit-down breaks grew longer. The thought of someone breaking into the shop began to become less of a certainty and more of a "maybe".
Nighttime became present within hours of Chase being in the shop. Nothing yet had happened. Chase was sitting down in the usual place, between a rack of hanging, fluffy coats and a stuffed mountain goat...of all creatures. His mind started to jump around to different thoughts, instead of staying on the reason for him being at the shop.
First it was a quick snack.
He ate a bag of chips.
Then it was playing one of his favorite shooters on his phone.
With his headphones on, Chase had the surround sound of the game drawing him into that world.
After that this mind slowed.
It was nearly a quarter past two in the morning when Chase started to get tired. Not his best. His record was thirty-one hours without sleep. His eyes soon closed and his breathing became slow and deep. He was gone.
The sun rose on a new day in Amber Beach City. It was already eight in the morning and most people were up and about, mostly enjoying the pleasantly cool breeze that was keeping the dry summer heat in check.
The backdoor to Moana's shop was forcefully swung open. A satisfied laugh broke the silence that had been in the shop. The perpetrator was mindful in where and how they stepped in as they began to sense out the object that they wanted.
"Once I do this, Sledge will finally free me." The soon-to-be thief walked softly by sound-asleep Chase, unaware that he was even there. And then, he saw it. The object was lying on a table along with several other objects of no value to him.
"Ah, yes." They picked it up pendant, admiring its golden shine and detailed etchings. It looked like a miniature vault door. A vault door that keep its power contained within it. They knew it had dark magic. It had the power to control minds and would slowly snuff out an free thoughts from anyone under its influence.
"Soon the Rangers will be under my control." They uttered the last word a little too loudly.
Chase snapped awake. He thought he had heard someone talking. He eased up from his seat and carefully looked to his right to see the intruder. From just a mere second of seeing him, Chase knew that he was working for Sledge, one way or another. He was at least six and a half feet tall, sported a cloak that went from his shoulders down to shin-level and had the resemblance of a crow. One very ugly yet menacing crow.
Chase didn't wait another second and made his presence known to the intruder. "Hey, put that back!"
The intruder heard Chase but ignored him as he placed the magic pendant onto his chest, the purple magic from the pendant had "seared" itself to the intruder. It was now his to wield however he saw fit.
"Take this, human." The intruder forced the pendant to shoot out several beams of its magic.
Chase didn't have time to react. The magic pierced into his eyes, causing his eyes to turn from their usual, gentle hazel tone into a piercing yellow.
The intruder bolted out of the slop, chuckling to himself as he did so. Chase wasn't going to let him get away with the pendant. He too ran from Moana's shop after the thief, making sure to snatch up his helmet and skateboard along the way.
"Sledge will be so please." The thief reassured himself as he began to initiate the next step of his plan. He wasn't going to go back to the ship with just the newly acquired pendant. He was going to come back with all of the Energems and the rangers under his control. All he had to do was find one in order to get the rest under his control. The universe wouldn't stand a chance.
Chase nearly jumped through the doorway and prepared to take off on his skateboard. He froze up before he could even put on his helmet as he felt a wave of sharp pain course through his head. He shook his head, trying to refocus himself. "What's wrong with me?"
He threw on his helmet and dropped his skateboard onto the pavement. He jumped on and chased after Sledge's minion. As Chase rode on his board, his started gaining his focus back. The pain from whatever the minion had shot him with faded away.
"That feels better." Chase said with a smile. That was one good thing towards him.
He pulled out his Dino Com out of his back pocket. "Guys, I'm going to need some backup." He didn't wait for a response as he put the Com back in his pocket and put all of his attention on gaining ground on the thief.
"Come on. Faster." Chase quickly glanced around him. Nobody was on the street at the moment. Perfect time to morph. "Energize!" He instantly morphed into the Black Ranger as he continued in his pursuit of the minion.
"Let's do this."
Tyler, Shelby, Riley and Koda had just opened up the cafe, since they were on the morning shift. The process went off without a hitch. However, no one had entered in with their first fifteen minutes of opening. It was then that all of their Dino Coms went off.
"Guys, I'm going to need some backup."
It was Chase. Tyler switched over to the channel that Miss Morgan would be on. "Miss Morgan?"
"Head on out. I'll center in on Chase and give you a location as you get out there."
"Got it." Tyler answered, putting away his Com along with everyone else putting away theirs.
"Let go." Koda urged everyone.
They didn't hesitate and left the cafe, with Tyler making sure to close it up until Miss Morgan could get some other workers in to run it.
Moira too heard Chase's call of assistance on her own Com, that Miss Morgan had made for her to carry around. She had no excuse now. She would have to engage in the fight since all of them would know that she would hear the call. This day could very well be go smoothly or roughly. Moira wasn't sure on smoothly, having had the nightmare just the previous night. She hoped the nightmare would not make its way into reality as she picked up her lightsabers and ran out of the cave. At that moment, Kendall had pinpointed Chase's location and sent it to everyone's Coms.
It was happening. She was going to fight with the Rangers this time around.
"Well, if I'm going to fight, then I will have to keep balanced. Use my lightsabers mostly. May the Force be with me...for once."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spellbinder chuckled to himself as he ran towards a storage building. "I'll lose that punk in here."
Chase stopped himself as he looked to see Spellbinder going into the builder.
"There he is." He got off his skateboard and walked towards the building. "I've got to find out what he's up to."
A few steps towards the building and Chase has to stop. The pain was back and steadily getting worse. "There's that weird feeling again." It felt as if that shot from Spellbinder was starting to cloud his thoughts.
"I have to stop Sledge's goon, to get back Moana's pendant. And maybe even find out just what that creep did to me." Chase slid under the ajar door and spotted Spellbinder running around some empty wooden pallets in the place.
"Stop right there!" Chase let two shots fire from his Morpher.
They hit the target. Unfortunately, Spellbinder's cape had blocked both shots effectively, leaving him without a scratch. He turned around to see that the punk that had been chasing him was a ranger. Spellbinder had luck on his side today. Who would've thought that the teenager that he had hit with the pendant's magic was one of the Rangers?
"So you're the Black Ranger?" He asked rhetorically. He saw the Black Ranger unsteadily approach him. He knew that the magic was already causing the ranger to lose his focus. "Relax. Soon, you will under the control of the great Spellbinder."
"Wrong." Chase was determined to stop Spellbinder from getting away with Moana's pendant. He fired two more shots as he ran full speed towards Spellbinder, jumping over the many crates and containers in his direct path. "No one controls me, mate."
"Are you in for a surprise."
Chase kept gaining ground on Spellbinder as he thought briefly on what he had said. What does he mean by that? Don't tell me that shot from that pendant has the ability to control minds. I won't let it happen. No way!
The Black Ranger had reached Spellbinder, who hadn't moved from his original spot. It was as if Spellbinder had the upmost confidence in himself and didn't find the Ranger a threat at all. Chase would soon teach him not to be so fast in underestimating any Ranger.
"Wrap your beak around this." Chase pulled the trigger back and held it there. The Morpher released a relentless barrage of energy blasts directly at Spellbinder. Surely that would put Spellbinder out of commission.
Unfortunately, Spellbinder had completely surrounded himself in his cape, blocking all the shots. With a quick swing outwards from Spellbinder's arms, the cape deflected them back at the Black Ranger.
All of the shots hit Chase at once as the explosion of energy sent him flying back several onto the cold concrete floor of the building. Even though his ranger armor took all of the damage, the force from the blast made him hit the floor hard. He groaned as he attempted to get back up. As he did, the pain that had been dull during his fight with Spellbinder came back instantly. It was agonizing as Chase felt it filling his head. He couldn't think as the crippled pain suddenly began to throb like a heartbeat. He couldn't focus.
"Chase!" Tyler ran up to Chase, along with Koda, Shelby and Riley.
They had already morphed into their ranger form, knowing that Chase would have already engaged in a fight. All of them saw Chase lying on the ground, groaning as he held head, as well as he could since he had on his Ranger helmet. They didn't know how to help Chase and could only worry for him as they prepared for a fight.
Tyler had anger along with worry swelling within him. It showed in his words. "Monster, you may be tough one-on-one, but your odds just got a whole lot worse."
He pulled out a charger and clicked it onto his Morpher.
T-Rex Charger, engage!
The other Ranger knew what to do and followed Tyler's action. They all spun the barrel of the Morphers on the right arms.
"Dino Steel! Armor on!" They all shouted together in unison. Their weapons materialized into their hands.
Tyler was first to rush at Spellbinder. He threw a punch with his T-Rex Smasher, which Spellbinder dodged with ease.
Shelby attempted a jab with her Tricera Drill but Spellbinder parried the attack, sending her stumbling backwards.
Koda and Riley put Spellbinder between him and went for a simultaneous attack with their Stego Shield and Raptor Claw. Spellbinder threw himself backwards, causing the Blue and Green Rangers to hit each other with their weapons.
"Too slow." Spellbinder teased.
The Pink Ranger jumped towards Spellbinder with her Tricera Drill. She plunged it at Spellbinder, who simply deflected the weapon and the Pink Ranger away. The Red Ranger attempted to throw any punch, this time while Spellbinder's back was turned towards him. It was as pointless as the first one since Spellbinder again evaded the strike. The Red ranger lost his footing and fell onto the floor.
"He's so fast." Shelby pointed out.
"His cape hard like rock." Koda added.
"We've got to get through it." Shelby answered.
"Good thing I'm the hotshot." Everyone including Spellbinder turned to see the Black Ranger had managed to get his pain under control enough to stand and aim his Morpher directly at the pendant on Spellbinder's chest. "That's right, Spellbinder. I'm not gonna miss this time."
"Get him, Chase." Tyler shouted at his friend. Chase obliged by firing at Spellbinder.
Again Spellbinder deflected the attacks with his cape as the Red Ranger tried to land a single hit on him. This was getting rather boring. Perhaps it was time to alter the stakes. Besides, he had to see how far along the black magic had grown in the Black Ranger.
"Time for you to change your target, Black Ranger." Spellbinder grabbed onto the Red Ranger, locking him into inescapable hold in his cape.
Tyler couldn't wait for Chase to hit Spellbinder with his Morpher shot. He knew Chase's skill with the Morpher was unmatched with the others. He had this. "Take the shot, Chase. I trust you."
Chase grabbed onto the Morpher with both hands to steady it. Gotta be careful. It's so risky.
"Hurry!" Tyler called out.
This was the opportunity. The timing of right. It was time to test out the pendant's power. "Shoot your friend, Black Ranger. I command you."
Spellbinder's words echoed in Chase's head. The focus he had in his aim at the pendant shifted. Now, the Morpher was pointed at the center of the Red Ranger's chest. The pain that had been consuming him had vanished...but it had been replaced with apathy towards his own thoughts. Instead of listening to himself, he was listening to Spellbinder.
"What's happening to me?" Chase's words were a little more than a whisper that only he heard.
"Chase," Tyler's voice caught in his throat. "What are you doing?"
"I..." Chase focused himself to raise his aim off of Tyler and back onto the pendant on Spellbinder. "I don't know."
"Shoot him!" Spellbinder ordered.
Chase's aim once again fell on Tyler. He couldn't believe what he was doing. I didn't do that! Or...did I? ...no. No! I didn't do that! I can't be doing this. But I'm pointing the Morpher at Tyler. So..I did do it.
"Chase, no!" Koda yelled at his friend.
"No!" Riley shouted.
"Chase!" Shelby said.
All of my friends are telling me to stop but I can't! Why can't I stop? The Morpher shook in his grasp as Chase tried to fight away whatever was trying to take over.
"I can't control myself." Chase was fighting an invisible force within his mind. He tried to reaffirm that he was in control, not it. It was ancient. It was vile. It was merciless. It did not care what Chase felt or believed. It would complete its task for the one wielding the pendant.
Kill the Red Ranger.
No. I won't do it.
YOU don't have a choice. All you can do is give in, instead of wasting your time in fighting a battle you will eventually lose.
I won't let you-
Enough.
...
Pull. the. trigger.
Chase lost. He pulled the trigger.
The world seemed to move in slow motion for everyone as the shot ignited and travelled out of the Morpher. It was going to hit Tyler without hesitation. That is when a lightsaber was thrown in the path of the shot, the blast hitting the blade of the weapon and deflecting off to an area that had nothing but storage containers there. The lightsaber was called back from its throw as the owner caught it in their hands.
Chase had been frozen in place. He couldn't believe that he had pulled back on the trigger. He would have killed Tyler had Moira not shown up and intervened when she did. Once again, the pain that had disappeared returned as his mind fought violently to comprehend the situation. Chase yelled furiously at himself and at the agony that he felt pulsating in his head. Everything that had just happened, what he had done, what he was feeling compounded upon each other. His mind couldn't take it anymore and he lost consciousness, causing both him and his Morpher to collapse to the floor.
"Chase!" Koda shouted.
"No!" Riley yelled.
"This can't be happening." Shelby whispered to herself.
Moira looked at Chase's unconscious form. She could sense through the Force a malicious energy within him. It was the same energy that was coming from the pendant. Moira had experienced this kind of energy before...in her nightmare.
Spellbinder had to deal with Moira immediately before his plan fell completely apart. He loosened his hold on the Red Ranger and threw him clear across the other side of the building. "You just had to show up, didn't you?"
"Of course." She answered coldly.
"No matter. Sledge already warned me about your kind. Go ahead. Just try to land a hit on me!"
Moira accepted the offer. She dashed forward and engaged Spellbinder in a one-on-one fight. She hoped that it would give the others enough time to get Chase and leave. She knew better though. They would gather themselves up and help her out. Until then, she would keep swinging her lightsaber at Spellbinder, hoping that she would deal him some damage.
Spellbinder parried and dodged all of the Jedi's attacks fluently. He had been warned by Sledge about this Jedi and how he wanted her preferably alive. If that wasn't possible, he wanted her corpse. Spellbinder would take up the former option. Besides, he had a pendant that could take control over minds. Why not have control of the mind of a legendary Jedi as well? With her under his control, Spellbinder could even take Sledge on and win. He could use her to subjugate planet after planet given time.
With that thought in mind, Spellbinder shoved Moira back and bolted towards the entrance she had appeared in. "You know what this pendant can do. Come and get it before I use it on someone else!"
Moira did just that. She ran out the entrance and turned left, where Spellbinder had ran off to. She stopped suddenly when she didn't see him at all.
That doesn't make sense. He couldn't have disappeared that fast unless- Moira spun around in time to see Spellbinder use the pendant. It shot out its purple stream of dark magic and hit Moira in her eyes. She paused mentally.
"What just happened?" She could feel the dark magic in her mind but that was it. It wasn't causing her any pain and she believed that it wasn't affecting her thoughts in any way. Instead, she felt nothing. A nothing that was just a feeling that had no affect on her thoughts.
Spellbinder laughed victoriously. "You too will become like the Black Ranger and fall to the power of this pendant."
Moira was about to run towards Spellbinder to engage in another fight. He disappeared though in a black, murky cloud that was more or less the same type of dark magic that the pendant held. Moira deactivated her lightsaber and ran back into building to check on everyone.
Tyler, Riley, Koda and Shelby were finally back on their feet and helping Chase to stand. He was slowly gaining consciousness as his friend kept asking how he was feeling. He was silent. And since they all had their Ranger gear on, Chase's helmet concealed the blank stare he possessed. His thoughts were starting to come back in pieces. He started to become angry as he remembered that he had tried to kill Tyler. He looked over to see Moira had returned from fighting Spellbinder. He could tell that she wasn't successful in retrieving the pendant. His anger was now coupled with frustration; and they were both directed at him.
I almost killed Tyler. I couldn't stop myself but I wanted- No! I didn't...did I? This is all my fault. If I hadn't of stayed up so late and had paid attention, that monster wouldn't have stolen that damn pendant. He wouldn't have used it on me and I wouldn't be like this.
"Chase," Tyler rested a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright? What happened back there?"
Chase brushed off Tyler's comforting hand. "Hey, just...give me some space, mate."
"Huh?" Tyler, along with the other Rangers, was perplexed.
"Hey, guys."
All of the Rangers turned to face Moira.
"Sledge's goon used that pendant. He hit me with it but something is weird about it. It feels like dark magic. We need to get back to the base and have Keeper figure out what's going on. With both myself and you, Chase."
"You...you can sense it in me?" Chase questioned, slightly hopeful that Moira might be able to help him if she was experiencing a different effect.
"Yeah. I can. And I fear it's going to get worse. Let's head back to the base and get this figured out."
All of them agree and began their journey back to the cave. They couldn't afford to waste another second. Chase was starting to lose himself. He could feel the malicious energy inside his mind. Moira felt it inside her head too. Yet, it was not having an effect at all from what she knew of. The others were worried for both Chase and Moira, while also uncertain of how they were going to defeat Spellbinder once he would return.
Time was not on their side.
Spellbinder had returned to Sledge's ship. He already had his plan set in motion and time was on his side. Soon, he would have both the Black Ranger and the Jedi, that Sledge had warned him about. Two birds, one stone as he had heard several times before. He was very pleased in what he had accomplished in such a short amount of time. However, Sledge didn't see it that way.
"Spellbinder!" Sledge shoved him forcefully into the middle of the room. "You said, once you had that pendant, the Rangers and that Jedi would fall under your spell. Instead, they're still fighting you." Sledge looked over at Fury and Wrench while pointing at Spellbinder. "Lock him in solitary!"
"Yes, sir." Fury and Wrench moved in and apprehend the failed prisoner.
"No, not solitary." Spellbinder struggled to get out of Fury's and Wrench's grip before they could pull down to solitary. "The Black Ranger and the Jedi are under my spell, but it takes time to grow. Once it does, they will help me to bring all of the other Rangers under your command."
Sledge motioned for both Fury and Wrench to cease in dragging Spellbinder to solitary. "Just get me one Ranger and you'll be free, Spellbinder."
Spellbinder broke free of Fury and Wrench, both of who were no longer going to hold onto him anyway. "I can do that."
"But if you get none, I'll pluck you for dinner." Sledge warned him of the consequence before trudging out of the room.
"Oh, dear." Spellbinder mumbled under his breath.
Everyone was back at the base. Keeper and Kendall were given a summarized explanation as to what happened. Keeper got to work with examining both Chase and Moira for what exactly Spellbinder had shot them with, using the pendant that he had stolen. Kendall was working in the lab part of the base on the newest weapon that the Rangers would have in their arsenal. As she worked on the finishing touches to it, Tyler, Shelby and Tyler were on the opposite side of the work table giving finer details what they saw to her.
"He blocked every shot with that cape." Riley said, frustrated that a piece of cloth had stopped every attack they had thrown at Spellbinder.
"None of our weapons could break through it." Shelby added.
"And that is why you have me." Kendall gave them a quick smirk before focusing back on her work. She saw that it was finally finished and took it out of the tube it was in. "I give you the Dino Spike Charger. It should harness the power of all five of your Energems." She handed it to Tyler.
"Dino Spike? Perfect." Tyler knew Kendall's work was absolutely her best. The Dino Spike would surely work against Spellbinder's cape.
"Just know," Kendall repeated the key factor. "It takes all five Rangers to activate the Dino Spike."
All of them looked over to where Chase, Koda, Moira and Keeper were at. Kendall stayed at her lab, to finish up some coding work while the others went to join their friends.
Keeper was using his staff to figure out what was inside of Chase first, then he would move to Moira. Koda sat near them. He was worried for his friends and he couldn't do anything except be there for them. As Keeper intensified the power in his staff, the dark magic in Chase was made more visible by Chase's eyes color changing to a fire yellow for a few moments.
"There is indeed something wrong here." Keeper stated calmly.
Once Keeper pulled his staff away, the pain from the dark magic returned. "It's in my head. I feel like I'm losing control of myself. But whatever he hit me with, it seemed to go away when I was on my skateboard."
"Hmmm." Keeper moved over to Moira, who was sitting next to Chase. It was time to see if Moira had the same symptoms as Chase. He noticed that she was thinking to herself about the situation. Something was bothering Moira and it was somehow tied to the situation. "Moira, is something troubling you?"
Moira sighed. "Yes. While Chase is suffering from getting hit with whatever dark magic that pendant has, I'm sitting right next to him feeling just fine, even though I got hit with it too."
"You feel guilty."
"I guess, in a way."
"Let's see why it has not affected you as badly at it has Chase. It might help us figure out how to decrease its power." Keeper readied his staff.
Moira nodded, signaling that she as ready. Keeper began to use the staff the same way he had used it on Chase. Everyone kept silent until Keeper quickly finished, almost as he had just started.
"It seems as though the same dark power in Chase is not as powerful in you. In fact, another power inside you is diminishing it rapidly. It may be your connection to the Force that is doing this."
"Perhaps it is." She lied. She knew it wasn't the Force. She would be able to feel it if was the Force. Instead, she felt nothing. An abnormal form of nothing. She had felt it before but it was more of an inconvenience she could shrug off. This was at the forefront of all of the emotions she could be having.
"I wish I knew how I was doing it so that I could help you out, Chase." Moira was truthful in that statement.
Chase nodded silently before another wave of sharp pain pierced through his head. He was starting to get tired of fighting it. He just wished he could get rid of it like any other headache he ever had. Drink some water, take an ibuprofen and sleep it away.
"The spell will grow stronger until it controls you completely, Chase." Keeper said. "Perhaps if you knew the origin of the pendant."
"Moana." Chase quickly stood and was punished by the pounding in his mind intensifying.
Koda grabbed onto Chase's wrist so that he couldn't take a step in any direction. Riley gently pushed down on Chase's shoulders, easing him back down to his seat. Chase didn't push back. He sat back down and focused on telling everyone what he knew.
"Moana will know where it came from. She should be back at her shop by now."
"You mean lady of the black magic?" Koda asked.
"She is not a lady of black magic. Trust me, Moana is on our side. She'll know how to stop this."
Tyler was already set to go to Moana's shop. However, he knew chase would want to come along. "Stay here. We'll go and ask her how to break the spell."
"I'll stay here too." Moira said. "I won't trust myself until it's completely gone from my system."
Tyler nodded in agreement then looked at the others. "Let's go see Moana."
Riley, Koda, Shelby and Tyler left the base. It was just Keeper, Kendall, Chase and Moira now. Chase quickly decided that he didn't want to stay put. He quickly got up to leave as well.
"Chase, stop." Keeper spoke. Chase stopped but didn't turn around to face Keeper. "You're more of a danger than a help to them right now. You must stay."
He turned around to look at Keeper. "If only I had stayed focused on the shop. Spellbinder never would have gotten that pendant."
"You can't change the past, but you can learn from it."
Chase nodded subtly at Keeper before he left Chase to see how Kendall was doing in her lab work. Moira knew he was still thinking about leaving the base. If he was going to do that, then she was going to keep an eye on him. Besides, this was the perfect time to ask him something she had wanted to ever since meditating on his Energem.
Moira stood up from her seat. "Hey, I'm heading up to the cafe for a while, since it's closed today. I'm going to make myself some food but, knowing me, I'll probably make too much. Want to share it with me?"
Chase vaguely gave her a nod, which received a slight smirk from her in return. He followed her out of the base and up to the empty cafe. It would just be the two of them for a bit. Even though he wanted to be alone, he knew nobody was going to leave him to himself, especially since he was slowly and surely losing the fight inside his mind.
"I'll just throw something together real quick." She waited for another silent nod from Chase before heading into the kitchen.
Even though she didn't work there, she had a rough idea of where certain items were from watching the Rangers work in there. She had learned that being observant usually benefitted her in one way or another. Her only problem was that she had no idea how to cook anything. Nothing hot for the two of them. She decided that the common "chips and salsa" snack would do. She gathered the chips and salsa, pouring out a decent amount of both into two separate bowls. She also decided on drinks for both of them. Of course, she didn't have enough hands to carry the drinks and snacks at once, so used the Force to levitate them with her back to the booth that Chase had sat down at.
He lifted his head up when she slid into the seat on the opposite side of the booth. His spirit seemed to lighten up a bit at the sight of the food and drink she had brought out. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Both of them take a few bites of their food in silence. Moira waited for Chase to speak if he wanted to. But, he didn't. He kept to himself, with his gaze down at the table. Moira figured that she would have to start a conversation. She already had something that they could both talk about. Hopefully, Chase would focus on that instead of mentally putting himself down for one mistake he made.
"You know I didn't just ask you up here to share food with me, right?"
"Yeah." Chase piped up and actually looked up from the table. "I figured you wanted to keep an eye on me, in case I would lose control of myself."
"Partially. However, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"What is it?"
"Remember when I was focusing on everyone's Energems, to see if it was the one I felt in my vision from years ago?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, when I focused on the Black Energem, I didn't feel the same thing that I had in the vision. Instead, I felt your...character, I guess you could say."
"My character?" Chase wondered. "Did you feel the others' character too?"
"In a way, yes. I believe so. But, yours was slightly unique."
Chase kept silent, knowing that Moira would explain it as best as she could to him.
"I felt that you love someone. Someone that is younger than you. Not in the romantic way. It was more like-" She struggled to get the word out. "...family?"
Chase chuckled as he realized who she was talking about. "Chloe."
"Chloe?"
"Yeah. Chloe. She is my little sister. She's back home in New Zealand with our mother."
Moira cheered mentally. She could read from Chase's returned smile that she had been successful in taking his mind off of mentally yelling at himself for losing the pendant. She hoped that it would buy the other Rangers some time to figure out how to break the spell before Chas would be completely lost to the malicious magic. If that happened, she would have to keep him from leaving the museum , no matter the risk to the both of them.
"Could you tell me what she is like?"
Chase nodded as he started to tap his fingers on the table, a small sign of that he was slowly getting anxious again. "Chloe is the best sister any big brother could have. She asks me about many things, whether it's about a new game I downloaded on my phone or if I have a girlfriend yet."
"Sounds like she cares a lot for you."
"Yes. Sometimes a bit too much. Worrying should be my job."
"Why?" Moira asked honestly.
"Because I'm her older brother. I love her and want her to have the best life possible. She shouldn't have to worry about me. She should just enjoy the fun of being a kid while she still is one."
It was now Moira's turn to lower her gaze to the table. She believed that Chase was being completely truthful and clear in his answer. It was just hard for Moira to comprehend. The fun of being a kid?
Chase noticed that she was thinking to herself. "Are you alright?"
Moira gave him a smile. "Now Chase, you shouldn't be worried about me. You should just enjoy being a Ranger while you still are one."
He laughed at the comeback. "Funny."
It was then he felt the magic suddenly surge in power. This focus was starting to waver and his thoughts were starting to fade away. He couldn't withstand another mental battle. He was already exhausted from keeping himself from being consumed by it. He only had one last barrier that could keep him from leaving the museum and doing whatever Spellbinder wanted him to.
"Moira, can you do me a favor?"
"Of course." She welcomed the request. "What do you need?"
"Need..." Chase winced and rested his head into both of his hands.
"Chase?" Moira reached across the table with the Force. She felt the dark energy intensifying at an alarming rate. "Chase, stay with me."
"I want to-" He trailed off and lurched forward across the table, grabbing roughly onto Moira's left wrist. "But I'm afraid...I must obey my master." He slowly looked up at Moira...with yellow eyes.
Moira didn't react in time and was yanked out from the booth, landing on the floor. She shuffled to her feet and put some distance between her and Chase, in case he tried for another attack. She pulled out her Dino Com and opened up the channel. Before she could utter a single word, her Com flew from her hand, landing as a mangled mesh of metal and wires on the Cafe floor. Moira looked over near the booth to see that Chase had shot her Com with his Morpher.
"I have a message for you from my master. He's says that something inside you was able to push out the pendant's magic. That means that you get off scot-free. Congratulations."
Moira froze. The last statement was nearly identical to what Chase had said in her nightmare. But now she knew the nightmare had been a premonition of the future. And if that was the case, Chase wouldn't be the only one that would be completely lost to Spellbinder using the pendant. She would have to stall Chase and make sure he couldn't leave. Her only problem was that she cared too much. She didn't want to hurt him, which meant no lightsaber brandishing. It would just be defensive maneuvers and Force tricks.
"If you think I'm going to let you walk out of here Chase, you are wrong."
"Oh, in that case." Chase let a barrage of shots fire from his Morpher.
Lucky for Moira, she knew that attack was coming. She kicked the table in front of her and ducked down behind it for cover. She peeked out from one of the sides to see Chase turning around and heading towards the main entrance of the cafe. She called upon the Force, throwing several tables and chairs in front of the doorway, blocking Chase's first choice of an escape route.
"Come out from behind that table, Jedi." Chase fired more shots at the downed table in an attempt to force Moira out.
"Chase, I've told both you and the others I'm not a Jedi or a Sith." Moira picked up her cover of a table and used her power to throw it just off to the side of Chase. For the split moment that Chase had his focus on the thrown table, Moira ran towards him in an attempt to subdue him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Chase saw Moira quickly closing the distance between them. His reflexes kicked in. He swung his arm out swiftly, backhanding Moira in the face with his Morpher. She stumbled back, opening herself up to a point blank shot from Chase's Morpher. He aimed for the middle of her chest and pulled back on the trigger.
Moira brushed off the hit from the Morpher and quickly moved to the side and dodged the shot. She grabbed onto Chase's wrists and forced him to aim his Morpher towards the ceiling. "Please focus, Chase."
It was pointless. He heard her but felt nothing towards it. He jabbed his knee up into Moira's midsection, making her losing her grip on his wrists and collapsing on the floor trying to catch her breath. He took this opportunity to book it out of the cafe, using the backdoor that was in the kitchen to exit the museum. He slowed down his run to a fast-paced walk. His mind-controlled self believed that he would have lost Moira in the cafe.
He was wrong yet again.
Moira managed to get to her feet and catch her breath as she ran after Chase. As soon as she was out of the backdoor, she saw him walking briskly. He thinks he lost me. Moira centered herself. She felt the Force around her and pulled it towards her. She used it to dash faster than it was normally possible. There was no way Chase would get away.
This time she was wrong.
Chase spun on his heels, raised his Morpher and fired. He stood in place as Moira went from a full run to a walk. Her right hand instinctively went to her lower torso, where Chase's shot had hit. He watched as she stopped walking and fell to her knees. He witnessed her breathing becoming louder and heavier. He looked on as she completely fell onto the pavement in silence.
That was the end of the battle. He put his Morpher away and continued in the direction that his master ordered him to get to. He soon forgot about what had happened to Moira, since he felt no emotion at all.
Tyler, Shelby, Riley and Koda had all hopped into Tyler's Jeep and drove quickly but safely to Moana's shop. Pulling into the front parking lot, they see that the shop was open for business. Moana was definitely back. All of them head in and were immediately greeted by Moana with a smile. Her smile soon faded though when she saw that the four teenagers did not return a smile to her. This soon led to the four of them explaining everything that had happened, from the pendant getting stolen by a monster to Chase getting hit with the magic that was inside the stolen pendant.
Moana went to one of the many full bookshelves and pulled out a book. Placing it on the counter between her and the teenagers, she quickly flipped through it. All of the pages were full of etchings of both pictures of objects, symbols, and words. The page was soon reached, a drawing of the pendant taking up the upper half of the page.
"Oh, this is the pendant that was stolen. It was forged from an evil heart in the darkest corner of New Zealand." Moana began to move out slowly from behind the counter, edging closer and closer to the teenagers. "Destroy it, or soon Chase will forget he's your friend and turn against you."
"We have a weapon that might be strong enough." Tyler told her. "But it won't work without Chase."
"If he can focus, Chase can push the spell from his mind long enough to use your weapon."
Everyone heard the words from Moana but mentally shook their heads at the thought.
"Hm, I doubt it."Riley chuckled.
"Chase has the attention span of a flea." Shelby commented.
Moana knew Chase could focus. She had seen it before. "Long ago, your friend Chase proved to me that he can focus, very deeply, even in the most dire situations. It happened one day, just as I was closing my shop."
FLASHBACK TIME
Chase was outside Moana's shop, sitting on the bench near the building. He was buckling his helmet on, preparing for a nice, long ride on his skateboard.
Moana pushed out her baby carriage, before turning around to close the door to the shop. "Ooh, better lock up." As she did this, she heard the sound of squeaking wheels slowly getting farther from her. She turned to see that her baby carriage was already rolling out of the tiny parking lot and down a gently declining sidewalk of the city. "Oh, Tabitha!"
Chase looked to see that a baby carriage was quickly rolling out of control. He didn't hesitate to jump up and hop onto his skateboard to chase it down, before something serious would happen to Tabitha.
The carriage continued to gain speed as it rolled down the declining sidewalk. It kept on a straight path, allowing for Chase to focus on just picking up speed to catch up with it. He weaved around people and jumped over several tables of an outdoor restaurant. "Excuse me, coming through."
The carriage ran out of sidewalk and rolled without hesitation into the middle of the street. It had no sentience towards anything, especially the large garbage truck that was about to run it over.
Chase only had one chance to get this right. Using his momentum, he jumped up with his board and flew over the carriage, quickly grabbing onto the blankets that swaddled the precious life. His board landed on the opposite side of the street, and he abruptly stopped and turned to see the truck completely destroy the carriage.
All Chase could do was breathe a sigh of relief, his adrenaline beginning to slow down after the heart-pounding situation he threw himself in. He held the bundle of blankets close to his chest and headed back to Moana's shop.
Moana gasped as she gently took the bundle from his arms. She pulled back the blanket to reveal the face of her cat.
"Oh, Tabitha! Oh, you're safe." Moana hugged her cat lovingly.
Chase stared at the cat. His mind connected the dots as he felt that the risk was not as necessary as it seemed. "I...I just risked my life for-" Moana's gaze met his and he quickly gave her his natural, innocent smile. "The most beautiful little kitty."
Moana grabbed onto his hand. "Come into my shop. There's something I must give you for your bravery."
As Chase was nearly dragged into her shop, he shook his head at the thought. "Oh. You really don't have to do that."
Moana didn't hear him. Her mind was on the gift she would bestow on Chase. Once she pulled him into the shop, she went to a glass case and pulled out a small, wooden box.
"Such courage is rare. And deserves something equally as precious."
Chase eased his helmet off of his head, holding it down by his side. Moana opened the box to reveal a gem that was solid black. He had never seen a pure black gem. Most gems he saw in person were either clear and expensive or cloudy and cheap.
"What is that?" Chase asked.
"Take it." Moana insisted. "It's yours."
Chase was hesitant to pick it up but did so anyway. As soon as his fingers touched the gem, it glowed intensely. The light flowed from the gem and encompassed Chase, who could only silently look on in amazement at what the gem was doing and at the empowering feeling that it made course through his body. Then, an image filled both his sight and his mind. A dinosaur. The Parasaur.
After hearing Moana's testament to Chase being able to have focus, the teenagers all felt that they may have been quick to discredit what Chase could do. They also knew now how the Black Energem was found.
"So that's how Chase got his Energem." Riley stated.
Moana nodded silently with a smile.
"It's so easy for him. I froze in glacier for thousands of years." Koda was in amazement, realizing that everyone found their Energems so easily and got to use them right away.
Everyone chuckled at Koda's blunt statement. The mood was lightened ever so briefly and soon ended as Tyler's Dino Con beeped. As he answered it, Moana summed up Chase's capability to focus.
"When he's on his skateboard, Chase can push everything else from his mind."
"That's right." Shelby said. "He said the spell went away when he was on his board."
Tyler walked back to the group once he finished the call from Kendall. "Kendall said Spellbinder's returned. And Chase...he's disappeared. She also said Moira isn't answering his Com either." He looked to Moana. "Thanks for your help, Moana."
All of them leave Moana's shop and head off to the coordinates that Tyler had received from Kendall. Tyler asked Kendall to keep them posted on Moira, hoping that they could contact her and get her help with his fight. Kendall said she would let them know as soon as she found Moira and would send her their way.
The first thing she felt was cold. Cold and pain. Her thoughts began to come back to her as she felt the cold, rough surface of the pavement under her and the dull, throbbing pain in her lower abdomen.
She remembered what happened.
She had to get back to the base and tell the others before it was far too late. Before someone else was seriously hurt...or worse. She pushed herself up from the ground and walked back towards the museum, heading for the secret slide into the base. Each step she took caused the dull pain to shoot throughout her body.
"Man, I'm going to have a lot of explaining to do to Kendall." She let out of moan as she realized that she had to deal with Kendall. "She not going to be too happy about my Com getting destroyed. I only had it a few days."
That's going to be the easy thing to explain though. First, deal with the reaction you're going to receive.
Moira reached the secret entrance and slid down the slide, focusing all of her attention to making sure she landed sounding on both feet. Already she felt the anger swelling in Kendall as she walked over to her.
"Where have you been? I've been calling you on...your-" She trailed off when she saw that Moira was holding onto her left side. She looked up at Moira and froze when she saw her face. "Moira, your eyes..."
"They're aren't blue. They're blood red, right?"
Kendall could only ask one question. "What happened to you?"
Moira shook her head. "Ask that later. Right now, I need to contact the others." She moved around Kendall and went directly to the mic that was linked to the Dino Coms.
She pressed a button and saw on a tiny screen in front of her that Tyler had immediately picked up.
"What's going on, Kendall?" Tyler's voice asked on the other end.
"Not Kendall. It's Moira. Listen carefully. Chase is completely under Spellbinder's control. He won't hesitate in attacking you. Be extra cautious of his attacks and think through every move you make."
"We're heading towards the coordinates Kendall gave us now. We'll meet you there."
Moira chuckled. "No. No, you won't. I have to set this one out. I'll explain once you're back at the base." She paused briefly, fighting back the Dark Side for just a few moments. "I'm sorry. I can't help you with this one."
"You've helped plenty. Don't worry. We've got this."
Moira nodded to herself. They do have this. "Well, this may not mean much, but may the Force be with all of you."
"Thanks." Tyler replied before clicking his Com off.
There was only one second of silence before Kendall reworded her question from earlier. "Moira, are you alright?"
"Yeah, from a certain point of view."
"Where's your Dino Com?"
"Shot to hell. Just like my side has been."
"Chase?"
"No. Chase was not in control of himself. The blame falls on Spellbinder."
"How are you still standing?"
"The Force."
"Light or Dark?"
Moira thought for a moment before answering. "Both."
"You have so much to explain."
"I know. Let me sit down and explain it the best I can, before I take a long, power nap."
"You told Sledge that the Black Ranger and the Jedi were under your control." Wrench kicked several boxes out of frustration. He did not see either one nearby.
Spellbinder casually stood from his seat, with Curio mimicking the action.
"Relax," Spellbinder urged Wrench. "They will be joining us soon."
"Wrong on both accounts." Tyler shouted as he and his friends stared down the three villains in front of them.
"Chase and Moira never join you." Koda stated boldly.
Spellbinder knew the odds were in his favor. He had used the pendant on a Ranger and a Jedi. This battle would be pathetically short. "It's too late for your friends. And now your time is up." Throwing his cape back, Spellbinder let several blasts from the pendant fly towards the Rangers.
They all dodged the blasts and bolt towards Wrench, Curio and Spellbinder.
Shelby took on Curio by herself.
"You all will be under Spellbinder's control." Curio teased.
"Not a chance." Shelby cartwheeled out of Curio's reach.
"Hey! We're not done fighting yet."
"Oh, I know." Shelby noticed a board that had wheels. She kicked it and Curio accidentally stepped onto it, sending him falling into a pile of barrels and crates.
Riley and Koda targeted Wrench. Together they knew they could take him on.
"Face it, Rangers. You can't beat us." Wrench easily parried Riley's attack while kicking Koda several feet away from him. "Don't even try." He threw Riley to the ground, about to stomp on him. Koda reacted quickly by jumping at Wrench and returning the kick from earlier. Wrench also fell into several barrels from the attack.
The only person left to take on Spellbinder was Tyler. This wouldn't be a challenge for him. Besides, his mind-controlled aces would soon be here.
"My spells are impossible to resist." Spellbinder grabbed onto his cape and blocked all of Tyler's throws and kicks.
"Nothing is impossible."
Spellbinder tried to sweep Tyler's feet out from under him but Tyler flipped over the attack. "We'll see about that." He was quite bored with fighting Tyler and used Tyler's momentum against him, causing him to lose his balance and stumble to the ground.
His friends also lost their battles and were thrown near him as well. All of them were slightly sore from the landing but immediately attempted to push themselves up off the ground. They weren't going to get anywhere with this.
"We've got to try the Dino Spike." Tyler stated.
Koda shook his head. "But...need Chase."
Curio and Wrench stand on either side of Spellbinder, ready to observe the plan Spellbinder would enact without interfering.
Spellbinder had enough fun. "Your turn!" He focused on each Ranger and fired a single shot for each one from the pendant. He was successful and hit all of them...expect for Shelby, who had dodged her shot and ducked around a stack of crates.
"Oh, no." Shelby looked over and saw that Koda, Riley, and Tyler had been hit, their eyes now bright yellow.
"That's right, Rangers. You're mine now, just like your friend." Spellbinder motioned over at Chase, who had finally reached his master.
"Chase?" Shelby called out, hoping he would say something.
Spellbinder did a double take. "What? The Jedi isn't here? She must have used her "magic" to break the spell." It didn't matter to Spellbinder. The Jedi was not here which meant she was out of the picture. That left only one Ranger to deal with. His mind then came up with a very evil idea. Sure, he was going to be out one Ranger to bring back to Sledge but four Rangers was good enough. "It's time to end this."
"What is your command?" Chase said without any feeling.
"Destroy her."
Chase slowly turned to look at who Spellbinder was pointing at. Sure enough, there was a girl around his age peering out from behind some crates. He had his orders and he wasn't about to disobey them.
Shelby stood frozen. Her friend was slowly walking closer to her, his piercing yellow eyes never once shifting their focus off of her.
"No, Chase!"
He took another step towards her.
"Fight it."
And another.
"Concentrate."
He shook his head at her attempts to sway him. "You defied my master." He reached behind him and swung his Morpher out, aiming it directly at Shelby. "I must obey." He kept walking closer to her. He wanted to make sure that his shot was point blank, so that he had no chance of missing his target.
Shelby glanced down at her friends. They were all struggling to fight off the spell. Moira wasn't here to help her out either. She was on her one for this one. She had one idea. It was risky and if it didn't work, she was as good as dead. It was the only thing she knew she could do at this point. Shelby bolted from her cover and ran over to a board that had wheels on it, like the one she had used earlier on Curio. She tossed it onto the ground and kicked it towards Chase. Luckily for her, the board slipped under his right foot. Unluckily, she was trapped in a corner, surround by numerous crates and barrels. She prayed that the board would be enough for Chase to pull himself through.
Chase was starting to lose his balance. He placed his other foot onto the board as he refocused the Morpher onto Shelby. It didn't matter whether he walking or rolled towards her. As long as he got within a foot of her, he would be able to complete his master's wish.
Spellbinder had remained in the same spot. He had the perfect spot to witness everything about to go down. However, he was growing rather impatient with the Black Ranger. He just wanted him to kill the girl already. "Destroy her! I command you!"
Chase heard the words but this time, he didn't agree with them. He couldn't focus on that. Instead, he focused on the fact that he was moving but his legs weren't. He knew this. I'm...on a skateboard? His mind instantly cleared. "What the hell?" He saw he was about to run right into Shelby and stopped himself by grabbing onto the barrel next to her.
He only looked at Shelby for second before spinning the board abound and aiming his Morpher at his new target. It was time to end this, once and for all.
"Command this." Chase smirked at Spellbinder. He was about to get revenge and it felt great.
Curio, Wrench, and Spellbinder all flinched. Spellbinder's sure-fire plan had failed. "No!"
Chase pulled back the trigger. His aim was true. It hit the pendant dead center, the explosion sending Spellbinder flying clear across the building and releasing the spell on Koda, Riley, and Tyler. Chase took a moment to breathe. He then helped Shelby stand up from her defensive position.
"Good on ya, Shelby. That was quick thinking."
Shelby smiled at him. "Good to have you back."
"Thanks."
Koda, Riley, and Tyler ran up to them, all of them glad that Shelby and Chase were both alright. A quick glance around and Tyler asked, "Where'd he go?"
Wrench pulled himself out from a pile of rubble. "Oh, no. They've broken the spell. What should we do?"
Curio silently gets up from the floor while Spellbinder does the same. Spellbinder was enraged. The pendant he had stole no longer held any magic and had crumbled in from the Morpher blast.
"I may not be about to control you, but I'll still destroy you."
"Sorry," Chase was ready to finish Spellbinder permanently. "But your time is up. It's morphin' time! Dino Charger!"
They all pulled out their chargers. "Ready!"
"Energize! Unleash the power!" In an instant, they were in their Ranger forms, ready for the final fight.
"Let's do this." Chase shouted confidently.
"Dino Steel, armor on!"
"Dinosaur Might, right to fight!" They shouted in unison.
"Power Rangers..." Tyler started.
"Dino Charge!" All of them finished.