Episode 10

Powerless-Part 1

"And that is how it's done!"

Jake yanked the wheel as he skidded over the finish line, the screen lighting up with a waving checkered flag and gold trophy. Gleefully, he leaped from the seat to check out the other game cubicle, where Ben was staring at the 'Last Place' screen. After crowing about 'mad driving skills', his blue car had crashed into a wall mid-way through.

"Yeah, yeah, don't get cocky," he grumbled. "The steering and the breaks are all off on this thing. If this were a real car…"

"I know, I know, we'd be going uphill, both ways in the snow," Jake said dismissively before turning to the rest with a gleeful grin. "Do I have any new challengers?"

He looked excitedly at Johnny, who until now had been content to lean on the railing and watch the others race it out. In realizing that Jake had marked him a new victim, his hands shot up in surrender.

"Oh no, leave me out of this," he warned.

Dismayed by the lack of competition, Jake slowly relented and followed the others to the table. While Hilary was intently typing away at her laptop, Ray looked half-asleep while resting his head on the table. "Rough night, buddy?"

"Huh?" Ray replied groggily, "What? Sorry, I was up all night finishing that Biology paper."

"Umm dude?" asked Jake, "I know that I'm not one talk, really, I'm not. But you do know that you're usually meant to start before the due date, right?"

"It's funny, I was thinking the same thing, but I was a little bit preoccupied with all the rampaging monsters and robots trying to destroy the city," Ray grumbled. "It just feels like being a Ranger is the only thing in my life right now, and everything else is just my imagination. And then suddenly it's not my imagination and I have a term paper due the next day."

The others sighed and nodded in sympathy as they slumped down in their seats. Despite their high from defeating Gideon in the city square, the last few weeks had been incredibly busy. Gideon seemed hellbent on refusing to let them rest, sending out a monster to destroy every few days. Even with Kyle now on the team, they were having a hard time keeping up. Having secret identities only made it more difficult, because their normal lives refused to slow down in response.

With everything piling up, there were times when Ray caught himself wishing that none of this had ever happened. That he'd never followed his friends into the abandoned factory that fateful night. That Doc had never presented them with their Morphers. That Gideon wasn't looming over the city, threatening to attack at any moment.

He wanted a break, just one. A chance to catch his breath and get back on top of everything else. But between schoolwork, both there and at home, band practice, and martial arts training, Ray just couldn't see where he was ever going to find one.

In a bid to distract himself, he looked over at Hilary, who was so engrossed in her laptop that the hot tea she'd ordered thirty minutes beforehand was untouched and stone cold. At the very least, she was happy to help get his mind off things.

"Hey Hil, what are you up to?"

"I'm trying to figure out how I can add some more firepower to our Ranger suits," she explained, not even looking up from the screen. "I mean, we have the small blasters, but it's not like they do a lot. And as strong as the Data Blaster is, it's pretty cumbersome when we get down to it. Being down a team member makes us really exposed, not to mention the time it takes to assemble."

"Got any ideas so far?" asked Ray.

That question got her to look away. Maybe it was the topic itself, or maybe it was sensing Ray's genuine interest, but Hilary's face lit up as she started sharing more details about her design.

"I'm thinking of some sort of armor with guns. Like, lots of guns," she said excitedly. "Something that gives a ton of protection while still packing a punch. I'm also thinking maybe adding a jetpack, that way it can still move about easily."

That sounded amazing. Powers like that could go a long way in tipping the balance back in their favor. It sounded so good, it was almost too good. And if Hilary had already figured out what she wanted and was typing as furiously as she was, then it could only mean one thing…

"I feel a 'but' coming."

"Yeah," Hilary admitted sadly. "I have absolutely no idea how we could incorporate it into our Ranger Powers. The data load's pretty intense, and that's not even accounting for the energy requirements. I just don't see how I can get it working without pulling apart our Morphers and installing additional power sources and secondary transmitters."

"Why are you making that sound like a bad idea?" Ben asked, although with the look she shot back he immediately himself for her reply.

"It would mean taking our Morphers completely out of action," Hilary explained. "Meaning no Ranger powers until we'd get upgrades installed. And given how aggressive Gideon's been recently…"

The others nodded slowly. Any upgrades were starting to feel like a pipe dream. They barely had time to maintain their current equipment, let alone make it better.

"Couldn't we get Doc to program them in?" asked Johnny, trying to defuse the situation before the twins began to argue, again, "You know, like he did with our cycles?"

"I thought about that," Hilary replied. "So far Doc's still been working with adjacent systems. Things that were easily designed to integrate into the Ranger suits. Even our Data Cycles were a pre-existing plugin program he'd already designed, just fully integrated. But this is almost a completely independent weapons platform. I'd be like trying to mesh oil and water."

"So basically, at the moment you have no idea how it's going to work?" concluded Jake

"Pretty much."

Ray sighed as he put his head back down on the table. So much for that hope.


Kelgar roared as he slammed his claws across the desk, scattering its contents to the floor.

Another virus destroyed! More Byte-Bots wasted! And every time they thought they had the jump on the Rangers, just when they had the upper hand, the technicolored brats would pull through with some 'power of friendship', or whatever, and annihilate the monster yet again.

To make matters worse, they were swiftly running out of all the Byte Bots they'd created for the city invasion. With surplus running low, Kelgar knew they'd back down to their original numbers. Numbers that he knew would not be sufficient.

"Is there a problem, Kelgar?" Gideon mused, stepping into the lab and noting the mess.

The monster maker kneeled in his master's presence. "No, Master," he insisted. "Of course not. What can I do for you, my lord?"

The master of evil looked upon the chaos in amusement. "I need a new virus," he said dryly.

Because of course he did.

"Master, with all due respect," Kelgar began, hesitantly bracing for the angry reply to the truth. "Perhaps we should inquire into other means of destroying the Rangers? So far, they've succeeded in destroying every monster we've sent their way."

But Gideon didn't so much as flinch, nor did his brow crease into a scowl that usually accompanied an alternative suggestion. Instead, he merely smiled. "But of course. All part of the plan, Kelgar."

Kelgar stopped, surprised at master's calm demeanor. Usually, he'd be furious at every defeat. The night they'd retreated from the square had been the greatest of his rages, and yet in the battles since their master had been quiet.

"Master?"

"Our failure to take control of Cranston City was a setback," Gideon conceded. "A defeat for which the Rangers will pay dearly. But their victory revealed to me that their greatest strength is also their biggest weakness. Tell me Kelgar, how many victories have occurred because of the timely arrival of one of their teammates?"

Kelgar stopped to think. Bug-Eye, Pork-Chop. Even their attack on the square.

"They're strongest when they're together," Kelgar realized.

"Yes," Gideon continued. "But that strength is built upon a house of cards. Impressive, but flimsy. You remove one card, and the whole structure will come tumbling down."

Gideon wandered over the Kelgar's station, where the designs of the last virus destroyed by the Power Rangers were still spinning on the screen.

"For the last weeks, Kelgar, I have had you send a non-stop assault of virus'," Gideon admitted. "Not because I felt that they would destroy the Rangers, but because each victory would take its toll. By now, the Rangers will be exhausted, and the time has come to remove a card and bring them all crumbling into a heap."

Slowly, Kelgar rose to his feet, the reality of his master's plan beginning to dawn on him.

"You're going to make me another virus, Kelgar," Gideon instructed. "And this one is going to be very special indeed…"


As the Shak approached closing time, the five stepped out into the main street, the auburn sky falling on the horizon as the shadows of dusk began to grow. It was quiet, for once. Maybe, just maybe, Ray hoped, it was a chance to catch up on himself.

"Go home and get some sleep Ray;" Hilary suggested.

"Yeah," Johnny agreed. "We'll call you if anything comes up."

"Thanks, guys."

But just as he was about to turn the corner and head home, their Morphers started beeping. With a groan, Ray turned back to his friends.

"No rest for the wicked I guess," He commented as he pulled it from his pocket and answered, "Hey Doc, what happening?"

"A lot's happening," came the reply. "Looks like our new friend Mileena and her goons are attacking the Park. How close are you?"

"We're just down at the Shak," said Ben. "So, we're not too far."

"Good, I'll send Kyle to back you up."

Closing the line, Ray watched as his friends also retrieved their Morphers.

"Looks like our weekend's starting with a bang," he sighed, raising his own to signal the others. "Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Data Squad! Digitize!"

The light surrounded them, forming the suits and encasing their faces in the helms. Moments later they lunged into action, greeted at the park by a writhing horde of Byte-Bots. They wasted no time, leaping into the fray with weapons drawn to start pushing foot soldiers back. Seeing her in the crowd, Ray jumped in front of Mileena.

"What's the deal?" he demanded as he swung. "Ever heard of a nine-to-five week?"

"Never really appealed to me. I'm service and devotion at all hours."

She blocked the blow and pushed him backward, following up with an assault of her own. Beside him, the others were getting swarmed, weapons swinging in all directions as they cleared the numbers of Byte-Bots. For now, he was on his own.

He parried her attack, shifting his balance before swinging low. Mileena dodged by flipping into the air, summoning an emerald blade that seared toward him, exploding on the ground as he leaped from harm. He landed in a crouch, readying to pounce right back when suddenly a pair of lasers blasted from behind him and slammed into Mileena's breastplate. The blasts knocked her backward, somersaulting through the air and smashing into a grounded landing with a seething hiss.

"Figured you could use a hand," Kyle laughed, leaping beside Ray in his olive-green armor and drawing his purple energy blade.

"You just had to go for dramatic timing, didn't you?" Ray shot back. As the two of them turned to face Mileena the other rangers rushed in to join them, the Byte-Bots they'd been facing now nothing more than a pile of ruined parts.

But Mileena did not look worried in the slightest.

"This looks a bit unfair; don't you think?" she laughed with the snap of her fingers. "I think it's time I evened the odds a little."

Right on cue, there was a flash of green, and suddenly a virus appeared behind her. A giant aerosol can with a lightning bolt splashed across his chest.

"We call him the Blackout," she announced before adding darkly. "He looks like a bug zapper because he's excellent at destroying pests."

"You know," Ray warned. "Jokes usually aren't funny if you have to explain them."

"That maybe we should demonstrate," Mileena sneered. "Get them!"

The group split, Kyle and Ray charging straight for Mileena, while the other four moved to keep the virus at bay, both somersaulting from harm's way as she unleashed another blade of energy. With the strike booming behind them, they went on the attack, swords swinging restlessly as her own flashed to parry. But the two still weren't used to fighting together, their moves lacking synchronicity despite their strength. An inexperience Mileena was quick to exploit.

Her sword danced between the blows, carving across Kyle's armor and knocking him to the ground. With his teammate down, Ray didn't relent, amping up the pressure as he forced her back on defense. She stumbled and Ray seized his chance, slashing his sword into her chest, the blade sheering against her breastplate in a searing rain of sparks. The blow sent her soaring, skidding backward as her feet ground against the earth, barely recovering in time for Kyle to recover and rejoin the fray.

"Ready to finish this?" he asked.

"You bet!" replied Ray

But off to the side, the four were in trouble. Hilary had lunged in first, a flurry of strikes to keep the monster off balance. But Blackout didn't seem bothered at all, in fact, it had simply stood there to let her. As the sais sheared off its metal skin with barely more than a spark, its arm lashed out, clobbering her across the helmet to send her spinning into a tree. Johnny and Jake closed in next, flanking from the sides with their power weapons poised to strike. But its clunky form was surprisingly quick, grabbing both staff and axe in its hands and hurling them backward into Hilary.

"Let's see how you like this!" it cackled, unleashing a torrent of laser fire that peppered their suits and sent them flying.

Last up was Ben, using the distraction to gain some traction, vaulting into a good runup, and soaring into the air with his hammer. But without his teammates to hold it still, he was far too exposed. Blackout dodged his strike, swinging around to strike Ben upside the head and send him reeling into his teammates.

Electricity started arcing around it, drawing inwards to the nozzle at the top of its head as the energy pulled together.

"Time to finish this!' it roared.

The energy above was blinding, crackling with the intensity of a thousand birds taking flight. Ray whipped around from his fight with Mileena, eyes widening as he saw what was about to happen. Then, as the four of them struggled to their feet, Blackout unleashed its dreadful power, a torrent of searing lightning splitting the air toward the clustered Rangers.

Ray didn't even need to think, desperately leaping to keep his friends from harm. His feet skidded as he landed right into the path of the oncoming lighting. Less than a heartbeat later, it struck him.

The energy tore through him, searing heat cracking at his suit as it burned through into his skin. Smoke singed from limbs as the electricity engulfed him, swirling into a tornado of energy that kicked and ripped at all exposed.

"RAY!" Hilary cried, helpless to watch their Red Ranger torn apart by Blackout's devastating attack.

All Ray could do was scream as the power was torn from his body, his Ranger suit dissolving at the seams, the energy around him growing and growing as it built to climax. Then, just as his suit had completely disintegrated, the force detonated, a huge column of fire that sent Ray flying back, tumbling along the grass with smoke wisping from his body. In a flash of red, the remnants of his Ranger suit vanished.

The Rangers rushed to his side.

"Ray!" Hilary pleaded, "Ray!"

Groggily he came to, his bruised and battered body slowly rising to his feet. His vision is blurring, balance barely holding as every limb tingled like a thousand knives had been scraped across them. But nothing was broken, and even as he lay there the pain was beginning to dull, and his senses were returning to normal.

"Are you okay?" Johnny asked, offering a hand to pull him up.

"Yeah, I think so."

But then he looked at his Morpher. Hot to the touch, the red device was now scorched completely black, cracks littering its surface as sparks kicked out from within. One of the communicator buttons had completely disintegrated, while the screen was shattered beyond recognition.

"Data Squad!" He called out "Digitize!"

But nothing happened.

"Data Squad!' he tried "Digitize!"

"Uh Oh!" Blackout cackled. "Did I do that?"

"Perfect;" smirked Mileena, before turning to the monster. "Now, for the rest of them!"

"Guys, we need to get out of here," Kyle warned.

"Right!"

While Ray watched from behind, the rest of the team snapped out their blasters and released a carronade of blaster fire. The warrior and virus braced themselves, shielding their eyes from the smoke caused by the tiny explosions.

By the time the air cleared, the Rangers were long gone.


The Rangers ran until Mileena and Blackout were long behind them, summoning the Data Cycles to carry them the rest of the way. Ray rode on the back of Hilary's, his body exhausted and barely hanging on.

They ran straight to Doc's terminal when they skidded to a stop inside the warehouse, immediately handing him Ray's Morpher for a diagnostic. Doc could only stare at the ruined device in horror, and the following analysis did not bear any better news.

"So, what's the verdict?" asked Ray anxiously.

Doc looked up from the Morpher with a solemn look on his face. "It's fried."

"Fried?"

"Somehow that virus managed to overload every single circuit in your Morpher," said Doc, staring wide-eyed at the crumbled ruin of his creation. "Even the communication line's gone."

It was like something had knocked him from his feet, the world around him spinning as Ray started to realize what that meant. His Ranger powers: they were gone.

"Can you fix it?" Hilary asked.

"Luckily the transmitter between this and the Digitizer is pretty resilient," Doc admitted. "There aren't many EMPs strong enough to take that baby out. The connection to the Morphing Grid is still there, but all the mechanical components will need to be replaced."

"How long will that take?" asked Ben impatiently

"With everything Gideon's throwing at us right now? Could be a few days."

"What?" Johnny exclaimed, "No way, we can't be down a Ranger for that long!"

"I can't make time go any faster, Johnny," Doc said curtly. "And if I had some mystical power that could stop Gideon from sending monsters at us, I'd have used it by now."

The argument continued, but to Ray, their voices faded into muffles, the room spinning into a daze as he just sat there, staring.

A few days. At least.

He knew when Doc was being optimistic, when he was hoping for the best-case scenario instead of thinking of the worst. Thinking of the possibility that he wouldn't be able to fix Ray's Morpher at all.

That he'd never be a Power Ranger again.

But as he sat there, his whole world reeling, another thought crossed his mind, a realization that he cursed himself for having. A thought that wouldn't quieten no matter how hard he tried to push it away.

Was that so bad?

"So that's what hit him?" Hilary asked. "An Electro Magnetic Pulse?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"What's going to happen if we face that thing again?" Kyle realized.

"I don't know," Doc admitted. "For now, if you see it, you run. We can't afford to be down any more Rangers."

No, they couldn't. And that meant they needed to focus on the problem before them. They didn't have time to be preoccupied worrying about him.

They needed to face reality; the future without him on the team.

He stared over to Ben, then at Johnny. Both had their pros and cons, but both were better than a boy pulled at the seams with no powers.

He took a dime from his pocket and flipped it.

Heads.

"Johnny," he said. "Take good care of them.

And then made he walked out of the warehouse without saying another word.