Ray had barely made around the corner when a column of air whooshed past him, a black streak surging in front and skidding into Johnny.
"What did you mean by that?" he demanded, desperation leaking from his voice. "What did you mean when you said, 'they're all yours'?"
"Someone's got to lead them, Johnny," said Ray sadly. "I couldn't decide between you and Ben. So, I flipped a coin. You came up heads, sorry."
"But you're going to be back, right?" Johnny asked. "It'll just be a couple of days until Doc fixes your Morpher."
He could hear the pleading, the hope that all of this was temporary. But Ray knew it just as easily wouldn't be, and as Ray looked the Black Ranger dead in the eyes, he watched as Johnny's hope shattered behind them.
"I think it'd be a good idea if the team got used to me not being around," he said. "Come on Johnny, read the writing: I'm not cut out for this. Half the plans I come up with land dead on arrival, and we end up winning on sheer luck more than any actual skill. Today was a sign, and I need to walk away."
Johnny stared back at him, mouth slowly hanging open in disbelief. "You can't honestly tell me you believe that?"
"I do," said Ray. "Today proved it, they set a trap and I walked us all straight into it like I do every time."
"And we got away," Johnny snapped back. "We'll figure something out, we always do."
"And am I really the best person to do that? Or would someone else be better for the team?
"Ray, we can beat them, just wait until your Morpher's fixed, and we'll take this guy out."
"And then what?" Ray snapped. "Do you think Gideon will just go away? He's not going to stop at another defeat. He's not going to stop until we're all destroyed! Meanwhile, our lives are getting jerked around because he doesn't give us a second to breathe! And I can't help the team if I'm being torn in all directions. They don't need me, Johnny. They need you."
Johnny took in a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to return to calm.
"Look," he said. "You're not thinking straight. You're stressed, sleep-deprived and you've just had a massive shock. If you just stop to think for a moment-"
"No, I'm thinking pretty clearly," said Ray coldly. "You're the best person to lead the team. You're already their best fighter, they could learn from you."
"I'm not the best fighter," Johnny snorted. "You beat me, at the So-Cal Tournament, remember?"
"I got lucky," Ray replied.
"No, you didn't."
Which meant he'd just have to do it the hard way. His foot skimmed the ground, scaping the cement to lean on his rear leg as his fists rose into a guarded stance. "Then prove it."
By this point, Johnny's stare of disbelief was threatening to become permanent. "Don't be stupid, I'm not going to fight you."
"What the matter, scared I'm right?" Ray taunted. "That if you beat me, you'll be out of excuses not to step up?"
"You'll just hold back."
"No, I won't," Ray promised. "And you won't either."
The two boys stared each other down, neither refusing to budge. Then, Johnny moved, hands rising above his head as he too moved into position.
Both stood very still, neither of them wanting to make the first move, to make an opening for the other. Nothing around them made a sound, even the wind silently skimming past them, awkward as it scooped a discarded plastic bag that tumbled across the gap. Ray's gaze narrowed, fist curling tighter.
Then Johnny lunged.
He vaulted forward, launching a kick so quickly that Ray only just had enough time to dodge. With his opponent soaring past, he retaliated with a strike to the side, Johnny's wrist flashing to block as he landed. Then Ray spun, launching a kick with his other leg as Johnny's hands snapped out to catch it.
Perfect.
Ray reefed himself backward, his spare leg careening towards Johnny's chin. The Black Ranger let go, barely leaning back in time as the sneaker threatened to skim his face.
Ray handspringed back to his feet and snapped his guard back up, ready for another go.
"Stop messing around," he demanded. "Quit trying to hit me and hit me!'" Johnny lunged again, this time launching into a flurry of punches that Ray slapped away. "You're still holding back!"
By now the others had started to come out, Hilary gasping as she saw the two boys fighting. But the other Rangers all knew better than to try and get between them.
Moving back to the offensive, Johnny threw another punch, only for Ray to catch it midair. The hand snapped to Johnny's shoulder, pressing him forward in a painful lock. But now Ray was too close, and his arms were all tied up.
Using Ray's proximity to his advantage, Johnny's snapped behind the opposing leg. He thrust it inwards, sweeping from beneath as he released the lock and spent Ray spinning.
Then, with a stumble Ray defenseless and off balance, he leaped, foot launching into a thundering arc.
An arc that curved inward, catching Ray right across the jaw.
Hilary gasped from the sidelines, watching as Ray stumbled from the blow. Slowly, he brought his hand to his cheek, feeling it tingle to the touch as the shock-delayed pain began to throb. Then he looked up to Johnny, who now simplifying was staring in stunned silence.
"I told you you could do it," he pointed out.
Johnny could stammer as he realized what had happened. "Ray… I…"
"Take care of them, Johnny," Ray said before turning the Rangers. Just like their new leader, all of them were staring, and none were saying anything, too shocked to believe what was happening. "I'm sorry guys."
And then he turned and walked away.
He braced himself for what was to come, for them to rush to his side and beg him not to go. For the rest of his friends to plead and make their case for him to stay. But they never got the chance, for just as he turned, the alarm echoed from inside the warehouse. Mileena was clearly back.
It jolted him from the daze, an instinct snapping him back, his limbs going rigid as if they too were begging him to turn around.
"Ray?"
Hilary's voice, soft and begging, cut through him like a knife, and slowly he turned to see her staring through shimmered, quivering eyes. His own were starting to blur, weighed by the gathering tears as the words caught in his chest. Across the gap, with the Warehouse behind her and the sprawling district awaiting him, they stood in a silent commune, his answer as clear as her question.
And then, with the alarm still screaming at her to go inside, she did, taking one last pained look at him before vanishing into their base.
Alone beneath the flickering streetlight, with a klaxon he had no power to answer as the only accompanying sound, Ray slowly turned and walked away from the team.
They were already by the desk as Hilary came back inside, hurrying to join them for an appraisal.
"Why were you two fighting?" she asked Johnny on approach.
"It doesn't matter," was his only bitter reply. "I'll explain later. Doc, I'm guessing our friends are back?"
"Unfortunately, yeah," Doc admitted. "Looks like they've split up into two places. The virus has gone big and is rampaging in the city, while Mileena and her goons are having fun in the main square."
"We can't just let those Byte Bots run loose," decided Johnny as he turned to Kyle, "Think you can take care of Mr. Big Stuff?"
Kyle nodded. "Piece of cake."
"Be careful," Doc warned. "We know that weapon can wreak havoc on your Morphers, but we've got no idea what it could do to Megazords."
"All right, team," Johnny decided. "Let's move out."
They all nodded, but before moving to the exit Hilary turned to Doc, producing a small USB from her pocket and handing it over to him. It was a crazy idea, but it was all she could think of. The only way she could fend off her feelings of powerlessness. And with the Morpher fried, maybe it could present an opportunity.
"Doc, when you get a chance, can you take a look at this?" she asked. "I don't know if you can do anything with it, but it might be an answer to our problem."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you."
"I've made some modifications to your Ranger suits," he called as Hilary ran to join the others. "There's a small electromagnetic layer now running around them. It won't do much in terms of normal protection, but it might be able to absorb enough of the EMP to stop it from hitting your Morphers."
"Will it stop the big attack?" Ben asked.
"It'll just throw you out of morph," Doc explained. "It's only a countermeasure to stop it from completely wrecking your Morphers."
"And we get hit by it a second time?" Jake asked.
That time Doc didn't reply.
"…right."
As Hilary stood in line, Johnny took a deep, assuring breath.
She didn't need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking, watching him psyche himself up as he readied to take charge.
"Kyle, remember," he said, voice hardening in a vain attempt to sound more authoritative. "We can't form the Server Patrol without Ray, so for now you're on your own out there."
"Don't worry," Kyle assured. "I'll be careful."
"Thank you." Out of excuses, Johnny stepped forward and raised his Morpher as the others stepped up behind him. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Data Squad! Digitize!"
"Firewall Megazord, Online!" Kyle called as the giant mech stomped into the streets.
The giant tin can spun around, arms waving as it gleefully stared him down. "What took you so long?"
"I was going for fashionably late."
Then they charged. The Megazord threw out its hulking arm, cracking down for a powerful haymaker. Then Kyle snapped up the controls, its spare arm cracking for an uppercut to stay on the offense.
But the walking cylinder didn't even flinch.
Not good.
"My turn!" it laughed. The energy started drawing inward once again before unleashing a devastating beam at the Firewall. The whole mech stumbled backward, bracing itself at the unrelenting attack. Sparks were flying from the console, the whole cockpit shaking violently as Kyle struggled to stay on his feet.
Red lights were flashing, alarm bells clanging as the Blackout continued to blast the Megazord. The whole body was convulsing as the electricity surged through the Megazord, Kyle's hands waving to shield his face as the flashes became blinding.
"Kyle, get out of there!" yelled Benson into the com system.
"I need to hold on!"
"You stay any longer and there won't be a Megazord to hold on with!"
Blackout cackled as the beam tightened and the Megazord started to crack.
"Kyle!"
"Fine!"
He slammed his hand in emergency ejection. Light burst across the Megazord, splitting into its two forms and scattering to either side of the street. Kyle hit the ground, rolling as his two Zords started dematerializing before his eyes.
"The Zords have taken too much damage," Benson warned him. "I need to call them back to recharge."
"Great, so how am I meant to deal with the big guy!"
To answer his question, the monster stared down at Kyle and laughed. "You're boring," it laughed. "See ya!"
A giant of light engulfed the sky, and the monsters disappeared, leaving Kyle to only stare at what he'd witnessed.
"Benson," he asked. "What just happened?"
Over by the square, the Rangers converged on Mileena. But as she turned to see their weapons drawn, she smiled.
"It's over Mileena!" yelled Johnny.
"Where's you Red friend?" she taunted before her face twisted into a mocking pout, "Oh, that's right. Sorry!"
"We might be down one," Johnny retorted. "But we've still got more than enough for you!"
The four Rangers charged, but Mileena merely pointed. The horde surged forward, drowning the Rangers in their numbers before they could close the distance.
Johnny twirled his staff, spinning it in a blur as a shield, leaping and sweeping to trip them. But even as the Bots hit the ground, more came rushing at him, forcing him back to jab with the end and make use of its reach.
Beside him, the others weren't faring much better. Jake's axe was carving through the ranks, but for every blow, he couldn't get closer, the gaps being plugged by more Bots the second their comrades fell. Meanwhile, the shorter reach of Hilary's sais was making it difficult for her to carve through the sea of foot soldiers.
"Ben?" yelled Hilary "Give me a hand here!"
The Blue Ranger had problems of his own. The robots swarmed around him, tightening the range to stop him from bringing down the hammer.
'"Did you ever consider that I maybe can't?" He snapped back at her. "And that's going to be the answer next time as well!"
"Guys!" Jake called out to them, narrowly avoiding another strike from a Byte-Bot. "Can you two save this for another time?"
"Stay out of this!" the twins yelled in unison.
Free from the horde, at last, Johnny rushed at Mileena.
But she was more than ready.
As he closed the gap, she stepped aside, letting him glide past her before swatting his back with her sword. He stumbled, shifting his feet to reposition and close in again. Three jabs in quick succession, all of them dodged or batted away.
"Come on, Black Ranger," Mileena scoffed. "I thought you'd at least be something of a challenge."
"I'm just getting started."
He snapped up the end of the staff, pushing her back, and pressing on the offense. He swung wide, forcing her to give ground before striking inwards, plunging the tip at her belly. But again her sword caught the blow, green energy sheering against the staff as she pulled him closer.
"Always second best," she sneered. "Shame."
She kicked him back, knocking off his balance as she leaped into the air and sliced a blade of green energy straight at him. From where he stood, Johnny was a sitting duck, the attack exploding around him as it tossed him into the air and send him sprawling to the ground.
The Rangers regrouped around him, only for the Byte-Bots to brandish their blasters. They opened fire, unleashing a barrage of lasers that crashed into the Rangers, and scattered them across the pavement.
Johnny gripped the dirt, groaning as he rose, casting a look at his teammates to see that they too were at their limit.
"What an end," Mileena laughed. "But at least you won't be miserable for long."
She raised her sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
But then her face drooped, sadistic glee being replaced with surprise as she and the Byte-Bots were surrounded by a green light. Then, they vanished, leaving the Rangers alone, battered in the square.
Johnny's hand snapped to his ear as he opened the com.
"Doc, what just happened?"
"I've got no idea," came the reply. "It's like every Byte-Bot in the city up and vanished. Even the virus is gone!"
"Why would they do that?" Hilary asked. "Why would they pull back when they were winning?"
"Whatever the reason," Johnny decided. "It isn't good."
And he didn't know whether to count themselves lucky or not. Byte-Bots. They'd been beaten by Byte-Bots! And Gideon would have been watching the whole thing.
He turned to look at the team, knowing that it was his fault. He hadn't kept them together, formulated a plan. Already Ben and Hilary were sniping at each other again.
He may have been the best fight, but it wasn't enough. They needed someone to keep going, to keep them together.
What they needed, was Ray.
"Why did you pull me out?" Mileena demanded as her feet slammed onto the deck. "I had them!"
From his throne, Gideon did not move, his pleased smile not so much as flickering as he looked down at her. "Calm yourself, Mileena."
The warrior sucked in a deep, hissing breath as she tried to contain her rage. This was what she'd been made for, what she lived for. And with the Power Rangers at her mercy, her master wanted her to simply… stop?
"Forgive master," she said bitterly. "I feel I do not understand what you wish me to do."
"Of course, you don't," Gideon mused. "I designed you to act, but the big picture has always been my burden to bear."
He stepped from his throne, bidding her to rise before wandering to the viewing window.
"When the Power Rangers defeated us in the square," he said bitterly. "It was more than just a failure for our forces. It was a humiliation. It was meant to be our grand moment, our shining achievement. And yet the Rangers put a stop to that."
"You don't just want to destroy them anymore," Mileena realized. "You want them to suffer."
"Why kill when you can wound?" Gideon said proudly. "You took out their Red Ranger; he was their rock, their lynchpin. Without him, they will fall apart, as they have already begun to do. So, we will attack them, and we will defeat them. Again, and again, and again. We will force them to suffer the same hardship that we have every time they have foiled our plans. And they are broken and defeated, when they lie at our feet, practically begging us to end it, only then we will wipe out, once and for all."
Mileena's fury dimmed, her scowl twisting into a sinister smile as she realized the true extent of the pain her master intended to inflict
"Make no mistake Mileena," Gideon assured. "The destruction of the Power Rangers is well at hand. And I intend to savor every second of it."
Back at home, Ray sullenly stepped into the hall, his house keys clinked as he dropped them into the bowl beside the door.
"Dad?" he called out.
"I'm in the kitchen!"
Following the voice, Ray stepped into the room to see his dad standing over a steaming pot.
"You're home early," his dad smiled. "I'd have thought you'd still be off hanging out with Ben."
"Yeah, yeah I was," Ray replied. "We, ah, finished up early."
"Was Hilary there?" That question came with a knowing smile.
Her face flashed across his mind, the fear of when she'd seen what happened to him, the horror of when he fought with Johnny. The sadness when he walked away.
"Yeah, she was there too," Ray replied, before cutting off further questions. "Jake and Johnny were there too."
"Wow, the whole gang."
"Yeah but, I don't think I'm going to see them for a little while."
His dad was about to cut up some fresh tomatoes but instead stopped, putting down the knife to look at his son with fresh concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's all fine," Ray lied. "I just… I really need to focus on school, you know?"
Knowing better than to push, Ray's dad shrugged as he went back to the vegetables.
"If you're sure," he conceded. "Just don't go off being a martyr, okay?"
"I won't, Dad."
Then he looked up at the stairs and realized that all he really wanted was time alone.
"I'm going to head up to my room," he decided. "Try and get on top of some schoolwork."
"Okay, I'll bring some pasta up when it's ready."
Ray thanked his father before turning around, only to be stopped again.
"Ray," his dad said softly, "You know I'm proud of you, right?"
The words cut into him, freezing him in place. Words he never knew he needed until that very second. And yet, there was something about them that settled within, a comfort he so desperately craved.
"Yeah Dad, I know."
"And you know that'll never change? That you don't need trophies, an adoring crowd, or the highest grades? I'll always be proud of who you are. So long as you're happy with who that is."
Already his vision was blurring, eyes quivering as he gulped back and nodded.
"I know," he breathed. 'Thanks, Dad."
And then he went upstairs to his room.
It was funny, it had never felt so empty until now. Plenty of furniture, some clothes draped on the edge of the bed, some on the floor awaiting pick-up. A bed, a desk, a chair. Everything he'd need, yet nothing he wanted. He moved to the window, pressing his hand onto the pane of glass that looked out onto the roof beneath and the city beyond. The city that he'd once sworn to protect. A city that no longer needed him.
He sat down on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands, finally allowing himself to think about everything that had happened that day.
But the more he did, the more memories came flooding back. The day he'd got his powers, how certain he had been that he wanted to defend his home at all costs. The night they'd spent helping Jake get through his test.
Standing with Hilary on the side of the river, enchanted by the siren silence that hung between them.
Then then the bolt of lightning sliced through his memory, the pain surging through his body as his powers were ripped away.
Sitting warehouse in the aftermath, knowing that there was nothing he could do, feel all eyes stare at him. Pitying. His eyes quivered, no longer able to hold back the tears as they trailed down his chin and into his hands.
They were better off; they'd see it eventually. And now he had to make the most of it.
But as he sat there, realizing the time he now had, he realized he had no idea what to do with it. Plenty to do, but no idea where to start. He enjoyed his music sure, and his training at the dojo. But to him, they'd never been more than recreation. Something fun to do with his friends.
But being a Ranger, that was who he was. The night he'd received Morpher, standing in front of the Byte Bots… he'd never felt more alive.
And now he had to realize who he was without them.
To be Continued…
NEXT TIME-
With their leader gone, the Data Squad Rangers scramble to defeat Gideon's latest onslaught on the city. But as Ray starts to face his life away from the team, he must face some important truths: Who is he without his powers? is his team really better off? And can he truly stand back while his friends are in peril?
Find out next time on:
POWER RANGERS- DATA SQUAD
Powerless- Part 2.
A/N: Welcome back everyone, Power Ranger: Data Squad is back for a brand new batch of episodes! It was so good to read people's messages and comments with thoughts and theories during the brief hiatus, and I'd love to hear more about where people think things are going.
Power Rangers- Data Squad updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you like what you read, you can always drop a comment to let me know, and don't forget to subscribe/ follow to find out the second I update. Power Rangers: Data Squad is a fan-made team of Rangers, and not explicitly based on any other existing Rangers or Sentai property. Until next time, may the Power Protect You.
