Part Three
Chapter Four
With an angry roar, the monster swung a massive paw for the White Ranger, forcing Teresa to retreat. It lashed out again and she took to the air, leaping to safety as the creature carved out a piece of the wall behind her. Finding her footing, Teresa ducked instinctively as a massive fist flashed towards her, spinning around with a jump kick that threw the creature back. As she landed, she summoned her Power Whip with a thought. Cracking the whip for the beast's face to keep it distracted, she wrapped the whip around the overturned picnic bench with a flick of her wrist and flung it for the creature's face. The bench broke apart on impact, the blow taking the creature to the ground.
Across the courtyard, the second monster swung for Ian, but the Grey Ranger blocked the beast's gigantic arm and struck it away as Brendan kicked high beside him, forcing the monster back. While their opponent was off-balance, Ian spun around, swinging a high punch as Brendan aimed low, both attacks finding their target. The beast roared and lashed out for Brendan, but Ian grabbed Brendan's hand and swung him out of harm's way, the agile Aqua Ranger bouncing off the building and slamming his boot back into the monster's head. The creature swung in a blind rage, smashing his fist through the door of the café and ripping away a chunk of the wall.
The people inside screamed as Ian pointed to the street. "Go! Run!" the Grey Ranger shouted. The crowd needed no further encouragement, fleeing out of the building and away from the battle.
"How do we beat this?" asked Brendan, as the monsters kept their distance.
"Just keep everybody safe to buy Scott time!" Teresa called. "If anyone can figure this out, it's him!"
"Hey," Brendan said, looking around the courtyard. "You guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" asked Ian. "I can't hear anything."
"It's like a buzzing in my ear," Brendan replied. "It's saying things that it shouldn't…" When he spoke next, they could barely hear his voice. "No. I never told anyone that. Stop it."
Ian turned to his best friend, only to see Brendan backing away in fear. "Bren, what's going on? Nobody's saying anything."
Brendan gave no indication that he'd even heard him. "No, you can't know that, that's wrong," Brendan continued. "That's not true! That's not true! No!"
Ian's face fell. He glanced from the monsters to Brendan, and realised what was happening.
Brendan met his gaze for half a second. "I'm sorry," he murmured. And with a cry of pain, he was lost from view as the Aqua Ranger suddenly transformed into another of the towering monsters.
Back on the ground level of the city, Tommy had stayed with the inconsolable British tourist while Billy investigated the surrounding buildings. The restaurant behind them was deserted, but in the book shop further along the street, the Blue Ranger had found a dozen people crouched on the floor, all fading into transparency. In the hotel across the street, there were more than twenty people scattered through the building, tourists and city residents alike. Curiously, they were all in various states of immaterialness. Some of them looked solid enough until they were in direct sunlight, while others were almost invisible. But none of them were talking, and very few even acknowledged his presence.
Billy stepped outside to see Tommy talking to the young woman.
"What if this happens to you too?" the tourist asked.
Tommy shook his head and tapped the golden coin at his belt. "Our powers protect us from this kind of thing," the White Ranger replied. "Don't worry. We'll fix this. It's what we do." As Billy approached, Tommy stood up. "How'd you go?"
"Dozens of people, all in similar states of transparency," Billy replied quietly. "I see no correlation here. There's no logic to any of this. Did you learn anything?"
"No," Tommy said, and looked back to the tourist. "She can't tell me anything. I don't even think she remembers her own name at this point."
"No, that… that cannot be true."
"Yeah, it's like their humanity is being siphoned away or something," Tommy continued absent-mindedly. "And I think…"
"Please, no," whispered Billy. "That's a lie."
Tommy spun to face the Blue Ranger. "Bill?"
Billy sank to the ground, holding his head in his hands. "Don't say that," Billy murmured, his voice broken and far away. "That wouldn't… that's not right." Seeing Tommy, Billy held up his hand.
The White Ranger gasped. "Billy!"
Billy's gloved hand was transparent, the sun shining right through.
Scott marched forward. "Stop it," he said. "Stop this right now, or I will make you stop."
He Who Devours Truth's eyes glowed red with anger. "You would lay a hand on me?!" he shouted. A barrage of crimson exploded from the creature's eyes, the air sizzling with the strength of the blast. Scott took to the air as the ground ignited behind him, and slammed his fist into the beast's face with all his might, throwing the demigod back.
"Yes," Scott said. "I think I would."
The beast roared and lashed out, forcing Scott back. With the Blue Ranger retreating, the demigod charged after him, raking his claws through the air. Scott ducked one blow and stepped around a second but couldn't avoid a low kick that sent him crashing in a shower of sparks. Catching his breath, he kicked high, slamming his boot into the demigod's shoulder. The creature retaliated but Scott blocked his arm, landed a rapid blow to the creature's stomach then stunned him with a left hook. He Who Devours Truth was strong but clumsy, his moves telegraphed and slow. It was almost like he wasn't used to fighting in that body. When the demigod's eyes lit up, Scott had already leaped to safety, and before the creature could fire again, Scott dropped down before him, landing two punches to the beast's face and bruising both eyes.
With a howl of frustration, He Who Devours Truth threw himself at the Blue Ranger. Scott spun around the creature's claws and kicked high to keep the beast at bay. As he landed, he held out his hands and wordlessly summoned his Power Staff, the weapon materialising in a flash of blue. The demigod barely registered the weapon, now in a state of almost blind rage. The beast swung high but Scott blocked the blow with his staff and slammed the other end of the weapon into the monster's side. His claws lashed out for Scott's helmet, but Scott easily struck the demigod's arm away, catching his enemy on the side of the head before spinning the staff down low to take the beast's legs out from under him. Climbing to his feet, the demigod unfolded the wings on his back. Before he could escape, Scott struck at one with his staff and snapped the wing in two. Wounded, He Who Devours Truth backed away from the Blue Ranger.
"I don't care who your father is or what you're doing," Scott began, advancing on his beaten foe, "but this is over. Restore those people. I won't ask again."
He Who Devours Truth wheezed, and Scott realised the demigod was laughing. "Extraordinary," he murmured. "You punch something and think you have power over it? Let me show you what real power looks like!"
The demigod raised his arms, and Scott let out of a cry of surprise as he was enveloped by a darkness without end.
To be continued.