Author's notes - Son of Whitebeard, yes, there's definitely a theme of this story that things get worse before they get better. I think it's always given the character of Tommy some depth, that he's always struggled with the legacy of the evil Green Ranger. Even in the main continuity, ten years later in Dino Thunder, it's something that still occupies a portion of his psyche. So in my continuity, it's also something he's struggled with, but he's made progress. I wanted to use this story to show the epilogue of Tommy's character development, you know, the place where all those years of character development have helped him reach. It'll make sense if you keep reading.
The fun part of Nyctophobia was how it continues to have a global scale. This is the first story I've ever written where the characters visit South America.
Part Nine
Chapter Two
Touching down in the Command Centre, Tommy glanced around to see that not everybody was there. He nodded greetings to the friends that were. Gosh, Kim was right, wasn't she? The twelve of us had gotten into the habit of only spending time together when the world was ending. A minute later, Teresa and Scott appeared in two streaks of white and blue. Once the twins had gotten their bearings, we looked up to Zordon.
"What is it Zordon?" Jason asked.
"It's not the Troll King again?" added Teresa.
"I'm afraid not," our mentor's voice boomed. "Although I wish it was. Rangers," and Zordon hesitated. "It's the Shadow King."
Everyone glanced to one another in a daze of collective apprehension. "It's been almost a year and we barely know who this guy is," I began. "Are we ready for this?"
"We have to be," Tommy said simply. "Zordon, what's the deal?"
"Two months ago, a team of archaeologists from the United States began uncovering the origins to a historical myth in South America," Zordon began. "The legend of an ancient torch that throws darkness instead of light, kept hidden in the lost temple of a long-forgotten god."
"I remember reading about that," Scott said. "Given we're all here, I'm guessing they found what they were looking for."
"Unfortunately yes," Zordon nodded. "An hour ago, the scientists found the temple, deep underground on the outskirts of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, there on the Pacific coast. The second they stepped foot into the temple, dark energy exploded from the tomb. It was like a bomb detonating. The energy is almost identical to the readings we saw in Normandy and Springfield. Not only are we dealing with the Shadow King, but we're facing another one of his sons."
Kim snapped her fingers. "He Who Devours Hope," she realised. "It's gonna be him. According to his brother, he was already here, biding his time and waiting for his father. It must be."
"Agreed," Zordon said. "Rangers, the viewing screen. Alpha?"
The twelve of us turned as the viewing screen flashed to life. Facing us was a modern coastal city of plazas, wide avenues, and towering apartment buildings. But the town looked like it was abandoned. Aside from flags and banners flapping in the evening breeze, nothing on the screen was moving.
"Antofagasta," Zordon said. "Current population, three-hundred thousand."
"So where are they all?" Zac asked. "Zordon, there's nobody there."
"I couldn't tell you," Zordon replied. "There's been no messages into or out of the city in the last hour. The Chilean government is discussing military intervention."
"And the team of scientists?" Teresa asked.
"No sign of them," Zordon replied. "Alpha managed to locate their radio frequency, but they've disappeared as well."
"What's the local time?" asked Brendan.
Billy glanced to a digital clock on one of the consoles. "It's eight o'clock in the morning here," he began, then frowned. "So that would make it six o'clock in the evening. The sun should only just be setting, but look at the footage. It's too dark."
Billy was right. A dark fog had settled over the city, clinging to the buildings and hiding the tallest structures from view. There was little light. The longer we looked, the more the darkness seemed to be pulsating. It almost looked like it was breathing. Jason and I turned to each other as the same thought crossed our minds. The shadows were alive.
"It's the torch," I said.
Everyone looked to Zordon. "What do we know about the torch?" Jason asked.
"Once Alpha and I knew the torch was connected to the breaking chains investigation," Zordon began, "we went back and researched the legend. It would appear the torch is another of the Shadow King's lost artefacts, like the dagger, the pendant or the crown of shadows. According to legend, the torch is ancient. Once the flame is lit, it spreads darkness. From there, the torch will bring out your greatest fears, your deepest secrets and your most painful memories. This is a dangerous weapon, Rangers, even for the Shadow King. There's no easy cure for being locked into your own nightmares. And you twelve have dealt with more nightmares than most. I imagine the entire city has fallen under its spell by now, and the torch's influence will only spread further. Rangers, to stop the torch, you'll have to put yourselves in close proximity…"
"… to our worst nightmares," Tommy said. "Great."
"One of the visions Luna showed me last month," Teresa began, "was the whole world being consumed by shadow. Maybe the torch plays into that? Maybe it's part of the Shadow King's ultimate goal?"
"I wish we could bring one of these artefacts in so we could study it properly," Trini said. "It's been months. We still have nothing tangible about any of this."
"It doesn't matter," Zordon said. "Your priority is to protect the people of that city, which will mean destroying the torch by any means necessary."
"I don't think any of us should stay behind this time," Ian said.
"I agree," Zordon replied. "I know that most of you have classes this morning, but the threat the Shadow King poses is too great. All of you need to morph and teleport there at once. We'll get you as close to the temple as we can, but with the magical interference, it's going to be difficult. The temple is located under a hill in the Atacama Desert, a short distance beyond the city limits. Once there, you need to locate the missing archaeologists, confront the third son of the Shadow King and find that torch."
"Easy," Brendan said, but we heard his voice quiver.
Tommy nodded. "Our scariest nightmares?" he said. "What else is new?"
"Okay Rangers," Jason began, raising his voice. "Let's go save that city. It's morphin' time!"
The deep blue of the Pacific Ocean flashed by as we streaked through the atmosphere towards the western coast of South America. Chile soon appeared on the horizon cloaked by the evening shadows, and we shot down towards the city of Antofagasta a second later. Touching down, we took a few seconds to gaze around. The twelve of us had landed in a paved carpark on the outskirts of the city. An apartment or office building towered over us on one side, quiet and dark, while on the other was a highway ominously free of traffic. Over the highway was a desert plain, wide and empty, with mountainous cliffs in the distance and a gentle hilltop a few hundred metres away.
I looked back to the city and tapped Jason on the shoulder. According to Billy, it was fairly early in the evening, but the city seemed abandoned. There were no sounds of people or traffic, and very few of the buildings had lights on. The few I could see were dim and flickering weakly. Darkness hung over the city, suffocating and omnipresent, clinging to the buildings and structures like a tattered cloak. The longer we stood there, the more we could hear whispers in the shadows, an ancient language we couldn't decipher coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Something is really wrong here," I murmured.
A sound reached us from several blocks away, piercing the veil of darkness. It was a panicked scream.
"We need to get moving," said Teresa.
"Junior team, head into the city," Jason began. "Protect whoever needs it. Keep as many people safe from their own nightmares as you can. We'll head into the temple, find the missing team of scientists and deal with the demigod."
"Good luck," said Sarah.
"You too," Tommy replied. The six of us dashed away, soon disappearing into the shadows of the city. The six older Rangers watched us leave, before turning to the hill rising out of the desert plain.
"Let's go," Kim said, and they sprinted away. Crossing the highway and vaulting the chainlink fence on the other side, the Rangers were soon racing through the desert. As they approached the hill, the air seemed to grow colder and heavier. It was almost like the shadows were concentrated around this part of the landscape.
"What's the plan for the torch?" Zac asked.
"It's a torch," Jason said. "If we can't extinguish it, then we can take it out into the desert or even up into space."
"We just have to get it away from the city," Trini added.
As they grew closer to the hill, they began to make out a dark cave opening in the side of the mound, about two metres wide and just as tall. Parked nearby were several large vehicles, all loaded with tools and excavation equipment. There was no sign of their owners.
"The missing scientists," Kimberly said. "They must still be here."
The Rangers came to a stop just short of the cave. Something seemed off about the whole scene. If they listened carefully, they could still hear the vague whispers, this time coming from inside the cave. But nobody could hear what was being said.
"Everyone ready to deal with their worst nightmares?" Zac asked.
Tommy nodded, and charged into the darkness. The other Rangers glanced to each other and followed after him.
To be continued.