Part Nine
Chapter Four
The tunnel sloped down sharply for about ten metres, before the Rangers stepped through a narrow entrance into the underground temple. It was gigantic. The stone ceiling was high above their heads, held up by two enormous columns in the middle of the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was an entryway to a second room that seemed even grander than this one. A stone door separating the two chambers was held open by a strong chain, anchored to the ground in the second room. Both chambers were illuminated by banks of freestanding lights, connected to portable generators nearby. The light was flickering and harsh. Despite this, the temple was darker and colder than it should've been. The strange whispers only grew louder, yet the Rangers could see no signs of life.
"Definitely a fixer-upper," Zac murmured.
Billy ran his hand over the stone wall. "It's not smooth," he said, feeling traces of ridges under his gloved fingers. Playing a hunch, he looked down. There was too much dust and rubble on the ground. "There were carvings here, but somebody chiselled them away."
"The Shadow King covering his tracks," Tommy said.
"It's the one thing he's good at," Zac said.
"But no sign of the torch," Kim said.
"Or the missing scientists," Trini added.
"Let's try the other chamber," Jason said.
Once again, Tommy walked on ahead. Jason was just about to tell him to wait when a swarm of dark figures roared down from the ceiling. Shadowy claws lashed out at Tommy, throwing the White Ranger into the wall in a shower of sparks. The other Rangers scattered, diving to safety behind the columns as the shadows disappeared back up into the ceiling. Kim and Jason raced over to help Tommy to his feet.
"What the hell was that?" Tommy asked.
"Shadow demons," Jason said. "We should've guessed."
Kim glanced to the roof to see three pairs of glowing eyes staring at the Rangers. But in the flickering light, she realised the creatures hadn't used claws to attack. They seemed to be holding tools in their arms. She looked over to the freshly-chiselled temple walls, and realised the truth.
"Not shadow demons," she said quickly, and pointed to the ceiling. "Look! That one has a pick, and that looks like a shovel. It's the missing archaeologists!"
The three shadows rushed back towards the Rangers, lashing out at the heroes as they ducked and leaped out of danger. One of the creatures smashed into Jason, throwing him away from Kim and Tommy before fixing them with a glowing stare. The creature had a distinctly-female body shape. "Yes," the creature hissed. "We stole their names and took their souls!" With that, the creature vanished behind one of the columns.
"Then we need to get them back again," Kim said, and raised her communicator. "Alpha, you there?"
"Yes Kimberly, loud and clear!" Alpha replied.
"Thank goodness," the Pink Ranger breathed. "Alpha, we need the names of the missing scientists. Start with the woman."
There was a pause as Alpha pulled up the information. "Linda Welling," Alpha said. "The other three are Daniel Carver, Lucas Ellis and Scott Barrett."
"Alpha, you're a gem," said Kim.
Across the chamber, Trini and Billy were trading blows with the second creature while Zac was fighting the third. The first shadow demon peered around the column and then rushed towards Jason and Tommy. The boys moved to attack but Kim raised her arms. "Hold on," she said. "Let her get close. I've got an idea."
Sensing easy prey, the creature roared down towards them, when Kim stepped forward and grabbed the creature's arms, holding it firmly in place.
"This is not you," Kimberly began, keeping her voice as level as possible. "Your name is Linda Welling. You are a world-renowned archaeologist, and whatever the Shadow King put in your mind, you are stronger than him. Do you hear me?"
The creature blinked, then the shadow around her evaporated like a fog lifting, leaving a confused and disoriented scientist in its place. Linda Welling looked around groggily. Seeing the Rangers, her eyes went wide. "Power Rangers?" she asked.
"Good to see you Doctor Welling," Kim began. "It's going to be okay." Doctor Welling nodded, and Kim continued. "We need to know. What happened to the torch?"
"The torch?" Doctor Welling repeated. "I'm not sure. Wait, uh, Dan. Daniel had it last, he took it into the second chamber," and she pointed to the doorway on the opposite wall. "He was trying to get it away from us. Then everything got dark, and so cold. That's the last thing I remember."
"Thank you," Kim said, then raised her voice. "Tommy, go!"
With Billy and Trini still fending off the other two shadow creatures, Tommy raced towards the doorway to the other chamber, with Jason and Zac a step behind. As Tommy charged into the second room, a shadow rose up before him and lashed out. Without missing a beat, Tommy's hand snapped up and caught the creature's arm.
"Daniel Carver," Tommy said, and the monster froze. "I don't know you, but I know you are better than this, and we are going to get you out of here."
The creature's eyes flashed and the shadows began to fade. With his free hand, Tommy grabbed the archaeologist's collar and dragged him clear of the dissipating shadow, throwing the scientist behind him where Zac caught him. With that, Tommy reached for Saba and held the sword high.
Jason realised what Tommy was about to do. "Tommy, don't!" the Red Ranger shouted. He dived for the doorway but he was too late. Tommy slashed Saba for the chain holding up the door, instantly severing the links. The stone door fell to the ground with a thundering crash that shook the temple, slamming shut in Jason's face and sealing Tommy into the second chamber.
"Damn it," Jason swore.
A few metres away, Daniel Carver was slowly regaining his senses. "Where am I?" he asked softly, before his gaze focussed on the Black Ranger keeping him upright. "Black Ranger?" he asked.
"We're getting you out of here, c'mon," Zac replied. Still holding onto Daniel, Zac reached for Linda's arm, and half-carried and half-dragged both scientists into the tunnel leading to the surface. A shadow flew after them, but Trini stepped into the creature's path and took a gamble.
"Lucas!" she called. The shadow lashed out without stopping, forcing the Yellow Ranger back before flying around the nearest stone column and closing in again. Trini held her ground. When the shadow creature was close, she tried again.
"Scott Barrett!" Trini said. "Enough!"
The shadows evaporated and Scott Barrett crashed to the ground, rolling to a stop at Trini's feet. She helped him up.
"Get him out of here," Jason said, and nodded to Kim and Billy. "We'll deal with the last one. Go!"
Trini nodded and helped Scott out of the temple. Jason, Kim and Billy immediately fell back-to-back in the centre of the room, scanning the ceiling.
"There!" Kim shouted. A dark shape roared down from above towards the three Rangers. But this one was bigger and faster than the others. As the creature closed in, Jason held his ground and raised his voice.
"Luc…" he began, but the shadow monster came to a sudden stop and roared an angry scream that shook the temple walls. It was so loud it drowned out Jason's voice and made their ears ache. Finally, the creature rushed past them, launching all three to the ground before disappearing into the roof. Only then did the noise stop.
"Great," Jason groaned, as they climbed to their feet. "Sonic-based attack."
"We'll never get close enough to snap him out of it," Kim said.
Billy reached for his blade blaster. "I've got an idea," he began, and aimed the blaster for the nearest wall. "Can you keep him occupied?"
"We'll do what we can," Kim replied.
With a roar, the creature dived down towards them on a course straight for Billy. Jason took to the air with a powerful spin kick, forcing the creature to whip around one of the columns. Jason found his footing as the beast lashed out at the Pink Ranger, but Kim somersaulted to safety, keeping out of range. Jason leaped forward, but the creature grabbed his arm and launched him into the wall, before extending a shadowy arm and sweeping Kim off her feet.
Even as she fell, Billy grabbed the beast, holding him in a vice-like grip. Dragging him around, Billy forced the creature to look at the wall. The words LUCAS ELLIS faced the beast, carved into the wall seconds ago with Billy's blade blaster. The beast's gaze focussed on the name. A second later, his eyes grew wide and his shadowy cloak disappeared. With that, Doctor Ellis collapsed into Billy's arms, dazed and confused but okay. Billy let out a sigh of relief as Jason and Kim jogged over.
"That was your idea?" Jason asked.
"Affirmative."
"Good job," Kim said. "That was awesome."
Billy helped Doctor Ellis steady himself. "Come with me, Doctor Ellis," Billy said. "Your colleagues are waiting for you."
"Is everyone okay?" Doctor Ellis asked softly.
"Let's find out," Billy replied. He helped the still-trembling scientist over to the tunnel, leaving Kim and Jason alone in the temple.
Jason turned back to the stone door. "I can't believe Tommy locked us out," he said. "What was he thinking?"
"He wasn't trying to do it himself," Kim said patiently. "The torch would've brought out our worst nightmares, remember?"
Jason realised the truth. "He was trying to keep us safe," the Red Ranger said, immediately deflating. "Damn it. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Kim said. "I was thinking before, I bet I know what Tommy's worst nightmare is."
"And we can't leave him in there to face it alone," Jason nodded. "C'mon. The door was a metre thick, but there has to be another way into the chamber."
To be continued.