Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse- Chapter 5: Back in Black
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: Three more to the team
Lucy tried not to go out of her mind just a little bit. It took longer than the Rangers had expected for Hayley to hack into Mesogog's computers to get a lock on one of the portals. She had claimed one of the two available rolling chairs at the computer. Ethan had taken the other one with Kira standing behind him. Crystal took up standing behind Hayley, while Lucy had a sense that Conner stood behind her. She leaned back in her chair, the top of her head brushing his forearms.
"I've got a lock on a portal!" Hayley announced, shattering the pregnant silence that had fallen on all of us. She glanced around to see everyone smiling at her.
Conner clapped his hands, rubbing them together seconds later. "We're on it." He pushed off Lucy's chair, making her spin around until the back of the chair hit the table, making her face the Rangers. Then, he, Kira, and Ethan moved to morph.
"Remember," Hayley hollered, drawing everyone's attention. "You must reach a speed of 536 miles per hour upon entry. Otherwise, you'll never pass the security wall and probably be ripped to pieces. Did I forget to mention that?" She spoke fast. She didn't turn around but heard the silence from the three Rangers and the laughter from Crystal and Lucy as they watched. She turned around, seeing the Dino Rangers' incredulous looks. "I take that as a yes. Never fear. I have something for just such an occasion." She pressed a button on her keyboard.
A rumbling noise reverberated. A wall opposite of the Rangers rose into the ceiling. Three bikes—Red, Blue, and Yellow— leaned on their kickstands. They were bulkier than the Tsunami Cycles, painting brightly with white triangles down the bodies. Each looked like the dinosaur the Rangers' suits took after. "Sweet," Ethan commented, smiling like a kid on Christmas while eyeing his bike.
"Awesome." Kira breathed.
Conner, Kira, and Ethan walked over to the bikes. "Which one is mine?" Conner joked.
Lucy snorted, hiding her face in her hands to cover the laughter. She pushed out of the chair, walking down the small flight of stairs and over to the Rangers. "How long did that one take you?" She asked, her hands finding her hips. She leaned on one leg.
Conner turned to her, rolling his eyes. "Haha," He sarcastically laughed. "When are you not going to pick on me?"
"When you start using those few brain cells you might have in that pretty little head of yours."
"I hope you know I was kidding."
"Oh, didn't sound like it."
Conner turned to Lucy. "You know what, Brewer."
The Silver Guardian returned his stance, getting closer to his face. "What, McKnight?" Lucy felt hands on her shoulders after that.
Crystal shoved her way between the two of them. She turned my head to see Ethan and Kira gripping her shoulders. Lucy turned back to meet Crystal, who had her back to Conner. "Be very glad we aren't going." She stated, arms folding over her chest. She stared at her younger sister. "Otherwise, I'd stick you on his bike."
"Man, who knew Lucy and Conner be at each other's throats in seconds," Ethan spoke mainly to Kira. He paused. "Wait, what do you mean you aren't going?"
Lucy twisted around, facing Ethan. "If I were you, I wouldn't want friends who don't have morphers and a crap ton of powers entering a Psycho's lair."
Hayley cleared her throat, making all of the teenagers turn to her. "These were your new raptor cycles. They should have you at the portal coordinates in approximately 92.75 seconds."
Kira moved to her bike, standing on one side of it. "And when we get there?"
"You'll use your gems to access Hyperdrive, then head straight through the portal to Mesogog's island fortress," Hayley answered, watching Crystal and Lucy stand behind her.
Conner smiled at first, but an uncomfortable look sent the smile scattering. "Wait," He spoke. "Did you just say…island fortress?" He sounded utterly uncertain.
Hayley nodded. "Yes, why?"
"Well, the islands… they're…surrounded by water." Conner got out, swallowing thickly.
"Usually."
Ethan's face scrunched together in confusion; then it smoothed out to realization. "No." He turned to the Red Ranger, a stupid grin appearing. "You can't swim?" He asked, not believing the words coming out of his mouth.
Conner scoffed. "I didn't say that." He snapped, folding his arms over his chest.
"But it's true." Ethan protested, pointing at him. "You can't." He stopped after seeing Conner's uncomfortable expression.
Crystal rolled her eyes. "Hayley thinks the portal will take you directly to the island." She spoke, her eyes scanning the Rangers. "No need to get wet."
Conner seemed to think over the statements that the Golden Guardian made. He finally nodded, blinking a few times before nodding again. He smiled when Ethan patted his shoulder, muttering something about swimming. He turned to Lucy, seeing the deadpanned look that most likely told him to knock off whatever thoughts he had. He shook his head. "Whatever. All right. You guys ready?"
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Crystal leaned on her sister, laughing. She pressed a hand to her heart. "Brings back so many memories."
Lucy laughed. "Some weren't so great, so maybe not all."
The Rangers rode around, watching the doors open to a blue and purple swirling portal. "Let's hit it, guys."
"Right." Kira and Ethan nod. The three revved their bike engines, taking off seconds later, shooting out of the lab.
Hayley, Crystal, and Lucy were back at the computers a few minutes later, watching the three blimps that marked the Rangers disappear. "Hayley, we're in," Conner reported from his morpher.
"Good," Hayley nodded, rapidly beginning to type on the keyboard. "I will recalibrate your bike for your exit. You have about 5 minutes." She glanced at the two of us, seeing Crystal and Lucy staring at the screens, leaning on each other for support.
"Right." Conner acknowledged and then cut the communication.
Lucy couldn't stop staring at the small timer in the corner of the screen, blinking. It counted the 5 minutes the Rangers had to get in, get Dr. Oliver, and get out of the lab before Mesogog found out. She chewed on her thumbnail when Crystal's hands landed roughly on her shoulders, startling Lucy from her thoughts. "Sorry," Crystal muttered.
"No, I love being scared shitless," Lucy muttered, dropping her hands and tucking them into her jeans pockets. "Hey, Hayley, we should try to meet them."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Hayley spoke, rising from her chair. She moved to the silver case on one of the tables. She popped it open and spun it around for the sisters.
Sitting above the three empty slots were the Gold and Silver morphers. Lucy reached in first, grabbing the Lunar Morpher from its place. Then, something glowed a violent silver color. Sitting in one of the slots rested the silver dino gem. She picked up the rock and twisted it around. She glanced down at the morpher. "What is it?"
"The Carnotarus," Hayley answered. "Older than the Tyrannosaurus."
"Geez," Lucy muttered, staring at the morpher and seeing the head of the zord staring back. Her zord had a rounder face with a silver head and gold jaw. A red eye stared back at her. A spike, as black as night, sat above the eye. A crescent moon sat against the head, tucked behind the spike.
Hayley laughed. "The Lunezord for short." She turned to Crystal, who held the Solar Morpher in her hands. "Crystal, yours is the Kentrosaurus. The Solazord." Crystal held the morpher and the gold dino gem in her hands. The head of her morpher was pointier, the jaw a silver color while the head was gold. The eyes were crimson red near the back of the head. Like a crest, a sun is carved at the back of the head.
The computer beeped, making the three turn to see the Rangers landing. "They're in the plaza."
"On it!" The two sisters yelled, taking off to chase each other.
Conner breathed when they landed on solid ground seconds after entering the portal. He, Kira, and Ethan turned their bike around, throwing the kickstand out before climbing off and looking around. "Where's Dr. O?" Conner asked, his helmet moving back and forth. Kira, Ethan, and he managed to get out with their bikes. Unfortunately, he couldn't find their mentor.
Seconds later, thunder crackled, and Dr. Oliver landed on the ground. He glanced at the three, cradling a clear-colored rock in his arms. He turned around when he heard the army of Mesogog land behind him. Zeltrax fired off the lightning at the good doctor without saying a word. Dr. Oliver blocked the blast with the rock he had in his hands.
"Dr. O!" Conner called, a hand moving up to his visor to block the bright lights.
Dr. Oliver flew back at the force caused by Zeltrax's lightning and the rock. A blinding light shocked everyone for a moment. When they all looked back, he disappeared. The shattered remains of the stone were all that remained.
The Rangers ran forward. "Dr. Oliver!" Ethan called out.
"No!" Kira fell to her knees. "This can't be happening."
"Such negativity," Elsa commented, her sword hilt in her hand. "Haven't you learned that in our world, anything's possible?"
"Even the destruction of the great Dr. Tommy Oliver," Zeltrax added.
"I heard my name."
Everyone turned to find Dr. Oliver reappearing in nearly the same spot as when he disappeared. He clenched something in his fist, glowing dimly. The doctor smirked at Elsa and Zeltrax. "You missed me, didn't you, Zeltrax?"
The Rangers ran over to the doctor. "All right!" Kira celebrated, looking around Conner to see their mentor.
Conner glanced down at Dr. Oliver's hand. "Hey, Dr. O, what's this?" He grabbed his wrist, making the doctor open his hand.
Sitting in the palm of Dr. Oliver's hand was a black gem similar in shape and size to the Ranger's rocks. "A black dino gem," Ethan stated, then tapped the place where his chin would be. "Let me guess, the power of invisibility."
Dr. Oliver smiled at the three. "Looked like it."
"That gem belongs to my master," Elsa announced, eyes narrowing at the four across from her.
"You guys need to learn two things about Dino gems." Dr. Oliver called, stepping forward. "One, you can't choose them; they choose you."
Elsa cocked an eyebrow. "What's the second?"
Dr. Oliver lifted his arm, exposing a black and gold Dino morpher from under his long sleeve. "They look good with Dino morphers." He placed his gem in his morpher, allowing the gold and black power to wash over him.
The general didn't seem that impressed. "Aren't you a little old for this, Tommy?" Elsa snapped, eyeing the morpher carefully while her hand still sat on her sword.
"I may be old, but I can still pull it off." Dr. Oliver returned.
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Dr. Oliver's black suit had gold detailing down the sides and gold cuffs around his wrists and calves. He had gold shoulder plates that stuck out. A golden belt had a sword attached; the hilt looked carved after a Brachiosaurus. His black helmet had a crest that started at his forehead and traveled down to the nape of his neck, smoothing down along the way. His visor had pointed teeth around it.
Dino Thunder Black Ranger!
"Awesome!" Kira called out, running over to the three with the two boys in tow.
"Just like riding a bike." Dr. Oliver commented.
"One more Ranger makes no difference," Zeltrax growled, throwing an arm out.
A streak of silver slammed into the ground before the generals. A streak of gold followed. Rising from their crouches, drenched in their ninja suits, the sisters trained their eyes on the two before them. "How about two more?" Crystal asked, leaning an arm on her sister's shoulder—a morpher, gold and black, wrapped around the thin, black gauntlet she wore.
Lucy folded her arms over her stomach and leaned on one leg. A morpher, silver and black, wrapped around the thin, black gauntlet she wore. "I'm surprised that you two are so…chaotically stupid." She insulted, glancing at Crystal, who returned it with a smirk. "Everyone knows never to underestimate a Power Ranger. You would think the two generals would know that."
"You know," Crystal drawled, turning to look at her sister. "Initially, I didn't think there was a resemblance. But the more I look at your ugly mug, the more it reminds me of Zurgane…but uglier."
"You think insults are going to help you?" Elsa snapped, her hand now wrapped around her sword hilt.
"No," Lucy answered, smirking. "But they don't hurt us either."
"I don't know about you, Luce, but I am ready to get back to pounding some generals into the ground," Crystal commented, her eyebrow rising. Her smirk grew. Finally, she shifted to stand a foot away from her sister. "You ready?"
Lucy cracked her neck. "Born ready."
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
The two Rangers joined the other Dino Thunder Rangers in flashes of gold and silver.
Lucy's suit mirrored Kira's suit, but silver with white triangles down the sides of her arms and legs, stopping at her boots. Black cuffs around her wrists and the tops of her shoes. She had a black belt around her waist and silver shoulder guards. Her silver helmet sparkled in the sun. Her visor rounded around the edges, with a dip in the middle. Two black horn-like shapes pressed against the helmet above the visor. A sword pressed against her back, held together between her shoulder guard and belt, over her right shoulder with a carving of a two-legged dinosaur on the hilt.
Guardian of the Moon, Silver Ranger!
Crystal's suit matched Lucy's, but gold instead of silver. White triangles travel down her arms and legs, ending at the black cuffs of her boots. She had a black belt and black and gold shoulder guards. Her golden helmet's visor pointed at the corners and the center. Black spike-like shapes were against her helmet at the top and bottom of her helmet. She also had a sword against her back, but the hilt hung over her left shoulder, a four-legged dinosaur on the base of the hilt.
Guardian of the Sun, Gold Ranger!
"Just like old times." Crystal stated, glancing down at her new suit.
Lucy rolled her shoulders, cracking her knuckles. "Except, we're going to wipe the floor with this assholes."
"Attack!" Zeltrax ordered, pointing his sword at the now six Rangers.
Dr. Oliver shoved a Tyrannodrone back with his foot. He dodged a punch, kicking another one. He caught punch after punch, serving his own with kicks in there. He jumped off the back of a fallen Tyrannodrone, using his foot to send another back. He swept the feet from one. Just as he thought he had caught a break, Zeltrax had to ruin it. The general came in, jumping up and pushing Dr. Oliver back. The Black Ranger reached for the weapon on his belt. "Brachiostaff!"
"Let's see what you're made of."
Kira and Ethan took care of the monster in the mix. The monster kicked Ethan, blocked his punch, and threw him over Kira. The Yellow Ranger rolled to avoid being tackled and kicked. The two Rangers go in for a combination attack, but the monster jumps to prevent it.
He landed, laughing. "Later, Power Rangers." He turned around, moving to leave.
Crystal came at him, rapier drawn. She ran past him, slicing his stomach. She dodged the swing, pushing up and kicking the monster back. He tumbled to the ground. The Guardian stopped, watching the beast disappear into thin air. "Huh? That's new."
Conner had the honor of battling Elsa, avoiding all her sword swings. Conner paired, ducking and turning to avoid the kick aimed at his helmet. He stood across from the general. He struck once. Twice. Elsa blocked both. She swung low. He jumped high. The two end up pushing against each other.
Elsa snarled. "We were not intimidated by your teacher."
Conner pushed her sword over his head, holding her blade down. "Then, you've never taken one of his pop quizzes." He pushed himself back.
"Mind if I crash?"A silver streak crashed into Elsa a few times. Finally, the Lunar Guardian stopped in front of Conner, broadsword drawn. "I'm going to wipe the floor with you." She charged.
Dr. Oliver and Zeltrax stood against each other. "Give it up, Zeltrax."
"Never." Zeltrax charged, swinging high, but his ax got blocked. The two continued to swing, stop and pair, trying to land one hit on each other—Zeltrax aimed for Dr. Oliver's head. Dr. Oliver dodged but caught a kick to the stomach, sending him back by the general. "You're not all that, Black Ranger."
"Give me a break." Dr. Oliver returned. "It's been a while."
"Where is that petal pusher?" Kira asked, holding her blaster up. Ethan and Crystal trailed her, weapons drawn. They turned round the second they heard something. The three turned around to find the monster appearing behind them.
"Looking for me?"
"Who else looked that ugly?" Crystal fired. Ethan blasted him back. The monster, angry at him, flew at the Rangers. The Gold Ranger managed to dodge, but Kira and Ethan got hit.
Elsa shoved Lucy back, sending her stumbling back. She snarled, eyes trained on Lucy. Conner moved to her side. "We will meet again, Lunar Guardian." She gripped the hilt of her sword tighter.
Lucy placed her blade on her shoulder, chuckling. "I certainly hope so, General." She watched her disappear from the battlefield, twisting around to find Conner behind her. "You good?"
"Yeah." Conner nodded. "Was gonna ask you that."
Lucy breathed heavily for a second. "I'll get back to you in a few hours." She glanced down at her blade, studying it under her helmet. The blade felt heavier than her rapier and definitely shorter, but it looked identical. A double-edged blade tapered to a point with a simple silver cross-guard with the three-clawed Ranger logo brandished into the middle, just above the hilt. The hilt was mainly silver, with a strand of gold racing around before ending at a simple, round pommel. Etched into the blade, near the cross-guard, stood a dinosaur…her two-legged beast of a dinosaur, roaring to the tip of the blade.
Conner chuckled. "Yeah, you do that."
Kira and Ethan continued their onslaught of lasers at the monsters, effectively knocking him on his ass. Crystal stood behind them, her blade in her hands. She turned her head to find Conner and Lucy running to them. "What's up?" She asked, holding her sword steady.
Lucy glanced around, her helmet shining in the light. "You guys okay?" She asked, helping Kira up while Conner pulled Ethan up.
Crystal motioned to the monster with a jab of her gloved thumb. He stumbled around, dazed beyond compare. "So much better than he will be in a few seconds."
Ethan laughed at the second meaning of Crystal's statement. He pulled his shield out seconds later. "Let's put them together!"
"Good idea." Conner nodded, his staff appearing in his hands.
"Don't be a pollinator hater." The monster sang, finally steady on his feet.
The three form their blaster in seconds. Ethan and Kira knelt to hold the blaster steady while Conner stood behind them, ready to fire it. "Z-Rex Blaster. Fire!" They watched the monster explode in seconds.
A dark cloud appeared overhead, opening for purple rain. The monster stood 50 feet in the air in seconds, staring down at the Rangers before him. "Oh yeah!"
The Rangers gathered around Dr. Oliver. His morpher beeped. "Hayley?"
"Welcome back. I've got a little homecoming present for you. I found him on the north side of the forest." Seconds later, the ground began to shake. A large Brachiosaur zord, black and gold like Dr. Oliver's suit, lumbered over the bridge and through downtown. He stood taller than the other zords and bulkier. "Meet the Brachiozord. Retrieving the black gem must have awakened him." The Brachiozord roared in response.
"Oh wow." Ethan marveled.
"Wait till you see what he has inside," Hayley announced. "I think you can handle it from here."
Three different compartments of the Brachiozord opened. The top revealed the blue tricerazord. The side opened, a ramp popped out, and the Tyrannozord slid from his room. The third was on his chest, with the Pterazord flapping away from the Brachiozord once the door opened. The three primary Rangers disappeared into their zords, forming their Megazord in seconds. "Thundersaurus Megazord!"
The monster spun around, hitting him in the chest. He extended his tentacles, hitting the Thundersaurus. "Feel the love." Electricity crackled down them and through the Megazord.
Finally, it crackled in the cockpit, sending the Rangers stumbling. "We were getting rocked," Conner noted, leaning heavily on his orb.
"We could use some reinforcements," Ethan added.
Before the electricity could get worse, the tentacles were cut. "That's just nasty." Crystal's voice started from the new Dinozord standing before the Rangers. This zord matched the look of a stegosaurus. A slender, golden body was attached to taller hind legs and shorter front ones. Black spikes lined the spine of the zord, from the back of the head to the tail, with two large gold spikes on the shoulders. A yellow and orange sun rested against its forehead and on the tip of its long tail.
Another dinozord lumbered into the fight, giant tail swinging. It rivaled the Tyrannozord but larger. It had an enormous, thick silver body with a white stripe from the chest to the tip of the tail. Two short arms sat on either side of the chest, holding a shield with the merging sun and moon of the Guardians etched on it. Two large, short, golden spikes were perched above the scarlet and red eyes. Behind the black-lined eyes and spikes, a glimmering crescent moon pressed against its forehead, while the tail tip had the same moon.
A new Megazord stood in front of the Rangers. The first dinozord provided the legs and torso while it's tail detached. The second dinozord's tail broke off, and its body split into the arms. The tails of the two dinozords crossed at the back, and the head of the second dinozord created a helmet for the newly formed head of the first Megazord, with the dinozord head at the chest.
Kira leaned over to look at the Megazord. "Looking good, you two."
Lucy smirked. "Thanks." The Eclipse Megazord went for a punch, knocking the monster back. The Megazord tried to dodge the tentacles, but they wrapped around the Rangers. The Guardians yelled out when electricity skirted around their cockpit. "Ow," Lucy mumbled, leaning on her orb.
"Hayley, any more surprises?" Kira tried.
"Sure do," Hayley answered. "Lucy, try the Cephalazord."
Lucy glanced down at her morpher, watching the head flash and be replaced with a purple dino head. A gold dome on his forehead and silver spikes surrounding it. She pressed down on the morpher, making the eyes glow silver. The top compartment of the Brachiozord opened up, and a loud screeching danced in the air. A purple and silver dinozord, with a pair of golden boxing gloves instead of claws, bounced up and down through the streets. It bounced and dodged in the street before facing off against the monster. One. Two. Three punches and the beast hit the ground.
"The Cephalazord can link up with your Megazord." Dr. Oliver announced to the team. "For even more power."
In an instant, the Cephalazord replaced the Triceratops arm. The monster laughed, running at the Megazord. The Ranger returned in kind, charging him. "Cephala Power Punch!" They called. The Dino's arm repeatedly punched the monster, sending him to the sky and exploding.
"Par-tay!" Lucy cheered, tapping gauntlets with Crystal.
A few hours after the battle, the three primary Rangers found themselves at Hayley's. Dr. Oliver stood behind the couch the three were on. They turned when the door opened, revealing Lucy, Crystal, and Hunter. "What's up, losers?" Lucy laughed, rounding the oversized couch and plopping down on the loveseat beside it. Crystal took the other side of the loveseat while Hunter stood behind her, hands bracing himself on the back of the couch.
"Thinking about what a day it has been." Ethan smiled at her. "New bikes and new zords."
"New Rangers," Conner added in, then paused. "Well, sort of new." He glanced at the three returning Rangers, who all just nodded.
"Hey, Dr. O," Kira said, earning everyone's attention. "Were you going to tell us how you happen to have that morpher ready?"
"Right after you three became Rangers, I got an energy reading on the tracking system. I had a good idea it was a gem, so I had Hayley build the morpher and finish the Guardian morphers, just in case." Dr. Oliver explained.
"And the day of my gig?"
"I came to tell you that the energy had moved, and we needed to investigate." Dr. Oliver admitted, glancing at the six teenagers.
Conner nodded. "When the goon patrol nabbed you." He shook his head. "Brutal."
"Yeah," Ethan agreed.
Dr. Oliver stood straighter, glancing at his watch. "But it turned out okay. Well, I better get going."
"Going? Going where?" Hayley asked from the arm of the couch, sitting near Kira.
Dr. Oliver rounded the couch on which Conner, Kira, and Ethan sat. "I checked my closet this morning, and there's a serious shortage of black." The Rangers laughed, watching him leave.
Next Episode: Diva in Distress