Green orbs glowing in the shadows, the henchmen inched closer to them, chillingly reminding Ben of the night he first saw them. They'd wanted something then, too. And just like then, he was now in their way. They stepped forward, and Ben dared a look over his shoulder, past Quesada to see that even more had dropped in from behind.
"Get behind me," Ben warned quietly, letting his weight shift on the backfoot in anticipation.
"Nice try kid," Quesada scoffed with unconvincing bravado. "You're just trying to get those photos."
"If you don't get closer," Ben replied. "Then I can't help you. And you don't want to be on your own against these things. Trust me."
By now, the bots had the bullpen completely surrounded, blocking all paths of escape. The eyes of the nearest flicked to Quesada before whirring back to Ben, fist tightening. Seemed the plan was no longer only just stopping Ben from getting the photos; Gideon was going to take them for himself. Then nothing could prevent them from getting out into the world.
Making Quesada simply an obstacle.
He really should have told others.
The Byte-Bots took another step forward.
"You know," Ben suggested to the one closest to Quesada. "When people have a problem with the paper, usually they send a letter."
And then they lunged.
His arm snapped around, swatting a blow meant for Quesada. The man shrieked, dropping into fetal as Ben spun past and kicked the Byte-Bot back. Then rest descended, swarming in all directions to smother their two targets. Ben swung out his arms, blocking and striking as the Byte-Bots came from all sides.
He needed to move, to shift the battle to a location of his favor.
Which meant for now he needed to leave Quesada.
"You!" he barked down at the cowering editor, "Get out of here, now!"
Then he leaped, launching into a tornado kick to smack back the bot looming over him. The man nodded frantically, scrambling across the floor to the doorway he'd come from. With the attention split between them, Ben took the chance.
He grabbed a lunging Byte-Bot, twisting the upper limb into an arm bar before kicking it back into the comrades. The robots clattered over each other like skittles, sprawling across the floor as others rushed past to be replaced. He had barely a second with the space, and he needed to use it.
Spinning back to the wall, Ben raced up the vertical surface before sticking his feet to the ceiling. Then he ran, racing overhead before launching into a handspring and flipping over the Byte-Bots. Landing in the bullpen, buried among cubicles, the Bots were now on his turf.
The foot soldiers clambered to get to him, bottlenecked between the desks and rushing into a narrowed pattern of attack. Ben grabbed the chair, wheels grinding against the carpet as he swung it around and cracked into the first in coming bot. With his enemy dazed, he spun to the next, launching a tornado tick right into the face.
Then he was back on defense.
Two came at him at once, pushing him from the center and into the corner. He blocked a blow, swatting away the arm as the next closed in and grabbed him by the shirt, hurling him back against the nearby desk. Then they closed in, backing him up against the surface.
"Are you telling me you did send a letter?" Ben wheezed, eyes scanning for any semblance of a plan or advantage. "Letme check the paperwork."
From behind his back, he grabbed a clipboard, swinging around wide to crack it against the robot's face. With the first one stumbling, he threw his arms back and braced against them, launching his body up to kick back the other two. Finally, with some breathing room, he saw another rushing in.
"Hang on," Ben told it. "I think I've got it HERE!"
He snapped his hand to the cabinet and flung it open, head-height drawer clothesline the incoming Byte-Bot. The two connected with a heavy clang, others stumbling to avoid tripping or crashing with the cabinet. Finally, he was getting a handle on them.
"Get back! GET BACK!"
Ben's head whipped around, looking over the tops of the cubicles to see Quesada pushing Byte-Bots out of his office. From where'd hauled up, he was trapped, forced into a corner with the Byte-Bots looming in.
Sometimes it really sucked being the good guy.
Ben jumped back into the center, immediately eyeing the chair he'd wielded earlier. It would have to do. Another Byte-Bot came from behind, Ben sidestepping and grabbing the shoulder as it flailed past him before kicking the edge of the chair and sweeping it beneath.
"Sit back," Ben advised as the Byte-Bot plonked into the seat, "and enjoy the ride."
He kicked it hard as he could, sending the wheeled chair soaring across the room. The Byte-Bot raised its hands the shield itself, flailing as it collided with its comrades that were rushing to catch the young teen. Seeing his opening, Ben rushed through the gap, hands grasping at the chair as the Byte-Bots rolled below him.
Spinning it again, he ran straight to the office, seat like a battering ram as he slammed the robots away from the door.
"Why are you still here?!" Ben demanded.
Quesada peered from the office, face white as a sheet and shaking. Ben didn't have time for this. The longer the clock was ticking, the wider Gideon's advantage.
They needed to get out of there, now!
"I'm going to clear a path," Ben instructed. "Take it and run."
"I know what you're up to," Quesada snarled. "This is a trick. You're just trying to get those photos!"
Oh, sure, now he finds his nerve.
"Then by all means," Ben replied dryly, stepping aside and gesturing to the recovering Byte-Bots. "If you'd rather take it up with them…"
Quesada gulped.
"That's what I thought."
The henchmen were moving the clog the path, but Ben was faster, already running up the wall to gain the height he needed. Reaching the top, he launched himself off, elbow-dropping on the group and crashing them to the floor. He spun as he rose, kicking the middle away to clear the floor.
"GO!"
For once, Quesada showed some spine and sense, racing through the gap Ben had created with the Blue Ranger coming up behind. Ben snatched his Morpher as they ran, kicking open the com-line in desperation.
"Johnny!" he yelled into his Morpher as he ran down the corridor, "We've got company!"
"I'm a little busy here!"
His reply was punctuated by laser fire; the resulting boom echoing inside as it shook the building.
"Never mind."
But Johnny's problems were the least of his. More Byte-Bots were rushing from around the corner. He picked up the pace, racing past Quesada to greet them. He dropped into a skid, sliding along the floor, kicking out the legs of the first as he spun up to kick the second. The last swung punch, Ben ducking beneath as he lashed to grab and slam it into the wall.
The main door was finally in sight, an open stretch with freedom at the end. But the Byte-Bots behind were gaining, and if Ben didn't go back they'd swarm Quesada.
Time to kick things up.
His eyes narrowed as the grip on his Morpher tightened and he turned to face the bots once more.
"Get to the door and run," Ben to Quesada as he caught up. "Then get in your car and drive as fast as you can."
Quesada just stood, jaw slackening as the teen stepped forward and placed himself between the editor and the robots. "But what about-?"
"GO!"
Quesada gave a fearful nod as he took off, rushing for the double doors down the end as Ben raised his Morpher. "Data Squad! Digitize!"
The sapphire light burst from the screen, blinding the corridor as Ben leaped into it. By the time he'd somersaulted though, the suit had formed around him, Modem Blade ready in his hand. The sword swung wide, arcing across the hall as sparks burst from the Byte-Bots. chest plates As he flourished it back, the blade glowed, and the Byte-Bots lunged again.
He ducked and weaved, striking in reply to every blow, stepping around as the Modem Sword struck at every opportunity. Then, just as he pushed them back and stopped them swarming, he flipped into the blaster and vaulted backward to open fire. The lasers peppered down the corridor, piercing the Byte-Bot armor and dropping them like flies as Ben landed by the exit.
Not wanting to count chickens, Ben kicked the doors open and jumped back out into the night. An attack exploded beside him, flames spiraling up as he raised his hand to shield. Off to the side, Johnny was still locked in combat with the monster, his Bo-Staff jabbing as it flipped around to parry and repeat the pattern.
He was holding, but he wasn't winning. He needed help, fast.
But that wasn't their only problem. Whatever Byte-Bots that remained outside had spied Quesada as he'd run out, converging on the middle-aged man like a pack of delinquents.
These guys just wouldn't quit!
One problem, then another. Johnny would have to wait.
He had the room, so he took the run-up, bounding in the air and switching to his hammer to roar a mighty battle cry as he thundered downward. The shockwave rippled out on impact, flinging the Byte-Bots in all directions as Quesada looked at him in shock.
"You… you saved me," he stammered. "Even though I've got the photos..."
"It's what we do," Ben replied, casting a look at the Byte-Bots. He'd hit them good, most had broken limbs and struggling to stand. Enough to give Quesada time to run for his Mercedes. Ben turned his back on Quesada, attention finally turning to his comrade in need.
Johnny was losing steam, his blow growing sluggish as the Bolt-Toad dodged more and more easily. The staff end struck in, virus leaning back as the Black Ranger over-committed.
Big mistake.
The toad cackled as he swiped his claw across Johnny's chest, sending him flying and sprawling across the ground.
"People always wonder what happens when a toad is struck by lightning!" the virus laughed. "But what about a Ranger?"
Blue forks of energy ripped from his hands, surging across the ground and exploding on impact. Johnny cried out as it tossed him into the end, sparks rippling across his suit as he hit the ground and tumbled.
Ben watched through gritted teeth as the virus stepped before the downed Ranger, Quesada still quivering beside him. He didn't have time for this, not another round of banter with a man who didn't care. Not when his friend needed him.
"Drive down that road like there's no tomorrow," he ordered, not even looking back. "Do what you want the photos; post them, don't post them, I don't care. I've got bigger problems than you."
And then he took off, rushing as fast as he could to the Black Ranger's aid. He took to the sky, leaping up with his blaster drawn and unloading on the virus. The lasers boomed as they hit the flesh, Bolt-Toad stumbling back as Ben landed beside his comrade.
With a hand on his shoulder, he helped the Ranger to his feet.
Johnny's groaned as he rose, head-turning and tilting in confusion. "What about the photos?"
Ben shot a look to the car park, just in time to see the lights of the Mercedes flashing as the car skidded from the lot. "If they get out, I'll deal. Right now, we've got bigger frogs to squash."
"Oh look!" Bolt-Toad declared. "Two Rangers for the price of one!"
"Don't forget about us!"
The air was filled with roaring engines, three bikes and an ATV suddenly vaulting into the air. The four vehicles opened fire, blasting the virus with their lasers before skidding to a stop beside the others.
As the Bolt-Toad flailed back to his feet, the other four Rangers dismounted.
"Doc said you guys had morphed," Ray told them. "Figured you could use some backup."
"Do I even want to know?" asked Hilary beside them.
"Probably not," Ben admitted. "But we'll explain later. Right now, we've got some monster thinking they're a prince."
Before them, Bolt-Toad had rolled onto his feet, snarling as it stared down the full team.
"Looks like we've got some frogs legs to cook," Ray agreed, "Let's put it together."
"Right!"
"Wait!" the virus cried, as the Rangers snapped into position, power weapons locking as the giant cannon leveled down on it. "I'm not ready to croak out!"
"Data Blaster! Hyper Mode!" they called "FIRE!"
The virus screamed as the energy boomed from the barrel, exploding as the round impacted and burst into a ball of flames. The Rangers spun around, weapons unlocking from the cannon as smoking pieces of toad scattered across the lot.
"All right," Hilary decided, turning to her brother. "Now that that's dealt with, why don't you tell us what you're-"
But she never finished that sentence, as an emerald light burst from the sky to consume the Bolt-Toad's smoldering remains. As the remnants drew together, glowing as they grew before in a flash the monster stood rejuvenated at a gigantic height.
"This is amazing!' he cackled, slamming a giant foot down as the Rangers dived to safety. "Now I really am a big frog in a small pond!"
"Well," Jake decided as they recovered. "Knew that reprieve was too good to last."
"I think we better frog-march this guy for good!" Ray told them. "You guys ready?"
"Yeah!" they cried together. "Zord Powers! Digitize!"
Their Morphers reached for the sky, light bursting outward as the mighty machines were summoned into the night. The mechanical animals began to shift and whirr as the Rangers entered the cockpits, each shunting into place as the giant warrior began to form. With the transformation complete, the giant mecha stomped forward, ready for battle.
"CtrlAlt-Delete Megazord!" the six of them cried together. "Online!"
"Let's see him leap away from this one!" Johnny decided, gunning up the power as the guns began to ready.
"Now, now!" Bolt-Toad warned. "I heard you like things with a tongue!"
And just like that, its long protrusion whipped out from its mouth, pink and gummy as it swatted back against the Megazord's chest. The whole machine stumbled back from the blow, sparks bursting from the console controls as Bloat-Toad took the opening as it lashed again, and then again. Finally, as the mighty warrior was off balance, it stuck a final time, tongue wrapping around the body and locking the arms in place.
"Light's out Rangers!" he cackled. A surge of electricity burst down the tongue, blasting through the body as sparking flew both out and in. The Rangers braced, the whole machine shaking as they tried to keep it all together.
"How're we going, Hilary?" Ray asked, steering the Megazord to remain upright.
"Most systems down forty percent," she warned.
"We need to get the arms free to fire the guns,' Kyle realized.
But Ben had a thought. Bolt-Toad had determinedly attached to the Megazord so they couldn't run, but it also meant that neither could he.
"Hilary," he asked. "Do we still have control of the elbows?"
The Yellow Ranger nodded before asking nervously, "What are you planning?"
"Our frog prince seems to want to get close," he said. "I say we let him."
"Good idea!" Ray decided, "Let's do it!"
The Red Ranger slammed the controls, mighty arm shooting to grab the tongue and squeeze.
"'ey!" Bolt-Toad cried with the metal fist restricting its vocalizing. "'ats my 'ounge!"
The second hand snapped up, grabbing to support the grip. Then the Megazord began to spin, reefing the body part with them as the toad was dragged with it. They continued to spin, twirling and twirling as the bloated toad began to rise, eyes bugling as it was lifted from the ground.
"It's working!" Jake realized. "His hold's loosening!"
"Almost there!" Ben warned.
Bolt-Toad screamed; the entire body being dragged by just its tongue while being lifted by centrifugal force. Then, unable to cope with the strain, the tongue wrap loosened.
"Now!" Ben called. Ray's hand reefed down on the lever, releasing the monster from the Megazord's grasp and flinging it high. The giant toad screamed as he soared across the sky, flailing helplessly as the Megazord whipped around and took aim.
"We ready Hilary?" Ray asked.
"Target acquired!"
"This ends right now!" called Ben. "Deleter Blasters! Armed and Ready!"
The Megazords snapped up its arms as the rows of blasters emerged from the wrists and began to glow. In the cockpit, they watched as the reticule shifted and locked in on the flying Bolt-Toad.
"Deleter Blasters!" they all called together, "FIRE!"
The rows of light burst from the arms, the CtrlAlt-Delete's feet shifting back from the recoil. The gold beams seared across the evening sky, flashing on the impact with the virus. The energy grew, widening to the point of completely consuming the monster, vanishing in the blinding light.
As the blasting subsided, the Megazord turned around, not even watching as Bolt-Toad soared back to earth like a blazing, falling star. He impacted with a crash, and for a moment it looked like he was going to get back up.
Only for a moment.
"That was too much of a leap for me!" he croaked, falling back as exhaustion finally took hold. And then, as his body hit the ground, his entire form exploded. The flames surged in all directions, vaporizing every inch of the giant toad as he vanished into the smoke. As the blaze glowed their back, the CtrlAlt-Delete Megazord stood tall.
"Well done guys," Ray congratulated. "That toad-choker's all rained out!"
But as the individual Zords began to break away, Megazord splitting as the Rangers returned to the ground, Ben couldn't help but feel his heart sink. They'd defeated the monster, but the photos were still out there.
And his fate was in the hands of a man who wanted him ruined…
By the next morning, Ben's sinking had hit its lowest. Having powered down, Ben and Johnny had to explain to the team what had happened, and why they were out at the office in the first place.
He expected a scolding, a lambasting for being so stupid to be caught on camera morphing. Hilary would likely even find some way of doing her 'I Told You So' dance.
But it never came.
"You should have to us," Ray insisted. "We could have helped."
"It was no one's fault," Jake agreed. "Just a crummy chain of events."
"Come on bro," said Hilary. "You needed to get some files from a computer and you didn't come to me? Honestly, I'm a little insulted."
They were right, of course, and that was even before dealing with the rest of the underlying guilt. The monster had attacked the paper to try and stop them, and it had succeeded. People had been put in danger, and they didn't even achieve what they'd set out to do.
Now all he could do was sit on the bench outside the Shak and wait to learn of his fate.
Since the Byte-Bot attack, the main building of the Shak had been closed, and a giant tarp lay spread across what once had been the main window. Not wanting to wait for good business, Bulk and Skull had set up a coffee cart outside instead. Now the others waited in line for their order, leaving Ben to stew over what was to come.
His eyes flicked to a man walking past, paper folded under his arm, paying Ben no attention. Had he read it yet? Had he realized that he'd walked past the Power Ranger that had been outed to the world? Even if it was only early, it was only a matter of time before people joined the dots and realized who he was.
Before he could stew any further, a comforting hand touched his shoulder, and he looked up to see Ray, Hilary, and Jake had grabbed their orders and were now standing by his side.
"Hey," said Ray as he sat beside him.
Ben's reply was far more sullen than welcoming, "Hey…"
"You did the right thing," Hilary assured him. "I know Quesada's a dirtbag, and letting him go couldn't have been easy. But I think it was a really heroic thing you did last night, choosing to save him over the photos."
"Thanks, sis," Ben replied, still staring at the ground. "Are you guys sure you want to be hanging out here? I mean, it's only a matter of time before people start connecting the dots between me being a Ranger and you guys. Don't you want to enjoy your last few days of anonymity?"
But the three of them just shook their heads together.
"Rangers stand together," Jake affirmed. "Though good times and bad."
"If you're getting thrust into the spotlight," Ray agreed. "Then we're going to stand right there with you."
"I don't think any of you have to be too worried about that."
The Rangers looked up to see Johnny striding toward them; drink in hand, paper under his arm, and a large grin on his face. As he approached, he reached for bundle and let it unfold before him, revealing the morning's front page.
"They didn't print it," he said happily.
"What?"
Ben snatched the paper, staring at the photo and headline in disbelief. Sure enough, there was nothing about the Ranger's secret identities. Instead, above a black and white photo of the CtrlAlt-Delete Megazord were the words 'POWER RANGERS SAVE LOCAL PAPER'.
Ben's jaw dropped as he looked up at the others in amazement.
"He…" he stammered. "He kept my secret!"
"You saved his life," Johnny pointed out. "Seems like even a man like Quesada has some honor. Plus I talked to Hank, he got his hands on the thumb drive and managed to delete pictures."
"Sure," Ben reasoned. "But Quesada was bound to have made copies. What about any he stored on his computer."
"Oh, don't worry, I've got you covered there," Hilary smirked proudly. "Mr. Quesada really should be more careful when opening emails about Global Warming hoax conventions."
So, it was done. They were gone. He still had a chance of living a normal life.
"Hilary, I owe you big time!" Ben decided. And then he paused, looking back at the rest of his friends. "I owe all of you big time."
The five laughed, plonking down to enjoy their weekend, relaxing in the knowledge that their identities and their secrets were well and truly safe…
The report slapped down on the desk, hefty in weight and bound in a black folder. The recipient looked up from the desk, staring at the analyst who had just strode in and placed it down.
"Sir," he said nervously. "You said you wanted it as soon as it was done. Sir!"
The commander nodded, reaching across his desk to slide the file toward him before flipping it open. Outside, the rest of the base continued to hum, vehicles and soldiers moving back and forth beneath the sun of the hot California desert.
The commander nodded, an interested hmmm escaping his lips as he flipped through page after page. And then he stopped, eyes narrowing as he reached four particular words headlining the next section.
Project Digitizer: Ranger Program.
His eyes slowly rose to stare at the nervous analyst still standing opposite.
"So, it's a definite then?" he asked, nodding down to the open page.
"Yes sir," the analyst replied, "It took us some time to cut through the red tape and obtain the classified intel we needed, but we have been able to confirm it. After close analysis, we are positive that the equipment being used by the Power Rangers in Cranston City is what went missing following the collapse of Project Digitizer."
The officer smiled as he put down the report as the analyst added. "They're ours, sir, all of it."
The man leaned back, chuckling as he thought back to days long past, to a name he never thought to have heard again.
"Well then, I think that it's about time we paid Dr. Benson a visit. And kindly ask him to return our property…"
NEXT TIME:
With the countdown to the end of the year, hearts are being worn on the sleeves in preparation for the prom. Jake's efforts to impress a girl, however, prove pointless when she's unable to see him as anything more than an arrogant jock. But when Gideon strikes at the school, Josie is put in danger, and Jake is forced to risk everything to save her from Mileena's clutches. Can he keep the girl he likes from harm? Can he show her a different side and win her heart? And can he do it all while keeping his secret safe?
Find out next time on:
POWER RANGERS
DATA SQUAD
Love Bytes.
A/N: 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.