They moved together, Morphers winding back as they hit the activators, thrusting them forward to call forth the power as the screens burst to life.
"DATA SQUAD! DIGITIZE!"
The light was blinding, red, blue, yellow, black, green, and gold as the suits materialized around their bodies. Ray's strength grew as every byte digitized around him, the power of the grid flowing through his body as the helmet locked around his head and the visor snapped in place. Then, as the Power Sword materialized in his hand and the light began to dim, he flourished his weapon and took a fighting stance,
"Data Squad!" he announced. "Red Ranger!"
"Data Squad, Blue Ranger!" Ben called with him, hammer twirling to ready by his side.
"Data Squad, Yellow Ranger!" yelled Hilary as the Sais spun in her hands.
Beside them, Johnny, Jake, and Kyle snapped into poses, their weapons charged and at the ready.
"Data Squad Black!"
"Data Squad Green!"
"Data Squad! Security Ranger!"
Morphed and ready, the team snapped into formation, side by side, and ranked in a row as they stood in proud defiance of the forces that surrounded them.
"POWER RANGERS!"
The grid power surged within them; the combined flux of their morphing too great as it flushed to be released. As they called, the energy unloaded, cascading into a booming ball of flame behind them.
The signal.
The air was filled with sirens, the roaring of engines, and the screeching of tires as military vehicles surged into view. They skidded to a stop, soldiers leaping out and surrounding the Byte-Bots with their blaster weapons primed and leveled.
Before them, Gideon scowled.
He must have really thought they'd come alone.
"By order of the United States Military!" Freeman's voice boomed overhead. "You are to lay down your arms and surrender!"
"Surrender?" Gideon scoffed. "You're barely worthy of my time and effort. It should be you all surrendering to me."
"Freeman?" Ray advised through the com. "That'd be a no on the 'standing down'."
"Copy that, Ray," came the reply. "We're ready when you are."
Then, with his teammate beside him and their weapons at the ready, the Red Ranger stood before the others and glared at their nemesis.
"So how about it, Gideon?" he taunted. "Ready for Round Two?"
With a mighty roar, Gideon commanded the Byte-Bots to charge; the robot horde lunging in all directions to engage their foes. With the flourish of their weapons, the Rangers and Freeman's men leaped to meet them. The team split, Johnny leading Ben and Hilary deeper into the warehouse as Ray and Jake split to the edges, racing to engage the horde as the military charged from the other side.
With his Power Sword shining bright, Ray descended upon the Byte-Bot ranks, carving through their numbers with a powerful swipe. The power flowed through him, empowering the blade as he swung, strike after strike, pushing deeper and deeper to break through their numbers. With a roar he pushed through, piercing through the side to reach the soldiers battling on the fringes.
Their blasters flared, laser bolts flashing as they took down the number, only for more to take their place and keep pushing. Ray took the chance, lunging into the fray as the group of henchmen pushed toward soldiers grouped in cover.
"Hey!" he jeered. "Forget about me already?"
The blade cleaved through them, giving the soldiers room to fan out and fire. But he wasn't free yet. With his focus on freeing the soldiers, a group of Byte-Bots lunged from behind, determined to strike while his guard was down.
"Too slow!"
Ray leaped from harm, twisting into a flip as he landed. Then he sprung, leaping at his attackers before they could recover. The first one dropped before it even saw him, cleaved in two by the Power Sword as the next was slammed to the ground with a kick.
Then he whipped around, Modem Pistol already in hand, and snapped into sword mode as he saw the next wave charging towards him.
"You guys stay behind me," he ordered to the soldiers. "I've got your back."
With both blades in hand, Ray lunged to meet the hordes again, spinning into a razor whirlwind to keep the Byte-Bots at bay.
Over in the center, Jake was swinging his axe like mad, the sharp head chopping through any robot unfortunate to cross his path.
"Timber!"
Finally, he swung too far, overcommitting as a Byte-Bot managed to leap from harm. Too much strength behind the blow, the Green Ranger toppled forward, axe slamming into the ground as the Byte-Bot seized its chance. Far too eagerly.
"Nice try!"
With his momentum still pulled, Jake leaned into it, heaving himself upward to snap his feet into a powerful kick. His boots collided with the robot's chest, hurling it back into its comrades as Jake reefed up the axe and flipped back to his feet.
"Now," he taunted, flourishing the axe and standing in an inviting pose. "Who's next?"
The Byte-Bots' answer was immediate, rushing in one big group to overwhelm him. But not fast enough. Jake rushed forward, feeling the suit strengthen his limbs as he picked up speed and vaulted. The Byte-Bots were ready, weapons hitting empty air as Jake somersaulted overhead with pistol drawn, barrel blazing as the green light flashed down towards his target.
The Byte-Bots flailed wildly as the shots exploded around them, blasting into balls of flame that scattered them in all directions. As shattered robotic limbs clattered on the ground, and the remnants struggled to stand, Jake closed in for the kill. With a mighty roar, the Power Axe sliced through them, one clean swipe that shattered wave and tore them into pieces.
But while the Green Ranger was keeping things contained inside, Kyle had worked his way to the edges. His sword flashed as he cleaved through bot after bot, fighting his way to his military comrades.
"Data ATV!" he roared. "Digitize!"
The Morpher at his belt burst to life, the four-wheeled vehicle materializing as he lunged to the handlebars and took off. The first bots in front were unprepared, flailing in helplessness as Kyle's bike collided with them. The robots crunched beneath the tires as the Security Ranger hammered the throttle, gunning for the next cluster rushing toward a group of soldiers.
"Look out!" he warned, as the Byte-Bots turned to see him coming. They spun, weapons leveling and taking aim. But Kyle was faster. Squeezing the triggers, lasers erupted from the quad-bike, rounded exploding on impact and blasting the bots into a million pieces.
"Should've looked both ways," Kyle chuckled, gunning forward as he whipped between the groups as the lasers flared from the vehicle.
But while the first group had been caught off-guard, the next was ready, already forming ranks and opening fire as Kyle rocketed toward them. Thinking fast, he swerved, winding past the shots as they narrowly missed and shattered into a rain of sparks on the ground.
But all that swerving was blocking a clear shot. Time to eject.
With a bittersweet smile, Kyle patted the ATV's engine. "Thank for the memories," he told it.
Then, snapping the throttle as far as it could go, he vaulted from the saddle. Still in high gear, the quad-bike rocketed toward the Byte-Bots, too tightly grouped to do anything but fire wildly. As he flipped back, Kyle whipped out his pistols, each gripped in his hands as he trained the barrels on the cluster and fired.
The lasers rained from above, the barrage booming as the rounds exploded and the Byte-Bots ducked for cover. Then the ATV collided. Unable to dodge and pinned by the laser fire, the vehicle shattered the formation like bowling pins. Then, as it collided with the wall and Kyle clipped it with a shot, the entire vehicle exploded. A giant bloom of flame blossomed against the night, blazing light surging in all directions to consume any Byte-Bot still able to flee.
Landing in a crouch, Kyle held the blasters wide, the flickering warmth glowing against his back as the soldiers hurried to join his side. Ray and Jake rushed in as well, flanks broken as the soldiers began to encircle.
"We're taking back the warehouse!" Ray ordered. "Let's move!"
The soldiers cheered as they charged, their blasters booming as they pushed on into the Byte-Bots ranks.
Back inside, Ben and Hilary were cornered, Byte-Bots pushing them into a corner as they tried to make a break for the loft.
"Boy, these guys made a mistake," Ben chuckled. "Ready for a tag team, sis?"
"You bet, bro." Hilary grinned. "Let's do this!"
The sais spun in her hand, flipping into a backward grip as she stepped closer to her brother and let the Byte-Bots close in. Poor things, she almost felt sorry for them.
Almost.
"Now!" she ordered.
"Hammer-Time!"
Hilary vaulted high as Ben swung the mallet, slamming the face into the ground as Byte-Bots gathered in. Having bunched too close to call, the shockwave burst from the impact and caught them, hurling them all into the air. Safe from harm, Hilary bounced off the wall, boot landing on Ben's shoulder before launching higher.
"Thanks for the boost!"
The Byte-Bots were defenseless, flailing in mid-air as Hilary's sais flashed. The blades cut through their bodies, sparks showering overhead as discarded the robot limbs clattered to the ground. With a graceful somersault, Hilary landed beside her brother, ready for the next wave.
But for all their work, they still hadn't reached the ruined stairs.
New plan.
"Johnny!" she called, eyeing the Black Ranger staff twirling as he beat back the Byte-Bots. "I need a hand!"
But already more Byte-Bots were closing in, eager to cut the Blue and Yellow Rangers off from their teammate. Johnny didn't seem to care. Without another word, he lunged, planting the end of the staff into the ground and levering himself into the air. The Byte-Bots skidded to stop, yanking in a new direction as Johnny seized the moment and drew his pistol. The barrel flared as the lasers erupted downwards, blasting apart the cluster as Johnny landed beside his friends.
"What's the plan?"
"Doc's still up in the loft," Hilary explained. "And it's only a matter of time before something gets up there!"
But even as she said it, more Byte-Bots were rushing in from the sides, forming ranks to block the team's path.
"Ben, give us some space," Johnny decided. "Then I can get Hilary up there."
"Right!"
The Blue Ranger raced forward, Power Hammer at the ready as he reached the horde and swung. As the immediate Byte-Bots were tossed aside, more were already racing to close the gap. It was the only window they were getting.
"Hang on tight!" Johnny warned her, as the two of them rushed to take the opening. As Ben spun back, Johnny slammed the staff into the ground, sling-shotting him into the air. And with his other hand, he grabbed Hilary, swinging her up with all his might. Hilary didn't fight it, leaping to embrace the propulsion as the Black Ranger hurled her across the room.
"Hilary!" Ben called. "Catch!"
On instinct, she turned, spinning mid-air as Ben snapped out his pistol and tossed it upwards. She snatched it and drew her own, opening fire as she soared over Byte-Bots. With the Black and Blue Rangers rushing to attack the sides, the Byte-Bots had nowhere to go, scattering to the overhead onslaught as Hilary landed on the lift and whipped around the corner.
It was just as well she'd made it.
In the surrounding chaos, some of the Byte-Bots had managed to climb up the wreckage of the stairs to make it inside. Hilary didn't waste a second, pistols raised and firing to blast the first two down. But the third managed to duck, diving deeper into the loft as the round ricocheted off the wall. But then there was a flash, the ringing sound of a blaster deeper inside as the smoking Byte-Bot tumbled backward into view.
"Doc!" she warned. "It's me!"
Benson whipped around the corner, the barrel of his blaster still steaming as his eyes stared at her yellow Ranger suit.
"I'm getting you out of here," she insisted. "Let's go!"
"Wait," he replied. "The Digitizer, we need to secure it!"
"We can worry about that later!" Hilary told him. "Right now, we need to move!"
She tried to take his hand, but Doc snatched it away. "No, we can't."
Hilary's head snapped around. Outside the battle was raging, more booms and blasts echoing on the other side of the wall. She and her team were Morphed, and the military men were trained. But Doc was just an unarmed civilian; they needed to get him out.
"Hilary," Doc insisted as the panic began rising in his voice. "The Digitizer, it's only making him stronger."
"What do you me-?"
"Look out!"
Hilary spun, pistol flaring before she'd even looked as two more Byte-Bots climbed their way up into the loft. The rounds collided with their chest, spark bursting on impact as they flailed back into the chaos outside.
"Gideon," Doc explained hurriedly. "He's drawn power from the Digitizer, sapping all the built-up digital energy to make himself stronger."
Hilary's eyes widened, the real beginning to dawn. "But that energy builds up from when we morph..."
"I need to get to the console," Doc insisted, as Hilary silently continued the train of thought. "Or at worst the machine. I need to find a way to disconnect him from the Digitizer or else…"
"…Or else the longer we fight, the stronger he becomes," Hilary concluded, color draining beneath her visor and stomach twisting at the realization. Even when they were morphed, Gideon was still a formidable opponent, but if he was only growing in power…
It meant anything they achieved outside would be for nothing.
She had to warn the others. Cocking the twin pistols, Hilary whipped up beside the doorframe and spoke into the com.
"Ray, I hope you got all that," she warned. "We're making a play for the Digitizer. We need you to keep Gideon busy!"
Ray was already a step ahead, charging through the Byte-Bots ranks as Gideon descended upon a helpless group of soldiers. The men fired wildly, desperately for a savior as their rounds bounced off Gideon's skin. With maniac glee he swiped, the soldier barely diving from harm as Gideon's hand hit the truck and sent it flying across the yard. Without missing a beat, he spun, lightning unleashing from his hand to blow another vehicle to smithereens as the soldiers scampered in all directions for cover.
Then Gideon's sinister grin widened as he eyed his prize. Safe in cover, Freeman had his pistol drawn, gunning down every Byte-Bot in sight as he barked orders at the men to regroup. Seeing his opening, Gideon lunged into the air, energy sparking off his body as he slammed into the ground before his former superior.
"Commander," he snarled. "It really has been too long."
Freeman refused to waiver, whipping the blaster around as Gideon snatched his wrist and squeezed. The lieutenant grimaced, staring as he willed in vain for his grip to hold, weapon tumbling helplessly from his grasp as Gideon clasped him at the neck.
"By… order… of… military…!" Freeman gasped.
"Come now, Commander," Gideon chuckled. "Is that any way to meet an old acquaintance? I'm here to conclude an earlier conversation."
Seeing their commander in jeopardy, the soldiers rushed in, blasters primed and ready. But Gideon spun, lightning bursting from his hand and exploding on the ground to send the soldiers flying.
"Now, when last we spoke," Gideon continued. "You told me that my plans for the Digitizer would only happen 'over your dead body'." Gasping for air, Freeman's eyes narrowed sternly, stubborn in defiance that refused to relent. Gideon pulled him closer.
"I believe that it's time to pay the bill."
He raised his hand, sparks flying as he readied the strike and Freeman glared in readiness for what was coming.
"I don't think so!"
Having cleared the Byte-Bots, Ray lunged for Gideon, Power Sword flaring as he swung wide and delivered a clean below across his back. Gideon snarled as he spun, dropping Freeman and swiping at the dodging Red Ranger. Ray spun backward, scything strike hitting empty air as he snapped into a fighting stance. Having hit the ground, Freeman bolted, looking back only to lock airs with Ray for a grateful, affirming nod.
"So, it comes to this, Red Ranger," Gideon snarled. "You and I, locked in mortal combat. I must say, it's quite brave for you to challenge me alone."
But Ray wasn't alone for long.
"Don't forget about us!"
Jake and Kyle vaulted into view, blasters flaring in a barrage of energy that rained down upon their target. Gideon growled as his arm snapped up to shield him, the blasters peppering his body. But by the time the firing stopped, Ray was on the move, the two others bounding to join him.
Gideon was ready, side-stepping the blow before cracking his fist beneath Ray's helmet. As Red went flying, Jake hit the air, axe held high and glowing to cleave it down. Gideon's hand whipped high, purple energy splitting the sky and catching the Green Ranger square in the chest. The electricity surged all around him, his body convulsing as he dropped to the ground.
But while Gideon watched the smoke rising from the writhing Ranger, his hubris had taken his guard. Which Kyle was all too eager to exploit.
The Security Ranger's sword lit up, edge humming with power as he closed the gap and struck. Gideon's head whipped around too late, eyes widening in fury as Kyle sliced across. With a mighty roar, the sword flared, carving across Gideon's chest with blinding light. As the weapon's edge flicked off the chest, the remnant blast hurled Gideon backward, soaring across the yard and tumbling across the concrete.
As he landed, steam wisping from his cloak and jaw clenched to contain his fury, Ray and Jake lunged. But as they did, weapons wound back to strike, and Gideon's face flicked from anger to amusement.
His hands clapped together, a familiar purple glow emanating between the gap. But as he pulled them apart, it wasn't lighting that he was forming. It was a sword.
A weapon was materializing in his hands.
He swung it wide, the full length of the blade blocking the Power Sword and Axe and holding both Rangers in place.
"Pathetic," he snarled as both boys kept pushing. "You've had mankind's greatest creation at your disposal, and you haven't begun to scratch the surface of its capability."
"Oh, we know," Ray growled back. "We're just not stupid."
With a blood-curdling howl, Gideon threw them off, great sword swinging with all his might to send the Red and Green Rangers tumbling across the ground. As the two boys groaned and rose, Kyle raced to their side, all three brandishing their weapons and preparing for another bout. But Gideon's guard lowered, instead looking around with a hint of both curiosity and amusement.
"All this," he noted. "And you haven't even brought the full fury of your team. It's almost as if…"
His eyes widened at the realization, head whipped around through the missing wall of the warehouse to where Hilary, Ben, and Johnny were engaging the Byte-Bots. To Doc, crouching at the console as he punched at the keys.
"No!"
Gideon lunged for the warehouse, the other three Rangers racing behind in hot pursuit.
"Hilary, you've got incoming!"
With barely a warning, Hilary ducked beneath a Byte-Bot's blow and whipped out her blaster, opening fire as Gideon charged right for her. With caution in the wind, Gideon's guard was gone, round hitting him square in the chest. It didn't stop him but was enough to slow him down.
Out of options, Ray lunged, casting the Power Sword aside as his arms wrapped Gideon's neck and grabbed on tight. Jake and Kyle followed suit, lashing onto Gideon's limbs and pulling with all their might.
As the Rangers pulled, Gideon snarled, still heaving forward as the remaining three Rangers battled to keep the Byte-Bots at bay. All for the sake of Doc, who remained laser-focused on the computer before him.
"Keep holding!" Ray ordered, pulling back as hard he could, all his strength rushing to his limbs to drag Gideon back. In desperation, Gideon shook from side to side, fury returning as he tried to throw off the grasping Rangers. But Ray, Kyle, and Jake held strong, weighing him down as every resistant step grew sluggish. Up ahead, the Byte-Bots were clearing, numbers unable to keep up with Hilary, Ben, and Johnny. As he dared a look, Ray saw the numbers behind were dwindling as well, the military gaining ground as the blaster tore apart the enemy forces.
Gideon's advantage was fading; they going to win!
They just needed time.
Gideon stamped another step, lumbering defiance at his weight as he snarled and pushed onwards. Ray's hand snapped up, smothering his nemesis's face to do all he could to pull him back.
"ENOUGH!" Gideon roared, with another desperate shake to free himself from the Rangers. "I have toiled for years to be master of this power! I will not be stopped by the LIKES! OF! YOU!"
His body began to glow, purple energy crackling off his skin as he gave up on moving and buckled inwards. The grasping Rangers refused to relinquish their grip, holding as tight as they could as Ray's ears were filled with a vibrant whirring, a whirring coming from Gideon.
But still, he kept moving.
Up ahead, Hilary rolled over another Byte-Bot, slicing it to pieces with her sais before lunging at another.
"Ben!" she called. "Give him a Home Run!"
She pirouetted, spinning closer to the desk as Johnny flipped beside her to keep Doc covered from the horde. Then Ben lunged, charging straight for Gideon with the hammer low and ready. As their nemesis dragged every step forward, Ben closed the gap, the full weight of the hammer rocketing upwards and booming beneath Gideon's jaw.
The Rangers squeezed tight, bracing against the shockwave as Gideon stumbled. But still, he persisted. Now without the runup form before, Ben threw his own weight into the fray as the four now desperately heaved to keep him back.
"Just a few more seconds!" Doc warned them, "I'm nearly there!"
Al…most…there…!
But the arcs of energy were only growing, jolts increasing and bounding in size, as they began to zap at Ray's body and singe beneath his suit. The more the Rangers pushed, the more Gideon's rumbled, and the more his rage seethed so greatly that his power was almost glowing.
Then, with Ben's feet scraping against the concrete and the other three heaving, he finally stopped. But the jilted freeze didn't fill Ray with hope or triumph.
It was dread.
Gideon buckled over, glowing beneath intensifying to be almost blinding.
"THIS POWER," he roared, "IS MINE!"
And then he unleashed it all.