The purple energy burst from in all directions like a thunderous tsunami. The lightning rippled across Ray's suit as it hurled him from Gideon's back, his grip violently relinquished as he was thrown into the concrete as a booming roiled overhead. The walls burst from their bolts with the shriek of tearing metal, ripping apart as forks of lightning sheared through them like razor sheers through a hedge.
Then came a groaning, the ruined rebar relenting to the strain, and Ray's eyes widened as the shattered ceiling dropped. He rolled, desperately clambering to avoid the showering debris as a downpour of iron spikes crashed to the floor where he'd lain. Everything was crumbling around him, ruined machinery, crumbled barrels, and blazing wreckage as Ray dived to dodge the falling ceiling.
He hit the ground, skidding and curling tight in the desperate hope it was enough.
And then it was silent. Just as swiftly as it had started, the wreckage had stopped.
He was okay, for now, and Ray could only pray that the others were too. With every muscle and joint aching, Ray climbed to his feet, peering through the now-cracked visor to survey the wreckage.
The warehouse was gone. Gideon's blast had ripped in all directions, flattening all it had come across and tearing the structure apart. There the man knelt, smoke rising from his body, back rising and falling with heaving breaths as his face continued to stare out in rage.
Then there was a rumbling, the screeching of metal as one of the wall's torn sheets flung aside to reveal a huddled Jake and Kyle. Off to the side, a boulder exploded as Ben climbed out from beneath with his blaster in hand. And in the wreckage, the enveloping rubble fell aside to reveal Hilary and Johnny, Doc huddled behind them.
They were okay; which was more than he could say from Freeman's men. While most had been outside the radius, the resulting shockwave knocked them flat, and many had dived for cover from the raining debris. Some were limping, helping each other to the sidelines as they kicked away the ruined limbs of Byte-Bots. They weren't down, but they were out; this wasn't their fight any longer. Keeping his gaze fixed on his team, Ray raised his hand to his helmet and tapped open the com.
"Freeman, pull your men back," he ordered. "There isn't any more you can do."
For a moment there was no response, and Ray dared a thought that the blast had fried his coms. That he'd have to put himself between Gideon and the soldiers in a desperate effort to keep them safe. But instead, the earpiece crackled as he heard Freeman's begrudging reply.
"Copy that. Good luck Rangers."
The remnants of the wind caught the sound of the pattering footsteps, boots withdrawing to a safe distance. Soon the sound had faded, leaving the Data Squad Rangers to encircle Gideon alone.
With his breathing slowed and the smoke dying, Gideon began to rise from his hunched form. With precious seconds left, Ray dared a look at the glowing in the corner of his vision. The Digitizer was still there, surrounded by a golden, flickering shield that whirred around it with increasing intensity.
"Hilary?" Ray asked into the com. "What're we looking at?"
Across the wreckage, Ray watched the Yellow Ranger convey the message to Doc before opening her own line.
"Doc says the systems are fried," she explained. "He couldn't cut Gideon's connection to the machine."
"What's happening with the Digitizer? Why wasn't it destroyed?"
"It's an automatic defense measure, to keep it running if it were ever attacked."
"Well, I'd say it worked," Ben wheezed back.
"Doc thinks he might still be able to cut Gideon's connection," Hilary continued. "But to do it he'll need direct access to the machine."
Ray nodded as he examined the scene. The Rangers had Gideon outnumbered six to one, but with all the power he'd drawn it could still not be enough. But from the way their enemy was moving, breathing deep as he recovered from the blast, Ray wasn't certain Gideon was in his prime anymore either.
"That blast must have taken a chunk of his power," he concluded calmly. "Gideon's got to be running low; he can't keep this up forever."
"He shouldn't be able to recharge so long as we stop him getting to the Digitizer," Johnny agreed.
"Well," Jake noted to him, as he and Kyle stepped beside Ray. "He's not near it now."
Ray stared at Gideon, still rooted to where he'd thrown out the blast; sluggishly rising as he prepared for another bout. Then the Red Ranger nodded to his teammates. "Then let's keep it that way."
"And this time," Kyle added. "Let's stop him for good."
On the other end, the other two rangers nodded, slowly stepping toward their foe. Doc shied away, slinking into the rubble as the team stepped to converge, all encircling Gideon as, at last, he rose back to his true height.
His visage had only grown ever more terrifying; the veins beneath his face were almost white-hot in their glow as the black outlines stretched from the edges. But Gideon didn't seem to care, instead, he glared over his shoulder and watched as his enemies closed in.
"Give it up, Gideon," Ray warned. "We've got you outnumbered, and you can't keep this up forever."
But Gideon was far from threatened, all rage from his face slowly fading as a menacing chuckle rumbled from his lips.
"So confident, so commanding." he mused. "And yet, you hesitate. Do you truly have what it takes? Or have you realized that what you have still won't be enough?"
"We just thought we'd give you one last chance to surrender," Hilary retorted. "End it all, before we make you."
His replying snort betrayed his amusement, Gideon's guard dropping completely as he began to gaze around the flattened ruins of the warehouse.
"It's fitting," he said. "That you will fall on the very grounds where you first defied me. A poetic end to a fruitless pursuit. You have fought valiantly, bravely even. But it is here where your resolve will break. Where your determination will become your folly; where at last, you will face the truth of your futile refusal to embrace true power. And when you are defeated, when you lie broken beneath my heel, nothing will remain to stop me."
"That's where you're wrong," Jake cut in. "There'll always be someone to stop you."
"People are stubborn like that," said Kyle. "They don't like it when power is abused to oppress them."
"Maybe," Gideon conceded. "But their fate will be the same as yours. And all others will tremble at the warning those ends will serve; a consequence to those that that dare to stand in the way of my new world."
"A world drowned in blood," Johnny growled.
"A necessity," said Gideon. "To guide the world on a better path."
"Better according to who?" Ben scoffed.
Gideon merely smiled, shaking his head in chuckled disagreement. His shoulders rolled back, pulling himself to his full, fearsome height as more sparks of energy began crackling across his body. With the power growing, he jutted out his hard, a quick burst forking from his fingers as the previously discarded blade snapped back to his grip. Ray felt his hand tighten on the Power Sword, his breath a drawn inhale as he readied for the plunge. Then, as Gideon curled his fists to ready a strike, the Rangers all around him did the same.
"It doesn't matter," he decided darkly. "None of you will be around to see it."
And then he lunged.
The Power Rangers moved as one, leaping at their foe as he surged towards his prize. Hilary and Johnny snapped together, closing ranks to block his path as Ray and the others vaulted up the rear to join the swirling melee.
Gideon swung wide, energy arcing up the blade in a mighty sweep to force the Rangers back. But with what little ground he gained, they all recouped and rejoined the battle. Johnny vaulted forward; planting his staff to lever into a flying kick. Gideon snarled as the boot cracked across his chest, and the Black Ranger flipped backward before landing and jabbing beneath the chin.
Too slow.
Gideon's hand snapped up, grabbing hold of the staff and yanking inwards. With his balance stolen, Johnny stumbled, right below the path of Gideon's readied sword.
"Coming in hot!"
Hilary raced in, dropping into a skid to slide between Gideon and the fallen Ranger. As the blade fell, she whipped up the sais, slicing them into an X to shear against the blade and catch it. Gideon snarled as he pressed downwards, all his might focused on the intersection of Hilary's blades. Her leg jutted back, bracing as her arms locked against the weapon inching closer.
"A little help?"
"Coming your way!" Jake called. "Ben, boost me!"
"Batter up!"
Jake vaulted high, feet kicking out as Ben swung the hammer beneath them. The blow propelled him forward, shockwave rocketing him at Gideon with his axe eager to strike. But as Jake swung down, Gideon moved.
He was ready.
He twisted the blade with a roar, rolling out from Hilary's pin to duck behind. In a fluid motion, Gideon leaped into a strike of his own, sword arcing in a crescent to slice the soaring Green Ranger. The sword flashed, sparks bursting from the suit as Jake went careening away. But Gideon kept moving, his hand beginning to glow as he whipped back around at his enemies. Johnny and Hilary hadn't been ready, their balance thrown as their weight pushed forward in response to Gideon's sudden absence. Just where he wanted them.
Still twisting with the swing, lightning unleashed from his hand, booming on impact, and blasting the Black and Yellow Rangers into the rubble. The three combatants hit the ground, steam wisping from their suits as they rolled along the concrete, their bodies throbbing and aching.
But Gideon wasn't getting a break so easily.
Kyle charged; sword held high with renewed intensity glowing on its purple edge. Gideon's eyes widened as the strike went clean for his face, barely dodging as his feet spun and Kyle kept up the pressure. He swung again, a clean arc with all his strength. But Gideon had regained his footing, sword swinging in with renewed control. The blades clashed in a shower of sparks, edges sheering against each other as both Kyle and Gideon refused to relent.
"So much talent," Gideon sneered. "Such a waste."
"Still talking about the time I worked with you?" Kyle retorted. "Couldn't agree more!"
"I beg to differ."
Kyle was so focused on the sword that he'd forgotten Gideon's other hand, sparking with power as it cut upwards to smash into Kyle's helmet. The blow sent him reeling, tumbling across the concrete before thumping into a pile of debris.
"It was in choosing to side with the Ranger that your power fell to waste," Gideon spat.
"We get it! You're disappointed!"
Gideon whipped around, barely parrying in time as Ray swung the Power Sword slicing for his head.
"You know," Ray taunted as the weapons bounced off each other. "You really know how to hammer the point."
Gideon's glowing eyes widened as realized the ploy, flicking to see Ben charging up the flank. He lowered the blade, with just enough to force Ray to follow before cracking his head into the crimson helmet. The fracture in the visor jolted in size as Ray's balance gave way and Gideon's hand lashed out; just as Ben hit the air.
The hammer was wound back, ready for a powerful strike, and far too late to redirect. Gideon whipped around, reefing Ray for his feet to block the path of Ben's blow. Ben saw it, but far too late. The Blue Ranger could do nothing to redirect; nothing but pull back. Soaring towards Ray, he hesitated. It was all Gideon needed. With Ben still soaring, Gideon tossed his prisoner, slamming the two Rangers in midair.
The sudden force cut Ben's trajectory, both boys plummeting to the ground and crashing with a painful thud. Gideon was already on them before they could recover, stamping his feet on their chests to keep them pinned. With his weight crushing down on them and no room to swing their weapons, all either could do was flail against his lumbering size.
"I guess it's true what they say," Gideon snarled. "Pride truly does come before the fall."
Struggling against his prison. Ray dared a look to the side, to where Kyle was slowly staggering to his feet. Across from Ben, Jake was doing the same.
It was the best they had. They couldn't use their weapons, but they could still toss them. One look between at Ben was all he needed, a quick nod of understanding before both snapped their heads to one side and hurled their weapons away.
"Pathetic," Gideon scoffed. "To give up so easily; to think I'd show mercy if you disarmed."
But through mounting pressure against his ribcage, Ray couldn't help but smirk beneath his visor.
"I'd think of it as rearming."
"What?" Gideon's head whipped from side to side, only to see Kyle and Jake lunging towards him. In one hand, Jake held the Power Sword in a matched grip to his axe, whilst opposite Kyle did the same with his sword and Ben's hammer.
Gideon lashed up his hand, palm glowing as he aimed Jake. But to do so, he'd taken the pressure of Ray and Ben. Their hands whipped to their holsters, ripping out pistols with the triggers squeezed. Red and blue lasers sparked against Gideon's chest, shunting and directing him into the charging Rangers' path as he howled in pain.
Ray and Ben rolled to safety, clearing the way as Jake and Kyle closed in. The swords swiped wide in unison, like closing scissor blades that forced Gideon on the defensive. Keeping momentum, the Green and Security Rangers twirled into pirouettes, spinning to deliver blows with their second set of weapons. The axe's head glowed as it carved through the air, Gideon's sword barely batting it away before it could cleave into his chest. But with his body twisted and still rebalancing, he was the perfect victim for the hammer in Kyle's grasp.
The mallet crashed into Gideon's torso and boomed, shockwave pulsing as he rocketed into the debris. He tumbled on impact as he hit the ground, bouncing along the concrete before twisting into a crouching skid. Dust kicked in his wake, trailing behind as his fist craved through the cement and ground him to a halt. His eyes were seethed, jaw clenching as Jake and Kyle tossed back the weapons and the six rangers regrouped before him.
Every joint in Ray's body was aching, the imprint of Gideon's foot still bruising his chest as he saw that the others weren't moving easily either. The suits were protecting their bodies, shielding them from the worst of their injuries. But they couldn't prevent everything, nor conceal every injury that made it through. Limping or hobbling, all of them were trying to hide it. Every blow Gideon landed was taking a toll. And they'd still barely made a scratch on him.
"All of that," Gideon scoffed, rising again to his full height as he stared the Rangers down. "For a single a lucky hit. Enjoy it Rangers, you will not get another."
The energy was growing around him again, a whirring emanating from Gideon's body as the sparks sizzled onto the ground. It was almost… almost as if he couldn't control it. But none of that mattered if they didn't find a way to exploit it, or if Gideon flattened them before he lost control completely.
Which meant everything hinged on Doc.
From where he stood, Ray dared a look back at the Digitizer. The professor had reached the machine, shield now lowered as he knelt beside the panel and fiddled with the wires. It was their best shot; they just needed more time. Whatever they could buy.
Before him, Gideon was sauntering closer, arms outstretched in invitation. It was a trap, clear as day, but Ray didn't much care. All they had to do was hold him back. Even on his terms. His head scanned the team, all of them nodding to the same conclusion.
Whatever it took.
"Data Squad!" Ray commanded. "Give him all you've got!"
They lunged, weapons infused with the power of the grid and glowing their individual colors. But Gideon was more than ready for them.
Jake reached him first, closing quickly and swinging hard as Gideon barely had time to duck. But he still had enough. Swerving beneath the axe, Gideon's fist soared into an uppercut, cracking beneath Jake's jaw. Light flashed, energy booming as the Green Ranger soared across the space.
With a delightful grin, Gideon turned back as Kyle and Johnny lunged, leaping in perfect synchronicity for a combined attack. But Gideon's hand saw the gap and took it, gliding between the Rangers as their combo hit empty air. His hand snatched up, snatching the Black Ranger's staff and jabbing it back. The haft cracked into the helmet, Johnny stumbling as Gideon yanked the weapon free and swung it into Kyle. The Security Ranger gasped as the staff barreled across his belly, knocking out his wind as Johnny stumbled to catch him.
Johnny snapped from his modem blade, Kyle groaning as regained his footing and the duo tried again. But their hopes of revamping the pressure were quickly dashed. With a lone hand, Gideon twirled the staff, snapping it flat to block the path of both weapons.
"This has been enjoyable," he snickered. "But it appears there are others in want of my attention."
With the ease of a single blow, he swung around his sword, shattering the combined guard of the Black and Security Rangers. Then, planting the staff, the end sundered the cement as Gideon vaulted himself into a kick. As both Rangers stumbled, Gideon flicked up the stolen weapon and stamped out. The polearm caught one on each end, slamming them across the stomach to send them soaring across the ruined warehouse. As the two hit the dust, Gideon spun in readiness for the final three.
Ben was already on him, hammer swinging wildly. Too wild, too predictable. Gideon sidestepped, letting the Blue Ranger stampede past before raising his hand to blast.
"Don't forget about us!"
Gideon snapped back, unleashing the blast as Ray and Hilary vaulted upwards. The energy flashed beneath them on their descent, sword and sais poised straight for his chest. Their arc was too high for him, moving too fast for him to counter with his sword.
So, he dropped it.
Freed of his weapon, he spun to avoid them, both landing and pressing on the offensive. But even his bare hands were enough, swinging in to parry their blows with a naked grip before lashing out and snatching both at the arm.
"You too really do make a cute couple," he chuckled. "Now kiss!"
With glee he yanked them inward, arms ripping them from their feet to slam the pair together. The impact boomed as the two Rangers collided, helmets cracking against each other as he flicked them free and watched them stagger.
As Ray stumbled in the daze, his left eye now barely able to see through the enormous fracture in the visor, his ears pricked at the sound of crunching gravel. Footsteps, pattering the ground behind Gideon.
Ben!
The Blue Ranger roared as he charged, his hammer wound back for the strike. Gideon didn't move, and Ray realized the trap too late. He was letting Ben close the gap. Letting Ben swing.
"No! Wait!"
But it was too late; Ben was over-committed and already swinging in. And Gideon was all too ready. Just like before, Gideon sidestepped, twirling from harm as Ben glid past and his attack continued.
Right into his best friend and sister.
"Move!"
But Ben's plea was far too late. Deep in the swing, the hammer slammed into the pair, shockwaves unleashing and tossing them into the air. They hit the ground, one after the other, slapping into the asphalt beside a groaning Johnny and Kyle.
Gaping in horror and body shaking, Ben slowly turned to see Gideon looming over him.
"So close," he chuckled. "Now it's my turn."
The fist moved so fast Ray barely saw it, backhand hammering into Ben's chest to send him soaring. The Blue Ranger arced up, hovering for a bare second at the peak before plummeting down and crashing into the debris.
Without thinking, the Rangers rushed to his side, their guard dropped as they raced in fear for the team-mate. Bad move. Ben had already risen as they approached, and in gathering together they'd bunched into the perfect target.
Ray's feet skidded, heart-stopping in realization as his ears caught wrenchingly familiar whirring, spinning to see Gideon glowing white hot.
"WAIT!"
With barely a second, he dived, an instinctive choice as their nemesis unleashed a blazing fork of lighting. He crossed the distance in an instant, grabbing the only person he could reach, the one he was most desperately to save. Hilary.
He collided and dropped, the pair hitting the ground as the bolt scorched overhead and slammed into the ground at the feet of the other Rangers. It burst on impact, a shining blossom of sparks that boomed in all directions and tossed them aside like rag dolls.
Down on the ground, the pair of them rolled, still caught in the shockwave of the blast, and hurled across the ruined warehouse. But they were still safer than their teammates, having taken the full brunt of the blast and flailing helplessly in the air. One by one they dropped, thumping to the ground with smoke singeing off their bodies.
Lying on the ground and squeezing Hilary tight, every inch of Ray's body ached, every movement throbbing in disagreement as they begged him to stay down. To just lie where he was and stop.
But he couldn't.
None of them could.
It's what made the Rangers.
With a twinging in his chest, Ray's fist curled in determination as he heaved himself back to his feet, Hilary rising on her own beside him. Up ahead, they could see the other four, still lying on their backs and struggling to stand.
"Are you guys okay?" Jake wheezed.
"I'll let you know when I can feel again," Ben groaned.
"That might not be… for a while," Johnny agreed.
They were spent, with hardly anything left in the tank. And they still, they'd barely landed a scratch on their foe.
The foe who now stood between them and the Digitizer.
Before them, Gideon's smile flickered amusedly as he stared at his ultimate goal; at Doc kneeling helplessly beside it, staring back like a deer in headlights with his hands deep inside the wiring.
"That was your grand stroke plan?" Gideon scoffed. "To distract me while your precious programmer attempted some desperate, last-second interference. Oh, Rangers; you understand even less than I thought."
They needed to stop him, to come up with a plan. They needed time.
But the team was barely standing, it was almost a miracle they hadn't been de-morphed. They needed to rally, regroup, and find a way to stop him. To give Doc the opening he needed.
But Ray still had one trick left to pull.
"Hilary," he decided, already stepping slowly to reenter the fray. "Get to the team, help them up."
"On it," she agreed. "Busting out the big guns?"
"Yeah."
He just had to hope that Gideon was so drained by now they'd be enough to finish the job. Hilary bolted from his side, running to the team as Gideon's eyes gave an amused flicker and he readied to strike the moving target.
No, you don't!
Ignoring his body's painful pleas, Ray's back curled up straight as he stood alone against their enemy.
"Battlizer! DIGITIZE!"
Blinding crimson light burst from his Morpher, flaring in all directions as the giant plates formed in the air. They shunted across his body, energizing him with new power as the shielding latched onto his limbs and held him upright. The gauntlets locked into place as he felt the weight of the thrusters onto his back, weapon slots clicking open as the light faded.
"Hey!" he yelled across the battlefield. "I'm not done with you!"
Gideon's head cocked toward him, lip curling into an irritated snarl as Ray took another defiant step. By the Digitizer, Doc stumbled back, hand raised to shield his eyes as the more energy flower from the top, blinding and wild.
Ray just had to hope that the sudden surge in power wouldn't stand in Doc's way.
"Stubborn to the end," Gideon mused. "It's a shame no one will remember you when you're gone."
"You still owe me a Round Two."
Rearmed and ready, Ray's blades unsheathed from the arms as they readied a fighting stance. With Gideon's attention drawn, Hilary made it to the team, slowly helping them to their feet as they leaned on each other to stand. Before him, Gideon's eyes shifted, darting between the Digitizer and the battlized Ranger; torn between his prize and the challenge. The challenge his pride demanded that he answer.
"By all means, Red Ranger," offered Gideon. "Do your worst."
Ray surged forward, the thrusters bursting to life and propelling him at his target. He swung in the blades, a razor chop that sliced the air as Gideon rolled to safety. And then the true clash began. Ray's boots hit the ground, launching another swing as Gideon scooped up his sword and blocked. Sparks burst from contact, metal on metal as he roared and pushed inward.
"This is how it was always going to end, Red Ranger!" Gideon cackled. "You alone standing against me, a final, desperate bid for victory. But for me, the answer is foretold!"
"Then you won't mind me asking for surrender?" Ray retorted.
Sword pinned by the Battlizer's blade, the Ranger roared and punched in the second. The razored edge split the very air, driving to the gap in Gideon's guard where there was no weapon remaining to block. But, Gideon still had his hand, and his bare palm caught the blade and squeezed tight.
Gideon's face winced, raw skin defying the weapon as it held Ray at bay. The Ranger had him, pinned and unable to move. Now he needed to make the most of it. The thrusters flared brighter, greater force pressing against the clash as Ray's feet began to rise in the air and Gideon's skidded back. He was grimacing, rage seething as the battlizer threw all his strength into the daring challenge, inching him further and further away. The blades inching closer and closer.
"Come on, Ray!" Hilary cheered.
"Yeah, you've got this!" called Johnny.
But in his fury, Ray realized his mistake. For all the pressure he was mounting, he was just as locked. Just as unable to move. He was winning, but backed into a corner was when Gideon was most desperate. Most dangerous. He screamed, energy arcing across the blade as he pushed back against the Battlizer with all his might. And then, he let go completely.
He relinquished quickly, and both blades released at once as Gideon ducked and rolled. Ray had nowhere to go. Thrusters still flaring, he stumbled forward, desperate to course correct as Gideon rebalanced and rose. Then, with his sword still glowing, he swung upwards. Ray pulled back, feeling his heart stop as the blade sheered across the Battlizer's breastplate and into the crossed blades between them.
Right through them.
The Battlizer blades shattered as Gideon screamed in fury, shards of steel flying in all directions as Ray staggered back. The display was flashing across his already cracked visor, warning of the damage the suit was taking. But the clamps at his feet dropped down and stabilized, locking him back in place as he saw Gideon gearing for an attack.
"SHIELD!"
The golden dome burst around, shrouding him in shimmering light as the lightning erupted from Gideon's hands. Even with the forcefield, he shunted back, concrete cracking as the armored boots dug in. But he held.
The shield was already cracking, form flicking as it tanked the full force, and Gideon's voice thundered in rage against the Ranger's defiance. Ray saw his chance and he took it.
He moved, spinning in place as the bubble shifted and the lighting careered into the night sky. Now it was Gideon who was over-committed, stumbling as his blast rocked outwards. And Ray was determined to make him pay.
He lunged, thrusters flaring again as he wound back the armored fist to land a crashing haymaker on Gideon's face. It landed like a truck, square in the jaw as Gideon's head whipped back. Ray didn't wait to judge the impact, following with another jab that uppercut the jaw, each blow energized by the full strength of the Battleizer.
As he pulled back his fist to swing again, he caught Gideon's eye. Angry and panicked, like a counter to this strength was something he hadn't accounted for. Like he hadn't expected it to hurt.
Good.
He swung in again, and Gideon twisted to dodge. But his cloak still dusted the ground, the trappings of his hubris begging to be stamped down on. The armored boot clanked as it caught the fabric, yanking Gideon back by the neck. With the way open, Ray went for power, leaping into a twisting kick that rocketed into Gideon's chest.
Gideon soared backward, spinning as tried to correct the landing, Ray snapping ready to go again.
At last, a solid hit. At last, they were getting somewhere. With any luck, the team was recovering, making the most of the time he'd bought them, and getting ready to descend and capitalize. Until then, he just needed to keep Gideon busy.
He snapped his gauntlets forward, barrels jutting from the ports and glowing white hot.
"Power Cannons!" he roared. "FIRE!"
The column of light unleashed, twin beams rupturing the ground as they blazed toward his foe. Having barely recovered, Gideon's hands flailed into crackling palms, lighting building as he hurled it back into the beams. Then the two collided.
The very air burst apart, booming shockwaves as anything left standing rushed to flee the clash, beams of light pummeling into each other and pushing with all they had. Ray's feet clamped down, cracking the ground as they refused to relent, willing all his strength into the beams and pushing.
And then he took a step.
It was heavy, lumbering, forced against the very blast that hurled and cracked the ground as he plodded; but it was a step. It was closer. As the two beams clashed in the center, his was gaining ground. And Ray had every intention of taking more.
Gideon screamed as more power flowed from his hands, sparks flying more and more wildly as the ruins of the warehouse blazed into a storm. And as the Red Ranger and his Arch-Nemesis became locked in a cataclysmic struggle, the rest of the Data Squad seized their chance to strike.
"Let's get in there!" Hilary ordered.
"RIGHT!"
They vaulted into the air, blasters blazing as a rain of lasers barraged upon their enemy. The rounds scorched as they connected, sparking into whisps of smoke as their enemy ground his teeth and held firm. As they somersaulted overhead, Ray kept pushing, thrusters flaring behind to put more force into his effort. He took another step, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
And this time, Gideon stepped back.
The stumble was minor, but his face whipped up as he realized the ground he'd given. Right as the other Rangers shifted their pistols to blades and charged. Moving in desperation, Gideon whipped around, one hand abandoning the wrestle with Ray's power to unfurl a fresh blast of lighting.
With the Rangers charging on full offense, they were too easy a target. The lightning exploded beneath them, surging out with flushing force to send them flying across the ruins. But his counter was what they'd wanted. With only one hand left to hold back the tide, Ray's attack surged onward with renewed ferocity. The pummeling golden light enveloped more of the bracing lightning as Ray inched closer across the ever-deepening crater.
"Last… chance…!" A dutiful warning heaved from his lungs, dragged out with every forceful step. "Stand… down…!"
"NEVER!"
Gideon's second hand snapped up, trying in vain to return the pressure as Ray continued pressing. He was almost on him now, light splitting off, stray beams seaming and sparking the concrete as Gideon's bare, glowing hands became the only thing keeping the energy at bay.
But as Ray pulled closer, struggling to hold his dominance, Gideon's seething eyes locked on his.
"You… know…NOTHING!"
His hand snapped away, leaving the struggle as it curled into a beckoning claw. A claw aimed right at the Digitizer. Beside it, Doc's eyes widened, diving for safety as the whole machine lit up, arcs of energy surging from the top and spiraling toward Gideon.
No!
It curled into his hand, surging across his body as the light in his blocking palm intensified. Then he rose, more light flashing out as Ray shunted back and struggled against the renewed power. Standing at his full height, one hand was now all it took to hold Ray at bay while the other remained tethered to the Digitizer through the emerging link.
"So close, Red Ranger," Gideon chuckled. "But not enough!"
With a beastly roar, he threw the lightning forward, energy flushing up the stream as they hit the barrel of the blasters and boomed. The barrels shattered, the last vestiges of energy exploding on exit as shards of the piping clattered to the floor.
But Gideon wasn't done. With the new power rushing through him, the lightning arced around him, kicking wildly as he wound back his hands to condense it. Then, as his enemy stumbled, Gideon unleashed it all. Like a barbed, glowing lance, the lightning split their air, piercing the Battlizer's breastplate with the forceful crack of thunder.
Ray was jolted back, like a giant's hand had snatched and yanked him; like a gun had fired and he was the bullet, the blast rocketing from his feet and careening him backward. The only thing to break his fall was the wall that crumbled on collision, and as he did, the lightning detonated. Moments later, like a force from within, the Battlizer did as well.