Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse- Chapter 27: Isn't It Lavaly
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: Volcanoes and… video games?
It happened to be another dull day for the Rangers. They sat in Dr. Oliver's class and listened to their mentor drone on volcanos. "When sulfuric acid is launched into the stratosphere by a volcanic explosion, it can temporarily alter the planet's climate." The doctor spoke, motioning to the chalkboard with his point. "Hope you guys got all that. All right, before we go, a couple of announcements. Our very own Ethan James will compete in the Detonation Man video game competition."
Everyone cheered. "At Hayley's Cyber Space this week. I hope you'll all come and watch. I also want to let you know we're having a sub tomorrow... someone who knows a lot about volcanoes. I think you'll find what he says very interesting." The bell rang, letting the students head out of class. "Great, you guys can go. Thanks. Bye."
Devin scrambled out of class quickly, reaching his locker, luckily near Dr. Oliver's classroom, jamming all of his stuff in before he closed it and took off. Unfortunately, he was caught. "Devin, there you are," Cassidy stated. "We are going to be so busy. Have you seen the to-do list for today?"
Devin turned to walk backward. "Yeah, I can't do the to-do list today."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"Well, I've kinda got something going on. You're just going to have to do it by yourself." Devin smiled.
"By myself? That makes no sense. We do everything together." Cassidy argued. "We're Cassidy and Devin. Say it with me." Her fingers shot up to the corner of his mouth.
"'Cassidy and Devin.'" The two spoke in unison.
Devin grinned. "Hey, Cass, I can appreciate that, right? But this time, you're just going to have to survive without me. Okay? You'll be fine. I'll see you around." He walked off, leaving her alone.
Lucy, Kira, and Conner found Dr. Oliver climbing into his car. He spotted them running to him. "Hey, what's up, guys?"
"Tell us Dr Mercer's not the sub. Anyone but him." Kira stated.
"Don't worry. I promise it's not Anton Mercer." Dr. Oliver buckled himself into his jeep.
Lucy tilted her head. "Why are you missing class always, if you don't mind us asking?"
Dr. Oliver glanced around. "Zeltrax." He stated. "Lucy, I don't want to take any chances after what happened. I need to get to him before Mesogog."
"Fair enough." Lucy nodded.
"Good luck. If you need help let us know. We'll be at Hayley's, cheering Ethan on." Conner added in.
"Thanks, guys." Dr. Oliver started his car and took off.
At Hayley's, Lucy sat on one of the red couches, a book in her hand and her feet behind Conner as he played Detonation Man on Ethan's laptop. Ethan suggested it after they found out he was competing for the title. "Come on, come on!" Conner called out. He threw his arms in the air. "Yes! My highest score ever. 10,250,00." He read off.
Ethan climbed from the orange bean bag he flopped down on. "Good job." He rounded the table while Lucy sat up to look at the scores. "Put your initials down for a high score?" He sat down next to the ninja. "Oh, my bad. I already have all the highest scores."
"Vey funny," Conner stated. "And I wouldn't be so cocky if I was you." He leaned over to the screen. "There's this new guy called… Nahte, who has cracked your top ten."
"Look again," Ethan stated. "Nahte is Ethan spelled backward." Both the Red and Silver Rangers looked at him in shock. "I was bored." He grinned.
"Good going, Conner. You got Ethan to practice for the tournament." Kira stated, walking up to the three with Crystal behind her.
Crystal snorted. "Do you really think he's going to practice?" She asked, plopping down in the beanbag Ethan once occupied. "And you managed to make a ninja sandwich."
"No, I just got him up to the game so he could bag on me," Conner informed her, leaning his head on Lucy's shoulder as she patted his thigh. She laughed as he pouted, only a little bit.
"Guys, I appreciate the concern. But I own this game. Why stress?" Ethan asked, opening his magazine and leaning back, forcing Lucy into Conner's space. She gave him the stink eye as Conner scooted down for her.
"Because there might be someone better than you," Crystal said, dragging a magazine from the coffee table to open. She licked her fingers, thumbing through the pages while she missed Ethan's stink eye at her. Her emerald eyes flicked to him, and her brow quirked. "You wanna try that look again?"
"I hold the top ten in this game, Crystal," Ethan stated.
"And that means practically nothing to me." Crystal returned to her magazine. "Just because you are at the top now doesn't mean you will remain at the top."
Lucy nodded. "I had a student who acted like you, Ethan."
"What happened?" Kira asked.
"She stumbled during a combat fight and was bumped down spaces since she didn't display the training we taught."
"Cockiness will be the downfall of the male species." Crystal's eyes didn't move from the article she latched onto, quietly reading.
Kira laughed. "She's right."
"Scary right sometimes," Lucy muttered.
Dr. Oliver pulled into the forest outside of Reefside in the early morning hours of the following day. He climbed out, pulling a scanner with him; the image of Zeltrax in his adapted form blinked on the screen as he scanned the area. "Where are you, Zeltrax?" He asked. "I know you're out here."
The following morning, Lucy sat in Dr. Oliver's class with the rest of her team, listening to Dr. Morton begin his lecture on volcanos right after he called role. "Who can tell me what was here in good old Reefside just one million years ago?" He turned to see Cassidy walking in, her hair unkempt and her clothes not usually like her; instead of polished and put together, she was mashed together. "May I help you?"
"Yeah, I'm in this class," Cassidy stated, readjusting her books in her arms.
"Young lady, that's impossible. This class started 20 minutes ago." Dr. Morton told her.
"Yeah, I know, but well I…." Cassidy trailed off.
"Yes? We're all waiting." Dr. Morton urged.
Cassidy sighed. "I had a hair emergency 'cause normally someone gets my product, but he's busy doing who-know's-what, so I had to go 'sans product' and dry cleaning is still at the dry cleaners, so I was forced to wear clothes that are so last year, but... here I am."
"Yes. Here you are. How lucky for all of us." Dr. Morton shifted uncomfortably. "Take a seat, and let's continue before the bell rings."
"Actually, that's my seat." Cassidy motioned to where Devin now sat. She scampered off to find an open seat.
"As I was saying, believe it or not. Right here on this spot at one time was a…."
"Volcano!" Ethan stated.
Students started to laugh, but Dr. Morton quickly shushed them. "No, he's right. How did you know?"
"Well, you're a leading volcanologist in the state, and we're studying volcanoes right now in Dr. O's class," Ethan explained. "I put two and two together."
"Excellent, deductive reasoning." Dr. Morton smiled. "Yes, here, one million years ago, there was a giant active volcano." He lifted his arms over his head.
Outside of Dr. Oliver's class, Randall stood, listening. She walked away. "One million years ago, who would have thought?" She asked, glancing around. She turned her head up, green lightning taking her to Mesogog's lab.
Randall, now dressed in her usual attire as Elsa, watched the clone stumble in, grunting as he did so. "Let me guess…he kicked your butt." Her question came out as more of a statement. The White Ranger only growled. "Well, pull it together. We have work. It seems there's going to be a volcano erupting right here in the middle of Reefside and a substitute teacher that's going to teach the Power Rangers a lesson they'll never forget."
Dr. Morton remained in Dr. Oliver's class, finishing his drawing, when a ringing brought his attention to the seats before him. He startled, chalk still in hand. "You wouldn't be here for detention, would you?" The monsters rose to their feet, walking to him. Dr. Morton turned, finding a woman garbed in all black, smirking at him. "You look familiar." He pointed out.
She only looked up to the green portal above her. Dr. Morton reached out, letting it take him.
"I…I don't understand what is happening." Lucy leaned over and whispered to Conner. She sat at the bar at Hayley's with Kira, Conner, and Crystal, the four watching the tournament while Trent worked behind the bar. "What's the point of this game? To destroy everything?"
Conner chuckled, leaning to her, letting his head bump hers. "Sort of. It took me a few days to understand what Ethan taught me."
Lucy turned when she felt a tap on her leg. "You also kind of confused?" Kira asked, leaning over Crystal's lap while the ninja turned to see the two. "Crystal and I were talking and we can't figure out what's happening."
The Silver Ranger nodded. "I'm dating the jock, not the geek." She muttered to the Yellow and Gold Rangers, chuckling. "Still think I made the right choice." She cleared her throat when she saw… "Devin?" She asked, causing the teen to stop and face the Rangers.
"Oh. Hey, guys. How's it going?" Devin asked.
"Good. So, you're covering the contest? Should be a pretty big story." Conner chatted.
Devin absentmindedly nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Big."
"Where's Cassidy?" Conner glanced around.
"Oh, I don't know. I haven't seen her." Devin started to walk away. "Okay, see you."
Lucy scrunched her eyebrows. "Okay, that's weird, Devin and no Cassidy." She pointed out. "Those two are attached at the hip."
Crystal patted Lucy on the shoulder. She pointed to a girl near them. "Hey, that girl's looks pretty good…I think. 19 million…is that good?"
"Yeah, she's not bad. Still nowhere near Ethan though." Conner added in, looking at her score.
"Speaking of him, should he not be here?" Kira asked.
Trent stood behind the bar, cleaning cups. "Well, technically, as last year's champion, he doesn't have to get here till the final round. But he should be here to check out his competition."
"He has been acting kind of weird lately, even for Ethan." Conner pointed out.
"He is good at video games. There's nothing wrong with being confident." Kira glanced at the door, and her jaw dropped. "Unless, of course, you wear a T-shirt that says 'I am Detonation Man'."
Crystal, Lucy, and Conner looked at her. "Yeah, but he would never do that." Conner huffed.
"I've learned never to bet against the odds with Ethan," Lucy stated, then turned to the door. "Oh my gods." She grabbed the bottom of Conner's jaw, turning his head to the door.
Crystal nearly bit her sister's finger when it grabbed her chin, forcing her eyes to see the door. "Dear gods." She muttered.
Ethan stood awkwardly at the front door in a shirt that read, 'I am Detonation Man.' Every nearby person who knew him rushed to him, wanting an autograph. He commented about a drink, and immediately, everyone rushed to flag Trent down to make Ethan one.
Conner turned to the three girls, shuffling in his chair after a girl shoved in beside him. "I guess, in the realm of cyber-geeks, Ethan reigns supreme."
"I can't watch this." Kira shook her head, pushing off from her chair.
"Ditto on that." Crystal pushed out of her chair, leaving the chaos behind her.
Lucy hopped off her. "Right behind ya." She chimed in, walking away while Conner caught up to them, wrapping an arm around Lucy's shoulders and pulling her to him as they walked out of the back.
"Hey! Let me go!" Dr. Morton yelled, stumbling into a glass tube. He looked around, frantic. "Oh, what's going on here? What are these…these things?" He motioned to the minions before him.
"Silence!" Elsa snapped, already tired of his whining and crying.
"Preparing the genorandomizer." The White Ranger announced.
"Dr. Morton," Elsa stated, earning his scared gaze. "Your expertise in volcanic studies is about to take a giant…eruption forward."
"Activate." The White Ranger continued.
The doors hissed closed. "What's going on?"
"System engaged."
White steam hit Dr. Morton, transforming him into a bug and volcano mixture, grunting when he bounced out.
"Now, we can unleash his volcanic power on the Earth." Elsa smiled. "White Ranger, continue your search for Zeltrax. We don't want him interfering with our plans."
"Hi, Hayley," Tommy called, climbing down the stairs as Hayley approached them.
The redhead took a few steps up. "Any luck with the Zeltrax hunt?"
"Nothing. He's vanished into thin air." Dr. Oliver watched her take a few more steps up. "Where are you off to?"
"The gaming's about to start and I need to be there for it. Call if need me." Hayley walked off.
"All right, see you."
"You think we'll ever figure out what Zeltrax is after?" Lucy asked suddenly, breaking the easy silence between the four Rangers. Crystal, Conner, and Kira glanced at her. "I mean, he serves his whole life to Mesogog, and then…Dr. O defeats him, and suddenly, he's on his own team. I'm overthinking this, aren't I?"
Kira laughed, pushing on Lucy's shoulders. "A little bit." She answered while Crystal laughed, throwing an arm over her sister's shoulders. She leaned over to the sisters. "Thanks, by the way."
"For what?" Crystal turned to her.
Lucy tilted her head, then saw Conner looking over her shoulder. "Ge-go over there." She pointed to a few feet before them. "Private conversation, I'll come get you." Conner rolled his eyes, patting Lucy's hip before he walked off. "For what?"
"I've noticed that I've been hanging out with you guys way too often," Kira stated.
"Please tell me you don't feel like a third wheel." Crystal sighed, her shoulders shaking. "Kira."
"Sometimes, yeah," The Yellow Ranger admitted. "I mean, more of Lucy and Conner than you and Hunter."
Lucy placed her hand on Kira's shoulder. "Kira, you are my best friend and I would let you crash every single one of my dates. Besides, I think Conner sees you as a sister he actually wants."
"What'd you mean?"
"Ranger teams become tight-knit families." Crystal began, walking forward to where the Red Ranger now stood. "Sometimes, you either develop romantic feelings and act on them, or you get lumped in as a family and then it gets weird."
"That what happened with Tori?"
"Yeah. She fell hard for Hunter's younger brother and never said a word about it." Crystal answered. "At one point she told us she was jealous of the fact that we got along with Blake, because for me, it was easy we had no expectations of anything but kicking his ass."
Lucy leaned over to Kira while her eyes remained on Conner. "Besides, if you date Trent, we could go on double dates." She whispered.
"You talking crap about me Brewer?"
"Mad smack, McKnight. Nothing I haven't served to you before."
"Was that supposed to be a burn?"
"Not my finest."
"Well, hello, Rangers. Mind if I cut in?" The White Ranger stopped in front of them.
Crystal rolled her eyes. "Yeah, actually, I do." She snarked.
"Ready?" Conner asked.
"Ready." The girls replied.
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
Dino Power!
Guardian of the Moon!
Guardian of the Sun!
The four Rangers drew their blades, watching the White Ranger do the same. The five charged each other. But when the Rangers nearly met, a blast of blue lightning scattered them, sending the Rangers rolling away from each other.
The Evil White Ranger rolled to his knees, clutching his chest. "You again." He stared down Zeltrax, reverted to his original armor, blade at his side.
"Back for more?" Zeltrax challenged.
The Evil clone rose to his feet, blade out before him. "Bring it on!"
Conner took a set forward. "This is too much of a coincidence."
Zeltrax turned to the Rangers slowly. "Perfect." His fisted hand released, and he lifted it to rest near his face. "Almost all of my enemies in one place." He fired shots at the Rangers. The Guardians dodged, but they hit Conner and Kira in the chest, sending them sprawling on the ground, withering in pain. Zeltrax walked closer to them. "You're going to lose this one; why not give up now?"
"You wish," Conner announced, lifting his blade with Kira. The two took off, running at Zeltrax, the disgraced general running at them.
Zeltrax blocked Kira's swing, slicing her in the chest. He hit Conner in the chest. Kira stopped a swing meant for Conner while Conner pushed the blades up. Zeltrax swung again. Kira and Conner caught his sword between their crossed blades. Zeltrax pulled away, swinging up. He sliced at Conner, then Kira. He hit Conner again. The two were then hit again, causing them to be pushed back on the ground.
Zeltrax lowered his blade by his side. "I can taste victory."
"Taste this!" Crystal called, jumping through the air. She brought her blade down, missing Zeltrax by an inch before she rose, shoving her shoulder into his stomach and pushing him back. She spun around, slicing down Zeltrax's torso. She planted her boot on his chest, pushing him back even more.
Lucy appeared beside her, her blade at her side. "Seems victory's far from you." She challenged. She ran at the general, slicing up. He stumbled back just enough for Lucy to slam the heel of her boot into his face. She went for another swing, but he dodged, slicing her back to the Rangers.
"It's time to finish you." Zeltrax held his blade up as the Rangers helped the Guardian up.
From a tower high above the fight, the White Ranger called down. "Zeltrax, think about who created you. You owe him your life."
"What's going on?" Conner asked.
The three girls glanced at each other. "Huh?"
Zeltrax stumbled back, a hand flying to his head. "No! My life force. It's fading. I can feel it." He turned around, bright blue lightning coating his body before he disappeared.
"You can run, but you can't hide, Zeltrax." The White Ranger threatened. "I'll deal with you later, Rangers." He disappeared, leaving the four Rangers absolutely confused.
"He just vanished?" Dr. Oliver asked when the four Rangers finished explaining the entire fight to him and Ethan.
"Yeah. Not that that's a bad thing." Kira shrugged.
Dr. Olive motioned to Conner. "His fight with you in battlizer mode took a lot out of him. He needs Mesogog to keep him alive."
"And Mesogog needs us to defeat him," Conner stated, earning a nod from Dr. Oliver.
"Now that we know that, what's next?" Ethan asked, still in the ridiculous t-shirt of his.
The computer beeped, showcasing a moth monster with oversized glasses. "Well, isn't it a lava-ly day?! What to do? I know. First, I'll create bad weather and maybe a volcano or two."
Dr. Oliver turned around in his chair. "You fight the monster; I'll stay and monitor the Zeltrax situation."
"Ready?" Conner asked.
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
"What a lava-ly day!" The monster croaked out. "I can fix that." He laughed, watching his powers form a large, dark cloud in the sky.
"Hey, Thunderhead!" Conner called, forcing the monster to turn around. "Don't want to rain on your parade, but…"
"Then don't." The monster thrusted his arms into the air, shooting a white beam into the sky. The powers forced the mountains outside Reefside to grow significantly, separating the city from Briarwood.
"What's that?" Kira asked with uncertainty in her voice.
"You're making me blow my top!"
Trent stood with Hayley, staring at the large silver and gold trophy on the table on stage, the final two computers opposite each other with that trophy in the middle. "Think Ethan'll believe who he gets to play in the finals?" The White Ranger asked, a smirk on his voice.
"I want to see his look. It's going to be classic." Hayley smiled, excitement bubbling in her.
"Only thing is…do we hold this thing off until he gets here?" Trent motioned around him.
"Barring a natural disaster, I think he'll have to forfeit."
Crystal could only stare at the mountain as it erupted, a mushroom of flames spewing from the crest. "Great." She sadly chuckled, screwing her eyes shut for a moment. "Just what I wanted. An angry volcano."
Lucy snorted. "Typical day for a Power Ranger."
"I hate today."
Trent stumbled as the ground violently shook, shaking nearly everything in the store. "Whoa! Did you do that?" He asked, looking at Hayley.
"No," Hayley answered.
Trent leaned away, lifting his gem. "Dr O? It's Trent. What's going on?"
"I'll have to call you back when I can figure it out. My systems detect volcanic activity."
"Do you need me?"
"Stay there. That place is full of innocent people. They come first."
The Rangers scrambled to avoid the flying rocks erupting from the mountain. "What is this stuff?" Conner demanded, but his question went unanswered as the Rangers crashed to the ground when a particularly nasty explosion rocked behind them.
The monster clapped, bouncing up and down. "This was easier than I thought. This will be the end of the Power Rangers and this world!"
On the other side of town, still in her chaotic attire that morning, Cassidy carried all her books, her backpack dangling around her arm. "Okay, am I supposed to be at cheerleading or drama?" She asked herself, her brain not working as well as it should. Not without Devin to help her keep track. "And what about my facial? My pores are going to be like potholes. I don't even know where I am. I don't know who I am!" She slumped on the ground, books everywhere around her. "Devin! I need you." She moaned.
The ground erupted, shaking the Earth violently, but Cassidy didn't move, letting her frizzy hair catch the ash around her as people ran for cover.
"Oh, it's good to let off some steam." The monster cheered.
Conner stuck his arm out. "We're in trouble."
"Red-hot trouble," Ethan added.
Kira twisted around, scooting closer to the team. "How do we stop him?"
"You don't. Nothing can stop me now!" The monster returned.
"Don't count on it." Dr. Oliver yelled, appearing on the opposite side of the battlefield. He flipped off his raptor, landing before the monster.
"Bring it on." The monster challenged.
"You're reading my mind." Dr. Oliver stated.
The Ranger climbed to their feet. "Just in time." Crystal breathed.
"You're all mine, six-eyes!" Dr. Oliver fell into a stance.
"Four against one doesn't seem fair!" The monster called on the henchmen. "Get 'em." The Triptoids bounded forward.
"Tyranno staff!" Conner jumped up, swinging down and striking one. He spun around, hitting another before he twisted the staff around and hit two more. He blocked a hit, hit him in the chest, then turned around, striking one right in the chest with the t-rex head of his staff.
"Let me in on some of this fun." Kira pulled her blaster out, firing shots from the top of a crane. She hit the two closest to her, then took out all the ones on the ground around her.
"Hope you don't mind if I jump in." Ethan swung his shield around, hitting triptoids quickly.
The monster spun around. "Is that all you puny Rangers have?"
Behind him, the Guardians took out triptoids like it was first nature to them, sending henchman after henchman to the ground.
Dr. Oliver walked calmly through his pod, slicing the few who dared to try to attack. "You want a fight? I'll give you a fight." He walked closer, his suit enveloped in black power. "Super Dino mode!"
"Spikes? What's the point?" The monster took off, flying at Dr. Oliver and striking him once. Twice. But the third time, Dr. Oliver caught his arms, bending them away from his body before he spun them around. "Hey, put me down!" Dr. Oliver threw him across the field, watching him land. "Not even a scratch."
"Oh, yeah?" Dr. Oliver slammed his hands on the ground, then pushed up, flipping in the air and using the spikes on his boot to strike. He then sent a burst of power at the monster, seeing him back even further. "Power down."
The Rangers gathered around him. "Nice job, Dr. O."
"Thanks, but we have to finish it. Conner, go for it."
Conner lifted his shield. "Okay. Guys?"
"Triassic Power!"
Conner morphed quickly. "And for kicks, Battlizer, engage! Oh, yeah!" In seconds he stood in his battlizer suit.
"What the…?" The monster didn't get to finish as he climbed to his feet.
"Dragon yo-yo," Conner called on the power, sending it spinning rapidly at the monster. "Cannon, power up! Battle blast!" He pushed up on the ground, using the cannons that formed on his back to blast the monster, letting the explosion happen behind him.
Elsa snarled. "It's not over yet. See how you like this!" She pushed a lever up, watching the dark powers begin to grow.
The monster grew instantly. "I'm back!"
"Brachio!" Dr. Oliver called.
The Rangers formed the Megazord instantaneously. "You are in for a big defeat!" The monster charged with the Rangers following behind him. He swung. The Rangers blocked, turning, and missing. They caught another swing, pushing up and slicing his stomach, then threw him across the city. "Super-charged." He powered up, sending purple lightning at the Rangers.
"Stegozord, activate!" Crystal called, watching the purple dino lumber to them, his back opening up. The Rangers jumped onto his back.
"It's too late!" The monster laughed.
"This should cool off the situation." Dr. Oliver turned the dial on his staff, slamming it into the ground. An enormous tidal wave formed. "Surfs up!"
The monster turned around to see the giant wave. "Oh, no. I forgot my water wings."
"That's our wave!" Conner pointed out.
The Rangers joined in the waves, surfing around and using the spines of the Stegozord to hit the monster. "Let's finish it!" The Rangers called, using the powered-up Dino Drill to defeat the monster. "Wipeout, yeah!"
"There he is!" Lucy called out as she and Conner ran to catch up with Dr. Morton. They were shocked at first when the doctor came out of the lava monster but figured it had to do with his studies.
Conner rounded the smoking and soot-covered Dr. Morton. "Are you all right, doctor?"
Dr. Morton looked at him, chalk in hand. "Did you know that volcanos can lie dormant for thousands of years? And they can spring to life, spewing hot magma into the air." He stumbled off, leaving the two Rangers laughing as he went.
Elsa stood in the middle of the lab, uncertainty edging at her nerves. "You're batting 1000, Elsa," Mesogog stated, beginning to walk behind them. "In one day, you've managed to allow Zeltrax to disappear to safety and allow the Rangers to defeat us." He pushed against the White Ranger. "I'll be back and with a punishment befitting your uselessness." He shoved his way through the two, leaving them alone.
The Rangers stood at Hayley's, the final finally coming around. "It's the final," Trent announced. "And here he is, your returning… Champion Ethan James!" Everyone cheered for him as Ethan walked up to the computer.
"Who's Ethan playing in the final?" Kira asked the rest of the Rangers, all gathered around to watch their teammate.
"Your challenger, with the highest score of the day…Devin Del Valle!" Trent motioned to Devin on the other side of the room. The Rangers glanced at each other, shocked as Devin walked in.
An hour later, the Rangers waited patiently, being able to see Ethan's screen and using the monitor behind Devin to keep track of his score. Ethan rose in his chair. "Yes! 21,400,000 points. I won!"
Trent walked over to him as everyone cheered. "Not so fast, Ethan. Devin's still playing."
"21 million points and counting?" Kira couldn't hide the shock in her voice.
"21,200,000." Lucy read off, staring at Devins's screen.
Ethan began to get nervous. "Why are they cheering?"
"21,500,000." Dr. Oliver announced.
The game blasted once more; the sound of Devin ending his game rang loudly in the quiet cafe as everyone stared at the screen. "Devin wins. Game over." Trent announced, holding his hand out for Devin to clasp.
Ethan glumly began his descent. "How could he win? How could I lose?" He moaned.
"No practice?" Conner supplied.
"Swelled head?" Crystal added.
"But…I am Detonation Man," Ethan complained.
Dr. Olive leaned over to him. "You are now."
"A video game?" Cassidy's voice droned out of the crowd as they celebrated the new winner. "You ruined my life for a video game?!" The Rangers turned back to find Cassidy in the middle of the horde of gamers.
Devin scratched his head. "Oh, yeah, Cass, look, I tried to tell you."
"This is unacceptable." Cassidy snapped. "I have needs, Devin. Needs. Do you understand that?"
Lucy snorted. "I think we all do, Cassidy." She stated, laughing with the rest of the Rangers. "Cheer up, Ethan; at least you proved Crystal right."
Crystal cheered, smiling. "I'm never wrong."
Ethan turned to the Golden Guardian. "I hope you were going to be."
"Never."
That night, the sisters sat on the couch of their small apartment, laughing as they watched some random show on TV. It had been a while since they two just hung out, not worrying about what monsters people were sending after them. Lucy threw the blanket off her legs, rising to collect the bowls of popcorn, still laughing.
She moved to the kitchen, intending to fill the bowls again, but a sharp pain in her head stopped her. She gasped, dropping the bowls, the loud clattering sending Crystal shooting to her feet and dashing to her now downed sister. "Bug," She murmured, reaching for her little sister.
Lucy shot back, her hand on her temple as she breathed. She glanced up, her eyes silver, before she cried out again, ducking her head and nearly collapsing on the ground. "What is happening?" She croaked out, leaning heavily against the cabinets.
"I don't know, bug, but we're gonna figure it out."
Next Episode: Strange Relations