Here is the next chapter or so. It is slowly building up to the main bulk of the story. As always, I own nothing but the plot and please enjoy!
"Uh oh. Code Red! Code Red!" A voice called out over the firehouse, making Carter smile from inside the cabinet of the firetruck he was stocking. He pulled his head out and his smile grew when he saw a group walking towards him, a blonde haired young woman in a magenta colored uniform and glasses leading them.
"Now come on, Frank. You know it's only a Code Red when your wife and my girlfriend are in the firehouse at the same time." Carter called out over his shoulder. Frank glared halfheartedly.
"Didn't help that Kendrix wasn't denying anything." He said, the firehouse erupting in laughter. Carter gave Kendrix a tight hug, then looked at the group around her.
"Hey Eric. Another Red mission?" He asked, eying the red piping on Nick's robes. The other blonde woman stepped up.
"Is there a place we can talk in private?" Carter looked at Kendrix, who nodded with a look he had only seen a few times since meeting her. It was the look of seeing things that no one else has, being in a place many go to, but only few come back from. He looked at the others.
"Back office."
A long talk later
Vida looked out the widow and her jaw dropped at the sight. Being from under a tree, it really shouldn't have surprised her that a Ranger base would be in the sky, but this was a huge mass of land in the shape of a turtle, the back covered in lakes, jungles, and forests. As they flew closer, a shadow passed over them, causing the ship to rock. Eric shook his head with a frown and a glare out the window.
"Damn bird does it every time." He muttered. Carter looked at him from over his shoulder.
"Because she knows it pisses you off." He said.
"It just kinda pisses me off that I don't have to worry so much about her parents, I have to worry about that bird." He said. The ship rocked more violently, accompanied by a sharp bird's cry. Kendrix smirked.
"I think she heard you." She said. Eric landed the ship, and everyone made their way into the temple area of the Animarium, Kendrix gazing in awe at all the carvings on the wall, depicting scenes from ancient times, of a place only talked about in stories and myths. Nick looked at them as well, and felt a twinge of nerves at the carvings. They looked a lot like the carvings on the doors and the temple on Phadoes. A hand on his arm brought him back to the present, making him jerk and look at Vida, who just nodded and led him along with the others. As they neared a doorway, Cynthia began to fidget and become nervous, and Kendrix noticed.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Cynthia chuckled nervously.
"I'm not exactly excited about meeting these two again." She said.
The place opened up to the common area, where there were three people sitting around. One was a beautiful woman with brown hair and eyes, and wearing a white dress and a gold crown. The other two were a young man and woman sitting at a table, books and papers spread out between them. The man had his back to them, showing the image of a blazing lion on the back of his vest. The young woman wore a pink blouse and a white vest, the patch was a white tiger. The woman in the white dress was the first to notice them, getting up with a warm smile. Looking up from her books at the movement, the other young woman smiled.
"Cole, look who it is." She said. Cole turned around and a huge smile lit up his face.
"Carter! Eric!" He said, getting up and giving them each a brotherly hug. He looked as Nick and Vida as he broke apart from Carter.
"Cole, this is Nick. Mystic Force Red." He said. Nick shook his hand, and both noticed the surge of power.
"And this is Vida, Mystic Force Pink." The woman in the white vest perked up at this.
"Hi! I'm Alyssa. Wild Force White." She said.
"Hey, Alyssa, how is college going?" Kendrix asked. Alyssa laughed.
"It's going great. At least until midterms. Then I will be, what does Max call me?" She asked Cole.
"An over emotional Were-Tiger that attacks at every noise?" He said.
"I was the same way in college. I was either going to burn out from the caffeine or set the chem lab on fire." Kendrix said. Nick looked at Carter.
"She still get like that?" He asked. Carter sighed.
"Yeah. When she gets that look in her eyes, I take a few overnight shifts at the firehouse." He said. Kendrix shot him a glare.
"They are called 'deadlines' for a reason." She said. As they bantered, Cynthia had hung back, just watching as the older woman approached.
"Princess Shayla." She said, nodding to the older woman. Shayla smiled and gestured towards the group.
"I haven't told them anything about you, just like you asked." She said. Cynthia sighed and stepped forward. Alyssa noticed and looked at her, head tilted to the side in thought.
"Have we met? You look so familiar." She said. Cynthia gulped.
"In a way, we have." She said. Cole came over, with the same look on his face. Cynthia smiled weakly.
"I am about to jog your memory, but I have to ask that you hear me out afterwards." She said. Cynthia lowered her head, then raised it up. The change was in the very air, causing everyone to shudder. Her eyes became darker, and a twisted smile came over her face. She looked down at Alyssa and chuckled darkly.
"Looks like you can still be too nice for your damn good." She said, voice laced with hidden intentions. Alyssa felt a tremor run down her spine, causing her to suck in a sharp breath. The moment was gone when Cole let lose an animalistic roar and tackled Cynthia to the ground. Carter was quick to wrap his arms around Cole in an attempt to pull him off, but Cole was immovable, hands wrapped around Cynthia's throat. The angel looked into his eyes and saw the jade green eyes of the Lion.
"Do you remember what I said I would do to you when if I ever saw you again?" Cole growled out. Cynthia coughed out.
"Yes! But I'm not Her! Not entirely. I'm Her angel half. Cynthia, get it?" She forced out. Cole's eyes went down a few notches in intensity and his hands loosened a bit. This was all it took for Carter and Eric to pull him off her, but both could still feel how tense his muscles were.
"What do you mean by that?" Alyssa asked. Cynthia got up slowly with the help of Nick and Kendrix.
"I used to be a part of Her. It is a bit of a story, but I was sort of a leash for Her. Holding Her back from a lot of things." She said.
"Like bashing my brains in with a baseball bat?" Cole growled out.
"Pretty much." She said, rubbing her neck.
"But now, there is no filter. No leash. Which is why I need your help." Like with the others, Cynthia told them the story of how Power Rangers of Space Patrol Delta managed to capture Her and performed an exorcism of sorts. But, because a demon cannot be exorcised unless they are possessing something or someone, it exorcised the angle half from the demon half. Without a filter, it wasn't long before she killed everyone and left the world in ruin. Cynthia went into hiding with Cruger and Kat. As she told this story, Cynthia had brought out the SPD badge. It was worn, rusty, chipped in places, and very much held onto as a symbol of hope for her. After she was done talking, the place went silent.
"So, I need help. I can understand if you don't want to help me… because of who I am, but I must ask you all the same. If I am to stop her from…"
"I'll do it." Alyssa said. Everyone looked at her.
"Alyssa, you don't have to do this." Cole said, anger gone from his eyes.
"No, Cole. I have to do this. I have never gotten closure from what that… thing did to me. What she put all of you through. I have never faced Her again face to face. Now, I'm not only getting that chance, but we both know more than anyone else what she we will do if no one stops Her. Even if I die, I would rather die knowing I did something." Alyssa said, her own eyes taking on a chilly blue for a brief moment. She looked at Cynthia.
"When do we leave?"