Chapter Nine
Casey, Lily, Theo, Dominic and Camille arrived at the loft of JKP and they met up with Twyla, Fran and Flit.
"Any luck on cracking that Pink Ranger yet?" Twyla asked.
"None," Casey replied, "she almost got us drained."
"It seems the Pink Ranger and the Dark Elite has gotten stronger." Lily added.
"And we don't know who she is either." Dominic said.
"Camille," Flit asked, "Where's Jarrod?"
"He's still at the Fortress fighting Kartras." Camille answered, "he had me to get help."
"Oh no! This does not look good for any of us!" Flit declared in his usual play by play tone, "The Pink Ranger and the Dark Elite have gotten stronger, Jarrod has caught himself in a pickle and it is possible that RJ is being drained as we speak! It is up to James and the Masters to find him before it's too late!"
"They have to be at the fortress by now," Camille told the rangers, "I will teleport you there so that you can help Jarrod and find the others."
"What do we got to lose?" Dominic asked.
"Let's do it!" Lily nodded. Casey looked over at Twyla, Flit and Fran, "You three stay put. This could be dangerous."
Fran nodded by the orders. Flit nodded as well, "Will do, Casey!"
Camille teleported the rangers to the Fortress of Despair.
The group looked around the dark place and did not like the accommodations nor their surroundings.
"This place is dark and creepy!" Lily exclaimed.
"It's called the Fortress of Despair," Theo replied, "Did you expect the place to be full of brightness like a fancy hotel or something like that?"
"Guys, enough!" Casey ordered, "RJ and Jarrod are counting on us!"
"Casey is right." Camille nodded in agreement, "there's no time to mess around."
"So what's the plan?" Dominic asked.
"We go to help out Jarrod with dealing with Kartras!" Camille told the others, "then we help out James and the masters to rescue RJ."
"What if they can't get to RJ in time?" Lily asked.
"It's a desperate gamble," Casey spoke up, "but we have to do what we have to do. Take our risks."
Casey, Lily, Theo and Dominic posed, ready to morph.
"Jungle Beast Spirit Unleash!"
The four morphed into the Red, Yellow, Blue and Rhino Rangers respectively before they joined Camille who is back in her chameleon armor and the five hurried to the chamber where Jarrod was fighting Kartras. The Mistress of Evil was giving the Lion Warrior a major beating. She looked up, sensing the presence of the heroes close by, "You got to be kidding me. Geneva, Nathan! Pink Ranger!"
"Camille. The Rangers." Jarrod looked up as he appeared to be writhing in pain. The Pink Ranger, Nathan and Geneva approached Kartras in their fighting forms.
"How can we help you, Mistress?" the Pink Ranger asked.
"The Power Rangers are on their way to the chamber!" Kartras ordered, "get over there and stop them!"
"Yes Mistress." Geneva bowed.
"You can count on us." the Pink Ranger nodded. Nathan and the girls vanished in black mist. Then Kartras sensed three more positive energy sources at a different area of the Fortress, near the Arena of Despair. As a response, she called out, "Rinshi! Stop the masters and that armored fool! They are heading towards the arena! They must not enter!"
A group of Rinshi appeared in black energy and teleported to their destination as the evil mistress was glancing at Jarrod once again.
"Don't waste your time," Jarrod said, "I know you are human inside, Kartras. I have been in your situation before where a great evil possessed me. I know the human in you is still alive within the great evil."
Kartras blasted Jarrod with a black energy ball, which knocked him across the room, "You're the one that's wasting your time! The human that was once called Monica Harper is no longer here, now I am Kartras!"
Jarrod groaned as he looked up.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Master Finn, Master Swoop and James, now in his sub armor, found themselves at one of the hallways.
"The arena must be close by." said the shark master. Master Swoop and James nodded as they shown concern for their worried friend.
"You shouldn't worry, Finn." Master Swoop told his friend, "we can't be too far from where the arena is."
"I know that, Swoop," Master Finn replied, "but if your child was in danger from a situation like this, you'd be worried too."
"But I am worried," James spoke up, "I happen to know how you feel. You don't mess with family."
"And I show concern for your son as well." Master Swoop added.
Suddenly, they were stopped by a group of Rinshi who appeared in mist of black energy.
"Kartras must've sent these Rinshi to stop from rescuing RJ!" the bat master looked ahead as he got out his fan, ready for battle. The shark master got out his sabers, and they were both ready for battle, and they fought against the Rinshi.
"Armor of the Eliminator! Dao Chin!"
James was now in his full armor, ready for battle.
"So the legend is true," Master Finn stated.
"This changes everything," Master Swoop added.
"Wait till you see the rest of the Ronin Warriors in action," James grinned, "along with the Lady Ronin Guardians."
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Casey, Lily, Theo, Dominic and Camille were close to the chamber only to be ambushed by Geneva, Nathan and the Pink Ranger. The five looked at their three opponents.
"As Venomous as a Python!" Geneva posed, ready for battle, "I am the Python Warrior!"
"With the power of a Griffin!" Nathan posed, ready for battle, "I am the Griffin Warrior!"
"And with my Panther Power!" the Pink Ranger posed, ready for battle, "I am the Pink Ranger!"
"Camille, Dominic, get to Jarrod!" Casey told the Chameleon warrior and Rhino Ranger, "We'll take care of those two!"
Dominic and Camille hurried over to help out Jarrod.
"With the Strength of a Tiger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"
"With the Speed of a Cheetah, Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger!"
"With the Stealth of a Jaguar, Jungle Fury Blue Ranger!"
It was a three on three battle. Casey took on the Pink Ranger, Lily took on Geneva, and Theo took on Nathan. It was a tough battle at first, Theo easily defeated Nathan first, and then Lily defeated Geneva, and finally, Casey defeated the Pink Ranger, and each defeat resulted in the warriors being knocked to the ground.
The three good rangers prepared to fire the Claw Canon at the three evil soldiers, but the Pink Ranger stood up and barked, "Stop! You wouldn't destroy human beings, would you?!"
Casey moved his hands from the canon, "Stop guys! She's right!"
"What?!" Lily exclaimed.
"What are you saying?" Theo added.
"They may be bad like Kartras," Casey replied calmly, "but they are still human and we can't destroy them like we could to a Rinshi or one of Kartras's energy draining monsters."
"So with that said," the Pink Ranger said, "we'll call this match a draw, but next time you won't be so lucky!"
The three soldiers left the area as they were beaten back.
Casey, Lily and Theo joined Camille, Dominic and Jarrod who were fighting against Kartras. The mistress of evil nearly got the upper against the heroes but they ended up turning the tables on the evil mistress and she was defeated and knocked to the floor.
"You may have won this battle," Kartras declared as she hatefully looked up at the rangers and their allies, "but you haven't won the war. Not just yet! Your wolf ranger will soon be destroyed and I will have his energy!"
"We'll just see about that," Casey declared.
"James and the masters are looking for our wolf ranger just in case you're wondering," Theo said.
"And in case you're wondering," Kartras snided, "I sent a group of Rinshi to stop them from saving the wolf master!"
"What?!" Casey exclaimed.
"No way!" Theo added.
"No!" Lily cried.
"You witch!" Dominic growled.
"We better hurry and help the masters!" Jarrod told the rangers. He, Camille and rangers left the rangers which left Kartras to growl and sulk in defeat.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
James and the masters were beginning to become overwhelmed by the seizing attacks coming from the Rinshi.
"Energy Claws Deploy!" James launched his attack at some Rinshi.
"We don't have time for this!" Master Finn shouted, "RJ needs us!"
Seconds later, Jarrod, Camille, Casey, Theo, Lily and Dominic each launched an attack for a Rinshi and hurried over to the scene to help out the masters.
"You came in the nick of time!" James told the two warriors and four rangers as they started to beat back the Rinshi.
"Go! Go!" James shouted to the shark master as he looked at him, "Your son needs you! Go! We'll handle this!"
Master Finn quickly nodded as he put away his sabers and hurried to the arena to rescue his son as James, the the bat master, the two warriors and the four Power Rangers continued to beat back the Rinshi in their way.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
At the arena, RJ was struggling to get on his feet as he was getting weaker and purple energy was continuing to surround his body as the draining was taking its toll on the Wolf Master as he was crawling on his knees. He felt himself starting to lose consciousness. Was this it? Was he about to die?
"That's it for you, Wolf Ranger! No one can save you now!" Keith chuckled as he was about to drain the last of his energy. Before he could proceed to the last of the draining, a blast of light blue energy surged into the arena, causing damage to half of the area and it also caused Keith to drop the morpher to the ground. Both Keith and RJ looked up to see Master Finn walking over to the arena, hurrying over to his weakened son, "RJ!"
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Master Finn looked on in shock to see his son in a weakened state. Thankfully he made it when he did, otherwise he would have died.
"Dad. He's strong." RJ called weakly to his father before passing out on the floor. The shark master looked to see his unconscious son on the floor with purple energy surrounding him. Master Finn held his son in his lap and checked his pulse to find it to be weak. He was shocked and knew that time was running out for him.
"RJ," Master Finn cried as he gently laid his son back down before looking over to Keith in anger, "Alright, Dragon warrior, you mess with my son, you mess with me!"
"So you think I'm supposed to be scared of an old man like you?" Keith snided, "Very well, if you want a challenge, then I will give it to you!"
Master Finn got out his shark sabers and dueled with the Dragon Warrior, who got out his sword. Both fighters were evenly matched at first, but thanks to strong determination and will power, the shark master eventually gained the upper hand, knocked Keith to the floor and hurried and retrieved the Wolf Ranger Morpher.
"I believe you have something that belongs to my son!" Master Finn glanced at his defeated opponent as he marched over to the Dragon Warrior, and took the purple energy from Keith which returned to RJ's morpher, causing the dragon warrior to growl in anger.
The Shark Master hurried over to see his unconscious son as he was no longer glowing purple. He gently picked up RJ in his arms, with his morpher in his left hand as energy was returning to the morpher. Then he glared at the Dragon Warrior with anger, "I'm taking him home now, and I swear to you, if he dies, it will be on your hands!"
Keith shown little intimidation from Master Finn as he walked away with RJ in his arms. He hurried to a nearby area where he could sit down and place the morpher back on his son's wrist. Master Finn spoke to RJ as he put his morpher back on his wrist, "Hopefully this will give you your energy back. Just hang on."
The Shark Master looked down as energy was recharging within RJ. He checked his son's pulse which was returning to a steady pace, "Good. That's good."
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
RJ couldn't tell if he was dreaming or if he was still awake.
He found himself being carried. He must be away from that arena by now.
"Just hang on. Good. That's good." RJ heard his father call out. He opened his eyes to see his concerned father.
"Dad." RJ weakly called out. He tried to get up but he found that to be pointless, not only was he weak, but his father also placed him back on the ground, "No, no, lay back down. You need to rest."
"Master Finn!" RJ could hear Casey call out, and it was the last thing he could hear before losing consciousness again.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
"Master Finn!" Casey's voice called from a distance. Master Finn looked up to see Casey, Lily, Theo, Dominic, Jarrod and Camille arriving at the area, all still in their ranger and armor forms. Master Swoop and James joined with the others just seconds later.
"How's RJ?" Lily asked, "Is he okay?"
"I got him out of there just in the nick of time," Master Finn answered as he held RJ in his arms, "another second more and he would've been done for."
The others sighed with relief, knowing that RJ was still alive.
"RJ?" Casey called for his friend, but no response came.
"RJ?" this time Lily called for him. Again, no response.
"RJ? Come on, buddy. It's all over now." Dominic called for his friend. No answer or response came from the unconscious wolf ranger.
"RJ?!" Casey called for him again, even louder as he grasped his former teacher's arms, "Can you hear me?! It's me, Casey! RJ!"
Everyone glanced at each other, wondering what this meant for the Wolf Ranger, even Jarrod and Camille were showing concern, even though they didn't know RJ as long as the others did.
"RJ will be okay," Master Swoop spoke up, "he just needs to rest."
"We'll still need to check his condition to be safe," Jarrod advised.
"Good idea, Jarrod," James nodded in agreement.
"Let's get back to the loft at JKP and we'll go from there." Casey told the others. Camille along with everyone else in the room vanished in light green light which sent them near JKP.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Kartras marched around in anger over the defeat as she growled, "I will not accept defeat by those Power Rangers or those old men! I will think up of a new plan and this time the rangers will ALL be destroyed!"