I don't own Power Rangers or Cross Ange; those belong to their creators. This is for fun, not profit.
Chapter 2: New Allies
Morning has arrived in the deserted and abandoned ruins of the city that the people from the past once called home.
Teleporting in front of the many shelters scattered around is the Red Ranger. He looks around the area for a bit before he approaches the shelter's front gate.
Then the gate scans his body with a red light.
"Life signs confirmed. No sign of contamination. Welcome to Capital City Shelter 7. Capital City Defense welcomes you." A woman's voice said as the gate begins to open for him, but the Red Ranger knows that voice belongs to an automated computer system.
The Red Ranger then entered the shelter and walked in a long hallway.
After walking for a while, the Red Rangers stop in a room filled with several gates along with a black screen before it turns on revealing a woman with a symbol behind her.
"Hello. This shelter is currently serving 1.7% available space for refugees. You may choose any area you like. Please, enjoy your stay." She told the Red Ranger as the gates began to open.
Despite knowing what he might find in there, the Red Ranger then moves towards one of the rooms in the shelter.
Inside the room are countless mummified corpses that were badly decomposed and rotting away, only the skin of their rotting flesh along with their dried-up hair.
The Red Ranger sighed as he stayed calm despite seeing this horrible sight in front of him.
He then walks into the room to look inside while avoiding stepping on the corpses to respect the dead. He looked around and spotted marked specialized areas for cooking, laundry, and eating that were made by using screens and canopies.
He then looks at the bodies around him, besides the men, the women and children that were inside the shelter had died with them, he even spotted a few helding makeshift clubs and knives in their hands and some were even holding guns which showed possible signs of a riot.
The Red Ranger stops as he spotted the mummified body of a mother with her two children, a son and a daughter lying on the ground.
He was saddened to see this horrible sight; this wasn't his first time seeing something like this, but he still wasn't used to it yet.
He then raised his device and pressed on the left button, then appearing on the screen was Pixel.
"Hey, Dean, found anything?" She asked.
"It's just like the other six shelters. No survivors here either." The Red Ranger said.
For the past few days, the Red Ranger explored different shelters across the country in search of any survivors, but so far he found nothing but mummified corpses.
"Well, what did you expect? Without a constant train of fresh supplies, the people who manage to arrive in the shelters most likely died from hunger or dehydration. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them died due to fighting for what was left." Pixel sadly told him.
The Red Ranger knelt down and picked one of the many makeshift knives that was most likely used in a riot.
"I know. But I wanted to at least hold on to some hope." He said before he placed the knife on the ground.
The Red Ranger then left the room that was now serving as a tomb and stopped in front of the large screen.
"Calling Automated Administrative Program." He calls out and the screen turns on revealing the same woman.
"Hello, this is the Automated Administrative System Himari. How can I be of service?" She asked.
"Himari, I want a list of records of all occupants of this shelter. After that, I need you to shut off all systems." He told her.
"I'm sorry, but that is restricted access. Without authorization of the supervisor or from command, I cannot authorize the request." Himari told him.
The Red Ranger sighed to hear that.
"I should've figured." He said before he looked at his device. "Pixel."
"Already, on it." Pixel said before she appeared out of his device and flew into the screen in front of them.
Then static begins to appear on screen.
"E-E-Error. U-Unknown program d-d-detected…E-E-Error…" Himari said before it shuts down, and with that the gates inside close forever and the lights turn off.
With her job now down, Pixel flew out of the screen and into the Red Ranger's device.
"All done. I deactivated all the main and back-up systems. I also managed to receive all history records that were in the storage units." Pixel told him.
"Thanks, Pix. Make a list of the deceased until I get back. I'll handle the rest from there." He said before he ended the transmission.
The Red Ranger then leaves the shelter.
"Man…No matter how many times I do this, it will never be easy." He said to himself.
(Play: Believe in Nexus by Masaaki Endoh)
(Instrumental) (As the song starts, two Earths appear one at a time before they collide against each other creating a flash of light which blinded the screen.)
(Sono te nobashi te mabayui ashita o tsukamitore! Mugen no sora hamatake Believe in Nexus!) (Five of the Nexus Zords had appeared as the Racer, Wolf, and Dozer Zords were racing on a large road while the Chopper and Falcon Zords were flying above them before they turned into a flash of light and flew into the vast open sky before the story's title appeared on screen.)
(Araburu kono shoudo daremino tomiranai!) (The Nexus Rangers were standing on a hill as they looked at the town where the Children of Aura resides as some of them in DRAGON form flew above them as they watched them in awe.)
(Hiri asa mi kirikou o taka maru kono Heart Beat!) (Then it changes to a split screen with Salamandinay looking at her Enryugo as it was still incomplete, and Ange who was in her room in Arzenal as she was seated on her bed while looking at her ring, before it changes to Embryo and behind him was a man hidden in darkness holding a Morpher in his hand.)
(Bi chinai sou o natato sekawaerai!) (Then it changes showing an army of Xedroids and behind them were Prince Crimson, General Swartz, and Cyber.)
(Koko de oarasatakunai Go For It!) (Next the screen changes to the Rangers commencing their Morphin Sequence as they Morph into their suits before their helmets appeared.)
(Tachiagare kodoku ni obiekuru e naide!) (The screen changes showing a fleet of Xe-Fighters and an army of Xe-Bots charging forward to attack, then changes to the Nexus Rangers loading their Zord Cards into their Morphers as they soon appear, and the Rangers jump into them.)
(Nakama ma batte irukoto mou ichido omoidase!) (In his cockpit, the Nexus Red inserts his Battle Mode Card into his Morpher and his Racer Zord changes into the said mode.)
(Kowaku wa naisa akirame wa shinai donna tsugoi yatsu ni mo make wa shinai itsudatte o kino yuuki de Believe In Nexus!) (Then each of the Nexus Zord launch respective attacks on their enemies before the Kaiser Sphere in the sky. Then the Zords combine forming the Nexus Prime Megazord, and then energy appears around the Megazord before it flies at the Kaiser Sphere to attack and when it collides against the Sphere a large flash of light appears blinding the screen. Then it changes to both Earths before the Nexus Rangers along with the villain leaders appeared as they faced each other.)
In the Kaiser Sphere, the prince and his subordinates were watching footage of Commander Snider's battle against the Red Ranger, in his normal size and the battle against the Ranger's Zord in his giant size.
Prince Crimson's eyes were mostly set on the Red Ranger as he heard stories about his kind before.
"So, the legends are true. The Power Rangers are real, and here I thought they were a myth." Prince Crimson said.
Along with the prince, both Swartz and Cyber also heard the legends of the Power Rangers. On how they are universal and planetary defenders who had defended the universe from the forces of evil, and how legendary warriors and warlords of evil were defeated by their hands.
"Hmph. If you ask me, we have nothing to fear. He may be a Power Ranger but he's just one man. He has no hope against our invincible army." Cyber said.
"For a scientist, you truly are a fool." General Swartz said, and Cyber glares at him.
"What did you say?" Cyber said in rage.
"He may be one man, but the Power Rangers are a legend for a reason. Many warriors and galactic warlords had fallen from their hands. And need I remain, that lone Ranger had defeated one of our top commanders twice, even after we used the Kaiser Reanimantor. Though I suppose a scientist would have trouble understanding military tactics." General Swartz said, and that only enrages Cyber even more.
"Why you little…!" Cyber growled as he raised and pointed his cables, and Swartz brought out a crescent shaped sword using dark energy.
The sword was colored purely black just like his own armor with gold-colored pieces and has a red spot on the center of its blade with purple sharp teeth.
The Xedroids back away in fear as Swartz and Cyber were ready for a fight, but Prince Crimson stops them by slamming his first on his throne's arm rest. Then both Swartz and Cyber turn to the prince.
"That is enough! Both of you! If you have time to fight amongst yourselves, save it for our real enemies!" Prince Crimson shouted at them.
"Yes! Of course…" Swartz said before he dismissed his sword and Cyber lowered his cables.
Then the two officers bowed their heads.
"Our apologies, Your Highness." They said.
The prince huffed before he leaned on his throne and rested his hand under his chin. He then looks at the footage of the Red Ranger on the screen.
"For now, our top priority is dealing with this Ranger. Before he becomes a problem." Prince Crimson said.
"As you command." Both Swartz and Cyber said.
When Swartz raised his head, he then asked the prince a question.
"Should we inform the emperor about this Ranger, sir?"
"No." Prince Crimson said. "I intend to handle this matter before Father hears about this. Am I clear on that?"
"Yes, Your Highness. By your will." Swartz bowed his head.
Prince Crimson glares at the Red Ranger, this mission to conquer Earth was personally entrusted to him by his father, the emperor of the Kaiser Empire, but on the moment, he sent his advance force to attack, the Red Ranger had made a mockery of him by defeating them by himself.
'Mark my words, Red Ranger. You will pay for making a mockery out of me.' Prince Crimson thought as he tightened his other hand on his arm rest.
The Red Ranger was standing in front of the close gate of the shelter, he was using his Blaster's laser to seal up the edges of the gate to make sure it would be permanently sealed tight.
After he was done, he released the trigger and sighed. It may not be much, but it will at least serve as a proper burial for the dead inside.
Wanting to test how sealed tight it was, the Red Ranger knocks on the gate and pushes on it a few times, nodding in satisfaction as he steps away from it.
"That would do it." He said.
The Red Ranger was about to walk away and holster his Blaster but stop as he heard rocks moving on the ground, he then fired a laser blast on that very spot. Even though he couldn't see them, the Red Ranger could tell that someone's hiding somewhere and watching him.
"I know you're there. Show yourself." The Red Ranger told them.
Three groups of people were hiding behind a wall as they whispered to each other.
"Princess, what should we do?" One of them asked.
The Princess thought about it before she called out to the Red Ranger.
"Hold fire! I am coming out!" She said as she walked away from their cover surprising the other two.
"Wait, my lady?!"
The princess walked in front of the Red Ranger as she raised her arms and showed herself as Salamandinay.
She was wearing a different outfit when they first met. She was lacking her crown and red skirt, her loin cloth was also shorter, she was wearing a decorative crest of some kind framed on both sides of her face.
"Oh, it's you again." The Red Ranger said as he lowered his blaster.
One of the other two who were still hiding growls to hear how casually he treated Salamandinay.
"The nerve of him!" She said while her friend tried to calm her down.
"Are you here alone? Or do you have troops stationed here waiting to ambush me?" He asked as he looked around.
"No, I'm not here to fight. I'm only here to talk." Salamandinay told him.
"Then prove it, put the sword down." The Red Ranger said before he turned to the wall where the other two with Salamandinay were still hiding. "And tell those two to do the same."
They flinch when he already notices them, while a bit reluctant Salamandinay turns to them.
"Naga, Kaname, just do what he says for now." Salamandinay said.
They obey as they walk out of their hiding spot, revealing themselves to the Red Ranger.
They were about the same age as Salamandinay and were wearing colored outfits.
Naga had long violet hair with pink streaks, her sleeves and socks colored black as her tunic was colored blue, the gem on her forehead was colored blue. She also had two short swords hanging on her back waist.
Kaname had shoulder length red/brown hair with yellow eyes. Her clothes were colored green with a skirt, and her gem is colored green. She also carries a naginata with a dragon's head on the bottom of the blade.
They stopped next to Salamandinay as she placed her sword on the ground, and Naga and Kaname did the same, they then raised their hands.
"Will this do for now?" Salamandinay asked, and the Red Ranger nodded.
"Yes, it does." He said as he holsters his blaster.
Salamandinay sighed in relief before she and the others picked up their weapons. The Red Ranger then approached them, which made both Naga and Kaname on guard, but Salamandinay raised her hand telling them to stand down which they obeyed.
"So, mind telling me how you found me here?" He asked.
"It wasn't easy, I assure you." Salamandinay told him. "Ever since you appeared we have been looking for you everywhere, but we weren't able to find you. But then we heard reports that you appeared in and out in the lost ruins. Where you were seen entering and leaving the tombs."
Salamandinay looks at the shelter and the Red Ranger looks at it as well before they turn back to each other.
"Guess I was a little careless there. Then this meeting here?" He said, and Salamandinay nodded.
"It's a complete coincidence, I assure you." Salamandinay said.
"Right. Well, congratulations you found me. And if we're done with that, I'm leaving." The Red Ranger said as he was about to turn around and teleports to his base, but Salamandinay stops him as she grabs onto his arm, the Red Ranger then turns to her.
"Wait. I'm afraid I can't let you do that, not without answering my questions." Salamandinay said, and the Red Ranger sighed.
"Fine. What are they?" He asked, and Salamandinay removed her hand.
"I'll start with this, are you associated with this Kaiser Empire?" Salamandinay asked, and the Red Ranger was surprised to hear that.
"What? Why would you even ask that? In case you've forgotten, I fought against them and defended that town of yours." He reminded her and the others.
"I know. And I'm quite aware you saved my life back then. Most of the people were thankful that you defended them, but my superiors think otherwise. In fact they believe that was only an act to let us see you as some sort of savior, just so that would lower our guard for you to strike against us." Salamandinay explained, and the Red Ranger folded his arms and nodded in understanding.
"I suppose that makes sense. A group of aliens just showed up and attacked you, and I just so happen to arrive to save you. If our roles were reversed, I would probably feel the same way." He said while shrugging.
"Then you would understand why I can't just let you leave. If you prove to be a threat to my people, then I'll be forced to eliminate you." Salamandinay said as she grabbed onto her sword, Naga did the same as she and Kaname were ready to fight.
The Red Ranger then heard roaring in the sky, he looked up and saw several giant dragon-like beings landing on top of buildings as they looked at him.
The Red Ranger were impressed by their courage, they knew what he was capable of, but they were more than willing to fight him to protect their people. In fact, it was something he understands very well.
"Okay, I can see the picture here." The Red Ranger said. "So you just want me to answer your questions, right?"
"Yes." Salamandinay nodded.
"Alright. Then I'll take you somewhere to answer them. Only if you're willing to trust me." The Red Ranger told them.
Salamandinay thought about it before she turned to Naga and Kaname to signal them to stand down; they were surprised at first before they obeyed as they lowered their guard. She then turns to the large dragon beings and signals them to go, they understand as they flew away.
"Will this do?" Salamandinay asked, and the Red Ranger nodded.
"It's a start." He said before he pressed the call button on his wrist mounted device to contact Pixel. "Pixel, ready the transporter for me and our guests."
"Are you sure?" Pixel asked, and the Red Ranger nodded. "Alright. I'm on it."
The Red Ranger lowered his arm. This left Salamandinay and the others confused.
"What are you…?" Naga said.
"Just stay close to me, and don't make any sudden movement." He told them.
"Why-?" Salamandinay said before she, Naga, Kaname, and the Red Ranger suddenly teleported out of the area.
The Red Ranger and his guests soon arrive inside the base as they appear on the transporter.
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname felt a little dizzy after that, Salamandinay and Naga placed a hand on their head while Kaname covered her mouth as she almost vomited.
"Oh, sorry, probably should've warned you about the side effects of using this thing for the first time. Don't worry, it will wear off." The Red Ranger said as he stepped off the transporter.
After the effects wore off a bit, Salamandinay and her two subordinates follow him as they look at the large room, they were now in.
They were walking towards the computer, that's when Salamandinay asked the Red Ranger a question.
"Where are we?" Salamandinay asked.
"We're in my base. Obviously." The Red Ranger answered.
"I understand that. But where are we exactly?" She asked.
"That's a need-to-know basis, and you don't need to know right now." The Red Ranger told her, and that only angered Naga.
"The nerve…" Naga growled while Kaname tried to calm her friend.
"Now, now, calm down." Kaname told her.
"Alright, then can you at least answer this question. Who are you really?" Salamandinay asked.
"I'm pretty sure that monster you met already said that." The Red Ranger said.
"Yes. He called you a Power Ranger. And based on how it sounds, he knows who or what you are." Salamandinay said.
"I'm not really that surprised. We are quite well known across the universe." He said, and Salamandinay was confused by that.
"We? So there's others like you?" Salamandinay asked.
"Yeah. Lots of us actually." He answered.
"How many exactly?" She asked once again.
"A bit over a hundred, maybe a thousand. It's hard to keep track these days." He told them before they stopped in front of the computer and the Red Ranger turned to them.
"But does that even mean? What is a Power Ranger?" Salamandinay asked.
"Power Rangers are universal and planetary defenders. Their mission is to safeguard and protect their worlds and the universe from the forces of evil." A female voice told them, which surprised Salamandinay and the others as they looked around for it.
"What was that?" Salamandinay asked as she and her subordinates were on guard.
"Hey, calm down. That voice is a friend." The Red Ranger said before he called out to the voice. "Hey, Pix, there's no reason to hide! Come out and introduce yourself."
Then appearing in front of Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname and beside the Red Ranger was Pixel in her digital form.
Their guests soon lowered their guard as they looked at the digital fairy.
"Who…What is that?" Salamandinay asked.
"Oh, right, some introductions are in order. This is Pixel, she's the base's AI." The Red Ranger explained.
"AI?" Kaname said in confusion.
"Wait…I heard that term before. It means artificial intelligence, correct?" Salamandinay asked.
"Yes, I'm amazed you know that." The Red Ranger said.
"I heard about it during my research about the old world." Salamandinay said. The Red Ranger chuckles to hear that.
"You hear that, Pixel? She called you old." The Red Ranger said.
"Hey! I'm pretty sure the same applies to you." Pixel said before she coughs in her hand and turns back to their three guests. "Hello, I'm Pixel, sorry I couldn't greet you sooner. It's just that we don't get many guests here, and I wasn't sure how to introduce myself."
"I see." Salamandinay said before she realized something. "Oh, wait. It just occurred to me that I hadn't introduced myself either. I am…"
"Princess Salamandinay of the Freyja clan and Captain of the Guard." He said, and Salamandinay was surprised by that. "That's right, I know who you are. Just like I know these are your attendants Naga and Kaname."
"Attendants?!" Naga said as she was ready to draw out her swords, but Kaname stopped her.
"Naga! Just calm down!" Kaname said before Salamandinay darkly looked at them, they flinched before they calmed down and lowered their heads in shame.
Salamandinay then turns back to the Red Ranger.
"How can you possibly know that?" She asked.
"I would like to say I spent the last 500 years spying on you. But that would be a lie. I actually have Pixel to thank for that." The Red Ranger said as he turned to Pixel as she smiled and placed her hands on her hips. "She was watching over you people while I was sleeping. Thanks to that, I'm pretty much up to speed on everything I miss."
"Please, no need to say it. I'm amazing." Pixel said.
"I see…" Salamandinay mutters as she wasn't sure how to feel about an artificial intelligence spying on her and her people for about 500… "Wait…You said you were asleep for 500 years."
Pixel flinches before she turns to the Red Ranger before he nodded.
"Yes. 538 years to be precise." The Red Ranger said, and their guests were surprised to hear that.
"Then…Wouldn't that mean, you're a survivor of the great war?" Salamandinay asked, and the Red Ranger sighed as he lowered his head.
"Yes, I am." He answered, and Salamandinay and her subordinates were surprised and amazed by that.
They originally thought the people who lived in the great war had died 500 years ago, but now, here he was a living breathing person who lived in the old world of their ancestors.
"Amazing…I have so many questions! What was the old world like? What sort of culture did you have? Was it true that people can travel through the stars?" Salamandinay asked, and the Red Ranger chuckled before he raised his hand.
"Calm down. I can't answer all those questions at once." The Red Ranger told her, and Salamandinay's cheeks turned red before she coughed in her hand.
"My apologies. It's just I spend most of my time studying the old world, so I often wonder what it was truly like back then." Salamandinay said.
"Yeah. I can see that." The Red Ranger said.
"Can you at least answer this question. Were you involved in the great war?" Salamandinay asked.
The Red Ranger thought about it before he answered her question.
"Well, I wasn't directly involved in the war back then. But I did fight against Embryo." Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname were once again surprised by that.
"You fought Embryo? By yourself?" Salamandinay asked.
"I did. But I wasn't by myself, there were originally fi...four other Rangers with me." The Red Ranger told her.
"Really? Where are they now?" Salamandinay asked, and he lowered his head. Even though he couldn't see his face, they could tell there was sadness in that part of his story. "Oh…My apologies, I didn't know."
The Red Ranger sighed as he raised his head.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." He said.
The Red Ranger then types on the computer to show them footage of seven black wing machines using weapons built into their shoulders to fire waves of dimensional energy at every Dracunium reactors around the world which caused massive explosions.
"During the D-War, 500 years ago, me and my friends found out about Embryo's plan on using both the Ragna-mails and the Dracunium reactors to contaminate the Earth's ecosystem. We tried to stop him, but as you no doubt notice, we failed…and my friends perished." Dean said and Salamandinay looked at him in sadness. "After Embryo defeated me, I was critically wounded. But thankfully, Pixel along with an ally of ours was able to bring me back here, and I was put in cryostasis until my wounds could fully heal."
"Which was on the day those monsters had attacked, correct?" Salamandinay asked.
"Well, they're called aliens but yes. Talk about your sick sense of fate there. The failure protector of the world, waking up to find it was in danger again. It's almost poetic if it wasn't so pathetic." The Red Ranger said.
Then Salamandinay placed a hand on his shoulder and the Red Ranger turned to her.
"You shouldn't criticize yourself for it. I wasn't there myself, but I'm sure you did your best to stop Embryo." Salamandinay said, and the Red Ranger was surprised to hear that.
"Yeah. She's right, Dean." Pixel said and he turned to her. "And I'm sure if the others were here, they would feel the same."
"Do you really think so?" He asked, both Salamandinay and Pixel nodded. "Thank you. It means a lot to hear that."
"You're welcome. But if you know about Embryo, then you must know where he is and about Aura." Salamandinay said, and the Red Ranger nodded.
"Yes. Pixel wasn't able to get the full story. But we're aware that Embryo is still alive even after over 500 years, and how he traveled to another dimension ruling over it, right?" He asked, and Salamandinay nodded.
"He mostly controls it in the shadows, but yes, Embryo has total dominion over it." Salamandinay said, and the Red Rangers then remembered his conversation with Embryo during the final days of the D-War.
"And after you destroy everything then what? You can't exactly rule on a dead planet."
"Oh, I have no reason to be concerned about that. I had my sights on somewhere else."
"So that's what he meant back then…" The Red Ranger mutters and Salamandinay blink to hear that.
"Did you say something?" She asked, and the Red Ranger shook his head.
"It's nothing." The Red Ranger said.
While Salamandinay wasn't convinced by that, she was now convinced that he might be telling the truth that he might be an ally.
"Very well. But if what you said is true, wouldn't that mean that we're on the same side, are we not?" Salamandinay asked.
"Well…I wouldn't say that for sure, but I can promise you this. I'm not your enemy and I really mean you no harm." The Red Ranger promised them.
But Naga narrows her eyes at him.
"How can you be sure about that? Especially since you hide your face." Naga said in suspicion.
The Red Ranger, Pixel, Salamandinay, and Kaname look at her.
"Naga, stand down, there is no need for that." Salamandinay told her.
"Apologies, my lady, but I can't. I still find this man distrustful. He knows who we are but yet he still hides his face from us, he won't even reveal his name." Naga said.
Salamandinay then realizes that she was right, after they met today and when they arrived at his base, the Red Ranger didn't remove his helmet or shared his name with them.
Salamandinay then turns to him.
"Care to explain about that?" She asked. The Red Ranger sighed.
"Probably should've seen this coming. Well, to answer your question, there's two reasons why I keep this helmet on. One, I can't reveal my identity to anyone, it's standard Ranger protocol. Two, I wasn't sure if I could breathe the air out there. You people may have adapted to the environment but I'm another story." The Red Ranger told them.
"The second answer I understand. But is there a reason why you keep the first one?" Salamandinay asked.
"Well…one of the risks of being a Power Ranger is that we have a lot of enemies. Part of the reason why we have to keep our identities a secret is to protect those who are close to us." The Red Ranger explained.
"I see…" Salamandinay said in understanding. "But is that truly necessary?"
Hearing that surprised the Red Ranger.
"What?" He said.
"I understand the need to protect your loved ones, and I don't sound heartless, but do you really have a reason to keep your face hidden?" Salamandinay asked.
The Red Ranger lowered his head before Pixel spoke to him.
"If I may, Dean, I have to agree with them on that." Pixel said and the Red Ranger turned to her as he was surprised to hear that.
"You do?" He asked, and Pixel nodded.
"I mean, you are in a new world with a different culture, and I hate to say it but there's no point in hiding your identity now since…You know." Pixel said, and the Red Ranger lowered his head in sadness. "And these people literally have no idea who or what you are. How can you expect them to trust you, when you can't trust them with your face?"
"But…But are you really sure I should?" He asked.
"Didn't Max say something about trust?" Pixel asked, and he lowered his head.
"That it blows both ways." The Red Ranger said before he made his decision and turned back to Salamandinay and her two subordinates. "Alright, if it means gaining your trust a little, I'll show you my face. But a word of advice, you may need to step back."
Salamandinay nodded before she and her subordinates step back, the Red Ranger then brings his Morpher close to his face which made Naga and Kaname on guard before he spoke.
"Nexus Red, Power Down." Then a message appeared on the screen saying, 'Commencing Demorph'.
The Red Ranger demorph into Dean, showing his face and appearance to them.
Dean was now wearing a red T-shirt with a black leather jacket that had red stripes that runned down from the shoulders to the end of the sleeves with black jeans and red sneakers.
Dean then waved at his three guests.
"Hello, my name is Dean Reilly. The Red Nexus Ranger." Dean introduced himself. "This is good enough?"
"It's a start." Salamandinay nodded with a smile.
She then turned to her subordinates, Kaname smiled and nodded but Naga huffed as she folded her arms, Salamandinay sighed to see that knowing she'll have to give her a stern talking to before she turns back to Dean.
"But how are you able to change forms like that?" Salamandinay asked.
"Oh, well it's mostly because of this." Dean answered as he showed them the device on his wrist which was now in the form of a digital wristwatch.
"It's called the Nexus Morpher. This is what allows me to morph into my Ranger form." Dean told them.
"Morph?" Salamandinay asked in confusion.
"Metamorphosis." Dean told her.
"Then this is the source of your powers?" Salamandinay asked as she looked at the Morpher.
"Well, it is but at the same time it's not." Dean said which confused the three of them.
"What do you mean?" Salamandinay asked.
"Probably best that I show you." Dean said before he turns to the computer and types on the keyboard.
Then appearing on screen were group pictures of teams of Power Rangers from the past, from Mighty Morphin to Dino Fury. Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname were amazed to see so many Rangers.
"As I'm sure you're already aware, there are alternate dimensions that are similar but different from our own and Power Rangers exist in all of them. But even though we're apart, we're all connected to one thing." Dean said.
"And that would be?" Salamandinay asked.
"This." Dean said before he types on the keyboard.
Then appearing on screen was a network of pure energy that almost resembles lines of light that reach out to an endless space that goes on forever.
Salamandinay and her subordinates were in awe to see this while Dean had a smile on his face.
"Yeah, I know it's amazing. This right here is called the Morphin Grid, a transdimensional energy source filled with pure and unlimited energy." Dean said.
"It's beautiful…" She mutters in awe.
"That it is." Dean said before he types on the keyboard.
Then videos of Rangers Morphing using their Morphers and their battles started to appear on the screen.
"You see every Ranger in any space or time is connected to the Grid via their Morphers. When they Morph, they gain access to the Grid, harnessing just a fragment of its power. But make no mistake, that's a lot of power." Dean explained.
The screen showed the Mighty Morphin Rangers Morphing into their Ranger forms and fighting against a group of monsters. Then to Lightspeed Rescue, Wild Force, Ninja Storm, Operation Overdrive, RPM, Megaforce, Dino Charge, Grid Battleforce, and Dino Fury.
"Amazing…" Salamandinay said.
"But yet despite that, you still lost against Embryo." Naga said, and Dean lowered his head.
"Naga! That's going a little too far!" Kaname said.
"No…She's right. Despite my best I wasn't able to stop Embryo." Dean said before Salamandinay placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I told you before, you shouldn't blame yourself for it. The only one we hold responsible for what happened 500 years ago is Embryo, not you." Salamandinay said, and Dean smiled.
"Thank you. You really do have a way to butter people up." Dean said.
"Butter them up?" Salamandinay said in confusion.
"Oh sorry, it's a term we used to flatter or praise people for their work." Dean explained.
"Oh, I see. Fascinating." Salamandinay nodded in understanding. Dean chuckles to hear that.
"You know, Pixel told me that you're a bit of a history nut, but it's pretty funny to see you being interested in something so simple." Dean said.
"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Salamandinay asked.
"You tell me." Dean said before he chuckles and Salamandinay soon chuckles with him.
Both Naga and Kaname were surprised to see their princess laughing like that, they only just met but now they're acting like they have been friends for years.
Salamandinay then coughs in her hand as she and Dean stop chuckling.
"In any case, Pixel had told you what you had missed while you were sleeping, correct?" She asked. Dean nodded.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then you must know that at some point, Embryo had returned and what he had stolen from us." Salamandinay said, and Dean nodded.
"Yeah, I know. Aura, the Great Mother." Dean said.
"Yes. She had been Embryo's prisoner for many years now. We spent most of that time trying to free her, but we failed in every attempt." Salamandinay said as she clenched her hand.
"I'm also aware of that. I'm sorry about that." Dean said, and Salamandinay shook her head.
"It is alright. But if you're an enemy of Embryo, then surely that would make us allies. You should join us, with you by our side we might be able to free Aura from Embryo's hands. Can you help us?" Salamandinay asked.
Dean thought about it but before he could decide, there's something he needs to do first.
"Before I decide on that, there's something I need to do first." Dean told her.
"Which is?" Salamandinay asked.
"The world Embryo made, I want to see it for myself." Dean answered which surprised his guests.
"What?" Kaname said.
"You can't possibly be serious about that?" Naga asked.
"I am." Dean said. "Look even if Embryo created a world of his own, it still means that there's going to be a full-on war and innocents will be caught in the crossfire. Isn't that, right?"
Salamandinay was a little hesitant, but she nodded.
"Yes, it would mean that. But both my people and I are more than willing to pay that price, if it means freeing Aura." Salamandinay told him.
"And I can understand that. Which is all I need to go to that world and decide if I want to help you or not." Dean said.
"More like you just want to run away and hide." Naga said, and Salamandinay turned to her.
"Naga!" Salamandinay darkly said and Naga flinched before he lowered his head.
Salamandinay then turns back to Dean.
"I can understand your reasoning for that, but there is no way to travel to Embryo's world." Salamandinay said.
"What do you mean? Pixel showed me footage of your people flying into a portal. Can't we use that?" Dean asked.
"They're called singularities. But even if we decide to use that, they only open on the other side and by Embryo's command. We have no means of opening them here." Salamandinay told him.
"So in other words, using these singularities is out." Dean said before he had an idea. "Wait…maybe we have another way."
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname turn to him in confusion.
"What do you mean by that?" Kaname asked.
Dean then turns to Pixel.
"Pixel, is the Power Vault still sealed?" Dean asked the AI.
"It is." Pixel nodded. "But you're not planning on using that, are you?"
Dean smirks at her and Pixel sighed.
"Of course, you are." She mutters.
Hearing that confused Salamandinay and her subordinates as they wondered what they were talking about.
Dean and Pixel along with their three guests were in an elevator as it was going down from the command room to many levels below it. Salamandinay was amazed at how deep down they were going and wondered how big this base was.
The elevator soon stops, and the doors open before they walk out of it. Dean and Pixel soon led their three guests to a large vault as they looked up at it in awe.
The gate was as big as a house with a thunderbolt symbol on it.
Dean then walks to the security keypad before he pressed on four numbers to enter the code, '1-9-9-3'.
Then a secret hatch opens up above it, and an eyeball device appears out of it before it moves in front of Dean's eye and scans it revealing it was a retinal scanner.
After it was done scanning Dean's eye the large vault opened, revealing a large dark room before the light turned on from the sides of the ceiling and from several pedestals.
On top of each pedestal were weapons and items used by different Legendary Rangers from the past as they were levitating above them. There were even some vehicles used by past Rangers as well, they were placed on the floor.
Dean, Pixel, and their guests soon entered the vault.
"What is all this?" Salamandinay asked as she and the others looked at the weapons, vehicles, and items in the vault.
If she had knowledge about the Power Rangers, she would recognize the Nitro Blaster used by the RPM Rangers, the Hovercraft Cycle used by the Blue Dino Thunder Ranger, and the Ranger Keys used by the Super Megaforce Rangers.
"Ladies, welcome to the Power Vault. This room contains every Legendary Weapon and Gear, used by Legendary Rangers from the past." Dean said.
"Really?" Salamandinay asked, and Dean nodded.
"There's so many." Kaname said as she and Naga looked at the Legendary Ranger Weapons.
They then stop as they look up at one Ranger Weapon.
It was the Transtek Armor in Battle Mode, used by the Overdrive Rangers.
"And big..." Naga said before they followed Dean and Pixel.
"Well, what did you expect? There are over hundreds of Rangers from across the multiverse." Dean told them.
"Well, this is indeed amazing, but why are we here?" Salamandinay asked.
"There's something here that we might be able to use to enter Embryo's world without the need of a singularity." Dean said as he and Pixel looked around for it.
"Really?" Salamandinay asked.
"Yes…amusing we can find it." Dean said as he was concerned to find it in this large room filled with different weapons and gear.
"I told you we should've included a category search feature for this room." Pixel said as she continued to look for it. "But did you listen? No."
"Fine. You were right." Dean said, and Pixel smiled before they went back into searching for it with Salamandinay following them.
As Kaname and Naga were following them, they looked at the many and different Ranger Weapons, vehicles, and items that were in here.
Kaname stops as one weapon gets her attention. It was the V-Lancer used by the Lightspeed Rangers.
Curious about it, Kaname grabs onto it and pulls it off the pedestal to closely examine it.
Despite its odd shape, Kaname could tell that the Lancer had seen its fair share of battles.
Naga then stops as a different weapon gets her attention. It was the Dino Super Drive Saber used by the Dino Charge Rangers.
Naga then pulled it off its pedestal to look at it and could tell that it was very powerful.
Dean didn't notice them holding those said items as he was too focused on looking for the one thing he needs right now.
"Come on…Where did I put that thing?" Dean said.
Salamandinay then stops as she looks at one weapon that caught her attention.
It was the Spin Sword, used by the Samurai Rangers.
Being drawn to it, Salamandinay approached the sword and was going to grab it, that's when Dean noticed what she was doing as his eyes widened in both shock and fear.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing?! Don't touch that!" Dean said as he rushed towards the princess and pushed her hand down.
Salamandinay turned to him, and his screaming caught Naga and Kaname's attention.
"What? Is something wrong?" Salamandinay asked.
"What were you thinking trying to touch that?!" Dean asked as he pointed at the Spin Sword.
"I'm sorry. It looks so fascinating to me, that I wanted to have a closer look at it." Salamandinay said before Dean removed his hand.
"That doesn't mean you're free to touch it. Here's the number one rule of the Power Vault, do not touch anything in here. Most of the weapons here are extremely powerful and highly dangerous in the wrong hands." Dean told her.
Hearing that, both Kaname and Naga look at the said powerful and dangerous weapons now in their hands before they quickly but carefully put them back on their pedestals and quickly move away from them.
Dean went back to searching for the item he was looking for, and that's when Pixel found it as she flew closer to it.
"Hey, Dean, over here! I found it!" Pixel calls out as she waved her arms.
Dean and the others moved to the pedestal that Pixel was flying close to and saw the item above it.
It was a handheld device that almost resembled a remote with three pointed parts on the top with several buttons on the top with a large blue button underneath them.
"Uh-huh. There you are." Dean said before he picked up the device from its pedestal.
Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname look at the device in his hand.
"What is that?" Salamandinay asked.
"It's known as the Transportal Device. It was created by the Time Force Rangers as a means to travel between dimensions." Dean explained which surprised them.
"Really?" Salamandinay asked.
"Yeah. Really." Dean nodded.
"Wait, if that's true then maybe we could use that device to help free Aura." Kaname said, getting everyone's attention. "We might use it to launch a surprise attack against Embryo. We can have the element of surprise on our side."
"Yes…Yes, that might work!" Naga said in agreement.
But Dean shook his head.
"No, we can't. I'm afraid it's not that simple." Dean told them which confused them.
"What do you mean?" Kaname asked.
"Well…Traveling between different dimensions is extremely risky." Pixel said. "Each time it happens it destabilizes the Morphin Grid, which in turn puts any world in jeopardy."
Hearing that surprised Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname.
"Is that true?" Salamandinay asked, both Dean and Pixel nodded.
"Yes. Which is why the Transportal Device is supposed to be used in emergencies only. Which is something I was hoping that Dean would reconsider about." Pixel said as she turned to the Red Ranger.
"I know this is risky, Pix. But you're not going to change my mind." Dean told her, and Pixel sighed.
"Yeah…You always have been stubborn that way. Just promise me that you'll be careful." Pixel said.
"Aren't I always?" Dean asked as he set up the Transportal Device.
"Well…50-50 to be precise." Pixel said, and Dean smirks to hear that before he was done.
"Alright, that should do it." Dean said as he pointed the Device and pressed the big blue button and a portal soon appeared in front of them.
Before he could enter, Salamandinay placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you really sure about this?" Salamandinay asked.
"I am. Don't worry, I'm just going to see what it's like there without causing any trouble. I'll be back before you know it." Dean told her.
"Alright. But if something does happen, be sure to come back right away." Salamandinay said, and Dean gave her a thumbs up.
"You got it." Dean said before Salamandinay removed her hand. "Alright, here goes."
Dean soon walks into the portal before it disappears.
"Alright, let's head to the command room. I need to make sure if Dean can contact us." Pixel said.
But before they could leave, Salamandinay soon had this thought in mind.
"Wait…Pixel." She calls out to the AI as she turns back to her.
"Yes, what is it, Your Highness?" Pixel asked.
"You said traveling between dimensions can destabilize this Morphin Grid, correct?" Salamandinay asked, Pixel nodded.
"Yes, that's right."
"Then…Wouldn't the same apply to the singularities?" Salamandinay asked.
"Yes, it would. Why ask about it now?" Pixel asked.
"Well, think about it. If the singularities affected the Grid somehow, then wouldn't it have any signs of destabilizing. Embryo has been doing it for over hundreds of years now." Salamandinay said.
Pixel then realizes she was right, even if Embryo didn't know about it, not even him would continue opening the singularities knowing how dangerous it is.
"Oh my god…You're right. Embryo may be a madman, but he's no fool. He wouldn't even risk opening those portals knowing the dangers that come with them." Pixel said.
"But what would that mean?" Salamandinay asked.
"I don't know. But there has to be something going on with the singularities, and why the Morphin Grid hadn't shown any signs of destabilizing." Pixel said.
Dean soon walks out of the portal. He then looks around and studies his surroundings.
He was now standing in a forest filled with trees as he could birds chirping around him, he even spotted a few animals staring at him before they ran away.
Dean took a few deep breaths to make sure that the air was breathable to him and so far, he felt fine.
"Well, at least the air's breathable here. That's a start." Dean said.
Dean then spotted something in the end of the woods, curious about it he soon walked out of the forest and was now standing on a slope.
Then Dean's eyes widened in shock as he saw something that was very familiar to him.
"I can't believe it…" Dean said in both shock and awe.
The thing that he was looking at was the very thing that the people of his world had fought over for years, the very thing that helped destroy his world.
Standing over hundreds of miles in front of Dean, was a Dracunium reactor that was still intact and showed no sign of damages, and the reactor was standing in the center of a large town.
To be continued...The Not so Perfect World
There you have it, hope you like it. Review to tell me what you think of the story.
Also, here's a bit of a challenge for you guys. Can you tell me the one Power Rangers' reference I made in this chapter?