Dino Thunder: Return of the Eclipse - Chapter 9: White Thunder: Part I
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines and anything recognizable from the TV shows.
Copyright: All unrecognizable parts and characters are under December's Phoenix's copyright.
Summary: A new Ranger has come to play.
"This better be worth the hike!" Lucy hollered, trudging up a rocky mountainside and drawing attention to her. She pushed off the rock at the lip of the cliff, landing on the grassy clearing easily. She rose, brushing the dust and dirt from her training pants while making her way over. "Crystal bit my head off when I told her about this. Too much paperwork she claimed. I think she just didn't want to show up." She turned to the Rangers. "Hello." She smiled.
Kira chuckled a breath. "I don't blame her for not coming." She tilted her head to look at Lucy. "She's doing a lot of paperwork, huh?"
"It's new student season, and we have to fill out all the forms that we have to cover the students while they are introduced to the academy." Lucy informed her. "Plus, I slipped like half my paperwork stack into hers." She huffed out a breath, then tugged up the waistband of her pants. "I think my mom gave me the wrong size."
"How?"
"My mom told me I looked weird in my last pair of training pants. Turns out they weren't mine. They were a random pair I somehow had. Then she told me she wanted to try a new pair and gave me pants that don't fit comfortably." Lucy sighed, catching Conner's quirked eyebrow. "Does anyone know why we're meeting out here?"
Conner shrugged. "Dr. O said it was important."
The four began their hike, Lucy leading the way. Kira followed behind her, the two chatting away, leading the boys up the side of the hill. When the four reached the top of the mountain, they found Dr. Oliver standing with a scanner in his hands a few feet from them. "We came as soon as possible," Ethan told Dr. Oliver. "What'd you find?"
"Some sort of storage unit." Dr. Oliver answered. "The energy readings are so intense; this meter can't register them." He lifted the sensor to show the Rangers
"What kind of energy?" Conner questioned, tucking his hands into his pockets.
Dr. Oliver turned to them, stepping towards them. "The same kind that's in your morphers."
"You're saying there's a dino gem?" Kira asked.
"Not anymore, but there was."
"Wait." Lucy blinked. "I thought you had all kinds of things that would be picked up if a gem existed."
"Someone must have hidden it." Dr. Oliver scrunched his eyebrows in thought. "When the cloaking device deactivated, the readings went off the scale."
"So, is this good news or bad news?" Conner sighed.
"Guess that depends on who has the gem."
Lucy tipped her head back to the sky. "Something tells me it's about to get a lot worse."
"So, you're telling me that there is a rogue Dino Gem just…" Sitting on the stairs in the lab, Crystal spread her arms out, nearly hitting Hunter in the face. The crimson ninja pushed her arm down, rolling his eyes. "Out there in the wild. For anyone to claim." A look of realization spread across her face. "Oh my god what happens if that blonde girl finds it?"
Lucy's face pinched together. "Crystal, are you suggesting that Cassidy Cornell might find it?"
Crystal nodded. "Yeah." She watched all the Rangers shutter at the thought. "What?"
"No offense, Crystal, but that is the dumbest thought you've ever had." Lucy returned, hands on her hips. "I would give up my powers and my ability to be a Ranger just to not be on a team with her." Lucy's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, sighing and turning to the Rangers. "We have to find that gem."
Kira nodded. "Before it lands in Mesogog's hands."
"I didn't even think about that." Crystal sighed, then quickly turned to Dr. Oliver. "Could he do it? Obliterate the entire world with one gem."
Dr. Oliver shrugged. "It's unclear, but he could do some damage. The biggest thing would be an Evil Power Ranger."
Both Guardians grunted with disgust, features morphing into discomfort. "Statistically speaking, it's possible." Lucy sighed. She tilted her head up to the ceiling. "Please only let it be one." She whispered, opening her eyes and turning to Kira. She pointed at Hunter. "Last time there were two." A pleased look hit her features. "I kicked Blake's ass to four ways to Sunday."
"And I got his older brother, so what?" Crystal returned, then turned to the Rangers. Just as she opened her mouth, the computer rapidly beeped, sending all the Rangers jolting to standing, turned to the screen.
"Tommy, I think we may have something." Hayley reported, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.
Dr. Oliver made his way to the computer with the Rangers following. On the screen, a combination of a flower and a lion monster roamed the downtown plaza, terrorizing civilians everywhere around him but not actually attacking. "Unbelievable." He sighed.
"We got here just in time." Ethan sighed.
"It looks like it's looking for something." Hunter pointed out. He turned to the team. "Anything in particular?" He watched the sisters shake their heads.
"Well, it's not going to like what it finds," Conner stated. "Come on, guys." The five Rangers jumped from the computer, morphers flashing. "Ready?"
"Ready."
Dino Thunder, Power Up!
Eclipse Ranger, Dino Power!
Dino Power!
Guardian of the Sun!
Guardian of the Moon!
"Where are you?" The posh voice of the monster asked. He glanced around the plaza of empty stores.
"Over here, circus freak." The monster turned around to find Lucy and Crystal standing together, arms folded over their chests as they waited for his attack. The rest of the Rangers gathered around them. "Do you lose something?" Crystal asked, her helmet trained on him.
The monster pointed at them. "Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, and Silver." He listed off, tagging each Ranger as he went down the list. "No, I'm looking for something in…basic white."
Kira glanced at the team. "Do you have any clue what he's talking about?"
"None," Conner answered.
The monster threw his arms out to the side, dispatching a blast aimed at the Rangers. The primary Rangers backflipped to avoid it while the Guardians rolled to the sides, pushing up to one knee, their hands flying to their blades.
Suddenly, a streak, identical to the Guardian's ninja streaks but white, rushed past everyone, bringing in a rough breeze. The streak stuck the monster continuously in the chest and abdomen until the monster flew back and fell in a fit of sparks and an explosion.
"What the hell was that?" Crystal asked, climbing to her feet, releasing her blade, and moving to the Rangers to observe the blur disappear from her sight.
Conner lifted his morpher. "You guys saw that, right?"
"Yeah, still trying to figure out what it was." Dr. Oliver reported back.
"We'll try and follow it." Conner nodded to his teammates, taking off. They pursued the streak to an upper level of the plaza, but they came up short in their brief search. Conner's helmeted head whipped around, trying to spot something. "I don't see it."
"Look harder."
A deep voice tugged the Rangers' focus to a mysterious White Ranger before them. The Ranger's attire consisted of a white suit with edgy, jagged black spikes running down the sides and arms. A gold belt neatly divided the suit, while a white and gold feather blade hung from the Ranger's hip. Additionally, the Ranger wore shoulder guards that extended over the shoulders and stopped around the chest. The Ranger's entirely white helmet had black outlines and a red visor. A crest of white and black lines ran down the middle of the helmet.
"Who is it?" Kira queried.
"And how come he gets the fat helmet?" Ethan returned.
Conner raised his morpher to his helmet. "This guy a friend of yours, Dr. O?"
"Never seen him before."
"Okay." Conner rushed forward, stopping in front of his team and the Guardians.
"Don't come any closer." The White Ranger spoke, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "You'll force me to do something I don't want."
The slice of a blade echoed over the fallen silence. It told the Rangers everything. The Guardians were ready for battle. "What do you mean by that?" Crystal asked carefully, rolling her wrist before falling into a stance similar to one that Lucy fell into.
"Let me show you. White Drago Sword." The White Ranger pulled the blade from his hip, flipping it around slowly and using the dragon's head to form pale yellow arrows in the air before him. "Laser arrows." The arrows turned to face the Rangers, all a little worried. "Fire."
None of the Rangers escaped the arrows. The arrows hit the Rangers in the chests, knocking them back and rolling until they stopped. Broadswords clattered on the ground. The Guardians pushed up, both trying to climb back to their feet to stand against the Ranger, but Lucy slipped first, falling back.
Crystal pushed herself up to her knees, but her chest heaved momentarily. "That was dirty."
Conner struggled, carefully sitting up from where he landed after. "Was that really necessary?" He demanded.
"That was just a warning." The White Ranger vanished in a swipe of his blade.
"Nothing yet?" Dr. Oliver asked, leaning on the table as the five Rangers came in, all still morphed. They scattered around the lab, all sore from the hits they took, but none sat down.
Hayley shook her head. "Nothing. I can't get any reading on his genetic makeup. It's like the Ranger powers bonded with his DNA, and it's all jumbled into one."
"How's it going?" Kira asked.
The five surrounded the two, staring at the screen, trying to read the scans Hayley had up. Instead, the computer beeped again. The White Ranger slammed into the ground in a park. "Fantastic," Lucy muttered, readjusting her helmet under her arm. "Just want we needed…two ass whoppings in a day. Whoo." She gave a sad imitation of happiness, nodding with her eyes closed.
"You guys better get over there and make sure it doesn't go completely medieval on civilians." Dr. Oliver stated.
"Good thinking." Conner nodded. "Let's go."
The three primary Rangers landed before the White Ranger. The Guardians appeared behind them, helmets trained on the Ranger before them. "Hey, back so soon?" Conner asked. "Thought you made your point last time."
The Ranger circled around. "I've only just started. You want some more?" He provoked. The three Rangers took off, running at him. "Fools." He whipped his blade out, calmly slicing Kira and Ethan. His sword met Conner's incoming arm. The Ranger twisted the blade and Conner's arm, gripping the Red Ranger's wrist harder, and flung him away.
Kira tried kicking him. The Ranger blocked, jabbing his arm out, catching Kira. Ethan tried to attack. The White Ranger pushed Kira away, sliding back away from Ethan. He growled, swiping through the air and forming more arrows that hit the Rangers, causing smoke and sparks.
"Weaklings." He snarled, stepping forward, and practically evaporated. He struck the two Rangers in the chest, giving them two precise slices that caused sparks. "That's gotta hurt." He rose from his crouch when he landed from his trick. "Too easy."
Conner grunted. "What's the deal? We try to be nice, just extending a little Ranger love, and this is what we get?"
"I'm not here to make friends."
"Then what is it? What do you want?"
"That isn't something you need to know. All that's important is that there are five Rangers too many, and I'm here to change that."
"Bring it." The Rangers charged.
The White Ranger sliced Kira and Ethan away from him. He caught Conner's punch, spinning them around and slicing his chest. Kira and Ethan attacked together, punches aimed for his chest. However, their swings were stopped by the blade. Ethan went for a sweep. The White Ranger jumped, flipping over the Rangers. The three regrouped together.
The Ranger sliced them before they could get another hit in. He laughed, shouldering his blade. "That should do it." He smugly asserted.
"Over here!" Crystal called, streaking past him and slicing his stomach before he could sense the attack. She slid to a stop on his other side while Lucy appeared opposite them. The two stood taller, then pushed off to attack again. The White Ranger jumped out of the way, avoiding the attack and turning around to slice the two across the backs before shoving them away.
Lucy grunted, climbing to her feet and running at him again, her blade at her side. The White Ranger blocked her swing, twisting them around and trying to swing at her. Lucy caught his wrist, whipping around and throwing him across the plaza.
Snarling, the Ranger landed on his feet, but a golden blur collided with him. He caught the last swing from the older girl, kicking her back. Crystal charged again, slipping under his punch. She smashed her fist into the side of his helmet, sending him stumbling. Crystal kicked him in the chest. The White Ranger recovered, shaking his head and charging the Gold Ranger. He caught the punch she aimed at him, throwing her into her charging sister, causing both to sprawl on the ground.
"You think we're just going to give up?" Kira demanded, drawing the White Ranger's attention to the now standing three Rangers
"Not a chance!" Ethan yelled, pulling out his blaster. He and Kira fired at the White Ranger. They yelled out when he returned the fire to them, letting them hit the ground.
"Guys!" Conner moved to them.
Ethan shrugged Conner off. "All right! Play time's over." He turned when Dr. Oliver ran to them. "What's the matter?"
Lucy and Crystal made their way to them, helping Conner to his feet. "We don't know what he is truly capable of." Crystal winced under her helmet.
"Crystal's right." Dr. Oliver nodded. "He's got powers we might not be able to deal with." He stuck his hand out, facing the Ranger. "We don't want to hurt you. Just tell us why you're here."
The White Ranger turned from them. "Why am I here?" He asked. "Let me see…to defeat you."
"That's it!" Ethan pulled his blade from his belt, having the same idea as Kira. The two charged again, completely missing the yells from their team. The two went to slice, but the White Ranger blocked. The two were hit repeatedly until they went over the wall, tumbling onto the ground below.
The White Ranger landed on the ground even to them. "Have a nice flight?"
The three Rangers above could only make out the two Rangers getting pushed back, calling on their weapons. They swung again. The White Ranger caught them, absorbing their power from the connection in a flash of yellow. In a moment of blue and yellow sparkles, Kira and Ethan demorphed, chests heaving.
"Kira! Ethan!" Dr. Oliver called, running at them. He swung his blade, but it got caught. Dr. Oliver scrambled to stay on his feet when the White Ranger hefted him into the air. The Black Ranger struggled to keep himself grounded; his powers were pulled from him in a flash of yellow lightning. He crashed onto the ground, demorphing in a second and wincing in pain.
Conner took on the White Ranger next, tackling him. He managed to get the White Ranger away from his downed teammates. "I want some answers." He demanded, already back on his feet. "Now." The White Ranger snarled, attacking the Red Ranger. Conner caught his incoming leg. "You're messing with the wrong dude. I'm giving you one last chance."
Instead, the White Ranger dropped his leg and sliced Conner hard enough that he flew back. He collided into a cement flower bed and demorphed in seconds, wincing in pain. "You were saying?" The White Ranger bit.
The other Rangers dragged themselves over to Conner, hauling him up to his feet. "You all right?" Dr. Oliver questioned, seeing Conner nod.
Before anything else could happen, a golden streak struck the White Ranger again. The team watched Crystal appear across from him. She pressed the buckle on her belt, holding her Solar Staff in seconds.
Another body hit the stone. Lucy rose from her crouch, broadsword in hand at her side. "Leave." She spoke, venom gracing her voice.
The White Ranger snarled, diverting to the injured Rangers behind the Silver Ranger. "You have been warned, Power Rangers. Stay out of my way." He dissipated in a flash.
Once the Rangers were back in the lab, the four took seats on the steps to the computer. "It wasn't supposed to go this way." Ethan sighed, staring at the helmet in his hands. He turned to Dr. Oliver. "Was it?"
"An evil White Ranger?" Dr. Oliver reiterated. "No. Of course, it's been known to happen."
"So what do we do?" Kira asked.
Conner sighed. "How are we supposed to fight him if we can't get near him?"
Dr. Oliver climbed to his feet. "We'll figure out who this is and what he wants."
"We knew at some point there'd be an evil Ranger." Crystal declared from where she stood with Lucy and Hunter, the two Guardians demorphed the second they returned to the lab. "They're…sort of part of the deal. We'll just have to figure out who it is and either turn 'em…"
"Or destroy their powers." Lucy finished, folding her leather-clad arms over her stomach.
"That's harsh." Ethan pointed out. "Even for you guys."
"Yeah, wouldn't we want him be on our side?" Kira asked.
"Depends on the person." Hunter answered. "My brother and I were lied to, fed false information. Whoever takes over this power could be working for Mesogog or believe in what he's trying to do."
Crystal tilted her head, an eyebrow raised. "Are you guys done pouting?"
"We just got our asses handed to us." Conner rose to stand against the sisters.
The solar ninja crossed her arms over her chest, blonde hair sliding around her shoulders from her ponytail. "And?" She asked, tilting her head. "Just means we're going to have to devise a plan to defeat him."
"For all of our sakes," Lucy sighed, running a hand through her hair, shaking some knots loose. "I hope it's a damn good one."
Next Episode: White Thunder: Part II