MMPR Revisited

Teamwork Part 1

Their secret had drawn them closer together, but paradoxically, it was driving each of the rangers further away from the world around them. Jason had begun to decline extra martial arts classes and one-on-one training sessions, citing a constant state of busyness. Zach was searching for a co-captain for the dance team, ostensibly due to "family issues" preventing him from choreographing dances alone. Billy, once an eager student, now settled for the bare minimum of assignments, claiming he had lost interest. In truth, they all harbored lies, compelled by the stark reality that they could no longer live the carefree lives of ordinary teenagers. The burden of their secret weighed heavily on them, a truth they couldn't share with anyone.

At the Youth Center, Billy and Kimberly sat together, sipping on the smoothies Ernie had prepared for them. Weariness etched across their faces, several days had passed since Rita's initial attack. The constant threat of her next move made peaceful sleep an elusive luxury.

"I can't believe this," Trini muttered, slamming a newspaper down onto the table.

"More negative press about the Power Rangers?" Billy inquired. Trini shook her head as she settled into her seat, unfolding the newspaper to reveal an article titled, "Hazardous Waste Dump Unearthed – Environmental Consequences Loom."

"This dump is destroying our environment!" Trini seethed. "It's been a ticking time bomb, collecting hazardous waste for years. We've all been unwittingly breathing in those fumes."

"That's terrible, Trini," Billy sympathized.

"So, we've been inhaling toxic air?" Kimberly questioned.

"Not exactly," Billy clarified, "but it's incredibly detrimental to the environment, especially if it's been here for a while."

"Disgusting," Kimberly sighed.

"I'm going to organize a formal protest to shut it down," Trini declared, her determination unwavering.

"Trini, with everything going on, do you think you can handle a protest?" Kim asked cautiously.

"It's better than just waiting around. We need to strike a balance, Kimberly. We can't let our other responsibilities erode who we are as people," Trini responded firmly.

"Well, if you need any help, count me in," Billy offered, draping an arm around Trini.

"Absolutely, me too. Just tell me what to do," Kim chimed in with a warm smile.

A sudden commotion at the workout area of the Youth Center drew their attention. Students had gathered, their cheers a mix of encouragement and mockery. Curious, Kimberly, Billy, and Trini approached to see Bulk lifting weights, with Jason and Zack standing beside him. Skull led the cheers, clearly reveling in the spectacle.

"112!" Skull shouted, and the crowd erupted in applause as Bulk completed his bench press. "112! We have a winner!" Skull continued to cheer, and the students joined in, except for Jason and Zack, who wore disinterested expressions.

"Maybe next time, you'll beat me, loser!" Bulk taunted Jason.

"HAHAHAH, LOSER!" Skull echoed. While the other students followed Bulk towards the juice bar, Jason remained seated on the bench, stewing in his apparent defeat.

"It's alright, Jason. Bulk may lift more, but he's practically a walking mountain," Zack quipped, trying to lighten the mood, but Jason didn't respond. "Come on, man, don't dwell on it."

"I can't. I mean, it's not about losing to him. Well, it is, but... I know I can beat him. I just can't focus. My training's gone downhill," Jason admitted, struggling to articulate his feelings.

"Jason, it's okay. We're all worn out and distracted," Kim interjected, joining the conversation with Billy and Trini.

"Yeah, I think you're just being too hard on yourself," Trini added.

"Yeah, I suppose so. I just expect more from myself," Jason sighed. "Sorry, guys. I need to clear my head with a run or something. I'll catch up with you later." With that, Jason stood up and left the Youth Center.

"He really needs to ease up on himself," Kim remarked. "We're all feeling the strain."

"Yeah, it's that perfectionist streak of his," Trini agreed.

"Do you guys think we should try to cheer him up?" Zack proposed.

"Yes, but hold on. The Hazardous Waste Dump, we need to check it out before it closes," Trini interjected with a hint of urgency.

"What's going on now?" Zack inquired.

"It's a long story," Kim replied. "How about you and Billy head over there and gather all the information we need? We'll go find Jason. Let's meet back here in about an hour."

"Sounds like a plan. Let's go, Trini," Billy said.

"Alright, see you guys later!" Trini said as she and Billy left.

Kim turned to Zack. "So, where do you think Jason went?" she asked.

"Most likely the park, knowing him. There's a running trail around there, and he tends to go for a run when he's stressed," Zack replied. They left the Youth Center and followed a trail that led straight to the park. As expected, they found Jason halfway around the trail. Kim and Zack sat down at a picnic table and waited for him to approach.

"He looks really upset," Kim observed. "Is this all because he lost to Bulk?"

"I think it's more than that. Jackson's death weighs on him a lot. He told me he wishes he had been more decisive when Zordon first approached us. Maybe things would be different. But the messed-up part is, maybe it wouldn't have mattered anyway. And then there's the lying to his students, his parents; it's all new to him," Zack explained.

"I don't think any of us are used to it. I mean, sure, I've told my fair share of lies, but nothing like this. I've always had an open relationship with my mom and dad. Even after their divorce, they made an effort to be honest with me and always be there. Now, I'm keeping this huge secret, and it's weighing me down," Kim confessed.

"Yeah, it's weighing me down too. Maybe it'll get easier. Remember, we've only been Rangers for about a week," Zack said.

"Hey guys," Jason ran up to them, panting heavily. He hunched over, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath before sitting across from them at the table. "What are you doing here?"

"We came to check on you," Kim stated bluntly. "We're worried about you, Jason. I think we all are."

"I'm okay. I shouldn't have stormed off earlier. I just couldn't help it," Jason admitted.

"Jason, it's alright not to have all the answers right now. None of us do," Kim reassured him. Her words seemed to hit Jason hard, and he took a minute to fully respond.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just... Zordon chose me to lead this incredible team. I should be stronger and better able to help you guys. But I feel lost, maybe even more so. I don't know what it takes to be a hero, to lead in a life-or-death situation. I mean, I'm only seventeen."

"Man, you've got to cut yourself some slack. You'll figure it out, we all will. But this kind of attitude isn't helping anyone, especially not yourself. Do we need to find you a distraction or something?" Zack suggested, trying to lighten the mood. Jason looked up and smiled.

"Nah, I'm not looking for a distraction like that right now. I don't think I could handle the commitment on top of everything else," Jason replied.

"Ah, got it. You're more of a hit-and-run kind of guy," Zack teased, earning a playful smack on the head from Kim.

"You're terrible," Kim laughed. Just when it seemed like Jason was feeling a bit better, their moment was interrupted by a woman's agonized scream in the distance. They all stood up, looking around, and spotted Putties wreaking havoc around the playground and other parts of the park.

"Terrific. Rita's at it again," Kim grumbled.

"Let's go, guys!" Jason took off toward the playground, with Zack and Kimberly close behind. Jason spotted a woman and her child being harassed by the golem-like creatures, the woman struggling to fend them off. Jason sprang into action, running toward them. He jumped onto a nearby table and then leaped into a jump-kick, knocking one of the Putties away and positioning himself between the Putties and the woman. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you," the woman replied, her desperation evident. Jason kicked another Puttie away and managed to block a punch from another.

"You need to get out of here, now!" Jason ordered. It didn't take long for the woman to heed his advice as she hastily fled the park with her child. Meanwhile, Zack focused on securing the park's perimeter and creating a path for people to escape, while Kimberly assisted stragglers hiding in the playground.

Faced with the overwhelming number of Putties and the threat they posed to the civilians, the Rangers knew they had no choice but to morph. However, as Zordon had cautioned, they couldn't reveal their identities to the public, so morphing discreetly was essential. Jason helped Kimberly guide the young children out of the playground to their parents and then joined Zack.

They found a secluded spot behind an outdoor restroom facility. Checking to ensure no witnesses were present, Jason, Kimberly, and Zack pulled out their morphers simultaneously.

"All right, guys, now's the time," Jason said, holding his morpher in front of him. "It's morphin' time!"

"Mastodon!" Zack shouted, surrounded by a black light.

"Pterodactyl!" Kimberly exclaimed, enveloped in a pink light.

"Tyrannosaurus!" Jason yelled, his body engulfed in a red light.

The three of them leaped onto the restroom roof for a better view of the park, where Putties continued to swarm. Without hesitation, Jason jumped into the fray, brandishing his blaster, which transformed into a blade. He began cutting down the Putties one by one. Zack joined him, not using his blaster but rather engaging in close combat, while Kimberly remained high above, firing at the Putties and reducing them to dust.

Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning struck the ground, and a silhouette started to take form. It wasn't just a figure; it was a creature. After the lightning dissipated, a monster with wings, claws, a headdress adorned with yellow and blue stripes, and a lion-like face emerged. It was the King Sphinx. The screams of civilians grew louder, and Jason, Zack, and Kimberly were momentarily stunned by the unexpected appearance.

Kimberly leaped down to join Jason and Zack on the ground. Zack readied his blaster, and Kimberly did the same. The distant wail of police sirens grew closer by the second.

"Great, just what we needed," Kim muttered sarcastically. "What's the plan now?"

"We need to get this thing away from the people, and it'll be easier if we don't have the police complicating matters, considering they're not our biggest fans," Jason stated, placing his hand on his helmet to activate a communication link with Zordon. "Zordon, come in!"

"I read you, Jason," Zordon responded.

"Rita has unleashed some monstrous creature, and a lot of innocent people could get hurt. There's an abandoned quarry or demolition site about fifty miles south of here. Can you transport all of us there?"

"Yes and no. If you can make physical contact with each other, Alpha can teleport all of you out, but only if you're in contact. My sensors indicate that the monster is none other than Rita's nefarious King Sphinx. Exercise extreme caution, Rangers."

"Understood, Zordon. Over and out," Jason said. "Okay, guys, we need to get close to King Sphinx and hold him long enough for Alpha to teleport us out."

"Is that all? Sounds easy," Kimberly remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Now or never, team!" Jason shouted, and they sprinted toward King Sphinx. Jason led the charge and leaped into the air with his blade raised high, then brought it down on the creature. King Sphinx reacted swiftly, blocking the attack with one claw and grabbing Jason by the neck with the other.

"You will scream for me," King Sphinx growled.

"Let him go!" Kim yelled, unleashing a barrage of blasts from her blaster. Zack joined in, and their combined efforts forced the creature to release Jason.

"Hold it right there! Everyone freeze!" a police officer shouted through a megaphone behind them. Ignoring the officer's warnings, they continued to fight. More police warnings fell on deaf ears as they battled the monster.

After helping Jason to his feet, Zack and Kim resumed blasting the creature, creating some distance.

"Guys, we need to get him away from here. Too many innocent people are at risk," Jason panted, standing up straight. "Let's go!" Once again, Jason charged toward King Sphinx, and Zack and Kim followed suit. This time, they managed to tackle the creature and hold it down long enough for Alpha to teleport them away.

In the deserted, sandy area below various cliffs, King Sphinx threw them off as soon as they arrived.

"Great job, team. Now, let's focus on taking this guy down," Jason instructed.

"Idiots," King Sphinx scoffed. "Do you honestly believe you can defeat me?"

"It's not just belief, it's a fact!" Zack retorted. "Get ready for a beating!" Zack aimed his blaster and fired several shots, with Kim joining in. King Sphinx used his giant wings to shield himself, deflecting their blasts and rendering their attacks ineffective.

"Okay, maybe it's time for a different approach," Zack suggested, helping Kim to her feet. Suddenly, King Sphinx charged toward Jason and grabbed him by the neck again. Kim and Zack immediately launched a full-scale attack to free their friend, but it seemed futile.

"You two are nothing but a nuisance. Leave us!" King Sphinx growled. His massive wings extended behind him, generating a gust of wind that pushed Zack and Kimberly back. The force intensified, suspending them in the air, and they were carried miles away, eventually landing back in Angel Grove Park. Moaning and groaning, they struggled to regain their footing.

"Oh no, where's Jason?" Kimberly groaned as she struggled to her feet, offering Zack a helping hand.

"Damn, I don't know. But that was a wild ride," Zack replied.

"We have to get back to him," Kimberly said urgently.

"FREEZE! YOU'RE SURROUNDED! PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" a police officer shouted, and suddenly, several officers encircled them, guns aimed and ready.

"Ugh, just great," Kimberly muttered. Slowly raising her hand to her helmet, she managed to contact Zordon. "Zordon, teleport us to the command center, hurry!"

"Stand by for teleportation!" Zordon's voice responded. In a flash of bright light, Zack and Kim were teleported away. Moments later, they appeared in the command center, standing before Zordon and Alpha 5.

"Ay, yi, yi, yi!" Alpha exclaimed. "King Sphinx has Jason!"

"Rangers, observe the viewing globe!" Zack and Kimberly approached the globe and saw Jason locked in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with King Sphinx. Kimberly sighed in relief momentarily, but her relief was short-lived.

"Zordon, can't you teleport him here?" Zack asked urgently.

"Negative. It appears Rita has erected some kind of force field around them. I cannot breach it. We must find another way," Zordon replied.

"What about Billy and Trini? Have you made contact with them?" Kimberly inquired.

"Unfortunately, when any of you are not morphed, I lack a means of communication. Alpha is currently attempting to locate them," Zordon explained.

"Trini, Billy, and I are at the Waste Dump downtown. We're staging a protest to shut it down. You should find them there," Kim suggested.

"Understood, searching now!" Alpha replied. Meanwhile, Zack and Kimberly watched helplessly as King Sphinx continued to assault Jason. Although he fought back valiantly, he was outnumbered and vulnerable. To make matters worse, a golden light appeared behind Jason, revealing Goldar's presence.

"Oh no!" Kimberly cried out.

"This can't get any worse," Zack agreed. "Alpha, please hurry!"

With his short sword in hand, Jason slowly backed away as the two menacing creatures inched closer. His body ached, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out.

"Give me a break, man!" he muttered to himself.

"Why are you here?" King Sphinx demanded of Goldar.

"I'm here to ensure you don't mess this up," Goldar replied. "Rita wants his head, and I'll see to it that it's delivered."

"No, I will ensure it's delivered!" King Sphinx retorted. "You'll just get in the way!" Seeing the argument between the two villains, Jason seized the opportunity.

"What, you couldn't handle me on your own? I knew you were just a one-time monster. Why else would Goldar be here?" Jason taunted, gaining their attention. King Sphinx growled in frustration.

"Silence!" Goldar shouted. King Sphinx turned and shoved Goldar aside.

"He's mine. Leave us!" King Sphinx commanded. Goldar fell silent for a moment.

"Very well. I have other tasks to attend to. But I will be back, and I expect him to be dealt with by then," Goldar warned before disappearing in a cascade of light. King Sphinx cackled maniacally and refocused on Jason.

"Your destruction starts now, Red Ranger," Sphinx declared. "This victory belongs to me, not Goldar. I will have your head. Your blood will be on my hands, and the reward will be mine and mine alone!" he bellowed.

"You're messed up in the head. You have no idea who you're messing with," Jason retorted.

"We shall see," King Sphinx growled. He extended his wings and roared loudly, summoning a battalion of Putties that appeared around him. "Take him down! Bring him to me! Do not fail me!" he ordered, and the Putties obeyed.

"Damn, more of these guys," Jason muttered as he adjusted his stance, bracing for the next attack. He could feel his energy draining, and he knew he couldn't hold them off much longer. Unable to communicate with the others or Zordon, he could only hope that they were on their way to rescue him. "Guys, Zordon, whatever you're planning, please hurry," he whispered to himself.