MMPR Revisited

Teamwork Part 4

The sky was filled with the deafening roar of military jets as they soared above, and with each passing second, more of them appeared. All the Rangers turned their anxious eyes toward Jason, seeking guidance, but the weight of the situation bore heavily upon him. He could feel the tension in the air, a palpable unease that threatened to paralyze them all.

On the adjacent cliffs, a growing number of tanks began to emerge, their massive barrels pointed menacingly in their direction. There was no time to waste; they had mere moments to react before the Airforce launched its assault.

"We can't fight back. We can't afford to start a war with our own people," Jason finally voiced, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Trini breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his decision. "That being said, I'm not sure how we should handle this situation."

Billy, always the analytical one, pointed out the dilemma. "If we leave now, they'll surely follow us to wherever the Minotaur is, making it even harder to defeat. But if we stay here too long, they'll undoubtedly attack us."

Kimberly, her mind racing as she contemplated her newfound responsibility, asked Jason, "How confident are you at flying your zord?" She couldn't help but hesitate. Today was the first time she had taken control of her Pterodactyl zord, and she couldn't claim mastery over it.

After a brief pause, she responded, "I think I'm getting the hang of it. Why?"

Jason considered her reply carefully. "If you don't feel comfortable with this plan, we'll come up with an alternative. You could draw their fire and lead them on a wild goose chase. Once you're far enough away, you and your zord can rejoin us."

Billy expressed concern, noting the risks. "That's really risky, Jason. Those are experienced pilots out there, and, no offense, Kim, but they certainly outclass you."

Kim, determined to contribute to the team, pushed aside her doubts. "No. It's a good idea. We can't afford to have them obstructing us. I'll do it. But I swear to God, if they blow me up, I'm never talking to you again," she added with a touch of humor, lightening the tension in the room.

"Are you ready, Kim?" Jason asked. She took a deep breath and nodded her head. Jason activated a pink button, and she teleported into the cockpit of her Pterodactyl zord.

"I repeat, stand down Power Rangers!" General Jacobs's voice once again echoed through the intercom.

"Zordon, we're ready for transport. All of us but Kimberly; she's going to be our distraction," Jason reported.

"Understood. Stand by for teleportation," Zordon instructed. At that moment, the Pterodactyl zord detached itself from the main body of the Megazord, ascending into the air with a loud screech. The rest of the Megazord slowly dematerialized.

"Fire!" General Jacobs's voice resounded, and two military tanks opened fire on the Megazord. Just before impact, the Megazord vanished completely, and the blast struck the cliffs behind it, causing the rock foundation to crumble.

Kim soared above them, attracting the attention of the fighter jets. "Alright, boys, who wants to play follow the leader?" Kim teased.

"Follow that aircraft!" General Jacob's voice crackled through Kim's intercom.

"I guess his frequency is still attached to mine. Thank you, Billy," she quipped. Kimberly pushed the acceleration control forward, leading nearly a dozen fighter jets on a high-speed chase.

Meanwhile, outside Angel Grove Central Square, Jason, Billy, Zack, and Trini successfully teleported to the top of the main parking garage, their eyes fixed on the destruction below.

"Man, the city clean-up crews haven't even finished cleaning up the last mess," Zack lamented, his hands resting on his helmet in sorrow. The Minotaur continued its rampage through the city. Fortunately, it appeared that the police had established a perimeter, and there were no civilians in sight. However, the Putties were overwhelming the officers.

"Guys, we have to get down there now! Look!" Trini pointed urgently at a police vehicle charging straight at the Minotaur, attempting to ram it. The Minotaur swung its massive, spiked club, making brutal contact with the police car, sending it spiraling into a building, where it exploded on impact.

"Holy sh—" Zack began, but Jason cut him off.

"Guys, we need to destroy that thing, now," Jason declared, raising his hand. "Power Sword!" His new weapon materialized in a bright burst of light.

"Power Axe!"

"Power Lance!"

"Power Daggers!" Billy, Trini, and Zack's weapons appeared in perfect unison. Jason glanced back at his team and nodded in determination. Then, with unwavering resolve, he turned and leaped off the building, landing gracefully on his feet, seemingly unaffected by the height.

"Ah, I was expecting you, Rangers," the Minotaur taunted. "Putty Patrol! Arise!" With a resounding thud, he slammed his colossal club into the ground, causing several Putties to emerge from the earth.

Jason, his eyes locked on the approaching threat, retorted sarcastically, "What's a party without a welcome wagon?" He charged forward, slicing through a Putty and reducing it to rubble. Zack, Billy, and Trini leaped from the building, landing behind Jason. Together, they prepared to face the daunting battle ahead.

Zack hurled his axe with precision, and it struck a Putty directly in the chest, reducing it to a swirling cloud of dust. Without missing a beat, he sprinted towards another Putty, swiftly adopting a sweeping motion that knocked the creature's feet out from under it. He retrieved his axe and brought it down with crushing force, obliterating the Putty.

Billy charged ahead, his lance whirling through the air, effortlessly swatting aside Putty after Putty as if they were mere obstacles in his path. A nimble Putty leaped into the air, attempting to smash its massive fist down onto Billy. He managed to block the attack with his lance and sent the airborne Putty spiraling away with a well-aimed kick to its abdomen.

Trini's dagger strikes were precise and deadly. She twirled her weapons in her hands, building momentum before delivering rapid, finishing jabs. A Putty moved in to grab her, but Trini deftly knocked away its hand and sliced across its arm, severing it cleanly. With the Putty in distress, she delivered three swift stabs to its chest, reducing it to dust.

"Enough of this!" bellowed the Minotaur as it leaped into the fray. It charged towards Trini, swinging its massive club menacingly. She leaped back just in time to narrowly avoid a direct hit, her heart racing as she closely monitored the Minotaur's movements. The Minotaur swung again, and Trini executed another evasive maneuver. Determined to make an opening, she lunged forward with her daggers, aiming for a blow to its chest plate. However, the Minotaur anticipated her move and expertly blocked with its shield, sending her stumbling backward. Trini attempted another lunge, this time targeting the Minotaur's side, but it was ready. At precisely the right moment, it swung its club, knocking Trini off balance and sending her crashing into a car windshield.

"Trini!" Jason's urgent cry pierced the chaos. Trini remained motionless, unresponsive, as the Minotaur menacingly advanced towards her.

"I got this!" Zack's voice rang out with determination. He deftly twisted his axe around, grabbing the blade part and priming the handle like a shotgun. "Axe-blaster mode!" he called out. Pulling the trigger, a powerful black force of energy shot forth, striking the Minotaur from behind. The creature grimaced in pain, then turned its attention to Zack. Jason swiftly dispatched another Putty before rushing to Zack's side to aid in the fight.

"Billy, check on Trini!" Jason ordered. Billy dispatched a Putty with a swift sweep to the ground, finishing it with a strike to the neck that severed its head. He glanced up and saw Trini still unmoving atop the vehicle's windshield, prompting him to race to her side.

"Trini, are you okay?" Billy asked with growing concern as he gently pulled her from the vehicle. Still, she offered no response. "Trini? Trini, wake up!" Trini groaned in pain but remained unresponsive.

Meanwhile, Jason and Zack engaged in a fierce battle with the Minotaur. Each blow they exchanged seemed matched in intensity, neither side gaining the upper hand. Jason thrust his sword, and the Minotaur deftly blocked it with its shield. The Minotaur retaliated with a swing of its massive club, which Zack skillfully parried with his axe. The constant emergence of new Putties only added to the complexity of their struggle.

"Oh man, I hope Kim gets here fast," Jason muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

Hundreds of miles away, thousands of feet in the air, Kimberly led the Airforce jets on a wild chase to nowhere. She glanced down at her radar screen and noticed two missiles locked onto her.

"Not again," she grumbled, irritation tingeing her voice. The relentless missile attacks were becoming increasingly difficult to evade. With determination, she veered towards a cliff and executed a last-second maneuver, causing both missiles to explode upon impact. "Okay, boys, you're boring me."

One of the jets began firing its machine gun attachment, managing to clip one of the Pterodactyl's wings. A warning signal blared, but Kimberly's computer screen reassured her that the damage was minimal.

"Zordon, I think I'm ready for teleportation whenever you are," Kimberly said into her intercom, her voice tinged with urgency. "Are the others all right?"

"I hear you, Kimberly. Alpha is working on the teleportation right away. The others are facing some trouble with the Minotaur. When you arrive, urge Jason to combine all the weapons to form the Weapon Blaster," Zordon instructed.

"The Weapon Blaster?"

"Yes, it should be enough to destroy the Minotaur," Zordon replied. Another alarm sounded, and Kim realized her other wing had also been clipped.

"Zordon, I could really use an exit strategy here. I don't know how much damage the Pterodactyl can take," Kim admitted, her voice betraying her growing distress.

"Prepare for teleportation. You'll be heading to Angel Grove Central Square with the others," Alpha reassured her. Within seconds, Kimberly and her zord dematerialized, vanishing from the sky. She reappeared atop the parking garage, just as the others had before. She scanned the chaotic scene, witnessing Putties joining forces with the Minotaur to attack Zack and Jason. She searched for Trini and Billy and found them, with Trini still lying motionless on the ground and Billy hovering over her.

"Oh no, Trini!" Kimberly gasped. As the others unleashed their new power weapons, Kimberly realized she needed hers as well. "Power Bow!" she called out, and the weapon materialized in her hands. Holding the bow with her left hand and pulling back the bowstring with her right, a pink arrow appeared. A Putty grabbed Jason from behind, immobilizing him. Kimberly swiftly released the bowstring, and the arrow sliced through the air, piercing the Putty's back and forcing it to release Jason. He swung his sword, cleaving the Putty in half, then looked up, searching for his savior. "Up here!" Kim called out.

"Thanks!" Jason replied with a grateful salute before returning his attention to the Minotaur. Kim decided to stay above the fray, pulling back her bowstring and firing another arrow, each shot obliterating a Putty. One after another, she cleared the field of the clay creatures. Once the Putties were defeated, she leaped down and raced towards Billy and Trini.

"Is she okay?" she asked, concern etched across her face.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Trini grumbled, wincing in pain. "But he's got to go."

"Agreed. I'm just trying to figure out how we can do that," Billy replied, his voice filled with determination.

"The Weapon Blaster. Zordon mentioned it to me before I arrived here. We can bring our weapons together and form this blaster that should be enough to destroy the Minotaur for good," Kim explained, her voice resolute.

"I remember reading about that in the command center after Zordon gave us the weapons," Billy recalled, his expression thoughtful. "They have to be combined in a specific order – Black, Pink, Blue, Yellow, and then Red."

"Okay, it's a plan," Kim affirmed, determination etched across her face. She turned around and charged towards the Minotaur, her bowstring drawn back, releasing a volley of arrows that forced the beast to step back. "Jason, Zack. We need to assemble the Weapon Blaster," Kim called out urgently, her eyes locked on the Minotaur. Billy and Trini arrived, and Billy echoed Kim's instructions to Jason and Zack.

"Let's give it a shot," Jason agreed. "Zack, it's your turn!" Zack grabbed the blade of his Axe once more, cocking it like before before hurling it into the air.

"Power Axe!" he exclaimed.

"Power Bow!" Kim shouted, tossing her bow into the air, where it connected with Zack's axe, transforming into a crossbow-like weapon.

"Power Daggers!" Trini yelled as she tossed her daggers into the air. Their handles revealed concealed blasters that attached just beneath the bow, on either side.

"Power Lance!" Billy declared as he broke his lance in half, revealing blasters on both ends, which he tossed into the air next to the daggers.

"Power Sword!" Jason completed the sequence, leaping into the air to place his sword directly in the center of the bow, completing the blaster. He landed with the weapon in his hand, readying his aim.

"You'll never defeat me!" the Minotaur roared, charging forward.

"Guys, he needs to be immobilized. I can't get a clear shot if he keeps moving!" Jason yelled, the urgency clear in his voice. Kimberly and Zack immediately dashed towards the Minotaur, evading its strikes and kicks. Kimberly grabbed its right side, while Zack took hold of the left.

"Jason, now!" Kim shouted. Jason pulled the trigger, and five beams of energy – colored black, pink, yellow, blue, and red – erupted from the blaster, striking the Minotaur with relentless force. It screamed in agony, attempting to break free of the Rangers' hold but failing.

"All right, guys, release him!" Jason instructed. Kim and Zack let go and leaped back, but the ensuing explosion was too powerful, sending them flying to opposite ends of the square. Billy rushed to Zack's aid, and Trini hurried to Kim's side. Jason remained where he was, his weapon at the ready, in case the Minotaur survived the blast. However, when the smoke cleared, there was nothing left but silence, and Jason breathed a sigh of relief. He dropped to his knees, and the weapon dematerialized.

"It's over," he whispered, his voice filled with exhaustion. Billy and Trini helped Kim and Zack to Jason's side, and they all sank to the ground, leaning on each other for support. "Great teamwork, guys."

"Do you hear that?" Billy asked, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently. The others followed suit, straining to catch the sound. However, it was a heartwarming noise – applause. They turned and saw people in the distance cheering them on, clapping their hands in gratitude.

"Well, what do you know," Zack mused, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The brief moment of celebration was interrupted as sirens wailed in the distance, and the sounds of approaching jets filled the air.

"Let's get out of here. Zordon, teleport us out," Jason ordered, and within moments, they vanished.

"Rangers, you all demonstrated exceptional teamwork in today's battle," Zordon commended them, his virtual eyes filled with pride. All of them had powered down by now, and Alpha was carefully examining them for any lingering injuries.

"Zordon, today was insane," Zack exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Two monsters, Goldar, Putties, Zords, and I was pursued by an entire aerial fleet," Kimberly added, her voice reflecting a mix of exhilaration and exhaustion. "I know it's only our second battle, but this was intense. And it doesn't help that our fellow humans are turning against us. When will they realize we're not the enemy?"

"Patience," Zordon replied, his tone unwavering. "I believe that the world will eventually unite and understand that you are their only hope."

"I just hope it happens sooner rather than later. People are going to notice that Angel Grove is the only city being targeted and that it's where the Power Rangers first appeared. They'll start looking for us," Trini observed, crossing her arms and shaking her head.

"Don't dwell on it too much. I doubt they'll suspect a group of teenagers," Jason reassured them. "We just need to stick together. Right now, that's all we have…"

"Is there something bothering you, Jason?" Zordon inquired, sensing the unease in his voice.

"Yeah, sort of. I mean, no, not really. It's just that I feel so isolated from the world right now. I'm lying to my family, and they're probably worried sick. I have to come up with a convincing cover. I can't hang out with some of my other friends, and I haven't been able to teach as much as I want. Maybe I'll get better at this with practice, but I didn't think this adjustment would be so challenging at first," Jason admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"I know what you mean," Kim began, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "My parents think I'm acting out because I don't want to spend time with them. But the truth is, I'm just way too tired. Between school and homework, I thank God Rita hasn't attacked during a school day yet."

"Yeah, I don't even want to think about how that would affect my permanent record," Billy chimed in, eliciting a round of laughter from the group.

"Valid concerns. I want all of you to know that Alpha and I don't take this lightly. The sacrifices you've made for the greater good aren't easy. I selected each of you because I knew you would save the world, and I am eternally grateful. The world will be forever indebted to your sacrifice," Zordon expressed, his virtual presence filled with sincerity.

"I know. Like I said, I just need to get used to it. I hope it gets easier," Jason admitted, a hint of weariness in his voice.

"We also need to find easier ways to stay in contact with each other," Zack suggested.

"I can help with that," Billy began, reaching for his backpack. "Alpha and I were working on these earlier, and I finished them today. I didn't get a chance to distribute them before today's fight, but these devices will help us communicate with each other and the command center directly." Billy pulled out five bracelets that resembled watches, color-coded to match each Ranger. "There are two buttons: the first for communication and the second for teleportation. This way, we can stay in touch at all times with each other and Zordon."

"Dude, this is awesome!" Zack exclaimed. "Just when I thought this gig couldn't get any cooler."

"Great job, Billy. And you too, Alpha," Zordon acknowledged.

"Speaking of teleporting, we should probably head home. It's getting late, and I'm sure my parents are worried sick about me," Trini suggested.

The next afternoon, they all gathered at the Youth Center and took their usual seats. Ernie brought their smoothies and turned up the news when they started mentioning the Power Rangers.

"This is Cindy V. reporting live. Yesterday, the Power Rangers once again defended Angel Grove from another attack, but not before being confronted by our own military forces in the process. The Communications Director for Angel Grove Airforce Base declined to comment at this time, but I'm sure many of you are wondering, 'Why are they fighting against them when the Power Rangers are clearly fighting off the monsters?' It doesn't make any sense."

"Good to know someone is on our side," Trini remarked.

"I'm sure we have more allies than we realize. It's a good start," Jason replied.

"Again, Power Rangers, thank you. I hate to think where we'd be without you. In other news, the Angel Grove Hazardous Waste Dump, which was only recently brought to mainstream media's attention, is being shut down. Disturbing reports of monsters emerging from its nuclear waste compelled the city to authorize its closure and cleanup," Ernie muted the broadcast after that.

"Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" Trini exclaimed, clapping her hands with excitement. "We didn't even have to petition for it. That place was a nightmare, Kim. You can't even imagine."

"I'd rather not, thanks," Kim replied with a laugh. "That's some good news. We took down monsters and the dump all in one day's work." She smiled, and the rest of the group joined in.

"Well, Jason, how about we attempt to break that bench-pressing record today? Feeling up for it?" Zack proposed.

"I'm up for the challenge," Jason replied, rising from his seat.

"Everybody, Jason is going for the record!" Kim announced, drawing the attention and cheers of everyone at the Youth Center. Jason smiled, appreciating the support of his friends. It was all he ever needed.