MMPR Revisited
Terror Part 3
"Billy?" Trini's voice reverberated through Billy's throbbing head, and when he finally managed to open his eyes, he had to squint to adapt to the harsh light. "Jason, Billy's coming to! What about Kimberly?"
"Not yet," Jason replied, gently clasping Kimberly's hand in his own. Ever since Alpha had led them to the medical bay of the command center, Jason and Trini had refused to leave.
"Oh, my head..." Billy groaned, attempting to sit up with Trini's assistance as she placed a comforting hand on his back. "What happened?" Confusion clouded Billy's eyes as he scanned their faces. Trini and Jason exchanged knowing glances.
"You don't remember anything?" Trini inquired, her voice tinged with concern.
"I'm not sure. I remember... I think I remember anger. I was really angry. I remember fighting Jason... and blood... BLOOD. ALPHA!" Billy shouted.
"Why are you shouting?" Kimberly grumbled as she began to stir.
"Ayiyiyiyi, Billy, what's wrong?" A panicked Alpha rushed to Billy's side.
"Blood, did you get Kimberly's blood like I asked you to?"
"Wait, what?" Kimberly's voice was flat as she, Trini, and Jason all turned their wide-eyed gazes toward Alpha.
"Affirmative, Billy. Just as you requested," Alpha responded nonchalantly.
"Good, good," Billy sighed.
"Uhm, Gross. Why are you messing with my blood?" Kimberly sat up, Jason assisting her, and turned to Billy.
"I'll explain later... I'm sorry about my behavior, guys," Billy said, his question causing Jason, who was already filled with guilt, to shake his head profusely.
"No, no. Don't apologize. You guys were influenced by Rita. I'm really sorry I had to hurt you..." Jason stood up as he spoke.
"I would have done the same... or, at least, I would have tried," Billy chuckled.
"I still can't remember much... it's all a blur. I'm sorry, too," Kimberly said.
"No - it's fine. Water under the bridge. But we do need to focus on beating this thing. It got Zack..." Trini's voice cracked as she mentioned Zack's name. She cleared her throat, attempting to regain her composure but still struggled with her emotions.
Billy swung his legs over the side of his bed, and both Trini and Jason moved to assist him, only to step back when they realized he was fine. Kimberly followed suit, and together they left the medical bay and entered the Command Center.
"Billy, Kimberly, it's great to have you with us," Zordon greeted them.
"Good to be back, Zordon," Kimberly smiled.
"Okay, so what do we know about this creature?" Billy approached the main computer and began reviewing the data that Alpha had provided.
"Well, the Toad is incredibly strong and surprisingly agile," Jason began.
"And it'll eat anything; that's how it got Zack. Its tongue is like a whip, and it's incredibly fast with it," Trini added.
"It doesn't bode well for us," Billy remarked flatly after perusing some data printed by Alpha. "You mentioned that we had to combine dark and light to defeat it before, right?" Billy directed his question to Zordon.
"Yes, which makes this particular matter all the more difficult to resolve," Zordon replied.
"Not quite. I think I might have an idea. But I need to study the monster more closely. Alpha, can you provide a current view of it on the viewing globe?"
"Affirmative!" Alpha responded, and the four Rangers turned their attention to the viewing globe. The Terror Toad had moved from the park and was now positioned just outside the Youth Center. Police officers were firing upon it relentlessly, but their efforts seemed futile.
"Zordon, they're not... like dead, when it eats them, right?" Kimberly asked, cringing in anticipation of the answer.
"No, Kimberly. Rest assured they will be fine," Zordon's response brought her some relief.
"He's going after everyone at the Youth Center now. Our friends are in there! Look, there's Brent and Trent. And isn't that Felicia?" Trini's voice took on an urgent tone as she placed her hands on her head.
"I know, I know. Billy, have you discovered anything yet?" Jason's voice was filled with stress, and his fists were clenched.
"Unfortunately, I don't have enough data. I need to observe it more closely to formulate a better strategy for victory. Zordon, when you destroyed the monster before, did everyone simply return?"
"No. It does have a weakness that causes it to regurgitate its victims. However, only Rita's forces knew how to exploit it, and it was never revealed to me," Zordon's answer was disappointing, and Billy sighed in response while Kimberly cringed at the word 'regurgitate.'
"Alright, so, Plan B. I need to get close enough to it to conduct a proper analysis. Since it is a Toad and likely shares characteristics with reptiles, there might be a weakness around its mouth to trigger regurgitation, much like a komodo dragon or a snake."
"Again, so gross. But we have to get Zack out of there," Kimberly said.
"Okay, guys. Here's the plan. We observe, we try to avoid direct confrontation if possible. Get as many people away from it as we can and steer clear of the police. We need to save our friends," Jason instructed.
"Oh god," Kimberly sighed, "I forgot I blew up like six cop cars. Guys, I'm so sorry. I know I didn't help our cause."
"No one got hurt, and that's the important thing," Jason assured her, offering a comforting smile.
"Alpha, that project we were working on. I think this would be the perfect opportunity to use it. Is it ready?" Billy inquired.
"Ayiyiyiyi, no! I still need a little more time," Alpha waved its arms in frantic desperation.
"Try to finish it. I think I've figured out how we can destroy it. Again, we have to find out how to get Zack out. But remember when I asked if Alpha drew Kimberly's blood? Well, Alpha cured me first, but before he got to Kim, I remember requesting him to take her blood because it still has evil in it. Darkness. So if we used her blood as the darkness element, if we combine that with the light energy Zordon used before, it should be enough to destroy the Toad monster."
"Billy, that's brilliant! And you came up with this almost passed out? Hardcore, man!" Jason patted him on the shoulder.
"Fantastic deduction, Billy. Alpha will begin finishing your project immediately, and we'll be in contact when it's ready," Zordon declared.
"Alright, guys, stay focused. We need to help Billy gather the data he needs so we can destroy this thing. Back to action!"
Outside the Youth Center grounds, the cacophony of screams, gunfire, and sadistic laughter filled the air. The Terror Toad extended its massive tongue, wrapping it around an unsuspecting police officer. The officer struggled and fired his gun rapidly at the tongue, but he was slowly reeled into the creature's gaping jaws and consumed whole. The onlookers screamed in horror, attempting to break through the mass of Putties surrounding them.
"Trent, get up," Brent urged his brother, attempting to pull him off the ground. A Putty surprised them by leaping down from the Youth Center's roof. Trent quickly grabbed Brent's hand, pulling him up just in time to fend off the attacking Putty. However, as they turned around, they were confronted by another group of Putties. "Holy sh—"
"Get back!" Jason's voice rang out as he and Billy somersaulted over the Putties, cutting them down with their weapons.
"Damn, the Power Rangers!" Trent exclaimed.
"You guys need to get inside," Billy whispered, attempting to keep his voice low. Brent gave him an uncertain look before finally following his brother inside. Trini gracefully descended from the Youth Center's roof, while Kimberly remained outside.
"Guys, I'm going to provide aerial support. Find out what you need, I've got your backs," Kim announced before summoning her Power Bow.
"Good, alright. Now, where is... ah, there it is!" Jason pointed to the Toad monster, which was stalking a group of terrified teens. "Remember, guys, try not to get too close and watch out for its tongue." They all sprinted toward the monster, with rescuing the teens as their top priority. The teens were backed into a corner, screaming in terror, with the Toad's mouth wide open and saliva dripping.
"Get away from them!" Trini drew her blaster and fired two shots into the Toad's back, capturing its attention.
"Ooh, the Power Rangers! Even more delicious!" The Toad turned around, giving a lecherous grin and widening its mouth even further.
"Don't even think about it!" Billy yelled, firing another shot into its gaping maw. Jason leaped into the air, bringing his power sword down onto the Toad's head, leaving an open wound between the monster's eyes and blue blood streaming from the gash.
"I will devour you!" The Toad bellowed, its tongue licking its own blood off its face.
"Trini, you should get the teens out while Jason has it distracted!" Kimberly's voice crackled through their communicators. Trini looked up at Kimberly and nodded, then crouched low and stealthily moved behind the Toad monster, unseen.
"Come on, guys, go, go! Quick!" Trini whispered urgently, though the terrified teens initially seemed paralyzed with fear. "Hurry, we can't hold it back for long!" Her words finally penetrated their shock, and one by one, they began to slip away from the Toad. But the monster seemed to have lost interest in them, as it was now fixated on Jason.
"Just when I didn't think Rita could make anything uglier," Jason taunted.
"Queen Rita made me in her vision!" The Toad defended itself.
"Then she must be uglier than you," Jason retorted, provoking an indignant protest from the Toad. It lunged forward, striking Jason head-on, sending him flying into a nearby car, shattering the windshield as he landed. Groaning, he struggled to get back up, using his sword as a support. The Toad monster slowly advanced toward him, ignoring the blasts from both Trini and Billy. Even Kimberly's arrows from above couldn't deter it.
"Plan B, guys. We can't lose Jason right now!" Trini holstered her blaster and summoned her Power Daggers. With blades in hand, she dashed forward and leaped onto the creature's back, stabbing it repeatedly.
"Get off of me!" The Toad wailed in pain, tossing itself back and forth. Billy took the opportunity to rush over to Jason and help him off the car.
"Come on, Jason, get up," Billy urged, though Jason was still groggy from the collision.
"Have it your way!" The Toad roared, its tongue emerging from its mouth and retracting backward, wrapping around Trini's waist and hoisting her into the air.
"Guys! It's got her!" Kimberly's frantic voice echoed through their communicators. Trini struggled as she ascended higher into the air, her movements growing desperate as the Toad reeled her in. Managing to free one of her hands, she began stabbing its tongue until finally, it flung her into a group of Putties.
"My tongue!" The Toad cried out, bouncing back and forth in agony. "You're next, Yellow. Putties! Hold her down!" As Trini tried to get up, she was immediately subdued by the surrounding Putties. She managed to kick one of them away, only to be replaced by another, which punched her in the gut. "You're mine!" The Toad monster screamed, its tongue lashing out once more.
"Trini! Hold on!" Kimberly's voice resounded with determination as she pulled back her bowstring, firing arrow after arrow at the Putties holding Trini down. The creatures, however, remained resilient, refusing to fall. Billy dashed forward, blaster at the ready, and unleashed a barrage of shots, but still, the Putties weren't being dispatched quickly enough.
"Ah, let me go!" Trini's anguished cry pierced the chaos as the monster's tongue coiled around her, pulling her into its gaping maw and snapping it shut.
"No!" Kimberly's scream echoed through the turmoil as she dropped to her knees.
"Oh, no…" Billy muttered under his breath. "Trini, I-I'm so sorry." He aimed his blaster, firing directly at the Toad's face. As the creature stumbled backward, a small, barely visible slit of red skin appeared beneath its mouth. "Got it." Billy pressed a button on his helmet to record his finding and barely leaped out of the way as the Toad unleashed its tongue, snaring an unsuspecting Putty and dragging it into its maw. "Jason!" Billy hurried over to his leader, helping him to his feet.
"Thanks, Billy. Damn, that thing can pack a punch!" Jason stretched his limbs, releasing a series of satisfying pops. "Much better."
"Jason, they got Trini…" Jason didn't respond verbally, but the clenching of his grip around his Power Sword spoke volumes. "Jason, I think I found its weakness." Billy pointed to the creature's mouth. "There's a small slit of flesh beneath its mouth. Like some amphibious creatures, it can be suggested that if hit hard enough, it'll cause a gag reflex of sorts."
"It's worth a shot," Jason agreed. While Billy's discovery didn't completely ease his distress, he was relieved they had a lead. Their momentary respite was interrupted when a helicopter hovered overhead. Eight ropes dropped from it, some landing on the Youth Center near Kimberly, while others encircled Jason and Billy. Members of the Angel Grove S.W.A.T. team began descending the ropes.
"This... is not good," Billy muttered.
"S.W.A.T. Commander Leo Trask," Leo Trask introduced himself as he approached Jason and Billy. "You're under arrest for obstruction of justice and destroying police vehicles."
"Are you serious?" Jason's voice was low, and Billy made a mock sound of dismay in response.
"We're trying to help destroy this monster. If you haven't noticed, we've been doing that for you the last couple of weeks," Billy replied in hushed tones, disguising his voice.
"You have no authority here," Trask declared.
"Even if we're only helping?" Jason took a step closer, confronting Trask.
"It's not your job, son. Now, I would just stand down before this becomes uglier than it needs to," Trask's arrogance infuriated Jason.
"Like hell," Jason growled.
"Take 'em in!" Trask ordered, signaling his team to apprehend Billy and Jason. However, the officers' attempts to grab them were unsuccessful. The two S.W.A.T. members on the roof managed to seize Kimberly and tried to subdue her.
"Ah! Commander!" Trask turned to find one of his teammates being ensnared by the Terror Toad.
"Bullock!" Trask yelled in shock. He looked up at the helicopter and pressed his earpiece, commanding, "Freeman, open fire. Don't let that thing take Bullock!" The helicopter shifted position, and gunfire erupted from its machine gun.
"No! Don't!" Jason warned, but it was too late. The bullets struck the Toad, causing it to release Bullock, but it only laughed in response.
"Oooh, that tickles! I wonder what you taste like!" The Toad extended its tongue, wrapping it around the helicopter's tail and pulling it downward.
"What in the world…" Trask couldn't believe his eyes. "Freeman, get control!" he ordered, but his efforts proved futile. The pressure of the creature's tongue against the heavy metal of the helicopter caused the tail to break off, sending the aircraft spiraling toward the ground.
"Move! Get out of the way!" Jason urgently instructed, and he and Billy sprinted in the opposite direction, trying to get as many S.W.A.T. officers as possible to follow their lead. Jason looked back just in time to witness the helicopter's impending crash and the Toad's gaping mouth. Upon impact, the explosion was nearly instantaneous, shaking the ground and propelling Jason, Billy, and several S.W.A.T. officers into the air. Kimberly, who had been struggling with the S.W.A.T. members on the roof, was knocked back, and all three of them landed on the concrete.
"Ow…" Kimberly groaned as she finally regained consciousness, struggling to lift herself up. When she surveyed her surroundings, she found the two officers lying there, bloodied and burned, and she wasn't even sure if they were still alive. "Oh my god," she whispered, her shock overwhelming. Pushing herself to her feet, she limped to the other side of the building, where she expected to find the others. "Jason, Billy, come in!" she urgently spoke into her communicator, growing increasingly anxious when there was no response.
After what felt like an eternity of limping, she discovered Jason and Billy buried beneath a pile of debris. She quickened her pace, reaching Jason first, and then began frantically tossing aside the rubble.
"Kim?" Jason mumbled, still unresponsive.
"Yes, come on, we gotta get you out of here and find Billy," Kimberly said, continuing to clear the debris. Fortunately, Jason soon stirred, moving out from under the rubble.
"Ahahahahahah!" Both of them turned their heads to see the Terror Toad bouncing through the flames and the wreckage of the helicopter, completely unharmed.
"God damn, what is it gonna take?" Jason cursed, his frustration boiling over. And when more Putties appeared, surrounding them, Jason couldn't help but curse even louder. "Kim!" he yelled.
"Got it," she understood his unspoken request. "Just get Billy!" Kimberly stood up, summoning her Power Bow again and rapidly firing arrows at the approaching Putties. When one of them grabbed her from behind, stopping her barrage, she panicked and fought to break free. But when Jason heard Kimberly's distress, he turned from Billy, and his impending rescue mission ground to a halt.
"Back off, freak!" Kimberly swiftly turned her head and was taken aback when Trask delivered a punch to a Putty's face, causing it to release its grip. He followed up with a powerful jump kick, sending the Putty crashing to the ground. Kimberly turned back to fire an arrow into its head, reducing it to a pile of rubble. When she shifted her focus back to Trask, she couldn't help but notice the extent of his injuries. He couldn't put any weight on his left leg, and a sizable gash marred the side of his head, in addition to several cuts on his arms.
"You don't look so good. You should let us handle it," Kimberly suggested.
"And miss out on all the fun? No way," Trask chuckled weakly. "Consider this a brief truce." Kimberly nodded in agreement and resumed her barrage against the oncoming Putties. Trask raised his weapon and joined the firefight, though he didn't manage to deal as much damage as Kimberly.
"C'mon, man, get up!" Jason cleared away all the debris covering Billy and gave his helmet a few knocks.
"I'm so tired of getting my ass kicked," Billy grumbled. "World: 7 – Me: 0," Jason laughed and extended a hand to help Billy to his feet. He noticed Trask assisting Kimberly and couldn't help but express his confusion. "Wasn't he just trying to arrest us?"
"Maybe the explosion was an eye-opener. Let's not fight this. We need all the help we can get," Jason advised as he summoned his Power Sword.
"Power Lance!" Billy followed suit, and the two of them charged forward, passing Kim and Trask. They began to attack the approaching Putties. "Maybe if we get close enough to the Toad, we can get a clean shot," Billy suggested after delivering a decisive blow to a Putty with a forceful swing of his Lance.
"I'm not missing out on all the fun, am I?" Trask suddenly inserted himself between them, producing a metal nightstick with an electrocution feature, which he activated with a press of a button.
"Very nice," Billy muttered his approval. Trask leaped into the air, executing a powerful kick that sent a Putty flying. Upon landing, he twirled his weapon and thrust it forward, electrocuting another Putty and causing it to collapse.
"You're mine, Power Rangers!" The Toad bellowed, extending its tongue toward Billy. Jason sprang forward to intercept, bringing his sword down on the tongue and slicing it in two. The creature emitted an agonized scream as its blood and saliva sprayed onto the ground.
"Nice!" Billy chuckled. The Toad's severed tongue split into two and began to move erratically as the creature continued to wail in agony.
"You won't get away with this!" The Toad hissed before the unthinkable occurred. The Toad's divided tongue shot forward, snaring Jason with one part and Billy with the other.
"No!" Kimberly yelled in a panic and rushed toward them, firing arrows at the Toad's tongue to prevent it from consuming them. Both Jason and Billy struggled desperately to break free, while even Trask tried to force the tongue to release them by striking it with his weapon. But their combined efforts were in vain. Jason realized it was futile and stopped struggling.
"It's up to you, Kim," he communicated through his helmet, prompting an outcry of protest from her. Both Jason and Billy were swiftly reeled in, and within moments, they disappeared.
"No!" Kimberly shouted in desperation. "I can't do this alone…" Warm tears streamed down her face.
"What should we do?" Trask rushed over to Kimberly.
"I-I don't know," she sniffled, looking up at the Toad, which seemed to be reveling in its triumph.
"Four down, one to go! Only one left is pink, and she is the weakest link!" The Toad chanted maniacally, laughing as it repeated the refrain.
"Air Command, send reinforcements now!" Trask attempted to communicate through his earpiece but received only static. "Damn it, it's ruined. Hey, what's happening to you?" He pointed to the pink lights surrounding Kimberly.
"Oh no," she realized it was teleportation and Zordon needed her. "I'll be back. Run, hide. I'll be back!" And then she was gone. Moments later, she reappeared before Zordon and Alpha.
"Kimberly, are you alright?" Zordon inquired urgently.
"I think I'm okay. But Jason, Billy, Trini, they've been –"
"Yes, we know," Zordon interrupted. "I summoned you here because we know how to overcome this creature and defeat it once and for all. Billy found the Terror Toad's weakness, observe!" Kimberly turned to the viewing globe and saw the Toad's vulnerable spot beneath its mouth. "Once hit directly, it will cause the creature to release all of the civilians and the other rangers. If aimed correctly, you can hit it with one of your arrows."
"Not a problem, but that only solves half of the problem. How do we destroy it?"
"Alpha," Zordon prompted, and Alpha retrieved a box, opening it to reveal what appeared to be a large egg with multiple ridges.
"An egg?" Kimberly questioned hesitantly.
"No, not exactly. As you know, Billy and Alpha spent countless hours developing your arsenal, and Billy created this," Zordon explained.
"He calls it a Gren-egg. Or a Dino-grenade. Ayiyiyi, I can't remember," Kimberly recoiled slightly from the object.
"Billy built a grenade?" Kimberly was incredulous.
"Unlike anything you've ever seen before," Zordon assured her.
"How is this going to defeat the Terror Toad?" Kimberly asked.
"Ayiyiyi, it's simple," Alpha closed the box and approached two vials displayed on a stand. "This is the strain of darkness we collected from your blood sample, and this is the strain of light from Zordon. Both of these will be combined onto the Dino-grenade and thrown into the creature's mouth."
"Once deposited into the creature's mouth, it'll cause an explosion of both light and darkness that will surely destroy it once and for all," Zordon elaborated.
"Oh, wow," Kimberly absorbed the information but was still overwhelmed by it.
"First things first, Kimberly. It's up to you to free your friends. Use extreme caution. If the creature catches wind of your intentions, it'll make it much harder to get a clear shot," Zordon advised.
"I understand. Don't worry, Zordon, I've got this," Kimberly declared with a newfound confidence, even though she didn't fully feel it.
"I have faith in you, Kimberly," Zordon assured her.
"Alright," Kim took a deep breath. "Alpha, send me back."
"Affirmative," Alpha began inputting the coordinates into the main computer.
"Back to action!" Kimberly shouted. In just a few moments, as pink lights began enveloping her, she vanished, ready to face the daunting task ahead.
