With all their panicked might, the civilians ran for the exit, feet pounding against the pavement as every step propelled to freedom. At the head of the pack, Helen Goodson guided them, running faster than anyone in high heels had any right to, but they were nearly there. Despite all odds, they were nearly there. Ray Granger had stayed behind to make sure they all got out, and that was a sacrifice that they had to honor.
At last, they saw the barricade, manned by men in blue fatigues who called to them and waved them through.
"This way! Hurry!"
None of them questioned or queried, picking up speed as they bolted to the outstretched arms of sanctuary and over to the other side of the barrier. All but one.
As the others raced away from the school, Ken Nishimura slowed to a stop. They were almost there, free from the torment of the robots that had sealed them inside. But he couldn't leave, not yet. Somewhere in that building was his daughter, trapped and alone. And he was elsewhere, just like he always had been.
Tonight was meant to be different. Tonight was finally his chance to be there for her, to revel in her successes by her side instead of the sidelines. And now, when it mattered most, fate had still found some way to keep them apart. For so long, Erika had been forced to go it alone because Ken hadn't been able to be there. Because he'd been so busy trying to keep them afloat that he hadn't been to be there for her.
But not any longer. Not today.
Slowly, Ken looked up at the frightened faces staring from across the barrier as one of the officers made a beckoning gesture.
"Sir, just step this way."
"My daughter, she's still inside," Ken said. "I have to find her."
And then he turned and ran back toward the school, desperate to reach his daughter and make sure she was safe.
"NO!"
By the time the scream had left her lungs, Erika was spirited into the emerald light, and Doc's desperate, pleading face vanished as the energy consumed her. A second later, she and Miguel were thrown beneath the evening sky, stumbling as they emerged from the transporting beam.
Her heart was racing, jaw quivering with fury and despair. But she no longer had to think of it, not with what was unfolding in front of them.
The other four were down, struggling to stand as they lay at Arc-Wave's feet. The only one left was Abbey, charging head-on with furious determination. Alone.
But it wasn't enough, and already the monster was turning to face and unleash upon her with his weapons. Not today! Doc had given himself to get her and Miguel out, and Erika was not going to waste that sacrifice.
Erika's body moved without thought, surging forward as the power crackled in her hand. "HEY!"
The bolt unfurled into a scarlet streak that crashed into Arc-Wave's body with a clap of thunder. It didn't do much, but it was enough. Shocked by the strike, Arc-Wave spun around, aim completely thrown as his sonic blasters pulsed harmlessly into the air.
"Miss me?" Erika smirked.
Just as Abbey reached him.
Without wasting a second, she dropped into a skid and phased through Arc-Wave's feet. As she did, she slapped him, her hand clapping against the ankle as she ground against the gravel. But her subtle strike had cost her balance, tripping her momentum and throwing her into a tumble. The girl winced as she rolled on the ground, and Arc-Wave spun again in horror to see her at his feet.
"Was that it?" He demanded as he raised his arm to pummel her. "You're final, desperate plight to save you from oblivion? Pathetic."
Abbey's arm swung up in a vain attempt to block it, but Arc-Wave's blow never landed. Black smoke curled around her, the air itself folding as it cracked like a whip. It enveloped her as it cracked a second time, and Arc-Wave punched down into empty air as the smoke slipped through his frame.
With a final crack, Miguel reappeared at Erika's side holding Abbey.
"I've got you," he smiled warmly at Abbey.
"So, you have escaped my master's clutches?" Arc-Wave scoffed. "It matters little. With the frequency continuing to operate, your Ranger Powers remain less than useless!"
But as the monster roared in furious annoyance, Erika saw the smirk growing on Abbey's lips, and her eyes drifted to where she'd seen the girl strike. Some sort of device was attached to Arc-Wave's ankle, its screen blinking an electric blue with its casing partially phased into the monster's frame. Permanently in place.
From Miguel's embrace, Abbey turned to where the others were rising, locking eyes with Zeke and nodding. Then, the boy pulled out a small remote from his pocket.
"Gotcha!"
He hit the button, and Arc-Wave roared in agony as the air was filled with a shrilling pitch. It pulsed from the monster's ankle, a scratched chittering crawling up his limbs like being beset upon by a thousand birds. The crackling built, sizzling through his body as arcs of electricity began bursting from seems in a burst of sparks. Then, as Arc-Wave let out a final scream, the whirring died, and the monster staggered over as a natural calm fell upon the courtyard.
For a moment, all of them stared, waiting to see what the monster would do. And then Radiohead started flailing, the satellite dishes waving at the sky as he scrambled around in fright.
"Looks like someone just got taken off the air," Lena chuckled.
"No!" he realized. "It is impossible!
As the monster staggered back in horror, Abbey bounded from Miguel's arms, racing over to the others with Erika and Miguel in tow and leaping to grab Zeke in a tight embrace of gratitude.
"You did it!"
"We did it," the boy puffed, smiling modestly nonetheless as Hilary looked at him with pride.
Suddenly, a voice crackled from their voices, a tinny cheer of triumph sounding from the devices on their wrists.
"Am I reading you guys?" Jess pleaded. "Did you get the signal down?"
Smiling with relief as he laid eyes on Erika and Miguel, Ray lifted the communicator to his lips. "You've got all of us here, Jess. Loud and clear."
"It's so good to hear your voices. I'll let Kyle know it's safe to engage."
At that, Ray shot Hilary a look of surprise.
"I'll tell you later," she simply smiled, already half laughing with cathartic relief.
"I'm guessing that thing on the shock-jock has something to do with our powers?" Erika asked, nodding to the steaming device still merged to Arc-Wave's staggering form. "Do I even want to ask what's going on with his face?"
Beside them, Hilary nodded as she checked the screen on her Morpher. "The counter frequency is working. I didn't expect it to be that effective."
"I added something to give a little extra punch," Zeke admitted. "You know, a gift from a fan."
But the others were far too occupied with their return to even considering answering. Having finished thanking Zeke, Abbey snatched ahold of Erika to yank her into a tight embrace. Tears were shimming in her eyes, and Erika's were mutual as she held the friend she'd thought she'd never see again.
"You made it out!" she breathed.
"How did you get away?" Ray asked.
It was then that Erika shared a guilty look with Miguel, a pained glance of acknowledgment as they remembered what their escape had cost. Who it had cost. Ray and Hilary would want to know, but there wasn't time. Not yet.
"Not here," Erika shook her head as she turned toward the furious monster. Arc-Wave was stomping on the ground, petulantly stewing over his scrambled broadcast.
"It matters not!" he roared. "With my powers combined with Radio-Wave, I am more than enough to destroy you!"
"Right now," Abbey decided, "I think we owe someone a retirement party."
Just as she said it, flashes of green began descending on the school. Cyberdrones landed all around them, filling the courtyard with a sea of swarming footsoldiers under Ender's command.
"Looks like Xaviax got the signal," Erika decided bitterly.
"They look mad," Miguel noted. "Do you think they're mad?"
"Hey, Ender!" Erika called out to them. "Missing us already?"
"Don't get too comfortable," Ender agreed. "You'll be joining your friend soon enough."
At that, Erika's eyes flashed with fury, gritting her teeth as she held herself back. Beside her, Ray shot her a look of confusion.
"What's he talking about?"
"It doesn't matter," Erika said sternly. "Right now, we've got a school full of innocent people and way too many Cyberdrones out of class."
"I just heard from Kyle," Jess added from the coms. "He says his men are good to go. All he needs is a signal from you."
"Tell him we'll light it up like a Christmas tree," Hilary replied.
All were completely surrounded, but the Rangers didn't care, striding forward in a defiant line as they stared their enemies down. They didn't need to share another word; they knew what to do. They'd fought long and hard, and with the Morphers back online, they intended to take full advantage.
With a single glance, Erika locked eyes with Abbey, the girl who'd fought so hard to get others to where they were. The one they all had to thank for their powers return, the one who'd led them into the charge in Erika's absence. Slowly, Abbey nodded in understanding of Erika's gratitude. And then both girls stepped forward with their Morphers held high in clear defiance.
"Ready?" they called together. The rest of the team stepped to their side, and all seven stood tall and prepared.
"READY!"
Then they moved, winding back in perfect synch as the cards rammed through the dives and hands slapped the activated. "SERVER FORCE! LOGIN ACCESS!"
In a blaze of technicolor light, the seven were consumed by the surging power of the awakened grid. Red, blue, yellow, black, white, gold, and silver columns of light pierced through the darkened sky, strengthening their bodies as Ender, Arc-Wave, and their henchmen shielded their eyes from the blinding display. The Rangers' exhaustion vanished, their limbs and resolve emboldened as their Ranger suits enwrapped them and the helms encased their heads. And then, as the light began to fade, all seven Rangers stood together, morphed and ready to take on everything their enemies had to throw at them.
"Alright, guys," Erika decided. "They've all come to school, so it's time to teach them a lesson!"
"Right!"
At Erika's command, the tribe of technicolor warriors lunged into the fray, weapons drawn and at the ready as the Cyberdrones scrambled to defend against them.
There was nothing that could prepare them for what was coming.
The lines braced as the Rangers collided, crashing through ranks with furious conviction. The Cyberdrones went flying, cleaved into pieces as Erika's axe flashed through them, batting them aside with every swing. Every time a group leaped into her path, she'd leap high, clearing room for Abbey to soar above and rain down a dazzling barrage with her bow, perfectly timed for Zeke to charge in beneath, shield held firm against his shoulder as he pummeled through like a battering ram.
And when Erika landed to join them, Miguel and Lena were with her, the saber and spear flashing as the Cyberdrones fell before the Rangers might. Out on the flanks, Ray and Hilary raced around, firing wildly as the Mainframe Defenders shattered the Cyberdrone formations with an onslaught of relentless fire.
All seven Rangers, reunited and full-powered, fighting as one like never before.
"There are still people inside!" Ray warned. "They could still be in danger."
"We've got the radio freak," Hilary insisted. "I've got some feedback for his regularly scheduled programming."
Erika nodded as Miguel and Lena lunged to occupy Ender. Ray was right; it was good to be back, but they still needed to divide and conquer.
"Our families are still inside!" Abbey realized. "We need to-!"
"Way ahead of you!" Erika agreed. "Come on!"
The three took off, leaping into the night to leave the remnants of the Cyberdrones to their comrades. Up ahead, they saw a cluster of people frantically fleeing now that rescue was in sight. The Cyberdrones, on their tails, had other ideas.
"I've got these ones!" Erika insisted. "You to go ahead!"
"RIGHT!"
Zeke and Abbey swerved for the stairs as Erika charged at the pursuing Cyberdrones. Too focused on the helpless civilians, the back row never saw her coming as the axe cut them down like a saw through a hedge. The next ones had time to react, abandoning their quarry as they spun around and readied their weapons. They didn't even slow her down.
As Erika pressed forward, the first Cyberdrone lunged to stop her. She sidestepped, almost lazily, as her axe cracked up and sheared through the Cyberdrone's chest. As her position shifted, another came in from the side, eager to strike in what it thought was her blind spot.
It wasn't.
Ducking into a roll, Erika stowed her axe as she switched to her saber, snapping out the blade to slice her would-be attacker and parry another incoming blow. As the Cyberdrone staggered back, Erika saw her chance and whipped around, heel spinning in an arc to clear the Cyberdrones in her path. Then she lunged from the writhing horde, out onto the side of the innocent civilians as her blade folded into a blaster.
"Still the same old mistakes," Erika chuckled. "You should really start paying attention."
The pistol boomed, streaks of crimson light flaring from the barrel as the Red Ranger unloaded on the henchmen. The shots hit their mark, lancing through their armor as ricochets splashed on the ground and exploded. The flames coursed into blooming fireballs that shattered the remaining Cyberdrones, and Erika turned away, coolly standing with her back to the flames as she stowed the blaster in her holster.
Right in front of her father.
Her eyes widened with a mix of terror and surprise, grateful that her feature-hiding helmet masked her reaction. But still, Ken Nishimura stared at her, with more in his expression than simple shock at being rescued by a Power Ranger.
An easy comparison when so many others trembled in fright behind him.
"Ahh,' Erika announced nervously. "Don't fear Citizens! I have this under control; please proceed to the exits!"
Most of them didn't need telling twice, nodding frantically as they readied to run again. Then there was the sound of growing footsteps, boots on the ground hutting toward them in a swift but regimented rhythm. Moments later, the air was filled with more sounds of trilling blaster fire as explosions began booming in the distance. The people staggered back, frightened of the sudden commotion Erika moved to place herself between them and the source.
But the fears were unfounded, and moments later, a squad of men in blue fatigues raced to the entrance with blasters in hand. Reaching the huddled group of civilians, all of them turned around in a defensive formation; crouching blasters braced as they opened fire on a group of pursuing Cyberdrones.
As the salvo of lasers forced the henchmen back, a man in a red beret turned around and saluted Erika.
"Lieutenant Kyle Mason of the Silver Guardians," he introduced. "You must be the new Red. Don't worry, we've got some mutual friends."
A friend of Ray and Hilary's. Assessing him as a trusted friend, Erika became all business immediately, pointing to the various entries and exits.
"We've got multiple people inside and Cyberdrones swarming stairwells. My team's already on it, but…"
"You've got bigger fish to fry," Mason agreed. Then he turned to his men, barking orders as they moved with military efficiency. "You heard her! Half of you take these people to safety at the perimeter; the rest with me!"
The men obeyed without question, hutting off behind their leader with a determined piece. The remainders moved in the opposite direction to form a protective guard for the fleeing citizens. They didn't need to do twice, bolting out of the entrance in a desperate pursuit of their rescuers in a bid to reach their freedom.
But not Ken. Instead, Erika's just continued standing there, staring at her in paralytic fear.
"My daughter!" he stammered. "I mean... Erika! She's still in there! I mean… I heard… she was."
Before she was even moving, Erika was by his side, a comforting hand all she could dare to offer despite her desperate wish to tightly embrace him. She longed to tell him it would all be fine, to throw aside her helmet and bear to him every ounce of truth.
But she couldn't, not now. For now, it was enough for Erika to know that her dad was safe.
"She's okay, I've seen her," she said instead, doing all she could to hold the calm in her voice. "She's with her friend Miguel; they're both safe. But what she'd want, more than anything, is for you to be safe, too. Which is why you need to go with the Guardians now and get out of here."
And with that, Erika motioned to the awaiting Guardian as her father nodded and went with them. With one final pleading look, he delivered a silent request before finally acquiescing and retreating with the others.
"Don't worry, Dad," Erika said softly as she watched him go. "I'll make you proud."
And then she turned and launched herself back into the fray with all the fury she could muster.
Faster than she'd ever run before, Abbey ripped around the corner, bounding up the stairs with Zeke hot on her heels. Erika was holding the ground, giving the Blue and Yellow Rangers the window they needed to get where they desperately wanted.
Their families.
Maybe they weren't there.
Maybe they'd used the commotion outside to run to safety as so many others in the school had already done.
At the very least, Abbey could only hope that in drawing the Cyberdrone's attention with her defiant stand, the henchmen had abandoned their search for hiding civilians. No matter what, she just needed to know they were safe.
Her boots hit the second floor, and she took off again, Security Saber drawn and ready as she surged toward. Just as she did, the Cyberdrones came into sight, huddling around the door as they tried to batter it open and get to the people inside.
To get her family.
Abbey's vision narrowed with flaring protective fury, lunging forward with her saber poised to strike. Yellow ribbons of light seared past her, Zeke's covering fire illuminating the hall as it blasted into the goons. Abbey's saber met its mark, flashing as it cut down the minions with every strike. The best they could do was flail and stagger, backing away as Abbey cleared each and every one of them with unrelenting prejudice.
As Abbey cleaved through the last in front of the door, another pair came racing around the corner. Before she could even move, Zeke was already on them, skidding into their path to cut them down with a pair of precision strikes.
"We need to move!" he told her.
In full agreement, Abbey grabbed the door. "Stand back!"
The door crashed open, the barricade cast aside by Abbey's Ranger-powered strength as she stood in the doorway transformed. The parents inside stood dumbstruck, staring in slack-jawed amazement as the Blue Rangers stood before them. But Abbey didn't have time for their shock, not when so many people needed her.
"Mom! Rick!" she called, hand outstretched as she answered their silent question. "Come on!"
Hearing their daughter's voice, Abbey's mother and step-dad raced from the room, out into the corridor where Zeke stood surrounded by the remnants of the assaulting force.
"Zeke?" the shocked realization sounded from the doorway, and the Yellow Ranger looked up to see his parents staring at his handiwork.
"Uh… hi guys?" he said nervously.
"Run now, questions later!" Abbey interrupted. "Let's go!"
They took off, both Rangers leading the way as they guided their parents to the staircase. Already, more Cyberdrones were racing toward them, remnants from further around the corridor as a series of laser flashes crackled behind them. Abbey and Zeke didn't waste time with questions, surging forward to carve through the intervening henchmen as their parents reached the stairs.
As the parents hurried down, Abbey and Zeke followed, catching sight of soldiers dressed in navy fatigues and holding smoking blasters.
"You need to get out here," Abbey told their parents. "Make straight for the school's boundary, and don't look back!"
"But what about you?" her mother demanded. "What are you-?"
"We've still got a job to do," Zeke replied.
"He's right," Abbey agreed. "And now that you're safe, we need to make sure everyone else is too."
All four parents stared at the two morphed Rangers, their children, frozen with frightened paralysis. For a moment, Abbey feared that it would be a repeat of the classroom, of her mother stamping down her foot and exerting authority in a desperate bid to keep them safe.
But she didn't. Instead, she simply stood there, staring at her daughter as, at last, the reality hit home. That Abbey was going back out there and that Zeke was as well. And no power on this earth could stop them.
"Just promise me one thing," her mother pleaded. "Come back safe."
"I will," Abbey nodded. "Now, please get out of here."
The Johnsons, too, shared a silent moment with their son, a look of resigned recognition as they slowly nodded and turned to join the Carmichaels in hurrying toward the awaiting navy-clad soldiers.
And then, without uttering another word, both Abbey and Zeke spun around, weapons drawn as they prepared to face down the robotic remnants, ready to stand against the darkness. Defenders, sworn to fight.
With all the power and grace her suit would grant her, Lena twisted through the air as she soared between a pair of Cyberdrone strikes. The henchmen swiped through the empty air, staggering as they over-committed, and Lena landed in a sly crouch before them. Then, with a single swipe, her spear flashed across their chests to send them flying in a spray of scattered parts.
Satisfied, the White Ranger spun around, eager to find the next batch of wayward Cyberdrone in need of a lesson. But as she saw them, another, less welcome sight emerged from the school's main arch.
"Guardians!" she heard Mason command as he led them onward. "Fan out and concentrate on the groups; give the Rangers the space they need for the big guy!"
Nope!
That was one High School reunion that Lena was very keen to avoid. As the Silver Guardians took their positions and opened fire, Lena eagerly searched for a problem as the Guardians began reclaiming control of the school.
Very quickly, someone else caught her attention, someone equally annoying but with a far less complicated history. Ender had lunged to strike Miguel from behind. With enlivened fury, Lena launched herself toward the fray, feeling the rage swell inside as she wound back to strike. They'd already taken Miguel once that night, her deepest friend to whom she owned everything.
They were not taking him from her, from the team, ever again.
"No, you don't!" With a roar of defiance, Lena launched herself high, flinging herself into Ender's path and striking hard. Ender barely had a chance to swerve, leaping back as Lena's shining spear pierced the darkness between them.
Having seen her, Miguel shifted toward her, standing back-to-back as they faced the general down.
"Decided to come down for parent-teacher night after all?" Miguel joked.
"Wanted to see what all the fuss is about," Lena replied. "Got to say, not a fan."
"Think it's bad for us? Imagine this guy," said Miguel. "No one's said a good thing about him all night. And now he's throwing himself a pity party."
"And they didn't invite me?" Lena chuckled. "So rude."
Ender said nothing, too embroiled in fury to even quip back as he lunged. Smirking, Lena and Miguel swerved together, twirling in place to let their opponents glide past as the positions sifting reversed. Staggering to avoid a collision, Ender whipped around to see his new predicament.
Seeing the over-eagerness, Miguel and Lena had lured him in, and now the Dark and Light Rangers were primed to strike. It was too late for either Ender, too off-balance from the sudden shift, to have any hope of avoiding the oncoming attack.
"Seeing as you're back in school," Miguel scolded. "Here's a lesson for you."
"When Rangers stand together," Lena told them. "Nothing can stop us!"
Their weapons flared, blazing energy unleashing from the ends as they surged into their enemy to sear through Ender's bodies, sparks bursting from the lacerations as the energy strikes conjoined. Colliding, they flashed in a blinding bloom, a ball of white-hot power that seared out in a rocking explosion. Caught in the epicenter, Ender could only cry out in pain as he was thrown from his feet, flailing as he crashed into the ground and tumbled.
Staggering with smoking bodies, he looked up at the two rejuvenated Rangers, standing with their weapons at the ready.
"If you ever want another lesson," Miguel said smugly. "You know where to find us."
And as Ender scowled in his emerald retreat, the two Rangers bounded away, finally setting eyes on their main target. Determined to take it down for good.
"So, Honey, how was work today?"
Hilary weaved beneath Arc-Wave's clumsy strike as she spun and slashed with her sword. With all his big and bulky armor, the monster was no match for Silver Ranger's swiftness and grace, howling as the Mainframe Broadsword sheared across his metal frame. With the scars still glowing from the kicking sparks, Arc-Wave spun around and narrowed his red eyes in fury.
Big mistake.
Having given the Silver Ranger his full attention, he'd turned his back on the Gold. As Hilary lunged to engage from her end, Ray took to the air, cheering as he raised the broadsword and plunged toward the target. Nowhere near fast enough, Arc-Wave howled as another giant sword carved across his body, staggering back as the smoking seethed off him, and the married couple regrouped.
"Not too bad," Ray replied. "Had to deal with some trespassers at school, but I think we showed them why it was a bad idea. How about you?"
"You will not be rid of me so easily!" Arc-Wave sneered. "I'm more powerful than I have ever been and am more than a match for the likes of you!"
Staggering in retreat, the monster pointed a satellite dish, signaling the command as a fresh horde of Cyberdrone surged from the flanks to intervene. Without wasting a second, the two Rangers launched into the fray, folding the Mainframe Defenders into blaster mode to unleash a torrential downpour of gold and silver fire.
"You know how it is," Hilary told her husband. "Meetings, new exhibits, some freak with a radio thinks he's the 'pirate of the airs'. Just the regular nine to five."
Both of them grinning, they weaved between the Cyberdrones, flipping between the strikes and knocking their enemies back as they cleaved through the ranks. As they did, they heard the thumping of footsteps, the approaching squad of Silver Guardians forming rank. Seeing the firing line, the two Rangers launched themselves high, soaring above at the reinforcements opened fire to tear the footsoldiers apart.
"Are you two still flirting on the job?" Kyle asked them as they landed at his side. "All these years, and you still can't show a little professionalism?"
"What can we say?" Ray chuckled. "Old habits…"
"Die hard," Hilary agreed.
Without missing a beat, both whipped around, aiming their blasters in perfect synch as they unloaded on the hapless henchmen. The twin shots converged, twisting together into a single beam as it slammed into the ground and shattered into a rocking blast. The Cyberdrones went flying, severed mechanical limbs flying everywhere as the Silver Guardians stood at ease as they made their next battle plan.
"We've cleared out most of the goons on the perimeter," Kyle confirmed. "We're sweeping now to get the last civilians to safety."
"Great job," Ray grinned at his old teammates. "You clean up these clowns while we focus on the big guy."
"You all owe me one hell of an explanation when this is all done," said Kyle.
"We know," Hilary agreed. "But right now, we've got to deal with the…"
"WE ARE NOT DONE!
Arc-Wave thundered back into view, taking advantage of the strategizing to attack. But he wasn't fast enough for Ray and Hilary, both Rangers cocking their blasters and firing at the hip just as Arc-Wave aimed. Too quick to target precisely, the shots went wide, splashing at the monster's feet just as he unloaded a volley of his own. Rocked by the chasing shockwaves, Arc-Wave staggered back, hands thrown into the air as he emptied his energy into the sky.
Taking their cue, the Silver Guardians scattered, following Kyle's bellowing commands as the Gold and Silver Rangers prepared to face down their foe.
"Oops," Hilary giggled. "Look on the bright side; I guess that still counts as 'on the air'."
"Shame no one's listening," Ray added.
"Your jests merely mask your fear!" Arc-Wave howled. "Tonight will be the time to destroy you all for good!"
But Ray and Hilary didn't need to do anything; someone already had the monster well in hand. As they readied to reengage, a voice cried out, a defiant and snarky reply that sounded like a death knell. "We could say the same about you!"
Erika took flight, bounding high as Abbey and Zeke leaped to match her soaring pace. In perfect synch, the trio flipped into a somersault, twisting into the flying kicks that crashed into the giant metal frame.
Arc-Wave gasped as the triplicate kicks knocked him back, staggering to hold his balance as the primary-colored Rangers flipped back with pistols drawn and ready. Without sharing a word, the trio opened fire, beams of red, blue, and yellow illuminating the nighttime air as they seared past Arc-Wave's body.
"Sorry to cut you off," Erika decided as they landed at Ray and Hilary's side.
"But this station's under new management," said Abbey.
"And we're about a change in direction," Zeke concluded.
"There's an easy direction you can take," Arc-Wave replied. "Oblivion!"
But while he raised the satellite dishes to fire, he never got the chance. As his hands began to glow, two streaks of black and white soared from behind. Lena and Miguel rocket past, shearing their weapons through him. Saber and spear sliced along the metal, spraying shavings and sparks as Arc-Wave howled and stumbled away. By the time he'd regained his footing, the two Rangers had joined the others, and now all seven Rangers stood.
"Sorry, but we're not really interested in the whole 'solo act' thing," said Lena.
"We're definitely going in a more 'co-hosts' kind of vibe," Miguel agreed.
"Let's show this guy what an ensemble act can do!" Erika declared.
The reply was firm and unanimous, all other helmets nodding in affirmation as they agreed. "Right! Let's put it together!"
All of them moved as one, swift and precise, as the seven Rangers huddled tight and locked their pieces in place. The Mainframe Defenders locked together, one behind the other like a double-barreled bazooka, forming a base for the shield shunt on top with bow and axe connected. As the spear bent around and the saber formed a guiding rail, all seven Rangers gripped their new weapon as they readied it and braced to aim.
"X-Reboot Deleter Blaster!" they declared as they gathered around. Holding the triggers, Erika stood at the center, Abbey and Zeke supporting the weight from the sides as Miguel and Lena knelt at the front to take the balance of the barrels. On the edges, Ray and Hilary gripped the shoulders of the Blue and Yellow Rangers as all seven readied for the recoil to come.
"Time to change the channel," Erika ordered.
"Aim!" the team called together as the weapon hummed with priming energy. "FIRE!"
The power that erupted from the barrels was cataclysmic, a titanic reckoning that flashed across the air. Blinding by the oncoming blast, Arc-Wave is completely defenseless. Cowering, he was the perfect target, the enormous ball of energy exploded with a force so powerful it rattled the windows around. As the whole building quaked from the aftershock, the resulting blaze burned through the onlooker's vision as others snapped away to avert their eyes.
To Arc-Wave's credit, he was still standing as the dust settled, but that was about all that could be said. Battered, blackened, and beaten out of shake, the monster toppled backward as his body gave out and detonated from within. A second fireball, comparatively smaller than the blast of the combined attack, flared out the site, tossing the smoking pieces of machinery all over the grounds.
All seven cheered with proud satisfaction, clutching their individual weapons as they retracted from the cannon and readied for the return. Like clockwork, the green light descended from the sky to gather the shattered remnants, drawing them into a glowing mass that grew to titanic size.
"I will spell your doom, Rangers!" Arc-Wave roared as he towered over the city. "Tremble and cower before my might."
"Just for once," Erika grumbled. "I wish someone would actually stay canceled."
"For someone who claims to not do repeats," Abbey noted. "He's sure is stuck on the same material."
"Maybe this time we'll make it stick," Ray suggested.
Suddenly, Jess's voice nervously crackled over the coms. "Ah, guys? Arc-Wave might be back, but the transmitter you stuck to him's been destroyed."
"So?" Lena asked. "We're morphed now, he can't block us off."
"But he can block the Zords," Jess warned. "Right now, he's flooding all our vehicle uplink channels with signals. I can still deploy them, but it looks like he's jamming every combo we've got."
Erika scowled as she stared up at the giant, walking Radiotower, furious that his trick was working on them once again. But then it hit her, the memory of Ender's proud gloating as he rubbed their long game in her face. And she knew exactly what to do.
"Jess, send us the Zords," she ordered. "We'll just have to hit him with a combination they haven't seen before."
"But what's even left?" Miguel asked her. "I thought we'd already formed all the configurations."
"Not all of them," Erika smirked.
"What do you mean?" Zeke asked. "Which haven't we used?"
But opposite her, even though Erika couldn't see her face, she knew that Hilary was smiling as she caught on to the same idea.
"All of them."
And just like that, it was as if an energizing current had rushed through them, brimming them with excitement as they realized that Arc-Wave was dead-station walking.
"Deploying Zords," Jess agreed with a tone now cheery and gleeful. "Setting codes for Ultrazord configuration!"
With another triumphant cheer, the Rangers leaped into the air, preempting the screeching tires and roaring engines as the Zords rocketed into view. Each of them dropped into the cockpits, taking the helms of the colossal machines as the displays lit up with freshly established links. All that was left was to bring them all into synch.
"Cyber Security Zords!" Erika declared with Abbey and Zeke. "Standing by!"
"Twilight Server Zords!" Miguel and Lena confirmed. "Standing by!"
"Server Fliers!" called in Ray and Hilary. "SigmaDrive Zords, standing by!"
Then, with the uplink confirmed, there was only one thing to do.
"Let's bring them together!" they called as one. "Combine UltraZord!"
Down on the ground, the vehicles skidded into position, lining up in twos before melding into a single line. Zeke's truck unfolded first, taking its decided place as the legs while the Shadow-Cycle shunted in and shifted. Behind them, Erika's streetcar and Lena's racer locked into a torso and pair of arms, and the two combos connected to bring the main body into being.
Up above, Abbey's jet led a flying V with Ray and Hilary's fliers, all three aircraft pulling in close as their bodies latched together. From the new super flier, pieces of the Gold and Silver Zords disconnected, flying down toward the Megazord limbs as the rest of the structure pulled in vertically to lock over the back and armored chest. Steam hissed as the docking clamps engaged, locking the jets and wings in place as their pilots were drawn into the superstructure and the smaller Zord pieces connected to the wrists and feet. As the final pieces of the Megazord finished shifting, the titanic warrior stepped forward with thunderous might. Its colossal size loomed over Arc-Wave, an Atlas beneath the sky as the monster gaped at them in horror.
Inside the cockpit, all Seven Rangers sat united at the controls, ready to command the great machine together.
"Mainframe-Override Ultrazord!"
"What?" the monster cried. "But how? That's impossible! Your powers should be neutralized!"
"You're just too behind the times!" Abbey mocked him. "There're so many ways to get a signal boost nowadays."
Arc-Wave's only reply was to let out a furious roar, howling into the night as the Rangers readied to take him down for good.
"It's time to take back the airwaves!" Erika commanded.
"Let's do it!"
All systems were go, and the controls lit up as the Rangers pulled the switches and levers that primed the Megazord's weapons. The panels shifted and whirred as the mighty canons emerged, mounting on the shoulders, protruding from the chest as another pair locked on the arms. In feverish desperation, Arc-Wave unleashed a torrent of sonic blasts, the dishes on his hands and head glowing as the energy pounded out toward the giant Ultrazord.
They didn't even make a dent.
As the rings of sound splashed against the armored mech, impacting into a rain of sparks, the Mainframe-Override didn't even move. Instead, it just stood there, a bulwark against the Arc-Wave's frantic onslaught the cannons' barrels continued glowing.
"Ratings are in," Erika chuckled. "No one's listening."
And then her hand clamped down on the lever as every Ranger around her prepared to unleash their synchronous blast. And when the attack was ordered, it was made as one.
"Magna Deletion… OVERLOAD!"
Like the very fabric of the air was being torn apart, the bangs of the guns were deafening, with meteoric power igniting from the barrels. It was as if the sun had risen, the mighty power of the Ultrazord unleashing with full, cataclysmic fury.
Having committed to his assault, Arc-Wave had nowhere to go, screaming as he vanished into the radiant light that detonated on delivery. The resulting boom was a rushing ball of power, flushing out at critical as sheer force pushed everything back. The air itself rippled as the shockwaves pulsed from the epicenter, waves of wind rushing away with hurricane force. As the chain reaction finally reached its peak and began to dim, shrinking down before flashing away into nothingness, Arc-Wave stood staggering in the aftermath.
The tower on his head had been burned away, and the dishes on his hands cracked and sundered. The remnants of his metal frame were covered in soot, and already he was wavering, staggering in place as, at last, his balance gave out.
The monstrous combination of Radiowave and ArcKnight crashed into the ground with a final, decisive quake before his entire body exploded. The fireball stretched into the sky, flames spiraling high as it basked the buildings in its glow. And, as the searing heat shredded the monster to its very atoms, the combined Ultrazord stood tall, looking over the city that its pilots had been sworn to protect. United as one, protectors of the right.
For now and for always.
"Doc…?" Ray repeated in stunned disbelief, staring with a tremble that dared to hope. "He's alive?"
"… I knew it," Hilary breathed.
Upon returning from the retracting Ultrazord and beaming down to the school grounds, it had initially been nothing but smiles and celebrations. Cheers at their success, proper hugs of gratitude at the whole team's reunion before the teens raced off to find their loved ones. Led by Ray, like he was some triumphant faculty member sweeping up survivors, the Rangers who'd been caught inside the school were swiftly swamped by their relieved and teary families. Miguel was first to be found, his foster parents lunging as he vanished into their squeezing, grateful embrace. Meanwhile, having teleported on the other side of the boundary, Hilary leaped forward and into her husband's arms. Almost immediately, she'd pulled him into a kiss of passionate relief, and Erika knew that it was more than just a charade to disguise her involvement.
The next to find their families were Abbey and Zeke, who practically smashed the sawhorses aside to reach their children. That reunion was equally tearful, not a dry eye in sight, with lots of nodding and hugs between all of them. And yet, Erika couldn't help but note an awkward tension between all of them, the source of which she'd likely learn later.
But not now, not when her father was hurrying toward her, forcing through the crowd with watery eyes with a furious determination to reach her. He'd barely broken from the ranks as Erika leaped to him, vaulting into his arms and squeezing him tighter than she ever had before.
She'd seen that he was okay, that he was safe. But then she'd been in her suit, held back by the responsibility of anonymity and preventing from making any motion. By now, the desire to express her relief was practically exploding from her, propelling Erika forward as her arms gripped her father with every ounce of strength she could muster. A feeling returned in full.
"You're safe!" Ken was practically sobbing, his entire body trembling as neither relented their embrace. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Keep my head down, remember?" Erika said to him, recalling his pleading from what felt like a lifetime ago. Bittersweet and guilt-ridden, a long way away from anything resembling the truth. But it was nonetheless exactly what her father needed to hear.
"That's my girl."
Eventually, when Erika and the others had pulled themselves from their reunited loved ones, they managed to reunite and agree to debrief at the lab. Convincing her father to let her out of his sight may have been the hardest thing Erika ever had to do. But she assured him that she'd be safe and that she wanted to make sure that her friends were all right. After hearing that Erika would be home the first chance she got, her father relented, and Erika then made her way to the museum to face the conversation she'd been dreading.
The other stories could wait, she knew that her teammates were eager to hear how Erika and Miguel had escaped from Xaviax's clutches. Slowly, Erika nodded as shameful tears began welling in the recount. It had been the moment she'd been dreading, to tell the two people Erika owed the world that she'd found their missing mentor, and then lost him.
"I'm sorry," she said tearily. "If I'd just been fast enough…"
But Ray lifted his hand, calmly silencing her as he shook his head in disagreement. "It was an impossible situation. There's no way you could have known."
"Someone needed to stay behind," Hilary guessed. "There's no way Xaviax would have ever given you the chance to get all of you out of there."
"Besides," said Abbey softly, her comforting mix of gratitude and resignation. "If you hadn't arrived when you did, then our last shot at planting the transmitter might have failed. We're all here now because you made it back in time."
"But Doc…" Erika tried arguing as the pained guilt refused to relent. But she knew, even as she tried to form the words, that there was no battling the forgiveness she'd already been given. The only one who still blamed her was herself.
"He made a choice," said Ray. "And he chose you."
"Doc said the same thing," Miguel replied, softly chuckling at the realization.
"About what?" Hilary asked him.
"About you."
As if joined by a tethering string, Ray and Hilary gasped as one, an overpowering emotion battling to come out as they realized what Miguel had been saying. About them, about their judgment. And what it meant to hear it, even secondhand.
Whatever they were feeling was then broken as Jess drew their attention to the news, and all turned to the viewscreen as the volume turned up.
"We can now report that the last hostages have been evacuated from the grounds of Lakeview High, and all robotic forces have retreated," Cornell announced. "I'm here now with Captain Kyle Mason of the Silver Guardians, who coordinated tonight's rescue effort. Captain Mason, can you comment on the sluggish response to tonight's crisis?"
"When the crisis began, our presence had not yet been formally requested in Lakeview," Kyle replied. "We arrived at the first opportunity. The perpetrators were utilizing digital frequency that disrupted communications, slowing our recovery efforts until we could be sure that people would be evacuated safely. Once the signal was dealt with, we moved straight in."
"Those on the sidelines noted that the Power Rangers also took an uncharacteristically long time to respond and that your forces' descent on the school coincided with their timely arrival. Can you comment on any suspicions that you were coordinating with the Power Rangers to resolve the situation?"
"No, but I'm aware that the Power Rangers have been single-handedly responsible for this city's safety until now," said Kyle. "I simply trusted them to do the right thing."
"Which was?"
"Keep these people safe."
"He certainly knows how to play the camera," Lena said bitterly as they turned the volume down.
"Silver Guardians, huh?" Zeke asked. "Guess it's good to have reinforcements."
"They're here for as long as Mayor Fielding lets them," said Hilary. "Which I'll bet will be until Scolex comes up with some excuse to send them packing."
"Speaking of," Miguel admitted. "He already cut off our powers once tonight; think he'll try again?"
"I've already updated the firmware with fresh frequency scramblers, set to counter-deploy the moment a hostile signal interferes with your morphs. You might need to be careful around wifi signals for a few days, but once we've run all the patches, there's no way Xaviax is cutting you off like that again."
"Here's hoping that means the world's worst radio DJ is gone for good," Abbey said.
"ArcKnight, too," Zeke agreed.
"I'm going to start on some extra hardware upgrades in the morning," Hilary added. "By the time I'm done, nothing short of a city-wide blackout will be able to stop you using your Morphers."
But even as Hilary said it, a sullen mood had fallen among the Rangers. They'd won the night, but barely. Xaviax had hit them in their home; he'd put the people they loved directly in harm's way. And it was only a matter of time before he did it again.
"I think it's time we all got some sleep," Ray decided. "But for as hard as we fought for it, we still need to count this as a win. We overcame odds that Xaviax didn't even dream we could beat. He's got to be scrambling for something else now that his big plan has failed. Any way you look at this, we're on top."
"But for how long?" Erika asked. "And what's he going to come at us with next? And while they've still got Doc…"
"They've had Doc this whole time, and it hasn't helped them," Hilary cut her off. "And before you start wallowing in that again, remember that it's thanks to you that we know where he is at all."
"And he may have stayed behind, but Xaviax isn't going to harm him," Ray agreed. "They wouldn't have held him this long if they didn't have a reason. Which means they need him for something."
And at that, Erika and Miguel exchanged glances, a simultaneous recollection of a conversation they'd had with Doc while skulking through Xaviax's lair. Of their suspicions of their enemy's ultimate plans.
"Actually," said Erika. "I think we might have an answer on that…."
The doors hissed open, and Davian Scolex strolled into the throne room with a cold and eminent fury.
What a waste of time!
The second the two teens had slipped through his fingers, he'd known that he'd need to prepare for the worst. Even with Ender giving chase, he knew the odds of success were slim, and once Xaviax had seen the disruptor active, he knew that his plan was over.
The Rangers had regrouped and reclaimed their powers; the destruction of Radiowave after that was inevitable. Adding in ArcKnight's own overenthusiastic involvement, the night had ultimately cost them far more than they'd gained. But that was a problem for Xaviax. First, the world needed to see Davian Scolex.
After his earlier claims and statements, he knew he'd be expected to comment on the Power Rangers' annoying victory. At last, after answering the final questions from the horde of bombarding journalists, Scolex returned to the tower and to glare at Ender with furious disappointment. Even without his robes and mask, Xaviax still commanded fear, and the monster maker cowered at the sight, knowing full well the thin ice he was on. He was lucky, if anything. With ArcKnight's destruction, Xaviax could not spare the loss of another general, and Ender's particular skills made him valuable enough to keep alive.
But luck still had its limits, and Ender's was running short.
"If I may, master?" Ender pleaded. "While we were unable to destroy the Rangers, we were able to stop them escaping with their prize. We still have Dr. Benson, and now that she knows we have him, Hawkins will be more desperate than ever to reclaim him."
"Right," Scolex replied bitterly. "Where is the good doctor?"
As if anticipating the command, a cluster of Cyberdrones hurried into the room, clutching their captive tightly. Benson squirmed against the grip, desperate to break free as they dragged him before their master.
"So, I see you decided to stay after all," Scolex said coldly.
"Last minute choice," Benson replied. "One I'm already regretting."
"Hmm, that's a shame. It's never healthy to live with regrets." As he said it, a sinister smile appeared on Scolex's lips as if Benson's rebuke had given him an idea. A wonderful, awful idea. "And good thing for you, I've got just the solution for all your troubles."
"Is it your swift surrender and resignation?" Benson scoffed. "I can think of heaps of people who that would make happy."
"Even better," Scolex replied. "It's something that would have been impossible without you, and I thought you deserved the honor of seeing it first."
He nodded to Ender, the monster maker sheepishly skulking to the console as Scolex stepped back and the Cyberdrones began clearing the room. Soon, even the ones who were restraining Benson retreated, leaving the man alone and exposed as a green light began to glow above him. Slowly, the man's eyes widened, realizing with growing horror exactly what Scolex intended.
"It'll never work," Benson hissed, his breathing sharpening as he braced for what was coming. "People will know it isn't real!"
"I think you'll find, Dr Benson," Scolex replied, "that while this world might not be perfect, the one I have on offer is."
He raised his hand, and Ender hit the keys to confirm that activation. Beneath the emerald light, Dr Julian Benson could only scream as it consumed him. And then, with a bright and burning flash, he vanished.
Slowly, Scolex wandered toward where his captive had been standing and slowly lifted his head to stare at the digitizer latched to the ceiling.
"The people don't know what they want," he mused. "But don't worry, they soon will. And when I give to them, it will be all the world will ever need. It'll be perfect."
NEXT TIME:
With his latest scheme in taters and his warrior general destroyed, Xaviax amps up the pressure on the Rangers, more determined than ever to remove them as an obstacle. Now equipped with the full understanding of his plans, the Rangers begin their plots to stop him, including Zeke's brand new upgrade for Erika's Ranger powers. But when an ill-advised field test leaves Erika injured, Zeke is left reeling in fear of trying again.
Meanwhile, Lena remains uncomfortable with Kyle Mason's presence in the city, still haunted by the memories of her past life and fearful of her once-sworn enemy.
Will Zeke be able to put aside his guilt and finish building the firepower that the Rangers so desperately need?
And will Lena be able to put her past with Mason and her own destruction behind her?
And with nothing left to lose, just what next will Xaviax unleash in an act of furious desperation?
Find out the answers to these questions and more,
next time on:
POWER RANGERS
SERVER FORCE
Maximum Power
A/N: And here we are again, the end of another arc and getting ready for the final batch of uploads. Last week marked a year since I uploaded the final chapter of Power Rangers Data Squad. And now here I am, uploading a mid-season finale to the second half of its sequel. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to get to this point, nor that it would ever be what it has become. I only have all of you to thank, for your words and encouragement are a constant source of motivation and inspiration, and I hope that the final product is worth it on your end. These episodes have been my longest stretch of uploads to date, and I'll admit it's definitely nice to have a little bit of a break. As always, I want to give a big shout-out to DBZFAN45, CodeTransformers, andxXRocketShark216Xx for your continued comments and support. It's always the highlight of my day when I see that you've left your thoughts on another episode.
For everyone else, what were your thoughts on Season 2 so far? Any big theories or predictions now that the Big Bad's evil scheme has been revealed? If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
As for what's next, as I always do after a big multi-parter, we're taking a one-week break. After that, Power Rangers Server Force will be back on October 7, uploading the entire second half of Season 2 weekly, right up to the Series finale. Until then, may the Power Protect you all.
Power Rangers Server Force returns on October 7.
Power Rangers: Server Force is a fan-made team of Rangers, and not explicitly based on any other existing Rangers or Sentai property, with artwork character models created through Hero Forge.
Power Rangers- Sever Force updates on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you like what you read, you can always drop a comment to let me know and don't forget to subscribe/ follow to find out the second I update.
