HARMONY AND DIZCHORD 2/2
In the recess following the battle, Noah found himself alone in the ranger's command center, seeking the wisdom of his extra-terrestrial mentor.
"I just don't get it Gosei, you and I both confirmed that the grid energy had left his system. Myself and the others have also been careful not to be around him so much as not to accidentally trigger something. So why is it that he manifested a power card?"
"This perplexes even me, Noah. Tensou and I have been monitoring Jordan's progress from here and have not detected any abnormalities. We are currently uncertain as to how he managed to obtain a power card. What's important now is to focus on ensuring Jordan's safety."
The great sage paused for a moment as he pondered the scenario. "We will continue monitoring efforts from here, I would advise you and the others to do the same."
Noah emitted a weary breath, "We'll it shouldn't be too hard to find him. He's a student at our school."
"Indeed, but we must approach this situation with caution. Jordan may not be aware of the potential danger he poses, both to himself and others with this newfound power."
"Gosei, I don't know how to ask this but is it possible that Jordan's awakening could have something to do with Troy? I was talking to him not too long ago and it seems-"
"Noah," Gosei interjected, "I know it seems that the abilities Troy has exhibited far exceed your own, let me assure you that he is no different than the rest of you. You each have been given immense power through the Morphin grid. No one ranger is greater than the other."
Noah stood in the command center, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts.
"I applaud your efforts, Noah, you're tenacity and motivation to personally manufacture your own partner has so far been met with nothing but success. I must warn you however do not be so flagrant in your choosing of a potential host, this young man may seem promising but his merits upon acquiring the power may prove otherwise. When Tensou and I selected the five of you, we measured each of your innate capabilities and compared it with your potential growth in order to determine you're viability. It seems too sudden for Jordan to be considered a candidate. I know you have seen the records of the past, but I can only plead with you to act with extreme caution. Oftentimes, evil rangers are born from the latent nature of an individual. In simpler terms, evil rangers are born because part of their host wants to be." Gosei said.
Noah was pensive as he considered the words of his mentor. It was obvious that Gosei spoke from experience. Noah could only wonder how many of his predecessors have gone astray.
"Speaking of which, how is Troy and Emma after that fight with the monster?" Tensou asked, changing the subject.
"They seem fine for the most part. I could see that Troy and Emma were having a real hard time, I wonder if it has something to do with their sky power?" Noah questioned.
"This enemy Dizchord is a dangerous foe, his sound waves greatly disrupt the equilibrium of his victims. We will need to find a means by which to counteract his volume. Tensou and I will begin to run scenarios. In the meantime Noah I think it's best you return to your peers."
As Noah turned to leave the command center, a thought struck him. "Gosei, Tensou, what if we could use sound against Dizchord? Not just any sound, but something harmonious, something that could counteract his discordant frequencies."
Gosei was intrigued by Noah's suggestion. "That's an interesting idea, Noah. It might just work. Tensou, let's start analyzing different sound frequencies and their potential effects on Dizchord's powers."
Tensou beeped in agreement, already beginning to compile data on sound manipulation and its applications in combat.
Noah's mind raced with possibilities, and his determination renewed. If they could find a way to harness the power of harmony against Dizchord's chaos, they might just have a fighting chance.
"I understand, Gosei," Noah responded solemnly, his voice tinged with concern. "But I can't just sit idly by while you and Tensou work on this. There must be something I can do to help."
Gosei regarded Noah with a mixture of understanding and concern. "Noah, your determination is commendable, but your focus needs to be on Jordan. He's in a vulnerable state right now, and we need someone trustworthy to keep an eye on him."
The following day.
Troy stood at his locker, every movement a struggle against the relentless throbbing in his head. Each exchange of books felt like a battle in itself, the aftermath of the confrontation with Creepox leaving behind a lingering ache that refused to subside. Despite his Ranger abilities hastening his recovery, the newfound sensitivity to noise proved to be an unexpected obstacle, every sound amplifying the pain pulsating through his skull.
To make matters worse, Jordan's presence at Harwood High only served to exacerbate Troy's troubles, dredging up memories and emotions he desperately wanted to bury. Troy did his best to remain concealed from Jordan, but the persistent ringing in his ears made it nearly impossible to escape the school grounds quickly enough.
From the far end of the hall, Jake observed the red ranger, keenly aware of the subtle signs of agitation radiating from Troy. Despite their shared history, Jake had never witnessed Troy lower his guard, never seen him truly relax-unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface of Troy's stoic facade.
A spark of inspiration ignited in Jake as he approached Troy with his trademark confident smile, determined to extend a hand of support and understanding, even in the face of Troy's concealed struggles.
"Hey Troy," Jake said, leaning casually against the locker next to the red ranger, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the hallway. Troy's reaction was immediate, a sharp glare shooting Jake's way as he pressed a hand against his ear, the metallic clang of Jake's hand hitting the locker echoing louder than usual in the confined space.
"You okay?" Jake's concern cut through the tension.
"Yeah," Troy replied tersely, his voice betraying none of his inner turmoil.
"Hey, um, want to come with Noah and me to Ernie's? I know it's not your thing, but we want to talk to you more about what's been going on," Jake suggested, trying to bridge the growing gap between them.
"We can talk about this back at base," Troy admitted.
Troy glanced up, spotting Jordan exiting his classroom, and Jake's attention was also drawn to him, although Jordan remained oblivious to their presence.
"Jeez, this guy just keeps cropping up. Noah said he has another power card," Jake remarked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Let's not talk about this here," Troy said quietly as he closed his locker softly.
Jake nodded, understanding the need for discretion, and followed Troy out of the school, their footsteps echoing the faintly empty hallway.
Meanwhile, inside the school, Jordan kept his head down as he walked, trying to avoid catching the attention of Barry and Roy. It had only been a day, but it felt like weeks since Jordan had heard from the blue ranger, and he longed for answers. Troy seemed like the only one who could provide them, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Hey, where are you going?" Jake asked, catching up to Troy.
"Home," Troy replied tersely.
"Toward the base?" Jake inquired.
Troy turned around, heading back toward the correct bus stop, giving Jake the impression that he had simply made a wrong turn when in reality, he was headed to the base. He needed to speak to Gosei about the mysterious flower that had sprouted from the dirt where his blood had fallen, a phenomenon he couldn't ignore.
"You're going to the base to train? Why not take a break? Go to Ernie's and spend time with the team. There has to be more to life than just fighting, dude." Jake pressed, his voice betraying a genuine concern for Troy's well-being.
"I do more than just train..." Troy's voice trailed off, his thoughts drifting to the complexities of his responsibilities as a Ranger.
"Oh yeah, like what?" Jake persisted.
"...None of your business," Troy replied curtly, his patience wearing thin. Despite Jake's good intentions, Troy couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort at the thought of opening up to anyone.
Jake ground his teeth in frustration, hoping that with time, Troy would begin to trust him enough to share his burdens, but he knew they still had a long way to go.
"...Yeah, Gia's also told me that, but where has that got me?" Jake admitted, his frustration evident in his tone.
"..The single life," Troy replied matter-of-factly, a pointed jab that made Jake bristle with irritation.
"...Yeah...I know, but I'm trying. Look, I know this sounds weird and out of nowhere but come on. We're not strangers anymore, just get yourself a drink and relax. After yesterday, dude, we all need to take a break once in a while. It's better to take a mental break before going back out in battle," Jake reasoned, his words tinged. Despite their differences, Jake recognized the importance of camaraderie and the need for downtime amidst their demanding Ranger duties.
Emma stands at her locker her head pounding as she tries to get through the day. Ever since the battle it was as if every single sound had been amplified and Emma could not find any relief. Exiting her class Gia approaches Emma, a pleasant smile on her face.
"Hey," Gia said leaning on the lockers beside her friend.
Emma winced quickly taking note of Gia's presence. Before the pink ranger could get a word out the hallway became a buzz with noise as a trio of other freshman made their way down the hall. The kid in front was blasting a boombox while his compatriots were busy greeting other students as they passed. The trio locked eyes with Gia and Emma, looking to make a move but Emma wasn't feeling it.
Their music was far from good and it was loud. Before the three boys could even say a word Gia snapped at them.
"Turn it down!" She said the ferocity in her eyes made them think twice about saying anything. They fumbled to silence the noise of their radio and once it was done they looked for her approval. "Thank you," Gia responded with a wink sending the boys scrambling.
Emma was relieved that the sound was gone but her head was still aching.
"Wanna go for froyo?" Gia asked casually.
"Not today, I really need some peace and quiet," Emma said closing her locker gently. As Gia watched her friend walk away she couldn't help but ponder what had Emma so rattled. It was as if even normal sounds were getting to her.
On the main deck of the insectoid ship, the Mothrin General observed Dizchord's progress with a mixture of disdain and frustration. As the scientist Vrak entered and bowed slightly, the general wasted no time in expressing his displeasure.
"You called me, Admiral?"
The Admiral growled. "What's wrong with your monster? He had the Rangers right where he wanted them, and then he let them slip away."
Vrak maintained his composure, offering an explanation. "It appears Dizchord enjoys playing with his food, Admiral. I suspect it's a glitch in his genetic programming."
Malkor's irritation was palpable. "Those Rangers are the biggest obstacle to our conquest of this planet. We need to rally its people and resources to our cause, but we can't do that with them in our way."
"What do you want me to do, Admiral?" Vrak inquired, ready to take action.
"Do I really need to spell it out for you?" Malkor snapped. "I want you to ensure Dizchord finishes off the Rangers and then spreads his destructive sounds across the world. I want this planet under my control within hours."
"A lofty goal indeed, but I'll make sure it's done," Vrak replied confidently. As he turned to leave, a plan began to form in his mind. Observing the battle footage, he noted the vulnerability of the Red and Pink Rangers to Dizchord's ruinous melodies.
"The sounds Dizchord creates generate great disruptions in the air. Being that the red and pink rangers embody the presence of the atmosphere they're twice as vulnerable to his attacks. Perhaps I can use this same reasoning to disable the others. I must test this theory further."
Noah sat in a secluded corner table at Ernie's Brain Freeze, his laptop open in front of him as he sipped on a Strawsplat smoothie. A tangle of wires snaked out from the laptop, disappearing into his backpack where they connected to his Megaforce pin. With furrowed brows, he monitored the screen closely, tracking Jordan's movements across the city.
As he observed Jordan's routine-school, home, and a brief excursion into the forest-Noah pondered his next move. How could he convince Jordan to come with him to the base without alarming him further? The idea of revealing his identity gnawed at him, especially considering the potential connection between Jordan and the Morphing Grid, despite Gosei's caution.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Jake at the juice bar. Noah hadn't realized he wasn't alone until Jake's familiar gesture caught his attention, followed closely by Troy's entrance.
Jake, the Black Ranger, pulled out a chair for Troy, who was staring at him with a neutral expression. Despite Troy's lack of response, Jake smiled warmly, insisting that Troy take a seat. Meanwhile, Noah observed the interaction, noticing Jake's persistent smiles and subtle gestures to Troy, silently urging him not to cause any embarrassment. Annoyed, Troy slowly slid his book bag off his shoulder as he reluctantly sat down.
"So what you getting? I've got you covered today." Jake asked.
"Um, I guess I'll go with the Green Burst Extreme," Troy shrugged his shoulders.
Jake glanced over at Noah, who nodded, indicating he didn't need anything. Using Troy's chair for support, Jake stood up.
"I'm all set," Noah confirmed, lifting up his drink.
Jake turned to order their smoothies, but before he could, Noah interrupted, "Wait, hold on, Jake."
Jake turned back with a hint of annoyance.
"I'll have what he's having, I've never tried it before," Noah said.
Jake rolled his eyes. "You know I don't have enough for the three of us, right?" he muttered under his breath.
"Huh? What was that?" Noah asked.
Jake sighed, clearly exasperated. "I got you covered, bro. No worries."
"What was that all about?" Troy asked.
Noah shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Just a bit of friendly messing with Jake. Besides, I doubt I'll even make it halfway through that drink," he confessed with a grin.
Troy chuckled slightly, realizing Noah's playful antics. "Well played," he remarked, hiding a smirk.
Troy feigned a smile as Noah continued, "I really appreciate you joining us, I know this is not your forte. It means a lot that you decided to come."
"I just wanted some quiet time. I was gonna go but surprisingly Jake changed my mind. But then he also said that you guys wanted to talk about Dizchord." Troy said.
"Wait he what?" Noah's disbelief was palpable as he processed Jake's admission.
Turning to Troy, Noah's expression softened. "I would never force you to hang out with us if you didn't want to, Troy," he assured, hoping to alleviate any discomfort his leader might be feeling.
Troy shrugged off any discomfort, hiding his true feelings behind a neutral expression. Inside, he was happy to be hanging out, but he kept that to himself. He had learned to mask his emotions, unwilling to show vulnerability to others.
"So here I got 2 Green Burst Extreme for happy times and my most annoying best friend ever," Jake returned to the table with two Green Burst drinks, setting them down in front of Troy and Noah. However, there was no drink for himself. He grinned sheepishly, pretending not to notice as he took his seat.
"Why did you tell Troy we wanted to talk about the monster in a public place?" Noah whispered, frustration seeping into his voice.
"Because I knew he wouldn't show up," Jake whispered back, his tone tinged with aggression.
Troy couldn't help but laugh too, shaking his head in amusement. "You never fail to surprise me, Jake," he said, taking a sip of his smoothie to hide his grin.
Jake grinned back, raising one of the drinks in a mock toast. "What can I say? Keeps life interesting, doesn't it?" he replied.
Jake quickly tapped out a message to Gia: "Gia, mission accomplished."
Gia's reply popped up almost instantly: "You're joking?"
Jake smirked as he typed back, "Nope, he's sitting with Noah right now. I'm useful, aren't I? Got happy times to hang out naturally."
Gia replied with a thumbs-up emoji, signaling her approval of Jake's successful maneuver.
"You know Gia..I-" Jake hesitated, his heart pounding as he prepared to confess his feelings to Gia, but just as the words were about to escape his lips, a notification interrupted him. With a sigh, he glanced down at his phone to see Gia's message: "Emma won't be able to come, she isn't feeling well."
The confession he had been rehearsing suddenly felt distant, overshadowed by the news about Emma. Jake's concern for his friend took precedence, and he quickly responded: "Thanks for letting me know, Gia. I hope Emma feels better soon. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
With a heavy heart, Jake set his phone aside, his thoughts drifting back to Gia and the unfinished conversation that now lingered between them.
Noah continued discussing the notorious guitarist Star, Dizchord, the tranquility of the juice bar was shattered by a sudden influx of people. The noise level skyrocketed, causing Troy to grimace slightly as a headache threatened to creep in, exacerbated by the overwhelming din.
Amidst the chaos, Noah suddenly realized that his friend, Jake, was sitting there without a drink of his own. Sensing Jake's oversight, Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out five bucks, silently passing it to him.
"What's this for?" Jake asked, puzzled by Noah's sudden gesture.
"Go get yourself a drink. I was just joking with you earlier," Noah replied with a smile, understanding dawning in Jake's eyes.
"You made me waste my-" Jake began to protest, but he stopped himself as Noah's smile grew wider.
Jake stood up, taking a quick breath to compose himself. "You better drink that one," he said softly, his tone tinged with playful warning.
With that, Jake headed to the counter to get himself a drink, grateful for Noah's understanding and friendship.
From the pinnacle of another skyscraper, Dizchord surveyed the cityscape, his mind alive with fresh tunes and melodies waiting to be unleashed.
"That gig was utterly roctastic! I've become a local sensation, all thanks to my sheer fantasticness," he proclaimed to no one in particular, strumming his guitar with gusto.
Unbeknownst to Dizchord, Vrak landed nearby, his presence going unnoticed by the musical maestro. "For creatures rooted in sound, I expected you to sense my arrival sooner," Vrak remarked casually.
Turning at the sound of Vrak's voice, Dizchord immediately dropped to one knee. "Oh, Master Vrak! My apologies, I was too engrossed in my own performance to notice your approach. Did you catch my concert for the Rangers? Soon, the entire city will be chanting my name," he boasted, fingers still dancing across the strings of his guitar.
"Yes, your performance was indeed remarkable. However, Admiral Malkor and I believe your talents deserve a larger stage. How do you feel about a concert for the entire world?" Vrak proposed.
Dizchord's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds absolutely roctastic!"
"Excellent. As your manager, I've already secured the perfect venue. All you need to do is play to your heart's content, and if the Rangers happen to show up, leave them to me," Vrak assured.
Dizchord beamed with gratitude. "I can't thank you enough, Master Vrak! In return, I'll compose a special song just for you!"
"Save your talents for the Rangers," Vrak interjected, cutting off Dizchord's enthusiasm with a firm tone.
Amidst the lively atmosphere of Ernie's Brain Freeze, the radio announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, signaling the start of a catchy tune-a weird disco remix that filled the air with pulsating beats.
"I love this song!" Exclaimed Ernie, cranking up the volume as he grooved behind the counter, his moves synchronized with the music.
"Man, it's loud in here today," Jake remarked to Noah, struggling to be heard over the booming music.
"What?!" Noah shouted back, his voice drowned out by the relentless beat.
"I said it's loud in here today!" Jake repeated, raising his voice.
"What did you say? I can't hear you the music's too loud!" Noah yelled, frustration evident in his tone.
Meanwhile, Troy felt like his head was about to split apart from the heightened noise, exacerbated by the escalating conversation between his teammates.
"Noah, I said-" Jake began, but he halted mid-sentence, redirecting his attention to Ernie, who was still dancing behind the bar. "Ernie! Can you please turn the music down, buddy?"
"Yeah, great music!" Ernie responded cheerfully, undeterred as he continued his impromptu dance routine.
Unable to tolerate the cacophony any longer, Troy abruptly stood up. "I gotta get out of here. This music.. it's giving me a headache," he announced before swiftly exiting the mall.
"I'm sorry, man!" Jake called out, feeling guilty for inadvertently causing Troy's distress. Meanwhile, Gia entered the scene, her expression shifting from joy then to concern as Troy rushed past her.
"Is Troy okay?" she asked, approaching the table where Jake and Noah were seated.
"What?" the two guys responded in unison, still struggling to hear over the din.
"I said, is Troy okay?!" Gia raised her voice, frustration mounting.
"WHAT?!" Jake and Noah shouted back, still deaf to Gia's question.
Annoyed, Gia turned to Ernie. "Ernie, turn down that music," she demanded.
The shopkeeper froze momentarily before complying, lowering the volume as Gia thanked him with a playful smile before taking a seat at the table.
"Now, what is wrong with Troy?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Ah, the music was bugging him," Jake replied nonchalantly.
"Emma had the same problem," Gia realized, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together.
"Peace and Quiet," Emma breathed in the fresh air of the secret place she and her mother shared. Far from the turbulent noises of the city, this provided a much-needed place of refuge. For once Emma could finally think, she was far from being assaulted by the horrendous harmonies of Dizchord.
Meanwhile, in the entertainment district of the city, a troop of loogies are hard at work putting the final touches on Dizchord's music stage. Arrays of lights are put into position as the various soundboards are checked. The genius scientist Vrak oversees the work, the steps of the plan articulating in his mind.
With all the preparations set Dizchord took to the stage. To the left of him, the troupe of loogies had unveiled Vrak's latest build, a machine designed to amplify and project Dizchord's song across the globe.
"This device will override the human telecommunication network so no matter where they hide your sound will reach them. Now then in order for this machine to be the most effective you will need to play at a constant frequency...I figure 200 decibels should be easy enough for you to manage."
"I can hit that in my sleep," Dizchord bragged.
"No need to convince me. As a warm-up I suppose we should start by wiping this city off the map," Vrak said.
"You are by far the best manager ever!"
Dizchord took to the microphone stationed at the front of the stage. "Hello Humans! How about we kick off this tour with an old-school favorite, feel free to jam with me if you know it!"
Dizchord began strumming away pouring his soul into his rancid music. Almost immediately the machine powered on and started to warm up not yet at full firing strength.
Gosei and Tensou were immersed in a perplexing investigation, seeking to uncover how the power card had mysteriously found its way into Jordan's possession. The grid, a complex network of choices and destinies, had never selected him like it had the others. The implications were unsettling.
As Tensou scrutinized the data on a flickering screen, the card lay innocently on a counter, its vibrant colors gleaming under the overhead lights. The atmosphere was thick with tension, punctuated only by the soft hum of machinery.
Just as Tensou leaned closer to the screen, searching for anomalies in the data flow, the card seemed to shimmer. In an instant, it vanished, leaving nothing but an empty space where it had been.
Back at the juice bar, the tranquil suburban scene erupted into chaos as the horrendous melody echoed through the store speakers. Patrons shielded their ears but all to no avail. The shopkeeper, Ernie, however, couldn't help but dance and try to harmonize with the tune.
"Ernie, I thought I asked you to turn that down!?" Gia said trying to raise her voice above the noise.
"Wait," Noah's realization pierced through the chaos, "That's the monster's music!"
Noah winced, his head throbbing from the relentless assault of the monster's sonic soundwaves. Meanwhile, Jake, sensing the urgency, swiftly extracted his communicator pin.
On a serene pier, Troy strolled leisurely, finally finding solace from the incessant pounding in his ears. The tranquil sounds of the water lapping against the pier provided a momentary respite. Suddenly, his tranquility was shattered by the shrill ring of his ranger communicator.
"What-" Troy began, only to be met with a deafening blast of Dizchord's music, amplified through his morpher from Ernie's juice bar.
"The monster's attacking the city," Jake attempted to convey through the pain in his ears.
"I can't hear you-" Troy shouted in frustration, then repeated himself as Jake's own inability to hear became apparent, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU. Tell Ernie his music is too loud!"
Troy abruptly terminated the call, exhaling deeply as the sudden relief washed over him, while Jake winced at the brusqueness of Troy's response.
"He hung up on me," Jake lamented to the others, his hand instinctively covering his ears to shield them from the assault.
"It must have been the music," Noah strained to articulate amidst the discomfort.
"We need to clip that guy's strings. Maybe we should call Emma?" Jake suggested, reaching for his communicator pin, but Gia intervened.
"No, can't you see how much the sound is affecting them? We can handle this guy on our own," Gia urged, rising from her seat determinedly.
As the trio exited the shop, a new figure entered the mall-a visibly distressed Jordan, struggling to escape the cacophony of noise assaulting his senses.
Jordan's distress was palpable as he pressed both hands tightly against his ears, his contorted face revealing the agony caused by the relentless music. In stark contrast, Ernie seemed unaffected, thoroughly immersed in the infectious rhythm, swaying to the beat with blissful abandon.
"Ernie, how can you stand this?" Jordan's voice strained over the cacophony as he approached the bar. The other patrons, unable to endure the torture any longer, began to flee the juice bar and even the mall itself, desperate for respite from the unrelenting noise.
Ernie, oblivious to Jordan's plea, continued to dance, his movements synchronized with the pulsating melody.
"Ernie, please, we have to go!" Jordan urged, but his words fell on deaf ears as Ernie spun around to face the array of fruits lining the wall, lost in his world of music and rhythm.
Jordan's frustration mounted as the unyielding assault on his senses pushed him to his limit. Determined not to abandon Ernie, Jordan reached for the card he had given to the Blue Megaforce Ranger, only to find it inexplicably back in his possession. Tremors of energy coursed through him, accompanied by flashes of vibrant green light. Before his astonished eyes, a suit materialized around him, bathing him in a brilliant shade of green.
Startled by the sudden transformation, Jordan seized the opportunity to escape while Ernie's attention was diverted. Frantically pressing the communicator pin in a desperate attempt to reach the Blue Ranger, Jordan fled the juice bar, each step carrying him further from the torment of Dizcord's music. Yet, despite his efforts, the calls repeatedly ended in frustration, leaving Jordan to navigate the chaos alone.
The vibrant colors of yellow, blue, and violet flash as Gia, Noah, and Jake assume their ranger personas. The grid's energy coursed through their bodies, supercharging their every move. They arrive on the scene in minutes just as Dizchord begins his second number. The loogie stage crew dances in tune to his horrid harmony, which grew louder the longer he played.
"There he is, man he sure wasn't trying to hide," Jake said reflexively covering his ears.
"Let's just mute this guy before he destroys the whole city," Gia said
The three proceed down the steps toward the main stage of the amphitheater when they are suddenly halted by the peppering of laser fire. Noah glances up to see the warstar general Vrak perched with his spear at the ready.
"So glad you made it!" Vrak said.
"You!" The blue ranger bellowed.
"So we meet again blue ranger, and I see you've brought two of your compatriots with you," Vrak said gazing at Jake and Gia.
"Noah, you know this guy?" Jake said on guard
"That's Vrak, he's one of the people Gosei told us about...and he was there with Troy the other day," Noah explained.
"Really?" Gia wondered.
"Oh yeah, he's even uglier in person," Jake said.
"Very charming, now if you don't mind rangers, Dizchord and I have a planet to subdue, I strongly advise that you get out of our way," Vrak said with a tone of warning.
"No chance!" Gia yelled defiantly.
"Very well, don't say I didn't warn you." In a cobalt flash, Vrak was in front of the rangers his spear moving fluidly. Jake struck first only to to have his punch deflected, while Gia and Noah tried to surround Vrak. Tactical with his moves, the scientist thrust his spear back catching Noah in the stomach before redirecting the tip forward slashing Jake.
Seeing there was an opening, Gia attempted to strike Vrak on his blindside only for her blow to be met with the shaft of the weapon. Regaining his footing, Noah kicks at Vrak but the warstar dodges and counters with another strike from his spear. With great speed, Gia unleashed a vicious combo, each of her strikes were met with Vrak's adept hand-to-hand fighting style, and with another swift kick the yellow ranger was down once more.
"This is a waste of my time and talents, and here I thought you would at least scuff my armor," Vrak said leaning against his spear. "Anyways, I think it's about time this concert went global."
The machine on stage became fully charged and the concussive signals were sent into the atmosphere with a click of a button. The boom of Dizchord's sound waves spread across the planet's surface, Vrak's machine hijacking the planet's satellite communications. All across the world, the loud, devastating, decibels were heard. People in New York, France, and Japan all dropped to their knees in agony trying their best to blot out the noise but there was no end. Herds of cattle ran free as avalanches became abundant. The whole world seemed to tremble at the sound of Dizchord's horrible harmonies.
Troy could barely tolerate the noise as if his brain wanted to leak out through his ears. His sense of balance was tossed out the window as he tried to establish some means of equilibrium. The pin on Troy's lapel glimmered bright red signaling an urgent call from Tensou.
"Danger Danger! The monster's sound is being played worldwide and we can't stop it!" The robot wheeled.
"Our countermeasures are not enough to fully suppress his noise, we're missing a crucial harmonious element to completely nullify his sound waves," Gosei said.
Troy reflects on the tune of Emma's voice and how nature seemed to respond to her Melody.
"I have an idea," Troy said into his pin.
Jordan made his way through the city street still in the guise of a green ranger. He was hoping not to draw attention to himself in this state as he did not want to discredit the work that the actual rangers did. The rambunctious symphony echoed through the city streets leaving many utterly paralyzed. All manners of traffic were seemingly halted as the closeness of the buildings gave the sound waves plenty of surfaces to reflect from.
There were those who did their best to block out the noise but even they could just barely move. Fear and anxiety began to creep in as Jordan looked on at the devastation within the city.
"This must be what the rangers feel every day, what was I thinking claiming to be one of them," Jordan thought to himself.
Before he could move a cry caught his ears it was coming from a little girl trying to navigate her way through the city in search of her parents. As was happening with many tall structures the vibrations from the sound waves caused destabilization of some of the foundations. Jordan reacted faster than he realized. As cracks began to spread across the side of a tall skyscraper he was already near the girl.
No sooner did the first of the debris start to fall did he swiftly moved the girl out of danger. He shielded her with his body the fibers of his energized suit nullifying any pain or discomfort.
"Are you okay!?" Jordan asked
"I'm fine, thank you, Mr. Ranger," the girl hugged Jordan swiftly before running off as many people began to take note of his appearance.
Vrak had the three rangers kneeling before him, a smug look was on the general's face. He was utterly unimpressed at the so-called earth's defenders.
"Man, we can't seem to touch this guy!" Jake said panting.
"Stay on your toes guys!" Noah added.
"Try all you can rangers but your efforts are futile. By now your whole planet should be ready to submit, a few more verses and I'm sure your leaders will be ready to offer their allegiance to the admiral," Vrak gloated.
"We won't let that happen!" Gia challenged
"Fortunately you won't be there to stop it." The warstar general raised his spear ready to strike when laser fire suddenly peppered him. Arriving at the scene were Troy and Emma with their Megaforce blasters in hand.
"Well well I was wondering when you'd show up red Ranger, I still owe you from the last time our paths crossed," Vrak said.
Without a word Troy summoned his morpher casting a twist tornado. The red winds separated Vrak from the other rangers.
With fierce determination in her eyes, Emma stepped forward, her spirit igniting as she began to sing. The melody flowed like a vibrant current, cutting through the chaos. Each note infused the air with hope, countering the discordant waves emitted by Dizchord's machine.
Troy winced slightly, remembering the painful echoes of Dizchord's music that had plagued them throughout the day. But with Gosei's specially designed earbuds in place, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. The devices dulled the harmful noise, allowing him to focus on Emma's powerful voice.
From the command center, Gosei and Tensou broadcast Emma's song, its uplifting harmony washing over cities and towns. Civilians everywhere felt the power of the music seep into their hearts, igniting their resolve against the encroaching darkness.
"Hey! You're ruining my big moment!" Dizchord began to play louder hoping to override the swelling melody but Emma's voice was too powerful.
"Loogies, stop them!" Vrak commanded as the lime green footsoldier moved to attack the red and pink rangers. Troy quickly drew his dragon sword single-handedly striking down any footsoldier that dared to come near.
Troy continued his charge with his dragon sword in one hand and his blaster in the other. As he approached the stage he blasted and hacked his way through the loogies.
"Don't think I'm done with you!" Vrak said as he charged but Jake, Gia, and Noah stood in his way.
"Go Troy we got him!" Noah said.
Dizchord was locked in pitched musical combat with Emma, their two songs clashing over the airwaves. Neither of them is willing to lose. Troy charged toward the towering machine at the edge of the amphitheater, its ominous hum echoing like a death knell. With his full power, Troy sliced the machine to pieces.
Vrak roared in fury, the energy from the machine beginning to falter. "No! You won't succeed!"
"Now Guys!" Noah called as he, Gia, and Jake combined their weapons.
"Megaforce Blaster: Dynamic Victory Charge!"
The golden burst of energy rushed towards Vrak finally scuffing the general's armor.
"Don't think you have won yet, you may have destroyed my machine, but Dizchord will level your town. Zombats!" Vrak snapped calling forth his one-eyed minions.
Five of them latched on to Dizchord enlarging him to a gigantic size.
"Let's take this show on the road!" Dizchord bellowed as he began his march headed toward the downtown area.
The rangers regroup as they look up to their enlarged foe. Troy and Emma removed the specialized earbuds that Gosei provided.
"Awesome it looks like Gosei was able to complete the design I sent him," Noah said gladly
"They worked like a charm Noah, we couldn't hear a thing," Troy said.
"And that song Emma, I didn't know you could sing like that!" Jake said proudly.
"Let's talk about Emma's music career later, for now we got a beat to cut," Gia said rallying the rangers.
Troy and Emma nodded as they readied their morphers, "GO, GO MEGAFORCE!"
With a flash of red and pink the full team was assembled.
"Summon Mechazords!"
The voice of Gosei boomed as the Dragon, Shark, Snake, Tiger, and Phoenix zords responded to the call of the Rangers, and without missing a beat the Rangers pulled their zords together.
"Gosei Great Megazord, Ready!" tThe rangers call taking the controls.
"Oh back for an encore, well then it's time to rock till you drop!"
Dizchord began strumming away, with his enlarged size, the soundwaves were even more ferocious. The Megazord halted as the rangers shielded their ears. Dizchord was in glee as he took advantage of this opening. He fired his energized cymbals knocking the combined zord down.
"Tired already?! I'm just getting started!" The warstar cued up another harsh melody, the bass alone threatened to rip the megazord apart.
"I'm all about that bass!" Dizchord laughed.
Fighting through the pain Troy and Emma righted the megazord. Against all odds they pushed forward though still at a significant disadvantage. Just then the cardholder at Troy and Emma's belts began to shimmer as a new card was granted to the two of them.
"What's this?" Emma wondered.
"Emma, Troy, your sheer determination and song of hope have garnered the help of the Sky Brothers. Use them to turn the battle in your favor!" Gosei said.
"Right," The two rangers said.
"Summon Sky Brothers!"Gosei's voice boomed as the Crow, Ptera, and Hawk Headers descended from the heavens.
The three new zords circled around Dizchord blasting and nipping at his muscles and joints. The combined power of the three zords destroyed the twin necks of Dizchord's guitar.
"What! No one told me about new Zords!"
"Let's take this to new heights," Troy said as he and Emma loaded the Sky Brothers Combination card. The Crow and Pterodactyl Zords mounted themselves to the Gosei great megazord's winged shoulders while the hawk replaced the head.
The new combination refueled the Megazord as it took flight soaring high above the clouds. It soared passed Dizchord striking him with the shark head and then the phoenix. The warstar could barely keep up.
"Let's finish this!" Emma said as she loaded the dynamic victory charge card. The Megazord ascended into the upper atmosphere picking up speed before soaring back toward dizchord. The sky power radiated off the Megazord in the likeness of a great bird of prey as it rushed through Dizchord.
"Looks like I was the one who got rocked!" Dizchord wailed as he fell over defeated.
"Now that's a Mega-"
"Quiet Jake!" Gia shouted cutting off Jake.
After the battle, the Rangers gathered at Ernie's Brain Freeze, sitting at their usual spot near the entrance, basking in the quiet satisfaction of victory. Yet again, Troy was absent. No matter how hard they tried, they could never get the Red Ranger to stick around and relax with them for long. They had grown used to it, but the empty seat always felt like something was missing.
As they continued chatting, slowly, Troy walked in, his presence catching them off guard. The Rangers exchanged surprised glances as he scanned the room, his gaze eventually landing on their table.
"Wow, didn't think we'd see you here," Jake said, breaking the silence with a grin.
Troy hesitated, standing a few feet away, unsure of himself. Emma, noticing the tension in his posture, offered a gentle smile. "Come sit with us, Troy."
There was a brief pause, and then, reluctantly, he moved toward the table. Gia watched him take his seat, catching Emma's eye with a look of approval. She was proud of her friend for making him feel welcome.
"Glad you decided to join us," Gia said warmly.
Troy gave a small shrug, his eyes flicking toward Emma for a moment. "I was... just passing by," he mumbled, his voice quieter than usual.
"Passing by?" Jake smirked. "Careful, man, people might start thinking you have actual friends."
Gia gave Jake a playful shove as Jake winced. "Will you shut up for once?"
"Hey, I could use more friends," Noah said.
Troy, looking around at the group, allowed a small smile to form. "Yeah, maybe I could too."
There was a comfortable lull in the conversation, a rare moment of peace after the chaos of battle. Jake leaned back in his chair, stretching, his voice light. "You know, that was some crazy fight we just had. I didn't think we were going to pull it off."
"Yeah," Gia agreed, "but we make a good team, even when it looks like things are falling apart."
Emma smiled, resting her hands on the table. "We always find a way to come together when it matters."
Noah nodded, thinking back to the battle. "Speaking of coming together... Emma, with all the craziness of that battle, I forgot to tell you something." He paused, glancing up at her. "You're an amazing singer."
"Yeah, seriously." Jake smiled.
The group fell silent for a moment as the compliment hung in the air. Emma blinked, taken aback by the sudden praise. She chuckled softly, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. "Thanks, Noah. I didn't expect that."
As the compliment hung in the air, Gia spoke up, her voice soft and filled with understanding. "...That was your mom's song, wasn't it?"
Emma hesitated, her smile fading slightly. She looked at Gia for a moment before finally nodding. "Yeah," she said quietly.
"Oh right, today's the anniversary," Gia said softly.
Jake and Noah exchanged confused glances, unsure of the meaning behind Gia's question. But the sadness in Emma's eyes made it clear that something terrible must have happened to her mother long ago. An uncomfortable silence fell over the table, heavy with unspoken emotions.
Troy, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, finally broke the silence. "I'm sure she'd be proud to know that her song saved the world... and it came from you."
Emma looked up, startled by Troy's words. His unexpected comfort caught her off guard, but as the meaning sank in, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She nodded, the weight of the moment lifting slightly. "Thanks, Troy," she said softly.
Just then, Ernie appeared, expertly balancing 4 sundaes on a tray. "Well, my friends! Here are your low-fat treats for youuu!" he exclaimed, his usual enthusiasm shining through. He set the sundaes down on the table, each adorned with a generous swirl of whipped cream. Emma's sundae was topped with rich caramel, while the others featured a sweet strawberry drizzle. Although the team had ordered earlier, not expecting Troy to join them, Ernie had made sure to prepare one for him as well, having spotted him walk in. Jake grabbed his spoon and immediately dug into his sundae.
Ernie stuck around a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, did you guys catch that concert yesterday?"
"We were just talking about it!" Gia replied, beaming at Emma as she passed the sundaes around the table.
"Aww, it was the most alluring, most confident singing I've ever heard!" Ernie exclaimed, a proud smile on his face. "Luckily, I managed to record some of it." He pulled out the stereo remote from his apron, and the Rangers eagerly anticipated a playback of Emma's song. Instead, they were met with a cacophony of discordant notes that made their ears ring. The jarring sound echoed throughout the juice bar, causing customers to wince and cover their ears in discomfort.
Just then, a beeping noise erupted from Noah's backpack, adding to the chaos. The Rangers exchanged worried glances and hurried out of the juice bar, followed by startled customers. Meanwhile, Ernie danced enthusiastically to the awful music, completely oblivious to the exodus around him. When he finally turned around, he was met with an empty juice bar.
"Where did everybody go?" he exclaimed, looking genuinely puzzled.
The rangers huddle in a secluded corner surrounding, Noah. "Go ahead Gosei, we're all here."
"Tensou and I are picking up an unfamiliar Ranger energy reading. We're sending you the coordinates now go investigate and report back what you find." The tiki mentor said.
Still trapped in the guise of the Green Ranger, Jordon cowers in a secluded area of the park far away from the normal walkways of people ashamed of his appearance. Jordan pressed repeatedly on the pin given to him by the blue ranger hoping that he would hear from him again but still, there was no response.
Jordan's ears perked to the sound of coming footsteps as he prepared himself to run. Suddenly a familiar voice called out.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Noah called.
Feeling confident recognizing the voice of the blue ranger Jordan revealed himself.
"I'm so glad you finally arrived I-" Jordan paused when he took sight of Noah and his friends in their civilian apparel.
"Woah so cool, a green ranger!" Jake said.
"Wait a second...Troy? Is that you?" Jordan said surprised.
"How do you know me?" Troy asked.
"It's me...Jordan!"
"Jordan!?" Noah gasped.
Wow, these chapters keep getting wilder and wilder. To think we've only scratched the surface of the overall narrative.
Sorry about this delay, someone in the family passed the way so as one of the writers, I was procrastinating a lot.
However, we are back on track. What's going to happen next I wonder. Thanks for reading and I hope you join us for the next one.