Ch 9 HERE COMES THE POWER AGAIN

Somewhere in Deep Space...

The Astro Megaship Mark II was a large spaceship with six decks and sixteen crew quarters. The SimuDeck was a training room located on Megadeck 5. The SimuDeck resembled a large, blank area the size of a commercial jetliner hangar. As Noah looked around with wide-eyed amazement, he exclaimed, "Wow. Morphinominal."

With its advanced Training Simulation Software, the SimuDeck served as a realistic yet safe training environment for the Space Rangers to practice their skills.

It was time for Megaforce's crew to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Andros invites them into the SimuDeck. "D.E.C.A., you may begin the training exercise," he says from the observation deck. "at once."

The disembodied voice responded, "Right away."

A klaxon sounded. The teens glanced around for danger.

In an instant, pink humanoids emerged from the SimuDeck floor, carrying small blades that resembled daggers.

"The creatures in front of you are holographic fighting machines," Andros told them. "We call them Craterites. You must rely on one another if you wish to overcome them."

With a nod, all of the Harwood kids dropped into fighting crouches. Not all of them knew how to fight, but they were going to try.

"Okay, everyone, on me," Troy said, leading the group from the front. "Kiai!"

"Kiai!" the group shouted.

In the training simulation, sensors continuously monitored the physical conditions of the Harwood teens, and every aspect of their movements was under surveillance.

When Tommy joined Andros in the observation deck, he folded his arms across his chest. These teens were about to show him what they were truly made of.


The Angel Grove Cemetery...

Billy Cranston stood in front of a tombstone, the gravesite of his late wife. It read "CESTRIA, BELOVED WIFE AND FRIEND". Three words could never come close to summing her up.

Billy stood there for a short time, with folded hands and lowered head. He then pulled out a blue Aquitian Rose from inside his jacket and placed it on top of the tombstone. He paused and then removed his wedding ring, placing it on the tombstone as well. "May the Power Protect You," he thought to himself.

Hearing a noise, he turned to see two men standing behind him. One of them he recognized as Adam Park. The other was a blonde guy in Tommy's White Ranger uniform.

To ease the tension, Adam cleared his throat. "Helly, Billy... It's been a while."


Later on that day. Abandoned Warehouse...

A group of old friends were gathered in a dark warehouse. Ryan Steele, the White Ranger from a parallel universe, stood in the midst of them. He was surrounded by Adam, Tanya, Katherine, Aisha, Jason, Zack, Rocky, and Billy. The Class of '98 reunited once again.

"Adam, can't you see?" Ryan spoke in a terse tone as he held his helmet underneath his arm. "A malevolent force is heading our way. A powerful demon known as Lokar the Conqueror. He travels across the multiverse, consuming entire worlds. My own Earth has already fallen to his appetite, and he will soon come for yours."

Billy paused for a moment and asked, "Listen, 'Ryan' is it? We don't know you. This could be some sort of trap we are walking into. How do we know if his story checks out?"

"It checks out," answered a woman's voice in the distance.

All eyes turned to see Jen Scotts, the Pink Time Force Ranger, stepping out of the shadows of the surrounding crates, soon flanked by her Time Force teammates all in uniform: Wes, Lucas, Katie, Trip, and Eric.

Rocky stepped forward and folded his arms. "Okay, who invited you guys?" he asked rudely.

"Time Force has been keeping tabs on Lokar the Conqueror for a while," Jen said, ignoring him. "From what we can tell, this is an advanced form of Lokar the Terrible. A power and force unlike anything we've seen before. We suspect that he is after one thing and one thing only: Ranger Keys."

"Let me guess," Ryan said, "So it Lord Zedd."

Jen nodded.

NEXT CHAPTER: FIRE WITHIN ME!