MMPR Revisited
Green with Evil Infiltration Part 2
Jason struggled to catch his breath as he grappled with the dense fog that enveloped the chamber. Facing the Green Ranger in his weakened state was far from ideal, and he was acutely aware of the peril he was in. The mist provided him some concealment, but it wouldn't last forever.
The taunts from the Green Ranger echoed through the fog, a predictable attempt to unnerve him. But Jason knew that a direct confrontation in his current condition would be foolhardy. The absence of his morpher further complicated matters, leaving him at a distinct disadvantage.
With stealth honed by years of Ranger training, Jason inched away, his ears attuned to the approaching footsteps. In his prime, he could have eluded his pursuer for an extended period, but his injuries, dehydration, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him. He couldn't help but wonder if Billy and the rest of the team were formulating a rescue plan.
Yet, time was of the essence. The Green Ranger's ascent to power, the resurgence of Scorpina, the absence of Zordon, and the compromised state of the Command Center all painted a dire picture. The Power Rangers were stretched thin, and Jason's absence exacerbated their vulnerability.
He couldn't afford to wait any longer.
Taking a deep breath, Jason decided it was time to make a stand. The Green Ranger's words had struck a chord within him, igniting a flicker of determination. He couldn't let fear dictate his actions any longer. His team depended on him.
Jason rose to his feet, his eyes locked onto the obscured figure of the Green Ranger on the other side of the chamber. A tense silence hung in the air, a mutual acknowledgment of the impending clash. Through the Green Ranger's visor, Jason glimpsed his own reflection, a stark reminder of his weakened state. But he couldn't back down; the fate of his friends and the city rested on his shoulders.
"I'm impressed," the Green Ranger taunted, his excitement palpable. Jason scoffed at the provocation, pushing past his doubts and fears.
"You haven't seen anything yet," Jason retorted, his voice laced with determination. With newfound resolve, he sprinted forward, launching himself into the air and delivering a swift kick aimed at the unsuspecting Green Ranger's shield. The unexpected attack caught his opponent off guard, and the Green Ranger stumbled backward but swiftly regained his footing.
"I won't underestimate you next time," the Green Ranger conceded as he spun and countered with a kick aimed at Jason. Despite his injuries, Jason managed to block the attack with his wrists, enduring the searing pain. He concealed his discomfort, refusing to reveal any vulnerability.
What he needed was his morpher. If he could regain control of it, perhaps he could establish a connection with the Command Center. As he pressed forward with relentless determination, Jason executed a series of kicks and strikes. Each movement exacted a toll on his battered body, but he persevered.
"Nice try," the Green Ranger mused, delivering a retaliatory punch. Jason intercepted the blow, clutching his opponent's fist with his hand. They locked in a stalemate, Jason with one hand grasping his morpher and the other restraining the Green Ranger's fist. The pressure inflicted unbearable agony on Jason's wound.
"Enough of this," Jason grunted through gritted teeth. With a burst of energy, he surged forward, launching a surprise kick to the Green Ranger's abdomen. Another kick followed, targeting the hand clutching the morpher. The device flew through the air, and Jason lunged toward it.
"No, you don't!" the Green Ranger seethed, mirroring Jason's leap. Desperation coursed through Jason as he extended his arm toward the morpher. But before his fingers could make contact, the Green Ranger's vice-like grip wrapped around his throat.
In a swift and merciless motion, the Green Ranger slammed Jason to the ground with brutal force. The impact was far more jarring than Jason had anticipated, expelling the air from his lungs and leaving him breathless. The pain intensified as the Green Ranger's grip constricted his airways, making every gasp for breath a futile struggle.
The red morpher tumbled to the ground, tantalizingly out of reach, but Jason's immediate focus was on the vice-like hold around his throat. As the world darkened around him, the Green Ranger's ominous words filled the void.
"This is goodbye, Red Ranger."
"Guys, what was going on?" Billy said once again, but the others couldn't form the correct words to explain what they were seeing. From the looks of it, the government had been experimenting on Rita's monsters for some time. The King Sphinx had just gone up to 44%, and Kimberly gasped.
"What does that even mean? How can they rebuild Rita's monsters? Aren't they made of like…dark magic or something?" Kimberly said as she looked at Trini and Zack, both unsure how to answer.
"Hello?" Billy's voice came through their communicators, sounding slightly unnerved and cautious.
"Sorry, we found something," Trini said.
"What?" Billy replied, concerned.
"Can't really explain now, but it looks like the government has been experimenting on Rita's monsters," Zack said, and Billy didn't respond. "Our thoughts exactly," he finished.
"I – I," Billy was at a loss for words, they all were. "There are no cameras in that room, so I can't see anything…"
"Consider yourself lucky," Kimberly replied.
"Alright, we'll discuss this later. We need to gain access to their satellites, it looks like – uh oh," and then Billy went completely quiet.
"Uh oh?" Trini echoed. The door to the room came busting open with four guards who stopped in their tracks, looking just as surprised to see them as the Rangers were. "So much for surveillance, Billy…" Trini mumbled.
"What are you doing in here?" said one of the guards. Zack, Kimberly, and Trini remained silent and slowly started to approach the guards. They couldn't morph, but they couldn't let these guards call any attention to them. Trini looked at Zack and then to Kimberly and gave them both slight nods, to which they both replied with the same gesture – they must fight.
Trini dashed forward and then dropped to her knees, sliding down the floor until she was almost directly under one of the guards. She performed an open-scissors motion with her legs, kicking at the inner thighs of the guard, causing him to almost split and fall forward, crying out in pain; she then extended her right leg upward and into the gut of the guard, causing him to fall on his back out of breath.
Zack kicked a rolling chair at another guard before he could move on Trini and then rushed forward. He jumped in the air and swung both of his legs up, kicking two guards in the chest – knocking one of them over the rolling chair.
Kimberly ran forward at the last guard; this time, he moved first and delivered a powerful kick that she barely managed to block with her wrists. She then moved forward and tackled the guard, but he didn't move.
"You gotta do better than that," said the man. Kimberly raised her leg back and over her head and, like a scorpion's tail, struck the guard in the face with her foot. He fumbled back, and she regained her footing and then spun and delivered a swift kick to the guard's face, sending him to the ground unconscious.
All three of them looked around at their handiwork and came to the consensus that the three guards were out for the count.
"That takes care of that, for now," Trini said.
"What happened?" Billy asked, his voice sounding more irritated over their communicators.
"We just did what had to be done. No casualties," Zack responded.
"Is everyone alright?" Billy asked.
"We are, can't say the same for them," Kimberly replied.
"Okay, let's try and get out of this without any more incidents. We're severely behind schedule. I don't see anyone else in that hallway, and I believe the room is empty, get in there now," Billy instructed. The three of them opened the door and went back into the hallway; from there, they ran to the middle room and opened the door.
"We're in," Trini said. The room was empty, and from the first glance, the environment would be Billy's paradise, with computer monitors everywhere and all kinds of advanced technology.
"Great, on the far left-hand side of the room should be a section of monitors labeled SSA," Billy said, and Trini pointed toward the monitors.
"Found them," she said.
"Perfect, in the bag is a blank disc. Put it in the top slot," Kimberly rifled through the bag and found the blank, silver disc. She carefully placed it in the slot, and it slid in. Right away, all the monitors but one in the center turned black. A screen popped up, and a data bar began to load, starting at 1%.
"Alright, Billy, something's happening…" Trini said into the communicator. The bar managed to reach 100% in a few minutes, and then various screens popped up.
"I'm in control now," Billy assured them, "Stand by for my directive." There was a collective sigh of relief at their success, but a cloud of anxiety hung over them as their impending escape from the premises seemed all too daunting.
"Okay, can we talk about what we just saw in there?" Kimberly broke the silence. "Is our government trying to put the monsters we've destroyed back together?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Trini replied. "Ironically, the three of us aren't the most qualified to answer this. If Billy were here, he'd probably be able to tell for sure."
"Definitely, but since we're here, that's what it looked like, right?" Kimberly asked.
"Yeah…who in their right mind would allow such a thing?" Trini said.
"It's straight-up jacked up. These monsters are dangerous and are responsible for killing innocent lives," Zack said definitely.
"Exactly, what would the government stand to gain by trying to recreate these things? Do they really think they can control these monsters?" Kimberly's question, though rhetorical, didn't need to be answered. With how the government was treating the presence of the Power Rangers and their interference with their attempts to protect Angel Grove, it only made sense for the government to try and fight fire with fire.
"That was King Sphinx in there. Do they realize how dangerous that monster is?" Zack said. "It nearly killed Jason."
"Not the first time Rita's tried that…" Kimberly said, bringing a headlight to their current situation, and they all got quiet. "Every day that he's gone, it hits me a little harder. He's out there, somewhere, without us, without any…"
"He has us, Kim. He knows that. That's what's keeping him going," Trini said, trying to offer some comfort.
"I know, it's just, I don't know how much longer he can wait for us. This has to work," Kimberly said.
"It will. Rita will not win here. She can't beat us. She can't beat Jason. It doesn't end like this," Zack said reassuringly.
"Just a few more minutes, you guys," Billy's voice came through on their communicators.
"How are we looking in terms of security?" Trini asked.
"Good, no one is around you right now," Billy responded. At the command center, Billy and Alpha were working in tandem to align the military satellite system with the morphing grid.
"Synchronization at 78%, Billy," Alpha 5 said.
"That's great, Alpha. The real test here, though, is keeping our sync undetectable once we're done. The last thing we need is for the government to have any more access to the Power Rangers…" the automaton didn't need to respond and continued importing the data into the mainframe of the command center as it was received.
The sirens in the command center started blaring off, much to the surprise of Billy and Alpha 5. They looked at each other and then switched consoles.
"Ayi-yi-yi!" Alpha cried out, "there's a disturbance in Angel Grove City."
"At this hour? You gotta be kidding me…" Billy said with dismay. Rita really wasn't playing around these days.
"It's Goldar and Scorpina!" Alpha exclaimed, much to Billy's horror. One of them was bad enough. They hadn't faced Scorpina yet, but he could only imagine what she was like in battle. Especially for all the effort it took for them to resurrect her.
"Billy, is it done?" Zack came in over the communicator. Both Alpha and Billy were quiet, not sure how or where to begin to respond. Billy turned around and saw that it was at 84%.
"Negative," Billy responded.
"Billy, what are we going to do? They have to be stopped!" Alpha said.
"Okay, I will go out and fight them," Billy said affirmatively.
"By yourself?" Alpha said aghast.
"We don't have any alternative right now. We can't teleport the others there; we'd definitely blow our cover, and then what was all this for?" Billy pressed down on his communicator. "Alright, guys, change in plans…sort of."
"What's going on, Billy?" Trini asked.
"The priority is the same; getting their connection to improve our link to the morphing grid so we can get Jason home. But Rita has sent an attack on Angel Grove City."
"You've got to be kidding," Kimberly replied, horrified.
"Negative," Billy replied.
"Okay, so we'll get out now," Trini said.
"No, you guys need to stay together. Alpha will stay here and monitor the progress. Once we get to 100%, remove the disk and get out of there. Alpha will help direct you. Then, once you're done, come help me. I can hold off the attack until then."
"Are you sure? Billy, you shouldn't be exerting yourself too much right now…" Trini's concern was shared by all the Rangers, Billy included. But their options were very limited at the moment.
"Affirmative. Just get to me when you can and be careful you guys. Remember, this is a stealth mission. Getting caught isn't an option."
"Understood, we'll hurry," Zack said.
"Billy, please be careful," Trini added.
"Ayi-yi-yi, I don't have a good feeling about this," Alpha said. "You didn't let them know it was Goldar and Scorpina!"
"What difference would it make, Alpha? Them knowing that wouldn't make the synchronization move any faster. We just have to keep rolling with the punches, or whatever that phrase is. I can stall Scorpina and Goldar until they meet me." Alpha was taken aback by Billy's forwardness; he was usually calm, calculated, and composed, but not now. To say that Alpha was worried would be an understatement.
"Billy…" Alpha said, concerned.
"It's okay, Alpha. Don't think I wouldn't be going out there with some toys. I didn't give all my fun new gadgets away. I still have some surprises. I'll be fine." This didn't do anything to calm the automaton, but the situation is what it is.
"Rangers, it's at 90%," Alpha said over the communicator line. Billy nodded his head and pulled out his morpher.
"Triceratops!" the morpher activated, and Billy was assimilated by a blue light. Alpha pressed a button on the main console, and Billy was teleported away.
"What do you think?" Goldar stood above the tallest building in Angel Grove City, the central most part of Angel Grove. At night there were innocent bystanders walking around, but most were inside or getting ready to end their days. That was until he blew up a car, which caused three more to crash behind it. And a squadron of Putties moving in on the city grounds. Tonight would be fun, but not for the humans of Earth.
"It's different," Scorpina said, the fire below her illuminating her eyes. "All the lights, all the people – their ignorance is almost depressing. They'll never know what's really out there. They only know what they know."
"It's up to us to liberate them. To bring destruction upon this pointless planet," Goldar said.
"I don't disagree," Scorpina said coldly. Their attention was drawn to a blue light illuminating in the night sky and descending upon the grounds below them. "Well, well, well – tonight is about to get interesting."
"They only sent the pesky Blue Ranger? They must be desperate," Goldar scoffed. "Putties, attack!" he commanded.
Billy looked up and saw them both, standing over their small bout of destruction. Fortunately, it wasn't much more than this. He got there just in time. With the Putties making their advance, Billy didn't waste any time in retaliation. The less effort he put into them, the better.
From his holster, he grabbed his blaster and began firing at the henchmen as they approached. One down, then another, and another. One got close enough that he had to slide the blaster into blade mode, and he cut it across the chest and delivered a high kick to its face, sending it back into a car windshield. He then quickly reverted it back to blaster mode and finished another Putty with a headshot.
"Is that all you've got?" Billy taunted.
"Oh, you're asking for it," Goldar said before leaping off the building, descending to the ground below, landing on the roof of a car, crushing it beneath his weight.
Right away, Billy began to open fire on the golden assailant; Goldar summoned his sword and began deflecting each shot.
"Alright, Billy, remember: distance is key…distance is key," he said over and over to himself. He turned the blaster into its blade mode and threw it at Goldar point-blank. As he did this, he summoned his Power Lance and leaped into the air. While Goldar was able to hit the blaster-blade away, he didn't anticipate Billy's next move and was hit directly in the chest with the full force of Billy's Power Lance.
The golden warrior was sent flying back into the brick wall of a building, causing the glass windows around it to shatter as a result of the impact. Billy looked upward and saw Scorpina standing idly above. He couldn't tell if she was observing or just not moving. Regardless, at the moment, the simple fact that she wasn't attacking was a saving grace.
Goldar blasted through the other side of the brick wall and emerged from the debris; his eyes filled with rage.
"I'm going to enjoy destroying you," Goldar said. "Take this!" His eyes glowed a bright red, and Billy realized he was going for an energy blast of some kind.
"Moment of truth," Billy said and he held out his hand and in a blue flash, a small blue device appeared. Billy threw it at Goldar's feet, and gas began to excrete from it. Goldar directed his blast at it. "Big mistake," Billy mused. Upon the blast's impact, there was an explosion, but then the gas began to crystallize and surrounded Goldar and some of the ground around him, immobilizing him completely.
He looked up and found that Scorpina was no longer above him.
"What did you do to him?" her voice was quiet and came right behind him. Instinctively, Billy turned around and swung his lance at her; Scorpina blocked the attack with her hand and quickly punched Billy in the stomach, followed by a kick in the same area sending him to the ground.
"So much for distance…" Billy said to himself. Scorpina walked over to Goldar and examined the material. She made a sound that almost sounded impressed before unleashing a golden beam that destroyed the crystalline barrier, freeing Goldar.
"He's resourceful," Scorpina said.
"I won't fall for that again," Goldar said, walking over to her. "Are you now ready to fight?"
"Yes, my love," as she said this, her signature weapon, a golden boomerang with sharpened edges appeared in her left hand. Her eyes then traveled to the Blue Ranger, a blood lust illuminating in her eyes. "Very soon he will feel my sting."