Green with Evil
Interpersonal – Part 4
As the ground trembled beneath them, the Power Rangers, Trask, and Scorpina found themselves caught in a momentary ceasefire. The eerie silence hung thick in the air as a sense of impending doom enveloped the battlefield. Jason's question echoed, demanding answers from the enigmatic leader of the Angel Grove Rescue Squad.
Trask, unmoved by the chaotic events unfolding around him, maintained his cool demeanor. "Prepare yourselves, Rangers," he calmly announced, revealing nothing about the imminent threat he seemed to have unleashed. The other members of the Rescue Squad remained on high alert, their advanced weaponry trained on both Scorpina and the Power Rangers.
A low, ominous hum filled the air, resonating from the depths beneath. The ground continued to split and crack, revealing a dark chasm from which an otherworldly energy emanated. The Rangers exchanged puzzled glances, uncertain of what Trask had set into motion.
Suddenly, the chasm erupted in a surge of dark energy, giving birth to a monstrous entity. Parts of Rita's fallen monsters and Trask's advanced machinery combined to form a nightmarish creature. Its grotesque appearance sent a shiver down the spines of those who witnessed its emergence.
The amalgamation of twisted limbs, jagged armor, and pulsating energy towered over the battlefield. The air around it crackled with an unsettling aura, as if reality itself had fractured to give birth to this abomination. Trask's calculated move had brought forth a creature that defied the laws of both science and magic.
Kimberly, her eyes widening with shock, whispered, "What in the world is that?"
Trini and Billy, having teleported into the midst of the chaos, were equally taken aback. "I've never seen anything like it," Billy muttered, scanning the monstrous creation with a mix of fascination and dread. "Wait…yes I have – yes we have. Is that…are those…parts of King Sphinx?"
"Yes," Trini confirmed. "Somehow its more horrifying than the original."
The newly formed creature emitted an otherworldly growl, its attention fixated on the Power Rangers and their adversaries. The squad members, previously engaged with Scorpina, turned their weapons toward the abomination, realizing that the true threat had emerged from the depths below.
Trask, his expression unchanged, calmly observed the havoc he had unleashed. "Meet Project Chimera," he announced, the name dripping with a sinister weight. "A fusion of Rita's remnants and our technology. The perfect weapon against threats like Scorpina and, if necessary, the Power Rangers."
A surge of realization swept over the Rangers, coupled with a sinking feeling that they had entered a new, dangerous phase of the battle. The ground quivered as Project Chimera took its first steps, its grotesque form moving with an unnatural grace. The squad members, momentarily forgotten in the wake of this monstrous creation, repositioned themselves, now allied with an unforeseen enemy.
Jason, still recovering from the previous skirmish, tightened his grip on his sword. "We can't let this thing loose on the city. Trask, you've got to stop it!"
But Trask's attention remained fixed on the unfolding spectacle. "Project Chimera has a mind of its own. It will seek out and eliminate any perceived threats, regardless of allegiances. Consider this a taste of what's to come, Rangers."
As the Power Rangers braced themselves for the imminent clash with Project Chimera, Scorpina, who had momentarily retreated during the creature's emergence, re-entered the fray. The battlefield had transformed into a chaotic nexus of conflicting forces – Scorpina, the Angel Grove Rescue Squad, and the monstrous amalgamation, each vying for dominance.
Scorpina, her eyes fixated on the colossal abomination, felt a surge of excitement. The prospect of a new adversary, a fusion of Rita's malevolence and advanced technology, intrigued her warrior spirit. With a wicked grin, she leaped forward, her blade gleaming as she aimed to strike the monstrous creation.
As Scorpina closed in, her movements swift and calculated, the grotesque monster responded with surprising agility. Massive limbs, adorned with metallic protrusions, swung with unexpected speed, intercepting Scorpina's advance. The clash of blades and metallic appendages echoed through the battlefield as the two formidable forces engaged in a skirmish of lethal intent.
For a moment, Scorpina held her own, parrying the monster's strikes with grace and precision. However, the creature's unnatural strength and unpredictability began to overwhelm her. A swift sweep of its monstrous arm sent Scorpina tumbling backward, her armor absorbing the impact but not without consequence.
Undeterred, Scorpina sprang back to her feet. She liked this challenge and threw back an amused laugh. She launched a barrage of strikes, each one aimed at exploiting any weakness in the monster's amalgamated form. Yet, with every attempt, the creature countered.
The monstrous abomination seized an opening, its metallic appendages intertwining with Scorpina's blade. With a powerful twist, it disarmed the Raven-haired warrior, sending her weapon clattering to the ground. Scorpina, now unarmed but far from defeated, relied on her martial prowess to evade the creature's relentless assault.
The monster, however, had other plans. It unleashed a barrage of energy-infused strikes that caught Scorpina off guard. The impact sent shockwaves through her armored form, each strike sapping her strength. It let out a guttural roar, proclaiming its dominance. Despite her formidable skills, Scorpina found herself overpowered and outmatched by the unholy creation.
"Are you guys seeing this?" Kimberly said, watching in awe. They all were.
As Scorpina staggered, attempting to regain her composure, the monstrous entity delivered a final, devastating blow. A surge of dark energy coursed through its limbs as it unleashed a relentless onslaught. The force of the strikes left Scorpina battered and bruised, her armor cracked and shattered.
With another triumphant roar, the monstrous abomination sent Scorpina sprawling to the ground. The Raven-haired warrior, weakened and humbled, struggled to rise. The battlefield, once filled with the sounds of combat, now fell silent as Scorpina lay defeated before the monstrous creation.
The Rangers, witnessing the unexpected turn of events, exchanged glances filled with concern. The formidable Scorpina, who had proven to be a relentless adversary, now lay at the mercy of a force born from the dark alliance between Rita Repulsa and Trask's technological prowess.
Trask, standing at the forefront, watched with a twisted sense of pride as the monstrous creation overpowered Scorpina. The victory, in his eyes, was a testament to the might of his advanced technology and the government's control over the situation. He turned to the remaining members of the Angel Grove Rescue Squad, his voice projecting confidence.
"Power Rangers, take note. This is the might of Project Restoration – of which Chimera is only just the beginning," Trask declared, his words laced with arrogance. "We have the situation under control, and we don't need your interference. Angel Grove will be protected, but not by a group of vigilantes."
His proclamation was met with mixed reactions from his squad, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged uncertain glances. Trask's attempt to paint the Power Rangers as menaces seemed to resonate with some, but the true nature of the monstrous abomination was about to reveal itself.
As the creature turned, its attention shifted from the fallen Scorpina to the members of the Angel Grove Rescue Squad. The air crackled with an unsettling energy as the colossal entity, no longer under Trask's complete control, began to assess its surroundings.
"What's happening?" one of the squad members shouted, panic evident in their voice.
Trask, caught off guard by the sudden change in the creature's behavior, attempted to regain control. "Stand your ground! This is just a minor adjustment. The creature is responding to the threat."
However, the monstrous abomination, fueled by its innate darkness beyond Trask's comprehension, continued its menacing advance. Limbs adorned with metallic protrusions swung indiscriminately, and the squad members scrambled to evade the creature's onslaught.
"Stand down, Chimera!" Trask commanded, but the creature turned on him very quickly. It swung one of its limbs at him, with the goal to kill. Trask parried it away just in time, and regained his footing. "I repeat, stand down, Chimera!" It hissed back at this.
"Rangers, this situation has gone from bad to worse. We have to save Trask from himself," Jason said. A member of the Angel Grove Rescue Squad found themselves dangerously close to being offed, trying to stand between it and Trask. Jason, without a second thought, charged toward the imminent threat. The enormous limb of Chimera swung towards the helpless agent, and Jason intercepted the attack, shielding the squad member from the deadly blow. The impact sent shockwaves through his armored suit, but Jason stood firm.
"Red Ranger, it will destroy you and I'll let it," Trask said.
"It's gonna kill your men, Trask. You're an idiot to think you could play with this kind of fire," Jason responded. Jason signaled for his team, "Get them out of here! Now!" The urgency was palpable as he assessed the situation.
Zack, reluctant to leave Jason in the midst of such danger, hesitated. "You can't be on your own here – you've already taken too much damage. We cant take much more of this."
"I know, but we need to get them to safety. I'll hold this thing off," Jason insisted.
"No way, man! I'm not leaving you here alone," Zack protested, his loyalty to his leader unwavering.
"I wasn't asking!" Jason's tone brooked no argument, just as he held back another attack from the Chimera. He understood the risks but knew that the priority was to protect the lives of both the Power Rangers and the Angel Grove Rescue Squad.
Reluctantly, Zack nodded, fully grasping the gravity of the situation. The other Rangers swiftly executed Jason's directive, teleporting endangered Angel Grove Rescue Squad members away in flashes of light. The battlefield lay in disarray, marked by piles of defeated Putties and Scorpina's unconscious body sprawled lifelessly on the ground. Despite Trask's protests, the Rangers continued their evacuation efforts, ensuring the safety of the squad members. Zack, seizing an opportunity, tackled Trask and vanished in a flash of light. Jason redirected his focus to the towering Chimera.
"King Sphinx," Jason uttered, addressing the monstrous foe by its true name. "I destroyed you once; I can do it again." In response, Chimera roared ferociously and charged forward. Jason met the challenge with a battle cry, his sword poised for combat. The ensuing clash was fierce and unrelenting, with Jason battling against exhaustion that seeped into every joint and bone. Despite the fatigue, he pressed on, realizing the urgency of buying time, even if it meant facing this abomination alone. It was somehow tougher than Scorpina. Trask really had created a monster.
As Chimera swung one limb after another, Jason found himself struggling to keep up. In a pivotal moment, he failed to block an oncoming strike in time, and the limb struck his morpher with intense force. The impact sent Jason sprawling backward, creating a dust plume around him and knocking Chimera in the opposite direction. The sheer force of the collision unleashed a shockwave that reverberated through Jason's body.
Amid the pain, Jason fought to rise, his body flickering with red light as energy swirled around him. "What's happening to me?" he questioned, grappling with the unfamiliar sensations. His armor underwent a transformation; the once-white diamonds now turned onyx black, adorned with a vibrant red ruby Tyrannosaurus emblem on his chest. His gloves and boots took on a solid black hue, and a red-hued enhancement radiated power.
However, the newfound strength came at a cost – the armor flickered, its stability questionable. "Is this…is this a new form?" Jason wondered aloud, scanning the battlefield for his fellow Rangers. Billy was nowhere to be seen, leaving Jason to grapple with the uncertainty of his transformed state.
The Chimera emerged from the settling dust, growling menacingly at Jason, seemingly undeterred by his newfound form. With a swift leap, the creature lunged toward him, but Jason's agility had taken an unprecedented leap. Evading the attack with a speed he had never experienced before, he swung his sword, now pulsing with red and black energy, effortlessly severing one of Chimera's limbs. The creature howled in pain, responding with a blinding golden beam emitted from its mouth.
Jason met the powerful blast head-on, his sword redirecting it to create another crater in the battlefield. "What is this power?" he exclaimed, a mix of excitement and trepidation in his voice. As Chimera charged forward, Jason engaged in the battle, seemingly having the upper hand. However, the intense energy surges and strain on his body began to take a toll.
Strange distortions infiltrated Jason's perception, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The battlefield seemed to shift and warp, causing him to see double, then triple. Suddenly, everything turned dark, as if a shadowy filter had enveloped his surroundings. In the place of Chimera, Jason perceived Scorpina as a spectral figure.
"Miss me?" Scorpina taunted, and Jason, disoriented, shook his head. The dark filter momentarily lifted, revealing Chimera lunging towards him. Bracing for impact, the filter returned, and it was Scorpina who struck him point-blank in the chest.
Confused and overwhelmed, Jason fell to his knees as the energy around him continued to swell. "What is going on?!" he yelled, struggling against the surreal experience. Scorpina's haunting voice echoed, infiltrating his thoughts with a malevolent tone.
"You can't escape death, Red Ranger," Scorpina declared. "It's sad really – you just got back. Would your mother notice you're gone again?" Her words cut through Jason like a sword, and the revelation struck him. How did she know about his...
"Shut up!" Jason tried to drown out her words, swinging recklessly at the spectral figure, missing in the darkness that engulfed him. Scorpina continued her torment, weaving an unsettling narrative.
"Does anyone really care? Here you stand alone. With them, you'll always be alone, Jason."
"You don't know what you're talking about!" he protested, thrashing out again, only to take another unseen hit from a force that seemed to shift in and out of existence. The boundary between the real world and the encroaching darkness fluctuated. Was the Chimera still there? How could he fight an opponent he couldn't see?
"In the end, I'll be waiting for you," Scorpina declared menacingly, her words lingering in the unsettling void around Jason. The hallucination threatened to consume him, each word from Scorpina digging into his deepest fears. As the Chimera prepared for another devastating attack, Jason found himself momentarily paralyzed by the psychological assault.
In the pivotal moment, two pink arrows streaked through the air, piercing through the illusion and finding their mark on both Scorpina and the Chimera. In a breath-stealing instant, the hallucination shattered, and reality snapped back into focus.
Jason's heart tugged. She was there. Kimberly, running with determination, raced to Jason's side, her bow still drawn. The energy within Jason was drained, and he struggled to maintain composure. Kimberly's presence provided a lifeline, grounding him in the midst of the chaos. His newfound armor dissolved, leaving behind the familiar form, but his morpher still seemed unstable, red energy pouring out of it.
"Jason, I got you – you're okay, I promise," she said, kneeling down. Exhausted but determined, Jason managed a weary nod, grateful for the timely intervention.
The Chimera, now radiating a strange yellow color, fell to its knees, letting out a guttural cry.
"You guys – Trask activated a self-destruct sequence. We have to get you out of there," Billy's voice came in over the communications. "But there's a strange interference – Jason, it might have something to do with your recent transformation."
"You saw it... it was real?" Jason said, breathless, pained.
"We all did," Kimberly replied. "Billy – can you get us out?"
Just then, another golden light flashed onto the scene. It was Goldar. Kimberly readied her bow with an arrow ready to fire if he got any closer. He exchanged glances with Kimberly and Jason before turning toward the unconscious Scorpina. Goldar knelt down, picked her up into his arms, and then turned back toward the Rangers. A silent understanding passed between them, signaling that the fight was over, at least for now. Goldar flashed away again.
"I can't get a signal," Billy said, sounding frantic.
"Billy, I can't get Jason out of here without teleporting. I can't drag him out by myself," Kimberly said.
"Kim, fire an arrow directly above you – it'll be like a flare. I can manually enter some teleportation coordinates to get you out of there. But you have to do it now!"
"All right," Kim raised her bow to the air and let the prepared arrow fly. A streak of pink energy filled the sky.
"Hold on!" Billy yelled as a white light fell upon them. Jason's morpher had a strange interaction with the light, almost like it was trying to resist. However, it conformed, and the light pulled Kimberly and Jason out of the battlefield, flashing away in hues of red and pink. Following their escape, an explosion rocked the outskirts of the city, signaling the demise of Chimera.
The Rangers appeared in the Command Center, bathed in the familiar teleportation glow. The air crackled with tension, the aftermath of battle etched across their fatigued expressions. Kimberly assisted Jason, who bore the visible marks of the fierce encounter, towards the central platform.
"Power down," Jason commanded, and the Rangers reverted to their civilian forms. Jason, looking worse for wear with evident scrapes and bruises, struggled with heavy breaths as he succumbed to his injuries.
"Easy, Jase," Kimberly murmured, lending her support. Despite the power-down, faint traces of red energy still flickered around Jason's morpher.
"We should get him back to the Med-Bay – we need to assess the extent of your injuries," Billy suggested. Trini joined him as they led the way down the long hall, Zack assisting Kim with Jason, and Alpha 5 scurrying behind frantically.
Zack said, adopting a lighter tone in an attempt at levity "Man, you were glowing back there. That was a new trick, huh?"
Jason managed a weak smile, acknowledging Zack's attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, you could say that. But it feels like it came with a price."
Trini inquired about the unprecedented event, "Have you ever seen anything like that, Alpha?"
"No – and Jason's connection to the morphin grid was clearly unstable. Ayi-yi-yi! I wish Zordon were here!" Alpha 5 proclaimed; a sentiment shared by all.
"Man, Scorpina and then the Chimera," Zack said.
"And Goldar at the school," Trini added.
"Oh right," Zack recalled as they entered the med-bay, carefully easing Jason onto the examination bed. "Everyone get out of that okay?"
"Yes," Trini responded, "thankfully. It was clearly just a diversion. But Billy and I were able to handle it," she said, offering a smile toward Billy. That was an intense fight for both of him. And Brent being in danger made it all the more difficult for Billy. She was just glad they got everyone to safety.
"That's what I'm talking about," Jason said pridefully, though his posture adjustment elicited winces, the toll of the battle evident in his every movement.
"Alright, try and hold still, I'm going to begin the scan," Billy announced. Jason reclined, brought into the scanning zone as lights surrounded him, casting a glow on Billy's display. "Thankfully no internal injuries, but – huh, this is weird."
"What is it?" Kimberly inquired, peering at Billy's screen without much clarity.
"His readings are spiking – connected even - with his power coin," Billy explained. He glanced back at the others, who still seemed puzzled. "Ah, right. So, Jason was barely hanging on, and the energy from his coin, once released, enveloped him in pure Morphin Grid energy. It tried to overcompensate by protecting him."
"So does that explain the armor?" Kimberly sought clarification.
"It's as good a guess as any," Billy concluded. "Even now, based on how he looks, his readings should be far worse than they are. The pure energy coming from your coin is trying to heal you." Billy pressed a button, and Jason slowly moved out of the scanning hub, struggling to sit upright, with Zack offering support.
"So is this a new form for me then?" Jason inquired. Billy frowned.
"I would caution answering in the affirmative. There's so much about the Morphin Grid we don't understand. Tapping into that power with Zordon here to walk us through it…I don't think it would be a good idea to look into it."
"Why not?" Zack questioned. "Man – this could be exactly what we need. A new form? Zordon's gone. Scorpina is crazy powerful. And now Trask is unleashing monster bombs?"
"Billy's right," Jason admitted. "In that form – something happened to me. It's hard to explain. But I wasn't seeing things right. It was like I was in two places at once. I was hallucinating and being taunted by Scorpina, while also fighting the Chimera. But I couldn't see the Chimera." The others exchanged glances as he explained this, struggling to understand. "If it weren't for Kim coming when she did, I don't think I would have survived it." He added, "I got lucky. I got very lucky."
Kim smiled.
"Thank you for coming back for me," he said, taking his hand into hers.
"I'd never leave you out there alone," Kim said. Jason's heart tugged again. He wasn't sure what she really meant by it, but the sentiment was soothing for him.
In the foreboding throne chamber of Rita's moon palace, the atmosphere echoed with an eerie silence. The flickering torches cast dancing shadows on the ancient, weathered walls adorned with arcane symbols. Rita Repulsa, perched on her sinister throne, observed the scene through her calculating, narrow eyes.
Scorpina lay unconscious on a bed of obsidian before her, her armor battered and scorched from the recent battle. Goldar stood guard beside her, his imposing figure silhouetted against the dimly lit surroundings.
Rita's expression, usually twisted into a malevolent grin, now displayed a thoughtful contemplation. The recent events had unfolded beyond her initial expectations. Trask's interference and the emergence of the enigmatic Chimera had added an unpredictable element to her carefully crafted plans.
"Scorpina," Rita hissed, her voice a serpent's whisper that cut through the silence. The warrior stirred, slowly regaining consciousness. Her eyes flickered open, revealing a mixture of defiance and loyalty.
"Rita," Scorpina acknowledged, pushing herself up. Despite her injuries, she was determined to respond.
"You have failed me," Rita declared, her tone sharp and unforgiving. Scorpina winced at these words, hurting her more than those injuries.
"Trask's meddling has disrupted the balance, but it matters not. We shall adapt our strategy. And at the very least, it's an intriguing development." Squat and Baboo, Rita's bumbling and peculiar minions, hovered nervously nearby, exchanging glances and whispering in hushed tones.
"This Trask character seems to have technology beyond our understanding. Are we in trouble?" Squat said, louder than he intended.
Rita turned her piercing gaze toward Squat, her eyes narrowing. "Foolish creature! Trask's machinations are nothing compared to the magic that courses through my veins. The Power Rangers will crumble before the might of darkness, and my Evil Green Ranger shall be the harbinger of their demise." Squat fell back on his rear.
"You idiot! Why'd you have to go and question our Queen's power!" Baboo said, adding fuel to the fire and smacking Squat over the head.
"His creatures are shallow husks compared to mine," Finster added. "The Chimera was hybrid of earth-technology and the remnants of King Sphinx. He was foolish to think he could control it."
"Yes, and if he releases any more of his creations, we can certainly take advantage of the situation. It'll add another layer to the next part of our plan," Rita said gleefully.
Scorpina rose to her feet, struggling to stand upright. "My Queen – forgive me. I am committed more than ever to defeat the rangers. The Red Ranger – he will fall to me."
Rita's gaze bore into Scorpina's, assessing the depth of her loyalty. "You fought recklessly," Rita admonished her. "Your power is great no doubt, but you let your bloodlust get the best of you."
Goldar remained silent, his golden wings folded as Rita dealt out her verbal lashing to his beloved. What she was true. He knew Scorpina was reckless.
"And the Red Ranger will be mine," the Green Ranger entered the throne room, bowing his head before Rita. "Not yours, Scorpina. I will have all of them," he said. Scorpina hissed at this. Goldar stepped forward, his eyes intense – he was willing to take on the Green Ranger then and there for his disrespect.
"Now, now. Do not fight each other. We will destroy the Rangers," Rita said, detecting the conflict between her generals. "The glory will be all of ours." She snapped her fingers and a large book materialized on her lap. "Now. The Eclipse. The time has come."
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