Green with Evil
Eclipse Part 3
"Those stupid Rangers," Trask had probably uttered these words no less than one thousand times over the last week. But he really meant it. For far too long had they gotten in the way of his plans to protect the people. And if not for them, his most recent creation – Chimera – would have successfully repelled the alien forces. It was the Red Ranger that was the problem. "They won't be a problem forever," he said, closing a file that read "Monarch."
He leaned back in his chair and set the file down on his desk. His eyes traced his desk, and he found his answering machine filled with messages – some personal, some professional. He wasn't taking calls. It was mostly the press and some higher-ups that wanted status reports. But they didn't understand his vision and what he was trying to do. He was getting a lot of pressure that Project Restoration was perhaps too risky. But Trask knew that without risk, there wasn't any real reward.
His racing thoughts ceased at the sound of a knock on the door. "Who is it?" he called out. There was no response, just another knock. He grunted before taking the file and putting it in one of his drawers. "Come in," he said. His door cracked and a woman walked in. She was wearing a white blouse tucked into a purple pencil skirt with long dark hair pulled up into a messy braid. She carried an energy of authority as she stepped into the office.
"Trask, I presume," she said, closing the door behind her.
"And you are?"
"Brenda Halliwell – I'm with Oversight, for NASADA, AGB and Military Command." Trask's eyes narrowed at this introduction.
"Angel Grove Battleforce sent HR to me," he said with a smirk. Brenda smirked at his remark, which she knew he meant as derogatory.
"Honey, you're gonna wish I was HR," she said sternly before having a seat. She crossed her legs and tossed a three-inch binder onto Trask's desk. She looked at it and then back to Trask, giving him the unspoken signal to pick it up and start reading. As he opened it, his face remained steely. Images of his lab. Images of his creations. Images that would be considered unsanctioned and classified.
"Is there an accusation that you're waiting to hand out?" Trask said as he turned another page.
"Smug," she said, unamused. "Trask, I don't know who you think you are, but I am on the verge of shutting you down."
"You don't have that authority. If you did, we wouldn't be having whatever this conversation is," he replied indignantly.
"You know, I can't tell if it's your undeserved confidence or your arrogance that's gotten you here. No doubt you're a great Military Mind. Military Command wouldn't have given you a prestigious role over the Angel Grove Rescue Squad if not warranted. But this—" her perfectly manicured nail pressed against the top of an image of Chimera attacking one of their own, "—is beyond the scope of your duties. Overreaching at best, and cavalierly reckless at worst."
He closed the binder quickly, almost on her finger but she pulled away just in time. "What do you want?" he asked.
"Trask – this project of yours. It is under immediate review. Your handling of the Power Rangers is also—"
"You're gonna come in here and tell me how best to keep the people of this city safe? There's no rulebook on an alien invasion," his voice was raising now. She raised an eyebrow in response, but otherwise was unflinching at this.
"The Power Rangers do not seem to be the threat you've suggested. They are unregulated and still problematic. But I'm wondering if your interference is doing more harm than good right now." These words were like poison to Trask, who let out a sound of disgust.
"I've known you for five minutes, lady, and you're an idiot."
Brenda's eyes hardened. "No, Trask. The real idiot here is the one who thinks he can play god with people's lives. You're putting everyone at risk with your reckless experiments. I'm here to make sure that stops."
Trask's face twisted in a sneer. "You think you can waltz in here and undermine everything I've built?"
Brenda remained unfazed, her voice cold and authoritative. "I have the authority to recommend a complete shutdown of your projects. But I'm willing to review it, provided you demonstrate a willingness to cooperate." Trask shook his head in disbelief.
"And how could I cooperate? Tell me how I can help you," he said, feigning interest.
She smirked, "Well, for starters, you need to mobilize your force. I don't know why you haven't already," she said with a knowing glance.
Trask's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You mean you don't know," she said, with a mock sound of surprise. She shook her head, "There's an attack happening on the city as we speak" His eyes widened and then he looked to the answering machine. His computer was off. He had gotten careless. "Your squad needs to help protect Angel Grove and assist the Rangers, not fight them. No, the public needs to see us as a united front against these attacks. It's imperative you deploy them immediately."
"United," he said, shaking his head.
"Disagree with this all you want, me asking is a courtesy," she said.
Trask clenched his jaw, the muscles working as he restrained his anger. "Fine. The Rescue Squad will be deployed to assist. But make no mistake, this isn't over."
Brenda stood, a satisfied smile playing at her lips. "Good. I'll be watching closely, Trask. Don't make me regret giving you this chance."
As she turned to leave, she added, "And remember, your priority is to protect the people of Angel Grove. Not your ego."
The door closed behind her, leaving Trask seething at his desk. He grabbed the phone, barking orders to mobilize the Rescue Squad. His eyes burned with a cold fury, but he knew he had no choice but to comply. For now.
Just then, the skies began to darken unnaturally, and a sinister voice echoed through the battlefield. Rita's voice, filled with malice, announced, "Let it begin!" Clouds swirled ominously, blocking out the sun and casting an eerie shadow over Angel Grove. Her wand descended upon the ground with a thunderous impact, and her voice radiated through the air like an ominous prophecy.
"Magic Wand, make my monsters grow!" Moments later, Goldar and a monstrous form of Scorpina appeared before them, their sights set on the heart of Angel Grove. Both of them wasted no time in their approach. The ground shook as they grew to gigantic proportions, their roars echoing through the city, causing windows to shatter and buildings to tremble. The citizens of Angel Grove ran in terror, seeking shelter from the impending doom.
Jason clashed with the Green Ranger, their swords meeting with powerful blows that sent sparks flying. "We won't let you win!" Jason declared as his sword clashed against the dark blade of his opponent.
The Green Ranger sneered. "You're already losing, and it's pathetic watching you try." His eyes glowed an eerie green behind his visor, adding an extra layer of menace to his words. He pushed Jason back with a surge of strength, forcing the Red Ranger to dig his heels into the ground to maintain his balance.
Trini and Billy were still working on teleporting the kids out. Billy's hands were shaking as he calibrated teleportation for the next batch of children. "Just hold on a little longer," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Trini, meanwhile, was fending off putties that tried to get close, her daggers flashing in the dim light. She then grabbed another two kids and teleported out.
Kimberly and Zack were still trying to protect the remaining children while Trini and Billy were coming in and out, but time wasn't on their side. Jason's voice cut through the chaos, "Guys, we need to get to our Zords soon! The Green Ranger is just a distraction!"
"Well, it's certainly working!" Zack called out after slicing a putty in half. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face. "Dude, we can't move! Not until all the kids are out of here."
Kimberly fired a volley of arrows, picking off putties as they tried to swarm the bus. "We need more time! Trini, Billy, hurry!" She was moving constantly, never staying in one place for too long to avoid becoming an easy target.
Billy, sweat pouring down his face, nodded as he helped another pair of children to safety. "Doing our best, Kim!" He activated his communicator to teleporter and with two children vanished in a flash of light. "We need to speed this up," he muttered.
Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of vehicles screeching to a halt reached them. Trask's Angel Grove Rescue Squad arrived, taking the putties by surprise. A woman's command came through loud and clear. "AGRS, let's assist the Rangers and secure the area!" Her voice was calm and authoritative, cutting through the chaos like a knife.
The Rescue Squad sprang into action, The Rangers were momentarily taken aback by the assistance. They moved with military precision, each member of the AGRS knowing exactly what to do and when to do it meanwhile other AGRS officers moved with coordinated attacks against the putties. One officer tackled a putty to the ground, using a baton to strike it down. Another officer, wielding a high-tech stun gun, shot several putties, causing them to collapse instantly.
Jason, still engaged with the Green Ranger, spared a glance at the AGRS. "What is Trask up to now?" he wondered aloud, narrowly dodging a swing from the Green Ranger.
Just then, a door opened to one of the vehicles and a woman stepped out. She seemed out of place for the scenery. Her high heels and corporate attire sticking out like a sore thumb among them. She approached Kimberly and Zack, her eyes sharp and focused. "How can we help?" Her voice was firm, yet compassionate, as if she was ready to take on the world herself.
Kimberly nodded toward the remaining children. "We need to get these kids out of here. Our friends have been teleporting them to safety, but it's taking time." She was out of breath, her movements slowing from the continuous fighting.
The woman signaled her team. "AGRS, focus on the kids! Rangers, we'll handle the putties!" Her command was met with immediate action, the AGRS moving to create a perimeter around the children, they quickly began helping the children into their support vehicles.
"Wait – what," Kimberly replied, more than surprised.
"We can handle the ground support. I think you're needed up there. Our air support is mobilizing if needed but it is taking time," the woman explained.
"No, it's just…" Kimberly was still in awe. "Thank you."
"Yeah - Thanks for the assist!" Zack called out, swinging his Power Axe to clear a path. He then activated his communicator to Trini and Billy, "Yo, we have some ground support. You're not gonna believe it."
"Yeah, get to your Zords. The kids are in good hands," Kimberly said.
"What do you mean?" Trini's voice sounded skeptical.
"AGRS is here to help," Kimberly said.
"Come again?" Billy asked.
"I know – let's not overthink. We're summoning the Zords now! See you in the skies!" Kimberly's voice was filled with a mix of relief and urgency.
"Mastodon Dinozord, power up!" Zack commanded, his Zord responding to his call. The ground trembled as the massive Zord came to life.
"Pterodactyl Dinozord, power up!" Kimberly echoed, her Zord taking to the skies with a powerful screech.
The two Zords roared to life, moving to engage Goldar and Scorpina. Zack's Mastodon Zord unleashed a freezing blast at Scorpina, while Kimberly's Pterodactyl Zord fired precision strikes at Goldar. The blasts hit their marks, causing the giant monsters to reel back, if only for a moment.
Inside his Zord, Zack gripped the controls tightly. "We need to keep them at bay until the others can join us!" His voice was tense, knowing they were buying precious time.
Scorpina swung her stinger recklessly, but Kimberly was able to evade every strike. She moved with the agility of a bird, her Zord dodging and weaving through the air. Goldar's sword clashed with the Mastodon's trunk, causing the Zord to lose its balance. The eclipse began to take full effect, casting an eerie light over the battlefield.
Zack's voice came through the communicator. "We can't keep this up much longer, Jason! We need the Megazord!"
"I know guys, I know! I'm trying!" Jason replied, strained. He was locked in a fierce battle with the Green Ranger, their swords clashing repeatedly.
Trini and Billy finally teleported back to the battlefield and were in shock to find AGRS actually helping.
"Okay – we're back. And it would appear they were right," Billy said, adjusting his glasses.
"This is a nice change of pace," Trini added, slashing through a putty that made the mistake of charging up on her.
"You guys – get to your Zords!" Jason called out from afar. Billy and Trini nodded their heads.
"Triceratops Dinozord, power up!" Billy commanded, his Zord responding immediately.
"Sabretooth Tiger Dinozord, power up!" Trini echoed, joining the fray.
The two of them joined the fight, assisting the other Zords but soon found themselves being overpowered. Scorpina's stinger lashed out at Billy's Triceratops Zord, while Goldar's blade continued to clash with the Sabretooth Tiger Zord. The sheer size and strength of their opponents were overwhelming, and the eclipse only added to their struggle.
"This so weird, my zords energy levels are suboptimal." Billy entered some data into his main console and got some troubling readings back, "you guys, I think all of our Zords are losing power!"
"What? How is that possible?!" Trini asked.
"It seems the effects of the eclipse are cutting off power – I don't understand why. The Zords power isn't solar based…" Billy said, trying to understand. Just then, Goldar brought his sword down on the Triceratops and then kicked it over – sparks spraying everywhere.
"Stay away from him!" Kim flew her Zord down and began spraying Goldar with lasers to get him away from Billy while he recovered.
Inside her Zord, Trini focused intensely, her hands moving swiftly over the controls. "You guys, we need to synchronize our attacks!" She readied her zords, "If we are losing power, then we need to try and finish this quickly. Billy – with me!"
Billy, struggling to keep his Zord upright, responded, "Right! On your mark!"
"Three, two, one, now!" Trini shouted. The Triceratops Zord and Sabretooth Tiger Zord lunged at Goldar together, their combined power momentarily pushing him back. But their efforts were not enough to turn the tide of the battle. Goldar roared, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination as he swung his sword, knocking both Zords back.
Meanwhile, Jason and the Green Ranger were still locked in fierce combat. The clang of metal echoed as their swords collided, sparks flying with each strike. Jason parried a particularly vicious swing, using his agility to sidestep and deliver a swift kick to the Green Ranger's midsection. The Green Ranger stumbled, momentarily losing his balance. Jason seized the moment, channeling his strength into a powerful blow that struck the Green Ranger's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Panting heavily, Jason surveyed the battlefield. He saw the AGRS agents efficiently evacuating the last of the children and neutralizing the remaining putties. Relief washed over him, knowing the kids were out of harm's way and that the Angel Grove Rescue Squad wasn't also trying to take them down. At least, not right now.
"Guys, I've got him down! I'm coming up!" Jason shouted, running toward them. "Tyrannosaurus Dinozord, Power Up!" Jason leapt into his Tyrannosaurus Dinozord, feeling the familiar surge of power and he took his seat. "Alright, everyone. Let's form the Megazord!"
MEGAZORD SEQUENCE HAS BEEN INITITATED.
The Zords began to combine, their parts locking into place as they formed the powerful Megazord. The transformation sequence was swift and precise, metal parts clicking together with a satisfying finality.
MEGAZORD ACTIVATED.
As the Megazord powered up, the eclipse reached its peak, casting the battlefield in a surreal darkness.
Inside the Megazord's cockpit, the Rangers felt renewed to be together. "Alright, guys. Let's take them down," Jason commanded from his central position.
The Megazord stood tall against the darkened sky, ready to face Goldar and Scorpina. The battle was fierce, with each side unleashing powerful attacks. The Megazord delivered a powerful punch, sending Goldar staggering back, but Scorpina leapt onto the Megazord, slashing with her deadly stinger.
Inside the cockpit, alarms blared as the Megazord's systems began to falter. Zack's voice cut through the noise. "We can't keep this up much longer!"
"You see – the Megazords Power – its dropping. This shouldn't be happening this quickly!" Billy said, entering code into the controls to try to stabilize the power.
Jason's voice was steady but strained. "Hold it together, guys."
Rita, watching from her vantage point, decided it was time to tip the scales further. "Magic Wand, make my Green Ranger grow!" she chanted, throwing her wand to the ground, and burst of energy towards the Green Ranger.
The Green Ranger began to grow, towering over the battlefield just like Goldar and Scorpina. The Rangers' eyes widened in shock.
"He's huge! We're outnumbered and outmatched," Trini exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
"We can do this," Jason reassured them, though he felt the weight of the challenge ahead. "We have to."
The enlarged Green Ranger joined the fray, his attacks on the Megazord precise and devastating. The combined assault of the Green Ranger, Goldar, and Scorpina proved overwhelming. The Megazord staggered under the relentless barrage.
"We need a new strategy!" Billy suggested, trying to keep the Megazord balanced.
"Summoning the Power Sword!" Jason called out, hoping to turn the tide.
"Jason if we do that, we won't have enough Power to sustain many more hits," Billy said. "I'm trying to reroute power, but…"
"Billy – just try to keep us online as long as you can," Jason said.
The Power Sword appeared, glowing with energy. The Rangers focused their strength, delivering a powerful slash that cut through the air, sending bursts of powerful energy at them, driving them to the ground. But the Green Ranger, Goldar, and Scorpina quickly recovered, launching a coordinated counterattack.
"Again! We have to try again!" Jason said loudly through blaring alarms.
"Jason, we can't!" Billy warned.
"Hang on!" Jason yelled, entering the command. Summoning their last reserves of strength, Jason focused all their energy into one final assault. The Megazord's sword glowed with a brilliant light as they swung it in a powerful arc, striking Goldar and Scorpina simultaneously. But it wasn't enough.
Rita's voice rang out with a triumphant cry. "Now, finish them!"
The Green Ranger, Goldar, and Scorpina unleashed a devastating barrage. The Megazord's systems began to fail, alarms blaring inside the cockpit.
Jason's voice was filled with desperation. "We can't hold on!"
The mighty robot crumbled, falling into a chasm that Rita opened with her wand. The earth trembled as Rita thrust her wand into the ground, her incantation echoing across the battlefield. The ground beneath the Megazord split open, revealing a deep, fiery abyss. Molten rock bubbled and spewed, the intense heat radiating outward. The Megazord's parts began to separate, each section falling helplessly into the glowing chasm.
The Rangers were ejected from the Megazord, landing hard on the ground. They tumbled across the battlefield, the impact knocking the wind out of them. Dazed and bruised, they struggled to their feet and watched in horror as their Zords fell apart, disappearing into the seething lava below. The once-mighty machines were swallowed by the fiery pit, their forms lost to the molten depths.
Jason's voice was barely a whisper. "No... our Zords..."
Kimberly's eyes filled with tears. "We've lost them..."
"They were always there for them when we needed them most…and now they're gone…" Trini said, slamming her fists into the ground. Her thoughts broken by the sounds of airships in the sky. ARGS airfleet was mobilizing. But it was too late.
The Green Ranger stood above them, victorious. "This is only the beginning. You will all fall before Rita." With that, the Green Ranger, Scorpina and Goldar vanished, leaving the Rangers to grapple with their devastating loss.
The team teleported back to the Command Center, battered and disheartened. The familiar hum of the Command Center felt oddly cold as the Rangers appeared in flashes of light. As they arrived, Alpha's voice was filled with concern, his robotic arms wringing together nervously. "Ay-yi-yi! Rangers, thank goodness you're safe!"
Jason's voice was hollow, a stark contrast to his usual confident tone. "We lost... our Zords are gone."
Billy, Trini, and Zack exchanged worried glances. Kimberly's head hung low, tears streaming down her face. She wiped her eyes, trying to maintain her composure, but the sight of their defeat was overwhelming.
Alpha's lights flickered, reflecting his anxiety and urgency. "I saw everything through the viewing globe. The Megazord... it was destroyed."
Billy turned to Alpha, his voice filled with desperation. "Alpha, can the Zords be saved?"
Alpha shook his head, his lights dimming slightly. "I'm afraid not, Billy. Rita cast a powerful spell that severed the Megazord's power source. It was a losing battle from the start."
Jason clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Anger and determination mixed with despair in his expression. "We'll find a way to save him. This can't be happening. The Zords. Zordon…this can't be…" he said.
Alpha's lights flickered again. "There's are some answers…. I've identified the Green Ranger's true identity. Rangers, you need to see this."
"What? You did?" Zack said.
"Ay-yi-yi, yes, and I'm afraid it complicates things a bit…"
The viewing globe flickered to life, its surface swirling before revealing the silhouette of a man, slowly turning and his face revealing. The Rangers gasped in shock, the revelation hitting them like a physical blow.
"It's Tommy," Kimberly whispered, her heart breaking. The emotional turmoil was evident in her eyes as she stared at the image of the boy she had complicated feelings for, now revealed as their enemy.