Green with Evil

Salvation Part 3

The Power Rangers morphed on the rooftop of a tall building overlooking the chaotic scene below. The city was in turmoil—streets were cracked, buildings partially collapsed, and the air was thick with dust and smoke. In the distance, the towering figure of the Dragonzord loomed ominously over Angel Grove, its presence exuding raw power and menace.

Jason, Kimberly, Trini, Zack, and Billy stood in tense silence, their eyes fixed on the behemoth that was wreaking havoc on their city. The sight of the Dragonzord brought back memories—some recent, some too painful to forget. It was hard to believe that the one controlling the Zord was Tommy, a boy they barely knew but who had already become their deadliest enemy.

Without warning, Tommy leaped from a nearby building and landed on the head of the Dragonzord with practiced ease. His posture was commanding, confident, as though he was born to wield the power that Rita had given him. The Dragonzord roared in response to its master's presence, shaking the ground beneath it as it began its rampage.

Kimberly's voice was tight with emotion. "Tommy... How are we supposed to stop him without our Zords?"

Jason's gaze hardened as he clenched his fists. The memory of their first battle with Tommy came rushing back—their Megazord breached, and their defenses shattered by a single, determined foe. That fight had been a wake-up call, a brutal reminder of how vulnerable they could be. But in that moment, Jason realized they had learned something crucial. Tommy's strength lay in his unpredictability, in his willingness to use their own tactics against them.

But now they had a chance to turn the tables.

"We do what he did to us," Jason said, his voice firm with resolve. "We take the fight to him—on his turf."

Zack, still processing the idea, frowned as he tried to grasp Jason's plan. "You're saying we hit him the way he hit us, by getting inside?"

Jason nodded, his mind racing through the possibilities. "Exactly. He caught us off guard because we never expected him to breach our Megazord. But now, we know what he's capable of. He's expecting us to play defense, to hold back because we don't have our Zords. But if we go after him directly, if we hit him where he thinks he's safest, we might just have a shot."

Zack's eyes narrowed as he considered the strategy. "It's risky... But you're right. He wouldn't expect it. And with the Dragonzord rampaging like that, it's not like we have many options."

"Right. We don't have a choice," Jason replied. "If we can't match him in size, we'll use our skills. Billy, can we teleport directly onto the Dragonzord?"

Billy shook his head, his mind already calculating the variables. "Rita's magic might interfere with a direct teleportation. But we could try to teleport just above the Zord. We'd have the element of surprise on our side, but it'll be risky."

Jason nodded. "It's a risk we have to take. We'll use our weapons to disarm him, take him down before he can do any more damage."

"Let's do it," Trini said, her voice steely. She gripped her Power Daggers tightly, her resolve clear in her eyes.

Billy approached the edge of the roof to better assess the area around the Dragonzord, his usual analytical calm in place despite the stakes. "I'll set the coordinates. We'll have to be precise. One wrong move and we'll fall right off that thing."

Within seconds, the Rangers stood ready, their hands on their communicators. Jason gave a final nod. "Let's move."

In a flash of red, pink, blue, black, and yellow light, the Rangers disappeared from the rooftop, reappearing high above the Dragonzord, suspended momentarily in the sky. Time seemed to slow as they descended, each Ranger aiming for a different part of the Zord.

Jason landed first, his feet hitting the broad shoulder of the Dragonzord with a force that reverberated through the metal. He unsheathed his Power Sword and immediately went on the offensive, charging toward Tommy.

Kimberly landed nimbly on the Zord's tail, her Power Bow already drawn. She aimed carefully, her arrows flying straight toward Tommy's position. Trini, Zack, and Billy spread out across the Zord's back, their weapons drawn as they moved in to flank their adversary.

Tommy's helmeted head snapped up at the sudden intrusion, but he didn't falter. Instead, he laughed—a cold, chilling sound that cut through the chaos. "You think you can stop me? You're just delaying the inevitable!" He readied both his Dragon Dagger and the Sword of Darkness in his hands.

Jason met Tommy's challenge head-on, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. The force of Tommy's strikes was immense, pushing Jason back with every blow. But Jason stood his ground, his focus unwavering.

Zack sprinted across the Zord's back, his Power Axe spinning in his hands as he aimed a powerful swing at Tommy's legs. Tommy leaped into the air, avoiding Zack's attack with a fluid motion that seemed almost effortless. As he landed, he countered with a vicious kick that sent Zack sprawling.

Trini moved in next, her daggers flashing in the dim light as she launched a rapid series of strikes at Tommy. He blocked each one with precision, his reflexes enhanced by Rita's dark magic. With a swift move, he disarmed her, sending her daggers skidding across the Zord's metallic surface.

Kimberly fired another arrow, this time aiming for the Dragon Dagger in Tommy's hand. But Tommy anticipated the move, twisting out of the way and deflecting the arrow with his blade. "You're not strong enough to beat me!" he taunted, his voice filled with dark glee.

Billy had managed to get close to the Zord's head, where he quickly attached a device to its exterior. "If I can disable this, maybe we can stop the Zord from responding to Tommy's commands," he muttered to himself, his hands moving swiftly.

But Tommy noticed Billy's actions and lunged at him, knocking him away. "Nice try, but it's not going to be that easy!" he snarled, raising the Dragon Dagger.

Jason saw the danger and rushed forward, swinging his sword to intercept Tommy's attack. Their blades collided again, and this time, Jason pushed harder, forcing Tommy back a step. "Tommy, you have to fight this! Rita's controlling you!"

Tommy's response was a vicious snarl as he unleashed a flurry of attacks, driving Jason to the edge of the Zord. The Dragonzord, sensing its master's aggression, roared and began to move, swiping its tail and nearly knocking Kimberly off balance.

Zack and Trini regrouped, charging at Tommy from opposite sides in an attempt to pin him down. But Tommy was ready for them. With a powerful burst of energy, he knocked them both back, their bodies slamming into the Zord's hard surface.

"Give up!" Tommy shouted, his voice echoing. "You can't win this fight!"

Jason gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. "We're not giving up on you, Tommy!"

Kimberly took advantage of Tommy's distraction, leaping toward him with her bow drawn like a close-range weapon. But Tommy turned at the last second, grabbing her arm and twisting it painfully until she was forced to drop her weapon. "You should've stayed out of this, Kimberly," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

Billy, recovering from the jolt from the Dragonzord, gritted his teeth as he re-engaged the device on the external panel. The earlier attack had left him shaken, but he knew this was their best chance to gain control over the Dragonzord. With quick, precise movements, he tried to override the system, hoping to break the connection between Tommy and the Zord. Sparks flew as he worked, each one a small victory against the overwhelming odds. But just as he felt he was making progress, the Dragonzord let out a deafening roar. The panel in front of Billy exploded in a shower of sparks, the circuits shorting out and sending a shockwave through the Zord's structure. Billy was flung back, crashing hard against the metal surface, his vision swimming as pain shot through his body.

Jason, who had been locked in a fierce battle with Tommy, saw Billy go down and felt a surge of anger rise within him. He couldn't let this happen—not again. Summoning every ounce of his strength, Jason charged at Tommy, their swords meeting in a violent clash. Each strike Jason made was fueled by the desperation to protect his friends and stop the chaos Tommy was unleashing. But Tommy, empowered by Rita's dark magic, was relentless. His attacks were swift and brutal, each one pushing Jason closer to the edge.

With a final, devastating blow, Tommy struck Jason with such force that it sent him crashing down. Jason tumbled across the Zord's surface, desperately trying to regain his footing. As he slid towards the edge, he managed to drive his Power Sword into the metal, sparks igniting as he came to a grinding halt, narrowly avoiding a deadly fall. Breathing heavily, Jason struggled to pull himself up, his grip on the sword the only thing keeping him from plummeting into the chaos below.

The Dragonzord suddenly shifted, causing the entire surface to tilt precariously. Trini and Zack, already struggling to maintain their balance, were caught off guard by the sudden movement. Tommy seized the opportunity, spinning around and delivering a powerful kick to Zack, the force of the blow sent him careening into Trini, who had been attempting to stabilize herself as it was. Trini grabbed onto Zack instinctively, trying to stop their combined momentum, but the force was too much. They both skidded dangerously close to the edge of the Dragonzord, their hands flailing for something to hold onto. Tommy, not letting up, aimed another strike at the pair, his eyes cold and calculating.

Realizing they had no other choice, Zack and Trini activated their teleporters just as they were about to be thrown off the Zord's surface. In a flash of light, their bodies flickered out of sight before reappearing on a nearby rooftop. They landed hard, rolling to absorb the impact as they looked back at the Dragonzord, still reeling from the intensity of the battle.

Tommy stood tall atop the Dragonzord, his stance exuding confidence and power as he looked down at the remaining three.

"This is the end for you, Rangers!" Tommy declared, his voice filled with the same cold resolve that had marked all his actions since falling under Rita's control. His gaze swept over the battlefield, the wreckage of Angel Grove, and the desperate, but futile, resistance of his former team.

Billy, recovering from his fall, looked up at Jason, who was still struggling to regain his footing. The situation was dire, and he knew they couldn't keep fighting like this. They were outmatched, and without their Zords, they had little hope of winning this battle. But they couldn't give up—not when so much was at stake.

"Jason!" Billy called out, his voice strained but determined. "We need a new plan!"

Jason, still hanging on by sheer willpower, knew Billy was right. As much as it pained him to admit, they couldn't win this fight by brute force alone. But the question remained: what could they do against an opponent who had the upper hand in every way?

Tommy, sensing their hesitation, smirked beneath his helmet. He raised his Dragon Dagger, preparing to summon another wave of destruction. But before he could act, Jason finally pulled himself up, his mind racing for a solution.

The Command Center hummed with its usual low, steady rhythm, its control panels casting a soft, ambient glow that reflected off the metallic surfaces. Despite the familiar surroundings, the atmosphere was tense, weighed down by the urgent situation at hand. The pressure was on. Alpha 5 had been tirelessly working to restore Zordon, attempting every possible method to retrieve him from the time warp. The frustration of near misses and failed attempts was palpable, but Alpha had refused to give up hope. The Rangers needed him – especially now. Time wasn't on their side.

"Aye-yi-yi, come on, come on…" Alpha muttered, his fingers dancing over the controls. He was close, so close. A faint trace of Zordon's energy signature had finally surfaced, offering the first real glimmer of hope in what felt like an eternity.

The Command Center's lights flickered as Alpha entered a complex series of codes, his synthetic voice filled with anticipation. "Initiating temporal alignment sequence. Locking onto Zordon's coordinates now."

The hum of the Command Center deepened, the very walls vibrating with the power surging through the systems. On the main console, a screen crackled with static, images flickering in and out of focus as the alignment took hold. The energy signal was erratic, threatening to slip away at any moment, but Alpha remained steadfast.

Finally, the static on the screen began to clear, coalescing into a bright, focused light. The crystalline tube in the center of the room began to glow, filling with energy as Zordon's form started to take shape. Alpha watched in anxious silence, his circuits buzzing with anticipation.

Zordon's face slowly materialized within the tube, his expression calm yet resolute. "Alpha…" Zordon's deep, resonant voice filled the Command Center, steady and reassuring. "I have returned."

Alpha's lights blinked rapidly in relief. "Zordon! Thank goodness! I've been trying to bring you back for weeks. The Rangers have been fighting Rita's new evil Green Ranger, and—" Alpha's voice faltered, a rare note of distress seeping into his usual controlled tone. "—and the Zords have been destroyed!"

Before Zordon could respond, the viewing globe in the Command Center flickered to life, displaying the battle unfolding on the Dragonzord. Alpha and Zordon watched as the Rangers fought valiantly against Tommy, each of them struggling to gain the upper hand atop the massive Zord.

"This battle is tipping out of their favor," Zordon noted, his voice tinged with concern. "The Rangers are brave, but without their Zords, they are at a significant disadvantage."

Alpha's lights blinked rapidly in agreement. "Aye-yi-yi, Zordon, they're trying so hard, but Tommy is too powerful with the Dragonzord under his control!"

Zordon remained composed, his tone authoritative. "Rita's power has indeed grown stronger, Alpha, but she does not have the power to destroy the Zords. What she has done is disrupt their connection to the Morphin Grid, making it appear as though they have been destroyed."

Alpha tilted his head, his lights flickering in understanding. "So… the Zords aren't really gone?"

"No, Alpha," Zordon confirmed. "The Zords are bound to the Morphin Grid, just as the Rangers are. With my return and reconnection to the Grid, their power will be restored. The Zords will rise again, stronger than before, ready to aid the Rangers in their battle."

Alpha's lights blinked with renewed hope. "Thank you, Zordon. But what about Tommy? How can the Rangers stop him?"

Zordon's expression grew more serious. "Tommy is under the influence of Rita's dark magic, bound by the Sword of Darkness. The only way to free him from her control is to destroy the Sword of Darkness. Once the sword is destroyed, Tommy will be freed from the spell that binds him."

Alpha's mechanical hands hovered over the console, ready to relay the critical information. "I'll inform the Rangers immediately, Zordon."

Zordon's image pulsed with energy as he gave his final instructions. "The Rangers must act swiftly, Alpha. Rita's control over Tommy grows stronger by the moment, and with it, her power. But remember, with courage, teamwork, and the strength of their hearts, the Rangers can overcome even the darkest of evils."

Alpha nodded, his lights flashing with determination. "Aye-yi-yi, I'll let them know right away, Zordon!"

Alpha quickly moved to the controls, working to restore the Rangers' connection to the Morphin Grid. "We've got to get the Rangers their Zords back, Zordon! Hang in there, Rangers!"

As the screen continued to show the intense battle, Zordon's wisdom guided Alpha's every move. The Rangers had fought valiantly without their Zords, but now it was time to level the playing field. With Zordon's return, hope was renewed, and the Rangers would soon have the power they needed to turn the tide against Rita's evil plans.

The battle atop the Dragonzord had become a desperate struggle for survival. Jason, Billy, and Kimberly fought with every ounce of strength they had left, but Tommy's relentless attacks were wearing them down. Each strike of his blade was more powerful than the last, pushing the Rangers closer to their limits.

"I think this plan sounded better in my head than it actually is…" Jason said between breaths.

"In theory, all plans do," Billy agreed.

Jason managed to deflect one of Tommy's blows, but the force of it sent him staggering backward. Before he could recover, Tommy was on him again with relentless determination. "You can't win, Jason," Tommy growled, swinging the Sword of Darkness with lethal precision.

Jason blocked the attack, but the impact rattled through his entire body. He could feel the strain in his muscles, the exhaustion seeping into his bones. Just as he tried to counter, Tommy delivered a vicious kick to his chest, sending him flying across the Dragonzord's surface. Jason barely managed to grab onto the edge, his fingers scraping against the metal as he fought to hold on.

Meanwhile, Billy was trying to regain his footing after being thrown by the Dragonzord's sudden shift. He could see Jason struggling to hang on and knew he had to act fast. But before he could make a move, Tommy was upon him, delivering a powerful strike that knocked Billy off his feet and sent him skidding across the Zord's surface. The world tilted violently as the Zord shifted again, and Billy found himself sliding toward the edge, unable to stop himself.

Kimberly, seeing her friends in danger, leaped into action, her Power Bow drawn. She fired a volley of arrows at Tommy, hoping to distract him long enough to give Jason and Billy a chance to recover. But Tommy was too quick. He deflected the arrows with his sword, then lunged at Kimberly, his blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. Kimberly tried to dodge, but Tommy's speed was overwhelming. He caught her with a spinning kick that sent her crashing to the ground, her bow slipping from her grasp.

Desperate, Kimberly scrambled to her feet, but Tommy was relentless. "Tommy you have to stop this! You have to fight this evil," Kimberly protested.

"Quiet Pink Ranger!" He grabbed her by the arm and hit her hard in her shoulder, "You could never save me…even if I wanted you to," he said, this last part caught her off guard, which he used and he threw her with all his might, the force of the throw sending her hurtling toward the edge of the Dragonzord. She barely managed to activate her teleportation in time, vanishing in a flash of pink light before she could fall to the streets below.

Jason, still clinging to the edge, watched in horror as Tommy turned his attention back to Billy. With a swift, brutal strike, Tommy sent Billy flying off the Zord, his body twisting through the air. Billy activated his teleporter just in time, disappearing in a flash of blue before he could hit the ground.

Jason knew he had to act fast. With a burst of strength, he pulled himself up and charged at Tommy, determined to take him down. But Tommy was ready. He met Jason's attack head-on, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the Dragonzord, causing it to tilt dangerously once again.

Tommy grinned beneath his helmet, sensing his victory was near. With a final, powerful strike, he knocked Jason off his feet and sent him tumbling toward the edge. Jason's hand shot out, grabbing the edge of the Zord, but it was no use. Tommy delivered a brutal kick that sent him flying off the Dragonzord. Jason's world spun as he plummeted toward the ground, desperately reaching for his teleporter.

In a flash of red light, Jason teleported away just before hitting the ground. He reappeared atop a nearby vehicle, his body slamming into the metal with a bone-jarring impact. He groaned in pain, trying to catch his breath as he rolled off the vehicle and onto the pavement below.

Before Jason could fully recover, Zack and Trini, jumped down from a nearby building. Zack landed beside Jason first, grabbing his arm to help him up, while Trini quickly scanned the area. The two helped steady Jason, ensuring he was back on his feet and ready to fight.

"Thanks, guys," Jason said, his voice strained but filled with gratitude.

"No problem, man," Zack replied, his tone serious. "Glad you're okay."

Just then, their morphers began to glow. Jason looked down in shock as his Power Morpher began to glow, the light growing brighter with each passing second. "My Power Morpher… it's glowing…"

"Mine too," Trini said, looking down and hers and Zacks were responding the same way.

Billy and Kimberly, who had been recovering nearby, also noticed the glow from their morphers. They quickly joined the others, staring in awe as their own morphers began to radiate with energy. "Zordon's back," Jason said, his voice filled with a renewed sense of hope.

In the distance, the ground began to tremble as something massive began to rise from the earth. Before any of them could fully process what was happening, the glow from their morphers intensified, enveloping them in bright light. The light became blinding, and in an instant, the Rangers felt themselves being lifted off the ground, pulled by an unseen force.

Suddenly, they materialized inside their Zords, the familiar hum of power surrounding them. Their Zords, previously thought lost to Rita's spell, were fully restored, standing tall and ready for battle, their massive forms towering over the city once again. The Dragonzord roared in challenge, but the Rangers were ready.

The battle was far from over, but the Rangers were ready to fight.