Three days after the incident our friends gather at a local park finding a spot that is a bit more secluded so they are on their own, they come together to discuss everything after they thought about it the last couple of days.
"I am unsure if I want to continue." Ann says. She looks worried.
"I know. It looks like a lot of responsibility." Sophia nods. She kinda jumped into action that day surged by that unknown power surging through her. It felt great at that moment sure, but is that something she really wanted to do? Placing herself in danger to protect and safe others? She simply doesn't know. Three days aren't enough to come to a conclusion.
"Let's face it, we all have our doubts. But unless Tobu finds others to transfer these powers to, we are kinda on board for now." Mats states their current situation and everyone falls silent for a moment.
"If he finds one or even wants to find others." Ann is still not that trusting of Tobu. They met him shortly after. He was the one in the Red Ranger suit and explained everything, well everything he claimed to know at least. He created these powers based on a Power Rangers team that already existed. He practically copied everything from what she understands. He also mentioned three rules that they need to follow. "There are also those rules."
They keep silent for a bit as some people walk past them. As the third rule says they need to keep their identity a secret no one is allowed to know that they are Power Rangers at best outside of them. Not that any of them would want to tell it anyways. No one wants the attention they probably will get once it's out of the box.
"Yeah, not sure how I feel about them. I mean he knows where the spaceship of that Cereas guy is." They can chase them off, they just need to get onboard. Why should they wait until there is another attack?
"It is the right choice though. I think these rules are needed." Sophia replies "None of us wants to endanger our families and friends."
"I know. And I understand that. I just think that many people would think that attacking them before they come back is the easier way."
"When I transformed I felt great. Strong. Powerful." Sophia explains. "But I also feel like I need to be careful."
"I think I understand what you want to say." Till nods.
"If we start attacking possible threads, where do we stop?" Sophia asks this question and everyone keeps silent for a moment.
"Sophia is right. Also I don't really want to see any of you get hurt."
"Ann, yeah me too really." Mats admits.
"So maybe we really should just stop it." Till suggests. "So we don't get dragged into another fight."
"Yeah, also I don't really know if Tobu is searching for others to transfer these powers." Ann states her concern.
"I am pretty sure he does. He also didn't seem to be happy about something." Mats replies. Probably hoped it didn't end up like this, or he wanted someone a bit older than us at least."
"How much older is he?" Till asks.
"I think he is early twenties." Ann estimates.
While thinking about the whole situation Sophia also thinks about something else. They were in the command center that is disguised as a science lab and the central room has something interesting for her. "There were all these consoles, all those computers." It kinda is a dream room for her. She surely could drop all the fighting stuff, but playing with those.
"Sheesh Sophia. You are drooling." Till says teasingly.
He catches a cold blink but Sophia doesn't respond to it.
At the command center Tobu has his own doubts. He looks at some files on a smaller screen. "Am I doing the right thing here?" Of course no one answers. He is alone again. Trini wanted to stay but she has a daughter so Tobu couldn't really keep her here. Jason's flight was earlier and he already was in the air when the fight happened. So once again he is the sole person in this whole building. Of course he has new team members. Finally the Power Rangers are complete but that is exactly what he is having doubts about. He does not regret creating the coins, but that he has to involve a group of teenagers into a fight that could ruin their lives or outright kill them. Who is he to introduce them to such a task?
But there is also another issue. He pulls out his Morpher. For a minute he stares at it. He knows he isn't chosen as the Red Ranger. Creating the Power Coins he kinda tricked them but when the real Ranger shows up he might get rejected or so he feels. That will also mean that he might introduce another to this danger. He does seem to have a connection to the Dragonzord though no clue why.
He looks at some files for a while but he doesn't really get anywhere. His head is filled with all these thoughts. Maybe he should take a break. Actually no he really should take a break but he also needs to figure it out. He sighs and keeps on going through those files. Tobu doesn't really get anywhere with them.
On board the ship Cereas looks at footage from the fight. Jador is with him.
"Do you have anything to tell me?" Cereas demands Jador to speak.
"We are trying to come up with a plan but we know very little about those Power Rangers. There was a power surge near your battle, but when I checked it out the other four Rangers were already there."
"Do you have an idea what it was?"
"No to be honest. It could have been from their way of transportation. I am sure though, that they are not always running around like that." Jador points at the Red Ranger that currently is featured on the screen portal. "But if they just change into these outfits or if it is part of some transformation or anything else. I have yet to discover."
"So right now everything we can do to find them is causing havoc until we find out their identity." Cereas concludes.
"Yes, mylord. For that Lador is moving down to earth soon. He will make sure to draw them out and capture them." Jador bows. "I summoned the right undead monster for that task to accompany him."
"Capture them."
"Mylord." Jador then leaves the room.
Later that day Tobu went to the harbor. It isn't a big one. Most of it is taken for yacht and fishing harbor. There are some wharves for ferries going out for islands off the coasts. There once was a shipbuilding company but that one has closed down. Still there is life at the harbor. Tobu enjoys a walk along the harbor and the breakwaters. He still has all the things on his mind but finally acknowledged that he needs a break. For a while he just walks around without any goal in mind.
The sea breeze is relaxing but there is still so much on his mind. He leans against a bollard and just feels the breeze for a moment in hope he can for a moment stop thinking about it. He closes his eyes trying to enjoy the moment.
It only lasts for a moment though.
"Excuse me?" A female voice breaks Tobu's attempt.
As he looks at who is there he sees a teenager. She has brown hair and carries a larger bag. He noticed her. After all, they had fought together a few days before.
"Sophia Ziegler. What brings you here?"
"I could ask you the same. But I wanted to get my head clear." Sophia responds.
"Same here."
A moment of silence follows where both are just standing there.
"Can I ask you something?" Sophia breaks the awkward silence after a short while.
"Sure."
"Why do you do that? Or rather are you ever scared? "
Tobu thinks for a few seconds before answering. "Yes. Actually I still am afraid."
Sophia nods.
"Moreover, I am afraid of what might happen when I don't act. I am gifted enough to do these things, you know. And I do love it here, I love our planet, the people. If I don't step up and something happens I also could never live with that thought." Actually speaking these words to someone reassures his resolve. He might have talked to Jason about it but it kinda came down to him receiving tutelage and about the duty it holds.
Sophia looks out to the sea. "We were discussing giving them back and be done with it. Honestly we all are scared. But what should we do?"
Tobu smiles. "I am glad you stepped up. And I think it is natural to be afraid, maybe I would be more worried if you weren't." He says. "But in the end it is your decision. No one can make it for you. So think about it and if you made your decision you know where to find me. Normally I am there."
"It isn't easy."
"I know." Tobu nods. "If you see your friends please also tell them what I said."
"About that you are afraid or that we have to make the decision on our own?"
"Everything if that helps."
In this moment there was an insistent sound. It comes from Sophia's bag and Tobu's left arm. Both look surprised for a moment knowing what it means.
"What is happening?" Sophia pulls out the device. It is the alarm.
"The sensors picked something up and it seems to be close." Tobu explains, looking at the device which looks like a smartwatch.
"Are we getting the others?" Sophia asks.
"You can go if you want, I will check out what is happening." Tobu runs in the direction indicated on the watch.
Sophia hesitates for only a bit. But then she writes the others a message before trying to follow him. Surely that guy is fit. Even unmorphed he is really fast he must have trained a lot to be ready. Something they didn't.
Ann is eating with her parents when they hear the same sound.
"What is that sound?" Her mother asks.
"Oh a new ringtone. Sounds terrible I know." Ann replies. "I will see who it is."
"Do you have to?"
"Might be important."Ann heads off to her room. She pulls out the device and looks at it. She also notices that Sophia had sent a message. "Oh great." She quickly grabs everything she needs. Morpher, the watch-like device and her smartphone. Grabbing a jacket she heads to the front door. She rules out transporting her just straight to that command center to avoid confusion and panic of her parents. "Sophia asked for help. I will head out and gonna eat with her. I am sorry."
"Ann, wait." Her mom proclaims but the girl already heads out the door without stopping.
"That is annoying." She mutters while running a few blocks and searching for a spot where she will be unseen.
Mats is helping his father with changing the tire of his car, when he hears the sound. In contrast to earlier he actually wears it like a watch.
"That sound is annoying." His dad complains.
"Yeah you are right about that. I'm gonna see if I can change it later." Mats replies.
"If not ask that Sophia she is good with those stuff, ain't she?"
"Yes." Mats backs down a bit looking at what is going on. "Maybe I have the chance sooner as expected. Do you still need me?"
"One of your friends needs you, right?" His father asks.
"Yes." Mats answers.
"We are almost finished. I can do the rest alone."
"Sorry, Dad. I will head out now." He has his Morpher in one of the pockets of his overall he is currently wearing. Leaving the garage he then straight heads out without changing. He finds a spot he can hide while actually taking a more thorough look at the smartwatch-like device. "Damn."
Till is alone at home since his parents have to work again. Since it is that way he doesn't really need to find an excuse. He checks the device and Sophia's message. He quickly takes on some more street worthy clothes and grabs his Morpher with uncertainty. Still if only one of his friends goes out there. He will not leave them alone with it.
Tobu arrives on the scene followed by Sophia who needs to catch her breath for a bit. What they see however are three girls maybe a year or two younger than Sophia standing opposite to a creature that looks like a humanoid crab at the beach. One girl in particular is opposing that creature, having a fighting stance. Tobu notices the stance. The girl wearing a red jacket has one arm stretched with the flat hand turned up and the fingertip of the other hand barely touching the arm. The stance looks more narrow overall in exchange to the likes of karate, where you have your feets are more spread out.
"You mocking me?" The crab-like creature yells, before rushing in and swinging its crab claw at the girl. She twists to the side while redirecting the claw away from her and landing a few quick jabs into the creature's side. The next claw comes in a bit lower, but the girl still redirects the attack away from her. It catches her jacket with its claw but she twists around and kicks to the upper legs close to its purposely joints, making it lose its balance. Jumping on that opportunity with three consecutive punches each one having more strength behind it. The crab creature stumbles back and falls on its back. The girl returns into her fighting stance.
"Who needs Power Rangers when we got you Amalia." One of the girls standing behind the girl in the red jacket says.
"Yeah. You are stronger. Finish him." The other adds.
"It doesn't seem like they need our help." Sophia remarks. They kept watching, but stayed out of sight. Ready to jump to action, but seeing the girls' performance they hesitate.
"Yeah, maybe."
Amalia, spurred into action by the other two girls, closes in on the crab creature, when two new creatures rise from the water. One jumps off and seems mostly human, she has a body suit and wears a round transparent helmet that is filled with presumably water. From her shoulder pauldrons two tubes follow along her arm to something on the back of her forearm that looks like it could be a blaster. Behind her a humanoid lizard creature follows slowly walking towards them. He is clad in some boney armor.
"Stop it." The human-looking creature says shooting to the side of the three girls, not hitting anyone though. The shot came out of the devices on her forearm. "Lord Krok, are you alright?"
"I am hurt. My pride is hurt." The crab monster replies.
The girl in the red jacket seemingly understands and backs down, still in a fighting stance though.
"Now we should step in." Tobu says. Making sure no one can see Tobu holds up his Morpher. "It's Morphin' Time! Tyrannosaurus!"
Nothing happens. Tobu doesn't morph into the Red Ranger. He tries again. Nothin'.
Sophia looks confused but tries it herself. Holding up her Morpher she says the words. "It's Morphin' Time! Pterodactyl!" In an instant she transforms into the Pink Ranger. "It worked for me." She says, still not understanding what is going on.
"Don't worry about me, we need to get those three out of here." Tobu says.
Just on time a green mist forms on the beach. Out of it a skeleton knight appears, Lador. He ignores the girls and turns towards the other party. "We are conducting some business here. Who are you?" He points with his scythe towards the humanoid crab creature.
"None of your business." The lizard monster replies.
"We retreat." Lord Krok says and immediately he and the lizard-like monster are grabbed by the third in the round and out of her back it looks like a jet booster extends. The booster fires off and all three are flying away into the sky.
"Cowards." Lador mutters then turns towards the girls.
"Take him, defend us." They demand from Amalia. She is hesitant though, as she more and more backs off, pushing the other girls with her.
"Leave those girls alone." Sophia in the form of the Pink Power Ranger steps between those three girls and Lador.
"Ah the pink one." Ladors addresses her. "Alone?"
"It, it doesn't matter."
While Sophia keeps Lador occupied Tobu reaches out to the girls, convincing them to run away. While he himself returns to a hiding spot. Watching there with an ever firmer grip on his Morpher.
Lador lashes out with his scythe. The Pink Ranger manages to dodge once, twice, but is struck on the third attack. Sparks flying as her Ranger suit absorbs most of the impact As she gets up, the skeleton general grabs her by the neck. The knight easily holds her up with one arm.
"Seems I managed to capture the first." Lador says in triumph.
"Power Lance." The Blue Ranger arrives and thrusts his weapon at the skeleton knight forcing him to tumble back, still holding onto the Pink Ranger.
"Power Axe." The Black Ranger is behind Lador and swings at him, forcing him to let go of Sophia and jumping back but blocking the strike with his scythe.
"Are you alright?" Ann rushes at Sophia's side.
"Yes." She turns around. "Power Bow!" She shoots a couple of times at Lador. They all hit, but he seems unfazed by them.
"I respect that you fight for each other. You make a good team." Lador compliments the Rangers. "Today I am only here to scout out that other group, but they left. He raises one arm up towards the sky. "You are strong. I give you that Power Rangers, but how do you handle something bigger?" Green-ish mist gathers and forms something big. A skeleton version of a dinosaur taller than any building in town. Lador then disappears.
Tobu curses himself. He turns to the smartwatch-like device. Besides having an alarm tune when a monster attacks. It also allows for communication only between the Rangers and the command center. It should be impossible to hack into the system and spy on their communication. "Call your Zords."
"I must have been slipping on that part." Ann replies.
"Pterodactyl Dinozord Power!" Sophia is the first to call out. A mechanized version of the flying dinosaur flies towards them. She never piloted something her own. Sure she used flight simulators before and pilots her drones, but still. She is excited though. As instructed by Tobu she puts the Power Crystal into a slot on the console before her to gain control, turning the Coin into the Crystal in the process. She takes the controls then and happily flies around the monster skeleton. She activates the weapon and shoots at it while flying by.
Seeing it the other Ranger follow suit and call out their own personal Zord. They all get on board and start piloting them. They all attack the monster, only for little effect.
Tobu still holds onto his Morpher. He tried another time to morph, but it still didn't work. Frustrated he puts it away. He still has one option to assist them. He knows it will listen to him even without being morphed. He takes out a dagger that features green and gold elements and seems to have three buttons on the handle. Tobu plays it like an instrument.
"What is that?" Ann asks while piloting her Zord around, trying to not get hit by the monster's tail.
It takes a while, but then out of the water something emerges. It is as big or even a bit bigger as the skeleton monster they fight. It had a mechanical lizard head and a segmented tail. It has a golden circle on its chest with three red circles on the edge of it and one in the center. They blink sometimes, especially when the tune from Tobu's Dagger appears.
"Uh, is it friendly?" Till asks.
"Don't worry. The Dragonzord is your ally." Tobu reassures the Rangers via comm.
The Dragonzord jumps into action attacking the monster by ramming into it and attacking with its arms. When the skeleton dinosaur tries to strike with its tail, Dragonzord counters it with its own. Slowly but surely the Zord overpowers the monster. With another tune the Dragonzord shoots missiles out of its fingers, hitting the monster and causing an explosion. Destroying it in the process.
"Thank you my friend." Tobu says, before the Dragonzord returns to the ocean floor.
The Ranger and Zord return home as well, before another crowd can gather.
Back on the ship Jador enters the throne room to report.
"Mylord."
"It did not go as planned, I assume."
"It didn't."Jador confirms. "Lador confronted that other group but they fled. Unfortunately he had nothing to fly after them. The leader's name seems to be Lord Krok."
Having his back turned towards his officer he couldn't see Cereas worried expression.
"But he seems to have been beaten by a random female earthling. So I doubt they will be any hindrance to us." Jador explains the situation. "But we have some new knowledge. The monster I summoned, we increased its sight and found out that the Power Rangers have weapons to fight back. But I also noticed the same energy as when you were down fighting the Rangers. This time though I could make out four different locations."
"They aren't always together and need to gather." Cereas concludes.
"Yes. So if we manage to act when they are wherever they reside we might be able to catch them alone or even find out their identities."
"That indeed sounds like an idea we can follow." Cereas turns around. "On my home planet I learned about a story. A mighty and evil creature, Lord Krok. He vanished long before the purge happened though. Everyone believed it to be just a myth."
"That one though seems to be extremely weak."
"Is it the real one or someone using that name?" Cereas asks without an answer.
"Lord Krok, I am sorry." The female humanoid monster says.
"We are too weak." The lizard monster adds.
"Uh. All this humiliation. Once we finally found a way to leave that Lost Galaxy." In a fit of rage lord Krok punches the two monsters. "Then the first planet we attack strips me of all my strength and seals it away." He continues.
"Please stop." She pleases.
"Come on now. I am not even hurting you." Still the crab-like monster stops.
"We are also weakened, our true might comes from you."
"Still you are currently stronger than me. Still you follow me."
"You freed us from that place. Only with you can we dominate." The female monster replies.
"Also he is searching for the seals right now. Once you have your power back. We can conquer the universe." The lizard monster reminds everyone.
"I hate waiting." Lord Krok cries out but his rage has tuned down and he starts looking around. "Where are we?"
"This seems to be an abandoned base on that planet's satellite." The female monster answers and points at the blue planet nearby.
"Explore this base for anything useful." Lord Krok commands his two followers.
Our Rangers find themselves at a restaurant after the fight. They use a table in a corner away from other guests.
"Puh, I am toast." Mats let himself sink into his seat.
"Oh yeah? Try follow this guy around when he runs." Sophia replies while pointing at Tobu who is sipping his tea that he ordered.
"What was that giant thing though?" Ann asks. "It is bigger than ours. Is that yours?"
"Not really. I can summon and control it but it doesn't belong to my Power Coin." There is a reason why Tobu chose this place. They are undisturbed outside of the personnel, but if they come they can just stop talking about anything containing their Ranger life. "It is called the Dragonzord and to my knowledge lay dormant on the ocean floor for centuries. I was able to restore the power it belongs to temporarily, which allows me to summon it to our aid. But it is still unlike any of those I created using designs that existed."
"That was cool, not gonna lie." Till says.
"And helped us win." Mats adds.
"I want to tell you. Thank you for today. And I am sorry that I dragged you into this."
"It is alright. There wasn't really a choice at that moment." Ann replies.
"If you still want to leave, I will hurry to find a solution." Tobu promises.
"I am on board." Sophia announces. As all her friend's eye are on her she adds. "What? Piloting mechs, doing good, and you've seen the command center. Sure there is some danger but we will manage it."
She reaps some giggles from her friends. Before they nod.
"If Sophia stays, so do we." Ann speaks up. "You get all of us or none of us."
"I think I can live with that." Tobu agrees.
"Also if we don't rein her in, she might dismantle and tinker with all your machines." Ann jokingly adds.
"That is so not true."
The four friends share a laugh, before their ordered food arrives. Tobu doesn't join in the laughter but a smile on his lips.