Hiroto silently read the paper as he ate a cantaloupe for breakfast.
He yawned; he had a hard time sleeping last night. He supposed it was his embarrassment at his and Miu's showing yesterday - he was no believer in karma, but he supposed he deserved the shame he felt after how he tore into the Go-Ongers the other day.
Miu walked in, and he could tell by the look on her face that sleep had not abetted her anger at what the Go-Ongers told them.
"Stupid Go-Ongers, acting all cocky just because for once they managed like we do 99 times out of 100!" she began with no prompt. "Well, they better enjoy it while they can, the next time we rescue them, you go all out in telling them off, I will back you up all the way!"
Listening to his sister rant, Hiroto smiled, upsetting Miu even further.
"What's so funny?"
"It occurred to me that perhaps the real reason you're upset is that they're not your precious strays anymore. They can now stand up for themselves, and no longer need you."
As he expected, this made Miu only madder. Before she could say anything, though, they heard footsteps.
The two leapt to their feet, prepared to meet the intruders. Maybe it was just some dumb crooks who felt the morning was the best time to burgle a home, but they had long considered the possibility that the Gaiark might decide to attack them at home.
They both grabbed their Wing Triggers as they ventured out into their living room, prepared for anything. They both let out a sigh of relief when they saw it was just the Go-Ongers.
"Guys? What are you doing here?" asked Miu.
"Well, you guys always show up at our place unannounced, we figure we should return the favor" said Sosuke.
Hiroto and Miu looked at each other, neither sure what to make of this.
"I guess that's fair…" said Miu.
Normally she'd be happy to see Sosuke suddenly show up, but all of them gave her a different vibe from usual, as they took in the Sutou villa.
"Man, this is a big place" said Gunpei. "Funny, isn't it - us five have to squeeze together in the Ginjiro, while you two get this huge mansion all to yourselves…"
Hiroto and Miu again looked at each other.
"Hey, we saw you have a volley ball court out back" said Sosuke. "What say we play a round or two?"
Hiroto felt, on top of suddenly showing up uninvited at their home (not to mention Gunpei's passive aggressive comment on their different homes), this request was highly presumptive, but it then occurred to him perhaps a game could help improve the recently strained relations between the Go-On teams.
"Sure, why not?"
The guys headed out, leaving Miu and Saki alone.
"So Saki, I guess we'll have some girl time while the boys goof off" said Miu.
Saki smiled in reply; hardly a rare occurrence, but this was different from the one she had come to know - there was something about it, like she knew something Miu didn't…
Hiroto and the male Go-Ongers took their positions in the court, him being paired with Hant against the other three.
Sosuke spiked, and the ball hit Hiroto in the head.
"Ooooh!" said the Go-Ongers, sounding more impressed than worried for him.
Sosuke patted him on the back.
"You okay, buddy? Sorry, but you know us, we can't take our shoes off without setting the house on fire" said Sosuke, his smile suggesting anything but genuine regret.
"It's…fine" said Hiroto.
In truth, he of course suspected that it had been deliberate; but that seemed so out of character for Sosuke, who could certainly be boorish but never a bully, and he didn't want to inflame things by potentially needlessly accusing him.
"So, Saki, I did some redecorating recently; I moved the credenza to the dining room, and I got some new drapes, they're velvet, and have an Arabian Nights theme I just love…"
Miu realized the Yellow Ranger was not paying attention, instead playing with a strand of her hair as she stared at the table.
"Saki?"
At that, the Yellow Ranger snapped back to Miu, flashing an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. It's just we've been training so much, I guess I don't have the energy to act like you're an interesting person…"
For a moment, Miu was too stunned to speak. Then, she (nervously) laughed.
"Saki, I…I never knew you were one for jokes…"
Outside, the game continued.
Hiroto took off his jacket, the game having warmed his body considerably. The Go-Ongers had proven quite adept opponents; it'd been sometime since he had to put up this much of a fight in an (ostensibly) friendly game.
The next round was beginning. Gunpei spiked, and before Hiroto knew it again struck his head.
"Damn, that looked like it hurt" said Sosuke, who, as with the rest, seemed to be doing his best to hide a smile.
Miu frowned as she looked at Saki rest her head on the table, her half open eyes going around the room.
"Saki…I promise I'm not going to call the police or anything, but, I'm just curious…are you…on something…?"
Saki looked at Miu as if she had just asked the stupidest question of all time.
"Only on self confidence. I see why you'd be confused though. This is the first time we've had any since you and your brother arrived…"
Miu again froze.
"Yes, things were…unpleasant between us at the start, weren't they?" she said finally.
Hiroto had long stopped feeling like this was a game. No, it was more an endurance test, his nerves frying in stress.
Ren spiked this time, and despite the Gold Ranger being on guard the ball again found him as the target.
"Again, Hiroto?" said Sosuke. "Come on, you gotta get your head in the game!"
"I don't know, his head being in it seems to be the problem" said Gunpei, and the Go-Ongers laughed again.
Hiroto looked at them in disbelief. By now it was clear they were doing this intentionally. He is first thought was to call them out, but he stopped before opening his mouth; his instincts told him the best thing to do here was avoid escalation…
Miu was struggling to think of how to get Saki to engage in some sort of conversation. At this point, it was no longer simply about being a good hostess, but to assure herself the younger girl was all right.
"So…" she began, "Ani and I still feel a little foolish about last night…"
That at least seemed to get Saki's attention, the Go-Onger turning to face her with a bright smile.
"I have to admit to feeling a little crossed at what you said last night afterwards, but Ani pointed out you guys are only trying to get it so we get better. I mean, a year ago none of us were doing this, so we all have space to grow-"
"What did you guys do, exactly?" interrupted Saki.
"…excuse me?"
"I mean, all of us had jobs before this; we have plans for what we want to do after the Gaiark are defeated for good. Aside from school, have you guys done anything aside from lounging around here?"
Miu was silent. Saki giggled.
"Wow, you don't really have anything else going on in your lives, do you…? I guess that's why you were so eager to fight the Gaiark; must feel nice to actually be making a difference for once…"
Miu was silent, not sure how to respond to all that. She could at times find Saki's cheeriness a bit much, but she'd definitely take it over whatever this was.
Hiroto stared at the opposing team, eyes focused on all three of them, determined not to let them make a fool of him again. Then, a ball from the side hit him directly in the face, making him fall to the ground.
"Oops" said Hant, not even trying to hide his smile.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the four Go-Ongers looking down on him with wide smiles.
"Gee, Hiroto, it just isn't your day, is it?" said Sosuke as he offered him a hand up.
Miu came out of the kitchen with a cup of tea and a lemon scone.
"Can I get you anything?" she asked Saki.
"No, I'm good" said the Yellow Ranger as she took out what looked like a brownie made out of dirt. Miu felt a little grossed out as she began to eat it.
"What…what is that?" she asked.
"Ren came up with them. They're made from raw nutrients for maximum nutritional value."
"Oh…. So, you guys aren't eating eggs anymore?"
"Eggs are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, and increase the risk of heart disease. You want to try it?"
"Thanks, but, uh, I think I'll pass…"
"You sure?" said Saki bluntly. "You seem like you could stand to eat a little healthier…"
"What do you mean?"
"Those short shorts have been looking kinda tight lately; wouldn't want to split them in front of Sosuke, would you?"
"SAKI!" shouted Miu, not out of being offended but shock that Saki of all people would say such a thing.
Saki just smiled, looking the happiest Miu had seen her since she arrived.
Before Miu could say anything more, the guys came back, and she was horrified to see Hiroto with a black eye, rushing over in concern.
"Ani! What happened?"
"Oh, he didn't have much luck out there. Don't worry, he'll be all right; you're a tough guy, right Hiroto?" said Sosuke, grabbing his cheek as if he were a child.
Hiroto didn't respond to him as he broke away, his sister taking hold of him.
"Thanks you two, this was really fun!" said Hant.
"Yes, we'll be sure to come by again soon. Take care" said Ren.
The Go-Ongers turned to leave.
"See yah, Miu" said Saki, waving goodbye as she walked away without facing them.
A short time later, the siblings were in the kitchen, Miu holding an ice pack to her brother's face.
She suddenly sighed.
"Ani…what the hell just happened?"
"I told you, I took some hits to the face-"
"You know God damn well that's not what I'm taking about!" shouted Miu. "The Go-Ongers…Ani, I think they came here to intimidate us."
Despite everything, Hiroto couldn't help but laugh at the idea.
"Miu, these are the Go-Ongers we're talking about."
"Are they? Ani, I talked to Saki, she was like a completely different person! She was a rude guest, openly disdainful of me, and told viscous lies!" she said as she again snuck a glance at her backside. "And judging by your face I don't think Sosuke and the others were themselves either!"
Hiroto took a moment to think.
"They've been training more - that would boost their testosterone, making them act more aggressive. If so, we just need to give some time to adjust and they'll go back to being themselves."
Miu looked at her brother in disbelief.
"Ani, I know you're crazy about them being super competent now, but what if this is something serious?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"That gas…we assumed it was lethal, meant to kill. What if we were wrong? What if it did something to them? Changed them somehow?"
Hiroto sighed.
"To be honest, that possibility has occurred to me as well. But you saw how they were yesterday. Why would the Gaiark want to make them even tougher opponents?"
"I don't know, Ani! But I'm worried about them…"
AAAA
Later that day, Hiroto was trying to read a new book on Kierkegaard, unsuccessfully banishing thoughts and concerns about the Go-Ongers, when the phone rang.
"Hiroto. It's Sosuke."
At that he turned to face his sister, tending to some of her flowers, as he put the phone on speaker.
"Hello Sosuke."
At that, Miu turned to him with apprehension.
"Listen, we feel just awful about what happened today. I mean, God, we show up uninvited and you were nice enough to let us into your own home and we play rough, act like a bunch of jackasses, and I don't know what Saki said to Miu but she's in tears about it. I guess we've been training too hard, but we really want to make it up to you guys, so we figured we'd invite you to a cookout we're having tonight. Whadda say?"
Hiroto thought for a moment, as Miu pensively watched him.
"Sure. We'll be there."
"Great!" said Sosuke, who told him where the Ginjiro would be.
Once the call was over, Miu looked at her brother with incredulity.
"Ani, after all that happened today, you want us to go to their place?"
"That's just it. This will be a good opportunity to see how they are. If they're their usual selves, we can rest easy. If not…"
The siblings let that scenario go unspoken.
AAA
Night had fallen as the Sutous arrived at the Ginjiro, located in the woods just outside of Tokyo.
The Go-Ongers were waiting for them, all wearing sad, hound dog expressions on their faces, like kids who realized they disappointed their mom.
Sosuke slowly approached the siblings, seemingly straining to look them in the face. Once he got close enough, he bowed, the rest of the team following suit.
"We thank you for coming, after how shamefully we acted towards you today."
The Sutous were a little uncertain how to react: they wanted to improve the relations between the two teams, but they didn't want to just roll over for them.
"We thank you for inviting us" said Hiroto, feeling that made a good middle ground. "I hope we can ease the tensions between our teams. We can't afford any bad blood if we're to beat the Gaiark."
"My thoughts exactly, Hiroto" said Sosuke. "But, let's forget the past and the Gaiark for how. Tonight is about camp fires, scary stories, roasting weenies, and having fun."
"Maybe we can give you some pointers on volleyball, too" said Hant.
"Hant!" yelled Saki, hit out him in the shoulder. "I can't believe it! The whole point is to make it up for you guys being such jerks to Hiroto and you say that up!
Saki's anger was such that a frightened Hant leapt on Gunpei's back.
"Get off! My doctor said this isn't good for my back!" said the Black Ranger.
"Forward to safety, noble steed!" shouted Hant as he pointed ahead, their teammates laughing.
The Sutous smiled at each other, both relieved that it seemed their comrades were back to their normal selves.
Later on, Miu was utterly taken as Sosuke showed her how to roast a weenie on a stick.
"Ani, look, I'm cooking a weenie! Oh, I feel like I'm Remy!"
The night had gone better than the Sutous' best hopes. Even when Hant telling a creepy tale about a remote inn where children were turned into chickens to be eaten ended up having a silver lining as Sosuke noticed her fear and held her hand (her brother having been too frozen in terror himself.)
At that moment, the Go-Ongers' visit to their home seemed like a million years ago. Of course Hiroto was right like he always was: the Go-Ongers had just needed to rest, and were now again the pleasant band she had come to know. She had never felt so relieved at feeling so foolish before…
"You know, I always wanted to go camping, but our parents couldn't bear the thought of us being out in the wilderness without even a dryer to get our hair done. Ani and I had to settle for sleeping in a tent outside the house…"
"Well, why not do it right now?" asked Sosuke.
"R-really?"
"Yeah, you guys could just spend the night out here in the wilderness" said Hant.
"Oh, can we, Ani?" Miu eagerly asked her brother, who grinned.
"You know I can't say no to you when you have that look on your face."
"We have sleeping bags in the Ginjiro" said Saki. "I'll get them once I'm done cleaning up."
"Oh don't worry Saki, I can get them myself" said Miu as she went into the Go-Ongers' mobile base.
Hiroto was also feeling relieved that a potential crisis had not materialized (particularly as he felt at least partially responsible for it.)
He saw Sosuke standing and staring intently at the fire by himself.
"You thinking about something?" he asked the Red Ranger, having walked up to stand beside him.
"Yes…since the start, both of our teams have followed a pattern: we wait for the GaiRk to attack, beat them, and then we go back to waiting. Why do we let our foes set the terms of this war?"
"It's frustrating, I know. But what do you suggest we do instead?"
"Launch an all out effort to locate Hellgailles Palace. Once we find it, we attack it with everything we got and wipe it from the face of the Earth."
Hiroto was silent for a moment before replying.
"I've thought of that as well. But the fact is it's far too risky. Think of the defenses they would have; likely we'd be killed, and then there'd be no one left to defend against them. No, we should continue our current strategy. I'm not happy about it, either, but for now at least it's our best play."
Sosuke just smiled at that.
"Well, I guess if you can't figure out how, then what hope do I have?"
"Don't sell yourself short. You've impressed me many times these past few months; you may lack my schooling, but your instincts are second to none. I wouldn't at all be surprised if you came up with a solution."
Sosuke seemed taken aback by Hiroto's response. He lowered his head, just staring at the ground, silent.
God, Hiroto thought, are even things really so bad between us that he's shocked by me giving him a compliment…?
"This has been nice" he finally said. "Us being equals, I mean…" he said.
Hiroto nodded.
"It…it should have been like this from the start" he said.
Sosuke continued looking downwards, a single tear rolling down from his eye.
"I…I have to go. I don't want to be here."
"Sosuke, wait-"
But the Red Ranger ignored Hiroto and vanished into the trees.
AAAA
In the Ginjiro, Miu was still looking for the sleeping bags. She had figured on asking BOMPER where they were, but to her surprise the Go-Ongers robotic assistant/friend was nowhere to be found…
She was just about to go back out and ask where they were when she saw Ren's notepad laying on a table.
Unable to help her curiosity, she flipped through it. Most of it was what she expected: sketches and information of the recent Banki Beasts they had encountered, ideas for new uses of their weapons, etc.
Then she came upon something different: what seemed to be designs for a new robot. It resembled Engine-O in the basics, but much bulkier and more militaristic. She was trying to figure it out when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Miu spun around to see Ren glaring down at her.
"Oh, hey Ren I was-"
"Looking through my notepad?"
"Yeah, I just saw it lying about and was curious-"
"Clearly. Tell me, the next time we're at your home, are we allowed to go through your room and look through your things just to satisfy our curiosity? Or do you believe privacy is reserved for the upper class?"
Miu put the notebook back.
"You're right; please forgive me for being nosy."
"Oh, don't worry" said a new voice.
She turned to see that Gunpei and Hant had just entered.
"We think well of you, Miu" said Gunpei. "Your brother is, well, let's face it, a real piece of work, but we've always thought well of you, from the first day we met you."
"Well, that night at least" said Hant, which made all three of them laugh.
"And many nights since" said Ren, and they all laughed again.
"I actually thought well of you just before you got here" said Hant, prompting another round of laughter.
Wait, are they using "think well of me" as a euphemism for…no, they couldn't be. They wouldn't…
"How couldn't we, after all; you were so kind to us when we first met, taking pity on us hapless bunch. It's just in your nature; Hiroto told us you have a fondness for strays, right?"
"Yes, that's right" said Miu, smiling although she sensed an undercurrent of aggression in what they were saying.
"How adorable" said Hant.
"Oh, I can just imagine it: Mr. and Mrs. Sutou waiting outside for little Miu to get home from school, only to sigh when they see her carrying another poor kitty cat" said Ren.
Gunpei came up behind Miu, glaring down at her. The Silver Ranger was suddenly aware in a way she never had been before of how bigger and more muscular he was than her.
"That's what we are to you, right? Dumb, pathetic animals you take pity on."
Miu frowned.
"That's just Hiroto's teasing. I promise, I don't think of people as animals."
"Well, not Sosuke, of course" said Hant.
Miu jumped a bit at that. She figured it possible the others had recognized her crush on the Go-Onger leader, but she didn't think they would bring it up to her so casually.
"Of course" said Gunpei. "All women respect a leader."
"And one like Sosuke" said Ren, "a dirtbag from the lower classes, one sure to piss off her parents and, of course, her brother…"
Miu glared at them.
"Frankly, I don't see how any feelings I may or may not have for Sosuke is any of your business."
"Oh no?" said Ren. "It'll be us who have to comfort him when you grow bored with him, and go marry a fellow trust fund kid like a good little princess."
Miu's jaw dropped at that.
"I wouldn't do that to So- I mean, I don't have - I am not having this discussion, all right!?"
The Go-Ongers all smirked at seeing the Silver Ranger flustered.
"Oh, don't be that way, Miu" said Hant. "We're just looking out for our friend - I'm sure you'd feel the same about anyone interested in Hiroto, right?"
"Tell you what Miu" said Gunpei, "if you want, maybe we can try and set you two up."
Miu remained silent, looking at them with suspicion.
"We'd be delighted to" said Ren, "provided you prove your good intentions to us."
"And how would I do that?" asked Miu acidly.
"Well, you wouldn't recommend a car you hadn't driven yourself, would you?" said Gunpei.
"…what?"
"Come on, Miu, it won't be so bad" said Hant. "We're not ugly, are we?"
"And I'm sure you must have participated in this sort of thing at school" said Ren.
Miu was about to ask them to just say what they meant when it suddenly clicked.
"What…what the hell is wrong with you all!?"
"Ooooh" went the guys, still smiling.
"She's so cute when she's upset, isn't she?" said Gunpei.
"Doesn't like she's into it, does it?" said Hant.
"Well, the hard way will probably be more fun anyway" said Ren.
"'Hard…hard way'?"
The guys looked at each other knowingly.
"Did you know, Miu, that the Ginjiro is soundproof?" asked Ren. "You could scream in here as loud as you could and your brother out there would never hear you."
Why was he telling her that, Miu instantly wondered.
"Tell me, Miu…" Gunpei asked. "Did any of your strays ever bite you?"
At that, Ren and Hant began to converge on her. The looks on their faces…what they had said…it was almost like they were going to - going to…
She told herself she was being ridiculous- she knew these guys, trusted them with her life, they wouldn't-
And she saw the expressions on them and she realized - she didn't know any of these people. Oh, their faces were familiar but behind them were complete strangers - strangers capable of anything.
Suddenly, Miu felt scared. She didn't want to be here alone with them for one instant longer; she wanted to be with her brother.
She moved to the door when Gunpei stepped in front of it, blocking her from leaving.
"Gunpei, I want to leave."
Gunpei looked at her with amusement, not moving an inch.
"I said I want to leave."
Hant and Ren moved closer to her, leering smiles on their faces.
"Gunpei, I want to leave right now!" she shouted with panic in her voice.
Looming over her, Gunpei raised his hands…
…just before he moved out of the way, bowing and motioning to the door as if presenting her a carriage.
Miu breathed heavily as her heart rate slowed back down. The Go-Ongers seemed puzzled by her expression.
"Wait, Miu, why do you look so scared?" asked Hant. "Wait…you didn't think…"
The three men broke into laughter, as if it were all some sitcom misunderstanding.
"Come now, Miu" said Ren, "what sort of example would we be setting for the children?"
Miu ran out the door as they laughed more, her shaking hand gripping her Wing Trigger all the while.
AAAA
Hiroto was sitting by the fire when he heard someone walking up behind him. He turned to see if Sosuke had come back, but it was just Saki, smiling brightly.
"Hey" he said to the Yellow Ranger.
"Hey, Hiroto…" she replied, in a tone he had never heard her use before.
She knelt down besides him.
"I heard what the others did to you while you were playing volley ball. I was so upset…they all have complexes about you, Sosuke especially - he thought he was king shit of fuck mountain before you came along…"
Hiroto frowned.
"He shouldn't feel that way. It took me a while to realize, but he's quite capable in his own way…"
"Oh, that's so nice of you to say. I'm so glad we're getting along now…Oh course, I've always appreciated you…"
She leaned over and rested on him, making him raise his eyes.
"You've always been so competent, so courageous, so…commanding…"
"I'm glad to have impressed you" said Hiroto in a tone he hoped came off as respectful but with no undertones suggesting anything else.
"Well, when you live with boys, it's hard not to be impressed when you meet a man…"
Saki got up and walked around. Hiroto then heard unzipping.
Turning to see what it was, Hiroto gasped at what he saw: Saki standing in front of him completely naked.
"Saki, what in God's name are you doing!?"
Saki smiled as she leaned down to Hiroto, putting her arms around him as she sat on his lap. Hiroto froze up, unable to believe what was happening.
"What's wrong, Hiroto? Don't you like girls?"
She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"Or maybe you only like this when it's Miu?"
Hiroto instantly shot up in shock, in the process knocking Saki on the ground face first. Realizing what he had done, he reached out for her.
"Saki? Are you oka-"
Saki suddenly started laughing as she rose and turned around, now bleeding from her upper lip.
"Come on, just give me a chance. I promise I can make you feel like the shiniest bro in the world, Ani!"
Hiroto desperately searched her face for any sign of the sweet young girl he had come to know these last few months but could find only some cackling demoness.
Miu then rushed out of the Ginjiro.
"Ani, I-"
She froze at the sight of before her, her jaw open.
The two siblings then marched away, neither needing to tell the other they needed to leave now.
The male Go-Ongers exited the Ginjiro just as Sosuke returned, a shit eating grin on his face.
"Sorry guys, looks like we're still not cool enough for the Wings to hang out with. That's all right, though, you know us: we never give up!"
The siblings quickened their pace, the Go-Ongers' ugly laughter echoing in their ears.
"Guess they still need time to adjust to training, huh?" said Miu bitterly.
"I'm sorry Miu, I must have been in denial. God, what a horrid situation this is… we'll tell Jum-BoWhale, I'm certain together we'll find a way to get them back to normal-"
"And how long will that take?"
"Miu, we must be-"
"Ani, if this was the gas they haven't been exposed to it for even a full week and they're like this. What are they going to be like a week from now? A month? For God's sake, what are they going to be like tomorrow?
"Ani, I'm not just worried about them anymore."
AAAA
The next morning, the Wings were informing their partners on what occurred last night. They were just as distraught, with Jum-BoWhale seeming especially downcast.
"How horrible. To think the Go-Ongers capable of such behavior whaaaale."
"That's why we have to find how to get them to normal" said Miu.
"Rest assured I will devote all my energies to doing so. However, at the moment, I'm afraid I don't know where to begin. Given the timing, it seems likely that gas was responsible, but we know nothing about it, nor at present anyway of finding out more."
Hiroto slammed his fist on the table.
"Damn it! I should have assumed exposure to it could have done something to them, kept some for analysis…at the very least I should told them to have BOMPER examine them and make sure they were all right. To think I had the arrogance to chastise the Go-Ongers when I was the one acting like an amateur…"
"Don't beat yourself up, bro" said Toripter. "That ain't going to help the Go-Ongers."
"Yes, we need to remain levelheaded and come up with a plan" said Jetras.
"Yes, both of you are right" said Hiroto, sitting down to calm himself and allow him to gather his thoughts.
"I think our best course of action is to hold an intervention. We confront them, convince them something's happened to them and they're now potentially dangerous to the public. We get them to have BOMPER scan them, so as to confirm they're not in the right minds, and to hand over their Change Souls until we can find a way to get them back to normal."
"But bro" said Toripter, "that means we'll have to handle the Gaiark alone until we find a way to cure them."
"It's a big risk, I know, but with them as they are now, letting them keep them is a bigger one."
"You act as it's so simple. Ani, how are we going to convince them to do that? We don't seem to be their favorite people lately."
"It's not going to be easy, I know. But we must assume the Go-Ongers we know are still in there, and that we can reach them by telling them their condition places others in danger. Besides, it won't be us alone. Their partners and BOMPER can't have failed to noticed how they've changed; I'm certain they'll back us up."
Miu wanted to believe that.
Suddenly, both felt a flash in their minds.
Terrific, thought Hiroto. Now they had to deal with the Gaiark on top of everything else.
"Come on, Miu."
"Ani…"
Hiroto saw his sister looking scared.
"…the Go-Ongers will be there, too…"
Hiroto paused for a moment.
"If nothing else, the Gaiark are still our common foe. Actually, this could be good: they might be more willing to listen to us if we fight together…"
AAAA
The Wings landed in a lush valley. Despite the beauty, the two were instantly overcome with an uneasiness, a sense that things were wrong. Hiroto actually felt relief when he saw a troop of Ugutz soldiers running at them. That was at least something he understood, could deal with.
Hiroto instantly went into his battle posture, but Miu remained still.
"Miu! What are you doing?!"
She didn't answer, and the Ugutz soldiers ran right past them, as if they hadn't even noticed them.
"What…?" said Hiroto.
Miu looked at him with confusion.
"Ani, couldn't you see…? They were terrified."
The idea seemed ludicrous, but as he looked at them as they ran, he realized this wasn't the usual tactical retreat…they were fleeing for their lives…
They quickly realize why. Bodies of Ugutz soldiers littered the ground. Not just defeated, or even killed; they had been butchered, limbs hacked off.
"Ani…"
He walked a little further ahead to see what his sister had found, even though he found himself dreading whatever it was.
He was right to. Five crosses, of the same type Boombox Banki had trapped them on the other day. Chained to four of these crosses, however, were Ugutz Soldiers, all now burnt to a crisp. On the fifth, the unlucky soldier had spikes driven through his wrists to lock him there.
"What in God's name….?" muttered Hiroto.
Miu suddenly yelped as she felt something touch her leg.
"Help!"
It was Boombox Banki…what was left of him. His legs and right arm had been chopped off, and his torso was heavily damaged, exposing wires and circuitry. Furthermore, it smelt like he had been urinated on.
"Please…too much pain…kill me!"
The Wings formed the Wing Boosters and put the Banki Beast out of his misery. Thinking of everything they'd seen since arriving, Miu turned to her brother.
"Ani, did…did the Go-Ongers do this?"
Hiroto didn't answer. The Go-Ongers he'd come to know, who'd instantly leapt into battle to defend even a foe like Hiramechimedes, would never do this. The people they've been seeing these past few days, on the other hand…
The eerie silence was shattered by a scream.
The Wings ran to its source; when they got there, they both gasped at what they saw.
There was Kitaneidas, chained to a tree. He was damaged, his eye socket hanging out, and one of his hands lay on the ground below him. Directly facing him were the Go-Ongers, their helmets off, lounging on some rocks as if watching friends playing a soccer game.
In between them was Saki, wearing a blindfold and holding her Mantan gun in rod mode, stomping around and periodically stabbing the air.
"What's wrong with you!?" screamed the Pollution Minister. "I don't understand, you've always seemed like such amiable types, so far as meddlesome do gooders go…"
Saki thrust it forward, stabbing the Gaiark right in the chest, sending sparks flying off. The Pollution Minister scream in pain as her teammates cheered her.
"All right, Hant's turn!" said Sosuke.
They took the blindfold off Saki and put it on the Green Ranger, spun him around. Like Saki before, he stomped around thrusting his Mantan gun.
"Green, you fancy Kegalesia, right? I promise to put in a good word for you if you let me go!"
Hant leapt at the source of the voice, only for the Wings to land in between them, knocking him down.
"Go-On Wings! Oh thank the Maker you're here, the Go-Ongers, they've gone insane!"
"Hey, Miu and Hiroto!" said Sosuke, who got up and approached the Wings. "You guys wanna play? It was Hant's turn, but hey, why should you two have to wait like us commoners?"
The Wings looked at the scene before them.
"Sosuke, what's…what's going on?" asked Miu.
"Oh, the Gaiark set a little trap for us. Didn't work like you thought it would, did it, Kitchy?!"
"No, no it didn't, did it haha" said the Pollution Minister in forced cheer, apparently hoping such an attitude might convince them to let him go.
"Oh hey, got something for yah" Sosuke said as he tossed something to them.
Hiroto caught it, and saw it was a canister of Bikkurium, though with chunks of metal and circuitry attached.
"Remember when we first met, you took it out of Rock Blast Banki. We all thought that was really cool and wanted to try it ourselves. Course, we're not as experienced at it as you, so we really had to hack into the son of a bitch, but eventually we found it."
Hiroto looked down at it, remembering Boombox Banki writhing in agony. He dropped it in disgust.
"Look, you want to destroy him, Miu and I will help you right now-"
"Uh, I don't like that idea, I was thinking you let just let me go, y'know?"
"-butt this is sick. What you're doing is torture, just pointless sadism!"
"Oh, there's a point" said Hant.
"We're sending the Gaiark a message" said Ren, "that we will no longer be treating them with kids gloves."
"And that message is received loud and clear!" said Kitaneidas. "I'll be sure to pass it on to everyone else if you just let me go-"
"Shut up!" snapped Sosuke, who pulled out his Mantan gun and aimed it at the Pollution Minister. "I'm sick of listening to your sniveling!"
Hiroto put his hand on the Red Ranger's arm to lower it-
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME!" screamed Sosuke, making both Hiroto and Miu jump back.
Hiroto sighed. He had hoped for a better opportunity, but clearly there wasn't any time to spare on this.
"Listen, something's happened to you guys, you're not acting like yourselves. You need to get help, immediately."
"Really? And what kind of 'help' would that be?" asked Sosuke.
"Go back to the Ginjiro, got yourselves examined by BOMPER. Once that's done, he and Jum-BoWhale will not cease until they find a cure."
Hiroto hesitated, he and his sister looking at each other, before he continued.
"We also think that, for everyone's safety, you should turn over your Change Souls to us until we find out how to get you all back to normal."
There was a silence, as the Wings waited to see how the Go-Ongers responded.
Finally, Sosuke stepped towards them.
"God, you really are an arrogant prick, aren't you?"
At that, the Wings felt pits opening in their stomachs.
"I know you both think we're a bunch of morons, but did you honestly think we forgot how much you both wanted us out of the picture? How pleased you two must have been when you thought of this, a way to finally get the glory of fighting the Gaiark on your own, and disguising it as concern for us!"
"This isn't something we want!" said Hiroto. "Miu and I have long recognized we were foolish to think we could defeat the Gaiark on our own, and we know we'll be at a huge disadvantage without you-"
"I didn't hear that!" shouted Kitaneidas. "I wasn't paying attention, so if that was some tactically valuable information you don't have to take that into consideration when deciding whether to let me go or not!"
"-but your state of minds right now make it too dangerous for you to wield your powers. Please, for the sake of those we protect, hand them over."
"Peddle your bullshit somewhere else!" said Sosuke. "Both of us know if we hand over our Chqnge Souls then we'll never see them again!"
"If you won't listen to us then ask your partners; they'll say the same thing!"
To his horror, the Go-Ongers smirked.
"As a matter of fact, they did" said Sosuke. "Fortunately, we don't have to listen to them anymore."
Hiroto felt as if the ground had vanished beneath his feet.
"What? What - what are you saying?"
The Go-Ongers smirked, evidently enjoying the Wings' confusion.
"Ren whipped up a device locking them into stasis" said Sosuke.
"They are now merely our tools, whom we can use without any irritating backtalk" said Ren.
"How…how could you?" asked Miu.
"It was easy, once they revealed their true loyalties" said Hant.
"Of course the Engines would support you!" said Gunpei. "You're their favorites after all, the ones they whisked away to their world to train; they only meant us to be placeholders, to be disposed of once you were ready!"
"What are you talking about, your partners would never betray you like that!" said Miu. "They love you!"
"We don't need the Engines' love, only their power!" snarled Hant.
The shock of what he'd just been told hit Hiroto as hard as any blow he received in battle. He and Miu had always been struck by the intensity of the bounds between them and their Engine partners, which seemed to go much deeper than the ones they had with Toripter and Jetras (perhaps, they speculated, since they lacked any deep ties to another such as the siblings had in each other). To hear them admit to doing this to them so readily…good God, how could they have changed so much so fast?
"Listen to yourselves!" pleaded Miu. "You're talking like the Gaiark! Please, let us help you!"
"You know what I think's going on?" said an amused Saki. "I think a couple of rich kids who've spent their whole lives being told by mommy and daddy that they're the best at everything they do are aghast that a bunch of commoners had the audacity to get better at something than them, and they want to put a stop to it immediately."
"Yes, they only wanted us to improve so as to better serve as their lackeys" said Ren. "We were never supposed to outshine them."
"And look now! They'd rather join Gaiark than accept us as their superiors!" shouted Gunpei, a huge vein in his forehead throbbing, his eyeballs bulging, so ridden with anger was he. "That's how much they despise\em us!"
Hiroto felt unable to speak. He had never been in a situation this Sisyphian. The Go-Ongers had no trust in him and Miu; anything the Wings told them was a lie, a trick, a veiled insult.
Sosuke looked at the Wings with disdain.
"You know, I think the partnership between our teams has run its course. We'll fight the Gaiark our way, you can fight it the Engines' way, and we'll see who beats them first. Now, leave."
At that, Hiroto took a step forward.
"Neither one of us is leaving until you all start listening to reason!"
At that, the Go-Ongers looked at each other, seemingly amused at Hiroto's vow.
"Is that so?" asked Sosuke. "You know Hiroto, there's something I've wanted to do since the moment I met you, and for the life of me I can't think of a single good reason not do it right fucking now."
Even as he saw it before his eyes, Hiroto couldn't believe it as Sosuke leapt up and struck him with the Road Saber.
"Ani! Sosuke, what are you doi-AH!" cried out Miu as she was struck by Saki's Mantan gun in rod mode.
The other three Go-Ongers rushed out to join the fight.
Hiroto flailed as Sosuke kept striking him, trying to come to grips with what was happening; even in his worst case scenarios he had never even considered they would actually attack them!
Miu was also handicapped by shock, doing her best to dodge Saki's Mantan gun. The Yellow Ranger seemed to be in ecstasy, laughing madly as she swung it, a wide, sadistic smile on her face.
"How are you guys having so much trouble with us, Miu? Don't you remember? We're weak!"
She struck Miu with the Mantan gun.
"Hapless!"
Saki leapt onto Hant's shoulders and took off to deliever a sharp kick to Miu's head.
"Pathetic!"
Miu yelled in pain as Saki unleashed Speeding Bullet at her, which sent her falling to the ground.
She saw Saki looking down at her with frenzied relish.
"Payback's just like you Miu: it's a real bitch!"
It was the gas, Miu told herself. This wasn't really her, wasn't any of them; they didn't really feel this way about her and Hiroto…
Hiroto at last managed to strike back at Sosuke, punching him the face and sending him back.
"Please, all of you, listen! We don't want to fight you!" said the Gold Ranger.
His plea fell on deaf ears as Ren came from behind and caught him in a head lock. As he struggled to break free, Gunpei ran at him and unleashed a series of brutal punches to his stomach.
The thing Hiroto was most struck by (even more than the literal strikes they were giving him) was the look on their faces. It was different than when they fought the Gaiark; they had wide smiles, giving a sense of immense satisfaction, as if they were finally fulfilling a desire they had long repressed.
"Double Borealis Shooter!"
Saki and Hant leapt across from each other while firing from their Mantan guns. The blasts hurled the Silver Ranger into the air, and she fell out of sight.
"Miu!" cried Hiroto. "You bastards, if you've hurt her-"
"You'll what?!" said Sosuke, as he performed Saber Straight. "Put up an actual fight?!"
Hiroto yelled in pain as he was sent flying from the attack.
Kitaneidas whimpered as he watched his would-be savior struggling to stand, the five Go-Ongers calmly strode towards him. As Hiroto tried to figure out what to do, there was a blast in between them and the Go-Ongers.
The Go-Ongers looked up to see Jetras swooping down. The Engine fired another Jetras Tomahawk missile, causing them to seek cover.
When the dust cleared, both Hiroto and Kitaneidas were gone.
"No!" screamed Saki. "They got away from us!"
A furious Gunpei screamed in rage as he punched a boulder, shattering it into thousands of pebbles.
Then, their attention was on Sosuke, who was laughing in good cheer.
"You guys are looking at it all wrong; it's not that they got away from us - it's that they ran from us!"
At once, the Go-Ongers' fury vanished, replaced by a manic giddiness.
"They ran" said Saki. "They ran because they're afraid of us!"
"They knew we were going to win!" said Hant.
"We're stronger than them!" said Ren.
"Stronger than Gaiark too!" said Gunpei.
"Nothing can stop us now" said Sosuke.
The Go-Ongers laughed violently, it gradually growing louder and more manic, until what sounded like the frenzied howling of animals echoed through the valley…