Episode 17: Vrak Is Back, Part 2
Command Center
The Rangers had spent hours looking for Orion with no results. Frustrated, Jake stepped down from his panel and walked towards the room where they rested between missions. Once he was alone, his Megaforce Morpher started beeping, and Jake looked down before answering.
"Yes?"
"Jacob, I wanted to talk to you in private. I know this is a hard time for you and your friends, but I think you need to talk to someone outside your circle," said Gosei.
Jake let himself fall on his bed and sighed. To be honest, he wanted to release his fury, but he couldn't do that. He had to keep his mind alert in case they found Orion or Vrak came back.
"I feel like I failed Orion, Gosei… I promised we could save his home if he helped us, and all that happened is that he got kidnapped," said Jake.
"And that is not your fault, Jake. You didn't know the power the Andresians had. I know it's hard to feel the pressure of the world in your shoulders, but you are doing a great job," said Gosei.
"I don't know, Gosei… if something happens to Orion…"
"Nothing is going to happen because you won't let it happen, right? You and the other Rangers will find Orion and defeat Vrak. You did it once, and you will do it again. Do you know how I know that?"
"How?" asked Jake.
"Because I believe in you, Rangers. And not only me, but every Ranger before you has the same belief. So don't feel bad, Jake, do what you always have done… fight," said Gosei.
Jake looked at his morpher and then nodded. Gosei was right, he had never given up before, and he wasn't going to do it now. He had to stand up and fight; everyone was counting on it.
"Thank you, Gosei," said Jake.
"That's why I'm here, Jake. Never hesitate to come to me," said Gosei.
Jake nodded and put his morpher back in his pocket, ready to get out of the room when they heard the alarm. They ran to see Vekar and another monster near the mountain where another tower was located. The Rangers were ready to go and fight, but Jake stopped them by raising his hand as his brain conceived a plan that could give them an advantage.
"Wait!" said Jake. "We need a plan, and I think I have one."
"Okay," said Troy, lowering his morpher.
Jake got to the center of the Command Room and looked at his father. Strategy taught by Rangers like Jen Scotts, Andros, TJ and other Rangers was the key to fight Vrak as he saw himself smarter than them and maybe he was, but he was not smarter than generations of Rangers before them.
"Dad, I need you and the other Rangers to make sure civilians are safe from Vrak, the towers, and our battle," said Jake.
"We can do that, son," said Jason.
"Good. I bet Vrak wants us to go to that tower, that's why he told us about them and about Orion. He wants to defeat us but this time, we will have the upper hand," said Jake, pointing at the tower. "Emma, you are the owner of the Phoenix zord. When we see Vrak using the sphere, you have to call it and fly towards the tower to destroy it."
"You… you think I can do it?" asked Emma.
"Of course you can. You are a Ranger, a Pink Ranger. I think we have more than a few examples right in this room that say how powerful you really can be," said Jake.
Emma smiled, looking around at the other Pink Rangers, and nodded, more convinced she really could do her mission. Then, Jake looked at the other Rangers, a gentle smile crossing his lips.
"Troy, Noah, and Gia, you are going to make sure that the monster Vrak has with him doesn't bother Emma or arrive in the city. As soon as Emma finishes, she will join you. Make sure you defeat the monster, and we will be one step closer to victory," said Jake.
"We can do that, but what about you? What are you planning to do?" asked Gia.
Jake looked at her and then down at his Megaforce Morpher and RoboKnight's Morpher. He grabbed them and raised them so he and everyone else could take a good look at them.
"I will take care of Vrak, and this time, one of us will win," said Jake.
The Rangers looked at his determination and said nothing, knowing he knew what he was doing. Even if part of them were terrified Vrak could defeat Jake, they knew Jake had everything he needed to win the battle.
Jason took a step towards his son and hugged him for a long time then, he took a step away, looking at him and looked into his eyes, feeling the pride for his son shine in his eyes so Jake could see it.
"Remember what we all taught you, Jacob, and put an end to Vrak's plan before bringing back your friend. You understand?" asked Jason.
"Yes, father."
Jason smiled and nodded before letting him go. Jake and the Rangers ran out of the Command Center, this time making their formation outside.
"Go! Go! Megaforce!" screamed the Rangers.
The Rangers teleported while Jason and the veteran Rangers watched them go and hoped that this time, the young generation would come back with a victory like all the other times. This was a crucial battle and for the good of the planet, they had to win.
They believed in them. Now the Megaforce Rangers had to believe in themselves.
-SMF-
Mountain
When the Rangers arrived, they saw Vrak and the monster walking towards the tower. As soon as they felt them, both turned around, and Vrak laughed, pointing at them with his sword while the monster roared for the chance to fight.
"You want to destroy them? Okay, go on!" said Vrak.
The monster ran towards the Rangers, and Black barely had time to nod before he and Pink got out of the way while Blue, Yellow, and Red took care of him. Pink seemed to go with her friends while Black ran to Vrak.
"Ultra Mode!"
Black called for his Ultra Mode and used his staff to try and attack Vrak, but Vrak avoided him and used his sphere. When he saw it, Black quickly turned around towards Pink.
"Now! Pink!" screamed Black.
Pink looked at him and Vrak using the sphere. She quickly called for her zord, the Phoenix, which appeared at her sound of her voice. Pink jumped, calling her Ultra Mode, and flew towards the tower while she looked down at the Rangers fighting the monster and Black fighting Vrak.
She couldn't fail them… she couldn't fail!
Pink grabbed the controls of her zord and prepared to fire right at the red spot in the middle of the tower. She continued her attack, even though she was getting too close to the tower. She didn't care what could happen to her, she was going to bring this tower down.
She was going to make the ones before her proud!
"Go down!" screamed Pink.
Suddenly, she hit the right spot in the middle and saw the tower break in half before slowly disappearing, leaving her just enough time to fly her zord back up and avoid getting hit. While she flew back to her friends, she saw Black and Vekar fight and suddenly disappear from the mountain. Quickly, Pink petted her zord to thank the Phoenix for the help and jumped out of the zord, landing on the ground when she saw Red, Blue, and Yellow use their Ultra Mode against the monster.
The monster roared but didn't waste time and made himself bigger at the same time Pink reunited with her friends.
-SMF-
Old Factory
Black rolled on the ground, losing his Ultra Mode when he saw Vrak coming towards him. Vrak was using his swords to create a small sword in front of Black that aimed to stab him, but Black managed to avoid them and get some distance.
Enough distance to use his secret power.
He got RoboKnight's morpher, and Vrak stopped, confused as to why he had that morpher. But Black focused, calling for his old friend as he pressed the numbers RoboKnight asked him to press if he needed it. Soon, RoboKnight in his Lion form appeared, separating himself to accommodate Black's body as an armor with two fangs at each hand and metal wings. In his chest, RoboKnight's Megaforce symbol and in his belt, RoboKnight's cannon.
"Knight Battlizer! Ready!" screamed Black.
-SMF-
Mountain
The rest of the Rangers were fighting the now bigger monster and called for their zords, including the Snake that was summoned by Yellow to help them. In Megazord form, the Rangers blocked the monster's attack and punched him, making him take several steps back.
"Rangers! Attack!" commanded Red.
The Megazord kicked the monster, and then Blue and Pink pushed to punch the monster a few times before Red grabbed one of his cards and showed it to the rest by raising it. The other Rangers followed him and put the card on their morphers, using a powerful attack that defeated the monster before he could even get up.
Then, the Rangers quickly disbanded the Megazord and landed back on the ground, exhausted but looking around for Black and Vekar.
"Where are they?" asked Gia.
"I saw them disappear when I was coming back, but I don't know…" said Emma.
"Rangers, I sent Jake's coordinates to your morpher. Teleport there, now!" said Gosei from their morphers.
The Rangers looked at the morpher and then at each other, quickly teleporting to where they saw Black and Vrak fighting. But this Black Ranger was different… he was…
"Is that RoboKnight?" asked Emma.
"That's what he gave Jake… it's like a battlizer…" said Noah.
"Wow…" whispered Troy.
Black kicked Vrak and brought him to the ground, walking to him and looking down at him, exhausted but believing this was truly the end. Right before he was going to defeat Vrak for good, Vrak raised his sword, stabbing Black in the center of the battlizer and sending both Black and RoboKnight to the ground, forcing RoboKnight to revert to his robot state while Black demorphed.
"That was… good, Jake… but it won't save your planet," said Vrak. "You may destroy my towers, but there is still one, connected to me…"
Jake got up and was helping RoboKnight when the others ran towards them, and they all heard what Vrak was saying.
"I will absorb the energy and then… then I will launch my ship and destroy you all!"
Vrak disappeared before the Rangers could stop him, and then a terrible noise was heard. The Rangers, except Jake and RoboKnight, ran out, seeing the light on the tower, which meant Vrak was absorbing the energy.
Jake was furious, and his hands started to spark with white energy when suddenly, a vision came to his mind, and he could see Orion, on a table, unconscious.
"You and your friends destroyed two towers, Jake… now I can locate Orion, but I can only transport you there."
Jake nodded, looking down at RoboKnight, who was allowed to hear Bastro's thoughts. The robot tried to get up, but Jake stopped him and looked at him, touching RoboKnight's cold forehead with his own.
"Whatever happens out there, please, don't let them stop fighting, RoboKnight. Keep them safe and tell them they are the best team I could ever ask for," said Jake, his voice breaking. "Tell Gia, I'm sorry and that I love her."
"Jake…"
Jake smiled at RoboKnight and then ran out of the factory, closing his eyes as white energy teleported him out of that location. The Rangers, confused, turned and walked towards RoboKnight, looking for Jake.
"Where is Jake, RoboKnight?" asked Gia.
"He is gone, Rangers," said RoboKnight.
RoboKnight lowered his head, closing his fists, and the Rangers knew that whatever Jake was going to do, it wasn't going to end well.
-SMF-
Underwater Base
Vrak was injured but still had enough energy to finish his plan and finally get rid of this planet when he saw a flash of white appear and turned around, seeing something that for him was a horrible vision.
"You…"
"Your games are over, Vrak."
Vrak took several steps back when he saw Jake covered in white fire, even though his hair was white. Vrak felt fear for the very first time as he saw Jake's golden eyes and powerful aura guiding his steps. The young Ranger stopped right in front of Vrak and saw Orion laying on the table.
He walked towards Orion and got him in his arms while Vrak looked at him. But, in a moment of bravery, Vrak got his sword, ready to attack Jake from behind. But when he attacked, Jake stopped the sword with two fingers, consuming the blade in white fire and destroying it right in front of Vrak's eyes.
Jake ignored Vrak and put Orion on the transporter while the monster was paralyzed by fear. Jake could take care of him later, now he needed to get Orion away from this place. He chuckled softly as he looked down at Orion when Orion started to wake up, disoriented.
"Jake…" whispered Orion.
"Go home, my friend… they are waiting for you," said Jake, giving Orion his Gosei Morpher and his cards.
Orion tried to say more, but Jake put him on the machine, and all Orion could see was Jake turning around while Vrak was running towards him, having used the power left of his last sphere before he was transported out of the Underwater Base.
Jake turned towards Vrak and, raising his fists, prepared for the final battle.
-SMF-
Command Center
The Rangers ran inside, carrying RoboKnight, and sat him down. Then, Gia and Troy ran to their screens, looking for any clue of where Jake may have gone, but there was nothing—only that stupid tower. No Vrak and no Jake around.
"Where is he!?"
Gia hit her screen, frustrated. She was nervous, her Tiger was desperate, and she could feel in her heart Jake was in danger or doing something dangerous, especially after what RoboKnight told them. She looked at her screen, trying her best not to break down, while not far from her, Troy pressed his keys furiously.
The best team he could ever ask for? And he left them there? Like that? No, Troy couldn't allow that to happen. He was the leader. He was the Red Ranger, and Jake… Jake deserved so much more…
Behind them, Emma didn't know who to reach first, but she was doing her best to keep herself calm. She had a feeling that whatever this was, this was not the end… there was more out there, and Jake… Jake would be back with them. She had to believe it. She couldn't lose hope.
Noah was making himself busy, making sure RoboKnight was fine while he prayed that Bastro was strong enough to keep his best friend alive until Troy and Gia could find him. Noah didn't trust himself to look for Jake, he was too nervous and too scared so he relied on his leader and Jake's girlfriend to do the job. They will find him because if not… then Noah wasn't sure he could keep doing this at all. For Noah, Jake was someone who kept him from hiding to the world and without him, there was nothing stopping Noah from losing his balance.
Suddenly, an earthquake made almost everyone fall to the ground, but they quickly got up when Tensou showed them the image of a giant base flying over the city.
"What is that!?" asked Tommy.
The base flew past the city when a light appeared at the Command Center, and Orion fell to the ground. He looked up, confused, as the other Rangers looked at him, surprised. Orion looked down at his hands, where he had the Megaforce Morpher and all of Jake's cards.
"Orion…" whispered Troy.
"He… Jake saved me…" said Orion, pointing to the base. "He is on that thing."
The Rangers turned around as they saw the base flying up towards space.
-SMF-
Underwater Base
Vrak tried to grab Jake, but Jake opened his arms and punched Vrak in the chest, sending him flying into the control room and falling to the ground. Then, Jake walked into the control room and looked around. He was searching for something, and when he found it, he walked towards it.
"What are you doing?" asked Vrak.
"Do you think I don't know you set this place to blow up at a certain time, Vrak?" asked Jake. "I'm making sure that doesn't happen on my planet."
"No!"
Vrak got up, trying to attack Jake, but Jake grabbed him by the throat and looked at him. He wanted to destroy Vrak, but his human side wouldn't let him do anything that wasn't making sure he saved his loved ones. So Jake moved his hand and left Vrak unconscious before moving to the controls.
"Okay… let's see if I still remember what Uncle Andros taught me," said Jake.
He took control of the base and felt it shaking a little, but it was enough for Jake to manage. He quickly sent a signal to the Astro Ship and then, when he was about to look for a deserted planet or location where he could land the base, Vrak jumped on his back, grabbing Jake's hands and the controls.
"Vrak!" screamed Jake.
"If I go down, you will come with me, Ranger!" screamed Vrak.
Vrak pushed down the control with all his strength, and Jake could do nothing but watch as they went down to the nearest planet.
-SMF-
Command Center (Earth)
The Rangers were waiting for news when Andros received a note on his morpher and quickly stood back, hearing the note. His Rangers and his sister could see how his face changed from confusion to horror and finally to sadness when he started crying.
The other Rangers noticed Andros and then turned towards him as the Space Ranger walked towards Jason and the Megaforce Rangers, putting a hand on Jason's shoulder, trying to get a hold of his sadness.
"Jase… they just informed me that someone sent a signal from Vrak's base but…" said Andros, voice breaking. "But the base has crashed… it's gone…"
The keys of the Super Megaforce Rangers came back to life, like the devices, at the same time Andros delivered the news, but it was too late. Noah looked down, unable to believe it, his hands shaking. Troy fell to his knees, crying. Emma started crying too when she saw Gia fainting and ran to her side. Orion looked down at Jake's morpher and cards.
This was not fair.
The veteran Rangers cried, screamed, and looked away at the tragedy. Jason looked away and was quickly hugged by Kat and the other Rangers. Even Gosei sighed sadly, and Tensou lowered his head, making a noise of crying while the news settled on everyone.
This was a tragedy like no other in their world, and nothing could have prepare them for it. Nothing.
-SMF-
Andresia
A man and a child looked at the base crashing and ran towards it, trying to find a place to hide from the Armada. They were almost at the ruined control room when they saw a hand… a human hand and ran towards it, finding a body, battered and bloody but still alive under the ruins.
"Father?" asked the child.
"Wait…"
The father walked towards the human and looked at his clothes. He wasn't Andresian, but when he looked at his belt and saw the device, he smiled. He was the one they had been waiting for all this time.
"Bass… call the others, we need to save him," said the man.
"Why?" asked the child.
"Because he has one of our devices… he must have come to save us! Go!" said the man.
The child ran, but he was smiling because finally, it seemed that someone was going to end this nightmare once and for all.