Chapter Eleven:

Shutting Down the Shine

The battle raged across the city, EAGLE's forces doing everything they could to repel the Devil Machines, which now seemed next to unstoppable thanks to the Shine's power coursing through their systems. They sliced right through the metal tanks in their paths, blasting the airships out of the sky, and beheading or dismembering every soldier and civilian that got in their way.

One young intern, unfortunate enough to have been on a coffee run at the moment the attack started, ran for their life as they drew the attention of a particularly violent Devil Machine. Their foot caught the curb as they ran, sending them tumbling to the ground as coffee spilled everywhere. They rolled over to see the Devil Machine above them, raising its blade to strike.

A bright blue arrow pierced the machine's chest, detonating on impact and blasting it backwards. The intern looked up to see a tall warrior clad in blue standing above them, brandishing a high-tech bow.

"The blue ranger," the intern stammered.

The blue ranger turned and motioned like he was tipping a hat to them. "Sorry we're late," he said in a Texan accent. "You'd best get off somewhere safe now."

The intern nodded and stumbled to their feet. "Y-yes, sir," they said.

All across the city, rangers arrived. A red whip snagged one devil machine by the neck, yanking it backwards away from the tank it had been demolishing. A green boomerang knocked over a line of three as they marched down Main Street. A loud, hefty warrior in yellow tackled a Devil Machine that had been terrorizing a playground, grappling it and pulling it backwards. A pink warrior flew overhead, dropping magnetized cherry bombs that latched on to any Devil Machines she passed and detonated.

General Kenpachi smiled from the bunker where he, Commander Roberts, and the council had gathered. "Well done, Rangers," he said into his comm. "Thanks for coming."

"Glad to be here, General," Joshua Cage's voice said. "I just hope we can hold them off until the new team gets here."


On board the airship, Iron Claw watched the destruction unfold. Most of his soldiers were on the ground, backing up the Devil Machines, only a small skeleton crew left manning the ship. Behind him, Agent Ten pressed against the wall. She glanced side to side, making sure she wasn't seen, and slipped out the nearby door. Once out in the hall, she pulled her mask off and ran for the brig at the rear of the ship. Descending two levels, she burst inside to find Doctor Kuchar slumped against the wall of his cell, the stump of his severed arm bound up, his face pale and thin.

"Doctor Kuchar," she said, rushing to his side and shaking him awake. "Doctor Kuchar!"

Doctor Kuchar's eyes fluttered open, and he glanced up listlessly at Agent Ten's face. "Gwendolyn?" he said faintly.

"I'm here, Doctor," she said. "I've got to get you out of here."

She hefted him to his feet, careful of his wound. The doctor stumbled along with her and out the door. "What's happening?" he asked her.

"Ivan completed his Shine-powered Devil Machines. They're attacking Silver City now. The rangers are on their way to help."

"Shine?" Doctor Kuchar's eyes focused and he looked serious. "They'll be too powerful for my rangers to deal with. We need to shut down the machine powering them. Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah, it's right down this way. We can—"

They turned the corner to come face to face with Leon Sumpter, fully decked out in his old Baseball Mask costume. "You're not going anywhere." He raised his gun at them and cocked his head to the side. "I thought I smelled a rat. I used to be one, after all."


Down on the ground, the J.A.K.Q. Ranger Team raced toward Silver City in their vehicles, all four back in their suits, all four feeling strong. "We're almost there, Kenny," Benton said. "Just hold on a little longer."

"Better hurry," his best friend said. "None of our weapons are leaving much of a dent on these things."

The four heroes ramped up a hill to see Silver City spread out before them. They stopped for just a moment, looking down on the battle.

"Ready, team?" Gordon asked.

"Born ready, Gordon," Karen said.

"Just show me who to punch," Rio said.

"Then let's do this!"

"J.A.K.Q!" they all cheered, racing down the hill and into the city. Benton made a beeline for the marker indicating Kenny, finding him on the city's South side, locked in combat with a Devil Drill. Benton put on the gas before hopping off, sending the bike careening into the robot and smashing it against a wall.

"Back off of my friend!" he shouted.

He turned and grinned down at Kenny, offering him a hand up. "Hey, buddy," he said.

Kenny grinned and accepted the hand. "Hey, Benton. Looking good in the suit."

"Why, thank you. You're not so bad yourself. Of course, mine has a sash, so . . ."

Down the street, the Devil Drill disentangled itself from Benton's bike, getting to its feet and looking unusually annoyed for a robot.

"Here it comes for round two," Kenny said.

"Stand back," Benton said, summoning his club. "Let's see if I can make a dent."

All around the battlefield, the newer rangers joined the fight. Joshua Cage and Dayton Owens of the old team stood back to back, surrounded by Devil Machines, when Gordon swept in, pelting every single one with arrows that exploded with atomic force. Nearby, Peggy Madison had been tackled by a Devil Killer, pinning her down and about to impale her, when suddenly its weight lifted from her body and she rolled over to see it magnetically smash together with two others, all three crumpling in a heap, Karen stepping through the smoke behind them. Across town, Sean Cassidy found himself backed into a corner by a squadron of Machines when Rio dropped down behind them, delivering a thunder punch to one that sent shockwaves of electricity through all the rest.

Back with Benton and Kenny, Benton finished up bashing his Machine into scrap metal, cranking up the gravity on every hit of his club, leaving a crater in the street beneath it.

"Well, I think you got him," Kenny said, looking over the wreckage.

Benton stepped back, resting his club on his shoulder and looking proud. "Yeah," he said. "I think I did."

Before he finished speaking, however, the scraps of the Devil Machine started to glow with a bright yellow light. "Whoa, what is happening?" Benton asked.

"Yeah, they've been doing that," Kenny said. "We believe it's the Shine power they've got."

As Benton and Kenny watched, the pieces bent back into their original shape, flying together and reassembling back into the Devil Drill, rising to its feet and now looking even more pissed at the verdant pair.

"Oh, that's not good," Benton said.

All around the city, his teammates witnessed the same phenomenon. "You guys seeing this?" Rio asked.

"Yeah," Benton said.

"What do we do now?" Karen asked.

Gordon and Joshua looked at each other. Joshua bit his lip. "At least you guys can damage them," he said. "That's more than we were able to do."

"Right," Gordon said. "Why don't you guys focus on evacuation. We'll hold the bots for as long as we can."

"That's probably for the best," Joshua said. "Good luck."

The members of the old team broke off, Benton feeling Kenny pat him on the shoulder. He looked back and clasped his hand for a second before watching him fly away.

"So, what are we going to do?" he asked, flying at his enemy once again and bashing its head in.

"I don't know," Gordon said. "As long as they have Shine power, they're just going to keep coming."

"Maybe Doctor Kuchar knows something," Karen suggested.

"Maybe," Benton considered. He used his visor to dial Agent Ten's secret line. She didn't answer for a moment, but when she did, he heard a faint man's voice. "What was that?"

"Nothing," he heard Agent Ten say. "Just my watch, see?"

"Liar!" the man shouted, followed by a loud bang. Benton thought he recognized the voice as his old pal Leon. "What are you trying to pull?"

"Please," another voice, Doctor Kuchar's, pleaded. "You've got to let us go. If we don't cut off the Shine's power, the Devil Machines will just keep killing innocent people."

"Only as many as the Iron Claw needs to," Leon said. "As many as it takes for the world leaders to bow to his will." Benton heard the sound of a gun clicking. "But you two won't live to see it."

Benton glanced at his teammates' faces. "Guys, Agent Ten and Doctor Kuchar are in trouble."

"We heard them, Benton," Gordon said. "Go get them. We'll hold things down here."

"Gotcha," Benton said. He turned his attention back to his Devil Machine, just finished repairing itself from his last hit. "Sorry to leave you hanging, but I'm going to have to put you in storage for a minute."

He focused his gravity powers on the robot, pressing it downward into the Earth as far as he could push it. "Stay down there," he said. "I'll be back."

He turned his attention to the airship looming over the city. He imagined Doctor Kuchar and Agent Ten were somewhere toward the back so he focused his energy there. He felt himself rise off the ground, taking off like a bullet toward the ship, his own personal gravity focused there. He raced faster and faster, making himself as heavy as possible and covering his head. He smashed straight through the hull, blowing a hole through it and colliding with a man wearing what looked like a baseball mascot costume.

He restored his standard gravity and touched down gently on the floor, looking up to see Agent Ten and Doctor Kuchar standing before him, Doctor Kuchar missing an arm. "Oh, hey, guys," he said. "Am I late?"

The mascot he'd collided with struggled back to his feet, pointing a shaky gun at the green ranger. "I've had just about enough of your nonsense," he growled in the voice of Leon. "Die!"

He fired off multiple bullets at Benton, all of which bounced harmlessly off his chest. Benton looked down and brushed himself off. "Yeah, no," he said. He focused on the gun in his hand and crumpled it in on itself, dropping to the floor as a dense ball of metal. "It's been fun, Leo, but Imma need you to take yourself to jail now."

Benton focused his gravity powers on Leon, lifting him off his feet and yanking him straight out the hole in the ship, sending him flying straight toward Silver City's police headquarters, where he'd be set down nice and gentle. Benton watched him go, wiping his hands together. "That takes care of him," he said. He turned back to his companions. "Doctor Kuchar, what happened to your arm!"

Doctor Kuchar looked down at it, still looking pale. "Ivan," he said.

Benton rolled his eyes. Of course it was Ivan. "We'll deal with him after. I heard you say something about cutting off the Shine's power?"

Doctor Kuchar nodded. "We need to disable the machine that connects the Shine to the Devil Machines. Once the stream of power is stopped, they'll go back to normal and you'll be able to destroy them."

"Then let's get it done. Where to?"

"This way," Agent Ten said, pointing down the corridor. She led them up to the center of the ship and in through a heavily sealed door. Benton crunched it and blew it aside. Inside, they found four Crimers standing guard, but Benton quickly dispatched them.

The room was filled with empty pods for Devil Machines, each one connected to a tower in the center, where Benton could see the Shine glowing. "Stay here and keep watch," he told Ten.

"Gotcha!"

Benton hefted the doctor and rushed him down to the main controls. Doctor Kuchar started looking them over, glancing up at Benton. "Can you make sense of any of this?" he asked.

Benton looked down at the controls. It was some of the most advanced tech he'd ever seen. He'd learned a lot of it, but most of it was over his head. "Um, maybe?" he said.

Doctor Kuchar looked serious. "I thought not. Ivan clearly designed it so only he could use it on this ship. I can work through it, but I don't think anyone else could."

"Could we not just blow it?" Benton asked. "Destroy the machine altogether?"

Doctor Kuchar nodded. "It's probably for the best."

He stepped back as Benton withdrew his club, working up a big hit with it and focusing as much gravity on it as possible. He swung at it, only for the entire area to light up with golden energy, shocking both he and Doctor Kuchar. The energy stung Benton, seeming to specifically target his enhancements and make his entire body feel like it was on fire. He let out a cry and fell to his knees, unable to move. Doctor Kuchar grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him backwards until they were outside the field of energy.

Benton collapsed to the ground, his muscles still burning. "What was that?" he gasped. He looked back to see a dome of yellow energy surrounding the tower.

"Do you like it?"

He and Kuchar turned to see Ivan standing at the entrance to the room, Agent Ten slumped unconscious at his feet. "It's my specially designed security system. I programmed it to specifically target and attack cybernetic enhancements, just in case a Power Ranger decided to try something."

Doctor Kuchar scowled, struggling to his feet. "Ivan, stop this!" he shouted. "Can't you see this is madness?"

Ivan put on a simpering smile. "Oh, Daniel," he said. "Always so shortsighted. If you could only imagine the beauty of a world controlled by the Shine—I mean, CRIME. We only wish to make the Earth a paradise."

"Bull! All you've ever wanted is power."

Ivan smiled at him. "Well, either way, I'm going to get what I want." He raised his arm and pressed a small red button. Loud alarms started blaring all over the ship. "This vessel is now set to self-destruct. The only thing that will survive is the Shine and its casings. I'd suggest you get off now."

"Why, you—"

Benton stopped Doctor Kuchar by the elbow, getting to his feet. "I'll take him," he said.

Ivan almost laughed. "Oh, the Green Ranger thinks he can stop me?"

Benton dashed straight for him, punching him in the gut and sending him flying back against the wall. He slumped down and struggled back to his feet. "Now, that's more like it," he said. He raised his bladed arm and fired it at Benton. Benton focused his gravity powers on it, but he found they weren't quite working properly, only slowing it instead of stopping it. Benton instead grabbed it, twisted it around, and sent it flying back toward its owner. Ivan sidestepped it and charged at Benton, knocking him to the floor. He raised his stump, and the arm reattached itself so that he could stab down at Benton's face.

Benton blocked the strike with his hands, the blades piercing his palms. "Agh!" he cried out, but still kept holding it inches from his helmet.

"You think you stand a chance against me?" Ivan shouted. "I am the last Fuhrer of the Black Cross, the tsar of CRIME, and the chosen vessel of the Shine. I am as close to a god as any man could possibly be. And you're just the good doctor's assistant, wielding powers you never even asked for."

"You're no god," Benton said. "Between your height, dying and coming back once, and being a mismatch of random parts, you're the best Frankenstein I've ever seen."

He curled up his fist, focusing as much gravity there as he could, and punched Ivan right in the gut, sending him flying upwards and causing him to get stuck floating in midair. Benton clenched his teeth as the blades in his hand were ripped out with him, and he struggled to his feet.

His short-lived victory didn't last long though, as the gravity effects wore off, and Iron Claw fell back to the ground. He got to his feet, snarling at his opponent, and charged at him again. This time, Benton dove to one side and kicked him hard, sending him flying into the nearby dome of energy.

Ivan struck the dome, and to everyone's surprise, spasmed in pain as the energy surged through him before blasting him back out and down to the floor.

"It even affects you?" Benton said.

Ivan looked confused. "It wasn't supposed to." His eyes searched the room wildly. "I've been betrayed. Whoever it was, they will—"

Benton didn't have to wait a second to press his advantage. He charged Ivan, pushing him into the field and holding him there. Both cried out in pain as energy surged through them, causing all of their internal parts to feel white hot, but Benton stood his ground.

"Benton!" Doctor Kuchar shouted, grabbing the ranger by the collar. Benton focused one last gravity pulse into his hands, blasting Ivan backwards and deep inside the zone of energy, smashing into a few empty pods and crumpling to the floor. Meanwhile, Doctor Kuchar pulled Benton out of danger, and Benton collapsed the moment they were clear.

"Are you alright, my boy," Doctor Kuchar asked.

"No," Benton said, letting out a wheeze.

"I think we have about two minutes left before the ship blows. Can you move?"

"I think so." Benton sat up slowly, his body aching. He nodded to the few pods outside the reach of the energy dome. "I think those can be ejected. They have controls for it."

Doctor Kuchar glanced where he pointed. "Good catch," he said. "Get Ten. I'll start them up."

"Yes, sir." Benton moved as quickly as he could to Agent Ten's side. She was still alive, but she was out cold. He hefted her up into his arms and carried her to the pod Doctor Kuchar was working at. "What about the machine?" he asked.

"We'll have to figure it out later," Doctor Kuchar said. "Get in."

Benton stepped inside, setting Ten down against the wall just as he heard the door slide closed behind him. He turned on the spot to see that Doctor Kuchar had locked him in. "Doctor!" he shouted. "What are you doing?"

Doctor Kuchar looked at him solemnly through the window. "We have to shut down that machine," he said. "Ivan said it will survive the blast, and we don't have time to find it after. People are dying now."

"Then I'll do it," Benton shouted. "Let me out!"

"The energy field won't affect me as much," the doctor said. "Plus, I understand the controls. You don't. I'm sorry, Benton."

He pressed the controls to eject the pod, dropping Benton and Ten straight out of the ship. "Doctor!" Benton shouted, trying to punch the door open, his enhancements still stiff and malfunctioning.

Doctor Kuchar turned away from the pod, facing the dome of energy. He took a deep breath and pressed through it, the energy shocking him and causing him intense pain, but not so much as to stop him from getting through. He reached the control console and set to work.