The sun had nearly set over Aaronsdale but for revelers on this Saturday evening, the night was only just beginning. Boisterous party goers were swarming the streets of Aaronsdale's South Side, taking advantage of the cheap drinks in the area before continuing their evening in classier establishments.
Amongst the throng of people, Jazz carefully weaved her way through. Another long day at the Air Base had finished barely an hour ago and she was going to unwind at Duality for an hour before heading home. Her busy schedule meant she rarely had time to call home and the time difference really didn't help. Jazz was about to call her Mother but realised it would be the middle of the night in Glasgow.
Instead she quickly fired off a text message, "Had my visa extended for another three months, call you tomorrow."
With a sigh she pocketed her phone and pushed the door to the bar open. As she descended the stairs, she noticed it was fuller than usual and many patrons were dressed unusually smart.
Pushing her way to the bar, she quickly caught the bartenders eye, "Usual Horace when you have a second," she called.
"When I have a second," Horace scoffed whilst juggling three empty glasses, "you Brits have a weird sense of humour, haven't had this many customers in years."
"They're classer than your usual clientele too," Jazz chuckled, "did they get lost?"
"Ha ha," Horace deadpanned and slid a bottle of beer across the bar, "keep this up and I'll make you pay for the next one." He began to pour a drink before adding, "They all came from a wedding, only the wedding never happened. Apparently, the bride ran out just before the I do's."
"Jesus," Jazz shook her head, "thought that kind of thing only happened on TV."
"Nothing's been normal in this city since those monsters came along," Horace said between pours, "Harley's here tonight by the way and I think he's a little busy," he indicated with his head.
Jazz looked over an spotted the black ranger deep in conversation with a blonde in an expensive dress, "So I see," Jazz frowned, "catch you later Horace," she called and pushed her way from the bar.
After downing about a third of her beer and fighting against the packed crowd, she finally reached the black ranger, "Hey Harley," she greeted brightly, "fancy seeing you here, who's your new friend?"
Harley's new blonde friend looked at the black ranger awkwardly, "I'm just going to get a drink," she said, "be back in a minute."
Once the blonde disappeared into the crowd, Harley turned and glared at Jazz, "Thanks a lot," he spat, "I was this close to hooking up with a bridesmaid."
"Classy as always Harley," Jazz shook her head, "she reminds me a little of someone, got a thing for blondes have you?"
Jazz smiled but shook his head, "Look if this is some kind of sisterhood loyalty thing, you can stick it. Rachel was the one who turned me down, ain't my fault she's realising what a good time she missed out on."
"From what I heard it was a mutual thing," Jazz frowned, "you did accuse her of bring more interested in her channel."
Harley shrugged, "Call it how I see it," he took a swig of his beer, "now, how 'bout you get lost. Don't you have a date with your computer?"
Jazz was fuming, angrily downing her drink as Harley's acquaintance arrived back, "Oh, you're still here," she looked down her nose at Jazz.
The Scot slammed her bottle down, "I was just leaving, just had give Harley the results of his test." Harley was about to say something but Jazz quickly stopped him, "Don't worry it's nothing serious, you just need to keep using the cream and the itching should stop after a while." The blonde bridesmaid looked at Harley with disgust before making her excuses, "Have we learned a lesson today Harley," Jazz grinned brightly and left the black ranger to stew on his missed opportunity.
The following day Jazz had largely forgotten about her ruined evening, choosing to head over to Swanfield Gym for a more productive way to work on her frustrations. Despite it being Sunday morning, the place was surprisingly busy with several members of the High School athletics team. She spotted Stevie hanging near the central bar wearing a 'Duty Manager' polo shirt, "Since when did you get a promotion?" Jazz asked the blue ranger.
"Around the same time you decided to work out," Stevie shot back sarcastically, "don't remember seeing you here before."
"Rachel gave us all complementary memberships, might as well take advantage," Jazz looked around the gym, "where is she anyway, thought it was her shift this morning."
Stevie shrugged and took a slurp of smoothie, "No idea, she messaged me asking me to open up this morning."
"Does that make you management now?" Jazz raised an eyebrow.
"I'm the most senior member of the team here today," she grinned, "puts me in charge by default." She placed her smoothie down on the counter, "Don't think Harley's here either, banged on his apartment door and didn't get an answer."
Jazz frowned, "Don't get me started on him, bumped into him trying to pick up a bridesmaid after some failed wedding last night."
"Sounds like something he'd do," Stevie snorted before freezing, "it wasn't Jaime was it?" she asked seriously, pointing at a glum looking teen hovering next to a treadmill, "cause she's just a Freshman and that would be just disgusting."
"No wasn't her," Jazz shook her head, "Harley might be a letch but he'd never do that."
"Good," Stevie began, "it sounds like it was Jaime's older sister's wedding you're talking about, apparently they got all the way to the vows and she suddenly decides, nah I don't want to get married after all."
At that point another familiar face appeared, "Hey Jazz," Stevie's friend Mel smiled, "thanks again for the talent show, I've had offers from a few record company's after our performance."
"Don't mention it but if you do get sign I expect a share, call it a bonus for keeping you out of Military Prison," she teased, subtly reminding her that she hadn't told Major Earhardt that the track team captain knew of Stevie's secret identity.
Mel's smile dropped, "Is she joking?" she asked Stevie.
"Probably," the blue ranger shrugged, "I wouldn't upset her though, just in case."
Mel nodded slowly and nervously, "Group one is nearly done with their intervals," she said to Stevie, "time to get warmed up."
Before the blue ranger could move, there was an alert from Jazz's phone. She pulled it from her gym bag and checked the notifications, "Gougers spotted near the church on West Avenue," she read.
"And I was looking forward to working out too," Stevie said with more than a touch of fake disappointment, "sorry Captain, maybe next time," she finished her smoothie and dashed towards the rear exit.
"Don't you need to go too?" Mel whispered to Jazz.
"If the Major needs help she'll call, no need for both of us at control for a few footsoldiers," Jazz replied.
"Funny, Stevie makes it sound like you're the brains of the operation," Mel frowned.
"If only, I'm just the last man standing, so to speak," Jazz said with a sigh, "everyone else involved in the project died and I'm just a lowly intern who got lucky and escaped."
"I had no idea," Mel gasped, "that's sounds terrible."
Jazz nodded slowly, memories of the Vyglass attack on the space station flashing through her head, "I lost a few good friends that day, if it wasn't for Mark and Major Earhardt I wouldn't be here today." She glanced at the floor giving herself a few moments to compose herself, "Sorry, you don't need to hear about my issues."
"That's what friends are for," Mel smiled, "although this is far above the usual teen angst I deal with from the team, the burden of being captain." The pair stood in an awkward silence for a couple of moments until Mel added, "Weird how those monsters attack a church, what with Jaime's sister running off from her wedding."
Jazz frowned, "Was that a church wedding by any chance?" Mel nodded, "Might just be a coincidence but then again," she paused to swipe through her phone, "according to this, the West Avenue church has been booked for a private celebration today."
"Another wedding?" Mel asked.
"My friend back home used to say he only went to church for three reasons, hatchings, matchings and dispatchings," Jazz said, "chances are this private event is one of those three." She pocketed her phone, "Any chance you could introduce me to Jaime?"
Mel chewed her lip, "Just go easy on her, she's devastated about yesterday."
The pair moved between a row of treadmills until they reached the younger girl, still leaning morosely on her treadmill, "Jaime, look alive," Mel said in her best authoritative voice.
"Sorry captain," Jaime sighed, "won't happen again."
"I want to introduce you to a good friend of mine," Mel began, "she wanted to ask you a few questions about yesterday."
"You a cop or something?" Jaime sniffed, "Doesn't feel like something the Police should get involved with, unless you're going to arrest my sister."
Jazz placed her hand on the younger girl shoulder, "Nothing like that don't worry," she tried to calm the girl down, "I'm a special investigator, I just wanted to ask if you remembered anything strange from yesterday."
The girl frowned, "You're just going to laugh at me."
"Trust me, I've seen some weird stuff recently, nothing can shock me," Jazz reassured her.
The girl sniffed, "I only caught a brief glimpse but it looked like a vacuum cleaner, the one with the really long hoses."
"A vacuum cleaner?" Mel said, "Bit careless of the staff to leave that out at a wedding.
"It wasn't there at the start," Jaime said defensively, "it appeared out of nowhere but that's not the weirdest bit," she leaned in a little closer, "it had teeth." Jazz and Mel looked at each other with confusion, "See, you think I'm stupid just like my Mom and Dad do," Jaime cried.
"I don't think you're stupid," Jazz said firmly, "I think you're very brave for tell us. Now why don't you get back to your workout, never know you could be the captain of the team by the time you're a Senior."
Jaime smiled weakly as Jazz and Mel walked away, "A vacuum cleaner with teeth" Mel said to the Scot, "doesn't sound like something you could make up."
"It doesn't," Jazz sighed, "this has the Vyglass written all over it."
"So, what's your plan?" Mel asked, "get Stevie and the others to hunt it down?"
Jazz shook her head, "I need something more concrete before I approach Major Earhardt. I'll wait until the Rangers report in after the latest attack and go from there." She looked around the packed Gym, "But until then and with Stevie gone, I guess I'm in charge of this place," she sighed, "did Stevie ask you to pay for the team today."
Mel looked confused, "She said the session today was on the house."
Jazz shook her head, "Of course she did," the Scot grumbled under her breath.
Later that day, Jazz was working by herself at the Air Base. The Rangers hadn't returned after the earlier call and Major Earhardt was in the conference room updating General Harmon and other military leaders. Once the High School track team had finished their session and with the gym mostly deserted, she took the decision to close up for the rest of the day.
Instead she was using her free time to work on her wedding monster theory. Sitting at her desk with a bottle of Irn-Bru in hand, Jazz flicked through various social media platforms to find reports of similar incidents. She had created a program to automatically find relevant content, now all she had to do was got through the results.
Most of the results were irrelevant, there were a depressing number of aborted weddings due to one of the parties getting cold feet at the last minute. She found some footage of Jaime's sister's wedding including the moment itself where the bride slapped the groom and ran back down the aisle, "Ouch, no wonder the wee one is upset," Jazz cringed. There was nothing concrete to support the vacuum monster theory though, vague shadows moving in the background but nothing more.
Switching to another video from a different wedding, it started the same until the groom suddenly decided to abandon his bride. This time though, Jazz thought she spotted something, "Hang on a second," she mumbled, rewound the video and watched it back in slow motion. It was clear as day, a vacuum hose with teeth taking a bite out of the groom, "Well I'll be," Jazz beamed and quickly returned to the previous video.
As she was doing this, the doors opened and the Rangers entered with a very disgruntled Major Earhardt close behind, "Next time you two decide to bicker, can you do it quietly?" she pointed at Rachel and Harley, "I've just had to explain to a group of four star Generals why my Rangers are arguing like a pair of school kids, elementary school kids at that."
There was a brief pause before Rachel muttered, "He started it."
"I did not," Harley protested, "you asked first if the bridesmaids were as good lookin' as last night."
"You didn't have to answer," Rachel grumbled, "or give me a play by play on your performance with, what was her name again, Crystal?" The black ranger shook his head but kept his cocky grin.
"Yeah we all could've done without hearing that," Ricky sighed.
"Then why ask if you weren't interested?" Harley shot back.
"Enough!" Taylor shouted over the racket, "I don't care who started it, I'm ending it." She took a deep breath to regain her composure, "Another word from either of you and you'll be cleaning the bathrooms on the Base for the rest of the week, understood?" Rachel looked mildly ashamed, lowing her head before taking a seat. Harley though merely shrugged and leaned up against the nearest wall. The Major turned to Mark, "Did you find anything?"
Mark shook his head, "Nothing, we guessed the Vyglass were somehow responsible but couldn't find any evidence of how they did it."
"Maybe I can help," Jazz interjected, "I've been watching some videos and might've found something."
She moved the video from her workstation to the main screen and began to play, "Is that Jaime?" Stevie recognised the bridesmaid, "who's insensitive enough to post this to the internet."
"Unfortunately we might have to thank this terrible human being," Jazz slowed the recording down, "I thought this was just a random shadow but when I slowed it down and referenced it against another video, I spotted it." She paused the video, "Dunno about you but that looks pretty monsterish."
"A vacuum hose?" Mark frowned, "is it literally sucking the love out of couples on their wedding day."
"You can't accuse the Vyglass of being creative," Ricky added, "so now we know what it is, how do we stop it?" There was silence in the room for several moments, "Anyone got any ideas?" still there was silence, "nothing at all?"
"It's relying on stealth, we can't just wait for it to appear because we'll never know where its going to strike," Mark stated.
A thought entered Jazz's head, "Why don't we create our own wedding? A fake one of course to try and lure it out," her suggestion was met with blank stares, "not like anyone else was offering any ideas," she added defensively.
"It's not a terrible idea," Taylor began, "but there's no guarantee the monster would fall for it."
"What if it was the only wedding for the next few days?" Ricky added, "Maybe we could persuade couples to put off their wedding, for an incentive of course."
Jazz tapped into her keyboard, "There's twenty three wedding scheduled for the next week, excluding the basic town hall marriages. That's a lot of incentive to pay out."
"Something my superiors will be less likely to do after your little display," Taylor again glared at the black and white rangers. "Maybe I could play the National Security card and deal with the fall out another day," she thought out loud, "I can't believe we're actually considering this."
"Doesn't sound like we have another option," a small smirk crossed Mark's face, "so who's playing the happy couple?" he asked.
"Not these two," Taylor immediately dismissed Rachel and Harley.
"I'm underage," Stevie said, "does that count me out?"
Silence again dominated the room, "That just leaves me," Jazz suggested, "and since it was my idea, I guess I'm getting married."
"Jazz no," Rachel protested, "this is way too dangerous."
"Then you all bloody well better watch my back," Jazz countered, "but since your wedding would attract too much attention Rachel, that leave me as the only option. I'm not as well known amongst the Vyglass which could work in our favour." The Rangers looked amongst themselves but they couldn't deny Jazz's logic, "Now, who wants to be my groom?" No one moved or even dared breath, "Don't rush at once guys, way to make me feel loved," she pouted.
"I'll do it," Mark offered, "I'm the leader, I'll take that responsibility."
"And who says romance is dead," Jazz commented dryly, "well, better get wedding planning then. If I'm doing this, we're doing it right."
"Good lord we've created our own monster," Ricky whispered to Stevie, drawing a snort of laughter from the blue ranger.
Two days and much preparation later, Jazz found herself standing at the entrance to a church. Clutching a bouquet close to her chest, she allowed herself a couple of calming breathes, "Relax," she heard Major Earhardt voice through her earpiece, "anyone would think you're really getting married."
"Wedding dresses are so uncomfortable," Jazz complained, smoothing down her white gown, "I can't believe Rachel talked me into wearing this."
"You said you wanted to do this properly," Taylor teased her technical assistant, "be grateful, you didn't see the price tag." Jazz chuckled softly to herself, "Hear comes your escort, we're good to go whenever you are."
Jazz noticed a grey haired man walking her way with a scowl fixed to his face, "For the record, I ain't happy about this," the familiar Southern tones of Harley drawled.
"Makes two of us," Jazz countered, "at least the static masks are working, no one would know its you."
"It's itchy," Harley complained, scratching his face which caused the digital image to distort, "can we get this ridiculous plan over with."
Jazz sighed and offered her arm to the black ranger which he was reluctant to accept, "You're meant to be giving me away, act like it." Begrudgingly, Harley hooked his arm through Jazz's just as the doors opened.
The seats were around half full, mostly filled with Air Force security forces offering extra protection. Jazz spotted a flash of yellow, light blue and pink dotted amongst the sea of grey suits, "I see the others are in disguise too," she whispered to the black ranger but he didn't respond. "This must be your idea of hell, making a lifelong commitment to someone," she teased. She spotted Harley's jaw tightened but once again, he remained stoically silent.
When they reached the end of the aisle, the black ranger practically pushed Jazz into a disguised Mark's arms, "Take her, you're welcome to her," he growled lowly.
Major Earhardt, acting as the officiant of the fake ceremony, glared "Harley," she warned with a whisper, "this is meant to be the happiest day of their lives, act like it."
"Happiest day of mine if this goes pair shaped," the black ranger grumbled and stepped back into his position.
Taylor shook her head but began the service, reading very slowly from a prepared script downloaded from the internet. Around five minutes into the reading, Jazz whispered to Mark, "Just to make sure, this isn't legally binding is it?"
Mark resisted the urge to smile, "No, Major Earhardt definitely isn't an ordained minister."
"OK good, this would be hard to explain to my parent if it was," Jazz sighed, "no offence to you but I'd really like this monster to show up soon."
"None taken," Mark answered but quickly frowned, "I think."
Another few minutes passed but there was still no sign of the Vyglass. Taylor flicked through her notes, she had stalled for long enough so had no choice but to move onto the vows. Mark and Jazz turned to face each other, both trying their hardest to look happy as the Major read from her script, "In sickness and in health, until death do you part," she read the last of the vows to Mark.
The red ranger looked reluctant but after a brief pause replied, "I do."
Similarly, Jazz allowed most her portion of the vows to wash over her. She caught Ricky's eyes who was on look out duty on the right hand side of the congregation. The yellow ranger subtly shook his head. Jazz chewed her lip and it took her a moment to realise Taylor had finished and was waiting for her response, "Oh, sorry, I do," she eventually answered.
"By the power invested in my by the state of Arizona, I pronounce your husband and wife," Taylor called, "you may kiss the bride." Both Mark and Jazz looked at the Major with a frown, "Well go on," she whispered to the pair.
Jazz blew out her cheeks and Mark offered a silent apology. The pair began to inch closer until their lips nearly touched. It was at that point that Mark pushed around Jazz, blaster in hand. The familiar blue and grey nozzle of the Vyglass monster was inches away from Jazz's back, "Too late for objections now," Mark grinned as he unleashed a volley of laser fire at the appendage.
In turn Jazz tugged at the hose and the Vyglass monster crashed through the window. Its head was essentially a blue cylinder vacuum cleaner with a bright red body and grey arms and legs. Once it realised it had been discovered and was surrounded, it scrambled to its feet and headed for the door, "Don't just stand there," Taylor called to the assembled military officers and the Rangers, "get after it."
The Rangers nodded and taking advantage of their disguises, they instantly morphed and flew off after the Vyglass monster, "I'm going to organise security," Taylor said to Jazz as the Air Force troops filed out, "you might need this," she handed Jazz her laptop bag and ran off after the troops, "excellent work today."
Jazz smiled to herself, pulling her computer from her bag to enable her to watch the battle, "Never in doubt," she chuckled. Whilst she was waiting for her laptop to boot up, she reached behind her back and fiddled with the zip of her dress, "Now to get this damn thing off." There was a squeak followed by a loud bump of bone on wood, "Who's there?" Jazz called, arming herself with a candle holder, "I warn you, I'm a level 39 warrior class who's armed and dangerous."
There was a brief pause as a head poked out from behind a pile of chairs, "Jaime?" Jazz said, lowing her weapon, "the hell you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," the teen replied nervously, "I really wanted to prove I wasn't crazy and this was the only wedding all week." With hands raised she slowly stood up, "Am I in trouble?"
Before Jazz could respond, the front doors burst open and half a dozen Gougers charged in, "No but you're about to be," the Scot called, dashing back to her discarded bouquet as quickly as her dress would allow her, "get up here and get behind me." She pulled out the flowers to reveal a blaster of her own. Her first few shots crashed into the wall harmlessly away from the Gougers, "This is much easier in the arcade," she grumbled before finally landing a direct hit on a Gouger.
With Jaime safely behind her Jazz picked off three more Gougers, along with a dozen chairs with errant shots but more footsoldiers forced their way through the door, "Jazz the Gougers have breached the defensive line," Taylor called through her earpiece.
"No shit," Jazz cried back, missing the Gouger she was aiming for but luckily hitting the one behind, "we've got a civilian inside too."
"You're kidding," Taylor hissed, "get out now through the back door, I'll send one of the Rangers to help."
"Easier said than done," Jazz muttered, "Jaime I really need you to help me out this dress."
"Erm, what?" the teen stammered, "is this really the time."
Jazz blasted another Gouger, "There's no way I can run in this thing. We're both girls, get over it and just do it." The teen fumbled with the zipper but eventually pulled it all the way down. Jazz shrugged her arms out the dress open at a time, revealing she was wearing a black vest, leggings and trainers underneath, "Something told me I might need a quick escape." She took Jaime's hand and kicked the discarded dress at two advancing Gougers, effectively wrapping them in the fabric, "Run, head for that door," Jazz pointed at the rear exit.
The pair stumbled through the door and dark corridor beyond, Jazz kept looking over her shoulder keeping watch for any approaching footsoldiers. When they reached the end of the corridor Jaime tried to open the door but it was stuck, "I think it's locked."
The scuttling of hurried steps echoed down the corridor, "Step aside," Jazz aimed her weapon at the lock, "I hope this works like in the movies," she said before shooting through the lock and handle. To her relief the door swung open into the street, allowing the pair to stumble outside.
Once again Jazz stood in front of the younger girl as the sound of approaching Gougers came closer. She took aim again but suddenly her vision was blocked by something dark, "Hi," a morphed Harley greeted the emerging Gougers. With a swing of his Jet Sword he cut them down with ease. He turned to face Jazz and gave her a mocking bow, "You're welcome."
"Took your time," she snorted, "I had the situation under control."
"Yeah sure you did," Harley sniffed in response. The moment was interrupted when the vacuum monster grew into its giant form, "Oh look duty calls," he cracked his neck, "time to save the day again," he took to the skies, meeting the Condor Zord in mid-air.
"What an arse," Jazz grumbled before taking Jaime's hand, "come on, we don't want to be in the middle of a Megazord battle."
"This is unbelievable," Jaime gasped, "you know the Power Rangers? Are you working with them?"
"No point denying it," Jazz replied as they jogged through the now deserted streets, "the Rangers always need people on the ground they can't do it all by themselves."
"Really?" Jaime sounded disappointed, "I thought they just knew when there was trouble in the city."
"Sorry to pull back the curtain," Jazz began, "there no intergalactic wizards or floating heads in a jar at work here." Once they were a safe distance, Jazz stopped and looked directly at the High School student, "You can't tell anyone about this though, best keeping this to yourself."
"No one would believe me anyway, especially Mel and Stevie," Jazz struggled to keep control of her grin, "they always shut down talk about the Rangers during training."
"Well, now you know something they don't," Jazz smiled, "in fact, it was your story that lead the Rangers to the monster."
"Really," Jaime beamed, "does that mean my sister will be better?"
"I reckon once the Rangers take down that freak, things will go back to normal," Jazz reassured the younger woman. A loud rumbled from the ongoing battle soon destroyed the moment, "Maybe we should get further away," she said, ushering the teen further away, "they're getting too close for comfort."
It didn't take the Megazord long to finish off the vacuum monster and once Jazz was satisfied Jaime could make her own way home, she returned to the rear entrance of the voice. Waiting outside with two backpacks was Major Earhardt, "I'd call that a pretty successful today's work," the blonde greeted the Scot.
"Apart from getting chased through a church by rampaging Gougers," Jazz grumbled, "good thing we brought some clean stuff with us," she added, nudging at a backpack.
"I said it earlier but I'll say it again, excellent work," Taylor smiled, "maybe we need to work on your aim thought," she opened her hand to accept Jazz blaster which the Scot eagerly handed over.
"I'm the tech person, I'm not supposed to be weapons trained," she hauled her backpack over her shoulder, "can we go, I really need a shower."
"Not all heroes wear spandex Jazz, remember that," the Scot gave the Major a grateful smile. The pair took a few paces but suddenly Major Earhardt placed her hand on Jazz's arm, "Stop," she commanded, "someone's here." In a flash a sword appeared in Taylor's hand, she spun and immediately intercepted two large blades that were aimed directly at her head. Welding the weapons was a strange looking monster with red and blue shoulder pads, a horn on his head and a clown-like grin on his face.
Jazz inched away but to her surprise, Taylor had a small smile on her face, "I might be older since we last met but I still know when you're sneaking up on me Jindrax."
The creature chuckled softly, "Maybe next time," he slowly lowered his weapons, "so, how's things?" he asked casually.
"You'd know if you'd checked in during the last sixteen years," Taylor frowned whilst lowering her blade,
"Wow has it been that long?" Jindrax rubbed the back of his head, "Sixteen years is a blink of an eye when you're over three thousand years old."
Taylor let out a dry laugh, "I take it this isn't a social visit," she began, "must be something big if you're looking me up."
"You could say that," another voice called, emerging from the shadows wearing a long black dress, matching head piece with a single horn protruding through the material, "we've encountered something on our travels that you need to know about."
"Toxica," Taylor sighed, "I knew you wouldn't be far behind."
Confused, Jazz nervously raised her hand, "Erm sorry to interrupt but who are these guys?"
"You mean Taylor never mentioned us," Toxica grasped a hand to her chest, "I'm offended, then again maybe you're getting forgetful in your old age."
"Hey watch it," Taylor snapped at the Duke Org, "I'm in my prime thank you very much." She turned to the Scotswoman behind her, "Jazz this is Jindrax and Toxica, Duke Orgs who were enemies and now we're…," her voice trailed off, trying to find the right term for their relationship.
"Go on you can say it, we're friends now," Jindrax teased the former yellow ranger.
"Not sure if helping once makes up for the dozens of times you tried to kill me," Taylor frowned, "but fine let's go with friends."
"Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the Wild Force Rangers fight Orgs," Jazz said, "how come they weren't destroyed with the others?"
"A story for another time little girl," Toxica replied dismissively towards the Scot, "we don't have a lot of time which is why I have this," she produced a choker necklace with a large blue gemstone in the middle.
Taylor immediately recognised the necklace and raised her weapon once again," Where did you get that?" she demanded.
"Easy," Toxica raised her free hand, "I didn't steal it if that's what you're worried about."
Taylor snorted, "That makes a change, you do have previous when it comes to kidnapping the Princess."
"That was years ago, I thought you good guys were all about forgiveness and second chances," Toxica replied. Taylor thought didn't lower her weapon, "Fine, the Princess said you might react this way which is why she recorded this."
Toxica pressed her finger to the gem and a message began to play, "Taylor," it began, "if I know you at all then you will have a weapon pointed at Toxica and Jindrax. They come in peace so please put it away."
The blonde blushed like a scolded child and dismissed her Crystal Sabre, "Sorry Princess," she muttered.
"Thank you," Princess Shayla's voice continued, "Toxica and Jindrax came to me with grave news. The fate of the planet is at state and you must come to the Animarium at once."
"The Animarium," Jaxx exclaimed, "I thought that only existed it those kids books."
"It very real," Jindrax beamed, "bit too green for my taste."
"You two went there," Taylor said quizzically, "I'm amazed the Wild Zords didn't tear you to pieces on sight."
"Your Eagle Zord tried," Toxica snorted, "but they sensed we wanted to help and lead us to the Princess." She pocketed Princess Shayla's necklace and summoned her wand, "Now, we really should get going."
"Absolutely, lead the way," Jazz beamed, drawing looked from the others, "when am I going to get a chance to visit the Animarium again?"
"What about the Rangers?" Taylor said, "Someone should keep watch for any Vyglass activity."
"Ah they're grown ups, I'm sure they can manage without us for a few hours. Plus I can access everything remotely, the wonders of modern technology," Jazz replied.
"I like this one," Jindrax nodded in approval.
Taylor shook her head, "Fine, I can't believe I'm saying this but lead the way Toxica." The Duke Org waived her staff and in a cloud of smoke, the quartet teleported away.