[FangRX]

The first fight was the Battlesnare Empire was over. The Rangers had won against Chorha, but it did not feel like a victory to them. Thomas sat back against the main pillar in the lower decks, turning the Red Ranger Key in his hands.

“It’s been three years,” the Red Ranger muttered, sighing. “Three years and this is the first time we’ve seen the Empire since they sacrificed themselves. What the hell is going on to make them what to come back to Earth?”

“Captain?” Artemis asked, kneeling down to avoid getting hit by a crossbeam. “You alright? You’ve been down here since we got back from the fight.”

“Just thinking, Artemis. Trying to think of a reason why the Empire wants to destroy Earth after three years of absence,” he said, standing up.

“We’ll figure it out, Thomas. I know we will,” Artemis said, putting her hand on the Captain’s shoulder. “Come on. Richmond’s working on some lunch, so we need to get back up there before my dear sister eats all of it again.”

“She does have a bit of an endless stomach, doesn’t she?” Thomas laughed.

“You have no idea!” Artemis laughed, shaking her head. “Come on.”
________________________________________________________________

Deep within space, a shuttle dropped out of warp near the Battlesnare fleet. Stepping off of the ship and into the corridor that connected the main ship to the smaller shuttle, a man who’s body could only be described as on fire stepped through, a pair of talons stretching back on his head, one looking like a nose on his face. Black, lifeless eyes stared straight ahead as he entered the bridge.

“Lord Dimas,” he said, bowing.

Turning, the Lord of the Battlesnare Empire laughed. “Furyblaze! It’s about time, old friend. I was starting to worry if this immortal phoenix was ever going to rise from his ashes,” Dimas said, shaking Furyblaze’s hand. “After the Great Legend Battle on this backwater planet…”

“I was unsure of my resurrection as well, my Lord. It took longer then usual for my body to reform itself. But…tell me. Is there any word of my sister, Serpen?”

“I’m sorry, Furyblaze. I haven’t heard of your sister in these long three years,” Dimas said. “For now, get yourself acquainted with the ship. Be prepared. Rangers have returned, and it’s time that we stop them once and for all.”

“Very well,” Furyblaze said, bowing his head and turning to head out.

“He’s changed…” Dimas mused.

Perhaps it can be due to the fact that it took three years for his body to reconstruct after being destroyed by the Sacrifice Wave. a voice said. A person in a black cloak shimmered into the bridge, his face covered in a black hood.

“Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?!” Dimas demanded, holding his sword out at the intruders neck…or what he thought was the neck.

“My name is unimportant right now. As for how I got in, let’s just say I have a few powers that would make my help in destroying the Rangers beneficial in the long run. Now, lower your sword,” the intruder said, holding a black glove covered hand up. Dimas, unknown to him how, felt his hand and arm moving, the sword falling away. “That’s better. Now…if you’re willing to listen…”
___________________________________________

Back on the Galleon, Artemis and Thomas walked back upstairs into the main room, Andrea sitting against the computer with her book in hand, the other two men nowhere to be found. Artemis smirked, winking at Thomas before heading towards her sister and grabbing her book.

“Hey!” Andrea yelled, trying to get her book back from her sister.

“How can you read this smut?” Artemis asked. She looked at the page her sister was reading, and she started reading aloud. “James felt Tacari’s hand trail down his bare chest, feeling her heat against his body. His body couldn’t help but react to the woman sitting in front of him. He felt her hands sliding further down his body, and--”

“Artemis!” Andrea muttered, burying her face against her arms. “Jerk.”

“Where did you get this?” Artemis asked, marking her sisters page with the yellow bookmark that had been through hell and back in fifteen years. “Seriously?”

“Umm….well…remember my English Lit teacher my senior year? She gave it to me,” Andrea admitted.

“Ms. Rhoades! Hanna Rhoades? The hot one with the legs that came up to her neck, with the great rack?” Artemis asked, watching Thomas’ head turn.

“Yes!” Andrea yelled, stealing her book back. “Don’t ever take it again. Please?”

“Fine,” Artemis whined playfully, hugging her sister. “Where’s Richmond and Alec?”

“Alec…went below deck to train with his swords--though I don’t know why. And Rich…I think he’s in the kitchen,” Andrea said, watching her sister head off towards the kitchen. She closed the book and sighed, sitting on it. “Why does she have to do that, Thomas? Act like such a jerk to me?”

“She’s your sister, Andrea. I don’t have any siblings, so I can’t relate. But just don’t get so angry at her. She just wants to be seen,” Thomas said, putting his hand on Andreas shoulder. “Just give her a little room to wiggle.”

“Yeah, right,” Andrea snickered, shaking her head.

In the kitchen, Artemis was sitting on the counter across from Richmond who was busy whipping up some onion rings, mushroom steak, and garlic bread. “Where the hell did you learn to cook?” she asked, looking at the Green Ranger.

“My grandmother. My dad was always off fighting in the Corps and I didn’t have much else to do. The majority of my planet was destroyed and uninhabitable thanks to the Caokin outbreak, so I learned how to cook and patch up wounds from my grandmother,” Richmond said. “It’s come in handy, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t trade those days for nothing.”
_________________________________________________

Back on the Battlesnare’s ship, the mysterious intruder was still standing in front of Dimas while he explained his plans.

“You want to use my forces to take out the Power Rangers once and for all? Why should I trust you?” Dimas asked.

“Because, my Lord, if you do not trust me, the Rangers will one up you and end your Empire for good. Do you understand that?” the hooded man asked.

“One question,” Dimas said, standing up again. “What do I call you for now? Since you refuse to give a name.”

“Dricos. For now. Until a time I deem my name worthy to be given,” the hooded figure said, a cold smile under the hood. Hiding his face had its benefits, especially since his identity was one that he did not want revealed at that time.

“Dricos. SO be it. We will double our attack on the planet,” Dimas said. A thought crossed his mind, and he knew that his newest addition could be the one that brings Pan Central City to her knees, as well as destroying the Rangers for good. “Furyblaze.”

A few minutes later, Furyblaze came in, looking to be eating a fireball lined with rocks. “Interesting…the volcanoes on this planet might not be so bad,” he mumbled, covering his mouth as he burped. “Pardon me, my Lord. You summoned me?”

“Yes, my dear General. I need the city destroyed in order to draw out the Rangers,” Dimas said. “I figured you could also use this as a chance to stretch your legs since you took three years to regenerate, my friend.”

“Thank you, Sire,” Furyblaze bowed, turning on his heel and walking out of the room and snapping his fingers for the Timbaks and Golbaks. “Let’s go. We need to destroy these Rangers.” As he teleported to the surface of Pan Central City, he began to wonder if his memories would return to him.
_____________________________________________

After a hearty lunch provided by Richmond, the Rangers were sitting and talking with each other, trying to get Alec to spill something about his past.

“You wont’ get anything out of me. I promise,” Alec said, polishing one of his knives. “Not now, not until this war is over.”

Artemis stood up, walking over to Alec, every eye in the room--even Geeps--facing her as she sat behind Alec on the bench he was perched on, her hands going along his back. “Come on, Alec…just a little bit?” she asked, her voice low and slightly seductive.

Before anyone could say anything about the Pink Rangers attempts to seduce the Blue, Geeps squawked. “Oi! You lot, we’ve got trouble! It’s a new Commander. It’s….my, god! Furyblaze,” the mechanical bird chirped, the Rangers standing up.

“Let’s go,” Thomas said, hitting the release for the UQRs, the five bikes landing on the ground while the Rangers lowered down onto them. As they sped off, the two sisters of the team couldn’t help but worry that things were about to get bad.

Soon, they pulled up to where Furyblaze was flinging fireballs around, people burned on the ground, several of them trying to get the fires put out. “Rangers,” the Phoenix-themed warrior said, turning and letting his fires die down slowly. “Why don’t you just put down your Keys and go back to your planets? If we’ve left them habitable.”

“Go to hell!” Alec growled, his Unleashed Caller and Blue Key in hand. “Cap?”

“Let’s Ranger up,” Thomas said, his own Caller and Key in hand.

“Unleashed! Engage!” all five yelled, slamming the Keys into the slot on the Callers and turning them, the top of the Caller splitting to reveal a Key and Crossed swords.

Thomas found himself in a raging sea on a Red ship, similar to the Galleon. He swung his arms around, his suit appearing in his hands before he pulled it on like an overcoat, adjusting the gloves before the helmet snapped closed over his head.

Alec was under water, the water enveloping him like a shield that formed his suit. Adjusting the collar, the helmet snapped over the Blue Rangers head similar to how a clam would close. The Blue Ranger then popped up out of the water onto a cliff, overlooking a sunset.

Andrea jumped out of the ground, her suit being formed pieces at a time by the rocks that surrounded her in the air. She grabbed a larger rock and hit it, her helmet forming from the remains in her hand before she threw it into the air, leaping up and letting it secure. She hit the ground and adjusted her skirt as she did.

Richmond ran through the jungle, his suit forming from pieces of the underbrush before he blasted out into a clearing, kicking up a dust storm. He formed his helmet from the sand and pebbles, snapping it closed over his head. Rolling his shoulders, he started to hop like a boxer.

Artemis spun in the air, clouds forming her suit before she grabbed the sun, closing her hand around it and taking the light to form a helmet. She threw the helmet down, following in a dive that would make an Olympian Swimmer jealous before landing on her feet, the helmet closing around her head. She fixed her sleeve, snapping her fingers.

After all five Rangers had transformed, they stood ready to go, each one holding their Saber or Gun.

“Unleashed Red!”

“Unleashed Blue!”

“Unleashed Yellow!”

“Unleashed Green!”

“Unleashed Pink!”

Furyblaze shook his head as he rolled his eyes. “Pathetic. Timbaks, allow me the pleasure,” he said, drawing a six foot saber from his chest, brandishing it outward. As he rushed the Rangers, his anger swelled to fuel his fires again, knocking Richmond, Alec, and Artemis backwards, cutting their legs from under them before slamming Artemis hard in the stomach, causing the Pink Ranger to fall onto her back, fear in her eyes. “I can smell your fear, little girl. It’s something that smells delicious. I would taste your fear, but…I don’t see the sense in killing you just yet.”

Andrea rushed forward, knocking Furyblaze away from her sister. “Get away from her!” she growled, her eyes blazing under her helmet. “Stay…away from my sister.”

“A fighter. It’s about time,” Furyblaze growled, locking swords with Andrea, the Yellow Ranger not going in until she kicked the Battlesnare General in the stomach, knocking him backwards.

“Thomas! Let’s change it up!” Artemis yelled, standing up and pulling a Red Ranger Key from her belt.

“Let’s go!” the others yelled, doing the same.

”Unleashed Engage!”

Lets Rocket!

Ninja Storm, Ranger Form!

Go Go Samurai!

Zeo Ranger 5, Red!

Magical Source! Mystic Force!

After the five flashes of red light dissipated, the Rangers stood clad in the uniforms of five previous Red Rangers. Thomas stood as the Red Space Ranger, his Spiral Saber in hand. Next to him was Alec as Ninja Storm Red Ranger, holding the Hawk Blaster. Standing aside of Alec, Andrea stood as the Red Samurai Ranger--complete with a skirt on her suit--holding her Spin Sword. Richmond was beside her, clad in the uniform of the Red Zeo Ranger, the Zeo Sword in his hand. Artemis finished off the five, standing clad in a feminine version of the Red Mystic Force Ranger, her MagiStaff in hand.

“Five Red Rangers? Looks like I’m seeing Red,” Furyblaze smirked, rushing forward and meeting all five Unleashed Rangers head on, swords crashing together. “Come on, then!” He quickly threw all five around like rag dolls, standing solid while the Rangers hit their backs, each one groaning in pain.

“What the fuck is this bastard?” Artemis growled, using her Saber to stand up. She saw Furyblaze lighting up another attack, and she stood shakily. Tapping into her suits power, she managed to cast a single spell. “Reflectus Targo!”

The fireballs rebounded, knocking Timbaks over and lighting some on fire. As the smoke cleared, Furyblaze ran forward before seeing the Rangers had vanished, using the smoke from his attack as a shield. “Damn!” he snapped, slashing a Timbak down for the hell of it. He snapped his fingers, his forces vanishing in a blast of black fire.
_____________________________________________

“What the hell is he!?” Andrea screeched, sinking into a chair and holding her arm that had been burned. Richmond, who hadn’t been burned as severely, started looking over Andrea’s arm. “Thanks, Rich.”

“No problem,” Richmond said, smiling softly before applying a burn cream, rubbing it into her arm before moving over towards Alec who’s shoulders were scorched.

“Andrea…to answer your question. His name is Furyblaze, and he’s one of the top four Commanders in the Battlesnare Empire,” Thomas said, looking at the computer.

“Top four? Isn’t it usually top five?” Artemis asked.

Thomas sighed, and he pulled up a file on the computer. “Five years ago…I was in the Battlesnare Empire. That’s how I know Furyblaze. He was my commanding officer. I…” he sighed, turning and looking at the Rangers. “He’s full of anger, hatred, and rage. His power over fire is too great for us to handle. As we found out.”

Artemis got up, despite the burns on her arm and shoulder, and she hauled off and slapped Thomas in the face, knocking him backwards into the computer. “How dare you,” she growled. “How dare you keep that you were one of them from us!” There was a general murmur of agreement, though Thomas couldn’t blame them.

“There was a reason I didn’t say anything, guys. And you know why?” Thomas asked, looking at the four that were angry with him, though they had every right to be. “I hid this because I was afraid. Alright? You’re the first friends I’ve had in ten years, so yeah, I hid a bad part of my life, big deal. Right now, though, we got bigger things to worry about!”

“He’s right,” Alec said, his voice low. “We can kick his ass later for lying to us about being one of them, but right now, we need to focus on Furyblaze.”

“And how the hell do we do that, exactly? He’s got freaking FIRE POWERS!” Artemis snapped, looking at Alec.

“Water,” Richmond said, looking at the treasure chest that sat on top of a shelf. He grabbed it and set it on the table. As he sat it down, he opened it up, taking the Mystic Force, Ninja Storm, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, and Samurai Blue Ranger keys out of it. “Five Rangers that dealt in Water.”

“Smart,” Artemis said, smirking. “He’d never expect that, would he?”

“But after we douse him, then what?” Andrea asked. “Use these?” She pulled out the set of Jungle Fury Rangers, each one having their own Kung-Fu style. “Think it can work?”

“Let’s hope,” Thomas said, sighing as he considered the chance to stop his former Commander.
______________________________________________________

Furyblaze, never one to sit still, paced the bridge. His mind was buzzing, trying to determine the best way to destroy the Rangers for good. “This is going to be perfect,” he mumbled. “Lord Dimas, I am returning to the surface in order to destroy the Rangers once and for all.”

“Very good, Furyblaze. Finish them, and then we celebrate the destruction of Earth,” Dimas said, nodding as Furyblaze walked off.
________________________________________________________

After his arrival onto the surface, Furyblaze charged up and swung his sword around, setting fire to several of the buildings, people running and screaming. “Can none of you fight back?” he asked, laughing as he severed bodies.

A few minutes later, his waiting and taunting was answered by the Rangers, each one blasting at him and knocking him back a few centimeters. “Alright, Furyblaze. Enough,” Thomas said, spinning his blaster around. The entire team had morphed already, each of them lowering their blasters.

“Thomas. You had promise, young man. What happened?”

“Ask the man you call “Lord”. But…first things first, old friend. Its time to settle this,” Thomas said, holding his saber up. “Rangers…we end this quick, you’ll get your explanations from me. I won’t let this bastard run free anymore.”

“Fair enough. Let’s rumble,” Artemis said, knowing that this was something that had to be done, even if Thomas did have to fight his old friend to stop his rampaging.

“I doubt you’ll live to tell that tale, Thomas. You never could stand up to me in combat, what makes you think you can do it now?” Furyblaze asked, rushing forward and locking swords with the Red Ranger, a resounding crash and a blinding white light forcing the Rangers to close their eyes or be blinded….

TO BE CONTINUED….