[FangRX]

Richmond sighed as he watched the clouds from the hotel room he’d rented, remembering happier times when he’d watch with his grandmother while they waited for the pecan pies or cobblers to get done. Sometimes he’d surprise her with something, like when he was seven.

“Grandma…I wish you could see me now,” he whispered. He chuckled at the thoughts of his first time trying make a cake solo in the kitchen to surprise his grandmother. “God, that was a disaster!”

”Richy, what are you doing, honey?” Angelica asked, giggling at her grandson covered head to toe in flour.

“I was trying to make you a cake. But it went wrong,” Richmond said, pouting as he put the pan in the sink and put water on it. He shook his head off, flour falling to the floor.

“Here, sweetheart,” Angelica said, smiling as she lifted her grandson up and put him on the counter before wetting a paper towel and wiping his head. “I’ll help you this time.” She kissed his forehead, making him smile. “There. There’s my boy’s big special smile.”

As Angelica helped her grandson, Richmond couldn’t help but laugh as they worked on cakes all afternoon. After finishing the last one, the young boy couldn’t help but take a spoon and the bowl of left over frosting to the table.

“Richmond,” his grandmother said, raising her eyebrows at her grandson. “What did I tell you?”

“Not to,” he said, his face falling as he put the bowl back on the counter.

“That’s right. But this time, it’s not to without me, silly,” Angelica said, kissing her grandson’s head. “Go sit down and I’ll bring a glass of Koran Milk when I sit down.” She watched him grab the bowl and run back to the table, hopping up in his chair beside hers.

“Grammy? How come you won’t let me go and see Dad?” Richmond asked.

Angelica sighed softly, lowering her eyes and busying herself with her work at the counter. “I told you, Richmond.”

“I know, but…”

“No buts! You aren’t allowed to see him in that war torn, godforsaken place! Do you understand me?” she snapped, turning and looking at her grandson.

Richmond nodded, ducking under the table and running off to his room, hiding in his closet.

“I never did find out what happened to my father,” Richmond said, sighing as he grabbed a green jacket and swung it on, heading out into the cool early May weather. He watched families walk and play, laughing as they threw footballs and Frisbees, chasing their dogs around before gathering around a picnic table for a grilled hot dog or a burger.

“Richmond?” a voice asked, knocking the Green Ranger out of his thoughts. “Thought I saw you sitting here.”

Looking up, the Green Ranger couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Alec. Good to see you, man,” he said, shaking his friend’s hand. “And who is this lovely woman?”

“Demetria Howell, this is my friend and the best chef I’ve ever known other then you, Richmond West,” Alec said, watching his friends shaking hands and getting acquainted. “How come you’re out here, man?”

“Got bored sitting in the hotel watching reruns of Military dramas. Earthies need some new shows,” Richmond laughed.

“Hey!” Demi laughed, shoving Richmond’s shoulder playfully. “We do not need new shows. We need GOOD shows.”

“That’s true, too,” Alec said, smiling as he took Demi’s hand. “We were going to get some lunch. Care to join us?”

“Alec, I wouldn’t want to intrude. I’d feel like a third wheel,” Richmond said. “I was--”

“No excuses, no made up lies. You’re coming,” Demi said, shutting Richmond up. “Don’t argue with me. He found that out the hard way.” She reached back and elbowed Alec in the gut, making both men laugh.
______________________________________________

Prancing into the deck of the Empire’s main ship, Draela, the Clone Warrior, bowed in front of Dimas and Dricos. “Hello, my lords!” she said, her voice bubbly despite her devilish looking appearance. “How can I be of service today?”

“Welcome, Draela. It’s….always interesting when you show up, my dear,” Dricos said, smirking under his hood. His silver eyes glimmered under the hood, and as he stepped forward to Draela, a sinister grin crossed his face. “Who is your intended target today?”

“The Green Ranger of course. I owe him a debt,” Draela said, rubbing her left arm where a long silver scar was seen. “A debt I intend on taking by force.”

“What kind of debt?” Dricos asked.

“He cut my arm in a duel on Sarkasin Six near Eltar. I plan on taking his life in return,” Draela said, smirking. “And maybe some other parts to use as toys after I come back to celebrate.”

Dricos, Dimas, and Furyblaze all cringed, knowing exactly what Draela was talking about. “Thou truly are a heartless bitch, my dear,” Furyblaze said, his hands crossed in front of him. “I think we should send her down to the surface to start some destruction.”

“Of course, my lords. This is going to be fun,” Draela giggled, skipping out of the room and taking some Timbaks with her as she went.
_____________________________________________

“You tackled her?” Richmond asked, his eyebrows disappearing into his let down mass of black hair. “Jesus, man.”

“It was either tackle me or let me blow up,” Demi giggled, taking a French fry off of Alec’s plate. “And I’ve made sure to thank him a few times for saving my life twice.” She wiggled her eyebrows, the Blue Rangers face turning red.

“Ok, that’s enough info on that one,” Richmond laughed, shaking his head. “Good god. So other then finding someone to shag, Alec, you gone back to the Galleon?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been staying around much, though. Demi’s been having me stay with her. Though Geeps does inform me of trouble,” Alec admitted.

“Did he ever answer how we ended up back on Earth after Furyblaze killed us?” the Green Ranger asked, breaking to take a long drink of his lemon water. “Because I thought the past Rangers said we were on the far side of the moon where the Empire couldn’t detect us. We woke up and we were in the middle of downtown.”

“Geeps. He’s connected to the Morphing Grid apparently, whatever the hell that is, and….apparently one of the smarter Blue Rangers was able to contact him and had him put our bodies back in the middle of downtown where we wouldn’t have so far to go to find Furyblaze,” Alec said. “The explanation doesn’t make much sense to me, considering I can’t think in mechanics like that, but if it makes the brains happy, then that’s the story.”

“And you’ll stick to it,” Demi said, kissing Alec’s cheek.

“So basically a Blue Ranger got in Geeps’ head and said, “We’re bringing them back to life. Dump the corpses in downtown Pan Central”, we get resurrected, and we split after what Thomas told us,” Richmond said. “Makes sense to me.”

“Like I said, if it makes the brains happy,” Alec said, chuckling. “Isn’t your friend supposed to be here soon, Demi?”

“April? Oh, yeah,” Demi said, looking around before spotting her friend. “April!”

“Demi!” the new girl squealed, rushing over and hugging her best friend. “Oh, I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“I know! We seriously need to stop waiting years before seeing each other,” Demi said, smiling. “April Chang, these two fine gentlemen are Alec Craven and Richmond West. They’re the two I told you about. But hands off Alec. He’s mine.”

“Yeah, last time I tried to steal one of your boyfriends, I thought I was going to lose a limb!” April laughed. At five foot six, she matched Richmond in height. Her darker Asian features mingled well with her silver, almond-shaped eyes. She was unsteady on her feet just standing still even in the two inch heels she was wearing, and more then once Richmond watched himself help steady her before guiding her into a chair. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Richmond said, smiling softly. No sooner had the words come from his mouth before a bad feeling ran up his spine. “Alec.”

“Yeah, I know,” the Blue Ranger said, the same feeling creeping it’s way up his. “We need to go.”

“Do you have to?” Demi asked, frowning softly. “Or is it duty calling?”

“It’s the call of duty,” Alec said, kissing Demi softly. “I’ll be back. We’ll be back. I promise.”

As the two men ran outside, April raised an eyebrow. “What are they exactly?” she asked, looking at Demi who was smiling.

“April, they’re heroes,” Demi said, watching as Alec and Richmond ran out.

The two Rangers, having morphed on the run, stopped downtown and looked around. “I don’t see anything,” Richmond said, looking at his Blue counterpart.

What they didn’t see was lurking in the shadow. Draela, having told her forces of Timbaks to stay back, yanked out a lock of her hair, whispering ancient words into it before watching it glow silver. She flung it forward, watching it spear through Richmond, absorbing his memories. The lock of hair vanished, a small puff of smoke where it had been after passing through Richmond. The Green Ranger stumbled a bit, shaking his head.

“Weird…” he mumbled.

“What?” Alec asked, putting his hand on Richmond’s shoulder and helping him stand. “Richmond, I’ve been your friend for almost three years, and I know when something’s wrong. What’s up, man?”

“Nothing. Just…guess I was more tired then I thought,” Richmond said. “Tell the girls I’m sorry. I’m going back to my hotel to crash for a bit. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“No problem, man. Give me a shout if you need anything,” Alec said, clearly worried for his Green friend. He headed back to the café where the girls were waiting, and as he sat down he noticed April looking at him.

“Where’s Richmond?” she asked, sadness crossing her eyes.

“He said he wasn’t feeling good. He was going back to his hotel for a bit to sleep,” Alec said.

“Oh. Ok,” April said, her eyes lowering.
____________________________________________

Richmond sighed as he laid back on his bed, sweat dripping off of his face again as he thought back to when he lost his grandmother. “Gran…it’s been so long…” he muttered, his eyes closing. His mind wandered, a small smile on his face.

”You have to help her. Please,” Richmond begged the doctor, taking her arm. “Please…she’s the only family I’ve got.”

“I’m sorry, Rich,” Dr. Kenna said, putting her hand on her oldest friends cheek. “I can’t help her, Richy. Her lungs are black from all the smoke she inhaled when the apartment caught fire. I can’t help her. There’s only so much I can do…”

Richmond sighed softly, nodding. “I know, Kita. I just…thought she’d live forever.” He looked at his friend, the warmth in her eyes uncomforting for him. “Can I see her?”

“She’s been asking for you since we brought her back,” Dr. Kenna said, taking her friend’s hand and leading him back. “I’m sorry, Rich. Really.”

“It’s alright, Kita. She…knew her time was coming anyway,” Richmond said, sighing as he opened the door to his grandmothers room. “Grammy.”

Angelica’s head lifted lightly from the pillow, smiling at her grandson, though her usual light of a smile wasn’t there. “Richy,” she said, her voice hoarse. She sat up as best as she could, coughing violently as she did. “Damn lungs.”

“Grammy, take it easy,” Richmond said, sitting beside her on the bed and taking her old hand in his. “If you hadn’t gone back for your stupid cookbooks.”

“Shut your mouth,” Angelica snapped, her eyes hurt at her grandsons words. “Those cookbooks were my grandmothers. And they were supposed to be yours.”

“Grammy, I know all of those books inside and out,” Richmond said, sighing as he looked down at his grandmother. “I’m going to miss you, Grammy…you’ve been the only family member I’ve known.”

“Richy, listen to an old woman who’s been around the world,” Angelica said, rubbing her grandson’s hand. “You’ve got a lot of potential, sweetheart. I know that you can do great things. You just don’t know what they are yet. I love you so much. And…I’m always going to be with you, Richmond.” She laid her head back, closing her eyes. Richmond sang softly, tears streaking down his face. “Goodbye, sweetheart.” Her breathing ceased, and Richmond felt the last bits of life leaving his grandmother.

“Bye, Grammy,” Richmond whispered, tears falling from his eyes. He leaned up and kissed his grandmothers’ forehead, leaving the room before heading outside.

Richmond’s eyes opened from his sleep, and he sat up. “Damn,” he muttered. He went into the bathroom and washed his face, looking at the haunted look in his eyes. “What’s wrong with you, man?”

A knock on the door broke the Green Ranger from his thoughts, and as he pulled his jeans and a shirt back on, he kept his Caller and Key ready. Opening the door, the two items in his hands fell to the floor. “Grammy?”

“Richy,” Angelica whispered, hugging her grandson tightly.

Richmond blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Grammy, what the hell?” he asked, stepping back.

Angelica stepped into the hotel and closed the door, sitting down in a chair beside the bed. “Is that any way to talk your grandmother?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Ok, let me rephrase. Grammy, what are you doing alive? I buried you. I was there when you died. What….huh!?” Richmond asked, confused. He pulled his Caller off of the floor, typing a few numbers. “Alec? Yeah. Can you break away from the girls and get to my hotel? I…think I’m losing it, man.”

A few minutes later Alec showed up, walking in. “What’s up?” the Blue Ranger asked. Richmond pointed, standing in the corner. “That’s…”

“Yeah. My dead grandmother,” Richmond said. “Something isn’t right.”

What nobody seemed to see was across the street. On top of a nearby building, Draela watched with interest at how Richmond was reacting, the Green Ranger seeming to stumble around the room, bumping into things. “Hehehehehe, this is great!” she giggled, taking a bite of popcorn as she watched the ‘show’ she’d decided to create.

“You’ve got that right,” Alec said, sitting Richmond in a chair. “What was the last thing you said to your grandson?” He turned to Angelica, looking at the woman in the chair.

“I said I’d see him one day,” Angelica said, looking up at Alec like he was dirt on the floor. “And don’t try and criticize me, skinny boy. Could do with some meat on them flabby bones!” She grabbed Alec’s arm, pulling a bit.

“Grammy, let him go,” Richmond snapped, watching his grandmother drop his friend’s arm. “And that isn’t what you said. You said, “Goodbye, sweetheart.” I may have been pissed off and sad that you’d died, but I know what I heard.”

“Richmond, you know I told you once I’d never die,” Angelica said. She stood and put her hands on her grandson’s face, holding tight.

“It’s not logical,” Richmond muttered, looking at Alec. “Grammy, get off of me.” He shook her off of his face, and he sighed as he stood up. “There’s really only one way to make sure she’s real, Alec.”

“Richmond, you can’t,” Alec said, knowing what the Green Ranger was about to do.

“Unleashed Engage,” Richmond said, turning his Green Key in the Caller, shifting into his Green Ranger look, holding up his pistol. “If you’re real, you’ll bleed.” He pointed it at his grandmother, closing his eyes as he pulled the trigger, hearing something hit the ground as well as Alec‘s slight gasp of exasperation.. He opened his eyes again, letting go of his morph before bending down and picking up the clump of hair. “Draela.”

“Who?” Alec asked, kneeling beside his friend. “Who’s Draela?”

“An old enemy of mine. When I was on Sarkasin Six, I was part of the Army Intergalactic Medicorps, or A.I.M. as we called ourselves. I ended up being drafted for a skirmish so that my team could get wounded out. Well, the Empires troops were being led by Draela. She and I got into a fight, and I seared her left arm with a plasma charge. She gave me a return scar on my left pectoral muscle,” Richmond said, sighing. “After that, her forces were called back, and she ended up vowing to get revenge one day. Well, I’m guessing that since this is from her head, she’s out for the revenge she wanted back then. It’s been three….almost four years since that battle, I think. Why she picked now to find me and fight, I don’t know. But it looks like it’s time to draw the past to a close, huh?” Richmond asked, standing up.

“You got it,” Alec said, nodding. “And I’m going to be fighting beside you, my friend. It won’t be you alone.”

“Then let’s go find this bitch,” Richmond said, clenching his fists.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Alec said, Richmond running out of the hotel room before he did.

As the two looked around outside, a deep giggle came from a shadowed spot. “HI, Richy!” Draela giggled, skipping out of her hiding spot. “Did you miss me?”

“No, not really,” Richmond said. “Missed the chance of getting to kick your ass, bitch.” He held up his Caller and Green Key again. “Alec?”

“Let’s do it,” Alec said, smirking.

"UNLEASHED ENGAGE!" the two Rangers yelled, transforming into their Green and Blue Ranger forms.

Swapping weapons as Draela snapped her fingers, the two Rangers rushed in, swinging around at the hoards of Timbaks and the several Golbaks. Richmond got thrown backwards, losing his weapons in the process. Alec landed beside him, holding his right arm.

“We need to make a change,” Alec said, looking at his friend in the Green. “What do you suggest?”

Standing up and hitting his belt, Richmond dove to the right as Draela threw a mass of hair at him, watching it attempt to spear them. “How about these?” he asked, holding up the Black Megaforce Key.

“Sounds good,” Alec said, holding up the Blue Key.

"UNLEASHED ENGAGE!" the two called out again, turning the two Keys in their Callers.

GO GO MEGAFORCE! the Callers rang out, the symbols of the Black and Blue Megaforce Rangers appearing before covering the two Rangers up, coating them in Black and Blue.

Taking the Gosei Morphers from their belts, they opened up the mouths. Opening their belts, they summoned out one Card a piece, putting them in the Morpher before closing it again. SUMMON BATTLE GEAR

“Snake Axe!” Richmond said, taking the Axe from the air before slamming it into some of the Timbaks, breaking them apart before hurling it, slashing down more of them before using his Mega Blaster with the Snake Zord attached to it, firing several blasts. “Snake Blast!”

Using Richmond’s cover fire, Alec summoned his own weapon. “Shark Bowgun!” he said, taking the crossbow type weapon in hand before firing several shots around, jumping back and flip shooting one in the back, landing beside Richmond. “Nice shooting, man!”

“Not too bad yourself,” Richmond said, catching his Axe as it came back to him. “What do you say we go for the big boss now?”

“I don’t think so!” Draela yelled, firing several black shots from her hands. Her anger was clouding her eyes, not allowing her to get a clear shot at her target in the Green Ranger. “Stand still, damn you!”

“How about not?” Richmond asked, jumping backwards. “Alec!”

“Got it!” the Blue Ranger called, landing beside his counterpart, taking another Key from their belts. They flipped up the legs and turned the Keys, changing forms again.

SHIFT INTO TURBO! the Callers rang out for a third time, changing Alec and Richmond into the Blue and Green Turbo Rangers.

“Turbo Thunder Cannon!” Richmond called, spinning around and taking the two-handed cannon from the air, pointing it at Draela before opening fire, sending several large blasts at her that connected and knocked her backwards. “You’re up, brother!”

“Turbo Hand Blasters!” Alec called, groaning as he gripped the twin guns in hand. “Ok, I am sick of being the Ranger that gets the guns!” He fired several blasts, holding the triggers before charging up and releasing a bigger blast.

Draela hit her back, skidding across the courtyard as she did. “Ah! You bastards!” she growled, standing up and glowing with black energy. “I’m going to incinerate this entire town!”

“Don’t count on it,” Richmond growled, back in his Unleashed Green. Taking the Black Mastodon and Green Unleashed Keys from his belt, he put them in his Blaster and Saber, closing the cylinders on the barrel and hilt. "Unleashed Shoot and Slash." He pulled the trigger of his blaster, the bullet gaining some velocity before he slashed down, the green energy built up on the blade of the saber combining with the bullet, spinning before slamming into Draela, causing her to stumble.

“NO! It can’t end like this!” she screeched. “I WILL HAVE MY VENGENCE OF YOU, BOY!” She fell backwards, her screams and sobs of anger being drowned out by the resulting explosion, Richmond dropping his morph to reveal his eyes closed.

“Rich?” Alec asked, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You alright?”

“I wished she had of been real, Alec. I…had a lot I wanted to say and apologize for that I never got the chance,” Richmond said. “Now I won’t get that chance.”

“Yeah, you will. Stopping the Empire, the people that killed her, that’s apology enough. Two days ago…I had to fight someone from my past, Filmas. He used my family’s images against me, taking me home to Ryzan where I almost gave in, man. If I got the chance to make amends with my past and what happened to my wife and daughter, you’ve got to use what happened today to make amends with your Grandmother,” Alec said. “Come on. Let’s go find the girls and see if we can’t salvage that lunch from before.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, Alec,” Richmond said, smiling. “And thanks for being my backup today, man.”

“Oh, no problem,” Alec smirked. “Come on.”
_________________________________________

On the bridge of the Blizkon, Dricos slammed his hands into the console he was standing at, anger surging through him. “NO!” he yelled, denting the metal. “This isn’t happening!” The hood feel from his head, his black eyes shining dangerously. “Curse these goddamn Rangers! What is it going to take to get them to die?!”

“My lord,” Dimas said, stepping forward. “Control your anger. Perhaps it requires a more…personal approach?”

“Deal with them ourselves,” Dricos said, his voice low. His anger shrunk, and with the anger dissipating so did he. “It might just work, Dimas. Prepare the Upgrade Station for the Golbaks into Eternaks. We will be starting our assault first thing tomorrow.”

Dimas bowed, turning on his heel. “Soon, Dricos. It will be just I,” he said once he was out of earshot, traversing through the halls…