[FangRX]

CHAPTER 14: ATONEMENT

Getting up from it’s console and running through the ship, an Eternak Soldier knocked on the door to his commanders door, her words allowing him entrance. “My lady Serpen,” he said, bowing.

“Speak already before I lose what’s left of my patience,” Serpen snarled.

“Calm down, little sister,” another female voice said, a tanned hand on the snake-headed woman’s arm.

Serpen‘s face softened, her eyes closing as she regained herself. Her subordinates failures and manipulations behind her back were beginning to wear on her, and she was not taking it lightly. “I’m sorry, sister,” she said, turning her attention back to the Eternak in front of her. “What is it?”

“My lady, the first Key has arrived,” the solider said, standing taller. “The Key and the first of the Outlying have arrived, entering the sector. The estimated time is less then two hours.”

“Then begin the process,” Serpen said. “I’ll arrive momentarily.”

The Eternak bowed, ducking out of the room before breaking into a run again. He ran into the main control room where the device that was to be the housing unit for the Keys of Deletion set up and attached to a cannon pointed at the planet below.

Entering the room, Drancon the Destroyer held up a translucent Red Key with flecks of black inside of it. “I hold the first Key of Deletion. Allow me to demonstrate it’s power.” His body was as red as his namesake of the Dragon, he had black wings sprouting from his back which ended in sharp claws. His body covered in scales, red menacing eyes glowing in the dim of the room.

“Drancon,” Serpen’s voice said, the door opening a second time. Clad in her black robe, she shook hands with Drancon. “I take it Mumman and Frakis are the next to arrive, with Faerin and Dhamphin close behind?”

“I can only hope,” Drancon said, nodding. “Otherwise my trip would have been a waste, my old friend.”

“What do you need from us, Drancon? Rest? Food and drink? Audience with the world while we blow up part of their planet?” Serpen asked, hiding the anger in her eyes.

“You know me too well. Though, allow me a change this time. Audience first, then the food. I ate on the way in,” Drancon said. “Your men might have to clean the blood from my lunch up from the hallways.”
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Drake laughed as he listened to the Rangers, hearing how Thomas became flustered when Adira was walking or talking to him, hearing Demi recount how she wanted to beat the three male Rangers over the head with their own legs ala Quan Chi. “God, I wish I could have seen that,” the Silver Ranger laughed, shaking his head.

“Oh, we heard you were doing your own share of getting flustered and drooling, Drake,” Demi smirked, wiggling her eyebrows. “Being stuck on a ship with five beautiful women must have been….hard to handle.” Her emphasis on the word “hard” made Drake blush eight shades of red, and the Silver Ranger coughed lightly.

“I refuse to answer on grounds that I’m not that dumb,” he said, smirking. “But, yes, it was.”

Geeps shook his head, flying over to the console in the main part of the room and bringing up a news feed. “Oh, this ain’t good. You lot, get over here and see this,” he said, the six Rangers scrambling off of their chairs into the main room.

“Good afternoon. I’m Miki Tanaka with a special report. We’ve received a transmission from the Battlesnare Empire who are currently in orbit around our planet. We’re going live to their feed in just a moment. We do not know what they want nor why they’re asking to speak directly to the entire world, but let us hope and pray that things will not prove explosive. I’m getting reports that they’re ready to stream, so we’re going to go live to the representative of the Empire, a man calling himself Drancon.” the reporter on the news said, the image flashing and flickering into the main room of the Empire’s ship.

“About time,” Drancon growled. “You weak, pathetic flesh bags of Earth, listen up.” The Camera moved to the wall, the device set up and humming.

“As you pitiful meat sacks can see, this device is connected to a cannon the size of Rhode Island and it’s aimed directly at your pathetic little planet. Now…you don’t know where this will hit, but when it does, there will be nothing left of you in that part of the world. Each Key that we acquire for the Deletion as my brother and sisters arrive, more of your planet will be destroyed. Now. For the fun part.”

He walked over to the device, taking the clear red Key in his hand and flipping it up. “Deletion in progress.” As the beam activated, it centered in on a specific part of Earth, completely obliterating it. The sea dried up, land masses crumbled into piles of ocean life, and the machine powered down. “Judging by my readout here, the continent you called Russia, most of your Pacific Ocean, the State named Alaska, and some of your Canada’s western boarder are no more. This is but a taste of our power. You will fear us. Or there will be consequences.”

With that, the transmission shut off, Miki Tanaka’s face reappearing on the screen, looking visibly distraught. “After…my God, that terrible and terrific display of power, I have one question for the world: Where are the Power Rangers and why do they not come to stop this threat?”

Thomas turned off the monitor, his hand clenched. “I should have destroyed that damn machine after we used it on Bertrasis Seven,” he snarled, punching the center post. “FUCK!”

“Thomas,” Demi said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “What are you talking about?”

“It was five years ago,” Thomas said, his mind taking him back to the fight.
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FIVE YEARS PREVIOUS

The Outlying had involved themselves in the fight personally to ensure the completion of the device to make sure our victory on Bertrasis Seven was a success. Furyblaze and Serpen had been in the background, barking orders from the shadows, and they had me spearheading the mission into the palace to steal their Princess, Demitra. We stormed the castle, knocking down defenses and soldiers for the length of the entrance hall.

“Get upstairs! Kill any that get in your way! Find the girl and drag her downstairs if you have to!” Drancon yelled, slamming his staff into several of the guards before slinging them off of the end. “For the Empire!”

“For the Empire!” the slew of Timbaks and Golbaks yelled, Serpen never thinking of the Eternaks’ until we came to Earth.

I ran upstairs, kicking doors in and throwing people over the balcony, trying to get through. The last door I kicked open was the Princess’s room. Her handmaidens, who quickly jumped out of the bed and readjusted their uniforms, ran out of the room. As they ran I killed both of them with a single shot in the back of the head, not missing either woman.

“What do you want from me?” Demitra asked as I wrenched her half naked form to her feet, throwing her robe at her. “Answer me, please. Why do you want me?”

“It’s my job to bring you to the Blizkon, Princess,” I said, grabbing her and slinging her over my shoulders, not giving her an option. I ran downstairs and yelled for the rest of the Empire’s men and women to fall back, the slew of us and the Princess getting teleported back to the ship.

As we tied the Princess down, Serpen started talking while the five Keys were set up. “You see your pretty little planet down there?” she sneered. “It’s beautiful, really. Another pearl on the string of jewels in the Tridex Galaxy. Almost too beautiful to destroy. But, Princess, it’s in my way. See…if your little planet survives, then you could rise against me. Rise against my empire. And I can’t have that, see. So, what I need from you is to watch as your planet’s destroyed.”

She snapped her fingers, and I walked forward with a silk pillow that held the five Keys. Dhamphin was first, the Pink Key being inserted into the last slot. Faerin followed, turning the Green key above that. Next came Frakis, Yellow in his possession and above Faerin. Next after Frakis was Mumman, Blue being his color as the Key twisted. Finally, it was Drancon, his scales as red as his Key.

“Look at that, Princess,” Serpen giggled, her snake hair rattling in the laughter. “Thomas, my boy. Please fire the Cannon.”

“Yes, my queen,” I replied, walking over to the console and taking the targeted in hand. I focused on Bertrasis Seven, and I pulled the trigger, the planet being fired on by five waves of colored energy which converged and formed one massive spiral. It hit the center of the planet, causing the core to rupture. As the land masses started to disintegrate, the planet just collapsed, the space where it was being nothing more then an empty void.

And that’s what they’re going to do here.

Thomas sighed as he looked at his Rangers, each one reacting differently to the story. “You see? This is what I’m atoning for by fighting my former Queen and my father,” he said.

“Your father?” April asked. “Dimas?”

“Furyblaze.” Thomas turned away, his hands clenched. “Furyblaze is my father. I was born and raised in the Empire, and why you five stay and fight beside me is a mystery to me. With all the wrong done in my past, I don’t deserve friends like you.”

Demi reached out and slapped Thomas hard in the face, a red handprint making itself known on the Red Ranger’s face as he fell backwards into the post of the center mast. “Snap out of it!” she yelled, grabbing him by the collar. She hauled him to his feet, driving her knee into his stomach. “For God’s sake, I’m so tired of the damn pity party out of you!”

Thomas growled lightly, shaking his head. “If you’d seen the hell I’ve caused over the galaxy, and seen the destruction I’ve caused, Demi, you wouldn’t say pity party,” he said, walking out.

“Bastard!”
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Drancon looked at the burning of whatever land on the surface he could see, smirking to himself. “Now…the end of the World is soon at hand,” he said, turning to the remains of the bridge crew. “Now. For the way to kill the Rangers. Zexias.”

Stepping through the door, Zexias appeared, the mark on his belt glowing dimly while the different ringlets on his arms shone with a symbol of past Rangers. “Lord Drancon. It is always a pleasure to serve by your side.”

“Cut the shit, Zexias. I need you to destroy the Rangers,” Drancon said.

“Excuse me, Drancon,” Serpen said, stepping up and getting in Drancon’s face. “This is my ship, and my army. You don’t give orders, I’m afraid. Not here.”

“Lady Serpen, it is clear that you are unfit to continue leadership. Your time as a human has clearly impaired your judgment, otherwise you would have destroyed the Rangers by now. Stand aside,” Drancon said.

“I don’t think so, Drancon! What the hell makes you think you can just waltz onto my bridge and demand I step aside in my own ship?!” Serpen yelled. “You give no orders here, old man!”

Drancon’s hand lashed out, knocking Serpen to the ground before his knee dropped in her stomach, forcing the air from her lungs. “You listen well, half breed. I will do as I please. I have been since Time immemorial. You will do well to remember your place. Or I will begin to regret my choice to allow you to live,” he snarled, grabbing her throat. “Get out.” He threw her to the side, Serpen rolling to a stop at Furyblaze’s feet.

Getting up, Serpen growled as she held her ribs, her eyes flashing a dangerous black. “I see. At last the truth reveals itself. Father,” she said, turning on her heel and walking out, slamming her fist into the wall as she stepped outside. She stepped inside her quarters and screamed, throwing whatever she could.

“Sister?” a voice asked. The lights came on, revealing Andrea sitting on the bed in a longer shirt and a skirt, her brown hair bobbing on her head as she turned to Serpen. “What’s wrong?”

“Andrea,” Serpen whispered, her body melting back into Artemis as she sat on the bed. “We need to get out of here. I need you to run.”

“Why?” Andrea asked, putting her hand on her sister’s cheek. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”

“I’ve done something I shouldn’t have,” Artemis whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have betrayed them. We had a good life with the Rangers. Goddamn it, I’m so stupid. This is all my fault.”

“Artemis, what happened?” Andrea asked.

Back on the bridge, Furyblaze shook his head as he looked at Drancon. “Was that the best option, Drancon?” he asked.

“Do not question me, Furyblaze. Or I cut you down next. Send Zexias down to the surface with the Eternaks. Go as well. End the boy,” Drancon said, turning away.

“Yes, my lord,” Furyblaze said, turning and walking out, summoning the Eternaks to his side as Zexias appeared beside him as well. “This ends today.”

With that, he transported himself and Zexias as well as the Eternaks down to the surface, appearing near the television station.
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Thomas, having been near downtown, hard the screams of the civilians as fireballs and lightning blasts flew through the air. “Never a dull moment,” he mused, throwing down the rest of his drink and taking off, his Key in his hand before he twisted it in the Caller. “Unleashed Engage!” He transformed into his Ranger persona and drew his saber and gun, blasting at the Eternaks as he saw them. “Furyblaze!”

“About time, Thomas. It’s time for you to return the life you don’t deserve,” Furyblaze said, holding his sword out. “Though I do have to ask, son. Where are your friends now?”

“I don’t need them to stop you,” Thomas snarled, lunging forward and locking blades with his father. “And don’t think I’m not stronger then the last time we fought. I’m more powerful then you hope to be!”

Furyblaze laughed, driving his foot into Thomas’ chest and knocking him backwards. “Zexias. Destroy the city.”

“Yes, sir,” the monster said, bowing as blasts of colored energy came from his hands. The beams hit the local buildings, chunks of rubble falling around the street, hitting civilians as well.

“Thomas!” Alec’s voice called out, two shots zinging out and hitting Zexias. “Why didn’t you call for some backup?” He and Drake engaged the newest monster, the Silver Ranger swinging his Tri-Staff around into the side of Zexias.

“Didn’t need it,” Thomas growled, taking a Key from his belt. ”Unleashed Engage!” As his suit changed into that of the Red Wild Force Ranger, he summoned the Lion Blaster and started firing several large shots at Furyblaze who parried each and every shot.

“Thomas, you’re letting your anger cloud you,” Furyblaze said, his voice calm like a teacher. “Focus. Do not allow the anger to cloud your mind. Breathe.”

“Why don’t you cease breathing!?” Thomas yelled, drawing the Crystal Saber from his side and lunging again, driving it deep into Furyblaze’s side. “All my life you manipulated me! I won’t let it happen again!”

“Then why don’t you look at this,” Furyblaze said, snapping his fingers as two bodies fell from the sky. One was a body they had previously buried, and the other was a traitor.

All fighting in the street stopped, Richmond running over to the two fallen bodies. “Andrea and Artemis,” he said, turning them over. “They’re dead. What did you do to them? And why was Andrea alive?”

“That’s a question that you’ll never have the answer to,” Furyblaze said, kicking Thomas backwards and wrenching the Crystal Saber from his ribs, throwing it down. “Zexias.”

Alec fired several blasts at the retreating villains only to have his shots absorbed and used against him. He flew backwards and crashed into Demi and April, the Pink Ranger landing on his back while Demi ended up on his hips. “Move,” he groaned, sitting up after the girls got off of him.

“BASTARD!” Thomas yelled, rushing forward and leaping out as Furyblaze and Zexias vanished into the setting sun, leaving the six Rangers standing around dumbfounded. He yelled out, hitting his knees.

“Let’s get back to the Galleon,” Richmond said, picking up Andrea’s body while Alec took Artemis’s in his arms.

“Who are they?” Drake asked. Demi walked up and shook her head. “What?”

“Not right now,” the Yellow Ranger said, April running over to Thomas.

“Thomas. Let’s go,” April said, kneeling beside the Red Ranger. “Please? We need to go home.”

Thomas just nodded, hitting his Caller as everyone teleported to the Galleon, Richmond and Alec walking downstairs with the two women’s bodies, laying them beside the Runners. The Red Ranger sank into the chair, his head in his hands.

“How did it come to this?” he mused. “We started out doing what we were meant to, stopping the Empire. I can’t believe this is what’s going on.” He sighed as he got up and walked onto the main deck, looking down at the city. “What do we do now?”

Above the Red Ranger, a rift opened up as a young woman fell down, hitting her back on the deck and making Thomas jump and spin around, his sword in hand. “Easy, jumpy jeans,” she muttered, standing up. “It’s me.”

“Destiny?” Thomas asked, his sword vanishing as he ran over to the other Red Ranger. “What happened? Where’s the others?”

“Dead,” Destiny said, tears forming in her eyes before she and Thomas went downstairs. “Occupation found the Command Center. Killed Alpha and Megas. Kinu and Anisha tried to fight off their Commander, but he used his Serpent’s Cannon to blow them up first, their Chips falling to the ground. Nyota and Catherine rushed him, managing to barely score hits before he broke their necks. Adira and I tried to run, but she was gunned down by an Occupation ship. I had enough juice to send me to the last place my Morpher energy was, and that was here.”

“Let’s get you inside and get you cleaned up,” Thomas said, sighing softly as he helped Destiny downstairs. “Guys.”

“Destiny!” April yelled, running over and helping Thomas. “Oh, my God, are you ok?”

“I will be, April,” Destiny muttered, hugging the Pink Ranger.
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“With Serpen out of our way, our conquest will not take long,” Drancon said. “Mumman is arriving tonight, giving us the second of Five Keys. Things are moving along at a better pace now. At the current moment, Mumman is nearing the edge of the Galaxy. Furyblaze. Zexias. Dimas. Finish off the Rangers tonight. I do not care how. End them before I end you.”

“Yes, my lord,” the three said, bowing.

“Vexacon, with me,” Dimas said, walking out and leaving Furyblaze and Zexias alone. Taking the shark headed general out of the room, he drew his sword and pointed it at Vexacon’s throat.

“Hey!” Vexacon panicked, his back literally against the wall. “What the hell!?”

“Kill Furyblaze. Tonight,” Dimas growled. “Or it’s you I feed into the Hells Inferno Engines. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Vexacon said, bowing his head and nodding rapidly. “I’ll do whatever you want. How do you want me to do this?”

“Drown him, poison him, bash his brains in, I don’t care!” Dimas snarled, pressing the sword against Vexacon’s throat tighter. “Go!”

“Yes, sir,” Vexacon yelled, scrambling towards his own vessel to go down to Earth. “Poisons, front and center!”

As Vexacon ran out, Dimas smirked to himself. “With Vexacon going to attempt to murder Furyblaze for me, Furyblaze and the Rangers wanting each other dead, plus Zexias, this night is going to be a blast,” he mused, strapping his sword back to his hip before he walked out of the hallway and down towards the teleported bay.

“The pieces are moving into place, my brother and sisters. Soon…this Galaxy will be mine,” Drancon growled, snapping a Timbaks’ neck.
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“You’re kidding?!” April screeched, looking at Destiny. “They’re dead? All of them?”

“Sadly, I'm not kidding, April,” Destiny sighed. “And with them gone, my powers are dead. So, I’m single, powerless, and stuck in a Dimension I don’t know. The only thing I’ve got is six friends who are still fighting their own war, and I’m helpless to fight with them.”

“Destiny, you aren’t helpless,” Demi said. “Trust me, there’s still ways to fight.”

“Yeah, like how?”

“We do need someone in the Galleon to steer when we’re on the ground fighting,” Thomas said, looking around. “Especially when the Commanders get big and we’re trying to get to the Zords.”

As the Rangers spoke, the alarms rang out. April pulled up the alert, her blood running cold. “Oh, screw my servos,” she groaned. “We’ve got Zexias, Furyblaze, Dimas, and Vexacon, along with Poisons and Eternaks. Here’s the problem. Zexias and Dimas are downtown with the Eternaks, and Furyblaze and Vexacon are at the shopping center near the edge of town.” She went to turn back, but something caught her eye. “Hang on. Furyblaze and Vexacon just started going after each other.”

“Let’s split up. Drake, April, and Richmond, go after the Shopping Center. Demi and Alec, you’re with me,” Thomas said. “Destiny, I want you to monitor how things look down there. Keep us updated.”

“Got it,” the other Red Ranger said, nodding and rubbing her arms.

As the six Rangers split up, Thomas couldn’t help but wonder: With Serpen dead, what did it mean for the Empire and the rest of the Keys. Finally, he, Demi, and Alec made it downtown where Zexias and Dimas were busy laughing at the destruction they’d caused.

“Dimas!”

“Ah, about time Rangers,” the former second-in-command said, smirking as he turned to them. “Come to die?”

“One question before we get to the fun part,” Thomas said, stepping forward. “You told Vexacon to take out my father. For what end?”

“Power,” Dimas said nonchalantly with a wave of his hand. “It’s simple, my friend. Power is what makes the world turn. We destroyed one of the super powers in the world by wiping Russia off of the map. What’s to stop me from killing everyone on that ship and taking the power for myself?”

“Simple, Dimas. Because for the eighteen years I was on the Blizkon under your guidance and your teaching…you never desired power,” Thomas said, holding up his Key. “You never wanted power. It’s because Furyblaze has been making a bid for the high chair, ain’t it?”

“Enough talking!” Zexias yelled, drawing a sword from his side. “Dimas, you speak too much. Take a lesson from Azio. Do not speak. Act!” He rushed forward, slashing out at the Rangers before the three morphed, Thomas blocking the slash just barely in time.

“Zexias, you know that if we don’t kill you, Dimas is already plotting your death,” Thomas growled, blasting Zexias. The shots, instead of doing damage, absorbed into his body, Zexias’ laughing as he stepped back. “What? That’s new.”

“Oh, Thomas, my boy. I’ve had some upgrades done,” Zexias laughed, throwing Thomas backwards. “What are you going to do now, boy?”

“You two take care of Dimas. Zexias is mine,” Thomas said, standing up before hearing and seeing Alec and Demi run off to fight Dimas who was directing Eternaks into the rubble for more killing. “Zexias, you know I’m right about Dimas. He’s got Furyblaze and Vexacon trying to kill each other right now!”

“Shut it,” Zexias growled, elbowing Thomas hard in the stomach and sending him backwards.

Alec and Dimas locked blades while Demi started working on taking down Eternaks. Alec slammed his fist hard into Dimas’ jaw, some of his helmet chipping away. Keeping his assault going, the Blue Ranger jumped over Dimas and slashed the back of his leg, knocking him to the ground.

“Thought you were supposed to be stronger then this?” Alec asked.

“I am,” Dimas snarled, leaping up and hitting Alec hard in the chest, flinging him backwards. He rushed Demi, who’s back was turned. “Say hello to the two in hell!”

Demi heard the swing of the sword, ducking just in time and firing several close range blasts into Dimas’ chest. “Alec, we need to change it up,” she said, hitting her belt and taking a Key. “Unleashed Engage!"

“Got it, Demi,” Alec said, holding his side before taking a Key. “Unleashed Engage!”

WILD ACCESS

GO GO SAMURAI

Leaping into the air, Demi took off with wings sprouting from her arms as the Yellow Wild Force Ranger. “Eagle Darts!” she yelled, throwing several small darts shaped like small birds into Dimas’ chest. “Go for it, Alec!”

“Spin Sword! Dragon Splash!” Alec leapt up as he spun the Dragon Disk on his Sword, the blade becoming coated in a rush of blue energy that splashed like water. He slashed down, driving the slash through Dimas’s body.

“You’ll have to do better then that,” Dimas growled, throwing Alec onto the ground and stabbing him hard in the shoulder.

“ALEC!” Demi yelled, flying down again and slashing Dimas’ stomach. Dimas laughed, grabbing Demi’s leg and yanking her out of the air before slamming her face first into the ground. “Get off me!”

“Scream,” Dimas snarled, wrenching Demi’s head up and forcing her to watch Thomas getting beaten by Zexias. “Scream, little Ranger.”

“Fuck…you,” Demi growled, driving her leg up hard enough to hit Dimas in the groin, sending him over her while she got up and rushed to Alec. “What can I do?”

“Get the sword out of my arm,” Alec said, steeling himself as Demi ripped the sword out of the ground, throwing it to the side. “We need to help Thomas.”

“Don’t!” Thomas yelled, slashing back at Zexias who blocked the shot. “I’ll be fine! Finish Dimas!”

“Don’t tell them things to get their hopes up,” Zexias growled, kicking Thomas backwards again and slashing him, the suit sparking and causing the Red Ranger to be caught in a burst of fire.

MAGICAL SOURCE, MYSTIC FORCE rang out, Thomas coming up from the fire shrouded in the blaze like a Phoenix in the Red Mystic Force suit as he lunged at Zexias. “Burn!” Thomas yelled, colliding with Zexias’ stomach before knocking him backwards into the side of a car, the Red Ranger landing on his feet.
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Across town, April and Richmond were locked with Furyblaze and Vexacon respectively while Drake took on the Kelzak Poisons. April thrust out with her sword, slamming the blade into Furyblaze’s arm, hearing the bone break.

“You little tramp!” Furyblaze yelled, letting loose with a roar of fire that caught April up.

MAGICAL SOURCE, MYSTIC FORCE rang out for a second time, the Pink Ranger using the Blue Mystic Force Powers to stop the stream of fire with a wave of water that soaked Furyblaze through, extinguishing his fire. “I take that as a complement, creator,” April growled, holding her MagiStaff down. “Rich, you gonna get in on the changing up?”

“Oh, thought crossed my mind,” Richmond laughed, ducking a swing from Vexacon. “Unleashed Change!”

BLACK AQUITAR RANGER POWER rang out, Richmond transformed into the Black Alien Ranger as he drew the Aquitian Saber and Laser, firing several blasts at Vexacon that knocked him backwards. “Thought you were supposed to be tough, sharky?”

“I’ll show you tough!” Vexacon yelled, rushing Richmond and landing several hits that sent the Green Ranger backwards. “Sharks Blaze!” He leapt up and formed into a full sized shark, his body engulfed in fire and water, aiming right for Richmond. He hit the Green Ranger dead on, knocking him into the ground again.

“Rich!” Drake yelled, hitting his Belt. “Silver Shift!”

S.P.D. EMERGENCY! rang out from the Silver Cell, turning Drake into the Omega SPD Ranger. He ran forward and caught Vexacon by the fins, twisting the handle on his Omega Morpher. “Electro Mode!” he yelled, applying pressure and causing Vexacon to hit the ground and revert back, over ten thousand volts surging through him.

“That…was an electric slide,” Vexacon growled, standing up and shaking the electricity from his body. He reached for his saber but growled when he realized it was in pieces on the ground. “Scrap.”

“What do you boys say we end this?” April asked, holding up the Navy Thunder Ranger Key.

“Totally works for me,” Richmond said, holding up the Crimson Thunder Key while Drake took the Green Samurai Ranger from his Belt.

“Unleashed Engage!”

“Silver Shift!”

THUNDER STORM, RANGER FORM!

SAMURAI STORM, RANGER FORM!

As the three changed into the Ninja Storm Rangers, April and Richmond formed the Lightning Blaster from the Navy Antler and Crimson Shot, Drake holding the Samurai Saber in his hand. Launching their Thunder Blast at Furyblaze, the shot hitting dead on while the fiery villain tried to fight it off. Drake launched himself at Vexacon, slashing in a thousand directions at the speed of light, Vexacon flying backwards.

As Vexacon and Furyblaze picked themselves up, Furyblaze shook off the attack. “You win this time,” he snarled, vanishing back onto the Blizkon.

“Furyblaze!” Vexacon yelled, turning and starting to run only to explode from the force of the blast, the remaining Poisons dissolving into the ground.

“Let’s go find the others,” April said, starting to run.
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Across town, Thomas growled as he locked blades with Zexias again. Dimas watched the battle interestedly, Alec and Demi having given up fighting to watch the fight.

“I told you earlier. You can’t win,” Zexias laughed. “You know that burst of fire you hit me with before? I’ve been storing that.”

“No…” Thomas whispered, his eyes wide.

“COMBUSTION TRANSFER!” Zexias yelled, ramming his sword blade first into Thomas’ stomach. The transfer of energy from Zexias to Thomas was near instantaneous. As Thomas stepped back and let go of his two morphs, he threw his Key and Caller with his last bit of energy to Alec who caught them before looking down.

“My sins are paid for. Goodbye,” Thomas whispered, his eyes closing as April, Richmond, and Drake ran up.

“THOMAS!” April yelled, trying to rush forward.

“Don’t, April!” Demi yelled, grabbing her friend by the waist and dragging her back as she felt the teleport being activated, the five Rangers reappearing in the Galleon.

“Send me back!” April yelled, turning to Destiny.

“I can’t,” Destiny said, her voice low as an explosion happened, Thomas’ life signs going black. “I can’t send you back to save him, April…there’s nothing to save…”

“NO!” April yelled, grabbing Destiny by the shirt. “You’re lying!”

“She’s not,” Geeps said, fluttering down and landing in April’s arms. “She’s not lying. He knew what was going to happen…Thomas James paid the ultimate sacrifice for Earth…”
______________________

On the Blizkon, Drancon and Dimas were laughing as the pair rewatched Thomas’ death, the two leaders of the Empire shaking hands.

“Now that he is dead, the Rangers will soon follow,” Drancon laughed as the doors opened to the bridge one last time…