Ultimate Power Rangers: Reloaded

 

Power Rangers: Chapter Two

Seeking Answers

 

Jason walked with Maya and Simon towards a small apartment building a few miles southwest of Angel’s Square.

 

It was a rundown part of the city, so Jason was thankful it wasn’t night. He’d had enough trouble for now.

 

“Why didn’t the others come?” Simon asked.

 

“They wanted to stay behind in case Bandora tried to pull anything again,” Jason said.

 

“Who?” Simon asked.

 

Jason shrugged. “We’re not sure who she is to tell you the truth. We don’t even know anything about our powers…except how to use them.”

 

“I’m certain my grandfather can help you,” Maya said. “I remember him telling me legends when I was a girl, similar to what you just went through.”

 

Jason nodded. “That’s what I’m counting on. We appreciate your help.”

 

The three entered the apartment building and passed through the empty lobby and towards the old elevator.

 

I hope this isn’t a wild goose chase, Jason thought to himself as the elevator doors closed.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Inside a tall palace-like structure on the moon, Bandora was staring down at her four Dark Warlords. Goldar, Scorpina and Gurail stood behind her.

 

Goldar was a simian warrior from a planet called Titan. His golden armor was similar to that of his mate Scorpina. Her beauty matched her deadliness.

 

Gurail’s face was hidden behind his blood-red mask. His dark suit of samurai-style armor was covered in a brown and yellow robe.

 

Bandora herself was covered in robes as black as night. She wore a silver headpiece that matched the color of her long staff.

 

“I am sorry my empress,” Dragon Ranger said as he and his fellow warlords kneeled on the ground. “I didn’t feel it would be wise to engage the Rangers at that time.”

 

She struck him in the back of the neck with her staff, causing him to collapse. “It was a perfect time! They’re still inexperienced with their powers! You could have killed them with your bare hands!”

 

Dragon Ranger kneeled silently. He hated letting Goldar see him liked this. He hated the Titan warrior more than he did the Rangers…he just wasn’t sure exactly why.

 

“Take your warlords and go back to Earth. Those Rangers are the only things standing in my way. I want them wiped out,” Bandora said.

 

Dragon Ranger nodded. “Yes, empress.”

 

Goldar glared down at Dragon Ranger with eyes of fire. Dragon Ranger glared back at the Titan while speaking to Bandora. “It will be done…”

________________________________________________________________________

 

“I don’t know why we have to wait here,” Zack said. “We’re just wasting our time.”

 

Zack was by far the most hyper of the group. Always on the move, always had to do something to keep him busy.

 

He and the others were sitting at Hulman Park, a few blocks away from the apartment complex Jason had headed to. The park had a long field of flowers shaped in a rectangular pattern surrounded by brick walkways. In the center of the field stood a large iron-webbed sculpture of the Earth.

 

“Jason wanted us to wait,” Kimberly said. “So…we’ll wait.”

 

“What is it with you two anyway?” Zack asked.

 

Kimberly rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing like what you’re thinking.”

 

“Bull,” Zack said. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And he’s always pretty protective of you.”

 

Kimberly shook her head. “He told me he thinks of me like a sister.”

 

“Nah…” Zack said. “We haven’t even known each other that long.”

 

Kimberly shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

 

Zack smiled mischievously. “I’m sure you don’t.”

 

Billy sighed and adjusted his glasses as he watched Kimberly talk and smile with Zack. It was obvious that the two of them had started flirting. She’s so…beautiful…

Trini was pacing back and forth behind Billy. “What’s taking Jason so long?” she asked herself, hoping that nothing had happened to Jason.

 

The winds started to howl through the park as people were literally blown off their feet. The globe in the center of the park was blown out of its based and went smashing through a nearby building.

 

The four gathered together. A bolt of green lightning struck the ground and exploded as Dragon Ranger appeared and walked boldly towards the teens.

 

“You again!” Zack said as he assumed a fighting stance.

 

“Dragon’s Fang!” Dragon Ranger shouted as he formed an energy sphere between his hands and hurled it at the teens. They jumped out of the way just in time to miss the explosion, but the shockwave hurled them across the walkway.

 

Dragon Ranger wrinkled his brow beneath his helmet. It’s finally time for me to pay them back for what they’ve done…or is that what they didn’t do? He shook his head to clear his mind. He didn’t have time to think things through; he only had time to fight.

 

“We can’t fight him like this,” Trini said. “We have to transform.”

 

The four rose and shouted “Dino Buckler!” Energy shimmered around the four as they transformed into their armor.

 

The four Rangers charged towards Dragon Ranger as he held his sword at the ready.

 

“You’re finished!” Dragon Ranger shouted as he ran towards his opponents.

________________________________________________________________________

 

Jason, Maya and Simon walked towards her grandfather’s apartment room on the top floor of the building.

 

“So is this the place?” Jason asked as he stopped in front of a wooden door.

 

Maya nodded. “Yes. My grandfather should be inside.”

 

“This way,” Simon said as he grabbed Jason by the hand and led him inside.

 

As they entered the room, the sky outside turned blood red and shadows crept towards the building

 

The three walked into a dark room with ancient suits of Japanese armor on display in glass cases. Her grandfather had his back towards them and was hunched over his lap top computer, slowly typing.

 

“Grandfather,” Maya said. “You’ll never believe what happened.”

 

Her grandfather turned away and looked towards her as he stood. “Maya…so this is a Ranger…”

 

Maya nodded. “Yes…how did you know? I didn’t…”

 

Her grandpa grabbed her. “Do you take me for a fool, Maya?”

 

“Ah…stop,” Maya said.

 

“No,” Simon said as he pulled at his grandpa. “Stop it! You’re hurting her!”

 

The grandpa pushed Simon aside.

 

“Hey,” Jason said as he walked towards them.

 

The grandpa pushed Maya away and rushed towards Jason with a knife. Jason blocked and dodged the weapon and stood in front of the other two to protect them.

 

The grandpa’s eyes grew red.

 

“Grandfather?” Maya asked.

 

“I don’t think that’s your grandpa talking,” Jason said.

 

The suits of armor then came to life. “Down!” Jason yelled as the armor suits crashed through the glass and attacked.

 

Jason fought back as the grandpa walked towards the two siblings with a crooked smile on his face.

________________________________________________________________________

 

Dragon Ranger used his sword and fought his way through the other Rangers one by one. He knocked Mammoth Ranger’s axe away with a  wide arc and swung his blade back around, slashing the Ranger across his chest.

 

The Green Ranger spun and slammed a spinning-heel kick against Tricera Ranger’s helmet as the Blue Ranger failed at a sneak attack.

 

Ptera and Tiger Rangers moved in next, each with their Blade Blasters in dagger mode. Ptera Ranger lunged forward as Dragon ranger stepped aside and slapped his sword down on her blade. The Pink Ranger, having put too much power in her thrust, went tumbling forward.

 

Dragon ranger immediately slammed a jump kick against Tiger Ranger’s faceplate.

 

The Rangers regrouped.

 

“Where’s Jason when you need him,” Ptera Ranger said.

 

“Your ‘leader’ is having trouble of his own,” Dragon Ranger said as he walked towards the four laughing. This is perfect…they are no match for me, just as I thought…

 

“Mammoth Breaker!” Mammoth Ranger called as he summoned his axe and slammed it to the ground while calling out “Power Crusher!”

 

The ground ripped apart and created a shockwave, but Dragon Ranger leapt over the blast and brought his sword down twice across Mammoth Ranger‘s chest. Dragon Ranger dashed past Mammoth Ranger while thrashing horizontally across the black armor, then turned, bringing his saber down against the Ranger‘s back, sparking on impact.

 

Mammoth Ranger went tumbling forward.

 

The others regrouped at his side. Ptera Ranger held his head up. “Zack…”

 

“Let’s hit him together,” Tiger Ranger said to Tricera Ranger.

 

“Right,” Tricera Ranger said.

 

The two ran towards Dragon Ranger.

 

“Blade Blasters up!” Tiger Ranger yelled as they readied their sabers.

 

Dragon Ranger energized his sword with green energy. He swung the blade with a blur of jade-colored light, slashing across the two Rangers. The thrash exploded against their armor and knocked them backwards.

 

Ptera Ranger leaped forward with a jump kick, but Dragon Ranger blocked the blow and slammed the end of his hilt against the Ranger’s faceplate before side kicking her in the chest.

________________________________________________________________________

 

Jason knocked another suit down with a jump sidekick, only to see the grandpa holding Maya with a knife to her throat and Simon trying to pry them apart.

 

“Don’t make another move…” the grandpa said.

 

Jason pulled a knife he started carrying two weeks ago from his back and jumped towards the grandpa while Maya yelled. “Don’t kill him!”

 

The knife stopped a centimeter from the grandpa’s face as an evil spirit left his body. The grandpa fell over.

 

“Grandpa!” Simon yelled as he kneeled at his grandfather’s side.

 

“Don’t…be sad…my little hawk…” he said to Simon in a weak raspy voice.

 

The two siblings sniffed back tears.

 

“It’s begun,” the grandpa said. “The Rangers…you must…help them find their way…”

 

He reached up to his keyboard as he slowly rose to his knees.

 

“Grandpa don’t,” Maya said. “Save your strength.”

 

“Let’s get him to a hospital,” Jason said.

 

“No,” the grandpa said. “There isn’t time…”

 

He pulled up text data on his computer. “This will lead you to the answers you seek…” the man said. He grabbed Jason by the shirt. “Protect my granddaughter.”

 

He collapsed after exhaling his last breath. “No!” the two siblings yelled and started to cry over their fallen grandfather.

 

“Tyranno Ranger!” Jason heard someone yell.

 

Jason ran to the window and looked to see one of the warlords, Secmet, stare at him from a building across the street.

 

Jason looked back at Maya and Simon. “I’ll be right back.”

 

Jason leapt through the window, used his strength to arc through the air, and landed in front of the warlord. “Are you behind this?”

 

“Indeed,” the warlord said.

 

“Dino Buckler!” Jason shouted as he activated his buckler and changed into his Ranger form. He snapped into a fighting stance. “Tyranno Ranger, Red!”

 

“I am Secmet, warlord of Venom.”

 

Tyranno Ranger ran towards the villain.

 

“Snake Bite Strike!” Venom yelled as he fired a red energy wave that blasted Tyranno Ranger off his feet.

 

Venom  ran towards the Ranger and turbo stabbed him with what looked like six arms. The arms moved in blurs of motion, stabbing and sparking against the Ranger’s armor.

 

Tyranno Ranger fell to the ground. The Red Ranger tried to raise himself with his sword as Venom stalked towards him.

 

“You’re weaker than I thought. It’s not like me to over estimate an enemy,” he said.

 

“Who you callin’ weak?” Tyranno Ranger said as he rose to the ground. “Power Wave!”

 

Tyranno Ranger swung his blade forward as it energized with a red glow. A crimson wave of power stabbed from the blade and exploded against Venom, ripping half the warlord’s body away.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Bandora wrinkled her brow as she watched Venom from her balcony on the moon. She pulled out a card etched with various demonic symbols and writing. She whispered an incantation before hurling the card towards the Earth below. The card glowed with a blinding light as it streaked through space towards its target.

________________________________________________________________________

 

The card struck Venom’s fallen form, causing him to grow.

 

“Not again,” Tyranno Ranger said as he looked up at the giant warlord. .

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Dragon Ranger turned away from the injured Rangers and looked towards the distance as Venom stomped through the streets.

 

“Looks like Secmet is keeping your friend busy…” he said.

 

“Jason…” Ptera Ranger said.

 

“We have to help him,” Tiger Ranger said.

 

Dragon Ranger laughed. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

 

“If you say so!” Mammoth Ranger and the others charged their opponent.

 

Dragon Ranger hook kicked Mammoth Ranger across the helmet, and then cut into the other three Rangers swiftly. His blade was a blur of motion as it sparked against Ptera, Tricera, and Tiger Rangers’ armor, knocking the three backwards as quickly as they had tried to attack.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

“Tyrannosaurus Dinozord arise!” Tyranno Ranger shouted to summon his zord.

 

The red-armored beast stomped through the streets and Tyranno Ranger leapt into the air, sliding into the cockpit embedded in the zord’s armor.

 

Tyrannosaurus swung its tail and bashed the limb against Secmet, sparking against the warlord’s armor. The Dinozord followed through and slammed its head against Secmet, knocking the warlord back. Tyranno roared as it stomped forward to attack again.

 

Secmet didn’t give the zord a chance. He swung his blades in a series of diagonal strikes, each exploding across the zord’s armor, each forcing Tyranno back, until their fight moved back by two city blocks.

 

Tyranno snapped its jaw around the warlord’s arm to stop the attack. The zord tightened its jaw, snapping the warlord’s armor as he winced in pain. The warlord took a step back as Tyranno lashed out with its tail, thrashing across the warlord’s armor.

 

Secmet went tumbling across the streets. He rose to his knees, clenching his injured arm as he took a step backward.

 

“We’ll meet again, Ranger,” he said as he rose to his feet and disappeared.

 

“We’ll be waiting,” Tyranno Ranger said.

________________________________________________________________________

 

Dragon Ranger chopped Tiger Ranger to the ground with a powerful horizontal strike from his sword. The Yellow Ranger went rolling back to her injured teammates.

 

“Haven’t you fools learned? You’re no match for me!” Dragon Ranger said.

 

Blasts exploded against Dragon Ranger‘s chest with a series of sparks. It was Tyranno Ranger with his blade blaster.

 

“You think you’re so tough? Take me on!” Tyranno Ranger shouted as he stood between Green Ranger and his team.

 

“With pleasure!” Dragon Ranger hurled his sword and it struck the Ranger in the chest.

 

The two then charged each other and traded fierce volleys of kicks and punches. Dragon ranger snapped a roundkick towards Tyranno Ranger’s head, but Red Ranger blocked the blow. Green Ranger blocked a punch from Tyranno Ranger, and launched a knifehand strike towards Red Ranger’s throat. Tyranno Ranger blocked the blow, turned, and snapped a sidekick towards Dragon Ranger’s faceplate.

 

Dragon Ranger moved in low and swung his left hand in for a knifehand strike against the Ranger’s side. He pressed forward, slamming a right knifehand against the Ranger’s other side, and slamming a third knifehand strike against the Ranger’s neck. Dragon Ranger jump kicked Tyranno Ranger in the helmet, knocking Red Ranger backwards.

 

Tyranno Ranger landed hard against his back.  

 

Dragon Ranger picked up his sword and held it to Tyranno Ranger’s throat.

 

“Go ahead,” Tyranno Ranger said. “I’m not afraid.”

 

“You’ve been weakened from your fight with Secmet…” Dragon Ranger lowered his sword. “When I defeat you…I want you to be in your prime.”

 

Dragon Ranger turned and walked away. The Rangers looked at each other, stunned, surprised the evil Ranger had spared them Then Dragon Ranger turned to face Rangers. “But let me leave you with a little gift…Dragon’s Fang!”

 

The Rangers were blasted to the ground by a crackling sphere of jade energy that exploded against their armor.

________________________________________________________________________

 

The teens were with Maya and Simon in the grandpa’s old room. Maya was tending to the rangers’ wounds.

 

“I thought our armor was supposed to protect us?” Zack asked as Maya wrapped a bandage around his arm. “A hell of a job it’s done so far.”

 

“We’re not invulnerable,” Billy said.

 

“We should be,” Zack said.

 

Trini sighed. “I don’t think it’s safe to stay here too much longer. Bandora might expect to find us all here.”

 

“We won’t stay for long,” Maya said as she walked over to her grandpa‘s computer. She ran her fingers across the keyboard and pulled up a .jpeg file. The file showed a map of the mountains east of Angel Grove.

 

“What is that?” Kimberly asked as she stood behind Maya.

“A map my grandfather gave me before he…”

 

Jason placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

 

She nodded, not wanting anymore sympathy.

 

“Where does it lead?” Simon asked.

 

“Only one way to find out,” Jason said.

 

To be continued…Chapter Three