The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
"A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight"
Part V
by: Quintin J. Scott
They teleported into the Command Center.
"Rangers, I have urgent news."
"What is it, Zordon?" Tommy asked.
"The Solar Gem of Redis Major has become active again."
"What's that?" The Pink Ranger queried.
Sean stepped up. "Is that the source of the energy that surrounded Keiko?"
"Indeed, Sean. Several thousand years ago, there was a great warrior on the
planet of Redis Major. Charged with the defense of the planet and surrounding
solar systems, she commanded the energies of their sun. The gem, itself, was a
natural solar battery. It had a similar structure like uru."
"The metal the Hammer of Hykrania of made from?"
"Correct. Along with processing solar energy, it increased her strength,
abilities, and prowess. The Redisians built one of the first Zords ever:
Solaritron, the SolarZord. Solara, as she came to be known as, protected the
worlds of the sun, Redis, for years.
"However, the power began to corrupt her. She started to demand tribute and
protection money from the worlds she was sworn to defend. When they couldn't
pay, they were subject to either intense sunlight, generate directly by gem, or
lack of it, causing their world to freeze. The governments of these worlds
demanded justice. They demanded that Solara be brought down, but Solaritron was
too powerful for even their most powerful warships.
"In a last ditch effort to stop her, the Redisians contacted the only person in
the known universe that could stop her."
"You?" Adam said.
"Yes. One of the very first teams of Power Rangers still active during the time
was called into action. They fought her to a standstill before I intervened. I
cast a spell on her, trapping her within the confines of the Solar Gem. The gem
was locked away, supposedly, in one of the Redisians underground vaults, but,
years later, I learned that someone broke into the vault and stole the gem."
"And now...?"
"Keiko has become Solara," Sean answered, thinking back. "I saw Rito and Goldar
give her the gem."
The alarms in the Command Center released their shrill call. Alpha was quick to
type in commands on the system boards. "Ay-yi-yi! The heat has started to
increase in Angel Grove!" He read one of the readouts. "It's now 115 degrees and
rising!"
"It must be Solara!" Rocky exclaimed.
"Rangers! Time is of the essence! You must defeat her before the earth is
enveloped in flame!" Zordon said.
Tommy walked forward, nodding his head. "Let's do it, guys! IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!
WHITE RANGER POWER!"
"BLACK RANGER POWER!"
"PINK RANGER POWER!"
"BLUE RANGER POWER!"
"YELLOW RANGER POWER!"
"RED RANGER POWER!"
"GOLD RHINO POWER!"
A flash of energy later, the Power Rangers teleported away.
Solara stood in the center of the city, heat
waves emanating from her body. The asphalt beneath her feet melted under her
power. Crimson locks floated from the heat while the tight white and red suit
seemed to keep her from burning up under her own power.
"OPEN FIRE!" Officer Kriesel shouted to the police officers who were strong
enough to brave the heat. Dozens of bullets zipped through the air, only to melt
when they got within ten feet of her.
Solara chuckled, "Finally! Mayhem and destruction! Once again, the power is
MINE!" She tossed out her hand, bolts of concentrated heat slamming into
the men. They collapsed from heatstroke, senses overwhelmed by her power. She
turned from them. The surrounding buildings got a scorching as well.
"YES!" She screamed as the heat bolts blew off parts of the buildings. Solara
was in a near orgasmic state of joy - a natural high drawn from the destruction.
Seven rainbow colored tubes of energy dissipated nearby, depositing the Power
Rangers. They struck a defensive pose.
"That's enough, Solara!" The White Ranger commanded. "We're sending you back
where you came from!"
Solara turned around, an evil smile upon her face. "Well, it's about time you
got here! I was beginning to get bored!" She paused, looking directly at the
Gold Ranger. "The Gold Ranger. I shall take a personal sense of pride in
destroying you."
"Easier said than done, Solara," Sean replied. "You were defeated once by the
Power Rangers. You shall be again."
"Easier said than done," she mirrored his previous response before backing it up
with a heat bolt. It slammed into Sean's chest, a brighter explosion of sparks
than he'd ever seen previously flinging from his breastplate. He was lifted into
the air, thrown through the wall of a nearby bank and into the steel reinforced
plating of the vault.
Sean lapsed into semi-consciousness, trying to clear the stars from his vision.
Aisha didn't even wait for Tommy to give the go-ahead. She was already moving
forward, kicking at Solara. The other woman smiled, blocking the blow and
delivering a stiff back hand to the Yellow Ranger. Another heat bolt was tossed
in Tommy's direction. The White Ranger took it full-brunt, being flung away just
like Sean.
The remaining Rangers started to contribute to the fight, but Solara defeated
them easily. A lance of flame formed of Solara's left arm. She struck Rocky
before turning it on Billy and Adam. The flame lance reformed into a claw of
fire. It grabbed Kimberly, hefting her up and over into a parked car. The fire
claw slammed into her, repeatedly, flinging sparks everywhere.
"Revenge is a dish best served cold?" Solara chuckled. "I think not!"
"Over here, hot stuff!" Came a voice from behind.
She turned into a Gold Ranger punch. The fire claw disappeared as she lost her
concentration. Sean engaged her in a fierce battle of martial arts, taking it to
her. Tommy joined in, soon after, double-teaming her back.
"Rangers!" Rocky shouted. "Tower Formation!"
Rocky, Billy, and Adam stood on the bottom, while Aisha and Kimberly leapt into
the air onto their shoulders. The Rangers un-holstered their Blade Blasters and
held them at the ready.
Sean spun and kicked Solara in the chest while Tommy knocked her down with a
sweep. They saw what the other Rangers were doing and flipped out of the way.
"You'll pay for that!" Solara spat as she stood up.
"FIRE!" Rocky shouted. The Rangers touched the Blade Blasters in a star
formation before a conflagration of energy commenced. A second later, the energy
slammed into the woman, knocking her down again.
"Give it up, Solara!" Tommy shouted.
"Never!" Her response was likened to a growl. "NEVER!" She held her hands
in front of her, summoning a portion of her vast power. Tossing the globule of
energy into the air, she shouted "I summon Solaritron, the SolarZord!"
The energy burst and the atmosphere grew quiet. Beneath the Rangers' feet, they
could feel the vibrations of something...and it was getting closer. They turned
around, looking upwards as the people of Angel Grove screamed in horror.
Trundling down the main thoroughfare of Angel Grove, a giant mecha of silver and
red came into view. Every footstep crushed several cars into so much flat pieces
of steel. The menacing visage of fire behind Solaritron's visor jetted out into
a wide beam, destroying a block radius of buildings.
Sean shook his head. "How is it that everyone has a Zord nowadays? Honestly."
"We're going to need some major firepower if we're going to stop him," Adam
observed.
"I will destroy you and everyone you hold dear, Gold Ranger," Solara promised as
she leapt into the air. She turned into a crimson beam of energy, streaking
towards the Zord. Coalescing on Solaritron's shoulder, Solara laughed maniacally
and pointed towards the Rangers. Obediently, it fired another optic blast,
ripping the ground asunder in front of the team. The force from the impact
knocked them down. They got back up almost immediately.
The six core Rangers shouted in unison. "We need NinjaZord and ShogunZord
power...NOW!" Sean nodded and raised his own hand. "I call upon the power
of Thundarus, the Gold RhinoZord!"
The Zords arrived on the scene at the beckoning. The Rangers climbed into the
ShogunZords whilst operating the NinjaZords by remote. Overhead, Tommy's
FalconZord screeched. Thundarus bellowed.
"This is your last chance, Solara," Sean said. "Don't do this."
She answered him by ordered Solaritron to deliver a stiff kick to his Zord.
Thundarus skidded but was chomping at the bit to get back into the battle.
"ShogunMegaZord assembly...NOW!" Tommy commanded. He flew his Zord down
to the NinjaMegaZord and attached, forming the NinjaMegaFalconZord. Sean
reconfigured Thundarus into Warrior Mode.
Tommy initiated the first attack when he picked Solaritron up and flew him away
from the city. The ShogunMegaZord and Thundarus followed as best they could
along the ground.
Banking in the air, the NinjaMegaFalconZord released the squirming Solaritron.
The Zord landed on its feet, surrounded by the other MegaZords.
Solaritron threw another optic blast at the Rangers who spun out of the way.
Thundarus ducked under another one, wrapping its arms around the SolarZord's
waist. With Zordic might, Thundarus tossed Solaritron over his head. Tommy
swooped down with his MegaZord. As the Power Gloves ignited with energy, he
delivered a massive power punch to Solaritron's body. Inside, the SolarZord's
pilot, Solara, jostled about violently, watching as the consoles started to
explode and spark.
"Wh-What's going on...?! This isn't how it's supposed to be!"
"Seekers, FIRE!" The Gold Ranger shouted, opening up his shoulder-mounted
missile launcher. Six red-tipped rockets zipped towards Solaritron, lighting it
up with several explosions. From the joints of the Zord, more sparks flew before
its right arm tore off, falling to the ground.
"Whoa!" Rocky exclaimed. "Billy?"
Billy started to type on his computer. "The Zord's old...VERY old. Most Zords
are designed to last for a few millenia."
"From what I've seen, this one got the short end of the upkeep stick," Kimberly
remarked.
"If that's the case, let's POUR IT ON!" Tommy commanded. He disengaged from the
NinjaMegaZord, flying towards the ShogunMegaZord. "ShogunMegaFalconZord
sequence...NOW!"
The Pink and Blue ShogunZords detached from the main body of the gestalt,
allowing the FalconZord to attach. They reattached, forming the
ShogunMegaFalconZord.
"Ready, Sean?" Tommy asked.
Sean nodded in his Zord. "Always!"
Solara gritted her teeth and launched her Zord forward, running straight towards
them. The NinjaMegaZord cartwheeled behind her and jumped, delivering a massive
kick to Solaritron's back. Its forward momentum carried it directly in the line
of fire.
"Falcon Cannons, FIRE!"
"Thunderball, FIRE!"
The eight wingtip cannons launched wave after wave of bottled energy bolts. The
Thunderball formed as energy from the Hammer of Hykrania traveled through
Thundarus and coalesced into a sphere of power. All energy from both MegaZords
zipped through the air, crashing into Solaritron.
Solara abandoned the Zord before it completely collapsed. Seconds afterward,
Solaritron exploded in a bright ball of destructive fury. The ancient mecha's
head landed at the feet of the gold RhinoZord. The Zord disappeared in a
mirrored teleport effect.
"No!" Solara screamed. "I will not be defeated! I will not...!" Her ranting was
cut off as her face went blank. Her body convulsed once before the power erupted
from her mouth, leaving behind the disheveled form of Keiko. Without the
SolarZord's link, the spirit of Solara could no longer maintain cohesion. The
iridescent haze that was the spirit floated in the air.
Sean stepped out onto the shoulder of Thundarus and held up the Hammer of
Hykrania. "You have caused much destruction and despair. I send you back into
the eternal darkness from whence you came."
The hammer glowed with an auric energy. Tendrils of golden power floated from
it, enveloping the spirit of Solara. The Rangers could hear Solara's scream as
she was consigned to the prison that was the hammer.
The Gold Ranger looked down at his signature weapon, contemplating. Solara was
the second spirit he'd captured. A thought ran through his mind as to what was
life like inside his hammer.
However, before he could contemplate further, a voice called up to him. Sean was
not surprised.
"Sean Morissette! I know it's you!" Keiko cried out. "I know it's YOU!
Come down here and fight me! I won't stop, you coward! I won't stop! Fight me!
Shi no Kettou!"
Simultaneously, Tommy, Rocky and Adam's collective eyebrows raised. Tommy
engaged the communicator. "Don't do it, Sean."
Adam joined in. "It's not worth it, man. Just leave her be."
"What's going on?" Aisha asked.
"'Death duel'," Billy read from the translation matrix on his control board.
"She's challenged him - a battle to the death."
Aisha teleported out of the MegaZord's cockpit to the side of Sean. Removing her
helmet, she shook her braided mane. "You can't. I won't let you."
Sean looked at her through the smoky visor before removing his own helmet. There
was a sad look on his face as he tucked it under his arm. "I have to, Aisha. It
has to end. As much as I would like to just turn away and go home with you, I
can't. She'd keep coming and coming until one of us died." His hands had been
placed on her shoulders. "This is the way it has to be, Aisha. I must stop
her...no matter the cost." He paused before continuing. "Adam? Keep Aisha safe
for me."
Sean kissed Aisha quickly before jumping down from Thundarus. He could hear her
frantic cries, but his mind was dead-set on this particular issue.
This had to be done.
"Gold Ranger, power down," and his uniform disappeared from his body. He bowed
before Keiko, never taking his eyes off her. "I accept." Sean undid the clasp on
his communicator and tossed it to the side.
Keiko did a quick nod and bow, striking into a fighting stance. Sean did the
same. Tense moments passed before they both lunged at each other. The
larger of the two cocked his hand back, summoning his chi. Keiko ducked,
focusing her power into an uppercut.
They were a blur for a split second.
They stumbled away from one another, turning as best they could to see each
other.
The duel was over.
Another few seconds...
...Sean could feel his back teeth, shattered in his mouth from Keiko's blow,
searing pain ripping through his head. His chi had protected him for the
most part, but the Viper Uppercut did its damage.
...Keiko said nothing. Blood gushed from her nose. Her eyes rolled back into her
head, and she fell to the ground, so very still.
Sean stood over her, staring down. He felt the chi-powered palm strike
true against her nose. He felt the cartilage shatter. He felt the feeling of
dread that washed over him when he did the Leopard's Bite.
The other Rangers crawled out the Zords, making their way to him. Aisha was
wide-eyes, tears rimming her aubergine orbs.
"Y-You killed her?" she asked, quietly.
Sean didn't answer.
"Why? You're better than this, Sean. Why?"
He still did not answer, continuing to stare down at Keiko's body.
Kimberly stepped up to put a hand on Aisha's shoulder, keeping her eyes averted
from the lifeless form of Keiko. "Aisha..."
"NO!" Aisha screamed. "He could have stopped her another way! He could
have stopped her! Disabled her or something! This...!" Tears were flowing freely
now. "...This is totally...!"
Her speech stopped when Keiko groaned. Her chest rose and fell, slowly, as every
breath was a challenge. Sean helped by kneeling next to her, wiping the blood
away with one of his monogrammed kerchiefs. Keiko looked up at her him, her face
turning to an angry scowl and she tried to move.
Sean just looked at her.
"Wh...What have you done?" Keiko demanded.
"I...cannot kill you, Keiko Le," the man explained. "I used the Leopard's Bite
but blocked the cartilage from being pushed into your brain. Rather...I
paralyzed you. From the neck down, you cannot move. And, therefore, you cannot
seek revenge for this pain I have given you. My friends, my Aisha, myself...we
are safe, one and all. I will apologize to yoru-sensei when I return you
to your home." He paused. "I am sorry, Keiko."
Keiko had started crying somewhere around "paralyzed". Her iron resolve was
gone, dripping away with the tears that cut salty-clean paths through her
blood-stained cheeks. Then to an astonished group of Rangers, she said, "Thank
you." And she continued to cry.
Sean, carefully, lifted her from the ground and smiled, weakly, his eyes red
from the strain of keeping the tears back. He looked at Aisha who was tearful,
too, before looking back down at Keiko.
Quietly, he replied," You're welcome."