One Day earlier…

As usual the Angel Grove Youth Center was bustling with teenagers. Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Billy, Kim, and Aisha were all sitting at one table in the crowded building doing their homework and drinking smoothies.

“Oh my God…” Kim murmured, dropping her book onto the table and putting her face into her hands, “I hate this book.”

Everyone laughed.

“Why? I thought you liked reading.” Tommy teased.

Kim resisted the urge to throw the book at him and glared at him instead, “I do. But that doesn’t mean I like every book that I read. Did you guys read The Lord of the Flies yet?”

“I have.” Adam said, “I can sympathize with you. Definitely not the best book to read. Especially when it’s assigned.”

“I hate all books that are assigned.” muttered Rocky, going back to his history homework.

All further conversation however was interrupted by a familiar six-tone beep.

They quickly packed their stuff in their backpacks and went to a secluded corner.

“What’s up Zordon?” Tommy whispered

<RANGERS, THERE IS A DISTURBANCE IN THE PARK. IT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. I ADVISE YOU TO MORPH BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE AREA.>

“Gotcha. We’ll be careful.” replied Tommy.

“It’s Morphin’ Time!”

“White Tiger!”

“Saber-tooth Tiger!”

“Pterodactyl!”

“Mastodon!”

“Triceratops!”

“Tyrannosaurus!”

And they were off in a rainbow colored light to the park.

Once they got to the park they had no idea what they faced. A humanoid monster stood before them. It actually looked more human than monster, it was armed in just plain black armor. Thick black armor that covered it’s torso, head, forearms, and lower legs. No one could see it’s face, it was totally covered. It’s skin also seemed to be black.

“Hello Power Rangers. I am the Super Soldier. I have come here to destroy you. And this time, there will be no mercy.” it said in a low voice.

That was all the warning it got before a disc-like contraption emerged from it’s forearms and fired yellow energy blasts at them. They packed quite a punch as even though the rangers dodged them, the force of the explosion sent them reeling.

“Whoa! How is it this strong?” asked Rocky as he got up from the ground.

“I don’t know but we better get the Power Blaster ready as soon as possible. Whoa!” said Tommy before leaping away from another attack.

The other rangers continuously used their individual weapons but nothing seemed to faze it. It also defeated them in their martial arts in just a few seconds. They were easily forced onto the defense instead of offense as the monster had quickly gain the upper hand with frightening speed.

It wasn’t giving them enough time to collect their weapons for the Power Blaster!

<RANGERS, TRY TO OUTRUN THE SUPER SOLDIER. THERE IS A FREQUENCY THAT IS MAKING TELEPORTATION UNAVAILABLE TO YOU, ONLY COMMUNICATION. GET OUT OF IT’S RANGE AND I WILL TELEPORT YOU.>

They couldn’t believe what Zordon was saying to them as they fought! Run from a battle? It sounded logical enough but what about the innocent people?

They ran anyway.

The Super Soldier laughed, “Why are you running? You know I can beat you so why do you not just face me like true warriors?”

But they continued running. The Super Soldier walked calmly behind them. Firing around them, throwing them off their feet.

They groaned as they yet again hit the ground. “Tommy, we have to get out of here now!” Adam said urgently.

“I know, but Zordon said we have to get as far away as we can!” Tommy yelled back and they shakily got up and ran once more. They fired vainly at the soldier, hoping to slow it down.

Billy, who had been ahead of them, suddenly vanished in a stream of blue light. They were close!

One by one they each were teleporting back…until a fire landed on the Black Ranger’s back. He was sent to the ground hard and forcefully power down.

Rocky, who had been closest, saw this and was about to run back when he was teleported out. “No!” yelled Rocky as he saw he was in the safe Command Center, “Zordon send me back! Adam was shot!”

“I KNOW ROCKY AND I AM SORRY. BUT I CANNOT SEND YOU BACK YET. ADAM IS STILL WITHIN RANGE AND THE SUPER SOLDIER IS STILL GETTING CLOSER. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELEPORT YOU OUT IN TIME.” Zordon solemnly said.

Rocky ripped of his helmet and saw on a console, digging the palms of his hands into his eyes to stop the tears. Aisha sat next to him and gave him a hug.

“Zordon, what will we do then?” Billy said softly. “All six of us combined could not defeat him and the force of that blast, added from the others, caused him to power down instantly.”

“I DO NOT KNOW. I AM SORRY.”

-:0:-

Adam groaned as he felt himself demorph. The breath was taken from him and he coughed and wheezed as he struggled to take in oxygen.

He heard the Super Soldier’s calm footsteps get closer to him. Ever so slowly.

Adam forced his eyes open and looked around. He was just at the edge of the forest, if he could just get in there…

The Super Soldier aimed at him, this would be the fatal shot. But Adam had other ideas.

Gather as much strength as he could, he got to his feet and shot to the forest. Adam was forced to his knees when a blast came dangerously close behind him. But he forced his aching knees up and was running again.

Adam ran in any direction he could so he could lose the Super Soldier. This time the soldier decided to run. Adam had tried morphing but this time it didn’t work.

“Mastodon!” he tried again, but again nothing.

Adam gasped as he heard the soldier steps once again and ran. The black ranger breathed heavily, he hadn’t stopped for very long and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep this up for long. Daylight Savings had ended earlier that week and darkness shrouded the forests all too quickly for his liking.

The Soldier had stopped firing long ago and was intent on just catching it’s prey before killing him. It knew it spread fear into the boy. It knew the boy couldn’t morph and therefore was defenseless. It made the victory all too sweet.

-:0:-

Adam needed rest, badly. His watch showed it was eleven. He’d been running for hours now and barely rested for fear of being caught. He needed to rest but where could he rest without getting killed? The black ranger looked frantically around while dodged the tree roots and rocks. He was body was just to exhausted however and he tripped on a tree root. Adam fell to the ground painfully and laid there for a moment. Adam heart was beating so hard he felt as if it would beat right out of his chest and he was desperate for more air. It seemed as though he couldn’t get enough.

Adam shakily rose to his feet and upon looking ahead, found a small cave. He thanked the Lord for this and ran to it, his breathing started to hitch in his throat. His dark clothing camouflaging him in darkness as he entered the cave. Adam sat against the wall, regaining his breath.

He was only their for about twenty minutes however before…

Adam’s eyes widened in terror.

The Super Soldier found him!

-:0:-

“We’ll find him Mrs. Park.” Said the Red Ranger.

Mrs. Park had tears in her eyes. Her son was lost with the Super Soldier after him! She sniffed and nodded, “Please bring him back.”

The Red Ranger could only nod or he would have choked if he said anything. The door closed and the Red Ranger teleported out. Now all they had to do was wait for Alpha to come up with something and in the mean time, act as if nothing happened until their parents ‘break’ the news to them.

Later that night none of the rangers could sleep. There was still no word and Adam even hadn’t tried to contact them. It was close to midnight when they all gathered at the Command Center.

All were in their pajamas, with sweaters over them and tennis shoes.

Rocky was the first there only to find Billy already there working with Alpha.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Billy asked.

“No. It’s hard when knowing that your friend is out there possibly already dead.” Rocky felt tears welling in his eyes. Billy nodded in understanding. A streak of yellow heralded Aisha. She had tear streaks staining her cheeks. Rocky immediately pulled her into a hug.

A pink and white light came then and in came Kim and Tommy.

They were all silent. They all knew how they were feeling.

<RANGERS. I BID YOU ALL TO SLEEP. YOU CANNOT HELP IF YOU ARE TIRED.>

“But we can’t go back knowing that Adam needs our help!” said Aisha.

“Please Zordon. We need to be here. I don’t want to be left in the dark.” Kim said in a wavering voice.

<THEN I ASK YOU TO GET SOME REST HERE. IT CAN BE IN TURNS OR ALL TOGETHER. BUT I WANT YOU ALL WELL RESTED FOR WHEN WE FIND ADAM HE WILL NEED ALL OF YOUR STRENGTH.>

They noted that he did not say ‘if’ but ‘when’. It brought some hope into their hearts.

-:0:-

Adam’s breathing quickened as he heard the steps draw closer to him. This can’t be happening! This just cannot be happening! How had it found him?

Adam got to his feet with a grunt and warily came out of the shadows. It looked as if the soldier hadn’t gotten to the entrance yet, but it was close. Adam ran the opposite direction. He ran toward the back of the cave.

Adam felt around the cave walls as it was now too dark to see. He felt for some type of opening, all the caves around Angel Grove were either connected or had two openings. He hoped he found the latter.

His hands suddenly came across a crack, a big one. Adam started feeling around it, it was a small hole. Adam stooped to his knees and with some more touching, figured that he could squeeze through it.

Hoping he wouldn’t hit anything Adam starting head first.

Adam’s heart felt lighter when he smelled the fresh air. He moved faster and soon was all the way out of the cave. He was now standing on a rocky knoll, if he went carefully and slowly, he could make it down and be closer to the town.

The black ranger felt like he would cry with relief.

The rock wall behind him exploded, sending him flying through the air and down the slope. He cried out as he hit the outcropping rocks. He was rolling faster and faster until he rolled to a stop at the bottom. Rocks and gravel blanketed him. Adam had lost consciousness instantly.

The Super Soldier laughed malevolently. The black ranger was gone. No one could have survived that blast, it was sure it hit him. And now the ranger lay unmoving below.

And then the Super Soldier walked off.

Adam was alone and oblivious in the dark once more.