The published FF.Net version.
Disclaimer: The author of this piece would like to state that 90% of the characters featured here are properties of BVS Entertainment Inc and not that of the author. 10% of the characters featured here are original creations of the author. Also, the author understands that this piece automatically negates events that occur any and all PR incarnations that occur after Power Rangers Wild Force. Just thought we should be clear on that.
-o-
Thomas Oliver observed what happened in Mariner Bay through the monitor in his control center. He could not believe his eyes. The Varox were not known to be commit suicide, but even so, they’re necessarily known to cause a destructive blast upon death. When the smoke cleared, a good portion of the city was literally blown to pieces. Not one building was left standing; only rubble filled the streets and the rotting human corpses that weren’t buried in the rubble… well, let’s just say they don’t look appealing now.
Disgusted at the sight of the ruined city, Thomas turned off the monitor and slumped into his seat, burying his face in his hands. He mourned for those lost, then looked up and realized if the Rangers fighting the Varox survived… of course not, he thought to himself, no one could survive a blast like that… not even a Power Ranger…
-0-
Although it wasn’t comparable to a hydrogen explosion, the blast was big enough to be seen from Turtle Cove. On the roof of the animal shelter, Cole Evans observed the blast. Being the least experienced Ranger, he didn’t know the exact cause of such an explosion. The fact that he was no longer an active Ranger didn’t comfort him one bit. Behind Cole, a pair of jet fighters flew by, apparently headed towards the wasteland, wherever it was.
-0-
Taylor didn’t know what to expect; her experience in the Air Force and her two-year tour of duty as a Power Ranger didn’t prepare her for the devastation that had besieged Mariner Bay. Over her comm system, she heard nothing that was coherent; supposedly pleas for assistance, scramble orders. It was hard to determine who was talking to who.
She managed to send an order to her wingman to survey damage in other parts of the city while she searched for any potential survivors. When the other jet was out of sight, Taylor searched for a suitable landing spot. Miraculously, there was a stable platform perfect for landing. Upon making contact with the ground, Taylor leaped out of the cockpit and looked at the wreckage that was once Mariner Bay.
My God, she thought to herself, How could this happen?
-o-
The Astro Megaship Mark-II continues to navigate the asteroid belt, which was once the Machine Empire’s homeworld. It was hard to believe that just a week ago, the planet was just recovering from a war with the Varox that had happened years prior. Yet now that planet is gone and this collection of asteroids is what is left of that world.
On the main bridge, Andros brought up any information pertaining to Gorah Khan’s status prior to its destruction. TJ was at the helm, trying to steer clear of any asteroids that may pose a threat to the ship. Zhane did all he could to boost power to the new shield generator, but the last collision had damaged the power accelerators. All in all, a busy day.
Andros slumped on the seat in front of the console. “How could an entire planet be destroyed?” he asked himself.
“Is it possible that a super torpedo was used?” asked Zhane, referring to a drill-tipped warhead that was theoretically capable of destroying entire planets. TJ shook his head on that note, “They were no longer in production since the fall of the Alliance.”
Andros stiffened as he saw data come up on the console. “According to this,” he explained, “Gorah Khan was recovering from a massive war with the Varox.”
Zhane stared at the data that was brought up. “But that war was years ago,” he stated, “they couldn’t have been recovering for this long.”
Andros looked ominously at the main viewer. No more asteroids in sight. “Have we cleared the field?” he asked.
“Yeah,” responded TJ, “just now.”
“Stop the ship,” Andros ordered. TJ shut down the engines, causing the Megaship to slow down and eventually held its ground.
The three Space Rangers (actually two Space Rangers and one Turbo Ranger) looked on as the viewer showed the endless void of space. Many planets. Many moons. Many potential targets to whoever or whatever is responsible for this devastation.
One of those potential targets could be Earth.
-o-
In all her years in both her professions, Taylor has never seen a city backdrop quite like this. Even as a veteran Air Force pilot, she could not bare to see many scarred and rotting corpses, laying around the wreckage of a city. Behind her, something struggled to emerge from the ruins. Taylor turned to see who was emerging.
It was a Power Ranger, although not similar to any PR that she has known. She knew, possibly through the Silver Guardians, that Mariner Bay had their own set of Rangers, but she also recognized what they looked like. What was emerging from the grave was not the traditional Lightspeed Ranger that she did recognized. The Ranger, covered heavily in dust so it was hard to determine who it was, struggled to get back on his feet, but collapsed on the floor again. Taylor rushed towards him and attempted to help him…
The Ranger looked up at Taylor and soon lost consciousness. Probably dazed, she thought to herself. Feeling obligated to do so, she decided to check around for this Ranger’s companions. Knowing where to look was the problem.
-o-
“Hey rookie.”
Cole turned around to see the original Red Power Ranger, Jason Lee Scott. He seemed surprised by his sudden appearance.
“Hey,” Cole said nervously, “what are you doing here?”
Jason shrugged, “Enjoying the view.” That was a sarcastic remark, although Jason could not allow himself a smile.
“With a mushroom cloud from afar,” suggested Cole, letting out a half-smile, “I doubt you can enjoy it.”
“Possibly,” the veteran Ranger replied, returning a smile, “but when you’re doing the Power Ranger thing for as long as I have, you tend to let these things slide.” That last comment caused the younger rookie to chuckle, which made Jason’s smile wider… before it faded when he spoke, “but this kind of thing,” he paused slightly, “you can’t let it slide.”
Jason stood beside the rookie and stared at the smoke. It has been seventy-five minutes since the blast occurred and no one in Turtle Cove, or anywhere for that matter, seems to know what the cause of the blast was… or how much damage it has done.
Cole turned to the veteran who has been on the job since day one. He looked into his eyes to see sorrow and anger. He came with one conclusion: Jason has no idea what’s going on either. That isn’t much comfort for the rookie.
“I wish I could do something,” the only words Cole could let out. Jason nodded in agreement, “So do I, Cole. So do I.”
-o-
Thomas Oliver sat in front of the computer monitor for the past half-hour, unable to find the right words to type. He didn’t know Carter Grayson much, but knew much about him, especially his recent promotion as Lightspeed Rescue’s new Commander. After some thought, he began typing on the keyboard.
From : Thomas Oliver
To : Carter Grayson, Lightspeed Rescue
Subject: Hoping for the best
Hey man. I saw what happened just a while ago. I’m sorry. I hope everything goes well with the rescue operation.
Your fellow Ranger, Thomas Oliver.
He stared blankly at his message for another hour. He can’t think of anything else that will comfort his friend or ease the pain because the truth is there isn’t anything else to say. With great reluctance, he clicked on the Send button.
-o-
A rogue planet, a world without a star to revolve around. Practically uninhabited.
In an instant, a beam cuts through the sphere. An instant after, the beam halts and the rogue world begins to shatter into pieces. Asteroids and gelatinous globs abound, a spherical battleship flies through the debris without a scratch… without a dent… a seemingly invincible, powerful machine…
TO BE CONTINUED…
