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Balance, part I
Episode 04: "Balance" (Part I)
It�s a calm and peaceful afternoon outside Oson City. However, that calm is quickly evaportated by the sound of the screaming engines of a squadron of R-Fighters.
As the fighters fly over a valley, they spot their target on the ground: the Hyper Speed Rangers. Chris, Brittany, Eric, Traci, and Nick dash across the plain, fully morphed, with their suits glistening in the afternoon sun.
�We�ve got to find some sort of cover!� Chris shouts.
But before the team can reach any further, a pair of R-Fighters fires down upon them; explosions rock behind the team, and they're blanketed by dust and sand. They continue to dart across the valley, and Eric shouts to Chris, �Hey, Red! You got any ideas?!�
Chris exclaims back, �One!�
Dudley responds back from the Hyper Garage, �I don�t think you guys are ready yet. I mean, you�ve only had a week�s practice and...�
Chris interjects �Just do it!�
Dudley sighs, �Alright, alright. I�m sending the Hyper Zords.�
At the Hyper Garage, the doors to the docking bay open, and all five Hyper Zords release, making their way to the Rangers� location.
As the Zords arrive, Chris and the others leap into the air and into their respective cockpits.
Eric reports, �Transport Hyper Zord, online!�
Traci reports, �Wagon Hyper Zord, online!�
Nick reports, �Rugger Hyper Zord, online!�
Brittany reports, �Rover Hyper Zord, online!�
And Chris reports, �GT Hyper Zord, online!�
As the team zips across the plain in their Zords, the squadron of R-Fighters quickly changes direction and turns into attack position towards the Zords.
�Alright, let�s see if all that training payed off.� Chris says.
A pair of R-Fighters fires down upon the Rugger Hyper Zord, but are unable to get a direct hit.
Nick quickly counter attacks, �Let�s try out the tow cables.�
He pulls a lever, launching the cable from the front of his Zord, latching onto a rock wall. The duo of R-Fighters slams straight into the cable, and they�re sliced in half.
Meanwhile, Eric drives the Transport Hyper Zord across a bridge, but as he begins moving across it, two R-Fighters blast the bridge, and it begins to crumble. Eric jams his foot on the gas and makes it across as the bridge collapses behind him.
�My turn!� Eric shouts.
On the other side of the plain, another duo of R-Fighters fires at Traci in the Wagon Hyper Zord, giving it a quick beating and rocking Traci inside the cockpit. �Oh, man!� she exclaims.
She gets herself together, and spins the Zord to a stop. �Alright. Assault Missles!�
A hatch slides open on the top of the Zord, revealing two cylindrical slots. A pair of missles rises from the holes and launches into the air, hitting the last of the R-Fighters directly, and disintegrating them.
�We�re not out of this yet!� Chris shouts, spotting a pair of D-Tanks rumbling across the valley and towards the city. �Brittany, how about a tag team?�
�You took the words right out of my mouth!� Brittany responds.
The D-Tanks motor between two hills attempting to cross through towards the city. But the Rover Hyper Zord jets across one hill and jumps down onto the plain firing a pair of missles from cannons mounted on each side of the Zord, while the GT Hyper Zord fires four laser bolts from its headlights. The attacks rock the D-Tanks, complete shutting the two vehicles down.
Chris exclaims, �Nice job, everybody! Now let�s head home.�
**********
It�s a beautiful morning on the campus of Central University, and inside her dorm room Traci lies in bed, her face buried in a pillow. Out of nowhere, her cell phone begins ringing. She groans, and slowly reaches for it. She picks it up and in a deep, exhausted voice, �Hello?�
�Traci.� It�s her boyfriend, Ian.
�Ian?�
�It�s 10:30! You were supposed to meet me over an hour ago, where are you?!�
She looks at her alarm clock, confirming the time. She turns on her back, and puts her hand on her head, �I�m sorry, I�m sorry. Give me ten minutes.�
She hangs up the phone, and crawls out of bed.
**********
Inside the Communications building, Chris stands with his hands in the pockets of his brown leather jacket. Standing in front of him is Lela Legend, with her hands on her hips and staring at Chris coldy.
�Nothing?� she asks, �You�ve got nothing?�
�Look, Lela, I�ve been...�
�It�s Ms. Legend, thank you.�
Chris is confused, �Um, sure, whatever. Look, I know I�ve been behind with my stories, but if you just give me a chance to...�
�Carl, I�ve given you chances...�
�It�s Chris...� He corrects her.
She ignores him and continues, �...and all you�ve done is continuosly and perpetually bring me absolutely positively nothing.� She sighs, �Maybe you should rethink what you want to do with your little life.�
Chris sighs, and walks out of the room.
**********
Meanwhile, across campus, Nick rushes towards the cafeteria in a white polo shirt. He flings open the doors and comes to a sudden stop as his manager, a bald man with a thick mustache and glasses, stands in front of him, tapping his foot and staring at his watch.
�You�re late,� he says, �Again.�
Nick is flustered and out of breath, �I�m really sorry, sir. It�s just...�
�It�s just nothing. This is the second time this week, and if my math�s correct, the fourth time this month. This is your last warning. Be late again, and you�re fired.�
Nick sighs, �It won�t happen again, sir.� He makes his way to the kitchen, with his head hung low.
**********
Just a few short blocks away from the cafeteria, Eric stands on a stage, staring at a theatre full of empty seats. Two casting directors sit in front of him, staring at him heavily and seemingly scrutinizing every movement of his mouth.
Eric recites, �I shall not give in to the temptations of war. It seduces the weak; those who see no way out but conflict. Those who...�
He pauses.
�Those who...�
He can�t remember the rest of the line.
�Those who...�
One of the casting directors raises her hand, �That�ll be all.�
Eric sighs heavily, �I�m sorry. I�ve just been really swamped lately, and I...�
�You don�t need to say anything. That�ll be all.�
�But, listen, I...�
�Next!�
Eric throws his hands to his side in frustration and walks out of the theatre.
**********
A couple of buildings away from the theatre, and in a classroom of over 200 students, Brittany shakes her head in disgust as she stares at her test score. An obnoxious student looks over her shoulder and shouts, �A 32?! Ouch!�
Brittany throws the guy a nasty look, then slowly sinks into her seat, embarrased, as the other students turn to look in her direction.
**********
Later that afternoon, Chris and Brittany are walking together inside the Student Union building.
�This can�t get any worse.� Brittany says, referring to her test score. �What is that, like an F-?
�Normally, I would tell you to cry on my shoulder, but I feel a tear comin� on myself.�
�What�s killing you?�
�Well, not only am I completely lost in Spanish, Sociology, AND History, but I had to suffer through a chew-out session with the �great Ms. Legend�.�
�Ooh. Wanna cry on mine?�
�Ugh. There�s something seriously wrong with that chick. I think my chances of being a regular staff member are pretty much dead.�
�You? What about me? Instead of trying to figure out conics or studying parabolas, I�m busy combat training in a bright yellow costume with a laser gun and an oversized Hot Wheels car.�
Chris sighs and stops walking, �Listen, I�m complaining just like you are. It�s tough. But we made a choice, and we have to live with it.�
�Says who?� Brittany responds. �If it�s becoming too much, why can�t we just walk away from it?�
�Yes, and leave the planet completely defenseless from a group of interdimensional invaders.�
Brittany rolls her eyes.
Chris continues, �We can�t just walk away from it. We all made this decision.�
Brittany sighs, �But why us? Why not someone else with �courage� and �youth� and �ambition�? It�s not like we�re the only ones on the entire planet who have those things.�
Chris looks at her, and in his mind he tries to find the answer.
**********
Underneath Oson City, General Morlon stands in front of an army of deformed, grotesque, clown-like foot soldiers as they tirelessly move rock and gravel, constructing what looks to be a throne.
Standing beside him is Sororix, observing the situation.
�I have to ask,� she says, �What is this all about?�
Morlon grins, �The final piece to our transition, my dear.�
�A throne?� She pauses. �HE isn�t....�
Morlon�s grin widens, �Yes.�
�So how do you expect to pull this off? If you manage to open a portal to the other dimension you�ll only attract the Rangers.�
�That�s why I spent the time devising a little...scheme. The Rangers won�t even be a problem.�
Sororix can only say, �So, it�s true.�
Morlon nods, �Yes. Emperor Darrar is coming...�
He laughs evily, echoing throughout the caves of their underground base.
TO BE CONTINUED