The Power Rangers series and all associated characters, settings, and events are property of Disney Entertainment. They are used here without permission. All stories on this site are not for sale and not intended for profit.

It�s a Monday afternoon along the docks on the south end of Oson City. Boats and yachts sit quiet and still along the water. The shops in front of the river are completely empty; it�s seemingly a ghost town.

Entering the docks, Chris, Eric, Nick, Brittany, and Traci, each suited up in their Ranger uniforms, examine the area but can�t seem to find anything. They�re walking close together, braced for any danger, but none seems to be around.

�Ugh. I�ve got an audition in twenty minutes.� Eric grumbles, �I don�t have time for this.�

Chris speaks into his communicator, �Dudley. We don�t see anything. Are you sure you picked up a beast signal?�

�Positive.� Dudley responds from the Hyper Garage, �And I�m still picking it up. You�re close to it.�

�This doesn�t make any sense.� Brittany remarks.�

Suddenly, Traci turns her head, hearing the sound of a pair of feet sloshing through water. �Guys? Do you hear that?�

The others turn to listen.�

�It sounds like it�s coming from behind that wall.� Brittany points to a stone brick wall just behind the team.

The five race towards the structure and arrive behind the wall, dashing across a muddy terrain. As the Rangers look in front of them in the direction of the noise, they each stare down a hideous looking creature with a head in the shape of a wide jaw with sharp teeth, two yellow eyes, and scaly black paws.

�Power Rangers! I�ve been waiting for you clowns to show up.� The creature announces in a screeching voice.

�I don�t know what you�re up to,� Chris shouts, �But if Emperor Darrar sent you, we�re shipping you right back to him! And you�re not going to like our delivery method!�

Eric raises an eyebrow under his helmet, �Dude, you�ve seriously got to work on some new lines.�

But before the Rangers can make a move, the jaw on the monster�s crown splits open and begins to glow a golden hue. Suddenly, the light begins to take the shape of a beam of energy and emits from out of the beast�s jaw and onto the large puddle in front of the Rangers. The energy seperates, and as the light fades, standing before the Rangers are five dark, slime covered, zombie-like creatures.

�Not good.� Nick remarks.

Before the Rangers can react, the five swamp soldiers lunge toward each of them. Chris attempts to brace himself, but before he can, he�s tackled hard to the ground.

A few feet away from Chris, Nick leaps into the air and attempts to land a flying punch into the face of one of the creatures, but he�s sent back to the ground as the minion lands its own punch into the Blue Ranger�s gut.�

In front of one of the empty buildings, Eric charges forward towards another creature, but before he can land an attack, the slimy beast discharges a long black tendril from its right wrist, grabbing Eric by the arms and throwing the Black Ranger straight into the wall of a nearby shop.�

Across from Eric, the fourth creature slashes Brittany across the chest, flinging her to the grass.

The five Rangers regroup and huddle together closely staring down the five seemingly indestructable swamp creatures.�

�What are we gonna do?� Traci asks, nearly out of breath, �Nothing�s working.�

The five swamp zombies stand together and slowly begin sauntering through the grass towards the Rangers.

But out of nowhere, Dudley radioes into the Rangers� helmets, �Guys, help is on the way!� The Rangers gaze into the air and watch as five individual weapons zip towards them. Each hero raises their hand into the air and snatches a weapon.

From the Hyper Garage, Dudley continues, �These are the Power Weapons. They should be enough to help you take those guys down. Chris, you�ve got the GT Saber. Eric, the Truck Hammer. Nick, the Axle Blaster. Brittany, the Aero Bow. And Traci, the Break Baton.�

The Rangers grip their weapons tight in their hands, feeling a sense of renewed strength.

�Alright!� Chris exclaims, �Time to turn the tide!� The Red Ranger grasps the GT Saber tightly, facing down one of the swamp creatures and a gang of Jestars. �Wheel Slash!� The GT Saber begins to glow as Chris moves the sword in a counterclockwise motion forming a circle of energy. And as he reaches the starting point of the circle, he grabs the sword tightly and slashes the group of soldiers with a strike of energy, disintegrating them in an instant.

Nick points his Axle Blaster in the direction of a gang of enemies and fires a rapid spray of laser bolts straight at them, blasting them all to the ground.

Eric leaps into the air, and with his Truck Hammer in hand smashes down on the head of one of the swamp creatures, splitting it right down the middle.

Feeling himself being overwhelmed by the Rangers, the original monster regroups with his slime soldiers in front of the Rangers.

�This isn�t over!� He declares.

�Actually, it is.� Chris responds. He turns to Traci, �Finish this.�

Traci nods, and holds her weapon tightly, �Break Baton, power up!� She slides her hands across the baton, as a beam of pink energy rises through it. She immediately flings it like a boomerang towards the gang of freakish creatures, and it explodes, disintegrating each one of them in a swift streak of fire and energy.

�Takes care of that.� Chris remarks.

As the dust settles from Traci�s attack, Eric immediately begins darting off out of the dock and towards the city.

�Where�s he going?� Nick asks.

**********

Inside the Darrarian Warship, General Morlon exits the throne room with his head down, both ashamed and infuriated. As he walks down a dingy corridor, he stops as Sororix stands along the wall seemingly waiting for him. She begins clapping slowly, mocking him.

�That was a wonderful show.� She says.

Morlon growls, �Save it.�

�Oh, I don�t have to say anything, really. Emperor Darrar�s unhappy with your inability to finish off the Rangers, so he�s sending me to do the job you couldn�t. And after I�m done tearing each one of those pests limb by limb, I�ll be the new second in commmand.�

�You underestimate their power. The Rangers are growing stronger with each battle.��

�No. You�re simply growing too old and weak to even give a wannabe task force in spandex a good challenge.�

�I don�t have time for this.� Morlon begins walking away.

�Fine then. Take that attitude. But after Scaresum and I are done with the Rangers, you�ll be answering to me.�

Morlon walks out of the corridor, as Sororix can only grin.

**********

On the campus of Central University, Eric races inside the theatre and towards the auditorium, nearly knocking over a sign reading �Romeo and Juliet Auditions�. As he approaches the door to the auditorium, he attempts to pull the door open, but it�s locked.

�Great.� He mutters.

�You�re a little late, Mr. Mercer.� A voice remarks from behind him. Eric turns. It�s one of his theatre professors.

�Professor Mason.�

�The auditions ended a half an hour ago. I�m sorry.�

�Sir, it�s just...�

�It�s just what? Look, I know you have a passion for theatre. All the community plays and work you did in high school; you had an impressive resum�. But you haven�t showed the dedication it�s gonna take at this next level. Maybe you should rethink your priorities if you truly believe this is your thing.� Professor Mason walks off.

Eric is left standing alone. He sighs heavily and walks out of the theatre.

**********

Inside the dining hall, Chris and Brittany are sitting at a table by one of the two big screen televisions enjoying their lunches.�

�So, would you like to explain this whole �us being on the cover of the Daily U� thing?� Brittany asks.

Chris shakes his head as he takes a sip of Coke and tries to keep his voice low, �I don�t know how she got that picture. I didn�t take it.�

�Well...duh.�

�Now that�s all Lela wants to cover. I try to give her a story, and she�s like, �If it�s not about the Rainbow Avengers, I don�t want it.���

�The Rainbow Avengers? Wow. We need to fire our publicist.�

�But that�s not the worst part. She told me that if I don�t start turning in stories about...us, then she�ll officially �stop caring about my input�. Whatever that actually means.��

�So, you�ve basically got to start reporting on yourself. You�re gonna turn all Peter Parker on us, aren�t you?�

Chris places his empty plate and cup onto his tray and gets up to leave, �Yup. Except my J. Jonah Jameson wears capri pants and lip gloss.�

**********

Sitting in his dorm room alone, Eric flips through the pages of his high school yearbook. He stops at a page with the heading �Angel Grove Theatre Troupe�, and looks at a pair of pictures of himself on stage. Suddenly, his cell phone begins to ring, breaking his moment of nostalgia. He picks up the phone, recognizing the number, �Stefanie?�

�Come outside.� The voice on the other end responds.

Eric leaves his dorm room and stands outside the courtyard of his residence hall. He turns around and standing in front of him is a pretty brunette in a black turtleneck shirt.

�Eric Mercer.� She says.

Eric smiles and walks over to her. The two hug tightly.

�Wow. I can�t believe...� Eric remarks, �I mean, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to NYU.�

�I am, but I thought I�d take a couple of days off. Come see a friendly face. So let�s go. Come on. Show me the town.�

Eric laughs, �I wish I could, but I�m kinda swamped.�

�Good. You can tell me all about your swampedness in the car.�

She begins walking towards the parking lot. Eric sighs a reluctant sigh, and follows her.

**********

�So, how many plays have you starred in already this semester?� Stefanie inquires, sitting in the passenger seat of Eric�s 1995 Saturn.

Eric is hesitant to respond, �Well...um...none.�

�Hmm. Well, how many have you at least been in?�

�Um...none, actually.�

�Whoa. What? What are you talking about?�

Eric sighs, �Things have just been...there�s been a lot going on in my life that I�ve kind of lost control of.�

�Look, when I think of Eric Mercer, I think theatre. I think of a guy owning the stage, being �the man�. What could possibly be in your life that�s overtaken that?�

�I couldn�t explain it to you even if I tried.�

�What? I mean, if you can�t even explain it why is it still in your life?�

Eric puts his hand on his forehead, frustrated, �I just...� But before he can finish his sentence, a blast rocks in front of the car, causing the vehicle to spin to an abrupt stop.

�What the hell was that?� Stefanie looks up as she tries to gather herself from the impact.

�Not now...� Eric looks straight ahead through the windshield and gazes upon the sight of Sororix, a gang of Jestars, and a monster seemingly made out of straw.�

�What are we gonna do?�

�Just...get out of the car, and start running!�

�What about you?!�

�Just go!!�

Stefanie immediately opens the passenger side door and rushes away from the scene and towards a crowd of people also fleeing in terror. Eric gets out of the car and moves towards the Darrarian villains, standing in front of them alone.

Sororix laughs, amused, �And what exactly are you gonna do, kid?�

�I�m sick of this!� Eric exclaims. He moves his wrist into the ready position, displaying his morpher in front of Sororix. He calls, �Hyper Speed, Accelerate!�

Eric morphs, �Black Hyper Speed Ranger!�

Sororix�s eyes widen, �A Ranger?!� She turns to the Jestars, �Get him!�

Eric leaps into the air and with his Speed Sword in hand, slashes down on a Jestar, then spins and slashes another across the chest. He turns, takes his blaster out of its holster and shoots a pair of Jestars straight down to the grass.

The Black Ranger turns to look back in the other direction to fire his weapon, but before he can attack, Sororix slides her hands across her whip as a beam of energy streams through her weapon. She then strikes Eric across his chest, sparks flying from the Black Ranger�s suit. He falls to the ground, and the energy from the attack forces him out of his Ranger powers.

Sororix grins, �Go and tell your friends to surrender, and I�ll consider sparing your lives.�

Eric, breathing and sweating heavily, leaves the area.

**********

Inside the Hyper Garage, Dudley is monitoring the energy readings and is preparing to contact the other Rangers. As he does this, Eric suddenly beams inside the garage and approaches the control panels.

�Eric, are you alright?� Dudley asks. �I picked up your fight on the scanners, and I�m sending the others.�

Eric stares at his morpher, then looks up and stares into Dudley�s eyes. �I don�t care.� He takes the two metal bands off of his wrists and places them onto the control panel. �I�m done.�

He walks back into his teleporter and beams out of the Hyper Garage.

TO BE CONTINUED

Send review...