25Power Rangers Atomic Force
The New Guys
FISHER LABS, INC., 7:02 P.M.
Jack rolled over as he heard another sharp buzz.
"Five more minutes!" the Vortex Ranger moaned sleepily as he covered himself in his bedspread.
The automated door whooshed open and Seymour walked into the teen's room, guitar on his back, amp in his hand. Working quickly, the red ranger plugged in the amp and the guitar into the amp.
"I'll give you one more chance, Jack," Seymour said, guitar in his hands, "Get up, or I'll do a soundcheck in your room."
Jack groaned and waved the red ranger away. Shaking his head, Seymour flipped the switch and turned the volume dials on his amp and guitar to ten.
"Okay, you asked for it," Seymour said, strumming down, playing a loud C sharp minor chord.
The African American, surprised, leaped out of bed, messing up his sheets. "I'm up!"
Seymour smiled and chuckled to himself as he turned the dial on his guitar down to one.
"That is not cool!" Jack roared, face an odd mix of tired and livid.
"Well, if you'd have gotten up and been ready, I wouldn't have done that," Seymour said with a chuckle, flipping the switch on his amp.
With that, he unplugged his amp, hoisted it off the floor, and walked out. Jack rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked down. Turns out, he'd slept in his Fisher Lab uniform.
"Well, that's one less thing to worry about," Jack said as he headed to his bathroom.
A few minutes later, Jack stepped out of his room and stretched.
"Someone's well rested," Seymour said with a grin. Rebel, who was walking by, let out a snerk, then double-timed to the Pit before anyone could notice.
"I'd be even more well rested if someone hadn't woken me up with their guitar!" Jack grumbled angrily, rubbing his right eye.
Seymour smirked and shrugged. "I said it once, I'll say it again. The day starts at seven. And I'm pretty sure you don't want me to be your alarm clock."
Jack nodded groggily. "You got that right. Got any coffee?"
Seymour shook his head. "You know that coffee is a rare commodity here because of the early raids by Gel Troopers. We have tea, though, if you need something hot."
Jack wrinkled his nose. "Man, we're in the South. Tea ain't s'posed to be hot. Tea's s'posed to be ice cold."
"I'm sure Andrew will argue with you about that," Seymour replied with a scoff.
A smile slowly formed on Jack's face. "He ain't from around here, is he?"
"The only guy from the north in this entire establishment," Seymour confirmed, punctuating every other word with a waving finger.
Jack's smile became a grin and his eyes mischeivous. "What would happen if every time I passed him I whistled 'Yankee Doodle'?"
Seymour's smile turned into a concerned look. "Don't do it. Gwen did it once to be funny, and Andrew chased her all over the place. And the fact that she was yelling 'Can't catch me, yankee boy' wasn't much help either."
Jack busted out laughing and covered his mouth. "That is unreal."
Seymour smirked, glad he and the new guy were getting along. "Let's go. You're late for briefing."
The two walked towards the Pit. "What is this, the Army?" Jack asked skeptically
"Closest thing to it," Seymour countered.
There was a pause. "Touche."
GELATO'S SHIP 7:10 A.M.
Gelato paced the bridge. "All of my attempts are useless! Nothing can stop these pesky rangers, especially with that new Vortex Ranger."
Biomecha tapped her master on the shoulder and bowed. "Master, there is a Gel Fighter that has connected. Its commanding officers have requested to board and to come under your immediate command."
Gelato turned, smirking. "Excellent! Allow them to board."
Suddenly, the door opened with a whoosh and three Gel Shockers walked into the room. The one in the middle obviously was the commanding officer of the ship that docked. His two samurai armor-like horns and shoulders were gold and his shoulders while the rest of his body was navy blue. His skin was speckled with black spots and his arms and legs had bulky silver armor.
The one to his left looked like he could take a hit from a tank and keep going. His skin was a deep crimson and craggy. His body and head were like that of Marvel's Juggernaut except his legs were not as bulky. The one on his right looked more like a jester. His body was purple, his hands were feral claws, his feet clown-like, and his face was graced by a Chesire grin.
The three bowed. "Generex, Blulk, and Feralequin, at your service," the leader said.
Gelato motioned for them to rise and Feralequin jumped straight up while Generex and Blulk slowly raised.
"It's time dish out some pain to those Power Rangers!" the jester-like monster giggled in a high, grating voice, leaping around like a lunatic.
"Indeed," Blulk added in a deep voice.
"With your permission, our cadet will attack Five Hills and root out the Time Walker," Generex said, articulating his words like a soldier.
Gelato slammed his fist on his throne. "How can we root out the Time Walker if the Power Rangers are in the way?"
Feralequin skipped over to Biomecha. "We can take them while he looks." The jester placed his hands on Biomecha's shoulder. "Won't that be fun?"
Biomecha looked down at the floor and shrugged Feralequin's hands off.
Gelato stood. "Good, then it's decided. Feralequin and Biomecha, you will hold off the Rangers while the cadet looks for the Time Walker."
Biomecha nodded. "Understood."
Finally, the female Gel Shocker thought to herself, I can get out of this and stop having all those nightmares.
Feralequin let out a cackle, then looked over to the door. "Hey, come on in, rookie!"
Out of the corridor stumbled a Gel Shocker that looked like molten lead wearing what looked like a white pancho. His boot-like feet hit the floor of the ship with heavy thuds as he slowly walked over to Gelato and bowed.
"Lord, Gelato," the monster said in a heavy Spanish accent. "Let me take care of the Time Walker for you."
Gelato looked at the new monster. "And why should I do that?"
"Because I'm the best shot in the universe," the Gel Shocker replied.
"All talk, no action," Gelato said, waving his hand dismissively, "I see no proof."
The new monster clenched his fists. Who was he to challenge his shooting?
"Calm, Slugshot," Generex urged the new Gel Shocker, placing his hand on his shoulder.
The pancho-wearing monster relaxed and pulled his pistol, similar to the old six-shooters that were used in the old West. With a lightning-fast hammer and trigger pull, Slugshot shot a passing Gel Trooper in the chest without taking his eyes off of Gelato, producing a shower of sparks.
"Impressive, Slugshot," Gelato said with a smile, looking at his fallen soldier. "You've got the job."
Slugshot bowed again. "I will hit my mark."
"No, you will hit mine," Gelato replied coldly, "And if you fail, you will become it."
Slugshot bowed hastily and said, "Yes, my lord."
With that, Slugshot and Biomecha walked out with Feralequin skipping behind them.
The jester giggled evilly and said, "Those rangers won't know what hit them."
FISHER LABS, INC. 7:12 A.M.
Jack adjusted his dull gray armor, propping his SmartRifle against his leg. It was a new invention of the doc's: a rifle with heat-seeking bullets. It looked similar to a regular rifle, but jet black silicon instead of wood or camoflaged plastic.
"You ready, Jack?" Seymour asked the African American, shouldering his Energy Crossbow.
Jack exhaled heavily and looked at the red ranger, a confident smirk on his face. "Yeah."
Suddenly, the alarms began going off.
"Why does this happen every time when someone's about to enter the Pit for the first time?" Seymour asked rhetorically, shaking his hand.
The two rangers placed their weapons and armor on a nearby bench and ran to Dr. Fisher's room. Andrew and Gwen had already beaten them there and were waiting impatiently.
"Sorry," Seymour said to his teammates, Jack coming in after him and nodding to the two, who nodded back.
"Biomecha and a new Gel Shocker has popped up," Dr. Fisher annouced, showing the four file footage of Biomecha and Feralequin attacking a few cars.
"I read in the archives that that Gel Shocker with Biomecha is called Feralequin," Andrew informed the others.
Jack nodded, impressed. "So you can remember stuff real easy?"
Andrew nodded and tapped the side of his head. "Photographic memory."
"Anyway," Andrew continued, "He's known as 'The Jester of Chaos' and 'The Master of Mischeif'. He uses something called 'Riddles of Sorrow' to take down his opponents."
As Andrew continued his report on Feralequin, Tyndall peeped in the door.
"So, if Feralequin is really around now, I think my big unveiling may be closer than I thought," Tyndall whispered to himself. "And I may have to tell Father about me undertaking his Abandoned Project. Ah, no matter."
Tyndall made a motion with his hand and a blue portal opened through which he stepped.
FIVE HILLS, NC, 7:17 A.M.
Biomecha watched as Feralequin slashed another car, causing it to explode.
"I hope they have insurance," the monster joked.
Biomecha rolled her eyes. "I would prefer the rangers' company than yours. Especially with your stupid jokes."
Feralequin giggled maniacally. "Aw, come on. You don't really mean that, do ya?"
Biomecha didn't reply. She didn't really have to, since the rangers showed up.
"Stop right there!" Seymour shouted as he pulled out his Proton Sword.
"Well, if it isn't the Power Failures!" Feralequin joked with a screeching laugh.
Andrew winced underneath his helmet as he pulled out his Neutron Blaster. "And I thought Gwen's jokes were bad."
Gwen looked at the blue ranger and replied in a hurt tone, "Hey!"
Jack shook his head at Andrew and activated Collapse Mode on his morpher. Gwen drew her daggers and watched the four's opponents.
"Time to spark this battle, eh, rangers?" Feralequin asked.
Suddenly, the area around the rangers sparked, drawing sparks from the rangers and causing them to fall over.
"What was that?" Jack said as he and the others struggled to get up.
"I think that was one of the 'Riddles of Sorrow'," Andrew replied, looking at Biomecha.
Haleigh, why are you here? Andrew asked rhetorically.
Biomecha winked at Andrew before drawing a knife from her belt. Andrew's eyes widened underneath his helmet and he flipped out his Atomic Morpher quickly. Feralequin noticed this and smirked.
"What's the matter, Blue boy? Thinking about giving that Morpher to me?" the jester asked with a wild chortle.
Andrew replaced it and replied, "No, merely a distraction."
Feralequin scratched his head, then his eyes widened with suspicion. The Gel Shocker turned around to be slashed across the chest by Biomecha, sparks showering from the blow. The traitor smirked.
"You!" Feralequin sneered, stumbling back from the blow.
Seymour's eyes widened underneath his helmet and Gwen gaped under hers while Jack clapped happily.
"I didn't know you had someone on the inside!" Jack exclaimed excitedly, looking at the other two.
"Neither did we," Seymour replied, shocked.
Gwen simply shook her head. Biomecha charged again, but this time Feralequin was ready. The clown-like Gel Shocker extended his claws and blocked the traitor's knives. Andrew now charged into the fray, Neutron Blaster ready.
"Andrew, what are you doing? It could be a trap!" Seymour yelled.
The blue ranger shot the jester in the stomach, ending his stalemate with Biomecha. Feralequin stumbled back and pointed at Biomecha.
"Mark my words, sweet cheeks, you're going to regret doing that," he raged.
And with that, he vanished. Silence came over the area. One by one, the rangers demorphed and Biomecha transformed into a human version of herself, clad in a tattered black dress which trailed in the slight breeze.
"Haleigh!" Andrew cried happily, running over and hugged her.
The human Biomecha returned it, but quickly broke away. "Not time for that now, Andy. There's another Gel Shocker here, who's looking for the Time Walker."
Andrew looked at his girlfriend and looked in shock. "Let's go."
JUST OUTSIDE FIVE HILLS, NC 7:17 A.M.
Slugshot looked at the devastated landscape, a clayey wasteland with gentle slopes. Suddenly, a blue portal appeared behind him. The Gel Shocker turned and drew his pistols. Out of the portal came a laughing Tyndall.
"Do you really think that your guns will stop me?" Tyndall asked cockily.
The pancho-wearing Gel Shocker fired three times. The Time Walker waved his hand and suddenly disappeared.
"What?" Slugshot cried incredulously, taking a step towards the place where Tyndall was standing.
Slugshot heard an amused scoff from behind him. "Pathetic," Tyndall's voice came.
The gunslinger turned quickly and fired another shot. This time, Tyndall stayed put and merely swiped the air, creating a little cloud of smoke. Slugshot looked at the Time Walker as he dropped the bullet, a black pellet.
"Yawn," Tyndall teased, mimicing the act.
Slugshot dropped his guns, shaking a little.
"Listen, I have things to do, people to talk to, my father to impress, yadda yadda yadda, so why don't we cut this short?" Tyndall said with a mischievous smile.
The Time Walker created a ball of time energy in his hands and threw it at Slugshot, making him explode. Tyndall then collapsed in a heap, the attack having taken almost all of his energy. He barely noticed the five people running up to him. Barely recognized Andrew and Jack before everything turned black.
Trivia: Tyndall's powers are inspired by the Omega Ranger from SPD.
So, that's it for this chapter! What's going to happen to Tyndall? What are the origin of his powers? Will the others trust Biomecha now that she's betrayed Gelato? Will Jack learn to get up on time? Why am I asking so many questions? Why haven't you reviewed yet? Review! Anyway, later.