Devil's Night

Part Three

"And now, one final question, Miss Kwan. Why do you want to attend the Youth Summit?"

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before answering. "For years I've been trying to save the world. I've put a lot of effort into doing my part: helping clean up litter, planting young trees, organizing students to petition against toxic waste, and... other activities."

She smiled wryly as she considered just how much she had summarized in that catch-all addendum.

"I like to think that I've accomplished some good. But, I can't help but feel like... I'm heading in the wrong direction."

She took a breath as she explained. "The kind of service I participate in now is critical, but I've come to think that it's not me. I can handle the work, and I feel fulfillment, but I find I'd really like to focus my effort in a new direction."

Trini's dark eyes fell to her hands, which had suddenly begun wringing. It was nearly impossible to explain what had been swimming in her mind of late. In fact, it was impossible to relate her feelings and frustrations to someone who didn't know her secret.

She had served as the Yellow Ranger for over a year. When Zordon first approached her group of friends with the opportunity to save the world, her initial reaction was disbelief. Yet, if nothing else, her service as a Power Ranger proved how much might one person could wield. She embraced her role as one of Earth's champions, defending her planet from evil aliens time and time again.

Yet, she had come to realize that she didn't want to defend. At least, not with a gargantuan Griffin Zord, a pair of Power Daggers, or whatever other arsenal Zordon would develop.

She wanted to fight, but not with her body. She wanted to fight with words, convincing mankind to preserve the beautiful planet it has inherited. She wanted to fight with her mind, developing programs to spread education, medicine, and all the fundamentals of life to those who couldn't access them on their own.

Yes, she was capable of serving as the Yellow Ranger. She had the strength, determination, and intelligence to augment the team. However, she knew she couldn't be satisfied with that career. Her heart tugged her in a different direction... where her own unique talents and vision could be better utilized.

"This summit as the opportunity of a lifetime. Before your presentation, I didn't even know such an initiative existed. And hearing about this effort has planted a seed. I firmly believe that the summit can really make a difference. In time, as the participants spread what they've learned and grow into the leaders of the next generation, a new world can be built."

Her next words resonated with a deep meaning that eluded her interviewer. "I don't want to fight evil. I want to fight ignorance. I'd like to reach people's hearts... that's the only way we can win peace."

She glanced up, watching as Dr. Kuiperi casually wrote notes on his pad. She swallowed, suddenly nervous as she considered the answer she had given.

Then, he glanced up at her. "Miss Kwan, I must commend you. You speak with a sincerity that is rarely heard."

She grinned at the compliment. "Thank you, Sir."

He rose from his seat, shaking her hand. "It has been a pleasure to meet you. If you have any other questions about the program, don't hesitate to ask."

She shook his hand enthusiastically, and then collected her belongings. With a final wave, she left Dr. Kuiperi's temporary office, and made her way to her locker, a visible bounce in her step.

Before she rounded the corner, her communicator sounded.

All excitement immediately died. Trini cast careful eyes down the hall, then dodged into an empty classroom before answering the urgent call.

"Trini here."

^TRINI, REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY.^

I wonder what life would be like without the 'emergencies'... "I'm on my way."

Trini hurried to the corner, staying clear from either the door or windows, before pressing the requisite code. A vibrant yellow carrier wave transferred her to the Command Center.

The Yellow Ranger materialized to an alarming sight. "Aisha??"

She stared, utterly dumbfounded, as Alpha scampered around the unconscious visitor. He typed a few commands, causing a soft blue beam of energy to flow from a lamp hanging over the cot. The light bathed the bloodied cloth that covered her arm.

"What's going on?" Trini demanded, approaching the injured young woman. "Why is she dressed like... me?"

"It's her Halloween costume," Alexis offered, "If I were you, I'd be pretty flattered." Trini turned, her eyes narrowing at the soft white gauze wrapping the Purple Ranger's wrist.

Alexis noticed her attention, and waved her good hand. "I'm fine, Trini. Zedd's new monster thought it was a riot to cut my wrist, but Alpha patched me up with the dermal regenerator. The skin's a little sensitive, but otherwise I'm A-okay."

"Aye yi yi..." the small robot moaned, typing a new sequence to adjust the blue energy beam, "Unfortunately Aisha's injuries aren't so easily repaired. I had to physically reset the bone before knitting it, and now I can mend the surrounding muscle and skin."

Alexis grimaced at the image. "Trust me, it wasn't a pretty sight."

Trini's fists clenched as she turned to Zordon. "What's the situation?"

"LORD ZEDD HAS SENT SIX CREATURES CALLED 'MISFITS' TO ANGEL GROVE," the sage summarized. "OBSERVE THE VIEWING GLOBE."

Both Trini and Alexis hurried to the crystal orb, which displayed the Blue and Black Rangers facing two sleek, manlike creatures decorated with colored streaks.

"THESE MISFITS ARE BASED ON A PUTTY DESIGN, BUT ARE MUCH MORE LETHAL. IT APPEARS THESE CREATURES ARE ABLE TO THINK, AND ARE INDIVIDUALLY A MATCH FOR A MORPHED RANGER. KIMBERLY HAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THESE CREATURES ARE SOMEHOW A RESULT OF LORD ZEDD'S ATTACK ON ANGEL GROVE TEENAGERS LAST NIGHT, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED THE LINK."

The scene then switched to the Red Ranger, who leapt over two Misfits that had targeted him.

"THEIR CUNNING AND ADAPTABILITY ARE DISTURBING," Zordon continued, "AND THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED ANOTHER DANGEROUS ABILITY."

The Pink and White Rangers appeared, staring up at an exceptionally large, broad Misfit.

"Did you just zoom in or something?" Alexis murmured.

"TWO MISFITS ARE ABLE TO MERGE INTO ONE SUPER MISFIT. ITS STRENGTH IS MAGNIFIED WITH THE TRANSFORMATION, SO THIS NEW MONSTER IS STRONGER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS."

"What's the plan, Zordon?" Trini inquired.

"TRINI, YOU MUST RELIEVE BILLY SO HE CAN CONTINUE HIS ANALYSIS ON THESE CREATURES. ALEXIS, IF YOU ARE ABLE, MORPH INTO BATTLE AND ASSIST JASON."

The Purple Ranger grabbed her Morpher. "I'm more than able, Zordon."

The two women faced each other, cool brown eyes meeting fierce green ones. "It's Morphin' Time!" they stated in unison.

* * *

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

The urgent voice lanced through the daze of Rocky's senses. With a soft groan, he opened his heavy eyes, his hand absently rubbing the burning pain in his stomach.

When his vision cleared, his jaw hung open. "Purple Ranger?"

He heard an exhalation that almost sounded like a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but...." His eyes widened. "Where's Alexis? Those freaks had attacked her, and...!"

The Purple Ranger raised her hand. "Don't worry, your friend is fine. She was injured, so we sent her away for medical attention."

Rocky grasped her arm, and she carefully helped him to his feet. "Did you send her to a hospital? Which one? I should check on her..."

He felt the Purple Ranger's eyes on him. "She's fine, Sir," she repeated. "Right now I'm more concerned for you. Can you walk?"

A quizzical frown formed at her evasiveness. "Yeah, but-"

"Then you'd better make tracks." She turned, looking over her shoulder. Rocky followed her gaze, watching as a bright form in red struggled against two shadows. "It's not safe here. The Youth Center has a monster shelter, and it's not far from here."

With that, she stepped away from him. Rocky watched, awed, as shimmering gold wings on her boots began to flap, carrying her into the air.

He then turned in the direction from which he had come. As he moved, a glint of metal caught his eye.

Curious, he stooped down to pick up a small, broken machine in the grass.

"Isn't this Alexis' watch?" he wondered. Dried blood covered much of the band, dulling its luster. "Kinda strange style."

He slipped it into his pocket.

* * *

The Purple Ranger called no warning as she rushed through the air, yet the Red Ranger caught the glimmer of energy in the evening sky. A fierce grin lit his face as he somersaulted backward, creating about a yard of additional distance between himself and his two opponents.

A heartbeat later, the biting edge of the Eagle Whip snatched one Misfit by the torso, dragging him into the air as the Purple Ranger arced upward.

The remaining Misfit stared as the Purple Ranger began to spin, pulling his helpless companion into a nauseating cyclone that built momentum.

The grounded Misfit turned just in time to receive the sharp heel of the Red Ranger's foot in his face.

Jason refused to allow a moment's letup. The snap kick was immediately followed by a devastating roundhouse, throwing the stunned creature into a nearby tree.

At the same time, the Purple Ranger released her whip, watching in grim satisfaction as the Misfit crashed headfirst into the quiet street, digging a deep furrow into the asphalt.

She folded her arms, casually descending to her teammate's side. "That should even out the odds," she commented smugly.

Jason straightened from his battle stance. "We have to finish these two off and then regroup with the other Rangers," he decided. "Can you generate an Eagleheart Pulse?"

Her arms lowered, hands pulsing brightly. "You got it, Jase."

As the Purple Ranger began concentrating her power, the second Misfit slowly extricated itself from the dirt and crumbled asphalt. The first Misfit also rose, its hands calmly reshaping the dents pressed into its face.

The two creatures drew closer together, watching as a flare of purple lit between Alexis' spread palms.

She smirked. "Yeah, line up in a row for me. Make it easier to pummel you both with one blast!"

Jason was far from amused. "They're regrouping..."

The Misfits stood side by side, the defined lines of their shapes blurring. "We bring a whole new meaning to the term 'regroup'," they sneered, their voices echoing in eerie unison.

And then, they began to merge.

"Alexis!" Jason shouted, urgency in his voice, "Fire!"

"Eagleheart... Pulse!" she called, thrusting her arms outward. The sparking globe of purple-gold energy split the atoms of the air, crashing into the liquefied creature dead on.

When the smoke cleared, the enhanced Misfit stood whole and unharmed.

"That almost singed me," it chuckled, flexing its bloated muscles. "Let me see if I can do better..."

The creature's laugh continued to roll as it stretched its arms forward. Thick waves of black energy poured from its palms, digging trenches in the ground as it streaked toward the Power Rangers.

* * *

Kimberly continued her routine of well-timed handsprings, weaving her body around and between deadly bolts of black energy. Dust and splinters from charred vegetation clouded the air, giving her ample cover under which to maneuver.

With a grunt of exertion, she pushed herself higher into the air, earning her a few moments to summon the Power Bow from its inter-dimensional pocket. She lined up her shot in mid-descent, and fired just before her feet touched the ground.

The arrow flew inexorably to its target... only to glance off the Misfit's chest as if it were a mere paper airplane.

The Pink Ranger ground her teeth. "Any ideas?" she called to her teammate.

"I'm not having any luck either," White admitted, rushing to her side. "Saba's lasers aren't having any effect."

Tommy's eyes narrowed as he watched the nine-foot beast cackle in malicious glee. "It's still playing with us."

"Bullying us," Kim interjected, "It wants to get under our skin!"

"Which means it's not hitting us at full force," Tommy pointed out. "At least, not yet. We've gotta take advantage of its overconfidence while we still can."

He then flipped Saba, holding the blade up. "Let's try a close-quarters fight."

Kim nodded, her Power Bow vanishing at her silent command. She drew her Blade Blaster, oriented as a dagger.

As one, the Pink and White Rangers rushed at the enemy, each veering to attack one side. The Misfit's wide forearms proved strong enough to collide with Saba, bouncing back the mystical saber and knocking the White Ranger off balance with its parry.

The Pink Ranger leapt for its head, her dagger at the ready, only to be swatted like a fly before she could even make contact.

The Misfit turned its glowing eyes upon the leader of the Power Rangers. "This isn't fun anymore," it grumbled, clenching its beefy fists. An obscure aura built around its hands, sparking with intensity.

The White Ranger managed to evade the first few heavy-handed blows, yet he was not nimble enough to dodge indefinitely. One punch struck the Ranger's right shoulder, sending a shooting pain down the length of his arm and loosening his grip on Saba. Shaken, he fell prey to a second pulverizing strike to his stomach, throwing the limp Ranger into the air so forcefully he crashed through the outer wall of the Youth Center.

Kimberly's mouth hung open in paralyzed shock as she watched the dust climb from the hole in the sturdy building. Her heart pounding in her ears, she leapt to her feet and rushed toward him, jumping over his enchanted saber in her haste.

"Tommy," she murmured, anxiously digging through debris to reach the stunned hero. She hazarded a quick glance around the darkened Youth Center, silently grateful that there were no bystanders.

She finally managed to unearth the White Ranger, who was faintly groaning in pain. She sighed her relief that he was visibly unharmed. "Hang in there," she urged, squeezing his hand, "I'll buy us some time."

The Pink Ranger emerged from the battered building, and stood in the hole her boyfriend had punched through the wall. She carefully stepped onto the grass, watching as the towering menace lumbered closer.

"Now what will you do, little girl?" it leered, its face twisted into a contemptuous smile. "Run and hide until the others show up to save you?"

Kimberly scowled, holding out her arm. "Power Bow!"

The white and pink archer's bow materialized in her firm grip. "Time to wipe that disgusting smirk off your face!"

She fired half a dozen arrows in rapid succession, hoping to catch the beast off guard. Unfortunately, even the arrows it failed to intercept bounced harmlessly off its sleek surface.

Kim felt the panic rise in her stomach, and bit it back. Oookay, no reason to freak out. This isn't the first time I faced the bad guy alone...

She yelped, flipping out of the way of a sudden blast of black energy.

"Maybe you should try another weapon," the monster cackled, "Your arrows just don't cut it, Sweet Cheeks."

Inspired, Kimberly raced back toward the Youth Center, hunting down a gleam of polished metal.

"Saba!" she breathed, lifting the sword from the grass, "Saba, I need your help!"

The tiger's head smiled. "At your service, Pink Ranger."

Kim permitted a rueful smile. Saba seemed to revel in giving Tommy a hard time, yet for her he was surprisingly cooperative.

"This monster's skin is too thick for my arrows, so I need something with a bit more bite."

"I understand," the saber replied, "Fire away! I'll do the rest."

Kimberly nodded once, lining up her shot with utmost care. As she drew back the tight chord, the tip of the curved blade flashed with brilliant white energy that collected along the entire edge.

"Hey, Ugly!" she called, pulling back her elbow, "Catch this!"

The mutated Misfit snorted derisively, watching the gleaming white streak ignite the air around it with energy as it shot toward it. It held out its hand, preparing to knock the projectile off target.

Only, to its horror, Saba tore right through its palm, and sliced cleanly through the creature's chest.

Kimberly watched, her face lighting up with excitement, as white energy sparked along the entire form of the Misfit. Then, with a heavy groan, it fell backward, erupting in sparks of energy and tossing wads of enchanted clay everywhere.

Moments later, Saba floated toward her under his own power. "Well done, Pink Ranger!"

"Thanks to you!" she replied, taking the living weapon by the hilt. "Let's go check on Tommy."

As she eagerly raced toward the dazed White Ranger, the smears of clay covering the grounds around the Youth Center began to glow.

* * *

The Yellow Ranger let her body go limp as she crashed through the wall of the hapless Angel Grovite's home. Dizzily, she rose from the pile of debris she created, glancing around the darkened living room with a wince.

In the distance she heard a sharp cry in what sounded like Zack's voice. Her jaw setting, Trini desperately dug through the chunks of wall to retrieve her missing Power Dagger.

Once the weapon was uncovered, she leapt through the new aperture, and dashed to the hulking beast that held the Black Ranger in a painful looking headlock.

When she had first arrived, relieving Billy so the young genius could return to his analysis, she and Zack had faced two Misfits with great success. In fact, each Ranger had challenged a single Misfit, and both had performed extremely well against the frustrated constructs of evil. That is, until the two creatures merged.

Now, the Super Misfit, for lack of a better term, possessed a level of strength and durability that two Power Rangers simply couldn't match. Neither the bite of the Power Daggers, nor the battering-ram energy beam of the Cosmic Cannon could do any notable damage to the monster. In fact, at most the Rangers' combined attacks threw the beast off balance for a few precious seconds.

Trini pummeled into the small of the Misfit's back, forcing its grip to loosen. A desperate series of fevered kicks from the Black Ranger made the creature let go completely.

Zack fell on his back, sputtering for breath.

"You two are in way over your head," the creature commented, chuckling coldly.

Trini ignored the taunt, gathering the Black Ranger in her arms and carrying him out of the Misfit's reach.

"We're... in trouble," Zack gasped.

"Tell me about it," Trini sighed, setting her teammate on his feet. "We need nothing less than the whole team to take down this thing."

She drew her daggers once again, crouching. "Zack, you contact Zordon and get his guidance. Maybe one of the other Rangers can be spared to help us. I'll hold this creature off."

Zack nodded, moving to activate his communicator. However, before he pressed a single button, the creature drew his attention... by running away at such a speed, he quickly vanished into the evening shadows.

"Hey!" Zack grumbled, "What gives?"

Trini stood beside her teammate. "I... I have no idea! That thing had us."

The Black Ranger lifted his wrist communicator. "Zordon? This is Zack!"

* * *

"I've got it," Billy sighed, his relief evident in his voice.

"Thank goodness!" Alpha cried, hurrying to the Blue Ranger's side. The small robot watched as Billy typed information into a computer, creating what appeared to be a black grid on the screen. "What exactly did you get?"

"Kim was right; these Misfits are indeed a result of whatever trick Lord Zedd pulled yesterday." He lifted a small handheld machine. "I ran a few scans on Skull, and after monitoring his brain functions, I've isolated the irregularity."

He pressed a few keys, sending an image to the Viewing Globe. It was a scan of a human brain, with different areas pulsing in colored light.

"See the green light?" he asked, gesturing to the area directly behind the forehead, "This is the frontal lobe, and is the focus of the irregular brain patterns. The frontal lobe is the location of a person's consciousness: how one knows what he is doing, how he reacts to the environment, some basic habitual actions, emotions, and judgement. Note that this discludes any true memory or memory acquisition, which is primarily housed in the temporal lobe."

"IT APPEARS THAT THE MISFITS' HIGHER MENTAL CAPACITY HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM THE VICTIMS' FRONTAL LOBE ACTIVITY," Zordon surmised. "IF THIS IS THE CASE, THE VICTIMS WILL NOT RECOVER SO LONG AS THE MISFITS FEED OFF THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS."

"Then we must determine how to separate the victims' consciousness from the Misfits." Billy began pacing, his brilliant mind skimming his knowledge of both the human brain and evil magic. "If we destroy the Misfits, what is the probability that we would do permanent cerebral damage to the victims?"

"I CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN," Zordon admitted. "HOWEVER, I WOULD SURMISE THAT, SINCE THE MISFITS ARE STEADILY FEEDING OFF THE VICTIMS, THERE IS A MAGICAL LINK CONNECTING THE MISFITS AND THE VICTIMS. THEREFORE, THE LINK SHOULD SIMPLY DISSOLVE ONCE THE MONSTERS ARE DESTROYED, AND THE VICTIMS SHOULD RECOVER."

"A magical link," Billy repeated, his voice soft with thought.

At that moment, the communicator relay beeped. ^Zordon? This is Zack!^

The Blue Ranger hurried to the console. "Zack, this is Billy."

^Yo, the pumped-up Misfit Trini and I were tackling just high-tailed it!^

Billy frowned, turning to the Viewing Globe. "Yes, I see. According to its trajectory, it's heading... for the Youth Center?"

He typed in a few more commands. "The Super Misfit Alexis and Jason were battling are heading in that same direction!"

"THE MISFITS ARE CONGREGATING," Zordon observed, remotely activating the all-call. "POWER RANGERS, ALPHA 5 WILL TELEPORT YOU ALL TO THE YOUTH CENTER IMMEDIATELY. IT APPEARS THE MISFITS ARE REGROUPING AT THAT LOCATION."

* * *

Tommy managed to regain his footing just in time to witness the Super Misfit explode into a theatrical display of sparks, smoke, and clay. The various small aches that assailed his body were immediately forgotten as his eyes lingered on Kimberly, standing a little straighter than usual as she slowly lowered the Power Bow.

"You did it, Kim!" he commended, moving toward her. She turned to him, and Tommy stared in surprise at the saber in her hand.

"Not by myself," she amended, offering the White Ranger his partner.

Tommy sheathed the magical blade. "Now that we're done here, we should-"

His words died when a vibrant energy caught his attention. Eyes narrow, he instinctively pushed Kim behind him, and more carefully surveyed the area.

There were sparks flying from everywhere... specifically, from all the piles of clay that coated the surrounding flora.

"This isn't over," he realized.

Then, both Rangers felt the mild vibration of their communicators activating. ^POWER RANGERS, ALPHA 5 WILL TELEPORT YOU ALL TO THE YOUTH CENTER IMMEDIATELY. IT APPEARS THE MISFITS ARE REGROUPING AT THAT LOCATION.^

"Regrouping?" Kim repeated, fawn eyes wide, "How many of these things are there?"

"We'll find out in a minute," Tommy responded.

A heartbeat later, six columns of vibrant light appeared in a row mere feet away.

"Are we in time?" Yellow demanded, turning on her heel.

"Affirmative," Blue answered, stepping away from the team. He watched as the sparking energy streaming from the wads of clay began to leap, connecting the parts of the fallen Misfit in a circuit of evil energy.

"We don't have much time," White noted, pulling Saba from his sheath, "The two Misfits Kim and I battled had merged so quickly we couldn't stop them. If any more Misfits manage to combine with this one, then we might not have the strength to beat them." He turned to Jason, and both young men nodded once.

"The Power Blaster," they echoed.

^POWER RANGERS,^ Zordon's voice boomed, ^BOTH REMAINING SUPER MISFITS ARE STEADILY APPROACHING. ONE IS FIFTY YARDS TO THE EAST, THE OTHER IS TWENTY ONE YARDS NORTH, AND CLOSING IN.^

The Red Ranger turned north, and peered into the dark, abandoned street. "Let's get ready!" he bellowed, holding out his hand, "Power Sword!"

"Power Daggers!"

"Power Lance!"

"Power Bow!"

"Power Ax!"

The core Rangers called upon their mystic arms, and assembled them immediately. Jason held the Power Blaster steady, his teammates at his sides, as they watched for any suspicious movement.

"Guys... there!" Trini shouted, pointing to the Youth Center. Just at its edge, a black form slipped out from behind the building, and hurried forward.

"We can't fire!" Kim realized, her heart sinking, "It's too fast... if we miss, we'll level the Youth Center!"

"And several buildings beyond it," Billy agreed.

"Wait for it..." Jason urged, his finger hovering at the trigger.

"Jason!" Tommy called, pointing Saba to the north, "There's the other one!"

The two remaining Super Misfits broke into a run, zigzagging over the pot-marked lawn as they approached their fallen brother. Jason set his jaw, watching the beings converge upon a point along the barrel of the Power Blaster.

"Now!" he bellowed, "Fire!"

The Rangers combined their power, creating a battering ram of laser energy that streaked directly to the merging Misfits. The grass and trees exploded from the force of the blast, creating a backlash that sent the Power Rangers stumbling backward.

"Are you guys okay?" Alexis demanded, hurrying with Tommy to rejoin the team.

Jason released a tense breath, his fist trembling with impotent fury. "It didn't work."

The Power Rangers watched, frozen in horror, as the shapeless, organic clay suddenly swelled. Like an oil geyser erupting, the arcane substance stretched heavenward, flowing into a man-like form that towered over the highest buildings in Angel Grove.

* * *

"This is an interesting development."

Finster allowed a smug smile at Lord Zedd's understatement. The emperor was never generous with praise, so such a comment was truly the limit of congratulations.

"The Misfits have united their power," Finster revealed, "and now, the Mega Misfit will crush the Power Rangers and their Zords."

The Emperor proudly held on to his skepticism. "The Power Rangers will also unite their power," he sneered, "and that wretched power always proves just enough to defeat any aggressor."

The alchemist struggled to bite his tongue against any sharp words that could forfeit his life. Not for the first time, he found himself longing for the days when Rita Repulsa ruled the lunar forces. At least she respected the art of Monster-Baking.

* * *

"Okay, Rangers," Tommy uttered, sliding Saba into the control console of the Tigerzord, "let's form the Mega Tigerzord. That combination has the most firepower, and leaves us with two aerial zords."

"Good idea," Jason conceded. Tommy watched as the Red Dragon pulled higher into the night sky, with the Eaglezord hovering at starboard.

"Initiate Mega Tigerzord sequence," he commanded. Saba's eyes flashed as the sentient saber complied, programming the transformation. The Lion, Griffin, Unicorn, and Firebird reconfigured their shapes and snapped into place, and the Black, Yellow, Blue, and Pink Rangers joined him in the Megazord cockpit.

"Let's rock his world!" Zack cheered.

"We have to be careful," Trini warned, "The Misfits were incredible fast and agile. If this version is even a fraction as nimble, we'll never land a punch."

"Good point," Tommy murmured, activating his communicator, "Jason, Alexis, do you read?"

^I'm here, Bro.^

^So am I, Tommy.^

"You guys have to knock the Misfit off balance. Set him up, then we'll take him down."

* * *

Jason quickly reviewed the information fed to the Red Dragon's computers. His face tight, he switched the all-call communication frequency to just the Eaglezord. "Alexis, we'll have to hit him together. Hopefully we can get him to stagger, and that'll open him up for the Megazord. So sweep in fast, hit hard, then get out of the way. Your Zord is more agile than mine, so you get first strike."

^Copy that.^

Jason tensed as the Eaglezord tore away from him, reaching speeds the hulking Red Dragon simply couldn't meet. The bird of prey made a daring swoop, edging so close to the towering menace it almost looked like she'd collide right into its broad chest. However, she angled perpendicular to the ground, skirting to the right while releasing a deadly volley of Wing Blades. The sharp metallic feathers bounced off the sleek surface without harm, but managed to get the Mega Misfit's attention.

"Not bad," Jason conceded, his left hand reaching for a lever, "My turn."

While the Red Dragon lacked the maneuverability of the far smaller Eaglezord, it did possess a brute strength and firepower befitting its larger size. The great flying Zord angled forward, spitting a stream of fire from its jaw that crashed into the Misfit's side. The monster stumbled at the force of the impact, and did not recover its bearings in time to dodge the Dragon's heavy tail.

The blow knocked the Super Misfit off its feet entirely, forcing him into the spacious school parking lot.

Jason winced. "Something tells me there'll be some new carpooling regulations for the rest of the year," he sighed, aiming the Red Dragon's flame-thrower. As the flowing stream of unearthly fire pummeled the shaken Misfit, he flipped his communicator. "Alexis, keep your distance," he advised, "Tommy, he's all yours!"

* * *

"Nice work, guys," Tommy congratulated, "Let's veer left, and keep clear of Jason's fire."

Blue and Yellow nodded in compliance, and programmed the path in which the Mega Tigerzord would tread. Once the large Zord was about fifty feet away, a grid covered the screen, targeting a shot.

"Kim, fire at will!"

Fierce triumph lit Pink's eye. "Firebird, locked on and ready!"

Energy engulfed the arm-mounted Firebird, sending it tearing through the air at speeds that broke the sound barrier. The energy storm it created crashed into the Mega Misfit dead on, tossing the beast into the hard pavement with enough force to utterly decimate much of the area.

However, to the Rangers' astonishment, the creature did not explode into a fiery burst of magic. Instead, it rose to its feet.

"Now what?" Zack demanded, snarling in frustration, "We served it the Firebird and he's coming back for seconds!"

"We won't beat this Misfit with brute force," Trini realized, turning to Billy, "Did you figure out the connection between the Misfits and last night's victims?"

"Actually, we did hit upon a development..."

"I knew it!" Kim interjected, "So can we do anything; like break the bond or something?"

Billy was startled by her choice of words. "Zordon and I had hypothesized that if we were to destroy the Misfits, the victims would likely regain consciousness."

Zack huffed. "Easier said than done!"

"However, we never had the opportunity to consider the reversed causal factor."

Trini's smile lit up. "So what would happen if the victims regained consciousness? Would that destroy the Misfits?"

"Perhaps," the genius murmured, his thoughts shaping a new plan of action, "If I had some time, I could investigate the possibility of 'breaking the bond,' as Kimberly put it. It might have a staggering effect on the Misfits, which would turn the tide of this confrontation."

"Then go back to the Command Center and keep working on it," Tommy decided, "Trini, you go with him. Hopefully the two of you can bail us out again."

Trini frowned. "Both of us?"

"Right. We're disconnecting the Megazord, and the Griffin and Unicorn will retreat for now." Tommy grimaced. "We don't have the firepower to destroy the Misfit, so our most powerful attacks will only flatten the neighborhood. We'll resort to smaller Zords and quicker strikes to keep the Misfit distracted and minimize damage."

"Sounds like a plan!" Kim agreed.

Tommy activated his communications relay. "Alexis, Jase, you two keep the Misfit busy. We're disengaging the Megazord, and Trini and Billy will work on a Trump card."

^We're on it,^ Jason replied.

^Good luck, you guys!^ Alexis called.

The five Rangers exited the cockpit, each one hurrying to his Zord as the Megazord separated.

* * *

Within moments the Yellow and Blue Rangers materialized in the Command Center.

"Alpha," Trini murmured, her eyes sweeping across the headquarters, "where's Aisha?"

"I healed her as best as I could, and then teleported her to one of the living quarters so she could rest without being in our way," the small robot explained, "Once she wakes up I can send her back to Angel Grove."

"RANGERS, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE," Zordon decreed, "DO YOU HAVE ANY THEORIES?"

Trini pulled off her helmet, and rested it against a console. "There must be some way to block their minds from the Misfit."

"What do you mean?" Alpha questioned.

Billy also removed his helmet, and began pacing as he thought aloud. "Earlier, we had determined that the victims' consciousness is being channeled into the Misfits. So, it follows that there is a channel through which that neural energy is traveling. There is a connection... perhaps a magical link... between the victims and the Misfits. If that link was severed, if Zedd's magic could be blocked out, then the victims should recover, and the Misfits would be cut from their neural sustenance."

Billy raced to the nearest computer interface. "Some kind of mental shield," he muttered, a plan taking shape.

Trini turned her gaze to her mentor. "Zordon, do you have access to any technology that protects the mind from magical influence?"

The sage considered the suggestion. "ALPHA, PLEASE RETRIEVE THE KEROVAN BATTLE HELMET FROM THE BASEMENT."

"Great idea!" Alpha chirped before hurrying toward the elevator.

Both Trini and Billy stared up at Zordon. "Kerovan?" Billy repeated, his tone curious.

"KO 35 IS A HUMAN COLONY LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWELVE LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH. THE KEROVANS HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE ALLIED PLANETS FOR CENTURIES, AND STRUGGLE AS WE DO AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL."

Billy's green eyes widened in awed astonishment. "There's a human colony? Remarkable!"

"THE KEROVANS ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO EARTH HUMANS BIOLOGICALLY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE A DEEPER MASTERY OVER THEIR MINDS, AND HAVE PRACTICED TELEPATHY AND TELEKINESIS FOR GENERATIONS. THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKINGS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN FAR SURPASS MY OWN, AND THEY HAVE DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY TO BOTH STIMULATE THE MIND, AS WELL AS PROTECT IT FROM OUTSIDE FORCES.

"HOWEVER, THE KEROVANS AS A WHOLE ARE NOT MAGICALLY INCLINED. THE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY SHUNS MAGIC AND INVESTS ITS RESOURCES IN TECHNOLOGICAL OR TELEPATHIC EVOLUTION. AS A RESULT, THE KEROVAN BATTLE HELMET WAS DESIGNED TO AUGMENT THEIR OWN TELEPATHIC AND TELEKINETIC ABILITY, AND SHIELD THEIR MINDS FROM TELEPATHIC MANIPULATION. IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BLOCK OUT MAGIC SPELLS."

"It's still a step in the right direction," Trini recognized, "but, we'll need the technical blueprint of the helmet if we're to make changes to the design."

"THE FULL BLUEPRINT AND DESIGN PHILOSOPHY ARE AVAILABLE IN THE DATABASE, UNDER KO 35 TECHNOLOGY. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE TECHNICAL SPECS FOR AN AMPLIFIER, WHICH IS USED TO CAST THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD OVER A RADIUS OF UP TO ONE HUNDRED FEET."

"Good," Billy murmured, picking up his helmet. "Trini, please conduct the initial research. I will join you momentarily."

"Where are you going?"

He hurried to the teleporter. "To the hospital. We'll need to test the helmet on someone already under Lord Zedd's enchantment."

* * *

Once upon a time, Angel Grove Memorial Hospital could have been compared to any other medical institution in a small American city. However, once the alien threat had manifested over a year ago, the sudden influx of patients with injuries associated with the monster attacks had forced the staff to grow accustomed to emergency situations. Victims of these attacks appeared on a semi-weekly basis, and while the injuries themselves were routine enough, the sheer volume of broken bones and lacerations taxed the facility to its limits. As a result, Angel Grove had the unique recognition of having one of the most capable hospital staffs in the United States.

However, even this experienced group of physicians had been unprepared for the sixty-two comatose teenagers delivered to their doors over the course of two hours. None of the victims had any outward signs of injury, and from the puzzling reports given by police officers and witnesses, it seemed as if a strange mist had rendered them all unconscious, while sparing dozens of onlookers. Such a tale would be ludicrous, and perhaps laughable, in any other city. Yet in Angel Grove, the account inspired a cold fear in the hardened personnel.

Up until that day, the victims of alien attacks had only received injuries resulting from being near a battle site. This time, the victims had clearly been targeted for an unknown purpose.

The staff handled the unexpected challenge with notable professionalism. Doctors and nurses had taken every possible physical measurement to determine the functionality of the patients, and receptionists and assistants calmly assured the panic-stricken family members that while the injury had not yet been identified, the victims had stabilized and were in no discernible danger of deteriorating.

When the Blue Ranger had appeared several hours ago to conduct his own analysis, a raucous had sprung up in the complex. The Power Rangers were rarely seen up close, and when they did appear before an audience, their visit was always brief. This time, the Blue Ranger spent an extended time at the hospital, discussing the information he was collecting with the head doctor on duty, and even demonstrating the use of his space-age scanning device to appease the doctor's curiosity. Unfortunately, he did not reveal any miracle cure for the fallen teenagers, to the disappointment of scores of desperate families and puzzled practitioners.

So when the Blue Ranger returned, materializing in the lobby in a brilliant wash of light, the heartbeats of everyone present quickened as they immediately assumed the worst.

The hero disregarded the awed and alarmed stares lingering on him, and approached the receptionist. "Excuse me, Sir, could you please page Doctor Andrea Johnson?"

He nodded, shaking his head to focus his attention on the task at hand. "Doctor Johnson, please report to the main desk," he spoke over the intercom. "You have a... visitor."

He then turned back to the Blue Ranger, staring openly at the stylized helmet. "Have a seat," he murmured, gesturing to the couches, "She'll be... right with you."

"Thanks, I'll remain standing."

It took less than a minute for the zealous middle-aged physician to rush down the hallway. "Blue Ranger!" she gasped, "I was hoping it was you!"

The Blue Ranger nodded in greeting. "I'd like to update you on our progress, as well as determine if there have been any changes."

"Great! Come with me."

Everyone in the halls moved aside as the familiar doctor and the awe-inspiring superhero made their way to the wing that housed the victims.

"They've all remained stable," Andrea supplied, "No increased neural activity. But at least they haven't deteriorated. They're all breathing fine, and the pulse is regular. Still no sign of what's wrong with them."

She watched as the Blue Ranger crossed the large room, glancing at each unconscious teen in turn. "Have you figured anything out yet?"

The hero chose his words carefully. "The Power Rangers have consulted an ally whose experience with magic spells and human physiology exceeds our own," he related. "He has provided us with a device that should be able to block out the alien influence that has rendered these youths comatose. As we speak my teammates are preparing this device for testing."

The doctor sat heavily on a hard plastic chair. "Testing," she repeated, "This 'device' you're talking about has never been used on a human before, has it?"

"It was designed for human beings," Blue replied, "However, it needs to be modified for this specific purpose."

Blue then turned back to the victims. "I will need to take one of these victims back to our base to make sure the device is functioning optimally. Once testing is complete, I will return to treat everyone else."

Andrea's anxiety was obvious. "Blue Ranger, I can't release one of my patients to you. And I won't let them serve as guinea pigs for some alien technology."

Blue took a long, slow breath. "Andrea, I promise no harm will come to them. The initial test to insure the safety of the mechanism will be performed on a volunteer. Only once I am satisfied that there is no danger in using the device will I then perform the second test, to see if the device accomplishes what we need it to."

He then approached the conflicted physician. "You will hear from me within an hour, hopefully with a solution, and absolutely with your patient unharmed. You have my word."

After a few more moments of silent consideration, Andrea Johnson nodded her consent.

* * *

Trini chewed her lip as she contemplated the wealth of information in Zordon's extensive data banks. Her almond eyes followed the movement of the three dimensional model, slowly turning as different systems within the amplifier were highlighted and described with text.

"Alpha," she called over her shoulder, "do we have a working amplifier anywhere?"

The small robot nodded, producing a device that was strangely reminiscent of a phonograph. "I found it when I got the helmet," he related, "It's pretty easy to set up."

"Yes, it seems to be," she agreed, walking to the far corner of the Command Center. In that separated area was the lab table on which she and Billy had performed their most ambitious work. From repairing Alpha 5 after the Green Ranger fed him a virus, all the way to developing the weapon that saved the Rangers from Zedd's monstrous Saliguana; she'd spent nearly as much time in this niche as she did in Billy's garage laboratory. For over a year she gained experience with technology light years beyond human industry, yet she was never intimidated. Billy had a talent for making it all seem so easy, leaving her confident that she could lend assistance, even when dealing with problems that would've rendered degreed astrophysicists hopelessly baffled.

She sat down at the workstation, pulling open a drawer to access the most frequently used hand tools. On the table before her, the cumbersome Kerovan helmet and amplifier sat whole and intact, yet in her mind's eye she could visualize the key operating systems as laid out in the diagram.

She had just finished removing the exterior paneling of the helmet when a wave of blue-white light brightened the Command Center.

"Alpha, set up the med-unit," the Blue Ranger advised. In his arms lay the prone form of the Rangers' chosen test subject.

"You brought Skull back?" Trini remarked.

"We've already performed the rudimentary analysis on him, and have established a status baseline from which we can easily detect any changes," Billy reminded her, setting the teen on the soft cot. Alpha scampered around, activating the appropriate scanners and uploading the applicable data collected previously.

The Blue Ranger then grabbed his Morpher, breaking contact with the Power. "Where are we?" he asked.

Trini gestured to the gadgets spread out before her. "We've got a functional helmet and amplifier to work with. We'll need to augment the helmet's internal systems to recognize and deflect magical energy, and I've started looking at the Command Center's own shielding."

Billy grinned. "That's a good place to begin; the Command Center's shield systems resist magical and technical scanning and infiltration."

The genius picked up a pair of safety goggles and fit them over his glasses. "Let's get to work."