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daylight_darknight) wrote2006-06-20 06:48 pm
Chapter 14 is here!
Once a Ranger
Chapter 14: Engine Trouble
By Daylight
The MegaWinger shook threatening to tear itself apart, its fiery engines leaving trails of plasma as it rocketed through space barely maintaining its top speed. The starfield outside had become fragmented lines, but the power rangers weren’t concerned with the view.
“Are they gone?"
Rocky threw up his hands. “How am I supposed to know? I couldn’t tell when they were here.”
“I’m not reading any disturbances on the hull,” remarked Adam checking over the schematics on his console. “But there still could be some following.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. If we keep this up, the whole ship will blow,” Tanya pointed out.
“All stop.”
Zhane let out a deep breath as the ship’s flight finally ended. “Well , that was fun.”
Andros glared at his friend, but was stopped from making any counter-comment by a panicked Tanya.
“I can’t get the starboard engine to cool down.” She was tapping desperately at the controls.
Jumping over from his console to hers, Andros quickly assessed the situation. “Damn. One of the coolant tanks is damaged.”
“Can we divert from the other one?” questioned Zhane.
“If we do that, we won’t have enough for the port engine. We’ve run the engines way too hot. We’ll have to eject it.”
Tanya’s eyes were wide. “Seriously? The whole starboard engine?”
“We don’t have a choice. If we don’t, it’ll blow in…” Andros glanced down at the screen. “Zhane!”
The silver ranger immediately joined the red ranger at the engineering section. The two more experienced crew members quickly went through the ejection sequence cursing whenever they were forced to bypass more broken circuitry. Their efforts were soon rewarded by a shudder that passed through the ship as the engine left.
Zhane let out another deep breath. “That was…”
Suddenly, all the rangers found themselves knocked off their feet as the shockwave from the exploding engine hit them.
“Uhh…” Rubbing his bruised shoulder, Tommy looked across the battered bridge at the various groaning rangers. “Is everyone alright?”
“I’m alright, but looks like Rocky took a hit to the head,” replied Adam as he observed his friend. “Not to worry though. He’s got a hard head. How do you think he got his name?”
“Ha. Ha. Very funny,” bit back the blue ranger hand to his forehead.
Tanya pushed herself up and went back to the engineering console. “The ship doesn’t look so good though. Our one remaining engine is barely functioning. Structural integrity is down by 78%. Some of the hull is so warped we couldn’t even transform into the MegaZord. Life support is down, but we wouldn’t have enough energy to run it anyway. We’ve used up all our emergency energy and have just enough energy left to maybe make it a few parsecs.”
“What have you done to my ship?” exclaimed Zhane as Andros helped him up.
The red ranger shrugged. “It’s been worse.”
“I suppose. At least this time, it isn’t being towed home by the Megaship.”
“We’ll need a tow soon, if we can’t fix things.” Tommy scowled. “How are we supposed to manage like this?”
Andros frowned. “We’re too far from KO-35.” An idea occurred to him. “But not too far from Aquitar.” He smirked. “I happen to know a good mechanic there. Maybe you’ve heard of him.”
ooooo
Beneath the giant ocean of Aquitar, the capital city spread like coral across the ocean floor between the flowing plant life and swimming wildlife. At the peak of the city, the power ranger’s base stood out as one of the tallest and most fortified buildings. Marked by the symbol of the Aquitar rangers, it was currently occupied by only two of its member.
When Cestro received a message at his console in the Command Centre indicating an uninvited ship had entered the system, he immediately conducted a scan. When he recognized the responder signal from the incoming ship, he raised an eyebrow. When he brought up the ship on his viewing screen, he quickly called to the other occupant of the room.
“Delphine.”
The white ranger sped to his side and in a break of composure that would have greatly pleased her friend the silver ranger, she rolled her eyes at the image. “What have Zhane and Andros gotten themselves into now?”
As the MegaWinger drew closer, the rangers could clearly see that the pride of the former KO-35 rebels had seen better days. Its hull was scorched and battered. Whole plates seemed to be missing as if torn away leaving bare circuitry exposed. The normal running lights were dim as it shakily settled into orbit around Aquitar.
“Hail them.”
The grinning face of the silver astro ranger soon filled the screen. “Hey Delphy darling.”
Too exasperated to speak, Delphine merely raised an eyebrow.
Zhane coughed covering his slight embarrassment at his predicament. “We seem to have encountered a few problems. I don’t suppose you’d mind lending us a few supplies and maybe Billy for awhile?”
“We’ll let him know you’re coming.” Her expression one of extreme patience, she asked, “I hope you haven’t brought any of your problems with you.”
“I’m pretty sure we left them behind at the black hole.”
The white ranger raised her eyebrow again.
“Don’t worry, Delphy. I promise we’ll explain everything. Zhane out.”
As the image disappeared from the view screen, Delphine let out a rare sigh. “Is it my imagination or do the Kerovian rangers have a tendency to attract trouble.”
Cestro tilted his head quizzically. “I always thought the Earth rangers had that problem.”
“And may the Power protect us from whatever trouble their combination brings.”
ooooo
A hangar emerged from the depth of Aquitar, water pouring off the roof as it opened its doors for the MegaWinger. The wounded ship landed with a slight skid and screech as it touched the metal floor.
Zhane gave Andros a sidelong look.
‘Hey, don’t look at me. Blame your ship not my piloting skill.’
‘What have I told you about insulting my ship?’
The doors closed behind them and the hanger sunk once more into the water travelling down to the true surface of the planet. It soon connected up with the ranger’s base. The five Aquitar rangers were there lined up to greet them as they emerged from the ship. Bowing their heads, they steepled their hands in a traditional gesture of welcome.
“Greetings rangers.”
“Delphine.” Tommy went up to her and shook her hand. She returned it with a smile. “It’s great to see you again. Thanks for all your help.”
“We are always willing to help a fellow ranger in need,” she replied. “I hope you all have been well.”
“We are glad to see that unlike your ship you appear to have survived your recent adventure intact,” added Tideus, the yellow ranger.
“We were lucky,” Adam conceded. “It could have been a lot worse.”
The white ranger nodded. “I am sure we have much to discuss.”
“Yes,” agreed Aurico. “It seems a lot has changed in the two years since we saw you last.”
“Not too much I hope.”
“Billy!” chorused four voices as the former blue ranger stepped out from behind the Aquitians. His hair was a bit longer and shaggier, his body a bit skinner and his eyes a little more worn, but the same shy smile shone from his face. With only a momentary hesitation, his old friends soon had him in the middle of a giant hug.
“I believe we will leave you to get reacquainted. The debriefing can be left for later.” With shared smiles, the alien rangers bowed before making their way out.
A sudden awkwardness pervaded the earth rangers as they stepped back from their friend.
“So…,” began Adam hands in his jean pockets. “What have you been up to?”
Billy shrugged. “I’ve been busy, helping the rangers, working on my own special projects.”
“Same old stuff,” commented Rocky with a grin.
“Well…” A sudden cry interrupted him.
“Uncle Andros!” Appearing from the doorway, a little girl streaked through the hanger and jumped into the red astro ranger’s arms.
“Oomph! Hey, Celeste,” he greeted as he tried to keep hold of the child as she squiggled around trying to get into a comfortable position.
“Hello,” she replied smiling sweetly. The girl appeared human. Long, dark curls tumbled down her back. Her green eyes and dark lips stood out sharply against her pale skin.
Zhane came up beside Andros. “What about me?”
“Uncle Zhane!” She managed to jump from Andros to Zhane wrapping her arms around his neck..
Grinning, he looked down at her. “Well, if it isn’t the little celery.”
“Not a celery.” Her chin jutted out in a pout.
“Oh no!” cried Zhane. “Silly girl, don’t you know pouting is lethal?” Shifting the giggling child to his hip, he let out an ‘oomph’. “You’re also not so little. Billy, what have you been feeding this kid of yours. She’s growing like a weed.”
As the Earth rangers stood with eyes wide and jaws to the floor, Billy walked over to Zhane and took the girl into his arms. “It’s the Aquitian in her. They grow so fast.”
“What?”
“She’s...?”
“That’s...?”
The former blue ranger turned to his friends with a proud smile. “Guys, I’d like you to meet Celeste, my daughter.”
Next:
Chapter 15: Billy’s Story
The rangers learn what Billy has been up to.
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