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Disclaimer: The basic concept belongs to whoever Disney assigned it to but the characters belong to us. Like our previous fic series Viva La Resistance this series requires a lot of work due to differences in Time Zone and Hemispheres.
August 1st, 4124.
"No bloody wonder we've had a bit of a break!" cursed Valdi. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Positive," said Articula. "T'Aldr is amassing his forces for a massive battle. He is not pleased with the recent events that have occurred. And to make matters worse, it will not be long before he has all the forces he needs. Current estimates place it at three weeks."
"Three weeks?" exclaimed Kylara and Thala.
"What does that mean for us?" asked Sita. "Will we be having to fight?"
"I'm not sure," replied Articula. "It all depends on him."
~*~
Xelia was eating lunch with her family later that day. President Silvino tried to make conversation with Xelia, but Xelia wasn't very responsive.
"What's wrong, Xelia?" he asked finally.
"There's going to be an all out battle," she said, sighing. "Three weeks, by current estimates. I'm just a little stressed."
"I see," he finally said. "Are you unconfident in your ability to win?"
"Against odds on which I've not been tested? Damn straight!" exclaimed Xelia. "I just can't!"
"Xelia, I believe in you," said Melalia. "You're a Power Ranger. The Power Rangers always win. Against all odds." Xelia would remember these words bitterly in the next few weeks.
"Thanks, sis." Her phone beeped. She sighed. "Ranger Astro Morph!"
Xelia found herself in the town square of Chinea, up against Jolik, Tylai and a long thin something. Around her were all her friends. "What do you want?"
"This is a little test for you, Rangers," laughed Jolik. "Vamprye, Tylai, attack!"
"I am so starting to get sick of this!" yelled Radha.
"I know, Ra!" called Landre. He swung his blaster, in a wide arc, eliminating several Tylai. But you know what?"
"What?" called Thala.
"Ancient Volcano, Lord of Meruda, Empower Us!" shouted Landre commandingly. Suddenly, each Ranger felt a subtle shift as they were forced into their Ninjetti spirit forms. Then in a blaze of light, a unicorn stood where the Rangers had, and it galloped into the Tylai, decimating them before turning to face Vampyre and spearing him.
At that minute, two minutes was up, and the Rangers reformed into their normal powered selves. Vampyre was weakened, but they didn't know how much he was.
"Where's Landre?" asked Charda as they began each firing off shots from their weapons. Vampyre took their distraction as a hint to disappear. They looked around. Indeed Landre was nowhere to be seen.
"Articula, where's Landre?" asked Radha.
"He just disappeared from the battle field," replied Articula. "No teleport recorded, he just disappeared. Do not worry, he will be alright; he has not been captured."
~*~
Later that night, Melody was kinda bouncy at dinner. Bereto looked at her. "Why are you so bouncy?"
"Daddy's coming to visit!" Adria groaned.
"Aughh! I forgot he was, I wanted to at least tidy the house!" Bereto smiled at his wife and offered a solution.
"Tell you what. Melody and I will go around and tidy up the place, and you start on some food to share. When we're done, we'll come and help."
"Melody's kind of help is to eat whatever I'll let her. You can help me, Bereto."
"Okay." Working quickly, they had everything ready when Articula ported to the door and knocked.
"Good evening, Articula. Any news on Landre?" asked Adria as she let him in.
"Nothing," was the somber reply.
"Well, what can that mean?"
"He could have been victim to a random eruption in space and time. He could have lost control of his powers, thus losing them. But we would know if he had lost control of them." Articula scooped up Melody as she came running up.
"Hey girl!"
~*~
"Hello, I'd like to speak with Radha Xenta, please," said Julia Basto.
"Radha speaking," said Radha.
"This is Julia Basto. You wouldn't have seen Landre, would you?"
"The last time I saw him - wait, this is our secure line! How did you... ?"
"I found it on his floor. Considering I know that he isn't one to leave things lying around, I was curious. And when he didn't show for dinner, I thought I might enquire as to his whereabouts."
"Um... Landre's kinda missing," said Radha uneasily. "He disappeared after we used a powerful mode to battle with."
"You mean to tell me, Radha Illari Xenta that my son is missing?" Julia snapped.
"Unfortunately, yes." The sadness in her voice was unmistakeable.
~*~
"Sorry, Dad. I'm just not that interested," said Isidore.
"Come on, Isidore!" said Sam. "How often do we do things together?"
"Try never," muttered Isidore. "Dad, I don't really think I want to be part of that. I hate football. I certainly don't think the game gets any better if naked women are playing the game. Besides, I just can't up and leave for some other planet! You go right ahead and fulfil your stupid fantasies! I'll stay here like all the other times!"
Sam's face darkened. "I don't think you have a right to be speaking to me that way, Isidore."
"I'm sorry, I am! But lately, it seems the only way I can get my bloody point across! I'm not like you! I don't want to be!"
"I'm not saying you have to be like me. All I'm saying is that we can spend some time together."
"Dad, ever since Mother left, all that you do that isn't in some way connected with sex is eating dinner with me, falling asleep before you can go out and find some woman, and getting drunk here at home! I don't want TO BE PART OF IT! And if you can't understand that, I might as well leave!"
"Then leave, Isidore." Isidore's eyes narrowed, and he left.
~*~
"Mother!" exclaimed Sita. "I swear, you're annoying!"
"All mothers are," replied Danielle. "It's our job. Now... I think the doorbell rang."
Sita went and opened it, only to find Isidore with a bag on the other side. "What the hell happened, Isidore?" she asked. "Get out of the rain, you stupid animal," she added, pulling him inside.
"Dad and I had an argument over his 'activities', and I suggested I might as well leave if he couldn't understand I wanted no part of them, and he said, 'then leave.' So I did," said Isidore, his teeth chattering.
"Oh, god," muttered Sita. "Can't that guy get his mind off sex? Up the stairs, turn left. Bathroom."
"No," responded Isidore. Sita tossed him a towel.
"Thanks," said Isidore. He followed the directions and soon came down, dried and dressed. "What have you been doing?"
"Trying to convince my mother to not repaint the house. I like it the way it is."
"I'm saying that perhaps we could choose a different color, Sita," said Danielle, sighing. "That's all."
~*~
"This is some good nosh," said Wildrik, at Thala's grandmother's that night. "What is it?"
"Vegetarian stew," replied Thala's grandmother. "Thala, honey, what's wrong?"
"Our friend Landre disappeared without any indication that he would or how he disappeared," replied Thala.
"When did he disappear?" asked her grandmother.
"This afternoon," answered Will. "We were busy, doing different aspects of the same thing, but we were keeping an eye on each other. Somehow he disappeared and he shouldn't have."
Suddenly the secure wristphones beeped. Thala looked at her grandmother uneasily, and tapped it to accept the call.
"Thala here."
"We've got trouble, Thala. Report to Articia. And bring Will."
"What kind of trouble?" asked Will.
"The kind of trouble that leaves Sita missing and Tylai storming the property."
"I think it meters a direct to property rescue," said Thala.
"True," allowed Alpha. "I'll get on the others."
"Um... Grandmother... long story short, I'm a Power Ranger, I have to go save Unaka."
"Of course, dear."
"Ranger Astro Morph!"
Arriving at Sita's home property, they joined the fight and were soon finished beating on the Tylai. "How did Sita disappear?" asked Thala as they powered down.
"I don't know," replied Isidore. "One minute she was there, the next minute she wasn't."
"Oh great!" snarled Valdi. "Who's gonna be next?"
"I don't know," came a voice, wearied and taut. "By the Grid, I hope I never repeat that again." Radha turned around and burst into tears of relief, running and hugging Landre.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I remember fighting Vampyre, and then nothing until now," said Landre. "Where's Sita?"
"Not one clue," said Valdi, now extremely puzzled and angry. "But I'm going to find out." He stalked off, activating his teleport. The others sighed, and slowly they too ported off to their various halted activities.
"Grandmother?" called Thala. She came into the dining room, to see her grandmother pour a shot of whiskey.
"You shouldn't be having that, Grandmother!"
"I was shocked, and I wanted to steady my nerves!" she said.
"I understand that, but how do I bring it up? My friend Radha had to morph to prove it to her parents. I couldn't do it any way without shocking you."
"Fair enough," was the answer, and she put everything away.
"You were having me on, Grandmother!" said Thala, pretending to be angry.
"Indeed," replied her grandmother.