CHAPTER TEN
Tommy took one final look across the bridge of the Astro Megaship Mark II, at the men he would soon be rushing into battle with. The men with whom he had nothing in common, except one incredible responsibility.
He nodded to Andros.
"D.E.C.A.," the Kerovan called out. "Initiate cloaking device."
Alpha 7, standing at the bridge's defense console, tapped a few buttons. Seconds later, all eight men felt the ground under their feet vibrate a bit. The android turned to Andros. "Cloaking shield activated."
"Good." Andros replied. "Now, begin the landing cycle."
Tommy felt his stomach turn a bit as the Megaship's thrusters kicked in. The vessel tipped, and the moon began to race up toward the viewport as they began to make their descent toward Earth.
Carter looked to Andros. "How far is the landing site from the actual moon base?"
"About two miles." Andros replied. "We'll have to take the Galaxy Gliders."
Jason frowned. "What's a Galaxy Glider?"
"Only the ride of your life." T.J. replied with a grin.
The eight Rangers watched the rocky, cratered surface of the moon engulf the viewport. There was a loud clanging sound as the Megaship's legs kicked in, and the thrusters began to slowly die.
"This is it boys." Jason announced, making his way toward the door. "Everybody ready?"
Carter nodded. "Lets do it."
"I'm ready." Wes replied.
"Lets recycle these cans." Eric remarked.
"Looks like it's back to action." T.J. commented, smiling.
Cole's mind raced for a witty comment. "Uhhhh…cowabunga my homies!"
All eyes turned to the Red Wild Force Ranger. Cole blushed. That was the last time he'd ever steal a line from Max…
The eight mean started for the ship's entrance ramp. "D.E.C.A.," Andros called out. "Activate oxygen field."
Wes looked back at the Kerovan. "Oxygen field?"
Andros looked at his teammate. "There's no oxygen in space Wes."
The Red Time Force Ranger rolled his eyes. "I know that."
T.J. patted Wes on the shoulder, smiling. "The oxygen field is basically a three mile wide energy bubble that provides humans with a suitable living environment, by inserting fresh oxygen into the atmosphere."
Cole frowned. "But doesn't that pollute the planet's natural environment?"
The other man opened his mouth to reply, but stopped, and seemed to think for a moment. He looked at Andros. "I guess we never really thought about that did we?"
Andros ignored T.J.'s comment, as they reached the door to the entrance ramp. At the foot of the door, six multicolored boards hovered at ankle level. Andros pressed the release button on the door, causing a loud hiss as the fresh air from the oxygen field invaded the ship.
The Kerovan placed his foot on the red board. "These are the Galaxy Gliders. They're powered by small jets on the underside."
He noticed some reluctant looks among the team. "I assure you, they're perfectly safe."
Cole raised his hand. "Ummm, I noticed that there are only six."
Andros nodded. "Yes, two of you will have to share gliders."
At those words, Tommy, Carter, Jason, Eric, and T.J. raced to hop on to a Galaxy Glider, leaving Wes and Cole the odd men out.
Eric laughed out loud at his partner. "Sorry rich boy. Gotta be quick on your feet."
"Oh really?" Wes replied, cocking his eyebrows. "Well Eric, I have to say, pink is definitely your color."
Eric looked down to see he was on the Pink Galaxy Glider. "Shut up Collins." He muttered.
As Wes attempted to climb on to the Glider with Eric, Tommy noticed Cole standing nervously alone, like a child left from a game of kickball. The veteran Ranger suddenly felt guilty, and sympathized with the team's youngest member. His mind clicked back to Jason telling him how strange Cole was. Truth be told, Cole did seem to stand out amongst the other Rangers.
But then again, maybe that was what made him special.
Tommy elbowed Jason. "Hey bro," he whispered above the Silver Guardians. "How 'bout you let Cole ride with you?"
Jason looked surprised. "What? Why me?"
"Because man," he replied. "He needs a friend on this team. And it's pretty obvious he looks up to you."
He rolled his eyes.
"C'mon dude, he doesn't need that hanging over his head out there. We all need to be able to trust eachother."
The other man sighed. "This veteran Ranger thing really sucks sometimes, you know that?"
"Hey, put yourself in his position. Wouldn't you want somebody to watch out for you?"
Jason reluctantly nodded, and looked back at Cole. "Hey rookie," he called, getting the younger man's attention. "Hop on."
Suddenly, Cole was a toddler on Christmas morning. His eyes widened, and he grinned an ecstatic grin. "Really?"
He nodded. "Yeah, come on."
Cole walked behind his teammate's glider, and looked down. "Ummm, how do I do this?"
"Just put your feet behind mine."
The young man placed his hands on Jason's waste for balance.
Jason looked back at Cole. "Watch your hands rookie."
Cole blushed. "Sorry." He put his left foot behind Jason's. Both men felt the glider wobble beneath them. But nevertheless, Cole pulled his right foot up.
"Wait Cole!" Jason cried. "Stop!"
The other Rangers couldn't help but laugh as the Galaxy Glider flipped on it's top, sending both Jason and Cole tumbling into Carter, who fell down as well.
Though still sympathetic, Tommy couldn't help but smile as the three Rangers lay piled atop one another on the floor.
The wind rushed through Andros' duel colored hair as he whizzed through the oxygen field on his Galaxy Glider. Butterflies flapped against the edges of his belly as they grew closer to the moon base.
He looked down at his Astro Morpher. It wouldn't be long now…
Andros could hear the hum of T.J.'s old blue glider behind his. Since their talk, the Kerovan had barely spoken to, or even looked at his former partner at all. After the emotional breakdown he'd had earlier, the last thing he wanted to be reminded of was Ashley, or the any of other Space Rangers for that matter. His mind needed to be calm, and at peace. The matters at hand were far too important for him to let his personal life get in the way.
How fitting though, that this would be on his mind as General Steelon, the android who had perpetrated the unspeakable act in the first place, loomed just over the horizon. Andros certainly hadn't forgotten. His thoughts had been so focused on seeing T.J. again, that facing Steelon again had nearly recessed into the back of his mind. But it was better that way. Better that it didn't sit and boil in his thoughts the entire time.
But this was the moment he'd been waiting nearly four years for. To isolate Steelon, and make him pay. Make him pay for crippling the woman he loved, and forcing him to abandon all he held dear to him.
Andros' blood began to bubble. Steelon knew nothing of true pain, or heart breaking loss. Nor was he designed to. He was simply a stone cold mechanical killer, who knew nothing of a living heart or soul. He'd done what he'd done to Ashley, not out of rage or anger, but simply because he was programmed to. Ashley had been paralyzed by a machine.
It was all so unfair. Andros had never even seen Ashley do any of the cheerleading steps she'd always told him about. He wasn't able to dance with her at the senior prom she sometimes mentioned to him. One night he even told her he'd show her some of the Kerovan combat arts he'd learned.
But now it was impossible. And it was his fault.
It was all his fault.
Andros gritted his teeth, only hoping that Steelon still had that hammer. The first chance he got, he would smash the weapon over the mindless cranium of that robotic infidel. He would scatter its insides all across the moon, and then burn what was left. Or maybe he'd keep Steelon's head, and stick it in his room, to remind him of his victory. That would make the pain go away. It had to.
Suddenly, Andros looked to his right, catching T.J. looking at him.. It would all be over soon…
It was all his fault…
For a full second, Tommy closed his eyes, and concentrated on the feeling the wind blow across his cheeks. It was like he was flying. He was like a child on a roller coaster, or a kid in a candy store.
Or a maybe a high school teenager blessed with super powers.
Tommy Oliver never thought he would be that boy again. That same teenager who instead of taking his girlfriend to movies, battled alongside the Pink Ranger against one of Rita's monsters. Instead of test anxiety, he would lie awake at night, wondering about Lord Zedd or King Mondo's next attack. As opposed to sorrow over lost girlfriends, he'd felt sorrow over lost Green Ranger powers. Once again, the world was his stage, the world was his burden. The boy, the youthful, ambitious Power Ranger was back. And he was loving every minute of it.
He only wondered if the others were feeling as a live as he was. Particularly Jason, who didn't have a pleasant look on his face as Cole's arms remained wrapped around his waist. The young man was simply trying to hang on, but the original Red Ranger looked as if he'd be content with shooting his elbow back, and knocking the Wild Force Ranger into the dust. But he wouldn't, Tommy knew. Jason was a class act, and would do the right thing.
He glanced over his left shoulder at Carter, who he had been extremely flattered to meet earlier. Apparently, the Red Lightspeed Ranger had emulated him during his time as an active Ranger. He had nothing but wonderful, and gracious things to say to Tommy back on the Megaship. He'd never in his wildest dreams thought that another Power Ranger would come to emulate the work he had done. It was truly humbling.
Then, Carter called something out to Tommy. Over the hum of the Galaxy Gliders, the veteran Ranger could make it out. He cupped his hand to his ear, motioning for Carter to repeat it.
"Tommy! Watch out!"
His eyes darted to the path in front of him, but it was too late. The wind wheezed from his lungs as the swung his staff into his stomach. The black Galaxy Glider flew out from under his feet, Tommy's his forward momentum was abruptly cut off. Curled into a ball, his body slapped the ground in a cloud of dust, coughing and wheezing.
He heard Jason shout his name, as his eyes, tearing from the dust, looked up. Staring down at him were a group of golden domed heads. Their lifeless expressions would be cold, evil, and frightening to the untrained eye.
But his eyes were trained considerably the sight of these mechanical muggers. He knew the Cogs, the Machine Empire's robotic soldiers, all too well.
As Tommy found his wind again, inhaling the dust and grime from the ground, he could just faintly hear the hum of the other Galaxy Gliders turning around.
But as one of the Cogs raised their weapons to the air, he realized that they would never make it in time…