“Drakkon is my dad!?” I asked in disbelief. However, things were starting to make a lot more sense now.
He’s been terrorizing me all this time…because he knew I was his daughter…
After a few silent moments of processing what they said, I realized something. “Wait a minute…you’re the ones who told me to combine all the Zords into the Ultimate Ultra Zord!”
“Yes, and we’re also the ones who brought Steel back as a human, and we sent the meteor to Devon.”
“If you could do all that, why didn’t you help us stop Venjix sooner? Why can’t you stop Drakkon yourself?” I asked with a hint of accusation in my voice. They were silent for a moment and seemed to look at each other.
“We chose to become Morphin Masters in order to safeguard the Grid. Unfortunately that comes with the price of becoming part of it, so the most we can do is give guidance, whether that’s through a vision or sending other Rangers to help. Also, while we can see multiple Ranger worlds, we’re not all knowing. We see events as they unfold. But because of your special connection, we were able to bring you here,” they explained. I nodded understandingly.
“If I agree to help, what happens to my friends?” I then asked.
“They will be protected as best as we can. But understand, Drakkon’s reach is vast. The sooner we can stop him, the safer your friends will be.”
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The thought of losing my friends and the dream of Drakkon killing Devon was unbearable. “Okay,” I said, opening my eyes with renewed determination. “I’ll do it. I’ll help stop Drakkon.”
The helmets seemed to exchange a glance, and then spoke again. “Thank you, Kali. Your courage is commendable. We need to act quickly.”
Suddenly, blackness started creeping in around me. “What’s happening?” I asked nervously.
“We’re sending you to the others,” they said, their voices blending into a single, resonant tone. Before I could utter another word, the world around me shifted violently. A swirling vortex of colors enveloped me, and the next thing I knew, I was quite literally plopped down in the middle of a battlefield. Disoriented, I barely had time to get my bearings before chaos erupted around me. Explosions shook the ground, and the air was filled with the sharp sound of blaster fire. My heart pounded as I took in the scene. Suddenly, I caught sight of a figure charging towards me: the Black Mighty Morphin Ranger, but something was off. He was wearing a tactical vest and carrying a gun.
“Woah! Activate wolf power!” I shouted, my voice barely audible over the din of battle. I morphed just as a blaster shot hit me square in the chest, sending me flying. I landed hard on my back but quickly scrambled to my feet, my suit absorbing most of the impact. “Zack? Is that you?” I asked, my voice tinged with a mixture of hope and disbelief as I fought back.
The figure didn’t pause. “I am a Mastodon Sentry created to serve Lord Drakkon,” he replied mechanically, his voice devoid of the warmth and camaraderie I associated with Zack. Great, I thought, just what I needed—one of Drakkon’s brainwashed foot soldiers. We clashed fiercely, exchanging blows and energy blasts. In the midst of our struggle, I caught sight of a familiar face. Jason, the original Red Ranger, lay on the ground, demorphed and vulnerable. A Mastodon Sentry loomed over him, ready to deliver a fatal blow. “No!” I screamed, adrenaline surging through my veins. With a powerful kick, I knocked my opponent to the ground and sprinted towards Jason.
Leaping into the air, I aimed a punch at the Sentry’s head. My fist connected with a satisfying crunch, and the Sentry crumpled to the ground. I turned to Jason, extending my hand. “Need a hand?” I chuckled, trying to lighten the moment despite the dire circumstances.
“Kali!” Jason’s face lit up with relief as he grasped my hand. I pulled him to his feet, both of us taking a moment to catch our breath. “How’d you get here?”
“That’s a long and interesting story,” I replied, a determined grin spreading across my face. “But first, we’ve got to take out the trash.” I motioned to the remaining Sentries closing in on us.
“Right,” Jason agreed, his eyes steely with resolve. We stood back-to-back, ready to face whatever Drakkon threw at us next. The battlefield around us was a blur of explosions, energy blasts, and the clashing of metal. I could feel the tension in the air, but also the fierce determination that drove us both.
“Watch your left!” Jason shouted, and I spun just in time to block a strike from another Mastodon Sentry. The force of the impact sent a jolt up my arm, but I pushed back with all my strength, sending the Sentry stumbling.
“I got it!” I yelled back, sweeping my leg low to knock the Sentry off balance before delivering a swift punch to its helmet. The Sentry fell, and I turned to see Jason finishing off another foe with a powerful kick. We fought our way through the throng of enemies, moving as one unit. Despite the overwhelming odds, there was a strange sense of exhilaration in the battle. It was as if every move, every strike, was a step closer to reclaiming the Grid from Drakkon’s grip.
“Jason, behind you!” I warned, and Jason ducked just in time to avoid a blast. He turned and countered with a quick burst from his blaster, taking down the Sentry. As the last of the immediate threats were dealt with, we took a moment to catch our breath.
“Thanks for the assist,” Jason panted, giving me a grateful nod.
“Anytime,” I replied, wiping sweat from my brow. “So, where’s the rest of the team?”
“Scattered,” Jason said grimly. “Drakkon’s forces hit us hard. We’ve been trying to regroup, but it’s been chaos.”
Just then, a loud roar filled the air. We turned to see a massive Zord approaching, its eyes glowing with an ominous light. “What is that?” I asked, my heart sinking.
“Drakkon’s new war machine, the Grave Zord” Jason said, his voice tense. “We need to take it down before it causes any more damage.”
“Let’s do this,” I said, gripping my weapon tightly.
Jason nodded. “Together.”
We summoned our own Zords and fought Drakkon’s Grave Zord head on, dodging its massive strikes and looking for any weakness we could exploit. It was a brutal fight, the ground shaking with every blow. Just when it seemed like we were gaining the upper hand, the Grave Zord released a blast of energy that sent us both flying. Our Zords crashed to the ground. I landed hard, the wind knocked out of me. Struggling to my feet, I climbed out of my Zord and saw Jason lying motionless a few feet away. “Jason!” I cried, stumbling over to him.
He groaned, blinking up at me. “I’m okay,” he said weakly. “Just… need a moment.”
I helped him up, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. “We can’t keep this up,” I said, glancing at the still-advancing Zord. “We need a new plan.”
Jason nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve. “We need to regroup with the others. We can’t do this alone.”
We found a moment of respite behind a crumbling wall, and Jason activated his communicator. “This is Jason, does anyone copy?”
A burst of static was followed by a familiar voice. “Jason, it’s Trini. We’re pinned down near the old base. We need backup.”
“Hang tight, we’re on our way,” Jason replied. He turned to me, his expression grim but determined. “Let’s go.”
As I followed Jason towards Trini’s location, the sounds of battle echoed around us. I could see the fear and determination in Jason’s eyes, mirroring my own feelings. We were in this together, and no matter what, we would keep fighting until the end. When we reached the command center, we found Jen, Ziggy, Trini, and Billy locked in combat with more of Drakkon’s forces. “Trini, Billy!” I called out, rushing to join them. My Ranger fangirl side got super excited to meet the Pink Time Force Ranger and the Green RPM Ranger, but the chaotic battle around me reminded me we had a job to do first.
“Kali! Jason!” Trini shouted, relief evident in her voice. “We’re glad to see you!”
“Likewise,” Jason said, jumping into the fray. “Let’s finish this! It’s Morphin Time! Tyrannosaurus!”
“Triceratops!”
“Sabertooth tiger!”
“Time for Time Force!”
“RPM, get in gear!”
After the others morphed, we summoned our Zords and together we were able to push Drakkon’s army back into a retreat. We exited our Zords and demorphed. “Kali! It’s great to see you again!” Billy smiled as I hugged him happily.
“It’s great to see you again too, Billy,” I said and turned to the Yellow Mighty Morphin Ranger and gave her a hug too. “And you as well, Trini.”
“How in the world did you get here?” Trini asked as she hugged me back.
“Like I told Jason, it’s a long story,” I replied with a chuckle. I then looked at Jen and Ziggy. “Jen Scotts, Pink Time Force Ranger and Ziggy Grover, Green RPM Ranger. It’s an honor to meet you,” I greeted them.
“This is Kali, the Black Wolf Ranger we’ve told you about,” Jason introduced me.
“We’ve heard about what happened to you. I’m so sorry,” Jen said sympathetically.
“Despite all that, you still chose to come here? That’s some amazing courage,” Ziggy complimented.
“Well…yes and no. Is there a place we can talk where we’re not so out in the open?” I asked and Billy nodded.
“Come with us. We’ll head back to base,” he said. As we walked, I told them about how we defeated Evox, who actually turned out to be Venjix.
“Venjix came back? I thought we defeated him for good,” Ziggy commented.
“Turns out he transferred some of his data into the Cell Shift morpher Grid Battleforce got a hold of,” I mentioned, leaving out the part about Nate’s experiment. We got back to the base and I told them how I got here, except for the part about Drakkon being my dad. Afterwards, Billy gave me a tour of the base and since it was just the two of us, I decided to tell him first since he’s been helping me with Drakkon the most, aside from Devon.
“Hey Billy, there’s something else the Morphin Masters told me. I didn’t want to share it in front of the others yet but I want to tell you first. Drakkon…is apparently my biological father,” I told him.
“Hm, that makes a lot of sense,” he mentioned, unphased.
“You think the others will be as chill as you are about it?” I asked and he stopped walking. He turned to me with a small smile.
“I know Jason and Trini will be. We know you as Kali, the Black Wolf Ranger from Coral Harbor, not as Drakkon’s daughter. Jen and Ziggy will come to know you as we know you, too,” he said encouragingly.
“Thanks, Billy,” I replied with a small smile back. He showed me where my room would be and suggested I get some rest. I nodded and thanked him once again then plopped down on the bed with a sigh. I really missed my team back home, and I wondered what they were up to. If the Morphin Masters hadn’t been able to contact at least Devon yet, I knew he was probably freaking out. Soon, I had closed my eyes and fallen into a much needed sleep.
Devon’s POV
I stayed at Grid Battleforce well after everyone went home for the day. My dad had been checking on us throughout the day, and my friends helped however they could but I refused to stop until I at least found out where Kali was. However, my eyes were getting heavy and laid my head down on the desk.
I was surrounded by different shades of green that seemed to be fluctuating, almost like waves in the ocean. Three Ranger helmets appeared out of nowhere, startling me. “Okay…not weird at all,” I said to myself.
“We are the Morphin Masters, and we have a message for you, Devon,” they seemed to say together.
“Okay…how do you know who I am?” I asked, even more freaked out.
“That’s a long story that we don’t have time for. Your girlfriend Kali is alive. She’s currently fighting alongside other Rangers in the war against her father, Lord Drakkon.”
“Wait, Drakkon’s her father? Why is that not surprising? And what do you mean war? I need to help her!”
“No, you and your team are needed here in case Drakkon decides to visit your world. Don’t worry, if Kali needs you, you will know.”
Before I could ask them any more questions, they disappeared.
I woke up with a gasp. I sighed and looked at the clock. It was thirty minutes past midnight. “No more late nights,” I mumbled as I stood and gathered my things to go home. At least I knew what happened to Kali. I smiled as I thought about her.
She’ll be okay. She’s one hell of a fighter and the strongest Ranger I’ve ever known.
Kali’s POV
The piercing wail of an alarm shattered the silence, jolting me awake. My heart pounded as I sprang out of bed and sprinted to the command room. “What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice tinged with urgency.
Jen glanced up from the console, her brow furrowed with concern. “We’ve got a distress call coming in,” she said, motioning me over.
The static-filled transmission crackled through the speakers. “Alpha Squad…do you copy…Drakkon…pinned…need backup,” a gold-clad Ranger with a cape managed to say despite the interference.
My eyes widened in recognition. “Wait a minute, I recognize that Ranger! That’s Daggeron of the Mystic Force team!” I exclaimed.
Jason stepped forward, confidence etched on his face. “Charlie Squad needs our help. Let’s move, Rangers!” he commanded. We morphed in unison, the familiar rush of power surging through us, and took our Zords to Charlie Squad’s location. As we approached, a cold knot of dread tightened in my stomach. The sight that greeted us was nothing short of a nightmare.
I gasped, my eyes widening in horror as I saw the beaten and bloodied bodies strewn across the battlefield. My mind struggled to process the scene before me: the SPD Shadow Ranger Commander Cruegar, the Mystic Force Solar Ranger Daggeron, the Lightspeed Rescue Titanium Ranger Ryan Mitchell, the Wild Force Lunar Ranger Merrick, Ninjor, and the Magna Defender Mike from the Lost Galaxy team…had been beaten.
“Kali, are you okay?” Jason’s voice called out, but I was frozen, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
Suddenly, I felt hands on my shoulders, gently turning me around. “Kali, you’re okay. Relax. Take a deep breath,” Billy said calmly, his eyes steady and reassuring. His calm demeanor anchored me, and I focused on his voice. “Breathe, Kali,” he repeated softly. “In and out. You’re safe.”
After a few minutes, I felt my panic recede, replaced by a profound sadness. With tears blurring my vision, I collapsed into Billy’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. He hugged me back, his presence a comforting reminder that I wasn’t alone. “Billy! We have three survivors!” Ziggy called out, breaking the somber silence.
Billy gently released me and turned to the others. “Alright, let’s get them back to base for medical attention right away,” he urged. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to turn around, my eyes scanning the battlefield. Jason was carefully lifting Commander Cruegar, Jen had Merrick, and Ziggy and Trini carrying Ninjor. They each teleported back to base, leaving Billy and me behind.
“Teleportation just like the old days, huh?” I remarked, attempting to lighten the mood. Billy glanced back at me, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and compassion.
“Yeah,” he replied with a halfhearted chuckle. He held out his hand to me, his expression gentle. “We’ll get you set up so you can teleport back to base too, but for now, you gotta take my hand.”
