Fall of the Power Rangers

*CLICK*

"Had enuff, Cajun? Just say 'Uncle'..."

*CLICK*

"Oh! Wise guy!"...

Arsenal sat in his monitoring station in Base One, channel-surfing.

"You'd think with 150 channels via satellite, there'd be something GOOD worth watching," he muttered to himself. He again clicked on his remote.

"IT'S MORPHING TIME!" Arsenal immediately turned the sound on his TV all the way down. Then, against his better judgment, hit the RECORD button on his remote. He felt that the Rangers should be scrutinized. Although he found their story lines to smack of B'harneism, he studied their fighting styles for flaws in their techniques.

"They always flip when going for the attack," he muttered to no one in particular. "And when the going gets tough, they bring out the Zords, and immediately merge them into Megazord. Pathetic. It's a wonder they don't lose more often."

The fight scene ended, and the scene switched to Lord Zed's moon fortress.

"There's one guy who's scarier than the Power Rangers and B'harne put together," Arsenal commented. "I'm glad he's only a fictional character." Arsenal switched off the TV and the VCR. Then he pressed a button on his console.

"Fran, I'd like you to warm up the Holochamber," he told her. "I need to break something. Pull the files for the Power Rangers."

"Which season?"

"Current."

"Choice of weapons this time out?"

"Excalibur, fully loaded."

"Combat level?"

"Start with level 10 and work up to level 50. Don't let me know when the levels are increasing."

"Gotcha. Want me to join you?"

"No thanks, Fran. I haven't trained you for combat yet. I'm still getting used to you being human."

After a few minutes, as Arsenal was strapping on his Jihaddium exoskeleton, Fran announced the holochamber's readiness. Mounting his Excalibur, he stepped into the grid covered room, and mechamorphosed the cybercycle into its Armor Mode.

"OK, Fran. Begin sequen..."

Arsenal was thrown to the ground by a powerful kick from behind. He tucked into a somersault and rolled back onto his feet. As he did this, he engaged his Excalibur's thrusters, propelling him into the air. He twisted in midair, landing facing the Rangers.

The Rangers struck a pose as one. "Let's get him."

The Rangers rushed him, as music from the show was piped in through the holochamber's speaker system. He expertly blocked their various attacks, sending them reeling with his own attacks.

"Let's give him the old one-two, Aisha," the Pink Ranger called out. Both of the women Rangers attacked him, the Pink Ranger attacking low from the left, and the Yellow Ranger attacking high from the right. He leapt, grabbing the Yellow Ranger and throwing her into the Pink Ranger.

"Let's give him a taste of the Power Weapons, Rangers!" the White Ranger called out.

So that's how they want to play this, Arsenal thought, extending the Excalibur's ion blades.

He expertly blocked the Red Ranger's Power Sword, and hit him in the face with a Sponge-Seeker Missile. Then he absorbed a blast from the Pink Ranger's Power Bow. He sent it back to her through his laser array.

The Yellow Ranger rushed him, her Power Daggers glancing his ion blades. He exchanged blows with her for half a minute before taking her out with a powerful blow to the facemask. He prepared to face the next Ranger...

Without warning, the holochamber shut off.

"What's the meaning of this, Fran?"

"Arse," Fran's voice carried over the intercom system, "we're getting a signal from somebody named Lord Zed." Arsenal's mind raced.

Lord Zed? he thought. He's only fictional.

"Do you want to take it here or in your communications center?" Fran asked.

"I'll take it in the comm center, Fran."

After a quick sonic shower, despite the fact that his workout hadn't even made him sweat, Arsenal walked into the communications center of the Base. He flicked on one of the monitors. A red and silver helmeted face appeared on the screen.

"Arsenal here," he said.

"Greetings, Lone Warrior," stated the face.

"What do you want, Zed?"

"Lord Zed," corrected Zed. "I offer a proposition which should be mutually beneficial to the both of us."

Arsenal leaned forward, studying Zed's countenance. "What would this proposition be?"

"An alliance between my forces and yours to eliminate those wretched Power Rangers." Zed waved his power staff dramatically as he talked.

"In others words, Zed," Arsenal countered, "I do your dirty work, and you benefit."

"Come now, Warrior," Zed stated, ignoring Arsenal's skepticism. "I happen to know for a fact that your Jihad is engaged in a war against the entity known as B'harne, and that the Rangers are allied with him."

"And what is your part in this deal?" Arsenal asked.

"I will provide backup and weapons, in the form of my Putties, should they be required."

Arsenal leaned back in his chair, his mind already formulating a plan. "Give me twenty-four hours to think over your proposal, Zed."

"Do not think too long, Warrior," Zed warned him.

"My time is my own, Zed," Arsenal countered. "I do with it as I please."

"Your time is yours," Zed rumbled. "For now." The screen went black.

Fran's head appeared on one of the other monitors.

"You're not seriously considering his proposal, are you, Arse?" she asked.

"No," he replied. "Fran, send a message to Angel Grove, California. Tap into the Rangers' communicators' frequency. Tell them to meet me in the old quarry near the park in two hours. I'll be carrying a white flag."

"All right, Warrior," he intoned. "Exactly why did you want to see us?"

"I received a message from Lord Zed," he replied. "He suggested an alliance between myself and him, to wipe out you guys."

"Hey, you want a fight," Rocky, the Red Ranger spoke up, "we'll give you one!"

"Back down, Rocky," the White Ranger warned his comrade. "So why tell us this? What's your angle?"

"I would prefer the alliance be between me and you, against Zed."

"We'll have to think this over. Several Jihaddi have fought us on several occasions."

"I'm a little different," Arsenal told them. "I'm willing to work with a potential enemy to defeat a greater enemy. In other words, the enemy of my enemy is my ally."

"Man, I don't think we trust him," the Black Ranger whispered to the White Ranger. "He sounds just a little too slick."

"I think we should give him a chance," the Blue Ranger stated. "He has presented a very real problem, which must be resolved."

"But if we beat Zed," the Yellow Ranger said, "we'll be out of a job."

"Nonsense," Arsenal stated. "There's still the Jihad, and B'harne."

"And I see one Jihaddi I wouldn't mind getting with," the Pink Ranger muttered under her breath.

It was a good thing the Rangers all wore face-concealing helmets, or Arsenal would have seen the instant flash of hatred and jealousy in the White Ranger's eyes.

"Do we have a deal?" Arsenal asked. Before any of the Rangers could reply, several Putties appeared, followed by the monstrous figure of Goldar.

"Putties!" yelled the Red Ranger. "You set us up, you Jihaddi scum!"

Without a word, Arsenal drew the Soul Sword. There was a resounding gulp from the Rangers. Arsenal didn't say a word, as he ferociously attacked the Putties.

The Rangers struck a pose. "Let's get them!"

The battle was joined, fast and furious. The Putties were no match for the onslaught. Every Putty that was taken out of commission promptly disappeared. Soon, only Goldar was left.

Goldar and the White Ranger faced off, swords drawn.

"I'll crush you like the insect you are, Ranger!" Goldar bellowed.

"You'll never beat me, fang-face!" Tommy retorted. Their swords clashed.

Arsenal tapped Goldar's shoulder. "Excuse me," he said. Goldar turned around, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The White Ranger pulled Goldar's sword from his hands, as the flat of Arsenal's Soul Sword impacted with Goldar's forehead. Goldar fell to the ground with a loud >CRASH! and the sound of birdies echoing through his skull.

"I don't believe it!" the Pink Ranger gasped. "He took out Goldar! Tommy, you could never do that!" Tommy muttered something incomprehensible as he plunged his sword into Goldar's chest. Tommy walked away as Goldar disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the swords behind.

Arsenal picked up Goldar's sword. "Well," he commented, placing it in the van, "there's another one for the trophy case, along with Bop's Blankie."

"Look, pal," the White Ranger shouted, getting into Arsenal's face, "I'm sick of you hitting on my girl!"

"Back off," Arsenal told him with a piercing glare. "I haven't even looked at her."

Just then, Zordon signaled.

"Rangers, return to the Citadel. And bring the Warrior with you."

"I don't think that would be expedient, Zordon," Billy, the Blue Ranger, replied into his communicator.

"Don't question my orders, Billy," Zordon told him. "Just trust me."

The six Rangers and Arsenal were transported from the quarry to the Citadel interior, where Alpha-5 and Zordon awaited them.

"Ai-yiyiyi," Alpha stammered. "It's the Lone Warrior! Battle stations! Battle stations!"

"Be quiet, Alpha," Zordon commanded, his voice sounding like he was chewing on peanut butter. "The Warrior is here at my request."

"Ai-yiyi! What has this world come to?"

"So, what's up, Zordon?" Adam, the Black Ranger, asked as the Rangers removed their helmets.

"I congratulate you on your victory over Goldar," Zordon stated. "However, if you keep up like this, you'll soon be out of a job. I suggest you tone it down a little."

"There's always the Jihad and Barney," Aisha, the Yellow Ranger, suggested.

"Good point, Aisha," Zordon agreed. "But back to the reason I asked you to bring the Lone Warrior here."

"Which is?" Arsenal asked in a bored tone, sitting on one of the control panels.

"It has come to my attention that with your combined strengths, now would be the best time to mount a final assault on Zed," Zordon stated. Tommy, Billy, Adam, and Aisha whistled.

"But, Zordon," Billy commented, "we don't even know where Zed's base is."

"I do," Arsenal stated.

"You do?" Kimberly responded, excitedly. Tommy glared at the both of them. This time, there was no way Arsenal could miss the daggers of Tommy's stare. The other Rangers, however, were paying rapt attention to Arsenal and ignoring Tommy.

"Alright!" Rocky exclaimed. "Let's kick his butt!"

"Where is it?" Billy asked.

"He's on the moon," Arsenal replied.

"Ai-yiyiyiyi!" Alpha exclaimed rapidly. "How will you ever get there!?"

"Let's get back to my battle-van," Arsenal said calmly. "I've got something there that'll get us to the moon."

Putties scattered as Lord Zed ripped through his throne room, striking out at anything within reach.

"Traitor! Betrayer! Oath Breaker! The Lone Warrior shall pay dearly for his deceit! I shall plunge my hand into his chest and rend his heart from him!"

"But, Lord Zed," one of his lackeys whined, "he never s-s-said 'yes'."

"SILENCE, WORM!"

Zed's body was aglow in an angry crimson. He sauntered over to the balcony of his fortress.

"He dares team up with those accursed Power Rangers against me! And insults me by killing my best warrior!"

"S-S-Sire, Goldar was killed by the White Ranger, not the Lone Warrior!" stuttered the lackey.

"You dare contradict ME?!" screamed Zed, glowing even brighter. "I shall have you IMPALED!" The lackey was carried away by several Putties.

"S-S-Sire?" another lackey said. "They're returning to the quarry. Should we attack them now?"

"YES! So glad I thought of it! Have Finster send down his most fearsome monster."

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Rocky asked Arsenal.

"Never failed yet. Fran," Arsenal called into his communicator, "Give this doubter a shot to Alaska."

"You got it, Arse."

And with that, Rocky found himself hip deep in hard packed snow. Nearby, an Eskimo offered him a slice of fresh blubber. A minute later, Rocky reappeared in Angel Grove.

"How was your trip?" Arsenal asked, a grin hidden by his face shield.

"Not bad," Rocky replied, shivering. "I brought you back a souvenir." He swung the blubber in a wide arc. Arsenal ducked, and the blubber slapped Billy in the face.

"Fresh blubber," Billy commented, pulling himself up from the ground. "My favorite." Aisha and Kimberly started giggling wildly. Aisha's ended in a guttural snort.

"Where does that come from?" Rocky asked Adam.

"I don't know," Adam replied. "Ask Billy."

"Can we get moving?" Tommy demanded irritably.

"Fran," Arsenal asked into his communicator, "is the experimental booster up and running?"

"It's running, but I wouldn't exactly trust it," came the reply.

"Fine. Begin trans -" Arsenal was cut off by the radar scope in the van beeping wildly. "INCOMING!"

A massive form collided with the ground. Dust was thrown into the air and a familiar voice rumbled ominously from the epicenter.

"Lone Warrior! We meet again! This time, you shall DIE!"

Even before the dust settled, Arsenal knew who their enemy was.

"Executor." Arsenal's eyes went wide, as his face fell.

The Ebony Raptor was twice as large than when they had first met, and its eyes glowed with a peculiar emerald light. His claws were sheathed in a silvery glowing substance that smoked with the air's contact.

"We need the Zords!" Tommy called out.

"Zords?" Arsenal asked. "Who needs Zords? Throw your weapons together into the Power Blaster! Put it right down his throat!" Arsenal sent out a radio signal through his helmet, and his Excalibur Cybercycle burst from the rear of the battle-van. Arsenal leapt onto it as it raced on by. With a flick of a switch, it mechamorphosed into its Armor mode.

Arsenal advanced on Executor and drew the Soul Sword. Executor's laugh was low and resentful.

"I am beyond your feeble weaponry," the Ebony Raptor growled. "You will soon join your lover in the depths."

"Don't count on it, lizard-breath," Rocky yelled as he took aim with the completed Power Blaster.

"NOT YET!" Arsenal yelled, too late. The beam from the Power Blaster was blocked by Executor's claws. The Rangers scattered as it struck the ground in front of them.

"Man, this guy's tough!" Adam yelled.

"Don't get cheesy on me now!" Arsenal called back to them as he dodged a thrust from Executor.

"Can't help it, man. It's the way we are!" Rocky replied.

Arsenal extended his ion blades. Executor just laughed. Arsenal managed to get close enough to plunge both of them into Executor's chest. Executor swung about, knocking Arsenal across the quarry with his tail.

Arsenal pulled himself out of the imprint he'd left in the rock. He then launched several Sponge-Seeker Missiles at Executor. The Raptor's eyes glowed a hot white, and the missiles prematurely exploded in mid-air.

Drawing his sword, the White Ranger rushed Executor. He brought the blade down on the dinosaur's clawed hand, only to have the blade absorbed by the silvery material of Executor's claws.

Arsenal called out to the Rangers, "Bring in your Zords to distract him!"