&
VS.
Author: MoarCrossovers
Word Count: 12359
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It was impossible; how could such a reality have been achieved? SpaceGodzilla’s amber eyes glared at the form of his genetic donor with disgust, humiliated at the loss by Godzilla’s hands. Against all the odds, the King of the Monsters had managed to save the Earth from complete domination.
Their climatic final battle had released SpaceGodzilla from the control of the Vortaak, but his freedom came too late. The plans of both tyrants lay shattered before him. The galactic clone’s body felt sore and bruised from the intense combat, and he knew that any tries to continue from here would be fruitless. Time to call his losses and try again another time.
Instinctively, he summoned forth the crystalline shell of his flying form. Or at least, he tried to. As the tyrant’s almighty cosmic power surged into his shoulder crystals, they suddenly shattered like glass. The manipulators and storage for SpaceGodzilla’s great strength had been damaged too much in the battle, to the point where they could not channel the Corona energies properly. It dispersed and coursed through the shattered fragments in wild and unconcentrated patterns, to SpaceGodzilla’s concern. The power he wielded was a deadly tool, but not even he knew the results of allowing it to flow uncontrolled like this.
The winds began to pick up within the area, whipping up into a vortex around SpaceGodzilla to his confusion. As Godzilla watched on with curiosity, the air above his galactic duplicate was ripped open in a flash of white energy, exposing a dark void. Loose debris on the ground was pulled towards the portal and its infinite darkness, but so too was the surprised SpaceGodzilla!
He reached out in desperation as the forces of the portal dragged him into the sky, grasping helplessly at the ground for a hold to anchor himself. The pull of the vortex was too strong, however, ripping up the crystalline Godzilla faster than his reflexes could act. With a defiant shriek, the saurian was pulled in, still reaching out in one final attempt to escape the mysterious portal, and vanished into whatever lay on the other side.
The moment he had passed through, the portal sealed shut. Floating debris dropped back to the earth and the winds returned to normal, leaving not a trance of the phenomenon that had just occurred. Godzilla had not a clue to understand the situation, but he recognised that his evil clone was finally banished from the planet, leaving him as the sole claim to King of the Monsters once more. His head reared to the heavens, letting out a roar of victory as the remains of the Vortaak fleet fled, returning to the space from whence they came. At last, the Earth was safe.
*****
Groggily, SpaceGodzilla opened his eyes. At first, everything around seemed to be nothing but darkness, spanning for eternity, but as his vision adjusted, he could make out the faint glows of distant stars. He was back in space, but how? The last thing he could remember was the battle with Godzilla, then being sucked into the portal created by his malfunctioning energies. Of all the places he had expected to end up on the other side, some random corner of the universe wasn’t one of them.
As he shook off the last dregs of fatigue, SpaceGodzilla realised something – his shoulder crystals had regrown. The two massive geode growths pulsed with power atop the crystalline organism’s shoulders, though they had yet to fully regenerate to their full capacity. In fact, SpaceGodzilla noticed that he no longer sported the wounds from their battle, looking fresh and fit as ever. The reptilian despot was left even more confused than before as he processed everything. Either the portal had reversed most of the damage inflicted by Godzilla, or he had been unconscious longer than he thought.
It was a mystery to solve when he had the time. For now, his goal was to find somewhere to set up and recharge to full power, and from here, determine exactly where he had been spat out. If his luck was good, he might be close enough to Earth or its solar system to begin planning his next invasion.
Then, as the fuzz cleared from his sight, the cosmic Godzilla spotted it. The darkness before him began to movie as light shone over the object’s surface, illuminating the rocky, crater-scarred terrain with a white aura. This was Earth’s barren satellite, their moon – which meant he was right on the planet’s doorstep.
SpaceGodzilla examined the condition of his body once more. While he was not fit enough for a high scale attack, he could inflict some serious damage to the humans’ defences. Even if the galactic reptile had no idea how long he had been missing, he doubted their ability to reconstruct their planet in any short period of time, given the ferocity of the Vortaaks’ assault.
That settled it. Massive crystals sprouted from the scutes along SpaceGodzilla’s spine, engulfing his body in a colossal, crystalline shell. Manipulating gravity to propel himself through the vacuum, he made his course for Earth.
Time to start the carnage once again…
*****
Across the many Megadecks of the Astro Megaship, alarms blared loudly. The deafening chorus filled every room, corridor and service duct of the ship, making sure that all hands aboard knew that danger was afoot. One by one, the crew filed onto the bridge, where Alpha 6 was already waiting at the controls.
“Alpha, what’s the situation?” Andros asked the red robot.
“I wish I could give you an answer, Rangers,” Alpha replied. “I has just finished recalibrating the Megaship’s sensors and was performing a quick sweep, when nothing appeared on the scanner.”
The Rangers looked at each other with troubled expressions, unsure how to respond to the statement provided.
“That hardly sounds like a cause for alarm, Alpha,” Carlos said with a chuckle, chalking it up to one of the android’s “quirky” moments.
The others were more sympathetic to their crewmate’s plight. “Maybe you just miscalibrated something to cause the scanner to act up?” Cassie offered.
“My skills with machinery are the state-of-the-art, thank you very much,” Alpha huffed. His fingers tapped several buttons rapidly to bring up the scanner onto the viewing screen. “The systems are all functioning normally, but it’s nothing there. To be specific, something in the shape of nothing!”
“What?” Andros asked incredulously. Indeed, as the other Rangers turned to the screen, it did depict an unknown object, appearing as a jagged splodge of missing data on the program, moving on a course towards the Megaship itself at a fast pace.
None of the Space Rangers could provide an excuse to what they were seeing. After all, if a robot capable of completing millions of calculations in seconds could not find an answer, how could they?
“That makes no sense,” T. J. protested. “How can something be made of nothing? It’s not possible.”
“Can you bring it up on screen, Alpha?” Carlos suggested to the droid.
“I will try. It should be within visual range at now.” Alpha tapped a few more buttons on the console, changing the image of the scanner to a view of the void outside. On the monitor, what appeared to be some kind of dinosaur embedded in a large cluster of white crystals soared effortlessly through space.
“Look at the size of it,” Ashley gasped in astonishment. Of course, the creature was barely taller than most of the monsters they’d battled in the past, but its massive girth and alien design made for an imposing sight.
“Looks like nothing that Astronema and Dark Specter could have cooked up,” Andros mused. He turned his attention back to Alpha 6. “You said that it wasn’t appearing on your scans, so why can we see it now?”
“The Megaship’s scanners work by detecting the energy or particles of any objects within range,” Alpha explained to the muddled Rangers. “Even if that fails, I can use the Morphin Grid’s power as an alternative, but DECA’s systems don’t recognise anything that this creature emits. It’s not in any known records!”
The Rangers looked back to the screen, observing the unknown monster’s current trajectory. Taking their places at the other consoles on the bridge, each one sent to work trying to analyse as much as they could about with the limitations sent upon them.
“It’s heading for Earth!” Ashley shouted from her station.
“Of course it is…” grumbled Carlos. “Why can’t these monsters go to Venus or something? No one would care.”
T. J. tapped away at his own console, accessing Ashley’s findings and compiling it with his own on the fly. “At the speed it’s going, it’ll reach the planet in minutes.”
“We aren’t going to let it,” Andros declared. His head turned to meet each of the other Rangers, who nodded in agreement, recognising his intention.
“Oh, my! Please be careful, Rangers!” Alpha called out as the team rushed out from the bridge, sprinting down the Megadeck’s corridor. In union, the five swung up their left wrists to brace forth their Astro Morphers, as Andros gave the command that sent terror into the hearts of all in the galaxy who followed the path of evil.
“Let’s Rocket!”
“3-3-5!”
*****
Before the conqueror, the vast green landscapes and blue oceans stretched out in front of his eyes, as if begging to be plundered and subtigated by the great power he wielded. It would not be long before SpaceGodzilla breached the atmosphere, and from there, his mission of conquest and revenge could be carried to his pleasure.
Something caught his eye. He slowed down as he squinted, spying what appeared as a strange, off-colour section of ocean on the side of the planet directly before him. It wasn’t until the reptile got closer that he realised the “disturbance” was actually some kind of blue, ovular space station, hanging in orbit above the planet between it and him. He cocked his head, not recognising the design. Whilst in the thrall of the Vortaak, SpaceGodzilla had a long period of time to examine the orbital defences of the humans, and when his captors slipped their leash, destroyed several of them. But the new station was unfamiliar. Where had it come from?
He tensed up as the nose of the craft began to open, splitting apart and revealing a smaller shuttle docked within. With a metallic click, the ship detached and boosted away from the station, thrusters firing brightly as it appeared on a course straight for the galactic tyrant. SpaceGodzilla’s shell crackled and flashed with the fuel of stars, preparing to strike down the feeble human craft at a moment’s notice, when it suddenly turned back. It looped over itself, returning to the space station as quickly as it had undocked from it.
SpaceGodzilla laughed in amusement at their cowardice. Humans liked to put up a show of power, but when he flexed his cosmic power, they reverted to the spineless, disgusting worms that they were. Their little stunt show was but a small distraction to grant a few more precious seconds of life before-
Suddenly, SpaceGodzilla’s eyes widened as the ship began to shift and change. The outer section split down further into two sections, swinging down under the core, while the underside came up and forward along the main body’s sides. It no longer resembled a space station, but a massive, humanoid body.
“Astro Megazord, online!”
The shuttle soared towards the neck of the formation, hissing steam from sections along its hull as the shell swung up, transforming into a titanic, expressionless head. It lowered into place on the transformed Megaship, fully completing the configuration. The Astro Megazord flexed its new limbs, surging with the boundless energy of the Morphin Grid as SpaceGodzilla watched on with judging eyes.
“All systems fully connected and operational,” T. J. reported, tapping away at his station’s control panel. Around the Megazord’s cockpit, the other Rangers attended to their individual tasks at similar controls, all working as one to operate the magnificent, space-faring Zord.
“Come on, guys! Time to show that crystal encrusted cretin who he’s up against!” Andros declared.
Where had the humans been hiding this machine?! The concept of vehicles transforming into combat-designed alternative modes was not new to SpaceGodzilla, having tangled with the GDF’s Moguera on several occasions. But the blue giant was completely incomparable to anything demonstrated by the inhabitants of the planet below them. More and more continued to not add up in the space dinosaur’s mind. He would figure it out eventually, but not before the metallic warrior had been destroyed at his claws.
Opening his jaws in a challenging shriek, SpaceGodzilla’s crystals glowed bright as he started to draw in the ambient cosmic radiation around him. His drained cells recharged within seconds, restoring the galactic Godzilla’s strength to his maximum and more. He revelled in the sensation, but something felt off. Part of his crystalline nature allowed him to read and understand the wavelengths and state of the power he consumed. The radiation was no different to what he would normally absorb, but it had an odd “taste”, if that made any sense. It wasn’t quite right…
“Astro Megazord Saber!” Andros shouted.
In the Astro Megazord’s right hand, the blade was summoned forth. Steam jetted from its hand as it locked tightly around the sword’s hilt. The thrusters on the back of the cobalt Zord flashed brightly to life, propelling it towards the hovering SpaceGodzilla, brandishing its weapon of justice before it. With the battle declared, SpaceGodzilla surged forwards, shrieking his battle cry as the two giants swiftly closed the distance between each other.
SpaceGodzilla made no effort to lash out at the Astro Megazord, putting faith in his thick, sharp shell of crystals to protect him from the robotic giant’s weapon. He expected to toy around with the humans’ creation, allowing it to make a fool of itself with its inferior weaponry before he demonstrated the full force of his power. To his shock, the saber cut into the spiky cluster with barely any resistance, carving through as the Megazord sped past and leaving a large, long gash down the corona mutation’s flank. He shrieked horribly, only able to feel the excruciating agony consuming his right side due to the physical limitations of his flight cocoon. Hot blood stained his navy blue scales for but the slimmest moment before it was sucked of warmth, drifting away from the wound in massive droplets.
Arrogance came with its consequences. The overlord of the void recognised his overzealousness in judging the unknown mech’s strength as inferior. No time for games, he realised that now. Perhaps he might at last found another opponent to allow him to flex the greater limits of his power.
As the Astro Megazord came to a halt, SpaceGodzilla twirled his bulky form around. The sliced flesh was already growing back rapidly, but the damage to his crystals would take longer to repair. Scowling with rage, the crystalline monster’s crown and crystals flashed with yellow luminance, belching out a Corona Beam as the Astro Megazord spun around to face him. The crackling energy warped and twisted in the air briefly, then shot straight towards the machine.
“Look out!”
Andros’ cry came too late for the Rangers to react. The Zord was sent reeling back from the impact, sparks blazing briefly from the spot of assault. Its pilots were shaken around within the cockpit, hanging on to their seats or controls until the tremors ceased. Almost immediately, the Rangers were back to work at the controls. Time couldn’t be wasted in the midst of battle.
“That blast took out thirty percent of the shields!” Ashley gasped.
“What? No way” cried Carlos.
“Oh, man, that’s some heavy duty firepower that monster’s packing,” T. J. exclaimed.
“Come on, guys. We have to keep it together,” Andros commanded. He pushed the controls sticks in his hands forwards, launching the Astro Megazord back into action. Another pulse of light from across SpaceGodzilla’s body heralded another Corona Beam, but this time, the metallic guardian was prepared. In its left hand, a circular shield appeared, granting extra protection to the blue giant. The Astro Megazord Shield caught and deflected the golden bolt, earning naught but sparks and smoke from the strike. Undeterred, SpaceGodzilla fired off a third blast, and then a fourth, and a fifth. Each shot curled and moved as if it were alive under the cosmic invader’s psychic power, but the Astro Megazord’s barrier held them off with infuriating ease.
“Energise saber!” Andros called out.
Raising it high, the Astro Megazord’s blade glowed with bright energy in its grip, catching the gaze of SpaceGodzilla, who gave a concerned look at the weapon. Before the tyrant could respond, it was hurled from the space Zord’s grip, flying towards the encrusted reptile like a golden arrow. It pierced the left pectoral, breaking past the crystal armour that lay beneath the skin but failed to locate his vile heart. Almost as soon as it embedded into SpaceGodzilla’s flesh, it exploded in a bright golden flash, consuming his upper body in flames, sparks and chunks of meat and crystal. He howled from the horrendous injury, but it was far from enough to put down the mutated clone of Godzilla.
Whilst the geode-infused monster reeled from the attack, the Astro Megazord’s thrusters burned at their maximum outpost to swiftly close the distance. Desummoning its shield, the morphing robot crashed its fists into SpaceGodzilla’s sternum, gaining another agonised howl from the mutant as his fresh wounds were further stimulated. The Rangers continued their assault, commanding the Megazord to throw punch after punch into the galactic dinosaurian’s bloodied chest, bruising the flesh wherever they struck while throwing up sparks upon contact with the armour beneath. SpaceGodzilla attempted to fight back, slashing wildly with his arms at the machine’s arms whenever they came near, but their stubby nature and the limited articulation as a result of the flight shell reduced his physical ability to a minimum. In his current state, he could not utilise the strength to remove the Zord from his proximity.
So it was fortunate that he possessed other means of exercising it.
Sparks of emerald lightning surged from the massive shoulder crystals and ensnared the Astro Megazord’s form in a field of energy. As it prepared to let loose another punch, the blue battle mech froze in its position.
“What’s happening?” Andros cried, looking at the controls with disbelief as the Zord refused to comply with his commands.
“We’re caught in some kind of localised gravity field!” Carlos responded. “We can’t break free!”
“Try and divert more power to the servos!” Ashley frantically called out.
“Megacircuits aren’t responding!” Cassie reported.
With the Megazord within the grasp of his Gravity Tornado, SpaceGodzilla extracted it from his proximity with ease, granting the terrible reptile room to breathe and recover. He held his foe before him, allowing the machine’s crew to observe as the wounds across his body swiftly began to heal. At an extraordinary rate, tissues and scales regenerated and sealed the smaller gashes, while the larger slashes were enveloped in a fibrous web for protection, taking longer to repair due to the greater severity of the damage. Only the shattered crystals around the slash down his flank remained, unaffected due to their nature as inorganic objects, but in time, they, too, could be regrown.
The Space Rangers were in disbelief. Never before had they encountered a nemesis displaying such incredible power and abilities like this. “No way!” T. J. exclaimed.
SpaceGodzilla’s expression turned to one of malicious glee. The space mech’s efforts were valiant, but next to his power, it was nothing but a gigantic toy. And like all toys when they no longer brought joy, he would discard of it.
The collection of crystals that coated his shoulders and back pulsed brightly, illuminating the dark vacuum surrounding the displaced tyrant. With each flash of light, rings of electromagnetic power were launched, bombarding the paralysed Astro Megazord’s form with immediate effect upon the noble transformer. Sparks and lightning flew from its joints, the entire machine shuddering violently under the assault as its eyes blinked, losing power rapidly.
The cockpit rocked violently, throwing the Rangers around like loose peas in a pod. Smoke and hot embers sprayed from their consoles across the room, and were it not for their protective, Morphin Grid-empowered suits, the five would have been marred with scorched skin and lasting scars. However, that did not make them immune to the scalding materials or from slamming into each other and the walls of the room, crying out from the combined painful stimulus. Fighting against their agony, the Rangers struggled back into their seats and reclaimed the controls, trying to fight off the effects of SpaceGodzilla’s attack.
“It’s some form of electromagnetic wave,” Carlos called out from his station. “I’m trying to adjust the Astro Megazord’s shields to block its effects, but the systems can’t pinpoint the frequency.”
“No good on my end, either,” Ashley reported with dismay. “It’s the same problem we had with the radar; the computer doesn’t register the attack as existing, but is also acknowledging the effects of it. The logic error is shutting down power across the entire ship!”
Andros quickly racked his head for solutions. He tapped his communicator, relived to discover that it seemed to function despite the interference. “Alpha, can you hear me?” he asked. “We need you to reboot the Astro Megaship’s systems on your end. Can you do that?”
“Esebo nohtaram tsep rojam circuits noitcurtsed ananab racsan!” was the gambled reply.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Andros muttered.
SpaceGodzilla cackled gleefully as the metal warrior twitched from its collapsing systems. Fresh on the heels of his previous defeat, to best an opponent with such ease reignited the cosmic Godzilla’s fire for conquest and battle. He left the Megazord to drift off, it being no longer a threat without power, and turned his sights turned to the planet. The conquering reptile’s memory still burned with the humiliation delivered to his pride by the Vortaak and Godzilla. He vowed that both would feel the force of his vengeance, but first came completing where he left off. The subjugation of Earth and his people.
The Rangers watched with horror through the cockpit’s window as SpaceGodzilla flew away, his glowing crystalline form becoming smaller and smaller as he descended towards the surface of the planet. The mood of the five grew cold and grim, stuck with the knowledge that they’d failed to stop their foe, and suffered horribly from a lack of information that was not their fault. The Rangers’ thoughts were consumed with guilt and anger, but they knew that giving in was far out of the question. They had to see their situation not as a defeat, but another challenge to overcome, together.
Climbing from his seat, Andros headed for the doors at the back of the chamber. “I’m going to try and reboot the power and computer cores manually,” he told the other Rangers. “Try and keep as much as you can running in the meantime.”
The others nodded in confirmation. “Right!”
“Good luck, Andros,” Ashley urged. The Red Ranger simply gave a thumbs up in acknowledgement, appreciative of her support as he dashed out into the corridor, rushing for the deck where the engines were located. Time was of the essence.
*****
The skies of Angel Grove were bright and clear. Birds sang jovially and frolicked in the Sun’s rays, as the city’s inhabitants made full use of the warm summer weather. From the parks to the lake, youth and adults alike revelled in all sorts of activities and sports without a care in the world. For living in a place where they were attacked by monsters at least once a week, the people kept on with their lives as normal. A true testament to either blind ignorance or hidden courage, to be able to continue on when their lives could be put at risk at any moment.
But today, it seems those fears had been suppressed more than usual, in favour of enjoying themselves on this beautiful day.
Until it was ruined by a tremendous bang.
Dark smoke billowed into the air as a balding, elderly man in a soot-stained lab coat staggered out from behind a heavily modified van, hacking dreadfully as he wiped the charcoal from his face. “Goodness me, that was quite a bang!” he exclaimed with worry. His mood quickly shifted, beaming with mad glee despite what he’d gone through and the state he was in. “I’ll need to lower the measurements for the next test. But it’s close. By golly, it’s close!” he cackled.
At that moment, his two assistants, a skinny teen clad in a beret and khaki shorts and a rather large lad, rushed around the corner, perilously clutching shopping bags overflowing with groceries whilst they sprinted at full speed towards the professor. Unfortunately, fate seemed to have something against the duo, as both caught their foot on a crack in the uneven pavement, sending them crashing to the ground face first, spilling cans, veg and buns across the tarmac.
“What are you two playing at?” the professor scolded. He scurried over, grabbing the pair by the collars and hoisted them to their feet. “I wish you would take these kind of things seriously. It’s very vital.”
“We’re terribly sorry, Professor Phenomenus,” Skull stammered with a nervous chuckle.
“We heard an explosion and thought the worst,” Bulk explained. “Skull and I couldn’t bear it of something terrible were to happen to you.”
“Especially since you’re our only chance at proving that aliens are real,” Skull added. His thoughtless comment earned him a swift elbow in the ribs from Bulk, shooting a warning glare his way.
Fortunately, Phenomenus seemed to have missed the comment. “Never mind about me, pick up this mess before it spoils!”
Bulk and Skull immediately sent to work gathering the spilt shopping, jamming the items back into their bags without care or consideration for the foods’ condition. It didn’t take long for them to complete the task, and the two teenagers followed the professor back over to their van, which double as their base of operations.
“So, uh, what you working on, professor?” Skull asked innocently.
“What kind of invention is it this time? Some kind of special alien trap?” Bulk quizzed the old inventor. “I bet you had us buy all this stuff as bait to lure them in.” He beamed, confident in his hypothesis.
“I sent you boys out to get lunch!” Phenomenus exclaimed, pushing between the pair and slamming his toolbox down next to what seemed to be a barbeque, but modified extensively.
“Oh.” Bulk and Skull were dejected and confused by the rather simple answer. With how long they had been travelling with the professor and everything he’d put them through in their quest to find proof of alien life, they come to expect… more from his eccentric schemes.
Professor Phenomenus continued as he began to tinker with his invention. “You boys have been excellent to me ever since you arrived on my doorstep. So I felt that it was appropriate to give you a reward for your hard work and dedication.”
“Our reward is lunch?” Skull asked uncertainly.
“Is that a problem?”
Skull’s answer was cut off before he could speak by Bulk grabbing him by the collar and jerking him back. “Not at all, sir,” he said, smiling, as Skull shot his buddy a frustrated look.
“Come on, Skull, you really gonna turn down free food?” he hissed under his breath.
The skinnier teen thought for a minute, debating the options before him. On one hand, after all the stuff they’d gone though, intentional or not, it felt like a meagre reward. But on the other, the food was free and there were only two people he had to share with. What kind of idiot would turn down an offer like that?
“Don’t get too comfortable, boys. It’ll only be a quick lunch,” Phenomenus added as he took his wrench to the contraption, unaware of the disappointed looks that appeared on the faces of his assistants.” We can’t afford to waste time, and there’s no time like the present. Every second spent cooking sausages and burgers is time that could be spent instead on the pursuit of alien life.”
“That’s why I build this,” he explained. Standing up, he wacked the wrench hard against the side of the barbeque. There was a quick bang and the machine jolted, causing Bulk and Skull to jump back with squeaks of terror. “I call the… er, well, the… okay, so I haven’t sorted out a name for it yet,” admitted the inventor, “but when it works, it will have our meats cooked and ready in the manner of seconds.”
Bulk and Skull turned to each other with unconvinced expressions. While the professor might have good intentions in his work, given the results of his past inventions, it seemed right for them to remain wary. “Is it safe?” Bulk asked.
“Safety is a perspective of the mind, my dear boy. What is progress without taking a few risks to get results?”
“That’s what I thought,” was Bulk’s response. “Tell you what, we wouldn’t want to disturb your work, so how about Skull and I go check the perimeter. Just in case those aliens try and get the drop on us.” He grabbed his partner, shaking them roughly. “Right, buddy?”
Skull did not respond. The lanky teen was silent, not even that awkward, annoying laugh of his. Confused, Bulk looked over to see Skull turned the other way, shaking on the spot as he pointed up in the sky. Spinning around, Bulk followed the direction of his friend’s arm, looking into the sky until he spotted what terrified him so much.
“Okay, boys, you can fetch the meat over.” Professor Phenomenus looked to the pair, both trembling like leaves and pointing towards the sky. “Oh, what has gotten into you two?” he demanded, marching up to them to discover the problem.
“A-a-a-a-a--- “ Bulk and Skull stuttered, too scared to form a proper sentence. It wasn’t until Phenomenus also turned his gaze to the sky that he realised the source of their paralysing fear. A dark shadow fell across the park, blotting out the sun to the confusion of its residents. As the people began to complain and mutter, a horrifying shriek sounded out, drawing their eyes up to the source as it flew overhead.
“Alien!” the trio screeched.
The crowds screamed and scattered like ants as SpaceGodzilla flew overhead, casting his menacing shadow over the parks and streets of Angel Grove. He let out a cackle of laughter at the humans’ fear and panic, but it was half-hearted, his mind distracted by other things. The alien reptile’s mineralised scutes pulsed with light and radiation, launching glowing spheres upon the city below. Where they touched and sank into the earth, gigantic clusters of crystals erupted forth, ripping through and engulfing the fortunately abandoned buildings. In no time at all, SpaceGodzilla’s new fortress was taking shape.
“Let’s get out of here!” yelled Skull shrilly. Bulk and Phenomenus didn’t hesitate to follow as the three made a dash for the van, screaming their heads off the entire distance. Unfortunately, fate was not on the trio’s side, as it always never seemed to be, for as soon as the group reached the vehicle, a crystal spore floated to the ground directly in front of them. Skidding to a halt, the three looked at the ground, then at each other in terrified realisation.
Crystals burst from the ground around them and their van, growing at a cancerous rate upwards, trapping the cowardly trio dead in the centre of their formation. It took only seconds for the mineral growths to reach their full size, reducing the space in their core with every increase of mass. Phenomenus, Bulk and Skull were squeezed tight against each other and their vehicle as the space shrank and shrank, as it looked like they would crushed into cubes by the constricting walls. But mercifully, the crystals stopped growing, leaving the trio squeezed together uncomfortably.
“Well, this is a fine mess,” Phenomenus grumbled from inside Skull’s armpit.
“Can’t get any worse than this, right?” asked Skull through gritted teeth, his body forced to bend up in an uncomfortable shape in the limited room. His question was answered by the professor taking the worst possible time to break wind. Poor Bulk, underneath Phenomenus’ buttocks, gagged horribly.
“Why did you have to tempt fate?!”
With flashes and pulses of energy, SpaceGodzilla’s crystals were absorbed into the body, freeing the corrupted doppelganger’s limbs to allow him to touch down on the soil. He glanced across the city, observing the carnage wrought and the crystal towers growing throughout the streets. Such a sight should have pleased the galactic Godzilla, but his thoughts were elsewhere, trying to shove the mystery bugging him since he had regained consciousness.
This was all wrong. Where he was standing should have been the headquarters of the GDF, but in its place instead was this city he did not recognise. Slowly, but surely, the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to align. As the towers transferred cosmic power to the space giant, SpaceGodzilla felt his body become awash with the same strange sensation from back in orbit, but its effect appeared far more diminished than before. But why did it feel so strange to him? The transfer of energy from space to planet should not have an effect to this extent. Unless…
The unstable portal hadn’t just spat him out in space, but into another space. Another dimension or universe. This wasn’t the same Earth that he had ravaged not who knows how long before. It explained all the discrepancies he’d encountered thus far, why the energy flowing into him felt so strange. A different dimension meant different wavelengths and frequencies, unique to this world alone, but produced the same effect none the same. But he was adapting to the new world the longer he stayed in it, losing the aversion to the alien wavelengths as his cells became accustomed. If he continued to stay, eventually it would impossible to biologically distinguish SpaceGodzilla from anything else in this universe, becoming nothing more than another part of its ecosystem.
A dark thought crossed SpaceGodzilla’s mind. Why should he try to leave this place? There was proof that the Global Defence Force did not exist here on this Earth, but now that he spread his telekinetic senses, he could not feel the presence of Godzilla or his spawn. There might not even be any kaiju in this dimension at all. And if the wrecked machine floating in space was a demonstration of the type of resistance likely to face, well…
Godzilla could keep his Earth, for all the galactic overlord cared. Conquering this one would be no challenge at all.
*****
“Noinipo yeknom noisolpxe reboot evird noitaidar murof!”
Andros slammed the control panel and checked over the results of his hard work, relived to see that the system glowed from power surging through once again. “Hang in there, Alpha,” he assured to the android. With a tap of several controls, the other systems on the bridge returned to life, humming softly.
“Astro Megaship fully operational,” reported DECA.
“Alright!” Andros cheered, pumping his fist. For a while, the situation appeared to be hit or miss, but once again, his perseverance had triumphed against the odds.
“Oh… thank you, Andros,” Alpha 6 groaned, tottering dizzily towards the Red Ranger. He stumbled, only to be caught by the morphed teen before he could hit the floor. “Thanks again,” he chuckled. “I thought for sure that my poor circuits were gonna fry any second!”
Steadily, Andros helped his robotic companion to stand. “Don’t mention it,” he replied. Leaving Alpha to his own devices, he headed out of the command room, racing back through the corridors for the Megazord’s cockpit.
“Andros, welcome back!” Carlos called out as the Ranger in question entered, resuming his place at the cockpit’s centre console.
“No time to celebrate just yet,” he reminded the Rangers. The others shared nods of confirmation, working rapidly and efficiently to prepare the Astro Megazord’s systems for launch.
“Aye-yi-yi!” Alpha’s voice suddenly crackled over the comms. “Rangers, I’ve located the monster.”
The five young adults were left shocked by the news. “What? How?” demanded Andros.
“Yeah, I thought its whole gimmick was that it wouldn’t show up on our scanners,” Cassie remained automaton.
“That was true, but something must have changed while the systems were down,” the robot explained. “Because there is one very large and very real crystal dinosaur on the long-range scans, and it’s attacking Angel Grove as we speak!”
Any questions were purged from their minds by Alpha’s report on the mysterious creature’s location. “We’ve got to get down there and help,” T.J. urged, to which the other nodded in agreement. To attack their planet was one thing, but directly targeting their town, their home, made this battle personal.
“Keep an eye on the situation, Alpha,” Andros ordered. “We’re going to show that mineralised mutant just what happens when he picks a fight with the Power Rangers”. He gripped the control sticks tight and jerked them forward, launching the Astro Megazord into motion, its thrusters burning hot and bright as it rocketed down towards the surface of the planet.
There was a battle to occur, one that would test the limits of strength and teamwork as the brief clash before demonstrated. But no matter the foe, they would never flee from a fight, bound by the mission assigned to them to protect the peace and vanquish evil wherever it appeared. As Power Rangers, this was their task, and their promise.
*****
The streets and buildings of Angel Grove had quickly become overgrown by the crystal infection, which had entirely sealed off the abandoned industrial district from the rest of the city through gigantic walls that trailed through the empty avenues. SpaceGodzilla stood idle at the centre of his fortress, allowing the fields of siphoning crystals to gather and transfer waves after waves of solar radiation into his form. He glanced around and marvelled in the work that he had created, feeling something akin to pride blossom within his breast. Although the tyrannical monster had failed to locate a structure suitable to convert into a conduit tower, the fortress on its own was an impressive first start on his subjugation of the planet. No kaiju, no defence force, no Godzilla – why bother to rush when he had all the time in th-
What was that noise?
Spinning swiftly around, SpaceGodzilla’s disbelieving eyes caught sight of a familiar blue shape, rocketing down from the clouds. The Astro Megazord dropped down to the streets, looking no worse for wear despite the damages inflicted by the modified Godzilla clone’s Photon Hurricane, and raised its fists in a demand for combat.
Inside its cockpit, the Space Rangers looked around at the state of the city, infested with the crystalline monster’s alien crystals.
“Just look at the place,” Ashley commented, horrified by the city’s transformation.
“Yeah, he’s made a real mess of the abandoned warehouse district,” agreed Carlos.
“Why do you have an abandoned warehouse district?” Andros asked innocently. It was far from a suitable question to be asking at the time, but he was confused and curious all the same.
“Um, you see-“
“It’s difficult to put into words…”
“You really had to be there for it to make sense…”
“Oh jeez, how to put this simply?”
“Forget I asked,” he groaned. “I think it’s time that this monster got a taste of payback.”
SpaceGodzilla glared hatefully at the machine of justice, directing a screech of anger at it. How did it survive? It should have been rendered inoperable by the EMP, but it seemed that alone was not enough to put the humans’ weapon down. But now, down on Earth, the crystalline Godzilla could have the pleasure of tearing it apart with his own bare hands.
He hovered into the air and moved towards the Astro Megazord, goading its pilots to attempt and attack. The Rangers took the bait, commanding their mech to march towards the floating tyrant, but quickly recognised their error as SpaceGodzilla’s crystals flashed and crackled with golden bolts. The cosmic titan spewed shot after shot of his Corona Beam, striking out randomly across and around the Zord, sending it into spasms as fire and debris pelted its metal armour.
For a moment, the monster from space paused to laugh mockingly, but that was the mistake the Astro Megazord needed to act. Raising its battered arm, a gigantic, silver blaster suddenly materialised within its hand. SpaceGodzilla’s laughter came to a stop, his eyes widening in surprise and horror before the Astro Megazord Blaster opened fire, unloading a barrage of laser bolts across the mutated monster’s sternum, breast and shoulders, bringing out cries of agony from the navy blue invader. Chunks of meat and crystal flew from SpaceGodzilla’s body before he managed to act, summoning a crystalline barrier of light, the Photon Reactive Shield, to halt and reflect the Zord’s firepower right back at it. The blue guardian was assaulted by its own firepower, stumbling from each shot as sparks flew across its form.
As the Astro Megazord started to recover, SpaceGodzilla maneuvered closer, circling the transformed machine and discharging crimson bolts of Corona power from his shoulder crystals. The Astro Megazord struggled to stand or respond under the assault, only managing to keep track of the floating reptile’s position as his deadly power rained down upon the protector. In a desperate move, it lunged forward, and to the surprise of both parties, the galactic Megazord managed to catch SpaceGodzilla by the tail!
The automaton immediately pulled down on it, smashing SpaceGodzilla down into the ground with a shower of debris. Hoisting the alien mutation back up, the Astro Megazord prepared to repeat the move, when pulses of orange energy flashed down the invader’s crystal spines, heading down to the pointed geode upon the tip of his tail. Crackling energy bolts coursed through the blue Zord’s hands before the Rangers could react in time, blasting it off of the titan’s tail as he resumed his position above the ground. For good measure, the galactic saurian whipped around, gashing the Megazord’s chest plate with his crystal-tipped tail, forcing the might fighting robot to stumble back.
“Man, we almost had him!” T.J. slammed his fist against the console in anger, silently cursing their ability to do anything to the blue goliath.
The Rangers were all growing frustrated. Their combined might was failing to make a scratch on the mysterious space lizard, and the damaged Megaship was venting power with every second on the battlefield, pushing the team to find a way to defeat their adversary quickly. Andros got ready to summon the Astro Megazord Saber once more, Cassie suddenly pointed towards the monster. “What’s it doing?”
SpaceGodzilla’s arms raised up on both sides, his crystal crown flashing rapidly and brightly. Around the mineral-covered Godzilla, crystal spires growing from the streets were torn out of the ground and began to rise up, floating around their summoner upon thick trails of sparks. Both the Rangers and the Astro Megazord looked around in confusion at the flying objects, completely surprised by the phenomenon, leaving themselves open for SpaceGodzilla to attack. He thrust his arms forwards, which was the command for the crystals to surge forth, homing in on the Astro Megazord. They impacted around and across the metal warrior, throwing it back and forth as explosions erupted forth one after the other. The Rangers cried out as sparks and flames flew across the interior of the cockpit, as the room was engulfed in dark, choking smoke.
As the barrage finally ceased, the Astro Megazord lay across the charred ground, its hull dented and smoking, sparks shooting from its joints as it tried to move. Inside the cockpit, the five Rangers were sprawled across their stations, groaning in pain. The distant, mocking cackles of SpaceGodzilla managed to stir them into action, in spite of their aching muscles and ringing ears, and got to work on getting their Zord back on its feet.
The controls had taken a beating in the assault, but seemed to still be functioning. Carlos swiftly started a diagnosis on the Astro Megazord’s systems, immediately distressed by the results that came back. “Shields have dropped to twenty-five percent!” he exclaimed.
“Armour is holding,” Ashley reported. “But we can’t afford to take any more hits like that.”
Their Zord was in bad shape and yet their foe barely had a scratch, not to mention the ability to regenerate from any wounds they might deal. It would be foolish to continue like this and Andros knew it. But if they retreated, if they ran away like cowards, it would go against everything that the Power Rangers stood for. In order to win, the Rangers needed backup.
“Hang on, everyone. Help’s on the way.” Raising the wrist-mounted Battlizer up, Andros turned his head to the heavens. “We need Delta Megazord power!”
*****
Far up in orbit, the signal was received. The Delta Megaship’s systems switched online, detaching its docking station into sections as the on-board computer accepted and calculated the Battlizer’s coordinates. The black and silver vessel swiftly rotated to connect with the predicted path to its destination before energising its thrusters, propelling itself through space and into the atmosphere, dead on target for Angel Grove.
*****
Shakily, the Astro Megazord managed to reach its feet. Cocking his head at the machine’s resilience, SpaceGodzilla lowered his form to the ground, intent on giving it and its pilots a “sporting chance” as to drag out his amusement and their torment. Raising its fists, the Astro Megazord charged forth, and the space-faring reptilian responded with a hail of golden Corona Beams. Each bolt struck the earth around the charging mech, shooting up blasts of tarmac and flame, but the battle-damaged Zord was undeterred and continued its march. It swung its fists across SpaceGodzilla’s neck and chest the moment it came into range, each blow managing to stagger the goliath.
Just as it began to gain the advantage, SpaceGodzilla responded with his own physical assault, striking his claws across the Astro Megazord’s armour, discharging currents of his own energy across the galactic warrior’s form. It swayed backwards, its limbs flailing uncontrollably under the energy’s assault as the Rangers fought to keep it in check. Another Corona Beam connected directly with the Astro Megazord’s chest plate, throwing the defender of Earth to the ground in a colossal cloud of sparks and dust. Its head twitched spastically, unable to rise as SpaceGodzilla screeched out in sadistic delight. The cosmic Godzilla began to draw nearer, ready to deliver the final blow to the once magnificent machine.
Blaster fire suddenly rained down across his sternum, sending SpaceGodzilla staggering back. The evil reptile wailed loudly, unable to seek out the source of the bombardment from the smoke and sparks that clouded his vision.
When the barrage ceased, both he and the Astro Megazord turned their sights upwards, spotting the dark shape above as drew closer rapidly. Rolling in the air, flashes of energy engulfed the Delta Megaship as its components and structure were rearranged into a shape better suited for land mobility. When it reached the ground, the machine stood on its new legs, its blasters flipping down along with a plate underneath the ship’s nose to expose a humanoid visage. This was the Delta Megazord, the secret and ultimate weapon of the Space Power Rangers.
SpaceGodzilla was overcome with curiosity and anger. There was another transforming robot on this Earth? The black and gold Megazord’s presence left the otherworldly invader surprised over scared, but confident that he would dispatch the newcomer with the same ease as its predecessor.
Raising its arms in a battle stance, the Delta Megazord announced its intention to fight. SpaceGodzilla returned with the most intimidating shriek he could muster, pulsing cosmic power through the crystals on his body in a threatening light show. In the midst of the display, the Delta Megazord suddenly strode forwards, taking the galactic saurian aback by its tenacity. He swiftly opened fire with Corona Beams from maw and crystals alike, lighting up the black machine’s hull and the street around it, but as sparks and debris flew, the Zord continued its march unaffected. Its fists slammed forward like gunshots, smashing SpaceGodzilla’s cranium in rapid order without any pause for the crystalline Godzilla, who stumbled back from each bone-rattling blow.
A final devastating punch sent the evil saurian sprawling backwards, waving his arms frantically for balance. With the aid of his telekinetic powers, he resumed a stout stance once more, locking his burning, amber eyes upon the Delta Megazord’s form, promising that destruction would come the robot’s way. The tiny humans were obviously fools if they believed their new weapon would be able to triumph where the first had failed.
Andros observed the battle from the Astro Megazord. Raising his Battlizer once more to his face, the Red Ranger issued another command to his marvellous machine. “Delta Megazord Gyro Blasters!”
The hands of the Delta Megazord began to spin rapidly, to the confusion of SpaceGodzilla. As the fighting robot raised its arms, he suddenly realised the reason why, and the true nature of the Megazord’s limbs. What appeared to be fingers were actually the flexible barrels of massive cannons!
As its hands dropped, SpaceGodzilla erected a Photon Reactive Shield to protect himself from the Zord’s barrage. The Delta Megazord’s rotating blasters opened fire, alternating between hands as it unloaded upon the cosmic dinosaur’s barrier, spilling dozens of empty shells by the second. The bullets exploded endlessly against the shield, blocking its shape with countless explosions. It held out initially, but gradually, cracks formed across the Reactive Shield’s surface as the barrage continued. SpaceGodzilla grew concerned; his barrier was designed as a means to redirect energy, not to defend from physical attacks.
The barrier finally exploded in a flash of sparks, forcing the tyrant to shield his eyes from the resulting spray. The irritating pain from the embers inside its eyelids was quickly replaced by overpowering agony as the Gyro Blasters unloaded upon his form, blasting off chunks of flesh with each impacting round. Vanishing in a cloud of fire and smoke, SpaceGodzilla crashed to the ground, howling in distress and writhing in agony.
The Delta Megazord turned away from its fallen foe, deactivating its blasters as it made its way towards the downed Astro Megazord. It extended a hand, allowing the blue machine to grab it, and pulled it onto its feet. United in their mission of justice, the two Megazords turned as SpaceGodzilla levitated from the ground, striking up battle poses towards the other-dimensional invader.
“Aw, yeah! We’re back in action!” hooted T.J.
“Come on, guys, we can do it,” Andros said, gripping the controls with determination. His words filled the other Rangers with confidence, ready to give the reptile everything they had.
As one, the Megazords charged their opponent. As SpaceGodzilla rose, he found the two mechanical giants upon, immediately lashing out with energy-laden claws on nothing but instinct. The strikes managed to stagger and halt both of the warriors, but the effect was minimal, allowing them to swiftly continue their attack. Punches and kicks struck the alien titan with great haste and ferocity, leaving no opportunity for SpaceGodzilla to react, screeching in anger while the twin Zord pummelled his flesh.
There was a tremendous pulse of energy from the space saurian’s body, driving back the Astro and Delta Megazords, the former shielding its face from the event to protect the Rangers’ vision. SpaceGodzilla took to the air as crystals consumed his form, morphing back into his flying form to take the aerial advantage over his foes. If they could, the robots would have glared with hatred as the cloned Godzilla hovered again, mocking them with a chorus of shrieks while he was fed power from the crystals around him.
Swooping low, SpaceGodzilla engaged in a tackling manoeuvre. The Megazords closed in to intercept, but the invader was far too quick to catch, gashing the machines’ armour with his crystalline shell as he slipped between them. Both machines were staggered by the blow, but swiftly recovered and turned in the direction of the tyrant, but SpaceGodzilla had already begun another pass, slamming into the Astro and Delta Megazords with his colossal shoulder crystals, knocking them to the floor.
The damage was more serious this time, the metal on the Zords’ chests gouged and dented, but they still struggled to their feet. The Megazords looked towards SpaceGodzilla’s flashing, airborne form, readying for a third run against the robotic pair. As the crystalline alien shot downwards, this time the Astro Megazord leapt up in response, launching high into the air to meet the tyrant halfway. With his built-up velocity, SpaceGodzilla could not stop in time, looking on and screeching in shock as the Astro Megazord’s extended leg crashed directly into his face, sending the repulsive reptile crashing down into the earth, kicking up curtains of dirt and rubble upon impact.
As the blue machine landed, the Delta Megazord met up with it once more. Together, the guardians of peace made their way towards the crater of the extra-terrestrial saurian’s landing, but several flashes of light caused the Zords to halt in their tracks, taking up defensive stances. From the crater’s depths, SpaceGodzilla’s energised form emerged, his flight shell discarded in favour of his combat form once again. His vision was immediately filled by the Megazords’ form, filling the reptile with an overwhelming rage. Not since his first encounter with Godzilla had he encountered a more tenacious and aggravating foe, let alone two, and the fact that his troubles were down to a group of miniscule vermin angered the cosmic conqueror even more.
Despite this, he remained confident of victory. No humans had managed to defeat him on their own in the past, and he was determined to maintain that truth.
Rising off the ground, the tyrannical saurian made a path for the Megazords, discharging bolt after bolt of his Corona Beam from maw and crystals, striking at the forms of the metallic giants and the ground beneath them. The twin Megazords struggled to defend themselves, unable to focus and locate their opponent amidst the constant bursts of fire and earth around them. Recognising the critical condition of its partner, the Delta Megazord moved to take the full brunt of the assault, using its entire body as a shield to spare the Astro Megazord from further damage.
As the firing ceased, clouds of dust and smoke obscured their vision. The Delta Megazord looked worse for wear, its armour marred by soot and scratches, but it remained able for combat. It scanned the haze, sweeping its head side-to-side for any sign or trance of its target. From the other side of the shroud, there was sudden movement, triggering the Zord’s sensors in time for it to turn into SpaceGodzilla’s stabbing tail. The Megazord staggered back as the pointed crystal smashed against its chest plate like the stinger of a scorpion, discharging energy at point blank, causing a thick spray of sparks to fly. SpaceGodzilla’s mocking cry sounded from behind the veil, pleased in the success of his strategy.
As he retracted his tail, however, something snagged the limb, bringing it to a halt with a jerk, almost causing SpaceGodzilla to lose focus and fall. He looked at the cloud in confusion, wondering what could have caught his tail, shaking it to try and loosen the limb from whatever had caught it. When it pulled back in return, the galactic Godzilla realised what had happened – his tail was in the black robot’s grasp!
The Delta Megazord jerked down in a quick, powerful motion, bringing SpaceGodzilla crashing down against the pavement, electing a muffled, pained cry from the face-down saurian. Energy pulses discharged against the machine’s hull in an attempt to make it relinquish its grip, but it wasn’t enough to get the Zord to back off. With a great effort, the Delta Megazord began to spin, heaving SpaceGodzilla into the air while it rotated faster and faster, dragging the humiliated tyrant around as he screeched in frustration. After several spins, the Zord released its grip, allowing SpaceGodzilla to fly free, careening through a collection of large crystals, launching fragments of the geodes in all directions.
Hope burned brightly in the Rangers’ hearts. In spite of their challenging battle, the tables had seemed to turn in their favour. Now it was the time to finish this while they had the chance.
“Delta Megazord has given us an opening,” Andros declared. “Let’s give this creep everything that we have!”
The Red Ranger’s control panel flipped over, revealed a different set that lay underneath. The most prominent feature was a large, rectangular socket, in which Andros unclipped and inserted the Battlizer, locking the device into the Megaship’s systems. The systems of the two Megazords connected wirelessly, becoming as one in preparation for what was to come next.
“WE NEED ASTRO DELTA MEGAZORD POWER!”
Broken crystals and debris shifted as SpaceGodzilla emerged from the rubble, clutching his head in an effort to ease the throbbing within his skull. The wounds sustained from the crash were swiftly healing up, but the internal damage would persist longer than the galactic Godzilla would have liked, leaving him dazed for the moment being. At a moment, the sound of thrusters reached his ears, the invader’s face scrunching up in confusion before he turned around in time to watch as the Astro and Delta Megazords took off without warning. They rocketed into the sky at astounding speeds, piercing the clouds and disappearing past the stratosphere in the span of what seemed to be seconds.
Any plans the saurian had were delayed by the strange behaviour of his enemies. Why would they leave? They hadn’t won, this battle wasn’t finished. Where had the humans gone that demanded more attention than him?
*****
The reason for the Megazords’ ascent was one of necessity over obligations. Within the zero gravity environment above Earth, the new transformation started as the Delta Megazord split apart, separating into distinct body parts. The Astro Megazord waited in position as its deconstructed equal joined to its own structure like armour, sliding over the legs, arms, chest and head. The Gyro Blasters swung up to rest above the shoulders as it flexed its new, armoured fists, surging with recharged power as part of the merging of Zords.
Where there was two now stood one. The mighty machine that would end this once and for all.
*****
For what seemed like a minute, SpaceGodzilla waited. With the humans’ weapons departed, it seemed like the perfect moment for the intergalactic overlord to resume his destructive mission. But the unexplained nature of their exodus stayed his hand, waiting to see what the new plan of this universe’s humans would be. What power and force he had never seen before they would unveil next.
Up in the clouds, a darkened, humanoid shadow descended, locking the attention of the cosmic destroyer as it approached with haste. As it landed amidst the streets, SpaceGodzilla looked on, tilting his head while he examined the combined mech’s form. The machines could combine with each other to create a stronger one? Even his hatred was tempted by the inventiveness of this version of humanity. If the GDF back in his universe had utilized this technology, perhaps they might have produced something to challenge him on equal grounds.
Now was not the time to dwell any further. He had been delayed by the humans and their machines for too long. Nothing on this planet or beyond was going to stop his conquest.
His telekinetic powers reached out and ripped the neighbouring crystals out from the earth, hurling them at his opponent like crude missiles upon sparkling trails. The Astro Delta Megazord remained motionless, making no move to defend or move out of the way, instead allowing the crystals to strike and detonate across its titanic shape. SpaceGodzilla watched with a gleeful grin as the metal warrior was engulfed by bright explosions, vanishing beneath the resulting, massive cloud of fire. He gave a victorious cry as the last crystals impacted, expecting to see the mech’s broken remains once the smoke had died down.
Instead, the combined Megazord marched out from the black shroud, its hide missing even a scratch upon it from the assault it had endured. Its appearance made the fearless conqueror jerk back, struggling to realize the power that it possessed as the colossal Zord marched in his direction. More crystals were torn up and launched at the Astro Delta Megazord, accompanied by bolts of Corona energy, bombarding its entire form with fire and sparks, but it did little to slow its advance. In spite of what he believed, SpaceGodzilla had lost the upper hand.
When it closed the gap, SpaceGodzilla lashed out in defence. His energized claws slashed across the Megazord’s hull, discharging surging, crimson bolts upon its surface, but there was no effect. The Astro Delta Megazord responded in kind, smashing a massive fist squarely in the galactic overlord’s chest, driving the breath from his lungs and sending him careening backwards. The combined machine made no effort to pull its punches, hitting the heartless saurian with the full force of its power. SpaceGodzilla could only howl in distress as he weathered the metallic warrior’s punches, stunned by the strength it suddenly possessed.
A final strike with the back of the Astro Delta Megazord’s oversized fist sent blood and fangs flying as it connected with the tyrant’s jaw. SpaceGodzilla was knocked to the ground, rolling across the city streets with his cries muffled from the blood pooling in his throat. He slowly staggered back to his feet, feeling the ache in his lower jaw as the flesh was blemished by an ugly bruise. But a far greater pain gained the attention of the displaced monster, unable to tear his eyes away from the combined Zords’ form as he reviewed his new circumstances. He’d done it again. Ego and bravado had left him blinded to the strength of his enemies, refusing the chance to easily finish them multiple times for the sheer sake of fuelling terror, as well as his own pride.
Against Godzilla, and now against these machines, the conqueror of space had failed. But unlike in the battle that had led to his displacement in this new reality, there was still plenty of strength left in his body. The agony in his jaw dulled as the wound was healed, and extra-terrestrial power pumped into his fortress at a steady rate. The corrupted Godzilla wielded great power, but put against the warriors challenging him, would it be enough.
No. The chances for victory were long past now. He’d have to try again.
“Battlizer online!” Andros called out. He unlocked the device, pressing one of the buttons on the revealed panel. “Flying Power Punch!”
The Megazord’s arms lifted, fists clicking as the anchors detached. SpaceGodzilla’s shell rhythmically flashed as the transformation to his flight stage began, but the motion of the hybridized machine caught his attention, a feeling of dread forming in his gut. Its fists rocketed away, shooting across the sky and towards the galactic Godzilla before he could think of reacting. He braced for the impact, but instead of the saurian’s chest, the twin rockets aimed and smashed into the gargantuan crystals on his shoulders.
The resulting burst of light blinded SpaceGodzilla completely, causing him to stumble backwards from the combined shock and pain. The loss of vision was not permanent, returning to the foreign mutation in time to see the Astro Delta Megazord’s flying fists click back into place with hisses of steam. SpaceGodzilla’s blood boiled at what the humans and their creation had done, but that rage fizzled up as something clicked in his thoughts, overcome with a sense of déjà vu.
And anger turned to horror.
The fragmented crystals released their built-up energies at full strength, flooding the air itself with the power of countless suns in unrefined form. Space was ripped oven by the growing leak of energy, channelling into a black vortex above the tyrant himself. SpaceGodzilla looked up into the darkness that awaited as history repeated itself before his own eyes. Another defeat through the same means would be an everlasting stain upon his pride, but in his current state, the doppelganger of Godzilla was only concerned with survival.
In their short careers as Power Rangers, the five young adults had rarely seen any sights like the portal in the sky. The team was at a complete loss, staring in awe as the vortex’s width increased, pulling in any loose objects beneath it.
“Was that supposed to happen?” Ashley asked nervously.
“Aye-yi-yi-yi! What’s happening out there, Rangers?” Alpha 6’s voice crackled over the communicators. “The Megaship just detected a massive destabilisation in the space-time fabric, and it’s growing stronger by the second! If we don’t get out of here now, we might get sucked in!”
“We hear you, Alpha. We’re pulling back,” Andros responded, jerking the control sticks to move the Astro Delta Megazord away from the tear.
SpaceGodzilla moved as fast as his bulky legs would allow. Without his crystals, levitation was no longer an option for the mutated tyrant, but even if he still possessed the ability, he doubted it would have made a difference. The saurian not even made a yard before the pull of the tear grew enough to drag him off the ground, flailing and shrieking in desperation to escape. He would not lose like this again. But he was powerless to stop it from happening.
His last act before vanishing into the event horizon was to glare at the Astro Delta Megazord, burning its shape and the memories of their battle into his mind. Should he survive, and ever find his way back into this reality, there would be a rematch. One that he vowed to win.
With a final cry, SpaceGodzilla vanished into the portal. Like before, it sealed shut after the invader had passed through, cutting off its effects on the city beneath it. For the first time that day, Angel Grove was silent. Its residents had suffered throughout the terrible occupation, but the city had survived. The Power Rangers had saved the day once again.
*****
“Do we have any clue what that monster was in the end?” Carlos asked.
It has been hours since the fight against the extra-terrestrial monster, and the Rangers had finally finished cleaning up the aftermath. All of the mysterious crystals that it had generated had been smashed up and disposed of, with some of the samples donated to NASADA for research into their nature. Now, both Megaships had returned to orbit for maintainable, ready to prepare them for whatever battle lay next.
But the mystery of the creature still remained. Andros was the only one on the crew that was familiar with alien life, but even he was stumped on what the crystal-infused reptile had been and where it had come from.
“I can’t really say,” he admitted to the team. “I’ve never heard of any type of mutation to that degree. It had to have been something new.”
“That still doesn’t explain where it came from,” Ashley complained.
At that moment, Alpha 6 chose to speak up. “I believe I might have the found the answers you’re seeking, Rangers.” Tapping the controls, the bridge’s screen was filled with scans and information, drawing the five Rangers’ attention to the monitor. “That creature left fragment of itself imbedded in the Megaship’s hull. The cells were heavily mutated, though the results suggest that the creature’s DNA was altered twice, by two different sets of radiation.”
“So, what? A mutation got mutated?” Cassie cracked a smile. “Talk about double dipping.”
Alpha chucked at the joke as he continued to sort through DECA’s results. He stopped abruptly at the next slide, staring with the robot equivalent of surprise at the displayed readings. “T-t-that can’t be right!”
“What is it, Alpha?” T.J. asked, concerned.
“The radiation traces from the oldest mutation match that of nuclear radiation, from Earth.”
“WHAT?!?” the Rangers shouted.
“That can’t be true,” Cassie protested. “Surely we would have known if something like that monster lived on our planet, let alone left it.”
Andros wasn’t sure how to respond to the news. He couldn’t accept how that reptile could have been created on Earth. It seemed such a peaceful planet, with the people not having a bad bone in their bodies. “Alpha, this isn’t adding up. We’re missing something here.”
“I think you’re right,” the little android agreed. “The closest match to the cells of that monster are those from dinosaurs, but DECA can’t find a match for any species in her database. I also noticed some errors in the radiation reports. Oh, aye-yi-yi, my circuits can’t handle this kind of conundrum.”
The five teens looked at each other for their own answers, and judged by the expressions on each of the other Rangers’ faces, assumed they had reached the same conclusion.
“You don’t think… it came from another Earth, do you?”
“It must have, Ashley,” T.J. agreed. “That’s the only answer we have that makes sense.”
“Records of sector analysis reported a fluctuation in space approximately two weeks ago,” DECA announced. “The report was dismissed due to a battle with Astronema’s forces at the time.”
It had been for that long, right underneath their own noses while attention was focused on the schemes of Dark Spector. If only they had known sooner, the monster would have been dealt with long before it could have reached Angel Grove. Andros’ heart felt heavy with failure, feeling that the destruction caused by the creature was his fault, in a way.
“I should have noticed,” he said with regret. “If I hadn’t been so distracted, I might have discovered the creature earlier and none of this would have happened.”
“We’re all at fault, Andros,” assured Ashley. She placed a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly. “You forget that we’re a team. We should all take responsibility for our actions.
“Don’t beat yourself up too bad, man,” said T.J. “Every one of us has had to deal with larger things.”
“Besides,” Carlos cut in,” we still sent that ugly dino reject packing to whoever knows where.”
“We’ll all make sure to keep ourselves alert from now on. Share our responsibilities, as a team.”
Carlos, T.J. and Ashley nodded in agreement to Cassie’s statement with warm smiles. Andros looked at his fellow Rangers in amazement at their support, completely unexpecting it. How could they back him up like this after a massive failure in his duties? Had working on his own for so long taken a toll on his judgement, to believe his teammates would turn their backs on him? These Earthlings had such trust in him, yet he’d had none in them.
His lips curled into a tiny smile and he brushed away a tear from his eye. The Red Ranger promised to change things from here on out and work closer with his team. To strengthen their bonds in preparation for the many hurdles that may await them in the future.
“Come on, guys. You can help me check over the power core. I want to make sure the modifications I made are holding up.”
With their leader leading the way, the Power Rangers made their way out of the bridge. Just as he crossed the doorway, Carlos came to a stop, scrunching his features in deep thought.
“I’m sure we’re forgetting something…”
*****
The Ranger’s clean-up had not been as thorough as they had thought. One crystal remained, erected firmly in the middle of Angel Grove Park and shining dimly in the frigid night air. No one had discovered it and the park had been closed for the next few days, meaning it would be some time before another soul came across the alien mineral. This was unfortunate for the people trapped inside.
“Hello? Is anyone out there? We would require your assistance!”
“How long have we been stuck in here, Prof?”
“If I could reach my watch, I’d tell you. At a guess, it’s probably turned dark outside.”
“Can both of you try and budge up? My back is killing me.”
“Skull, there are more important things to be concerned over than the health of your spine. I can’t feel my legs at all.”
“Oh, dear. I hope someone finds us soon. I’m developing a very urgent need to… relieve myself.”
“Uurrgh!”
“Well, at least your fancy new barbeque and the food got stuck in here with us, professor. We won’t go hungry any time soon.”
“Hold on, has that been down there the whole time?”
“Yeah, I’ve been trying to get some hot dogs going. Now where’s the ‘On’ switch on this doo-dad?”
“NO!!!”
A colossal explosion tore out from the core of the crystal, shattering the construct in an instant. Across the city, thousands of lights switched on as residents were awoken, followed by waves of angry chatter from the citizens angry by being woken up at such a late hour.
Black smoke rose from the crater where the crystal once was, now filled with an intact van and three soot-covered figures. Their clothes were burnt and ripped, yet somehow bore no injuries, despite being at the center of the colossal blast. Phenomenus, Bulk and Skull sat and stared blankly into the distance, knocked out of their senses, paralysed by the excruciating pain across their entire bodies. Shakily, Skull lifted his hand, in which contained a skewer with a blackened, but perfectly cooked wiener impaled on the tip.
“Bangers and mash, anyone?” he offered with a laugh.
Winner
Spoiler:
