The scene that greeted us was chaos. Drakkon’s forces were everywhere, swarming like ants over the open plains just outside the base. Rangers from other teams were already locked in battle with Drakkon’s foot soldiers, their weapons clashing with the enemy’s in a desperate struggle. My heart clenched at the sight of so many Rangers fighting—so many already wounded or struggling to hold their ground. But we had no time to dwell on it. We jumped straight into the fray, cutting through the enemy lines with fierce determination.
I swung my Wolf Saber, cutting down two foot soldiers as I moved through the battlefield, scanning for any sign of Drakkon. He had to be here. My pulse quickened with anger, my mind still haunted by the torture I endured at his hands. But there was no sign of him. Suddenly, a deafening roar cut through the din of battle. My blood ran cold as I turned in the direction of the sound, only to see a massive figure barreling toward us. It was like nothing I had ever seen before—a grotesque, mutated Putty, standing at least three times the normal size of a regular Putty.
"Watch out!" Jason shouted, and we barely managed to jump out of the way as the mutant charged past us, its massive feet leaving deep imprints in the ground. I stared in horror as I took in the monstrosity before me. Fused to the right side of its shoulder was the head of Aurico, the Red Alien Ranger. His helmet was shattered, exposing half of his face, which was frozen in a grotesque expression of terror. On the left side of the Putty’s shoulder was Delphine’s head, the White Alien Ranger, her face contorted in a similar expression of agony.
My breath hitched as I realized it wasn’t just their heads—both Aurico’s and Delphine’s limbs were also grafted onto the creature’s body. Aurico’s arms and legs jutted out grotesquely from the left side of the mutant Putty, while Delphine’s limbs mirrored the same horrific mutilation on its right. Pieces of their red and white armor were fused throughout its body, like jagged shards sticking out from the Putty’s flesh. “Kali, focus!” Jason’s voice snapped me out of my daze, and I blinked, just in time to see him and Billy charging the mutant with their weapons drawn.
They struck fast, landing solid blows to the mutant’s body, but the creature barely flinched. It swung one of its massive arms at them, knocking Jason back with a powerful hit. I shook myself, gripping my Wolf Saber tightly. I couldn’t let this thing win. Gritting my teeth, I charged forward, joining Jason and Billy in the attack. My Saber clashed with the Putty’s thick skin, cutting deep, and together, the three of us managed to weaken it, pushing it back bit by bit.
With a final, powerful strike, we brought the mutant Putty down, its body disintegrating into a heap of lifeless rubble. I stood there for a moment, panting, trying to catch my breath, but before I could even process the horror of what we’d just seen, something else caught my eye. A dark figure stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching us.
Venjix.
My blood ran cold as I took in his new form. His robot body was sleek and menacing, forged from dark metal that seemed to absorb the light around him. Red, pulsing lights ran along his limbs and torso, accentuating the deadly weapons built into his frame. His eyes glowed with a sinister red light, piercing through the chaos of the battlefield as he stared directly at me. Billy and Jason stepped in front of me immediately, their stances protective. “Venjix…” Jason muttered under his breath, gripping his Power Sword tightly.
Venjix smirked, a cold, calculating expression that sent a shiver down my spine. His new body exuded power, a dark aura radiating off him as if he was a walking embodiment of destruction. “We’ll meet again, Black Wolf Ranger,” he said, his voice a metallic growl. “And next time, I’ll finish what I started.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the chaos of battle as if he had all the time in the world. I wanted to chase after him, to stop him, but Jason’s hand on my arm held me back. “Kali, we’ll get him. Just not now,” Jason said, his voice firm but gentle, trying to calm the fury boiling inside me. I clenched my fists, my heart racing with anger and frustration. But he was right. There would be another time to face Venjix.
After what felt like an eternity, we managed to fend off the rest of Drakkon’s forces. The battlefield fell silent once more, the enemy retreating, but the tension remained, thick and heavy. Back at the base, we demorphed, our exhaustion finally catching up to us. But instead of resting, I immediately headed to the training room. I needed to clear my mind. To think.
Jason called after me, his voice filled with concern, but I ignored him, slipping into the training room and shutting the door behind me. I couldn’t stop Drakkon from torturing me. I couldn’t stop Venjix from coming back. But I could still fight.
Desperate to find a way to stop Drakkon for good, I picked up a training staff and began my drills, each strike hitting harder than the last, fueled by the anger and frustration that had been building inside me.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx4YylMHKp
Jason’s POV
I stood just outside the training room, leaning against the doorframe as I watched Kali. She was completely absorbed in her drills, her body moving with a precision and fury that was almost unnerving. Every strike of her staff was delivered with raw emotion, each blow harder than the last. Sweat rolled down her face, her expression a mixture of frustration and anger, but also… something else. Desperation, maybe. I’d seen that look too many times in soldiers who’d been through hell and couldn’t find their way back.
Billy stepped up beside me, his brow furrowed as he watched her as well. I glanced at him, then back at Kali. She was so caught up in her training that she didn’t even notice us standing there. "She shouldn't be here," I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "This war... it's changed her so much. She's not the same Kali we met back in Coral Harbor."
Billy nodded slowly, his brown eyes filled with the same concern I felt. He always had that thoughtful look, like he was running through all the possible outcomes of a situation before speaking. "I know. I agree," he said, his voice soft but firm. "But there's not much we can do. You know she’ll refuse to go home until we stop Drakkon for good."
I clenched my fists, the frustration bubbling up inside me. I wanted to protect her, to shield her from all of this madness. But she was just as much a part of this war as any of us now. Still, it didn’t stop me from worrying. From thinking she’d lost herself in all of it. Billy glanced at me again, his brow furrowing in that thoughtful way he always did when he was working something out. "Who does she go to in every situation?" he asked, his voice measured.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "You and me."
"Exactly," Billy continued, his tone calm but serious. "We’re her anchors in all of this, Jason. Amongst all the death and destruction, we’re the ones she looks to. If her team was here—Devon, Zoey, Nate, Ravi, Steel—they’d be the ones she’d go to first. But they're not here. And no matter how much we think it would be good to bring them here, that decision is between her and her team."
I let out a slow breath, the weight of his words settling in. I hated that he was right, but he was. Kali had made it clear from the beginning that she didn’t want her team involved in this nightmare, no matter how much she missed them. She was trying to protect them the only way she knew how. But in doing so, she was carrying a burden that no one should have to bear alone. Billy continued, "So until then, she’ll keep looking to us for strength. We need to be there for her, even when it’s hard."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "I just don’t want her to lose sight of who she is; the confident, brave, strong Black Wolf Ranger of Coral Harbor." My mind drifted back to the first time we met her—how full of life she was, how sure of herself. Now… now I wasn’t so sure.
Billy put a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "She’s still in there, Jason. She hasn’t lost herself completely. But she needs us to remind her who she is. That’s why we can’t give up on her. Not now. Not when she needs us the most."
I glanced back into the training room, watching as Kali continued to strike, her movements growing more frantic. She didn’t stop, didn’t slow down, as if she was trying to fight off demons only she could see. "I just don’t want her to break," I muttered, my voice barely audible.
Billy nodded, his hand still resting on my shoulder. "Neither do I. But she’s strong, Jason. She’s stronger than any of us realize. She’ll come back from this. But it’s gonna take time."
I looked back at him, grateful for his calm presence. Billy always had a way of making sense of things, even in the middle of chaos. He was right, of course. He always was. "Thanks, man," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.
He offered a small, knowing smile. "That’s what I’m here for."
We stood there in silence for a few more moments, just watching Kali, our hearts heavy with worry. I couldn’t help but feel like we were running out of time. Drakkon was getting stronger, more ruthless with every attack, and I feared what would happen if we didn’t stop him soon. But more than that, I feared what would happen to Kali if we didn’t find a way to bring her back—to remind her of who she truly was before it was too late. Eventually, Billy broke the silence. "Maybe we should try talking to her again. Get her to open up."
I hesitated, glancing at Kali as she continued her relentless training. "I don’t know if she’s ready," I admitted. "She’s… closed off."
Billy nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe. But we have to try. She won’t get through this alone."
I nodded in agreement. "Let’s give her a bit more time. But yeah… we need to be there when she’s ready."
Billy and I shared one last look before turning away from the training room. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking a tightrope. One wrong step, and Kali could fall, lost to the darkness that had already taken so much from all of us. But as long as I had breath in my body, I’d fight for her. For all of us. That’s what Rangers do.
Later, as I stood by the window in the command room, I found myself glancing back toward the training area, knowing Kali was still in there, still pushing herself to the brink. She hadn’t taken a break, hadn’t given herself a chance to breathe since we returned from the battle. Billy sat at a nearby console, tinkering with another device, but his eyes occasionally flickered toward me, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. "She’s still in there," I muttered.
Billy sighed, not looking up from his work. "You’re not gonna convince her to stop, Jason. You know that."
"I know. But… we can’t let her keep doing this. It’s gonna destroy her."
Billy finally looked up, his brown eyes filled with the same worry I was feeling. "That’s why we’re here," he said softly. "We won’t let her go too far. We’ll pull her back."
I hoped he was right. I had to believe he was. Because the thought of losing Kali—not just physically, but losing the person she was—was unbearable. And if that meant standing by her, even when she didn’t want us to, then that’s what we’d do. Together. As a team.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWSDZxS29P
Kali’s POV
The rhythmic sound of my staff hitting the training dummy echoed through the small, dimly lit room. My muscles burned with each strike, but I barely noticed. I’d been at it for hours now, sweat soaking through my t-shirt, my hair clinging to my face. Every swing of my weapon was driven by the same thought: how do I stop him?
Drakkon. No matter how many times we faced him, he always seemed to come back stronger. I couldn’t get the image of Jen out of my head, her blood spilling as Drakkon tore her apart, and Ziggy screaming in pain. The faces of every Ranger Drakkon had slaughtered haunted me. There had to be a way to stop him—for good. But no matter how hard I trained, how hard I fought, I still couldn’t see the answer. I paused for a second, letting out a deep breath, and wiped the sweat from my brow. Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Jason entering the room, his expression serious but warm.
"Hey, Kali," he said with a small smile. "Mind if I join ya?"
I nodded, pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh, hey Jase. Sure."
Jason grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and took a position next to me, starting his own training drills. The room was filled with the sound of our weapons slicing through the air, but for the first time in what felt like forever, it wasn’t suffocating. Jason had that effect on me—he made things seem… lighter. For a few minutes, we trained in silence, but I could feel the words building up inside me, threatening to spill over. I knew I needed to talk about it, but every time I tried to open my mouth, the frustration and guilt threatened to choke me. Finally, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
"Jason," I began, my voice strained. "I've been trying to figure out how to stop Drakkon for good, but… I’m not sure how. And it’s driving me insane."
Jason didn’t stop his movements, but I could tell he was listening closely. His swings were smooth, practiced, and steady. "You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself, you know," he said softly. "You've got me, Billy, Trini, Ziggy… all of us. We're in this together. You don't have to carry this weight alone."
I stopped mid-swing, my staff resting heavily in my hands as I sighed deeply. I turned to face him, the weight of everything I’d been holding in finally settling on my shoulders. "I know, but... I'm Drakkon's own flesh and blood, Jason. He's my father."
Jason stopped his training too, setting the wooden sword down for a moment. He took a step closer, his expression serious but filled with warmth and understanding. "Kali, you aren’t responsible for his actions. You never will be. I don’t care if he’s your biological father—you’re not him. You’re you. You’re the brave, strong, and confident Black Wolf Ranger, and that’s who you’ve always been."
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. "But it feels like… like every death, every person he's killed, is somehow on me. I should be the one to stop him, Jason. I have to."
Jason shook his head, stepping even closer until he was standing directly in front of me. "No, Kali. You shouldn’t have to carry this on your own. Stopping Drakkon isn’t just on you. You can’t take the blame for the things he’s done. You are notyour father. You’re a Ranger, and you’re fighting on the right side. We’re all in this together. We’re a family, and we’ll figure this out—together."
His words sank in, but the guilt and doubt still gnawed at the edges of my mind. I felt my breath hitch, the familiar sensation of tears threatening to spill. But I refused to break down in front of him. Not now. I looked up at Jason, his eyes filled with nothing but support and understanding. He didn’t pity me—he believed in me. Just like he always had.
"You know," Jason continued, "when I became the Red Ranger, I felt a lot of pressure too. I didn’t have all the answers, but I learned that I didn’t have to. The team was there for me every step of the way, and they’ll be there for you too. You’re never alone in this, Kali."
I wiped my eyes, embarrassed by how emotional I was getting. "Thanks, Jase. I just… I’m scared, okay? I’m scared that I’m not strong enough to stop him. And if I can’t stop him, more people are going to die because of me."
Jason didn’t hesitate. He reached out and pulled me into a hug. It wasn’t the first time he’d done it, but it still caught me off guard. He was like the big brother I never had. His arms wrapped around me, and for the first time in days, I allowed myself to lean into it, to just breathe.
"You are strong enough," he said softly, his voice steady and comforting. "And no matter what happens, we’re going to stop him. Drakkon might be strong, but he’s not unbeatable. He’s never faced someone like you before. And you’re not alone—you’ve got us. And together, we’ll find a way to stop him."
I closed my eyes, taking in the comfort his words gave me. He was right—this wasn’t something I had to face alone. But the fear still lingered, a shadow I couldn’t quite shake. After a few moments, Jason pulled back slightly, his hands resting on my shoulders as he gave me a reassuring smile. "Now, how about you go get some rest? You’ve been pushing yourself way too hard, and you won’t be able to help if you burn out."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Jason’s raised eyebrow stopped me in my tracks. "Yeah, yeah, I know," I said with a sigh, "I need to rest. Fine. But just for a little bit."
Jason chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You’re as stubborn as ever."
"Comes with the territory," I replied, managing a small smile of my own.
Jason let out a low laugh and gave me a gentle pat on the back. "Go on, get some sleep. I’ll check on you later."
With one last glance at the training room, I turned and left, heading for my quarters. My body was sore, my mind exhausted, but Jason’s words stayed with me, a small beacon of hope amidst the chaos. He believed in me, and maybe… just maybe, I could believe in myself too. Once I got to my room, I collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Jason was right—I needed the rest. But even after our talk, the guilt and doubt lingered. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Drakkon’s shadow was looming over everything, and it terrified me.
I pulled the blanket over myself, curling up on my side as the images from the last battle played on a loop in my mind. Jen’s lifeless body. Ziggy’s scream of pain. The faces of the Rangers Drakkon had destroyed… they haunted me, even in the silence of my room.No matter how hard I tried, the weight of it all never truly lifted. I knew Jason and Billy were there for me, but the pain was still mine to carry. And as I lay there, I couldn’t help but wonder… how much longer could I keep fighting before I broke?
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