It was late in Skull Castle, Diabolico roughly alone in the large palace. Dara, Vypra and Lurekan were preparing for their assault on the city, and Jinxer was tending to Impus. For everything that was going on, the demon was quite bored.

"Brother," Loki's voice called, the demon walking over to Diabolico with a concerned look on his face. "Something's bothering me."

"What is it?"

"Well..." Loki frowned as he search for the right words. "I rarely question your judgement, but this has been eating at me. Do you really believe it wise to send Vypra with Dara to the city? You know as well as I do that witch has no love for your daughter, let alone this mission."

"You're afraid that Vypra will try something while they are in the human city," Diabolico concluded, frowning as he sighed. "I agree that she wishes to further her own twisted agenda, but Dara can take care of herself, plus she has Lurekan to aid her if Vypra decides to betray us now."

Loki nodded, knowing his brother was right. Dara was very capable of handling herself, she had even bested Vypra in combat. "Perhaps it is just needless worrying. Still, I only trust Vypra as far as I can throw her, and that's not very much without putting a full effort into it."

"Don't worry," the golden demon stated. "Vypra knows better than to mess with our family. When our task is done, and the Grand Dame arrives, we will be rewarded, and Vypra will think twice about trying to carry out any agendas she has."

Mitchell sighed as his limo drove away from the site of the fire, the man silently cursing what had just happened. He had gone about trying to get his son back on the project all wrong, trying to play on Ryan's sense of duty, not what really mattered. Part of the reason was a bad accident two months ago, the one that had cause Ryan to finally turn in his commission and join the fire department.

There had been an incident before though, one Mitchell know had been a massive factor. It was still fresh in his memory, even after almost two years since the accident, and he was sure it was all to vivid still in Ryan's mind.

2004.125

"Beginning tests, all systems ready."

Ryan smiled as he watched his friend Daniel Onei step into the energizing chamber, nodding to the man. "Go get 'em."

"First major test," Carter remarked as he walked over, patting Ryan on the shoulder. "Here's to acing it."

"You think you'll get the highest synch rate?" Ryan replied with a scoff. "Fat chance, bro. If it's anyone making it, it's me."

"Oh really?"

"That's enough witty banter," Captain Mitchell snapped as he walked over, stopping the verbal battle between the two. "Sometimes I wonder if adopting Carter was a bad idea."

"About twenty years too late to change your mind," Greir cracked, turning to watch the first activation test. "Seriously though, I hope this works, we haven't had much luck before. Bad enough the first attempt didn't even start a transformation."

"It'll work, it has to work."

Dan sighed as he stood in the energizer and placed his hands on its rest pads. "Ready to start, sir. Just give the word."

"Start test."

Dan nodded and braced himself for any kind of energy surge as he called out a command. "Lightspeed, engage!" Light blasted out of the energizer, covering Dan as the faint form of an armor began to shape into existence.

"Oh yeah, activation is working!"

"Don't jump the gun," Mitchell replied, but he couldn't help share the enthusiasm. After months of failed tests, they were finally getting somewhere. "Keep an eye on his energy levels and make sure we're in the safe zone."

Dan gritted his teeth while the armor continued forming, the suit finally stabilizing, then fluctuating wildly. "Sir!"

"Energy readings are hitting critical level!" one of the technicians called out. "It's going to overload!"

"Abort activation!"

"We can't, the power surge is locking up the system!"

Flaming Red Enters

Ryan and Carter stared in shock as Dan started screaming from the overload of power, the man in obvious unbearable pain. "Shut it down, it's gonn'a kill him!"

"System is locked up, we can't shut anything down!"

Mitchell growled, then pulled out his key card and slid it into a scanner, tapping a keypad as fast as he could. "Please shut down..."

Just as the light in the chamber began brightening to almost blinding levels, all the power in the lab went out, Mitchell's code having cause a full scale generator shut down. It wasn't enough in time though as a massive influx of energy backlashed into the walls of the energizer chamber.

"Shit!" Carter swore, he and Ryan forcing open the door and running in to find Dan crumbled on the ground, but still alive. "Medic!"

"Dan, are you all right?"

The man weakly nodded, wincing as Ryan checked him over. "It burns..."

Mitchell ran into the chamber, then swore softly as he saw the burns that Dan had sustained. "Damnit, I'm sorry. We should have anticipated this..."

Ryan merely turned back to glare at his father, then went back to helping Dan, the medics arriving and taking him to sick bay. "What now? Obviously, it's not going to work."

"We keep working on it," Mitchell replied. "Despite the failure, we did get it to at least work partly, that's what matters to the project."

"Despite failure? Dad, it nearly killed him! That's a sign we should stop now until we know what the hell we're doing! Don't you care about the lives that run this project?!"

"You think I don't?!" the captain snapped back harshly. "I'm just as glad as you that Dan's still alive, and I'm sorry this happened. But I also have to think about this project, and if we don't have any progress, we could get shut down. I can't let that happen!"

Mitchell sighed again as he shoved back the memories. Dan had lived, but the shock of the overload had screwed up the muscles in his left leg permanently, effectively eliminating him from duty. "Damn shame, we could use him right now..."

"Captain," the driver called. "There's someone out here, looks like he wants to talk with you."

Mitchell looked out the window as a man walked over, one he recognized. "Daniel?" he muttered, rolling down the window. "Daniel Onei? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I could say to get some fresh air, but considering the situation, that'd obviously be total bull. I figured you might be down here, what with Ryan handling that fire."

Mitchell sighed sadly as he looked at Daniel. "He's still not willing to let things go...can't say I blame him. Still, considering we need him-"

"I think the problem lies in the fact that Ryan thinks you want him to do it for you," Dan replied. "May I?"

The captain nodded as he opened the door, scooting over as Dan got in the limo and shit the door behind him. "What's on your mind?"

Dan sighed as he was silent for a few seconds. "I want to help you in any way I can," he finally stated. "Helping out at an orphanage is fine, but it's not helping the people who really need it. I want to join back up again."

Mitchell frowned as he sighed and lowered his head. "Well, I'll be glad to have you back with us, I can get you a position as an ops commander, but you won't be able to do any field missions."

"Anything to help out," Daniel replied earnestly. "I know my leg would keep me limited, but I want to help in any way I can."

The captain smiled lightly as he nodded and patted Dan on the shoulder. "All right, we'll get you back on the project tonight, and you can start back on duty in the morning. Right now, I think we could all use some rest."

Dan smiled weakly as the driver started up the limo and drove off, heading for the Aqua Base's surface side entry port.

Ryan, as he and his team returned to the station, growled in anger at the events of the night. The boy he had saved would be all right save for some minor burns, but there was no word or sign of his parents. "Damnit, this is getting worse every friggin' day!"

He wondered as he stripped off his gear if he had made the right decision in regards to his father. It was true he was one of only two people who could successfully use the Lightspeed Red powers, but after what had happened before, two months ago...

No, as much as they needed a Red Ranger, Lightspeed probably couldn't even get the powers to work right. If they had, then the original team wouldn't be dead, and his best friend and adopted brother would still be alive. No, Lightspeed wasn't able to do any good, not before, and not now. It would make no difference if he did join, he'd probably end up dead along with everyone else.

Morning arrived, Kelsey yawning as she was snapped awake by the revely over the speakers. Cursing softly, she got up and got dressed, grabbing a canteen and filling it with water before running off to the mess-hall for some breakfast. "Another day, another run of training. Kelsey, the things you get yourself into."

As she entered the mess hall, Kelsey noticed Kendrix sitting in a corner by herself, only sipping something from a mug. The woman got her food and walked over to the major's spot, setting her tray down. "This seat taken?"

Kendrix looked up and widened her eyes a bit. "No...actually I was just leaving."

"Right when I showed up," Kelsey replied. "Major, we can't work as a team if we don't get to know each other. We've got, what, an hour and a half before work starts. Relax a bit, and get to know your team."

Morgan smiled weakly as she sighed and nodded. "All right, you got me. Guess I have been giving you guys the cold shoulder these past few days."

Kelsey smiled as she sat down and nodded. "You have been. So, what's it like being a major here? In fact, what did you do before you came to this project? I heard someone mention you've only been here four months."

"I was an officer on Terra Venture, the colony station," Kendrix replied, setting down her cup. "We finally reached a planet, and I was sent back to give a report on the colony, and because Captain Stanton knew a bit about Lightspeed, so he recommended me to the project."

Kelsey nodded as she took a few bite of her cheese omelet. "Sounds well enough. You knew the team before us pretty well, didn't you?"

Nodding, Kendrix sighed. "Yeah, I worked with all of them on training with the Bracers and powers. The original Lightspeed Pink wasn't even me, it was Ila Drake, former special forces solider. When she disappeared just before the demons arrived, I had to take her place." Blinking, Morgan looked around. "Speaking of the team, where's Joel? I'd expect him to be in here eating what he can before we start."

"Probably trying to get what sleep he can before the day starts," Kelsey cracked. "I wouldn't worry. He may not act serious about this, but he means well."

"Reminds me of Damon," Kendrix muttered, sipping her drink.

"Damon?" Kelsey asked.

"Old friend of mine back on the colony, he was one of the engineering chiefs. He was serious when needed, but most of the time, wasn't that tight about things. Wonder what Garret would think of him."

"Who's Garret?"

"The original Lightspeed Green," Kendrix answered. "He was killed by the vampires, I had to vaporized his body to make sure they wouldn't turn him into one of them."

Kelsey lowered her eyes in remorse. "I'm sorry...Guess I know why you're kind'a distant with us."

Kendrix slightly nodded, then smiled. "If you think I'm distant, you should'a seen Matt. He was distant to people."

"Another friend, I assume."

Kendrix nodded as she got finished her drink. "Yeah, a good one too. Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime..."

"Major, it's Mitchell," came the captain's voice over Morgan's Bracer coms. "Get Miss Winslow and Mister Rawlings, I need to speak with you three in my office."

Kendrix looked to Kelsey and nodded. "Winslow's already with me, we'll try and find Rawlings on the way over."

"What's going on?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Kendrix replied. "Best finish that up on the way, let's go."

As the two walked down the corridors of the aqua base, they didn't see Joel on their way, reaching Mitchell's office without the man. "Sir, reporting as ordered. We didn't see Mister Rawlings on the way down."

"It's all right, he can hear this later," Mitchell replied, glancing over to a corner. "Major, I believe you remember Lieutenant Commander Onei."

"Dan?!" Kendrix gasped in surprise as she turned and saw the man. "God, it is you! What are you doing here?"

Onei smiled as he and Kendrix shook hands. "Well, I've been lazing around a bit, figured I may as well join back up and help out how ever I can."

"Commander Onei is going to be assisting me in bridge operations," Mitchell stated. "He'll be joining us for a course run later, but I thought you and your Rangers would like to meet him early."

"Isn't there supposed to be another one of them?" Daniel asked. "Where's the third Ranger?"

"Probably still trying to catch some sleep," Kelsey remarked as she walked over and held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Kelsey, Lightspeed Yellow."

"Daniel Onei," the man replied cheerfully. "I heard about how the powers synched with you and your friend near perfectly, gott'a say it surprised the hell outt'a me."

"Was a surprise for use as well," Kelsey stated as she shrugged. "I'll admit, we're not the best, but we try."

Daniel nodded, then turned as the third Ranger ran into the office. "This is..."

"Glad you could join us, Mister Rawlings," Mitchell stated, glaring slightly at Joel. "I assume you were catching up on sleep?"

"Actually, getting something to eat when I got your call," Joel replied, panting a bit. "Your office a long way from the other side of this base, you know."

Ignoring the comment, Mitchell gestured to Daniel. "Mister Rawlings, this is Lieutenant Commander Onei, he'll be assisting with operations. He's another one of us people you'll take orders from. Daniel, this is Joel Rawlings, Lightspeed Green, and probably the most irresponsible of our team."

"I take offense to that," Joel replied sharply, then nodded to Daniel. "Nice to meet you."

"Joel Rawlings, Sky Cowboy, right?" Daniel asked with a smile. "I've heard of you, one of those crazy stunt pilots for air shows. Just hope you fight better than you fly."

"Hey..."

"I'm kidding!" the man added with a chuckle. "Unlike the Captain, I have a sense of humor. You've done fine so far from what I hear, other than a thing against training, but hey, we all did."

Mitchell cleared his throat as the commander was joking with the Rangers. "Well, since we're all here, perhaps we can get started early. Full course run today, so I hope you're all ready, especially you, Joel."

Opening his mouth to respond, Joel thought it better not to complain and just nodded. "Yes sir."

Meanwhile, in Skull Castle, Dara was smiling at the infant Impus as the baby demon laughed. "I know, you're just the most adorable thing here."

"Make us sick, why don't you?" Vypra groaned as she appeared. Impus' laughter was soon replaced with crying, Dara glaring at the older demoness. "Oh, is the little baby upset? Too bad."

"Stuff it, Vypra," Dara snapped, trying to calm the baby down. "He doesn't like you, and you know it. You purposely make him scared just by walking in here, stop doing that to him."

"What is with you and that repulsive looking brat?" Vypra stated coldly. "Even for a demon, he's...hideous."

"He's different, is that so bad?" Dara replied, turning to keep Vypra out of Impus' sight. "And unlike you, he didn't steal a human's body, one I might add is still not completely yours. It would have been falling apart by now if that woman's soul were gone."

Growling, Vypra knew that Dara was right; she still hadn't been able to destroy Ila's soul, where as the other host bodies had been totally conquered. Diabolico and Loki had almost completely shed their host bodies, and Jinxer's was halfway gone. Her own was still in perfect condition, the demoness' true form not pushing its way through yet.

"She's stronger than most humans for some reason, but that's it. I still control the body."

"Obviously not well enough," Dara noted, seeing Vypra's left arm begin to twitch against her will. "She still has some measure of influence, that best not get in the way when we attack."

"Speaking of the attack, why do we not attack now!" Vypra snapped. "We should be slaughtering the humans!"

"It's daytime, our vampires would be weakened," Dara answered matter-of -factly. "We attack tonight after sundown, is that understood, Vypra? Or should I have my father remind you that you are under my orders for this mission?"

Growling, Vypra vanished, Dara sighing as she held Impus close. "Try and forget about her, little one. She's just a mean witch, who has nothing left but to try and scare you."

Setting the infant in his bed, Dara smiled softly to him before shutting the door behind her as she left, then putting a spell on it to keep Vypra out of the chamber. The demoness then walked down the corridor to where her father waited, nodding to Diabolico. "He'll be alseep soon, so long as Vypra doesn't figure out how to break my ward on his chamber."

"Personal distain for the witch?"

Dara nodded as she sighed. "Yes and no. Something doesn't feel right about her, she has agendas of her own that involve something other than our mission, I can sense it. I'm worried about taking her with me to the battle this night." She smiled as Diabolico handed her a goblet. "Maybe if I'm lucky, she and that Pink Ranger will kill each other."

"Such ill will to one of our own," the golden demon replied, then smirked. "It would do us better if she was not part of our force, but we have no choice as of now. By the way, don't kill that Ranger if possible, I have plans for her. Capture the Pink Ranger, and kill the others, then bring their powers to me, they can be used to our advantage."

"Father, that's easier said than done," Dara stated. "You saw what that Red Ranger did, he killed himself to take out our first demon soldier. If that was any indication of what these Rangers will do-"

"You will take the Pink Ranger alive," Diabolico repeated. "She's too powerful to just be terminated, she carries part of Alahyde's powers in her. That can be used for our purposes, we can turn her to darkness."

Dara frowned as she sipped on the contents of her goblet. "I would think it is impossible to turn a Ranger to darkness, unless they are already Rangers of Evil, like the Psycho Rangers I studied about."

"They were clones of the First Rangers," Diabolico replied. "Evil clones, as such, they didn't have to be turned. But it can be done, I speak from experience, plus, history has shown even Rangers of Light are not immune to darkness. Do you know how the original Rangers were beaten? Not by some great power of Evil, but by one of their own who turned on them and betrayed his fellows. True, in the end, his former leader destroyed him, but the other three Rangers were dead by his hands by then."

"So it can be done," Dara concluded, sipping down more on the wine blood in her cup. "Still, I can't help but wonder if it will be with this Pink Ranger."

Diabolico smiled as he turned to face wall of the chamber, a large golden sword mounted on the wall as some kind of memorial. "As I said, my daughter, I speak from personal experience, it can be done. You best go and prepare to attack, sundown in the human world is in an hour."

Dara nodded and left the chamber, passing by Impus' room on her way to get Lurekan. She knew the child would be safe so long as her spell on the chamber remained, but she couldn't help worry about the baby.

As the sun went down over Mariner Bay, Ryan waited in the barracks of the fire department, starting to catnap as a way of catching up on lost sleep. He had been plagued with nightmares the past few night, and this night was no different, save that this time, it was more vivid than before. People dying, but their faces were clear and familiar, those of people he knew, his friends. He saw the original team of Lightspeed Rangers being slaughtered by the demon forces, then saw Carter dying as he stopped the Skullrock demon.

It was then a shadowed form appeared, cloaked by darkness, but emerald lights winked from the chest region. "They need you, this world will be consumed by Hell if you don't help them."

Ryan's mind turned away from those words, refusing to be told that he should help his estranged father. Apparently, the figure knew that Ryan was avoiding everything.

"Listen to me, I know you better than even you do! You've questioned your every move since that event two months ago, and rightfully so, but because what happened, because you left them! They need you, and if you don't take up your responsibility, this entire universe will be damned to become part of Hell for all eternity!"

Ryan suddenly snapped out of his sleep as the alarms went off, the man racing out of his seat and pulling on his uniform before getting to the truck and riding off with his team. The words of the shadowed figure in his dream began to make him question his words to his father, and he started to wonder if he had indeed made the right decision.

Dara and her band returned to the city, this time with Vypra in their midst. The young demoness sent her vampire forces to prey on the city, slaughtering many, and transforming several civilians into more of their undead ranks.

Dara smiled as several police cars pulled up, holding up her hand and firing off several blasts at the police and forcing the humans to retreat. "Utter fools," she muttered, explosions rocking the streets. She laughed as the human law enforcement scattered to escape and nodded to Vypra. "Let the blood stain these roads, Vypra. It will be more than enough to draw out the Rangers."

Just as they had at the city fire department, alarms went off throughout the aquabase, the three Rangers racing to the bridge while Mitchell and Daniel watched the events on a large viewscreen. "Sir, what's the situation?"

"Three demons this time," the captain replied, most somber as he gestured to the image. "What's worse, we know what happened to Ila, and I'm afraid I was right."

Looking at the screen, Kendrix gasped the instant she saw Vypra. "Ila?! Good god, they possessed her! That means the girl I fought could be just some host as well!"

"We're working on finding out, but right now, you have to stop them, we've already got innocents being turned into vampires at last report, and several law enforcement officers have been killed, more injured."

"We're on it!" Morgan stated as she and the other two Rangers raced down the corridors to the hanger bay and boarded the humvee, tearing off down the travel tunnels to the surface.

"I hope it doesn't come to killing her," Dan muttered softly, Mitchell merely nodding as they went back to ops.

It wasn't long before the Rangers arrived at the battle zone, finding the bodies of several people on the ground, while vampires swarmed the area. Kendrix got out of the humvee and drew her blaster, firing in a fluid movement and vaporizing a vampire in an instant.

"So quick to kill," Vypra stated as she, Dara, and Lurekan appeared. "I can see why your skills are desired."

Kendrix merely frowned as Joel and Kelsey stood behind her, both with their own blasters at ready. "Ila. I know you're in there, so fight that demon bitch!"

"Ila?" Vypra scoffed. "Ila, Ila...the name sounds familiar. Oh yes, the former inhabitant of this body. So sorry, but your friend Ila is, how do you say, 'Out to Lunch', as you humans would put it. The name has no meaning to me at all."

"No!"

Dara smiled cruelly as she raised her sword and point to Kendrix. "I'm afraid so. Soon, you won't care about your former life either once we show you what true power is."

Kendrix growled and snapped her wrist in instinctive reflex before taking the Delta Ranger morph stance. "Let's Jet!" she cried out, bringing back her arm and activating the Bracer to be transformed into Lightspeed Pink.

"'Let's Jet'?" Joel whispered. "What kind of activation code is that?"

"I don't think these things have activation codes," Kelsey replied. "Best get the lead out though." She tapped the activator switch and transformed, Joel doing the same as they both then summoned their weapons and got ready.

Kendrix held out her hand as Vypra laughed. "Medi-Boa!" she called, the battle staff forming in her palm. Kendrix gripped it tightly and raced towards the three demons, striking away any vampires that got in here way. "Die you bitch!"

"Vampires, attack the Green and Yellow Rangers!" Dara ordered. "Leave the Pink one to us!"

The undead soldiers obeyed the command and stayed away from Kendrix as they swarmed Joel and Kelsey. The two Rangers put up a good fight, but were cut off from helping Kendrix in any way.

"Shit! Major!"

"She's toast if we can't get to her!" Joel exclaimed, slashing a vampire hard with energized Aero-Blades.

Dan growled as he watched the battle, then turned to Captain Mitchell. "Sir, they need a Red Ranger, now."

"I know," the captain replied. "But we don't have anyone who can handle it." He sighed and left the bridge, leaving Dan to run things.

Onei shook his head as he glanced over to a lieutenant. "Patterson, keep things going here, there's something I gott'a do."

The young officer need only hear those words to figure out what Onei was planning, but said nothing and only gave an understanding nod while Daniel ran as fast as he was capable down a corridor to the lab. The guards there gave him little hold up, knowing his clearance to be rather high, and allowed him into the storage section where the Bracers were kept.

Dan was quick to grab the Red Bracer, knowing that it was the more powerful between it and the blue, and the others needed all the power they could get. He sealed the vault, nodded to the guards, then head down to the hanger and started up a humvee before tearing off down the tunnel to the surface. He only hoped that he wasn't too late.

The battle indeed was not going well for the Rangers. Kendrix was injured badly, and Joel and Kelsey were on the verge of being over run by the vampires. Dara smiled as she picked Kendrix up by the neck. "Well, looks like mission accomplished. Vypra, Lurekan, let's go. We got what we--"

A bright silvery shot slammed into the demoness' arm, causing Dara to drop Kendrix and grab the wound with a scream. In a flash, a silver blur shot out from the shadows and slammed into the vampires, causing many of the undead ghouls to burst apart into ashes.

The blur stopped as it turned to glare at Dara, showing that it was clad in some kind of silver armor and a helmet not unlike that the Rangers wore, save for the distinct visor rimmed by gold, mouth plate, and the black sphere on the frontal top area.

"Who in the inferno are you?!"

The figure only took aim at Dara, then seemed to hesitate firing. "You're not like them," a heavily distorted voice stated coldly. "You're human, why do you help those who want to kill this world?"

Dara's eyes narrowed at the statement, and she raised her sword in preparation to attack. "I am half demon, mortal. My father is the Lord Diabolico, and it is our mission to destroy this planet for the Emperor!"

Kendrix managed to get away from the demons and stood by the silver figure. "Who are you?"

"A friend," the man, so Kendrix guessed from the build, replied. Even this close, the voice was far too warped for Kendrix to even consider trying to recognize it. He quickly fired at Lurekan, then switched his weapon to a sword mode as Dara ran forward and swung, the man blocking and kicking the demoness away. "If you must call me by a name, MegaSilver will do for now. That's all you need to know."

Vypra snarled and ran at the two, Kendrix blocking the demoness' sword with her Medi-boa while MegaSilver kicked her away and ran to help Joel and Kelsey. "So, you have more allies!"

Kendrix merely swung with her boa and clashed weapons with Vypra. The demoness screamed when the Pink Ranger hit her in the arm with a bladed end, then vanished in teleportation. The woman breathed with relief, then raced to help her fellow Rangers and MegaSilver. "You guys all right?"

"Thanks to this guy," Joel replied. "Thanks, buddy. We owe you big time."

"I go where I'm needed, simple as that," MegaSilver stated. He turned just in time to block a strike from Lurekan, then was flung back by the demon. "Damnit!" he swore, getting back to his feet and rushing the demon. He clashed weapons with Lurekan, blocking several times before falling for a feign and getting slammed across the visor by the demon's blade.

Backing away, MegaSilver held the hit section, then fired at Lurekan. "Get me out of here!" he called before vanishing into a beam of light that streaked away into the sky.

"Who was that guy?" Joel muttered as he watched the beam vanish.

"Later," Kendrix stated as the demons and vampires moved towards them. "We've got even bigger problems right now."

"Major," Kelsey began. "You're in no condition to keep fighting, we've got to get out of here! Let's go!"

Kendrix glared at Dara, then nodded. The three were stopped from escape as another swarm of vampires appeared out of the ground to blockade them. The Rangers were cut off completely from retreat, and Kendrix had a sickening sense of deja vu. "Shit..."

Just then, they heard a vehicle coming roaring towards them. A jet black humvee slammed into a group of the vampires before turning and skidding to a halt. The fact of the humvee wasn't what shocked Kendrix however; it was the driver. "Daniel?!"

"Who else?!" the man replied as he got out of the humvee and fired his sidearm at the vampires, giving the Rangers cover as they ran to join him. "Looks like I got here just in time!"

"What the hell?!" Mitchell bellowed in shock as he realized what was going on. "Onei, what the hell are you doing out there?!"

"I don't have to explain, sir!" Daniel's voice replied over the communications speakers. "You can chew me out later, if there is a later! Onei out!"

"Captain, one of the Bracers is missing from the vault," Dr. Fairweather stated with a pale face. "He must have taken it."

Mitchell growled as he gritted his teeth, trying not to explode. "He's got to be crazy! The Lightspeed powers nearly killed him two years ago!"

"Get to the hummer!" Daniel ordered as he continued to fire at the vampires. Joel and Kelsey fired their own weapons while backing up to the humvee. A group of the ghouls rose up to cut them off, the four trapped again. Dan frowned as he got a rough count of the vampire ranks. "Damnit, there's about thirty of them."

"I count forty," Kendrix replied. "We're dead. Sorry about all this, Danny."

"We're not dead yet," the man replied, holstering his weapon and raising his left arm to reveal the Bracer. "I still got a trump card."

"Daniel, are you crazy?!"

"Lightspeed," he shouted. "Engage!"

Red energy burst out of the bracer to engulf Onei. He yelled as a brief pain shot through him, but in an instant it was gone, along with the limp in his left leg. He held out his hand to let the rush of energy flow out and form into the Shield Saber before taking a defensive posture. "Now, I think the odds just evened."

"I don't know whether Mitchell is going to commended you or kill you," Kendrix remarked dryly. "But to hell if I'm going to let this go! Welcome back, Danny!"

Dara snarled as she saw the four Rangers powered and ready. "Vampires, slaughter them!"

Obeying their orders, the ghouls swarmed in. Daniel slashed hard and cleaved a pair in half, then turned and whipped out his blaster to blow another's head off at point-blank. Kendrix was quick to flick out her medi-boa and impale one of the undead soldiers with the bladed end, then swung back and beheaded another, her foes bursting apart into dust.

Kelsey and Joel had similar luck, assaulting their vampire foes and turning them to ashes with the energized strikes of both Aero-Blade and Tonfa. It wasn't long before the four Rangers had all but decimated the vampire legions, the team turning to face Dara and Lurekan.

"I'll offer you one chance to surrender!" Daniel called as he aimed his sword to the demoness. "If you do not accept this chance to leave and not come back, we will be forced to terminate you both!"

Dara smirked with an evil gleam in her eyes before flashing out her blade and causing a massive bolt of lightning to surge out and detonate the humvee behind the Rangers. Kelsey and Joel were flung hard to the ground while Daniel and Kendrix were thrown in the opposite direction. Dara laughed coldly as she walked over to where the Red and Pink Rangers had landed, picking up Daniel and glaring into his visor. "Such a fool you are, human! Perhaps it should be fitting to bury you here!"

With a powerful thrust, Dara flung Dan into the air. The man slammed through the side of a store building, only for Dara to follow the throw with a volley of blasts that brought the store collapsing on him.

"Daniel!" Kendrix screamed, then jumped up and slammed into Dara. Her helmet started warping before the demoness' eye, the visor reshaping from an inverted triangle to a mouth shaped band of black. Energy crackled over the Pink Ranger's form as she stood up and held the medi-boa like a staff, armor changing in form to that of another, one that Dara know only from legends and stories of what her father had told her.

"By Asmordian's hand," she whispered. "It can't be...the Ranger of Heart..."

Standing before the demons and the downed Lightspeed Rangers was no longer Lightspeed Pink. Instead stood the form of a chosen warrior, Delta Pink, the Ranger of Heart. Kendrix let out a feral snarl and ran at Dara, her boa crossing with the demoness' sword repeatedly as she moved like a wild animal, anger and raw fury uncaged and let loose on Dara.

As the two clashed, Dara was not only concerned but absolutely frightened by the raw power Kendrix held. Nothing could have prepared her for this battle, the human woman was fighting as if she were a wild beast! "Lurekan!"

"I hear and obey!" the demon called, moving to aid his mistress only for Kendrix to break away from Dara and spring upon him, a cat-like roar emanating from her as she struck Lurekan. It was as if her rage didn't care anymore who her target was, so long as it was one who had caused her pain and fury. "Bloody Inferno! She's like an animal!"

"Then let me put her down like we would any wild beast!" Dara exclaimed. She aimed her sword and let off a blast that slammed into Kendrix. The woman screamed as she was sent flying to the ground, both the armor of Delta Pink and Lightspeed Pink de-energizing away. Dara let out a breath of relief, then stepped over to where Kendrix lay and picked her up by the neck. "I can see now why my father wants you so badly," she stated with a smile. "Indeed, you are powerful, but your control of that power leaves something to be desired. I'm sure father will be more than willing to help you learn that restraint."

"Go to hell," Kendrix spat, blood trickling down her face. "I'd rather die than be one of you shitbags."

Narrowing her eyes, Dara flung Kendrix back to the ground and aimed her sword. "Do not say things you don't truly mean," she growled in anger. "You might just get them!"

"Let's move it!" Ryan yelled, his team spraying at the flames, but even then, it was obvious this fire was no normal fire; this was the work of the demons, something that would be near impossible to put out fast. "Damnit! Try and contain the flames, we've gott'a get the survivors outt'a here!"

Running into the blaze and rubble, Ryan searched for anyone still alive, then noticed a body in what looked like a Lightspeed uniform. He ran over to the form, gasping as he saw who it was. "Dan?! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Signed back up," the man croaked, wincing as Ryan tried to help him up. "No! Leg's snapped in half, I can't walk." He sighed as he held his left arm, unstrapping the Bracer. "It let me have a chance at least."

"Ah, shit! Danny, you know what those things did to you last time!" Ryan snapped. "Why the hell did you go and-"

"Ryan, listen to me!" Onei stated sharply. "Those demons, they're not out to kill Kendrix, they're trying to take her alive! There's something about her that makes her different from the other two Rangers, you can't let them have that! Take the Bracer and stop those monsters!"

"I already told my father I'm not going to join his team again, don't go talking for him!"

"Ryan, don't do this for your dad! Do this for the people that will die if you don't...for that kid! Make sure that never happens again!"

Ryan was speechless as he took the Bracer, then picked up Daniel as carefully as he could and called over a paramedic. "Try and keep him alive, I got something I gott'a do! Nathan, you're in charge!"

Strapping on the morpher, Ryan stripped off his jacket and ran towards the battlefield, yelling as he slammed into Dara and knocked her down. "I've had enough of you assholes!"

"Ryan?!"

Dara snarled as she got back to her feet, raising her sword to point at the human. "You fool! You really think you can fight me?!"

Ryan steeled his eyes, taking stance as he held his ground. "I'm sick of you things killing not only innocents, but my friends as well. I'm not putting up with this any more! Lightspeed wants its Red Ranger, it's got one!"

Kendrix watched in shock, noticing the Red Bracer on Ryan's wrist. "God...Dan must have gotten it to him."

Crossing his arms, Ryan glared coldly at Dara, then snapped his right hand forward, quickly bringing it back and jabbing hard on the activation switch. "Lightspeed...Engage!"

Energy burst out of the morpher, exploding in a blaze of light as it engulfed Ryan, transforming him completely. The armor of Lightspeed Red formed in a fiery fashion, burning into existence over his body as the helmet digitized into form, re-breather sliding over his mouth while the visor slammed down to cover his face.

"Captain, Lightspeed Red's active again...good god!"

Mitchell ran over to the station, looking at the monitor as the crewman was gaping in shock. "Oh my god...those power levels are higher than anything we've seen except for Kendrix...it's got to be Ryan."

Smiling broadly, Mitchell turned to where Angela was standing. "Doctor, get the Shield Saber ready, we've finally got the Ranger we need!"

As the light from Ryan's violent transformation faded, Dara gaped in horror when the fully powered Red Ranger raced at her, the demoness leaping up and over, then getting kicked hard. She hit the ground, quickly getting back to her feet in time to dodge another attack. "Nine Hells, who is this human?!"

"Dara, return to Skull Castle at once!" Diabolico's voice ordered. "Something's very strange about this new Ranger, I don't want you at risk!"

The demon princess reluctantly nodded and vanished, leaving Lurekan to handle Ryan. The demon smiled as he picked up a large chunk of debris and transformed it into a sword, racing towards the Red Ranger with a war cry.

"Shit!" Ryan swore, jumping back to avoid a strike. "I hope to god I've got some weapons here!"

"Ryan, it's Angela Fairweather!" a voice called over his coms. "Open the weapons menu of your onboard computer, it'll let you call out the Shield Saber! It's the only melee weapon you've got!"

"Sounds like a plan," Ryan muttered, holding out his hand and sending energy coursing into his palm. "Shield Saber!" he called, the weapon forming with a blaze into his hand. Ryan swiftly brought the weapon up and blocked a swing from Lurekan, pushing the demon's weapon away and kicking him hard. "All right, let's try this again!"

Blades clashed as Ryan went full tilt at the demon, slashing and kicking Lurekan without mercy. The demon soldier was truly frightened by this foe he faced, it was like something about Ryan struck pure terror in his mind. Lurekan growled and blocked a swing, then grabbed Ryan and flung him away into the rubble, flashing his arm out and unleashing a blast of flames.

The demon laughed as Ryan did not emerge from the fires, then turned to face the Rangers. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, you three were about to die!"

"Demon!"

Lurekan snapped up and spun in shock to see Ryan walk out of the flames, seemingly unscathed. Indeed, the blaze served to enhance his power, the fire licking at his armor and coursing over his form as red light. "What?! That's impossible!"

Ryan let out a yell as he ran towards the demon, sword poised out and impaling Lurekan in the chest. The black visor retracted, allowing the demon to see Ryan's vengeful eyes. "Give my regards to hell!"

Lurekan gasped as he felt a blast of fiery power tear into him, the demon screaming in pain just before he exploded apart. Ryan sighed with relief as he de-powered the Shield Saber, then fell out of morph, holding his arm. He turned and walked to where Kendrix, Kelsey and Joel stood in shock at what he had been able to do. "Hey, did I suddenly sprout horns or something?"

"Ryan, I've never seen you like that," Kendrix whispered. "Is Dan..."

Ryan nodded and looked back to where Lurekan had exploded. "Yeah, he'll be all right. I doubt he'll ever be able to use that leg again, no thanks to my dad being an idiot."

Kendrix lowered her head and sighed. "Ryan, stop blaming your father for everything, Dan went against orders when he took the Bracer."

"And my dad didn't do much to stop him," Ryan snapped back harshly. "Did he." He unstrapped the Bracer and handed it to Kendrix before starting off back to his own team. "I've got my own job to do, tell Captain Mitchell that one of his toys actually worked right for once."

Standing in disappointment, Kendrix shook her head and turned to Kelsey and Joel. "Come on, let's get back to base."

Hours later, Ryan stood watch over Dan at the hospital, a frown on his face. The doctor had said that Onei had severe internal bleeding in his leg, and that even if he did pull through, the leg would be useless, the nerves and muscles had been irreparably damaged.

"Hello, Ryan."

The man snapped his head to see Captain Mitchell walking over. Ryan growled and turned away to leave, but his father put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Ryan, for once, can you at least treat me like a fellow human being?"

"After what you've done," Ryan spat, "I'm not so sure you can qualify as human. Daniel is crippled for life now if he lives through this, his left leg is deadweight because of you, because he was so dedicated!" With a snort, he turned to look through the window at his friend. "I don't see what he found so important about your little project, what was so worth risking his life for."

"He saved Kendrix and her team," Mitchell replied softly. "Saving lives is what he found worth it. You used to be the same way, Ryan. What happened to you?"

"What happened?!" Ryan snarled in anger at his father, having to fight down the urge to punch the man out right there. "I'll tell you what happened, that kid happened! All the powers, the tests, and they did no good! That kid died despite everything! I could have saved him, but instead, you made me put out the fire, and he died from the burns he caught while I tried to snuff that blaze! All because you had to be in control!"

"Well maybe I realized that I made a mistake!" Mitchell snapped back. "Ryan, I did make that call, and he died, but there is nothing we can do about it! I'm sorry that the boy died, but there was risk that the others trapped in that building would have died as well! I gave an order I thought best at the time, and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't kick myself for his death, but you have to get past that, we did the best we could...you did the best you could!"

Ryan snorted and turned away from his father, not wanting to look at the man. His rage and hate towards Mitchell was deep by now, but there was a part of him that nagged away. "So now what?" he muttered. "You only have three Rangers, and obviously no one able to use the Red Bracer."

"That's why I had hoped to find you here," Mitchell replied solemnly. "Ryan, there's some kind of energy surge that occurs in people who have near perfect synchronization rates with the powers. You're the only one who has that surge with the Red Bracer."

"Recruitment attempt again?"

Mitchell sighed and shook his head. "Ryan, please stop making this about our problems. I'm asking you not to do this for me, but for Kendrix, her team, the city...for that boy. Make sure that doesn't happen again. You're the only person who can do this."

Ryan growled as he contemplated his father's words. There was little the fire department could do now, the demon flames were near impossible to put out. So far, Lightspeed had indeed been the only force capable of fighting the demons, despite their losses. He sighed and looked at Mitchell with cold eyes. "All right, I'm your Red Ranger, on certain conditions though. I'm not part of your military, and if you ever want me to give you respect and call you 'sir', you've got to earn it, because right now, I have none for you."

Sighing with a nod, Mitchell held out his hand. "I know it probably means little, but thank you, Ryan."

Ryan nodded, but ignored his father's hand, instead turning and walking away. Captain Mitchell breathed deeply as he watched his son leave the hallway. "Well," he muttered. "We've all got to start somewhere."