Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Three by Heather Ray (books for students to read txt) 📖

Chapter Thirty-Five

^Jason! Can you hear me? Ohmigosh... please answer me!^

Jason groaned, opening his eyes slowly. For some reason, he felt obscenely dizzy, and his arms simply didn't want to do anything but hang... up?

I'm upside down...

he realized. With a frustrated huff, Jason struggled to regain his bearings, and activated his communicator. "I'm... I'm fine, Kim," he breathed, "I'm okay, guys."

Then, a new voice came over the intercom. ^Aye yi yi! Jason-!^

"I'm okay

, Alpha," Jason grumbled. He didn't intend to inflect irritation, but it was there.

^CAN YOU ASSESS THE DAMAGES DONE TO YOUR ZORD?^

Jason struggled to regulate his breathing as he played with each control panel. "Impact damage minimal... just a few dents. I'm more worried about the bleachers than the Zord. But... I'm getting structural integrity damage... dammit

!"

^JASON?^

The Red Ranger grit his teeth in impotent fury. "When Nimrod kicked my neck, she fractured the steel caging beneath the armor. I can't Morph the Zord at all..."

His hand smacked against his helmet. "No Megazord..."

After a momentary silence, Zordon's calm voice returned. ^JASON, TELEPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER IMMEDIATELY. ALPHA V WILL SEND THE RED DRAGON INTO THE ZORD HANGAR, AND DETERMINE HOW QUICKLY THE MEGAZORD-MORPH SEQUENCE CAN BE REPAIRED.^

Jason opened his mouth to argue, but clamped it shut. Rather than respond, he tapped his wrist unit, and vanished in a ruby sheen of energy.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Black Ranger watched as the Red Dragon disappeared into the night, leaving the charred remains of the Stone Canyon High School bleachers in its wake.

He sighed deeply, shifting his view to Nimrod's raucous laughter. "Guys, we're royally screwed."

Trini's measured voice responded. ^Zack, there's no need to be so dramatic.^

"Fine. Then we're not royally

screwed. We're just screwed."

Then, Nimrod's laughing fit eased, and the monster stood up straight again. ^Well Rangers,^ her screeching voice declared, ^even with your leader's departure, this battle is still quite unfair. Five to one, eh? Maybe I can even the odds just a bit...^

Zack's dark eyes widened in horror as the Nimrod extended her arms fully, one at each side. Yellow and pink energy erupted from her temples, stretching out into the air and slowly taking shape.

Zack sighed again, shaking his head in disbelief when the two amorphous light formations transmuted into two more colossal soldiers, each the size of Nimrod herself.

"I take that back, Trini. We are

royally screwed!"

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Okay, Saba... advise me on all the Morphin' sequences White Tigerzord is capable of. Please

tell me this is a true Thunderzord!"

"Yes, it is. It is very similar to the Red Dragonzord, as a matter of fact. It can transform from Animal to Battle Mode-"

"And can it Morph with the others? Like the Dragonzord did with the Dinozords?"

"Yes... the Mega Tigerzord. The Thunderzords the others are piloting have always been programmed for the addition of a sixth Zord. They should be able to activate the sequence."

"Good. Now, here's the million-dollar question: does the Mega Tigerzord need the Red Dragon?"

Saba grinned. "Fortunately, no. The Tigerzord replaces the Red Dragon in the Megazord formation. And it is more powerful than the Thunder Megazord."

Tommy smirked. "Nimrod's sure in for a major surprise!"

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Billy ducked his head instinctively as he angled the Unicorn's head down, just missing what would have been a staggering kick from the creature he had dubbed 'Clone One'.

His experienced fingers flew from steering to weapons, letting loose with energy beams launching from the metal horn on his Zord's forehead.

The Blue Ranger found himself smugly surprised as the energy bolts made contact, sweeping Clone One off its legs.

A quick shift in his attention led Billy to realize that Trini and Zack fared equally well against Clone Two.

It would appear these two clones are inferior to the original,

the genius analyzed, Not a match in terms of dexterity, endurance, or sheer strength and speed. But the presence of three targets rather than one does complicate matters, and Nimrod doesn't appear any weaker after splitting herself into thirds.

Billy then watched the others. Kimberly was continuing their engagement with Clone One, keeping the creature off balance with a few well-placed laser strikes, while the Tigerzord and Nimrod circled each other warily.

Then, something happened. A faint glow of energy washed over the Tigerzord, lifting the machine onto two feet... connected to two long, humanoid

legs.

"The Tigerzord has a humanoid Battle Mode, just like the Red Dragon," Billy realized. He watched in awe as the Zord stood eye to eye with Nimrod, a golden saber clutched in its anthropomorphic arm.

"Prodigious..."

Chapter Thirty-Nine

"This Nimrod is sure tougher than she looks," Tommy muttered unnecessarily. So far, his shift into Battle Mode had yet to give him the upper hand. Nimrod's rod blocked Tigerzord's saber blow for blow, neither getting a decent hit in.

"Tommy, this might interest you," Saba piped up, "It seems the other Rangers are doing quite well against the two clones Nimrod manifested."

"Good. Maybe they can help me when they're done."

"Perhaps, rather than spreading out our resources, we should channel them together against a target."

Tommy frowned thoughtfully, backing away from Nimrod to give himself space to think. "But can the Mega Tigerzord take on three oppon-?"

His thoughts were lost as a loud, mighty caw cut through his speakers.

^Whoops! I guess that's the horn!^

"Alexis! Where've you been?"

^Getting a hang of this baby!^ she giggled, her excitement obvious, ^Sound barrier... eat my dust!^

Tommy couldn't help but chuckle as he watched a flying purple and silver object torpedo past him, zipping right over the heads of the tallest fighters. Nimrod was distracted enough to watch the newest Zord pass, leaving her wide open for a bone-crunching jab to her granite chest.

"Guys!" Tommy called into his communicator, "Assemble by the south goal post! Alexis, you run interference."

^You got it, Tiger!^

Chapter Forty

Nimrod yelped as the large flying Zord appeared out of nowhere, cutting far too close to the top of her head for her liking. Forgetting about her opponent for the moment, she carefully watched the new machine tear through the skies, emitting a fierce cry as it circled the smoldering battleground.

That Zord isn't doing anything...

she recognized, warily watching the Eaglezord slip between one clone and the Lion.

Then, the Sentinel noticed something unexpected... the Thunderzords were retreating.

Or... regrouping.

She smirked. "We've got them on the run, Brothers!" she declared, hands falling to her slim hips, "Now, our victory is in sight!"

Chapter Forty-One

Tommy smiled smugly, his hand grasping a central control lever. "Ready, Rangers?"

^Ready!^ came the unanimous reply.

"Activate Mega Tigerzord sequence... now!"

He pulled the lever toward him, and watched white light bathe his battle machine.

Some limbs folded, as others