Chapter Text
Leelee paced back and forth on the dais in the public square, eyeing the people huddled in front of her. Even with Toby’s help, there were barely half as many people as there should have been, and she wondered quietly how many were hiding and how many—weren’t.
“Leelee,” Toby said quietly from in front of the stage. She glared at him out of habit; there were only two of her boys left, and in a few minutes it wouldn’t matter anyway. “People are going to start slipping away. You have to give them something.”
“I can’t tell them what’s happening! My mom can’t find out yet!”
“Do something,” he advised her. “Fast.”
Leelee closed her eyes for exactly two seconds before raising her voice. “Hydiacs!”
The beings appeared all around the square, hemming in the crowd, and she smiled lazily. “Her,” she added, gesturing towards the front of the stage. The two closest Hydiacs shoved Toby aside, snatching Zoe and pushing her up beside Leelee before the crowd could react.
“Down,” she said almost absently. One of the Hydiacs caught Zoe’s shoulder, forcing her down to her knees. She was shaking, Leelee noted.
Raising her voice, she declared, “This girl’s brother is leading a rebellion against us, against our Master and his representative, my mother. Xander, wherever you are; your rebellion will fail. Show yourself! Or your sister, and your friend, and all these people will pay!”
The crowd surged, but the Hydiacs held and they quieted back down, some sobbing quietly. Zoe was shaking harder, watching her with real fear, and below them, Toby was fighting to get to them. He was screaming at them, abuse at Leelee and reassurance at Zoe, but he hadn’t forgotten himself so much as to call her a traitor or even imply it. That was good; they might get out of this yet.
“You have half an hour, Xander,” she said out loud, watching as Zoe’s eyes widened. To give the girl credit, she kept right on screaming without missing a beat.
“Then we’ll have some fun,” Leelee murmured, settling in to wait him out.
Clare was shaking. The girl had refused to stay behind—literally wouldn’t even discuss it, changing the subject every time Udonna brought it up. Both Phineas and Leanbow had promised to watch over her during the battle, easing Udonna’s mind a little.
“Cold, my dear?” she asked quietly.
“Yes,” Clare said, far too quickly. “Yes, it’s cold.”
Leanbow draped his jacket over her shoulders as he passed, pacing along the ragged line of their defenders. Clare called a soft thank you after him, pulling it tightly around herself.
“You don’t have to fight,” Udonna said quietly.
Clare didn’t answer for so long Udonna thought she wouldn’t; when she looked sideways the girl was murmuring under her breath. “Clare?”
“It’s about me,” she said without looking up. “Some of it. How will it look to our people if Niella’s daughter, Udonna’s apprentice, is hiding? We do not run, and I will not be the only one of our family who hides.”
It took Udonna a moment to find her voice; she was suddenly struck with the realisation that Clare, while she looked the same, had grown up during the months they’d been separated.
“Niella would be very proud of you.” Clare smiled, eyes bright, and Udonna added, “I am so proud of you, my dear one.”
Further along the line Phineas stood with Leanbow, eyeing the Trolls. They hadn’t tried to eat anyone yet, but neither they nor the Goblins would listen to Phineas and all their instructions had to come through Clare.
“Leanbow?”
“Yes.”
“Can we win this battle?”
Leanbow didn’t answer. Phineas didn’t bother repeating himself, just watched the old warrior pace away again. Mid-step his outline shimmered, clearing into an odd mix of Koragg’s old armour and Leanbow’s even older Mystic Warrior armour. Phineas had heard Leanbow’s argument with his son and he recognised the compromise, even if Nick would most likely never see it.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he murmured, settling against the nearest tree to wait.
Wes studied the little machine. “It doesn’t look big enough.”
“It’s not the size that matters, Wes,” Kelsey said solemnly, spinning to clap a hand over Joel’s mouth before he could say anything.
“This’ll work,” Angela promised him, making a couple of adjustments.
Wes nodded, touching his radio. “All squad leaders, sound off and status.”
He could see Eric roll his eyes, but the Quantum Ranger didn’t protest despite the fact that they’d already sounded off twice.
Further along the field Carter was half-listening, watching Ryan and Dana talk to Captain Mitchell. Chad wandered up to stand beside him, headset pulled down around his neck. “Feels odd, doesn’t it?”
“Hmm?”
“Well, it’s our biggest battle since Silver Hills. But we’re taking orders from someone else. It’s weird.” He watched Ryan insisting on something and Dana trying to stay out of it. The Mitchell siblings were two of the most physically expressive people he knew, and even without hearing anything they were saying he could follow the conversation well enough. “Must be really weird for them.”
“Yeah,” Carter agreed absently. “Are we ready?”
“Final checks are in. We’re ready.”
Carter nodded, catching Dana’s eye and gesturing; she nodded, laying a hand on her father’s arm and speaking quietly. Captain Mitchell froze for a moment before nodding, pulling both his children into a hug; the move turned him so he could see Carter and Chad, still watching.
Carter drew himself up as tall as he could and saluted. Chad hastily followed suit. Captain Mitchell nodded, releasing Ryan and Dana and watching them join their team.
Joel glanced up as they gathered around the machine, absently passing Carter a flare gun. “You’re on the first bus out of here, right?” he insisted.
“I have a personal Guardian escort waiting to take me away,” Angela assured him, leaning over the machine to kiss his cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
Carter looked down at the flare gun, offering it to Ryan. Light flared as he reached for it and it was the Titanium Ranger who took it from him, weighing it for a moment before aiming it upwards. He waited for the others to morph before firing it.
“Ten,” Carter said, watching it arc over the field. “Nine. Eight.”
“That’s it.” Xander turned his back on the flare to look at the others. “Last chance.”
“Seven,” Nick said, almost under his breath. “Six.”
Somewhere behind them Toby was yelling, calling for someone to help him. None of them had reacted, to him or to Zoe’s sobs; Leelee would protect them, or pay for her failure.
“Five. Four.”
“We’re with you,” Maddie told him.
“Three.”
“No matter what,” Vida agreed.
“Two.”
Chip didn’t speak, just grinned.
Nick caught his eye, smiled grimly, and raised his voice. “One.”
Xander pulled out his Staff, holding it over his head. “Magical Source!”
“Mystic Force!” the others answered, and the call was taken up by Slannen and his people, echoing around them and filling the air.
They charged.