A/N: I'm planning to have this book finished by the time summer ends. Don't know if that'll happen, but let's hope. Enjoy!

edited on july 16th, 2022 @ 4:22pm

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - INTRUDER ALERT!

𝓣𝚁𝙴𝙽𝚃

I WAS CURRENTLY AT THE base wearing a black tank top as we surrounded Nate. "Hang on. I'll just bring it up." He said, pressing a few keys. "Check it out, guys. Remember the strange message we picked up a few days ago?"

"The one from deep space?" Zoey asked.

"Affirmative." Nate confirmed. "Well, it's finally decoded."

"And? What does it say?" Commander Shaw asked.

Nate pressed a button as the message began playing, a man's voice soon spoke.

"Warning to Grid Battleforce. A dangerous criminal is on his way to Earth from across the galaxy. His name is Ryjack. His mission is to steal valuables from your vault. Ryjack is armed and dangerous."

"That's one scary greeting card." Steel commented.

"What I don't get is if this 'Ryjack' guy is as dangerous as the message says, why hasn't Sheriff Skyfire tracked him down and locked him up?" I questioned, causing everyone to look in my direction.

"Sheriff Skyfire?" Ravi repeated.

"He's a space police officer that I met while with the Ninja Steel Rangers." I explained, causing Ravi to let out an 'oh' in response.

"We gotta be on guard." Devon informed.

"I agree." Commander Shaw agreed. "I'll assign extra security to watch the vault. There's a lot of valuable Ranger weapons and technology in there."

"Ben and I can do it!" Betty offered.

"Yeah, we're already pros." Ben agreed. "Dad's on a diet, and we've been guarding the cookie jar for weeks! He can be pretty sneaky."

Commander Shaw sighed. "Fine. But if you see anything strange. . ." She began.

"We'll let you know!" Both Ben and Betty replied as Commander Shaw's wrist comm then beeped.

"Unknown subject spotted at in city sector Delta 7-9, trying to steal Morph-X. The bio signs are alien."

"An alien? That could be Ryjack." Ravi informed.

"True." Nate agreed.

"We're on it. Come on!" Devon said as all of us rushed out of the room.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

We arrived at the destination holding out blasters. We spotted a silver-like warrior taking Morph-X and putting it into some strange device.

"Ryjack." Devon mumbled.

"That doesn't look like an intergalactic monster. That warrior kinda reminds me of. . ."

My thoughts were interrupted as the others moved forward, making me follow them as he pointed out blasters at the silver warrior.

"Step away from the Morph-X!" Ravi ordered, causing the warrior to turn around and face us. He looks over at the strange device which was still powering with Morph-X until it stopped glowing.

"Don't touch that!" Ravi exclaimed.

The warrior holds his hand out before he beeped indistinctly, as if he was telling us something. He then pointed over to me.

"Trent, why he is pointing at you?" Zoey questioned.

"How should I know?" I answered.

"Nate, what's he saying?" Steel asked.

"Sorry, I don't speak evil alien." Nate replied.

"You don't?" Steel said.

The warrior then reached over to grab his device. "Stop!" Ravi shouted as we all fired at the warrior, causing him to get knocked back.

Devon rushed forward and pointed his blaster at the warrior. "Grab him!" He shouted before the warrior attacked Devon and then disappeared.

"Darn it!" Zoey exclaimed as we all sighed.

We all headed over towards the device as Nate unhooked it from the Morph-X.

"Be careful. Who knows what it could do." Ravi warned.

"I'll figure that out later. Right now I'm gonna put it straight into our vault. Come on." Nate said as we headed back to base.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

We all entered the room to see Ben and Betty groaning on the floor with a bunch of marbles on the ground.

"Looks like your alarm system worked. . . kind of." Zoey said.

"Thanks!" Betty said as Zoey and I helped her up while Devon and Ravi helped Ben.

"Come on, let's get you guys looked at."

The four of us soon helped Ben and Betty out of the room.

We soon got Ben and Betty situated. "Thanks, but we're fine now." Ben reassured.

"You sure? You guys took a pretty good tumble." Zoey said.

"Yep, all good." Betty replied.

"Guys, the silent alarm just went off in the vault." Nate informed as him and Steel came up to us.

"But we were just in there." I stated.

"Oh no!"

"Ryjack."

We all rushed to head to the vault room.

We all soon entered the room to find the same silver warrior as Devon used his cheetah speed to hold him back.

"Quick!"

"Grab his weapon!" Zoey said as Nate did so.

"What is that thing?" Steel asked.

"They caught Ryjack." Jax announced as him and the other Beast Bots came in.

Devon's wrist comm soon beeped. "Rangers, we've detected more alien bio signs in the city." Commander Shaw informed.

"We're on it, Commander." Devon said. "Lock him in detention."

"Okay." Smash said.

"He ain't going nowhere." Jax stated.

"Thanks, guys."

"Let's go."

All of us headed out of the room.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"Hey, freaks." Devon said as we arrived at the destination.

"Rangers." Vargoyle greeted.

"Vargoyle?! You're back." I said in disbelief.

"How?" Devon asked.

"That would be my doing. With his shiny new Compliance Collar, your old foe does whatever I ask. Get down and give me 20!" Ryjack ordered as Vargoyle did so.

"Compliance Collar?" Zoey repeated as she sighed. "That could be dangerous."

"Not as dangerous as me! I'm Ryjack!" He greeted.

"You're Ryjack? Then. . . Then who did we catch?" Ravi questioned.

"Maybe we locked up the wrong alien." Devon replied.

"You think?" I commented sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Change of plans. We'll finish getting Morph-X after we destroy the Rangers." Ryjack claimed. "Why don't we invite some friends to the party?"

Weird looking Tronics soon appeared as we got in a fighting stance. "What are those?" Steel asked.

More creatures soon appeared. "Whoa! They're new too." Steel commented.

"Show 'em what you've got!" Ryjack said as we charged forward.

I kicked one of the Vivix aside before getting kicked back by one of them. I grabbed a metal pipe as I swung at the two Vivix.

"Zoey!" Nate called out in worry as we all regrouped.

"Seriously, though, what are those disgusting things?" Steel questioned.

"Putties and Vivix fought Rangers for years! You need a history lesson." Ryjack replied.

"See, now you're starting to sound like Coda." I stated, scoffing as I did so.

"You like history? Good, 'cause you're gonna be history. It's Morphin' time!" Devon shouted as we activated our morphers.

"Activate Beast Power! Ha!" We shouted as we morphed.

"Unleash the beast!"

"Go, team!" Devon said as we attacked the Putties and Vivix.

Ravi and Zoey collapsed to the ground after getting attacked by Ryjack.

"Ravi!" Devon shouted.

"Z!" I exclaimed.

"Quick, they just got hit hard!" Devon informed.

"Beast Blast!" Nate and Steel shouted as they fired but hit Vargoyle instead.

"Blue and yellow are done for. We'll get the rest later. Say goodbye, minion." Ryjack said.

"Goodbye." Vargoyle said as they both disappeared.

"No, Ravi!" Devon exclaimed as we rushed towards them. "I got you, buddy."

"Zoey!" Nate shouted as him and I rushed towards her. "Oh no. They need medical attention immediately."

"Let's get them back to base." Devon informed as a car pulled up. Devon and Steel helped Ravi while Nate and I helped Zoey.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

We all arrived back back to the base as Zoey and Ravi groaned in pain.

"Lower the isolation shield." Nate said as the two shields lowered down on Zoey and Ravi.

Nate sighed. "Whatever Ryjack hit them with, it's causing some kind of alien infection. Their condition seems to be getting worse." He explained.

"Finding a cure is our number one priority." Commander Shaw informed.

"This Ryjack is after us, and so far, he's taken down two of our Rangers. What about the alien in the holding cell? Maybe he knows something that could help us." Devon suggested.

"I doubt it. Remember, he was stealing Morph-X, and he broke into our vault." Nate reminded him.

"Yeah, to get his weapon. . . or whatever this is." Steel added on. "Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew."

"Careful. That thing could be very dangerous." Nate warned.

"It's worth investigating. Try to communicate with him, but be careful." Commander Shaw said.

"I will." Devon said.

"I'll come with you. Whoever this alien is, he also knew who I was. He may be connected to Sheriff Skyfire somehow." I added, making Devon nod.

"Let's go." Devon told us as him, Nate, Steel and I headed out.

Steel sighed. "I hope this isn't a mistake." He commented.

We headed out of the room as Devon pressed the buttons onto the keypad, opening the holding cell. We found the warrior on the ground.

"What happened to him?" Devon asked.

"I think he's sick. . . and getting worse." Nate replied as the warrior trilled weakly.

"What's he trying to say?" Steel questioned.

"He wants that." I answered, referring to the weapon.

"Oh." Steel said, handing me the weapon as Nate stopped me.

"You sure? It's fully charged with Morph-X." Nate informed as I looked back at the warrior, who continued talking.

I gave the warrior his weapon back as he pressed it to his face. "He's rebooting!" Steel exclaimed.

"That thing recharged him." Nate pointed out.

"So it's not a weapon." Devon said.

The warrior pressed a few buttons on his helmet. "Hello, Power Rangers." He spoke. "I am Captain Chaku of the G-5 Galaxy Police Force."

"Galaxy Police? He's on our side." Devon said as he helped him up.

"Yes. We hunt down criminals all over the universe." Captain Chaku replied.

"Captain Chaku, you said?" Devon repeated as Captain Chaku nodded. "I'm Devon. This is Nate, Steel, and—"

"Trent. I know who you are. Skyfire told me a lot about you and your team." Captain Chaku finished.

"You know Sheriff Skyfire?" I asked in surprise.

"One of my superiors." Captain Chaku replied. "So, is this how you treat everyone who comes to your planet?"

"Sorry, we didn't know." Nate apologized.

"Wow, a galactic police officer! That is so cool!" Steel exclaimed.

"I've travelled across seven galaxies to hunt down Ryjack, but I lost him when I ran out of power." Captain Chaku explained.

"That's why you needed the Morph-X." Devon realized. "You were refueling yourself."

"Correct. I'm here to destroy Ryjack and stop his trail of theft and destruction." Captain Chaku said.

"We appreciate it, Chaku." Devon told him.

"We shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, but we received a warning that had us on edge." Nate said.

"Yeah, about Ryjack. He's a real piece of work." Steel added on. "He attacked our friends, and they're in really bad shape."

"They weren't hit by the blast from his horn, were they?" Captain Chaku asked.

"Yes." Devon responded.

"Then they won't survive long. We have to act fast." Captain Chaku exclaimed.

"This way!" Nate said as we headed out of the holding cell.

Captain Chaku was scanning over Ravi's body. "Hmm. I've seen the effects of Ryjack's horn shock before. Unfortunately, it can be devastating. It's critical that I treat your friends immediately." He said.

"Please help them." Devon pleaded.

"Stand back." Captain Chaku ordered as he opened the isolation shield on Ravi. "I can't promise this will work on your people, but it's worth a shot."

He clicks on the device as blue substance appeared, going into Ravi's nose.

"Cross your fingers and hope, guys." Steel said.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"So, Nate, what's your report?" Commander Shaw asked.

"Their condition is improving." Nate replied.

"Thank you, Captain. We owe you a debt of gratitude." Commander Shaw told him.

"I am honored to serve the greater good." Captain Chaku said as Commander Shaw's wrist comm beeped.

"Vargoyle has been spotted in the city, and a Gigadrone is on the way."

"Copy that." Commander Shaw said, turning her comm off. "Nate, Steel, get to your Zords. Devon, Trent, can you take on Vargoyle?"

"Roger that, Commander." Devon replied while I just nodded.

"I'll join you. We'll take him down together." Captain Chaku said.

"The more the merrier." I said.

"Great. Let's go!" Devon stated as we headed out of the room.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"Ready for this, Steel?" Nate asked.

"Yep, I'll cover you, bro." Steel replied.

"Battle mode!" Nate exclaimed as his Zord turned into his battle mode.

"Ah-ha! Come and get us, you metal menace." Nate said.

The Gigadrone fired at Nate and Steel. "Crane Crash!" Nate shouted as they attacked the Gigadrone.

Civilians were running away as Devon and I were morphed.

"Vargoyle must be around here. Hurry!" Devon said.

We soon found Vargoyle with Tronics. "Red Ranger, at last, I get to crush you like the worm you are!" Vargoyle claimed.

"Old friend of yours?" Captain Chaku questioned.

"It's a long story." Devon responded.

"Then let's keep this chapter short." Captain Chaku said.

The three of us headed for Vargoyle and the Tronics. Captain Chaku and I took down the Tronics while Devon took on Vargoyle.

"You should give up while you can, Vargoyle!" Devon exclaimed as he slashed the collar off.

Vargoyle laughed evilly. "Finally! Free from the compliance collar! I'm outta here." He said but nothing happened. "Huh? No Morph-X?! Then I can't teleport!"

"You're not leaving." Devon claimed.

Vargoyle soon drove off. "Spiral Strike!" Captain Chaku shouted as he attacked a Tronic as the three of us continued fighting.

Captain Chaku fired at them, finally destroying them. "Sick moves, but we still gotta stop Vargoyle." Devon said.

Nate was firing at the Gigadrone as Steel flew in the air. "I'm a fantastic shot." He commented.

"Right on time, Cruise." Devon said as Cruise appeared.

"I'm ready to go." Cruise said as Devon's wrist comm beeped.

"Vargoyle's headed to a Morph-X tower in the south woods, close to your coordinates." Commander Shaw informed.

"Copy." Devon replied. "Chaku, need a ride?"

"Thanks, but I've got my own wheels." Captain Chaku responded. "Summon Galactic Interceptor!"

"Cool!" Cruise commented. "All right, Devon, jump on!"

Cruise then turned into a motorcycle. "Okay, we've got some catching up to do. Come on!" Devon said, hopping onto Cruise as I did the same.

"Let's step on it!" Devon exclaimed.

"Finally— the Red Ranger's time is up!" Vargoyle exclaimed as he tried to attack us.

"Take this!" Captain Chaku shouted as he fired at Vargoyle.

"You're going down, Vargoyle!" Devon said as he kicked Vargoyle aside. Captain Chaku then took Vargoyle off of his motorcycle.

"Let's duel!" Captain Chaku said.

"Come at me!" Vargoyle growled as the three of us began attacking him.

"Enforcer Laser!" Captain Chaku shouted, shooting at Vargoyle's gun as it went out of his hands.

"All right, Devon, Trent, you with me?" Captain Chaku questioned.

"Let's finish him off." Devon replied.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." I added as both mine and Devon's visors glowed green along with our sabers.

The three of us soon headed towards Vargoyle. "Enforcer Strike!" Captain Chaku shouted.

"Beast-X Slash!" Devon shouted.

"Lion Strike!" I exclaimed.

We attacked Vargoyle in unison as lightning surrounded him before he finally exploded.

"Nicely done." Captain Chaku praised.

"You too, Captain." Devon complimented.

"Okay. Striker Megazord!" Nate shouted.

"Combine!" Steel finished.

"Striker Megazord Unleashed!"

"Striker Hyperblast!"

Nate and Steel fired at the Gigadrone as the electricity crackles and the Gigadrone was destroyed.

"Virus eliminated!"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

All of us were back at the base as Ravi sat up. "How are you feeling, Ravi?" Commander Shaw asked.

Ravi groaned. "Like I've been hit by a train." He replied.

Zoey sat up next as Nate was holding a carrot smoothie for her. "I brought you a carrot smoothie." He said.

"Thanks. Just what I needed." Zoey stated as she took a sip.

"I'm glad to see you two have recovered." Captain Chaku said, making Ravi and Zoey alert.

"No need to be so alert. He's on our side." I told them.

"Trent's right. This is Captain Chaku. He's the one who sent us the warning message." Nate added on.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Captain Chaku said.

"He's the one that had the antidote that saved you." Commander Shaw informed.

"Wow. Thank you." Zoey thanked him as both her and Ravi stood up.

"We were totally wrong about him. He's one of the good guys." Devon said, patting Captain Chaku's shoulder.

"One of the very good guys!" Steel added in.

"Thanks." Ravi said.

"You are welcome." Captain Chaku said, shaking his hand.

"Sorry for locking you up." Ravi apologized.

"I understand." Captain Chaku said.

"We shouldn't have judged you so quickly." Zoey said.

"All is forgiven." Captain Chaku reassured. "I'm proud to have worked with you, Rangers. It's true what they say— you're mighty warriors."

"Yes, I definitely live up to the hype." Steel said, making us all chuckle.

"When I came to Earth, I had one mission— destroy Ryjack, the last of a notorious gang of intergalactic criminals. But it's always good to make new friends." Captain Chaku stated.

"Sure is." Devon agreed. "And we're gonna work together to take down Ryjack."

"That's right." Captain Chaku said as him and Devon fist bumped.

The door soon opened. "Hey, everyone! Come here." Betty said. "We're ready to test the new addition to our thief trap."

"Well, that's very good to hear. Show us what you've got." Commander Shaw said.

"We've installed a new intruder sensor." Ben stated as we all looked up to see it.

"Oh!"

"Sweet!" Zoey commented.

"Anyone who is not carrying one of these new security cards will trigger the system." Ben explained.

"Yep. And it should be activated. . . now." Betty added as the laser pointed towards Commander Shaw.

"Wait a second. I don't have one of those security cards." Commander Shaw said.

"None of us do!" Nate exclaimed.

"Ben? Betty?" Commander Shaw questioned as the sensor beeped, wrapping Commander Shaw into some wires.

The sensor pointed to Nate next. "Run!" He shouted before he got caught as well.

The sensor soon started getting at all of us, tying us up.

"Sorry, everybody." Ben apologized.

"Ben and Betty, I don't usually say this, but. . . good job." Commander Shaw said.

"Mm?"

"Oh, thanks!"

We all laughed in response.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 3101 words.