Needle in a Haystack [Celestial Rangers]

[Sonya Kovalev]

It was a typical early summer day at Balboa Park in San Diego, with school out, there were plenty of children walking with their parents towards the San Diego Zoo. Others, primarily college students celebrating the end of finals, were just milling around at the reflecting pool or grabbing a bite to eat.

At a small coffee shop, Sonya took a picture of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion with her phone before returning to her sandwich.

She had come to San Diego for two things. First, having worked non-stop both in her studies, job, and activities as a Ranger, she was in need of a break to prevent burnout. And secondly, she had read reports of another Celestial Ranger that operated in this city during the Zangyack invasion, and thus desired to meet him/her. If there the Zangyack were to return, and Sonya felt it likely, it would help to have allies to rely on.

Of course, it was only after arriving in San Diego that Sonya realized she had no idea where the Red Celestial Ranger was in a city of 1.3 million people, a city she had never been to in her life. Still, she had rumors of Zangyack remnants of the invasion force that had been left stranded on Earth occasionally making incursions into California from across the border with Mexico and anticipated the prospect of finding him/her there. Four days though and nothing.

"Maybe he left town" Sonya thought, then again, if the Zangyack were operating in this area, it wouldn't make sense for him to go to another city. This she pondered and more as she took another bite of her sandwich.

[Will Scheffer]

There had been no reasons to transform, and no enemies for Will to fight, so he had just done his normal routine. What was it? Not much. He was too caught up in this fight to have much else to do, but he spent his time going over his medical texts and skills, just to keep them refreshed and sharp.

He should go back, but with fighting, he hadn't enough time to go back. He was stuck in this cycle of fighting and waiting, and he didn't like it. But he didn't know what else to do with himself...

But today was a different day. Today was a day that there was finally a monster attack. "Finally" sounded terrible, as if he'd been waiting for it... But there was indeed a monster, and he was hurrying to the area, Morpher in hand as he ran through the park, trying to find the fastest way there.

[Sonya Kovalev]

Sonya had taken a sip of her coffee when she heard the noise, and the police sirens. The television in the coffee shop played an EBT, indicating that there was a monster attack in the area. The owner had begun closing up shop, shutting the screen doors while telling everyone to stay indoors, following protocol.

Everyone except Sonya that is, she had left the bill for her meal before leaving the store, ignoring the warnings from the proprietor not to go out there. Curiously, as the parkgoers were leaving in the direction away from the chaos, she noticed a young man walking in the direction where the explosion had taken place.

Had she found whom she was looking for was hard to tell, could just be another curious onlooker with more courage than sense. Nevertheless, Sonya elected to keep a careful distance as she ran towards the scene.

[Will Scheffer]

Ok, good, this was the right way, the sirens and police presence were helpful with that. He started to run and opened his Morpher while drawing the card. Nobody was around that he could see, so this would work out well enough. "Morph Card!" he called, loading it into his Morpher and closing it.

Wings wrapped around him and he flashed into his red and gold suit as he ran, "Sword," he said, putting his card in and summoning his sword to hand. He figured he was going to need it.

[Sonya Kovalev]

The police erected a roadblock and proceeded to open fire on the monster, their bullets predictably having no effect, but they were at least buying time for the civilians to flee. Of course, this now made them a target as the creature slowly lurched its way towards the barricade, shrugging off bullets all the while.

Meanwhile, Sonya had taken cover behind a staircase, from her vantage she witnessed the man she had been tailing transform. There was her quarry, what better way to make an introduction during a monster attack.

Making sure no one was looking, Sonya materialized her morpher, a flash of light later, and she was clad in her suit, ax in hand as she confidently strode towards the scene.

"Excuse me" She said to the rec clad stranger "I hope I'm not interrupting, you mind if I help out a bit?"

[Will Scheffer]

As Will was nearly there, he heard someone speak and slowed to see another Ranger, with the same design as his suit. He nodded, "Please do!" he said, hurrying for the monster with renewed effort. Having an ally, and even just meeting another Ranger like him was a good feeling. He knew there were others with this power, but he hadn't met them yet.

He jumped the barricade and hip-fired from his blaster before landing and rolling, coming up and slashing at the monster to buy himself some room. He was a reserved, measured fighter, and needed room to do his thing. He wasn't sure what the other Ranger was doing, but didn't mind.

[Sonya Kovalev]

The lieutenant ordered his men to cease fire as the Rangers arrived on scene, they hadn't seen the black one in this city before but they assumed she must be friendly. They still kept their weapons aimed at the monster just in case the need arrived.

As Red, for lack of a better term, opened fire on the creature, Sonya rushed in from the front, seeking to take her overwhelm her opponent with her speed and strength as she lunched at it with a heavy swing from her ax.

[Will Scheffer]

The axe forced the monster back, but also stopped Will's point of attack. He moved to try to circle around it and take it from the side or behind, but at least the Black Ranger's attacks were working, that was a good sign.

The monster took a few hits and then slammed an arm down to try to deflect the axe attack, sick of being struck.

[Sonya Kovalev]

Her offense had forced it into a defensive posture, seeing an advantage, Sonya proceeded to wail at the monsters arm, aiming to simply overwhelm it with her strength while the Red Ranger closed in from behind.

[Will Scheffer]

He slashed for the monster's back and side at an angle, hoping to disorient it and make it fight on two fronts. That proved to be working as it turned to look at Will, now ignoring Sonya and dropping its defensive arm.

[Sonya Kovalev]

Her ally had provided Sonya the opening she needed, with the monster's attention being distracted, Sonya raised her ax once again and sent it downwards into a vertical angle, putting all her strength on cleaving the creature in two with her blade.

[Will Scheffer]

The monster took the blow and fell back, heavily wounded, but still alive.

Will moved to Sonya's side and looked at her, then drew his sidearm and a card, "Let's use our Headers?" he asked.

[Sonya Kovalev]

"It would be my pleasure", Sonya replied as she inserted the Viper Header card into her morpher. The creature by then realized it had lost this fight and was attempting to flee.

The Header materialized as Sonya took aim at the running target before unleashing a powerful burst of energy directed at its back.

[Will Scheffer]

Will did the same, blasting the monster in the back with the power of his Dragon Header, alongside the Viper. The monster stumbled, sparking, and then exploded as the two attacks brought it down.

He lowered his firearm and looked to Sonya, "Are you from around here?"

[Sonya Kovalev]

"Uh, perhaps we can discuss this someplace else?" Sonya asked.

The police meanwhile cordoned off the area looking for any survivors or stragglers as the lieutenant approached them. "Best you two get out of here before the press arrive", he said. "Thanks for saving our asses back there".