PRLG: A Different Shade of Pink
Episode XXXIV. Good as Silver
by Green Senturion

“So…how close are we to the planet?” Cassie asked.

“Not far—only a few more minutes away,” Damon answered.

Five minutes later, Damon had landed the Megaship on the planet Ankia. Leo spoke up and called out, “Cassie, Leo, Phantom Ranger, Mike and I will find this warrior. You guys should stay and protect the ship.”

Kai, Maya, and Leo nodded, knowing that they had a task to accomplish as well. The Rangers elected to search the planet then stepped off the Megaship and onto the soft, sodden ground of the planet.

Psycho Silver was dividing his attention among the four Rangers, slashing and blasting through each Ranger in turn. “Zhane,” Andros called, “Please stop this now! We can’t fight you!”

Psycho Silver laughed and said, “You just don’t get it. That’s why it’s so much fun. Now dance for me!” He fired a series of blasts from his Psycho Silverizer at the Space Rangers’ feet, sending them flying back. Holding his hand to his face, he unleashed a powerful blast that caused an explosion among the four Rangers. Ashley and Carlos were the two closest, and received the brunt of the blast. The two de-morphed as they hit the ground, while the other two Rangers also lay on the ground and reeled in pain. Psycho Silver approached Ashley, his Silverizer in sword mode, and said, “My first opponent shall be my last.”

As he brought his sword down to deliver the final blow to Ashley, a blast hit his face and threw him back. Psycho Silver screamed in pain and clutched at his visor, which was now cracked in the middle. The Psycho Ranger looked up to see Andros panting and holding his Astro Blaster. “Stay…away…FROM HER,” Andros yelled. “I’m sorry Zhane, but I CANNOT allow you to hurt my friend.”

“Ooh…now you’ve made me MAD! RED RANGER!!!”

Trakeena watched in glee as Red and Silver flashes of light rippled from Psycho Silver’s body. “Excellent…Psycho Red seems to be influencing Zhane as well. After all, he posed as both.” Trakeena laughed as she saw the creature growing up and out slightly for a few moments before hulking toward the Rangers. She laughed at this new creation, and then turned to Karone and taunted, “So what do you think of your boyfriend NOW?”

Mike, Leo, Cassie, and the Phantom Ranger wandered around the planet searching for the Warrior. After about ten minutes’ worth of searching, they found a large cavern, the front of which was guarded by an armored skeleton. As they prepared to enter, the skeleton held out his sword and yelled, “Halt! Who goes there?”

Cassie stepped forward and said, “Please…we seek the help of the Warrior. We need his keys, and Karone said…”

“Karone,” the skeleton spoke with a grin, “You mean…THIS KARONE?”

A purple shimmering of light revealed the former Princess of Evil, Astronema, to the Rangers. Astronema raised her Wrath Staff and summoned a legion of Quantrons to her side as Leo protested, “No! That’s not her!”

“She’s good now,” Mike added.

“She risked her life,” Cassie said pleadingly, “To tell us how to get here. Our friend Zhane, the Silver Ranger, is in trouble, and only the Warrior’s power can save him. His mutation is bad, and only the good can…”

“Only true good energy can save him,” Phantom finished for Cassie, “Provided by a truly good soul.”

The Astronema before them opened her eyes innocently and then vanished from sight after shedding a tear and lowering her staff. The Quantrons ran past the Rangers into the woods. “What you say is true,” the skeleton confirmed, “So you may pass.”

The four Rangers smiled at one another and entered the cavern. After walking for a few minutes, they spotted the stone warrior, a half naked, muscular man with red bands around his arms and head, as well as a red kilt. Looking at him, Cassie said, “Please, Warrior…Karone is sorry for what she has done to you. She…we all…need your help.”

The Warrior stood motionless.

“It’s true,” Leo continued, “She’s turned to the side of good now, and she wants you to help us. Could you please?”

The Warrior still did not move.

“Look,” Mike groaned, “Our friends are in danger. Does that mean nothing to you?” He sighed, seeing that the Warrior would not budge. The Phantom Ranger gently moved past him and said, “I think I know how to help him.” He then turned to Cassie and laughed, “Let’s just hope he doesn’t turn into another Havok, right?” Cassie laughed gently at this remark. The Phantom Ranger then removed his Power Ruby from his chest and held it to the Warrior’s face. After a few seconds, a red glow shone and blinded the Rangers. When they had regained their vision, the Warrior was as alive as they were.

“Thank you,” the Warrior said, “For freeing me from my position. I know that Karone is good, and I wish to help you all I can…in the future I will help you more…but for now, THIS,” he said, handing his twin keys to Leo, “Is all I have. Use these keys wisely, Red Ranger. We will meet again soon.”

Before the Rangers could ask any questions, they were blinded by another red flash of light, and the Warrior was gone.

The Space Rangers gasped at the horror that stood before them. It was Psycho Silver all right, but he had mutated—into his horrible, disgusting, Monster form.

The creature looked like a clown in a silver costume with big black boots, a big red nose, and black gloves. But the rainbow-colored hair, ghostly white face, long, hollow black eyes, and drooling, yellow teeth, suggested that this clown was not here to have fun. “I am Psycho Silver, Rangers—and you are now doomed!”

Trakeena laughed as Psycho monster Silver began to attack the Rangers. Karone could do nothing but shake her head and mouth the word, No, over and over again.

Cassie, Leo, Mike, and the Phantom Ranger raced back to the ship as Leo called, “Hey, we…” but was cut short when he spotted a morphed Maya, Damon, and Kai battling Quantrons. “I think it’s time to go!” Kai called to the Rangers. “Yeah, no kidding!” Damon replied. “What are these things?” Maya yelled. Leo glared back into the woods and heard the voice of the skeleton yelling, “Whoops! How’s one more test sound?” Leo and Cassie nodded at one another and cried, “Go…Galactic!” as Mike called, “Magna Power!” and the Phantom Ranger raced toward the Quantrons. The two Galaxy Rangers and Mike then charged toward the Quantrons to join the fray. The seven Rangers made quick work of the Quantrons, and then quickly raced aboard the Astro Megaship. As Leo trailed the other six Rangers, keys in hand, he heard the skeleton warrior call, “Sorry…so few people visit this planet…so I like to have some fun!” Leo shook his head and laughed before pressing a few buttons on the wall and letting the door to the Megadeck shut behind him.

The Megaship was on hyperdrive, trying to reach Terra Venture before Psycho Silver could destroy the Space Rangers. Cassie knew the race would be tight, but she didn’t want to give up faith in her friends.

“Don’t give up!” the cheery robot Alpha 6 called, “We can do it!” The Phantom Ranger placed a hand on Cassie’s shoulder and nodded his head reassuringly. All we can do now is hope, she thought.

Psycho monster Silver was utterly destroying the Rangers. No attacks seemed to affect him, and his punches and kicks seemed to have many times the strength that they had previously had. Finally, as green electricity crackled from his fingertips, he shot a powerful blast that de-morphed the final two Rangers and wounded Carlos and Ashley. As Psycho Silver leaned over them and laughed, his sour breath almost making them vomit, the Rangers closed their eyes and expected the end. However, it did not come. The four Space Rangers looked up to see Psycho monster Silver looking up at a shadow overhead. The Megaship’s lasers blasted Psycho monster Silver and hurtled him far backwards. The Rangers looked up and smiled as the seven Rangers came riding out on the five Jet Jammers, Mike in Leo’s and Phantom in Cassie’s. Leo landed his first and stared at Psycho monster Silver as he got out.

“Psycho Silver…you’ve taken over a good friend of ours, and that is unforgivable. Now you must pay.” Leo pulled out the two keys, and then swung them together, forming a shuriken. “Red Armored Ranger!” he called.

Battle armor including his Lights of Orion armor, heavy boots, a claw, and numerous lasers and missiles were loaded onto Leo. He stood tall and mechanically stomped toward Psycho Silver.

The Psycho Ranger looked up in horror and yelled, “No!”

Please, Karone thought as she watched the scene before her, please let this work!

No, no, it can’t be, Trakeena thought!

“And…” Leo called, “FIRE!”

All his lasers and missiles were fired at the Psycho Ranger at once. A massive explosion occurred, blinding all eleven Rangers, including Leo. Even Trakeena and Karone had no idea what had happened.

The Rangers looked about and coughed as the smoke from the explosion cleared. They gasped as they saw who was climbing out of the rubble.

Zhane stood there, his clothes torn and dirty, but he was definitely alive.

Trakeena shouted, “NO!” as she saw Zhane in human form. Karone seized the moment to punch Trakeena hard and grab the Digimorpher again. She teleported down to Terra Venture and hissed, “Zhane! Please help! There’s no more time.”

Zhane nodded, grabbed the Digimorpher, and cried, “I’ll show you the power of true silver, Trakeena! Let’s Rocket!”

Trakeena raised her eyes in horror as she fumbled for the remote. Seeing Zhane approach Karone, she yelled out angrily.

“Thank you, Karone,” Zhane said, “For always believing in me.”

After a loud grunt, Zhane struck the collar on Karone’s throat with his Silverizer and fell back, crackling with electricity. The collar fell to the ground and disintegrated with a silver flash of light. As Zhane fell back and de-morphed from the discharge, Karone, free from the collar permanently, fell beside him and hugged him happily. Cassie turned around to see the Phantom Ranger wave and then vanish from sight.

Trakeena angrily crushed the now useless remote in her hand. Villamax and Kegler stared at the ground awkwardly as Trakeena yelled, “DEVIOT!”

“So…now that our mission’s done, I guess you can join the Galaxy Rangers,” Andros said.

“Are you relieved that there’s no more choice to make?” T.J. asked.

Cassie smiled, and said, “I think the choice was already made. But thanks to Karone here,” Cassie added, “It’s a lot simpler.”

“Trakeena’s still gunning for you,” Carlos said, “So if you ever need us, tell us.”

“I think the role of guardian is already taken,” Cassie said, as she looked out the Megaship window wistfully, “But…I really appreciate all of you caring for me.”

“Thank you again,” Zhane said, and then, after hugging Cassie tightly, whispered, “Really.”

Ashley then walked over to Cassie and gave her a tight hug as well, saying, “We’ll miss you so much.”

Cassie wiped a tear from her eye and said, “I’ll miss you all too. But I’ve got my own mission now.”

As the five Space Rangers, Karone, and Cassie exchanged a big group hug, Cassie held Karone’s hands and said, “Karone, today you have proven that we shouldn’t judge people from their past. You were truly brave, and saved the day. But sometimes,” Cassie said, loosening the strap on her wrist, “You can’t survive by your wits alone. When you’re in trouble and in need of a friend…use this and think of me.”

Cassie unstrapped the Astro Morpher and handed it to Karone. Karone’s hands glowed with pink energy and Cassie winced as the life bond was transferred. Karone then strapped the morpher to her own wrist and said, “Thank you Cassie. We won’t forget what you have done for us anytime soon.”

As the six Rangers boarded their Galaxy Gliders and flew away, Cassie sighed and looked back at her friends. After a moment’s silence, she said, “Well, whenever I lose a team…I get a new one!” The five teens laughed and hugged her as they walked back from the Ship to their living quarters, joking and smiling all the way.

“So it’s agreed, then. I will cast the colony into your realm, and you will make me your second-in-command.”

Deviot stood in the engine room of the Scorpion Stinger, talking through a purple portal with what looked like a boat-shaped Space pirate.

“Yes,” the space buccaneer said, “And I assure you that you will obtain great power, beyond what you ever would have obtained with that bug princess of yours. You will become a great space pirate of legend, comparable to the great Space wench Divatox.”

Deviot cackled at this proposition and said, “By this time tomorrow, you will have a new fleet of slaves and a brand new general.”

“Excellent,” the pirate spoke, “Farewell, my new robotic minion!”

“Farewell, Captain Mutiny,” Deviot spoke. He laughed evilly, and said, “With the power I obtain from that buffoon, I will no longer need the cocoon! WAHAHAHA!”

From behind the entrance to the engine room, Villamax looked on. He narrowed his eyes at the robotic mischief-maker and solemnly whispered, “Traitor,” before running off to tell his queen the news.