Miniforce: The Return of the Dark Energy (Fanfiction)

Chapter 16 - A narrow escape (Part 1)

Just as blazing laser erupted, a tiny metallic sphere sailed through the air, exploding into a massive cloud as it collided with the beam.

The team barely caught a glimpse of Lucy's outstretched hand before the impact hurled them against the cliffside. Through the screeching of electricity, they heard Pascal and the army's snarls as they too, were forced back by the explosion.

Their hearings were cut short as their armors met the stone, iron cracking against the rough surface. For a moment, the five figures leaned against the slope, dazed.

Sizzling statics lingered in the air, a momentary shield.

Through the smouldering haze, a silhouette rose to her feet and squinted over at the growling shadows in the distance. The force of the explosion had put a few yards between them and the army, leaving wide open space in the midst.

Lucy stared down at her trembling hands, realizing she had actually brought them a chance to escape.

"Hurry!" She ushered in a frantic whisper. "Run! Run run!"

Her teammates too scrambled from the ground as they came to the same conclusion, heads swiveling as they took in the situation.

Max charged forward, ready to butt himself through the semicircle of enemies. A scarlet arm shot out, colliding with the yellow ranger.

Sammy shook his head at his impulsive teammate. "No."

"Climb!" Volt whispered, pointing up the steep precipice behind them.

The unexpected could be their safest route.

Max gave a nod, reacting—oddly quick for him—to the change of plan. He hefted Hawk to his feet, supporting the limping ranger to the stony wall.

Volt had already clambered a short distance up the cliffside, testing the jutting rocks. He glanced down at the others, who had already began mimicking his moves, forming an 'ok' sign with a free hand.

Quickly and quietly, the group made their way up the steep slope, digging their fingers and heels into crevices between stones. None of them regretted taking hiking training back in the Agent Academies.

As Max's helping hand towed him up the cliffside, Hawk found himself having an easier time in this dangerous hike. Endless stone scrolled past his vision, and he simply couldn't resist glancing down.

They were a startling distance from the ground, which was good, for the smoke had already thinned into wisps of nothing, leaving an open view of the withered field.

Volt was right. The army didn't think to look up. They scattered in all directions, practically tearing the field apart.

Hawk bit down his surging anxiety, relaxing ever so slightly as he dared a glance up. Unfortunately, they were also at a questionable distance from the cliff peak.

The others tensed as havoc ripped through the ground underfoot. They didn't find escaping in plain sight—right above their enemies' heads—very relaxing.

And so the group shimmied farther and farther from the ground, silent as if the stones were made from the softest cotton.

That was, until a loose chunk of stone escaped under Max's foot, growing smaller in five pairs of terrified eyes.

There was an audible 'plink' as it struck the helmet of a particular violet ranger.

Followed by a deadly silence.

"Up there!"

The escapees cringed as the first yell hit their eardrums, followed by a thrilled uproar. The commotion drifted up to them, deafening as if sound alone could knock them from the unreachable heights.

"Just keep going!" Volt directed, tearing his gaze from the dangers below.

The terrified five jerked from their frozen poses, quickly forcing themselves up the stony walls. For the time being, they had a head start.

Except the army had an advantage.

A sizzling beam broke through the air and attacked a boulder inches from the escaping group, showering them in bits of rock. The team pressed against the cliffside, clinging tight as rubble rained on them.

They scattered apart throughout the climb, dividing their chances of being struck. One by one, the following attacks chased them up the precipice, narrowly missing their moving targets.

Endless stone gave way to clear blue as the ledge came into view.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Volt urged, without an ounce of patience. "Just hurry up!"

In their haste, Hawk let out a hiss as his injured leg bashed against the cliffside, dangling from Max's grip as he struggled to find his footing. Stone burst into pieces below him as the attacks caught up to the green ranger.

"Oh please, I'm just gonna die." He grunted, fumbling to pull himself up.

One hand bearing a teammate's life, Max was also left stuck in place, clinging tight to the jagged rocks.

Volt glanced down at the sound of their struggles, and stopped dead in his tracks. The blue ranger went rigid for two brief seconds before dropping down to them, with the speed he urged his teammates to use. "Hawk!"

The said green ranger grabbed his open palm, and together Volt and Max hefted their injured colleague over the cliff ledge, away from the nearing shower of lasers. Sammy and Lucy were quick to follow.

However, this time their enemies were faster, and the hurried five failed to sense the hum of lightning until blinding violet shone straight in their eyes.

The group barely had time to shrink from the incoming attack before a magenta glow cast over them, merging with the deathly violet.

The two colliding forces battled for an overwhelming moment, two colors struggling to shatter each other, then a flare of pink erupted, impact washing across the cliffside in rosy waves. The violet was sent howling back, deflected by its dangerous beauty.

The world spun in hazy blurs, and Lucy choked on air, every ounce of power drained from her. Her grip weakened, nearly slipping into the hoard below.

A strong grasp seized her wrist, and she glanced up with effort, her vision clearing.

Sammy had her arm. The red ranger yanked her over the ledge and onto temporary safety. Her legs gave as soon as she touched solid ground, exhaustion weighing every limb.

She could see a blur of blue sprinting back towards them, hear him yelling at Max and Hawk to continue their run.

The pink ranger lifted her eyes to her red comrade, then towards Max and Hawk, who had paused despite Volt's command.

She pushed herself to her feet and hurried after her teammates, heels beating against the rocky road.

......

Pascal glared up at the ledge where the escapees had vanished. The tip of his spear attacked the ground in rage, and his nearby crew jumped.

No one knew these cliffs better than his own hoard, so unless the rangers sprout wings and fly, they won't be making it out of his lair, not before his army surrounds them first.

Had it been only a few days ago, he would have been confident he had his preys in his claws, but having had his victory jerked away from their last encounter, he'd learned his lesson.

And something was indeed out of hand——the absence of one member, and Pascal could feel himself becoming paranoid.

"Where's Abophis and Vamp!" he barked. "They should have been back by now!"

The twin toads shrank from their master, bulky forms cowering into meek toddlers as they shook their heads. True, Pascal hadn't been expecting them to answer.

He narrowed his eyes at the towering precipice, few of his subordinates had already began slithering up the cliffside, chasing the tracks of the escapees.

"We'll go around," he spoke, pausing them in their tracks. A flash of scarlet crawled up his fingers as sizzling power leaked from his spear.

"It seems you're all ready for an energy boost."