While Kali is out...
After the Rangers had a brief moment of welcoming Nate and the new Silver Ranger to the team, they turned their attention to Kali. "What about her? We can't just...kill her," Nate said.
"We've gotta take her back to Grid Battleforce. We can put her in the holding cell, take her Morpher and assign guards to keep an eye on her while we try to figure out how to free her from Evox's control," Devon said.
"Devon, I'm not sure-" Ravi started but was interrupted.
"I'm not leaving her behind, Ravi. Not this time. Whether you guys want to help me or not, I'm going to find a way to save her," he said with determination as he picked her up. They went back to HQ and followed Devon's plan. Right away, he started trying to find a way to save his best friend. When he heard that she was awake a few hours later, he dropped everything and went to talk to her.
Kali's POV
I groaned and sat up as I held my head. "Where am I?" I mumbled to myself. As my vision cleared, I realized I was at Grid Battleforce...but in a cell. "Great," I grumbled. I sat silently and just stared at the wall. A few minutes later, the Red Ranger came by.
"Hey Kali. You doing okay?" he asked.
Sort of. I mean I'm glad you guys finally stopped me from causing more harm. At least for now.
I just silently glared at him. "Right...I figured it wouldn't be that easy to break Evox's hold on you. Anyway, um...in case there is still a part that remembers who you are, I want you to know I won't rest until I've found a way to get you back," he explained.
I know, Dev...that's what worries me.
"Good luck with that," I scoffed and he just sighed before walking away.
Devon's POV (& time skip a couple days)
It's been a couple days since we've captured Kali. On top of fighting Evox's robotrons, I've been tirelessly searching for a way to save her but have had no luck in figuring out how, even with everyone's help. I was starting to get very frustrated and exhausted. I accidentally snapped at Nate, and that's when I decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air to calm down. I strolled through the park, the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers filling the air, lost in my thoughts until I heard a voice calling my name. I turned around, and my eyes widened in disbelief as I recognized the figure standing before me. It was none other than Dr. Tommy Oliver, a legendary veteran Power Ranger with a storied history.
"No way... you're..." I stammered, barely able to contain my excitement.
Dr. Oliver greeted me warmly, "It's great to meet you too, Devon."
Confusion still etched on my face, I couldn't help but ask, "But... how... why are you here?"
A knowing smile played on Dr. Oliver's lips, "Let's just say I had a feeling you needed my help. Your commander and friends filled me in about your friend, Kali."
My heart sank at the mention of Kali. "I don't know what to do," I confessed, my voice tinged with helplessness. "She's the best friend I ever had. All this time she's been... and I never put it together. I want to be the one to help her, but... I don't know how."
Seemingly sensing the weight of my emotions, he gestured towards a nearby bench, and we both took a seat. "Hey, I wouldn't be here today if my friends had given up on me," Dr. O reassured me.
My eyes met his with a mixture of admiration and concern. "But yours was simple. All they had to do was destroy the green candle. Kali has corrupted Morph X flowing through her. How in the world are we supposed to fix that?"
With a knowing glint in his eyes, Dr. O offered a reassuring smile. "It wasn't as simple as you think. It took a lot of planning, and a lot of failed attempts to break free from Rita's control as the Green Ranger. You and your friends will figure it out, Devon. I have faith in you all. And I promise to do whatever I can to help too."
I felt a sense of hope wash over me, knowing that I had the legendary Tommy Oliver by my side, someone who had faced similar challenges and emerged victorious. We sat there for a while, talking about our Ranger experiences, forming a bond that fortified my spirit as I faced the daunting task of helping Kali find her way back to the light. After a few more minutes, we went back to Grid Battleforce HQ. "Hey Nate, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I let my frustration get the better of me," I apologized as soon as I saw him.
"Don't worry about it, I understand," he replied with a small smile, to which I returned and thanked him. "While you were out, I had an idea. In Dr. Oliver's case, they went straight to the source-the green candle-and destroyed it. Maybe we need to do the same. If we destroy Evox, it could free her," Nate then explained.
"That's a good idea, Nate but remember it wasn't Rita who was directly influencing me. Maybe there's something Evox is using on her," Dr. O mentioned.
"Corrupted Morph X! That's what created the Roxy and Blaze Avatars. Maybe he did the same with her, except this time she stayed human," Zoey mentioned.
"Hm...trying to remove the Morph X completely might not be a good idea, but perhaps we could replace it with good Morph X," Nate thought out loud.
"Let's do it. I know Kali would want to keep her Ranger powers, anyway," I said. Nate nodded and so did Dr. Oliver. While they got set up, I went to check on Kali.
Kali's POV
I'd been in the cell for a few days now. I refused to speak and accept any food and drinks they gave me. I was starting to feel the effects of hunger and thirst but I was determined to hold my ground. A few minutes into the late afternoon, the Red Ranger once again came by to talk to me. "Hey Kali, I know you probably won't say anything but I just want to let you know that I think we've figured out a way to get you free from Evox's control. You're also never going to believe who showed up to help, and gave me a very encouraging pep talk," he explained with a small smile.
Who!? There's so many people I'd love to meet, and wouldn't believe it if they came to Coral Harbor! You're not being very specific, Dev.
I simply rolled my eyes. The Red Ranger sighed and walked away, only to come back a few minutes later with what looked like a gun. Before I could react, he shot something into my arm. "Hey! What the he..." I managed to say before passing out.
Devon's POV
"Sorry Kali, but I had to tranquilize you for your own safety. I can't let you leave, not when we're so close to rescuing you," I apologized as I picked her up once the guards unlocked the cell door. I took her to the lab and set her on the upright operating table Nate had set up under the machine that made us Rangers. Then, I rejoined the others behind the control panel.
"Let's hope this works," Ravi said, voicing my thoughts. I took a deep breath and nodded.
"Do it, Nate," I said and with that, he activated the machine. It hummed to life and vaporized Morph X surrounded Kali. It faded after a few minutes, and Nate cautiously approached her with his scanner. After a few moments, he turned back to us with a disheartened expression.
"I'm still detecting traces of corrupted Morph X," he said defeatedly as he came back to us. I sighed and went to pick her up again.
"What now?" Zoey asked.
"I don't know, but there has to be a way," I said before leaving the room to put Kali back in the holding cell. "Don't worry, I'm not giving up. Dr. Oliver's friends were able to help him. We're gonna help you, too," I told her softly as the guard relocked the cell door. I went back to the lab. "Dr. O, do you have any ideas?" I asked him.
He thought for a few moments before replying, "Well, there was that time when the White Dino Gem turned Trent evil."
"That's right! I remember learning about that in Ranger History! Wasn't Mesogog trying to kill him with some sort of device?" Zoey asked.
"Yes, the Life Extractor. Fortunately, Mesogog's alter ego, Anton Mercer took over and stopped the process. He moved the beam away from Trent, but it reflected off things in the lab and hit Trent's morpher, releasing him from the evil hold of the Dino Gem but still allowing him to keep his powers," Dr. O explained.
"I feel like there's an idea in there somewhere but I'm not sure where," I commented. Out of nowhere, Steel came running in.
"Guys! I know how we can save Kali!"
YOU ARE READING
The Beast Inside
Fanfiction*A Power Rangers Beast Morphers fanfic* Kalindi McCall (known by her friends as Kali) always felt like an outsider. She was into karate and video games, things people wouldn't expect a typical young adult girl to be into. On top of that, she was a h...
