Episode 23-"Man In the Wilderness..Takeshi Hayata-M.I.A."

A brief flashback shows the Scanrangers armed with their second robo-BlockBuster, who was on the verge of defeating Benedict's Brigade and their monstrous robot, ChaosDemolisher. After the victory, Nick encourages the crew that after classes, their main priority was to find the missing Takeshi as soon as possible.

In the deep woods, pieces of WideScreener had been scattered throughout the forest. Nearby on a hill, there was absolute silence..until a hand unexpectedly rises from the ground. A seven year old boy witnesses the hand, and runs to his father. The hand started to rise, and with all his strength, the body rises as if it rose back from the dead.

"K-K-Kunio-s-san?!" It was Takeshi, detransformed and crawls a few feet, then passes out from dehydration. Someone approaches the unconscious SilverScanner, and taps him with his foot. In the bright sun, the last thing Takeshi sees was a silhouette of the person carrying him. He passes out again.

Later, some CPB members and Vin search the countryside for the sixth Scanranger. Using metal detectors, Vin found a piece of WideScreener. Vin picks it up, and remembers Mikey mentioning about his fate.

"If Takeshi was dead, I would've known it..I actually believe that he's alive.." said Mikey.

"So far, so good..Now we've just have to find his warm body.." Vin thought.

Not far away, the MAYHEM captains, General Ug and Anark Key had teleported from their base. They themselves were on a mission. "We've still have to find more metal to reenergize the satelitte's controls, Ug.. We can use what's left of that meddling SilverScanner's scrapped robot for an energy source. Can you make sure we can get it without you screwing thing up as usual?"

"Of course, fool! I can do anything without you always interrupting my plans!"

"What plans? I'm the one who executes the plans to conquer the Earth! You just like to fight!" Taking advantage of Ug's dim-wittery, Key adds, "You go pick up that generator up on top of the hill! You're strong enough!"

"Why don't you do it? I'm the one who does all the heavy work!"

"Well, I've got an idea..I'll go pick up the generator after you!"

Ug, again, dimwitted as he was, agrees. "All right, then, that's reasonable!"

Up on top of the hill, where the generator lied, Takeshi woke up, and saw an old man gathering up some water. The little boy who saw him looked at him.

"Hey..whomever you are, thanks.." Takeshi grunted and was unaware that his arm was injured, probably during the battle. "My arm.."

"..has been dislocated.." said the old man. "I insist that you rest..It was only a miracle that my boy found you..after that fire weeks ago.." The man brought a cup of water to Takeshi, making him sip it slowly.

"Fire?" he said.

"It was intense..Some meteor or something came creshing down in this area..After the fire was put out, some firefighters put out the flames, but left this giant heater, which kept my son and I warm for these past weeks...Do you live nearby here, Mr.."

"Hayata..Takeshi Hayata..but as it is.."

"Say no more..While your bones knit..you're welcome to stay with us.."

"Thank you..."

Back at Cape Paramount Base..Vin and Nick gather with Alex. "Right in that area.." said Nick. "We're going to need that spare part there..To help upgrade Takeshi..if we can find him.."

"What's the big deal about a damaged engine, Nick?" asked Vin.

"Anything that's workable can be salvaged, Vin..I have a plan..The same way we resurrected Thunder Dolby THX, we can do the same with WideScreener. Now, we must continue the quest.."

As the two rangers set off on their way to the top of the hill, General Ug and Anark Key head up the same way on the opposite side of the mountain. "We're getting closer, Ug.." said Key. "Keep going!"

Back at the site, the old man continues to take care of Takeshi. "You need some more rest, son..You're still weak.." He goes outside near a brook, then he heard a growl. The man turned, and saw a 9 foot bear about to attack him.

Act two

As the bear was about to attack, it took a swing at the man, and he ran back to get his shotgun. He fires, shooting it right on the bear's left side, as it fell on its fours. The outdoorsman shot it again in the face, but instead of running, the bear stood up on its two paws again.

"What in the world?"

The bear was half metallic, as was the side the old man had shot. The newest cybercreature, KuroGrizzly, revealed itself, and swiftly grabbed the man by his neck, about to strangle him.

"KuroGrizzly! Release him!" said Ug as he and Key appear. "I could have let him destroy you, human, but you may be useful later.." he continued to the unconscious man. "You have something that belongs to us!"

"Indeed.." said Key. "Your little shelter that you built is a major energy source that we can definitely use.."

Takeshi awakens and heard the commotion. "What's this?! MAYHEM! Blast it! And the old man looks beaten up!" He peeks out the other side of he tent. "That cybercreature looks big!" Takeshi checks for his belt, but it was missing, including his Eigachanger!

"My Eigachanger! Where is it? Not now! I can't lose this right now! That guy needs my help!"

Meanwhile, Vin was about to reach the summit of the hill."I've made it!" Vin pauses for a second, and sees pawprints. "What's this? What's going on up here?" Nick follows behind him.

"Nick! Check this out!" Vin holds up a belt strap. "You think..?"

"He's not far from here! Come on, Vin Man! No time to lose!

Takeshi was about to make his move, even without his transformation tools. "I can possibly take on that monster..finishing him would be another story.." He was then gagged and taken by unawares. Before he could throw a punch, he saw. "Vin! Nick!"

"You're all right!" said Vin. "I can't say the same for your friend, though..We've gotta act fast to save him.."

"Big problem, guys.." Takeshi points to his waist and arm. "Your Eigachanger's missing!" said Nick. "Where is it?"

"That mountain man's son has it..

"We need to get it back somehow..."

The cybercreature, Ug, and Key was still terrorizing the man and his son, eating up their food. "Hey, Ug! Don't forget, you bring down the engine..I'll take care of the rest!" Ug grunts and continues to gobble down their supplies.

The little boy gets angry and tries to hit KuroGrizzly with Takeshi's belt. "Leave my dad alone! The monster knocks the belt away, right aside Takeshi.

"A lucky break!" said Takeshi. "Now let me deal with those monsters!"

"Not yet, buddy!" said Nick. "First things first..Vin, I need a favor! The upgrade is going to take awhile, so I need you to stall that cybercreature while I heal up Takeshi." As Vin was about to go out onto the battlefield, he heard a voice. "Wait!"

Mikey, Toni, and B.C. join the others. "Come on, leader man.." said B.C. "Surely you wasn't planning on taking on MAYHEM all by your lonesome?"

"The thought never crossed my mind..I was just waiting for you guys.." Vin joked. "What kept you?"

"Traffic, of course.." said Toni. "Now let's make a rug out of that grisly bear!"

"Right!" said the four. Vin, Toni, B.C. and Mikey all transform. "LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! SCANRANGER!" They rush to battle Key, Ug, and KuroGrizzly.

Nick finishes the power upgrade to Takeshi as he puts on his belt and the Eigachanger. "Ready to do this?" said Takeshi.

"Right! LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! GREENSCANNER!

"HENSHIN! EIGACHANGER!" Takeshi transforms into SilverScanner.

The others gang up on KuroGrizzly, but he simply brushed them off.

"KuroGrizzly! Finish those Scumrangers off! The plans to get that energy are ruined! Slice them into little pieces!" yelled Key. He was interrupted by a stray shot by SilverScanner.

"WHAT?! You're still alive?! I thought Benedict finished you!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, Anark Key.." Evil will never triumph as long as the eiga sentai lives! You're the one who's finished!"

"Yadda yadda yadda.." said Key. "That remains to be seen!" Key then calls up his Dark Movie Energy against the silver hero.

"Nan nitsu? What? Key has the same power as we? But how?" said the surprised SilverScanner.

Using a South Park-type character, Key utilizes a controversial character The putrid stench from one of the characters distracted Takeshi.

"Need a hand, Silver?" said Yellow. "Get that bear! I'll take care of Key! Calling up his Anime Film Energy, he becomes one with Kenshiro, the title hero of 'Hokuto no Ken(Fist of the North Star), and battled the bratty foul-mouthed copy. Yellow uses Ken's martial art battle cry, punching the character non-stop. "AHHHTATATATATATATATATHH!" The next few seconds, the foul-mouthed energy form exploded!

"Still have a lot to learn, Key.." said Yellow.

"I hate you.." Key replied as he retreated leaving Ug and the cybercreature.

The other rangers were finally able to weaken KuroGrizzly by wearing the monster down. Yellow joined the other four.

"All right, guys! Let's finish this!" said RedScanner. "CAMZOOKA!" The mighty video blaster materializes and set the sights on KuroGrizzly.

"Set the focus!" The CamZooka's sensors were locked on target. "Fast Forward! Fire!" The CamZooka blasted the cybercreature, but still was not out!

"It's critically wounded, but one good slice will take it out!" said SilverScanner. Charging himself up with his Tokusatsu Film Energy, Takeshi became one with the 'Space Sheriff Metal Heroes(Gavan, Sharivan and Shaider),he transfers his power into the now fully charged MagnumSabre! He somersaulted towards the wounded KuroGrizzly, and with one slash, shouts..

"SILVER MAGNUM SLASH!" The cybercreature goes down and explodes!"

Ug, seeing the monster fail in its mission, shouts, "BYTE!" The annoying robo-spider teleports to KuroGrizzly's remains. "Grin and bear it, Scanrangers! You're finished!" Byte laughs. KuroGrizzly enlarges into a giant!

Without skipping a beat, the rangers shout, "ROLL OUT! BOX OFFICE SMASHERS!"

"Guys! Stall that giant for a little bit!" said Green. "Silver and I have some unfinished business here!"

"Hurry back, guys!" Red replied as he and remaining rangers teleport to their mecha. Swiftly, they then shout out the combining robot command, "BOX OFFICE FORMATION! BLOCKBUSTER!"

Meanwhile, Green and Silver return to base. "This is it, Takeshi!" Alex is also there to greet him.

"Yatsu ta! All right! WideScreener's back on line! Red's gonna need some help! What do I do?"

"I am aware of your power loss which shrinks you back to regular size after five minutes.." said Alex. "Nick and I have made arrangements to compensate for that lost energy.."

"What you need to do now is to get back to battle a.s.a.p, and go 'J Mode'. We'll send the WideScreener in case of any trouble.." said Green.

"Right!" Silver ran outside Cape Paramount and shouts,"SILVERSCANNER! J MODE!" Enlarging to Ultraman-like size, Nick then launches WideScreener. "Go, Takeshi! Fly up and get into formation! I'll join the others in BlockBuster!" Takeshi does so, and flies beneath WideScreener. The mecha transforms into robot mode,then separates into different pieces. They split apart and now became armor, latching onto Takeshi. The center part of WideScreener becomes a chest plate, two pieces become a shoulder protector, while the rest covered his arms and legs!

Green said, "Now, your power has been increased tenfold, and the energy will automatically give you unlimited power! Your new mode is now called..SuperScreener!" Nick joins the others, who seem to have a tough time with KuroGrizzly. The cybercreature does a helicopter spin, tossing BlockBuster to the ground.

As the monster moves in, it was blocked by a blast from SuperScreener!

"SilverScanner! You've made it back!" said Blue.

"I can't leave you guys hanging like this! I'll take care of this teddy bear!" Takeshi lands a few kicks at KuroGrizzly, then applies a few judo throws, placing the monster on the ground.

"And now, you know what time it is!!" said Silver. Focusing his newfound energy in his arms,SuperScreener stretches his hands and brought them down, crossing his arms.

Back at Nebultopia, Blackorg on his throne watches another failure. "KEY! UG! YOU FOOLS!"

Later, the rangers help out the old man and his son. "I have friends who can accomodate with a place to live." said Vin. "There's no need to be living out in the wilderness like this..It's not much, but you can still get a great view of the countryside..

"Thank you.." said the man, who shook Vin and Nick's hand, despite his left arm in a sling. "Your friends are generous and kind.."

"Don't mention it..Actually, you really helped our Scanranger buddies by rescuing you before things got worse..I assure you..they'll make sure you and your son will be safe and sound from here on.."

"I've got a present for you..uhh.." Takeshi said.

"Ully..My name is Ully.."

"Well, my pal SilverScanner wanted to give this to you.." He handed Ully a mini version of his transforming belt. "Silver heard that you were very brave protecting your dad..He wanted to say thank you on his behalf.."

"WOW! Thanks, Mr.Takeshi!"

The six intrepid heroes wave farewell to their mountain men. Nick certainly felt a sigh of relief as they head back to school via Cape Paramount Base. Once again, the Scanranger team saves the day!

To be continued..

In our next Scanranger adventure, Vin helps out his former high school coach who accidentally runs afoul of MAYHEM. The evil warriors are patiently awaiting a new techinque to finish the rangers, now that they possess the same film energy-like powers they do! Are our heroes more than a match for Key, Ug, and Vixen's new powered up forms?

Next time on Movie Task Force Scanranger-Episode 24

"Reality Bytes"

Roll That Film!