Cyberspace Task Force GammaRanger


Data13: Ghost in the Machine

(This is a supplemental entry into the personal journal of Bryan Stone, written by Amy Berry, for May 29, 1998:

After fighting the Beta Solar, we spent all day trying to find out where he came from, what happened to him, and where he was going. We found out the hard way when Eric reported a sighting. In fighting the monster with MegaDriver, Scottie saw that he was susceptible to CO2. The fire was put out, but we still needed to contain the virus. Suddenly, Namrock came and did that for us, taking Bryan's bodily energy in the progress.)


Dramatis Personæ:
Richard "Scottie" Scott/BlueNeptune
Eric Moriboshi/GreenMars
Amy Berry/Yellow Venus
Laura Mendes/AquaMercury
Bryan Stone (in physical and ghostly forms)/RedJupiter
Lord Namrock
Galevan
Rhexus
Chouzo
Balzac warriors
Beta Specter
Peter Bailey
Lt. Katsuhiro Koike
A mysterious warrior

(The scene: The SkyStation. After a lengthy battle with Beta Flare, only to have Namrock pull him out, MegaDriver reverts to the SkyStation, but unfortunately, its captain is nowhere to be seen.)

Scottie: (helmet in his hand) All this talk about energy. What do you think it means? (turns around and faces the Rangers) And what does Bryan have to do with all of this?

Amy: He might know more than we think. After all, he did create the Namrock virus.

Scottie: Yeah, but there has to be more. I mean, where does that fact tie in, Amy?

Amy: Try and think logically for a second. Bryan knows the inner workings of Namrock's mind.

Eric: No. Only some of it. Remember that Namrock is a combination of his mind and someone else's. But we don't know who that someone else is.

Scottie: This whole thing doesn't make any sense.

Laura: It will. It has to.

(Cut to the ground below, where a body that looks like Bryan's is laying on the ground. In truth, it is actually his life essence.)

Bryan: (Thinking to himself) A... Alive. How did I get here? What happened after the battle? I gotta get back to the Station.

(Bryan tries to call his Server Cycle with his Cyber Loader, but it doesn't work.)

What? How?

(Cut to the outpost, where the Namrocks are observing the body of RedJupiter, lying as still as a cadaver in a laboratory.)

Galevan: Lord, why did you capture his body when his spirit could posess more energy?

Namrock: You can never take a User's soul, but his body will more than compensate for the loss.

Galevan: How do you figure?

Namrock: This is no ordinary User. This is a GammaRanger.

Rhexus: All this talk about specters is giving me an idea.

(Rhexus retreats to the Satellite where he gets to work on a new Betavirus. Cut to the beach where Megadriver last fought and where Bryan's spirit was last found. The four remaining Rangers conduct a search.)

Eric: So where do we start?

Amy: Here. You and Laura transform and use your GammaCells to track Bryan's biorhythms. He's out there somewhere, I know it.

Laura: Alright. Mercury file, download!

Eric: If she is doing it... Mars file, download!

(The two transform.)

AquaMercury and GreenMars: GammaRangers ready!

Amy: Now, begin the search.

GreenMars: I can't do a thing until Laura lock on to his rhythms.

AquaMercury: He's right. GammaScan, download!

(AquaMercury locks on to her belt buckle to activate GammaScan.)

Scottie: So... What do you see?

AquaMercury: I see his rhythms, but they're moving around the place. I can't get a fix. (deactivates GammaScan) He's here, but it's like he's not!

Bryan: Guys?

GreenMars: Now... (waits for a second when Balzac show up) On second thought, put the GammaLink on hold.

Scottie: Right. Let's go.

Bryan: Alright, guys. Ranger file... (no one listens) Come on, guys! Can't you hear me? (The Rangers fight the Balzac without Bryan's warning.) Fine. Jupiter file, download!

(Nothing happens.)

What's going on?

(Bryan tries to fight the Balzac, but his moves go right through them.)

That explains a lot... I think.

(As the Balzac begin to retreat, the Rangers are left to wonder why they showed up in the first place.)

Scottie: That clinches it. Something is definitely here. Eric, your GammaLink, now!

GreenMars: Got it. GammaLink, download!

(He locks on to his belt buckle to activate the GammaLink.)

Got it! Something... is over there!

Amy: Bryan?

GreenMars: No. Something bigger. And it's headed right for us!

Scottie: Get back to the Station!

AquaMercury: Server Cycles, download!

(They all take the Server Cycles back to the SkyStation. There, they discuss the situation.)

Scottie: So that's the situation, Koike. Bryan was zapped by some negative energy and then he sort of vanished.

Koike: I see, Richard. I think I have the solution. I'll use my GammaScan to search the entire perimeter of Tradewinds. Bryan couldn't have gone far in only 5 hours.

Laura: What about the rest of us?

Koike: Stay alert. Namrock knows that, without Bryan, you are at reduced strength. (The Rangers take a moment to think about the situation they face. Cut to the Satellite, where Rhexus and Namrock talk about the apparent retreat of the GammaRangers.)

Rhexus: I can't believe that worked.

Namrock: What? What has got the Rangers running?

Rhexus: This. (adjusts the Digiwindow to pick up any energy patterns) The Beta Specter. As a ghost, the Rangers can't phase him, but he can cause significant damage.

Namrock: It seems that Bryan might find him.

Rhexus: Don't worry. He can't do a thing without his powers.

(Cut to the basement, where the Rangers and Bryan are presently waiting for news of Bryan's spirit to come up. Peter enters from next door.)

Peter: Guys, have you seen Bryan around? We were supposed to watch the Bulls game on TV.

Bryan: I'm right here! (no one hears) Haw can I get your attention?

Scottie: Sorry. We were about to ask you the same question. (Peter begins to walk out dejected.) We'll let you know when something comes up.

Bryan: (as Peter walks out) Hmm.. Maybe I can get their attention. (looks at the laptop while a message uploads)

Koike's voice: I may have an idea.

Amy: What?

Koike's voice: First of all, I have found Bryan's biorhythms. According to those, he is in the room with you. Bryan, if you can hear me, concentrate all your energy in your Internet hookup. Then maybe...

(Before Koike can finish, Bryan was "hooked up." All of a sudden, a digitized version of Bryan's face appears on the screen.)

Bryan's voice: Can you hear me now?

Scottie: Bryan?

Laura: What happened?

Bryan: I found out that I was turned invisible when I tried to fight the Balzac.

Koike: Bryan, listen to me. Namrock has unleashed a new Betamon, Beta Specter. For now, you are the only one who can fight him in your form. Your body is also in Cyberspace so be on the lookout for that.

Bryan: But... I can't transform!

Scottie: This is too weird. (looking at readout) According to this, you've already transformed. So if your body is in Cyberspace, then it should still be RedJupiter.

Bryan: So all I have to do is find my body and then I can have my powers back?

Koike: And you better hurry, too. I just intercepted a message that told Beta Specter to start collecting wind energy.

Bryan: I'm on it, Koike.

(In Cyberspace, Bryan begins his search for his body. While in Cyberspace, Bryan can fight the Beta Specter, because when ie is invisible on Earth, he is real in Cyberspace. Bryan uses his Cyber Loader to track both. Luckily, they are both at the same place. Cut to the Outpost.)

Beta Specter: I have begun to collect wind energy. It shall power the...

Galevan: Wait! I sense something. I don't know what it is, but it is overwhelmingly strong.

Chouzo: Do you think it is RedJupiter coming to claim his body?

Galevan: Impossible. Humans can't survive in Cyberspace without protection.

(Out of nowhere, Bryan sneaks into the Outpost and steps toward his body. Unaware of any side effects, he enters the body and pretends to be still.)

Galevan: (steps over the body) And even if it was Bryan, he couldn't do anything to us because he's invisible and in Userspace.

RedJupiter: (revived) You think so? (starts beating up on the two Namrocks and points at Beta Specter) You're next!

Beta Specter: I don't think so!

(RedJupiter calls for his JupiterSword and charges toward Beta Specter.)

RedJupiter: I better finish this quick. I'm beginning to weaken. Gamma powers can't hold on much longer.

(Beta Specter shoots his Spiritlauncher at RedJupiter's face. The Rangers, still in the basement, appeal to Koike for backup.)

Eric: Koike, he needs help!

Koike: He will prevail.

Laura: How? He's getting his ass kicked!

Koike: Trust me.

(Back at the Outpost, the Namrocks are watching the fight between Beta Specter and RedJupiter.)

Galevan: When he gets weak, I'm going in.

Namrock: No, Galevan. You stay here. Let Beta Specter have his fun.

Galevan: And the others?

Namrock: Now that the Rangers are without their leader, you can seize their powers. They will no doubt serve us well.

(RedJupiter senses his last glorified hits here, as he fights the strong Betamon. Then, from out of the blue, someone comes and takes the warrior to a safe place out of Cyberspace. The mysterious new figure takes Bryan to a digital archway and allows him to pass through. He cannot go out with him, though, for fear of erasure.)

Mystery man: Go on. Go! Get the Rangers!

RedJupiter: But, Beta Specter... he's still.

Mystery man: There is no way you or the Rangers can defeat him. You had better let me.

RedJupiter: ...

Mystery man: Now go!

(RedJupiter heads for the archway, leading directly to the basement, where Koike and the Rangers are waiting. Retroformed, Bryan lands on the ground.)

Bryan: My head...

(Bryan is greeted by a sea of "Bryan!"s and "Are you all right?"s.)

Yeah, I'm okay. I have a lot to tell you guys. We don't have a moment to lose. I know where the outpost is.

(Bryan told the Rangers of the Outpost and the mysterious soldier that helped him return to his senses. Cut to the Satellite.)

Namrock: We have reason to celebrate. The Beta Specter has succeeded where the rest of our monsters failed! Now it is time to send him out to the world and collect more wind and water energy for our project!

Galevan: To victory!

(The crowd of viruses join the Namrocks in a chant of "To victory" as the mysterious soldier continues to keep an eye on them.)

Fin... for now...

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