(Last time, the loss of power from the five core GammaRanger forced Jill into battle alone. As she was fighting Beta Satan, her powers began to deteriorate, a product of her instability to keep the GridRanger powers and of the Beta Satan's much-hyped failsafe. Meanwhile in the G-Project Headquarters, the Rangers watch as Jill reaches her final defeat. While that is happening, Sei is in the internal computer systems trying to cleanse it of the virus that was implanted there. On the battlefield, after GridTitan's defeat of the Beta Satan, all of the Namrocks merge with what remains of the fallen monster to form the ultimate Betamon, Beta Namrock.)
(The scene: the skies above G-Project Headquarters, the next target of the newly-formed Beta Namrock. The devilish, Beta Satanic side begins to speak for all those who sacrificed their lives for the energy of this monster.)
Beta Namrock: Gamma Users, the time for reckoning is upon you!
(Meanwhile, back at the G-Project Headquarters, the Rangers are waiting the conclusion of the transfer of the power from GridRanger to the five core Rangers.)
Bryan: (looking at the computer screen monitoring the transfer) Well, it's just about finished. All we have to do is wait a few more minutes.
Jill: I still feel strange.
Laura: Don't worry, Jill. Your body is just getting used to not having the Grid powers.
Jill: I never knew that it was going to be this hellish, though!
Scottie: It's a good thing you stopped when you did, Jill. I just got the report on the last battle. It seems that Beta Satan was totally dependent on the energy of its aggressors. the last battle took at least 50 percent of your powers.
Jill: And the rest of them were destabilized by the temporarity of the Daemon powers.
Scottie: 'Fraid so.
Sei: Rangers. I am sensing a disturbing presence. It seems that the Namrocks have fused all of their powers into a giant mutated file known as "Beta Namrock."
Bryan: Not good.
Eric: What's taking so long for the powers to transfer? We need them now!
Bryan: Calm down, Eric. It should take less than 15 seconds.
Sei: I am afraid it will not, Bryan.
Amy: What are you talking about? the remainder of Jill's powers will have been transferred by then.
Sei: True, Amy, but for this monster, you will need every advantage.
Amy: What are you getting at?
Sei: What I can do is split into five different essences and fuse with your digital suits.
Bryan: Should it work?
Sei: Almost instantaneously. but I am not certain of the side effects. The GridRanger powers left me weak, as well.
Eric: It's a chance we'll have to take. Sei, do it.
(Outside, the flying Beta Namrock is heading toward the G-Project HQ at an accelerated rate. By this time, it has grown to a towering inferno of dark flames, muscles, and glowing body parts. Back to the G-Project HQ...)
Sei: I am ready. Once the infusion is complete, you must transform twice to fully activate the powers.
Amy: Twice?
Koike: Yes, Berry. There is your normal transformation and then you transform with this command... (hands Bryan a piece of paper)
Bryan: (reading) "Super GammaRanger Download..." I hope this works. Peter, what are the coordinates of Beta Namrock?
Peter: Closing in fast, Bryan. Another two minutes until impact.
Bryan: Then we'd better act fast. Let's give him all we've got.
(The five Rangers move into position.)
Jill: Good luck, guys.
Bryan: Thanks, Jill. Now, Ranger files, download!
(The five Rangers transform and move outside.)
AquaMercury: We've got ninety seconds left!
RedJupiter: Then let's not waste any of them. Let's get to the Station!
(From above)
Beta Namrock: Going somewhere?
(Beta Namrock shoots a couple of rounds of Balzac beams. From where they hit the ground, the Balzac form.)
BlueNeptune: Balzac? No problem!
(The Rangers fight the Balzac, which are surprisingly stronger than even the last batch.)
YellowVenus: It's like fighting a Betamon!
RedJupiter: (when the Rangers regroup) Guys, it's time. Ready?
AquaMercury and BlueNeptune: (wearing their Cyber Loaders) Do it!
GreenMars and YellowVenus: (wearing their Cyber Loaders) Let's go!
RedJupiter: Super GammaRanger.... DOWNLOAD!!!!
(The Rangers are now covered by the essence of their respective colors. The essence forms on the Rangers' digital suits, forming into a silver mantel, similar to what the GridRanger was wearing.)
S-Jupiter: Super Jupiter Ranger, ready!
S-Neptune: Super Neptune Ranger, ready!
S-Mars: Super Mars Ranger, ready!
S-Venus: Super Venus Ranger, ready!
S-Mercury: Super Mercury Ranger, ready!
S-Rangers: Super GammaRanger, ready!
(After literally plowing through the competition with their new gold-plated weapons, the Rangers realize something.)
S-Jupiter: Quick! Form your Blast Defenders! We only have fifteen seconds before that guy smashes into the G-Project Headquarters!
(The Rangers form their weapons and fire. The five beams hit Beta Namrock's leg.)
Beta Namrock: No! I'm losing flight integrity!
(The monster falls hard, but gets back up to the fight.)
S-Jupiter: The building is safe!
S-Mars: Yeah, but what about tall, dark, and ugly over here?
(The monster begins to stomp all over the place, with the intention of squishing the S-GammaRanger to their bloody death.)
S-Neptune: That guy thinks we're BUGS!
S-Venus: Time to cool his jets. We need the NetStation, now!
S-Jupiter: And I'll pilot GridTitan!
(The two mechs arrive onto the scene, NetStation by air, GridTitan by land.
GridTitan, ready! (looks at the control panel, already implanted with Jill's Grid Loader.) Now, what to use against this guy. Oh well, when in doubt, push ALL the buttons!
(S-Jupiter does just that, pushing the buttons, one by one. A barage of laser and missle attacks pelt the Betamon, but Beta Namrock feels little damage.
Beta Namrock: That was really an insult to my strength, you know!
(Beta Namrock lets loose a few attacks of its own, setting the giant tank off course. The other Rangers catch word of this.)
S-Mercury: GridTitan's down! I'll try to get it back on course. NetStation tractor beams, download!
(The tractor beam comes out of its side and grasps the side of GridTitan, letting it act as an anchor to the NetStation.)
S-Neptune: We can't go on tugging Bryan like this forever!
S-Mars: Good point. Disengaging!
(The GridTitan is rerouted to its original position.)
S-Jupiter: Thanks!
S-Neptune: No prob, Cyber Brother!
S-Jupiter: Cyber Brother... (he reminisces about several things that he and Eli used to do together, capped with the instance where he finds out about Eli's death.) Beta NAMROCK!!!! MODE TWO DOWNLOAD!
(Bryan angrily pushes the transformation sequence, as the GridTitan begins to transform.)
You.... will PAY for killing my friend!
(Bryan feels a new rage that gives him enough energy to pilot the robot. The moves of GridTitan toward the Beta Namrock are indicative of his feelings: powerful, yet totally uncoordinated.)
S-Mercury: What's with Bryan?
S-Venus: I think it's when someone called him "Cyber Brother."
S-Neptune: I didn't know this was going to happen!
S-Venus: I know. Let's just forget about it and beat this guy.
S-Neptune: Right! Bryan! Listen to me! We can beat this guy if you let us!
S-Jupiter: No! That monster will pay for my friend's death!
S-Venus: It won't matter if you're dead, too! (Bryan begins to calm down
S-Jupiter: I'm sorry, guys. I put you into danger.
S-Mars: You've been putting us in danger for eight months, now! Let's do it one more time!
S-Jupiter: Right! Download NetDriver sequence!
(The Rangers prepare to download the transformation sequence when GridTitan gets pinned.)
S-Mercury: Bryan!
S-Jupiter: Uhh... Never mind me! Form the NetDriver, now!
(The NetDriver finishes its transformation and begins to confront the Beta Namrock.
S-Neptune: Do you think that the upgrade may have had an effect on our NetDriver?
S-Venus: No time like the present to find out!
(The Rangers begin to attack the Beta Namrock, with insufficient results.)
S-Mercury: I don't get it! In simulation, we won so much experience points that this thing can take out a tank!
S-Mars: And this is a tank?
(The Rangers continue to fight the monster until something goes strangely wrong.)
Computer: Danger... Power is at 45 percent.
S-Venus: We've only got one chance! Antirod, download!
(The Antirod forms as the Rangers use it to, at least, push the Beta Namrock off of GridTitan.)
S-Neptune: You all right?
S-Jupiter: No!
S-Neptune: Okay, just asking.
S-Mars: Looks like we're going to be next! Power's at 30 percent. I'm holding out the emergency power for as long as I can, but I don't know how long I can do it!
S-Jupiter: Maybe I can help you out. Downloading GridDriver sequence!
(The GridTitan and the NetDriver fuse to form the GridDriver.)
Beta Namrock: Impressive machinery, but I'm afraid it does not match to the awe of my powers!
(Beta Namrock launches a cataclysm of fiery attacks and beams that the GammaRanger have no chance against.)
S-Venus: Man! Even with our new Super Gamma powers we can't beat this guy!
S-Jupiter: He truly is "Hell on Earth."
(At G-Project HQ, Koike and Peter are watching with deep angst as their warriors begin to feel the brunt of Beta Namrock's attack.)
Koike: Little chance... little chance of victory.
Peter: Unless we do something about it.
Jill: Wait. There still may be a way.
Peter: What are you driving at, Jill?
Jill: Trust me, just open a communications port to this computer in 1998.
(Jill hands Peter a piece of paper where she wrote the coordinates of a computer.)
Peter: Are you sure of this?
Jill: I've always been sure of this kind of thing. (turns to Koike as Peter punches in the coordinates) Koike, how strong is the MegaDriver?
Koike: You may be surprised. The NetDriver was actually the prototype of this. In theory, the MegaDriver is much stronger.
Jill: Good. We'll need it.
(As Peter punches in the coordinates, an image begins to appear.)
Image: Hello? Hello?
(Back on the battlefield...)
S-Mercury: We've got to finish him now!
S-Jupiter: We can't! He's too strong!
S-Mercury: But we're strnger now! We can beat this guy!
S-Neptune: It's too risky! Even if we do a combined TitanLancer/Antirod finish, there's a one in 60 chance that it'll work!
S-Jupiter: We don't have a choice. That's a chance we'll have to take.
(Long pause)
GridDriver combined finish, download!
(The robot whirls the TitanLancer and fires the blade of the Antirod, all headed for Beta Namrock. They hit the monster and...)
Beta Namrock: That was too easy. (fires a fiery blast that knocks the Rangers out of commission.)
S-Jupiter: Not even a scratch!
S-Mars: It gets worse, dudes. Power's at 15 percent. One more hit and consider us deleted!
(The Beta Namrock steps on the chest plate of the GridDriver.)
Beta Namrock: (evilly) Prepare to endure all the hardship and torment that you have caused me. Thirty monsters... Multiple squadrons of Balzac... My Satellite. Everything I have worked to create up until this point has been destroyed and it's all because of you... Now it's time to pay the piper.
S-Jupiter: NO!
Beta Namrock: (brushing his sword against GridDriver's face) When you get to Hell... tell them Lord Namrock sent you!
(The sword fires a very powerful dark flame at the head of GridDriver... only to have it deflected and hurled back into Beta Namrock's face by the hexagonal shield of...)
S-Venus: MegaDriver!
S-Jupiter: That's impossible, I didn't even call for it! Unless...
Jill: (over the Com-link) Miss me, guys?
S-Neptune: Jill? You're piloting the MegaDriver alone?
(A familiar voice from the past butts in.)
Eddie: Not exactly all alone.
S-Jupiter: (jokingly) Oh, no... Not you!
Sara: Guys, can we talk about this later? We've got to save our friends!
(MegaDriver helps GridDriver up. Beta Namrock begins to charge them, but the two robots grab his arms and hurl him back to the ground.)
Beta Namrock: You are going to regret that.
S-Mercury: Not as much as you're going to regret this! GridDriver Drill missiles, fire!
(The missiles get a little help from the power of the Antisaber in smashing the Beta Namrock.)
Spoony: Do you think he's weak enough?
Eddie: Could be, but just in case he isn't, I've got an ace in the hole. Bryan!
S-Jupiter: Go ahead, Eddie!
Eddie: Koike gave us a new configuration for a better machine. Just push these buttons (feeds coordinates) and you'll be really surprised.
S-Neptune: Bryan, the coordinates! Crank it, boy!
S-Jupiter: Got it!
(As Bryan begins to push the buttons on the console in the correct order, an amazing transformation begins to take place.)
Hold on, guys.
(The GridTitan separates and returns to tank mode. The Netstation locks into place as the MegaDriver begins to ride it like a surfboard. The three Server Cycles mount the top of the Station. The turrets from GridTitan extend and the Drill Missles from NetDriver attach to the sides of MegaDriver to form the new robot.)
All: UltiDriver, ready!
(The UltiDriver begins surfing into battle very fast.)
S-Jupiter: All right! All weapons are on line and energy is rebooted to full. Now let's get us a monster.
Beta Namrock: Hmm... Just more for me to destroy. You'll feel my vengeance yet, GammaRanger!
S-Neptune: What do you know? He called us by name!
S-Mars: Yeah, now I'm going to feel guilty when we blow up his ass.
(The Beta Namrock begins firing every weapon in its arsenal, but none do a bit of good as the shielded UltiDriver begins to close in.)
Jill: So much for that thought.
Sara: Is everybody ready?
S-Jupiter: Let's go!
(The weapons begin to glow as they power up.)
Spoony: Target locked!
S-Mars: See you in hell, cyberboy!
All: Now, UltiDriver finish download activate!
(All the weapons, at full power, fire off one giant blast that engulfs the Beta Namrock in its own flames.)
Beta Namrock: My powers! I thought they were invincible! I will be back... and I will remember this!
(Beta Namrock begins to dissolve into a comet-like being that shoots up into the air and finally implodes. Everyone cheers at this final defeat.)
S-Neptune: All right!
S-Mercury: Namrock is history!
Eddie: Mamma, I'm going to Dis---
S-Venus: Please, not now... Let's just enjoy this victory!
(Back at the G-Project Headquarters, Koike and Bryan speak to the team that defeated Namrock. The Rangers are still in their digital suits.)
Koike: Congratulations. Thanks to you, the Namrock threat has been extinguished.
Bryan: Indeed this is a great day for all of us. We've fought together and won together and, in the procress, became not just a great team, but a great group of friends.
Scottie: I'll drink to that! (sips his cola)
Bryan: And that is why... I want you to stay on as GammaRangers.
Amy: I don't know, Bryan. I mean, I know there is still a chance of an attack by outside forces, but...
Bryan: But?
Laura: Just like you have your place in time, so do we. We have to get back to our place in time to keep us.. you know, together. Just like we did when you returned here.
Bryan: I understand. I respect your decision.
Eric: I guess this is it. The end of the GammaRanger.
Scottie: Not necessarily... I got an idea.
(Much later, Scottie, after a relatively short absence, reenters the room with a surprise.)
Bryan: (hands covering his eyes) What's going on?
Scottie: You'll see. Okay, guys... You can come in now.
(Eddie, Spoony, Sarah, and Jill reenter the command post a little different than before. Spoony now wears the digital suit of BlueNeptune; Sarah, the digital suit of AquaMercury; Jill, the suit of YellowVenus; and Eddie, the suit of GreenMars. Their helmets, however, are still on so Bryan does not know it's them.)
Okay, Bryan, open 'em up.
Bryan: (surprised) They're GammaRanger... But... who?
(One by one, each new GammaRanger removes his/her helmet. Bryan is really shocked.)
Whoa! Big surprise! I'm just wondering...
Eddie: Yeah, we know the risks. And we're willing to take them.
Sara: He speaks for all of us.
Spoony: Yeah, I mean, hey, we get to see the future, don't we?
Bryan: (laughing) Well thanks to you guys, there is a future to see.
Eric: Make me proud, Eddie.
Eddie: No prob, bro.
Scottie: Spoon, don't get into any trouble.
Spoony: Me? Trouble? You're kidding!
Amy: Jill, you know the deal.
Jill: Yeah, I know.
Laura: You know something, Sara? That color looks good on you.
Sara: You think so?
(They all exchange hugs as Peter enters the area.)
Peter: Guys, the time tunnel is ready.
Scottie: Come on, let's go home.
Laura: I'll miss being a GammaRanger.
Amy: Yeah. I'll never forget you Bryan.
Eric: Me neither. And next time, when you in 1998, give me a call! (turns to Jill) That goes double for you, Jill. (kisses her cheek)
(Everyone laughs while they have a group hug. Then the former Rangers begin to walk towards the time tunnel. When they enter, the last thing that they see is Bryan's face, as if he was about to cry. He has reasons to cry. As soon as the hatch closes, Bryan pushes a few buttons and sets a course.)
Bryan: (wiping his tears away) There. I've set the course for March 16, 1998.
(Indeed he has. Only Koike and Peter know why. That night, Bryan is back in his red flight suit, sitting in his personal quarters looking at a picture that the six Rangers took before they left for Tradewinds Shores. An anomaly causes four of the people to fade away in the picture. Bryan knows why.)
This is the personal journal of Bryan Stone, leader of Cyberspace Task force GammaRanger, for September 21, 2023.
The Namrock threat is over. The dream of humans in cyberspace has moved one step closer to reality. Everyone in my time, and in 1998, begins to rebuild. In short, GammaRanger Project is unanimously a complete success. But the story does not end there. The GammaRangers, thanks to three new friends, and five old friends, the legacy of the GammaRanger will continue to fight all the evil forces that plague our society.
Unfortunately, this new mission of the GammaRangers has come at a loss. As they return to their own time, my friends... Scottie Scott, Amy Berry, Laura Mendes, and Eric Moriboshi... Their memories of what has transgressed within the past few months will diminish. I've sent them far enough back so that they will have no memory of myself, this battle, or of the GammaRangers. Perhaps it is better this way.
(Bryan opens a satellite feed to the streets of Tradewinds on March 16, 1998, where Laura and Scottie first met him. In the instance that Bryan was supposed to be lying down, wincing in pain, nothing happens. If anything, the two teenagers get closer together.)
Bryan: Perhaps it is better this way.
(The door opens.)
Koike: Come on, the celebration is about to start.
Bryan: I'll be right there.
(Bryan puts his Cyber Loader next to the picture that he was looking at, but he keeps the File Coin close to his heart, to remember his friend, who gave his life so that others may not have to live -- or die -- the same way. Bryan grabs his jacket and heads out of the door to the command central, where he is welcomed by all of his friends and colleagues. A lone light shines from his room: the light from his lamp, which is shining on the picture and the Cyber Loader.)
From the author:
I'm not going to get into a sappy, whole-hearted message to everyone who has followed these adventures for the past forty episodes...
I'll just say "Thank you," and hope that we can do it again sometime.
Chico Alexander
dralexan@email.unc.edu
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