Chapter 5 - Shining Song

Dr. Lark Walker glanced at Taylor Hicks. "I know you aren't entirely interested in the abilities of the Power Cards but I thought this one might interest you," she said and tapped her tablet, which she'd interfaced with the Lab's computer. A black part of the wall lit up; with a schematic of the Power Cards they use to access certain elemental attacks.

Tay raised his brows. "I gotta admit, that looks pretty cool," he commented as he read the name and intended use of the Card. He ignored it when she smirked at him. "Just because I acknowledge the fact that the Power Cards, by tapping power from the Morphing Grid, may be produce more power than I can using my ki doesn't mean I'm going to slack off on your training," he said.

Enrique Ramon ducked his head and pretended he wasn't trying not to laugh.

Lark shrugged it off. "Why would I have thought any differently?" she asked. This was a complete lie. She was just not getting it and they both knew it. The only difference is; he wasn't willing to give up and she was.

Taylor gave her an unbelieving look. "Think outside the box once in awhile," he said. "Anyhow, I have a shift. Don't want the new boss on my back," he said and patted his new sidearm.

Ram did snort with laughter. Considering Gregory Houston was the 'new boss', Taylor really had to mind his P's and Q's for awhile. Whistling, nonchalantly, he left the Lab.

Lark pursed her lips together. "Think outside the box. Like that's so easy," she grumbled under her breath. "What are you snickering at, Ramon? Get back to work," she snapped at him and left the Lab. Ram quickly ducked his head and went back to sorting through the alien programming, looking for bits of code that went together and made sense.

She was in high dudgeon as she passed the Infirmary and almost ran over Tempest Strong. "Oh, pardon me," she said.

Tempest took the opportunity and hooked her arm through Lark's. "No problem. Off to lunch? Let's go together," she suggested.

"I wasn't. I just wanted some air," she said.

"Then we'll grab it and eat outside," Tempest said easily.

Lark realized she had little choice. In a matter of minutes they had an assortment of dining room options spread out on a table made from the same unidentified white substance that made up almost everything on Sky Base. They said in the Citadel's courtyard. "Is this because I wouldn't go on a 'spa day' with you?" she asked.

Tempest looked at her askew. "Uh, no. I took Grace anyway. Have you seen her lately? Doesn't she look amazing? You missed out," she said with a smile.

Lark nodded politely. She hadn't noticed whatever it was Tempest was talking about. She tended not to observe people too closely. She was also quite inept at social niceties. And forget about small talk.

Tempe surveyed the other girl for a moment. She opened a veggie burrito and dug into it. They were quiet a moment. "Tell me a little about yourself," she prompted.

"Excuse me?" Lark asked, surprised.

"You know everything about me. School, jobs, psychological profile, medical history. The only thing I know about you is that you're name is Lark Walker and you're a doctor. Tell me," she prompted.

"Um, well. I was home schooled and graduated when I was twelve. I got have several degrees in Computer Sciences, Physics and Mathematics. Papa wanted to make sure I had a well rounded education so he also made sure I studied karate and earned a black belt. I started working for Astral Dynamics. I worked mostly with my father. This is the first project I've lead. It was because I figured out how to work the teleport device the archaeologists found on the mountain," she explained.

Tempest reached out and patted her hand. "That explains so much," she said.

Lark frowned. Explained what?

--/-\--

Sylon heard the most brain-rending cacophony that had been his displeasure to hear. He left his lab. He had feeling the sound would be disabilitating had he not been wearing his genetic disguise. He went to the bridge to find Captain Drage being entertained by one of his men.

A frond headed alien that had string instruments growing out of its chest, which is where the music came from that he was singing along to. He had a high voice that exaggerated long syllables. "Captaaaaiiin Drake! Ow! Heeeeee's the best Captaaaaaaain ever seeeeeeen!"

"Enough!" Kragar snarled.

The music ceased. "Heeeey, man. Don't raaain on my parade. Yeah! The Captain is my number one faaan!" he declared.

"What is this thing?" Sylon asked, an idea forming. This could just what he needed.

"This is Mutzhart. He's the Captain's fool," Kragar said. "Get off the bridge!" he snarled.

"No wait," Sylon said calmly, "He could be useful," he said thoughtfully. Yes, if all went as he thought it would, he'd have no hindrances in locating Skycrest.

--/-\--

That day's training seemed worse than usual for some reason. Lark was majorly frustrated. They sat in a circle attempting to meditate but it was impossible for her mind to shut down unless she was asleep. She cracked an eye and saw Taylor watching her. He shook his head. "That's enough for today," he said finally and got to his feet. "Anyone having any luck?” he asked.

Lark was not surprised to see Sin raise his hand. Of all of them, he was the one most quickly adapting to the changes being molecularly bonded to his Morpher had wrought. He was also most adept at picking up on the Ninja Techniques Taylor was teaching them. She made a face at him. He made one back.

"Children, behave," Gore admonished them. In response Sin made a face at him.

"How about this; you guys need to be in your elements for a while," Taylor said to Tempest and Gore. They'd been given Land Powers. "Sin goes down the ocean every day to meditate. You two need to do something similar," he said.

"I don't have ti--"

"Of course you do," Taylor interrupted. He grinned. "You're the boss. You don't have to take as many shifts as you do. You just do. Work less, play in the dirt more. Real dirt, not whatever passes for dirt up here," he added.

Tempest made a face. Taylor stopped her before she could protest. "Yes, real dirt. As in get dirty, muddy, and rocky. At least two hours every day. Don't worry about training or trying to move it with your ki. Just sit in it. Be with it," he instructed. He honestly couldn't believe himself. He'd willfully chosen to go out into the world. He'd never wanted the responsibility of trying to teach anyone Ninja Techniques.

Yet, here he was doing just that. If he was as half-assed a student as he had an inkling he started out as, he was surprised Sensei Shane didn't just chuck him off and cliff and say "Control the air or die". He was tempted to do the same thing with Lark Walker. Except she'd probably end up dying.

Her world was entirely linear. Things fit neatly into their places. That was completely wrong for Wind Ninjas. And like it or not, she was now and air elementalist. Changes were being done to her physical make-up to allow a great control of that fact. He

"What about the Doc?" Gore asked. He didn't see anything wrong with the suggestion. It made sense. He supposed he could adjust his shifts.

Taylor already had an idea about that. "That'll be taken care of. What she and I need is less distraction and no ground under our feet," he said.

Lark looked at him uneasily. What did he mean by that?

--/-\--

Weddings were truly a wonderful thing. Outdoor wedding receptions were the thing that season. So were wedding bands. The wedding of socialite Matilda Ellis and her groom Gavin Fowler was no exception. Her wedding guests consisted of the top movers and shakers of Starkweather Valley and some even beyond.

Mutzhart was less than impressed by the wedding band entertaining the guests at a hundred or so white tables that dotted the landscape of Starkweather Valley Center Park. He made a scoffing sound. "Noooo-oo waaaay! Listen to my muuuuusic!" he called own from the elaborate post-modern steel-and-glass architectural arbor Matilda's had built for her to get married under.

He spun in a circle and began playing his wild song.

The sound had a bad effect on the humans. They grabbed at their heads, crying out in pain. Many stumbled around. Some collapsed in pain.

--/-\--

Gore and Tempe were arguing about when and where they should go to 'meditate in the mud' as they were now referring to it. Sin was trying to mediate but they both snapped at him to stay out of it. He raised his hands and backed away.

"Neither of you are going to bite my head off I hope?" he asked as he approached Lark and Taylor.

Taylor snickered. "They're a deadly pair, huh?" he said.

"You could say that," Sin agreed.

Lark bit her lip. Taylor had just informed her that twice daily for an hour they were going to the very top of Stark Peak. Real air. Real sky.

Lark was surprised by that he realized that air around the colony was oxygen enriched due its altitude. In a sense 'fake' air. Just one more thing about him that surprised her. One day she was going to cease being surprised by Taylor Hicks.

Pain suddenly spread through her head as some strange ringing sounded in her ears. She clapped her hand over them. It took her a moment to realize that Taylor was suffering even more than she was.

Tempe noticed them and rushed over. "What happened?" she demanded.

"I don't know! They just suddenly covered their ears," Sin said.

"Ah! You don't hear that? It's horrible?" Tay said painfully.

The Alien Alarm System began to sound.

"We'd better go," Gore said. "Can you guys make it?" he asked.

Lark nodded. "Let's go," she agreed.

Taylor nodded.

Tempe gave them a concerned look and hovered around them as they made their way back to the Citadel and the Lab.

--/-\--

"Let's kick this up a notch!" Mutzhart said and spin around, did a guitar kick and faced the people again. The dual instruments on his chest began to vibrate causing a strange sound that swept over the wedding guests in devastating waves.

The Power Rangers arrived and got hit with what the other people were being hit with. Their helmets helped dampen the effect, but they suddenly understood what was wrong with Red and Pink.

"Oh my God. This is awful," Yellow cried loudly.

"Did you guys really hear this all the way from Sky Base?" Black asked.

Pink was busy checking on the people. "If they continue listening to this, they'll die," she shouted over the ringing pain in her own ears.

"Yes, we did," Red answered as he helped Pink move a small child that had fallen near some broken glass.

"Hey! Shut that racket up!" Blue shouted at the Warstar alien.

"Racket?!" Mutzhart demanded. "I'm the greaaaa-aaatest muuu-sician in the uuuuniverse!" he crowed. "How dare you insult my tunes? You're all fools not recogniiiize me truuue geniuuus! Oooozers! C'mon doooowwwwn!" he cried.

Oozers seeped up from the ground. "Waste those laaaaaamoooos!" Mutzhart began playing again. Except really instead of fighting, the Oozers began to dance.

"Whatever, let's just get it over with!" Red shouted and pulled out his Weapon Card. His head was near exploding

"Right!" The other's agreed. They flipped out their Weapon Cards as well.

"Dragon Sword!"

"Phoenix Shooter!"

"Sea Sniper!"

"Land Axe!"

"Land Claw!"

They're weapons appeared and they charged into the Oozers. While the Oozers defended when attacked they truly seemed more interested in dancing to the music.

"What's with these guys?" Yellow wondered.

"They're weirder than usual," Black agreed.

Pink was having difficulty keeping her wits about her. She held her head.

"Lark, watch out!" Blue shouted as some of the Oozers snuck up on her. He fired at them keeping them off of her.

Red was barely standing. An Oozer snuck up behind him and grabbed him. Black appeared out of nowhere and chopped him with his axe. "Hey, what's up with you two?" he asked as he helped Red stay on his feet.

Laughing wildly Mutzhart jumped to the ground. He continued to play and Oozers danced around him. "Yeeeeeooow!" he cried gleefully.

The Rangers staggered slightly, but Red and Pink experienced it worst of all.

"Let's vaporize him with the Cannon!" Blue suggested.

"Good plan!" Red agreed. Pink nodded weakly. Anything to stop the noise. She dropped her weapon.

"You can do this, Doc!" Black said.

She nodded again and retrieved her Shooter. They combined their weapons.

"Dynamic Cannon!" They pulled cards from their belts.

"The Shining Power of the Sky!" Pink and Red put the cards into the Cannon.

"The Raging Power of the Land!" Black and Yellow their cards into the Cannon.

"The Serene Power of the Sea!" Blue put his card into the Cannon.

The Cannon charged.

Mutzhart continued to play on.

Red clutched at his helmet.

"Dynamic Cannon Fire!" The Cannon fired a powerful blast of golden light that soared over Mutzhart's head because Red's vision went black and he stumbled at the wrong moment.

"Taylor! You can do it, baby," Yellow encouraged him.

He went down to one knee. Pink doubled over. "I don't think so," he denied. Pink shook her head.

Mutzhart finished his song. "Oooh yeah! Now that's what I call an audience slaaaaayer!" he cried. "Now let me slay ya!" he cried and used his arm to shoot energy discs at them.

Pink and Red were unable to get out of the way. They were hit dead on, their Morphs fizzling out.

"Yayuh! What a rush!" Mutzhart cried. "C'mon boys. Let's get us a better venuuuue!" he said to Oozers and began skipping off and disappeared in a wink of golden light.

Yellow and the others rushed to Taylor and Lark. "Are you guys still with us?" she asked.

"My head hurts," Lark cried.

Taylor on the other hand was completely out.

"Ram! Get us out of here," Gore ordered. The Rangers and their fallen comrades disappeared in multicolored flashes of light

--/-\--

In the infirmary, Taylor had regain consciousness. Ram had pieced together noise cancelling headphones that would double as communicating devices if they needed them. For the moment, the Warstar was silent.

Tempest had given them complete check-ups. "No permanent damage to your ear drums," she assured them.

"What was that all about?" Gore demanded of them. Worry was making him gruff.

"Air pollution," Taylor said, rubbing his temples. "Literally. The vibrations from his music are toxic. That's what's making people sick. Certain types of sounds at the right frequencies are harmful. Right, Doc?" he asked.

Lark nodded and wish she hadn't as the room began to spin. "That's true. His music must also be broadcasting those frequencies. The longer the exposure the worse the damage," she said.

"The better the hearing, too. I've been able to manipulate air currents to bring sounds to me. I spent many an hour eavesdropping on the girl's locker room in high school by doing that," Taylor said with a grin.

Tempest rolled her eyes. "Why do guys always assume the girl's locker room is some kind of sexy slumber party thing?" she asked with a huff.

Ram snickered but decided not to comment on his envy.

"Anyway, since bonding with the Morpher, I've noticed it happening without conscious thought. If my hearing has improved, so has Lark's," he said. "Whether she admits to it or not," he added.

Lark was sullen. She hadn't really noticed any such thing. Or if she had, it hadn't been worth her full attention. Maybe she had even subconsciously denied it. Still, she did hear the sound when the others couldn't.

"This does mean when he reappears, neither of you can get near him. Who knows what a second full dose would do to you," Sin said.

Taylor nodded. He was aware of that.

"For now, rest," Tempest ordered and ushered the boys out.

"We'll have to think of a way to counteract his music or else no one's going to win this one," Taylor told Lark.

"I know. If I could figure out which frequency is causing the problem, perhaps I could find a tone to neutralize it," she said.

"Won't work," he said and closed his eyes. "Think about it Doc. You're a smarty pants but don't rely so much on that. Use your emotions a little, too," he said and rolled over on his side and dropped off to sleep. He healed better in his sleep.

Lark glared at his back but huffed a sigh and turned on her side as well.

--/-\--

Mutzhart looked out over the city from the top of a tall building. "Mayun! My concert suuuucked!" he complained.

"You just need the right venue.

Mutzhart turned on his heels and saw Sylon loafing nearby. "Oh. Hey, man! You were right about myyy music! It knocked them OWt!"

Sylon nodded. "Yes. You're performance was more than I could have hoped for," he agreed. Stupid lout. Stupid but oh, so useful.

"Yeah, man! I'm a musical geeeeniuuus!" Mutzhart loved praise.

"I look forward to your next performance. I even have a venue arranged. If you're interested," Sylon tempted.

"Yayuh! That's wiiiicked!"

"Good. It'll be best performance of your life. A worldwide debut. You'll knock them all dead. Every single stinking human on this planet," Sylon and clenched his hands into fists.

"Yeeeeaaaah, maaaaaaan!"

--/-\--

"It's discord!"

Taylor sprang awake at Lark's sudden shout. She scrambled off her bed and ran out. She back tracked. "Come on. Everyone to the Lab," she told him.

Frowning vaguely, he rolled out of bed and shuffled down to the Lab where Lark was already calling the others.

"Should you be up, Doc?" Ram asked her.

"Just a headache," Lark said and was quickly trying to access personnel records.

"What's going on?" Gore demanded as he rushed in. Sin and Tempe were right on his heels, looking harried and concerned.

"It's discord!" Lark said. "The frequency," she tried to explain at the blank on their faces. "It's discordant note in the harmonies of the Earth. What we need to counter act it is harmony," she said excitedly.

"Slow it down a little, sweetie," Tempest prompted.

Lark ran a hand through her hair. "We need a singer. Just a voice. No recorded .mp3s or anything like that. The voices have been unnaturally altered way too much. I'm trying to see if anyone on the base has a background in singing," she said.

Tempe suddenly noticed she was being glanced at. "What? You think because I'm a black girl I can sing like Beyonce or something?" she demanded. "Sorry to disillusion you boys, but I can't carry a tune. They even kicked me outta the church choir when I was ten," she stated.

Taylor smiled at the thought. He rubbed the back of his neck. "But it can be a recording? Just not processed to the hilt?" he asked Lark.

Lark nodded. "Yes. I will need a recording," she answered.

"Then...I have something," he admitted. They glanced at him curiously. "No, it's not me. I'm in the same boat as Tempe when it comes to singing. But this is...I think it'll work. I get what you're saying, Doc. A pure voice and harmony," he said. He left the Lab to go to his room.

Tempe watched him walk past. "I think he was blushing," she declared in a loud whisper. Her curiosity was seriously peaked.

"And none of you except Doc better be in the Lab when I get back!" Taylor called back down the corridor, his voice reverberating on the walls, making it seem louder.

Taylor needn't have worried. The screen began beeping. "What's that?" she asked.

"Ah, it worked," Ram blinked. "I wrote a program to calculate the next possible appearance of the alien. It, ah, worked more quickly than I thought it would," he said.

"We can check it out," Gore declared. He was beginning to respect Ram's computer skills.

"Taylor and I will work on the device. Once it's operational, we'll join you," she said.

Gore nodded.

"Right, let's go see if Ram's program worked," Sin said.

Tempe ruffled Ram's hair. "I believe in him," she declared. He beamed.

The three of them stepped into the teleport. Gore activated it. They disappeared in multicolored beams of light.

--/-\--

Sylon had secured an open air concert hall for Mutzhart's performance. Oozers were being preparing it for the concert. To one side sat a large broadcasting dish. Mutzhart didn't know what it for but if it furthered his career, he didn't care.

He was shouting orders at the Oozers to be careful.

Sylon stood nearby, out of sight. He was speaking with Azula. She had specially designed headphones covering her ears. It effectively blocked Mutzhart's music. "I find it hard to believe that the Warstar's greatest key to destruction was working as a fool," she said.

"His music doesn't affect them. They never even realized what a jewel they had," he said.

She scoffed and shook her head. She gasped and directed his attention.

"Hey, careful!" Mutzhart shouted at an Oozer. He paced the stage that would be the location of his greatest concert.

The Rangers appeared at the top of the tiered seats of the concert hall. "They're actually here," Blue declared.

"Ha! I knew Ram could do it," Yellow declared.

"He's pretty good," Black had to admit.

"Well, let's finish him off before he can get started," Blue suggested. Black and Yellow nodded and began to head toward the stage.

Blue energy blasts exploded the stone before them. They stepped back and turned in the direction the blasts came from. They saw an unknown alien standing near the top of the stage.

"Who are you?" Blue called out.

"You, my Rangers, may call me Sylon," he said, spreading his arms. "Not that it matters. As simple humans, you will die soon," he said.

"Yeeeeah, maaaaan! Well said!" Mutzhart said. "I'll take it from heeeere! Yayuh!" He spun around. "This is my muuuuusiiiic!" He began to play and the Oozers began to dance around him.

"Don't do anything foolish," Azula warned Sylon.

It was too late. He used his staff and tuned into a ball of blue light and appeared in front of the three Rangers. He engaged them, using the staff with incredible skill. He slashed twice at Yellow. He spun low and upper slashed Blue. He whirled; hit blue with the end of the staff in a fluid motion that also slashed twice at Black. He swung the staff in circle and knocked them all down with blue energy.

He turned to the stage where Mutzhart played. "Start the transmission," he called.

An Oozer manning the broadcast dish pressed a red button at its base.

"What is it?" Black said as he attempted to get to his feet.

"Bad," Yellow said from where she lay winded.

It was very bad. The dish began broadcasting the toxic sound around the world, using the Earth's own satellites and receivers.

--/-\--

In nearby Angel Grove, the unbreakable glass of the Youth center shattered while it's owners, the alien being called Lammy Goldsmith with superhuman hearing screamed in pain as blood trickled from her ears and her fiancé, a human hybrid with hearing nearly as sensitive as hers writhed in pain on the floor.

It was only the first of many instances happening all over the world, the signal spreading from coast to coast. From continent to continent.

--/-\--

Taylor had brought Doc the recording. It was an .mp3 file he'd saved to his phone but that he'd backed up and made several copies of over the years. He burned it on DC for her.

Ram refused to leave because he reasoned that they needed his help.

"Fine," Taylor said flatly.

Doc had assembled, with Ram's help, a portable transmitter of her own. She took the disc from Taylor. She played it.

"Are you serious?" a girl's voice asked.

"Yes, I already pressed record. Sing," Taylor's voice prompted with a laugh.

"Ok, but don't laugh," the girl said. Then she began to sing. Her voice was rich and full emotion and power. She didn't need a studio to sound amazing. Her song was one of love and life. It was perfect.

Ram's jaw dropped. "Who--?"

"Doesn't matter," Taylor said.

The song finished.

"Wow that was--" Taylor's voice cut off as he apparently stopped recording.

Lark nodded and isolated just the singing and sent it to the broadcaster. "I've put it on an infinity loop. Once I start, it won't stop until I want it to," she explained.

"That's great," Taylor said. "We should join--" he suddenly went to one knee with a cry of pain. Lark gasped and staggered.

Ram immediately started the transmitter. The song helped immensely.

He checked something at the computer. "They're using some sort of device to transmit the music everywhere," he said.

"I don't have time to construct something to counteract that," Lark sputtered.

"It'll be ok, Doc. Come on. We should go help the others," Taylor said.

She hesitated. "It'll work out. You thought outside the box and used your heart. Believe me. It'll be ok," he assured her.

Lark nodded. She grabbed the transmitter.

"Good luck," Ram told them.

Taylor nodded and stepped into the transporter. Lark followed. He activated the teleport.

--/-\--

Sylon was fighting the three Rangers again. He didn't even give them a chance to summon weapons. He knocked the two men aside and slammed the end of his staff into Yellow's chest.

Mutzhart played on.

Black jumped to his feet. He knocked Sylon away from her.

Blue stepped in and took a few swings that Sylon deflected. Black jumped in again.

Mutzhart played on.

"My head is killing me," Black complained, gripping his helmet.

"Good," Sylon said and slashed at him, sending him flying and crashing into the ground.

"Gore!" Yellow and Blue went to check on him. They helped him to his feet.

"Comet Bombs!" Sylon fired blue balls of energy at them. They exploded all around him and on them. They sparked blue energy and fell to the ground in a heap.

"Don't worry. The music the stop when the world dies," he said in a soothing tones. "But I'll do you a favor. I'll kill you quickly to spare your brains from turning to mush," he said and approached them. He hefted his staff and aimed. "Good-bye," he said. He hesitated when he heard something strange.

A different sound entered the scene. A lone voice. Melodic and powerful.

"What?!" Mutzhart was distracted and stopped playing. “What is that disguuuu-uu-uusting voice?!" he demanded. He grabbed at his head. The Oozers staggered around dizzily.

The Rangers looked around for the source of the voice. Everyone saw at once its source.

Standing at the top tier of the stadium were Lark and Taylor. Lark held the transmitter.

"Doc!" Blue said.

"And Taylor," Yellow said in relief. She was frankly tired of getting her booty kicked.

"What are you doing?! Stooop that!" Mutzhart shrieked.

Sylon growled. He heard a scream. He turned and saw Azula clutching at her head on her knees, hidden from sight except from his angle. He whirled toward Lark and Taylor. "Damn you!" he snarled and started up toward them.

He was hit from behind.

"Give it up."

He swirled around to see Blue, Black and Yellow on their feet and with their weapons in hand. He gave another glance at where Azula. He couldn't get to her. Blue and Black launched an attack against him. They jumped, Black slashing him with his Axe and Blue kicking him in the head. Yellow whirled in with her Claw and upper-cut him.

They began to trade block and blows with him once he regained his staff and but Azula out of his mind.

Taylor flipped out a card. "This'll come in handy," he said with a grin.

"That's the new Card I found!" Lark exclaimed.

"Indeed it is," he agreed. He held up his wrist. "This'll carry the song on the wind," he said. "Explosive Four Winds!" He slid the Card. The sheer amount of red wind energy that swept up the sound and whirled it throughout the world staggered him. He continued to direct it. If he’d attempted this on his own, he'd have already dropped.

"How paaathetic! Destruction is the real muuuusic! Yayuh!" Mutzhart cried, deciding he'd been distracted enough; he began to play in earnest. "Hoooow's that?!" he crowed. The instruments on chest began to vibrate and move again, adding even more concussive power to the music.

"No!" Lark cried out and stood up. She could do this. She would. It seemed to take forever but happen all at once. Her mind went black all except the song. She opened her mouth and began to sing along. The harmonies of the two voices joined. The air fairly shimmered with her power.

Still fighting with Sylon, Blue fired a shot. He glanced at Lark, surprised. His headache was lessening.

Sylon blocked the shot with his staff. He heard Azula scream again. As Black came to engage him, he had to ignore her.

"The singing is cancelling out his noise," Blue said.

"Wow," Yellow said.

Mutzhart was giving his all but the voice on the transmitter and Lark's own voice imbued with her Sky empowered ki was too strong. The alien's transmitter began to spark under the strain. It suddenly blew up.

Without the continued transmission the song's power was more easily spread, especially with Lark's power behind it.

--/-\--

In nearby Angel Grove, Lammy had nearly lost consciousness. She had not even been able to turn her hearing down. She checked on Winter.

"Did I hear Rena singing?" he asked dazedly.

"I think so," she agreed. As if of one mind, the two of them scrambled to their feet. They knew a place to get answers. Winter looked at his windows and shook his head miserably as they passed them.

The winds carried the music beyond California. From state to state. Coast to coast. Continent to continent. People began stirring, bewildered but most swore they heard angels singing.

--/-\--

Lark and the voice of Rena Hart continued to sing.

Mutzhart was sparking. "My muuusic is the best!" he said and stumbled around in pain. The positive harmonies of the song made his instruments explode. He fell forward. He reached his hand out toward Sylon still fighting with the three Rangers. "Syyyyylon!" he cried out weakly.

Sylon backed away from the Rangers. "What? Damn Rangers," he growled.

"I'll be damned if Doc and Taylor didn't managed to pull this one outta their--"

"Girl's got lungs," Yellow interrupted.

"Hey, let's try a triple cannon," Blue suggested and nodded toward Sylon. "We owe him," he added wickedly.

"Sweet," Yellow agreed. They three of them combined their weapons quite easily. They pulled their Cards from their belts and placed them on the Cannon. "LandSea Cannon!" The cannon charged. "Fire!" The Cannon fired a blast of golden light that slammed into Sylon and sent him flying.

"We did it!" Yellow cried. She and Black bumped wrists.

"Doc ain't the only smart one," Blue said.

Somehow Taylor felt that the song had been transmitted. It was up to the natural winds now. "All right, Doc," he said.

Lark blinked and stopped singing. She swayed slightly. Taylor supported her. "It's time," he said.

She nodded and stopped the transmitter. They flipped out their Morph Cards. "DynaMorpher!"

"Red Ranger Power!"

"Pink Ranger Power!"

Red and Pink energy enveloped them. It formed their Power suits, helmets and blasters.

They pulled their Weapon Cards.

"Phoenix Shooter!"

"Dragon Sword!"

"Don't just stand there! Geeeet them!" Mutzhart shouted at the Oozers.

The Oozers sprang into action engaging the Red and Pink Ranger. Blue, Yellow and Black started running to meet up with them.

Sylon used the confusion to slip away to Azula. She had stopped screaming and was lying on the ground. "What happened to you?" he demanded and grabbed her arms, giving her a shake.

She looked up at him with deep golden eyes. "Don't you wish you knew," came the answer. She head butted him in the face and he staggered back. She sprang to her feet. She took a fighting stance, electricity sparking from one hand to the other. Before he could process what happened, she flung a bolt at him.

It hit him square in the chest. The flash blinded him momentarily. When he could see again, she was gone. He snarled. The body had control of itself. He knew Azula would regain control, but still. He didn't understand how it happened. Maybe he should paid more attention to the things Azula told him about it. No matter now. Holding his chest, he disappeared in a bright flash of blue light.

Dynamic Rangers Red and Pink, in full fighting form, handled the Oozers surrounding them with aplomb. Striking and slashing and they whirled and turned. All around them, Oozers sparked and went down.

Blue, Black and Yellow joined them. "Looks like you found your center," Blue commented, throwing an arm around Pink's shoulder.

"Girl, that was amazing," Yellow said.

Pink was slightly uncomfortable with the attention.

On stage, Mutzhart finally regained his feet. "Damn you!" he shouted without his usual flamboyance.

"You didn't think it was going be that easy did you?" Red called down to him.

"Don't ever think we're beaten," Blue agreed.

"Prepare yourself," Black called.

"Your concert bombed," Yellow said.

"But don't worry. You're going blow up," Pink added.

"You...yooooouuuuu! Shut uuuup!" He shouted and began throwing golden discs at them.

They deflected easily. "Let's pump it up for him," Red said. "Super Sonic!" Their weapons glowed. He slashed a shimmery red streak in the air in front of him and stepped aside. Pink slashed her weapon. Then Blue, Yellow and Black. The energy combined in a swirling concussive blast that spiraled into Mutzhart. He blowing and sparking with the energy of the good vibes.

"Dynamic Cannon," Red said. They combined their weapons and pulled their Cards.

"The Shining Power of the Sky!" Pink and Red put the cards into the Cannon.

"The Raging Power of the Land!" Black and Yellow their cards into the Cannon.

"The Serene Power of the Sea!" Blue put his card into the Cannon.

The Cannon charged. "Dynamic Cannon Fire!" The Cannon fired a powerful blast of golden light and electricity that tore through him. He exploded onstage with a very appreciative audience.

Sylon apparently made it back to the Devourer. A canister of Ooze was launched. It splattered over the pieces of Mutzhart and brought him back together and increased his mass. "Yaaaayuuuuh! A musical geniuuuus such as me will live on foreeeeeevah!" he crowed.

"Ah, hell," Red sighed.

"We got him now. Don't worry about it," Black declared.

"Yeah. Let's get this done," Yellow agreed.

"Right," Red and Pink agreed.

They flipped out their Macro DynaZord Cards.

"Dragon DynaZord!" Red slid the Card through his Morpher.

"Phoenix DynaZord!" Pink slid the card through her Morpher.

"Snake DynaZord!" Black slid his Card through his Morpher.

"Tiger DynaZord!" Yellow slid her Card though her Morpher.

"Shark DynaZord!" Blue slid his Card though his Morpher.

The Zords appeared and teleported their pilots aboard.

"Listen uuuup! My encore is haaaardcore!" Mutzhart began playing his instruments.

The noise pollution rocked the Zords. The Sky pilots were knocked a bit woozy. The flying Zords didn't much like it either. Especially the Dragon. Red almost lost control of him for a moment and had to jerk hard on the yoke. "Oh, no you don't!" he cried.

"I'll shut him up for a moment," Pink said with grim determination. She may not have been fairing well at meditation, but she'd learned quickly the basics of flying. She navigated the slightly more docile Phoenix easily. "Phoenix beam!" She pressed a button on her console. A beam of pink light hit Mutzhart square in the chest.

"Thanks," Red said and pulled out another Card. "Megazord time," he said. The others were ready.

"Dynamic Megazord!"

The Zords combined to form the Dynamic Megazord with wings and a dragon's tail for a sword. They appeared in the combined cockpit. The Megazord strode forward.

"Get outta my waaay! If you don't my muuusic, get lost!" Mutzhart said and began playing again.

Pink and Red clapped their hands over their helmets. It gave Mutzhart time to rush forward and attack. Luckily, Blue had his wits about him and was able to knock him aside with the right arm.

"I got you guys covered," Ram's voice said just he began broadcasting the song over their comm. system.

"One more tiiii-iii-iiime!" Mutzhart said and began to play in earnest. Shockwaves of noise pollution was directed at them.

"That's enough from this creep," Red growled. "Dragon Sword!" The Megazord drew the Dragon Sword and deflected the shockwaves.

"This reminds me why I hate going to concerts. Never make me go to another one," Pink said to Blue. He raised his hands in surrender.

Deciding to ponder that later, Red went on to the next attack. “Dynamic Head-butt!" Red said and pressed a button before him. The others followed suit.

The Dragon Zord's head detached from the Megazord's chest. Each arm swung forward as the Phoenix and Shark head detached. Each leg kicked out as the Tiger and Snake detached. Each of the Zord head's slammed into the alien's instrument creating a musical tone each time. They swerved back to reattach to the Megazord.

"That wasn't a bad little tune," Yellow commented.

Red grinned under his helmet. "How about this?" he said musingly and pressed another button. The mouth of the Dragon Zord opened and spat fire at Mutzhart.

"You're really ticked at him huh?" Blue asked musingly.

"Yes," Pink and Red answered at the same time. Red flipped out the final card. The others grabbed the same card.

They slid the Cards through the readers. The Dragon Sword caught flame. "Dynamic Astral Strike!" The Megazord zoomed forward and slashed through the alien.

Mutzhart crackled. "Oh, maaan!" he screamed.

The Megazord zoomed away, hovering a safe distance as the alien exploded.

Pink got to her feet. "Yes!" she cried.

"We did it!" Red said. They shocked everyone by bumping fists. None of the others could possibly understand what the two of them endured at the hands of that musical madman.

--/-\--

Much to Taylor's chagrin, Ram was playing Rena's song when they returned to the lab. "Turn it off," he demanded.

"No way! This chick rocks. Who is she?" Ram asked.

Without bothering to answer, Taylor killed the music himself. "That's personal," he stated.

Ram held up his hands. "Peace, man," he said, though he was still dying of curiosity. So was everyone else.

"Not that it matters," Tempest said. "We have our own rock star," she declared. "Where'd you get them vocal cords?" she asked Lark.

"Yeah. Where you been hiding that talent?" Sin asked, looking her up and down.

Lark flushed slightly. "I don't know. It was just sort of there," she said and flicked him between the eyes, surprising everyone except him. Even Gore was mildly shocked.

He rubbed his forehead. "Ow," he said and pouted.

"You were using your voice to manipulate the air. I'm impressed," Taylor said. "Not many can do that," he said thoughtfully. "Not even Sensei Shane," he said with a grin.

"Oh," she said. She blinked. "You mean I tapped into my ki?" she asked. "Is that what that feeling was?" she asked.

"Yep. You know what that means," he said.

She leaned away from him and the shark grin spreading across his face. "What?" she asked, sure didn't want to know the answer.

"Serious training from now on. First level Wind Ninja Techniques. No more excuses," he clapped her on the shoulder. "Rest up! We start first thing in the morning," he stated and left the Lab with her gaping after him. She looked at the others, silently pleading help. They conveniently weren't looking at her.

She wasn't sure what 'serious' training meant to Taylor Hicks. She was a little afraid to find out.

--/End 05\--           

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