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Roll, part I
The sun is beginning to set on another day at Central University. On the recreational field, an intramural flag football game is just beginning to wrap up. In matching navy uniforms, the Blue Bombers break out of their huddle and march to the line of scrimmage, led by the team�s quarterback, Ian Hartman. On the sideline, Traci sits on a white lawn chair supporting her man.
�Whoooo-Hooooo! Let�s go, Bombers!� she cheers.
Behind the team�s center, Ian shouts, �Down, set....hut....HIKE!� He drops back, looks to his left, then looks to his right. An opposing player suddenly rushes towards him, and Ian takes off in the opposite direction. He jukes left, cuts inside, makes a few players miss and dashes straight into the endzone.
Traci throws her hands into the air in celebration, and the team�s friends and fans cheer on the sideline.
On the other side of the field, and just outside of the crowd of people, Nick Spince stands with his hands in his pockets, wearing a white polo shirt covered with splotches of grease. He watches as Ian, the hero of the game, walks over to Traci with the football, hands it to her, and kisses her on the lips.
Nick lets out a huge sigh, and turns to walk away. He stops, noticing a flyer stuck on a light post. �Blue Bombers Looking for Extra Players IMMEDIATELY - Call Ian at....�
A light flicks in Nick�s head. He pictures himself hoisting the intramural championship trophy, with the game ball in his hand and receiving a kiss on the cheek from Traci.
The referee�s whistle suddenly snaps him back to reality. He takes the flyer off the post, and heads for his dorm room.
*********
High above the clouds hanging over Oson City, the Darrarian Warship floats in the sky. Inside, General Morlon makes his way through a cold, dark corridor and into the throne room. He approaches the throne of Emperor Darrar, where the vile overlord has been awaiting his arrival. Morlon kneels before Darrar.
�Rise.� the emperor commands.
�My lord?� Morlon asks.
�General, it�s time for us to make our prescence known in this world. If this city is the base of operations for the Hyper Speed Rangers, then we will make it our first target.�
�I agree, my lord. What would you have me to do?�
�I want you to send a creature into the city. One that will prey upon these humans. Inject fear into their hearts.�
Morlon nods, �Yes, my lord. And I have just the creature.�
�Good. Now, go!�
**********
Inside the Communications building on the Central University campus, Lela Legend is packing up her laptop bag and heading out of the Daily U office. Chris, in his usual brown leather jacket and crimson t-shirt, enters the office. Lela looks up, rolls her eyes, and sighs.
�What is it now?� she groans.
�Lela, look, I know that I haven�t exactly been the most consistent reporter in the world these past couple of weeks, and things have just been a bit hectic for me. But...my life is starting to settle down a bit, and I think I can be that dependable writer you need me to be. So...I�m asking you to give me another shot.� He lets out a deep breath, anxiously awaiting her response.
Lela shrugs her shoulders, �Well. I�ve got to say, you certainly don�t give up do you?�
Chris raises an eyebrow.
�I�ll tell you what. I�m in a decent mood right now, and this may just be your lucky day. Adam Marsh, who usually covers sports, kinda partied a little too hard yesterday and let�s just say he�s not going to be back for a while. So, the assignment�s yours.�
Chris is surprised, �Wow. Sports?�
�Well...intramural sports. Flag football. Recreational stuff.�
�Oh...that�s great. I�ll take it.�
�I bet you will.� Lela responds snootily. �There�s a couple of games today and tomorrow. I want reports on Friday.� She slings her bag around her shoulder, �This is your last chance. Don�t let me down.�
**********
It�s a beautiful, clear afternoon, and Nick is jogging onto the recreational field in a navy blue t-shirt, bearing the emblem of his old high school, and short black mesh shorts.
The rest of the Blue Bombers are standing in a circle, as they get ready for the game. Ian nods at Nick, and Nick nods back.
�Guys,� Ian announces to the team, �This is Nick. He�s going to be joining the team now that Adam�s out.� He focuses on Nick, �You�ll be playing wide receiver, so just follow my calls.�
Nick slaps his hands together a little too enthusiastically, �Alright! Let�s do it!�
The other players look at him like he�s nuts. Nick turns a slight shade of red.
*********
In Downtown Oson City, an older woman in her late sixties drives her 1972 Lincoln down the road at about 35 MPH. On her dashboard, a picture of her two freckle-faced, red-haired grandchildren lies taped onto it. She looks down at it, smiles, and focuses back on the road. And out of nowhere, she�s forced to slam her breaks, as the ground begins to rip open in front of her. She screams in terror, as the many cars around her come to a screeching stop. A group of people standing at the bus stop just adjacent to her stare in dread.
As the crack begins to widen, a pair of skeletal-like arms punctures out from the ground, and in a split second an entire creature bursts out from below the asphault and stands in the middle of the busy intersection. Panic rushes through all of the citizens in the area, and they begin to run in terror, screaming with blood curdling frightfulness.
The creature, with large orange armor strecthing from his head down to his lower back, three vermilion colored eyes, and a skeletal, bug-like appearance, laughs as he watches them run away.
�Run as far you want, humans! I, Ballurus, love a challenge!� he shouts.
The sight of this heinous act creates even more fear in the onlookers attempting to run away...
*********
As the flag football game gets underway on the recreational field, Chris, with notepad and pen in hand, watches the game closely.
�Hey, Chris.� A voice calls from behind him.
He turns, and it�s Traci. �Hey, what�s going on?�
�Did the game start already?� she asks, seemingly out of breath.
�Yeah, they just started.�
She sighs in relief, �Good. If I missed anything Ian would kill me.�
�Yeah...� Chris adds.
Traci looks onto the field, and does a double take. �Is that...Nick?�
Chris turns and looks for himself. Nick is on the field lining up at wide receiver, standing right next to Ian, who's behind the center.
�It is him.� Chris remarks.
Ian snaps the ball, and drops back. He looks to his right; no one�s open. Nick runs as fast as he can on the left side of the field, and stops at about 15 yards, turning to get Ian�s attention. Suddenly, Nick looks to his right and notices Traci. He looks into her almond eyes, and smiles. Traci looks back at him and smiles. And in Nick�s mind, it�s a �moment�; the whole world seems to be in slow motion.
But as he slowly turns his head back towards the field, a spiraling football is rocketing towards his face. And before he can react, it smashes into his eye, knocking him out and to the ground.
Chris and Traci rush onto the field from the sideline, and Ian throws his arms into the air in exasperation.
Nick moans, holding his hand over his left eye.
�Are you alright?� Traci asks, as she and Chris kneel by Nick.
�Maybe...� Nick mutters.
From behind them, Ian remarks, �Pay attention, retard!�
Traci turns to look at him and snaps, �Ian!�
Ian rolls his eyes and walks off. Chris and Traci help Nick to his feet. But suddenly, their communicators each buzz. Chris and Traci look at one another, then at Nick.
�You think you can make it?� Chris asks.
Nick sighs, �If duty calls.�
The three of them walk off the field. Ian calls out to Traci, �Where are you going?!�
Traci shouts back, �We�re going to get him some ice!�
Ian shakes his head and turns back to the rest of his team.
Chris, Traci, and Nick make their way behind a vacant storage building, and Chris speaks into his communicator, �What�s up, Dudley?�
From the Hyper Garage, Dudley responds, �We�ve got a situation downtown. A monster is attacking civilians. Eric and Brittany are already on their way.�
�Alright, we�ll get there as fast as we can.� Chris turns to Nick, �You good?�
Nick nods his head.
Chris stands ready, �Alright!�
And together the three call, �Hyper Speed, Accelerate!�
Traci morphs, �Pink Hyper Speed Ranger!�
Nick morphs, �Blue Hyper Speed Ranger!�
And Chris morphs, �Red Hyper Speed Ranger!�
**********
Downtown, Chris, Traci, and Nick race towards the scene. They finally arrive just in front of Ballurus, joining the Black and Yellow Rangers.
�Nice of you to make it.� Eric quips.
�Sorry we�re late.� Chris replies.
Traci notices the two human spheres. �Are those...�
Brittany responds, �I think so.�
Nick is disgusted, �Human balls? That�s so wrong in so many ways.�
Ballurus quickly interjects, �Ah! The Power Rangers are here!�
�Alright, you freak!� Chris shouts, �Release those people now, and we might go easy on you!�
Ballurus scoffs, �Not a chance! If you want to work out a deal, talk to my representation!� Ballurus points to his right, and on the road a cloud of smoke explodes out of nowhere and fades away revealing a gang of Jestars.
�Fantastic.� Eric groans.
In front of Eric, Nick pulls out his blaster from its holster, sits on a knee, and fires laser bolts at a pair of Jestars, blasting them down.
However, on the other side of the road, a pair of Jestars garbed in red, instead of the seemingly standard black, get an advantage on Traci and Brittany, kicking and slashing the Pink and Yellow Rangers down to the ground. The two Jestars then backflip away, seemingly having mercy on the girls.
Meanwhile, across from them, Ballurus is sent flying back, as Chris and Eric land a leaping kick into his face. The other Rangers rejoin them, and stand strong in front of Ballurus.
�Time to end this!� Brittany exclaims. She pulls out her blaster, but before she can fire a shot, Ballurus sneaks behind the human spheres.
�Hold your fire!� Chris shouts to Brittany.
Ballurus laughs, �Yeah, but I won�t!� The creature throws a grenade at the Rangers, and it explodes in front of them; the shockwaves knock them to their backs.
�See ya!� Ballurus shouts, and the monster places his hands on the two balls and teleports away.
The Rangers slowly begin to pick themselves up from the concrete. Chris punches the asphault in frustration, �He got away!�
Just thirty yards away from the scene, Lela Legend is kneeling beside her car, unable to be seen by the five heroes. A digital camera is in her hands, and she�s snapping pictures of the Rangers, on the ground and defeated...
TO BE CONTINUED