Over the next week, Masuyo stayed side by side with one of her friends practically every moment of the day. The near-death experience, along with the aftermath the Grey Knight left behind shook her pretty hard. As UC, she was able to attend 'Counsel approved' therapy, to help her. Luckily, there had been no incidents even remotely close to the bank heist for the girls to deal with. The 'official reports' for the heist had been a mass revolt between the villains that had resulted in the large death toll. As such, neither the Sentai nor the Rangers were held accountable, so no actions were taken by the Counsel. UC was a bit annoyed about the Counsel's refusal to blame the Grey Knight, but she kept that between herself and the other girls.
The following Saturday, the girls met up at Nephele's place, a small two-bedroom house close to their school. Nephele's parents were currently working, so they had the place themselves. Everyone crammed into Nephele's room, three of them sat on the bed, two more sat on the floor, and Nephele sat in the only chair in the room. While it was a bit tight, it wasn't uncomfortably cramped. Alessia fidgeted on the floor a moment and took her drink from the table.
"You ever think about getting pillows for the floor or more chairs?"
"Lessa, don't go complaining about other's homes, when you aren't even allowed to invite people to yours." Lailah jabbed.
"Hey! It's not my fault. I… I would totally have you over, but… but my parents don't let me have people over. You know that!"
"You're freaking 17. They still won't let you?" Nephele asked. "Have you even tried asking recently?"
"I did. They still said 'no'." She looked a bit sullen. "But when I turn 18…"
"We're not here to discuss hospitality." Eda cut in. "Prez has something to tell us."
Thea shuffled on the bed, and turned so everyone else in the room was facing her. "Okay, so over the next few weeks, things are going to be a bit hectic. Claire is on vacation still but should be back in 4 weeks. The first dance of the year is in a few weeks, so Lailah and I will have extra duties with the student counsel." Nephele gave a nasty look to Lailah at the mention of the student counsel. "Finally, we have 6 patrol nights over the next two-week period as well as two double on call days in that same time."
The rest of the group groaned at the words 'double on call'. To be 'on call' typically meant that you were expected to be in the surrounding area you've been assigned to (In the girls' case: downtown). This is done periodically, during times much more likely for villains to attack. These are normally done in 6-hour shifts, but 'double' meant 12.
"Aww…" Alessia whined, "Why two?"
"Because another group is going on vacation and, according to the Counsel, we are the ones who are going to cover them."
"Why does it feel like this is punishment for the bank thing?" Nephele grumbled.
"Complaining about it isn't going to make it better, Nephele." Eda responded.
"Look. I know it sucks, but it's part of the job. We don't need the whole group for the entire time, so we can take shifts if need be." Thea attempted to calm the room.
"If you say so, boss." Alessia gave up.
"Let's just make the best of the calm time we have now, I guess." Lailah agreed.
The girls finished their meeting and headed back home. Alessia caught up to Masuyo as they left the house.
"Hey. If you need me to, I can hang with you for a while." Alessia offered to her.
"Thanks, but I'm doing much better. I have some homework to get done before things get hectic, so I should probably go home and focus on that. See you later."
"Yeah… That's smart. See ya."
+++
Alessia walked down the road towards her home. She took every step slowly to elongate the trip as much as possible. The streetlights turned on as she arrived. It was a luxurious house, 5 bedrooms with a large garden in the front and a large pool in the back. Alessia hated it all. She quietly unlocked the front doors and slipped in past the entry way. She smelled what she could only assume was a very delicious dinner and happy conversation in the dining room, but crept upstairs as quietly as possible, avoiding the creaky side of the top step and keeping to the walls along the hallway. A mild 'creeeeeeek' sounded as Alessia turned the knob to her bedroom and pulled the door open. She held her breath, not moving. She heard no change in the conversation downstairs and released her breath. Not risking any further noise, Alessia squeezed her was through the space she's already made. Then softly shut the door behind her. Tiptoeing, she moved across her room to her bed and sat down. She was by herself in her nearly pitch-black room. Only the slightest remnant of the setting sun gave a soft light to the room she barely called her own.
Phwoo. She laid down in her bed fully dressed. While she wasn't tired before, the darkness and quiet began to lull her to sleep. She let her heavy eyes close.
'BANG BANG!' Her door rattled at the force behind it, as the sudden noise jolted Alessia awake.
"OPEN UP!" A booming male voice followed up, with two more 'BANG BANG' at the door.
Alessia shot up out oh her bed, and as she took a step in the pitch black, she found her foot on something that slipped under her causing her to fall on her chest hard. Knocking the air out of her.
'Oooff!'
"CRETIN! IF YOU MAKE ME OPEN THIS DOOR, YOU WILL BE IN FOR A WORLD OF HURT!" The voice threatened.
Wobbling up Alessia opened her door. The light from the hallway created a silhouette of the large figure standing outside her door.
"Wha…?" She didn't even get to finish her question as a meaty hand grabbed her hair and dragged her from the room. "OW!"
She was yanked down the hallway and down the stairs to the entrance. As they reached the entry way, she was thrown, by her hair to the ground.
"Care to explain this, dunce?" The large man, her father, shouted at her, pointing to the ground below her.
Looking, she saw a trail of dirt that had been tracked in from outside into the house. However, the trail didn't go upstairs but ended near the stairs. She looked at the marks, but they definitely didn't match her shoe's size or print. Looking over, she could see her sister standing in the dining room, staring at her, with a wicked grim. She then looked down and showed her shoes, a perfect match for the prints.
"I… I didn't do this dad. It was Ash.."
'SMACK' Her father's left hand made contact to her face, silencing her.
"Don't you DARE blame your sister for your mess, you moron!" He boomed at her. "Now, clean up this mess and don't you EVER mess up my home with your filth!"
Tears welled in her eyes as she scrambled off to grab cleaning supplies. She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor for the next twenty minutes. Finishing the last spot, she noticed a pair of feet next to her, but as she went to look up, she was met with a cold red liquid being poured on her head.
"Oops" her devious older sister taunted, as she emptied the remainder of her cup on Alessia's head. "Guess you should clean that up too." She followed by dropping her glass, letting it shatter on the ground.
"But you did that on purpose!" Alessia argued back.
"Dad! Alessia bumped into me! She made me drop my drink!" She dramatically exclaimed.
"No!" Alessia tried to stop her, but it was too late. He father rushed into the room. Upon seeing the mess, his face went as red as the drink that Alessia was now covered in.
"YOU STUPID LITTLE BITCH! WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU!" He roared. "That was from a $400 bottle! And you just got it all over the floor!"
"But I…" A swift kick to her midsection cut her off.
"CLEAN IT UP! NO EXCUSES! And you WILL pay for the spilled wine!"
Sobbing quietly, she remained on the ground but shifted and started to clean the floor. Her sister smiled at her as the tears had already blurred Alessia's vision. She then walked over her sister to their father.
"Daddy, may I have another glass of wine, please?" She asked in a kind and pouting voice.
His demeanor instantly changed. "Of course, sweetie." He lovingly replied as they left.
Finally alone, Alessia felt a sharp sting in her palm caused by a shard of glass. She pulled the shard out and watched the blood ooze for a moment before cleaning up and quietly sneaking back up to her room. As she got to her door and reached for the knob a hand grabbed her butt.
"Ahh!?"
She turned to see her brother firmly groping her. She tried to rush into her room and lock him out, but he quickly pushed her to the floor and shoved his hand up her shirt to fondle her roughly.
"Please stop." Alessia pleaded.
"What?" He had the same wicked grin as their sister. "Don't you want someone in this family to love you?"
"Please…" Her brother smacked her across the face.
"What? You'll be a stupid little whore at school but not for your big brother?!" Removing his hand from her chest, he kicked her in the ribs.
"HEY! KEEP IT DOWN UP THERE!" Her fathers voice echoed from below.
"Sorry dad!" He shouted back, almost casually. Then looking at his sister cowering on the ground, he spat. "Pathetic."
As he left the room, Alessia crawled to the door and shut it. Still on the floor, she curled up and began to cry.
I just need to make it 8 more months. She assured herself. Then I can escape.
+++
A few days later, Thea and the other girls all found themselves at Eda's house. Well, 'house' wasn't the proper word for it. Eda lived in a 36-bedroom mansion on the outskirts of downtown. As it was 'technically' within range of their on-call area, they decided to stay there for the second half of their double. They had already been around downtown a few times today and even stopped a few petty crimes. Now however, they were inside the large mansion in an activities room as big as the whole of the downstairs space of Thea's house. The dance wasn't too far off, and the mountain of student council paperwork piled up testified to that. Luckily, Eda, Lailah, and Masuyo were assisting. Nephele and Alessia were playing games on the television.
"Why would someone ask for 'privacy rooms' during the dance? It's painfully obvious what they want it for, but it's gross to see it in writing." Eda said, disgusted. "Oh, and they put the reason for the request as 'rest and relaxation'. Ugh…"
"Yeah, thinking not much of either of those things would go on if it was allowed." Lailah added.
"You can't blame them for trying." Alessia commented from the couch.
"I can, and I will." Eda threw back. "It's supposed to be a respected event at a well-respected school. It's beneath any student to suggest something so… crass."
"I don't know." Lailah snickered, "How 'well-respected' can a school be if they let her in." She nudged over at Alessia.
"Shut up." Alessia threw back, weakly.
"Hey, don't be like that to Lessa." Nephele put down her controller and stood up. "At least she didn't stab a friend in the back, like you did."
"Oh, come on! I'm sorry you didn't respond in time and I got the position. Let it go!"
Nephele sat back down and picked back up her controller. The room was silent for a few minutes, except the sounds of shuffling papers and clicking buttons. Eventually Alessia let out a long sigh.
"Okay, you win." She conceded the game. Then, turning to the others, putting her knees on the couch she asked, "So, who's got a date for the dance?"
"I assume we're preemptively excluding you?" Eda teased.
"That's low, Eda." Alessia responded. "I bet I could get a date. Isn't that right Yo-Yo?"
There was no response from Masuyo, who was looking through the papers, oblivious to the conversation.
Alessia walked over next to her and waved in front of her face. "Ground control to Major Yo-Yo, you there?"
"HU?!" Masuyo asked, confused.
"Of course, you weren't listening." Alessia pouted. Thea saw Masuyo's confusion turn to irritation at the pouting. They'd known each other a long time, and Thea knew Masuyo hated when people pouted, because it reminds her of Noriko's pouting to get her way.
Thea hadn't been the only one to notice, and as soon as Lailah saw she interjected. "She's probably just worried about you, like the rest of us, Lessa."
"That's just mean. I can totally find someone. Just you wait!" She announced confidently.
Seeing Masuyo's confusion, Thea nudged her side and whispered, "Alessia asked who had a date."
"Ah."
"Eda cracked a joke about her, so she was looking to you to defend her."
"Understood."
"Are you doing okay?"
"Huh? Oh, I'll be fine. I'm just a bit tired from this shift."
"Well, it's almost…"
As if on cue, Thea's phone started buzzing.
"Had to jinx it, didn't you?" Masuyo teased.
"Looks like duty calls, ladies." Lailah sarcastically declared.
"Aberforth!" Eda announced
An elderly man in a very nice suite entered the room with a tray of sweet pastries.
"Yes, my lady?" He croaked.
"It seems we have to go out for a bit. Please keep the baked goods warm for our return."
The old man bowed his head and answered, "As you wish." Then asked, "Will you be needing transportation this afternoon, or would it be preferable to, as they youth say, 'hoof it'?"
"We will be fine on foot, but thank you for your suggestion, Aberforth."
The girls left the mansion, transformed into the Magical Ranger Girls, and sped downtown. As they flew, Nix read and reread the message: 'Attack imminent at 4th street and 23rd Ave. Calling all heroes in the area.'
"This is a pretty broad call." She told the others. "It might be big. Keep your eyes open. Got it?"
"Yes!" They all responded.
The Rangers soon arrived at the given address. As they landed, Nix spotted a few other hero groups. The closest one was a group entirely in shinning white armor.
"This must be pretty serious if we're all here." Nix tried breaking the ice. While she did occasionally butt heads, she normally had a fairly good temperament with heroes.
The tallest of the white armored people turned over. "You must be the Magic Ranger Girls. I've heard plenty about you guys. We're the White knights, and I'm Shiro, their leader."
It's MAGICAL, not Magic! It's always been Magical! How does everyone mess it up!
Nix took a breath before responding. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shiro. I've heard a lot of great things about the White Knights as well. Unfortunate that we haven't met until now. I'm Nix. So, the notification said there was an 'immanent attack'. Do you have any intel on what's going on?"
"From what we've gathered," A soft and monotone voice interjected from behind Shiro, "two villain groups are fighting over territory in the area. We also have the possible threat of a Family Member in the area."
Nix had been warned by other hero groups that even the lowest level of family members could take on multiple teams of heroes and come out on top.
"Umm… and who might you be?" Shiro asked as the interjector emerged from behind him.
"She's Angelic." Another figure beside her announced. "As you can see, she is a Divine."
It would have been difficult not to notice that. Divines are one of the principles of power that have access to a completely different type of magic from anyone else, but that wasn't the obvious part. The large white feathered wings on her back, her bright, almost glowing blue eyes, and the skin as pale as snow were obvious giveaways.
The man who'd introduced her looked quite different, almost comical in contrast. His camouflage bandana, tan cargo pants, and laced boots, along with his bare chest were quite the sight.
"Wait." Shiro stopped. "If she's Angelic, then that would make you Commander Piston, right?"
"That is correct. I'm Commander Piston, Leader of Divinus. I'll hazard a guess that you're Shiro, with your White Knights. And you," he knelt at Nix's feet, "you must be the lovely Phoenix, of the Magnanimous Ranger Girls. "
COME ON! THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE!
"It's 'Magical'." UC interjected coldly. Nix could see the irritation on her face. This drooling creep wasn't anything new, but it was annoying and disgusting none-the-less.
"I'm sure it is." He threw back at her without missing a beat.
"Enough playing around, Piston. We're here to work." Another woman behind him berated him. She wore a wraparound visor and a purple cloak with matching pointed hat. All of the Rangers instantly recognized her.
"You're Whimsy Witch, right?!" Kai blurted out. "I follow your work!"
Frosty grabbed Kai's shoulders and pulled her back, as she'd been getting too close to Whimsy.
"Act professional on missions, you dunce!"
"Sorry. I'm just a huge fan."
Nix really couldn't blame her. She's seen Whimsy before in interviews and online. She was the hero all heroes wanted to be. Popular and powerful. She portrayed an energetic and warm personality on camera, but right now, she seemed cold as ice.
"Great, another fangirl." She complained, throwing a scowl at UC before quickly turning away.
"Piston, we wouldn't want your fellow council members to have to reprimand you for harassment again, would we?" spoke the fourth member of their group. He was a tall slender man in a blue suit, green tie, and black shined shoes. Nix didn't know him directly, but as this group was Divinus, that would make him Chic Fighter. Known to be well-dressed, if not pompous, Chic Fighter was a hero who specialized in magic, but who's speed was known to be incredible as well.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep it in my… Oh hi officer!"
A female officer with long blond hair and a ponytail approached.
"Why hello!" She started in an upbeat voice, "Thank y'all for arrivin' so quickly!"
"I would never leave such a fine lady waiting." Piston said in such a way that the girls could actually feel their skin crawl. Whimsy sneered, then jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
"Umm, we were told there was a territorial dispute between villain groups, and we, uh, we're here to resolve it." Shiro tried to act professional, but it was obvious Piston's behavior had thrown him off.
"Oh, well ain't you just so well informed." The officer's smile brightened.
This woman is gonna give me a stomachache from her sweetness. Thea thought to herself
"Um…Well…It-it's a hero's duty to…um…" he stammered off
Another Knight in white, standing at least a full foot shorter than Shiro, with armor decidedly more feminine cut in, "What our leader is trying to ask is, how can we help?"
"Ah. Well, we have a number of officers keepin' an eye on the perimeter. Everything seems to be contained, so far, to those two buildins" She pointed at one building a block down, and another almost two blocks further. "So, we'd like you four groups to infiltrate those buildins' in groups of two."
"Four groups?" Kai blurted out in confusion, "But it's only The White Knights, Divinus and us, right?"
"Are you that oblivious?" Whimsy said irritably.
"Oh, sweety it's alright," the officer said, both nicely and condescendingly, "the fourth 'group' is right there." She pointed up.
Above them, on top of the very streetlamp they'd been standing under, a monster of a man was perched. Nix wasn't exactly sure how the lamp was supporting him, but whoever made that lamp so durable did so knowing it would be used like this.
"You really didn't notice?" the officer asked, almost sounding concerned for Kai's well-being. "That's Un-man, the one-man army. Surprised you didn't see him." She added the final part with a smile.
"He arrived just after you guys did." Shiro added, not helping Kai's self-esteem.
"I have received intelligence that a 'Family Member' may be present." Angelic said in a monotone, cutting through the awkwardness. "Do we have confirmation, or a location?"
"Hu?" the officer cutely tilted her head. "Well, I ain't heard nothing about a 'Family Member' bein' present, but we'll give you a big ol' 'heads up' if we hear anything." Her smile never breaking.
Angelic leaned towards Whimsy and whispered something in her ear. Whimsy nodded, then in a voice so falsely happy it sounded like she was mocking the officer, said, "Well, no use standing here twiddling our thumbs, lets split up and get those villains!"
"I'll go with them." Un-man said, in such a deep voice it seemed to actually shake the ground. He then descended, rather gracefully for someone his size, and landed next to Divinus.
"I guess we'll go with the magic gals then." Shiro said, then shouted towards the departing group, "Keep in touch!"
As each group made their way to the different buildings, the officer smiled and waved at the separating heroes. Nix smiled and waved back, then turned to the others. "She was lying about the 'Family Member'." Her face turned serious. "One is definitely here. Whimsy passed it to each group leader telepathically, I heard it just now. We may be in for a trap. Keep sharp."
Quietly, the White Knights and MRG made it near the front of their assigned building.
"How do you want to do this?" Nix looked at Shiro.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, with the situation, it might be a trap, so one team should take lead in the building the building, capturing them and whatnot, and the other should either take the rear, or wait at the entrance for any tricks or escapees."
"One waiting out here seems safest. We can take the lead and you guys wait out here. Good?"
"What makes you think you think you should take the lead?'
"What?"
"I was offering which idea we should do. My team is definitely more equipped to take the lead." We're quieter and even though we're multicolored, we don't sparkle."
He looked down at his armor.
"She has a point." The feminine Knight agreed.
"That's not fair Blanc." He sighed. "But you're right. We'll all take the first floor though, okay?"
"Deal. Who's your fastest?" Nix asked with a grin.
Two guards stood in the entrance of the building. Both were holding weapons but seemed pretty relaxed otherwise.
"So… Watch anything good on TV recently?" One of them asked the other, cutting the silence.
"Jerry. I have to stand guard here. I have to make sure no one gets by. And I have to answer to our boss. But do you know what I don't have to do?"
"Watch TV?"
"What? No! I don't have to listen to your-"
"Bill? Wha-"
Both guards had been knocked out. Nix walked through the door as Gus and Blanc tied them up.
"See?"
"Good one." Shiro answered. "Now Knights, lets secure this floor."
"You heard the man, Rangers."
Within minutes, the first floor was secured, and a dozen villains were tied up. They all met at the stairs to the second floor.
"Okay Nix." Shiro shook her hand, "you guys go get 'em and will make sure nothing gets by. Up or down."
"Constant communication too, okay?" Nix answered, Shiro responded with a thumbs up.
The second floor, while not as easy as the first, was captured just as quickly. The villains on these levels were not expecting a fight, so most were caught off guard and taken down easily. One made it to the stairs, but Nix called off Gus's pursuit.
"That's why we have the Knights down there." She assured her.
[Hey, Shiro, heads up. One coming down. Thinks he's getting away.]
[Understood.]
A moment later they heard back from him.
[Caught him. Man, you guy should have seen his face when he came down those stairs.]
[Thanks, Shiro.]
"Man," Kai looked around at the two dozen villains tried up on the floor, "I know we're good, but this is too easy, isn't it?"
"Ya, I'm with Kai" Frosty said. "Something isn't right."
"Well, we're only five floors in, maybe the strong ones are all at the top?" Nix tried to assure them but felt the same way.
'BOOM!' The whole building shook, knocking a few of the girls off their feet.
[Was that you guys?!] Shiro asked
[No! Sounds like it was pretty far above us]
[WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!] Whimsy's voice shouted over the communicator. [We felt that over here!]
[The fighting upstairs must be really bad. I haven't heard anything from the watching officers, but it seems like something big happened] Shiro answered.
"What if it's a Family Member?" Frosty asked.
"Then we retreat. But we need to confirm it." Nix answered.
"I can rush up there and report back." Gus suggested.
Nix hesitated for a moment. She knew Gus was, by far, the fastest in the group, but he wasn't necessarily discreet and definitely not indestructible.
"Okay," Nix said after the pause, "but first sign of any trouble, get out of there."
"Will do, Nix." And Gus was gone.
[Sending recon up to check on the condition. We'll report ASAP] Nix said.
[Negative. Report outside the building immediately.] Piston commanded. [That was big, whatever it was. We need to reconvene and go together.]
"Gus, Report back now!" Nix shouted into her team communicator. She then turned to the others. "Let's get out of the building!"
The White Knights were waiting that the bottom of the stairs, as the five Rangers made their way down.
"Where's your sixth?" Shiro asked as they all headed out of the building.
"She'll be down soon." Nix told him.
As they all left the building, Divinus and Un-man were waiting for them. Looking up, Nix could finally see what had happened. Over a dozen stories above them, dust and smoke were billowing from the building, and glass and other debris was already littering the streets. Suddenly from the floor where the smoke was escaping, a sudden flash and explosion blasted something from the building, and it began to plummet towards the ground.
The object had fallen so fast, neither the White Knights or the Rangers had time to react before it impacted, causing a large dust cloud to engulf the area. All UC could think was, 'please don't be Gus.'. As the dust began to settle, two figures came into view. On the ground was Gus, and beside her, standing up, was a person in a familiar grey cloak.
"WELL, TODAY JUST SUCKS." The Grey Knight complained, as all four groups closed in