--- ✦ ---
Tommy walked into the control room, his face carrying a mix of smiles, exhaustion, and deep satisfaction.
It felt as though he had lived another life entirely during the fusion with the Dino Gem. There had been anticipation, bone-crushing pain, and then—after enduring it all—the overwhelming pleasure of new power flooding his body. The entire process had been unpredictable, intense, and unforgettable.
Zayne, who had been watching an absentminded Tommy cycle through several emotions in silence, couldn't help but speak.
"How do you feel, Dr. O?"
The others in the room immediately turned their attention toward their mentor, their expressions filled with curiosity. They all knew Tommy and Zayne had gone on an extremely important mission, but none of them knew the details. Now was their chance.
Zayne's question snapped Tommy out of his thoughts. He blinked and finally took in his surroundings, his eyes widening slightly as he realized where he was.
"When did I even get here…?" he muttered inwardly. It was as if his body had guided him to the control room on instinct alone.
"I feel really good, kid," Tommy replied with a warm smile. "More than that, the gem completely broke half of my seal and bestowed upon me a new ability."
"Oh~ a new ability?" Zayne's eyes lit up instantly, unable to hide his interest.
As far as he knew, any new ability for a Ranger was nothing short of a massive power-up—something that could decisively turn the tide in battle. Naturally, he was eager to hear more.
Tommy had no intention of keeping it a secret.
"Yes. It's called Brachio's Rage," he explained. "Its main function is gravity control within a specific domain of space. I can increase or decrease gravity up to ten times a planet's natural pull. Right now, my effective range is about one hundred meters—but that will expand as I grow stronger."
Zayne felt a jolt of surprise run through him.
Gravity manipulation.
Based on current scientific understanding, gravity—aside from the vacuum of space—was nearly omnipresent across celestial bodies. That meant Tommy's new ability had virtually no terrain restrictions.
"Tsk… as expected of him," Zayne thought. "His counterpart is practically a god. Power like this fits him perfectly."
Zayne, having read the comics and watched the shows, wasn't overly shocked. But the same could not be said for the rest of the team.
The words controlling gravity completely shattered their understanding of reality—especially for the science-oriented members like Gwen, Ethan, and Peter.
Ethan shot to his feet first, eyes wide.
"How is that even possible, Dr. O?" he exclaimed. "A human can't just control gravity! It violates every known law of physics!"
"Yes—and more than that," Gwen added quickly, her face full of disbelief. "Humans can't even survive in atmospheres with ten times Earth's gravity. Bones would shatter, organs would fail—"
Peter jumped in as well. "She's right. Breathing would become harder, skeletal structures would collapse—it'd be like getting crushed under your own weight."
Their voices overlapped, filling the room with frantic explanations and disbelief.
And honestly? Their reactions were justified.
Imagine fighting someone who could make your surroundings unbearably heavy—turning the battlefield itself into a weapon. You wouldn't just be fighting an enemy; you'd be fighting the planet beneath your feet. The only way to counter that would be to overpower gravity itself—something only beings of absurd strength could manage.
And those beings were rarer than eagles living in trees.
Seeing the team spiral, Tommy raised a hand.
"The powers you've all been using don't exactly follow the laws of physics either," he said calmly.
That single sentence instantly quieted the room.
The team exchanged looks, then sighed and nodded in reluctant agreement. They hadn't noticed it before, but it was true. The laws of physics had been tossed aside the moment they became Rangers.
The irony wasn't lost on them.
Zayne stayed silent, watching the entire exchange unfold. Their disbelief, Tommy's explanation—it all made him reflect inwardly.
If they knew the absurd abilities and potential I possess… how would they react? Zayne thought.
They already saw him as an incredibly powerful Ranger. But if they truly understood the extent of his strength, would they still trust him?
People with overwhelming power were more often rulers than protectors. They might think he was hiding something. Doubt could form. Cracks could appear in their trust.
They wouldn't betray him. He knew that. But trusting him fully afterward might become far more difficult.
"Oh well," Zayne thought, shaking the worry from his mind. "That doesn't matter right now."
"Getting strong enough for the chaos that's coming is what matters," he continued inwardly. "Even if they see me as a freak, it doesn't matter. Protecting this universe—and others—from what's coming is the only priority."
As his internal monologue ended, the conversation in the room naturally died down.
Zayne straightened from where he had been resting and walked forward, placing his hands on Tommy's shoulders with a reassuring smile.
"I'm happy for you, Dr. O," Zayne spoke, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the room. "You should get some rest. We've all been through a lot today. The same goes for the rest of us."
Tommy's heart warmed at Zayne's consideration—for him and for the team. Beneath that stern exterior was a genuinely warm heart. It was something Tommy had noticed more and more over time.
"Alright, kiddo. We'll do as you say," Tommy replied, a slight curve forming on his lips.
Then he added, his tone softening, "You should get some rest too. You've worked harder than any of us today. We'll be back tomorrow."
"Mm," Zayne nodded, taking the words to heart. He really was exhausted.
Tommy smiled and led the team toward the exit. One by one, they said their goodbyes to Zayne. Kira lingered the longest, giving him a few words of advice—almost like a concerned wife—before stepping into the teleportation portal and disappearing along with the others.
The control room fell back into silence.
Only Zayne's slow, shallow breathing and the gentle hum of the machinery remained, filling the vast space.
The doors slid open once more, and Alpha wheeled herself into the control room, her attention immediately locking onto Zayne.
"Master, the reports are ready," Alpha spoke, her mechanical head gleaming with a soft red light.
"Mm," Zayne nodded. "I'll review them later. For now, I need to rest."
Alpha hummed in understanding. She knew better than anyone how much her master had been pushing himself—both on the battlefield and behind the scenes. Unlike her, he did not possess infinite energy.
"I'll take my leave then," Alpha said politely. "Please call me if you need anything, Master."
"Sure," Zayne replied with a faint smile, watching as Alpha wheeled herself out of the control room.
Crack~~
As he stretched his stiff muscles and adjusted his aching body, Zayne couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"What a day it's been. Tomorrow might be better… or worse. In the end, it all comes down to having enough strength."
With that, he began walking toward the teleportation portal.
Halfway there, his steps suddenly halted.
As if remembering something important, he paused, then shook his head lightly.
"I'll deal with that tomorrow."
Without another word, Zayne stepped into the swirling vortex and disappeared—leaving the control room completely empty.
--- ✦ ---
Space stretched endlessly, celestial bodies and stars shimmering at every corner. It was both dark and bright.
Far beyond any mapped star system, several colossal spaceships tore through the void, their engines leaving behind distorted trails of light. Alongside them drifted massive biological entities—living creatures of flesh and chitin, each one rivaling the ships in size. Their grotesque forms pulsed rhythmically, as if breathing, tendrils and armored fins cutting through the vacuum with eerie grace.
The entire armada moved with a singular purpose, advancing toward a distant blue planet suspended like a fragile jewel in the darkness.
At the very center of the formation loomed the true terror of the fleet.
A gargantuan mothership—so vast it could eclipse moons—glided forward with overwhelming presence. Its surface was layered with alien metal and organic growths fused, forming an unholy blend of technology and life. From a distance, it almost resembled a wandering planet itself.
Inside the mothership, countless compartments buzzed with activity.
Grey-skinned reptilian aliens clad in heavy armor moved efficiently through corridors and control chambers. Their slit eyes glowed faintly as they operated advanced consoles, manipulated holographic star maps, and relayed commands across the fleet. Their movements were disciplined, precise—soldiers born for conquest.
This was not their first invasion.
And it would not be their last.
Deep within the heart of the mothership lay its most important chamber.
A vast hall—part throne room, part palace—constructed with towering pillars and alien symbols carved into obsidian-like walls. Dim lights pulsed along the floor, illuminating the room in a haunting glow.
From one of the side entrances, a squid-like alien stepped forward.
Its elongated head drooped slightly, as if daring not to look at the figure above. Its eyes were sharp, calculating, and its posture radiated authority despite the reverence it displayed.
Upon reaching the center of the hall, the creature knelt low, pressing its body toward the floor.
"My lord," the squid-like alien spoke, its voice smooth yet reverent. "The course of destination has been set. Several of our soldiers will soon besiege that planet and retrieve what we seek."
The words echoed faintly through the massive chamber.
Then—silence.
Seconds passed, heavy and suffocating, as if the very air awaited judgment.
Finally, a voice emerged from the throne.
"Good," the figure seated there spoke, its tone calm yet laced with undeniable dominance. "Make sure they do not fail me."
The squid-like alien bowed even deeper, its presence exuding absolute confidence rather than fear.
"I assure you, my lord," it replied, its voice firm and unwavering. "They shall not fail. This mission is certain to succeed."