The Reluctant Ranger

Nicole blinked as the world came back in a rush, color returning all at once as everything snapped back into focus.  The blade was right there, still moving towards her, but it was oh so slow and she could once again move freely.  Nicole brought her leg up, planted her foot against the machine, and pushed the bastard away.  It was almost effortless, and she used that same motion to hop back to her feet. 

Even with years of gymnastics experience, she couldn’t have explained how fluid that had been, how easily she managed it.  The machine crashed into another, both practically crumpling with a deafening crash.  She stood, watching as every machine around her all paused in their assault, only to gape in horror as they all turned their full attention onto her. 

“Shit,” she muttered. 

She brought her weapons up, and it was then she realized that they were different; changed in ways she didn’t expect.  The polished steel had been replaced with some black material that didn’t even appear to be metal, but the edge looked sharper than ever and slightly serrated.  Further changes became evident, like how her gloves were no longer fingerless.  She blinked at the deep purple accents set within the void of black that lined them.  Those accents trailed up her arm, barely visible against the infinite blacks of her skintight suit and the armored layers along it, before vanishing into some bastardization of her former duster coat.  More than that, she was now wearing a full coverage helmet that didn’t obscure her vision whatsoever. 

Unfortunately, Nicole didn’t have time to dwell on that further as the automatons all surged as one towards her.  She twirled her blades, a fresh confidence filling her as she stepped forward, calm and collected in a way she shouldn’t have been.  A flick of her wrist and her new blade bisected the first machine as if it was made of wet newspaper. 

Sparks showered from the strike, and for once she was glad the Sylan only deployed organic creatures to fight their battles when Rangers were involved.  Oh, right…  

Nicole barely moved as she almost seemed to flow around the machine’s strikes, lashing out with her own weapons in tune with each motion.  She felt unstoppable in a very concerning way. 

She was a Ranger now, yet she couldn’t believe it was really this easy to fight machines that had so thoroughly outclassed her just moments prior.  She stepped aside from a blow that would have disemboweled her, paying the automaton a passing glance before she kicked, sending the machine into the thinning masses with a deafening crash.  That was more in line with what she expected of a Ranger’s power, which meant it was her weapon that was making the difference.  Not all Rangers were gifted with bladed weapons, there was one team in New York that all had fantastical crowbars. 

Most of the people had been smart once she had the automaton’s undivided attention, escaping from the battle when the opportunity arose.  Others were idiots and had their phones out, hoping to capitalize on the internet fame that came with posting the footage of a fresh addition to the global Ranger teams.

Nicole didn’t have long to dwell on those thoughts and what they would mean for her before she was right back in the thick of things.  Showers of sparks burst forth with every strike of her blades, her kicks sent the machines flying, and she’d never felt such a rush before.  She knew that if her head wasn’t covered by a helmet, that everyone would be able to see a manic grin on her face. 

Twitching husks of the automatons laid strewn all around her, severed limbs and puddles of the translucent blue fluid soaking into the packed earth marking her work.  The boy that had nearly been cut down was cowering behind a stall and she hurried to him. 

“Hey kid, you’re safe now,” she said, surprised at the distortion her helmet gave her voice.  “Let’s get you somewhere safe.” 

The Renfaire had emptied almost entirely now, leaving the bodies of those killed in plain view.  There had to be hundreds of people that were cut down by the invaders, and she was almost one of them.  She moved to stow her blades only for them to vanish into motes of light.  Not wanting to dwell on that, Nicole picked up the young boy and found him to be almost weightless in her arms as she cradled him close and braced his head against the hard plate covering her chest and pulled what was left of her cloak over him.  No boy his age needed to see the bodies, any one of which might be family. 

She ran towards one of the exits where she could see a few of the gawkers still lingering with phones out.  Well, if they were going to linger, then they could make themselves useful!  The distance closed in a blink and she shoved him into the arms of one of those still recording. 

“Get out of here, it’s not safe!” she yelled, pushing them away. 

Nicole wanted nothing more than to leave with them, she wasn’t anyone special, but she’d had power thrust upon her, she was a Ranger now.  She had a responsibility to help those that would be powerless otherwise.  There was a chance that person might take advantage of the situation, but the same was true of anyone attending the Renfaire.

Distant screams had her head snapping towards them, zeroing in on a distant struggle where people were still in danger from the machines.  She ran, eating up the distance as fast as any car could, just as she was about to jump into the fight, a blinding flash of crimson overtook her vision, leaving her eyes oddly muted as her helmet readjusted its tinting automatically to compensate for the sudden shift. 

A dozen automatons were blown back an instant following the flash, and a woman in red stood, tailcoats flowing in the breeze, a massive axe held in hand.  Her helmet was done up almost in the style of a pirate’s tricorne, with her torso resembling a heavy coat with predominantly red coloring.  

Another Ranger had emerged and this one looked deadly as hell.  Nicole couldn’t help but stare as the Ranger turned to face her. She wondered just what her fellow Ranger might think of her own appearance.  The moment shattered as the Red Ranger threw her axe, the massive weapon ripping through the air.  Nicole had enough time for her eyes to widen as the axe sailed past her head and impacted an automaton not far behind her. 

Nicole snapped out of her shock and she remembered where she was.  Knowing she needed to get her head in the game, she reached for her throwing knives only to find they weren’t where they had been.  Instead, something began to glow between her fingers.  Realizing what they were, she threw them, launching the energy blades past the new Ranger and taking out several machines in the process. 

The two women shared a look, their helmets hiding their features but it didn’t matter.  Nicole darted forward and Red ran past her, ripping her axe from the shattered machine as Nicole pulled more energy knives from nowhere.  She let her momentum carry her into a flip, launching herself up into the air more than two dozen feet and she began to rain blades down upon the assembled machines. 

The Red Ranger wasn’t idle, her own axe parting the automatons like a hot knife through soft butter.  The difference between fighting them, even with her new knives, and the power now coursing through her was staggering.  It was no wonder the Rangers were holding the line against the invaders with such might at their fingertips, and now she was one of them. 

Nicole landed amidst the shattered remains of the Sylan machines, energy sparking from the damaged portions.  She expected to be out of breath, but she didn’t even feel slightly winded.  She took a moment to survey the clearing, ensuring that the area was clear, then turned back to her fellow Ranger. 

“You good?” she asked. 

“Yeah,” the woman said, taking in her changed appearance.  “Holy shit, I’m a Ranger now.” 

Nicole chuckled.  “Welcome to the club, though I think I only beat you to membership by less than a minute.” 

The woman laughed, slinging her axe over her shoulder only for it to vanish into motes of light.  “I really hope I get that back, it took me months to make it.” 

“You made that?” Nicole asked, her eyes going wide. 

Red moved to rub her hair, only to brush against the brim of the hat that was one with her helmet instead.  Her shoulders slumped in a heavy sigh.  “Yeah, I did, and unless I’m mistaken, I also made your own daggers before they were changed.” 

“Holy shit,” Nicole muttered.  “You’re the girl from the Blade shop?” 

“Got it in one,” Red said with a chuckle.  “The name’s Grace, Grace Evans.” 

“Nicole Hayes,” she said, holding a hand out.  “Looks like we’ll be working together going forward.” 

“Seems so,” Grace said, reaching past her hand to clasp her wrist.  “Think we got them all?” 

As if she had tempted the universe itself, a deafening crash sounded from beyond some of the food stalls.  Both women turned in unison, watching the plume of smoke rise into the sky.  No words needed to be said as they took off at a sprint.  Rather than run around the structures that held the food vendors, Nicole leapt into the air, clearing them with ease.  Grace was right there with her, just a step behind as she landed and almost threw up. 

In the open clearings, people had been killed, but here in the tighter corridors of the vendor shops?  It was a massacre.  There had to be hundreds dead along the stretch, though she did spot more than a few automatons destroyed in the midst of the slaughter.  The people hadn’t just rolled over and died. 

The source of the smoke wasn’t hard to find, rising out of a destroyed shop that had once sold clothes, was some horrific combination of machine and animal.  Six mechanical legs held it up, with arms like a crab and the head of a rhino.  It was grotesque, bearing multiple attachments that had to be lasers of some type. 

“Oh fuck all kinds of duck,” Grace whimpered. 

Nicole could only echo that sentiment, looking at the creature rising up to an easy fifteen feet.  It was every definition of a monster.  That was when three colored blurs moved to stand before it.  One in silver, with a feather affixed to his helm and sword and shield in hand.  One in purple with a twirling spear and a draconian helm.  The last was as green as the forest, with flowing vines all around her staff that looked ready to reach out and strangle the unsuspecting. 

Nicole shared a look with Grace then they both moved to stand with the others.  As one, they all brought their weapons out and settled into combat stances.  A chill ran down Nicole’s spine.  For the briefest of moments, everything in the world felt complete and whole. 

Five Rangers stood assembled to stand against the monster that had been sent to ensure that thousands of people were slaughtered, so many pointless deaths, and they had a target to take out their aggression upon. 

“All right, Rangers!” Silver yelled, his voice commanding as he brought his sword up and a shower of silver light fell over all of them.  “Make this dastard pay!” 

Nicole yelled, darting aside as the Silver Ranger met the monster head on, blocking its charge with his shield.  Despite the mass difference, Silver held firm, his feet digging into the dirt as all forward momentum bled off.  Green didn’t waste a moment, sending vines to ensnare the monster as Red hacked into its side.  The Purple Ranger leapt high, then brought his spear down upon the creature at the same moment Nicole struck, severing one of its legs at the joint. 

The creature howled in rage and pain, the very air trembling from the sheer force of it.  Nicole stood firm, the power coursing through her keeping her steady.  A glance at Purple and Red communicated everything they needed to.  Nicole struck again, timing her blow to coincide with Purple’s, rending through another leg just as Red took out the third and the creature yowled as it fell over.

Nicole flipped away from a desperate swipe of a mechanical tail, throwing her energy blades into the joints as she did.  The other Rangers weren’t idle, each striking fluidly as if they had all trained together for years.  The beast thrashed, tearing vines from the dense earth and surged towards Red despite the missing legs.  Grace stood firm, her axe held ready, then at the last moment she sidestepped the clumsy lunge and brought the blade down, severing a claw cleanly. 

Purple then speared the beast through the shoulder, hanging onto the shaft of his weapon as the monster thrashed violently.  The spear was torn free by the sheer force of momentum and Purple flipped off of it easily, landing on his feet as he did. 

Silver was keeping the remaining crab claw occupied, blocking each attempt to grab one of the other rangers as he kept as much focus on himself as he could manage.  Nicole saw her opening and practically flashed forward, jamming one of her blades deep into the hinge of the claw, the sound of cracking chitin reminded her of the last time she ate lobster. 

Red seemed to catch on to what she was doing at that same moment, and brought her axe down on the joint, shattering it in a spray of gore.  Nicole winced, because that was not the color of normal shellfish internals.  The scorpion-like tail lashed out again, and Nicole was forced to leap over it just as Green ensnared the entire thing. 

“Purple!  Hit the base of this thing!” 

The Dragoon styled Ranger didn’t hesitate, twisting in midair as he launched off nothing and drove his spear through the tail, severing it as he did.  The rhino head reared back, roaring as it was taken apart piece by piece.  Nicole didn’t let that literal opening go unpunished, and flashed forward once more, driving her knife through the creature’s open jaw and into its skull.

Machinery whirred, and flesh gushed forth dark blood from where it had been cut.  The creature gave one final rumbling groan as Nicole wrenched her blade free, then collapsed into a heap.  She nimbly stepped back as it fell, falling in line with the rest of the Rangers. 

“I think,” Purple said, his voice light and airy and more than a bit breathless.  “I think we did it.” 

“We won,” Red, or rather, Grace, said. 

“We fucking won!” Silver yelled, raising his sword up high.  “Take that you invading bastards!  Fuck you and the ship you rode in on!” 

Purple and Silver were rather jovial, but all Nicole could think about was possible stragglers or those that might be bleeding out on the ground.  She glanced over at Red, and she nodded, seemingly thinking the same thing.

“Stow the celebrations for later,” Grace said sharply, her axe vanishing behind her once more.  “We need to sweep the area for survivors, and deal with any stragglers that might still be trying to hunt down those not fortunate enough to flee.”

“It’s going to be ages before paramedics arrive,” Nicole added, already in motion before she looked back over her shoulder.  “We can celebrate once the dust settles.” 

She couldn’t understand what the two men of their new team were muttering, but Green was already using her vines to shift the rubble.  Nicole knew to dread the coming drama that would inevitably come as they found their dynamic, but for now she would focus on the task at hand, even if she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about having such responsibility thrust upon her. 

“Deep breaths, Nikki,” she whispered to herself, the old nickname bringing little comfort.  “You’ve survived everything up until today, even if you didn’t want to, and you’ll survive this.” 

After all, she wasn’t the type of person that would luck out and get to die heroically.  Oh no, knowing her luck she wouldn’t get to die until there was no hope remaining and all her friends were dead.  That’s just how her life seemed to track.  Finding someone moving amidst the carnage, she stopped and helped uncover them, her minimal first aid training coming back to mind as she did what she could for them. 

Nicole worked diligently, helping those she could, comforting those she couldn’t.  Lingering with those who were beyond help wasn’t an option, not when others were dying around her.  At least the blood seemed to just slide off her suit.  In one particularly grim case, she had left behind a severed razor limb for a woman to make her own choice. 

Was it bad that she envied her for having the option? 

When the sirens could finally be heard in the distance, and the first responders finally arrived, Nicole took the opportunity to finally sit and catch her breath.  She didn’t dare take off her helmet, the last thing she wanted was for her identity to be all over the evening news.  Instead, she found herself staring up into the clear blue sky, marveling at how little smoke there was in the air for all the damage done. 

“Looks like I’ll be a bit longer than expected, Mom, Dad,” she said to the open sky.  “Keep a spot ready for me when my time comes and I can finally rest.”

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