The night sky above Newtech City looked like someone had punched holes through it — searchlights and thunder tearing streaks through the clouds.
Leo stood on top of the Command Delta Hauler, armor sealed, visor glowing a faint crimson.
Underneath the metal hum, he could feel it: SPD had finally stopped sending scouts.
They were bringing an army.
> Delta (the Hauler's AI): "Multiple Ranger energy signatures approaching. Three air, two ground, one… very angry."
Leo: "That'll be Red. He hates when I don't RSVP."
The holo-feed lit up: six SPD Zords, bright and regulation perfect, coming in formation.
Leo sighed, cracked his neck, and spoke to his team.
> Leo: "All right, everyone, polite faces on. No biting unless bitten first."
Delta Prowler: "Define biting."
Leo: "Anything involving teeth, claws, or sarcastic comments. Actually—scratch that last one."
The Hauler's hangar doors opened, and his five black-and-crimson Zords stepped out into the storm like shadows peeling off the dark itself.
Shadow Enforcer Cruiser growled into hover mode, headlights pulsing red.
Delta Prowler crouched low, claws sliding against wet pavement.
Sky Saber screamed overhead, wings catching lightning.
Guardian Unit 7 locked its shields together with a heavy clunk.
And at the center, the Hauler extended its command pylons, linking every unit through a scarlet data-stream that looked like living fire.
> Leo: "SPD brought light. We bring the thunder. Let's dance."
---
Contact
SPD's Red Ranger's voice cut through the comms, sharp and loud.
> Red Ranger: "Leo, this is your final warning! Power down and surrender!"
Leo: "Man, I miss small talk. You ever just ask how someone's doing?"
> Red Ranger: "You stole experimental tech, you've interfered with missions—"
Leo: "—and saved half your cadets. You're welcome."
The Red Ranger didn't answer. Instead, six SPD Zords charged, weapons hot.
Leo flicked his wrist.
> "Formation: Inverted Delta Megazord!"
Metal shrieked and thunder clapped as the black Zords merged — Cruiser locking into the chest, Prowler forming the arms, Guardian anchoring the legs, Sky Saber fusing into jet thrusters, and the Hauler rising behind them to complete the core frame.
The Inverted Delta Megazord stood tall, black armor lit by crimson veins of energy. Across from it, the SPD Delta Megazord gleamed blue and white, clean as a parade uniform.
Two halves of the same badge.
---
The Battle
The first strike came from SPD Red's Megazord — a clean, disciplined energy slash.
Leo blocked with one forearm, sparks lighting the storm.
> Leo (grunting): "You hit like a manual, Red! Precise, predictable!"
He countered — a spinning kick followed by a shoulder-mounted cannon blast that rattled windows three blocks away.
SPD Blue jumped into support fire. Beams of light streaked across the sky, cutting through the rain.
> Delta: "Commander, structural stress at twelve percent."
Leo: "Noted. Make it thirteen, it's a lucky number."
He toggled his control pad.
> "Switch to Assault Mode."
Armor panels shifted. The Megazord's shoulders bulked up, cannons extending like wings of flame. Guardian Unit 7's riot shields slid forward, creating a rotating defense ring.
SPD's Yellow Ranger dove low, aiming for the knees. Leo crouched his Megazord and caught the attack mid-motion.
> Leo: "Nice try. Points for enthusiasm."
He hurled the opposing Zord into a nearby scaffold — not enough to destroy it, just enough to send a message.
---
SPD Command Center
> Commander Cruz: "He's adapting faster than expected. That Megazord shouldn't even function on stolen code!"
Tech: "He rewrote the synchronization matrix. Sir… he's treating the Zords like a living team, not a machine."
Cruz stared at the monitors.
> "He's turning the equipment into a squad. His own SPD."
---
Mid-Battle Banter
The two Megazords locked blades — SPD's silver sword against Leo's black-steel variant. Sparks scattered like fireworks.
> Red Ranger: "You think this makes you a hero?!"
Leo: "Nah. Heroes fill out reports. I fix mistakes."
He shoved forward, twisting the blade free, then jumped back as Red's sword came down. The blow carved a crater into the street, water hissing into steam.
> Sky Saber: "Commander, we can't keep this up forever."
Leo: "Forever's overrated. Let's just aim for spectacular."
He activated Squad Mode Flight. The Megazord's thrusters roared, launching it backward into the air. Energy gathered in its chest plate, glowing brighter and brighter.
> Delta: "Warning: output unstable."
Leo: "Perfect."
He unleashed the blast — a crimson shockwave that tore through the rain and sent the SPD Megazord staggering.
For a moment, silence. Just rain, smoke, and the heartbeat thrum of Leo's engines.
Then Red's voice again, softer.
> "Leo… why do this?"
Inside the cockpit, Leo hesitated. His reflection shimmered in the cracked glass — half man, half mask.
> "Because someone has to show SPD what it looks like when justice doesn't wait for orders."
---
Aftermath
The Megazords froze, weapons locked, both drained.
Lightning illuminated them — twin titans caught mid-strike, equal force, equal stubbornness.
Leo disengaged first, stepping back.
> Leo: "Round one's yours if it helps your ego. But next time, bring coffee. I fight better caffeinated."
He triggered the Hauler's recall sequence. The Inverted Zords broke apart, retreating into the mobile fortress as smoke swallowed them whole.
On SPD's side, the Red Ranger lowered his weapon, breathing hard.
> Red Ranger: "He's not just rogue anymore. He's organized."
Back aboard the Hauler, Leo slumped into his chair, armor scuffed and flickering.
The Zords' voices filled the cabin, overlapping in a low, satisfied chorus.
> Delta Prowler: "We survived."
Guardian 7: "And we learned."
Leo: "Yeah. Learned that rules make lousy armor."
He looked out the window. The city was still standing, glowing faintly in the storm's break.
> "Shadow justice," he said quietly. "One mess at a time."
---
To be continued.