*✧ ───────── ✧*

The energy field buzzed around us, its glow pulsing faintly as Cruger and I stood immobilized. Communications were jammed, and every attempt to signal HQ or the Rangers was met with nothing but static.

"This is a sight to behold," Thresher sneered from across the room, his voice dripping with triumph. He paced with deliberate arrogance, savoring our capture. "Are you ready to give up, Commander?"

"Never!" Cruger snapped, his growl filled with defiance.

Stench strutted into view, waving his arms theatrically as Krybots clanked into formation behind him. "Listen up, tin cans!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the warehouse. "This city is mine. I want you clunkers to surround the building and find those other Rangers! If any of them show up—smash them!"

My pulse quickened. The Rangers were back.

Cruger leaned closer, whispering, "They must've returned from Zantor."

"Do you think they can handle this without the upgraded suits?" I whispered back.

His eyes narrowed. "We have to hope Kat found a way to access the stolen tech. If anyone could pull it off, it's her."

I nodded, swallowing my doubts as I focused on the monitors displaying the chaos below. On the screen, shadows shifted near the perimeter of the warehouse as the Rangers breached the building, blasting through a reinforced wall. The explosion sent debris flying, knocking Stench flat on his back.

"You're going to regret that!" Stench roared, scrambling to his feet.

"Hey!" Jack's voice rang out, clear and defiant. "You've got something that belongs to us!"

In unison, the team stepped into the light, SWAT gear gleaming brilliantly with Kat's enhancements. Relief flooded through me, and I exhaled sharply. Kat did it.

"No!" Stench shouted, his face twisted in fury. "They have our gear!"

"Krybots, get them!" he bellowed, letting out a blast toward the Rangers.

"If that's how you want it—fine!" Jack yelled, countering with a powerful energy blast that disintegrated several Krybots on contact. Sparks rained down as more machines swarmed the Rangers, but the team held their ground, their coordinated strikes precise and relentless.

Cruger's voice pulled me back from the chaos. "Can you move?"

I shook my head. "No. We're stuck until the Rangers can free us."

Frustration burned in his eyes. "I hate being helpless."

On the monitors, the battle raged. The Rangers tore through wave after wave of Krybots, their SWAT mode giving them the edge they desperately needed. Bridge broke off from the main fight, leading Z and Syd toward the staircase leading to the top floor where we were trapped.

"We've got movement," I whispered.

Bridge's voice crackled through the system as his figure appeared on the screen. "Commander, we're on our way!"

"Be careful," Cruger growled.

Down below, Jack squared off against Thresher, their weapons colliding in bursts of energy and sparks. Thresher grunted, staggering back but refusing to relent.

"I've had enough of you Rangers!" Thresher snarled.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you," Jack shot back, charging in for another strike.

But before Jack could land the blow, Stench lunged from the shadows, ready to blindside him. My breath caught.

"Jack, behind you!" I shouted instinctively, though I knew he couldn't hear me.

Sky and Z appeared out of nowhere, blocking Stench's attack with synchronized precision.

"Not today," Sky said coldly, driving him back.

The Rangers didn't hesitate, their new gear proving formidable as they pressed the offensive. Sparks flew, and the air hummed with energy as Stench and Thresher tried to regain control.

Bridge reached us first, his eyes sharp beneath his visor as he scanned the control panel for the energy field. "Z, we've got it," he called out.

"On it!" Z's figure darted into view, her fingers flying over the console. The energy barrier flickered and dimmed before disappearing entirely. My legs wobbled slightly as I took a step forward, Cruger moving beside me.

"Thanks," I said to Z, grateful to be free.

"No problem," she grinned. "We're not done yet, though."

"Then let's finish this."

»——•——«

The battle roared into the open lot behind the warehouse, energy blasts scorching the pavement as Stench and Thresher refused to relent. Sparks flew with each clash of weapons, their enhanced armor pulsing dangerously as they launched coordinated strikes at the Rangers.

"You think you can take us down?" Thresher bellowed, swinging a glowing blade toward Jack. "We're just getting started!"

"Funny," Jack shot back, dodging the strike, "so are we."

The Rangers pressed forward, their SWAT gear absorbing the brunt of the villains' counterattacks. Sky and Syd moved in perfect sync, forcing Thresher toward a stack of debris while Z and Bridge circled Stench, cutting off his escape routes.

"You're cornered!" Z shouted. "Give it up!"

"Never!" Stench snarled, unleashing a shockwave that sent dust and debris spiraling through the air. Sparks erupted as the Rangers stood their ground, unyielding despite the relentless onslaught.

"Jack, we need to finish this!" Sky called out.

"I'm on it!"

Jack activated his SWAT blaster, energy surging through the air as he unleashed a series of powerful shots that slammed into Thresher's armor, shattering parts of the stolen enhancements. The villain grunted, his movements growing sluggish under the constant barrage.

Meanwhile, Bridge locked onto Stench with his gauntlet blaster. "No more running!"

Energy crackled between them as Stench charged headfirst, desperation driving his attacks. The Rangers absorbed the impact, countering with precise strikes that dismantled his defenses piece by piece.

"This isn't over!" Thresher roared, stumbling back toward the warehouse wall.

"Oh, it's over," Sky said coolly, his voice steady as he aimed one last blast directly at Thresher's chest. Sparks exploded on impact, and the villain dropped to his knees, his armor sparking and faltering.

Stench wasn't far behind. Despite his best efforts, the Rangers overwhelmed him with synchronized precision. A final coordinated strike from Z and Bridge sent him crashing to the ground, the stolen tech flickering as his armor sputtered out.

"You ready?" Jack asked, pulling a glowing SPD Confinement Card from his suit.

"Let's end this," Sky agreed, doing the same.

The cards expanded, swirling with energy as they hovered over the defeated villains. Stench and Thresher struggled weakly but had no strength left to resist.

"SPD Emergency!" Jack and Sky shouted in unison, slamming the cards into place. The energy vortex ignited, pulling Stench and Thresher into containment with a flash of light and a crackling hum.

Silence followed, the air thick with fading energy as the cards sealed shut.

The team regrouped, their SWAT armor gleaming under the dim warehouse lights. I exhaled slowly, tension draining from my muscles as I stepped forward beside Cruger.

"We got them," Jack said, his voice steady with victory.

"Mission accomplished," Cruger rumbled, though the edge in his voice reminded us that the fight against Broodwing and his allies was far from over.

The glow of victory settled over the scene, and I exhaled slowly. The mission was over, and the villains were captured.

For now, SPD stood tall.

»——•——«

I'm really trying to wrap this up before we hit 40 chapters yall, bare with me.

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and as always I hope y'all are safe and happy and may the power protect you!