Getting things situated at Rebellion's headquarters was a lot tougher than Onyx had expected. They knew it wouldn't go that smoothly considering the fact to Rebellion they were a big threat. The commander had informed them that they were on their side but it didn't mean the ones greeting them were very fond of it.

Stinger was silent the entire time. He wouldn't speak a word. Onyx didn't push him to talk, but wished he would. They were worried about him. Considering how he had rushed to try and fight Scorpio in his state, Onyx couldn't help but wonder just what might happen if he was left too unsupervised right now. Stinger obviously still wanted to settle things with Scorpio.

"Stinger! Akuma!" Kotaro came to greet them as well.

"Hey, little one." Onyx smiled at him. "So this is where you ended up."

"Little one?" Kotaro repeated. "I'm not little!"

"I'm almost 500 years old. You are a little one to me." Onyx replied. "Maybe I'll call you kid at some point. But not yet."

Kotaro didn't have a retort to that. He just looked over at Stinger.

"Well, I leave him in your hands, Kotaro." Onyx said. "I have to go."

"Okyuu!" Kotaro nodded.

Onyx placed a hand on Stinger's shoulder. "You can call me if you need to talk."

Stinger didn't reply. He glanced at Onyx and then walked into the building. Onyx sighed. Kotaro rushed after Stinger.

Onyx went back to Earth. They had things to do now. They had to keep an eye on Scorpio and see what he would do next.

...

A few days had passed since the incident with Champ. It had been a rough few days. Onyx had been told that the kyurangers had managed to get the second kyutama they needed for the Argo ship. That was good. Just one more. Unfortunately, Onyx had a feeling Scorpio would soon make a move again.

Onyx ended up walking in on him talking to Don Armage.

"Destroy the Earth as soon as the moraimars fleet arrives on Earth." Don Armage ordered.

"Fear is like a poison. And in the name of this poison... is the Argo ship." Scorpio replied.

"You know of the Argo ship?" Don Armage seemed to look over at Onyx in the back. "Do not pry into matters that are not your concern."

Don Armage hung up after that. Onyx sighed. Now he knew Scorpio knew something he shouldn't. It wouldn't be a surprise if they got a call to talk about the issue and be given instructions on something to do about Scorpio.

"So great power does lie in the Argo ship after all." Scorpio was talking to himself now. "If I obtain it, I can replace Don Armage."

"Bold words, Scorpio." Onyx spoke up, startling him. "You do realize telling him you know something you shouldn't have put you on high alert."

"He won't be able to stop me until it's too late." Scorpio replied, tossing out the piece of Madakko to revive her again.

Onyx sighed. "Scorpio, I think you are underestimating a lot of things right now."

"Madakko, remain on Earth. I'm going to get the Ryuukotsu kyutama... before the kyurangers get it."

Onyx eyed him warily. "And how are you going to do that?"

"I have my ways." Was all Scorpio said before leaving the room.

Onyx rolled their eyes. "Madakko, watch the house while we're out. I have things to do as well."

They left the moraimars and stared at the sky. What did they do? If they alerted the kyurangers, would that give them enough to stop Scorpio or not? It couldn't hurt to warn them.

Onyx contacted the ship. "Commander."

"Akuma. What's up?" Shou Ronpo picked up.

"Scorpio is heading to try and intercept you guys from gathering the last kyutama. Be on high alert."

"Okyuu. Thanks for the heads up. I'll let the group know."

"Good."

All they could do now is wait and hope for the best.

...

Onyx hadn't expected to get a call back from the commander so soon.

"Akuma! Bad news! Stinger took the two kyutamas and I think he's heading to go finish things with Scorpio!" The commander was frantic.

"That kid..." Onyx growled. "I'll try and intercept him before he gets there."

"Thank you."

Onyx hung up and rushed to go find where Stinger was going to land at. They encountered him not too far away. He landed and started walking with a mission.

"Stinger." Onyx blocked his path. "The hell do you think you are doing? Give me the kyutamas! You can not just bring them near Scorpio!"

"It's the only way I can get him to face me. Leave me alone!" Stinger yelled.

"Give them to me!" Onyx lunged at him to try and grab the box.

Stinger dodged and ran off. Onyx growled. He was making a horrible mistake. This was bad. If Scorpio got the Ryuukotsu kyutama and then these two... it wouldn't end well. Even if he couldn't unlock the Argo ship himself, it meant neither could the kyurangers.

Onyx called the commander back. "I'm sorry but he ran off on me. He's deadset on facing Scorpio."

"This is bad... Scorpio stole the Ryuukotsu kyutama from them..."

"So then... if he gets those two from Stinger..." Onyx trailed off.

"We won't be able to get the Argo ship in time to save Earth."

"What do we do..."

"Please try and prevent Stinger from getting himself killed."

"Okyuu." Onyx paused. "Did I actually just say that...? You guys are starting to rub off on me too much now."

"I'm sending help. Hopefully they will arrive before it is too late."

"Gotcha. I'm off then."

...

Onyx arrived at the scene just in time to see Stinger stab his tail into his chest. They watched with wide eyes. Just what was he doing?!

"He took his own life as he thought he couldn't win?" Madakko was confused as well.

"No. It's the secret technique of my people. It's called Antares." Scorpio replied. "He poisons himself to give his attack abilities a drastic boost."

Stinger rushed at Scorpio. He was going very hard at him. Scorpio was actually being hit and knocked back. Stinger knocked him into a wall.

"However." Scorpio continue to speak, while fighting. "It will cost him his life."

"Stinger..." Onyx whispered.

Just what was he trying to do? He was going to die! Why was he doing something so drastic?!

Scorpio managed to turn the tables and pin Stinger to the wall. He kicked him with his enhanced foot and sent Stinger falling to the ground.

"Regardless... he is no match for my power." Scorpio concluded.

"Stinger!" Onyx rushed over to him.

They sunk to their knees beside him and worriedly looked him up and down. His eyes were closed. That blow must've been really hard.

"Now the Argo ship is mine!" Scorpio laughed.

"Not quite." Onyx glanced over at him. "You don't even know how to unlock it."

"I'll figure it-" Before Scorpio could finish, he was shot at and the box with the kyutamas fell from his grip, shattering.

Hammie, Spada, Lucky, and Naga rushed in, already transformed.

"Stinger! Why did you go alone?!" Lucky yelled.

Stinger opened his eyes. He was taking in labored breaths.

"Stinger's face..." Spada said.

"Eh? What happened?" Hammie asked.

"Leave me alone." Stinger said.

"We can't do that!" Lucky stated.

The four of them rushed at Scorpio. Madakko rushed in to fight them instead. Onyx didn't pay attention past that. They looked back at Stinger.

"Stinger... the hell are you doing...?" Onyx questioned, pulling him up and letting him lean against them.

"Leave me alone..." Stinger repeated.

"I can't do that. Look at you. I can't just ignore you."

"Naga!"

Onyx looked. Scorpio had struck Naga hard and knocked him out of his transformation. This was not going well at all.

"Naga... I told you... to stay out of it..." Stinger said to him.

Scorpio walked over to them and grabbed Stinger out of Onyx'a grip. "I'll be taking him."

He stomped hard on the ground and vanished. Spada and Lucky rushed over. Onyx clenched their hands into fists. How had this gone so wrong?

"Onyx..." Lucky looked at them.

Onyx didn't say anything. They simply vanished from the area and went to the moraimars. Stinger was in deep trouble now.

...

When they arrived, it was to Scorpio already having tied Stinger against a pole. He was sitting in his chair. He looked at Onyx as they entered. Onyx ignored him and walked over to Stinger.

"Onyx..." Stinger whispered. "I'm sorry... I should've listened to you..."

Onyx ruffled his hair. "It's in the past now. All we can do is keep moving forward."

"But I... won't make it out of this alive..." Stinger mumbled.

Onyx didn't know what to say. Was this it? Were they not going to be able to keep their promise. Would they lose Stinger?

"Why do you even care so much about him?" Scorpio questioned.

Onyx glanced at him. "Someone had to fill your place. Since you obviously don't care about being a good older brother, I'll do it for you."

"You..." Stinger stared at them with wide eyes.

Onyx offered a smile. Then it fell as they heard Scorpio making an announcement. They didn't exactly pay attention, but understood that he was asking the citizens to surrender the kyurangers in exchange for not dying to the moraimars fleet.

"Look. Earthlings are so pitiful." Scorpio laughed at the scene of panic that began to unfold. "They give up their own protectors because they are weak."

"Why do you want to be strong?" Stinger asked.

"A foolish question." Scorpio stood up and started to walk toward Stinger. "You get what you want if you are strong. Power. Even the galaxy."

"No." Stinger shook his head. "Back then... you were the only one who protected a weakling like me. That was you. You sought strength in order to protect me. But... that strength got twisted. My weakness... warped you."

"I became strong for myself." Scorpio stated. "I was never interested in you."

Onyx scoffed. "Lies and you know it."

"You stay out of this!" Scorpio threatened them.

Stinger glanced at Onyx. "My brother from that time is gone... My kind... brother."

"Right." Scorpio nodded. "There's no going back. Me...and you."

Scorpio struck with his tail, hitting Stinger with it. Stinger started screaming in pain as whatever he had inserted into him.

"What did you do to him?!" Onyx grabbed Scorpio and got in his face.

"Making him useful in his final hours." Scorpio replied.

"You bastard."

"You can't save him anyway."

"I can try." Onyx let go of him.

"Madakko. Take control of the moraimars." Scorpio walked away.

"What about him?" Madakko questioned.

"He'll awaken soon."

Onyx growled and followed after Scorpio. They ended up on a rooftop. Onyx stood off to the side.

Before long, the kyurangers appeared. Shou Ronpo, Kotaro, Lucky, Spada, and Hammie. They were the ones who were ready to take on Scorpio. Onyx saw them all glance their way.

"You're here, kyurangers." Scorpio stated. "You brought the Tomo kyutama?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"Then hand it over." Scorpio held out his hand.

He was met by the kyurangers all telling him no. Why was he surprised they'd not hand it over quietly?

"Listen. We'll defeat you and stop Earth from blowing up." Lucky said.

The kyurangers transformed. Scorpio responded by sending down a hoard of indavers for them to fight. He then made some giants appear as well.

"At least amuse me while you die." Scorpio stated.

"Commander, take care of them!" Lucky shouted.

"Leave it to me!" The commander replied.

Him, Spada, and Hammie went into their voyagers and combined to fight the monsters. Lucky and Kotaro remained to fight down below. Onyx wasn't sure if they should join in or not.

Lucky and Kotaro attacked Scorpio now.

"Where's Stinger?"

"You want to see him? Fine."

Stinger appeared and attacked his friends. Onyx gulped. This was bad. The two pleaded with Stinger.

"He can't hear you." Scorpio said. "I've injected him with extra poison."

"Scorpio!" Lucky growled.

"He chose death himself." Scorpio replied.

Lucky and Kotaro were unable to dodge most of Stinger's attacks. They eventually got sent tumbling to the ground. Scorpio bent down.

"Well? You like being beaten by a former friend?"

"Better than being beaten by you!" Lucky replied.

Scorpio attacked them both. "Okay. Then I'll beat you after."

He sent Lucky flying into a pile of boxes. Kotaro tried to run to him, but Scorpio got in his way.

"Stinger." Scorpio said.

Stinger attacked Kotaro. Onyx was worried. This was bad. This was really bad. What did they do?

"Kotaro!" Lucky tried to go help him, but Scorpio stood in his way.

"Have a taste of seeing someone weaker than you dying." Scorpio said.

Kotaro managed to dodge Stinger's tail. "I'm not weak. I'm also a protector. Earthlings can also fight! I'm stronger than you!"

Lucky grabbed something out of a case and tossed it to Kotaro. "Kotaro! It's the antidote! Use it on Stinger!"

Kotaro tried to give it to Stinger, but Stinger was overpowering him. He couldn't get close enough. Stinger knocked him to the ground.

"Stay down." Scorpio called from where he was fighting Lucky. "The antidote's no use."

Onyx growled. There was no way to know unless they tried it. Onyx rushed forward and into the fight. Stinger was slowly approaching Kotaro. Onyx stood in his path and hugged him as tightly as they could. Stinger struggled against their grip. Onyx turned them both around so they could look at Kotaro.

"Do it now!" They yelled at him.

Kotaro's eyes widened. He nodded and rushed forward, hitting Stinger in the back with the antidote. The poison from Scorpio left. Stinger stopped struggling. He stared at Onyx and then turned around to look at Kotaro.

"You've grown strong..." Stinger said to him.

Kotaro held Champ's kyutama in his hand. "Because of you guys... I've come this far."

Stinger took the kyutama from Kotaro and stared at it.

Lucky walked over to them. "Why'd you go alone? You don't trust us?"

Onyx faced Scorpio, daring him to interrupt the scene. Scorpio grumbled in displeasure at their interference.

"I didn't want to bother you. I... didn't want another Champ."

"Champ would get mad at you. He didn't protect you so you could fight alone."

Stinger was silent.

"Fight with us." Lucky shoved his jacket and blaster toward him. "We... are stronger than him!"

Stinger put on his things and faced Scorpio again. "Aniki. Let's settle this."

Scorpio laughed. "No matter how many there are... you're all still weaklings."

"But I made friends. That's why... I'm stronger than you!"

Onyx stood back off to the side. They still weren't sure about getting too involved. What if Don Armage was watching? This was a bit too soon still for them to reveal their identity like that.

The three kyurangers transformed again and then rushed at Scorpio. Hopefully they could end this fight. It seemed Stinger finally found the resolve to strike his brother down. It was unfortunate that it had to come to this. Onyx would have liked for his sake a happy ending.

For the first time, it seemed like they were getting the upper hand on Scorpio. He was getting beaten back. The three kyurangers unleashed strikes onto him, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Scorpio pushed himself to his feet. "I, lose? I won't let that happen!"

He changed his form, breaking his mask. "I'll never forgive you!"

Scorpio started sending slashes of his own from his weapon. The kyurangers were struggling to dodge them. They ended up getting knocked off of their feet.

"How is he this strong?" Lucky questioned.

"I'm not done yet!" Stinger got back to his feet. He suddenly tensed up and then fell to his knees again.

Scorpio laughed. "Your poison will kill you soon."

That was bad. They were running out of time. There had to be some way to save Stinger. Right? He couldn't die now. They still needed him as a savior. This couldn't be the end of his story.

"I'll defeat you before I die!" Stinger got back up and rushed at Scorpio again, Lucky and Kotaro following his lead.

Scorpio kicked them hard with his enhanced leg, sending the three sprawling on the ground and out of their transformations. Onyx gulped. They were losing again.

"You're finished." Scorpio ran at them.

An axe flew in front of him, making him stop. Onyx's eyes widened. An axe? There was only one kyuranger they knew that used an axe as their primary weapon of choice.

Champ walked up from behind. "Kept you waiting, huh?"

"Champ!" Lucky and Kotaro said.

From where Onyx was standing, they couldn't see anyone's faces, but could tell Stinger seemed to be going through some emotions.

"What's with you?" Champ even pointed it out. "I thought you were going to beat him alone?"

"Who was the one who fell apart?" Stinger replied.

Onyx kept an eye on Scorpio, still daring him to interrupt the conversation. Scorpio stayed still, watching.

"I came apart protecting you." Champ said,

"I told you that annoys me." Stinger replied.

"Looks like you've got enough strength to run that mouth of yours. Then it's time for us to face our pasts."

"Yeah... Let's go, partner." Stinger tossed Champ his kyutama.

"That's the first time you've called me partner."

The four of them transformed again. They rushed at Scorpio once more. Scorpio fought back. The tides were turning. The four of them were starting to overpower him now. Lucky, Kotaro, and Champ seemed to be making an opening for Stinger to jump in and finish things.

Stinger began attacking Scorpio solo. He was doing well, but then at a crucial moment before he could finish his attack, he got that tenseness again. His body was getting worse as the poison sunk in.

Scorpio took advantage of that and kicked Stinger, knocking away his spear. Stinger was without a weapon now. That was not looking good.

"You're finished!" Scorpio swung down.

A familiar axe was tossed and Stinger grabbed it to block the blow. Scorpio was not pleased by the interruption.

"Go, partner!"

Stinger knocked back Scorpio and struck him hard. He managed to defeat him. Stinger stood shakily, undoing his transformation and there was big explosion behind him.

Stinger looked back once it was over. "Aniki!"

He ran over and caught Scorpio as he fell down. Onyx let out a small laugh. To think even after all of that, he had it in him to still care about his brother. Onyx watched them talk with a fondness. Somehow they were making amends now.

Then Stinger started writhing in pain. That meant... his time was coming to an end. No. This couldn't be happening.

"You can't die yet." Scorpio stung Stinger with his tail. "You have people to protect."

He transferred the poison into his own body. It ended with his form being shattered and him reverting back to how he used to look. Stinger rushed to catch him again as he fell.

"I'm the only one who needs to die." Scorpio said.

Onyx walked closer. This was not the turn of events they had expected.

Scorpio handed the two kyutamas to Stinger and ruffled his hair. "You have good comrades with you."

"Yeah... they're the best." Stinger replied, his voice cracking.

"Is that all you had?"

Onyx jumped. Don Armage appeared before them all. So they had been right. He was watching them. Good thing they hadn't done much. They had only aided in getting Stinger help from the poison a bit. That was something not too major.

"Don