Rika: Welcome back, y'all.
Previously, we started the Bioman "tribute", or should I say, "Mika is Awesome and This is Why: The Arc". Trini, Kimberly, and Jason were weakened in short order. We had a Deus Ex Tommy Oliver, and more stupidity happened.
(Radiguet is waiting for something...)
Radiguet: <I hope the monsters arrive soon...so I can get out of here!>
Rika: So we'll continue with...!
(click!)
The Author's Note has Akizuki stating that Trini was supposed to die in the chapter. How? By the effects of the Nega Magnetic Laser or something like that. But he decided not to, in order to allow her full potential to be explored.
(Rika nods)
...honestly, I am kinda glad he didn't go through that, because if there was one thing this chapter didn't need, it's senseless killing just for a sick, twisted mention. And I admit, I myself had some moments about just killing my own characters off in roleplays, but over and over again, I've learned that killing for the sake of killing (and drama) is not the way to go. That it has to have some sort of meaning to it. A good meaning.
Anyway, this chapter starts with Mikoto realizing that he was, yes, brainwashed. Ranru confirms it. Also, we get this.
- Mikoto: "I wonder how I can be of help when my mind hasn't completely recovered from the evil I was becoming in the United Alliance of Evil?"
...bwuh? You know, you could have simply stated "How can I help now?"
- Ranru: "You were redeemed back then. You turned from evil to light. That light is now in you."
(Rika groans loudly)
That's the cheesiest line I've ever fucking heard. Seriously, give me something a little less cliche and vomit-inducing.
Meanwhile, we see Jason, Kimberly, and Trini, still suffering. Trini says that if she was hit so many other times, she would have been dead by now. And that had they not been hit, she would have taken all those shots so everyone else can live another day.
(Rika headdesks violently)
You know...giving a character a tribute, like, oh, I don't know, a good tribute, is always key. Giving a character a ripoff backstory of another character you like, and shamelessly make it over, just for the sake of a morbid shout out...what the fuck?
Jason tells her to not say those things, but she goes on and on, waxing poetic and shit about how they should be ready to lay down our lives if need be. And, yes, even with the morbid shit, it would have been moving if...it wasn't written like this.
- Trini: "As said, we should be ready to lay down our lives if need be. Remember what Zordon told us before? We are to fight for justice even if it means laying down our lives."
...oh, Department of Redundancy Department, you are my joy and bane. (drinks a lot)
Tommy comforts Kimberly, and the Biomen try to figure out what to do. Shiro tells us what we already know about the laser, and Ranru gives the group some Birdonic Waves as treatment. Tommy says that not all members will get to see battle, and someone has to keep watch.
Gee, I wonder who it could be.
(At the training area, the group waits...)
Christopher: We haven't heard from them in the past two hours!
Ryota: Patience. I'm sure they'll return...
(But Ryota may realize that they may have to wait a bit longer, as the scouting group is being chased by a group of golem guards)
Mao: GO, GO, GO!
(the group try to run as fast as they can)
Sean: Why the hell aren't we attacking them?!
Mao: Sean, trust me! I know what I'm doing!!
(she then finds a tree, and she climbs up)
Xander: That girl's nuts...
(Mao then finds a way for her to go behind the team, by finding a spot and leaping down)
Mao: <Come on...>
(she henshins into Gokai Yellow and blasts one member with the Gokai Gun, stunning it. They turn to her)
Guys, morph quickly!
Tori: NINJA STORM, RANGER FORM! HA!
Dan: RPM, GET IN GEAR!
Xander: MAGICAL SOURCE, MYSTIC FORCE!
Mako: IPPITSU SOUJOU!
Sean: LIGHTSPEED! RESCUE!
(everyone morphs into their respective Ranger/Sentai forms. Aside from the obvious from Mako and Sean, Tori becomes the Blue Wind Ranger, Dan becomes Ranger Operator Series Black, and Xander becomes the Green Mystic Force Ranger)
Guard Leader: Radiguet will destroy all of you.
Tori: Not today! (she uses an Aqua Jet-esque attack)
Dan: We gotta hurry up...(he uses an energy barrier to protect his team from attacks)
Xander: Okay, let's do it, guys!
(he uses the vines to whip the guards)
Mako (to Sean): Sir, how about a double-team?
Sean: Eh, sure. You ready? (prepares his V-Lancer)
Mako: Ready~! (she prepares her Shinkenmaru and Kame Disk)
(the duo chase)
Spiral Sword...
Sean: Heavenly Lightspeed Dance!
(with the charged V-Lancer and activated Shinkenmaru, the attacks slash the two guards)
(eventually, the foes are defeated because I'm too lazy to do an actual battle scene today)
...you guys all right?
Mao: Oh, yes!
Dan: We're all right.
Sean: That's good...I didn't think it actually worked!
Mako: Life's full of surprises!
Mao: You got that right...oh, we gotta find the other guys!
(the others nod, and they head off)
(at the base...)
Rika: So, where was I? Oh, yeah!
So we get to Monster, and somehow, he wasted the ammo. Mason's team is not happy about it, of course. Trakeena decides that they must head back to the factory and start mass-producing the shit out of the lasers, so that way, they'll have an unlimited supply to defeat their enemies.
I just wonder how in the hell they're going to get the stuff they need.
Regardless, they arrive, and they do exactly what you expect for them to do. Oh, and it turns out that the lasers? It'll take time to produce them in great quantities.
Yeah, they're done for.
Also? Mikoto's planning to betray them. Yeah, somehow, he managed to recover (I guess) as he tells the group about that factory. Good job, U.A.O.E! You really thought this out, didn't ya?
So he's planning to have Ranru being "captured"...and he compliments her? Bwuh? This is not Kira/Trent, you do realize that, right?
As you can expect, the ruse works. Why? Because everyone in Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers are idiots, especially the villains. Mikoto reveals Ranru to the villains, and they lock her up. This gives Mikoto time to find the meteorites. And unknown to everyone, Tommy, Kai, and Makito snuck into the base, disguised as factory workers.
You know, with the whole "disguise" thing, it makes me wonder why the hell the villains didn't catch on with that one. Especially since they've been fooled, what, twice before already?
(in the main room of the base, the time ticks away, and then...)
(a hand pops out of a glass box...thing)
(with Rika...)
Radiguet: <I sense it. The monsters...they're awakening! Finally, I can be freed from this prison! And I will continue on with the plan!!>
(Rika's oblivious to what Radiguet's thinking)
Rika: Meanwhile, with the good guys, Peebo is getting worried. And he says that one of the Biomen would die soon.
(Rika facepalms)
Because we're not shoved into our faces enough that Mika's the dead one. And, for that matter, where's Bio Hunter Silva during all of this?
We go back to Jason's team, and we find that they're not really recovering much. Then Deus Ex Cole appears. Seriously. By fusing with Aka Red and morphing into Red Conqueror, he gives the three ailing Rangers some needed energies.
Yes. Seriously. And he says this.
- Red Conqueror: "But you must be careful. These boosts don't make you invincible."
Uhhhhh...no shit, dude?
So after Cole demorphs or whatever, Jason's team decide to contact the Biomen, and they're told to meet...somewhere. And somehow, the Biomen find out that the infiltration was a success.
Well, didn't you expect anything less?
After the Biomen henshin, we go back to the factory, with Tommy's group getting the guns. Then the Beastnoids show up, and the "heroes" decide to defeat them with the Carter Grayson method...just shooting them.
Yeah. Like that.
During the shootout, Mikoto shows up, much to the villains' surprise.
- Mikoto: "Well, you never thought I would regain my memories would you? Tell Radiguet I no longer serve him."
...as stupid as that entire "losing the memories and regaining them" arc is...I will admit that the line's actually kinda badass.
So the "heroes" fight against the villains. And, somehow, Mikoto planted a bomb into the factory. Okay, how in the hell did he have the time to A) make a bomb and B) plant it?
(Tranza is just rubbing his temples)
I feel the same way, Tranza.
(Rika exhales)
I'm going to make this battle recap hella short. You ready?
- The Biomen and Jason's team manage to have the other guys lure the villains to them. Also, turns out that Tommy has to leave. Bye-bye, Deus Ex Tommy!
- After the obligatory role call, the Mooks are defeated in short order. How? The Biomen and Jason's full team do a series of combo attacks.
- Then we get to the battle with the U.A.O.E and Gear. They get their asses handed to them by another series of combo attacks, followed by the Bio Burn Bar.
- With the enemies retreating, you'd think it's the end. Pfft no. Doctor Man reveals that he created the Mechagaigan Negakans, or "Negakans" for short because fuck this I'm lazy to spell the entire name outright.
- When the Negakans is released, the Biomen form their Bio Robo, and yes, the enemy robot releases the same kind of beams to weaken the Bio Robo. Because...I have no idea. But it may have to do with using a...
- ...Deus Ex Cole once again. After transforming again into the Red Conqueror, he tells Jason's team to form a circle around him. They do, releasing an aura to give the Bio Robo a shitload of energy. With it, the Bio Robo uses a Slice Attack, defeating Negakans.
...whew.
Also, at the U.A.O.E, RINO throws a bitchfit again over the loss. He argues with Tranza, and he punishes Mesogog, Trakeena, and Shizuka, with him telling the final one that she knows not to fail. And this happens.
- "Shizuka will soon forget who she is, gradually and she may become the perfect weapon, loyal to me and I will succeed where"
...who says it? What is he trying to say? Who gives a shit, we're almost done here!
Cut to the two teams, and yes, they do interact. Trini realizes that Mika will die so soon, but she doesn't really say that much about it to her. Then the groups leave, and after that, Mika finds a random UFO, chasing it. This causes Trini to quip about hoping her passions don't get in between her and her job.
...
I got nothing.
Jason's team arrive at the New Skybase, their mission complete. Cole tells them that their hearts' powers increases...everyone else's. Excuse me, but I think I'm going to vomit.
(Rika...yeah. Just when she's distracted, however, there are loud bangs on the door, and in comes a fiery monster)
Fire Monster: Bawss, we have awakened!
Radiguet: Oh, thank you! You have no idea what it's like...suffering from her storytelling!
(he then regains his composure)
What did you find out about the All-Stars?
Fire Monster: Nuthin' special, bawss. 'Cept that six people defeated yer guards.
Radiguet: <Damn...the All-Stars are getting stronger than ever!>
Thank you, Akire. We must act fast...let's go.
(Radiguet begins to leave, and Tranza crawls)
Tranza: Radiguet...S-sire, what about me?
Radiguet: What about you? Tend to Rika. Make sure she doesn't hurt herself.
(with an evil smirk, Radiguet heads out, closing the door. Rika finishes what she's doing)
Rika: ...where's Radiguet?
Tranza: He's...gone, Miss.
Rika: Aww...(pouts)
Anyway. Marvelous asks when he'll have his mission, and Aka Red tells him that it'll be soon. To cut it short, Billy and Ranru grow closer, and Mikoto's trying to recover.
We end this chapter with Trini thinking about Mika and, yes, how she died. You know...all this time-travelling shit actually made me think. Because it never occurred to me before this chapter.
Considering all the stuff that's been happening to the past, you would think that there would be...some sort of other effects. I mean...with the group here facing nearly the exact same situation as that Anti-Bio Particles thing, one would think that Mika would be still alive, you know? Or have other effects, like...oh, I don't know...someone losing their powers, or someone else dying. Just have some sort of effect that isn't just "defeating the enemies, and bam, the timeline will remain the same"!
But I'm overthinking it.
Mika's ghost waves to Trini, and she says this last bit.
- Mika: "Trini, you have been brave and all. I appeared to you in my dreams many times to tell you, you are going to fight in this legendary war."
(imitating Mika) Because I wanted to beat everyone else in the head how awesome I am. (normal voice) I'm sorry, but what the fu—
- Mika: "Do well Trini, do well. Farewell Trini. Your dead brother would be proud of you!"
...yes. The dead brother, because, you know, just ripping stories off ain't enough. We're told of this...gah.
(Rika drinks)
As Mika fades away, Trini's in tears, thinking that she can finally rest knowing that Gear's defeated. She then smiles, encouraged to do well in her future battles.
The really sad part of it all is? It could have been handled well. To give encouragement, even when you're beyond the grave. Unfortunately, like everything else, it's so terribly lackluster and just baffling as all hell.
But the only good thing I have to say about this arc, aside from the badass line and Tanba being awesome? At least Bioman won't be ruined anymore.
...right?!
(at the training area, Mao's team finally rejoins the others)
Ryota: Guys! Are you all right?
Mao: Yeah...just nearly won against a group of guards.
Xander: Nearly won? We beat them easily!
Mao: But we had to flee at first in order to get some sort of advantage. Had we not fought without morphing first...
(the group demorphs)
Jason: ...
Ryota: Sounds rather serious. Guys...you can recover. Starting tomorrow, we will all go to Radiguet's base. No one gets left behind!
Rin: Good plan!
(Mao's team finally relaxes)
Mao: Everyone, I thank you for participating in the mission. We did well!
Sean: Normally, I would have said that I'm getting too old for this. However, no matter what, we still pulled it off in...(laughs) In the most awesome way.
(he nods to Mako, and they both high-five)
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait to face off against Radiguet! He's going to pay for what he did to Rika and Chris...
Mako: And everyone else.
What will Radiguet plan now, now that he's free from his hellish prison for now? What terrors will Rika face? And will the All-Stars stay alive throughout all this?
Emergency Signal; Now, Forward! To the next liveblogging of Super Sentai vs. Power Rangers!!
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