We dance round in a ring and suppose,
But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.
—Robert Frost, The Secret Sits
Midnight. Stars scattered themselves across the heavens, shining their droplets of hope in a sea of dark blue, a color achieved in no place else except the midpoint between dusk and dawn. One particular star shined brighter than the rest this night, light escaping from a distant galaxy that was probably decades old. A supernova in the far reaches of the universe that doesn't see Earth until twenty-five years after the fact. Its light has been here before, but this illumination has travelled through the twists and turns of the ever-expanding universe, journeying the long way from start to finish. Just as quickly as the celestial body surged to life, it died out, rejoining the void it emerged from, becoming one with the darkness once more.
That winter morning, the skies were empty. A gentle snowfall the previous day left behind a thin layer of white across the mountains of Colorado. On the horizon a brilliant golden red sun was rising between the heights and spreading its light across the small town of Ivory Glade, a simple village possessing the necessities of life and presumably devoid of the chaotic mess in the outside world. Gradually a wind gusted down from one of the mountaintops and over the town, through streets with a few early-rising people already out and about, around houses where traditional family units still lived, schools absent of children, office buildings preparing to open, and the town clock, decorated with the blue and white of the state flag as well as the national red, white, and blue. With increasing intensity supported by the winter season, the gust reached the structure at the town limits, a large building that looked like a circle from the sky, with no adornments or anything that would identify it to outsiders. But the people of Ivory Glade knew, and knew to stay away, their memories of events almost twenty years ago still fresh. If they could, they would forget anything they knew about the Orion Five Projects forever.
"It was a man named Donaldson," Craig Hopwood, lifelong resident of Ivory Glade, senior at Harrison High School, champion in his athletic and musical pursuits, was explaining to the new kid in town, Michael Tracer. "Abner Donaldson, I think. He came in with a bunch of military guys and built that place. Called it Alpha Complex. It was big news around that time; my father kept all the newspapers and stuff from then. Cecil probably knows more than I do."
Michael pursed his lips, questions illuminating his dark eyes with curiosity. "What did he do in the building?" When Craig first saw Michael, the tall young man with dark hair and a solemn stance, studying everything as though it were poisonous to touch and detached from everyone else at school, he assumed the newcomer just needed someone to break his shell. Craig's first directive, get the new kid to talk, was an accomplishment in progress.
"After it was finished, nobody saw him for a long time," Craig explained, pleased to see Michael's expression of interest replace his usual resistance. "What they did notice, though, were alien monsters." His new friend's eyes widened in disbelief. "Well, that was the most exaggerated tale. Most of the stories were sightings of strange looking people, or people dressed up in suits of some sort, who could fly and lift cars and shoot lasers that blew stuff up. A team of Supermen. Pretty ridiculous, huh? I never really believed any of it, but there is a picture in one of those papers Dad has, supposedly the remains of one of the monsters. It was after the press ran that story when the scientist guy resurfaced and said he was leaving, warning people to stay away from the Alpha Complex and forget about it and that building it was a mistake. All the kids living here know the story goes, the last thing he said was that, one day, someone was going to try and sneak inside to discover its secrets but instead would create unending trouble. It's just a high-tech haunted house, Michael, forget it."
Michael was studying his view of the complex with unbottled amazement. "No," he whispered, turning to Craig. "I have to get in there."
"Every kid says that, too, but they chicken out before they're twenty feet from the gate. Just leave the past in the past." Craig rubbed his hands together and began walking away, saying, "Let's go get breakfast at Summit Lounge." Even as Michael caught up and joined him, Craig could see that the newest citizen was determined to discover the town's forbidden secret. And something sparkling in those foreboding eyes said Michael would not chicken out.
Night was cold in Ivory Glade, the time when both "Ivory" and "Glade" failed to accurately describe the city. When Craig was younger he always questioned why the place was name so dishonestly, but had accepted it over time under the assumption it was the founder's sense of humor. With a grunt he flipped over the gate to Donaldson's deserted building and pressed himself against the frozen wall. He could hear voices getting closer to the gate, more than one, and realized Michael was not alone, a possibility he was ashamed to admit he had not really considered.
"...make us famous," a female voice was saying. It sounded familiar but Craig was unable to identify it positively.
"I'm just curious," Michael said firmly. "I warned you not to come along just for fame; we might find something we definitely can't tell anyone about."
They reached the gate and Craig could see the faint shadowed outlines of four people, two boys and two girls, dressed as warmly as possible without attire that would impede them. He quickly considered stopping them right there, but something inside him was beginning to understand Michael's desire, wondering what was inside this place. Dropping to the ground to avoid being spotted, he watched them help each other over the gate, the final flipping over as Craig had earlier. One person in town matched Craig's ability in a martial arts skill such as that, and the height and build was just right to identify the figure as Alexander Revell, a quiet and insightful young man.
"Careful," Michael warned, approaching the door, as one of the girls with him neared the entrance and placed a small device over the electronic security system. Skill in technology, Craig assumed, made this member of the group Brittany Elliott, an intelligent and active young lady with optimism and common sense he admired. They opened the door, pausing to make sure no alarm sounded, and continued on inside, Craig keeping on their tails as stealthily as he could, knowing full well Alex could discover his unknown presence if he did not stay totally focused on hiding. "It seems so ordinary," came Michael's hollow voice. "Where could its secrets be hidden? What made this place so important?"
When the others were not looking, the final member of the collection pressed a switch on the wall that turned the hallway lights on. Craig dashed backward far enough to evade their sights and heard arguing among them. But that split second of illumination was enough for Craig to determine who she was. Rebecca Spencer was the popular girl at the high school, homecoming queen and cheerleading captain and always involved in activities, a very pleasant person to know but very unlikely in a expedition such as this. Or so Craig thought. He waited a few heartbeats before continuing on, only to discover he had lost the others where the corridor merged with another, creating three possible paths.
"WELCOME PROFESSOR DONALDSON."
The voice startled Craig and he twisted his head around, almost to the point of panic but not quite, looking for its source. Slowly a panel in the ceiling opened itself, exposing a silver-tinted prismatic screen in the ceiling displaying the words "ORION FIVE" and "ALPHA SYSTEM" on the next line.
The voice continued, "IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, PROFESSOR. MUCH OF MY PROGRAMMING REMAINS INTACT, PASSCODES ARE STILL PROTECTING MUCH ALSO, BUT THE CMP AND ORION COMMANDS ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL."
Craig stared above him, confused, unable to respond immediately. He began to say he was not Professor Donaldson, but decided that could cause more unneeded trouble. "What is," Craig whispered, unaware the computer detected his final word, "CMP?"
"COMPLEX MAP PROGRAM IS NOW ONLINE." The Alpha System screen faded and was replaced with a map of the entire building, complete with alphabetically labeled rooms and corridors, and ten random blinking dots, all but one moving. "UNAUTHORIZED BIORYTHMS DETECTED. JAMMING SIGNAL DETECTED ON WEST ENTRANCE. ALL ALPHA COMPLEX BASE OPERATIONS ARE NOW ONLINE. CRYOGENIC SYSTEM MAINTAINENCE TERMINATED."
For a while Craig studied the monitor above him, watching the dot that indicated the other intruders' positions and trying to find a route to intercept them. He saw they were approaching another intersection of corridors and, as they did, the map faded and was replaced with a visual image of the four. Brittany was staring directly into the screen, saying, "Where did this come from? Becky, what did you do? Stay away from any other light switches or whatever they were, okay?" She obviously did not see Craig looking back at her.
"You're not Professor Donaldson." Opening his mouth, Craig started to say something, then relaxed and brought his gaze down to eye-level, face-to-face with a person of the same physique as he. "What's going on?" the stranger demanded. His eyes shined bright blue, searching Craig's facial expression for an answer, seemingly calculating what actions to take and precisely when to take them. Something stirred in the back of Craig's mind, but he dismissed the feeling. Lifting a bizarre device, wrapped around his forearm, to his mouth he spoke into it, "OmniTech Communicator! Rangers, confine the four unidentified intruders on stage B-4."
He extended the same hand to Craig, "I am Soleron, the Red Omni Ranger. Alpha Systems identified you as the Professor, but obviously you are not. Did he send you here?"
Red Omni Ranger? Craig shook his head, unable to form words for an instant, until Soleron narrowed his shining stare and drew back. "Here's what happened," Craig exclaimed, falling into his own defensive stance. "I was following those four who snuck inside. Then suddenly the ceiling opens and the computer starts calling me Professor. I didn't know what to do, so I played along, and just accessed the maps so I could find my friends and leave."
For the first time he noticed Soleron's clothing, a solid red shirt tucked into black pants and covered partially by a black vest with the word "Omni" written in red on the vest itself. His face was cold now, almost like stone, eyes becoming frosty and distrustful. Long black hair hung straight to his shoulders, curling around them, and held back with a red headband. Before Craig could analyze him any more than appearance, Soleron launched a powerful leaping kick.
Craig turned, launching himself backward, and grabbed his assailant from behind, lifting Soleron over his head and slamming the stranger into the floor. Soleron leaped to his feet and produced a golden coin that he slipped into the wrist device. "OmniTech Morph!"
Suddenly a strange suit materialized around Soleron, completely red except for thick bands of white around his forearms and lower legs, as well as a white stripe with a multi-colored diamond in the center across his chest. He wore a belt as well, in addition to the silver wristband device, and a helmet that was also red with a black visor. "Red Omni Ranger ready for battle!" Soleron growled, posing offensively.
Craig dodged the Ranger's attack by falling to the ground and rolling away, only to stand up a few feet away and perform a spinning kick of his own, missing Soleron by a wide margin. "Please, listen to me, Soleron! I'm not an enemy!"
"OmniTech Blaster! You are intruding on Alpha Complex and posing as Professor Donaldson," the Omni Ranger replied, a small handgun appearing in his hand in a flash of light. He aimed the weapon and fired, barely missing Craig's head. "If you are not an enemy, what are you?"
"If you would listen..." Craig began, but stopped and threw himself sideways to avoid another laser blast.
Soleron moved closer for a better aim. "I have listened enough." Just as he was about to fire another shot close up to Craig, the suit and weapon vanished, leaving Soleron grasping empty space. "Not now!" he hissed, clenching his fists and backing away with an irritated look.
Craig took the opportunity to speak, "Abner Donaldson left this place twenty years ago. He warned people not to enter, but this new kid in town, Michael Tracer, wanted to see what was so secret, so he and three other people from Ivory Glade broke in, and I followed them to surprise them and convince them to turn back. But like I said, Alpha Systems surprised me instead."
As he was taking the coin out of the wristband to examine it, Soleron asked, "So you would not know anything that could help us?" The device beeped, and he spoke into it, "OmniTech Communicator! Take the prisoners to Control Point. I'm bringing one in as well." He then motioned for Craig to walk, a motion the teenager readily obeyed, down the left hall.
"Craig!" the others exclaimed as he was escorted into the spacious chamber by a hostile and solemn Soleron. He nodded to acknowledge them as he was pressed down into a seat next to Michael, who seemed intent on studying the floor. "So sorry about this," he mumbled faintly.
The new strangers Craig identified as the other Rangers his captor had spoken to. A woman with shimmering silver hair dressed in yellow, one with a darker coloring in her features in pink, a well built aging man in green, and in blue a youthful man with piercing deep blue eyes. "This is Seraide," Soleron introduced them in order as he noticed Craig looking at them, "Laurasia, Talyserys, and Pyrial."
With a forced smile Craig replied, "Pleased to meet you." He received a condemning stare from the man in red.
"I must speak with my allies," Soleron told them. "You five will wait here. Look to your content, but touch nothing. We will not be gone long." They closed the sliding door on their way out, locking the teenagers inside.
Brittany spoke up first. "What are you doing here?" she demanded of Craig. "Michael said you tried to talk him out of this, now you're snooping around yourself."
"I came to get you out of trouble," growled Craig. "Don't you dare accuse me of this! As I recall it was your device that broke in here, and Michael's crazy idea."
"So sorry," Michael was sighing to his reflection in the polished floor.
At the other end of the line of chairs, Rebecca seemed the most calm of them all. "It isn't going to help fighting each other when we're captives in here. Let's work together and break out before they get back." Alexander nodded his consent.
Standing up, Craig glided over to the door just as it opened to admit the older group of five, filing into the room and ordering themselves neatly. "Are you letting us go now?" he asked.
"Please sit," Soleron instructed. Craig bit his lower lip in frustration, but slowly returned to the seat and sat down. "My friends and I have decided to share our story with you and implore you for your help." Gaping would understate the expressions of Craig's friends.
Pyrial stepped forward and began in a gentle, flowing tone, "It was twenty years ago when our ship, Galaxy Hunter, crashed in Earth's ocean near an island where Professor Abner Donaldson was analyzing the sea life. He commanded the rescue party that saved all those onboard, including us, our friend Oriquin, and the villain Arcanza whom we had just defeated and imprisoned. He took us to an underground lab for a time, while he built Alpha Complex with the blueprint we made for him, then moved us all here and officially began the Orion Five Projects."
"He was interested in us," Laurasia explained, "because of our OmniTech Ability Bands." She held up the device around her wrist similar to the one Soleron possessed. "They give us the power to communicate with each other, teleport from place to place instantly, and most importantly increase our strength and speed and aptitude for battle. The Professor wanted to study us and create his own invincible soldiers."
"Professor Donaldson created machines hidden inside the mountains nearby," Talyserys continued with a grating and forceful voice that paralleled his features. "OmniZords, powerful vehicles for each of us with the ability of both creation and destruction. Meanwhile, Arcanza escaped and began to plot against the Professor and yearn to overthrow your world. Our friend Oriquin disappeared without a trace until we discovered evidence proving that Arcanza had killed him, setting off a series of events that led to disaster."
Seraide picked up instantly. "The Professor abandoned Orion Five and placed us in a cryogenic state from which we awoke when you activated the Alpha Complex computers. We were greeted with a holographic message explaining that the Professor had done something terrible, unleashed nothing but evil on an unprepared world, and swore to make it right by hunting down and destroying Arcanza once and for all. It was a twenty year old message."
"Now we are faced with a dilemma." Soleron had folded his arms across his chest and his frosty eyes sparkled with some type of unidentifiable emotion. "We do not know what has happened to Professor Donaldson or the evil Arcanza. But more urgently, while we were asleep for twenty years, our OmniTech powers were not. The powers are passed on from generation to generation, because using the incredible abilities it grants for more than twenty-five years makes our race lose stamina and, eventually, sanity. We must transfer our powers soon...to you five."
Craig was taken aback, but not so much as Rebecca, Alex, and Brittany. Michael looked up as though just now returning mentally and stared ahead in bewilderment. "I know what happened to them," he said monotonously. "My old home, Twilight City, was the sight of the battle. Some group called the Twilight Legion, my folks were a part of it, rose and took over the city, walled it up, and warned others not to bother them anymore. I was away at my grandparent's cabin when it happened, but some of my friends escaped and told me stories of a really old scientist proclaiming the Legion was the work of somebody named Arcanza and needed to be destroyed."
"He's trying to resurrect Rapture Legion!" gasped Laurasia.
"We were summoned to a planet in a nearby solar system before we crashed here," said Talyserys, "where he had initiated a similar scheme. He gathered followers, formed a group he called the Rapture Legion, and brought total chaos to that peaceful world."
Soleron nodded. "That must be prevented from happening again and Arcanza must be stopped." He turned to Craig and the room seemed to grow brighter as he asked the fateful question, "Will you lead your friends should they become the next generation of Omni Rangers by accepting the responsibilities of the Red Omni Ranger?"
"I don't..." he began, but cut the rejection short. Maybe there was something here, some truth within the story, but trusting, his friend Cecil liked to say, was dangerous. "I need time to think." To think about how to reject the offer politely.
"There is not much time, but very well," Soleron responded.
Pyrial appealed to Michael, asking him, "Will you accept the responsibilities of the Blue Omni Ranger?"
Seraide to Brittany: "Will you accept the responsibilities of the Yellow Omni Ranger?"
Laurasia to Rebecca: "Will you accept the responsibilities of the Pink Omni Ranger?"
Talyserys to Alexander: "Will you accept the responsibilities of the Green Omni Ranger?"
All answered that they needed more time. The Rangers were silent as they escorted the teenagers back to the Alpha Complex entrance. Finally, upon reaching the door, Craig turned to Soleron and promised, "We will have our decisions tomorrow."
"The Rapture Legion, or Twilight Legion, or whatever plan Arcanza is developing is growing stronger every day," Soleron said in a near whisper. "Think on what you have learned today, the courage you have shown by coming here, the strength you revealed in our short battle, the skills you demonstrated while following your friends."
Craig nodded and stepped through the door, the Alpha System computer speaking in the background, "TAKE CARE, PROFESSOR."
Michael, Rebecca, Alex, and Brittany stayed close to Craig as they left, over the gate and back into Ivory Glade. The city clock was just about to strike one past midnight when they separated to their homes with a four-sided promise to speak to nobody about the night's events.
Awake in bed, Craig lay thinking about everything that had happened. He had shown bravery, skill, and strength, and had been asked to be the recipient of enhanced attributes. A monster was tearing life apart in Twilight City. Five dying aliens waited inside the haunted Alpha Complex for his answer. Before he knew it, it was morning. And less than twenty-four hours after that blasting winter wind had shaken Ivory Glade, Craig Hopwood was about to give a thunderous answer that would shake the world.
Original Publication Date: 28 December 1998
