I’ll be the Red Ranger

- Oliver -

With the message sent, Oliver left the bar.

Unhurried, he ascended from the subterranean levels to the main district of Selene. The once-vibrant lunar metropolis felt subdued. The usual sounds of casinos, drunks, and parties were dampened.

Strolling through the winding avenues, Oliver glanced occasionally at his communicator, hoping for a response from Nico. The silence was both a relief and a source of anxiety. He knew time zones were convoluted with so many zones in the empire. ‘God knows what time it is for him right now,’ Oliver mused. ‘He could be sleeping or even training the Dardanus’ soldiers.’

Oliver wandered aimlessly, his mind a storm of thoughts.

Hours slipped by, almost without him noticing. Oliver found himself seated on a bench overlooking a plaza where a statue of an early lunar explorer stood sentinel. However, his eyes were fixed on the countdown timer displayed on the metallic card he held.

The digits raced toward zero, the last seconds ticking away.

[00:01]

He inhaled sharply, instinctively bracing himself. He expected the familiar lurch of teleportation. But as the moments stretched on, nothing happened. The plaza remained unchanged, the muted sounds of the city continuing around him.

Confusion knitted his brow. ‘Could there be interference in the teleportation?’ he wondered.

Glancing back at the card, Oliver noticed the display had changed, revealing a new message.

| Use teleportation code: 82TLSEO01

"Ah, okay," Oliver muttered under his breath, digesting this new instruction. ‘I’ll need to leave Selene to access a teleportation hub.’

A flicker of concern crossed his mind. ‘Will they wait for me?’

Spurred into action, he stood and navigated quickly through the city's network of walkways and transport hubs. He had to run until he reached Selene's spaceport to board the first flight out of Luna. He finally stopped at one of Earth's orbital stations, which was one of the closest points with a Teleportation Hub.

At last, he arrived at a sterile chamber marked with the universal symbol for teleportation. Two attendants, clad in sleek uniforms adorned with the station's insignia, were calibrating equipment behind a transparent console.

"Excuse me," Oliver called out, approaching them. "I need to schedule an immediate teleportation using this code." He held out the card displaying 82TLSEO01.

One of the attendants, a young man with sharp features and a visor displaying data streams, took the card and scanned it. His expression shifted to one of mild confusion. "This code doesn’t correspond to any of our registered destinations," he said, glancing up. "It will result in an error."

The other attendant, a woman with a calm demeanor and silver streaks threading through her hair, leaned over to examine the readout. "Wait," she said thoughtfully. "This code just synced with the network. It appears to be a newly activated coordinate, likely classified or a test site." She locked eyes with Oliver. "Are you certain you wish to proceed?"

"Yes," Oliver affirmed, his tone resolute.

Just before the world lurched beneath him, Oliver's gauntlet chimed softly. Glancing down, the interface illuminated with a new message.

Direct Message

NicoIcon

[OliverKR]: You won't believe it. I got a Blastoise.

[OliverKR]: You should see it.

[NicoIcon]: I'll see it.

He barely had time to register Nico's reply when a sudden sensation enveloped him. A force pulled at his core, lifting him upward as if gravity had momentarily surrendered its hold. His feet lost contact with the ground, and for a fleeting second, he was suspended in a void between places.

Then, as abruptly as it began, the disorienting sensation ceased. Solid ground met his feet with a jolt, and the world snapped back into focus. Oliver blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim lighting of his new surroundings.

He stood within the cavernous expanse of an enormous warehouse. The architecture was industrial. Steel girders crisscrossed overhead, supporting a vaulted ceiling from which aged lights flickered intermittently. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, illuminated by the sporadic beams of light that pierced the shadows.

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It was a stark contrast to the pristine, state-of-the-art facilities of the NEA. Here, the walls bore the scars of time: peeling paint, exposed wiring, and patches of rust. Yet, despite the air of abandonment, cables snaked purposefully across the floor, connecting outdated terminals and powering what appeared to be a makeshift teleportation array. The very one that had brought him here.

Just as he arrived, Oliver's gaze swept across the space. Thousands of people populated the warehouse, their faces a mosaic of determination, apprehension, and resolve. Clusters formed organically. Some exchanging hushed conversations, others inspecting equipment or poring over maps projected in mid-air.

Taking a hesitant step forward, Oliver felt a wave of vertigo wash over him. The aftereffects of the teleportation left his legs unsteady, and he swayed precariously. Before he could falter, a firm hand clasped his arm, stabilizing him.

"Easy there," a voice murmured.

Turning to face his unexpected helper, Oliver found himself staring into the eyes of a boy not much older than himself. The stranger exuded a quiet confidence; his posture relaxed yet alert. He wore a black jacket accented with emerald green trim, the fabric well-worn but meticulously maintained. Slung across his back was an imposing rifle, its sleek design hinting at technology far beyond the standard issue. His dark hair was pulled back into a tidy bun, stray wisps framing sharp features.

"I hope you received my cards," the boy whispered, his tone both familiar and enigmatic.

Oliver's breath hitched. A surge of recognition coursed through him, it was the same person that attacked the emperor. Collecting himself, he replied in a measured tone, "I did. More than once."

A subtle smile touched the boy's lips. "Good." He paused, his gaze steady. "You can call me Leader or Lian."

"Understood, Leader," Oliver responded, carefully modulating his voice to conceal any hint of prior acquaintance. Despite the swirl of emotions within him, he maintained a facade of professionalism.

Lian regarded him for a moment longer as if assessing his unspoken thoughts. "I've prepared all of this for you," he said, gesturing vaguely to the assembled masses and the organized chaos enveloping them. "But we'll have time to talk later. For now, feel free to join the others."

He indicated the broader expanse of the hall where activity buzzed with mounting intensity. Teams were assembling gear, calibrating devices, and huddling over communication devices.

Oliver nodded, descending from the slightly elevated platform that housed the teleportation apparatus. As he moved away, he could feel Lian's gaze lingering for a moment before the Leader turned to engage with another group.

Seeking a moment to process everything, Oliver edged toward one of the side walls. Leaning against the cool metal surface, he allowed himself a brief respite.

'What does he want with me?' Oliver wondered.

Over the following hours, the atmosphere within the warehouse grew increasingly charged as more individuals materialized via the teleportation array.

Oliver stood at the periphery, his gaze sweeping across the myriad of faces that now filled the vast space. He scanned intently for any sign of Darius or the other Rangers. Yet, amidst the sea of determined expressions and whispered conversations, none struck him as familiar.

Finally, as the influx of arrivals began to wane and the echoes of teleportation faded, a hush descended upon the crowd. All eyes turned toward the elevated platform at the center of the warehouse, where Lian ascended.

"Thank you all for coming to our final mission," Lian's voice resonated through the crowd. "Each of you has been specifically selected for this moment. You have all witnessed firsthand the reality of what it means to be Nameless under the Empire."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Faces tightened, jaws set.

"We were created with a single purpose," Lian continued. "To be thrust into the meat grinder, serving as temporary soldiers meant to be discarded on the battlefield. Cannon fodder in wars waged without end. This is why the Empire has never considered, nor will it ever consider, any form of peace."

A collective tension bristled among the listeners. Some exchanged grim nods; others clenched their fists at their sides. The truth of his words resonated deeply, igniting the flames of long-held grievances.

"But today marks a pivotal moment," Lian declared, his voice rising with fervor. "For many of us in the leadership of the Children of the Past, this is the end of our expiration time. This will be our final strike against the Empire."

Lian took a deliberate pause, allowing his words to sink in before pressing on. "We stand just meters away from the very first facility ever constructed for the production of the Nameless," he announced. "Built thousands of meters beneath the University of Seoul, it is the heart of the Empire's deceit. Within its walls, all transmissions are blocked, rendering it a fortress of secrecy. But that is precisely where we will make our stand."

A holographic projection flickered to life above the platform, displaying topographical maps and schematics of the subterranean complex.

"We will divide into three groups," Lian explained, gesturing to the corresponding sections on the projection. "Group One will target the transmission-blocking centers. Group Two will establish a temporary transmission hub, ensuring that once those barriers fall, our message reaches every corner of the NET. Group Three," his gaze lingered momentarily, "will infiltrate the base itself, gather irrefutable evidence, and expose the depths of the Empire's crimes."

He paused his expression one of resolute determination. "Our objective is clear: to record and disseminate the truth so widely and swiftly that the Empire cannot possibly suppress it. Every House, every Great House that remains ignorant of these horrors, will finally see the Empire for what it truly is."

A sense of purpose surged through the crowd.

"Please, check your cards," Lian continued. "Each one details your assigned mission and the coordinates you need to reach."

Oliver looked once more to his metallic card.

| [Group 3] Infiltrate the base and record the evidence

He couldn't suppress a wry smile. ‘Figures,’ he thought to himself.

Lian's voice rang out one final time, imbued with conviction. "Forward! Together, we will bring down the Empire!"