The sun had barely crested the horizon when Farza stirred from a restless sleep, his mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. He rubbed his eyes, the Z-Watch on his wrist pulsing softly—a constant reminder of the path he had chosen to run from.
In the living room, the TV murmured with urgent news reports. Farza froze as images of alien creatures—Xenoforms, the Green Ranger had called them—flashed across the screen. They swarmed through the streets of Silverwind City, clashing with the military forces desperately trying to hold them back.
A grotesque amalgamation of flesh and metal appeared on the screen.
"I am Lieutenant Amorg of the Xenoform Hive," it rasped, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. "We have come for your city's Z-Force energy. Surrender it to us, or face annihilation."
The feed cut to Magnus, a prominent politician, his face grave.
"This is a clear threat to our city, but rest assured, my new security detail is more than capable of handling this crisis."
Next, Mayor Dotu appeared, her expression earnest.
"We must negotiate with these beings. Engaging in conflict will only lead to needless destruction."
Farza turned off the TV, his hand shaking. The Z-Watch glowed insistently, as if urging him to act.
"What's wrong, beta?" his mother asked, concern etched on her face.
"Nothing, Ma," Farza lied, grabbing his backpack. "I gotta get to school."
As he headed for the door, his father called out to him.
"Farza, wait." He struggled to his feet, placing a hand on Farza's shoulder. "You're a great man, son. You always stand up to the occasion. Never forget that."
Farza hugged his father tightly, a lump forming in his throat. Then he hurried out the door, his mind churning.
At school, the hallways buzzed with nervous energy. As Farza reached for his books, a hand slammed his locker shut. He looked up to see his longtime bully sneering at him.
"Looks like the world's ending, slumdog," the bully taunted. "Guess even aliens don't want anything to do with your kind."
Before Farza could respond, a girl in a hoodie brushed past them, completely ignoring the confrontation. The bully turned, ready to lash out, but the girl shot him a withering glare that stopped him in his tracks.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life, announcing that the school was going into lockdown. But Farza barely heard it. His Z-Watch was flashing urgently, showing him scenes of the Xenoforms staging their attack.
His father's words echoed in his mind. You always stand up to the occasion.
Farza made his decision. He slipped out of the school, jumped on his bike, and pedaled toward the heart of the battle.
As he rode, doubt crept in. What could he do against these monsters? But he kept riding, some force pushing him forward.
At the battlefront, the military and Xenoforms were locked in a stalemate. Farza's watch glowed brighter than ever. Lieutenant Amorg's eyes locked onto him.
"Finally," it hissed. "The Z-Force arrives."
The Xenoforms surged forward, their advanced weaponry ripping through the military defenses. Soldiers fell left and right. One blast headed straight for a young private, but Farza leaped off his bike and shoved him out of the way.
In that moment, the Z-Watch exploded with crimson light. Energy surged through Farza's body, encasing him in sleek, powerful armor. The Phoenix Red Ranger had arrived.
With a fierce battle cry, Farza launched himself at the nearest Xenoform, his fist connecting with its chitinous hide. The creature stumbled back, surprised by the Ranger's strength. Farza pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks that sent the Xenoform crashing to the ground.
More Xenoforms swarmed forward, their laser weapons blazing. Farza's Z-Force-enhanced reflexes kicked in, allowing him to dodge and weave through the barrage with uncanny speed. He summoned his Phoenix Blaster, the weapon materializing in his hand in a burst of crimson light.
"Fire!" Farza shouted, pulling the trigger. Bolts of searing energy shot forth, striking the Xenoforms and sending them flying.
A hulking brute of a Xenoform charged at Farza, its massive fists swinging. Farza met its charge head-on, blocking its blows with his forearms. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, but Farza stood firm.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice amplified by his helmet.
The Xenoform roared in fury, rearing back for a devastating blow. But Farza was faster. He leaped into the air, somersaulting over the creature's head. As he landed, he drew his Phoenix Saber, the blade flashing as it extended to its full length.
With a swift strike, Farza cleaved through the Xenoform's thick armor, the Z-Force energy of his blade searing through the alien metal. The creature let out a shriek of pain and crumpled to the ground, smoke rising from its sundered body.
Farza turned to face the remaining Xenoforms, his saber held high.
"Who's next?" he challenged, his fear now replaced by a surge of confidence.
The Xenoforms exchanged glances, their insectoid faces unreadable. Then, as one, they began to retreat, scuttling back toward their drop ships.
Lieutenant Amorg stood atop a ruined tank, its eyes narrowing as it watched its forces flee. With a wave of its grotesque hand, Amorg signaled the retreat.
"Enjoy your victory, Ranger. It will be your last."
In a shimmer of sickly green light, Amorg teleported away, leaving Farza standing alone amidst the wreckage of the battle. The Red Ranger looked around, taking in the sight of the battered but victorious military forces, the smoking husks of destroyed Xenoforms.
He had done this. He, Farza Khan, the kid from the slums, had turned the tide.
But even as the soldiers began to cheer, Farza knew this was only the beginning. Amorg's parting words echoed in his mind, a promise of darker battles to come.
The Red Ranger sheathed his saber and strode off the battlefield, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.