Fall of Heroes by Jeramey Kraatz Page A

got bigger problems right now,” he said as he nodded to the front of the crowds.
    The New Rangers began to climb onto the stage, accompanied by the whoops and joyous shouts of everyone in the audience except for Alex and his group. For a single moment, Lone Star looked taken aback by the crowd’s reaction, but he recovered quickly.
    â€œThank you, good citizens,” Shade said into the microphone. As usual, oversized black sunglasses hid her eyes. Titan, Volt, and Photon stood smiling at her sides. “It means so much to us that you’ve come to support the Rangers of Justice as we break ground on the site of our future headquarters . . .”
    â€œThis is it,” Lone Star said.
    Lone Star and the other Rangers weaved their way toward the stage, leaving Bug and the Cloak defects behind. Gage lowered his goggles, tapping on the sides to zoom in.
    â€œAnything goes wrong and we send Misty to pull them out of there,” Alex said.
    â€œLone Star won’t be too happy about that.” Mallory squinted at the stage.
    â€œHe’s no good to us dead. Or under my mother’s control.”
    â€œ. . . a place Sterling City can look to and know that we are watching.” Shade continued to speak to the crowd.
    When Lone Star got to the line of Deputies in Ranger-inspired fatigues, there was a small commotion. And then Lone Star’s hood fell back. Even pale and weathered, there was no mistaking that it was him. Lux followed suit, as did the Junior Rangers. The crowds around them erupted and backed away.
    â€œWe will build our new stronghold atop a place of tragedy and—” Shade stopped midsentence and stared down at the five people gathered at the bottom of the stage. There was a beat before anyone spoke, and in the moment, Alex’s mother simply cocked her head slightly to one side. She gave no hint of emotion, be it surprise or anger.
    â€œNot good,” Alex murmured.
    â€œYou are no Ranger,” Lone Star said, thrusting a finger forward and pointing it at Shade. When he spoke, his baritone voice was a bellow of sound projected through Amp’s body. Kirbie’s features were hinting at transformation. A tree growing from a sidewalk planter near them began to sway as Kyle held his hands out.
    Lone Star turned back to the crowd. “I am Lone Star, leader of the Rangers of Justice. These are my teammates, Lux and the Junior Rangers. The woman who stands before you is no hero. Neither is Volt nor Titan. They are villainous members of the Cloak Society who have brainwashed Dr. Photon and are using him to gain power over this city.” He turned his attention back to Shade, who regarded him with what Alex could only describe as a look of boredom. “In the name of justice, I demand that you surrender and turn yourselves in.”
    There was a snapping of photos as the crowd began to murmur. Shade let a long sigh out into the microphone. No one else on the stage moved, which worried Alex. In fact, he was surprised that they’d even let the Ranger talk for so long. What game were they playing?
    His mother leaned in to the microphone.
    â€œCitizens of Sterling City, this is not the first false Ranger to come forward claiming to be Lone Star, or Lux—though these appear to be in the company of the Junior Rangers, who, as recent investigations have confirmed, were working in league with the Cloak Society to plot the terrible attack on Justice Tower.”
    â€œPhoton,” Lux said, stepping forward. “I know you’re in there somewhere. Help us. We’re here now. Break free.”
    Photon took a few steps forward, staring down at his former teammates on the ground below. He clenched his teeth, and his body began to shake. While everyone’s attention was on Photon, Alex watched his mother, whose eyes were shining silver so brightly that her sunglasses did little to hide the effect. She turned away from the podium. Photon walked