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Centiback’s Big Comeback
(A Power Ranger Fanfic)

By: Nibblah Frog & TK Tigerkat
Chapter 7 - Game Over

Aisha was still pinned under Adam's bulky frame, and could only stare in horror as her friend was enveloped in a bright light and now, where she had stood, was a pink and white diamond patterned football. The moment seemed to be frozen in time as the last comrade she had was suddenly stolen away from her. Aisha fought back against the tears that were slowly forming in her eyes. Her friends were now either overinflated muscle headed insects or harmless footballs. Her communicator was smashed and her body was so drained it was hard to get up off the ground. In this moment, there was no hope.

No hope.

No...

No! Aisha thought as she felt her inner strength, her ranger pride, bubble up and surface from the mire of despair. She was a Power Ranger, a defender of Angel Grove and a defender of Earth. There had been times where a monster had gotten the better of the team and it all fell on one ranger to make a difference. Each time they managed to come out on top and this time would not be any different.

'I'm a Power ranger, and Power Rangers don't give up!'

Meanwhile, Tommy-Centiback picked up the pink football from the ground and held it in his claws. He could feel the powerful energy still radiating from within and allowed a little to flow into him. With it he felt a tingling of power flow through him, making his muscles tense and throb with a pleasurable warmth, his many centipede legs squirm, and his antenna flutter. As he gazed at this ball he felt a strong love and adoration well up inside. His girlfriend was now safe in his hands and would support him with energy and inspiration.

His simple mind was snapped out of its trance by the cheers of his teammates who hooted and hollered his victory. But the most satisfying praise came from Centiback, who had his thick arms crossed and was laughing with glee. Tommy raised the pink football up in a show of triumph. Buoyed by the excitement his win had generated, he smiled brightly and beat his chest with pride.
"Game ball! Game ball!!!"

"Aha! You go big guy!" Adam-Centiback cheered, clapping his claws together as he got up off Aisha to join the rest of the team.

"I was worried there for a minute Oliver," Rocky-Centiback shouted. "But you came through for us! Proud of you!"

Billy-Centiback shook with excitement, his own insect legs and antenna moving to match the energy. "Let's shower off and celebrate!"

Centiback strode towards Tommy and looked up to the large monster, his own lips pulled back in a sharp toothy smile. His coach pulled back and gave a congratulatory slug on Tommy's large pecs, causing the former rangers' antennae to flutter with excitement at the shared victory.

"Good job boys! I'm so proud of all of you! I can't believe how much you've all grown. It's enough to make this 'pede cry!" Centiback announced with a mix of bravado and parental pride, putting his claw on Tommy's shoulder and gazing around admiringly at his team.

"Team Centiback came in as underdogs, but together we've stormed the field and stole the win for the visiting team. Now this is our town and we won't stop until every man, woman, and child are in the grips of football fever!"

His speech elicited cheers and hollers from his team. Adam and Rocky began to try and get each other in a brotherly headlock while Billy zoomed with incredible speed and lept into Centiback's arms, hugging his coach and Tommy together as their antennae came together and sent sparks of energy through them all in a sharing of power and joy. Huddling closer, they grunted and moaned as the pleasurable power flowed between them making them flex and feel each other's swelling muscles.
After taking a minute to celebrate their victory, Centiback released his boys and gestured to the rest of the team to fall in line.

"Its time to tell the town there's a new team to cheer for! But first, I'm gonna take out all that leftover weak human energy and graduate you all from maggots to full-fledged centipedes!"

"Don't go celebrating just yet!" Aisha's voice rang out from across the field. "The game's not over yet!"
As the monsters looked back at the remaining ranger they had forgotten in their celebration, they saw she had gotten up and was standing strong. Somehow her energy and been restored and she now faced them defiantly in a practiced combat stance.

Centiback didn't hide his laugh. "Don't you get it yellow ranger? Your team's season is over! Your best players joined the winning team and the rest are our trophy balls to do with as we please."
"Ha ha...silly yellow." Tommy insulted.

"She must have gotten a head injury from our tackles if she thinks she can beat us" Billy stepped forward, joining in the taunts as he rapped his head. "That helmet doesn't look as tough as ours."
"Heh...I kinda like it," Adam said, patting his loins. "Gotta love a girl who's fiesty."

"Game's over Aisha," Rocky challenged. "But maybe we'll use you for tackle practice before we make you into another game ball. Or you could give up and clean the dirt off our cleats?"

Yellow energy flashed as twin daggers formed in Aisha's hands. "Just try it bug breath! I know there is still a spark of you guys left in there. As long as there is a chance I won't give up! I'm a Power Ranger!"

Centiback smiled. This one human was challenging his whole team with no backup and no way out. He had to hand it to her, she had guts and grit that would make any bug melt. As he thought this he felt a strange warmth in his heart and a throbbing down below.

"Ahaha! You got spunk, yellow! I like you," Centiback laughed and clapped his hands. "Okay, we do one more play for all the marbles! My boys and me against you. You win and you get your weak human team back. But we win..."

Centiback strolled over to where the blue Ninjor football laid in the grass and picked it up. He turned to give Aisha a good look before throwing it a perfect lateral pass to Rocky, who caught it with ease. Rocky slammed the ball down hard enough to make it bounce and danced in place, wiggling his toned butt and shaking his thick muscled legs.

"Get the picture?" Centiback finished.

Aisha swallowed. The odds were not in her favor, but there was no backing down now. In a show of mockery she went down into a set position, while across from her Tommy, Adam, Billy, and Rocky instinctually did the same, waiting for their coach's orders for the next play. The monster nodded in approval at the discipline he saw and considered his next move. In light of the ranger's bravery, he wanted to give his opponent a sporting chance...for now.

"Very Well! Boys! The play is Blue Bomber 67 Flash. Now time for you to execute!"

All but Billy looked disappointed at the call, but the team nodded obediently and lowered into a three-point stance.

"Down! Set! Hut hut hut..." Centiback brought his transforming whistle to his mouth.

"Hike!"

The air rang with the shrill whistle as Billy-Centiback was the first one out of the gate. His status as the team's wide receiver meant he wasn't as big and bulky as the other guys, (a fact constantly held over his head) but his speed was second to none. In the blink of an eye, Aisha found he had already closed the gap between them and had his arms stretched out for a tackle.

"Haha time for you to hit..."

Before he could finish, Aisha's reflexes kicked in. She went low and dodged with minimal movement, watching with a small smirk as Billy flew over her. With a flick of the wrist she swiped one of her daggers and spun her body, catching Billy along his belt as he passed overhead and cutting at his tarnished power coin. Sparks flew as Billy-Centiback landed with a heavy thud.

Billy was spared the impact due to his heavy pads but pain surged through him. His power coin scratched, he felt a momentary disruption in the link between him, his team, and his coach. Billy stood up and wobbled in confusion, his antenna moving frantically trying to get some kind of order or signal.

" Guys...coach..." he said meekly, holding his helmet not knowing what to do next.

Aisha smiled. She didn't have the arrows to turn them back but, but knew if she could do enough damage to the coins it should disorientate them enough for her to escape and get to the Command Center.

Feeling confident, Aisha stood up and playfully gestured to Billy with a dagger. "What? I thought you were going to end the game?"

"Come on Billy! You can't let her win!" Adam-Centiback shouted.

"Don't let coach down!" Rocky-Centiback added.

"Tackle!! Tackle!!" finished Tommy-Centiback.

Billy's antenna stopped and he dug his oversized cleats into the grass, getting stable as he sized up his challenger. The words of his teammates rang in his head.

'I'd rather be blown up like all those other monsters than let down my team or my new dad!'
With that thought he charged again at Aisha. Closing quick, he threw a powerful punch, then another, and another. Aisha moved briskly between the shots, evading each one while looking for a spot to counterattack. Billy didn't let up and continued the flurry of blows until he spun and threw up his thick muscled leg for a kick to her flank. Aisha reacted just as fast, reaching up and catching the kick in her arms. She grit her teeth, the impact was so strong she barely avoided being knocked over.

Billy smirked as she held on to his leg. "Like those calves baby? Maybe you give up and I'll let you feel me up?"

Aisha had to remind herself this wasn't Billy she was dealing with but just a testosterone-soaked lunkhead. But she wasn't going to let him off that easy.

"The only thing you're going to feel is this!" the yellow ranger said as she lashed out with her own leg, twisting to put her weight in as her foot crashed against Billy-Centiback's exposed groin. She winced - it felt like kicking a brick wall, but it proved effective.

Billy let out a loud yelp and his hands immediately reached down to cover his crotch. A heavy throb of pain shot through him and made him crumple to the ground. With the big bug's weight leaving her Aisha made another slash with her daggers, making more sparks fly as the dagger went diagonally across his body and hit his coin once more.

A choir of sympathetic "oooh!!"s escaped his teammates' mouths, with Rocky Centiback moving a hand to guard his own groin against some invisible attack. The rest of the team was then met with a brief, disorientating headache that was quickly transmitted through their antennae from the disconnection their coach had been dealt. Centiback held his head and peered at Aisha from afar, knowing he needed to rethink his game plan.

'She and that pink ranger keep trying to break my connection with my boys! She's impressive, but there's no way I'm letting her take my beautiful maggots from me! '

" You three!!" Centiback barked. "Football is a team sport! Help him out!"

Centiback held up his whistle and blew to snap his team back in line. The three had their antenna shoot up at the order, and with a unified "Yes Coach!" they charged forward.

Aisha was distracted by the downed Billy, who moaned in pain as he defensively held his aching loins with his hands. The shaking of the ground alerted her to trouble and she turned to see the three hulking bugs coming towards her. For a moment she felt intimidated, but brushed this aside when she reminded herself that she had just downed one of their own.

"Offsides! Too many players on the field!" she announced.

"Who cares!?" Adam and Rocky snapped back and kept going, but Tommy skidded to a stop. His brain was hardwired now to obey the rules of the game. Was he offsides? Were they going to lose ground to this? His simple brain was paralyzed by the thought, leaving him standing there dumbly effectively taking him out of the play.

With two bugs still in the game, Rocky came in first and swung a heavy punch at Aisha. He was definitely bigger than Billy, but not as quick. Aisha jumped back as his fist hit air. Keeping on the offensive, Rocky kept swiping at her with his claws but she kept moving, only having to occasionally defend herself with her daggers.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Adam circling around and charging from behind.
"Didn't you learn your lesson from the first time I ground you into a pulp? Guess I gotta teach you to respect the uniform!" he announced with a wicked smile as the linebacker bug lunged at the ranger.

Aisha grimaced and turned to face the attack. She was not going to allow Adam to mount and grind her again! This momentary lapse in focus gave Rocky the time he needed to bare down on her from behind, his claws reaching out and grabbing her wrists to prevent her from using her daggers.
"Haha! Get ready. You're gonna be sandwiched between the hottest studs in the team!" Adam growled in Aisha's ear, pressing his massive muscled frame against her back.

"Not this time you red-eyed creep!" Aisha snapped back. Using Rocky's own weight, she shifted herself and pushed off to shift the momentum around to cause Adam to spin right into the charging linebacker. There was a loud omph!! and a thunderous crash as the two bugs slammed into each other, their thick muscles and pads giving them enough mass that the impact knocked the air out of both of their lungs and sent them toppling to the ground with Aisha still standing, unscathed.

"Anyone get the number of that bus?" Rocky Centiback said in a daze, sitting up and holding his reeling head.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, Aisha spun the daggers in her hands, spotted her target, and threw her weapons. They sailed through the air and, with deadly accuracy, struck Adam and Rocky's tarnished power coins. The two yelped in pain as an intense pounding headache scrambled their thoughts and severed part of the connection with their Coach. The same went for Billy, the sympathetic link making fall back to the ground just as he was recovering from the crotch shot. Their antenna wiggled and moved around helplessly, desperately searching for a signal.

"It hurt!" Tommy-Centiback yelped as well, holding the sides of his helmet. "It hurt Coach!"

Centiback flashed his teeth in frustration. With the transformation incomplete these attacks were proving to be too effective. He moved quickly to reestablish the connection, his own antenna glowing and squirming, putting out some of his own energy to transmit his signal to the others. He couldn't risk losing his boys!

At the same time, he had to admit it was a great strategy. He looked onto this lone ranger who was able to manage his boys better than any of the other rangers did up until now.

'She's incredible,' He thought. 'She's too good to be a game ball. I gotta have her on my team and in my family. But how? '

Deep inside he felt the energy he had amassed from draining the rangers. Right now he was far stronger than he had ever been before and had access to latent abilities he never could have dreamed of previously. In this self reflection, something clicked and his mouth curled into a devilish smile.

Grabbing Tommy-Centiback by the arms, he pulled him close and locked his antenna locked onto his player's own and yelled his command.

"Oliver! Tackle hug!"

Tommy-Centiback's hands immediately dropped from his ears as his headache cleared up as energy poured through Centiback's antennae directly into his brain. He found renewed confidence and comfort in his coach's words, balling his fists and getting ready to execute his Coach's play. Without another thought Tommy charged forward, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as he closed the gap between himself and Aisha. But the yellow ranger was already ready for him and was prepared to evade.

"Bring it on bug brain!"

"Tackle hug!!" Tommy yelled as he leaped into the air. Expecting a ground assault, Aisha was too slow to dodge as the former white ranger belly flopped right into her. Under Tommy's crushing weight her body slammed into the grass, and between the impact of the ground and the sheer bulk of the linebacker, she felt the strength in her body collapse completely.

Tommy laughed with glee as he felt the yellow ranger squirm helplessly beneath him. He shifted himself on top of her and wrapped his massive arms around her from above, positioning the ranger so she was securely pinned with her head squeezed between his colossal chest muscles.

"Hehe. Check pecs," Tommy said as he flexed his powerful pectoral muscles together around the ranger. Aisha grunted as she felt a vice-like pressure on the sides on her helmet and couldn't budge as the muscles held her firmly in place.

"Good job Oliver!" Centiback celebrated from across the field, pumping his fist in the air.
"Now, just like we practiced!"

"Yes Coach!" Tommy said with glee as he pressed Aisha into him with a giant smothering embrace, the girl gritting her teeth at the sheer force of the crushing squeeze. She felt the familiar tingle of her energy being siphoned out through the physical contact, made more humiliating by Tommy's pleasured mmm's as he drank it all in greedily. The bug's antennae glowed yellow with stolen power, and soon the same glow manifested on Adam, Rocky, and Billy as they shared in the muscle-swelling gains. Their connection to each other was quickly restored and they rose to their feet. Centiback himself couldn't help but flex his chest as the yellow ranger's power flowed into him and gave him an exhilarating rush of strength.

As Tommy held Aisha, the line of centipede legs running up and down his sides began to wiggle and squirm. They grew out around the trapped ranger and touched one another and began creating a thin sticky web that spewed from the tips. The many legs went right to work, weaving thread after thread around Aisha as they began to wrap her up, quickly pinning her arms and legs together and denying her the ability to summon her daggers. Squirming like a fly in a spider web, Aisha cried out in protest but was quickly muffled by the thick pads and muscle of another spine-breaking bear hug broke her resistance. Feeling defeated, Aisha could only watch as the thick strands gathered until all light was blocked from her view.

Once she was enveloped in a thin layer of webbing, the ranger was pulled out from between Tommy's pecs and held aloft as the threads weaved around her unabated. Aisha was turned and spun as Tommy worked faster and faster, adding layer after layer of sticky white webbing. The outline of the ranger's body in the web quickly lost definition as soon all light was blocked from Aisha's view, her struggles becoming less and less until she was stuck in a fully formed thick cocoon. Tommy-Centiback grunted proudly at his work and he finished by touching the cocoon with his antenna, resulting in a final blinding flash of energy that faded to reveal a new padded tackle dummy with the yellow ranger's frozen surprised image plastered mockingly on the outside, colored bright yellow with her helmet pattern on the head.

To Centiback's surprise, with Tommy's increased powers the dummy had a new feature - a mock imprint of the ranger's power coin on the outside allowed unfettered access to her vast ranger energy. Tommy's cocoon had created a stronger link to the ranger, and instead of Aisha's consciousness blinking out of existence like with Adam she was very much aware of everything from within the dummy - hyper aware even. The ranger's vision returned, but something was different. She looked out on the field and saw the team of muscle-bound bugs celebrating, but she couldn't move a muscle. Her body felt like it was being squeezed from every angle by the same thick rubbery muscles that she knew so well, the sensation of being restrained so completely making her feel helpless and submissive. Though her picture on the dummy remained the same, inside her heart filled with fear at what was about to become.

'You have to stay strong Aisha...' the ranger thought, continuing to fight against her dire predicament.

Centiback blew his whistle to signal the end of the play and took the field to join his boys as they surrounded Tommy to congratulate him and get a look at their new training toy.
"Wow!" Billy said as he rubbed the sides of his helmet in relief, feeling as though he were rubbing his own temples. "She was tough! I thought I could rush her and take her down for the win."

"I know right?" Adam grunted. "I was hoping I could get a little more time on top of her if you know what I mean." He accentuated his taunt with a thrusting of his groin causing the other bugs to laugh and whoop.

Somehow Centiback began to feel hot under his pads. Maybe it was the human energy coursing through him or his newfound affection for the girl, but the idea of his boys mounting and forcing themselves on her upset him. He shook his head as his team crowded in around the tackle dummy, pushing and shoving to jockey for position to be the next to give their new toy a go.

"So instead you get on top of me!" snapped Rocky, pushing Billy out of the way.

"Watch where you're tackling. You gotta sack the other teams QB, not your own." Billy retorted, shoving right back.

"Hey it wasn't my fault. Why didn't you watch where you were going smart guy?"

"Yeah I'm smarter than you."

"Enough you two!" Centiback snapped suddenly. "You two are teammates and practically brothers now. You have my energy coursing through you and have grown into fine bugs. But you've forgotten rule #1 - no infighting on MY field."

The bickering bugs stopped immediately, their antennae drooping in shame as they turned to face Centiback and hung their heads respectfully. "Yes Coach! Sorry Coach!"

"As for her," Centiback started. "For a single ranger she put up a good fight. In football we have to have good sportsmanship and celebrate when we see talent, even from the competition. In fact, from now on I want you all to act as perfect gentlebugs - so no mounting your opponents on the field. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" the four bugs said in unison.

"So what are we gonna do with her?" Billy asked. Centiback grinned. "Don't worry son. Coach always has a plan and I got one for her. First we gotta weaken her. So boys, it's time for tackle practice!"

Centiback grinned. His final huddle had been so rudely interrupted by this upstart ranger, but now by draining the rest of the yellow ranger's power he would have all the energy he needed to purge the final shreds of their weak humanity and make his boys into the perfect centipede team permanently. In spite of himself, Centiback's heart swelled as he gazed upon the yellow tackle dummy, and now he was connected to her and could feel her spirit still struggling against all odds inside her cocoon. This was just the kind of fire his team needed to reach their full potential, and even in triumph the big bug bowed in respect to give thanks for the energy the yellow ranger was about to surrender to make his team even stronger.

*Tweeeeet*

"Alright maggots! You know the drill! The game's not over until the final whistles blow! This is the fourth quarter, and I want you to give it your all! I want to see perfect form, perfect execution! Lower your bodies! Lead with your shoulder! This is the toughest challenge we've faced yet, so show your opponent no mercy! I want her to see just how we do things on Team Centiback!"

"Yes Coach!" the cry came out in unison from the four buffed up bugs, who immediately snapped into action and created an orderly line behind their quarterback to wait for their turn with the dummy.

"Santos! You're up first!"

Rocky dropped into ready position, growling and waiting for his Coach's command. As he stared at the tackle dummy he let his instincts take over, the flood of training and muscle memory that had been instilled in his by his Coach taking over his mind and turning him into an unstoppable tackling machine. But as he stared at the tackle dummy with its yellow ranger imprint Rocky felt a new kind of energy flowing through him, the connection with Centiback letting him feel the same admiration and respect for the fallen ranger. His unwavering desire for victory was absolute, but instead of just wanting to crush his opponent, Rocky felt a kind of admiration for facing such a worthy foe. He knew he'd have to perform at the top of his ability to win, which sharpened his focus and fueled his competitive desire. Grunting and snorting like a bull ready to charge, Rocky's cleats stamped the ground as every muscle in his body tensed, ready to fire.

Centiback sensed his son's newfound intensity and lust flowing through him, feeling the former ranger further let down his resistance in a sincere desire to give himself to his Coach's training techniques to become the best football player ever. The monster grinned and admired how handsome his player looked hunkered down and waiting for his whistle. Showing off his firm butt, thick quivering thighs, and everywhere bulging muscles that flexed and shook with anticipation. It gave Centiback a giddy excitement to know he was about to get even bigger.

Down, set, hike!" *Tweeeet*

Rocky-Centiback let out a fearsome war cry and exploded up from his stance to rush at the dummy, thighs driving and arms pumping as he accelerated surprisingly quick for his size. His primal desire grew almost out of control, but this time it was tempered by Centiback's words. Perfect technique. Perfect execution. With subtle corrections Rocky lowered his center of gravity, shifted his attack angle, and squared his pads in preparation for the strike.

Inside the cocoon Aisha was filled with dread at the intimidating sight of the giant bug coming right at her. Rocky's impressive frame filled her view as with a resounding crunch his full mass struck the tackling dummy with deadly precision, massive arms wrapping around as with a thundering impact he smashed the dummy to the ground with the force of a freight train.

As his massive body engulfed the dummy Rocky felt the sudden connection to Aisha's pool of ranger energy. Shifting his hips, Rocky's bulging groin pressed up against Aisha's power coin, and as soon as they touched a torrent of yellow energy flowed from the coin into Rocky. The rush was stronger than anything he had felt before, and Rocky flexed to squeeze even more energy out. Stopping just short of grinding, Rocky remembered his Coach's words. The play was over, time to get back to the huddle. But in his exuberance, he couldn't help but give one last taunt.

"Yeah! How'd you like that? That's how we do it on Team Centiback!" Rocky grunted, perched dominantly over his foe. The rest of the team cheered as the energy flowed from antenna to antenna, muscles swelling and legs wriggling with shared delight.

Aisha's entire body was rocked with the impact, but strangely the padding around her seemed to absorb the pain of the blow, almost like she was wearing protective football pads herself. Instead, the cocoon allowed her to feel the sheer force of the blow as a kind of electric bliss that coursed through her, almost too intense to bear. As the feeling subsided she looked up to see Rocky looming over her with a toothy grin, her sensitive skin able to feel his body pressed up against her in a sensation she couldn't deny felt exhilarating. Such strength and display of power made her feel funny, and when the bug's bulge touched her receptive coin she felt her energy leeched out frighteningly quick. But staring up at those swollen pecs, thick shoulder muscles, and intense glowing red eyes she felt a sudden reverence for such a big, strong bug. Trying to fight the feelings, the yellow ranger breathed a sigh of relief as Rocky's body lifted off her.

"Good! That's just the kind of tackling I want to see! I want the rest of you to follow your quarterback's lead and do it just like that! Now Tommy. Down, set, hike!" *Tweeeet*

The ground shook as Tommy raised up and lumbered towards the dummy. Taking his leader's direction, he altered his technique, got low, and smashed into the dummy with an impact that made the rest of the bugs wince, almost feeling bad for the helpless ranger. Another victorious grunt and another flash of yellow energy further empowered the team, the tackle dummy swaying and coming back to upright position automatically as if welcoming the next tackle.

Centiback's whistle blew again and again, sending bug after bug at Aisha and making the field shake with bone-crushing tackles in rapid succession. With each rep the whole team's power grew, the technique getting better, sharper, more focused. Aisha could feel how much better they were becoming, each tackle stronger than the last making it harder and harder to keep her focus as the play always ended with the big hunky bugs squatting over her showing off their bodies. She tried to deny it but the feeling just grew more and more - the sight of hulking muscled beasts was starting to arouse her.

The ranger held out as long as she could, but the endless reps were taking their toll. Slowly, the gleaming power coin on the dummy began to darken, its power fading as the team drank up her vast energy. She could see the whole team growing before her eyes, and after a dozen or so tackles their bodies had become so swollen, so packed with pure muscle that it was shocking to her that they could still move so quick. Even Billy had become a fearsome hulk, but with the shared power the others had grown up proportionally bigger making even the smallest Centiback ranger dwarf the biggest human body builder she had seen.

Finally, the power coin lost all its shine, and with a final blow the dummy failed to pop back upright, Centiback sensing that the ranger's energy had been fully drained. He admired how long she had held up, and even as she lay defeated on the field he felt a profound respect for his foe. Regardless, she had been defeated, and it was time to show her what happened to those who opposed Team Centiback.

"Alright maggots, that's enough! Great work! You really made your papa proud. Now take a break and let your coach handle this ranger once and for all."

The Centiback rangers parted reverently, Tommy jogging over to pick up his pink football to cradle in his arms like a security blanket. Their Coach strode up confidently and stood over the downed dummy, putting his hands on his hips and laughing.

"You fought well little girl, but now you can see that nobody can beat my team of footballing 'pedes!"

Centiback leaned down and picked up the dummy, then took a claw and traced a vertical line from head to base, glowing yellow energy creating a split that burst the dummy in a flash of light leaving the human Aisha crumpled in a heap on the field, but still moving. She looked around in a daze, feeling weak as a kitten, but though her power was drained she mustered the strength to stand. She knew she was defeated, but she would at least go down on her feet.

Centiback was impressed. "You've got grit kid, I gotta hand it to you. Because of that, I'm gonna give you the honor of accepting your fate like a quarterback by taking the final snap from me."

His antennae flipped forward and pointed to Centiback's open hands, red energy flowing down to create the familiar shark-faced oversized football. The monster turned around and bent down with Aisha standing behind him, positioning himself like a center ready to hike the ball to the quarterback.

Description
Centiback’s Big Comeback
(A Power Ranger Fanfic)

By: Nibblah Frog & TK Tigerkat
Chapter 7 - Game Over

Aisha was still pinned under Adam's bulky frame, and could only stare in horror as her friend was enveloped in a bright light and now, where she had stood, was a pink and white diamond patterned football. The moment seemed to be frozen in time as the last comrade she had was suddenly stolen away from her. Aisha fought back against the tears that were slowly forming in her eyes. Her friends were now either overinflated muscle headed insects or harmless footballs. Her communicator was smashed and her body was so drained it was hard to get up off the ground. In this moment, there was no hope.

No hope.

No...

No! Aisha thought as she felt her inner strength, her ranger pride, bubble up and surface from the mire of despair. She was a Power Ranger, a defender of Angel Grove and a defender of Earth. There had been times where a monster had gotten the better of the team and it all fell on one ranger to make a difference. Each time they managed to come out on top and this time would not be any different.

'I'm a Power ranger, and Power Rangers don't give up!'

Meanwhile, Tommy-Centiback picked up the pink football from the ground and held it in his claws. He could feel the powerful energy still radiating from within and allowed a little to flow into him. With it he felt a tingling of power flow through him, making his muscles tense and throb with a pleasurable warmth, his many centipede legs squirm, and his antenna flutter. As he gazed at this ball he felt a strong love and adoration well up inside. His girlfriend was now safe in his hands and would support him with energy and inspiration.

His simple mind was snapped out of its trance by the cheers of his teammates who hooted and hollered his victory. But the most satisfying praise came from Centiback, who had his thick arms crossed and was laughing with glee. Tommy raised the pink football up in a show of triumph. Buoyed by the excitement his win had generated, he smiled brightly and beat his chest with pride.
"Game ball! Game ball!!!"

"Aha! You go big guy!" Adam-Centiback cheered, clapping his claws together as he got up off Aisha to join the rest of the team.

"I was worried there for a minute Oliver," Rocky-Centiback shouted. "But you came through for us! Proud of you!"

Billy-Centiback shook with excitement, his own insect legs and antenna moving to match the energy. "Let's shower off and celebrate!"

Centiback strode towards Tommy and looked up to the large monster, his own lips pulled back in a sharp toothy smile. His coach pulled back and gave a congratulatory slug on Tommy's large pecs, causing the former rangers' antennae to flutter with excitement at the shared victory.

"Good job boys! I'm so proud of all of you! I can't believe how much you've all grown. It's enough to make this 'pede cry!" Centiback announced with a mix of bravado and parental pride, putting his claw on Tommy's shoulder and gazing around admiringly at his team.

"Team Centiback came in as underdogs, but together we've stormed the field and stole the win for the visiting team. Now this is our town and we won't stop until every man, woman, and child are in the grips of football fever!"

His speech elicited cheers and hollers from his team. Adam and Rocky began to try and get each other in a brotherly headlock while Billy zoomed with incredible speed and lept into Centiback's arms, hugging his coach and Tommy together as their antennae came together and sent sparks of energy through them all in a sharing of power and joy. Huddling closer, they grunted and moaned as the pleasurable power flowed between them making them flex and feel each other's swelling muscles.
After taking a minute to celebrate their victory, Centiback released his boys and gestured to the rest of the team to fall in line.

"Its time to tell the town there's a new team to cheer for! But first, I'm gonna take out all that leftover weak human energy and graduate you all from maggots to full-fledged centipedes!"

"Don't go celebrating just yet!" Aisha's voice rang out from across the field. "The game's not over yet!"
As the monsters looked back at the remaining ranger they had forgotten in their celebration, they saw she had gotten up and was standing strong. Somehow her energy and been restored and she now faced them defiantly in a practiced combat stance.

Centiback didn't hide his laugh. "Don't you get it yellow ranger? Your team's season is over! Your best players joined the winning team and the rest are our trophy balls to do with as we please."
"Ha ha...silly yellow." Tommy insulted.

"She must have gotten a head injury from our tackles if she thinks she can beat us" Billy stepped forward, joining in the taunts as he rapped his head. "That helmet doesn't look as tough as ours."
"Heh...I kinda like it," Adam said, patting his loins. "Gotta love a girl who's fiesty."

"Game's over Aisha," Rocky challenged. "But maybe we'll use you for tackle practice before we make you into another game ball. Or you could give up and clean the dirt off our cleats?"

Yellow energy flashed as twin daggers formed in Aisha's hands. "Just try it bug breath! I know there is still a spark of you guys left in there. As long as there is a chance I won't give up! I'm a Power Ranger!"

Centiback smiled. This one human was challenging his whole team with no backup and no way out. He had to hand it to her, she had guts and grit that would make any bug melt. As he thought this he felt a strange warmth in his heart and a throbbing down below.

"Ahaha! You got spunk, yellow! I like you," Centiback laughed and clapped his hands. "Okay, we do one more play for all the marbles! My boys and me against you. You win and you get your weak human team back. But we win..."

Centiback strolled over to where the blue Ninjor football laid in the grass and picked it up. He turned to give Aisha a good look before throwing it a perfect lateral pass to Rocky, who caught it with ease. Rocky slammed the ball down hard enough to make it bounce and danced in place, wiggling his toned butt and shaking his thick muscled legs.

"Get the picture?" Centiback finished.

Aisha swallowed. The odds were not in her favor, but there was no backing down now. In a show of mockery she went down into a set position, while across from her Tommy, Adam, Billy, and Rocky instinctually did the same, waiting for their coach's orders for the next play. The monster nodded in approval at the discipline he saw and considered his next move. In light of the ranger's bravery, he wanted to give his opponent a sporting chance...for now.

"Very Well! Boys! The play is Blue Bomber 67 Flash. Now time for you to execute!"

All but Billy looked disappointed at the call, but the team nodded obediently and lowered into a three-point stance.

"Down! Set! Hut hut hut..." Centiback brought his transforming whistle to his mouth.

"Hike!"

The air rang with the shrill whistle as Billy-Centiback was the first one out of the gate. His status as the team's wide receiver meant he wasn't as big and bulky as the other guys, (a fact constantly held over his head) but his speed was second to none. In the blink of an eye, Aisha found he had already closed the gap between them and had his arms stretched out for a tackle.

"Haha time for you to hit..."

Before he could finish, Aisha's reflexes kicked in. She went low and dodged with minimal movement, watching with a small smirk as Billy flew over her. With a flick of the wrist she swiped one of her daggers and spun her body, catching Billy along his belt as he passed overhead and cutting at his tarnished power coin. Sparks flew as Billy-Centiback landed with a heavy thud.

Billy was spared the impact due to his heavy pads but pain surged through him. His power coin scratched, he felt a momentary disruption in the link between him, his team, and his coach. Billy stood up and wobbled in confusion, his antenna moving frantically trying to get some kind of order or signal.

" Guys...coach..." he said meekly, holding his helmet not knowing what to do next.

Aisha smiled. She didn't have the arrows to turn them back but, but knew if she could do enough damage to the coins it should disorientate them enough for her to escape and get to the Command Center.

Feeling confident, Aisha stood up and playfully gestured to Billy with a dagger. "What? I thought you were going to end the game?"

"Come on Billy! You can't let her win!" Adam-Centiback shouted.

"Don't let coach down!" Rocky-Centiback added.

"Tackle!! Tackle!!" finished Tommy-Centiback.

Billy's antenna stopped and he dug his oversized cleats into the grass, getting stable as he sized up his challenger. The words of his teammates rang in his head.

'I'd rather be blown up like all those other monsters than let down my team or my new dad!'
With that thought he charged again at Aisha. Closing quick, he threw a powerful punch, then another, and another. Aisha moved briskly between the shots, evading each one while looking for a spot to counterattack. Billy didn't let up and continued the flurry of blows until he spun and threw up his thick muscled leg for a kick to her flank. Aisha reacted just as fast, reaching up and catching the kick in her arms. She grit her teeth, the impact was so strong she barely avoided being knocked over.

Billy smirked as she held on to his leg. "Like those calves baby? Maybe you give up and I'll let you feel me up?"

Aisha had to remind herself this wasn't Billy she was dealing with but just a testosterone-soaked lunkhead. But she wasn't going to let him off that easy.

"The only thing you're going to feel is this!" the yellow ranger said as she lashed out with her own leg, twisting to put her weight in as her foot crashed against Billy-Centiback's exposed groin. She winced - it felt like kicking a brick wall, but it proved effective.

Billy let out a loud yelp and his hands immediately reached down to cover his crotch. A heavy throb of pain shot through him and made him crumple to the ground. With the big bug's weight leaving her Aisha made another slash with her daggers, making more sparks fly as the dagger went diagonally across his body and hit his coin once more.

A choir of sympathetic "oooh!!"s escaped his teammates' mouths, with Rocky Centiback moving a hand to guard his own groin against some invisible attack. The rest of the team was then met with a brief, disorientating headache that was quickly transmitted through their antennae from the disconnection their coach had been dealt. Centiback held his head and peered at Aisha from afar, knowing he needed to rethink his game plan.

'She and that pink ranger keep trying to break my connection with my boys! She's impressive, but there's no way I'm letting her take my beautiful maggots from me! '

" You three!!" Centiback barked. "Football is a team sport! Help him out!"

Centiback held up his whistle and blew to snap his team back in line. The three had their antenna shoot up at the order, and with a unified "Yes Coach!" they charged forward.

Aisha was distracted by the downed Billy, who moaned in pain as he defensively held his aching loins with his hands. The shaking of the ground alerted her to trouble and she turned to see the three hulking bugs coming towards her. For a moment she felt intimidated, but brushed this aside when she reminded herself that she had just downed one of their own.

"Offsides! Too many players on the field!" she announced.

"Who cares!?" Adam and Rocky snapped back and kept going, but Tommy skidded to a stop. His brain was hardwired now to obey the rules of the game. Was he offsides? Were they going to lose ground to this? His simple brain was paralyzed by the thought, leaving him standing there dumbly effectively taking him out of the play.

With two bugs still in the game, Rocky came in first and swung a heavy punch at Aisha. He was definitely bigger than Billy, but not as quick. Aisha jumped back as his fist hit air. Keeping on the offensive, Rocky kept swiping at her with his claws but she kept moving, only having to occasionally defend herself with her daggers.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Adam circling around and charging from behind.
"Didn't you learn your lesson from the first time I ground you into a pulp? Guess I gotta teach you to respect the uniform!" he announced with a wicked smile as the linebacker bug lunged at the ranger.

Aisha grimaced and turned to face the attack. She was not going to allow Adam to mount and grind her again! This momentary lapse in focus gave Rocky the time he needed to bare down on her from behind, his claws reaching out and grabbing her wrists to prevent her from using her daggers.
"Haha! Get ready. You're gonna be sandwiched between the hottest studs in the team!" Adam growled in Aisha's ear, pressing his massive muscled frame against her back.

"Not this time you red-eyed creep!" Aisha snapped back. Using Rocky's own weight, she shifted herself and pushed off to shift the momentum around to cause Adam to spin right into the charging linebacker. There was a loud omph!! and a thunderous crash as the two bugs slammed into each other, their thick muscles and pads giving them enough mass that the impact knocked the air out of both of their lungs and sent them toppling to the ground with Aisha still standing, unscathed.

"Anyone get the number of that bus?" Rocky Centiback said in a daze, sitting up and holding his reeling head.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, Aisha spun the daggers in her hands, spotted her target, and threw her weapons. They sailed through the air and, with deadly accuracy, struck Adam and Rocky's tarnished power coins. The two yelped in pain as an intense pounding headache scrambled their thoughts and severed part of the connection with their Coach. The same went for Billy, the sympathetic link making fall back to the ground just as he was recovering from the crotch shot. Their antenna wiggled and moved around helplessly, desperately searching for a signal.

"It hurt!" Tommy-Centiback yelped as well, holding the sides of his helmet. "It hurt Coach!"

Centiback flashed his teeth in frustration. With the transformation incomplete these attacks were proving to be too effective. He moved quickly to reestablish the connection, his own antenna glowing and squirming, putting out some of his own energy to transmit his signal to the others. He couldn't risk losing his boys!

At the same time, he had to admit it was a great strategy. He looked onto this lone ranger who was able to manage his boys better than any of the other rangers did up until now.

'She's incredible,' He thought. 'She's too good to be a game ball. I gotta have her on my team and in my family. But how? '

Deep inside he felt the energy he had amassed from draining the rangers. Right now he was far stronger than he had ever been before and had access to latent abilities he never could have dreamed of previously. In this self reflection, something clicked and his mouth curled into a devilish smile.

Grabbing Tommy-Centiback by the arms, he pulled him close and locked his antenna locked onto his player's own and yelled his command.

"Oliver! Tackle hug!"

Tommy-Centiback's hands immediately dropped from his ears as his headache cleared up as energy poured through Centiback's antennae directly into his brain. He found renewed confidence and comfort in his coach's words, balling his fists and getting ready to execute his Coach's play. Without another thought Tommy charged forward, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as he closed the gap between himself and Aisha. But the yellow ranger was already ready for him and was prepared to evade.

"Bring it on bug brain!"

"Tackle hug!!" Tommy yelled as he leaped into the air. Expecting a ground assault, Aisha was too slow to dodge as the former white ranger belly flopped right into her. Under Tommy's crushing weight her body slammed into the grass, and between the impact of the ground and the sheer bulk of the linebacker, she felt the strength in her body collapse completely.

Tommy laughed with glee as he felt the yellow ranger squirm helplessly beneath him. He shifted himself on top of her and wrapped his massive arms around her from above, positioning the ranger so she was securely pinned with her head squeezed between his colossal chest muscles.

"Hehe. Check pecs," Tommy said as he flexed his powerful pectoral muscles together around the ranger. Aisha grunted as she felt a vice-like pressure on the sides on her helmet and couldn't budge as the muscles held her firmly in place.

"Good job Oliver!" Centiback celebrated from across the field, pumping his fist in the air.
"Now, just like we practiced!"

"Yes Coach!" Tommy said with glee as he pressed Aisha into him with a giant smothering embrace, the girl gritting her teeth at the sheer force of the crushing squeeze. She felt the familiar tingle of her energy being siphoned out through the physical contact, made more humiliating by Tommy's pleasured mmm's as he drank it all in greedily. The bug's antennae glowed yellow with stolen power, and soon the same glow manifested on Adam, Rocky, and Billy as they shared in the muscle-swelling gains. Their connection to each other was quickly restored and they rose to their feet. Centiback himself couldn't help but flex his chest as the yellow ranger's power flowed into him and gave him an exhilarating rush of strength.

As Tommy held Aisha, the line of centipede legs running up and down his sides began to wiggle and squirm. They grew out around the trapped ranger and touched one another and began creating a thin sticky web that spewed from the tips. The many legs went right to work, weaving thread after thread around Aisha as they began to wrap her up, quickly pinning her arms and legs together and denying her the ability to summon her daggers. Squirming like a fly in a spider web, Aisha cried out in protest but was quickly muffled by the thick pads and muscle of another spine-breaking bear hug broke her resistance. Feeling defeated, Aisha could only watch as the thick strands gathered until all light was blocked from her view.

Once she was enveloped in a thin layer of webbing, the ranger was pulled out from between Tommy's pecs and held aloft as the threads weaved around her unabated. Aisha was turned and spun as Tommy worked faster and faster, adding layer after layer of sticky white webbing. The outline of the ranger's body in the web quickly lost definition as soon all light was blocked from Aisha's view, her struggles becoming less and less until she was stuck in a fully formed thick cocoon. Tommy-Centiback grunted proudly at his work and he finished by touching the cocoon with his antenna, resulting in a final blinding flash of energy that faded to reveal a new padded tackle dummy with the yellow ranger's frozen surprised image plastered mockingly on the outside, colored bright yellow with her helmet pattern on the head.

To Centiback's surprise, with Tommy's increased powers the dummy had a new feature - a mock imprint of the ranger's power coin on the outside allowed unfettered access to her vast ranger energy. Tommy's cocoon had created a stronger link to the ranger, and instead of Aisha's consciousness blinking out of existence like with Adam she was very much aware of everything from within the dummy - hyper aware even. The ranger's vision returned, but something was different. She looked out on the field and saw the team of muscle-bound bugs celebrating, but she couldn't move a muscle. Her body felt like it was being squeezed from every angle by the same thick rubbery muscles that she knew so well, the sensation of being restrained so completely making her feel helpless and submissive. Though her picture on the dummy remained the same, inside her heart filled with fear at what was about to become.

'You have to stay strong Aisha...' the ranger thought, continuing to fight against her dire predicament.

Centiback blew his whistle to signal the end of the play and took the field to join his boys as they surrounded Tommy to congratulate him and get a look at their new training toy.
"Wow!" Billy said as he rubbed the sides of his helmet in relief, feeling as though he were rubbing his own temples. "She was tough! I thought I could rush her and take her down for the win."

"I know right?" Adam grunted. "I was hoping I could get a little more time on top of her if you know what I mean." He accentuated his taunt with a thrusting of his groin causing the other bugs to laugh and whoop.

Somehow Centiback began to feel hot under his pads. Maybe it was the human energy coursing through him or his newfound affection for the girl, but the idea of his boys mounting and forcing themselves on her upset him. He shook his head as his team crowded in around the tackle dummy, pushing and shoving to jockey for position to be the next to give their new toy a go.

"So instead you get on top of me!" snapped Rocky, pushing Billy out of the way.

"Watch where you're tackling. You gotta sack the other teams QB, not your own." Billy retorted, shoving right back.

"Hey it wasn't my fault. Why didn't you watch where you were going smart guy?"

"Yeah I'm smarter than you."

"Enough you two!" Centiback snapped suddenly. "You two are teammates and practically brothers now. You have my energy coursing through you and have grown into fine bugs. But you've forgotten rule #1 - no infighting on MY field."

The bickering bugs stopped immediately, their antennae drooping in shame as they turned to face Centiback and hung their heads respectfully. "Yes Coach! Sorry Coach!"

"As for her," Centiback started. "For a single ranger she put up a good fight. In football we have to have good sportsmanship and celebrate when we see talent, even from the competition. In fact, from now on I want you all to act as perfect gentlebugs - so no mounting your opponents on the field. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" the four bugs said in unison.

"So what are we gonna do with her?" Billy asked. Centiback grinned. "Don't worry son. Coach always has a plan and I got one for her. First we gotta weaken her. So boys, it's time for tackle practice!"

Centiback grinned. His final huddle had been so rudely interrupted by this upstart ranger, but now by draining the rest of the yellow ranger's power he would have all the energy he needed to purge the final shreds of their weak humanity and make his boys into the perfect centipede team permanently. In spite of himself, Centiback's heart swelled as he gazed upon the yellow tackle dummy, and now he was connected to her and could feel her spirit still struggling against all odds inside her cocoon. This was just the kind of fire his team needed to reach their full potential, and even in triumph the big bug bowed in respect to give thanks for the energy the yellow ranger was about to surrender to make his team even stronger.

*Tweeeeet*

"Alright maggots! You know the drill! The game's not over until the final whistles blow! This is the fourth quarter, and I want you to give it your all! I want to see perfect form, perfect execution! Lower your bodies! Lead with your shoulder! This is the toughest challenge we've faced yet, so show your opponent no mercy! I want her to see just how we do things on Team Centiback!"

"Yes Coach!" the cry came out in unison from the four buffed up bugs, who immediately snapped into action and created an orderly line behind their quarterback to wait for their turn with the dummy.

"Santos! You're up first!"

Rocky dropped into ready position, growling and waiting for his Coach's command. As he stared at the tackle dummy he let his instincts take over, the flood of training and muscle memory that had been instilled in his by his Coach taking over his mind and turning him into an unstoppable tackling machine. But as he stared at the tackle dummy with its yellow ranger imprint Rocky felt a new kind of energy flowing through him, the connection with Centiback letting him feel the same admiration and respect for the fallen ranger. His unwavering desire for victory was absolute, but instead of just wanting to crush his opponent, Rocky felt a kind of admiration for facing such a worthy foe. He knew he'd have to perform at the top of his ability to win, which sharpened his focus and fueled his competitive desire. Grunting and snorting like a bull ready to charge, Rocky's cleats stamped the ground as every muscle in his body tensed, ready to fire.

Centiback sensed his son's newfound intensity and lust flowing through him, feeling the former ranger further let down his resistance in a sincere desire to give himself to his Coach's training techniques to become the best football player ever. The monster grinned and admired how handsome his player looked hunkered down and waiting for his whistle. Showing off his firm butt, thick quivering thighs, and everywhere bulging muscles that flexed and shook with anticipation. It gave Centiback a giddy excitement to know he was about to get even bigger.

Down, set, hike!" *Tweeeet*

Rocky-Centiback let out a fearsome war cry and exploded up from his stance to rush at the dummy, thighs driving and arms pumping as he accelerated surprisingly quick for his size. His primal desire grew almost out of control, but this time it was tempered by Centiback's words. Perfect technique. Perfect execution. With subtle corrections Rocky lowered his center of gravity, shifted his attack angle, and squared his pads in preparation for the strike.

Inside the cocoon Aisha was filled with dread at the intimidating sight of the giant bug coming right at her. Rocky's impressive frame filled her view as with a resounding crunch his full mass struck the tackling dummy with deadly precision, massive arms wrapping around as with a thundering impact he smashed the dummy to the ground with the force of a freight train.

As his massive body engulfed the dummy Rocky felt the sudden connection to Aisha's pool of ranger energy. Shifting his hips, Rocky's bulging groin pressed up against Aisha's power coin, and as soon as they touched a torrent of yellow energy flowed from the coin into Rocky. The rush was stronger than anything he had felt before, and Rocky flexed to squeeze even more energy out. Stopping just short of grinding, Rocky remembered his Coach's words. The play was over, time to get back to the huddle. But in his exuberance, he couldn't help but give one last taunt.

"Yeah! How'd you like that? That's how we do it on Team Centiback!" Rocky grunted, perched dominantly over his foe. The rest of the team cheered as the energy flowed from antenna to antenna, muscles swelling and legs wriggling with shared delight.

Aisha's entire body was rocked with the impact, but strangely the padding around her seemed to absorb the pain of the blow, almost like she was wearing protective football pads herself. Instead, the cocoon allowed her to feel the sheer force of the blow as a kind of electric bliss that coursed through her, almost too intense to bear. As the feeling subsided she looked up to see Rocky looming over her with a toothy grin, her sensitive skin able to feel his body pressed up against her in a sensation she couldn't deny felt exhilarating. Such strength and display of power made her feel funny, and when the bug's bulge touched her receptive coin she felt her energy leeched out frighteningly quick. But staring up at those swollen pecs, thick shoulder muscles, and intense glowing red eyes she felt a sudden reverence for such a big, strong bug. Trying to fight the feelings, the yellow ranger breathed a sigh of relief as Rocky's body lifted off her.

"Good! That's just the kind of tackling I want to see! I want the rest of you to follow your quarterback's lead and do it just like that! Now Tommy. Down, set, hike!" *Tweeeet*

The ground shook as Tommy raised up and lumbered towards the dummy. Taking his leader's direction, he altered his technique, got low, and smashed into the dummy with an impact that made the rest of the bugs wince, almost feeling bad for the helpless ranger. Another victorious grunt and another flash of yellow energy further empowered the team, the tackle dummy swaying and coming back to upright position automatically as if welcoming the next tackle.

Centiback's whistle blew again and again, sending bug after bug at Aisha and making the field shake with bone-crushing tackles in rapid succession. With each rep the whole team's power grew, the technique getting better, sharper, more focused. Aisha could feel how much better they were becoming, each tackle stronger than the last making it harder and harder to keep her focus as the play always ended with the big hunky bugs squatting over her showing off their bodies. She tried to deny it but the feeling just grew more and more - the sight of hulking muscled beasts was starting to arouse her.

The ranger held out as long as she could, but the endless reps were taking their toll. Slowly, the gleaming power coin on the dummy began to darken, its power fading as the team drank up her vast energy. She could see the whole team growing before her eyes, and after a dozen or so tackles their bodies had become so swollen, so packed with pure muscle that it was shocking to her that they could still move so quick. Even Billy had become a fearsome hulk, but with the shared power the others had grown up proportionally bigger making even the smallest Centiback ranger dwarf the biggest human body builder she had seen.

Finally, the power coin lost all its shine, and with a final blow the dummy failed to pop back upright, Centiback sensing that the ranger's energy had been fully drained. He admired how long she had held up, and even as she lay defeated on the field he felt a profound respect for his foe. Regardless, she had been defeated, and it was time to show her what happened to those who opposed Team Centiback.

"Alright maggots, that's enough! Great work! You really made your papa proud. Now take a break and let your coach handle this ranger once and for all."

The Centiback rangers parted reverently, Tommy jogging over to pick up his pink football to cradle in his arms like a security blanket. Their Coach strode up confidently and stood over the downed dummy, putting his hands on his hips and laughing.

"You fought well little girl, but now you can see that nobody can beat my team of footballing 'pedes!"

Centiback leaned down and picked up the dummy, then took a claw and traced a vertical line from head to base, glowing yellow energy creating a split that burst the dummy in a flash of light leaving the human Aisha crumpled in a heap on the field, but still moving. She looked around in a daze, feeling weak as a kitten, but though her power was drained she mustered the strength to stand. She knew she was defeated, but she would at least go down on her feet.

Centiback was impressed. "You've got grit kid, I gotta hand it to you. Because of that, I'm gonna give you the honor of accepting your fate like a quarterback by taking the final snap from me."

His antennae flipped forward and pointed to Centiback's open hands, red energy flowing down to create the familiar shark-faced oversized football. The monster turned around and bent down with Aisha standing behind him, positioning himself like a center ready to hike the ball to the quarterback.