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(CHAPTER 7 CONCLUDED...)

The yellow ranger knew she should fight it, should reject the football that would turn her into another trophy like Kim or Ninjor. But with Centiback's firm, sculpted butt pointed at her, she ogled his body admiringly. Those big red pads over thick shoulder muscles, the football pants straining to contain his swollen thighs, a bulging black centipede segments peeking out from under the pads was setting her desires ablaze. For the first time since the battle began, she wasn't scared. She felt the passion the buggy coach had, loving his team like sons, wanting them to be the best. Was this so different than what she had strived for as a ranger? And if the training had turned her friends from scrawny humans to big handsome muscled bugs, could it be so bad? Even having lost, she felt a strange sense of pride at being given this honor by Centiback.

Still teetering on her feet, Aisha stepped forward and placed her hands under Centiback's glutes. As best she could in a wavering voice, she cried out to accept her defeat with grace and humility.

"Down. Set. HIKE!!"

In a flash Centiback thrust the ball back between his legs into Aisha's waiting hands. As soon as it touched her it burst with red energy that flowed into the ranger and quickly engulfed her in light. The ranger took it proudly, standing tall as the energy enveloped her, squeezed her, and compressed her down. It shrunk smaller and smaller until the red energy dissipated, leaving behind yet another football trophy, this one yellow to represent the final defeated ranger.

"And with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Team Centiback scores the final touchdown to put the visiting team ahead for good! Final score - Centiback 6, Power Rangers - 0!"

Centiback took the pink football and held it aloft in a display of total victory. A cacophony of cheers erupted from the rest of the team, all rushing up to surround their Coach and they high fived, slapped backs, and came together in a team hug to share in this happy occasion.

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After letting his team celebrate and let out some steam as they slugged, noogied and wrestled each other in fraternal fashion, Centiback blew his whistle to snap his team back into order.

"Alight you maggots, listen up! This was a resounding victory for Team Centiback, no doubt about it! With the Power Rangers out of the way, there's nothing to stop us from turning this town into the perfect football paradise. Angel Grove is now our home field, and soon every man woman and child will be rooting for our team as we march to become world champions! We've got a lot of work to do, but with training and dedication I'm gonna mold you maggots into the leanest, meanest, toughest football team this puny planet has ever seen!"

The speech sent up a rousing cheer from the team, cementing their focus on their ultimate goal as their heads filled with fantasies of seeing the planet changed into a world of football obsessed centipedes.

"But for now, you've earned the chance to celebrate. But you aren't getting the game ball this time...no, this is much better. Now come together boys, and help me induct the newest member of the Centiback family."

Centiback held out the yellow football as the Centiback rangers gathered around it in a huddle, their antennae coming together sending jolts of red energy arcing between them. The Coach looked down at the yellow pigskin, fatherly feelings percolating inside him. His antennae arched down and caressed the football gently, rubbing along its sides lovingly. Feeling the ranger's energy swirling within the monster was experiencing feelings never felt before. Instead of a desire to crush this foe, he wanted to nurture, care, and coddle this larva. To help her become something greater.

With these thoughts bubbling inside him, Centiback's connection with his team told him that they all felt the same. His paternal pride reaching a crescendo, he felt a warm, tingling sensation travel from his antennae into his head, spreading down through his body until it reached his loins. The bulge between his legs began to glow, filling Centiback with a deep pleasured yearning to pass on his legacy. He grunted lustfully in spite of himself, a bright red energy suddenly bursting from the tips of his antennae and flowing into the yellow football. It filled the ball with all the pure love, passion and desire he felt for his team, Centiback groaning and bucking as the monster's own reproductive instincts took over. He remembered the love Finster had showed to him, and how much he wanted his own Dad to be proud of him.

The yellow football throbbed with energy, swelling in size as Centiback's power was pumped in. With a loud grunt the monster let out a gutteral cry, a final burst of energy flooding into the ball as it grew to the size of one of his own oversized balls. When the light cleared, Centiback held a large white football-shaped egg in his hands. Feeling a sudden surge of fatherly pride, the gruff bug couldn't help but cradle the egg close and admire what he had created.

"You're such a beautiful egg, my little creepy crawly. I can't wait for you to hatch and cheer for your papa and his team. Maybe when you get big enough, one of them will make you a mommy."

Showing a never before seen tender side to the tough monster, the Centiback rangers were taken aback by the sudden spouting of baby talk to the egg. But as the same energy flowed between their antennae, they shared in the same pride and joy at a new member soon to be added to the Centiback family.

"Soon my sweet centipede you will raise all your arms and cheer and show how much spirit you have! You're gonna make poppa so proud, my little buggy wuggy"

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The last thing Aisha remembered clearly was staring at Centiback’s firm muscled butt as the spiked football was thrust into her arms. Then, a flash of light and an electric shock that coursed through her body penetrating to her very core. It wasn’t painful, but the intensity paralyzed her as she felt her whole body dematerialize, rearrange, and compress into a tight constricting ball.
When her senses returned the world was…different. Her connection with the outside world had been severed, leaving her without sight or sound.

She tried to scream but no words came out. But her tactile senses were very much intact, enhanced even through the taut pigskin shell that let her feel every touch, squeeze, and caress on her new form. Aisha tried to cling to her sense of self, holding on dearly to memories of her life as a Power Ranger and defender of the planet. But somehow, she lacked the complexity of thought in her new form to articulate these thoughts in detail. And as soon as the memory came in, it slipped through her fingertips and faded away.

But through the new simple sensations she felt, one vibration rang clear in her ears – the voice of Centiback. At first she fought against the voice. The crude taunting voice that had filled her with fear and anger reminded her of the cruel fate of her friends. The hands that gripped her felt violating, unwelcome. But through the gloating and celebration she felt a different kind of energy.

Love.

Caring.

Belonging.

Family.

At first Aisha tried to ignore it, but the way Centiback’s strong clawed hands caressed her tenderly sent shivers through her pigskin. A warmth grew within her core and she realized the monster was funneling his love and energy into her. She felt herself swelling outwards, both in physical size and warm powerful emotions.

For the first time, she felt her negative perception of the insect monster crack. The images of malice and evil she had assigned to her foe began to fade, replaced with a humanizing realization that Centiback, too, was looking for love and belonging. His passions poured into her – she felt his yearning to help his team reach their full potential, the pride he took in the muscled physiques he had sculpted from such skinny teens, and his relentless desire to be the biggest, strongest, best football player this galaxy had ever seen. It was so sincere, so genuine that Aisha found herself welling with emotion. She tried to deny it, but deep down a feeling was growing - a spark of love for this big hulking bug.

As the girl's demeanor softened she heard Centiback's voice turn into a chorus – it was Tommy, and Billy, and Rocky calling her to join them. Though their tone was gruff and gravelly, their words were full of love and elation. Overjoyed at how big and strong they had become under Centiback's guiding claw. She felt how they had given their hearts and souls to the big bug, and how proud they were to call him Coach. No...it was more than that. They all looked up to Centiback as a father.
She was beginning to understand.

Even in her human life Aisha had never experienced such feelings of inclusion – outside of ranger duties her teammates kept to their separate lives, and even though they were a team each ranger had their own goals and ideals that kept them apart. Now, under Centiback’s tutelage, they were inseparable – truly a family in every sense of the word.

Aisha's resistance to the corrupting flow of energy ebbed, but not out of brute force but rather a sense of compassion that allowed her to voluntarily open herself to the monster's influence. It felt wonderful to be bathed in this sheer power, imagining herself tucked under Centiback's arms and squeezed by his biceps, pressing her tightly to his bulky chest pads. For the first time since her transformation, Trini's energy began to flow back into their antennae, conveying a clear simple desire - she wanted to be part of their family too.

Immediately, Aisha felt something stir in Centiback. She sensed the monster’s growing desires as he gripped her tighter, strong segmented fingers tracing over every divot, every lace on her football form. The tactile bliss, the loving touch of his antennae, and the exhilirating rush of energy made Aisha want more. She opened her heart and mind to Centiback, the big bug responding with his increasingly passionate grunting.

For Aisha, the energy grew and grew and the intensity of thoughts racing through her heads mounted. Simple thoughts of her old life were being washed away in a flood of lust. Now, sharing a perfect connection with the big bug, when the monster's orgasm came on she felt it just as intensely.

This time a silent scream of happiness filled her mind – thoughts of joining her friends. Joining the Centiback family. Having a place she belonged and a father that loved her dearly.

She wanted it all.

And with a flash of light, everything changed. Aisha couldn’t think. Deep down her conscious was there, but her mind had regressed to an infantile state, lacking the tools necessary to convey her thoughts. It was an uncomfortable feeling at first, but as before, the deep masculine voice of Centiback rang through the haze.

He was talking to her. She didn’t understand the words, but the emotions were clear. He wanted her to grow, to thrive, to be a centipede just like them. To join their team, to let her many legs flutter in the wind, to entwine their antennae in a sign of affection and share their joy and energy from a battle well fought.

And with those familial thoughts came powerful images – big, buff segmented bugs in full football gear. Thick, spiked pads covering layers on top of layers of muscle covering every inch of their bodybuilder's frame. Flexing biceps, swollen shoulders, thighs as big and thick as tree trunks. And the bulge between their legs that their football pants could barely contain.

Aisha felt flush. Just the thought of these hulking centipedes were making her so aroused that she felt the silly desire to jump up and down and cheer for them. To help them grow into bigger, stronger, and more handsome bugs.

Inside the egg Aisha’s life essence stirred. Though her physical form had been changed into an inanimate football, her mind was still human. But Centiback's insemination had catalyzed a transformation, a rebirth into a new, greater form. For now her centipede spirit was just a larva, one that squirmed and gyrated as it sopped up her papa bug’s energy, while responding in kind with her own sense of glee and desire to join the Centiback family, fully opening her heart and soul to the corrupting energy.

Aisha could feel the Centiback spark growing inside her. Slowly her amorphous form stretched and bent, coalescing into a simple shape within the football. A body, a head, arms, legs…taking on a vaguely human shape, that is, until more legs began to sprout from the sides of her nascent form. Her rump expanded and pushed out into an abdomen. Two antennae buds pushing out of the top of her head. As her outer shell took shape it partitioned off into dark, armored segments. Toned muscles spread across her body, accentuating the feminine shapes of her previous life. Bigger and bigger, the egg getting tighter and tighter as the former Power Ranger took on a new form. A scaled form. An insect form.

She wanted to grow big and strong for papa. To cheer for papa. To help papa’s team win with her spirited cheers. Aisha felt herself bursting with energy. Growing until the confines of the football egg were creating an uncomfortable pressure. She pushed outwards with her clawed hands. She wanted to get on the field and join the team so badly!

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The Centiback team all huddled around the egg, watching it wobble back as the ‘pedes cheered on their teammate.

“I think she’s going to hatch!” Rocky-Centiback announced with excitement as the egg began to wiggle, then wobble back and forth. They could all feel Aisha squirming inside wanting to come out.
Centiback couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, beaming with fatherly pride. He cradled the egg, his long antennae caressing the sides encouragingly.

“Time to come out and meet your new family, my precious little maggot…”

He reached a clawed finger and slid it along the top seam of the football-egg, tracing a glowing line of red energy across the top. The egg reacted immediately, shaking and wobbling violently back and forth until it exploded in a flash of light. The glowing sphere grew out from the egg, the centipede team shielding their eyes from the brilliant glow. As their vision adjusted, they could see the outline of a female form uncurling from the fetal position, stretching and expanding and pressing out from the cocoon of warm energy.

The light subsided in a matter of seconds, and in the ashes of the egg stood Aisha. But gone was the yellow Power Ranger, and in her place stood a centipede, the spitting image of Centiback himself. That is, if Centiback was a girl.

Aisha’s flesh had been replaced by a thick black insect shell, armored segments that covered strong, toned muscles that accentuated her feminine curves and gave her a prominent bosom and broad hips that oozed femininity. Her long hair was done up in braids as an homage to her former human form, but now tumbled down over a soft insect face with a segmented ridge over her dainty nose, pert red lips covering pointed centipede teeth, and glimmering red eyes with eyelashes that fluttered seductively as the newest member of the Centiback family blinked and looked around at her team.

At the sight of such a prime example of centipede beauty, the Centiback-rangers nearly exploded with hoots and hollars, their hearts set aflame by this goddess that stood before them. The row of many little tan-colored legs ran down her sides from arm to foot, the pert abdomen that protruded from her rump and waggled cutely as she moved about, long segmented antennae that poked up from the top of her head and curled down over her face like locks of hair, and her tight team Centiback uniform – a snug red tanktop with low-cut v-neck emblazoned with Centiback’s logo (a centipede wrapped around a football) leading down to a short pleated red skirt with yellow diamonds around the edge that barely covered her lap and thick thighs. With red armbands, legwarmers, and big oversized sneakers all in Centiback crimson, Aisha had become the whole package, and one sexy centipede lady that drove the testosterone-soaked teens absolutely wild.

“Hubba hubba! Get a load of this babe!” Billy started, grabbing onto his teammate’s shoulders trying to jockey for a better view.

“I think I’m in love!” Rocky said, holding his thumping heart.

“What’s say you and me get together and make a whole litter of grubs!” Adam pushed his brothers aside, stepping up and getting on one knee to woo Aisha.

“You….pretty,” Tommy grunted, even the hulking beast of a bug looking down shyly and digging the earth with his oversized cleat.

“Pipe down you bunch of randy grubs! Show some respect to the lady!” Centiback barked, stepping between his team and Aisha with his hands sternly on his hips. His gaze quickly withered the catcalls until his team stood obediently at attention, the Coach turning to approach Aisha and put a clawed hand on her shoulder. Aisha looked up, her confused look changing to a smile as she saw how Centiback gazed on her with such love and pride.

“What you lunkheads are looking at is a Centicheer; a mean, lean cheering machine here to get you all pumped up to pound the competition! She’s going to help us spread the Centiback spirit across this town, and get the crowd pumped up to give you all the energy we need to take on any team who dares oppose us! That’s right boys, when you’re marching down the field to score the decisive touchdown, this is what you’re fighting for! A beauty queen, a cheerleader….and my daughter.”
Centiback’s voice wavered as he swelled with emotion, giving Aisha a squeeze on the shoulder that told her how much her papa loved her. She blushed quickly, but the peptalk gave her a newfound confidence. She loved her gorgeous new form, brimming with strength and energy, and it was time to show this team of muscle-bound boys what she could do.

As the Centiback-Rangers stood at attention, Aisha strode forward with the gait of a model on the runway, eyeing the team of buff bugs like she was inspecting slabs of meat. Though she stood a head shorter than the smallest centipede, her presence and poise made her seem like the biggest of the bunch.

“You boys think you can handle me? I’m more than you and all your legs can take on. You're the benchwarmer, I'm the MVP. Got it?" the girl bug said, jabbing a gloved finger into Rocky's chest and making him back up a few steps.

"So why don’t you zip your lips and show me that you deserve this hotness with your performance on the field.” Aisha said with a smirk, directing her gaze at Adam and striding up to trace a finger seductively across his pecs.

“And when you maggots are running out of gas, feeling the burn in your muscles, and the first down seems yards away, who do you think is going to put the pep back in your step? Who do you think is going to whip the crowd into a frenzy to help push you across the goal line?"

Stunned by her sudden assertiveness, the Centiback-Rangers all stood toothy jaws agape, hanging on every word. Aisha shifted seamlessly from seductive to peppy, pumping her arms and bouncing from bug to bug to give a firm punch to their shoulder pads.

"You all know that football is a game of inches, and I’m just the push you need to keep you in the win column game after game. Without me, you'll be nothing but a bunch of dried up bugs destined for Washout City."

The way the feminine centipede moved, her curves, her grace, her fiery sparked new feelings from beneath the laces of the teams' now taut jock straps. As Centicheer went from 'pede to 'pede her antennae crackled with red lightning, arcing directly into each bug's feelers filling them with her energizing spirit.

Centicheer pulled back and turned to face the team, eager to show them her next trick. As her hands pumped in the air long strands of red webbing sprouted from spinnerets on her palm, quickly blossoming into two shaggy pom-pons that shook and swished and made her even more eye-catching.
"The question for you all is – are you centipede enough to get out there and give it your all?”
The team gave a modest cheer at her question, still a bit smitten by the goddess of insect beauty.

“I SAID, ARE YOU ‘PEDE ENOUGH TO GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT?!”

With the fury of an Amazon warrior, Aisha cry's snapped the team to immediate attention, the cheerleader jumping high in the air and shaking her pom-pons furiously to prompt their response.
The earth shook for hundreds of yards around as all at once the team erupted in a raucous cheer, whooping, stomping cleats, slapping pads, and knocking helmets together as a stronger-than-ever-before torrent of team spirit flowed through the centipedes, all catalyzed by Centicheer.

“Yeah! We’ll stomp anyone who gets in our way!” Adam cried out.

“They’re gonna be running for the hills once they see our buffed up bods!” Billy said, zipping in front to flex his bicep confidently.

“WE…GONNA…WIN!” Tommy added with brusque finality, pounding a boulder-sized fist into his palm before grabbing Billy and Adam under each arm and nearly choking them with a brotherly headlock, were it not for their thick neck padding.

Centiback didn't need to say a word, happy to let his team get whipped into a frenzy without his help. Coach folded his arms and looked out across his team of centipedes, all sculpted in his Adonis-like image. The thought of finally finding his team - his family - caused even the stony bug to swell with a kind of paternal pride. With each ex-ranger connected to his energy and consciousness through their antennae, Centiback could feel just how devoted they were to their coach. But deep down, he could feel the last shreds of humanity flickering. That would not do. To become the perfect football players, they would need to shed every last bit of their weak human form. They were ready. It was time. Time for the last huddle, to make them part of his team permanently.

He waited for the cheer-induced fervor to die down, stepping forward with a heavy cleat and standing arms akimbo, signaling that it was time to address his team. Sensing their coach's will, a silence fell over the Centiback-Rangers as they snapped to a respectful attention.

"Alright, settle down maggots! You fought hard, and now it's time to celebrate your victory over the puny Power-punks that were holding you back for so long! Now bring it in! It's time for the final huddle.”

One by one the Centiback rangers filed over to their coach, surrounding their patriarch and putting their arms around each other to link together in a tight circle. The huddle created a surprisingly intimate private space, the outside world blocked out by an impenetrable wall of muscle. The team all stood staring at each other through the eyes on their helmets, leaning in until their heads were almost touching.

Following Centiback's lead, they pulled their antennae forward and stretched them out to either side. The newer centipedes were still getting used to controlling their feelers, but with a little help from their teammates each antennae met with the one next to it and wrapped around in a handshake of sorts. As the final link was made the group connected in a single collective, suddenly able to feel, sense, touch, and think what every other centipede could. Though it was overwhelming at first, the strongest emotion that came through was a glowing sense of pride that Centiback had for them all. It calmed the buzzing as the team listened obediently.

“You…you bugs have really made your Coach proud. You earned this one – when the chips were down, you faced the enemy of your own fleshy weakness head on, and have given your mind, body, and soul to make Team Centiback the best bunch of footballin' bugs this galaxy has ever seen. With all of you working together as a team, there ain’t nobody that can stand in our way!”

The speech elicited a shared roar of approval from his team, quickly subsiding as Centiback hushed them with a clenched fist.

“Here’s the game plan – we’re going to turn this sleepy, one-horse town into the home of the Football World Champions! We're gonna to turn Angel Grove into Centiback Central, and that sorry excuse of a field you call your high school into the Centipede Dome - the biggest, loudest, nastiest home turf this side of the moon! Think of it boys - 100,000 seats filled with die-hard, screaming, fans all rooting for Team Centiback! Mark it on your calendars maggots - today is the start of the greatest football dynasty this universe has ever seen!”

The applause line was received with unbridled enthusiasm, sending up another round of gruff whoops and feral shouts in what was becoming a war cry in intensity.

"But we ain't gonna gain a single yard unless I have 110% commitment from you all. I need each of your bugs to dig down deep inside you and pulverize any doubt you have, and hesitation at giving everything you got for Team Centiback. You think you lunkheads can step up to the challenge?"
The team responded to Centiback's challenge with a chorus of assents, trying to contain their excitement as their coach continued.

" We're gonna train together, eat together, sleep together. Attain pure football perfection together...but only if you give yourself - every part of yourself, to me. Look around - this is your new family. "

Centiback let the last sentence sink in, hesitating before releasing a torrent of his emotional energy through their shared link, baring his true feelings of how much he cared about his buggies. That he looked on his team like his own sons...and daughter, of course. They were his thick-headed hulking muscle-bound brawling centipedes - his family.

Adam, Tommy, Rocky, Billy and Aisha all looked at each other with Centiback's spirit flowing through them. Instead of monsters, they saw strong, beautiful centipedes. And they liked what they saw in themselves.

None of them had ever felt like they had belonged so much, that they had such an important goal to fight for with every last fiber of their being. A true purpose. As their feelers twisted together, the team shared a single desire to achieve their fanatical football goal - to be the undisputed champions of this world. It was exhilarating, unlike anything the teens had ever felt before. All for the coach they so admired and respected that they would do anything for him.

"SO WHAT DO YOU SAY MAGGOTS? ARE YOU WITH ME?"

"YEAH COACH!" Rocky put his hand in first, taking the lead.

"You can count on me!" Billy quipped, slapping on top of Rocky's glove.

"Together as one!" "That's what I'm talking about!" Adam and Aisha added their hands to the pile.
"Gonna win for you...Dad..." Tommy said finally, his hand dwarfing the rest of the group.

The slip of the tongue caused the other Centiback-Rangers to look at Tommy curiously, but as the biggest bug's inner feelings coursed through the arcing electricity they could feel that their lineman truly did look on Centiback as a mentor, a teacher...a father. With an uncharacteristic blush, the other centipedes realized they had never had a family like this, and it was all thanks to Centiback believing that they could reach new heights of strength and conditioning. One by one the other rangers joined in - opening themselves to Centiback and letting his energy flow freely into them. The paternal bond deepening as Centiback looked at each ranger to give them the final signal of their submission to him.

"Alright team! Say "Team Centiback" on three! One...two..."

Centiback pulled out his whistle one last time, thinking the gift he received from his father Finster that he would use to end the Power Rangers once and for all.

It was a simple cheer, but as the huddle of centipedes shared a collective battle cry the sound of the whistle amplified the energy tenfold, the shockwave echoing for miles. An electrical storm of red energy ran through the connected antennae as massive amounts of Centiback's energy poured in and out of them, penetrating to the depths of their being and washing out the last of their former selves.

As their powers faded, the tarnished power coins around the former rangers' waist were engulfed in red light, the symbols of their power animals disappearing. Replaced with a red coin with Centiback's logo - a football with a centipede wrapped around it.

The last Power Ranger had been wiped from existence , and where the Earth’s mightiest defenders once stood was now a team of dedicated, brawny, football-crazy bugs. This was the victory he had been working for so long, and through it all, Centiback couldn’t help but remember his father, Finster, and the love and support he had given him since the beginning. Brimming with familial love, Centiback stepped forward to address his team, a respectful hush falling over the field.
Before he could start, a rude crack of energy from behind heralded the arrival of Rita, Zedd, and Finster shuffling behind trying to keep up.

"I did it! I defeated the Power Rangers! Now they're all mine!" Rita cackled up, trying not to step over her dress as she walked up waving her staff.

"Complete and utter victory. Instead of just crushing the rangers, we have brought them under our control!" Zedd said, following a step behind.

"Well, don't forget that it was my so...my Centiback that did all the work...." Finster stammered, cowering and trying to hold back how proud he was of his son.

"Silence! Don't interrupt your queen when she is claiming credit for her accomplishment," Zedd growled threateningly at the long-eared troll.

"You heard him, keep out of this pipsqueak!" Rita said, halting Finster's progress and giving him a hard shove back. The diminutive troll nearly tripped over his smock but kept his footing, readjusting his glasses and apologizing profusely.

Centiback had seen enough.

"Who do you think you are, coming down here and acting like you own the place? You've been sitting up in your luxury box while we've been down here pumping iron." the coach bug stomped forward, towering over Rita and poking a meaty finger into her shoulder. Rita and Zedd, unused to this level of aggressiveness and intimidated by the bug's size, were for a moment too stunned to speak.

" You wanted to kick me to the curb, remember? You thought I was all washed up? Well look at us now. This isn't a victory for you, this is a victory for Team Centiback! And it never would have happened without you...Finster."

All eyes turned to the little white troll, who blushed and stammered unable to hide the smile on his muzzle.

"Well, I suppose my whistle did help. And the energy bar returned your strength..."
"Awww who are ya kidding?" Centiback said, stepping over to Finster and putting a hand on his shoulder, nearly dwarfing his chest. "If you hadn't had that faith in me, I never would have been able to win the big game. When the score was down with time ticking down, you were the only one who believed in me. It's all thanks to you. I love you...Dad."

"What is the meaning of this?!" Zedd boomed, stepping forward to challenge Centiback.

"You're just a throwaway, monster-of-the-day, scrap heap dung beetle. We ought to turn your to dust for your insolence!"

"Yeah! You've gotten too big for your britches! I'll get rid of you then use these muscle-headed insects to take over the Earth!"

Rita raised her staff to zap Centiback out of existence, but he was ready for her. A whistle appeared in Centiback's hand as he held it up to his mouth and blew.

TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

The two villains found themselves frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. Still very conscious, they could only watch as their rogue monster strided up confidently.

"Sorry, we're taking this team in a different direction. Finster's in charge now. But you two are gonna have a front row seat as we take over this planet ourselves!"

Holding up his hands, Centiback produced two last footballs - oversized, red, spiked and bearing a shark face just like all the rest. He held them up for Zedd and Rita to see, then backpedalled and threw each ball in succession. With perfect accuracy they hit their target, engulfing the villains in a cocoon of brilliant red energy, then vanishing in a flash to reveal two large padded tackling dummies with the surprised images of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa emblazoned on the outside.

The Centiback-Rangers erupted in cheers, Tommy holding his pink football high so Kim could be a part of their victory. Coming together in a big huddle, hugging and slapping backs and hollering with pure elation. They had won.

Centiback saw Finster standing shyly on the edge of the raucous scrum, stepping out of the fray to meet him. Without a word, the centipede grabbed the troll and lifted him up onto his shoulder. Finster grabbed onto Centiback's helmet for support, making the bug laugh as he reached up to scoot his father into a more comfortable position.

"Alright everybug, listen up! We gotta lot of work to do, but I want you all to know from now on that Finster is the undisputed president and general manager of Team Centiback. Whatever he says, goes. You got it?"

"Yeah coach!" "Welcome to the team Finster!" "He the boss!" "Hey, he's kinda cute..."

The team laughed at Aisha, trying to give her a noogie as she slipped away and playfully sprayed them with webbing from her pom-pons.

The celebration lasted for hours, Finster eager to hear all about his son's victory and Centiback all too glad to recount his glorious gridiron battle. The Centiback-Rangers listened intently, viewing the story as just part of their training going from weak benchwarmer to all-pro bug.
But as the day ended and the elation died down, Centiback felt himself brimming with more energy that he could ever imagine. Energy he was going to use to build his football empire....

EPILOGUE

It was a crisp autumn day at Centiback Stadium when Team Centiback took the field, running in to a stadium full of roaring fans, every last one decked out in Team Centiback hats, shirts, and signs proclaiming love for their team and humiliating defeat for the opponents. The Seaside Wolves, Angel Grove's rival high school, took the field looking worried. The teenagers were dwarfed by the hulking team of centipedes, and had it not been for the strange invitation to their town to send their best football team or be destroyed, they would not have come at all.

With each seat in the stadium emblazoned with a centipede constantly filling every fan with Centiback's addictive football spirit, it was no surprise that the crowd was whipped into a near-deafening frenzy.

On the field they saw the mightiest gladiators they had ever seen. A team of hulking armored centipedes whose muscles bulged as they moved, catching passes, running and slamming into each other with incredible force. The fans found they couldn't look away from the players, in awe of their sheer size and displays of strength. Aisha pumped up the crowd with her hypnotic cheers, intended to stoke the football spirit that grew stronger the longer they were under Centiback's spell.

It was never a fair game at first. But as Centiback took out his whistle, he knew that a few quarters of bumping heads and getting in the trenches with his boys would help pump them with his energy. By halftime they'd be sprouting legs, bulking up with each drive until the final period when the field was filled with big burly bugs rolling around battling for turf. If they win, they go free. If they lose, they become burly centipede football players forever.

Either way, Centiback had realized his dream. Pure football heaven on Earth.

TWWWWWEEEEEEEEEET!!!

Description
(CHAPTER 7 CONCLUDED...)

The yellow ranger knew she should fight it, should reject the football that would turn her into another trophy like Kim or Ninjor. But with Centiback's firm, sculpted butt pointed at her, she ogled his body admiringly. Those big red pads over thick shoulder muscles, the football pants straining to contain his swollen thighs, a bulging black centipede segments peeking out from under the pads was setting her desires ablaze. For the first time since the battle began, she wasn't scared. She felt the passion the buggy coach had, loving his team like sons, wanting them to be the best. Was this so different than what she had strived for as a ranger? And if the training had turned her friends from scrawny humans to big handsome muscled bugs, could it be so bad? Even having lost, she felt a strange sense of pride at being given this honor by Centiback.

Still teetering on her feet, Aisha stepped forward and placed her hands under Centiback's glutes. As best she could in a wavering voice, she cried out to accept her defeat with grace and humility.

"Down. Set. HIKE!!"

In a flash Centiback thrust the ball back between his legs into Aisha's waiting hands. As soon as it touched her it burst with red energy that flowed into the ranger and quickly engulfed her in light. The ranger took it proudly, standing tall as the energy enveloped her, squeezed her, and compressed her down. It shrunk smaller and smaller until the red energy dissipated, leaving behind yet another football trophy, this one yellow to represent the final defeated ranger.

"And with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Team Centiback scores the final touchdown to put the visiting team ahead for good! Final score - Centiback 6, Power Rangers - 0!"

Centiback took the pink football and held it aloft in a display of total victory. A cacophony of cheers erupted from the rest of the team, all rushing up to surround their Coach and they high fived, slapped backs, and came together in a team hug to share in this happy occasion.

-----

After letting his team celebrate and let out some steam as they slugged, noogied and wrestled each other in fraternal fashion, Centiback blew his whistle to snap his team back into order.

"Alight you maggots, listen up! This was a resounding victory for Team Centiback, no doubt about it! With the Power Rangers out of the way, there's nothing to stop us from turning this town into the perfect football paradise. Angel Grove is now our home field, and soon every man woman and child will be rooting for our team as we march to become world champions! We've got a lot of work to do, but with training and dedication I'm gonna mold you maggots into the leanest, meanest, toughest football team this puny planet has ever seen!"

The speech sent up a rousing cheer from the team, cementing their focus on their ultimate goal as their heads filled with fantasies of seeing the planet changed into a world of football obsessed centipedes.

"But for now, you've earned the chance to celebrate. But you aren't getting the game ball this time...no, this is much better. Now come together boys, and help me induct the newest member of the Centiback family."

Centiback held out the yellow football as the Centiback rangers gathered around it in a huddle, their antennae coming together sending jolts of red energy arcing between them. The Coach looked down at the yellow pigskin, fatherly feelings percolating inside him. His antennae arched down and caressed the football gently, rubbing along its sides lovingly. Feeling the ranger's energy swirling within the monster was experiencing feelings never felt before. Instead of a desire to crush this foe, he wanted to nurture, care, and coddle this larva. To help her become something greater.

With these thoughts bubbling inside him, Centiback's connection with his team told him that they all felt the same. His paternal pride reaching a crescendo, he felt a warm, tingling sensation travel from his antennae into his head, spreading down through his body until it reached his loins. The bulge between his legs began to glow, filling Centiback with a deep pleasured yearning to pass on his legacy. He grunted lustfully in spite of himself, a bright red energy suddenly bursting from the tips of his antennae and flowing into the yellow football. It filled the ball with all the pure love, passion and desire he felt for his team, Centiback groaning and bucking as the monster's own reproductive instincts took over. He remembered the love Finster had showed to him, and how much he wanted his own Dad to be proud of him.

The yellow football throbbed with energy, swelling in size as Centiback's power was pumped in. With a loud grunt the monster let out a gutteral cry, a final burst of energy flooding into the ball as it grew to the size of one of his own oversized balls. When the light cleared, Centiback held a large white football-shaped egg in his hands. Feeling a sudden surge of fatherly pride, the gruff bug couldn't help but cradle the egg close and admire what he had created.

"You're such a beautiful egg, my little creepy crawly. I can't wait for you to hatch and cheer for your papa and his team. Maybe when you get big enough, one of them will make you a mommy."

Showing a never before seen tender side to the tough monster, the Centiback rangers were taken aback by the sudden spouting of baby talk to the egg. But as the same energy flowed between their antennae, they shared in the same pride and joy at a new member soon to be added to the Centiback family.

"Soon my sweet centipede you will raise all your arms and cheer and show how much spirit you have! You're gonna make poppa so proud, my little buggy wuggy"

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The last thing Aisha remembered clearly was staring at Centiback’s firm muscled butt as the spiked football was thrust into her arms. Then, a flash of light and an electric shock that coursed through her body penetrating to her very core. It wasn’t painful, but the intensity paralyzed her as she felt her whole body dematerialize, rearrange, and compress into a tight constricting ball.
When her senses returned the world was…different. Her connection with the outside world had been severed, leaving her without sight or sound.

She tried to scream but no words came out. But her tactile senses were very much intact, enhanced even through the taut pigskin shell that let her feel every touch, squeeze, and caress on her new form. Aisha tried to cling to her sense of self, holding on dearly to memories of her life as a Power Ranger and defender of the planet. But somehow, she lacked the complexity of thought in her new form to articulate these thoughts in detail. And as soon as the memory came in, it slipped through her fingertips and faded away.

But through the new simple sensations she felt, one vibration rang clear in her ears – the voice of Centiback. At first she fought against the voice. The crude taunting voice that had filled her with fear and anger reminded her of the cruel fate of her friends. The hands that gripped her felt violating, unwelcome. But through the gloating and celebration she felt a different kind of energy.

Love.

Caring.

Belonging.

Family.

At first Aisha tried to ignore it, but the way Centiback’s strong clawed hands caressed her tenderly sent shivers through her pigskin. A warmth grew within her core and she realized the monster was funneling his love and energy into her. She felt herself swelling outwards, both in physical size and warm powerful emotions.

For the first time, she felt her negative perception of the insect monster crack. The images of malice and evil she had assigned to her foe began to fade, replaced with a humanizing realization that Centiback, too, was looking for love and belonging. His passions poured into her – she felt his yearning to help his team reach their full potential, the pride he took in the muscled physiques he had sculpted from such skinny teens, and his relentless desire to be the biggest, strongest, best football player this galaxy had ever seen. It was so sincere, so genuine that Aisha found herself welling with emotion. She tried to deny it, but deep down a feeling was growing - a spark of love for this big hulking bug.

As the girl's demeanor softened she heard Centiback's voice turn into a chorus – it was Tommy, and Billy, and Rocky calling her to join them. Though their tone was gruff and gravelly, their words were full of love and elation. Overjoyed at how big and strong they had become under Centiback's guiding claw. She felt how they had given their hearts and souls to the big bug, and how proud they were to call him Coach. No...it was more than that. They all looked up to Centiback as a father.
She was beginning to understand.

Even in her human life Aisha had never experienced such feelings of inclusion – outside of ranger duties her teammates kept to their separate lives, and even though they were a team each ranger had their own goals and ideals that kept them apart. Now, under Centiback’s tutelage, they were inseparable – truly a family in every sense of the word.

Aisha's resistance to the corrupting flow of energy ebbed, but not out of brute force but rather a sense of compassion that allowed her to voluntarily open herself to the monster's influence. It felt wonderful to be bathed in this sheer power, imagining herself tucked under Centiback's arms and squeezed by his biceps, pressing her tightly to his bulky chest pads. For the first time since her transformation, Trini's energy began to flow back into their antennae, conveying a clear simple desire - she wanted to be part of their family too.

Immediately, Aisha felt something stir in Centiback. She sensed the monster’s growing desires as he gripped her tighter, strong segmented fingers tracing over every divot, every lace on her football form. The tactile bliss, the loving touch of his antennae, and the exhilirating rush of energy made Aisha want more. She opened her heart and mind to Centiback, the big bug responding with his increasingly passionate grunting.

For Aisha, the energy grew and grew and the intensity of thoughts racing through her heads mounted. Simple thoughts of her old life were being washed away in a flood of lust. Now, sharing a perfect connection with the big bug, when the monster's orgasm came on she felt it just as intensely.

This time a silent scream of happiness filled her mind – thoughts of joining her friends. Joining the Centiback family. Having a place she belonged and a father that loved her dearly.

She wanted it all.

And with a flash of light, everything changed. Aisha couldn’t think. Deep down her conscious was there, but her mind had regressed to an infantile state, lacking the tools necessary to convey her thoughts. It was an uncomfortable feeling at first, but as before, the deep masculine voice of Centiback rang through the haze.

He was talking to her. She didn’t understand the words, but the emotions were clear. He wanted her to grow, to thrive, to be a centipede just like them. To join their team, to let her many legs flutter in the wind, to entwine their antennae in a sign of affection and share their joy and energy from a battle well fought.

And with those familial thoughts came powerful images – big, buff segmented bugs in full football gear. Thick, spiked pads covering layers on top of layers of muscle covering every inch of their bodybuilder's frame. Flexing biceps, swollen shoulders, thighs as big and thick as tree trunks. And the bulge between their legs that their football pants could barely contain.

Aisha felt flush. Just the thought of these hulking centipedes were making her so aroused that she felt the silly desire to jump up and down and cheer for them. To help them grow into bigger, stronger, and more handsome bugs.

Inside the egg Aisha’s life essence stirred. Though her physical form had been changed into an inanimate football, her mind was still human. But Centiback's insemination had catalyzed a transformation, a rebirth into a new, greater form. For now her centipede spirit was just a larva, one that squirmed and gyrated as it sopped up her papa bug’s energy, while responding in kind with her own sense of glee and desire to join the Centiback family, fully opening her heart and soul to the corrupting energy.

Aisha could feel the Centiback spark growing inside her. Slowly her amorphous form stretched and bent, coalescing into a simple shape within the football. A body, a head, arms, legs…taking on a vaguely human shape, that is, until more legs began to sprout from the sides of her nascent form. Her rump expanded and pushed out into an abdomen. Two antennae buds pushing out of the top of her head. As her outer shell took shape it partitioned off into dark, armored segments. Toned muscles spread across her body, accentuating the feminine shapes of her previous life. Bigger and bigger, the egg getting tighter and tighter as the former Power Ranger took on a new form. A scaled form. An insect form.

She wanted to grow big and strong for papa. To cheer for papa. To help papa’s team win with her spirited cheers. Aisha felt herself bursting with energy. Growing until the confines of the football egg were creating an uncomfortable pressure. She pushed outwards with her clawed hands. She wanted to get on the field and join the team so badly!

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The Centiback team all huddled around the egg, watching it wobble back as the ‘pedes cheered on their teammate.

“I think she’s going to hatch!” Rocky-Centiback announced with excitement as the egg began to wiggle, then wobble back and forth. They could all feel Aisha squirming inside wanting to come out.
Centiback couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, beaming with fatherly pride. He cradled the egg, his long antennae caressing the sides encouragingly.

“Time to come out and meet your new family, my precious little maggot…”

He reached a clawed finger and slid it along the top seam of the football-egg, tracing a glowing line of red energy across the top. The egg reacted immediately, shaking and wobbling violently back and forth until it exploded in a flash of light. The glowing sphere grew out from the egg, the centipede team shielding their eyes from the brilliant glow. As their vision adjusted, they could see the outline of a female form uncurling from the fetal position, stretching and expanding and pressing out from the cocoon of warm energy.

The light subsided in a matter of seconds, and in the ashes of the egg stood Aisha. But gone was the yellow Power Ranger, and in her place stood a centipede, the spitting image of Centiback himself. That is, if Centiback was a girl.

Aisha’s flesh had been replaced by a thick black insect shell, armored segments that covered strong, toned muscles that accentuated her feminine curves and gave her a prominent bosom and broad hips that oozed femininity. Her long hair was done up in braids as an homage to her former human form, but now tumbled down over a soft insect face with a segmented ridge over her dainty nose, pert red lips covering pointed centipede teeth, and glimmering red eyes with eyelashes that fluttered seductively as the newest member of the Centiback family blinked and looked around at her team.

At the sight of such a prime example of centipede beauty, the Centiback-rangers nearly exploded with hoots and hollars, their hearts set aflame by this goddess that stood before them. The row of many little tan-colored legs ran down her sides from arm to foot, the pert abdomen that protruded from her rump and waggled cutely as she moved about, long segmented antennae that poked up from the top of her head and curled down over her face like locks of hair, and her tight team Centiback uniform – a snug red tanktop with low-cut v-neck emblazoned with Centiback’s logo (a centipede wrapped around a football) leading down to a short pleated red skirt with yellow diamonds around the edge that barely covered her lap and thick thighs. With red armbands, legwarmers, and big oversized sneakers all in Centiback crimson, Aisha had become the whole package, and one sexy centipede lady that drove the testosterone-soaked teens absolutely wild.

“Hubba hubba! Get a load of this babe!” Billy started, grabbing onto his teammate’s shoulders trying to jockey for a better view.

“I think I’m in love!” Rocky said, holding his thumping heart.

“What’s say you and me get together and make a whole litter of grubs!” Adam pushed his brothers aside, stepping up and getting on one knee to woo Aisha.

“You….pretty,” Tommy grunted, even the hulking beast of a bug looking down shyly and digging the earth with his oversized cleat.

“Pipe down you bunch of randy grubs! Show some respect to the lady!” Centiback barked, stepping between his team and Aisha with his hands sternly on his hips. His gaze quickly withered the catcalls until his team stood obediently at attention, the Coach turning to approach Aisha and put a clawed hand on her shoulder. Aisha looked up, her confused look changing to a smile as she saw how Centiback gazed on her with such love and pride.

“What you lunkheads are looking at is a Centicheer; a mean, lean cheering machine here to get you all pumped up to pound the competition! She’s going to help us spread the Centiback spirit across this town, and get the crowd pumped up to give you all the energy we need to take on any team who dares oppose us! That’s right boys, when you’re marching down the field to score the decisive touchdown, this is what you’re fighting for! A beauty queen, a cheerleader….and my daughter.”
Centiback’s voice wavered as he swelled with emotion, giving Aisha a squeeze on the shoulder that told her how much her papa loved her. She blushed quickly, but the peptalk gave her a newfound confidence. She loved her gorgeous new form, brimming with strength and energy, and it was time to show this team of muscle-bound boys what she could do.

As the Centiback-Rangers stood at attention, Aisha strode forward with the gait of a model on the runway, eyeing the team of buff bugs like she was inspecting slabs of meat. Though she stood a head shorter than the smallest centipede, her presence and poise made her seem like the biggest of the bunch.

“You boys think you can handle me? I’m more than you and all your legs can take on. You're the benchwarmer, I'm the MVP. Got it?" the girl bug said, jabbing a gloved finger into Rocky's chest and making him back up a few steps.

"So why don’t you zip your lips and show me that you deserve this hotness with your performance on the field.” Aisha said with a smirk, directing her gaze at Adam and striding up to trace a finger seductively across his pecs.

“And when you maggots are running out of gas, feeling the burn in your muscles, and the first down seems yards away, who do you think is going to put the pep back in your step? Who do you think is going to whip the crowd into a frenzy to help push you across the goal line?"

Stunned by her sudden assertiveness, the Centiback-Rangers all stood toothy jaws agape, hanging on every word. Aisha shifted seamlessly from seductive to peppy, pumping her arms and bouncing from bug to bug to give a firm punch to their shoulder pads.

"You all know that football is a game of inches, and I’m just the push you need to keep you in the win column game after game. Without me, you'll be nothing but a bunch of dried up bugs destined for Washout City."

The way the feminine centipede moved, her curves, her grace, her fiery sparked new feelings from beneath the laces of the teams' now taut jock straps. As Centicheer went from 'pede to 'pede her antennae crackled with red lightning, arcing directly into each bug's feelers filling them with her energizing spirit.

Centicheer pulled back and turned to face the team, eager to show them her next trick. As her hands pumped in the air long strands of red webbing sprouted from spinnerets on her palm, quickly blossoming into two shaggy pom-pons that shook and swished and made her even more eye-catching.
"The question for you all is – are you centipede enough to get out there and give it your all?”
The team gave a modest cheer at her question, still a bit smitten by the goddess of insect beauty.

“I SAID, ARE YOU ‘PEDE ENOUGH TO GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT?!”

With the fury of an Amazon warrior, Aisha cry's snapped the team to immediate attention, the cheerleader jumping high in the air and shaking her pom-pons furiously to prompt their response.
The earth shook for hundreds of yards around as all at once the team erupted in a raucous cheer, whooping, stomping cleats, slapping pads, and knocking helmets together as a stronger-than-ever-before torrent of team spirit flowed through the centipedes, all catalyzed by Centicheer.

“Yeah! We’ll stomp anyone who gets in our way!” Adam cried out.

“They’re gonna be running for the hills once they see our buffed up bods!” Billy said, zipping in front to flex his bicep confidently.

“WE…GONNA…WIN!” Tommy added with brusque finality, pounding a boulder-sized fist into his palm before grabbing Billy and Adam under each arm and nearly choking them with a brotherly headlock, were it not for their thick neck padding.

Centiback didn't need to say a word, happy to let his team get whipped into a frenzy without his help. Coach folded his arms and looked out across his team of centipedes, all sculpted in his Adonis-like image. The thought of finally finding his team - his family - caused even the stony bug to swell with a kind of paternal pride. With each ex-ranger connected to his energy and consciousness through their antennae, Centiback could feel just how devoted they were to their coach. But deep down, he could feel the last shreds of humanity flickering. That would not do. To become the perfect football players, they would need to shed every last bit of their weak human form. They were ready. It was time. Time for the last huddle, to make them part of his team permanently.

He waited for the cheer-induced fervor to die down, stepping forward with a heavy cleat and standing arms akimbo, signaling that it was time to address his team. Sensing their coach's will, a silence fell over the Centiback-Rangers as they snapped to a respectful attention.

"Alright, settle down maggots! You fought hard, and now it's time to celebrate your victory over the puny Power-punks that were holding you back for so long! Now bring it in! It's time for the final huddle.”

One by one the Centiback rangers filed over to their coach, surrounding their patriarch and putting their arms around each other to link together in a tight circle. The huddle created a surprisingly intimate private space, the outside world blocked out by an impenetrable wall of muscle. The team all stood staring at each other through the eyes on their helmets, leaning in until their heads were almost touching.

Following Centiback's lead, they pulled their antennae forward and stretched them out to either side. The newer centipedes were still getting used to controlling their feelers, but with a little help from their teammates each antennae met with the one next to it and wrapped around in a handshake of sorts. As the final link was made the group connected in a single collective, suddenly able to feel, sense, touch, and think what every other centipede could. Though it was overwhelming at first, the strongest emotion that came through was a glowing sense of pride that Centiback had for them all. It calmed the buzzing as the team listened obediently.

“You…you bugs have really made your Coach proud. You earned this one – when the chips were down, you faced the enemy of your own fleshy weakness head on, and have given your mind, body, and soul to make Team Centiback the best bunch of footballin' bugs this galaxy has ever seen. With all of you working together as a team, there ain’t nobody that can stand in our way!”

The speech elicited a shared roar of approval from his team, quickly subsiding as Centiback hushed them with a clenched fist.

“Here’s the game plan – we’re going to turn this sleepy, one-horse town into the home of the Football World Champions! We're gonna to turn Angel Grove into Centiback Central, and that sorry excuse of a field you call your high school into the Centipede Dome - the biggest, loudest, nastiest home turf this side of the moon! Think of it boys - 100,000 seats filled with die-hard, screaming, fans all rooting for Team Centiback! Mark it on your calendars maggots - today is the start of the greatest football dynasty this universe has ever seen!”

The applause line was received with unbridled enthusiasm, sending up another round of gruff whoops and feral shouts in what was becoming a war cry in intensity.

"But we ain't gonna gain a single yard unless I have 110% commitment from you all. I need each of your bugs to dig down deep inside you and pulverize any doubt you have, and hesitation at giving everything you got for Team Centiback. You think you lunkheads can step up to the challenge?"
The team responded to Centiback's challenge with a chorus of assents, trying to contain their excitement as their coach continued.

" We're gonna train together, eat together, sleep together. Attain pure football perfection together...but only if you give yourself - every part of yourself, to me. Look around - this is your new family. "

Centiback let the last sentence sink in, hesitating before releasing a torrent of his emotional energy through their shared link, baring his true feelings of how much he cared about his buggies. That he looked on his team like his own sons...and daughter, of course. They were his thick-headed hulking muscle-bound brawling centipedes - his family.

Adam, Tommy, Rocky, Billy and Aisha all looked at each other with Centiback's spirit flowing through them. Instead of monsters, they saw strong, beautiful centipedes. And they liked what they saw in themselves.

None of them had ever felt like they had belonged so much, that they had such an important goal to fight for with every last fiber of their being. A true purpose. As their feelers twisted together, the team shared a single desire to achieve their fanatical football goal - to be the undisputed champions of this world. It was exhilarating, unlike anything the teens had ever felt before. All for the coach they so admired and respected that they would do anything for him.

"SO WHAT DO YOU SAY MAGGOTS? ARE YOU WITH ME?"

"YEAH COACH!" Rocky put his hand in first, taking the lead.

"You can count on me!" Billy quipped, slapping on top of Rocky's glove.

"Together as one!" "That's what I'm talking about!" Adam and Aisha added their hands to the pile.
"Gonna win for you...Dad..." Tommy said finally, his hand dwarfing the rest of the group.

The slip of the tongue caused the other Centiback-Rangers to look at Tommy curiously, but as the biggest bug's inner feelings coursed through the arcing electricity they could feel that their lineman truly did look on Centiback as a mentor, a teacher...a father. With an uncharacteristic blush, the other centipedes realized they had never had a family like this, and it was all thanks to Centiback believing that they could reach new heights of strength and conditioning. One by one the other rangers joined in - opening themselves to Centiback and letting his energy flow freely into them. The paternal bond deepening as Centiback looked at each ranger to give them the final signal of their submission to him.

"Alright team! Say "Team Centiback" on three! One...two..."

Centiback pulled out his whistle one last time, thinking the gift he received from his father Finster that he would use to end the Power Rangers once and for all.

It was a simple cheer, but as the huddle of centipedes shared a collective battle cry the sound of the whistle amplified the energy tenfold, the shockwave echoing for miles. An electrical storm of red energy ran through the connected antennae as massive amounts of Centiback's energy poured in and out of them, penetrating to the depths of their being and washing out the last of their former selves.

As their powers faded, the tarnished power coins around the former rangers' waist were engulfed in red light, the symbols of their power animals disappearing. Replaced with a red coin with Centiback's logo - a football with a centipede wrapped around it.

The last Power Ranger had been wiped from existence , and where the Earth’s mightiest defenders once stood was now a team of dedicated, brawny, football-crazy bugs. This was the victory he had been working for so long, and through it all, Centiback couldn’t help but remember his father, Finster, and the love and support he had given him since the beginning. Brimming with familial love, Centiback stepped forward to address his team, a respectful hush falling over the field.
Before he could start, a rude crack of energy from behind heralded the arrival of Rita, Zedd, and Finster shuffling behind trying to keep up.

"I did it! I defeated the Power Rangers! Now they're all mine!" Rita cackled up, trying not to step over her dress as she walked up waving her staff.

"Complete and utter victory. Instead of just crushing the rangers, we have brought them under our control!" Zedd said, following a step behind.

"Well, don't forget that it was my so...my Centiback that did all the work...." Finster stammered, cowering and trying to hold back how proud he was of his son.

"Silence! Don't interrupt your queen when she is claiming credit for her accomplishment," Zedd growled threateningly at the long-eared troll.

"You heard him, keep out of this pipsqueak!" Rita said, halting Finster's progress and giving him a hard shove back. The diminutive troll nearly tripped over his smock but kept his footing, readjusting his glasses and apologizing profusely.

Centiback had seen enough.

"Who do you think you are, coming down here and acting like you own the place? You've been sitting up in your luxury box while we've been down here pumping iron." the coach bug stomped forward, towering over Rita and poking a meaty finger into her shoulder. Rita and Zedd, unused to this level of aggressiveness and intimidated by the bug's size, were for a moment too stunned to speak.

" You wanted to kick me to the curb, remember? You thought I was all washed up? Well look at us now. This isn't a victory for you, this is a victory for Team Centiback! And it never would have happened without you...Finster."

All eyes turned to the little white troll, who blushed and stammered unable to hide the smile on his muzzle.

"Well, I suppose my whistle did help. And the energy bar returned your strength..."
"Awww who are ya kidding?" Centiback said, stepping over to Finster and putting a hand on his shoulder, nearly dwarfing his chest. "If you hadn't had that faith in me, I never would have been able to win the big game. When the score was down with time ticking down, you were the only one who believed in me. It's all thanks to you. I love you...Dad."

"What is the meaning of this?!" Zedd boomed, stepping forward to challenge Centiback.

"You're just a throwaway, monster-of-the-day, scrap heap dung beetle. We ought to turn your to dust for your insolence!"

"Yeah! You've gotten too big for your britches! I'll get rid of you then use these muscle-headed insects to take over the Earth!"

Rita raised her staff to zap Centiback out of existence, but he was ready for her. A whistle appeared in Centiback's hand as he held it up to his mouth and blew.

TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

The two villains found themselves frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. Still very conscious, they could only watch as their rogue monster strided up confidently.

"Sorry, we're taking this team in a different direction. Finster's in charge now. But you two are gonna have a front row seat as we take over this planet ourselves!"

Holding up his hands, Centiback produced two last footballs - oversized, red, spiked and bearing a shark face just like all the rest. He held them up for Zedd and Rita to see, then backpedalled and threw each ball in succession. With perfect accuracy they hit their target, engulfing the villains in a cocoon of brilliant red energy, then vanishing in a flash to reveal two large padded tackling dummies with the surprised images of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa emblazoned on the outside.

The Centiback-Rangers erupted in cheers, Tommy holding his pink football high so Kim could be a part of their victory. Coming together in a big huddle, hugging and slapping backs and hollering with pure elation. They had won.

Centiback saw Finster standing shyly on the edge of the raucous scrum, stepping out of the fray to meet him. Without a word, the centipede grabbed the troll and lifted him up onto his shoulder. Finster grabbed onto Centiback's helmet for support, making the bug laugh as he reached up to scoot his father into a more comfortable position.

"Alright everybug, listen up! We gotta lot of work to do, but I want you all to know from now on that Finster is the undisputed president and general manager of Team Centiback. Whatever he says, goes. You got it?"

"Yeah coach!" "Welcome to the team Finster!" "He the boss!" "Hey, he's kinda cute..."

The team laughed at Aisha, trying to give her a noogie as she slipped away and playfully sprayed them with webbing from her pom-pons.

The celebration lasted for hours, Finster eager to hear all about his son's victory and Centiback all too glad to recount his glorious gridiron battle. The Centiback-Rangers listened intently, viewing the story as just part of their training going from weak benchwarmer to all-pro bug.
But as the day ended and the elation died down, Centiback felt himself brimming with more energy that he could ever imagine. Energy he was going to use to build his football empire....

EPILOGUE

It was a crisp autumn day at Centiback Stadium when Team Centiback took the field, running in to a stadium full of roaring fans, every last one decked out in Team Centiback hats, shirts, and signs proclaiming love for their team and humiliating defeat for the opponents. The Seaside Wolves, Angel Grove's rival high school, took the field looking worried. The teenagers were dwarfed by the hulking team of centipedes, and had it not been for the strange invitation to their town to send their best football team or be destroyed, they would not have come at all.

With each seat in the stadium emblazoned with a centipede constantly filling every fan with Centiback's addictive football spirit, it was no surprise that the crowd was whipped into a near-deafening frenzy.

On the field they saw the mightiest gladiators they had ever seen. A team of hulking armored centipedes whose muscles bulged as they moved, catching passes, running and slamming into each other with incredible force. The fans found they couldn't look away from the players, in awe of their sheer size and displays of strength. Aisha pumped up the crowd with her hypnotic cheers, intended to stoke the football spirit that grew stronger the longer they were under Centiback's spell.

It was never a fair game at first. But as Centiback took out his whistle, he knew that a few quarters of bumping heads and getting in the trenches with his boys would help pump them with his energy. By halftime they'd be sprouting legs, bulking up with each drive until the final period when the field was filled with big burly bugs rolling around battling for turf. If they win, they go free. If they lose, they become burly centipede football players forever.

Either way, Centiback had realized his dream. Pure football heaven on Earth.

TWWWWWEEEEEEEEEET!!!