Disclaimer: The Power Rangers belong to Saban/Disney. Expect a lot of history altering events to happen in about every fic. I do not stay true to canon. I own no character except the one that you will soon see as this story goes. This is the first story in the Platinum Shadow arc.
Rebirth
By David Knight
Do you believe in fate?
Do you believe that everything happens for a reason and that everything is set into place and none can change it. No matter what the past that person's future is set in stone and nothing can be done to change it?
If you believe then you should not be here. Races of higher force believe themselves to be gods and think they have the power do what ever they please and yet we are not here to talk about higher forces.
But rather the concept of 'What if?' What if, just what if one single small change in a time line was made. What affect do you think it would have on the future? Do you think it would do nothing at all?
Or would you believe that a single change in detail from what you know to be normal could change everything from that point on and everything you thought you know was almost worthless.
Welcome to Altered Fates. Stick around a while you'll see what I mean. I think you'll be surprised.
* * *
The Command
Center
September 1996
The scene is almost just as it had been in so many different times. The Zeo Crystal was reassembled. Time had been put back to its proper place. The Hydro Hog defeated. Last but not least, Rito and Goldar underneath the Command Center ready to take the Zeo Crystal.
That's where the similarities end and our story begins.
* * *
Billy was beginning to explain the concept of morphing to Tanya when suddenly a flash of flame and a flash of blue red appeared and solidified into Rito and Goldar.
"Ay-yi-yi! Intruder Alert!" Alpha cried as the two villains came forward and Billy and Tanya backed away.
"Goldar! Rito! I order you to leave at once!" Zordon ordered the two henchmen.
"We were just leaving!" Goldar sneered.
"Yeah!" Rito as he picked up the Zeo Crystal which then started to glow black, "And so is the Zeo Crystal! Ciao...ahhhh!!!"
"What? Rito what's..." Goldar turned around to look at his bumbling associate and saw to his surprise as well as Zordon, Alpha, Billy and Tanya's surprise that the Zeo Crystal was now flashing in several different colors and electricity was sparking from it now, going right through Rito.
"WH-HA-IS HAPPP---ENING---TO--MEEEEEEEEE!!!!" The skeleton could only scream, as he felt unable to move.
"Idiot! I knew I should have grabbed the crystal instead of you!" Goldar said as he went to take it from Rito only when he tried to touch him, the crystal reacted sending Goldar crashing into a wall all the way on the other side.
"Zordon what's going on?!" Billy asked the wise sage.
"I... I am not sure..." Zordon said in all honesty.
A few seconds later, the other five Rangers teleported in and they saw two people they never though they would see in their headquarters, "Rito! What's he doing here?" Rocky asked.
"HEL---P---HELP---ME!!!!" Rito cried out. Before anyone could do anything more the Zeo Crystal start to spark out electricity hitting parts of the command center, causing the Rangers to scatter.
"Zordon! What's going on!" Katherine cried out.
Zordon was about to say something before an explosion occurred. The entire room shook as if an earthquake hit it and consoles start to blow. Goldar got up with dark realization. "Oh no! The detonator has been activated!"
"Detonator?!" Tommy whirled around looking at Goldar. "You set a bomb right under our base?!"
"Let your headquarters be your crypt Rangers!" Goldar shouted as he teleported out of the Command Center very eager to get out of there right then and there.
"Rangers, you must evacuate the Command Center at once!" Zordon commanded.
"We can't leave you!" Adam shot out just before the second wave of explosions fired up around him and his teammates. As smoke started to fill the room it was clear to anyone that the Command Center wasn't going to survive the blast. The bolts coming from the Zeo Crystal were only helping in the process.
"Get out of here now Rangers! Hurry! Go!" Alpha 5 cried.
"Come with us, Alpha!" Rocky cried out.
Suddenly the third wave of implosive bursts began ripping through the Command Center. It knocked the Rangers off of their feet and the ceiling was now falling down.
"Alpha, teleport them out, now!" Zordon ordered.
"Ay-yi-yi! Right, Zordon!" Alpha returned as he moved as quickly as he could to get to the teleportation console and just as he was about to press the button...
*ZAP!!!*
A bolt from the Zeo Crystal blasted a hole right through his chest. All of the teenagers were shocked to say the least but perhaps Billy summed their combined feelings up best as the tears started to come down, "Alpha! NOOOO!" He tried to rush to the robot that had been his friend for the last three years but then a part of the ceiling fell down blocking his path. "NO! Alpha!" He tried to get through but then felt Adam and Tommy holding him back.
"No Billy!" Adam shot.
"There's nothing we can do!" Tommy told him.
Billy shot a look over at Rito, who he knew was in pain beyond belief thanks to his taking of the Zeo Crystal but he didn't care at this point. They had lost everything now thanks him and Goldar.
"Tele...portation... se...que...nce act..ivate...d..."
Billy's eyes widened as he heard the voice. "Alpha!" was all he got to say before he and the other rangers were teleported out of the Command Center.
* * *
From his pocket dimension, Zordon watched on as he saw what he work he had done for countless centuries on earth now being destroyed. All by two he didn't expect to ever get into the Command Center.
And yet even as he watched Alpha 5 cease functioning he knew Alpha was not lost to the Rangers. He had downloaded a backup copy of his memory regularly into the backup base that he had built below the Command Center. Zordon knew the day might come where his Command Center was blown up. It never hurt to have his bases covered but that was not what was on his mind the most.
It was the reaction that Rito was having to touching the Zeo Crystal. Though not of magic itself, the Zeo Crystal was a holy object of power. It was also an object that broke through magic and in some cases was stronger than magic. Such was the case if one was fighting a foe made of metal, like the Machine Empire. If the Machine Empire arrived on Earth then even with their regular powers, the Rangers would not stand a chance. Only...
The sage suddenly stopped his current train of thought as he felt two things. One of them coming from space and one from the Command Center. The one from space was something he had just hoped would not come this way: the Machine Empire.
And the other feeling, surprisingly, was coming from Rito... and in all his life Zordon could not be prepared for what he felt coming from Rito.
_By the Power... can it be...?_ Zordon asked himself. He had only seconds left before the Command Center was destroyed and if Rito was left in there he would be destroyed with it as well as the Zeo Crystal. Zordon closed his eyes, _One might call this a Devil's deal... but then again I have no choice in the matter._
One second before the Command Center was destroyed, Zordon transported Rito Revolto out of it.
* * *
On the ground level of the desert around the mountain the Command Center was rested atop, the six Ranger teens teleported safely onto the dirt. Adam and Tommy were the first to get up but they were hideously rewarded with sight of the Command Center erupting in a massive fireball, debris flying everywhere, as the entire building became engulfed in flames. The shockwave from the blast was so great that the Rangers were knocked off their feet from the force of the destruction. Once the smoke cleared, the teens started to get up again and dusted themselves off.
"Everybody okay?" Tommy asked. Tanya, Adam, and Rocky all failed to reply, simply grunting as they struggled to pull themselves up from the ground.
Kat was about say something until she looked up and screamed, "BILLY!" She started running to him as did the others, hoping that he is alright.
"No!" Billy moaned as he tried to lift himself up and did so by the time the others get there. "Oh god please no..." The Rangers looked at what Billy was seeing.
The Command Center.
A former shell of what it once was, only the very bottom of the structure was still there.
"It's gone... destroyed.." Adam muttered.
"But about Zordon and Alpha!" Rocky asked.
"Do you think they could have survived?" Tanya added.
Tommy frowned angrily and shook his head, "I don't know."
"Tommy, what are we going to do?" Kat asked.
"I don't know Kat..." the former White Ranger repeated before he stated the obvious, "...but this could be the end of the Power Rangers."
* * *
Meanwhile on a different plain of existence, Rito was starting to wake up. He looked around as he got up but found it was like and endless great expanse of nothing.
"Hey... I'm okay! I am still thinking... I think... Ya know I should get back to Sis and Ed real soon... but... doesn't look like I can go anywhere right now..." Rito muttered.
St-u---pro---I---ki---fa---
"Man!" Rito scratched his head. "What is that annoying ringing in my ears?"
"Someone who is real where you are false."
Rito looked forward and saw a middle aged man clad in a sparkling silver robe, carrying what looked like a wooden staff. He was bald and pale and his eyes were stern. "Hey old timer... got any idea how I get out of here?"
"To think that Master Vile did this to his own son... I had always assumed he had killed him... but I never though he did this to him." the old man returned.
"Hey! Answer my question old man or I'm going to..." Rito started but then the old man held his staff up and then suddenly the Zeo Crystal appeared. The old man had a smile on his face.
"I had a feeling here in the Astral Plane the essence of the Zeo Crystal could also appear." the sage returned.
Rito finally looked at the old man hard and long. "... Zordon?! What the heck are you doing here? And where are we? Aren't you supposed be in a pocket something or other..."
Pocket dimension you stupid moron!
Rito clutched his head again, the pain he was feeling worse than before. "ARGH! What is wrong with my head!"
"That's the problem... you never had one to begin with." Zordon stated as his staff glowed the same color as the Zeo Crystal and suddenly Rito felt a change.
A bad one.
"O... oh... suddenly... I don't feel so good... o... wh... what's happening..." Rito then looked down at his chest and gasped in shock an arm, a fully human arm broke right through his chest. "ARGH! THE PAIN! MAKE IT STOP!" Another arm came right through his body breaking more bones, "MAKE IT STOP!!!"
Zordon only closed his eyes and prayed what he was doing wasn't going to make things worse for the universe.
"PLEASE! STOP THIS..." He could hear Rito screaming but then he heard another voice.
"Oh I'll stop it alright."
Feeling weak with most of his body broken Rito looked up and saw the thing that had come out of his body. "Wh... what are you..."
"Truth... NOW GO TO HELL!!!" He raised his hand at Rito and it glowed dark black. "SPIRIT BREAKER!!!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Rito screamed until his image just shattered, his soul blown apart into nothing.
"Now that felt good." the figure turned around and faced Zordon. "I never expected to be set free, much less anyone learn the truth, and even less have the one to do it be you."
"I want something from you." Zordon asked.
The figure looked back at Zordon with a smile, "Ah yes the Zeo Crystal. You can have the five main shards of course."
Zordon felt relieved at that but then stared when he heard it, "Five main shards?"
"There are several other shards. Whether I'll want them or not will depend on my mood." the figure returned. "But for now Zordon, consider me... an ally of sorts."
Zordon did something he never did in the past. He let his jaw drop. Of all the possible reactions from this man, this was not what he was expecting. "... why?"
"Why? Why? Because I'm sick and tired of the whole G vs E deal in the universe! You know I am not as stupid as that preprogrammed soul my father put into me so don't take me for Rito!" the figure then smirked. "And speaking on the subject of family, I have a few people to take care of. So now then here's the deal. You freed me, so I will give you the Zeo Crystal and bring your power back up to full. After that, we are even and it's a clean slate for me. You will explain to your rangers just who I am. Are we clear Zordon?"
Zordon regained his composure. Even with some of the newer attitudes he had, he knew this one was indeed crafty. "Crystal. We have a deal."
"Good." the being said as he then vanished from the Astral Plane and soon Zordon did the same.
It was time to get ready.
* * *
The six of them wandered about the ruins of the Command Center, all of them in disbelief from seeing the wreckage of what had once been their base of operations. "I always thought the Command Center was the one safe place Rita and Zedd could never touch." Katherine cried.
"One thing we should always remembered was to never underestimate those two." Tommy sighed. "We'll find away to get back at them and stop what ever they are going to do."
"How are we supposed to do that Tommy?" Rocky asked. "The Zeo Crystal is gone. It was probably destroyed in the Command Center along with Rito."
"I just hope at the very least that Rito is gone." Billy said with a bit of venom, and not undeserved given the circumstances.
"Oh he's gone. Gone to hell as a matter of fact."
All six teenagers turned around and looked up to see someone standing up on a hill. Dressed in only a black vest and black leather pants, he looked as old and as human as they did. Bright blue eyes contrasted to the pale face that they saw, noble and flawless in appearance. Short platinum blonde hair framed his face only enhancing his look.
But the sight that caught all of the teens' attention was that in his right hand was the Zeo Crystal.
"In fact I am the one that sent the personality there," the young man said as he leapt off the ledge, a good thirty feet down and did a spin on the way before landing gracefully on his feet. He walked over to Tommy and smiled, "If you are wondering if I am going to be keeping the Crystal, the answer is no. In return for freeing me you get the crystal. Of course I really have no need for this now. It's already served its purpose for me."
"Who are you?" Tommy asked.
The man in black simply chuckled. "A person who was made into an idiot by a father and sister whose views he did not share."
They all just stared at him until Billy said it first, "RITO!" he then charged at him before anyone could stop him but as Billy tried to strike the man, he found it went through air. "What?!"
"Lesson one Rangers and remember this lesson, Rito Revolto is dead. In fact he was never even real," the young man told them, now standing behind them and still holding the Zeo Crystal. A smile danced on his lips, "You may address me as Julian Cross.... oh and Zordon and Alpha are quite alive I assure you all in case any of you had any thoughts they had perished in the explosion."
"What?!" was shouted by all six teenagers.
"How do you know that? Where are they?" Kat asked.
Julian didn't answer Katherine's question directly. He simply threw the Zeo Crystal up in the air but when it came back down to the earth and struck the ground, the former rangers started to feel the earth beneath them shaking. They looked up at Julian who had a smirk on his face. "Why don't you go find out?"
One second later, the ground under them gave way and all six of them found themselves falling through dark chasm.
Julian looked down and heard their screams. "Enjoy the ride." he grinned. Looking up at the moon he smirked, "I don't have a lot of time until the bucket heads come here. Ten minutes back in the game so that takes me out of fighting them..." he smirked as he looked down and saw the glow of his hands, "... even with the extras that the Zeo Crystal decided to leave me." Julian kept his smile on as a plan began to form, "But I definitely have enough time to cause some hell to sis." He chuckled as he thought of the fun he could have making certain people pay for the pain he had been through all of these millenniums. He was about to go ahead and do that when the sounds of someone groaning came to him.
"Hmmm?" Julian turned his head around and saw something underneath rubble from the Command Center. He lifted it up with one hand and threw it aside as if it were paper. The being that had been underneath it was Goldar.
Julian looked at the incoherent golden monkey who he realized was without his wings now. He looked at him for a good while before making his decision.
_Let the Games begin._ Julian chuckled as he teleported to the moon with Goldar in tow.
* * *
In the lower levels of the Lunar Palace there was a dungeon there. It held among them monsters that been rejected or creatures that had been placed there because they were deemed worthless.
One of them did not believe herself to be worthless. She hated Zedd with a passion for what he had done to her. But if he actually believed she was always stuck here, he was wrong. She could come and go as she pleased but she was biding her time. She had finally gained what she wanted and now she could exact her revenge.
And then they finally had to beat the Rangers. She could hear the celebration from down here. She couldn't sneak out now. They would definitely see her. It looked as if she was going to be stuck here. She could escape but then Zedd would just end her life for 'defying his orders' to remain in this cesspool of moronic creatures. A place where someone of her talents and skills did not deserve to be.
_And here we go again..._ She groaned as she saw a purple colored copy of Silver Horns called Spikey come at her again for the third time this week wanting to have a night with her.
"Come on lady! You know there's nothing else to do here! What are you going to do other than be stuck here?"
"How about help someone who actually respects talent?"
The woman froze in shock and disbelief when she heard the voice and her surprise was further shown when she saw Spikey's head blown off by a magical blast. "...it can't be..."
Julian Cross smirked as he came into the light. "Hello Lamia. How's my childhood friend been?"
"Like shit since you got sealed. What do you think Julian?" Lamia asked as she 'slipped out' of her chains. "How did you get out?"
Julian smirked wider if that was possible. "Would you believe touching the Zeo Crystal and Zordon himself?"
Lamia just stared at him for a moment before she broke out in laughter. She didn't care how or why, but Zordon freeing Julian was just too much. She composed herself half way before speaking, "I have to say, you're definitely an improvement over the guy that was taking up residence in your body."
Julian's smirk dropped as his face was emotionless, "He's dead and in hell. Never mention him again."
Lamia totally sobered up after hearing his tone. "Got it. ... so what's the plan?"
His trademark smirk slowly returned to his face. She knew it to be annoying but if Julian was smirking you had better be careful if you were his enemy because it meant the shit was going to hit the fans and soon.
"How would you like to get back at Rita and Zedd and stick it to them in a big way?" he smirked. Lamia smiled back as she told Julian exactly what he wanted to hear. "Good. Once I start my show get out of here... and take the gold monkey with you and put him in a room when you get there."
Lamia blinked when she saw Julian leave but then she saw whom he meant. "Goldar. Oh what does he have planned for you?"
* * *
Back at the ruins of the Command Center, the Rangers were finally waking up. "We're still alive..." Rocky muttered.
"I thought we'd never would have hit bottom." Adam replied. "But where are we?"
"I think we are in one of the storage rooms in the older lower levels of the Command Center. They connect to system of tunnels," Billy guessed.
"It's probably how Rito and Goldar got into the Command Center then, through the tunnel system." Kat said.
"If those two could use it to get in, we can probably use it to get out. Let's start exploring." Tommy took charge as he was the first out of the room and the others followed right behind him.
As they were wandering around blindly in the dark tunnels, they became aware of the fact they were long and quite possibly endless.
"Tommy we got to face that we are lost in this maze," Rocky muttered.
"We can't give up. We have to find a way out of here." Tommy said.
"Final systems check nearly completed."
All of the teens blinked when they heard that voice come from seemingly nowhere at all. "Was that...?" Kat asked.
"Finally! All systems are set up and functional. Now I can scan for the Rangers."
"It's Alpha! It has to be!" Billy shouted. Suddenly a gust of wind came through the tunnel and the ground beneath them shook as they fell the ground. As they started to get up they saw a green gate of energy suddenly appear before them.
"Rangers, please enter the vortex." Alpha's voice called out.
"The vortex?" Tommy asked as he looked at the gate hesitantly.
"Rangers please step through the vortex." Alpha's voice said to them.
Tommy decided to put his hand in and then brought it back.
"What is it?" Katherine asked.
"It feels... kind of cold..." Tommy told her. Looking back though, he decided to just go through it. He was followed by Billy, Katherine and Tanya, and then Adam. Rocky however waited for a bit.
"Um... maybe I should..." Rocky started to say until Adam came back out a little, his head and arm showing through the vortex as he grabbed Rocky.
"Will you come on," Adam sighed as he pulled Rocky through the Vortex with him and after they were both through it closed.
* * *
The first thing that the six teenagers saw once they had fully gone through the Vortex was a large, bright, and technologically advanced chamber. Along the walls near the floor were the vents with golden light, vents that had been found all throughout the tunnels beneath the Command Center. Looking around the room they saw large double doors, the medical table, a tall doorway with several steps leading up to it, two rectangular monitors, the circular Viewing Screen, and more large double doors. Of the two rectangular monitors on the north wall, the left one showed a map of the Earth, and the right one showed a map of the main room. In the center of this room was a console, roughly six feet wide. On its left was a similar console as well as an identical one on the right.
"Whoa..." Rocky breathed.
"Unbelievable," Adam added.
"What is this place?" Kat asked.
"The next generation in strategic command outposts." Billy explained.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life..." Tanya gasped.
"Its more advanced than the Command Center ever was," Tommy breathed.
"I've seen plans for it in the mainframe, but I had no idea it existed." Billy said. He looked up and saw a familiar tube, one he assumed was for Zordon and then as he turned around he just looked in surprise.
It was Alpha 5 and yet it wasn't. His body was streamlined and shinier than the Alpha they all knew but all thoughts of that were put aside when he spoke, "Hello, Power Rangers. Welcome home."
"Alpha!" the Rangers ran towards him.
"Alpha we thought you were..." Kat began but then Alpha spoke up, "No. It'll take more than that to keep me down. My original body was destroyed in the explosion, so I had to download myself into this new prototype body. Well what do you think?"
"It's incredible!" Billy smiled.
"At least Rito didn't totally destroy you Alpha." Rocky said.
"Rito... oh you mean Julian. It would be better to call him that especially considering Rito never really existed." Alpha said.
"What...?" Adam asked.
"Alpha what do you mean?" Tommy asked.
"Perhaps I can explain Tommy."
All of the Rangers looked up when they heard Zordon's voice as he entered into the new energy tube.
"Zordon your alive!" Katherine cried.
"Zordon what happened with Rito and the Zeo Crystal?" Billy asked.
"And what are we going to do about Rita and Zedd?" Tommy asked.
"For now I think Julian will be taking care of Rita and Zedd while we must prepare for a new threat to the Planet." Zordon said.
"New threat?" Adam asked.
"Julian?" Billy asked. "Are you talking about that guy in black who thinks he's Rito or claims to be?"
"No Billy. Julian is Master Vile's son and Rita's half brother. I had long assumed that Julian had been killed in battle as had the rest of the universe... but in fact did something I don't believe he could have done. Master Vile sealed his son Julian into his mind and transformed him with an Artificial Personality that would make him absolutely loyal... but he didn't think he would turn him into a buffoon and a shadow of what he had been. That personality was Rito Revolto." Zordon said.
All of the Rangers just took this information in and then they could only wonder, what was going to happen now.
* * *
From the Lunar Palace, Rita Repulsa let out a laugh as she danced with her husband. "I have never been so happy, the Rangers fought until their very end..."
"True... but in the end they were no match for us!" Zedd chimed in with her. Baboo and Squatt were also joining in the celebration. "And I couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh Zeddy you are such a card. Doesn't it feel so good to be finally rid of those Power Pukes!" Rita screeched with joy.
"Yes! By evil it feels wonderful to be finally finished with those Rangers!" Zedd laughed as he looked down below, "And now the Earth is ours for the taking!"
"Yes it is! Happy days are here now!" Rita shouted.
"Lord Zedd, how does it feel to be the ultimate evil power in the universe?" Squatt asked.
"Yeah now that you have defeated the Rangers?" Baboo added.
"Um... my lord..."
The evil beings turned around to see Finster walking into the room. "Yes what is it Finster? Have Goldar and that idiot brother come back yet? I can't wait to whack him for his failure!" Rita screeched.
"Oh your brother has come back..." a voice sneered. "... just not the one you were hoping for."
Rita dropped her staff and palled considerably. "..N..N... no... it can't be..."
"Rita? What is this? Who is that?" Zedd asked.
"Hello... 'Ed'..." Julian stressed to make a point as he stepped into the light. "It is so good to meet my 'brother-in-law' for the first time for real."
"'Rito'?" Zedd stared in disbelief.
"Zedd... meet... my brother... Julian Rev..." A magical bolt from her half brother at her head but missing silenced her.
"Julian Cross." he stressed the last name. "After locking me up and helping 'dad' make me into a moron while allowing the universe to believe me dead for twenty millennia there is no way in the seven hells I want to have that name as my last. Now then I think its time I taught you a little lesson... my treacherous and ugly half-sister."
"UGLY?!" Rita shrieked as she picked her staff back up and pointed it at the still smirking Julian. "I don't know how you ended up coming out but you are going back!" she fired off a blast from her wand only to see Julian deflect it. "What?!"
Julian chuckled. "The Zeo Crystal has been good to me sister. One of its blessings has been the gift of unenchantment. What that means is that I can never be sealed away like I was by father again or be converted by anyone. I'm in free will sister and I am taking my pound of flesh out of you."
"Over my dead body!" Zedd shouted. He had his own problems with Rita but she was his wife. Zedd struck at Julian with his Z-staff only to be in shock as Julian blocked the shot by holding it in his hand.
A cruel smile appeared on Julian's face. "As you wish." he struck Zedd hard into the stomach with his free hand. The Emperor of Evil couldn't believe the force of the blow. Julian took Zedd's staff and held it up high before breaking it over his knee turning it into a snake before throwing it onto his sister who was now screeching like a banshee. Julian simply laughed as he saw this but when he looked up he stopped laughing. "Damn. They are an hour earlier than I thought. Glad I was prepared though." Looking at Rita as he walked toward the door he smiled, "Sorry to cut our reunion short sister, but its in all of our interests to leave now. After all..." he paused before saying, "... we don't want to fight the Machine Empire now do we?"
With that he left taking a look at their shocked expressions before leaving.
"He... he wasn't serious was he?" Rita gasped.
The laser blasts that rocked the palace were enough to convince them he was telling the truth.
* * *
Back in the Power Chamber, Zordon had finished giving the Rangers the explanation on how Julian had declared himself an ally of sorts to them and then went into discussing all about the nature of their newest threat, the Machine Empire, and the threat they posed to the Earth. They were in even more shock to learn that Rita and Zedd were already on the move trying to escape from the Machines. They had never known those two to ever run from a fight.
"Zordon if the Machine Empire is as bad as you say, how can we stop them without our powers?" Tommy asked.
"Even with your original powers you would have been defeated by the Machine Empire however with the Zeo Crystal you will be able to defeat them but there is only enough for five of you."
"And someone steps down... so it will be me." Billy said surprising them before continuing. "Bare with me guys, I just don't feel its my destiny to be a Zeo Ranger and besides I didn't go on a Zeo Quest like the rest of you."
"But neither did I. Aisha did and she gave me her crystal." Tanya said.
"No. You did go on a Zeo Quest Tanya. You did that by staying with Aisha every step of the way." Billy told her.
Tommy looked back at his friend, "Billy, are you sure about this?"
"Definitely, besides its not as if I am leaving the team. Just moving on to a different direction. Think we need to have another set of hands working her in the Power Chamber..." Billy said as he looked around, "And to be honest, I'm going to like getting to know this place."
"I respect your decision Billy and I am sure that the path you chose will be the one that you will enjoy most." Zordon said before looking at the others. "Rangers approach the table before you." A table appeared then with five sets of strange bracelets. "These are your Zeonizers. With the power of the five sub crystals, they will allow you to morph and call upon your new powers.
As they picked up the Zeonizers, the Zeo Crystal appeared floating next to Zordon briefly, and then divided into its sub crystals, each one hanging over one of the Rangers. "Katherine, you are now Zeo Ranger I, Pink," The crystal descended into Kat, and a moment later she stood clad in her new Pink Ranger suit.
"Tanya, you are now Zeo Ranger II, Yellow," A flash of yellow light occurred and Tanya soon discovered what it felt like morphing, as her body experienced the rush of the power for the first time.
"For the others, the remaining three sub crystals you have collected have given you all new colors," Zordon explained as he then looked at Rocky and spoke, "Rocky, you are now Zeo Ranger III, Blue." Rocky now wore Blue Zeo Ranger suit in a bit of awe.
"Adam, you are now Zeo Ranger IV, Green," Zordon said to Adam as he felt the power go through him.
"And Tommy, you are now Zeo Ranger V, Red," Tommy felt the power of the Zeo shard going through his body and found himself clad in the uniform of the Red Zeo Ranger.
The Zeo Rangers soon removed their helmets feeling in awe and full of energy from the Zeo power they had. "Be proud my young friends for the power of the Zeo Crystal now resides within you. You will all have many new tools at your disposal, tools which will all be revealed in time." The Rangers looked back after feeling a light go on and they then saw the suits of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers all in crystal displays with the center holding all of their weapons. "The Power Rangers as you have known them are gone forever and in their place has emerged a new and more advanced fighting force. You are the Power Rangers Zeo, the next level in the fight against evil."
* * *
Back on the moon...
"Hurry up we are almost to Serpentara!" Zedd shouted. He looked back and saw Rita running, along with Baboo, Squatt, Finster, and Tengas with her luggage. _Why should she worry about luggage at time like this?_
"Stuff it Zeddy! Let's just get into that Zord of yours! I can't wait to cruise in style on the way home to my father." Rita said.
Zedd grimaced. He wasn't fond of having to stay with his father in law but he also found a bit troubling in the conversation. "Why didn't you mention your brother to him?"
"Are you out of your mind! If he finds out Julian's back he's going to have a fit and somehow blame it on me!" Rita said.
"But what do we about Goldar?" Baboo asked.
"Yeah he's not even here." Squatt said.
"As of this moment he's out of our employment! He's officially the scapegoat for me to tell Daddy why Julian's back!" Rita sneered as she though she had her bases covered when she got to M-51. "Now let's just get to Serpentara so we can crank up the AC and..."
Rita stopped as soon as she got to where Serpentara was supposed be. Her face was totally pale. When Zedd got to her, he couldn't believe the rage he felt just then.
In the place of Serpentara was a beat up rundown Winnebago.
"... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!!!" Zedd roared.
"I'd say you are up the creek without a paddle wouldn't you say?" The two villains looked up and just let their shock and anger show as they saw Serpentara above them with Julian at the helm. He flashed a grin to them, "Oh I thought I would give you the lifeboat that was in the storage deck of this thing. See sis, I like giving 'slim' chances of survival where as you and dad give people none."
"Julian you bastard!!!" Rita screeched.
Julian smirked, "From you I'll take that as a complement."
"How in the Inferno did you get into my Zord!" Zedd screamed. "I have codes to protect intruders from getting in! Not even Dark Specter was able to get into it!"
"Oh I have my silent partner to thank for that." Julian smirked.
"Partner?" Rita screeched.
"You want to come out and show them?" Julian smirked as he looked to his passenger who decided to stick her head out. The looks on their faces were priceless to Julian and Lamia. But the villains knew her by another name.
"Scorpina!!!" Rita shrieked.
"That's not possible! I never told you any codes! I left you in the lower levels of the castle for failure!" Zedd shouted.
Scorpina, or rather Lamia, just smirked, "Yes and this is my way of paying both of you back for the hell I've been through. Both on and off the job for the last twenty-five millenniums! Oh and how did I know the codes... well..." she sneered at them when she gave her answer, "Let's just say a certain golden monkey loves a good night's sleep more than loyalty to his masters."
"Enjoy the ride in your car home... oh and sis, one more thing," Julian smiled coldly at them, "You are the ugliest whore in the universe hands down!"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" Rita screeched as Serpentara took off but all she could hear was Julian's laughter.
"Damn it!" Zedd screamed. "I can't believe this!"
"Neither can I! How dare he do this to me! His own sister!" Rita shouted.
"Actually that I can understand!"
Rita turned around in surprise. "What?!"
"What I don't understand is why your idiot father sealed him up to begin with!" Zedd told her. "He's far more capable, more powerful and smarter than Rito ever was! Why would you want to change him from what I have seen into what Rito was?!"
"You actually like him?!" Rita screeched in disbelief.
"I like his qualities! His attitude, his style, his way of handling things! If he was on our side, then the Earth would have been ours long ago!" Zedd shouted.
"You don't get it do you Zedd!" Rita spat. "Julian doesn't care about conquering planets! That's why daddy tried to fix him up!"
Zedd just stared at her in disbelief. "... that's it... that's the grand reason Master Vile turned him into Rito the bumbling bozo! Now I don't know who is stupider or was in any case. Rito, your father, or you!"
"What! Zedd you have got to be kidding me!" Rita argued.
"So what if he doesn't care about conquering a planet! Did your father ever try to consider there are other methods of getting what you want from a planet without enslaving or conquering it!" Zedd shot. "Yes I admit my own personal way is conquering other worlds but not everyone in the UAE holds that same view point! Did either one of you ever think to consider that?"
Before any more arguing could occur Quadrafighters rained blaster bolts at them. "We can continue this later your majesties!" Finster cried. "I've already loaded the absolute necessities into the life craft. The rest has to be left behind!"
"WHAT!" Rita screeched, as she saw what was going to be left behind was all of her clothes and jewelry. "NO! I CAN'T LEAVE THIS BEHIND!!!"
"You are going to! We are out of time!" Zedd said as he shoved his wife into the RV and then got in himself along with Squatt and Babbo. He then turned on the gas and started the RV.
And cramped in the back all Rita could do was complain. "I swear... I'm going to make that bastard of a brother pay for this... I SWEAR IT!!!" she screeched as the RV was heading for the M-51 galaxy... the hard way.
* * *
Julian and Lamia had a laugh as they watched the RV run off trying to avoid the fighters blasting at it.
"Did you enjoy this?" Julian asked.
"Definitely," Lamia laughed.
"So what do you want to do on our way to Onyx? Goldar's still unconscious in the room you placed him in." Julian asked of her but then felt something thrown into her face. Her armor.
"Forget the monkey." Lamia smirked as she was now dressed only in what could be considered enough clothing to serve as a black bikini. "How about a little personal fun?"
Julian smirked. "You know I don't love you like that."
"Oh I know that, but I have missed having it with another human being. Haven't you?" Lamia asked.
Julian just kept his smirk on. "Well it has been over twenty millennia... I have been deprived."
"Then let me help rectify that." Lamia smiled.
The rest of what happened was behind closed doors.
* * *
Sure enough the Machine Empire and the Rangers had their first battle. It was at a power plant and the Zeo Rangers were facing King Mondo's first line of attack, his Cogs.
The Rangers fought well against the Cogs who seemed to have some fighting ability, but also it was only what was programmed into them. Human instinct was a factor the Cogs could not comprehend, which allowed the Zeo Rangers to make spur of the moment decisions while the Cog sometimes had to take some time to evaluate its next plan of attack, hence the moving of the arms when a Cog stood still. This was a sign that it was processing its next plan of attack. However the Cogs quickly found themselves overmatched by the Zeo Rangers, and succeeded in driving the Cogs back.
Also a factor in the Rangers' favor was that they were able to do moves a Cog just wasn't designed to do. They could not counter the agility and speed provided by the Zeos in their attacks. Pink Zeo seemed to be the most agile of the group as she did cartwheels to avoid the Cogs's attacks. Yellow Zeo was also a close second in agility.
Blue Zeo was able to land some leg sweeps on his opponents, while Green Zeo got in some kicks. The best fighting came from Red Zeo who took out most of the Cogs he faced before they all retreated.
The Zeo Rangers had won, but they knew it wouldn't be long before they would face another attack by King Mondo and his forces. They knew they would have to be prepared for him. Also in the back of Red Zeo's mind he had a nagging feeling about what Julian Cross was up to, and what his presence meant for the Rangers.
Zordon saw his Rangers leave after their first victory against the Machine Empire, and yet like Red Zeo, he wondered what Julian was up to.
* * *
To answer both Tommy and Zordon's question, Julian was picking himself out of the bed he was sharing with Lamia. Serpentara was on autopilot at the moment. After twenty millennia of being without sex and having experienced once more, Julian was glad he had took her up on her offer. It was also a plus that she didn't love him like the way true lovers did but he also understood her reasons for it. Both of them just wanted a roll in the hay with someone good.
Presently she was out like a light but then again he shouldn't have expected other wise. Before being made into Rito by his old man, he was quite the womanizer. Very few women had resisted his charm.
_I wonder if I should look up Kimberly now that I'm myself again... wonder if she'd dump Tommy once she got to know me?_ Julian mused. The thought of seeing Kimberly again pleased him and decided he would make a trip to see her soon enough, after he went to see his uncle.
Julian laughed at the thought of what his uncle's face would look like once he saw him again. _He always loved me more than my own father did. In fact I wished often that he were my real father. Well if I have my way Master Vile won't be anything more than a stranger to me._ he chuckled darkly as he went to take a shower, his sweet smirk never leaving his face.
For him, he hadn't met his soulmate yet. In fact that was one of the main reasons why his father had done what he did. Julian believed in soulmates while his father didn't. In fact his father hated the concept of love and used women only for slaves or to get an heir. _Main reason why he killed mother off shortly after I was born no doubt._ Julian reasoned as he hummed a little ditty he picked up from Earth.
Earth.
Its very name sang out to him like a grand symphony. A prized jewel among the endless myriad of galaxies. A world he had grown to love. If there was one thing that his time as Rito had brought him that he liked, it was the fact that he had gone to that world that was considered a backward savagery planet.
_Fools, don't they know beauty is more than skin deep? You must go beyond the cover to find the truth._ Julian chuckled as he cleaned his body off. By the Divine One how he had missed even these simple pleasures. On earth such things could be done in so many more ways. They would be harder than how some more 'advanced' races did such things but it was the action that attracted Julian. That was what got his attention.
Shutting the water off he dried himself off with a towel and then put a black robe on as he walked to where he knew his other passenger was. He always liked making a big entrance. He would enjoy coming in looking like this.
He opened up the room to find Goldar still out like a light and laying on the bed that Lamia had put him on.
"I really am going to enjoy this." Julian smirked as he cast a water spell that made a small flood of waterfall all over Goldar waking him up.
"AHHH!!! YAH! What! What happened! Where am!" Goldar sputtered as he stood up holding his sword. "Wh... what happened to my wings!"
"You are looking good for someone that nearly died from the explosion." Julian smirked.
"Huh?!" Goldar turned around to face him. "Who are you human?! Where am I! Tell me now or I'll..."
"Or you'll what 'Goldie'?" Julian taunted. "Try a new threat. All of your current ones are old clichés that wouldn't scare a gradeschooler."
Goldar just stared at him in disbelief. He just thought of it but couldn't believe it. "Rito...?"
With a flick of his wrist, Julian lifted Goldar magically against the wall. His ice blue eyes narrowed in anger as he looked at the golden monkey. "Never call me by that name ever again! That is the name of a being that never existed and cost me twenty millenniums of living! Are we clear Goldar?" he nodded and Julian let him down. His features softened but that didn't make Goldar feel any more at ease. "Now then, you are on Serpentara, which I have taken from my bitch sister and Zedd."
Goldar just stared at him trying to understand this. "I don't get this... I mean... if you like this... then why were you...?"
"Made into such a bumbler?" Julian supplied. "My father and I have different views on how to live, how to fight, how to treat others. He believes in absolute conquest, domination and enslavement. I don't."
"But… why not?"
"Why not? Why not! Look around us Goldar and where have such polices gotten us? Ranger teams being created to back up military forces to fight against 'the dark and evil aliens' and more Ranger teams being made every year. It makes me so sick at how out of control this universe is getting!" Julian said with disgust. "I on the other hand have a very different method of things. I look for what I want and I find the best and zero risk involved way to get what I want. Sure it takes longer, it's not as short term satisfying... but when my plans reach fruition, I and those with me stand tall and proud and reap the benefits."
Goldar took all of this in and then asked the big question, "But... why have I am here?"
Julian just let a smile cross his face. "Because this last year, you have been the only friend I have had. You have been the only friend I have had since I was sealed."
"Huh?" Goldar blinked.
"I could never get free while the seal was in place, but I could see what was happening. To be honest, I like you Goldar. You have potential to be greater than you are already." Julian replied. "But in my own mind, staying with Rita and Zedd has downgraded. A lot. So this is what happens to you now, when we reach Onyx you may decide upon one of three choices. You can go back to Rita and Zedd, find a new master... or you can join my party."
Goldar looked back at Julian. He had loyalty but then he had thrown that away to Scorpina for sex. How else could Julian have gotten on Serpentarra. He was already somewhat of a laughing stock now. No one would hire him.
And yet for as long as he had served evil no one had ever given him a multiple option decision.
"I chose to serve you Prince Julian." Goldar started to bow but Julian held him up.
"No bowing. I don't my friends to have to bow before me. My friends are my equals." Julian said holding his hand out.
A hand that Goldar took whole-heartedly.
* * *
Several hours later, Julian was walking into the cockpit, back in his black leather vest and pants. He had yet to reclaim his most prized possession but he knew that it wouldn't be that easy to get it back. _I have a feeling father knows where Soul Crusher is. Though he doesn't have a single right to even TOUCH my blade._
As he looked out side he saw the planet Onyx before him. _Oh I am going to love this._ Julian chuckled as he made his way to the cockpit. Reclining his chair he punched in an electronic communication, which he knew would not have been changed.
And he was right for the face of the Grand Monarch of Evil and the leader of the United Alliance of Evil appeared on the view screen and looked a bit groggy.
"This had better be important who ever is calling me at this time of day!" Dark Specter roared.
"Hello Uncle." Julian casually said with a smile on his face. "So good to see you again."
Dark Specter just froze as he couldn't believe what he was seeing, "... Julian... is it... is it really you?"
"Yes Uncle," Julian smiled. "The Platinum Shadow has finally returned."
This is not the end... this is simply the Beginning.