Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Power Rangers. If I did I would have never allowed the Disneyfication . . . and it probably wouldn't matter either way because, apparently, we would still be seeing season one for the first time.
The asteroid was located in a very depressing area of space. The few stars which could be seen were probably already long dead. It was a wonder that anyone could come to this place without freezing. In fact, it was only the large amounts of negative energy that prevented the ice from forming. It was the perfect place for the leader of the Alliance of Evil to meet with his subjects and so it was the only place he would do so.
Divatox stood shivering on the asteroids surface. She rubbed her arms and legs together in order to keep warm and complained under her breath while she waited. "I should have worn a coat, but nooo, the Queen of the Space Pirates can't show any signs of weakness. Especially not right now. Rita and Mechina are having enough of a field day as it is . . . Should have brought someone with me. I know he said not to, bat at least Elgar or Porthole, idiots that they are, would have distracted me from this horrid weather," she glanced up, "or lack thereof."
"Divatox!"
The villainess jumped as Darkspector's mountain sized form appeared before her. Not for the first time, she wondered how he could exist in the vacuum of space. That lead to the question of how she could breathe without an oxygen atmosphere. She shook her head slightly to dispel the thoughts before Darkspector could notice her lack of attention.
"You're niece has become one of the Kerovian Rangers." She nodded and averted her eyes, it was not a question. "What do you plan to do about it?"
"I, uh . . . I was planning on attacking KO-35 until she agrees to rejoin me?"
"You would not brain wash her?"
"Oh, that never works!" She blinked, "My lord."
"I see. The Triforian Rangers are getting close to Rita and Zedd. That is why Zordon is being transferred onto your ship as we speak."
"You'd rather the Kerovian Rangers found him?" Divatox blurted once she caught up with the change in subject. Darkspector just stared at her. "You're sending someone else after the Kerovian Rangers."
"You are obviously more concerned with the girl as your niece rather than as the Kerovian Yellow Ranger. I would not want to put you in a difficult position." His patronizing tone made her eyes narrow, but she managed to gather herself before she did something stupid.
"Who are you sending instead?"
"That is none of your concern!"
Divatox swallowed the urge to yell back at him. No one could talk to the Queen of the Space Pirates that way, especially not when the topic was HER niece. Now was not the time to show insubordination, however. She would follow his orders, for now, and when she was ready she would go after Ashley. With her niece by her side and Zordon under their control they would show the Universe real power.
"Of course my Lord," she finally said with a small bow. "Is there anything else you wish of me?"
"Once you have secured Zordon you will return to Earth and continue in your battles with the Turbo Rangers."
She continued to glare at the ground until Darkspector finally dismissed her. If not for his interruption she would have defeated those weaklings over a month prior. Now they would have had time to regroup and they had obviously been off planet. Although, with their attitude that might be a disadvantage for them. Either way, Dimitria was busy elsewhere and they would be practically useless without their mentor.
The pirate was so caught up in her musings she failed to notice two other figures step from the shadows as she teleported back to her ship.
"Is it wise to allow her guardianship of Zordon without supervision, my Lord?" Ecliptor's monotone voice was the first to be heard.
"Those in Divatox's service are too stupid to keep any hints of treachery to themselves. If she does attempt to defy me she will be made an example. For the time being she is neither of your concern.
Ecliptor, you will take the Dark Fortress and lead the Rangers to believe that Zordon is aboard. Never stay in one place for longer than a week and do not wander too close to any major space faring member of the Federation."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Go now, Ecliptor, and report back to me in a month's time."
"What of me, my Lord?" An oily voice spoke up for the first time as Ecliptor bowed and disappeared into a grid-like teleportation stream.
"There is something I need you to collect for me, Darkonda. I have transferred all the necessary information to your ship. Once you have done that you will go to the Kerova system and keep the Astro Rangers busy."
"Of course, my Lord." Darkonda bowed and activated his own teleportation system.
His thoughts, as he prepared to take his small craft out of orbit, were an unconscious echo of Divatox's. He would play the waiting game and strike against Darkspector when the evil overlord was least expecting it. In the meantime, the Astro Rangers would make excellent playthings; the new Yellow Ranger could be particularly interesting. It was unlikely, after all, that Divatox would go after the girl so thoroughly simply because she was her niece.
He called up all known information on the Astro Rangers and skipped to that on the Yellow Ranger, there would be time for him to go back and study them all before he traveled to KO-35. The Yellow Ranger was not bad looking, for a human, and if hurting her caused the other six pain, well, so much the better.
Yes, he thought as he entered the coordinates Darkspector had sent to him, playing with the Astro Rangers would not be difficult at all.
"Thanks for the help. I know things are a little hectic all over the sector."
"It is not a problem, Andros." Prince Trey of Triforia, the Gold Ranger, replied on the view screen.
"We're happy to help while you train your new Rangers." Doggie Krugar, the Red Sirian Ranger, added.
"It shouldn't take too long. Karone just needs to get used to her new morph and Ashley and Zhane need to visit Phaedos. We should only need a month or so, six weeks at the most."
A hand suddenly came from behind him and covered his mouth a moment before his girlfriends face appeared beside him. "I think they get it Andros."
The Red Astro Ranger turned fully when he heard a small snicker and found the rest of his teammates arrayed against the back wall of the Megaship's bridge. He opened his mouth to yell at them per usual, having completely forgotten the open video conference behind him. Zhane was leaning forward in anticipation while Karone opened her mouth to interrupt when Prince Try beat her to it.
"Ashley Hammond, I have heard much of you." Everyone on the bridge immediately tensed and the Kerovans shot a quick glance at Ashley before looking at the view screen. Ashley swallowed hard before hesitantly meeting the Triforian's eyes. Prince Try, to his credit, caught the sudden tension across the vid and immediately realized how his words had been misinterpreted. "All that I have heard of YOU, Ashley Hammond, has been nothing but the utmost good. I take no other names into account."
Ashley hesitated a moment before taking a deep breath and smiling at the Gold Ranger. "Thank you, Your Highness. Your reputation is well earned." She placed both hands in front of her, palm up, and bowed at the waist as she spoke. Because of her position she failed to see the eyebrows of all of her teammates as well as Doggie Kruger shoot up at her actions. The only thing she saw upon rising was the impressed and slightly surprised look in Prince Trey's eyes.
"You know Triforian customs?" he asked.
"I have met those of many cultures in my travels to and from Earth over the last few years. I have made it a point to learn as much as I could from them."
"You are a credit to your team, Ashley Hammond. I am certain that you will continue to be so."
Ashley beamed at the Prince and included Doggie Kruger when she saw him nod in agreement with his counterpart.
"It's probably best that you head out now that your team is present," Doggie spoke to Andros after giving Ashley another nod of acknowledgement.
"Yeah," Zhane stepped forward to lounge against the navigation console, "we all know how those government types are. Wait until you're all set and ready to go then spring some urgent problem that absolutely needs a Rangers touch this time even though it's usually handled by the interns."
Everyone stared at him until Karone stepped up and shoved him out of her way. Zhane shot her wounded puppy look as he stumbled across the floor.
"You want to get out of here?" she asked sweetly, before narrowing her eyes at him, "stop blocking Ashley's station."
Andros quickly nodded goodbye and signed of before the Gold Ranger and the Sirian Red Ranger witnessed anymore of his teams antics; although it was obvious that the damage was already done judging by the paw covering Kruger's mouth and the overly bright eyes of the Triforian prince.
He looked back over his team to find Ashley worrying her lower lip while the others regained their breath after Karone's dismissal of her boyfriend.
"Karone . . ." Ashley's hesitant tone, reminiscent of the one used when she tried to return the Yellow Astro Morpher, immediately drew the attention of everyone on the bridge. "the navigation consol is your position. I don't want to —"
"Ashley," Karone smiled as she interrupted, "navigation is the Yellow Ranger's position, you've already learned the system, AND," her voice rose and she smiled again while Ashley swallowed her interruption and began worrying her lip again, "Zhane and I are the Astro Ranger's auxiliary forces, sort of." She shrugged at the weird looks she got from the others.
"We're here to provide support for you guys if you go up against something really powerful." She leaned back and folded her arms across her chest. Zhane had dubbed this her "lecture" position because she ended up in it whenever she needed to explain something to Ashley.
"Traditionally any additional Rangers, those outside the five on the primary team, are loaner types who only step in when absolutely necessary. The rest of the time they go off on their own—"
"Usually to pursue some sort of personal quest or vendetta," Zhane chimed in. His grin did not lose any of its brilliance when Andros and Karone glared at him. The two then shared a quick look and shrugged. He had a valid point.
"Anyway," Karone continued, "we'll be spending most of our time with you guys because that's the way we grew up. But if something comes up and the team needs to split up for some reason, the two of us will take care of one problem while the five of you take care of the other.
"In fact, I fully believe that we'll find a ship activated by the Digimorphers in the near future."
"That's what worries me," Andros broke in quietly. Everyone turned to him in confusion. They all knew that something had been bothering him since his sister and friend returned, but they hardly expected him to bring it up now. The Astro Red Ranger stood in pensive silence for a moment before individually meeting each gaze.
"The Power always behaves the same way, regardless of a teams experience or mentors. Whenever a new Power, weapon or Zord is found it's always the same set of circumstances. The Ranger team might not be ready for it," he looked to the view screen, now showing the constellations of the Kerova system, "but they always need it."
The others exchanged worried glances, then looked toward the view screen as well, each wondering what was lying in wait for them. The somber atmosphere on the bridge of the Astro Megaship lasted well over five minutes as each of its Rangers contemplated what could possibly be coming next. Finally, Karone shook her head and took a deep breath.
"Come on, Ash," her voice was loud and cheery, as if force alone could dispel the pervading gloom. "Why don't you try programming the coordinates this time?" Her smile was so bright that Ashley could not help returning it in spite of the depression surrounding her.
"Sure thing," she chirped as she moved around the pilot console and took a seat at navigation. Karone was leaning down over her shoulder when Ashley suddenly spun back around. She and Karone both blinked in surprise at finding themselves so close. The others chuckled and began making their way toward their stations as Ashley's sheepish eyes swept over them and a blush spread quickly across her cheeks.
"Um," her shy voice brought Andros' still preoccupied gaze around to her embarrassed smile, "Where are we going again?"
AN: So there it is, after, what, a year and half long wait? The first chapter of Between Good and Evil: Ninjetti Rising (and don't tell me that title doesn't give at least some of the plot points away). It's still going to be another chapter or two before I blurt out another main side character, so if you want to join my game of guess the character you still have time. Read the authors note at the end of the Interlude for instructions.
I'm so sorry to everyone for taking such a long break without letting anyone know. I'm out of school now and I wrote the last three chapters of the Interlude and the first two of Ninjetti Rising while working, so I can promise that I won't go so long without an update until the story is finished. I know exactly where this is going and I have most of the major plot points worked out, it's just a matter of writing it out.
The next chapter will be posted next Saturday, so until then "Let's Rocket!"
~Fantasywriter13
