Author's notes - Thanks for the feedback! :) Son of Whitebeard - I loved your comment. Guess who gets name-dropped in this chapter? Heh. I absolutely plan to write Dregon into a story, at some point, but the rivalry with Zedd is too good to use in a short story. I'd make Zedd vs Dregon (with the Rangers caught in the middle) into something really grand. Plus, I'm a huge fan of backstory. A lot's gone on in the PRU, to get the characters to where we actually meet them. And this story (as well as a few others) has some of Zedd's tale before he came to Earth. Jokermask - I thought you'd like this one. Great news, too. Keep me updated. The one thing Megaforce has given us is plenty of opportunities to explore and enrich the PRU. On with Omega. Keep an eye out for a political argument between Zedd and Crulger on what constitutes being a bad-guy in the PRU. Enjoy :).

Chapter Two

The Rangers materialised before Zordon's energy tube in twelve flashes of light.

"Rangers!" Zordon began. "We were watching you on the viewing screen. I'm glad you're all right."

"You didn't see everything," Jason said. Zordon and Alpha listened on in silence as Billy and Scott quickly relayed what they'd overheard. None of the Rangers could help noticing how Zordon's expression fell at the phrase, "the Omega Sanction," and they glanced to each other warily.

"That is indeed troubling news," Zordon said. "I'm sorry to say, Rangers, that you've just encountered Crulger the Reaper."

"The reaper?" Ian repeated.

"Okay, someone needs to stop letting supervillains come up with their own names," Kimberly said. "Like, seriously."

"He may be pretentious," Zordon continued, "but Crulger is vengeful and dangerous. There have been whispers for a long time that he was searching for the Omega Sanction. I'd hoped they weren't true."

"What is this thing anyway?" Zac asked.

"Yeah Zordon, tell us," said Scott. "What's the Omega Sanction? Why was Zedd so freaked out about it?"

"Is it as bad as it sounds?" Sarah asked.

"Unfortunately, it's a great deal worse," Zordon replied. "The story of the Omega Sanction begins on the planet Dhalia. A technologically-advanced world, Dhalia was one of the first planets to be conquered by Lord Zedd. But after hundreds of years of Zedd's tyranny, a secret cabal of mercenaries built a weapon called the Omega Sanction. According to legend, the Omega Sanction was so powerful that even Zedd himself was afraid of it. Rather than risk an open confrontation, Zedd fled the planet, never to return. Dhalia became the first planet to break free of Zedd's empire. This proved to the wider galaxy that Zedd wasn't as invincible as everyone thought. From that point on, as I'm sure you already know, Zedd's empire crumbled away from beneath him."

"Which is what eventually brought him to Earth," Alpha finished.

"What happened to the mercenaries?" asked Trini.

"Once the planet was back under the control of its individual nations," Zordon said, "the various kings and political leaders made it clear that the mercenaries and their business would no longer be tolerated. So they escaped off-world. We assume they've since set up factories across the galaxy, supplying weapons to anyone who can afford them."

"And the sanction?" asked Jason.

"This is where the story gets interesting," Zordon said. "The planet's leaders were able to gain control of the weapon before forcing its creators off-world. But they all knew how dangerous the weapon was. So in case Zedd ever returned, the leaders decided not to destroy it, but to disassemble it and hide the pieces across half a dozen planets. Alpha and I searched for decades but we never found any trace of it. Evidently, one of the pieces was here on Earth."

"The map to the last piece, according to Zedd," Teresa said. "If this Crulger does find all the pieces, it's a good bet he's going to reassemble it."

Brendan nodded. "And if this thing is so powerful that even Zedd's scared of it, we can be damn sure Zedd's gonna go after it himself, then use it against us."

"Which means we have to find it first," said Ian. "Do we know where they're going?"

"We don't have to," Alpha announced. "Crulger's Iron Vulture has engines that emit a unique energy signal. Our computers have locked onto that signal. Wherever he goes in the galaxy, we'll be able to follow."

"Excellent," Zordon said. "Junior team, I want you to stay here in case Zedd sends a monster as a diversion, which I expect him to do shortly."

Peter turned to Jason. "We miss out on all the good missions," Peter said.

"I think that's a good thing today," replied Jason.

"Given Zedd's habit of kicking our teeth in?" agreed Brendan. "Yeah it is."

"Senior team," Zordon continued, "you'll need to follow Zedd and Crulger, and get to the Omega Sanction before them. That is your top priority. We cannot let it fall into their hands."

Sarah glanced to the Blue Ranger leaning against one of the control panels. "Something the matter Billy?" she asked.

Billy nodded. "Zedd must've been aware of our presence, given his proximity to our location," he said. "But conversing with Goldar, he provided us with all the relevant information we needed. Why would he be so careless?"

"Maybe he was distracted," Scott suggested. "He is scared of this thing."

"No, I agree with Billy," Zordon said. "Be on your guard today Rangers. Something doesn't add up about this, and that worries me."

On the bridge of the Iron Vulture, Crulger carefully placed the silver chest onto the control panel in front of him. Immediately before him was a panoramic view of Earth, but with Drektor hovering nearby, Crulger only had eyes for the silver box. Reaching into his robes for a small serrated blade, Crulger worked the lock for a second and the lid flipped open. The bridge was immediately lit up with a soft blue light. The soldiers on the bridge drew their weapons and retreated, while even Drektor stepped back in alarm. But without hesitation, Crulger reached into the chest and pulled free a small blue orb. He stepped back and held up the sphere, and a swirling holographic map appeared around him. The soldiers all lowered their weapons.

"What is it?" Drektor asked.

"It's a Dhalian star map of the galaxy," Crulger replied. One of the holographic points was glowing brighter than any of the others. Crulger reached for it, and the planet unfolded before his eyes, flashing forth a stream of coordinates. "And it's telling me that the location of the final piece of the Omega Sanction is…"

There was a flash of flame behind them as I teleported onto the staircase leading down to the bridge. Drektor reacted without thinking, turning to the disturbance, raising his arms and roaring towards me in a wave of slime. But I raised my staff and blasted Drektor away in a shower of sparks. He was slammed off his feet into the wall before collapsing to the floor. Following Drektor, Crulger's troops spun to face me, forming a line with their weapons raised.

"Stand down," called Crulger, and his troops backed off. "Zedd," he continued, dropping the star map back into the chest and closing the lid. "What a pleasant surprise!"

I stepped down off the stairwell and onto the bridge, my footsteps echoing off the metal floor. "You come to my planet and don't think to say hello?" I asked. "Our alliance was that forgettable?"

"I assumed you'd be too busy throwing monsters at your problems to entertain me," Crulger responded.

Beside me, Drektor succeeded in picking himself up off the floor. Shooting me a pointed stare, he oozed back to Crulger's side.

"It's good to see Drektor is still as obnoxious as ever," I said.

"What's the point in dispatching your enemies if you can't say something while doing it?" Drektor growled.

Crulger raised his arms. "Now boys," he said lightly, and looked back to me. "You'll have to forgive us," he began. "In the last month, we've had to fend off attacks from Master Vile, Sidious Scarborough and Count Dregon, all of whom have tried to steal the sanction. Unsuccessfully, obviously, but none of them teleported straight onto my ship. I didn't think you still remembered your way in through the Iron Vulture's safeguards."

"So the universal gossip is true?" I said, and swept my gaze around the bridge, settling for a second on the silver box. On all sides, Crulger's troops were watching me carefully. "You're assembling the Omega Sanction. I assume it's here with you. Can I see it?"

Crulger shook his head. "It's tucked away somewhere safe," he said. "As you can imagine, I'm hesitant to show it off. Allow me a professional courtesy?"

"Understandable," I said. "But why do you even want it? It's been centuries since your last conquest. I thought you'd retired long ago."

"Revenge. Sweet, simple and bloody," Crulger replied. For the first time, he met my gaze. His eyes were as empty as they'd ever been. "I still yearn for vengeance against the ruling family who banished me from my homeworld. They hurt me, Zedd. And I dream of nothing more than repaying them in kind."

"That was generations ago," I said. "The surviving family probably won't even recognise you."

"Then I will pursue their children, grandchildren and every descendant I can find," Crulger began. His voice grew louder with every word, soon reaching the crescendo of someone quite deranged. "I will stalk them through their houses and schools and playgrounds, and with the Omega Sanction in my possession, I will have the power to chase them forever!"

"But what's the point?" I asked. "Your opponents have no power to steal, no weapons to smash or shatter, and no skills to overcome. Why bother? What does this prove about you, other than the only victories you can manage are ones against worthless opponents?"

Crulger laughed. "And the town you wage war against is abandoned, is it not?" he asked smugly.

I waved my hand. "There are casualties in any war," I replied. "A pile of lifeless civilians is neither my target nor my end game. If they've all perished, who's there to worship you once you've broken your enemies? It makes no sense to me."

"You're arguing in favour of fair fights?"

"For worthwhile victories," I replied. "Otherwise, we'd be little better than human, traipsing through the shadows with knives and masks."

"Your eccentricities still amuse me, Zedd," Crulger said. "Is Earth under your rule yet?"

My body glowed red, and I saw Drektor getting twitchy. But I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and turned back to Crulger. "The reason I'm here is to warn you," I said. "For the sake of old times. Those children you confronted on the planet's surface? They're Zordon's twerps. Now they're aware of you, they will chase you to the ends of the galaxy to stop you. Don't underestimate them."

"Those were the children you've had so much trouble with?" Drektor asked. "You've been at this too long, Zedd. You're losing your touch."

Crulger, meanwhile, could barely hide his amusement. When he spoke, I could hear the grin beneath his mask. "Well I appreciate the warning," he said. "We'll keep an eye out for them. If I need any help, I'll be sure to let you know."

I stepped back. "Good luck then," I said. I stabbed my staff into the floor, and vanished from the scene.

Finster and Goldar were waiting in the throne room of the palace when I reappeared before them.

"Did you steal the sanction?" Goldar asked.

"No, damn him," I replied. "He's protecting it too well. It's definitely on the Iron Vulture, but I couldn't see it. However, while the idiot was busy patronising me, I managed to get a good look at the star map inside the silver chest. The final piece of the Omega Sanction is buried on a mountain plateau on the planet Morlock. It was the site of a great battle many centuries ago, on an island continent in the planet's north. I know the place well."

"Eugh," shivered Finster, being typically dramatic. "Morlock is such a dreadful place. Nothing good ever comes from Morlock."

"But that's where Rita and I…" Goldar began, then paused. "Oh."

I shot them both a look. "Regardless," I continued, "that will be Crulger's next destination, which means it's also ours. Time is against us Goldar. And I doubt the Rangers will be far behind."

To be continued.