Disclaimers
I do not own Stars Wars and the associated concepts, settings & characters or Power Ranges and the associated concepts, settings & characters. I only own my OCs and ideas.
May The Force Protect You: Episode One – Out of the Past
By Celgress
Antarctica
Three researchers toiled with shovels and pickaxes in a raging blizzard. The howling, frigid wind cut like a knife. The whirling snow vastly reducing visibility, you couldn't see more than a foot in any direction. Above the tempest the distinctive clank of metal against metal could be distinctly heard. Dropping the pickaxe one of the researchers used his gloved hands to swipe away the broken ice from around an object deeply embedded in the permafrost. Slowly a dull grey, metallic object resembling an ornate manhole cover with a red jewel set in the center slowly began to emerge.
"I told you something was down here." The researcher said excitedly. "Ground penetrating radar never lies."
"Unbelievable," the Second Researcher said in awe. "This object is clearly artificial."
"It can't be." The Third Researcher said shaking her head vigorously. "We're what at the ten thousand year mark? People didn't reach Antarctica until the early 19th Century C.E. There must be a continent has never had an indigenous population."
"Far as we know," The First Researcher said brushing the last of the ice fragments off the mysterious object. "Discoveries such as this have overthrown conventional wisdom in the past. Remember the discoveries of the Minoan civilization in 1905 and the Sealacamp in 1938? This could be the find of the century hell maybe the millennium." Staring intently at the red jewel the First Researcher abruptly ceased his speech. Methodically he placed the tip of his pickaxe under the edge of the object and pushed up with all his might.
"What are you doing?" The Second Researcher asked in alarm trying to stop the First Researcher from destroying the object, or so he feared. "Stop you'll damage it!"
The First Researcher pushed the Second Researcher away followed by the third who next tried to intervene. He used such force the pair were momentarily stunned. Relentlessly he pushed his pickaxe against the object. After about a minute of effort there was a loud pop, followed by the object flying through the air and wedging itself in a nearby snowbank. The First Researcher was flung back several feet by the release of pressure. A tremendous bottled up power being freed from countless centuries of slumber.
Out of a now exposed gaping hole in the ice sheet streams of multicolored, exotic energies shot high into the air. Thick, black smoke poured forth engulfing the immediate area in a swirling fog bank. Electrical discharges intermittently lite up small parts of the cloud mass. A strange, high pitched whistling sound could be heard. The smoke dissipated quickly as it appeared revealing three imposing individuals: an ancient man in a black robe with glowing yellow eyes, a nearly pure black leather robot wearing a cape, another off white colored yellow eyed robot with a skeletal appearance who was clad in a slate grey cape.
"You," The ancient man said pointing a pale, boney finger at the First Researcher. "On what planet, region and time period do we find ourselves?"
In spite of his previously debilitating fear the First Researcher felt compelled to answer. "The planet is Earth, the region is the mainly uninhabited continent of Antarctica and the year is 2014 Common Era."
"Good, very good," The ancient man cooed. "Where on your planet are the Jedi; Zordon and Obi-wan based?"
"Excuse me master, I am unfamiliar with the terms you us. What are Jedi and who are Zordon & Obi-wan?" The First Researcher asked a confused look on his face.
The ancient man grinned sinisterly unleashing a torrent of force lightning. Within less than thirty seconds the three researchers had been incinerated.
"I sense Zordon and Obi-wan are indeed present on this world." The ancient man said. "Come Lord Vader, General Grievous we must go to the place they are hiding. I shall teleport us their immediately."
"At once Lord Sidious," General Grievous said with a quick bow. Grievous gestured toward the hole in the ice out came twenty B-1 Battle Droids. Darth Sidious spoke an incantation in an unknown language the group vanished in cascade of black energy.
The Moon
A pair of astronauts from the International Space Station, or ISS, walked across the dusty surface. Today was perhaps the most important day in the history of manned space exploration since the Apollo landings of the 1970s'. The mission marked humanity's first step towards Mars. Leading scientists having determined that a forward base on the Moon would prove essential if a mission to the Red Planet were to become a reality.
"What do we have here?" One of the astronauts said nearly tripping over an odd cylindrical object partially buried in the barren lunar surface.
"I don't know." The other astronaut said kneeling down to examine the object more closely. "It appears oddly metallic. I wonder how it got here."
"Could it be a piece of space debris, perhaps part of a probe or something?" The First Astronaut offered. "I know the old Soviet Union crashed a few into the lunar surface back in the day."
"It certainly doesn't look like any probe I've ever seen or heard of." The Second Astronaut said running his hand along the smooth side. "Hey there is a jewel of some sort on top of what I think is a lid, let's open this baby up."
"I don't know." The First Astronaut said. "We have no idea what's inside. It could be anything. What if it is the remnants of a Cold War era probe? It could contain radioactive material. I don't want to spend the next two weeks going through decontamination when we get back to ISS."
"Don't be such a wimp." The Second Astronaut said tugging at the lid. "I bet it's full of treasure. I'm going for it."
"Wait you can't!" The First Astronaut yelled into his microphone.
It was already too late. The lid came off the canister with startling ease. A sequence of events unfolded identical to those in Antarctica mere moments ago. When the black smoke cleared the astronauts were confronted by a group of bizarre creatures: a staff wielding woman with an outrageous double conical hairstyle in an ornate red dress, a frighteningly large winged blue ape in gold armor, a grey terrier like creature wearing a blue gnome hat & old fashioned spectacles, a hairy black white faced bat creature, a large headed blue goblin and a truly massive grey furred sphinx. The frightened astronauts ran away at top speed before the monsters could attack them.
"Free at long last." The woman said in her screechy voice. "King Sphinx what is the status of our army?"
"Queen Rita we have only eight Putties currently at our disposal." King Sphinx said getting down on one knee the putties appearing around him.
"Not good enough, by any measure." Rita Repulsa barked. "Finster get over here now!"
"At once my Queen," The terrier like creature said shuffling up alongside Rita.
"Are we still on the only natural satellite of that wretched planet Earth as I surmise?" Rita sepeculated.
"It would appear so my Queen." Finster confirmed.
"That means Emperor Ooze's staging base should be nearby and ripe for the taking. We must head there immediately." Rita ordered. "Goldar, Squatt, Baboo come along oh and Baboo bring Thrax." The gold armored monkey Goldar followed by the blue skinned goblin Squatt and the black furred bat creature Baboo fell in line behind Rita, Finster, King Sphinx and the Putties.
Baboo retrieved a small red form in a drown blanket from the canister. "Why do I always have to drag the brat around?" He mumbled. The infant Thrax immediately started fussing.
"Give him here you fool." Rita said halting the procession. Baboo eagerly discharged his duty.
"Hush little monster don't say a word mommy's going to conquer this miserable world. Soon I'll make those Jedi pay." Rita sang. "If only your daddy were here. We made an impressive duo."
"Daddy, who that," Thrax babbled his skeleton like mouth drooling.
"His named was Lord Zedd my little killer. Other than our emperor Ivan Ooze he was the most fearsome Space Monster that ever lived. He was unstoppable until those nasty Jedi Masters Obi-wan and Zordon buried him." Rita said her eyes narrowing. "Don't fret my darling they'll regret what they did to your daddy, I swear it. I'll see those arrogant Jedi brought low. Their noses rubbed in the bile of total humiliation. Come along my minions we have much work ahead of us."
The strange procession snaked it's way across the lunar surface. They made their way towards the secret fortress hidden deep under the Sea of Tranquility. Soon the people of Earth would feel their wrath and they'd learn to fear the name Rita Repulsa.
Command Center
"Hello Alpha." Obi-wan said groggily walking into the central chamber of the Command Center. "I trust you have a good reason for bringing me out of stasis?"
"I do Obi-Wan." The high strung service droid said in his usual excitable manner. "The security seals on two of our stasis prison capsules have been breached."
"Which ones," Obi-wan inquired coming fully wake upon hearing the dire news.
"Unfortunately those containing the Sith and Rita & her monsters were accidentally opened by Earthling explorers." The floating head of Zordon said appearing in the stasis tube which dominated one section of the chamber.
"Then the time we've long feared is finally upon." Obi-wan said stoically. "May the Force guide our actions."
"Obi-wan you must seek out five adolescent candidates who are both strong in and Force and pure of heart." Zordon instructed. "Then bring them here so that I may imbue them with the five remaining Power Coins. We shall train them old friend in the ways of light side."
"Adolescents, you know what Grand Master Yoda would say." Obi-wan said half in just.
"I know it is best to begin the training at a much younger age. Young children however cannot adequately utilize the enhanced abilities granted by the Power Coins. If we must move swiftly or the Earth will fall." Zordon said.
"Sadly I concur." Obi-wan said.
"I'd advise you start your search in the nearby town of Angel Grove." Zordon said. "May the Force protect you Obi-wan."
"And you Zordon." Obi-wan said retrieving his lightsaber and Power Coin from their storage slots on the console before vanishing in a surge of indigo light.
Angel Grove
"What in the World?" The English butler stammered before Darth Vader used the Force to snap the man's neck and toss his body against the far wall. Vader, Sidious, Grievous and the twenty B-1s then entered the mansion through the now unattended door.
"Yes this structure shall make a fine base." Darth Sidious said from underneath his hood. "General secure the area reduce any resistance you encounter."
"Thy will be done Lord Sidious." Grievous said after a quick bow stomping further into the mansion the battle droids in tow.
"What is thy bidding my master?" Darth Vader said turning towards the supreme dark lord of the Sith.
"We must rebuild our resources." Darth Sidious stated. "Our first steps should be infiltration of the local political and commercial systems. Once we control the apparatuses of power we shall create a series of crises that only we can solve thus consolidating our grip on power by gaining the public trust until we have achieved unquestioned, unassailable control. Only then will own final goal be within easy reach, the subjugation of this primitive world."
Beneath his masked the scarred face of Darth Vader smiled. He would keep this dark genius close until he learned all he could. Then and only then would Vader overthrow his master becoming the undisputed Dark Lord of the Sith, ruler of Earth and finally the Galaxy itself.
"We require a dark acolyte Lord Vader." Darth Sidious said withdrawing a shimmering Power Coin from a hidden pocket deep within his obsidian robe, "someone young, ambitious, full of repressed deep seeded rage that can be crafted into hatred and strong in the Force. Who is intimately familiar with the ways of this strange new society, a local born and bred. Lord Vader go seek out such an individual. Once he or she has proved worthy, bring the candidate before me. I warn you do not return empty handed. I shall not tolerate failure."
"Rest assured I shall not fail my master." Darth Vader said. With a flourish of his cape Vader left the mansion.
To Be Continued