Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers or anything involving them in anyways shape or form. Dang!
Neo-Past: The Rangers Retold
Chapter Two: Not so Empty Words
Neither Zedd nor Rita knew what had happened or why it did but they did know that making the power coins had taken a heavy toll on all of them.
Once they had all recovered from their pains, Zordon picked up the first coin and placed it into one of the pre-made morphing devices and morphed into a red and white suit. Engraved on the helmet was a strange reptilian like creature. "What is it?" Rita's voice a bit shaken, "I've never seen that creature before."
"Tyrannosaurus. It's called a Tyrannosaurus. It's one of the creatures on the distant planet Ivan Ooze is traveling to. The odd natives call it Tyrannosaurus Rex. I've also created the Triceratops, Mastodon, Sabertooth Tiger, Pterodactyl, and the Dragon." As Zordon said each name he pointed to the respective coin.
As quick as they were finished he loaded each coin into a carrying case. "I'd like to stay but I'm off on a new mission. The new council already placed the new team on assignment." Zedd ran after Zordon, "So, what are we doing then?" Zordon glanced back over his shoulder and yelled, "Going on a separate mission… the council has more information for you!"
Council Room
Zedd and Rita stood before the council, awaiting their assignment. "I'm very glad you came," the new council leader started, "and would like to thank you for all the work you have done to help all free people.
"I know that sending Zordon off without your help is irregular, but I feel it would be best if you took on these next missions with your unmatched skills. Zedd, we, the council, would ask you if you would travel to Triforia and aid in the creation of a new zord. Rita, we, the council, would ask if you would travel Aquitar, there is to be a council of heroes there and ask of you to be our representative there." The two bowed to the council and left the chamber, both fearing the distance that they would have to traverse… alone.
"Oh Zedd," Rita sniffed, "I've never left Eltar without either you or Zordon. What if something happens? Then everyone will know, we haven't a license, and that'll mean—"
Zedd cut her off, not knowing if it was safe to talk in the open as they were. "This can wait, nothing will happen to you. Besides, we have a new council now… they'll understand. The marriage laws will change, everyone hated the old ones." He stopped himself from going any further, just down the hall he could see members of the old council. 'They're still looking for weakness amongst Zordon's friends, better watch what we say.'
The two parted to their separate docking bay and Zedd could feel the woman he loved with all her dread departing for Aquitar. But as much as he feared for her sake he really needed to fear so much more, much much more.
Aquitar
Rita had never been to Aquitar so the first time she saw the forehead ridges on their heads she almost screamed for fear of some kind of monster. But the fear quickly subsided when she reached out into their minds with her magic, she could feel only good. Good and fear, even though they had just finished their personal morphing grid and now had a working team of Rangers they feared a roaming army of monsters that plagued the land. Of these monsters they feared one over all, Pyra. He was a red scaled lizard of some kind who had the power to evaporate the very water that the Aquitians required to live. She knew to save them she would personally have to go and fight Pyra, a task she was not grateful for in any way.
The Great Aquitar Plains
Another fireball was deflected with Rita's staff, Pyra was not about to lose to a pathetic Eltarian woman, but Rita wasn't an easy woman to deal with. Another fireball that landed too close for any beings comfort. Another shot knocked her over and then Pyra was on top of her. His claws ripped and tore at her body, finally drawing blood and leaping back with a mouth full of blood. A roar and the beast quickly returned for another mouth full of her flesh.
'Not this time!' Rita though and as quick as Pyra was on her she had raised her staff and fired an energy blast that ran through the monster. His body flew off into air and landed with a hard thud.
After several minuets Rita caught her breath and got back onto her feet. The air was still and filled with the scent of Pyra's burnt corpse. The smell reminded her of death so Rita quickly weaved a spell that wrapped the monster in an invisible cloth so that none of the body could contaminate the healthy water supply of the planet. While weaving the spell she didn't notice the movement of the remainder of the horde. As soon as she had finished sealing the body they leaped upon her and into an attack. Their blades flashed and soon were ripping flesh and covered in the blood of their enemy.
For the life of her she couldn't stop them, maybe if it had only been two or three, but not a dozen. Lucky for her one of them had been pulling back the others, his name was Goldar and he knew that Rita mustn't die. But even he was having trouble keeping them from killing her and began to draw back his sword to destroy the others. Just as he was ready to strike down the horde he heard a sound from behind him, recognizing the noise he quickly escaped.
Aquitarian Hospital
Rita woke several hours later, her head still spinning. All she remembered was suddenly being jumped and then nothing. "Is any one there?" her voice sounded crushed, "What happened?"
"Oh, we are so sorry that this happened to you," an Aquitarian voice was heard, "we should have been there sooner but the region wasn't clear, the team hadn't arrived yet… Pyra being there and all." Rita stopped listen to the voice, she was more concerned about her baby. In actually she was more concerned if they knew she was pregnant; her heart rate increased and the doctor took notice.
"Is there something we should know?"
"NO!" Her voice rose above all others, her fury became uncontained and she soon exploded with an unknown and unpredictable energy.
Aquitarian Hospital Ruins
A pair of claws reached down and lifted the crippled women out of the ruins and carried her over to a make shift medical area. The moment he laid her down an incredibly evil man strode over and placed his hand onto Rita's head. He reached in deep with his dark powers and then pulled back, very satisfied. "When she awakens tell me, I'm going to give her the option."
Goldar looked to his master, "Do you think she'll take it?"
"If she doesn't my name isn't Vile."
Goldar choked out a laugh. 'I wish to serve my master in the best way possible and if that means this woman then I will not question his want of her.' He watched his master shift around pondered some more, he then took out a piece of parchment and began to scrap notes on to it. He stopped here and there.
"I've got it all planned here, even though I only want what she has for me but having Zedd on our side might make it a lot easier. A second role model would be nice… this is a bit complex but, if I want this done right I need to get them both otherwise it looks to be at least… blast, how long is an Eltarian… never mind!"
Goldar gave a snarl, Rita began to stir. Slowly she shifted until she was sitting up and looking at her two captures. Neither of them were familiar, "Who are you?" she questioned, "Neither of you look like agents of Dark Specter."
"My dear, my name is Master Vile. I hail from the M51 Galaxy, a place where evil always wins and good is no more. Does that interest you? Before you answer I've got an offer for you."
Rita looked at him with both interest and disgust, "What kind of offer, the kind where in return for my freedom I release someone from a prison or tell you where Zordon is? As if!"
Vile looked at her with a smirk of intrigue, 'Immediately she assumes that I want her as a once useable tool, she has no idea of what she's truly worth.' He pulled a small black gem from his belt, rolled it in his hand for about a minute or two, he then handed it over to Rita, "What do you make of it dear? It's very rare and fun." She looked it over with both her eyes and magic. "From what I can tell it's a power booster for magic… a permanent boost if my observation is correct."
Vile smiled, "You are quite the appraiser, what a wonderful job!"
"However, it is filled with a horrible dark energy… plenty enough to kill me I'm guessing" She looked for a look of aghast upon Vile's face only to see a smirk on his face and in turned she gained the very look that was meant to be upon Vile's face.
"Close my dear. Yes there is dark energy in the gem but, it isn't meant to kill you. To tell you the truth I don't want you dead, I want you." Rita's face turned from horror to intrigue. "I see that you're in wonder, you are a wonderful young lady with extraordinary abilities, and I'm very interested in the genetics of Eltarians."
Rita quickly placed her hand upon the womb that housed her unborn child. Vile pointed to that exact point, "I know about your child, and I also know about the father… so I know that the child will not only have your magic and Zedd's mental abilities. That child is my main goal but I also see the value in having you on my side…"
Rita cut him off, "What reason do I have in turning over to your side?" Vile smiled a sadistic smile, "What reason do you have staying with them?"
"They're good and your evil!"
He chuckled at her, "But they set too many rules: marriage, fighting teams, everything… how much many more do you think you can put up with? What if the baby is born before you and Zedd are given a license? Won't the child be taken away and raised by some random family that will never let you see them again? Won't your and Zedd's chance of getting a license for marriage end? Isn't that also the end of your credibility? But I digress; I'll give you an hour. At the end of that hour you must choose whether you wish to join me or not. But to let you know, no matter what you choose I will be having the baby." Vile and Goldar turned from Rita and walked off into the hills to leave her with her thoughts.
One Hour Later
Vile stepped down the hill side and landed within 10 feet of Rita. "So my dear," he said in a callusing voice, "I've given you a full hour to question whether you wished to join me or not. So what is your answer?"
"I wasn't sure what it would all mean but I do now. You're right that I won't get what I want by staying good; however, it goes against my very principles to even consider what you're saying but, no matter what I choose you'll take my child. I won't let my child be raised without me, but in the end I feel the child will have a strong enough conviction to join the side of good. While I considered this I knew that if they didn't conform to your will that you'd kill them, unless I was there to save them from death."
Vile stopped himself from letting a smile cross his face, 'She sounds like she's ready to join me but I can't be too sure, what if she kills herself and the baby? Then all my plans were wasted.'
"But in the end I knew I had only to options to save my child: join you or kill us." She paused for a moment and let a smile grow on her face. She stood up with her staff in her hand, and she raised it over her head. It looked as if she would rather die, which meant that Vile and Goldar would have to act fast to save them.
"My choice is to submit," she dropped her staff, "make me an agent of evil. I Rita of the planet Eltar swear to the evils of the universe my fealty."
She grabbed the crystal from Vile's hand and broke it open. The dark energy that flowed from it wrapped around her, she started to scream but stopped and began to laugh. After a few moments she bent over and picked up her staff and tested her new powers. She faced Goldar and hit him with a dark blast that sent him flying. Before Goldar hit the ground he stopped, in mid-air. She had given him wings.
"Now," she asked, "What's my first mission?"
Vile grinned, "Destroy Aquitar's Power Rangers. Lay waste to them all."
