Lightless
(Lost Planet)
Ice cracked and slew off her. Rita's eyes painfully opened. The last thing she remembered was being struck into space by the Mega-Zord. All she had seen, filling her eyes, was the planet, as she was taken by the cold vacuum of space.
She jolted awake realizing she was not anywhere she remembered. This place was dark and cold. It was like the vacuum of space in temperature, but there was no absence of air. Contradictory elements. How could there be an atmosphere around this world yet no life exist? She began to walk on unsteady legs. This place had caverns, towering walls, canyons, all the same dark black color of soot. For a number of minutes, she looked for anything that might help her understand where she was and what had brought her here.
Then she paused and inclined her head slightly. A foreign sensation, pulling at her innermost being, at the black hole where the power had once dwelt. Words from a time almost forgotten began to return to her. Why now? What was the cause? Was it this place?
What do you truly seek? What do you fear? You may be amongst them, but you know deep down…you are not one of them. Why be with them, when the stars, the heavens themselves, could dance in your hands? All that you need do…is stretch forth your hand and take it. Take what is already within your reach…and then you will have the strength to reach even farther. You shall be beyond worthy. Seek what lies beyond that word. Seek that, and you shall become more.
Rita stiffened. This place…! Could it be…? Please let that not be true. Let it not… A turn brought into view the oval prison that gleamed in the faint starlight that did reach here. A throne formed from the soot-black rock was behind the object. Further behind the prison, Rita could see the outlines of the object behind it: a Zeo crystal…but one without any light.
It was devoid of any stirrings of power or life. This one was huge, but it was nothing except solid, black, useless rock. It had been consumed. Which meant…that which was before her…was…
"Rita."
She collapsed for her knees gave out from fear. "Y-you."
"Ah dear child, we have much to talk about."
