Thanks everyone for the reviews. I'm glad you like my story so far. I actually got this chapter done sooner than I thought, thanks to a lull in my college work. Please enjoy this chapter and remember to review! I love reading your reviews, and any suggestions are always welcome.
Chapter 3 The Brewing Storm Rages
As Finster and Rita were discussing the potion, Goldar returned with one of the Tenga warriors. "Rita, I have tested the Tenga Talcon with the Tenga warriors help."
"And? How did it go?"
Rita got her answer as Rito stormed into the balcony area. "Go? GO? I've got deep cuts in my bones! Places I'd never thought I'd get cut! You'd better have a good reason for doing this to me sis!" roared Rito.
Rita cackled loudly. How she had longed to try something like that on her brother. "You should be proud Rito! You were the guinea pig that will lead to the destruction of Tommy!"
"What in the world are you talking about?" asked Rito.
"What I'm saying you moron is that you had the new Tenga Talcon tested on you. Obviously it worked," said Rita, raising an eyebrow as she glanced over her brother's body. He hadn't been exaggerating. More jagged slashes appeared all over than she'd seen in her entire life. The small skulls that Rito carried with him were also missing bits and pieces. "Think of them as battle scars. Besides, wouldn't you rather see those slashes all over Tommy? Or his precious girlfriend?
"Well, I do know that human flesh doesn't take this kind of beating," responded Rito, scratching his head. "Humans do bleed easily."
"Exactly. If the Tenga Talcon did that much damage to you, think of the damage to Tommy and Pinky… Slashes… blood everywhere… perhaps death too… It's all part of the plan big brother."
"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I can't be too mad at ya," muttered Rito.
"You wouldn't be anyway you dolt. Now off with you! Finster and I are almost ready to put the first phase of the plan into action."
Goldar stepped out from the shadows where he'd been the entire conversation. He couldn't help but grin wickedly at Rito's "battle scars". Secretly he'd told the Tenga with the Tenga Talcon to show no mercy when attacking… then again wasn't that what he was supposed to do? The Tenga did better than he had hoped though. Secretly, he wished that the weapon had done more to Rito, but miracles didn't just happen overnight. "What would you like for me to do?" he growled.
"You? Oh I didn't realize you were still here. Go… entertain yourself or something. I don't have any use for you right now." Goldar stomped off. How short-lived his fun had been. Rita never needed him much anymore unless it was to use him. He growled again, retreating into his room.
"Now to see what Pinky's up to… I want to put this plan into motion tonight!" Rita turned toward her Repulsa Scope and focused it on Kimberly.
It was late evening and the girls had all been practicing non-stop. Sarah looked up at the clock and noticed the hand getting ever closer to 8. She was glad. Her body was sticky, sweaty, and exhausted of gymnastics for the day. She would be glad to go home and change. Perhaps she could even get Lacie to go out again. Sarah waited patiently for the coach's whistle to blow as she went through the motions of her uneven bars routine. Swing to the upper bar, up into the air. Turn body and switch hands. Swing over. Jump to the lower bar.
TWEET! TWEET! The tinny whistle rang throughout the compound. Girls rushed over to where the coach was standing. "Excellent work today girls. Some of you need to work harder on your routines. It's not up to par yet. As you know, tomorrow is Sunday, your day off. I do want you to be doing some kind of exercise so keep that in mind. Other than that, see you at 6 AM sharp on Monday. Dismissed!"
The group of girls headed toward the locker room. Kimberly stayed behind to talk with the coach. "Hey coach?" she asked as the rest of the girls left.
"Yes, Kimberly?" asked the coach as he looked down at his clipboard.
"Is it all right if I stay late again tonight?"
"Are you certain you're overexerting yourself?" he asked as looked over at her.
"No sir. I know I can handle it."
"You think you can handle it, but can your body handle it? You've been working since 6 AM this morning. Don't you think you should rest tonight?"
"I have all day tomorrow to rest," answered Kimberly. She was hoping he'd still say yes.
The man sighed. He wasn't used to dealing with such an enthusiastic gymnast. "All right, Kimberly. You can stay late tonight. I'll be in my office until 11 finishing some paperwork. You can find me there if you need anything."
Kimberly smiled. "Thank you sir," she said as headed for the locker room. She didn't see him sigh and shake his head at her.
As Kimberly entered the locker room, she spotted Sarah waving to her. "Kimberly! Over here!"
"Hey guys. What's up?" asked Kimberly.
"Why'd you stay after to talk to coach?" asked Sarah, raising an eyebrow as she grabbed her gym back from her locker.
"I wanted to stay later again." Kimberly twisted the combination lock.
"Don't you think you've worked hard enough this week already?" asked Lacie. "You've been here for 14 hours already. Give it a rest. You have Monday to work on everything again." Lacie stuffed her leotard in her bag and pulled out her watch.
"I just don't want to get into a lull. I need to practice," answered Kimberly as she grabbed a sweaty water bottle from her locker; the coolness in the palm of her hand gave her a slight shiver.
"We all need to practice Kim, but we also need a break too. You should come with Lacie and me tonight. We're going clubbing again. Come dancing with us instead," suggested Sarah as she slipped on a pair of tan Capri's. "We're going home to shower and then head out. It's a lot of fun, and you haven't gone with us since you've been in Florida. I know Angel Grove doesn't have dance clubs like this. You're missing out on a lot simply because you're either practicing or talking to that boy of yours."
"Tommy and I always talk, Sarah. A long distance relationship is hard enough as it is," replied Kimberly, sighing.
"Hey I didn't mean to get you down. I only meant you should come and have some fun for once. Some real fun."
"I know what you meant, Sarah. I'd just rather stay at the gym longer okay?"
"Sarah, don't push her. She's made up her mind and you can't change it. You're the same way," interrupted Lacie as she stepped in.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow morning." Kimberly smiled at the two girls.
"You just make sure you don't overwork yourself, Kimberly," reminded Lacie.
"You sound just like coach."
"Well, he's right and you'd do well to listen to him tonight. Have fun training though," called Lacie and she and Sarah headed toward the door, duffle bags slung over their shoulders.
Kimberly turned back toward her locker and glanced in the mirror hanging there. Her face was covering in sweat, her bangs plastered to the side of her face. She checked to make sure she still had one more extra water bottle in her locker before finishing off the one in her hand. The cool water felt good against her parched throat. She slammed the locker door shut and headed back out to the gym area to do some light stretching.
Rita turned away from her Repulsa Scope. "She's playing right into my hands! It's as though she can read my mind!" Rita cackled evilly with glee. "Finster, do we still have a putty mold left?"
"Why yes we do… but why do you want putties? We have Tengas to do the work now."
"Yes I know that you fool, but my putties can shape shift. All those Tengas can do is flap their wings around in circles. I want this done correctly the first time around. Go and make me one putty to carry out my plan!"
Finster scurried off to complete her demand. Luckily, he'd rebuilt his monster maker machine, but had never had the chance to actually use it. He sighed; his work never seemed to be done lately. Back into the recesses of his room he went.
Zedd was walking down the hallway when he heard his wife's incessant cackling. She seemed to be doing it a lot lately. He came upon her staring into her Repulsa Scope. "What are you doing?" he asked.
She jumped, then turned. "Ahh Zedd. My plan is working perfectly! Have you seen my brother lately? He was the guinea pig for the plan."
"He was beat up no worse than usual," muttered Zedd.
"Face it, Zedd. My plan is off to a good start and you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous. I told you I didn't want to take part in your plan, and I meant it. I still don't want to be a part of it!"
"Yeah? Well when I have that Ranger couple right where I want them, don't you come whining to me. I don't want to hear anything about how you thought of it too and were willing to help, but didn't feel like it."
"Oh shut it. I'm going to take a nap. Don't you dare disturb me with your cackling." His eyes flashed a brilliant red as he noticed Rita mimicking his every word. "Why you…" he stomped off, cursing under his breath.
"My queen, here is the putty you asked for," called Finster. A gray Putty followed him, making small noises.
"Perfect. Now give me the formula," replied Rita.
Finster handed the bottle over and Rita showed it to her Putty. "Listen to me you pile of clay. You will take this potion to the locker room at Kimberly's gymnastic compound. You'll pour it in her water bottle in her locker. Then you'll return here. Understand?" The putty nodded dumbly and took the bottle. "You'll transform into a teenager gymnast while on this mission. Do it now!"
A purple light surrounded the putty and before the group knew it, a black haired girl standing five foot, two inches in a red leotard stood before them. Rita looked the putty human over before giving her approval. "Excellent… Now get down there and do your duty!"
The putty saluted and disappeared in another purple light. Rita turned to her Repulsa Scope to make sure he carried out his mission. She laughed to herself as she thought of the terror she would cause.
When the putty appeared again, it was inside one of the girls' showers. It peeked from behind the pink curtain to make sure the coast was clear before sliding into the open. It peeked inside each locker until it found Kimberly's belongings and saw the water bottle as well. All the other lockers had been empty. The putty pulled the bottle from the shelf and twisted off the cap. It then pulled out the potion bottle and opened it, pouring the contents into the water bottle. The water sizzled and turned an olive green before returning to a clear liquid. The putty replaced the cap and returned the bottle to the locker, slamming the door. Just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared in a purple light.
Rita began a small dance as she saw the plan go into action. "Hahahaha that putty did it! Phase one is now in action! Now Kimberly just has to drink it!"
Finster was gazing into the Repulsa Scope. "Rita! Come quick!"
Rita raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" she asked as she hurried to his side.
"The girl has entered the locker room."
"Move it, Finster!" she yelled as she pushed him away.
Kimberly walked into the locker room. She was thirsty and needed her other water bottle. I'll just practice a half hour more and call it a night she thought to herself as she opened her locker. There was her water bottle, just as she'd left it. She reached for it, untwisted the cap, and tilted it toward her mouth. The cool liquid rushing down her throat was refreshing. She walked out of the locker room, and sat the bottle by the balance beam. I'll just end the night with my favorite routine.
She posed behind the balance beam, preparing to take off. She smiled toward the nonexistent judges, then concentrated on her routine. Her head felt funny, but she shook it off. She took off toward the beam, doing a front flip and landing with her right foot pointing forward. She then began moving her arms as she walked forward, doing a pirouette. Her head began feeling funny again, and her eyesight became blurry. Again she shook her head to clear it away. Back flip, back flip. Her body was feeling heavier. It seemed as though she wasn't fully herself. Again, Kimberly shook it off.
Kimberly continued her routine, but as time went on, she began to feel heavier and heavier. Her eyes were beginning to become heavy. All right, so I'm tired. I just have to dismount and then I'll stop. She prepared herself for dismount. She was going to practice her double back flip dismount. Just as she lifted herself from the beam, she realized she'd miscalculated. Her body was too heavy for the short lift she gave herself, and she'd thrown herself too far out. She'd never land on the safety mat.
As a gymnast, Kimberly knew she'd made a terrible mistake. She prepared herself for the fall mentally. Her body barely completed a full flip before Kimberly landed with a sickening thud on the hard floor. She screamed in pain as her body contorted painfully before blacking out completely.
Tommy was sitting in his room, doing homework by a flashlight. Terrible thunderstorms had been raging over Angel Grove all day, the worst hitting in the evening. One particularly strong bolt of lightning had hit the Oliver house, not only knocking out power, but the phone line as well. As Tommy finished the last trigonometry problem, he got a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. He glanced up at his clock; the digits read 10:00 PM. He knew Kimberly should have been back home by now, but he also knew she usually stayed late to practice. He had a terrible feeling something had gone terribly wrong, but he couldn't call her.
The hours passed by; still no call from Kimberly. It didn't help that the phone line was still out. Tommy was worried. She'd never missed their nightly talks. He'd never missed their nightly talks. Even if she was safe, he couldn't find out. He was stuck without any kind of communication. Tommy spent the night in agony as the storm outside raged on. It's power increased with the crying of the falcon mixing with the striking pain of the crane.
Next time, on Windmill into the Fall: What really happened to Kimberly? Will Tommy be able to contact Kimberly? And just what does Rita have up her sleeve now? Find out in chapter 4! (And please leave a review )