Chapter 3:Unholy Gathering
Rita Repulsa stared in amazement at the notice that had just been delivered to her castle. "Zeddy!" she shrieked. "Zeddy, come quick!"
"What is it now, woman?" Lord Zedd grumbled as he came in.
"The Blue Ranger's fallen! The Dark Rangers are being called to arms!"
Zedd looked startled. "The Blue Ranger? Which one?"
She shrugged. "It just says the Dark Blue Ranger is calling a meeting of all Dark Rangers. It's signed by Vengeance."
"Vengeance? Goldar! Get in here!"
"Yes, my Lord?" Goldar rumbled.
"Summon Scorpina at once. The Dark Rangers are gathering!"
Goldar bowed, trying to hide his surprise. "As you command, my Lord."
- "Nothing yet," her companion informed her, studying her console intently.
She tried not to smile at the sight. Computers were not something her princess knew well, but she gave them the same determined approach she gave everything she did. In her mind, she would learn them simply because she had decided to, and nothing was going to stop her.
An alarm shrieked in warning, and her head snapped to the right. She paled as the readings poured down the screen. "It is a trap. We have been ambushed."
The other girl's head snapped up, eyes wide. The next instant they had narrowed with determined focus. "What are our odds? Can we take them?"
She shook her head, fear for her companion clutching her heart. "Three warships. We are outnumbered and outgunned."
"Three warships? Just for us?" was the amused response.
She knew it was only the automatic reaction to hide her own fear. In a split second, she made a decision. She turned, seizing either side of her face, and kissed her passionately. The confused expression as she pulled away turned to sudden realization, and she tried to back away. "No! I will not have you protect me!"
"It is my duty, Princess," she answered softly.
"Not at the cost of you!" Her voice was angry, but her eyes pleaded. Nothing upset her more than being protected. "It is my duty to fight just as much as it is yours!"
"I am sorry," she returned. She moved swiftly, catching the other in a headlock and pinching her neck as she struggled. The anger and hurt faded as her face relaxed into unconsciousness. "Forgive me, Beloved," she murmured, kissing her forehead.
She gathered the girl into her arms, carrying her down to the escape pods. Placing her inside carefully, she paused for only a second to gently brush the thick magenta hair from her face. Then she was closing the door and ejecting the pod. The distress signal would activate as soon as the enemy crafts were gone.
She headed swiftly for the bridge again, taking her place at the controls. It would be difficult to fly and fight on her own, but she had no other options. She had to distract them long enough for the pod to get to safety.
She opened fire, turning the little ship in a roll that had the stabilizers screaming at her. The others had always badgered her about her erratic piloting skills, but they had saved her in a troublesome situation more often then not.
It was the last thought she had before gold blinded her vision and blazing heat began to sear her skin. -
Scorpina snapped awake, staring at the ceiling of her room. As always, the dream faded the moment her eyes opened, leaving her disturbed and restless. It seemed to hover on the edge of her awareness, just out of reach.
Her eyes drifted over to a console, the flashing light signaling a transmission record. She stood with a sigh and went to retrieve it. Goldar's face stared up at her, and she found a slight smile on her lips for her old comrade. She hadn't seen him in far too long.
"Scorpina. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa have summoned you. The Dark Rangers are being called to arms." The message blinked out quickly. Goldar had never been one to say any more than he needed to over a transmission.
The smile turned cold as she considered the possibilities. A Dark Ranger union? This could be interesting. The thought of crossing paths with Light Rangers made her smile widen. "Yummy," she murmured.
A tall woman stared out the window of her castle, her eyes distant. She was beautiful, if oddly dressed. Her dark brown hair fell to her waist, held back from her face by the blue bandana wrapped around her forehead. Her outfit was nothing more than a white bikini, a white cape draped over large golden shoulder pads, and tall white boots. A white silk belt with splatters of dark red had been wrapped around her hips. She was coated in jewelry; a beautiful green and black broach was pinned to the front of her bikini top, a sparkling amethyst ring graced her right hand, a blue stone hung around her neck, yellow barrettes had been placed in her auburn hair, and pink stones dangled from her ears.
A door burst open behind her, but she didn't move. The hurried footsteps slowed almost immediately, and the presence behind her knelt. "Mistress."
Now she turned, offering a smile to the young girl before her. On anyone else it would have been considered warm and affectionate. For her the expression was chilling.
The girl at her feet was small and dainty with pale, sickly looking skin. The lime colored lace and silk dress with knee-high black boots she wore didn't help to improve her skin tone. Long sparkling yellow gems dangled from her ears, and a diamond chain glittered against her collarbone. Thin dusty copper curls fell loose around her shoulders, long bangs obscuring her face.
The woman placed a hand on her head, then reached down to tilt her chin up. Dull green eyes stared up at her as she idly stroked the girl's cheek. "What news do you have for me, Spectra?"
"A message from the demon Vengeance, Mistress," she answered woodenly. "The Dark Blue Ranger has awoken and calls us to arms."
The woman smiled again. "Then it would be a shame to disappoint him without his Dark White and Dark Yellow Rangers, wouldn't it?" She patted Spectra's head. "Go and pack our things, dearest."
"Yes, Mistress." The girl bowed her head once, then rose and left the room swiftly.
The woman gazed out the window again, a cool smile flittering across her face. Her dark eyes seemed to twinkle with red light. "Perhaps that old prophecy isn't such a bore after all. I could use some new trinkets." She fingered the belt around her waist, then abruptly burst into hysterical, twisted laughter.
Further down the hall, Spectra's shoulders twitched as the laughter echoed. Her eyes held the same glassy expression.
Circling a planet of darkness, the occupants of a submarine-shaped space ship were enjoying the first decent amount of peace and quiet they'd had in over a year. The reason? Their leader was taking a nap.
Needless to say, the Piranhatron that had been selected to wake her trembled as it stood before her door. At last it knocked hesitantly. There was a long moment of silence, and it knocked louder.
"What is it?" bellowed the woman within.
Quaking fearfully, it burbled its excuses.
Unfortunately for it, she didn't speak its language. The door burst open, and a pair of glowing red eyes were the last thing the Piranhatron saw.
A high-heeled boot stepped on the ashes that served as the only remains of her servant. "What is this?" Divatox grumbled, reaching down to pick up the envelope the Piranhatrons had been trying to deliver. She opened it with a fingernail, skimming the contents. Her eyes lit up almost instantly. "The Dark Rangers are uniting ... Ooh! Sounds like *fun*!"
A tiny fighter ship flew swiftly through space. At its helm was a young woman, an icy expression on her face. She wore a dusty rose mini-dress with tall black boots and a black trench coat, a dramatic contrast to her thick white skin. A pair of white horns perched on the top of her head through waist-length mint green hair, the same shade as her eyes. A spade-tipped tail rested through a hole in the back of her chair. Something about her very presence was regal and indifferent.
She glanced down at the com line as it beeped at her. Eyes narrowing, she accepted the transmission. She said nothing as it activated, merely waiting for the other person to speak first.
"Demoness," the voice greeted.
Her eyes narrowed further. This was not a voice she recognized, and as such had no business contacting her.
"This is the Dark Blue Ranger. I have a proposal for you. See, I decided to have a little gathering of Dark Rangers. A let's-band-together-and-conquer-the-universe sort of thing. Now I know you despise company, but I need a Dark Pink Ranger. So I have a proposition for you."
She stared at the com as the voice continued his explanation. "I will be there," she said abruptly as he finished, her voice husky with a thick accent. She turned of the transmission and turned her ship for the coordinates she'd been given without another word.
Astronema sat in front of her mirror, carefully brushing her hair. She paused after a moment, fingering the long blue locks. Her hand drifted to her locket, and the memory of the Red Astro Ranger calling himself her brother ran through her mind. She quickly raised a hand, purple sparkles dancing on her fingertips. Her hair shortened to her ears, turning a vibrant maroon.
She smirked in satisfaction. Now there was no way they could possibly look alike. It wasn't true anyway. The smile faded a little, fingers returning to grasp her locket. But ... for just for a moment, she'd wondered. What if her brother really *was* alive? What if he was looking for her? What if he really was the Red Ranger?
She shuddered. It was impossible of course. There was no way they could be related. The Red Astro Ranger, brother to the Princess of Evil? Of course not. Yet in that moment of wondering, she'd made the mistake of comparing them. Now she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to look at the Red Ranger the same. Would she be able to face him in battle again without wondering?
When she was willing to be honest with herself, she realized she didn't know.
She straightened at a knock on her door. "Who is it?" she demanded sharply.
"Ecliptor, My Princess."
She relaxed slightly, standing and turning to face the door. "Enter."
He paused just past the doorway to kneel for a moment, then rose to look her in the eyes. "We've tracked signals across several galaxies, all from someone calling himself the 'Dark Blue Ranger'. He appears to be gathering together a large force from the UAE."
"Does Dark Specter know about this?" she demanded.
"I do not believe so."
She turned away, considering. "An alliance gathering right under Dark Specter's nose." A smirk drifted across her face. "I think he'll be most interested..."