Part II, Chapter Six
As if it was choreographed, all five Rangers teleported into the Command Center surreptitiously. Rushing inside the middle of the chamber, they barely managed to acknowledge anyone's presences but Zordon's.
"Zordon, what's going on?" Jason was the first to speak up, pushing through Trini and Billy with shaking hands.
Kim looked up at their mentor, chewing her bottom lip nervously, "Has Lord Zedd made his attack already?"
"I wouldn't be surprised; it's been two weeks since he killed Tommy," Zack muttered under his breath, not meaning to let anyone but himself hear his words.
Billy however, turned over to the both of them with a sigh, "Guys, allow him time to respond."
"All of you, shut up!" Jason snapped, having raised his voice.
It didn't take another second for everyone to fall quiet, and immediately Jason turned his back on them once again.
"Rangers, I wish I could answer your questions." Zordon contuined. "However, I am afraid any attack Lord Zedd has planned is going unveiled."
The five glanced at each other, at Alpha, and at Zordon in worry. If you had listened closely, you could probably hear the loud beating of each heart pounding through the human chest.
"I brought you here because my sensors have informed me an intergalactic life form has made its way to earth; the evil it possesses is far too great for even myself to comprehend."
It was almost natural for everyone to expect more from Zordon, having been so used to coming into the command center and being told detail after detail of their new threat. Their minds almost didn't want to accept the fact that this time, their mentor knew as much as they did.
"Do you know what he does, Zordon? Is it some radio-head creature," Trini's eyes narrowed at her teammates next to her.
"Yeah, I mean, should we be keeping an eye out for flying mutant birds?" Zack had questioned.
Even Billy couldn't try to jumble together a reaction to this; he merely stood silent behind Jason with his hands trembling behind his back.
"It may be more serious this time, Rangers. The very most I have been able to pick up on the evil is his genetic material, which has enlightened me that he is a creature of psychological power."
The five barely noticed Alpha stumbling by them, whispering 'ayi ayi ayi' softly as he went to work by one of the computer consoles. They looked up towards Zordon, brows furrowed.
"Psychological power? What's that, Zordon?" Jason silently prayed he wasn't going to regret asking his question.
"He is a creature who contains extrasensory, almost psychic ability. It is a power that can be used for many things, but is no doubt the most dangerous when controlled by evil."
Billy considered his words quietly, "Psychic ability…yeah, it's known among mind-reading, telekinesis, even shape shifting. It's an ancient aptitude used by spiritualists, a power that can do absolutely anything to someone psychologically."
Jason's stomach dropped with fear. His head slowly turned behind him, his eyes staring straight at the blue ranger.
"Thanks Billy…that's exactly what I wanted to hear." His sarcasm stung like a bee, but even with Billy's hurt expression, he shifted his attention back to their mentor.
"Zordon, how long do you think before this guy attacks?"
"I'm afraid, Jason, that it is unknown where or when an attack will take place. Alpha was able to track the evil presence for as long as it was on the radar, though, and followed it to what seems to be the dark dimension."
Jason swore under his breath, "Zedd."
"Man, of course he's behind this!" Zack threw his foot to the ground in frustration, his jaw muscles tightened to the point of pain.
"Rangers," Zordon's voice broke the tension among them all, "I understand this is sudden and unsuspecting, but you must prepare yourself for what is about to strike. At any time can the first attack occur."
For a slight moment, Jason stood with his head bowed and eyes closed. He focused only on his breathing, only on the small thread of patience keeping him from finding a way into Zedd's dark dimension and destroying him that very moment.
It would please him to no end seeing the monster fall at the hand of his own staff. It would be his vengeance for Tommy's death.
He had so many thoughts running through his head, so many things pouring anger into his body. And it took all his will power to take a breath in, and push all those emotions aside.
"Keep us updated on this, Zordon," Jason spoke for the whole team, and Zordon nodded his head back in reply.
When all seriousness was done with, it didn't take long for Zack to jump slightly with realization.
"Crud! I have to get back; my folks are waiting for me." In a flick of a wrist, Zack teleported out, among with the others who were also in the midst of their life.
Wondering to himself how much longer they all could keep up with their impulsive excuses to parents and friends, Jason brought his own wrist to view.
Just as he was about to teleport out, however…
"Jason, could you please remain here so I may speak with you?"
Jason froze, his breath caught in his throat. 'Why now?' He thought. All he wanted was to go home and sleep, dreading tomorrow's school work but forgetting the day's events.
He looked up with a sigh, "Say whatever you have to, Zordon, I need to get home before my parents realize I'm gone." He was too apathetic to put up a fight honestly, something he could only assume happening from his conversation from Zack.
"I think it would only be appropriate to discuss our last encounter." Zordon saw Jason give no reaction, as if he knew and were prepared for his words.
He fell silent, giving the Ranger an opportunity to speak.
"Zordon, all I have to say on the matter is…I'm sorry."
Alpha, who had been standing at the computer consoles with his back turned to them both, shot his head up to view, taken by surprise. "Ayi…ayi…?"
"Alpha, please go back to work." Zordon turned back to Jason, "I feel there is no need for an apology on your behalf, Jason."
"No, there is," Jason shifted his position; "I was being…juvenile and rash with my emotions. It had only been a few days since Tommy…since the battle. I wasn't quite ready to put myself in a Ranger-mode-of mind."
"Your grief is very aware and understood," Zordon spoke, seeing where Jason was going at.
"And that's appreciated. I should have known that from the start. I just feel…" His voice died down, a nauseating feeling overwhelming his senses. Why did his emotions always have to take the wheel? "I just feel that, not having fled the mission to save Tommy…this still could have been prevented. A part of me does think you could have done something." He chuckled, shaking his head and bringing it up to look at Zordon. "I don't know, maybe I'm just trying to find blame on someone else to make me feel better."
It was ironic, considering even if he did blame Zordon, he still felt terrible. Jason was beginning to think nothing could make him feel okay again; the more time that went on the worse he got.
'Huh, and they say it gets better with time. Why don't I believe that?' he bitterly thought to himself.
"Jason, something you must understand, is that this was no one's fault but the enemy's. At Lord Zedd's hands, destruction beyond conviction can occur. I'm afraid Tommy's death is the tragic proof of that."
The Ranger barely acknowledged Alpha's whimper of sorrow anymore, having made the noise after Zordon spoke. Any time the word 'death' was brought into the Command Center; the robot would show an emotion that only the humans were feeling. However, he continued to go back to work, not once showing his face to them.
Jason nodded dolefully, hardly taking to heart what his mentor had said.
"Yeah, of course, I know, Zordon." His eyes went dull, "Listen, I need to get home, keep me updated on the situation." He had brought his wrist up, his fingers wrapped around the sides of his communicator ready to teleport out.
"Before you leave Jason…"
His arms dropped to his side almost simultaneously to when Zordon had spoken. He looked up, all but wondering what else had to be said.
"There is one more thing I must tell you."
"What is it?"
"This creature - the new threat to Angel Grove - the devastation he possesses could be far worse than what we have suffered from recently. I believe it goes without saying that you will have to inherit the Green Ranger's powers sooner than we had expected."
Jason froze; he stood quite and unmoving, forgetting to breathe for those short few moments. Zordon's words repeated itself in his head, acting as a broken record.
He had felt his stomach drop to the floor again. As the many times before, not once did he reach down to pick it up. He didn't compose himself; instead let his mind reel in shock.
:-:-:-:-:
Tommy's hand shook with tremors, his efforts to bring forth his arm almost becoming an impossible task. The longer he tried, the harder his grip on Jason's hand became.
"Bro…" Jason finally reached forward, gripping his expanded arm just as his strength left him, leaving the Dragon Dagger to teeter between his fingers.
"The power's…yours now. Use it to…defeat Zedd." His voice stumbled in pain, and unintentionally cracked in fear.
Beneath the helmet, Jason could almost see the fresh tears welling in Tommy's eyes. Whether it was from the tremendous agony or the thought of death was simply unknown.
No words could be spoken. Instead, the Red Ranger reached forward, and gripped the Dragon Dagger within Tommy's grip.
:-:-:-:-:
"Jason?"
Zordon's strident voice snapped him back to reality. Jason blinked a few times vacantly, still staring out in space.
"Yeah, Zordon…I know."
The next day, Ernie's Juice Bar was packed with teenagers after school. Noises of laughter and shouting echoed the walls like every other day, bringing back the happy spirit the building once contained.
Zack, Billy, Kim and Trini all sat together at one table studying their homework. No one was speaking, the lack of communication showing clear with Zack even wearing his headphones to listen to his cassette player.
The girl in pink popped her bubble gum, "What's the answer to number twelve?" Despite the fact her question was directed to the entire table, she looked directly at Billy.
"I'm not there yet," he answered, not once bringing his head up for view, "Question Zack, I believe he's further on the page."
Kim turned her direction to the other guy. "Zack?"
He didn't answer, instead continued to tap his pencil to the rhythm of his music.
"Zack!" Kim spoke twice as louder, however the reaction was still the same.
Both Trini and she sighed heavily. They looked at each other quickly before the one in pink nodded her head, moving her text books aside.
"Oh, look, it's Angela. Over here, girl!"
It was almost frightening how fast Zack shot up from his chair, headphones ripped out of his ears as he looked in the way Kim shouted towards.
It didn't take him long at all to realize the cruel joke.
"Oh hardy har, Kimberly," he mumbled, picking up his cassette player and tangled headphones.
He was about to sit back down, no doubt answer Kim's question to avoid further nagging, when someone caught his eye. Decked out in all red, Jason entered the youth center with his backpack slipping off his shoulder.
"I'll be right back, you guys," Zack said, leaving his things on the table and jogging over to the entrance of the juice bar.
Jason saw Zack immediately and for once walked towards him instead of away.
"Dude, hey. How's it going?" Zack lightly brushed his hand against Jason's arm, as if he was reaching for a handshake but decided against it. Jason knew what it was about, he had heard consolers around the school telling people that human contact was a good way of reaching out to those in sorrow.
He mentally shook his head at the thought; he wasn't one of them. This was different. Right?
"You know…it goes," Jason said shortly, his attention on anything but Zack. His eyes wandered around the youth center, inconspicuously looking for something without grabbing the interest of others.
'He's not here, Jason,' the Ranger thought; 'He's not going to walk out of the gym anymore. He's gone.'
"Uh, listen…" Zack's voice snapped him back, "Have you heard anything from Zordon yet? It's making us all sick being on our toes."
Jason looked him in the eyes and sighed, "No, nothing yet."
"Fantastic." Zack made some kind of noise caught between a groan and a hiss.
Jason looked straight at him, watching as he closed his arms around his chest.
He saw inside him a worried, stressed Ranger, not willing to show his fear but no doubt feeling it as well. He didn't see an irritating, nagging friend pushing him to talk about how he felt.
He saw Zack through the eyes of a leader.
"I'll, uh…I'll inform you guys the moment Zordon tells me anything." Jason fumbled on his words, his voice not quite understandable against the rackety noise surrounding.
"Yeah, actually, that's something I want to talk to you about," Zack said.
'Crap.'
"I was thinking that maybe you should, you know…tell the others what you told me."
Jason snorted, "No, Zack." He was about to make his way past him, when Zack grabbed a hold of his arm.
"Man, hear me out. It's only fair they know what went down that day."
"They know exactly what went down, they were there. What happened was between Zordon and I. If I couldn't stop it, then it shouldn't be brought up."
"We're a team, Jason! We tell each other everything."
Jason bowed his head, biting on his lower lip as he tried not to lash out at Zack. He counted to ten, pacing himself in deep breaths before looking back up.
"I'm not ruling out the idea in itself, Zack, but not now. We have too much to worry about, they don't need more on their shoulders."
He found himself, once again, looking through the eyes of a leader. It eased the pain; it brought him to a world where he could control his emotions, and the things happening around him.
He was thankful he hadn't lost that yet.
Zack mellowed slightly, but didn't stick around any longer for the conversation to continue. He walked past Jason shaking his head slightly.
All he wanted were to help make things better again, and with Jason, it was nearly impossible. He sat back down in his chair, paying no attention to Jason coming up and grabbing a seat at the table himself.
All he had to do was finish his daily routine and then he could focus on his own healing.
"Jason!" Kim scooted her chair next to his, dragging her papers with her. "What's the answer to number twelve?"
"Uh…" Jason brought the paper up to get a closer look. "Factor out an x first. Then factor the remaining quadratic."
Kim snapped her fingers, sighing. "Dang it, I knew that."
Aside from Trini letting out a small chuckle, they all fell silent. Jason dug into his backpack to get out his homework, but no one else brought up a topic of discussion or even made any noticeable movements.
Billy had looked up, being the first to get a good look at them all together since the funeral. It was almost bitter irony that he was the one to pull himself away from schoolwork to focus on something irrelevant.
He watched them all carefully; the group he called his friends, the people that, at point in times, became his lifesaver. He watched them, and painfully realized how different they were all becoming.
Sure, Kim still chewed the top of her pencil, and Trini still stuck her tongue out when she wrote down an answer. Of course, Zack still listened to his music. But there were no more smiles, no more laughter between them. It was all replaced with uneasy tension.
"This is peculiar." He spoke up, his voice (and choice of words) grabbing all their attention.
"Come again?" Jason asked.
"This - what we're acting upon." Billy pushed his papers aside and spread his hands out in a circular motion. "I comprehend we're in the mourning process, but shouldn't that bring us together, shouldn't it make us closer?"
Silence had overcome them, none of the four daring to utter a response to the child genius. Maybe once did someone exchange glances, but aside from that, heads were bowed in self-pity.
Billy sighed, pushing himself up from his chair, "I'm going to buy a smoothie." He pushed in his seat and looked Jason directly in the eye. "By the way, you were wrong. You can use the difference of squares formula to factor the quadratic, set them to zero and solve for x."
Kim threw her pencil down with force. "Dang it!" She looked up with a sigh when Jason gathered his things and left the table.
Lord Zedd hissed loudly, his metal nails gradually tapping against his throne's armrest. The entire palace was pitch dark, more so than usual. Any light that reflected off the moon through the windows were blocked, lanterns were blown out, and he even found himself trying to stay cool not to set off his heat waves.
It was pure hell.
And in his opinion, barely worth it. The darkness was brought on for their 'special guest', one whom he sat waiting to show up that very moment. Zedd was infuriated, to say the least, and couldn't even show it.
He tried telling himself this would be worth it, that to have the Wizard in his quarters was a stroke of luck alone. But he played by his own rules, not someone else's. And that wasn't going to change for some over-self confident egotistic villain.
"Why…my, my, my…"
Lord Zedd looked up, watching as a purple and orange trace of light came strolling into the throne room.
Speak of the devil.
"Zedd, I have to say, you aren't the greatest host in the demission. I would have been better off sleeping on Master Vile's sofa."
The light perused closer to Zedd, and the nearer it was, the more distinct the possessor became. Just seeing his face infuriated the skinless villain.
"And what's with that monkey? I mean, sure, beggars can't be choosers. But have a little more sophistication in your servants."
Lord Zedd shot up from his throne, his staff tightly in grip as hot red illumination shone off his muscles.
He threw his staff forward, sparks of lighting flying off the giant Z. "I will not be questioned by an ignorant son of a -"
Just as a streak of purple lighting shot out of the Z from Zedd's staff, the mysterious Wizard spent no time reacting with his quick reflexes.
His arms drew rearward, the long sleeves around them fluttering back in the air. Time consequently fell into a sluggish, dawdling pace around everything and everyone but the Wizard.
His movements were at expeditious speed compared to Lord Zedd's. Faster than the human eye could blink, the symbol of an hourglass inscribed into his skin, burned the blazing color of purple.
A force larger then the room its self generated off the symbol, and forcefully flew towards the lightening strike coming towards him.
And then time returned to normal.
"Never," The Wizard stormed towards Lord Zedd, just as the force knocked him into his throne, the breath torn from his throat, "EVER, disrepute me."
He hauled his arms back again, both elbows drawn to his right as this time he kept his hands near each other. Zedd's eyes, being nothing but glass, reflected the glowing orange force field spinning around the Wizard's hands.
"Is that understood?" he hissed, letting the ball of energy grow in size with anger.
Zedd gulped loudly, immediately regretting the sign of panic but currently savoring his life a bit more than his dignity. "Yes," he said in a low whisper.
"Yes, who?" As if being connected with the being's anger, the orange ball initiated blistering fire, soaring up from his fingertips to his shoulder blade.
Zedd growled, "Yes, Wizard of Despair."
To Be Continued
