Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Chapter 10

The Phantom Ranger's resolve remained as hardened as steel. Even though his friend was in Hell Hammer, Billy could not resist the anger he felt towards the new Vulcan Ranger. Unlike with Kingu, the rage seemed unnatural. It was as if the Phantom and Vulcan Rangers were destined to fight for all eternity. The city where they stood perched on the precipice of battle was quickly turning into a ruin around them from all the conflict.

Hell Hammer made its approach quickly, seeming to glide across the surface. Buildings crashed around it and rubble and dust filled the air. The Zord brought its arm at Black Brimstone in an uppercut. The first blow was awarded to Tommy's Zord. Billy's Zord was built sturdier than Hell Hammer and absorbed the blow well. Brimstone crashed its fist into the abdomen of Hammer, sending Tommy's Zord flying.

Hell Hammer landed on a building and Tommy loosed a string of curses in Billy's direction. Hammer used its boosters to raise itself from the ground. It aimed its arms at Brimstone and fired its plasma cannons. Blue-white projectiles collided with Billy's Zord, sending it tumbling to the ground. Hammer leapt into the air and transformed back into a fighter. It flew up into the sky before diving back down towards Brimstone.

Billy lifted his Zord from the ground and aimed its big cannon. Readouts flashed in on the holographic computers in front of the Phantom Ranger as Brimstone attempted to target Hammer. Red lines flashed as he locked onto the target. Brimstone fired a powerful shell at Hammer, the blast echoing through the city. Tommy's Zord responded with bursts of plasma fire at the shell, destroying it in the air. Hammer flew through the explosion.

Reacting quickly, Billy transformed Brimstone back into its tank mode and began rolling out of the way of Hammer. Tommy changed his Zord's trajectory and flew back into the air before spinning and diving again.

"You can't run forever, Billy," Tommy said, echoing in Brimstone's cockpit through the radio.

Once Billy determined that Hammer would reach him soon, he transformed his Zord back to warrior mode. Brimstone turned to face Hell Hammer and grabbed the fighter from the sky. Billy slammed Tommy's Zord into the ground as it was transforming. Billy aimed the cannon down at the fallen Zord and fired blindly. The explosion threw Brimstone into the air as it took damage from its own weapon.

Rubble crashed around Hell Hammer, covering it entirely. Black Brimstone landed many yards away, crashing through one of the remaining buildings. Billy groaned in the cabin, but maintained his determination. "Computer, give me a damage report," he requested.

"Black Brimstone has taken moderate hull damage," the computer reported in its synthetic feminine voice. "The nano repair modules are functioning properly."

Billy lifted his Zord from the rubble just as another pile of ruins shifted. Hell Hammer erupted from the debris. It looked to have taken severe damage from the blast, but it was still functioning.

"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to defeat me," Tommy told Billy. Green and red energy erupted around Hell Hammer.

"Tommy, stop this now!" Billy demanded. "Don't make me destroy you."

"You're arrogance is your weakness, Phantom Ranger," Tommy told him. Hell Hammer transformed back into a fighter and flew over Black Brimstone. "You haven't beaten me yet!"

~*~*~

Tommy Oliver looked at the sky as he continued to climb. He was not escaping. The wise thing to do would have been to retreat, but Vulcan Ranger would not disgrace himself in that fashion. He still had a card to play. He pressed some buttons on the console in front of him.

"This will show him," he said before pushing a button marked by the skull and crossbones.

"Nuclear missile ready," the computer said in a feminine voice.

Tommy smiled under his helmet before he turned Hell Hammer back towards the city. "Billy!" he bellowed. "I have something for you!" He pushed the red button next to the skull and crossbones, launching the missile he readied.

~*~*~

"Incoming nuclear missile," Billy's computer warned, alarming the Phantom Ranger.

"What!" Billy exclaimed as he looked at the holographic screen to his right that showed the missile barreling towards him. "You fool!"

"This one is for you, Billy!" Tommy said before he laughed maniacally. "I'll take care of Kimberly for you. I promise."

Billy reacted quickly. "Computer," he said. "Activate the force shield around Black Brimstone and trigger the program remotely in Zhane's ship that will activate the force shield."

The force shield projected around Black Brimstone within seconds of detonation. Billy's optic sensors in his helmet were overwhelmed with the blinding flash of light. The shield protected Brimstone from the worst effects of the blast, but even Billy could feel the strain of the shield against the powerful fusion weapon. The initial blast ended and when Billy regained his vision in his helmet, he witnessed the dust flowing up towards the sky.

"My God, Tommy," Billy said. "What have you done?"

~*~*~

Tommy watched the devastation behind him as he flew towards the edge of Eltar's atmosphere. He quickly turned his head as he realized that Billy and Zhane were still alive. Despite that knowledge, Tommy managed to contain his anger. His task was to plant the Death Seed, which the Vulcan Ranger did. He was also responsible for Kimberly's capture, which would permit Nyx to obtain the Power Opal. Eltar would be laid to waste by Nyx. This was not his responsibility.

~*~*~

Hours after Tommy's nuclear assault, Billy, Zhane and Zordon were in Zhane's ship well outside the city limits of the city that was attacked. Eltarian security officials were already investigating the area, which was why Billy had the ship hidden behind one of Eltar's moons. Zordon was in communication with the Eltarian monarch in the cockpit, explaining the situation. Billy stood behind Zordon while Zhane continued to rest. The Eltarian monarch was named Balzan and had long silver hair like Zordon, at least as far as Billy could tell from the hologram.

"Then it is as our priests have long feared," Balzan said to Zordon. "Nyx has returned to seek her vengeance. If the attack on Moa is any indicator, Nyx intends to raze our world as she has done so many others. Ripping the Morphing Grid away from Eltar is not good enough."

"It seems with Kingu gone, Nyx is calling the shots in the Star Empire," Billy suggested. "We can't underestimate this situation."

"Billy is right, King Balzan," Zordon told the king. "Earth and Aquitar had already fallen by her command. Eltar has still not fully recovered from Dark Specter's assault. You need to marshal whatever defense forces you can muster."

"I'm afraid we do not have enough to counter a threat of this magnitude, Zordon," Balzan said sadly. "I will contact King Trey on Triforia with hopes of restoring our ancient alliance."

"The Astro Rangers should be here shortly," Billy added. "They are one of the few Ranger teams that have not been captured by the enemy."

"King Balzan, I suggest you evacuate as many people from Eltar as you possibly can," Zordon told the king. "Nyx's personal Zord is capable of much more than that nuclear strike on Moa."

"Could the legends be true?" Balzan asked Zordon.

"Ragnarok is no legend," replied Zordon. "We will defend this planet to the best of our ability"

"So will we, Zordon," Balzan said sadly, accepting his fate. The connection closed on Eltar, leaving the cockpit in silence.

"I suppose that once Zhane wakes up, we'll explain the situation to him," Billy said. "We really need to get on the Worldship."

Zordon turned to face the Phantom Ranger. "Billy, you need to see to Eltar's defense," he suggested. "My Power Quartz is on the Worldship. Zhane and I can infiltrate the Worldship and save Kimberly."

"With all due respect, you don't give me orders anymore," Billy said. "Eltar is your world."

"Billy, Eltar was your predecessor's homeworld too," Zordon said. "The Phantom Ranger is a symbol to the people of that world. He defended the world valiantly during Dark Specter's invasion. You need to trust me. I know you're not interested in being a hero anymore, but many people will die in this attack. You need to help cover for the evacuation on the surface. Remember Earth. No one received a warning and there is no way to know how many people died there."

"Fine," Billy said grudgingly. "I might have some time to perform some of the upgrades to Black Brimstone with the facilities here." He teleported to Eltar's surface in a black stream.

"I hope you have time to do what you need," Zordon said before he stared into the depths of space.

~*~*~

Kimberly was trapped in a realm between dreams and reality. She was not new to the experience since she acquired the Power Opal. The gems seemed to retain not just the ancient powers, but the memories of those who wielded the power. Even with that knowledge, Kimberly surmised that she was witnessing a memory much older than the others.

~*~*~

Nyx stood at the edge of a cliff on Eltar, seemingly unsure about her place with the other Rangers. She looked up at her Zord Ragnarok. It stood like a silent dark sentinel with its wings retracted. The wind stirred, kicking through her blond hair and black cloak. Her people were dying in thousands from a plague and she was spared because of the Power Diamond. Pandemonium was under quarantine and little investigation was being done to uncover the cause of the plague that some speculated was engineered.

"Nyx," Dulcea said as she approached her from the rear. "You're not thinking of going back, are you?"

Turning away from her Zord, Nyx faced Dulcea. Dulcea wore the traditional green armor of the people of Phaedos, her homeworld. She was proud of her heritage and few could doubt her dedication to Lord Zedd's cause for peace and justice.

"Zedd isn't supportive of my decision," Nyx told her. "People are dying, yet he refuses to investigate."

"That's not true," Dulcea corrected. "Zedd has been pressuring the king to send aid to your world. Old prejudices are hard to overcome. The people here have not forgotten what happened."

"That was a hundred years ago!" Nyx protested. "We haven't been at war for over a century and they still want to see my people suffer. I'm done playing Zedd's politics. I will launch my own investigation."

"What did Erebus say?" Dulcea asked.

Nyx sighed and turned back to face her Zord. "He told me not to go," she replied. "He then told me that he could not follow me to Pandemonium because of another mission. "

"You won't be alone!" shouted a man as he rushed towards their location. He was a light skinned humanoid man with a bald head. He wore simple red body armor and a cape.

"Hyperion," Nyx said before turning to face the Triforian. "What are you doing here?" Hyperion often competed with Erebus for Nyx's affection even though it was obvious that Nyx favored Erebus. The Vulcan Ranger was the most impulsive member of the group.

"Good question," Dulcea said. "Didn't Zedd ask you to help Zordon in the negotiations?"

"I'm going with Nyx," he told the two women. "I'm a prince of Triforia. I still have some diplomatic pull."

"Diplomacy?" Nyx asked before she laughed. "You're no diplomat."

Hyperion did not let the laughter bother him. He continued, "But my father can help your people. I talked to him earlier. He needs someone that he can trust to observe the devastation first hand. The quarantine is preventing him from making the decision."

Nyx smiled. "Does Zedd know about this?" she asked.

"No way," answered Hyperion.

"Even better," she said. "Let's go."

"I guess someone needs to tell Zedd where you went," Dulcea said as Nyx boarded her Zord and Hyperion's Zord flew overhead.

"We'll be back," Nyx said. "I promise." Ragnarok lifted off the ground and transformed into a light attack cruiser that permitted Hell Hammer to dock inside it. Ragnarok flew towards the outer edge of the atmosphere, far away from Dulcea's range of sight.

~*~*~

Kimberly opened her eyes. She was in a small holding cell, alone. The Lunar Ranger climbed out of the bed as the door to her cell slid open. Nyx stood in the doorway, dressed in black battle armor. She was still just as beautiful as she was in Kimberly's dreams. However, coldness resided in her eyes.

"You're finally awake," Nyx said.

"Why are you doing this?" Kimberly asked the Shadow Ranger. "It can't be just because of the plague."

Nyx narrowed her gaze. "Did Zordon tell you about the plague?" she asked. "That's ancient history."

"No," Kimberly replied. "I can remember these things somehow. I have the memories of a Dulcea and I dream these events."

Nyx stepped into the holding cell and the door shut behind her. "The gems are more powerful than the other morphing devices you've used," she explained. "They form a bond and retain memories. Dulcea of Phaedos was the previous user of the Power Opal."

"You never answered my question," Kimberly told Nyx.

Nyx motioned for Kimberly to sit, but Kimberly did not comply with the request. "Zordon never told you about the origins of our gems, but that's to be expected," she said. "I never told anyone. They believe some strange tradition, but our origins are tied to something much greater. Six of the ancient archons that governed our universe were defeated by Samael, the ruler of the Elder Universe. The only remaining archon was Sophia and she retained the archons' essences in the Power Gems."

"How did you learn this?" Kimberly asked, finally sitting on the bed. Nyx sat next to her.

"I made contact with Samael after passing through a portal on Pandemonium," she explained. "I fought him and he opened my eyes in ways that I never experienced. I made contact with a higher dimension in my battle and I was more powerful than ever before. Even though the Power Gems contain enormous power, the source of our power lies elsewhere. I never felt so alive in my entire life. When I discovered that an Eltarian was behind the plague, I had no choice but to use my power to bring justice to the wicked. I acted where the others did not."

"You attacked Eltar before?" asked Kimberly. She was cautious in her questions and tried to keep her mind clear. She could feel the pull of Nyx's power by simply being in her presence.

Nyx stood and took a few steps away from Kimberly's bed. "Eltar's empire was once vast," she said. "One by one, outlying worlds fell to me as I liberated them from Eltar's oppressive grip. But they stopped me on Eltar. I wasted far too much time building an empire for Pandemonium that I did not strike at the heart to slay the beast." She turned on her heels to face the Lunar Ranger. "It is not a mistake I shall repeat. Eltar is a backwater now, but her fate will be the same as Pandemonium's."

"You're going to kill everyone," Kimberly realized. "You can't be serious about this."

"Zordon lied to you, Kimberly," Nyx said. She gazed directly into the Lunar Ranger's eyes. "The Eltarians have the blood of my people on their hands. They were not innocent."

Kimberly attempted to resist Nyx, but found herself being drawn into the Shadow Ranger's orbit. The power she exuded was great even with its limits. It was not mind control. Mind control was a temporary transformation for short term gain. She felt a strange compassion for Nyx's long dead people, which made Kimberly realize she was being influenced through her own emotions.

"They died when you chose evil," said the Lunar Ranger. "I'm sorry you had to experience the suffering of your people, but they didn't all die until you took the dark path."

Nyx glared at Kimberly. "Anger is much easier to manipulate," she said before storming towards the door to the cell. "I don't know why Tommy pines over you." The door opened and the Shadow Ranger exited quickly. The door shut behind her, leaving the Lunar Ranger alone to contemplate the situation.