Chapter 10: The Third Gift
"I don't BELIEVE this!" screamed Lord Zedd as he slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne. "Every time it looks like we'll finally defeat those accursed Rangers, what happens? They slip right through our fingers!" Rita moaned the whole time.
Zedd then pointed to Scorpina and said, "Scorpina, I blame YOU for today's failure! I should blow you to BITS right now! The Rangers now have powers that I can never take away from them! And they have more powerful zords!"
"If you do, you will regret it," said the scorpion woman in her own defense. "I anticipated failure on this day. This is where your third gift comes in." Scorpina reached into a pocket in her armor and pulled out an orange crystal. She said, "This is a rare omnidyte crystal. It can be used to power any type of machinery. Namely, a certain Demon of Destruction with a few. . . how should I put it. . . power issues." She gave Zedd an evil grin.
Zedd immediately knew what she was talking about. "Serpenterra? You mean you've found a suitable power source for Serpenterra?" Scorpina nodded. Zedd then asked, "Why didn't you tell me of this before?"
The proud villainess answered, "Because I wanted to see if we could defeat the Rangers today. And if we failed, I thought you would savor the opportunity to destroy them yourself." She knelt down to one knee and Zedd's throne and offered the crystal.
The evil emperor took the crystal and chuckled lightly to himself. He looked at the omnidyte crystal for several seconds before speaking again. "Leave us. All of you. Finster, you stay. I wish to speak with you."
Scorpina stood up and bowed, as did Goldar and Rito. Finster watched as they exited the throne room, wondering what Lord Zedd wanted with him.
"Finster?"
"Yes, my emperor?"
Zedd handed him the crystal and said, "I want you to increase security around Serpenterra. I don't want Zordon figuring out what I'm up to. And then I want you to install this crystal into Serpenterra. Understand?"
Finster bowed and answered, "As you wish, Lord Zedd." He then turned away and headed back to his lab.
When he was gone, Zedd motioned for Rita to sit on his lap, which she did. When she was settled, she asked, "So, Zeddykins, do we send Serpenterra once it's energized?"
"No," answered her husband. "Not yet. Let's wait a few weeks for the Rangers to get off their guard. We'll bombard them with the Putties and Tengas. Maybe throw in an occasional monster. And then, when they least expect it. . ." he trailed off and chuckled as his staff glowed red, ". . .we take Serpenterra and put an end to those Power Brats once and for all!"
Ooo, how brilliant, Zeddy!" screeched Rita. Both villains laughed at the brilliance of what would perhaps be their greatest scheme.
When the laughter died down, Zedd shot a bolt from his staff, a glass appearing in the hands of both himself and Rita. "A toast," he proposed as the glasses clinked.
"To the end of the Power Rangers!" finished Rita. They laughed again before taking a drink.
TO BE CONTINUED