Disclaimer: Don't own any of it.
A/N: Finally got an update out for this one! School's been killin' me lately, but that's nothing new. Anyways, enjoy!
"I want more soldiers on that back entrance," Axem Red instructed as he looked over a map of Zedd's moon palace. The unmorphed leader of the Axem team was standing in the moon base, going over the defenses with Axem Pink and a few of the higher ranking robots.
"Sir, are you sure?" one of the robots asked. "It would be best to focus our forces on the more obvious entrances..."
"They'll be looking for a back door just like that," Axem Red snapped. "Trust me. I know how they'll be thinking."
The robots just nodded and left the room, leaving the two Rangers alone.
"What a bore," Axem Pink said with a yawn, running a hand through her long, blonde hair and then looking at her fingernails. "Guard duty. I'd rather be doing something exciting."
"Like what? Shopping?" Red responded, glaring at her for a moment before looking back down at the map on the table.
Pink returned the glare, but turned her head at the sight of a mole and a frog entering the room with them. "Black...Green...what's new?"
"Talked to Exor," Axem Black said, crossing his arms.
"And?" Axem Red asked, not paying it any mind.
"Turns out one of Zordon's Earth Rangers is on Aldar," Axem Green explained. "He got chased off into the mountains by a monster Exor spawned, but he said he saw the thing stomping around later on, trying to find the Ranger. So he's alive."
"Red Ranger?" Red asked, looking up to his teammates.
"That's the one," Black said with a grin.
"So a Ranger did kill Mack..." Axem Red frowned, thinking it over.
"Well, we better go and get him," Pink decided. "He'll just cause more trouble."
"A single Ranger against Mack had to be pure luck," Green stated. "That was a fierce warrior."
"I could take Mack," Red said, shaking his head. "Makes sense that my brother-in-arms could do the same. He's not an issue, though. Think about it...he's all alone on a world he has no knowledge of...his entire team is still here. If anything, this is a blessing."
"You're right..." Green realized, counting his fingers. "Rangers are teams of five...and we fought his four teammates here. Him on Aldar makes five..."
Axem Black let out a loud laugh. "Divided! They're divided and stand no chance because of it!"
"See? It's nothing to worry about," Red said with a smile, looking back at the map.
"Well, we should at least inform Smithy," Axem Green suggested. "He'd like to know."
"Smithy has enough to worry about," Axem Red replied. "There is no need to burden him with anything else. Like I said, this problem will resolve itself. Don't think about it any more."
The other three Axem Rangers just nodded, trusting their leader's judgment.
"Hey Tommy!!" one of the football players called out. "We're all heading to the park for a scrimmage! You want in!?"
"Sorry, bro!" Tommy called over his shoulder as he walked into the parking lot. "Lot of homework!"
Tommy didn't wait for an answer, though, he was already moving towards his Jeep when Bulk and Skull stepped in his way.
"Come on, guys, I don't have time today," Tommy said while rolling his eyes, although he did stop in front of them.
"We were just wondering if you'd seen Jason and Kimberly," Bulk said, crossing his arms. "Jason's my lab partner and Kim is Skull's."
"And you're wondering why you can't find them?" Tommy asked, a tiny bit amused.
"Our papers are due tomorrow," Bulk continued.
"Yea! And we don't know anything!" Skull added on.
"Yea, I've noticed," Tommy said, holding in a laugh. "Sorry guys, I don't have a clue where they are."
"Your best friend and your girlfriend are missing at the same time?" Bulk observed, a grin forming on his face. "Aren't you a little suspic-"
"No, Bulk! Move!" Tommy snapped, pushing them to either side and heading into the parking lot. He only turned his head when he got near his Jeep to make sure they weren't following.
He got to his vehicle to see Trini leaning against the driver side door, obviously waiting on him.
"What's wrong?" he instantly asked, wondering why she wasn't at the Command Center.
"They locked down the moon palace overnight," Trini said in a low whisper after glancing around to make sure no one was nearby.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Tommy said in disbelief, dropping his books into the Jeep. "We should have stayed and fought."
"We would have lost," Trini reminded him, shaking her head.
"Well then we should have gone for the portal," Tommy said, putting his hands on his head while he was thinking the whole thing over.
"They would have followed and we would have been more outmatched," Trini said, closing her eyes. "There was nothing we could have done. We're completely cut off from Jason and Kimberly."
"There's got to be something...anything!" Tommy said. "How much longer until we can teleport someone there again?"
"Billy said it might be months," Trini informed him with a sigh.
"Months...we don't have months..." Tommy said, leaning against the vehicle by Trini.
"I've never been so scared for any of us before," Trini said, while Tommy wrapped a comforting arm around her. "There's always been a way to break through the defenses...but they're just gone this time."
"Don't worry Trini," Tommy tried to reassure her. "We're going to rescue them, stop Zedd, and stop Smithy. It's all going to work out. It always does."
Trini just nodded. "We should get to the Command Center."
"Right," Tommy agreed as they stood up. "I need to get this thing off campus. I'll meet you there, though."
"Alright, hurry," Trini said. Tommy just nodded and climbed into his vehicle, while Trini ran off to find a spot to teleport.
Jason smiled as he watched Mallow twirl around the Ribbit Staff while the two of them walked down the swampy trail. He had taken the backpack temporarily, allowing Mallow to practice a few basic techniques while there was no immediate danger.
"You're getting it," Jason observed, causing Mallow to smile.
"Thanks!" Mallow beamed happily. "It's not too hard!"
"You're a natural, alright," Jason said, while looking up at the sky. The sun was starting to set...and he wanted to be at Rose Town by nightfall. No telling what came out of these swamps and woods when it was dark.
It was then that he heard some commotion a little up the trail from then. He quickly stopped in place, and held his hand out to stop Mallow, as well. After listening for a moment, he realized it was just a lot of yelling...and realized the unmistakable source of the voice. Quickly, he dropped the backpack to the ground, pulling out his morpher.
"What's happening?" Mallow whispered, looking concerned.
"Someone's up ahead, I'm going to check it out," Jason explained, deciding not to give him the details. "Stay hidden."
Mallow just quickly nodded, grabbed the backpack, and moved into the bushes off the trail. Satisfied his teammate was safe, Jason quickly moved down the trail, keeping low and making as little noise as possible. After a bit he moved off the trail, and climbed up a good sized tree. When he was up a good bit, he gave a big smile. He could see a large, dirt clearing perfectly...and Zedd's forces standing in it.
A small group of putties and monsters were all standing in rank, facing Scorpina and Lord Zedd. While Scorpina was standing there, waiting patiently, Zedd was pacing back and forth, mumbling something in a low voice.
Jason frowned, having apparently missed Zedd's tirade. He would have liked to have gotten some information, maybe found out if Zedd knew something no one else did. He settled in on the tree branch, deciding to stick around for just a little bit to see if anything interesting would happen.
About half an hour passed, filled only with Zedd's grumbling. As the sun almost completely disappeared over the horizon Jason decided that he had kept Mallow waiting far too long, and moved to quietly climb back down the tree so he could leave unnoticed. Just then, however, a voice made him freeze in his tracks.
"Lord Zedd! We found someone!!!"
Quickly, Jason glanced around to see who had spotted him and if there was anyone surrounding him. To his surprise, however, he saw that no one was around him, or even looking at him. Then he noticed two putties dragging Mallow into the clearing, with a monster right behind them. Jason smacked his own forehead. Of course...scouts.
"What!? Who's this!?" Zedd snapped as he stopped his pacing and turned to the boy.
"We don't know...but he was hiding in the bushes," the monster said. "He destroyed two putties before we were able to get him."
"Boy...that mistake will cost you your life," Zedd said, stepping towards them.
Jason's eyes lit up. Zedd would only be angry at losing putties for one reason...and he knew exactly what it was after scanning the ranks a second time. Knowing he didn't have any more time to waste, Jason stood up on the tree branch, gripping his morpher tightly in his right hand while grabbing a branch above him with his left hand, just for the balance.
"Let him go, Zedd!" Jason called down, seeing no other options this time.
Zedd froze in his tracks, then turned to the source of the voice. The mere sight of Jason up in that tree made his blood boil, and he tightened his hold on his staff while Scorpina stepped up next to him, with her sword in hand.
"Hey, there!" Jason said with a smile, trying to keep his cool despite knowing he was severely outmatched. Just for good measure, he gave Scorpina an innocent wink, causing her to look away in disgust.
"Red Ranger...what are you doing here?" Lord Zedd finally shouted up to him. "Surely you don't think you can beat all of us at once, do you?"
"Actually, I was just wondering if-" Jason started to say, but instead stopped in mid-sentence and snapped his head in the direction of a putty that was approaching his tree from the right side. He raised his morpher a bit for good measure, and the putty stopped in it's tracks.
"Stand down, you fool!" Lord Zedd commanded, and the putty rejoined the ranks. The overlord watched as Jason scanned the area to make sure he wasn't being flanked from another side, then lowered his morpher and redirected his full attention to the group again.
"I was actually looking for Finster," Jason continued. "But I guess he's not here. Wow, it must be tough to make new troops without him, huh?"
"I take it this boy is with you, then?" Zedd said, looking to Mallow for a brief second before turning his full attention back to Jason. "Red Ranger, tell me why I shouldn't blast you right out of that tree and kill this boy where he stands."
"You won't get me on the first hit," Jason confidently announced.
"Let me kill him now," Scorpina whispered to Zedd, readying her blade.
"Silence!" Zedd hissed to her, not taking his eyes off the Ranger above them this time. "Is there some sort of meaning behind that?"
"I'm just saying you wouldn't want me to go nuts and start wasting your putties...would you?" Jason challenged. "I can cut your numbers almost in half before you got to me."
"What is it you want?" Lord Zedd responded without missing a beat. Jason knew his weakness, now...so he had to attempt to appease the Ranger. After all, he just couldn't afford another casualty in his already pitiful army.
"The two of us are just passing through," Jason said. "I've got more important things to worry about than you."
"Yes, Kimberly, of course," Zedd said with a laugh, satisfied that he'd figured his adversary out as well.
"You're going nowhere, Ranger!" Scorpina shouted, taking a step forwards.
"Let them pass!" Lord Zedd interrupted in his booming voice.
"WHAT!?" Scorpina said in disbelief, turning to face Zedd. "Are you serious?!"
"Are you questioning me!?" Lord Zedd demanded, taking a step forwards and causing Scorpina to step back in turn.
"No, Lord Zedd..." Scorpina said slowly, lowering her sword.
"Just this once, Red Ranger!" Zedd yelled up to him. "The next time we meet...you will die!"
"Looking forward to it already," Jason responded with a sly grin.
Zedd gave a quick glare to the two putties, who released Mallow. After checking to make sure the backpack was secure and the Ribbit Staff was attached to it, the boy quickly ran down the trail. Smiling, Jason grabbed a vine and slid down it, landing right outside the clearing. He kept his morpher in his hand as he walked through the troops and towards the trail Mallow had taken. Then, when Zedd suddenly reached out and caught his left arm in his steel grip, Jason held it up, ready to morph. When Zedd made no further move to attack, however, Jason just locked eyes with that visor, keeping his morpher ready.
"We will be attacking the Forest Maze, tomorrow," Zedd simply stated. "An important general is there that I must capture. It would be wise for you to not interfere."
"I've got my own priorities," Jason reminded him.
Zedd released his grip on Jason, then watched with disgust as the Ranger walked down the trail after his companion.
A/N: And that's all for now! Like always, please leave a review!