"Come on. Get up Rack!" Zack laughed "It's after school and you're still asleep?"
As far Raquel was concerned, Zack was the only Ranger with a trace of a sense of humor what so ever. Billy and Trini were kind, and Kimberly was an annoying goody-two shoes, and Jason took himself too seriously. Zack however was fun loving and took every one of Raquel's old jokes in stride. In fact his laughter at her taunts had seemed to be the easiest way to get Raquel talking. She'd taunt him and he'd joke at her right back. Not today however.
Raquel was under the futon again. She threw her pillow at Zack. "Stop it." She whined in a little kid like voice.
"Come on Red!" Zack said with a laugh "You slept through a hilarious monster."
"There ought to be a law against people like you." Raquel muttered "I already told the great and powerful wizard of OZ and C3PO here I'm not coming out again"
Zack laughed "That was before school. Come on Raquel. What's eating you?"
Raquel said nothing and Zack grinned and teleported her futon over several inches. Raquel covered her head with her hands immediately. Zack suddenly stopped joking around.
"Raquel you look," Zack didn't finish the sentence and walked over to Zordon's tube and quietly said "Something's wrong. She looks so pale. Is she sick?"
Raquel was literally crawling to the futon now. Her eyes were red but hollow. Sweat dripped all over her body, yet Raquel was shivering like crazy.
"I fear no human was meant to live in a cage." Zordon said gravely "Raquel is not doing well at all, especially with her withdrawal from Rita's evil."
"Withdrawal?" Zack said "Like in drugs? That's not cool at all."
Zordon looked serious "It is kind of like that. Raquel has been hyped up on dark energy, and the spell has altered her mind. She has hardly slept in many days. I am very concerned."
Zack watched as Raquel hid herself back under the futon. He shivered "I don't really understand what Rita did to that kid, but it's scary, Zordon, scarier than the worst monster we've ever faced."
"Why do you think that, Zack?" Alpha asked.
Zack turned away from them "Because in a weird way she and Tommy remind me of us."
"That is not so unusual, Zachary," Zordon said gravely "because many of the traits that make you excellent power rangers also make them excellent evil rangers as well."
"Excellent! Excellent! Your first monster that has come out correctly! You are doing quite well!" Finster said.
Tommy smiled "It's not that grand." But his pride was enormous.
"There you are, human!" Goldar yelled "You are supposed to be training, not playing with clay! Your punishment ended ages ago!"
"I apologize for keeping you waiting Goldar." Tommy said
"Well get dressed," Goldar said "I can't stand seeing your ugly little human side."
Tommy morphed and handed the monster to Finster "Do you think he'll turn out?"
"Oh yes, undoubtedly. You definitely have some creativity in you." Finster said.
"What a stupid thing!" Goldar growled "Our Queen is allowing you to train every waking hour your body can bear and you choose to spend it on art projects?" he laughed.
"You know if I had more help the monsters might turn out better." Finster said angrily "Besides I thought Rita wanted to mold the Tommy into a great warrior. Was not that the basic idea of bestowing the coin on teenagers? Was that not the thing everyone said Zordon got right?"
Goldar growled "Hurry up Green Ranger. You can play with clay later."
"I'll present him with my next round Tommy." Finster said proudly as Tommy hurried after Goldar.
The rangers were trying not to stare at Raquel. She was curled up on top of the futon covered in about 8 blankets the rangers had given her. The blankets quivered like crazy. All the rangers could see was Raquel's face. It was a pretty haunting sight. She was whiter then a ghost, her eyes had a dull red glow to them making them look vacant and empty, and sweat covered every part of her face. She had not slept in many, many days.
"Poor Raquel." Kimberly said her voice dripping with sympathy and pain, "But we haven't seen the Green Ranger in action since we caught her! We've barely seen Tommy at school. Half the time he has an excuse to be missing, and the other half he leaves the second the bell rings as though Rita is teleporting him away."
"I fear the Green Ranger is just as poorly off as the Red," Zordon said gravely "We shall see what will happen soon."
Jason looked at Raquel "I've never felt so useless in my life." He muttered.
"Excellent." Rita said "I'll take the prisoner monster! He'll lock those rangers up so tight they'll never escape! Finster you've done it again."
"Not entirely my Queen, I had help with that monster from the Green Ranger. It is his first full monster." Finster said his pride evident.
"Well Green Ranger, it seems you are learning some new tricks. Excelent work!" Rita laughed.
Green Ranger nodded respectfully but underneath his helmet he was sweating like crazy.
"We'll send it to earth immediately." Rita said gleefully.
"Me empress," Tommy said his breathing short "I have a question to ask, if it is allowed."
Rita glared at him "Well what is it Green Ranger?"
"My empress, I can feel my comrade Red Ranger's energy slipping away. Please tell me, when will we retrieve her?" Green Ranger asked. Finster frowned as he noticed the pain Tommy was trying to hide in his voice. He had noticed that Tommy had started to seem weaker and weaker.
"Don't fret about that Green Ranger," Rita said dismissively "Zordon will not be able to stomach hurting a child. He will release her soon, and I plan to use this opportunity well."
"I will not worry about it then, my queen, I have complete faith." Green Ranger said with a bow.
"Sit down Green Ranger." Rita said in an almost kind voice "Sit and watch the fruits of your labor."