Chapter 21 – The Bitch Is Back

March 25 1995 – Angel Grove High School

Marcus Bentley had drawn the short straw this semester, teaching the last class before spring break. It was challenging enough trying to keep the students focused on school but he was fighting a losing battle today. Exasperated he put his hands on his hips and let out a sigh before addressing the class, "Come on guys I'm looking forward to the time off as much as you are but can you pay attention for five more minutes".

The class had the decency to look ashamed at this statement. It was Aisha who spoke up for the class, "Sorry Mr Bentley we're just so excited for spring break this year".

Marcus shook his head and looked at the floor, sensing his students wouldn't be much use until the final bell he made a decision, "All right I know it's early but you can all go", immediately a loud cheer went up. Marcus put his arms in the air and raised his voice over the din, "on two conditions though, firstly you leave the building quietly so you don't disturb other classes. Secondly every single one of you has their assignments completed on the first day back or you'll all be in detention. Especially you two Bulkmeier and Skullovitch". Bulk and Skull smiled and waved their teachers comment off.

Marcus shook his head again, "Go on get out of here and I'll see you in two weeks".

The class stood up and grabbed their things together and as quietly as possible they left the classroom. Only once they were outside did anyone speak as everyone wished each other a good holiday. Rocky put his arms around Aisha and Adam as he addressed the other rangers, "Alright spring break, no school for two whole weeks. Let's celebrate with something to eat".

The other laughed, "Trust you to think of your stomach Rocky", Tommy said, "but you do make a good point, I'm starving".

Kim addressed the group, "Come on let's head to Ernie's", she began before addressing the red ranger, "so Rocky have your spoken to your uncle about letting us use his lakehouse?"

"Yeah he said it'll be fine we can use it for the entire two weeks if we need to", Rocky replied.

"Man this is going to be great, the six of us plus Jason and Trini. It'll be good to unwind for a few days", Tommy added.

"Don't jinx it Tommy we can't relax too much, we still don't know who's sending these monsters after us", said Adam.

Aisha slapped the black ranger on the arm, "Don't be such a party pooper Adam. Oh hey I was thinking of inviting Xander and Aimi, does anyone have a problem with that?"

All the rangers murmured in agreement except for Tommy, who bit his lip and stared into the distance.

Kim looked up at Tommy, sensing that he wanted to say something, "Are you ok Tommy?"

Tommy paused and addressed the group, "I just don't think we should get too friendly with them. They're good people but let's not forget why they originally came here".

"We haven't forgotten Tommy", Rocky replied a little harsher than he intended, "now let's get a move on, there's a cheeseburger at Ernie with my name on it".

All the rangers carried on walking except Tommy. Kim noticed that her boyfriend had separated himself from the group so he walked back over to him, "I don't think Rocky meant to be that dismissive of you Tommy", she said softly.

Tommy ran his hand through his hair, "I just feel isolated with this Kim", he began, "I feel like I'm the only one showing any caution with the agency. I'm the team's leader shouldn't my opinion count".

Kim was a little taken back by this and paused for a moment before responding, "Firstly Tommy you're our leader, not our dictator. Secondly you're not alone with these thoughts but you can't let them dictate your attitude. Xander and Aimi have been nothing but friendly towards us and we're meant to be allied with them. We have Zordon and Alpha looking out for us, they wouldn't let us work with them if they didn't trust them". She turned and starting walking away but turned around to give one last comment, "stop pushing them away because you may push all of us away".

As Kim walked away to catch up with the others, Tommy stood there watching her. He had a lot of thinking to do.

Moon Palace

With Lord Zedd still in his regenerative sleep, things were quiet in the palace. Goldar had rarely been seen since the destruction of Scorpina, therefore, the remaining three had been left to their own devices. Sadly without anyone to direct them, not much had happened. When the figure walked into the throne room, she found it completely deserted.

"I knew Zedd's plan had fallen apart but I didn't think it was this bad", she said out loud before laughing hysterically.

The laugher drew the attention of Squatt, Baboo and Finster who raced into the throne room. The three caught sight of the woman, there was only person with that dress and hair style in the universe.

"Empress Rita", Finster began, "you've returned"

Rita Repulsa turned around to face the group with a wicked smile on her face, "Finster my favourite monster maker", she sneered as the other two present, "and look you two are still here as well".

"I must say Empress the time away has done wonders for you, you're looking younger than before", Finster replied.

"Ah still the suck up I see Finster", Rita responded light-heartedly, "once I escaped the dumpster I took a detour to the R29 galaxy. They have the best youth restoration potions in the known universe". She paced in front of the group, "Where is that overgrown idiot Goldar, don't tell me he's still mourning Scorpina".

"I knew I recognised that nauseating voice", Goldar called out as he entered the room, "why have you come crawling back Rita?"

"Mainly to gloat", Rita replied, "look at you all, a few months under Zedd's command and you've been all but defeated, it's pathetic. So I've returned to finish what Zedd couldn't and I've bought some help with me"

The sound of footsteps echoed through the throne room and a figure appeared from the shadows. He was skeletal in appearance, however, he was camouflage coloured on half of his body. He completed with an army style tin helmet for a skull.

"Allow me to introduce my brother Rito Revolto", the creature identified as Rito waived his sword in acknowledgement and moved to his sister's side. "Rito and I have a plan to defeat the Power Rangers and you're going to help us".

"Not a chance Rita", Goldar snarled, "when Lord Zedd hears about this he'll have your heads".

"Well his lordship isn't here is he", Rito fired back as he squared up to Goldar, "the word in the galaxy is that Lord Zedd is half as powerful as he used to be". Rito circled Goldar menacingly before he continued, "where were you when Zedd got his butt handed to him by the Power Rangers?"

Goldar screamed in rage as he drew his sword and swung at Rito. Sensing the attack Rito summoned his own sword to block the attack. The two swords were locked together as the two generals put all their weight behind the attack.

"Now now Rito", Rita called out, "you're not making a good first impression". Rito gave Goldar one last stared before returning to his sister's side. "You'll have to forgive Rito's manners, sadly father didn't bother to educate him in the ways of polite society".

"Or educate me at all", Rito added. Rita just rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Finster", Rita barked, "make me a monster, nothing too powerful though. I want to lull the rangers into a false sense of security". Finster nodded and shuffled off to his workshop, Rita then turned to Goldar, "I want you to accompany Rito and the putties and attack the rangers first. I want Rito to gain experience battling the rangers before I put my plan into motion. Plus you've been out of action a while Goldar, you're getting a bit tubby around the middle".

Goldar grumbled under his breath and he stomped out of the room in a furious rage.

Outside the Youth Center

Tommy had caught up with the other rangers but he hadn't said a word as Kim's words were still ringing in his ears. Maybe she was right, he had felt a wedge between himself and the other rangers for the last couple of months. He had struggled with the new leadership position and was beginning to wish that Zordon had chosen someone else. He was pulled from his thoughts by the familiar sound of putties. They were joined by Goldar, a face he hadn't seen for a while, and by an unknown creature.

Tommy stepped forward, he was going to be the best leader he could be, starting now. "Goldar how nice of you to show your ugly face again, who's your new friend?"

It was Rito who answered instead, "The name's Rito Revolto and my sister has a bone to pick with you", he laughed to himself, "get it, bone to pick, it's funny cause I'm a skeleton".

The rangers just stared at Rito and shook their heads in embarrassment, they looked to Tommy for the signal. "I think you should be destroyed just for that joke alone. Ok guys it's morphin' time"

"Tigerzord"

"Mastodon"

"Pterodactyl"

"Triceratops"

"Sabre Toothed Tiger"

"Tyrannosaurus"

Once the morphing sequence was completed, Tommy directed the rangers toward their intended targets, "Ok Rocky you take Rito, I've got Goldar the rest of you take the putties"

"Not so fast white ranger", Goldar roared, "I owe the black ranger some payback for killing my wife". Goldar roared with fury and charged at Adam, the black ranger was barely able to summon his power axe in time to defend against Goldar's attack.

Rito took this opportunity to attack the nearest ranger, who happened to be Aisha. He swung his sword across the yellow ranger, causing sparks to fly off her suit. Aisha stumbled backwards but managed to stay on her feet. Rocky and Tommy came to her defence and with a combination of the power sword and Saba, they were able to push Rito back.

"Not bad rangers, you're the toughest opponents I've had in a long time", Rito called out.

"Thanks I'm honoured", Rocky replied sarcastically, swinging his sword at Rito. They clashed together with a resounding clang. Rocky was able to slash Rito across his chest, but he returned the favour with a double cut attack on the red ranger. Rocky took both hits hard in the arms and chest and was thrown across the ground, landing on his back.

Rito didn't have time to celebrate as he was hit by an energy blast and a pair of yellow daggers. He turned to face his attacker, Tommy and a fully recovered Aisha, "not bad let me show how it's done though", Rito taunted as he fired a laser blast from the end of his sword, both rangers successfully ducked the attack.

"Aisha go help Kim with the putties and send Billy my way, his lance will be more effective against Rito sword", Tommy ordered.

"What about Adam?" Aisha asked.

Tommy looked over at the black ranger who appeared to be holding his own against an enraged Goldar, "He's doing ok, I've got half an eye on him", he replied. Aisha nodded and raced off to help with the putties.

Tommy stood up, "Ok Rito lets see what you've got".

As Tommy had observed, Adam was doing very well against Goldar. The warrior seemed to have lost a step and wasn't quite as mobile as he remember. There was a brief lull in their battle and the two combatants stared at each other.

"You killed my wife black ranger, you mark my words I will avenge her", Goldar shouted.

"Scorpina got what he deserved Goldar", Adam called back. This angered Goldar further who swung his sword with renewed force and fury. Adam used his axe to block each attack, in his rage Goldar was striking with a pattern and leaving himself open to a counterattack.

Adam spied a hole in his defence as he ducked the sword and kicked Goldar hard in the abdomen. As he was doing this, he had converted the axe into cannon mode and fired off two quick blasts at Goldar. The golden warrior was staggered but he remained on his feet. Adam switched the cannon back into an axe and slashed Goldar three times across the chest. Goldar was thrown up in the air and landed ten feet away flat on his back.

"This ends today Goldar", Adam called out.

Goldar sat up groggily, "I will have my vengeance black ranger", he replied back teleporting away.

"Great just what I need", Adam said to himself as turned and went to meet up with the others.

Aisha and Kim had taken care of the putties and Rocky had recovered from Rito's initial attack. The white, red and blue rangers had kept Rito busy but he would not go down. With the addition of the other rangers, he knew that the numbers were against him. "Another time rangers", he taunted and with a wave of his sword he too teleported away.

"Well that was interesting", Billy said but their communicators went off before the other rangers could reply.

"Go ahead Zordon", Tommy said into his watch.

"Tommy there's a monster attacking the park, you must teleport there immediately", Zordon's voice called out from the communicator.

"Alright we're on our way", Tommy replied and shut off communications. He looked at the other rangers, "Alright you heard Zordon, let's get moving".

The other rangers nodded at him and with a touch of their belt buckles, they disappeared in a beam of light.

Command Center

The rangers had defeated the monster, compared to their battle against Rito and Goldar it had been relatively straight forward. They had teleported back to Command Center to discuss the latest developments with Zordon and Alpha.

"So who is this Rito character Zordon, he mentioned a sister", Kim asked

"Rito Revolto is the younger sibling of Rita Replusa. Their father is Master Vile, one of the most feared beings in the universe", Zordon replied.

"Wait did you say Rita", Rocky asked, "I thought you said that Zedd banished for forever".

"We did Rocky", Billy replied, "it would seem that she found a way to escape". He turned to face Zordon, "I take it she has escaped Zordon and do you think she is behind the recent monsters?"

"I am sensing her presence on the Moon again Billy", Zordon responded, "and I believe you are correct she seems the most likely culprit for the monsters".

"So what do we do now?" Aisha asked.

"What we always do, remain alert and vigilant", Tommy responded addressing the group as well as Aisha. "Rita's back and she's bought her brother with her, Goldar's reappeared and has a vendetta against Adam, plus Lord Zedd is due to reawaken at any time". Tommy paused before delivering the next part of his speech, "maybe some extra help wouldn't hurt either".

Tommy didn't say who he was referring to but they knew he was talking about the agency. They all agreed with him, today had been an opening exchange from Rita and Rito. All of the rangers sensed that things were only going to get worse.