Chapter 25

Twisted

Dana ran a brush through her hair and turned back and forth in her mirror. She smoothed down the sides of her shirt, making sure they were tucked smoothly into her skirt then turned the opposite direction. She continued to study her reflection before leaving her room and walking down the hallway to her father's. Ducking her head into his room, she looked around, frowning when she found that he wasn't there.

On a whim, she left the room and hurried down to the living room, where they usually left their notes and found nothing there. Rolling her eyes lightly, she turned on her heel and went over to the phone, knowing that her father had snuck off to work despite knowing what they had to do that day. Nevertheless, she wasn't particularly surprised. He always was work oriented and even the times he had been sick he still found himself working as hard as possible. This time around, she was sure he had wanted to get some finishing touches done on whatever project he, Angela Fairweather, and Aaron were working on. Despite not having clearance on a lot of the things he worked on, she knew there was some big project they were all working on that only they and whoever else was under his company knew the exact details.

That had to be what he was doing.

Taking her cell phone from her pocket, she dialed in the number of her father's office and waited. She waited through the message that told her that her call could possibly be recorded, and then punched in the extension for her father's office. The phone nearly rang off the hook before her father finally picked up.

"Captain Mitchell speaking."

"Father, we're supposed to be going to the airport," Dana said as soon as he picked up the phone. "We're going to miss our flight if we don't leave within the next hour." She placed her hand on her hip. "How could you leave for work when you knew that we had an early flight?"

"Dana, I know you're excited to be going back to California, but I need you to calm down a bit." Captain Mitchell laughed in amusement. Dana could hear the sound of drills going behind him as well as a lot of chattering. "I just needed to be sure that everything would run smoothly while I was gone. And besides, I needed to get something so I could take it to Angel Grove."

Dana let out a light groan, rolling her eyes. "Dad, you said that you weren't going to bring any work with you."

"This is really important, Dana. I wouldn't be bringing it with me if I didn't think it was going to help us with our projects," he said calmly. He cleared his throat and all of a sudden the sounds behind him went away and Dana could hear him clearly. "I'll be back at the house in twenty minutes and then we can go to the airport. I'm sure Ellie is coming with us as well, she said that she was trying to get some time off, if she just doesn't come later. Apart from that, I'm just as happy to be going as you are."

"Really?"

"Really. Not only am I happy to go see Avalon and Bailey, but there's also someone there that I need to see as well."

"Who?"

"Billy Cranston. I'm sure he can help me with my project."

Goldar rolled onto his side and looked down at Scorpina who lay in his bed next to him. Her eyes had been closed but with his movement they shot open and looked over at him. As per usual, she was ready for anything that would come her way and despite the many nights that the two of them had spent together, he was well aware that she could kill him just as easily as he could kill her. He had seen it when the two had killed off the last of the horoscope monster.

She was the one that told him that they needed to get rid of Sagittaria so they could move one step closer to taking over the Lunar Palace. She had been the one that whispered n his ear, ran her hand up his arm, sent shivers through his body as she continued to whisper the plan they were going to continue with. That had been when she was still partially put together with that stupid human girl, Sabrina. Since they had split apart, she had become nothing more than an annoyance. In fights she worked off of pure hatred and her emotions against the rangers, which caused them to fail time after time.

She continuously walked around, acting as if she was the biggest, baddest thing on the planet since she, Rito, and Goldar had defeated the rangers when Ivan was around. She was a master manipulator and Goldar found himself drawn to her more and more as time went on. It was better than having to deal with that bumbling oaf, Rito. Not only did he have a habit of keeping to himself, being almost as ruthless as Rita and Zedd could be when the time came, but he also had a habit of acting like a fool, trying to get a laugh. It was annoying to the point where Goldar dreaded smelling the stench of the skeleton monster before he even reached him. He preferred the side that was serious and evil, who betrayed Ivan and stabbed him through the back when he got the chance.

Nevertheless, he was a loyal follower of Zedd's and knew it was only a matter of time until he finally managed to raise the ancient zords and destroy the rangers. Until then, he had to deal with those he was stuck working with.

"What is it?" Scorpina asked, raising a hand and gently running her fingers down Goldar's arms. Her charcoal eyes flashed with something he couldn't recognize. "You've been a restless sleeper lately."

"I've had someone else in my bed." Goldar turned to the side and slid out of his bed. He grabbed onto the protective plate that was on the floor and tied it back around his waist. He then scratched himself under his arms and turned back to the woman, reaching out and grasping the sword that rested by his bed. "You move too much. You're too restless when you sleep."

"My dreams," Scorpina clarified with an evil smile. "I just have too much fun crushing people in my dreams. I love being able to listen to them scream and cry in pain, the sound of their breaking bones, watching as their blood seeps out of their bodies." She paused, now scowling. "If only we could do that with those puny rangers. Capture the pink and white ones like Rita and Zedd want and just kill the others." She stretched her arms over her head before sliding out of the bed as well, adjusting the armor that covered her body.

Sauntering over to Goldar she rested her hands on his forearms. "Just think of it, Goldar. Just think of the way they'll scream in agony. In utter agony. I'll make them all watch each other die, they'll promptly waste themselves once they see what I'm going to do." Sucking in a deep breath, she turned on her heel and went over to the window, looking out at Earth as it loomed in front of her. The stars twinkled just as brightly as the light radiating from the planet. "What do you think sounds more fun? Breaking each and every bone and then killing them? Or doing a lot of little stabs from my sword, hearing as it grinds against their bones?"

Goldar continued to watch her. "I'm not sure," he admitted. He paused before continuing with. "And as it is, we don't know what Rita and Zedd have planned to do with the ancient zords. We can't go against their orders or else they're the ones we have to worry about. I don't know about Rita, but Zedd doesn't take lightly to those that betray him."

Scorpina rolled her eyes and turned back to Goldar, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't you get it, Goldar? We're the ones that should be running this palace. We're the ones that should be able to destroy the rangers with little effort. All we have to do is get rid of Rita and Zedd."

"You have a plan?"

"Wait for them to fall asleep, and then…" Scorpina nodded towards Goldar's sword before reaching for hers. She held it lovingly in her hands and rang her fingers along the side of it; each finger tapping over the tip of the protruding bone spikes. She lifted it up and kissed the side of the sword. "It won't take long for them to go if we aim right for their hearts." She paused then laughed lightly. "If they even have hearts, I mean. There has to be something going on if Zedd thinks Rita looks that good."

Goldar nodded.

He started to pace back and forth. It was a good idea, actually. The best time to get someone would be when they were asleep. Everyone was vulnerable when they were asleep. It was the only time they let go of reality, of the life that surrounded them and allowed themselves to fall into their dreams. They never had their scepter and wand around them when they were asleep, he knew that for sure. What was keeping them from going in and smothering them with their pillows or stabbing them through the heart? A few Tengas leftover? They followed whoever was in the throne at the time and if Goldar, Scorpina and Rito were there, they were the ones that would be rulers.

What's to say they couldn't be the next in line to take over the universe?

"All we have to do is wait for them to fall asleep," Scorpina continued, her voice now turning into a whisper. "And then we make sure there's no one guarding their room. And then we go in and make sure they fall into an eternal slumber."

Goldar lifted his sword and looked at it himself. His red eyes roved over the sharp metal that gleamed at all angles, reflecting light no matter how dark the room was. He turned back to Scorpina, who looked at him with loving eyes, glad that he was on her side and would be helping her out. Glad she wasn't doing it all on her own.

"You're right," he agreed finally, causing Scorpina to clasp her hands together and jump up and down. "That is a very good idea. A good sleep is all they need. What we all need, really." He grabbed onto Scorpina with his left hand and used his right to lift his sword and shove it straight through Scorpina's chest. She let out a gasp of surprise, eyes widening as Goldar glared into her eyes with a fiery light, then pulled the sword back out of her chest cavity.

The sickening squelching sound that her chest made a few times happened at the time as her chest heaved up and down. But Goldar knew it wouldn't help, there was no air that was going to get to her lungs. His sword was so wide that he knew if he had missed her heart, there was a good chance he was going to get her lungs. No matter, she wasn't going to survive this. Scorpina reached out and grabbed onto Goldar with alternating strong grips and loose ones, her knees buckling. Tears leaked out the corner of her eyes as she knew her end was near, the sucking sound of her breathing continuing to fill the room.

Finally, Goldar let go of his grasp on Scorpina and watched as her knees completely gave out, allowing her to fall to the floor in the puddle of blood that seeped out from the wood and trickled down her body. "Good night," Goldar growled, watching as Scorpina's eyes darkened and she slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Turning on his heel, he left his bedroom, calling for the Tengas to dispose of her body.

Rocky sighed as he pressed his hands together, resting his elbows on the table in front of him. He looked over as Maria pushed a picture into his face, showing him the drawing she had just made. He smiled his thanks before turning back to the empty space in front of him. The spot that his father was going to preoccupy. He hadn't wanted to go out to breakfast that day, after hearing his father was going to be in of attendance. But he hadn't wanted to disappoint his mother, who truly did want to have breakfast as a family.

Still, he couldn't help but glare at the spot across from him, menu untouched and silverware untouched as well. It infuriated him, and probably always would, and yet he loved his mother so much that he wasn't going to allow him to mess things up for them.

"Rocky," Isabella whispered from his other side, causing the red ranger to glance at her out of the corner of his eye. "Relax. Please. You're making this a lot weirder than it has to be." She gestured towards the country-style restaurant. "We're just having breakfast, we're not asking for him to move back in or anything."

Finally, the red ranger managed to give a small smile. "You're right Izzie," he agreed. "I'll try to relax a little bit." He glanced down at his communicator, silently willing for it to go off. The first time he had with his family in a while and he hasn't gotten any messages to go off to fight some sort of monster or Tengas? Why was it that the only time he and the rest of the rangers were needed was when everything was going on, but the times that nothing was going on, they weren't needed?

"How's school going, Rocky?" Mrs. DeSantos asked her son. She set down her menu and looked over her shoulder before regarding her eldest child once more. "Are your classes going well?"

"Oh yeah, my classes are fine." Rocky waved his hand. "They're a bit more difficult than usual. But its senior year, so I guess that makes sense." He laced his fingers together as he thought about it. "We have a lot more football practices coming up as well as games. And even then we still have the homecoming dance and stuff to work through. Especially since we have to figure out spirit week and stuff."

"The dance is coming up, si?" Mrs. DeSantos continued, to which Rocky nodded his confirmation, taking a sip of water. "Do you have anyone to go with?" At his pause she continued. "Don't act modest, Rocky, you are a handsome boy and you're always able to catch the eye of every girl that's in your vicinity." She shrugged. "They may not be the kind of girls that I like for you, but it wouldn't be hard for someone to take." She thought for a moment. "As long as she has the same sort of values…"

"Ma…" Rocky sighed, shaking his head. He heard this a million times before. She wanted him to go out with someone that went to church, who was conservative, who had morals and values that were really close to or lined with his. As much as his mother did want him to have a girlfriend, settle down, and have a lot of family, he was pretty sure she wasn't going to find anyone that she one hundred percent approved to be with. "I'm probably just going to go with Aisha or the new girl in school, Kat."

"Kat?"

"She's from Australia, she just moved here," Rocky explained. "She's really nice and doesn't really know her way around. I thought it'd be nice." He shrugged and then looked at his brothers and sisters as they all started to giggle. "What? What's so funny?"

"That's what you always say, Rocky," Antonio pointed out.

"I do not."

"Yes, you do," Maria and Diego said at the same time, causing the table to start laughing once more.

"You're such a handsome boy, Rocky," Mrs. DeSantos repeated. "You certainly take after your father in that aspect." Rocky rolled his eyes as his siblings all smiled even wider. Her eyes shifted behind her family and she stood up, a bright smile coming onto her face. Rocky turned around and watched as his father, Daniel, stride over to the table.

His handsome face split into a wide smile as he spotted his wife. He grabbed onto her hands and smiled before leaning in and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Rosa, you look beautiful as ever," he said to her before giving her a hug. Mrs. DeSantos smiled a smile so wide that Rocky hadn't seen in a long time, and hugged her husband back. He watched as his parents hugged for a long time, gently rocking back and forth. Then Daniel released his wife and turned to his children, opening his arms once more. "Who's gonna give me a hug?"

Diego and Maria immediately leapt out of their seats and hurried over towards Daniel, crashing into him and reaching their arms up. Daniel wrapped his arms around them and lifted them high, gently rocking them back and forth. He then gave them kisses on the side of the head before lowering them back down. His youngest children grabbed onto his legs, though moved aside so that Diego and Isabella got their chance to give him a hug.

And the red ranger could do nothing but sit there and watch, slowly brewing with anger. How could everyone but him seem to forget what happened? Diego and Maria he could understand, they were so young that he was sure they didn't ever remember Daniel at all other than stories that Rosa told them. Isabella and Antonio should've remembered a little bit of him, but not the night the raid had happened. They were gone at friends' house at the time, and then Rosa had said that their father had moved for his job. Only Rocky and Rosa knew the truth about what happened that night.

Yet, here she was, kissing him and wanting him to have breakfast with them. No. Rocky couldn't do it. He wanted to try. But he just remember how betrayed he felt once he knew how bad things have gotten. It was scary; having been woken up by police bursting into his room, shouting and waving flashlights in his face, tearing things off the walls and to the floor.

And Rocky sat curled up in bed, screaming and crying for his mother and father, not knowing that his father had been placed into the back of a police car and his mother was pleading with the arresting cops to let him go. The little boy continued to cry and scream until one of the raiders grabbed onto him and pulled him out of the room, gently soothing him as he was brought downstairs to his mother. Within the next week everything had spilled out into the open and Rocky knew he didn't want to end up like his father. He got his mother to enroll him in martial arts and he used that as a motivator to make sure he had a better life in sight.

He remembered why he had made that decision as he watched his father sit down in front of him and leaned forward, resting his eyes on the red ninja ranger. "Aren't you going to give me a hug?"

"No," Rocky said bluntly. "Frankly, I'm a little surprised that you're here. Are you going to be here long?"

Daniel shrugged before lacing his fingers together. "As long as I'm allowed to be. I don't know." He looked over at Rosa with a sly smile. "We're working it out. But I'd hope that this can be a start of our family workings its way back together. So that we can be a real family again."

"Well, that depends Dad," Rocky replied with a small smile, eyes flashing. "Is my room going to be busted open by the police? Am I going to be raided again? Are you going to stash more drugs in my room?"

"Rocky!" Mrs. DeSantos cried.

The sound of his communicator going off split through the air and Rocky leapt up from his seat, pushing back his chair. "I have something I need to take care of. I'll see you later." He went over to his mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek and kissed his brothers and sisters before taking his coat, which draped across the back of the chair, and leaving the restaurant.

He had never been so happy to leave food to deal with his ranger duties than in that moment.

A/N: I would've had this updated on Tuesday but I had a bit of a family emergency to deal with. All is fine now, though! The next chapter moves the plot along a bit quicker as a big plot starts and I have the rest of this season to go through and then Zeo.

Thanks to GenkiPlus, TaitanoRules555, I love power rangers7135, Ashley, Adela, Son of Whitebeard, and brakel1 for reviewing.

I'll have In Too Deep updated this weekend.

~Avalon