Chapter 25
After bringing the tacos, Dex sat down in the desk chair and told me what had gone on between the battle with the Psycho Rangers and my team mates and him, while I had gone to the shopping center.
"The other Psychos did something to Andros and the others, I didn't see exactly what because I was busy with the Yellow Psycho Ranger, but when I had a chance I glanced at them and saw that all of them were on the ground. Magno and Chopper were busy trying to protect them from the other Psychos…..but whatever they did to them….they did it fast and hard. I didn't see anything else but then Psycho Yellow said "Ha! They did it! Now all we have to do is find the Yellow Ranger and we'll be able to beat these guys no problem." She then threw me to one side and I watched as she and the other Psychos started to approach Andros and the others, Chopper and Magno had been blasted backward, I was about to get up and use myself as a shield, but then something happened!" Dex paused and raised his eyes to the ceiling for a moment.
"What happened?" I asked impatiently, leaning toward him. He lowered his gaze toward me.
"The Psychos stopped dead in their tracks; they grabbed their heads and began to groan….I saw electricity running up and down their bodies and at first I thought that maybe it was you that stopped them, but you weren't around. Anyway, I had a feeling that something….much more stronger was stopping them from finishing Andros and the others off, I was about to attack the Psychos, thinking that this would be my last chance; when you came in and blasted them away." I stared at him confused by what he had just told me. Not one of the Psychos asked about my whereabouts. Not one of them knew where I was? And the electricity that had engulfed them before they could kill my team mates. Where did it come from? Did it come from Astronema or Dark Specter? Why did they stop the Psychos in the first place? I looked up at Dex and began to struggle to my feet.
"Where are the others?"
"Their on the bridge; I've already did my best to patch them up but they still seem shaky." He said as he supported me as we made our way out the door and down the hall.
"How much have they recovered from the attack?" I asked.
"They've recovered about…..I don't know…about half their strength I should say, I left them in Alpha's care while I tended to you." I stopped in surprise.
"Tentomon's here?" Disappointment went through me as Dex shook his head.
"No, I mean Alpha-6." We kept on walking. Reaching the bridge I was relieved to see that my team mates were alright.
Andros and the others turned when Dex and I entered the bridge. I was relieved that they were still standing and thanked god that Dex had answered my call.
"Any serious injuries?" Even though I had recovered some of my strength; it wasn't enough to heal. I shouldn't have used the last of my healing energy on myself. I cursed silently. These guys needed it more than I. Looking at all of them, I could see that they probably didn't rest comfortably, due to the injuries that the Psychos gave them. Limping over to a chair, I sat down, and leaned my head back and closed my eyes; wanting nothing more than to sleep for a month or two.
"You alright?" TJ asked. I nodded, even through in truth I wasn't. I sat up.
"The Masked Rider has already told me what had gone on while I was battling Goldar at the mall, and he also told me that they did something to all of you." My team mates were silent for a moment.
"Yes, they did." Said Cassie, she suddenly wrapped her arms around herself. I looked at her curiously. Andros began to explain what had happened, I stiffened and my eyes widen in shock. I thought that only Goldar and Lord Zedd had that that kind of power, that they were the only ones that were capable of doing such a thing. I was surprised that all of them were even standing. Wait, this is different. Whenever Goldar or Lord Zedd would steal my power, I would feel intense pain, so intense that there were times when I welcomed death, just to end it. Plus, I wouldn't be able to move for a full Twenty Four hours. I shuddered at the memory. But with these guys….what the Psychos did to them, they only had their knowledge stolen. It looked as though it had the same effect though, only on a lesser scale. I turned to Zhane. Dex had also told me that Zhane had been in the building and hadn't been subjected to the same attack.
"Zhane are you alright?" He nodded.
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"Did they say anything to you while you were held captive?" He thought for a moment then shook his head. I frowned then turned back to the others.
"How did the Psycho Rangers know that Zhane was a Power Ranger?" Immediately Cassie and the others launched into an explanation of what had went on in the Juice Bar in Angel Grove.
"There are these computers that give off the same sound as our communicators….the Psychos must have locked onto our signal and were using that to find us." TJ stepped forward.
"I had accidentally called Zhane using the communicator and that's how they found him." I blinked, then frowned in thought. The Psychos had no idea where I was, even though I was using large amounts of my power, I'm surprised that they didn't sense it and rushed off to my location. It stuck me as a bit strange to have an enemy who was relying on a sound that our communicators gave off in order to locate us, instead of honing in the amount of power that we were using.
"What are we going to do?" asked Cassie, she looked haunted.
"Thanks to that mind read thing that they did on us, they'll know our every thought and move."
"Yeah, how are we supposed to fight these guys?" Asked TJ.
"They might even know what type of fighting styles that we use and block them." said Carlos.
All of them began to talk over each other trying to voice solutions or ideas that might help them beat the Psycho Rangers, I motioned to Dex, he leaned down so that he could hear me properly.
"I was right, Astronema had been brainwashed so well that she had forgotten what we looked like."
"Since she doesn't know, her Psycho Rangers are relying on the technology that they have in order to find you guys. In this case; the sound of the communicators." Dex murmured. I nodded.
"Someone must have told them, probably made a recording of some sort so that the Psychos know the tone."
"And can track it, regardless of where you guys are." He said grimly.
"We have to figure out a way to throw them off somehow, so we won't be tracked so easily." I raised an eyebrow. We? Instead of saying anything, I nodded.
"Yeah, and I think I have just the thing. Our old communicators." Dex looked at me in surprise but then he got it.
"Brilliant." I grinned at him.
"I just have to modify them a bit, and that can be done pretty easily."
"Would you like me to get the communicators?" I nodded.
"Yeah. Their in my room; in my desk drawer and could you bring my mini computer as well?" Dex straighten up, turned and hurried out of the door, the others, who noticed Dex's departure, stopped and turned toward me.
"Where's the Masked Rider going?" asked Zhane. I turned toward them.
"He's going to get something for me." Why didn't they scan him? I thought for a minute, then come up with a conclusion. There is no Silver Psycho Ranger. I guess there has to be a counter part to the Silver Ranger in order to successfully mind scan a Ranger. Still, it was surprising.
"Speaking of the Masked Rider." Cassie said.
"Did you call him?" she pointed at me and I nodded.
"Yes, I called him, I had to. The fight with Goldar lasted a lot longer than I had anticipated, plus I wasn't sure if I would have enough strength after the battle to help you guys out with the Psychos." At that moment Dex returned with a box and my mini computer.
"I'm glad I called him." He nodded as he handed me the box.
"Glad to be of service." Carlos and the others had stepped forward and were looking at it curiously.
"What's in the box?" They soon saw what was in it, for I had opened it and was pulling out the old communicators. Zhane reached out a hand and lifted one.
"What are these?" Andros had taken one as well.
"There the old communicators, we used them when we were on Earth."
"Hmm." Zhane said scrutinizing them.
"Their primitive looking." My eyes flashed, anger rose within me.
"They may be 'primitive looking' to you, but they might come in handy." I growled through gritted teeth.
"Oh, yeah?" Zhane said.
"How?" asked Andros.
"Well, I could modify them so that we have a direct communications link with each other and the Ship; the Psychos won't be able to track us using these because the tone of these communicators will have a different tone." Taking my mini computer from Dex, I took out the extension, plugged it into the back of my computer, and hooked it up to the main console that was in front of me, took off my communicator, set it on the table, and scanned it. Next I took one of the old communicators, scanned that one as well and began to type. Bringing up the schematics of the communications system of the Astro Mega Ship, and finding the link between the communicators and the Ship, I disconnected it, and then replaced the new communicators with the old ones.
"There." I said. "Their all hooked up and ready to go." As if one cue one of the communicators beeped. Cassie, TJ and Carlos looked down at them in surprise.
"Hey, that's the….." TJ started.
"The tone that would summon the Power Rangers." I said while trying to swallow the lump that had risen in my throat. Hearing the old tone again reminded me of the Command Center and the Power Chamber, my friends, Tentomon, Dad, Ninjor and all of the happy times that we used to have. I looked around at all of them.
"We'll be using these from now on."
"Hold it." Said Andros as the others began to take off their old communicators and put on their new ones on their wrists.
"We're one communicator short. You don't have one." I smiled at him.
"Not to worry Andros, my mini computer also acts as a communicator; it's already hooked up to the Mega Ship communications system. We're all set." Although I was a little bummed that I wouldn't be using my old communicator, I figured that it would probably be easier. Besides, I'll probably answer it thinking that Dad is on the other end instead of A-6 or DECA.
"Okay, that's one problem solved." Said Cassie. Zhane and Andros were both looking at their wrist communicators with dubious expressions on their faces.
"Now what about the Psycho Rangers? How are we going to beat them?" I frowned at her.
"I'm not sure….that one is actually going to take some time in figuring out." Cassie scowled at me then turned back to the others to think up some strategies. I rolled my eyes, I don't have the answers to every problem, in fact some take more time than usual to figure out. Zhane saw that I had slumped over a bit in the chair.
"You haven't gotten your full strength back?" I shook my head.
"That fight with Goldar, I had to go all out." Carlos had a concerned look on his face.
"But you were alright in the end, right? You beat him." I looked into his face for a minute and then looked away.
"Just barely." I said in a low voice.
"He's that powerful?" asked Andros. A stirring of guilt wormed through me. You have no idea. I didn't say so out loud, knowing that they had the Psychos to deal with. So all I said was…
"I'll deal with him." I stood up began to limp toward the door. Dex, with an arm around my waist, helped support my weight as we made our way down the hall.
For a while neither of us spoke, then I confessed with a nervous glance at Dex,
"I'm kind of glad that this happened, I've never liked the new communicators, I'd much prefer the old ones or my mini computer." Dex let out a grunt and nodded.
"It was sheer luck that you didn't use your communicator or Psycho Yellow would have found you, and along with Goldar, both of them would have made short work of you." He was surprised when I shook my head.
"I don't think that would have happened. Goldar wants to be the one, the only one to kill me. If Psycho Yellow had made an appearance he would have chased her off or destroyed her." I frowned. "If he would have done that, then Andros and the others would have one less Psycho Ranger to worry about."
"Yes, a pity." Dex said with a bit of a chuckle. We were nearing my room.
"I'm surprised that Andros and the others didn't ask you the all important question."
"Why had the Psycho Rangers vanished when they had my team mates on their knees?" I asked the question for him. He nodded. Then he said in a teasing tone.
"Are you psychic as well?" I smiled, then shook my head.
"Her mind, is a lot like Zedd's, only instead of focusing on trying to destroy one Ranger, she's focusing on destroying all of us."
"Can you predict her next move?"
"I think so." I said after a moment's thought. I should be able to. I hope.
"So, why did she suddenly call them back?" I thought for a minute.
"She wants to choose a specific place and time to destroy us." Dex nodded in agreement.
"I thought so; it's something that Dregon would have done….if his Insectivores weren't so easy to defeat." I could hear the small smile in his voice, I frowned at him. Chopper had told me on a number of occasions how close the Masked Rider had nearly been beaten by Count Dregon's Insectivores. The worst part for me was that I really couldn't remember if, on that the night that I had been killed by Zedd, Goldar and Rito, and my powers were taken away, Count Dregon had also taken a part in draining me as well. I had asked Combat Chopper and Magno if Dregon's Insectivores and henchmen seem stronger.
"Stronger? Eh…no more than usual." Said Chopper.
"Why do you ask Amy?" Asked Magno.
"Oh, just wondering that's all." Knowing full well that Dex was probably going to ask questions when Chopper and Mango had told about my visit, I had decided to tell the truth.
"Okay, I'm just worried that along with Zedd, Dregon may have stolen a part of my power and shared it with his Insectivores and henchmen."
"Count Dregon? Share anything with his clowns?" Combat Chopper and Magno began to laugh. It had suddenly clicked for me then and there that Count Dregon would never do such a thing as share power with his minions. Just like Goldar would never want to share the glory of being the first person to take down the most powerful Ranger in a battle, with anybody. It had come as a relief to me, but it still didn't exactly answer my question. Although I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer.
"So are you worried about the Psycho Rangers?" Asked Dex. I burst out laughing.
"Worried? About the Psychos?" I gave a snort.
"Please, they are as easily defeat able as Zedd's old monsters when he had them souped up on….that power that he gave them. You just have to out maneuver them that's all."
"Yes but…Andros and the others are human. They don't have the same power as you." He pointed out mildly. Oh yeah. I frowned. If only Cassie and the others had been given the power to execute a Power Ranger Power Blast…..but even if they could, that still wouldn't be enough. The Psychos are faster, stronger and more powerful than my team mates. Plus they are aliens; it takes an alien to defeat an alien. We had reached my room and entered it; Dex settled me down onto my bed and went out the door saying that he was going to get me some food.
"You need to regain your full strength." He said. I had a feeling that he was referring to the chance that Goldar might make another appearance. I gave him a small smile to reassure him, although I sensed worry coming off of him in waves. I made myself comfortable on my bed, closed my eyes and tried to sleep. But even through I was tired; my mind kept alerting me to something. Only an alien can defeat an alien. I frowned to myself. Did I really think that? Did I really think that no human can stand to these evil creatures who, for one reason or another, attack planet Earth or Angel Grove? Did I really think, just because I was half alien, that I was stronger, more powerful, than my team mates? No, I thought. I'm not. I know I'm not. My powers and emotions have been used against me time and again. I remembered Justin, and the vision of my friends surrounding me, accusing fingers pointing at me. Plus the horror of reliving that terrible day when I had killed Aisha. No, I'm not all powerful; if I was then a lot of things would be different. At that moment Dex stepped into the room, much to my relief, in his hands was a plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Later after resting and finally having regained the ability to walk without Dex supporting me. I went back to the bridge and healed my team mates; they were no closer at figuring out a way to defeat the Psychos. I left them to it while Dex and I walked out the door; he wanted to talk to me.
"I was really worried about you Amy, I'm….I'm really glad that you're alright." I gave him a small smile. He didn't return it.
"Golder sent you through the wringer big time." Dex said tensely.
"He sure did. But I'm alright, all I needed was a good clean up, some rest and food in my tummy and I'm ready for the next battle." I heard Dex sigh and felt his hand, which was in mine, tighten. When he next spoke, apprehension was in every syllable.
"That's what is worrying me. What if the next battle turns out to be much worse or he makes his attacks more powerful? What if you can't stop his next attack? Amy, I've just seen what Goldar did to you earlier today and I seriously don't like it."
"So what do you want me to do?" I asked him, deciding that it would be best not to make false reassurances and just straight to the point.
"Do you want me to just stop fighting? Because you know what will happen if that I do that."
"I'm not asking you to." Dex snapped impatiently.
"What then?" I snarled. Before he could answer I plowed on.
"You know as well as I do that there is no one else that can even stand up to him. No one except me. I'm the only one that can stand up to any and all of his attacks; I'm the only one that can stand up to his army of Tengu Warriors. I can keep up with him, speed for speed, strength for strength and power for power."
"You can do that at only half his speed, half his power and half his strength. You're half alien in case you've forgotten." Dex shouted angrily, grabbing me and shaking me. I tore free and glared at him.
"YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING ME." I yelled at him.
"To tell you the truth I don't give a damn wHEther I'm half alien or full, I don't give a damn that I can just barely keep up with him in battle, and I certainly don't give a god for saken damn that he easily kill me just like I….." I can't tell him! I can't! I leaned against him and was glad that he didn't move away from me, was relieved when he put his arms around me.
"I just want all of this to stop." I said in a low voice that cracked with emotion.
"I want to go back to my old life, I want to go back to living with my sisters and brothers and my mom and dad, I don't want anymore craziness or pain in my life anymore. Dex….sometimes I think…..that it would be easier if I just…finally cracked, just gave up and allow Goldar to end my life." He tighten his grip around me.
"But if you did that….what would happen to your friends, your team mates?" He paused then in a low whisper.
"To me? Y—you've been the only thing that's kept me going. The thing that's been keeping me sane. I—if you gave up, then….." Dex took a breath then said in a choked voice,
"I don't want to lose you Amy, without you, I truly would be lost." I closed my eyes briefly, never having given any thought to just how many people really counted on me. I really am selfish. When I opened them again, I gave a weary sigh and took a step back.
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's just that….."
"I understand." Dex interrupted softly, for a few minutes we just stood there, holding onto each other. A few moments of silence passed as we continued to walk down the hall, Dex was the one to break it.
"I'm telling you Amy, after all of this, we are going to need a loooooong vacation." I nodded.
"Yeah like say…….three years?" Dex laughed.
"I was leaning more toward a one year vacation. Or two. I'll ask Grandfather if he's up to staying King for a few more months." I smiled.
"I was just thinking….with everything that the king has been through, after the wedding and the crowning coronation, I'm thinking of sending your….I mean our….Grandfather on a vacation…..I'm pretty sure that he needs it."
"Hmm, that sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to him later ad see what he says."
Sorry this took so long, my computer crashed erasing the first version of this chapter.