Chapter Thirteen: Disorder Within the Ranks
Zordan stared at the sleek black armor that appeared on Burai. He could feel Black Energy emanating from him, mixing with the Red Energy that fueled Bio Mech Black's anger.
"Ay-yi-yi!" Alpha 4 cried out.
Trinity frowned and began to run toward Bio Mech Black and Zordon. The leader of the Resistance put up his hand, shaking his head. "Stand back, Trinity. This is between Burai and me."
Bio Mech Black laughed. "That's right..." He placed a small device on the ground. Pushing a button on the side of the cylinder-like device, a giant bubble appeared around the two, made of of many yellow hexagons. "And now that we're alone, I'm going to get my revenge!"
As Bio Black flew through the air, Zordon stared him down. "Magical source: Meledon force!"
Meledon Ranger grabbed Bio Black from midair, swinging him around. Letting go, Bio Black slammed into the bubble wall. He landed stomach first onto the ground.
Punching the ground with his fist, he pushed himself up. His whole body flew up into the air, before he jutted his legs out under him, landing on his feet. He pulled out a blaster and shot at Meledon.
The Red Nathadian Ranger did a handless cartwheel to his right, avoiding the hit. Before long, however, the blast slammed into his back, sending him to the ground.
Bio Black laughed. "My blasts are full of Black Energy, programmed specifically to target anything filled withWhite Energy... Like you..."
"Zordon! No!" Trinity screamed, punching at the bubble. Tears streamed down her face as she turned to look at Masked Rider Wizard and Alpha 4 standing behind her. "Can't you do anything!?"
"Ahh!" Meledon screamed, still on the floor as Bio Black began continually hitting him with Black Energy. The Black Energy was beginning to overshadow his tap into the White Energy field in the universe, causing him to begin to fall out of consciousness.
Wizard Rider shook his head, in his base Flame Mode. "I have been trying, but can't seem to be able to do anything... I have never seen a shield this sophisticated before..."
"This is very bad! King Lexian, what do we do?" Alpha 4 said.
Demorphing from Masked Rider Wizard, King Lexian walked forward and placed a hand on the bubble's dome. He began channeling more energy into it.
With a look of determination, Trinity instamorphed into the Pink Ninja Storm Ranger. "Power of light!" She screamed, shooting the bubble with a stream of photons.
Master Mao and Master Rilla looked at each other. Mao nodded. "Channel our Animal Spirit!"
Closing their eyes and focusing, they projected their Animal Spirits at the dome, trying to break through as they heard Meledon's screams of pain. Joining in, the Gaia Rangers pulled out their Power Cards and began shooting streams of White Energy at the dome.
"Powers of Aquitar: body of one!" The two Aquitar Rangers proclaimed, beginning to gather the moisture in the air. The concentrated stream of water joined in with the others trying to save the leading General of the Resistance.
Bio Mech Black looked around. "What are you doing!? Why are you trying to help him!? Where were you when I needed you all the most, huh!? I was alone on that planet! No one was there to save me!"
At that, the Black Ranger shot three more blasts of Black Energy into Meledon Ranger. He laughed, staring at Meledon writhing in pain.
Meledon tried forcing himself up, but was too weak. "Burai... You're not evil. Remember when you first took the S... Sword of Darkness? You- You said it didn't affect... you..."
Bio Black laughed. "That's because I'm not evil, Zordon. I'm just getting my revenge!" He shot another blast of Black Energy at Meledon, causing him to scream out in pain.
"Burai! Zordon was there for you! He was just too late! He tried!" Ninja Pink screamed, channeling more energy into the dome.
"Lies!" Bio Black screamed, running up to the dome wall himself and pointing straight at the Pink Ranger. "Stop lying for him!"
"She is not lying!" Robo Knight said, appearing onto the scene after having ended his scouting of the area. "I was there. We tried saving you."
Bio Black laughed. "Don't believe everything you're programmed to believe."
"It's funny you should say that..." Meledon said, finally gathering the strength to stand. "I just scanned ... you're a cyborg. You've been reprogrammed!"
"Hehe... More lies from Zordon of Eltar." Bio Black said, turning around and shaking his head. "When are you going to stop lying to me!?"
"You're delusional!"
"Ahhh!" Bio Black shouted. He began shooting Black Energy at Meledon.
As the blasts flew at Meledon, he yelled out an attack by a prompting from the Nathadian Magic within him: "Meledon Conversion: White Battery!"
White Energy enveloped him. His suit turned white, with a symbol that looked as if it were a triangle, with lines like beams of light projecting out from it. Instead of a helmet, Zordon's head was exposed, while wearing a small white mask over his eye area. His normally blue hair was also shown as a pure white. He extended his hands, creating a small bubble before him that blocked Bio Black's death energy.
"I'm losing power!" Master Rilla shouted, falling to a knee. The others trying to break the dome concurred.
"Wait! Look!" Lexian, the King of Edenoi, said. "I don't think he needs our help..."
They stopped attacking the dome, staring at the new power in the dome before Bio Black. Meledon Ranger floated up above the ground. "Meledon Ranger: Life." He then shot several orbs of White Energy into Bio Black.
"Ahh!" Bio Black screamed, falling to his knees. The White Energy flowed through him, breaking down the very thing that was keeping him alive in his new state of being: the Black Energy Deviot infused him with.
Everyone in the area stared at Meledon Life in disbelief. Even through the dome, they could feel the awesome power emanating from him. Bio Black was feeling the full brunt of it. His suit began to spark and sizzle with electricity as it started breaking down.
"I'm sorry, old friend. This is for your own good." Meledon Life said. He pointed a hand at Bio Black, ready to deliver the final blow.
"VWOMP-VWOMP!"
Suddenly, four lasers flew down from the skies, blasting into the dome. It shattered, having finally reached the threshold of power it could stand against. Meledon Life looked up in shock as he saw two vehicles descend down from the sky.
"Storm Blaster and Lightning Cruiser?" Meledon Life wondered aloud, confused.
The red and blue vehicles landed beside Meledon Life and Bio Black, circling them.
"Ectophase: Activate!" Lexian shouted. He became the Masked Rider Flame Wizard, getting into a fighting stance.
The Sorcerer of the Sands walked onto the scene at that moment with Delu, having just finished casting a spell around the unconscious bodies of Mondo, Gara, and Zydos, to ensure they didn't escape. "What is happening!?"
Meledon Life lifted up a hand. "Everyone stand down. These are friends..." He then turned to Lightning Cruiser. "I don't believe it... After all these years? I thought you were destroyed in the Final Siege..."
"Vwomp. Vwomp-vwomp." Lightning Cruiser replied.
Meledon Life then began focusing on the car with his Nathadian Magic, scanning both vehicles. Suddenly, he could understand what they were trying to communicate. Lightning Cruiser had said: "We escaped during Master Vile's attack, after Ivicar stole the Ectomorphicons."
Storm Blaster pulled up beside Bio Black, who was on all fours, breathing hard. "We've been roaming the universe, helping people when they needed us. We were just helping the Aquitar Rangers use a loud plant against a bunch of grey people on Triforia with the Gold Ranger when we heard news of you being attacked here on Earth!"
Lightning Cruiser flashed his headlights. "So we came as fast as we could. We scanned the area and were happy to see the bio signals for both of our creators, but..."
Storm Blaster finished what his brother could not. "But we couldn't stand by and watch you destroy MasterBurai!"
Meledon Life frowned. "You don't understand... He's been corrupted. Uh... It's like someone reprogrammed him."
"If someone were to reprogram us, would you destroy us, or would you try and rereprogram us?" StormBlaster asked.
Powering down, Zordon nodded. "You're right..." He then made his way to Bio Black. "Burai... Come with me. I'm sure Gosei and I could-"
"Leave me alone!" Bio Black shouted. A shockwave of Black Energy erupted from him, throwing Zordon off his feet. The Bio Mech Black Ranger then put his hands to his belt, activating a teleporter. In a split moment, before anyone could react, he was gone, a black streak flying up to Deviot's secret ship in orbit.
As Zordon turned to look at the others, Master Guin came running down the gravelly hill into the jagged, cragged war zone where the Wizard War had occurred. "Everyone, listen quick! Atlantis has been compromised. They are under attack by a group of evil Power Rangers as we speak!"
The Sorcerer of the Sands looked to the Gaia Rangers. He then looked at Guin. "Can you give us the coordinates?" She nodded, saying the coordinates out loud a couple of times so everyone could jot them down in either their wrist techs, or any other device they may have had.
Gaia Pink stepped forward. "Alright, Gaia Rangers. Let's go!" She screamed, sprouting wings and flying to the air, following the map that popped up on the wrist tech she had obtained from Delu's spaceship. The other Gaia Rangers followed suit.
As they flew off, Kamen Rider Wizard concentrated on his ring. "Infinity Ring! Magic Mode! Gold Dragon Style!" As his battle dragon armor appeared, he began to fly into the air. "Alpha!? Stay here and go help out in the base of operations here!"
"I'm on it!" Alpha 4 stated happily. He turned to Robo Knight. "Can you point me in the direction of the Resistance base?"
Nodding, Robo Knight typed in some coordinates in his arm, opening a portal to the base in the Magical Realm. "Head into this portal. It will lead you to where you need to go."
As Alpha 4 entered the portal, Robo Knight closed it. He then punched in a code into the panel opened on his forearm, morphing into his "zord" mode: a lion. He turned and began soaring toward Atlantis.
"Do you have anyway to get us there, Zordon?" The White Aquitar Ranger asked, stepping up to Zordon, who was hugging a demorphed Trinity.
Zordon looked at Storm Blaster and Lightning Cruiser. "You guys up for it?"
Storm Blaster blinked his headlights. "Just like old times!"
Zordon laughed. "They'll take you. Cestro and Delphine? You guys can hop into Storm Blaster. Mao? Rilla? Guin? You coming?"
Mao frowned. "I need to stay and make sure everything goes well as Flit takes the captured scorpion warrior to the Jungle of Spirits. I will ensure Black Lion sends who he can spare away from the Ancient Cityto help at Atlantis."
Rilla ran and jumped into the back of Storm Blaster. "I wouldn't miss this epic battle."
"Neither would I." Guin said, also sitting in the back.
Zordon tapped the hood and sent Storm Blaster off. He then motioned for Trinity to get into the passenger seat of Lightning Cruiser. As he jumped into the front seat, he had flashes of his first mission on Lightning Cruiser: flying through space while reading Master Michael's reports of the supposed origins of the Orb of Doom and the jewels of the Corona Aurora; zipping down with the armies of the War Star Armada, protecting Filcar and the Zeo Crystal from Novact and Master Vile; fighting alongside the vehicles on a moon above Solaris 8, as Orion was stabbed by Novact; the appearance of his future sister-in-law, Tria, as the first Power Ranger. It would all lead to him becoming a Morphing Master... all according to the plan of the Guardian. All in opposition to Burai becoming a Morphing Master, as he was supposed to have become. The only solace Zordon found in that thought was the memory that Burai would have been captured and brainwashed by Bansheera in the old timeline anyway.
Universal Equilibrium. The words rang through his head, coming from his Nathadian Magic. He scoffed at the thought.
"Are we going to go?" Trinity asked, seeing Zordon had been lost in thought.
"Yeah... yeah." Zordon said, tapping on the dashboard to signal to Lightning Cruiser to go.
"So, you understand this thing?"
"I do now, thanks to Meledon Ranger. I made this big guy before I was even a Morphing Master."
"Interesting design. I've never seen anything like it!"
"Yep... Burai created these guys, too. We did it together. I... couldn't have done it without him."
Seeing that Zordon was bothered by Burai's resurgence as a villain, Trinity decided to not say anything else. She leaned her head over onto Zordon's shoulder. The two of them enjoyed the silence of flying through the sky, as they could, while flying to the war on Atlantis.
. . .
Rita Repulsa sat in her chamber room. She was handling the Dragon Coin in her hands, tossing it from palm to palm. Unbeknownst to her, Green Energy emanated from it, cutting off her connection to the Red Energyfrom her staff. She thought about her vision of the little girl who she had once been. She didn't even know how long ago it had been.
She rushed and grabbed for a communicator. She typed in a familiar number and awaited the operator to connect.
"Hello? Divatox here... Who is it!?"
"Hey... It's Rita..."
A knot twisted in Divatox's stomach. She remembered what she had done to Rita back on Liaria, ending their friendship. Although it had been to advance her career with The Queen, she was dissatisfied with how everything seemed to be stagnant for her. Especially after having been assimilated into Dark Specter's regime, she felt like he was more interested in keeping people in the status quo instead of moving them up.
Afraid Rita was trying to get information about her campaign against Gwinnett, Divatox put on an air of indifference. "Oh, hi Frita! How have you been over the past few hundred years? I hear you haven't been faithful with your Aquitar water treatments, what with aging and all that."
Not being fueled by anger, Rita let the insults bounce off her. "I was wondering if you remember anything about our childhood. You know... in The Queen's training program?"
She's trying to trick me! She wants me to give up information to make it look like I'm in cahoots with Bansheera still! She's probably recording this right now, ready to edit it and send it to Dark Specter!Divatox thought.
"Oh, I don't think about that at all. Dark Specter is the greatest and that's all I think about. Is that all you wanted to know, Frita dear?" Divatox asked.
"Well, no, I-"
"Okay, buh-bye." Divatox said, ending the communication.
"Who was that?" General Havoc asked, walking into his sister's room.
"Someone selling kitchen appliances." Divatox answered, going to her vanity mirror to apply make-up.
"Oh, no! You didn'.t buy more did you!?" Havoc asked in horror. He thought about how the regime was still in debt from the last "small purchase" Divatox had made.
"Of course not! Now... How are the plans?"
"I'm still looking over potential suitors. Do you know the new king of Eqypticus? The one appointed by Dark Specter after he overthrew King Sphinx?"
"Pharaoh? I know of him, nothing more." Divatox said, applying makeup to her nose.
"Well, he may have enough political power to help you climb the social hierarchy. I'm considering setting up a lunch date for the two of you."
"Oh, that's fantastic, brother! Then all I'll have to do is lay on the charm and he'll be mush in my hands... Haha! Soon, I'll be a somebody again! Viva la Diva!"
Back with Rita on the Moon Palace, she frowned while she stared at the coin. She then thought of Burai, the coin's former owner. "He didn't deserve everything I put him through. That wasn't fair... I need to get out of this war. Everyone is being hurt and ruined because of it. Those people who were apparently my parents. They went through so much pain trying to protect me... I need to get the Dragonzord to fight my way out of here."
With an invisibility spell near Rita, who had been lost in her own thoughts thus unable to feel the presence in her room, Darkonda nodded. He then walked out of the open door. Finding his way to another room, he opened it. He found himself in Goldar's training room that he had dubbed the Dark Dimension. It was a small area, with arches green in color, each arch having a network of silver crossbars. Gargoyle-like head ornaments were at the meeting point of each crossbar. A fog permeated throughout the entirety of the room.
Darkonda turned on a small device, opening a hologram link to Dark Specter.
"Yes, Darkonda?"
"Rita Repulsa is defecting, your heinous. She plans on turning against Lord Zedd and stealing resources from the empire." Then, a devious thought came to his mind. "I overheard her saying that she plans on going after you, your worshipness."
"This is troubling." Dark Specter said. "She has the potential to be very powerful. I cannot allow her to attack me. I am not at full strength yet, and won't be for quite some time. Darkonda, keep an eye on Rita. Inform me if she gets closer to her goal of defecting."
Darkonda nodded as Dark Specter disconnected. Dark Specter then turned to Ecliptor. "This is one of the problems with being associated with villains: they get many dirty deeds done, but in the end they are not trustworthy, unlike you, Ecliptor."
Ecliptor bowed. "I am faithful to you and only you, my liege. But... What are we to do about traitors?"
"I have a plan, Ecliptor. I will need to do a quick recharge to help me last throughout this plan, but it should be short enough that it won't put me behind too much. A sort of investment."
"I don't understand..." Ecliptor said.
Dark Specter laughed. "You will..." He then turned around, heading to his chambers to pump himself with Dark Energy, and plan for his next move. Unlike his normal plans, the targets for this plan were his own generals.
. . .
"Falcon Slash!" Beast Red screamed. His gloves charged up with Red Morphing Energy, mixed with his Spirit Animal Energy. He slashed at Osiris as if his hands were knives.
"Ahh!" Osiris screamed, falling back in pain.
Badrat threw his arms out. "Rinzin power!"
"Jak! No!" Beast Blue screamed.
The Red Ranger was caught in the blast. He hardly budged. Turning on a private communication link, he said, "Guys! They don't use Magic! We'll crush them!"
"I'm gonna rip them apart!" Beast Black roared. He rushed forward and rammed himself into Unidoom.
Beast Blue watched in confusion. That wasn't Tob-Zu's personality at all. It then clicked for her.
"You have to control the Animal Spirit, Tob-Zu!" She called out to him. She then leapt over Osiris as he attempted to tackle her. She then realized that she was flying.
"Who are these guys!?" Osiris shouted, looking up.
"Retreat!" Unidoom screamed. Badrat and Osiris followed him back into the forest.
As the Rangers celebrated between themselves, Dai Shi and Octomus watched in their reflection pool the scene.
"I thought you destroyed them..." Dai Shi said.
"I thought so, too. They seemed to be able to rip into our planet's other newest visitors with ease. I think we have nothing to fear from these so called 'Phantom Beasts', Dai Shi." Octomus replied, not knowing he was looking at a game of rock - paper - scissors when it came to whether they could beat the Phantom Beasts themselves.
Dai Shi nodded. "Good. That Rinzin power seemed quite powerful. I guess looks can be deceiving..."
At that, Morticon came in, bowing before Octomus. "Master! I have done it!"
Octomus stared at him. "What? Where have you been!?"
"Completing the mission you sent me on! I have found out where Gosei and the Liarians stored the Greatest Treasure. It is in the center of the Earth, and I found the path to it." Morticon reported.
"Fantastic. I will call you when we figure out what we will do next." Octomus replied.
As Morticon left, Dai Shi laughed. "Excellent. With the Greatest Treasure, we will finally rule supreme!"
"Yes, Dai Shi. Soon, we will be gods."
. . .
"Dregon, I highly suggest you stay in my ranks." Bansheera said simply via hologram.
Dregon sneered. "Why should I do that? Like I said: I have plans to take out Lord Zedd. I don't have time for your slow agendas anymore. He caused King Lexian to escape during his 'Putty' riot."
Bansheera smiled. "Stay because I am heading to Earth right now, Dregon. Where Lexian currently is. Where also Zedd is."
Dregon paused momentarily. He then said, "Fine. Call for me when you need me to... assist you on Earth."
Ending the communications, Dregon turned to Cyclopter. "Once we arrive on Earth and after she helps us eliminate Zedd and garner me the Royal Morpher... We destroy Bansheera and her Demons."
Back on Bansheera's end, she laughed. "Excellent! Yet another ally to help us. How are the preparations?"
Jinxer bowed before Bansheera. "My Queen! Deviot says the majority of the Resistance has been deployed in a diversion! The Earth is ripe for the taking!"
Bansheera laughed as she made her way to her throne in the middle of the ship's main command room. "Excellent."
"Soon the Greatest Treasure will be ours!" Loki(D) said, laughing.
Diabolico closed his fist. "And then universal co quest will be ours. All will become Demons!"
"All for Queen Bansheera... the mightiest of a as a aaaalllll Demons!" Vypra declared.
Ignoring Vypra, Bansheera laughed. "No one will stand between me and my destiny. The Greatest Treasure will soon be mine."