Chapter Twenty-Five: Like Whiteout
Doc stared at Robo Knight. He could see a large rip under the Robot's right arm. "How long has it been like this?"
"I sustained damage from Cyclopsis when assisting the Dragonzord. The more I battled, the worse it became." Robo Knight explained.
"I made Robo Knight from schematics I find from Zordon's tech books centuries ago. As I was mostly miming what was on the page, I don't have the technical ability to repair this wound." Gosei said.
Doc nodded. "The circuitry is very complex. It's going to take me quite a long time to learn how it is all connected. Robo Knight will probably shut down before I can figure it out."
Robo Knight promptly straightened up at that. "I don't want to lose my life over this. I want to live."
Doc quirked his head back. "Oh, really? 'You want to live'? Gosei... how exactly did you make this guy?"
"I did it using Zordon's robotic schematics from Lightning Cruiser and Storm Blaster." Gosei explained.
"That explains it. Those vehicles were designed by Zordon to have the capacity to learn and learn. They were the most advanced in artificial intelligence the Alliance had ever seen!" Doc said, rubbing the white lab coat he was wearing. "I remember reading Zordon's preliminary research and findings on the subject. So... this is what it brings. Hmm... It sounds and acts as if it is alive!"
Robo Knight, who had been sitting on the side of an examiner's table, dropped down to his feet. He brought his face to Doc's and said, "I am alive, Doctor Goier. And I am not an 'it'. I am a male."
Doc looked from Robo Knight, to Gosei, to Notrom, who was in the back of the lab. Notrom shrugged. "My specialty is Key Magic. Don't look at me."
Doc furrowed his brow. He then lifted up his hand. It began to shine with White Energy. It erupted from his hand and danced around Robo Knight. Doc gasped and took a step back. "It's true... you are alive..."
Robo Knight nodded. "Correct."
"How did you do this, Gosei!? This is incredible!" Doc said.
"Let me see." Zordon could be heard saying. The group spun around and saw Alpha 4 walk in. In one hand he had the small monitor the crew used to carry around for Dimitria, now tuned to the frequency at which Zordon's dimension was transmitting.
Doc nodded. "Let me explain what's been happening since you weren't here. Robo Knight-"
"I overheard when I asked Alpha to patch me into the the camera feed from this room. When I heard that he was alive, I knew I needed to come over and see this while also being able to speaking to you all." Zordon said.
As Zordon stared ahead at the floating image of the lab, Saba said, "Is this supposed to happen? Do you suppose Lightning Blaster and Storm Cruiser are alive?"
Turning his head, causing the others to not see or hear him, Zordon said, "It's Storm Blaster and Lightning Cruiser, actually, but, yeah... I suppose. I'm going to check something..."
"What do you wish to speak with us about?" Gosei asked.
Zordon calmly looked to each of them, the white floating mass resembling his head floating in the monitor. "Alpha? Run a scan on Robo Knight."
Zordon watched the scan that Alpha conducted. All of the reading began scrolling across the hologram of the lab, as if the hologram were a computer screen and the data was being overlaid atop the feed of Doc and the others in the lab. As the numbers poured in, Zordon commenced a Meledon Scan. Large spikes of White Energy erupted in his mind. Suddenly, the pieces of information rearranged themselves in his mind.
"I know what has happened here." Zordon said.
Doc pulled out a pen and paper. "Please, go on."
"I seem to have always had a deep connection to the White Energy portion of what is called the Emotional Spectrum. This spectrum consists of colors representing different emotions we see in the living. At the end of each spectrum we find the White Energy, Life, and the Black Energy, Death. Since I have a deep connection to the White Energy, it seems that I subconsciously programmed certain algorithms into the A.I. causing the learning to expand. From my scans, it seems that if there is great love for the A.I., then this Love, or Violet Energy, interacts with the A.I. and allows it to tap into White Energy, giving it life. The way my algorithms meet to do such a thing is lightyears beyond my understanding. I could not repeat this purposefully." Zordon said, looking around the room.
"Zordon... you're amazing." Gosei said, breaking the awkward silence.
"And the king of deus ex machinas." Doc said.
"What is that?" Robo Knight asked.
"Oh, umm... well, it's the ability to pull out convenient explanations and solutions and stuff from seemingly out of nowhere. Zordon seems to do it all the time, like that's what he was placed in life to do." Doc explained.
Zordon tilted his head and whispered to Saba, "Is that true?"
Saba shrugged. "It does happen with you quite a lot."
Robo Knight shook his head. "I do not understand. Zordon did not just make up that explanation. It seemed to be a mix of advanced physics and supernatural forces meeting, causing the explanation. How could he have just made it up out of convenience?"
Doc laughed. "No... I'm not saying that's what he does. It just seems that way from any person looking from the outside in. I mean, when I first officially met Zordon during the M51 War against Master Vile, I was amazed by all of the cool gadgets Zordon seemed to make whenever a situation called for it. Then when we met up with him months later on Liaria, he suddenly just became a super powered Red Ranger and had the answers for beating the mysterious Demons, who we had just encountered. Another time was just recently when we found out some entity had been possessing Marvelous for hundreds of years, we thought this thing was going to rip us apart but in comes Zordon. He just chants some spell and within moments, the thing escapes Marvelous' body and escapes. I mean... those are just some examples."
Robo Knight shook his head again. "I still do not agree. All of those situations were founded in logic."
Zordon chuckled. "Regardless of this fun conversation, the fact remains that Robo Knight needs to be fixed."
Gosei smiled. "Can you conjure up any explanations on how to fix him?"
Zordon heard everyone minus Robo Knight snicker, including Saba. He rolled his eyes and commenced a Meledon Scan.
As he was scanning, Doc looked Robo Knight up and down and said, "Well, since he's a machine, he's still programmable. And I know my way around machines. I only went into medicine because Masters Orion and Michael from the Morphing Masters said that was where I was needed. Since he's also alive, I can use my Gaia Ranger White Energy powers to perhaps fuse the two together."
Taking that idea into account, Zordon's impressions were taken in a different direction. Smiling, he said, "Dr. Goier? That is an excellent idea. You can create a morpher harnessing the same energy as the Power Cards for Robo Knight, with his own Power Card. This will allow him to connect to the Morphing Grid and give him a stronger power while he is being fixed."
"I do not understand." Robo Knight said. "Why not put this effort into just fixing me?"
"Because your circuits are very complex. Now that you are alive, it is more dangerous to work on you. Any wrong move, or crossing of wires incorrectly, could end your sentience." Zordon said.
"Can you not just do a Meledon Scan and learn how to connect him properly?" Gosei asked sincerely.
"I hadn't thought of that..." Zordon said sheepishly. Scanning Robo Knight, Zordon frowned. "Well, it's worse than we thought. The only thing keeping you living is your White Energy, but it is slowly seeping out of you. Your circuitry is compromised. If we go the route of a morpher, though, your Power Card can harness your Spirit, regardless of the damage to your body, since your Spirit resides in White Energy, which Power Cards hold."
"Wait, what?" Gosei asked. His head was spinning.
"Do not worry, Gosei. I understand. Dr. Goier, are you able to work on a morpher for me, based on your Gaia Ranger powers?" Robo Knight asked.
Doc nodded. "I'll give it my all, but... it will take a while. I don't know if I can get it done... in time."
Alpha 4 spoke up. "Going over the computers here, I have found a cryostasis pod. We could place Robo Knight in one and freeze him. Since he is inorganic, it should not affect his life."
"Brilliant, Alpha." Zordon said. "Gosei? Dr. Goier? Can you get Robo Knight prepped for cryostasis?"
Gosei nodded. "Yes. And Zordon?"
"Yes, Gosei?"
"Due to the recent events, and the Bio Mech Rangers attacking here, Notrom and I were concerned with the safety of the Ranger Keys. We were wanting to relocate them to a secret, secure facility." Gosei said.
"Yes, that is fine. Are you sure it is secure?" Zordon asked.
Gosei nodded. "Yes. It is off a beach in a cave. We are making the blueprints to make it a sort of base, similar to here. I am using my Earth powers to guard and protect it. It causes it to be heavily camouflaged."
"Go ahead then." Zordon said.
"Okay, then while Dr. Goier works on Robo Knight, Notrom and I will head out with the Ranger Keys." Gosei said.
"May the Power protect you." Zordon said as the duo walked out to collect the Ranger Keys. "And Robo Knight... if I don't see you again before you go into stasis, thank you for everything, especially with Trinity. I heard how you helped her when the Ancient City was under attack."
"Of course, Zordon. You are all my family." Robo Knight said.
"Until next we meet. Good luck to both you and Dr. Goier." Zordon said. He then directed Alpha 4 to walk him out of the room.
As they walked, Zordon said, "Alpha? Please make note that we must make it a goal to find the being known as Gokai Slayer. He is still at large."
"Yes, Zordon. Is that what you wish to work on at the moment?" Alpha 4 asked.
"No... right now I want to focus on finding my wife."
. . .
Bio Mech Silver looked at Deviot, who was busy doing calculations. "The tests are done. The Bio Mech Rangers are badly damaged, save for me and Bio Black."
"Shame. We'll need to think about either starting up a new team, reactivating the Psycho Rangers, or working on the Bio Mech team again." Deviot said, half focusing on Bio Silver.
Bio Silver frowned behind his helmet. "Are you not interested in what I have to say? In what Is happening?"
"I don't need to hold your hand, Silver. You're a genius. At least you were in your past life. I'm focused on this right now. I trust you with the Ranger project." Deviot said, doing some math.
"What are you doing, anyway?" Silver asked.
"I've been studying Cub and making notes. He is so much stronger than I could've hoped he would become. That doctor from the Cimmerian Planet did very well in executing everything. I mean, Cub has destroyed everything in his his path on that planet down there. There's almost nothing left alive!" Deviot said happily.
"Hmm... What are you going to use him for?" Silver asked.
Deviot shrugged. "No idea. But the possibilities are so intriguing to consider!"
Silver sighed. "Okay, then. Well, I guess I'll go figure out what to do with the rangers. Oh, and it seems like Bansheera was destroyed on Earth."
Deviot chuckled. "Saw that one coming a mile away. That's why I have been moonlighting for Dark Specter."
Bio Silver nodded and turned around. As he began to walk away, he stopped and cocked his head back toward Deviot without turning his body. "Who was I before you gave me a new shot at life?"
Deviot laughed. "A man I used to work with when I was a Morphing Master. You were quite the genius. You were from the Karovan System. Your name was Michael."
Silver looked forward. "Hmm... Doesn't ring a bell." He then walked ahead, making his way to where the different deactivated rangers were being held. Try as he may, he could not remember who Master Michael was. The great hero he had once been.
. . .
Trinity scrunched her face up in confusion. "Um... I'm sorry, but I am fairly certain I'd know if I had a son. I mean... I'm the one who would have had to go through labor, unless there's something bizarre about Eltarian physiology I didn't know about."
Nathadian Ranger Zrin laughed. "No, it was definitely you. Years ago... centuries ago... you, Zordon, and the entire universe were under attack by a massive threat. This threat was a man by the name of Prime. He was trying to take advantage of the Time Anomaly that September had introduced into this timeline and use it like a virus throughout the multiverse. He wanted to cause something he called a 'Crisis Crunch'."
"Wait... who is September?" Trinity asked in confusion.
Nathadian Zrin nodded. "Recall that I'm only a projection of your mind. If you focus, you will know that all I know, you subconsciously know."
Suddenly, the image of a bald man with a kind face settled into Trinity's mind. "The former Watcher... Freelancers... I'm starting to remember..."
"You were pregnant at the time of the threat of Crisis, which September explained was code for his people meaning a consolidation of many universes into a singularity. At one point the situation had become dire and you were forced into battle. You were hit with Time Magic, causing your physiology, and pregnancy, to accelerate. Right on the battlefield, you had me. Within moments, I had aged a month. September was able to slow my progression, but it was draining to him and he was needed in battle.
"Although it was difficult, you and Zordon finally came up with a solution: send me to be with the Guardian. In the Hall of Legends, I would be able to grow normally due to the Trizyrium Crystals. You and Zordon vowed to get me back after Prime was defeated. What you didn't know, though, was that once you had stopped the Crisis Crunch from occurring, the process that undid the connections between universes involved caused your minds to be erased of the entire event, and since you only discovered your pregnancy after Prime had arrived, you never knew I existed." Nathadian Zrin said, ending with a sad tone in his calming voice.
"Wait... Why didn't the Guardian return you to us!?" Trinity demanded. She knew who Guardian was, having been told by Zordon about his meeting with him after being blasted by the Orb of Doom.
Nathadian Zrin shook his head. "Because you didn't remember, you didn't know to ask. Only he knows the answer to that. You must ask him."
"And... Why are you coming to me like this? Like the Nathadian Ranger?" Trinity asked.
Zrin laughed. "Because when I went to rescue you earlier from the Bio Mech Rangers, deep inside, you knew. When you heard my voice, there was something inside of you that knew it was me. A mother knows. I love you, Mom."
His image then vanished in a cloud of smoke. In his place, Zordon appeared, but as an old man. Beside him was the Wizard of Deception. On his left hand stood the Gold Ranger.
Gold Ranger stepped forward and laughed. "Long time no see, Trinity."
The deep voice spoke simultaneously with a voice that sounded like Tria's. The two sounds mixed together to sound monstrous. Trinity frowned. "Deviot."
The Fake Gold Ranger bowed. "At your service."
"Ancient source: Meledon force." Old man Zordon said, morphing into Meledon Ranger.
"It's time to meet your doom." The Wizard of Deception stated. He was brimming with Zocato power.
"Ninja Storm! Ranger form! Ha!" Trinity proclaimed. "Power of light! Hi-yah!"
Ninja Pink rushed forward and swung her blade at the Fake Gold Ranger, simultaneously blocking a kick from Meledon Ranger with her arm. She then flipped backwards and dodged a Zocato blast from the Wizard of Deception.
The trio grouped together and began laughing together. Fake Gold Ranger summoned his/her Power Staff and pointed it at Ninja Pink. Meledon Ranger pointed the tiger end of his saber at her, as well. The Wizard of Deception followed suit and aimed his wand with the others.
"Give up." The Wizard of Deception demanded.
"You're worthless. You can't win." The Fake Gold Ranger cried out.
"You thought you were a Morphing Master. How pathetic." Meledon Ranger said, shaking his head as if he felt bad for Ninja Pink.
Ninja Pink suddenly stopped. She felt calm. She placed her hands to her chest, he middle and index fingers pointing up on each hand as the rest of her fingers created a half first for each hand. Her Spirit began illuminating around her. Pink Morphing Energy surrounded her as well. "This is my mind... and in my mind... I always win. Photon Blast!"
"Fire!" Meledon ordered.
Ninja Pink watched as the two blasts hit. Like in an ultimate show of will, the two forces began pushing against each other. Ninja Pink then clenched her teeth and poured everything she had into the attack, demorphing as she did. A mighty surge of power exploded from her. Then, everything went white.
All the while, Trinity's actual body was still strapped to a chair that Michael had stolen from a colony nearby. A few feet from the stolen chair housing the stolen woman, Michael swung his mighty blade. It sailed down and stabbed Nathadian Ranger.
Nathadian Ranger had been able to move, narrowly missing getting stabbed in the chest. Instead, the blade sunk into the ranger's shoulder.
"Ahhh!" Nathadian screamed. "Nathadian Blast!"
The red beam projected from the gem and blasted Michael hard. He flew backward and slammed into a cave wall. He grunted as he stood up. "You can't save her!"
"I can and will! Meledon Conversion: Black Battery! Now, Orion!"
Suddenly, a time vortex opened up. From out of it, an armored ranger extremely similar to Nathadian Ranger appeared. Identical, in fact, except for two things: for one, the gem in the chest was black; second, the armor was red and not black.
Orion, in his ranger armor, cracked his neck. "Time to get to work!"
As he said this, Nathadian Ranger morphed into the Black Energy mode. Just as it was with Zordon and previous battery modes, the suit changed colors to correspond with the energy the mode it was reflecting. Since it was Black Energy, the suit color looked the same. The armor around the suit, however, melted away, becoming a form fitting suit reminiscent of other Power Rangers. An upside down triangle with lines emanating from it, housed within a circle, appeared over Nathadian's red gem, as the insignia for the Black Battery Mode. The helmet disappeared from Nathadian Ranger's head, with a black mask appearing over the eyes. Long brown hair flowed out, no longer suppressed by the helmet, but turned black to match the Black Energy. The face of person who had been using the Nathadian suit was unmistakable, even with the small mask over the eyes: it was Tria of Triforia.
"Nathadian Black Energy Blast!" Nathadian Tria declared. Massive orbs appeared on her hands. She then flung them at Michael, stunning his White Energy.
As he fell to a knee, Orion had a cloud of Zocato power appear around him. "Time to see what the Zocato Ranger can do!"
A Zocato blast shockwaved from him and beelined straight to Trinity. It wrapped itself around her and, being the magical virus that it was, broke the chains of the spell that kept her bound and trapped in her mind.
Michael laughed as he stood up. "Fools! I already told you that it's too late. Her mind is mine! Now, if you'll excuse me, I intercepted a transmission earlier from someone claiming there is an 'Angel Grove' here on this planet."
Without further ado, Michael shot Zocato Ranger with a White Energy Blast and flew past him, out the cave's mouth. As he flapped his majestic wings, he smiled to himself, thinking: Everything is slowly falling into place, just as prophesied. It was said that the Holy War would take place in the 'grove of angels'. As I sat in the cave, I felt many long distance radio transmissions. What are the odds I intercept one speaking about a place here called "Angel Grove"!? Hehehe... Today is the day...
Before long, he was at the coordinate given indicating the area where the Gaia Rangers had fallen. He was surprised to see it was the same location he had been in with them earlier, when he had struck down Queen Bansheera. He could still see the scorch marks around the environment from their battle.
Michael landed and shot a blast of White Energy up, converting it to a radio frequency to tap into the sender of the radio transmission. Alpha 4 picked up the "call". "This is Alpha 4. How may I help you?"
"I am the king of the Ethereals. My name is Michael and I wish to speak to Earth's leader."
"Umm... Zordon!? I think it's for you!"
Zordon appeared on his monitor from his dimension, grateful for the change in scenery. "This is Zordon. Who am I speaking to?"
"Michael, Ethereal King! Prophecy states that I must declare myself to the leader of Earth before I initiate the beginning of the end!"
Zordon cocked an eyebrow. "Excuse me? I thought Ethereals were on our side based on reports I have gotten about your species."
Michael laughed. "I do this to ensure things play out as they are supposed to. To ensure that the correct order is in place in the universe. To do so, the Holy War will begin now! You must be in attendance!"
"I hope you forgive me for refusing the invitation. I apologize if this stops the 'Holy War' from occurring." Zordon said sarcastically.
Michael began laughing yet again. "If you do not come here now, I will destroy the woman I have captured!"
A knot formed in Zordon's stomach. "What woman?"
Saba frowned and clenched his paws into fists. "You don't think...!?"
"Come forth my servant!" Michael screamed.
Meanwhile back in the cave, as Nathadian Ranger: Death bent over to look at her sister who was still in a coma, Zocato Ranger folded his arms across his chest. "So... How is she?"
Nathadian: Death shook her head. "I have no clue. She should be awake already. I mean, I incapacitated Michael long enough to get him to disconnect from Trinity as you hit her with Zocato power... By the way, 'Zocato Ranger'? Really?"
Zocato Ranger shrugged. "Amaradon Ranger had already been taken. I didn't want to break up the naming scheme these rangers seem to have."
As he said this, Trinity's eyes suddenly opened. White Energy burst out from them and hit Nathadian Ranger: Death hard, throwing her back. The White Energy burned her Black Energy derived suit, causing her pain. Deciding it best, not only for her pain-wise but also for her reunion with Trinity, Tria demorphed.
Before Zocato Ranger could object to the decision, Tria stood up and said, "Trinity! Oh, how I've missed you!"
Trinity turned and looked at her as her eyes returned to their normal color. "I know of no Trinity. I now must go and serve my master."
To both their shock, Trinity rose up above the ground. Her signature Blaster Edge weapon appeared on her hand, but covered in feathers. Large, White Energy covered wings erupted from her back. Trinity then turned and blasted out at a blinding speed from the cave, en route to King Michael.
"What!? No! Trinity!" Tria screamed.
Zocato Ranger grabbed her by the shoulder and shook his head. "Tria! Are you crazy!? You can't stay here in this timeline demorphed! It'll deteriorate you!"
Tria rolled her eyes. "No it won't. I'm not your Tria, remember? This is my timeline!"
Zocato let go of her. "Oh, right..."
At this, Guardian chimed in. "Orion... Let Tria go. September and I have calculated some scenarios and because Tria is of this timeline, her presence won't affect anything."
Zocato Ranger nodded. "Okay. Tria? Good luck and may the Power protect you."
Tria wore a determined look on her face. "I won't need luck. It's morphin' time!" Tria crouched and became the Nathadian Ranger once again. Nathadian Magic began to course through her as she jumped up toward the cave entrance.
Reaching a good height, she screamed, "Nathadian Conversion: Speed Force!"
Her body began vibrating rapidly as she blasted away in what seemed like a bolt of lightning. Zocato Ranger sighed as he saw he disappear into the distance in a flash.
"Will she be okay, Guardian?" Zocato Ranger asked as a time vortex appeared before him.
Before he disappeared into it, Guardian Ranger said, "I hope so. The probabilities are not predicting a happy ending, though..."
Trinity, with the head start, beat her sister to Angel Grove. Zordon's heart leapt up into his throat as he saw he land majestically. "No... NO!"
"So you know her, huh? Excellent! Now, I demand you come here now or I will destroy her!" Michael yelled, ending the transmission.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi! What do we do, Zordon!?" Alpha 4 cried out.
"We have to do something!" Saba said in torment.
Zordon sneered, looking at Alpha 4 through his monitor. "Round up anyone you can and tell them to meet us in Angel Grove. It's time for war. He has my wife, and I'm getting her back."
