The Command Center
Richie stood shirtless in front of the mirror, pulling the thorns out of his body. He could feel the poison working its way through his body. He didn't have much time left. He stumbled toward Alpha, his vision getting blurry.
He fell to the ground, and as his eyes closed, he saw someone approaching. Shortly, Richie opened his eyes and found he was laying in the medbay, still weak from the poison. He saw he was bandaged up and there was a cup of tea sitting next to him.
"Drink the tea," Jason said, sitting next to Richie's beside. "The tea leaves counteract the poison. It'll buy you some time."
"How did you-," Richie asked as Jason silenced him.
"I have my ways," Jason quietly replied. "We don't have much time. Where are the others?."
"Eltar, but...the Command Center... there's no power," Richie said, his eyes half-open. "Alpha's even shut down."
"Then I have to find a way," Jason told him. "The Rangers need me."
Doug and Carly were up late, worried about Justin and Rocky, who hadn't returned home. The small kitchen top t.v. was on, with the reports of the castle with still no signs of the Power Rangers.
"It's getting late," Carly said as she paced around nervously."What if something happened to them?"
Doug was fixing some toast as Bridge and Sky lay in their car seats, sleeping. Bridge opened one eye and saw the toast in his father's hand.
"Rocky and Justin will be fine," Doug told her. "Rocky loves Justin like they were real brothers. He wouldn't let anything happen to him."
Bridge reached for the toast as his father turned away. The baby pouted a little.
Doug stared at the t.v. and swallowed hard. He knew about his son's double lives as Power Rangers. He also knew Justin was the only one that had active powers. If something happened to either them, it would be his fault for letting them go out and play hero.
Jeremy opened his eyes and tilted his head. He was lying on a beach in front of the dense jungle. He saw Christian and Rocky standing over a fire, warming themselves, with no sign of Kim and Trini.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty's awake," Christian said as he brought some exotic alien-looking fish over to the fire.
"Where- where are we?" Jeremy asked.
"We washed up on the shore about an hour or so ago," Rocky replied. "Kim and Trini are up the beach, gathering firewood."
"Don't worry, we're all safe," Christian told the boy as he stood up. Jeremy pulled his remaining shoe off and poured the water and sand from it. "So, what's the plan?"
"We find that temple," Jeremy said as he stretched. "Beyond that, I got nothin'."
"We'll eat, then we'll head out," Christian said as he looked into the jungle. "It looks like a fairly dangerous jungle, but if it's anything like the Outback, I can guide us through it."
"Hey, what smells so good?" Kim and Trini asked, dressed in their still slightly damp clothes. Jeremy tried not to notice Kim through her wet blouse and quickly looked away.
"Dinner's almost done," Christian said as he roasted the fish over the fire. "Hope everyone's hungry. I wonder what alien fish taste like?"
"I don't care if they taste like Ernie's shirt on a sweaty day, I'm hungry," Jeremy replied as he rushed over.
"Well, I've lost my appetite," Rocky replied as he sat on a log.
"Think Richie and Alpha are alright?" Trini asked as she sat down next to Jeremy and Kim around the fire.
"Yeah, I think they made it," Rocky replied, trying to hold back the tears. "They had a chance. Not like...," Rocky closed his eyes as Kim hugged him.
"You never know, Justin might be alright," Kim told him. "He's a tough kid. I mean, he survived a demon possession. He survived the Moon Palace's destruction, and he took down Lord Zedd and Serpentera. Just think positive."
Rocky looked into the fire. "If you're still out there, Justin, be strong, and I'll come for you."
"Look, a shooting star," Kim said as she pointed to the sky, seeing a white streak of light shoot toward the planet. "Make a wish."
Rocky closed his eyes and wished his little brother was safe and waiting for him when he returned.
Lord Prometheus floated down the hall of the castle, and headed toward the dungeon. He opened the door and found Justin chained to the wall. The boy had dried blood on his nose, and his shirt was torn and ragged.
"Your friends will soon be dead," Lord Prometheus promised the boy. "I have shut down your precious Command Center, and Alpha 5 is offline... Yet you still hold out hope. Why?"
"Give me back my power coin, and I'll show you," Justin boldly said, his voice raspy from being beaten by Darkonda. Lord Prometheus backhanded him, the sound echoing through the dungeon and laughed.
"YOUR power coin?" Lord Prometheus asked as he came closer. "Who do you think gave Rita Repulsa this coin in the first place?"
Lord Prometheus removed his golden mask, revealing a rotting, corpse-like face. "I am the ORIGINAL Green Ranger, boy."
A look of horror came over Justin's face as he looked at Prometheus's true form. "I was just like you. A naive child wielding powers far beyond anything I could ever understand. This was my reward for my years of faithful service to Zordon and his precious Order of the Meledon. And it will be your reward, as well."
"No," Justin said, fear in his voice. "I don't believe you."
Lord Prometheus put his mask back on, looked at the boy, and came closer to his ear. "When I'm done with you, looking like this will be the least of your worries."
Lord Prometheus floated away as Justin closed his eyes and tried to be strong, hoping Rocky would come for him. Lord Prometheus looked at Darkonda and handed him the coin.
"Guard this with your life," Lord Prometheus told him. "I'll need it when I use the boy's powers to release the Master."
"Why not just kill the boy now?" Darkonda asked.
"Fool, I need the boy to release the Master," Lord Prometheus replied. "The boy and the coin are linked. You can't destroy one without destroying the other. So we're going to find the Master's tomb, and Justin will coincidentally 'find a way' to escape and retrieve his coin. That's when I'll destroy him and release the Green Ranger's energy to free our Master. In the meantime, Justin must be kept alive. He'll be the last surviving member of the Human Race... until his time comes."
Downtown Angel Grove was a mess. Cars were overturned and on fire, the windows all the street were shattered, and there wasn't a person to be found, all of them having either departed the city or gone into hiding. The five Psycho Rangers were using everything that moved for target practice.
The Pink Psycho Ranger fired into the air, shooting down a bird. She yawned under her helmet.
"This is boring," Psycho Pink said as she looked around. "All the people are gone, and I'm tired of blasting empty buildings."
"Then maybe we need some new playthings," Psycho Red said as he looked at the group. "Let's see what Mora can come up with."
Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull were sneaking everyone they could onto the Youth Center bus.
"You sure about this, Bulkie?" Skull asked nervously.
"Skull, we can't just leave these people here to die," Bulk told him. "I mean, we could, but... if the Power Rangers aren't going to be the heroes in this city, then we will! We'll be the Power Rangers! To the Burgersaurus!"
"To the Dogasuraus!" Skull replied with a laugh, just as the Psycho Rangers spotted them.
"Look, a moving target," psycho Red said as he cocked his gun.
"Let's get out of here!" Skull shouted as the doors to the bus closed and Bulk stepped on the gas. The five Psycho Rangers started firing as the bus peeled away, only managing to hit the rear of the bus as it made its getaway.
"They won't survive long," Psycho Red replied. "This world will be dead within 48 hours once Lord Prometheus gives the word."
The five Psychos turned and headed back to the castle.
Three suns were rising over Eltar as the Rangers were still sleeping on the beach, still gathered around the burned-out campfire. Jeremy and Kim were a few inches apart from each other, Trini was a few feet away, and Christian had his arms around Rocky.
Trini yawned and sat up, looking around. Jeremy opened his eyes and smiled at the sight in front of him, as Kim woke up seconds later.
"Good morning," Jeremy said as he looked at Kim. He wanted to lean over and kiss her but resisted the urge.
"Hi," Kim said as she sat up and stretched. "Is it morning already?"
"We'd better get going," Jeremy said as he sat up and dusted the sand off of his shirt. "There's no telling how far off the temple is."
Rocky opened his eyes, and slowly realized Christian's arms were around him. Rocky turned his head as Christian opened his eyes. Both boys screamed in horror and quickly got up, backing away from each other.
"Come on, guys, we don't have time for this," Jeremy said as he looked into the jungle. "We've got to get going. Christian, you said you can lead us through this, right?"
"Of course," Christian said as he stopped outside of the jungle. "I know the Austraiian Outback like the back of my hand. I can spot danger from a mile aw-"
Christian suddenly disappeared, having fallen into a hole covered by twigs and sand. The other Rangers gathered around.
"You alright?" Rocky asked down the hole.
"Just peachy," Christian replied. "I think I sprained my ankle in the fall. I can't stand up."
Jeremy sighed as he looked at Kim and Trini. "Find some vines or something. I'm going down there to get him."
Jeremy jumped down the hole and landed next to Christian in the darkened hole. "We need some light. You wouldn't happen to have any matches or anything, would you?"
"I always come prepared," Christian told him. "I always carry a waterproof lighter on me. Hang on, I haven't cleaned out my pockets in about a year, but I should still have one," Christian dug around in his jacket pocket and started pulling objects out. "Let's see... empty baggy... rubber band... spoon... Ah, here, we go, my lighter."
Christian lit the lighter up and held it around, seeing markings on the wall around them. There were six different colored animals, as well as pictures of the armored Rangers.
"Do you think those Rangers... are us?" Jeremy asked as he put his hand on the wall.
"I don't know," Christian said. "Maybe. But look at that."
There was alien writing on the wall, and right above it was a child standing next to an oversized purple and black egg.
"I wonder what it says," Christian said as Jeremy pulled out a pen and ripped off a piece of his shirt, writing down the strange language the best he could."We'll find out when we get back to Earth and kick Prometheus's ass."
"Are you two alright?" Kim asked as she shouted down the hole. A vine made rope was sent down as Jeremy and Christian climbed out.
"Well, I've been smacked, bruised, kicked, and otherwise had the shit beaten out of me in the past 24 hours," Jeremy told her as he sat on the sand. "And I lost one half of my favorite pair of sneakers. Yeah, I'm great."
"Come on," Kim said as she took him by the hand. "Let's get going before anything else happens."
Meanwhile, the cloaked figures were standing just up the beach, tracking the Rangers. They soon came upon the Ranger's burned-out campfire. They nodded at each other and looked into the jungle.
The Psycho Rangers walked into Lord Prometheus's throne room and came up to Mora.
"We're bored," The Red Psycho Ranger told the girl. "We need something really... destructive to play with."
"What are the magic words?" Mora asked as she looked up from her sketch pad.
"NOW, you little bi-," The Pink Psycho Ranger said as the Red Psycho Ranger stopped her.
Mora sighed and drew up a quick sketch, showing it to them. They all smiled and looked at each other.
"Perfect," The Red Psycho Ranger said with glee.
The Rangers were walking through the dense jungle when Kim saw what appeared to be a koala bear eating a leaf.
"Aw, aren't you just precious?" Kim asked as the Koala opened its mouth, and a snake-like tongue shot out, hissing at her. Kim screamed and jumped back as Christian got inbetween them.
"Amazing," Christian said as the koala crawled up the tree like a spider. "I might come back to this place later on, just so I can get to know the strange wildlife."
"You want to know strange wildlife, hang out in Jersey after dark," Rocky told him as they continued on.
"Are you alright, Trini?" Christian asked as he looked over at her, noticing Trini's sad expression.
"No," Trini told him with a sigh. "I'm worried about Richie. What if Prometheus hurts him?"
"I'm worried about him, too," Christian replied as he took Trini's hand. "Richie's my best friend, and... he was the one inspired me to keep my life clean before the Rangers came along. If it weren't for him, I'd have probably gotten back into drugs."
"I know you two are close," Trini told him. "I'm glad he's got a best friend like you."
"Trini, there's something I have to tell you," Christian told her as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's very difficult for me to say this, but-"
"You have a crush on me, I know, " Trini told him. "Richie always says he notices the way you at us when we're together.I've noticed it too, but you know nothing can happen between us."
"What?" Christian asked in shock, then realized he couldn't tell her. "Yeah, that's it. I do have... a little crush on you. But I know you two are together, and I'd never get inbetween you."
Trini smiled as she hugged him, not seeing Christian roll his eyes at what he'd just said.
"Kim, do you miss Jason?" Jeremy asked as he walked alongside Kim just ahead of the others.
"Of course I do," Kim told him as she looked around. "He's been one of my closest friends for years. Me, and Jason, and Zack, Trini, and Billy. We used to be inseparable when we were younger. Then Jason, Zack, and Trini left for the peace conference, and Billy-,"
Kim looked away, trying not to think about Billy. "Then Jason and Trini came back and things seemed like they were going to get back to normal."
"I miss Jason, too," Jeremy told her as he looked down, at his dirt-covered sock and remaining black sneaker. "He's saved my life more times than you realize. It's just... sometimes I think he doesn't look at me like a real person. Just as a kid who he's trying to protect from making the same mistakes over and over."
Kim looked at Jeremy. "You've really grown up since the first time we met. You pretty much beat the Rockstar by yourself, and that was without powers. And you stood up to Jason when you knew he could have killed you while under Zedd's spell. I don't care what your parents said about you, or what they did to you, you've really matured."
Jeremy looked into Kim's eyes. He was about to lean in for a kiss when an arrow shot between them, landing in a nearby tree.
"We've got company!" Jeremy shouted as the cloaked figures jumped out. The Rangers took defensive poses as the cloaked figures rushed forward.
"These guys just don't give up!" Rocky said as the blue cloaked figure started throwing punches at him. Rocky stepped back to avoid the hits and ended up tripping over a log, falling onto his back. He rolled as the figure nearly stomped him.
The pink and yellow cloaked figures double-teamed Kim as she flipped backward. Trini jumped in and attacked the yellow cloaked figure, who grabbed her arm and tossed her to the ground.
The black-cloaked figure pulled out a scythe and swung at Christian, who avoided being sliced in two as the figure rushed forward and jabbed him with the butt of the scythe, knocking him against a tree.
The red-cloaked figure threw a punch at Jeremy, who caught the figure's hand and landed a kick to the figure's stomach, then followed through with a double spin kick, knocking the figure back. Jeremy landed on his feet and flipped forward as the figure grabbed his leg in mid-air and sent him flying back through some tall bushes, where he landed in an open field.
Jeremy stood up and looked around, and saw what the Rangers had reached the temple.
"Holy shit," Jeremy said as he looked at the temple before him. "We found it. Guys, We're-"
The red-cloaked figure tackled him as Christian and Rocky fell through the bushes and saw what Jeremy found. Trini and Kim came running through as the figures followed, with their weapons drawn.
"Come on, we can take these guys," Jeremy said as he rushed toward the red-cloaked figure. "We've come this far, we can't let them stop us now!"
The other teens followed him into the fight as the cloaked figures nodded at each other. The black and blue figures rushed forward toward Christian and Rocky, swinging their blades as they ran along. The two backflipped, landing directly in front of the temple. The two cloaked figures rushed forward as Rocky looked at Christian.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Rocky asked as he looked at Christian.
"Probably not," Christian replied as he smirked at his friend. The two leaped into the air as the cloaked figures rushed underneath them. The two landed behind them and spun kick the figures, knocking them into the temple, where their cloaks just fell to the ground, like whatever was in them had disappeared.
"That was odd," Rocky said as he looked down at the cloaks. "What was-"
It was then that a trap door opened, dropping the two teens through a hole.
Kim and Trini joined hands and started swinging each other around to kick the cloaked figures. They let go as Kim flew through the air and kicked the pink cloaked figure, knocking the figure back into the temple, where the cloak dropped to the ground.
The yellow cloaked figure grabbed Trini from behind, but Trini elbowed the figure in the gut, then grabbed the figure and tossed the person into the temple, where the yellow cloak hit the ground.
"Where's Rocky and Christian?" Kim asked as she and Trini were dropped through the trap door.
Jeremy was alone, fighting the red-cloaked figure, and the two were evenly trading blows, when the red-cloaked figure stomped on Jeremy's foot, then spin kicked him to the ground. He picked up the black figure's scythe and walked toward Jeremy, holding the weapon in the air. He was about to bring it down, when something tackled the figure, knocking him away.
Jeremy looked up and saw someone standing over him, who extended his hand to help the boy up.
"Sorry I'm late," Jason said as he looked at his cousin. "Traffic was murder."
"I was starting to think you'd really given up," Jeremy said as he stood up.
"I had," Jason told him. "Until you gave me a reason to keep fighting."
Jeremy was about to hug him when both teens were kicked to the ground. A white-cloaked figure was now standing with the red one as both looked at the two powerless Rangers.
"You up for an ass beating?" Jeremy asked as he looked at Jason.
"Of course," Jason said as the two took a defensive pose. The two did a spin kick, knocking the figures back. Jason grabbed Jeremy by the shirt and shorts, and tossed him forward, tackling the red-cloaked figure. Jeremy knocked him to the ground, and flipped off of him, landing on the ground behind him.
Jason did a triple spin air kick and knocked the white-cloaked figure back toward the temple, stopping short before hitting it. The red figure stood up as Jeremy lept forward, kicking the figure in the chest, then once in the face, knocking him back into the white figure, knocking them both into the temple as their cloaks fell to the ground.
"Aw, no more?" Jeremy said as he looked around. "Hey, where'd everyone go?"
"They might be in the temple," Jason said as he cautiously approached, It was then that the door opened as Jason fell through. Jeremy just looked down into the hole.
"Jason?" Jeremy asked as a hand reached up and pulled him through the hole.
Jeremy found himself in a darkened room. There was a single light, where the red-cloaked figure was standing, waiting for Jeremy.
"Welcome, Red Ranger," The cloaked figure said. "You've made it to the temple."
"Where are the others?" Jeremy asked as he looked around.
"We're right here," Jason said as the others found their way toward him, just as the six cloaked figures stood side by side. "Looks like the fight's far from over."
"The fight IS over," The red-cloaked figure said. He put his hands on the hood and lowered it, as did the other five figures.
The Yellow cloaked figure revealed herself to be Dimitria, who still had a mask hiding the bottom half of her face; The Pink cloaked figure revealed herself to be Dulcea; The black figure revealed himself to be Kite, a young boy; The White cloaked figure revealed himself to be Ninjor; The Red cloaked figure revealed himself to be Merrick, and the Blue Cloaked figure was the most shocking revelation of all.
"Billy?" Rocky asked as he looked at the former Blue Ranger. "How are you-"
"Alive?" Billy asked. "I'm not. My spirit's a part of the morphin grid, now. I'm a Morphin Master, just like Zordon. I'm a part of the Order of the Meledon now. Destined to protect the Morphin Grid from those who would use it for evil."
Trini hugged him. "We've missed you so much."
"I've missed all of you, too," Billy told them as Jason looked at the group before him.
"Why did you go through all this? Attacking us?" Jason asked.
"We had to be sure that you were ready for the power," Another voice told them. "You had to be determined enough to fight for it. And you surpassed the test. You found your way to the temple, and you've earned the power."
A bright light flashed as Zordon's face appeared at the end of the room. "Hello, Rangers."
"Zordon," Jason said as he looked his former mentor. "We've been lost without you."
"No, you haven't," Zordon told them. "I've been proud of you, my rangers, which is why I had Alpha send you on this mission to gain your new powers., as well as your new zords"
Six multi-colored beams of light shot down on top of the six Rangers.
"Christian, your survival skills and courage have earned you the power of the Black Ranger," Zordon told him as his armored power suit materialized around him, sans helmet "You will now command the fierce power of the Bear zord."
A large black grizzly bear roared as a bear coin appeared on Christain's chest plate.
"Kimberly, your agility and determination havw earned you the power of the Pink Ranger," Zordon said as her power suit appeared on her body. "You will command the power of the Falcon zord."
A falcon's screech was heard as the power coin materialized on her chest plate.
"Rocky, your courage and fierceness when it comes to protecting your family has earned you the power of the Blue Ranger," Zordon said as Rocky's armored suit appeared on his body. "You will command the power of the Wolf Zord."
A wolf howled as the golden coin appeared on Rocky's chest plate.
"Trini, your loyalty to your friends and fighting abilities have earned you the power of the Yellow Ranger," Zordon told her as Trini's costume appeared on her body. "You will command the power of the Cheetah zord."
A cheetah's growl was heard as the coin appeared on her chest plate.
"Jason, you have proven yourself to be a strong mentor to the Rangers in my absence," Zordon told them as Jason's suit materialized around him. "As the symbol of authority, you have earned the power of the White Ranger. You will command the power of the Eagle zord."
An eagle's screech was heard as a golden coin appeared on his chest plate.
"Jeremy, you have overcome great odds, and survived many deadly situations, never losing sight of what's right," Zordon told him. "While Jason will be mentor to the Power Rangers, you will serve as the Rangers leader in the battlefield. You have earned the right to the power of the Red Ranger. You will command the power of the Coyote Zord."
A coyote's howl was heard as the golden coin appeared on his chest plate. The six armored but helmetless Rangers stood side by side as they saw their zords in front of them.
"Behold, the Predator Zords," Zordon told the group.
"You have earned this great power because of your courage and cunning," Dulcea told them.
"Use this power to defend not only the Earth but every world that is threatened by the forces of evil," Kite added.
"Your zords can combine with the Dragonzord and form the Ultra Predator Megazord," Ninjor explained.
"Wait, that means... Justin's alive?" Rocky asked with hope in his voice.
"Justin's alive and waiting for you," Billy told him. "But Lord Prometheus is planning on using Justin's power to release the most evil power in the universe."
"You must stop him before that happens," Dulcea warned them. "Should this great evil be released, your powers and zords will not be enough to stop it."
"Wait, what about Justin's powers?" Jason asked as he looked at Zordon. "Doesn't he get new powers and a new zord?"
"Justin's Dragonzord and powers are still among the most powerful Ranger powers in the known universe," Zordon explained. "But only combined with the rest of his friends can all of your powers truly overcome Lord Prometheus."
"Then let's get going," Jeremy said as he looked at everyone. "We've got a world to save."
The Rangers prepared to teleport as Rocky looked at Billy.
"Will we ever see you again?" Rocky asked.
"That's the phantom question, isn't it?" Billy told him.
Rocky stepped back in line with the others as they touched their belts.
"Goodbye, Rangers," Zordon told them. "And may the power always protect you."
In six multi-colored beams of light, the six Rangers teleported from Eltar and headed back toward Earth.
Mora looked in on Justin and approached him, holding her one-eyed doll in her arms.
"Do you want to play with me?" Mora asked. "My dolls are throwing a tea party and you're invited."
"You've got to kidding me," Justin said as he was still chained to the wall. "I think I'd rather be tortured."
"Oh, I think I can arrange that," Mora said as he looked at him. "You're the first person I've met who's my age in a long time. I think we could have a lot of fun together playing house."
"How about we play 'Get me the hell out of these chains?'," Justin told her.
"Only if you play tea party with me," Mora replied as she looked at him with seemingly innocent eyes. Justin rolled his eyes in embarrassment as Mora clapped her hands with glee.
Lord Prometheus was looking at the city, and the destruction all over. He smiled under his golden mask and looked at his Psycho Rangers.
"The time is coming," Lord Prometheus told him. "Once I leave for the Black Nebula, the Earth will be yours to do with as you please. The master will greatly reward all of us for our dedicated allegiance to him."
"And what about the Power Rangers?" The Red Psycho Ranger said. "What if they find these new powers."
"Then you will fight them, and you will crush them," Lord Prometheus replied. "Remember, you're the bad guys. You're allowed to play dirty."
It was then that six-multi colored beams of light flew past the window of the tower.
"It's showtime," The Red Psycho Ranger smiled under his helmet.
To Be Concluded...