Chapter Four

The alarms of the Power Chamber screeched to a full extent. Everyone turned to Zordon expectantly.
"What has the Machine Empire done this time?" Jason asked.
"I AM NOT SURE. ALPHA, BRING UP THE IMAGE ON THE VIEWING GLOBE."
"Right away, Zordon," Alpha answered.
Seconds later, the image appeared on the Viewing Globe. It showed Sorona trying to fight the Machine Empire's footsoldiers, Cogs.
"Thanks, Tanya. Now Sorona's been captured," Rocky said, glaring at the Yellow Zeo Ranger.
"It's not my fault she's a bitch," Tanya replied.
Zordon sighed quietly. "RANGERS, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER DURING THIS TIME IN ORDER TO GET SORONA BACK. LUCKILY, BEFORE SHE TELEPORTED OUT, SORONA LEFT THE WHITE ZEO SHARD IN OUR HANDS. "
"Meaning Adam can take on the Powers of it before anything else happens. Ay-yi-yi!" Alpha exclaimed.
Adam shook his head. "No. I can't. We have to get Sorona back first."

~*~*~*~*~

King Mondo walked into the prison cells of the Machine Skybase. One of the guards directed him to the cell where his newest prisoner was being kept.
"Ah, a new one..." Mondo said to himself.
"Who are you?" the prisoner asked.
"I am King Mondo, ruler of the Machine Empire. And you?"
"Sorona of Pheados. I am apprentince to the Dulcea."
Mondo cackled. "That witch teaches now? What is your profession?"
"I am training to be Master Warrior when Dulcea steps down," Sorona replied.
"She is immortal, you fool. She will never step down."
"Only if she cannot serve as Master Warrior. In example, if she has to go to Eltar to help defend the universe from the likes of you."
Mondo raised his metal fist and struck Sorona in the face. Tears ran down her face from the pain and the recognition of blood, but she didn't cry out. Dulcea had taught her to be strong in situations like these.
"You shall not talk to me in such a way so long as you reside in this prison," Mondo declared, backing out of the cell.
He turned and walked out of the cold cellar and left Sorona alone with only the guards and other prisoners.

~*~*~*~*~

Adam looked around the Power Chamber restlessly. "Has anything been found?"
"UNFORTUNATELY, THE MACHINE SKYBASE HAS A SHIELD AROUND IT, SO THE SCANNERS CANNOT PICK UP SORONA'S POWER SIGNATURE IF SHE WAS THERE."
"Damn it," Adam whispered, leaning on a console and sinking to the ground in front of it.
Rocky came to sit beside him and rested a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Adam, we'll get her back. It's not like they killed her up there or anything," he said in attempt of comfort.
The Green Zeo Ranger glared at Rocky. "You never know."
Rocky winced. Suddenly, two beams of light appeared in the Power Chamber. One was a dim blue, the other a dim yellow. When the lights faded, they revealed Billy Cranston and Aisha Campbell.
"Aisha?" Rocky asked, getting up from his seat.
"Yeah; it's me. Who did you expect? Halle Berry?" Aisha replied.
Rocky laughed and hugged his old friend tightly. The two remained in the embrace for a moment longer than friendly, then they parted, each blushing a bit.
"So, Ish, what are you doing here?" Adam asked, still sitting on the floor.
"I came as soon as I heard there was trouble. I don't know what's going on exactly, so could anyone fill me in?" Aisha replied. She looked around the room.
Tanya avoided the former Yellow Ranger's gaze, Kat exchanged a nervous glance with Tommy, and Adam's eyes were focused on the floor. Aisha turned to Rocky, seemingly the only one that would answer her question.
"Yes, I would also like to know what's going on," Billy said impatiently.
Then, Jason walked out of the shadows of the Power Chamber. "Well, this girl came here. She's from Pheados; her name's Sorona. She came here to give Adam some sort of Power. Well, she left and then got captured by Mondo."
Rocky nodded. "Yeah. She knows Dulcea, and we're still Ninjetti. So, hey, you're not completely powerless after all. That includes you, Billy."
"Dulcea?" Aisha asked incrediously. "What's her relation to Dulcea?"
"SORONA IS DULCEA'S APPRENTINCE, AISHA."
"Oh wow."
"Wait a minute," Billy said. "How are we still Ninjetti? The Power Coins were destroyed. Which is why we became the Zeo Rangers; well, except for me."
"THE NINJETTI POWERS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE MORPHIN POWERS, BILLY. EVEN IF ONE'S COIN IS DESTROYED, THAT DOES NOT MEAN ONE'S FAITH IN THE POWER IS. AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE APART OF THE POWER, THE POWER REMAINS WITH YOU."
"Do you wish to test the theory?" Billy asked.
"IT WOULD BE WISE TO KNOW IF IT IS MORE THAN JUST A THEORY."
"Good..." Billy turned back to the other Rangers. "Can I say that it's Morphin time?"
"I think that it's my job, Bill. It's Morphin Time: Ninjetti!" Tommy said.
"The Wolf!"
"The Bear!"
"The Ape!"
"The Falcon!"
A second later, the four once again donned the Ninjetti armor. They were shocked, but pleased. They pulled down their masks and smiled at Zordon.
"Hey, Sorona was right. Wait a minute," Rocky commented.
He looked down to Adam, whom was still sitting, not paying attention to the happenings around him. Rocky frowned; he hated seeing his friend in distress.
"Adam," Rocky said, shaking the still-Frog Ninjetti out of his reverie.
"Huh?" Adam asked.
"Check it out! We're Ninjetti! Sorona wasn't kidding around!"
Adam's gazed dropped again at the mention of the Pheadocian's name. He couldn't help but blame himself for her predicament. If only I'd stopped myself... Then Tanya wouldn't have gotten mad; and then Sorona would still be here, rather than captured by the Machine Empire.
"ADAM, DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF FOR THIS SITUATION. SORONA SHALL MAKE IT OUT FINE. IF SHE IS AS STRONG AS I THINK SHE IS, SHE SHALL LIVE TO SEE HER HOME PLANET AGAIN," Zordon reassured.
Adam looked up at his mentor and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah."
"Come on, Froggie. Be your animal spirit again," Aisha said with a smile.
Adam shook his head. "Okay... The Frog!"
Rocky grinned to see Adam suited up in the Frog Ninjetti uniform again. Tanya walked up to her boyfriend and laid a hand on his shoulder. She gave him a once-over and smiled softly.
"Ya know, I think that you might just look better in black than in green," she said.
Her comment caused laughter to ring throughout the Power Chamber.