Chapter 3
Making plans
A pocket dimension; the Power Center in the Meander Castle
A few hours later. They had eaten and Meret had answered their last questions. She had also given them a tour in their wing of the castle. After that everyone had told some things about himself or herself.
For now, Mike was thinking. He was wondering why he was chosen as leader. Tommy, for an instance, had experience with leading Ranger teams. He hadn't.
A few soft knocks on the door and Maya came in. She sat down beside him on the bed and looked around. "Your room is so dull." was her comment. The room had also a strip floor, but the walls were gray.
Mike chuckled. "If your room has the same decoration as mine, then yours must be… shiny. With all the yellow."
Maya chuckled also for a moment, but became serious then. "You don't like being chosen as a leader, do you?"
Mike nodded. "I think it should have been Tommy."
"Did you tell him?" Maya asked.
"Yeah. He doesn't mind. I just have had a little meeting with the leaders of the teams. I have asked for everybody specialties. We already have some ideas. What we told by the introductions also helped." Mike told.
"All the girls have been talking together for a while. We had to tell a lot about Mirinoi. Cassie and Ashley were really surprised when Karone told she was a trainee nurse. All the girls seemed very nice to me."
"The other people where I have been talking to also. I doesn't surprise me that Cassie and Ashley were surprised. We were also, when she told us of her plans." Mike answered.
They were silent for a moment. Then Maya put her arm around Mike's shoulders and said: "Now, come on, big leader. I have the idea that everybody wants to hear the idea's." They stood up and headed for the main room.
***
Fifteen minutes later everybody sat around the table in the main room, Mike on the head of the table. "Right. We haven't been attacked yet, but I think we know from our experiences that it won't take long, before they do. I have been talking with Jason, Tommy, Andros, Leo and Carter and we have some idea's. First one, we work with four basic teams. This is based on the Zords. Jason, Trini, Kimberly, Billy and Zack are the first basic team with the DinoZords. The second basic team are Andros, Ashley, Cassie, T.J. and Carlos with the Astro Megazord. The third team are Leo, Maya, Kendrix, Kai and Damon with the GalactaZords. Carter, Kelsey, Dana, Chad and Joel are the last team, with the RescueZords. We also have four people with a own Zord. That are Tommy with the Tigerzord, Zhane with the MegaWinger, Karone with the Solar Voyager and myself with Torrozord. We will form the special team. The others are the reserve team. Of course they will fight also, but these teams are purely based on the Zords. Two other groups we wanted to form are a technical team and a medical team. For the technical team we had the following people in mind: Billy, Trini, Adam, Justin and Damon. Kendrix, we think you will also be able to help often. For the medical team we were thinking of Dana, Karone, Kimberly and Katherine. This is what we have right now. For the strategic points, we form a council from the Red Rangers and Tommy. Does everyone agree with this?"
Everyone agreed and the members of the technical and medical team searched a place where they could consult with each other.
***
Dana, Karone, Kimberly and Katherine found a place on a side table. The technical group was on the other side of the space, already busy making plans.
Dana looked to the other three women. There was silence for a moment, but then Kim began to giggle. "Great team we are." The others started giggling also.
"To be fair, I don't have that much medical experience. I have been team nurse for well over two years and Kat has taught me a lot of the theory. Also I have learned some things in my time as coach. And a lot first aid training. I think I started with that when I was ten years old." Kim told, after the giggling had stopped.
"My father started teaching me a lot of things when I was really young. Two years ago I started my education as paramedic and I joined Lightspeed about a month before I became a Ranger." Dana followed.
"I have also been team nurse. I think, well over a year. When I damaged my achilles tendon I was forced to quit dance school and I decided to follow a medical education. I am still busy. Further a lot of first aid training, just like Kim" Katherine told.
"I have just started a few moths ago. I really learn in practice. Kendrix is boasting up my biology and Alpha is teaching me also a lot of stuff." Karone was the last to tell her story.
They started talking. At the end Dana concluded: "We gonna inspect the MedBay right now and practice a little bit. I think we can boost up each others knowledge. Okay?" The others agreed.
"Karone, do you want to inform Mike?" Katherine opted. Karone agreed and the four headed in the direction of the MedBay.
***
A Dark dimension; Skull Cavern
Diabolico looked pissed off at Vypra. "What do you mean? Those Power Rangers disappeared?" he bellowed.
"I don't know. They are just disappeared and at the Aquabase they are going frantic." Vypra answered.
Suddenly two pillars of black flames appeared. "I think I can answer that question. They have joined the Chosen ones of Meander." Arcia said, as soon as the flames had disappeared.
Diabolico, Loki, Vypra and Jinxer looked skeptic at the two figures in black with the crystals on their foreheads. Impus just kept sucking his pacifier.
***
"My name is Arcia, holder of the first part of the Black Crystal. And this is my husband Morkan, holder of the second part of the Black Crystal. We want to control the Earth. For that purpose we have revived some figures like Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd and Trakeena. Our enemies are Tantara, Montres and their children. They are the owners of the Meander Crystal. As counterattack they have asked the help off all the former Power Rangers of Earth. They gave them their powers back and the Lightspeed Rangers joined them. There are thirty Rangers now. This is our proposition: you join us and help to defeat them, you will get your rightful piece of the Earth."
The demons listened and Diabolico said, after Arcia was finished: "Interesting. We agree, subjected to the fact we want Mariner Bay and surrounding area's."
Morkan nodded and agreed. The room lighted up and when it faded away, the room was empty.
***
Mariner Bay; Lightspeed Aquabase
Everything was going a bit haywire. The Rangers had suddenly disappeared from their quarters last night and even after the whole night scanning they hadn't found a trace.
Some staff members, William Mitchell, his son Ryan and Angela Fairweather were discussing in a private chamber. The room startled when suddenly Capitan Mitchell, Ryan and Miss Fairweather dissolved in streaks of light. Two white and one silver left the Base.
One off the staff members hurried to a scanner and found no trace of them.
***
A Dark Dimension; the Black Castle
Arcia en Morkan sat on their thrones, flanked by Marcian and Nork. Their assistants, as Arcia thought of them, sat on a round table before them. She had introduced the Lightspeed demons to the others and was currently ruminating about she would like to do now. She had a great army, eager assistants and… a big challenge.
After a few moments she rose up and started speaking: "We are all complete right now. It's time for those so-called heroes to learn a lesson, a big lesson. Marcian, get some Mukro's ready to attack. Nork, you go help her. She is in charge! The others can start making some plans."
She sat back and pulled her veils before her face. Marcian and Nork left. Arcia and Morkan followed suit…
***
A pocket dimension; the Power Center in the Meander Castle
The three teleportation beams became solid figures.
Captain Mitchell looked around. He was in a big space, the walls covered with computers and few doors. There were also some small tables by the sides. On one of these tables a group of people was working. There were two men in blue, two men in green, a woman with a yellow blazer and long black hair and a woman in pink. They were busy with some metal. The woman in yellow was working with a soldering iron. A few other people were working on some of the computers. At last six young men were seated by a large table. A man with black hair and brown eye's, clad in gray stood up, and approached the three dazed people.
***
Mike looked at the three people. They seemed a little bit overwhelmed.
He stood up and walked to them. When he reached them, he said: "Welcome in the Power Center. My name is Mike Corbett. We owe you some explanation. Come and take a seat. I will call the others."
Mike guided them to the table and started collecting everyone.
***
Katherine was explaining something to Karone. The MedBay was fully-equipped. There was a lot of equipment where she was used to work with. For Kimberly it is exactly the same and also Karone knew some things. Only Dana was absolutely not familiar with a lot of things of the equipment. But Kimberly was working with her and she got quickly the hang of it. But Dana knew a lot of the theory and she would be able to help the others with that.
Suddenly Mike entered with the words: "Would you come to the main room? Dana, we have teleported your father and brother and Miss Fairweather from the Aquabase." Mike went back quickly.
The girls quickly put everything on his place and followed.
***
Everybody was taking their place around the table.
From the central doors, Meret, Mikayla, Taren and Taranis entered, dressed in their ceremonial outfits again and again with the paint on their faces. They also took a place.
Captain Mitchell was surprised when he saw his daughter and her teammates around the table.
When all the chairs were occupied, Mike started speaking. "Sorry for the way we brought you here. The people who are here, are Power Rangers or were Power Rangers once. Last night we were teleported here and we got an explanation. But I think they can explain it better then I can."
Meret came forward and pulled her veil down. "We offer our excuse for teleporting the Rangers over here without a warning. My name is Meret. I own a powerful crystal called the Meander Crystal of Earth. This is my sister Mikayla. She owns the Crystal of Water. The man in orange is my brother Taranis. He owns the Crystal of Fire. And as last my brother Taren. He owns the Crystal of Air. My mother, Tantara owns the Meander Crystal of the Heart. My father, Montres, owns the Crystal of Strength…" Meret told the story about the Meander Crystals and how this situation had arisen.
Then the Rangers took over the narration and the others introduced themselves.
Suddenly the central doors opened again and Tantara and Montres entered. They were in ceremonial outfit, but without the paint. They looked alarmed. "Diabolico and crew have joined Arcia and Morkan. I think they will attack soon. Ryan, I know you are also a Ranger, but that your cobra tattoo prevents you to come in action. Meret told about the Meander Crystals. There is a seventh crystal, the Crystal of Truth. It can help you. Your team members have agreed to help us. If you also want to help us, we can help you to get rid of the tattoo."
Ryan looked at his father and then to his sister. Dana nodded. His father also, but after a few moments. After a few moments he agreed. Tantara asked him to follow her and the owners of the Meander Crystal left the space.
Carter stood up and said: "We asked to teleport you over here because we thought that the Base would go haywire. We have been talking and found out that it would probably work the best if we stay here. We have here the same facilities as in the Aquabase."
Billy stood up and took something from the table they had been working on. He handed Capitan Mitchell and Miss Fairweather a kind of watches. "These are communicators. It will allow you to teleport, by pushing this button. Form an image in your mind where you want to go and push the button. This will allow you to communicate with the other communicators. We are working on them, but they aren't ready yet. We would also like to make a direct communication link with the Aquabase."
Miss Fairweather was checking out the communicator. "I think I can help to finish the other communicators. I have the idea that some parts of the technology is almost the same as we used in the communications systems in the Lightspeed morphers." she said.
The technical group and Miss Fairweather returned to the working table. The medical group went back to MedBay and the most others also went somewhere else. The red Rangers and Tommy stayed where they were and started discussing some strategic things.
***
An pocket dimension; the ceremonial chamber in the Meander Castle
Ryan looked around in the ceremonial chamber. The room was a large square, with a circle in the middle. There stood a holder with a big crystal. Around it were six smaller holders.
"Hand me your morpher and place your hands on the crystal." instructed Tantara.
Ryan did as he was told.
Tantara placed his morpher on a table and took place by one of the smaller holders. Montres, Meret, Mikayla, Taren and Taranis followed her example. They took the crystal from their forehead and placed them in the holders.
Tantara began to chant in an unfamiliar language. After what seemed a couple of verses, Meret and Mikayla joined her. The crystal began to glow. Suddenly they stopped.
Montres looked into Ryan's eyes and asked: "Ryan Mitchell, do you want to join the side of good permanently and do you want to help us to defend the world against the Black Crystals?"
"Yes, may the tattoo return if I rejoin the side of evil voluntary." he answered.
"So shall it be." Montres said and the six people began to chant again. Ryan saw suddenly the tattoo rise up from behind and the light of the Crystal of Truth crushed it. Then the light faded away and the chanting stopped.
The six people placed the crystals on their foreheads again and Tantara handed him his morpher. Then she and Montres disappeared.
Taren smiled. "They do that always. Come, I will bring you to the Power Center." Taren brought him back and disappeared also.
***
A pocket dimension; the Power Center in the Meander Castle
Dana, Karone, Katherine and Kimberly were still talking, exploring and practicing in the MedBay. Currently they were working with some off the varying scanners.
Katherine suddenly spoke: "I just thought of something. I don't mind staying here, but wouldn't it be very strange if we just disappear. I have my study. This is more important for me, but…"
Kim nodded. "You're right. Probably Clark is going to freak out right now."
Dana had a pensive look on her face. "Maybe we can arrange something from Lightspeed. Let's go talk to my father." The four women headed back to the main room. The men were still discussing strategic matters. They took a place on the table and Dana said: "Dad, we just found a little problem. The most of the people have a job and that kind of trouble. Can we arrange something from Lightspeed to cover them?"
Captain Mitchell got also a pensive look on his face. "I think that's possible. But I have to make a plan. That will take a little time."
Suddenly alarms sounded. The few people who had been somewhere else came rushing in. Two green lights flashed and Meret and Mikayla appeared.
Justin pressed a button on one of the consoles and a large viewing screen appeared. Everyone saw am enormous group of Putties, Tenga's, Cogs, Piranhatrons, Quantrons, Stingwingers, Batlings and Mukro's in Angel Grove Park.
Tommy made a face and said: "Time to go to work."
Quickly the teams lined up. "It's morphing time. Pterodactyl; Triceratops; Mastodon; Tyrannosaurus; Sabertooth Tiger; White Tiger; Zeo Ranger II, Yellow; Zeo Ranger III, Blue." sounded from the Morphin and Zeo Rangers. "Shift into Turbo. Mountain Blaster Turbo Power; Desert Thunder Turbo Power; Wind Chaser Turbo Power; Dune Star Turbo power." sounded from the four Turbo Rangers. "Let's rocket." sounded from the Space Rangers, including Karone. Also you could hear "Go, galactic." from the Galaxy Rangers and "Lightspeed Rescue." from the Lightspeed Rangers. The last two morphing calls were "Magna-power." from Mike and "Titanium-power." from Ryan.
The room was filled with flashes off light and when they faded away thirty-one Rangers stood in the room.
There were a few differences. The Yellow Morphin, Galaxy and Lightspeed Rangers had now a small skirt to their suits, like the other female Rangers. Karone was in a purple version of the suit that Ashley and Cassie wore. The five squares on her chest were purple with a smaller golden square inside each purple square. Quickly they teleported to Angel Grove Park.
***
Angel Grove, California; Angel Grove Park
Thirty-one Rangers appeared in the middle of the group Putties, Tenga's, Cogs, Piranhatrons, Quantrons, Stingwingers, Batlings and Mukro's. Mike looked around and ordered: "Spread out." The Rangers spread out and the battle begun in earnest.
***
Jason and Tommy were working back to back in a mass of Putties and Tenga's. Jason had called his Power Sword and was carving trough the Putties. Tommy extended his hand and called: "Saba."
White light shone from his hand and Saba appeared. "Good to see you again. Ready for a fight?" Tommy said to the saber.
"As always. Saba said in his British accent. Tommy grinned and slashed at a Tenga, who wanted to take Jason in his back.
***
Katherine had made her way to low hill and was currently shooting with Windfire at the foot soldiers around her. Now and then she kicked a Stingwinger or Quantron when they got to close.
Kendrix and Kimberly noticed her. With a few backflips, cartwheels and a kick here and there Kimberly managed to land beside her. "Power Bow." sounded and a millisecond later the pink weapon appeared in her hand. She also started firing at some Stingwingers.
Kendrix straddle-kicked two Batlings and somersaulted backward in the direction of the hill. Stopped by a Putty, she punched it in his stomach and flipped on the hill. Quickly pulling her Transdagger from her private pocket dimension, she transformed it in her BetaBow. She smacked a Piranhatron, who was sneaking up, in his face and shot at him. Then she joined the two other Pink Rangers.
***
Trini and Aisha noticed the three girls also. They made way to the girls and covered them, so that the other could focus on shooting the foot soldiers.
***
Karone currently kicked a Tenga in his groin. Seeing that her brother was surrounded by a enormous group Mukro's. Quickly she extended her hands and called: "Solar Fire Staff". A long purple bo-staff appeared in her hands. At the ends was a small golden sun.
She flipped in the direction of the huddle and started beating the creatures senseless. She pressed a small button on her staff and one off the golden suns fired. Attached to it was a long golden cable. It wrapped himself around a Mukro and she yanked the staff back. The Mukro lost his balance and slammed into some others of his kind. She repeated the procedure a couple of times, freeing her brother efficiently.
***
Maya and Mike were also working back to back. Maya was carving her way trough some Stingwingers with her Quasar-saber. Mike was doing the same with his own sword. The Lightspeed Rangers were covering each other while working their way through also some Stingwingers. With thirty-one Rangers the foot soldiers were finished quickly. Suddenly the park was lit up with black flashes and the remaining foot soldiers teleported away. The Rangers put their weapons away and teleported away also.
***
A pocket dimension; the Power Center in the Meander Castle
The Rangers appeared in thirty-one colored flashes. As soon as everybody's molecules had assembled again, the Rangers demorphed. Everyone took their place around the table.
There was some quite talking, until Joel looked at his wrist and cried: "Where is my morpher?"
Mikayla chuckled. "I think we forgot to mention that Meret and I have made some extra personal pocket dimensions. Each of you have two off them. The most of you are used to use one. The one were your morpher went. Also are your Ranger weapons and other Ranger things are stored in that dimension. The other one you can use for your other things. Just focus to putting the thing in a pocket. When you want it back, just visualize it in your hand. And for your morpher, Joel, just twist your wrist."
Joel did it and looked kinda relieved when it appeared. A few moments later it disappeared in the pocket dimension again.
Captain Mitchell was currently talking with Miss Fairweather
"I was just wondering. How is it possible that my suit has changed?" Maya asked.
"That is something the Meander Crystals did. Don't ask me why or how, but it is only a change in appearance. It doesn't change your strength or something else." Meret answered.
***
A Dark Dimension; the Black Castle
"You have done it well, Marcian. We have a lot of useful information now." Marcian was kneeling before Arcia. She looked very relieved. A moment later Marcian was dismissed and Arcia headed in the direction of her work room.
***
An pocket dimension; the Power Center in the Meander Castle
After the battle had been discussed, they set on working the problem of their sudden disappearance. For Katherine, Kimberly, Adam and the others who lived in America was it fairly simple. Lightspeed would send a message they were hired by them. For Trini, she would send a message to the embassy that she had escaped the attack and that was going into hiding for an unknown time. Mikayla had consulted with some of the Guardians and they would take care of the situation in Africa, Mirinoi and KO-35.