Disclaimer and notes in part 1.

Murphy's Law by Stultulo copyright 2003 part 2

When consciousness returned, Cam found himself surrounded by a bunch of gibbering Kelzaks and a cheery Marah. She pinched his cheek. "Oh, you're so cute. I wonder if Uncle would let me have you after he's done."

Realizing that this would probably be a fate similar to being hooked up with Elmyra, Cam struggled. "Oh, are we a little unhappy? Don't worry. Help him up," Marah instructed. As the Kelzaks hauled him up, Marah smiled and tapped her staff to the ground.

The park disappeared to reveal a dark corridor. Marah was whistling as she walked down the corridor. Cam tried one more time to resist, but the Kelzaks were hauling him forward.

His best guess was that Lothor had sent Marah after him. After all, why waste *talent* on the Ranger team's support person? Never mind that he could fight; his father had been teaching him the way of the Samurai the best that he could given that he was a Ninja.

And of course, he'd been captured. Like the helpless geek that Lothor and the others thought he was. Only Shane had seen him fight firsthand. Only Shane and his father knew that he could fight.

The corridor eventually ended in a room. A large room. As Marah stepped out of the way, he could see Lothor, sitting on a self-styled throne. "Hey, Uncle, I brought him."

"Excellent." Lothor smiled. On one side, Cam could see Lothor's other niece, Kapri. She was making gagging noises.

"So, Uncle, what *do* we want with him? Not that he isn't cute in his own way or anything, but...."

"It's simple. Defeating the Rangers has so far proved fruitless. But the Rangers don't do everything on their own; they have to have help, and help beyond their Sensei. Remove that support, and...."

"I get it! No more Rangers," Marah squealed.

"It's not as easy as that," Lothor said, "But it is part one of a good plan, if I do say so myself. Remove the support, demoralize your enemies, and blam! No more enemies."

"So," Zurgane rumbled, "What do we do with the prisoner, sir?"

"Uh, Uncle," Marah said, "Can I have him? Please?" She shot a pleading look at Lothor.

"I guess so, since you're the one who captured him." Lothor smiled again at his niece. "Go, have your fun. He's not going anywhere."

"With all due respect, sir," Zurgane rumbled, "This is a potentially dangerous enemy prisoner! You don't just leave him in private quarters with no way to restrain him."

"Hm. Good point." Lothor looked thoughtful, tapping his chin. "Zurgane, get a restraining collar."

"Yes, sir!" Zurgane turned towards one of the Kelzaks and muttered to it. The Kelzak took off, only to arrive minutes later with a collar. "How do you want this handled, sir?"

"For the moment," Lothor said, "Let's confine him to Marah's room." He smiled indulgently at his niece. "Partially to keep him from being underfoot, and Marah deserves it."

"Sounds good to me, sir," Zurgane rumbled. he tapped something on a control and on the collar. The general came up to the still-held Cam and placed the collar around his neck.

Once the collar was locked in place, Zurgane handed the control to Marah. "Press this button to activate the collar once you get to your room. Press *this* button to deactivate it."

"So, what happens if I turn it on right here?" Marah asked.

"It would be extremely painful for the prisoner," Zurgane replied. He sounded like he wouldn't mind that one bit. One look at Lothor, however, and he amended, "This is why you don't want to turn it on until he's in your quarters."

"Right," Marah smiled cheerily. "Uncle, can I go?"

"Go on," Lothor said, dismissing her. "Enjoy your new... toy."

Cam shuddered.

~~~

Marah and the Kelzaks led Cam down a series of long corridors before stopping in a particular doorway. Marah keyed something in and the door slid open. "In you go," she said.

The Kelzaks pushed Cam through the door. Marah smiled and got out the control. "What did General Zurgane say? Oh, yes." She punched a control, and Cam felt a brief pain radiate out from the band on his neck. "There we go. Kelzaks, hold on to him for another minute."

While the set of Kelzaks held onto him, Marah opened the drawer to her dresser and placed the control inside. She reached inside her vest and produced a key. "Okay, I'm done. You can go now. Don't worry. I can handle him."

The band of Kelzaks left, and the door slid closed. Marah looked at him critically. "Green is *so* not your color," she said, and started rooting in her clothes closet. "But I'll fix that."

Cam shuddered again.

to be continued.