Chapter Nine
The rangers cautiously approached Lother's ship along with their companion and Marah led the way looking for weaknesses, trying to keep her fear for Dustin deep down so she could function.
She would prove to the rangers she wasn't evil, that she really wanted to help them. After Dustin was rescued she could turn her attention to Lother and repaying him for all the misery he had inflicted.
Finally she found a weak spot where the shields would be temporarily down and their entrance would not be detected. Working quickly the thunder rangers quickly made an incision into the ship's hull and the six of them slid into the hallway.
"All right Marah what now?" Shane asked.
She gave them each a computer chip, "it'll mask your bio signatures for twenty minutes no more, Lother has many brigs, and Dustin could be in any one of them. Blake and Hunter know the ship as well so they can confirm what I'm saying".
After a few moments Shane nodded acceptance. What else could they do? Marah was the only hope they had to rescue Dustin.
"Is he alive?" Tori asked, holding her breath.
"Yes he is but who knows for how much longer, we're wasting valuable time".
Hunter, Blake, and Tori set out in one direction, while Shane, Cam, and Marah set out on theirs. She tried to expand her alien senses but couldn't, the beaten by Lother and Electro, plus the device that was in her head, all of that was playing against her.
I'll find him, she thought silently to herself. Dustin came after me when his friends were against me not once but twice, now it's my turn.
Electro moved down the hall smiling to himself at the thought of the torment his prisoner would soon be under when he saw three humans block his way.
"Where is he?" the female asked.
Electro smiled to himself. These humans were more amazing than Lother gave them credit for, coming on this ship it was impressive. Not that Electro would ever say it.
"Who are you referring to ranger?"
The female's lip twitched but otherwise she was implacable looking. "Our friend the yellow ranger, we know he's here".
"Oh yes he was, but we might've disposed of him before now, looks like you made the trip for nothing". He began to laugh.
Tori let out a cry of rage and pain. If Dustin was dead his death would be avenged! Before Blake or Hunter could blink, Tori moved toward Electro, delivering a kick that sent him crashing into the wall.
Blake and Hunter soon made their transformation and Tori soon followed suit. Electro was no longer amused, let Lother kill the yellow ranger. In the meantime he had three other rangers to fight.
Marah slowly led her companions through the corridor, she knew they didn't trust her but they would soon be proven wrong. *come on Dustin, give me some sort of signal*
Lother stride toward the cell where he had his prisoner. Why hadn't Electro disposed of him yet? Also he felt something strange in the air. Something wasn't right but he couldn't put his finger on it.
At the moment it didn't matter he had a power ranger to dispose of.
Dustin slowly opened his eyes trying to ignore the pain. He also felt the strangeness in the air but unlike Lother he knew what is was. A ninja was onboard this ship somehow masking their life signs.
Suddenly a buzzing feeling came into his head but it didn't cause pain. *Dustin can you sense me?*
It was Marah! He was sure of it, she had told him at Blue Bay Point she possessed telepathy and could read into his heart. He tried to focus his thoughts maybe he could communicate back.
*I'm in a cell I don't know where* that was all he could manage but it thrilled him. It was exhausting but a thrill.
Marah felt the same rush go through her as she felt the touch of his mind and with that touch came his location. *hang on Dustin, just hang in there, we're coming for you* "Shane, Cam I got his location!"
The two rangers looked at each other but said nothing as they followed her.
Dustin felt his heart constrict. It transformed from joy to terror as Lother walked in. Well obviously he had gotten tired of his prisoner and had decided to do the honor of extermination should go to him.
"What's wrong Lother don't they teach evil genius's the art of patience?" he had to stall to give Marah enough time to find him. But if he was going to die he might as well get a few barbs in while he had the chance.
Lother sneered, "we'll see how funny you are when I get started with you" A ball of energy glowed as Lother raised his fist coming toward him. Lother had just reached him when something blasted him from behind.
The blast had come from Shane. Lother was knocked to the ground as Shane and Cam rushed to Dustin's side helping him up. Dustin was bruised and bleeding everywhere. He also looked emaciated.
Marah faced Lother no longer afraid. "Rangers go I will deal with him".
"But what about you dealing with him alone?"
Marah looked Shane in the eye. "I have my determination I will survive".
Dustin stirred and opened his eyes, "its actually you?" his voice was weak and his eyes glazed over and bloodshot.
"Yes Dustin you'll be safe now I'm so sorry for everything". He looked like he wanted to say more but he passed out before he could. Shane gave her one final look before he and Cam took Dustin out of the room.
Lother stood and faced Marah, "hello niece".
"I'm not your niece any longer".
"Then I'll have to make you pay again".
"Not this time Lother" they faced each other preparing to do battle. If she died she would die making a difference.
Tori stood over an injured Electro alongside Blake and Hunter. "Any last words?"
He looked at her, "I'm not done yet".
Suddenly the intruder alarms began to blare and it could only mean two things; Electro had somehow done it, or the devices masking them had run out of juice.
Suddenly their morphers beeped and Shane's voice came over, "we got him get off the ship!"
They managed to transform themselves back into the balls of light and teleported off the ship back into Ninja Ops. Shane laid Dustin down on a medical bed while Cam ran some scans.
"How is he?" Blake asked.
"Its amazing he's still alive. He's been whipped, beaten, starved. But in a few weeks he should be recovered completely".
Tori looked around, "where's Marah?"
"She distracted Lother giving us a chance to escape, but I'm going back up there" Shane replied.
"Shane we may not be able to it again?" Cam warned.
"I'll go up on my own; she risked her life to help us she proved herself at least to me. I have to try, the rest of you stay here". In an instant Shane reformed into a ball of light and vanished before their eyes.
Suddenly a moan came from Dustin's direction and he opened his eyes. They looked feverish but alert. Tori held him down as he tried to rise. "Dustin don't you've been through a lot, you're going to have a fever for awhile".
"Marah where's Marah?"
"On Lother's ship, she distracted him giving us time to escape; Shane is trying to rescue her right now".
"I told you she was good" That was all he could get out before exhaustion claimed him again.
On the ship Marah tried to ignore the pain as Lother delivered a kick to her stomach. "I must say I am impressed, you're proving to be a challenge this time".
The approving tone in his voice disgusted her. "I am no longer afraid of you; I intend to go to the side of good".
"Oh really?" suddenly Lother's eyes began to glow and Marah couldn't move as the glow seemed to mesmerize her.
"You are my niece you are on my side, the side of evil. It is where you truly belong. The power rangers are your enemies, the yellow ranger means nothing to you".
Marah felt a fog in her head, but she was unable to resist it. Something about the yellow ranger stirred her but she couldn't remember why.
"Marah don't listen to him!" she turned to see the red ranger.
"Why should I listen to you? You are my enemy".
"No Marah, Lother is your enemy. He put a device into your head to make you believe that. But you're good, think about you and Dustin. Think about how he helped you when you were banished. Think about how he's helped you since then".
Shane's eyes filled with fury as he looked at Lother. "He called you family but remember the beatings he gave you? Remember Electro what he did to you?"
Marah shook as the fog began to clear and the device in her head began to vaporize. "What about Dustin?" she whispered.
"He's safe Marah, he's safe and its all due to you".
Marah screamed in fury at Lother as the device in her head began to burn completely. "I know who I am Lother! I am my own person! I'm on the side of good now!" Her powers due to the destruction of the device were now restored and she zapped Lother into the wall.
She wasn't through with him yet. She began to kick him burning with the desire to crush his skull in when Shane pulled her away.
"What are you doing!?"
"No Marah he won't be dealt with like this. If we do we'll be no better than him. The only way Lother will be defeated is by all the rangers working together".
Marah's eyes burned with tears and longing. "I wish I could be a ranger".
"You've helped us so much all ready" Shane replied.
They looked back at Lother who was now out cold and slowly crept into the halls. Then they heard Zurgane's voice. "I must show this scroll to Lother, unimaginable power will soon be his".
Shane burst in with Marah right behind him. "I don't think so!"
Shane delivered a kick that knocked Zurgane to the floor before he could even react. Marah caught the scroll. "Lets get out of here".
"You don't have to tell me twice".
Soon they were back in Ninja Ops and Marah sat by Dustin's side. He opened his eyes and his fever was now in full force. "Is it you?"
Marah smiled, "yes Dustin its me but with a new outlook on everything".
Dustin smiled or tried to then went into unconsciousness again.
Shane came in, "asleep again?"
She nodded, "he's tough a lot more than I thought he was, maybe that's why I couldn't forget him".
"Love is pretty powerful".
"I don't know if that's what I feel, he should be hating me by now".
"Dustin's a pure soul; he gives everyone the benefit of a doubt".
Marah smiled and touched Dustin's cheek, "I'm glad".
"Would you like to know what was in the scroll?"
Marah nodded, "very much".
"The missing seventh morpher".
Marah was totally confused.
"Apparently there was a seventh morpher made long ago before the others but it vanished mysteriously, no one knew where it went. It was assumed to have been found by dark forces".
"The scroll tells where its at?"
Shane nodded, "well not exactly you have to go on a quest and be pure of heart".
Marah felt saddened again, it probably would never be meant for her. "Shane thanks for telling me".
He smiled, "no problem you want me to take over?"
"No I want to sit next to him for awhile". Shane nodded and left. As Dustin had done with her, she now kept vigil over him.
Later that night a fog came into her dreams and she rose quietly leaving Ninja Ops being drawn to a location. She soon found herself in the dark ninja woods.
"Where am I? Why am I here?"
A deep voice came, "you know the location of the seventh morpher?"
"Yes it is here somewhere"
"You must prove yourself worthy" in an instant dark spirits appeared. Marah quickly dealt with them not using her powers and she continued on until she reached a glade where a person in a black robe stood.
"Why have I been led here?"
"You're whole life has led to this moment, and the events with your friend BEEVIL began to step of events that have led you to this point".
"Cam the morpher be mine?" The eyes glowed, "why should you get it?"
"I want to undo the evil Lother has done, he hurt me completely and Dustin just as badly maybe even more".
"Do you love him?"
"Lother? No I totally despise him".
"No do you love Dustin the yellow ranger?"
Marah looked into her heart something she had always been told those on the side of evil did not possess. "Yes I do, he was the first person to show me any true kindness, that's why I could not forget about him, why I did everything I have done".
The person looked at her. "You are worthy take my hand".
Marah did just that and a light enveloped her.
Blake gasped as the color came back to Dustin's face. Tori had just told them Marah was gone. Suddenly Dustin stood up looking like nothing had ever happened. "We have to go to the dark forest".
Marah blinked as the light faded and she saw the man before her, "who, what are you?"
"The keeper of the morpher, which is now yours".
Marah looked down at her wrist and wept as she saw it. Her dreams well at least one of them had finally come true.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"You earned it use it wisely" the whisper came as he vanished.
Moments later the three wind rangers, two thunders, and one samurai came running into the glade. Dustin was in the lead and they all stopped short.
A Pink Ranger stood there.
Dustin rubbed his eyes, "I must still be feverish".
Shane shook his head, "you and me both".
The mystery ranger spoke, "no you're both in excellent condition" her voice sounded like it was being carried onto the wind.
"Who are you?" Tori asked.
The ranger demorphed and they stared in shock, Dustin was the first to speak. "Marah you.you're a." he was so shocked and befuddled he couldn't finish.
Marah smiled, for the moment she was happier than she'd ever thought possible.
"Yeah I'm a ranger, who knew?"
AN: Please review I'm very anxious to know what you think. (Whimpering and begging)
The rangers cautiously approached Lother's ship along with their companion and Marah led the way looking for weaknesses, trying to keep her fear for Dustin deep down so she could function.
She would prove to the rangers she wasn't evil, that she really wanted to help them. After Dustin was rescued she could turn her attention to Lother and repaying him for all the misery he had inflicted.
Finally she found a weak spot where the shields would be temporarily down and their entrance would not be detected. Working quickly the thunder rangers quickly made an incision into the ship's hull and the six of them slid into the hallway.
"All right Marah what now?" Shane asked.
She gave them each a computer chip, "it'll mask your bio signatures for twenty minutes no more, Lother has many brigs, and Dustin could be in any one of them. Blake and Hunter know the ship as well so they can confirm what I'm saying".
After a few moments Shane nodded acceptance. What else could they do? Marah was the only hope they had to rescue Dustin.
"Is he alive?" Tori asked, holding her breath.
"Yes he is but who knows for how much longer, we're wasting valuable time".
Hunter, Blake, and Tori set out in one direction, while Shane, Cam, and Marah set out on theirs. She tried to expand her alien senses but couldn't, the beaten by Lother and Electro, plus the device that was in her head, all of that was playing against her.
I'll find him, she thought silently to herself. Dustin came after me when his friends were against me not once but twice, now it's my turn.
Electro moved down the hall smiling to himself at the thought of the torment his prisoner would soon be under when he saw three humans block his way.
"Where is he?" the female asked.
Electro smiled to himself. These humans were more amazing than Lother gave them credit for, coming on this ship it was impressive. Not that Electro would ever say it.
"Who are you referring to ranger?"
The female's lip twitched but otherwise she was implacable looking. "Our friend the yellow ranger, we know he's here".
"Oh yes he was, but we might've disposed of him before now, looks like you made the trip for nothing". He began to laugh.
Tori let out a cry of rage and pain. If Dustin was dead his death would be avenged! Before Blake or Hunter could blink, Tori moved toward Electro, delivering a kick that sent him crashing into the wall.
Blake and Hunter soon made their transformation and Tori soon followed suit. Electro was no longer amused, let Lother kill the yellow ranger. In the meantime he had three other rangers to fight.
Marah slowly led her companions through the corridor, she knew they didn't trust her but they would soon be proven wrong. *come on Dustin, give me some sort of signal*
Lother stride toward the cell where he had his prisoner. Why hadn't Electro disposed of him yet? Also he felt something strange in the air. Something wasn't right but he couldn't put his finger on it.
At the moment it didn't matter he had a power ranger to dispose of.
Dustin slowly opened his eyes trying to ignore the pain. He also felt the strangeness in the air but unlike Lother he knew what is was. A ninja was onboard this ship somehow masking their life signs.
Suddenly a buzzing feeling came into his head but it didn't cause pain. *Dustin can you sense me?*
It was Marah! He was sure of it, she had told him at Blue Bay Point she possessed telepathy and could read into his heart. He tried to focus his thoughts maybe he could communicate back.
*I'm in a cell I don't know where* that was all he could manage but it thrilled him. It was exhausting but a thrill.
Marah felt the same rush go through her as she felt the touch of his mind and with that touch came his location. *hang on Dustin, just hang in there, we're coming for you* "Shane, Cam I got his location!"
The two rangers looked at each other but said nothing as they followed her.
Dustin felt his heart constrict. It transformed from joy to terror as Lother walked in. Well obviously he had gotten tired of his prisoner and had decided to do the honor of extermination should go to him.
"What's wrong Lother don't they teach evil genius's the art of patience?" he had to stall to give Marah enough time to find him. But if he was going to die he might as well get a few barbs in while he had the chance.
Lother sneered, "we'll see how funny you are when I get started with you" A ball of energy glowed as Lother raised his fist coming toward him. Lother had just reached him when something blasted him from behind.
The blast had come from Shane. Lother was knocked to the ground as Shane and Cam rushed to Dustin's side helping him up. Dustin was bruised and bleeding everywhere. He also looked emaciated.
Marah faced Lother no longer afraid. "Rangers go I will deal with him".
"But what about you dealing with him alone?"
Marah looked Shane in the eye. "I have my determination I will survive".
Dustin stirred and opened his eyes, "its actually you?" his voice was weak and his eyes glazed over and bloodshot.
"Yes Dustin you'll be safe now I'm so sorry for everything". He looked like he wanted to say more but he passed out before he could. Shane gave her one final look before he and Cam took Dustin out of the room.
Lother stood and faced Marah, "hello niece".
"I'm not your niece any longer".
"Then I'll have to make you pay again".
"Not this time Lother" they faced each other preparing to do battle. If she died she would die making a difference.
Tori stood over an injured Electro alongside Blake and Hunter. "Any last words?"
He looked at her, "I'm not done yet".
Suddenly the intruder alarms began to blare and it could only mean two things; Electro had somehow done it, or the devices masking them had run out of juice.
Suddenly their morphers beeped and Shane's voice came over, "we got him get off the ship!"
They managed to transform themselves back into the balls of light and teleported off the ship back into Ninja Ops. Shane laid Dustin down on a medical bed while Cam ran some scans.
"How is he?" Blake asked.
"Its amazing he's still alive. He's been whipped, beaten, starved. But in a few weeks he should be recovered completely".
Tori looked around, "where's Marah?"
"She distracted Lother giving us a chance to escape, but I'm going back up there" Shane replied.
"Shane we may not be able to it again?" Cam warned.
"I'll go up on my own; she risked her life to help us she proved herself at least to me. I have to try, the rest of you stay here". In an instant Shane reformed into a ball of light and vanished before their eyes.
Suddenly a moan came from Dustin's direction and he opened his eyes. They looked feverish but alert. Tori held him down as he tried to rise. "Dustin don't you've been through a lot, you're going to have a fever for awhile".
"Marah where's Marah?"
"On Lother's ship, she distracted him giving us time to escape; Shane is trying to rescue her right now".
"I told you she was good" That was all he could get out before exhaustion claimed him again.
On the ship Marah tried to ignore the pain as Lother delivered a kick to her stomach. "I must say I am impressed, you're proving to be a challenge this time".
The approving tone in his voice disgusted her. "I am no longer afraid of you; I intend to go to the side of good".
"Oh really?" suddenly Lother's eyes began to glow and Marah couldn't move as the glow seemed to mesmerize her.
"You are my niece you are on my side, the side of evil. It is where you truly belong. The power rangers are your enemies, the yellow ranger means nothing to you".
Marah felt a fog in her head, but she was unable to resist it. Something about the yellow ranger stirred her but she couldn't remember why.
"Marah don't listen to him!" she turned to see the red ranger.
"Why should I listen to you? You are my enemy".
"No Marah, Lother is your enemy. He put a device into your head to make you believe that. But you're good, think about you and Dustin. Think about how he helped you when you were banished. Think about how he's helped you since then".
Shane's eyes filled with fury as he looked at Lother. "He called you family but remember the beatings he gave you? Remember Electro what he did to you?"
Marah shook as the fog began to clear and the device in her head began to vaporize. "What about Dustin?" she whispered.
"He's safe Marah, he's safe and its all due to you".
Marah screamed in fury at Lother as the device in her head began to burn completely. "I know who I am Lother! I am my own person! I'm on the side of good now!" Her powers due to the destruction of the device were now restored and she zapped Lother into the wall.
She wasn't through with him yet. She began to kick him burning with the desire to crush his skull in when Shane pulled her away.
"What are you doing!?"
"No Marah he won't be dealt with like this. If we do we'll be no better than him. The only way Lother will be defeated is by all the rangers working together".
Marah's eyes burned with tears and longing. "I wish I could be a ranger".
"You've helped us so much all ready" Shane replied.
They looked back at Lother who was now out cold and slowly crept into the halls. Then they heard Zurgane's voice. "I must show this scroll to Lother, unimaginable power will soon be his".
Shane burst in with Marah right behind him. "I don't think so!"
Shane delivered a kick that knocked Zurgane to the floor before he could even react. Marah caught the scroll. "Lets get out of here".
"You don't have to tell me twice".
Soon they were back in Ninja Ops and Marah sat by Dustin's side. He opened his eyes and his fever was now in full force. "Is it you?"
Marah smiled, "yes Dustin its me but with a new outlook on everything".
Dustin smiled or tried to then went into unconsciousness again.
Shane came in, "asleep again?"
She nodded, "he's tough a lot more than I thought he was, maybe that's why I couldn't forget him".
"Love is pretty powerful".
"I don't know if that's what I feel, he should be hating me by now".
"Dustin's a pure soul; he gives everyone the benefit of a doubt".
Marah smiled and touched Dustin's cheek, "I'm glad".
"Would you like to know what was in the scroll?"
Marah nodded, "very much".
"The missing seventh morpher".
Marah was totally confused.
"Apparently there was a seventh morpher made long ago before the others but it vanished mysteriously, no one knew where it went. It was assumed to have been found by dark forces".
"The scroll tells where its at?"
Shane nodded, "well not exactly you have to go on a quest and be pure of heart".
Marah felt saddened again, it probably would never be meant for her. "Shane thanks for telling me".
He smiled, "no problem you want me to take over?"
"No I want to sit next to him for awhile". Shane nodded and left. As Dustin had done with her, she now kept vigil over him.
Later that night a fog came into her dreams and she rose quietly leaving Ninja Ops being drawn to a location. She soon found herself in the dark ninja woods.
"Where am I? Why am I here?"
A deep voice came, "you know the location of the seventh morpher?"
"Yes it is here somewhere"
"You must prove yourself worthy" in an instant dark spirits appeared. Marah quickly dealt with them not using her powers and she continued on until she reached a glade where a person in a black robe stood.
"Why have I been led here?"
"You're whole life has led to this moment, and the events with your friend BEEVIL began to step of events that have led you to this point".
"Cam the morpher be mine?" The eyes glowed, "why should you get it?"
"I want to undo the evil Lother has done, he hurt me completely and Dustin just as badly maybe even more".
"Do you love him?"
"Lother? No I totally despise him".
"No do you love Dustin the yellow ranger?"
Marah looked into her heart something she had always been told those on the side of evil did not possess. "Yes I do, he was the first person to show me any true kindness, that's why I could not forget about him, why I did everything I have done".
The person looked at her. "You are worthy take my hand".
Marah did just that and a light enveloped her.
Blake gasped as the color came back to Dustin's face. Tori had just told them Marah was gone. Suddenly Dustin stood up looking like nothing had ever happened. "We have to go to the dark forest".
Marah blinked as the light faded and she saw the man before her, "who, what are you?"
"The keeper of the morpher, which is now yours".
Marah looked down at her wrist and wept as she saw it. Her dreams well at least one of them had finally come true.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"You earned it use it wisely" the whisper came as he vanished.
Moments later the three wind rangers, two thunders, and one samurai came running into the glade. Dustin was in the lead and they all stopped short.
A Pink Ranger stood there.
Dustin rubbed his eyes, "I must still be feverish".
Shane shook his head, "you and me both".
The mystery ranger spoke, "no you're both in excellent condition" her voice sounded like it was being carried onto the wind.
"Who are you?" Tori asked.
The ranger demorphed and they stared in shock, Dustin was the first to speak. "Marah you.you're a." he was so shocked and befuddled he couldn't finish.
Marah smiled, for the moment she was happier than she'd ever thought possible.
"Yeah I'm a ranger, who knew?"
AN: Please review I'm very anxious to know what you think. (Whimpering and begging)