Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this fic, save for Kantyan and Cerona. This is the second chapter of Triforian Dynasty, which I figure is a good a name as any for this fic. I notice there being no replies to this, but I figure it's because there's very little story as of right now. Don't worry people; I write every day, so this one should get pretty big, pretty quick. JAV 2004
The First Strike
by: James Austin Valiant
The Power Chamber's excitement meter was not even registering anymore. The sudden appearance and weakening of the Gold Ranger, followed by the impending arrival of the rest of the Rangers, then a transmission received by the Rangers of Aquitar warning them of an unknown alien life form entering Earth's gravitational pull, the whole atmosphere certainly wasn't dying down at all.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi! Rangers! Give the Gold Ranger some breathing room, please." Alpha scurried away the teens as they crowded around the table where the Gold Ranger was still flashing shades of green and red. The automaton had attached power converters into both point of the bed, trying to stabilize the molecular field surrounding the golden stranger.
William Cranston, known to most of his comrades as just plain old Billy, was also struggling to pull the golden warrior out his seeming power failure, but it wasn't working. For one, it wasn't a straight power failure. Something was making the Ranger hold onto his power, something that Billy couldn't quite explain. Secondly, while they had already deduced that the Zeo Crystal and the Gold Ranger's power ran on the same wavelength, the whole concept was still seemingly alien to him. After all, Billy might be well versed in Aquitian and Terran technology, but that didn't mean he was able to decipher just about everything.
He was, after all, only human.
Tommy walked out of the med bay, back to the main control room, followed almost step-in-step by the Pink Ranger, Katherine. The concern in the Red Ranger's voice was so audible, it was almost like someone had hooked up fourteen bullhorns and blown the all at the same time.
"Zordon, is there anything we can do?"
The visage of their mentor seemed to be rolling around, as though he could be pondering many different options. "Very little, I'm afraid, Tommy. The power source that the Gold Ranger uses to fuel his connection to the Morphin' Grid, however similar to our own, is not something that is easy to decipher."
Katherine put a supportive hand on Tommy's broad shoulder. "But Zordon," She piped in, "you're a wizard, right? Isn't there anything you can do?"
Zordon shook his head. "Not really, Katherine. I am limited to this dimension as far as appearance goes, never mind magical power. While there is only one thing I could try, the chances of it working are slim to nil."
"You might wanna switch tubes and give it a shot, Zordon," the voice of the Blue Zeo Ranger, Rocco "Rocky" DeSantos rung in from down the hall. "Billy and Alpha have pretty much tried everything, and they was wondering if you'd give your thing a try."
"Straight away, Rocky." With that, Zordon disappeared from his tube in a flash of turquoise and deep blue, and went to re-appear in the medical bay.
"Don't worry, Tommy." Kat offered her red-clad friend support. "Everything's going to be fine."
If anyone walking in Angel Grove Park had bothered to look in the elm tree nearest the statue of Gen. Talbaster, and glance all the way up, they might've caught a rare glimpse of the blue-skinned, black-clad figure who sat perched in the trees upper most branches, able to support myself merely because the gravitational pulls between Earth and Triforia were so different, he could almost fly here.
The blaring yellow sun of Earth outlined and made all his features apparent, if not to anyone else, at least to himself. His blue hued skin seemed to take on a supernatural sheen, while his black tunic and pants were so dark they might be called darker than black. On his right shoulder he wore a half-shield made of a titanium alloy, and on his left were the straps that kept it on. Two golden wrist blockers adorned his lower arms, and on his pants were various tribal markings in green and red; almost identical to the deep purple tattoos that dominated his headscape.
Compared to these humans, I am a unique looking individual. The Crown Prince had little else to do right now but to think to himself. He was waiting for someone to arrive, but something had risen inside of him during the last twenty-four ruars that made him think his enemy had anticipated his arrival.
He didn't want to sigh, so he just let out a long, frustrated huff of air and leaned back against the cool, shaded trunk of the elm.
The teleporter was by no means a small machine. Large and cumbersome, it was actually one of the first of it's kind developed. That was one of the reasons the Underdwellers were able to get their hands on it the way they did. After all, getting anything that was top of the line was really out of the question for them.
"Is it safe?"
Cerona was posing this question to the chief scientific aid of the Underdweller Royal Family, Sakoda. She was worried; who wouldn't be? If you're betrothed was to go to a foreign planet to confront an enemy through a machine that appeared to be more than fifty years old, you'd stand a chance at being a little nervous yourself.
Sakoda flashed a brief smile on his scaly, bluish-green face. "Well, yes and no."
Kantyan had to grin when he saw Cer's reaction to that answer. "Ah, such a wonderful answer. Let me tell you something, my love," He moved closer to Cerona, "Sakoda and his family have been in employ and trusted friendship of my family spanning generations. He would not send me in this thing if he didn't think I would be safe."
Cerona eased slightly when she felt his hands as her upper arms. "I guess you're right. But, Kan?"
"Yes?"
"Just be careful, please."
He'd never forget that conversation. How could he, after all? The fact of the matter was this, plainly: Cerona was the loved of his life and no one, or nothing, anywhere was ever going to change that. No matter if he was here on Earth, back on Triforia, or anywhere else in the universe; he loved her and she loved him and that was the way it was to be.
After all, destiny fought on the side of the Underdwellers. It had since the beginning, and right now, it would be until the end. There was no reason to doubt destiny now, for it would deliver the Underdwellers from evil, and finally give them the justice they deserved.
WHACK!
An acorn-sized pellet hit the back of the blue-skinned individual. A squirrel in a neighboring tree seemed to be taking offense to this strange blue life form that sat so comfortably, so high up. Kantyan turned his gaze to the small, furry rodent and gave a glare that would've melted the hardest ice. Scared by the supernatural glow the being seemed to radiate, the squirrel fled.
"But Tanya, you know, I'm just not so sure about this guy. I mean, we don't even know what planet he's from." A male voice reached Kantyan's ears. The headache that was a consequence of the two teenagers talking below him told him that they were somehow attached to the Morphin' Grid. He made a note of this and listened more intently to their conversation.
"That's true Adam. But the Gold Ranger is an invaluable ally." Tanya and Adam had left the Power Chamber when they realized things were getting a little too cramped, and Adam had offered the suggestion of going for a relaxing walk.
Ranger? You've got to be kidding me. Trey has neither the class nor the honor to be a Ranger, not after what he's allowed to happen.
Adam sighed. "I know. But I can't help but get the feeling we're doing something wrong, I don't know, that something is amiss."
A small orb dropped down from above, surprising the two Zeo Rangers. Without prior warning, the orb shot out a cloud of reddish-purple smoke and the two struggled to escape the haze, but could not. The last thing the Green Ranger saw before he collapsed to the ground was the shadowy outline of a man in possession of a small pouch.
"You'll understand in time why I had to do this, young ones." was the last thing Adam heard before the blackness embraced him.
A cold wind blew across the green ocean of Triforia, causing the female to feel a slight chill. But the chill that affected her physically was nothing compared to the chill that she felt inside. Every minute Kantyan was away made her fear that something had gone wrong, and even though she had the utmost confidence in him, she still worried. After all, wasn't the only normal thing to be doing?
He had promised he would stay by her side, at a time that seemed like eons ago. But he hadn't kept to that. He had promised he would not abandon his coronation to chase the Lord of Triforia around the universe. Again, he had lied. His coronation as king would've been yesterday. But worst of all, he had promised he would marry her.
Cerona was still waiting for her wedding day.
But he kept putting it off. Putting it off in the vain pursuit of justice, the vain pursuit of equaling the odds, the vain pursuit of getting back what had been taken from them so very long ago.
But what does it all matter? Is it really worth it anymore? If Cerona ever spoke those thoughts aloud, her own people would turn their backs on her. But if she and Prince Kantyan ever did wed, then she would become their queen. But she wasn't so sure she wanted the position; she loved Kan, but sometimes, the pressure of constantly having him leave and being put in uncomfortable positions by the Underdweller Delegation was too much.
Sometimes she thought about leaving him.
But something about him kept him drawn to her. No matter what he did, or how many promises he broke, she still seemed to be able to welcome him back. Cerona loved Kantyan, but it was obvious. He loved her, too, but it had been awhile since he'd been in her company long enough to show it a great deal.
But what he's doing is important…She sighed, picking up her interplanetary transmitter, but if he's using the plan I think he's using, he's going to need help…
"Cerona to Aquitar, Cerona to Aquitar. Do you copy, Yellow Ranger?"