Author's notes – This is the third in my "Junior Rangers" series, so I'd recommend at least a quick glance through the first two stories, otherwise you're gonna be pretty confused pretty quickly :). In short, this series takes place in Australia. Everybody's heard of the Crocodile Hunter aka Steve Irwin, right? His zoo (on Australia's eastern coast) is located in the same city as where these stories are taking place. That should save everybody from running for the atlas :). I actually know the guy, scarily enough.

Thanks to the readers who gratefully left feedback for my first two stories, and again, an impassioned plea, please R&R. Just finally, in MMPR Zac was African-American, but that didn't make sense when I placed my series in Australia. So, for here I've changed his background to Australian Aborigine. With that out of the way, please read on…

Prologue

The elders say that although he now lies dreaming, Tibrogargan was once awake. It was the Dreamtime then, the time before time when Australia's mountains and valleys were carved out by the Rainbow Serpent as he travelled across the land, a time when the country was peopled by the great animal-tribes, and a time when songs were painted and paintings were sung. Once the Dreamtime ended, Tibrogargan and his family lay down to sleep, dreaming of nothing but the land and the stars for thousands of years. In that time history became legend and was forgotten, as an entire culture was swept away to make room for the new.

And the most important part of Tibrogargan's story was lost - anything that dreams will one day wake up.
Through the infinite depths of his dream, Tibrogargan heard it - a child crying, somewhere nearby. He couldn't imagine how such a tiny sound had managed to shake him from his slumber, but as the haze of his ancient sleep faded away, the sound steadily became clearer. Opening his eyes and looking out across the landscape, his gaze soon fell on a young girl, standing in a clearing on the eastern side of the mountain. She was cloaked in shadow from the setting sun, and he could barely make her out.

Taking form, Tibrogargan approached the sobbing girl and called out to her.

"Child," he began, his voice like faraway thunder, "why do you cry so? Have you lost your tribe?"

The girl turned to him, her eyes twin points of white in the shadow. "Yes," she said softly, wiping her hand across her eyes. "I have been... away for a time, yet when I returned I could not find them." She stopped and looked east, and her voice took on a strange tone. "I am afraid for them. They are not where they should be."

Tibrogargan smiled. "Perhaps I shall help you find them," he replied. "I, too, have been away, and have missed this great land," and he turned to follow her gaze towards the distant sea. But as he looked, his expression fell, and he took a step back in disbelief. For a few minutes, all words failed him. "But... this cannot... where are they?" he stuttered. "My people were so strong... Where have they all gone? Where are they?"

The girl stepped over beside him. "You see?"

Tibrogargan nodded. "But... I do not understand... how...?"

"The white tribe," hissed the girl suddenly. "It is their doing. While you and your family slept, they came in great numbers, conquered this land and forced your... our people to flee. Look at them. They are like a plague, like flies."

Regardless of the darkening sky, he could see them easily, everywhere he looked, packed tightly across the land. "Yes," he replied, his voice growing harder, rockier. "I see them."

The girl continued, as if Tibrogargan hadn't spoken. "There is no tribe more dangerous or ruthless. They poison the waters and raze the land until they cannot even feed their own kind. They pump toxins into the air and laugh as the birds choke and fall. They have no respect for the land or the animals living there." She turned to Tibrogargan and spoke again, in a voice low and dangerous. "They must be punished."

He nodded slowly, feeling the fire roaring to life through his veins. She was right. Looking beyond even the horizon, he had no words for what he saw. He could feel men digging foundations deep in the earth beneath him, could smell forests burning, and could hear the feint hum of machines somewhere up with the stars. How had this happened? "I should have been here to protect our people, but I failed them, and now they are gone." Tibrogargan shook his head. "That ends now."

A tiny smile flickered across the girl's face. "You must take vengeance for our people, and all the crimes against them."

Tibrogargan stepped forward, his eyes flashing angrily. "If I had known what great evil the white tribe was capable of, I would have wiped them from this land long ago," he growled. "They should not be here. I will sleep no longer, not until they are made to pay for their crimes."

The girl nodded. "I have watched them, Tibrogargan. The white tribe possess a powerful army."

"An army?"

"Yes. Eleven fierce warriors, all wearing bright colours and with enormous machines of conquest. They are dangerous, and will not fall lightly."

Tibrogargan waved his hand. "If they defend murderers I will crush them." He stopped, and looked down to the girl. "Fear not, our people will be avenged. Thank you, child. Without your intervention, I would surely still be dreaming, when there is so much that must be done." With a fury of the ages still building behind his eyes, Tibrogargan turned and walked away.

The girl stood watching him leave, and once sure he was gone, stepped backwards, passing through deep shadow and emerging in the starlight as a different person. She was older and taller, her hair and skin paler, and she now wore a long dress and carried a staff. Seconds later, a small tree beside her also seemed to shimmer in the dying light, the shadow twisting and changing into a tall figure clad in golden armour.

"Empress," said Goldar softly, "that was amazing. He did not see through your disguise for a second."

Rita Repulsa nodded. "I don't think the old fool even wanted to."

"But given the forces at his command..."

"It was a great risk, no mistake," said the witch. "But it has paid off immeasurably," and looking back to the east, her dark eyes soon found Caloundra, a glowing city of light outlined against the dark sea. Rita turned back to Goldar, and only he could see the black depths of her eyes. "He'll wipe the entire city off the face of the Earth for us, Goldar, and we won't even have to lift a finger."