"I am Lord Zedd, ruler of all that lies before you." The once proud, self proclaimed ruler recalled the line he'd recited upon his arrival to the planet earth two years ago. He looked back fondly over the time he once had an army at his command – an army of clay made warriors known as Putties, brought to life by one of his many talented sorcerers, Finster.

Lord Zedd had a palace erected on the airless surface of the moon in his name, a palace with a magnificent view – Earth. The bright blue planet could be seen brightly from his throne room, which he spared no expense in decorating it with the most gothic of styles. Rows of gargoyles perched on pillars carved in a grotesque mix of Roman and Gothic influence gazed down with dead eyes at anyone who dared approach his domain. Any trespasser who dared to brave the condemning sight would be greeted with a congregation of putties, who would waste no time in tearing him limb from limb. And that was Zedd's version of showing mercy. Should one have been unfortunate enough to be brought to Zedd in person, his soul would suffer for all eternity in Zedd's rank as one of his mindless monsters.

Sorceress Rita Repulsa once served a minor role in Lord Zedd's mighty empire. Ten thousand years ago, she was appointed with the task of capturing the Earth and its people all in Zedd's name. The defender of Earth at the time, a powerful warrior by the name of Zordon managed to thwart Rita's plans and imprison her in a dumpster, no bigger than a flower vase, where she remained for most of that ten thousand year time period. Earth knew nothing but peace after that. But the peace was not to last.

Rita was freed accidentally by a group of unwary astronauts on one of Earth's historical treks to the moon. The evil sorceress wasted no time in continuing her pursuit of Earth, but once again met with failure. Upon his arrival on the moon where Rita and her forces were established, Zedd was displeased with her continuing attempts to accomplish her one simple task with repeated failures. Rita was banished into the recesses of outer space in the very dumpster she was freed from … until she made her comeback and seduced Zedd into marrying with her with a simple love potion.

Together, they were a formidable force against the Power Rangers – sworn defenders of Earth drawing their power from the mighty dinosaurs – appointed by Zordon himself. Yet, even as a team, Rita and Lord Zedd failed to accomplish the simple task of capturing the Earth by having constantly underestimated the might of the Power Rangers. Their time in power was cut short by the Machine Empire, a rival Empire that based their military and social might on technology. Times were changing. Magic and sorcery had to give way to technology. Zedd and Rita's fate followed the changing times, as they were cast out of their palace, condemned to roam the surface of the moon in little more than a trailer they had nabbed from modern Earth.

The Machine Empire was now in charge.

"I really hate it when you reminisce like that!" Rita screeched from her seat at the back of the trailer. She glanced out the window, watching miles of gray rock pass them by. The landscape of the moon was barren. Not a single sign of life in sight – just mounds upon mounds of dirt set upon a beautiful backdrop of stars. "I've tried to leave that life behind, but every time you bring up our godforsaken palace, it sends me into convulsions." Rita cracked her knuckles in frustration, wincing in pain as she realized her ring-adorned fingers were too old and fragile. She sighed. "We're just not what we used to be."

Through the ruby-tinged visor on his skinless face, Lord Zedd glanced in the rear-view mirror from the driver's seat at his wife, pouting like a child in a large red dress that covered her entire body. Zedd hissed with disapproval at her. Rita's gray hair, done up in a pair of magnificent cones reminded him of devil horns. And they didn't seem too out of place with Rita's demeanor. He found himself stifling a snort.

"What the hell is so funny?!" Rita shouted.

"Ahem, nothing," Zedd replied, clearing his throat. "I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?! Another plan to conquer the Machine Empire and Earth that will most likely end up in failure like all of you other stupid plans?!" Zedd gripped the steering wheel tighter. If he hadn't known Rita better, he would've sworn she was a native Earth woman going through another reproduction cycle.

"No," he said through clenched teeth, "I was merely wondering about Kenny's success back on Earth."

"Ah, praise that boy," Rita said, calming down. "He's so good natured – it makes me sick. But at least he's willing to help us out. How long more till we get there? Kenny's probably already waiting for us somewhere in the Sea of Tranquility!"

"We're there already!"

"Then stop driving!"

"Argh!"

Kenny's form started out as a mere speck in the distance that gradually grew in size as they approached. Zedd put the trailer into park as he scampered out with Rita, getting ready to be briefed on Kenny's accomplishments.

The Earth boy looked at the demonic pair and once again found his stomach turning with disgust. Lord Zedd was a foul creature, looking like a human that had been skinned alive. His body was composed of raw muscle held together by an exoskeleton of metallic rods. Rita had extremely bad taste when it came to jewelry with giant rings clamped onto all eight of her bony fingers, and large necklaces around her neck. The most hilarious part of her attire was the cone shaped bra that reminded him of Madonna's 80's wear.

"So, child," Rita began, "how have your efforts on Earth been progressing?"

Kenny shrugged. "I'm not sure what to say," he replied hesitantly. "I've only met Adam, the Green Zeo Ranger, and he seems like a pretty nice guy. I don't understand why you have such a grudge against …"

"Do you have any idea how many headaches I've endured because of the Power Rangers?!" Rita interrupted. "They might seem like nice people, I can confess that much. But all their interested in is keeping the Earth to themselves and all of its resources!"

"Well," Kenny began, "you're the one that wants to enslave the planet."

"What a choice of words!" Zedd chimed in, faking his niceness. "We are merely trying to get Earth to join our empire for its own good, and ours!"

"And we have every right to not want to have to do with anything involving you," Kenny snapped. "Look, I'm only helping you out because I believe that you have what it takes to get my life back on track. I'm sick of eating out of trashcans, and living the life of a hobo. I'm keeping my end of the deal and I expect you to keep yours."

"And I reassure you," Zedd continued, "that after Earth has joined our cause, we will overthrow the Machine Empire together and you will live like a king as one of my top advisors. You have absolutely nothing to lose."

"Although I am curious," Rita said. "Most of the Earth people react with horror whenever they lay eyes on creatures like us. What exactly makes you different?"

"Ma'am, I've seen a lot of things in my life. Enough to condition me to the fact that anything is possible. Let's just say that it's hard to surprise me anymore." Rita cocked a suspicious brow at the boy. How, at such a young age, could he have possibly seen as much as he claimed? But actions speak louder than words and he surely wasn't intimidated by their mere appearances at all – which was extremely odd for an Earth person. Perhaps he was telling the truth …

"I need you to get back to Earth," Zedd instructed. "And I want you to earn the Power Ranger's trust. There are five in all and …"

"Yes, you've briefed me before," Kenny said, waving Zedd off. "I know who they are exactly. But …"

"But what?"

"Do I really have to destroy the Rangers? I can see where they stand on this issue against you, and they've done nothing but good for the Earth. It just doesn't feel right."

"The Power Rangers defend a planet that has continually tortured you," Zedd reminded him. "They protect a society that has robbed you of your home and your loved ones. Why would you want to defend something that has taken so much from you, without contributing anything back?" Kenny was speechless. Zedd had a point. Taking note of the boy's silence, he continued. "And that's exactly what I mean, my child. Show Earth no mercy. They don't deserve it. Now get back there. Our mission commences at once."

"Dear, I believe Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa are up to something again," Queen Machina said drearily. She stood in the throne room of the Machine Empire Palace, one that sported a large balcony that overlooked the Earth. One could almost say that they had taken the architecture straight from Zedd's own castle. Machina was a fine Queen, dressed in a long yellow robe that covered her metallic body. In her hand, she held a folding fan but rarely ever used it for its practical purpose, settling just for the image enhancement it gave her.

"What are they up to this time?" King Mondo, Machina's android husband called back from further inside the room. Large machine cogs decorated the walls, constantly turning, implying that the Machine Empire Palace itself was some kind of machine.

From the balcony on which Machina walked over to, her eyes met with the sights of the Empire's airships that looked vaguely like flying squid, crossing the airspace above their Moon establishment. "They seem to have allied themselves with an Earth boy."

Mondo, a blue, rotund android, placed his chubby metallic hands on his belly and let out a hearty laugh. A spinning cog on his head that one could only guess served as a crown, spun faster with his emotional outcry. "The pair of them are more pathetic than I thought! Not only do they ally themselves with the weak earthlings, but one of their children?!"

"Dear," Machina added, "if I may remind you, we can't seem to get a firm grip on the Earth either. So who are you to suggest that the earthlings are weak?"

"We would have the Earth by now if Clank's plans weren't always so predictable!" Mondo roared.

"Lay off of Clank," Machina said in their servant's defense, waving her fan in Mondo's general direction. "Perhaps if you weren't always so quick to approve his plans before thinking them over …"

"I certainly hope you're not suggesting that I am somehow responsible for our failures!" Mondo interrupted.

"We have nobody to blame but ourselves," Machina continued, "but I do believe that we have the resources to defeat the Power Rangers."

"So, Rita and Zedd are up to something …" Mondo said, putting a hand to his chin. "However pathetic it may look, allying themselves with an Earth boy, I don't like it. It's as if they're putting on some kind of … act … to fool us. Well I'm not falling for anything. I don't want to take any risks."

"What are you suggesting we do, my dear?" Machina asked curiously.

"I want Gasket and Archerina to nab that boy and question him. He might be able to tell us what's going on …"

"Gasket!" Queen Machina gasped. "My dear, you can't be serious! After all, he's exhausted after battling the Power Rangers time and again, sacrificing his abilities without any results. Please, Mondo, you must start thinking less of him as a soldier, and more of him as our son!"

"What other useful warrior do we have around here?!" Mondo roared. "Do you want me to send Sprocket in his place?"

"Sprocket is too young," Machina sighed. "And I'm not sure if he has the battle spirit of his older brother …"

"Exactly, my dear. There is nobody else that can do the job than Gasket – should the Power Rangers get in the way, which they always manage to somehow."

"So," Adam asked, "What do you like to eat?"

"I … don't really know," he said, unfamiliar with the plethora of choices that faced him at that moment. Having eaten out of garbage cans for as long as he remembered, Kenny never really got to pick and choose what he wanted to feast on. His meals usually consisted of whatever someone had decided they didn't want – if he was lucky enough.

But since this was a rare opportunity for him, the chance that someone actually offered to buy him lunch, Kenny thought for a minute and then said "I'd like some pizza."

Adam chuckled. "No matter what walk of life they come from, teenagers will always be teenagers. Do you know of any good places around here?" Adam, being a fortunate uptown Angel Grove teen, was unfamiliar with the downtown scenario.

"There's a place called Luigi's Pizza Parlor," Kenny replied, pointing down the street. "It should be a couple of blocks that way. You'll see the big neon sign that looks like its about to fall off its perch. The joint would probably be a hole compared to what you're used to, but I swear they serve the best pizza in town."

"Oh? You've been?"

"Well … not exactly," came the sheepish reply. "I … I had to steal a slice once from an old lady."

"Oh …" Adam was at a loss for words. "You didn't hurt her, did you?"

"I tried not to but …" Kenny paused. "Do you think maybe we could drop it? It's not exactly something I feel very proud of."

"Yeah, no worries."

Adam parked the car across the street to the pizza parlor and gasped. Kenny wasn't lying when he said the place was a hole. The building had black stains on its brick walls. The flashing "Luigi's Pizza Parlor" sign, shining in neon pink and green, was blinking on and off, and the "R" looked like it was able to crash onto an unsuspecting passer-by down below.

Kenny noticed Adam's reluctance to step onto the building's property, but reassured him. "I'm telling you, once you have a slice of their meat lover's pizza, you'll never go anywhere else again."

The pair stepped into the parlor, the mouth-watering scent of pizza's in the oven drawing them closer and faster than they had intended to walk. Adam was surprised upon stepping inside to realize that there was an air conditioner at work. Save money by not bothering to refurbish an establishment and have enough money to make those who can look past the visual appeal comfortable. So, there they sat gorging themselves full with pizza when all of a sudden, a blast was heard.

His battle-hardened senses on full alert, Adam's ears perked up as he turned around to face the entrance of the pizza parlor. The explosion occurred outside, as he saw plumes of choking black smoke waft past the glass door.

"What in the world …?" Kenny asked as he got up from his seat to take a closer look. Buthis path was cut off by Adam's arm.

"Don't," Adam commanded. "Something's not right."

"Well yeah," Kenny replied, throwing his hands up in the air. "There was a fucking huge explosion outside. Of course something's not right!"

"I didn't mean …" but Adam stopped talking. How was Kenny supposed to understand that it could have been the Machine Empire responsible for this? They took a liking to attacking the earth – more specifically, Angel Grove City – at their leisure. Kenny could not be aware of Adam's involvement with the Power Rangers.

A pair of futuristic looking androids approached the glass door. One of them, with a curvaceous humanoid figure dressed in a pink suit, withdrew a wicked looking bow seemingly out of thin air. She drew the string and fired a bolt of energy, shaped convincingly like an arrow, right through the glass door.

The energy bolt must've hit a gas line because the second explosion that ensued was far larger than it should have been. Kenny and Adam ducked under the table, both of them suffering only minor burns.

The robot woman spoke. "What does this child look like, Gasket?" she asked with a sweet, sultry voice.

"He's a street kid," the masculine android replied. There was a set of three crystals on his head, probably the source of his energy. Adam had always suspected this when facing Gasket and Archerina in battle, but he was never able to test this theory. His body was composed of mostly green tinted metal, in contrast to the aluminum like material of his chest and abdomen. This metal was strong enough against the Rangers' energy weapons that they theorized that the metal the Machine Empire used to construct their warriors was not of the Earth. "He's got ruffled hair and worn out sneakers and sloppy clothes too. How hard can he be to pick out?"

"Kenny, get out of here now," Adam said, from under the table. He whispered quietly, more like mouthed his words. But Kenny understood.

"You're not coming?"

"You're small enough that you can crawl around the debris without them seeing you," Adam said. "I can't do the same. Just go, and I'll be right behind you after these two have left."

"But what if …"

"Just go!"

Kenny took his cue to leave and skittered away as quietly and quickly as he could. As Adam had predicted, Gasket and Archerina were too busy trying to see through the smoke. You'd think that whoever designed them would've been smart enough to give them some kind of infrared sensors – something that would not allow visual hindrance, especially from something as petty as smoke.

As soon as Adam confirmed that Kenny had escaped through the rubble successfully, he gave a quick shake of his wrists. Instantly, a pair of bracelets formed on his wrists, glowing with a green aura. "Alright," he said quietly to himself, "it's morphin' time."