CHAPTER 7 - Putties On Patrol

Malcolm screams at the unfamiliar creatures, the Putties, and runs with laptop and notes in hand, clutched close to him, away from the table. Billy, quickly catches note of this, and stops. He takes a step towards the putties, but then stops as a thought overcomes him. He realizes that the place is too crowded to risk a battle unmorphed, so he figured best to morph as soon as possible and hopefully the others would join soon. So he ran towards the bathroom, while many innocent people have started evacuating. Luckily Billy saw Tommy and Jason getting sodas from the vending machine outside the restores.

"Guys!" yells Billy.

"Hey, headache OK?" asks Jason.

"Fine! Never mind that guys! Putties! They're after one of the Malcolm's. We got to morph!" states Billy.

"Too many people here! Quick! Follow me!" Jason says, as he motions towards the restroom door. The three heroes run inside, and quickly see if the coast was clear. Luckily for them and the convention goers, it was. So without a moment to lose, Jason muttered those three infamous words, as they reached for their Power Morphers:

"It's Morphin' Time!"

"Dragon Zord!"

"Triceratops!"

"Tyrannosaurus!"

And in a flash of bright light, their civilian clothes are replaced with the colorful Power Ranger armor. Green for Tommy, Red for Jason, and Blue for Billy.

They exit quickly and head back to the Convention Center. At this point, Malcolm has made a successful attempt in evading the Putties, around all the many tables and scientific displays. But just as it seemed that Malcolm was trapped in a corner, the three brave heroes come to the rescue.

"Hey, clay brains!" yells Jason.

With that gesture the bold leader, redirected the Putties attention from Malcolm, over to the rainbow colored heroes. Then the entire Putty army change positions to attack the Rangers. Then the Putties and Rangers engaged in combat. Malcolm just stood there terrified and relieved. He was trapped on all sides by the battle, and then in a flash of golden light, resembling a giant fireball, Rita's henchman Goldar appeared right behind him. The sudden sight of this horrific creature scared Malcolm even more, to the point where his screaming caused him to faint. Just then, the three rangers saw Goldar.

"Goldar! You Fiend!" said the Blue Ranger "Leave the kid alone!"

"Don't worry! Grr! I won't hurt him, Blue Ranger! Rita just wants his computer and notes, so we can destroy you, Power Rangers, Once and for all! Heh-heh-heh!" growls the golden plated villain, at the same as Billy leaps to try and stop him. Sadly though, Billy ends up leaping into thin air, as the villain disappears as fast as he appeared.

"Man! He got away!" notes the Green Ranger, who has defeated the last putty standing at that moment. By this time, all the putties had vanished, and the three rangers stand clueless.

"I don't get it. What would they want with his computer and notes?" said Jason.

"His notes had some really advanced formula for energy amplification. Maybe Rita plans to use it for a strange and sinister plan." said Billy.

"Maybe" notes the Green Ranger as they all over look this innocent enough looking kid.

"Even stranger, this is one of the Malcolm's from Alpha's list." said Billy.

"Hmm...Let's get back to the Command Center, and check with Zordon." said Jason.

They all nod, and with a touch of their belts, they are gone.

Once at the command center, they see the others are already there, have just arrived also. "Zordon, Goldar and some putties attacked one of the 'Malcolm's' on the list. What do you make of it?" said Billy.

"I'm not sure yet. We'll have to wait and see. In the meanwhile, we have managed to zero in on that transmissions frequency." Said Zordon.

"Right! If either of those two contacts anyone by the same means as we saw on the Viewing Globe, we can hopefully zero in on them." Says Alpha

"Great work, Alpha" commends the leader to their robotic friend.

CHAPTER 8 - Rita and Kilokahn

In the meanwhile, on the moon, at Rita's Palace, the evil witch is awaiting her loyal soldier's return. And just as she beholds her telescope, Goldar emerges.

"I have what you asked for, my queen!" says Goldar.

"Great work, Goldar! FINSTER!" she screams

"Yes, my queen?" he asks.

"We got the formula. It's in his computer." says Rita.

"Excellent. And now I can use this to help enhance the latest monster I'm working on. A more powerful version of King Sphinx. One with many more weapons and super strength. And with that formula you saw from your telescope, the Rangers and their Zords don't stand a chance." explains Finster.

"Yes, ha ha ha ha ha!" laughs Rita, as Finster takes the laptop into his lab. As soon as he gets there, he turns on the computer.

"Let me see. He has to have the formula inside a file, as a diagram somewhere" he says to himself, as he starts typing and searching the computer's contents. Then he sees an unusual file, with the name "Digital Contact". "What is this?" he says as he activates it.

Just then, the screen's contents are replaced by an open image of the Digital World, and the figure of Kilokahn, which startles the bundling Finster.

"I am here meat...What! You are not the Malcolm meat-thing! What is this! I demand an explanation!" says the figure

"Astonishing! An actual autonomous digital being! Should I communicate with it? Oh, dear! Uh..Hi, who are you?"

"I am Kilokahn! Overlord of the Digital World! And If I don't get an explanation, I'll destroy you!"

"Wow! And it's an evil one at that! Rita will love this! I am Finster, Rita Repulsa's loyal solider and chief maker of monsters." said Finster.

"Rita, huh? Is she that space witch who battles these 'Power Rangers'? " asked Kilokahn.

"Yes, she is my empress! And she will rule the world!" says Finster proudly.

"The meat-thing world perhaps. Hmm...I still demand an explanation as to how you got the meat-thing's computer!" asks Kilokahn

"We stole it because we wanted his energy formula..." explains Finster.

"Energy formula? What energy formula? Explain." Said Kilokahn.

"This one" says the little troll, as he types up a screen on the monitor's corner, allowing Kilokahn to see the diagram of the formula.

" He never told me about that! Hmm...The meat-thing was holding out on me. Or maybe he planned to include it with the virus he created."

"What do you mean? Tell me more." says Finster with a sinister look.

So, Kilokahn explains his situation to the evil henchman, the festival, the virus for the Power Rangers, the pending destruction of Servo, and his intentions. Just as all is explained, Finster begins to think, but is cut short by two unwelcome guests in his lab, Squatt and Babboo.

"Hey, Finster! Whatch'a doing?" asks Babboo

"Hey, lookie here! Finster got a new video game!" exclaims Squatt

"Wow! Can I take a turn, too?" asks Babboo

"No, I was here first, Babboo!" says Squatt

"This is an outrage!" yells Kilokahn, just as Finster grabs his two moron colleagues and pulls them away from the computer. This creates enough noise to arise the suspicion of Goldar, who comes into the lab, very angry.

"What is going on here! Grr! Finster! I thought you were supposed to get the formula, now where is it?" yells Goldar, as he heads to the computer, to behold its contents. "Huh? What is that? Finster! You were supposed to get the formula for our queen, not play childish video games!"

"Goldar..."squeaks Finster lightly, just as a raging noise emerges from the computer, which startles everyone in the lab.

"This is an OUTRAGE! I refuse to be insulted in such a manner by being compared to a measly video game program! And especially by the likes of a hideously weak meat-creature like you!" blasts Kilokahn in a very furious manner.

"What! Who dares call Goldar weak?" he exclaims.

"I do!" he says, just as he motions towards Goldar with his hand. A split second later, a powerful burst of energy comes from his hand, through the screen, and to Goldar. An energy force so powerful, it knocks Goldar to his feet, a full 12-17 feet away from the screen.

"I am Kilokahn! Overlord of the Digital World!"

Squatt, Babbo, and Finster stand scared to bits, shaking in their boots just as the lab is now graced with another visitor, Rita.

"What is all this? Finster? What is going on?" she asks.

And he just stands scared, and shivering, and mumbling incoherently. She then seems confused, naturally. And just as she was about to ask for a clearer explanation, he points to the possessed computer. Her eyes just become immensely larger, and filled with awe, as she approaches it.

"I'm Rita Repulsa. Who are you?"

"I am Kilokahn! Overlord of the Digital World! And you are the most visually pleasing meat-thing I've seen to date."

"Oh? Why thank you!", Says Rita smiling, "uh..Digital World?"

"It's a world inside machines, computers, and stuff. The humans call it 'Cyberspace' " Says Finster.

"Yes! And you want this formula just as I do, it seems."

"Yes! Mm-hmmm-hmm-hmm! Tell me more!" says the evil queen.

One large heap of explanation later, inspiration hits the evil sorceress.

"I got it! A way to solve both our problems!" said Rita.

"Yes? Explain." Said Kilokahn.

"We'll give this kid back his computer, and have him make this virus for you, and with the formula also. I'll send one of my own, enhanced by the same formula, to call out the Rangers and their Zords. Once out, you can infect them, making them useless against us. And with the formula, your virus will destroy this 'Servo' also. So you will have control of the Zords and their technology! And the Rangers will not stand a chance after that. So in essence we will both win." Said Rita.

"Mm...How evil and sinister! I love that plan! It however is up to the Malcolm meat-thing to create the virus and formula. He may not cooperate since the plan means pending mass destruction." Said Kilokahn.

"Oh, we'll take care of that part, easily." said Rita.

"Excellent, let's get started!" said Kilokahn.

Then sinister manic laughter from Rita and Kilokahn fills up the whole room.

CHAPTER 9 - Squad Hears the Bad News & Rangers Take Action

While all of these events were transpiring in outer space, The Syber-Squad were getting ready for their first day of the festival, unknown to them about the Putty attack that happened earlier. They enter the convention hall, and see police everywhere.

"What happened?" asked Sam

"Looks like what happened to my cousin once, after he tried out his new pair of shoes. He went running all around town, yelling he was proud of his shoes." Amp says.

"What's so bad about that?" asks Tanker.

"I don't know, but the cops said it had something to do with the fact that the only thing he did wear was his sneakers." Said Amp.

"Whatever, Amp. Let's see." Syd said, as the four friends head over to their display, which was ransacked in the battle. Just then an officer, stopped them short.
"Hold on there! Who are you?" said the officer.

"This was our display for the festival! What happened?" said Sam.

"Well, there was a battle. A young man, Frank Malcolm was attacked by Putties, but saved by the Power Rangers. He a friend of yours?" said the Officer.

"Uh,...Frank Malcolm? We know a Malcolm Frink, not a Frank Malcolm. But is he OK?" said Sydney.

"He was taken to the hospital. He is in Stable condition. He'll be O.K." said the policeman.

"Ah..Man...!" Tanker reacted.

"Wow! He got to meet the Power Rangers? Lucky guy!" said Amp.

"Yeah, lucky, we better go." Said Sam.

"Weird. Why would that cop mess up Malcolm's name like that?" said Tanker.

"Come on guys, I got the rental car address here. It's down the street. We better check this out." Said Sydney.

So they head to the Angel Grove Rental Cars service, which luckily was right next-door, and then inside the car, they head for Angel Grove Hospital.

"That's weird, and even so, why would Malcolm get attacked by those Putties?" said Sam.

"Maybe they aren't as bad as people say. And they just gave him what he had coming to him." Said Tanker.

"Nah! Not even Frink deserves that." Said Amp.

Meanwhile, 5 of the Power Rangers are sitting on the floor of the Command Center, while Billy continues to work on a solution, or possible next move, with Alpha and Zordon.

"Damn it! I thought I had it! There was another transmission on that same channel. It was right there, but the origin is too far for the antennas to pick up. I'll try and boost the gain. And Kimberly…listen…I'm sorry about before. I shouldn't have…" Billy started to say.

"Billy it's ok. We all get cranky when we get headaches. I know you didn't mean any disrespect. It's ok." She says, giving Billy a hug.

He smiles, returns the hug, and replies back. "Thanks. Guys, this realignment is going to take a while, why don't you go on and get some nourishment? Me and Alpha can handle this ok."

"Yeah, I am kind of hungry." says the Yellow Ranger Trini.

"Hey, why don't we visit that Malcolm kid that the putties attacked? Maybe he can tell us something we don't know? And we owe it to ourselves to see if the poor kid is OK." says Kimberly.

"We don't even know if he is the Malcolm mentioned in the transmission. Maybe we should check on the others." said Jason.

"No. Kimberly is right. What kind of coincidence is it that the transmission mentioned a plan to destroy us, and that he had an advanced energy enhancement formula in his notes, which I saw myself? A formula that Rita wanted, according to Goldar, so she had him attacked. It's too much to ignore. We better speak to him, and see what he can tell us about what's going on, and this 'Servo' thing." said Billy.

"OK. Than afterwards, if he doesn't check out, we look up the others." said Jason.

"Understood." acknowledged Billy.