Author's Note: It's been a long time coming, but finally, here is the latest installment of "After the Power". I hope the length makes up for the period of time it's taken me to write this. Please review J Thanks!
Chapter 17 - A Rift in Time
Billy stared deep into the cold eyes of one of his former arch enemies. Lokar had almost brought an end to the Power Rangers. Billy knew that Lokar had no more power then Lord Zedd, but even to himself, and his powerful friends, a giant head that ruled the skies seemed very powerful. True, his mentor Zordon took on the same form, but Lokar's demonic appearance gave them nightmares that he and his teammates had a hard time forgetting. The scientist felt like he and Kimberly were in a situation that would take miracles to escape from, but still he knew that he was concealing one final trick up his sleeve that could save them from the sticky situation. The only complication that he faced was enacting the foil without explaining to his companion before hand.
"Think Billy… think," the genius said to himself.
Billy glanced around his surroundings, it was apparent that there was only one visible entrance to the Moon Palace, the tall stone doors, and Lokar stood in the way of reaching them. Engaging in battle with Lokar wasn't the smartest thing to do, for they would be swarmed with in minutes. It seemed as if Lokar was the only one who had known they'd arrived.
Lokar grinned at the two humans, a grin that could make the meanest person cry, which sent chills down Kimberly's spine. Kimberly had never seen Lokar in human form, and it seemed as if he'd received an upgrade from his former "head" state. Spikes protruded from his legs, arms, and head. His skin was pale blue, and two demonic wings grew from his back. He was comparable to the devil himself
Kimberly carefully glanced at Billy, hoping Lokar wouldn't notice her sudden movement and react. The silence that had developed since Lokar had informed them that their rescue mission had ended was frightening enough, and she didn't know how much longer she could stand in the sight of him.
Lokar's menacing voice spoke, breaking the never ending silence.
"I have predicted that you two would arrive here…I have predicted that you're here to save your friends,"
Billy slightly brushed his arm against Kimberly's signaling to remain calm as he searched for a means of escape from Lokar's grasp. He couldn't believe he'd thought that he and Kimberly would gain entrance to the Moon Palace without distraction. It was obvious that Zedd had thousands of his cronies guarding every knick and cranny, and wouldn't stand any Ranger team getting into the palace. Still, he continued to think, hoping that something in his memory would signal.
And that's when he remembered. Tommy had entered the Moon Palace in an attempt to save Katherine, when Rita and Zedd tricked the Rangers into a trade. The Caves of Deception was the only other entrance into the Moon Palace, and it was located somewhere under the surface of the moon. It had been there that the Zeo Crystal was stored. If only they could ditch Lokar and find the entrance to the cave. But how.
"Am I right? Is that why you have come to the palace of Lord Zedd?" asked the creature.
"We've come to serve Lord Zedd," Billy quickly answered, before Kimberly had a chance to give their plans away. "We finally realized that we were on the wrong side this entire time, and we want to serve our real master,"
Kimberly retained a smile. Billy always knew how to get out of tough situations by using his brain, and hopefully Lokar would buy their story long enough for them to get rid of him.
Lokar sneered at them. His powers were sensing changes in time, and he knew that something tragic was about to happen. Lord Zedd would imprison the two of them the minute they walked into the Palace throne room. Lokar didn't believe their story, but he decided to play along. It would also give him a chance to tell them the information that he'd predicted.
"Very well," he responded. "It is about time a Power Ranger joins the sides of evil, and besides, the more working for Lord Zedd… the better,"
Kimberly knew what to say now, so she bowed before Lokar, making their words appear to be true. She was glad that Billy had found a way to prevent an invasion, but now they had to rid themselves of Lokar, and fast. She looked at Billy who nodded.
"Can you take us to Zedd?" Billy asked.
"Why of course," answered Lokar. "Nothing would give me more pleasure."
Lokar knew that he was more powerful than Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa combined, and it was he who had sensed the arrival of the two former Power Rangers. He had been the creation of the forces of evil, fused with many abilities, some that Rita Repulsa knew none of. Lokar knew that he faced many consequences hiding the arrival of Kimberly and Billy from his masters. But their reign of terror was going to be diminished, for he'd learned that a mutant from the year 3000 had escaped to the past, and was going to ruin everything that Zedd and Rita had worked for. Inside, he wondered if he should reveal it to them, but he knew that his knowledge of the event made him more powerful than Zedd would ever be.
"Come this way," Lokar said to them.
"Thank you," Billy responded. "You are a worthy servant to our master, and we are sure he will be pleased with your generosity,"
"Yes," answered Kimberly. "And when he finds out, we will ditch you, and rescue our fr,"
The Pink Ranger gasped, realizing that she'd blown their cover. She quickly placed her hands over her mouth. Her body was shaking all over, she quickly turned towards Billy who was looking down at the ground, shaking his head negatively.
Lokar paused, and laughed evilly. He knew that the teenagers were plotting against him with every step he took. He could continue to play along, or he could reveal the plethora of information that his power of prophecy had revealed to him. Which was better? The question echoed through his head, as he kept his silence.
Finally, he turned around to face them. Both of the former Rangers had taken a defensive stance if they were about to attack him. He laughed evilly and shook his head at their idiocy.
"Well… well Pink Ranger," he spoke with twisted pleasure. "I see that you still have problems dealing with gossip. Not that I believed your pathetic story. Zordon has brainwashed you into believing what he views as what is right in this universe, and only a spell created by the forces of evil can make you believe different! Do you think I'm an idiot?"
His voice echoed through the narrow hallway of the Moon Palace as his teeth clenched together. He clasped his hands into one another, brining them apart, he created a wall with his arms, placing one against each wall. The spikes protruding from them ensured no passage without deadly wounds.
Kimberly looked at Billy, her face was emitting apologetic vibes. Billy found that he could forgive her foolish mistake after learning that his plan hadn't even taken Lokar's trust. He smiled at her, as if it was the last time he'd see her in her current state. He wasn't sure what Lokar was going to do with them now.
"It's okay Kim," he answered. "Things happen, and I understand.
He spoke as if Lokar wasn't even there, as if everything was fine.
Kimberly wiped the tears from her eyes, and she looked up at Lokar who stood there watching them like a hawk. She found herself able to look into his twisted eyes without glancing away, and she saw how much hate they concealed for the first time.
"What are you going to do with us?"
Lokar jumped at the chance to further torture them, so he decided not to answer Kimberly's question. Instead, he'd make their fears reality by telling them what he'd been keeping concealed inside. A secret that would change the flow of their time forever. He grinned at them once more, and finally ended the silence.
"I wouldn't be worried about what I'm going to do to you Pink Ranger… you have much more to be worried about,"
Billy paused. Unsure by what Lokar meant. Sure, Lord Zedd would probably deliver a much worse punishment for their attempt to ruin his evil plans. Lokar made it sound like something even bigger was about to happen.
"What's that supposed to mean, Lokar?" the Blue Ranger asked.
Lokar laughed evilly, and sighed with relief. "It's time I tell you… what lies ahead of your fate,"
Jennifer Scotts rummaged through the pile of dirty sheets which had gathered since she, and her friend arrived in the year 2001. Training in the Time Force Academy, she'd always been use to extra help taking care of the cleanliness of her clothing. It wasn't that she didn't approve of bad house cleaning, but they were in a great fix. Living in a broken town Clock Tower had taken a long time for someone of such high maintenance to get used to.
"Lucas!" she grumbled. "What did you do with our Time Force uniforms?"
Lucas Kendall glanced back at Jen with a sly look gleaming in his eyes. Jen wanted to find stupid things at the most inappropriate times. Still, she was the leader of their team, and he knew that he should respect her orders. It'd taken years of beginning and pleading for the Pink Ranger to replace the Red Ranger leading the team, a petition started somewhere in the late twentieth century by a Pink Ranger named Sydney Drew. Jen made the first one, and although it didn't make her feel any better then the rest of her teammates, Lucas knew that she enjoyed giving orders.
"I don't know Jen," he responded. "Why do you want them anyway?"
Jen let out a grunt. "Lucas! We're going back into the year 1993, we need to look professional. We're the Power Rangers from the future, and well…"
Trip Regis, the Green Time Force Power Ranger walked over to Jen and patted her on the back.
"Are you forgetting that we're entering the early stages of the nineteen-nineties, if we show up in uniforms so high tech, we'll have the local police breathing down our back,"
Jen paused for a second, realizing that Trip was partially right. However, she wasn't going to be defeated that easily.
"Listen Trip, our uniforms didn't cause any disturbance in the year 2001, and besides…"
Circuits interrupted, flying over to the side of the two. He perched himself on a nearby broken down table, readied to provide a closure look at the argument the two Time Force Rangers were having.
"Trip's words are wise in this argument Jen. The peoples of the year 2001 are used to the appearances of teenagers wearing strange suits, with the public knowledge and introduction of the Lightspeed Rescue Rangers a year earlier, the Time Force Uniforms wouldn't bother them much. However, traveling back to a point in time where there is no public knowledge of the Power Rangers, seeing such uniforms could cause a chain reaction of events that could highly alter the future,"
Jen sighed, realizing that Trip had won the argument with Circuit's help. She looked down at her own clothes, which represented the fashion trend that had been set in the 21st Century.
"We obviously can't wear these clothes back to the past either, so what do you suggest we do Circuit?"
Before Circuit could answer, Wes and Katie walked in carrying various shopping backs which were apparently from Silver Hills Shopping Center. After sitting the bags down, Wes walked over to Trip and Jen.
"I'm glad you asked," he replied. "After talking to Circuit this morning about our journey back in time, I realized that we'd need to dress the part…so I went to the retro store in the mall.
"So… what did you get me Wes?" Lucas chimed in. He wanted to make sure that his outfit matched the specific style he'd already pre-set for himself.
Wes pulled out a pair of blue overhauls, a dark blue flannel t-shirt, and a pair of black loafers. He could tell by Lucas' surprised expression that he wasn't pleased with the clothes at all. As he handed them to Lucas, he realized Lucas' hair.
"You'll want to wear your hair down, man. Teens in the early nineties didn't where there hair in spikes,"
Lucas sighed and took the clothes , he instantly realized that they would make him appear to be a nerd. And now he had to change his perfect hair. Upset, he took the clothes from Wes and went to change.
"All right… here's how things are going to work out. I'm going to be the jock, Lucas is the geek, Trip is the cool guy who can't impress the ladies, Katie you're the really strong ethnic girl, and Jen… welcome to valley girl land,"
Jen scowled, wondering when Wes anticipated that he should make the important decisions for the group. She took the clothes he'd handed her and went to change.
"All right guys! Hurry up! Captain Logan will send the time fliers in exactly thirty minutes!"
Wes looked down at the hat he held in his hand, and tossed it over to Trip. Wear this sideways, we can't do much about your green hair, but this will conceal most of it,"
"Wes come on!" Jen commanded. "We don't have all day to play dress up, do you realize what is at stake here?"
"Chill out Jen," Wes responded. "I was just helping him with his look, and yes, even though you think I have no place on this team… I realize what is being risked,"
Jen frowned, realizing that she'd been too harsh with him. Now wasn't the time to think about how harsh she'd been, she needed to save the flow of time from being corrupted by Ransik.
"A mutant from the year 3000 has escaped through time. He has landed in the year 2001, to take over the past and rule the future," the words left Lokar's mouth like wild fire spreading across the waiting land. He'd finally revealed the secret that he'd been concealing inside for years. For time had changed the second Ransik had entered the past.
"What are you talking about?" Billy responded.
"And I thought you were supposed to be smarter than this, Blue Ranger," Lokar laughed. "If you prefer the longer detailed version, then I will give you your final demand,"
"Stop playing your mind games Lokar, our friends are inside, and we're determined to save them," said Kimberly. She turned towards Billy and tightened her hand into fists. "Why don't we just send him his way, and save the others,"
Billy thought for a moment, before responding. "Kim, I don't think he's bluffing. We should listen to what he has to say, it might be important… you never know, it might clue us in to what is going on around here,"
"That's right," Lokar grimaced. "You shall listen to me! I have made you chance your own course of time just by your pathetic presence here with me! You have changed your destinies in more ways than one by just becoming Power Rangers, and now… I'm afraid there is no turning back. You have chosen your own fate,"
"Okay, he's really starting to scare me," Kimberly responded. "What do you mean we've chosen our own fate… and Power Rangers from the future… mutants?"
Lokar nodded at the trembling girl. "Every word I speak is true, precious pink. Can you feel the loss of energy from your bodies? Can you feel the power leaving your body? The flow of time is being changed, and soon your lives will cease to exist,"
Kimberly clutched her stomach, bringing the feeling that she'd been ignoring to surface as she heard the words exit from Lokar's mouth. "He's right," she stuttered. "I do feel something, like I'm walking on air… I can't feel my feet,"
"I feel it too," Billy added.
"Yes…." Lokar hissed. "After the power… you will be no more, your entire existence will be that of forgotten magic, and mystic coins. Zordon can't save you now for the rife in time has begun,"
"We have to fight it Kim, what ever is happening to us, we have to fight it!" Billy protested as he clung onto the sides of the dark interior walls for support. "We can do it Kimberly, just think of how strong you are,"
The pain was taking over more, and the strength was leaving their bodies making them weak and displaced. Their minds were loosing memories. Memories of the past, memories of the present. It was as if their bodies were shells awaiting a judgment that would never come.
"The mutant from the future must be succeeding in his plans, the two of you grow weak in stance. Try to fight it…. Where are your power coins now Rangers?" Lokar laughed with pleasure. "Tengas! Finish them!" he summoned.
A group of large quaking birds appeared as if from nowhere, clad in dark violet armor they made their way towards the flailing humans, ready to take on their victims. As Lokar disappeared into thin air, leaving them to feed upon their prey, the birds began their vicious attack.
"Billy…" Kimberly stumbled further down the hallway, trying to escape from her attackers.
"We have to find the others, and we have to find them as quickly as we can," Billy responded.
"Where are they going?" asked a random Tenga in a scratchy voice.
"Let them go," responded another. "They'll never get past Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa," and the squawks ended, as the legion of Tenga Warriors returned to the skies from whence they came.
"Why did they give up?" muttered Kimberly.
"Someone's watching over us," Billy responded. "Someone is keeping luck on our side,"
"We have to find the dungeons… we have to… save the others," Kimberly walked on, her feet felt heavy. "What's happening to us?"
"The rift in time has begun…"
The words Lokar had spoken echoed continuously from Billy's mind. "What ever Lokar was talking about… it's having a major effect on our bodies, something that has to do with the flow of time. This mutant… it's corrupting the time flow, and it must be something effecting us becoming Power Rangers. And if that doesn't happen, then who knows what will,"
The molten palace of Dark Specter stood in chaos on the Cimmerian Planet, as flame entrapped heads bustled in and out the high corridors. The monarch of evil, Dark Specter stood at a communication screen speaking with an Alliance consultant from a distant galaxy.
He too could sense the changes in the flow of time, and he knew what was happening. To him, Ransik meant well in his attempt to conquer Earth once and for all, but he wasn't going to let the power hungry mutant ruin his plans. He turned to the council of flaming heads and called for one.
"These recent happenings have called for dire maneuvering… it's time to unleash our war upon the universe now! Forget the millennium!" his voiced roared.
The flaming head tried best to hide his frightened expression, for he knew Dark Specter could diminish his entire existence within seconds. "My lord, I'm afraid we'll not have time for our allies to round up their henchmen, this takes time,"
"General! I am not going to let a mutant conquer the universe in the past, while I sit here trying to accomplish the same. You will follow my orders, precisely," Dark Specter responded.
"What about the mutant who is changing time," the head asked. "Shouldn't we try to stop him first?"
"Precisely," Dark Specter added. "Now, I want you to go to each and every ally aligned with the Alliance, and tell them to gather their forces. I will split them up between planets, and then we shall attack!"
"How long shall I give them?" the head cowardly asked.
"Two months, general, they have two months before! It's the countdown to destruction!" Dark Specter laughed evilly. "In the mean time, I will send someone to take care of this mutant problem we're having,"
The flaming head left, as Dark Specter turned back to his viewing screen. He commanded it to give him a frequency with the palace of Zedd. Instantly, the dark throne room with fog pouring across the ground appeared, Zedd sat diligently in his throne, resting apparently.
"Lord Zedd!" Dark Specter's voice rumbled.
Immediately, Zedd jumped to attention, walking over to the hologram of the dark lord. "Yes Dark Specter?" he asked, speaking in a tone of great pride.
"I come with dire news," he spoke. "Your forces were the first to deal with the re-emergence of the Earth Rangers. This is why I come to you. A mutant from the year 3000 has stolen a time ship, and transported himself into various points into the past. Now he's has gone to the year 1993, with the intent of stopping the creation of the Power Rangers,"
"What is dire about that?" Zedd asked. "That's a brilliant idea!"
Dark Specter's body glowed a deep red, showing Zedd's stupidity had angered him greatly. "You're not listening to me, you fool! This mutant will cause a rift in time, and this rift will cause a side effect, ruining everything you and the Alliance has accomplished!"
"Why that no good idiot of a mutant! How dare he try to mess up my brilliant conquering of Earth?" Zedd responded, now angered.
"You have not conquered Earth you pitiful excuse of darkness! Conquering one city, does not make you the commander of the entire planet... no... not at all. My plans will however allow the alliance to take over once and for all." Dark Specter replied.
"What plan? What are you talking about?" Lord Zedd asked.
Dark Specter paused for a moment. "Now is not that time for you to be filled in. I need you to do everything possible to stop the mutant, send your monsters back in time if you have to... bring him to me!"
Lord Zedd nodded at once. "Of course, I will do everything in my power!"
"You also have two former Power Rangers trying to save their friends..." Dark Specter calmly spoke. "Take care of them first!"
"POWER RANGERS!" Lord Zedd exclaimed. "I thought I'd captured those brats,"
"Your forces obviously weren't successful Lord Zedd," Dark Specter mocked. "Now get on the job, and if you allow time to be corrupted, I will have your head!"
"At once, Dark Specter,"
Kimberly and Billy had finally found the dungeon, and it wasn't hard, because plastered high on the wall was a large sign which read "DUNGEON". Lord Zedd had made it so easy for them to find their friends.
Immediately, Kimberly dashed down the hallway with every bit of strength left in her body. And began shouting the names of her friends. Snores erupted from the chambers, and Kimberly wondered if everyone was being effected by the time rifts. Then she heard a familiar voice.
"Kim?" it spoke weakly. "Kimberly... is that you?"
It was Jason. Kimberly made her way towards his voice, and stopped finally in front of a cell. There he was clutched onto the cell bars. She could tell that he too was growing weak. She looked passed him, and noticed Trini and Zack asleep on the floor. She motioned for Billy who made his way slowly towards them. Turning back to Jason, Kimberly threw her arms around the man she loved, feeling a sense of protection now that she was back in his arms.
"I love you Jason,"
Jason stuck his hands through the cold steal bars, embracing her. He knew she'd save them.. but things had gotten worse. He could feel some sort of agony tearing away at his body, it felt like his body was giving up. "I love you too Kim,"
Above the dungeons, Lord Zedd trotted around, as his brain pulsed, he tried to determine what should be done first. "Goldar!"
The golden winged monkey entered the room, and bowed to Lord Zedd. "Yes, my leash?"
"Take Rito with you to the dungeons, there are two Rangers down there trying to ruin my plans... and get Finster in here, I need him to open up another time hole," Zedd answered Goldar.
"Power Rangers are loose in the palace! Rito, get down to the dungeons and stop them," Goldar shouted as he made his way towards Finster's work shop.
"Flower changing is needed in the dungeons," Rito mumbled to himself, clearly miss understanding Goldar. "Fine! It's always me who does the stupid things around this place, I'm starting to think Ed and sis hate me,"
The time zords appeared suddenly in front of the clock tower, awaiting their pilots to enter. They would transport them from the year 2001 into the year 1993. Jen, Wes, Lucas, Trip, and Katie stood on the ledge dressed in their 90's clothes, hoping to stop Ransik once and for all.
"Ready guys?" asked Jen.
"READY!" the others answered in unison.
The five of them jumped towards the time fliers landing magically into their cockpit seats. There was no turning back now, and no matter what the outcome, they were sure their actions would only result in more rifts in time.
To Be Continued...