POWER RANGERS: ZERO HOUR - Fourteen
Written by DTM666
Based loosely upon Countdown to Destruction by Judd Lynn
Disclaimer: The author would like to clarify that Power Rangers and its characters is owned by BVS Entertainment and not the author.
---
"Everything look good?"
"To me, it does. Hard to tell since I don't understand Eltarian much."
"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure it's safe to activate. I just hope that we get the process started soon. The others might need us."
"Come on, Billy. Like my dad says, the more you worry, the more white hairs you'll get. Besides, what could possibly happen out there while we're in here?"
---
Several months ago, Lord Zedd and his deceased partner hired a changeling privateer named Flinn, whose duty was to impersonate and even replace a specific target for a hefty pay each week, transmitted through encrypted coding. Flinn's mission, this time, was to impersonate the fleshman lord himself, while Zedd was dealing with other matters. Flinn's unique talents, in which he analysed a target's mannerisms that he would play the part without flaw, was what made him the best hired changeling in the known universe.
Despite the skimpy pay that was received these past few weeks, Flinn had enjoyed this assignment very well. After all, it is not every day he'd got to impersonate an Alliance warlord and get paid for it. His performance, to say the least, was the most convincing; even Rita had been fooled by his delicate acting and postures. Flinn never let out any clues as to who he really was and for all he knows, that could only be a good thing. He remembered the conversation he had with Astronema an hour ago, with Rita standing by his side. He could admit to being nervous; Astronema had supposedly changed for the worse.
He remembered Rita's shrieking voice telling him (as Zedd, of course) to stand up for her, informing Astronema that they would not follow her plan. However, when Astronema told them that she was given command of the operation by Dark Specter himself, Flinn played the defensive and said that any plan Astronema gives him, he would follow without hesitation. Long after the communication ended, they returned to their space station, which was orbiting the desert world they were on. While Rita went to relieve herself, Flinn returned to his personal chamber and began looking over the plans that Astronema had transferred to the main Alliance network just a short while ago. From the many workings and details, he could tell that these were straight out ambushes that would catch each target off-guard, but relied purely on strength of numbers and no effective means of using them properly.
"That was quite a performance, Zeddy. Pretending to buckle under Dark Specter's name to get rid of that insolent wench!"
He could hear the shrieking voice of Rita Repulsa growing louder as the former Empress made her to the chamber. Upon entering the room, Rita noticed the galactic map displayed on the giant tactical screen, along with several windows of scrolling text. Rita studied "Zedd's" posture for a moment as he twitched his head quickly and in odd, unatural movements. It scared her and not just the usual fright of receiving a headache whenever something went awry.
"Are these the plans she wants us to follow?" she asked.
Flinn nodded. "These look like they've been made up in a short period of time. They're flawed to say the very least."
Rita huffed, unimpressed. "Who cares?! We're not going to follow those plans, right?"
"We might have to." Flinn slowly turned to Rita, who was staring wide-eyed at the fleshman in disbelief. Flinn stood up from his chair and nodded slowly. "With a few modifications of our own."
Rita cooed at the idea. "Goodie! When do we begin?"
Flinn sat back down and turned to the console. "Prepare the ships to leave for the Vica sector. It's a relatively easy target that will hopefully attract a superpower."
Rita nodded and ran out the room, screaming in delight that they were going to attack. When she was out of sight and out of hearing range, Flinn slumped further down as he sighed heavily. Just enduring that woman's screeching voice was a test in itself, one that he had somehow found the strength and resolve to pass with flying colors without blowing his cover. His eyes slowly glanced on the galactic map, which was slowly turning red to indicate the number of Alliance forces launched.
"Wherever you are, Zedd," he muttered under his breath, "I hope you accomplish what you set out to do."
---
It has been two hours since they had escaped the imploding Lunar Palace and since that time, they had maintained orbit of the moon in hopes of finding their two missing friends. Despite his rush training of the equipment, Rocky seemed comfortable with the controls and Adam seemed to catch on to the ship's main flight functions, leaving Jason to prance from one to the other.
"Any sign of life, Rocky?" Jason asked.
Rocky shook his head begrudgingly as he worked the Megashuttle's controls. "I've got nothing, Jason. That isn't to say they're dead, because if what that Andros guy tells me is true, I'd be able to pick up human corpses with this thing. Since the scanner doesn't find anything other than a deteriorated corpse, I've got a feeling that-"
Jason raised his hand. "I get the idea, bro."
"So they're not on the moon," Adam jumped in. "And they're not dead. So where can they be?"
Jason threw his hands back and walked in circles in the small command center of the shuttle. Rocky turned his attention back to the scanner and noticed a red-light flickering over the long-range detection grid. Rocky slowly keyed in the command to switch to long-range sensors, but when the appropriate display was brought up, Rocky couldn't make note of the several light flickers on radar.
"What's this?" Rocky said aloud as he studied the display. Upon closer inspection, the former Ranger's eyes widened with his two fellow ex-Rangers taking immediate notice.
"What is it?" Jason asked anxiously.
Rocky hesitated for a moment before answering. "It's war, Jason. It's war."
Adam left the side station and approached Rocky. "I don't get it."
"It's a battlefleet of fighters and starships, guys," Rocky said, "It's war."
---
Gorah Khan. Homeworld of the Machine Empire - leadership currently under dispute ever since Mondo was dethroned for failing to add Earth to a list of planets under the Empire's rule. The ruling console decided to give the role of Emperor to Aradon, a rival of Mondo. Naturally, dissension among the ranks had caused the Empire to fall into civil war. To prevent further transgressions from outside forces, Aradon instilled the TDS defense grid, which had lasted for a good year... until recently.
"It's been confirmed, my Emperor," the Cog general stated, "the first batallion of fighters have penetrated the TDS defenses and are already causing rampant fighting along the borders."
Aradon stared into the datapad containing maps, tactical reports. He tossed it aside where several more datapads were piled up and glanced at the circle of Cog generals - products of the merging of organic and mechanic properties - loyal servants of Aradon. For a long time, there was silence in the chamber as Aradon pondered on all the possible strategies that his rival, the former king Mondo, would attempt to reclaim the throne and complete control of the Empire.
"I had a feeling Mondo wouldn't waste his time," Aradon said bitterly, "But he's an Alliance member and according to Intel, Mondo is supposed to be attacking Phaderea."
Another Cog general stepped forward to address Aradon. "You do realize Mondo will find a way to get here, sire."
Aradon nodded. "I know. I have already ordered the planetary platforms upgraded and modified in case enemy forces decide to show up. I doubt even the Alliance's VF-20s could withstand our polaron weapons." He stood from his throne, which caused the Cog generals to stiffen. "Our main focus should be defending the borders and keeping whatever insurgents from getting deeper into the territory. We have to keep this state from getting worse than it already is."
"Yessir." All five generals saluted at once and left the throne room. Aradon stood alone for a moment and promptly walked out shortly after.
---
Ninjor led Kimberly into the lower sanctions of the Temple of Power, a place where Kim wasn't too familiar with. The climb down the spiral staircase directed the two to a small, circular chamber with various monitors stacked in place of walls. Ninjor stepped in the center of the room while Kim stayed at the entryway in awe of the room. After saying a prayer, Ninjor stepped to a side of the room as a 3D holographic image of the human anatomy, colored green, white, and a majority of it a faint pink color. Kim stared at this image for a moments and turned to the ninja in bewilderment.
"What's this?" Kim asked. "I don't understand, Ninjor."
"This is you, Kimberly," Ninjor replied coolly, "or rather, your bio-signature represented in a three-dimensional holographic form. Do you notice the dominant colorization of pink on this display?"
Kim nodded.
"It's the result of your 'Power Rush' period. The sporadic burst of energy has caused a compound to be released into your body and it's spreading fast. There's a reason Zordon designed morphers for you to use with the coins."
"I didn't have any option at the time," Kim insisted, "If I made you angry because of it, I'm sorry."
Ninjor shook his head. "I'm not angry, Kim. I'm just concerned for your well-being."
"Am I going to die because of this 'Power Rush' period?" she asked. More like slipped out subconsciously.
Again, the ninja shook his head. "You'll live. For now."
Kim seemed agitated by that remark. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'll be honest with you," Ninjor said bluntly. "You're not here because I sent you here to talk about your Power Rush or anything. You're here because I need help."
"With what?"
Ninjor hesitated before answering. "Defending this temple against the forces of evil. The war has begun."
---
Lord Zedd sat in his command chair on the bridge of the strike cruiser Tyrant, where he was contemplating the future of the universe. He laid back on his chair as he looked at the viewing screen, which showed a black blanket littered with pinholes of white light that was the vastness of space. Zedd flashed a cold smirk, hidden by his iron mask, as his carefully constructed plan was going smoothly. With a doppelganger taking his place by Rita's side and most traces of his existence on Earth destroyed, Zedd focused on his primary goal; the retaking of Eltare... hard for Zedd to think of it that way, when the planet was never one of his to begin with.
Zedd smiled when he read the latest report from the poser named Flinn concerning Astronema's recent contact. His grievous performance had not only fooled Rita, but also the upstart Princess and even Dark Specter himself. The charade, indeed, was working perfectly, just as Zedd's dead partner said it would. He turned his attention to the Tenga Knight at helm control, who immediately took notice of the fleshman.
"We will be approaching Eltarian orbit in seven hours present speed, sire," the helm reported, "All vessels and troops are operating within normal parameters."
Zedd clasped his hands together. "Excellent, Commander. Assemble with the rest of the squadron leaders to brief them on my plan at retake the planet."
The helm nodded in response. With that done, Zedd stood from the command chair and left the bridge. As he walked down the hall, he noticed the various soldiers prepping themselves for the inevitable encounter. He took a glance at the closest barracks, which had his new brand of Ranger Wraiths on the ready. These Ranger knockoffs were said to be as strong as a real Power Ranger, if not moreso. While the first test run had not be pleasant, later uses of the Wraiths had proved more productive and improvements would be made until they had reached a sufficient level. They were more than enough to take on whatever the Alliance or anybody else would throw at them, and Zedd wouldn't have it any other way.
Entering his private chamber after a lengthy tour of his vessel, Zedd stared into the abyss that was space. If one were to look closely, there would brief flickers of light in the backdrop; the sure sign that the war has already begun. His attention would have been to his hard-surfaced bed if it wasn't for the shadowed figured standing in the corner. Zedd noticed the figure's posture and found a familiarity to it. By the time he recognized the face, he was met with a kick to the stomach that knocked him face first to the floor. He slowly got up to find his mortal enemy in a fighting pose, wearing a heavy coat over a familiar Ranger suit.
"Get up, you bastard," the Ranger grunted, "Unless you want to die on your knees."
End FOURTEEN