Chapter 25.
As the rangers landed in the island fortress, they looked around to find their surroundings. They came to the conclusion that they were in one of the hallways. There were doors everywhere they looked, any one of them could lead to where they wanted to go. There was way too much space for them to cover as one, so they decided to split up into three teams.
"Guys, we need to split up. We'll cover more ground that way." Tommy said.
"I agree bro, but how do we go about this?" Jason asked.
"You and me will find Trent and the clone. We'll take care of them. Ethan and Kira, you guys find Conner. John, Rita, you find a way out of here, so when we finish the job, we can leave."
"No. I want Mesogog. He thinks he is the supreme evil, but he has never met Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa." Zedd said.
"I didn't turn back into this witch just to find a way out, I came to fight, and fight I will." Rita stated.
"Look, let's just decide who's doing what and get to it. I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to." Kira said.
"Alright, let's do it. Hopefully we can find Conner and get the hell out of here." Tommy stated before the team split up.
Years of rangering had brought Tommy and Jason so close to each other, they knew what the other was thinking just by looking at each other. Without words, they walked to the first door that they had come across and slowly opened it. With Tommy going in first and Jason behind him, they carefully scanned the room. When it turned out to be just another room, they left and tried another door. After about ten minutes of searching, they still had not gotten anywhere. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
"Tommy, we're not getting anywhere."
"I know but we can't give up. Conner's life is at stake here."
"I wonder if the others have had any luck."
Kira and Ethan had found an elevator, so they decided to see where it took them. When they stopped, they got out and took in their surroundings. They were in what looked to be a dark hallway. Everything was black, it was hard to see what was right in front of them. To try and find their way around, they walked on each side of the wall, reaching for anything and everything that might lead them to their friend.
"Kira, this isn't working. I can't even see what's right in front of me."
"I know Ethan, but we got to keep trying, one of these doors has to lead to Conner."
They continued along the narrow hallway until Ethan came across what felt to be a control panel.
"Kira, over here."
"Over where?"
"Just follow my voice, I think I found something."
"Just keep talking and I'll do my best."
Eventually, Kira was able to find Ethan.
"What is it? What did you find?"
"I think it's a control panel but I'm not sure."
"How can we be sure?"
"I need light."
"We don't have any light."
"So, then how does Mesogog get around down here?"
At the sound of Mesogog's name, the doors suddenly opened to reveal a dimly lit room.
"What did you do?" Kira asked.
"I only mentioned Mesogog. It must be voice activated. When someone says his name, the doors open."
The sound of voices woke the prisoner from his sleep.
"Huh? Who's there?" A weak voice came from the far corner.
"Conner? Conner is that you?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan?"
"Yeah man, it's me and Kira. Where are you?"
"Where are you?"
"We just walked in, I think we're by the doors but it's kind of hard to tell."
"I'm in the corner. Just go till the light stops."
"Keep talking man, you're getting louder."
"I'm so glad you guys came back."
"We couldn't leave you here once Anna told us the truth."
Finally, Kira and Ethan reached him, just like Anna had said, Conner looked horrible. Kira was the first to reach him. With tears in her eyes, she asked him:
"Are you okay?"
"Define okay."
"Oh man, I was so worried."
"Kira, let's get me out of here first, then we'll talk."
"Good idea."
Kira and Ethan tried desperately to free him but the shackels were not budging.
"Stand back, Kira."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Trust me."
Ethan pulled out his blaster and shot the shackels clean off of Conner.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
With that, the three teens got out of the lower chamber and tried to find the others.
Lord Zedd and Rita took a different approach to finding Mesogog. Whereas the others just barged right into battle, these two had a plan. Stealth would be the way for the two former villians. Quietly moving throughout the fortress to find their way.
"Zeddy, what are we going to do if we find him? We have no idea what we are going up against." Rita whispered.
"I know Rita, but this just seems right. We were given a second chance, let's not blow it. I don't know what we'll do if we find him. I do know that I came to fight and fight I will, even if it's a fight I know I'm going to lose."
"Where do you think he is?"
"Main room. He's planning his next move, but he doesn't know that we're planning it for him."
"Okay, where is the main room?"
"Here."
"Is he in there?"
"Yes."
"Now what?"
"We wait."
"For what?"
"The other rangers. I said I would go down fighting, I never said I'd run into a suicide mission. If we move in now, that's exactly what we are doing."
"Dr. Oliver!" Ethan yelled as he saw his mentor just up the hallway.
"Guys. You did it. You got Conner."
"Hey Dr. O." Conner said weakly.
"How are you?"
"How do I look?"
"Like hell."
"That's how I feel. Who's this?" Conner asked regarding the man in the red ranger suit.
"It's me Conner, Jason."
"Looks good on you."
"Look, I hate to break this up, but we need to find Zedd and Rita and get to Mesogog."
"I know where they are."
"Where Conner?"
"The main room. They're all there. Planning the next move."
"How do you know?"
"Cause, Mesogog came to get me, he told me that I was to be ready to be taken to the main room in twenty minutes."
"How do we get there from here?"
"Follow me."
The rangers followed Conner to the Main hallway, where they found Zedd and Rita waiting.
"What's wrong?" Tommy asked.
"Nothing. We were waiting for you. I didn't want to to run in there and have this be a suicide mission."
"So he's in there?"
"All of them are."
"How do we get in?" Kira asked.
"That button right there opens the door." Zedd said, pointing to the button that Ethan's had was next to.
"So hit it Ethan." Kira said.
"No, something's not right. I don't know what, but something's wrong." Zedd said.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
At that moment the doors opened and the group tried to hide behind the walls.
"It's no use rangers, I know you're there. Come on out and play." Mesogog hissed.
"Guys, we're in trouble." Tommy stated.
"Big trouble." Zedd responded.
TBC.