Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter ten of "Just Away." I did not show the scene where Zedd and Rita scolded Rito and the Tengas for their failure because it was so brief. However, it is mentioned. Kim will be reunited with Coach Schmidt in the next chapter. Ranger action is coming very soon. Stay tuned for chapter eleven.
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Chapter 10: Finding Out
Zedd and Rita walked up the Lunar Palace's balcony stairs. Squatt, Baboo, Goldar and Scorpina followed them close behind. They stopped close to the stairs. Rita approached the Repulsascope and looked through it. She could see Tommy, Billy, Kat, Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. She made two adjustments to it before emitting a soft snort.
Rita flared her nostrils. She recalled being very angry at Rito and the Tengas for not succeeding in getting rid of Tommy, Billy, Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. His blaming the Tengas for the failure only increased her anger. She knew Zedd shared her sentiments. He even remarked that Rito had succeeded very little since he arrived. They punished him by not letting him participate in the next attack. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
"I never thought I would have a princess of the M-51 Galaxy as my girlfriend," Tommy said in amazement.
"Strange stuff happens every day," Rocky commented. "Rasmus and Dulcea did well in keeping her on Phaedos under Zordon's instruction."
"Once Zedd and Rita become aware of her being Master Vile's daughter, it is likely they will make plans to go after her," Aisha said fearfully. "They will do anything to get what they want."
"They could see the baby as a potential apprentice for their cause," Kat whispered, her body shaking badly.
"The thought of those two corrupting an innocent baby makes my blood boil," Billy growled angrily.
"If Master Vile comes and hears the news his daughter is alive, he will be after both of them as well," Tommy murmured, his heart beating very fast.
"He could make Kim and the baby worse than Zedd and Rita combined," Aisha said seriously. She clasped her hands together. "After all, he is older and much wiser in the ways of evil."
Rita pulled back, her breathing becoming hard and heavy. She couldn't believe Kim was her long-lost baby sister. She regretted dismissing Zedd's suggestion about it. She began to realize it made a great deal of sense. She cursed Zordon for not being able to see her grow up. She had little doubt her little sister was kept in suspended animation on Phaedos under Rasmus and Dulcea's protection and was brought out of it once the time called for it.
"Zeddy, remind me never to doubt you again," Rita whispered, groaning annoyingly. "Kimberly is not only my long-lost sister, but she is pregnant as well."
"So, I was right about my suggestion about the Pink Ranger!" Zedd said, chuckling to himself. He moved his hand up his staff. "I love it when I am right."
"You are not always right," Rita said, looking at him.
"Yes, I am," Zedd growled while nodding rapidly.
"No, you are not," Rita snapped, shaking her head just as fast.
"Yes, I am," Zedd insisted, his body glowing red.
"No, you are not," Rita hissed through clenched teeth.
"Enough arguing, you two!" Scorpina yelled while waving her hands in the air. Her masters turned around to face her and Goldar. "What are you going to do about Kimberly and her baby?"
"Yeah," Goldar agreed as he tossed his sword from one hand to the next. "Because she is carrying Rita's niece or nephew, he or she is bound to be very powerful."
"That means a potential apprentice for our cause!" Scorpina said, an evil smile crossing her lips.
"That's right!" Goldar commented.
"Tommy will never let you near Kimberly or their baby," Squatt pointed out truthfully. "He will protect them with his life."
"He has been fiercely protective of her since Kat stole her Power Coin," Baboo added. "He will only grow more protective now that she is pregnant."
"Silence, you idiots!" Zedd snapped while pointing his finger at the dim-witted duo. He watched them shake and cover their faces with their hands. "We intend to bring Kimberly and the child to our side. We are not worried about Tommy being protective of them. However, we will not bother with that for a time. We want to focus on making Kat pay for her betrayal."
"That's right," Rita said with a smirk. "Finster, come in here right now!"
Finster strolled into the throne room. He stopped next to the chair before clasping his hands together.
"Is the monster ready?" Rita shouted annoyingly. "It had better be! We've been waiting forever!"
"It is very much ready," Finster announced happily.
Zedd exhaled in a sharp manner. "Good. Bring it out here immediately. We want to see it."
Finster peered over his shoulder. "Come on out."
A two-legged moth came to Finster's side. It was very tall and happened to be white with the exception of its tail being covered in black-and-yellow stripes. Its eyes were huge and filled with thousands of tiny ones. Its mandibles were large. At the end of its tail was a stinger. Its wings resembled that of a monarch butterfly.
"Meet Motha, my lieges," Finster introduced in much warmth. "She is very aggressive. Her wings are capable of generating strong winds. She can fire her stinger. She is able to shoot ice and fire from her mandibles as well."
"Motha is at your service, my lords," Motha greeted and bowed respectfully. "What do you want me to do?"
Zedd let out a soft chuckle as he curled his hand into a fist. "Excellent, Finster. Motha, you are to capture the one called Katherine Hillard. She betrayed us and needs to pay for it."
"I am more than happy to do it, Lord Zedd. When do I go? I want to get her now!" Motha snarled as she spread her wings far apart.
"Not now. We want her to be alone and vulnerable before we attempt such a capture. The Power Rangers will protect her with their lives. If they come to her rescue, then you are to destroy them," Rita explained.
Mothra groaned disappointingly. "Aw! I was ready to go and cause mayhem. Why do we always have to wait for stuff? Life would be better if things went fast."
"I remember knowing many impatient monsters during the first invasion of Earth," Goldar said, glancing at Scorpina. "That one is definitely the most impatient one yet."
"It sure is," Scorpina agreed and leaned close to him. "We can be impatient ourselves, but we are not that bad. Rita is the worst. She expects things to be done quickly. If they aren't, she starts complaining of a headache."
Rita snarled, causing the duo to look at her. "I heard that, you two! You are giving me a headache right this moment. You should be ashamed of yourselves!" She emitted a loud groan.
"Sorry, Rita," Goldar apologized.
Scorpina held up her hand. "We'll show ourselves out."
Goldar and Scorpina scurried out of the throne room. They rushed past Motha, who peered over her shoulder at them. She turned back to Zedd and Rita, whom both snorted.
"They are pretty quick for people having so much armor on them," Motha said truthfully.
"Do not worry about those two," Rita ordered sternly. "You are to focus on getting Kat when we tell you the time is right. Is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Motha said, saluting her.
"A polite monster. I like that," Zedd said, a chuckle leaving his mouth. He stroked his chin before clearing his throat. "There aren't too many of them these days."
"You got that right, Zeddy," Rita agreed, an evil laugh leaving her mouth. She rubbed the back of her neck. "I can't wait to get my baby sister and her little one on my side. We will show her how to really use her power."
"Having a Power Ranger on our side will give us a huge advantage. However, we will have to wait until after the baby is born to send her into battle," Zedd pointed out in much seriousness. "We do not want to endanger the baby's life, though her Ranger powers have shielded it from any hits she took."
"That's true," Rita said, nodding in a slow way. She crackled a malicious smile and leaned close to him. "If she is carrying twins, that will be twice the power we will have."
"You are certainly right, my poisonous flower. One evil child of a Power Ranger is great. Two would be even better," Zedd said, warmth echoing from his voice. "I love how brilliant our minds are, especially mine."
"Of course, your mind is brilliant, sir. Your brain is practically showing," Motha teased.
"Shut up. Anyway, the time of the Power Rangers will end in no time. The universe will be ours for the taking," Zedd said. He and the others laughed in much evilness.