Chapter Eleven

"Do you think our communicators would work?" asked Ethan.

"I don't know," answered Billy. "We would be able to teleport to and from the Command Center, but I'm not sure if it would work going from planet to planet."

"What about with our new powers?" asked Jason. "The Ninjetti ones and the one from this stone here."

"It's worth a shot. Especially since we have no other way of arriving at KO-35. Do you know where it's located, Tommy?"

"I believe it's in the Karova star system," he answered.

Billy looked up. He gazed at the different stars in the sky. "Over there is Aquitar, so I think it would be...over there." He pointed to a place in the sky. "We should probably gather under that star right there. Approximately twenty paces to the left of this stone."

The rangers moved to where Billy pointed and once more gathered in a circle. They again lifted their hands and closed their eyes. "Concentrate on KO-35, guys," said Billy. In a surge of light, the twelve rangers disappeared from the planet.

"Good luck, rangers," Dulcea said as she watched them disappear from the Ninjetti temple.

Darkonda landed in a forest on the planet of Mironoi. He looked around for a bit and began tip-toeing through the forest. He looked through the bushes and saw Karone sitting cross-legged by herself. She was practicing her telekinesis, waving around the fallen branches of the trees around her. 'This is just too easy,' Darkonda thought to himself. He circled around Karone, waiting for the right moment for when he could ensnare her again.

"My sister's birthday is in a few weeks," said Ashley. "So, when we go bring Cassie back, I'm gonna stay for a bit."

"Back to Angel Grove?" said Andros. "Okay. I'd like to see TJ and Carlos again, anyway."

"What's this?" asked Zhane, walking into the room where Andros and Ashley were in. "A trip to Angel Grove? Count me in."

"Well, first, I have to do a sweep of..." started Andros.

Zhane shook his head. "You need a vacation. Can't be a power ranger forever, can you?"

Andros was about to answer when he was interrupted by a bright beam of light coming from the window. The three of them shielded thier eyes as they walked towards the window.

"What was that?" asked Ashley.

Cassie came running in. "Did you guys see that light thing?" They nodded. "I think whatever it was landed right outside, in the middle of the forest. What do you think that was?"

"I don't know," answered Andros. "Let's go look."

"...still nowhere to be seen," said Cassidy Cornell. "It is advised to evacuate the city as these monsters are not giving up."

Hayley looked at the screen, worry written across her face.

"Similar attacks have been found in Angel Grove, where past power ranger teams have been seen, though they have not shown themselves now."

"Come on, rangers," she said.

TJ and Carlos drove into downtown Angel Grove from their trip to Stone Canyon. "Whoa, what happened here?" asked Carlos. Everything was unrecognizable and in a complete mess. They got out of the car and walked cautiously around.

"Right there!" TJ pointed to the top of a building where Goldar and Scorpina stood. "I think that's Goldar and Scorpina. Tommy told me about them."

"We have to get up there and fight them!" said Carlos.

TJ nodded. They both ran through the destruction around them, fighting off the putties and Tengu warriors, trying to reach Goldar and Scorpina.

"Master, there is a problem," said Elsa. "What is it?" Mesagog drawled. "There seems to be a block in our power growth." "WHAT?" Mesagog and Zedd looked over Elsa's shoulder.

"What is it?" asked Dark Spector.

"Zordon," growled Zedd. "He's returned as well."

"Zordon?" asked Elsa.

"Oh, this is giving me a headache," yelled Rita.

"So this is KO-35?" asked Aisha. "Very...green." Everyone looked around, but in every direction, all they saw were trees and grass.

"Be careful guys," said Tommy. "We don't want to be found by the wrong people. Especially if the KO-35 rebels and Andros, Ashley, and Zhane aren't here."

Karone felt a disturbance behind her and raised her senses. She pretended to continue practicing her telekinesis, while taking in her surroundings..

"Gotcha," yelled Darkonda as he reached to grab Karone from behind. A split second before he reached her, Karone rolled away. She jumped up and began fighting Darkonda. "So you've learned some new things since I've last seen you."

"Who are you?" yelled Karone. She continued to fight Darkonda.

"You don't remember me? I'm hurt." Darkonda began to get the upper hand. "You'll make a fine evil princess once more."

"NOO!" This seemed to touch Karone very deeply and she regained superiority in the battle. She looked at Darkonda with recognition in her eyes. "It won't happen again!"

"Do you think your brother could stop me? He didn't last time!"

They continued fighting. Karone glanced helplessly around her, hoping that Andros would somehow get the message that she needs his help.

"There they are," whispered Andros as he pointed to a group of people wearing different suits of color. He lifted a finger to his mouth and motioned for them to follow. He, Ashley, Cassie, and Zhane slowly walked up to the new group of people.

"Tommy?" asked Andros when he finally recognized the group of people.

Tommy turned and looked at Andros. "Yeah. Hey, how are you, man?" They shook hands and hugged. He nodded to Zhane, Ashley, and Cassie. "You guys remember each other?" He motioned towards the other rangers. They all nodded and exhanged their hellos. Ashley and Cassie immediately sidled up to Kim and Aisha. Tommy gestured towards the Dino Rangers. "These are Trent, Conner, Ethan, and Kira. The latest rangers."

"Can't forget about yourself, Dr. Z," added Ethan. "He's our black ranger."

Zhane and Andros smirked.

"I guess you can be a power ranger forever," said Zhane. Everyone laughed at Tommy's expense--again.

"Dr. Z?" asked Andros.

"Don't ask," Tommy said. He turned to the teenagers. "These are Andros, Zhane, Cassie, and Ashley. They were the space rangers. You'll probably meet TJ and Carlos soon." He turned back to Andros. "We're in a bit of trouble on earth."

Andros raised an eyebrow. "I have to say that it was sort of obvious. What's up?"

"Can we go somewhere less...open?"

Andros nodded. "Come on."

Darkonda disappeared a second before Karone officially won their battle. He reappeared next to Ecliptor in Mesagog's lair. "A little help?" He disappeared again.

"Darkonda needs to be destroyed," growled Dark Spector. "He destroyed me once before and there is no doubt that he will destroy you all."

Mesagog groaned. "I have no use for those who would betray me. Destroy him."

"Ecliptor knows what to do." Ecliptor nodded and disappeared with a pack of quantrons.

Mesagog nodded. "Elsa, you go too." He looked around and yelled, "A waste in our power source. We worked extremely hard and gave up valuable energy and power into returning the pair of you. At least with Darkonda's re-destruction, he will create a power surge for us." He glanced at Dark Spector.

Dark Spector, sensing that Mesagog is about to turn on him, faced Mesagog. "Remember, without my original plans, you would not have been able to put your own plans in place. Besides, we must find Zordon. I will use his energy to fuel my own source of power. Then our combined power will be more powerful than anything in the universe."

Zedd nodded. "We will once more be the United Alliance of Evil. And we will rule the universe!"

"First, we must find Zordon. He is the key to my power." Dark Spector looked at Divatox. "Take your piranhatrons to the former site of of the Command Center. Since he has also returned, we will begin there."

Divatox nodded and disappeared.

Mesagog groaned again. He looked at Zedd. "Call your baboon and the insect back."

"Do you mean Goldar and Scorpina?" Zedd asked.

"Who else would I be talking about?"

Zedd groaned and waved his wand. Immediately, Goldar and Scorpina returned.

"Hey we were just getting to the good part," said Scorpina. "Why'd you have to go and ruin it for?"

Mesagog groaned again. When Zeltrax reappeared, they whispered in the corner. "Every evil being destroyed that day has returned. Astronema is the last one to return to our side."

"Where is she? And what about..."

"They have returned."

Karone jumped back, realizing Darkonda was gone. 'Where did he go?' she thought. She glanced around the forest that she was in. 'He'll be back.' Karone started to run in the direction of the altar of the Quasar Sabers. 'I wonder...'

Carlos and TJ reached the top of the building, right when Goldar and Scorpina disappeared.

"Wait!" yelled TJ. He and Carlos looked around at the city.

"They're all disappearing," said Carlos. He pointed to various spots around the city where putties and Tengu warriors were disappearing.

"What does that mean?"

Carlos shrugged. "I have no idea." He turned to go back down. "We should probably help those people out."

TJ nodded. "Yeah."

They both headed down from the building.

Darkonda reappeared. He looked around. "Oh, where did you go?" he asked aloud playfully. "I hope you know that I could always find you. It's just a thing with you and me. I know where you are and you come with me. Except that you didn't get that last part so easily last time, did you?" Darkonda looked around. He knew she was there somewhere.

Karone heard his voice and hid behind the rock. She could see the altar of the Quasar Sabers and wanted to get to it as fast as she could. She sneaked towards it, hoping Darkonda couldn't hear her.

Ecliptor appeared beside Darkonda with a pack of quantrons. He glanced around. "Where is she?" he asked.

"I don't know. She was here one minute and the next, she was gone."

"Find her!"

"I'm looking, I'm looking."

Karone heard their voices as she reached the altar. 'Oh, I hope this works,' she thought. She grabbed the handle of the pink Quasar Saber and released it from the stone. She let out a sigh of relief and sneaked back to where she had left Darkonda.

"Looks exactly the same," said Divatox as she looked around. "Zordon, Zordon, Zordon. Will you ever learn?" She glanced back at her piranhatrons. "Search the grounds! Look for any sign of an opening!"

The piranhatrons all spread out around the Command Center as they searched the grounds.

"So the help of eighteen, huh?" asked Andros.

Tommy nodded. "And we're guessing that you guys are the last six."

Andros looked at Zhane. "Teleport TJ and Carlos here. We can't be eighteen if we don't have two of our members here." Andros looked back at the scroll. He had the strangest feeling that something was wrong. Since he was with Ashley and Zhane, he knew it couldn't be them. Which left one option: Karone. He last spoke with her yesterday, so he felt that she should have nothing to worry about. But he couldn't help the feeling that was lingering in his mind. He shook himself out of his thoughts and said, "An alliance of great evil. What does that mean?"

"Mesagog brought back the past evil beings to join up with him. We don't know what for yet, but they were after the power on Phaedos," answered Jason.

"Past evil beings?" asked Ashley.

"Rita and Zedd from our time, with Goldar, Scorpina, and Rito," answered Kim. "And Zordon thinks the others are back too."

"Machine Empire from Zeo, probably," continued Billy. "And Divatox, maybe."

Tommy looked at Andros. "No," answered Andros. "Karone wouldn't..."

"I know she wouldn't voluntarily," said Tommy. "But what if..."

Andros shook his head. "No, she wouldn't," he said. But it gave an explanation to the feeling he had earlier. "I'll go...hang on a minute." Andros left to contact Karone.

"So, will you guys...?" began Kim.

"Of course," Ashley cut her off. She looked at Cassie, who nodded.

"Definitely," said Cassie. "And I know the others would help, too."

Zhane returned with Carlos and TJ. Everyone exchanged hellos and Tommy introduced them to the Dino Rangers. After they went through the motions of making fun of Tommy, they all sat down. "So, what's going on?" asked TJ. "Angel Grove was in the middle of being destroyed."

"Yeah," continued Carlos. "And then they all disappeared. Goldar and Scorpina. It was the weirdest thing."

Andros returned with a worried look on his face. "They haven't heard from her. They said she was practicing her telekinesis, but haven't heard from her since."

"Let's start at the beginning," said Tommy. Zhane, Carlos, TJ, Andros, Ashley, and Cassie looked at him, expectantly.

Ecliptor hid behind some bushes as he heard Karone approach.

"Looking for me?" she asked Darkonda.

"As a matter of fact, I am," he answered. "And I brought a few friends along." He gestured toward the quantrons. "Get her!"

The quantrons rushed at Karone. She began to fight them all of with the Quasar Saber. Ecliptor watched their battle in silence. He sent out blasts of electricity from his sword, aimed at Darkonda. Darkonda flew back, surprised at the sudden attack on him. He looked around and saw Ecliptor.

"What was that for, Ecliptor?" he growled.

"Surely you didn't believe that we would allow you to stay alive? Especially when you no longer have any lives left for regeneration."

Darkonda took a step back. "You wouldn't. They wouldn't. Why would they have me return?"

"Minor casualty," answered Ecliptor. "You were destroyed that day as well as the rest of us. Since we returned, you did also. But they all know of your betrayal. Did you think Dark Spector would forget it that easily? Mesagog realized he made a mistake. And for one final time, you will be destroyed."

Darkonda and Ecliptor began to fight. Karone looked at them in amazement. 'What is going on?' she thought. She turned around and kept fighting the quantrons. Elsa appeared beside Karone, with a pack of tyrannodrones. Karone jumped at the sight of the new arrivals. The tyrannodrones charged toward Karone, who began to fight them. 'What are these things?' "Who are you?" Karone asked Elsa.

Elsa smirked and proceeded to Darkonda and Ecliptor. She watched as Darkonda was knocked to the floor. Elsa stood next to Ecliptor, who stuck out his sword. A beam of dark light went into Ecliptor's sword. "You fooled everyone into thinking that your final destruction was that day," said Ecliptor. He raised his sword above Darkonda who shielded himself. "Your final end. He lowered his sword and turned away as sparks flew from Darkonda's destruction.

Elsa and Ecliptor watched as Karone was increasingly becoming overrun with quantrons and tyrannodrones. She glanced helplessly around and thought of Andros. 'Help me, Andros! Zhane!' she thought as she fainted to the ground.

"Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi," cried Alpha. "Divatox and her piranhatrons are right outside the Command Center! I fear they will attack us soon enough!"

"Can you contact the rangers?" asked Zordon.

Alpha frantically pressed different buttons. "Their signals are not appearing. I do not see them anywhere. I can't get a hold of them!"

"Calm down, Alpha." Zordon glanced at the viewing globe. "It appears that Divatox is leaving. For what reason, I do not know."

"Do you think we need to go get our own Ninjetti powers?" asked TJ. "That might be the power."

"No, I don't think that is necessary," answered Billy. He gestured towards the scroll. "It says that we find the next thing we are looking for on KO-35."

"Andros, is there anywhere on KO-35, where any source of power is found?" asked Tommy.

Andros and Zhane looked at each other, thinking hard. "What about the temple near the palace?" asked Zhane. "I don't think it was destroyed when Dark Spector came. And it's known for its powers."

Andros nodded. "You're right. That is where Zordon made the space morphers. It's the place to start looking."

"Welcome to the new evil alliance, Astronema," said Ecliptor as he led her into Mesagog's lair.

Astronema eyed everyone in the room. Divatox sneered at her.

"I wouldn't trust her," she said. "Her brother's a power ranger and she became a power ranger."

Astronema immediately hit her with a bolt of lightning from her rod. "I nearly destroyed the rangers. You didn't do anything."

"Calm down, my princess," said Ecliptor. Astronema eyed everyone in the room again.

"Very good," said Mesagog.

"Now we are complete," said Dark Spector. "The United Alliance of Evil shall rule the universe once more!" Dark Spector looked at Rita and Zedd. "Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Accompanied by Goldar, Scorpina, and Rito Revolto. You will rule the moon once more." He looked at Mondo and Machina. "King Mondo and Queen Machina. Accompanied by Prince Sprocket. You will rule KO-35." He looked at Divatox, who just reappeared. "Divatox. Accompanied by Elgar. You will rule Aquitar." He looked at Astronema. "My evil princess, Astronema. Accompanied by Ecliptor. You will rule Mironoi." He looked at Mesagog. "And you...you will rule the earth. Back into its prehistoric times before humans invaded and took over the planet. Your dream of living in prehistoric times will live on. I will once more be the Grand Monarch of Evil in the universe. And now...we combine our powers to make a greater power than ever before. A power more evil than anything and everything. Our combined forces will deem everything we do unstoppable. The power rangers are no match for us. Even with their reinforcements from the past." He looked at Mesagog again. "Are they ready?"

Mesagog nodded. He and Zeltrax opened a door and in walked Master Vile and General Havoc.

"We must leave, Zordon!" cried Alpha. "It's only a matter of time until Divatox returns."

"No," said Zordon. "We must stay here."

"Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi." Alpha put his hands to his head.

"Can you receive a signal from the rangers?" asked Zordon.

Alpha once more frantically pressed buttons. "I'm afraid not. I'm not reaching them on any sort of signal. Oh, where could they be?"

They looked at the viewing globe, showing Angel Grove.

"Ay-yi-yi. I hope the rangers return soon," said Alpha. "The world will not survive without them."

"Daddy!" yelled Rita. She ran to Master Vile.

"Hey pops, what's going on?" asked Rito. They greeted Master Vile. Zedd glared at them and looked away.

"Astronema!" yelled Zedd. She eyed him warily. "Go to Angel Grove and destroy what's left of the city!" She looked at Ecliptor, who nodded. The two of them disappeared with a pack of piranhatrons. Zedd turned to Mondo. "Send your cogs to Stone Canyon." Mondo nodded and they disappeared.

"You're back, too!" exclaimed Divatox. She greeted General Havoc. "How's my brother doing?"

Mesagog looked at Elsa. "What is the current status of our power?"

"It keeps on growing," answered Elsa, happily. "The existence of Zordon no longer has any effect on our power."

"This is it," said Andros. "But it hasn't been used in years. Since before KO-35 was attacked by Dark Spector."

Everyone looked around. The teenagers went to a far corner of the temple and explored a bit. Kim, Aisha, Ashley, and Cassie walked to a different corner of the temple. They looked at the walls of the temple, at the pictures inscribed there. Adam, Rocky, Zack, Carlos, and Billy walked around the temple, while TJ, Andros, Zhane, Tommy, and Jason stood in the center of the temple, discussing the possibilities of the power.

"Andros, do you know what these pictures mean?" asked Kim.

Andros walked over to her and looked over her shoulder. He shook his head a bit and lifted his hand to feel the pictures. "I can't be really sure. But that symbolizes the coming of different warriors." He pointed to a picture of different warriors arriving from the heavens. "And I think that is a great battle. The battle to end all battles." He pointed to another picture. "But I thought that had passed already when we destroyed everyone before. I guess not."

Kim nodded and walked away. She looked out into the distance. Tommy noticed this and walked towards her. "Hey, you okay?" asked Tommy.

Kim looked up and nodded. "I just...it's just...we still don't know where this power is. Or how to get it. Or even who we're really up against. And I hate to think of how Reefside or Angel Grove is after what TJ and Carlos said."

Tommy rubbed her back. "We'll get this power. And defeat the evil." He smiled at her. "We always do."

She gave him a small smile. "I know...but what if they succeed and we fail?"

"We have to keep fighting. Don't lose hope, remember?"

Kim nodded. She looked off into the distance again. "So, we never really got around to talking about..."

"Us?" Kim nodded again. "Well, I guess this is the right moment to ask you to be my girlfriend again. Even though we didn't really break up with each other." Kim smiled. "So...will you?" Kim turned around suddenly. "Kim? Will you?...Kim?"

She turned around with a big smile on her face. "You didn't think I was gonna make it easy for you again, did you?"

Tommy smiled. "Kim..." He laughed and they hugged and kissed each other. "So you okay?"

Kim nodded. "Yeah. It's just...I hope we find this power soon."

Tommy nodded. "And once we defeat these guys again, I'm taking you on our first official date in eight years, Beautiful."

Kim grinned. "I'm holding you to that, my dear white knight." Tommy smiled as he bent down to kiss her.

Astronema gazed upon the ruins of downtown Angel Grove, smiling.

"Power rangers, if there is anytime that we really need you guys, it's now!" yelled Ernie. He looked around. 'I wonder where they are,' he thought.

"The power rangers will not be returning anytime soon," said Astronema. "You could kiss them goodbye."

Everyone in Angel Grove was screaming and trying their hardest to get out of the city.

"Don't head for Stone Canyon!" yelled Ernie. "There are attacks there, too!" He helped some people run.

"The destruction of Reefside is complete," said Zeltrax.

Dark Spector nodded. "So is the destruction of Angel Grove. It is nearly complete," he said.

Mesagog glanced at Zedd. An unspoken truce had formed between them under the leadership of Dark Spector.

Dark Spector yelled, "Divatox! Return to the Command Center and retrieve Zordon. Do not return lest you suffer the fate of Darkonda."

"We will then head for the larger cities in California. San Francisco and Los Angeles," said Mesagog. "And after that, we spread across the United States. And then, the world!"

"Just make sure you keep an eye out on the skies," said Zedd. "We don't want those pesky rangers to return in the middle of everything."

"...complete destruction of Reefside," said Cassidy. "Angel Grove is well on its way as is Stone Canyon. The question remains, 'Where are the Power Rangers?' This is Cassidy Cornell, reporting on the run. Evacuate now!"

"Guys, I think we've figured it out," said Zhane. "These pictures on the walls tell us where to go." Everyone gathered around Andros and Zhane.

Andros pointed to the pictures. "The coming of warriors from the heavens." He pointed to another spot. "The great battle. That's what to come. The warriors from the heavens." He pointed to the rangers. "That's you guys." He turned back to the wall and lifted his hand to touch it. "And this...the great power."

"But it's not on KO-35," said Zhane.

"Great, so this is just a stop on the great power bus route," said Conner disparingly.

"Does it tell you where it is?" asked Kim. She grabbed Tommy's hand. He put his arm around her.

Andros glanced at Kim and then back at the wall. "It says to go into the jungle. That would probably mean the planet of Hercuron. This picture has the same markings as the planet does. Divatox held Zordon there hostage for a bit when we were searching for him."

"That's also where the Phantom Ranger got caught by Divatox and her goons," added Cassie. Ashley nodded.

"Let's take the Astro Megaship," said Andros. "It's over here."

I kinda had the idea that all the rangers generally kept in touch with each other. That they've all kept in touch, some moreso than others (like Andros with Tommy and Cassie/Ashley with Kim/Aisha).