Just 5 reviews for last chapter. Don't you want updates? :P
I've been very sick for a few months so I am sorry this is so late. Its take quite a bit out of me to write so Please review if you want it to continue.
Also for those who think Tommy could not have been beaten, in the search for the Zeo crystal when Zedd fights Tommy he is more than a match for the ranger. The fight only ends in a stalemate when Tommy gets in a lucky shot and breaks Zedd's staff.
*********************Rita's private chambers**********************
Queen Rita paced slowly back and forth along her balcony. Her long dark gown fluttering softly as she moved and the click of her heels was the only sound in the chamber. She had such a headache. Even with all the slaves and new construction the moon was still so silent in her private rooms but that did nothing for the throbbing in her mind. The stars were twinkling brightly above her head and earth, looking not quite as blue as before but still blue enough, floated silently beneath her. Zedd had certainly done a number on the planet. If he had ever attempted anything like this before he would have gone to sleep for weeks from the effort but now, with all the slaves mining, keeping him strong with melted down crystal essence Zedd would be unstoppable. Her heart felt like it was breaking as she glanced over at the rubble and fluff remains of her toy collection. So many beautiful spells, so many wonderful toys, so many eternal captives playing for her amusement now gone in a flash from her presence. And Tommy…Goldar has given her the news himself. Tommy had vanished out into space, abandoning her again. She may hate good Tommy, but she had loved Tommy when he was in her control. She remembered him fondly, when he had been her willing evil servant. Such happy and dark memories of her favorite living plaything.
Rita put her perfectly manicured hands on the balcony railing. Her perfectly painted black and gold nails tapping ever so gently, as she pondered her next move. There were plenty of humans to still to choose from on the planet. She would be able to find some replacement toys someplace. Putting her hand on her magical telescope she began to search. Ah Angel Grove was a wreck. The empress of evil smiled as she looked at the crumbled buildings, dead plants and broken hopes. Zedd had made sure Angel Grove was practically rubble. It served as proof to the rest of the world the power rangers wouldn't be coming to save them. Just as she was about to move the lens away to seek new play things, the slightest movement caught her eye. She expected to see a cat or a half starved dog. Not two humans scratching out a survival. Oh? What had she here? She knew those two bumbling humans. Of all humans to still be alive. They made trouble for her once by helping the rangers regain their memories but they we not heroes. She would watch the duo for a bit. They might prove amusing.
**********************Billy and Kim's room*****************************************
Billy paced back and forth nervously, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls and high ceiling above him. Kimberly had been gone for two hours and the putties blocking the door still wouldn't let him leave. He could handle two or three putties alone but not all five by himself. There was an angry shout from outside and the door opened. Kimberly strolled in, her head held high. She was soaking wet with a towel wrapped tightly around her body.
"Kim!" Billy shouted, rushing to her side. He held her shoulders carefully, his eyes looking over every inch of flesh he could see, trying to locate any injury, bruise or mark.
"Billy. Hi." Kimberly's voice was suddenly softer than her shout at the door, with just a hint of tears in it. Without hesitation Billy pulled her into his arms. He felt her melt against his chest and sniff. Billy rubbed soothing gentle circles on her back as Kimberly cried quietly upon his chest. "Did he hurt you Kim?" Billy asked after a few moments.
Kimberly sighed, pulling away slightly. "No, not physically anyway. He just hurt my pride." She looked up and Billy was almost taken aback by the sparkle of light he saw in her eyes. That spark had been missing for weeks. "Let me get dressed and I'll tell you all about it." She said moving towards her wardrobe.
Billy turned his back to her, giving her privacy to change. He could hear the fluttering of fabric. "By the way Kimberly, I like your hair. Long hair looks pretty on you." Billy said without turning around.
Kimberly called back to him. "Really? I was just thinking of maybe trying to cut it. I always kept it on the shorter side for gymnastics but now. I guess I could keep it long for a while."
"Whatever you want Kim." Billy said with a smile in his voice.
*************************Crystal mines**********************************
"There's the whistle." Aisha called, as a loud and shrill sound pieced the air. She was keeping a sharp look out on the path that lead to them. If they didn't show up for counting soon, the putties would come looking for them. It wasn't odd for there to be humans who didn't survive the shift. The putties had the terrible job of removing any bodies and clearing the caves at night. Though that was one of the questions many of the slaves had but no one dared ask. There was no mining done during the night cycle. It was strange, because the slaves could easily be forced to mine twenty four hours a day in shifts.
"We're almost done." Adam called back from where he and Rocky were hiding the extra crystals they had mined out of the rocks today. It would be foolish to bring more than the daily quota to the putties, as it didn't count for anything extra but having some crystals hidden away meant less worry should a day come when they couldn't mine as many. As they finished covering the beautiful crystals with gray dust to disguise them, Rocky and Adam stood, putting their shirts back on.
"Let's head home." Rocky said as he grabbed his bucket, full of shiny rocks and began leading the way down the narrow cliff. Rocky always made it a point to lead the way down and looked back often at Adam and Aisha, who stayed just a few feet behind. Everyone was in grabbing reach of the other. Just in case someone slipped.
At the bottom of the cliff they merged into the line of other humans being checked off for the night, there buckets of crystals counted and taken to be melted. Each slave was given another bottle of water as the pick axes and chisels were collected.
"Her! That's her! The one who can fight! Right there! That girl!" An angry and accusing female voice rang out, as the line of people parted, revealing Goldar in full armor and several armed putties. The overweight women from the food line that morning was eagerly pointing out Aisha. She acted like a dog expecting a treat for mindless obedience and she was sweating like a pig.
"What?" Adam mumbled looking between his new sister and the approaching monster.
"No, Aisha." Rocky said disbelieving as the group approached. Humans scurried to the left and right, pushing, scratching and shoving at each other, all trying to get out of the way of Goldar and the putties.
Aisha whispered. "I had a little trouble this morning guys. I didn't want to worry you." But now she was worried, they all were. Slaves who could fight and were taken away never came back to the crystal mines. Rocky's mind was racing with that thought. He couldn't let them take Aisha, not without a fight. Even if that meant making himself a target with his own slick fighting moves.
Goldar reached for Aisha's arm as he spoke darkly to her. "So you know how to fight eh? Lord Zedd will be most pleased."
Goldar's claws never touched her. With a loud "Hi-Ya!" Rocky struck Goldar with a kick, sending the furry monster to the ground. "Run Aisha!" Rocky commanded as the putties descended upon him.
"Rocky!" Adam shouted, entering the fight by punching the closest putty, trying to get to his friends. Immediately Adam made himself a target as well for the gray clay minions to attack.
Aisha tried to do as Rocky had commanded but the dozen putties were too strong, too well trained. She was trapped and being beaten just like the boys. They tried to block and dodge but blow after blow made contact. No, it couldn't end like this! It just couldn't! Aisha thought as she took another strike to the stomach that knocked the air out of her and losing her balance she landed hard on the ground. One of the putties held her there. Rocky and Adam were tossed onto the ground next to her. Putties holding them down, their faces almost in the dirt. Goldar walked in front of them slowly. "I came here for one and instead I leave with three fighters. Lord Zedd will be very pleased with this turn of events but first…punish them."
Aisha felt her thin cotton dress being ripped from the neck down, exposing her back to the air. The boys clothing was being ripped as well, even as they struggled against the clay hands holding them. It was all in vain. They knew what was coming. Rocky glanced from his place on the ground between the two of them locking eyes with each for a moment before whispering. "There is no shame in crying out in pain." Then the first strike fell across Rocky's back and a scream tore from his throat.
As the trio's cries of pain filled the crystal mine, there hopes began to vanish with each strike of the needle tipped whips. Their skin burned like hot coals were being held against them. Even as the whips waited between strikes the pain would not dull. The whipping didn't last long but too weak to walk once it was done, the three were half dragged and half carried up into the castle.
*************************Angel Grove******************************
A hot and dry wind blew across the empty streets causing small twists of dust to fill the air. Without any live plants or people to help keep the streets clear of sand, the desert was slowly beginning to take Angel Grove back. From behind a wrecked car, a small pipe with a mirror on the end peeked out. It scanned right, and then left slowly.
"Bulk, we shouldn't be out here in the day like this." Skull whispered to his larger friend. "It's too easy to be seen."
Bulk shifted slightly, putting the viewer down. "I know that Skull but were almost out of supplies and since the power is off it's too dark to go at night. We'd be easily spotted with flashlights." Most of the population of Angel Grove had been killed or captured. Though some people had been able to escape into the desert, when there had been no sign of the power rangers. But there were a few people not killed in the first attack that Zedd didn't care to take and who couldn't escape on their own. Mostly the very old and the very young. So Bulk and Skull had made a serious decision. Inspired by the memory of the power rangers, the duo had decided they would do what they could for those few who were still alive in Angel Grove. It hadn't been easy. First rounding up all the people who were left behind and then finding some place safe to stay. Some of the children, Bulk and Skull had found, had been crying and clinging to the corpses of their parents. If that wasn't bad enough, many of the elderly who had survived, had mental problems making them especially hard to deal with. This was the apocalypse, there wasn't time for true compassion but somehow it was still there. More than once Bulk had wanted to take Skull, a few supplies and try set out on their own but something always stopped him.
They were not the same bullies, the same people, they had been just weeks before. It felt like a life time ago.
"Okay Skull, we need to move fast and stay quiet as we can. We need to search the grocery store for medical supplies and any non-perishable food." Bulk said, his closest friend merely nodded before the pair set off across the remains of the town.
************************** Rita's balcony****************************
As the oddly shaped pair in torn leather jackets and dirty jeans moved from cover to cover, tripping over some simple trash, Rita couldn't take her eyes off them. They were perfect replacement toys! Foolish, silly, stupid and so very vulnerable, they would be obedient toys.
With a wicked smile on her face Rita strode to her spell book and flipped open the ancient tome. Now the only question that remained was what kind of toys to make them. Dolls didn't seem right; neither did stuff animals or toy soldiers. Tops? Balls? Board games, no those were not right either.
Her fingertips slide quickly across the pages. There! That spell was perfect. But first she needed them brought to her. "GOLDAR!" She bellowed, her voice echoing throughout the castle. After a few moments her chamber door opened. Goldar appear and bowed. Rita raised an eyebrow at the full armor but said nothing as she motioned him to the balcony. As Goldar looked through the telescope Rita spoke. "Bring them to me. I want to play."
Goldar bowed again. "As you wish my queen." He said vanishing into a flash of golden light.
*************************Dragon Zord************************************
Tommy yawned and stretched, rubbing at his eyes. "Morning Dragon zord." He mumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep, as he got out of the cock pit chair. It hadn't been the most ideal place to sleep for the past few days but Tommy could swear every time he started to drift off the metal would change. Becoming almost soft under his body and warm somehow, like he was being cradled.
The lights on the console blinked in unison, a greeting. Tommy smiled. It was so strange how very in tune with the zord he was becoming. Kneeling Tommy began to go through the contents of the basket and pulled out a half fill bottle of yellow fluids before undoing the front of his pants. This had been extremely awkward the first day he needed to use the bathroom but he was starting to feel less embarrassed. The zords didn't have built in bathrooms and it wasn't like the dragon zord would begrudge him having normal human needs of waste removal. Grabbing off a chunk of bread and a few mouthfuls of hard cheese Tommy settled down for breakfast. If he didn't eat any more today, Tommy figured he had about three days of food left. As he ate he looked up at the stars. He could see them all sparking clearly through the eyes of the dragon zord. Space was so beautiful and for some reason the sparkling reminded him of Kimberly. Tommy felt tears edge into the corner of his vision but he wiped them away. Setting his jaw he began to warm up and stretch. He worked out his emotions as he did his katas over and over for hours. The tears of loss and regret mixing with his sweat, dripping down his face. Kimberly may be gone but he would save Billy. The poor guy was probably terrified beyond thought but Zedd would keep him alive to work for him.
Tommy did another quick series of round house kicks before collapsing, breathing hard, to the metal floor. He had over done it, pushing his body to limits it had never been to before. He would be okay. He just needed some water and a little rest.
The dragon zord suddenly flashed wildly and Tommy struggled to his feet. "What is it?" He asked putting his hands on the console to steady his weak knees. Tommy looked outside as a dark green and brown planet greeted him. "Were here then?" He asked out loud and the dragon zord blinked again in affirmation. Tommy felt the dragon zord shift slight, its engines firing as it approached the planet. Tommy took a sit in the command chair and as they broke atmosphere he suddenly had a thought.
"Am I going to be able to breathe there?" He asked the dragon zord as the greenish landmasses and oceans began to come into view. The dragon zord blinked again and Tommy nodded, bracing for impact.
********************************* Rita's toy room***************************
Goldar frowned deeply and sighed. He was not a baby sitter. There was no reason Rita could not have sent the Z putties to capture the two sniveling and crying humans now in chains in front of him. "Be quiet!" Goldar growled, tugging hard at the chains. The skinny one whimpered but then quieted down, still hiccupping a little with fright. The fat one glared but also became silent. His eyes seem to be drawn to looking around this massive room. It was trashed. Like one epic party that turned destructively bad. Bulk thought back to what had happened. They had just started finding some supplies when their captor had surprised them with some kind of magical net and next thing he and Skull knew they were captured. Bulk's eyes narrowed disbelieving, after everything they had survived this somehow seemed so unfair.
"So what are you going to do with us?" Bulk challenged the golden lion ape monster. Goldar growled painfully yanking the chains again and opened his mouth to yell at the human when another voice, soft but cold as ice, filled the air.
"He's not going to do anything to you. But I am." Rita was almost giddy with delight as she stepped out of the darkness and approached them.
"B...b...bulk... that's…that's..." Skull was shaking so hard his teeth were chattering. Bulk felt himself tremble as well.
"Yes, it is the empress of evil, Queen Rita repulse. Bow you swine!" Goldar shouted, pulling so hard on the chains around them that Bulk and Skull tumbled comically to the floor. Rita laughed.
"How amusing! You will make perfect replacement toys. My last toys…" She gestured to the mess around her. "Had a little accident. Shall we begin?"
"Look lady we aren't toys!" Bulk said with force in his voice. Goldar growled again.
"Yeah…were people." Skull added. Rita smiled strangely at the duo.
"Oh but you will be toys. My toys." Rita lifted her staff and began to recite in a long dead tongue. Her staff began to glow and spark. Bulk and Skull found they couldn't look away as a red glow covered their bodies and lifted them into the air. The best friends looked at each other but found they had no voice as the chains fell away and they clattered to the floor in small wooden bodies.
"Well what do you think Goldar?" Rita asked picking the Skull puppet up. "My new marionettes."
"A work of beauty my empress." Rita was just about to being to play with them when there was a knock at her chamber doors. Baboo and Squatt waddled in bowing several times.
"Forgive the intrusion oh radiant one but…" Baboo started.
Squatt interrupted, wiping his drooling mouth. "Zedd wants to see you right away in his throne room."
"Goldar too." Baboo added. Rita frowned but she couldn't keep Zedd waiting. Taking her new toys she carefully placed them up on a still standing shelf. "Very well. But you two clean up this mess."
Baboo and Squatt bowed as Rita walked between them and outside of the room. "Yes of course oh evil one, you're wish is our command."
"Clean it quickly. It's almost time to feed the harem slaves." Goldar announced as he passed the duo.
Squatt made a face as the door closed and Baboo sighed. "Clean it quickly. Not going to be easy. Let's get some bins and cloths."
The monster duo left the room to get a few things to clean the debris with. Neither of them paid any noticed the small wooden forms stirring on the shelf.
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