My health has been poorly...again. So even though I have the story in my head, it's hard to find the energy to write. I am kinda proud of this chapter though. And thank you to all my reviewers and readers for being patient. You make this story fun to write.
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.
**********************Temple of Ninjor****************************
Zordon looked up through the sky, sensing the Falcon Zord heading into space more than seeing it. He was so very proud of his white ranger. If anyone could beat the odds, it would be Tommy. Zordon gave a sigh, he needed to get back to his own dimension soon. He wouldn't be able to stay outside his crystal forest for much longer and live.
"Thank you Ninjor. I know you may not think much of humans but Tommy… He has the soul of a true warrior and a true friend. I should get going soon. I need to try and contact my other...child. Ninjor? Ninjor?" Zordon called looking at the empty temple around him. The blue ninja was nowhere to be seen.
Zordon sighed again, guessing where the ancient creator of the power coins might be. Without another word Zordon sat and began to meditate, to open the small hole between his world and this one. It was no small feat opening dimensional doorways. Deep in a trance Zordon suddenly heard the soaring scream of the mythical fire bird. In his mind he saw it fly up into the black sky, fire right at its wing tips screaming and crying in pain. Then the image of the beast faded to an image of Kimberly as if in a pink tinted mirror. She was in terrible pain. The sight of her brought Zordon right out of his trance.
By the stars, Kimberly was dying...
Zordon let out one sob before beginning his trance again. He couldn't do much but perhaps if he could reach her through that mirror, in the dream scape, he could comfort her in her final hours.
**************************Falcon Zord**********************************
Tommy couldn't get over the pure joy of soaring. No wonder Kimberly and Jason seemed to love their flying zords so much. Sure he still didn't have a plan but as he broke atmosphere it didn't really matter. This zord was fast! It had taken him nearly a week to reach Phadoes in the dragon zord but this falcon, three days tops, Tommy estimated.
As Tommy settled in he began to practice his katas moving, seeing what these new power could do. He was shocked! He could fade like mist, produce duplicates at will, and move at super speed for small bursts. It was amazing. So much so that after a few hours her felt tired and powered down. His body suddenly aching and sore. He left out a low moan. It would be okay, his body just needed to adjust to the new powers.
Sitting back in the console chair Tommy stomach rumbled. "Crap…" Tommy whispered as he placed his hand over the hungry organ. He hadn't thought to bring any food or water. Three days with nothing to eat wouldn't make him a very good fighter by the time he did reach the moon.
There was a soft rattling sound and Tommy looked up. Over on one side of the falcon zord was a blue vase. It seemed strangely out of place in the white and chrome interior. The jug moved slightly and Tommy was instantly on guard. Moving very slowly he approached the jar and peeked into the top.
"Don't you know, it's rude to stare!" A very tiny Ninjor shouted at him. Tommy started backwards before approaching the jar again.
"Ninjor? How did you get in there?" Tommy asked picking up the blue vase.
Ninjor lost his balance slightly. "Put me down this instant!" He commanded, his voice slightly high pitched. Tommy chuckled but obeyed.
"Oh think it's funny?" Ninjor waved his hands and a sparkling of blue energy came out and surrounded Tommy, next thing the white ranger knew he was face to face with Ninjor in the vase.
"You shrunk me!" Tommy exclaimed squeaking like a mouse, it was the blue ninjas turn to laugh.
"Of course, how else were you going to fit inside my pocket dimension?' Ninjor chastised but there was mirth in his voice.
Tommy frowned but relented after a moment. "So, why are you here?"
Ninjor walked past him. "You didn't think I would just let you leave with all those power in you did you?" As he said it, Tommy felt each of the spirit animal call out at once. For a moment it was almost too much for his heart to bear. Ninjor continued. "I'm here to keep an eye on you."
Tommy sighed, "And to take back the other ninjetti spirits…should I fail."
"Indeed. Now come young falcon and have something to eat. You will need strength to go against Zedd." Ninjor said and Tommy saw it now. A wooden table lay out with a variety of foods and drink. It had not been there just a moment ago. He opened his mouth to question but shook his head and closed his mouth. Pocket dimension, probably anything could happen here.
Tommy ate his fill and answered questions when Ninjor asked him. He talked about Kimberly, with a sparkle in his eye, and about Billy. About earth and his life, becoming a ranger. He answered any question the ninja asked of him. Tommy felt his eyes starting to grow heavy. He had had a very long day.
Tommy head dropped to the table and he began to snore slightly. Ninjor smirked and waved his hand. The table vanished into a blue mist. Tommy would have hit the ground but, less than a heartbeat passed, before soft, plushy pillows replaced the table. Tommy landed in a soft heap. Ninjor covered him with a blanket. "Sleep well young warrior."
*******************************Finster lab*************************************
Billy yanked and pulled open drawers, moving things this way and that. Tossed random things over his shoulder without care. Four ingredients! He had only been able to locate four of the six things he needed to hopefully save Kim from being ripped apart by Zedd's power build up inside her body.
"Come on! Where is it!" He growled shoving some glass bottles away. They tipped off the shelf and broke at his feet. He didn't care right now. Kimberly couldn't die. She just couldn't. He couldn't lose his last friend, his best friend.
God, Billy thought as slumped against the cabinet. Kimberly, he had known her since he was eight years old. He remembered the first time he had seen her. Her family had just moved into the house next door. Her hair was in pigtails and she was missing her front baby tooth. She had been his first real life line, his first real connection to the world apart from his mom and dad. She had brought Trini, Jason and Zack into his life. He had friends only because of her.
Billy's mind began to think and think. If he couldn't make a cure, he could…no, he couldn't do that to cure her. Not like Bulk had for him but…what else could he do?
What could he do?
"Hello young genius." An older, sage like, voice called, pulling Billy from his thoughts. "And here I thought it was the putties messing around again."
Billy spun around and there was the elderly monster maker, just walking into his lab. Holding his medical bag. Billy theorized he must have just come back from helping someone in the harem. "Finster! You have to help me…its Kim!" Billy's voice was desperate, his eyes almost wild. Finster was slightly taken aback; he had never known the blue ranger to be emotional.
"Steady young master. What has happened to her?" Finster asked. So with embarrassment on his face Billy told Finster what had happened. Lord Zedd taking advantage of them had not been Billy's fault, yet he felt ashamed none the less. He felt so ashamed. Even before he finished speaking he and Finster were on their way back to the room Billy and Kim shared. As they hurried, Finster mumbled a prayer under his breath to the gods that they would not be too late. If she died, everything would be for nothing. And Lord Zedd's rage would be unquenchable.
*****************************Harem?**************************************
Rocky felt something cool and wet on his forehead and someone was whispering words of comfort to him nearby. It was quiet wherever he was. Almost disturbingly so. Slowly he opened his eyes, only he couldn't see anything. A wave of panic swept over him, his breathing becoming rapid. "Easy Rocky." A gentle voice he knew breathed into his ear.
"Aisha?" He questioned feeling someone hands on his shoulders. He knew that scent but he felt so unsure. "Is that you? I can't see."
"It's me. The monster maker, he doctored you up after the fight. The blindness won't last long. He gave you some kind of white goo to fix your eyes. You would be blind from the dust thrown in your face if he hadn't." Aisha assured him. Even as she spoke the roomed seemed to be getting lighter, colors began to be visible and blurry shapes.
"What happened to the other guy?" Rocky asked, unaware of how the fight finished.
Aisha hesitated for a moment. "He lost, so…they didn't fix him up. He…I don't think he…made it."
Rocky began to shake. He had killed? Oh God… Aisha sensed what he was thinking and put her arms around Rocky. He held her close for a moment and then she spoke. "It wasn't you Rocky…I'm the one that killed him. Well hurt him and without medical help and the break in his nose…I didn't mean too. I didn't."
Rocky shushed her after a moment. "Were surviving, that's the best we can hope for now. Where are we Aisha? The harem? It's so quiet."
He heard Aisha sigh. "Master Vile, he was pleased with the fight. He purchased us from Zedd. Were on a space ship…he's taking us to his home, as slaves or pets. However you want to view it." She began to cry softly.
"Oh Aisha, we have each other. It will be okay." Rocky held her close again. His words were a lie, but one she was only happy to believe if just for a moment.
After a moment she spoke again. "Rocky, we weren't the only ones Master Vile liked." Aisha said looking over at the tall blonde sitting in the corner with the accent. Master Vile has liked the look of her and her shyness when it came to him.
Kat sat alone listening to the other two people talk. She pulled her knees tighter to her chest and rocked gently. She felt so utterly alone.
*********************************Kitchen************************************
"It really smells back here." Justin said as he explored the butchering area of the kitchen. So far to looked like they were the only two humans back here. The butchering area wasn't far from the area where living live stock was kept. Justin was curious to see more but one stern look from Adam brought Justin back to his small spot behind the stone table. Adam was up to his elbows in pig blood and guts. The very sight made Justin shiver slightly.
Adam had to hold back his gag reflex more than once. At least he didn't have to kill the beasts, but butchering them still warm was upsetting to say the least. He just had to remind himself over and over this was food. They stayed in silence a long while before Justin spoke again. "Adam?" He called softly.
Adam inclined his head slightly towards the kid. "Yeah Justin?"
Justin fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "I didn't get a chance to thank you. For stopping him. The bad man, I mean. I didn't like doing what he made me do." Justin shook his head at the memory.
Adam smiled reassuringly at the kid. "You're welcome."
They returned to the silence. After finishing cutting up another hog there was a whistle. Much like the one in the mines Adam knew. The sound put Justin on edge but Adam stayed rather relaxed. "I don't think it's a bad sound." But even as Adam said it head chef and two other people could be seen walking their way. "Justin, get back behind me and stay quiet." Justin did as Adam instructed.
"Well you're a sight." Chef said. "Follow me." Adam fell in line Justin stay close to his heels. Chef lead them back towards where the animals were kept and stopped at a wooden ladder. "Your sleeping quarters are up there." Chef pointed to a cut out hole in the stone maybe ten feet from the ground. "You have fifteen minutes after the whistle blows to get cleaned up and then pick up your dinner at the front of the kitchen. Is that clear?"
Adam nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good…be quick then." With that Chef turned, his two silent other chefs following.
"That was weird." Justin remarked once they were far away.
"Agreed. Come on, let's check this new place out." Adam motioned for Justin to climb the ladder first; he would be right behind him.
So Justin laid eyes on their new home before Adam. "Adam! This is awesome! There's a bed! A real bed and look a bathroom and the water works!" Justin giggled turning the faucet on. Adam nudged him out of the way slightly and began to wash off the blood. "Good, now see if there's any soap."
"Can do." Justin was off like a shot searching the room and surprisingly did indeed find a bar of antibacterial dial soap. Adam was grateful for it. Once he was clean the duo hurried to the front of the kitchen. Each grabbed a plate as they got into the kitchen line.
But the joy was short lived as Justin in front of Adam, reached the front of the food line. The man ladling out food growled at him and refused food, after all Justin was not a kitchen worker. He had not worked that day. But Adam was given a portion of meat and potatoes.
Justin held back tears as they sat with the other kitchen workers but slightly apart from the others. His plate was empty but only for a moment as Adam placed half his food onto Justin's plate.
"Eat up while it's still warm." Adam said, taking a big bite of ham. He didn't want to make a big deal of it and he certainly didn't want Justin to feel like he owed Adam anything.
Justin wiped back tears from the edges of his eyes and ate the best meal could ever remember eating.
***************************Kimberly's dream*********************************
Kimberly shielded her eyes from the blazing sun as she walked on and on in a sea of golden sand. It was so hot and the dunes so very endless. She needed water and shade. Her footsteps faltered and she tumbled down another dune, the sand burning her bare flesh, burning, burning. She cried out in pain. Such a scream of torment and hopelessness. She couldn't take much more… There was a noise like a deep wind. There in the distance a blurry figure in gray and white seemed to be beckoning her. Kimberly squinted at the form. "Zordon? Zordon! Please help me!" Kimberly cried but the sand stirred up and she shielded her face. When she next looked the image was gone…
Please review. I know this was a short chapter. I will do my best to get another posted soon.