**************************Master Vile's palace***************
Rita stood on the threshold of her childhood castle. There was nothing wrong with coming home for a visit but for just a moment she felt like a failure. Shaking it away, she pulled the long rope cord, ringing the massively loud doorbell.
After a few moments the door was opened by a putty. But this putty was not made of clay like her own creations. This one was made of stone, much tougher than her servants. Rita paid him no heed as she brushed inside. "Tell my father I'm home." She ordered. Her minions following through the door behind her balancing and dropping her several cases.
The palace had not changed much in the 15,000 years she had been away. Same stone floor, same open foyer with passages to the left or right. Same black marble polished stairs just in front of her. The only thing she didn't care for were the 'new' portraits hanging on the walls.
"Rita! My dear daughter!" A voice cooed from the stairs. "I wasn't expecting you. You never call, you never write. Your father worries to pieces over you."
Rita looked up at the voice of her step mother. Why her father chose to marry this woman who was only a few years older than herself, she would never know. "Rosimund. How... good to see you."
Both empresses of evil air kissed at each other cheeks. Any real feelings or emotions were kept in tight check. "Where is Daddy?" Rita asked.
Rosimund waved her hand. "Upstairs trying to get his ego back. He had a nasty run in with a power ranger from what he told me. He's been raging and in a fit ever since."
"A ranger? From where?" She asked.
Rosimund shrugged. "One of Ninjor's pets from the sound of it. He was headed in the direction of your moon last anyone heard. Perhaps you want to call Zedd? Check in with your husband?"
"Later. I have a headache. I'm going to lie down."
"Of course. Your room is just as you left it. We will see you at dinner."
Rita felt the color drain from her face the moment she shut her bedroom door. She knew of other rangers, though not all planets had some form of guardians, but this far out? That couldn't be a coincidence. It must be a human ranger.
And there was only one human in existence who could be that lucky. Who could survive torture, space travel and find help in the endless sea of stars.
Tommy Oliver...
************************* Billy and Kim's room*************************
Almost an hour had past since the door shut. Bulk shook his head and crawled out from under the bed after giving Skull and Justin a whispered order to wait. The little wooden toy looked around. Billy was alone at his desk, clearly lost in thought.
Bulk moved to his side and tapped him on the leg. "Hey, can the kid come out yet?"
Billy blinked a few times and then shook his head as if trying to pry himself from some great mental problem. "What? Right, sorry. You can come out Justin. It's all clear." Billy called out into the room.
Justin crawled out and stretched but he said not a single word of complaint. He wasn't dumb, far from it in fact. He remembered his promise to Billy, about doing what he was told. Though the stone floor was hard and cold. He was glad to no longer be on it. "Is everything okay Billy?" He asked.
Billy nodded. "Affirmative." and it was the truth. As far as he knew everything was alright even if he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that it wasn't.
Justin stepped over and glanced at the open notebook and diagrams on the desk. "What are you working on? Looks like some kind of space fuel formula."
"You can understand this?" Billy offered one of his books. He couldn't believe it. Even Trini couldn't fully understand his thought process.
Justin glanced at the pages and nodded. "Yeah, my dad works...er... worked for Nasa. And he had me tested. I'm like, really smart for my age. I've even skipped a couple grades." Justin suddenly blushed a bit, that sounded too much like bragging.
Billy smiled. He had also had the option to skip a few grades in school but had declined. He didn't mind the light work load as it gave him more time to work on his own side projects. And if he had skipped a few grades, he wouldn't have been in class with Kimberly growing up. "Want to give me a hand? Another set of eyes could really help."
"Yes!" Justin beamed.
Bulk just shook his head. Just what they needed. Another super smart nerd.
*********************** Earth***********************
"I think that's everything." Adam said folding Billy's list up.
Kimberly nodded. "Good because I still need to get new clothes." That came out a little harsher than she meant. "I mean... that's what Zedd let me... us... come down for."
Adam simply nodded as Goldar began ordering the putties to carry things away. It was strange, he would see them pick up a box and then just vanish. Only to come instantly back, or maybe that was a different one? All these clay monsters looked the same to him.
Kimberly rubbed at her face, feeling suddenly so lightheaded. "Let's look up by the registrars for snacks. I came here with Billy sometimes and they usually had candy bars up front. I could 'kill' for some chocolate." She smiled at Adam making air quotes. Clearly teasing or at least trying too.
"If there's candy I'll find it." Adam offered. He had just started searching, when Kimberly suddenly leaned on the counter for support. Worry shone in his brown eyes. "Are you okay Kim?"
"Just dizzy... I feel kinda... funny..."
"Maybe you should sit down?"
Kimberly shook her head. "No. I'm sure it's nothing. I..." Pink energy suddenly arched across her body like lightening as Kimberly screamed in pain, flashed, seemed to fade away, only to become solid once more. It looked to Adam like she had almost teleported, just like the putties were doing.
In an instant Adam was pushed to the floor as Goldar ran over. Before a passed out Kimberly could hit the ground, Goldar tossed her over his shoulder. "We're leaving. Now!" Adam felt himself fade and shift, felt the vomit burn the back of his throat all over again as he landed in a heap back on the cold stone floor of the moon castle. Goldar held Kim tightly too him. "Follow the putties! Go back to your chambers slave."
"But what about...?"
"Your mistress will return once she is better. Tell Billy that. Now go!" Goldar ordered.
Adam hurried to go with the putties, carrying what he could. He dared not look back at Kimberly.
He was too afraid.
******************* Falcon Zord*****************************
Tommy was awoken by a great smell. A fantastic smell that made his mouth water. Pancakes! He was sure of it after a few sniffs. He hadn't had pancakes in a long, long time. Rolling over he stretched and was surprised to see he was the only one still in the sleeping area. He must have been more worn out than he thought.
Tommy took another stretch, used the 'bathroom' and make his way back out to the practice mats and little table that Ninjor had provided them with.
"Hey sleep head." Kat greeted brightly. "I was just coming to wake you."
"Hey," Tommy greeted back with a smile. "What smells so good?"
"Ninjor and Rocky are making breakfast. Apparently the great Ninjor wanted to learn how to make pancakes."
Tommy looked over to the table. There was a hot plate, a frying pan, lots of milk, eggs, butter, flour and Ninjor wearing an white apron and a tall chef hat. Rocky was standing next to him. "Okay, see all the bubbles. That means its ready to flip."
So Ninjor flipped the pancake, it went over and over in the air and landed neatly on a tall stack on the table. "Huzzah! I have mastered the pancake!" Ninjor shouted.
"Good because I'm really hungry." Aisha said before noticing Tommy. "Hey come on over while there hot." She greeted with a wave.
Tommy plopped onto a cushion beside Katherine and across from Rocky and Aisha. For awhile they just dug into pancakes and milk. Before Aisha decided to make scrambled eggs. Ninjor at her side to learn how to make that as well.
Rocky folded his hands near his face in thought. He kept looking at Tommy and then glancing away. It was starting to annoy the falcon ranger. "Is something on your mind?" Tommy asked.
Rocky sighed. "Yeah. I... I wasn't going to say anything but, I have to tell you the truth. I over heard your conversation with Kat last night. I'm sorry you went through that. It sounds awful. I've felt conflicted since we came to be here on your zord and...I want to apologies for that. I think I understand now."
Tommy didn't get a chance to reply as he felt a great shift of energy and a flash of golden light left his heart hitting Rocky right in the chest. In a flash Rocky was dressed just as Tommy had been when they first met him. But instead of robes of white, he was in robes of red. The golden coin on his chest showed a great ape.
Ninjor dropped the pan of eggs. "Rocky! You are the ape! Honest and Heroic!"
Rocky looked at his gloved hands, felt the new costume on his body, felt the power pulsing inside him. "I'm a power ranger?" he said in disbelief.
Tommy offered his hand. "Welcome to the team."
Rocky clasped his arm. Suddenly feeling for the first time like he really belonged. "Thanks."
"One ranger down, four more to go. Then young falcon your team will be complete." Ninjor said.
"Then we can stop lord Zedd and save the earth." Tommy assured.
Rocky suddenly smirked. "So does this mean we can up the sparing?"
Tommy laughed. "I'm ready whenever you are."