**************** Zedd's chamber*****************************
The walls of silver burned red as Goldar told his master what had happened on earth. "Kimberly is resting now with Finster. She will be back on her feet soon."
Zedd fumed at the tale and slammed his fist upon the arm of his throne. "Blast! Damn that Zordon! How dare he try and steal my property!"
"How can you be so sure it was Zordon? Didn't he die when the command center was destroyed?" Goldar asked quietly. While Zedd was mad enough to rip his wings off, Goldar knew there were more enemies in the stars then just Zordon. It would be foolish to focus on the wrong danger.
"No one else would care about this backwater little world and no one but Zordon would try and take my fire bird. Or should I say rescue Kimberly. After all from your story, no one tried to teleport her slave away. Only her... no, it must be Zordon."
Zedd became quiet for a long time. Only after he had been kneeling for an hour did Goldar venture to ask what he had heard about on the cosmic breezes. "Does that mean the rumor of a power ranger is true?"
Zedd tapped his silver claws in thought. The rumor was that Master Vile had been in a scuffle and had his butt kicked, by a being calling themselves Ninjetti. which led to Ninjor and the great powers... which would mean power ranger. And a powerful one at that... assuming there was only one... no matter. As much as it pained him, Rita would need to come home. Their combined magical power would be enough to stop this would be hero, if the goal was to save the earth.
"Go and see to my fire bird, get her back to her cage if she is well enough to be moved. And send in Squatt and Baboo. I have a letter that needs to be sent."
Goldar stood and bowed. "As you command my lord."
Zedd watched him go. While this setback was distressing it did not change the fact he had plans for Kimberly.
To become his royal consort.
************************ Billy, Kim, Adam and Justin's room******
"And that's what happened." Adam said sitting on the remains of Kimberly's bed hunched over in sorrow. "I'm sorry Billy. I couldn't help her."
Justin rubbed Adam's back gently. "It's okay. What could you have done?"
Adam shook his head. "I could have fought! I could have done something. Anything! Instead I just froze up." He noticed Billy still hadn't said anything. "I'm sorry Billy, please don't be angry."
Billy's mind had been racing with all the thoughts of what could have happened but at his name he gave Adam a small smile and patted his shoulder. "You did your best. It's about survival now. I don't blame you and I know Kim wouldn't either."
Adam nodded. He trusted Billy to be telling the truth but it still didn't make him feel much better. "Nothing we can do now but wait."
Billy looked towards the door. "If she's not back soon. I'll go look for her. In the meantime, want to help me set up this computer stuff?" Billy asked, changing the subject.
Justin jumped at the chance and Adam seemed thankful for the distraction. Billy watched as Justin and Adam began opening boxes. Skull was helping but also playing with bubble wrap.
"What do you really think happened?" Bulk asked quietly.
Billy dropped his shoulder and shook his head. "Unknown. There are too many possibilities. Too many random variables to form a working hypothesis at this time."
Bulk just nodded. Billy hadn't spoken in straight geek for awhile. It betrayed just how worried he was for Kimberly. "But..." Billy continued softly. "Teleporting should never hurt. The fact that it did, worries me greatly. If...When Kim gets back.." Billy corrected himself. "I'll need to run tests on her right away."
Bulk nodded. They were family now. The thought of Kimberly not making it, made his wooden heart very sad.
"But first, I believe I need to run tests on you Bulk, regarding any red energy side effects."
"Ready when you are."
***************************** Zordon's dimention*********************
He had been so close. Kimberly had almost been safe, had almost been here in his world of crystals. For just a moment he had seen her in the room but she had winked out back to earth.
Distress chewed at him. She had been in pain and he felt guilty at that but without her power coin and such a great distance, the pain was inevitable.
Zordon frowned, he was sure he had counter acted it though.
What had he done wrong?
***********************Master Vile's castle***********************
"Rita, you've barely touched your bat wing and slug soup. Don't you care for it?" Rosimund asked from her seat at the head of the great table. Master Vile was at her side. Still not in the best of moods but seeing his daughter had helped cheer him.
"No it's fine. I'm just tired." Rita replied.
Rito slurped down his bowl from across the table. "I still can't believe what happened pops. Shouldn't we do something about this?"
"Rito..." Master Vile warned. "I don't wish to discuss this over dinner but something will be done. I have no doubt that ranger is headed towards your Earth, my dear daughter. And I have no intention of having you fail again. Not now while you are under my roof. And I seriously doubt your... husband." Master Vile spat out the word. "Can handle rangers without your aid." He took a deep drink of black liquid. "I plan to take your case up before Dark Spector, see about getting you divorced from Zedd. There are dozens of other eligible evil men in the universe."
Rita said nothing but stirred her soup. If her father was successful in getting a divorce, then she would have no choice but to marry whomever he chose. She would be completely back at square one. Living on someone else's power. At least on the moon, even with her imprisonment she ruled it. It was hers. When Zedd tried to claim it. She had been the one to drug Zedd with love potion into marrying her to keep her position of power.
She couldn't give that all up. Could she?
*********************************** Finster's Lab*********************
Kimberly groaned. Her head hurt. The light was so bright that the moment she opened her eyes she was forced to close them again with a sound of discomfort.
Suddenly the light above was not so bright and a voice she had heard before spoke quietly to her. "Are you awake Kimberly?"
She nodded and groaned again before opening her eyes and sitting up on the table she had been laying on. A soft, fur covered hand steadied her. "Where am I?" she asked.
"You are in my workshop. You had a rather nasty shock on earth." Even as the rabbit sage spoke Kimberly could feel the marks on her arms and legs. Looking down she could see burn lines marring her flesh, as if hot metal had been raked over her skin.
"My skin... why doesn't it hurt?"
Finster held up a small glass bottle of white creamy fluid. "This took care of the pain. The marks will fade in a day or two."
Kimberly rubbed at her head. "My... head hurts..." She mumbled quietly.
"Ah yes. I have a cure for that too. Just a moment." Finster turned his back to her and Kimberly took a moment to look around the room. The table she was on had restraints she was thankful they weren't being used on her. There was a chair just a few steps away with similar restraints. She could see what looked like dried blood on it. There were shelves and shelves of old books and strange items. A jar of eyeballs, golden dust, bubbling pink liquid over a small burner, lime green jewel encrusted bugs crawling in a jar. Things she couldn't even begin to guess what they do. Little creatures of clay made noises on a far table and moved slightly. This place smelled like the seniors art class. She didn't care for the smell.
"Here eat this." Finster's voice brought her back from her musing. He offered her a small pink cube of gelatin that glittered like it was covered in sugar or glitter or pieces of broken glass.
"Um..." Kimberly hesitated.
"Now don't make me call for Goldar or the putties to hold you down while I force it down your throat." Finster warned.
"Did you call me Finster?" Goldar asked, coming into the room. "Oh good, she's awake."
"Oh Goldar. I'm just having a little trouble getting her to take her medicine. I was wondering if you would..." Finster didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Kimberly grabbed the wiggly cube , shoved it in her mouth, chewed it twice and swallowed it down. "Oh, never mind." Finster said.
Kimberly suddenly hiccuped, she felt giddy. She smiled and giggled. Feeling warm all over and very silly. Like she was drunk.
"Oh dear, that might have been a bit too strong. I'll make a note in her chart." Finster grabbed a quill pen and began to write.
"I'll take her to lay down. Zedd's orders." Goldar assured Finster. As much as he wanted Kimberly, and as much as Finster knew of his attraction, and as easy as it would be to take her in this state, Zedd was in no mood for trouble.
He would kill Goldar if he deflowered his fire bird.