*******************Billy, Kim, Adam and Justin's room********************
For a few moments no one spoke. It was clear that something was wrong. Billy shook his head again and opened his mouth to apologizes once more, when a knock at the door startled everyone. Justin zipped under the bed as the three teens look towards the door.
"It's really late. Do you think it's Zedd?" Kimberly's heart was pounding in her chest. "Does he know I suggested morphing?" She couldn't stop her body from starting to tremble.
Billy stood and moved, putting himself between Kimberly and the door. "It's open." he called.
Goldar stood at the door, clearly grumpy from being woken up. "Zedd wants to see you." Billy and Kimberly took a few steps to the door when Goldar help up his hand. "Just Billy." He said in a voice that left no argument.
"It will be okay Kim." Billy tried to sound strong as he glanced back at her. "Adam, look after her."
Adam put a hand on Kimberly's shoulder. She looked ready to faint as he nodded at Billy. He would look after the ex pink ranger and not because Billy had told him to. There was some kind of bond happening, he felt as protective of her as he had Rocky and Aisha. God he missed them. He hoped they were staying safe in the harem.
Once the door closed Kimberly pulled away and sat on her bed. "Oh, come on out Justin." She called softly.
Adam was still watching the door. "Okay, that wasn't normal, right?"
Kimberly sighed putting her hands in her lap. "No, that was so unlike Billy." She reached down helping Skull onto her bed without thinking. Justin, holding Bulk, climbed up to sit next to her.
"Think its a spell?" Skull asked.
"I don't know. Usually spells, they totally change you. They make you feel or do something out of control. But that fact Billy apologized right away for what he said." She shook her head. "If that's a spell, its not like any I've seen before."
"You've seen spells before?" Justin asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yeah seen a few, been under a couple as well. It's never fun." Kim said, choosing to ignore how when she was under that punk spell, it was a little fun. For all the wrong reasons.
"So what do we do?" Adam asked, his attention on Kimberly. After all, she was a power ranger, or had been. After Billy, Kimberly was next in charge, Adam still didn't feel like he had any right to act as a leader.
He was her slave, after all.
Kimberly flopped back in thought. For a long time she was quiet before she sat back up. "Adam, I don't suppose you know any martial arts?"
He nodded. "Yeah I do, why?"
Kimberly rolled her shoulders. "Because I haven't practiced with anyone in a long time and if it comes down to it. If this is some kind of spell. If things take a dark turn.. we might have to restrain Billy."
Adam could only nod. "Let's get started." he offered Kimberly his hand to help her off the bed."
She took it with a smile. "Only if you promise not to go easy on me just because I'm a girl..."
*********************** Rita's Zord*****************************
Rita raced back from towards the moon clutching the papers tightly in her hand. The space post had been blown to bits but that didn't matter. All those worker deaths didn't matter. All that mail just floating in space didn't matter. She had stopped her father's deceleration from reaching Dark Spector. That was all that mattered.
She could return to the moon as empress and no one, not even Zedd could tell her other wise. Still... she would need to do some grovelling. Or bring Zedd a gift. She sat at the controls of Black Midnight, her gossamer winged black and gold butterfly zord.
A gift... what could she possibly give Zedd to cool his temper? If only she could reach that zeo crystal deep under the palace but the ancient magics that protected it still held tightly. She couldn't break it, not even using all the magic she had.
Rita frowned deeply and the wrinkles of age showed on her brow. Slaves for the harem. That would be the best thing she could bring. She certainly could capture some.. ugh... attractive humans on her own with just a few putties to assist. She never knew why Goldar made it seem so hard. They were merely humans after all. Sure some could fight, but they were a small minority.
And no human was a match for her magic powers.
Typing quickly, she would adjust her course and come out on the other side of the earth, hidden from the moon. That way her dear 'husband' wouldn't know she was home until she had something to give him.
What she was not expecting was to see a white falcon zord floating in the same space. Quickly, Rita turned on her cloaking system.
And she hoped to the powers of evil that Tommy Oliver had not seen her. He would be the perfect gift to get back into Zedd's good graces.
Too bad Tommy would have to die.
She always liked him. Her favorite living toy.
************************ Falcon Zord*******************************
Tommy jumped as an alarm flashed in the Zord but a moment later it was gone. Ninjor's vase rocked as blue smoke hurried out. "We are under attack young Falcon. I...Huh that's funny. The alarm stopped."
Tommy tried not to laugh as Ninjor, the great and powerful was wearing a nightcap and holding a teddy bear. Tommy coughed slightly. "Maybe is was a mistake?"
Ninjor moved to the main console. "Zords don't normally make mistakes. Errors tend to be human, not mechanical."
Tommy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well I did fall asleep on the controls. But just for a few minutes."
Ninjor simply nodded. That must have been it. After all, the scans showed that all was clear. "You should be sleeping Tommy." He said after a moment. "The falcon will alert us to trouble."
Tommy shook his head. "I tried sleeping and, well I had this dream. Ninjor it was so real, so vivid. Do you know anything about our power coins? The old ones I mean. Zordon was talking me but... Jason came in my dream and he said we have to free him and the others from there coins."
"You are not making much sense young falcon. Start at the beginning. Who is Jason? And what happened in this dream?"
So Tommy told his tale. Just as he had told Dulcea on Phadoes, he told Ninjor everything. They talked for hours. After awhile Ninjor nodded and spoke sagely. "Yes, what your friend Jason told you is highly likely to be true. This does complicate matters. We will have to liberate not only earth but the moon as well to find those coins. But I wonder..." Ninjor rubbed under his chin in thought.
"What is it Ninjor?"
"It is possible that using your new Ninjetti powers, and with my mental guidance, you may be able to speak with your friends in the moon castle."
"Really?! That would be awesome! How do I start?"
"First, you need to relax." Ninjor said as blue smoke surrounded Tommy. When he blinked next, he was in Ninjor's pocket dimension. Ninjor was lighting some incense, the smell was sweet but not stiffing. Not like the stuff Rita used. "Now we being with breathing work and with time and a little luck you will be able to reach your friends if they are sleeping, through there dreams."
******************** Zedd's throne room****************************
Billy kept his eyes fixed to the chrome floor as he entered the throne room and quickly knelled. "You sent for me my lord?" He said, praying his voice didn't betray his worry.
"Ah yes Billy. Your work on Serpentera has been most pleasing to me."
"Thank you my lord." Billy replied.
"But.. .you are not working fast enough. I want you to double your efforts. Now that Kimberly has a play thing to keep her company. I expect you to work longer hours starting now." There was a flash of red as Zedd waved his staff and Billy felt wide awake, as if he had just had a good night sleeps and 4 cups of espresso. "There, that should keep you working strong for awhile. Now go! Get to work!"
Billy got to his feet, practically humming with energy. "Yes my lord." he gave a bow and hurried from the throne room.
He knew the way to Serpentera by heart now. Funny how very quiet the castle seemed in these early hours. Also even stranger, Zedd did not send any putties or Goldar to make sure Billy got right to work.
No, Billy frowned, that was not needed. Zedd had Kimberly's life at his mercy. That would be enough to make Billy obey. Yes of course, that was it. No need for force when Zedd has the upper hand.
At least Billy hoped that's all it was. As he put his palm on Serpentera's controls and she buzzed to life around him he couldn't help but notice the surge of pleasure.
It was getting harder and harder to push that feeling away...