***************************Goldar's chambers****************
Goldar growled as he paced the length of his chamber over and over. Like a tiger in a cage, deep in thought. Billy had torn through every new monster Finster had just made. Without remorse or thought. This new ranger of Zedd's was built for one thing only. Destruction.
How could lord Zedd not see how dangerous Billy had become? At least when Tommy had been evil, Rita's spells had kept him in check. This darkness inside this human was something new. Dangerous and wild and neither of his masters could see that. After what Finster had reported over hearing in Rita's chambers and then seeing Billy in action Goldar had approached Rita. He had practically begged the empress of evil to put a spell on the nightmare ranger. To make sure he stayed in there control.
She had completely dismissed the idea. Even going so far as implying he was jealous that this new ranger would take his place as her lieutenant.
He growled again, raking his hand across his table. Knocking off the items, sending glass shattering to the floor. Fools! He was working for fools!
The nightmare ranger would become unstable. Tommy and new power rangers were coming and yet Zedd was in the harem and Rita playing with her toys. Just ignoring the danger as if it wasn't real. Danger that would be on there doorstep sooner or later.
No, it was time to leave. Goldar wouldn't be here when everything went up in flames. He needed to get down to the hanger. Run a systems check on his ship, Batra, then see about getting provisions and supplies for the journey. He would need more than usual and he would need specific foods from the kitchen.
Because he was taking Kimberly with him.
*************************** Under the moon**************************
"Hear that?" Tommy said, holding up his hand for the others to stop behind him. The walkway they had been climbing was just a few inches wide and very high up along the cliff walls.
Aisha lifted her head and took a deep breath. Air was flowing much stronger here and the little clink clink was coming to her ears. "It's mining. We must be getting close."
"So have we thought about what we are going to say, to start the revolt I mean?" Rocky asked.
Tommy was already moving again but shook his head. "I'll think of something."
Rocky could only nod. Tommy was the leader and he had to trust him. All of there lives depended on trusting each other and working together.
The little path lead into a wide, dark chamber of stone with an opening above them. It was tight but Tommy figured they each could fit, though it would have to be one at a time and not very graceful. "I'll go first." Tommy assured, moving to grasp the rock edge and pull up. He did so easily, disappearing out of the cave and from sight for a moment.
"Tommy?" Aisha called, worry in her voice.
He looked back down into the hole. "I'm okay. Give me your hands." He reached down, waiting for Aisha to do so, as he helped pulled her out of the stones, followed by Rocky. "Is this it?" Tommy asked.
Rocky and Aisha both seemed to pale for a moment, looking over the hot steaming area with humans mining crystals. "Yeah but... way fewer putties than normal."
Aisha nodded. "I don't see any monster over seers either."
"Do the putties have a way of calling for help?" Tommy inquired.
"There and There." Rocky pointed to two different areas of the caves. "Those are emergency whistles."
"We've never heard them before but we were told they make humans collapse at the sound." Aisha added.
"Okay then before we do anything else. We have to take those whistles down."
"I don't think we can break those. At least not without causing a scene." Rocky said. The whistles, while not very big, appeared to be made of metal and infused to the rocks.
"I wonder if we could..." Aisha started, her voice trailing off.
"Could what Aisha?" Tommy asked.
"Well, Rocky do you remember the sticky mud? The stuff down there by the crystal furnace?" She pointed as her friend nodded. "What if we, and I know this might be a bad idea, but what if we demorphed? You and I, we know these caves, we could each fill a bucket with that stuff and then..." She motioned with her arms. "Pour it right down the whistles, stopping them up from the inside."
Rocky rubbed his chin. "That might work. If Tommy stayed powered up and stayed here, you'd be able to see if either of us got in trouble and help."
Tommy nodded. "Of course." He would never leave his team in danger. "Once the whistles can't sound we can attack the putties outright." His eyes washed over the clay monsters. "I'm only counting about 36 putties, that's 12 each."
Both Aisha and Rocky grinned. "We can take a dozen each."
"Alright gang, let's do it." Tommy said, as Aisha and Rocky powered down, both instantly starting to sweat from the heat of the mines. "Be as quick and careful as you can. I've got your backs." Tommy promised.
They both nodded and began to descend the steep trail. Tommy watched them make it down then split up. Keeping his eyes on both as best he could. After all...
He couldn't let this team down...
************************** Harem*********************
"Here is your pet my lord." Billy said, all but shoving Kimberly into the room. She lost her balance and tripped, landing on the floor with a small cry of pain and fright.
"Kim!" Adam called her name. He couldn't help it. The nightmare ranger turned to him, clearly about to strike Adam for speaking, when the room washed with red light.
"How dare you mistreat my property!" Zedd raged at Billy, standing up from his harem throne.
Billy instantly bowed. 'Forgive me lord Zedd. I will be more cautious with your song bird in the future." He inclined his helmet slightly towards Kimberly.
"See that you are! For out of all my possessions, she can not be replaced! Isn't that right, Kimberly?" Zedd asked, sitting back on his throne.
Kimberly's voice made no sound but she shook her head yes furiously even as she gazed at the floor. She couldn't be replaced and if Zedd ever thought she could be... she would be dead.
"You are dismissed Billy." Zedd waved him off with his hand.
Billy's voice spoke darkly from his helmet. "As you wish... my lord."
As soon as the door shut, Adam was by Kimberly's side on the floor. He wanted to ask if she was hurt but Zedd spoke before he could. "My what an obedient slave you are, so worried for your mistresses well being. Just for that you can stay while she sings to me. Come now my fire bird, sing."
Kimberly's eyes held such sadness as she took the guitar from Adam. The floor was hard and cold, the harem so strangely silent is was unnerving. For a moment she couldn't move, she felt frozen.
Adam gently touched her arm. A small gesture but enough to wake Kim up from the dark melancholy that had been filling her heart as she began to play:
"Come little sparrow,
Sing me good morning,
As the wind plays in the trees
Sparking sky, dashing river
Lead me through my day dreams..."
For a moment, it seemed to Adam that all the darkness of this place was being pulled away. As Kimberly sang the world felt warm and safe all around him. Maybe he was dreaming? Or just suffering from a sever lack of sleep but he wanted to stay close to Kimberly.
And he didn't know why.
*******************************Kitchen**********************************
"Master Chef?" Goldar called. He knew better then to get right in the middle of the kitchen. Food was currently being prepared for the harem and it was a wild, flurry of activity.
The chef frowned at him. "Oh no, what do you want? Don't I have enough to do?"
Goldar tried not to growl but it was annoying the way this human didn't seem to fear him at all. "I need food for a trip."
Chef narrowed his eyes as Goldar hurried to continue. "I am being sent on a mission by lord Zedd and will be taking a harem human for comfort along the long trip. I need food for a human."
The blond human simply nodded. "How long of a trip?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Because you donkey, that will determine what food I pack."
Right, Goldar thought, of course. "Two weeks, maybe a month." A month on his ship would get him over a galaxy away. Surely, he would be able to find food enough for Kimberly past that point. There were many star ports and trading posts. And a month with nothing but him as company would tame her. He knew she would grow to love him with time. And a few potions from Finster would help that matter.
Chef sighed, "Will there be refrigeration or freezing available, or cooking stations?"
Goldar shook his head no. His ship had nothing like that and no time to install. As soon as things were ready he planned to take Kimberly and run to the stars. Perhaps he would seek out Scorpiana, rumor was she was making a good living as a bounty hunter. No reason he could not become the same.
Chef nodded, "Basically fresh food for a week or so then canned, dried, smoked or otherwise shelf stable."
"How long until its ready?" Goldar asked.
The chef waved his hand. "I'm busy at the moment. An hour at least, come back then." He didn't even wait for Goldar to respond but turned back to the other cooks and putties shouting orders once more.
Goldar would return as soon as time was up. Best to get that food to his ship as soon as he could.
Once Zedd and the rest of the castle went to sleep. He was stealing Kimberly.
And there would be no one to stop him.