***************************Falcon Zord****************
"They've been gone a long time." Katherine said quietly, gazing out the eye windows of the zord. Without her friends on the ship, the quietness of space was closing in on her.
"They are alright. I would know if they were not." Ninjor replied. He was knitting quietly in a rocking chair he had pulled from his vase.
Katherine tried to take comfort in the gently clicking of the knitting needles but she just couldn't. "...because the powers would return to you?" She asked, turning to face her ninja company.
Ninjor nodded. "Yes and should that happen. I will keep my word to Tommy and take you someplace safe. Phadoes is similar to earth in climate, flora and fauna. I am sure you could be happy there." he offered. Ninjor said no more but made a quiet vow to himself. He would try to make Katherine happy on his world. She could have the west tower of his temple. It had a beautiful view.
"Thank you Ninjor." Katherine spoke softly, turning back towards the window. She didn't want to lose her new friends, she didn't want to have to go to a new planet but if they failed... it was better than being a slave to Zedd. Plus Ninjor was kind. It would be okay. No matter what, it would be okay.
She had to believe that...
*************************** Slave caves, heading up************************
Tommy felt like George Washington, leading the charge of humans and making sure no putties escaped. He couldn't risk a single on getting away and warning Zedd. It was strange, so far it had only been putties. No monsters, No Goldar or Squatt or Baboo.
"Rocky!" Tommy called out while smashing clay to bits. "Which way?"
Rocky took point. "This way!" he shouted.
As the mass of people moved on, unaware of the two monsters hiding in the passage walls. This wasn't good. The humans were revolting, lead by power rangers. The duo knew rangers had been coming but this was sooner than expected.
"The alarms didn't go off. Oh this is bad!" Squatt whimpered wiping at the drool that constantly was around his mouth. "They never should have made it this far out of the caves."
"We need to sound the alarm." Baboo added. "Maybe the nightmare ranger can stop them."
"He better, after all, he killed all the other monsters." Squatt frowned. "I don't want to get near him."
"Neither do I." Baboo admitted.
"You go tell Zedd. I'll tell Rita."
"No you go tell Zedd."
"No you!"
Baboo hit Squatt on the head. "Just go you dummy! There's no time."
************************** Billy, Kim, Adam and Justin's room******************
Goldar stood outside the the blue and pink doors. Magical doors that locked to all but Zedd... or his pets. Goldar smirked and pulled out a little vile with golden metal filings. He held it up to the door and the pink side slowly opened. Just as he thought, these tiny glittering bits of power coin, mistook him for Kimberly.
Quietly Goldar slipped into the room, shutting the door gently behind him. He didn't worry about Billy stopping him. That monster was busy somewhere else in the castle. Now it was time for Goldar to claim his prize. Goldar turned and looked towards Kimberly's bed. Only to see her slave sleeping there and a child?
"What is the meaning of this?!" Goldar's voice boomed. Only realizing after a moment just how loud he had been. Quickly he dropped his voice as the humans rushed to awaken. "What are you doing in Kimberly's bed! Where is she?" He demanded of Adam.
Adam pushed Justin behind him and opened his mouth to speak when Kimberly interrupted. "I'm here Goldar." She called from Billy's blue bed. How had he entered? She was sure the door was closed before she went to sleep.
Goldar stalked over to her. "Get up." he commanded.
"No." Kimberly growled back, finding her pink spark of fire. "Unless you have a message from Zedd, you can get out!"
Goldar smirked. "Zedd doesn't know of this visit. Not this time Kimberly. You and I are going on a trip." The silver chains he had been carrying disappeared only to reappear binding Kimberly from her shoulder to her hands with a long chain going from her hands to Goldar.
"No! Let me go!" She pulled and struggled but the chains magically started to constrict her like a terrible metallic python.
Goldar laughed. "How soon you forget. Stop fighting Kimberly before the chains squeeze so tight you can't breath."
"No! Let her go!" Adam demanded practically leaping from the bed, putting up his fists, ready to fight Goldar. He couldn't let him just take Kim away.
"Yeah!" Justin shouted also getting into a fighting stance.
Goldar smiled and then began to laugh. "A slave and a child. You are no match for me. Though I wonder what a little boy is doing here? Come with me to Empress Rita, child. She'll make a beautiful toy out of you. She will... AAH!" Goldar screamed, as Skull took a bite out of his foot before scurrying off. "Little rat!" He shrieked trying to kick Skull as Bulk suddenly ran out from under the bed and into his legs. Goldar tripped yanking on the chain, pulling Kimberly off the blue bed and onto the floor with a cry of pain.
The small glass vial with golden flakes rolled out from his pouch, unseen.
Adam moved towards Kimberly. If he could just get those chains off. Get her free. She was no longer fighting the chains but they had tightened so her breathes were shallow and desperate.
"Adam look out!" Justin screamed as Adam felt a blade go to his throat.
"No, I will not lose her. Not now. Stay where you stand all of you or I shall slice his head off. Just like I did Jason." Goldar tossed a look towards Kimberly as he said that. Once everyone was still did he continue. "Kimberly, command your slave to keep the others from trying to stop us leaving."
Kimberly hesitated and Goldar pressed his blade closer to Adam's neck. "Do it or he dies."
Kimberly dropped her head in submission. "Adam, I command you keep Justin, Bulk and Skull from trying to stop us leaving."
The collar on his neck glowed and he dropped his hand. "As you command mistress."
Goldar smirked. "Good, now Kimberly, walk." He demanded, pulling her towards the door.
"No Kim! Kim!" Justin cried out, but Adam put a hand on his shoulder stopping him from following.
Skull moved to go with them but Bulk stopped him. Knowing full well Adam would have to attack them if they tried to help her. The door shut and Justin felt hot tears burning in his eyes. "Kim..." he called softly at the closed door.
What was Goldar going to do to her?
********************Hallway***************************************
Goldar had barely taken three paces when an alarm began to sound in the castle. No, not yet! Not now! How was it Tommy Oliver always picked the worst times. He could hear the sound of battle heading his way. "No, no, he will not have you. You are mine Kimberly." Goldar said more to himself then the chained girl he was pulling behind him. "Run." He commanded suddenly pulling her harshly.
He would take the long way, through the stone passageway and over the kitchen catwalk. No one would think to go that way.
****************************Zedd's chambers*******************************
"So Tommy is in the castle." Zedd hummed in thought. "Come on then white ranger. Let's see just how powerful you are. BILLY!"
Billy teleported in. "You called my... lord."
"The castle is under attack. Tommy is finally here."
Billy balled his hands into fist. "I will end him and bathe in his blood."
Zedd smirked, greatly please. "Then go my ranger and do not fail me."
************************Upper chambers***************************
"Which way now?" Tommy asked.
Aisha kicked another putty. "This way! This way lead to the harem."
"And Zedd chamber." Rocky added.
"Alright. Ernie, we're going to go on ahead. Are you okay here?" Tommy asked, watching the owner of the juice bar destroy a putty.
"Yeah we're good. Go rescue the others in the harem." Everyone knew of the harem and the humans kept there for Zedd's amusement. Ernie sincerely preferred the slave caves then the thought of being Zedd's toy.
Tommy nodded and the three rangers went ahead. The castle had been modified since he was last here a few... weeks, months ago? At this point he wasn't sure how much time had past. Yet no construction could change the feel of this place.
And the old green darkness in him knew the way.