**************** Divatox's Submarine************************
Kimberly yawned, her eyes feeling so heavy. When had she fallen asleep? She moaned softly as a gentle voice spoke from very close beside her. "Feeling better Firebird?"
Kimberly shifted, only to find herself practically nose to mask with the wounded ninja master. "Ninjor?!" She was in his arms, held close to his chest.
"Forgive me for cradling you. When I came to, I noticed you were slipping into shock from the cold and wet clothing you were wearing. I pulled you close to keep your body warm."
Kimberly nodded. How could she possibly ever think that Ninjor was have done anything bad to her. "Thank you Ninjor." Her clothes were almost dry so... "How long was I sleeping?"
"About three hours."
Kimberly blinked. "That's odd. I would have expected Divatox to have done something by now."
"As would I. It is strange..." Ninjor mused, his voice quiet for several minutes before asking. "How long have I been here Kimberly?"
"A few months. I swear, we tried to find you but every time we got close... the submarine just vanished. Ninjor, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. We wanted to rescue you."
"Shh fire bird. It's not as bad as it looks." Ninjor replied.
He was clearly lying to her but "The rangers will find us. I'm sure. They'll save us."
"Well then, we better get started." A new voice spoke from outside the cage. "Can't risk you getting away before I get my information." There stood the pirate queen, Rygog and Elgar behind her and behind them a being Kimberly hadn't seen before holding a case full of terrifying looking weapons.
"Divatox..." Ninjor growled trying to stand and falling. "Leave Kimberly alone. She doesn't know anything."
"Says you... Porto bring me the case!"
"Right away oh evil one."
Divatox laughed as she ran her fingers over each tool. "What shall we use first? Tongue splinter?Eyeball gouger? Oooh... Skin peeler. This one gives me the shivers." She said, caressing the horrible looking blade in her hands.
"Gives me gas." Elgar said with a burp.
"So Ninjor, before I flay this human alive... one last chance, tell me where the key part is."
"Do not harm her Divatox. It is on the island of illusions."
"There, now that was easy, wasn't it? Such a good boy Ninjor." She mused, "Elgar! Set a course for the island of illusion."
"Um... actually... It's not there anymore." Kimberly said, while she hated to give up information, if Divatox went to the island and didn't find the key part. She doubted Ninjor would be left alive...
Divatox frowned and snaked close to the bars. "What do you mean its not there?"
"We found it, Adam and I, the power rangers have it." Kimberly tried to keep the quiver out of her voice but she couldn't keep from flinching as Divatox screamed and hurled the blade against the closest wall as she turned to her crew. "You idiots! If only you had brought me a real ranger the first time. Then we wouldn't be in this mess."
"But Auntie D, since this girl and white ranger have a thing, won't he give us the key in exchange for her?"
"Elgar that is the dumbest plan I have ever heard... I've got it! We'll trade Ninjor and the girl for the key part. Those goody good rangers will have no choice in order to get there friends back." Rubbing her hands together with glee the pirate queen turned to Porto, "Get a signal ready. We are going to call the rangers directly. Haha!" She turned back to Kimberly looking her up and down. "And you my adorable little pink, I can see why the white ranger likes you so much."
Kimberly could stop the little squeal of fright that left her throat. The last thing she wanted was to be another plaything to a villain. Even now she could feel Zedd's cold fingers on her, touching her. She trembled.
Divatox's smile only seemed to grow. Say and think what she will about the power rangers. Tommy had good taste when it came to females.
************* Command Chamber****************
"You said it would only take an hour Billy!" Tommy huffed, crossing his arms. "Divatox might be doing anything to Kimberly right this minute!"
Billy looked up from where he had been working ferociously. "Don't you think I know that? Divatox's ship keeps shifting. One minute its in the Atlantic ocean, then it in loch ness, then in the amazon river. It's not staying in one place long enough for me to get a fix."
"Please boys don't fight." Katherine said softly. She had been helping Billy with the relay systems. It was actually pretty cool learning from Billy. He was a great teacher when it came to technology.
"Yeah, we need to save our energy for the rescue." Rocky interjected.
It was the yellow ranger who noticed that one ranger in particular was acting strange. "Adam are you okay?" Aisha asked quietly, walking to where he was, a small distance from the others.
Adam sighed softly, looking close to tears. "No, I'm not. Aisha, I'm so scared for Kim. I don't know why. I know she's smart, resourceful, brave and strong but..."
"Too much like the moon?"Aisha guessed.
Adam nodded. "Too much like the moon. I know she and Billy were hurt by Zedd and well you saw what happened in the harem."
Aisha nodded.
Adam's eyes suddenly looked sadder then a moment ago. "I never asked but did anyone... you know, to you or Rocky?" It would break his heart if his friends had been raped and he hadn't though to offer support until now.
"No, nothing like that. It's funny in a way. If Master Vile hadn't bought us from Zedd. We never would have met Tommy or been reunited."
Adam smiled softly. "Or been rangers."
"That too." She agreed.
"Guys! Come quick!" Justin yelled as all eyes turned to the viewing globe.
"Hello rangers. I hope you don't mind this little intrusion..."
"What do you want Divatox?" Zordon's voice spoke strongly. The Command chamber was a place of safety. Evil shouldn't be able to just call in.
"Right to the point, always like that about you good guys. Well a little pink birdy told my you have the key to freeing Ivan Ooze. I want it. So how about a trade? The key for Ninjor and the girl."
"Let me see Kim." Tommy said.
"Ugh fine." Divatox rolled her eyes but the view changed to Kimberly being held tightly by Piranhatrons.
"Tommy!" She shouted.
"Kim! Hang on!"
The view returned to Divatox. "So what do you say lover boy? Do we have a deal?"
"Tommy if we give her that key. The whole world will be in danger." Rocky said softly.
"And if we don't, are we prepared to sacrifice Kimberly?" Billy asked. "Are any of us okay with making that call?" he watched as the other teens around him shifted uncomfortably.
"Not to mention Ninjor." Justin added very quietly.
"Zordon please, what do we do?" Katherine asked.
As much as it pained Zordon, he replied. "I cannot decide that Katherine, it is up to you rangers to decide."
"Divatox, you have a deal." Tommy said. "No tricks."
"None at all." She smiled wickedly. "I'll send you location details later. Bye bye for now rangers."
"Ai Yi Yi was that wise Tommy? If Ooze gets free, no planet in the universe will be safe."
"Kim's one of us Alpha and I will never abandon any ranger." Tommy swore. "Let's see about making a plan because I seriously doubt this won't be a trap.
**************** Master Vile's castle*********************
Rita swung slowly on the twisted black swing hanging from her ceiling. How had she failed so much? It was insulting having to move back home with her father and her young step mother. Even Zedd wasn't acting like himself.
It was as if the emperor of evil had just given up and Rita saw no reason to keep trying to make the relationship work. She had her revenge on Zordon and the earth. She had been so happy only she had gone and messed everything up. Tommy Oliver... why did all of her thoughts always lead back to Tommy Oliver? What about that human bothered her so? He was nothing. Just another toy to be played with.
She should have killed him.
It had been Zedd who wanted to keep alive Tommy as a pet. Foolish as it was. He could have kept Tommy or Kim but not both. Tommy was powerful when it came to that girl. Rita's nails scratched into the vines that held her swing up. Kimberly. How she loathed her. So pretty and sweet. So happy, so warm and caring. So full of pink energy. With the right training, that girl could have become a sorcerers for good that would have rivaled her own evil powers.
And now it was all over. She had no castle, no kingdom, no monsters, no slaves. Only a few putties running around to do her bidding.
She ignored the knocking on her chamber door.
Zedd let himself in and she didn't care. She didn't care for anything... she felt nothing anymore... not even headaches.
"Why the long face my queen of darkness?"
Rita didn't answer. There was no point.
"Quiet again today. Well this may interest you. Our little spy has some information. Divatox is about to be in possession of the last key part to free Ivan Ooze."
"And this interests me why Zeddie?"
Zedd frowned, he wanted out of Master Vile's castle and the only way to do that was to get his witch of a wife to perk up. "Because as soon as we know where and when, you and I can see about getting the key for ourselves. Divatox is no match for both of us together."
"What about the rangers Zedd?"
"Don't worry about them my little toadstool. I have a plan that will end the rangers once and for all."
Rita snorted. "I've heard that before."
"Rita, don't you want your own kingdom again? To be feared? To be respected? We are the laughing stock of the galaxy right now." Zedd gleamed red with anger. "We need to get revenge."
"I don't know what I want Zedd." She said, sounding so defeated.
"Decide soon my wife because with or without you. I will be making my name feared again in the universe." Zedd growled stomping off.
Rita didn't even flinch as the door slammed shut. Maybe Zedd had a point... but her magic wasn't what it was. Her mind drifted once more to Tommy Oliver. Waving her hand she produced a crystal ball that glowed with green light. The last of the the green ranger power. Taken from Tommy while under her spells. It wasn't very much but it would do... Rita smiled, her eyes lighting up for the first time in weeks.
She sprang to her feet. "Zedd! Zeddie! I've got an idea!" she shouted running from her room.
She had a plan alright, one that might just give the evil couple an edge.
And hurt the rangers in the process.