**************** Juice Bar************************
"Bulk, things are getting kind of heated in here." Skull worried quietly, as he looked out over the crowd at the community center. Ernie was doing his best to control the situation. Apparently the white falcon ranger winning the mayor vote had set some people off.
Ernie was trying to keep the situation calm as people began arguing back and forth:
"There not even human!"
"They saved us!"
"But they left us to die before."
"You heard the original pink ranger, the other's died trying to protect us!"
"White Falcon is so dreamy."
"Dreamy? How can you tell under that bathrobe of a costume?!"
Bulk snorted. This was gonna end badly unless the rangers came back soon to keep the peace. "Come on Skull, let's go get a hot dog."
Skull blinked at the code they had made for going to the command chamber. "Right, hot dogs can make anything better." Even as he spoke the duo moved, not towards the front door of the community center but farther into the back. They slipped into the storage room and did a quick double check they were alone before Bulk nodded and Skull, following his lead, lifted the watch up and vanished in a beam of light.
In an instant they stood in the command center...
And right into the center of another fight.
"This is all my fault!" Tommy shouted, hitting the closest console with his fist. "How could I be so stupid? I never should have gone to the park."
"It's not your fault Tommy." Katherine said softly.
Billy nodded agreeing with the pink crane ranger. "Katherine is right, it not like this is the first time anyone has been kidnapped. You know that Tommy."
"We'll get her back." Rocky added sincerely. "After all she's part of the team." She's part of our family, he thought.
Tears burned in Tommy's eyes as he turned to his team. Looking at them... he never felt more alone. He would give just about anything for his old team to be standing right here. Suddenly his face changed as his eyes landed on Bulk and Skull. "What are you two doing here?"
"Well hi to you to." Skull mumbled, taking a few steps closer to Zordon's tube. After all they were honorary rangers, they were allowed to be here, but Tommy had yet to accept them. The others did to a point, especially Kimberly and Billy, the four of them were so much closer than before and... "Where's Kim?" Skull asked innocently. He knew she had been feeling better but she was still living in the command chamber.
Skull sometimes wondered if maybe they should have taken Zordon up on his offer for the former bully duo to move in as well. Maybe they would all be better friends by now if they had.
Adam was the one who answered Skull's question. "She's been kidnapped by Divatox."
"And if we don't hand over the key part... Kim won't... she won't be coming back." Aisha said softly letting the implication of death hang in the air.
"But, and correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't that key release a real dangerous bad guy?" Bulk asked.
Tommy turned on him, growling like a tiger. "Are you suggesting we just forget about saving Kimberly?"
Bulk didn't even flinch, he was getting used to Tommy little temper tantrums. "No, but what I'm saying is you have to think ahead, plan ahead. Or is game over for everyone... just like before."
"Bulk is right Tommy. Ivan Ooze is quite powerful. Your new powers alone may not be enough to stop him should Ooze be released."
"Can't we do something?" Justin said as strongly as he could. He still never felt quite 'safe' speaking up with anyone other than Adam. "Like a rescue?"
"How about it Billy?" Bulk asked. He knew darn well if anyone could figure a way to save Kimberly, it would be Billy. Guy was crazy smart even if he had been acting strange since becoming a unicorn man hybrid.
"I'll try but a lot of it is going to depend on the location Divatox wants for the swap. No matter where she picks, I highly doubt it will be a place we can easily get the upper hand."
"So all we can do is wait? Billy that's not good enough." Tommy turned on the former blue ranger, with a pained desperation in his eyes.
Billy balled his fists in sudden anger. Blue eyes glinting in a way that made Adam instant step in front of Justin. He had see those eyes before, on the moon when Billy was turning evil. Adam watched closely and while he wasn't sure if the others notice, under Billy's long hair, the slave collar glowed seconds before Billy released his hands. "I am open to any ideas anyone might have." He said stoically.
Billy waited but no one spoke up. Not even Zordon had any idea but he gave the rangers words to think on. "Kimberly is strong rangers, so full of pink energy it is almost dangerous. We must be ready to act the moment Divatox contacts us again. For now, get some rest."
Rocky turned to the former bullies. "Say what brought you guys here anyway? Not that your not welcome but..." he trailed off.
"Oh right, Bulk and I...um..." Skull looked at the other teen for guidance.
Bulk sighed, "So the mayor vote was counted and seems the people of Angel Grove want the white ranger to be in charge."
"Wait...what?" Billy mumbled out. "Tommy can't be in charge." Billy felt a blush creep into his face at how rude that was. He was making all sorts of mistakes today. "I mean...that's basically using the powers for personal gain. Breaking the rules." Billy nodded towards Zordon.
Tommy looked at the floating head of his mentor. "I promise Zordon. I didn't have anything to do with this."
"I believe you Tommy but nevertheless this problem must be addressed."
"And soon," Bulk added, "Ernie could barely keep a fight from breaking out."
"That's why we came. To get the 'rangers' and fix things." Skull added, using air quotes. The citizens of Angel Grove would listen to power rangers, but never to a bunch of normal teens.
Tommy rubbed his face in his hands, "Okay, I'll take care of this just... please Billy. Call me if anything changes." Even though Tommy spoke no words of apology, Billy could hear it in his voice.
Billy nodded, "Yes."
"I'll go with you Tommy," Katherine offered. "You may need back up."
Tommy smiled, "Thanks Kat."
*********************** Goldar's ship*********************
Goldar let his ship cruise towards that gross little ball of blue that was the earth. In his hands he played with the vial Finster had given him. He vaguely wondered which of Zedd's pets would get the cure. Though after only a few minutes of thinking, it was clear it would be Kimberly. Tommy wouldn't have it any other way, no matter how twisted and deformed the former blue ranger had become.
Tommy, he had been so important to Goldar, such a good student when darkness filled his heart and soul. A brother in the darkness. Goldar shook his head. He had given Tommy a chance and what had the human done? Found new powers, came back and destroyed everything.
Goldar's mind wandered to Kimberly. How he had never had the chance to posses her, to taste her. He had been so very close. Tommy would die to protect Kimberly even if they were not, a mated pair anymore. Scorpina had filled him in on all of that. How Tommy's heart seemed torn in two when it came to the pink rangers.
Yet when Goldar and the rangers had meet on earth after Goldar's failed plan of kidnapping Katherine, Tommy had spared his life. Of course time had been of the essence, but still where did that leave them?
Did Goldar's honor demand that he give Tommy another pass, should a chance at a killing blow arise? The golden lion ape didn't know. So deep was Goldar in his musings that he did not notice the alert on his ship until it was almost too late. He hide the precious vial in his pouch as the screen turned on.
"Goldar, You sniveling little worm! You survived."
"Lord Zedd, my emperor." Goldar did his best to bow. "I have been combing the stars trying to find your prison to release you."
"Ha! I doubt that. But since you are here perhaps you can help us take revenge, eh my empress?"
The screen changed and Goldar beheld Rita Repulsa, shining in a way he had not seen before. Her bright eyes seemed almost dead as she looked upon her minion. Something green pulsed with a heart beat from around her neck. "My Empress!" Goldar called, bowing again. "It is so good to see you."
"Yes, I suppose it is. Dock your ship Goldar. We have much to talk about."
"Right away, I live to obey your commands." Goldar bowed and bowed again as the screen turned off. As soon as it had he frowned. Well this certainly put a damper on his plans. Making sure the cure was well hidden, Goldar did as he had been told.
Somehow, he would make this work for him.
He would come out on top...
******************** Divatox Submarine*************************
"Is that better Ninjor?" Kimberly asked quietly. She had taken some old cloth from around the cage, probably remnants left by others who had not been so lucky, torn it into strips and helped cover the ninja masters wounds.
"Thank you fire bird. It does help. Though I am afraid Divatox will reopen my wounds as soon as she sees what you have done to aid me."
"I hope not. Unless she wants to carry you out of here to be traded for the key." Kimberly whispered softly.
"The rangers... will be making a mistake. Ivan Ooze must not be free. Even if it means our deaths Kimberly. The universe must be protected." Ninjor replied.
Kimberly looked away, feeling a heavy weight upon her heart. "I know..."
For a long time they sat in silence. It was Ninjor who finally spoke. "Kimberly, if it comes to it. To our deaths, I, the great Ninjor, will end your life. I will keep Divatox from having the pleasure of killing a power ranger. I promise you, I will be swift and it will be painless."
Kimberly couldn't stop the hot tears flowing from her eyes. "Ninjor... I..." She was about to tell him that she could teleport away if it really came to it, even if that meant she was a coward but Rygog's arrival kept her from speaking.
"Get up. Divatox wants to see you... "