******************** Submarine**********************
"I got the key part! I got the key part!" Divatox sang brightly on her ship, dancing around.
"Don't you mean we got the key part Divatox?" Zedd asked.
Divatox frowned and folded her arms. "Fine. We got the key part. Happy?"
"And must you sing like that? I have a headache." Rita countered. "Voice like a sentimental sqwaker bird..."
Divatox scowled. "I forgot you're a ray of sunshine Rita."
Zedd shook his head before turning to the crew. "You there with the stupid grinning face!" Zedd pointed at Elgar.
Elgar looked to the left and right then behind himself. "Uh do you mean me?"
"Yes, send word to King Mondo that we have the final key part." Zedd command.
"Zedd you may be on my ship but you can't order my crew around. Only I can do that!" Divatox countered with a growl. "Elgar, call Mondo!"
"Geez alright. I'll do that." Elgar mumbled to him. "Move!" he pushed at the putties in his way. The submarine had always been crowded before but this was ridiculous. Rita, Zedd and a dozen putties or so were really in the way.
With the capture of the key part the villains had a tentative truce happening. Elgar didn't pretend to understand it or the goal but he would follow orders. "Um... Mondo's little robot guy said that he's on his way. With Ooze's egg capsule cage thingy."
"Good ! You finally did something right! When will he be here Elgar?"
"Um... I forgot to ask."
"Idiot!" Divatox practically screamed. "Call him back!" she commanded before turning to Rita and Zedd. "Good help is so hard to find."
Zedd glanced over at an injured Goldar. "Yes, it really is."
Goldar said nothing with the monster called Porto continued to tend to his wounds.
"Rita if your tired. Rygog can show you to a chamber to rest in." Divatox offered.
"Very well." Rita replied, as much as it pained her. She was in no state to be seen. Losing the last of the green ranger energy had taken a toll on her.
Rygog half bowed. "Please, follow me." Rita did so.
"How is our guest doing?" Zedd asked.
"See for yourself." Divatox opened a door in the floor that dropped down into a large, wet chamber. As soon as it had been opened Billy, or the monster formally known as Billy snorted and screamed up at them. Violently stamping in the few inches of water that covered the floor. "A Nightmare. And here I thought those savage, violent creatures were only myths. However did you ever manage to procure one?"
"That is quite an interesting story." Zedd replied.
"Tell me it over tea?" Divatox offered.
"Very well."
*********************** Cliff outside Command Chamber***************
It was getting dark and cold. Tommy rubbed at his arms. He would have to go inside soon. He would have to face the rest of the rangers. But he still had no plan, no ideas and no hope. Still maybe Kimberly was awake. He hated that he had been out here for hours when really he should be by her side.
Suddenly Tommy's watched beeped. He was on his feet and racing back into the Command Chamber as fast as he could. "What's wrong?" He asked seeing the others were all gathered before Zordon. "Bad news?"
"Ai-Yi-Yi! No Tommy its wonderful news! My friend Lerigot is on this way to earth. He will be here tomorrow. Ai-Yi-Yi!" Alpha had brought up the viewing globe to somewhere in space where a streak of light, like a shooting star was heading right towards them.
"That's great Alpha. " Aisha said.
Rocky nodded. "Yes finally some good news."
"If he can make a cure for Kim, maybe he can use magic to find and change Billy back." Justin said.
Alpha 5 smiled with his voice. "He's a powerful wizard. I am sure he can help."
"Any sign of Billy?" Tommy asked.
It was Katherine who answered. "Nothing on the scanners yet but the computer is set to continue to scan. We should be alerted the moment we find him."
"Nicely done Kat." Rocky praised.
Tommy felt someone tug on his hand. "Tommy, come see what we did. It's super cool." Justin smiled at the leader.
"I will but I really should check on Kimberly." Tommy said. Justin deflated in his excitement a little.
Rocky tried not to roll his eyes. "Adam's watching over her. She's sleeping right now."
"So please? It's so awesome!" Justin begged.
Tommy surrendered as Justin began to lead Tommy and the other rangers down the hallway. "Alright, you got me. What's so cool?"
Katherine laughed slightly. "You'll see." She teased.
Tommy blinked at the pile of blankets, pillows and soft things in the center of the training room. It was like a nest of bedding all fluffed together and huge. "Um... what is this?"
Aisha fluffed up another pillow. "Its a sleeping area. We thought we would have a 'slumber party'."
Tommy blinked. "What? Why?"
Justin frowned. It was clear by Tommy's voice and reaction that the white ranger didn't approve of the idea. Justin hated doing anything that Tommy didn't approve of. He really looked up to the older boy. Idolized him even.
Rocky put his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "I'll explain."
******************** Park***********************
"Bulk?" Skull spoke quietly. The former bully duo had just been sitting in the park for the past hour not really saying or doing anything. "What's wrong?"
"It's this letter Skull. I've been thinking hard about it. What if this letter is full of blame and hate aimed at Kimberly?" Bulk shook his head. "I think Kimberly couldn't handle that much guilt right now. I think it would hurt her bad, if the letter says that."
"Kim's strong Bulk. I mean she would want to know, wouldn't she?"
"She's not as strong as you think Skull. None of the rangers are. I mean under all those magic powers. They are still just normal teens, like us." Bulk sighed, feeling much older than he was. "No, the best thing to do would be to find out what this letter says. If its bad. We will destroy it."
"But it's sealed shut." Skull said. "How are we gonna open it? Without you know, like ripping it?"
Bulk smirked. "With a teapot."
********************* Medical lab, several hours later*********************
"Do you think I can get up now?" Kimberly asked. She had been surprised to see Adam still beside her when she woke up. "Were you here all night Adam?"
He gave a yawn. "Yeah." He didn't say any more. After all Kimberly was safe and stable but the thought of leaving her alone last night felt so wrong. What if she had needed something or had some kind of sudden medical emergency? He had expected Tommy to come at some point to take over but apparently the leader of the power rangers had passed out with fatigue as soon as he had sat down to rest in the bed area the group had made yesterday.
Adam yawned again and Kimberly couldn't hide her smile. The frog ranger was precious. "Do you think we could at least take this out of my arm? I really need to use the bathroom."
"Let me call for Alpha." Adam replied. The little bot arriving surprisingly fast.
"Kimberly, how are you feeling?" Alpha asked.
"Better but I need to pee so can this come out?" She held up her arm with the IV. "It's getting a little urgent Alpha."
"Good, needing to urinate is a sign you are hydrated." As he spoke, Alpha 5 picked up a bit of gauze from the table. "Just a small prick." He warned as he pulled the needle out and placed the gauze on her skin. "Apply pressure for a few minutes to reduce the chance of bleeding."
"Thanks Alpha." Kimberly get the gauze to her arm and slid off the medical table.
"Let me walk with you Kim. Just in case." Adam offered.
She shrugged, "Sure." She didn't mind having company.
Kimberly had no trouble getting to the bathroom but she was surprised to see Adam waiting for her, outside the bathroom. They slipped down the hallway together, sharing a comforting silence as they walked. Making there way towards the others and breakfast.
In a way, walking silently but comfortable, it reminded Kimberly of there time together on the moon. Her and Adam, Justin, Bulk and Skull and... Billy. Why was it whenever things seemed to be going well something horrible had to happen? The rangers hadn't had a break in months. When it wasn't evil causing problems, it was trying to get the world back into some kind of working order. There was only so much they could do and it never seemed enough. She wished she had someone to talk to about everything. The Tommy relationship issues, and the villains, Billy being a monster now, and how the team wasn't getting along and how she felt so much like a burden to everyone and how alone she felt and...
She really missed Trini.
Kimberly was sobbing before she had any idea what was happening. Tears pouring from her eyes like a waterfall of sorrow. She had stopped walking, leaning now against the wall of the hallway for support while gasping between sobs that shook her fragile frame. It had happened so fast, it took Adam a moment to react.
"Kim! What's wrong? Does something hurt?!" Adam panicked, scanning her for wound or injury. "Kim! Talk to me!"
She didn't reply and Adam grabbed her shoulders squeezing gently in an attempt to get her to focus. "Kim please! Answer me!"
Kimberly sobbed once more and suddenly pushed herself into Adam's arms, burying her face against his chest while tears continued to flow soaking into his shirt. She clutched to the black ranger as if he was a life line and she was drowning in a sea of storms.
Adam reached his arms up, gently encircling her back and pulling her just a bit closer. "Shh Kim. It's okay. I'm here. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you."
Kimberly sobbed a little longer as Adam continued to comfort her. "I'm sorry..." she said between tears. "I shouldn't... bother you with this. I just wish I had someone to talk to."
Adam smiled warmly. "Kim, you can always talk to me. Everyone knows frogs are great listeners." He voice held a kind teasing, trying to cheer her.
Kimberly sniffed loudly and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I wish I could but... I don't know where to even begin."
Adam had taken her hand and lead her to the closest room. Which happened to be his. He led her to sit on his bed while he pulled out the chair from his desk, turning it to sit facing her. "The best place to start is at the beginning."
Kimberly hesitated but Adam only looked at her with those soft, understanding brown eyes.
And she found herself opening up to him her flood gate of worries and fears. "It all started a year ago at the Juice Bar..."
************************** Earth***********************************
So this was earth? Such an unusual planet and so very blue. Dulcea stretched her arms and tried to hold in the vomit she felt swirling in her belly. Already her hair was starting to show streaks of white and wrinkles began to form on edges of her lips and eyes.
She was dying, aging rapidly since leaving her plateau and planet. Closing her eyes she focused her mind. She could feel Ninjor but he was unconscious. That didn't matter, she had a direction now.
Changing once more into a silver winged owl Dulcea, master warrior of Phados took to the air. She would find Ninjor and the Rangers. She must do all she could to aid in stopping Ooze from being reborn.
Even at the cost of her life...
********************** Command Chamber*********************
"What do you mean he's over shot?" Rocky asked, looking at the little dot of light on the map of earth. Zordon had interrupted breakfast, calling all the ranger into the main chamber. It was odd that Adam was not there, Rocky wondered, but he had been up all night in medical. He had probably fallen asleep. Justin was still sleeping as well. Poor kid was too tired to think straight.
Zordon hadn't seemed to mind there absences.
Alpha 5 was pacing back and forth worrying. "Oh Its my fault, when I sent the coordinated. I didn't think to calculate the earth rotation period."
"So what's wrong with landing in Africa?" Aisha asked.
Zordon answered. "The sun on earth is much stronger than any light source Lerigot is used to. I am afraid he will not last long in such a hostile environment."
"Rangers we will need to send someone to go get Lerigot and bring him back to the command chamber. Oh Ai Yi Yi!"
"I'll go Alpha." Tommy volunteered. Tommy had decided, it was time he started acting like a leader.
"I'll go too. You may need back up." Katherine offered. Tommy gave a nod.
"Katherine, Tommy, that the emergency power packs. They may be of invaluable use."
"Right Zordon." Tommy said already grabbing the packs. He held out the pink one towards Katherine who took it.
"How will we know Lerigot?" Katherine asked.
Alpha 5 gave a brief description that really wasn't two helpful but she had a feeling they would know the wizard on sight.
"Hurry back." Aisha said.
"And be careful." Rocky added, "We don't know who to watch out for."
"Right. Ready Kat?"
"Ready Tommy"
Rocky watched them vanish in streaks of light. "Man, I hope they'll be okay."
Aisha put her hand on Rocky's shoulder. "I hope so too."
*****************Bulk's house********************
"How did you get so smart Bulk?" Skull asked in awe as Bulk held the sealed letter over a steaming tea pot. Letting the heat of the steam unstick the glue.
"Haven't you ever seen a detective show Numskull? This is how all those gangster detectives found clues."
"Oh look its open." Skull reached for the letter only for Bulk to pull it away, taking out the paper inside, his eyes began to hurriedly take in the words scrawled there. Skull craned his neck but couldn't see anything. "What's it say Bulk?"
Bulk shook his head. "Mrs. Kwan doesn't blame Kim, she says she's going to go be with Trini but... there is sorrow in her words. I think Kimberly will blame herself. If she had agreed to be Mrs. Kwan's daughter then her friend's mom would probably still be alive."
"Is that what you think Bulk?" Skull asked, was his best friend blaming Kim?
Bulk shook his head no."But I fear it's what Kim will think."
"So what do we do?"
Bulk was already folding up the letter and putting it back in the envelope. "For now, nothing. Hand me that glue stick will ya?"
Skull grabbed the requested item. "But... we told Ernie we'd give Kim the letter."
"And we will." Bulk said, finishing gluing the paper down. "Just not yet." He placed the envelope on his desk. "Come on, we should check in with everyone and see about talking to Zordon."
Skull nodded and the duo vanished in flashes of light.
******* Author Note************
Three chapters in four days? I think that's a record for me. I might need to take a short break for a week or so but to all my readers I promise you there is an ending to this story. Its already written on my computer, the last chapter for We failed. Now we just have to get there. ;)