CHAPTER 5 - RESCUE OPERATION
The Green Ranger stopped in the middle of the corridor when he felt them teleport in followed immediately by a block on all forms of teleportation. It seemed Zedd wasn't taking any chances. The corridor was smoothly blank, no doors, no air vents. Goldar and Scorpina were behind him along with two dozen Wraths. Lord Zedd stood before him, another two dozen Wraths a short distance behind him.
"Overkill?" Tommy drawled. "Or do you just think so little of your toy soldiers that it'd take over four dozen of them to take on one little teenager?"
Zedd chuckled but made no comment on Tommy's words. "You feel different, my child." He closed the distance between them, his gaze scanning the boy before him. Nothing looked different yet the feeling remained.
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It went smoother than they could have hoped. Almost everyone fell to Rocky and Adam's attack, the few remaining died at a glance from Striker. Connor broke open the cell door and Justin immediately moved to the six captives. They were all injured but only Mr. Scot was unconscious. The rest followed Connor's orders, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Harte carried Mr. Scot as the Rangers led the way out. Before long, they reached the teleport point and returned with all six adults to the Command Centre.
The Dino Rangers helped their parents to the med lab. Jason glanced at his father a few times, torn between worrying about him and being angry that his attitude led to this trouble. His anger remained the strongest though as Tommy had yet to return.
Once in the lab, Justin began healing the minor wounds while Billy and Trini scanned for anything else.
"You signaled him?" Jason asked Connor, even though he knew the answer. Connor was a good man, a talented leader, and there was no way he would forget such an important step. It would have helped though if Jason knew how Connor signaled Tommy since all communications were blocked. Yet when planning, neither Tommy nor Connor seemed to think the blocks would be a problem.
Connor offered the other leader a smile. "You might be more used to him fighting your style, Jason, but Tommy's like us. He'll be back when he finishes."
Connor walked off, checked on his set, knowing if he stayed near Jason he just might slip and mention Tommy's current location as the two were speaking telepathically. If surrounded by his boys, he didn't have to worry if he slipped and spoke aloud.
Jason watched him go, still deeply worried for his brother but now wondering what else Tommy planned to do while on the moon.
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We're clear, Connor's voice sounded in Tommy's mind. No witnesses.
"Different?" Tommy repeated with a hint of confusion he didn't feel. The Green Dragon Line was of Zedd's family so it was only to be expected he'd sense some difference in Tommy now. How much he felt and what he could tell from that feeling was the only unknown factor. As Tommy spoke with Zedd, he telepathically informed Connor of his situation while telling him not to mention it to any of the Dino Rangers. The two Rangers began to form a basic plan of escape, though nothing solid could be known until they knew Zedd's next move.
"Tomi," Zedd said, his tone that of a parent scolding an errant child. It was not a tone of voice Lord Zedd had ever used before, for any reason.
Tommy stayed silent and still, unsure what to think of Zedd's unusual reactions. If the Dark Emperor was going to treat him completely different than anyone else he'd ever dealt with before, it would take some time to be able to predict anything about him.
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Connor frowned as Tommy's latest thoughts filled his mind.
"What's wrong, Boss?" Striker asked softly, taking care his words didn't carry beyond the boys of the set.
"Lord Zedd's acting different with Tommy," Connor said. "It's not completely bad though. He's being … nicer."
Striker frowned now. "That'll make the planning more difficult. But I guess it'll make it more likely he'll be alive for us to execute the plan."
"There is that."
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Zedd grew tired of Tommy's continued silence. "Power down."
Tommy bit back his initial response. After a slight hesitation he said, "That sounds a little suicidal to me."
Zedd laughed. "Power down and come with me now and you will be unharmed. Doing anything else would be the 'suicidal' move, my boy."
Tommy thought for a second. The odds were against him at the moment, even without Zedd's presence. There was no way he could take on that force and Zedd himself without revealing the Thunder Powers. He couldn't call in backup either - the Dino line was still completely blocked and the Thunder couldn't teleport directly in anymore than he could teleport out. Even if they could, calling them now would be revealing secrets best kept. That was the whole reason he'd come in as a distraction, so Zedd wouldn't know how the rescue was accomplished. Which meant the only choice was to go along with Zedd for the moment.
Tommy concentrated on making sure the de-morph wouldn't look any different than before. In the usual flash of green light that Tommy was so glad to see, Tommy stood unmasked before the Dark Lord.
"Wise choice, my boy," Zedd said, smirking. "Come." He turned and led Tommy further down the corridor, the forces before and after matching step. They were five levels below ground when Zedd stopped before a doorway. He opened the door and motioned Tommy inside. "Make yourself at home, my child. We have much to discuss when I return."
Zedd sealed the door behind Tommy with massive magic, leaving only a blank wall visible inside. Tommy felt the blocks on the level and knew he'd be unable to teleport or morph so instead of wasting time trying, he looked around the rooms.
It was a massive apartment, grander even than the Senatorial estate he'd been sent to on occasion while he was in Seetha's possession. Everything was done in green and black making even the best lighted areas seem gloomy.
It entered through an entrance hall lined with portraits of all previous holders of the Green Dragon Storm Power. The sitting room was larger than any place Tommy ever lived and set up with a comfortable looking main sitting area along with several more intimate settings around. The dining room table was intricately carved and while it didn't look the slightest bit comfortable it did look like you would expect to find in the home of an Emperor of a most prestigious empire. There was only one bedroom and the closet was filled with clothing in Tommy's size. All green of course. The bed looked comfortable. The bathroom was larger than Tommy's apartment and had a full hot tub and jucuzzi and walk in shower, each one big enough for all the Rangers to share. Next he found a gym stocked with the machines he used to work out, a dojo without any weaponry, and finally a library larger than his school. No kitchen. No one else present anywhere in the rooms.
Tommy returned to the sitting room and took a seat in the far corner and began planning strategy with Connor.
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Continued - Let me know what you think. Review