Sorry this chapter took so long. It would have been up last night if a certain sight would have let me upload it... anyway, here it is. I am going to try and do the icon requests I have received from my subscribing readers. However, I have to perform community service as part of Energy Express tomorrow from 5:30-10:30 so I don't know how far I'll get. I'll try my best though. So the story is being given a break for the weekend for that. However, I'll work on it on Monday and I should have a chapter out by Friday. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 28 Carefully Searching in Vain
Katherine and Jason landed hard on a concrete floor. They looked around at their surroundings, trying to gather their bearings. Jason looked to Katherine. "Any idea where we are?"
Katherine glanced around before answering him. "Not a clue. These rooms don't look like the dungeon area, so we must be above it."
"Good guess," replied Jason. "I'll head this way and try to find a passage to the dungeons. You go and find Rita. She may already know we're here, so be careful."
"Right," nodded Katherine. "Good luck, Jason." She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a quick squeeze.
Jason nodded to her. "Same to you." Both Rangers turned in opposite directions and began slowly making their way down the hallway.
Katherine continued to watch Jason until he was out of sight. She sighed before continuing her journey along the corridor. She wouldn't tell anyone, but being near Rita again gave her goose bumps. What Rita had done to her back when she first moved to Angel Grove still hadn't left her mind. Then there was also the fact that Maroon had been Rita's own clone creation. Katherine shuddered when she thought of the girl. Maroon was… different.
A Ranger has to fight for truth and justice, using the weapons and means provided to them thought Katherine but where in the world does that cover being kissed by a clone! Where does Maroon fit into the category of the other defeated monsters? Weapons won't stop her from doing what she did to me. Nothing could stop what she did to me, not even one of my fellow Rangers. Maroon had me right where she wanted me, and I failed to stop her. Complete and utter failure.
As Katherine crept down the hallway, thoughts about Maroon clouded her mind, and she couldn't concentrate fully on her task. She tried to clear the thoughts away and focus on her mission, but failed miserably. It was no surprise then when she bumped into one of her favorite Rita minions, being knocked to the floor in the process. The minion was knocked back as well.
Rito shook his head. Whatever he'd ran into was quite solid. He shook his head and glanced upward, thinking it to be someone like Zedd or Goldar. Instead, he found himself face to face with the pink Zeo Ranger. He did a double-take. There was no way the Zeo Rangers could be here, unless…. "You're here for pretty boy and the girl, ain'tcha?"
Katherine groaned in disgust. She tried tricking him since she remembered how gullible he could be. "Um… no. I'm here to see Rita again. I've changed my mind. I'd like to be evil again."
"Really? Wow… I've always wanted a female sidekick. You always were my favorite Ranger."
If Katherine's helmet hadn't been covering her face, Rito would have seen the look of disgust plastered plain as day all over her face. At least he seemed to be buying her excuse. Perhaps if she got him to lead her to Rita, that would get her to Kimberly, or at least Tommy. At any rate, it was a good distraction. "Take me to Rita," commanded Katherine. "I must speak with her about the Rangers."
"Now that's what I like to hear! Follow me!" Rito turned and was more than happy to lead her to the secret room.
"What are Rita's plans?" asked Katherine. This could be good information for later.
"Well, she doesn't tell me much, but I do know that right now it's Tommy-boy versus Kimmy and Maroon."
Katherine was about to give a retort, but then remembered she was supposed to be playing evil. "So it is time to have the ex-couple killed off?"
"Noooo…. Rita never said so yet. She just wants to torture Tommy."
Katherine glanced up when she noticed Rito pushing a door open. Katherine heard voices inside, so she figured that this was where Tommy and Kimberly were being held captive. These aren't the dungeons thought Katherine I should contact Jason, but if I do, Rito will suspect that something is up. I can't ruin my cover now. I hope Jason finds out soon.
Rito pointed toward the center of the room where Tommy lay pinned to the floor by the girls. One held his arms down while the other held his legs. Katherine guessed that the one holding Tommy's arms down was Kimberly, but only because she was battered and bruised, whereas the other had not a scratch. Then it hit Katherine: Why was Kimberly able to use her legs. She was snapped from her daydream by a clearing of the throat. Sheepishly she followed Rito toward Rita.
"Hey sis! Look who I've brought for you!" announced Rito.
Rita raised an eyebrow. "You actually captured a Ranger?"
"Well… yeah I guess you could call it that," replied Rito, scratching his head. "She kinda just told me she wanted to work for us again."
"Is this true?" asked Rita to Katherine. "Power down so that I can see you are telling the truth."
Katherine gulped, but de-morphed. She put on her best angry face and hoped for the best that her body language would convey the truth. She knew that Rita would be watching her closely. Katherine cleared her throat, then said, "My empress I want nothing more than to have Tommy destroyed. After the way he treated me, he deserves nothing but death. Even then that may be too good for him."
"Hmm… you sound like you mean it… but can you actually do it? Yes, I want to see you join in the fight over there…"
As Rita trailed off, Tommy shouted in pain. Maroon had just kicked him in the groin and then the stomach. Katherine turned and watched the fight for a few seconds. Rita noticed this hesitancy. "Can't do it, Kitty-Kat?"
Katherine knew that if she didn't think of something quick, her game would end all too soon. "I can do it my empress. I am simply deciding on the best way to attack Tommy. After all, he has to suffer, right?"
Rita smirked. "Good girl. Now get in there before I change my mind about you!" She gave Katherine a shove forward, making Katherine stumble, but she caught herself in time.
Katherine took a deep breath. She didn't want to hurt Tommy, but she had to if she were to buy Jason time to find them. She joined in the fight, apologizing in her mind to Tommy over and over again. Tommy got one glance at her and Katherine about gave in when she saw the look in his eyes. She tried to let him know that this wasn't real, but before she could, Tommy passed out. She drew back, along with Maroon and Kimberly.
"Excellent work, girls. That pleased me. Now, Maroon and Katherine step back into the shadows. It's time for more mind games with sweet Kimberly here. Once I take the spell off, she won't remember a thing, making it easy for me to manipulate her into thinking she beat Tommy up." The two retreated into the shadows and Katherine was forced to watch the ensuing scene. Maroon simply giggled softly. Katherine glared at her and Maroon shushed, thinking Katherine didn't want the two given away.
Rita turned and walked to Kimberly. "Excellent work my girl. Now it's time for you to see what you truly have down." As she spoke those words, she aimed her scepter at Kimberly, shooting forth a beam of white light. Kimberly crumpled to the floor as her legs became paralyzed again, crying out.
"Excellent work, Kimberly," boomed a voice from behind her.
Kimberly turned and looked at Rita. "What are you talking about?"
"I think you should take a look at the center of the room and you'll see why. I didn't think you had it in you, but obviously you proved me wrong."
As soon as Kimberly saw Tommy lying there, her hand flew to her mouth and she shook her head, tears forming. It couldn't have been… She couldn't have turned on Tommy. "Oh but you did," answered Rita as though being able to read her thoughts.
"No, no… I couldn't have…. I can't walk… I can barely speak in a full voice… I couldn't have…." Kimberly rambled on as her mutterings became jumbled together in one long sentence.
"Well, for starters, this is part of the reason," added Rita as she again zapped Kimberly with her scepter. Kimberly found herself being raised up and able to stand on her own two feet.
"Just because… I can walk doesn't… mean I can fight him…" gasped Kimberly.
"But you did. I saw it with my own eyes. You were quite vicious, going at Tommy in a blind fury—" Rita was interrupted as the door once again opened. "Oh for pete's sake what is it now!" she yelled.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but I have something you might like," called Goldar as he entered the room.
"It had better be good," remarked Rita.
"It most definitely is if you want the Gold Zeo Ranger. I found him in the dungeon area looking for something."
"He was probably looking for these two," answered Rita as she motioned to Kimberly and Tommy.
From the shadows, Katherine's anger boiled. Jason had been captured and now there were no Rangers to keep Rita at bay. She had to do something… she couldn't just stand there and watch this. Goldar dragged Jason in behind him, bound by some type of magical rope. Katherine simply couldn't stand there and watch any longer. Her teammate needed her, and here she was hiding in the shadows. Katherine sneaked a peek over at Maroon, who had eyes only for the scene in front of her.
I can't just let this happen… I have to help out. Forget the evil me. I've got to morph again. "Zeo Ranger I, pink!" Maroon watched her morph and pounced as soon as the light disappeared, but Katherine wasn't there. Maroon was greeted by the hard floor instead. Katherine ran toward Tommy before Rita could stop her. She bent over him, cradling his head in her arms. "Tommy, wake up. You've got to morph and help us out. Jason and I need you." Tommy didn't respond.
"He can't morph even if he wanted to. He's missing a piece to his morpher, as well as his communicator. You'll have to get through the Tengas and Goldar if you want it back!"
Katherine knew she was going to need Jason's help. She knew she couldn't do it by herself. She ran for Goldar, but a group of Tengas blocked her path. Just great… I need help getting to Goldar. When Katherine glanced up, she noticed Goldar had disappeared, leaving Jason's rope to fall to the floor. Jason struggled to free himself from it, finally succeeding.
"Jason! We've got to get Tommy's morpher piece back!"
"Gotcha!" he shouted back as he began to fight his way through the Tengas.
Katherine had no time to search for Goldar as the Tenga warriors bombarded her. She ducked and began fighting back. The Tengas were putting up a good fight and threw Katherine to the ground.
"Kat! I know you can do it!" shouted Kimberly using all the strength she could muster.
Katherine pulled herself to her feet and took another fighting stance. She wouldn't let Kimberly and Tommy down. They'd been through too much to see their fellow Rangers lose. Katherine's punches became more vicious and the ranks of Tenga's slowly disappeared. Finally, Katherine's path was clear and led straight to Goldar. Katherine looked around for Jason, and noticed that he was still fighting. She would simply have to go at it alone.
"Not so fast," hissed Maroon, jumping on her back. "You won't get that piece back so easily."
"Get off me!" shouted Katherine as she began trying to shake Maroon off.
"Now, now, that's not very nice you know. You should simply be kind and let me enjoy the ride."
"You will never enjoy anything ever again after I am through with you!"
"Not so fast you ugly bitch!" shouted Kimberly as she tried to drag Maroon off of Katherine's back. She tugged and pulled as hard as she could. Just when she'd lost all hope that she'd succeed, she ended up tossing Maroon into Rita, falling backwards herself.
Rita fell to the floor, and rose back up an angry queen. Maroon scampered away from her side, not wanting to feel any of her wrath. Rita shot her scepter at the first thing that moved, which just happened to be Goldar. Goldar became frozen to his spot, the morpher and communicator in his hands.
"Jason, look!" shouted Katherine and pointed.
Jason nodded and dove toward Goldar. He quickly grabbed the items from Goldar's hands and ran to Tommy along with Kat. They had to wake him up and get him to morph, otherwise they were going to be in big trouble. Unless Tommy had his own morpher and communicator, Katherine and Jason were going to have a hard time holding on to it. The Tengas began advancing in and Jason doubled his efforts to wake Tommy up. "Come on Tommy! We need you!" he shouted.
Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Can Tommy be woken up in time to battle against Rita and her crew? Will Kimberly be taken away from Rita? Find out next time on Windmill into the Fall!