So as many of you know, I've had this chapter done for a bit now, but I told you I'd wait to post it because of my other fic :) Anyway, here's the latest!
Chapter 31 Crash, Bang, Trouble
Rita was getting a headache watching Jason and Goldar fight. She had thought that by unfreezing Goldar, things would quickly progress, but Goldar and Jason were and had always been mortal enemies. Both were closely matched, but Goldar was more on the defense than the offense. That monkey always let her down in times of trouble.
Two figures came running in from opposite directions, swarming around Rita. One was Maroon, and the other was Finster. "You!" they both shouted.
"What the hell is this?" asked Rita.
Finster, out of breath, spoke first. "That… thing wrecked my lab!" he shouted, pointing at Maroon
"Oh please. I was borrowing it to fulfill the empress's wishes."
"I don't think she meant that you were to destroy my lab too!"
"Oh great… another freaking headache…" mumbled Rita.
"Relax you old goon. I didn't destroy it."
"I heard it! You can't deny the fact that bottles were sent crashing!"
"One bottle. One bottle went crashing. One empty bottle, is more like it. Sheesh. You're freaking out over nothing."
Rita found the argument between the two amusing, but she had more important things to deal with than two fighting henchmen. "Finster, shut up. Maroon, give me your progress. I know that's the only reason you're here."
Maroon bowed. "Yes my empress. I have copied Kimberly's body exactly to my own. There should be no way to tell us apart simply by looking at us."
"You must remember to sound like her two. If you give one slip up, they will know you aren't the real Kimberly."
"I know. I have been going over Kimberly's memories for some time now. If I analyze enough of them, I should be able to confuse the Rangers into killing her, and not me."
"Perfect… the death of a Ranger should throw the rest into discord."
"That is what I am hoping for. That way, you may be able to still get to Tommy."
"Hmm… yes I do believe that will work for now. Return to Finster's lab until I summon you and Kimberly to go to Earth."
"What!" Finster yelled in outrage. First Rita allowed Maroon to get away with destroying his lab, and now this. Maroon was not entitled to the lab in any way, yet Rita was giving her complete access.
Rita turned to him. "She's using it for now. End of story. No more talking about it. Deal with it."
"Of all the nerve…" Finster mumbled as he stormed off. This was not his day. He'd make sure Maroon paid for everything she'd done to him. He just needed a plan. Oh forget the plan he thought miserably. Forget everything. It won't work, no matter what I do. I simply am not as strong as my queen.
Rito lay on his stomach on his bed. Katherine sat beside him, massaging his bones. At least something good has come of this he thought. Rito was never one to pass up a massage, as he so rarely was on the receiving end of one. If he wasn't going to use Katherine as a lover, at least she could be his personal slave. After all, she did desire his body. "Mmm…."
"I am happy to please you, my love," answered Katherine as she ran her hands over his back.
"Yeah, you keep it up," replied Rito. "This is the life."
Katherine was more than happy to continue massaging Rito's back. A thought tugged at the back of her mind, beckoning her to recognize its importance. She merely pushed the thought aside. As she massaged a particularly tight spot on Rito's shoulder, she asked, "Is there anything else I can do?"
Rito wanted to say "Help me get this potion off of you" but he didn't. Even though he wanted to be rid of the love spell he had over Katherine, he didn't want her to suddenly turn on him. An angry Ranger was not something he was suitable to dealing with, no matter what kind of front he put up for his sister and her husband. He sighed and began to think of ways he could get rid of it, all the while still enjoying the massage.
"What's wrong?" asked Katherine. She had heard Rito's sigh and wasn't happy when he wasn't happy.
"Nothing babe. Hey, I need to step out for a second. You wait here though, okay?"
The face fall in Katherine was obvious, but Rito knew he had to get rid of the spell once and for all. "I'll be back real soon, okay? This won't take me very long." Rito stepped out the door and gently shut it behind him. Katherine looked longingly at the door for a few minutes before turning her attention to herself.
Rito power walked down the maze of hallways, eager to find his sister. He had to find out how to get rid of the spell. He was walking so quickly that he didn't see Finster come rushing in his direction. The two crashed to the ground. Both sat there dazed for a few minutes before trying to clear their heads. Rito was the first to speak up. "Watch where you're going you little munchkin!"
Finster gasped. "I will not have such disrespect thrown upon me!"
"Whatever you wet dog," replied Rito. "Outta my way. I gotta go find my sister and figure out how to get this cursed spell off Katherine. It's driving me insane."
Finster readjusted his glasses before speaking. "Are you referring to the Desire potion, female version?"
"Uh… yeah. Whatever that gunk was that Rita gave me earlier," replied Rito.
"Why, all you have to do is not desire her anymore, and the potion's effects will wear away. You must think the opposite of what the potion is intended for."
"So you mean, I gotta hate her?"
"Precisely," nodded Finster.
"Well shoot. That's easier than I thought it'd be. I was thinking I'd have to do some stupid spell chanting or something."
"No," answered Finster, shaking his head. "You just have to stop wanting her anymore. Then she'll be free of the spell until you apply more."
"Hmm… all right. Well, I guess I don't have to go see Rita anymore. Thanks for the answers!" called Rito as he turned back in the direction that he'd come from.
Finster shook his head as he dusted himself off and rose to his feet. That brother of Rita's was more trouble than he was worth. However, he had brought the team the Tenga warriors, even though it had taken Finster to make them actually worth the trouble to use them in battle. A smile crossed his face as he thought of his latest accomplishment with the bunch of birdbrains. If only he'd had more time, he could have changed so much more… Finster sighed and continued on. Such dreaming wasn't worth scheming.
Finster's Lab
Kimberly sat on the table, lost to the world. She had spaced out shortly after Maroon had locked her in the room alone. What was the point of even considering escaping when it wasn't possible? Her legs made everything impossible in the Ranger world. They only allowed her to become a target and to be pain for the other Rangers involved. If I'd never returned home, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have caused the Zeo team to become involved in my own misery, nor to risk their lives to save me. I used to think that being a cripple wouldn't matter to them, and even though they don't show it, they must think me a burden for involving them in this. Tommy's almost died because of me. I never could have forgiven myself for that. Goodness knows what's been going on with the other Rangers. There's been a pain in Katherine's eyes ever since I've been near her. Something terrible happened to her, but what that was is a mystery. I need to think of some way to get back at Maroon. I can't always stop fighting… I've done enough giving up. I may have not been able to help it, but I sure as hell can leave my mark on Maroon. She won't forget me.
Kimberly sighed and began lazily drawing her finger around the wooden swirls on the table. Things were changing, whether she wanted them to or not. She should have been able to accept this by now, especially after her injury, but she simply couldn't. The life she had planned for herself only a year ago had gone completely out the window. No Tommy, no Pan Globals, no Olympics. The three things she'd thought she'd have or be working toward were gone now. The original roadmap was forevermore gone, and a new one had yet to be etched.
The door creaked open, but Kimberly never heard it, instead caught up in her thoughts. Maroon slipped inside and was about to make a comment, but she caught Kimberly with her back turned away from the door and seemingly daydreaming. She decided that this would be the perfect time to toy with Kimberly. After all, she did have time to kill until Rita needed her to confuse the Rangers. Might as well spend my free time wisely... after all, I bet Kimberly could use a bit of fun. I haven't played with her in awhile… She chuckled at that thought.
Maroon stealthily crossed the floor and climbed upon the wooden table, banging her knee in the process. She sucked in her breath, and waited for the pain to subside before moving. Miraculously, Kimberly didn't even flinch at the sound. Maroon crept slowly along the table top until she was almost against Kimberly's backside. She wanted to make sure this was executed properly… otherwise it wouldn't have the full effect on the girl. She leaned closer, until she knew that her breath would tickle the hairs on the back of Kimberly's neck.
"Someone's drifted off to another world," she whispered into Kimberly's right ear.
Kimberly jumped and knocked her head against Maroon's, who fell backwards onto the table. "Holy shit!" Kimberly shouted. "What are you doing!"
Maroon groaned. Okay that was not the plan. "None of your business," she muttered.
Kimberly spun herself around on the table, facing the downed Maroon. "Are you trying to get me like you got Tommy? Trying to get me for your own fun and games, your own selfish pleasure? This is just another game to you isn't it? That's what toys are for—games. Games are played with toys until they are useless and tossed aside. That's all I'm good for. I'm good until I'm dead. Then you'll toss me aside and take up a new toy, treating it the same way as you treated me."
Maroon's head was reeling from the shock of what Kimberly had just said. That girl had not said much, not until now. Had Maroon successfully pushed her too far, pushed her so that she'd respond and fight back? If so, it only made things even more fun. It did get a bit boring always having to spend more time reading emotions than thinking of a retort. "Of course not, Kimberly," she lied sweetly. "You are my favorite toy of all that I've had so far. I like you for my games."
"You're lying, and you know it. Besides, why should there be games? Why not cut straight to the point?" murmured Kimberly. Oh god what am I doing…I don't want to, can't do this at all…but if I don't… no there's no other way to trick her. At least, no other way that she will easily fall for.
Maroon did a double take. What was Kimberly up to? This had to be a trick, had to be a trap for certain. She decided to play along, just to give Kimberly the satisfaction that she was getting the upper hand for once. Maroon sat up and spoke. "I was wondering when you'd say that. Games are only wasting my time getting to my true goal." She leaned closer to Kimberly's face, close enough so that she was right near Kimberly's grasp.
Almost… closer… c'mon… thought Kimberly. Maroon was falling into her trap perfectly. Kimberly was sure that she didn't see what was to come. Finally, Maroon was close enough. With lightning speed, Kimberly reached out and grabbed Maroon by the head, slamming it back onto the table. She fell off the table in the process and quickly pulled herself to a dark corner while Maroon was still trying to collect herself.
"Why you little bitch…" growled Maroon as she sat up again on the table. That stupid toy had gotten the best of her and she hadn't seen that tactic coming. Oh it was time for little miss Kimberly to pay dearly for what she'd just done. "I've a flaming headache because of you!" she shouted.
Kimberly pulled her body in as tightly as she could. She knew that whatever Maroon did to her now would be ten times worse that what had been going on before, but she had to do it. She had to show Maroon that she could fight back too. She may be paralyzed, but there were times when she could fight. Kimberly listened closely for the sound of Maroon slipping off of the table.
Maroon rubbed the back of her head, which was throbbing like mad. Curse her… she will pay for what she's done to me. It's too bad I can't kill her. What a pleasure that would be. I could watch her face distort in pain, watch her beg fearfully for her life. "Please spare me, Maroon, I don't want to die by your hand," she'll beg me. But will I grant that pathetic human's simple wish? Maybe I once would have, but not now. Kimberly is going to die and I will make sure she suffers greatly. She swung her feet over the table and slipped down. Kimberly was hiding somewhere in the room and it wouldn't take long to find her. Maroon decided to play a little game with her. She picked up the pieces of glass that littered the floor from the broken bottle. "I'm coming to find you, Kimberly. I've a few sharp surprises just for you…" she called out into the shadows.
Oh look, cliff hanger! What happens next? Your guess is as good as mine!
Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Maroon goes on a hunt for Kimberly. Will her anger prove to be a downfall? Find out next time on Windmill into the Fall!