Surprise! Early update. The family's gone on vacation, which leaves me stuck at home with the pets. (I can't go because Energy Express is a service, not a job, and therefore no vacation days). The nice part about it is that I am able to work on this fic and Unlucky Clover as often as I want, just like I did when I was in college. Last chapter received some really good reviews, especially for Katherine's part. I'm glad you liked her role. Definitely a highlight of the fic.
I'm working on chapter 34 as we speak so hopefully you'll see another update this week. Who knows? Unlucky Clover may update early too, but I'm not certain. I've chapters in the wings, just haven't wanted to post them all too soon. Enjoy!
Chapter 33 Collision Course for Pink
Katherine had redrawn her blaster and held it out, directly pointing it at Rito. One small move that wasn't allowed, just one, and she'd blast him to pieces. They'd driven her too far. Turning her evil was one thing, but using a potion to control her and use sexual desire against her was too much. Not even Katherine could find it in her heart to forgive Rita for any of it. It had been the old witch's fault entirely. Maroon and Rito had followed orders, going along with her plan. They were all to blame. Everyone one of them, but Rita most of all.
She watched Rito squirm. He was obviously not used to betraying his sister and her husband. The nervous twitching of his arms and quick side to side glances told her everything she needed to know—she was in control of him now. He was doing as she commanded and she knew he wasn't going to try and pull any stunts. His body language conveyed that. "How much farther?" she asked coldly.
"Not… too.. far.." answered Rito in an almost whisper.
"What did you say? I can't hear you." She asked, poking the blaster into his back.
"Not too much farther! I swear!" answered Rito excitedly in an above normal voice.
"Good." Katherine was actually smirking underneath her helmet. Now that Maroon didn't have any type of potion (at least that's what she hoped), she was going to force her into combat. As long as Maroon didn't back her into an area to use her special bonding technique, she was fine. Katherine shuddered to think of what she would do if she caught her in a trap like the last time. Katherine was sure that Maroon wouldn't stop at just kissing. She'd had her fill of Katherine's mouth the last time, which Katherine was sure of. She shuddered uncomfortably.
Rito stopped suddenly, causing Katherine to ram the blaster into his back. He winced, but didn't say anything. He wasn't going to risk anymore of her anger. "We have arrived," he stated simply.
Katherine looked to the door, and then back at Rito. The door was not labeled and she didn't trust Rito. He could have simply picked a random door in the hallway, and Katherine wouldn't have known the difference. "Knock," was her simple command.
"But, I don't think that's…"
"Knock!"
Rito sighed and turned to knock on the door. As he did so, he noticed a scrambling noise from inside before the answer was screamed. "What the hell is it now!"
"It is Rito. I have brought someone for you."
Katherine was very pleased with the way that Rito was answering Maroon's call. Let her think that he has brought her another prisoner. She will be all the more eager to answer the door. She jabbed Rito in the back to remind him that she was still there.
"I don't need any other prisoners. I am too busy preparing for the last step in the plan. Take the prisoner to your sister. I don't need whoever it is."
"I have brought you the pink Zeo Ranger though. She is a suitable toy for you," replied Rito with the quickest response that he could come up with.
This time, Maroon took longer to answer. "She is there?" asked Maroon, trying to confirm.
"Yes," answered Rito, gulping. "She is with me as we speak."
Katherine smiled as she heard the door began to creak open. Maroon was going to fall for the trap. She was going to be able to have a "chat" with her one on one and hopefully get Kimberly out in the process.
Finster's Lab
Maroon had been preparing for the final plan. She had brought the supplies inside the room that had been left for her—two folded wheelchairs. She knew why they had been sent. The plan would fail if Kimberly didn't have a wheelchair to use. The plan couldn't fail. Maroon resigned herself to learning how to work one of the darned things properly. It was tougher than she'd first thought, but she was getting the hang of it.
Kimberly watched from her "hiding" spot with strained amusement. Rita really was going all out this time if she was making Maroon learn how to use a wheelchair properly. Kimberly watched Maroon, trying to figure out the next step of the plan. Then it clicked. Once again, Kimberly knew she was going to be the toy. Maroon was going to be her counterpart. Together, they would confuse the Rangers as to who was really Kimberly. Kimberly had a feeling that the idea was to try and kill her in the process by making a mistake, bringing the Rangers into more chaos and turmoil.
Sighing, Kimberly began trying to think about other things. Her mind began to turn to Tommy. What had happened to him? Was he all right? She knew the extent of what Maroon could truly do. Was what she'd seen in her dream going to come true? Was Tommy going to die? She couldn't bear to think of such a thing. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
The Rangers had to defeat Rita. The Rangers always won, tough battles or not. Kimberly knew that no matter what Rita had tossed toward Earth, the Rangers had always defeated. The Rangers always win. The Rangers always win. Kimberly kept repeating the phrase to herself. It had to work this time. It just had to. The Rangers never failed.
Just then, a knocking on the door startled both of them. Rito had brought prisoner. Kimberly watched as Maroon conversed with him and hoped beyond all hope that somehow Maroon was being trapped in a trick. It couldn't help to wish.
Maroon opened the door to peek out at Rito and the prisoner. Rito had said he'd brought the pink Ranger. Kimberly became afraid. Katherine had been caught too. The Rangers were failing she thought miserably. My fault… it's all my fault.
Kimberly watched through tears as the door closed again. There was Katherine, being led in by Maroon. Her head was lowered and she walked with defeat. Maroon shoved her into a corner by punching her in the stomach. Katherine groaned before collapsing to the ground. Maroon smirked and then went back to using her wheelchair.
Katherine groaned to herself. That punch to the stomach had a good bit of power behind it. However, her plan had worked. Maroon had fallen for her plot and Rito had carried everything out perfectly. That idiot had been good for something after all. She knew that he'd keep his mouth shut, at least for the time being. She glanced around the room, trying to find out where Kimberly was. Her eyes scanned, straining to catch sight of Kimberly.
Finally, she caught sight of a piece of flesh, barely recognizable as such due to the blood and dirt covering it. She followed the trail in the shadows and suddenly found herself locking eyes with Kimberly. She was shocked at seeing her again. Kimberly looked so… dejected and miserable. Katherine knew that Rita and Maroon had taken things too far. She had to do something. For Kimberly.
Katherine watched Maroon carefully, planning her course of action. She decided it best to tackle her from behind, though it was risky. If she stayed near the wheelchair too long, Maroon might bond her to it. On the other hand, if she could simply tackle Maroon to the floor, then perhaps she could deal with Maroon in her own way. At the moment, Maroon didn't seem to care about Katherine. She still believed that Katherine was a prisoner. Katherine noticed Kimberly still watching her. She gave her a thumbs up when Maroon's back was turned and then pointed at Maroon while nodding her head. She hoped that Kimberly got the meaning of her message.
Kimberly watched Katherine keenly. When Katherine made hand gestures at her, she knew that all hope was not lost. Katherine was going to take care of Maroon, or at least try to. It was a trick, simply a trick. In a sudden thought, Kimberly wondered what Kat thought of her now that she'd seen her. What did Kat think about her disability? What did Kat think about her injuries sustained? Kimberly shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking about that. She was caring too much about what the others thought. She had to focus on the fight to come instead. Katherine was planning to attack to try and save her, and she had to try and be ready for anything and everything. If Katherine was successful, then she had to be ready to teleport away with Katherine. And if Katherine wasn't… well, she didn't want to think about that, but even so she had to be ready to deal with whatever the next step in the plan was.
Katherine paced her breathing, tried to calm herself. She had to plan this just right. She had to make sure Maroon wasn't looking. She took one last look at Kimberly, hoping to gather courage from her. Kimberly saw her again and nodded. Katherine returned the nod. Then she counted to herself before jumping at Maroon.
Maroon was facing the door when she felt a body jump onto her back and push her forward from the wheelchair. She tumbled to the floor, slamming her face onto the stone floor. Whatever was on her back flipped her over and pinned her down. She glanced up in her now hazy vision to see the pink Zeo Ranger staring back down at her. She coughed before trying to force Katherine off of her. "Get off," she growled.
"Never," answered Katherine. "I will take you down. You won't be able to continue your plan."
"Don't be so sure of yourself," retorted Maroon as she kicked Katherine from behind, successfully throwing her over her own body. The top of Katherine's helmet slammed onto the floor, and Katherine rolled onto her back. She groaned and held her head. She looked up only to find Maroon standing there. "I told you."
Katherine hated Maroon. She hated her more than anyone she'd ever faced up unto this point. She pulled herself to a standing position and faced Maroon. "Fight me. Fight as you should."
"I will fight as I please. You do not define my style of fighting."
Katherine threw a right hook, but Maroon blocked it. "No, I don't, but you take your style from Kimberly's moves."
"Mmhmm, maybe, but my toy is educational. I learn much from her."
Katherine's blood boiled. There it was again. That word. No one should have to be called that, be treated that way. Kimberly didn't deserve it. "She's not your toy!"
"I believe she is. She's been beat up pretty badly, but she's still my toy. I can call her as I please. Nothing you say will change that."
Katherine watched as Maroon began fooling with objects in the room. First, she folded and tossed the wheelchair she'd been using against the other one. It appeared as though she was making more room so that she and Katherine could fight. Katherine took up her stance, waiting for Maroon to finish her bit of rearranging.
Maroon again turned to face Katherine. "Are you waiting for something?" she asked.
"I am simply waiting on you to fight as you should. Not like you did with me the last time."
"Oh but you rather enjoyed that. I know I did. It was so much fun too."
"Stop bringing up that topic!" yelled Katherine as she swung at Maroon's head, but Maroon ducked before her attack could connect.
"Simply touchy about that. I know you secretly enjoyed it. I could tell." Maroon was enjoying riling Katherine up. She knew it'd be the way to distract Katherine. If she could boil her blood enough, then she could put the second part of her plan into action. She had to get out of here with Kimberly. She had stayed in one place too long and was becoming anxious. It was time for the rest of Rita's plan, yet Katherine was ruining it. Why had she listened to Rito in the first place? It had obviously been a trap, now that she looked back on it. Katherine had tricked Rito into playing a part he should never have. Yes, she was certain that was it.
Kimberly watched the fight from her hiding spot. She wondered what banter Maroon and Katherine were truly talking about. Whatever it was, Katherine was bothered by it. Please don't lose concentration to anger wished Kimberly. She didn't dare speak up; she was afraid of what Maroon would do to her after Katherine was gone and she was still captured. She knew the next part of the plan and she didn't want to take part in it.
Pulling herself deeper into the shadows, Kimberly sighed. She looked down at her body, at least the part she could she see in the streaks of light. Blood, cuts, bruises—she was a badly beaten human being. Yet her friends were still fighting to get her back, no matter what her condition was.
Katherine and Maroon continued to face off. "Come on. Admit it, Kitty Kat. You enjoyed that kiss as much as I did. I felt the heat from your body increase, no matter how much you tried to hide it."
Katherine charged at Maroon, but Maroon quickly dodged and moved one hundred eighty degrees to the right. Katherine and she continued to fight on and off, trading punches. Katherine focused entirely on Maroon, forgetting about her special weapon. It was to be her downfall. Maroon noticed that she was leaning against the table and grinned. Perfect…"Near the table, there you be, but now you're stuck in your misery," she whispered softly.
Katherine made to charge at Maroon, but found that she couldn't move. She was stuck to the table, which was even too heavy to pull along with her. "Damn you Maroon!" she shouted in a burst of anger.
Maroon smirked. "I thought you'd like. You were too angry to notice your physical surroundings. You forgot to remember to avoid getting caught by my bonding. Tsk tsk. Now, with you stuck to that table, it's time to put the next piece of the plan into action."
"You're not going to get away with this!" shouted Katherine.
"And you're really going to stop me?" questioned Maroon as she dragged Kimberly from her hiding place by her arm and over to the pile of wheelchairs. "We're off to Earth. Tell your Ranger friends to meet us there," she instructed as she teleported away. Just before she did, she released the bond on Katherine. Katherine hadn't been expecting this, and fell forward, catching herself on her knees.
"No… no… I lost her again!" grumbled Katherine. "I've got to find the other Rangers. We've got to get out of here and back to the Power Chamber to regroup. Maroon must be stopped at all costs!"
And thus ends the chapter. I hope you all enjoyed these chapters of Katherine and her revenge for being tortured. Keep on the lookout for the next chapter!
Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Maroon lectures Kimberly on the latest mission while Katherine searches for the boys. The trio teleports back to the Power Chamber to regroup and gather the other Rangers. The final battle is about to begin, but are the Rangers prepared?