Return of an Old Evil
Disclaimer: Same as before except I own Rakor and Sario.
A/N: Things are starting to happen! Same pairings(the original rangers will come in real soon now, just be patient a little longer) as stated before.
Chapter 3
Andros didn't get much sleep that night. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, and soon. He tossed and turned for hours until he finally drifted off into a dreamless and somewhat restless sleep. He awoke sometime around six a.m., and after trying unsuccessfully go back to sleep for close to thirty minutes, finally gave it up and got out of bed and decided to work out on the Simudeck before breakfast.
He pulled on some workout clothes and headed for the Simudeck, stopping briefly at the galley to get a glass of water, and trying to be as quiet as possible, so as not to wake any of the others. He programmed his workout into the computer and got started.
Back on KO-35, people were trying to find out why all these purple jars had appeared downtown without any warning a short while ago, and what they were for. Several people were shaking them and banging them gently against the ground, each other, and even their hands in an effort to figure them out.
Finally, one man opened one and looked at its contents with confusion. It was filled with some kind of purple slime. "What the heck is this?" He asked out loud to everyone. "It looks like purple snot." He then smelled the slime. "Ugh! And it smells like rotten eggs!" He wrinkled his nose as other people began opening jars and smelling the contents for themselves.
A woman then touched the purple slime. "Ooh, it's warm. And smoo---." Her voice cut off as purple electricity snaked from the slime to her hand and up her arm all the way to her head. A moment later she dropped the jar, and with a totally blank look in her eyes began to walk away. This confused everyone and more people touched the slime to try and figure out what made her have such a reaction. It was all for naught though, as the same thing happened to everyone who touched it. Soon the streets were filled with zombie- like people walking quickly to an unknown destination.
Two young men, who had watched the whole thing from a hiding place behind a cargo truck nearby didn't know what to make of it at all except that it totally creeped them out. "What's going on?' One man asked the other.
The second man shook his head. "I have no Idea," He whispered back. "I only know is that something's very wrong here."
"You're right about that. And I'm really starting to get scared," his friend replied.
"So am I," the second man agreed. "I think we should call for help."
The first man nodded. "I agree. Let's just hope he responds and is available." The two then headed for more secure location to make their call.
After having some trouble concentrating at first, Andros was able to throw himself into his workout completely. After almost two hours he finally commanded the computer to end the workout program. He just stood there for a couple minutes, breathing hard and drenched in sweat. He checked the time and realized that he'd better hurry and get a shower and join the others for breakfast, before they all started wondering where he was. Also, he was hungry.
Fifteen minutes later he entered the galley changed and showered. He saw that he was indeed the last one there, despite his attempts to hurry.
"There you are," TJ said, sounding a little relieved.
"How long have you all been here already? You guys weren't waiting on me, were you?" Andros asked anxiously.
"No, we've only been here a few minutes ourselves," Carlos replied and Andros sighed in relief. The last thing he wanted was anyone waiting on him.
"Hey, where were you anyway?" Cassie asked after noticing his wet hair.
"I just got out of the shower after working out," he replied.
Ashley was bewildered. "Before breakfast?" She asked.
Andros shrugged. "Yeah, not sleeping well last night had me on edge. I was awake early and thought a workout would calm me down."
Ashley got up and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "How come you didn't sleep well last night?" She asked him, sounding concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"He thinks so," Zhane spoke up. "At least that's what he told me yesterday evening."
"Why do you think something's wrong? And why didn't you tell the rest of us?" TJ asked, sounding a little perturbed.
"I didn't want to worry you guys. It's just a gut feeling I have, that's all."
"But you told Zhane." Carlos stated, starting to get a little irritated.
"I only told Zhane because I ran into him in the galley after dinner when he was cleaning up. I had gone back to get a CD that Ashley had forgotten and we got to talking and it just came up," Andros explained. "It wasn't anything personal, it's nothing more than a feeling I have. I don't even know if it even means anything."
"But what made you have the feeling in the first place?" Cassie inquired.
"Just the lack of trouble from Astronema," he replied.
"It does seem unusual for her to be quiet like this for this long," TJ said in agreement.
"Maybe she's thinking about giving up!" Zhane cracked.
Andros rolled his eyes at this as the others giggled. "Yeah right, Zhane. Astronema giving up is about as likely as me marrying Darkonda!" Andros exclaimed. There was giggling at his words.
"You'd marry Darkonda?" Carlos asked him and everyone cracked up.
"Very funny, Carlos," Andros replied. "I was just trying to make a point."
"I can see it now," TJ spoke up. "The Best Man would be Dark Specter and the Astronema as the Maid of Honor!"
"Actually, Divatox would be a better Maid of Honor," Cassie interjected.
"How about Lord Zedd as the Maid of Honor?" Carlos asked with a wicked grin. Everyone laughed hysterically at the idea of Lord Zedd being the Maid of Honor at anyone's wedding.
"Guys, guys, guys!" Andros yelled above the all the noise. "Enough of this! I'm not marrying Darkonda and I was trying to be serious!"
Ashley tried to reassure him. "We were just joking around. I know you were being serious."
"We just couldn't resist," Carlos added.
"It's okay guys, I'm just edgy, that's---." Andros started, only to be cut of by DECA.
"Attention! Incoming transmission from KO-35!" Her voice boomed out.
"Come on, let's go!" Andros commanded as they all raced to the bridge.
"DECA, bring it up onscreen." Andros ordered.
"Bringing it onscreen, now," DECA responded immediately. Instantly the screen lit up to reveal two frightened and confused Kerovians. It looked like they were hiding in some kind of a bunker.
"Andros, thank goodness we a hold of you!" One of them said in relief. "I am Rakor, and this is Sario. We're part of the team rebuilding KO-35."
"I'm pleased to meet you both," Andros replied. "What can I do for you?"
"Something is very wrong here. We need your help!" Rakor told him.
Zhane elbowed his way to the front. "What's wrong, guys?" He asked them.
"It all started a couple of hours ago," Rakor began. "When hundreds of these purple jars appeared downtown. Sario?" He nodded to his companion who pulled out a chip from his pocket and slipped it into a slot in a console next to him.
"We recorded the whole thing," Sario told them, pressing several buttons on the console. "You'll understand better after you watch the recording."
Andros and the others watched the whole recording in silence. It ended with most of the people gathered in a open space in what looked to be the middle of nowhere , just standing there zombielike, apparently waiting for something or someone, though who or what is was, no one had a clue. When it was over, Andros shook his head in bewilderment. "I've never seen anything like this before." The other rangers voiced their agreement.
"Where's Kinwon? What does he say about all this? Zhane asked.
"He and a couple others out of the handful left are trying to analyze the jars and the purple slime within them," Rakor replied.
"I hope they're wearing gloves," spoke up TJ.
"They're wearing protective suits. Every inch of their bodies are covered."
"So far, they've been totally unsuccessful," Sario added. "Which is why we called you."
"Just hang in and be careful," Andros told them. We'll be there as soon as possible."
"Thank you all," Rakor replied. We'll be awaiting you at the following coordinates." He then gave the coordinates and ended the transmission.
Immediately Andros turned to the rest of them. "Come on, we need to get there now!" His voice was filled with urgency.
"Do you think Astronema's behind this?" TJ asked as they went to their stations on the bridge.
"Who knows?" Andros replied. "I just know that we need to get there fast!"
"But what about Earth?" Cassie asked. "I mean, we can't just leave it undefended, can we?"
"I don't think we have a choice," Andros said. DECA will have to tap into the orbiting satellites and continuously monitor it that way."
"Do you think that this is what your bad feeling was about?" Ashley asked him.
"I'm not sure. It's too early to tell. Okay DECA, plot the fastest course to KO-35 and let's get there as fast as we can!"
"Plotting course now. Entering it into the navicomputer now," DECA intoned and the ship changed direction to match the new course.
"Good! Then let's go!" Andros commanded.
"Engaging Hyper rush four," DECA stated. With a shudder from the engines, they were on their way.
In his secret asteroid base, Ivan Ooze smiled triumphantly. Everything was going according to plan.
A/N: I hope everyone likes it so far! Please review and tell me what you think!