A/N 1: See Chapters 1, 15, 16 and 27 of Thirst for Revenge for that which does not belong to me.
Chapter 3-Dangerous Homecoming
Sabrina's spaceship
Unknown Time
"6 hours till arrival on Eltar, I repeat...six hours till arrival on Eltar," Alphrane said...his voice blaring through the ship's loudspeakers all the while
"All right, all right, we get it," Sabrina muttered tiredly. She was in Adam's arms, and both were lying in bed.
"Well, at least we're getting one last good sleep in," Adam said as he yawned, tired himself.
"Yep. It'll be mass chaos when we get there. I've been checking for the last three to four days through my father, and they have some huge ceremonies planned for us. We better enjoy the serenity we can because when we touch down on Eltar, it will all go away."
"I just hope the guys back home are OK."
"They are," Sabrina said. "They're being peppered with attacks from footsoldiers, but nothing too serious. I can tell you they won't all stay together for long though."
"What do you mean?" Adam said.
"Dark Specter is notorious for launching attacks in several different places at once. He'll send four or five of his minions to one planet, six or seven to another. If that happens, we may have to go back home or to another planet."
"But we've beaten just about everyone we've gone up against!" Adam protested.
"Because you've had the necessary firepower each time," Sabrina said. "Do you remember when you fought the Impursonator?"
"Yes! Biggest hothead EVER!" Adam said. "We never got rid of that thing!"
"It was because your powers at the time couldn't hurt Rita and Zedd's magic. Only Pyramidas was able to hurt that monster because its powers were compatible to Rita and Zedd's magic, as well as Mondo's. It's one of the few weapons which can fight both magic and technology."
"Huh? I'm not following. Matter of fact, I'm confused," Adam said.
"When you guys fought Rita and Zedd, you had mystical powers...the Dinozords, Thunderzords, Ninjor's magic, the Shogunzords, etc. When Mondo came, you switched powers because his main asset is technology. So the Zeozords and Super Zeo Zords were a good matchup with the Machine Empire's creations because Billy used his technological ability to create those Zords. Though the Super Zeo Zords may be able to take on both, I'm not sure yet. But when you went up against Impursonator, you went up against a monster that was created by Rita's magic, which put you at a disadvantage because you were handling Zeo technology."
"Does Divatox use magic or technology?" Adam said.
"Mostly magic," Sabrina said.
"So we need to get far, far away from wherever the Machine Empire's going to be."
"Correct."
"We'll need to let the others know about this."
"I know. When the chaos dies down later, we'll have a conference all to ourselves and we'll figure out what to do. Now, let's get ready for our arrival."
5.5 hours later...
"I guess the serenity and calm is gone," Tommy said. "My God, look at that."
They were rapidly entering Eltar's atmosphere, and looking down below, Tommy saw a crowd gathered for about as far as the eye could see.
"Lord, that's gotta be at least 20,000 people!" Aisha said. "Zordon and his family must be really popular on this planet."
"One of the ways you can tell who is popular on our planet is by color designation," Sabrina said, glancing from one teammate to the next. "Our family color designation is white, which is a symbol of high respect. The lighter the color, the more respect a family gets. We are only one of about two to three families who have that designation. I only wear gold because that's my Ninjetti color and always has been. Otherwise, you'd always see me in white every day!"
"Is an outsider wearing white an insult, or did I need to bring other colored clothes?" Tommy said.
"It won't matter. You're going to morph," Sabrina said.
"She's right," Zordon said. "You best morph...for one thing, I change policy whenever I need and there will be no need to keep your identities secret...everyone on this planet knows of who you are. For another, it's always best to be morphed, ready to have to fight off an ambush."
"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Billy said.
"Nothing," Tommy said. "It's Morphin Time!"
30 minutes later...
"Well, we're finally here," said Adam as the ship touched down on a runway just outside Eltar's Capital City.
"My God, 25,000 of em now," Tommy said. "It's gonna be a madhouse out there."
"Hold on just a second, guys!" a guard shouted from just outside the ship. "We're trying to get the crowd forced back, and then you guys can come on out!"
The Rangers waited for what seemed like an eternity, until 10 minutes later...
"OK, guys! Come on out!"
"Let's go," Tommy said. "Archerina, would you stand guard, please?"
"I will. If you need me, call."
"Showtime, baby!" shouted Rocky.
The Rangers and Zordon's family barely had stepped out of the ship when they began getting slaps on the back from adoring admirers. Most of the uniformed Rangers the residents didn't even know, but they had heard stories about Earth's first Rangers, and were willing to take them in as their own.
It was more of the same as the group managed to somehow weave its way through the mass chaos and sheer bedlam which was going on, and somehow managed to get into the city without getting picked up and carried in.
When the Rangers, Zordon's family and their 25,000 admirers had reached the front of the main palace, the Rangers were about to go in when they were suddenly cut off.
"Hold it there, boys!" Eltar's king, Daran, said. "You're not going in right now! We have some festivities planned first!"
Tommy nodded, and pointed towards the podium set up to his left.
"I guess that's it," Adam said.
When the little group got to the podium, they sat down on the chairs provided and waited.
20 minutes later, when all the preparations had been made, Daran and his two bodyguards stepped to the podium.
"Well, I guess you guys are happy to see some old and new heroes, huh?"
The crowd responded with a deafening roar, and it wasn't until five full minutes later that the bedlam subsided.
"Well, I believe that answers my question," Eltar's king said, "so I think I'll just step out and let a reborn hero take the floor. I believe you all know her. But first, I want to remind you of something. Don't go overzealous with this celebration. Keep yourselves safe and don't riot!"
He could barely be heard by anybody as he stepped away from the podium, after which Eltar's most legendary Power Ranger took center stage.
At this point the crowd was simply buzzing with anticipation.
"What's up Eltar?"
With those three words, another round of bedlam was set off.
It was ten full minutes before Sabrina could hear anything enough to speak again.
"Whoa, guys! You guys have been working on the celebrations since I left, I guess!" With that, the crowd all roared with laughter. "Just want to start by pointing out some friends...you three! Great job of holding down the fort while I've been gone. All of you who supported me through bad times and good...I can't thank you enough," she said as joy once again broke out, "you have been the ones who have helped me back and are the reason I'm here today."
"But quite frankly," Sabrina continued, "it's not about me or my father today. Rather, it's about the greatest teammates I have ever had...from any planet. They may be from another planet but I caution you...do not discount their abilities for one second. My father selected these six, along with others back on their planet, with full confidence that they can get the job done against the dreaded United Alliance of Evil. I'd say near 100 percent success is pretty good. Please give a rousing round of applause to a team who is linked by the chords of destiny. This is Zordon's first Earth group of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers."
With bulging smiles, the Rangers stepped towards the podium through wild cheers and applause.
"This man, directly to my right," Sabrina said, "is a man I have teamed with in both the services of good and evil. He is the leader of their team and has pulled them out of more tight spots than I have in my clothes."
The crowd laughed, and Eltar's Gold Ninjetti continued.
"Please give a warm Eltarian welcome to the White Falcon Ninjetti, Thomas Oliver."
With a warm round of applause, the huge crowd greeted the Ranger co-leader (as he decided to literally carry Kimberly to the podium), and soon afterwards he began to speak.
"Well," Tommy said, "I can't say I'm not nervous...you know, being on my mentor and co-leader's planet and all, but I'll do my best. When I joined the Rangers shortly after I was freed from Rita's spell, I was unsure how it would all play out. But it turns out I've had the greatest friends ever, with the greatest girlfriend ever, right here in my arms...all you guys in the audience, I know what you're thinking, so don't even think it."
Again, raucous laughter rang out through the audience.
"Anyways, Zordon and his family are just a blast to be around now that I've been able to get to know them personally over the last four years. Your most famous Ranger is as advertised...she not only saved my girlfriend and I from a devastating fate, but she did it with style and grace. I'm now going to let my girl take over...I hope to meet some of you in person."
But Tommy's warning didn't stop the men in the crowd from getting wide-eyed when Kimberly stepped to the podium. She was a TRUE beauty...far more than even her looks conveyed.
"Hi, guys," Kimberly said rather meekly. "It's really quite an honor to be with you all today...on the planet of a person I consider my surrogate father. You see, I don't have a family back home anymore. My parents are not only divorced...they're DEAD. The head of the United Alliance of Evil killed them, which is why I'm with you today. Zordon has changed my life so much. When I first became a Ranger, I was a prototypical, ditzy valley girl mallrat. My life will never be the same again after these last few months. If I don't have my boyfriend and friends, I have nothing. I'm not looking for someone to feel sorry for me...never have. But I do hope that you will think about what I'm telling you today, and how it would feel if you lost your family. Thank you."
One by one, the Rangers followed with rousing speeches which got the crowd going, and endeared them to the natives very quickly. Sabrina had decided to save Adam for last, and it did not disappoint as he was greeted with a huge standing ovation.
"Well, I'm not one for giving speeches, so I guess I'll do my best," Adam said. "Being a Ranger has been an unbelievable experience, but nothing like these last few months have. Yes, the rumors are right...I'm in a relationship with a girl from another planet who's tens of thousands of years older than me."
That got some laughs from the crowd as he continued.
"What I've seen her do in the last few months is...well, nothing short of inconceivable. She's reclaimed her stature, she convinced me that she was good when I hated her at one point, she stuck it up Lord Zedd's butt and she saved our Falcon and Crane all in one fell swoop. You can be very proud that your most famous Ranger is not only alive, but is quite well. I intend to have it stay that way. As for our Falcon and Crane...well, those two have been through hell and back so many times I can barely count. I told Sabrina this on the way to Eltar, but Tommy still has that letter Lady Chaos wrote in Kimberly's handwriting, and I read it to him when it first came to our home city. Still carries it as motivation that he will never let Kimberly out of his sight again. It was THE hardest thing for Tommy to have to face Kimberly while she was under Lady Chaos' vise, but he somehow kept us together long enough to get Kim back. I hope you will enjoy our company here. Thank you."
2 hours later...
"Wow, this is a feast!" Rocky said as the Rangers and Zordon's family sat in the King's elegant banquet hall. "You made this all for us?"
"We did," two girls clothed in red said. "We are two of the King's servants, so we are obliged to do whatever he asks. You've been great so far.
But while all this was going on, no one noticed two disgusted figures standing just outside the door.
One was a man wearing orange (typically designated as a second-tier color designation), as was his apparent girlfriend.
"I never thought I'd see the day that such an undeserving child and a bunch of brats from Earth get so much respect," scowled the girl.
"You know, it really makes me sick just thinking about it," said the man, also with a scowl. "That idiotic king could have elevated us to first status...white coded status. Instead, we still sit at orange with a lot of talent. What has that brat Sabrina ever done? And Zordon? He's been on Earth for four years! There is no choice, Liana. We must eliminate them so we can gain status."
"I agree, Tyraan dear," said Liana. "If we ever intend to gain fame, Zordon's family must be put to an end. What do you want me to do?"
"Watch their every move," said Tyraan. "When you can get enough information, report back to me. Then we can plan their demise."
2 hours of joyous eating later, the Rangers dispersed, headed to their rooms, and Liana followed, careful not to give away herself. As one of the most notorious snipers on Eltar, she had almost killed Sabrina in her first return home following the Vice Versa fiasco.
The Rangers had no idea they were being followed.
TBC...