A/N: See Chapters 1, 15, 16 and 27 of Thirst for Revenge for that which does not belong to me.
A/N 2: I apologize PROFUSELY that it's been so long. Hopefully I'll be able to update this more regularly.
Chapter 9 - Zera gets BLOCKED!
Triforia
"Yo Dad, I have an update!" Prince Sprocket said as he pitter-pattered towards King Mondo.
"Wha - what's going on?" King Mondo said. "This better be important, Sprocket! We're in the process of attacking this planet!"
"Klank and I have been watching other doings, and we've been informed that those Turbo Twerps are headed our way!" Sprocket said.
"Sprocket is correct, yer Majesty," Klank said as he carried Orbus into the room behind Sprocket. "Those Turbo Rangers are on their way here. Moreover, Sprocket has an idea of how we can beat them."
"And that would be?" Mondo said.
"Turn all the Rangers to our side but ONE," Sprocket said. "Make that ONE Ranger beat all of our army PLUS his or her friends."
"Very good, Sprocket my son!" Mondo said as he clapped his hands. "You indeed are learning like the true evil son you are supposed to! Now, who do we isolate is the next question?"
"If I may intervene, my dear," Machina said. "I think Katherine would be the perfect target to isolate. She is NOT Kimberly and never has been. Kimberly has the inner strength that Katherine lacks. We can destroy her easily, and then the four other Rangers can help us destroy the planet."
"You know what, I like that, my dear," Mondo said. "Klank, is it possible we can reassemble our Puppetman?"
"Yes, yer Majesty," Klank said. "I can reassemble it within 24 hours."
"Great idea, Dad!" Sprocket said. "The Turbo Rangers don't have the firepower to break our Puppetman's spell like the Zeo Rangers did. Once the other Rangers are under our spell, Katherine doesn't stand a chance!"
Eltar
Ouch!" Rocky screamed as one of Zera's Blazes smacked him on the arm, causing his whole body to go down in pain.
"God, these things kill!" Adam winced as he, too, took a blow from one of Zera's footsoldiers.
"Hot much, Black Ranger?" Sarah smiled as she stepped into his vew. "Maybe this will help."
With that, she raised her wand and blew a bone chilling wind in the Black Ranger's direction.
Some of her blast grazed Adam, but he was able to get out of the way enough to where it simply nullified the scorching fire pain.
"Need some help?" a voice said, as he turned to see Lipsyncher near him.
"Good to see you," Adam said. "And yeah I could kinda use some help."
"Thought you could," she responded. "I came with Miss Chief, Archerina and Soccadillo. Go take care of Sarah - we'll take care of the rest."
"Where's Madame Woe?"
"Looking for Tommy. He's suddenly gone missing."
"Not good. Anyways, good luck with the rest," Adam said as he went after Sarah.
25 minutes later, with the help of their allies, the Rangers had dispatched of their foes. Adam had been particularly impressive in taking care of Zordon's wife.
"Thanks for coming, guys," Rocky said as the team gathered.
Parts Unknown
"You're going to be mine after this is all over, White Ranger," Zera said as she drew her sword. For one of the few times in his life, the proud White Ranger was nervous. He knew it, and his seductive, super-smart opponent knew it as well.
"Your move," Tommy snapped. "Let's get this overwith."
"And get it overwith, we will, White Ranger," Zera said.
She lashed out at him, and the fight was on.
As the two felt each other out, Tommy's opponent nodded in admiration.
'This guy's good,' Zera thought. 'REALLY good. Very disciplined, very fast and agile, and tough minded. I truly like him, and he'd make an excellent king.'
All of a sudden, Zera saw a fist flying her way. Instinctively, she shot her arm up in protection, blocking Tommy's attack. The result was a hit, but not a hard one, that simply sent her stumbling back a few steps.
As for Tommy, he couldn't believe it when his opponent stumbled back just a few steps and smiled.
"Come on White Ranger, I know you can hit me harder than that," she grinned. "That barely hurt!"
Tommy's instictive response was to pull Saba out and wait for her to come at him again. At that, her smile widened. She had him right where she wanted him and it wasn't even five minutes into the fight.
Zera had him angry.
"Perfect," she said to herself as she drew her own sword and came at him again.
For several minutes the two crossed blades, and Tommy effortlessly fended off his opponent's initial attacks. But Tommy was making the cardinal sin of leaving himself open to sword-strikes and quick-strike attacks, and his opponent soon took full advantage.
First came a slash to the chest, then a slash raked against his shoulder, sending him stumbling back. Then came a quick kick to the chest, sending him stumbling back further.
"I've got you where I want you," she purred seductively. "You know it and I know it, so why don't you just give up? It's not like I'm going to hurt you at all."
"Me? Give up? Yeah right!" Tommy growled as he charged at her again. But again, she knew he'd do that, and a quick punch to the chest sent him flying backwards to the stone-cold floor.
"I tire of this game," she purred as she advanced on him. "Good try, White Ranger. You're simply not as good as I am at this game. But another game is about to begin, in which you may well end up being as good as me. Your days as a goody-good are over."
The worry that Tommy had felt deep inside was now growing stronger with ever as his opponent unlatched his helmet and sat on top of him.
'Ah, what a nice body," she purred. "Strong, muscular, cute face, nice eyes. You are mine, White Ranger, and I'd love to have you."
Tommy couldn't have gotten out of her grasp if he tried. Her smooth hands and body stroked his uniform, and slowly he was losing control of himself.
"That's it, my love," she whispered. "Don't move. Just be mine and I can help you."
But just as Zera was about to take full control...
"OW!" she shrieked as a shockwave suddenly hit her in the chest from out of nowhere, forcing her to let go of Tommy. As she tried to get on top of him again, an invisible force hit her and she was slammed 100 feet across the room.
"Oh, damn," she muttered. "What is going on that I'm not aware of? I better get out of here and find out."
With that, she teleported back to her base on Eltar's moon - and Tommy had wiggled free of Zera's control, for now.
30 minutes later
Eltarian Capital City
Eltar
"Wake up, Tommy, wake up," a soft voice pleaded with him.
"No, NO! Don't - touch me!" Tommy shouted.
"Tommy, it's just me. You know - Beautiful."
Slowly, Tommy opened his eyes and let out the biggest sigh of relief ever when he saw Kim on top of him, stroking his face.
"Oh it is you," Tommy said, realizing he was in the room he and Kim were staying at while on the planet. "How did I get back here? I thought I was a goner - Zera had me."
"That's not good, Tommy," a voice said near him, as Madame Woe came into his line of view. "I found you crumpled on the ground in her dimension and brought you back here. What happened?"
"The last thing I remember," Tommy said, " was her getting to me pretty easily and then pinning her body on top of me. She was stroking my whole damn body and I couldn't get free. That's the last thing I remember. I don't know why she left me there."
"Beats me," Kim said, as she turned apparently to someone near them. "Sabrina can you scan him for any evil?"
"Certainly," Sabrina said. Tommy nodded in assent - he just HAD to know.
Dragging him to a nearby chair, Sabrina sat him down and said, "Hold still. This won't take but 20 seconds."
A minute later, Sabrina announced, "He's clear."
30 minutes later...
Whoever had been in the room before had left - leaving Tommy, Kim, Sabrina, Adam and Madame Woe in the room.
"Sabrina, that was too close," Tommy said. "I'm telling you guys, she had me. She probably knows it too. It's obvious I can't stay here anymore."
"That disturbs me Tommy," Adam said. "I'm not sure if you can stay here anymore."
"I tend to agree," Sabrina said. "My scanners show that Dark Specter is on his way here also. It's going to be way too dangerous to stay here anymore."
"But where do we go?" Kim said.
"My place," Madame Woe said. "My palace is first class."
"Really? Would you?" Kim said. "Because that would be PERFECT! They'd NEVER find us there!"
"Yes," Madame Woe said without hesitation. "I'd be more than honored to shelter the two greatest Rangers in history. Do you know how scared I was to see Tommy in Zera's dimension?"
"What does Tommy mean for you anyways?" Kim said.
"Because - because I never had siblings..."
"You mean - you see him like a little brother. Yeah, that's it."
"Exactly," Madame Woe said. "I don't love you, Tommy, like Kim loves you. That's a once in a generation kind of love. It's more the brother/sister type thing."
"You see me as a big sister to a little brother who looks out for my safety," Tommy said.
"Yes. And I take pride in it," Madame Woe responded. "I don't think my life will ever be the same if we lose Tommy. I'll never forgive myself."
"OK. We can crash at your place. I like the idea of staying in the weeds, and then coming out to save the day," Kim said.
"Actually, you two could go to several places," Madame Woe said. "Remember I can jump places pretty easy and pretty liberally. You could go to several different environments. Triforia, for example. They're about to be attacked by the Machine Empire though the Turbo team is going to try to stop them."
"Remind me to tell you later, Kim, about the Machine Empire," Tommy said. "You've never dealt with them and they're just as dangerous as anyone else we've faced. There's just one problem with this whole thing though."
"And that is..."
"Wouldn't Zera and Dark Specter get more aggressive if they knew we were missing?"
"True. They probably would," Sabrina said. "But I think I know someone who can take care of it."
With that, she pressed her communicator. "Aradon, come in."
"Sabrina, how nice to hear your voice. Been way too long," came the voice of Archerina's father. "What's up?"
"We need your cloning mastery immediately," Sabrina said. "I know a Falcon and Crane that need it, in particular."
"I believe I can do that," he said. "Just sit tight, I'll be right there."
20 minutes later...
"Hi, Tommy. Hi, Kim," Aradon said as he walked in the room.
"We meet for the first time. Archerina's father, right?" Tommy said.
"Yeah that's me," Aradon said. Then he turned to Sabrina. "Wanna reveal your plan?"
"Clones of both of you," Sabrina said, pointing to Tommy and Kim. "Zedd and his sister will both think they have the real thing, but we know where you'll be. And you'll still have your powers. Sure, it'll be a nuisance in the long run but it keeps both of you together."
Pointing again, she silently chanted a spell which caused Tommy and Kim to both fall into a deep sleep.
"Thank you," Aradon said. "Can I put them on the bed?"
"Yeah," she said. "That'll work."
Aradon flashed her a smile as he placed both Tommy and Kim on the bed.
"We need to leave the room," Sabrina said to Adam. "He needs to have some quiet. Besides, I have some friends who are dying to meet you. Let's get out and socialize for a while!"
"I'm looking forward to meeting some of your friends," Adam said.
Madame Woe's dimension
Tommy awoke from a seemingly endless nap to find himself sprawled out on arguably the most comfortable bed he'd ever been on.
"Oh man, I feel like I've been asleep for eternity," Tommy groused as he got his bearings back.
"Comfortable, White Ranger?"
"Oh, there you are," Tommy said as he saw Madame Woe floating next to him. "Where's Kim?"
"I put her in another room," Madame Woe said. "You'll see enough of her during the day."
"Good thought," Tommy said. "You know, before today I didn't know you saw me as the sister/brother type. I see you in a similar light."
"What do you see me as?" Madame Woe said. "Tell me, Tommy."
"A guardian angel, more than anything, and for you it's very fitting," Tommy said. "Losing my real parents has been one of the hardest things I'll ever have to endure."
"You know I'll always be here for you, right?" Madame Woe said. "I'm a real woman, with a real heart and nothing will happen to you or Kim while I'm here. And Tommy, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"I've ordered my servants to cater to your every whim, as well as Kim's. If they dissent with anything, you come to me immediately."
Triforia
"Damn!" Zack howled from Trey's palace as alarms blared. They'd barely been here and Mondo's forces were already attacking. "Do those metalheads ever learn?"
"Puppetman," Kat snarled. "How unoriginal. We beat him DOWN the first time we faced him."
"Well, guess we'll have to do it again," Zack said. "Let's show that tin can Mondo what we're all about! Shift into Turbo!"
TBC...