Jason's Birthday Bash

Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing except Electrifier.

Chapter 3

"Where have taken him?" Trini cried loudly.

"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this," replied Billy.

"So do I," Tommy agreed. "The putties and Goldar were just a distraction."

"Tommy's right. But what were they distracting us from?" Zack asked.

"I don't know," replied Kim. "It all happened so fast."

"We just can't stand here and talk all day. We have to get him back!" Trini yelled, sounding hysterical.

"Trini, calm down," Kim said soothingly. "We need to get back to the command center and inform Zordon and Alpha about all of this and see if they can find him." The others nodded and a moment later they teleported to the command center in a flash of colored light.

At the same time Rita was pacing by Jason's cell in her Dark Dimension waiting impatiently for him to wake up. This pacing was making Finster nervous. Walking tentatively up to her, he said quietly, "My Queen, he will be out for about an hour more. We should you this time to make sure absolutely everything is ready for when he wakes up."

Rita whirled around in anger as Finster finished speaking. "You mutant dog! Everything is already ready! Goldar and the Electrifier are standing ready to engage the rangers at a moments notice and my spell is ready to use as soon as he wakes up."

"I'm sorry, Your Evilness," Finster stammered nervously. "I didn't mean to doubt you."

"Stay here and notify me the instant he wakes up," Rita ordered him.

"As you wish, My Queen," He said, bowing.

Rita nodded and teleported out.

Meanwhile, back at the command center, the rangers had just finished filling Zordon and Alpha in on what had happened.

"I do not like the sound of this," Zordon said when the rangers were done. "Alpha, try to locate Jason immediately."

"Ay, yi, yi! Right away, Zordon!" The little robot replied and got to work at once. Just then sniffling sounds were heard and they all realized that Trini was crying quietly. Kim went over to her and gave her a hug. "We'll find him, I promise," She said soothingly, but Trini just shook her head and continued crying.

"I'm really scared, Kim. What if we never see him again?" She said tearfully.

"Hey, remember when he was trapped in her Dark Dimension when I was still under her spell," Tommy replied softly.

"Yeah, Billy locked onto his communicator and teleported him back," Zack tried to reassure her. "We'll get him back this time, too." Tommy and Kim nodded.

"This isn't going to be that easy," Billy said while working at the control panel. "I can't lock onto his communicator or his energy signature."

"This is terrible! What are we going to do?" Alpha yelled, sounding frantic.

"Calm down, Alpha," Zordon interjected firmly. He then addressed the rangers. "This is very troubling indeed. But we need to stay calm and focused in we are going to save Jason. We don't have much time," he said gravely.

Back in the Dark Dimension Jason was just regaining consciousness. He felt sore and shaky all over. "What's going on? Where am I?" He yelled but got no response. Just then Rita appeared in a flash of light. "You won't get away with this, Rita!" He snarled furiously.

"Calm down, Jason," she soothed. She then began to chant in a language unknown to Jason. Suddenly Jason was bathed in a brown haze. In moments she finished and the haze dissipated and Jason's face had taken on a whole new look. His eyes were as cold as steel and twisted with hate.

"How do you feel now, Jason?" Rita asked him.

"Pissed off! Look at all the rangers have done to you. It makes me so mad!" He said furiously. But then he smiled slyly. "But don't worry. I'll make them pay dearly for all they've done to you!"

Rita grinned broadly. You're such a gallant hero, my Jason," She purred.

"Only for you, my darling," he replied lovingly. Rita then unlocked and opened his cell and Jason wasted no time in taking her in his arms for a passionate kiss that has his heart racing and weak in the knees. It lasted several moments and when the pulled back for air Jason asked, "When do we get started? I can't wait to make them pay, my love," stroking her cheek and panting a little from the intensity of the kiss.

"Real soon, my hero." She kissed him again and then said, "I have to fill you in on the plan." She

then leaned toward him and whispered the plan in his ear. When she was done, Jason grinned devilishly.

"That's perfect, absolutely perfect!" He cried excitedly. Soon they will be begging for mercy!"

Meanwhile, around forty-five minutes had passed with no luck in trying to locate Jason. The rangers were getting more and more worried with each passing minute.

"Are you sure you've tried everything?" Trini asked Billy for about the third time. "He can't just have vanished completely into thin air."

"Trini, he's doing everything possible," Tommy said. "He even teleported back to the exact spot where he vanished and took readings. So please try not to worry."

"Would everyone please stop saying that!" She shouted angrily. "He's been missing for almost an hour now. We can't just stand here doing nothing. He could be hurt, or worse."

"Trini, we have to find him before we can help him," Zack put in. "and we'll never stop trying. I know it's hard, but you just have to be patient."

"I Know. It's just that I have this feeling that if we don't find him soon, it will be too late," she replied. 'I know," she said suddenly as she thought of something. "What about the Portal-Coms? Can't we just use those?" She asked hopefully.

"Those would work, but we need to know his location first so we can set the coordinates properly," Billy told her. "If not, we could end up who knows where."

"Why can't we find him?" Tommy exclaimed suddenly. "Trini's right. We have to do something!"

"Tommy, Billy and Alpha are doing everything they can." Zordon told him. I know it's frustrating having to stand there doing nothing, but at the moment it's our only option."

"I know, Zordon," he replied. It's just that he--"Tommy was cut off suddenly as the alarms began to sound.

"What's going on, Zordon," Kimberly asked.

"Rangers, Jason has appeared in the park, behold the viewing globe," He told them and the rangers immediately crossed the room to look into the viewing globe. To their shock Jason was just standing still, looking completely out of it. Then suddenly, without warning, he collapsed on the ground and just lay there not moving. The rangers felt their breaths catch in their throats, for there was dried blood on his cheek and bruises on his legs.

"Come on, we have to get to him!" Trini exclaimed urgently, starting to activate the teleportation mechanism on her communicator.

"Trini, wait," Tommy said. "Something's wrong here."

"Indeed, there is," Zordon told them, sounding graver that they had heard him in a long time. "Jason's brainwave patterns have been significantly altered. You must go to him at once, rangers, but be warned; you probably won't like what you find."

AN: Well, what do you think so far? Please review.