Chapter Twenty-Five: The Siege
Michael looked at the orb in the main command room for the Morphing Masters. The orb was fairly large, with what looked like intertwining neon lights inside of its shell. Two of the four crossing, blue glowing wires formed what looked to be an "x" design, while one crossed the "x" vertically and the other horizontally. The blue light from the orb washed over him in a blue glow. He concentrated on it. Since he was young, he had dreamed of serving the Alliance. He remembered looking at the orb, which served as the symbol of the Morphing Masters, and thinking of when he would have the honor of serving under it. Never did he imagine he would be one of the Alliance's leading officers.
A citizen of KO-35, Michael was a human. He was an oddity among the higher ranking Alliance members. To be able to get enough recognition and their foot in the door with the right people to be noticed enough for opportunities to climb "the ladder to success" career-wise, living for multiple centuries was extremely important. Michael was able to grab enough attention in the Academy by being himself. In other words, Michael was noticed because he was a prodigy.
When Michael entered the Academy on a scholarship, no one was surprised. He was the best fighter in the Karovan System, going undefeated since he had been 15 years old. His ability to feel the Morphing Grid rivaled that of the most seasoned Academy cadets training to be Alliance soldiers.
That in and of itself was not the sole reason Michael received his scholarship: he was a genius physicist. Teaching himself the principles of how the universe interacted around him, he came up with the idea that the Morphing Grid existed before anyone had mentioned it to him. That had been at the age of five. One difficulty he had in school was learning how to translate his ideas into the terminology used by the scholars. Once he learned to read, and he discovered researchers such as Burai, Orion, and Zordon discussing ideas he had expounded upon in his room while playing with his action figures, he began writing his hypotheses. They eventually found their way to the Morphing Masters, and the dominos began to fall, leading to his inclusion at the Academy. After a short seven years, he was inducted as a Morphing Master. He was by far the youngest Master, being thirty-seven years old.
"How are the sector readings?" Master Ivicar asked, snapping Michael out of the trance he was in while staring at the orb.
"Uh... fine, fine... Sir?" Michael asked.
"Yes, Michael?"
"Things are not looking good for the Alliance, are they?"
Ivicar pursed his lips and looked down. "No... it doesn't seem like it is."
"Are you worried?"
Ivicar then looked up and smiled his warm smile. "Of course not! As long as we have Sentinel Knight leading us, the Alliance will stay strong! That I am sure of!"
Michael nodded and turned back to his monitor. As he did, he noticed something ping in the corner of his scanner.
"Michael... I thought you said everything in the sector was clear..." Ivicar said, concern showing on his face.
"It... it was clear... That only just appeared..."
Ivicar furrowed his brow. "That's not possible. It couldn't 'just appear' where it did. With how close it is to our base, it would've shown up at least thirty minutes ago on the radar screen."
Michael did a quick calculation in his head. He's right...Michael thought.
He knew he'd only been absorbed in his thoughts for less than three minutes, so the discrepancy in the current situation and what he knew washed over him. His stomach was in knots.
Master Ivicar placed a hand on Michael's shoulder. "Michael, please open a visual on the object."
Michael did as he was asked. What popped up on the monitor twisted Michael's gut further: a war ship from KO-35.
Ivicar slowly backed away from Michael. "Oh, Michael... Please, no... you're a mole in the Alliance?" Ivicar shook his head. "How long have you been working with Tria and Kamen? Are there others like you?"
Michael jumped out of his seat, prompting Ivicar to get into a fighting stance. Michael lifted up his hands as a sign of being a non-threat.
"No... no, this is wrong. That ship wasn't there before... I... I am no traitor! That's ridiculous!"
"What's ridiculous is you still trying to hide it. Michael, you are under arrest on suspicions of treason. Come with me now and no harm will come upon you."
Desperate, Michael did a quick calculation in his head, followed by him kicking a chair at Ivicar. The chair flew shy of Ivicar's face, just as Michael had predicted. As Ivicar ducked out of the way, thinking the chair was on a trajectory with his face, Michael ran to the opposite side of the room. He kicked in a grate and slid into the ventilation shaft.
Unable to support his weight, the ventilation shaft gave out and he instantly fell into the room below the command room. As he ran, he brought his wrist tech to his face. He then yelled out a command he had personally programmed into the wrist tech he wore.
"Galaxy Glider: Hang Ten!"
As he said this, the long board he had created, The Galaxy Glider, which had been sitting in his room, teleported from where it rested into the area behind him, before it started zooming forward. He jumped into the air and curled into a ball, spinning as he did. As he untucked from that position, he landed on his feet upon the board. The engine thrusters activated and sent him speeding away.
Master Ivicar, back in the command room, started sending messages from his own wrist tech, demanding all Alliance troops available to capture Michael before he escaped. Ivicar did not want to let him get away.
As Ivicar sent out the messages, another occurrence made itself known. The lone war ship from KO-35 started shooting at the base. War Star Armada ships began filing out of the base, ready to intercept it. This, coincidentally, gave Michael the distraction he needed to get to his personal ship. He used it as a floating space station when on assignment from the council. He, Burai, and Zordon had created it a mere five years earlier.
Michael spoke into his customized wrist tech, speaking to the Artificial Intelligence on the ship. "DECA? Get the engine running! We gotta get out of here ASAP!"
"All systems online. To where are we going?" DECA asked.
"Home. We need to get home. We need to prepare ourselves... we just hit crisis mode..." Michael said, desperation settling in on him.
He knew that soon the Alliance was going to send troops to KO-35, just as they had done with Edenoi and Triforia. He needed to prepare for the encounter. The Galaxy Glider teleported Michael onto his ship, the Astro Megaship, before leaving the docking bay.
Finster looked at his handy work. He was very impressed with the makeshift vascular system he had put in place on his newest specimen. The specimen, Lord Zedd, looked down at his body as he awoke. He had been in a state of hibernation since Finster had brought him aboard the Scorpion Stinger, to ensure he did not use the remaining bit of his energy.
Using the serum he had made to fuel Scorpius' cocoon, Finster placed tubes in Lord Zedd's body, to act as though they were veins, arteries, capillaries, and the like. He then took advantage of Zedd's need to hibernate to fuel him with the serum he needed.
"You should be as good as new!" Finster said happily as he rearranged the bottles on his table.
The Dark Lord felt as powerful as he was when he first inhabited Commander Zedd's body. He appreciated the little canine's help.
"Ah, yes... I feel the power coursing through me." Zedd lifted himself off the metal slab he had been laying upon. "Why did you help me, little thing?
Finster laughed. "Why wouldn't I? You are a tremendously powerful being. What a shame it would be to the universe to have you expire before you could make a lasting impression!"
Lord Zedd nodded. "You are wise, young pup. Wise... Now, where am I?"
"You are on the Scorpion Stinger. I believe it would be best if you stayed here in my laboratory for now. You mustn't have a run in with the commander of this ship, Scorpius. No, not yet at least!"
"Why shouldn't I? I am the mighty Lord Zedd! I can take on anyone!" He said, lifting his hands in the air. His body shuddered with excitement while the new power flowed through him.
"Well, Scorpius is currently being fueled with the same kind of power that you are, Lord Zedd. I think you must make a plan of attack to fight someone as powerful as yourself."
Finster did not know Lord Zedd was also being fueled with Silver Zeo Power. Zedd subconsciously touched the crown on the grill where his skull had once been. The Zeo Subcrystal had made its home in the "Z" perched on his head.
"Well... I assure you I am more powerful than him. I have the power of the Zeo Crystal!" He said, gloating to the man who had saved him.
Lord Zedd did not fear telling Finster such information. Finster had already proven himself loyal to Zedd.
"Ah, yes! The Zeo Crystal! How interesting you mention it. That is our current destination!"
"What!? What do you mean!?"
"Scorpius is currently en route to attack the palace on Earth's moon in an effort to take the Zeo Crystal for himself!"
Zedd turned away, moving the digits of his hand in front of his face as he thought. Not if I get to the crystal first...
Ha! That worked out well the last time, didn't it, oh Dark One? Commander Zedd said to the being controlling his body.
For the first time, the Dark Lord replied to Commander Zedd. I will just have to find some innocent sap to get the crystal for me, now won't I?
Zedd sat back down, thinking of a way to get past the shield protecting the Zeo Crystal.
Dulcea and Gosei landed in the area they spotted the exogenous energy source had spiked on Earth. They made sure they teleported a safe distance away to be able to assess the situation before they continued. As they approached a clearing, they hid behind some brush.
"Now, is that everything you can do for my dad?" Rito asked, on assignment from Master Vile.
Gosei and Dulcea spied him speaking to two vampire-like creatures. The male spoke first.
"Yes, that is all I can offer for now. I do hope this will do."
The female then spoke. "And this will give our people protection, correct? Master Vile will assimilate us into his empire?"
"Yeah, yeah, Necrolai. Don't you worry! My dad's a man of his word!"
Necrolai turned to the male vampire. "Okay, then. I need you to return to the Magic Realm and report back, understood, Baboo?"
Baboo nodded. "Will do!" And with that, he teleported away.
Rito laughed again. "Thank you very much! Really, this spell should do the trick to help us get to the Zeo Crystal."
Dulcea's eyes grew large. She turned to Gosei. He put a finger to his lips indicating for her to stay quiet. He felt there would be more they could learn before they made their move.
Necrolai looked around. "Wait... do you smell something?"
Rito smelled his armpits. "Yeah, that's me. Intoxicating, isn't it?"
Excited, Rito leaned in for a kiss. As he did, Necrolai slapped him and pushed him away.
"Not you, you dolt! I mean... something else... There are others here! I must go!" Copying Baboo, she too returned to her dimension upon Earth.
"Wait! You didn't finish giving me the spell! Argh! Okay, who ruined my deal!? Come out now!"
Dulcea and Gosei decided to make themselves known at his provocation. They stepped out of the brush, ready to fight.
"Uh-oh... Uh... Sis! Take care of these guys!" He yelled as he teleported away in a blue flame.
Where he stood, a circular symbol of magic appeared. Blue light shimmered as Rita Repulsa made herself manifest.
Dulcea tensed. She knew how good of a fighter Margaret had been. She feared to have to fight her now. Dulcea knew that now that Rita wasn't pretending to be good, she wouldn't hold back. Dulcea knew she must do the same.
"Hmm... Morphing Masters... Well, why don't I spice things up a bit!? Attack!" Rita yelled, her young voice already started to crack from her constant yelling.
In an orange flame which suddenly appeared in front of Rita, three figures appeared. One was a female. She wore her black hair in a ponytail. A curved sword was seen in her hand. The other two seemed to be ape-like in origin, though they both wore different attire. The one Dulcea and Gosei did not recognize wore gold armor. His face had blue skin and two red, beady eyes. He had wings with black feathers. He held a long sword in one of his hands.
The third figure did not wore armor, but only a headdress and a loin cloth. He held a long staff. The Morphing Masters knew exactly who he was.
"King Sphinx!?" Gosei said, shocked.
"How could you!? Why would you betray the Alliance!?" Dulcea demanded.
Sphinx laughed. "It's simple politics. The reign of the Morphing Masters is at an end. The new Alliance Vile is creating will be the new universal power. I might as well invest early to ensure my people have power when the hierarchy is reorganized. Understood?"
Dulcea shook her head in disgust. Gosei's eyes started glowing white, charging for an attack.
Rita laughed. "So, I see you are familiar with my associate King Sphinx. I would like to introduce you to my two other prize fighters: first, the king's brother and bodyguard, the great Goldar!
"Next, the beautiful and deadly warrior from right here on your precious Earth: the ninja Scorpina!"
The three deadly fighters assumed their fighting stances. After a moment of staring each other down, Goldar and Sphinx charged at Gosei and Dulcea. Standing back, Scorpina focused.
For my mentor, Dai Shi! She thought as she finished tapping the Morphing Grid.
"Jungle Beast: Spirit Unleashed!" She yelled.
Scorpina's Animal Spirit soared out her, fusing with the Morphing Grid and becoming an armor of gold around her. She smirked and charged to join her new allies.
Dulcea blocked both Goldar and Scorpina's blows with her staffs. She swept Goldar's sword away and kicked him, turning to advance upon Scorpina. As Goldar scrambled for his sword, Scorpina and Dulcea parried each other's attacks.
Meanwhile, Sphinx shot beams of energy at Gosei. Causing the ground around him to rise up, Gosei created an earthen barrier around himself. He then concentrated and split the barrier into pieces, sending them hurtling toward Sphinx.
Sphinx laughed as he saw the attack. Flapping his wings, he sent the ground bullets back at Gosei with a greater acceleration than than Gosei had originally sent them. They collided with Gosei, sending him flying to the ground. Blood dripped down his face.
Dulcea rushed to Gosei to protect him from the three.
"Stop!" Rita said. "I want them to return to what is left of the Alliance and tell them what they have witnessed today. To let the Alliance know that the end... is here!" She cackled as Blue Magic floated around her.
The Blue Magic began to circle Scorpina, Sphinx, and Goldar. Rita smiled.
"Magical Source: Grooooow!" She commanded.
The Blue Magic surrounded the three of Rita's warriors as they skyrocketed up. Scorpina could feel the transformation occur around her, just as Rita and Dai Shi had promised her would happen upon growing. She felt a stinger grow from her spine and her features become more animal-like. She had become a hybrid with her animal spirit.
Dulcea could not believe her eyes. She couldn't fathom how much energy Rita needed to use to cause three beings to grow so large, let alone one.
Dulcea touched her wrist tech. "Teleport now!" Fleeing for her life, she held onto Gosei as she went back to her ship in orbit.
"Ah-hahaha! Great job, my fighters! Now, there is nothing worth getting on this planet, but on its moon..." Rita told the three giants.
They all nodded as Rita teleported the lot of them onto the moon to fetch the Zeo Crystal for her father.
Rahp focused as he flew through space. He Didn't know what would become of him, but that wasn't his main concern. All he knew was that he had to focus.
As he was on the ship leaving Edenoi after Dregon's ambush, he overheard radio signals saying Rita Repulsa and three giant monsters had appeared outside the Zeo Crystal's palace. The soldiers stationed there said they couldn't fight them off for very long because the lasers and bullets would only get them so far. Rahp instantly knew what he had to do. He left onto a cruiser to head to the moon and help defend the crystal. Filcar and several others had tried to convince him to return to base with them, but he refused.
I helped unearth that cursed object. Zedd lost his life trying to protect it... I can't sit by and let it go after all of this. I must do something, even if I have to give my life to protect the dumb thing! He thought.
As something rustled next to him, he pulled his blaster and pointed to the noise. Filcar moved up to the cockpit with his hands up.
"Whoa, watch it! I come in peace."
"Filcar!? What are you doing here!?"
Filcar smiled. "I helped dig that thing up, just like you and Zedd. I feel like I have a responsibility toward it, ya know?"
Smiling, he nodded and shook his fellow archaeologist's hand. As he did, he heard another noise. He turned quickly and pointed his blaster as Commander Risp made her presence known.
"Now what are you doing here?"
She laughed. "I am the high commander over you two. Don't you think it'd be irresponsible of me to let you two wander into battle alone?"
Rahp cocked an eyebrow and he and Filcar both laughed.
"Um... where is the medical bay here?" Priscilla asked, peaking around Risp.
Rahp gave Risp a look. She shrugged. "What? We need a medic, right? Plus, she's supposed to be one mean fighter."
"Anyone else I should know about?" Rahp asked.
Almost on cue, Lieutenant Reon Talp appeared behind Priscilla. He was holding a half eaten sandwich.
With food still in his mouth, he turned to Rahp. "Uh... do you have any condiments on this ship? I made a sandwich and I want to add something exciting to it."
Finally achieving his goal, Michael hacked back into the Alliance mainframe and accessed their communications. He wanted to see how long he had until the Alliance attacked KO-35.
What he heard gripped him with fear.
*This is Commander Rahp. Attention Alliance: the Moon Palace has been overtaken. I repeat, the Moon Palace has been captured.*
Michael switched off the console. Once again, he was receiving word of a victory from the Alliance's enemies. Up to that point, he had felt useless in the war.
I can't keep being a background player... He thought.
Michael reached into his bag and pulled out his papers. He found the grid lined paper. He looked at the schematics found within. The modifications he had drawn up for his wrist tech. He did them more as a dream project, but the situation he currently faced called for making dreams a reality.
"DECA? I need you to start up on these schematics." He placed his wrist tech and the schematics on a console so DECA could read them.
"Yes, Master Michael. What are the schematics for?"
"A power morpher."
Scorpius looked upon the scene as he flew over the moon. Three giant monsters, shooting beams of energy at and stomping on Alliance soldiers. He watched as an Alliance cruiser landed and five figures ran out, blasting as they did. He shook his head.
"What is it, Father?" Trakeena asked.
"It looks as if someone beat us to the Zeo Crystal. Look, my darling. Not even I can battle against three giants. We must find another course of action."
"But what?" Trakeena asked.
"I'm not sure... but we will find it..."
"For Edenoi!" She exclaimed, thinking of her comrades.
"Yes, for Edenoi." Scorpius said to amuse his daughter.
Scorpius' quest for power wasn't ending there. He was going to keep hunting until he found the power he craved.
Unknown to Scorpius, Lord Zedd had snuck out of Finster's laboratory and was listening. He slipped back into another room and looked out the window at the scene Scorpius had described.
Zedd placed a hand on the glass, his silver "nails" clinking against the glass. "I, too, cannot match such power... I must find more power..."
Making up his mind, Lord Zedd told Finster he was leaving, but would return soon. Focusing, Zedd teleported out of the ship to continue his search for power.
Meanwhile, on the moon, Rita cried out in victory. The Alliance soldiers ran to one side of the moon, away from Rita, to regroup and restrategize. Rita's three warriors shrunk down to normal size and surrounded her. Rita pointed to the moon palace.
"From here on out, these are our headquarters everyone! We will report back here! While you are out doing whatever my father bids, I will stay here and try to crack the spell over the Zeo Crystal." Rita said, laughing.
Rita Repulsa had succeeded in her plans. She had taken control of the Palace on the Moon.