Chapter Three: Earth - Magic Realm
"Transmission incoming." Trinity announced to the crew.
They had been flying as quickly as they could since their encounter with the Aquitian military. They didn't want to get into another scuffle with them.
"What is it now?" Yoral asked, irritated.
Trinity chuckled at his attitude and stuck her tongue out at him. "Why don't you answer it and find out?"
"Oh, I mustn't!" He replied in a sing-song way. "I'm not the one in charge. Don't wanna step on any toes."
He had said that loud enough for the approaching Tria to overhear him. As she entered the main room, she rolled her eyes. Trinity giggled again.
"I don't need anymore attitude from you, Yoral." She said, pushing him from behind playfully. He got into a fighting stance as his response, jokingly beckoning her with his index finger to fight.
"Yoral! Come on! They're still waiting to be answered!" Trinity said, laughing as she spoke.
"She started it!" Yoral accused.
Unseen by the others, Zordon had entered the room and had begun answering the prompt. As he finished doing so, Gosei's face appeared on the screen. A look of worry was seen on his expression.
"Zordon!? Do my eyes deceive me!?"
Zordon chuckled. "No, it's me. I'll fill you in later. What do you need, old friend?"
Gosei sat stunned for a moment before gathering his thoughts. "I... okay. I had enlisted the help of the Animal Realm and the Magic Realm to secure the Zeo Crystal from the Moon Palace. We failed and... Rita's not happy..."
"What do you mean?" Yoral asked, appearing behind Zordon with Tria accompanying him.
"Well," Gosei began. "She's retaliating. She has targeted Earth and we are in over our heads. I need your help."
Tria furrowed her brow. "Why me? This seems like something the Alliance Rangers can handle."
"I don't feel like they can help, really. None of them were Morphing Masters for one. Also, they are struggling to maintain ranks over there. A lot of power struggles. I can count on you, though, 'Team Victory'. Especially now with Zordon." He smiled as a large explosion could be heard behind him.
"How bad is it?" Yoral asked.
"Pretty bad. Please hurry."
Tria turned to her sister. "Trinity: set a course for Earth. Triple time."
Giving Tria a thumbs up, she began entering in coordinates. "Aye-aye, captain! Off to Earth we go!"
. . .
The Queen looked at the creature before her. Even as a hologram, she could tell he was brimming with power as she read his aura. She smiled in the shadows as she kept her face hidden while sitting on her throne.
"So, Scorpius... what are your long term goals?"
In a low, gruff voice, the former Alliance commander replied to her, saying, "To create a universe where I am the supreme being. I wish to create a familial hierarchy of power, with my daughter Trakeena as the high queen."
"Blasphemy!" Maligore cried from his place next to the throne. He clenched his fists. His deep commitment to his master caused him fury upon hearing someone else wished to be queen over the self proclaimed "Queen".
"Now, now, Maligore. It's fine to strive for greatness. People just need to be... realistic..." She said as she pointed at Scorpius.
"My reality is one where Trakeena reigns. Don't take it personal: I care for my daughter and if I don't ally with others so she may become the most powerful woman in the universe, then so be it."
From her place on the throne, she frowned. "No offense taken. I myself would always place family first. Certainly that is more important... So, I take it you are refusing the invitation to my empire?"
"Correct, your majesty."
"Then I'll see you on the battlefield." And with that, she waved her hand and ended the transmission. Turning to Maligore, she sighed.
"What a fool he is. He would have been a great general. Ensure Dregon makes his life miserable, Maligore. I think it would be fun to see two Edenites duke it out."
Thinking again on his words, she continued speaking to her right hand man. "Maligore, remember something: don't let family ties get in the way of total victory. Mark my words: Scorpius' love for his daughter will spell his downfall. I will never make that mistake."
"Yes, my queen."
And with that, Maligore left the room with his assignment.
Somewhere in the castle, five former Alliance scientists entered a laboratory, as requested. These were scientists who had at one time held rank in the United Alliance Research and Development before before losing their position by following Finster in his illegal experiments in creating what had later been known to be called "Morphers". Upon the discharged Alliance scientists entering the lab, they observed many body parts strewn around the room. Machinery was lit and active, seemingly running on their own. The man who invited them to The Queen's castle then appeared.
"Greetings!" King Estro, the infamous traitor and former Morphing Master, said cheerfully. "I'm glad to have you here. Each of you showed such potential before you were fired from the Alliance-"
"Just because I no longer work for the Alliance does not mean I don't have potential." One of the scientists said gruffly.
"Oh, how right you are! Now... I asked you to come based on your research during the war on Decrof. Your research group was highly involved in creating devices to tap into the Morphing Grid. How horrible it was for Zordon to cause you to be expelled! All of that hard work lost!" Estro said as he looked at the group.
One of the two girls in the group scoffed. "It happened to us. We don't need a history lesson from you about our own history, if that's why you brought us here..."
"Showmanship my dear! I was wanting you to remember fully why the Morphing Masters destroyed your hard work! Smothered your ability to think for yourselves!"
"Like you, Master Estro?" One of them said.
"Technicalities! I was a mole, obviously. Now, let me get to the point! I have your research!" As he said this, he "magically" produced a folder and handed it to the scientist who stood in front of the others. They all gathered around him and watched as he thumbed through the files. Estro was pleased with himself as watched them stare in shock as they saw the work they thought was lost forever.
"But, how?"
"Like I said, I was a mole. I saved the research before Zordon and Orion deleted everything. And... I finished it."
"Huh? It's done? How!?"
"I was a Morphing Master for a reason, you know. I found a tap to the Grid and plugged the N-Drive in. The N-Drives are a reality!"
And with that, he unveiled a table he had to his side, revealing the objects the scientists had worked so hard to create: the N-Drives. The scientists looked at them, marveling at what had been solely a concept in their minds.
Estro smiled. "I made them for you."
The man who had been standing front and center looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, revenge. You can use the N-Drives to fight the Alliance and get your revenge! The Queen is solely wanting to liberate the universe from the government the Morphing Masters have created. Once it is reorganized, the universe will be free. People like you will be free to think for yourselves! Your research will be uninhibited!"
"I'm in." The main scientist said with vigor.
For nearly a year, he had been tortured day in and day out with the thought of how he had been cheated. He had sacrificed much, for many years, to the United Alliance, only to to be slapped in the face and thrown out their doors over a law which, he thought, had impeded their results in a war they could have won, if they had only listened to his team and created what were later coined "Power Rangers".
Through the power of group think, his four colleagues had learned to feel the same way due to their time together after their dismissal from Research and Development. As they heard their friend agree to Estro, they all chimed in, saying they would also join in Estro's plans.
"Excellent. Now, I made some modifications to the N-Drives. They will be voice activated. All you will need to do is take your morpher, say your name into it, and voilà! Your N-Drive will be bonded to you for life." Estro said as he watched with anticipation.
His plans would not be complete until they bonded with the morphing device. Until then, things could still go wrong.
The main scientist grabbed the red N-Drive. He raised it to his mouth and said, "Dr. Fogo."
The next scientist, grabbing the black N-Drive, mimicked his colleague. "Dr. Pedro."
Next was the blue N-Drive's future wielder. "Dr. Gelo."
The two women were next. The one who had remained quiet up until that point hurriedly grabbed the yellow N-Drive, not wanting to be stuck with the other option (pink).
Placing her mouth to the N-Drive, she said, "Dr. Vesgarta."
Picking up the last N-Drive, the last doctor groaned and rolled her eyes. She hadn't realized that waiting till last had left her with something she thought would make her look too "girly" to the others on her team.
"Ugh... Pink... Dr. Flora."
"Yes!" Estro cried out unintentionally.
They looked at him confused, before their real confusion began. They were lightheaded.
"..It's an after effect of the bonding. If you morph now, the process will be complete and you'll feel like a brand new person... I promise." He said, a smile on his face from cheek to cheek.
"...I... I don't..." Dr. Fogo started.
"MORPH!" Estro demanded, slapping both hands on the desk, sending papers and assorted equipment flying.
Breathing in deeply, eyes staring off as if he were looking at something which wasn't there, and running his hands through his hair, he found his composure. Chuckling, he looked to the five again.
"Please morph now, my darlings." He said in an eerily calming manner.
The scientists tried resisting, but felt surges pulsing from the morphers in their hands. It burned. They began having thoughts of morphing. Sent to their minds were the exact words needed to be said to initiate the transformation.
"Ahhh! I can't stop it!" Flora said, agonizingly trying to fight the urge to morph.
Then, Dr. Fogo broke. He wanted the pain to end. He had figured he could end the painful action potentials flowing through his neurons if he just gave in. Giving up the last of his free will, he initiated the morph. The morph to turn him into the very first of Estro's Power Rangers.
"N-Drive: Fire!"
With that, the others began to cave in slowly. Estro watched in glee as his ranger team initiated the completion of their transformation.
"N-Drive: Ice!"
"N-Drive: Rock!"
"N-Drive: Predator!"
Estro then frowned. He noticed Dr. Flora was still holding on, not morphing. She was doubled over in pain, but fighting nonetheless in her mind the urge Estro had programmed her morpher to get her to become his Ranger. She gritted her teeth and continued to fight.
Estro slowly made his way over to her, moving desks and portable operation trays out of his way as he did. He got on a knee beside her and whispered into her ear.
"You know, your friends can't finish the first morph without you, honey. Be a good girl and finish, won't you?"
Flora gritted her teeth. She had wanted her revenge on the Alliance, but not at the cost of her liberty, which ironically was what Estro had promised them. She dug her fingernails into her palm, drawing blood. Even more blood was running down Flora's nose.
"Just... give in... it'll feel so much better. I promise!" Estro said, kissing her on the cheek.
As his lips touched her skin, her brain went wild with fury. She yelled and spit at him, a mixture of saliva and blood hitting him in the face. He stood up in a rage and kicked her in the stomach as she was still bent over. She fell onto her back.
"MORPH! MORPH! MOOOORPH!" He demanded incessantly.
The other scientists stood frozen, watching the scene in horror. They were mid-morph, awaiting the final component of their first transformation to unfreeze them. Try as they may, they could not do a thing to help their friend.
Kicking her again, Estro pointed at her, finger trembling. "Do. It. MOOOORPH."
Crying, tears streaming down her face, Flora could feel her mouth opening. She heard words flow out that she didn't formulate as she sobbed.
"...N-Drive: Nature... NOOO!" She yelled, momentarily gaining control.
"That's better!" He said, clapping for joy, blood and saliva still dripping down his face. He watched as the transformation took place. His own team of rangers.
"Okay, now introductions, please!" He said as he approached a sink to wash up, twirling his fingers in the air as he made his announcement.
"Psycho Red."
"Psycho Blue."
"Psycho Black."
"Psycho Yellow."
"Psycho Pink."
"Excellent! Now, head over to the training room. I'll be there shortly to organize your first training. I have something I need to attend to first..." He said, turning toward his communication device.
"Yes, sir!" They said, each bringing an arm across their chest as a salute. They then turned and marched out of the room, their morphers telling them where to go.
"Is he ready?" The booming voice said over the line.
"Yes he is. It took some work, but his body is functioning again. I hope you don't mind with some of his aesthetics changing. I did my best by fusing him with my tech." Estro informed his "client". He took a bite from an apple as he finished speaking.
"All I care about is having his loyalty. Is that retained?"
"His Spirit is back in its house. Once I received the Spirit you sent me, I just infused it into the body I reassembled and it was ready. He is currently sleeping. I'm sending him in a ship soon to Earth."
"Excellent. Tell The Queen her debt to me is paid. I highly value your assistance." The voice said.
"At your service whenever you need it." Estro answered, rolling his eyes.
In the base of the large creature whose voice resonated over the link, the large being in question ended the transmission and turned around. He called for the newest recruit into his empire to approach him. He had been waiting for as long as The Queen had been waiting to get his plans underway and with The Queen's success in causing universal chaos, he was ready to act. Recruiting those from the Magic Realm was his first motion.
"Necrolai? What have you to report?"
"Dai Shi is still finishing his end of the plan. He apologizes for the inconvenience. I have dispatched my brother Baboo to be your liaison with Rita Repulsa on the Moon. Some of your Morlocks have crossed over from the Magic Realm and are attacking, but are having a difficult time against the resistance over there." Necrolai explained.
"What resistance?"
"It seems to be the Animal Realm and fighters from the Magic Realm who call themselves the Order of the Claw."
"The Animal Realm? Why are they on Earth?"
"They have been living here for the past six months. It seems that since their leader Animus was destroyed by Divatox they have been staying on Earth. I think they are here to help Gosei get the Zeo Crystal back."
"The Zeo Crystal does not belong there. I will have it for myself. Then I will rule all, as it should have been so long ago..."
"Yes, Master Octomus."
The giant beast howled, the Red Energy of Rage flowing through him. "You are not worthy of saying my name! Do not let it happen again!"
"Yes, Master. Whatever you say."
As she flew off to join the battle raging on Earth, Octomus began to reflect.
"The Alliance will pay for what they have done to me. Once I take Earth back, and reclaim the Greatest Treasure in the Universe, I will once again be the most powerful being alive!"
All the while on Earth, Necrolai landed amidst the fighters. Animals and Humans, the Undead and Ninjas, all fighting each other. The chaos was amazing for her. As she took it all in, she noticed an object descend from the sky. She could see the name etched on its side. The ship was called "Ragnarok". As the ship descended, two figures jumped out and landed. They stood at the outskirts of the fighting. One held a red saber with a lion's head on the hilt. The other held a staff with a strange symbol on it.
"You ready?" Zordon asked his partner, Tria of Triforia.
"You bet. It's morphin' time! Gold Ranger power!"