********************** Divatox ship**************************
Goldar tucked his wings in close. He couldn't risk a single feather falling out of place. It was now or never. With great care he slipped into Ooze's private chamber. The room that had been Divatox's until Ooze had taken it for himself. The shadows and darkness did not bother him as he carefully slipped between snoozing purple copies.
It was not the copies that had Goldar concerned so much as the large silver tub of purple ooze that was Ooze himself, resting in the center of the room. A few bubbles popped from the liquid, sounding very much like snoring.
His goal laid before him. An orb of glass that held endless snow sat upon a high shelf. He touched it, rousing the two beings trapped inside.
"Goldar you worthless worm! How dare you show your face! If I was free I would..." Zedd growled but the sound was cut off as the golden lion-ape slipped the snow globe into his bag. Now was not the time. He would have to grovel later but freeing Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa was his best bet at survival.
That was, once Ooze was gone. As much as it physically pained Goldar to admit. Only Tommy would be able to stop Ooze. He had a spark that Goldar had not seen in any other humans, other then perhaps Kimberly. Until the world had fallen down around him, Goldar never questioned why that was. Yet it filled his nights with sleepless turning.
Who exactly was Tommy Oliver?
Or more importantly, what was Tommy Oliver... a human succeeding where so many other beings much strong, faster and smarter, had failed. Even Rita's father, Master Vile, had once tried to take the temple of Ninjor by force and claim the great powers for evil.
It had never been possible, each and every monster failed. Armies failed and crumbled to dust but one single human, had done it. Claiming powers that he doubted Tommy even fully understood.
No, there would be time enough for doubt. Now Goldar simply had to get his few personal items from that damp closet that was his room and get out of here.
"Leaving so soon?"
Elgar's voice drew Goldar from his thoughts. Damn. He was slipping. He should have smelled Elgar long before he had the chance to sneak up on him.
"If I am? What concern of it is yours?" Goldar growled back, yet kept his voice low. Others on the ship being awoken by his voice would not do.
Elgar only smiled that disturbing grin of his. "I wonder what is worse. Being a coward or a traitor. Either way..." his card sword flashed into his hand. "I'm bringing your head to Ooze."
Goldar smirked, his own sword appearing in his hands. "You can try."
***************** Warehouse district, midnight********************
"I don't like this Tommy." Katherine said softly into the night air.
"I agree with Kat. It's too darn quiet." Rocky answered.
"Feels like we are the ones about to be trapped." Aisha offered up once more checking behind them.
Adam said nothing. If this didn't work out. They would have to kill Billy. Something he had thought about often since the change had taken there friend from them. Kimberly, Adam's heart ached knowing the pain she would be put in by losing Billy. He has seen first hand how close the duo was on the moon. If it had been like that even before, he couldn't imagine loosing someone he considered a brother or sister.
And everyone here was his family now.
"I still think we should have brought Justin. I don't like the idea of leaving him alone." Kat said.
"This is going to be messy Katherine." Was the only reply Tommy had. "I want you and Aisha to be posted as look outs. Rocky, Adam and I will take out places inside the building and..."
An explosion stopped Tommy mid-sentence as a plume of smoke and fire flew up into the sky... nearly two miles away. "Shit! That's downtown!"
"So much for being able to trust a monster." Adam said, a dig at Tommy.
Tommy frowned. "Goldar wouldn't have lied about this I... look!" He pointed down into the inky dark streets. There was the Nightmare, right on time, dripping with blood and chewing on the leg of a Piranhatron.
"Ew." Aisha said.
At her slightly sound the Nightmare went still, its ears flicking about searching for the source of the sound.
Tommy put a finger to his lips and whispered. "You guys get down town. I'll handle Billy on my own."
"But Tommy..." Katherine protested even as another distant boom seemed to shake the roof they were on.
"No buts. I'll join you as soon as I can. Rocky, I'll leave it to you." Tommy nodded at the red ranger.
"Right, It's morphing time!"
Tommy watch the streaks of color blast across the sky. Now for Billy. With care Tommy slipped down the fire escape of the building. He knew the sounds would be attracting attention and that was exactly what he wanted.
He needed Billy to come to him. It was the only chance Tommy had in fixing the mistakes of the past. What he wasn't expecting was to find Bulk waiting for him inside the building.
*************** Downtown Angel grove***********************
"You have got to be kidding me." Aisha said through the helmet communicators. "This is insane!" Her eyes took in the destruction of most of downtown angel grove. Many building were burning. This was a well thought out attack. Bombs, had to be.
"What are those things?" Katherine asked, the hesitation in her voice. Pointing at the figures moving like shadows in the flame.
"Mutated Tengus?" Adam offered. Indeed they did resemble the tengu, only covered in purple slime. Already they were more aggressive then before and braver.
Rocky kicked an ooze minion before shouting back. "Head in the game rangers!"
Aisha punched one and its lower beak cracked off, hanging only by the purple goo. The dead look in its eyes made her shout with fright. "These things are dead!"
"How can they be moving if they are dead?" Katherine replied jumping away from an attack.
"Great zombie Tengu." Rocky frowned. "Just what we need."
Adam shouted quickly to the team. "Don't let them bite you! If its like the movies..." His voice trailed off into a grunt getting a blow to the stomach but bouncing back.
A slow loud clap drew the rangers attention. "Very good rangers. The bite of my little pets is very affective. One little bite and you'll be filled with my ooze. Soon the world will feel me inside them, then the universe! Hahahaha!" He grew quiet after a moment. "Of course your armor will protect you so that will have to be removed... tear it off them." Ooze commanded sending the slovenly creatures into a frenzy.
It reminded Adam of locusts descending on a field of crops. The way the flock of undead landed among them and they way they fought. No matter how many he knocked them down, they got back up,
Aisha shot wildly. "Blasters aren't working!"
"They won't stop!" Katherine cried.
"Rocky!" Adam shouted.
"Right." Rocky nodded, " Tommy! We need back up! Now!"
"I read you." Came the reply. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Please hurry." Katherine pleaded.
*************************** Command Chamber***********************
"I think I'm going to be sick." Kimberly said watching the shambling muck covered tengu attacking the rangers. "Zordon can't we do anything to help?" She asked. This was the part she hated about losing her powers. Being trapped on the side lines watching instead of helping.
"I am afraid not Kimberly." Zordon replied.
A hand squeezed her shoulder. "They'll be alright Kim. I know it." Skull said.
Kimberly was still staring at the viewing globe. "I hope so." She whispered before speaking louder. "I don't see Justin or Tommy."
"Justin is on his way now..." Ninjor's voice startled the two humans. It sounded so unlike himself. He walked past them and close to Zordon's tube. The ninja master held up a glass orb of glowing golden light. Light that danced and swayed like it was alive. "It is done."
Zordon nodded. "Very well." was all he could say. There could be no time for mourning Dulcea. Not when the fate of the universe was still in peril.
"What's that?" Kimberly asked, unable to take her gaze from the dancing glow. It seemed almost hypnotic and strangely soothing.
Skull narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to the orb. "It's Dulcea." he answered. Not knowing how he knew, yet he felt it to be true. "But... how? Why?"
Ninjor dropped his shoulders. "Skull, I should have known you would know this light. You are the Scorpion, piercing and perceptive." The moment the words were out of Ninjor's mouth, Skull grabbed at his chest, feeling a surge of self confidence he had never known before.
"That's his ninjetti spirit?" Kimberly asked.
"Before she became what you see now. Dulcea, she gave name to both Skull and Bulk's ninjetti spirits. As she did name you swan. Though there is not enough magic here for the four of you."
Skull counted on his fingers. "Me, Bulkie, Kim... wait four of us? That's only three."
"You mean Billy, don't you?" Kim wondered. Did this mean her best friend had a chance?
Zordon replied. "Rangers, Dulcea has given her life in order to save Billy. Her sacrifice is noble and we must honor what she has done for him."
The weight of Zordon's words landed heavily upon the hearts of the two teens.
"But if we can't save Billy, what then Zordon?"
"I will take Dulcea back to her temple plateau and release her light there." Ninjor answered. "Have courage." he offered after a moment.
There was a cry of pain, suddenly focusing all attention back to the viewing globe. Courage? Kimberly thought, courage they had plenty of, what they needed was a miracle.
******************* Warehouse district***********************
"Bulk what are you doing here?" Tommy asked, helmet demorphing from his face.
"Giving you some back up Oliver. I knew you'd go all hero and send the others away." Bulk replied, crossing his arms.
"Do you think I wanted to do this on my own? Downtown is under attack. I had no choice."
"Which is why you need back up." Bulk smirked.
He had a point but "You don't even know how this is set up." Tommy gestured to the trap around them.
"Yeah I do. Me and Skull was here earlier. I saw you putting this thing up." Bulk countered.
Tommy blinked, how could that be possible? The comical duo had never been stealthy before. The white ranger shook his head. "Doesn't matter. This might not even hold. Billy will kill you."
A tinge of color danced over Bulk's cheeks as the former bully looked away slightly. "I... I don't think he will. He didn't before."
"That doesn't mean he won't now! I..." A desperate call for back up silenced Tommy. The wooden door rattled as well, as if something had just hit it.
"Give me the cure Tommy." Bulk stepped forward with a spark in his eyes the leader of the power rangers had not seen before. "The others need you. I can do this."
"I..." Tommy hesitated but what choice did he have? The others were calling desperately. He could head the frightened plea in Katherine's voice. "But if it doesn't work."
Bulk shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I'm dead Oliver, I know."
"Okay." Tommy relented, handing the small vial of liquid to Bulk. He knew this was taking a chance.
Bulk took it gently. Even as the wooden door shook once more against the Nightmare wanting the fresh meat it sensed inside. "And Tommy?"
"Yeah?"
"If this doesn't work. Tell Skull and Kim that... tell um... I'm sorry."
Tommy nodded. "You're a real ranger Bulk. I'm sorry for for everything from before. If you get Billy to this spot and pull this rope. The chain net will fall. You'll have a few seconds to act."
Bulk only waved his hand as the wooden door cracked. "Yeah yeah got it. Get going fearless leader."
Tommy had more respect for Bulk in this moment than any other time before. As he vanished in a streak of white light Bulk turned to the door breaking open.
"Hey Billy." Bulk said as the hooved beast moved towards him. "Been waiting for you."
