MMPR Revisited
Green with Evil Missing Part 3
An overwhelming sense of malice hung in the air, even for Goldar, Rita's second-in-command. As they entered the ancient burial ground of his beloved, he too sensed a natural imbalance of power between good and evil. Under normal circumstances, this would have excited him, but he understood that the scales were tipping due to the Green Ranger, Rita's new weapon.
Despite all the tireless work Goldar put in day in and day out, he had never received the recognition or praise he believed he deserved. With the return of Scorpina, he saw an opportunity to win his queen's favor once more. Together, they would become an unstoppable force of evil, one that would surely eclipse the Green Ranger.
"Almost there," Finster remarked, examining the ancient clock he had placed beside Scorpina's remains. "Just another day or so."
"We've waited centuries to be together. A little more time won't kill me," Goldar replied, though patience was not his strongest trait.
"We're missing a crucial component," Finster continued, his words carrying a somber weight.
"What do you mean, wizard?" Goldar exclaimed, and the force of his outburst made the rocky walls tremble, causing dirt to rain down from the ceiling.
"Calm yourself, old friend," Finster advised, his composure intact, primarily out of concern that Goldar's outburst might bring the walls crashing down on them. "Zordon would never admit it, but he employed some of the darkest magic to seal Scorpina away. And only through equally dark magic can her release be truly accomplished."
"You know how much I relish your riddles, Finster," Goldar replied flatly.
"Blood, Goldar. Human blood," Finster revealed, and Goldar's expression shifted to one of understanding.
"So, a sacrifice?" Goldar queried, and Finster nodded in agreement. "I wonder where we can find a few of those..." Goldar's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Finster, assemble a platoon of Putties. It's time for Baboo and Squat to earn their keep."
Meanwhile, in Angel Grove Park, not much was happening. A few kids strolled through, but the only occupants of the park were Trent Redford and Scarlet Davis. They set their backpacks on the ground and settled onto the swings, gently swaying back and forth. There was a comforting nostalgia in the air that put them both at ease.
"So, your mom's getting married?" Scarlet inquired, prompting Trent's surprise.
"How did you know that?" Trent asked.
"Brent," Scarlet replied matter-of-factly.
"My brother?" Trent questioned, and Scarlet gave him an incredulous look. "Some people can't keep secrets." A few moments passed before he responded to her initial question. "No, I mean, she likes him. But I don't think so. Trask is very serious."
"Is that really his name?" Scarlet laughed.
"His last name, but he prefers to be called that. It's whatever," Trent shrugged.
"He's a hero, though," Scarlet remarked. "He fights alongside and supports the Power Rangers, right?" Trent scoffed.
"The Power Rangers. Ugh. If I hear that one more time. He might fight with them, but if it were up to him, he'd be fighting against them."
"That's unfortunate," Scarlet acknowledged.
"I guess," Trent replied, uninterested. He got up from the swing and moved to stand right in front of Scarlet, placing his hands on the swing's chains and leaning over her. "We didn't come here just to talk about that boring stuff, right?" he said, flashing a flirtatious grin. Scarlet's cheeks turned a shade of red, and she smiled.
"Just trying to make conversation," she responded. "But if you insist..." She leaned up, pressing her lips against his. When she pulled back, she gasped suddenly. "Oh my god!"
"What is it?" Trent asked, bewildered by her sudden reaction. She pointed behind him, and he turned to find several Putty monsters surrounding them. "Oh my god," he echoed, stepping back. "Come on, let's run!" Grabbing Scarlet's hand, they sprinted in the opposite direction.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever fully recover from this..." Kimberly sighed as Billy removed some electrodes from her arms. The electrical therapy in the medical bay was effective, but it wasn't fast enough for Kimberly's liking.
"Patience," Billy advised, his voice calm.
"Cliché much?" Kimberly retorted, chuckling. "I know, I know. I'm just dying to get back on the beam." Kimberly hadn't been able to practice gymnastics since her injury. She rose from the chair and followed Billy out of the medical bay and into the Command Center's main area. Zordon's interdimensional tube remained empty and dark. "I still half-expect to see him there..."
"I know. We'll find him," Billy reassured her. "Alpha and I have been narrowing down variables and tracking energy sources." However, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The alarms in the Command Center suddenly blared, and the others turned their attention to Kimberly.
"Rangers! There's an attack in Angel Grove Park! Observe the viewing globe!" Alpha exclaimed, pointing to the circular orb, which displayed images of Putty Patrol chasing two civilians.
"Wait, they're from our school," Trini observed. "That's Scarlet and..."
"Is that Brent?" Zack asked, and Billy's gaze shifted from the main console to the viewing globe. Trini and Kimberly exchanged concerned glances.
"No, it's not Brent. He wouldn't be with..." Billy began, then corrected himself, "I mean, he's at swim practice. That's Trent," he concluded. However, he found Trent's presence rather perplexing. Why was he with Scarlet?
"Alright, well, why are the Putties attacking them?" Kimberly inquired.
"We can't just stand here and speculate. We need to get down there," Trini urged.
"It's Morphin' Time, guys!" Zack declared, drawing his morpher. "Mastodon!"
"Pterodactyl!" Kimberly called out.
"Triceratops!" Billy exclaimed.
"Sabre-tooth Tiger!" Trini shouted. The four of them transformed and were teleported to the park, where Trent and Scarlet were still being pursued. "Power Daggers!" Trini called out, summoning her weapons before charging forward.
"The Power Rangers!" Scarlet exclaimed in relief. Trini leaped over them and thrust her daggers into two Putties' torsos, causing them to crumble into dust. Zack, Billy, and Kim charged forward and began attacking the monsters. Kimberly elbowed one in the stomach and then high-kicked it in the face, sending it back. She then grabbed her arm in pain – still not fully recovered. Zack kicked a Putty away and then ran over to Kim.
"You're still hurt, aren't you?" Zack observed, and she didn't need to answer for him to know.
"I'm fine," she replied, even though it was a lie.
"No, no, you're not. Stay back here and fire at them. Do not attack directly. Not yet," Zack instructed, and Kimberly nodded her head. "Be our sniper."
"Power Bow!" Kimberly summoned her weapon. "Got it," she said as she pulled back her bowstring and fired an arrow at a Putty just as it leaped toward Scarlet. Billy rushed over to Trent and Scarlet, who sought refuge behind a tree, both of them out of breath and terrified.
"Are you okay?" Billy asked.
"No!" Trent exclaimed dramatically. "Why are those things attacking us?" Billy didn't have an answer for that, but he was also surprised by Trent's strange animosity. He was certainly nothing like his brother.
"I think we'll be okay," Scarlet said, still catching her breath.
"Okay, well, stay put. Don't go running off and bring any attention to yourselves. We'll handle this," Billy reassured them.
"Thanks, Blue Ranger," Scarlet said with a smile, while Trent scoffed. Billy turned around and rushed forward.
"Power Lance!" He summoned his weapon and struck a Putty across the face, sending it spiraling to the ground. Billy then ran toward Trini and thrust the end of his lance into a Putty's back, knocking it down. As two more golems approached them, Trini exchanged glances with Billy, and he nodded. He lowered the end of his lance to the ground, and Trini jumped onto it. Just as she did this, he raised the lance high, lifting Trini into the air.
"So long," Trini said as she threw her daggers at the Putties, hitting each of them in the face and reducing them to dust upon impact.
"Nice shot," Billy commended her as he twirled his weapon overhead, striking a Putty across the face and sending it flying. The battle with the Putties continued for a few more minutes, but something felt off to Billy. Why were the Putties coming after them so relentlessly? Was Rita trying to distract them? His suspicions grew when Scarlet's scream rang out, revealing that Baboo and Squatt were up to no good.
"Oh no, what are they up to?" Billy exclaimed, concern etched on his face. Trini shook her head, determination filling her eyes.
"We can't afford to wait and find out," Trini declared as she reclaimed her daggers and charged toward Baboo and Squat. The two menacing creatures were closing in on Trent and Scarlet, who were growing increasingly frantic as the monsters approached.
"Come with us, humans," Squat taunted maliciously.
"Yes, join us in a resurrection! Won't that be thrilling?!" Baboo added, his tone dripping with sadistic glee.
"Get away from us, you freaks!" Trent spat out, his defiance unwavering.
"Tsk, tsk," Baboo clucked disapprovingly before raising his arm and striking Trent across the face with the back of his hand. "Worthless human, don't talk to me that way," he sneered, while Squat burst into wicked laughter.
"You're sick, both of you!" Scarlet exclaimed, her voice quivering with disgust.
"Oh, my dear, you have no idea," Baboo replied, adjusting his glasses with a sinister tilt. Trini leaped over the minions and positioned herself between them and her classmates, her daggers poised to strike.
"Why must you be so insufferable, Yellow Ranger?" Squat taunted. In response, Trini delivered a swift kick to his stomach, silencing his taunts. However, Baboo retaliated by swinging his long arm, clawed appendages digging into Trini's arm. She cried out in pain as sparks flew from her suit, her determination unwavering. A pink arrow pierced Baboo's shoulder, causing him to recoil in agony.
"You okay?" Kimberly called out as she cautiously approached, still keeping her distance.
"I am now," Trini replied, her resilience evident.
"Power Axe!" Zack leaped into the air, his axe materializing between his hands. He brought it down with force, striking Squat's chest armor before transforming it into shotgun mode and unleashing a barrage of shots that sent Squat crashing into a tree.
"Vermin," Baboo hissed before yanking the arrow from his shoulder. He soared into the air, his wings unfurling to keep him aloft. Raising his right arm, he began to conjure a pulsating blue energy ball.
"What's that bizarre bat creature doing?" Trini wondered aloud, her voice tinged with unease.
"Whatever it is, we can't simply wait for it to hit us," Billy noted.
"Take this!" Baboo hurled the energy ball toward them. "Perish together!"
"Blast it!" Billy cried out, patting Zack's shoulder. Zack nodded in understanding.
"Got it," Zack replied, raising his shotgun and taking aim at the energy ball. He fired, resulting in a colossal explosion. The ground trembled as earth was upheaved, debris and rocks flying in all directions, creating a small crater. Kimberly, Zack, and Billy were thrown backward, and Trini rushed forward to shield Trent and Scarlet, pushing them to the ground.
Kimberly tried to move but instantly regretted it as aches coursed through her body. She struggled to her feet, her discomfort surpassing her previous pain. Approaching Billy, she shook him vigorously.
"Ouch," Billy groaned as he leaned upright, wincing.
Zack stirred and pushed himself onto his knees, dusting dirt from his suit. "That was reckless," Kimberly chided.
"Well, next time, you come up with the plan," Billy retorted.
"Don't yell at me; I'm in pain!" Kimberly complained, leaning against Billy for support.
"Where's Trini?" Zack asked, scanning their surroundings. He spotted the Yellow Ranger on the other side of the small crater, unmoving. Trent and Scarlet, their clothes dirtied and marked by scrapes and scratches, managed to stand.
"I don't think it's over. Let's go check on her," the three of them agreed, making their way to Trini and their classmates.
"Are you guys okay?" Kimberly inquired.
"Yeah, thanks to the Yellow Ranger," Scarlet replied. Billy knelt beside Trini and gently patted her back. She groaned but slowly began to rise.
"No problem," Trini groaned.
"Ahahahaha," Baboo's sinister laughter echoed ominously. The Rangers searched for him but found no trace.
"Ugh, I'm so over him already," Kimberly scoffed.
"You Rangers are truly pathetic. You think you have the power to defeat us? You're not even a complete team. You stand no chance," Baboo mocked from somewhere unseen.
"You'll never win," Zack declared defiantly.
"Stop! Let go of me!" Scarlet screamed. As the Rangers turned toward the source of her cries, they spotted Squat holding both Trent and Scarlet by their arms, pulling them back.
"No!" Zack yelled, attempting to rush forward. Baboo swooped down and kicked Zack from behind, sending him crashing to the ground.
"No! Help!" Scarlet screamed again, and in a flash of blue light, Squat, Scarlet, and Trent vanished.
"Excellent," Baboo cackled with satisfaction, his voice echoing eerily. "Tata for now." With a dismissive wave of his hand, he, too, disappeared in a burst of blue light.
"Oh my God, what are we gonna do? They have Scarlet and Trent!" Kimberly exclaimed, her hands gripping the top of her helmet in disbelief.
"I wouldn't be so concerned about them," a chilling voice echoed behind them. The Rangers turned to see the Green Ranger.
"Oh no," Trini murmured. The Green Ranger raised his hand, and a shimmering silver sword materialized from emerald light.
"We can't take him without Jason," Trini said.
"Your Red Ranger wouldn't have been much help to you anyway," the Green Ranger taunted. He wiped a streak of crimson from the tip of his sword with his finger. "He didn't put up much of a fight."
"No..." Kimberly gasped. "Is that...Jason's blood?"
"He's bluffing. There's no way he could have defeated Jason. Where is he?" Zack demanded.
"You'll join him soon enough," the Green Ranger replied, twirling his sword and charging toward the other Rangers, who were paralyzed by the fear that Jason might be gone forever...
