MMPR Revisited
Day of the Dumpster, Part 1
In a chamber that appeared abandoned and tranquil, an alarm suddenly shattered the silence. It grew louder by the second until an unexpected response emerged.
"Ayeyeyeyi!" Alpha 5, a futuristic automaton, hurriedly emerged from the chamber's shadows. Waddling over to the main computer console, it began entering a code to silence the alarms. "What's happening?" the robot exclaimed. "Zordon?" it called out, receiving no immediate response. "Zordon? Zordon, where are you?" Alpha's anxiety was palpable, its desperation growing.
"I am here, Alpha," a resonant and ominous voice echoed through the chamber. Zordon materialized in a crystalline cylinder, illuminating the room with a brilliant light.
"Zordon, something is amiss!" Alpha 5 continued typing, hoping to uncover the source of the alarm. Zordon nodded solemnly before speaking.
"Yes, Alpha. I feared this day would come." Alpha looked up, his anxiety evident. "Alpha, quickly reroute the sensors to the viewing globe."
"Right!" Alpha replied. After a few more seconds of typing, a small, round globe began to glow behind it, and a chilling laugh reverberated.
"Ahahahah! After ten thousand years, I am free! The time to conquer Earth has come!" Rita, accompanied by her nefarious team of minions, including the fierce and bloodthirsty Goldar, the ruthless and conscienceless Baboo and Squat, and the impish wizard Finster, was seen leading her assault on Earth from her moon base.
"Ayeyeyeyi!" Alpha cried out. "Zordon, she's escaped! She's likely launched an attack on Earth!" Zordon nodded, fully aware of the dark witch's capabilities. Memories of their last encounter flashed before him, a battle won through good fortune and determination, but he wondered if the current state of humanity could withstand her malevolent forces. "What should we do?" Alpha urgently inquired.
"Alpha, the time has come. I need you to assemble a team of teenagers with attitude." Alpha raised its arms in protest.
"No, not teenagers!" he objected.
"Yes, Alpha. Find them," Zordon remained firm in his resolve. The only hope for humanity now rested in those strong enough to save it – strong enough to deal with the sacrifice of embracing the morphin grid.
Angel Grove, a quiet enclave within Los Angeles, was known for its active young adult community. Academic excellence was the norm, and nearly every teenager was engaged in extracurricular activities or regular social justice heroes. The Angel Grove Youth Center served as a popular hangout, offering a range of options from studying to sports, dance, gymnastics, and martial arts. Jason Lee Scott, a junior at Angel Grove High School and a remarkably talented young black belt, led the martial arts class.
"Right kick up," Jason commanded, his students following his instructions. "Left kick up!" He continued the drills before having them take a knee. Kneeling down, he made eye contact with each student, a sign of respect and equality.
"Jason's class is really filling up," remarked Billy Cranston, another junior, to his longtime friend Trini Kwan, who nodded in agreement. They sat at a table in the food court, which just oversaw all the recreational activities in front of them.
"He's an excellent teacher," Trini replied. "You should consider joining, Billy."
Billy adjusted his glasses and replied, "Oh, no, that's not for me. I've found my niche, and it's not... that." As Jason demonstrated a roundhouse kick, Trini chuckled.
"Zack's class seems to be gaining popularity too," Trini observed. Zack Taylor, renowned as the school's hip-hop dance team captain, taught a lively dance class for middle school kids. "I tried it last week and barely kept up," she giggled. Billy laughed in agreement and returned to his science textbook, while Trini decided to check on Kimberly.
In the Youth Center's gymnastics area, Kimberly Hart practiced diligently after school. Trini approached quietly, not wanting to disturb Kimberly's concentration. Kim exhibited impressive balance, executing a series of moves with grace and precision. Trini applauded, and Kimberly greeted her with a smile.
"That was amazing, Kimberly!" Trini praised.
"Thanks, Trini! How are you?" Kim inquired, while getting from the beam to the mat below.
"I'm good, just hanging out with Billy while the others teach their classes. Want to join us? Ernie brought you a strawberry smoothie."
"I won't say no to that!" Kimberly laughed. "Did you convince Billy to try any classes?"
"No, not yet. But I think he'll come around eventually. He's been a bit more reserved than usual."
"Should we be concerned?" Kimberly asked, mindful of Billy's proximity.
"No, he'll open up when he's ready," Trini assured her. The girls settled down for their usual chats about boys and fashion, while Billy chose to remain engrossed in his science textbook, content in their company.
"Hey, guys!" Zack plopped down on the bench, wiping sweat off his forehead with his towel. "Ernie! Bring me something good!" He called out to Ernie, who smiled and saluted Zack in reply. "Man, let me tell you, I could barely keep up with those kids. They've got so much energy," he chuckled.
"I don't know where they get it from. I was never that energetic when I was their age," Billy chimed in, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose.
"Maybe if you were a bit more active," Zack replied with a playful grin. "C'mon, man, you should join something here. Your brain has enough exercise for all of us." Laughter echoed through their group.
"Yeah, no. I'm fine," Billy replied, shaking his head. "But speaking of interesting things, did you guys hear about that spaceship that reached the moon today? I wonder if they found anything remarkable up there. How incredible would that be?"
"Not at all. I couldn't imagine being stuck in those spacesuits all day. I couldn't live with myself if my hair was tangled up in a helmet all the time," Kim chimed in, her tone unenthusiastic. Trini rolled her eyes.
"That is quite interesting, Billy," Trini said, offering support.
"Dismissed!" Their conversation halted when they heard Jason's voice from a distance. His martial arts class had just ended, and he waited patiently for his students to exit the mat before leaving himself. Jason often lingered, ready to address any questions or comments from his students. Once his class was clear, he grabbed his towel and headed to the locker room to change. Afterward, he rejoined his friends.
"How was class today, Jason?" Trini asked.
"Awesome. These kids are incredibly focused and determined. Just the kind of discipline we need," Jason replied, a sense of pride in his voice.
"Well, well, well. Look at these losers," Bulk, a notorious school bully, taunted from behind the group. His sidekick, Skull, emitted a high-pitched, hyena-like laugh. The two were inseparable, with one always close by the other's side.
"What are you doing, Billy?" Bulk leaned in closely behind Billy, peering over his shoulder.
"Bulk, go away," Kimberly snapped, making a face of pure annoyance.
"That's not what you said last night," Bulk teased, earning another laugh from Skull. Kimberly's expression turned to disgust.
"Ew, in your dreams. You're such an ass," Kim retorted.
"Seriously, you two, go away," Jason intervened with a stern tone.
"Hey now, calm down. We're trying to be friendly," Skull chuckled. "Whoops!" Skull added as he slowly poured his water all over Billy's science textbook. Shocked, Billy backed away from his seat and picked up the book, water dripping from it. His expression was one of sheer mortification, and Trini hurried to help him.
"What's wrong with you two?" Zack stood up, his anger simmering. Jason placed a calming hand on Zack's shoulder.
"Oh, what are you going to do?" Bulk taunted.
"Hey, you two! Out of here, now!" Ernie, the Youth Center owner, shouted from behind the counter.
"Saved by the bell, Zack," Bulk sneered, while Skull continued to cackle. As they left, Zack slammed his fist on the table.
"Man, I really want to teach them a lesson," Zack muttered, fueled by anger.
"They're not worth it," Jason insisted, moving from Zack to Billy, who was still panicking over the drenched textbook. "Billy, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I guess. This was a special edition, I just bought it new. And now it's ruined," Billy lamented, dropping the book onto the table. Trini looked at him sympathetically. "At least things can't get worse."
Just then, a tremor shook the building. Initially small and innocuous, it caught everyone's attention. Earthquakes were common in California, but then came another, and another, followed by a deafening explosion outside. Panic ensued as screams filled the air, and sirens blared in the distance. The tremors continued, causing parts of the ceiling to fall, rendering the Youth Center unsafe.
"Guys, we've got to get out of here now!" Jason shouted. The group gathered, and a cascade of red, blue, black, yellow, and pink light enveloped them, transporting them away.
They felt like they were flying, and then, as suddenly as it began, it ended. They tumbled a few inches to the ground, ending up in a huddle. Slowly, they helped each other up, a mix of fascination and fear in their eyes.
"This isn't exactly the mall, is it?" Kimberly broke the silence with her usual sarcastic wit. Jason led the group through the unfamiliar, highly technological surroundings.
"Whoa, this is amazing!" Billy exclaimed with excitement.
"You would like this stuff," Zack teased, chuckling.
"I don't get it. How did we end up here?" Jason asked.
"I just want to know where here is," Trini added. Billy cautiously began touching buttons and dials, catching Alpha 5's attention.
"Aeyeyeyeyi! Don't touch that!" Alpha exclaimed, rushing in and tripping over itself. Kimberly screamed and retreated behind Jason.
"Whoa!" Billy knelt down to examine Alpha. "A fully sentient, multifunctional automaton! I've never seen anything like it!" Billy marveled as he helped Alpha back to its feet.
"Welcome, humans!" Zordon's voice surprised them, causing them to jump. Zordon appeared in his crystalline globe.
"Uh-oh," Trini whispered, her anxiety growing.
"So, who are you?" Jason asked boldly.
"Like, what are you?" Kimberly added.
"I am Zordon, an interdimensional being trapped in a time-warp," he replied matter-of-factly. They exchanged puzzled glances.
"And my name is Alpha 5!" Alpha chimed in.
"Okay, yeah, no. Can someone from Earth come pick me up because I am totally confused," Kimberly quipped.
"Allow me to explain," Zordon began. "Earth is under attack, and I have brought you here to save it."
"Yeah, right," Zack scoffed.
"Ah, a non-believer. Turn around to the viewing globe. Your doubts will be answered through the images you see." The five of them gathered around the viewing globe as it displayed images of Rita Repulsa, an intergalactic sorceress bent on controlling the universe with her creatures and an army of putties. The images showed her devastating villages hundreds of years ago, then abruptly cut off.
"But what does this have to do with us?" Trini asked, turning back to face Zordon.
"You have been chosen to be a part of an elite team of warriors to fight Rita and defend the Earth from her attacks. Each of you will be given access to extraordinary powers drawn from the ancient creatures you call Dinosaurs."
"Dinosaurs?" Kimberly asked, her tone flat. Suddenly, belts with cartridges containing golden coins in the center appeared around each of their waists, startling them.
"Behold! The keys to your power!" Zordon proclaimed, and Zack took one of the cartridges out.
"Whoa, what are these?" Zack inquired.
"Those are your power morphers. When in danger, raise them to the sky, calling out the name of your dinosaur, and you will morph into a formidable fighting force known as the Power Rangers."
"Morph?" Kim asked, perplexed.
"Metamorphosis!" Billy replied with enthusiasm.
"It means to change," Trini clarified for Kimberly.
"As Power Rangers, you will have access to a universe of power and will command a fleet of fighting machines called Zords," Zordon continued.
"I don't get it," Trini admitted, shaking her head.
"Jason, bold and powerful, you shall command the Tyrannosaurus dinosaur. Zachary, clever and brave, you shall command the Mastodon dinosaur. Kimberly, graceful and smart, the Pterodactyl dinosaur shall be yours. Billy, patient and wise, you shall command the powerful Triceratops dinosaur. Trini, fearless and agile, the Saber-Tooth Tiger dinosaur will be under your command."
Before they could ask any questions, the viewing globe lit up behind them.
"Observe the viewing globe!" Zordon instructed. They turned around to see images of their Zords. "Just as the five of you work together, so will your Zords. When you need help, you need only turn to the power of the Dinosaurs. They will come together to form the mighty Megazord."
The viewing globe shut down, leaving them in silence.
"Power Morphers? Megazords? Nope. This is just too much for me," Zack declared.
"Yeah, I don't want to do this at all!" Kimberly added.
"Thanks but no thanks!" Zack chimed in. "Come on, guys, I'm out." Trini nodded and pulled on Billy's arm, who appeared genuinely disappointed they were leaving. "Jason, are you coming?" Zack called out. Jason remained still, maintaining direct eye contact with Zordon. "Jason!"
"Yeah, right." Reluctantly, Jason turned around to join them.
"Very well then. May the power protect you," Zordon said, acknowledging their departure.
"Well, that didn't go very well, did it? Ayeyeyi," Alpha 5 sighed.
As the five made their way out of the power chamber, they realized they were on a remote mountain range with no sign of town or road for miles.
"Great. He could have at least dropped us off back in town," Kimberly complained. One by one, they descended a rocky path until they reached what appeared to be a trail.
"Come on, guys, let's think about this for a second. We could be Power Rangers!" Jason tossed the idea back to them.
"Do you really think we can?" Kim questioned.
"Zordon does," Billy reminded them.
"Guys, are you forgetting how we're getting this information from a talking robot and a floating head? I hope Ernie didn't put something strong in our smoothies," Kim quipped.
"Yeah, this is crazy," Zack agreed.
"I'm not so sure…" Jason began, but his words were cut off.
Clouds began to form above them, and bolts of lightning struck down in front of Zack, causing him to jump back in panic. The lightning strikes continued, along with the appearance of grey creatures descending from the sky, their movements frenetic.
"Oh my god, you guys. These are those Putties!" Kimberly gasped. Two of them surrounded her, and she screamed. Jason rushed to her aid, pulling one off and delivering a kick to its chest, causing it to fall and roll over. Kim kicked the other one, making it stumble back.
"Let's take these guys!" Jason declared, but Billy seemed somewhat shocked. The others, however, coordinated their efforts more effectively. When two Putties approached Billy from different directions, all he could do was duck, causing them to collide and fall.
Zack kicked one Putty away and managed to block a punch from another, though not without some pain. These creatures had a firm, rock-like texture to them. Trini delivered a series of quick jabs to a Putty's gut but felt pain in return. She kicked it back and defensively held her hands up.
For momentum and to create space between themselves and the Putties, Kimberly performed a back handspring and delivered a powerful kick across a Putty's face.
"Out of my face!" she yelled. She glanced at Jason, who seemed to be holding his own against the majority of them. Among them all, Jason was the most skilled fighter, but the strain of battling creatures as hard as stone was taking its toll. The Putties continued to swarm them.
First, they threw Billy into a corner, followed by Kim, Zack, Trini, and then Jason. They were dog-piled once again.
"What are we gonna do?" Kimberly asked, her panic mounting as the creatures closed in.
"Zordon gave us these power morphers. I say we use them!" Jason insisted.
"Rangers Morph! It's Morphing time!" Zordon's voice echoed through the mountains, causing the Putties to tremble. They all reached for their morphers and raised them to the sky.
"Mastodon!" A black light surrounded Zack.
"Pterodactyl!" A pink light surrounded Kimberly.
"Triceratops!" A blue light surrounded Billy.
"Saber-Tooth Tiger!" A yellow light surrounded Trini.
"Tyrannosaurus!" A red light surrounded Jason.
As they morphed, they stood there, gazing at their new armor and at each other, fully transformed. The Putties began to cower away.
"Now, where were we?" Jason taunted. But before he could make a move, the colorful lights surrounded them once more, lifting them through the air.
"Rangers, congratulations. You did it. But now, I'm sending you to Angel Grove Central Square. Rita has sent down Goldar, one of her elite warriors, and a squadron of Putties to attack innocent civilians. You must repel them!"
As they landed, the Rangers were awestruck by the devastation that surrounded them. It was total and utter destruction. Putties were mercilessly attacking civilians, and chaos reigned. Cars and buildings were on fire, sirens blared in the distance, and the sounds of rapid gunfire echoed all around.
"Oh wow," Trini gasped. They moved cautiously, taking in the grim reality of their surroundings. Although they all felt more powerful, a paralyzing fear still washed over them.
"Guys, can you believe this?" Trini asked in disbelief.
"This is awful…" Billy agreed, his voice trembling.
"Guys, over there!" Jason pointed to a hand, a bloodied hand protruding from beneath a pile of debris. Jason rushed towards it, with the others following close behind. With the help of Zack and Billy, he lifted the debris, and Kimberly gasped.
"Oh no, Jason! Isn't that one of your…?" Kimberly couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
"Yes." One of Jason's karate students, still clad in his uniform, lay lifeless on the ground. A flood of emotions surged through Jason, with anger and sorrow being the most overwhelming. He picked up the fallen student and held him close.
"I'm so sorry, buddy. I should have been here sooner," Jason whispered, his voice choked with grief.
"AAHAHAHA!" A maniacal, taunting laugh filled the air. "People of Earth, bow to Rita! Bow to darkness!" The Rangers looked up and saw a golden creature perched on top of a building, shouting over the city.
"Goldar," Zack identified. "Jason, we have to stop him."
Jason was still grappling with shock but managed to pull himself together.
"I'm so sorry," he said to his student, gently setting him down. "I'll come back for you." Jason stood up and turned to his teammates. His voice was shaky but determined. "Alright, guys. We have a job to do." He glanced at the devastation around them. "We're taking Goldar down. Rangers, let's move!"
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