Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter seventeen of "Running From Here." This chapter features the return of Zordon and Alpha. I felt it was time to bring them back. It is quite possible the Rangers and the survivors will have an encounter with a hungry carnivore or an unusually aggressive herbivore. Stay tuned for chapter eighteen.
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Chapter 17: Feeling Uncertain
Zordon and Alpha observed Rexy walking ahead of the group on the Command Center's Viewing Globe. Mia was close behind her. Alan, Ellie, Ian, and Trini walked alongside the former. Tommy, Kim, and Zack did the same with the latter. Rexy raised her head slightly. She let out a small growl before swinging her tail from side to side. Alpha raised his arms high.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi! I can't believe the Power Rangers are trapped with the Jurassic Park survivors on Isla Nublar!" Alpha cried in a panicky voice.
"Lord Zedd must have encased the island in an invisible force once the Rangers arrived on the island. They did not know until they attempted to contact us and teleport out," Zordon suggested.
"We didn't even pick it up with our sensors!" Alpha said, turning around to face him. He went to him. "The group has a long way to go before they reach the Visitor Center!"
"Even if they get there, we have no idea how long it will take for them to establish contact with us," Zordon whispered, seriousness showing in his voice.
"I hate all this uncertainty!" Alpha hissed angrily. "That Lord Zedd makes my circuits burn so much!"
Alpha kicked the console in frustration. He stomped his foot in a similar manner. He crossed his arms with a loud huff. Zordon expressed much sympathy for him.
"I understand how angry you are, Alpha," Zordon said and cleared his throat. "However, you cannot allow that anger to cloud your judgement. It will keep you from focusing."
"I know, Zordon, but I just can't help it," Alpha replied sadly.
"Alpha, I get angry myself sometimes," Zordon whispered in a comforting voice. "A wise sage is not immune to anger."
"You are lucky you do not have the means to express your anger with the exception of a look and your voice," Alpha commented and sighed heavily. "My foot hurts from kicking the console a little bit."
"At least you did not hit a living being, Alpha," Zordon pointed out softly.
"That is true," Alpha said, his body shaking somewhat. "The thought of hitting someone even accidentally scares me."
Zordon exhaled. "I do not blame you. Sometimes, it is not possible to avoid them because they are standing too close to you."
"That is true," Alpha agreed, tilting his head. "I feel so bad when that happens."
"Some people are able to distinguish right from wrong, but they do not care in the least bit," Zordon said, bluntness showing in his voice. "They want everything and will knock down everyone who stands in their way of getting it."
Alpha growled angrily. "Lord Zedd is one such person. Rita Repulsa is another one."
Alpha went toward the Viewing Globe. He stopped a short distance from it. He and Zordon watched Rexy look around. They listened to her snorting. They caught sight of John, Lex, and Tim on her back behind Jason. Alpha clasped his hands together.
"I am so glad Billy and Jason managed to gain Mia and Rexy's trust," Alpha whispered in great relief.
"I am too, Alpha," Zordon agreed. "It is the first time a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus walk alongside each other without fear of an attack."
"Billy and Jason are doing well in communicating with them," Alpha said, his hands going out to the sides.
"That does not mean they will be able to trust them fully. The dinosaurs can still turn on them without warning," Zordon pointed out matter-of-factly.
"All animals can do this with their caregivers," Alpha said, nodding slowly. "You can take an animal out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of an animal."
"Exactly. We must always respect their space," Zordon said in a firm manner. He blinked three times. "Like humans, animals do not like it when their space is invaded."
"You and I have watched humans getting attacked by animals when they invaded their space several times. I hate to say it, but I didn't feel bad for them. They knew they shouldn't have done it, yet they ignored the warning," Alpha said bluntly. "I did feel bad for their families, though."
"As did I," Zordon agreed. "As humans say, you cannot fix stupid."
The duo listened to Lex and Tim laughing joyfully as Rexy walked a tiny bit faster. Zordon tried not to smile, but he couldn't help himself. Alpha emitted a sweet sigh. He moved his hands to his shoulders before tilting his head somewhat.
"Lex and Tim appear to be having the time of their lives riding Rexy, despite they were traumatized by their first visit to the island," Alpha commented in a soft way.
"Lex and Tim came to appreciate Rexy and Mia because they attempted to protect them, their grandfather, and their friends from Lord Zedd's goons. The dinosaurs got knocked out, but they were not injured," Zordon explained.
"It takes a lot more to kill a dinosaur," Alpha said. "That's for sure."
"Indeed, Alpha," Zordon agreed. "This situation reminds me of when we could not get in contact with the Rangers while Turbanshell was on a rampage."
"Ay-yi-yi-yi. The Command Center was encased in a force field. It was crushing us. Billy got into the computers just in time!" Alpha cried and clasped his hands together.
"The biggest difference between the force fields is the one over Isla Nublar isn't crushing it. It was just meant to trap the Rangers there," Zordon murmured and blinked twice.
"It is no less powerful than the other one was," Alpha pointed out truthfully. "It is blocking communication and teleportation. I believe it would have blocked morphing if the team arrived there unmorphed."
Zordon sighed softly. "Most likely. They won't be able to summon their zords to fight Lord Zedd's goons if he sends them to the island as giants. Not even Rexy and Mia will be able to fight them."
Alpha groaned. "I think Lord Zedd would be more interested in taking advantage of the Rangers' absence in—"
Suddenly, the alarm rang out. Alpha jumped in much fright before looking toward it. He raised his arms above his head.
"Ay-yi-yi!" Alpha yelled frantically. "There is trouble."
"Alpha, scan all channels," Zordon ordered firmly.
Alpha nodded. "Right away."
Alpha looked at the console to the right of the Viewing Globe. He pressed several buttons. He shifted his attention back to it. He saw Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton throwing fireballs from their hands at civilians in Angel Grove Park. The civilians ran in different directions in which the fireballs missed. They were screaming and crying.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi!" Alpha yelled in much fear. "Lord Zedd has launched an attack on Angel Grove Park!"
"I knew it was only a matter of time before he took advantage of the team's absence in the city," Zordon said in a serious voice.
"Boy, did he do that quickly!" Alpha blurted out.
"The Rangers must get off the island as quickly as possible," Zordon responded gravely. "Lord Zedd could make Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton grow and have them attack downtown at any time "
"The trio could do immense damage to that area!" Alpha cried while putting his hands on top of his head. "It makes me wonder if Lord Zedd will ever try to unleash the dinosaurs on Angel Grove!"
"It is quite a possibility. They wouldn't need powerful magic to do damage. Their size and strength would be enough to do a lot of it," Zordon pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Speed, armor, and weapons can cause great damage too. The Velociraptor is a great example. Its sickle claw can rip things apart. Its sharp teeth can leave serious injuries. The Ankylosaurus is another great example. Its knobbed tail can knock over large objects and break windows. Its spikes can poke holes in the sides of cars and trucks," Alpha explained.
"One thing is clear. The trek to the Visitor Center will be dangerous, especially if the weather turns south. If the group does not get there before dark, they will have to set up camp for the night. It won't be easy for them to sleep, even with Rexy and Mia there for protection," Zordon commented.
"I hope that does not happen, Zordon, but we just never know. Anything is possible in this crazy universe of ours," Alpha whispered and lowered his arms.
"Indeed, it is," Zordon agreed. "We must always expect the unexpected. Things can happen so fast that we do not notice at all."
"Of course. I hope the Rangers and the survivors get in contact with us in time," Alpha said in uncertainty.
"Me too, Alpha," Zordon boomed. He and the robot continued watching Goldar, Scorpina, and Tigton terrorize the civilians.