Chapter Seven: Goodbye Old Friend
"I am terribly sorry, Aisha," Zordon said.
Aisha bit her lip and looked down. _No no no,_ she thought. _Dear God help me. Not again._ She remembered the pain when Lord Zedd and Rita destroyed her Power Coin. She remembered the heart-ache she occasionally felt in Africa, although if she had it to do over again she would have stayed to help.
"The Green Dragon is a creature of mythology," Zordon said. "As such, unless the powers are used for evil, the Green Powers are destined to fail. Tommy's powers were lost as a result of the Green Candle. This time, they will fail you because of Energizer's extreme energy blast. Aisha, I have no choice but to remove the Powers from you. If the coin should fail completely, all of time will be altered."
"I understand, Zordon," she muttered. She held her left hand up. A sparkle of green light appeared in her palm, and the small golden coin appeared there. She handed it to Alpha.
"I will send it back in time when the scan for the thirteenth Crystal is complete," Alpha said.
"I know how you feel, Aisha," Jason said. "I lost the Gold Powers. It hurts, I know."
"I'll be okay," she said, forcing a smile. "I can at least help out here with Alpha."
"I can always use a pair of helping hands," Alpha said. "We can start with recreating the Zords."
* * *
"Well, at least I managed to destroy one Ranger," Jenga said.
"I destroyed six," Lord Zedd boasted.
"We destroyed six," Rita said.
Suddenly, the entire moon shook to its very core. "That's not good," Rito mused.
"Something just landed," Jenga observed. "Something big just landed."
A large figure stepped into the large room. "My SpaceSkull, to be exact," MasterVile answered.
* * *
David Cranston stood up from the booth as he and the Zeo Rangers were preparing to leave. Suddenly, his entire body was wracked with an intense feeling the likes of which he had never felt. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
"Mr. Cranston," Katherine said. She dropped to the ground beside him and took his hands in hers. "Are you all right?"
"I don't think so," he said. Blackness was beginning to seep into his vision. "Billy was right." He immediately lapsed into unconsciousness.
"Oh my God," Tanya said. "Hey! Hey! Somebody help us!"
Adam quickly ran up to the counter. "We need some type of Medical Assitance. Our friend has passed out."
"David?" the cashier asked. "He's an Earther right? Billy's father?"
"Yes," Adam said. "Billy's father. Earthling. Or Earther. Whatever. He needs a doctor."
"I'll call for help," she said.
* * *
"The Communicators are finished," Billy said. He opened the black box in his arms. Six shiny communicators lay within it. "Brand new."
All six teenagers placed the strange watch-like device on their wrist. "I have really missed this," Trini said. "The little things."
"Yeah," Kimberly said. "Like the weight of it on your wrist, or the way you never know if it's going to beep."
"Like during Thanksgiving dinner," Zack said, "or Ms. Appleby's English class."
"Or while you're taking a shower," Billy agreed.
"The Green Power Coin is fully charged up," Alpha said.
"Do not send it back in time yet, Alpha," Zordon said. "Perhaps you can isolate the energy pattern in the coin that powers the Dragon Dagger."
"Right, Zordon," Alpha said. "If we can, then we can operate the DragonZord by remote control!"
"I think I'm starting to feel the jet lag," Zack said. "What time is it here?"
"A little after six," Kimberly said.
"A little after three," Jason corrected.
"It's ten o'clock in Switzerland," Trini said, "and I'm really worn out."
"Rangers," Zordon said, "we are probably done for the day. I would imagine that the MoonBase will be relatively quiet for the next few hours, as they have much going on within their own walls."
"Yeah, with Jenga and all," Jason agreed.
"That is not all, Rangers," Zordon said solemnly. "MasterVile has returned."
* * *
The five Zeo Rangers, Rebecca, Cestro, and Cestria stood beside the Hibernation Pods that David Cranston was being stored in. The pods greatly slowed the occupants vitals. Their heart beat once every forty-eight hours; they breathed once a week. It was the only way to ensure that the Earthlings would at least have a chance at survival. "What is it that happened?" Rocky asked, breaking the morgue-like silence in the room.
"This was something that Billy has feared for some time," Cestro explained. "He ran some data on the human genetic material and the Aquitian environment through some computers. We weren't sure what his results meant, although we had all theorized."
"The environment of Aquitar is as dangerous to Earthlings as the environment of Earth is to Aquitians," Cestria explained, wiping away her tears. "One of Billy's theories was that each human has a set amount of time on Aquitar, unique for that person, before their body can't handle the environment any longer. I guess if he's right, that means David's time ran out."
"Billy won't be able to stay here on Aquitar," Tommy said.
Cestria nodded in agreement. "As much as I love him, he can't stay here," she said. "He'll die, unless he wants to go back to Earth for a few weeks every time he gets really weak, and that's no life for either one of us."
Katherine hugged Cestria and let her cry on her shoulder. The others lowered their head in respect
* * *
"I feel so much better right now," Billy said. "I don't know if it's because I have the Power again, or because I'm here on Earth, or if I'm with my old friends. Or maybe some combination."
"What do you mean, Billy?" Jason asked. Jason, Billy, Kimberly, and Aisha were in Jason's living room, bedding down for the night. Zack and Trini had gone to their own homes, delighting their parents who hadn't seen them since six weeks before during a brief Christmas visit.
"Everytime I went to stay on Aquitar, I was feeling pretty weak before long. I didn't know if it was just the change in my environment, or something bigger. So, Cestro and I ran some data through one of his computers. It gave us some inconclusive evidence, but one possibility was that Earthlings are incompatible with Aquitar."
"Like Trey was," Jason said.
"Right," Billy agreed, "only slower. My fears are just more confirmed now that I've returned to Earth and I can feel my strength returning."
"But that means, you and Cestria," Kimberly said.
"We'll have to break up," Billy said. "Lord help me, I hope I'm wrong."
* * *
Trini lay on her old bed, slowly drifting off to sleep. _I've come home,_ she thought. _I'm the Yellow Ranger again. I got to see my parents and sisters, again. And all I can think about is Billy._ She turned her face into her pillow and tried to force the thoughts out of her mind. She couldn't help but visualize, though, all of the opportunities to tell him how she felt but had passed on. "And now it's too late," she said aloud.
* * *
Rebecca, Katherine, and Tanya were in an Aquitian park, talking quietly amongst themselves. The guys were with Adam and Cestro, trying desperately to decipher Alpha's message. "I just hope that moving back to Earth will help him," Rebecca said. "If it doesn't, I don't know...." She let the thought die off, not wanting to face even the thought life without her husband. Suddenly, her vision blurred and an extreme wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.
"Rebecca?" Tanya asked.
Rebecca started to mutter something, but passed out before any words passed her lips.
"Go get help," Katherine said hurriedly.
"Right," Tanya said.
Katherine got beneath Rebecca's body to keep her from falling beneath the knee-deep water. "If you can hear me," Katherine said, "just hang on. We're going to get help."
Fifteen minutes later, Rebecca's body was being stored in a hibernation pod.
* * *
"Zachary!" his mother cried. "A friend of yours is here to see you."
"Who?" he asked, wiping the sleepiness from his eyes.
"Angela," his visitor said, stepping into the house. "I heard you were back in town."
February 1....
Billy awoke on Jason's couch. He heard the rattling of pots and pans in the kitchen. He ran his hands through his hair and stood up, groggy but too well-rested to return to sleep. He stumbled to the kitchen to find Aisha cooking breakfast. "Good morning," Aisha said. "Hungry? Bacon? Eggs? Sausage? Pancakes? Anything else I can fix for you?"
"What's gotten into you?" Billy asked with a laugh.
"I miss civilization," Aisha answered, poking at the slowly cooking eggs in the pan before her. "I have not cooked a meal indoors in months."
"What?" Billy asked.
"We cook outside," she said, "because fire inside of grass huts is not a good idea."
"How rustic is your village?" Billy asked.
"Well, I exaggerate a little bit," Aisha said, "but we don't have electricity. Or running water. Although we do have a good well. But, I'm happy. My parents are happy."
"That's something I don't understand," Kimberly said from the kitchen door. "How did your parents end up in Africa, too?"
"Well, the Zeo Quest really messed time up," Aisha said. "When I decided to stay in Africa, I was only eleven years old. In actual time, I decided to stay in Africa just a few months ago, seventeen years old. But, between the alternate time when I made the decision, at eleven, and the six years between time that occured in only a few seconds, to us that is, when the Zeo Crystals were activated, well, long story short, I don't know. Billy?"
"There were six years in alternate time between when you decided you wanted to stay in Africa and the time you belonged in. Those six years were enough time for natural changes to occur in your parents lives that turned them toward a move to Africa," Billy said.
"I can pick up from here," Aisha said. "They thought we moved to Africa because I heard about a program through the Animal Shelter to receive an on-hands education abroad, so to speak, and then they learned that my great-aunt Ashala was in charge of the program, so they decided to take a hiatus from work and go with me."
"Coolness," Kimberly said with a smile.
"Good morning all," Zack said, letting himself into the house.
"Just in time for breakfast," Aisha said, spooning the eggs out of the frying pan.
"Call Trini over," Billy said. "We have enough food for an army."
* * *
Cestro and Adam worked diligently, far into the night. The other Rangers slept in various places about the house, but Adam wanted desperately to find out what Alpha's message was. If Aquitar was as dangerous to Earthlings as it had already proved, they needed to get home soon. For all he kenw, Alpha's message provided the clue. "Finally," Cestro said. "I believe I have removed the disturbance. Replaying message now."
Adam crossed his fingers and looked at the monitor before him.
"Zeo Rangers," Alpha said.
"It worked!" Adam cried. He listened in awe and terror as Alpha finished the message.
* * *
"The six of us," Jason said, "back together again."
"Sort of," Aisha said with a smile. She saw no sense in tip-toeing around the fact that she was Tommy's replacement.
Suddenly, the ever-familiar six tone alarm filled the air. Jason smiled as he brought the communicator to his lips. "We're here, Zordon," he said.
"Please teleport to the Power Chamber immediately," Zordon said. "A direct communications link has been opened between Earth and Aquitar."
The six teenagers looked at each other briefly before simultaneously pushing the small button on their communicators.
* * *
"Katherine," Adam said. "You're awake."
"Not very well rested though," she said. "Have you had any sleep at all?"
"Not much," he said. "I'm too nervous. Cestro figured out how to decode Alpha's message."
"Why? What did it say?" she asked.
"Listen for yourself," he said. He pushed the play button and turned the monitor for Kat to see. "Zeo Rangers," Alpha said. "Jenga has begun a severe attack on Earth. She wants to gain possession of a very imporant series of Crystals known as the Earth Crystals. We have located the first Earth Crystal so we can protect it from Jenga. This Crystal has enabled us to recover the six original Power Coins."
"Power Coins?" Katherine asked.
"It keeps going," Adam said. "Listen."
"Billy, Kimberly, Jason, Zack, Trini, and Aisha have returned to resume the original powers. However, after running a scan on Billy, I fear for your lives. Zordon and I do not want to tell any of the Rangers currently here on Earth until the time is right, for we do not want them to worry over a situation that is out of their hands. Billy's strength has been increasing steadily since he has returned to Earth. It is quite obvious that Aquitar is deadly to humans. However, according to the data I have collected from Billy without his knowing, I have managed to determine how long each of you will be healthy on Aquitar. I am also sorry to say that being in morphed mode will not have an effect on the amount of time you have remaming.
"Rebecca and David Cranston both had approximately two months time, which means they should have collapsed yesterday.
"Tommy, you can expect to reach fatigue in forty-nine hours.
"Adam, you will last for twenty-seven hours.
"Rocky, you will last approximately three weeks and two days.
"Tanya, you will be safe six weeks.
"Katherine, you can expect to be aware for nine and a half months.
"Rangers, there is an explanation as to how long your endurance will hold up. However, it is too complex for any human mind to understand as most of it lies deep within the human DNA. Please take extreme caution until you can find a way to get off of Aquitar. This is Alpha Five, signing off."
"Oh no," Katherine said. "Twenty-seven hours? How long have we been here?"
"Twenty-six hours," Adam said. "That means I only have one more hour left. I've already told Cestro. He's got a hibernation pod waiting for me. I'm going to morph before I go into it though, just in case. I don't really have time to explain now, but, well, better safe than sorry."
* * *
Aisha, Kimberly, Trini, Jason, Zack, and Trini looked at the viewing screen. The Zeo Rangers were on the other side of the open communications line. "Cestro and I deciphered your message," Adam said to Alpha Five. "I only have about half an hour left."
"What do you mean?" Aisha asked. "Alpha?"
"My parents," Billy asked. "Are they...."
"They're fine, now," Katherine said. "But, yesterday...."
"Their time ran out," Billy explained. "How long will I last on Aquitar, Alpha?"
"I'm sorry Billy," the robot said. "Three months, two weeks, one day."
"Oh Billy," Kimberly said to her friend. "I'm so sorry."
"I was afraid this would happen," Billy said. It was obvious to all present that he was using all of his willpower to keep from crying.
"Billy, do you want us to go get Cestria?" Tanya asked.
"Yeah," Billy said. "I guess so."
"Billy," Zordon spoke. "Do you wish to be alone at this time?"
"No," he said, his voice solid. "I don't want to be alone right now."
Jason reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "We're here for you, man," he said.
A few moments later, Cestria stood, alone, in the viewing screen. Her eyes were bright red from crying. "Billy," she said. "I don't know what to say."
"I love you, Cestria," he said.
"I love you, too, Billy," she said. "But, we can't... There's no way. You can't stay on Aquitar and I can't stay on Earth. We're from two different worlds."
"I don't know what to say either," Billy said. "But, like we say on Earth, it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
"We haven't lost, Billy," Cestria said, mistaking the meaning of his saying but nonetheless helping the situation. "We had two months together. Two months I'll never, ever forget. We had two months, Billy, and nothing will ever change that."
"Cestria," Billy said, "I want you to keep looking for your once in a lifetime love. I don't guess I was it. We weren't meant to be."
"I'll keep looking if you keep looking," she said, crying freely once again. "I just want you to be happy."
"Me too," Billy said, the tears he had so desperately tried to hold back suddenly flowing forth. "I want you to be happy too. You have a different name for God on your planet, but it's the same person, I'm sure. I know he is."
"Yes Billy," Cestria agreed, knowing what he was trying to say. "He wouldn't do this to us if it wasn't for the best. I'll love you Billy, I'll always love you, now and always. We'll both find new loves, but our love was different."
"And we can still keep in touch," Billy said. "Somehow."
Cestria laughed and wiped her eyes. "Somehow," she agreed.
"Billy," Alpha said. "We are going to lose contact in seven seconds."
"Goodbye Cestria," Billy said. "I'll never forget you. Give my love to the Rangers. Zeo and Aquitian."
"Goodbye Billy," Cestria said, her voice frighteningly small. "I'll love you always." She had no more than finished her goodbye when the screen was filled with static.
Billy lowered his head and continued to cry.
* * *
"ZEO RANGER IV, GREEN!" Adam shouted. A green wave of light washed over his body, and he immediately morphed into his Zeo Armor.
"How are you feeling?" Tanya asked.
"I feel fine right now," he said, "but I've only got a few minutes lef-." He immediately slumped forward. Tommy caught him by the shoulders.
"Let's get him in the hibernation pod," Cestro said. Four medical personnel carefully placed Adam in the blueish glass pod.
The four remaining Earthlings looked at their unconscious friend.
* * *
"How's Billy doing?" Trini asked as Zack and Jason teleported back into the Power Chamber.
"Pretty good, considering," Zack said. "He's at least stopped crying."
"Wow," Jason said. "To learn that you can't be anywhere near the person you love. It's got to be breaking his heart."
"We have some good news," Aisha said. "Alpha has rebuilt the Triceratops and Mastodon, and the DragonZord is powered up."
"Do you have a remote controlled device for it yet?" Jason asked.
"Not yet," Alpha said, "but we're still trying."
"We almost have the Tyrannosaurus and Saber-Tooth Tiger finished," Trini said. "Aisha and I have downloaded the info about them from the old databanks, so when they are up and running, at least they can be monitored here from the Power Chamber."
* * *
A yellow streak of light flashed, lighting up the room. Billy, who had stopped crying but still didn't feel like talking to anyone, looked up. "Hi Trini," he said.
"Hi Billy," she said feebly. "I know you don't really feel like company right now, but I'm going to go straight to the point. I don't guess this is even the right time, but I'm going to say it now. Okay."
"Okay," he agreed, confused.
"Billy," she began, "when I left for the Peace Conference, I left a lot of things unsaid. Point blank, Billy, I loved you then and I love you now." Billy and Trini simultaneously blushed. He started to say something, but she held up her hand. "I don't expect you to just instantly have feelings for me, but I wanted you to know. I don't know why I felt the urge to tell you now. Actually, I do, Kimberly pressured me into it, but I don't know why I listened to her. I'm sorry. Excuse me." Before Billy could say anything, she teleported away in yellow light.
"I loved you too," he said to the empty room.
* * *
"Dad!" Rita and Rito shouted simultaneously.
"The infamous MasterVile," Jenga said icily.
"Jenga," MasterVile replied. His two side faces closed their eyes in respect, but his center "main" face remained alive, his eyes sparking with vibrant energy.
"I've come to get the Earth Crystals," Jenga said. "I don't suppose you've heard of them?"
"No," MasterVile said, not bothering to ask what they were or their significance. "I've spent the last six months recreating the ShogunZords, only an evil version, of course."
"ShogunZords?" Jenga asked.
"ShogunZords!" Rita and Zedd cried in unison.
"I was wondering why you refused to come back and destroy the Machine Empire," Zedd said.
"Well," MasterVile said, "they were more evil than I could ever hope to be, but they were machines, and I had magic, so it's obvious who would win. But I just really didn't feel like doing the grunt work. Let them conquer Earth, then I could come along, cast a spell, and make them melt or something like that. But, you two kept that from happening."
"They blew 'em up with a bomb in a present!" Rito shouted, laughing wildly in his usual manner.
"Anyway," MasterVile droned on. "I have recreated a form of evil ShogunZords, identical in appearance to the Ranger's old ShogunZords, but with the capacity for evil."
"I know for a fact that the ZeoZords are out of commission, temporarily," Jenga said. "Now is a good time to strike."
"Well, why don't we send the ShogunZords to do some damage," MasterVile said. "Give the Rangers a bad name."
"Nope," Zedd said. "They don't use ShogunZords anymore."
"Why not?" MasterVile asked.
"When we blew up the Command Center, the ShogunZords blew up with it!" Rito bragged. "Me and Goldie did it! Ha!"
"Well that certainly takes some of the fun out of it," MasterVile said, deep in thought. "Oh well." He pointed his scepter at Earth. Five balls of light, red, black, yellow, white, and blue, streaked from its tip. "Now we sit back and enjoy the fun," MasterVile said.
* * *
"The last two Zords are finished!" Zack cried.
Immediately, the alarm went off, signaling the arrival of Earth's newest threat. "Aye-yi-yi!" Alpha cried. "MasterVile is already at work!"
"Those look like ShogunZords," Kimberly said. The five massive Zords were marching toward the city. "We can't beat those in our DinoZords!"
"Those are not the real ShogunZords," Zordon said. "Alpha will look for a weakness, while you attempt to keep them away from the city."
"I'll contact Billy," Alpha said. A few seconds later, Billy teleported into the Power Chamber.
"We have to hurry," Zack said. "They're getting closer."
"IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" Jason shouted.
"MASTODON!"
"PTERODACTYL!"
"TRICERATOPS!"
"SABER-TOOTH TIGER!"
"TYRANNOSAURUS!"
The Rangers teleported away, leaving Aisha alone. "Good luck guys," she said.
* * *
"Those things sure are big," Zack said.
"We don't have a moment to lose," Jason said. "WE NEED DINOZORD POWER NOW!"
"Mastodon DinoZord! POWER UP!"
"Pterodactyl DinoZord! POWER UP!"
"Triceratops DinoZord! POWER UP!"
"Saber-tooth Tiger DinoZord! POWER UP!"
"Tyrannosaurus DinoZord! POWER UP!"
The five Rangers deftly removed their Power Morphers from their belt and flashed the coin to the sky. A white beam of light shot from each Power Coin. "We didn't use to do it like this," Trini observed.
"A lot of things have changed," Kimberly said. A crack of thunder filled the air, and the five DinoZords were flying toward the Earth.
"Wow," Zack said. "Just like I remembered."
"Only last time they didn't fly," Jason said. "Let's do it guys!" Jason said.
"Right!" the other four shouted. They all triumphantly thrust their right hands into the sky. A glowing light overwhelmed their body, and they flew up to their respective Zord.
* * *
"COMIN' THRU!" Zack bellowed. His Mastodon landed on the ground and immediately charged at the ShogunZords. He struck the Red ShogunZord in the legs, sending the massive machine tumbling.
The Saber-tooth Tiger Zord leapt at the Yellow ShogunZord. "Whoa!" Trini cried, the massive cat's jaws clamped onto the ShogunZord's throat.
"Hang on Trini!" Jason cried.
The Tyrannosaurus ran at the Blue ShogunZord and leaped, it's arms and legs spread open. The Tyrannosaurus Zord landed squarely on the Blue ShogunZord, knocking them both to the ground.
Billy locked the brakes on the Triceratops Zord. "Watch this, Falcon," he said to the White ShogunZord. Two of the Triceratop's horns flew off of the Zord, attached by thick chains. The two horns wrapped around the White ShogunZord's legs. "Have a nice trip," Billy said as the Zord fell forward and slammed into the ground.
The Pterodactyl flew at the Black ShogunZord, firing pink lasers from her Zord's wing tips. The Black ShogunZord ran past each laser which struck the Earth, missing it's target. "Hey!" Kimberly shouted. "Hold still!"
The Yellow ShogunZord reached up to its throat and swatted at the Trini's Zord. Trini screamed as her Zord flew through the air, toppling end over end. She slammed into the ground, alarms going off all around her. "I've been downed!" she cried. "I think I'm out of action for a few minutes!"
Jason in his Zord suddenly flew through the air above her. "Me too!" Jason cried before the Tyrannosaurus hit the ground.
The White ShogunZord rolled over onto its back and grabbed the Triceratops' horns around its ankles. It quickly and effortlessly unwound the chains. "Uh oh," Billy said. The White ShogunZord yanked on the chains, pulling Billy's Zord off of the ground. "I'm airborne!" Billy shouted. He slammed into the ground between Trini and Jason.
The five ShogunZords quickly formed a lined. All five raised their hands to chest level. In a bright flash of light, they formed the massive multi-colored MegaShogunZord. Rather than attack the DinoZords, it began to stomp toward the city.
"We need MegaZord Power!" Jason shouted. A matter of seconds later, the five Zords had combined, and the Rangers were in the newly revised Cockpit of the original MegaZord.
"The ShogunZord is getting closer to the city," Billy said. "We have to hurry!"
"We're on our way," Jason said as the MegaZord ran toward Angel Grove.
* * *
The MegaZord may not have been as strong or heavy as the ShogunMegaZord, but it was certainly faster. The Rangers managed to get the MegaZord in front of the ShogunMegaZord before it could invade the city. "Power Sword Now!" the five Rangers shouted. A tall, glimmering silver Sword appeared in MegaZord's hands. At the exact same moment, a Sword of Fire appeared in the ShogunMegaZord's hands.
"Wait a minute," Billy said, suddenly remembering. "It doesn't fight like most Zords!"
"What do you mean?!" Zack shouted.
"It spins!" Billy shouted. "It's entire upper body spins and it just cuts through everything!"
"Duck!" Kimberly cried. The MegaZord immediately dropped to the ground as ShogunMegaZord began it's spin attack.
"What else can it do, Billy?" Jason asked. The Fire Sword came down directly on top of MegaZord, changing its mode of attack and effectively injuring its enemies.
"We're shorting out!" Trini cried.
"It's too strong for us!" Zack cried. The MegaShogunZord reached down and picked up the incapacitated MegaZord.
* * *
"Zordon!" Aisha cried. "I have to do something!"
"Although it is against my better judgement, I see no other way," Zordon said. "Alpha, give Aisha the green Power coin back."
"Right," Alpha said. "Good luck, Aisha."
The coin disappeared into her body as green light streaked up and down her arms. "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" she cried. "GREEN DRAGON!" She teleported out of the Power Chamber in green light.
"Here goes nothing," she said. She pulled the Dragon Dagger up to her lips and immediately played the melody that invoked the DragonZord. Seconds later, a massive Green Dragon landed before her, still dripping with sea water. "I'm going aboard!" she shouted, leaping off of the ground.
* * *
"Hey!" Aisha cried. "Leave my friends alone!"
"Aisha!" Kimberly shouted.
"We need help," Billy said.
"That's what I'm here for," she said. The DragonZord turned around and plunged it's spinning tail drill into the MegaShogunZord's chest, a tactic the evil machine had not been expecting. Aisha launched into a fierce attack the likes of which she would have never expected. Seconds later, the evil MegaShogunZord was defeated.
* * *
"No!" MasterVile shouted. "My glorious creation."
"It's okay," Jenga said sweetly. "You at least managed to put a little fear into 'em."
MasterVile raised all six of his eyebrows at the beautiful demoness. "Thank you," he said. "And, I must admit, it is quite an honor to be in the presence of such extreme evil."
"Likewise," she said with a smile.
* * *
"That was too close," Zack said as soon as the six Rangers teleported into the Power Chamber.
"Green Ranger, Power Down," Aisha said.
"Are you okay?" Billy asked. "Aisha?"
"It is the Green Power," Zordon said. "The Green Power has not yet had time to recharge, and is attempting to draw strength from her own body."
Aisha held her hand out to Alpha as a green sparkle appeared between her fingers. "I will recharge the coin with the Earth Crystals," Alpha said.
"You must then send it back to Rita in the past. The Green Powers have once again proven themselves too unstable," Zordon said.
* * *
"Aye-yi-yi!" Alpha cried, a short time later after having recharged the Coin. "Zordon! Rangers! I have terrible news!"
"What is it, Alpha?" Zordon asked.
"Energizer's attack is not the only reason the Green Coin failed," he said. "The Coins are from 1953, and they all will ultimately fail in a separate time!"
"What?" Kimberly asked, raising her eyebrows in alarm.
"The other five Power Coins will eventually fail as well!" Alpha cried. "Zordon! What are we going to do?!"
The six teenagers looked at each other. No one had an answer.
Chapter Eight: Jenga's Proposal, Return of Thunder
"Ninjor," Aisha suggested. "Can't we go on another trip to Ninjor's Temple?"
"I am afraid not, Rangers," Zordon said. "Ninjor's coin making days are over."
"Why?" Kimberly asked. "He's all right, isn't he?"
"Ninjor is fine," Zordon assured. "However, when the Machine Empire arrived, Klank and Orbus tapped into the gold vein that runs into the Temple and sullied it. Until Ninjor finds an alternate metal to make coins from, no more Power Coins will be made."
"Maybe silver?" Trini suggested. "Or platinum? Couldn't we take some unsullied silver or platinum ore to him?"
"It does not work like that, Rangers," Zordon said. "The metal cannot be of any planetary origin, which is why the Gold Vein in the Desert of Despair was so important. Sadly, the Machine Empire knew this and took advantage of it."
"What are we gonna do?" Jason asked. "What with Jenga and this new guy MasterVile. And the Machine Empire can always be rebuilt, we need our powers."
"I'd say the Machine Empire has their best mechanics rebuilding the Throne," Billy said. "It's only a matter of time before we have everything coming down on us at once."
"And this time powerless," Kimberly said.
Everyone looked up at Zordon, but for one of the few times in the wise old sage's life, he was at a complete loss of words.
* * *
The Rangers left the Power Chamber soon after hearing the disheartening news. Billy wanted nothing more to be left alone, still heart-broken over the loss of Cestria. He went to the park, home to many of the Power Ranger's battles, in an attempt to get away from the pain in his heart. _This is where I used to come when I was beaten up,_ he thought to himself. He was sitting next to the small duckpond, casting out bread crumbs from a bag he had brought just for his feathered friends.
"Hey Billy," a soft, feminine voice said behind him.
He didn't need to turn around to know that the voice's source was clothed in yellow. "Trini," he said.
"I'm sorry, Billy," she mumbled, sitting beside him. "About Cestria, I mean."
They sat together in awkward silence for a few moments, neither knowing what to say. Trini was about to speak up, but Billy beat her to it. "I wish I had said something earlier," Billy said. "Before the Peace Conference." He chuckled and lowered his head so she couldn't see his bright red face. "I had such a crush on you. You and Jason were my two first real friends. I had a lot of sympathy friends before you all, but no real friends. No one that would ever dream of asking me out to the movies, or to the Juice Bar."
"Billy," Trini said. "That's not true."
"Yes it is," he said. "I spent the first fifteen years of my life virtually alone. Then, I met you two when I came to the High School from elementary. Kimberly and Zack came into the picture, and for the first time ever, I felt accepted. Still paranoid, but accepted nonetheless." He laughed pitifully. "For the first two months after I met the four of you, I was so nervous it was all going to be a big joke at my expense. I'm so sorry I ever thought that, but I was used to getting hurt. Then, we became Rangers, and you basically know the story up to this point. I had a crush on all of the female Rangers at some point. First you, then you and Kimberly at the same time, and when you left, just Kimberly. Then Kimberly and Aisha. Then Aisha and Kat. Never Tanya, but that's just because I know Adam was interested in getting something started with her when she showed up."
"How did that turn out?" Trini asked.
"They're still in neutral territory," Billy said. "He's too nervous, she's too shy. I don't think they've even officially gone out yet."
"I think all of the guys had a crush on Kimberly," Trini said with a laugh. "I know Skull did."
Billy laughed and looked at Trini. "Do you... think... . that maybe, somehow, there's... Never mind." His face was turning redder and redder with each passing moment.
"A chance for us?" Trini asked. She prayed silently that that was what he was going to ask. If not, she had just gotten herself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Yeah," Billy stammered.
Trini leaned over to him and softly, slowly kissed him on the mouth. "I think it's a very good possibility," she said.
From the other side of the pond behind a tall, powerful tree, Kimberly and Aisha smiled and shared a silent high-five. Billy suddenly broke away from Trini. "What?" Trini asked.
"I just had an idea," he said. "About our powers. Let's get to the Power Chamber."
He teleported away, leaving Trini alone with the ducks. "Same old Billy," Trini said. She pushed the teleport button on her Communicator.
* * *
A few minutes later, all six Rangers were gathered in the Power Chamber to hear Billy's latest brainstorm. "We're powerless," he said, "but that doesn't mean we can't drive Zords."
"Billy, Zords are way too complex for ordinary humans," Aisha said. "Even with Powers, they can be pretty complicated."
"Well, Alpha and I can make dumbed-down Zords," Billy said. "We'll take the simplest Zords we've ever had, upload the blueprints for them, and change the console so that an ordinary human could use them."
"That would be the ThunderZords," Jason said. "But we seldom ever used them as Private Zords, just the Mega."
"That can be changed," Billy said. "I'll just put more emphasis on the Single Zords. I don't think we would be able to be that in synch without our powers to operate any kind of MegaZord, anyhow, no matter how simple it was."
"Aisha and I can share the Griffin," Trini said with a smile. "Can they really be recreated?"
"Last time, the DinoZords had to be modified to make the ThunderZords," Zack said. "Is there time to do that?"
"It would be easier to start from scratch," Billy said. "The DinoZords were modified too. That's why the way we called on them was different. They were made with the technology of the ZeoZords. The old ThunderZord blueprints wouldn't work on them. We'll have to start from scratch. Alpha? Any old mechanical parts in the Holding Bay?"
"Why don't we use the evil ShogunZords?" Aisha suggested. "I heard on the news that the Power Rangers had a battle, and for the first time ever, the monster's remains were left behind."
"That's a good idea," Billy said. "All we need is raw machinery, and they should do it."
"I'll teleport the remains to the ZeoZord Holding Bay," Alpha said.
"Let's go check 'em out, guys," Billy said. The six Rangers teleported out.
* * *
"There's no pink," Kimberly said.
"Color's not a problem," Billy said. "Design isn't even a problem. As soon as the internal workings are created, the Thunder Animals of Mythology will take over." Billy laughed and said, "You'll have a pink Firebird."
"Are the parts salvagable?" Jason asked.
Billy walked over to the dead MegaZord. It was split into three parts. Lower torso with legs, left arm and half of the chest, and then the right arm, head, and other half of the chest. "I'm not sure yet," he said. "Jason, give me a boost."
The Red Ranger placed his hands into a stirrup and boosted Billy up to the top of the MegaShogunZord's chest. Billy, in turn, helped the other Rangers climb up to take a closer look. "It looks like the Red ShogunZord is salvagable," Billy said. "The main engine seems to be dislocated, but I don't seen any major parts missing."
Trini stood on top of the right arm. "White ShogunZord is in great shape," she said. "There's some hull damage, but I think the innards are in fine shape."
"Same with Blue," Aisha said, standing on the other arm.
Kimberly and Zack hopped down to the lower half of the Zord. "Yellow's okay," Zack said. "I guess. I don't see any major parts missing."
"So is Black," Kimberly said.
"We have a plan," Jason announced.
* * *
"What happened to my ShogunZords?" MasterVile demanded. "They aren't where I left them."
"Lousy rangers probably did something with them," Rita snarled. "Figures they'd be sticking their nose where it doesn't belong."
"Don't worry about it," Jenga said with a smile so bright that MasterVile couldn't help but be cheered up. "Those Rangers can't do anything to defeat the two most evil, brilliant beings in the universe."
"I concur," MasterVile said. "Would you, perhaps, like to take a tour of my SpaceSkull? I have a very intriguing gallery of Death and Destruction you might find interesting on board."
"Sounds lovely," Jenga said. She took MasterVile's hand, and the two teleported out in black flames.
"I don't like the looks of this," Goldar growled from the sidelines.
* * *
Billy wiped the oil from his hands off on his shirt, effectively ruining it. He was too engrossed in his work, however, to care about it. "What exactly are we planning to do?" Kimberly asked, carefully crawling beneath the massive machinery to help him as best she could.
"I'm just trying to get the Red ShogunZord repaired right now," Billy said. "As soon as it is finished, we'll have five operational Zord Power Cores. Then, Alpha and I can manipulate the rest of the metal components into crude bodies to hold the Power Core. Lastly, I'll personally program the consoles, and once they are charged up with the power of Thunder, we'll be in business." He motioned to the flashlight in her hands. "Shine the light over there."
She pointed the flashlight in the direction he indicated. "And we won't have to be morphed to operate them?" she asked.
"Affirmative," he said. A few moments later, he announced, "Red Power Core is up and running."
"Now what?" Zack asked.
"We teleport back to the Power Chamber, and I get cleaned up," he said. "Let's go."
* * *
"It's almost six o'clock," Aisha said. "I was afraid Jenga would send another monster down for us to fight."
"She does seem to have less hang time between battles than Rita and Zedd," Zack agreed. "They at least usually let us go three or four days between attacks."
"I say we be glad we have this break," Trini said, helping Alpha enter raw data into the computers.
"We've got Firebird, Griffin, and Black Lion started," Billy said.
Suddenly, the alarms went off. "Oh no," Aisha said. "I jinxed us!"
"Rangers," Zordon said, "MasterVile's SpaceSkull has invaded the Earth's atmosphere. It is not known at this time if he intends to launch an attack or not, although I cannot envisage a scenario where his intentions are not evil."
"Well, the Code says we can't attack before he does," Jason said. "We just have to wait and see what happens."
"I think it would be a good idea to hang onto the Power Coins for a while longer before we send them back," Alpha said. "Just in case."
The two wooden cases sat on the Console, each holding the Power Coins from the past. Without a human host, the Power was not going to fail because of the timeline disturbance. Of course, without a human host, the Power was useless. "I'll keep working on the ThunderZords," Billy said.
* * *
Jenga sat in the co-pilot seat of the SpaceSkull. "Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon at night?" MasterVile asked.
"Hon," Jenga said, "last time I was here the Grand Canyon was a puddle."
"Your capacity for evil is beautiful," MasterVile said. "You know, I've never been in the presence of such evil."
Jenga smiled widely. "Did you ever have the pleasure to meet Ivan Ooze? Wonderful man. We almost got married once. He was evil. Second, in fact, I believe. What did the Aliance of Evil declare you?"
"Fourth," MasterVile said. "Actually, I suppose I'm third now that the Machine Empire was defeated."
"Yeah," Jenga said. "Getting defeated will bump them lower than Rita's henchmen."
"Ivan Ooze was a character," MasterVile said. The SpaceSkull flew, silently, across the Pacific Ocean. "It is such a pity that he was beaten. Hey, actually, I guess now that he's just a few bits of ooze scattered about the universe, I'm number two. Wow. The two most evil creatures in creation."
Jenga chuckled. "And those Rangers actually think they have a chance. Hey, while we're out cruising, would you are to swing by Saturn? That's where my SpaceFleet is, and I'd like to pick up a few things from my henchmen. I could teleport them here, but, well, I'm enjoying the ride."
"Certainly m'lady," MasterVile said. The SpaceSkull did a sudden one eighty and flew out of Earth's atmosphere.
* * *
"He just left," Zack said, looking at the small blip representing the SpaceSkull as it flew away from the Earth.
"I'll scan for any surprises he might have planted," Kimberly volunteered, since Billy and Alpha were both busy. They were all surprised when the scan showed up negative.
"Guess he was just cruisin'," Aisha said, laughing at the very thought.
"How does the Power of Thunder work?" Jason asked, looking up at Zordon.
"They work in a manner remarkably similar to the Super Zeo Gems," Zordon explained. "There are five round Gems, stored in my dimension, that are the essence of Thunder. I can channel the energies through myself into the Zords."
"Cool," Zack said.
"All right," Billy said. "They don't look like much, but they're technically Zords." The Viewing Screen showed five very bizarre machines in the Holding Bay. All of the Zords were very box-like, not at all the usual stream-lined elegance. "I'll download the info for the Consoles, now." Billy pushed a few of the buttons before him, and then looked up. "In forty-five minutes, they'll be ready to accept the Power of Thunder."
"Well, while we've got a while to wait to for a test drive," Kimberly said, "let's go to Ernie's and get some supper. Is that okay, Zordon?"
"Of course," he said. "Go out and get some rest. It has been a long day for all of you."
* * *
"I have missed Ernie's Smoothies," Zack said, taking a long drink from the pink beverage before him.
"And his hamburgers," Aisha said.
Ernie strolled over to the table. "It is so weird to see you guys together," he said. "What brings you back to town?"
"Just a visit," Trini lied.
* * *
The two detectives walked into the room. "Hey Bulkie," Skull said. "Do you see what I see?"
"What are you talking about, numskull?" Bulk asked.
"It's the old guys," Skull said, not calling them geeks, dweebs, or nerds, as they had in the past. A lot had changed for these two men in the past three years.
"Well, I'll be," Bulk said. "Let's go say hi."
* * *
A few minutes later, the eight teens were seated around a larger table. Zack and Trini were a little hesitant to let the two bullies join their group, but they quickly realized that Bulk and Skull had changed a lot. "We've got a job waiting for us in France," Skull said. "But, we haven't even graduated yet."
"Our parents gave us permission to take it," Bulk said, "but, it's a really big decision."
"We have to decide in the next week or so," Skull added, "or it goes on to someone else."
"I know how that feels," Jason said. "Leaving for the Peace Conference was one of the most important decisions I ever had to make. I had to leave so much behind. Friends, school, family...." _Rangers,_ he added silently in his head.
"Skull and I kind of need to be going," Bulk said. "But it was really great seeing you guys again." The two detectives gave their goodbyes, leaving the six Rangers alone.
"That was amazing," Trini said. "They're so mature now."
"They aren't the bullies we left behind," Zack said. "That's for sure."
Suddenly, the six-tone alarm sounded from their communicators. "Time to head back," Billy said.
* * *
MasterVile's SpaceSkull returned to the moon with five powerful self-piloted war ships behind it. "These should shake those teenagers up," Jenga said. "It should get the original five to the state Aisha is now, and totally obliterate our little Green Ranger."
"Jenga," MasterVile said, his right face staring deep into her eyes. "Can I ask you a very serious question?"
* * *
"Five Space Cruisers are invading the atmosphere!" Alpha cried. "Aye-yi-yi-yi-yi!"
Six streams of light teleported into the very hectic Power Chamber. "Are the ThunderZords ready?" Billy asked.
"They have just been infused with the Power of Thunder," Zordon said. "Congratulations Billy. You have just created the world's first human friendly Zords."
"They will still be pretty complex," Alpha said, "but not nearly as complicated as the previous Zords."
"I took the Control Levers out and put in a Steering Wheel," Billy said. "Except for Jason's Zord in Red Dragon Mode and the Firebird. They still have the center Control Lever, but that's not too complex." Previously, in all of the ground based Zords, control was accomplished via two Control Levers. It was remarkably simple in Power Ranger Mode, but without powers, it would be easy to lose control.
"The weapons console is the same in all five Zords," Alpha said. He typed a few commands into a Control Panel, and immediately a holographic Zord Console floated about four feet off of the ground.
"Thanks Alpha," Billy said. "Steering Wheel, works just like a car. You can't see it here, but the Zords have accerlators and brakes, just like a car. And Kimberly, make sure not to brake in midair or Firebird will drop like a stone."
"Right," she said, her nervousness showing through.
"Trini and Aisha, you'll be sharing Griffin," Billy said. "Trini, you'll be doing the driving. Aisha, I've made your weapons console a little bit more complicated since you won't have to worry about driving and attacking. The Griffin will probably have to bring up most of the burden."
"Fair deal," Aisha said.
"Okay," Billy said. He began pointing at different areas of the console, explaining what they did. "This button is missile launcher. They're heat seeking, so make sure you're not facing the city when you launch one. This button here is lasers. Except for Griffin, the lasers fire at the center point of the direction you're traveling. Trini, you'll also have a laser cannon you can fire. Aisha, you'll have a laser cannon, but it has to be aimed."
"I can handle it," she said.
"Okay," Billy said. "I wish we had more time, but MasterVile and Jenga are going to start their attack any second now."
"The Space Cruisers are just two miles from Angel Grove!" Alpha cried. "You had better hurry, Rangers."
"Let's go," Jason said. The six teenagers teleported to the Zord Holding Bay.
* * *
"This still looks complicated," Kimberly said. "Alpha, open the SkyDoor."
"Right, Kimberly," Alpha said.
A large door above and in front of the Firebird slowly rumbled open. "Here goes nothing," Kimberly said. She carefully put pressure on the acclerator and steered out of the SkyDoor. Jason in Red Dragon was close behind.
The Main Holding Bay Doors slid open. "All right," Zack said. "Guess I'm in the lead." Black Lion steered out of the Holding Bay and into the potential battle. Unicorn and Griffin followed behind.
"This isn't too bad," Jason said.
"Kind of like driving car," Zack agreed.
"There's not a scanner," Aisha said. "Billy, how do we know where the bad guys are?!"
"That's what the windshield is for," Billy answered.
"Speaking of bad guys," Jason said, "here they come. How do I switch to Warrior Mode, Billy?"
"There's a button on your left," Billy answered. "Just push it."
The Red Dragon immediately switched to Warrior Mode and fell, straight to the Earth. "Whoa!" Jason shouted. He put both hands on the steering wheel and tried desperately to bring the Zord under control.
* * *
"You're what?" Rita and Lord Zedd asked in perfect unison.
"We're getting married!" Jenga shouted.
Lord Zedd hit the ground, passed out.
"Hey Ed!" Rito shouted. "We're gonna be brothers!"
"I think I'm going to be sick," Rita moaned.
Jenga pulled a glowing blue orb out of the air. "Rita," Jenga said, "this orb contains three very powerful time delayed spells. You can use it in a pinch."
Rita growled and took the orb from her soon-to-be step-mother. "This is sick," Rita said. "Really sick. I'm going to be my husband's sister!"
"Eeew," Goldar and Rito said in unison.
"We're going to go get married at the Alliance of Evil headquarters," Jenga said, "and then we're going to use my Crystal of Time to take a nice long honeymoon in various different eras. We'll be back here in about four days."
"We have five of Jenga's Space Cruisers on auto-pilot attack mode to mess up Angel Grove," MasterVile said. "Try and keep an eye on them."
"Ciao," Jenga said. The two most evil beings in existence, at least in this realm of reality, burst into black flames.
"I'm really gonna be sick," Rita said.
* * *
The five Space Cruisers were shaped like the typical flying saucer. They were very streamlined except for the twin weapon cannons perched at the front of the craft. "We can't let those things loose in Angel Grove," Zack said. The craft could easily have maneuvered among the buildings, and the entire city could have been leveled in a matter of hours without any Power Ranger protection.
"Keep us on a steady course, Trini," Aisha said. "I'm gonna try and see if I can take these things out with our missiles."
"Go for it," Trini said.
Aisha aimed the Missile Cannon at the closest Space Cruiser as best she could without any kind of computer help. "Fire!" Aisha cried while simultaneously slamming her hand on a large red button. A yellow missile shot into the Griffin's view. White smoke billowed out behind it.
"Are those heat seekers?" Trini asked.
"Affirmative," Billy answered. "Kimberly and Zack, let's see if we can get these things a little bit further away from the city."
"Right on!" Zack shouted.
The Firebird, Unicorn, and Black Lion ran off toward the horizon. Three Space Cruisers turned completely about and flew after the three Zords. Suddenly, the missile hit one of the Space Cruisers. It exploded in a violent red fireball, machinery raining down onto the Earth. "All right!" Jason shouted. "You got him! I'll try and get the other guy in your range."
"Right!" Trini and Aisha shouted. Trini steered the Griffin into a good vantage point, facing Jason's Zord. Lasers fired from the Red Dragon's eyes. The Space Cruiser dodged each of the red lasers.
"Just a little bit closer," Jason said, moving the Red Warrior Zord a little bit closer to the Space Cruiser. Suddenly, an entire barage of white lasers was launched from the alien vehicle. The Red Warrior Zord was pummeled with the lasers, stumbling backwards of its own accord.
"We got him!" Aisha cried. She fired a missile at the Space Cruiser. Before it could turn face and attack the Griffin, the missile made contact. Seconds later, tons of shrapnel was raining down all around them.
"Let's go help the others!" Trini said. The two Zords ran off toward the horizon.
* * *
"Firing now!" Kimberly shouted. A compartment opened in the belly of the Firebird, and a shining pink missile dropped out. Immediately, the missile shot toward the Space Cruisers. "I'm out of here," Kimberly said. The Firebird steered away from the imminent disaster. The missile hit its target, effectively destroying the third Space Cruiser.
The Unicorn charged over the mountain, blue lasers firing continously. The fourth Space Cruiser flew closer to the Unicorn than it intended to, and it was thrown off course by the laser attack. "I'll finish it off!" Zack shouted. He shot a black laser at the wobbling Space Cruiser. It immediately exploded. The last Space Cruiser immediately changed course.
"What's it doing?" Kimberly asked, flying her Zord in circles because she didn't know how to hover or land. The remaining Space Cruiser flew near the other two's remains. White light shone from the belly of the craft, and the remains of the downed Space Cruisers rose up and disappeared into the Machine. The Space Cruiser immediately flew off, vanishing over the mountain.
* * *
The Space Cruiser slammed into Jason's Zord, knocking him off of his feet. The massive ten ton Zord fell over, sending a giant cloud of dust up around it. "Good night!" Aisha cried as the Space Cruiser flew past them. "What's it's rush?"
"Switch back to Red Dragon Mode," Trini said.
"If I can reach the button," Jason grunted, lying on his back.
"Did you guys just see a Space Cruiser?" Billy asked.
"It knocked Jason over," Trini said. "We're on it!" Trini turned the Griffin around, and pushed down on the accelerator.
* * *
"What's it doing?" Aisha asked.
The Space Cruiser was hovering above the parts of the two dead Space Cruisers. A white light shone from the bottom. The shrapnel slowly rose up and entered the white light. Suddenly, white light began to shine through the body of the Space Cruiser. It immediately began to transform. In a matter of mere seconds, the small, saucer-like Space Cruiser had transformed into a much larger craft in the shape of a Stealth Bomber.
"This doesn't look good," Trini said.
The new Space Cruiser, hovering, slowly turned to face Griffin. "Uh oh," Aisha said.
Twelve weapons cannons slowly unfurled themselves from the button of the craft. "Get out of there!" Billy shouted.
The Unicorn bounced over the mountain, racing for the Griffin. Aisha and Trini promptly teleported out of the Zord. However, the Space Cruiser didn't fire. Instead, a ball of white light flew down from the sky and entered the Griffin.
* * *
"Who's in the Griffin?" Trini asked. "Alpha?"
"Aye-yi-yi!" he cried. "It's Rito Revolto!"
Trini and Aisha looked at each other. Trini immediately issued a warning over the communicator.
* * *
"Rito?" Kimberly asked. "In the Zord?"
"We can't let him drive the Griffin back in the Holding Bay," Billy said. "Aisha, come pilot the Unicorn for me. I need to try something in the Power Chamber." The two white teleportation streams passed each other in the air.
* * *
"We have to keep Rito away from the Holding Bay," Trini said.
"I didn't take enough precautions," Billy said. "I forgot to make them enemy-proof. If Rito could get in the Griffin, the others can be broken into as well."
"We have to break ties with the Power Chamber," Trini said. "From the Griffin. Right now, he has access to our databanks."
Billy immediately entered a series of numerical commands. "Griffin is out," Billy said. "We have to get the Power of Thunder from it now."
"Billy, the Power of Thunder cannot be removed from one single Zord. It must be taken from all of the Zords as one," Zordon said.
Billy lowered his head in frustration. "I don't know what to do," he said.
"I think I do," Trini said. She brought the communicator up to her mouth and said, "Zack, let me take over your Zord for a while."
"You got it," he said.
Before she teleported away, Trini told Billy her plan. "It's dangerous, but it might work," he agreed. He immediately put the Griffin back on-line.
* * *
Trini clumsily steered the Black Lion toward Griffin. "Come on, Billy," she said. "Do your stuff."
The Space Cruiser immediately turned its weapons toward Jason. "I'll get this one away from here," he said. The Red Dragon flew away from Angel Grove; the remaming Space Cruiser was close on his tail. Suddenly, the Griffin's Missile Cannon and Laser raised up from the metal body of the Griffin.
"I hope this works!" Trini shouted. She aimed a laser as best she could at both weapons. A mini explosion of yellow light appeared on contact. "YES!" Trini cried.
* * *
"She did it!" Zack cried. "Man! That girl has got aim!"
"Uhm, we have a new problem now," Billy said. He pointed at one of the many monitors set into the Console. "Jason's about to get wasted. They threaten to blast us out of our Zords, and then when we abandon ship, they send a lackey to get into the ThunderZords."
"We've got to get Jason out of there," Zack said. "Even if Rita and Zedd are going to take over the Red Dragon."
"You're right," Billy said.
A few moments later, Jason was standing in the Power Chamber, looking terribly crestfallen. "Who took over Red Dragon?" Jason asked.
"Goldar," Billy answered. "Kimberly," Billy spoke into his communicator, "are you comfortable with the Firebird yet?"
"Fairly," Kimberly said. "What is going on here?"
"I know this sounds weird," Billy said, "but just trust me on it. Goldar is driving Red Dragon. I'm going to make the Red Dragon fire via remote here in the Power Chamber. It's going to be aimed at you. You'll have to shoot the two lasers and the missile cannon as soon as they retract from the hull."
"They aren't supposed to retract, are they?" Kimberly asked. "OH CRAP! Here comes Red Dragon! What do I do?!"
"They're retracting because I'm making them!" Billy said. "Just calm down. A laser shot at each one will take them out. It's the only way we can disarm the weapons without messing up the Power of Thunder!"
"Okay," Kimberly said frantically. "I'll give it my best."
* * *
Kimberly flew directly at the Red Dragon. Suddenly, a missile cannon raised up from the head of Red Dragon. "Fire!" she shouted. A pink laser flew from the Firebird's laser, hitting the missile cannon. "I got it Billy!" Two laser guns emerged from the Red Dragon's eyes. "FIRE!" She shot another laser at the right eye of the Red Dragon. "Got one!" Suddenly, Goldar fired the remaining laser. It struck the Firebird solidly in the left wing. Kimberly's Zord dropped down and to the left. "I've lost control!" she cried. "Billy!"
* * *
Alarms went off in the Power Chamber. "Kimberly!" he shouted. "The Firebird can still fly! Just overcorrect to the right! Overcorrect to the right!"
* * *
Kimberly pushed the Control Lever far to the right. She was flying half cocked, but she was no longer hurtling toward the Earth, which she considered a plus. "I don't think I can aim like this!" she cried.
"Kimberly," Aisha said, "lure the Red Dragon down here. We can get it on the ground!" Suddenly, the Space Cruiser approached Aisha. She watched in terror as the Space Cruiser began its threat. "Not again!" she shouted. "Billy! Do I stand a chance in the fight?!"
"No!" he shouted. "Get out of the Unicorn!"
Aisha pushed the teleport button, and vanished in white light. Immediately, a ball of white light fall from the heavens and entered the Unicorn. Baboo took control of the Unicorn and set out after Trini in the Black Lion.
* * *
The Firebird flew close to the ground with Red Dragon in tail. "This thing sure is harder to drive than before!" Kimberly cried. The Firebird continued to get lower to the ground.
"Pull up Kim! Pull up!" Billy pleaded.
"I'm trying!" she shouted. "I don't think my left thrusters are working anymore!"
"One hundred feet and closing!" Aisha cried over the communicators. "Kimberly! You're about to hit the ground!"
"I can't control this thing anymore!" she cried. The Firebird's belly scraped the ground. "CRAP! I'm down!" The Firebird skidded across the ground, dust and dirt flying up all around her downed Zord. It tilted to the left, as it continued it's slide. Kimberly put her hands out on the console to steady herself. Her legs pushed against the ground. She tried to stay in her seat, but it wasn't an easy feat with the cockpit tilted forty-five degrees to the left. "Somebody help me!" The Firebird finally slowed to a halt. "I don't think she's gonna fly anytime soon," Kimberly said, trying to hold back the tears. "I think my weapons are still operational, though." She looked up through the windsheild, only to see the Space Cruiser creeping toward her.
"Get out of there, Kim!" Jason shouted.
"Right," she said weakly. She teleported out. Squatt teleported in behind her. With a little black magic from Rita, the Firebird lifted off of the ground.
* * *
"It's just Trini," Zack said. "She's all that's left. She's a good shot, but even if she can take out the weapons on the other Zords, she can't handle the Space Cruiser by herself."
"There's only one option," Jason said, looking up to Zordon for approval.
"Yes, Rangers," he said. "You must assume the Power once more."
"Trini," Billy said, "come back. We're going to try a different strategy."
A white teleportation stream produced Trini. "Zordon, you have to take the Power of Thunder back. Before the Zords do any real damage."
"You are correct, Billy," Zordon said. "Alpha, please open a link between the ThunderZords and my dimension."
The six Rangers watched as the five Zords immediately returned to their previous, crude form. The Red Dragon fell to the Earth, crushing Unicorn and Griffin. Unfortunately, the four henchmen had already teleported out. "Prepare to assume the Power again," Zordon said. "Call on your Zords and destroy the remainders of the ThunderZords and the Space Cruiser." Alpha distributed the six Power coins.
"IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" Jason cried.
"GREEN DRAGON!"
"MASTODON!"
"PTERODACTYL!"
"TRICERATOPS!"
"SABER-TOOTH TIGER!"
"TYRANNOSAURUS!"
Aisha watched as her five friends flew up to the sky and joined with their Zords. She pulled the Dragon Dagger from her hip holster and brought it to her lips. She played the eerie six tone melody. Seconds later, the DragonZord landed before her, dripping with seawater. "Going aboard!" she shouted, leaping into the air. "You guys, I'll take care of the ThunderZord remains."
"Affirmative," Billy said. "We've got Space Cruiser."
The DragonZord quickly made its way over to the silent remains of the ThunderZords, previously Evil ShogunZords. "You guys aren't gonna do this to me again," she said to the machines. Her tail drill was activated, and she began to demolish the old Zords.
* * *
The five Rangers sat in the cockpit of the MegaZord, running after Space Cruiser. "Does anyone else feel suddenly tired?" Trini asked.
"It's the time disturbance in the coins," Billy said. "We have to hurry."
"Here it comes!" Jason shouted. "POWER SWORD NOW!"
Immediately, a powerful silver Sword appeared in the hands of the MegaZord. The giant robot slashed at the Space Cruiser.
* * *
Aisha marched the DragonZord toward the battle. The machinery was decimated, never to work again. "Activate all missiles," she said to the Zord. A powerful missile loaded into the Dragon's Zords fingers. She ran toward the ensuing battle, hoping to get the surprise on the Space Cruiser. She ignored the pain that wracked her body, and joined her friends.
* * *
"Get out of the way you guys!" Aisha shouted. "I've got a clear shot!"
"Right!" Jason shouted. The MegaZord flipped out of the way and fell to the ground in a somersault. They all felt the slight euphoria that came from putting a fifty ton machine through a series of motions that no fifty ton machine should be able to do. The DragonZord's hands pointed at the Space Cruiser. All ten finger missiles were launched. Space Cruiser immediately turned toward DragonZord, but it was too late. Seconds later, two tons of metal debris was raining down.
* * *
The six Rangers teleported into the Power Chamber. "Green Ranger, Power Down!" Aisha spat. She fell to her knees, gasping for breath. "Never again," she muttered. "Oh Lord, never again."
"Blue Ranger, Power Down!" Billy cried. He rushed to Aisha's aid. "Alpha, scan her energy readings."
The remaining four Rangers demorphed as well. "That was pretty draining," Zack said.
"Rangers," Zordon said. "Regardless of the danger we are in, it is not worth the risk both to yourselves and the Power Coins. Alpha, send the Power Coins back to their time."
"Aisha, you will be fine in a few minutes," Alpha said. "Now, for the Power Coins." The six Rangers gave their Power Coins up, once more. Alpha returned them to their chests. He pushed a few buttons on the control panel, and the chests were teleported back in time.
"It can't end like this," Kimberly said.
"I'll spend tomorrow trying to figure out how to get through Jenga's force field around the solar system," Billy said. "I'm too stressed to start now though. I just want to go home."
He didn't bother to mention that he technically didn't even have a home anymore. Aquitar was out of the question, and his old house in Angel Grove had already been sold.
"I think that is a good idea for all of you," Zordon said. The six teenagers teleported out of the somber Power Chamber.
* * *
"At least some good came of this," Trini said. She and Billy were seated on Jason's porch. Despite the fact it was early February, it was Angel Grove, California, and the temperature was in the low sixties.
"Yeah," Billy said. "I guess what happened to Cestria and me really was for the best."
Trini rested her head on Billy's shoulder. He responded by wrapping his hands around hers. "What are you going to do now, Billy?" Trini asked. "I mean, after this whole Jenga thing is over."
"I don't know," he said. "I've already graduated, so I guess I'll go to college. Or maybe travel. I don't know. Tomorrow seems so uncertain right now."
Trini nodded in agreement.
* * *
Aisha cooked them all another big breakfast. The six teenagers were slightly more cheerful than they were the night before, but the mood wasn't exactly jovial. Halfway through the meal, all six communicators went off.
* * *
"What is it, Zordon?" Zack asked.
"Behold the Viewing Screen," Zordon said.
The six teenagers looked at the round screen set into the wall. "It can't be," Aisha said, her mouth dropping open in awe.
The ThunderMegaZord and TigerZord silently stood with the ZeoZords in the Holding Bay.
Chapter Nine: Ninjor's Return
Katherine, Tanya, and Rocky stood in the small room, stuffed with four Hibernation Pods. Tommy, decked out in his red Zeo Armor, lay in the newest. "I can't believe this," Tanya said. "We're dropping off like flies."
"We should last," Katherine said. "It's going to be awhile before one of us runs out of time. We just have to figure out how to get home."
"Any ideas?" Rocky asked.
* * *
"How is that possible?" Trini asked.
"It looks magnificent," Aisha said.
"Zordon?" Jason asked.
"Rangers," their old mentor said. "We have a visitor."
The visitor suddenly appeared in a flash of blue light. "Ninjor!" Kimberly cried.
"It is I!" he announced triumphantly. "And I have a gift for you."
"ThunderZords?" Trini asked.
"Well, yes," Ninjor said, "but the gift I have brought you is much better." He held his hands out before him. A blue metal chest appeared in his blue metal hands with a spark of blue light. "Behold, your new Powers."
The box flew open, revealing six golden Power Coins. Three were blank, while the other three held the image of the Wolf, Crane, or Bear. "Jason, Zack, and Trini," Ninjor said. "You must go on a quest for your true Animal Guide. However, until that time, these Power Coins will serve you well. Billy and Kimberly, it is with much honor that I return the Wolf and Crane Power Coins. And finally, Aisha, your Power Coin is somewhat different from last time. No longer are you the Yellow Ranger. You are now the White Ranger. This coin gives you command of the TigerZord."
The six Rangers reached into the box and carefully took hold of their coin. The coin melted into their hands, immediately upon contact, establishing the power within its holder. "Your armor, except for Aisha, will be the same, with the sole exception of the coin in your morpher and on your chest," Ninjor explained.
"But how?" Billy asked. "I thought your gold vein was ruined."
"I had a thought last night, Rangers," Zordon said, "but I did not want to get your hopes up."
"Zordon sent the twelve Earth Crystals to me and I was able to clean up the gold vein," Ninjor said.
"When do we go on our quest for our totem?" Trini asked.
"In due time, Rangers," Ninjor said. "I will return when the time is right."
Before any of the Rangers could say anything, Ninjor disappeared in the same flash of blue he arrived in. "So that was the famous Ninjor?" Zack asked.
"He's a character," Billy agreed.
"I can't believe we have Powers back!" Kimberly cried.
The alarms immediately went off. "Looks like we have a chance to take them on a test drive," Jason said.
"Aye-yi-yi!" Alpha cried. "It's one of Jenga's beasts!"
"I thought Jenga left?" Billy asked. "On her honeymoon."
"Jenga is famous for her time-released spells," Zordon said. "This spell was probably cast days ago."
* * *
Her newest creation slowly walked through Angel Grove Park. The beast, known as Hercu-Lo, had been defeated on the distant planet of Polari. This was his fifth reincarnation, and despite his repeated failed attempts at destroying any one band of Rangers, he always managed to take a lot of fight out of them. Hercu-Lo was covered with thick, knotty muscle. He wore brown leather armor and a pith helmet. His sole weapon was a mighty club, capable of delivering fatal blows to buildings, and near-fatal blows to Rangers and Zords alike. He suddenly stopped. Jenga had given him many gifts, one of them superb hearing. The familiar WHOOSH of teleporting Rangers came to his ears. He readied his club, eager to fight for his empress once more.
* * *
The six teens landed in the park in streams of black, pink, blue, yellow, red, and white. "Does anybody see him?" Trini asked.
Hercu-Lo suddenly dropped out of a tree, directly in front of them. With a cacophone of gasps and ki-yahs!, the six Rangers took a defensive stance. "Rangers of Earth," Hercu-Lo growled. "I have been sent here to destroy you and vanquish your planet."
"We have been sent here to stop you," Jason answered, very calm.
Hercu-Lo didn't give any indication he was about to attack; he merely attacked. He swung the club at Jason. The red Ranger dropped to the ground in a perfect split, letting the club swing over him. He somersaulted backwards away from Hercu-Lo and rejoined his friends. "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" Jason shouted.
"WHITE TIGER -- BEAR!" Aisha shouted.
"MASTODON!"
"PTERODACTYL -- CRANE!"
"TRICERATOPS -- WOLF!"
"SABER-TOOTH TIGER!"
"TYRANNOSAURUS!"
In a flash of colors, the six teens morphed into a powerful fighting force. Zack, Jason, and Trini were in their familiar armor, except that the coin in their morpher and the emblem on their chest was blank. Billy and Kimberly were in their ever-familiar blue and pink armor, complete with the Crane and Wolf Power Coins. Only Aisha was the serious departure from the norm. Her armor was white, her chest guard was black and gold, her Power Coin carried the image of the Bear, and her helmet was that of the White Tiger. However, this White Ranger had a female body.
"Nice show," Hercu-Lo said. "But can you withstand my devasting attacks?" Brandishing the mighty club before him, he ran at the Rangers.
* * *
Rocky, Katherine, and Tanya sat around the Cranston's kitchen table. Katherine had tried her best to cook lunch, but her unfamiliarity with both the kitchen appliances and the food itself prevented her from doing a very good job. "Thanks for trying, anyway, Kat," Tanya stammered, poking at the crusty blue leaves with a two-pronged fork-like tool.
"We have to find someway to get home," Rocky said. "That's all there is to it."
"We have three weeks until one of us joins the others," Tanya said. "That should be enough time to figure something out."
"We can't teleport home," Kat said, "and we can't fly home because Alpha told us that the Space Fleet is going to be shooting down everything."
"Maybe Cestro has a space ship we can borrow that's stronger than Jenga's Space Fleet," Tanya suggested.
"Wait a minute," Rocky said. "I know of a space ship that very well could be stronger than the Space Fleet. At least if we just plowed through."
"What?" Katherine asked.
"Let's go to Cestro's," Rocky said. "Maybe he knows who we can make contact." Rocky jumped up from the table, pulled a protective helmet on, and ran out into the knee-deep water.
"Slow down, Rocky!" Tanya asked. The two girls were close behind him.
* * *
"SABBA!" Aisha cried. She stuck her right arm out. White light began to shine from her fist. Sabba, the Talking Saber, immediately peered in her grip.
"My word," Sabba said, "that was some nap. Tommy?"
"It's not Tommy," Aisha said, "but I could use your help."
"Aisha?" Sabba asked. "What are you doing with the White Power?"
"It's a long story," she said, "and I promise I'll tell you later. Right now, we're fighting a losing battle."
"I'm always glad to help," Sabba said. Aisha held Sabba before her and ran at Hercu-Lo.
* * *
Kimberly ran up a small hill and leapt into the air. She fired a shimmering pink energy arrow from her Power Bow. Hercu-Lo put his club up before the arrow struck. The club splintered down the middle. _Uh oh,_ he thought to himself.
"Let's double-team 'im Jase!" Zack shouted. Jason raised the Sword above his head.
"You're on!" The two Rangers rushed at Hercu-Lo. Zack swung the Axe at the beast's legs; Jason made a broad swipe at its chest. Trini was right behind the two Rangers. She flipped over the monster, knocked its pith helmet off with her Power Daggers, and hit the ground running.
Billy flipped over to Hercu-Lo and slashed at its midsection with one end of his weapon. Before Jenga's monster could react, he spun the Power Lance in his hands and slashed with the other end.
"Let us finish him off!" Sabba cried in his distinct British accent.
"He's all yours!" Billy cried.
Sabba flew from Aisha's possession and began to circle Hercu-Lo. The muscular beast whipped his head back and forth, trying to see the flying silver and white saber. "WHITE RANGER POWER KICK!" Aisha cried. She ran at Hercu-Lo and surrendered herself to the White Power. A white, energetic tingling overcame her body, and she flew, straight as an arrow, at Hercu-Lo. Her body was straight, and her legs struck Hercu-Lo square in the chest. The beast grunted and stumbled backwards. He had fought many Rangers, but never had he come across the determination and strength of these Earthlings. He immediately sent a mental distress signal to Rita and Zedd.
* * *
Blue and white lightning shot down from the sky. The lightning, from Rita and Zedd's staffs, struck Hercu-Lo's still body. He leapt to his feet, and immediately grew to massive proportions. "All right guys!" Jason shouted. "We know what we have to do!"
Aisha thrust Sabba into the air and cried, "TIGERZORD POWER, NOW!"
The other five immediately fell into a line formation and shouted, "THUNDERZORDS! POWER UP!"
* * *
Seconds later, the two MegaZords arrived from the Holding Bay, powered up and ready to fight. The six Rangers line-of-sight teleported into the massive Zords. Aisha gave Sabba a thumbs-up and planted him in the Control Panel. She immediately had full control of the Zord. "Okay Sabba," Aisha said, "I will explain everything as soon as Hercu-Lo is history."
"As a team we are unbeatable!" Sabba cried.
* * *
Ernie and the usual gang of teenagers were gathered around the bar, watching the news. "The events of the past three days have been among the most bizarre regarding the Power Rangers," the newcaster said. "For reasons unknown, the Zords of the past have been resurrected and seen fighting monsters in Angel Grove. Three days ago, the ZeoZords fought a green beast outside of the city. Yesterday, the DinoZords and DragonZord destroyed the ShogunZords which seemed to have been on some kind of rampage. This morning, the Thunder and TigerZords defeated a muscular beast in a pith helmet. An interesting side note to the Ranger mystery is the story of a Museum Curator in Sydney, Australia. According to his account, the original green, yellow, and black Power Rangers came and asked to borrow a crystal the museum had on display to combat a new, evil force. We will keep you posted."
* * *
Aisha and Kimberly teleported into Jason's living room, carrying an armload of suitcases. "I am glad Zordon let me go to my apartment in Florida to get this stuff," Kimberly said. "I'm also glad I didn't run into Coach. I bet he's jumping up and down by now."
"My parents caught me," Aisha said. "Fortunately, Ashala knows the whole Power Ranger story, so she's going to tell them everything for me. I'm still probably going to be grounded till kingdom come."
"I wish I could get my clothes here," Billy said.
"You're free to wear anything I've got," Jason volunteered.
"Thanks, but your clothes are too big," Billy answered. "And I don't have any money here. I guess I'll have Alpha synthesize some stuff for me."
"Let's get out and enjoy this warm spell," Kimberly suggested. "Go to the park, something."
"I know just the place," Jason said.
However, before the teens could leave to find Zack and Trini, the alarm went off. "Rangers," Zordon said, "please teleport to the Power Chamber immediately. We have an incoming message from Aquitar."
"We're out of here," Billy said. White, pink, blue, and red columns of light shot up and out of Jason's house, leaving the room empty.
