Note: This story takes place after "No Business Like Snow Business," Part 3.
The Darkness enveloped him, stretching out far beyond his field of vision.
The only sound Billy Cranston could detect within his surroundings was
a steady ticking emanating from somewhere behind him. To his chagrin, not
even his suit monitors could penetrate the endless sea of black. _What
am I doing here,_ he thought, searching his addled brain for an explanation.
A low growling noise broke his confusion. "I don't want to meet the
owner of that," he whispered as he stumbled forward, hoping it was
away from the angry creature he had just heard. Sweat poured down his body,
and his knees felt as though they could give way at any moment. The sounds
of his pursuer had become louder, and Billy panicked, breaking into a run.
Almost at once, he found a wall blocking his path. Summoning his faithful
Lance, he turned to face the beast, trying not to shake.
Billy saw a flash of silver, and then screamed as he was struck in the
chest. Gasping in pain, he stared down in horror at the object embedded
in his ribcage. The arrow was a distinctly familiar shade of pink. Shocked
to the core, he lost his grip on his weapon. Sinking to his knees, he blinked
in an effort to remain conscious. Light footsteps assaulted his hearing,
coming rapidly near. The Blue Ranger hoped that it was one of his teammates
approaching, he had no energy left to fight.
"So there you are," a soft feminine voice said.
"Kat! I'm glad to see you. I need help."
The Pink Ranger removed her helmet and sneered down at him. "Why should
I help you? You're not even one of us anymore, remember?"
Billy felt his suit dissolve away at her remark. It was becoming hard for
him to breathe. He felt his heart break as he stared into her hard features.
She had become just like the others, cold and uncaring. "Not you too,
Kat," he cried. "Why do you hate me? I did nothing to you."
His former teammate laughed at his plea. "That's where you're wrong
coward! Soon you'll be nothing more than a memory, and a bad one
at that!" Katherine drew her BladeBlaster. She laughed as he attempted
to shield his face with his hands. "Good-bye Billy," she said
coldly, and then pulled the trigger....
* * *
Billy awoke with a start. Throwing the bedcovers aside, he sat up and dropped
his feet to the floor. He shivered, despite the fact that he was utterly
drenched in sweat. "Not real. Not real," he muttered over and
over, the phrase becoming a mantra from his lips. "It's just a dream
Billy, just like your chances of ever becoming a Ranger again."
Billy laid back again, attempting to calm himself through a meditation
technique that Jason had taught to him. After twenty restless minutes,
he gave up and struggled to his feet. Grabbing a quick shower, he dressed
and left the house. "Perhaps a pre-dawn run will help me out of this
depression," he mused. He wished that he could call Kimberly, as he
would have ordinarily, but she was in Florida training for the Pan-Global
Games.
He found himself standing in the hills near his house, though he did not
recall the trip which had brought him to this location. He considered talking
to Zordon, but somehow, the thought of going to the Power Chamber unnerved
him. The sun began to cast it's first golden rays on the field around him,
a sight that usually brought him an unparalleled joy. On this morning however,
he felt nothing but emptiness and despair.
* * *
Some hours later, Tommy finished instructing his morning Karate class.
Breathing hard, he walked over to the Juice Bar, knowing that one Ernie's
famous fruit smoothies would hit the spot. As he settled into a chair at
one of the few empty tables, he saw his old friend enter the Youth Center.
Billy was once more garbed in Black, a hue he had taken to wearing of late.
Waving his best friend over, the Red Ranger knew at once that a dark cloud
was hanging over the quiet teen.
"Hey pal! What's going on," Tommy asked
"Hmmm....Oh nothing," he responded, a weary look on his face.
"I'm sorry if I'm a little distracted. I haven't been sleeping very
well over the past few nights."
"Anything I can do to help," the Ranger asked, instantly slipping
into his leader mode.
Billy smiled at the offer. "I don't think so. It's something I'm going
to have to work out on my own." Clapping his old friend on the shoulder,
he attempted to change the subject. "Enough about me, how are you
doing man? Planning on doing any lady-killing today?"
Tommy contemplated this strange shift in his friend's behavior. It was
unlike Billy to change the subject so abruptly, even when he was upset.
He made a mental note to discuss the matter with Zordon as soon as the
opportunity presented itself. Realizing that his silence was conspicuous,
he attempted to return the focus to the former Blue Ranger.
"Uhhh... no, not really. What about you? Are you planning on making
a move on Katherine anytime this century? You told Kim and me how you felt
about her months ago." At the last comment, he shot his friend a conspiratorial
wink.
Billy flushed a deep crimson. Truthfully, he thought about her much than
he felt was proper. Several times, after repeated prodding from Kim, he
had attempted to screw up the courage to tell his teammate how he felt.
Each time, the second her eyes met his, he would lose his nerve and be
forced to excuse himself. She could do so much better than a geek like
him. "She's not interested in a guy like me," he sighed. "I'm
sure she goes for the more athletic type, like you."
Tommy stared at his friend in concern. He had never seen him so depressed
before. "Don't be so sure of that. Hey! Here she comes! Over here
Kat," he exclaimed, waving the pretty blonde over, despite Billy's
vehement attempt to stop him.
"Hi boys," she said in her bright, cheery accent. "Tommy,
would you mind if I talk to Billy for a moment?"
Tommy beamed at her. He had a good feeling about this 'talk'. "Ummm..sure.
I'll talk to you later pal," he responded, patting his friend's shoulder
as he left. Once out of the duo's line of sight, he focused his attention
back upon them. He hoped desperately that Billy would make the most of
this opportunity, it could be his last.
"So what did you want to talk to me about," Billy asked, unable
to keep the weary tone from his voice.
For the first time, Kat noticed the troubled look upon the young man's
face. It was so unlike his usual calm demeanor. "Forget that for right
now. What's wrong," she asked, concerned.
Billy stared into her freckled face. _I could fall into those eyes and
drown if I'm not careful_, he mused. Those same eyes now looked at him
in anxiety. Was there something else there as well? "It's nothing,"
he finally stated, more than a little unsettled by that penetrating sea
of blue.
"That's not true Billy, and I think we both know it." The Pink
Ranger's voice became softer, taking on a tone he had never heard before.
"Please... Talk to me. I... I care about you. I don't like seeing
you hurt this way."
Billy started to protest, but once more, the unexplained look in her eyes
stopped him. _What is going on in her head?_ He dismissed it as a product
of a tired imagination. Drawing a deep breath, he decided to confide his
feelings to her. "You win... I'll talk. This is too public though.
Would you mind if we went somewhere more private?"
* * *
Tommy's spirits dropped as he watched his friends leave the Juice Bar.
_What happened? I was positive Billy was going to ask her this time._ At
that moment, Adam Park emerged from the south entrance to the Youth Center.
Catching sight of the Ranger's leader, he trotted over to join him. Tommy
gave his friend a slight nod as he continued to mull over Billy's recent
problems. Adam's puzzled stare brought him out of his reverie. "Adam,
you're Billy's best friend. Have you noticed anything unusual about his
behavior lately?"
The Green Ranger frowned. He hadn't been the only one to notice after all.
"Actually, yes. He doesn't want to talk about it though. He denied
having a problem when I asked him about it. What do you think we should
do?"
Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "There isn't a whole lot we can
do if he doesn't feel like talking. Maybe we should go ask Zordon, see
what he thinks."
Adam agreed, and they left the Juice Bar in search of a place to teleport.
* * *
The park was beginning to bloom with fresh color as winter gave way to
spring. Billy paid scarce attention to the bright hues around him, directing
his gaze straight ahead. Katherine, however, was struck by the lush beauty
of this heavily wooded section. The trees towered hundreds of feet above
their heads. Suprisingly, it reminded her of her old home in Australia.
"Where are we going," she asked.
Billy's reply was hushed. "A special place. See that clearing over
there?"
Katherine looked in the direction he had pointed and gasped. Somehow, in
the midst of the gigantic redwoods, a single willow stood. A small clearing
surrounded it, and it was as though the massive trees conspired to hide
it's existence. "Billy, this is beautiful! How did you find it?"
He smiled weakly. "Remember Kim's stories of how we grew up together?
Well... one day, when we were playing in this forest, we stumbled across
it. There was no sign of litter, or even footprints. It was as though this
clearing had been set aside for us. Ever since, when one of us had a problem
or a secret, this was where we came to talk." Billy trailed off as
he sat down underneath the cascade of leaves. He wiped his eyes, sniffling
as he thought of his old friend.
Understanding bloomed on Kat's face. "That's what this is about, isn't
it? You feel like you're alone.... Oh Billy, you know that's not true!"
"You're wrong Kat. I am alone." As he continued, his voice filled
with anguish. "I'm not a Power Ranger anymore! The thing that I was
best at, and it's gone! I'm worthless now, all I can do is sit in the Power
Chamber and watch the rest of you in envy!"
"Billy! Please, calm down!" The despondent tone in his voice
shook Katherine to the very core of her being.
Billy realized he had been yelling. Mortified, he stared at the ground.
"I'm sorry.... I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just that, I've
graduated, my oldest friends are gone, and the Blue Ranger powers will
never be mine again. You never saw what I was like before the power. I
was... hopeless." Katherine took his hand in her own, squeezing as
she nodded for him to continue. "I didn't know a thing about martial
arts. And girls? I couldn't even speak to them. Well, all but Kim and Trini.
I... I'm afraid of becoming that person again."
Billy shuddered, fighting to control his emotions. Kat felt as though her
heart was being wrenched from her chest. Slowly... gently, she wrapped
her arms around him. He tensed at first, but soon his tears began to flow
as he released all the pent up hurt and frustration. She patted his back
and rocked him as he attempted to bring his sobs under control. Finally,
he pulled away, embarrassed at his display.
The Pink Ranger swallowed the knot rising in her throat. It was now or
never. Staring into his eyes, she fought down the urge to run away. Slowly,
she drew closer... closer. When he showed no sign of resistance, she closed
her eyes and brought her lips against his. A feeling of complete joy blossomed
within her as their breath mingled. For that instant, time ceased to have
meaning.
Suddenly she pulled away, as quickly as she could. Her cheeks burned red.
"I'm sorry. I had no right. You pour your heart out to me and I try
to take advantage of it...." She trailed off, tears welling in her
eyes.
Billy stared at her in shock. "You mean... all this time, you were
love with me?"
Kat nodded, unable to look at him.
"Kat, I... I love you too."
"Really?" Her voice was a barely audible squeak.
He nodded. "From the moment I first laid eyes on you." Shyly,
he touched her shoulder. "I must admit to some confusion though. I
thought that you and Tommy...?"
"Are friends," she interrupted. "When Kim... ended things
with him, I mistook feelings of loneliness for something else. It's you
that I want."
A smile crossed Billy's lips. "Prove it."
With a grin, Kat leaned forward and took him into her arms once more.
* * *
"And so that's what's up Zordon," Tommy finished.
"It is good that you brought this to my attention Rangers." Zordon's
voice boomed through the room. "I too have become concerned with the
change in Billy's behavior."
"I should have noticed this weeks ago. But with everything that's
happened with... Kim, I guess I've been too wrapped up in myself."
Tommy shuddered at the mention of her name. The pain of losing his long-time
girlfriend still cut him like a knife.
Adam shook his head. "You weren't the only one to be distracted. Face
it.... We've all taken him for granted."
"Indeed," Zordon added. "Alpha, Locate Billy on the viewing
system."
The robot rushed to comply. Moments later, the former Ranger appeared on
the screen. He and Kat were locked in a lover's embrace. Adam's face split
in a wide grin as he clapped Alpha on the shoulder. "Now that
is the best sight I've seen all day!" he exclaimed.
* * *
Mondo stared thoughtfully at the planet below him. As with all the previous
would-be conquerors of the Earth, success hinged on the defeat of the Power
Rangers. On this day, he felt a truly insidious plan begin to take shape.
For once, human emotion, which continued to baffle him, would prove to
be the Ranger's final downfall.
"KLANK! Get in here at once," he screamed.
"Yes, yuir Majesty," the robot asked, in his peculiar Scottish
accent.
"Do we have a Robot with the capability to control human emotion?"
The Royal servant appeared puzzled. "Errrr... No Sire. We have nae
had need for one before."
The Machine King felt his oil pressure rising. "We do now! I need
to put a spell on that non-Ranger Billy, harnessing his frustration into
hatred of the Power Brats!"
"Yes Sire! I'll get to work on it right away!" Klank bowed and
shuffled out of the throne room as fast as his feet would carry him.
Mondo turned his gaze toward Angel Grove once more. _Soon,_ he thought.
_Soon the Power Rangers shall be wiped out once and for all!_
* * *
Tanya and Rocky caught sight of The Red and Green Rangers as they entered
the Juice Bar. From the happy chatter between the two, something big had
occurred in their absence.
"Hey guys! What's going on," Rocky asked.
Tommy and Adam exchanged smiles. "It would appear that a certain friend
of ours finally got up the nerve to ask another friend a very important
question," Tommy answered mysteriously.
Tanya squealed. "NO WAY! Billy actually asked her?"
"Yep. We caught them in mid-kiss," Adam grinned.
Rocky pumped his fist in excitement. "It's about time Casanova popped
the question!" A ridiculous expression crossed the youth's face. "But
was it really a Kiss-Kiss, Adam?"
"Let me put it this way. If kisses could kill, that one would have
leveled several small cities."
The Ranger's table erupted in laughter. When he was finally able to regain
his breath, Tommy glanced at his watch. "You ready for our workout,
Rocko?"
The brash teen answered with his usual enthusiasm. "You bet, man!
Heck, we've got this team competition in the bag!"
Adam was puzzled. "Team competition?"
"Yeah. Full contact, open invitation. It's being held at the end of
the month, over the weekend," Rocky replied. "Me and Tommy plan
on taking home the gold. You gonna enter?"
"I don't know. I don't exactly have a partner right now."
Rocky shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure you'll find someone, even
though you don't stand a chance at beating us."
Adam watched his friends walk over to the practice mat. He wasn't sure
whether or not Rocky was kidding, even though he had smiled when he made
that last statement.
"Kinda makes ya sick, doesn't it?"
The Green Ranger whirled around toward the source of the voice, half expecting
another of Sprocket's haywire toys. To his surprise, it was Bulk!
"Mind if I join you," the older teen asked.
Too shocked to reply, Adam merely nodded. "What do you mean?"
Bulk chuckled. "C'mon Adam! I heard that conversation between you
and Rocky."
"Well.... I guess so, a little," the Ranger replied sheepishly.
"Now I know for a fact that you are a match for either one of those
two. I also understand that you need a partner."
Adam felt queasy over where this discussion was headed. Did Bulk actually
want to be his partner?
As though reading his mind, the Junior Police Officer shook his head. "No
way! Believe it or not, I actually learned a thing or two from butting
heads with Jason all those years. I'm no martial artist."
Adam felt relief permeate his being. Curiosity got the better of him, and
he asked the question that had been building since Bulk had joined him.
"Who did you have in mind?"
"How 'bout Billy?"
Tanya smelled something fishy. "You seem pretty interested in who
Adam chooses, why?"
The big teen turned bright red. "I uh...want to be your coach."
"WHAT?" the Rangers gasped in unison.
"Not so loud! The truth is... If I'm not involved, Lt. Stone is gonna
make me run security. Bulk puffed up slightly as he continued. "Besides,
I've always liked a challenge. What do you say Adam?"
The quiet youth thought it over. While his past history with the former
bully had been rough, he seemed to have turned over a new leaf. And as
Skull had so recently proven, there was more to a person than what was
on the surface.
"You understand, I have to check with Billy, right?" At Bulk's
enthusiastic nod, he broke into a grin. "I'll give it a try if you
will. You've got yourself a deal! I'm sparring Billy at 4:30, why don't
you join us then?"
Bulk hopped to his feet. For a man of his size, he had incredible agility.
"GREAT! You won't regret this! I'll see you then." With that,
the Junior Policeman hurried away, anxious to tell the Lieutenant the good
news. Adam grinned at the retreating figure, then returned his attention
to Tanya.
"I'll bet this will work out great for you two. You could give Mr.
Smug a real run for his money," she said.
"Well... maybe. It all depends-- Hey! What's going on over there?"
Adam pointed towards the door, where pandemonium had erupted.
The source of the commotion was Skull. He spied the couple sitting at their
table and scrambled toward them. No obstacle would hinder his progress,
as he ducked by several passing customers and vaulted the booth in his
way. Finally, he skidded to a halt in front of them. "Hey Adam,"
he gasped, trying to regain his breath. "About the tournament...."
Adam interrupted him before he could finish. "Sorry, but Bulk already
asked to be my coach."
"AHHGH!" Skull slapped his forehead and slowly dragged his hand
down over his face. "Now I'll be security for sure! Or worse yet...
concessions!" The desperate teen shuddered at the thought, before
catching sight of Tommy and Rocky, working outnearby. A deranged smile
crossed his lips, as an idea worked through his fevered thoughts. Adam
and Tanya exchanged smiles as he ambled toward their friends. "Gentlemen,
do I have a proposition for you," he began, then moved out of earshot.
"I hope Billy gets back in time to spar," Tanya remarked, turning
away from Skull's wild gestures.
Adam looked at his watch. "I'm sure he will. After all, it's only
11:45."
"Well, Kat was supposed to meet me for lunch. Somehow, I get the feeling
she won't make it."
"You could say that again! C'mon, I'll eat with you. Lunch should
never be taken alone." Adam stood up, inviting her to join him. She
accepted, and the two left. On the way out, the passed Skull, who was now
on his knees in front of the others, begging for a chance to be their trainer.
* * *
King Mondo paced the length of his throne room impatiently. He was anxious
to set his plan in motion. As one accustomed to getting his own way, he
detested waiting for anything, especially one of his own servants. Once
more, he cast his gaze toward Angel Grove's Park. His telescopic lenses
made it easy to spy on Billy's "secret" place. The humans had
exhibited yet another frailty: exhaustion. Both seemed to have collapsed
into a deep sleep. Ready or not, the time to strike had arrived.
"KLANK," he screamed.
The red and silver roboservant rushed into the room, Orbus in tow. "Yes,
yuir Excellency?"
"Use the magic at once!"
"But I have nae had the chance to test it. I dinnae think...,"
Klank stammered.
Steam exploded from Mondo's temples. Orbus immediately teleported away,
not wishing to share in Klank's punishment. "KLANK! Get down there
before he wakes up, or you shall live out the remainder of your existence
in a steel compactor!"
* * *
In a flash of light, Klank materialized in the vale. Being in the vicinity
of so much plant life sickened him, so he rushed over to the tree that
shaded his target. Billy was lying with his head propped up by the tree
trunk and one hand. His free arm encircled Katherine, who snuggled against
him, her head resting on his chest.
Klank fought off the power surge within his logic circuits. The air of
peace emanating from the sleeping Rangers was overwhelmingly powerful to
his evil nature. Quickly, he injected Billy with his aggression serum.
The youth moaned, but remained still. Sighing in relief, Klank took a quick
scan of him. As he had feared, the potion was simply not powerful enough
by itself.
"P'rhaps wi' an energy boost," he said, not meaning to speak
aloud.
Slapping his head, the robot noticed that Kat had begun to stir. Hurriedly,
he gathered his equipment together. Making a final check of his perimeter,
he teleported away just as the Pink Ranger struggled to a sitting position.
"Whew," he mused. "That was a wee bit close! Now I have
to figure out how to activate my formula"
* * *
Kat awoke slowly. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked at the area
around her. "Strange dream. I could have sworn Klank was here,"
she murmured. Returning her gaze to Billy, she smiled softly. He was sleeping
comfortably, probably for the first time in weeks. A glimmer of a smile
danced on his lips. She stroked his hair lovingly. Her heart felt light,
as though she could fly. The tension that had burdened her, as she had
wrestled with the decision to tell him of her feelings, had been extinguished.
Her joy had bubbled over when he had confessed of similar emotions.
A sideways glance at her watch snapped her back to reality. It was 4 o'clock!
Somehow, she had managed to sleep through her lunch date with Tanya. "I
wish I didn't have to wake you," she whispered. Gently, she told hold
of his shoulders and began to shake.
Billy awoke to a pair of ocean blue eyes staring into his own. "What
a sight to wake up to," he smiled.
Kat grinned back. "Flattery will get you nowhere Mister!"
"Then how about this," he asked, taking her into his arms and
kissing her.
The Pink Ranger blushed at his aggressive display of affection. "Umm....
That... that will work just fine," she stammered. "We have to
get back to the Youth Center though. You are due to spar with Adam in half
an hour."
Billy sighed. "I suppose you're right."
As they stood up, Katherine suprised him with a kiss. "Thank you for
sharing this place with me Billy."
With that, the two young lovers hurried through the trees, hand-in-hand.
* * *
"Explain this to me Klank. You have served for seven centuries as
my Major-Domo. You effortlessly planned the invasions of seven star systems.
And yet, given a relatively simple task, you somehow manage to fail miserably!"
The roboservant cowered before the uncharacteristic display of rage from
King Mondo. Not since the early days, when he had been a mere foot soldier
in the previous Machine King's armies, had he so feared for his own life.
Fortunately, the King's faulty temperature regulator kicked in, and the
anger passed. Taking courage from the now calm atmosphere of the Throne
Room, he attempted an explanation. "I cannae offer any excuse Sire.
However, I do know how to rectify the problem."
Mondo relaxed even further. "Indeed. How do you propose to fix this
blunder?"
"Well, yer highness, all I need to do is outfit MegaBuster with a
new weapon."
Once more, the regulator died, bringing the King's oil pressure to the
boiling point. Sparks ignited around him as his temper erupted. "How
in blazes will that help, you BUFFOON!?"
"Sire, Please! This beam will act as a booster to the serum already
in his bloodstream. I have already tested it. The weapon shall work."
Mondo appeared thoughtful. "It would appear I mispoke, Klank. Please
continue."
Bowing, the robot resumed his explanation. "Thank ye Sire! I have
also nearly finished fabrication of the Armour of Command as a failsafe.
Wearing it, not only will Billy be a match for the Ranger's Zeo Powers,
it shall prevent him from resisting your orders."
Mondo began to cackle in evil delight. "Excellent! Continue with your
plan my servant. I wish to strike a soon as possible. I feel an end in
sight, and victory within my grasp!"
* * *
Angel Grove Youth Center....
Billy and Kat entered the busy gym. Katherine had her arm wrapped around
his waist, making clear her affections. As crowded as the Juice Bar was,
they somehow managed to spot Adam and Tanya, sitting at a table on the
other side of the room. The two were deep in conversation, and did not
notice their friends' arrival. Playfully, the Pink Ranger made a show of
dragging her new boyfriend over to their table. Unable to contain her happiness,
her face split into a wide grin as they reached the others. "Guys,
I have a bit of an announcement to make," she began.
The rest of her statement was drowned out when Tanya grabbed her in a bearhug.
Adam exchanged high-fives with Billy, then traded places with Tanya. Billy
chuckled. _They must have been watching in the Power Chamber,_ he thought
to himself.
Tanya flashed her winning smile at the guys. "Umm.. Why don't you
boys go and change for your workout? I'm going to borrow your girlfriend
here and gossip."
Adam elbowed his friend. "I guess that's our cue. Let's go, man."
Billy smiled as he turned to leave, although not before stealing a quick
kiss from his lady. Together, he and Adam went to the locker room. Katherine
stared after him, a dreamy look in her eyes. Tanya noticed her expression
and released an envious sigh. "It must be nice having someone care
for you that much."
"What," Kat exclaimed, snapping back to reality. She hadn't realized
that her friend had been talking to her. "I mean, yes it is! Sorry
Tanya, my mind was..."
"...Somewhere else?" The Yellow Ranger began to giggle at her
friend's preoccupation. Kat stared at her feet, then began to laugh as
well.
* * *
"You're kidding, right?"
"No Billy. I'm very serious." Adam paused to look up as he laced
up his sparring feet. Drawing a deep breath, he continued with his story.
"I told him I'd have to ask you though. What do you think?"
The quiet young man didn't answer right away, as he considered the implications.
With a sigh, he turned to Adam and nodded. "Let's just hope we don't
regret it."
"Hey! It'll work out! Trust me on this." Adam shot a sly grin
at his best friend. "So tell me... Have you set a date for the wedding
yet?"
Billy laughed. "Not yet. I still need to find a best man."
* * *
Tommy and Rocky had just returned from their afternoon run. A flash of
blonde hair at Tanya's table meant that their friend had also returned.
Signaling not to reveal their presence, the two young men quietly positioned
themselves behind the Pink Ranger. Stifling a chuckle, Rocky cleared his
throat. Kat jumped, relaxing when she realized it was another of the Blue
Ranger's infamous pranks.
"Sorry Kat! I couldn't help myself." Rocky put an innocuous on
his face, one that the others had become very familiar with. "Seriously,
we heard about you and Billy. C'mere," he exclaimed holding out his
arms. Kat shook her head in amusement, then fell into his bear hug.
Upon being released, she turned to Tommy, who stood nearby. A bittersweet
smile on her lips, she began to apologize. "Tommy, I--"
The Red Ranger smiled. "You don't have to say anything. I'm just happy
that you two found each other." Grabbing her in a hug. he spoke into
her ear softly. "Be good to him. He deserves it... and so do you."
Kissing her cheek, he let her go and took a seat with the others.
Adam and Billy had just entered the practice ring, and as the others watched,
received some advice from their new coach. As they began to stretch, Rocky
turned to his partner. "What do you think, Tom? Can they take us?"
Scratching his chin, Tommy relaxed in his seat. "We'll see, dude."
Adam began to run through a kata, while Billy nearly stood in one corner.
When the two began to spar, Tommy found himself suprised by Billy's aggressive
display. Adam actually found himself on the ropes several times. Bulk blew
his whistle, then motioned his team over. Speaking a few words of encouragement,
he then signaled for their sparring partners to enter the ring. They were
no match for the fluid teamwork of the two best friends, who made short
work of their opposition. Rocky gave off a low whistle of admiration. "We
could be in trouble," he admitted.
* * *
"Awesome workout guys," Tommy exclaimed as his friends joined
the others at the table. Adam nodded, taking a long pull from his water
bottle before passing it to Billy, who had settled next to Kat. The Rangers'
leader offered his hand to his old friend. "Aces man. I'm glad you
pulled it off. You two look great together."
Billy smiled shyly. "Thanks. I'm glad too."
"Rocky, Tanya, and I are going rock climbing. You guys want to come?"
Billy shook his head. "Can't. I need to call my dad. That project
he's running in Arizona has him moving eight different directions at once.
Besides, I think we're going to go out to a movie later."
"All right pal, but you're missing out!"
The Machine Skybase....
Mondo saw the opportunity he had been waiting for. With only two Rangers
near his target, he could easily initiate the next phase of his plan. "Klank,
send in the Cogs to distract Adam and Kat while MegaBuster activates your
virus."
"At once Sire!"
Angel Grove....
Adam joked with his friends as they cut through an alley to save some
walking distance. Straight ahead, an all too familiar flash of light signif
ied the arrival of the Machine Empire's foot soldiers. Adam and Kat immediately
fell back into defensive stances as the Cogs swarmed toward them. "Get
back! You don't have any protection against them," Kat yelled at her
boyfriend.
Billy nodded. "Be careful." Hopping a nearby fence, he disappeared.
Adam nodded to his teammate. "It's Morphin Time!"
"Zeo Ranger One, Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger Four, Green!"
And then the Cogs were upon them.
* * *
Billy watched intently as his teammates battled, and did not notice the
walking arsenal that had materialized behind him until it was too late.
"Well, well Billy. It would appear there's no one around to protect
you this time. Give up?"
"Not in this lifetime," the former Ranger called back defiantly,
as he launched a flurry of kicks at the metal monstrosity. MegaBuster laughed
at the ineffectual attack. "That's quite enough, thank you,"
he laughed, grabbing the youth by the arm.
Billy struggled fruitlessly. The monster's grip was simply too strong.
As he watched, a beam projector locked into place on MegaBuster's shoulder.
Desperately, he shielded his eyes as the ray washed over him. Billy felt
anger... hatred beginning to well up inside him. Frantically, he fought
to retain to control, but it was no use. The chemicals coursing through
blood activated at full potency. Slowly, he stood erect and faced the MegaBuster.
"What are your orders, master?"
"When I attack the others, you shall place this device in the Power
Chamber and cut them off from their accursed Zords," MeagaBuster said
as he handed over a small device the size of a walkman and then waved a
hand over Billy's face. "For now, Forget!" The monster laughed
as he teleported away.
Billy blinked. The fight had stopped as quickly as it had started. As he
looked around unsteadily, he saw that his friends had powered down and
were now running toward him. "Are you OK?" Kat asked breathlessly,
a worried look in her eye.
"I'm fine, really," Billy replied.
Their conversation was interrupted by their communicators. Zordon's voice
came through Adam's watch. "Rangers, Mondo has unleashed the MegaBuster.
Teleport to the Power Chamber at once!"
Power Chamber - Operations and Tactics....
The assembled team stood before their leader. Billy had taken his usual
position with Alpha 5, monitoring the Atmospheric Early Warning System.
Zordon gazed at his Rangers for a moment, then gathered himself to speak.
"I have picked up a disturbance in the Crystal Mountain vicinity.
Mondo has sent his arsenal, the MegaBuster, to Earth."
Tommy stepped forward, a serious look crossing his features. "Isn't
that where the Zord Complex is located?"
"Yes, Tommy. There is little time. Your Zords are in danger of being
destroyed. You must go to them at once."
The Ranger's leader nodded solemnly. "Right Zordon. It's Morphin Time!"
"Zeo Ranger One, Pink!"
"Zeo Ranger Two, Yellow!"
"Zeo Ranger Three, Blue!"
"Zeo Ranger Four, Green!"
"Zeo Ranger Five, Red!"
The Power Rangers teleported out to confront the Machine King's latest
creation. Intent on monitoring the battle, Alpha and Zordon did not notice
the strange object that had materialized in Billy's hand. Quietly, he moved
away from his station and toward the console that housed the interface
to the Zeo Crystal. Zordon glanced at the former Blue Ranger, who now stood
transfixed before the interface. As the device came into view, the ancient
wizard realized its dark purpose. "Billy, NO!"
Zordon's cry was too late. The machine in Billy's hand made contact with
the control panel and instantaneously bonded to it. At the same time, an
intense golden light surrounded the youth. The unnatural light continued
to build in intensity, until finally even Zordon could not see it's center.
The last thing Billy felt was a murderous rage building within him.
* * *
The Rangers jerked as the energy projectile impacted. Tommy ran a quick
systems check, then sighed in relief. Despite the considerable pounding
the MegaBuster had inflicted, the Zeo MegaZord was still operating at 95%
efficiency. "Tanya, I need an energy reserves update," he asked
coolly.
The Yellow Ranger glanced down at her status board. The readings confounded
her. Somehow, their energy levels had begun to drop, and rapidly. Running
a diagnostic merely served to confirm the readings. Very soon, the MegaZord
would be utterly defenseless.
"Tanya? What's wrong," Rocky asked.
"We're losing power," she shouted.
Kat turned around in her seat. "How is this possible? It's not like
that monster--"
"No time! I'm summoning the Zeo Saber," Tommy barked.
Rocky threw up his hands in disgust. "Better hurry! We just lost the
Battle Helmets."
With a slice of their mighty sword, the Power Rangers dismembered yet another
of the Machine King's champions. Taking a deep breath, Tommy secured the
MegaZord from battle mode. That task completed, he swiveled his chair around
to face Tanya. Before he had the opportunity to ask her what had happened
to their reserves, danger alarms sounded at each control station. Tanya
looked up from her readout, this time unable to mask her sense of terror.
"Tommy! We have to get out of here! All systems are still showing
a drain, power down to 20% of normal!"
"Abandon ship! I'm disengaging the MegaZord!" Tommy waited until
the other Rangers had evacuated the cockpit before turning back to his
command console. Fingers moved in a blur as he activated the Zord recall
system. Satisfied that their ships would at least have enough energy to
return to base, he jumped down and joined his friends in the valley below.
"Everybody all right," he asked. One by one, the Rangers nodded
affirmatively. As they watched, the hangar bay at nearby Crystal Mountain
recovered their vehicles.
"Rangers, Can you hear me?" Zordon's voice was barely discernible
through their communicators.
"We read you Zordon. I'm picking up an awful lot of interference though,"
Tommy replied.
"We have a serious problem. The...." A squeal of static cut off
the remainder of the Power Chamber's answer.
"Zordon! Alpha! Billy! Can anyone read me?" The Red Ranger felt
himself becoming agitated as his attempts to reestablish communication
failed. Giving up, he cursed in exasperation.
"Guys, I think we better go back to the Chamber." Kat's voice
left her lips as a barely audible whisper.
"I think not, Power Rangers!"
All five heroes whirled around to regard the source of that eerily familiar
voice. A behemoth in golden armor strode calmly toward them. It stopped
just short of the startled teens and stared at each in turn. It's eyes
were cold, inhuman.
"You're not going anywhere! It was I who drained your Zords and blocked
those wretched communicators. You are on your own, and soon you won't even
have your vaunted powers to protect you," the evil creature sneered.
"I don't know how you managed all that Goldy," Tommy shouted,
"but we're gonna send you packing!"
"Oh... really Tommy! Don't you ever grow tired of that same
old speech? As for how I disabled your equipment, the answer is simple
enough for even you to understand. Behold!" With that, the armored
figure reached up to grasp it's helmet. The Rangers tensed, fully prepared
to strike at the slightest word from their leader. Laughing defiantly,
the stranger removed the helmet. Kat felt her stomach twitch convulsively,
and then her legs gave way. She collapsed, sobbing, as the others stood
transfixed in mutual terror and confusion.
Billy stood before them.
* * *
Mondo cackled in delight at the Rangers' suprise. Kat's reaction had been
particularly enjoyable. He had never cared for females who proved to be
more intelligent than he. Already, he had begun plans for a victory parade
to be held over the ruins of Angel Grove. In fact, after his puppet had
decimated his friends, he had decided to remove the spell, and take more
satisfaction as Billy discovered what he had done.
"The Rangers shall die, Billy will be the cause, and the Earth shall
be mine," he mused. "So far, it's turning out to be a pretty
good day!"
* * *
"Adam could scarcely see through his tears. "Billy, why are you
doing this?"
"That does not matter. I am willing to give to give you the chance
to surrender. If not...." he trailed off leaving the threat unspoken.
Katherine rose unsteadily, and took a few tentative steps toward her love.
Desperately, she attempted to reason with him. "Billy, Don't do this!
You're under a spell!"
For a moment, her pleas seemed to have an impact on him. Billy hesitated,
but the Rangers hopes were dashed when his features darkened once more.
"Enough talk," he snarled, locking his helmet back into place.
"Who will be the first to die?"
Rocky shoulder his way to the forefront. "Maybe he just needs to be
knocked around a little to get his senses back," he yelled, just before
charging his former teammate. The Blue Ranger leaped through the air, his
devastating side kick aimed at Billy's head. Suddenly, a chain shot from
his target's wrist, wrapping around Ranger Three and slamming him into
the ground. Rocky struggled to free himself. The chain's links were razor
sharp. He noted, with a great deal of suprise, that they had begun to penetrate
his suit. To add to his torment, Billy was tossing him left and right,
battering his body against the cliff walls that isolated the little valley.
Desperately, he summoned his arm blades. Gasping in pain as his bonds sliced
into his arms, he lunged forward and succeeded in cutting through the chains.
Shrugging them off, he gaped as the breach repaired itself, and the whip
prepared to strike at him again.
He wanted to pass out. _Some kind of drug... Billy's poisoned me,_ he thought.
Wobbling unsteadily, he forced back the waves of nausea that threatened
to overwhelm him. Sluggishly, he turned to face the thing that had once
been his friend, knowing full well he couldn't withstand another attack
from that weapon.
* * *
Ranger Five didn't like what was unfolding before him. That armor made
Billy twice the size of any of his team. To top it all, the way Rocky was
moving meant he was hurt... bad. Silently, he cursed the Machine King.
_What have you done to him? Will I have to kill my oldest friend to save
the others?_ Tommy saw that Billy was about to finish off the Blue Ranger.
_No choice. Dammit! I'm sorry buddy._ "Adam! Tanya! Hit him from two
sides, he can't block both!" The Green Ranger stared at him. Tommy
knew this was hurting Adam almost as much as Kat. It was like asking him
to hit his own brother. "No time to argue Adam! Do you want him to
kill Rocky?"
With an anguished cry, Adam turned away, reluctantly following orders.
* * *
Rocky's vision was tinged with red. He could scarcely stay focused on the
chain that slithered in front of him, as though alive. Billy drew back
his arm and snapped it forward in a whipping motion. His reflexes dulled
by the toxins coursing through his blood, Ranger Three could only stare
as the links became glowing projectiles. The highly charged energy darts
easily tore through his suit and ripped into the flesh beneath.
The Blue Ranger giggled compulsively, unable to feel the grievous wounds
that were going to bleed him to death. His eyes would stay open no longer,
their lids seeming to weigh tons. Rocky DeSantos welcomed the darkness
as it overtook him. With a final gasp of pain, he toppled backwards and
remained still.
* * *
"Zordon, Rocky's vital signs are weakening, and I can't seem to remove
that sapping device. It's completely fused to the interface," Alpha
squeaked.
"You must remain calm, Alpha. All is not lost. Can we access anything
other than the viewing system," the Eltarian intoned quietly.
"Ai yai yai! I'm afraid not. Mondo wants us to watch, but that's it!
I'm afraid that even if we win... we lose."
* * *
Billy turned to face Adam next. The Green Ranger approached cautiously,
his weapons already in his hands. "Billy, I don't want to fight you.
You're my best friend! The brother I never had," he pleaded.
Again, the massive gold figure hesitated. Just then, he caught sight of
the Yellow Ranger, creeping up behind him. Blind rage welled up within
Billy, exploding in an inarticulate scream. Whirling around, he suprised
Tanya, who froze in her tracks. Savagely, he lashed out with a front kick,
sending her flying into a cliff. A wicked looking blaster slid into place
on his shoulder, locking on target....
But the killing blow missed, thanks to a desperate tackle by Adam. The
shot went high, impacting instead with the rocks above her. Tanya could
only scream as she was buried beneath the rubble.
* * *
Billy's relentless attack had begun to wear down the usually fleet-footed
Green Ranger. More and more blows rained down upon Adam, who still could
not believe his attacker was doing this. Coughing raggedly, he tasted blood.
Several of his ribs had been broken when he had been to slow to block a
ridge hand. Sensing his only opening, he gathered his waning strength.
"Green Punching Storm!"
Adam was suprised when the attack actually began to drive his friend back,
even scoring a few hits. Emboldened, he pressed his advantage. Out of nowhere,
Billy caught one of his fists and bore down. Adam screamed as his hand
was mangled. Mercilessly, Billy followed that with an axe kick that shattered
his opponent's collarbone like a twig. Laughing hysterically, he tossed
Adam aside and turned to face... the Pink Ranger.
* * *
Mondo too had cackled in amusement as the Green Ranger fell. Beside him,
Prince Sprocket jumped up and down with glee as they watched Billy plow
through their hated enemies. Klank stood off to one side, nodding with
silent approval. Mondo stroked his chin. "Three Rangers down with
nary a scratch. I say, that Billy is rather bloodthirsty, is he not,"
he asked.
Klank agreed. "True yuir majesty. You wouldna believe how much energy
MegaBuster had to expend to subvert him."
"No matter. Only two Rangers left, until victory is ours, once and
for all!"
* * *
Billy stalked across the field toward Kat. She was on her knees, sobbing
uncontrollably. Slowly, he raised his massive fist, preparing to crush
his own girlfriend. Suddenly, he caught sight of a red flash and then felt
a sharp pain in his shoulder. Dismissing his injury, he turned to face
his old friend.
* * *
Tommy held his sword at the ready as he braced for the attack. He knew
that could not allow himself time to think of his friends who had already
fallen. Desperately wanting to avoid conflict, he made one last plea to
his old friend. "You gotta snap out of it man! I know what it's like,
what they've done to you. Fight! I don't want to hurt you... but if you
want Kat, you'll have to go through me first."
"That's so sweet, Tommy. It's just too bad that Kim isn't around to
hear that heroic speech by our oh-so-perfect leader. Oh, that's right,
she dropped you like a bad habit, didn't she," Billy cackled.
The Red Ranger was livid. He felt white hot rage batter against his carefully
constructed walls of control at the mere mention of HER name. He fought
to rein in his temper.
Billy's mocking voice assailed him once more. "Perhaps I should visit
her next, just to make sure Zordon doesn't try to recruit someone else
after I eliminate you."
That tore it. Outraged beyond reason by that callous remark, Tommy sliced
wildly. Billy parried the blow with a laugh, and the battle began in earnest.
The two combatants circled one another warily, each seeking to find an
opening. Neither fighter seemed able to capitalize on a mistake. For each
slash, a counterstroke was made. Soon both teens were bleeding from numerous
wounds.
Gasping for air, Ranger Five gauged his opponent. He knew that Billy was
stealing his powers away from him. Already, he felt exhaustion begin to
take it's toll. An idea popped into his head. _If Mondo thinks like Rita,
his enchantment is tied into that sword._ Channeling his spiritual power
into his own, he swung the blade into Billy's with all his might. The resulting
explosion destroyed both weapons and threw their owners into the ground.
Tommy's wishes died as Billy rose to his feet and charged. Even a few well-placed
kicks seemed to have no effect. Likewise, his laser pistol only served
to anger him. Finally, Billy grew tired of the game and smashed into the
Ranger's face with a thunderous backhand. The force of the blow shattered
Tommy's helmet and sent him spiraling into unconsciousness.
Once more, he turned his attention to Katherine. Rising unsteadily, she
summoned her Power Disk and braced herself to fight a battle that she could
not win.
The golden hulk steadily approached. Kat knew in her head that she should
fight, but somehow, she couldn't bring herself to battle that... creature.
It was still Billy, someone she loved with all of her heart. Her course
of action was clear. The Power Disk fell to her feet, where it was joined
by her weapons belt. Taking a deep breath, she unsealed her helmet and
discarded it as well. Locking eyes with his, she made it clear that the
next move was his.
Moving with a speed that belied his size, the monster that was once known
as Billy Cranston closed the distance between them. Wrapping one massive
fist around her neck, he lifted her into the air. "You just sealed
your fate. Now you shall be the first to DIE!"
* * *
Alpha was in hysterics from the scene unfolding before him. He had just
seen four of his friends fall to Billy's mad onslaught, and now Katherine
was mere moments from death. "Zordon, he... he won't really do it,
will he?"
The silence spoke volumes to the little robot. For the first time in his
centuries-long existence, Zordon did not have an answer.
* * *
Kat knew she had only seconds left. Forcing air into her lungs, she whispered
roughly, "Billy... I forgive you... Remember... I love you, forever."
The Pink Ranger's eyes rolled back into her head, and her body ceased its
struggling, as life escaped from Katherine Hillard's body.
* * *
Billy dropped the lifeless Pink Ranger as his head exploded in pain. Her
last words had hit him harder than any blow that he had sustained. At the
base of his skull, razor-sharp needles of agony drove him to his knees.
"Billy... I love you, forever."
A disembodied form whirled around as the sad voice reached his ears. It
was familiar to him, but where? "Billy.... is.... ME! No time! Must...
reassume control!"
* * *
Billy Cranston opened his eyes and stared in shock at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where am I," he wondered. He reached for his communicator, to
no avail. To his suprise, he discovered that he was encased in a strange
suit of golden armor. His stomach began to churn nervously. Whirling around,
he saw a young woman in pink, who was sprawled on the ground, utterly motionless.
"KAT!"
Billy scrambled over and knelt beside her. She was pale, growing cold,
and worse, not breathing. _I did this,_ he thought, frantically tearing
off his helmet. Finding a dangerously weak pulse, he immediately began
artificial respiration. Katherine did not respond. Billy continued to try,
although he knew it was too late. Cradling her still form in his arms,
he screamed, every fiber of his being in anguish. Reverently, he laid her
down gently and folded her arms in repose over her heart. Tears blinded
him as he bent down, kissing her lips one last time.
Kat's sweet breath mingled with his own. Billy realized with a start that
she was ALIVE! Slowly, her eyes opened, and as they focused on him, once
more in control of his own faculties, she managed a weak smile. Billy began
to laugh and cry at the same time. Taking her into his warm embrace, he
whispered a silent thanks to the heavens above.
* * *
Mondo was furious. A perfect plan was rapidly unraveling. Spying Klank
in an attempt to leave the room, he immediately tore into his servant.
"Explain this, you buffoon! And if I were you, I would choose my answer
carefully."
Klank mulled over his response, fearful of what the King was capable of
in this state. "Sire, he does still wear the Armour of Command. While
we may not hold sway over his mind any longer, we can still control his
body!"
* * *
Tommy could hear a voice calling to him. Slowly, he tried to open his eyes.
One refused to cooperate, and the other only reluctantly. At the sudden
intrusion of sunlight, it slammed back down once more. Tommy groaned at
the daggers jabbing at his brain. Carefully, he moved his head away from
the sun and tried again.
Katherine knelt beside him, speaking softly. Due to an incredible ringing
in his ears, he could not make out what she was saying. Wincing in pain,
he attempted to sit up. The sudden dizziness he felt prompted him to sink
back his earlier position.
"Thomas Oliver, you try a stunt like that again and you won't live
to see the doctor," Kat scolded.
"Not so loud," he groaned. "What happened?"
"Billy shattered your helmet and you were knocked out," she said
softly.
Tommy felt a sense of dread build up inside him as he noticed welts and
bruises on his friend's neck. "Where is he? What happened," he
demanded, trying to rise again.
Kat placed a restraining hand on his chest. "Easy," she whispered.
"He broke the spell. He was going to kill me and he came back!"
Tommy saw his old friend appear from behind a nearby stand of trees. Billy
was still clad in the strange golden mail that resembled a samurai. Slowly,
the Red Ranger forced himself into a sitting position. Nauseated by the
effort, he held onto his hips tightly, fighting the urge to sink back into
darkness. From the corner of his narrow field of vision, he saw a flash
of gold as Billy ran to his side.
"Ease up man! You'll just start bleeding again," Billy exclaimed.
"Bleeding?"
"Your eye. You had some glass from your visor embed itself in your
cornea when...." the young man trailed off, misery and guilt apparent
in his voice.
Tommy feebly clasped his comrade's shoulder, ignoring the throbbing in
his head. "Listen buddy, I know better than most what it's like to
be manipulated. It wasn't your fault. How are the others?"
Billy choked and looked away. Katherine spoke quietly. "Not good.
Adam's shoulder and hand were crushed, and he has at least three broken
ribs. Tanya managed to deflect the biggest rocks, but she's still bleeding
internally. And Rocky... we think he's dying."
Billy rose suddenly. "We have to get them to Zordon if they're going
to stand a chance. Our communicators are down, but I have another way."
Fiddling with a device on his wrist, he quickly locked onto the frequency
of the Ranger's base.
"Alpha, Zordon, this is Billy."
"Dude! You're back," squeaked the robot's voice through his radio.
"It's good to hear your voice too. I need your help. Open up my laptop.
You'll need to click on the telecommunications package three times... Now
enter the password: Sapphire.... Then click on the left corner of the screen."
"I'm in the Power Chamber's mainframe," Alpha exclaimed.
Billy sighed in relief. "Prodigious! The back door wasn't locked out
with the rest of the system. Reactivate the teleportation system. You can
control it, and the rest of the Chamber, from my computer."
Without warning, a small rocket launched from the weapons module on Billy's
back and fled skyward. Shocked, he discovered that the Machine Empire was
attempting to take control of his armor, having removed the cell containing
the stolen Zeo energies. Working quickly, he tried to disengage the suit,
to no avail. By his estimate, he had no more than seven minutes before
Mondo made him an unwilling puppet once more. He had only one more option,
one desperate chance to save his friends. "They're attempting to take
control of the armor. I'm locked in!"
Kat bolted up, fear blazing in her eyes. "There has to be a way to
get you out! Maybe my blaster...."
"No time! It would take hours to cut through this thing. Only one
choice."
Katherine knew from the grim expression on face exactly what that final
option was. "Billy! No," she pleaded. "Come see Zordon,
he will know what to do!"
Billy lowered his eyes as he shook his head. "I can't risk jeopardizing
the Power Chamber. If I were to lose control there...." Gathering
her into his arms, he continued. "You know I'm right. Please, don't
make this any harder. It was your love that saved my soul. Now I have to
save your lives."
Tommy staggered to his feet, facing his old teammate. The two clasped hands,
then embraced. Pulling away, Billy attempted a smile. "I wish we could
have had the opportunity to stand together one more time. Take care of
Kat for me" Voice cracking, he continued haltingly. "Tell the
others that I love them... and I'm sorry."
The Red Ranger could only nod solemnly. "I swear to you Billy, we'll
get them for this." Tapping his communicator, he contacted Zordon.
"Bring us back. Kat will be along in a minute."
"Acknowledged. Billy, I am sorry there was not another way. You shall
be missed." The ancient wizard's voice was thick with emotion.
Billy swallowed. "Just take care of them," he croaked. Blinking
away the tears in his eyes, he turned back to Kat, who fell into his arms,
sobbing. He held her tightly, wishing with all his heart that this moment
would last forever. "We'll be together again someday. A love like
ours can't be destroyed. Just remember it, and I'll always be with you."
Reaching around his neck, he removed his good luck charm: a ring which
had belonged to his mother long ago. "I want you to have this... to
remember me by," he whispered, placing the sapphire and silver circlet
in her hand and closing her fingers around it. He felt his heart skip as
he gazed into her eyes. Knowing his time was short, he kissed her one last
time. The passionate moment was over far to soon, and Billy reluctantly
broke away from her. "Good-bye."
"I love you Billy," she cried, as the teleportation energy surrounded
and carried her away.
Crying freely, Billy punched in the code that began a power overload within
his weapons systems. The terrible energies they contained rapidly built
toward meltdown. As the armor's power core reached critical mass, Billy
took a small sense of satisfaction in knowing that Mondo would not be able
to kill his friends after all.
Then all that existed in his world was the bright flash as his life-force
winked out of existence.
World of the Heart
You are far away,
And my soul is incomplete.
I feel your hand in mine.
Our hearts are as one.
Though we are eons apart,
Know that as long as I breathe,
We are together....
In the world of the heart.
5 seconds after the explosion....
"This is most disappointing," the Machine King observed.
"While it was enjoyable to see one of those repugnant teenagers expire,
I was hoping to be rid of the whole lot of them."
"Look on the bright side yuir Majesty. We have the Zeo Rangers energies."
"Not completely," Orbus interjected.
"Bah! Only Katherine still has access to her powers, and with Billy
gone, I daresay that she won't be doing any fighting," Mondo laughed.
Klank sensed an opportunity to better his position even further on this
day, and addressed his King once more. "There is the matter of how
to best use the Ranger's energies." At Mondo's puzzled expression,
he continued. "I believe I know a way to utilize them and prevent
the do-gooders from recovering them."
"Indeed? Very well Klank, I shall allow you to set your plan in motion.
I wish to see results as soon as possible."
2 minutes after the explosion....
The Operations and Tactics Room was deathly still. Only Adam's labored
breathing broke the silence. Kat was off to one side, hugging her knees
to her chest as she cried softly. Reluctantly, Zordon focused his attention
away from her, and toward his assistant. "Alpha, what is the status
of the other Rangers?"
The little robot dutifully scanned the fallen teens, including Tommy. Moments
later, he had his answer. "It isn't good. Our mainframe cannot metabolize
the poison that Rocky, Adam, and Tommy have been infected with. Worse,
Rocky's vital signs are steadily weakening and Adam has a punctured lung!
Ai yai yai! I don't know what to do!"
"Perhaps I can help!"
Interlude The Timber Wolf stalked through the woods quietly, following
the scent of his pack. A sudden change in the winds made it pause. It listened
intently to the noises of the forest. Finally, the silent hunter bounded
to the north, its pack forgotten.
* * *
Tommy struggled to turn toward that all-too familiar voice. A smile broke
through the dark cloud hanging over him as he recognized their visitor.
"Ninjor!"
"It is good to see you again too Tommy. I only wish that it could
be under better circumstances. I felt Billy's... passing... through his
connection to me. He was a valiant warrior in the Army of Light."
Tommy blinked rapidly. He was beginning to have trouble focusing on the
keeper of the Ninja Power. The poison was beginning to overpower him. "How
can you help?"
The blue-suited warrior paced in front of him. "It is my belief that
if Zordon and I combine our energies, we might have a chance at healing
your injuries." Ninjor focused on the Eltarian. "Zordon, are
you willing?"
"I can do no less for my charges. Please proceed."
Excellent. You will need to focus your mental energy through the symbol
on my chest."
Kat stood and walked over to the Ninja Master. "You need a test subject.
I volunteer," the young woman said, wiping away tears.
Zordon stared at his Pink Ranger. He feared the actions that she might
attempt as the sole remaining Ranger. Billy's death seemed to have built
a grim resolve within her, and this saddened him, eve more than losing
one of his oldest "children". "Very well Katherine."
Ninjor concurred. "Relax your mind. Allow your mental barriers to
fall. Hear me, O' spirits of warriors long past. Grant me, your humble
servant, the strength to save this young one, that she might continue the
quest for justice."
Zordon added his formidable brain power to his comrade's spiritual power.
Kat felt a warm light pass over her. She bathed in its purity, and rejoiced
as she felt the light mend her body and mind.
One by one, the spirits left her, each offering solace on the loss of her
beloved. When she was alone once more, she felt that sense of peace flood
through her, bringing her back from the trance.
* * *
Ninjor and Zordon waited apprehensively. Finally, the Pink Ranger stirred,
and opened her eyes. Both breathed a sigh of relief, while Alpha proceeded
to scan her. "Good news! The procedure worked perfectly," the
robot exclaimed.
"Excellent! Let's get our young friends back on their feet then, shall
we," Ninjor replied.
Kat hurried aside, moving out of the way as her teammates were prepared
for the ceremony. Knowing that all she could do was wait, she began to
pace along the upper walkway. Unconsciously, she stopped at the portal
containing the Blue Ranger's power suit. Biting her lip to hold back tears,
she felt her mind's eye looking back into the past. She remembered good
times and bad. The ski trip they took with Tommy. Countless hours spent
on her training as a Ranger. The camping trip they had taken with Tommy
and Kimberly. Her lip quivered as bad memories surfaced. The fear that
had gripped her when Billy had been marooned in space, or when he had lain
deathly still following the Command Center's implosion. The short time
they had been together as more than friends was far too painful to even
consider.
"You must really miss him, don't you?"
Kat jumped, then attempted to regain control of her breathing when she
realized it was only Alpha. "Yes," she whispered, knowing that
if she spoke any louder, she would burst into tears.
Alpha put his arm around her. "I know how you feel. It's not the same
of course, but he was still my friend. You know, being a robot, I have
outlived many companions, and I never found a more noble and gentle person."
Kat threw her arms around him and began to cry. "I... couldn't save...
him. Now he's gone... before we even had a... chance at a... life together,"
she managed, between sobs.
"I know it only seems like words, but it won't always hurt as bad,"
Alpha consoled, holding her tightly. "It will get easier. I promise."
2 hours later....
Rocky awoke with a jolt, raising his hands to ward off an unseen threat.
Tommy quickly rushed to his friend's aid, before the youth made an attempt
to leap off of the diagnostic bed on which he was lying. Slowly, it dawned
on the Blue Ranger that he was indoors, and he relaxed. "How did we
get here, Tommy," he asked, struggling into a sitting position.
"We were teleported back. Zordon and Ninjor saved you from the poison,
but they said that you'll be weak for a couple of days." The Ranger's
voice was hushed, and he had a haunted look in his eyes.
"Ninjor's back?!?" Rocky scanned his surroundings. Tanya stood
nearby, staring at the ground quietly. In the corner, Zordon's dimensional
interface tube was dark, indicating that he and the Ninja Master were in
his private chamber. Turning slightly, he caught a glimpse of Alpha dutifully
monitoring the surveillance system. Adam, Billy, and Kat were nowhere to
be found. Rocky suddenly felt very scared. "What's going on Tom? Where
are the others?"
Tommy reluctantly gathered himself to speak, fighting the lump in his throat.
Before he could begin, the Chamber's outer door opened, ushering in the
return of Kat, and a very dazed Adam. "Rocky! You're awake!"
The Pink Ranger rushed across the room and grabbed him in an emphatic hug.
"How do you feel," she asked softly.
Rocky knew that he was not always the most sensitive guy in the world,
but the tortured dullness of her eyes told him that something was very
wrong. "I'm fine," he mumbled, feeling a need to hold his friend
tightly. When she broke away suddenly and turned her back, he focused on
his leader once more.
Tommy shifted uncomfortably under Rocky's inquisitive gaze. His stomach
in knots, he began his tale. The Blue Ranger's face contorted in disbelief
as he related the events of the battle, then fell at the mention of Billy's
sacrifice. Tommy broke off; if he said another word, he would lose his
mind. The look of utter defeat on his face was a mirror for the others.
Adam had collapsed into a sitting position on the steps to the upper walkway
and was staring blankly at his hands. The Green Ranger had not uttered
a single word since hearing of his friend's fate, and had instead retreated
within himself.
Zordon chose that moment to return. Seconds behind him was Ninjor, who
teleported in from the other room. Quietly, the old wizard directed the
Ranger's attention to a case on the far wall. Enclosed within were the
remnants of the Red, Blue, Green and Yellow Zeo suits. Only Katherine's
was missing. When Zordon spoke, even his once mighty voice seemed much
diminished. "Rangers, during your last battle, your subcrystals were
completely drained. The resulting energy loss is what caused you to be
physically injured." After a pause, he continued, even more quietly
than before. "Your powers are now in the hands of the Machine Empire."
Tanya stared up at him. "How can we get them back?"
Ninjor answered her question. "Only by defeating the monsters sure
to be guarding them."
Rocky turned to Tommy. "How are we going to do that? We don't even
have the power to morph."
The Red Ranger exploded with repressed anger. "How should I know?
I got us into all this! And then I lost Billy!" Tommy stopped as quickly
as he had begun. When he spoke again, it was through a flood of tears.
"I failed him ... failed you all."
"I can't believe you are all willing to QUIT!" Kat jumped to
her feet, her eyes ablaze. "We are POWER RANGERS! I am ashamed of
you all! Especially after Billy... saved us. Well, I still have my powers,
and even though I'm not at full strength, I'll fight!"
Ninjor studied the Australian thoughtfully. "Truly Kim made a wise
choice in naming you as her replacement. But-- you are not thinking rationally.
Your power level is at less than half strength. You would be no match for
the creatures that Mondo is sure to utilize in protecting the stolen Zeo
energy."
Kat stared back at him with a ferocity she had never displayed before.
"Do you have an alternative," she shot back.
Before he could reply, the Power Chamber's alarm sounded. Tommy whirled
around to face Alpha. "What is it," he demanded.
Ai yai yai! We have an intruder alert, and it's headed this way!"
"Be ready guys," Tommy commanded, then dropped into a fighting
stance.
"Zeo Ranger One, Pink!"
Kat morphed and positioned herself at the forefront. She braced herself
for the coming attack, summoning her Power Disk to her side.
With a hiss, the door opened... and in walked a timber wolf. The Rangers
slowly dropped out of their defensive postures and stared at each other
in puzzlement. Their visitor padded to the center of the room and calmly
sat back on its haunches. Relaxing a bit, Kat removed her helmet and shot
a an inquisitive glance up at Zordon. "How did he get in here?"
At the sound of her voice, the wolf immediately locked his attention upon
her. Before the Pink Ranger could react, it bounded over and placed a strange
gem in her hand. Stepping back, the hunter raised it's voice in a low wail.
Kat was so confused by the animal's behavior that she did not notice that
the crystal in her hand had begun to pulsate and glow with a pale light.
Tommy leapt forward and knocked the object from her grasp, pulling her
back roughly.
"Stand back," he yelled, struggling to be heard over both the
wolf and the growing whine of the crystal. "We don't know what that
thing's gonna do!"
Breathlessly, the teens watched, fascinated, as the crystal expanded outward.
The glow began to take on a bluish tint that steadily grew in intensity.
The noise rapidly became painful to the Rangers then modulated out of their
limited range of sound. A sudden explosion of light blinded Kat. When the
spots cleared from her vision, she could see that the crystal had vanished.
In it's place stood a figure garbed in blue. Gasping, Kat realized that
he wore the uniform of the Ninjetti. Deliberately, the man before them
turned around to face the team. Even Adam rose to his feet, although he
still made no sound. The stranger reached to his head, efficiently removing
the hood and mask that concealed his identity.
Katherine's helmet dropped to the floor with a clatter. Laughing, she jumped
into the Ninja's arms with a kiss. Billy Cranston had returned.
Tommy stared in disbelief, tears flowing freely down his face. _How is
this possible? I... I saw him die,_ he thought. Paralyzed by shock, he
watched Kat release his friend. She narrowly avoided the surging green
figure who tackled Billy in a hug. "You're alive!" Adam exclaimed.
"Yeah, buddy. I'm alive. Go easy on the ribs, okay?" Billy laughed
at the display from his "little brother," returning the hug.
"I thought we'd lost you! I... I didn't know what was going to happen
without you around." The Green Ranger still held his friend as he
sniffled.
A soft look filled Billy's eyes. "I love you too man."
Rocky and Tanya gathered around their friend, offering their thanks that
he was alive. Billy noticed that Tommy was still off to one side, his hands
balled into fists as he stared down at the ground. To his suprise, he realized
that the Red Ranger was crying. Pulling himself free, Billy walked to his
side. "Tommy?"
The leader looked up at his comrade. He seemed real, but how was that possible?
"Is it really you," he asked, fearing the answer.
"Yeah, it's me. I'm fine Tommy. Even if I wasn't... here, that wouldn't
be your fault. I did what I did because it was the logical thing to do,
and it was my decision. You have to realize that. You're not to
blame for every bad thing that happens to us. If Jason was here he would
say the same thing," Billy felt tears welling up in his eyes as he
finished.
The Red Ranger smiled despite himself. Good old Cranston logic, it was
definitely his old friend. Tommy grabbed him in a bear hug. "It's
good to have you back, man."
* * *
"I know you all have a million questions as to how I survived the
overload. To be truthful, I'm not sure that I understand it myself."
Billy had taken a position leaning against one of the computer consoles,
with Katherine's arm wrapped around his waist protectively. "The easiest
explanation can be summed up this way. When the reactor core of my armor
began to meltdown, the energies it released had a strange reaction with
my body. As you may or may not know, when I used the Power Coins to accelerate
myself back to my proper age, I became slightly out of phase with normal
time. In effect, when the Power Coins were destroyed, I retained a small
portion of their energy. Somehow, the explosion boosted that energy and
reactivated my Ninjetti powers. By itself, that would not have been enough
to save me, Rather... I had help."
Rocky scratched his neck. "But who?"
"Good question. As you recall, the new Coins were tied in to our spirit
animals. Mine... um... stepped in," Billy answered sheepishly.
At this statement, Ninjor exchanged a wordless glance with Zordon, and
both began to listen even more intently.
"He can explain better than I as to what we must do to fix my... mistakes.
May I present the WolfLord... Padishar Lupine!" Billy's tone had taken
on a strange, almost reverent tone as he gestured to the forgotten wolf,
who still sat calmly in the corner. The canine grew suddenly, taking on
a humanoid form with a wolf's head. He was dressed in resplendent robes
of shimmering blue and gold. Strangely, where his eyes should be, there
burned twin flames of indigo fire. The Rangers realized with a start that
they had each fallen to one knee.
Chuckling, the WolfLord motioned them to their feet. His was a voice that
was at once warm, and filled with a wry humor. "Come now, my young
friends. You'll certainly give me a swelled head with such senseless formality!"
Continuing his gentle laughter, he focused on the newest Ranger. "Tanya.
Aisha made a wise choice with you." Tanya's face broke into a smile,
which Lupine returned before continuing down the line.
"Mister DeSantos, guardian of the Ape's mystic power. I am heartened
to see that you have recovered."
Padishar looked down at Adam. "The Frog! Adam, my young friend, it
is truly an honor to meet my comrade's chosen hero. Know that he has been
very impressed with your development." The young man looked away quickly,
flushing at the attention.
"Tommy, I fought alongside your ancestors centuries ago. You are a
credit to your people, and a fine leader."
Tommy's voice was no more than a squeak. "Thank you, sir!"
"Don't mention it kid." Padishar placed a hand on his shoulder,
before coming to rest near Katherine. "Ah, Billy. I see now why you
were so anxious to return. I am honored to meet you, my lady," he
said, bowing before her.
Although a little frightened, Kat was able to keep the tremor from her
voice. "Thank you... for bringing him back." Tears began to roll
down her cheeks again.
The WolfLord smiled. "There there, little flower. I would not allow
the Machine Empire to deny my knight of one such as you. Now please, save
your tears. There is much work to be done."
"Zordon, Ninjor, I have need of your assistance if we are to recover
the Ranger's powers. I have chosen Billy to be the living embodiment of
all my mystical strength."
Ninjor gasped. "The time of prophecy has come at last."
Adam looked puzzled. "Prophecy? What do you mean?"
Billy gathered himself to explain, drawing an amused grin from Tommy. "One
of the Order of Meledon was a great seer. He foresaw the coming of a great
evil, which he described in a series of writings. One of these said 'The
Warriors Zeo shall fall/ In these bleak times shall come a single Knight/
He shall be powered by his patron spirit, and shall stand alone against
the tides of Darkness/ In so doing, he shall wipe clean a stain upon his
soul, and once more serve the Army of Light' Funny thing is, I never put
much stock in them before now."
Padishar continued. "Our young friend has agreed to be that Knight.
However, in order to focus my energies, I need a Power Coin."
Ninjor looked down. "They no longer exist. Worse, my forge only functions
during certain astronomical events that occur once every thousand years."
"Then there is no chance for our plan to succeed." Lupine's voice
dropped in disappointment.
"Wait... There just might be a way." Everyone in the room turned
to stare at Rocky. Swallowing hard, he continued. "We can use the
Green Coin."
* * *
As Mondo examined the creatures that Klank had chosen to safeguard the
newly acquired Zeo powers, he could not help but be impressed. "Perhaps
I have been misusing him all these years," he mused. "This has
been our most successful scheme against those brats yet. Katherine doesn't
stand a chance against these warriors!"
And what a team they were! Standing at the beginning of the ranks was the
Black Minotaur of 61 Cygni. Sole survivor of the genetic experiments that
wiped out his race, he stood over eight feet tall and at least half as
wide. His cruel eyes regarded Mondo coldly, before giving a reluctant nod
of respect.
Next to him was Sivar, the new guardian of Adam's stolen energies. Silver
Champion-Regent of the Baatezu, a race known for their ferocity in battle,
he was thought to be second only to the legendary Goldar in ability. His
oiled weapon rested at his side, a show of respect for his new leader.
Wisely, Mondo returned the gesture, gaining instant gratitude with the
beast-man.
A mysterious figure draped in robes of black was the keeper of the incomplete
powers of Zeo One. It could only be Kesla, Warrior Princess of the Barakeen
Nomads. Klank had told him that no one had ever seen her face and lived.
Her manner indicated a haughtiness that could prove troublesome, but the
Machine King had confidence that she would not dare to challenge him.
The next Guardian was infamous throughout the known Universe. Ermaciak
was the most feared bounty hunter in existence, and for good reason. Hisbody
was indicative of the grisly trophies of victory. He had made a habit of
replacing damaged portions of his own body with those of his victims. Shining
tritanium armor covered his vital areas, and a strange blue-tinged pelt
hung like a Roman cape from one shoulder. Mondo could see a great intelligence
flashing in those strange eyes. "I shall have to watch this one closely,"
he nodded.
The keeper of the combined energies of Tommy and the Zeo Megazord was unable
to fit in the room. Taller than even the Ranger's massive Zord, Stunticore
rested outside. He cared little for the insignificant machines within.
Rather, his only reason for coming was the opportunity to replenish his
life-sustaining energies, the chance to feed.
Klank rushed to his King's side. "Sire, they are now fully energized.
None of the young fools who held these powers can recapture them!"
"Excellent, Klank! Without that meddlesome Billy to scheme a way out,
those loathsome parasites are finished! The Earth is ours at last!"
* * *
"The Green Coin," Tanya asked, puzzled.
"I cannot allow this. The Dragon Coin is far too unstable." Zordon
shook his head, dismissing the idea.
"I'm afraid that I must disagree with your logic Zordon," Ninjor
exclaimed. "Billy must be given this chance to purge the darkness
that infected him, or it could destroy him utterly."
Tommy chose this moment to break in. He had been silent throughout the
whole exchange, but knew that his friend was their only chance. "Zordon
.... I know better than anyone, except maybe Kat, what it's like to be
seduced by evil. As the Green Ranger, I very nearly killed the others,
including you." The Red Ranger turned to face the others. "I
think we've all been guilty of ignoring Billy. He sacrificed his powers,
heck, his happiness, to allow Tanya her chance as a Ranger. He's saved
our lives with his gadgets countless times. What it comes down to is this.
Billy's dealing with a lot of shame and guilt right now, just like I was
when I first joined. Well... I trust him, more than anyone else, to do
what's right. Zordon, it's our only shot."
Reluctantly, the Eltarian summoned the last remaining coin and surrendered
it to it's former owner. Tommy smiled, then walked over to his friend.
"There was a time when this was my most valued, most prized possession.
I know you'll wear it with honor, old friend."
Billy clasped shoulders with Tommy, eyes conveying silent thanks. Taking
the Green Coin, he turned it over in his hand for a moment. Finally, he
turned to face Padishar.
"The modifications shall take some time." The Wolf-Lord shot
a wry grin toward his young Knight. "I don't think you will want to
be around with what we'll be throwing at it."
"Good point. Alpha, would you teleport us to my house? We can wait
there."
Pleased to be needed, the robot scurried over to Billy's laptop. "Right
away Billy! We'll summon you as soon as we are ready."
5736 Mockingbird Lane - Cranston residence
The Rangers rematerialized in Billy's living room. An insistent growling
in his stomach made him realize that he had not eaten all day. "You
guys want to order some pizza? I'm starved," he asked.
Adam nodded. "Sounds great! I'd watch it though, being dead seems
to have turned you into another Rocky. Ow!" The youth rubbed his arm
where the Blue Ranger had punched him.
After phoning in the order, Billy took a seat on the couch. From the looks
on his friend's faces, the tale of his resurrection could wait no longer.
He scooted over to allow Kat to sit next to him, and began his tale.
"As I said earlier, triggering that explosion returned my Ninja Powers
to me. I remember everything going dark, and when I awoke, I was wearing
this uniform and stretched out in the middle of a forest. At first, I figured
it was a product of delirium occurring at the moment of death, but soon
ruled out that theory. Unable todecide on another plan of action, I began
to walk, in what I hoped was the direction of the Power Chamber."
"I was in that forest for what seemed like days. Just when I was beginning
to think that I would be lost forever, I came across a clearing. In the
center was a single stone column. It was there that Padishar revealed himself."
Billy paused as Katherine got up to answer the door. He took a moment to
compose himself while he awaited her return. Billy was unsure of whether
he should tell his friends of the entire prophecy. The last warrior had
been foretold as dying in the final battle. _No,_ he thought. _I can't
burden them with this. Besides, there is bound to be a way out, I just
have to find it!_
He was startled back to reality by a gentle tapping on his shoulder. Looking
up, he was pleased to see Kat smiling down at him. "Were you planning
on staying in here all night, luv," she teased.
"Sorry, my mind was... somewhere else."
Katherine suddenly became worried. "Is everything all right?"
Billy smiled, and impulsively swept her into his arms. "It is now,"
he whispered.
* * *
"Uh ... Billy, why are you still in your Ninja suit?" Tanya asked
as the young lovers joined their friends at the table.
"Well, since my body is still basically just highly charged energy,
the micrometallic mesh prevents a total breakdown at the cellular level."
"Whoa, slow down guy! Trini isn't around to translate you into English
anymore," Tommy exclaimed, sparking a chorus of laughter from the
others.
Adam spoke when noise had finally died down. "So what happened after
you met Padishar?"
Clearing his throat, Billy continued. "I argued with him for hours.
Nothing I said could convince him. Finally, I was able to give him a reason
to bring me back that even he could not dispute." He paused, and directed
a pointed glance at Kat, who blushed at his intimation. "He then proceeded
to stabilize my powers to act as a containment field, and the next thing
I knew, I was in the Power Chamber."
At that precise moment, his communicator beeped. The color drained from
his face before he answered it. "This is Billy."
Zordon's voice boomed throughout the now silent room. "Billy, you
need to return. All is in readiness."
"I'll be right there." Billy rose from his seat and exhaled slowly.
He was beginning to shake when Katherine put her hand in his. Drawing strength
from her, he steadied his racing heart. Tommy shot him a thumbs up sign,
and came to stand beside him. "Alpha, we're ready," Billy said
grimly. "Let's do it."
* * *
Billy stood in a part of the Ranger's base that he had never seen before.
As near as he could tell, the Hazardous Materials Blast Tunnel was buried
even deeper in the mountain than the hydro-generators that powered the
Chamber's mainframe. Located directly above him was a gigantic Eltarian
GlowGem, which would be used to focus the tremendous power of Padishar
Lupine. Embedded within the far wall was the control room. Due to space
constraints, only Tommy and Kat were able to squeeze into the tiny booth
where Ninjor would direct the transfer of power. The rest of his friends
had been forced to wait in the Operations center.
"Are you ready, my young friend," Lupine's melodic voice floated
down from high above.
Billy let his gaze fall upon Katherine once more. She held her hands up
to the window of the control room and winked at him. Upon her right hand,
he saw his mother's ring, glistening like a beacon through the darkness.
He forced a smile, and hoped that no one would notice his trembling. "I'm
ready!"
* * *
Katherine threw up her arms to protect herself from the brilliant blue
star that had flared to life within the Haz/Mat. When her eyes had become
somewhat accustomed to the light, she was able to make out faint shapes
at the center of the energy storm.
"Is he all right Ninjor?" Tommy asked apprehensively.
"Do not fear. Our friend is safe. The visual spectra that you are
seeing is merely his energy form converting back to a more stable physical
state. The real trick is in bonding his essence to the modified coin. If...."
The remainder of Ninjor's explanation was cut off by an explosion in the
blast tunnel. Helplessly, Tommy watched as the Ninja Master's hands began
to move faster than he could see, desperately trying to prevent a system-wide
shutdown. The Red Ranger looked back toward his old friend. Flashes of
blue lightning prevented him from seeing any sign of Billy. Throughout
the flurry of activity, Kat remained motionless, staring at the spot where
her love had been.
* * *
Zordon barked out commands to his Rangers as they tried to cut power to
the systems from their end. Even though the youngsters were combating their
panic with a fluid professionalism, a growing sense of dread had begun
to fill the room. Zordon feared that he had condemned his oldest pupil
to death.
* * *
Adam's mind raced as he followed Zordon's instructions. _This CAN'T happen
again! I won't let it!_
Tanya felt the same way as she cut power to the computer systems. Even
though she would not give up, she had a sinking feeling that Billy was
doomed.
Rocky's vision blurred. Still weak from the poison, he had overextended
himself in trying to single-handedly stop the explosions shaking the Power
Chamber. "I wish I hadn't come up with that stupid idea," he
muttered.
* * *
Within the Haz/Mat Tunnel, a shrill whine rapidly began to rise swiftly
in volume and pitch. Before long, it began to affect the equilibriums of
the Rangers, who succumbed one by one. An ominous rumble signaled yet another
explosion. Just before it erupted, Ninjor detected an electromagnetic pulse,
which shorted out the remaining systems, as well as his own armor. The
Power Chamber plunged into a hellish chaos of darkness. Suddenly, as quickly
as it had begun, the maelstrom died, and silence reigned.
Some time later....
Katherine crawled unsteadily to her feet. The control room was pitch
dark, illuminated only by an occasional spark from a shorted relay. Groping
blindly within the blackness, her hands found the pedestal that housed
the room's control panel. Unable to find any sign of Tommy or Ninjor, she
fumbled with the dials until one of the screens winked back to life. Through
the static she could make out a timer, counting down the minutes to system
reboot.
Her attention was diverted by lights within the tunnel. A faint blue glow
seemed to be emanating from the center of that room. Forgetting everything
else, she made her way to the door. With the power still down, she was
forced to open the blast door manually. With agonizing slowness, it inched
open just enough to allow her to squeeze through.
The entire tunnel was in shambles. Steel framework hung loosely in patches
where the maverick energy blasts had battered the walls. Hearing a crunching
noise beneath her feet, Kat jumped, startled. Pieces of the once priceless
GlowGem littered the floor. The light she had seen before had dwindled
to near nothingness. She could see no sign of Billy. Despairing, she cried
out his name in the hope that he was conscious, somewhere within the inky
confines of the wreckage.
Her response was a flash of gold.
* * *
The lights in Operation and Tactics flickered as the generators came back
on line reluctantly. At the sudden intrusion of illumination Adam stirred.
Pulling himself to his feet, he scanned the room. Rocky and Tanya had begun
to recover as well. "What happened, Zordon," he asked.
"I do not know Adam. We have lost all contact with Ninjor."
"As near as we can tell, there was an overload that set off a chain
reaction. We're still picking up the pieces," Alpha added.
* * *
Tommy felt terrible. He couldn't move, and worse, he was having trouble
breathing. His fear soon subsided, however, when he realized that Ninjor
was lying on him. The ancient Ninja was mumbling incoherently about a prophecy,
and so the youth shook him until he awoke.
"Are you all right my friend," Ninjor asked, concerned.
Tommy groaned. "I'd be better if you got off of me."
After both had climbed to their feet, Tommy searched the room fearfully.
"Where's Kat?"
"She was by the window earlier."
Before either had a chance to look for her, Adam's voice sounded through
the intercom. "Tommy, are you OK down there?"
"Yeah. No sign of Billy or Kat though. What happened?"
"No time to explain. Get up here quick!"
Tommy shot a worried glance at Ninjor, and then raced up the stairs, taking
them two at a time.
* * *
The assembled team stood before Padishar Lupine. The Wolfen HighLord somehow
seemed none the worse for wear following this latest catastrophe. He gauged
the four teens exhaustion carefully before he began to speak. "I am
glad to see that you are all safe. As you are undoubtedly aware, the transference
was... interrupted. I attribute the explosion to Billy's unusual physical
state. As of yet, I am afraid that I do not know either his fate or Katherine's."
Just then, a flash of pink and blue teleportation energies bathed the room
in light. Kat looked around, flashing an infectious grin at her friends.
Beside her stood an imposing figure in blue and gold. The suit he wore
was reminiscent of the Ranger's old costumes, although it more closely
resembled armor. Upon his chest was the newly restored Dragon Shield, it's
symbol changed from a diamond to a Celtic cross. The helmet no longer resembled
a Triceratops however. In its place was the image of a snarling timber
wolf.
Slowly, the new Ranger unlocked his helmet. Removing it carefully, Billy
smiled at his friends and bowed to his mentors.
"Good show lad," Padishar laughed. "You shall find, that
while in this form you are invisible to the Machine Empire's tracking and
detection equipment."
"Thank you, my lord," Billy said, bowing once more.
"It is good to have you back Billy," Zordon boomed. "It
is now time for you to receive the tools which will aid you in your fight
against the Machine Empire. The old weapons of power have been combined
to form this staff." Billy held out his hand to receive a rather wicked
looking horsecutter. "Upon your left gauntlet is your crossbow. It
is equipped with explosive bolts and the net which can draw the Zeo Matrixes
from his monsters. You are equipped with additional beam weapons mounted
on the other wrist. Of these weapons, only one can be summoned at a time.
Additionally, Ninjor has recovered two valuable artifacts to assist you
in your quest."
Billy looked to his waist. Upon his right hip rested the Dragon Dagger,
on the other....
"Saba," Tommy cried out.
"Good to see you again Red Ranger," the enchanted saber replied.
"Saba will be used to control the FalconZord primarily. The other
mech under your command is the DragonZord," Ninjor added.
Billy nodded thoughtfully. "I understand."
Padishar stepped forward once more. "You have been give your chance
at redemption. Use this power wisely, for it is also your life force. Remember
the Rangers' code and follow it's tenets. I have faith that your wisdom
and experience shall yet win this battle. Henceforth, I declare that you
are the Wolf Ranger, last in a distinguished line."
"I promise, I won't let any of you down." Billy smiled, showing
no sign of the doubts that had plagued him earlier. Katherine gathered
him into a hug as the others surrounded him with their love. For now at
least, all was well.