Streaks of Purple Saga/Spectrum Force - Heather Ray (best beach reads txt) 📗

angle of flight, reaching out with her sixth sense to locate their approaching mentor. *Spectra! Keith's been injured!*

*Keep him warm, Tamara. I will meet you shortly.*

Tamara slowed her frantic flight, focusing her attention on strengthening her energy shield. Although it felt like forever, less than a minute later Spectra appeared in her field of vision.

"Spectra! Over here!"

Spectra met Tamara in the sky, passing through the protective energy barrier and gently touching the black blade piercing Keith's shoulder.

"When he was struck, did his powers fade?"

"Yeah!" Yellow confirmed. "He just fell out of the sky!"

"Then this must be a Disrupter," Spectra revealed.

Tamara winced as Spectra grabbed the blade, and pulled it from Keith's skin. Keith yelped in pain, but the moment the dagger was removed, his Spectrum Stone began to glow with energy.

"What… happened?" he groaned.

"Disrupters are very dangerous weapons. As the name suggests, it disrupts magical power on contact. It is particularly effective against you, because it blocks the power of the Spectrum Stones."

Tamara gasped. "Is there any way to protect ourselves from it?"

"The only way is to dodge it or block it with a weapon or physical shield. It will cut through magical force fields or energy barriers with ease. But each Disrupter can only be used once, and it is forged from a rare metal ore, so very few Denebian warriors have access to even one. Its effects only last so long as it touches the magic itself. Keith, you can Sync again. Your powers are no longer blocked."

Tamara released her boyfriend, anxiously holding onto his good arm as he steadied himself. "Spectrum Sy... OW!"

His hand flew once again to cradle the wound site.

"Your injury is deeper than I realized," Spectra admitted. "Tamara, bring him back to the ship. I will help the others."

The Yellow Enforcer needed no more convincing. She swept the ailing Red Enforcer in her arms and launched them both into the air.

Spectra watched them vanish into the murky distance, and then considered the bloodstained dagger in her hand. Its intrinsic energy had faded, leaving a simple blade behind.

The ore used to forge Disrupters had only been mined on two planets, neither of which had fallen to the Denebian Empire. Also, the technique to harness the inherent magic-diffusing power of the ore took over a century to properly learn. Very few blacksmiths had the ability to create a Disrupter, making them so rare Spectra had only encountered three in her entire lifetime.

The Force was in danger; that was obvious. It was unlikely the enemy had another Disrupter on hand, but the very fact that he carried one suggested he was a decorated warrior, close to the Denebian monarchy.

Spectra raised her hand, summoning her staff. Thus armed, she darted through the air, anxious to find the rest of her team.
Chapter Twelve

The Other North Pole

"Looks like we're here," the Pink Ranger announced, deactivating the Firebird's thrusters. The small Zord gracefully landed on the frozen tundra despite the winds, heavy snow, and dense clouds that impeded remote scanning.

She touched the ship's communication relay. "Zordon, we've arrived."

Only static greeted her.

"Our communicators are scrambled too," Tommy realized. "We're on our own."

Kim removed her safety harness and rose to her feet. "Then let's get the information, and get out of here. We're missing the whole barbecue!"

Tommy grinned, picking up a back-mounted device. "Suit up."

The two Rangers strapped on the back-mounted scanners, and detached the hand-held component for use.

"Brace yourself," Kim warned, opening the hatch, "It's cold

out there!"

Their Ranger suits protected them from the brunt of the storm, but the arctic temperatures and biting winds still gave them an uncomfortable chill.

"This way," Tommy stated, pointing into the distance. "The scanner indicates we're about two miles from the energy source."

"Do we have any idea what we're looking for?"

"We'll know it when we see it," Tommy assured her. Together they trudged through the deep snow toward their goal.

Chapter Thirteen

The Denebian Flagship

"Celea! You will

answer me when summoned!"

The empress Phaedra threw open the ornate doors of the princess' quarters with only a thought. The jarring sound of the heavy doors banging against the wall created just the forceful entrance the frustrated monarch intended to create.

The girl needed to be reminded just who was in charge of the mission to conquer Earth. Acheron could decree whatever he wished… but no one

would supplant Phaedra! Especially not her youngest child!

"Celea, you were scheduled to attend a briefing on Earth's governments!" the empress shouted, throwing open a spacious closet. Other than an array of achromatic outfits and a wall-mounted weaponry case, there was nothing there.

"Where are you..." she growled.

She was not in the bedroom or bathroom either. Phaedra closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses, searching for any trace of her daughter.

When she found her, her eyes flew open. "How dare

she??"

Chapter Fourteen

The North Pole

Celea cackled in delight as she crossed her scythes in front of her face, deflecting a particularly ruthless blast from the Green Enforcer.

"You certainly are a bloodthirsty one, aren't you?" she mocked with a cruel smirk.

Matthew glared daggers at the young girl, with strength and speed that were simply mind-boggling for her size.

"Yeah right," he growled, "I'm not the one with underhanded tricks up her sleeve!"

Her smirk widened, "You mean like this?"

Smoke poured out of her eyes, rich crimson in hue. Matt waved the air, anxious to dissipate the dense smoke, but soon all he could see was red.

Then, a powerful kick to the stomach doubled him over, and follow-up strike against his chin sent him careening into the sturdy stone of the mountain.

The princess watched the green hero slide limply down the wall. "Three down, three to go."

"So all those regal tutors couldn't teach you to count

, princess?"

Celea turned around, just in time to catch a fierce punch to the face. She staggered back, eyes blazing at the pale form almost completely obscured by the billowing snow.

Ivory hair tied in a severe braid, pale skin, white uniform… it could only be one woman.

"Spectra." The princess flashed her teeth, and drew her scythes. She leapt towards her mother's hated enemy, wicked scythes slashing like lion's claws. Spectra stood her ground despite the force of the princess' assault, blocking each swing with her sturdy pearl staff.

The rest of the Force gathered in the air, watching in mute amazement as the two contenders clashed.

"Did Spectra call her 'princess'?" Jocelyn wondered.

"Yes," Rachel answered. "She must be Phaedra's daughter."

"Terrific," Craig grumbled. "Phaedra must've sent for reinforcements!"

Then, Celea managed to break through Spectra's defense, leaving a bloody gash on the older woman's thigh.

"That's it," Rachel decided, purple energy flaring to life. "Let's restrain her, now!"

The Force separated, preparing to interfere on behalf of their mentor, when suddenly, a wide ring of crimson energy wrapped around Celea's waist like a thick belt.

The princess froze, eyes wide as the ring stretched, climbing over her hips and chest. "No… not now

!!"

Spectra smirked coldly as the cocoon swallowed the girl. "I see someone just broke her curfew. Give my regards to your mother."

By the time Spectra's mocking comment was finished, the princess was gone.

"What happened?" Rachel asked, touching down on the snow. "Did you banish her somewhere?"

The amused smile didn't leave Spectra's face. "No. That was the Rein spell, no doubt activated by Phaedra."

"Reign?" Jocelyn repeated.

"As in 'reining' in one's undisciplined offspring. It is a spell many Denebian parents learn. When a parent pulls on the Rein, the child is instantly transported to their location. So long as the child is within one million miles, it will be forced to comply."

Jocelyn, Craig, and Rachel fell into immediate laughter, imagining the formidable warrior chastised by an impatient parent. But Spectra's amusement soon faded.

"We must see what Celea has done here," she decreed, staring at the cave nearby. "She may be young, but she is a dangerous dabbler in many forms of magic. For Phaedra to summon her with the Rein spell, she must have overstepped her bounds."

The mirth quickly died, as the Force followed Spectra into the cave, where an ominous glow greeted them.

Chapter Fifteen

The Denebian Flagship

Phaedra eyed her youngest child suspiciously. The princess was obviously not dressed