Power Rangers Zeo - Venusian Encounters - Heather Ray (good books for 8th graders .TXT) 📗

who it was.

"Tommy?" Kat said gently, taking off her helmet and approaching him. He glanced up at her, a solemn expression on his face. He smiled weakly as she pulled up a chair and sat beside him. The pair remained in silence for a few moments, as Katherine gazed through the glass tube. It was indeed Cestria, Billy's fiance.

"Kat," he said, turning to her, "what are you doing here? Is the fight over?"

Kat frowned. "Not even close. Divatox's torpedo blasted a hole in my zord's head, so I had to retreat. I lost control, and crashed into the ocean -- well, at least what's left of the ocean. Good thing Billy found me."

Tommy's eyes widened. "You saw Billy? Is he okay?"

"He's more than okay. He's the Silver Ranger now, and he joined Adam, Tanya, and Rocky in battle. I hope they can last until the Aquitian Rangers finish the repairs on Super Zeozord I."

"I know they won't get Zeozord V done anytime soon," Tommy sighed, "That damage is pretty extensive. Zordon would've chided me for weeks if I brought it home in that condition."

The two rangers laughed a little at Tommy's attempt at humor. But the situation was too dire for laughter to last long.

"So," said Tommy, "does Billy know about Cestria?"

Kat sighed. "Yes, Delphine told us both she was injured."

Tommy looked surprised. "And he didn't come to at least say goodbye to her?"

Now it was Kat's turn to look surprised. "What do you mean 'say goodbye'? How bad is she?"

"She's dying," the old Aquitian said, approaching the two heroes with a needle full of fluid, "Cestria is beyond my help."

Kat and Tommy watched mutely as Aquiva pressed the long metal needle into the glass. Somehow, the point passed through easily. The green liquid mixed with the clear liquid already bathing Cestria, and then the green coloring faded. Aquiva pulled the needle out of the tube, and the minute hole it created immediately vanished as well.

"What... what was that stuff?" Kat asked.

"Serastosine. Its a mind relaxer, to prevent Cestria from furthuring her injuries by unconscious telepathy. Its the equivalent of a muscle relaxer, to prevent a patient from muscle spasms that could prove damaging. Only its for the brain."

"So, there's nothing you can do to save her?" Kat asked in shock, "Nothing at all?"

Aquiva shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Aquitian medical technology is the most advanced in this galaxy. Both Prince Trey of Triforia and even your friend Billy came here to be cured by our healing waters. But the healing waters aren't mending her wounds. She was injured too extensively for anything to be done. It is a miracle she survived this long.

"Wait," said Kat, rising to her feet, "Delphine said that the Silver Ranger power can cure! Can that save Cestria?"

Aquiva looked at Kat sadly. "The Silver Ranger is a character of legend. Part of that legend is, that the healing power of the Sword of Tympanus is restricted to healing magical wounds It can undo evil magic, but when it comes to wounds inflicted by the physical world, it isn't very effective. If she was struck by a beam of magic, then that is another story. But she was injured by physical means, and therefore science, which is the mastery of the physical world, is her only means of salvation."

"Is there really that much of a difference?" asked Tommy. Aquiva nodded.

"Indeed. It is an important distinction. The Sword is a weapon of pure magic, and it has the uncanny ability to undo evil magic. However, it is by far less effective on physical wounds, and Cestria's wounds are too severe to benefit from the healing magic. I am sorry."

Kat and Tommy's faces both fell silent. The fate of the young Aquitian was sealed, and there was no way around it.
Chapter Thirty-Two

The Power Chamber is in chaos as alarms scream and bright lights flash. On the Viewing Globe, which Alpha monitored, Goldar, Scorpina, and Rito marched around Angel Grove, towering over even the tallest building like titans.

"Aye yi yi!" he shrieked, "What can the Ninjetti do against those?"

Suddenly, five bright flashes of colored light heralded the arrival of the Guardians-- the team of trained Venusian warriors selected to serve as the first line of defense of the magical isle. This day, however, the entire planet is in their care, while the Zeo Rangers battle for the salvation of another world. Kimberly, the leader of the Guardians, glanced up at her former mentor, her face determined.

"Is there any way we can combat Goldar and company while their economy-sized?"

"YOUR NATURAL POWERS WOULD NO DOUBT BE MINIMAL AGAINST THEM."

"As Ninjetti, we can summon forth spirit animals, as large as them," Sophia pointed out.

"True," said Renee, "but we can't sustain them very long. They won't do much in a fight."

"I still have the Crane Zord," Kimberly said, "What about the other Ninja Zords?"

"The Falcon was never salvaged," said Alpha, "and therefore, all the Ninja Zords are powerless. The only reason why the Crane still works is because your Ninjetti power can supply energy. That won't work for the others, because those aren't their zords."

"Okay... are there any other zords?" asked Jezebel.

"THE ZEO RANGERS TOOK THE SUPER ZEOZORDS TO AQUITAR. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL ZEOZORDS STILL EXIST, AND THEY ARE OPERATIONAL."

"Great!" said Kimberly excitedly, "Let's roll!"

"HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE PROBLEM. THOSE ZORDS ARE DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO THE ZEO RANGERS. ALPHA FIVE AND I MUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO ALLOW YOU TO USE THEM."

"How long?" Dalal asked.

"About an hour," Alpha answered. Kimberly grimaced.

"Angel Grove won't last that long," she muttered, "I'm going out there."

"Are you nuts?!" yelled Renee, turning to the Venusian monarch, "You'll get yourself killed!"

"I know how to operate the Crane, and I'm experienced as a Power Ranger," Kim retorted, "I can hold them off while the Zeozords are reprogrammed. Besides, there's no one else to do it. If we don't do something immediately, there won't be an Angel Grove to save in an hour!"

"SHE IS RIGHT,"

said Zordon, "MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU, KIMBERLY."

Kimberly nodded, and vanished in a flash of rose light. The four remaining Guardians watched in the Viewing Globe as Kimberly's pink Crane soared onto the scene only minutes after her departure. Then, Renee turned to Alpha, worry crossing her face.

"Um, how are we supposed to fly the Zeozords?" she asked, "I mean, Kim once told me that she flies the Crane because the Power showed her how. But we aren't, and never were, Power Rangers. Those aren't our Zords."

"For a Ninjetti, anything is possible," Sophia quoted, "Our animal guides will ensure our victory."

Renee glanced at Zordon, obviously unconvinced.

"YOUR POWERS ARE SIMILAR ENOUGH TO THE POWER RANGERS FOR YOU TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE ZORDS. THE GREAT POWER WILL INDEED GUIDE YOU, RENEE."

"Then we have a slight problem," said Dalal, stepping forward, "I have not yet made the pilgrimage to Phaedos. I am not Ninjetti. The Power does not guide me. How shall I pilot a zord?"

Zordon thought for awhile. "THERE IS NO WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PILOT A ZORD IN INDIVIDUAL BATTLE. HOWEVER, YOU CAN LEARN THE BASIC CONTROLS, TO LINK YOUR ZORD WITH THE REST, FORMING THE MEGAZORD. I SHALL PRI

NT OUT SOME INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOU TO STUDY WHILE ALPHA AND I MAKE ADJUSTMENTS."

Dalal nodded and collected the sheets of paper the computer spit out in haste. She glanced at the accumulating pile, a calm expression on her face. Renee looked at the pages, her eyebrow high.

"That looks like a textbook," she muttered, "Do you think you can do it, Dalal?"

The seasoned enchantress turned to her. "I shall have to. There is no other alternative."

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Katherine?" called a gentle voice, marked by a distinct warble. Kat looked up from the cold white floor of the medical chamber, and saw Delphine, the leader of the Aquitian Rangers, standing at the door.

"Yes?"

"Your zord has been repaired. You must rejoin the battle against Divatox."

Kat nodded, and picked up her helmet. She then reached over, and squeezed Tommy's hand gently.

"Hang in there," she said to him, standing up. He looked up at her.

"Please finish this fight soon," Tommy said in a low voice, "I... I don't know how I'd be able to tell Billy that Cestria died while he was gone. I know he'll want to say goodbye."

Kat nodded, and strapped her helmet on. Then, she and Delphine walked quickly through the winding halls of Triton, toward the underground Zord hangar. After a few moments of silence, Katherine asked the question that had been plaguing her for some time.

"Delphine, why didn't you tell Billy that Cestria was dying?"

Delphine slowed, and glanced at the Pink Ranger. "Because, he surely would have wanted to come and try to save her. For all his brilliance, Billy is very emotional, like all humans. He wouldn't be thinking clearly. Indeed he is a skilled scientist, and even a worthy physician, but he couldn't give her better care than Aquiva, and Aquiva already made it clear that nothing could be done."

"Don't you think Billy deserves to know? She may die while he's up there, battling to save this planet."

"That is the point, Katherine. Billy cannot afford to have his mind elsewhere. The fate of this entire planet, and the billions of Aquitians living here, depends on him keeping his wits, and fighting at his best alongside the other Zeo Rangers. That means he must focus on the fight, and not Cestria's condition."

"Aquiva said that the Sword of Tympanus can't heal physical wounds. Is that really true?"

Delphine thought for a moment. "The true nature of the sword is still a mystery, since it was never really used by the Aquitian monarchy. However, because it is a creation of pure magic, it most likely will work best at curing