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

In the Power Chamber, the Venusian Guardians-- Renee Ryan, Dalal, Sophia, and Jezebel, patiently wait for something to happen. Their leader Kimberly, on the other hand, is pacing around the Power Chamber nervously, with her hands clenched behind her back.

"Zordon," she said, "why hasn't Tommy contacted us?"

"PERHAPS HE DOESN'T FEEL IT IS NECESSARY,"

said Zordon, "WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF THE ZEO RANGERS' TRAVEL, AND SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY DANGER."

"Its been hours !" moaned Kimberly, stretching her arms.

"It has been exactly nineteen hours, thirty-eight minutes, and twelve seconds since the Zeo Rangers departed," said Alpha 5.

"So, how much longer will it be 'til they reach Aquitar?"

"APPROXIMATELY FOUR MORE HOURS. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD REST, KIMBERLY. IF LORD ZEDD SHOULD ATTACK, YOU AND YOUR TROOPS SHOULD BE WELL-RESTED."

"I'm too worried to sleep," Kimberly muttered, a frown crossing her face, "My friends have a big challenge ahead of them..."

"I'm sure the Power Rangers have fought aliens tons of times," said Renee reassuringly, "They can take care of themselves. Why worry?"

"Firstly, the Megazord wasn't designed for battle either in the ocean or in outer space," Kim said, "It has always been used on land. The rangers aren't used to fighting in the environment they are going to, and they are fighting Divatox. She has destroyed planets, including her own. No one could be as wicked as that. And I can't help but feel something horrible has happened."

"But the rangers haven't even gotten to Aquitar yet!" said Alpha.

"I know, but still... I just can't shake the feeling..."

"Zordon," said Sophia, standing up, "perhaps we should contact the Aquitians, to ease Her Majesty's mind?"

"AN EXCELLENT IDEA,"

said Zordon, "ALPHA, SEND OUT A SIGNAL TO AQUITAR."

"You got it Zordon," said Alpha, "I'll patch it into the Viewing Globe."

Kimberly turned to the globe, and frowned when the only thing coming through was static. She turned back to Zordon.

"What does that mean?"

"THE AQUITIANS ARE NOT ACCEPTING THE COMMUNIQUE."

"That can't be good news," Jezebel said quietly.

"ALPHA, SEND A MESSAGE TO THE ZEO MEGAZORD. PERHAPS THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO CONTACT THE AQUITIANS, SINCE THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER."

"Good idea, Zordon," said Alpha, typing in the commands. The image of static gave way to view of the cockpit of the Super Zeo Megazord, with the Red, Green, Pink, Yellow, and Blue Rangers all at their posts.

^What's up, Zordon?^

asked the Red Ranger.

"TOMMY, WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE AQUITIAN RANGERS. HAVE YOU HAD THE SAME PROBLEM?"

^We haven't sent them a message in a few hours,^

said Tanya, ^but I can try to page them now.^

Everyone waited as Tanya turned sent a message to the Aquitian Rangers on Triton. No one answered the beacon.

^No answer,^

she said quietly.

^That's bad,^

said Adam, ^Even if the Aquitian Rangers are fighting Divatox, Cestria and Billy should be around to answer the call.^

^Is there anything we can do, Zordon?^

asked Katherine.

"NO. JUST CONTINUE TO AQUITAR. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SPELL DIVATOX CAST ON THE PLANET IS AFFECTING LONG-DISTANCE COMMUNICATIONS. PERHAPS WHEN YOU ARE CLOSER, YOU WILL GET THROUGH."

^Let's hope so,^

said Rocky.

^So, have you guys heard anything from Zedd and Rita yet?^

asked Tanya.

"Nope," said Kimberly, "things've been pretty quiet around here."

^Good,^

said Tommy, ^and hopefully, they'll stay that way. Megazord out.^

The screen went blank, and Kimberly ran a hand through her caramel locks. "Now I'm really starting to worry about Billy," she sighed.

Suddenly, the alarms scream to life. All five Guardians stand in a row, and look up to Zordon.

"What is happening?" asked Dalal.

"THE SENSORS SHOW THAT AN ARMY OF LORD ZEDD AND RITA REPULSA'S SERVANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN DOWNTOWN ANGEL GROVE."

"Excuse me," said Renee, "but did you say an army ?!"

"Aye yi yi!" shrieked Alpha.

"AN ARMY. TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VIEWING GLOBE."

The five women and Alpha turn around, and witness Scorpina, Goldar, and Rito Revolto guiding a legion of Tengas and Putty Patrollers through the crowded streets. The villains laugh maniacally while the populace runs and screams in panic at the invasion. Kimberly's face hardens, and she puts her hands on her hips.

"Zedd must be planning on taking over the entire world while the rangers are gone!" she cried. "Starting with Angel Grove," said Jezebel.

"How many creatures are there, Zordon?" asked Sophia.

"THE SCANNERS SHOW FOURTEEN TENGA WARRIORS, AND SIXTY-SEVEN PUTTY PATROLERS."

"You can be sure there're more where those came from," said Renee quietly.

"Well, ladies, let's get going," said Kimberly, "Zedd's counting on the fact that there's no one left to protect Angel Grove. We're going to prove him wrong."

"Right!" said the four Guardians, and all five women vanished from the Power Chamber in streaks of pink, orange, gold, turquoise, and lavender light.

Inside the Azure Mountain Range beneath the receeding oceans of Aquitar, Billy continues to climb the narrow staircase. He is sweating profusely in his insulated wetsuit, since he has been ascending the stairs for over an hour, and the air has gotten increasingly hot and humid.

"I wonder if this is some kind of test of my stamina," Billy mused aloud, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He sat down on the step to catch his breath, when suddenly, he felt a breeze. His head perked up, and he gazed into the darkness before him.

"There must be an exit up there somewhere," he said, resuming his climb with newfound strength. As he suspected, a small, dim light was at the end of the staircase, and once he reached it, he found a small hole, about two feet in diameter.

"Whoever built this chamber must be extremely small," Billy muttered, squeezing his body through the hole. He found himself inside a large chamber of rock. The far wall was a rather jagged wall, and there was an open window at the very top of the wall. Billy frowned as he estimated the height of the wall.

"At least thirty meters," he whispered to himself, "and there is no rope to help me scale the wall. I guess I'll have to climb up without help."

Billy blew out the torch, tucked the Eye of Tympanus under his chin, and by the dim light of the chamber, began to climb the wall by grabbing onto the rocks that were sticking out slightly. After he climbed about two meters, he felt his pulse quicken, and his palms sweat.

Fear of heights has always plagued Trini, not me,

he thought, More likely, I am experiencing a fear of the fact that I have no idea what awaits me atop this cliff.

As Billy ascended, the wall got smoother and smoother, and he had difficulty grabbing hold of the wall. Once Billy was about halfway up the cliff, he made the mistake of looking down. To his shock, the floor that was beneath him previously separated down the middle, revealing a pool of molten lava. Billy chewed his lower lip as he watched the floor disappear completely, leaving only the bubbling magma beneath him. The magma filled the chamber with intense heat, flickering red light, and powerful fumes that made Billy's stomach churn. He cast his eyes back to the wall he was climbing , and took a deep breath. One mistake could mean doom, and he realized that. He also realized that everyone was counting on him. Cestria was counting on him. As he climbed, instead of thinking about the pool of lava that bubbled beneath him, he focussed on everything he loves. Everything he's willing to fight for. Before he knew it, Billy had reached the open window. He released the breath he didn't realize he was holding, and squeezed through the window. He found himself on a small ledge overlooking another deep, flaming pit of lava. There was a small rope bridge leading from the ledge to a floating silver tiled platform. Standing on the platform, on the side furthest away from Billy, stood a six foot tall warrior, clad in a suit of gleaming silver armor, and holding a shimmering silver sword. Billy stood erect, holding the eye with both hands, and watching the warrior.

"So, you are the one the prophecy spoke of?" said the warrior in a deep voice.

"Affirmative," Billy responded.

"A human, correct? A former Power Ranger who absorbed negative-proton particles? Who lived both as a young and an old man?"

"Yes."

"Well, welcome to the Azure Mountains. This will either be the place of your empowerment, or your grave! In either case, it is your destiny. Approach me."

Billy walked across the rope bridge, and as soon as his feet touched the silver platform, the rope ignited, and burned to ash. Billy was trapped on the platform, about fifteen yards by fifteen yards, with a masked warrior.

"In order to win the Sword of Tympanus, you must prove your worth," the warrior explained, "You have come this far, so you are certainly resourceful, intelligent, and determined. Now, for the final test. You must defeat me in single combat."

With that, the warrior raised his sword into the air.

"Am I to fight bare handed?" Billy asked, not flinching.

"No. The Eye of Tympanus will transform into whatever non-projectile weapon you desire. Just close your eyes, and envision the weapon you feel most comfortable with."

Billy looked at the warrior distrustingly.

"I will not attack you until you are ready, Human. I fight fairly."

Billy closed his eyes, and he felt the fist sized pearl shift its shape. It stretched into a long, thin pole. When Billy opened his eyes, he saw and impressive, pearly white lance, much like the Power Lance he mastered during his tenure as the Blue Power Ranger. He held his weapon in both hands, and balanced himself.

"Ready?" asked the warrior.

"Affirmative."

"Then as they say on your planet, have at thee!"