The Terran Ranger/The Spectrum Force - The Preliminaries Volume 2 - Heather Ray (best ebook reader for pc TXT) 📗

ship had a magical cloak around it, making it completely undetectable by any kind of Earth technology. Within the ship was a fleet of Denebian warriors, magical monsters, magicians, technicions, and finally, in a spacious and luxurious throne room, sat the Empress Phaedra. She was the physical opposite of Spectra. While Spectra had snow white skin and gentle eyes, Phaedra had grey skin and red eyes glowing with hatred and anger.

Spectra was dressed in the classical robes similar to those of ancient Greece, where knowledge and wisdom prevailed. Phaedra was adorned with golden and purple battle armor, with a golden helmet atop her green hair rather than a crown. Phaedra looked through translucent glass towards the Sun.

"Curse the Sun!" she said aloud. "If only Earth wasn't protected by a bright and young star! We Denebians cannot live in the incandescent light of a yellow sun. I could deploy all my forces and crush Earth's puny defenses, but so long as the sun shines, I cannot. Even if I attack at night, I must return my forces to the safety of the ship before the sun rises. Once I destroy Spectra and those children, then I can send down individual monsters to collect enough life energy from Earth to fuel a massive magical spell, which will completely block the Sun's nourishing rays. Once I destroy the Spectrum Force..."

"Your Majesty?" interrupted a soldier, entering the throne room and bowing humbly before his Empress.

"What," asked Phaedra, not even looking at him.

"Princess Celea's war ship has arrived. Shall I sent her in?"

"Yes. Have her come to me at once!"

The soldier hurried out of the throne room, and Phaedra took a seat in her throne. She clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them. A devilish smile spread across her face. Just then, a young woman entered, with similar features as Phaedra, except her forest green hair was in a short ponytail held by a golden clasp, and she wore a black leotard with golden boots, golden arm bands, and a golden belt. She also had a small tiara resting upoin her brow, and she held a long bow.

"You sent for me?" she asked, kneeling before the throne.

"Stand, up, Child, and tell me of your battles in the Aldebaran Star System," said Phaedra.

"My forces continue to attack only at night, and destroy as much of the Aldebaran's defenses as possible. The star itself is still a problem, but we managed to colonize the eleventh planet from the star. It is far enough away to protect us from the star's rays."

"Excellent. You are truly making progress. I am proud, my Daughter."

"Thank you Mother," said Celea, bowing once again. "So why did you send for me?"

"You are one of the greatest warriors of Deneb. You are also an excellent tactition. I want you to destroy the Spectrum Force."

"I would be honored to, Mother."

"Good. The best tactic has always been to divide and conquer. At this moment, two of the Spectrum Enforcers are hiking in the Langstrum Alps. You should be able to defeat them easily. But, don't kill them. If we have hostages, we have a better chance of defeating the other four."

"As you wish, Mother. It is nearly dusk. Once the Sun sets, I shall go to Earth's surface."
Chapter Three

Meanwhile, on the moon circling the Earth of a different reality, another evil tyrant, the vicious Lord Zedd, planned the destruction of his enemies, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He sat upon his throne, listening intently to a mercenary who was willing to capture the Power Rangers for Zed, for a price.

"So, Magi," said Zedd. "How is it that you, an old man, plan to defeat the Power Rangers, the best fighting team in this galaxy? After all, my best warriors always fail miserably."

"Simple, Lord Zedd," said the Magi, "I don't intend to fight them at all. My tactic is to cast a magical spell."

"Oh, like I haven't tried THAT

before," mumbled Zedd, obviously getting impatient with the Magi.

"Well, your magic is, oh, how can I put this, not as...potent...as mine."

"Excuse me?" said Zedd, standing from his throne and grasping his staff. "You dare insult me in my palace?!"

"I merely state the fact. My magic is truly evil magic. You cast spells making good people temporarily bad, or spells that turn ordinary objects into half-witted monsters. My magic is the black magic of the Denebian Empire!"

"Who?" asked Zedd. "There is no Denebian Empire! The Denebian star system in uninhabited."

"Perhaps in this reality, Lord Zedd, but not in my home reality. You see, I was a magician in an alternate reality. My planet was conquered by the Denebian armada. They truly know how to wreak havoc. I decided to dedicate my life to master their evil magical art, and I did. Unfortunatly, I miscast a vital spell, and wound up in this reality centuries ago. Now, I have made a life for myself here. I have traveled the entire universe, Zedd, and I can tell you this-- no species of aliens that I have encountered possesses the sheer evil and magical might of the Denebians."

"So, Mister Wizard, what magical spell do you have in mind?"

"I shall create a one-way door, that will pull the Power Rangers into the Limbo of Lucifer, a hellish environment where their very life essences will be slowly drained from them. This pit is used by the Denebians to punish the most dangerous of their enemies. Since this is a gateway between dimensions, Zordon of Eltar will not be able to save them."

"So, how much will this little trick cost me?" asked Zed.

"Fifty tons of Erlemite per Power Ranger, and not a gram less."

"Outrageous! How can I even be sure you're not full of it, Magi?"

"I'll make you a deal, Lord Zedd. I shall capture one Power Ranger for free. Then, once you see what kind of opportunity I am offering you, you can pay me for the destruction of the other six."

"Very well, then, its a deal," said Zedd, shaking the Magi's hand. "You may capture the Power Ranger of your choice."

"Agreed," said the Magi, disappearing.

Chapter Four

At the beach near Angel Grove, the seven teenaged Power Rangers enjoyed the beautiful spring afternoon. Kimberly and Trini were soaking up the sun by the ocean, and Tommy, Zack, Billy, Alexis, and Jason were roller blading along the boardwalk adjacent to the beach.

"Jason!" called Alexis, "maybe we should slow down! I can't even see Tommy and Zack anymore!"

"Did they really fall that far behind?" asked Jason, coming to a stop.

"Apparently so," said Billy, "at the velocity Zack and Tommy were moving when we last saw them, taking into account our mean velocity during that period, we should be nearly .8 miles ahead."

"Wow," said Jason, making his way to a bench and sitting down, "I guess we'll wait for them. Tommy said he could teach Zack how to blade like a pro. If he's as good a skating coach as he is a martial arts sensei, they should be catching up any minute now."

"We'll see," said Alexis, also taking a seat.

Just then, the ground shook violently, and a squad of Lord Zedd's Putty Patrolers materialized.

"Uh oh," said Alexis. "Putties!"

"Quick," said Jason, "take off your skates Lex! We'll fight better without them! Billy, get to the source of that quake. We'll handle this!"

As Jason and Alexis battled the Putty Patrol, Billy made his way to the shore.

"If my calculations are correct, the earthquake originated at the shore."

At the beach, Kimberly and Trini, who were about to go for a swim, were shaken by the quake.

What was that?" said Kim, looking around.

"Kim, look!" cried Trini, pointing towards the water, "there's a big hole in the sand!"

Kim put her denim shorts back on over her pink bikini, and cautiously walked towards the hole. Suddenly, a squad of Putties appear.

"Split up!" yelled Kim, and the two girls went in opposite directions. Kim moved back towards their beach towel, and Trini moved closer to the ocean. They both immediately began the counter attack, but all the Putties circled Trini and ignored Kimberly.

"They're after you!" yelled Kim.

"This must be part of Zedd's plan. Quick, get our Power Coins while I hold off these Putties. There are too many here to defeat without morphin'!"

Kimberly ran to her bookbag and attached her morpher to the belt of her shorts. She searched in Trini's bag for the Sabre-toothed Tiger coin as the hole near the shore moved across the sand. A hand reached out from the hole and grabbed Kimberly's ankle.

"Aiieee!" cried Kim, trying to anchor herself and prevent the hand from pulling her into the hole.

"Kim!" cried Trini, trying to get to her best friend. But the Putties had her completely surrounded, and she couldn't get past them. Just then, Billy skated onto the scene. He watches in shock as Kim was pulled into the hole. Without thinking, he ran towards the hole.

"Hang on, Kimberly," he yelled, but by the time he reached the hole she was gone. Without hesitating, Billy jumped into the hole after her. The hole started to close up. Jason and Alexis hurried to the shore. They saw Billy jump into the hole before they both frantically ran towards the hole, but it closed before they could reach it. As soon as the hole completely closed, the Putty Patrolers fighting Trini also disappeared. Trini oriented herself and ran to the spot where the hole had been.

"Billy and Kimberly are both gone!?" she cried.