Disclaimer: Jenga, Cadbury, various family members, and anything not on the show either belongs to me or was stol- borrowed from Ellen Brand. The Power Rangers, the Power Teens, and the Power Villains are courtesy of Saban.
Author's Notes : Super kudos to you if you catch the slight reference to Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer. My sincerest apologies for the gratuitous Titanic in-jokes. I have absolutely no will-power about some things, and I just couldn't resist. And thanks go to Willow and Ellen for helping me out with Occam's Razor. In a nutshell, Occam’s Razor states, "Given all things constant, the simplest explanation is the most probable."
Dedication : I've never dedicated a fic to anyone, but I am going to dedicate this one. Granted, this is just a Power Rangers fanfic, but it's more than that to me. This is a piece of writing, and yes, I am deluded enough to consider myself a writer. As such, this piece of writing, despite revolving around the Power Rangers, is as dear to me as anything else I have written. This piece of fiction is dedicated to everyone who perished when the 'RMS Lusitania' sank off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. I did some research on the ship for this fic, never once realizing I would be so deeply drawn into that shipwreck. She was once just a faint memory from freshman history; now, she is a part of me, and I will always hold her dear to my heart. Her survivors, her victims, and the families of all of those involved have my utmost sympathy and well wishes. I seriously doubt anyone directly involved in the tragedy will read this, but it doesn't matter. My sentiments are the same. God bless you all.
By Jeremy Ray Logsdon
The mechanical arm stretched out toward a silver box. It floated in a debris field that had once been the solar system which held the planet Daria. A claw attached to that arm opened and clamped down on the object. Once it was securely held, the arm withdrew to the small spaceship to which it was attached. The arm pulled the box into the holding bay, which promptly resealed. Oxygen flooded the room, and as soon as the atmosphere was reestablished, a lone figure hurried into it.
He wore silver armor, except for around his stomach. His stomach was extended in a pot belly. His face was that of a wart hog, and his manners weren't much better. He was Mordant, chief servant to Astronema. "Is this the box?" he asked hopefully. He opened the silver chest, and the bright light that shone forth gave him his answer. Light of many colors danced across his face like the flames of many fires. "Oh yes," he sighed happily. "Quantrons! Set a course for Earth!"
"Jenga," Diva Tox whispered, shaking her red-haired friend. "Jenga, wake up."
"What?" Jenga grunted, sitting up in bed. "What do you want?"
"I-, who's the guy?"
"Pardon?"
"That man. Who is he?"
Jenga looked at the human lying beside her. "That's MasterVile," she returned. "He makes himself look human for sex. I guess he forgot to change back."
"Oh-kayee. More info than I needed. Anyhow, would you sign this?" Diva Tox asked, handing Jenga a sheet of black paper with red writing.
Jenga took the paper and quickly read over it. "You want to change your name? Why?"
"I'm tired of being Diva Tox, and now that I'm part of a Dynasty, I have to change it officially. Do you mind?"
"What are you changing it to?"
"Divatox."
"What?"
"I'm getting rid of the space between them. Diva Tox, Divatox… There is a difference."
"Whatever," Jenga remarked, summoning an ink pen. She quickly scribbled her name at the bottom of the paper in blood red letters. She flicked her hand, and the ink pen disappeared in a red flame.
"Thank you," Diva Tox smiled, kissing her friend on the forehead.
"Thank her in the morning," the humanized MasterVile grumbled from beside her. Diva Tox waved her goodbyes and vanished in a crimson flash.
Sunday afternoon
"Carlos Vargas," Cassie said thoughtfully. "Oh yeah, I know him. He was in my math class last year. I didn't see much of him, but he seemed to be a nice enough guy."
"How about TJ Andrews?" Adam suggested.
"Cute tall guy?"
"I don't know if he's cute," Adam told her. "He's tall though."
"Bald?"
"Yeah, that's him."
"He's a good martial artist, but I don't know him personally."
"Do you know Robbie Sinclair?"
"That freak who keeps mice in his locker?!" Cassie cried. "No way he's coming on the team."
"All right, all right," Adam said defensively. "I was just going by martial arts ability on him."
"He doesn't know martial arts; he just tells people he does," Cassie said, shaking her head no. There was a knock at her door. "It's Cadbury," she told Adam. "Go out on the balcony. He doesn't know you're here."
"Got it," Adam said, getting up from the chair and hurrying over to the balcony. Her attached balcony was larger than his entire room.
"Come on in, Cadbury," Cassie called.
Her prim and proper butler entered the room and said, "There is a young woman here to see you."
"Oh?" Cassie asked. "Who?"
"Tanya Sloan. Shall I see her in?"
Cassie glanced to the balcony. "Yeah, I guess," she said, somewhat nervously.
Cadbury gave a nod in Cassie's direction as he walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Cassie ran out onto her balcony. "Adam, Tanya's here," Cassie warned.
"Maybe I should go," Adam muttered. He glanced over the edge of the balcony and asked, "Do you think I'd survive a fall from up here?"
"Cassie?" Tanya called as she entered the room. "Are you here?"
"Yeah, I'm here," Cassie answered as she jogged into her room. "So, what brings you here?"
"I was wondering if you'd help me go over my list of Yellow Rangers?" Tanya asked, holding a thick notebook in her arms.
"I'd be glad to," Cassie answered. "Adam is here too, actually."
"Oh," Tanya said softly. "Maybe I should go."
"No," Adam said as he walked into the room. "I was just leaving."
"No, you weren't," Cassie informed him, stopping him with an open palm to his chest. She pushed him back and said, "I'm tired of this bull crap, you two always saying, 'We're still friends,' but you won't even stay in the same room unless it's the MegaZord cockpit. You're going to settle this, right… now…"
Adam and Tanya both crossed their arms across their chests and looked at Cassie. "So, why don't you like each other anymore. Just 'cause you broke up."
"Because I was dumped," Adam said softly.
Tanya said nothing, but her expression shifted slightly.
"So, because Tanya dumped you, you don't like her anymore. Right?" Cassie asked.
"I didn't say I didn't like her," Adam rebutted. "That's just why we haven't been talking."
"We haven't been talking because you won't talk to me," Tanya said firmly.
"You were the one who was going to leave the room!" Adam protested.
"Because I knew you wouldn't talk to me!"
"All right, we're communicating now," Cassie said with a forced smile.
"Cassie, there's more to this problem than just what is on the surface," Tanya told the Pink Ranger. "We've tried to make amends. It isn't going to work."
"Were you friends before you started dating?"
"Yeah," Adam said.
"But you aren't friends now?"
"I still consider you my friend," Adam mumbled, "I guess."
"Tanya?" Cassie asked, flashing her a big smile.
"Adam, I didn't break up with you because I wanted to hurt you," Tanya told him. "I really would like to be your friend, I honestly would."
Adam smiled bashfully as red came to his cheeks.
"Are we friends again?" Cassie asked hopefully. Since neither teen answered, she continued, "Why don't the two of you go the movies tonight? Just as friends." She could tell by their uneasy shifting that neither was very fond of the idea, so she added, "I'll come too. The three of us. Whaddya say? My treat? Ooh! Or better yet, a pool party. We can have it tonight! We can invite all kinds of people!"
"That sounds like fun," Tanya said.
"Yeah, I'm game," Adam agreed.
"Then I'll go tell Cadbury. We have it tonight at seven."
"Mind if I invite some of my prospects?" Adam asked. "It'll give me a chance to screen people."
"The evil spell is fading on Phantom," Jenga griped. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and an image appeared of her evil Ranger. "I hate organic entities. You just can't get a good evil spell to stick. Tommy barely lasted a week on the side of evil, and he had a filter to keep his evil in. Katherine broke her own evil spell… I'm not letting my Phantom Ranger slip through my fingers."
"Can't you just reapply the spell?" Queen Machina, by her side, asked.
"I've been reapplying the spell all summer," Jenga said. "But Phantom Ranger may develop a tolerance for it. As it is, the spell has to be reapplied after every fight. Before long, it'll be twice every fight. Phantom is developing a brain callous. The spell just isn't lasting as long anymore. It isn't easy to make people, let alone Rangers, wholly evil without their consent. But I do have a plan."
"It's not fair," Aisha complained. "You're gonna get to swim and I have to just sit by the side of the pool and watch."
"I won't swim if you don't want me to," Zack told her.
"Really? Would you do that for me?"
"No."
"Well, it was nice of you to say it anyhow," Aisha said with a smile. "How many people are you down to?"
"Rod Serling, Thomas Boy, Peter Fox, TJ Andrews, Bernard Gumble, and Walter Ashley," Zack said. "I was going to invite them to the party, but Adam is inviting his guys, and I don't think we need to have two changes at once."
Beep beep beepbeep beep beep. Upon glancing at her communicator, Aisha saw that she had not been paged. "Just mine," Zack said. He bent over to her and planted a noisy kiss on her forehead. "Catch ya later, cripple."
"Bye babe," Aisha said as Zack teleported away.
The black light ended as Zack rematerialized in the Command Center. Tanya and Cassie were already there, and in a streak of green light, Adam was close behind. Soon after, in a column of black and gold, Bulk arrived. "What's the problem, Zordon?" Zack asked.
"A new foe is approaching the Earth," Zordon said. "Adam, you will find him familiar."
Adam turned his attention to the Viewing Globe, and then he said, "Mordant?"
"Who's Mordant?" Tanya asked.
"A relative of Goldar," Alpha explained. "He isn't much of a threat in and of himself, but what he brings with him is."
"He brings with him a lost possession of Astronema. The Fire Crystals carved by the Master Carver Helena," Zordon explained.
"Who is Helena?" Cassie asked.
"She carved the Earth Crystals," Tanya told her. Cassie turned to glance at the thirteen softly glowing crystals in Zordon's bed of crystals.
"Did she carve the Zeo Crystals?" Cassie asked, taking note of the five colored crystals lying with them.
"No, that was someone else," Alpha answered.
"What exactly are the Fire Crystals, Zordon?" Zack asked.
"They are perfectly spherical, and within them burns a magical fire," Zordon explained. "The magical fire can be used to provide a boost to any magical spell. After being used once, the fire burns out."
"They're going to make Astronema stronger?" Cassie asked.
"They could make Astronema's spells stronger," Catalina said as she appeared by them. "Or worse yet, Jenga's. Tuesday is a day of evil power, Zordon."
"What could she do with them?" Tanya asked.
"I fear she may use their power to make Phantom Ranger's evil permanent," Zordon answered. "However, just a Fire Crystal alone could not do this. Even if it was activated on Tuesday. Jenga and Phantom Ranger would need to be on a powerful piece of ground as well. That would be four sources of evil, most likely sufficient to keep the evil permanent."
"Jenga, Tuesday, Fire Crystal, and the piece of ground," Bulk counted off. "What piece of ground?"
Adam looked past Alpha at the Viewing Globe. The answer appeared in the screen before any of their mentors could tell them. "Muranthias," Adam whispered.
"Muranthias is the Earth's hot spot," Jenga explained to Lord Zedd and Rita. "You could even describe it as the Fourteen Earth Crystal. Not a power source in and of itself, but it is a wonderful catalyst for power. Astronema had some crystals carved by the Master Carver, Helena. Mordant contacted us last night and told her he has found them. They were lost in the explosion of Daria, but they were still out there. By using one of those crystals, we can make Phantom Ranger forever evil."
"This Tuesday is a day of great, evil power," Zedd said. "If you were to go to Muranthias then…"
"The evil would be permanent," Jenga sighed.
"Mama, I barely know Cassie Chan," Carlos complained. "She's just some stuck-up rich kid."
"If you barely know her, then how can you call her stuck-up?" Daniella Vargas countered. "You haven't done a thing all summer since Courtney dumped you. Go to this pool party."
"I don't even know why she invited me," Carlos continued. "We only had one math class together last year, and I don't think we ever spoke."
"Then just go to swim," his mother insisted. "Please?"
"All right, all right. I'll go," Carlos relented. "Happy?"
"Very," Daniella said. "Now get ready and go. The party started fifteen minutes ago."
Adam watched as Tanya hauled herself out of the swimming pool. She was wearing a remarkably scant bikini, which kept her fully covered but still didn't do much good for Adam's nerves or hormones. "Stop it, Park," he muttered to himself, turning his attention away from his ex-girlfriend.
"Hey Adam," Aisha said as she hobbled up to him. "Swam yet?"
"Haven't even got in the pool," he announced, tugging at his dry t-shirt. He took her crutches and provided a shoulder to help ease her way down to the seat next to him.
"Pretty day, ain't it?" Aisha asked, trying to start a conversation. Zack had pointed her in Adam's direction after the current Red Turbo Ranger noticed Adam was looking somewhat forlorn.
"It is," Adam agreed, flashing her a smile. The sun was just starting to set, although the temperature was still more than warm enough to swim. There were a multitude of various lights strung up around the pool area, including several that were set in the pool's floor. Numerous tables, loaded down with food, dotted the area, as well as dozens of pool chairs. Music was playing over the laughter and excited squeals that filled the air.
"So, when you gonna go swimming?" Aisha asked.
"I at least have to wait until someone gets out of the pool to keep you company," Adam said, pointing to the red tank top sitting where her boyfriend had been just a moment before.
"Zachary Isaac Taylor!" Aisha yelled. "You promised me!" To Adam, she said, "He promised he wouldn't swim."
"Actually, we all promised we'd take turns sitting with you," Adam said. "Although right now is Tanya's turn."
"And here I am," Tanya said, coming up behind the pair with a towel around her shoulders. Adam smiled his thanks and stood up.
"Are you getting in the pool, Adam?" Cassie asked, walking up to him in a simple one-piece pink swimsuit.
"Maybe later," he answered.
"I'm giving you five seconds to get ready," Cassie said.
"Ready for what?" he asked as she walked back a few steps.
"To ram you into the pool," Cassie answered with a smile.
"Oh crap!" Adam cried, yanking his t-shirt off and tossing it aside. He stepped out of his tennis shoes, but before he could get his socks off, Cassie slammed into his body. Yelling, the two flew into the deep end of the pool with a gigantic splash amid shrieks of laughter.
Carlos looked up and smiled. Everyone else certainly seemed to be having fun. He wasn't having a bad time, but he didn't know anyone. He had taken a few laps around the pool, and afterwards gotten a bite to eat, but otherwise, he wasn't doing much. Just as he was about to decide to find Cassie and thank her for inviting him but he "had to leave," someone tapped him on the shoulder. Carlos turned around to find a beautiful, tall, bronze-tanned woman kneeling behind him. She was wearing a very small green bikini. "Hi," she smiled. "My name is Dulcea. And you are-?"
"Carlos," he replied, shaking her hand. "Carlos Vargas. Did you come here with anyone, or are you flying solo too?"
"No, that's my boyfriend right there," Dulcea said, pointing to her portly boyfriend who was in the pool with the others.
"Really?" Carlos asked. "The guy in the dark blue t-shirt?"
"His name is Bulk," Dulcea smiled. "He's a good guy. You'd like him." She paused for a moment, and then said, "It was nice meeting you, Carlos. I'll be around all night. If you see me, make sure you speak."
"Sure thing," Carlos promised.
"The sun has set," David Trueheart said, poking at Emily.
"Hmm?" Emily grunted, sitting up. She adjusted the straps of her orange bikini as she set up. "Oh. So it has. Guess I drifted off."
"Have you seen Marge around?" David asked, sitting beside her. "I get the distinct impression she's mad at me."
"Me too!" Emily cried. "I don't understand it. She isn't around because she left town over a month ago. Went to stay with her grandmother in Ontario for the rest of the summer. She didn't even say goodbye to me, and her grandma said she isn't accepting any calls from Angel Grove."
"Well, she'll be back eventually, right?"
"Surely she'll finish her senior year at AGH," Emily sighed. "I intend to talk to her then. Something happened to turn her off of Angel Grove."
"Same thing must have happened to Tommy," David groaned. "Every time I asked Daniel or Sarah about him they give me some b.s. excuse for why he isn't around anymore. I'm starting to think maybe I've made two enemies." David knew exactly where Tommy was at, but despite Emily dating a Power Ranger, he didn't know if she knew as much as he did.
"A lot of people have just disappeared recently," Emily continued. "Did you ever know Trini? She's visiting relatives in Viet Nam. Justin Cranston? Kid genius? Computer camp. Eugene Skullovitch, Lord only knows. Tommy?"
"Martial arts camp," David supplied.
"And then there are Jason, Billy, Katherine, Kimberly, and Rocky, who were sucked into that portal that the rest of the world seems to have already forgotten about," Emily said bitterly. "It's painfully obvious that they are five of the Power Rangers."
"Yea-," David started, and then blurted out, "Pardon?"
"Oh please," Emily continued. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist. Which is why I think all of the others, including little Justin, are also Rangers. And now that Marge has disappeared, I think she might be one, too."
"Oh?" David asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I think Marge Lubbock is actually the Phantom Ranger."
"Hey Carlos," Cassie called as she ran up to him. He slowly climbed to his feet and unconsciously adjusted the waistband of his dark red swim trunks. "Sorry I haven't got a chance to speak to you yet. There are a lot more people showed up than I expected."
"I appreciate you inviting me and all, but I gotta be honest, I'm not really sure why," Carlos admitted. "I mean, you seem cool and all, but I don't really know you."
"That's why I invited you," Cassie lied. "I'd like to get to know you better." OH MY GOD!!! It sounds like I'm trying to pick him up!
Is she flirting with me? Carlos asked himself. "You have a very nice… backyard," Carlos stammered.
"Thanks," Cassie returned. Suddenly, Cadbury approached them. He wasn't wearing his customary tux. Instead, he wore black shorts and an outrageous Hawaiian shirt the likes of which only Ernie had ever worn.
"Cassie, your mother is looking for you," Cadbury said. "She's on the tennis courts with Mrs. Grayson. Shall I escort you?"
"No, thanks Cadbury," Cassie told him. "Carlos, will I catch ya' later?"
"Absolutely," Carlos promised. "I'll be here."
"Great," Cassie smiled. She then ran out of the backyard, disappearing into the massive flower gardens.
"This is one rich family," Carlos muttered.
Jenga walked out onto the balcony. A smile crossed her face as the small silver saucer-like craft lowered to the moon's surface. "Astronema!" she cried. "Mordant has arrived!" With a mere gesture of her hand, the Fire Crystals in their silver chest appeared beside her. Kneeling beside it, she opened the chest to find it lined with black velvet. Eight spherical orbs rested inside it. Each was perfectly clear, and burning within each was a flame burning brightly in shades of one color. They were of many colors : blue, red, yellow, green, pink, black, white, and silver.
Closing the chest, she quickly teleported herself into the spaceship. "Mordant," she ordered before he could leave the ship, "set a course for Earth."
Carlos was sitting on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water. Just as he was about to slide into the water for a quick swim, a bright light shone down on the pool. Glancing up, he saw a U.F.O. lowering through the sky. It was silver and actually shaped like a saucer. Lights lined the bottom and the rim of the ship. Everyone in the immediate area became deadly silent as it continued to lower until it was just twenty feet above the pool.
Zack, Adam, Tanya, Bulk, and Cassie quickly grouped together as the ship hovered above the pool. Suddenly, tiny pinpoints of light appeared all around the backyard, forming Quantrons. With a gasp, Carlos slowly climbed to his feet. Meanwhile, everyone but the Power Rangers were fleeing in a group panic.
Blue flames coalesced beside him, forming Jenga. He recognized her long before she saw him. However, Carlos still didn't move. He didn't know if it was fear, courage, or stupidity, but he didn't feel compelled to move. "Such a brave boy," Jenga said, tapping one of his cheeks with the back of her right hand. "Stupid, but brave."
"What do you want here?" Carlos asked valiantly. "There's nothing here for you."
Jenga cocked one eyebrow and smiled a crooked smile. "Quantrons," she said calmly, "attack." Before Carlos could react, she spin-kicked him into the pool.
"Should we morph now?" Cassie asked, stancing off as the Quantrons approached them.
"Carlos is still here," Adam said. "I know who I'm picking." He had no more than said it before the Quantrons rushed them. The group of five was quickly separated.
Carlos pulled himself out of the pool to find the five teenagers fighting the creatures Jenga had called Quantrons. Jenga was currently attacking the boy in red, although she didn't seem to be actually trying to do damage. It just looked like she was toying with him. Carlos looked around him, wondering why the Quantrons weren't attacking him as well. Instead of waiting for one to attack him, however, he ran to help his new-found friend.
He pulled one away from Cassie, giving her a better chance against the other attacking her. With a flurry of fast punches, Carlos tore into the Quantron. "Guys, let's do it!" Adam shouted.
"Are you sure?!" Bulk shouted back.
"Shift Into Turbo!" Adam cried. Carlos gave up on the Quantron before him and looked up just as the Rangers' Turbo Keys and Morpher appeared on their bodies in flashes of light. He watched, wide-eyed, as they all morphed in one, simultaneous Morphin Cry.
"Mountain Blaster Turbo Power!!!" Bulk shouted.
"Desert Thunder Turbo Power!!!" Adam yelled.
"Dune Star Turbo Power!!!" Tanya cried.
"Wind Chaser Turbo Power!!!" Cassie shouted.
"Red Lightning Turbo Power!!!" Zack bellowed.
"Power Rangers?" Carlos asked in a small voice.
Suddenly, pink light streaked past him as Cassie fired a streak of energy from Wind Fire. The Quantron he had been fighting was knocked backwards into the pool. "We'll explain everything in just a second, I promise!" Cassie cried.
Jenga grabbed Zack by the throat and pulled him to her. "See ya' on the islands, ma'n" she taunted. She then planted a hard kick in his midsection, sending him tumbling backwards. By the time he righted himself a split second later, they were all gone.
"Are you okay, Carlos?" Cassie asked, removing her helmet as she walked up to him.
"You guys are the Power Rangers?" he rambled. "I mean… you don't have to kill me now, do you?"
"Not intentionally," Adam said. "Grab your shirt; we're gonna take a quick trip."
Never once taking his eyes away from the morphed Rangers, Carlos retrieved his black t-shirt. As soon as he pulled it on, Adam reached out and touched his elbow. "Don't tense up. If you do, it'll hurt worse when you land," he said. With that, they all teleported away in a beautiful rainbow of colors.
As soon as Mordant arrived, Astronema and MasterVile took him to the United Alliance of Evil Headquarters to make him an official member of the Dynasty of the Apocalypse. Jenga, meanwhile, was rapidly making plans.
"Ghostly Galleon was blown up, and besides, it wouldn't let evil on board," Jenga said, scratching Goldar's suggestion.
"I just had another thought," Divatox spoke up. "How are we going to pass into the Nemesis Triangle? Lerigot again?"
"Phantom Ranger's Ruby will allow us safe entrance," Jenga said. "Even though Phantom Ranger is evil, the ruby isn't. It will let us pass, just as the Turbo Keys would let the other Turbo Rangers pass through. But we need a vehicle. Something that isn't evil or good. Just a vehicle."
"Why don't we use a ship that has already sunk?" Elgar suggested.
"Yeah, let's resurrect the 'Titanic,'" Rygog said sarcastically. "Dumb ass."
"Actually," Jenga paused, "that's not such a bad idea. If we were to use a sunken ship, then it would have absolutely no association with it at all, good or evil."
"We're going to take the 'Titanic' to Muranthias?" Lord Zedd asked.
"No, that's far too cliched," Jenga mused. "But I know of a ship that is just as good. We will have to resurrect her, and of course, renew her, she was torpedoed, after all, but she'll get us there safely."
"Who is she?" Scorpina asked.
Jenga turned her gaze at the Earth. Blue beams of light shot from her eyes, and she saw the ship resting at the bottom of the Atlantic just off the coast of Ireland. "The 'RMS Lusitania,'" she answered.
"Welcome to the Command Center, Carlos," Zordon said.
"Oh man," Carlos sighed, looking about himself in disbelief. "What am I doing here?"
In a shimmer of green, Adam demorphed. "Some of us have been Rangers for a long time," Adam said. "Myself included. And it's time for me to pass on my Powers."
"Who to?" Carlos asked warily.
"You."
"Me?"
"Carlos, do you accept this great honor of being a defender of the Earth as the Green Turbo Ranger?" Zordon asked.
"Yeah!" Carlos cried happily. "I'd love to!"
Adam unstrapped his morphers, feeling a bit of nostalgia as he did so. It was a good run, Adam told himself just before the Power Transfer.
"Hey Thunder Runner," Adam chirped. "Come 'ere girl."
The '57 Chevy rolled from her private quarters to the former Green Turbo Ranger. "I guess you know I just gave my powers on, huh?"
Blink blink.
"You'll like Carlos," Adam said, running a hand across her hood. "He's a good guy."
Blink blink.
"But I'll still be around here. I'm still the Green Ranger. We still friends?"
Thunder Runner blinked her lights and gently nuzzled one bumper against Adam's leg. "Good girl," he sighed. "Good girl…"
White light illuminated his room as Aisha teleported in. "How ya' doin' kid?" she asked, hobbling over to his bed.
"I'm doing okay," he answered. "Waxing nostalgia, but okay. It's been a wild three years."
"You're still a Ninja Ranger," Aisha reminded him. "That helps. Takes the edge off of losing the thrill of active duty."
"I don't know how Billy stood it," Adam remarked. "I mean, how could he hang around the Power Chamber and watch us be the Zeo Rangers? I've still got the power, and I already feel different. But to be totally empty inside, watching us morph and save the Earth…"
"It probably was hard on him," Aisha agreed. "But, everything's okay now-…"
"If they ever come back home," Adam finished.
"Carlos, are you okay?" his seven-year old sister, Linda, asked.
"Hmm?" he asked, looking up from his book and smiling broadly at her.
"You're acting weird," Linda informed him. "You're smiling all goofy and dancing all over the place."
"Am I not allowed to smile now?" Carlos retorted.
"Hey, is that a new watch?" she asked, pointing at his brand-new shining green communicator.
"Uhm, no. I've always had it," Carlos said, putting his book aside and standing up defensively. He then turned to his closet and began to dig through it for a green t-shirt.
"Weird," Linda repeated, leaving the room.
"I need more green," Carlos mused after finding only two green shirts. After closing his closet door, he smiled at the communicator on his wrist. "I sure am glad I went to that party."
Monday morning
Beep beep beepbeep beep beep. Zack retreated to his room. Once assuming he was alone, he pressed the button on his communicator. "I read you, Zordon."
"Zack, we have wonderful news!" Alpha squealed.
"How wonderful?" Zack asked.
"The sliders have finally caught up with the other Rangers! Teleport to the Command Center at once!" Alpha shouted. Zack immediately disappeared in a streak of black light.
"They finally made it?!" Zack cried as soon as he landed.
An attractive blonde hologram with an old hairstyle was standing with Catalina before Zordon's tube. The two were carrying on an animated conversation. "They finally made it!" Tanya cried, grabbing Zack in a big hug.
"How are they?" Bulk asked, smiling wide.
"They're fine," Catalina answered. "Haircuts for all of the guys, and some new woman, but fine."
"Haircuts?" Bulk asked. "Tommy got a haircut?"
"New woman?" Adam inquired. "They've got a new woman? What does she look like?"
"I'll go tell Rebecca," Tanya volunteered as she teleported away.
"I got the Olivers," Zack said.
"The good Reverend," Bulk added, referring to Skull's pastor father.
"I got the Kwans," Aisha said, propping herself on her crutches as she hit her communicator and streaked away in white light.
"What's going on?" Carlos asked. "Did I miss something?"
"We'll need to leave, soon," Jenga said. "It's a very long trek in the Nemesis Triangle."
"In the Triangle?" Divatox asked. "When we went, it didn't take us but a few hours to travel to the Island. The long part of the trip was getting to the Nemesis Triangle."
"I can teleport the 'Lusitania' to within an hour's journey of the Triangle," Jenga answered. "The evil Power Boost has really lowered the defenses of the Triangle, and we can therefore teleport much closer. However, the evil Power Boost is having an adverse effect inside the Triangle. We'll have to travel much, much farther inside to get to Muranthias, and worse yet, we're going to be powerless until we set foot on the island."
"Say that again?" Zedd asked.
"We're going to be mortals inside the Triangle," Jenga sighed. "I obviously don't like it, but there's nothing I can do about it. Some things are even out of my control. Our powers will return to us as soon as we've reached the Island, however, so there shouldn't be a problem."
"What if the Rangers try something?" Astronema inquired.
"They'll be powerless, too," Jenga returned. "We'll be fine, just powerless. And the journey will take just shy of twenty-four hours. If we leave right now, we can be inside the Triangle by eight a.m., and we'll be on Muranthias at seven thirty tomorrow morning."
"Wait a minute," MasterVile interrupted. "You'll need to take Phantom Ranger with you, right?"
"Of course," Jenga said.
"But, Phantom will be missing for over a whole day," MasterVile continued. "Don't the Rangers have a list of four potential subjects? They'll know for sure now. We could have Phantom stolen right out from under our noses."
"One, you're talking to Jenga Xett. I have EVERYTHING planned for in advance. I'm going to use an organic mannequin to hold Phantom Ranger's place in society until we get back.
"And two, it doesn't matter if they do find out. By tomorrow night, Phantom Ranger will be forever evil and serving us. So relax. Now, Astronema, get the Fire Crystal of your choice. All fighters, come with me. You too, Zedd. Vile hon, you stay behind in case something bad happens and we need to be resurrected. And grab what you think you might need during our trip, because powers are not going to exist for us in the Triangle until we get to Muranthias. We're going to be mortals for twenty-three hours people, let's be prepared."
"I don't know how any of these controls work," Carlos complained.
"I got it," Cassie volunteered, hurrying over to the console before the confused Green Ranger. She pushed a few buttons, and a map appeared on the Viewing Globe.
"Zordon, something is happening off of the coast of Ireland!" Alpha cried.
Goldar, Rygog, Elgar, Rito, Scorpina, Lord Zedd, Astronema, Divatox, Phantom Ranger, and Jenga magically stood on the water of the Atlantic ocean. The emerald isle of Ireland stretched across the horizon, a scant twelve-miles distant. The others wore their usual attire, with the exception of Jenga who was wearing very short shorts and a loose-fitting top that was tied in a knot below her breasts. Beneath, she wore a blue bikini. A wide-brimmed hat crowned her head, worn at a angle. A canvas sack was slung over one shoulder, carrying various food supplies and sun tan lotion. "Everyone here?" she asked.
"I think so, Mom," Zedd answered.
"All right," she said, handing Scorpina her satchel. "The waters might get a little rocky. You mages ready?"
Divatox smiled as she removed her right glove. She flexed her fingers as a tinge of purple energy began to collect on her fingernails. Lord Zedd and Astronema both thrust their staffs forward. Her diamond and his 'Z' began to glow with their silver and red energies, respectively. Jenga pulled her own staff out of the air and pointed it forward as well. Blue energy began to coalesce around the sapphire on its tip. "NOW!!!" she cried. Pure magical energy burst from each of the four demons. It streaked a short distance away and plunged into the ocean, lighting it up with the four colors.
Their magical energy continued to stream from them, even as bubbles began to rise to the surface. A few seconds later, the ocean was churning and raging as though the waters were boiling. Large plumes of water began to burst from the surface, sending a slight mist over the group of space demons. Then, a horribly rusted railing poked out of the writhing ocean. "Oh yes," Jenga purred, as the fallen ship began to rise again. Their magic stopped flowing, as the ship was already rising quickly to the surface.
A hull, covered with rusticles rather than paint, became visible as the waters parted to make way for the ocean liner. A shadow fell over the group as the ship rose higher and higher from the water. The torpedo wound appeared from beneath the waves.
"We're gonna take this heap of junk to Muranthias?" Elgar inquired.
"Just wait," Divatox hushed him.
"It's so tall," Goldar said thoughtfully. He craned his head back to look at the stern, high above him. At last, the railing along the bow lifted out of the ocean. The rear end of the ship rose, until, despite the torpedo hole in her side, the 'RMS Lusitania' floated level atop the Atlantic once again.
Jenga pointed her staff at the ship. Blue tendrils of light surrounded both her crew and the ship. There was a brief blue flash, and when it subsided, they were standing on the first class promenade deck of the ship. The wood that had once stretched across was long since gone, and they were forced to stand on the metal skeleton. However, Jenga's magic wasn't finished. The rust began to disappear from the hull and was replaced with shining black and white paint. Wood grew beneath their feet, forming the first class deck. The railing became shiny and white, losing the growth of rusticles and other ocean life that had accumulated from her eighty-two years at the bottom of the Atlantic. Four smoke stacks appeared in a perfect row down her middle, painted beautiful gold, black, and red. Jenga's blue magic energy ran over the ship one final time, restoring her to the condition she was just before she entered the water.
"She's beautiful," Astronema sighed, walking to the railing. Peering over the side, she saw her name, 'RMS Lusitania,' printed along the stern.
Below in her belly, the engines roared to life. The three story high pistons began to pump, and the propellers started to turn. A gentle, peaceful rumbling temporarily shook the reborn ship, and then, she started to move.
"Now this," Goldar said, "is traveling with style."
"Serpentera would have been much easier," Lord Zedd grumped.
"Oh please," Jenga quipped, removing her hat. She tossed it over-board where it flittered down to the waves. "I actually intend to make it to Muranthias." She summoned a black and gold Captain's hat and placed it on her head. "And let's try not to have a repeat of the 'Titanic' incident, okay? We don't have ANY lifeboats." Blue light once again flared up around the ship, and then, the waters of the Atlantic were once again empty. The 'Lusitania' reappeared in the Pacific Ocean on the other side of the world, and began to sail for the Nemesis Triangle.
"They've teleported to within an hour's journey of the Triangle!" Tanya cried. "They'll be there in no time! We don't stand a chance of beating them to Muranthias!"
"Rangers, this is a time of great evil power," Zordon explained. "The journey inside the Triangle will take much longer. The increased duration of the trip is the Island's natural defenses against evil. Also, all powers while in the waters of the Triangle will be nullified until the island is reached."
"Our's too?" Zack asked.
"Your's too," Zordon said.
"How are we going to get to the Island?" Bulk asked. "I mean, we are going. Right?"
"You will need to get there quickly, and the Ghostly Galleon, provided it hadn't been blown up, would not be an alternative. No magical means would get you there, so we must use a physical source that is only powered by magic."
"Secondary magic spells will work in the Triangle," Alpha said. "For that reason, you will be morphed, but powerless."
"Like in that Theater," Adam remembered.
"Lightning Cruiser and Star Blazer will carry you to the Island," Zordon told them. "By hooking up the two vehicles with a special power conduit, the flight capabilities will be extended to the Yellow Sentient Vehicle."
"And they'll get us safely to Muranthias?" Carlos asked, saying the name of the island with utmost care.
"You guys, take a look at what they're traveling on," Aisha said, squinting into the Viewing Globe. "I don't believe it. That can't be right. Can it?"
"It is, Aisha," Alpha assured her. "They have resurrected the 'RMS Lusitania.'"
"She weighs 31,550 tons," Jenga recalled from memory. "She's 763 feet from bow to stern and 88 feet wide. She has a top speed of twenty-four knots, and she first sailed on June 7, 1906. Despite being a passenger ship, she was torpedoed, and she sank in eighteen minutes. Less than ten percent of her passengers escaped with their lives, although the Captain did survive. She sank in broad daylight, and in many respects, her physical sinking was similar to that of the 'Titanic.' Her bow was below water level in just a few mere minutes, and she ended up with her stern almost perpendicular to the water, only lilted to the starboard side. The only difference was she didn't split in half. Nineteen minutes later, the 'Lusitania' rested on her side at the bottom of the Atlantic.
"The 'Lusitania' did to military lore what the 'Titanic' did to civil lore. 'Lusitania' was every bit a tragedy, and in some cases worse, but she has, for all practical intents, been forgotten. There are routine expeditions to her, sure, but no public mention. They don't care about the 'Lusitania;' they care about the 'Titanic.' We're gonna give this girl a chance to live again."
"Is she unsinkable?" Rygog asked.
"With Jenga Xett at her wheel, yes, she is unsinkable," she answered proudly. Turning to her morphed Phantom Ranger, she said, "Go to the lookout. Keep an eye out for icebergs and German U-boats."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Phantom promised. It saluted and then darted for the Bird's Nest. Scaling the flimsy ladder with super-human speed, Phantom was soon seated in the lookout.
"I'm going to go the Captain's quarters and see if I can find anything interesting of Captain Turner's," Jenga said. "You should all pick out a room for the night. We'll require sleep as mortals."
"I wanna sleep in first class!" Elgar announced. He and Rito simultaneously darted from the promenade deck, looking for appropriate quarters.
"So, Goldy," Scorpina started, resting her forearms on the rail and leaning over it, "whaddya think of all this?"
"She's sure big," Goldar remarked. He leaned against the front mast with his arms folded across his gold-plated chest. "I think we should have made our own ship, though."
"Evil association, remember?" Scorpina asked, climbing up to stand on the lowest railing. "We had to take a neutral ship. Goldar, do you know how to swim?"
"I know how to fly," he said. "Doesn't matter if I can swim. Besides, you heard Jenga, this ship is unsinkable."
"'Titanic' sank."
"It wouldn't have if Jenga was Captain."
"Good point," Scorpina relented.
"Do you know how to swim?"
"Of course I know how to swim," Scorpina chuckled. "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't swim. What are the odds I would have to swim anyway? She wouldn't sink again. That'd be too much of a coincidence. Besides, I don't think we'll have to worry about an iceberg in the tropic waters of the Triangle, or German U-boats. There is no reason she should sink."
You're scared to death, Goldar sighed in his head as he turned to leave.
"Hey Elgar," Rito said, holding up a diamond necklace. A large, blue stone dangled from it. "Did you drop this?"
"Uh, I don't think so," Elgar replied, scratching his head. "Can I have it?"
"Sure, I guess," Rito answered, handing him the necklace. "Real men don't wear jewelry."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Elgar said, dismissing the subject. He tried to put the necklace on, but it wouldn't fit around his neck. "It won't fit! Man, what a rip-off!" He tossed the necklace, no doubt owned by the last people to have stayed in that cabin, aside. The two henchmen continued rummaging through the belongings of people who may have perished when the 'Lusitania' sank beneath them.
"Amazing," Jenga purred, leaning over the balcony to the First Class Dining Room. Her tables were set with the finest china and silverware, waiting for the dinner party that never arrived. "Isn't she gorgeous?"
"Is it safe to eat food that's been at the bottom of the Atlantic for 82 years?" Astronema asked. "I am starved."
"It's restored. Help yourself," Jenga answered, walking away from the railing to explore the rest of the ship. Everything was perfectly polished and sparkling. The carpet was maroon and plush beneath her bare feet. "You are such a beautiful ship, you know that?"
She found herself standing by the wrought iron elevator that stretched from the lowest levels of steerage to the best of first class. As she touched it, her immortal powers brought to her a deathprint.
The power had gone out, and there were six people trapped in the elevator. It was between levels, and there was no way out. Being wrought iron, they could look up or down and see the people running to the decks for the lifeboats, but they were trapped. When the 'Lusitania' finally entered the water, they were still in the elevator. Their remains rested in their wrought iron grave for only a short time, as the fish that could swim through the bars made quick work of them.
Her powers flared up, and suddenly, Jenga found herself transported. It didn't take her but a moment to realize she hadn't physically traveled back in time. She had lost those powers when Trini stole her Crystal of Time. But her conscious thought had traveled backwards. The day was May 7, 1915.
She looked down, and saw the elevator trapped between floors. The six inside were screaming for help, but no one could help them. Jenga felt a slight tinge of remorse before chiding herself for feeling emotions. She turned and walked away from the elevator, headed for the decks.
Jenga saw a well-dressed young man with many white life vests in his arms. He was handing the life vests to woman and children. Jenga stretched an arm out to him, and his entire life was suddenly revealed to her. He was one of the richest men on the 'Lusitania.' His name was Alfred Vanderbilt, and he was passing out life vests, despite being unable to swim himself. Alfred Vanderbilt drowned, but he helped a lot of people survive.
On the deck, people were running and screaming everywhere. The ship was tilted horribly. She made her way to the uphill side of the ship, when suddenly, there was a cacophony of screams. Looking up, she saw a lifeboat swinging back over the listed deck. Seventy people in the lifeboat were screaming as it slammed into the wooden deck and began a murderous slide down. It was so heavy, they hadn't been able to push it up and out far enough to lower it to the ocean. Anyone who got in its way was either killed or horribly mutilated. She turned slowly, not completely in time with the 'Lusitania''s death print. A young woman with a baby in her arms was frantically trying to get through the crowd and away. However, the crowd either didn't care or notice her, and another second later, the lifeboat with horrifying blood stains at its base slid over her.
She heard another loud crash and a hideous mingling of screams, tears, and frantic prayers. Closing her eyes, she saw the scene play itself in her mind. A lifeboat being launched from stern starboard broke free. It plummeted to the ocean some distance before, and it landed on another lifeboat that did not have a chance to row away. Both lifeboats were obliterated, and those that didn't die in the impact, entirely in the upper lifeboat, were plunged into the fifty-seven degree water of the Atlantic. Everyone that survived the initial impact died of hypothermia…
"Jenga?" a voice asked, snapping her from the past.
"Pardon?" she asked, flipping her gaze quickly. She saw Scorpina standing beside her. "Is there a problem?"
"You just looked kind of distant. Are you okay?"
Jenga paused for a moment, thinking about the young woman and her baby. "I'm fine," she said at last. "I'm fine."
Lightning crackled overhead, and suddenly, the ocean began to roar. Lord Zedd and Astronema stood, side by side, on the uppermost promenade deck, watching as a line of black water rose from the ocean, forming the edge of the Nemesis Triangle. Phantom Ranger leapt from the eagle's nest and landed neatly beside Jenga on the bow of the ship. "You know what to do?" Jenga asked.
"Aye, my Captain," Phantom Ranger answered in a deep bass. The black Ranger ran up to the bow of 'Lusitania' and climbed part way up the railing. A black gloved hand steadied itself as Phantom stood on the third railing from the top. The other hand went to the center of the chest, and plucked the large red ruby from its bonds. Phantom Ranger outstretched the hand holding the ruby, as the 'Lusitania' made it closer and closer to the wall of the Triangle.
The evil fare of the 'Lusitania' was gathered on the bow. Lightning cracked all around the ship, which was heaving and tossing on the frantic ocean. She slowly got closer, and lightning began to strike the masts and smokestacks, doing no damage but sending a shower of sparks down over the group of demons.
"The ruby has to be the first thing to enter the Triangle!" Jenga shouted to Phantom, running up to the bow to stand behind her evil Ranger. "If even the railing touches first, the whole ship will be torn to shreds!"
"It is, Captain!" Phantom cried. The wall of water was no more than twenty feet before them. A thin tendril of red energy spanned the gap between the outstretched Phantom ruby and the Triangle. Then, tiny beads of red light began to swirl from the ruby. The beads of light slowly circled the ship, encasing her in a loose but efficient magical cocoon.
Not more than five seconds later, the ruby physically touched the wall of water. The ship continued to plow through the barrier. The ruby granted them safe passage, and the water passed over Phantom Ranger and Jenga. Jenga forced her eyes shut as the water sailed over them, and then, when she opened them, she realized two amazing things.
One, for the first time in eight hundred millennia, Jenga Xett was a mortal. No magic coursed through her veins, and she no longer felt Satan's protective embrace. However, before she could think too much on that, she realized she and the 'Lusitania' had passed into a beautiful world. The ocean was a beautiful shade of crystal clear blue, and the sky shone brightly. Fluffy white clouds dotted the sky, and warm sunlight drifted over everything. With a smile, Jenga turned back to the others. She saw that so far, only she and Phantom had entered the Triangle. The others were still behind a hazy, gray screen of water. However, 'Lusitania' was passing through rapidly.
"Quite a journey we've just taken, isn't it Phantom?" Jenga asked.
"My Queen, I feel differently," Phantom said, still in a deep voice. No changes occurred to the armor, although the power was definitely gone.
"You've just lost the power for a while," Jenga assured it. "But don't worry, you'll be fine." Jenga turned away from the wall of water and back to the beautiful, peaceful ocean.
The wall of water washed over the other demons, and they, too, immediately became mortal. Red light continued to shoot off of the sides of the ship, until, nearly a full minute after entering the Triangle, the stern passed through. The gray screen of water immediately disappeared, and there was nothing but peaceful water and sky for all directions.
On the other side, the wall of water immediately lost its supernatural viscosity. The water fall back to the ocean, the storm disappeared, and the Nemesis Triangle was forgotten to Earth yet again.
"Arms straight out," Cassie said. Carlos did as she told him. "Now, just do this." She quickly ran through the Turbo Arm Movements, essentially useless in the Morphing Process, but a Ranger tradition nonetheless. Her Golden Retriever, Jetson, barked his approval.
"Like this?" Carlos asked, running through a rather sloppy version of the Turbo Call, as Cassie had dubbed it.
"You're getting closer," Cassie told him. "Come on, let's do something else. Wanna watch t.v., or go for a swim, or something?"
"A swim sounds nice, but I didn't bring any trunks," Carlos sighed.
"That's not a problem," Cassie told him.
If this was a good movie, here is the point where she says we won't be needing our suits, Carlos told himself, honestly not sure of what he wanted her to say next.
"We've got suits in all sizes and colors in the pool house," Cassie said. "Come on. Let's go."
"You have a pool house, too?"
"Everyone with a pool has a pool house," Cassie said as they darted into the hallway. "Don't they?"
"Am I supposed to know?" Carlos asked, running with her down the ornate hallway. Upon reaching the end of the hallway, they were presented with a choice. One could either turn and go down another hallway or down a wide staircase. Cassie took him down the staircase, pausing to look up behind him at each landing.
"Hurry up!" Cassie urged. A few seconds later, the two emerged in one of the two kitchens in the house. Whereas in the upper levels rich woods had provided color, the kitchen was a spotless white. The entire back wall of the kitchen was just a series of glass doors, all of which opened out onto the patio of the flower gardens.
"Mistress Cassie," Cadbury announced. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"There are trunks Carlos' size in the Pool House, right?" Cassie asked.
"I'm sure there are," Cadbury said. "Shall I escort you there, sir?"
"It's okay, Cadbury," Cassie smiled. "I'll take him." Cadbury nodded once, and Cassie and Carlos continued their run across the backyard. A few moments later, Cassie led Carlos into the men's side of the Pool House. "What size do you wear?"
"Either a medium, or 34 waist," Carlos answered. "Is there green?"
Cassie smiled as she produced a pair of forest green swim trunks. "I've found myself wearing nothing but pink, too," she said. "My entire wardrobe has changed in the past month. Cadbury thinks I've gone insane." She handed Carlos the trunks, and then stammered, "I'll let you change."
"Okay," Carlos smiled. "Meet you at the pool?"
"You bet," Cassie said, returning the smile.
Jenga removed her shirt and stretched out on the wooden patio chair. She let the straps of her bikini top slide down her arms. "Don't forget the sunscreen," Divatox reminded her, tossing a bottle in her direction.
She nodded her thanks as she opened the bottle and began applying the clear oily liquid to her body. She was used to magic protecting her from sunburn. For that matter, she was also used to a magic-induced tan.
"The island certainly is a long way off," Astronema commented, sitting atop the railing with one leg on each side.
"What would happen if we did sink?" Elgar asked, looking into the clear waters below.
"We would swim to the island," Jenga answered noncommittally.
"What if we can't swim?"
"You drown."
"Cool," Elgar grunted.
"But the 'Lusitania' is unsinkable, right?" Scorpina asked nervously.
"Actually, that was the 'Titanic,'" Jenga said, "but for all practical intents, yes, the 'Lusitania' is unsinkable. These are warm waters, so they are no icebergs, and we're all alone out here, so there's no reason to be torpedoed. I can't really imagine a scenario that would make the ole' girl sink."
"I certainly hope so," Scorpina whispered to herself.
The next morning, August 19, Tuesday
Jenga's eyes slowly opened. The previous day on the 'RMS Lusitania' had been very uneventful. They sailed through the Nemesis Triangle, seemingly getting nowhere. The island was much closer, however, and she knew it would be just a few hours until the 'Lusitania' was beached on the shores of Muranthias.
She sat up in her bed and looked out the ornate porthole to her left. The sky was still dark, and a quick look at the clock told her she still had a few minutes to get dressed. She turned on the lamp beside the bed, providing enough light to change from her silk pajamas into her usual fare of denim and blouse. She walked out of her first class quarters, buttoning her denim shorts as she did so. Barefoot, she walked down the carpeted hallway and out onto the first class promenade deck.
She leaned against the white deck railing and smiled as an orange sliver of light grew into being on the horizon in front of her. Surprisingly quickly, the sky was painted pink and purple. The orange orb of the sun slowly climbed into the sky, providing even more colors. Red and orange were added to the mix. All too soon, the sun had cleared the horizon, and the beautiful colors were mingling into a calm blue.
"Just enough time for a shower before breakfast," she said to herself as she returned to her cabin. The 'Lusitania' continued to sail on.
"That was sure a long shower," Divatox teased as Jenga walked out onto the promenade deck. Jenga smiled and brushed her dark red wet hair over her shoulders.
"I forgot how little it takes to please mortal," Jenga smiled. "I'd still be under the hot water if I hadn't run out. What time is it?"
"It's seven o'clock," Lord Zedd answered. "Another half-hour and we'll be on Muranthias."
"That explains why the ship is slowing down," Astronema remarked, mostly to herself. "We're barely doing ten knots now."
"Breakfast?" Goldar asked, putting a plate in front of Jenga.
"Ooh, what is it?" she asked, picking up her fork. "It looks decent."
"Western omelet," Divatox answered. "Don't worry, I didn't let Rito put any bugs in."
"Looks wonderful," Jenga said, smiling her gratitude. She picked up her glass of orange juice and clinked it against Divatox's. "Cheers."
Star Blazer and Lightning Cruiser pulled out of the Holding Bay side by side. "You guys up to the challenge?" Zack asked. Blinking lights was his answer.
Carlos, holding a long tube of clear wire, got on his back and slid beneath Star Blazer on a black creeper. "Uhm, is this it, Alpha?" he asked.
"That's the spot, Carlos," Alpha answered over the communicator. Carlos plugged the wire into the circuit. The vehicle met him halfway and locked the wire in place.
"We're hooked up!" Carlos cried, sliding back out. A few moments later, Lightning Cruiser was as well.
"Well, it looks we're r