Disclaimer: I'm not Saban, yadda yadda yackety shmackety. If you don't know the drill by know, then this must be the first fanfic you've ever read. And if this is the first fanfic you've ever read, you should know that this is a yet another in the Jenga's Universe series. The Rangers of this Universe have quite literally split in half, one half in good old Angel Grove and the other half … elsewhere. Read my previous fics if you don't know what I'm talking about. This is a Justin fic, but I promise, it's my last Justin fic for a while. He's a cool kid, but I'm overusing him. However, for those of you who don't like Justin, Ms. Bikini also has a big role, so read it anyway. I don't pay much attention to continuity, but if I did, then this would be sometime in Saban's Universe after hell freezes over.
By Jeremy Ray Logsdon
Disclaimer: I'm not Saban, yadda yadda yackety shmackety. If you don't know the drill by know, then this must be the first fanfic you've ever read. And if this i
"I'll take care of everything," Diva Tox promised. "You … go rest or something. You don't need to be trying to run everything around here. Just … go take a nap. Okay? Jenga wouldn't want you to be acting like this."
MasterVile only nodded woodenly and teleported away. Diva Tox sighed sadly and looked at the ruby, still in her hand. The Great Power could actually be seen within its translucent surface, just a small white flame. It was almost hard to believe that the tiny flicker of purity had killed Jenga, the most powerful, evil demonness in the universe.
"Mondo!" Diva Tox bellowed. "Get in here!"
The Machine King quickly scurried up to her. "I need your strongest beast now," Diva Tox said. "Something … bad. Can you handle that?"
"Certainly," Mondo promised, nodding solemnly before disappearing in his standard yellow teleport.
Diva Tox strode across the main palatial room, stopping only when coming to the balcony. She's gone. Jenga Xett is dead… She stared at the ruby in her hand and frowned angrily. With an angry bellow, she pulled her arm back and threw the ruby at the Earth as hard as she possibly could. As soon as it disappeared into the darkness, she sank to her knees and began crying uncontrollably.
Angel Grove, California
June 20, 1997, Friday
8:21 a.m.
The ruby curved around the planet, striking dead center on Diva Tox's target of Angel Grove. Due to the Great Power within it, it was just short of a sentient being. While it didn't have emotions, it could sense intelligence.
The ruby lay in a small foot-wide crater in the middle of Angel Grove Park. The crater's size was greatly reduced due to its magic power, as it attempted to hide its presence.
Before it could completely bury itself within the Earth, it was discovered. The ruby felt fingers pick it up, and immediately, black light shot up that person's arm. The person, who was out on a morning jog, gave a slight cry at the sudden violation.
A split second later, the ruby's transformation of the person was complete. "You are Phantom Ranger," a voice said within the person's mind. "You are evil. Come with me. I will tell all."
"Evil," Phantom Ranger said. Phantom Ranger looked down at the its armored body. It knew it was a Ranger, the voice had told it so, but, why can't i remember who i am?…, it didn't look like a normal Ranger. Phantom Ranger was heavily armored in black, with a black and silver chest plate, hiding its gender. Tubing traversed its body, and the visor took up most of the helmet. Various gold and silver decorations dotted Phantom Ranger's helmet, but it was actually a very boring design. However, Phantom Ranger was designed to withstand great attacks, not win popularity contests with the public.
After all, Phantom Ranger was evil. It didn't know who it had been, but the voice assured Phantom Ranger that it didn't matter. "I am evil," Phantom Ranger said in a deep male voice, dripping with anger. Tipping its head back, Phantom Ranger laughed wickedly, a deep booming laugh that echoed for miles. Still laughing, Phantom Ranger pointed its hands to the sky and disappeared in an ugly black smear.
Diva Tox turned in shock as black light streaked onto the balcony. The light immediately coalesced into Phantom Ranger.
"Who are you?" Diva Tox asked.
Phantom Ranger slowly reached up to remove its helmet. As soon as the seal was broken, blue light flooded the room. Diva Tox didn't even look at Phantom Ranger's identity, but instead turned to see the form that the blue light coalesced into. "Jenga?" she asked cautiously.
"You didn't really think I was dead, did you?" Jenga asked. "Actually, I haven't felt more refreshed."
"It's really you?" Diva Tox asked, stepping toward her. "What happened?"
"Turns out I can't be killed!" Jenga cried happily. "Who'da thunk?"
"You're alive," Diva Tox said in awe still. She finally rushed at Jenga and grabbed her in a bear hug which Jenga eagerly returned.
"My body was temporarily annihilated by the Great Power," Jenga explained, "but my soul and essence were captured in that ruby with the Great Power. I kind of got knocked out somewhere in there, but I woke back up when Phantom Ranger touched the ruby for the first time. I made us an evil Ranger with the Great Power, Phantom Ranger here, and recreated my body from the ashes. And lo and behold, here I am!"
"Mom?" Lord Zedd asked, carefully walking into the palatial room. "Is it you?"
"It's me, baby," Jenga said. "I'm back." Lord Zedd gave a happy cry and ran at his mother. She was picked up by the seven foot tall beast and swung around in a tight hug. "Okay, dear, that's too tight," Jenga grunted, removing herself from his embrace.
"We thought you were dead," Lord Zedd said happily. "Who's that?"
"Phantom Ranger," Jenga answered. "Go get MasterVile, 'kay?"
"You got it, Mom," Zedd promised, running out of the room.
"No longer than you were gone, things were already falling apart around here," Diva Tox told her with a smile.
"We can talk more about that later," Jenga said. "I want to tell you about my Ranger."
"So this Ranger is ours?" Diva Tox asked.
"Sure is," Jenga answered. "I just happened to luck out and have someone in the Ranger's lives pick up the ruby. Should be very interesting. You'll also notice I made the armor so that it hides gender. There are breast molds underneath that chest plate, but there's also a cup, so it could be either. I've made the height a very genderless five foot ten, as well as the frame. Fighting skill is that of an ordinary Ninja Ranger."
"Why does Phantom Ranger look all blank-faced like that?" Diva Tox asked.
"Because I told Phantom Ranger to," Jenga said. "This person will not remember a previous identity while morphed, and when unmorphed will not remember being an evil Ranger. The exact opposite of Rita's fling with Tommy. Actually, I'm going to hypnotize this little Ranger of ours with a window of access. That way, I can dispatch the Phantom Ranger into battle without a force-morph."
"Is there any way the Rangers could figure out who our Ranger is?" Diva Tox asked.
"I don't think so," Jenga said, smiling. "We'll wait until the next four Rangers leave to go sliding, probably tomorrow morning, and when we have only five left here, one of whom is very inexperienced, we'll send Phantom Ranger into battle."
"They're back!" Alpha cried happily. Blue and silver light dropped into the center of the Command Center, materializing into Justin and Dulcea.
"I got the Power!" Justin shouted, removing his helmet and shrinking to his normal height in the process.
"The slider is ready to go," Catalina said. "As soon as you've gotten a good night's rest, you'll be able to leave."
Justin nodded his agreement and de-morphed. "It was afternoon on Phaedos," he said. "Here?"
"Early morning," Zordon answered. "Why don't you return home? I'm sure Rebecca will be glad to see you again." Justin nodded and teleported away.
"Justin!" Rebecca cried, rushing at her son. She grabbed him up in her arms and hugged him tightly.
"I've missed you," he said, "Mom."
"Mom?" she asked, leaning away from him to look at his face. "Did you call me Mom?"
"Is that okay?" Justin asked.
"What about Alicia?" Rebecca asked. "I mean, I don't want you to forget your mom, or think I'm trying to replace her."
"It's kind of hard to explain, but she's okay with it," Justin said. "I'd like to call you Mom."
Rebecca smiled warmly and tried to keep hot tears from sliding down her cheeks. "I'd like that. A lot."
"Everything is ready to go," Trini said. "Have you told your parents yet?"
"Yeah," Tommy said slowly. "You would not believe the surprise I got."
"They already knew?"
"They didn't know," Tommy said, "but Chelsea and Teddy did."
"My little sister knew, too," Trini said, "but I think Ashley's been reading my diary. My dad was surprisingly cool about it, so I think he might have suspected."
"What exactly did you tell them about the actual sliding part?" Skull asked. "I just told Dad the Ranger bit and that I had to leave on a Ranger emergency for a few days."
"That's about as detailed as I got," Tommy said. "No use pushing Mom over the edge."
"How did your dad take it?" Trini asked, already smiling. Reverend Skullovitch was Angel Grove's most bizarre Ranger supporter, differing from all others in that he was a minister.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he mentions it in his sermon on Sunday morning," Skull said. "I had to morph to prove it to my parents."
"So did I," Tommy and Trini said in unison.
"You two realize we might not come back," Trini said. "Right?"
"I kind of figured that was a possibility," Skull said thoughtfully. "But if Kim's out there-…"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't kind of excited about it," Tommy said truthfully. "We're gonna get to see a lot of cool things."
"I just wish there was some way we could stay in contact with home," Trini said. "As soon as we leave, even Catalina won't be able to reach us."
The three teens quieted as Ernie approached their table with their drinks. Even though the man knew of the Rangers' secrets, they still didn't want him to know that they were about to leave the dimension. He was like a mother hen to the Rangers, a position that did not go unappreciated, although it did get old at times.
"I'm going to miss these more than anything," Tommy said thoughtfully, taking a long sip of his blueberry and cream smoothie.
"At least we'll be able to take money with us when we leave," Trini said. "I'd say the others probably had to do a lot of … well, going hungry. And dirty."
"The same clothes everyday," Tommy said.
"What did Billy do about his contacts?" Skull asked.
"He wears the type that you only have to change once a week," Trini said. "He can sleep in them, shower, anything like that. I guess they just got a little dirty on him after a while."
"How would you know?" Tommy asked thoughtfully.
"Girlfriends know these things," Trini said seriously. "Besides, I'm trying to get him to switch back to glasses."
"Where is Justin at?" Skull asked.
"He's still sleeping," Trini answered. "Apparently the trip for the Great Power takes a lot out of you."
"More than you can even imagine," Tommy muttered. "When are we leaving? Tomorrow morning."
"I suppose so," Trini sighed. "Maybe we can be back by Sunday night with our Rangers."
"That would be nice," Skull said with an enthusiastic grin. It was still at times hard for him to believe that Kimberly Ann Hart was his girlfriend. He just wanted to be in the same dimension as she was, wherever that happened to be.
"Zedd, I don't feel good," Rita moaned, clutching her stomach.
"What do you expect me to do about it?"
"I think you've already done it," Rita groaned before she darted to the closest bathroom.
"Huh?" he grunted, not even looking up from his newspaper. Rita's projectile vomiting was the only answer.
Saturday morning…
The Rangers, along with a few parents and siblings, stood at the base of the mountain the Command Center was set on. Tommy, Skull, Trini, and Justin each had a loaded backpack, full of supplies, though they intended to be back home in less than forty-eight hours.
"Are you ready?" Trini asked, looking at the three men around her.
"Ready," Justin said solemnly.
"You all be careful," Rebecca told them.
"Let's go," Tommy said, wanting to leave before the parents got emotional again.
Trini pointed the slider before her. She quickly flipped it open and pushed a button on it. A beam of white light shot from it, stopping in mid-air and forming a swirling vortex of light. "Slider has to go last," Trini said. "That'll make the vortex close."
"I'll go first," Tommy volunteered. He cast one last look at this family, and then ran at the vortex. It was temporarily colored red, only to be followed by green light as Skull dove in after him.
"Bye Mom, Dad," Justin said. He then ran at the portal and jumped in head-first. It flashed blue, leaving only Trini behind. She smiled as happily as she could at her friends and family, and then jumped into the wormhole leading to a different dimension. It flashed yellow, and then promptly closed into nothingness.
Catalina reappeared in the empty Command Center. "Catalina?" Zordon asked. "You look troubled."
"I am troubled," she said thoughtfully. "I just came … from that other dimension." She was pale and quite obviously troubled.
"Catalina?" Alpha asked, slowly approaching her.
"Let's not tell the Rangers this," she said, "but… There is a huge, major war going on there. End of the world type war. Armageddon. It's been going on for about twelve hours now, and each side has had victories and defeats. Sigma kicked me out and is blocking me, so I can't find out everything, but…"
"Catalina, you are worrying me," Zordon boomed.
"I'll just say it straight out," she said softly. "I don't have any names, and I don't even know if its our Rangers or the others, but three Rangers, two blue and a pink, are missing, possibly dead, and one of the two Red Rangers is definitely dead. I don't know which is which, but, it could be any combination of ours. Even if they weren't ours, there are children dying in that dimension. And we just sent four more right into the middle of it."
Saturday afternoon
2:18 p.m.
"We're down to just the Turbo Team," Jenga said. "Zack, Adam, Bulk, Tanya, and Aisha."
"Time to strike?" Diva Tox asked hopefully.
"Time to strike," Jenga said. "We'll send some Tengas, give cause to call the Monster Alarm, and then dispatch Phantom Ranger."
"Sounds exciting."
"Oh it will be. It will be very exciting."
DeSantos Household
"Can I please go, Mama?" Rosa asked.
Maria DeSantos had been overly protective of her children, ever since learning that Rocky had been a Ranger and was currently in a different dimension. She didn't tend to be too lenient on curfews or granting permissions. "I don't know, Rosa," she said.
"Please, Mama?" Rosa asked. "It's just the Youth Center."
"You have a tendency to get in trouble," Maria reminded her pre-teen daughter.
"I'm going to see Franklin," Rosa said. "You like Franklin!"
"Franklin?"
"Si, mama."
"Okay, just try to stay out of trouble." Rosa smiled happily and ran out of the house.
"Sergeant Phaedos," Lt. Stone said, saluting Dulcea, "I'm afraid we're going to have to have our meeting at a different time."
"I understand, sir," Dulcea said. "Truth be told, I am also needed elsewhere."
"Dismissed," Lt. Stone said.
"Hey David," Emily said as Tommy's brother came up to the bar. "What are you doing in town?"
"Uh, I've been here for a few days," David said. "Seen Tommy around?"
"No, actually I haven't," Emily said. "Maybe he went back to Covina?"
"Maybe," David mused. David shook his head thoughtfully and said, "Look, I have something to take care of, but if you see him, would you send him my direction?"
"You got it," Emily promised.
Franklin Park, younger brother to Adam, met Rosa DeSantos in front of the Juice Bar. "I'm glad I've found you," both said in unison before breaking out into simultaneous laughter.
"You first," Rosa said.
"I have to break our…"
"Date?"
"Yeah, I guess it was a date," Franklin said before blushing.
"You are just like your brother," she moaned. "I also have something that just came up. Maybe we could do this later this afternoon?"
"Yeah," Franklin said. "Yeah. We could go see a movie or something."
"I don't have money for a movie," Rosa said sadly.
"It'll be my treat," Franklin mumbled, barely able to say the words outloud.
"Really?" Rosa asked.
"Yeah," Franklin said, shaking his head overenthusiastically.
"So, I guess I'll see you then," Rosa said. "Right?"
"Okay. Uhm, bye."
"Bye."
Fred Kelman ran into the Juice Bar, only to collide with Zack. "Zack," Fred said. "I'm glad I caught you. I need to talk to you for a minute."
"Zack, we need to go," Aisha said, tapping him on the shoulder as she and Adam ran out of the Youth center.
"It's about our class," Fred said. "I hate to stand you up on my first lesson from you, but I kind of promised my dad I'd help clean out our basement about a week ago and I kinda sorta forgot."
"That's okay, man, it's cool," Zack said. "I have something I need to do now too. Private emergency. Catch me around some time, give me a call or something, and we'll reschedule."
"All right, cool," Fred said, turning to leave the Juice Center at the same time Zack did.
"Emily," Ernie called, darting into the room just as Zack and Fred left. He ran up to his only worker behind the bar. "I hate to just spring this on you, but I have a family emergency to take care of. Can you watch the bar for an hour or two on your own?"
"Yeah, no prob," Emily said. "It'll be fine." A moment later, a loud siren, indicating a monster attack, filled the air. "Looks like we'll be spending all of our time in the basement anyhow." The Juice Bar had long been considered an official Monster Shelter, due to the fact that so many teens were always in it.
Emily pressed a red button beneath the bar, causing a siren to sound in the youth center as well. "Everybody, we're under a monster alert," she called. "If you'll all follow me to the basement, we should be fine."
"Remember," Dulcea said as the Rangers grouped in the Command Center, "we all have Ninja Ranger ability now. This could be a useful fighting defense against the Tengas."
"Throw the Tengas for a loop," Adam agreed.
"You guys ready?" Dulcea asked. "Ninja Ranger Power Now!"
"Snow Owl!"
"Bear!"
"Gazelle!"
"Lion!"
"Frog!"
"Giraffe!"
Lights flashed in the Command Center, leaving the five teens plus Dulcea clad in their Ninjetti Suits. They were not in their Ranger colors, but rather in their Ninja Color. Aisha was clad in white, Zack in black, Adam in green, Tanya in yellow, Dulcea in silver, and Bulk in a bizarre black Ninjetti Suit with the chest shield a brilliant sparkling gold. However, his body was not changed into the muscular morphed form. Rather, he was in his portly body, only enhanced with fighting skills. They also used the full face masks, leaving only their eyes exposed, to preserve their identities.
"I don't like this," Bulk muttered, looking at the bizarre black and gold Ninjetti Suit on his stocky frame. "I don't like this at all."
"Don't worry about it, Bulk," Tanya said. "We've got Tengas to take down."
"Let's go," Dulcea said. They immediately shot up into the sky, teleporting away in their Turbo colors.
The fight with the Tengas was one of the most vicious fights they had ever had with the bird creatures. Halfway through the fight, the Tengas had adapted to the Ninjetti Warrior's fighting skills, forcing them to morph. However, rather than use their Turbo powers, they called upon the last remaining facet of their Ninja Power, morphing into Ninja Rangers. That gave them the edge they needed, and the Tengas were quickly obliterated.
"You guys!" Bulk shouted, pointing to the opposite side of the park. "Look at that!"
The five Rangers and Dulcea turned to look at the new mysterious Ranger on the field. "Who are you?" Aisha called.
"Identify yourself!" Adam shouted as well. The black armored Ranger slowly walked toward them. When it reached a distance of about fifty feet, it stopped.
"I am Phantom Ranger," it said in a deep bass voice.
"Ranger?" Tanya asked.
"You guys," Zack said warily, "I don't like where this is headed."
"Friend or foe?" Dulcea demanded to know.
Phantom Ranger walked closer, never once actually making a move for any weapon or giving indication of an attack. "I am most definitely foe," Phantom Ranger said calmly.
No one made a single move. Phantom Ranger didn't attack, so the Ninja Rangers didn't attempt to defend. "Play your card, Phantom," Zack said at long last.
Although a black helmet hid its face, Adam knew a smile crossed Phantom Ranger's face. A split second later, a sharp axe blade hit him square in the chest.