[See "From Zeo to Turbo: Part I" for disclaimer]
Author's Note: Any quotations you will see in this story that start and finish with a star (*) instead of the quotation marks (") means that the people the reality is explaining something in a story. In other words, if this was a TV show, you would hear the person's voice but see the story in narration.
In addition, any sentences or phrases that start with this symbol (o/`) means that the person is singing, not speaking. For reference, I'll translate the song as one would see it in Closed-captioning. The song, "In My Own Little Corner" does not belong to me. I've added a verse in order to correspond it to the story.
Power Flashbacks
By Mindy
By Mindy
Part 1
Justin entered the Youth Center, where Danny and Erika were talking.
"Hey, guys!" Justin called. He sat down next to them.
"Hey, Justin; what's up?" Danny asked, giving Justin a high-five.
"Nothing." Justin turned to Danny. "Danny? Can I ask you something?"
Danny turned to him. "Sure, shoot."
Justin began to whisper. "I've always wanted to know. How did you get into the Power Rangers thing?"
Danny smiled. "Well, it's a long story."
Justin placed his chin in his hands while he had his elbows on the table. "Okay, Storyteller."
Danny smiled again, then started. "During this time, Tommy had seeked out the purple portion of the Zeo Crystal, but no one was worthy to accept it. After that, I had just moved to Angel Grove when I noticed the Rangers fighting these metal-like creatures called Cogs in the park. I cleared the area of people the first time I saw that."
Erika stepped into the story "Under their request, mind you!"
Danny gave Erika the People's Eyebrow, then continued with the story. "But I wanted the second time to be different. I wanted to help them the next time. But the next time I was alone in the park when about 20 Cogs surrounded me!"
Erika scoffed at Danny. "Oh, come on; it can't be that many!"
Danny stared at her for a moment, rolled his eyes, and continued. "At that time, I was wondering "'What could they want with me?' because they had chains with them. Suddenly the Rangers appeared and told me to run. I ran to a nearby tree to try to hide. One of the Cogs knocked Rocky to the tree that I was hiding behind. It knocked off his helmet.
Justin and Erika both gasped when Danny said that. "This gave me quite a shock, because I didn't know that Rocky was a Power Ranger."
Erika said, "Hopefully, no one was there but you, Danny. Right?"
Danny sensed her worry, and placed his hand over hers. "Oh, the park was clear, let me assure you, Erika." She sighed with relief when he said that.
"Anyhow, it motivated me to help the Rangers finish the battle. After that, Zordon came on their communicators telling the Rangers he wished to see them and me. So we all teleported to the Power Chamber to see Zordon.
[Begin Flashback]
The Rangers had arrived with Danny, who becomes awestruck at the sight of the Power Chamber. Rocky looks up at Zordon. "Zordon, would it be a good idea if Danny could be of any service?"
Zordon looked at Danny keenly and said, "An excellent suggestion, Rocky. Danny has proven himself worthy."
*For a moment, I was very confused,* Danny said. *I asked myself, worthy for what?*
Erika giggled. She whispered, *Good question.*
Zordon said, "Because of you, Danny, the Power rangers are safe. You are worthy to receive the Purple portion of the Zeo Crystal for your extraordinary valor."
*Valor?* Justin asked.
*I needed courage to help the Rangers defeat that many Cogs,* Danny explained.
*Oh.*
*Anyhow, I reach out nervously, taking the Zeo Crystal. The second I grabbed it a bright Purple Light filled the room.*
[End Flashback]
"The next thing I know I see myself, as you guessed it by now, Justin: A Power Ranger," Danny said. "And that's how I got started and I wouldn't trade another minute of it.*
Erika looked in Justin's direction and couldn't help but giggle at him. His head was in one of his hands, his elbow was on the table, and his eyes were closed. Then, she turned to Danny. "I guess Justin got tired of you."
She continued giggling while Danny gently shook Justin. "J-man, are you awake?"
Justin suddenly opened his eyes. "Yeah! I'm awake! I was just trying to imagine what it looked like in there while all that was happening."
"It was cool," Danny added.
"Wow!" Justin exclaimed. "And that was a cool story. Erika, how did you get in?"
Erika smiled at Justin, but glanced at Danny. "I'm afraid my story is not nearly as short and sweet as Danny's is…"
[Begin Flashback]
*It actually started when I was 5,* Erika explained. *Danny and I were close friends by this time. I used to spend every summer in the Eastern part of Florida, where Danny always looked forward to seeing me again. Now back then, he allowed people to call him by his real name. On his 7th birthday, I gave him a special present.*
The young Erika reached in her pocket and removed something. It was a golden wire with purple beads. There were four beads, and on each bead was a number. Putting the numbers together, one would read, "5683."
"Wow, Erika," the young Daniel exclaimed.
"Notice the numbers that I put there?" Erika asked. "I got them from looking at a telephone."
"Putting the numbers into letters would spell love!" Daniel said.
Erika was shocked. "How did you know?"
"I would know that by now, Erika. But this is very pretty. I'll wear it forever and always." Smiling, the two friends hugged each other.
Erika heard a voice in the distance. "Erika!" She turned to a cliff top and saw her father standing there. "You'd best get inside! There's a hurricane coming tonight!"
"I gotta go, Daniel. Bye!"
"Bye, Erika; and thank you!" He watched as Erika ran to the cliff and started climbing up the side of it. It was a faster route than the ramp was, and Erika was a good climber. She quickly made it to the top and ran with her father into the house.
*Actually, that hurricane was no ordinary storm,* Erika said. *It was during that time that nothing was considered a threat, so no Power Rangers were needed. But Prince Gasket, of the Machine Empire, had arrived on Earth for a short period of time, and he wanted to have a human girl to be his slave.*
*So what happened?* Justin asked.
*Well, the storm he sent was designed as a trap for my father. The bait: his favorite boat.*
The stormy waves had brought the boat off it's hook, and it started to drift to sea. Erika's father saw it, then turned to her. "Erika dear, stay in here, and don't come out."
*He left me in the house as he ran out to retrieve his boat,* Erika continued. *That was not a smart thing to do, but I didn't know that at the time. Anyway, I watched out the window and I saw his fate. As he placed the boat safely in the boathouse, the wind blew so hard that it carried my father off his feet and into the sea. He was drowned in the next 5 seconds.*
*Oh, Erika,* Danny said in sympathy.
*A few minutes later, the lights went out, and I couldn't see a thing. I tried my best, but all I could do was get into the center of the room. Then, I heard footsteps.*
Erika perked up as the footsteps became louder and louder. The door opened, and she barely saw a figure coming in. It was not the sound of boots, but the sound of metal. But Erika was too scared to notice the sound. "Father? Father, is that you?"
"No," an unfamiliar voice said. "You're father died in an accident. You are not safe here. You must come with me to a place where it is safe."
*Reluctantly, I took his hand,* she said. *As I held on tight, lightning flashed. Two bolts struck us, and we were gone in seconds!*
*The next morning, I was forced into Prince Gasket's chamber, where he forced me to watch a TV screen, showing Danny's mother inside the kitchen,* Erika continued.
*Can I explain this part, Erika?* Danny asked.
*Oh, all right.*
The child Daniel entered through the kitchen door, where his mother was doing the dishes. "Hey, Mom?"
The mother turned to him. "Yes, Daniel?"
"Have you seen or heard from Erika?"
The mother looked regretful when she heard the name. She gently took him by the arms and said, "I'm afraid not. And I'm afraid that you won't, either."
"Why not?"
"While you were gone, the police stopped by my door. They said that Erika's father had died and … and Erika has been taken away."
Daniel was shocked. "Taken away! To where?"
"I don't know where. And the police don't either."
"I hope she is OK."
"Dear, there are the chances that you won't see her again. She might even be killed."
Daniel turned to her sharply. "Please don't say that K word."
"I'm sorry, dear, but that is possible. There is no one that Erika could be ransomed for." In a few seconds, the phone rang. Daniel's mother picked it up. "Hello? Why, yes. Could it be that…?"
Daniel became excited. "What's going on?"
His mother placed her hand over the receiver for a second. "Shh, son." Then, she resumed her conversation. "Why, yes! We'll be down there right away!" She quickly hung up the phone and grabbed her coat.
"Who was it?" Daniel asked.
"That was the police on the telephone. They said that they might have found Erika."
"I hope so. She's my bestest friend!"
"I know. Now, hurry up and get your jacket."
As Daniel got to his room and took his jacket from the closet, he said, "Heavenly Father, please don't let her be…"
After a few minutes, Daniel and his mother drove down to the beach, where men are digging at a ditch. A police woman was watching them until she heard the car coming. She looked at the mother and her son as they left the car. The police woman looked at Daniel's mother. "Mrs. Michaels?"
The mother nodded. "Yes, and this is my son, Danny."
"Hi," he said timidly.
The police woman stuck out her hand, and Daniel's mother shook it. "I'm Sgt. Williams. I'm leading the team that is digging up what we might have found."
A man called up from the ditch. "Sgt. Williams! You'd better come down here!"
Excitedly, Daniel ran ahead of his mother and Sgt. Williams. They arrived at the ditch where the men are pulling out a box and opening it. The gasped when they saw what was inside.
Daniel shook his head. "That isn't … that isn't … Erika?"
Sgt. Williams looked into the box and leaned back in disgust. "Eww!"
*Of course, what we were staring at was not Erika herself, but a dummy of her,* Danny said. *Gasket had thought of everything. Making the dummy feel like flesh, making it bleed like flesh, so that everyone there would think that it is flesh. But I didn't believe.*
Daniel shook his head again. "That's not Erika; I can feel it deep inside."
His mother wrapped her arms around Daniel in the attempt to comfort him. "Shh! Hush, dear. Hush."
One of the men looked up and said, "It looks like blood, Sgt. Williams. I think it is her."
Daniel cried, "Erika! No!" He began to weep bitterly.
"Hush, Daniel," the mother said. "Everything will be all right. Let's go home; you need a nap."
Danny escaped from his mother's grasp and runs to the car, crying non-stop. "Never call me Daniel! Oh, Erika, my bestest friend!"
His mother could only stare at Sgt. Williams, who said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Michaels. I only wish I could do more."
[Pause Flashback]
"Wow!" Justin said. "Were you really that scared?"
"Scared doesn't seem to be an appropriate word for the situation," Danny said. "Unhappy seemed to be a more appropriate word."
"My turn," Erika said. "I was watching the whole thing from Gasket's chamber. I couldn't believe that Danny mistook the stupid dummy for me."
[Resume Flashback]
Gasket stared at the weeping Daniel. "Look at that pathetic little twerp!"
Erika turned to him angrily. "He's not a twerp; he's my bestest friend!"
"Ooh," he said. "Your "'boyfriend?' "
Instead of answering him, Erika look out to the screen again. "Daniel!" she shouted. "Daniel, I'm over here!"
Gasket shook his head. "It is useless; he cannot hear you. I fooled your little "'boyfriend.' Look at him, he believes now that you are dead."
Erika started screaming again. "No! Daniel! I'm not dead; I'm alive! Daniel? Daniel!"
"I told you once before: he cannot hear you."
"That does it! I'm going out there right now and show them that I'm alive!" But when she looked around for a door, she found none.
"No doors here," Gasket taunted. "But I'll take you out."
*So saying, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me through a magic wall. He took me to a brightly colored room and left me there for a few minutes. I glanced in the room. I assumed that the place was a nursery, because there were baby monsters of almost every kind, and they were playing together, not realizing that they were prisoners like me. In fact, even I didn't know that I was a prisoner.*
As Erika continued looking, she found Sprocket, the little brother to Prince Gasket. She found him to be more pleasing than the other monsters, so she approached him. "Hi."
"Greetings," Sprocket responded. "Are you new here?"
"Yeah, I am. Some machine guy had taken me from my home because he said it wasn't safe there. I only hope I get to go back soon."
"Many have entered; few have left," Sprocket warned. "So, I am afraid that you will have to get used to this place. My name is Sprocket, youngest prince of the Machine Empire."
"The Machine Empire?" Erika asked. "Is that where I am?"
"Well, not our home planet, but this is something like a colony ship, you know?"
"I think so. It's like having a ship docking in a new land, right?"
"That is correct, something like that. What about you; do you have a name?"
"Of course!"
"And…?"
"Erika."
"Would you like to play with me, Erika?"
"Sure!"
[End Flashback]
"So you started getting along?" Danny asked a little unsure.
"Oh, yeah. We got along just fine. Sure, he might be an enemy to the Power Rangers, but he was my first and closest friend ever since I was captured. We played with each other for less than a year; after that, I started working for Gasket as a slave. One thing we kept in mind that made our friendship last: we both hated Gasket."
Justin and Danny both giggled.
"I remember the day that I became his slave…"
[Begin Flashback]
*I had fixed my hair down. Beforehand, I always had my hair up; but this specific day, which was my birthday, I had my hair down. I raced to Sprocket's playroom, where we could play all by ourselves.*
Erika had arrived in the playroom. With her long bronze hair down and her fine outfit on, she look very stunning for a young lady of 6 years. Sprocket was quite surprised when he saw her. "You look like a girl!" he shouted.
Erika giggled. "That's what I am, half-wit!"
"Correct, but today, you look like it!"
"Boy or girl, I can still whip you!"
"Ha!" He ran out of the playroom, with Erika following him in hot pursuit, laughing and shouting.
She was about to catch him when an arm pulled her aside and covered her mouth. Erika looked up to see Gasket. He took her to a room, where a worker with a simple black dress was waiting. When Gasket turned his head back, Erika was undressed from her pretty clothes and was forced to put on the simple dress.
"You Highness?" Erika asked, referring to Gasket. "Why must I have this simple dress?"
"I am afraid that if you are going to stay here, and you are, you must prove yourself useful. No one, except for the Royal Court of the Machine Empire, can live a life without work. You shall be my servant until the day that I decide you will no longer be here."
*I used to sleep in a large room with many colors and accessories,* Erika explained. *But when I became a slave, I was led to a small room with only two colors: black and gray. I had brought with me a thick book, my white handkerchief, and a locket containing Danny's picture.*
Gasket gave a candle to Erika, also giving her these instructions, "You shall report to my quarters promptly at 7:30 a.m., or I shall send someone to awake you for my orders." He gasped when he spotted the open locket around her neck. He took one look at the picture and sensed an unusual notion of danger.
He took the locket from her neck, saying, "I could have you terminated for taking this! You are fortunate that I am allowing you to keep that handkerchief! You may have the book; however, if I see you with this locket again, I will personally see to it that you are destroyed!" He stormed out of the room, leaving Erika behind.
Erika made the realization: she was alone. She had lost her father and her friends. In tears, she went to the hard bed and cried herself to sleep.
*It would be nine years after I became his slave before I ever experienced true joy again. I was given only one day out of the month that would allow me to roam the city with no Machine Empire watching, following, or ordering me around. But for me, one day out of the month was not enough. But Gasket wouldn't listen.
*A few days later, I have received an unexpected guest.* A soft knocking was heard on Erika's door. Slowly, Erika walked to the door and meekly opened it. She was quite surprised to see who was behind it.
"Prince Sprocket!" She quickly took him by the wrist, brought him in her room, and closed the door tightly.
"Oooh," Sprocket said timidly. "Is this where you live now? Is this where you have been? I thought that we were playing, and that I have lost you. Then, I realized that I have really lost you, and I couldn't find you, until now."
"Your Highness," Erika whispered. "You shouldn't be here. You could get us both into a lot of trouble if you are caught being here."
"Erika, why do you not like me anymore?"
"Oh, Sprocket," Erika said in sympathy. "I still like you, but I thought that you didn't like me anymore, now that things are different. After all, you are a member of the Royal Court, and I am but a servant now."
"Servant or no, I think that you could still whip me." The two friends giggled at the joke. "You should know that I would never forget our friendship. And to show you, in this basket is a large fruit that is found on your planet. I have heard that you were often hungry after your hard work. That shall never happen again as long as I exist!"
Sprocket placed the basket in his hands down. There was a black piece of cloth to conceal what it was. Erika removed the cloth and received her gift. "Oh! A watermelon! Oh, Sprocket, you really didn't have to!"
"But I wanted to," he insisted. "If only I have the ability to eat, I would join you for dinner tonight! I must leave now. I will see you later." He left the room and quietly closed the door. Erika smiled, took a knife, and cut open her watermelon.
She cut up a big slice and started to eat it. "Mmm! Seedless!"
*Of course, when the Machine Empire started battling against the Power Rangers, Sprocket became less and less involved with me. As a normal human boy, he was thinking more often about battles and adventures. But that doesn't mean that he forgot about me. In fact, he was far from it.*
Erika, almost at the age of 16 by now, walked into a room where King Mondo, Queen Machina, Prince Gasket, and Price Sprocket were sitting at a table, discussing about the Power Rangers. Gasket's assistants, Klank and Orbus, were standing behind them, also into the conversation. The only one who noticed Erika's entrance was Sprocket. She was dusting some of the weapons on the side of the walls.
Sprocket quietly left the table and walked out of the room, with Erika following him. They went through a few hallways before speaking. "Sprocket," Erika said. "What are they talking about back there?"
"We have a new group of enemies: the Power Rangers. They fight for the side of good and justice. Gasket is planning an attack in a few days. Those Power Rangers will stop at nothing to make sure that we are destroyed."
"What's so bad about a group that destroys evil machines?" Erika asked in sarcasm.
"Hey!" Sprocket almost shouted. "They might be evil and unjust to you, Erika; but they are my family. If they become destroyed and I would spared–although that is unlikely–I would have nowhere else to go!"
"That's not true, Sprocket. I've always thought of us as siblings, if not best friends."
"Really?"
"Let's make a promise, right now, to always look out for each other."
"It is a solemn promise."
"Sprocket?" a voice called. Erika quickly ran behind Sprocket as Queen Machina entered the hallway. Erika bowed deeply to her. "Rise, Miss Erika." She obeyed. "Sprocket, what are you doing out here? And with a servant?"
Sprocket was stammering for a moment. "I, uh … I was … I was telling her of what needs to be done in my quarters when she is done with her regular chores. The conversation you all had was so loud that I had to come into the hallways for her to listen clearly."
Queen Machina softly chuckled. "There is my little prince. I would not even dream of thinking that my youngest heir is to consort himself with a lower class. You may resume in our conversation when you are ready. Miss Erika."
Erika bowed again. "Your Majesty." Queen Machina turned around and left the hallway, and Erika stood up again. "Lower class, indeed," she grumbled softly.
"I am beginning to see things your way, Erika," Sprocket said, obviously hearing what she had just whispered. "The very thought of my own mother calling you a lower class really makes my oil boil."
"Oil boil," Erika chuckled. "That's cute, Sprocket; really."
*It seemed to me that my presence was making him less and less evil,* Erika continued. *Oh, he might be cheering for his parents every now and then; secretly, however, he was cheering for the Power Rangers, simply because the destruction of his family and the empire would make me happy more than almost anything.
*One day, Gasket woke me up early.* Gasket stormed through the door, waking Erika up in a fright. She screamed when the door slammed against a wall.
"Arise, Miss Erika, for the Day of Daylight Freedom is at hand."
*The Day of Daylight Freedom was the one day out of the month that I was on my own, with no Machine Empire watching. It always began when dawning sun came up, and it always ended when the last sliver of sun disappeared beneath the horizon. But that day, I was going to receive a very unusual and unexpected surprise.
*The surprise began when I arrived at the Beach Club.* Erika walked around and sat a table all to herself. She ordered nothing. At a table behind her, most of the Power Rangers were watching her. Danny was the only one not with them; he was studying in the library.
"Who's that lovely girl?" Jason whispered.
"Her name is Erika," Tommy answered.
"We don't see her very often," Kat continued. "I think this is the first time this month that we have seen her. Is that right, Tanya?"
"That's right," she responded. "It's been weeks since we last saw her."
"Wait a minute," Rocky added. "Didn't Danny say that he knew a girl named Erika?"
Adam nodded. "Yeah, but he said that she probably died."
"Well, let's go ask," Jason suggested, getting up. Shrugging, the others got up with him and approached Erika's table.
"Hey, Erika," Adam said, grabbing her attention. "It's been a while. May we join you?"
"Certainly," Erika said, pulling out a couple of chairs. They all sat down. "So, what's on your mind?"
"You," Jason answered. Quickly, Kat kicked Jason's leg under the table, trying to tell him not to be rude. "Ow!" he quietly responded.
"Actually, we were wondering why see you so seldom," Kat said.
"Well…" Erika hesitated. "Let's just say that I'm a here and there kind of person. You never know what is going to happen next." At that moment, the communicators went off. "What was that? What was that sound?"
"Uh-oh," Tanya thought. "Nothing. They're just our pagers. We'll be right back." They started to leave, but Erika got up.
"I want to see it. Can I see the pager?"
"We need to answer immediately, so that the people on the other side won't think that we're ignoring them," Tommy quickly answered. "We'll be right back."
As they all left, Erika started to breathe heavily, but quietly. "Fine. Go ahead and go on with your lives. It's not like I've never been ignored before. Just go ahead. Do whatever you want to do, and watch me just fade into the shadows of the background. I'm no longer important. I'm no longer needed." She started to walk off in the direction of the park.
She stopped walking when she arrived at the lake. She started to kick at the rocks in her path. When she stopped for a second, she saw Danny about 10 feet away from her. At first, she ignored him. But when she began to depart, she tripped over a stone that was half-buried in the ground. She gave a scream as she fell face first.
Danny, not being able to ignore a damsel in distress, was motivated to help her. But not before he placed a necklace he had inside his shirt. He wouldn't want his 7th birthday present get ruined for anything in the world. Once the necklace was protected, he walked to Erika and helped her up. "Are you all right, Miss?"
Not used to being with strangers, Erika had no idea what to say for a quick moment. But she finally had the words to answer him. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just this stupid stone that…" She pulled the stone out of the ground and gave it a super kick. The stone was the size of a soccer ball, but she kicked it like it weighed nothing. Danny was quite surprised by the way it flew away.
"Oh my goodness! You can do a good kick!"
"Thanks," Erika replied. "Where I grew up, I really needed to know how." But she wrapped her hands around the ankle that was scraped against the stone. She collapsed to the ground. "Ow! Clumsy me!"
"No, you're not. You're hurt. Let me take a look at it." Reluctantly, Erika allowed him to pull back a few inches of her jeans. There, Danny saw not one but several cuts on that ankle. One of them looked the freshest. "Oh my goodness! You must have been through a lot!"
Erika shook her head. "If only you knew … oh, never mind. These cuts are like memories to me."
In confusion, Danny turned to her. "How could such terrible cuts like these be memories for you?"
"Where I grew up, it's not the physical hurts that count." What Erika meant was the fact that she was emotionally hurt throughout her years as a slave. Of course, Danny didn't know that, so he was even more confused when she said that.
Danny was about to help Erika up again when his communicator beeped. Erika recognized the tune and gave a weak smile. "Is that a pager?"
"Uh, yeah, that's it! It's my pager!"
But Erika's smile intensified, meaning that she didn't believe him. "That's what a group of people said a while ago. Would you mind telling me what is going on here?"
"Uh, yeah, I do mind."
She was about to scream at him when she heard an explosion. She turned to the direction of the explosion, and Danny took a moment to teleport away. Of course, the sound of the explosion was too loud for Erika to hear, and she didn't see him teleport.
"Uh, Sir, would you mind help–" Erika turned to where Danny was. Now, he was gone. Erika scoffed at this and straightened herself up. "Oh, I hate arrogant men! That boy reminds me of Danny."
As she continued through the park, she heard the most peculiar sounds ever. They were the sounds of an attack, coming from the mountain range. She ran to the source as fast as she could. There, at the battle scene, were three objects she had never seen before, all in skyscraper size.
The first was a large monster that looked almost like a gorilla. It had long black hair on it's head and thick black fur on its skin. The second was the Zeo MegaZord. The third was Pyramidas, the Gold Ranger's Zord. Both the MegaZord and Pyramidas were battling against the monster. Erika was repulsed, realizing what was going on. Gasket had talked about a battle; Sprocket said so himself.
Not wanting Gasket to win a victory, she started running to the monster. She appeared to be an ant compared to it, so no one had noticed her. She had grabbed two objects on her way: a thick and long stick; and a flat, sharp rock in the shape of a triangle. She took out some string that she kept in her pocket and tied the rock to the stick. Once completed, the new weapon looked like an axe, and she began using it like an axe.
She ran straight to one of the monster's feet and struck at it with the axe. For a moment, it screamed and looked for the source of the pain, but Pyramidas struck at its chest with its lasers. Erika and the monster's opponents took turns at distracting it; but all this time, the Rangers didn't notice Erika.
Finally, Erika saw that the Zeo MegaZord was getting ready to finish off the monster. She ran away from the battle scene to avoid any injuries. The Zeo MegaZord fired, and the monster was destroyed. "Yes!" Erika shouted. "Whoo-hoo! Yeah! You're the champions!"
*Despite my cheers, the Rangers thought the victory was theirs,* Erika said.
[End Flashback]
Part 2
"So, that's why that monster was looking down so often," Danny said. "You were attacking him, too."
"I was quite surprised that you never noticed, Danny," Erika added. "I thought you had seen me. Looks like I'm wrong."
"So, your first battle was not while you were a Ranger," Justin said.
"But it involved the Rangers," Erika appended. "It involved me helping them. That was close enough for a first time."
"Did anyone know that you were there?" Justin asked.
"Oh, yeah," Erika answered. "Sprocket knew."
"Besides him," Danny said.
"Zordon knew. Does he count?" Erika quickly asked.
Danny was at a loss for words at the moment. "How did he know?" he finally had the words to ask.
"He found out from me. Under Zordon's instructions, Alpha was looking for a missing piece of the Zeo Crystal–"
"The white portion," Danny interrupted.
"Now, Danny, who's telling this here story?"
"You are."
"Well, then, you'd better let me tell it. Well, Zordon knew that something was afoot about the monster looking down constantly. But that was not his concern at the moment. Later that night, Zordon had instructed Alpha to locate the white portion of the Zeo Crystal."
[Begin Flashback]
"Aye-yi-yi, Zordon!" Alpha shouted. "I've found it! I've found the missing piece of the Zeo Crystal! It is located among the Machine Empire!"
"Excellent, Alpha," Zordon praised. "Now, we can create a White Zeo Ranger when the others would need it. Can you get a visual on exactly it is located?"
"Not a visual, Zordon. However, I can be able to get an audio. At least we'll be able to hear what is going on around it. I suppose that's better than nothing."
"Bring up the audio, Alpha. We must find out what the situation is so we shall evaluate it carefully."
At first, all that was heard was a static. Then, the sound of laughter replaced it. The voice of Sprocket came up first. "I saw you in that battle this afternoon. I was very proud of you. I didn't know that you had the nerve to do that."
Then, Erika's voice came up. "Sprocket, if you were me, and you saw this battle going on that you knew had to start with Gasket, would want to him to have a victory?"
"Even if I was me, I wouldn't want him to have a victory." They broke out into frolicking laughter at this response.
"Oh, Sprocket!" Erika said, catching her breath. "You are a riot!" Erika looked at a small black pouch he had in his hands. "Another present, I assume, Sprocket?"
"Gasket would eliminate me if he finds me with this. He told me that you were a danger to him, so he took you so that you would be out of the way. He also told me that he took something from you because he sensed danger in it, too."
"So, whatever Gasket took from me, you brought it back?"
"Correct." He lifted up the black pouch and removed something. It was the locket that had Danny's picture!
Erika gasped when she saw it. "Oh, Sprocket, thank you! This locket means the world to me! Thank you very much!" She delicately placed the locket around her neck, then tucked it under her shirt.
"Who was that boy in the picture?"
"He was my best friend before Gasket brought me here. We used to do anything and everything together. We had such a fun time while it lasted."
"What was his name?"
"Daniel Michaels."
Zordon chuckled when he heard the name.
"Daniel Michaels? I have never that name before. I wonder why Gasket is so afraid of him? Oh, well; at least you got your locket back. Do you miss him, Erika?"
"Well, I miss his stupid jokes, and his stupid surf board, and his stupid…stupidness!"
Sprocket chuckled. "Oh, Erika."
"And I'm stupidly starting to worry about him. If Daniel has kept the maturity he had when we were young, then he would have been a goner a long time ago." But before Erika could add to that, footsteps were suddenly heard, walking up the steps that led to Erika's room.
"Oh, no," Erika whispered. "It's Gasket! Quick, hide inside the chest!" Sprocket ran to a large chest, large enough to hold him. Erika closed the chest, but didn't lock it. Since machines didn't need air to survive, Sprocket was just fine inside it, and he could hear every word that is said beyond the walls of the chest.
Gasket walked through the door a few moments after Sprocket was hidden. Erika stood up and bowed to Gasket. "Your Highness. Did I forget to do something?"
"No, Miss Erika," he answered in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"Would you like me to do something?"
"I only wanted to talk to you for a moment. Rise, Miss Erika, and sit on the bed." Erika obeyed, and Gasket sat next to her. "Now, I am going to let bygones be bygones. Do you know what would make me very happy, Miss Erika?"
"Yes," Erika answered, pointing to the white portion of the Zeo Crystal, located at the top of a small dresser. "You want me to unlock the power of that Crystal."
"That is correct, dear."
"But I've tried as hard I could for the past nine years, honestly!"
"Of course, you have; but we must try harder, must we not?"
"And when I do, will you please send me back to Earth? You said that you would."
Gasket feigned shock. "My dear Erika, do you not like it here: a vast, vast empire, all for you to explore, and with no other humans to share it with?"
"But if I don't get back to Earth, I won't get another family," Erika added sadly.
"Another family?" Gasket asked in sarcasm. "What makes you think that anyone anywhere would want a homely girl like you?"
Erika looked at him. Her frown was no longer of grief, but of anger. "You're just trying to intimidate me again! You're not going to trick me on that one! Been there, done that!"
Gasket turned to her in true shock. "Tell me when I lost control of this conversation, exactly when!"
"You think you can treat me like a slave, don't you? Think again! I might have been your captive for past ten years, and your slave for more than nine out of those ten, but that doesn't mean that I belong to you!"
"Oh, but you do belong to me," Gasket pointed out.
"I belong to no one, least of all you," Erika insulted. "Just you wait; I'll unlock that power, and when I do, I'm going to give it to its rightful owners: the Power Rangers! And if they are unable to overthrow you, then I will!"
Gasket stared at her. She seemed to be serious. He realized how dangerous Erika really was to him. Despite all that, he attempted to daunt her. "That is the worse nonsense I have ever heard! Rubbish and drivel! The thought of you attacking my monsters and helping the Power Rangers; it is preposterous!"
Erika paused for a second, then said, "Why? Why is it so hard for you to imagine?"
"Because you are my slave, Erika. My spell of intimidation on you has kept you here all these years, although you do have a certain amount of control left. Oh, yes, you can brush up your skills and try your best; but under all that, you are still my slave. The thought that a slave of evil helps the forces of good? Ha, it is laughable!"
"But my father–"
"Your father was weak. He spoiled you rotten. You are as spoiled as a rotten egg. He filled your head with silly hopes, thoughts, and dreams that would never even come close to become true. Not even close!"
"If my father was alive–"
"Well, he is not, is he?" Gasket interrupted.
"He's alive in my heart."
"Do not cling to the past, my dear. It is not very attractive. Speaking of the past, do you know exactly how your father died?"
"Yes. It was an accident during a storm–"
"During a storm, yes; an accident, no." Erika looked at him. "When your father ran to the sea to retrieve his boat, I sent my strongest winds to carry him to the seas. He was drowned in seconds. The rest, you know."
"So…" Erika said accusingly. "You killed my father."
"Correct. It was the only way for you to be out of the way. Now that you know the truth, I have just one more errand for you to do."
"Name it, and I'll see if I will do it or not."
"Destroy the Power Rangers."
Although she was very surprised by the request, she successfully pretended to remain calm. "I don't even know who they are. How am I supposed to destroy them if I don't even know them?"
"You will destroy every citizen in Angel Grove until you find them."
Erika gasped and started shouting. "I am not going to destroy innocent people! It isn't a humane task for anyone or any thing to do, especially a human!"
"If you will not obey, then you will stay in the Machine Empire forever."
"Then, so be it. By remaining here, I will have more chances to overthrow the empire successfully!"
Gasket stopped short, but kept a firm tone. "Because you have made that threat, you will remain locked in you room tomorrow with no meals during those 24 hours. That will teach you not to even think about conquering over the Machine Empire!"
"If you want to teach me not to overthrow the empire, then you will need guidelines and rules that will be much more strict than remaining in my room with no meals. Nothing is going keep me from running my tongue. Do you hear? Nothing!"
Gasket paused. Dangerous seemed to be an understatement. If pushed too hard, she could be menacing, even deadly. But that doesn't stop Gasket from attempting to frighten her. "If I hear you plotting to destroy the Machine Empire again, I will destroy you personally!" With that, he stormed out of the room and locked the door.
Angered, Erika blew the raspberry out at him. "Boy, that Gasket has got a lot of nerve."
Sprocket opened the chest and crawled out of there. "I am ashamed to call him family. If I was king of the Machine Empire, I would have terminated him on the spot!"
"That does it! Locked door or not, I'm getting out of here!"
"Erika, can we not wait until morning?" Sprocket asked.
She stopped for a second. "Well, I suppose we can. I'm getting tired, anyway." She sighed as she walked to the other side of the room. She picked up a white nightdress and walked through a thick curtain. She quickly undressed herself while covered by the curtain and placed on the nightdress.
As she undressed herself, she started to sing:
o/` I'm as mild and as meek as a mouse. o/`
o/` When I hear a command, I obey. o/`
o/` But I know a spot in this house o/`
o/` Where no one can stand in my way. o/`
o/` In my own little corner, o/`
o/` In my own little chair, o/`
o/` I can be whatever I want to be. o/`
o/` On the wing of my fancy, o/`
o/` I can fly anywhere o/`
o/` And the world will open it arms to me. o/`
o/` I am in the chamber of the Power Rangers. o/`
o/` I am chatting with them as my closest friends. o/`
o/` The results of the Machine Empire's dangers: o/`
o/` Destruction. That's their fate, and that's the end. o/`
o/` I will do what I can for defense of the world. o/`
For a moment, she feigned flattery. "Oh, that was nothing; really!"
o/` I'm the belle of them all o/`
o/` In my own little corner, o/`
o/` All alone o/`
o/` In my own o/`
o/` Little chair. o/`o/`
As walked out, noticing that Sprocket was listening to her while she sang the song. "I always told you that you sing pretty," he said.
"How are we going to get out if the door is locked, anyway?" Erika asked.
"I am glad that you asked, Erika," Sprocket answered, walking to a wall. He softly pushed against it, and a small portion of it opened.
"A secret passageway!" Erika said. She looked down. "It's dark down there, which means that no one probably knows of this passageway."
"That direction leads to Weapons' Room. If you want to get anything from there, you can just simply climb down and crawl through the vent about 15 feet below."
Erika turned her head and looked up. That direction was also dark. "What's up?"
"That way is the Fabric Room. Boring!"
"Wait a minute; are there clothes in that Fabric Room?"
"Yeah, but mostly just tunics and masks."
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Sprocket, I don't know what I would do without you! Now, let's get to bed so we'll be ready in the morning!"
"Is there anything you want me to get from the Weapons' or Fabric Room? I do not require sleep, you know."
Erika looked at Sprocket. "A good idea. I'll make a list of the things I need. I'll write them down here." She opened a drawer and removed a sheet of paper. She took a pen and started writing stuff down. Sprocket waited patiently. She quickly gave the list to Sprocket. "Be as quick as you can."
"Aye-yi-yi, Zordon! Apparently, the situation that is at hand is critical! It is to the point where this human girl can be terminated!"
"Do not worry, Alpha. If she has a plan as brilliant as I believe she thinks it is, then she will be successful. In addition, she has befriended Prince Sprocket, giving her a great advantage; and she was an acquaintance to Danny. The white portion of the Zeo Crystal belongs to her. Alpha, energize the crystal segment so that it will respond to her touch."
"Right away, Zordon. Energizing now!"
Erika gave a happy sigh as Sprocket was climbing down to the Weapons' Room. For the first time in nine years, Erika is about to feel real freedom. Freedom without the Machine Empire. Freedom without work, worries, or abuse. She climbed into her bed, although she knew that she was going to get little sleep. She was too excited.
As she was thinking about her escape, a humming sound filled her ears. A bright white light came for a moment, then everything stopped. Erika shot up and looked at her dresser, where the white portion of the Zeo Crystal was.
She got up and reached for the crystal to examine it. But when her hand came within a few inches, it started to glow the white light and make the same humming sound. Erika took her hand away and it stopped glowing and humming. She tried again, and got the same result.
*Then, I tried to grab it," Erika continued. *This time, a kind of power jolt went inside of me. Pained quickly, I was stunned for a moment, then dropped the crystal. The moment that I released it, I felt two different kinds of relief. One was that I was no longer in the sudden pain. The other was that … Well, let's say that I felt a burden being lifted.*
*Zordon told us that the moment you touched the crystal, Gasket's spell of intimidation was destroyed,* Danny pointed out.
*That could be,* Erika added. *But I didn't know that. All I knew was…*
"The power of this crystal must be unlocking," Erika said to herself. "This is almost too perfect; I will be able to escape, get the freedom I deserve, and give this power to the Power Rangers; all in one day! When I'm out of here, you are going to come with me, Crystal." Then, she went back into bed.
"Erika, wake up! Another monster belonging to Gasket is attacking Angel Grove as we speak!" Erika shot up when she heard Sprocket say that. She looked to one side and saw an off-white colored tunic with matching pants hanging nearby the secret passageway. She smiled at Sprocket sleepily.
Erika quickly rolled out of bed without a sound. She ran to the clothes and went through her thick curtain. She removed her nightdress and placed on the new clothes. She walked out, looking like a brand new warrior. "What hour is it, Sprocket?"
"It is 8:30."
"All right. Everything that I want to take with me is packed inside the black tote bag. You are responsible for it. When I give you the signal, teleport it down to Earth nearby my location."
"Right."
"There's a check list underneath my pillow. I want to make sure I that have everything for my plan to overthrow. Read it to me, will you?"
Sprocket walked to Erika's bed and threw aside the pillow. He picked up the check list and started to read off it. "Spike shoes."
She tied on the shoes when he said that. "Check."
"Nuckle claws."
She picked up the set of hand claws from her dresser and placed them on, fitting them into her knuckles. "Check."
"Harpoon gun."
She picked up the weapon and placed it in a small white pack. "Check."
"Grapnel hooks and rope."
She removed the items from a drawer and laid it with the harpoon gun. "Check."
"Direction compass."
She took the compass from a pocket in her jeans from the day before. "Check."
"Rubber gloves."
She looked into a drawer and took out a pair. She placed them in her pocket, knowing that they would not be useful at this moment but later. "Check."
"Emergency daggers."
Walking to her desk, she picked up a pair of daggers in their sheathes. She placed them between her sides and the sash supporting the pants. "Check."
"Communication device."
She pulled out what looked like a tiny headset. The bulkiest objects were the listening device and the receiver, each about the size of a dime. She placed the listening device in one ear and draped the wire behind it, so as to hide it. She pulled the wire with the receiver through the shirt portion of her tunic and placed the receiver behind her collar. "Check."
"Teleportation device."
She walked to the head of her bed, where a small contraption that looked like a calculator was laying. It was no larger than her palm. "Check."
"Secret weapon."
Erika smiled as she walked to her desk. She opened a drawer and removed a box about a foot long. She opened it, showing the white portion of the Zeo Crystal. "Check."
Sprocket gasped. "You are taking that with you?"
"Yes, I'm taking this with me. I believe the power of this crystal was freed last night. When I touched it, it almost burned my hand!"
"Okay, Erika; I have had enough of your stories."
"No, it's true! And since I knew that this power was released, I could give it back to the Power Rangers, where it belongs. Besides, I'm not stupid enough to leave this where Gasket can get his oily hands on it."
Sprocket chuckled. "All right. That's everything on the check list."
"Good. Now, get to your room and turn on your computer. Let me know when you do through the communication device. When you give me the signal, I'll teleport down to Earth. Your computer should detect me and the battle. Tell me which way to go from there. I'll tell you what the state of the battle is and ask for your advice. All right?"
"Right!" He walked to the secret passageway and picked up a small black tote bag. He was about to go out when he glanced at the dresser and pointed to the top of it. "Don't forget your mask!"
Erika turned to the dresser and smiled. She placed her hair over her head and secured it. Then, she placed the mask on, making sure that her hair and the receiver of the communication device were underneath it.
Admiring how magnificent Erika looked, Sprocket draped the tote bag over his shoulder and climbed down, getting ready to get to his room.
While waiting for Sprocket's signal, Erika walked to the desk again. Pulling out a drawer, she removed her white handkerchief and tied it around her neck. Then, she placed on her locket containing Danny's picture and stuffed it under her mask and tunic, so as no one could see it. Then, she pulled on the pack that contained the harpoon gun and the grapnel hooks.
From the listening device, she heard a static for a moment, then Sprocket's voice. "Erika, the computer is on. Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, little buddy. I'll teleport down to Earth in 5 seconds." She took one last look around the room before looking at the teleportation device. Giving a final farewell in her thoughts, she pressed a green button on the device and teleported out of the Machine Empire forever.
For a moment, Erika had no idea what was going on. But then, she felt solid ground below her feet. She opened her eyes, and familiarized herself with the Angel Grove Park. "Okay, Sprocket? Can you hear me?"
"Affirmative; loud and clear."
"All right, Sprocket; I'm out. Where do I go to from here?"
"My radar indicates that the battle is taking place on a heading of 132º on your compass."
Erika picked up the compass and placed it on the heading Sprocket told her. She turned a little bit to her right, then checked her compass again. She looked in front of her and started running. "Is this the right direction?"
"That is correct. Keep going; it should take you about 10 minutes to get there."
*As I continued running, questions began racing through my mind,* Erika said. *Questions like: "Where was I going? What exactly am I going to do when I get there? Will the Rangers see me this time? Will they believe me when I tell them about my past?" Those kinds of questions and many, many more, until I finally got there. That battle looked horrible.*
*What battle wouldn't be horrible, Erika?* Danny asked.
*Hmm, good po