The End... for now
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Author's Note: This is the first story in what I hope to be an epic series. I'll try to stick pretty close to the continuity of the show where I can, but I can't make any promises. All I can say is that the major plot points of the show will still happen here, albeit somewhat differently. Oh, and if anyone out there has any story ideas, reference material, plots/details of PR television episodes, monsters, or feedback, please let me know. I have a lot of ideas but i have a whole lot of gaps to fill in, and I can always use some help. You can email me at emerald_phoenix@hotmail.com. Thanks a million.
Year 1, Day 1
The mysterious fleet of skull-headed cruisers moved slowly and silently through the blackness of space. In contrast, the bridge of the flagship was a hive of activity. Computers beeped, screens flashed, and crew members hurried to and fro, anxious to please their hard, cruel master.
The blue-scaled reptile, garbed in flowing robes of scarlet, black, and gold, sat high above the organized chaos in his throne-seat at the rear of the bridge, ignoring the activity. Instead, his eyes were focused upon the forward viewscreen and the image it held. The planet hung on the viewscreen like a combination sapphire-and-emerald sphere swirled with wisps of white clouds. Against the backdrop of space, it appeared serenely beautiful, but that was not the ruler's focus. No, he was more interested in what, or rather who, the unknown planet held.
"So this is the planet to which that wench Allura fled?" Zarkon, evil Draconian king of Planet Doom, asked in a gravelly voice from atop his throne-seat at the rear of the bridge.
"Yes, milord," replied the tactical officer.
"Excellent. Begin scanning the area for a place to construct the castle fortress."
"Scans commencing, milord." The tactical officer bent over his console and began pressing buttons and twisting dials. Several minutes later, he had an answer. "Milord, this planet has a natural satellite approximately 3500 spans in diameter." As he spoke, the image on the forward viewscreen changed to a picture of the dark side of a gray, pock-marked moon. "Its atmosphere is rather thin, but it will support Draconian life, and most of our slaves should not have incapacitating problems. The human slaves, however, will be unable to function. The gravity is extremely low," the tactical officer continued, "but once the AGAGs go up, that effect will be canceled as well."
Zarkon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Very well. That moon will do nicely. Communications officer, give me a channel to the fleet."
The communications officer pressed a button on his board and nodded to his master.
"Draconian fleet, this is King Zarkon. You are to proceed to the moon orbiting this planet. Once there, you will have your non-human slaves begin unloading the AGAGs. When there is sufficient atmosphere and gravity, unload the human slaves and begin construction of the castle fortress." Zarkon makes a slicing motion across his neck with a finger, and the communications officer cuts the connection.
"Channel closed."
Suddenly, proximity alarms blared and the flagship shuddered violently. The crew, including the king, was thrown unceremoniously to the deck. Crashes echoed up from below, accompanied by the screech of tearing metal and the howling of vacuum venting into space. Panels and monitors exploded, filling the bridge compartment with acrid, foul-smelling smoke. Main power failed, causing the lights to go out and plunging the bridge into total darkness.
The racket subsided as quickly as it began. As the emergency lighting kicked in, the crew slowly picked themselves up from the deck.
"What in the Seven Hells of Xenda just happened?!" roared an enraged King Zarkon.
"Sire," the tactical officer began shakily, "we collided with an artificial satellite orbiting the planet."
"We what?!"
"Hit a satellite, milord," the tactical officer responded, his voice steadied.
"How was this allowed to happen? "Why did our brainless helmsman fail to avoid it?" raved Zarkon, crossing to the helm station with long, angry strides.
"I-I d-didn't k-know it w-was there!" the terrified helmsman stuttered. "I-It was cloaked from our scanners!"
"Fool! You make excuses. This planet's technology is not advanced enough to hide a satellite from us. You have failed in your duty, and you know I do not tolerate failure."
"I apologize most humbly, milord! I swear this will never happen again!"
"Shut up, you pitiful wretch!" Zarkon interrupted. "You are correct; this will not happen again." Zarkon turned his head to face the rear of the bridge and shouted, "Security!" In response, two security guards rushed to the helm station.
"Yes, sire!" the security guards salute in unison.
"Escort this failure to the incinerator," Zarkon ordered. An expression of unbridled terror washed over the helmsman's face. "No!"
"Yes, sire!" the security guards acknowledge in unison, and roughly grab the helmsman by the arms and drag him from his seat.
"Sire, I beg of you!" screamed the helmsman as he was being dragged into a lift in a rear corner of the bridge. "Mercy, sire! Mercyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…." The scream died away as the lift door closed, leaving a blanket of frightened silence over the bridge. Nobody dared speak; they were too afraid of being the next to feel their master's wrath. Another officer hurries forward and silently slides into the helm seat.
After a long moment, Zarkon broke the silence. "Damage report," he ordered, considerably more calm than a few moments earlier.
The tactical officer, having fully regained his composure, consulted his display. "The collision damaged us severely, milord. We lost all of the slave decks to vacuum; there are no survivors. Our secondary fuel pod ruptured, but the containment fields held. We are, however, leaking fuel from the primary pod. We are running at one-quarter power. All of our weapons systems are down, as are long-range communications and scanners."
"And the satellite?"
"Completely destroyed, milord."
"Can we make it to the moon?"
"Yes, sire, but we can go no further than that."
"Very well," the king acknowledges. "Communications officer, can you monitor transmissions on the planet?"
"It will be difficult to do with so many systems down, but yes."
"Then do so. I want to know if we have been detected. I also want to know the name of the planet I am about to conquer. Report your results to me as soon as you get them."
"Yes, milord." The communications officer set about the arduous task at hand.
Something is not right about this place, thought Zarkon. I can feel it. I must be cautious, and buy my plans time to bear fruit.
King Zarkon's massive space fleet converged on the moon like bees to a hive. Upon landing, each ship opened its cargo bay doors and crew members brought out slaves. The slaves, in turn, began unloading supplies, as well as parts for the AGAGs. Several minutes later, Zarkon's badly crippled flagship landed, trailing vapor from a jagged tear in the lower port engine. The king debarked from the flagship after landing operations were completed and surveyed the scene around him. After a few seconds, he was interrupted by the communications officer, who bowed formally. The king acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod of his head.
"Sire!" the communications officer reported breathlessly. "I have the information you requested!"
"Well?" Zarkon prodded impatiently, "Speak!"
Seemingly ignorant of his master's dark mood, the communications officer continued. "Milord, the humans who inhabit the planet below have not detected anything unusual."
"And the name?" Zarkon pressed hurriedly, "Did you get it?"
"I did, milord. The inhabitants of this planet call it Earth."
The color drained from Zarkon's face when he heard this proclamation. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked quietly.
"I am, milord. I checked it multiple times."
"You had better be, lieutenant," Zarkon growled after regaining his composure. "If I find out that you have given me false information, you will be sent to the torture chambers for a long and painful death. Is this clear?"
"Very clear, sire," the lieutenant replied, seemingly oblivious to his sire's mood swings.
"Good. Return to your post and continue monitoring planetary transmissions. Contact me if anything changes."
"Yes, milord," the communications officer bowed, spun on a heel, and marched off.
Things are developing according to my worst fears, Zarkon thought. Could it be that the prophecy will indeed come true after all? Zarkon shook his head to clear it. Best to ignore this for now and concentrate on the princess. If the prophecies are true, there will be plenty of time to deal with them later.
Once he was out of sight inside the flagship, the communications officer heaved a sigh of relief and slumped against the bulkhead. I was lucky, he thought, knowing what happened to many a bearer of bad news to the king. I know the prophecies as well as you, milord. That has the potential to be very bad news indeed.
"My king."
Zarkon turned to see Admiral Corbec, clad in a Draconian Admiral's uniform, standing to his left. "Yes?"
"My king, half of the AGAGs are in place and producing gravity and atmosphere. General Vistro is supervising the remainder of the installations," Corbec reported, gesturing to a Draconian in General's dress several hundred meters away.
"Excellent," replied a surprised Zarkon, "you are ahead of schedule. Unload the rest of the slaves as soon as you are sure there is enough atmosphere to support them. In the mean time, have any slaves not necessary for AGAG construction begin work on the castle complex."
"Yes, my king. It should be completed in eight or nine of this planet's days."
"Supervise them yourself, Corbec," continued Zarkon. "I want no mistakes."
"Yes, my king."
"After the castle is constructed, take two cruisers to the planet and begin harvesting slaves. General Vistro will command the second cruiser and a platoon of robot soldiers. Search for Allura's hiding place. If you find it, you may attack, but I want her alive."
"As, you command, milord." Admiral Corbec saluted, then marched off to carry out his king's orders, leaving Zarkon alone with his thoughts. Things are proceeding as planned, the tyrant king mused. Soon Allura will be mine and this planet will be good for nothing but slave production. The conquest has begun! His spirits lifted, King Zarkon turned and walked slowly up the ramp to his flagship, having forgotten about the dreaded prophecy hanging over his head.
Inside the Primary Chamber of the Command Center, lights flashed and sirens screamed. A panicked Alpha 5 scurried around the dais in the center of the room frantically trying to shut off the alarms. "Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!"
"What is happening, Alpha?" Zordon inquired calmly from his time-warp tube.
"Zordon! Ai-yi-yi!" came the frantic reply. "The orbiting satellite monitoring station has been destroyed!"
"By what?"
"I don't know!" Alpha wailed. "It was there one minute; the next it was space dust!"
"Calm yourself, Alpha. The satellite was well over a thousand years old. Even Eltaran technology can wear out when subjected to harsh conditions for a long period of time."
"Zordon, I don't think this was due to normal wear and tear. Before the satellite was destroyed, it transmitted this."
Alpha pressed some buttons and turned some dials on a control panel and the Viewing Globe lit up with an image of the satellite's collision with Zarkon's flagship. For a long moment nobody spoke.
Finally, Zordon broke the silence in a worried voice. "It appears you were correct, Alpha. The destruction of the satellite was not a coincidence. For many years I have been hoping against hope that this event would never come to pass."
"It was inevitable, Zordon," Alpha replied quietly. "The prophecies must be fulfilled."
"So it seems, Alpha. The Draconian fleet has come to Earth."
"What will we do now, Zordon?"
"We must wait for the Chosen?"
"They will come to us?"
"The Chronicles foretell that they will come to the valley. We must guide them from there."
"Ai-yi-yi! I hope they hurry, Zordon."
"So do I, Alpha, so do I."
Year 1, Day 8
Seven teens hiked along the floor of a desert canyon under the sweltering midday sun. They were clad in the white shirt and khaki pants of the Angel Grove Survival Scouts, and each wore a sweat band about his or her head. They all carried green camping backpacks and had green canteen belts draped about their hips. As the teens round a curve in the canyon, they pause against the rock wall.
"Okay, guys, water break," Matt Andrews said as he unbuckled his canteen from his belt, his brown hair soaked with sweat.
"About time," Zack Taylor panted, rivers of sweat running down his mahogany-skinned face. "It's hot out here."
"It's the desert, Zack," Jason Scott told him, running his hand through his dark brown hair. "It's supposed to be hot."
"Would someone please tell me again why we're hiking through this godforsaken wasteland on our own," Kimberly Hart piped up, her long brown hair matted against he back by sweat.
"We're not alone, Kim," Matt's sister Sam chided her gently. "The camp supervisors are following by jeep a few hours behind us, and we have a radio to call them in case we need help."
"Sam, you know what I mean, " Kim retorted tiredly.
"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to," Billy Cranston broke in. "You knew the Death Valley Trek was optional when you signed up."
"Yeah, but this is ridiculous! We're days from civilization!"
Matt stood up, postponing the argument. "Well, we'd better get going if we're going to make the next waypoint by nightfall," he said, closing and belting his canteen.
The rest of the group rose to its feet with a small amount of grumbling and once again set off down the canyon. Several hours later the wind began to pick up and the sky grew considerably darker.
Trini Kwan pointed ahead to a dark mass of swirling sand. "Guys, I think we'd better get to cover. That looks like a nasty sandstorm coming up."
At her words Matt focused on the view ahead. "Good thinking, Trini, that looks pretty bad.
"Matt, there's no way we can get to the waypoint before it hits," Sam put in as she came up next to him.
"I saw a cave a little ways back," Billy suggested. "If we hurry we might be able to make it before the sandstorm catches us."
"Then let's move. Billy, you lead; we don't have much time," Matt ordered.
With that, the group of friends turned around and started back the way they had come at a quick jog. Before they could reach Billy's cave, however, the sandstorm hit, enveloping the group in a swirling darkness.
"This is one hell of a sandstorm!" Zack called to the others, shouting to be heard above the howling wind.
"How much farther?" Kimberly yelled up to Billy.
"It should be around here somewhere!" came the response.
"Will we even be able to find it?" Trini wanted to know.
"Everyone feel the rock!" Jason's voice rang out. "If you find something, tug on the person next to you!"
The teens spread out in a line and desperately felt the rock wall of the canyon for anything even remotely resembling a cave. A short while later, Kim felt a strong hand grip her arm. She turned to see Matt standing next to a gaping hole in the side of the canyon.
"I think I found it!" he shouted to her.
Kim nodded and together they got the attention of the others. The whole group followed Matt into the cave and collapsed in a panting and sand-encrusted heap on the floor.
"Whew!" Sam exhaled.
"Man, that was brutal!" Zack exclaimed.
"It's a good thing you saw this cave, Billy," Trini said to him.
"It's a good thing Matt found this place," Kim put in.
"Anyway, at least we're out of that storm," Matt changed the subject.
"What's with these walls?" Jason suddenly asked.
"Yeah, Is it my imagination, or are they glowing?" Kimberly asked.
This prompted the teens to examine their surroundings. They looked around at the walls, floors, and ceiling of the cave, which seemed to be constructed entirely of yellow-white rock.
"I don't know, but I find it difficult to believe that this effect has natural origins," Billy analyzed.
"It doesn't really matter what this place looks like," Matt said. "It's shelter from the sandstorm."
"My brother's right," Sam spoke up. "We can worry about it later. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure could use some food."
"Me, too," Zack agreed. "Between the hike and that sandstorm, I'm starved."
"It's 5:30," Matt said, glancing at his watch. "We're tired and hungry, and we can't go anywhere until the sandstorm's over. I vote we camp here tonight."
"That's the best idea I've heard in days," Kimberly said.
"Yeah, I'm exhausted," Trini agreed. "Let's stay here."
"I don't feel like going anywhere either," Jason added.
"Then it's settled," Matt decided, getting back to business. "Billy, you'd better break out the radio. We need to tell the camp supervisors what's going on."
"Right."
"While he's doing that," Matt continued, "the rest of us will set up camp and get dinner started."
The teens busied themselves with their various tasks. Billy powered up the radio, the girls unpacked the food and utensils, and the rest of the boys set up camp. A short time later, the teens were interrupted by a squeal and a burst of static as Billy tried the radio.
"Hey, Matt!" Billy called. "I can't reach anybody on the radio."
"Are you sure?" Matt frowned. "Here-let me try." Matt took the microphone and pressed the talk button. "This is Blue Team calling Base Camp. Come in Base Camp." Static greeted Matt as he let go of the talk button. He twisted the dial again. "Blue Team to Base Camp, please respond." The radio spit forth more static. "Damn."
"What, no answer?'' Kim asked.
Matt shook his head. "Nothing. We can't get through on any frequency."
"It's almost as if we're being jammed," Billy mused.
"But how?" Jason asked.
"And by whom?" Sam added.
"I don't know, but I most decidedly don't like it." Billy answered.
"Maybe it's the storm," Trini suggested.
"That could be," Billy admitted.
The debate was cut short by Zack banging a spoon against the metal cooking pot. "Hey, guys! Let's eat! We can always try again later."
"Yeah," Matt agreed, "we'll call again after the storm passes."
The teens proceeded to form a circle and began talking, laughing, and eating, their worries temporarily forgotten.
While the teens were eating their evening meal in the cave, the camp supervisors, a man and a woman, were parked in a jeep a ways back up the canyon. In the distance, the raging sandstorm was visible. The man, who was apparently trying to call somebody over the radio, finally hung up the mic in disgust.
"I can't raise the kids on the radio," he said to the woman next to him.
"That's a pretty bad sandstorm. It might be interfering with the signal," his partner replied.
"Could be," the man sighed. "I hope those kids are all right."
"They should be, Jack; they're pretty resourceful. Anyway, we can't go looking for them until that storm clears. As long as they found cover they'll be fine."
"You're right, Grace. They're good kids; they'll be okay."
With that, Grace snuggled up next to Jack and the two continued they're silent vigil.
A short time later, at the cave, the teens had finished their dinner and lay around relaxing and talking.
"There's something wrong with that sandstorm," Billy commented, gazing at the howling winds just outside the cave mouth. "It shouldn't still be going like this."
"Something about this place feels strange," Sam agreed.
"You know, sis, I have a bad feeling about this," Matt said to her.
"This is really creepy, you guys," Kimberly said.
"It's probably just your imaginations," Jason told the group.
"Jason's right," Trini jumped in. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to try and get some sleep."
"Let's all get some shut-eye," Zack suggested with a yawn. "Morning's going to come awfully early."
"Good idea," Matt agreed, with a yawn of his own.
Year 1, Day 9
After the seven friends had been asleep for some time, they were awakened by unceremoniously by a deep rumbling sound and the earth trembling violently.
"What's going on?" Jason asked groggily of no one in particular as he opened his eyes.
"This is not good," Matt's voice said a few seconds later, as the vibrations grew worse.
Finally Billy realized the gravity of the situation. "Earthquake!" he shouted. Suddenly, the mouth of the cave began to collapse, followed closely by the rest of the group's sanctuary.
"Everybody, deeper into the cave!" Sam ordered.
The group obeyed her instantly, sprinting toward the rear of the cave. Halfway to safety Kim tripped and fell; Sam paused to help her up, and the both of them dive forward as the ceiling collapsed where they had been mere moments before. They rolled to their feet and continued running. Finally, the tremors subsided and the teens stumbled to a halt. As they caught their breath, the group looked back at the impenetrable mass of rock blocking the way out.
Kim turned to Sam. "That was close. Thanks, Sam."
"No problem," Sam acknowledged, panting.
"Everyone all right?" Matt asked, and received a nod from the others.
"Well we're certainly not getting back out that way," Trini commented wryly.
"I don't supposed anyone grabbed the supplies?" Jason asked.
"There wasn't time," Zack replied. "Everything happened too fast."
"We're lucky we got out of there alive," Billy said.
"I new something was wrong with this place," Sam murmured.
"First the sandstorm, then the cave-in," Matt said thoughtfully. "It's almost like we're being forced to take a certain path."
"We can worry about that later," Jason told him. "Right now, we have to figure out how to get out of here."
"You know, these caves are supposed to open onto tunnels that run throughout the canyon," Billy mused. "We may be able to get out through those."
Matt shook his head. "Too risky. There are supposed to be thousands of passages; it's much more likely that we'll get lost and never find a way out."
"Great! Just great! What else can go wrong?" Kimberly demanded angrily.
"I'm not anxious to find out," Trini replied.
"What we need is a guide-someone who knows the tunnels," Sam suggested.
"Oh right," Kim retorted sarcastically. "Like we're really going to find someone actually living here in these caves who can show us a way out. Get real!"
"It's not a bad idea," Matt ignored Kimberly's outburst. "There are legends of a group of people living in these caves."
"And how would you know that?" Zack questioned him.
Matt shrugged. "I read a lot about different myths and legends; most are based in fact."
Jason spoke up. "Okay. Say these legends are true, and say we do find these cavemen. How can we trust them to lead us out?'
"We can't," Matt shrugged again.
"But how do we find them?" Kimberly asked, a small glimmer of hope in her eye. "You said yourself that it's too risky wandering around these tunnels."
Trini, who up until this time had remained silent and stared past the teens into the rear of the cave, suddenly spoke in a quiet voice "Uh, guys, I don't think that ill be a problem."
Sam looked at Trini quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"You might want to take a look behind you," she said, gesturing to the back of the cave.
At her words, the teens turned around and saw a group of cavemen dressed in dirty, ragged clothing standing in the shadows at the rear of the cave.
Jason, still looking at the cavemen, leaned his head toward Matt. "Maybe your cavemen are real."
Just then an old caveman with gray hair, a long scraggly beard, and leathery skin stepped forward carrying a walking staff.
When he spoke to the teens, it was in a soft yet commanding voice. "Please, follow."
"Polite, aren't they?" Sam whispered to Zack, who was standing next to her.
"I don't like this," Zack replied in a quiet voice.
"What do we have to lose?" Trini, who overheard the exchange asked aloud.
"I could name a few things," Kimberly replied. "Please, follow." This time the old caveman's voice was more urgent.
"C'mon guys, let's go," Matt said to the group.
The other teens exchanged glances and followed Matt and the cavemen into the tunnels, the old man with the walking stick in the lead. The cavemen led the friends through a maze of tunnels, and soon the teens are completely lost. Many hours later the group stopped.
"I'm exhausted," Kim complained. "Matt, this was a really bad idea."
"We've been wandering around these caves for hours and haven't even found out these guys' names," Jason agreed tiredly.
Matt turned to the old caveman. "How much farther is it?"
"Not far," the caveman replied, pointing ahead to where a diffuse silvery glow shined around a bend in the tunnel. "There."
"It's about time. We've been walking for most of the day," Zack said.
"My feet are killing me," Trini added.
"And we have had to go without food since dinner last night," Billy put in.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Matt asked eagerly. "Let's go!"
Before anybody could stop him, Matt bolted off down the tunnel.
"Wait!" the old caveman called after him. "Stop!"
But Matt ignored him and rounded the corner ahead. Several seconds later the group heard a loud ZZZAP! and saw miniature lightning bolts arc from around the bend. Matt flew back against the rock wall, propelled by one of the lightning bolts striking his chest. He slammed into the wall and crumpled to the ground, face first. The rest of the teens looked at each other in shock, then raced to Matt. The cavemen hurried after them.
Sam arrived at Matt's crumpled form first and kneeled beside his head. "Matt!" she cried, feeling his neck for a pulse. When she found it, she sighed in relief. "He's alive."
Matt groaned and rolled over, propping himself up on an elbow. His shirt had a smoldering hole in it where the lightning bolt had struck him and the bare skin underneath was cherry-red.
"W-what hit me?" Matt asked groggily.
"You all right?" a concerned Zack asked.
"I'll live," came the reply.
After seeing that his friend was all right, Billy walked over to an opaque, shimmering silver gate.
Jason, angry at recent events, turn on the old caveman. "What're you tryin' to pull?! He could have been killed!"
"Jason, calm down," Matt jumped in, trying to prevent a major confrontation. "It was my fault; I shouldn't have charged ahead like that."
"Yeah, but that thing could have killed you! These cavemen probably meant for us all to walk into it!" By this time Billy had nearly completed his examination. "This gate is most interesting," he informed the rest of them. "It apparently creates some sort of force field that shocks anyone who attempts to pass through it."
"See?!" Jason exclaimed triumphantly, "they do want us dead!"
"On the contrary," Billy corrected him. "The shock given out by the gate appears to be only as strong as the force applied to it. Matt received a rather nasty shock because he ran into the gate at full speed. If we were to walk into it, we would only feel a small jolt, similar to a static shock."
"Oh," Jason grumbled, "but I still don't like this."
What happened next came as a total shock to the group of teens.
"I apologize for this mishap. However, your friend has sustained no permanent damage," the old caveman told the teens.
At this, the entire group of friends spun around and looked at him, their jaws hanging open in surprise.
"Y-you can talk," Kim stuttered. "Regularly, I mean," she quickly added, a blush showing her embarrassment.
The old caveman grinned rather sheepishly. "Yes, I can," he replied. "So can all of my colleagues."
"But you've barely said two words to us since we met you. Why?" questioned Trini.
"The charade was necessary. We felt that you would not trust 'intelligent' cave-dwellers, and it was imperative that you follow us here," their guide explained.
"But why?" Sam queried. "What's so special about this place?"
"This is the gate to the Crystal Cavern. It is where the Chosen must be announced; inside they will accept their destiny," the caveman said gravely.
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Zack intoned, "but what's that got to do with us?"
The old caveman took his time answering, his appraising gaze sweeping over the teens. Matt wasn't sure, but he thought the old man may have looked at him just slightly longer than the rest.
When he finally answered, it was in a deep, ceremonious voice. "You are the Chosen-a special group of warriors charged with protecting the universe from the forces of evil. Enter the gate, and claim your destiny."
Jason, however, was not convinced. "Yeah, right. Nice joke. Ha-ha. Now why don't you show us the way out of the tunnels so we can get back to the outside."
The caveman remained steadfast. "I am afraid this is no joke. There is a great evil lurking in the skies, one which only you can vanquish. You must go through that gate and enter the Command Center within."
"This sounds like something out a third-rate sci-fi movie," Matt muttered.
Kimberly turned to the old caveman. "In case you've forgotten, if we try to go through that gate we'll get zapped."
"No," the caveman replied. "Once the Chosen have been announced they may pass safely into the Crystal Cavern."
"Now I'm really confused," Kim commented under her breath.
"Okay, old man, you first," Jason told the caveman.
"I cannot," he replied.
"Why not?" Billy asked.
"Only a select few may pass through the gate. I am not one of those few," the caveman answered.
"Right. Like we're really going to fall for that line," Trini said.
Zack turned to his friends. "We might as well find our own way out. These guys aren't any help."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Zack," Billy interjected. "These tunnels are a maze; our chances of finding a way out are almost nonexistent. It's much more likely we'll get even more lost."
"Like that's possible," Kim snorted.
"No, Billy's right," Sam spoke up. "I can't even remember how to get back to the cave."
"So when do we get to start making our own choices again?" Jason grumbled.
"Who knows?" Trini replied.
"Well, guys," Matt said, slowly rising to his feet and dusting himself off, "it looks like we have to try the gate."
"I really don't like this," Zack said.
"Neither do I, but we don't have much of a choice," Matt told him.
"That's what I don't like," Zack shot back.
"Let's go," Matt said to the group, forestalling any further argument.
The teens looked at the cavemen, who were watching them intently. Then, after exchanging glances, the seven friends slowly, one by one, stepped through the shimmering gate. Matt went first, followed by Sam, Zack, Billy, Jason, Trini, and finally Kimberly. When Kimberly arrived on the other side, the others were staring in awe at the huge cavern surrounding them.
"That was too weird," Kim said to herself. Then, too the teens she added, "Hey, what are you staring at-ohhhhh," she sighed in amazement as she took in her surroundings.
"Amazing," Billy commented.
"Beautiful," Sam put in.
"Fantastic," Trini said.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing," Jason said.
The teens walked around the cavern, which appeared to be constructed entirely of clear crystal that pulsated with a soft golden light. In the center of the cavern stood a gigantic structure that looked like it grew from the crystal. It was attached to the rest of the cavern by crystal spires and buttresses.
"It looks like this whole place is made of glass or something," Matt observed.
"This is most definitely not glass," Billy commented, fingering the wall.
"It looks almost like diamond," Trini said helpfully.
"Or a clear quartz," Sam put in.
"What's with that strange glow?" Kim asked.
"As near as I can tell, it's natural," Billy replied.
"That guy wasn't kidding when he called this place the Crystal Cavern," Zack commented.
"Didn't he say something about a building in here somewhere?" Jason asked.
"The Command Center," Trini said, looking around. "He could have been talking about that thing," Trini pointed to the structure in the center of the cavern.
"Yeah," Jason agreed, "I think you're-"
Jason was cut off by a deep rumbling sound. Crystal began to rain from the ceiling in razor-sharp shards. Suddenly, the domed ceiling exploded in a shower of crystal and a wash of magenta-colored light. The shock wave threw the teens violently to the ground. Two of Zarkon's cruisers hovered over the open top of the cavern, eclipsing the night sky, with fighters pouring from open hanger bays to buzz like gnats around their respective motherships. All of the ships opened fire on the Command Center, but the laser blasts were repelled by a dome of light blue energy surrounding the structure. The teens groggily picked themselves up from their feet.
What the-?" Zack exclaimed, peering at the ships overhead raining destruction down on the cavern. "Whoa!" he said as they came into focus.
"Somehow I get the feeling the caveman was telling the truth after all," Sam remarked.
Just then the chamber was bathed in a yellow light, much more intense than the one produced by the crystals. When it disappeared, a platoon of Zarkon's robot soldiers, led by General Vistro himself, stood in the cavern. The teens were surrounded.
"Uh-oh," Matt said.
"Is it just my imagination, or are we being invaded?" Jason asked.
"Humans!" General Vistro's voice boomed throughout the cavern. "I am General Vistro, commander of the Draconian Army. In the name of His Majesty King Zarkon I order you to surrender. Come quietly and we will not be forced to treat you…unpleasantly."
"Yep. It's an invasion," Kim said.
"I've had a really bad day. I don't know about you guys, but I do not feel like being anybody's prisoner," Trini said angrily.
"I concur," Billy agreed.
"Let's kick some butt," Matt said.
The seven friends formed a circle, back to back, and launched themselves at the robot soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. The soldiers, temporarily unable to process a frontal assault by such weak forces, were momentarily frozen.
Matt landed in the middle of a group of robot soldiers and immediately performed a high side kick, hitting of the face of the soldier in front of him and dropping it like a stone. He then side-kicked the one to his right in the stomach, doubling it over, and followed that up with a left foot to the face that sent it sprawling onto its back. He continued around, sweeping the next one and delivering a vicious roundhouse to the fourth before dropping back into a defensive stance.
Meanwhile, Sam hit the face of a robot soldier with a deep jump kick on her way in. After she landed, she did a jumping split kick, downing the two soldiers on either side of her. She met the onrushing robot with a shoulder throw and dropped into a defensive stance.
Zack greeted the robot in front of him and to his left with a leg takedown and roundhoused the one in front of him and to his right. The two behind him grabbed his arms, but he twisted free, threw the right one, swept the left one, and struck a defensive pose. Kimberly dropped the soldier to her right with a quick one-two side kick combo. Then she swept the one to her left and leg-threw the one in front of her into the robot behind her.
Billy elbowed the two robots behind him and brought the backs of his closed fists up to connect with their faces. They collapsed. He then lightning-punched the one to his left and viciously uppercut the one to his right.
Trini landed and did a back handspring between the two robots behind her. She leapt again in a jumping forward split, this time taking out the two robots directly in front of her. She jumped onto them and pushed off, catapulting over her two remaining assailants. She spun around and treated the soldier to her right to a roundhouse and the one to her left to a high kick.
Jason gave the robot in front of him a low side kick, doubling it over, then used its back as a springboard to deliver a deep jump kick to the rearmost soldier. He spun, sweeping the one behind him to his left, then dealt an uppercut to the jaw of the last robot.
Their separate foes vanquished, the teens came together in a defensive circle, alert and ready.
"Is that the best you can do?" Matt taunted.
"Fools!" Vistro bellowed. "Use your laser rifles!"
The teens didn't even have a chance to move as the blue beams from the soldiers' laser rifles cut them down. As the stun beams hut them, the teens crumpled to the ground in a heap.
As the laser fire subsided, General Vistro heard Admiral Corbec's voice over his communicator.
"General Vistro, this defensive shield is too strong. We need more ships."
"Very well," Vistro responded into his communicator. "I will transport the seven humans I have captured to my ship and take them to the castle fortress. I will return shortly with reinforcements. Vistro out."
At Vistro's signal, yellow light once again filled the cavern. When it cleared the troops, teens, and General Vistro were gone. Vistro's cruiser ceased fire on the Command Center, turned, and took off into the night sky.
The supervisors' tent was bathed in a soft magenta. Thunder rolled across the valley. Jack groggily woke up and peered past the tent flap toward the horizon, where streams of magenta light could be seen, along with the silhouettes of two large objects hovering in mid air. Then one of the silhouettes broke off and began to make its way toward the camp. Startled, Jack called back to his partner.
"Grace! Come look at this!"
"What?" she replied sleepily. "Jack, it's late. Get back in here."
"No, Grace! You gotta see this!"
"Oh, all right," Grace snapped, crawling over to the tent flap, "what-? Oh, my god."
"What do you think it is?"
"Looks to me like some sort of electrical storm."
"What about an invasion?"
"You mean aliens? Yeah, right. You've been reading too many sci-fi comics."
"Fine. Then explain-"
A roar filled the air as the cruiser approached, cutting the supervisor off in mid-sentence.
On the bridge of General Vistro's Battle Cruiser the tactical officer reported to his commander. "General, there are two humans on the ground along our flight path. They appear to have spotted the Cruiser."
"Time to contact?"
"Fifteen seconds and closing."
"Bah! We don't have time to deal with them. Fire the lasers."
"Yes, sir. Commencing fire."
Streams of magenta destruction erupted from the Battle Cruiser's gun ports to envelope the supervisors' camp site. Jack and Grace were thrown into the air, their faces contorted in silent screams. They landed heavily on the ground, their flesh stripped from their partially incinerated bones, several meters away from where their tent used to stand. The campsite was completely destroyed. Vistro's Battle Cruiser continued on its course back to the castle fortress, the destruction in its wake apparently forgotten.
When the gigantic Cruiser returned to Zarkon's moon base, General Vistro quickly made his way to the evil king's throne room and kneeled before his master.
"Well?" demanded Zarkon, "How goes the harvesting?"
"Better than I anticipated, milord."
"Tell me."
"Surprisingly enough, we have discovered Allura's hiding place in a cavern of crystal. She is cowering inside a structure in the center of the cavern, but the structure is protected by a powerful energy field. We require more Cruisers."
"Why did you return?" questioned the king. "You should have contacted me from the cavern."
"My holds are full, milord. I felt it wiser to return and unload them while asking for assistance."
"A wise choice indeed. You shall have three more Cruisers. Is there any other news?"
Vistro hesitated. "Yes, my king. A small, almost trivial matter, really. My forces captured seven young humans in the cavern. They put up a good fight and my soldiers were forced to stun them. I believe they could prove entertaining in the arena."
"Good work, Vistro. We have had too little entertainment of late. Have these seven humans put in the combatants' cell. They will fight tomorrow. Now take your ships to the planet; I want Allura on display above the arena by the time those humans fight tomorrow."
The General rose and saluted. As you command, sire."
With that, Vistro turned and marched out of the throne room. Several minutes later four Battle Cruisers lifted from the docking bay and flew away from the castle toward Earth.
The reinforcements arrived at the Crystal Cavern and immediately began a heavy assault on the energy shield, firing all of their lasers and belching forth robot fighters.
Inside the Command Center's Primary Chamber, alarms flashed and sirens blared. Alpha hurried around the room in a highly agitated state, shutting off the alarms and sirens as well as studying gauges and readouts. Also present was a beautiful teenaged girl with waist-length blonde hair clad in a pink-trimmed white nightgown; she was somber as she watched the assault on the Viewing Globe. Zordon observed the entire scene with an unreadable face."Ai-yi-yi!" the little robot exclaimed. "Zordon, the shield can't take much more of this!"
"How much longer do you estimate that it will hold for, Alpha?" Zordon replied, his voice injecting calm into an otherwise agitated atmosphere.
"Only another three minutes, if we're lucky," came the harried reply.
Zordon spoke with a heavy, yet commanding voice. "Then we must prepare for the worst. Alpha, lock down the computer. Princess, you should go to your chamber."
"Right, Zordon," Alpha replied.
The girl simply nodded, took one last look at the Viewing Globe, and retreated up a staircase behind Zordon's time-warp tube.
Admiral Corbec watched over the battle from the command station on the bridge of his cruiser.
"Sir, the shield is weakening," the tactical officer reported.
"All ships, maximum firepower!" Corbec ordered, anticipating victory.
The laser bolts from the Draconian armada increased in brightness, size and number. The shield around the Command Center flared brilliantly, then died. Some of the laser bolts shot through the shield and struck the Command Center, raising sparks and shattering crystal to reveal darkly scarred stone. The Battle Cruisers laser batteries opened up a large hole in the side of the Command Center. The yellow transport beamed flashed; when it disappeared a crowd of ground troops had materialized in the cavern and began entering the Command Center through the hole. The soldiers charged through the twisting corridors toward the Primary Chamber, the one in the lead holding a hand scanner.
New sirens sounded in the Primary Chamber.
"Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!" a panicked Alpha 5 exclaimed. "Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Robot soldiers have entered the Command Center and are approaching this location!"
At that moment the door to the Primary Chamber exploded inward, sending pieces of shrapnel flying through the room. Robot soldiers piled through the shattered doorway firing incessantly.
"Quickly Alpha. Activate the-AAAHHHHHH!" Zordon faded from the time-warp tube as a barrage of laser fire ripped open computer panels, fusing and vaporizing wires, melting metal, and creating explosions and smoke. Alpha was thrown from the dais by a series of laser bolts to the chest and landed in a corner, lightning coruscating up and down his inert form. Another spray of laser fire shattered Zordon's time-warp tube and toppled the four columns surrounding it, causing even more damage. The sirens ceased and the entire chamber was hazy with smoke.
"Strike force commander to General Vistro," one of the robots said into his communicator.
"Go ahead," Vistro's voice came back.
"This area is secured. We are ready to take the princess."
"Excellent. Get the princess, but remember-I want her alive."
"Understood. Strike force out." After signing off, the robot turned to the other soldiers. "You heard the general. Move!"
The soldiers spread out and methodically searched the chamber. One of them signaled from behind what was let of the time-warp tube; the others arrived and found a spiral staircase going up to another level. The robots climbed the stairs, turned right, and silently ran down the corridor. At the end of the corridor they turn the corner and run down another hallway to the last door on the left; a light shined from a crack under the door. The leader gestured to another soldier who came up and affixed a flat disc of silvery metal to the door. The strike force backed away. A few seconds later the disc blew up, shattering the door. The soldiers rushed in, grabbed the princess in her nightgown, and sprayed a green gas in her face. She collapsed instantly.
The lead robot pulled out his communicator. "Strike force to General Vistro. Mission accomplished."
"Very good," Vistro's voice replied. "King Zarkon will be pleased. We will transport your team and the prize back to the ship."
"Affirmative. Out."
The princess' chamber was bathed in yellow light as she and the soldiers were transported back to Vistro's cruiser.
The five Battle Cruisers turned and flew away into the night toward Zarkon's castle.
The cruisers landed in the docking bay of the castle; Zarkon was there to greet them. Vistro exited the ship carrying the princess in his arms as his king approached.
Zarkon pointed to one of the robots scurrying around the docking bay. "You. Take the princess away. Strip her and chain her to the post above the arena."
"Yes, sire," the robot bowed, took the girl from Vistro, and marched away, leaving the general and his king relatively alone.
"I see the mission was a complete success," commented Zarkon.
"Yes, milord," Vistro replied. "Her hiding place is destroyed, as is the cavern.
"I'm impressed, Vistro."
"Thank you, milord. Request permission to return to the planet and continue harvesting slaves."
"Granted," the king replied. "Take anything you need."
"Yes, milord."
Vistro turned on his heel and began to march away back to his cruiser. However, Zarkon's voice behind him caused him to stop and turn partially back to his master. "And Vistro?"
"Yes, my king?"
"This day will be remembered throughout the ages. You have brought glory to the Draconian Empire."
"Thank you, sire."
Vistro walked back to his ship, and Zarkon watched him go. Everything is going according to plan, Zarkon mused silently. Perhaps the prophecy will not come true after all. Maybe the Fates can be cheated.
Year 1, Day 10
The teens lay sprawled, on the floor of a large, damp, dark cell. The walls were gray stone and the bars were constructed of a dark black metal. Slowly, one by one, the teens groaned and sat up. Their hands were manacled behind their backs and their clothes were torn; in some cases they were reduced to rags. A heavy layer of dirt and grime coated their skin.
"Man, what hit us?" Zack wondered aloud.
"Felt like a freight train," Jason winced, a nasty bruise on the side of his head.
"My head is killing me," Trini said.
"Where are we?" Kim asked. "I remembered fighting some weird aliens, then nothing."
"I have no idea," Matt replied, "but I have got to stop getting zapped like that."
"You do seem to be turning it into a habit," Sam grinned wryly.
"I believe we've been imprisoned in a cell somewhere, probably underground," Billy observed.
"No offense Billy," Kim told him, "but I think we already figured that one out."
"I was only making an observation," Billy said defensively.
"I knew it was a bad idea to trust those cavemen," Jason said.
"Calm down, Jason. I don't think they had anything to do with this." Trini soothed him.
"How can you be so sure?" Jason shot back.
"Get over it, Jason," Matt told him. "Trini's right. We need to be calm if we're going to figure out how to escape."
"And just how are we supposed to do that?" Kim demanded.
"There's no way out of this cell," Billy reported, examining the bars and walls. "These walls are solid rock and the bars seem to be constructed of a titanium allow. We can't break them."
"We could always jump the guards the next time they come around," Sam suggested.
"Which would be when? We don't even know if they will come back," Trini pointed out.
"Or if there are any guards," Billy added. "After all, no one could break out of these cells."
"Besides," Matt said, "we're not in any shape to jump anyone."
"So we need another plan," Zack said.
At that point the teens heard footsteps approach and abruptly fell silent. Several guards arrived with blaster rifles drawn.
"Good, you're awake," the first guard said as he slid a plastic key-card into a box on the left side of the cell door. The teens heard a clicking noise and the door popped slightly open. "The king wants to see you."
"What makes you think we want to see him?" Jason retorted.
"You don't have a choice," replied the guard simply.
The guards opened the door and entered the cell. They roughly grabbed the teens, who put up a feeble struggle. The guards forced the teens out of the cell and marched them at gunpoint through many long and twisting hallways and up several long flights of stairs. The group finally came to a halt at a set of large silver doors.
The lead guard pounded on the door with the gold knocker and stood back. "You should feel honored," he told the group of teens glaring at him. "King Zarkon doesn't normally bother with mere slaves."
The doors swung outward and the teens were shoved inside by the muzzles of the guards' laser rifles, followed closely by the guards themselves. The teens were force-marched the length of a wide red carpet to the foot of a set of steps leading up to an ornate throne. King Zarkon sat in the throne, garbed in his red, black, and gold royal dress.
"Kneel, slaves!" the guard commanded.
The teens were forced to their knees and looked up to glare at the evil king.
"Who the hell are you?" Jason asked.
"Where the hell are we?" Zack demanded.
Zarkon laughed evilly. "I an King Zarkon, your new master and ruler of your wretched planet. You are my slaves. This is my castle fortress.
"We're nobody's slaves!" Matt protested.
"I see you have spirit. That is good; you'll need it. My general tells me you fight well. Because of this you will battle my champion robeast in my arena for entertainment."
"I don't think so," Sam returned. "We aren't your 'entertainment'."
"You will fight or you will die," Zarkon stated.
"When you put it that way…" Kim trailed off.
"If we win?" Trini queried.
Zarkon chuckled. "If you win, you will go free."
"And if we lose?" Zack asked.
"You will spend the rest of your miserable lives as my slaves," Zarkon responded.
"Not a very pleasant thought," Billy murmured.
"How do we know you'll keep your promise?" Matt wanted to know.
"I give you my royal word of honor," Zarkon replied.
Kimberly snorted in disgust. "Like that means anything."
"Okay, Zarkon, you win," Matt said dejectedly.
Zarkon smiled cruelly. "I thought you'd see things my way. Guards! Take them to the arena."
"What?! Now?" Sam exclaimed, taken by surprise.
The guards bowed to their master. "Yes, milord," the head guard said. "Let's go, slaves."
The guards grabbed the teens and dragged them out of the throne room.
The escorted teens arrived on a walkway above the arena. The guards removed the manacles and shoved the teens down into the deep arena pit; a gate slid closed behind them. Princess Allura, naked and dirty, was chained to a post above the arena several meters to the left of the golden throne. Her hands were bound together above her head and her feet were bound together at the base of the post. She had a defeated look on her face. As the seven friends picked themselves up from the ground ad stretched their aching arms, they noticed the Princess.
"Who's that?" Zack asked, nodding in Allura's direction.
"She's beautiful," Matt commented.
"You just like the fact that she's not wearing any clothes," Sam scolded him gently.
"Maybe," Matt blushed.
"She looks important," Trini observed.
"Maybe she knows what this invasion thing's all about," Kim suggested.
"Why would she know?" Jason asked.
"Call it a hunch," Kim replied.
The teens stopped talking at the blaring of trumpets announcing the king's arrival. Zarkon entered through a door by the throne and sat in the golden chair.
"Looks like we're finally going to get this show on the road," Matt muttered.
"Took him long enough," Zack agreed.
"Bring out the robeast!" Zarkon commanded.
Gears ground and metal creaked as a grating under the throne at the far end of the arena slowly opened. A metallic silvery-blue bipedal insectoid emerged from the shadows. Its ridged tail swished slowly back and forth in anticipation and saliva dribbled from its mouth of razor-sharp teeth. Curved claws tipped each of its fingers and toes. The teens paled as they noticed it. When the robeast was fully in the arena the gate ground closed behind it.
"Oh, no," Sam whispered.
"We're in trouble now," Zack said.
Zarkon held his scepter aloft and proclaimed, "Let the battle begin!" The king dropped his arm and the arena filled with cheers from the spectators in the stands.
"Everybody, move!" Matt yelled as the robeast charged.
The teens dove out of the way, but the robeast spun and caught Billy on the side of the head with its tail. The impact threw Billy against the wall of the arena and rendered him unconscious, a large gash in his head where the tail hit him. As the teens regrouped, the robeast spun around and charged again.
Matt tried to do a front handspring off of the robeast's head, but the monster sidestepped, twisted, and bit a chunk of flesh out of his elbow as it threw him to the ground. Matt rolled away from the robeast, clutching his bloody arm and grimacing in pain.
Upon seeing her brother go down, Sam stopped her attack and shouted "Matt!" The robeast, aware of her distraction, roared and swiped at Sam. She managed to dive out of the way, but the beast's claws raked her back leaving shallow gashes and ripping her shirt.
Jason tried to sweep the robeast, but it kicked, gashing the inside of his right thigh. The robeast then turned its attention to Kimberly, slashing her chest. It's claws shredded her shirt and bra and left horizontal gashes the width of her chest, causing her to fall to the ground. The blue monster spun around and backhanded Zack into a wall, opening a small gash in his right cheek. He slumped to the ground unconscious. Trini's left pant leg was ripped off as the monster tried to grab her but she dove to safety.
The robeast eyed the teens as they regrouped, sizing them up anew. It had not expected this much of a fight. As the panting teens grouped together in a rough circle, the robeast raised its head and bellowed; the crowd cheered.
"That thing's too strong," Sam said to her remaining friends. "We don't stand a chance."
"We can't survive another pass like that," Jason agreed, favoring his right leg.
"Maybe if we go for the joints," Trini suggested.
"How do we get close enough?" Kim wanted to know. "That thing already took out Billy and Zack."
"You guys know that he won't let us go if we win," Jason pointed out.
"It was fight or die," Matt grimaced, his voice tight with pain.
Then the robeast decided it had had enough of just standing around and charged.
"Here it comes again!" Trini cried.
The robeast tore into the teens before they could react. With one swipe of its mighty arm it laid open Jason's side and ripped off his shirt. Another swipe shredded the flesh of Matt's left cheek and gouged out chunks of bone. The robeast's tail whipped around, catching Trini solidly in the temple and slamming her into Kimberly. Both of them went down, unconscious. Then the robeast bit into Sam's right shoulder and flung her the length of the arena where she crashed into the wall and collapsed.
The unconscious teens lay bloody and battered all around the arena. The robeast stood in the center of the carnage, hands splayed out at its sides, lifted it's head and roared, celebrating its victory. The crowd cheered. The gate at the far end of the arena lifted again and the monster stalked inside, disappearing into the shadows. The gate ground closed once again as the crowd continued cheering….
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