"Countdown to Destruction" the Novel - Chapter 11

[Devious One]

Okay, just a few days after chapter 10, here's the next chapter. First off, I feel the need to say this. The scene with Ninjor was poorly done, I am aware of this. I just couldn't figure out the way to go about that scene so I just put it out and It's bad. Before the Novel's finished I might redo the scene or change it, but for now, this is how the scene will be, crappy. Email comments or criticisms to letsrocket_1998@yahoo.com or post here, as usual.

Thanks for what praises I have gotten and keep them coming. Still looking for someone to do a cover for the Novel. Please, any assistance in this would be of great help. Thanks and here's chap 11!

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She opened her eyes warily. Her face was covered in a fine layering of sweat. Katherine Hillard was laying down on what was a mattress laying on a suspended long boulder settled on the ground. She had been awake for just over an hour, trying to figure out what had happened to her.

Her hands reached down and she felt her rounded stomach, feeling the spasms of the beginnings of her labor start. She moaned as the baby jerked inside of her. She knew she'd seen Goldar when she was in her house with her parents. And the last thing she could actually remember was being hoisted up by the golden armored warrior before she had passed out.

And she hadn't woken until just over an hour ago and she had taken stock of her surroundings. She was in dark rock cavern. That much she knew for certain. The mattress was a thin one, but at least she wasn't on the hard, cold ground. As hard as it was, she took some comfort in that. Another spasm went through her belly and she clutched the mattress under her with strong fingers.

When she'd first woken, she had tried to find out some way to get out of where she was, but one look around her and she'd known the impossibility of that. She looked at the only visible way out and there was a light that was shining all through the exit and she knew, from experiences as a Ranger, that the exit had a force field to keep her from escaping. What Katherine couldn't figure out, though, was why Goldar had taken her. It was one thing she still couldn't figure out.

Katherine's attention was taken away from her thoughts when she heard footsteps coming her way. She kept her hands held over her rounded belly as the steps came closer and closer until the person finally appeared. And then, seeing the red skin, the steel armor over the skin, it all became quite clear to Kat. Lord Zedd was behind this. She should have realized that sooner.

Lord Zedd stood on the outside of the small cell he'd had Goldar take her to. He had his long Z staff in his left hand and the point of the end of it touched the ground as he stopped moving and merely regarded her silently.

Katherine lost whatever fear she should've been feeling when he just stood there and watched her. "You got something to say to me, Zedd....then just say it!" she snapped.

Zedd didn't respond at first. After a moment, he raised his free hand, palm outward and the force field shimmered away. With the field gone, Zedd stepped into the small cell and stopped a few feet from her. "I'm glad to see that you are finally awake." he said.

"No thanks to you." Kat said back, breathing heavily from the exertion.

Zedd stared at her silently for a few moments. "You hate me, don't you?"

Kat tried to lean up, but the pain in her back from the added weight of her baby prevented her. She slumped back. "I hate what your putting me and Tommy through." she said simply.

"So, you figured it out already, have you?" Zedd stated.

"As soon as I saw you, I knew why I was taken. To get to Tommy." Kat said back to him.

"You think that's all there is to it....just to get to Tommy.....you don't know anything, little Kitty." Zedd taunted her.

"If that's not why, then why don't you tell me why?" Katherine said to him, holding her belly as another spasm went through her.

Zedd walked from side of the small cavern to the other side and then he looked back at her. "How much do you really know about Tommy? Seriously, how much....really?"

"I know enough about him that I need to know." she replied immediately. "I love Tommy, I have for a long time and it kills me what your doing to him. Why can't you just leave us alone!"

Zedd walked over to her, staring at her eyes for a long moment before he replied. "You don't know the first thing about Tommy. All you know is who he's become, you have no idea of what he is! How important he really is."

"What are you talking about?" Katherine demanded.

Zedd walked away, back towards the entrance of the cavern. "You have absolutely no clue where Tommy comes from......and until you do, you can never truly understand him." he paused, reflecting for a moment. "No matter, your not going to be around either way to find out what happens, so..."

Katherine felt a tendril of fear wash over her as the words registered. She pulled her shoulders up a bit against the back part of the cavern wall. "You....what are you going to do to me?" she held her belly protectively.

Zedd laughed at the entrance. "You humans and your petty emotions. You really think this has anything to do with you. I only wanted Goldar to nab you in order to convince Tommy I was serious. I have Tommy in place as we speak. I have no further use of you now." he said. He raised his Z staff and aimed it directly at Katherine's chest. She recoiled in terror, clutching her belly to her. He kept his staff poised, but he didn't use it. "But," he said, lowering it, "I am not a heartless monster either."

"What?" she was beginning to get confused.

"I may be a ruthless monarch bent on conquering the universe, but I'm no monster. You were taken in order to maneuver Tommy to where I wanted him. And since you are no longer needed, I'm going to put you out of the picture." Zedd said finally. "Whether I die or Tommy does, you will not be around to see it."

Katherine's eyes bulged as Zedd raised the staff again, this time, firing out a powerful surge of red energy at her body. Her scream was cut off as her body was absorbed in light and, when the light was gone, so was Katherine. Lord Zedd looked at the spot where she was for a moment, then he turned and stalked off.

Less than moments later, in another spot in the city, Katherine Hillard re-materialized on her back on the ground of an alley less than a block away from St. Amelia's Regional Hospital. More spasms went through her stomach and Katherine moaned loudly. In the darkness of the night, she knew she had to get somewhere where people would notice her or her baby wouldn't make it.

With an effort she didn't know she had left, she moved to her knees to find help. But in her heart, she hoped and prayed that she would get to see her boyfriend again. She just didn't know if that was in the cards for them.

*****

Rocky DeSantos stood stock still, surrounded by large boulders and stone chunks. Smoke was filtering the sky from the numerous fires that were lit in the city, but that wasn't concerning Rocky at the moment. His heart was greatly troubled at this time in the night.

He had his eyes closed and he let the tears fall down his cheeks. He was simply too tired to do anything else. He had known Aisha Campbell longer than anybody else had. Sure, he and Adam were the best of friends, but originally, it had been just him and Aisha growing up. Adam had been added into that little group later, but it had started with the two of them.

But even after Adam had came and they had become a trio of friends, there was always that closeness between Rocky and Aisha that Adam couldn't touch. Adam never Rocky about it, but Rocky knew Adam felt like an outsider at times, but there was just that bond between the two that he could see, that anybody could see from wherever they were.

And after they all moved to Angel Grove and later, became Power Rangers, that bond got even stronger. And when Aisha had made the decision to remain in Africa, helping the animals there in that village, Rocky had personally understood why she had stayed. All the time he had known her, her one soft spot was animals. She loved animals, caring for them, protecting them, she loved it. And one thing Rocky had never done since she left to stay on Africa was stay out of contact.

He and Aisha, over the years, wrote letters and sent them back and forth, Rocky even made trips out there to see her, no matter the cost that it cost him to make those trips. Aisha got to meet Penny once and he could still remember that meeting very clearly in his head.

He and Penny had just been going out for about seven months when he had arranged the trip out to Africa to visit Aisha. He and Penny had taken a plan out, Rocky paying for both tickets and they'd had a rented car and driven out to the small village that Aisha had been living in. They'd arrived and met Aisha out there waiting for them.

He'd gotten out of the car and walked over to her. "Oh my god! Aisha, man it's great to see you!" he'd said. "You're looking great."

Aisha had hugged her long time friend back. "Your not looking too bad either, Rocky. Man, it's great to see you."

"I'm glad we could make it out." Rocky had replied. Then, he'd turned to where Penny was standing, waiting patiently. "Aisha, I would like to introduce you to someone very special to me. This is Penny Harding. Penny, this is probably my best friend in all the world, Aisha Campbell."

"Oh stop." Aisha had said, blushing. She had extended her hand and grasped the dark haired woman's.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Aisha." Penny had said.

[Devious One]

And from there, things had went by more smoothly. They'd talked for hours that day and Aisha and Penny had really gotten along, much to Rocky's delight. Rocky looked down at the diamond pendant in his hand. He'd given that to Aisha when they were in High School at Stone Canyon as a Christmas gift. It had taken all of the money he'd worked the previous summer collecting to get, but Aisha had treasured it.

And to know that she was gone...it was tearing Rocky's heart up on the inside. But he knew, he knew he couldn't break down because now was not the time for such things. There would be time for grief after it was all over. Either as a slave to Dark Spectre or as a free person visiting someone's funeral. There would be time for grief after.

He shook his head, leaning back against the boulder. His shirt was soaked in his sweat, torn from fighting Piranatrons and Quantrons, and covered in dirt and smudges. He eyed the pendant with quiet reverence.

"Rocky."

His head came up at the voice. He looked over to the right where the voice came from. There were two large pieces of stone, with a small gap in between them where he'd come through to this secluded area and now, there was a person filling that gap. He recognized the voice, so his defenses didn't go up. It was his girlfriend, Penny. She stood uneasily, her walking stick held in one hand. She moved into the area Rocky had come to.

"Penny....hey." Rocky greeted her. He watched as she moved towards him.

"Are you okay, Rocky?" she asked him immediately, stopping in front of him. Her sense of direction was always amazing to him.

Hearing the question, Rocky looked back down at the ground. "I'm not sure." he replied honestly.

"Talking about it might help, Rocky." she said after a moment.

Rocky rubbed his fingers over the pendant, his skin touching the dried blood that was on it. "Aisha and I were always close friends. Even before Adam joined us. Growing up....huh, we were inseperable. We did everything together. Sh.....she was like a sister to me. I loved her very much." he said. "We'd go to the movies, when most of the other kids at school started going on dates, we even started going on mock dates is what she called them. We had fun."

"She was a special person, Rocky. Even I could see that even after meeting her that one time." Penny told him, stepping closer to him.

Rocky nodded without speaking. "When....when the three of us moved to Angel Grove and met Tommy, Kim, and Billy.....well, I remember talking to Aisha and Adam, she was thrilled at finally meeting some people who were more down to earth like us. Who were accepting of us. Then, when we became Rangers, you know she and Kim started spending most of their time together, becoming real friends, but we still did stuff together. It was great. I just wish....I wish I could've been there to tell her I loved her before she died." his voice choked on the last word and he had to stop talking.

Penny didn't need to wait any longer. She had gotten him to open up and that was what she felt he needed the most. She stepped forward and pressed the palm of her hand against his cheek, rubbing the skin. "Rocky, believe me....she knew. She was not only friend, she was someone who cared about you. I may be blind, but I saw how much she cared for you. She loved you and she knew, I'm sure of it, she knew how much you loved her. And I'm positive that right now, she's watching us, and she wouldn't want you to suffer like this."

Rocky didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. He closed his eyes and let the tears come. Wordlessly, Penny dropped her walking stick and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. She turned her head slightly and gently, placed a kiss to his cheek, holding him tightly to her. She put every ounce of emotion that she felt for him into the embrace and hoped it conveyed the intensity of her feelings for him. "I love you." she whispered to his ear.

He hugged her back. "Love you too."

And in the darkness of the night, the stars twinkled overhead as the grieving process finally begun in the heart and body of Rocky DeSantos.

*****

The universe was a tricky thing. It had billions of planets and star systems, many suns that provided the light for the planets and thousands of secret dimensions, which existed upon the same continuum that maintained the stability of the universe. And while the invasion of the universe included all of those planets and star systems, most of the dimensions were never targeted by Dark Spectre and his forces.

And one of those dimensions was one that Dark Spectre, in his infinite glory, should have targeted at first because it houses the home of one of the most powerful beings in the entire universe. It was the Desert of Despair.

The Desert of Despair has always been recognized as the home of the great wizard warrior, Ninjor. Years prior, Ninjor gave new power to the Rangers from Earth because they proved themselves to him. But since those powers were destroyed by enemy forces, Ninjor's assistance was, he felt, no longer needed and he simply returned to his Temple. And it has been where he has remained ever since.

And that was where Ninjor now found himself. Inside his spatious Temple, looking around the large interior and admiring the decorations he had put up so many years prior. Did he know about the war that was being waged outside of his dimension? Absolutely, he just chose to stay outside the war, to just not get involved. He never got involved in these things. It's what kept him alive for as long as he's been alive.

Ninjor's head snapped up as he sensed something within his realm that shouldn't be there. He turned and headed out of his Temple, passing through the dozens of corridors that were inside his Temple until he crossed by the field where he had presented the Rangers with their NinjaZords and he went to the entrance to his Temple, which ended in the cave with the secret entrance. He walked to the entrance to that cave and looked around.

And he spotted the reason his senses went off like a rocket. Up in the sky, there was a Velocifighter flying overhead, firing down on two individuals that were running for their lives, trying to outrun the ship in the sky of the Desert of Despair. Ninjor released a hard breath. Why didn't they get it? You don't just invade his territory if you were smart.

Ninjor walked out of the shadows and raised his hands high into the air. Blue and red energy crackled between his hands, quickly forming a powerful ball of energy. Ninjor waited until the energy ball was surging with power, then he looked back at the Velocifighter, waiting for it to get closer, just a little closer.

Finally, it was close enough and the warrior in blue released the ball of energy. It surged through the air and made direct contact with the Velocifighter. It erupted in midair, the energy crushing through it with powerful force.

The two people on the ground dove to the ground when the Velocifighter was destroyed, hitting it stomachs and face first. Ninjor stayed where he was, just watching them. He recognized one of them from his time of watching over the Rangers after their transition to using the Zeo power. He studied them.

One was a man and the other, a woman. The man was of average height with a somewhat muscular form. He wore a pair of rugged blue jeans with a black and white colored t-shirt that was torn and had dirt on it. He had short cropped hair. The woman had shoulder length blonde hair and sparkling eyes. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans as well, the color brighter than the man's and she wore a white blouse with pink and blue flowery designs running through it. Both of the two individuals had dried blood and cuts running along their skin.

The two individuals got up from the ground and looked around, seeing the Velcofighter pieces scattered on the ground. Ninjor saw them converse briefly before they turned and continued in his direction, finally seeing him. They stopped.

"Are you........are you Ninjor?" Jason Lee Scott, former Red Morphin Power Ranger, asked upon seeing the blue armored warrior standing at the mouth of the cave.

"I am." Ninjor responded. "Who are you?"

Jason exhaled, glad beyond words that he'd succeeded. It had been a very troubling and daunting task trying to get here. "My name is Jason and this is Emily. You helped friends of ours a while back. Power Rangers."

"Yes....I believe I have helped them." Ninjor told them. He wasn't sure why these humans were here, but he would hear them out before he refused whatever it was that they wanted. "Follow me.....I don't really believe it's safe out here in the open."

Jason sighed in relief, then urged Emily along with him as they moved to follow Ninjor. He was hoping Ninjor could help him with his request. He really didn't know anywhere else to go.

*****

It was not going the way Tommy would have hoped going into this. Tommy was leaning on one knee, clutching the left side of his body, where the ribs were. Pirantishead had immediately set to the attack, a game plan in his attack. The monster had gone right after Tommy with an intensity and savagery that was completely surprising and shocking to the former Power Ranger leader.

Tommy reached his feet just as Pirantishead launched another series of attacks. The monster lifted it's knee and made contact with Tommy's gut. He doubled over and, unable to defend himself, reeled backwards against the warehouse's back wall when Pirantishead backhanded him hard across the face.

[Devious One]

Tommy collided with that wall, hitting it hard. As he slid down the wall, he could begin to taste his own blood. He moved over to one knee, coughing up blood and spitting it out. His face had small scars and cuts along the cheeks where blood was already evident there. He was having great trouble breathing from the injury to his rib area, and Pirantishead was advancing toward him.

"I thought the great Red Zeo Ranger would be a much stronger opponent than this!" Pirantishead taunted as he moved to launch another attack.

"Don't worry," Tommy replied, "we're just getting started."

As the fishy monster swung out with his fish blade, Tommy swerved down and rolled out of the way, moving with such speed that he landed on his feet behind the monster. Ignoring the pain in his ribs, Tommy dove into the air, hitting Pirantishead in the back with both feet before he landed back on the ground.

Pirantishead crashed through the wall, crushing through it and hitting the ground outside the warehouse as a result of the force Tommy used in the move he executed. Tommy followed him outside through the hole made by the monster. Once Pirantishead was back on his feet, Tommy advanced.

Tommy's arms and more importantly, his hands, were quicker than lightning, using fluid work as they got through Pirantishead's defenses and kept knocking him back more and more as Tommy's attack kept coming, nonstop.

After long moments of the fight, Tommy reared back and delivered a swift kick to Pirantishead's face that knocked the monster down one more time. Tommy squeezed his fists together and prepared to move forward. But, Pirantishead had had enough by this time. Getting to his feat, the monster reached out with his left hand and grabbed a handful of Tommy's shirt and through him straight through the window at the front of the warehouse, sending Tommy's body crashing through glass.

Tommy landed on his side, hitting hard and knocking the wind straight out of his body. His hands were now covered with scrapes, some of them bleeding slightly. He reached to the side of his head, near his temple, and touched his head. Pulling back, he saw his fingers covered in blood. He heard Pirantishead laughing as the monster moved into the warehouse to continue the assault.

"You're no match for me, human." Pirantishead stated. "No human is."

"Maybe..." Tommy said, moving to his knees and preparing to get up, "...but I'll find a way to beat you."

Pirantishead shook his head, then, quicker than Tommy was ready for, thrust out his leg and kicked Tommy savagely, knocking Tommy back, sliding across the floor. Tommy's back hit the stone pillar near the back of the warehouse. "You're finished." the monster vowed.

Tommy looked across the warehouse, watching the monster move toward him and suddenly, it all became so clear to him. If he let Pirantishead finish him, Zedd would win. He would gain his revenge and Kat would die. Tommy shook his head. He wasn't going to let Katherine down. No matter what it cost him, he was going to save her.

He reached his feet. "Come get me, Pirantishead." Tommy said. He raised his hands high into the air. "It's Morphin Time! Zeo Ranger V, Red!"

Even after two years of not being used, Tommy felt the thrills and the sensations rush through his body as he was re-accustomed to the Zeo power. The powers surged over his body as the Red Zeo suit covered him and protected him and suddenly, he wasn't feeling all of the pain that Pirantishead had already inflicted upon him. He was only feeling the rush of adrenaline that being a Ranger always provided.

"Now," the Red Zeo Ranger said, "let's finish this."

Pirantishead snarled and rushed at the Ranger. He met the monster halfway, meeting each and every attempt by the monster with his hands and blocking every other attempt at an overhead shot. Then, the Red Zeo Ranger surged forward, moving with quick and precise movements and hitting Pirantishead again and again, forcing him back as he hit and kicked the monster with expert efficiency. Then, he twisted his body around and delivered a swift kick that knocked Pirantishead back against the far wall, the monster slumping down on the ground.

Red Zeo Ranger pulled out his Zeo Laser Pistol in one hand and brought out his Zeo Blade using the other. "It's time to finish this fight." he said as he combined the two weapons to form the combined result of the two. He held the powerful blaster in his hands and aimed it at Pirantishead. The monster got to it's feet and started moving towards him. Red Zeo Ranger opened fire, sending a powerful rush of power straight at the monster. The blast caused an eruption where Pirantishead stood, the flames and smoke going past the Ranger and blasting through the windows in the warehouse.

While the flames and smoke surged through the warehouse, the Red Zeo Ranger calmly walked out the front doors, away from the first challenge of the night in his quest to get his beloved fiancée back. He continued walking away, towards his Jeep because he already knew where the second test would be and he wanted it done and over with. He reached his Jeep and he demorphed without saying anything else.

In a flash of light, Tommy was back in his regular clothes. The pain from his ribs was partly healed by the Zeo energy, but most of the scars and cuts were still there. He had a split lip on his lower one with dried blood on his chin and dirt covered part of his face and arms as well. He took one last look at the warehouse and moved to get back in his Jeep.

"Tommy!"

Tommy's head snapped around and he stared back at the warehouse, seeing a figure standing in front of it. He recognized it immediately. He felt the beginnings of anger go through him and he started to move toward the figure.

"I wouldn't." Lord Zedd said suddenly. "If you want Katherine to remain safe and sound, that is."

Tommy stopped. "What do you want."

"Well done, Tommy. You've just survived the first test. Although," Zedd chuckled a bit, "there was a point there, when I thought you were going to fail. I'm glad to see this battle of ours will continue."

Tommy remained stock still, not moving. "I just want this over with. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be getting to the other test now."

"No," Zedd said, "it is not time for the second test yet. Right now, it is nine thirty." Zedd said, always knowing the time on Earth. "Your next test will not take place until midnight tonight. And if you go the location early, Katherine dies, your unborn child dies."

"What the hell do you expect me to do for the next couple hours!" Tommy snapped.

"It makes no difference to me. Show up early, she pays the price. Show up late, the same consequence. See you soon, Tommy." Zedd said, vanishing in a flash of light a moment later.

And Tommy was left, breathing heavily, not just from the pain in his body, but from the rush of pure rage that was slowly building inside of him. Rage that started with Katherine's abduction and had been building as the day wore on. And it was that rage that Zedd was hoping to spark, that rage that Zedd was using now. And Tommy was completely unaware of it as he got in his Jeep and sat there shaking, but it was that rage that Zedd was hoping to use against him before this was over.

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Next...

Tommy reaches the Youth Center and finds his parents, Astronema's past memories begin to return, and Jason tells Ninjor of why he's come to him.

[ChromiumRanger1]

awesome

[RedStarRanger]

Awesome, as usual.

[comicstar100]

I don't know what you didn't like about the ninjor part I loved it.Great ch can't wait for 12.

[PHAETON]

Great Chapter Devious, can't wait to see 12

[Lord ZEDD]

This was great I actully loved the Ninjor part but thats just me really I geuss the writers themselves are there own worst critics. I wonder whats Zedds next test and why does Zedd want him to wait tell midnight.

[Devious One]

Mainly because I want to stretch the actual Tommy/Zedd fight out until the very end, around the same time that Andros breaks Zordon's tube. That's why I'm spacing the tests out longer. And I thought the Ninjor scene was weak because I didn't really do much with Jason and Emily.