Streaks of Purple Saga/Spectrum Force by Heather Ray (classic books for 13 year olds .TXT) 📖

Chaos

A frustrated screech tore through the void, echoed by the minors that stretched as far as the eye could see.

It would not be denied. Just as it had reached the doorway, a sudden force

pushed back, blocking passage yet leaving the dimension visible. It was far too tempting a target.

Coiling its full power, the creature thrust back, starting slowly, and then building strength. Satisfaction swam in its being when it felt the force of Light begin to shudder under its far superior strength…

Power Rangers Dimension

A collective sigh of relief escaped the spectators as the portal vanished from view, just as it had the first time. Was it only yesterday that Kimberly dematerialized in a flash of light? Tommy could swear the shock of those moments turned a few hairs gray.

But as he carefully lifted Kimberly… the real Kimberly… into his arms, he knew the ordeal was finally over. Her hair was the right shade of rich brown, kissed with copper highlights. Her communicator was fastened on her wrist. And while he puzzled for a moment at the heather gray "Langstrum Alps" sweatshirt, he soon managed a smile. Didn't take you too long to go native, did it, Kim?

Keith was soon at his side. "Looks like all's well that ends-"

A sudden shriek silenced Keith's hasty words before he could finish them, and gave the trio a split second of warning. Keith whirled around, spreading his power in a translucent shield that separated the five heroes from the remnants of the portal a heartbeat after Spectra was thrown into the far wall by some unseen force.

The portal then became visible again, swirling a furious red and black, expanding into twice its former size in mere seconds.

Zack gulped. "This didn't happen the first time, did it Tom?"

Tommy didn't bother answering. "Keith, get Spectra, and warn the team outside! Retreat and regroup, now

!"

Keith nodded sharply, hurrying to pull Spectra out of the impression she'd made into the wall. He winced at the blood trickling where her head and back had made contact with sharp protrusions. "Spectra?"

"Something's... coming," she warned, her voice thread-bare. "couldn't... hold it. Far too strong."

"If that wasn't a 'let's get the hell out of here,' I don't know what is," he grunted, lifting her carefully. He cast one look over his shoulder, horrified to see that the portal reached the ceiling of the cave, and was growing larger still, ripping through the stone as if it were paper.

*Guys,* he called, rocketing out of the shallow cave, *we've got more company!*

Spectrum Force Dimension

"…nouri siq-ilan ami khani mai,"

Luminus chanted, puffs of steam passing through his lips. His bright blue eyes watched the ground closely, fingers tracing the blood-filled carving Celea had created, putting this entire disaster into motion.

Matthew watched impatiently as the High Father, one of the most respected warriors of Light alive, dug his fingers into the ice-cold earth, brushing fresh soil over the sigil.

"Well?" Matt questioned, "Is it over?"

"The Bridge is broken," Luminus responded, rising to his feet with an old man's care. "The portal is gone from sight, and I sense no lingering link to either Chaos or the Power Rangers' realm. All realms are now disconnected. The only remaining portal is the one on our ship, through which Spectra and her Force traveled to assist the Rangers."

Matthew sighed in relief, tightening his grip on the girl in his arms. "Then let's get Jocelyn to the ship. My powers are keeping her warm enough, but we should make sure she wasn't injured during inter-dimensional transit."

Luminus brushed the dust off his fingers. "And we shall also tend to your own wounds, which are more serious than anything that could have happened to your friend."

Matt's gaze dropped to the ugly cuts down his leg, almost against his will. He'd stopped feeling the pain long ago, but now that the crisis had been averted, and Jocelyn was safe and sound, it seemed his pain receptors were functional again. "That's… not a bad idea, Sir." He conceded with a wry smile.

Luminus followed the young Enforcer towards the mouth of the cave, but sudden intuition made him take a single glance back. "While I was closing the Bridge, I felt… a tremendous shove, from Chaos."

Matthew paused right before he leapt into the air. "What do you mean? Is something coming?"

"Not here," Luminus confirmed, "and now the portal is closed, so nothing from Chaos can enter either material realm. However, I fear for the other realm. I fear… something did get through, just before the portal closed."

Matthew noticed the thoughtful frown on the sage's face. "Something tells me it's not another one of those zombie wolves."

"No. I fear it was one of the major Chaotics. At least

one."

Power Rangers Dimension

Rachel smirked with grim satisfaction as she watched Tamara and Craig converge on the final Chaotic. Their energy signatures swirled together, the edges tingeing green as the helix of power drilled into the creature, leaving nothing but smoke and mud in its wake.

"Well done," she congratulated, hovering to her team. She grinned indulgently as Craig enthusiastically high-fived both girls, and then proceeded into his aerial victory dance.

She noticed the Blue Ranger stare after her friend, and could imagine his curious expression. "Your team is in college, correct?"

Rachel stifled a laugh, anticipating the root of the question. "You'll probably discover that college actually regresses

the maturity of most American men. Trust me on that."

"He just might have the right idea," Trini said, joining the pair, "That was a tough battle; I still can't quite believe it's over."

The straggling heroes regrouped, each keeping a wary eye out for more creatures.

"Phew!" Craig sighed, his face still lit up with a victorious grin, "It's a good thing this slug-fest happened up at the Pole! Can you imagine the property damage if the portal opened somewhere populated?"

"We can imagine," Jason commented grimly. "But you're right; we're lucky this time. I'd rather not think what those Chaotics would've done to Angel Grove if they had the chance."

Tamara winced at the mental image of unnatural fangs, claws, and innocent civilians. "Then we should count our blessings. This could've been much

worse…"

Her body suddenly tensed, visible fear swallowing the rest of her sentence. Jason watched, frowning, as the other two members of the Force reacted in the same way.

He wasn't the only one to notice the sudden spike in anxiety levels. "Guys," Alexis murmured, "what's…?"

She yelped as the ground beneath her rocked, and stared in terror at the source of the tremor.

The cave.

Then, a bubble of purple light swallowed everything, and before the Rangers could comment they were literally dragged away from the cave's mouth. Alexis staggered at the loss of footing, trading perplexed glances with the other Rangers.

A moment later, a beam of red energy streaked from the cave, flying in their direction at an almost impossible speed.

"Keith," the Yellow Enforcer sighed, "you made it."

The Rangers were settled on the ground a good hundred yards further away from the cave. Trini, Jason, Alexis, and Billy turned to their newly arrived teammates, who stepped out of the Red Enforcer's energy field as soon as they made landfall.

"Kim!" Trini gasped, staring at the limp body in Tommy's firm grasp.

"She's okay," the White Ranger assured. "But for now, we've got other problems."

As if on cue, the cave suddenly erupted, throwing rocks, snow, and mud into the air in thunderous explosion. Debris was flung far enough to rain upon the huddled heroes, who stared as a crimson portal crackled from within the rubble, nearly as large as the entire cliff had been.

Then, something emerged.

The Spectrum Force watched in disbelief as an enormous creature stepped through. It was held up on two hind legs, while four other limbs hovered in the air, slashing wickedly and stretching its lean muscles. The dinosaur-like snout stretched into a hideous smile, revealing teeth that gleamed in the unnatural light.

"Oh my God," Tamara whispered, "What is

that?"

She didn't expect an answer… and certainly not a name.

"Erebus."

The Force turned to the Power Rangers, who'd spoken in eerie, horrified unison.

It was at that moment that Spectra recovered enough of her bearings to speak. "No… not just one," she said firmly, pressing a handful of snow to the horrible cut that stained her shoulder red. "I felt three break through my seal."

Alexis nearly swallowed her tongue. "Three??

But that's…"

She wanted to say 'impossible,' as if some universal law wouldn't allow Earth's heroes to fight with such a terrifying disadvantage. It had taken all that they had to defeat Erebus the last time, and he was all alone!

But she couldn't deny it for very long, as another misshapen form broke the plane of the lightning-webbed portal. And then another.

Moments later, the portal swirled closed behind them, the unnerving red light giving way to the relative darkness of an overcast polar night.

To Be Continued In...

The Spectrum Force/Rachel Summers:

Outcasts