The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 4 by Heather Ray (ebook reader browser txt) 📖

To those that have stayed with me through both the Streaks of Purple Saga and the Spectrum Force series, thank you! See? I told you there were more books to come! I've decided to go back to editing the Power Ranger Fanfiction I wrote back in the day to book format and The Terran Rangers are kind of my own take on Power Rangers Zeo. I hope you all continue to stick with me through this series. Again, thank you to all the readers and the people that have supported me over this project through the years! Luvs to you all!

Also Major Props to John Astin (The great Gomez Addams from the ORIGINAL Addams Family!)

John was a major inspiration due to his coming to my English Class when I was in high school to do his rendition of Edgar Allen Poe and gave me some BRILLIANT ideas for this book! Thank you so much Mr. Astin! You Rock!

This fanfic includes not only Power Rangers, but also many literary influences, in recognition of my decision to major in English Literature as well as Psychology. The most notable are E.T.A. Hoffmann's tales "The Sandman"

and "The Mines of Falun"

, as well as Edgar Allen Poe's "Ligeia"

. You didn't have to have read these short stories, but if you have, you'd know where my inspiration came from.

I have to say that when I wrote this, I kind of took the idea using Edgar Allen Poe's "Ligeia"

for the Sandman character in this story. We were doing a unit on Edgar Allen Poe in English class when I was writing this story and brought back a ton of memories...I believe this was what I was working on when John Astin came to talk to our class and do a rendition of Edgar Allen Poe. I still remember that day quite clearly.

Was the first one in class and was working on this story when John walked in and asked if he was in the right place. I looked up briefly and told him yes I was but was so absorbed in writing at the time that it took me a couple seconds to realize who he was. Looked back up and jaw hit the desk lol. Always was a big fan of his when mom and dad introduced me to the original Addams Family series and loved how he played Gomez Addams. To meet him in person at the time was the highlight of the day if not my lifetime!

December 31, 1985

The gentle drops of rain silently cool the city of Nairobi. Inside the warm den of the Sloan family, Agatha Sloan, her husband Henry, and their only daughter Tanya were relaxing comfortably. The five year old Tanya was trying desperately to stay awake, hoping to welcome the new year. She sat on the floor in front of the television, watching as the time counted down. On the couch, her parents stared at the clock in worry. Finally, ten minutes to midnight, Agatha rose to her feet, and looked at her husband pleadingly. Henry frowned, and turned away from her gaze. Agatha sighed inwardly, and knelt on the plush carpet beside her daughter.

"Tanya dear," she said, taking the little girl's hand. "It's time to go to sleep."

"But Mommy," she yawned. "It's almost midnight! I wanna be awake when the year changes!"

"Honey, its getting very late. You're tired..."

"Listen to your mother, Tanya," said Henry, lighting a cigarette. "The Sandman is coming, and if you aren't asleep when he arrives, you will regret it."

"The Sandman?" asked Tanya, staring up at her father curiously.

"Yes. He is a wicked creature, who throws sand on children's eyes when they won't go to bed. Then, he steals the children away who are awake to see his hideous face. He takes you to his magical kingdom beneath the Earth, and you will never be released."

Tanya gasped, and clung to her mother's leg. Agatha glared at Henry angrily, and lead the sobbing child out of the room. Once they were in Tanya's bedroom, Agatha tucked her in bed, and kissed her forehead. Tanya looked up at her mother, her eyes still wet with tears.

"Mommy," she said quietly. "Don't let the Sandman get me."

"There is no Sandman," said Agatha, smiling down at her only child. "Your father is just playing games with you, dear. Now, go to sleep."

Agatha once again kissed Tanya's forehead, and left the room. Tanya sat in bed, hugging her favorite stuffed animal tightly. But she couldn't fall asleep. She glanced at the clock beside her bed. At the moment the clock struck midnight, she heard a weird knocking from downstairs. She then heard two figures walking up the stairs -- one was her father, she could recognize the sound his shoes made, but the other was unfamiliar. Tanya gasped, and hid underneath the blanket.

"The Sandman's here!" she whispered to her stuffed toy. "He's gonna get me!"

Tanya waited in silent agony as the footsteps approached her bedroom. She sighed in relief when they passed her room, and continued down the hallway. She soon finally fell asleep, but her dreams were plagued by visions of a horrible creature, who threw sand into children's eyes, and kidnapped them from their homes.

December 31, 1986

It had been a year since Tanya first heard the story of the Sandman. Now that she was six, she felt she had grown out of the fear that gripped her last year. She was determined to get a look at the mysterious Sandman. After all, there was no such thing as monsters.

Instead of trying to convince her parents to let her stay up until midnight, Tanya retired early, saying that she was extremely tired. Both her parents looked at the young girl curiously, because for the past two years she begged to be allowed to stay up New Year's Eve. But Tanya's innocent smile convinced them both of her genuine desire to go to bed, so they let her go upstairs. Neither Agatha nor Henry accompanied Tanya to her bedroom.

Tanya went to her room, and made sure first that both of her parents were comfortably sitting on the couch. Then, she placed her pillows beneath her cream blanket, making it appear that a body was beneath it. She then snuck into her father's study, and waited for midnight.

As soon as midnight struck, she heard the rapping at the door that terrorized her the previous year. She froze with anticipation, and listened quietly as two sets of feet walked in her direction. She was hiding in her father's closet, and kept it open just enough so she could see the terrifying visage of the Sandman. Soon enough, two men entered the room. The first one was her father, but the second man was large and broad-shouldered, with a big mishapen head, ochre-yellow face, grey bushy eyebrows from under which a pair of green cat's-eyes stared out, and a large, heavy nose drawn down over his crooked mouth. He was wearing a pale yellow full-length trench coat, and black gloves.

"Giuseppe Coppola," said Henry, rather timidly, "welcome to my home."

"I suggest you skip over the pleasantries," said Giuseppe coldly, "I want the tithe, so I can leave as quickly as possible."

Suddenly, the electricity went out. Tanya barely managed to stifle a scream, as darkness enveloped her. Soon, though, a faint orange light was struck, and her father lit a few candles in the room.

"I'll get the tithe," Henry said, searching through his drawers. "You just make sure to remember your part of the bargain."

"Yes, yes," said Giuseppe. "So long as you pay me the tithe annually, your bloodline is free from the curse of the Sandman. Now, make sure you remember, Henry! No one must learn of our arrangement!"

"I shall not tell a soul," said Henry, pulling out a small navy blue chest. "Not even Agatha knows why you visit each year. Here it is."

Giuseppe's misshapen face contorted into a smirk as he grasped the small chest with both hands. He then quickly turned towards the closet, his green eyes peering at the wooden door. Giuseppe glanced at Henry, and then suddenly appeared in front of the closet. He threw open the door, and stared down at the young girl, cowering on the floor. He frowned at Henry, who wore an expression of unparalleled fear.

"I thought you knew our arrangement!" Giuseppe roared. "No one can ever gaze at the Sandman and live!"

"I beg you," cried Henry, falling to his knees. "Let her go!"

Giuseppe turned back to the girl, who was shaking uncontrollably, staring at the hideous face of the creature she has feared for a year. Giuseppe bent down, and touched her soft cheek with his gloved hand.

"She is a lovely child," said Giuseppe. "Consider our deal cancelled, Henry. I no longer desire to leave your family alone. This child will be my slave. Come with me..."

With that, shimmering sand fell from his open palm, and landed on Tanya's big brown eyes. She suddenly lost consciousness, and spread out on the