The Terran Ranger Saga - The Preliminaries Volume One by Heather Ray (chromebook ebook reader TXT) 📖

Meanwhile, Kimberly waited for Alexis at the Youth Center. She sat at the counter, sipping a pink lemonade, and watched the door like a hawk.

"Ernie, are you sure you didn't see Alexis? She has short red hair and green eyes. She's about five foot seven."

"Sorry Kim, but I didn't see her. Maybe you should check the school. Or maybe the park."

"Good idea. Maybe she forgot about the sightseeing." Kimberly got up and left the Youth Center. After looking through the school and the park, she came across Trini, Jason, Zack, and Tommy playing basketball.

"Pass me the ball, Jason!" yelled Tommy, getting free from Zack.

"You got it!"

Tommy caught the ball and made a break for the hoop. Zack quickly caaught up. Tommy faked a shot and then ran up for a slam. He went up to the hoop, and then Trini managed to block him. Tommy hit the ground hard.

"Ouch!" said Tommy, standing up. "Wow, Trini, you're tough on the court. That's a fowl, ya know." Tommy shook the dust off his pants while Jason got the ball.

Just then, Kimberly ran onto the court. "Guys, something's happened to Alexis! No one has seen her for over an hour!"

"Are you sure?" said Zack. "Maybe she went home."

"No I called her house, and no one's there. I need your help to find her. I'm getting worried..."

"Okay," said Tommy, "Trini and I will help you look, Kim. I've had enough practice for now anyway."

"We'll be here in case you need help," said Jason.

On the moon, Lord Zedd watched the teenagers search for Alexis. "Blast it!" he yelled angrily. "If those teenagers discover the girl is missing, they will doubtlessly inform Zordon! I cannot let those brats spoil my plans before they begin! GOLDAR

!!"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"I want you to send those three Power Rangers into my Omega Dimension."

"But Master, won't that spoil you're plans?"

"No. I conquered the Omega Dimension centuries ago. The Rangers will be cut off from the Command Center as well as their morphing powers. They shall not stand a chance. Besides, I have prepared a little welcoming committee for them."

On Earth, Kimberly, Tommy, and Trini planned the search for Alexis. "Okay, here we go," said Tommy, "I'll check her house, and around there. She may have gotten lost. Trini, check downtown, and Kim, you get to the Juice Bar."

"I already checked the Juice Bar, Tommy!" said Kim in frustration.

"Well, maybe she was just late," said Trini calmly. "Don't worry, Kim, we'll find her."

"I doubt it!" said a voice from behind.

"Goldar!" said Tommy and Trini.

"I knew something was up! What did you do to Alexis, Tin-Grin?"

"Why don't you find out for yourself, my dear?" said Goldar, creating a portal.

The Rangers were helplessly sucked in.

Kimberly fell from a hole in the deep purple sky. She landed in a puddle of blue mud. "Yuck," Kim muttered, wiping the tar-like substance from her skin and dress. "Where am I? Tommy? Trini?! ANYBODY

?"

Kimberly stepped out of the puddle and peered into the dark fog that completely surrounded her. The only evidence of life she could see was a few bare trees. Kimberly starts to panic. "I'm all alone," she whispered, "and I don't even know if Trini and Tommy are okay."

Suddenly, a cold hand grabbed her arm. Shrieking, she spun around. "Its okay, Kim. It's me, Tommy."

"Oh, thank goodness," she said hugging him. "Where are we? Did you find Trini?"

"No. You're the first person I found here. We must be in one of Zedd's dark dimensions. Luckily, I think I found a way out. Follow me."

Tommy led her to the dead tree, where a glowing hole was located at the roots. "It must be a warp tunnel," said Tommy. "Let's go."

"Wait a minute!" protested Kimberly. "How can we be sure its not a trap? And what about Trini and Alexis?"

"They'll have to fend for themselves," said Tommy, leading her to the tunnel. "Now let's go!"

"What? No way I'm gonna leave my friends behind!"

Tommy grabbed her arm roughly. "I'm in charge here! You do what I say!!" he hollered.

"How dare you!" cried Kimberly slapping him in the face and making him released his grip, "You can't be Tommy!"

Then, the creature melted into a puddle before reforming, taking the appearance of Kimberly in full battle garb. "You're right, I'm not Tommy. I am your mirror image, Kimberly Hart. I'm your greatest foe and your worst nightmare! Meet Deceit!"

Meanwhile, Tommy stood alone in another part of the dank nothingness. He attempted to contact someone via his wrist communicator. "Zordon? This is Tommy. Do you read? Kimberly? Trini, are you two okay?"

Tommy gave up trying to establish contact and started walking. "Kimberly and Trini must be around here somewhere," he reasoned. "We all fell through the same portal. I guess I'll just have to find them the old fashioned--wha?"

Tommy spun around. He could feel eyes on him, but he couldn't see anything but fog. "This place is really freaking me out," he whispered to himself. "There isn't anyone for miles!"

He continued walking until suddenly, he felt a fist in his gut. He fell back onto the dirt. "Who's there?" he asked, standing up and taking battle stance.

"I am,"

said a voice in the fog, "I have been sent to welcome you to the Omega Dimension. I hope you have a pleasant stay."

"Where--?" said Tommy, right when he was again struck by his invisible assailant. "Okay, that's it!"

Tommy leapt into the air, performing one of his famous tornado kicks. Even though he targeted the area from where he received the blow, he didn't make contact with the enemy.

"Ha, ha!"

taunted the invisible creature. "How does it feel, Tommy Oliver, to know that there is nothing that you can do to save yourself or your teammates?"

"Who are you?" yelled Tommy furiously.

"I am Despair!"

Trini, unlike the others, didn't land in a foggy limbo. Rather, she gracefully landed a few yards away from a mysterious cave, with a dozen Putty Patrollers guarding the openning. "This place realy gives me the creeps," said Trini, rubbing her arms, "and I have a feeling the way out is through that cave. I could take a dozen Putties without too much trouble, but not without alerting whoever is in the cave of my presence. No, its best to be patient and not lose the element of surprise. I may not even have to fight."

Sure enough, the squad of Putties dispersed, leaving only two to guard the cave.

"Now's my chance," said Trini, leaping into action. She easily destroyed both Putties before they could even react. She then quietly slipped into the cave. She ran through a long, dark tunnel, as quietly as a cat, and soon found herself in a room glowing purple. She hid behind a rock before she was noticed. She saw Alexis lying unconcious upon a flat bed. She also saw Lord Zedd tending to the purple fire.

"Now," said Zedd, "the coin has been re-charged! Now, I'll check on Finster and see if my Mud Putties are ready. When the coin cools, give it to the girl," he said to a Putty."She