The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 2 by Heather Ray (jenna bush book club .TXT) 📖

couldn't stand being rejected by your teammates. Now you are on the Dreamscape, where I reign supreme. Whatever you dream will become deadly reality, and with your shaken confidence, you can never prevail!"

"That's why I couldn't morph when the Putties attacked me," whispered Kat with realization. "It wasn't Rita, it was me all along."

"Exactly! You began to doubt your right to be a Terran Power Ranger. You feel inadequate, especially when you compare yourself to Kimberly."

Kat's eyes stung as she thought about what the Nightmare Queen was saying. "So," she declared angrily, "you violated my subconscious to attack me?! Zedd and Rita have reached a new low with this one!"

"Actually," chuckled the Nightmare Queen, "it's your confidence that has reached a new low! I can now use your low self esteem and bitter feelings toward the Yellow Ranger to create Envy!"

Out of the purple mists stepped out Envy, the newest nemesis created for evil. Her skin was pale green, and she wore a sleek forest green bodysuit with spiked heels. Her green eyes twinkled and her long deep green ponytail whipped in the wind.

"Envy is powered by your jealousy of the abilities and qualities of your teammates," said the Nightmare Queen, "and without your Morphing powers, you can't hope to win!"
Chapter Eight

Meanwhile, the Green, White, Red, and Yellow Terran Rangers battled the dozens of Viper Putties that had crashed the Crystal County Track Meet.

"We keep destroying these things," panted Zack, piercing a Putty with his lance while dodging its fist, "and more keep coming!"

"At least all the people cleared out," said Kim, delivering a mighty split kick to down two other Putties.

"I wonder why Zedd attacked the meet," said Adam, whip-kicking two Putties with one move.

"It must be part of a bigger plan," said Tommy, lashing out with a series of tornado kicks. "We have to be ready for anything!"

A little later, the last Viper Putty was destroyed by a beam of white light from Zack's Lance of Light. The four heroes immediately stopped to catch their breath, leaning either on the bleachers or their weapons. Suddenly, the soft azure of the sky was replaced with a burning wall of fire. The rangers looked up at the flaming sky in horror.

"My God!" cried Adam. "The sky!"

"What's happening?!" cried Kimberly. She would soon get her answer.

Chapter Nine

In the Central Access Complex, Billy was busy making adjustments to one of his machines while Jason watched Billy impatiently.

"What can I do to help?" he asked, "I can't just stand here!"

"Here," said Billy, tossing Jason a helmet. "Put this on."

Jason studied the silver metallic helmet, and put it over his head, raising the opaque visor. "Now what?"

"Have a seat," said Billy, pointing to a chair beside Katherine's cot. Jason obeyed and watched as Billy attached three wires protruding from the machine he was working on to a metal crescent. He then placed the crescent on Katherine's forehead, and turned it on. The lights on the crescent began to glow red, and then Billy connected three identical wires to Jason's helmet.

"When I activate this machine," said Billy, "you will find yourself in Katherine's mind. This machine is a virtual reality similator, and by connecting you to her mind, you will appear in her dream. Katherine is in REM sleep, so she is dreaming. The only way we can communicate with her is through this machine. You must access the situation and see if you can help Katherine break the spell she's under."

"How are you so sure she's under a spell?"

"I've been monitoring her for over an hour, and she hasn't left REM sleep yet. Normally, when we sleep, we drop in and out of REM sleep, and the REM periods only last from five to perhaps fifteen minutes each. But Katherine's sleep isn't fluctuating between REM and Stage Four sleep. This isn't natural, so I surmise that Zedd and Rita have cast a spell on her, maintaining her in REM sleep."

"But why?"

"Kat is experiencing a nightmare. I can't discern anymore from the information I have, but I hypothesize that Rita and Zedd are tormenting her in her sleep. Her only means of escape is to wake up, and to do that she had to conquer whatever torture Zedd and Rita have designed in her dream."

"But, can they really torture her in her sleep?" asked Jason, "I mean, they can't hurt her, can they?"

"No, but psychological torture is just as effective as physical torture, if not more so. She hasn't shaken the effects of the venom yet, so I conclude she's losing this battle of wills. She needs some help, and that's why I'm sending you in."

"Then let's go," said Jason, bracing himself against the back of his chair. "The others need our help!"

Billy nodded and activated the machine. All the lights that were glowing red before where now glowing green, and Jason was sent by means of virtual reality into the depths of Katherine Hillard's mind.

Chapter Ten

In the shady mists of the Dreamscape, Katherine Hillard lay motionless on the cold ground. She had cuts along the length of her entire body, the most serious one cutting deeply into the flesh of her thigh. Her clothes were torn and stained with sweat and blood, and her emotionless expression gave away the utter despair that clouded her mind. After what seemed like an endless battle against Envy, Kat learned that her grace and agility, honed by her ballet and diving, are no match to Envy's sharp claws and swift kicks. Envy cut Katherine deeply, both body and soul.

"You know, Kat," mocked Envy, standing over Kat, who was fighting to stay conscious, "I was expecting a little more of a challenge. But, I guess you are just too weak to fight without the other Power Rangers to back you up."

"Stop talking and finish it," muttered Katherine. It was obvious to Envy that Kat had given up. Envy smiled.

"But why ever would I stop? This mental torture is all the fun! I'm enjoying watching your pitiful display of martial arts, and witnessing your downfall. Its about time you faced the fact that you are nothing but a liability to the team! Zordon should have summoned Trini to be the Blue Ranger, or perhaps Aisha! At least they can fight! You just manage to get yourself in trouble, and that's all! No one loves you, Kat! You should just go home to Australia, where people cared about you."

Envy laughed hysterically at Kat, whose head was bowed down in defeat. Tears filled her eyes, and she just let them fall, not bothering to try to hide them. Envy calmed down and extended her claws even longer than before. Now they were a foot long, and razor sharp. Kat looked at Envy's monstrous claws in horror. Envy shrugged.

"What can I say? I guess Envy cuts as deeply as you let it, Kat! It's been nice knowing you!"

Envy dove at Katherine, aiming to pierce Kat's heart with her claws. But before she managed to make contact, Kat rolled out of Envy's path, and painfully rose to her feet and put her arms up in defense. Envy just looked at her prey, surprised.

"Well, I guess I haven't completely broken your spirit. Yet. But since there is no way you can defeat me, your little attempt at self preservation was a waste!"

"I'm not going to let you win," said Kat quietly. Envy started to laugh again, throwing back her long green hair.

"You don't sound too convinced, little girl."

Suddenly, the dark mist parted in the center, and a bright flash of white light heralded the arrival of Jason Scott. Or rather, a virtual reality image of him.

"Jason?" asked Kat in shock. "Is that you? Where are we?"

"Kat," said Jason. "This isn't real. None of this is! You are only dreaming, and Zedd's trying to destroy your self-esteem! This is YOUR

mind, Kat, and you can do anything here! Zedd's attacking Angel Grove, and we can't stop it without the Blue Ranger! We need you --"

Before Jason could finish his sentence, a green bolt of energy pulsed through his virtual frame. Jason screamed in agony, since all his senses were connected to the virtual unit, and he could feel the hot energy slice through his back. Jason's image collapsed and faded away, leaving Katherine to stare at the spot he was standing on in mute horror. She then looked up at Envy, who was blowing smoke off from her index finger. Envy then turned to Kat and grinned widely.

"Enough pep talks, Katherine," she said, walking closer to the stunned Kat, "I've destroyed your friend, and now, once again, you must face me alone."

"That's it!" cried Katherine, enraged, "I've had enough of your sick mind games! I was chosen by Zordon, and by fate, to be the Blue Terran Ranger. I admit, I've always felt a little awkward when I replaced Kimberly as the Pink Ranger. I felt like I had to compete with a ghost, with everyone's memory of her. She was well loved, and I knew I couldn't equal her. Well, fine, I've learned to accept that I could never replace Kim. Not because she's better than me, but because she's different than me! I can never be as energetic or as bubbly