The Terran Ranger Saga Volume 2, Heather Ray [booksvooks .TXT] 📗

a diabolical plan to eliminate the Terran Rangers once and for all."

"I already have a plan," said Rita matter-of-factly, "and it's working beautifully."

"What are you up to this time, Rita?"

"About a week ago, I started implanting nightmares into Katherine's mind with Finster's Dream Machine."

"What kind of nightmares, your Majesty?" asked Finster curiously.

"In order to dishearten Kat, in each dream she id faced with Tommy and Kimberly, and they constantly criticize her. Now that the Terran Rangers powers are in their hearts, their self-confidence is vital to morph. I believe Kat is the most self-conscious out of the bunch presently. Usually Tommy makes a good target, but now that Kim, Jason, and Zack are back in the picture, his confidence has escalated. Also, Adam, who is usually self-conscious, is thriving off the concept that he was chosen for the honorable position of being a Terran Ranger alongside the others, who he always looked up to. Katherine, on the other hand, who is usually confident, is beginning to wallow in self-doubt, because Kimberly is back in the picture, and she can't help but compare herself to her predecesor. My dream machine is increasing her self doubt at an exponential rate. Even now, she's avoiding the rest of the Power Rangers. Take a look, Zeddie!"

Rita directed Zedd's crimson vision to the Angel Grove High School hallway, where Katherine was walking alone out of the building. The other rangers were all clustered around Kimberly's locker, discussing something. Zedd began to glow with glee.

"You're right, Rita!" he declared excitedly, "Katherine is jealous about all the attention the other rangers are giving Kimberly! She feels out of place among the team. Fantastic! Finster, prepare a squad of Viper Putties!"

Finster nodded and hurried to his lab. Rita stared at Zedd in disbelief.

"What do you think you're doing?!" she shrieked. "This is MY

plan!"

"Not anymore," said Zedd, sitting on his throne. "My Viper Putties will attack Katherine, and poison her with their venom. Once she is asleep, I shall send the Nightmare Queen into her mind, to further dishearten the Blue Ranger. With Kat out of commission, the rangers will no longer be at full strength. They will be vulnerable -- especially to a monster that controls the element of fire! This is a BRILLIANT

plan! I'm glad I thought of it!"

Rita mumbled under her breath as she looked back to Earth through her scope.

"Well, if you're gonna attack Katherine, you'd better do it now. Jason and Kimberly are on their way to some hotel, and Adam, Zack, and Tommy are warming up for the track meet. You can contact the Nightmare Queen, and I'll create a fire monster for the Power Rangers to deal with while the Kat's away."

Lord Zedd nodded in agreement, and raised his staff to the air. "Nightmare Queen, I summon you from afar!"

Chapter Three

After school, Katherine walkd alone through the park on her way home.

I could have gone to the track meet with Billy, to cheer for Tommy, Adam, and Zack. Or I could've gone to the Marriot to help Kim and Jason set up for the party tomorrow evening. I guess I'm just not up to it today. It feels weird going home so early, instead of hanging out with the guys, but I just can't face them right now. Especially Kim and Tommy...

As Katherine strolled through the park absently, six Viper Putties appear, surrounding her.

"Oh, no," said Katherine, dropping her bookbag and looking to see if anyone was watching. "It's Morphin Time!"

Katherine raised her hands to the air, expecting a wash of blue light to envelop her body and transform her, but nothing happened. She looked at her attackers in panic, and struck a defensive stance.

"What's going on here? Rita must've somehow taken my powers! I knew I wasn't up to this!" Kat stood her ground, watching as the six Putties circled her gracefully. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and waited anxiously for them to strike.

Who am I kidding?! I can't beat all of them alone! Not without my powers! Their poison will kill me instantly!

Katherine dodged the first Putty that attacked, and ran frantically though the gap in the circle of monsters. She tried to activate her communicator while she ran, but a Putty leaped into her path.

I can do this!

she thought to herself, I'm a Power Ranger! I can't just run away!

Kat tried to fight the Putty, but soon the others all surrounded her once again. Then, the Putty with the red glove stepped forward, while to others grabbed Katherine by the arms to hold her still. Her eyes widened as the Putty approached her.

That's it, I'm doomed. It'll burn me with that acid, and I'm history! How stupid can I be? I'm not Tommy or Adam! I can't fight these guys and expect to win. Some ranger I turned out to be.

Kat stopped struggling when the approaching Putty stopped, just a foot in front of Kat. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the stream of venom that he would spit at her to burn her alive. Instead, she felt a sharp prick on her shoulder, and opened her eyes in surprise to see that the Putty with the red glove had scratched her with its red claw instead. Then, the two Putties that were holding her let go, and Katherine fell to her knees, touching her hand to her small shoulder wound.

I...I can't stand up!

she thought in panic, as her body grew numb. Soon, she collapsed in a heap on the lush green grass, and the Putties vanished, leaving her there.

Chapter Four

Every year a different high school hosted the Crystal County Track Meet, where the twelve high schools in the county competed for the Crystal Trophy. Now, at the track outside Angel Grove High School, hundreds of spectators watched the beginning of the one mile race -- the final event of the meet.

"And they're off!" cried the announcer, "Zachary Taylor of Angel Grove High is taking an early lead. Angel Grove is trailing Stone Canyon in terms of total score, and the only way for Angel Grove to win it all is if one of their athletes places first in this race. Tomorrow night, Angel Grove hosts the Crystal Ball, to which all the students of all the high schools are invited! The winning team will be awarded the trophy by a representative of Angel Grove High's student council, and then that team takes part in the victory dance! I hope to see you all there, especially since all the proceeds go to the athletic departments of all Crystal County high schools."

Up in the stands, Billy sat with Rocky and Tanya and cheered as his friends pass him on their last lap. He could barely hear the sound of his communicator whistling.

"What was that?" asked Rocky, looking at Billy's watch curiously. "That's not the tone I'm familiar with!"

"It's the Central Access Complex's remote alert system! One of the Terran Rangers is in danger!"

Billy excused himself and hurried out of the bleachers. Once he reached a secluded spot, he prepared to teleport, but a strange gurgling sound stopped him. Curiosity got the better of him, and he looked around the corner to see a squad of Viper Putties waiting to strike.

Oh no! Zedd and Rita are gonna attack the track meet! I can't do anything about that now, though. I have to help whichever Terran Ranger is in danger! I think Tommy and the others can handle this emergency.

Billy touched a button on his wrist communicator, and vanished in a wash of white light. When he reached the CAC, he hurried to his desk and activated the life sign scanner for each of the rangers.

"Well, Tommy, Adam, and Zack are fine, so it must be either Kim, Kat, or Jason in danger," he mused, watching the computer screen. "Aha! Katherine is in the park, and she's unconscious. I'd better get over there and get her."

Billy vanished once again, this time appearing in Angel Grove Park inside a patch of bushes. He hurried to Katherine's location, where he saw two Junior Police officers checking Katherine's pulse.

"Is she dead, Bulkie?" asked Skull who was standing helplessly as Bulk knelt beside her and studied her face.

"I don't think so," he answered. "Her chest is moving, so she's still breathing."

"Maybe she just fell asleep?" suggested Skull.

"Look!" cried Bulk, pointing at her shoulder. "She's been hurt! She may be bleeding to death!"

Skull looked curiously at the small scratch on Katherine's arm and scratched his head.

"I guess it's possible. Maybe we should call an ambulance?"

"Good idea," said Bulk, standing up. "Let's go find a phone!"

As the two staggered off, Billy hurriedly checked Katherine's vital signs. She's alive, and she appears unharmed. Except for that scratch...I'd better take her to the CAC and scan her better with the med-unit.

Billy stood up and activated his transporter, and the two figures vanished in streaks of white and blue light.

Chapter Five

At the finale of the Crystal County Track Meet, Zack Taylor crossed the finish line, a good fifteen seconds ahead of the rest of the mile runners.

"And that's it, Ladies and Gentlemen!" cried the announcer, "Zachary Taylor crosses the line waaay before anyone else