Disclaimer: I know all these characters,
locations, etc., belong to Saban, but they aren’t in use at this time, so I’m
borrowing them. I promise to put them
right back where I found them. I am not
receiving any money for this story; I’m just doing it for grins and giggles.
Notes and Timeline: This story takes place during the Zeo Ranger period,
during that brief, but fun, time when Jason was the Gold Ranger. This story is in parts, it includes that
King Mondo captures a hurt Tommy and put him in a dimension far away. I KNOW that I’m letting Tommy get
seriously hurt in this, but you got to expect this in the stories I write. Don’t worry; I never let him die because
he’s my favorite. Anything else I
screwed up is because I didn’t know any better. I would rate this story PG 13 for violence. Enjoy.
King Mondo was not happy. He had been contemplating his next move against those pesky Power Rangers. He paced angrily. “We got to get rid of the Red Ranger!” he yelled “Klank! Get in here at once!”
“You called?” said Klank coming from the other room.
“I want you to make a monster to hurt the Red Ranger.” said King Mondo “Then have it send the Red Ranger to my prison in the Cornered Dimension.”
“Right away you highness.” said Klank as he left to do his bidding.
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“Kai! Kai! Kai!”
“Ka-yah! Ka-yah! Ka-yah!” The sounds of the Youth Center rang with the sounds of Tommy and Jason sparring. Interspersed with their cries were the sounds of their feet, and only Billy had mush opportunity to observe Jason in action. It was a proving to be an eye opener to the other Rangers watching near by.
“Man, I would hate to see them go after each other for real!” Rocky exclaimed.
“No kidding. Tommy is faster, but Jason is so strong.” Adam added, “It would be too close to call.”
“After watching those two I feel I should just give up on my Karate lessons, and take up something else instead. Knitting maybe.” Tanya sighed.
Adam gave her an encouraging pat on the arm. “They were beginners once, you know. All you need to do is practice, concentrate, and believe, and you will be at their level. In twenty years or so.” Rocky grinned.
Tanya had perked up at the start of Rocky’s little pep talk, but when she heard the last comment she swatted him one. “Lotta help you are!” she huffed.
A general laugh went around the table at that. Jason and Tommy finished their practice and joined their friends. “What’s so funny?” Tommy asked.
“Oh, nothing. Rocky is just being his usual self.” Tanya replied, with a mock for Rocky’s benefit.
“Jase, let’s go change so we can head out to the lake. Rocky borrowed a couple of jet skis from his cousin so we had figured to take them up to the lake and make a day of it. You game?” Tommy asked.
“Sure, let’s go.”
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“Your majesty! Your majesty!” Klank was beside himself with excitement as he came to King Mondo “Come with me at once. You must see it. The monster you want is done.”
“Good job, Klank.” said King Mondo as he fallowed Klank “Well, what are you waiting for? Let me see him.”
Queen Machina and Prince Sprocket entered the throne room, drawn by curiosity. “What’s going on my dear?” Machina asked, snapping her fan.
Before King Mondo could reply, Klank cut in, “I finally got a monster to sent that Red Ranger to your prison, your highness.” Without further ado, he removed the cover to show a big and very strong bug monster.
Prince Sprocket had his own idea. “Give him to me! Please Daddy? Give him to me! I want to play with him. I can practice being mean and cruel. Please?”
King Mondo replied to this offspring in a distracted manner. “Not this time. Not him, son. Maybe something else, but not him.” he said “His for my full proof plan. Good job, Klank!” He added.
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It was turning out to be one of those sunny Southern California days that most people associated with that state. The six teens on the shore of the lake were taking full advantage of the beautiful day. Taking turns zipping around the lake on the jet skis, swimming in the water clear their hectic secret lives as Power Rangers. Tommy soon remembered he had promised his brother, David that he’ll send sometime with him that day. “Hey guys, I forgot I promised David that I’ll spend sometime with him today.” he said to Kat, who was sunning herself on the beach “Tell the others for me, okay? I’ll meet you guys at the Youth Center later.”
“Okay, Tommy.” Kat said with a smile.
“I’ll see you guys later.” he replied as he left.
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At the Machine Empire’s base, King Mondo was deep in thought. The first rush of excitement over the idea of a monster hurting the Red Ranger and sending him to the prison was a great idea of his. “Klank!” he shouted “Klank! Where the blazes are you?!”
“Right here, your majesty!” said Klank as he came in “How may I serve you?”
“It’s time to send down the monster at the Red Ranger.” said Mondo.
“Yes your majesty,” said Klank “He’ll do it.”
“Well,” Mondo said “What are you waiting for? Get to it! The Red Ranger must be there as soon as possible, and all that will remain is waiting for the perfect chance to get rid of the others.”
“How about sending them there as well?” said Klank “To fight in the area.”
“That’s a good idea, Klank.” said King Mondo “Get to it!” Klank hurried away to do his King’s bidding, chucking as he did so. It was not a pleasant sound at all.
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“This in nuts!” Rocky moaned later on at the Youth Center “Sometimes I think I’m just going insane. I don’t want Mondo to do something, but when he doesn’t it is worse, waiting for him to do what you don’t want him to do but expect him to do anyway!”
“Huh?” Tanya was confused by Rocky’s somewhat incoherent rambling.
“I think he means sometimes noting is worse then something.” Adam clarified. Tanya rolled her eyes and glanced over to Kat for help.
“Don’t look at me.” Kat said “The rule of thumb for me is that if Rocky starts making sense it’s a bad sign.”
“That’s make sense.” said Tanya.
Both boys groaned at that. But before they could work up a reply, Jason joined them at the table. “You guys look kind a glum, is anything wrong?” Even though Jason was no longer the leader of the Ranger, indeed had not been for a long time, he couldn’t seem to avoid slipping into “leader mode” now and then.
“We’re not glum, we’re apprehensive,” Adam explained “King Mondo never goes this long without launching a attack unless he has something big planned.”
“And we can’t decide if we can’t wait or don’t want to see it.” Rocky added.
“Huh?” Jason asked.
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Tommy hurried along the path through Angel Grove Park. He was supposed to meet the gang at the Youth Center a half-hour ago. He was running late. He was so preoccupied he did not notice that the Cogs add rived.
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King Mondo had started to think he would never find the Red Ranger alone when he spied him in the park. He immediately dispatched the squadron of Cogs he had standing by for just this event. The Cogs had been specially briefed on what to do, and exactly how to do it. Tommy wouldn’t stand a change.
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The Cogs appeared directly in front of Tommy. Before he could react, the monster Klank made came down. “Hello Ranger.” It said “Prepared to meet your doom!”
Tommy was ready to morph. “It’s Morphin Time! Zeo Ranger V Red!” Tommy let lose on the Cogs, and the monster. The monster was too strong for him. “He went to his communicator. “Zordon!” he said into it “I need some help!”
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Just then the groups communicators beeped out the familiar notes, alerting the Rangers that Zordon was trying to reach them. The teen found their favorite deserted corner of the Youth Center. Jason active his communicator, “Jason’s here, Zordon, what’s up?”
“Rangers, Tommy is in trouble.” Zordon’s voice said “Teleport to the park immediately.”
“We’ll be right there, Zordon.” said Jason “Jason out.” He looked at the others. “Guys.” he said “It’s Morphin Time!”
“Zeo Ranger I Pink!”
“Zeo Ranger II Yellow!”
“Zeo Ranger III Blue!”
“Zeo Ranger IV Green!”
“Gold Ranger Power!”
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The Rangers teleported into the park were Cogs outnumbered Tommy. He was just got hit down and was standing up again. “Tommy!” called Jason as he and others ran to him “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Tommy replied “I’m glad you guys are here. These guys are tough.”
“Then let’s get them.” said Jason. All the Rangers went into Karate stance. They attack the Cogs. Then suddenly the monster fired, and Tommy was directly in the line of fire. “Tommy!” Jason shouted at him “Look out!” However, instead of looking at what was coming at him, Tommy instinctively turned towards Jason. The there was a flash of light, an electrifying pulse passed through Tommy and hurting him very badly. He then collapsed to the grassy ground. “NOOOO!!!” called Jason as he tried to run to him, but got stopped by some Cogs “TOMMY!!!” The Cogs and the monster disappeared back through the portal from whence they came, taking their unconscious victim with them.
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Mondo was happy with the first phase of his plan. The Red Ranger had been hurt and captured. It could not have gone better, now for the start of the second phase. “Klank, prepare for the procedure for the next plan. Our guest will be here soon.” Klank hustled out to do his bidding.
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“Zordon,” said Jason as soon as they teleported into the Power Chamber “The Cogs and the monster took Tommy!” He couldn’t sake the feeling of what will happen to Tommy in Mondo’s clutches.
“This is very serious, Ranger.” Zordon intoned.
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The Cogs, holding the unconscious Tommy, followed Mondo to a cold cell. “Put the Red Ranger down.” he said “Don’t do anything to him. Don’t even have a blanket for him.” Two Cogs put the unconscious Tommy down on a colt with no blanket. “Good. Now, its time to start my second plan.”
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“Where did they take him?” Jason asked “Can you locate him, Alpha?”
“Ayiyiyiyiyiyi!” Alpha said “I have been trying to locate him, but it’s like he vanished into thin air.”
“What can we do, Zordon? We have to get him back.” Kat said.
“The first thing to do is to locate him. Adam, perhaps you can assist Alpha with the scans. The rest of you need to be ready for whatever rescuer opportunity that presents itself. In the meantime, you should resume your normal activities.” Zordon knew it would be difficult for the Rangers to wait, but there was really nothing else that could be done. “We’ll contact you as soon as we know anything.”
Adam was frustrated. He had been helping Alpha try scan for Tommy without any successes. They had tried broad-spectrum scans, narrow beam scans, even a scan specifically for Tommy’s unique biorhythms, noting. “Ayiyiyiyiyiyi! Nothing will work! Zordon, we don’t know what to try next!” Alpha was just as frustrated as Adam, and considerably more verbal about it.
“We must keep trying, Alpha.” Zordon said, “We just got to find him.” He looks at Adam. “Adam, maybe we should try to use the universe scan.”
“Okay, this just has to work!” Alpha moaned.
Adam was in complete agreement with Alpha 5. “This just has to work.”
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So far he had not opened his eyes. He lay there, motionless, trying to recollect the events of the past few…minutes?. hours?...like one trying to remember the shadow of a dream upon awakening. Tommy slowly opened his eyes, and tried to sit up. Nothing- -he was forced down by a wave of pain and weakness “Ohh…” All Tommy was able to see was darkness. “Where am I?” he asked weakly. “Kat? Jason?… Adam? Rocky? Tanya? Anyone?” Tommy whimpered. No answer. Tommy try to see through the darkness. As he strained, his eyes begin to see outlines and shapes that would help him identify his surroundings. All he could make out was that he was in some kind of cell, and that he saw the metal bars across one side and gray brick walls on the other three, creating a room approximately ten feet. He was laying on was a very hard cot. On the other side was another cot with a blanket. His weak fingers on his left hand try to flex, all he felt was pain in them. He felt a very cold breeze; it was heavy, damp, and chilly. A convulsive shudder traced up his spine. Tommy looked down to find there wasn’t a blanket on his cot. He also notices that he was still morphed, but his suit was ripped in may places and hurt and bleeding there. Hadn’t he just came from a battle? From where? There was a battle and Tommy knew it. He couldn’t remember what happen after that. Tommy glanced around him again. Everything was still pretty dark. He tried to teleport, but couldn’t. Panicking slightly, he tapped his communicator with is other hand. It wasn’t working as well. He took a few weak deep breaths, trying to clear his mind. Instead, he convulsively coughed as the cold, damp air poured into his lungs. Tommy had grazed by the monster and, perhaps, knocked unconscious, and very hurt; somehow, the monster had captured him and transported him to this place. Prospect slightly panic him. But he felt like he hurt all over, and his body was one giant headache. His ears began to pick up noises. Barely perceptible at first, they grew slightly in intensity and clarity. Tommy stayed very still. The pounding in his head had increased, and he wanted to make sure that they were actually sounds, not some weird figment of his imagination. He cocked his head to one side, straining to comprehend the faint sounds. Tommy held his breath. His heart leapt, filling him with the throbbing sensation of blood rushing through his body. He cold hear its erratic pounding in his ears; he could feel it in his aching head, relishing the pulsating rhythm it produced behind his eyes, Voices-not just any voices, but Cogs’ voices. Very faint. Tommy tried to sit up, but he was forced back down again with pain. By this time, Tommy could distinctly make out the voices of the Cogs, but he couldn’t fully understand their conversation. His head was pounding, when he heard the door at the end of the corridor open, and footsteps approaching. Then King Mondo appeared. “Ah, you’re awake, good.” he said as he stood just outside the cell.
“What do you want, you walking junk pile?” Tommy snarled weakly.
“Oh, I have what I want,” Mondo replied, then left. Tommy inhaled weakly and deeply, trying to clear his thoughts. He closed his eyes. As the Cogs’ voices faded as he drifted into a deep sleep, carried off by the lulling rhythm of his own heart.
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King Mondo was happy. “Time for the next phase of my plan to began!” he said happily “Klank!”
“Your highness.” said Klank as he entered the room “You called?”
“Send the monster down to capture the other Rangers.” King Mondo said “Have it send them to the prison.”
“Right away your highness.” said Klank as he left.
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The alarm sounded in the Power Camber. “Ayiyiyiyiyiyi! Now what?” Alpha exclaimed “We better check the viewing globe!”
Alpha, and Adam activated the viewing globe, which showed a deserted area of the park. Suddenly, a portal opens and the monster came out. “It’s the monster.” Zordon said as he look at Alpha “Contact the others. Adam, go there and meet them.”
“Yes Zordon.” Adam said “It’s Morphin Time! Zeo Ranger IV Green!”
Adam teleported to the area where the monster had appeared, as he approached, the others teleported morphed next to him. “Great.” said Adam “Your guys are here.”
“Well,” said the monster “The Power Rangers are here.”
“Get ready to be swatted!” called Jason.
“Try your best!” called the monster.
The Rangers let lose on the monster, after long hours of battling, the monster tied them up with a sticky thread. “What is this?!” asked Rocky out loud.
“Some kind of sticky thread!” said Jason “We got to get it off!”
They tried to get it off, but with no successes. “It won’t come off!” said Tanya.
“Time to go, Rangers.” said the monster. The monster disappeared, with it’s captives.
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Tommy woke up from his sleep as his ears began to pick up noises. Barely perceptible at first, they grew slightly in intensity and clarity. Voices-not just any voices, but the others voices! “Let us go!” Jason? Jason! Tommy tried to sit up, but still nothing. He was just too weak, and sick. Tommy saw the Cogs holding the unmorphed Jason in front of the cell. Jason did not like the looks of the cell. He was looking around desperately for a way to escape, trying to break the Cogs’ grips.
“Don’t struggle against this, Gold Ranger. If you do escape, I will have the other Rangers, and your leader killed before you reach the end of the hall.” said King Mondo “If you wish them to live, you will do as your are told. If you do not, after the others are killed, we will still capture you and force you to co-operate. It’s your choice.” Jason realized that he had no choice. He ceased his struggles. “That’s better. These things work better when the operation is simplified as much as possible.” Mondo directed. Jason soon found himself being tossed carelessly to the back of the cell by the Cogs. “You should morph again.” he was ordered “You’ll fight in the area when it’s your turn.”
Jason gathered himself and stood up. “What are you doing, Mondo?!” he demanded, as the door closes on him “You can’t keep us here long, we’ll find a way out!”
“Ah, your faith is touching, but you can’t now can you?” Mondo replied. With that Mondo and his escort left.
Jason need to figure out what Mondo’s plan was if they were to find a way to foil it. Then he heard a voice near by. “J-J-J-Jason.…” Tommy weakly stammered.
“Huh?” said Jason as he looked around “Tommy? Buddy is that you?”
“Yea…” said Tommy.
“Where are you?” asked Jason “I can’t see ya.”
“To your right…” said Tommy.
Jason did, he saw a figure laying on the cot, he squinted his eyes to get a better look. It was him! Jason recognized his friend and leader. “Tommy!” Jason said as he came to him “Tommy, you’re bleeding. Oh, God, I can’t believe he has done this to you.” Jason saw Tommy was very hurt and pale. He reached out and toughed Tommy’s forehead. It was quite hot. “Oh man.” said Jason “You’re burning up.” Jason saw Tommy’s body was in torment. He also saw Tommy was very sick. As the old leader of the Power Rangers, he expected to be able to protect his teammates. To stand helplessly as Tommy lie there, he couldn’t bear it. He would have to find a way to help Tommy, and to keep Mondo form harming him more.
COUCH COUGH “I can’t take this.” Tommy said “I would rater die in Mondo’s clutches then you seeing me like this.”
“Tommy, don’t say that.” said Jason “You’re going to be okay.”
“I’m the so called leader.” said Tommy “I’m not supposed to be like this. I just can’t lay here and watch a teammate watch me die.”
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Meanwhile, in another cell, Adam had prowled around the cell, which he and the others were being held in. There wasn’t a lot to see. The two sidewalls each had a built in shelf about two feet above floor level that would do to sleep on. There was a small drainage hole by the back wall that Adam supposed would serve as the “toilet”. An old spigot sprouted from the wall above it. Adam had tried turning it on and was rewarded with some tepid water that had a chemical smell and slightly oil feel. The view through the bars showed a corridor approximately six feet wide with a barred door at one end, and a wall at the other. There were a total of six cells, three to a side. Near as he could tell, he and others were the only “guests” at this time. “We just got to get out of here.” he said.
“But I think we’re stuck here.” said Kat.
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Jason had paced around the cell. He had tried turning the water spigot on and got the same thing. He made a face, then looked at Tommy, who was looking at him from the cot he lied on. “This water is definitely not safe for you.” he said.
Jason then had an idea to cover Tommy’s wounds. He took off his shirt. Tommy looked at him confused. “What are you doing Jason?” he asked weakly.
“This is the best I can do.” Jason commented, as he starts to rip his shirt into long strips. When he was done, he started to use them to wrapped Tommy’s wounds, being as gentle and careful as possible, but it was agony for Tommy. Then he went over and took the blanket off of his cot. He brought it over and gently truck Tommy into it.
Tommy looked at him. “Jason, you can’t.” he said “What about you?”
“Mondo said I have to morph soon.” said Jason “And now is the best time.” Jason stood up and went into stance. “It’s Morphin Time!” he called “Gold Ranger Power!” He was now morphed and he took off his helmet.
In King Mondo’s prison the next few days, Jason and Tommy had found their days falling into a pattern. They pass the time talking. Jason knew he has to keep Tommy talking. But today Tommy’s eyes were clouded; he was getting weaker. COUGH COUGH “Jase…can’t…too…hurt…” his words came carelessly tumbling out of his mouth.
Jason crouched down to get a good look at Tommy’s face. It didn’t look so good. “C’mon, bro.” Jason said “Keep talking, hang in there.”
Tommy struggled to focus. He couldn’t. He let out a yelp of pain. He shook is head “no”. COUGH COUGH COUGH “Can’t…” he said in a quiet whisper “…tried…”
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It was the thought that kept them going. The thought of how good it was going to be to get home. Jason realized that they were basically on their own against Mondo. It also meant Tommy was in danger. He needs to tell the others that Tommy was here with him. Under the circumstances Tommy needed help, and being here was no help to both of them. King Mondo was not terribly concerned about human cuisine, so the food they served was barely eatable. Jason dubbed it “mystery much”, which was a good for a description as any. It looked and tasted terrible, but it kept the hunger pangs at bay, and provided minimal energy. In short, it was better then nothing was. But there was a problem, Tommy was in no shape to chew anything, so Jason had to eat it. There was no way to determine how long they have been there. Jason estimated three days only because he slept three times, but Tommy, being so weak, slept more. Despite the bleak, barren situation they were in, the two friends fared well. Jason helped and encouraged Tommy, and the occasion of the cold, dreary prison made it much harder for Tommy’s heath.
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In the other cell, some of the others paced back and forth in the cell, and they were all morph, with helmets off. “Adam.” said Rocky “There’s no Cogs around. Try to find out were Jason is.”
“That’s a good idea, Rocky.” said Adam. He went up to the door of the cell.
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“Jason!” Jason and Tommy heard Adam’s voice. Jason went to the door of their cell.
“Adam?! Is that you?” he called.
“We got to get out of here!” said Adam’s voice.
“Yea!” said Jason, he looks at Tommy _ who was much worse _ than looks back “We got to do it fast! He’s not going to make it much longer!”
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Adam and the others looked at each other confused. “What is he talking about?” asked Tanya.
“I don’t know.” said Adam, then he looks back “What are you talking about, Jason?!”
“It’s Tommy!” said Jason’s voice “He’s in the cell with me!” They all looked at each other happily. “He’s hurt bad, and very sick!” they heard Jason say “If we don’t hurry Tommy’s going to die!”
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Jason head footsteps approaching, a Cog was coming. He looks at Tommy, who had been fighting his own battle as they where there, a battle he was not winning in. He glanced out, expecting it to be the delivery of their meal. The Cog went to the cell and opens the door. Just then King Mondo came into view, and he was quite mad. “The Cogs had told me you were trying to help your leader!” Mondo relished the uneasy looks of the two young men gave him “But, as you humans say, all good things must come to an end. I have always wanted to see just how much you can endure the looks of this.” Klank and some Cogs fixed a couple of manacles to the back wall, and a couple more to the bars of the cell across the way from them. Near by, the others watched. These additions to the place heightened the group’s apprehension. Mondo had kept one hand partially behind him while he addressed his prisoners. He now brought his hand out and displayed what he was holding. It was a short whip of braided rawhide. Less unwieldy then a traditional bullwhip, but it looked like it would do as much damage, if not more. “Klank did some research, it seams you humans do not respond well being whipped. I like to do my own experiments in order to verify the information we receive from the various planets we conquer. Bring them both out!” he suddenly ordered the Cogs.
They resisted the Cogs at first, but it was futile. Jason was bound to the bars of the cell, while Tommy was stripped of the bandages that Jason had put on and manacled to the back wall. Jason went wild realizing what they were going to do to him. Mondo unfurled the whip. “MONDO! IF YOU TOUCH HIM, I’LL SEE YOU ARE DESTROYED IF IS THE LAST THING I EVER DO!” He never felt such helplessness and rage. Jason strained against the restraints.
Mondo ignored him as he lashed the whip at Tommy’s back. Tommy cried out. The lash had drawn out more blood. “Hmm. Must be a painful effect,” Mondo mused as he lashed Tommy again.
“NOOO!!!” Jason heard Kat called out.
Mondo ignored Kat, and plied the whip again. The five blows drew more blood. Mondo appeared to have enjoyed himself. “Most interesting reactions. I must consider what I have observed today. After all, I want your leader to die permanently.”
“Mondo!” Jason yelled “You had your fun, now stop!”
Mondo continued to ignore him and the other Rangers as he delivered five more blows to Tommy’s back, as Jason and the others watched in horror. “Quit it Mondo!” cried Adam.
Mondo continued to ignore them, and observe their reactions during their leader’s beating. Even as inexperienced as Mondo was in reading human emotions, he knew what he saw in their eyes, pain, hatred, quilt, and despair. Some things were universal after all. Looks like the torture of the Red Ranger was going well. He glanced again at Jason, then let loose another strike. Tommy’s gasp of pain was clearly audible. Mondo checked Jason’s reaction. The pain and fear in his eyes were a joy to be held. “How dose it feel, Gold Ranger, to see a friend getting more hurt?” he taunted. He continued the beating. By the twentieth Tommy was very much in pain and struggled weakly in his bonds. By the twenty-sixth he was unconscious, and coughing quietly a couple of times. His body was visibly tensed, sheen of sweat covering his torso despite the chill. Mondo had the Cogs to released Jason first. “I think that’s enough. Release your companion from his bonds, and take him with you back into your cell!” he ordered to Jason.
Jason carefully released Tommy from the manacles. He lifted his unconscious friend gently into his arms and carried him back into his call. He was shaking with emotion as Klank locked the cell door. “I WILL get you for this, someday, some time.” he promised Mondo.
“Someday you might.” Mondo agreed “That is, if you survived your time here. You must realize by now that you must accepted that your leader is loosing his battle.” Mondo chuckled as he and the others departed the cellblock.
Jason looked down at Tommy as he sat him down. Tears were in his eyes. “Please hang in there, we can’t give up,” he pleaded softly, as he reached for the blanket. It would be best to warm him before Tommy regained consciousness, if he did. Jason set about his painful task.
Many days pasted, Jason had done the best he could keep Tommy warm, but he was still unconscious. Most of his wounds that was not very deep had stopped bleeding and were already scabbing over. Tommy, leader of the Power Rangers, quietly losing his beating, it was going to take a lot of time to heel. If it were available, he could really use some time on the “table” as the Rangers referred to it. The “table” was a device Zordon had that could be used to accelerate the healing of soft tissue injuries. They only used it for severe injuries, and it was not useful for broken bones, but in a case like this it would be perfect. It would even keep the wounds form scarring. Jason sighed as reached out to gently brush a lose long hair form Tommy’s face. He thought about how long he had known Tommy, the things they had done together. There was a time in his life when if he had been told one of his closet friends would be a guy with a time management problem, Jason would have laughed out loud. The thought he would be a part of a team of young people dedicated to saving the world would have resulted in more derisive laughter. Odd how life worked out, Jason didn’t like to think where he would have ended up without him and his friends Tommy had made.
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When Jason came back, from the arena fighting a monster from another planet, he checks to see how Tommy was. He sighed as he checks on Tommy. His conduction was getting worse, as well as the fever he had. Tommy was always there when they need him, helping them fight their long battles with Rita and Zedd, but now Tommy was facing a dangerous battle of his life, his own… Which made this situation even more hellish.
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Jason spent the days mostly just staying by Tommy’s side, but sometimes Jason was working out, going through one of the most energetic katas he knew. He was completely engrossed in the movements, capturing the harmony between body and soul. For a few minutes a last, the horror of the recent events faded to the background. In his mind he could be anywhere, someplace warm, bright, and safe, far away from the cold, dark, dank cell. He stretched the kata out to last as long as possible, but eventually he had to come back to reality. Some of Tommy’s wounds were healing nicely, but the deep ones was inviting trouble. He finished and dropped down on his “bunk” across from Tommy. He was breathing heard and had actually worked up a sweat. Jason notice Tommy’s eyes were still closed. He had a feeling Tommy was going to need serious help, and he knew just got to get Tommy out of this pace. COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH He ran to his leader and gently held his upper body gently in his arms. “C’mon Tommy…” he said softly to him “hang in there buddy…you can do it.” COUGH COUCH COUGH COUGH Jason closed his eyes. “This can’t be happening,” he whispered to himself “There must be something we can do.” He forced those thoughts to the back of his mind. Right now, Tommy needed him. Jason maintained his hold on Tommy. Tommy’s light and heavy coughs showed no sign of abating. Jason held him and murmured words of comfort, trying to help his friend through the pain the best way he could. They stayed that way for a long time.
Jason’s arms were numb with exhaustion, and both his legs were asleep. He had held his uncomfortable position for an unknown length of time. Tommy’s coughs had finally abated, thought the tremors caused by the stimulant continued. Jason carefully moved them, and sat Tommy’s head back down to the pillow. He finally got his body working and looked over to see how Tommy was doing. He was unnaturally pale, pain etched deeply in his body. “HEY JASE!” Jason heard Adam’s voice called out “So, you want to get out of here!”
“Do you have a plain?!” Jason asked.
“Well,” said Adam’s voice “We do have the keys!”
Jason was astonished. “Where did you get them?!” A foolish question perhaps but all Jason’s overtaxed mind could handle at the point.
“Took it off Mondo when I was coming back with him,” come the response “We should move quickly, before he notices it’s missing!”
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Pretty soon the other Rangers was at Jason and Tommy’s cell. They all had their helmets on. Adam tried the key, and felt excitement surge through him when it worked. “Ready?” asked Adam.
“As we’ll ever be.” was Jason’s response as he slid his helmet on.
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They moved to the door at the end of the corridor, with Tommy being carried gently in Jason’s arms, and they repeated the process. For the first time in almost two weeks they stepped out of the cellblock. Thanks to the excitement of their escape, they were suddenly was caught up with ten Cogs. “Cogs!” called Kat. After a long fight they destroyed the Cogs. They moved quickly and quietly towards the area of the base where they had been taken. They knew there was a teleportation station in the area. They were almost there when Tommy started to cough softly again. COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH they all stood there quietly until Tommy had stopped. They headed down the hall again. So far so good, there was no sign of anyone else in the area. They all but sprinted to the teleportation station, finding it deserted. Adam recognized the device in the far corner from schematics he had seen in the Power Chamber’s computer.
“There!” he pointed. Jason and the others didn’t ask any questions, just followed Adam to the odd locking device. “This will get use home,” Adam explained “We just need to set the coordinates. Where exactly do you guys want to go?”
“It would be a good idea to teleport directly into the Power Camber,” said Jason “That’s where we need to go.”
“The let’s do it,” Adam responded. Adam leaned over the controls for a couple of minutes, entering information, confirming the location. He turned to the others with a triumphant smile. “We’re going home.” They all disappeared in a shimmer of colorful light.
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King Mondo did not know whether to be satisfied or annoyed. His plan was ruined. The Rangers had gotten away, ultimately the Rangers’ leader’s death was still so close. To work up to the grand climax, the Rangers have to be distracted so Tommy would die. Of course, he had to have the monster do it. So, Mondo was bored. He knew he will sent down the occasional monster to keep the Rangers from suspecting anything was amiss, but he knew that they were just a deception. With no hopes pinned on the monster attacks, and no scheming needed, he found himself with too much time on his hands. “Klank!”
“Yes your majesty.” Klank was at his king’s side in an instant.
“I want you to do some upgrading on the monster. I expect to see what you have in six hours.”
“Of course, your majesty. I will not disappoint you.” At the end of the allotted six hours, Klank presented King Mondo with the new and improve monster. Mondo couldn’t wait to sent it down, soon he could have some fun while his plans reach fruition.
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The Rangers teleported to the Power Chamber, and were standing in it. “Rangers! It’s good to see you all okay.” Zordon’s voice boomed out.
“Ayiyiyiyiyiyi!” Alpha said “We were so worried Rangers!”
Before anyone could respond, Jason, with Tommy still in his arms, stepped up. “He needs some help,” he said “Sometime on the “table” is in order.”