Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie by Heather Ray (beach read book .TXT) 📕

Just outside the remote, nearly desolate town was a large field of dust. The field served as a parking lot, spotted with cruisers, shuttles, and other small space ships from dozens of different cultures.

One particular ship, vaguely shaped like an arrowhead, wasn't vacant. In the lower section of the small ship, the burly demon in red armor lined with razor sharp spikes stood waiting. He tapped his foot impatiently, narrow amber eyes glancing at the chronometer on the wall.

"Where is she?" he hissed angrily. His glance shifted to a small wooden crate lying on the floor beside him. "I did my

part…"

He grinned cruelly when he saw two individuals approach on the view screen.

"So, this is Lord Zedd's vessel?" Deviot wondered.

Scorpina rolled her eyes. "Don't be asinine. My Lord is on his flagship, in orbit of the planet. He awaits our arrival."

Deviot lingered behind Scorpina, watching her type the code to open the ship's hangar. "I'm leaving the planet?"

Scorpina grinned. "Considering you'd be nothing but scrap metal if I hadn't intervened earlier, a brief trip isn't asking much."

"You still haven't told me what your emperor wants from me."

"I am in no position to explain my Lord's intentions. You will meet him shortly."

Deviot sighed quietly, and followed Scorpina into the ship. Once inside, he noticed the other occupant.

The red demon fixed the robot with a frigid, knowing grin.

"Darkonda!" he growled, eyes narrowing suspiciously, "What are you doing here?"

The infamous bounty hunter laughed at the twinge of fear he detected in the mechanical voice. "I've recently come into Lord Zedd's employ. Dark Specter has no need of me for the time being."

"Still making a living kidnapping young girls?" the Machine hissed.

Darkonda's laugh deepened. "Oh, that's never for money. That's for pleasure."

He then turned to Scorpina. "All preparations have been made."

From within the spacious ship of Serpentera, Lord Zedd watched his small vessel depart from the desert planet's atmosphere.

So far, everything was going smoothly. Not long after leaving the M 51 galaxy, Zedd made contact with Scorpina, one of his more trusted spies. With her scheming mind and centuries of experience, he knew she would be a critical asset in his mission to destroy the Machine Empire.

Of course, he could

have returned to Phlegethon, and assembled an armada to face the Machine Empire in an open war. He did have enough loyal soldiers to give King Mondo a respectable challenge.

Unfortunately, open warfare would take far too long, and would more than likely culminate with the destruction of the very solar system he wanted to conquer.

No…war wasn't the solution. Instead, he opted for Scorpina's particular talent. Manipulation and trickery.

The little minx did deserve some credit -- the Pulse Bomb was her idea. During the first few weeks, which were dedicated to "research,"

the temptress learned of the rumored discovery of the Pulse Bomb by one of Dregon's lackeys. Rather than surrender the weapon of mass destruction to Dregon, the lackey decided to sell it to the nearest weapons dealer…and made a fortune.

Scorpina tracked down the dealership that acquired the Bomb, and learned of the auction on Onyx.

While Scorpina focused on the weapon itself, Lord Zedd concerned himself with the delivery method. King Mondo may have been irrational, but stupid he was not. His infinite Cog armies wouldn't let any Organic near the Palace without authorization. And surely any recognizable member of the Phlegethon Empire would be shot down before coming within a thousand miles of Earth's moon.

The actual potency of the Pulse Bomb was unknown. Therefore, to insure the rulers of the Machine Empire was duly obliterated in the blast, the bomb had to be detonated in their presence.

Someone… someone unaffiliated with Zedd's own forces… had to approach the Machine throne and deliver the bomb. That someone had to have an excellent reason

if he were to be allowed admittance.

Given enough time, patience, and ingenuity, anything

can be accomplished,

Zedd reasoned, turning away from the view screen. He took a seat on the command station of Serpentera, and waited.

Moments later, the bridge gate opened.

At the sight of the Emperor, Scorpina immediately fell to her knees in obeisance. Darkonda bowed stiffly, his fierce face never falling below waist-level. Deviot seemed unsure what to do, so he merely nodded to the foreign ruler.

"My Lord Zedd," Scorpina meekly uttered, rising to her feet, "our mission has been accomplished. May I introduce Deviot, traitor to the throne of the Machine Empire."

Zedd lifted his hand, briskly waving the visitor toward him. Deviot held his chin up confidently, and approached the most powerful sorcerer in the Milky Way.

"I am honored to meet you," Deviot stated, offering another graceful nod, "I have heard a great deal of your conquerings."

"Then I am sure you are aware of my difficulties with your nation," Zedd rumbled. Deviot took a step back at the harsh note in the emperor's voice.

"Your king has ousted me from the Sol system, where my satellite palace is located. While the system isn't a great loss, I have been humiliated by the invasion. Such an affront cannot be ignored."

"Sire, I must point out that Mondo is not my King," Deviot said quickly. "Surely you have heard of my current legal status."

Zedd nodded, the steady lights of the controls glinting off his steel faceplate. "Indeed. And that is why you are here."

Deviot smiled, falling into a gracious, deep bow. "I am honored to assist you. With my intimate knowledge of the royal family, I am certain I can offer you a great deal of valuable information."

Zedd answered with a chuckle. A deep, slow chuckle that tingled Deviot's tactile receptors.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary patience to orchestrate some sinister upheaval. Instead, I plan to offer you to Mondo as a peace offering. Perhaps the Machine Empire and my own can come to an understanding, and even a coexistence treaty."

Deviot's eyes bulged. "M…my Lord…" he stammered, backing away from the throne, "Mondo is hardly a Machine to reason with! He couldn't even reconcile with his own son! Surely he would never treat with Organics!"

A terrible smirk pulled Darkonda's lip as he stepped forward, lying his hand on Deviot's shoulder. The robot winced as the intense grip tightened, nearly denting the bronze plating.

"It is a risk I am willing to take," Zedd decided. He then rose from his throne, grasping the sparking silver scepter in his clenched hand. Deviot trembled in outraged terror as the proclaimed Emperor of Evil walked toward him.

"S…sire…I beg of you…I can serve you! Serve faithfully as a spy, tactician, politician…"

Deviot's words degraded into a scream as Zedd touched his scepter to the robot's chest. White energy crackled along his body, forcing Darkonda to drop his grip.

When the blaze of energy faded, Deviot crumbled to the ground, smoke pouring from his fried circuits.

Wordlessly, Zedd held his palm out to Darkonda. A snide grin on his face, the demon sat the small wooden box in his employer's grasp.

He then held his own open palm out.

"Your job is only half done, Darkonda," Zedd reminded the bounty hunter, "I will pay nothing until the task is complete."

"I can easily get a fortune for that bomb," Darkonda rasped. "The opening bid was to be a million in gold."

Zedd responded as if he hadn't even heard him. "Scorpina, show Darkonda to the lab. Then set a course for Earth's moon."

The spy nodded, bowing deeply to her master. She then set her perfect, midnight eyes on Darkonda, a small quirk on her lips.

The demon watched the beautiful warrior turn, a delectable sway in her hips. A fierce, hungry grin darkening his face, the demon tossed Deviot over his shoulder, and followed suit.

Once the heavy footfalls of the monster faded from earshot, Lord Zedd pressed a button on his throne's console.

A wall lifted, revealing a small closet. Within it was a middle-aged human, a nauseated frown on his face.

"Disgusting!" the man growled, fists trembling with rage, "I caution you, Lord Zedd… that is no mere monster. He is a demon! He will surely rape that servant of yours to death, as he has done with countless pretty faces!"

"As he has probably done with your daughter," the emperor pointed out. He watched in amusement as the man cringed in torment.

"I assure you, Egeon, Scorpina is more than capable of taking care of herself. Her venom will kill any living organism in under a minute, provided it isn't protected by magic. And Darkonda is no Power Ranger."

"Filthy pig…" he continued, his eyes moist with emotion, "I haven't even seen his face in the flesh before this day. Only on the security tapes, on which I saw him steal my sweet Karone --"

"Clear your head, Minister," Zedd commanded, his voice biting, "This needs your full attention." Egeon stared at the fear-inspiring image of Lord Zedd, and watched as the emperor opened the small wooden box, revealing a mechanical device.

"The Pulse Bomb," Egeon breathed, "I never believed the stories."

"Believe them. This weapon is my chance to destroy the Machine Empire, and your chance to exact revenge on Darkonda for the disappearance of your dear child."

The Karovan readily