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

It wasn't long enough.

That was the first thought to swim into Kimberly's foggy mind when finally pulled from the comforting arms of sleep.

A restful, peaceful, dreamless slumber. The first one she'd had since her life had taken such a bizarre and dramatic turn.

She felt consciousness slowly encroach, and for a brief moment, yearned to fight it. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed before they even opened, desperate to lose herself in that perfect nothingness.

It was so much easier facing that empty nonexistence than what lay before her.

Unfortunately, her attendant noticed the flickering signs of wakefulness, despite her attempt to hide it.

"I have done all I can," a soft, clinical voice informed her, "The torn arteries, muscle, and skin have been mended, and the hole in your bone has been closed. The area will be tender for a few days, but otherwise your recovery should be complete."

Kimberly jolted awake when she realized she'd never heard that voice before. She blinked her flame eyes into focus, and stared at the middle-aged man hovering above her.

For a fleeting moment, she locked her gaze with narrow green eyes, set into a worn face made older by years of distress. His cheeks were so wan, and eyes so cold, even the spawn of evil felt a slight tremor at the sight of him.

"Where am I?"

she demanded.

"Memory lapses aren't uncommon when dealing with extensive injury," he narrated, keeping his eyes off her, "You are in your personal quarters in Lord Zedd's palace."

That

piece of information jogged her memory. She bolted upright, bouncing slightly atop the soft mattress. Her gaze darted around the chamber like a bee.

The room was spacious; larger than her entire apartment in Miami. The bed itself was by far bigger than any she'd seen before, covered in plush blankets and pillows. Beneath the bed lay a radial rug of thick fur, that finally tapered off into the cold stone of the floor. The rest of the furniture was equally elaborate: a soft sofa, full vanity, sinfully enormous closet, and expansive balcony overlooking the arid hills and craters of Earth's lone satellite.

Kimberly's eyebrow slowly rose. "Nice cell."

She turned at the sound of metal clanging together, and watched the man pack his medical utensils at a feverish pace.

Without thinking, her hand shot forward like a viper, and clung to the man's wrist. He froze at the physical contact, harsh gaze sliding to her.

"You're human, like me,"

she noted. "What are you doing here?"

It was clear he found it difficult to look the girl in the face. His eyes lingered on her insistent fingers. "I am a scholar, who happens to owe Zedd a debt. Nursing you to health these past few days will hopefully repay what I owe, and terminate our dealings."

The young woman blinked. "Few days

?"

"You may not recall, but you were impaled

by a magically-enhanced arrow, that severed your brachial artery, gouged your biceps brachii, and penetrated the marrow of your humerus," the man recounted. "The spell of Maligore may have enhanced your strength and speed, but it did not bolster your restorative powers. Once the arrow penetrated, you would have bled to death, just like any other human." His eyes narrowed. "Please remove your hand from my person."

Kim blinked again, as if she'd forgotten she was holding him. Slowly, she released her grip, her hand then sliding to the soft white bandage wrapping her arm. Clenching her teeth, she tore the bandage from her arm, and gawked at the perfectly healed flesh.

"Amazing,"

she murmured, fingers lightly tracing the skin that had been ripped open the last time she'd seen it. Her brow creased thoughtfully. "Why does he care whether I live or die?"

"That is a question best reserved for the Emperor himself."

Kim nodded slowly, yet the man noticed her cast a furtive glance at the balcony. The open

balcony, hanging over the empty expanse of the moon.

"You could run, of course," he noted, hefting his supply bag. "There is an artificial atmosphere surrounding the palace and all lands within a quarter mile. Then, it is only a matter of contacting your Pirate Queen, or even stealing one of the Emperor's vessels. With the help of the Fates, you might be able to escape." His lips twisted in a sad parody of a grin. "Only, you would never know what it was he wanted to speak to you about."

Kim stared at the man as he stiffly crossed the room, her face a perfect blend of surprise and confusion. She heard the door whine open, and then snap closed, the faint sound echoing through the hollow room.

With a heavy sigh, the spawn of evil laid back onto the bed, lips pulling into a contemplative pout. "Fine, Zedd...I'll play your little game."

The moment the door clicked safely behind him, Egeon's frozen façade melted. His steady breaths quickened, drying his throat and aching in his chest.

Utterly overwhelmed with feelings he'd tried so desperately to repress, the Karovan leaned against the wall. His medical bag dropped from trembling fingers, thumping when it came in contact with the cold stone floor.

It had been years

since he'd seen a teenaged human before.

She is so young...far

too young to suffer what she has...

She couldn't have been more than a year older than Karone; provided, of course, his long-lost daughter still lived.

His heart quickened, echoing in his ears.

It just wouldn't end! No matter what he did, how much he accomplished...how determinedly he carried out his revenge...the pain never went away. He could still see his sweet little girl, playing innocently in the gardens of their happy home...and then, brutally torn away from love and safety by the hands of a living demon.

His life had never been the same afterward. Then, when his wife died and son vanished, his loss was complete. He had nothing to live for, save vengeance itself. The prospect of blowing the smirking demon to atoms kept him alive for nearly a decade.

Only after he'd seen the Sky Base erupt, taking that damnable Darkonda with it, he realized the truth: there was nothing after that.

Egeon lifted his hand to his forehead, massaging the tense, wrinkled skin. He'd tried so desperately to take solace in the fact that the victory had been his. Somewhere in the Afterlife, the monstrosity was suffering for his crimes against humanity and nature.

But what would become of him

when he parted this realm?

Without the perfect focus of righteous indignation, his mind wandered to such things. And for the first time in his memory, real fear crept into Egeon's soul. Fear for what would become of him, both in the rest of his life, and afterward.

In that terrifying way of his, Lord Zedd seemed to read the emotions that warred within the Karovan immediately. Rather than let Egeon leave his service, he promised him relief. Relief from the nightmares, the grief, the guilt

...freedom from everything he suffered, now that his heart had room for it.

Of course, Egeon knew that freedom came at a price. The Emperor of Evil never granted "favors"

without seeking something in recompense. And so, Egeon dug himself further into the pit of darkness, vowing to carry out the Emperor's will until that debt could be prepaid.

He helped in the repairs of the Emperor's palace. Begrudgingly, he even assisted with the decorations, to make the guestroom "warm"

to a human's taste.

He'd done it all, carefully locking his heart behind a wall of ice, never letting himself realize what he was preparing for. He'd even managed to carry out Lord Zedd's most recent command, when he'd returned to his palace with an injured girl in his arms.

His heart didn't melt until he saw her in the flesh. Yes, the girl dressed as a warrior, and through Zedd's magic he'd seen how viciously she fought against her foes. Yet, when she was up close

...lying in sleep against the soft cushions he

had selected...Egeon's throat closed.

Asleep, she was just another human girl. At rest, she was innocent, delicate...sweet. Like Karone would have been.

But then she woke, sharp eyes flaming with a wicked power beyond mortal understanding...and silently, Egeon mourned the destruction of another young innocent. The loss of someone else's little girl.

I can't do this...I know

I can't...

He could cut himself from his feelings for a time, albeit with great effort and struggle, but he couldn't

live in the same palace as that girl. He could never

bring himself to look into those hateful eyes, set into the face of an innocent victim.

Lord's Zedd's command rang through his mind. "Mend all her wounds, and alert me immediately when she regains consciousness. And above all, do not let her leave. I will not imprison her with iron -- that would leave a bad impression."

The instructions were simple enough to comprehend. The girl was caged, though subtly. And so, despite the churning in his stomach, Egeon obeyed his Lord's commands succinctly...by convincing her to stay in her cage.

Once, he was an esteemed Minister of KO-35. Once, he was a loving husband. Once, he was an attentive father.

Now, he was the obedient servant of an intergalactic despot. Now, he obliterated entire species. Now, he manipulated confused little girls.

I can't do this anymore...

Slowly, he pushed his tired body off the wall that lent him support. His feet guided him to the chambers of the Emperor himself.

"Egeon. Do come in."

The command seemed to flow through the very walls. The Karovan stopped cold, staring at the large, intricately engraved stone portal to the dark Lord's personal rooms.

The gate slid open, and Egeon found the courage to