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

A cold, reserved smirk of triumph pulled the hidden lips behind Lord Zedd's stainless steel mask. He stepped closer to the smokescreen he had generated, a chill of anticipation in his metal spine at the sight of his future bride shrieking in betrayed anger.

"Soon, your pain will end, my Queen," he whispered, his voice oddly gentle.

Once he felt he'd witnessed her despair enough, he snapped his fingers, changing the view. Now, he watched the Red Ranger, a broken shell of the man he was half a week ago, sitting on the corner of his bed as he reread the letter from his beloved. Or at least, the letter he thought

was from his beloved.

Never has a plan come together so perfectly. They are but pawns in my hands…only seeing exactly what I

deem them to see.

After hours of deliberation, in which he discarded plots including clones, evil spells, and holograms, he stumbled upon pure brilliance: a forgery. A cold letter, written in Kimberly's flowing script, delivered through the local postal system. No concerns about Zordon tracing his evil magicks, or a clone acting out of character. The perfect wedge to slip through their long-distance relationship, chipping a single nick off the perfect Red Ranger's self esteem and letting him collapse into a train wreck.

But what was all the more satisfying was how easily Kimberly began to suspect. Zedd had still been considering how to bring her to despise her lover, when her own deep-seated fears came to light at the very thought of her blonde successor spending any undue time with the Red Ranger.

It surprises me how quick Kimberly was to believe the worst. It's amazing, but Rita's little Kitty-Kat has actually proven herself a worthwhile project. Astonishing how she performed her best work without the spell…

His smirk became a chilling cackle as he once again switched the screen, and peered into the privacy of Kimberly's room. She cuddled against her pillow, staring out into space with a haunted gaze that had lost all its fire.

Temporarily, at least.

"Weak and broken, only to rise again," he assured her softly. "You will rise shortly, Empress… a phoenix of fire and vengeance. In Serpentera, it should only take me a few days to reach Earth…"

"And why, exactly, are you going to Earth?" came the demanding screech that grated on Zedd's nerves like nails on a chalkboard. Zedd unwittingly shivered, scowling at his wife who stood in the archway of their chambers.

"I'll be damned before I tell you

anything!" he growled. "You'll probably just jinx me!"

Rita blinked, her face falling into utter shock at the venomous tone her husband had taken. He hadn't been that

malicious to her since…uh oh…

She swallowed her nerves, doing her best to hide her panic behind a mask of outrage. "Excus

e me?!" she howled, "Just what is that supposed to mean?!"

Rita's façade crumbled as her husband approached her, hot ruby aura blazing off his body. "I have no idea why I married you," he told her, his voice the deadliest of calm, "but I've come back to my senses. I cannot tolerate your hideous voice, your chronic headaches, half-baked schemes, or that prehistoric dictator you call a father, an instant longer! I'm taking Serpentera, and leaving. Pray to whatever god you recognize that our paths never cross again."

He then leaned closer to her, forcing her to arch backwards. "If you do

happen to stumble passed me, do not delude yourself… I will kill you on sight. Better that than risk succumbing to whatever insanity made me your lapdog for the past year."

With that Zedd left the room. When his terrifying presence finally faded, Rita was able to breathe again.

In a matter of minutes, Lord Zedd boarded his flagship Serpentera without any of the pomp or circumstance associated with the departure of an allied Emperor. The colossal reptilian Zord easily dwarfed any Ultra-Megazord the Power Rangers had managed to put together, making it the truest masterpiece of ancient design.

If only it was more fuel-efficient.

After finding his way to the bridge, he then activated the engines, and plotted a course towards Earth.

"Now that that old bag of a wife has been jettisoned, my next task is to eliminate all who lay claim to my empire. Serpentera will eliminate those blasted Machines once and for all!"

Through the corner of his eye, Zedd noticed a flashing red light. He rose to his feet, and warily checked the console.

His visor glowed a blinding scarlet, completely engulfing the "Low Fuel"

gauge.

"There isn't enough power for me to reach Earth and attack the Machines!" he shouted, trembling with rage.

He was so close…!

But, all was not lost just yet.

"If I fly at a slower speed, I should be able to conserve power. But, it will take months

for me to reach Earth if I do not tax the engines to their limit…"

He tapped his chin in consideration. "I suppose it doesn't matter. What are a few months to a being who has lived for ten thousand years?"

His confident smirk returned as Lord Zedd reprogrammed navigation. A new estimated time flashed for his acknowledgement.

"Ninety-eight days," he whispered, leaning back into his chair, "Plenty of time for me to determine just how to annihilate that mechanical abomination of an empire!"

Wednesday, May 21, 1997

Run. Foot crush the spring, launching her into the air. Forward somersault. Land on beam in a deep knee-bend, arms wide to maintain perfect balance.

Straighten in one smooth motion, bending left elbow inward. Twirl on toes of right leg, lifting the other in a pirouette. Break spin abruptly, stretching out left leg and bending right knee deeply. Push body forward, balancing on left toes, twisting until right foot lands on opposite side of left. Straighten body, inching towards edge. Back flip, then bend backwards. Handspring, then another half, holding body perfectly vertical while clutching the tanned leather.

White dust drifted into her eyes and nose, but she didn't so much as tear in reaction. Her body was a honed machine, flawlessly twirling and flipping with no regard to the fact she relied on a bar mere inches in width, hovering four feet off the ground.

Her long ponytail beat against her forehead as she righted herself. I'd better wear a bun for the competition…

Full lips firmly pressed together, her body didn't so much as tremble as she held her arms forward, preparing for another forward aerial somersault.

Success!

Over the past three months, her balance beam routine moved from respectable to mind-blowing. Perhaps it was due to her dedication, or perhaps even a side effect of being a Power Ranger, but she was able to perform sequences that were beyond her wildest dreams when she first started.

She was a living, breathing, performing machine.

She bit back an excited smile as she executed another perfect series of handsprings along the length of the beam. It's a lock! We'll win the gold!

But…what good did the success do her? For once the championship was over… her life was a mysterious black hole.

She shook off the discomforting thought. She had made it through the past three and a half months by focusing only on the events on May 24 and 25… the Pan Global Games Gymnastics Meet.

There was no life beyond May 25. And there was no life beyond gymnastics.

She moved through the rest of the routine without even blinking, her mind reciting each step in turn just as she performed it. And after a minute, for which she trained nine months, Kimberly leapt off the beam, somersaulting and landing in a deep crouch.

She straightened, arms flying behind her back as she acted out the obligatory bows. But to her surprise, the deafening silence of the empty gymnasium exploded into eager applause.

"Hey Shrimp…betcha weren't expecting me

to pop up!"

Kim's breath caught in her throat. Only one

person could call her "Shrimp"

and live to repeat the offense. He started calling her that back in second grade, and he'd received a knee in the groin and a yank of his ear in return.

After a month of feuding, the pair slowly grew into the most inseparable friends.

"Jason!!"

Kim streaked across the empty gym, tears wetting her eyes for the first time in weeks as she literally threw herself into Jason's waiting arms.

Just about any other man would've collapsed under the weight of her enthusiasm… but not Jason Scott Lee. The young man held her tightly in his grip, spinning her around twice before setting her on her own feet.

"Wow, Kim… you really put on some weight."

Kim's elated smile folded into a sardonic grin. "Flatterer."

Jason offered a half-grin. "I'm joking

!" he amended. "Sheesh Kim, you're melting away! There isn't