Tournament of Terror

by Neo Edmund

  Kimberly flopped down into a pit of rubber mats. She took a deep breath of relief and pulled herself up to her feet. No sooner than she got her balance, her communicator chimed. It was Alpha 5, and he was calling to inform her that she needed to get to the Command Center right away.

  When Kimberly arrived at the Command Center, Alpha 5 nearly knocked her over. He was running in a frantic tizzy from one control console to another, flicking switches, turning dials, and checking data readouts.

  “Aye-yi-yi, this is worse than I thought,” Alpha 5 said as he hurried over to the viewing globe.

  “Alpha, what’s wrong?” Kimberly asked as she stepped up next to him.

  “The entire Angel Grove power grid is failing,” Alpha 5 replied. “There are blackouts happening all over the city.” On the viewing globe, they saw Downtown Angel Grove was in chaos. Traffic lights were out, and emergency crews were dealing with multiple car wrecks.

  Kimberly looked up at Zordon. “Do you think whatever Goldar was doing at the power station has something to do with the blackouts?”

  “We have been unable to determine the cause of the blackouts, but it’s a good chance Goldar is responsible,” Zordon said.

  “Then I’d better get to the power station and figure out what’s going on,” Kimberly replied.

  “I’m afraid there is another pressing matter,” Zordon said. “Your friend Sarah is being held hostage by Putty Patrollers at Angel Grove Beach.”

  On the viewing globe, Kimberly saw Sarah at the beach. She was cowering in the sand with the backpack within arm’s reach. Goldar and a squad of Putty Patrollers were swarming around her.

  “Oh no. This is bad. Like, really bad,” Kimberly said.

  “Agreed. You must morph into the Pink Ranger and get to Angel Grove Beach right away,” Zordon said.

  Kimberly sighed in distress. “That’s the problem. I gave my backpack to Sarah for safekeeping, and my Morpher is inside of it.”

  “Aye-yi-yi,” said Alpha 5. “If Goldar finds out, he would stop at nothing to get the Morpher away from Sarah.”

  “It is imperative that you retrieve the Morpher and rescue your friend Sarah,” Zordon said.

  “But how can I do that if I can’t morph?” Kimberly nervously asked.

  “You have the skills, Kimberly. And I’ll be here if you need anything,” Zordon replied. “May the Power protect you.”

  • • •

  In a flash of pink light, Kimberly teleported to Angel Grove Beach. She took cover behind a boulder near the cliff wall and cautiously peeked out. Fifty yards away, she saw that Goldar and the Putty Patrollers were still holding Sarah hostage.

  Kimberly strained to come up with a plan to get her Morpher back without Goldar seeing her, but she just couldn’t think of anything. Just then, she heard the unmistakable voices of Bulk and Skull speaking from somewhere nearby.

  She cautiously crept along the cliff and rounded the corner of a rocky alcove. The dim-witted duo were wearing old diving suits made of thick rubber and had round iron helmets. The suits reminded Kimberly of alien invaders from an old monster movie she had once seen.

  As much as Kimberly hated even speaking to Bulk and Skull, their suits gave her an idea that could be just crazy enough to work.

  “Hey, guys, can we talk for a sec?” Kimberly asked as she approached them.

  Bulk and Skull squealed in unison and spun around.

  “Kimberly, this isn’t what it looks like,” Bulk said.

  “Yeah, and whatever you think it looks like ain’t what it looks like, so forget you saw anything,” Skull said.

  “I seriously don’t care what you two are doing,” Kimberly replied.

  “You won’t be saying that after we find the lost treasure of Bobo the Pirate King,” Skull said proudly. He held up an old parchment treasure map. “According to this map I bought off my cousin Vinnie, the treasure is buried out there somewhere, and we’re going to find it.”

  “Ixnay on the treasure-aye, you bonehead-aye,” Bulk said.

  “Don’t you call me a bonehead-aye, you nimrod-aye,” Skull replied.

  They started to shove and slap at one another.

  “Stop it. I don’t care about your dumb treasure,” Kimberly said with a long sigh. “I just need a favor from you guys.”

  Bulk held up a finger. “First of all, there’s nothing dumb about treasure.”

  Skull held up two fingers. “Second of all, when is the last time you ever saw us help anyone with anything?”

  Kimberly knew Skull was right. “Fine, I’ll make you a deal. You help me, and I won’t tell anyone about your treasure.”

  “Yikes! I knew she was going to say that.” Bulk gave Skull a shove. “This is why you’re supposed to ixnay.”

  “You never told me we were ixnaying,” Skull whined.

  Kimberly waited impatiently while Bulk and Skull debated in whispering voices that she could clearly hear.

  “What do you need us to do?” Bulk asked.

  “There’s a bunch of big gray guys on the beach in a dopey costumes,” Kimberly began. “I need you to distract them for a bit. Then, and only then, will I keep your secret.”

  “Fine, but we have one condition,” Bulk said.

  “When this is done, we both get to go on a date with you,” Skull said.

  “Absolutely never,” Kimberly replied.

  Bulk and Skull frowned in disappointment.

  Sarah cowered in fear as she watched Goldar’s footsteps forming in the sand while he paced around her, but she still couldn’t see him.

  “Pink Ranger, I’m waiting for you,” Goldar shouted. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  The Putty Patrollers began jabbering in a panic. Bulk and Skull were approaching, wearing their dive suits and metal helmets. Strands of wet seaweed dangled all over them.

  “We are intergalactic invaders from the planet Monsteria,” Bulk said.

  “We seek to join you in your quest to take over the world, or whatever you’re doing here,” Skull said.

  “Seize those fools,” Goldar ordered, and knocked Sarah into the sand. The Putty Patrollers grabbed Bulk and Skull.

  Skull whispered to Bulk, “What are we supposed to do now?”

  “How should I know? Kimberly just said to distract them,” Bulk whispered back.

  • • •

  Near the cliff wall, Kimberly peeked out over the rocks and saw the Putty Patrollers were now swarming around Bulk and Skull, and Goldar was stalking their way. She then noticed Sarah’s attention was also focused on what was happening. The backpack was just a couple of feet behind her.

  If there was a chance to recover her Morpher without being noticed, she had to act now, Kimberly thought. With a deep breath to calm her nerves, she leaped out from behind the rocks and raced toward the backpack.

  • • •

  Goldar stood facing Bulk and Skull. He tapped his finger on the amulet three times, temporarily disabling its mystical effect so they could see him. “What do you want, and who sent you?” he asked.

  Bulk’s and Skull’s eyes widened with terror.

  “W-who sent us?” Bulk asked, his voice trembling. He noticed Kimberly grabbing the backpack and then dashing away toward the boulders. “We, ah, were sent here by the supreme leader of our faraway alien world,” he said.

  “Yeah,” Skull nervously added. “Now take us to your leader . . . or else.”

  Goldar grabbed Skull by the helmet. “I have a better idea. Get out of my sight before I squash you like a pair of bugs.”

  Bulk saw Kimberly was crawling back behind the rocks near the sea cliff. “That is a very fair offer,” he whimpered.

  “Good luck with your plot to rule the world,” Skull said, weeping like a baby.

  Bulk and Skull stumbled away, yelping.

 
Goldar stomped back over toward Sarah. “Now, where is that wretched Pink Ranger?” he shouted.

  Behind the rocks where Kimberly had been hiding, there was a shimmering flash of pink light. Then the Pink Ranger somersaulted through the air and landed near Goldar. “Let the girl go,” she demanded.

  “Putty Patrollers, seize her,” Goldar ordered.

  The Putties flocked around her, and the fight was on. Sarah watched in wide-eyed astonishment as the Pink Ranger punched, kicked, flipped, and twisted around, quickly taking out the dim-witted thugs.

  Once they were all defeated, the Pink Ranger pulled out her Power Bow, loaded an arrow, and aimed it at Goldar. He was still clutching Sarah tight in one arm.

  “I’m not going to warn you again, Goldar,” the Pink Ranger demanded.

  “Actually, I was just going to say the same thing to you.” Goldar tightened his grip on Sarah. “Now take me to the Command Center, or else,” he said grimly.

  The Pink Ranger couldn’t risk taking a shot with Sarah in the line of fire. “Fine. Let her go, and you can have whatever you want,” she said, lowering her bow.

  “You think I’m stupid enough to trust you again? First give me the coin, then the girl goes free,” Goldar replied.

  With no other choice, the Pink Ranger dropped the Power Bow in the sand. She slowly walked toward Goldar, trying to think up a way out of this mess.

  Just when all seemed lost, a rock hit Goldar in the back. He turned right as another rock soared his way. He looked down by the water and saw Bulk and Skull throwing the rocks.

  “And why exactly are we doing this?” Skull asked Bulk.

  “I’ll explain later,” Bulk replied. “We’re safe behind this boulder. Just keep flinging.”

  With Goldar distracted, Sarah wiggled free from his grip. Once she was clear, the Pink Ranger leaped back and picked up her Power Bow. She then took aim at Goldar and fired. The arrow hit his armored chest and exploded with enough force to knock him off his feet.

  The Pink Ranger loaded another arrow and took aim at Goldar. “Give it up, Goldar. It’s over,” she said.

  “Wrong again, Pink Ranger.” Goldar laughed wickedly and then vanished in a golden flash.

  The Pink Ranger dashed to Sarah. She almost used sign language to ask Sarah if she was okay, but then realized that doing so might give away who she really was. The Pink Ranger instead gave a thumbs-up. Sarah replied by doing the same.

  “Hey, Pink Ranger,” Bulk called out as he and Skull strutted her way.

  “Thank you for your help, citizens,” the Pink Ranger said.

  “We don’t want your thanks. You owe us a big favor for saving your tail from whatever that thing was,” Bulk said.

  Skull pulled out the treasure map and showed it to the Pink Ranger. “There’s treasure out there, and we’re looking for it. You must have some kind of super scanning device at your secret Ranger base that can figure out where it’s hidden.”

  The Pink Ranger sighed. “Fine, I’ll help you, but you have to do one more thing for me,” she said. “Take the girl back to Angel Grove Park. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

  Bulk and Skull deviously smiled. “Deal,” they said.

  “Then I’ll contact you soon. And you’d better be nice to the girl or the deal is off,” the Pink Ranger said.

  Then she teleported away.

  At the Moon Palace, Rita bashed Goldar with her staff. “Fools. I’m surrounded by fools,” she shrilled. “You not only failed to get the Pink Ranger’s Power Coin, you allowed those idiots Bulk and Skull to see you.”

  “Why does that matter?” Goldar asked.

  “You were supposed to make the Pink Ranger think she was going cuckoo because she was the only one who could see you, but now she must know something else is going on. So I have to come up with a new plan,” Rita shrilled.

  Finster nervously approached Rita. “My queen, the EMP is far from being fully charged. If the Pink Ranger were to discover it, all of our plans will be ruined.”

  “You think I don’t know that?” Rita said, and shoved Finster aside. She went over to her telescope and looked at Downtown Angel Grove. She grinned with devious delight at the sight of the city still in chaos from the random power outages.

  Then she angled the telescope toward Angel Grove Park. The Toughest Warrior contest was still in full swing. “We need to find another way to keep the Pink Ranger off balance, and I know exactly what we’re going to do,” she said.

  Rita turned away from the telescope. “Goldar, get over here.” He hurried over and knelt before her.

  “What is your new plan, my queen?” Goldar asked.

  Rita touched the tip of her staff to the amulet around Goldar’s neck. A spark of magical power zapped from the staff, causing the amulet to glow with a mesmerizing swirl of pink light. “The new plan is the old plan, with a devious twist. Now when you’re near the Pink Ranger, the amulet is going to really scramble her mind.”

  “I will not fail you again, my queen,” Goldar vowed.

  • • •

  At the Command Center, the Pink Ranger pulled off her helmet. She sighed when she saw the clock over the console had just passed the twenty-four–hour mark, meaning a full day remained until the other Rangers were due to return.

  “Aye-yi-yi,” Alpha 5 yelped. “You look exhausted, Kimberly.”

  “Agreed,” Zordon said. “It would do you well to return home for some much-needed rest.”

  Kimberly shook her head. “Maybe later. I still need to figure out what Goldar was up to at the power station.”

  “I’ll handle that,” Alpha 5 said. “I can teleport in and out without anyone knowing.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” Kimberly said uneasily. “If Goldar were to discover you there—”

  Alpha 5 interrupted, “Don’t you worry, I can handle myself.” He started doing karate chops with his hands. “I’ll give that Goldar a hi-yah and a he-cha!”

  Kimberly looked skeptically up to Zordon. “If anything happens, promise to call me right away.”

  “You have my word, Kimberly,” Zordon promised. “Now please get some rest.”

  “I’ll try,” Kimberly said. “But first, I need to make sure Sarah is safe.”

  • • •

  At Angel Grove Park, Bulk and Skull were in guard duty mode. They stood with their arms folded across their chests and wore dark sunglasses. Sarah stood wedged between them, trying to figure out how to get away.

  “How much longer do we gotta watch this girl?” Skull asked Bulk.

  “For as long as we have to,” Bulk replied.

  “Sarah! Oh, thank goodness,” Jack called out as he frantically dashed their way.

  Bulk and Skull pumped up their chests and blocked Jack.

  “Sorry, sir, we can’t let you near the girl without proper authorization,” Bulk said.

  “We’re on official orders from the Pink Ranger,” said Skull.

  “I’m her father. That’s all the authorization you need,” Jack said, and pushed around them. “Now get lost or I’ll call security.”

  Bulk and Skull raised their hands and walked away.

  Jack signed to Sarah, “I was looking all over for you. Where have you been?”

  “It’s a long story, Dad, but I am okay,” Sarah replied.

  “Sarah, there you are.” Kimberly raced over and hugged her.

  “Kimberly, it was so amazing. A big metal monster took me away, but the Pink Ranger came and saved me,” Sarah signed.

  Kimberly did her best to act surprised. “Wow. That is amazing. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

  “Me too,” Jack said a bit skeptically. “But it will have to wait until later. Kimberly needs to get moving. The second round of the contest starts in ten minutes.”

  Kimberly sigh
ed. “I thought with all the power outages, the contest would be canceled.”

  “These are Hollywood people. They bring their own power generators,” Jack replied. “Remember, if you win today, you’ll go to the final round tomorrow.”

  Sarah noticed how exhausted Kimberly was. “If you’re too tired, nobody will hold it against you if you back out,” she signed.

  Kimberly considered this, but again reminded herself of the importance of saving the Center. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a few minutes to warm up,” she said.

  “You’re the best, Kimberly. I know you can do it,” Jack said. He patted her on the shoulder and walked away.

  High up on the starting platform of the Toughest Warrior obstacle course, Kimberly stood waiting to start her run. She felt so tired that it took every bit of her willpower just to keep her eyes from flickering shut. This was by far the most exhausted she had ever been—and the day was far from over.

  By the time the start buzzer sounded, Kimberly had nodded off. Her eyes snapped open with a startled fright. As she took off running across the first balance beam, she reminded herself that she had to finish the course in eight minutes instead of ten like the last time.

  For the first two minutes, Kimberley did great. She nimbly climbed, leaped, and swung her way through the daunting obstacles. The situation took a bad turn when she reached a series of five rotating platforms and saw a copy of Goldar standing on each one. Kimberly rubbed her eyes to make sure that what she was seeing was real.

  “We meet again, Pink Ranger,” the five Goldars said together.

  Kimberly refused to let Goldar’s tricks stop her from finishing the course. She leaped to the first rotating platform and swung her fist at Goldar. It passed right through him and he disappeared.

  “Missed me,” Goldar taunted. “Want to try again?”

  Kimberly gritted her teeth and jumped to the second platform, then the third, then the fourth, and finally the fifth. Each time, she tried to hit the Goldars, and each time they vanished from sight.