PRLG: A Different Shade of Pink
Episode XXXV. Enter the Lost Galaxy
by Green Senturion

The GSA scientist stared at his computer. It seemed that deciphering the text of the ancient book had taken hours, but a loud “Download Complete!” beep from his computer awoke him. Seeing the first part of the translation complete, he spoke the strange words, “Keonta…Karova…Melanite…Hakova!”

The GSA members nearest him gasped as the book shot a powerful bolt of electricity that sent the man flying back out of his chair. As the lights above them shorted out, they looked out the windows of the Command Tower in awe as they saw lightning striking in the City Dome. And there hadn’t even been a forecast for rain that day.

On a planetoid asteroid only a few light-years from the Space colony, two shadowed figures stood and talked, watching the lightning flashes in Terra Venture.

“So it has begun,” the red one asked, “What should we do?”

“Well, thanks to our friend’s seal,” the blue one replied, “We still cannot morph. Until he returns, we cannot morph again…but we know that he and our powers will not return unless the Keonta spell is recited, and we cannot let that happen. I also fear, however,” the blue one groaned, “That my life force is weakening with his seal.”

“I feel fine,” the red one proclaimed, “For I was recently imbued with energy. Would you like me to assume your mission for you?”

“No,” the blue one breathed, “You have already done your part, as has he. He tried to protect the book, and now it is my turn. For now, my part of the mission to protect these people from entering the Lost Galaxy begins. If I fail…then you know what you must do next. Wish me luck—I hope we shall meet again soon.”

As the man teleported away in a shimmering of blue light, the red man nodded and whispered, “Good luck, old friend.”

Deviot watched in glee the sight of Terra Venture’s City Dome being assaulted with thunder and lightning. “So, someone has done part of my work for me…excellent.” Hearing footsteps, Deviot whirled around, but saw no one. Shrugging, he called, “Now it begins!” and teleported away out of the Scorpion Stinger.

Trakeena and Villamax stepped out from behind the hallway to the control room. “So, you were right about him all along,” Trakeena said slowly, shaking her head. “I should have known he couldn’t be trusted.”

“Well, what do you suggest we do, my queen?” Villamax asked.

Trakeena narrowed her eyes and said, “Well, we cannot enter the Lost Galaxy, if that’s what you mean,” she replied. She narrowed her eyes at the screen and said, “No…no, we’ll wait until he re-emerges from the Lost Galaxy…and THEN we’ll give him the punishment he deserves.” Trakeena laughed evilly, and Villamax heartily joined in.

Kai rushed to the Control Tower from his station and saw the frazzled scientists staring at the Galaxy Book, which was now once again covered by plate glass. “That thing’s EVIL,” one of the scientists rushing away said to Kai. Kai looked upon the still open Galaxy Book’s sparking pages in awe. How could this have happened, he thought. He looked up in shock to see a cloaked figure standing beside him looking down at the book. All of the GSA scientists were now out of sight.

“Phantom,” Kai started in a whisper, is that…”

“Shh…” the man cautioned as he held up his hand. “Take the book and follow me…I will explain everything.”

Unable to see his face, Kai had no choice but to assume that this character was Cassie’s mystery man in question, the Phantom Ranger. Seeing no one around him any longer, but thankful for the solitude, he committed the dirty deed of lifting the Galaxy Book from under the plate glass and following the stranger to the nearest exit. He had reserves about doing so, but his desire to protect the colony outweighed his sense of duty, and he took it.

In an alley outside the Control Tower, the stranger said, “Now give the book to me.”

“Phantom, I know it’s you…Just show me your…uh…helmet,” Kai said, having been told by Cassie of the mysterious habits of the Phantom Ranger.

“I think you confuse me with someone I do not know,” the stranger said removing his hood to reveal long dreadlocks with blue knots.

“No, I don’t know you,” a voice came from behind him. The Phantom Ranger then materialized next to the Blue Ranger. “Ranger, who is this man, and why have you brought him this evil book?”

“You saw…” Kai started.

“I saw everything,” the Phantom Ranger interrupted, “Including the havoc that book was causing just a few minutes before this man appeared. I have no doubt that he had something to do with it.”

“Indeed I did,” the man said, “I am the Guardian of the Galaxy Book, and a foolish person started to read a very evil spell that…”

“So you ARE familiar with this book and its evil ways!” the Phantom Ranger accused.

“You don’t understand,” the Guardian stated, “I am trying to help. That spell was once helpful, casting people into our protected pocket dimension, the Lost Galaxy…but it has since become invaded by an evil Space pirate and his crew. Now the Keonta Spell is a death wish. I and others have been trying to prevent others from going there, and…”

The Guardian was interrupted as Deviot appeared in front of the trio. “Blue Ranger, thank you for doing my dirty work for me!” the nefarious robot called. “Now, give the book to me.”

“So you WERE in cahoots with Trakeena!” the Phantom accused.

“No,” the Guardian started, “How…”

But Deviot blasted him before he could get his thoughts out. Struck in his bare chest, the man fell to the ground. Kai leaned down to help him, and was shocked to see blue sweat oozing from the man’s forehead. Deviot used the distraction to wrap the Guardian’s dropped cloak around the Galaxy Book and teleport away. As Kai whispered, “I know you’re for real,” the Guardian whispered, “I cannot explain…my condition now…but…we will meet again. Take…these crystals…of immense…power…break them. Now…I must go.” With a shimmering of blue light, the Guardian vanished.

As Kai clutched the crystals, the Phantom Ranger stepped forward and said, “I still do not trust that stranger…or that book he claims ties to.” Kai looked up at him, and after a moment of silence, prepared to say something, but was interrupted by a beep from his Transmorpher. Kai put his mouth to his wrist and called, “Go ahead, Alpha!”

“Aiy-Aiy-Aiy! Kai, go to the Mountain Dome, quick! Deviot’s got the Galaxy Book, and it looks like he’s about to do something big with it!”

Kai looked at the Phantom Ranger angrily and narrowed his eyes, while the Phantom Ranger gave a disapproving sigh, as though he knew he was fighting a losing battle, and warped away. Kai looked around to make sure no one was looking at him first before crying, “GO…Galactic!”

He arrived in the Mountain Dome to see the four other Rangers being struck by lightning bolts. Deviot held the sparking Galaxy Book nearby while guffawing heartily. He had clearly already done half of his work. “Reality’s turned…time is tossed…as Galaxies found…become Galaxies LOST!” he cried.

The sky overhead darkened, and more thunder and lightning ensued before the weather calmed down. Deviot looked up happily and cackled, “Who would have thought that such a good spell could be used for such EVIL? And so efficiently, too?”

The fact that nothing immediate appeared to have changed, other than the calming of the skies overhead, particularly distressed Leo. Something was terribly wrong—he could feel it.

"What have you done Deviot?" screamed Leo, "What have you DONE?"

"All in good time, Ranger," Deviot cackled, "For right now, I am your main concern. HIYA!"

Deviot raced toward the six Rangers and began slashing them with his wrist blaster. Leo grappled with him, but Deviot quickly punched him in the gut with his normal hand and flipped him into the five other Rangers. Deviot then started blasting them mercilessly.

"Give up?" he asked, half-cockily and half-expectantly.

As he reared his laser back and prepared to fire a powerful beam, something knocked his hand down. The evil robot looked up in shock, and was surprised to suddenly be attacked by an invisible force. The ghost punched and kicked at him before throwing him to the ground. Cassie smiled beneath her visor, knowing who their mysterious helper was.

"All right, guys--I think it's time to unleash the crystals the Guardian gave us!" Kai called. He held out his hand, and the crystals materialized in front of him. "He said that they would give immense power to any being that broke them—solet's go for it!"

"NO!" the voice of the invisible being called as Kai prepared to hand out the crystals, "Don't trust him! They could be dangerous!"

"I agree," Deviot said as he staggered and got up, "Leave them...to me."

He charged past his attacker, unintentionally though happily knocking him aside, and blasted Kai as he charged the six Rangers. Kai yelled out as he released the crystals into the air. Deviot shook his outstretched hand in victory clenched his metallic fist around the five crystals.

"Let ME be the judge of how dangerous they are," Deviot laughed.

"No!" Maya called.

"Don't break those!" Damon cried.

"If you insist!" Deviot called tauntingly. Mike raised his blaster, but it was shot away by Deviot. The six teens held up their hands in protest as Deviot raised his arm and prepared to strike the precious gems against the ground.

The crystals shattered upon hitting the ground and released numerous white flashes of light that blinded the Rangers. When they could see again, they were shocked to see a horribly mutated form of Deviot before them. He now had long yellow tendrils emerging from his head and limbs, and his face was horribly distorted, as if he’d fallen into an acid. However, he seemed rather pleased with the results of his evildoing.

“Rangers…I totally overpower you now!” he cried.

“We’ll see,” Damon replied, “Let’s bust out the Quasar Launchers, guys!” The Rangers summoned their cannon-like weapons and fired upon Deviot, but he caught the blasts and threw them back at them, causing a series of small explosions. “Care to try again?” he called out.

He was surprised to be blasted by a black laser beam. Cassie was pleased to see the Phantom Ranger staggering into view. Mike fired the Magna Blaster at Deviot and joined in the fray. As Phantom and Mike grappled with Deviot, Kai yelled to his teammates, “New plan, guys! Time for the lights!” His teammates nodded in agreement as the five of them called, “Lights of Orion, Activate!”

The five teens donned their armor, and Deviot snickered happily. As Deviot threw Mike away, Phantom turned invisible and began striking Deviot.

“Phantom,” Kai called, “We may disagree about trusting the Guardian…but let’s at least trust each other. Come on now, guys!”

The five Rangers disappeared and transformed into shining spheres of energy. Deviot suddenly turned still as the five spheres approached him. To Kai’s relief, Phantom rematerialized next to Mike. Deviot swatted at the five spheres of energy before they could gang up on him however, and they turned back into their normal forms, falling into the dust.

“Any more bright ideas?” Deviot asked the five Rangers fallen on the ground.

“One,” Leo said, as he staggered to get up. He opened up his fists, and in each, a Red Armor Key magically appeared. “Red Armored Ranger power,” Leo called as he swung the keys in the air and then clicked them into their shuriken formation.

Leo donned his armor once more and then clanked forward fully armed. “Red Armored Ranger!” he called out triumphantly.

Deviot cowered a little, but yelled out, “You do not frighten me, Red Ranger!”

“I will,” Leo called, “When you’re back to being regular old you.” Leo pulled the triggers on the handles around his hands and yelled, “Fire!” An array of missiles and laser fire shot Deviot as he cried out angrily. When the smoke from the explosion had cleared, Deviot was crumpled on the ground, sputtering and choking.

“You may have defeated me, Rangers…but the damage has already been done to your precious colony! See for yourselves!” And with that remark, Deviot teleported away.

The six Rangers, sans Phantom, who had disappeared once more, powered down. Alpha then called to Kai, “He’s right, I’m afraid! Head to the tunnel to the City Dome!” The six Rangers complied and entered the tunnel, amazed and horrified at what they saw.

Rather than seeing the deep fabric of space overhead, they saw an unfamiliar rainbow blur of stars and sky overhead. “Whoa,” Mike said simply, summarizing everyone’s thoughts. “Where are we?” Cassie asked as she and the other continued gazing above them.

Kai, remembering the words the Guardian had spoken earlier, replied solemnly, “We’re in the Lost Galaxy.”