Billy scooped him up in his hands. “I’ve got to get you into some water, as fast as I can!”
But the squirming fish couldn’t answer anymore.
All of a sudden, the Enhancifier crackled and popped, completely destroying itself.
That was part of Billy’s agreement with Finster. Now neither would have the Enhancifier to use as a weapon. But it also meant that the Blue Ranger’s time as a giant was over. He started to shrink, as well!
As fast as he could, Billy raced back toward the research center’s wrecked main building. But as he shrank, the length of his strides got shorter and shorter. Would the Blue Ranger make it back in time to save the fish?
Thanks to his enhanced speed, he did. Finding a working water fountain, he grabbed a cup, filled it with freshwater, and put the little Goo Fish Junior inside. The goldfish swirled about in the water, opening and closing his mouth as if he could still talk. Now that Goo Fish Junior was no longer Enhancified, Billy couldn’t tell for sure what the fish was trying to say, but he liked to think it was something along the lines of:
“Thank you!”
Tired, Billy set down the cup and started looking for a larger bowl to place the fish in, so it would be more comfortable.
But it seemed his troubles weren’t over yet.
Finster was running toward him with some sort of spear—the truce was over!
Chapter 23
“Aghh! I will destroy you!” Finster cried as he rushed forward, carrying the makeshift spear.
It looked like he’d fashioned the weapon the same way he had Electricus, from pieces of equipment lying around the laboratories. But even though Finster was shouting dramatically, he really wasn’t running particularly fast—even for Finster. The weapon also didn’t look particularly dangerous, just very shiny.
Is that just a bunch of metal cafeteria trays rolled into a pole and wrapped in wire? Billy thought.
All the Blue Ranger had to do to avoid being hit was calmly turn sideways.
The alien inventor went rushing past. Rather than turn and “attack” again, Finster kept going until he was outside the building.
As he kept running, Finster frantically spoke into his communicator.
“My queen! I’ve done as you’ve asked, and I swear I’ll never wander off without your permission again!” he said. “Why, I even attacked the Blue Ranger myself just to prove my loyalty!”
Before Billy could react, the air around him crackled with some very familiar colored streams of light. As four powerful figures stepped from the glowing haze, he felt himself relax. It was his fellow Power Rangers!
“Glad we got here!” Zack said. “There was finally enough of a break in the solar flares for us to get through!”
Spotting the fleeing Finster, Jason, the Red Ranger, pointed.
“Quick!” Jason said. “He’s getting away!”
The team raced into action, with Billy in the lead.
The alien inventor was moving as fast as he could, but he was no match for the speed of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The Blue Ranger was soon right behind, reaching out to grab him.
But just then Rita Repulsa’s cackling voice came through Finster’s communicator. “Ah, I’d leave you stuck down there forever if I didn’t need you so badly!” she said. “But I’ve got a great big heart, and no one else knows how to work your Monster-Matic. Come on home now, or else!”
Finster began to disappear. But just before he vanished completely, he dropped the spear and gave the Blue Ranger a wink. It was almost as if he was trying to say, I know very well that my lame attack couldn’t do you any real harm. I was only putting on a good front for Rita. But now our deal is over.
For his part, Billy had to admit it had been interesting working with someone who didn’t need his tech-speak translated.
Still, it was clear that the next time they met, it would be as enemies.
The Pink Ranger came to a halt beside Billy and cocked her head.
“Did Finster just . . . wink at you?” she asked.
“Long story,” Billy said. “A very long story.”
Zack picked up the spear. “Finster must be losing his touch. This thing is a piece of junk!”
Chapter 24
Tens of thousands of miles away at the Moon Palace, Finster had to admit he was glad to see Rita Repulsa. Even if she was still furious with him, it was great to be home, to see his workshop with all his tools. It was even great to see Rita’s crescent–moon–tipped magic wand as she swatted him with it.
WHAP!
It still hurt, though.
“Yeow!” he cried. “What was that for, your malevolence?”
“For sneaking out in the first place!” she said, pulling back for another swing. “And, Finster, just so you know, really the only reason I took you back was to keep you from being captured by those putrid Power Rangers! I couldn’t have you blabbing and giving away all my beauty secrets!”
Rather than hit him again, she stretched back and gave off a long, loud cackle. “Ha-aha-ha!”
Despite his relief at being back, Finster’s feelings were hurt. “I would never have blabbed about anything, your nastiness, I swear!” he said.
“Ah, you already blab too much.” She pointed toward his shop. “Now get back to work.”
Finster nodded as rapidly as he could. “Yes, your horridness. At once.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “And this time I want a monster that does what we tell it to do!”
Finster bowed over and over as he backed into his workshop. “Yes, your mercilessness!” he said. “After studying all those primitive fish tanks down on Earth, I think I’ve figured out a way to adjust the moisture absorption of the Monster-Matic so we can produce Putty Patrols even faster!”
Rita frowned, waved her long fingernails at Finster, and then turned away. “Moisture what?” she said. “Eh, whatever! Don’t tell me about it, just do it!”
“Of course, my queen,” Finster said.
He stepped into his workshop and clapped. He patted the Monster-Matic. It hissed cheerfully as if recognizing its master’s touch.
The Enhancifier was a wonderful break, but I think I will stick with clay for a while, he thought.
Remembering his destroyed invention, Finster had to admit that, in spite of himself, it had been nice working with someone he didn’t have to explain his genius to.
And when it comes to smarts, I have to say the Blue Ranger was no slouch, either. A worthy opponent, he thought.
But then he looked around, worried that Rita Repulsa might somehow hear him thinking. Of course she couldn’t. At least he didn’t think she could.
At any rate, this was Finster’s home, and it was time to get back to work.
Clay and gadgets aren’t really the point, he told himself. The only thing that really matters is figuring out how best to demolish the Power Rangers once and for all.
And then he happily started designing his next monster. He was sure it would be his most monstrous monster yet. He was sure that, this time, it would triumph!
Chapter 25
Back at the Marine Island Research Center, the grateful staff and students emerged from the bunker and looked around at the devastation.
Meanwhile, the Power Rangers surrounded Billy.
The Red Ranger was the first to pat him on the back. “You did it, man!” he said.
The Blue Ranger exhaled. “Hey, Jason, believe me, there wasn’t a single second that I didn’t wish you all were here with me! It would have been much, much easier.”
“We know,” the Black Ranger, Zack, said, grinning. “Still, it must be nice knowing you can face off against Putty Patrols, a giant monster, and Finster all on your own!”
“I wasn’t exactly alone,” Billy said. He pointed to Ira, Alani, Randal, and the others. “My fellow science studen
ts actually stepped up to help fight the Putty Patrol.” Before telling his teammates the rest, he hesitated. “And, well, to be completely honest, when the giant Goo Fish Junior went out of control, he nearly beat me.”
He nodded sadly at the overturned battle tank on the beach. “He even took out my Triceratops Dinozord.”
But Alpha 5 would be able to repair it. Soon enough, the Dinozord would return to its desert home until Billy needed it again.
“Then how’d you beat him?” Kimberly asked curiously.
“I really hate to say this,” Billy confessed, “but the fact is, I might not have won if it wasn’t for Finster. He had his selfish reasons for it, true, but he saved me.”
The Pink Ranger put up her hands. “Wait,” she said.
The Red Ranger tapped his helmet near his ears as if he’d misheard. “What?” he said.
The Black Ranger shook his head. “Who?” he asked.
The Yellow Ranger took a step back. “Why?”
Billy nodded. Once they calmed down long enough to listen, he told them what had happened. They were still stunned when Billy got to what he felt was the most exciting part:
“. . . and then all we had to do was reverse engineer the thermionic guns on a dysfunctional electron microscope to replicate the augmentation aspects of the Enhancifier’s alien circuitry.”
Yellow Ranger Trini explained, “He means they used pieces of a broken microscope to repair Finster’s whatsis.”
Zack whistled. “Wow,” he said. “I thought he just made things out of clay.”
The conversation was interrupted when Zordon’s voice boomed from their wrist-communicators. “The solar flares have cleared completely!” he announced.
Alpha 5 chirped in, “Billy, why don’t you tell us all what happened back here at the Command Center?”
Billy eyed the students and staff. “Actually, Alpha 5, I should probably change back into my civilian clothes to let everyone know I’m still alive!” he said.
The Yellow Ranger shrugged. “Sorry you’ll have to take that long water-shuttle ride home.”
Billy shook his head. “Oh, I don’t mind,” he said. “We weren’t together long, but I’d kind of like to take the time to say goodbye to everyone.”
Trini smiled approvingly. “So quiet Billy Cranston made some new friends, after all, huh? You’re full of surprises.”
“Just don’t go making friends with any more of Rita’s minions!” Zack joked.
“Ha!” Billy said. “That’s not something you have to worry about.”
“Aye-yi-yi!” Alpha 5 said. “What’s he talking about, Billy?”
“We’ll fill you and Zordon in when we get back,” Jason said. “Meanwhile, Billy’s going to take a well-earned break.”
• • •
A few hours later, Billy, having cleaned his lab as best he could, was back in his street clothes and heading toward the docks. He carried a small bowl with the restored Goo Fish Junior along with what was left of the rest of his belongings.
Although the students had all arrived at different times, they were heading home together. It made the water shuttle a little crowded, but Billy didn’t mind. Between all the packing and cleaning, he hadn’t had much of a chance to speak to anyone yet.
As Ira moved to make space for him, Billy noticed how exhausted everyone looked—and with good reason.
“Everyone all right?” Billy asked.
“A little shaken,” Randal, the usually nervous student, said. “But we’re all here and we’re all okay, thanks to the Blue Ranger. We were a little worried about you, though!”
“That’s right, Billy,” Alani said. “You never told us where you were during the big fight. All I know is that you weren’t in the bunker!”
Billy shrugged. “It’s not a very exciting story. I didn’t make it out in time, so the Blue Ranger took me to a spot in the basement. It was dark and, I admit, a little scary, but here I am, safe and sound.” Feeling a little emotional, he cleared his throat. “We haven’t known one another long, but I’m going to miss you guys. Let’s keep in touch, okay?”
Reading a text on her cell phone, Alani brightened. “Well apparently, we will!” she said. “We’ve all been invited back next year to finish our projects—once they rebuild the research center.”
“Great!” Billy said.
Ira looked at the fishbowl Billy carried. “Is it true what Skull told everyone, that your little goldfish was turned into a monster?” he asked.
Billy held up Goo Fish Junior’s bowl. “I can’t say for sure exactly what happened. It’s all a blur. But even so, I think I’m going to try a different project next time.”
“I think that’s a really good idea,” Ira said. The others nodded in agreement.
Then they all laughed.
That was when Billy realized two familiar faces were missing. He looked back across the dock, scanning the island, until he finally spotted a sulking Bulk and Skull. They were still wearing their janitor overalls, pushing garbage cans.
“What’s going on with them?” Billy asked. “Aren’t they coming back?”
“Those two?” Ira said. “They will, but some of us students put in a few words and they’re not allowed on the same water shuttle as the rest of us. It’s pretty packed, anyway, but they’re going to have to stay behind for a few days and help clean up the mess!”
Billy tried not to laugh as the two bullies passed by. The punishment did seem appropriate, though.
“All the food you can eat, hmph!” Bulk said, pushing the full garbage can.
Skull cast a nervous glance at the goldfish in Billy’s bowl.
“It could be worse, Bulk,” Skull said. “Overeating can be a really bad thing.”
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Fish in Troubled Water Page 9