[Opening Credits, Late season 2
version.]
The Powerless Ranger teens tour the
demolition site of the Thunderzords, where the ruins continue sparking and exploding
around our six weary heroes. They're still in shock about the impossible finally
happening, their Zords completely destroyed (But at least they've still got Tor... err,
nevermind). Kimberly's first instinct is to say they've got to get back to the Command
Center and see if Alpha can figure out a way to fix them. Billy exasperates in
hopelessness about it not being that simple, Tommy noting that they lost more than the
Zords, but their powers completely as well. The disembodied head of the Thunder Megazord
is seen firing off another blast of what little remains of its energy, adding to the smoke
pouring out against the Ranger teens. Billy says it's going to be a long walk back to the
Command Center (teleportation may have nothing to do with their powers, but thanks to the
CC getting fried, they can't use their Communicators period. Although I wonder what ever
happened to the good old RADBUG...), and they should get going.
Meanwhile on the Moon Palace, Lord Zedd stands at his throne, proclaiming to his troops
(Rito, Goldar, Baboo, Squatt, Finster, Rita, and of course, Fighting Flea, Lizzinator,
Stag Beetle, and Octophantom. The four recycled monsters are oddly never seen again after
this scene, but I have a hunch they retired to a bar on the planet Onyx) that they've
executed the ultimate plan, by taking out the Zords they've taken the "power"
out of the Power Rangers! Rita, with an evilly happy smile, tells her brother Rito that
she's so proud of him, he shares the sentiments about himself, egotistically. Goldar
groans, jealously saying that with four monsters helping him he could defeat the Rangers
too, Rita blows him off sarcastically by saying that sure he could. Zedd silences the
celebrating evil space aliens, stating that with those meddlesome Rangers permanently out
of their way, there is nothing Zordon can do to stop them from conquering the world! The
victory party then continues, Rita playfully taking a swipe at Rito's boney skull as he
remarks that it's just like old times. He ducks after every swipe, but eventually his
sister strikes his noggin, to which he rubs.
The long walk back skipped, we find the Rangers inside the trashed Command Center,
powerless (except for the Christmas-tree lights and Zordon's glowing tube, having enough
power for that, at least) with wires hanging out of charred consoles and terminals, a
reflection of the damage done to the Megazords. Billy notes what a mess the place is,
Tommy asks his brainy buddy to give them some good news. He says he can't as he doesn't
even know how to begin to repair the main power core of the Command Center. Alpha
Ay-yi-yi's that such a task could take centuries, Kim tells the droid that they don't have
that long. Adam asks Zordon if he can bring back their Zords, but with the Command
Center's power nearly depleted, he's afraid he cannot revitalize them. Aisha knows there's
gotta be something they can do, which causes Adam to raise an interesting question, about
where their powers came from in the first place. Zordon recites a legend of a lost temple
hidden beneath the Desert of Despair, where the keeper of the temple, named Ninjor, forged
the original Power Coins to be used against evil in the universe. Alpha remembers a map
they found along with the Power Coins, which he summons forth in a blink of electricity to
appear in his hand. Rocky realizes that maybe the temple does exist and they can find it,
Aisha adding that maybe they can also find the power. Zordon advises against the dangers
of the trip, Tommy speaks up for the team, saying they've faced danger before and if
there's even the slightest chance this temple exists they have to take it. Billy agrees
that they can't just give up, which prompts Zordon, against his better judgment, to let
Alpha give them the map. He does warn them that once Lord Zedd learns of their destination
he'll try to thwart their every move, and without their powers they'll be at his mercy.
Tommy says that powers or not, they don't have a choice. Alpha hands Billy the map, he
begins to inspect it along with his teammates, who peer over his shoulder anxiously.
[commercials]
Later in the Command Center, Zordon
tells the Rangers teens to stay alert and be prepared for the unexpected. The six humans
form a circle around Alpha 5, who uses a crude method to siphon up enough residual power
to teleport the Rangers safely to the Desert Of Despair. The Rangers stand in the circle
as the device Alpha rigged up begins to charge with energy, our heroes shut their eyes and
keep holding their arms up and their hands pressed against those of the persons next to
them. Zordon wishes them good luck and to return to them safely, Alpha telling them to be
please be careful, just as they teleport away. This leaves the automaton wondering if they
did the right thing, Zordon tells him not to worry, if the temple does exist, they'll be
the ones to find it. The Powerless Rangers land in the aptly titled Desert Of Despair,
which pretty much resembles a normal Earth desert with rocky terrain and heavy winds.
Billy checks the map and points them in what seems to be the right direction, saying the
entrance to the temple is marked by a very distinctive rock formation. Suddenly, they hear
the sound of a person wailing, eerily ghostlike, but not seeing anything in the distance.
Kimberly calls the sound awful, and says the Desert lives up to its Despair name, Aisha
says she's getting a major case of the heebie-jeebies. Our heroes slowly back away from
the source of the sound and continue on their quest.
Elsewhere, at the Angel Grove Police Academy, Bulk & Skull swallow their pride and
plan to make good on their promise to join the Junior Police Patrol. Duty calls, so they
approach the front gate (getting ran over by the cadets marching by, a running joke,
literally, through the course of this story) and ask a cop where to find the registration
office. He asks if they're planning on joining the AGJPP, the bumbling duo nod their
heads, Bulk says he's looking at two of the city's finest future detectives, Skull slips
the real motive by saying they want to wear uniforms to impress girls. The cop says they'd
better have a better reason, and the annoyed Bulk reiterates that they want to protect the
girls, which the man seems to like better, pointing them to where they need to go. The
salute and hobble off, Skull notes that people sure do like to run around there, just
before the two get plowed through by the group of joggers again. Skull turns to leave, but
Bulkie grabs his shirt and yanks him back. They then notice people doing jumping-jacks and
swimming laps in a pool, hearing an announcer say to join the Police Patrol, the cadets
have to be in tiptop physical condition. The bumbling duo scream as they watch people
running around and doing push ups, obviously they must have fast forwarded through those
parts of the 20 or so "Police Academy" movies. Skull changed his mind, as he
isn't the physical type, calling himself muscleless and proud, but somehow, someway, Bulk
musters up enough courage to shouts to his buddy in a drill sargent-like voice that he
will do it and he will like it! Bulk then picks Skull up and carries him kicking &
screaming to the registration office!
Meanwhile on the Moon Palace, Rita watches through her Repulsascope as the mysterious eggs
Rito nested nearby begin to hatch! She calls what she sees peeking through the cracked
shell a "deliciously ugly creature", shouting that it's time and she feels like
a proud mother to be. She asks her baby brother once again what they are, and he says that
he wanted to bring a special wedding present for her and Ed (to which Zedd, Rita &
Goldar all scream at once his proper name, but it still doesn't get through Rito's thick
skull-helmet). He mentions thinking something, to which the envious Goldar quips he
thought he smelled something burning, Rita & Zedd shut him up and have Rito continue
his explanation. Of course, Rito's forgotten what he was saying, plus what was in the
eggs! Zedd groans and covers his metal-face with his hand, Rita rushes down the steps of
the Balcony, grabbing her brother's skeletal frame and screaming him he has ten seconds to
remember what's in the eggs. She counts off one and two, Goldar finishes off the countdown
by exclaiming "ten", which sparks Rito's memory, that the contents of the eggs
is Tenga Warriors! Rita is incredibly excited, saying that she could almost kiss Rito if
he wasn't so ugly, calling the Tenga Warriors absolutely the most ferocious creatures this
side of the universe. Lord Zedd imagines the possibilities of what he could do with those
Warriors without the Power Rangers to stand in his way. Rita returns to her Repulsascope
to watch the hatching, Rito shoves aside Goldar to get a good view, calling him
"Goldy" to which the golden monkey-monster angrily corrects him. Rita watches
the Tengas emerge from their shells, stating that they're precious and this whole thing is
exciting.
[commercials]
On the lunar surface, the set of six
Tenga eggs completely hatch open, spouting feather faced, funny beak, IQ of under 10, loud
and noisy bird creatures called Tenga Warriors. They speak a few sentences, along with
constant cawing, deciding that since they're birds, the first order of business is to
learn how to fly. The six hop around the area, crushing what remains of the eggs, and
slowly discovering their full liftoff capabilities. Rita watches this through her
Repulsascope, noting that they're starting to circle the castle. She's happy as an evil
space witch can be, Rito is glad she likes it and waxes nostalgic about how picking out
presents for her has never been easy. He asks if she remembers the time mom & dad got
her a fire breathing dragon when she really wanted that cute little planet, so she used
the dragon to burn down their house! Rita's busy noticing one egg didn't hatch, Goldar
thinks it a dud but Rito assures them there's something really important about it that he
can't remember. Lord Zedd is sitting as his throne (and as Joe Rovang notes, is facing
directly towards Rita's Planetoid! Could the Desert Of Despair be located there? It's an
interesting thought...) when he suddenly spots the Ranger teens walking through the desert
via his red ray-vision! He hears Kimberly hope that they're almost there as her feet are
killing her, causing him to complain about how nothing will stop those Power Brats. Rita
realizes they must looking for that lost temple, which contains the Ninja Powers, and they
must stop them!
Rito finally remembers what's in the last egg, noting it's not a Tenga, it's a Vampirus
Monster. Finster grunts that the Vampirus is such a nasty creature and not his cup of tea
at all (guess he doesn't like anything he can't make with play-do, huh?). Zedd orders him
to be silent, saying that must stop the Rangers before they find the temple and
reestablish their Morphin Powers! The group of henchmonsters stand there, puzzled for a
plan, but luckily Rita is full of bright ideas today and exclaims to send down the Tengas
with the Vampirus egg. They'll attack the Rangers after they find the entrance to the
temple, and then bury the egg right outside said temple. Zedd calls this brilliant,
gleefully stating that once the egg hatches it can seize the temple's power for their own.
Rito tells him his new army awaits his command (strangely forgetting his former army, the
Putty Patrol, whom were last seen hanging out in the background of "A Friend In
Need", and are never seen again for almost three years!), Zedd stands and raises his
charged-up Z-Staff, commanding the Tenga Warriors to fly the Vampirus Egg to the temple
gates and then seek out and destroy those has-been Rangers!
In the Desert Of Despair, the Rangers continue strolling on their temple venture, the
wailing in the wind follows them throughout. Kimberly misses teleporting and says she'll
never take it for granted again, Tommy in agreeance. He then asks Billy how much further
they have to go, Billy checks the map and says that while he isn't certain, they should be
coming up upon a certain rock formation soon. The group hikes along the dusty mountainous
trail, eventually halted by Kim, who spots a strange looking rock on the ground. She picks
it up (it resembles one of Zedd's grenades to me), but quickly drops it with a scream when
it heats up in her hand. It activates a field of fire around the Ranger teens, each of our
heroes quickly leap out of the blaze safely, but Billy is last out, causing him to drop
the map into the inferno! His friends hold him back from jumping in to safe it, leaving
them to watch helpless as the map turns to ashes in but a Bonanza-moment. The sun beats
down on the Rangers as they find themselves wandering around searching for the rock
formation, Billy assuring them they'll know it when they see it. Suddenly, Aisha slips
into some quicksand! The Ranger guys form a human chain and pull her to safety, and
somehow she doesn't even get dirty from the dirtbath!
Eventually, the gang reaches what Billy says resembles the rock formation where the temple
is located, by as best he can remember from the map. They decide to check it out, heading
over to the rocky peak, searching around for any caves or crevices that would indicate an
opening, but have no luck finding anything. Billy says this is the only thing even
remotely resembling the rock formation, Rocky starts to figure that maybe Zordon was right
and the temple was just a myth. From out of nowhere, Tenga Warriors appear on the scene,
surprised the Rangers but making them aware that Zedd's found them. Rocky asks if this can
get any worse, a Tenga offers to try, by swooping down and kicking Billy in the gut! He
falls back, and is helped up by Tommy, telling his teammates to stay close together,
they've never seen these cronies before and there's no telling what they can do.
[commercials]
Surrounded by squawking Tengas, our
heroes are left wide open for aerial attacks as several of the birdbrains sweep down begin
to assault both of the girls! The guys swat the Tengas off their pals, and once regrouped,
the whole team ends up backed into a corner. Overwhelmed by the new foes' power, the
Powerless Rangers seek shelter in a small opening in the mountain. They realize they can't
stay in there forever and the Tengas will soon break through, when Adam accidentally
presses a rock, causing a secret entranceway to open before them! They stumble into a dark
foggy cave, figuring whatever mysteries lie inside of it can't be worse than those giant
crows outside. Our heroes follow the tunnel, hoping it'll either lead them to the temple
or at least a better way out. Rita watches the Rangers get driven underground like moles
via her Repulsascope, noting there's only one entrance to the cave and it's blocked by the
Vampirus Egg. Lord Zedd shouts that he wanted them obliterated before they made it into
the temple entrance, Rita states they may have gotten in but they'll never get out alive!
She returns to the situation-scoping, watching as the Tengas plant the Vampirus Egg right
near the entrance to the cave, as ordered. Inside the secret cave, Billy tells his friends
to look for any kind of light filtering through the walls that would indicate an opening.
They reach a dead end, which annoys Tommy, causing him to accidentally walk into a cave
wall, where he quickly vanishes! Kimberly cries out his name, the others are stunned to
where their leader went, Billy tosses a rock in the direction Tommy disappeared and
realizes there's some kind of hidden power vortex there. Deciding to go in after him,
Billy, Kimberly, Aisha, Rocky and Adam (in that order) pile into the holographic wall, but
to where?
[To be continued; End Credits]
_END CREDITS SCENE:_
The Tengas, recently hatched, fumble around the lunar surface, learning to fly, and
falling all over the place. Cawing like crazy, the extended mix!
