Author's Note: Zedd's line about getting rid of Tommy is taken directly from canon. I just wanted to acknowledge that.

Also, it can be pointed out that, in the actual episode, Jason and the others were able to move enough to draw and fire their Blade Blasters while trapped inside the monster. My response is that they didn't seem to be mobile before that, while Tommy and Trini were conferring with Zordon in the Command Center. I therefore postulate that the Flytrap was able to keep them frozen while it wasn't distracted by combat.

When you served as a Power Ranger, it took a lot to scare you. It might not seem that way, since you fought monsters who were often cheesy and almost always short on brains. But those same goofy creatures didn't need brains…not when they carried the power to destroy the entire world—not to mention give the Ranger teams they faced a VERY rough time.

Of course, being a Ranger never left you feeling entirely normal; if nothing else, you were going to high school with ordinary kids while caring a momentous secret. Plus lying to everyone, especially your parents. But you did, with time, get more-or-less used to risking your life on a daily basis.

So, it can be said with certainty that Tommy Oliver did not scare easily. But he was definitely edging into downright terrified now.

For one thing, he was currently trapped inside the Invenusable Flytrap monster. Not only that, but he was completely immobilized by the monster's power, standing rigidly while holding his hands out in front of him. He did NOT like the feeling of paralysis…at all.

But that fear was just a side dish in the banquet of terror he was feeling now. He was on his way to Lord Zedd…a being whose power dwarfed that of the evil witch who had once enslaved them. His greatest fear, that he would once again be turned against his friends, had become a distinct possibility. Tommy had a sinking feeling that Zedd wouldn't need an easily-destroyed Sword of Darkness to bend Tommy to his will permanently.

The only bright spot in all this (and Tommy clung to this hope with all his strength), was that he was not the Ranger he had been while under Rita's control. He ironically had Rita to thank for that: the witch had drained his powers using the Green Candle Tommy still saw in his nightmares. Zordon had managed to twice re-energize him using the being's own power, but that was no longer an option. And Tommy's power level had diminished rapidly while facing Zedd's formidable monsters. Even if Zedd did turn him and send him against the other Rangers, they should have little trouble defeating him.

Provided Zedd couldn't boost Tommy's power himself. The Green Ranger tried very hard not to think of that.

Suddenly the monster roared, and Tommy felt himself dematerialize, much like teleportation. He reformed quickly, but before he could move or even orient himself, gold light lashed at him, turning into energy chains, binding both his arms and his legs. He recognized that bit of magic instantly. It had been used on him during the battle over the Green Candle.

Goldar.

That was something else he wasn't looking forward to. The gold monkey had had it in for him ever since Rita "recruited" Tommy—because it meant that Goldar himself wasn't nearly enough to defeat the Rangers. They hadn't gotten along as allies, and they quickly developed a deep mutual hatred for each other as enemies. Granted, Goldar despised ALL the Rangers, and had a special grudge against Jason…but Tommy was always his primary target. Tommy felt bile well at the very thought he could soon be fighting alongside the alien as an ally once more.

Then things got even worse as he raised his head, and realized that he was standing in front of Zedd's throne…with the Emperor in it.

The Green Ranger's mouth went dry as he tried his best not to flinch. He had never gotten an up-close look at Zedd, none of the Rangers had…but he had seen a mental projection of the skinless nightmare once before. He'd been defiant then, but he'd also had access to his powers.

Zedd was far more frightening than Rita. The lack of any skin was only the beginning. The bare muscles, the exposed brain, the bits of metal, the unknown fluid gushing through the various tubes; it was very intimidating.

"So," Zedd spoke finally, his voice an arrogant drawl, "This is the mighty Green Ranger who has given us so much trouble for the past year." He rose from his seat and stalked towards Tommy, stopping about a foot away. It took everything Tommy had to keep his eyes up, staring into that red visor.

The fact that Zedd was shorter than Tommy (about 5'10" to his 6'2") should have made him less intimidating. It didn't.

"I'm not impressed!" Zedd snorted contemptuously.

"Neither am I," Tommy lied through his teeth. "All that supposed power and you can't even re-grow your skin?"

Suddenly something hard slammed into the back of Tommy's knees, making him both gasp and fall into a kneeling position. Strong, cruel hands gripped his shoulders painfully. "Silence! You shall not speak such insolence!" Goldar. Tommy had been so distracted by Zedd he hadn't even sensed the armored warrior sneak up behind him.

Zedd's laugh chilled Tommy's blood. "Let him say what he will, Goldar! It is but a gesture of futility!" Tommy guessed he had scored a little, though, since Zedd's visor flashed red. "Now, there is the question of what to do with our new prisoner…"

"You won't turn me against my friends, Zedd!" Tommy spoke defiantly. "And if you do, they'll stop me!"

"Fool!" Zedd put his hideous face right up close to the humans, making Tommy's eyes widen. "I have no use for a virtually powerless Ranger. And beside, you were created by Rita, and I want to erase all memory of her failures!"

Tommy felt leg-weakening relief for second…then he paled at thoughts of what else Zedd could do to him.

"Don't worry, Green Ranger," Zedd soothed mockingly as he walked back to his throne and sat down. "I have something much better in mind for you!" Without warning, he leveled his staff and fired a bolt of lighting at Tommy, immediately sending him to the floor unconscious.

Goldar snorted and kicked him viciously.

"Enough, Goldar," Zedd commanded. "Take him to the Dark Dimension. That should bring back some unpleasant memories for him. Of course, we'll soon be giving him NEW memories for him to dread!" Zedd's laughter echoed off the walls of the Chamber of Command as his throne turned to face the opposite direction.

Goldar's fierce grin would have given the entire team of Rangers pause as he carried Tommy out the door.

To be continued…