The Scepter of Evil

Synopsis: During her first day on the job at Dreamland Twinkle Star Park in Angel Grove, Somnibot is captured by a mysterious and powerful creature who feels threatened by her sleep induction powers. He wants to drain her of her powers and life force after he has acquired the Scepter of Evil, a powerful weapon. Only the Scepter of Benevolence, its pure and uncorrupted counterpart, has the power to stop the Scepter of Evil.

Chapter 1--Cryptic Visions

Somnibot had done so much for Angel Grove and the citizens therein and she often went to bed feeling a deep gratitude and sense of accomplishment.   However, this night was filled with tossing and turning and cryptic images she couldn’t explain. She went into detail about her nightmare to Beta and her children, then at last her friends.   No one could explain what her subconscious was so afraid of.

‘I just get this really bad feeling.  Something really huge is coming our way and it concerns me.  I sense someone is after me.’, she said.

‘You’re probably just overworked and need a vacation.’, Beta suggested.   Having perfect attendance at work she could take a whole week off and not have to worry about the consequences even though the intern didn’t hold a candle to her greatness.    

Chapter 2--Hilde’s Quest

Hilde was a woman who had always been overshadowed.    Her major, anthropology, was laughed at by everyone. She was bound and determined, however, to show everyone just how important her education was.   Having read about a relic with untold power, she went on a global trip to deepest Africa.   While on a dig, the ancient artifact found her; literally calling her name.

‘Hilde Firebrand.   This is your moment.  Seize me and seize DESTINY.   Once I have you...I mean once I can show you how to wield me properly, NO ONE will dare question your intellect ever again.’, the scepter said.     It erupted from the ground and hovered in front of her. Normally such a paranormal occurrence would’ve frightened the most stalwart of individuals but Hilde was nonplussed.  She was more intrigued than anything else.

The scepter was crafted out of wormwood with the darkest bark known to man.   In its bark were dark, unholy runes that had the remnants of sacrifices engraved into its very skin.   Twisted, brambled and gnarly, the knotted scepter came complete with an eerie skull atop, adorning it.   It had a grim, pointed smile and seemed all too pleased to hoodwink a new puppet for its evil intentions.  

Hilde held her hand out to accept the scepter but it pulled a nasty trick on her.   It turned around and bit her, so hard that blood ran down its skeleton skin.  The ruby eyes in the skull glistened as it was filled with all Hilde’s negative emotion.

‘Ooh, lady.  You are one hell of a feast !’, it said, taking control of her body.  He could now talk through her. It was no longer the scepter that was the accessory, Hilde was.   

Chapter 3--Wormwood’s Target

Wormwood hated being trapped inside the scepter but it was for his own good.   Once he had enough power running through him, he could resume his normal, corporeal form.   He would be unstoppable then. That is, unless someone resurrected Aegis, the White Scepter.     Aegis was his exact opposite. Like him, she had been confined to a walking stick so as to stifle him.    

‘The Benevolent Scepter has no means of resurrecting.   I’ve got carte blanche, baby !’, Wormwood cackled to himself.    It was so pleasant having a body to manipulate whatever way he willed.    He knew eventually, he’d be back to his old self in no time. But first, he had to seek out a power source that was unrivaled in this plane.   Such raw, untamed power belonged to a young AI by the name of Somnibot. Once he obtained it, people would be lulled to sleep and they’d never wake.   It’d make for a very mundane world, but it would be his for all eternity.

Chapter 4--Feeling a bit Drained

Wormwood loathed the sun but he figured it was simply par for the course in this pleasant, happy, dreadfully positive place called California.   He directed his sights on a bunch of humans and robots playing water polo in a nearby park pool. So far, the humans were out matching the robots 6 to 1.    That was until his target made a volley, spiked the ball downward and made a point. She danced victoriously, or at least, bobbed in the water rhythmically.

Using Hilde as bait he wrapped himself around her wrist so the water wouldn’t burn his flesh.    As you know, water and the powers of the dark repel or can completely destroy a dark entity. Flashing his ruby eyes, he stalled time for a moment and began to feed of Somnibot’s energy.    It was almost too much for him to take. Full on one dose, he started to feel a bit freer moving from his scepter form to that of his corporeal one.

‘Just a few more zaps of mana from her and I’ll be totally free.’, he said as they disappeared from view in a dark, thick miasma.   

‘What just happened ?  I feel really bizarre.’, Trini said, regaining her footing in the water.   Being buoyant was enough to make her feel a bit odd to begin with but the stop in time had confused them.  

‘Alpha, Rangers, come to HQ immediately.   There is something of urgency that I need to discuss with you.’, Zordon’s voice was heard over the watch comms.  

‘Zordon sounds serious.   This is very disconcerting.’, Nao said, obviously.   They all exited the pool but Somni slumped over slightly.  

‘I just feel so tired all of a sudden.’, she said.  Beta helped her up and she kept a brave face on. By looking at her though, she had begun to have signs of wrinkles.   It was terribly uncommon for robot skin to have any flaws. Something unusual was definitely happening and they all had to get to the bottom of it, but most likely Zordon was aware of the cause.    

Chapter 5--Wormwood the Necromancer

Zordon told the Rangers and their friends all about Wormwood and how he had been trapped in the Scepter of Evil for millenia.   

‘He’s a parasite.  He simply needed the right host upon which to feed.’, he said.

‘But why Somni ?’, Kat questioned.

‘Her power is fiercer than all of yours combined.  If Wormwood should be successful it’ll spell doom for all of us.’, Zordon stated, rather gravely.

‘I don’t like the sound of that.’, Bulk gulped, beginning to quiver.   Skull placed his arm around him.

‘No fear.   I’m sure Wormwood feasts on that too, knowing him !’, he said, in an encouraging tone, clapping his hand on Bulk’s massive shoulder.  

'You may be right, but still I am concerned.', Bulk replied.   The gentle giant shook slightly at seeing the devastation that Wormwood could enact.   None of the other Rangers seemed to be too concerned. Somni seemed to be fine, although she was a wee sluggish.    The rest of the day was spent normally as if nothing happened but Somnibot went to bed feeling a sense of dread and terror.  

Chapter 6--Somnibot’s Nightmare

She had heard what Zordon had told the Rangers and her friends earlier, but that hadn’t soothed her fear whatsoever.    She tried to shake that fear off by reading a calming book concerning animal intelligence and whether or not they dream.     She found her eyelids closing and gently slipped into a deep Delta sleep, holding Beta’s hand all the way into her reveries.

The reveries began pleasant enough until she felt shadows cropping up all around her, zapping her from every side.   No matter what her friends did, they were struck down. Once they were down, it was like they were hit by the Gorgon’s stare.   They never revived and never moved again. Somni began to cry.

‘Leave me alone !  This is my sacred space !  You have no place here !’, she screamed fighting back mightly.   No matter what she did, though, the beams struck her, enough to make her physically weak.    She became so infirm that she could barely breathe. Breathing was painful. Her eyes began to close, sadly for the last time until she awoke with a scream.   

‘NO !’, Somnibot yelled, scaring her husband into a near frenzy.   The kids were in their recuperation pods, none the wiser.

‘You’re ok, it was a nightmare.’, Beta stated, patting and caressing her hand.   Somni felt her eyelids closing and she began to drift back to sleep, unable to shake the feeling that Wormwood was still out there, waiting, watching and prowling until he had enough energy to free himself from his bondage.

Chapter 7--A Field Trip With Boy Scouts

The Local Angel Grove Boy Scout troop 113 had met for a nature hike, as well as learning math, arts, engineering and technology.    It was a scavenger hunt, engineered to earn a badge.

Suddenly, all the energy was drained from everyone present.   The kids had plotzed face first in the dirt and the adults had fallen on their sides like fainting goats.    Wormwood had finally gotten enough power to be totally free from his enslavement.

‘Come along with me, dear.   I’ve got bigger plans for your power.’, he said, taking Somnibot along with him.   The terrifying thing was, it was like she was in astral catalepsy.    She could move her eyes but she couldn’t scream or lash out. Her whole body was petrified, totally hopeless.    She felt like crying but thought better not to display weakness to Wormwood. She was already in a bad enough predicament and her tears would only worsen it.   

Chapter 8--Like Persephone and Hades

It kindled imagery of the old Greek myth for poor Somnibot.   She wanted to protest but no matter what she did, her lips wouldn’t move.    She couldn't’ even wriggle a digit for any purpose. With what little energy she could muster, she called forth a beacon to her parents.   Granted it was weak but whatever energy she had left was about to be taken from her, and her life inevitably would follow.

To be continued…