Darkonda returned to the Dark Fortress, but another part of him was irretrievably lost: one of his lives. That made two lives lost in a matter of days. Was he losing his touch?

The bridge of the Dark Fortress was just as he had left it, minus Elgar. Darkonda's orders to him, to hold position and be ready to fire, had long been forgotten. Darkonda would deal with him later. For now, he had a report to make.

“Dark Specter, please come in,” he requested in his most humble and subservient voice.

Dark Specter appeared on the viewscreen, glowing with rage.

“Darkonda, you have failed!” he roared. “Explain yourself!”

With pleasure, Darkonda thought. He let out a barely audible groan and staggered forward, clutching his shoulder.

“Dark Specter, Ecliptor's message was a trap. He did indeed plan an ambush, but the ambush was for us. I barely escaped with my life! He is a dangerous traitor, Sire. He must be destroyed as soon as--”

“And what of Astronema?”

Darkonda's eyes narrowed. Dark Specter just wouldn't let that one go, would he?

“Astronema has elected to stay with the Rangers. She wouldn't even show her face. Apparently she believes the Rangers will now,” he snorted, “Protect her. She certainly has turned out to be quite a coward, hasn't she? I recommend that we destroy her and the Rangers before they have a chance to regroup.”

Dark Specter said nothing. The seemingly irreversible loss of his top two servants weighed hard upon him, hard upon the entire United Alliance of Evil. Had he had a capacity for introspection, he may have questioned himself and his absolute trust in a brainwashed human child as his vessel.

Instead, he shifted the blame elsewhere.

“Orders, sire?” Darkonda asked, his head bowed. “The Rangers are unaware of our presence. One or two shots, and they'd be--”

“Set a course for Earth,” Dark Specter roared.

Darkonda let out a choked gasp, and he stared at Dark Specter in disbelief.

“Dark Specter, we've never been closer to the Rangers. Their ship--”

“Never mind the Rangers now.”

“...Pardon?!” Darkonda cried.

“There will be more than enough time to destroy the Rangers, and Astronema, if need be. But for now, they may prove useful. Or, at the very least, entertaining.”

“I'm sorry?!”

“As we speak, Darkonda, my armies are working to create the perfect weapon: an indestructable, remote controlled asteroid. When it is completed, I will only need to give the word, and you can place it on an exact collision course with Earth. All life on the planet will be instantly eliminated, unless, of course, our demands are met. And, naturally, if Astronema and the Rangers persist in being stubborn, they will be eliminated alongside the citizens of their precious world.”

Darkonda found that he liked what he was hearing.

“It's brilliant! I will do whatever is necessary to ensure the success of your plan, Sire!”

“Excellent,” Dark Specter said, “Because I have one more task for you before you go.”

“Give the word, and it shall be done!”

“You will go back to KO35 and collect Ecliptor.”

“What?!”

“You dare defy me?!” Dark Specter snapped.

“Of course not, Sire, but... Ecliptor... he is a traitor! He set up an ambush! He cannot be trusted!”

“I agree, he cannot be trusted in his current state. However, I have no intention of using him in his current state. He has clearly begun malfunctioning, and he must be repaired. His creators have been working on an upgrade for some time, and untested as it may be, I don't see where we have any choice but to install it. He is too valuable a warrior to let go to waste, and we will require his assistance in getting Astronema back.”

Darkonda seethed.

“Getting Astronema back?! You can't be serious! I strongly recommend--”

“I have no use for your recommendations. You will do as I say, or I will find someone else.”

“Of... of course. I would expect no... no less,” Darkonda shook with a combination of rage and his feeble attempt to contain said rage.

“Darkonda, you have made no secret of how you feel about Astronema and Ecliptor,” Dark Specter said with chilling calmness. “But be aware that if you should fail to retrieve them, or if either of them should 'meet with an accident', I will destroy you. I have no patience for your petty contentions. Do as I say, or lose the last of your lives in a manner most unpleasant.”

Silence, and then Dark Specter faded from the viewscreen.

Darkonda could not speak for several minutes. KO35 stood before him, as if mocking him. He had to return, he had to subdue Ecliptor, and he had to bring him back to the ship. Alive. In working order.

A Quantron loomed over him, its head cocked curiously.

“If you're waiting for a show of defiance, you'll be waiting a long time,” Darkonda snapped. “I've got no choice. I'll get them back, alright, and by the time I'm finished with them, they won't have the capacity to go against anyone ever again!”