Zika and Chiaotzu were having a fabulous time jogging down the Spice Rack halls.  In fact, their fun looked so appealing that Hallie, Robyn, and Rachel decided to join them.
     Fulgore and Spinal were walking down the hall when they heard the approaching footsteps of the five joggers.
     “Uh-oh, stampede,” Fulgore warned, grabbing Spinal and leaning against the wall.
     As the joggers ran by, Fulgore stared at Chiaotzu, who held his arms out to the sides as he ran.
     “You know, that’s the first time I’ve seen Chiaotzu use his legs,” Fulgore said.
     Meanwhile, Cassie ran down the halls to catch up with Vegeta.  “Hey Vegeta, wait up!”
     Vegeta stopped and tightened his fist, ready to explode, then calmed down.
     “Yes?” he asked as politely as he knew how.
     “I just wanted to talk to you,” Cassie said.
     “About what?  There’s nothing to talk about.”
     “We’ll find something.”  Cassie looked down at Vegeta’s back.  “Hey, I heard that you had a tail.”
     “I did, but it was removed.”
     “Why?”
     “Because.....because it got in my way, especially when I sat down,” Vegeta lied.
     “So, where are you headed?”
     “I’m headed to the Simudeck to do some training.”
     “Mind if I join you?” Cassie asked.
     “Sure, why not?” Vegeta replied.  “Come see what true power is.”
     “Better yet, I’ll spar with you,” Cassie said.
     Vegeta burst out laughing.  “You crack me up!  However, I must confess that I don’t make a very good sparring partner.”
     “Come on; it’ll work out,” Cassie said confidently.
     Vegeta sighed.  “If you say so.”
     Just then, the joggers came down the hall again.  Cassie moved out of the way as Zika flipped Vegeta over.  The Saiyan fell onto his back, then Chiaotzu, Hallie, and the twins stepped on him as they ran by.
     “Are you okay?” Cassie asked.
     “Yeah....I’m fine,” Vegeta groaned.
     “Here.”  Cassie held out her hand.  Vegeta paused and looked at her hand, then stood up on his own.
     “Would you watch where you’re going!?” he called after the kids.
     “You don’t like accepting help, do you?”
     “Who needs it?” Vegeta responded.
     Cassie shook her head.  “Let’s just go.”
     The pair sped their walk down the hall.

***
Devil's Palace Throne Room

     Astronema and Black Shadow were still relaxing in the throne.
     “Black Shadow, is there a Spice member that you adore?” Astronema asked.  “I adore Spinal because he’s cute.”
     “I like him, too,” Black Shadow said.  “But the mental link between us is driving me insane.”
     “Mental link?”
     “Yes.  We think each other’s thoughts and feel each other’s emotions.  With Spinal’s great fear, I get depressed.  However, it can be useful from time to time.”
     “I’ve always liked to play with him,” Astronema said.
     “I like to play with him, too,” Black Shadow said.  “Tell you what; once we finish making preparations, why don’t we send him a personal invitation?”
     Astronema’s eyes widened.  “I love it!”
     “Trakeena, since you snuck away from your father, you could make yourself useful.”  Black Shadow handed her a small vial.
     “What’s this?” Trakeena asked.
     “Just a virus,” Black Shadow replied.  “I want you to go down to Arturus and spread it.”
     Trakeena eyed the tiny container.  “This?”
     “I understand your concern,” Black Shadow said.  “Trust me, that is more than enough to contaminate the colony.  Do you need a disguise?”
     “No thanks.”  Trakeena transformed into an attractive woman with long, brown hair and a red skirt and jacket.  “I have my own.”
     She left the throne room with a smile.
     Black Shadow relaxed.  “I can’t wait to see Jenny’s reaction when we tell her the good news.”

***
Spice Rack Simudeck

     Cassie and Vegeta finally reached the Simudeck.  Vegeta stopped just past the door and gestured inside.
     “After you, my lady,” he cooed.
     “Thank you,” Cassie replied.  “You’re such a gentleman.”
     Vegeta pressed some buttons on the wall.  “Begin simulation.”
     They suddenly found themselves in an empty field, then faced each other in a fighting stance.
     “You might want to put on your costume,” Vegeta warned.
     “What costume?” Cassie asked.
     “Your Ranger costume, of course.  I told you that I’m not a very good sparring partner, so you’ll need all the protection you can get.”
     “Okay.  Let’s Rocket!”  Cassie morphed into her Pink Ranger uniform.
     Vegeta’s smiled dropped.  “Yaah!”  He rushed at Cassie with a flurry of attacks.  Although she managed to blocked them all, she was instantly overwhelmed.  Vegeta hurled Cassie into the air, then flew over her and pounded her back with both fists.  Cassie screamed as she sped towards the ground.  As she stood up slowly, Vegeta hovered in the air, shooting energy blasts from his palms.  Cassie gasped as she rolled out of the way.  Vegeta landed on the ground.  Cassie pulled out her Astro Blaster and fired, but Vegeta absorbed the shot with his palm.  Cassie then rolled aside again.
     “Satellite Stunner!” she cried.
     She pulled out her weapon and fired pink energy rings at Vegeta.  The Saiyan took the hit, but felt nothing.  He gave Cassie a weird look.
     “If you call that thing a Satellite Stunner, it should stun a satellite, not a Saiyan,” he told her.
     Cassie gave a weary sigh.  “Stop simulation!”
     The empty field disappeared, leaving the pair inside the spaceship again.  Cassie sat down on the floor and dimorph.
     “What!?” Vegeta gasped.  “Don’t tell me that you’re giving up already!”
     “Good job, Vegeta,” Cassie said.
     “If you’re that weak, how did you get to be a Power Ranger?” Vegeta asked.
     “I was chosen.”
     “By whom?”
     “By the Pink Ranger predecessor,” Cassie replied.  “Her name was Katherine Hillard.”
     “Oh, I get it,” Vegeta said.  “This Katherine was just as weak as you are, correct?”
     “We’re not weak,” Cassie said.  “You’re just a little too strong, and that’s not healthy.”
     “What do you mean ‘not healthy?’“ Vegeta asked.
     “Just listen to yourself, acting all rude.  You’re not a very good sport; all you care about is winning.  You don’t care whether your sparring partner gets hurt.”
     “Well, if I’m so rude, why are you being so nice to me?”
     “It’s because I understand how you feel, that’s all,” Cassie said.  “It’s tough when you’ve lost someone.”
     “I didn’t lose anyone!” Vegeta snapped.
     “You lost all the other Saiyans,” Cassie told him.  “It must be really painful.  I know I’d be hurting if I was the only human left in the universe.”
     Vegeta tightened his fist, which gave a blue glow.  Then he calmed down and sighed as the glow disappeared.
     “Look, we can help you,” Cassie continued.  “Just try not to bite the hand that feeds you.”
     She got up and kissed Vegeta lightly on the cheek, then left the room.  Vegeta watched until she was out of sight, then wiped off the kiss with the back of his hand.
     “Attention all passengers,” Beta announced.  “Please report to the bridge.  We’re receiving a transmission.”
     “A transmission?” Vegeta asked.  “I wonder who it could be?”
     Everyone gathered on the bridge to accept the transmission.
     “Okay, onscreen,” Jenny called.
     Fulgore pressed a button on the control terminal, and an image of the sender appeared on the screen -- Black Shadow.  Everyone gasped.
     “Hello everyone,” Black Shadow said.
     “Man, he’s even creepier than before!” Damon exclaimed.
     “What do you want, Black Shadow?” Jenny asked.
     “First of all, I want to thank that nice young man for his kind compliment,” Black Shadow replied.  “I also wanted to give you some good news.”
     Everyone gasped again.
     “Now, now, don’t gasp yet,” Black Shadow told them.  “I haven’t given you the news yet.  Jenny, today should be a glorious day for you.  You’re about to receive a new family member.”
     “What do you mean?” Jenny asked.
     “It just so happens that Astronema and I have decided to be married!” Black Shadow replied joyfully.  “All right, now you may gasp.”
     Everyone gasped another time.
     “You all are welcome to attend the ceremony,” Black Shadow continued.  “Just try not to mess it up.  That is all.  Good day.”  He disappeared from the screen.
     “Aw man!” the Cryptkeeper cried.  “All this time, Black Shadow has been claiming to be Jenny’s dad.  Once they get married, it’ll be true!  Maybe just a stepfather, but a father nonetheless.”
     “We’ve got to stop that crazy wedding!” Carlos cried.
     Spinal began to panic.  “This is terrible!  Black Shadow and Astronema!  They’re both gonna pick on me!  We’ve gotta do something, or we’re all gonna die!!”
     “Would you shut up already!?” Vegeta shouted.  “Your whining and moaning isn’t going to make this any better!”
     “So, what do you think, Jenny?” the Cryptkeeper asked.  “Jenny?”
     Jenny didn’t respond.  She had fainted dead away.

***
Devil's Palace Throne Room

     Black Shadow laughed as he sat in his throne.  “Hush, little Jenny, don’t you cry.  Hit the floor and prepare to die.”
     “Excuse me, Black Shadow,” Astronema said.  “But I simply must start getting ready.”
     “Be my guest.  Pandeora and Persyra will help you.”
     When Astronema left the room, Black Shadow continued the conversation with himself.
     “It won’t be long before the Arturus citizens are infected with my little virus, then they’ll come to our ceremony.  Wait ‘til the Spices get a load of this.  Yes....I’ve got your horror, sweet baby.”

***
Arturus

     Despite Black Shadow’s startling announcement, Pico, Vegeta, and Jeice went down to Arturus to enjoy themselves.
     “Black Shadow’s getting married?” Jeice asked.  “I’ve never been to a wedding before, and Black Shadow’s is not the first one I’m going to.”
     “It’ll just prove what he’s been telling Jenny all along,” Vegeta said.  “He really is her father now.”
     Suddenly, Pico stopped, looking at a particular building.  “Sock-Hop Land?  What the hell kind of place is this?”
     “From the looks of that display, it looks like a bowling alley,” Jeice said.  “Care to go in?”
     “Nah.  It’s just a kid’s game,” Vegeta said.
     “Why don’t we make it interesting?” Pico suggested.  “If you don’t score any strikes, you shave your head.”
     “You’re on,” Vegeta said.  “And if you don’t score any strikes, you come out of your shell.”
     “You got it.”
     “Uh-oh, here we go again,” Jeice muttered.
     The three Spices went into the bowling alley and played their game.  Pico and Vegeta were naturals at bowling.  Each shot they made was a strike.  Jeice didn’t play at all; he just watched and cheered them on.  The game ended with a tie.
     “Hey, great game, mates!” Jeice said.  “Let’s grab some lunch!”
     Jeice ordered just a hamburger while Vegeta ordered a burger with a drink.  They sat down at a table together.  However, before they could eat, they caught sight of a woman entering the bowling alley.  A woman with long brown hair and a short red skirt.  The same woman that left Devil’s Palace to contaminate the colony.
     Trakeena.
     Every head turned upon seeing this woman.  She headed directly towards the Spices’ table.
     “Who is that?” Vegeta asked.
     “She looks strangely familiar, and I don’t like it,” Pico said.
     “She’s coming this way,” Jeice observed.
     Trakeena sat directly at their table.  “Hello, boys.  Do you mind if I join you?  I’m new here, and I don’t know many people yet.”
     “Of all the tables in this building, you had to sit at this one, huh?” Pico asked.
     Trakeena instantly became speechless.  She couldn’t believe that she was actually sitting with the turtle of her dreams.  With Pico.  It didn’t matter that he had friends with him.  Trakeena had found him again, and this time, she wouldn’t let him get away.
     “Never mind,” Jeice said.  “I’m Jeice, and this is Pico and Vegeta.”
     “I’m Trak....er, Trixie.  It’s nice to meet you, Jeice.”
     “Well, well, look who’s here,” Pico said, pointing across the room.
     Jeice took a look.  “It’s Goku and Piccolo.”
     Goku and Piccolo were bowling as well.  When Goku took his turn, he got a strike.
     “All right!” he screamed, jumping so high that his hands touched the ceiling.  “Strike!”
     “Yippee,” Piccolo mumbled.
     “Whatever.”  Vegeta unwrapped his hamburger and raised it to his mouth.  Trakeena stared at him, wide-eyed, waiting anxiously for him to take the first bite.  At the last possible second, Vegeta looked up at her.
     “Would you kindly not stare at me while I’m eating!?” he snarled.
     “Oh, right.  Sorry.”  Trakeena looked away.
     Vegeta took another shot at his burger.  However, as he raised it again, everything between the buns slipped out, dropping into his lap.
     “Uh-oh, fell right into my lap!” he announced, a bit louder than necessary.  “Pity.”
     “Here, would you like a drink with that?”