The Barillian Sting

Power Rangers in Space, Episode 14

Original Airdate: 5-2-1998

Last Time: Ashley's grandmother let no law of man or nature stand between her and her quest to see her granddaughter rightfully betrothed!

On a jungle planet, Carlos, Cassie and T.J. are searching for Zordon. They walk right into Ecliptor's trap, because the evil guy is just better than them. Suddenly, Darkonda shows up and he and Ecliptor snipe at each other for a while and Darkonda mocks Ecliptor's ambush idea. The ambush begins. Credits!

Darkonda has a better idea and releases some sort of space insect. It stings Carlos and knocks him to the ground. The Rangers retreat. Ecliptor is pissed that Darkonda screwed up the ambush, but finds his nemesis already gone. On the Megaship, the Rangers are trying to figure out what's wrong with Carlos, who know has ominous blue veins stretching from the sting wound. Andros knows what's happening, but motions to T.J. so he can tell him in private. On the Dark Fortress, Ecliptor angrily storms to the bridge, knocking down a couple of Quantrons who get in his way. Darkonda shows up and needles Ecliptor some more. He also explains that he met Astronema once, long ago, in order to make sure that even the slow kids are able to recognize the slowly developing plot twist that is now only about ten episodes away. Darkonda explains that he's already taken out one Ranger, and leaves. Ecliptor explains that the bug that stung Carlos is slowly turing him into a monster.

Back on the jungle planet, Andros and T.J. are looking for the bug to confirm Andros' suspicions. Darkonda shows up to taunt them too. The Rangers morph and give chase. Darkonda releases another one of those bugs. Andros shoots down the bug and confirms that it is a Barillian bug, and that Carlos will some become an evil bug. Fortunately, there's some antidote left on KO-35, and Andros and T.J. head off to get it. On the Megaship, Carlos has become said evil bug, and Ashley and Cassie are tasked with restraining him. They fail and he gets into the heating ducts.

On the Dark Fortress, Elgar has lost the Megaship, Ecliptor knocks him down and takes over. Darkonda, having not done nearly enough taunting this episode, shows up to announce that he already knows that the Megaship is heading towards KO-35. Astronema is pleased with Darkonda's gumption.

Meanwhile, the Rangers have begun their hunt for Carlos. T.J. and Cassie find him first and hunt him down into the engine room. Andros shows up and has to remind the team not fire their guns directly in front of the reactor so that they don't all die a firey death. Carlos gets away and stings Cassie in the process. Having learned from the mistakes of the past, the Rangers strap Cassie down. The Megaship arrives at KO-35 and Andros and T.J. decide to head down and leave Ashley in charge. Carlos ambushes Andros and T.J. before they can get off the ship, but nothing really comes of it and they get off.

On KO-35, Andros manages to find the antidote, but is ambushed by Darkonda. Andros decides to face him alone, ignoring the important lesson on teamwork from about eight episodes ago, and sends T.J. to deliver the antidote. Andros pays for his folly by getting beaten up by Darkonda, but manages to turn it around by using the Battlizer to use some sort of power punch. Up in space, Cassie is now also a bug and has gotten loose. In fact, both bugs are now storming the bridge. Ashley tries to reason with the evil bugs, forgetting that you can't reason with anthropomorphized insects, it just doesn't work. T.J. shows up and doses the creatures and the crisis is averted. The Rangers head down to help Andros.

The reassembled Rangers face off with Darkonda, who destroys the last of the antidote. Andros points out that he's a bit late for that. Darkonda, however, taunts the Rangers even more as he pulls out another bug. Darkonda decides to hurry things along by making the bug into a proper man-shaped monster, and then growing him to giant size. The Rangers call for the Astro Megazord. The bug fails to land a single blow on the megazord and is swiftly dispatched.

On the Dark Fortress, Ecliptor points towards Darkonda's poor showing as proof that the latter should be sent away immediately. Darkonda, however, has chtuzpah, and claims victory because he's somehow proved that the Red Ranger is the only real "Space Ranger" and that the other Rangers will fall apart without him. Darkonda happens to have a plan that will do exactly that. Astronema agrees to listen.

Back on KO-35, Andros decides it's as good a time as any to brood about his missing sister. And brood he does. Ashley decides it's as good a time as any to flirt with Andros. And flirt she does. Show Over!

Next Time: The tension between Darkonda and Ecliptor takes an unforeseen turn as Darkonda decides he wants Ecliptor inside him.