Zeo Crystal - Plot

Plot

Power Rangers Zeo begins immediately after the events of Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers where Tommy Oliver and the other Rangers witness the destruction of the Command Center. After recovering, the powerless Rangers discover the Zeo Crystal intact in the rubble – apparently dropped by Goldar and Rito Revolto. The Zeo Crystal guided them to a portal, which takes them deep underground to the heretofore unmentioned Power Chamber, in which the building's exterior matches that of the Command Center. There, they found Zordon and Alpha 5 waiting for them. The team is bestowed with the five Zeonizers empowered by the Zeo Crystal. Tanya Sloan joins the team as Zeo Ranger II — Yellow, while Billy Cranston chooses to become their technical advisor, rather than continue being a Ranger.

These events occur as the Machine Empire entered Earth's solar system. So powerful, even Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd are forced to flee from them to the M51 Galaxy with the threat of being destroyed. Led by King Mondo and Queen Machina, the Machine Empire seeks to conquer Earth. Armed with new weapons and Zords, only the Zeo Rangers stand in their way. Unbeknown to anyone, Rito and Goldar – now amnesic – are left behind on Earth. They are taken in by Bulk and Skull, who have them serving at their beck and call. Bulk and Skull, meanwhile, continue to be members of the Junior Police Force until Lt. Stone is dismissed. Quitting as a show of support, they join him at his new detective agency.

Over time, the Machine Empire began wearing down the five Zeo Rangers. Help arrives in the form of the mysterious Gold Ranger. No one knows who he is and while suspicion abounded, it is clear he is there to help the Rangers. It turns out that the Gold Ranger was an alien, Trey of Triforia. This revelation comes after he is injured in battle. Split into three separate selves, Trey is forced to temporarily pass on his powers to a worthy warrior while healing. They attempted to transfer the Gold Ranger powers to Billy; but are unable to because Billy has acquired a large amount of negative energy due to the destruction of the Command Center. The ultimate successor is Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Power Ranger. This event also sees the introduction of the more powerful Super Zeozords, which were used against a tougher generation of machines. The Super Zeo Megazord is powerful enough to even later destroy King Mondo, creating a power vacuum in the Machine Empire.

The Ranger helmets this season also serves a different significance than in the other seasons with the visor being shaped as mouths for animals and dinosaurs, windshields for cars or shield shapes. The visors represent the number of the Ranger. For instance, when Tommy morphs, he proclaims, "Zeo Ranger Five, Red!" Once his helmet is formed the shape of his visor, a star with the same number of points (5) as his Ranger number, is shown.

Secretly returning from the M51 Galaxy, Lord Zedd and Rita seek to become top villains again. Operating out of an RV with Finster, they first restore Goldar and Rito's memories. After King Mondo is destroyed, they launch their first plan: use Louie Kaboom to take over the Machine Empire. Though he succeeds, he breaks free of Zedd and Rita's control. He embarks on his own plans to conquer Earth and destroy the Zeo Rangers. Louie is eventually destroyed by the machinations of Prince Gasket and Princess Archerina, who rule until King Mondo's reconstruction is complete and causes them to flee.

When Billy began rapidly aging, the Zeo and Aquitian Rangers race to help him, as well as combat monsters from both King Mondo and Rita. Billy leaves Earth for treatment on Aquitar and chooses to stay to be with Cestria. Soon afterwards, it is discovered Jason can no longer handle having the Gold Ranger powers. They are leaving his body and draining his lifeforce in the process. Trey is still in recovery, but a risky gamble heals and restores the powers to him. Rita and Lord Zedd finally gain revenge on the Machine Empire by crippling their leaders with a bomb.