Light Crystal Of Amora

[Kimberflames]

Prologue


Centuries ago, long before the power rangers, a great being known as the White Wizard possessed a crystal so powerful it could build universes, using but a fraction of it’s power. Fortunately, the White Wizard was a peaceful being and used the crystal to provide peace to others and assisted kindly beings against the rebellion against all peaceful forces. To those whom thrived with evil, the crystal imprisoned them deep within depths of space, never to return as punishment against the cruel acts they convicted.

However as there is darkness to light and evil and to goodness, the White Wizard had an negative, an opposite far stronger than any dark nemesis before him, an evil warlord named King Dimenis. Though equal in their magic’s and hand combat, the crystals powers unbalanced the scale between the two combatants. Knowing this, King Dimenis was more fueled to possess the crystal for his own wicked purposes and immediately began searching for the crystal’s origin in aspire to create a rival force against the light crystal’s power.

King Dimenis succeeded, how he accomplished this to this day is still a mystery. A sword crafted in the very blood of darkness and worn at the evil King’s side in all its cursed glory.

The White Wizard felt the poison of the swords power upon it’s completion and prepared for the ultimatium. The war of all wars was coming, dawning over the edge of a grand horizon, strattling both the regions of virtuousness and wickedness. Knowing he would not survive this final battle, The White Wizard deviced a plan, inscripting a journal which held great secrets of the crystal and his intensions of it, so that one day a being would rise and harness the crystal’s power to do good. At the wake of battle he gave the journal to a mere child on Eltar, whom he felt would grow to be honorable and kind, that child’s name was Zordon.

As the powerful wizard had predicted, he did not survive the war, killed by the blade of King Dimenis sword, however upon this, the crystal awaken in a rapid rage and killed the evil King along with his allies, before throwing itself into the black stary pool of space, searching for the one to reclaim its power.

Now is that time...

For not all evil rests easily upon defeat.

[Angelfox]

cool

[ElementMaster149]

sounds really good

[Crazy Firebird]

Nice start, I'd like to see the next chapter/s in this story.

[Kimberflames]

The lake was perfect at this time of day, paved with the morning sun and richness of the evolving blue sky. Tommy Oliver loved to head out for a quick jog every morning and cleanse his thoughts with gulps of fresh air and reminise his ranger days that fueled him to only push himself harder in training. It was always more than condtioning. Ever since the ‘code red’ mission it become a more of duty for him to keep fit than it was pleasure anymore. It’s been one year since the red ranger reunion and Tommy couldn’t help, but feel that that battle was only the beginning of something much bigger.

So there wasnt a day he left the house without his zeo morpher.

He stopped at his favorite spot on the lake, a flat stone layed out at the edge of the water. He gazed out on to the motionless water, no one was out at this time of day making things much more peaceful in the park. Slowly, he began to practice his kata, his muscles flexing in the slow elaperate movements till sweat prouced through his shirt in the growing quickness of his moves. A gasp of wind blew pass him, disturbing the still water and the hairs in the back of his neck as they stood erect.

Something was wrong. He looked in all directions, his muscles tense and his hands curled into tight fists as he struck into a battle stance.

Nothing. There was nothing.

It was just that paranoid feeling he inhabitated as a ranger. But had that ever let him down before? Leave it to him to always be on the alert.

Maybe Jason was right, he thought tiredly, I do need a vacation.

The rapid change of weather was still surpising, the wind had kicked up patches of dust from the ground and the lakes water collased agitatedly against the rocks around the large slab he stood on, like a storm was starting to brew. He looked up at the sky, it was clear blue not a cloud in sight.

What was going on?

Then his questions were answered. Out of nowhere a black haze poured around him.

“What the- Arggggg!” A pale blue streak of lightning snaked its way up his body, electrifying him, sending burses of fire up and down his spine to the point he felt his eyes would pop out of his head.

Tommy tried to grab for his morpher, but his body was paralized with pain, his body just wouldn't respond to his brains command. He slumped forward onto his knees, the veins pressing out from the skin of his neck and forehead, then it all stopped. The darkness was too overwhelming.

The last thing he saw was two glowing red orbs of eye’s bleeding over him.


***************************************************************


*Elsewhere*

Karone scanned the planet once more, hoping the computer might have over looked something.The console sparked with life, humming as it processed for any results.

“Not Found.” The robotic voice spoke. She hit the machince in fustration and sat back in the seat.

“Andros, where are you?” She said softly, her voice heavy with concern for her brother.

One minute Andros was checking for any life signs of this on the deserted planet, the sound of his voice tumbling over the communication systems as he talked, then just like that... nothing! Communications had been cut off, the frequicy lost to the Astro ship and the former red space ranger was no where to be found.

“Transmission from Mironi.” D.E.C.A. announced.

“Patch me through, D.E.C.A.” Karone stood as the communication screen filled with an image of a formular face. “Kendrix.” The smile she had instantly fell as she noticed the sternness in the galatic rangers eyes. “Kendrix, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Leo. He’s missing. The other rangers and I have looked everywhere for him, but it’s like he just disappeared off the face of the planet.” Kendrix informed her.

“Andros is missing as well and I was just talking to him over the P.A. system. ” She sat back down into her seat swuvering her chair facing the commication consoles. “I have a strange feeling something is going on, Kendrix. Is anyone else missing?”

Kendrix shook her head. “No. Leo was supposed to meet the other rangers and I to help rebuild some homes today, but he never showed. He would have never left with informing the rest of us. I thought I would contact you and Andros to see if there were any other ‘Code Red’ crisis.”

Karone nodded. She knew that all rangers referred to the all red ranger battle that took place a little over a year go as ‘Code Red’, but that clearly wasn’t the case for the two red rangers whom were missing. Something else was developing, she could feel it in her blood.

“Kendrix, I’m setting a course to Mironi now, I have feeling something evil is behind this. I want you and Maya to come with me to earth, the guys can stay there in case something else happens.”

Kendrix frowned in confusion. “Why earth?”

“There are people there whom I think that can help. I have a feeling that Andros and Leo are not the only one’s missing.”

Kendrix nodded fully alert. “I’ll see you in a few.”

“Right. I should be there within a couple of hours. Karone out.” The transmission ended and the screen flooded black, showing the stars as the ship sliced through space towards the Mirioni. She was scared for her brother, if anything had happen to Andros... Karone didn’t want to think about it knowing only Astronama would resurface, if revenge was the case.

Hang on, Andros, she willed. Just hang on.

[Kimberflames]

Note:

This is a female team up story

Here's the summery:

Centries ago, a power was born. Seven years ago, she went missing. Now, the red rangers are gone and its up to the female rangers to save them, before the war begins. Set during Ninja Storm in AU.

[a16m26]

nice

[Kimberflames]

Blue Bay Harbor, California


Today was the perfect day to ride. The sun was warm, no clouds in sight. She could sense the most perfect wave riding up as the wind licked the oceans surface of the ocean. Transfixed, she started paddling her arm’s, the board rose as the water picked it up and lifted it higher up the waters curves. She stood, her body centered, her arms stretched out at her sides; a perfect set up. She whipped the nose of the board towards the rising tidal wave and as the water collapsed behind her; she bent her knees to tilt to her side and let her hand brush the watery walls. The board cut clean through the water like a hot knife to butter as she swayed the board to the shore. A smile brightened her face as she saw Blake cheering her on.

“Way to go,” Tori propped her board under her arm as she walked along Blake's side. “That was awesome.”

“Thanks. The swells today are perfect.”

“Nah. You’re just perfect.”

Tori blushed.

“So, um what are you doing here? I thought you, Dustin, and Hunter had a motocross race planned for the day.” She said, clearing the wet hair out from her face.

“Yeah, well we did, but I was kind of hoping that maybe you and I could grab some lunch.” Blake replied, shyly.

Tori bit her bottom lip trying to keep the smile from spreading over her face.

Or at least from screaming like in total idiot in front of the guy you have the hots for, She thought.

“Um sure. That would be great.”

“Really?”

“Yeah”

“Cool.” Blake grinned. They silently made their way over to where her stuff laid on the beach. Tori picked up her beach towel and began drying out her hair, when a beep sound rang in her backpack. They both looked at one another. “ Lothor finally decided to send a new monster.” He said, disappointingly.

Tori smiled sadly.

“Yeah.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her wind morpher. “What’s up?”

Cams' voice flooded out from the morpher.

“I’m not sure myself, but my father says he wants everyone to report back at ranger ops, immediately.”

“We’re on our way.” Blake spoke.

Securing Tori’s stuff in a safe location, they both streaked away in their rightful colors.

Rescue Ops

“So what new monster has Lother put on our shoulders today?” Dustin inquired.

Hunter, Cam, Tori, Duntin and Blake all made it to Ninja ops in a short amount of time,all dressed in their ninja uniforms, but Shane still had not arrived.

“Where’s Shane?” Hunter inquired, looking around.

“That is why I have requested you rangers to report to Ops.” The little hamster flipped over to the low table. “Shane has gone missing.”

“What?” Everyone, except Cam, exclaimed.

“What would Lother want with Shane?” Blake spoke, crossing his arms over his chess.

“Another evil puppet to toy with.” Hunter said, exchanging a glance with his brother.

“It’s not Lother this time guys.” Cam said. “ Someone else took him.” He went over to the computer console and the screen showed a map of the world with eleven blinking red lights.

“What do those lights represent?” Tori asked studying the screen.

“ The lights represent red rangers whom have all disappeared.” Cam explained, pointing to a red dot over Blue Bay Harbar. “This is where Shane disappeared from today.”

“Then let’s go find him. Do we have any leads to where he might be?” Hunter said, taking over the postion as leader.

Sensei crossed his arms behind his back. “I am afraid you will have to step down from this mission, Hunter.”

“What?”

“Just do what your told, Hunter.” Cam said smirking. “If my father wants you to stand down, then you should do so without any explanation.”

“I’m so happy you feel that way, Cameron, because you have to stand down as well.”

Cam face fell. “ What! But Dad-”

“You know when Sensei tells you to stand down, Cam, you should do so without any explanation.” Hunter shot back with a grin.

Sensei continued.

“Dustin, you’re stepping down from this mission also.” He looked to Tori his beady eye’s holding pride for the girl whom had grown to be like a daughter to him. “Tori, this mission is for you.”

Tori looked at him surprised. “Sensei, don’t you think I will need just a little help looking for Shane? I mean, I am honored, but even I can’t do this alone.”

“You won’t be alone. Female rangers across the state has recruited you to join them in the search for all missing red rangers of earth.” Sensei explained further. “And I think you should indeed join them, Tori. You have learned so much from me at the Wind Ninja Academy, now it is time for you to seek even greater knowledge from the female rangers before you.”

Tori smiled.

“Man, all female rangers?” Dustin shook his head. “Hey sensei, does it really just have to be all girls? I mean, I could just go along to make sure Tori gets there safely.”

“You mean to see the other female rangers, so you can work your ‘Bronze God’ act on them.” Tori joked.

“That’s cold, Tor.”

“Tori can make it there perfectly well on her own. A plane ticket and transportation from the airport has already been scheduled for you when you arrive.” Sensei informed.

“Well, I guess I should get packing.”


Blue Harbor Bay Airport


“You take care Tori and don’t forget about us up there.” Hunter said hugging her.
“I will, Hunter. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah, and remember to take lot’s of pictures,” Dustin handed her a camera and gave her a hug. He bit his lip thinking as he rubbed his fingers through his messy dark brown hair. “Once you find Shane, so then I won’t feel too guilty.”

“Um thanks, Dustin. This will be...useful.” Tori looked at the camera and laughed.

Dustin winked.

“And remember; don’t let us down. Just because your going on some ‘special mission’ does not mean you can lack off.” Cam spoke in his normal sarcastic tone.

“I’ll miss you, too, Cam. Thanks.”

Sensei poked his head out from the backpack over Cam’s shoulder. Tori could swear she saw his chubby guinea pig cheeks puff out to smile.

“You will do a wonderful job. I am already proud of you and will be when you return. If you shall need any guidance seek out a ranger named Billy. He knows a lot of the rangers that has served and will help you when you seek guidance.”

“Thanks for everything, Sensei. I’ll miss you” Tori gave a slight bow of her head in respect of her teacher.

“And, I, you Tori.” Sensei bowed. Finally, it was Blake’s turn. They both stood there for a moment, stealing glances at one another, hoping the other would speak first. Blake broke the silence.

“You know we never had our date...” He wondered off shyly.

Tori blushed. “It was a date?”

The navy rangers eyes grew wider. “Um...I thought it was...I was hoping it would be...” He grinned and melted Tori’s heart in the process. “Maybe we can have a real one when you get back?”

“I’d like that very much.” She smiled.

“Great.”

“Great.”

“Flight 11B now boarding. Flight 11B.”

“That’s my flight.”

Blake looked down sadly. “Yeah. I guess, you better get going.”

“Yeah.”

She looked at him with something different in her eyes. Something Blake had wanted to see ever since he had laid eye’s on this blonde beauty.

She wants me to kiss her good bye, He thought excitedly.

He boldly took her hand and gazed into her eyes then he leaned forward and pressed his lip’s against hers. It was the greatest thing either of them had ever felt. All the fire works and everything going off in their heads...including the guy’s laughter.

“Alright, Blake-man!” Dustin cheered, clapping.

“That’s my brother.” Hunter joined in.

“You know not all people appreciate this sort of thing, especially in a public place.” Cam whined, though he too held a smile upon his two friends finally revealing their feeling for one another. “And is it just me or have you forgotten that Shane is still missing.”

Tori and Blake blushed as they pulled away, their bodies still close and hands still holding the others.

“I should get going before I miss my flight.” Tori spoke softly, still dazed from the kiss.

“Yeah.” Blake said, a bit dazed him self. “Come back to me, Tori.”

His words caught Tori off guard, she looked into those brown eyes of his and saw worry. He really was afraid of losing her. Tori leaned back in and kissed him softly against the lips.

“You could never lose me.” She whispered as they hugged. “I’ll come back to you.”

She looked at everyone one more time and turned to board her plane, but before she did, Tori heard the words Blake whispered gently in the air.

I love you, too, Blake.

[Kimberflames]

Silver Guardians hand quarters.
9:45 pm.


Everyone gathered in the conference room, all seated in the black leather chairs around the polished black table; each chatting amongst themselves as they waited for the last two arrivals. Karone had explained that it was a good idea for the female rangers to come together to find the missing leaders of the power rangers’ and spoke with Jen to convince Wes’ father, Mr. Collin’s, to let them stay at the silver guardian facilities until the ship could observe enough power for their trip through space. All the details hadn’t been set, but Trini knew it was best for them to search out in space than from earth, since Andros and Leo seemed to be the last who were abducted.

The original yellow ranger kept to herself worried deeply about Jason. She wished she could have done something to prevent this from happening to him and blamed herself for his disappearance. After all, if she had not asked for dinner and a movie on that day that were to spend time together he would not have been on his way to her house, meaning he wouldn’t have been captured. Trini shook herself out of her thoughts not realizing Aisha was speaking to her.

“I’m sorry Aisha, What were you saying?”

The second morphin’ yellow ranger looked at her predecessor in concern.

“I asked if you were all right?”

Trini mustered a smile.

“Yeah. I just can’t wait for Billy to arrive with Kimberly.” She replied touching one of the things on her mind.

“Me neither. I still can’t believe Billy was able to find her. ” Aisha spoke low between the four of them.

“Did he ever say how he was able to locate her?” Tanya inquired from Aisha’s right.

Kat, the former pink turbo ranger and Kimberly’s successor spoke from Trini’s left. “No. Just that he found her and convinced her to help us.”

“Sure is a lot to take in one day. First the red rangers start disappearing and now Kim’s back.” Trini rubbed her heavy eye lids. She felt as if she would never leave the shadows being a ranger has cast over them all, but she was glad her best friend would be there to help her through it.

Kimberly had seemed to disappear from the world every since she sent the infamous letter to Tommy all those years ago. No phone calls. No letters. No contact once or ever to anyone. When Trini had tried to contact her herself her number was disconnected and her letters were returned in the mail. The last time anyone had seen Kim was when she had announced on broadcast television that she was stepping down from gymnastics after winning all round gold in the Pan Globel games. After that…nothing.

When Zordon’s death had struck the rangers, the pink ranger was still a no show. Billy had returned to earth from Aquitar and searched for her using the command chambers equipment, but for some odd reason the computers couldn’t track her down. Tommy had been affected by her disappearance the most, but like a true leader, he hid his pain from them, though they all knew he was broken inside. It was Jason who came up with the idea to contact Kim’s mother. They had found out that Kimberly kept in contact with her, however only gave them contact numbers and address’ that didn’t exist. The gang was deeply hurt and angered by Kimberly’s lack of communication with the team after everything they had all been through together, but soon only could be deeply worried for their petite friend. Soon, the days had stretched in to weeks; weeks in to months without any word or sighting from the pink ranger and the former rangers were forced only but to live with the fact that Kim just simply didn’t want to be found.

Now it was seven years later and suddenly Billy informs them that he had found her! And not only that but she was coming to aid them on their mission!

“She’ll show.” Trini said, confidently.

She exchanged a look with Aisha, whom had grown to be her best friend in Kimberly’s place. Aisha slightly shrugged her shoulders giving her a grim smile. If there is anything I believe in it’s that, Trini thought with a inaudible sigh.

“What makes you so sure?” Kat wanted to believe her friend but didn’t want to get her hopes up neither.

Trini looked at each one of them.

“Because, its Tommy and Jason. She just has too; I can’t believe otherwise.” They all nodded hoping the same thing, though a small part of them didn’t want to get their hopes up again.

The same silver guardian that had escort them to the conference room had returned with a tall blond girl in tow, Trini’s heart fell as she had risen up hopes that it was Kim. This must be the new girl, she thought.

Trini recalled that there was another female ranger in New Zealand and had found it enlightening how no matter where on earth evil would rise a ranger would rise too. The girl seemed really shy and no more than 17 or 18 years old. She wore blue jeans and a blue t-shirt with white sleeves, her long blond hair falling straight down her back. The girl didn’t have a trace of pink or yellow, which Trini found amusing.

Jen stood up to greet her with a warm smile on her face.

“You must be Tori Hanson.”

“Yup, That would be me.” The girl now identified as Tori, smiled.

“I’m Jen Collins, pink time force ranger.” Jen reached out to shake her hand.

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you.” Tori said politely.

“The pleasure is all mine.” Jen directed her to the other awaiting rangers.

“Everyone this is Tori Hanson, blue wind storm ranger from Blue Bay Harbor.” Jen pointed to an empty seat between Taylor and Cassie. ”You can have a seat over there. We’re still waiting for a ranger.”

“Okay.” Tori wondered over to the empty seat and sat down. She couldn’t believe she was here amongst legends, she heard many stories of the rangers once she found out that they weren’t just an urban legend. Tori had always wondered what they would be like and had a hard time holding her excitement.

“ Hi.” She said as she sat down between the shoulder blond woman whom seemed ready take on an army in her plain yellow button down shirt and black slacks, and the hippy/ retro looking Asian in pink.

“Hey,” The Asian replied. “My name’s Cassie.”

“Tori.” She smiled.

“So are you here alone or-”

“Yeah, it’s just me.” Tori noticed the slight frown on Cassie’s face and quickly explained. “I’m the only female on the team.” That grabbed some other women’s attention.

“Wow must be hard, huh?” A woman with short blond hair and a button down pink dress shirt replied.

“I’m Dana Mitchell, by the way. Pink Light Speed Rescue. This is Kelsey.” She tilted her head to the left to the sporty mixed girl in a yellow and black tank top.

“Hi” Kelsey spoke reaching over the table to shake her hand. The lady in the yellow to Tori’s left hadn’t joined in the whole ‘meet and greet.’

“It’s not hard working with a bunch of guys,” Tori continued. “I mean it has its bad times with all that testosterone, but I’m not complaining.”

The girls laughed at her light humor. Trini smiled from down the table. She reminds me of Kim, she smiled softly meeting Aisha eye’s. Apparently she wasn’t the only one to notice the similarities. The same glow and humor.

“When are we going to begin this thing? I’ve been sitting her for an hour now!” The army woman finally spoke with much anger in her voice that caused Tori to jump.

Jen, who still stood crossed over to the opposite side of table from where Tori, sat and folded her arms over her chess.

“There’s still one more ranger on her way.” She glanced briefly over at Trini’s way. “Let’s wait a few more minutes then whether she’s here or not we’ll get started.” Army woman grumbled something under her breath.

“What was that Taylor?”

The army woman named Taylor spoke up.

.“I said if this person we’re waiting for cared at all about the lives of our friends then she would be here by now!” Trini leaned forward in her seat, her voice low and lathered in brewing hostility.

“She’ll be here! Just shut your mouth and wait!”

Everyone jumped at her in her hushed words. Up until then, Trini hadn’t really spoken to anyone else except Aisha, Kat, and Tanya, but they all knew she was one of the original power rangers and held great respect for her. No one held more respect for her other than Taylor with her, being the first yellow ranger whom she greatly admired. Still the wait made her anxious to get started and warmheartedness grew thin.

Aisha placed a hand on Trini’s shoulder, but Trini shrugged it off.

“To say someone doesn’t care is not your place, Taylor. She’s one of us and its all of our friends, not just yours.” Trini continued staring the other yellow ranger down.

“Trini,” Aisha’s voice pleaded for her to maintain her anger, knowing the subject of Kim was still a sore subject for her still. The other rangers knew nothing of the pink ranger’s disappearance, the manner spoken only between the four veteran rangers only. Trini clenched her fist and swallowed her words down, painfully, in the tightness of her throat.

“I need some air.” Trini said softly to no one. Swiftly, she turned to walk out of the room, but stopped in her tracks as she came face to face with her childhood friend.

Trini couldn’t help, but to gaze at her with disbelief. She thought maybe her eyes may have been playing tricks on her despite everything she had said, but the feeling subsided as the reality of her presence set in. Before Trini even realized it herself, she had thrown her arms around the shorter girl’s neck and hugged her, tears welling in her eyes. She hugged her tightly just as much as fearfully that she would fade away from her arms and go missing again.

Still, among all her emotions, the purest feeling of joy and relief drowned her in glee just to know her best friend was truly there and safe after all these years.

[Kimberflames]

After awhile, the two parted, Trini with tears framing her cheeks and Kim with an even more baffling look of discomfort, when just moments before she wore an emotionless expression on her face. Trini tried to read her, but just taking in her appearance was enough to tell her that she had undergone change.

Kimberly wore a black baby t-shirt that rose a couple of inches above her stomach, her matching jeans hugged her petite lower body. To complete her ensemble, she wore matching boots and had on a ratty black leather jacket that hugged her body perfectly. Her hair was longer now, flowing freely down to the center of her back in her natural curl portraying a more mahogany accent to her once honeycomb hair color; but all in all, though her appearance was different, she was still Kim. Trini eyed the only piece of jewelry hanging on her neck, a single crane. Kimberly’s hand instantly clasped the golden piece upon noticing her gaze resting upon it.

Trini met her eye's, dead and impassive. Something was missing and that void tugged at her heart.

Oh, Kimberly, she thought, suddenly wishing she had tried harder to find her or made better attempts to keep in touch with her before she disappeared. Instead of saying those words, she just hung on to her hand, her eyes never wavering from her friend.

“Hey...” Was all she could say.

Kim glanced away, uncomfortably even after so much time had went by since she had last seen her.

“ Hey...” She replied just as softly.

“ You’re really back.” Kim could hear tears edge in Trini’s voice.

Her fingers lightly squeezed her hand in assurance.

“ Yeah, I’m back.” The former pink ranger replied.

Kimberly had heard about Tommy and Jason going missing along with all the other leading rangers from Billy. The man had tracked her down in L.A. (no doubt about it, he used a computer) and went to her studio pleading with her to come to Silver Bay to help Trini and the other female rangers on their search for them. At first, Kim had thought this was a joke to get her to step back in everyone’s lives, but Billy would never lie to her about something like this. She just wasn’t sure if she was ready to make her grand re-appearance. Still, she was needed, and came to the base outside the city, seeing her best friend about to kick the butt of a blond girl whom must have really pissed her off.

Kimberly shook herself free of her thoughts, taking in the many faces that she didn’t recognize and the few she did. When her eyes met Aisha, the woman instantly jumping into her arms. Kim chuckled softly trying to maintain her own emotions and the swelling that welled up powerfully within her.

Control it. I have to control it, She urged herself, pulling back a bit from Aisha’s arms.

The former yellow ranger blushed, thinking she had hugged her too tightly. Kim offered her a weary smile as no words were spoken between them, just a small dose of needed silence satisfied them both.

Next, it was Kat, whom after a momentshesitation, practically leaped into her arms. Kim was startled by the action, but accepted the greeting, embracing her in return. Pulling away, her predecessor beamed at her with tears caught in her long light eyelashes.

“ We didn’t know what to think...” She had a look of uneasiness. “ I’m really glad you’re here.”

Kim nodded slowly as she glanced around the room. One of the women had cleared her throat to bring attention to herself and to the business that needed to be tended too.

Trini looked at Jen who like the others waited as patiently as they could in the awkward reunion between the first few women rangers.

“ Uh, sorry...” She apologized for the interruption.

She noticed the look of confusion tide over them, but decided to hold the explanation for another time.

Trini looked to Kim.

“You guys, this is Kimberly Hart, the original pink ranger.” She pointed to each person who sat around the perimeter of the long wooden conference table.

“ That’s Cassie and Ashely, the Astro Rangers; Kendrix and Maya, the Galatic Rangers; Dana and Kelsey, Lightspeed Rescue Rangers; Jen and Katie, Time Force; Alyssa and Tayler, Wild Force.” Trini paused looking at Taylor.

The yellow ranger’s arms were crossed tightly over her chest as she refused to look her way. Trini made a promise with herself to apologize to her later.

“And this right here is Tanya, Aisha’s cousin and successor. She carried the yellow Zeo and Turbo powers.” Trini said, continuing the introductions.

Tanya smiled and offered her a small wave of greetings.

“And over there is Karone, she took Kendrix’s place as the pink Galatic Ranger.” Trini continued.

Kimberly looked over at Karone. She had heard the stories about her being brought up to be the princess of evil, Astronama, and knew she was now good again, but she never saw her. She felt a little sympathetic for her, remembering how Tommy and Katherine were also in her position as well, but said nothing.

“And that’s Tori Hanson, blue Wind Storm Ranger.” The blond girl, who appeared to Kimberly as no more than 18 stood and gave her a slight bow, an even bigger smile than Trini’s was on her face as she looked at the true legend in front of her.

“It’s a real true honor to meet you. My Sensei has told me so many stories about you and Trini as Power Rangers. I practically studied you both when I trained in the Wind Ninja Academy. Of course, then I thought you were all myths and comic book heros, but once I learned you guys were real... Anyway, I guess you hear that a lot being legends and all.” Tori blushed as she realized she had been rambling.

“ I mean...I’m just a fan. Of all of you."

Kimberly only stared at her.

“Um, thanks. Tori right?”

The young girl in blue nodded, blushing a deep red. Kim looked at Trini, her expression serious and her eyes harden.

“I was told about a mission to save all ranger leaders. What happened?”

Jen stepped forward.

“These pass few days red rangers have gone missing from earth. There were no traces of who captured them.”

“And we’re sure that it’s not another ‘Code Red’?” Kim inquired as she took a seat at the head of the table with Aisha to her right and Trini to her left. Billy had filled her in on all she didn’t know.

“They wouldn’t leave without informing us.” Dana answered with the others nodding in agreement.

“Where’s Billy? I thought he was bringing you here?” Kat inquired.

“I’m here.” The group turned their attention to the blond man as he stepped into the conference room, a small stack of folders propped under his arm. His sandy blond hair was cut short and his face was roughening with stubble of growing hair that made him look older than he really was. Still, Kat noticed that he was still very well in shape and had made well of himself in his blue jeans and white t-shirt.

“Good afternoon, everyone.” Billy greeted kindly, yet tiredly. “Nice to meet you all. I feel I should apologize we had to be introduced in a occasion such as this.” He nodded his head to Trini, Tanya, Kat, and Aisha, before he immediately got down to business. “I think I might have located a morphing signal.” Everyone slide forward on to the edge of their seats. Billy sat a Cd-Rom disk on the center of the wooden table. Kimberly recognized it as the beach projector he invented back in their high school days, only with more updates. “This is a hologram disk I constructed to give you an idea of where our friends might be located.”

An image of the universe projected in a 3D map that hovered above the disk.

“That’s incredible!” Tori smiled staring into the orb.

Billy expression told otherwise.

“ The red lines you see are our friends morphing energy that is still tapped into their molecular structure.” Nine red lines were plotted on the black background, all ends starting off from earth and trailing out in to the open space where the other ends of the power sources faded. “Once you harness the morpin energy it leaves traces of the power within you, but nothing that can defend you with the ability to morph or any other special abilities.”

“They're out there some where, defenseless.” Taylor spoke, grimly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Where are they now?” Dana asked.

Billy pointed to where the lines cut off. “The signals disappear in the Trion galaxy. There seems to be an interference there blocking the signal to it’s location; the same interference that blocked of all alarms of alien activity. ”

“Is there anyway to break through?” Trini inquired.

“ Nothing I’ve done so far has proved to have been capable to succeed in that task. I’m still working on new strategies. It’s hard to find any leads to go on if all of them have been erased to begin with. Like who we’re dealing with and origins of power they possess from data records.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “However, there is also another reason the signal could be insubstantial.”

“What’s the other reason?”

“Well, um it could also mean that the signals is moderate.” He tried to break it to them gently, but few seemed to still be lost. “ Or dying out would be a better choice of words.”

“If the signal is dying out does that mean...?” Billy nodded and Ashely’s hand shot up to her mouth. Tears started to rim Maya’s eyelids.

Trini fist clenched at her sides and absently looked at Kimberly, who sat there with a stoic expression on her face. Her eye’s were hard and distant. Trini mind couldn’t help but wonder if this was really Kimberly and what happened to her over the seven long years. Jen’s firm and directive voice snipped her back to the issue at hand.

“ We have to find them.” Jen was saying.

“I understand the situation here, but I am afraid that you can not just head off into space blind-sided.” Billy said.

“What do you mean blind sided? We’ll just use this map of yours to help us locate the guys, kick whoever butt who kidnapped them and return back to earth.” Taylor said as if the situation were not all that complicated. “ I mean, that is what we all traveled here for in the first place.”

“ Affirmative, but I fear that we are in a more difficult condition than what meets the eye.” He pulled out a little hand held remote and pointed it to the disk. The image magnified the universe up to the body of galaxies within a few miles from where the red traces of morphin energy disappeared. The change of details was hard to catch at first, but the new image uncovered light blue waves barricading the area in which the red lines faded from sight. “What you see here is responsible for the broken signal. If we break through that barrier we would hopefully receive the rest of it.”

“And if we can’t?” Tanya questioned.

“Then who knows what lies on the other side,” Cassie answered and Billy nodded to confirm.

Kendrix studied the map more theoretically as everyone else sat in silence.

“The Astro ship was kept in perfect condition after the ‘code red’ mission couldn’t we take the ship to a near by galaxy and try to tear through the barricade somehow?”

Billy had considered that option himself.

“ Yes, but that energy field is unlike anything I have ever seen before. If you are able to break through, it will seal right back up after you enter, most likely cut off the proper frequency waves in order for your morphers to operate properly.”

“Looks like a risk we might have to take.” Katie said on the edge of her seat. “ We can’t just leave the guys there to die.”

Jen placed a hand on top of Katie’s to clam her down.

“ We won’t, Katie.” She looked at Trini for guidance.

“What can we do, Billy?” Trini inquired looking up at former blue ranger.

Billy inhaled a deep breath.

“ The only option I can think of that would be best is Kendrix’s proposal. If you all can get close enough to the force field and rip an opening you should have a clear path to where the guys are located.”

“Without any powers?” Tori wanted to be clear on that part of the plan. The others already had more experience with this type of situation, but she was still new at this.

“I’m afraid so.”

“What about this new adversary? We still know nothing about who he is?” Ashely reminded everyone.

“I think I know where we could get some information on who our enemy is.” Everyone turned to Karone as she got up and headed to the projection.

“Planet Oynx.” she informed.

“Planet Oynx?” Kendrix questioned, repeating the previous statement made by Kendrixs' successor.

“The planet where I found your quesar saber after...”

Karone trailed off after seeing Cassie lower her head in guilt. Maya had told Karone what had happened to Kendrix and Andros had told her how guilty Cassie still felt even after Kendrix had forgiven her. Kendrix placed her hand over Cassie’s squeezing it affectionately with a forgiving smile. Cassie returned it. The others who did not know of the past events only looked on in wonder.

“Carry on, Karone.” Trini insisted sensing what ever it was that had caused the former ranger to stop had been forgiven and long forgotten.

“Right.” She continued. “Planet Oynx is basically a deserted area, all except for this old saloon. Monsters who have spent life times traveling the universe go there quite often. They should also know of this new villain in our part of the galaxy.”

“Well, if thats our lead, I say we do it.” Taylor said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“All we need now is a ship.” Tanya said.

“I got that covered.” Karone assured. “The Astro Mega Ship is an a secure location. A hanger out in the desert at a NASADA base; fully operating and ready to go.”

Billy pulled a disk from the back pocket of his jeans and handed it to Karone. “ This is a copy of my research that should help you guys along the way. If you get into any affliction, contact me via com and I’ll issue another team to assist you right a way.” The original blue ranger met Kimberly’s eye’s, lost and distant; only he was the one who knew what she had endured. Kim stood up and walked out of the conference room, leaving the others staring after her in confusion.

Trini looked up at Billy, frowning in bewilderment of her friend.

“What was that about?” Billy shrugged his shoulders as if he knew nothing was going on.

“I have no idea.” His lie convinced the others at the table, but Trini saw through him like glass.

Billy cleared his throat dismissing the yellow rangers pensive gaze.

“It’s a couple of hours till sun down, I believe that is the best time for your departure.”

“Then it’s settled; we leave here at sun down. Everyone get all you need and meet back here at six. ” Jen announced. Everyone stood to leave as the meeting came to a close and separated in the halls, quietly talking amongst themselves, about what was to come.

Trini, Aisha, Kat, and Tanya hung back along with Billy. Billy knew they were going to question him about where, how, and when he got a hold to Kimberly after the many years they had been searching for her and expected the worst.

“Alright Billy, what’s going on with Kimberly?” Trini immediately questioned, her arms caged over her chest and her twin dark eye’s narrowed saying, ‘tell me the truth cause I know you know'. The blue ranger knew that Kim should be the one to give the female rangers the full report on where she had been for the past few years, so he made sure he choose his words carefully.

“ Look, I want you all to understand that Kim is not the same person we all remember her as-” Tanya, although knowing Kim from what Aisha, Kat, and Adam told her of the original pink ranger frowned in concern for her. She may not have got to know Kim as well as the others, but being rangers connected them far more than anything else.

“What do you mean? Do you know what happened to her after all these years?” Aisha inquired. “You found her, Billy.”

“ The only information I can give you is that, I located her just a few miles outside of Los Angeles in a studio apartment. She’s been living there for the past couple of months.” Billy informed the four women whose eyes all stared at him in shock.

“She’s been in L.A.?” Trini questioned, her voice snagging on the words as if the location sounded too simple for her to believe.

“Why didn’t she contact us?” Kat inquired.

Billy raised his hand to ease the questions and continued.

“ Look, I know you all have questions, that you have the right to have answered, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait and allow her to want to tell you what’s been going on.” The genius could see the disappointment on their faces but none of them spoke.

“Just answer one question Billy.” Aisha began. “Is she okay?”

Billy replaced his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “ I wish I had an answer to that.”

[Angelfox]

poor Kim

[a16m26]

Since Cassie And Ashley Are Useing The Space Powers Witch Means That Tanya And Kat Are Useing Turbo So Since Aiesha And Karone Have No Powers Are They Going To Take Zeos Place?

[Kimberflames]

Since Cassie And Ashley Are Useing The Space Powers Witch Means That Tanya And Kat Are Useing Turbo So Since Aiesha And Karone Have No Powers Are They Going To Take Zeos Place?

Thats how i planned it.

[a16m26]

Cool

[Kimberflames]

The bolt struck him head on; every bit of his body was exploding with pain. He felt his nerves strain and burn till the point he felt like he would once again pass out from the pain. He gritted his teeth, his nails burying in to his palms till bloody half moons were imprinted deep within his flesh. His head reared back, the veins in his neck sprouted under his skin. The lightning sank back, pulling with its heat and bleeding light that caused his pupil to boil on its own. His head fell forward, gravity tiding over his will to even open his eyes. His body could only surrender to his restraints as he went paralyze. , his ears popped and muffled the cries...his own cries.

Every part of his body hummed, screamed, threatened to kill his sanity.

The sound of her heels clicked, sending spikes through his pulsating skull, as she came forward. The midnight blue aura coated her figure in electrical currents that reflected off the walls and burst in the shadows till she was only a breath away from him.

“Why is it so hard to break you?" She cooed. "Why do you try to be strong, when the truth is you are weak? Why fight me?” She ran a hand slowly up his bare muscled chess, a seductive purr coming from her throat and a slow smile forming on her lips.

“You’ve always been my favorite. I admire everything about you, including this body of yours.” She dragged her perfectly painted red nails down his skin creating thin blood trails. He grunted in pain. “But don't think for a second I wouldn't peel this tight skin from your muscles like an orange. Now tell me where is my crystal?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said truthfully, blood leaking down the corners of his mouth. Her slender figure pushed up his head and her unnatural red eye’s bored into his.

“If there is one thing I hate, its being lied to.” Blue streaks ran up and down her arm and her hand began to heat up. “I know you have that crystal. Zordon was no fool; if it’s anywhere it’s with one of you.”

“Listen. I don’t know what the hell your talking about! Now just let us go!” He demanded trying to launch his body forward.

A dark gloved hand from behind him pulled him to a haul and a low growl sounded near his ear. The red-eyed woman smiled in amusement.

“Now, now my pet.” She spoke gently to her general behind him. “You will have your turn.” She looked him over. “Take him back to the chamber.” She smiled and turned away from them both her heels clicked rhythmically.

Her general circled him, its red eye’s now burning beacons. “You survived today, red ranger, but it’s only a matter of time.” He released him from his straits and he stumbled forward into his arms, no fight left within him. “Take him to the prisoners chamber.”

Two of his footmen stepped forward like white armored phantoms. Each grabbed an arm and dragged his lower body across the floor. The light around him began to dim as the darkness began to grow and pull him in.

*************************************************************************** *****************************************************
An hour later everyone had piled their stuff into hummers supplied to them by the Silver Guardians headquarters. Billy stood along side Trini to see their departure.

“You’ll need this.” He said, handing her the hologram disk. "Just incase it might come in handy."

“ Thanks Billy.” Trini reached up and hugged her childhood friend.

“ Yeah, for everything.” Tanya agreed, hugging him in turn.

Billy smiled sheepishly, before shaking his head. “ I hate that you guys have to do this, but I know it has to be done.” He stuffed his empty hand into his pants pocket. “ While you all are your mission, the other rangers and I will be preparing here just in case.”

“ You think earth is in danger?” Kat inquired, her eyebrows arched in concern.

“ Isn’t it always?” Tanya pointed out, softly.

“ It’s best we stay precautious. This new nemesis we’re facing apparently is strong enough to get the red rangers and judging from our past experiences...” Billy sighed, glancing down at his tennis shoes.

“ It’s better safe than sorry.” Trini said opening the passenger side door to the hummer they were using as transport to the ship. She looked around. “ Where’s Kimberly?”

Aisha shrugged her shoulders. “ I was just wondering the same thing for myself. I thought she might want to ride with us.” The sound of a motor bellowed as a petite figure on a black and red motorcycle rode by the parked hummer.

Kimberly stopped in front of the line of hummer vehicles and pulled off her matching black helmet highlighted with a ruby red tribal bird design on the back. The sun’s bright glimmer beamed off the smooth, cleaned texture of the helmet and reflected on her leather jacket. Glancing over her shoulder she saw some of the stairs she got from the other former rangers, but she avoided them, putting her interest on the gauges of her bike and her reflection staring back at her through the glass.

“ Were you going to depart without saying farewell?” She heard his shoes against the pavement, before she heard his voice.

Kim raised her eyes to the familiar blue one’s that stared back her. They were full of words that she knew he wouldn’t say and shined even more with fear and melancholy.

“ I wouldn’t leave this planet without a goodbye from you, Billy.”

“ You did it once.” He murmured in a soft whisper.

“ So did you.” Kim met his eyes once again, but instead of speaking, he merely nodded. Kim sighed as she adjusted her legs as she straddled the bike between her thighs. “ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that...”

“ Neither did I.” Billy smiled softly at his childhood friend, now a woman before him, and more special than anyone could possibly know. “ Everyone really missed you.”

Kim smiled, the feeling still strange to her as it formed on her face.

“ I really missed them, too.” She looked at one of her rear view mirror, reflected to the hummer were Trini and the others stood along with the other former female rangers she was introduced to as Jen and Karone. “ What did you tell them?”

“ I told them that when the time came, you would tell them what happened to you. Nothing more. “ Kimberly nodded. Guilt and content soured her mind at her indecisiveness on which she should surrender to without contemplating the regrets. Still she said, “ Thank you.”

“ You will tell them, won’t you?”

“ Eventually. Right now I can’t handle anymore; I couldn’t handle it when you found me.” Her hands clasped on to the frame of her helmet. “ But yeah, when the time comes, they’ll know.”

Billy reached and grasped Kim’s hand within his bringing her to look at him.

“ They're still your friends, Kim. You, Trini, and I grew up with each other. We were always close, always there for each other. I may not be going on this mission with you, but Trini is and she needs to know what happened if anyone.”

Kim could only nod, knowing he was right and for now that had to be good enough for him. Whatever was said now depended on rather Kim was ready to speak the truth or not to the others. A voice cleared and both the former rangers turned to see Jen standing near.

“ We’re about to make our departure to the ship.”

Kim nodded.

“ I know the way.” Jen turned to make her way to the first hummer in line. Car doors were closed and engines roared in the still city air around them.

“ This is it.” Kim said looking at Billy. The blue ranger made the first move to embrace her.

“ May the power protect you,” Billy whispered in Kim’s ear.

“ And you too, Billy.” She said softly back. She placed her helmet back on her head. Balancing the bike between her legs, she used the heel of her boot to raise the kickstand of the motorcycle and started the engine.

The hummers pulled away from the Silver Guardians Headquarters, Kim riding along side the lead hummer. Billy waved and watched them until they could no longer be seen on the street.

Gazing up, the blue sky hung clear above his head, not a single cloud reached to block the sunlight. On any other day it would be a perfect day, but that was only a mask. Billy pulled tight his fist at his side. Something was coming. It had already came, and he, all the rangers needed to be ready.

Determined, Billy made his way to his truck. There was much work to be done.

******************************
Somewhere outside Angel Grove
*******************************

Over all, the ride took two and a half hours, before the lone hanger was spotted in the isolated area of the desert plains. The air was dry and thick with a higher degree of heat than in the city. The sun burned over the wide desert lands, causing the horizon to ripple as if the sky were tiding off the golden brown of the plains.

“ That’s it,” Karone voice poured from the two radio systems attached with each hummer. Up until then the ride had been silent as everyone was drowned in they’re own individual thoughts. “ We’ll take the lead to open the hanger doors.”

Upon given the information, Tanya filed in behind the hummer Karone traveled in, while the rest followed suit behind them and all four hummers drove into the darkness of the ship hanger with the lone motorcycle riding along side. Karone closed the hanger doors with a device, sealing everyone inside the large interior of the aircraft hanger.

The screaming of the engines died and everyone climbed out of the car as the hanger gate hummed to a close after them, leaving them in pitch dark.

“Great now what?” Tayler muttered under her breath.

Lights switched on, erupting from all around, until they all laid eyes on the magnificent space ship before them.

The ship was huge, its body taking up most of the hanger above them. The space craft looked harmless on it’s part, carefully crafted by a peaceful human race, but still lethal and powerful enough against enemies.

“Ladies, let me introduce you to the new and much improved Astro Mega Ship, Mark 2. The fastest space craft in the galaxy!” Karone spoke as the rest could only marvel at the ship.

“Wow! This is nothing near the first one. “ Ashely observed, being one of space rangers in her day of duty.

“I’ll say,” Cassie agreed.

Kimberly got off her bike, pulling her helmet from over her head. She gazed up at the titan of a ship that towered before her, the light praising its glory. Her eye’s never wavered from the ship as she studied its intense beauty.

“Andros, Zhane and I have spent years putting new manufactures to upgrade it from ever small detail from what the astro ship used to be. With this we should reach Oynx within two days.” The former princess of evil informed.

“Excellent.” Was all Kendrix could say.

“Everyone can gather your gear and follow me.”

The hummers were unloaded and the group followed Karone into the opening of the mage ship to the main dock. Inside they were welcomed to the spacious and complex area of the command deck. The instruments glowed with life, the ship breathing a low hum as the computers sparked with operations assigned to them. On the far left and right of the ship were the side consoles with the occasional chair located in front of computer monitors. And in the middle facing a larger monitor screen were to more rows of consoles with a chair or two a lined down the isle.

Everything was impressive.

Tori sat her bag at her feet, still gasping in awe of everything. “ This is awesome!” She said softly, admiring the panel leveled near her hip. Katie smiled at the younger girl as she soaked everything in.

“ Careful, rookie, don’t want to accidentally blow us up or something.” She teased lightly, winking at her.

Tori smiled, but still took a few cautious steps away from the equipment in case. She was nervous as it was already with the knowledge that she was the new comer in all this and the last thing she wanted to do was screw up in front of her processors.

The stunning surroundings around her were nothing she had ever seen before, but as soon as she thought it couldn’t get anymore surreal, an odd presence entered the room.

Before this Tori had already began feel as if she were dubbed in to the movie 'Lost In Space', but as the robot wobbled in the room, she wondered if maybe she were trapped in some bizarre reality where she was Penny and the android had come to warn her of coming danger.

And if that’s the case, when will Matt LeBlanc make an appearance? Tori thought, grinning.

“Alpha!” Ashley and Cassie said along with Kat and Tanya. Those whom knew of the famous line of Alpha’s smiled in greetings to the one of the many, even Kimberly as she remembered her first years as a ranger and the inquiring robot, who was so eager to learn the human nature.

“Welcome rangers, it is a pleasure to have you rangers aboard.” His voice sounded as one of a ten year old, but the android held far more knowledge than anyone who could live ten life times. " I am Alpha 10."

“You know one of these days we have got to tag these guys.” Cassie murmured to Maya, who giggled.

“What is it?” Tayler inquired, frowning at it as if it were a disease. Along with her, her fellow wild force ranger, the time force rangers, light speed rangers, and the single wind ninja ranger seemed to be asking the same thing, having to be the only one’s whom never worked with any of the Alpha robots before.

“The Alpha’s have been friends of the ranger’s, since Kim and I were on duty. Of course back then we had Alpha 5.” Trini grinned winking at Kim.

Only Kim wasn't playing her any mind.

Trini looked at the pink ranger more intensely, observing the way her body propped against a far console in solitude. Kim's eye's slipped closed, inhale and exhaling in a way that Trini knew better than anyone was meditative. Something changed in her face, it was slight to the naked eye, but growing up Trini not only trained in martial arts physically, but intellectually as well. Her grandfather always taught her to study her opponent, sought out their thoughts and developed awareness. If the opponent was thinking, they were not concentrated on the present moment leaving them vulnerable for attack.

Kimberly was vulnerable.

It was a glimmer across her face that changed so shiftily, Trini questioned if she ever really saw it at all. One thing Trini knew just by Kimberly not engaging in something social when she was queen of socializing was enough to state that this wasn't the same Kimberly from high school.

Struggling on what she should do with that information, Trini knew she had opened herself to vulnerability of having her emotions exposed to everyone else, but contemplating the matter of the loner ranger.

What happened to you? Trini kept pondering, but for now Trini decided to get to know her new teammates.

“... Alpha is also the way I was able to locate all your current locations too. She was programmed to know all about the rangers past history just like every Alpha robot ever created.” Karone was saying.

Alpha walked over to Tayler.

“Tayler Earheart, yellow wild force ranger for a year and eleven months.” Tayler nodded her head in approval. Alyssa noticed how Tayler straighten up, rising her chin pleased of herself if not the announcement.

All the wild force rangers knew that Tayler took great pride being the most experienced ranger in their team. Sometimes to much pride. Tayler did, after all, create a rulebook to keep them all organized to her assumptions on what a ranger should be and was considered a legend by younger air force pilots in the military.

“If Dustin were here he would be, so soaked to see this.” The rookie exclaimed lowering herself to get a better look at Alpha 10. “Hi!”

“Hello, Tori!” Alpha said in chipper tone, her arms waved at his sides.

“You know me?”

“When the Ninja storm rangers surfaced, I took great liberty to monitor your progress.” Alpha informed the blue ninja storm ranger. Tori smirked and stood back up.

“Monitor?”

“Alpha doesn’t monitor anything that doesn’t need to be. Andros just figured after the ‘code red’ mission that it would be a good idea to keep track of all the rangers, just incase of another emergency.” Karone said.

“Does that mean Alpha might have caught the disappearances of the red rangers?” Dana inquired.

Karone shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Somehow our systems were jammed during their capture. We didn’t know they were gone until they were out of this galaxies system.”

“Well, that’s just great.” Kelsey grumbled from between Katie and Jen.

“We need to get going. Each second we waste standing around could mean the very lives of our friends.” Kimberly spoke up bring all to her attention. Trini caught the edge in her voice, but Karone only nodded and took position behind the flight controls.

The group all saw through a view screen the light the ship sent off in the dark hanger as the mage ship hovered above the ground. Tori looked back at Karone with a frown on her face.

“Uh, we’re in a hanger...”

Sunlight broke through into the dark hanger as the roof cut in two halves, pulling away from one another for the ship to fly out. Tori just stared at the screen, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Oh.”

The astro mega ship ascended smoothly into the air, the ground beneath them shrinking till the point all they saw was the radiating light of the earths atmosphere and the billions of burning stars around them. Karone plugged in the coordinates in to the computer and the ship turned starboard. Before Tori knew it, the stars were blurring out of focus on either side of them.

*************************************************************************** *****************************************************

As time wore on, the nighttime hour had already fallen upon earth, but by then they were thousands of miles away from the bright blue planet. Tori couldn’t sleep one wink. She spent the entire time on the ship exploring the many rooms within it and getting to know the other girl’s; at least those who were willing to converse. Most of the others were stationed in the gym retraining them selves for whatever may come; others took coffee breaks in the lunchroom. Tori had to admit; Alyssa made the most delicious iced mocha’s and grilled chicken sandwiches that just melted in your mouth upon your first bite.

"I cook when I have a lot on my mind sometimes." Alyssa had said, already launching herself to tidy up the kitchen wear she had used to prepare the meals.

After retracing her steps back to her quarters, she shared along with Kelsey and Dana; Tori made a detour back to the gym to get some practice in. Everyone had already made a silent decision to busy themselves to stop the anxiety from consuming themselves, which was why no was asleep at the late hour it was. Tori stepped in to the gym, instantly overwhelmed with the amazing activity going on. She had to admit she was a bit intimidated by the veteran rangers fighting skills as she stepped onto the blue mats that padded the wide floors. Tayler and Katie seemed to draw attention of some with their kick-boxing techniques and not to mention Katie's unbelievable strength as she more than once picked up Tayler and lightly tossed her across the floor unharmed; an action that fueled Tayler to attack harder. There was no defeat either woman was ready to admit to. In the middle of the room, Trini lead others in meditation and slow and intense kung fu stimulations.

Tori considered joining them when she spotted Kimberly doing some difficult scratches in a corner away from everyone else. The movements were so fluent and graceful no one other a high expertise in callisthenic’s could mimic her skill. Tori couldn't explain the instant pull to the pink ranger, something just captured her interest beyond the art of the pink rangers abilities she demonstrated, but instead of questioning it, she continued coming forward with a beaming smile on her face in hopes to build a friendship with her.

“Hi, remember me? The person who went all fanatic on you?” She said in light humor. Kim didn’t respond. Tori decided to just ask. “Um, is it okay if I work out with you?”

Kim looked up from her position on the mat and slowly risen to stand up to her petite height.

“You should ask one of the others. I was just on my way out.” She grabbed a medium sized towel that was at her side.

“Well, okay. Maybe next...” Kim was already heading out the gym, before she could finish. “Time.” Tori said the last part softly as she watched her go. She frowned watching the ranger disappear out the door.

" I guess I should have respected her space." She said quietly to herself, her mind already dismissing the confrontation.

Tori looked around at the others whom were trading off in sparring. Jen and Trini were now on the center floor attracting everyone one’s attention. Trini with her kung fu skills and Jen with her kickboxing and karate techniques, both fighters with inclusive ranger experience on top of that. They both seemed equally in match, but the contrast between the two was undeniable.

Trini was more patient in her luring Jen in rather than to take the offense, and when she saw even the smallest sighs of Jen lacking defense, she struck with such ferocity and power in just a single blow. With efficient and deceptive footwork, joint locks, throwing techniques, Trini was unstoppable, but even she had her struggles with Jen.

Unlike Trini, Jen was unbelievably quick on her feet, attacking with not only fierce, but with whooping skill with long distance attacks of kicks and punches that could break a melon in half just by catching the force of the air around the blows. The time force ranger definitely wasn't shy about attacking head on and unleashing everything without once holding back.

Tori looked on beyond out astonish by the two.

“Their amazing, huh?” Kendrix spoke softly to her afraid of throwing either one of the two fighters concentration.

“Much more than that.” Tori agreed, tearing her eyes away to greet the blonds.

“Tori, right? I’m Kendrix.”

“Yeah, I remember; it’s great to meet you. Alpha gave me a crash course on the ranger history we have on board the ship’s computer. You’re the pink galactic ranger, right?”

“Reporting for duty.” Kendrix said, jokingly. “You must be feeling lost with everything that’s been happening, so fast.”

The blue ninja storm ranger had to agree with that. Within the last 12 hours, Shane had gone missing, she had been called to an all-female-ranger conference meeting, learned that a new threat had kidnapped every past and current red ranger, and gone on a expedition out through space. And on top of all that, Blake had kissed her! Tori knew there would be much more ahead of her.

“I can absolutely agree with that, that’s for sure.” She finally answered.

“What’s your friend’s name? Your leader.”

“ He’s name is Shane. He’s the red ninja ranger, but I guess, none of us really assumed he was the leader of the team, you know? We were just a team. Just all friends.”

Kendrix smiled in an understanding only those whom were rangers could ever have.

“ Friends with the weight of the world on your shoulders.” The two watched as Trini gained the momentum of the fight by spinning around the pink time force ranger and crouching low to let loose as spinning back kick on her legs. The move was so quick and unpredictable; it caused some to gasp in surprise. Jen was sent on her back panting in exhaustion unable to go on anymore.

All those present to see the event clapped at a match well done. Trini helped, the smiling, but very enervated Jen up to her feet.

“ You got me.” Jen gulped at the air as she leaned forward to brace her hips in between her hands. Her body was bronze as if over heated and slick with sweat raining over her sports bra and sweats.

"You were as exhausted as I was, either of us could have had the other.” Trini always being the modest one smiled patting the future born ranger on her back gently. The fact that Trini wasn't the less bit drowned in her own perspire didn't go unnoticed by anyone. She looked as though she had just stepped out from a light walk around the park than recovering from an intense sparring match.

Jen could only gasp in amazement of her. The original rangers were not just viewed as legends for nothing, Trini very much stated that in bold, neon lettering for everyone to read.

A challenge against Kimberly must be something incredible to witness or endure as well, Jen thought growing thirsty for knowledge as well as physically drained and craving something cold to tame her burning body heat. The air was thick and dry on her tongue.

“You both can say whatever you want too. All I know is that you wont find me being next in line to take you two on.” Kelsey said, handing the two towels to whip the beads of sweat from their faces.

“Same for me too.” Ashley grinned coming closer to the three. “But we all need to train and prepare ourselves none the less. We have a mission.”

The words the yellow astro ranger said burned heavily in their minds, flooding them with a whole new form of adrenaline to keep them going for countless hours of labor. And that just what they did till fatigue drained them and sent them crawling to their rooms.

That night even thoughts were too frail from exhaustion to form, but the weight of what lied ahead sank their hearts with tears and determination.

[Kimberflames]

Amora Journal

Sapbeth Year (Eltarian years, before the war)

Recorded by the white wizard

Translated by Alpha 5

All my life I knew this time would come...

My life was long lived, I know, but these people I have had the liberty to call my friends, do not deserve the affliction that lies a head. These people of different worlds with the same morals have no idea what is to come.

At this very moment, I feel him rising. The evil that wants the Crystal of Amora for his own malicious purposes is awakening and plotting for rebellion. This is a burden I carry. This crystal, that was gifted to me when I was a small child; tells me stories...prophecies. I am compelled to its deeds, because they keep a virtue to many lives. I am a vessel in ways no one will ever be able to understand, but it is something that must be done. I hold no regrets for bearing this marvelous power. Even if making such sacrifices will mean my life, I know it is my destiny that must be fulfilled.

That is inevitable.

I have learned each day is cherishing every beautiful supplement a day can bring, but what I will miss most of living is looking up at the three moons webbed in clutters of stars. So much mystery and life contained within each one, even I could never explore.

Time and time again, I find myself looking up to those stars, listening to the distant whispers of their wisdom, as I would do every other fabric of life around me. It is the only time I allow myself to not be accompanied by anyone other than these dazzling lights, but fate bends us down many paths.

This one child meets with me in silence each night, blanketed in eminence I have, yet, to see in anyone more fitting. Everything about him burns my vision, my heart and soul in a way that I wonder if this could be what a parent would feel for his newborn. It's unexplainable.

He's first sign to the prophecy.

The crystal, i bear, told me his destiny. The reason I welcome him so naturally. This boy was to birth the idea of something profound, tranquilizing, an essence of great power and morality of heart that would one day rise to end evils reign.

All I will leave behind continues with him.

My death will be anything other than pleasant, but let it come; death is only the begining. With this lad, whom calls himself, Zordon Liyuon Klan of Eltar, that there will be hope when I am gone.

*************************************************************************** ****************************************************

“Hey lady, are you okay?” The little girl walked over to her with her ball in hand and her baby doll face scrunched into a curious yet worried expression.

She tilted against the nearest wall, dazed and lost. What was happening to her?

Fast forward

A bright light exploded.

Fast Forward

The girl's ball dropped and both their screams filled the air.

Fast forward.

The girl lied unmoving on the ground. No not the girl, but Tommy.

“No!” She screamed.

Then there was nothing...

Kimberly shot up from her bed, soaked in sweat, trying to swallow down the thicken air in to her lungs. Her whole body burned, ached, quivered. Her thoughts numbed her senses and heighten her emotions to where she nearly became frantic with fear and bewilderment.

Where am I?

Her brain wrecked at the odd surroundings. A room... walls... beds? These things were so strange to her now.

Unnatural.

Then suddenly the images resurface.

The little girl with the ball.

Tommy.

Kim looked around desperately to find... nothing. It was just a dream. Only a dream, she thought, still shaking within the thin gray sheets of her bunk. Her stomach clenched in a way that made her mouth water with a sour taste.

She needed to get out. Needed air before she heaved, but the ship could deliver her no remedy for these things she needed.

Kim glanced around, the silence echoing in a way that begun to make her sore in torment. No one else was awake around her, Trini slept silently right across the way from her, and Aisha just the same on the top bunk they shared.

As stealthy as she knew to move, she placed her feet on the carpet, tossing back the damp and disarrayed covers off her body with trembling hands. The floor seemed to rush up at her in a violent attempt to attack her. Kim caught her head into her hands. The veins within her head pulsated against her fingers through burning, slick skin.

Escape. Kim became cogitate on the idea till her brain urged her body to take action. She didn’t bother to change her cloths, a cotton white tank and grey shorts would do her just fine for now.

The soft hiss of the door was the only sound that echoed through the hall of the dormitory floor of the ship, beyond that on a separate floor, the ships engines were muted along the corridor. That didn’t stop Kim from picking out its steady buzz in the air. She felt it just as easily.

Everything was intensified.

She hurried to the elevator the ship contained and ascended to the main level of the mega ship. Everyone was asleep, so nothing stopped her from heading straight towards the gym. Straight to her release and desire to run the images from her mind.

*************************************************************************** *******************************************************


His eyes swam into focus, the darkness causing his eyes to strain in its sockets. His body sagged in its upright position, still suffering from its continuous dull pains from his recent torture. The cold wall burned his back and the sharp, jagged rings around his wrists cuffed bit in to the sensitive skin of wrist where blood spouted in pin points beneath his palms. A deep breath alone was enough to make him want to heave again and spill whatever food was left in his stomach, but thankfully, he just started coughing.

“Hey, you okay?” It was Jason. He was chained next to him in no better condition as the rest of them.

“I’m not dead,” Tommy’s mouth tasted like an ashtray, but he managed to speak. "As of yet anyway."

“Hang in there, bro.” Jason struggled in his cuffs. Their raised arms on either side of their heads made it impossible for either one of them to look at the other nor did the rigid restraints that gave little to no slack for their bodies to move.

“I don’t think trying to break metal with your bare wrists is going to help us.” Eric commented, his head relaxed against his bare arm. The thought of raising it making his stomach turn in knots. "Not unless you want to sport a new fashion of bleeding wrists."

" We can't give up, so if you have a better idea..." Jason inquired, becoming more bothered as the rest of them of being immobile.

"Be my guest." The quantum ranger replied, nonchalant.

Jason flexed his wrist, the expansion doing nothing but causing the cuffs to cut in to his skin a bit deeper. The ability to not do anything was driving him mad, but the attempt to do anything while restrained was obviously pointless. Jason signed, the sudden flee of what little energy he had leaving him worn out.

“My head is killing me." TJ announced when no one else had spoken. "Anymore electro shocks and it’ll explode.”

“ We got to get out of here,” Andros said.

“Does anyone have a clue to where we are?” Shane inquired them again, hoping the answer would change.

“No one.” Wes groaned, winching from the pain from his own split wrists and battered body. “ I don't understand. None of us know about this crystal, why would she think we have something to do with... whatever it is?"

“I don’t know, but something tells me, if she wants this crystal, it’s definitely means some serious danger ahead.” Carter said, his chess throbbing with each word he spoke. "Which makes this now a ranger problem. We're involved now no matter what."

“Agreed.” Jason said. “ Everyone think hard, no one has ever heard of this crystal?”

The gathered red rangers shook their heads in reply.

“Then not one of us has it nor know where it's located.”

“And if none of us has it, then we’re as good as dead.” Shane reminded everyone. “If she doesn’t get that crystal, then she’s going to get tired with us and kill us. One by one.”

"If we did know where to find the crystal, there is no way we need her getting her hands on it." Leo pointed out. "Who knows what that thing could do, if she's craving it that badly."

“We can’t give up hope." Tommy blocked the pain in his body and concentrated on his ‘team’. "We all have to hang on, we can't forget that there is other rangers out there to find us."

“I'm positive they know we're missing by now. ” Cole spoke, gently from his side. " I was going to meet up with Danny and Max the day we were taken, they have to know I wouldn't take off without telling them first."

“Tommy and Cole are right; the other rangers will find us.” Jason spoke strongly, carrying the role of the second in command. "Maybe even find out something about that crystal, too."

“How are the others supposed to find us again?” Shane inquired, trying to keep his panic down in front of the past leaders.

“ I always keep my zeo morpher with me as an old habit, I lost it somewhere, when those foot soldiers first dragged me in here. From what I remember from Zordon, our morphers send out a signal, energy pulses, that can be picked up with the right technology and equipment. Hopefully, it will be enough for the others to track us.” Tommy glanced up at his bare wrist, his head feeling heavy.

“Billy.” Jason said picking up what Tommy was thinking.

“Who else could pull off something like that?” Tommy thought of the blue genius working away in his lab at NASADA where he currently worked. “I’m betting he’ll be able to track that signal in no time flat, then we’ll be rescued.” He said confidently.

"And if that doesn't help, Karone might be able to contact someone for assistance." Andros agreed thinking of his sister he left behind on the Astro ship.

“I'm sure your right,” Wes piped up. " The other rangers will find us."

“I know I am, Wes." Tommy's voice began stronger with the thought. " I have to have faith. We all do.”

*************************************************************************** ******************************************


“Engine status?”

“100 Percent.”

“Shields?”

“100 Percent.”

"Artilleries?"

"Everything is one hundred percent in order." Kendrix scanned down the list one more time. “Andros kept the ship in order since 'code red' as far as I'm concerned.”

Karone took the clipboard of notes out of Kendrix's hands to review as she plugged in some coordinates into the computer as the ship sailed out into space. The frenetic pace to get everything together became more clear to Kendrix that something deeper bothered the former princess of evil than she was willing to admit.

"Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Karone inquired, nonchalant, as she ran through the ship logs for a third time, since Kendrix had handed it to her.

"'Cause it's okay not to be, Karone."

Karone said nothing, refusing to meet the galatic ranger's eyes.

“Do you think the megaship is functional enough to get us to Oynx?” Kendrix took the seat next to her in front of the side console.

“Uh huh.”

“Karone?” She grabbed the former princess of evils hand in hers, so she would turn to look at her. Kendrix couldn’t help, but noticed how Karone looked much younger than she was with her baby face dotted with a light brush of freckles. “Slow down before you work yourself in to a heart attack.”

“Yeah, okay.” Karone murmured, combing her slender fingers through her shoulder length blond hair. “I just keep thinking about Andros that’s all, how I should have been there to help him. I mean, he was talking to me over the communication system, telling me these silly jokes and stories.” Her hand wrapped around a silver locket that hung around her neck. "Then, he voice stopped coming through... I should have reacted then. I could have got to him, saved him."

"But that doesn't make this your fault, Karone. Our friends were taken before anyone could help. You said it yourself the ship couldn't detect their disappearance till they were gone.” Kendrix assured.

“I know. I just can’t help thinking that maybe...maybe Andros and I were never meant to be a real family again.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I was seven, I was kidnapped by Darkonda.” Her heart still ached thinking about the only being that had been like a father to her, always on her side rather good or bad. “And now...Now it’s like it’s happening all over again. Andros and I are separated by who knows!” She paused, before saying, “I just want my big brother back. If I lost him," She searched for words. "I just don't I want be alone.”

Tears crawled their way down Karone cheeks connecting the light brown specks of freckles in wavy wet lines.

“Andros is strong." Kendrix reached and held her hands within her own. "I know without a doubt that whatever he is going through right now, he’s fighting for you. We're going to get him back. We'll get all of them back.”

She sniffed offering the pink ranger a small smile of appreciation. Kendrix leaned forward and drew her in to a hug, needing it as much as her friend.

“Thanks, Kendrix.”

“ You don't have to thank me,” She stood to leave and stopped. “ Andros is not the only family you have anymore.”

Karones smile broaden, enlightening her face. When Kendrix left out of the control room, she turned to the side window, the endless black space stretched as far as the eye could see.

“No matter what, I won't stop looking." She swore softly. " It’s my turn to find you.”

[Pure Hype]

i like it so far keep it up

[Kimberflames]

“ So what's the status? How much longer till we reach this mutant infested planet?” Tayler inquired once Kendrix entered the lunch room.

The once pink galatic ranger took a seat between Tayler and Ashely. Alyssa handed her a plate of steaming hot eggs and pancakes smuthered in butter and syrup with a mug of coffee to wash it down. Tayler lifted an eyebrow at her. " Alyssa take a break will you?"

"I will once everyone has had their breakfest." Alyssa fixed another set of plates. Then said catching subdue tone in her partner's voice. "I don't mind doing this, Tayler. It gives me something useful to do like on Animaria."

Tayler nodded trying not to be irritated by the idea that Alyssa was once again throwing herself at work. The white ranger was right, being nurturing was something Alyssa was programed to do, it was who she was. However, the anxious driven white ranger's actions was beginning to drive her mad. Everyone was making her crazy. She was making her own self crazy! The way she couldn't sleep a wink despite the hard labor she willed herself in to with an entire night of training and sparring (mostly against the far most muscle bound woman in the world). Anyone that knew her well enough, knew sparring was just not something she did. Tayler much prefered a daily news paper any day. Sparring was Alyssa's thing; Tayler observed, amused and thrilled that a woman was putting a man in their place. Women aren't stong? Pssh. If a man could be a woman for one day they would crave to be put out of their misery. Pms, giving birth,...heels! That was enough to kill a man. Not that Max, Danny, Cole, and especially, Merrick would ever question otherwise.

All and all, fustration and confusion littered Tayler's brain without ease, and that was just enough to set her off in irritation.
“ By tomorrow, we should be right outside the planet’s atmosphere.” Kendrix answered, pushing up the frame of her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“ Which means its a good time to start taking shifts on the main deck for any signs of attack. Mutants around the universe travel to Oynx, we have to keep on high alert.” Ashley said thinking that exact same thing Karone was thinking herself.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“ We should also configure a plan.” Trini added. “ We don’t just want to walk right in.”

“I agree,” Alyssa spoke. “We have a lot ahead of us and we need to be prepared.”

“How is Karone doing?” Ashely looked at Kendrix in the moment of silence with concern in her eyes.

“ Just as worried as the rest of us.” Kendrix gave her small smile. She looked down at the rising steam that came off her eggs and poked it with a fork. “ I can’t imagine what it must be like for those two. They’re always getting seperated and distressed about the others life.”

“And to think they’ve been going through this same thing all their lives.” Ashely agreed, remembering how Andros was so determined to find his long lost sister after years of searching and never giving up hope.

A pang of pain shot through her as the stripped haired red ranger's face welled up in her mind, never leaving, breathing within her in twists of agony. That was all she could think of since his disappearance. That Andros was somewhere in pain. Her perfectly manicured nails dug deep into the palms of her hands as her heart began to beat hollow within her. It was well over a year since she last seen him, Andros' expeditions for his home world only accompanied him with precious time to be with his sister that Ashley was gladly willing to give to him. She loved him more than anything and respected that he longed to rebuild a relationship with Karone, before making an engagement with her.

An engagment.

Those had been Andros exact words before he left Earth with his sister just one years ago. A smile spread shakenly over Ashley's face. Will we still have that Andros? Are you still fighting for us? Do you know I'm fighting for you?

Trini had been listening to everyone from the other side of the table, observing each of them, thoughtfully. The antsy and far too focused Tayler with eyes burning through her days old news paper, Alyssa jumping from one task to another, Kendrix poking idly at her food, and Ashley staring at her clanched fist, shaken and lips weavering from a distant smile.

Trini sighed, heavy hearteningly. Till their friends were all back, safe and sound, the next few days would be hard on everyone.

Images of Jason flashed into her mind and she smiled absently as she remembered the feeling of his arms wrapped around her and the whispers of his voice in her ear

Please be okay, Jase, she wished, silently.

Trini raised her eyes to the door as Kimberly stepped in. Trini wish she knew what was going on with her. Trini and Aisha had woken up that morning to see Kim already in the gym attacking the punching bag with far more fierce than Trini could ever remember Kim having. The fact Kimberly was at the punching bag at all, baffled her. Then again, they were all over the edge these days.

Kim quietly took the empty seat between herself and Kendrix. "How was the training? You were at it for quite awhile.” Trini said, handing her a plate to serve herself.

Kim nodded. “ Yeah, I couldn’t sleep.”

“Tell me about it. All I could think about last night were the guys. I just hope their okay.” Kat said entering the dining room to stumble upon their conversation. Maya and Tori were close on her heels.

“We just have to keep hope that they’re okay.” Maya spoke up from the end of the table. No one spoke, falling back into their own individual thoughts.

Tori glanced around at the table, before lowering her eyes in contemplation. To be completely honest with herself, she was actually starting to miss the guys more and more as the hours ticked by. It was the first time she ever really been this far from home (Literally!) and them. She missed the cool swells of the water under her board and the looks on the surfer guys faces when she got better tides than them. She missed Cam's witty attitudes and genius, sensai’s wise little beady eyes and guidence, and Hunter's calming demeanor. She even missed Dustin’s eccentric personality. Most of all she missed Blake. Tori was still reeling from that kiss and hoped that she would live through whatever there was to come to make it back to him and figure out where their relationship would go from there.

Then there was Shane.

He was out there somewhere probably hurt...or worse. The thought made her cringe to even consider the fact that her friend could be dead. Shane had always been strong whenever the team needed someone to be, now she had to be strong enough for him. She had to save him. Shane would make it through whatever he was going through, that was one thing Tori knew for sure.

One thing she had to believe.

“Rangers,” Tori snapped to attention as a female computerized voice flooded the room. Tori exchanged looks with some of the girls, who also looked for the source of the booming voice. “Transmission recieved from KO-35.”

“That’s DECA. The ship’s main frame computer.” Cassie quickly filled in those who were new to the astro mega ship. She had came walking by when the voice announced itself. “We’re on our way, DECA.”

Cassie signaled everyone to follow her out through the corrindors to the main deck where the other rangers regrouped. The wide window that once showed the disfigurement of stars, now showed a man no older than his mid-twenties with platinum blond hair and cool blue eyes that added to his handsome features.

“Zhane!” Cassie and Ashely both said at the same time.

“Hello, everyone.” Zhane spoke through the screen from KO-35.

“It’s good to see your okay.” Karone spoke.

“You too.” He grinned and then turning serious he said, ”Billy contacted me from earth and told me you all were on your way to planet Oynx.”

Karone nodded in confirmation. “We figured that it was the only way to get any lead on whom we were up against.”

“Good idea, but there is a reason why I’m contacting you. I’ve been monitoring the magnetic field from here using the information Billy transmitted to me. That field is getting some major activity. Way more than before in the pass few hours.” Zhane informed everyone.

“What does that mean?” Alyssa inquired.

“We don’t know for sure, yet, but the rest of the rangers on earth have been keeping a sharp eye out for anything to happen.” He looked down. “No one has ever seen such energy like this before. I’m really worried about you guys going on this mission.” He said, more pointly to Karone.

Karone gave him a soft reasuring smile. “ You know this is something we have to do, Zhane. I don’t like the idea of our forces being split up and having to be powerless, but we have no other choice.”

“ Karone’s right, we can’t leave earth defenseless. From the amount of energy that barrier is feeding off, we may not get another chance breaking in to it." Katie spoke coming to Karone’s side. "We have to take that chance."

Zhane nodded.

“ Believe me, I know the situation as well as every other remaining ranger, but with some of you bearing unstable powers you guys won’t last that long up against whom ever is on the other side of the field.” He inhaled a deep breath and produced a lop sided grin that brighten his handsome face, if only slightly. “ That’s what I wanted to taIk with you about. I spoke with Elder Heida, he came up with a plan. If you all succeed, then you’ll at least be more equipt than you are now.”

“ Elder Heida?” Jen inquired, standing off to the side.

“Elder Heida pretty much governs KO-35. He looks over our people and makes sure there is order.” Karone explained.

“Like a president.” Tori said, nodding in understanding.
“ After you make it back from Oynx, set a course for KO-35 and he’ll give you all the details.” Zhane continued saying.“ This could be the best defense you’ll get for your assignment.”

Tayler crossed her arms over her chest with a look of deteremination. “The best defense against whatever is behind those walls? I say we go for it.”

“I agree.” Alyssa said from her teammates side. Others nodded in agreement.

“Then that settles it." Karone placed her palms flat against the console in front of her. "I’ll contact you as soon as we leave Oynx. We should be within its atmosphere within the next day and reach KO-35 within a day after that."

“ Understood.” Zhane glanced behind him and another voice of a male was heard through the transmission. The once silver ranger looked back at his awaiting fellow rangers through the screen. “ Look, I got to go. All of you be careful and look out for one another. Remember, there is a lot of mutents out there that would love to get their hands on a power ranger, especially on planet Oynx.” He warned. “ Be safe.”

“We will.” Zhane gave her a side ways grin that Karone loved and winked at her, then the transmission ended. The screen now showed the blur of stars that breezed pass them as the ship missled through space.

“Okay, well at least we now have some good news.” Aisha broke the silnce. “We now have more defences.”

“Couldn’t have come at a better time.” Dana agreed.

“ We can’t be too dependent on whatever Zhane has waiting for us on KO-35." Tanya held up her hands. "We don't even know what this new protection is and we still have a lot more to figure out other than the amount of power we have.”

“Like a plan on how we make it in and out of Oynx.” Karone pointed out. “The last time I've been there was when I went to get back Kendrix's galaxy sabor dressed as Astronama. I bearly got away last time and I know they'll do evertything they can to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. If a ranger goes in they'll do everything in their power to keep them there.”

“ And a leader.” Kelsey also pointed out. “ Has it even occured to anyone that we’ll need someone to call the shot’s around here. I mean, we do, don’t we?”

Everyone looked to another.

“ Things would run a lot more smoothly.” Kat had to agree.

“So, how do we decide?” Cassie inquired, looking at Karone who only shrugged her shoulders.

“Draw straws?” Tori suggested weakly. Tayler and Katie both shot her a narrowed look. “Or not.”

“We vote.” Trini spoke, walking to the center of the room. “ Who do we consider as a leader amounst us?”

“ Tayler’s been a ranger a lot longer than I.” Aylssa said openly. “ She was our leader until Cole came on the team. I’ll nominate her.” Tayler tried to hide her smile as Alyssa winked at her, but she was clearly flattered by the anouncement.

Katie sat a hand on Jen’s shoulder. “ Same goes for Jen. I trust her with my life.” Jen smiled her appreciation towards her friend.

“Anyone else?” Trini looked at each person directly before she met Kimberly’s eye’s.

Kimberly was leaned back comfortably against a console, listening, allowing everyone to voice their opinion. Trini’s pointed stair at her caused everyone to look in her direction. Kim sighed as she staired back into Trini’s gaze with unclear emotions and a blank expression.

“ I nominate, Trini.” The original ranger announced, nonchalantly. Trini stared at Kim in incomprehension. Kim's eyes were indifferent without their normal characteristic spirit.

“So, I guess that’s it.” Ashely said, breaking the silence that once again fell upon everyone. “ Tayler, Jen and Trini are the nominees. Let's put it to a vote.”

In the end, Trini was voted upon for tasks of leadership. Everyone felt comfortable with the thought of a original ranger having a lead in the team. Jen, the only real experienced 'leader' of the grooup, voted for Trini, rememberng how unstable she would get when it came to getting her revenge for Alex's supposed death those years ago. Being a leader, much less a ranger, meant knowing your limitations and Wes' disappearance was enough for her to create havoc. For herself and the team. Maybe anyone else may not be able to understand why she stepped down from the task when she recieved her votes, but she knew just from the last few days that Trini had the mind and strength as a leader. Jen trusted her and took great liberty in learning from her example.

Tayler just knew that being leader wasn’t what she was meant to do. She was still a by-the-book kind of woman, even alot of her habits died when she learned Cole's principles on beng a team and a leader. She understood know more than ever, but there was also the fact she was unable to find the right train of mind with her emotions alone than an entire group of people. Tayler needed to take care of herself as best as she could and felt it was best for the team if she did. She respected Trini, admired her even. Tayler would be more than honored to fight beside her and follow her leadership.

Trini was truely stunned by the outcome of the voting, convinced that Jen would be the one whom would be nominated, but to everyone, being the one of the original rangers placed you on a pedestal. They began as five children no more than fourteen, defending the planet on their own, without anyone to set an example before them or guide them in to success. They were Zordon’s first chosen, therefore considered to be the best of them all. Honorable. But Trini feeling though exalted and thankful by the thought that everyone found her fit to be leader, felt as if she were going to be ill.

Leadership was something never bestowed upon her before. She could coach a volly ball team, yes. Head a debate discussion, easily. But lead a group of rangers on a mission that could not only get them killed, but their friends and the love of her life. That's where the illness kicked in.

" Trini, I don't think I could name a woman more stronger than you. I've seen you overcome more than most people can handle, watch people come to admire you and want to constantly be around you. You're beautiful. The way you can overcome any obsticle set infront of you is an unbelievable treasure and something I love most about you. Never forget that."

Jason, Trini bit down on her bottom lip reminiscing the first few moments of Jason and her relationship together as something more than friends. I can do this. For Jason, I can do this.

“Okay, now all we need is a plan.” Dana said, bring everyone back in to attention. Trini snapped out of her reverie, heart clinging to those words spoken so long ago.

Karone looked to Alpha who stood off to the side. “ Alpha, can you bring up the saloons blue prints on the projector table, please?”

“Right a way, Karone." Within mintues, the rangers were gathered in a smaller room where a lone round table sat with leather seats around it. Like the hollow gram disk Billy showed to them an even bigger one sat attached to the round table the rangers gathered around. The light dimmed and everyone found a seat at the table.

" This a layout of the saloon and surrounded areas." Karone swerved her chair to face the projection.

“What are the ways in?” Maya inquired.

“There are only two as far as we know.” Ashley recalled, remembering she and Cassie also had been to the saloon before.

“I say we split up into two groups, one in front and one in back, then we hit it hard and don’t let anyone out.” Tayler said.

“We can’t go in recklessly.” Aisha pointed out.

Tori raised her hand almost unsure if she had the right to speak out. Trini gave her a reasuring smile and nodded for her to go ahead and speak. “ I still have my morpher, if the field is not within reach of Oynx, just yet, shouldn’t it work?”

Kendrix being the branica of the bunch, pondered the question before she answered.

“ It should be able too. Doesn’t sound so much as the field is spreading, but strenghtening around the area it is trying to protect. It shouldn’t interfer with our morphers from Oynx, even if it is a couple of days journey away from one another.”

“ Then, we have some leverage. ” Kat said, looking at the brighter side of things. Everyone began to put out suggestions on what they should do once they reached Oynx. Each having a chance to speak their views and opinions, until they were able to come to an agreement.

“ Alright, looks like we all know what to do, but our plans are useless until we prepair ourselves. Rest, train, do whatever you need to in the next few hours. What have we got, Karone? A day? We need to be ready. “ The rangers all nodded as Trini spoke.

Determination over took them as they all remained transfixed on the hologram hovering before them, before they each departed to prepare themselves for the task that lied ahead.

*************************************************************************** **********************

Next Day

*************************************************************************** **********************

She leaned heavly against the wall of the alley, her vision blurred and her breath coming out into deep labored breaths. Her skin was hot and slick with sweat, every nerve within her tingling, beating and burning like a fuse ready to explode. There were no words to express the intensity of the pain as her leg wobbled beneath her weight, gravity dropping on her and tightening its pressure on her lungs.

“Help me!” A voice cried faintly from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Kim felt her heart pound against her chest, desperate to burst through in rage. She recongized that voice.

“Tommy! Where are you!”

“Help me!” Tommy cried again. Kimberly turned around and saw Tommy laying on the ground with a thin line of blood streaming from the corner of his lips. His eyelids weighted over his eyes like thick drapes of skin, sweat... And blood. Kimberly fell to her knees at his side, her body trembling with something buried within her.

She moved to lift his upper body in her arms and hugged him tight against herself, but in an instant, he disappeared and the little girl was in his place, her small body shivering.

“ Hang on. Just hang on!”

“Help me, Kimberly...” The girl’s voice was growing distant. Tears fell down Kim’s cheeks in hot flares of...

"Kimberly!"

*************************************************************************** ******************

“Kimberly. Kimberly, wake up!” Tanya shook Kimberly awake by her shoulder and jumped when the petite ranger shot up to a seating position, heaving in gulps of air. “Whoa! Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you.”

Kimberly looked around confused for a moment, before she focused on Tanya, who sat on the side of her bunk. The turbo ranger frowned in concern.
“ Um...yeah. I’m fine.” Kimberly’s voice came out raw in her ear’s. Silence eloped them as Kim sank her aching head in her hands to message the pain on either side of her forehead. Tanya watched her disquieted at the franticness of the pink ranger.
The two of them never had a chance to meet, before she showed up for the conference back on earth. Tanya, however had heard many stories about the pink ranger from Kat, Adam, and Aisha long ago in her own ranger days.

“ Are you sure? It sounded like you were having a bad dream.”

“No! I mean, yeah. I guess...” Tanya was even more concerned by her out burst. Kim held her head in her hand and took a deep breath, controlling the egde in her voice. “ I’m fine. It was just a dream, that’s all.” She brushed it off.

Kim was silently thankful that she awoken fast enough before anything could happen. Quickly, her eyes ran over the exposed skin of her arms and hands, praying there were no telltale signs to give her away.

There was nothing.
“Okay.” Tanya said, still not fully convinced she was fine as she watched the petite woman run her hands up and down her arms. Tanya stood, remembering why she had come to wake her. “ Trini called everyone to meet in the teleportation room. It's time.”

Kimberly nodded and trailed behind Tanya to the teleportation room.

When they reached the room, everyone was gathered, attention focused on their newly appointed leader. Trini was already going over the plan for going into the saloon. Jen would lead the first team of Tayler, Alyssa, Katie, Maya, and Cassie around the front as a distraction. They would morph and lure the mutents out to them to abandon the saloon. Meanwhile, Trini would lead the second team of Kimberly, Aisha, Tanya, Karone, Tori, and Kelsey around the back to investigate. The rest would stay aboard ship and monitor their advances as back up if needed.

“I want us to be in and out.” Trini was saying. "Karone said there should still be one being in that saloon who might be able to help us. That's the one we want to single out."

Kimberly couldn’t help, but notice how a slow smile was begining to pull at the corners of her lips. Her body was fully awake with the possiblity that there would be a battle, she was adrenalized with excitement. Still anxiety lingered no matter how eager and prepared she was about going to this infamous planet Oynx. A very little bit of anxiety. Kim had been away from the ranger battles for so long and in that time gained as much as she had lost. If she were the same person she was a ranger, she would have felt a little intimidated compared to the others, but now...

Now thing’s were different.

“Help me...” The little girl cried softly in her arms.

Kimberly’s heart skipped a few beats, before settling back to its normal pace. She placed a hand to her forehead in growing fustration with herself. You can’t get to carried away with yourself, Kim, she mused. If anything were to happen to her friends, because of her...

“Hey? You all right.” Aisha whispered softly coming her side.

"Yeah, headache. No sleep."

"You think you're up for this?"

" I know I am."

Kim had missed half of what Karone was informing them of the planet. She nodded to Aisha, signaling to her that she was fine and focused on what was being said. “...We have to be very careful around here. Everyone looks out for one another. We only have one shot with this. I’m positive someone there knows what’s going on.”

Katie grinned in anticipation. “ Then, let’s go find ‘em.” Both teams grabbed their needed gear and stepped on to the teleportation platform, their bodies fading in beams of their rightful colors.
Alpha teleported them to the safest location possible just outside the small alien town. The planet was dry and hot, the wind kicking up the skin of the desert planes that surround them. The western themed town crawled with humanoid like creatures and ancient foot soliders that had not been seen on earth, since their leaders had tried their share to take over the earth. A group of four tanga’s were laughing in shierks of strangled squawks amounst themselves infront of the saloons front entrance. Two quantrons stood infront of motor bikes along with half human/ half reptail creatures Jen couldn’t even recognize from any of the data Alpha showed her on earths past enemies nor logs from the Time Force Academy when she was a cadet.

Jen’s hands clenched and unclenched with sticky sweat from the suns heat as she glanced out from behind the one of the old shacks, the others standing close behind her. She shallowed, but raised her chin knowing she had her duty to attend to, before tending to her growing anxiety to end this mission and high tail it off the roasting planet.

“How does it look?” Katie inquired in a hush tone from behind her. Jen pulled back from the corner of the building and looked at the others.

“Karone wasn’t kidding about this place thats for sure. The town is crawling left and right with mutents.” She informed them.

“We're ready for them.” Tayler said confidently. Katie shared her credence.

“Right now, we wait for Trini to give the word first.” Jen said, adjusting the morpher on her wrist.

Cassie crept over to look back out from around the corner, then looked back at the others.

“We better contact Trini’s team and see how they’re doing.”

Jen nodded and lifted the wrist telelportor and two way communicator that Alpha distributed to them. “ Trini, do you read?”

Short pause.

“Yeah. How does it look over there?” Trini’s voice came out through the small speaker, loud enough not to attract the attention of those not huddled in their tight circle around Jen.

“ It’s pretty busy. We got seven out here in front as far as we can tell and we can’t get a good view of inside.” Jen reported.
“We haven’t seen anyone over here yet. We’re behind a closed off alley, a building away from the door to the back of the Saloon. We can hear alot of commotion from out here already. ” Trini informed them through the communicator. “You guys ready to go?”

“When you are.”

“Go!”

"Tme to get down to business." Jen looked at her team. “ Let’s do it!"
"Time for Time Force!” Jen cried along with Katie.

“Wild Access!” Tayler and Alyssa joined in.

“Go, Galatic!” Maya shouted.

“Let’s Rocket!” Cassie yelled.

They were morphed in seconds flat and hauled out of their hiding place to the open grounds for all to see them.

[Kimberflames]

“ This place is unbelieveable. Putties...Tanga’s...They’re just crawling everywhere.” Aisha whispered, peaking through the heavy coat of dust that curtained the back door of the Oynx Tavern. The bar provided no shadows for them to hide from the heat, so the hot rays attcked their skin till sweat pebbled their skin and glistened them with forming tans. The air itself was hard to suck in, but the few sweaps of warm air forced it down to their lungs.

“I know. Look at them all. There are even pirantrons and quantrons here.” Tanya inquired, taking her turn to peak through the window. "There's no way Jen and the others are going to be able to keep up the distraction for that long."

"We have no other choice." Trini said eyes sweeping across the wide desert land behind them.

"Their emptying out of here by the load." Karone said, softly. The former princess of evil, held her ear close to the wooden door and heard ranting inside from the hen house of villian’s all stomping away from the back door out to the front entrance. The chaos around the corner could be heard a hundred yards away, flaring with roaring engines and blasters firing. The swell of shouts alone erupted around like an explosion in itself. “I think they're almost all gone.”

“Are you sure someone will be left in there?” Kelsey inquired.

Karone finally looked at her with a small smirk on her face as she answered. “ You would assume everyone in here were after the rangers, but some are actually afraid of us and others just don't care. They’re the one’s we’re looking for.” She paused to hear the sound of foot steps heading their way and motioned for everyone to get back. The door flew open nearly hitting Kelsey. Putties’, Tangas, creatures that looked half human/ half reptail, and others all flooded out the back door, their arms frailing around over their heads, running for their lives.

“Now, we can go.” Karone smirked.

“All right. Tori and Kelsey, you both morph and keep guard out here.” Trini issued out orders. “We’ll be out as soon as possible.”

“Ninja Storm, Ranger Form! Ha!” Tori called out for her powers.

“Light Speed Rescue!” Kelsey shouted out.

*************************************************************************** *********************

The rest of them entered quietly into the tavern, their blasters raised and ready. They walked down the hall way beneath the balcony and stairs, their foot steps creaked on the floor boards under the feet and crunched when the stepped out into the open of the bar were fallen tables lay in broken ruins of glass, the entire space around them strongly fumed with an intoxicating aroma. Kimberly gaged and placed her hand over her nose.

“Oh man- What’s that smell?”

“Rasm. A strong liquor.” Karone answered the purple liquided soaked on to a spot on the floor, just in front of her. “ Some one must have spilled it through all the excitement.”

Trini raised her laser blaster as she heard movement behind the bar. She motioned the others attention to the movement and she inched closer to inspect. Trini rounded the bar to the opening and saw a dinosour creature kneeled over reaching for broken glasses from beneath the bar. He didn’t even acknowlegde their presences as they all looked down at him. Atleast, Trini could only guess it was a male. Finally after gathering the broke glass in hid apran he stood and noticed the blasters leveled at him. He blinked, almost nonchalantly, then turned and through out the debris into a trash can.

“ I know what your here for.” He spoke with any hint of treat within his voice.

Everyone looked at each other.

“ And you’ll give it to us?” Karone asked, pretty sure this creature would. She knew he ran the tavern and pretty much kept his distance whenever anything did break out within the old building. Still we can’t let our guard down, she reminded herself. The others outside were doing fine for now, but they couldn’t last too long.

“ The name’s Taverist. I was running a business here, before you rangers came along.” He picked up a broom and began to sweep that cake of dust up from the wood floor. Tanya chocked back a cough. “ I just want my customers to keep returning. Everytime they do you rangers keep comin’ back and running them out.”

Kimberly couldn’t help, but notice how his voice would catch with disgust when the word rangers passed his reptile lips. She didn’t exactly understand why this guy wanted to run a business instead of recking chaos across the universe along with every other monster she knew of, but she didn’t want to complain either. “ No time, Trini. Tick tock.” She reminded, the leader of the mission.

“ I know.” Trini lowered her blaster, the others still pointed on him and she motioned for them to follow suit. Kimberly glared, but relunctantly lowered her laser, trusting her friend. “ As soon as we get what we came here for we’ll leave and never again come back. I’m sorry we had to ruin it, again.” He snorted and continued sweeping. “ Help us.”

Taverist sighed irriataited by her plea for his help. “The sooner I help, the sooner you get off my property?”

Trini nodded in agreement. “And never return.”

“Fine. But if your word is broken, you work for me. Now come on, don’t want ‘em to know what I’m giving ya.” Taverist grumbled and they followed him up the stairs.

*************************************************************************** *****************

“Kiya!” Tayler summersaulted into the air and rammed both her feet into the chest of one of the tanga warriors. The tanga squaked and flew back on to it’s back skeeding on the ground into a puttie. Tayler used her powers to help her back fliup from the impact and land gracefully back on to her feet. She grinned in satifaction and went back to work on fighting off a group of six more enemies. They kept charging left and right; their attacks on one’s that remained unconscious didn’t seem to ease the numbers of their opposers.

“Argh!” She cringed as she recieved a knee blow to the gut that robbed the air out from her lungs and sent her to her knees on the ground.

“Tayler!” Katie shouted from a mob of attacking creature of all kinds and Alyssa shouted from her communicater from the ship outside the orbit.

The wild force ranger growled in anger as putties, quantron, and whatever else all dog piled her.

“Get! Off! Of! Me!” She summed all her power to her leg’s and pushed up with all her might, breaking through the pile of bodies up into the air. The wing’s her eagle crystal power supplied her with caught the hot wind and held her body up above the army of monsters as she summed her weapon to her aid.

“ Eagle saber!” The long sword materialized within her hand catching the blazing ray’s of the alien sun.

Tayler landed swifttly back on to her feet and charged right through the monsters and former foot soliders that had once sat foot on earth, but even with the blows of her deathly strikes she still was over powered.

“ Arghhhh!” Multiple blasters of blazing ray’s struck her from all sides knocking her to the ground, demorphed.

Katie beated back a cry of pain as she felt the hilt of a sword striking her lower back with much force to make her knee’s buckle beneath her. She had saw Tayler already being fall crumble to the ground, her powers leaving her exposed in cilivian form. Cassie had tried to reach her, but her path was blocked and her chances of getting pass were growing thin, even with the help of her satilite stunner and power blaster.

“We’re not going to be able to last much longer! Tayler’s down!” Katie cried to Jen.

Jen delievered a round house kick to a couple of quantrons giving her a bit of space from the rest of the monsters and footsoliders that waited their turn. She turned to Katie’s direction.

“We have to try, Katie.” She summoned her time force cannon and blasted the creatures that piled of Tayler, whom was now conscious and trying to fight them off in civilian form. Jen ran to her side. “ You all right?”

Tayler was crouched into a fighting stance, but her face consealed pain under her mask of strenght and anger.

“We have to retreat. Everyone is falling fast!” She observed, Cassie falling to the ground her powers leaving her vulnerable as her suit thinned and disappeared from her body. A few feet away from them Maya went twisting in the air with sparks spraying from her chest, her scream caused Jen and Tayler to cringe.

“You’re right.” They both were able to knock back a few of their pursuers. Jen raised her communicator to her helmeted consealed face. “Trini, we have to go. Now!” As soon as the words left her lips, darkness came to her as quaked with enegry and sent her to the ground.

*************************************************************************** ***************

Inside the Tavern


“Trini, we have to go. Now!” The group looked down at their communicators as Jen’s voice filled the speakers. They all looked at one another, knowing that their time was up.

“They don't sound like they can last much longer.” Tanya said fearing their mission was over without much to show for it. Aisha and Karone exchanged a nervous glance with one another .
They were all standing outside a small storage room peering in only to see cargo boxes full of alien products and cleaning equipment. Taverist tossed things out into the center of the room, muttering under his breath about hiring new help around with the tavern.

“Listen, we don’t exactly have time for this,” Trini spat, her thoughts on the others outside. “Tell us what we need to know.”

Taverist glanced over his shoulder at her, avoiding the egde in her voice and the laser blasters aimed at his hunched form as he continued to to dig through the back of the storage room until he found what he was searching for. They all frowned as he tugged out an heavy object that was hiden beneath a heavy throw blanket.

“There,” Was all Taverist said as he stepped back to allow Trini to observe it. The rangers looked at one another in confusion.

“ How is this supposed to help us?” Karone started to inquired, expecting him to give them something small like a disk or paper work with the information they needed. Taverist rolled his beady eye’s in human-like nature and removed the heavy blanket from the object, sending large puff’s of dust everywhere. When it cleared, the ranger gasped at what they saw, some covering their mouth’s in shock, nearly dropping their blasters from their hands. The petite figure was slumped over, dinted and growing rust as if it had been stored within the room for years, but they knew what it was.

Who it was.

“Alpha 5,” Kimberly’s voice cracked with emotion as she recongized instantly the little robot that once glowed with life.

The former pink ranger fell to her knees in front of the figure that was smaller than herself to get a closer look at its face. Her hands were shaking as she laid them carefully on Alpha’s cold metal body. Trini came to her side, her eye’s still wide with shock, then anger.

“How? Who did this?” She re-risen her blaster at the bartender and owner of the tavern.

He looked at her as if she should have known Alpha 5 were in his bar and struggled. “He was bought in by one of ‘em traders. Supposed to have been sold in the next auction this week; thought this is what you rangers came here for.”

Kim glared at him as she rose to her feet.

“What did you do to him?” She grawled between her teeth. “Why isn’t he responding to us?”

Taverist shruggled again. “ Came like this. As far as I know, the thing is busted.”

BAM!

Everyone jumped as they heard something crash down below followed by drunken shouts of unhuman voices.

“That’s it. We’re out of here.” Trini ordered, now aiming her blaster down the hall.

“What about Alpha?” Tanya inquired. “He’s too heavy for us to carry ourselves.”

“I can’t leave him here,” Her voice came in an almost desperate whisper that caused Trini and Aisha to eye their best friend closer. Kimberly held on to Alpha 5’s life hand, her eyes closed and her head lowered as she kneeled forward on to her knees. Trini noticed how the former pink ranger’s body quaked lightly as if she withheld something she didn’t want them to see.

Trini kneeled next to her friend and team-mate, placing a hand on her shaking shoulders, hoping to provide some comfort. Kim’s eyes openned and looked right into Trini’s. Trini could have sworn she saw the faintest hint of pink against the golden brown of her normal eye color, but as soon as she saw it, it was gone. Trini didn’t know what it was that stopped the words from coming pass her lips, they seemed to collect on her tongue, stumbling over one word after another as a blinding sensation poured heat up her arm and rushed up to her brain. Her mind was overloaded with data rushing in bursts of colors, formless words and images, but Trini's heart latched on to these things as they openned up in to her heart and overwhelmed her with emotions.

Kim’s emotions.

Trini didn’t know how she knew, but she was somehow feeling exactly what Kimberly was feeling. It was her body quaking. Her hand grasping on to Alpha’s cold gloved hand. Her eyes looking at her awe struck face. All of a sudden images flashed through Trini’s mind.

*************************************************************************** *****************

Flash

Trini held a girl within her arm’s tears rivering down the sides of her cheeks.

Flash

Alpha stood at her side consoling her and telling her stories that made her laugh, though she felt pain swell through her at the same time.

Flash

Alpha came to visit her after hearing of Zordon’s death. And visited many times after that, until one day, he just stopped coming.

*************************************************************************** **********************

Then like that it was all gone.

Kimberly rose out of Trini’s contact on her shoulder, her breath leaving her in small gaspes as if she were trying to stop the tears she felt within her. Trini stared at her from her kneeled position on the floor and fell back on her rear end, eyes never leaving Kimberly’s. It was her emotions Trini was feeling. Her thoughts.

But how?

“Trini? Kim? Are you guys okay?” Karone questioned. She, Aisha, and Tanya looked between the two of them, whom could only stair at one another. Trini with awe and confusion. Kimberly with terror and worry.

“Y-yeah.” Trini said slowly, her eye’s still locked with Kim’s. She rose to her feet with the help of Aisha. “ I just thought I felt something...” Her eye’s narrowed a bit at Kimberly, but Kimberly set back up the wall she had held up for years.

“It’s nothing.” Kimberly spoke up, her voice strong and pointed to Trini. “ It was nothing.”

The girls staired at them once again, not knowing what had just happened between the two. Taverist didn’t notice anything that was going on as he begun to reoriganize the storage room.

Trini was about to say something when a loud outburst of voice erupted within the tavern causing them all to jump and Trini to snap back into the situation at hand instantly as a familiar voice screamed out in pain. Karone, whom was closes to the storage door, looked at Trini and the others with growing fear.

“It’s Cassie.” She said naming the voice that was heard.

The laughter drowned out her loud cry of pain and fear pounded against Trini’s heart.

“They got Jen’s team.” She whispered what had already dawned on the others.

*************************************************************************** *****************

Astro Mega Ship

***************************************************************

Dana, Kendrix, Kat, and Ashley were the ones who remained on the ship as they watched helplessly from the monitors as Jen’s team were out numbered and force to demorph from the brutal attacks.

“This is not good,” Kendrix commented from a console with Ashley at her side. Alpha was busy operating another on the console across the way from them, while Kat and Dana, the only two who knew the less about the ship stood watching the view screen in the front of the bridge.

“Any luck contacting Trini and the others?” Aylssa inquired, trying to remain calm.

“ No. Something is seriously wrong with the communication systems.” Ashley replied working intensely with the communication consoles, pressing button sequnces to get the system operating correctly. “D.E.C.A., can you run a virus scan on the ships systems?”

There was a short pause, before the ship’s computer, D.E.C.A. replied. “ My sensors detact no virus. All systems are functioning properly.”

The yellow space ranger groaned in fustration and looked at the others.

“ I don’t understand this at all.” The console Kat was leaning back on hummed to life and a print sheet came out a slot. Ashley retrieved the print out and read it over. “ The communication systems were working just fine a second ago now we completely lost contact with everyone.”

“Trini and the others must have gotten into trouble inside the tavern.” Dana said. ”Now what do we do? We can’t go after them or we’ll risk getting captured ourselves.”

“ And we lose our chance in knowing what we’re up against and risk Tommy and the other rangers lives.” Kat agreed, her slinder fingers pushing through her blond hair. And suddenly an idea hit her. “ D.E.C.A., run a scan on the tavern. Look for any abnormal radio waves.”

“Running scan now.” D.E.C.A. informed the veteran ranger.

“You have an idea?” Dana questioned frowning in confusion.

“ My sensor’s detect an energy barrior within the structure.” DECA confirmed to Kat’s suspicion’s.

Kat explained her thoughts to the others who awaited an answer.

“Before I became a ranger, I was put under a spell by Rita Rupulsa that turned me evil; thanks to Kimberly and the others that spell was broken, but a few weeks after the team needed me to convince Rita and lord Zedd i was still under that spell. Tommy and I were assigned to head up to the moon palace, but there were energy waves there that jammed our communicators and we lost contact with the command center.” Kat quickly told them as she came to her point.

“ What I’m thinking is what if that tavern contains something that’s blocking our communication systems from making contact with the others inside? Think about it. We didn’t lose contact with Jen and Trini till they entered the tavern and had full communication with them when they were out of range of it.”

“So they must have crafted a device to jam our communication frequncies.” Kendrix beamed at Kat. ”Of course! Karone said to be ready for anything; I guess our enemies at the tavern were ready too.”

“Then we have a lot more on our plate, you guys.” Ashley said. “ Think about it. Not only does our communicators have energy waves that can be jammed, but our morphers do too.’

“Ashley is correct, rangers.“ Alpha spoke out to the remaining few. “ The ship’s sensors were able to locate the device. It is called an Triblockulator; orginated from planet Gatyul . The Triblockulator must be stolen technology; Gatyulans are known to be peaceful people and allies of the Eltarion planet.”

“Then we have to destroy that device.” Kat said her hands rolling into tight fists. “I won’t sit here and wait for them to die.” They all knew the risks they were taken, but if they didn’t do nothing, then the red rangers and their female team mates had no chance of survival. So looking at one another, they grabbed their remaining rightful morphers and teleported down to planet Oynx.

****************************************************

Back In the Tavern...

****************************************************

“Alpha 6, this is Trini, do you read me? D.E.C.A.?” Static filled the little speaker of the wrist communicator as they all remained hiden within the small storage room. “ That’s weird; I can’t get a signal in here.” Trini spoke softly enough for the others to hear her.

Karone frowned. “That’s never happened before. Something must be jamming our frequncy.” She peered out into the hall and the heads of monsters tilted back laughing as she saw Jen’s team, Tori and Kelsey were all captive and held down on to their knees, their powers ripped from them. “The others aren’t morphed anymore!”

“What!” The others said growing more fearful by the second.

“ Its that device Dasku has,” They looked back at Taverist, whom now sat on a stack of crates, stairing at them. “Its called an Triblockulator. Supposed to knock out any of you rangers energy waves from your morphers and communicators.”

Aisha frowned at the bartender, half thankful for him giving them as much information as he did and the other half of her questioning why he gave them so much information. By the look on Tanya and Karone’s face, they too, questioned his motives. Trini still looked a bit shaken as did Kimberly, Aisha figured she would interrogate them on the matter once they were all safely back on the ship.

“I guess we can rule out Tanya using her zeo morpher.” She muttered silently, wishing she had a morpher of her own.

Not that it would do any good now, Aisha thought bitterly.

“ I have an idea.” Kimberly said gathering their attention. Trini could tell by the boldness in her voice, she had already made up her mind about something. “I should be able to distract them long enough for the others to get free and you guys to carry Alpha out of here.”

“No way, Kim.” Aisha said, dismissing the idea. “There’s no way we’re leaving you to handle those guys; you don’t even have a morpher to defend yourself.”

“No, I don’t, but I have something way more than the four of you have and its enough.” Kimberly countered back.

Aisha still wasn’t convinced, but before she could say anything else, Kimberly walked out the storage room to the balcony and down the stairs.

“Kimberly!” Karone, Aisha, and Tanya hissed all at once upon her leave.

“ What does she think she’s doing? She’s going to get herself killed.” Tanya hissed as they remained within the safety of the storage room with Taverist. Tanya looked at back at Trini, whom hadn’t said anything upon Kimberly’s recklessness. “What do we do now? Trini?”

They all looked at Trini, whom seemed uneffected by Kim’s exit.

“Let her go.” The words came out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying. There was something different about Kim; she didn’t know what, but she could now feel it. Remember the flakes of pink that flashed through her eyes and the energy that washed through her when she did something as simple as touching her skin.

“Just let her go.”

**************************************************
Meanwhile
**************************************************

“Looks like you rangers were out smarted this time. Shows you to not walk in and out whenever you please," One creature chuckled amounst those that gathered around them.

They each had a bitter remark thrown out at them. Some who were nearby managed to shove Tori and the others around. Tori fought to remain calm and bite back any cry of pain that still rattled her body and the broken glass that cut in to her knees. Tori and Kelsey had been found guarding the back door and were attacked, their powers failing them in the end.

Jen was to her right struggling against the roughness of one tank-like monster's hold on her as the rest of them.

“ Bet they’re wondering where their red rangers are,” One of them barked stepping into view. He looked more human than anything except for the silver mask that covered the left side of his face and the yellow fangs that hung out his mouth. A cape draped his back and the front of his body and a hood covered the top of his head, his face, gloved hands and booted feet were the only things visable. “Isn’t that right, rangers?”

“ We won’t tell you anything!” Jen spoke, her voice hard and steady as the rest of the tavern silenced in order to hear.

“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Dasku and let me guess, your the leader of this little pathetic team. Did you reallly think we didn’t expect you here?” He stepped closer and kneeled down till he reached Jen’s eye level.

“We feel her rising. The ultimate evil. Just think of it, if I were to turn in a hand full of female rangers, I could be greatly rewarded. I could be come a general in her court. But,” He pulled a long blade from his cape and held it up to beneath Jen’s neck. A thin line of blood peaking through her flesh as she swallowed, but didn’t show him an ounch of fear. “Would it really matter if one of you were missing?”

“Do what you want with me. There are others who will get you.” Jen spat back, his face so close to hers she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek.

“ Famous last words,” Dasku pointed his other hand directly at Tori. “ Kill her; the others are for the Queen.” He ordered to the crowd, who all grinned with a look of hunger in their eyes and they each pulled out their rightful weapons and edged towards Tori.

“No wait-! Argh!” Jen was struck in the face by the silver masked being. Katie flexed to try to push the ten people keeping her grounded due to her massive strength. Everyone else struggled to try to break free.

Tori was yanked off her knees to the center of the floor, the others were fighting back those who tried to hold them down as they tried to help her, but she was well on her own at that point.

Why me? Was all Tori could think at the moment as she lifted her two fingers in the air.

“Ninja Storm, Ranger form! Ha!” She gasped.

Nothing had happened.

“No...” Tori gasped when her powers didn’t come to her. She was kicked on to her back and a foot planted itself on the center of her chest.

“ It’s a new device designed to cripple your morphers. You like?” Dasku teased.

She saw the blade’s tip leveled down at her and then heard the screams of her team mates, the very second she raised her arms over her face in reflex, a flash of pink washed through the crowd.

The wait gave Tori's heart time to nearly break through her chest when she realized something: Nothing.

There was nothing.

The pressure on her chest was gone.

Tori’s heart pounded against her chest as she surely believed she was going to die. Die before she could even turn the age of twenty.
But instead of peaking through her lids toward lingering death, her eyes slowly opened to find Kimberly standing over her.

“You okay?” Kim asked, pulling her out of her trance.

“Yeah.” She replied slowly and noticed Dasku had been thrown across the bar against the crowd, all crumbled to the floor beneath his sudden impact.

Everyone stopped completely dumbfound by what had just happened; all they could do was stair back from Dasku to Kimberly and back in amazement. Kimberly helped Tori to her feet, her eyes never wondering off the crowd of those who hated the forces of good.

Tori looked at her in awe. “ How did you do that?”

Kimberly looked at her and said nothing. Tori caught the hint of hot pink that begun to shine in the former pink rangers eyes.

Tori gasped, but broke her eye contact upon the sound of Dasku standing, glaring at the original pink ranger, his hand tightly clasping on to his sword. He raised his sword at Kim and sneered.

“ I don’t know where you came from, but you are going to pay for what you just did.”

Tori had begun to lower herself into a fighting stance when she felt Kim’s hand at her wrist.

“ Don’t. I’ll handle him; you help the others. Tell them Trini and the others are upstairs and need help too.” Kim ordered.

“But-”

“Do as I said!” Kimberly snapped as Tori began to protest. “I can handle them.”

“Argh!” Dasku leaped, the ends of his cape flaring in tides of fabric ripples in the air, and landed just a couple of feet before Tori and Kim. Before Tori could even realize what was happening, Kim pushed her out the way as Dasku streaked in to a blur of green light heading right towards them. Dasku advanced on Kim, slashed with the steel of blade glaring in the specks of green energy. He kicked in combinations quicker than the eye could catch. He was stunning, deadly and no easy component to battle with especially unmorphed.

But the most astonishing thing was Kim, whom fought with her body outlined in an abnormal pink glow, anything but incompetent, to Dasku's attacks.

[Kali_WolfChilde]

wowwowwowwow. just was able to catch up, and man, this fic rocks. KIU

[Zili]

This is just excellent! I don't mean to rush you, but please post more soon.

[Kimberflames]

“ What is going on in there?” Kat inquired as she stepped close enough to see the tavern, but far away enough not to disturb her zeo morphing energy.

“I have no idea, but the other rangers need our help.” Dana spoke from her side. “The question is how are we supposed to destroy that device, if we don’t know who is carrying it?”

“Wish we thought of that sooner.” Ashley grumbled, checking their surroundings for any lurking danger. The town was built of two columns of shacks with cavities of alleyways peaking out between every few cabins. The single road that ran between the town burned tan under the hot sun, the ground pressed flat with footprints, tire tracks, and litter of glass bottles oozing with liquid substance that puffed steams of smoke.

The tavern that Trini's team was supposed to enter stood off to the right opposite from where they were now. The sound of voices reached outside the bar, but nothing clear enough for them to know if their friends were all right.

Dana edged out a bit further around the shack they hid along side of to get a clear view down each side of the street. The road was completely deserted of any life, but down the far left a stretch of alien motor vehicles parked in wait of their owners.

"Those motorcycles down there," Dana point to the line of bikes for the others to see around her. " If we blow them with our blasters, maybe we could clear out the tavern."

“And hopefully give the others all time to get away.” Kat agreed with the plan. "We have to try."

"But we can't get ourselves captured either. " Kendrix reminded them. " They got both Jen's and Trini's team in there, which means they could easily get us as well."

"Not if we make the explosion big enough for them to believe they're out numbered." Ashley pointed out. "Its the only shot we got."

Kat nodded. "Let's do it!"

******************************************
Meanwhile
******************************************

Hold your breath quiet now don’t say a word
You could run (but) it wont do any good
Prayers forsaken when you lose faith inside
It's not time to die

*******************************************

Aisha watched the chaos erupt down stairs not believing a single thing her eyes just showed her.

They had all saw everything happen clearly from the balcony view as they were about to step out and try to save Tori from being shredded when it happened. There was no way Kimberly could have ran down the stairs in time to get to Tori so fast, so she jumped off the balcony ten feet in the air and somehow landed right in the middle of the bar below.

Right in the middle!

Not only was the jump insane to achieve, unmorphed, the middle of the tavern was at a wide angle that was just impossible to land without at least a good running start off the balcony.

Kim didn't even need a running start!

She just leaped off the edge, body hazing into thin pink embers that made Aisha question her sanity.

What the hell is going on? Aisha's mind screamed, completely baffled with her mouth hanging open. In a blink of eye, Dasku and the hand full of creatures surrounding Tori were tossed towards the edge of the bar in a burst of pink swells that radiated off Kim's petite frame.

She didn't even touch them!

"Oh my..." Tanya couldn't even finish her own sentence, mesmerized by the strikes of pink energy that fused through Kimberly, below them. "How did she...? How?"

The yellow ranger fought to recover some full sentences in her bewilderment.

" I have no idea." Aisha shook her own head mystified. "But that's definitely not a morphers work."

She felt the touch of a hand on her shoulder and looked to her left to find Trini. Her eyes were glued on Kim with the same masking emotions as she could only guess were the one’s she was wearing herself.

“ How is that possible? She’s not even morphed; she can't morph! None of them can with that device Taverist told us about! Even with her power coin fully charged could she do that.” Karone rambled, feeling the throbbing of the pink flares that dripped off Kim's body in to the air, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand and goose bumps to prickle on her arms.

Trini could only stare down at the fight scene below, her eyes mesmerized by Kim unknown power. She only glanced at Aisha as she pulled out her laser gun and spoke out an strict order.

“Its time to leave." Aisha nodded, still enchanted by the performed display of her friend.

*******************************************
Your life
Is it a lie
When you get what your looking for
Your cravings subside
Or will you crawl into
A casket
An early tomb
Lay down and give up inside
She'd rather die

**********************************************

They each pulled out there lasers and hurried to the balcony where they could get an even better view of what was happening below.

Dasku burned with vengeance as he collided in to a one-on-one battle with Kimberly. It was purely mind-blowing, the combat opened up the ground floor to give the two rooms for their astonishing performance.

Dasku was lethal, far more homicidal than even his twisted appearance gave him credit to being, his movement was a flash of spit-fire green energy that exploded with each contact his blows made, his agility was unmatchable to any ranger or monster, Aisha had ever seen. His skill and capabilities was an entire new league that would leave Golder and Zedd weeping in dread. And on top of all his abilities, his jagged sword bleed wickedly with energy across the entire blade, so each swipe of it through the air seemed to pulsate with throbbing energy to boil the skin and pop blood vessels with a cut no smaller than a paper cut!

Aisha witnessed that theory personally as the green glinted sword slashed pass a few monsters in Dasku's attempt to get Kim. Each monster that felt the swipe, lost a limb or their skin instantly swelled to a bubble of fluid that resembled the size of a baseball.

It was gruesome.

And not a single attempt could touch Kim.

Dasku was in a league of his own in mastery, but Kimberly developed a whole new level above him with her hidden expertise.

The pink ranger defied gravity, literally. When she jumped, it was well above everyone's heads and beyond longer than the average split second in mid-air. Her speed was blasts of pink mist and streaks of electricity that left you blinking disbelief, as one moment you saw her and in an instant she was somewhere else. Her arms flung out in movement of wings and a multitudes of fists that could only be seen in the bust of impact when they cracked Dasku in the face and ribs, then sent currents of energy through his body by the bucket loads. The kicks she unleashed were blinding, her keen mobility launched her into various kicking combos that knocked Dasku off his balance more than once. He was unable to regain his ground as her advances flooded him.

*****************************************
When you fall
So spent from emotion
She is what
Brings you to your feet
Where challenges lie
On the verge of destruction
She pulls you back
And she gives you wings
(death wont hold you as tight as she will)

*****************************************

Besides their private match that no one dared to intervene, the monsters bare as much as they could stand of patience and were eager to take their turn at killing a ranger.

Tori weaved her way through the attacks that came at her with attacks of her own she inherited from her study at the wind ninja academy. Skilled in water technics, she ran fluidly through the mob of punches and kicks, blocking them, before sending them to the ground with quick movement to stun them.

First up was Katie, a single roundhouse kick from Tori knocked two of the tangas of the ten monsters down. That alone was enough to topple the balance. The yellow ranger flexed, the muscles in her legs bringing her up from her knees to her feet as with one great heave, she threw the group of creatures off of her and three feet in each direction. Katie grinned and winked at Tori as she grabbed for a reptile creature by the collar and held him over her head by the arms and legs, before she hurled him at its fellow baddies that held Jen and the others, freeing them.

Jen unleashed instantly, windmilling kicks in every direction, each blow catching the neck and head of a creature. She didn't give herself time to identify. Cassie flipped forward till she landed between two large monsters of different origin, and leaped in to the air with a split kick between the two that sent each sailing in the opposite direction. Tayler was in major payback mode as she punched each exposed chest open to her and delivered elbow and knee shots, giving each being that stepped up to her, the appropriate time to gain their much, deserved ass kicking. She had no doubt in her mind that they were grateful.

That was sarcasm of course.

Alyssa crouched herself into a stance, hands flexing into forms of claws as she keyed into her tiger technic that she had mastered within the years, through her father teaching. In close combat, her hands latched on to open throats and chest, raking them her nails and plowing them with kicks and knee blows she turn her body hard into for the pain to ripple through their armor and clothing without trouble.

*******************************************

Can you feel her
Running through your veins
She will always live forever
(Can you bear the burden?)

Can you feel her
Running through your veins
She will always live forever
(Can you bear the burden?)

********************************************

Not to far from the white ranger, Kelsey whipped her way through monster after monster in quick, energic movements, she honed through kick boxing skills. She twisted an arm of a putty till she heard a pop and then flipped over its back to an awaiting cog that hadn't expected her action.

As for Trini and her group, they rushed down stairs, their blasters cutting through the bodies of beast and mutant alike that covered every inch of the bar.

Aisha leveled her weapon at the monster that was getting ready to attack Tori from behind and fired. The monster crumbled to a heap on the floor leaving the blue ninja strom ranger to deliver a tornado kick to another approaching monster along side of her. She glanced over by the flight of stairs and saw Trini and the others firing, knocking down the large sum of mutants around her and smiled, gratefully, before continuing.

Aisha ran down the last few steps of stairs with the others in tow and instantly eloped with kicks and punches coming from all sides. A trophy martial artist, thanks to Rocky and Adam, Aisha dodged the blows to her chest and tumbled beneath them, coming up with a snap kick to the head of a monster in front of her. She turned, back handing the being to her right and shooting down another monster that leaped into the air from the bar to jump her. Instead, it landed on two quanatrons with their backs turned away from it.

Karone spun through fluttering arms and legs that lashed out at her and shot everyone in the chest that sent them spiraling to the floor, stunned. She then lowered her upper body and whipped her legs over her head to a handless flip, her blaster firing blast after blast in midair till she landed back on her feet and kicked out at a reptile creature in front of her.

Tanya plowed through the thick line of monsters and foot soldiers in various of tornado kicks, each time she landed red lines of her laser blaster spitting out energy to the beings around her. Tables and walls exploded with the impact of bodies and her weapon as they received the affliction.

*************************************

You'll turn your back, you'll patronize
She's pleading
You will question your every want
She's bleeding out
She's bleeding out
She's bleeding out

**************************************

It was Trini that saved her blaster for the last resort.

Feeling the vitality of the chaos fuel her passion for Kung Fu, she release it in powerful blows, Trini channeled through her fists and feet. To anyone who would see her would think she was a female Bruce Lee as she set loose an exhalation of chi, which the sudden impact alone, stunned her opponents, before she sent them crashing to the floor with a concentrated attack. Martial arts is about finding your focuses on inner spiritual development, balance, form, and mental awareness. But Trini was pissed and when tempers flared, she delivered hard and fast till no one was left standing.

It was clear, the rangers matched their rival strengths, but the numbers were overwhelming. Without their powers, Trini knew soon the help of their morphers would be what they needed to come out of this without the taking one of her friends lives.

Trini was knocked on to her back by two putties, she hadn't fought against, since her prime as the yellow ranger, her blaster flew out of her hands and skid across the wooden floor through the forest of legs of both sides. She knew she would not be able to recover the blaster in time soon. Everyone was fighting their own intense battles and wouldn’t be able to help her without endangering their own selves.

Both putties were about to hook her with their fists...

POW!

When a loud explosion stopped all attacks from continuing to engage. The ground quaked knocking some off balance and some tumbling to the windows to see debris crashing to the lone road in flames.

************************************

She will always live forever....

*************************************

Taking the distraction as her only chance, Trini flipped on to her feet and did a round house kick to the two putties, sending them crashing on to the floor.

“ Its more rangers! They're taking over Oynx!” A monster cried, being closes to the door. “I’m out of here!” He high tailed it out the door, his action and fear causing a chain reaction through the crowd as they all made it for the back door and in to the deserts sun. Trini and Jen both grinned at one another.

Reinforcements had arrived.

“Get back here, you fools!” Dasku shouted furiously after their retreat. Kimberly still crouched into a battle stance across from him. Pink energy, visible as it flowed on top her bare skin in fiery currents. He growled, stabbing his sword through the air as he glared hatefully at the former pink ranger.

"No matter. I’ll finish you all by myself.” He said, confidently.

“If you think you can.” Jen remarked slyly as she took her position by Kim, the others following suit.

**************************************

“Don’t!” Kimberly barked at them. Trini looked at her best friend still hanging in shock over the energy that licked off of her. Kim's eyes never left Dasku’s as she spoke. “ He’s mine.”

Jen looked unsure. Katie looked to Jen in question, her eyes widen as if asking her if they should listen. Jen looked to Trini and slowly everyone else looked to her, but her decision didn’t matter. Kimberly and Dasku raced at one another, drawing the remaining few who watched back from the incredible battle that intensified before their eyes.

They were both bleeding in blazes of power no one else possessed, but gasped at in awe.

Dasku attacked hard, but Kim countered back, twice as hard and more accurately. Trini couldn’t believe her own eyes as she saw technics, she knew Kim never had when they were rangers. Not to say the former pink ranger was weak nor incapable to learn such abilities, but Trini knew her best friend long enough to know Kim rather practice her gymnastics than to spend a large amount of time enhancing her skills in martial arts. When the time called for it, Kim could hone in on combo attacks she learned from her time as a ranger and her teammates, but a majority of the time, she didn't surpass anyone in mastery or only came equal to them. Now, she could easily outmatch all them, and still be ready to take on another team or two.

Trini could see that the corners of Kim’s lips tugging into a grin of amusement.

She was toying with him. Trini realized, marveled by the revelation. Kim loves every minute of this, which means if she wanted to, she could take Dasku down easily. And she knows it!

****************************************
Death won't hold you as tight as she will.....

****************************************

Trini gasped as Dasku managed to kick Kim in the pelvis and caused her to stumble back a few steps. All in the time it took Kimberly regained her footing, Dasku sent the deadly side of his sword to her side, but Kim rolled out the way and jumped, stretching out her right leg to connect a kick to Dasku’s chest. He tripped over a fallen chair and went down to the floor with a loud thud, his hooded cape whipping back to reveal a small black device that glistened in the sunlight that broke through the window. Trini's eyes keyed on to it, instantly.

The triblockulator.

Trini looked around till her eyes laid upon the fallen blaster she had dropped earlier, she cocked the tip of her foot down under the weapon and snapped it upward, sending the blaster hurling up at her for her hand to catch.

Dasku recovered fast, already rising to begin his attack anew.

Trini spun towards him, the location of the device already encrypted in to her memory.

Dasku raised his sword, prepared to rush Kimberly again.

Trini aimed.

Fired.

********************************************

Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
( an you bear the burden?)
Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
(Can you bear the burden?)

**********************************************

The steady light beam burned through the air in a column of red energy, but Dasku never saw it coming. The machine at his waist caught the blast, crackling and sizzling as sparks flared from the box and melt in its case. Dasku jumped at the sudden fire that nipped at his cape in tiny embers. He patted them out with his hand, while trying to keep his sword gripped in the other.

The rush of energy waved over the rangers and their morphers came to life.

“No!” Dasku shouted as he held the device within his hand.

“Trini, come in, it’s Katherine. Can you read me?” Kat’s voice filled the rangers communicators. “Jen can you hear me?” Jen glanced from Kim to Trini before she replied to the anxious ranger.

Within seconds, Kat, Dana, Kendrix and Ashely entered the tavern fully morphed before they powered down and all gazed in astonishment at Kimberly’s glowing form before them. The group reformed, all in front of the door, before Dasku and Kim.

“Oh my gosh...” Kat gasped at her friend. Kimberly shivered under her friend’s stunned face.

"What happened?" Ashley inquired softly, eyes never leaving the flares of pink on the original rangers body.

Kimberly looked away from their intense gaze, suddenly ashamed and uncomfortable from her exposer. She watched as the wheels turned in Trini’s head and realization dawn on Aisha’s face. The power her small body contained, pulsed through her, radiating her skin, like a pink beacon. The familiar warmth ran through her blood and all her senses awakened fully as they always done before. Kim clenched her fists as the energy streaked up and down her arms as they did whenever she used her power. Kim concentrated to lower the energy that swelled within her, the radiation burning off of her, reducing till her skin returned to its natural appearance.

“You fools! I’ll make you pay for what you've done!” Kimberly's eyes snapped open instantly as Dasku stood up in rage and fired a neon green sphere from his hand straight at Trini and the others.

“No!”

The power within her burst free once again, she felt the pink cloud form around her, pulling her in and teleporting her in a blink of an eye. The energy within her kindled her body and flowed from her hand as she stretched a force field out in front of them. The green beam hit the field and backfired at Dasku, sending him sailing back in to the bar with a cringing thud.

He didn't move.

Kim lowered her arm from in front of her, the field retracting back through her fingers in webs. She glanced over her shoulder at the others, all of their mouths falling open with gasps.

*******************************************
Her eyes widen with terror.
Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
( an you bear the burden?)
Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
(Can you bear the burden?)

********************************************

Trini absently took a step back and Kimberly saw the others with the same expression worn on their faces. Kimberly swallowed and looked across the tavern to where a full mirror hung behind the bar and saw twin pink orbs looking back at her. A slight tremble eloped her, but she carefully pushed it away as she shut her eyes and pushed down her powers, if only a little bit, incase Dasku decided to attack again. She looked in to the mirror again and saw her brown eyes staring back.

“How...?” Trini murmured softly, stumbling over her thoughts.

Kimberly opened her mouth to speak, casually avoiding everyone’s gaze. For so many years, she knew she would one day have to explain. She had practiced what she would say, before she could say anything Tayler spoke.

“ I think we should hold this conversation for later." The yellow rangers eyes inspected the pink ranger as if she were under a microscope, but Dasku's groan split her attention. "Right now, we need to get that information, so we can save our friends.”

“She’s right; let’s finish what we came here to do.” Jen agreed in an firm tone to her voice, but Trini could see the uneasiness in her eye’s as they looked at one another.

Kimberly missed the exchange between Trini and Jen, happy for the delay, but business did need to be handled if they were going to ever see Tommy and the others again. She rolled her head to release the tension in her neck and stalked over to the groaning villain at her feet. Dasku scrambled back against the bar as he stared up at her in pure fear.

Good, Kimberly thought in approval.

“What- What are you? No ranger has powers like you.” He said to her sternly. Now with curiosity, he said, “And the triblockulator would have for surely prevented you from using your powers."

Kimberly kneeled down in front of him till she met his eyes.

“Something, you don’t want to mess with, so don’t do anything stupid.” The others had gathered nearby to hear. “You seem to know a lot about what’s going on; tell us what you know. Where are our friend’s? Who has them?”

A burst of laughter filled the wooden tavern as Dasku chuckled, manically as if he had been told the funniest thing in all the universe. His head tossed back and saliva streamed down his razor teeth and wetted his sickly yellow colored lips.

Kimberly straightened in surprise of his reaction at first, but then felt her patience and temper kick in, refueling her powers. Dasku’s laugh came to a halt and a cry of pain now took over as Kim pulled him up by the neck of his cape and pushed him roughly back on to the top of the bar, his towering height half over the top of the counter. The remaining stools where knocked over on to their side and glass rolled off the counter behind the bar as the tip of his boots scraped the splinters off the floor boards. Kim's eyes were beaming with pink flames as she glared at him, holding him with far more strength than any normal girl her size would have.

Kimberly’s words were icy, colder than anyone knew she was capable of forming as she spoke in a low, but firm tone. “ Tell me where my friends are! Now. Or else...”

Her eyes rekindled with hot flames.

Dasku shiver in her iron on him. “ Definitely not an ordinary power ranger.” He chuckled softly. " I smell power, but you're still out of you league, girl. I rather meet death by you then her."

"Kim...!" Trini reached for her, but jumped back as Kimberly swung Dasku around in to a wooden chair. He collapsed in to it hard, nearly tipping over in it, but Kim made sure it was kept steady.

“The question is what will I do to you, if you don’t give me the answers I want!” Kim exposed her right palm to the mirror behind the bar and a pink orb appeared within her open palm, pulsing with hot pink streaks of her energy.

"What are you doing?" Jen shouted in inquiry.

Before anyone realized what was happening, the orb left Kim’s hand and sailed in to the mirror. It exploded; glass glittered with pink veins as it fell to the floor and bar around it. The aroma of alien liquor intensified as bottles popped open and emptied multi-colored liquids on to the floor, creating small pillars of white clouds of smoke and burning clear through the floors.

Dasku was frozen as he stared stunned at the results of her power, but still he knew it was a way just to get him to talk and nothing more. A smile curled his lips.

“ What are you going to do? Kill me?” He said, deeply amused though the level of her power that coursed within her caused his heart to ache.

This girl, He thought amazed. I've never in my life felt such power.

Kimberly took a step closer, her hand inches from his chest.

“Try me.” She challenged.

Pink energy swirled in the center of her hand, forming a small orb, running currents of electricity ran around its spherical shape.

Dasku looked, one by one, at the other rangers.

"Doesn't this go against your code, rangers?" Dasku leered. "I was merely defensive when you all evaded premises you have no right to stand foot on."

"We have a right to find our friends when your kind takes them." Trini countered back.

"The red rangers, of course..." He flashed them his best smile. " Sorry to say, I didn't grab them myself."

"Who did?" Jen demanded.

“I’ll tell you what I know," He said directly to Kimberly. "If you give me your word she won't kill me.”

"You have our word." Trini narrowed her gazed at Kim.

There was a brief moment of hesitation before Kimberly reluctantly lowered her hand, the orb disappearing in a buff of thin mist. The fire in her eyes died and two pools of brown dawned in their place.

“ Tell us what you know.” Jen said coming up to Kim’s side.

“ Some time ago, rumors started to reach the darkest places of the universe. I, myself, am not part of this region of the universe and I heard what was rising here. It wasn't till I got here that I felt the power, myself.” Dasku started.

“What were the rumors?” Dana inquired pushing him further.

“ Queen Diamond has returned to this part of the galaxy to take over what was once her fathers. You might say back before you rangers, she was the true Princess of Darkness.” He eyed Karone distastefully.

“ Now she is Queen, one whom isn't at all, so weak to become one of you. Wouldn’t you say, Astronama. Or is it Karone now?”

Karone raised her chin, proudly. “ Watch what you say, Dasku. I may be on the side of good, but I have not forgotten all I have done as Astronama.” Her voice was tight with Astronama’s edge and deadly venom tone. "And what I could do to you now."

"Is that right?" Dasku could only smile in satisfaction.

“Get on with the information,” Katie rounded to his front. “ Our friends... does this, Queen Diamond have them?”

“Yes, but if I were you I would leave them for dead. Your powers are useless against hers.” He pointed his gaze at Kimberly. “ Even yours, pink ranger.”

“You have no idea what I can do when motivated.” Kimberly shot back, boldly.

"I've witnessed enough." Dasku leaned forward in his seat. “You rangers have no idea what you are dealing with. She’ll kill you, just like she’ll kill your friends. That is if they're not already dead.”

“If she could do that, why hasn’t she shown up sooner? Why didn’t I know of her?” Karone inquired.

“She was thought to be dead. When her father died many years ago, no one knew what happened to her. Not even Dark Spector. Of course then, he was a servant to her father's as you were to Dark Spector.” Dasku explained.

“Why did she take the red rangers? Why not all the rangers?” Kendrix asked in curiosity.

“I don’t know the answer to that.” Dasku shrugged. "I've told you all I know. You'll keep your word?"

Karone leaned closer to Trini, keeping her voice down. “ We should be able to get more answers from Elder Heida on Queen Diamond.” Trini nodded in agreement.

“ I think we got all we needed. Let’s start to move out of here. "Trini looked back to Dasku. "My word is kept."

Kim folded her arms over her chest as her eyes met her appointed leader and childhood friend in annoyance. We shouldn't let him go. Kimberly mused. He said it for himself, he's not from this part of the universe, he’s here for a reason.

But what else can we do, if we don't let him go?

******************************************
Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
( an you bear the burden?)
Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
(Can you bear the burden?)
*********************************************

The answer caused fiery heat up and down Kim's arms. None that was visible to the eye.

Tanya informed Katie about Alpha being stored away upstairs and minutes later, they returned with Katie cradling Alpha 5 in her arms as if he were a newborn baby. Taverist was in tow looking around at the large mess with a displeasing eye. A string of curse words came muttered from his thin lips.

The rangers began to move towards the door, but Kimberly didn’t move. Her arms were tightly folded over her chest as Dasku looked up at her, studying her as if he were looking right into her.

“I never thought I'd see the day, when a power ranger would become like you.” His eye’s narrowed. “ Out for blood are we?”

Kimberly was disturbed by the question, but not surprised the question was asked, she had often asked herself the same thing. What have I turned into? Kim thought in disgust of herself, remembering the fear on Trini and the others faces.

“Kim?” Trini called.

“ I feel it in you, pink ranger. You feel it in you.” Dasku continued ignoring the others presence. Kimberly tensed at his words. “ Something is dark within you. Those powers you contain are not natural, far too much for a ranger to contain. I feel it... see it in your inflamed eyes when you watch me fall to your supremacy. Your no better than the evil you fight.”

Kimberly’s jaw was set and her hands were now trembling fists at her sides as Dasku smiled in glee of his own revelation. But wasn’t it true...? Wasn’t she evil?

"Help me!"

The little girl.

Tommy.

She caused so much pain, Kim wasn’t sure whom she was anymore. Or rather she should be on this mission.

The fear in Trini’s eyes after she touched her.

The fear of the others after her hidden powers were put on display.

They all feared her.

She was untrustworthy. A monster.

”Kimberly,” Trini’s hand was placed on her left shoulder, shaking Kim from her absorbing thoughts. “It’s time to leave.” Kim nodded glancing briefly into her once best friend’s eyes.

She was always able to tell Trini anything...

Kim nodded, but looked at Dasku one last time, her own eyes pored in to his disfigured face. Funny, how the next few words came so naturally from her lips.

“ If I hear that you told anyone we were here and why...I’ll find you. And then, I’ll kill you.”

...Times were different now.

It had to be.

**************************************

Can you feel her running through your veins
She will always live forever
*****************************************

The rangers left from where ever they came from, leaving Dasku in their wake to ponder what had occurred, he re-evaluated the situation.

He had to admit, their attack had been unexpected this soon, the device was for future encounters and unfortunately it was the only device he contained. However, none of that mattered, the ranger they called Kimberly was immune to the stolen alien technology. She out matched him easily, and in the end, he had failed.

Failed, for the first and last time.

Dasku stood, collecting his sword from the ground as the owner of the bar went about his business in cleaning up the place. He walked up to him, his footsteps causing the loose floorboards to creak and whine beneath his weight.

"You gave them the Alpha...?"

Taverist looked up to meet his eyes, but they only saw the sole of his boots peaking through his long, dashing robes. Dasku replaced his sword back into its case at his side.

"...I worked hard to get that robot."

Dasku left, the tavern, business was permanently closed on Oynx. Rumors said, the owner lost his head.

Literally.

*************************************************************************** ***********

[Kimberflames]

Authors Note: Yeah, I know my misspellings and grammer sucks and I do appologize for it. So thank you very much for tolerating it. For now at least. Thanks Zili, I would have never posted today, if I hadn't same your review up my story on the fanfiction section.

[Kimberflames]

Tommy woke up to the sound of waves and the sun layering his bare chest delicately with warmth. The pain that swam within his head no longer throbbed and his body was unbeaten and clean from blood. He looked down at himself, shirtless and wearing black swim shorts with his bare feet buried under powdered sand. When he stood, he recognized instantly that he was on shores of Angel Grove beach, completely desolated.

The sun began to touch the oceans surface, transforming the sky into a beautiful blend of gold and pink with light brushes of purple. The waves were coming to a calm, folding toward him in light rolls that was when he felt her presence.

Right on time.

She walked towards him, outlined in the sunsets golden rays, her eyes never leaving his as she smiled widely at him. Her hair was down and flowing pass her shoulders and her petite body embraced nicely in a white bikini top and matching mini white skirt. She looked gorgeous, every movement of her body tying him into pure ecstasy.

“Tommy.” Her voice spread like honey over his heart as she stood directly in front of him with lustful eyes.

Tommy held her to him, instantly, his hands roaming across her back, massaging the smooth muscles beneath her tan skin with his palms. She relaxed into his embrace, her arms encircling around his waist and head rested against his toned chest. Tommy was sure she could feel his heart pounding against his chest and his body quivering with fear that she would leave him. Finally, he pulled back only to crest her face within his hands and met her golden, hazel eyes with his chocolate ones, the colors pouring into one another.

“Beautiful...” He said in a light whisper.

He pressed his lips against hers, missing the warmth of pouty lips and sweet tongue, slipping in and out between his lips. He loved that. He held her tighter, his arms firmly around her waist and her arms folded around his neck. Her fingers poured themselves in to his spiked hair, kindling infernos within his chest. She moaned as he sucked gently on her lips and tongue, his body craving the strawberry cream she tasted of as he inhaled the candy of her skin.

Soon, the desperation of air over came them both and reluctantly, they broke their lips seal against one another, gasping for breath.

Tommy looked at the woman in his hold, something he could spend the rest of his life doing, admiring, show every inch of her worth to him. Tears were pooling in her eyes and Tommy realized tears were forming in his.

“I missed you, so much. “ Tommy cried softly. She pressed her forehead against his, her hands running up and down his chest. His fingers trailed across her chin. “ I didn’t think...”

Her fingers pressed against his lips, silencing him.

"I promised you I would come back."

Tommy’s eyes shut momentarily, if she hadn’t been holding him right then, he knew for sure he would have been floating, her words wrapping themselves around him. He felt a comfortable warmth swim through his body and opened his eyes to no longer see her, but a crane, draped in pink light.

Tommy held the crane at arm length. The birds eyes glittered hazel and pulsed with pink streaks that soon consumed both eyes, but even then, Tommy only saw her eyes.

His beautiful's eyes.

Her tears radiated with the pink light that coated her feathers. The crane spread her wings and caught a hold to a breeze. Tommy watched as it flew towards the sunset, pink diamonds falling on to the water behind her.

“Kimberly, wait!” Tommy shouted behind her. He ran into the water trying to catch up with her, until the water reached his waist. “ Please...Kim!”

The crane flew till the setting sun covered her pink glow, leaving Tommy alone and still looking after her.

******************************************************

Tommy awoke to the chill of the chamber throwing ice down his body in daggers. His body was propped up taunt against the cold metal wall, his lone body heat doing little justice to keep him warm. His heart lapped painfully within his chest and his head filled with pressure that multiplied in the cold.

“You all right?”

Tommy eyed the youngest and rookie of them all. He was worried about him more than the others, Shane lacking in experience compared to the rest. The ninja storm ranger’s body quaked and he could see streaks of blood leaking down his chest through his shredded gray t-shirt, but he remained strong and alert non- the- less making Tommy proud. He stared back at Tommy, pulling in deep painful breath and blowing out puffs of steam pass his lips.

“I’ve been better." Tommy replied, trying to shift slightly in his cuffs.

“You looked like you were dreaming.” Shane spoke softly.

Tommy shut his eyes, recalling the dream, the magnificent crane that was Kimberly. He had no clue to what it meant, but every now and then, the dreams provoked him, teased his heart to the point he believed it would combust within his chest. Why her? Why Kimberly after all these years? After all the time it took him to move on? Had he moved on?

Why did he still love her?

“ Yeah,” He saw in the corner of his eye that Jason had woken fully from his restless slumber. The determination to get any sleep had failed them all.

“ I can’t even keep my eyes shut for a good five minutes. “ Jason muttered with frustration in his voice.

“Tell me about it,” Wes spoke. “ It’s freezing in here.” Murmurs of agreement came from the other red rangers in the form of grunts.

“Yeah. I think they’re trying to kill us.” Leo said with flat humor. No one laughed, laughing caused pain to erupt in their chests and strain their throats as if they were bleeding. “Let’s face it, rather or not they get the crystal, we’re as good as dead.”

The sound of locks being turned sounded from the other side of the chamber door and the rangers tensed in alarm. Jason and Tommy looked at one another for a moment each of their eyes reflecting fear.

The door hissed open casting a flood of blinding white light to attack each ranger’s vision. Slowly, their eyes swam into focus to meet the hunting, burning red eyes. She entered, her hips swaying slowly from side to side as if to stretch the piercing sound of her heels. Her eyes bored into each of them and her hand brushed their torsos, fingers purposely dragging across open wounds, an affect much more gruesome than salt. She stopped in the center of the room, her head general observing them from the entrance and only exit to the cell.

Tommy swallowed.

Something is going on, He mused. Diamond was confident and showed it graciously to them each that that just with the tip of her finger she could kill them whenever she pleased. Her greeting them with her presence could only mean one of two things: She was there to kill them or torture them through integration.

Tommy tensed as the clicking resumed.

Click

Click

Click

She stopped... right in front of Tommy. Her smile spread wide, revealing her clean white teeth framed with crimson red lips; the same color as her deathly, abnormal eyes. Her electric blond hair was flawless and laid just as flawlessly around her face, the rest of its length cascading down pass her shoulders. Her perfectly manicured nails gleamed crimson, tapping against the long sleeved black dress she wore. The V-neck front of her dress dropped down her chest just above her stomach, displaying a silver necklace with a black rose jewel hanging between her peaking bosoms. Her bell ended sleeves tented around her slender, ringed fingers and the hem of her dress falling around her ankles and black heeled sandals.

The look she was giving him was enough to push him into illness. Her eyes seemed to burn right into him, ripping away the thick layers that made him a strong ranger and leader of the team. He wanted to look away, but at the same time, the red pools of eyes enslaved him, keeping him glued to her pointed stare.

A long, soft purr flowed from her lips, like a siren luring him to his death; Tommy to clench his teeth in sickness of their intent. Her hand lay on his cheek, fingers lightly brushing his lips. Tommy snapped his head to the side, tugging at his restraints that kept him in place, trying to escape her touch.

“Oh, Tommy...” She moaned softly, both her hands gripping on to his head so that he was forced to look at her. “Did we have a bad dream?”

“Get you hands off me,” Tommy threatened between his gritted teeth.

“My, my aren’t we grumpy,” She pushed his head back against the wall behind him, sending dull shocks of pain traveling down his spine at the hard connection of his skull against cold metal. Tommy’s cheeks puffed as he with held the agony. Her fingers raked through his spiked hair-do, the tips of her fingers massaging his scalp. She leaned in purposely, pressing her chest tightening against his, like a femme fatale. Tommy cringed, his emotions exposed inside and out.

“ I felt you, stirring in your dreams. Reaching out to someone, but what I want to know is who? Who is it that you reach for night after night? I’ve kept quite an eye on you, Tommy, you can’t hide from me.” Her lips slightly grazed his ear. Tommy felt sick, his heart starting to quicken within his chest. “ I think it is obvious that I need to remove whomever your heart holds dearest, in order for me to get what I crave,” She looked him now dead in the eye. The way her red eyes gleamed, like dark rubes caused him to shiver. “ Don’t you think so, red ranger?”

“ I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tommy spoke calmly though he was starting to become a little shaken.

“We told you, we don’t know where your crystal is; we don’t even know what you’re talking about.“ Jason roared, struggling in his cuffs. An energy orb struck his chest, causing his body to stretch out in shock and his mouth to open into a wordless cry. The energy soon drained from his body, leaving him leaning heavily forward in his chains, gasping for breath.

The other red ranger’s all fought against their restraints at the sight of her powers seeping through him, but it was no use. The metal that gripped their wrists and ankles held on to each of them tightly. With a smirk of approval, she made eyed each ranger, her palm landing on them all, one by one. A silent threat to not be interrupted again passed with each contact.

“ The prophecy tells me otherwise: Within the strength of warriors the power is born in red, lurking beneath the heart the crystal is folded in hand." She quoted from something none of them recognized. “ One of you has it, there is no mistaken that.” She turned back to Tommy her hand replaced back on top his forehead. “ And since, you are considered the greatest of them all, it is you who will pay first for keeping me from what is rightfully mine... I’ll take away what you cherish as you have chosen to do to me.”

Her hand glowed a rose colored red against his forehead, heat radiating of her slender hand and pulsing through his blood as if she reached right into him and grabbed on to his very soul. Tommy felt his mind open to her, like a book full of pages, and she turned them till she found just what she sought. Tommy fought to resist, but his body was paralyzed to her power. She read the pages of his subconscious mind, practically tearing his heart to pieces as she smiled at new discoveries. Her hand removed from his head and Tommy pulled in deep breaths, his forehead beaded with cold sweat that burned his skin. Tears swam in his eyes as he saw the images of what she was prying through relapse in his mind.

The beach.

The pink glowing crane

Kimberly...

[Kimberflames]

Heave the silver hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually you'll one day know...

- Wasteland by 10 Years

******************************************

Kim went to the tech bay room and found a spot near a window that outlooked the millions of stars flooding the distant planet Onyx. She leaned heavily against the wall, exhausted in every possible way, from the battle with Dasku... and the revealing of her powers. Kim thought that she could be careful, keep that darkness to herself, but avoiding the painful truth was a falsehood on its own. Her powers were apart of her and Kim knew she couldn’t hide herself from the others for very long.

The others didn’t say anything to her, nor did she allow them the chance to as she gave all her attention to Cassie, Tanya, and Trini working on Alpha 5. Kimberly’s heart was crushed with emotions for her dear friend, the sight of him limp and lifeless engraving into her mind. His body was rusted and cratered with dents burnt black, guts of wires and circuitry spilling out along his chest. His visor was broken and arm ripped entirely from his body.

To anyone who never meant an Alpha robot, knew that they were more than a machine; they lived, burned with life and their very own emotions that allowed them to feel. They had a heart regardless of how they were crafted, making the sight even more sickening.

Kim crossed her arms over her chest and watched the three rangers at work. The air was thickening with tension, the tavern chaos still on each of their minds. She met Trini’s eyes briefly, neither able to keep the contact, before Trini went back to the repairs and Kim’s gaze, back to the stars or her best friend, they were working to repair.

“ They really messed him up bad; almost beyond repair. His circuitry is practically fried, but I think we can replace some parts, others I don’t even recognize at all.” Cassie removed a burnt microchip plate and studied the piece, held by a pair of needle nose pliers.

“ Alpha 5 is an older model; even if we knew all the parts we needed to make the repairs, they wouldn’t work. He needs an complete upgrade and without the right technology, we can’t provide that for him.” Trini said, setting her tools down with a soft thump. Frustration was masked on her delicate features.

“What does that mean?” Kimberly spoke, verbalizing her presence in the room for the first time.

“It means that even if we’re able to get Alpha back online, it wouldn’t be too long before his operations completely shutdown and his memory chips become erased.” Tanya signed, placing a hand on the robots odd shaped head. “The Alpha we know would be gone. Permanently.”

Kim sprung from the wall to the table, where Alpha was laid out with tools at his sides. Trini came to Cassie’s side across the table from Kim and Tanya, seeing the aggression burning through Kim.

“So that’s it?” Kimberly looked at each of them with harden eyes. “ You’re just going to give up? There has to be something you can do.”

“Kim, its hard for us to say this as much as it is for you to hear it, but there’s nothing we can do. We tried everything.” Trini tried to speak in a calm tone of voice, but her heart gave out to the rising despair of the pink ranger and the one lifeless on the table.

“If you tried everything, Trini, you wouldn’t be telling me this.” Kim snapped.

“Well at least I can tell you the truth when you need to hear it.” Trini shot back. Kimberly felt the comment hit her heart with a ton of bricks, but didn’t let Trini see how much it hurt her.

I’m not telling you the truth, because you wouldn’t understand, Trini. Kimberly wanted to cry out to her in reply, to make her understand all the things she’s been through, but knew it was something she couldn’t do.

Not yet.

“You guys, stop it.” Tanya said, raising her hands in the air to settle the fuming tension in the room. She looked between Kim and Trini and back again, trying to grasp on to eye contact with them, so they would hear her. “ We all care about Alpha and we all hate to face this, but we have to.”

“Tanya is right.” Cassie agreed, laying down her tools. “ This is hard, we all know that, but the truth is we have to do this. If this Queen Diamond is as lethal as Dasku warned us, we’ll need to be prepared. What if Alpha knows something? What If Zordon knew something?”

“We have to revive him, even if we know what is going to happen.” Trini crossed her arms tightly over her chest looking away from Kim and down at Alpha.

“ D.E.C.A., alert the rangers. Tell them to meet us in the tech bay room.”

“Command, understood.” D.E.C.A. said, then repeating the command to the others around the ship.

Tanya sighed tiredly, taking the break to massage the tightness that gathered around her neck. Cassie collected what equipment she need to put the finishing touches on Alpha 5 and stored away what things she wouldn’t need.

Kimberly hugged her arms around herself, finding her way back to the window as she sank back into her meditation. She sought out her anguish and tried to lower the strong emotion with reasoning, but no amount of logic could take away the situation they were in. Even if the heros heart bleeds, sometimes you had to sacrifice one for many. Kim felt the tears well up in her eyes, her heart shivered and tensed in realization.

Alpha 5 was going to die.

Trini’s fists tighten at her sides and her jaw set. She hated this. She hated that this had to be the right thing to do just for information. It wasn’t a fact that Alpha knew anything about what was happening at all, but the chances were too great; the time was too precise. If Taverist knew about Queen Diamond and had given them Alpha, that had to mean something.

Alpha 5 was captured for a reason.

Still, knowing that, Trini felt no better knowing they were going to restore life into the droid, just to slowly terminate what life he had left.

Across the room, she watched Kimberly absorb herself into meditation as her body lightly waved with thermors. Trini wished she knew the connection between her and Alpha, the flashs in her mind recaping in rapid bleeps of images and emotions. Trini couldn’t describe the the feeling in words, she just felt as if she were in entire different being, under different skin with other blood cells running beneath. She wanted to say it was her, her feeling, her breathing, her memories, but they weren’t. Deep within her heart, she just knew... it was Kimberly. It was her breathing, being, emotions, memories.

It was all Kimberly.

All remembrance of times she shared with Alpha.

Is it possible Alpha knew where Kim was all this time? Trini mused. That he knew about her powers?

***************************************************************

Silently, everyone entered, gathering around the table witnessing the work that was done.

Trini nodded to Cassie and the pink ranger took a moment to work a few wires along Alpha’s chest penal.

“ Here goes nothing.” She inserted the last computer chip within Alpha’s body and replaced the cover plate back into place. Everyone held their breath as they waited for any signs of life. Cassie’s shoulders dropped. “ I guess, the circuit breakers were more damaged than we-“

Suddenly, Alpha’s front panels came to life, lights turned on and a low hum rumbled from within the droids metel chest. His visor glowed a soft red and pulsed as his words came out jumbled together in gibberish.

“Danerrangersyoumustbewarned.Rangers...” Alpha’s arm moved at his side as he tried to sit up on the table. “Systemoverload...” He repeated the same words, over and over again.

“We have to get him up, before he rolls off the table.” Kimberly said. With Trini’s help they both sat Alpha up into a seated position. Kim grabbed on to Alpha’s right gloved hand to stop him from frailing his arm frantically in the air. “Alpha, it’s me, Kimberly. Can you remember me?”

Alpha’s arm flung wildy and his saucer shaped head tossed from side to side.

“ CircuitoverloadCircuitoverload.Stablize.Stablize...” Alpha’s voice fused in a mixture of pitches and tones. He kicked his legs and his body tossed across the surface of table, threating to be flung from the edge in his wildness.

Aisha and Tanya each grabbed for a leg and held it down to keep him from kicking.

“We have to do something before we lose him completely.” Kat stressed, helping Aisha hold down Alpha’s leg.

“Let me try something,” Trini took off Alpha’s back panel and tempered with the few wires, before Alpha calmed, each of his limbs relaxing from their quicken gestures. Trini reclosed the panel and took a step back. “That should do it. Alpha, how are now?”

“Functions appear to be online.” Alpha reported. He looked around at his new surroundings. “Greetings rangers.”

“Alpha!” Kim beamed, throwing her arms around him.

“Kimberly! Ay,yi,yi.” He hugged her back with his only arm. “It is good to see you are well.”

“And you as well.” She replied, though the look from Cassie reminded her that Alpha would not last long, before his functions would fail, permentantly. The mere thought of losing him, terrified her.

“I missed you.” Kim’s voice trembled with much emotion.

“I missed you as well, Kimberly.” Alpha said, just as heartfelt.

Trini saw the way they each hold on to one anothers hand and secrets pass from one anothers eyes, that casted the rest of them, who stood by silently, in the darkness.

For Trini, she hadn’t seen Alpha, since she and Jason were brought back to the command chamber after the defeat of Maligore, but for Kim, it should have been longer. Yet, from the knowledge she collect through that memory spell back at the Tavern, seeing them now was only proof that fueled her questions. Mystery seemed to revolve around Kim, digging Trini deeper into a deeper pit of curiousity and confusion on what exactly had happen to her during those years she had disappeared.

“ My systems report that I have been severly damaged and that I shall soon be inoperable.” Alpha acknowledged, outloud.

“ No, we can find a way...” Kimberly looked anxiously to Cassie and Tanya, but their silence insinuated the truth of the little robot’s accurateness. Kim’s free hand clenched upon defeat of something, so inevitable for even her own powers to correct. Alpha’s hand squeezed back lightly at hers.

“ My time was meant to come and I am happy to pass amongst my friends.” He said to them all softly, Kim curled her fingers tightly around his on. Alpha held on to her hand just as tightly, wishing he had lips to give her smile. “ What year is it?”

“Its year 2003.” Kat told him, softly. “How long have you been shutdown?”

Alpha stared ahead in thought.

“My data logs inform me that my last memory entry is of the year 2000.”

“Alpha, what happened to you?” Trini inquired, placing a hand on the droids shoulder. “ We thought you were on your home plant, Edenoi, for all these years, and then we found you on Planet Oynx, like this.”

Alpha lowered his head and sighed, sadly.

“ I’m afraid it is a long story...” He looked forward and focused on nothing particular, as he recalled the past few years within his memory.

“ A lot has happened in the last few days, Alpha.” Tanya began, flattening her hands on the table. “ Tommy and Jason as well as every leader throughout the years of power ranger have been taken by some new enemy named Queen Diamond.”

“Queen Diamond, Ayi yi yi yi!” Alpha threw his arm up in the air as his voice expressed his distress. “ Then, it’s true! Rangers, if Queen Diamond has the red rangers, then we all are in grave danger.”

“You’ve heard of her?” Kim inquired.

“Yes, Zordon and I had hoped this time would never come.” He placed his hand on his head as he collected his thoughts.

“What can you tell us about her?” Jen stepped forward. “Why did she take them?”

“I will tell you all I know.” Alpha looked at the room full of rangers as he spoke. “Thousands of years ago, there was a being named Frinan. He was the last of his people that were a dying race due to the terrorization of a morbid King named Dimenis. King Dimenis reigned over several parts of the universe on his own and beneath his command he empowered Dark Spector and all those you’ve come fight in the past.”

“When you say all those we fought in the past, you mean like Queen Bansheera and Trankena?” Kelsey asked, along side Alyssa and Kendrix.

“Rita and Lord Zedd, even Divatox?” Kat added their names with an amused tone of voice. The thought of them three being apart of something so elite seemed almost beyond belief.

Alpha nodded.

“I’m afraid so, rangers.” Alpha confirmed, before continuing. “King Dimenis was the first preeminent being of his kind, all those who feared him, served under him or were killed an act against him. Frinan could no longer withstand King Dimenis’ ways and with determination to avenge the King for the torture caused on his world, he went to the ends of the universe for power to stop him.

“What he found was a power beyond what evil could ever strive to reach in its potential. The Light Crystal of Amora.”

The name caped the air, profound and passionately intense words to the rangers ears that they knew must have held a great importance.

“With the crystal, Frinan was able to rebuild worlds and birth new planets for those whom sought homes. He protected the innocent and entrapped warlords that ruled assigned sectors of the galaxy near his home world.” Alpha continued.

“And with his new purpose to restore peace, he entitled himself with a new name: the White Wizard. As many kindly beings spoke of him to be.”

“How did you and Zordon come to know of him?” Maya asked, balancing her weight on to one leg as she knitted her fingers together.

“The time of the White Wizard existed before I was established. Zordon, himself, was a mere child.” Alpha answered.

Kimberly could hear an odd hum whistle softly from within Alpha’s body and noticed one of the lights along his chest slightly flicker, in and out, before beaming solid again.

“Alpha, are you okay?” Kimberly eyed him for any abnormal signs across his body.

“My systems are beginning to start the first phase of final termination.” Alpha replied softly, reaching out once again for Kimberly’s hand. He was as scared of death as all living things were. Kimberly gripped his hand tightly.

“Alpha…” Trini touched his side and all those who knew him well during their service as a ranger, pulled in tighter to their dear friend.

“I must continue.” Alpha 5 said, strong willed and determined. No one stopped him.

“ As you may have guess, Queen Diamond is King Dimenis’ spawn and for centuries had been to believed dead. But Zordon had for years felt an odd disturbance in the fabric of space around the planet Earth that led him to believe that galaxy would be the first to be attacked, since it was indeed defenseless. With me appointed as Zordon’s aid after his entrapment within a time warp, we re-located to Earth and a waited the day when the first threat would attack the people that inhabited the world. With five powerful coins that Zordon would then dispute to five chosen warriors.”

“Us.” Trini met Kimberly gaze across the table.

“Yes, Trini. You, Kimberly, Jason, Zack, and Billy were those chosen at birth.” Alpha 5 looked between Zordon’s first chosen with pride.

“Zordon knew it would be us all a long?” Kim had always wondered how Zordon knew more about themselves than they saw in themselves the first time they were introduced to the intergalactic being and his aid.

“Yes,” Alpha paused, staring ahead as his body gave a slight jerk forward as if he had been shoved. Trini and Kim arms latched out to hold the droid steady as the whistle within Alpha’s chest became more louder to Kim’s ears, sparks and wires sizzling. The others now heard it as well in a very faint hissing sound.

Alpha carried on knowing his time was near.

“Nearly three years ago, before I was shutdown, Zordon and I were informed of a great distress developing and made immediate plans to return to Eltar for a meeting with the peace alliance between planets that include, Eltar, KO- 35, Aquiatar, my own home world, and several others. The disturbance in space that Zordon had felt for centuries had grew stronger and we could not ignore the fact it wasn’t the empires that had tried to attack Earth before. When Dark Specter arrived, the alliance was convinced it was his power that was felt, but Zordon needed to be sure and take every pre-caution. That was when he assigned a task for me to decode a journal he had first revealed to me: the Amora journal.

“I spent months forwarding all the data to Alpha 6, while the Turbo rangers defended Earth under the guidance of Dimitria. Zordon also instructed me to other tasks that called for me to part with him. It was not long after that I found out Zordon was captured by Astronama and Dark Specter.”

Everyone, including Alpha, glanced sympathetically at Karone to show there was no hard feelings over the past she had no control over, but in spite of their tender compassion, Karone bowed her head in shame. Those years were still sore to her heart.

“So now, Queen Diamond is here years later, when Zordon is gone and you were decommissioned, for what exactly?” Katie inquired still at a lost. “Her share on trying to defeat the power rangers?”

“ So far, she’s doing a pretty good job.” Taylor grumbled, pensively.

“Diamond is here for the crystal, which took her father’s life.” Alpha said, the tone of his voice slightly off and his body shivering with light tremors. “Her father had succeeded in taking the White Wizard’s life with his weapon, but the crystal killed him on its on and disappeared, never to be seen again.”

“So the question is asked again,” Alyssa spoke up for the first time in the room.

“ Why just take the red ranger? Why didn’t she just destroy us all, if none of us has the crystal?”

“To summon…. the crystal.” Alpha could feel the energy in his circuitry rapidly begin to drain as he spoke, but he knew he had to relay as much information as he could, before his last circuit breaker died and his memory slipped away into nothing. “ It is a theory… that the crystal can be summoned again…. by warriors of red, a last…. prediction of the White Wizard’s leaked by oracles and Wicca’s of many worlds ….for thousands of years. Diamond knows the …red rangers are of… that prophesy, but there is still a chance, she doesn’t… know how to carry on…. with the ritual on bringing forth the crystal. She may… believe that the crystal is… with them already.”

“So until Diamond gets the crystal, she believes they have,” Tori began. “They stay alive.”

“At least until she gets tired of waiting.” Jen added. “Or finds a way to summon it.”

Silence passed over the group as all Alpha had told them settled into their minds.

“ R- rangers, it is...ssssss... very... important that you all... understand that... Diamond exceeds all enemies...ssss... you have ever faced before. She wants...sssss... the crystal, not because she...she...ssssss... is vulnerable without it, but...ssss.. because it is the only...sssss... p-power out there to ssssstop her and make her sssss...have the ulitimate power. Ayi yi yi yiiiiiiiiiii.”

Static resumed in his voice and his body jerked roughly. The lights on his chest and visor went haywire. Trini and Kim grabbed him trying to hold him steady, as the other held down his legs from wildly thrashing.

“Alpha, how do can we stop her? What can we do?” Trini shouted over the chaos that swept through his body.

Alpha’s voice, respond in various sounds of static and pitches, but the words he said were shapeless and formed nothing but noise. Small pillars of steam began to leak through his chest plate.

“Alpha!” Kimberly shouted, grasping on to his hand as tears glazed over her eyes, and over flow her lashes. “Wait, Okay? Not yet, I can try to save you. I can.“

“ It is time, Kim-ber-ly….” Alpha shuddered and stiffed as his words soften to a mere whisper. “Thirty seconds…. till permanent shutdown…and my memory…will die…. I will die.”

“Alpha, I’m so sorry. I should have looked for you. I should have looked…” Kimberly sobbed. Everyone hushed the pink ranger clenched the Alpha’s hand as if it were the only thing left to keep her standing.

“Everything is how it should be. You’re home…with your friends. Be what you are… meant to be.” Alpha could feel the last seconds of his life slipping away.

Trini came to Kimberly’s side and placed her hand on top of hers and Alpha’s as Kat, Tanya, and Aisha came to stand beside them. Trini felt tears crawl down her cheeks as she paid her last respects.

“Sword…find the sword of…” Alpha 5’s words were never finished as he found himself blanketed in an eternal sleep.

*************************************************************
Hours Later...
***********************************

“ I’m assuming something is wrong, I have a team ready to help you guy’s-”

“No we’re fine. We made it to and from planet Oynx, fine.”

“Then, what is so important you had to contact me at 3 in the morning, that couldn’t wait till later?”

Billy didn’t mean to come off hot tempered or unhappy to hear that she and the others were safe, it was just the after effects of spending days engaged in work that needed to be tended to with the other rangers still on Earth. With his extentive knowledge and contact with Aquatarian techs, he was needed to divide his time between different projects, while carrying on with his own. Trini understood, Billy was known for taking on so much at a time and on many occasions got so envolved, he would forget to take a break and rest.

Trini was beginning to feel his pain.

“Alpha 5 is dead, Billy.” Trini informed the former blue ranger. He paused, hoping he had heard incorrectly, but when she confirmed it again, Billy heard her loud and clear.

Billy’s hands grasped on to his sandy blond hair as his heart pounded against his chest upon the disturbing news. He looked at Trini through his laptop computer screen, she could see the tears treatening to fall. She knew Billy had always saw Alpha as an equal and friend, and that if anyone needed to know about his death first Billy would have to be the one.

“When? How?” He wanted to know, after a breif and aching silence.

Trini sat in the chair in front of the ships main computer with a sigh as she recalled the past events and told them to Billy.

“ Did you know about her powers? How did she get them in the first place? And why not tell us about them? Her team? Me?” Trini went on as anger drifted into her voice. “You should have seen her, Billy. Her eyes were glowing pink, like Tommy’s eyes did when he was turned into the evil green ranger, only not with flames like hers.”

“I know.” Billy sighed.

Trini frowned as she scooted herself forward to the edge of her seat.

“What do you mean you knew? You knew Kimberly had these powers?” Her voice began to rise.

Billy raised his hands to calm her. “I found out a few months ago, it’s a long story. One that I think Kimberly should tell you, herself.”

“So you keep telling me.” Trini grumbled.

Billy leaned closer to the screen. Trini noticed, he looked more older than he had in the pass few days, since she last saw him.

“Look, I know you’re provoked by this, but as I said before, Kimberly has changed. She’s not the same person we grew up with, there were things that happened to her..things she’s done, that has affected her.”

Trini groaned in fustration as she massaged her temples. She knew deep down she shouldn’t take out her fustrations on Billy, they were both tired and stressed, with the deep concern of their friends held heavily in their minds.

“The team... they’re going to need some answers. I’m going to need answers.” Trini said as her finger wondered idly through her hair. “ I have my concerns about Kim and these powers she has. You should have seen the way she used them, when she battled Dasku.”

“You know as well as I do that Kim will come through.”

Trini spoke finally, though her voice still held uncertainty as she said, “ I hope so.”

Trini scooped her long hair away from her face to rest behind her shoulders as she sat forward in her seat. “ There’s more Billy; Alpha said something about the Light Crystal of Amora and somekind of journal translations that he forwarded to Alpha 6 thats supposed to set everything in perspective for us. Would you happen to know about anything containing those things?”

Billy’s hand went to his chin as he thought for a second, before coming to a conclusion. “ No. Alpha and Zordon never spoke of anything concerning those subjects.”

“ You’re positive?”

“I’ll look through some of the old command centers files and see if I can locate any data I may have over looked and try to get ahold to Alpha 6 on Mirinoi. I can tell you that I have never obtained any knowledge of any Crystal of Amora nor any journal translations.” Billy emphasized looking at the large heap of print outs and software around his laptop. “Yet.”

“Well, when you come up with anything, let us know. Alpha was positive that was the reason why the red rangers were taken in the first place.” Trini informed him.

“One of them has the crystal?” Billy frowned.

“I don’t think so,” Trini shook her head. “ Alpha said that through them, the crystal can be summoned and if she gets her hand on that… I don’t think the power rangers will be enough.”

“I get the picture. I’ll do all I can.” Billy’s face, darken. “ But now that we know more about Diamond, I think its best all of you return to Earth.”

“I’m not doing that, Billy.” She replied. Trini intended to stay resolved with the original plan.

“Trini-“

“Billy, no!” Trini snapped. “ I am not leaving Jason there to die and there is nothing you can say to me that will change my mind.”

There was a moment’s pause between the two, before Billy, not for the first time, sighed in defeat against Trini Kwan.

“ Let me guess,” The scientist spoke. “ The elder in KO-35?”

“Its our best bet right now.”

Billy nodded, feeling his hands shake as a sudden weariness washed over him.

Trini watched Billy through the screen and wished she could be there to console her friend. Since their first day as rangers, Billy was the one who spent the majority of his time in the command center, learning about all the operations, while he became closer to their mentor and humanoid assistant. Watching the former blue ranger, she knew he was still taking the news just as hard as she had, if not twice as hard, and realized how wrong it was of her to try to carry on with business without trying to be there for him.

“ Billy, don’t do it now, okay? You’re over worked and clearly exhausted. On top of everything, we’ve just lost a dear friend to us.”

“ Trini, I understand your concerns, but despite everything, there is still much to be completed.” Billy sat forward in his desk chair. “ I’ve been conversing with Ms. Fairweather and Captin Michell of lightspeed. We came to a conclusion that we would construct new weapons, zords, and even new morphers for us. I think its best we take every precaution.”

“ I agree.”

“ You as well as every other remaining ranger. Everyone has been intensively training and preparing themselves for the ultimatium. I even got ahold to a few old friends of ours.” He managed to grin through his exhausted expression.

“ Adam, Rocky, Zack and I have been pulling a few hours of training ourselves.”

Trini smiled softly. “ So have we. I just help it all pays off, Billy.”

“ So do I, Trini.” Billy said, softly. “ So do I.”

**************************************************************

“Trini,” Jen entered with the others close behind. “ I think we need to talk.”

Trini glanced over her shoulder from her seat in front of the communication controls and saw that everyone, minus Kim, had come to gather behind her. Trini directed her chair around and met Aisha’s eyes as she stood.

“Where’s Kim?”

“She’s still in the tech bay with Alpha 5.” Aisha responded, coming to her side.

“What’s going on?” Trini asked Jen, who seemed to be taking the lead for the others.

“We want to know what’s going on with Kimberly.” Jen answered as f it were plain and simple.

“I think we deserve some answers.” Taylor added, crossing her arms over her chest. The women formed a semicircle before Trini.

“We all know that all those things she was able to do at the Tavern, shouldn’t be possible, unmorphed.” Kendrix said, shaking her head as she recalled the previous events, baffled.

“ Plus, we don’t really know her,” Katie also pointed out. She was not so bothered by the fact that the petite woman carried powers, but rather her constant attitude and distance, that made her stand out the tight circle the other rangers were forming. Katie felt she could relate to Kim, if she ever got to know her. Kim wasn’t the only one with abnormal abilities, but compared to her own enhanced strength, there was no telling for sure what all Kimberly could do. “ And she doesn’t seem to want to get to know us.”

“We just want to know what’s going on,” Alyssa toyed with her fingers as she looked at Trini.

Trini nodded as she looked around, thoughts beginning to crowd into her mind. She met Tanya and Kat’s eyes, both demeanors suggesting it was her choice. She met Aisha’s eyes, an agreement formed between the two.

“You’re right,” Trini said, slowly accepting that they needed an answer. What they would say or do when they found out she didn’t have all the answers was what she was worried about.

Would they still want Kim on the team? As much as they need answers, I need to talk to Kim. Trini mused.

“ There is something you need to know about Kim, something we all need to know. I understand all of you want answers, but the truth is… I don’t have them.” Jen and the other ranger looked at her clueless. Tanya, Kat, and Aisha glanced at one another, knowingly.

“ Before we met with Kimberly at Silver Guardian headquarters, it was seven years, since I’ve seen Kim last. Seven years, since any of us had seen her.” Trini admitted.

“Trini, what exactly are you saying?” Ashley inquired, bemused.

“ I’m saying for seven years Kimberly had disappeared,” Trini gave her the only answer she knew. “ And when she came back, she was the way everyone sees her now.”

“That’s all we know.” Aisha gazed down at the floor, feeling subdued. “ That’s the only thing we know.”

***********************************************************

Amora Journal

Zastan year (Eltarian years, after the war)

Recorded by Zordon Liyuon Klan of Eltar

Translated by Alpha 5

Days has pass by heavily with the stain of the great war, still within each of our minds. The allience of peace is for the most part broken, just as our people, whom lost many close to their hearts due to a great scarfice of their loyalty and honor for all that is good. I had fought along side my own clan and lost people I have held dear to me as well, now I am what my people call a kilom , meaning an orphan. This use to be uncommon amongst many worlds, like my own, now the term lingers on everyones tongues.

All seems so lost without the White Wizard’s guidance. It was he, that binded us together, to unite against evil, but evil proved even too much for his powers and then came his down fall, as many came to view it. I knew him far more well than others. He educated me on many things and there were times he told me, I was the one to educate him. Our beliefs were in a lot of ways similar and our values the same, only now there is just myself. I, alone, have to restore some sort of...hope, not only for my own people, but for all kindly and innocent beings.

I feel that is my destiny.

My purpose in life.

With my dreams in mind, I found the courage I needed to leave my home world and visit with powerful friends of mine to insist me. They were Ninjor, Dulcea, and Dimitria. They like me had the same intentions as I did and helped me, through the countless centeries, to create a fierce power contained in six coins. I call them power coins, each inspired by alien creatures , I found fascinating and very well fitting as they were majestic and mighty. The coins combind with a device, it will transform six suitable beings into a supreme fighting force I like to call...

...The power rangers.
******************************************************

Kimberly was to herself all that morning. No one said nothing to her, since Alpha’s death, knowing everything would only come out of sympathy or repellence to her abilities. Kim couldn’t blame them and for once she was grateful. As a ranger you expect the unexpected with morphing powers; it gives you the abilities to do what was incapable for any ‘normal’ human being, but to have those abilities without being able to morph was something they couldn’t understanding. It didn’t help that a majority of the people on the ship didn’t know her before her disappearance either.

Nor did it help that the people that knew her before, didn’t recognize her now.

Trini and Aisha hadn’t stepped into their quarters all night and that pained her as much as it had provided fear.

She was a monster to them.

To herself.

Kimberly didn’t even know her own identity anymore.

She rolled to her side, the mattress molding to her new position as she reached for her duffle bag and withdrew a photo from one of the side pockets. The glossy and worn paper was folded with fine lines and scratched, but the image itself was nothing but perfection to her.

It was a photo of she and Tommy taken before she left for Florida.

Tommy held her tightly from behind her, his face pressed against the side of hers as he kissed her cheek.

The memory caused her eyes to tear.

She stared at her seventeen year old self, trying to recall, who she was back then. Head cheerleader. Class president. Most popular. Artist and musician. Prom queen and top class gymnast. They were all just titles, everything she used to be and lost, before it happened.

Who am I now? Kimberly asked, herself the same question for seven years, but no amount of meditation, no matter how much she tried to remember, there was no answers. Except for one: A monster. A freak. Someone who didn’t deserve to be here.

Why?

If Trini knew, Kimberly mused. If they all knew…if he knew…

She gazed longingly at the man in the picture. The only identity she knew. The only identity, she prayed she had left.

Kim thought about Alpha, all he had done for her when she was away from the world she knew. Through the most difficult period of her life, Alpha had became someone to confine in when she had to go on without everyone else she knew.

For a long time, she wondered what had happened to him, yet could never leave to search for him, because of her situation. She wasn’t strong enough, nor stable, to search for him at the time, therefore she could only hope that he was well and would return, soon. Even after he had notified her of his departure from earth, along side Zordon to Eltar, Alpha 5 continued to accompany her when the time allowed him too. Then two years later, Zordon was gone, sacrificing himself for peace, he knew thrived beyond war. Alpha was there for her, to grieve and be along side her; to enjoy their companionship sometime later. Soon, over the period of time, the visitations became more limited and Kimberly never knew what happened to him from then on.

Subconsciously, her fists were clenced at her sides. She fumed at her gifts. Her cursed powers that had prevented her from being there for everyone she loved, when they needed her the most.

When she needed them...

The room door came open and Trini and Aisha entered, startling Kim from her reverie. She quicky stuffed the photo beneath her pillow and wiped the escaped tears from her cheek as she sat up to a sitting position on her bed. The yellow rangers each took their own seat across from her on Trini’s bed.

Let the integration begin, Kim thought dryly.

“So I’m assuming you’ve come to punish me for my crimes?” She said, breaking the silence first.

Trini ignored the comment.

“ I thought it would be a good idea, if just the two of us that talked to you, instead of everyone being here.” Kimberly stood, finding she couldn’t keep herself seated any longer, yet couldn’t bring herself to walk out the room. She folded her arms over her chest, tempted to let her mind dive away in the distance her thoughts could take her. Instead, Kim paced a small circle in front of the door, bracing herself for whatever was to come. “ Why didn’t you tell us you had powers, Kim?”

“ What difference would it make?”

Aisha stood glaring at Kim in disbelief. “ Do you even hear what you’re saying or see what you’re doing? How do we know if those powers are not dangerous? Or what if someone had used you, because of your abilities? Have you even thought about how this could even could effect your safety as well as ours?”

Safety? Kimberly latched on to the word, allowing it to twist and bend till heart could reject the pain it felt and strengthen from it.

“ Keeping things like this can also develope distrust between you and everyone else by not telling us you have these capabilities. And not just that, but the way you act when you’re around them. Distant and cold. ” Trini said in an even tone of voice. “Did you even consider how that would make everyone feel about you?”

“ And its more than you not telling us,” Aisha crossed her arms and legs in a form that stated she was only getting started. “ We’re all trying really hard to be rational, but still we have to consider these things, Kim.”

“ I understand what you guys are saying, but you need to trust me...” Kim replied softly.

Aisha shoulders slumped as she clamped her teeth together, both out of anger and an even larger swell of sadness. Kim was her best friend and for seven years of her life, she wasn’t there or even bothered to contact her to let her know she was alright after so much time went by with the other former rangers and herself searching for her. Aisha was worried sick that she may have been taken by an old enemy or possibly a new nemesis, every possiblity was considered. After a long while, Zordon assured them that she was well and just simply didn’t want to be found. Still, that hadn’t stop Aisha from sending the letters that were sent back and making phone calls that connected with disconnected phone lines, till the point she had to come to terms with the fact that Kim just didn’t want to be a part of their lives anymore. Aisha could only do what was left of her to do, she lived her life and tried to move on. Just like everyone else.

“ How are we supposed to do that? Your gone for seven years, supposedly without any powers, and then all of a sudden, you’re back; completely changed from how we all remember you and with a power we know nothing about.” Trini shot back, rising to her feet. “ As far as I could tell you were already losing it. The way you used those...powers of yours was beyond acceptable, Kim. It was as if you enjoyed over powering those monsters at the tavern, especially when you were fighting Dasku. What if you would have killed them?”

“So what if I did?” Kim countered, she could feel her face shadow over as she recalled her combat with Dasku. “They’re the bad guys, Trini, or have you forgotten that? Tommy and the others are out there somewhere, probably already dead for all we know. That monster at the tavern had the information we needed and I got it for us.” Kimberly said, growing even more aggravated as Trini touched on a nerve.

“ In a way that was no better than what Rita and Zedd might have done. That was you being a villianess.” Trini argued back. Kimberly stepped back as if she had been slapped. The insult had hit home. Trini saw hurt pass along Kim’s face and instantly regreted her words. “ Look, I’m sorry, okay?”

“No. No, you meant it. This isn’t about what happened on Oynx or about the fact that I kept my powers hiden from you...Its because everyone is afraid of me!” Kimberly proclaimed, looking from one former ranger to the other in accusion. “The way everyone stared at me...It was fear.”

“We were worried.” Aisha insisted, softly. “ The way that energy traveled across your skin like that...It was like what happened to you when your powers were taking away from you by Rita and Zedd. And the way you used your powers, most moves I didn’t recognize, but I recalled some it. Ninjetti powers.”

“ We’re not asking you for answers, Kim.” Trinistaed firmly. Kim met her eyes dead on. “ I’m demanding it. Not just because I need to know why you put us through so much of worrying about you for all these years, not only because of your powers, but because you could jeopardize this mission and this team.”

Kim eyes flared at the incredulous thought.

“You think I’m a threat,” Kimberly chuckled bitterly.

“I think you’re your own threat, Kim. That’s why I’m demanding to know what is going on.” Trini tried to will the flood of torment down in her heart, her entire soul trembling with desperation and solemn ness.

Kimberly turned away from her. Silence ripped through the room and crashed against the walls with blazing intensity. Kim couldn’t speak, couln’t breathe as her heart pounded in delayed beats. The first signs of tears threaten to cut her eyes.

“ Talk to us, girl.” Aisha voice cried for her their friendship to return, but the last few threads were beginning to perish.

“ Kim…” Trini voiced gently. “ We’ve been best friends our whole lives. I just… You have to understand how hard this is for us. How hard it was when you were gone, when we were searching for you, and to have you here now… The way you are now.” Trini struggled to explain. “ You’re the closes person I’ve ever had to a sister and I just feel like… I feel like I’m slowly loosing you and I have no idea why.”

Kimberly forced the trembling in her body to reside.

“ Give me a reason why I feel like this,” Tears spilled down the sides of her face, twin lines of liquid diamonds in the light of the room.

For a moment, Kim wanted to tell her everything, wanted to let go of the breath she had been holding for years, she wanted to resurface from her years of drowning, but she couldn’t, because she cared for them too much. They were her friends, her sisters, and if they saw her for what she was she knew she would never be able to face them. She wasn’t ready.

You both won’t understand this now, but I’m trying to protect you, Kimberly cried with her mind. I’m trying to protect you from what I could do if I let go. From what I could do, if I told you the truth.

“Get out,” The words washed away the silence, masked away from the desperate need to welcome them back into her life. Trini froze, everything still, yet crumbling away, all at once. Aisha frowned, feeling lost and angst all at once.

“We’re not just going to leave-“

“Aisha,” Kimberly whirled around, eyes hazing with rising pink fire. “Leave! Both of you!”

“ I can’t believe you.” Aisha glared at her and turned on her heels, leaving out the door without another word to voice her disdain.

Kimberly’s lips trembled, her body quaking with emotions, with raging power she struggled to contain. Muteness filled between the two remaining rangers within the room. Trini folded her arms over her chest, inhaling the deaden silence and exhaling all she had left to offer.

How did everything get so messed up? Why couldn’t she just tell us? Trini didnt know if she had enough strength to find the answers or to even consider Billy’s earlier words. So without another word, she left, the door sliding to a close behind her.

*************************************************

Kim stood once again to her lonesome self, everything burning, the entire room in flames with crimson. A ball rolled to her feet, hand printed with those same embers blazing around her, the entire room screaming till a lone voice hushed everything else to a small whisper.

“Looks like its just us,” Kimberly turned and saw the little girl standing in the shadows of the corner, the light only casting down on her pink and white snickers. From the shadows, blood exposed itself in tears of red, and puddle to the floor. A wicked dance of childish giggles stabbed Kim in the chest to the point she felt herself kneeling to the floor and soon hugging her knees tightly to her chest, rocking back and forth, like a cradled infant.

Aisha and Trini never came back to the room, but if they had, they would have seen pink bolts of energy leaping of Kim’s skin in hot currents, and tears rolling down her cheeks.

Each tear bleeding in drops of boiling infernos.

***************************************************************

:cool: :cool: :cool: