Part 3 – The Beginning
Chapter 13 – Waiting
Written By Pink-Green-White-4ever
Story Ideas By: Pink-Green-White-4ever and Marcus

Last Revised: October 29, 2007
Summary: Now it’s all a waiting game…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance
Rating: T for now

AN: Just so you know, I just finished chapter 17, which ended up being 39 ½ pages by last count...which is why I’m sorry it took so long to get this to you guys. According to my Co-Idea man and my test audience, chapter 17 kicked some royal a**, so we’ll see what you guys think.

“Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.” -- Gail Lumet Buckley --

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself. ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’” -- Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn By Living 1960 --

--

“Well?”

Kim grinned at Aisha’s impatience. Tommy had gone to the school to take care of getting some more personal time off, so the Yellow Ninja had agreed to drive Kimberly around since the Pink Ranger had loaned her own car to Billy, who was on his way to Mariner Bay to meet the Pink and Green Lightspeed Rangers.

“I made all the calls this morning. All of my stuff is done, we’re set.”

“And Kelly’s got the RSVPS?”

Kim nodded. She’d put her younger cousin Kelly in charge of helping keep everything for the wedding in order. “The RSVPS, the numbers for the caterers and the seating chart; oh, and the song list for the reception.”

“It’s a damn good thing you’ve made so much cash the last couple of years between endorsements, appearances, and the schools or you wouldn’t have been able to afford adding another thirty plus people to the list,” Aisha told her, reminding them both that they had several new friends that would definitely be in attendance at the wedding, if for no other reason than to ward off the bad guys.

“Tell me about it,” Kim laughed. “You should have seen Tommy’s eyes bug out last night. Between the new numbers for the wedding, canceling our honeymoon reservations, and the fact that he’s scared to be in front of nearly three hundred people, I thought I was going to have to have Hayley come over and shock him back into reality.”

Aisha shook her head. “You’d think he’d be okay after teaching for a few years and of course after being a Ranger for as long as he has been.”

Kim shrugged. “Rocky got everything squared away?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, I think so. He wants to talk to all of his classes before he leaves, to assure them that he’s not skipping out on them. I’m surprised he’s not more nervous about leaving the school for so long.”

“He trusts his teachers,” Kim spoke up. “That says a lot, because I know how hard it is for all of us former Rangers to trust people with things close to us.”

The Yellow Ranger nodded. “That’s because we’ve had to fight the fight on our own, to protect what’s ours. We don’t always do well giving up the reins to someone else when we’re capable of handling them.” Aisha sighed, her eyes catching on her communicator, wondering when Billy was going to be able to get them functioning. The report on the Command Center had been positive. With minimal adjustments and help from Lightspeed, he was pretty sure he could get communications and the teleporter back up. “Where’s Billy?”

“He left for Mariner Bay early this morning. I guess Dana and Joel are meeting him there, and then taking him to meet Joel’s wife and Dana’s dad. Apparently they’re the authority behind Lightspeed technology.”

Aisha smiled. “We can use all the help we can get.”

“Well, from what Jason and Tommy told me, Angela Fairweather-Rawlings is the mastermind behind Lightspeed’s Ranger division.”

“Billy and Hayley smart?”

“Yep.”

“Thank God.”

“Amen to that.”

--

Z stood with Bridge just outside of Rootcore and watched Jack and Sky train together in the clearing. Ever since the night before, when they’d learned about Mirloc being free and Ally being kidnapped, the two leaders had become withdrawn, or cranky when dealing with the other three members of the team. Sky had already had a screaming match that morning with Sydney, which ended with the Pink Ranger cursing him to hell before she stormed from Rootcore and disappeared into the forest beyond. That had been four hours ago, and she had yet to check in or answer her morpher. To say Z was pissed off was an understatement.

It had only been two years since Z had joined SPD, but in that time, amazingly enough, she’d come to think of her teammates as family, with Sydney and Kat and Ally becoming the closest things to sisters, especially Syd, that she’d ever have. From the looks of their relationship, she had thought Sky was beyond losing his temper like a two year old and screaming at his girlfriend, put apparently he hadn’t. She’d been the only one to see the deep hurt that had run across Sydney’s face when the Pink Ranger had retreated. Normally, Z wouldn’t worry too much about Syd, because the Pink Ranger was sturdy as they come, but the fact that Syd hadn’t even fought back beyond cursing at him had said a lot. Syd was hurt, and Z was going to exact a little revenge on Sky before she made him feel lower than pond scum.

“You want to handle Sky, or should I?” Bridge asked, though from the look on his girlfriend’s face he already knew the answer to that question. ‘At least I tried, sorry bud’ he thought, eyes darting between Sky’s back and Z’s face.

The Yellow Ranger gave her boyfriend a withering look. “Oh, Sky and I are going to go a round or two, but as soon as we tell him she’s missing, it’ll kill any fight in him in terms of arguing with me. You know he’ll be in complete freak out mode. But first, I want to give him a good ass-kicking.”

The Green Ranger looked very sober as he nodded, then grinned. “Should I get the Commander?”

“No, I can handle this. Come on; let’s get this over with so we can go find Syd. Udonna said she’d help us if we can’t get her to answer her morpher.”

Even through the emotional haze surrounding him, Jack could all but feel Z’s anger as she and Bridge approached them, and knew in a heartbeat it wasn’t aimed at him. “Oh crap,” he muttered.

Sky, who was bent over on his knees, panting, huffed, “Oh crap what?”

“Z. Pissed off. Eyeing you.”

“Probably about Syd.”

Jack eyed him and took a step forward, eyebrow arched. “Watch it; I’m still pissed off at you about it. You didn’t need to treat her like that, and you know it.”

“She kept pushing at me; I lost it,” Sky grumbled. “I need to cool down before I apologize.”

“Hello boys,” Z sneered in an overly sweet tone.

“Shove it, Z,” Sky warned her.

The Yellow Ranger glared, her body thrumming with anger. “Shove it? Oh, I’m going to shove it, right up your ass, Schuyler Tate!”

Sky glared. “Oh really?”

“I’d call you an asshole, but those serve a useful purpose, and right now, you don’t,” Z told him, getting right in his face. Jack and Bridge stepped back; each knowing now was not the time to get involved. Z and Sky were more than capable of handling each other.

“Ten bucks says she reams him a new one,” Jack smiled while crossing his arms and leaning toward Bridge.

The Green Ranger also had his arms folded across his chest, but one hand was rubbing his chin. “Sorry, I don’t bet against a sure thing, and Z kicking his butt, that’s a sure thing at this point. I mean, Sky’s asking for it, he shouldn’t have treated Syd like that, he hasn’t done that since our early days at the academy…”

“Okay Bridge, I get it. You’re for Z too,” Jack chuckled. “Poor Sky, he has no clue what’s going to happen to his person.”

For several minutes, the pair watched Sky and Z argue back and forth calling each other just about every name in the book. “You know what, why did I even think you’d care that Syd’s been missing for four hours? Do you even really care about her or are you still so caught up about the fact that Mirloc killed your father? I understand it hurts like hell that he’s free, but Sky, would your dad have wanted you to treat Syd the way you did this morning at breakfast?”

Just as Z had predicted, all the fight drained out of Sky, leaving him pale and shaking. “WHAT?”

“Syd’s been gone since you yelled at her. The Commander, Bridge and I have tried calling her, but she’s not answering her morpher.”

Bridge finally came forward and touched Z’s wrist, which seemed to calm her down. Jack put his hand on Sky’s shoulder, knowing how worried Sky was growing by the second. It was almost the same kind of worry he felt for Ally.

“We need to find her, NOW,” Sky growled.

“Don’t bother,” a voice called out. The four turned to see Syd walking into the clearing. Her uniform looked ripped at the knees, she had mud stains all over her pants and shirt, and she was cradling her hands, which looked red, raw, and bleeding.

“Syd!” Sky gasped as she sailed past him, not once glancing in his direction.

“Sorry I worried you, I needed to get my head straight,” she murmured to Z, who touched her shoulder. The four watched as she hurried into Rootcore before everyone’s eyes turned to Sky, who stood watching her go, his whole body shaking at the ramifications of his actions.

--

Billy was leaning against Kim’s car in Dana and Carter’s driveway when Joel and Dana pulled into it in one of the Humvees. “Sorry we’re late,” Dana told him as he hopped into the vehicle behind her.

“That’s okay. I haven’t been waiting long,” he quietly assured her.

“We had some minor trouble yesterday,” Joel started, backing the truck out of the driveway before heading toward where the access corridor was for the base.

Billy’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh really?” Joel and Dana shared a look, wondering if all of the Morphin and Zeo Rangers had been told. “Tommy didn’t say anything about it this morning.”

“I thought Andros contacted Jason?” Dana asked.

“So did I,” Joel shrugged. “Anyway, Karone got a warning. T.J., Taylor and Alyssa got hurt, we found out Lucas and Jack’s girlfriends have been taken hostage,” Joel ticked off each event on his fingers. “Not to mention, Nadira, Lucas’ girlfriend, her father is missing.”

“Ransik,” Billy spoke, causing Joel to look at him in the rearview, noting that Billy seemed knowledgeable about the Time Force Team.

“You got it, and SPD learned that their major baddie and some of his goons, including the dude who killed Sky’s father, are free and possibly here.”

The Blue Ranger looked outwardly calm, but inside, felt the storm brewing. “We just can’t get a break, can we?” he muttered.

Joel shrugged while Dana simply smiled at him when she turned around to face him. “Then we’ll make one ourselves. Hang on,”

Billy looked around in wonder as Joel drove the truck into an underground tunnel and they suddenly found themselves in the base. As the truck was lifted on the platform, Billy saw two people he recognized from Andros’ files. One was Captain Mitchell; the other was a beautiful brunette he knew could only be Joel’s wife, Angela.

“Welcome to Lightspeed Rescue’s Aquabase,” Captain Mitchell announced proudly.

“Thank you,” Billy told him.

“Billy Cranston, my father, Captain William Mitchell. Dad, this is Billy Cranston, Original Blue.”

Both William and Angela looked pleasantly surprised. Dana had said she was bringing a genius from another Ranger team, not the original himself. “And this is my wife, Angela,” Joel proudly announced. “She’s the brains behind Lightspeed’s Ranger technology.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Angela greeted, reaching out to shake Billy’s hand.

“Let’s head to the conference room, and you can tell us what you’re going to need,” William suggested as the group headed further into the base.

--

Cam, Trip, Max, Bridge, Kai and Kendrix sat around the table where the Crystal sat in the main room of Rootcore. Inside the Crystal were Billy and Hayley, each in their separate locations elsewhere.

“Well?” Kai asked.

“Lightspeed’s got perfect equipment,” Billy spoke up. “I’m heading back to the Command Center right now, I should be able to get a link established between there and Lightspeed, Hayley?”

The red haired genius smiled. “Once you get that established, we can connect to the Lair, Ninja Ops, and Rootcore. Cam and I are both familiar with those three systems.”

“Good. Kendrix, Kai?” Billy prompted.

“Andros and Zhane are leaving in about a half hour to get the Megaship from Nasada. Both of us are fairly knowledgeable, as are Cassie and Andros, with its communication systems, so we can help Cam link it up to Rootcore.”

“Good. Hayley, if you need help, Tommy said Ethan might be able to give you a hand.”

Hayley nodded. “I’m going to have him at the Café, working on our emergency system there. Let me know, Cam, when we’re ready.”

“I’m leaving Rootcore in Trip’s capable hands. It’s going to take me about an hour or so to Ninja Streak back to Blue Bay Harbor.”

“We’ll get you there sooner,” Andros called as he and Zhane entered. “We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

The Green Ranger nodded. “Billy, I’ll contact you when I get there.”

“That’s fine. Billy out.”

--

Jen bit her lip as she approached SPD’s Yellow Ranger. Z was in the middle of the clearing just outside of the entrance to Rootcore, working out, and the Time Force Pink Ranger hated to bug her, but thought Z deserved to know what Jen had been hiding from her. “Z, do you have a minute?”

Z sat up and nodded. She could tell something was bugging the Pink Ranger. “What’s wrong, Jen?”

“How much do you know about your parents?” Jen asked softly.

The young Latina narrowed her eyes at the older Ranger. “Why?” Jen gave her an imploring look that had her sighing. “My parents died when I was four or five; I barely remember them. Cruger said they worked with SPD to create the original morpher technology used by SPD Earth. Other than that, I know their names were Danny and Kendall, but I’m not sure what out last name really was, I’ve just always gone by Delgado. Why?”

Z gasped when Jen wiped away her own tears away; the Pink Ranger didn’t strike Z as an overly emotional person. “Z, I don’t want you to freak out, but your dad is here, in Briarwood, right now.”

The Yellow Ranger looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Your mom and dad are still alive in this time period; you’re dad is here.”

It was almost as if a light went off inside of Z’s head. She brought a hand to her mouth to cover it as tears welled in her eyes. “DANNY?”

Jen nodded and kneeled down next to her. “He doesn’t know, Z. I haven’t said anything, and neither has Commander Cruger. I’m leaving it up to you. I have the proof, if you want to tell him.”

Z looked utterly shell shocked as she wiped away her tears. Part of her wanted to scream hysterically, but that part was calmly overrode by the part of her that was a Ranger, the part that was use to dealing with a crisis, especially the emotional ones. It hit her then, that since Sam had joined SPD, she hadn’t really thought about her parents, and now Jen was telling her that she’d met her father and hadn’t even known it.

“Z, we don’t have to tell him, it’s enough that you know, if that’s what you want,” Jen reassured her, reaching out to rub her hand up and down Z’s arm.

“Can I think about it?” Z whispered in question, looking like a lost little girl.

Jen nodded, her heart breaking for the younger woman. “I just…I couldn’t let this go further without telling you, especially if he brings Kendall here, not knowing what I do about how you grew up.”

The Yellow Ranger tried to smile but failed miserably. “Thank you,” she croaked.

“Want me to send one of the others out here?” Jen asked, referring to Z’s team.

Z shook her head. “Bridge and Jack will know something’s wrong before long, I can’t keep anything from the two of them. I just, I need time to absorb it.”

“Okay. I’m going to go inside, see how Syd is after her incident with Sky this morning. Let me know if you change your mind.” Jen quietly headed back into the tree, leaving Z with her face buried in her hands. The first person the Pink Ranger saw was Jack. “I think you’d better go talk to Z,” she murmured.

The Red Ranger gave her a sharp look before he rushed outside to find his little sister. When Jen looked up, she saw Katie standing there waiting for her. “You told her?”

“How could I not, Katie?” Jen asked. “She and Danny both deserve to know they’re father and daughter, especially since he’s been talking about Kendall coming to visit. You heard Anubis, Z grew up without them, it’s not fair!” Jen insisted.

“I know,” Katie whispered, wrapping an arm around Jen’s waist and leading her further into the tree, neither noticing the person standing in the shadows in shock.

--

Xander peered into the library and smiled. Sydney was curled in one of the chairs, a book in her lap. When he got a closer look at her face, he frowned. She looked like she’d been crying. “Sydney?” he asked softly, kneeling next to her chair. “What’s wrong, Gorgeous?”

Her head jerked up and she tried to make it look like she was crying over the book. “Sad…” she muttered, holding up her reading material.

Xander raised an eyebrow at that. She was reading a book of poetry by Shell Silverstein. “You cry over poetry?” he asked.

“What, I’m not the type of person to cry over poetry?” she growled.

The Green Ranger brought his hands up to shield himself. “I didn’t say that.”

“Sounded like it to me,” she pouted.

Xander lifted her chin with his fingers. “Syd, what’s wrong? Really?”

“Sky…” she uttered, before she tried to blink back the tears.

The Green Ranger sighed and stood up. He reached under her and lifted her off the chair before he sat down with her in his lap. He let her lean against him and cry. Finally, after she calmed down, Xander looked up and saw Clare watching them from the doorway, the look on the sorceress’ face a mix between jealousy and hurt. He motioned for her to come in when he realized Sydney was sound asleep. “Is she okay?” Clare asked, her voice tight.

Xander gave her a look before nodding. “Her and Sky got into it, apparently,” he told her softly. “If I carry her upstairs, can you get her settled? I think Sky and I need to have a little talk about how to treat women.”

The tension between them melted when Clare realized Xander was just trying to be a good friend. “Sure. Here, let me,” she murmured, snapping her fingers when Xander stood holding onto Sydney. The trio disappeared in a flash.

--

“That was much better than Ninja Streaking,” Cam grinned when Andros and Zhane stopped near the waterfall in the forest outside of Blue Bay Harbor.

“How much further do you have to go?” Andros asked.

Cam just stood there, a bashful expression on his face. “Not far, but the school’s location has to remain secret, even from you.”

The Silver and Red Rangers nodded. “Will you be okay getting back?” Zhane asked.

Cam nodded. “Reefside isn’t far from here, I’ll catch a ride back with Hayley if the others aren’t here yet, or if they’re gone before I’m finished,” he told them, referring to the Ninja Rangers coming back to Blue Bay Harbor to talk with their students.

“Okay, good luck,” Andros called as he and Zhane lifted off. As they disappeared above the trees, Cam headed into the academy through the waterfall entrance.

--

“Welcome to 2007,” a dark voice rang out, welcoming the group who stepped through the portal at the edge of the Dark Forest.

“The First!” Ransik gasped and then grunted when Gruumm slammed his staff into his stomach.

“Quiet!” Gruumm ordered. “The First? I’ve never heard of you,” he leered in challenge, stepping forward until a large sword stopped him. “Ah. The one and only mighty Koragg.”

“You’re here only because you have experience with the wretched SPD Rangers, and because you were able to get Ransik and Nadira, remember that,” Koragg warned him.

“So, what’s the plan?” Mora piped up, causing the others to stare at her.

“Mora, we need Morganna.”

“NO!” Mora pouted. “THAT’S NOT FAIR!”

The First moved toward her, finally stepping into the light. Mora screamed and backed up. “Don’t toy with me, little girl. You’ll do as you’re told, understood?”

Mora nodded. Broodwing scoffed. “Since when do we take orders from a Power Ranger?”

The First swung toward the Bat. “You can be sent back to SPD. Don’t challenge me.”

Broodwing glared. “You’re a washed up has-been.”

“And you’re a Bat in a fishbowl!” a new voice ground out. “I’ve seen the damage The First can do to the Rangers. You want to weaken them, make them ripe for the picking, you take out their heart.”

“Lord Zedd,” Gruumm greeted. “It’s been a long time, Zedd.”

“Not long enough, Gruumm,” Zedd spat.

“ENOUGH!” The First ordered. “Koragg, once we get back inside, see to the prisoners. Imperious!”

The mummy-like figure came rushing out of the entrance to the pit. “Yes?”

“See to our ‘friends’.”

“Of course.”

“Do you think we’ll have problems with them?” Master Vile asked.

The First shook his head. “If we do, they’ll be the first to go.”

--

“What do you mean you can’t tour?” Tanya heard come through the speaker of her phone, which was sitting on the desk she was currently trying to straighten.

“I have a family emergency,” Tanya told her manager. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone.”

“Tanya, babe, this isn’t like you!” he argued.

The Yellow Zeo Ranger rolled her eyes. ‘It was in high school’ she thought wryly. “Look, my family needs me, I’m sure everyone will understand. I’ll do double the appearances when this is over. I promise. Look, I’ve got to go.”

“Call me when you get back.”

“Of course.”

Adam was leaning against the doorframe to her office when she looked up. “How mad is he?”

“Pretty mad, but he’ll have to deal. I’d rather help save the world than not have a world to perform for.”

The Black Ranger snickered at her tone but nodded. “Justin’s ready to go when you are.”

“Did he find a house?” she asked, looking hopeful.

“Four bedrooms and a den, big kitchen, four or five baths, a deck, and a big backyard.”

“For rent or to buy?”

“Vacation home, for rent by the week. Justin called them already, told them money’s not an issue.”

Tanya grinned, it was sounding better by the minute. “Location?”

“Five blocks from the record shop,” Adam told her.

Tanya cracked up. “Call and tell the others.”

“Done. Our communicators are working.”

“Which means Billy’s been busy. Let’s get back, get the house, and get settled.”

Adam nodded. “You got it.”

--

Alyssa watched Danny with curiosity. He seemed more quiet than normal, as he and Cole worked through a Kata. The pair moved in perfect unison, as if their time as Rangers together hadn’t been five years before, but just a week ago.

“Danny, what’s wrong?” Cole asked, stopping their kata.

“Nothing, I’m just tense,” Danny shrugged him off, moving back into position to start the exercise back up.

“Danny.” Cole’s voice spoke of his authority over the Black Ranger, but it also spoke of their friendship, and the fact that they both knew Danny needed to get whatever was on his chest off it.

Finally relenting, the Black Ranger sighed. “I overheard Jen and Katie earlier this morning, talking about something.”

Cole frowned. “What?”

“It has to do with Z, and me,” Danny told him, piquing both Cole and Alyssa’s interest.

The Red Ranger motioned for Alyssa to join them. “Danny, what is it?”

Looking up, the Black Ranger let out a breath. “If I heard correctly, Z is mine and Kendall’s daughter.”

Cole’s eyebrows arched and his mouth dropped open while Alyssa covered her mouth with her hand, her head shaking back and forth slowly. “Are you sure?” Alyssa gasped.

“Not a hundred percent, but Jen seemed pretty upset by the whole thing.”

The Red and White Rangers shared a look. “I’ll talk to her about it,” Alyssa whispered before she went back inside the great tree behind them. The Red and Black Rangers were left staring at one another.

“What else aren’t you telling us?”

Danny sighed. “It’s something that Jen said, that’s really getting to me.”

“What?”

The Black Ranger looked at his friend and leader. “She said Z hadn’t known her parents. If Kendall and I are her parents, how could she have not known us?”

Cole seemed at a loss for what to say. “I don’t know, that’s something you’ll have to ask her.”

--

Conner sat staring at the table, dread knotting his stomach. He’d decided that it was time to tell Krista what was going on. Thankfully, Hayley was letting him use the café before hours as a neutral meeting place. The Red Ranger felt completely out of his element; he was use to keep his identity a secret, not sharing it with people.

“Conner?” Krista’s soft voice brought his head up, a look of utter terror in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Your call sounded urgent.”

“You’d better sit down; this is going to take a while to explain.” Krista nodded and slowly sank into the chair across from him. “First of all, I lied to you about having to go to a soccer camp.”

“Why?” she demanded.

Conner winced. “Because until I discussed some issues with my teammates about the real reason for going, I thought I was going to have to keep this from you.”

“Conner, you’re not making any sense,” she told him, her body language screaming confusion. “Why are you acting like this? You haven’t been like this since high school.”

“Krista, I have to go away, and I’m not sure for how long, or if I’m ever going to make it back, to be honest.”

“What?”

The Red Ranger steeled himself. “Krista, I’m a Power Ranger, and when I left, it was because I’d been called out retirement to rejoin my team, as well as ever Ranger team of Earth, including a few future ones, to participate in a war.”

“Conner, this isn’t funny, quite joking.”

He saw the look on her face – she believed him but she wasn’t really accepting it. “In 2004, I stumbled into a room of high tech machines and computers, while on detention. I found a red piece of rock. It turned out to be the Red Dino Gem. With a little help, I became the Red Dino Thunder Ranger.”

Krista shoo her head. “That’s impossible! The Red Ranger saved…”

“You, when Zeltrax took out the tree you were trying to save; saved you from falling off a cliff by activating his battlelizer on his own for the first time.”

“Why did you lie to me? If you haven’t been a Ranger since then, why lie?” she angrily demanded.

Conner’s face went deadly serious, prompting Krista to gasp. “Because, our identities were to remain a secret; few people know who our team was, and they’ve been extraordinary at keeping our secret.”

“We?”

“Me, Kira, Ethan and Trent.”

“That’s only four. Who was the fifth?”

Conner sighed. He hadn’t wanted to tell her. “Right now, it’s Hayley; because of the identity of our original Black Ranger I won’t, not can’t, tell you who it was. If it ever got out, the person’s life would be destroyed.”

“Who else knew, originally?”

“Cassidy, Devon, and Hayley, that I can tell you. There are several others who knew, but with what happened, I can’t tell you their identities.”

Krista sat back and stared at him. She looked like she wanted to believe him, but need proof. “Conner…”

He held his wrist out so she could see the silver bracelet with the red gem on it. “Show her, Conner,” Ethan’s voice announced. Krista and Conner were surprised when Ethan, Kira and Trent emerged from the backroom.

“You’re kidding, right? Please tell me this is some sick joke,” Krista started to beg, the panic rising in her voice.

Conner stood and joined his teammates. Both Kira and Ethan touched his shoulders in support while Trent nodded. “Ready?”

“READY!” the three responded.

“DINO THUNDER…”

“WHITE RANGER…”

“…POWER UP! HA!”

Krista watched with wide eyes as the four friends were suddenly replaced by four color-suited heroes. “You…”

Carefully, the four popped their helmets off and stood before her. “Yes,” Conner spoke.

“Why now? Why have you been called back? Haven’t there been other teams since?” she questioned frantically.

“Power down!” Conner ordered before the four sat down at the table with her. “Krista, calm down.”

“Every Ranger team back to Earth’s originals has been called back,” Trent started the explanation.

“Why?” This time, her voice was less frantic and desperate for answers.

“In November, the Mystic Force Rangers defeated their big enemy,” Kira started. “Only, it started a massive chain reaction, which brought back a lot of our enemies from over the years.”

“Okay.”

“The original Yellow Ranger, who’s dead by the way, and the original mentor of the Rangers sought out each team, Mighty Morphin to Mystic Force, to help restore the peace,” Ethan told her, watching her blink rapidly.

“Why tell me?” Krista asked Conner, who swallowed with difficulty.

“Because I love you, and I refuse to lie to you,” Conner told her. “But I had to have the team’s blessing to tell you about them. Knowing our identities makes you a target, Krista, but not knowing and still being with me makes it worse.”

The brunette nodded, a gentle smile playing across her face. Reaching out, she took Conner’s hand and tugged him toward her. “I love you too,” she murmured before their lips met in a sweet kiss. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Krista, you’re going to have to be very careful now,” Hayley’s voice informed her as the red haired Black Ranger entered from the back room. Krista nodded. “Cassidy and Devon have been informed, if you have any problems, find them.”

“Okay. When do you have to leave again?” she shyly asked Conner.

“As soon as Hayley and Ethan can link up our base and the emergency system here with the other Rangers’ bases.”

Hayley leaned against the bar. “Probably sometime tomorrow morning,” Hayley announced. “The others are just about done on their ends.”

“So, are we just about ready to leave?” Ethan asked. “I called school, explained I had family problems to my professors. Considering the semester just started, they said I’d be fine.”

“I wasn’t really busy with gigs in New York or with school right now, so I’m cool,” Kira remarked.

“Carson’s holding down the fort, and Dad was cool with everything,” Trent supplied.

Krista’s eyes widened at that, remembering how his father had once bee. The others started laughing at the look on her face. “Your dad knows, doesn’t he?”

Trent nodded. “Carson does too.”

“What about you, Conner?” Hayley asked.

“I wasn’t planning on taking classes this semester,” he started. “I just told my parents I was heading to an interview and if I got the job, I’d be out of touch for a few weeks.”

The Rangers grinned while Krista shook her head. “You’re getting too good at lying,” she muttered.

“No, I excelled at it during High School, I’m rusty now. Besides, semi-secret identity here,” he reminded her.

“Point taken,” she grinned. The ensuing laughter at Conner’s goofy expression managed to lighten the tension between them.

--

Xander stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Clare was next to him, quiet, but she knew the Green Ranger could feel her anger at the situation as well. The pair stood there watching Sky, who was sitting on his bed, head practically in his hands, looking extremely pitiful. Clare knew Xander was furious about what had happened with Sydney, and knew if she wasn’t present, the argument to follow would unravel into a fist-fight, and Sky probably wouldn’t stand a chance. Xander was generally a mellow person, but she could feel the anger pulsing off him in waves. He was sensitive where his friends were concerned, especially friends that were girls, and Clare knew he now considered SPD’s Pink Ranger a friend.

“Please don’t kill him,” she teased as Xander looked down at her. “I have no clue how we’d explain it to Udonna.”

“No worries, Clare. I plan on making him feel lower than dirt; I’m only going to beat him to a bloody pulp when Syd asks me to.”

The blonde haired sorceress winced when Xander strode into the room and stopped next to Sky’s bed. “Is there something I can do for you?” Sky asked his movements and voice sounding more lethargic than Clare had thought he’d be.

“Explain to me why I found Sydney in the library, crying, because of you,” Xander all but ordered. The Green Ranger wasn’t expecting the pale face or weary expression, but he also wasn’t about to let Sky off the hook.

“Because I screamed at her at breakfast. She hasn’t let me apologize yet.”

“Why the hell did you scream at her?” Xander demanded.

Sky looked frustrated. “Look, I don’t have to tell you anything, so back off. I know I screwed up, big time, but all you people yelling at me isn’t helping!” the Blue Ranger finally snapped.

Xander bit the inside of his cheek to keep from reaching out and breaking’s Sky’s nose. “You’d better make it better, or the next time I see you, I’ll turn you into the jackass you’re acting like,” Xander warned before he turned and strode from the room.

“Is he always like that?” Sky asked Clare.

“Only when his friends have been hurt. If you’re looking for Sydney, she’s asleep on her bed.” That said, Clare turned and left the room, Sky watching her walk away.

--

Eric grunted as her body slammed into his, knocking them both to the mat. Surprisingly, she had him pinned under her, but then he forgot who he was sparing with. By far, she was the most hot headed of all the female Rangers, past, present and future. “Taylor, don’t kill him!” Katie laughed from where she stood with a foot on Leo’s chest, the Red Ranger squirming like a caught fish on the mat.

Daggeron, Cruger, and Princess Shayla had suggested the training session in one of Daggeron’s accessible dimensions. Taylor, Max, Katie, Lucas, Wes, Leo, Damon, Maya and he had agreed. Much to their amusement, the girls were kicking the boys’ butts.

“Do you yield?” Taylor hissed as she struggled to hold him down.

“NEVER!” he roared, managing to flip her over so that he was pinning her instead. “Do you yield?” he taunted.

“Not to you!” she growled, struggling as he pinned her arms to the ground. They were facing one another, chests heaving, both of them struggling.

“Then I guess we’re at a stalemate,” he grinned. Before Eric realized what was happening, she was wriggling under him so that she was cradling his hips with hers. Smiling wickedly, she thrust her hips up against him, causing him to groan at the act, his head dropping to her shoulder. “Damn, Taylor…”

“Score one for being a girl,” she laughed softly, managing to slip her arms free. “Are you okay, Eric? You look a little flushed.”

He grunted and his hips snapped forward, telling exactly how he was feeling. “What do you think?”

“I think we’re even,” she grinned, her face going soft as it did for only him.

“Are you agreeing to disagree?” he asked, referring to their verbal fight from before.

Taylor didn’t say anything. Instead, she let her hands wander to his sides before she flexed her leg muscles. “What do you think?” she started, her voice thick with passion.

“Hey! No having sex during training!” Wes told them drawing their attention to the Red Ranger.

“Fine, we’re done training!” Eric grinned. A quick nod from Daggeron caused them to disappear.

Anubis shook his head, his gaze meeting that of the Mystic Force trainer. “I believe we have an issue to discuss with some of them.”

“You think it’ll be that much of a problem?”

Anubis grinned. “I’ve learned Rangers are passionate by nature, and most of them are dating or involved with other Rangers. I’d rather broach it before it becomes an issue.”

The Solaris Knight chuckled. “Nick and I have already had that conversation, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring it up.”

“It’s not so much the older, married or engaged Rangers that I’m worried about, either.”

Daggeron nodded. The older Rangers, they both knew, would have their heads in the game, while the younger ones could be prone to being distracted by the more physical aspects of their relationships, particularly the guys. “Understood.”

A sudden chiming sounded, causing Anubis to grab his morpher. “Cruger here, go ahead.”

“Commander, Andros has just contacted us,” Bridge started. “You’re going to want to hear what he has to say.”

“We’re on our way.”

“Let’s go guys!” Wes called to the others, having heard the exchange.

--

Tori, Dustin, and Shane had arrived at the Academy at midday and had gathered their students in the main courtyard where most of the general assemblies happened. “Sensei, what’s happening?” one of the Wind Ninjas asked Shane.

“Lothor has returned,” Shane spoke up, causing all the students to murmur in shock and surprise. “Sensei Kanoi is sending the three of us and Cam to join the Thunder Ninjas to help contain him. While we’re gone, Sensei Omino of the Thunder Academy is coming to oversee your daily classes. You are to treat him with the same respect you’d treat any of us, understand?”

“Yes Sensei!”

--

“Well?” Anubis all but barked.

“Go ahead, Andros,” Ashley told her husband, holding her morpher up for the others to hear.

“Leo, you there?” Andros asked.

“Yeah?”

“I got a message from Nasada. Mike’s been trying to reach you or Maya for a couple of days now,” Andros told them.

The Red and Yellow Galaxy Rangers shared a look. “Is he okay?” Maya questioned, her voice taking on a tiny frantic quality, which caused Kendrix to reach out and take her hand.

“I think so, Maya,” he tried to reassure her. “He said to let you know he’s coming to Earth.”

Both Leo and Maya smiled, the Yellow Ranger squeezing Kendrix’s hand. “Did he say why?” Leo asked.

“All he’d tell me was that he found something that might help us out. He also wanted to let Kai know that Hannah was coming with him.”

All eyes turned to the Blue Galaxy Ranger, who was wincing. “You didn’t tell her, did you?” Kendrix surmised.

“Not exactly,” Kai started. “We were in a hurry. As it was, you know explaining it to Commander Stanton was a pain in the butt,” he muttered.

“And that’s with the Commander already having had suspicions years ago that we were the Rangers,” Damon pointed out in Kai’s defense.

Kendrix shot the two boys a look that had them looking thoroughly chastised while Andros continued. “Kai, from the way Mike was talking I pretty much got the idea Hannah seemed to already know.”

Kai really blanched at that. “Wonderful.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” Leo told Andros, all the while trying not to start laughing. “When should we expect them?”

“In the next couple of days.”

“Cool.”

“Alright, Zhane and I should be back within the hour, Andros out.”

--

Madison’s eyes were intently watching Karone as the blonde browsed the c.d. selection at The Rock Porium. The Blue Ranger sighed, feeling the sadness rolling off the former Pink Ranger in waves. As of late, Maddy found she’d been able to read people’s emotions, especially those of the other Rangers, more and more with an almost scary accuracy. ‘She looks so sad.’ The Blue Ranger quickly finished stocking the shelf she was at and moved to stand b her new friend. “Karone?”

Karone’s head snapped up. “Oh, Madison, hi. I didn’t know you were working today.”

“Mid-winter break, we’ve got the whole week off,” Maddy told her. “Are you okay?”

The blonde smiled. “I’m fine.”

“You’re worried,” Maddy corrected.

The older woman essayed a weary smile. “Being associated with the Rangers would make anyone worried.”

Madison gave her a look. “Karone, I may be young, but I’m not stupid.”

“I know, Maddy, but I’m not going to burden you with this, especially when it’s my own guilt eating at me,” Karone told her, her voice soft.

“From when you were Astronema.”

The blonde nodded. “I know in my heart, that it wasn’t my fault, but I can’t help but feel guilty about it.”

Maddy took her hand. “You know, when this all started, I felt guilty that our actions brought all of you out of retirement,” the Blue Ranger started.

“Maddy, you aren’t at fault.”

The Blue Ranger smiled. “I know, but it’s the same sort of thing.”

Karone smiled and nodded. “You know, Maddy, maybe you should have been a Pink Ranger,” Karone laughed.

Maddy looked confused. “How’s that?”

“You really are the heart and soul of your team, not to mention you remind me of Kimberly.”

Maddy laughed. “How so?”

“You’re always worried about everyone else,” Karone told her.

The Blue Ranger’s expression was a somber one. “I’m really worried about her.”

The blonde nodded. “I know; we all are. There have only been three other Pink Rangers in Earth’s history that had to seek redemption for something.”

“You and Kat?”

“And Cassie,” Karone told her. “But none of us….not like Kimberly. Kat and I were both under evil spells, we had no control over our actions, and we used being the Pink Ranger to atone for our deeds. Cassie’s had to do with Kendrix’s death. But Kimberly…hers runs a lot deeper. She did most of her damage, to herself and her team, by leaving to pursue her childhood dreams. As noble as it was for her to go, and I’m not knocking her choice, I just think it messed her head up a lot more than any of them expected. Not to mention, the loss of her powers had to have been just as hard.”

“Their Ninja powers ran that deep?” Maddy asked, surprised and curious.

“Yes. Their Ninja Powers are the embodiment of their sacred animal spirits. Those powers ran, and continue to do so, far deeper than the elemental powers Ninja Storm carries. The Ninjetti powers are attached not only to their spiritual force, but to their physical life force as well.”

“So Kim losing her powers was comparable to…?”

“Having her heart quite literally ripped from her chest.”

Maddy nodded, her hand absently rubbing her chest. “God.”

“Added onto the fact that she was tied to her teammates, and of course Tommy, on a much deeper level than they ever expected and you see where I’m doing with this.”

Maddy was suddenly filled with what Kim had to have gone through. She’d basically had her powers ripped right out of her soul, if that’s what Maddy understood from what Karone had just said. “We’ll just have to be there for her.”

Karone smiled and giggled. “Oh yeah; definitely a Pink at heart.”

The Blue Ranger laughed at that. “Thanks, I think, even if I think I look much better in blue.” The two girls’ laughter echoed around the room.

--

“Tired?” Lianbow asked as he entered his and Udonna’s room. The two of them hadn’t had a whole lot of time together, both being busy training the Rangers and preparing for the coming battles.

“I feel much better,” Udonna smiled up at him, reaching up to cup his cheek. “But I could use a nap. Would you care to take one with me?”

The Red Wolf Knight smiled and nodded, rubbing his cheek against her palm. “Always my beloved.” Quietly, the pair crawled into bed, their bodies spooning together as they fell asleep.

--

Chip bit his lip as he watched Vida sitting at the register, a book in hand. He knew she was just as bored as he was, but he was worried about bugging her. “What’s wrong Chip?” Vida asked, surprising him.

“Nothing,” he smiled. “Whatcha reading?”

“Your comic book,” she grinned, holding it up.

“Graphic novel, not comic book,” he corrected.

Vida chuckled. “Same difference.”

“V, is everything okay?” he asked.

The Pink Ranger gave him a hard look before letting her features soften. “Yeah. You?”

“Getting antsy just waiting,” Chip told her.

“Well, you can take it out on me and Nick tonight at practice.”

The Yellow Ranger just laughed. “I heard Daggeron mention archery practice with one of the others.”

Vida laughed. “Who?”

“Apparently, Kimberly’s weapon is a bow and arrow. Daggeron wants me to teach her a thing or two.” Vida’s laughter filled the front of the store, causing Chip to frown. “What’s so funny?”

“You teach Kimberly a thing or two? That’s rich,” she teased. Seeing his confused expression, Vida continued. “Chip, she’s the original Pink Ranger, she had her weapon for nearly three years. You’ve had yours a total of a year, tops. You do the math. Besides that, Kim isn’t as incapable as everyone thinks.”

“True.”

“Don’t worry, Chip, I’m sure she’ll go easy on you,” Vida smirked before patting his shoulder, watching his head bob.

--

The girls’ room was quiet when Sky entered. Bridge and Z were resting on Z’s bed, and he knew that Jack was down the hall in his room. Sydney was curled on her bed, Peanuts clutched to her heart. Sky carefully inched into the room and sat on her bed, his eyes taking her in. She was still all scratched up, despite Udonna having patched her up. Tentatively, he reached out and brushed her hair from her face, marveling once again over how she’d stolen his heart.

He loved her, so much that he’d willingly die for her. It was scary for him to acknowledge that there was someone, after so many years alone, that he’d give his life up for. Seeing the way his mom had struggled to overcome his dad’s death had certainly given him plenty of misgivings about relationships, but Sydney had persisted until she wore him down and he’d given in to her, only to discover the true depth of his feelings for her. And despite all of that, he’d hurt her by screaming at her for doing exactly what he’d have done, had their roles been reversed. He quickly slipped his shoes off and crawled into bed behind her, his arms moving around her waist. He let out the breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding when she leaned back against his chest.

“Sky?” she murmured.

“Baby,” he whispered his mouth next to her ear. “Wake up for me.”

“I’m awake,” she replied her voice soft and filled with pain.

“I’m sorry, Sydney,” he told her, his lips connecting with the soft skin of her neck, just behind her ear. “I’m a complete idiot.”

Syd rolled over and stared at him. “No, you’re not.”

“Where you’re concerned lately, I have been,” he whispered. “You have no idea how much I love you, but I admit, you scare me more than anything ever has. I’m afraid, now that we’re together, that he’s going to hurt you.”

She looked thoughtful before she whispered, “Like your dad?”

“Yes,” he admitted. The Pink Ranger knew how hard it was for him to admit he was afraid. Her Sky hardly ever opened up, let alone admit he was terrified of something; just from the look he was giving her, along with the tone of his voice, told her just what he was feeling.

Syd carefully adjusted herself so that they were facing one another. “I have two advantages your dad didn’t.” Sky’s look implored her to continue. “I have sixty plus Rangers backing me up.”

“What’s the other?”

She smiled, reaching out to cradle his cheek. “You,” she said simply.

He felt his soul rocked down to the core. She was looking at him with so much love, trust and admiration that he felt truly humbled. “Syd, I would die if…”

“I know that, Sky. I’ve always known that. Don’t you know I feel the same way?” she asked her eyes wide with fear that he didn’t know the depth of her feelings. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been in love with you?”

“As long as I’ve loved you,” he whispered. They both knew it was true. Despite his best efforts to resist her in the beginning, he had fallen in love with her.

“We’re going to get through this, just as long as we don’t have anymore outbursts like this morning,” she teased, letting him know that he was forgiven.

Sky leaned forward and softly kissed her. For several long moments, their lips meshed together, each giving and taking in their own way. Hands started to roam, with Sky being mindful of all of her scratches. “I love you,” he whispered while she snuggled her head under his chin.

“Love you too.”

As he ran his hands up and down her back, he couldn’t help but wonder how she’d gotten her injuries. “Syd?”

“Hmm?”

“How’d you get all scratched up?”

He frowned when she started giggling. “Would you believe I had a run in with a tree, a hill, and a bush with thorns?”

The image her comment gave him had Sky shaking his head and trying not to laugh. “And you’re supposed to be the graceful one!” Z’s voice interrupted, reminding them they weren’t alone.

Syd sighed and snuggled close to her boyfriend. Her heart soared as Sky’s arms tightened around her holding her close. As she lay there, the steady thrum of his heartbeat lulled her to sleep. Sky, feeling her relax, let his own mind drift until he too was asleep.

--

Kendrix found Maya sitting on a tree stump, watching Fireheart tromp around the large clearing. The Pink Ranger could sense Maya’s mood; the Yellow Ranger was elated, but lonely and homesick as well.

“Want to talk about it?” the blonde asked her friend.

“I’m fine,” Maya assured her. “I’m just homesick, and I miss Mike.”

Kendrix nodded and wrapped an arm around Maya’s shoulders. “Well, at least he’ll be here soon.”

Maya smiled. “It didn’t feel right coming here without him.”

The Pink Ranger knew the feeling. “I know, but because he wasn’t a Ranger, I don’t think Zordon could have restored his powers.”

“We’ll never know,” Maya murmured sadly, wishing that her boyfriend would be fighting beside her as she started a new phase of being a Ranger.

Kendrix sighed at the look on her friend’s dace. “You’re right, but look at it this way, he’ll be here in a few days and he’ll help us out, powers or not.”

“That’s what worries me,” Maya admitted, leaning her head on Kendrix’s shoulder.

“It’s going to be okay, don’t worry.”

--

“How’s the knee?” T.J. asked when he sat down next to Carlos, who was on the floor stretching his legs out.

“I’ve been walking on it too much,” the Black Ranger sighed. “I can’t afford to screw it up again, not now.”

T.J. looked at his friend in sympathy. Carlos’ injury was a lot worse than his own. “Why didn’t you bring your crutches?’

“I didn’t think I’d need them. Besides, that’s all I need is for the goon squad to see me on crutches unmorphed. Can we say disaster waiting to happen?” Carlos shot back.

The Blue Ranger silently conceded his friend’s point. “Just be careful,” T.J. warned.

Carlos shot him a bland look. “Yes Dad.”

T.J. laughed. “I’m serious. I don’t want to have any casualties.”

“Have we ever truly lost a war?” Carlos asked, bringing up the nearly perfect track record of Earth’s Power Ranger teams.

“Nope, just a battle or two.”

“Okay then.”

The two friends cracked up. “God, who’d have ever thought we’d be doing this again after all these years?” T.J. sighed.

“Not me, especially after Cassie took off, vowing to never strap her morpher on again,” Carlos wasn’t surprised by the look on T.J.’s face at the mention of Cassie’s ordeal. “Has she said anything to you?’

“Nope. That girl is more stubborn than a mule. She refuses to even bring it up, let alone tell me what’s going on in that head of hers.”

Carlos nodded. “Have you told her?” he hinted, watching T.J. turn his gaze to his friend, an indefinable look in his eyes.

“I’ve kept my secret all these years, what makes you think I’m going to suddenly tell her now?”

“Because Phantom isn’t here, and now’s your chance.”

T.J. shook his head. “Carlos, I couldn’t tell Cassie I was in love with her then, what makes you think I can do it now, even without Phantom here?”

“It’s worth a shot,” Carlos suggested.

T.J. didn’t say anything; he just stared at the floor.

--

He stood leaning against the doorframe of the entrance to their bedroom, his arms crossed over his chest. His fiancée sat on their bed, her face buried in her hands, a picture of the original twelve in her lap. Her shoulders were shaking from her trying to cry quietly so he wouldn’t hear, but Jason’s ears had always been ultra-sensitive to the females in his life – he’d always known when Kim or Trini were crying when they’d been younger, and now he was as apt at listening for Aisha, Tanya and Kat as he had been his sisters.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Jason struggled for control before he moved over to her side. He sat on the bed before her, carefully moving the picture to the other side of the bed before he reached up and cupped her face. “Katherine.”

She looked up at him, her beautiful baby blue eyes red rimmed and brimming with tears. Neither of them said anything as Jason moved his hands to her waist and pulled her into his lap. He cradled her against his chest, letting her continue to cry as she sought fit. As he held her, Jason realized he had no idea what had caused her to cry this hard beyond looking at the picture of the twelve of them at the reunion they’d had the summer Trini had died.

“I wish things were how they use to be,” she murmured softly, her mouth moving so that it was right next to his ear. “I miss the way it use to be, when we had nothing else in the way of doing our jobs.”

Jason sighed, having felt the same way, but if he’d learned anything from being a Ranger, it was that things never stayed simple for very long. “So much more is riding on us now,” he told her. “I know it’s a heavy burden to carry, but we’ve weathered the storm before. I have every confidence we will win this war, and we will be able to go on with our lives, proud that we saved the planet, yet again.”

“It’s been a long road, Jason,” she started. “So much has happened. I’m so worried we’re going to lose someone else, and it scares me. We’ve lost so much already, and like Kim said, I don’t think I can take losing someone else.”

“We’ll just have to be careful. Zordon never promised we’d live through this; we got really lucky the first time around. We had some near misses, but nothing overly serious. We’ve grown up, and so have our problems.”

“I’m worried about Kim,” she let out suddenly.

The Red Zeo Ranger nodded and sighed. “Yeah, I am too, but we both know the kind of woman she is; there’s no way in hell she’s going to back down from this, not now, but like the rest of us, she’s got some inner demons to face before she’s going to fully accept what she’s doing.”

“She’s only doing this for us, and Tommy.”

“I know.”