Tommy paced the hospital corridor restlessly, moving with a quick, sharp precision that made one elderly man who was watching remember his days in the military. Rocky watched him listlessly, consumed by his own worry, holding the hand of Mrs. Campbell who was sitting beside him with a lost expression. The rest of the Campbell family, Aisha, her father and brother, were being treated inside the ER. The clone was nowhere to be seen.
Jason, Kat, Trini, and Adam hurried in, at the same time as Mrs. Campbell's best friend, Candace Davidson, arrived to provide support for her friend. Turning the distraught woman over to the capable care of her friend and neighbor, Rocky hurried over to the other teens.
"Thank God you guys got the message," the Red Ranger said with obvious relief.
"How bad is it?" Adam asked, his pale face pinched with worry.
"We don't know. It looks like they lost their brakes, according to the police. No other cars were involved, thank goodness, but they went off the road, rolling a couple of times. Fluke accident, I guess," Rocky told them as Tommy joined the group.
"It wasn't any 'fluke accident', Rocky. It was deliberate," Jason growled, still furious.
"What do you mean? Deliberate? What are you talking about?" Tommy demanded, shocked at Jason's attitude. He'd never seen the former Ranger display such anger outside of a battle.
"I'm talking about if you'd done a better job at leading the team you might have noticed you had the wrong Blue Ranger!" he hissed angrily, careful not to attract unwanted attention.
"What? Wrong Blue Ranger? Jason, you aren't making any sense, man." Tommy looked at the others in supplication, surprised at the anger he saw in Adam's expression. The two girls looked more worried than angry, but weren't offering any support either.
"Jason, this isn't the place for this. Let's find out how Aisha's doing, then we can deal with the rest," Trini said as she saw the doctor emerge and go up to Mrs. Campbell. "Adam, why don't you and Rocky go find out how she is? We'll wait here."
A few minutes later the Black and Red Rangers rejoined their friends, who'd been waiting quietly by the front doors.
"Aisha's going to be okay. They all will be. She's got a broken leg, some cuts and a lot of bruises, but she'll be fine. So will her dad and Johnny. They're releasing Johnny tonight, and keeping Aisha and her dad for observation. As long as there's no problem, they should both be released tomorrow. We can come back by later to see her, but right now we have something we need to deal with," Adam reported, sensing the tension in the group. "Perhaps we should take this to the Command Center?"
Nodding agreement, the small group headed toward a secluded corner and teleported. Adam had a flash as the teleportation effect began that they might be teleporting into a trap, but the idea had barely formed and they were there.
"Rangers! What brings you here on such a lovely day?" Alpha asked as he bustled up in his inanely cheerful way.
"I don't really know. However, we do need to tell you Aisha's had an accident. It may be a while before she can fight. Can you get her morpher and communicator back from here so we can find a temporary Yellow Ranger?" Tommy asked, deciding to take care of that essential problem first.
"Alpha, lock on to the Aisha's morpher and communicator, scan for nearby life forms, and if it's clear, teleport them both here. I'm sorry to hear of her accident, Rangers. What happened?" the ancient mentor asked, looking down with concern at his charges.
"Her family had a car accident coming home from Stone Canyon. But it seems some of us don't think it was a accident?" Rocky asked, turning to his best friend.
"It wasn't, Rocky. It was deliberate." Adam replied solemnly.
"Who would want to hurt Aisha?" Tommy asked in exasperation. "Is this the work of Rita?"
"It's the work of Billy's clone," Jason ground out. "The clone who's been on the team for the last four months while the real Billy went through hell in the lunar palace."
Tommy's expression was one of startled disbelief. "Jase, we destroyed the clone. No way was that not the real Billy. Just no way..." The tall teen's voice trailed off as he considered the possibilities. "We shot him, he disappeared. Afterwards Billy seemed perfectly normal, not ... not different, like the clone had been. Are you sure? How can you be sure?"
Jason, with assists from the other three teens, told the story of Kat's dreams and the rescue they'd launched earlier that day. They told the other two Rangers, Zordon, and Alpha of how Billy's clone had shown up and made his offer, their refusal, and what the clone had done in retaliation.
"He took Billy, we need to find him. He's not well. Certainly not well enough to stand up to any sort of mistreatment by the clone. And we need to contain the clone. Any luck scanning for him?" Jason asked Alpha, who'd begun his scans while Jason told his story.
"Ay-yi-yi, nothing yet, Jason. But we have no idea where he may have gone."
"And, being Billy, can probably hide," Jason sighed. He looked over at Tommy worriedly. During his recitation of what had happened that day, Jason's anger had finally cooled. He knew it wasn't gone completely, but he'd watched the look of horrified belief spread on Tommy's face, and he found he couldn't maintain the burning anger he'd felt since he'd found Billy in the lunar palace. Not when he saw the escalating guilt and remorse the White Ranger was experiencing.
"The ... the clone, he still has his morpher, right? And you can't scan for that?" Tommy asked in a slightly dazed tone.
"We are scanning for the morpher, but it's not showing," Alpha reported.
"Did you search the lunar palace?" Rocky asked worriedly. Rocky was stunned by what the others had told them. The thought that they'd had the clone on the team all this time shocked him, and the realization that they had in essence abandoned their friend sickened him.
"Yes, Rocky. He isn't there, either. Or at least the morpher isn't."
"Didn't Billy ... the clone ... whoever, work on a device to block the power signature from the morphers? Is that what you're scanning for?"
"That's correct, Adam," Zordon replied.
"So, if he's using a blocker, then you won't be able to find the power signature. What CAN you scan for? Something that won't be hidden by the device? The device's signature itself?" Adam postulated.
"Ay-yi-yi! Of course! I'll scan for the device he created. Why didn't I think of that?" Alpha fussed as he set up for a new scan.
"It worked, Rangers! I found them!"
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Billy sat on an old mattress in the corner of the deserted cabin deep in Angel Grove Forest. He had his knees drawn up to his chest and held by his arms in a desperate attempt to conserve body heat and hide his trembling from the clone.
He'd been sleeping peacefully on Kat's couch when the clone grabbed him roughly and pulled him to his feet. Billy had been completely disoriented and had struck out, thinking he was back on the moon and due for punishment for sleeping. His shock at looking up into his own face as it had been before was considerable, and he'd not raised any protest when the clone teleported them out. They'd landed in this small cabin, and the clone had helped Billy over to the mattress with gentleness, if not kindness. Since then the clone had paced anxiously the width of the cabin, often muttering to himself.
Billy glanced up as the clone stopped directly in front of him.
"Are you okay?" the duplicate asked gruffly, looking down on the huddled figure. Billy found himself answering honestly.
"No."
"You're cold." It wasn't a question, but an observation. "I should have brought your blanket at least. It's just, I was so mad at them. Some friends they turned out to be. I thought it seemed reasonable, but no, it wasn't good enough for Jason Scott!"
"What are you talking about?" Billy asked, forcing himself to pay attention.
"I didn't know you survived, that's the thing. What would have happened to the team if they found out they'd killed you? Huh? It would have destroyed them. So I became you. I fit in; I did all the things you did. I fought Zedd and Rita, and did everything I could to assist the team. I created devices to defeat monsters, I became a Ninjetti, Wolf spirit no less, fought side-by-side with Adam, with them all, and they turned against me. Suddenly I'm 'evil' because I'm a clone. I'm not evil, I didn't hurt anyone. Well, not until today. God, I hope they're okay. I shouldn't have done that, but I was so ... angry! It's not fair, it's not my fault I'm the clone." The agitated clone had resumed his restless pacing, then suddenly stopped in front of Billy.
"You believe me, don't you? That I'm not evil? Or do you want to send me back too?" he demanded angrily.
"I wouldn't send you back there," Billy said softly, but determinedly. "I wouldn't send ANYONE there."
"I believe you wouldn't. But that's what your 'friends' want to do. Send me off; after all, I'm just a clone."
"You said you hadn't hurt anyone until today. What did you do?"
"I took out the brakes in Aisha's family car. They were coming back from Stone Canyon, I think. Maybe nothing happened."
Billy laid his head down on his knees with a groan of despair. "You purposely damaged the brakes in their car? Not a smart thing to do if you want to convince them you mean no harm."
"I was upset! Jason wouldn't take the deal. They wouldn't believe I wasn't evil, none of them, so I decided since they thought I was evil, I'd be evil. But I didn't like it. You know, when Rita and Zedd first made me, I liked doing evil, now I don't. I wonder what happened?"
Billy considered the question for a moment while the clone resumed his pacing.
"I think it happened when we morphed," he said at last.
"What? What happened?"
"You changed. It's the only thing that makes sense. It would explain how you were able to replace me without anyone getting suspicious. Why you no longer wanted to do evil. Why you've been able to hold the powers."
The clone stopped, curious despite himself.
"Remember in the park, just before the shooting started? I tried to morph, and you jumped on me. And somehow we both morphed. The morphin' power was never meant to be used that way. If I'm right, it surged through me, and then into you, meaning I was the dominant personality. It 'injected' you with my personality, for lack of a better term. My essential ... not-evilness. That's why you were better able to fit in, and were less detectable than before. Why you feel bad about Aisha."
The clone resumed his pacing, faster than before, obviously following Billy's train of thought a bit further.
"And we both had half the power. When they shot you, the powers weakened somehow, transferring back to me ... I ended up with the full Blue Ranger Powers, and you none. It makes sense, it really does. You should do some follow-up research on this; if the Ninjetti powers work the same, and they should, the basis of their power is so similar, it could be used to good advantage someday." The clone again stopped and contemplated his companion. "You really went through hell, didn't you?"
"Yeah, that's one way to describe it. After we morphed, you led team in shooting me. Did that bother you?" Billy's voice didn't sound accusing, but frankly curious.
"Not at that moment. I was too terrified to be bothered. I was sure they would figure out my real identity and send me back to Rita and Zedd. I didn't want that to happen. They would have killed me. But after it was done, I felt horrible. But I kept telling myself that by taking your place I was saving the team."
"And you'd set up the device on the brakes on Aisha's car. Where else are hidden booby traps? Why'd you do that?"
"I'd get to feeling like they were all against me, that they'd figure out I wasn't really you. When I felt that way, I'd set up another booby trap, as it were, to make me feel like I had more control. I never thought I'd use them."
"Hmm. And the deal you offered Jason and the others was your freedom for the Blue Powers?"
"That's it. I just don't want to be sent to Rita and Zedd, or shipped off to some backwater penal planet where I'd be physically and mentally destroyed."
"I can see why you'd want to avoid that. If you haven't killed Aisha, then I will accept the deal. I'll help get you out of here and far away to start a new life, and you give up the Blue Powers."
"Deal. But how do you plan to get the others to go along with it?"
Before Billy could respond, the door banged open and Tommy quickly grabbed the clone, putting him in restraints. Adam and Kat hurried to Billy's side, checking the teen over for fresh hurts.
"I'm not hurt," Billy murmured. "It isn't necessary to tie him up, he won't hurt anyone."
"Like he didn't hurt Aisha?" Rocky growled.
"What happened to Aisha?" Billy asked, one eye on the clone.
"They had a car accident. Looks like they maybe lost their brakes. Gee, wonder how that could have happened?" Rocky said with a venomous look at the clone.
"Is she okay?" Billy asked apprehensively.
Rocky's expression softened a little. "She's going to be fine. They all are."
"Come on, let's get back to the Command Center," Tommy declared, not wanting to look too closely at Billy. He'd seen, when Adam and Kat helped him up, that Billy was quite underweight, and the bruises on his gaunt face stood out in stark relief, seeming to accuse him.
Quick as thought, they were back in the Command Center, where Jason and Trini had been waiting anxiously. At their arrival the two former Rangers stepped forward to check on their friend's condition.
"You okay, bro?" Jason asked, looking for signs of additional injuries.
"Not really, Jason. But I'm no worse than I was before," Billy sighed, wishing everyone would settle down for a while and let him speak.
"I've got the Blue morpher and communicator, so at least we have the Power available if needed," Tommy said, setting the mentioned items down on a counter next to the yellow ones.
"We need to decide what to do with that," Jason said, indicating the clone, who had been placed in a cage-type enclosure like Zordon had used on Kim and Billy when they'd been turned into punks.
"I say we give him back to Rita and Zedd. See how he likes the living conditions up there," Rocky suggested with a hard glint in his eyes.
"We could turn him over to the police, let them deal with him," Adam countered.
"Guys, if I could..."
"Aren't there, like, prison planets somewhere where he'd be locked up so he can't harm anyone else?" Tommy asked.
"There are several such places; I can contact my sources and see which one would best suit his situation," Zordon replied.
"Guys, wait..."
"Though the sending him back to Rita and Zedd idea has merits," Jason continued.
"Guys! Please..."
"Perhaps Regilias Seven?" Alpha supplied.
"Guys..."
Just then the blaring screech of the alarm system cut short the debate. Billy darn near leaped out of his shoes and clapped his hands over his ears in pain.
"Oh, man! We do NOT need this now! What've they sent down this time?" Tommy asked with an exasperated look.
"Rangers, observe the viewing globe. Rita and Zedd have sent down the ferocious Rampaging Roach, which can shoot paralyzing missiles, and incendiary beams from its eyes. It is more dangerous than it would normally be since the team is short two members. I feel a full team will be needed to be successful against the Rampaging Roach."
"And we have one teammate in the hospital, and another who should be in the hospital," Tommy said distractedly. "Hey, can Jason and Trini take the powers until Aisha and Billy are better? Would you guys be willing to do that?"
Jason and Trini exchanged solemn looks. It hadn't been easy, going through Power withdrawal, but they also realized the team was in dire straits. They desperately needed two healthy Rangers. Jason read Trini's expression, then nodded.
"We'll do it."
"Jason, Trini, step forward. Alpha, the morphers, please," Zordon intoned. As soon as the two teens had the morphers in hand, Zordon activated the power transfer. Within moments the new Blue and Yellow Rangers were fully powered and ready for action.
"Come on guys, it's morphin' time," Tommy called out as each of the teens morphed. Within moments they teleported out in streams of vivid color.
Billy had watched silently from the side, not even bothering to try to talk to any of them, while the clone watched from his transparent prison. Billy glanced over at his double and caught an expression of calm sympathy.
"Nice of them to ask, huh?" the clone commented caustically.
Billy sighed. "They've been through a lot so far today. I think this whole situation has taken them by surprise."
"Oh, come on, Billy. You're the original invisible boy. Unless they need you, they don't seem to see you." He looked like he wanted to say more, perhaps how the team hadn't noticed he was gone, but refrained from saying it out loud.
Billy turned from the clone to the Ranger mentor, who was closely monitoring the battle.
"How are they doing?"
"They are doing fine, Billy," Zordon turned his attention to the former, and hopefully future, Blue Ranger. "Alpha, take Billy to the Med Room and begin treatment of his injuries," he requested, seeing how the teenager was barely able to stay on his feet.
"Wait! Zordon, if the others get back here, I won't have the chance to say anything. They're all too wrapped up in their guilt and worry. Look, this is going to sound strange, but I need something from you. I gave my word that I would accept his offer, and I intend to stand by that. He offered back the Blue Powers in exchange for his freedom. Zordon, he isn't evil. I'm asking that you let him go, that we send him away from Angel Grove and the team, and let him live out his life," Billy looked up at the ancient being with a pleading expression.
"Billy, the clone damaged the braking system on Aisha's car. He helped in the attack that nearly killed you," Zordon reminded him.
"In both cases he was reacting to a threat to his very life. He panicked and overreacted. Those were the acts of an inexperienced youth, not an evil being. He's not me, exactly, but he does have my sense of right and wrong. When we morphed together, remember? I think he was infused with my personality and morality. Zordon, I honestly feel he offers no threat to mankind. Plus, I'm not suggesting we not keep an eye on him, just in case," Billy added with a significant look at the clone.
"Where did you want to send him?"
Billy relaxed just a bit, sensing Zordon would agree with his plan.
"I think perhaps a small city in Northern California, or perhaps Nevada or Oregon? With work and education opportunities."
"Reno, Nevada perhaps?" Zordon suggested after a moment's consideration.
Billy looked a question over to the clone.
"Reno would be fine," the clone replied quietly, impressed and pleased with Billy's intervention on his behalf.
"You'll need money to get started," Billy commented.
"Not a problem, exactly. The sensors here alerted me when Jason and Katherine teleported to the moon. I had the strangest sense I wasn't going to like what they were doing, so I went into flight mode. I cleaned out your savings account. If you let me use this money, I'll refund you, with interest, as soon as possible," the clone looked beseechingly at Billy.
"Fair enough. I'm asking you not use my name, and try to avoid high profile activities, please. We'll be monitoring you carefully, and if we see signs that you are doing anything evil, we will act to stop you." The threat in Billy's voice was not a joke.
"All I ask is that you don't send Rita, Zedd, or any of your pissed-off teammates after me," the clone countered.
Billy had to chuckle at that. "Okay, then. Zordon, have you found a place to set him down?"
"Yes, a parking facility. The top floor is not in use at present. Have you decided on a name?" he asked the clone.
"William Robinson."
"Well, William Robinson, you are being given this chance because of Billy's intervention on your behalf. If you prove unworthy of his trust, I will bring you back here and you will be transported to a penal planet. Understood?" Zordon queried sternly.
"Understood." The clone met Zordon's gaze frankly, then shifted his gaze to the Blue Ranger. "You can still choose to come with me."
"Thanks, but my place is here. This is where I want to be for the time being."
"If you change your mind, or need help, I'll be there for you. Thank you for my freedom, and I hope you recover quickly. I truly never intended for you to be so hurt."
"I understand. Zordon, are you ready to teleport?"
"Ready."
Moments later there was a flash of pure white as the clone disappeared to face an uncertain future in Reno.
Billy almost regretted not joining him.
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"Man, these Ninjetti Powers are different than the Morphin' ones," Jason commented, unable to suppress his enthusiasm. Though he was anything but pleased at the manner in which he'd come to hold the Blue Powers, he was still almost intoxicated by the feeling of the Power coursing through his veins. He truly hadn't realized how much he'd missed it until he had it back.
"They take some getting used to, but are more powerful than the Morphin' Powers were," Tommy agreed.
They'd arrived back in the Command Center en masse, chattering a bit, pleased the two newest members had fit right back in with the team. So involved were they in their discussion, it took a moment to realize the clone was gone.
"Hey! Where'd he go?" Rocky demanded, turning to Zordon.
"I sent him away," Billy's quiet voice answered from the side where he stood unnoticed until now.
"What? Why? Where'd you send him?" Tommy asked with an incredulous look at his teammate.
"I sent him a distance from here, it's none of your concern where he may be. It was my choice, I accepted the deal you guys wouldn't," Billy stated firmly. He was feeling decidedly horrible, but he was determined to see this out with his friends before he'd allow Alpha to treat his injuries. He felt he owed that courtesy at least to his teammates. And he absolutely did not want them looking for the clone.
"Billy, man, you can't do that! That ... thing ... he hurt Aisha! Deliberately," Tommy was completely surprised by Billy's attitude and actions.
"He did so believing he was about to be turned back over to Rita and Zedd, a fate he wished to avoid at all costs. I can't blame him for that one. They aren't exactly kind to their prisoners. If he hadn't felt threatened, he wouldn't have lashed out."
"Are you forgetting he also left you to die at the lunar palace?" Adam asked with uncharacteristic heat.
"Are you forgetting that, in essence, everyone else did too?" Billy's softly spoken comment nevertheless silenced the entire team. There really was nothing they could say to that.
Billy watched the shock and guilt color the faces in front of him. Part of him almost rejoiced at their guilt, while the greater part simply wanted to forgive and forget. With emphasis on the forgetting part.
"I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but I'm not up to a lengthy debate. I accepted the deal he offered earlier. And that's that. When Aisha, and I, are well enough, I will explain to her what I did and why. In the meantime, I stand by my decision. The clone goes free, and we don't try to recapture him. I'm asking you all, as my friends and as my teammates, to accept my decision on this."
There was silence from the assembled teens. Billy sighed and turned to Alpha.
"I'm ready to start treatments now."
"Come on, Billy. This will take some time," Alpha said, waddling toward the doorway.
"Wait. It's getting late; is my dad expecting me home tonight?" he asked the other Rangers.
"Oh, man, your dad. He's going to notice your condition right away. Everyone will, it's pretty obvious," Tommy commented, not wishing to offend Billy but needing to speak truthfully.
"Then we need to decide on a story. The truth could work," Billy said, his tone and expression making it obvious that he was at the end of his strength.
„Would that be acceptable, Zordon?" Tommy asked, looking at their mentor.
„No mention can be made of any of you being Power Rangers, of course, but if you simply tell Billy's father that his son was kidnapped for his intelligence, or to use as a spy, then it will be acceptable. It is at least a partial truth."
"Come on, then, let them take care of telling your father. I want to get you on the Table," Kat said, referring to the treatment device they used for most of their injuries. It worked in tandem with the Rangers' accelerated healing powers, enabling them to heal from injuries in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks, and also prevented most scarring.
Billy offered no resistance as the tall Australian led him toward the Med Room.
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"Billy, I'll be back around six tonight," Wallace Cranston told his son as he headed toward the door to leave for work. The elder Cranston was still reeling from what the Power Rangers had told him, and the appearance of his son.
The Red and Blue Rangers had come to him that night, almost a week before, and had told him the most incredible story of how his son had been kidnapped by the evil beings launching all the attacks against Angel Grove. How those beings had replaced his son with a clone whose duty it was to spy on the people of Angel Grove and report back to them. They told the worried parent that his son had been badly treated during his four months in captivity, but that they could cure his physical injuries more efficiently than the local medical facilities could.
The next day they had shown up again with Billy. But this was a Billy Wallace didn't immediately recognize as his son. Thin and pale, with a haunted expression in his eyes Wallace found painful to look at. The Rangers apologized profusely for not having realized the switch had occurred long before, then left Wallace with his traumatized offspring. The treatments on the Table had repaired the cuts and bruises, though faint scars still showed from the older injuries. The leg injury, specifically to his knee, would take a couple of weeks at least to finish healing. They'd left on a bandage, which was in fact a device to help regenerate the ligaments and tendons Goldar had damaged. The congestion in his lungs had been successfully cleared as well. The only thing they could not offer any counteraction for was the starvation. He'd been fortunate that Finster had provided him with a vitamin supplement, which had prevented scurvy, but not the hair loss.
If the Rangers felt badly about not having realized a clone had been released in Angel Grove, Wallace felt a hundred times worse. He'd not noticed any significant difference in his son's behavior or attitude over the recent months at all. But they had assured him that this was indeed his real son, and that the other was in fact a clone. Billy had accepted his father's stumbling apologies willingly enough, assuring his parent that he understood how he wouldn't have noticed a difference, how the clone was an especially clever duplicate.
Since then Wallace had tried to compensate for his oversight by smothering Billy with as much fatherly concern and care as he could convince the teen to accept. But Billy seemed to be holding himself tightly in control, and when Wallace gently questioned him on what had happened in the lunar palace Billy had refused to elaborate, saying only he hadn't been fed very well.
But Wallace was well aware that starvation was not the only difficulty Billy had faced during his imprisonment. Every single night since Billy's return the older man had heard his son cry out in the throes of bad dreams, usually awakening suddenly with a hoarse cry of "No! No more!" The sound of his son's cries affected Wallace far more than the sight of his obvious weight loss. When he heard Billy dreaming he'd go in to check on him, but usually the teen gently rebuffed his attempts at comfort, curling instead in on himself and ignoring his father's presence. Wallace had finally suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea for Billy to see someone professionally, but that idea had been rejected as well.
"Do you want me to pick up anything special for dinner?" he asked the silent figure seated at the kitchen table.
"No thanks. Whatever you want, Dad," was the disinterested response.
After his father left, Billy spent the day in his lab, as he'd done most every day since his return. Zordon had banned him from the Command Center for the time being, feeling he needed to be around other people and not working. At least two or three of his friends came by every day to spend time with him. Jason, Trini and Katherine were the most frequent visitors, while Tommy had only dropped in once.
He knew they felt guilty about what had happened, and he understood that they all needed to talk about it eventually. But at present he was too tired, too overwhelmed by the memories, and frankly too angry and disappointed to attempt to soothe his teammates. It was all he could do to get through each day himself.
That evening he and his father were surprised by a knock on the door and opened it to find the Red and White Rangers standing on their front porch.
"What's wrong?" Wallace asked, remembering all too clearly the last time he'd found Power Rangers on his doorstep.
"Nothing's wrong, sir," the White Ranger replied soothingly. "How're you doing, Billy?"
"I'm okay," Billy replied, wondering why they were there.
"Well, it occurred to us that if you were having trouble dealing with what happened to you on the moon, that we know of a place you can go where they specialize in these sorts of situations. Rita and Zedd have done damage throughout the galaxy, and this place has learned ways to help their victims recover."
Wallace had perked up at the prospect of a place that could really help Billy. His son's most effective argument against counseling was that no therapist on Earth was really qualified to deal with alien abduction/torture victims. This effectively squashed that objection.
"Where is this place? How long will he have to go there? Will he still be at home during treatment?"
Billy looked at his father with some surprise. He hadn't realized just how worried he was by Billy's condition.
"The place we are suggesting is another planet, Phaedos. The length of his stay depends on how well he responds to treatment. I'm leaving you this device with which to summon us. If you decide to take this offer, let us know and we will arrange it. Again, we all offer our sincerest apologies for what happened."
With that the two Rangers disappeared in streaks of white and red, leaving Billy and his father standing there.
"Another planet, huh?" Wallace murmured, looking at the device in his hand. "Couldn't be something easier, I guess." His voice was soft and sorrowful.
"No, I guess not," Billy agreed quietly as they reentered the house.
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Tommy sat at a corner table at the Juice Bar, staring moodily into his smoothie. Earlier he and Rocky had visited the Cranston house to offer the services of Dulcea to help Billy deal with the lingering effects of his imprisonment. He rolled the cool glass between his hands and contemplated the meeting in the Command Center that had led to their visit ...
"There must be some way, some place, where he can get some help," Rocky insisted.
"Where? If he goes to a local therapist and starts talking about how he was kidnapped and cloned and held prisoner on the moon? Yeah, that's something the local shrinks are really going to be able to deal with. They'd lock him in a institution and throw away the key," Zack commented. "There aren't any physical signs of abuse anymore. He'd have too hard a time convincing anyone it really happened."
"He isn't even trying," Tommy complained.
Jason, who'd been keeping his own temper in check for far too long, finally snapped.
"Not trying? How dare you pass judgment, when it's mostly your fault that he's in the condition he's in! You should have scanned him immediately after that fight, but you were so sure you couldn't have made a mistake, weren't you?" Jason's dark eyes flashed in anger as he got right in Tommy's face.
"I didn't see you demanding to know what was wrong with your 'old friend' when you got here! Kim didn't notice any difference, no one did! You can't lay the blame for this on me, Jason." The White Ranger's anger was palpable, though there was an undercurrent the others couldn't quite define.
"As leader you take the responsibility! It's part of the job, Tommy. And you make sure everyone is really okay after each fight! If you'd done your job right, Billy wouldn't be in the mess he's in!" Jason's pain at his friend's condition was being channeled into his anger.
Something in Tommy snapped and he sucker-punched the former Ranger. Before any of the others could react, there was a full-scale fight going on. Jason's return blow had knocked Tommy up against the console behind him, and the White Ranger's kick sent Jason sprawling. Too angry for finesse, it was more street fighting rather than martial arts. Zack, Adam and Rocky desperately sought to separate the two powerful Rangers.
"Dammit, stop this, Jason! It's not helping," Zack ground out, finally grabbing his friend in a bear hug and hanging on with a strength born of desperation. Tommy stepped forward as if to strike Jason again, but was restrained by Rocky and Adam.
"No way, Tommy. Settle down," Rocky said firmly.
"Rangers! Stop this at once!" Zordon's voice boomed out with uncharacteristic anger.
Jason shrugged out of Zack's grip and stalked off toward the wall, obviously still furious and trying to wrestle it back down. Tommy was doing the same in the other direction. The rest of the Rangers present stood close together by the consoles, watching the other two worriedly.
"Rangers, there is a possible solution we can offer Billy," Zordon said at last when Tommy and Jason seemed calmer.
"What solution is that, Zordon?" Kat asked.
"I have spoken to Dulcea on Phaedos, and she has experience helping Ninjetti recover from these sorts of experiences. She is aware of what has transpired and has offered her services."
"Do you think this is a good solution?" Trini asked.
"Dulcea's success is well known. It won't be easy for Billy, or ultimately for any of you, but it may be your only chance. Two of you should go to Billy and his father and offer them the chance. Billy has to choose this willingly, that is her only stipulation. Offer it, but don't try to force them to accept in any way. When he is ready, I trust the Blue Ranger will choose the right course."
"And if he doesn't?" Jason asked.
"Then he will be always as he is now ..."
Tommy stood and left the Juice Bar, his untouched smoothie still sitting on the table.
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"No! Stop!" Billy's voice was rough-sounding as he thrashed on his bed, caught in the throes of yet another nightmare. Wallace walked up to the bed and caught one shoulder, shaking it gently.
"Billy! Wake up, it's another nightmare," he said firmly. This marked the twelfth straight night the elder Cranston had had to rouse his son from a bad dream or had heard the boy awaken himself from one. He was finding his temper growing short due to lack of sleep and the stress of watching his only child struggle with horrendous memories.
Billy jerked away from his father's touch, then twisted over, swinging wildly. His blow connected with his father's face, sending him stumbling into the desk behind him, noisily upsetting books and other paraphernalia.
"Huh? Dad?" Billy asked blearily, straining to see in the diffuse light from the hallway. "Dad! Are you okay?" Billy stumbled to where his father was struggling to get back up.
"Geez, Billy, you pack one heck of a punch," he muttered, rubbing the reddening mark on his cheek.
"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. The dreams ... they're so real. Every night, I'm there again, and I can't get away. No matter what, I keep going back. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you," the teen's voice cracked as he knelt beside his father.
"Shhh ... It's okay, it'll be okay," Wallace crooned, taking his son in his arms.
"No, it's not. It won't be. I can't keep going this way, I can't. I'm afraid of everything again," he sobbed brokenly. It was the first time he'd allowed his father to really comfort him, and as a result he finally let his feelings loose.
Wallace crouched on the floor of the bedroom, holding on to Billy with almost desperate strength, waiting for this storm to pass. Time ceased to have any meaning as he offered what comfort he could to his son. Eventually Billy quieted.
"Come on, Son, time to go back to bed." Gently urging Billy to stand, Wallace helped him back to the bed and settled him in.
"I'm sorry, Dad, for being such a bother," he murmured absently, more asleep than awake.
"You're not a bother," Wallace soothed him before walking out and heading toward the bathroom to tend his minor injuries.
Billy awakened the next morning feeling logy and more worn out than he'd been when he lay down. He considered the strange and disturbing dreams he'd had the night before, dreams of more than just his experiences in the lunar palace. He was still trying to understand them all when his gaze fell on the mess by his desk; books and stuff lying on the floor, the chair tipped over, and the computer keyboard hanging by its cord.
It wasn't all a dream, he realized with a sinking heart. He'd really broken down last night in his father's arms. After punching him in the face. Billy groaned in dismay, then dragged himself out of bed. Better to face the music as quickly as possible.
"Billy, want some juice?" Wallace asked as his son came into the kitchen.
"Yes, please," he replied, watching his dad closely.
"Here you go. How're you feeling this morning?"
"I'm fine. Are you okay, Dad?" he asked, eyeing the bruise on his father's right cheek.
"I'll live. You look like you could use some more sleep, though," Wallace observed as he served their breakfasts. One battle he'd not had with Billy was getting the teen to eat.
Billy just made a noncommittal sound as his gaze kept returning to that damning bruise. He realized things could not continue as they had been going. That realization brought a sudden decision.
"Dad? I want to take the Rangers up on their offer."
Wallace's expression showed that he'd halfway expected this.
"Are you sure, Son? Do you trust them that much? After all, they are partially responsible for all this."
"I'm sure. Look, Dad, no therapist here could possibly understand. Not really. Maybe this person on Phaedos can. It's worth a try."
Wallace sighed deeply. "Okay. Let's call them, then. I'm willing to go along with just about anything if it'll help you."
Billy's eyes misted as he looked gratefully at his dad.
"Thank you."
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Billy's first sight of Phaedos was the same one his teammates had gotten months before. A rocky shore littered with the bones of some sort of gigantic beasts, with waves crashing onto boulders and sending a fine spray into the air. Billy hoisted his duffel bag and set out in the direction he'd been told to go to seek Dulcea. His determination, born of the fear he'd never get better, almost wavered as he realized he was probably the only human on the entire planet. Never before had he felt quite so alone.
But he wasn't alone. Far above, hidden from his view, a regal figure watched his progress with some interest.
Dulcea had been oddly pleased by Zordon's call, saying the young wolf Ninjetti was indeed coming to Phaedos to recover from the experiences he'd had at the hands of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Even the thought of their names brought a curl to her lips and anger to her spirit. For far more years than she cared to remember, she'd dealt with survivors of those two evil ones, as well as others. Her inborn empathic powers, in conjuncture with her Ninjetti warrior training, had enabled her to develop a program which rehabilitated most of the victims that were sent to her for help. Over the centuries, only one in fifteen or so failed to recover completely, and of those 'failures' almost three quarters recovered at least enough to live useful, if not particularly happy, lives. The remainder were failures, and each one was a tear in her heart forever. She vowed that the young man she saw making his way with such determination would not join the rank of failures. Or even partial recoveries. She wanted nothing less than a full recovery, for the biting sting of her own failure accompanied this one. She too felt she should have recognized the first Blue Ranger from Earth was a fake.
It was the equivalent of early evening by the time Billy reached the sacred ruins. He tossed his bag to the side and looked around curiously, taking in the apparent age of the place, as well as the commanding view.
"Welcome, William of Earth," Dulcea spoke from behind him.
Billy whirled around, badly startled. "Uh, hello," he stammered.
"I didn't mean to startle you; it has been a while since I have had company. I tend to forget my manners," she said calmly. Actually, her startling Billy had been quite intentional. She'd wanted to see just how bad his nerves were.
"It's okay," Billy replied quietly. He looked around again. "Uh, where do I stay? Here?"
Dulcea chuckled gently. "No. Come with me and I will show you where you are to stay during your time here."
She led the way to a small building cleverly built into the side of the bluff. Only one room, there was a bed against the wall, a couple of crude chairs and a table, shelves, and a curtained-off alcove which hid the bathroom facilities. Despite the rustic furnishings, the small dwelling was warm and comfortable-feeling, with furs and colorful blankets draped about.
"I'll give you some time to settle in, then meet me back at the temple. We have much to discuss," Dulcea told him, taking her leave.
Billy pulled out the clothing he'd packed and carefully put it away on the shelves, then headed back the way they'd come.
He was anxious to get started.
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Dulcea watched the young wolf Ninjetti sprint up the stairs of the temple with a satisfied smile. He was stronger now than ever before. He wore only a pair of shorts, and his leanly muscled torso shone with a generous coating of perspiration. The day was coming on hot.
It had been nearly two weeks since Billy's arrival on Phaedos. During that time he'd been put through a training regime that would do a marine drill sergeant proud. Every day, twice a day, he had to run through special exercises to improve his overall stamina and strength, in addition to twice-daily sparring matches with Dulcea, who routinely wiped the forest floor with him. She provided all his meals, which she insisted he eat, no matter how tired he might be.
In the beginning he'd thought he'd never survive her 'help'. The first night he literally fell asleep at the dinner table, his face resting on a generous baked roll. Dulcea had gently awakened him and bullied him into finishing his meal. For days he awoke in agony from strained muscles, his first few steps of the day stiff and painful. Then gradually the pain faded, and the welcome sensation of good health replaced it. His weight increased, his ribs were gradually fading from view. He moved with assurance, if not grace. His reaction to sudden danger was to fall into a defensive posture, ready to attack. He'd not dreamt of the lunar palace at all.
She never asked him directly what had happened to him at Rita and Zedd's hands, but instead, over meals and during quiet times between training sessions, they talked. Their conversations covered a wide range of topics, including his experiences on the moon. Gradually, without his being aware of it, he'd told her the entire story, everything that had gone on up there during the four months, plus his feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger that his friends and father had not noticed the difference.
"You're getting faster at those stairs, William," she said as he approached at a walk, his breathing already slowing toward normal.
"There don't seem to be as many as there were last week," he grinned.
"Perhaps it's because you were taking them two at a time?" she suggested with a smile of her own.
"Perhaps," he chuckled. He looked out beyond her to the forest, and the temple therein.
"That's where they quested before, right?" he asked. It was the first time he'd mentioned the quest for the Great Power to her.
"Yes. It is also where you will take your quest," she replied.
"Me? I have to go on a quest?"
"Of course. All who hold the Great Power must prove their worthiness."
"Oh." He looked at the distance, deep in thought. "When?"
"Soon. Very soon. It will be one of the last steps in your healing."
"I'm close to being finished? To being well?" He looked frankly amazed at the idea.
Dulcea laughed fondly at the question. "Of course! Do you not feel better? Are your nights not more restful?"
"Well, yeah, of course. I guess ... I guess I was expecting something else. This seems so ... non-invasive?"
"Ah, William, you were expecting the Human way? You are Ninjetti, our ways are different."
"I see that. So even when I go home, the dreams will remain gone?"
"They may come back occasionally, but not nightly as they did before. But don't relax yet, young wolf, there is still much to do."
"What else is required, Dulcea? Besides the quest?"
"You must make peace with the other Ninjetti."
Billy opened his mouth to protest that he wasn't angry, but Dulcea held up a silencing hand.
"Think, William. Are you truly not angry? Look deep inside yourself, before you answer that."
Billy closed his mouth and looked down, deep in thought. Without realizing it, he was getting better at accurately judging and identifying his feelings. When he looked up again, his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"You're right. I'm angry. And hurt. They should have noticed ... something! Some difference. The clone wasn't me, he wasn't. There were differences, at least the other Rangers should have noticed that."
"Yes, they should have. But perhaps they were not totally at fault? Have you ever made yourself easy to know? Do you let them inside your true self? You would do well to meditate on that, William. Now, grab your staff, it is time for us to spar."
To be continued...