CHAPTER THREE
ROSE
After they'd helped save Tommy, the Rangers from Operation Overdrive had scattered. Dax had murdered Ronny, revealing the fact that he'd turned traitor and had been working for Merkhet. Most of the team had shunned even his memory after that, not even going to his funeral. Only Mack had shown up for that. As far as he was concerned, Dax turning evil had been complicated. He'd done it in exchange for the promise that he'd be able to take care of his family, which included a seriously ill child. Rose felt bad for the kid, but that didn't mean she could support Dax after what he'd done. The bastard had literally shot one of his teammates in the head. There was no coming back from that.
Will and Rose had both gone back to their normal lives, not wanting to remember the battle that had cost the Rangers so much. As far as Rose knew, Will had lost touch with Mack and Tyzonn, just like she had. He hadn't contacted her either. That was why she was so surprised to receive a text message that said, It's Will. Need help ASAP. Trouble found me. Considering Will excelled at getting himself out of trouble, this was especially alarming.
Rose immediately tracked his phone and headed off to help him, sending a quick text to Mack. Will's in trouble. I'm on my way. Back me up? And contact Ty. Then, she sent Mack the location and hurried there herself.
When she arrived at the seemingly abandoned warehouse, Rose could feel someone watching her. She didn't have her powers, nor did she have the morpher that could have restored them.
"For a smart person, you're not very intelligent," a voice said mockingly.
Rose spun around and frowned. A woman she didn't know smiled at her and it was absolutely terrifying. The woman had blonde hair, but her skin was tinted blue and her eyes were red. "Who the hell are you?" Rose demanded.
"Respect those who came before you, my dear Rose... I'm a Pink Ranger, too."
"You don't look like one of the good guys."
The woman laughed. "I never said that I was... My name is Katherine, Rose... And I've come here to kill you."
Rose pulled a knife out of her purse. "Too bad you're going to be disappointed," she said. Where's Will? She thought frantically. Is he even here? Oh fuck, what if she...?
"Look to your left, Rose," Katherine said cruelly.
Rose didn't want to, but she did it. To her absolute horror, she saw a bloody form lying on the ground. Please, no... Don't be Will... Please don't be Will, she thought frantically.
"Go on, Pink Ranger. Check on him," Katherine said.
Rose frowned, but she had to do it... Will could still be alive. She raced to him and knelt beside him, rolling him onto his back. To her relief, Will was still breathing, and he looked at her in horror.
"Go... It's a... Trap..." Will said. "She took... My phone..."
"It's too late for that," Rose said. She took off her jacket, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Stay with me, Will... You can still make it." That was a lie, and she knew it. Unless someone with magical healing powers showed up in the next two minutes or so, Will would bleed out.
Katherine laughed before grabbing Rose and strangling her with impossible strength. "Silly little Pink Ranger... You're all going to die today," she said.
"Not before you do!" Someone shouted. Katherine's arm took a hard hit and she released Rose.
"Mack!" Rose croaked out with relief. She struggled to catch her breath.
Mack was morphed, a fact that made Rose feel better. At least one of them still had their powers. Of course, Mack wasn't an android anymore. He'd become human. Katherine could kill him. Rose hoped the morph would be enough to protect him.
Katherine recovered quickly and went straight for Mack. It shocked Rose when she pulled out a sword and plunged it into his chest. "Mack! No!" She screamed as his morph failed.
Katherine pulled the sword out of Mack's chest and came toward Rose. She tried to defend herself, but Katherine was too skilled, and Rose didn't have much of a weapon. Katherine raised the sword into the air and brought it down toward Rose's neck.
TYZONN
He arrived just in time to watch in horror as the woman decapitated Rose. Her head rolled across the grass and landed by the bloody mess that was Will. Tyzonn wanted to scream, but there was no time to panic. Mack was still moving, barely, but there was too much blood, and this monster had turned back toward him. She was going to finish him off.
She looks and feels Eltarian, Tyzonn registered. He knew that meant she most likely had powers and would not be easy to destroy. Most Eltarians he'd met were incredibly peaceful people, but she apparently was not. As she raised her sword again, Tyzonn did the only thing he could... He turned his body to mercury and slipped between the woman and Mack, taking the attack. Her sword was made of gold, and the mercury reacted with it.
"What is this?" She demanded. The color changed, probably making her think he'd done serious damage. Of course, the damage could be undone, but she apparently didn't know the science that happened when gold met mercury.
She was just distracted enough. Tyzonn turned back into his usual state and knocked her away with great force. She flew into a tree, stopping her from attacking for a minute. Tyzonn checked on Will and realized he was dead. There was no question that Rose was as well. Grief filled his heart, but Mack was still alive. Tyzonn could stay and fight, but he might lose, and Mack would definitely die. He sighed, knowing he had no other options.
"Adam! It's Tyzonn. I need help," he said into the communicator Adam Park had given Mack in case of an emergency.
"What's going on?" Adam replied, much to Tyzonn's relief.
"We're under attack. Will and Rose... They're gone, Adam. We lost them. Mack's barely hanging on by a thread. I'm alone trying to hold her off."
"I'll have Alpha teleport you to us immediately," Adam replied. Ten seconds later, as the evil woman lunged toward them, they were teleported out of there. Tyzonn was carrying Mack as they landed at the Command Center.
"Ty, bring Mack here," Adam said urgently.
Tyzonn carried Mack to the healing bed. Zordon stood over him with alarm on his face. "Alpha, get Sage and Troy. Hurry. There is no time to waste," he said.
Alpha Twenty-Six immediately teleported them in. Tyzonn was relieved to see them. "Tyzonn? What happened?" Sage asked. She and Troy rushed to Mack.
"A woman... I think she was Eltarian," Tyzonn said.
"Was she one of the Rebels?" Troy asked.
"Rebels?" Tyzonn asked.
"Members of the Eltarian Rebellion have been making themselves known here on Earth recently," Adam said.
"I'm not sure who she was... She was very powerful... She had blonde hair, and her eyes were blood red."
Sage tensed. "Aunt Kat..." She said in horror as she and Troy tried to heal Mack.
"Wait... Tommy's wife? I thought she was dead," Tyzonn said.
"Not so much anymore," Adam said. "Ty, tell us what happened."
"Will had already lost too much blood to be saved when I got there. I saw her attack Rose. She... She took her head off." As his adrenaline wore off, the true horror of that began to hit him. His legs started to give out.
"Easy, Tyzonn," Zordon said gently, steadying him. He helped him sit down.
Two more people teleported in. "Holy shit..." Kira said as she took in the scene.
"Is he...?" Bridge asked, motioning toward Mack.
"Mack is alive," Zordon said quickly. "I believe Tyzonn brought him here just in time to save his life."
"Xander's on his way," Kira said to Adam. Technically, Adam, Kira, Bridge, and Xander were all from different teams, but they'd had their powers restored when Operation Overdrive had lost theirs, and they had promised to always come help if the team needed them. Their team of Legends had also consisted of Casey, Adam's wife, and Tori, but Casey had died a while ago, and Tori had been killed in the battle to save Tommy. Kira turned to Tyzonn. "Where are Rose and Will?" She asked.
Tyzonn shook his head. "We lost them," he said sadly.
"Damnit!" Kira slammed her hands down on a table in frustration.
"Kira..." Bridge said gently.
"No! I'm sick and fucking tired of losing Rangers!" She declared.
As Xander teleported in, he apparently heard that comment. "Oh no... Who?" He asked nervously.
"Rose and Will," Adam said, taking on the role of team leader. "Katherine killed them."
"Katherine? Oh shit..." Xander shook his head. "Are you alright, Tyzonn, Mate?"
"I don't have the option not to be," Tyzonn said with determination. He'd see this fight through to the end. He owed his fallen friends that much.
Sage took a deep breath. "Mack's going to be okay," she promised. "Troy and I have him stabilized."
"He'll need to rest for a bit, but Mom's right," Troy added. "His vitals are getting stronger every second."
"You saved his life, Ty," Adam said soothingly. Tyzonn nodded. He forced himself to stay in battle mode. He could grieve later, when everyone was safe. For now, he had to remain vigilant.
THE ALCHEMIST
She watched as Katherine walked through the door empty-handed. "I see you have failed to acquire it," the Alchemist said with a frown.
"I murdered two members of the team and gravely wounded a third," Katherine said harshly. "I do not consider that a failure."
"You were meant to bring Tyzonn to me alive," the Alchemist reminded her.
"He lives... But he destroyed this pathetic weapon you made for me." Katherine showed her the golden sword.
The Alchemist shook her head. "It is not destroyed, Katherine. This is merely an amalgamation formed when gold comes into contact with mercury. It can be fixed simply by heating it up and removing the mercury. Do you truly know nothing of science?"
"Well, I'm sorry, but I took chemistry a lifetime ago. Forgive me if I forgot a few things!"
"I am surrounded by amateurs..." The Alchemist sighed and began fixing Katherine's sword. The fool may not have deserved it, but the Alchemist had been instructed by Zell to keep his spoiled princess of an offspring armed, and she did not desire to face his wrath on that particular day.
Tyzonn's unique abilities as a Mercurian might prove useful to the Alchemist. She desperately wanted to get him under her control so she could experiment on him. She knew she shouldn't have allowed Zell to entrust Katherine with such an important task.
"If you want something done right, you must do it yourself," she mumbled. She would have to capture and enslave the Mercurian herself, when the time was right. He would be on high alert now, so this was not the appropriate time. Soon, she decided. Unlike the spoiled fool, she would not fail.
TIA
She was surprised to come home and find Brian's car in the driveway. Tia prepared herself for whatever had prompted the visit. Knowing Brian, it could be anything from a Chosen crisis to him just wanting to say hello or annoy her by blowing kisses at her. Brian was a flirt, but Tia had no interest in dating anyone. She still wasn't ready to consider letting a boy touch her... Not after what had happened while her mother was missing... Tia might not have let it break her fully, but when Zell sent Nick from Mystic Force to attack her, she'd stopped being able to let anyone in. She barely even let her siblings get close to her.
Still, no matter how hard she tried to push, Brian refused to go away. She'd come to accept that, and she even appreciated having him around now. Brian seemed to understand Tia in ways other people did not, and she sort of liked knowing that, no matter what, he was there for her. Tia had always been fiercely independent. She had essentially raised Imani on her own for the first two years of her sister's life while their mother grieved the loss of their father. Her childhood had ended the day her father died, but Tia wasn't angry about that. It had made her stronger.
As Tia entered the house, she was surprised to see Brian sitting on the couch with Liza snuggled in his arms. They were watching a musical of some sort and Tia couldn't understand why that upset her so much.
Liza already has everything else that should be yours, a voice taunted her. She has Galaxia's personality, charm, and powers. She should be Chosen, not you. You can't even communicate with animals. You are nothing. Brian was the only thing that was yours, and now she's taken him, too.
"Tia!" Brian cried cheerfully. He jumped up and ran to her. "We were just watching High School Musical Three. Join us?"
"I have not seen the first two," Tia said practically. "Nor do I want to."
"Come on... It'll be fun! I'll make popcorn."
"No thank you, Brian. I have more important things to focus on," she said coldly.
"What crawled up your ass today?" Liza asked.
Tia glared at her, saying nothing before heading out to the backyard. Imani was talking to Winifred. "Hi, Tia!" Imani said, running into her arms. Tia immediately put her annoyance and anger aside and hugged her baby sister with a smile on her face.
"How was school, Mani?" She asked kindly.
"Awesome! Look what Vinny made for me!" Imani showed Tia a strange device with many cogs and coils attached to it.
"What is it?" Tia asked.
"A secret, so don't tell!" Imani turned a knob and the coils and cogs began moving. A soothing melody began to play before a beam of light burst out of the strange creation. It was blinding and Tia was glad she hadn't looked straight at it.
"Why did Vinny give this to you?" Tia asked.
"To protect me from the bad man, and from the dark," Imani replied. "As long as I have this, I can make any place light up. And it plays a lullaby, to make me feel better if I get scared."
"That was very kind of him."
"Vinny's always nice to me." Imani beamed at her.
Suddenly, Tia felt Winifred nudging her back with her nose. Tia automatically pet the horse, who responded with a content Thank you. I do enjoy being pet.
Tia pulled her hand away as she heard this. "I... Did you just...?" She stuttered.
You can hear me! Winifred said eagerly.
Tia shook her head. She must be losing her mind. "Can you?" Imani asked in wonder.
"Can I what?" Tia asked.
"Can you understand Winnie?"
"I... No. No, that's not one of my abilities..." Tia shook her head. It was supposed to be. She knew that. It was one of Galaxia's strongest gifts... That and creating portals, as well as levitation.
You have Xia's powers from the necklace you wear, Winifred reminded her helpfully.
Tia touched the necklace. It felt warm in her hands. You had the power all along, my dear Tia, Galaxia's voice said in her head. You repressed it when Imani was born so you could focus on caring for her, but it was always inside of you. You are my descendant, and you are Chosen for a reason. It's not just about birth order. Please stop doubting yourself, and stop taking it out on Liza. You are better than that, Tia.
She hadn't expected any of this, but Galaxia was right. I will apologize, she promised. Liza didn't deserve her wrath. She knew that... It had just bothered her that the one part of Tia's life that felt like it was truly hers had suddenly gotten so close to her sister.
"Excuse me, Mani," Tia said. She was ashamed of herself. Why had she acted so childishly? She walked back inside and took a deep breath before sitting beside Liza on the couch. "I am sorry for dismissing you earlier," she said. "Please explain what we are watching?"
Liza smiled easily. "You should really watch the first two, but this one's the best by far, so let me break it down for you," Liza said. "See the blonde girl who is clearly plotting? That's Sharpay. She is totally my spirit animal." Liza laughed, although Tia wasn't sure why that was supposed to be funny. Liza continued explaining the plot, and soon enough, Tia was able to at least follow the basic story.
"I'm glad you joined us, Tia! Popcorn?" Brian offered with a huge grin.
"Sure," Tia said, allowing him to pass the bowl to her. She tried to relax and just watch the movie, but that was difficult for her. Tia was never really able to relax. There was always something that needed to be done.
Watching Brian and Liza enthusiastically act out the songs, complete with dancing and over-the-top facial expressions, Tia was both amused and bothered. What was happening to her? Was she jealous of how well Brian and Liza got along? That didn't make any sense. Brian was free to have any friends he liked, so why did this get under her skin? Did she feel something deeper than friendship for Brian?
Impossible, she told herself. He is far too goofy. The truth, however, was that Tia had come to enjoy Brian's goofy nature. He was the only person who could easily make Tia laugh. She treasured those moments more than she wanted to admit.
Tia watched Brian smile as he watched Liza belt out some song lyrics with everything she had. When he swept her into his arms, she could no longer deny what she was feeling... She was jealous. Tia didn't sing unless it was in private, usually for a ritual, or when she sang the African lullaby their mother used to sing to comfort Imani at night. She didn't dance or act or even enjoy watching movies. Brian was passionate about American culture and was determined to fit into American society perfectly. Tia still struggled to blend in and understand the culture. They were so different... She was always stoic, studious, and serious, while Brian was rarely without a laugh or a funny comment. She was a bit of a control freak, while Brian was wild and carefree. He loved playing pranks, while Tia preferred order and following rules. Yet, for some reason, Brian had chosen to attach himself to her. Tia realized now how much she took for granted that he would remain by her side always. She might not know exactly what she felt for him, but it was clearly more than friendship.
"Who's up for Descendants?" Liza asked as the movie ended.
"Oooh, me!" Angie said as she walked in and heard her. "I completely relate to that movie."
"Tia?" Liza asked.
"I think I have had enough of musicals for today," Tia said, standing to leave and forcing herself not to sound harsh. She really didn't want to keep snapping at Liza, even if she was jealous of her. Liza was still her younger sister. It was Tia's job to lead the current generation of Campbells, and that included Liza. Blood and duty came before boys.
"Come on, Tia," Brian said with a pout. "You'll love it, I promise." He touched her arm gently. Tia couldn't deny his energy soothed her.
"Alright," she agreed. She sat down beside Brian, causing him to grin. Angie sat beside Liza. The two weren't sisters, but they got along extremely well. Angie and Liza shared similar views on what constituted proper use of their magic. Tia was much stricter about how she used hers. She had trained herself for years and was too disciplined to deviate from those beliefs now.
Brian started the movie as Angie used her magic to instantly manifest more popcorn while Liza encouraged that behavior. Tia ignored the impulse to protest and forced herself to focus on the movie.
Sometimes, it is important to relax and enjoy yourself, Galaxia said in her mind. Do it while you can, Tia... The battle has already begun.
THE NEXT DAY.
TAYLOR
He was standing in the woods, trying to focus on anything but what day it was. He had left the house before the sun rose and hadn't stopped walking. The last time he'd done that, he had run away from home to try to protect his family. He'd ended up crossing through several states, but in the end, Josh had brought him back to Angel Grove.
"I never should have gone home," Taylor mumbled. He knew he'd had to, of course. Taylor was Chosen. They needed him, or they'd die... But going home had led to everything that had happened with his mother, and it still hurt so much...
A strange energy approached him. Taylor snapped to attention, looking up, but it was only a bird. He paused. "Wait... I know you..." He said cautiously.
The bird flew closer to him. Suddenly, a man emerged from the trees. "Incubus..." The man said with a frown. "You are a bit far from Angel Grove."
Taylor recognized him from their recent battle against Zell and the Rebels. "Lido, right?" He asked.
"Yes," Lido replied.
"The name's Taylor, not incubus."
"Taylor. What brings you to Stone Hollow?"
"I don't know... I just kept walking and ended up here... I was avoiding my house."
"Caius is concerned for you. He asked that when I find you, I bring you somewhere safe. Do you have a preference?"
Taylor knew Lido was magically bound to Caius because Sage had freed him from Zell, who'd turned him evil. "I don't care... Just not my house," Taylor replied. "Preferably nowhere that's celebrating Thanksgiving."
Lido nodded. "Come with me," he said. "Zuzu, watch for any trouble." Zuzu, the bird, flew overhead.
"What's with the bird, anyway?" Taylor asked.
"I am an Aviary. I communicate with birds. Zuzu is a phelinx, and he is also my familiar."
"Is he from Earth?"
"No. The phelinx is a noble species native only to Eltar."
"He's cool looking."
Lido surprised him by smiling at that. "Zuzu is beautiful," he agreed. He didn't look as intimidating with a smile on his face, but Taylor knew Lido's history. He was known as the Executioner, and he was probably the deadliest member of the Rebellion in history. It was a damn good thing he was on their side now.
Taylor followed Lido until they reached a beautiful bit of land. Taylor could feel the magic. "This feels like Sage's family's Reservation," he said.
"This is another Reservation," Lido said. He paused when he saw someone. "Hello, Mystic," he greeted the man who clearly had a lot of power. Taylor recognized him, too.
"Amos, right?" Taylor asked.
"Correct, Little Incubus," Amos said with a bright smile.
"Taylor."
"Taylor. What brings you here?"
"The boy has requested to be somewhere that does not celebrate the holiday," Lido explained.
"We celebrate this day, but not as a day of gluttony and fun. This is a day of mourning and honoring our ancestors."
"Why today?" Taylor asked.
"Did you know that the first Thanksgiving ended in a slaughter?"
Taylor raised an eyebrow at that news. "They didn't exactly cover that in history class."
Amos laughed. "I imagine they would not. Come, Taylor. You are welcome here. We shall feed you and give you a sanctuary for the day."
"You aren't going to send me home?"
"I can see the burden you carry, Taylor. I know why you need to be away from there today." He paused. "You stay, too, He with the Spirit of the Bird."
"There is no need for that," Lido argued.
"Hush! Aviaries need food, too." Amos didn't give him time to refuse as he led them both deeper onto the Reservation. Inside of a house, Taylor spotted two people he recognized. "Little Fish, Logan, I believe you boys know Taylor."
"Hey," Pierce said. He was the one Amos called Little Fish. He was also one of the Stone Warrior Rangers. Logan was his older brother. He'd been brainwashed and programmed to be an assassin by the Eltarian Rebels, but he was himself now and had proven he was one of the good guys so much that Zordon had made him one of the members of the Ranger Guard.
"Ah... Speeding Cheetah has arrived," Amos said pleasantly. A minute later, a blur of yellow light sped into the house. When it stopped moving, Taylor saw Chelsea, the Yellow Stone Warrior Ranger.
"Sorry I'm late," Chelsea said.
"Are you sure your parents won't miss you?" Logan asked as he wrapped her in his arms.
"Positive," Chelsea said. "The dinner party's gigantic. They won't even notice I left, and even if they do, I don't care. Fuck the Country Club. I'd much rather spend the day with you." Chelsea looked at Taylor. "Hey, Chosen Kid... To what do we owe the visit?"
"Home's chaotic... I didn't want to be stuck there," Taylor said. "By the way, Tommy's wife is back from the dead and, like, extra evil. You guys might want to watch your backs. She killed two members of Operation Overdrive yesterday."
"He says this so casually," Chelsea said with a laugh. "You're jaded like a New Yorker... Makes me homesick."
"Should we call Vida and Chip?" Pierce asked. Vida was the official mentor for the Stone Warriors, although Chip and Sir Ivan had taken on mentor roles, too.
"Vida probably knows. That team was tight with Adam's team... I know Xander knows, so I assume he told Vida and Chip."
"Xander's sort of spacey sometimes... I think we should call just in case," Chelsea said.
"We'll call tomorrow," Pierce said. "Let them enjoy Thanksgiving if they don't know what happened."
"Wise words, Little Fish!" Amos said. "I promise, Katherine is no threat today. The Rebels are holding a celebration of their own."
"Wait... Seriously?" Taylor asked. "Bad guys celebrate Thanksgiving?"
"Zell finds Earth customs amusing, and the Rebels work very hard to blend in with all societies so they may hide in plain sight."
Taylor suddenly had a flash of Mora and Katherine sitting at the Kiddie Table while Zell gave a grand speech on all the things he was thankful for... I wish to thank... Myself... For power, minions, world domination, the Forces of Evil... Oooh, and this pie! Be a dear and pass me a slice?
Taylor shook his head at the visual. Amos looked amused, almost like he'd seen it, too. Taylor wondered if the very ancient immortal Shaman could read his mind. Maybe that was how he knew why Taylor needed to hide out there so desperately.
He began to relax as everyone settled down to eat. Amos told the story of the first Thanksgiving, and it wasn't what school or Charlie Brown or any television show had taught Taylor. This story, although depressing, was way more interesting, and it provided a welcome distraction from having to pretend the holiday was a happy one. He could live with this, because it matched what Taylor knew to be reality. Holidays didn't magically make all of your troubles go away. Sometimes, they made things worse.
Taylor felt a gentle hand touch his arm. "Are you okay, Taylor?" Pierce asked softly.
Taylor nodded. "Yeah... Just thinking too much," Taylor said.
"I get it. My family sucks, too. Don't worry. None of us are going to demand you pretend you're happy. We're all screwed up in the head... But I've learned that, sometimes, the family you choose is the one that matters."
Taylor felt oddly comforted by Pierce. Then he remembered that he was a young Shaman, just like Sage. "Thanks," he said, knowing Pierce had done more than simply talk to him. Taylor felt a little better.
After that, Taylor stopped overthinking things. Just for that day, he knew he was safe.
MICKY
To say his current living situation was awkward was an understatement. Micky had settled into the big house and was even getting used to being there, but he still felt awkward around the residents. Jayden was polite but not exactly his new best friend. He tried not to take that personally, especially since it seemed he kept nearly everyone at a distance. He was friendlier toward his team, but even around them, he never seemed to fully drop his guard. Tommy... Or, his dad, he guessed... Was trying too hard to be welcoming when it was clear he didn't know what the fuck to do with Micky.
Kira wasn't so bad. She was snarky, which Micky appreciated, and she had cheerfully dubbed herself "Auntie Kira" and promised to kick his father's butt if he got stupid. Dustin was the easiest to deal with. He was laid-back and casual at all times, and he treated Micky with both kindness and respect. He also kept finding ways to make Micky laugh, which really helped him relax.
Now, as Micky walked down the hallway, he hesitated outside of the one room no one seemed to acknowledge. His curiosity got the best of him. He reached toward the handle, feeling like something was calling to him from inside of the room.
"We don't go in there," Kira said, making him jump.
"Jesus Christ! What are you, a ninja?" Micky demanded. He hadn't even sensed that she was there.
Kira laughed. "No, Dustin's the ninja," she replied casually.
"What's the deal with this room?"
"It was Katie's. No one's really gone inside since... Well, anyway, the point is that it's off-limits."
"You guys keep a shrine to the girl who betrayed everyone and tried to kill at least one of the people who lives here?"
"It's not a shrine... At least not to that version of her. Doc O kept her room exactly the way it was for two reasons. One, to honor the kid she used to be, before Zell and Katherine got in her head. Two, it's sort of like the room was quarantined. The evil is contained in there like you'd contain an infection. I mean, Sage cleansed the fuck out of the entire house, including that room, but that doesn't mean we're not a little superstitious. We'd rather be safe than sorry. So back away from the door, Kiddo. It needs to stay shut."
Micky shrugged and walked away from the room, but he could still feel something calling to him. He had to get in there... But he'd wait until no one was around. He didn't want to upset them, but he also knew he had to trust his instincts. They were strong. In fact, trusting his instincts was the only thing that had kept him alive for this long.
Upon getting downstairs, Micky was surprised to see that the table was full of enough food to feed an army. "Happy Thanksgiving, Micky!" Dustin said cheerfully.
"Kim stopped by?" Kira guessed.
"Yep! She cooked for her household, then cooked for our household since we all know Tommy can't cook, and then she apparently cooked a bit for Jason and the kids, too, since Jason burns water when he's left in the kitchen. Luke cooked most of their food, but Kimberly didn't want the kid to have to do all the work by himself."
"That woman never ceases to amaze me. You're in for a treat, Micky," Kira said. "Kimberly's cooking is amazing."
The doorbell rang. Micky decided to go answer it. He was greeted by Spike and Jayden's team, to his surprise. "Gobble gobble gobble!" Antonio said enthusiastically.
"We brought pie," Emily added.
"And I made a special surprise," Mia said with a huge smile.
Spike was staring at her with adoration. "I can't wait to try it," he said.
As they walked inside the house, Antonio put a gentle hand on Micky's arm. "Don't eat the stuff on the pink platter," he advised softly. "I love Mia, really I do, but unless you want food poisoning, steer clear of her cooking."
Micky laughed. "Thanks for the head's up... Spike doesn't seem to mind it, though," he said.
"You know how people get blinded by love? Apparently, Spike's sense of taste is malfunctioning, too."
They joined the others in the kitchen. "What's Bulk doing today?" Tommy asked Spike.
"Uncle Bulky's with his kids today," Spike replied. "He invited me along, but I wanted to be here... I hope that's okay?"
"Of course it is, Spike. You're always welcome here."
Micky saw the look of surprise in Spike's eyes. The guy was obviously an outsider, since he wasn't a Ranger or even part of the Chosen, but it seemed like everyone had embraced him as part of the family anyway. Micky was standing off to the side wondering why that was when Dustin joined him.
"Everything okay, Micky?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah... I was just wondering how Spike fits in so easily, while I'm just... Failing at that," Micky admitted. "I mean, I'm a Power Ranger, right? Shouldn't I fit right in?"
"It's complicated, but Spike, his dad, Bulk, Lieutenant Stone, and Professor Phenomenus stepped up to help in the big battle even though none of them had ever been Power Rangers. They fought as bravely as any of us... And Spike watched his dad, Skull, get killed. Skull took an attack meant for Kimberly. He saved her life, but he lost his own. Skull and Spike were really close. He's like a clone of his father, and his mom hasn't been in the picture in years. She abandoned them both, and we don't know anything about her. I guess everyone felt like we had to step up and take care of Spike after his dad died, and Spike threw himself into training. He's actually gotten pretty decent, and even if he's not a Ranger, he is in his heart. That's what matters... But Micky, don't worry. People are already getting used to you being around, and we like you. You belong here."
"Tommy doesn't want me here. He's only keeping me around because he feels obligated to."
"Tommy doesn't know you, and he's scared to get attached... But he'll come around. I promise."
"People keep saying that."
"You'll see. Come on... Let's eat." Dustin led him back to the others.
It surprised Micky deeply when Emily offered him a sweet smile and sat beside him. She hadn't really said anything personal to him since he'd shown up in Angel Grove. "Happy Thanksgiving, Micky," she said kindly.
"Thanks, Emily... You, too," he replied cautiously.
"I'm sorry we haven't gotten a chance to talk much." She paused. "A few of us were pretty shocked by your arrival, but we're glad you're here, Micky. So let's get to know each other."
Micky had to admit, there was something so genuine about Emily, it warmed his heart a bit. "Sure... What do you want to know?" He asked.
"Anything you're comfortable sharing... You grew up with Liza, right? What was that like?" She asked with a laugh.
"Never dull, that's for sure," Micky said with a laugh of his own. "What's your story?"
"Me?" Emily asked in surprise. "Oh, nothing special..."
"Your team trains from, like, birth, right?"
"Well, most of us do... Antonio made himself a Samurai, so he's different... And I only started training a little while before the team got together."
"Why?"
"Just like you weren't originally meant to be the Mighty Morphin' Legacy White Ranger, I wasn't supposed to be the Yellow Samurai."
"You weren't? So what happened?"
"My older sister, Serena, was supposed to be the Yellow Samurai, but she got sick... Really sick... And I had to pick up the legacy instead."
"Is she okay now?"
Emily looked a little sad as she said, "No. She's always going to be sick... There's no cure. But she's a fighter. She's always been my hero."
"I'm sure she's really proud of you."
"She is... And I make sure to do my very best every single day to honor her, and to honor our family."
They continued talking and Micky realized he really liked Emily. Not only did she seem to be a genuinely sweet girl, but beneath the surface there was clearly an incredibly strong person. He respected her. He also appreciated that the more she talked to him, the less icy Jayden was toward him. It was like Emily melted his cold heart as she lit up and got excited about the most random things. By the end of dinner, Jayden was even cracking the occasional joke.
That girl is a miracle worker, Micky decided. He couldn't begin to tell her how much he appreciated the way she'd cut through the tension and helped everyone relax.
After everyone helped clean up and the people who didn't live there headed home, Micky found himself alone with Tommy. "So... Thanks for dinner," Micky said awkwardly.
"Thank Kimberly. I would have ordered take-out," Tommy said just as awkwardly.
"Listen, Tommy... Do you think we'll ever get past the crazy awkward stuff?"
"I really hope so... I'm sorry, Micky. I just don't know what to do with all of this."
"Neither do I... If you want, I can leave-"
"Absolutely not," Tommy said so firmly, it surprised Micky. Maybe he did care after all. "No matter how complicated things are, you're my son, Micky... And I'm sorry I haven't been acting like a great father to you. I let my confusion, shock, and... Issues... Get in the way of being the parent you deserve. If you can forgive me, I promise to try harder."
I'm not holding my breath, Micky thought. He'd never had a decent parent. Why should he expect one now? He shrugged and said, "Sure, Tommy. We can try to work this out."
"You can call me Dad if you want to."
"I'm not there yet." Micky had tried it a few times, but it just hadn't felt right.
"Okay. That's fair." Tommy got closer. He cautiously put a hand on Micky's shoulder. Micky initially jerked away, expecting to get attacked. "Micky..." Tommy sighed. "I won't hurt you," he promised.
"Sorry... It was a reflex," Micky said, feeling kind of guilty and embarrassed. Tommy was actually trying to be nice to him and he'd automatically assumed the worst.
"It's okay... I can tell you've been through a lot. If you want to talk about it, I'll listen."
Micky nodded. "Thanks," he said quickly. "I'm kind of wiped out... Mind if I go to bed?"
"Of course not. Get some rest," Tommy said, letting Micky hurry upstairs to his bedroom.
Micky closed the door and took several deep breaths. He'd been annoyed that Tommy wasn't being very welcoming, but now that he had finally tried, Micky had screwed it up. Tommy would probably never try that again. Micky sighed. I'm such a freak, he thought. Talk about sending Tommy mixed signals.
With a sigh, Micky got changed for bed. He covered his head with his pillow and tried to pretend nothing existed except his bedroom.
THE NEXT DAY.
CAIUS
It was never easy when something reminded him of those he'd lost. Still, it was a part of his existence that he'd grown accustomed to over the millennia. That day, however, Caius was confronted with something he hadn't expected. The girl staring at him was alive, but he had to double-check to be certain. That was because she looked very similar to Julia Chase, the wife he'd lost the day Caleb was born. The girl stared at him with fear in her eyes.
"Help me," she whispered. "Please..."
Caius saw no immediate threat, but he could sense one surrounding her. "Who are you?" Caius asked her as he got closer. He knew she was bait for some sort of trap, but he didn't care.
"Anita," she replied softly. "Please give him what he wants... Or he'll hurt me."
"Who is he?" Caius knew the answer deep down, but he had to be certain.
"He says his name is... Great Zell... And he wants you to watch..."
"Watch what?"
The girl pulled out a knife and before Caius could react, she slashed her own throat. "No!" Caius screamed. He pulled the girl into his arms, desperately trying to find a way to save her life, but the wound was too deep. As she died, he heard Zell's laugh in his mind.
You will never be able to save any of them, Zell said. Your fate is to remain behind for eternity as everyone around you dies, be it at my hand or simply due to old age. You shall never be happy, Caius... Unless you return to me.
"Never!" Caius shouted. He stared at the girl who looked far too much like Julia and tried in vain to revive her. "I am terribly sorry, Anita... He did this only to play mind games, and you did nothing to deserve such a fate..." He realized he was crying as he saw tears landing on her cheeks.
Anita suddenly stood beside him, even as Caius held her body in his arms. "Why?" She asked. "Why did you let this happen? Why didn't you stop him?" She was angry, and she touched Caius before he could defend himself.
Suddenly, Caius felt everything this girl had been through at Zell's hands. He'd abducted her. He'd tortured her. He'd broken her mind so he could control it, and he'd sent her to Caius with every intention of making her end her own life. He couldn't breathe as she held on to him tightly. She wasn't going to let go.
"Caius! Caius, ground to me!" Someone was shouting.
Sage... Caius realized. Somehow, Sage was with him. He desperately tried to reach out for her, knowing it was the only thing that would save him now. Sage... Sage, please... I... I can't breathe...
"Spirit, Be Gone!" Sage shouted. An enormous amount of energy burst from her and forced Anita to release Caius. The girl vanished before his eyes. Sage grabbed onto him tightly and wouldn't let go. "Come on, Caius... Stay with me," Sage said urgently.
Slowly, Caius was able to focus. His breathing went back to normal. He looked at Sage with fresh tears in his eyes. "I couldn't save her..." He whispered.
"Shhh, Caius... It's over now," Sage said soothingly. She stroked his back gently.
"He did this because of me..." Caius whispered in horror. "Just to play some sick mind game, because she looked..." He shook his head.
"Caius... What is it? Why did he kill her?"
"She looked so much like her, Sage... For a moment, I thought it was her..."
"Who?"
"Julia... Caleb's mother."
Sage looked stunned. "Oh, Caius..." She said sympathetically.
"What good is seeing the future if I cannot save someone who is innocent?" Caius asked, trembling as his emotions overwhelmed him. "Julia died because I dared to love her... And now, this girl... Anita... She died because he knew her resemblance to my wife would haunt me... She did nothing to deserve this!"
"Caius... It isn't your fault. Neither was Julia's death. That Underworld God was a prick, and as for this... Zell lives for mind games. He would have killed an innocent regardless. That doesn't make it your fault." Sage gently wiped away his tears with her thumb. She wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Caius... We'll make him pay for this... And I'll help her spirit heal."
Caius nodded, somehow composing himself. "Thank you, Sage." He kissed her hand.
Sage smiled at him sadly. "Go home, Caius. Take some time. I'll take care of her body."
Caius managed to stay calm as he stood up. He bowed his head respectfully before leaving, trying desperately not to get lost in his grief. He had to be strong. Zell was playing games, but there was probably more to it. He could not let this weaken his resolve. The children needed him. He held on to that as he headed home.
KARONE
The last thing she wanted to do was attend another Ranger funeral, but Ashley had been her brother's ex-girlfriend and former teammate. Karone needed to be there for Andros, and for Zhane, who'd cried when he thought no one was looking.
As Andros, Zhane, Karone, V, Zoey, Ella, and baby Leo reached the Command Center, it was clear things were worse than they'd expected. Tyzonn sat beside Mack, who was lying on a healing bed.
"Oh, shit... What happened?" Karone asked.
"Karone, you shouldn't curse in front of the baby," Andros scolded her gently. She rolled her eyes, tempted to kick him. Then, he added, "But yes, what happened to Mack?"
"Katherine," Mack answered weakly.
"He's almost fully healed," Tyzonn added.
"Why would Katherine attack you?" Karone asked. "I mean, she's got a ton of Rangers to choose from."
"She attacked the whole team," Tyzonn said sadly. "Rose and Will didn't make it."
Zhane's face fell. "You're the only two left?" He asked in horror.
It's starting again, Karone thought. She struggled to block out flashes of her husband blowing up in front of her. "We'll make her pay!" She declared. "I'm going to destroy her!"
Tyzonn and Mack both looked startled. "Karone..." Andros began.
"What?!" She snapped.
Zoey pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. She showed it to Karone. Her hair was blood red and short, like it had been when she'd been under Dark Specter's mind control. "Damnit..." Karone said. "Sorry." She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Ever since she'd watched Leo die, she's struggled to keep from turning back into Astronema.
Baby Leo giggled in apparent amusement as Karone's hair turned blonde again. "Your kid's kind of demented, Karone," Zhane said with a laugh of his own.
Tyzonn awkwardly said, "We've decided to hold a small memorial service for them here... Their families are holding funerals for them, I'm sure, but they don't know they were Power Rangers."
"What is the plan for...?" Andros began.
"For Ashley?" V finished for him.
"Sage used a very powerful summoning spell to get Jodi's body away from the Alchemist. She was returned to her father, and he is laying her and Ashley to rest together," Zordon said as he entered the room.
"Zordon," Andros said, bowing his head respectfully.
"I am pleased to see you are all here, although I wish it were not under these circumstances," Zordon said sadly. "You may attend the funeral if you wish... It is tomorrow. Later on in the day, when we hold the memorial for Rose and Will, we shall also honor Ashley and her daughter."
"Of course. I intend to attend both," Andros said.
"How's Justin?" V asked. She'd spent time around Justin because she was brilliant and skilled with weapons, just as he was.
"Not well, I'm afraid. He hasn't come out of his home since he found Ashley," Zordon admitted. "I know he tried to put on a good show for Jared on Thanksgiving, but it's clear he is emotionally devastated."
"That poor guy can't catch a break," Zhane said, shaking his head.
"I know what it is like to watch your team die and be helpless to stop it," V said. "And I understand how his mind works. Perhaps, when he is ready, I can speak to him and try to help."
"V, you hated Ashley," Zhane argued.
"I may not have liked her, but I do like Justin, and I don't like to see him hurting. I also know her loss hurt you and Andros, and I am sorry for your pain. I disliked her, Zhane, but I didn't wish this upon her."
"I know you care, Sis," he said quickly. "I'm sorry. This whole thing's just such shit, you know?"
"Zhane, please stop cursing in front of the baby," Andros said automatically.
"He's about to go all Captain America on you, Dad," Zoey joked. " 'Language!' "
"Seriously, Andros, he's an infant," Zhane said. "He won't pick the fun words up for at least a few more months."
"You're horrible! If you teach my nephew to say bad words, I swear, Zhane..." Andros warned him.
"He's got his mother and sister for that," Zhane joked.
"What? Gabriella does not use that kind of language!"
Ella snorted, then put her hand on her uncle's shoulder and said mockingly, "Oh, Uncle Andros... Sweet, naive Uncle Andros... You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better."
Andros looked horrified. Karone laughed as V whacked Zhane. "Stop upsetting him," V scolded Zhane, but Karone could tell she was amused as well.
Things began to calm down as Zordon told them where they'd be staying for the night. Karone was relieved to be heading to a safe house Zordon had set up for visiting Rangers. She wasn't ready to go back to the hotel they'd taken over for the battle. That was the last place where Leo had been safe. Going back there without him after the battle had made it entirely too real, and that had broken part of her.
They got settled in and Karone set her son up in a crib beside her bed. "Goodnight, my sweet baby boy," she said gently. She kissed his head and tried to rest, but her stress was too high. They were back on Earth, and all hell was breaking loose. What if they ended up right back where they'd been? What if another slaughter was coming? Karone couldn't let that happen. No matter what, she would keep the people she loved safe this time.
ANGIE
She couldn't sleep. That happened pretty often, between nightmares and flashbacks. Angie's life might be pretty great now, but for a while, safety had been a foreign concept. She stood up and got dressed. She left the house, figuring she would go for a walk. That often led to her ending up at her mom's place or at Kenny's. Kimberly and Billy didn't mind Angie crashing with Kenny because they knew the two of them weren't the sort of kids who had sex or did drugs or got into any real trouble. Kenny made her feel safe when nothing else did, and Kimberly was like another mother to Angie. Her actual mom was great, and so was Tanya, but there was something about Kimberly that had made Angie get attached to her very quickly after they met.
She was nearly to Kenny's house when she felt eyes on her. Angie immediately reacted, pulling her magic around herself and getting ready for a fight. "Relax, Little Sorceress," a voice said mockingly.
"Katherine..." Angie said as she recognized her.
"In the flesh," Katherine replied with a slight laugh.
Angie could see her magic pouring out of her hands in spirals. "What the hell do you want?" She asked coldly.
"I was hoping you could reconnect me with your parents."
"Not a chance."
"Oh, come on, Angeline... Your mother kept me as a pet. I will make her pay for that."
"I won't help you."
"So loyal... Such a good daughter... Not like my little brat! She made me proud in the end, though." Katherine laughed again. Suddenly, she moved with impossible speed and grabbed Angie by her throat. "Call them here to rescue you, Princess... Bring them to me!"
Angie released some of the magic she'd built up. It attacked Katherine, burning her hands and forcing her to release her. "I'd rather rescue myself," Angie replied firmly. She hit Katherine with a second attack.
"You little bitch! I know what my father did to you, you pathetic little girl! I know you're not nearly as tough as you pretend to be, Murderer!"
Angie hadn't expected to have that thrown in her face. To her credit, she didn't give in to the bait. "Go back to Hell, Katherine," she said firmly. She began to raise more energy.
Katherine was preparing for an attack of her own. Suddenly, a massive rain storm seemed to hit, but the water only landed on Katherine. "Bad Kitty!" Angie's mother's voice said in a scolding tone.
Katherine let out a screech of protest as she ended up soaking wet. Angie felt herself being teleported away. A minute later, she found herself in her mother's bedroom. "Angie... Are you alright, sweetheart?" Her mother asked.
Angie was a little overwhelmed. She flung herself into her mother's arms. "I'm okay," she promised. "Just... Can you hold me for a couple of minutes?"
"Always, my sweet girl," her mother said soothingly. She might appear to only be a couple of years older than Angie, but her mother's energy was still deeply soothing like any mother's should be to their child. As her mother stroked her hair, Angie began to calm down. Her magic was no longer out of control.
"Tell me what happened," her mother said as she calmed down.
"Katherine's looking for you, Mom," Angie told her. "You and Dad, but I suspect you're her main focus."
"I expected that much… She's probably quite angry with me…" Her mother sighed. "She may be his daughter, but deep down, she's still just my evil little kitty cat… I won't let myself fear her."
"She's stronger now, Mom. I can feel her power levels."
"That's okay… We're all stronger now, too. After all, light is much stronger than darkness, and good is much stronger than evil. Whatever she's up to, we'll stand against her… And I know we can win."
"Do you really think so?"
"I do."
"You're scared, Mom… I can feel it."
"I am," she admitted. "But not of Katherine. Not really. It's just… I know he's going to come for us, Angie… And that does frighten me."
"I won't let him hurt you, Mom. I swear."
Her mother smiled at her and shook her head. "I am the one who is supposed to protect you, my darling."
"I'm Chosen."
"I'm your mother." She kissed Angie's forehead. "How about this? We will protect each other, because we are even stronger together."
"That sounds like a good plan." Angie snuggled against her mother, feeling much safer in her arms, especially since they were both calmer.
"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Her mother asked.
Angie nodded. "Please," she replied. As much as she'd like to see Kenny, she needed to be with her mother now. She had to know that her mother was safe for the night.
"Come on. Let's get some rest," her mother said, guiding her to her bed. It wasn't the first time Angie had crawled into her mother's bed and stayed with her, but every single time she did, it was the most comforting feeling in the world.
"I love you, Mom," Angie said softly as she began to get tired.
"I love you, too, sweetheart," her mother said soothingly as Angie began to drift off to sleep beside her.
JOSH
He was unable to sleep as he poured over his notes again. His mother's journal had contained several passages that were most likely in Eltarian, and Josh had to understand why… His mother shouldn't have known Eltarian… Had she copied the messages down, or had she somehow learned the language? He had to understand. This puzzle was going to drive him insane if he didn't solve it soon.
Frustrated, Josh left his bedroom and sat on the porch, hoping for answers. He stared at the sky, wishing he was a child again. His father had once convinced him that a model rocket they'd built could deliver messages to his mother. Josh was too old and too logical to believe that sort of thing now, but he desperately wanted to. If he could just communicate with his mother, he might finally find some answers.
"Caleb could do it," he thought aloud. It wasn't fair to ask Caleb to contact his mother, especially since Caleb had no real control over what spirits he saw at any given point. There was no guarantee it would even work. Still, if there was even a chance…
"No," Josh said firmly. "It takes too much out of Caleb to work with spirits. It isn't right to ask him to try, especially since he is the kind of person who won't refuse if he thinks he can help." He sighed. What other choices did he have?
There were Eltarians on Earth, of course. He couldn't go to Zordon. He had too much on his plate as it was… That kid Greg, from Stone Hollow, might be an option, but Josh wasn't entirely sure how to get in touch with him. Sage would know, but did Josh really want to tell Sage what was going on? Josh trusted Sage with his life, but he didn't want to stress her out.
He was surprised when he sensed someone walking down the block. He was even more surprised to realize it was Nessa. Maybe the universe really did help out sometimes. "Nessa?" Josh called softly.
Nessa looked up in surprise. "Josh? You startled me a bit," she admitted as she approached the porch.
"Sorry… What are you doing out so late?"
"I felt like going for a walk. Being beneath the night sky is comforting sometimes… What are you doing out at this hour, Minor?" Nessa teased him.
"I'm on the porch. I'm not really out…" Josh paused. "Nessa, I was wondering, since you're here…"
"Out with it, Josh. I'd like to answer the question before I turn ninety."
"Sorry… I found some passages that my dad thinks are in Eltarian… Could you possibly translate them for me?"
Nessa laughed. "There, was that so hard?" She asked. "Sure. Let me see them."
Josh handed her the passages he'd copied. She studied them and frowned. "Where did you find this, Josh?" She asked.
"Honestly? In one of my mother's journals… Which shouldn't be possible, because as far as we knew, they were all destroyed when our house was."
"I see… Was your mother Eltarian?"
"No… She was human… But according to Lady Eleanor, she died from an Eltarian disease."
Nessa looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry," she said. "And that makes sense… Because if your mother possessed all of this, they wouldn't want to leave her alive."
Josh's eyes went wide. "What is it, Nessa?" He asked.
"They're prophecies, Josh… Eltarian prophecies that tie in directly with the Rebellion."
"Prophecies? How would my mother have stumbled across Eltarian prophecies?"
"That is the question… Unless she was a prophetess?"
"I… I don't think so… She died when I was seven. I must admit, there is probably quite a lot I don't know about her."
"I think it's time you found out, Josh… Because however your mother got this information, it's here… And it's important."
"Can you tell me what they say?"
"Some of it, yes… But there are parts I do not recognize… It's as if they are… What's the phrase? Encoded."
"My mother wrote codes as part of her job… But why would she write something in code when it was already in a foreign dialect no one would easily be able to translate?"
"We need to crack the code, Josh… And I do not believe it will be easy. Will you let me show this to Mena? She's brilliant. If anyone can figure this out, it's probably her, especially if you're helping us."
Josh nodded slowly. "Okay. You can tell Mena. I don't want this getting around to too many people, though."
"Mena can keep a secret. She was the Prime Minister's daughter, Josh. She knew all the secrets… The only one she might tell is Greg. He's highly intelligent, too, and when Mena can't figure things out on her own, she turns to him sometimes."
"I trust them. Mena is Zordon's cousin, and Greg comes through here often, so I've gotten to know him a little bit. Thank you for helping."
"Of course. Don't stress this too much, okay? You need to rest. You look exhausted."
"My mind won't turn off… When I find a puzzle, I can get a little bit obsessive until I solve it."
"Then obsess while you sleep. Trust me, Josh, you won't do anyone any good if you're falling on your face because you haven't been sleeping. Your mind will be sharper after some rest, too."
Josh nodded, knowing she was right. "I'll try," he said. "You can take these… They're copies, anyway. I still have the original."
"Alright. Take care of yourself, Josh. I promise I'll be in touch soon," Nessa said. With that, she took the copies and left.
Josh looked toward the sky. Although he was a man of science and wasn't sure if he believed in "Heaven" or any of that, he knew there was life after death. Growing up with Casey and Sage had proven that. He decided it was okay to say something and hope that his mother could hear him. "We're going to solve this, Mom," he said softly. "I promise." He took a deep breath and walked back into the house as his exhaustion finally hit him. He knew he needed to rest, and he was fairly certain he could do it now.
As Josh curled up in his bed, he swore he felt the gentlest touch on his forehead as he drifted off to sleep. It might have been his imagination, but it was still extremely comforting.