Rita paced nervously as she waited for Zedd to return. She detested the putrid outer appearance of a former Power Ranger but it was necessary to put her plan in motion. Her head snapped up as she heard the door click open and saw that Zedd had returned. His former Ranger body definitely had its appeal but she still detested having to waltz around in these ridiculous bodies.

"Are the preparations made," Rita asked her dark Lord husband.

" Almost complete, my love," he growled, " We should be enroute to Phados soon. And after that, the Universe will be ours. Serpentera Two is almost complete. Just a few days more and we will be off this dreadful planet."

"We need to do something about that nosy little bitch before she details our whole plan," Rita spat, her irritation with Kimberly growing despite the fact that there was nothing anyone could do to stop them except expose them as their true selves but all they lose then is the element of surprise. At least l, that's what they thought...

"Are you ready," Kimberly asked her friends as she prepared for the seance that would allow them all to see Katherine and Jason. She poured the herbs around the base of the power chamber, lit them aflame and chanted the way she had the night before. The pink flame rose and there was a flash of light and then the group watched two figures appear in the misty tube.

"Mommy," J.J. shouted upon seeing Katherine appear before them. He ran to Zordon's old home and reached for his mother who knelt to press her hand to wear her son reached for her. The ache to hold him was consuming her.

"Hey my little prince," her melodic Australian voice cooed, "I miss you."

"Where are you," he asked.

"A special place where I'm safe," she said and then she looked up to see her husband who smiled at her.

"We're gonna get you back," he promised and she smiled and nodded.

"I know," she replied, noticing that Kim had left the room to give them all some privacy. Katherine wanted badly to tell Tommy what she knew but she also knew that she couldn't. Tommy wouldn't allow Kimberly to sacrifice herself. Katherine didn't want her to do it either but the former pink ranger was more than determined and everyone in their group knew that when Kimberly was set on something, there was no talking her out of it.

"We will be leaving for Phados soon," Tommy told her, "and all of this will be over."

"Tommy," Kat began but she stopped herself.

"What," he asked, pressing his palm to the glass where his wife did the same. He watched her close her eyes and inhale.

"J.J., sweetie, can you give Mommy and Daddy a minute," she asked. Her son nodded and left the room in search of a snack.

"Tommy," she started, "I love you. You know I love you. But I'm not stupid and I know you love her too. So, I want you to know that I'm okay. And it's okay if you..." She struggled to finish the sentence but she wasn't going to let someone fighting to save her sacrifice everything without sacrificing a little herself. Maybe she was being petty. Maybe she was just hoping that it would ease the pain that she knew would hit him soon but whatever it was, this was something she needed to say.

"Kat, what is it," he asked, confused.

"Be with her, Tommy," Katherine finally told him, "Our time is too short and we don't know how all of this is going to play out. Just be with her. It's okay. I want you to be together. I know what kind of love you have with her. I know it's not the kind we have. I know it's epic and once in a lifetime..."

"Kat," Tommy interrupted, "I love you. You're my wife. I'm not going to betray that."

"You're not," she whispered, her eyes pleading with him, "I'm saying it's okay."

"What happens when she brings you back," he says, "what then? You can't tell me to be with her and then force me to choose later. That's not fair. We took vows to each other." He felt like a hypocrite saying here things after having kissed Kimberly not once but twice in the last two days but he couldn't wrap his head around what his wife was saying.

"We don't know if this is even going to work," she pleaded, "and if it doesn't, I don't want you to be alone. I love you, Tommy. More than anything in this world and loving comes with sacrifice and forgiveness. I want you to have no regrets. No matter how this all plays out. I don't want any of us to look back and wonder what if. I love you and I'm telling you, in the face of the unknown - you get a pass." He nodded and touched his palm to the glass one more time and held it there.

"We will get you back," he said, matter of factly, "And I have no regrets, Katherine. You're right, I love you and I love Kim too. But at the end of let the day, my choice has always been you."

"No it hasn't," she said softly, a single tear slipping down her cheek, "but thank you for trying."

"Why..." he started.

"I know you love me, Tommy," she interrupted him, "but your love for me doesn't compare to you and Kim. I made peace with that a long time ago and I'm okay. I love you enough for both of us." He knew she was right. All he could do was nod. She gave him a brave smile.

"I do love you," he said finally.

"I know you do. I know the measure of your love Tommy; it's infinite. I know your heart. And I love you too," she said, "I always have and I always will. No matter what." She presses her palm firmly to the glass and he met her hand with his.

"Don't leave me, Kat," he begged her, his voice cracking as tears began to fall, "I c-c-can't...I don't know how to..."

"Ssshhh," she coed, "I'll never leave you."

They called J.J. back in and he wasted no time telling his mother every detail of things since they had been at the command center. Jason talked with all of his friends and he even spent time with his wife and daughters when Kim brought them in. The spell only brought them back for a few hours and Kim knew how much they all needed to see Jason and Kat. Not just to know that they were safe with in the morphing grid but to make sure that they knew she could do this. She could bring them back. She had too.

Kimberly stood in the dark hallway, away from everyone and just watched. She silently cried in the dark as she watched Tommy laugh and she smiled to herself. Despite it all, she loved seeing him happy. It was all she had ever wanted for him. Even when it meant she wasn't the source of that happiness anymore. She furiously wiped her tears away and internally scolded herself for allowing the feelings she still nursed for him to creep back into the forefront of her heart and her head. As she wiped her tears, she turned and walked down the hall, they needed space and so did she.

"I have to go now," Katherine was saying to J.J., "But I will see you soon. Be a good boy, okay?" He nodded and turned to Tommy for permission to go play with his toys and Tommy nodded his approval and both Tommy and Katherine watched as their son ran down the hall toward the living space.

"Do you have too," Tommy asked, his tone pleading.

"I wish I didn't," she whispered, "but we will be together again soon."

"I know," his voice cracked a little, tears threatening again. He took a minute to compose himself and looked up at his beautiful bride, "I know."

"Remember what I said, Tommy," Katherine lamented, "Time is precious. Don't waste it. I love you." He opened his mouth to respond but she was already fading into the mist. Everyone turned and left the chamber but Tommy stood, hand pressed to the glass, mentally willing her to reappear. After he's stood there for almost a half hour, his knees buckled and he rested his forehead against the glass. His tears fell silently and he couldn't place when he started to sink to his knees but he found himself on his knees, his sobs wracking his body.

Kimberly sat outside, in the darkness of the desert. She was watching the stars and drinking in the beauty of the moon and the desert at night. She had changed into her favorite grey sweat pants and a black spaghetti strap top, she left her long hair down and enjoyed the breeze blowing through it.

"How did I know I'd find you here," the sweet Australian accent caught her off guard.

"I don't know Rita," Kimberly spat, standing and dropping into a defensive stance, "Lucky guess?"

"Where's Tommy," Rita, still inhabiting Katherine's body, "You better tell me. I'd hate to have to dismantle that pretty face to get my answer."

"You can try," Kimberly retorted, "But we both know who is the better fighter here."

"You really think you can beat us both," Rita snapped and as the words left her mouth, Kimberly felt the presence behind her. She quickly turned but she was too late. Jason's strong fist connected with her cheek and she felt bone crunch as his left hook sent her rolling across sand.

The cackles that left the bodies of her friends echoed behind her as she struggled to her knees and spit blood from her mouth.

"You can't take us both, Kimmie," Zedd growled with Jason's voice.

"She doesn't have too," came a male's voice from the darkness of the Command Center's entrance.

"Who the..."Rita began and the color faded from her face as she watched Rangers appear from the darkness in the Command Center. Kimberly stood, holding her cheek but watched in awe as Rangers appeared from the darkness of the desert as well. Rangers from other teams.

"You want me, Rita," Tommy shouted as he marched, fists clenched through the middle of the crowd, "Come get me."

"Tommy," Kimberly whispered. He stopped dead as the blue eyes of his wife turned toward him and gave him the sweetest smile. She started toward him but Kim stood between them.

"I will take him," Rita spat, "And I will destroy you to do it, Kimmie."

"Go for it," Kimberly stood her ground as she watched the rage cross Rita's face. The space witch lunged at Kimberly, instinctively Tommy pulled her back.

"Trust me," Kimberly said to him, her eyes pleading to let her go.

Rita raced toward the former pink ranger and Kimberly turned just in time to see Rita's staff coming at her like a spear in the dark. Kimberly jumped into the staffs path and grabbed hold of it mid air as she flipped over Rita. She landed on her feet and watch Rita turned, jaw dropped as Kimberly swung the circular staff downward and it shattered against the desert sand. The pieces fell to the ground in grains of pink sand.

"You couldn't possibly..."Rita stuttered, "You don't have that kind of..."

"I've learned a thing or two in my time, Rita," Kimberly said, "Trust me when I say, you will lose."

"I doubt that," Rita spat as she moved to take Zedd's arm, "to kill us, you have to kill your best friends. I don't see you taking that risk."

"You have no idea what I'm willing to risk," Kimberly snapped.

"You won't kill us, Kim," Zedd began, playing the role of Jason so well, "You know you won't."

"I'll do what I have too," she resolved.

"Let's see that," Zedd spat and lunged at her. She ducked a punch and connected her own with his abdomen. He stumbled back but brought his fist flying forward again, this time encompassed in a brilliant red light. The blow sent Kimberly backward into the wall. She fell to the dirt and she didn't get up.

"Come with us, Tommy," Zedd reasoned, "And I'll spare the rest of them."

"Never," Tommy spat.

"I guess we will do this by force," Zedd snapped. He stomped forward toward the rangers but reached an invisible barrier.

"What is this," he roared at the Rangers.

"Consider it our solicitors not welcome sign," Aisha snapped, "Get out of here before you pick a fight you can't win."

"Well, at least I know we've taken one of you out," Rita cackled and all heads turned to wear the former pink ranger lay unmoving in the desert sand, "And we'll take you all. One at a time if need be." With a cackle echoing into the night, Rita and Zedd disappeared and the Rangers raced to Kimberly's side.

"Kim," Aisha callee but Tommy got to her side first and rolled her onto her back but onto his arms. She was mumbling something but as Tommy lifted her up, she stopped mumbling and her whole body went limp.

"Where did everybody go," Justin asked as he looked around and noticed that all of the other rangers that had appeared out of the darkness were gone.

"It must have been an illusion," Tanya said as they raced to the medical bay.

"That's one hell of a parlor trick," Rocky muttered.

The rangers entered the medical bay and Tommy lay Kimberly on the gurney there.

"Come on Kim," he grunted as he started CPR, "Breathe."

"Tommy let me," Tanya said, moving to take over compressions. The two of the them worked for several minutes.

"Come on Beautiful," Tommy whispered, brushing hair out of her face and hearing Katherine's words echo in his mind; "Time is precious..."