SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, I know. And I'm the one who wrote it. Keep readin' and see.

Kellybird: Thanks. Well, just read on and see.

Jeremy Shane: Thanks, here's more.

Alex B. Goode (Chs 4-6: I will, thanks. Thanks. Thanks. I'm glad you think so.

Marleen: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Keep reading and see. Sorry this update isn't soon enough.

DISCLAIMER

Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. I only own Mike and Leo's childhood and characters you don't recognize. Remember, this is directly after "The Cobra Strikes" so Queen Bansheera is just an astral projection rather than an actual corporeal form.

While the Rangers were at the Aqua Base, Trakeena, Tri-Skull, and the Ghouls had gone back to the warehouse that they had taken over. She looked at the machine and smirked. Soon, she'd be able to regain her beauty. She just needed to drain the energy from a few more people. Hearing faint cries, she looked down to see the people she had already shrunk and trapped.

"Let us out of here!" a woman exclaimed, banging on her prison. She laughed darkly.

"Don't worry. You'll be put out of your misery soon enough," she mocked. Oh, yes. Things are going exactly as I planned. Soon, not even Bansheera will be able to stop me, she thought smugly. Not only would her beauty be restored, she'd be able to have her full strength without having to go into bug mode. Yes…just a few more life-forces and I'll have the power I need to put phase two of my plan into motion, she thought to herself. The sound of approaching footsteps broke her reverie. Ah, perfect, she thought as her grin grew. She led the Ghouls and Tri-Skull out to the entrance where she saw a couple walking together.

"Hello," she greeted.

"What in the world?" the man gasped. His female companion screamed as Trakeena spun around and kicked him into the waiting arms of the Ghouls and Tri-Skull focused his energy until the man had been shrunk and re-materialized in a cage. The woman tried to escape, but suffered the same fate as the man. Back in the Skull Cavern, Vypra and Vengeance had had no choice but to tell Bansheera what had happened.

"YOU LET THE TRAITOR ESCAPE?" she roared, causing the demons to cower.

"My Queen, please forgive us. Remember, we're not used to fighting against two teams of Rangers," Vypra pleaded.

"I DON'T WANT EXCUSES! I WANT THE TRAITOR DEAD!" she screamed. While all of this was going on, at the Aqua Base, the Rangers, except for Mike and Leo, were discussing what Mike had blurted out.

"I-I had no idea that Mike and Leo had been abused," Kai stammered.

"Me neither. Though, I don't blame them for keeping something like that a secret," Kendrix commented. Carter blew out a breath and messed up his hair with a hand.

"Now I just feel like an idiot," he admitted. "I mean, if Leo's never really come to terms with what's happened to him, it's no wonder he's freaking out," he continued. As they were talking, Leo, who was still in the corner that he had found, rocked back and forth. How could Kai say those things about him? He had no clue what he had gone through.

"Leo?" a voice asked. Leo moaned as the memory came back. Leo cringed as his father's hand caressed his face.

"No," he moaned, causing Mike to look up at the sound. The hand cupped his chin and he trailed a finger over his lips. Leo let out a small whimper as he rocked back and forth. Mike walked over to him. Out, out, out, out, out! Get out! Leo thought to himself.

"Easy, Leo. You're safe here," Mike whispered, kneeling in front of him. Leo struggled against his father's weight, but the man's grip merely tightened.

"Don't make me punish you, boy, he hissed.

"Sorry. Please…no. I'll be good," Leo murmured. Mike's throat muscles constricted.

"Come on, Little Brother. Snap out of it," he encouraged. The older boy fought the urge to reach out and touch his little brother, knowing from experience that it would just make the memory worse. Leo was sleeping peacefully when the door opened and-Leo scrambled to his feet, resulting in Mike doing the same. Leo started to bolt up, only to be caught by his brother, who quickly hugged him as they fell back on their knees and then put his hands on the other boy's shoulders so that they were facing.

"It's okay. It's okay, Little Brother. I gotcha," he assured, looking into the younger boy's eyes. Leo let out a choked gasp and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I-I can't do this, Mike," he said. "I can't…not again." Mike's heart broke at the defeated tone of Leo's voice. He was giving up. He could tell.

"Leo, come on. Don't let those things get to you," he stated softly.

"Mike, let's face it. I'm useless like this. I can't lead the team when my head's messed up." Leo's breathing hitched. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't fight his own memories. And Trakeena knew it. She had him. After all this time, she finally had him. Mike held Leo as his brother clutched him tightly. What was he going to do? He couldn't handle the memories any more than Leo could.

"Hey, it's okay, Leo. We'll figure this out together," Mike assured.

"Mike, don't leave me…please."

"Never." Mike's eyes flashed angrily. Man, he could kill his father for doing this to Leo! He still remembered the fight that they had had before he had called the police.

"You lied to me! I'm going to kill you!" Mike lunged at Hank only to be knocked to the ground.

"Don't you talk to me that way, boy!" he roared, kicking him.

"You said that if I kept my mouth shut, you wouldn't touch Leo! You promised," Mike spat out, rising to his feet. He wasn't going to let the man get away with this. Hank laughed.

"You clueless, clueless boy. He begged for my touch. He can't get enough of me," he leered. With a cry of rage, Mike tackled his father. Someone clearing their throat pulled Mike out of the memory. He turned around to see Angela.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"We have a lead on Trakeena," she responded. At this, Leo stood up, all traces of his earlier doubts seemingly gone. I just gotta-I just gotta focus on destroying Trakeena. I'm not going to let her get the best of me, he thought to himself.

"Where?" he asked.

"We've traced her energy to a warehouse in town," Angela answered.

"Let's go," Leo said. Mike looked at him questioningly. Seeing the look, Leo just nodded curtly. He knew Mike was worried, but he'd be okay. He had to be. The alarm blared and the Rangers raced out. Hearing the summons, Ryan broke apart the cast and gingerly tested his leg by rotating it. Just as I thought, he nodded in satisfaction. He then hurried after the others.

"Ryan, you-" Captain Mitchell began to exclaim. Then, "Your leg."

"A little "gift" from the demons. I heal fast," Ryan explained.

"Will you be able to work?"

"Yes."

"Then, go for it."

"Go Galactic!"

"Lightspeed Rescue!" Once morphed, the Rangers headed out to the location. Hearing the commotion, Trakeena glared at her troops.

"GET THEM!" Tri-Skull and the Ghouls went to do as they were instructed. The Lightspeed and Lost Galaxy Rangers fought against the creatures. Trakeena grinned as some of the Rangers got closer to her machine. Stupid Rangers. I'll be able to use their energies, she thought to herself. And then, they would all die. Tri-Skull grabbed the Pink Lightspeed Ranger and threw her against the wall.

"Now hold still. This will only hurt a lot," he cackled. Yes…she'll be perfect for the last piece of the puzzle. Trakeena will be so pleased, he thought to himself.

"DANA!" The Red Lightspeed Ranger and the Titanium Ranger fought their way through the creatures. They couldn't let her be used this way. Tri-Skull focused on the girl, who screamed.

"DANA!" the Red Lightspeed Ranger and Titanium Ranger jumped into the air, spun around, and then landed near her. The Red Lightspeed Ranger brought out his Rescue Blaster and fired at the creature, who cried out in pain. Then, the Titanium Ranger spun around and kicked him in the chest.

"You okay?" the Titanium Ranger asked.

"Yeah," the Pink Lightspeed Ranger answered.

"Not for long you won't be," Tri-Skull sneered and then focused his powers on her.

"DANA!" The Red Lightspeed Ranger pushed her out of the way and then screamed as the energy enveloped him.

"CARTER!"