Disclaimer: I don't own the power rangers. Sadly.

*Italic Indicates thought

Chapter Seven: Some Progress

A/N: Hey everyone! Just saw the latest Megaforce episode...*gasps* it was amazing!

"Chaos is an angel who fell in love with a demon." -Christopher Poindexter

The tension between the three girls was thick as they walked through the city. Mia kept glancing over at Katie, as if she expected the girl to attack the two rangers at any minute. Emily on the other hand was trying to find a way to make conversation with her. "So, Katie, what'd you like to do?"

"Huh? Oh, I like to draw. I'm a really artistic type."

"That's cool. Anything else?"

"Um...not really. I mean, I like normal girl stuff I guess. Like clothes and music and stuff."

"Oh, well we like those things too. Don't we Mia?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. I suppose we do." Katie put her hands in her pockets. Mia glanced at her and did a double take. "Whoa!"

"What?!" Emily asked, looking around.

"Katie...your...skin...it..."

"What?" Katie asked.

Mia blinked she could've sworn that a path of skin near Katie's eye had just turned into green reptilian skin for a second. But now her skin was normal and it was as if the pink ranger was seeing things. "I...never mind. Let's just keep walking."

"Ok," Emily said. The three girls kept wandering through the city, not really looking at anything. The yellow ranger realized how crazy her idea seemed now. Mia didn't even like Katie. Why had she forced her friend to come with them? She stopped when she realized that Katie was no longer between her and Mia. "Katie?!" She looked around and saw her staring at something in store window.

Mia and Emily approached her cautiously. She was staring at a silver necklace with a shiny snowflake on one end. The pink ranger saw how sadly she stared at it. "My mom used to have a necklace like that," Katie explained quietly. "She used to wear it all the time. Said it was a gift from my dad. When she died, it was lost and I never saw it again. I'd always hoped she'd give it to me so I'd have something to remember her by."

Mia and Emily didn't say anything for a minute. "How did she die?" Mia asked gently.

"Its not important," Katie said, turning away from the window. Emily could tell she wanted to cry, but kept herself in check. "Come on, we should keep going."

"Right," Emily nodded. "Let's keep going."

The three girls walked on down the street and into a more open area. Once they did though, gaps around them glowed red and moogers appeared out of them. They snarled at the civilians nearby, who ran screaming. The two rangers grabbed their morphers.

"SAMURAIZERS! GO, GO, SAMURAI!"

The now morphed pink and yellow rangers ran to aid the people. Katie hung back, unsure of what to do. Several more moogers appeared around her and grabbed her arms. While she knew they wouldn't hurt her, she suddenly realized what this attack was for. Playing the part and jerked around, appearing to try and get out of their grasp. "Help! Help me!"

Mia looked back and saw the moogers holding Katie. She cursed under her breath. How could we be so stupid! The nighlocks have been after her! "I'm coming Katie! Em, you got these ones?"

"I got them! Go help Katie!"

"Ok!" Mia ran towards Katie, placing her disc on her spin sword. "Katie duck!" Katie did what she was told and Mia spun her disc. "Wind strike!" She slashed the moogers, eight of them in all, and destroyed them. She turned around and saw more grabbing Katie, who was on the ground. Removing her disc, Mia attacked them. "Let go of her!" Mia shouted at the monsters. She grabbed Katie's arm and pulled her away. Emily was there in a second and took over fighting the monsters. "Come on!" Mia said to Katie, pulling her away.

"But what about Emily?" Katie asked.

Mia hesitated, shocked that Katie was showing concern for the yellow ranger. She sighed and pulled Katie along. "She'll be fine. It's you we have to worry about. I need to get you somewhere safe." They turned a corner and stopped when they saw more moogers. "These monsters just don't quit!"

Katie felt something grab her form behind. Bracing herself, she yelled, "Mia!"

"Oh no!" Mia turned around and was attacked by moogers form behind.

Katie realized Serrator was laying it on thick to make it seem like he was trying to kidnap her. As if on cue Serrator appeared near them. He smiled evilly and, despite herself, Katie shivered a little. "Bring her to me," he said to the moogers.

He's laying it on thick today, Katie thought. She renewed her struggle and saw Emily running towards them. She slashed at the moogers with her sword, and they let go of Katie. The non-ranger stumbled away from the moogers, but towards Serrator. He caught her at and she heard two gasps. "You'd better bring me information worth this tonight," he hissed in her ear. He looked at the rangers. "Looks like you lose."

"Let her go Serrator!" Mia yelled.

Serrator smiled. "I am feeling generous today. Besides, she's not quite ready yet."

Katie felt ice grip her heart the way he said that. All of a sudden Serrator threw her and Mia caught her. The two girls straightened and Katie saw Serrator moving to attack them. "Look out!" She spun Mia around so the pink ranger was protect and felt pain travel down her spine.

"Katie!" Mia yelled, catching her. Serrator and the moogers disappeared. Emily and Mia de-morphed as the pink ranger set Ktaie done gently on the ground.

Emily look at the wound. "That doesn't look good."

Mia nodded. "We need to take her to Ji." She helped Katie get to her feet and let the girl lean on her. "We'll get Ji to help you. It's going to be ok."

Katie nodded. "I trust you," she murmured, knowing her words would strike a chord with the rangers. She felt like fire was burning through her back. She leaned on. Mia as the three of them limped back to the house. Eventually the pain became too much and she blacked out.

"Katie!"

-Love Is Blind-

Katie stood on the shore of the Sanzu River. She saw its red waters still red waters lapping against the black rocks of the shoreline. She looked to her other side and saw a bleak cliff face with a cave on ground level. She walked towards the cave cautiously, not wanting to disturb whoever, or whatever, might be inside. She stopped outside it and peered in. A white light suddenly blazed to life and she fell backwards, blinded...

"Is she going to be ok?" Mia asked. Katie was awake, but kept her eyes closed. Maybe this was the time to get information to talk to Serrator.

"We won't for sure until she wakes up," Ji replied.

"I can't believe she took a hit for you," Kevin said. "Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. You should've seen her face when Serrator showed up. She was terrified."

"Can't say I blame her," Mike acknowledged. "Serrator is well...Serrator."

"I told you they were after her," Jayden said, the worry in his voice as obvious as could be. Katie felt her heart flutter when he pulled a piece of hair behind her ear. She decided she'd heard enough and let her eyes laid open slowly. She blinked and her vision focused to the rangers and Mentor Ji all standing around her. Well, actually Jayden was sitting in a chair next to her bed.

"How do you feel?" Ji asked her.

"Sore," Katie croaked. "And thirsty."

"Here," Jayden said, grabbing a glass of water. He helped her sit up and Katie's stomach flip-flopped as she breathed in his scent. He let go and handed her the glass. Hear hands shook a little, so Jayden helped her steady it. She took a few sips and set the glass down.

"The wound on your back will be sore for a while," Ji said. "The best thing for you right now is rest."

"Ok."

"Katie why did you do that?" Mia asked.

"Do what?"

"Move me? Why did you take that hit?"

"Oh...I don't know. I just...didn't want you to die on my account."

No one said a thing for a minute. Jayden squeezed her hand gently. "Katie, protecting people is our job as rangers. You don't need to worry about us. Just worry about keeping yourself safe. Ok?"

Katie nodded. "Ok."

Emily and Mia both gave Katie the most genuine smiles she'd seen on them. She smiled back at them, pleased that she'd obviously won them over.

-Love Is Blind-

Later that night, Katie got out of bed, wincing in silent pain and found her shoes. She left the house silently, heading for the Netherworld. On her way to the gap, the only one's location she really knew, she thought she heard someone following her. She stopped and looked around, but the woods were silent and still around her. She shrugged and continued on her way.

Antonio held his breath as he waited for her footsteps to start moving again. He looked at the Octozord and nodded. Let's go buddy. The two do them followed Katie; Antonio following the Octozord's lead. He couldn't see her, but his zord could track her easily. Eventually they stopped and Antonio looked around. "Where is she?" he asked.

The Octozord beeped at him. "She's disappeared."

"I thought you said you were tracking her!"

"I was. However she has disappeared. Wherever she has gone, or whatever she is doing, I am unable to track her."

"Weird." Antonio looked around. "Well...let's go back I suppose. Come on." The Octozord flew next to him as the two of them headed back to the Shiba House. "Wonder what she's doing out here. I'm telling you Octo, there's something strange going on here."

"Very strange," the Octozord agreed. "Very strange indeed."

-Love Is Blind-

Katie stumbled around looking for Serrator. She slipped on the rocks and fell on her hands and knees. "Katie."

Katie looked up and saw the nighlock king standing in front of her. "Serrator." He growled and grabbed her arm, jerking her to her feet. She stumbled along next to him. "Mm."

"What information do you have?"

"I...I think the pink and yellow rangers trust me now."

"That's not what I meant!" They arrived at the Sanzu River and he threw her forward. She fell face first into the red waters. As she was submerged, she felt a heat traveling through her body. She came up for air and stood up. Her back no longer hurt and she felt a lot stronger. "How-"

"The Sanzu River has healing properties for nighlocks. Likewise, its poisonous and deadly for humans," Serrator explained. "Now, is that all the information you have?"

"Y-yes," Katie replied, backing up a little bit.

Serrator growled and grabbed her wrists. "You will start bringing me information. Any information!" Katie yelped as he grip tightened and burned against her skin. "You will get the sealing symbol from the red ranger! Understand me, girl?!"

"Yes!" Katie nodded. She flinched as smoke curled off her wrists. "I will! I swear!"

"You'd better." He let go and Katie fell to her knees. She dunked her hands into the red water and watched as it healed her skin. She watched Serrator go realizing he could probably bring her within an inch of death, and this water would heal her back to life. She shivered and walked back to the shore. (I have to get information form them,) she thought. She became fixated on the idea and her eyes glowed red. "Time to stop messing around."