A/N: I was supposed to update this last Saturday according to my new update schedule, but things happened. (Like I kept misplacing the hand written version before I could type it up.) Here's the update though. Enjoy!

The first thing Tommy was aware of was a full body ache, as if he had been knocked over and landed on his face. He opened his eyes and stared at dirt for a moment, then rolled over with a groan, "Did somebody catch the number of that bus?"

"I apologize, Doctor Falcon, but there was no bus."

Tommy shot up and stared. An all too familiar Badger was sitting by his knees watching him. "Honored Badger," he said through gritted teeth. He had hoped after the last time that he would never see the Wise Badger Spirit again.

The Badger seemed to smile, "Hello Doctor Falcon. Welcome to the World."

Tommy closed his eyes for a moment, and then looked around, "What happened?" He asked.

"You have been sent from your world into mine," the Badger said, "tell me, Doctor Falcon, have you decided if you are black with white stripes or white with black stripes?"

"I am neither," Tommy said, "and I am both. I cannot just be one thing, just as I am not just one Ranger color. I have changed from what I was in the beginning, and those changes have made me more than I was."

"Very wise," the Badger replied.

"Is that a talking badger?"

Tommy turned, and found Jason sitting up and Tom sprawled out just beyond him. "Greetings, Lord Cougar," the Badger said.

"Yeah, Jason," Tommy said, "this is Badger, one of the Grid spirits." He sighed, "We met before, it was a few years ago. I take it we have a quest?"

"It is the Rule," Badger agreed. "I will wait while you explain to your companions."

Tommy sighed and dropped his head for a moment, and then he turned around. "Are you feeling all right, Jason?"

"I'm fine," Jason replied. "You said he was a Grid spirit?"

"Yes," Tommy said, "meaning we've been sent into the Grid for some reason."

"And you've been here before," Tom said as he resettled himself tailor style.

Tommy rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. "I have, although it's not a story I want to tell over and over ok? Kermit- Adam and I have been here a few times. Only one of those was by our choice."

"So how do we get back?" Tom asked.

"We have a task or a quest that we have to complete," Tommy said, "if we fail or refuse, we remain in the Grid. By fail, we have to complete give up and refuse to continue. Mistakes are allowed, as long as you don't get up."

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?" Jason said.

"Exactly," Tommy replied. "It's a good way to make sure people don't come to the Grid for stupid reasons, or on a whim."

"Well, we aren't casual visitors," Jason said, turning to the Badger, "we want to get out of here. How do we do that?"

"Behind you is a large rock," the Badger said, "stand upon it, Lord Cougar."

Tommy noticed Jason's blank look, "He means you, Jase."

Tom stood up and eyed the Badger for a moment, "Lord Cougar?"

"He has held the Gold Zeo Power," Badger replied, "the title is there whether he uses it or not."

Tommy shook his head as he climbed on the rock and whistled softly. The rock was perched on the edge of a cliff over a mountain valley surrounded by white topped peaks. There was a rugged quality to the mountains, giving them a unique, rugged, natural beauty that nagged Tommy as being something he had seen before. As Tom and Jason joined him, Tommy snapped his fingers, "Lord of the Rings, of course," he muttered.

"I'm sorry?" Jason asked.

"It looks like the scenery from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," Tommy replied, "when the beacons from Gondor to Rohan are lit."

"I would have just said New Zealand," Tom said, he glanced at Tommy, "but yours works too."

There was a snuffling noise, and the Badger stepped before them, "Do you see the two towers?"

Tommy refrained from snorting, and scanned up the valley, looking for something manmade amidst the natural beauty.

"There," Tom pointed, "there's a white tower."

"There's a black one," Jason said.

The white tower rose from a small forest in the heart of the valley like a shining beacon. The black tower was located further up the valley, and closer to the slopes of one of the mountains.

"In one of those towers is the Star Crystal," the Badger said. "You must make your way to the crystal and retrieve it. There will be tests along the way that you must pass to reach the tower. The only clue I may give you is this, my fur is black with white stripes. That does not mean I am a Spirit of Darkness. Good luck Lord Cougar, Sensei Falcon, and Doctor Falcon." The Badger vanished.

"That was clear as mud," Jason said.

"He thinks that Rangers ask too many questions," Tommy replied as he studied the valley. "It's going to be a long hike to either tower."

"Which one do we start with?" Tom asked.

"The black one," Jason and Tommy said in unison.

They exchanged glances and Jason gestured for Tommy to go on. "Badger doesn't say things without reason. He pointed out his fur because it was the only thing he could."

"That's almost what I was thinking," Jason said. "What do you think, Tom?"

Tom glanced at then, "Me? I agree. The black tower is a good choice." He leaned over to study the area below their rock, "So how do we get down?"

"We could push you," Tommy offered.

"You first," Tom said dryly.

Tommy leaned over and studied the drop himself. Last time, he had jumped off a cliff because he had to. It was an experience he was somewhat determined to avoid this time. "It's an option," he said aloud, because it was even if he did not like it. "There is one problem though."

"What, dying?" Tom asked.

"No," Tommy said, looking at Jason, "Cougars can't fly."

"Enough," Jason said, "there are other things to consider, such as, how easy do you think this will be Tommy?"

Tommy considered the question for a long moment. "Remember the movie Labyrinth? It looks like a maze, but there are tests and hidden passages, and more frenimies than friends?"

"If I kiss you, will you fall into the Bog of Eternal Stench?" Tom asked.

"Only if you want to practice your flying," Tommy retorted.

"Both of you," Jason said. "And yes, I've seen Labyrinth. Trini and Zack showed it to the kids last year. We spent the rest of the summer explaining why you can't throw babies."

"That was pretty funny," Tom said.

Tommy eyed the two of them, and then shook his head, "The Grid Quest is like that," he said. "The only limits are the ones you impose on yourself. So yes, Tom, I could fly if I fell off the cliff. My spirit is the Falcon after all. Also, do not worry about time either. While we will experience a passage of time on our return, it will not be exact. A year in the Grid tends to average about three days. There is a side effect though, related to our colors."

"What about our colors?" Tom asked warily.

Tommy sighed, "You know how some Rangers have their hair and eyes change colors to match their Ranger Color? Like how Zhane of KO-35 has such light hair and eyes because he spent so much time in a coma while morphed. It happens here in the Grid if you're here too long."

Tom nodded, "Let's get through this as fast as possible then."

Tommy grinned, "It's not that bad, you can dye the color out, and it's barely noticeable either way." He sobered up, "The other thing we need to remember is trust. There were three people when we woke up, so that is who is in this part of the Grid. Anyone else who shows up is a trick. Some of them might end up being helpful, but most of them won't."

"Dangerous?" Jason asked.

"They can be," Tommy said, "mostly they'll try to trick you or lead you astray."

A falcon screamed.

"What happens if you are led astray?" Tom asked.

Tommy scanned the skies, "Mutant wolves, high cliffs, raging rivers, tentacle monsters of the friendly and unfriendly varieties, random clowns. Pretty much pick your nightmare." He smiled as he spotted the falcon riding a thermal high above them.

"We should get moving," Jason said after a long moment.

"Good thing I've found our Guide then," Tommy said, pointing up at the falcon.