It was a very bedraggled group that stood in the command center of Tommy's underground lab. All of the Rangers who had been out were back and they were gathered to hear the stories of those who had fallen.

"It's time we took the fight to them." Hunter's voice was hard. Casey looked at him; his face was a stone mask. Hunter had disappeared after they returned to the lab. Only Xander had known where he had gone and the Green Mystic Force Ranger hadn't told. When Hunter had returned a few minutes ago, tears were in his eyes and there was a new hardness to his face.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Wes' voice was hesitant, as if he were afraid to cross Hunter, afraid of what might happen if he struck the hot metal rod Hunter had become, that so many of them had become. Afraid of changing it's shape. Wes hadn't returned with Eric and Hunter. He'd come in on his own half an hour ago, only saying that he'd had to take a package to an old friend. "They've already killed three of us. Well, four, counting Merrick. And before that they killed so many without even breaking a sweat. Maybe we should lie low, regroup, figure out a plan or something before we rush in willy-nilly."

The lines were being drawn, Casey noted absently. Those who favored all-out attack and those who were with Wes in wanting more information or more time before committing to an assault.

Zhane spoke up from his seat on the floor at the edge of the group. "I'm with Wes. We don't know just how strong their power is. What if vanishing isn't the worst they can do? And they're good fighters, I've heard Hunter's report and Flynn's. Kira's and Dom's and Rose's too. These guys are good. I don't think attacking them straight-on is the best idea. But we can't just sit back and do nothing either. I think we should attack them but only a few at a time or a little bit at a time. Kinda feel them out, see just how strong they are. You know?"

Xander shook his head. He stood next to Kira with his arm around her shoulders. She was the only one left from her team now. Now she had joined the ranks of the rest of the survivors. "Too risky. They very nearly got Kira, even with Flynn, Dom and Rose there. No, we either attack them with all we've got or we hole up somewhere and wait it out. Those are our options.

Now everyone was talking over each other, each one picking a side. And for the next few minutes, the arguments continued until, Casey noticed, there were three groups in the room, each group favoring a different position. Except for him and one other. Casey didn't look to see who his supporter was, instead he turned to face one of the groups.

Hunter, Ryan, Eric and Kira stood in a small circle, fierce looks upon each of their faces. Ryan returned Casey's stare with an angry look of his own. Casey spread his hands wide. "You guys want to take them head-on? Even though we know what they can do, knowing that now they have the powers of the Blue Wind Ninja, the Lunar Wolf Ranger, the Red Tyranno Ranger and the pink Lightspeed Ranger? That's an interesting point of view." Casey nodded thoughtfully and turned to look at the next group.

Wes, Xander, Rose and Kimberly were almost back to back in their circle. Each one had their arms crossed across their chests and looks of sheer determination on their faces. Casey made eye contact with each one. "And you guys think we can just hide out and they'll forget about us? Who knows how much they have stolen from our friends? What if they know where we are, how to get in and how to find us if we go somewhere else? No, staying here is not the right answer. But neither is an all out attack."

Lastly, Casey turned to face the final group. Jason, Billy, Dominic and Zhane had adopted almost too-casual poses. Each stood with their arms by their sides but Casey could see the tension in the way their muscles rippled and stretched taut. Casey nodded slowly. "Attacking in small groups. Yes, that could work. Perhaps hit and fade missions? Try and take one of them on at a time and always in places where we hold the advantage and where our numbers are greater. Yes, I suppose that could work. At least it is a better idea than the others."

It was then that the person next to Casey cleared his throat and Casey turned to face Flynn. The Scot's face was unreadable but Casey thought he saw a shadow of sadness or fear pass over it. When Flynn spoke, his words sounded as if they were being pulled from the very depths of his soul. "It doesn't matter what you choose."

Jason frowned and rubbed his right hand along his left arm. "Doesn't matter? What do you mean, doesn't matter? Of course it matters. Without a plan of action, or non-action, we will be hunted down and killed and we won't have any means of defense."

Flynn shook his head sadly and clasped his hands together behind his back. "It won't matter because none of you survive. You're all supposed to die in some great battle around this time and I'm not even supposed to be here. None of you will make it out of this alive. This I know because of information from the future."

His words were met with a grim silence, a silence that seemed to stretch on and on until Ryan broke it. "Well, to hell with that! So we're supposed to die, so what? My sister died. Her husband died. Their kid is an orphan now! Hell, if I'm going to die, I'm going to go out fighting. We should attack them right now. Before they get any more of us."

There were murmurs of agreement from everyone in his group and a few from the hit-and-run group. But Xander shook his head. "What if this information from the future changes things? Makes it so that we know what's going on and maybe it stops us from launching an offensive that we cannot win. Huh? Ever think of that?"

Voices were rising and falling in argument again now and Casey dropped his head into his hands. Flynn laid his hand on his shoulder. "All these what-ifs," the blue RPM ranger muttered, "perhaps I should not have told them. But I thought they needed to know. And with Connor gone, there isn't anyone to take over, to be in charge. You could do it, Casey. Unite them and maybe some of them can cheat death."

Casey opened his mouth but before he could say anything, a sound came from upstairs. A sound that was a lot like splintering and crashing wood. "Shhh!" Casey hissed, his voice frantic. "Someone's upstairs!"

Kira's eyes went wide. "Hayley!" she cried and bolted towards the door. Xander threw out an arm and grabbed her around the waist.

"Stop! We don't know who-" Xander started but a shrill scream cut him off and Kira thrashed wildly to get free, screaming for Hayley.

Flynn backed towards the door. "We gotta get out of here. They've gotta be up there, coming for us. Come on."

"No! I won't leave Hayley!" Xander was dragging Kira towards the exit. She was fighting teeth-and-nail to get free but his arms were vices around her waist, pulling her inexorably towards the door.

Leo looked at Casey. "I'll see if I can buy you guys some time to get away."

Casey shook his head vehemnantly. "No! There's no way you can hold all of them or any of them for that matter! We all fall back."

Wes stepped up beside Leo, a determined look on his face. "Someone has to, Casey. If we don't stand against them now, no one will survive to stand against them later. They must be defeated. If they aren't, then there will be no more Power Rangers to protect the Earth. You know that." He cast a quick glance around him. Most of the other Rangers were gone, out the back door. Eric and Jason still stood just inside the lab, waiting to see the decision that would be made. Wes returned his gaze to Casey. "Besides, two in the stairway…that ought to hold them for a while. Long enough for you guys to get away, I bet."

Casey knew there was no talking them out of it. They were Rangers and they would do their duty. "Well, I'm standing with you."

Leo nodded sharply. "Even with no morpher?" Casey nodded and Leo looked to Jason. "You're in charge now, Jase. Finish well."

Upon hearing that, Jason dipped his head and ducked out the door. Eric didn't move. Wes stared at him. "Eric, you have to go. They're going to need you, in the end. You can save many lives by letting us fight here. Please."

Eric looked torn. He hesitated for one second before following Jason out of the room. Just as his sneaker disappeared from sight, there was a crashing sound and Casey looked at the others.

"Well? Are we doing this?" Casey asked.

Wes dipped his head in agreement. "We have to hold them off. Give the others time to escape." He raised his Chronomorpher.

Leo broke into a run across the room towards the stairs, morphing as he ran. "Go, Galactic!"

Wes was hot on his heels, going through the motions of his morph. "Time for, Time force!" He pulled his Chronosabers out and uncoupled them, making two swords, one of which he tossed to Casey who was basically defenseless.

Then they were in the stairs and facing not just one but three of the Psycho Rangers. Psycho Red led the way, with Blue and Yellow right behind him. They stopped just inside the doorway at the top of the stairs.

"Going somewhere?" Casey taunted.

"You!" Psycho Red jabbed a finger at the red Jungle ranger. "You escaped me once. You will not do so again."

"Oh, yeah? Think again." Casey leapt, throwing himself at Psycho Red, stabbing and slicing with Wes' sword. Wes joined him in the battle and Leo covered their backs; the stairs weren't wide enough for more than two to stand abreast.

Casey took a slash across his thigh and dropped to one knee, pain lancing up his leg. He gave way and Leo took up his battle, engaging Psycho Red as Wes launched attack after attack against Psycho Yellow. Psycho Blue hung back, unable to get space to fight in the stairway.

But slowly, inexorably, the Rangers were pushed back. A devastating thrust caught Wes in the side and he fell back. Leo was hit with a one-two combo that sent him sprawling at the bottom of the stairs.

"We gotta get them more time!" Leo hissed. He lurched back to his feet and held his Quasar Saber in a low guard, ready to attack.

"My turn." Casey said and stepped up to face all three of the Psychos. He raised his hands in front of him. "I call on the Spirit of the Tiger!" he shouted and a giant red tiger burst into the air in front of him, teeth ripping at the Psycho Rangers. Leo glided up beside it and whirled into motion, attacking with all the force he had.

Wes called on his Battlizer and rushed to the aid of the Tiger and Leo. The fight wore on as Casey fed more and more of his energy into his spirit Tiger.

Leo let his attention slip for just a second, tried to take just a second to catch his breath and wound up with a Thunder Staff in his side, the end of it wagging five feet off the ground. He screamed as his morphing suit vanished. Still screaming, he fell to his knees.

Casey tried to order his Tiger Spirit to cover Leo but his energy was all gone. With a pitiful growl, the Tiger faded away and it was all Casey could do to keep his feet. Wes was fighting alone now and Casey stumbled forward, still clenching the Chronosaber to help.

But Wes pushed him back. "Get Leo and get out of here! They're going to need all-" he blocked a diagonal slash from Psycho Blue and Casey could see how tired he was in the sluggish moves he made. "-the help they can get! Go, get out of here! I'll do what I can to hold them longer!"

Casey nodded. He knew he wouldn't be of any help and would likely be more of a hindrance to Wes right then. He turned to Leo but the red Galaxy Ranger was already climbing to his feet. He'd pulled the Staff from his side and still held his Quasar Saber.

"I'm seeing this through. For Jake. And for Jess." He panted and joined Wes' fight. "Get out of here, Casey!"

There was nothing more he could do. Casey Rhodes turned and ran, following the path the other Rangers had taken when they left.

He heard the screams of the dying Rangers behind him and ran faster, knowing there was nothing he could do and hating himself for it.

Author's Note: Probably a shorter chapter but I just wanted to get something out there. Plus I think I only had like one review for the last chapter so I don't think many people are reading anyway. Please read and review and let me know you're reading if you are! The climax is coming and I'm hoping to make the updating a little more regular…thanks!