Chapter 10:Mind Invasion

Andros glared at Zeus as the Quantrons restrained him. "What's the matter? Too scared to fight me yourself?" he demanded.

Zeus snorted. "God, do all Light Rangers sound so cocky? How could anyone stand me?"

"So you are too scared," Andros taunted.

"Too smart," Zeus retorted. "Screw that honor and fair fighting bullshit. Why wear myself out when I can torture you without laying a single hand on you?"

Andros humphed. "You don't scare me."

Zeus' smile sent chills down his spine. "Maybe not yet. Strap him in."

Andros struggled the moment he heard the word 'strap', as all prisoners do, but inevitably, he was shoved down into a chair and held in place with tight metal bands. Zeus walked around, inspecting him, and smiled. "I always hated you, you know. After all, you took the place I thought I had."

Andros stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

He rolled his eyes. "All Light Rangers seem to be dense, too. My 'team'," he practically sneered the word, "Ditched me on Earth, and took you in like I never existed."

"That's not true! All they ever talked about the first few months was Earth and you!"

His head snapped back as Zeus punched him. "I hate liars," the Dark Ranger commented coolly. "Turn it on."

A Quantron began flipping switches and adjusting dials. Andros may not have known what this contraption was, but he knew it wasn't good. He started to focus, locking his mind on one of the switches to turn it back off.

A helmet settled over his head, distracting him. "Did you think it was going to be that simple?" Zeus sounded amused. "Let's see what you're truly afraid of, shall we?"

A light flashed on the machine, and pain raced through his mind.

- / I love her / I need her / I will always protect her / Where is she / Why can't I find her / I will find her whatever it takes / Why does he hate me / I'll be better / I'll be stronger / I'll be faster / I'll be smarter / They finally accept me / I'm happy here / It won't last long / There's so many / We can't win / No not him / I need him / I need him so much / I can't lose him like I lost her / I'll save you / I'll keep you safe until you're ready / Why are they leaving me / Wasn't I good enough / I don't need anyone / I'm trapped / They're closing in / I'm surrounded / No escape / There's too many / Can't fight them all / Why are they here / Go away / I don't need friends / I want friends so much / I'm lonely / What is he doing on my ship / Why didn't I see / D.E.C.A. where are you / Are you all right / I'm sorry / So so sorry I couldn't protect you / -

Andros cried out in agony as his mind was raked for information, thoughts from so long ago surging to the surface. It hurt more than anything he could have imagined, and he couldn't do anything. There was no way to sooth it, no way to grab a hold of it and stop the pain.

And then it was suddenly gone, leaving a harsh ache and silence.

"Well," Zeus said after a moment. "Isn't that interesting. The immovable Andros has claustrophobia and abandonment guilt issues. Let's see what we can do with that, shall we?"

- / I couldn't protect her / Couldn't protect him / I couldn't protect them / I couldn't protect D.E.C.A. / I can't save them / I can't save myself / I'm useless / I'm useless / I'm useless / I'm not strong enough / Not good enough / I can't protect anyone / Can't save myself / -

Andros screamed.

Kimberly stumbled as hands finally threw her to her knees, then glared up defiantly at the woman before her. "What do you want with me?"

The woman chuckled. "Don't play dense. You know why you're here; they've already told you." She paused, suddenly grasping Kimberly's chin and tilting her head up. "You are a beauty, aren't you?" she murmured. She jerked upwards without warning, yanking the smaller girl to her feet and kissing her roughly.

Kimberly bit down hard and kicked her in the shin.

The woman released her, looking thoughtful as she licked the blood from her lips. "Just as sweet as I imagined."

"Enough Tearrah," came a sharp voice with a thick French accent. "Get it over with."

Tearrah looked disappointed. "If I must," she sighed. She raked her gaze over Kimberly one more time. "Such a tasty little morsel ... "

"You have Spectra to concern yourself with," the other woman informed her shortly from the shadows. "Or is one doll no longer enough for you?"

Tearrah chuckled. "Spectra is my favorite doll, but I can *always* use more." She sighed. "Ah, well. Later perhaps." She tossed Kimberly a knowing smirk.

- "Tommy?" she called, walking up the stairs to his room. "Sorry I didn't call first, but your Mom said I should just go on up - "

She froze in the doorway of his bedroom.

Tommy lay in bed, wearing only boxers. Kat was cuddled against his side covered by a sheet, looking up at him adoringly. He flashed her the smile that had melted Kimberly's heart from the moment they met. After a moment, Kat seemed to notice they were being watched and looked up almost lazily. She nudged Tommy, making him glance up at her.

"Oh. Hey, Kimberly."

She stared, shaking hands coming up to cover her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "Tommy ... I ... why?" she whispered.

He shrugged. "You were fun for awhile, but seriously Kim. Come on. Without you here, I had to find someone else."

"W-why Kat?" The tears were falling freely now. "Why did you have to chose her?"

"Kat?" He looked puzzled. "Who said anything about Kat?"

"I think you're seeing things, Kim," a familiar voice informed her. To her horror, Jason sat up on the other side of Tommy where Kat had been. Like Tommy, he wore only boxers and seemed quite comfortable where he was. -

"No!" she shouted, shaking her head. She glared furiously at Tearrah. "How *dare* you make me think that of my friends!"

Tearrah laughed. "Friends? Are you sure that's what you think they are?"

Her fists clenched. "They are my friends," she said more quietly. "No matter what happens between us or what they may think of me, they will always be my friends."

"How sweet," Tearrah sneered.

She closed her eyes, instinctively reaching out to the others. Trini had told her once that they were all connected and always would be. All she had to do was believe in the love and trust between them, and they would always be there for her. Now she reached, trying to reassure herself and her friends that they were loved, that no matter what happened here, she would always love them with all her heart.

Finding herself centered once again, her eyes opened slowly as she smiled. The smile vanished instantly as she realized the French woman was glowing with pink light. Looking down at herself, she realized that pink light was being taken from *her*.

She recoiled, trying to pull it back to herself. But it was too late. The woman glowed brightly, Tearrah gave her hyena laugh, and Kimberly could feel herself weakening. In trying to give them all her love, she had given their enemies exactly what they wanted.

Guilt swept over her, and she realized distantly that this must be how Tommy had felt so long ago.

A point of golden light glimmered in the back of her mind, and one more feeling swept over her as blackness crept into her vision. This one was a gentle, calming wave of love. She wouldn't remember it later, or the familiar voice that soothed her.

-( "Sleep, my child. Help is coming." )-

T.J. hid a wince as he was flung into the metal chair and strapped in tight. He tugged hard, only to have the metal bands dig into his flesh. He hid the pain, refusing to show weakness. Always stay strong in the face of the enemy. That was what Rangers did, right?

"How the mighty have fallen."

His head snapped up. "Justin, why?" he demanded, trying to ignore the fact that the teen before him looked almost nothing like the boy he'd known. "Why are you doing this?"

Zeus shrugged indifferently. "I hate you and every Light Ranger who's ever touched or will touch a Morpher. And I really hate Earth Rangers because of all their bullshit about friendship and teamwork and that 'Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger' crap."

"It's not b.s.!" T.J. countered. "If you weren't our friend, we wouldn't have come to help you!"

"Friend? I'm not stupid, T.J. Genius I.Q., high school student, any of that ring a bell? I know perfectly well the only reason you're here is because I kidnapped you, and if I hadn't, you would have come for the Silver Astro Morpher. And as for helping me ... " He laughed abruptly, looking amused. "Who's the one strapped in the chair, and who's the one holding the switch?"

"You won't," T.J. said confidently. "You're still a good person, no matter what."

Zeus' answering smile was twistedly pleased. "Am I?" He reached over almost casually, hitting something on the console.

- The secret was out. The Rangers' identities had been revealed only hours before, and already it was all over the news. He'd forced himself to go home, knowing his mother would have a fit when she saw. Might as well get it over with.

"Ma? Dad? Guys?" he called as he opened the front door.

"Look out!"

He ducked instinctively, just missing the basketball that shot over his head. "Hey!"

"Sorry, Bro," his baby brother called as he chased after the ball.

"Be more careful, Vince!" Rob scolded, walking past with a textbook in one hand.

"Coming through!" Steve shouted, forcing T.J. to scramble back against the door as he hurried by with a steaming plate in his hands.

"Keep it down!" Quentin yelled from his room, sounding irritated. "I'm trying to sleep!"

Ken just sighed quietly as he walked past, eyes intent on his Gameboy.

T.J. blinked. Somehow he expected more of a welcome, considering the circumstances. "Hey, Rob? Where's Ma and Dad?"

Rob glanced at him. "Ma had to run errands. Dad went to work already."

He blinked again. "Oh." He hesitated, then at last ventured "Did anybody see the news lately?"

"Huh? Why?"

"He means that Power Rangers thing," Ken murmured, never looking away from his game. "That he's the blue one."

"Oh, yeah! We saw that," Steve commented on his way back past them.

"Ma's not mad?" he asked warily.

"Mad?" Rob gave him a funny look. "Since when does she have time to get mad? Vince has a game tomorrow night, Ken's birthday is coming up, Steve's making another disaster in the kitchen for dinner, I've got exams, and Quentin needs his uniform dry cleaned for work tonight. What's the big deal, anyway?"

He stared as his brother walked away, stung. What was the big deal? He was risking his life to save the planet everyday, and his entire family was so absorbed in their own lives they didn't even care. He'd always known life with five brothers was crazy, but somehow he'd thought that this was something that would bring their attention to him. They were all so self - absorbed they couldn't even say 'Wow, that's cool, you're a Power Ranger.' or 'Be careful out there." or *something*. Anything to show they noticed, that they cared.

But then again, who was to say they did care? It wasn't like he had anything important to add to this family. Quentin was the one who worked hard to make his own money, Rob was the brain, Steve was turning out to be an awesome cook, Ken was a techno wiz, and Vince was the star basketball player. Him? He liked baseball and saved the world a few hundred times. What good was that?

What good was he? -

T.J. shuddered as his mind cleared, only to find Zeus smiling at him. "Who's good?" the teen asked again, idly hitting the button.

The moment the Quantrons released them, Aisha and Tanya were back to back, looking around warily. Both held defensive positions, ready to move an a split second. They shifted in a slow circle, never moving apart from each other. "See anything?" Aisha asked under her breath.

"Nothing," Tanya returned quietly.

"How cute. They're trying to protect each other," a woman's voice sneered.

"I'm looking forward to playing with them," another chuckled.

"Who's there?" Aisha shouted.

- She watched Tommy and Kimberly snuggling together as Billy demonstrated his newest invention. Kat clapped for him in rapt fascination. Rocky and Adam were sparring nearby, but seemed to be more interested in grappling than an actual match. "Hey guys!" she called, jogging toward them.

No one looked up.

She faltered for a moment. "Guys?"

"Hey!" a new voice called.

She turned to see Tanya walking up to them all. The other girl was greeted warmly. "What's going on?" she asked, suddenly uncertain.

Tanya turned with a smirk as the others continued to ignore her. "What do you think's going on? You don't exist, remember?"

She stared. Slowly she began to tremble, then abruptly shook her head. "No way. The Rangers wouldn't do that. They're my friends. And Rocky and Adam have been with me since elementary school. We're a team!"

"Not anymore," Tanya answered with a snort. "The Rangers have me now. They don't need you; they don't even know you. And Rocky and Adam ... " She glanced over to where the two were getting a little more physical than usual. "Let's just say they've finally discovered other interests."

"No ... " She shook her head again. "This isn't right! They wouldn't do this to me! We're a *team*! They wouldn't abandon me!"

Tanya merely smiled. "Didn't they? After all, it's not like anyone really protested when you stayed in Africa. It's not like they came to visit, or wrote everyday."

"They're Power Rangers. They can't just leave Angel Grove. And they're too busy fighting monsters for lots of letters." She pretended not to notice the slight tremble to her voice.

"Keep telling yourself that. If it makes you feel better," Tanya taunted.

She growled. "Stop talking about my friends like that! They're not that superficial!"

"Aren't they?"

"Stop it!" -

- "Hey!" she greeted as she jogged toward the other Rangers.

Kat looked up at her and blinked. "Um, hello."

"Are you new here?" Adam inquired politely.

She rolled her eyes. "Very funny, guys."

Rocky cocked his head. "Do we know you? You seem kinda familiar."

She stared at him. "I should hope so. I've known you since I was five, and we've spent the last two years hanging out with everyone else almost everyday!"

"I'm sorry miss, but you must be confused," Tommy said gently. "Look, I'm Tommy. This is Kat, Rocky, Adam, and Billy."

"I know that!" she snapped. "We've been friends for two years!"

Billy shook his head. "I'm afraid there must be some mistake. It's always been just the five of us and our other friend, Aisha."

"Aisha disappeared a few years ago," Kat said softly, bowing her head. Tommy squeezed her shoulder in sympathy.

"Aisha didn't disappear!" she retorted. "She went to Africa, and I came here! The Zeo Crystal changed time, remember? I've been a Ranger since Trini left!"

Instantly all five were on guard, their eyes wary. "Zeo Crystal?" Rocky sounded bewildered, but she knew him enough to know it was faked. "What's a Zeo Crystal?"

As she stared at him, it abruptly occurred to her that Billy was wearing yellow. It was as though she'd never even been there. As though the Zeo Crystal's magic had never altered her life. As though she'd never been their friend ...

"That's right."

She spun to find Aisha smirking at her. "Did you actually think you were good enough to take over for me? The Zeo Crystal could only cover for you for so long. The difference was just too great. You're pathetic compared to me."

"I am not!" she shouted back. "I'm not pathetic! I'm not you, and I don't want to be! I'm my own person! I *know* I'm not the best Ranger! I never really had years of martial arts training when I came here, or a tight group of friends! I did the best I could with what I was given, and I *try*! That's all I can do, and that's all anyone can expect from me!"

Aisha shook her head at the impassioned speech. "Nope. Still not good enough." -

- The other girl was advancing, saying such horrible, hateful things. Her temper broke, and she attacked. She was wrong! None of it was true! She'd stop her from saying that, prove her wrong! -

The illusion vanished abruptly just as Tanya snap - kicked into Aisha's side, and Aisha spun to aim a vicious right hook to the other girl's jaw. Both were glowing a brilliant yellow. Their eyes met in an instant as horror and understanding dawned, and suddenly they were racked with pain. They crumpled to the ground, crying out as their bodies weakened.

In the background, a hysterical hyena laugh mingled with a throaty, arrogant chuckle. The glow around the two girls faded, leaving them barely conscious. Their eyes were closed, yet both unknowingly had the same thought.

-( What have I done? )-

Carlos glared from the chair he'd been forced into. "How could you do this Justin?" he demanded. "How could you turn on us like this?"

Zeus paused, turning slowly to stare at him. "Who turned on who?" he asked softly. "Who called me weak, abandoned me and left me alone? Who wanted me gone all along?"

In an instant he was beside the chair, one hand gripping Carlos' hair tightly. "Who called me pathetic and stupid, said good riddance as they left me behind?" he hissed, slamming the other boy's head back against the metal chair.

Stars exploded in Carlos' vision as pain flared in his head. "W ... what?" he gasped. "What are you talking about?"

Zeus ignored him, pressing a series of buttons instead.

- He swung his weapon wide, knocking his opponent to their knees. His companions were already gone; this one would be the last. He smiled as he struck hard, watching the body collapse soundlessly. He reveled in his victory for a moment before at last teleporting back to his station.

Divatox smiled brilliantly at him as he appeared. "I always knew you'd make a perfect minion of evil."

He knelt, bowing his head. "You are wise, Mistress."

"At last, the Power Rangers are dead!" she laughed.

He smiled proudly to himself. He had pleased his mistress. Perhaps he would be rewarded for this victory. -

Carlos struggled for breath as his vision cleared. "N-no!" he stammered. "I'm not ... I'm not evil!"

Zeus chuckled. "Funny. I always thought you'd make a great minion myself. Doesn't take a lot, you know. Maybe if I get bored with Goldie, I'll come looking for you."

"*No*!"

Adam glared as Rita looked him up and down, struggling against the Quantrons. "What do you want from me?"

Rita scowled back at him. "What I really wanted was Tommy, but none of the rest of you Earth brats are White. So I'm stuck hoping your stupid Zeo/Turbo energy will power up my Emerald."

"Lucky for you your Emerald isn't Morphin energy," another woman commented as she came up beside them. She glanced at Rita. "This will be easier if you expose your mark."

"You just wanna see me naked," Rita retorted, even as she lifted her staff. There was a sparkle of magic, and the neck of her gown was suddenly low-cut, exposing a green triangle tattooed just below her collarbone.

Adam barely had time to register the idea that Rita had a tattoo before his vision clouded.

- He was caged, helpless as the Rangers battled for their lives. They were trying to save him. They'd given up their Turbo morphers to Divatox and summoned the old Zeonizers. Even Justin had somehow taken on Rocky's Blue. But something was wrong; the Zeo Rangers weren't as strong as they should have been. The Piranhatrons and the Monster of the Week were winning.

He shook the cage hard. "Let me out of here!" he shouted.

It was a mistake.

Blue Ranger looked his way. "Hang on Adam, I'm coming!"

"Justin look out!"

But the young Ranger never saw the blow coming. The monster was on him in a flash, ripping and tearing. Somehow it had managed to get through the uniform, and bloody blue fabric fluttered around them. Justin was screaming.

"Justin!"

"No!"

"Justin, hold on!"

The others were trying, fighting to get to him. Adam thrashed against the bars of his cage, desperate to escape. He had to help. He had to get free!

The screaming stopped.

The monster pulled back, mouth dripping blood as it laughed. Justin lay in a crimson heap on the ground, unmoving.

"Justin!" he shouted. "No! Please! Justin!" -

"Violent dreams for a Power Puke," Rita commented as he gasped for breath.

The woman beside her laughed heartily. "You have no idea just how violent their dreams can be."

- "Rocky?" he asked hesitantly. He couldn't believe Aisha and Tanya had finally talked him into this. What was he thinking?

Rocky turned, flashing a big grin. "Hey, Adam. What's up?"

Oh, yeah. That's what he was thinking about.

He shook himself out of his Rocky-Induced Stupor. "I um, wanted to tell you something."

"What?"

He fidgeted, then at last blurted out "I love you!"

Silence.

He dared a glance upward.

Rocky looked disgusted. He shook his head once, then turned and walked away.

Adam stared. "Rocky?"

What had he done? Rocky was his best friend! Even if he didn't feel the same way, he'd still wanted to be friends! What would he do without him? Who would be his other half now? -

The haze cleared from Adam's mind just enough to register the green aura around him that was steadily being redirected toward Rita. His thoughts whirled. He was in love with Rocky? No ... That was impossible. They were best friends. Besides, he was straight. He didn't love Rocky that way. Right ... ?

Distantly, he could hear her say "His greatest fear is losing his boytoy? How pathetic."

He gave into weakness and passed out.