Author's Note: Not much to say here except enjoy! This chapter is pretty intense, guys, so fair warning.


The Ellipse

President's Park

Washington, D.C.

Sunday, 7:34 PM

"And you're sure you're up for this?"

Tommy sat astride Zyltran, a stern expression on his face. His night terrors and hallucinations had been getting worse ever since his probation ended, the stress of it all now etched into his face. His lack of sleep had been apparent in his daily briefings and training sessions with Scorpina, and he knew it was a major concern to his friend.

"I'm fine, Scorpina. Are you ready?" he asked in a tone that indicated that the topic was closed for discussion.

She sighed. "Yes, Commander."

Across from them on the other side of The Ellipse stood the United States military, a sizable Eltarian army, and several power rangers from various teams. They formed a blockade along the White House gates, shielding it from attack.

The green ranger brought his Dragon dagger to his lips, channeling his energy to play the familiar tune. The Dragonzord emerged from the Potomac River with a loud screech, stomping onto shore. The Lincoln Memorial crumbled beneath its feet as it made its way across the National Mall.

"TIME FORCE MEGAZORD, MORPH RED!" he heard someone yell in the distance.

Tommy played a different tune, and the eyes of the Dragonzord lit up, claws retracting so that rockets were in their place. The Dragonzord let out a screech before firing its rockets, blowing the Washington Monument into smithereens.

Tommy used his powers to form a barrier around his soldiers, protecting them from the blast. Their enemies dropped to the ground from the explosion, shielding themselves as best they could from the flaming debris.

"Finster," Tommy said through his commlink. "Set the Dragonzord to autopilot. When the Megazord appears, I want the Dragonzord to tear it apart."

The sound of static was the only response for some time before he heard Finster's soft voice respond. "Right away, sir."

Tommy raised his fist into the air, and his soldiers unsheathed their weapons. He waited until the Dragonzord began making its way towards the White House before dropping his arm to his side in a striking motion, lowering the protective barrier.

"ATTACK!" he yelled, watching as his soldiers rushed past him in a blur, shouting as they charged forward.

"Scorpina, keep the other power rangers occupied… Jason is mine," he hissed, eyes flashing green behind his visor.

She nodded, pressing her feet into the sides of her karlayrian before riding off into the fray.

Beside Tommy on his own gnarlyth sat Tom in full armor. The reins on his gnarlyth were in his hands, and he wore a wide smile as he watched the onslaught.

"You know what you need to do," Tom said.

Tommy nodded. "Jason is dead."

Tom pointed out towards the far end of the park. "That's him right there, fighting the Piranhatrons. Kill him. After tonight, the red ranger will no longer be an issue."

"My thoughts exactly," Tommy said as he kicked Zyltran in his ribs to run forward. The beast snarled loudly, rearing back on its hind legs before charging quickly through the battlefield. Tommy lashed out at the Eltarian soldiers, slashing their throats and torsos as he passed them with his Falchion sword. The smell of blood and death in the air was both nauseating and intoxicating, and he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Fighting always gave him such a rush.

Tommy directed Zyltran towards Jason whose back was turned. He pressed his feet harder into Zyltran's sides, pushing the beast to gallop faster. The creature pounced on the red ranger, grabbing him in its powerful jaws and flinging his body like a ragdoll across the grass to slam painfully into the deformed gates of the White House.

The green ranger jumped down from his perch, signaling to Zyltran to remain where he was.

"I know you're alive… get up!" Tommy barked.

He could hear the red ranger's pained groans as he neared his crumpled form. Jason swung at Tommy wildly, and the green ranger ducked, slashing Jason along the back of his leg before slamming his elbow into the red ranger's throat. The red ranger grunted from the blow, dropping to his knees.

"Sloppy, Jason, you're usually better than this."

Jason took several haggard breaths before letting out a shout and tackling Tommy to the ground. The two rolled around on the sidewalk for some time, neither gaining the upper hand until Tommy shoved his Dragon dagger into Jason's thigh.

The surprised cry from the red ranger's throat made Tommy grin darkly. He wrapped his free hand around Jason's throat, crushing the younger boy's windpipe slowly. He dragged the dagger up the boy's leg, slicing his flesh open from his knee to a few inches below his pelvis. Jason let out a bloodcurdling scream from the pain as his muscles were shredded.

"Kill him, Tommy… make him pay for what he's done," Tom said from the side. The older man was kneeling next to Tommy over Jason's body.

"No, Tommy! Let him go!" T yelled from his other side.

"Think of what he did to you!" Tom yelled.

"Think of Kim and how she'd hate you for killing Jason," T reasoned.

Tommy blinked rapidly, grip loosening around Jason's throat as his eyes glazed over. "K-Kim?"

"Yes, Tommy, Kim," Tom said nastily. "The woman who's probably been fucking Jason nonstop while you've been out of the picture."

The teen's face scrunched up in anger, and his grip around Jason's throat tightened again. The red ranger clawed at Tommy's wrists.

"Take off his helmet," Tom said. "You need to see his face when he dies."

The green ranger used his left hand to unhook the latches on Jason's helmet. He pulled out the dagger from Jason's thigh, holding the bloody tip against the teen's throat. He removed his hand from Jason's neck to press down hard on the shorter teen's wound, causing him to cry out in agony.

"Take the helmet off…now," Tommy ordered.

Jason hesitated, and Tommy pressed the dagger against his throat, nicking the skin. "Do it."

The red ranger lifted his hands slowly, carefully removing the helmet from his head. Tommy was startled to see soft skin and doe brown eyes where he should have seen Jason's face. Auburn hair spilled forth from the helmet.

It was Kimberly.

The green ranger pulled back in shock, confused as to how she ended up in Jason's power suit. He saw blood pouring from her mouth, and he dropped his dagger to the ground. Looking at her body, he now saw a pink power suit where it was once red, and a large hole was in the stomach area.

Right in the center of her pregnant belly.

'Oh god…please no…' he thought as he reached for her stomach.

Tommy's hands shook violently when he felt the warm blood seep onto his fingers through his torn gloves.

"Kimberly? I-I didn't – "

A sudden attack from the side brought him to the ground hard, and he found himself pinned beneath Andros. The red space ranger repeatedly slammed the butt of his saber into the side of Tommy's helmet. The older teen could feel himself quickly losing consciousness.

"…don't want to hurt you, Tommy… leave me little choice… must end this…"

He could only vaguely make out the words coming from Andros' mouth, still shaken up by the fact that he killed Kimberly and their child.

'I didn't…I didn't mean to…'

Andros flew off of him suddenly, and a strong tug on his shoulders brought the green ranger face to face with Scorpina.

"Commander, are you okay?"

Tommy looked at her dazedly through his cracked visor.

"Kimberly…"

Scorpina scowled. "Enough about her, Tommy – she's not here. You need to focus on this fight. Beta team has made it through the front gates of the White House and are awaiting Lord Zedd's arrival. The power rangers are trying to hold us off, but your attack on the blue ranger caught them off guard. He may be too injured to stay in battle."

"Blue ranger?" Tommy blinked in confusion, ears still ringing. "Didn't attack Billy…"

"What? Yes, you did." Scorpina shook him lightly. "Get it together, Oliver!"

The green ranger made to argue but paused, looking past her to see that it was in fact the blue ranger who was hunched over in pain holding his leg near the White House gates, not Jason or Kimberly.

"I don't..." he winced, head still throbbing from Andros' attack. "That wasn't…"

"Commander? What is wrong with you, Tomm– "

Scorpina's chest blew open suddenly, a large hole carved into the middle of her sternum. Blood and tissue flew outward from the blast, landing on the front of Tommy's helmet and suit. She fell forward, and he caught her lifeless body in his arms with wide eyes.

"Scorpina? Scorpina! No…" He turned her over, resting her body on the ground.

"No… No! You're not dead…you can't be," he told her, desperation creeping into his voice. "Get up."

He shook her vigorously. "Get up, dammit! SCORPINA! GET UP! THAT'S AN ORDER!"

When she remained wide-eyed and unresponsive, the green ranger let out an anguished cry. "Nononono… FUCK!"

He pulled her onto his lap, head resting atop hers as he felt her body grow colder in his grasp. The sting of tears in his eyes grew stronger the longer he held her in his arms.

'She's dead… oh god, she's dead…'

"She's not waking up, Tommy…and soon, you won't be either."

Tommy turned slowly, eyes now solid green as he stared at Jason. The red ranger held a blaster in his hand, barrel still smoking from the energy beam he just fired.

"I killed your friend," he sneered. "What are you going to do about it?"

Tom appeared behind Jason then. "Kill him."

A blind rage settled over Tommy, and he could feel his entire body shaking from the anger coursing through his veins. He grabbed Scorpina's fallen sword, climbing quickly to his feet as he charged the red ranger with tears running down his face. Tommy swung at Jason angrily, blows coming so powerfully that the younger boy was having difficulty blocking the attacks.

Tommy launched a fierce tornado kick at Jason's chest, using his powers to send the red ranger flying back several feet and down to the ground. Jason held up his hands to stop Tommy from coming at him again.

"Tommy! Wait – "

"ENOUGH!" the green ranger roared, hands cackling with energy. "This ends now."

The red ranger crawled to his knees, making a vain attempt to grab his weapon that landed a few feet away. Angrily, Tommy slashed the sword across the teen's back, and the fallen ranger rolled over involuntarily at the pain.

"Tommy, please! Don't do this!"

The green ranger held Scorpina's sword against his throat, chest tight with pain and anger. Everything he suffered through flashed before his eyes in that moment. Being kidnapped and brainwashed by Rita. Goldar's torture. His failed relationship with Kimberly. The death of his parents. The reality that he would never be able to raise his son. Scorpina's death.

All of it stemmed from one moment when this man who was supposed to be his best friend betrayed him.

"Do it, Tommy," Tom whispered in his ear. "Kill him now. You may not get another chance." He squeezed Tommy's shoulder. "Get your revenge so you can finally find peace."

The green ranger nodded emphatically. Peace – something he hadn't been able to find since all of this started.

"Goodbye, Jason."

The last thing Tommy saw as he brought Scorpina's sword down onto Jason's body was the true fear in the red ranger's brown eyes as they widened behind the visor. A scream ripped from the teen's throat as the sword pierced his abdomen. Tommy stood over him, watching as the boy writhed on the ground in pain, fingers clutching the sword's blade helplessly.

The green ranger closed his eyes, waiting for his moment of peace at finally killing Jason to consume him, but it never came. He did feel a fleeting moment of satisfaction, but then it faded into the background, drowned out by the surrounding sounds of death and chaos.

Now, he felt nothing.

Frustrated, Tommy tore off his helmet, tossing it on the ground. "No. NO!" he yelled, pointing at the dying teen. "You will not take this away from me, Jason!"

The green ranger got on his knees, hands wrapped around the handle of Scorpina's sword.

"I waited months for this moment," he whispered, hot tears pouring down his face. "Months to kill you for what you did to me. I deserve to enjoy this." He twisted the handle roughly, ripping a scream from the red ranger's throat as the blade shredded his insides.

"Do you have any idea what I went through because of you?" Tommy shouted. "I was beaten. I was tortured. I lost who I was." He gripped Jason's throat tightly, causing the boy to sputter. "My entire life has gone to shit, and the one thing that was supposed to make it all worth it was killing you."

He broke off his rant with a choked sob, sitting back on the ground and wiping at his face angrily. "I-I need it to be worth it."

Tommy couldn't wrap his head around it. This was supposed to be it – the moment when the lies and death and sacrifices would mean something.

So why the hell did he still feel angry and empty inside?

"You lost a lot, Tommy," T said, taking a seat next to him on the ground. "Too much for killing Jason to ever be able to make up for."

Tommy absently grabbed the blaster that was used to kill Scorpina off the ground, hugging it tightly to his chest. "God, even while dying, the son of a bitch can't let me have a moment's p– ." Tommy paused, hands trembling as he realized what he was holding.

It was Zack's power axe.

The green ranger narrowed his eyes. 'Why would Jason be using Zack's power axe?'

And that was when Tommy realized it wasn't the red ranger on the ground beside him.

It was the black ranger, whose power suit was now stained a deep crimson from the blood pouring from his stomach.

"Zack?! No, no, no," the green ranger murmured. He unclipped the older boy's helmet, working to get it off of his head to see him clearly.

'This is another trick – another hallucination,' he thought in mild panic. He attacked Jason – he was sure of it.

But when Zack's face emerged from the helmet, scraped and bruised from the fight with blood on his lips, Tommy knew it was no trick.

"Shit!" he yelled, hands running through his hair. He looked at T with wild eyes, but the younger version of himself just avoided his gaze, tears in his own eyes.

Zack's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. "Didn't think you actually had the balls to kill one of us." He coughed, teeth red from his own blood. "Sucks I was the one to find out you weren't bluffing."

Thinking quickly, Tommy pulled the sword from the boy's stomach, eliciting a pained groan from the black ranger. Blood began to pour faster from his stomach.

"Ah! Son of a bitch!" the black ranger moaned.

The green ranger wrung his hands to keep them from trembling. "Zack, I didn't – I thought – ."

"That I was Jason?" Zack hissed in pain as he pressed his hand against the wound. "Yeah, I c-caught that in your little sp-speech." He laughed, coughing up blood slightly. "You got some s-serious issues, dude."

The black ranger grimaced at the sight of his blood on his white gloves.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked tiredly as he peered up at Tommy. "Just get it over with, man." He closed his eyes. "Go ahead and kill me."

"This wasn't… this wasn't supposed to happen." Tommy braced his hands on top of Zack's, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. He licked his lips anxiously when he felt the boy's warm blood seep onto his skin.

"What the hell are you doing?" Zack wheezed, a scowl marring his features. "You tried to kill me and now you're – ."

"Hey! How about instead of annoying me, you shut up so I can save your life?" the green ranger snapped, surprising himself.

Zack was never his favorite person – in fact, they butted heads a lot, even when he wasn't the green ranger. But he certainly never hated him enough to truly want him dead. Granted, he'd considered killing Zack many times in the past, and even enjoyed the prospect of him being gone forever. But fantasy and reality were very different, and now that he was faced with the very real possibility that Zack could die by his hand, Tommy was forced to admit he wasn't particularly fond of the idea of his death.

Even if the bastard was responsible for killing Scorpina.

"Hold still," Tommy said softly, closing his eyes as he channeled his energy into his hands.

"What are you doing?" the black ranger asked faintly. The green ranger could tell he was losing consciousness.

"Buying you some time…" He bit his lip uncertainly. 'I hope.'

His powers gave him the ability to heal relatively minor injuries. Zack's wound was too severe for Tommy to fully heal, but he hoped it was enough to at least keep him from dying on the battlefield.

Zack's abdomen was encompassed in a bright green glow, and the black ranger groaned weakly in discomfort. Tommy honestly wasn't sure if he was helping or hurting the situation, but he continued on anyway. His concentration broke when Zack let out a pained scream and suddenly went limp before him.

The green ranger shook his body hesitantly. "Z-Zack? Zack?!" He shook the still teen harder. "SHIT! Are you – ?"

Tommy resisted the urge to retch when he saw no response from the fallen teen.

A scream of pain rang out to his left, and he jumped back when he saw Trini running full speed towards them.

Tommy continued crawling backwards, eventually tripping when his foot connected with Scorpina's boot on the ground. He watched numbly as Trini cried hysterically over Zack's body.

A weary Jason made his way over to them, falling abruptly to his knees upon seeing the fallen black ranger. Jason pulled Zack to him, holding his body as he let out a wounded cry. Trini and Andros flanked him on both sides.

Tommy watched them with a sickening feeling, a headache hitting him so strongly that it hurt to open his eyes. He looked down at his gloves that were now covered with Zack's blood. Frantically, he tried to wipe it off on his suit.

'Oh god, there's so much of it.'

"Finish the job. Jason's distracted, Tommy. You have the perfect opportunity."

The teen looked up at Tom with bleary eyes. "I can't…"

"Can't or won't?" the older man challenged.

Tommy opened his mouth to speak, only to find that he didn't really know how to answer that question. He pressed his hands to the sides of his head, attempting to drown out the pained cries of the rangers nearby.

"I can't…I can't do this…" he whispered. Tommy grabbed his helmet and teleported away from Washington, D.C. and the cries of his former friends.


Lunar Palace

Commander Oliver's Quarters

The Moon

Local Time, Unknown

The green ranger landed in his quarters at the lunar palace, chucking his helmet clear across the room. His head was pounding, and he nearly fell to his knees from the pain.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Tom snarled. "You don't abandon a fight!"

"I just need a goddamn minute!" Tommy yelled, body trembling. "Can I have that? Please?!"

The green ranger walked over to his dresser, grabbing the bottle of Daem with shaky hands. He reached for a glass, hoping the drink would calm his nerves.

"How did that turn out to be Zack…Jason was the one – "

A rising shadow behind him made him pause his train of thought, and his body trembled when he saw the person's face in the mirror.

"What's the matter, Tommy?"

He froze, disturbed to see Scorpina standing behind him, a gaping hole still through the center of her chest.

He turned quickly, stumbling to get away when she moved closer to him. The bottle of Daem fell from his hands and shattered on the floor.

"You're dead…"

She looked down at her body. "It would appear so."

He shuddered when she touched his face, eyes concentrated on the hole in her chest.

"Why did you do betray me, Tommy?" she asked softly, finger running gently across his lips.

"I-I didn't. Zack…he snuck up and – " Tommy flew across the room, slamming into a wall. Scorpina appeared over him suddenly. Her hands wrapped tightly around his throat.

"Liar," she snarled. "He killed me and then you tried to save him! You don't know a thing about loyalty!"

The green ranger kept his eyes on the ceiling as he struggled to breathe, refusing to look into her black eyes.

'This isn't real…this isn't real…this isn't real…'

He groaned when she slammed him against the wall again, moving closer so that their faces were less than an inch apart.

'But this shit feels real…ow.'

"LOOK AT ME, TOMMY!" she screamed in his face.

She threw him again, and he landed on his back on the plush bed.

"Thank God for the fluffy pillows, huh?" a voice said next to him.

Tommy jumped off of the bed, scrambling to get away from Zack who was now lying on his sheets.

"Nice set up here, Tommy," Zack said as he ran his fingers along the silk sheets. "Guess it pays to work for the bad guys…"

The green ranger backed away from the black ranger in fear.

Zack touched the wound on his stomach, finger slipping inside the hole. Tommy grimaced when the black ranger took his finger out, licking the blood off slowly.

Zack made a face. "Blood's still warm."

Scorpina stood next to Zack, and the two slowly made their way over to the green ranger.

Tommy pressed his hands to his ears, shutting his eyes tight. "You're not real."

Zack scoffed. "The nerve of this guy…first he gets us killed, then he wants to say we don't exist."

Tommy backed away from them.

"Why did you do this to me, Tommy?" Scorpina asked sadly.

"It wasn't my fault," he said weakly.

Her face contorted, shifting from sad to angry in less than a second. Tommy wasn't prepared for the vicious backhand that landed across his face.

"Wasn't your fault?" she snarled. "You got me killed!"

He held a hand over his stinging cheek. "Scorpina… you were my friend…"

"No friend of mine would do this to me…look at what you DID to me!" she yelled, pointing at her chest.

"Yes, Tommy. Take a look."

T rested against the far wall, arms crossed over his chest. His normally cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by a face clouded with anger.

"Scorpina… Zack… and let's not forget your parents. You're racking up quite the list, aren't you?"

"Shut up," Tommy mumbled weakly, head pounding with pain as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"Who else are you planning to get killed?"

"Shut up," the green ranger pleaded.

Scorpina glared at the green ranger. "I tried to help you! Tried to protect you and got caught up in your bullshit anyway…I wish I never cared for you."

Tommy sank to his knees. 'Please shut up.'

"We were almost friends once, Tommy." Zack shook his head sadly. "Do you feel anything now that I'm gone?"

'Tom…help me, please,' the green ranger begged silently, but the older man was nowhere to be found.

Tommy let out a pained gasp when he felt fingers wrap tightly in his hair. "None of them deserved to die, Tommy! Not a single one of them!"

T forcibly turned his head to look over to the right, and Tommy felt tears sting his eyes at the sight of a battered and bloodied Kimberly on the ground with a small child in her arms. Sticking out of the child's back was Tommy's Dragon dagger.

"Is that what you want?"

The green ranger's stomach contracted violently, and before he knew it, he was bent over, emptying the contents of his stomach onto the floor of his room.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, limbs trembling from the effort. Tommy could feel a burning sensation in his chest, gaze still fixed on the sight of Kim and their child dead on the ground by his hands.

He crawled over to their bodies, face scrunching up in anguish when he could feel their skin against his. He pulled the dagger out of the child's back, pulling them into his lap as he hugged their lifeless bodies close to him.

'I don't want this…anything but this…'

Kim and their child disappeared from his arms suddenly, and he found himself on the ground on his knees.

Alone.

There was no sign of Zack or Scorpina having been in the room, though Tommy could still hear their screams and accusations in his ears.

He couldn't forget the sound if he tried.

'I can't be here…' he thought to himself. 'They'll just find me again…they always do.'

He could feel the remaining strands of his sanity unraveling the longer he stayed at the lunar palace. The green ranger focused his energy on teleporting out of his quarters, heading for the one place that could calm him.


Stone Canyon Mountain Lodge

East Side, Cabin #24

Stone Canyon, CA

11:03 PM

Tommy fell to his knees when he landed inside the room, vision blurry as he looked around.

"Kim?" he called out. "Kim!"

Soft footsteps could be heard coming towards him, and he froze when he saw Kimberly looking at him with a curious yet guarded expression.

"Tommy…why are you here?" She narrowed her eyes. "Did you teleport inside my bedroom?" Her eyes widened. "I told you not to do that!"

He let out a hoarse laugh which quickly turned into a sob as he made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist tightly and resting his head against hers.

He could feel her hands at the back of his neck, fingers lightly combing through his hair. He sagged against her small form, body shaking as he shifted so that he was crying into her hair.

"Tommy…Tommy, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

'She doesn't know about Zack,' he thought vaguely when he heard the concern in her voice.

There was no way she would even think of letting him stay if she knew what happened to her childhood friend.

Instead of answering, he pulled her closer to him, burrowing his face against her shoulder. Hands on his shoulders pushed him away from her, and he was forced to look down at her when she cupped his face in her hands.

"Tommy, what's wrong?" she repeated firmly.

The green ranger swallowed the lump in his throat.

"You're scaring me…" she told him, fear creeping into her voice.

"What is it?" Kim pulled back, looking his body up and down. She gasped. "Tommy! Jesus, you're bleeding!"

The green ranger swallowed nervously as her hands ran over his suit.

"Where are you hurt?" she asked. "I can't find the wound."

"I-It's not my blood," he whispered, stomach turning as her hands roamed his torso, smearing Zack's blood across his suit.

"What?"

Tommy's fists clenched tightly at his sides at the confusion in her eyes. "Kimberly, I need to tell you some– ."

Bright red light filled the doorway to her bedroom, accompanied by two loud warping sounds.

Someone had teleported into the living room.

"Kim." It was Jason. "Kimberly, where are you?"

Tommy closed his eyes in defeat. "Shit," he mumbled under his breath.

The pink ranger's eyes widened. "Stay here," she ordered, moving past him to head into the living room. She closed the door behind her.

He paced in the bedroom when she left, nervousness rolling through him. He could hear Jason and Andros talking. The two red rangers were having a difficult time telling her what happened to Zack, and he knew it was because they were afraid of upsetting her while pregnant.

Taking a deep breath, the green ranger grabbed the door handle and left the safety of her room.

"…there isn't much time. I know he'd want you by his side when – ." Jason paused when he caught sight of Tommy. He chucked his helmet to the ground and ran full speed at the green ranger.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" the red Earth ranger screamed at the top of his lungs, eyes bloodshot from crying. "How could you do this?!"

Andros struggled to hold the red ranger back. "Calm down, Jason!"

The red ranger twisted violently, breaking free of the space ranger's grip. He turned his angry gaze on the younger teen. "Shut up, Andros! You don't know how this feels… " His voice broke on the last word. "You weren't the one holding him…" His fists tightened.

Kimberly gripped Tommy's wrist painfully. "Jason…what happened?"

Tommy swallowed nervously at Jason's disgusted glare as he stood behind the pink ranger.

"You didn't tell her...but why would you do something like that? Afraid she'll hate you even more, you sorry piece of shit."

"It was a mistake," Tommy said roughly.

Kim's hold on him loosened. "What happened?"

Jason sneered, face flushed. "Tell her, Tommy. Tell her what you did."

The pink ranger visibly paled at his words, turning horrified eyes on the green ranger. "Tommy…?"

At his silence, tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Who, Tommy?"

The green ranger's jaw clenched painfully, eyes closed. "It was an accident," he whispered.

The Earth ranger angrily marched up to him, hands fisting the taller boy's green spandex. "Bullshit! It wasn't an accident – you murdered Zack."

The green ranger angrily shoved Jason back. "I didn't mean to kill him!" he shouted before turning to the pink ranger. "I tried to save him, I swear it on our son's life, Kimberly. I tried."

Kim visibly wavered on her feet, prompting Andros to move closer to her. "You killed Zack?"

Andros wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady. "We don't know that yet for sure, Kimberly. Trini teleported him back to the Command Center for immediate medical attention," he said softly. "The prognosis is… not good."

"He murdered him in cold blood," Jason continued as if Andros hadn't spoken. "You went after him like you were possessed, Tommy. The Time Force rangers saw you from up in the Megazord. You stabbed him right through the stomach while he was on the ground, defenseless."

The broken sob from Kimberly sounded like thunder in Tommy's ears. He turned to her, eyes pleading.

"I didn't know what was going on. I got…I got confused – Kim, I swear – " Tommy didn't see the right hook coming his way, and he fell to the ground hard at Jason's feet.

"You didn't know? You think that makes it better?" he nearly screamed. "Zack is dead! Your apologies won't ever bring him back!" Tears stained the red ranger's face. "I'm the one that has to take his body back home. I'm the one that has to explain to his parents how their son is dead because you made a mistake."

The green ranger wiped at his bleeding lip, eyes never leaving Kim's shaking form. He barely flinched when Jason angrily punched at the wall.

"I'm done with you," Jason hissed as he pointed angrily at Tommy. "I've tried to be nice, to remember that we were once friends." He shook his head, hands balled into tight fists. "You took Kim, you took this baby. You took Zack…" His voice cracked as he said the black ranger's name.

"I'm not letting you take anything else from me."

The green ranger felt himself get hot underneath his power suit, anger coursing through his body at Jason's self-righteous act.

"I didn't take Zack from you, Jason," Tommy hissed as he climbed to his feet. "You did."

The red ranger rushed him, shoving the taller boy in a fit of rage.

"Don't you dare try to blame this on me, Tommy! You know what happened – you killed Zack."

"Maybe I did kill Zack, but it was meant for you." Tommy's eyes flashed green. "It was always supposed to be you."

Andros jumped in Jason's path just as the Earth ranger prepared to charge at Tommy again.

"God dammit, stop it, both of you!" he shouted, eyes blazing. "There will be no fighting in this house. Not while Kimberly is here."

Andros remained between the two of them, hazel eyes focused on Tommy questioningly. The green ranger gave a slight nod. Jason still struggled to get around Andros, seemingly intent on attacking the older boy.

"The count is up to two best friends now, right, Jase?" Tommy sneered. "Maybe Zack would've thought twice about your friendship if he knew where it'd get him. I know I should've."

Jason stopped struggling at Tommy's words, eyes widening.

"You can move, Andros. He isn't going to hurt me again…are you, Jase?"

The space ranger chanced a glance behind him at Jason, who now looked deathly pale and nauseous.

"You were supposed to die tonight, Jason, not Zack. I couldn't stand the little shit, but I never wanted him dead."

Tommy walked slowly towards the red Earth ranger. "You hate me because I took Kim and Zack from you?" His hands cackled with green energy. "That's nothing compared to what you did, Jason. You took my life from me!"

Andros' gaze shuffled between them curiously. "What are you talking about, Tommy?"

The green ranger cocked his head to the side, expression almost manic. "Tell them, Jason. They deserve to know the truth." He glanced past Andros to look at a red-faced Kim. "Especially her."

Jason visibly swallowed. "Shut up, Tommy."

"Jason, what's he talking about?" Kim asked softly from her seat on the couch, voice hoarse from crying.

"Yes, Jason – what am I talking about, hmm?" The sickening feeling that came from his role in Zack and Scorpina's deaths was disappearing the more the green ranger focused on Jason's transgressions. "Tell them."

He could see the hesitation in the red ranger's eyes, and he grabbed the boy by the front of his suit, slamming him into the wall.

"Tell them," Tommy hissed through gritted teeth, "or I will rip out your spine with my bare hands."

Jason's nostrils flared before he shoved Tommy off of him and turned pleading brown eyes to the pink ranger. "Kim, you need to understand – I did it for you."

"She can decide that for herself," Tommy said curtly. "Tell her what you did."

The red ranger closed his eyes. "I lied," he whispered.

"Be more specific," the green ranger said through gritted teeth.

Jason licked his lips, eyes filled with what looked like shame. "I-I never went to rescue Tommy when he was kidnapped. I left him there – with Rita a-and Goldar." He looked pained. "I didn't think it would turn out like this – I just wanted him to stop hurting you…hurting us."

The expression on Kimberly's face didn't change, but her eyes spoke volumes. Tommy could see the shock, disgust, anger and finally understanding flash in her brown eyes. She rose to her feet, hands running over her face.

Andros' eyes widened in shock and anger. "I'm sorry… you did what?"

"Oh my god," she mumbled. "Oh my god…"

"It was wrong and selfish, I know that. I regretted it as soon as I did it, but it was already too late." Jason reached for her. "Kim – ." She ripped her arm away from him as if he had burned her.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled at him, eyes wet with unshed tears. Jason jumped back at her outburst.

"How could you do that to him, Jason? You were supposed to be his best friend – Goldar could've killed him!" she yelled around a sob. "You're a power ranger – we don't do shit like that!" She pointed angrily at him. "You made him this way! You started this mess!"

Jason's eyes held shock and hurt at her words. "Kim…"

She shoved him, fists beating hard against his chest. "Zack is dead because Tommy was trying to kill you for what you did to him." The red ranger didn't try to block her blows.

Her strikes began to wane as the tears fell faster down her face. "He's dead because of what you did – f-for me…" she choked out.

Tommy's eyes widened at the sudden shift in the conversation. He wanted Kim to see Jason for who he really was, not to take the blame. None of this was her fault.

"Kim, wait – shit." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "None of this is your – "

The pink ranger flinched when his hand made contact, shuffling away from him almost immediately to be near Andros.

"Get away from me," she hissed. "Jason may be the reason this all started, but you're the one that chose to stay."

The pink ranger wiped at her eyes. "You killed Zack," she said hoarsely, eyes shifting between Jason and Tommy as she wrapped her arms around her stomach protectively. "We all did."

A heavy silence filled the room at her declaration.

"Please leave," she whispered. "I need to be alone for a while before..." She swallowed thickly. "...before I say goodbye to Z-Zack..." She pressed a hand against her mouth to quell her crying.

Jason moved towards her but was blocked by Andros. The space ranger gripped his arm tightly, causing Jason to wince.

"We need to get back to the battlefield. Zedd has already infiltrated the White House, and our defenses are becoming overwhelmed," he said coldly. Andros forcibly turned Jason around and pushed him forward, causing him to stumble. "Let's go."

The two disappeared in a flash of red, leaving Kimberly and Tommy alone in the cabin.

"Kimberly," Tommy began, voice cracking as he reached for her.

"Leave, Tommy," she whispered.

"I can't just – ."

"GET OUT!" she screamed shoving him away from her, face flushed and stained with tears.

The green ranger's heart thudded in his chest, and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe. In a flash of light, Tommy left the cabin, the image of Kimberly's heartbroken face burned into his mind.


The Ellipse

President's Park

Washington, D.C.

11:58 PM

The smell of sweat and blood was thick in the air when he returned to the ongoing battle. All around, dead bodies lay on the ground next to charred metal and damaged weapons. Aimlessly, the green ranger made his way through the destruction, unable to really process what was going on. Everything sounded muffled and his vision was blurry from the tears that threatened to fall.

"Commander! Commander!" Tommy turned sullen eyes towards the voice calling for him. "I've been looking everywhere for you, sir."

It was his general, Kronon. He was holding Tommy's Falchion sword and Dragon dagger.

"What is it, Kronon?" the green ranger asked hoarsely.

Kronon handed him his weapons. "The Emperor has requested your presence. He wishes to speak with all high-ranking officers at once."

"Where is he?" the green ranger asked tiredly.

"The White House, sir." Kronon paused. "Sir… Scorpina… she – she didn't make it."

The green ranger swallowed the bile in his throat. "I know." Tommy sheathed his swords along his waist.

Kronon nodded. "I will continue to lead the soldiers while you meet with the Emperor. He said he is in an oval office? Perhaps that means something to you?"

"It does." Tommy gave a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. He clasped Kronon's forearm. "Thank you."

The green ranger teleported to the front steps of the White House. He was immediately flanked by Piranhatrons who escorted him through the large building. They stopped once he was outside a set of white double-doors. Tommy opened them and made his way inside, grimacing at the sight of Lord Zedd seated in the president's chair. Several other commanders were in the room, as well.

"Ah, Thomas!" He stood up in greeting. "Glad to see you could make it."

The green ranger watched listlessly as the Emperor moved towards him, hands clasping Tommy's shoulders tightly.

"Come, Thomas," he said, leading the teen to the window behind the desk. The two looked out at the burning city.

"I knew you had it in you to bring this city to its knees," Lord Zedd murmured. "All will know that this victory and the successful acquisition of Earth into the Dark Empire was possible due to your leadership."

The green ranger felt overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. The battle was going in their favor and the capital seized, but everything else? Everything that mattered had gone horribly wrong.

The victory felt hollow.

"What's wrong, Thomas? You should be happy."

"Scorpina's dead," the teen whispered, throat tight with emotion.

Lord Zedd nodded. "An unfortunate casualty. We will hold a grand funeral for her once this battle has been won." He squeezed Tommy's shoulder. "Now, let's discuss our next move. I'm sure the Eltarians will be sending more…"

The rest of his words faded into white noise for the green ranger.

His friend was dead, because he had unintentionally distracted her in battle. Zack was most likely dead due to his hallucinations. Jason was finally exposed for the lying bastard he was, but now Kimberly couldn't stand to be near either of them.

And to make matters worse, the brief period of time when he believed he had killed Jason didn't make a damn bit of it worth it. In fact, it only showed him that if he were to ever actually kill Jason, none of it would even matter. He'd already lost too much.

Tommy felt numb inside.

'Don't think about what you would be losing, Tommy, but instead what you would gain. Think of what you would be able to accomplish if you freed yourself. You would be unstoppable as the green ranger. You would be able to get everythingyou want, Tommy. Think about it.'

The green ranger clenched his teeth, Lord Zedd's words echoing loudly in his head. That was the promise made to him the day he accepted to be the Emperor's green ranger. The gains were supposed to outweigh the losses, and now that they weren't, Tommy felt betrayed.

Again.

The green ranger watched silently as Lord Zedd spoke with the other commanders, all of them hovered around the diagrams and charts on his desk.

This man took his freedom, his sanity, his parents, the opportunity to raise his own child. He threatened him to keep him by side, to keep Tommy afraid of him... and the one fucking thing he was supposed to deliver on – the one promise that it would all be worth it in the end – turned out to be nothing more than a lie.

A con just to get Tommy to do all the dirty work, where only Lord Zedd gained and Tommy was the real loser.

The green ranger's nostrils flared. For the first time since Lord Zedd came into his life, Tommy felt something more overpowering than fear and respect for the man.

He felt hate, and it was growing more intense by the second.

"There you go," T said, suddenly appearing at Tommy's right. "Now you're finally starting to get it. He's the real enemy."

"…will need all available soldiers here to round up the civilians. I don't want anyone unaccounted for. Every person must be found and registered in the database." The Emperor turned to Tommy. "Thomas, I will need your help in this. Being human, you understand the people of Earth far better than the rest of us. Your insight will be invaluable."

Tommy said nothing, his jaw rigid with anger.

"I know you are upset, Commander. The power rangers are still out there, and like usual, they will retreat into the shadows once this battle is over. But do not worry. Trust me when I say we will find them." The Emperor turned his chair so that he was facing the green ranger directly. "They will pay for what they did to Scorpina."

The green ranger nodded. "Certainly, sir," he said tightly.

"And they will pay for what they did to you. The bastard who betrayed you will certainly get what's coming to him."

"Oh, believe me, sir, he'll pay." Tommy's eyes flashed bright green, contempt for the man before him brewing deep within his heart. "I don't doubt that for a second."


And that wraps up Part II of the Cost Series! Woo-hoo! That was a wild ride, right?

Tommy has come a long way from where he started. I know many of you really wanted him to change and be better for Kim and the baby as soon as he found out, but I felt like it was just too easy to make that the reason. It was important for his character that his desire to finally take a stand against Lord Zedd be a result of things coming to a head, and that the initial push that got him there be tied to his original reason for joining Zedd in the first place - revenge on Jason. We all saw he was never going to change just because of Kim, because he was too hellbent on getting what he wanted. So now that this has happened and Tommy's not blinded by killing Jason anymore (and can no longer use it as an excuse for why he stays), it opens him up for growth and the possibility of turning things around. Things certainly look bleak at the end of Part II, but trust me when I say, things will definitely take a turn in Part III. I can't say things will be perfect and happy at the end of this series, but everything will be resolved.

And speaking of... Part III will be coming soon. It will be 7 chapters - I already have the whole thing outlined. I will begin posting in the coming weeks, so be on the look out for Cost of Revenge: Redemption. New alliances, new relationships, rekindling of old relationships, shifts in the balance of power... all of that's in store for the last arc of this series. Stay tuned!

Also, given that this chapter was such a roller-coaster, check in on Cost of Revenge: Moments in Between in the coming days. Something nice will be posted there soon for y'all to make up for the pain in this one LOL.

As always, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Thanks again for all the support and encouragement. It definitely keeps me going!