MMPR Dawn of Primacy: Dark Maelstrom

by J Raine

When a time shift alters the past and history is rewritten Rangers from several generations are caught up in the conflict as Earth becomes the battle ground for the ultimate battle between good and evil. MMPRtoPRTF&PRNS. Check profile for release schedule

14. Chapter 14

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Dawn of Primacy: Dark Maelstrom

-14-

"This is Thomas Oliver, the new Quantum Ranger," Trip said.

"You can call me Tommy," he replied with a warm smile.

"Did you tell him about the alternate timeline?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, he did," Tommy replied. "I know I should know you all pretty well, but obviously things worked out differently. The strange thing is I actually feel like I belong here. When Trip approached me it was the first thing that's felt right in the last eight months."

"Well, welcome to the Power Rangers," Jason said extending his hand.

Tommy took hold of his hand with a firm grip and shook it. As Tommy let go the red energy from his morphed form dispersed into the Morpher on his wrist. The device was dissimilar from Trip's having a flat black surface with a red design work inside of which were a myriad of buttons. His clothes were ordinary, white shirt, blue jeans and black hiking boots. There was a moment of introductions as Tommy tried to burn everyone's name in his mind, but with this many people he was sure he'd forget a name or two and hoped he could cover it up.

"What did you mean by the new Quantum Ranger?" Billy asked as everyone took seats around the holo-display.

"Sorry," Trip said with a smile. "I suppose to you he'd just be the Quantum Ranger. Originally though a young man named Eric Myers found the Quantum Morpher. I'm certain he's still around, probably around your age too, but the Eric I knew was in the twenty-first century and was lost when the timeline reverted."

"I've been fuzzy on this whole thing," Adam said. "Why is it you arrived from a future that no longer exists?

"Because we were outside the timeline when the shift occurred," Trip said. "It's the same reason the Quantum Morpher and the Q-Rex arrived from our future into your timeline."

"Q-Rex?" Rocky looked at Trip confused.

"It's short for Quantasaurus Rex, it's his Zord. Though like I was saying, if you were to step out of a room for a moment and then detonate a bomb in the room an individual could reenter the destroyed room to find it completely different from when they left, they could no longer return to the point where the room was not destroyed, but they simply were unaffected because they were not present when the destruction occurred. What I find more interesting is that it is completely possible that Time Force will still arrive here in two thousand one when Ransik escapes into the past. That would prove or disprove a number of theories about alternate timelines."

"So couldn't others come to help us from the future?" Aisha asked.

"No," Trip replied. "Once the flow of this timeline caught up with my time it ceased to exist. If you divert a river into a new path the old path does not immediately run dry, but without the continued inflow the river eventually dries up. It's hard to explain without a lot of math, but in the grand scheme of a vast quantum continuum there is a sort of fifth dimension of time, a time that related to the quantum existence of all things and independent of the passage of time within a finite universe. In essence I exist because at the time in the quantum existence of this universe, in which time is also a factor, when the temporal distortion occurred my timeline existed. It ceased to exist when the distortion ended the flow of quantum energy into my present. So anything that occurred within the universe prior to that time still occurred, but due to the quantum shift has now ceased to be. The former timeline is still there in a way, much in the same way that a dry riverbed still existed, but ceases to be a river because no water is flowing into it, but that does not mean that water you may have previously removed from the river ceases to exist. That would be like filling a cup with water only to have the water in the cup vanish once the source of the water was turned off. Now this is all based on current Quantum theory, I could be completely wrong and other reasons exist that I am not aware of, but thus far this theory seems solid."

"Make it stop," Kimberly said leaning back looking at the ceiling.

"So if I understand you correctly then," Zhane began. "You have no real idea why it all worked out."

"I have an idea," Trip said ignoring his bad joke. "I just can't prove it."

"So Trip, what happened this morning when you freaked out and left." Kimberly asked desperate to turn the conversation to something less science based.

Trip looked over at Andros for a moment. "Do you mind if I talk to Andros for a moment first?"

"Yeah, go ahead," Jason said. "Tommy, give me a hand with the last bunk and then I'll give you a quick tour?" Jason suggested pointing to the bed sitting by the elevator.

"Sure man, no problem."

As Trip and Andros walked over to a corner by the Medical Bay to talk, Aisha, who was sitting behind Kimberly and Ashley, leaned forward between the two of them.

"Are things always that complex?" she asked.

Kimberly rolled her eyes. "Just be glad we only have two geniuses," she said. "I've never learned to speak Billy, and I'll probably never learn to speak Trip either."

"Billy's gotten better though," Ashley said in his defense.

"Really?" Aisha asked.

"Yeah," Kimberly replied. "He used to talk tech all the time. Now if you don't ask about anything technical you'll usually be fine."

Blue came onto the bridge of the Dark Fortress walking straight toward Astronema. Two Quantrons with crescent sabers stepped between him and her, but Blue tossed his screwdriver into the air and punched through both of their heads. Their bodies dropped to the floor as he caught his tool and stepped over their bodies.

"That's far enough," Astronema said holding up a small device.

Blue sighed knowing what was coming. Astronema pressed the button and Blue fell to the floor convulsing. The device was supposed to activate a regulator in their morphers that sent energy surging into their pain receptors; she obviously hadn't discovered that he had bypassed his. Instead the regulator had been patched into another device to alert him that the button had been pressed so he could play along if he was in the mood. After nearly half a minute of flailing randomly Astronema released the button. Blue was quick to return to his feet.

"What are you doing here?" Astronema asked staring into the reflective black of Blue's visor.

"Someone touched my screwdriver!" Blue said holding the tool in Astronema's face.

Ecliptor began to move in, but Astronema waved him off as she brushed Blue's arm out of her face.

"So what?" she replied. "You've taken half of my ship apart to build that workstation of yours."

"You were dead!" Blue replied defensively. "By the way you look much better now."

"You also have taken multiple things from the armory, including a crate of the disruption grenades we developed."

"Oh come on!" Blue said becoming more animated. "You make something that cool of course I'm going to borrow it, you borrow my stuff all the time, which is very rude by the way."

"And what do you call it when you take my stuff?" Astronema asked glaring at him.

"A necessary evil," Blue replied with a fanged grin.

"Getting information on what you've been up to is simply necessary."

"I haven't been doing anything…" Blue paused for a moment searching for the right word. "Disreputable."

"Of that I have no doubt," Astronema said folding her hands behind her back. "Still you have made an interesting breakthrough using the design for my OMP shield generator."

"I just made it smaller," Blue said. "I never understood why you made it so big."

Astronema couldn't tell if he was mocking her or being serious, neither would really have surprised her. Was it possible this creature didn't even realize his own genius? If that were the case it could be dangerous to allow him to work on anything else, especially if he had merely managed to micronize her design by some fluke.

"From now on you will submit all new design specs to me, in exchange you may have access to the equipment room, and if you need anything we do not have I will see to it that it is sent to you."

"Ahem…" Blue cleared his throat waving his screwdriver around.

Astronema sighed. "And I will make sure none of my personnel touch your screwdriver."

"And who touched it this time?"

"I don't know, one of the Quantrons most likely."

"Which one?" Blue asked staring intently at her.

Astronema sighed. She knew he wasn't going to be happy until he received an answer, but the truth was if he didn't know she certainly had no way of finding out.

"That one." She said pointing toward one of the guards near the door.

"Thank you," Blue said as he turned and walked away.

As he drew near the door his hand reached out suddenly plunging the screwdriver into the Quantron's head. There was a shower of sparks that burst from the cranial plate before the machine fell to the ground. Blue retracted the tool from its head as it fell only to find that the head had been blunted. Blue shook for a moment before falling on the Quantron throwing several punches into the head. Having destroyed the metal head case and scattered parts around the floor Blue rose to his feet huffing with a sense of accomplishment.

"Maybe that will teach you some respect for other people's stuff." He turned and walked off the bridge.

"The sooner we're done with those things the better," Ecliptor said directing several other Quantrons to clean up the mess.

"I'm more concerned that if we need them much longer we won't be able to dispose of them," Astronema replied staring at the closed door.

Lokar approached Lord Zedd's throne room. He was certain his Lord had yet to discover the arrival of The Lost, and was prepared to give his best performance to ensure his Lord was aware without losing his own head in the process. Putting his mind in order, burying the truth deep within his mind he stepped into the room.

Lord Zedd sat in his throne at the far end of the hall; his blazing eyes were cast upon Lokar as he entered the room. He could feel his Lord picking apart his mind for the information concerning his presence and Lokar was only too happy to allow such thoughts to be rooted out quickly.

"My Lord," Lokar began. "As I know you are aware The Lost have come to Earth and taken refuge in the Command Center. I have come to seek your counsel in flushing them out."

"There will be no need Lokar," Lord Zedd replied, he spoke audibly, the booming voice causing Lokar's body to shudder. "I have allowed them to gather within the Command Center so my Phantom Ranger can destroy them all."

"Excellent my Lord," Lokar replied. "When will we strike?"

"Soon," Zedd replied. "As I had foreseen Commander Deviot's loss in the Delgati system has played into my hands. With the arrival of the thirty-seventh fleet we will have more than replenished our ranks. At that time I will allow the Psycho Rangers to learn the location of the Command Center, your only task Lokar is to see that they don't learn of it before the time I have appointed."

"Yes my Lord," Lokar replied. "I will see to it at once." He turned and began to leave the throne room.

He could feel Lord Zedd continue to pick through his mind as he left. Exiting the room and shutting the door he felt the presence of Lord Zedd withdraw from his consciousness. So that was how Lord Zedd had continued to maintain appearances. Most of his minions were so terrified with his forceful telepathy that they never noticed he had already pulled the knowledge they had before he even addressed them. Lokar felt a sense of relief, perhaps his Lord was not as ill prepared for these matters as he feared, still his reach was still limited by those who served him, which made it all the more important that he and Astronema continue to be ever vigilant.

As he began to walk down the hall toward his laboratory he noticed Goldar pass through another passage way, his armor was slick with oil and hydraulic fluid and he walked with a slight limp. Curious, Lokar paused for a moment to be certain Goldar had gone before tracing his path back to the source. The droplets of oil made it easy to find the sparring room. Concealing his presence Lokar drifted into the room as no more than a mist.

The soot blackened walls of the room still gave off heat as Lokar noted the dying fire within the channel that ran around the perimeter of the room. The floor was littered with the burning embers of Putties and the sparking mess of Quantrons; he even noticed several of the newly modified Piranhatrons, what was more interesting were the traces of blood he found on the ground. His mist form gracefully slid over the floor licking up some of the blood. It wasn't Goldar's, someone else had been in here as well; the question was whom?

Lokar closed his eyes as he took in the energy and raw emotion that still hung heavy in the air. He could see the battle, Goldar at the center of a vast group of warriors spanning the room, and at the head of the two forces were Vexacus and Scorpina. Lokar watched the battle unfold in his mind's eye as Goldar became like a savage beast falling on all who approached him. He saw Vexacus step in as the golden warrior knocked the sword from his hand and slam his elbow into the mercenary sending him to the floor. Then Scorpina had come, but only after he had turned, he had also disarmed her, but had slashed her hand before sending her to the ground with an uppercut, blood dripped from her mouth. He had no further problem dispatching the waves of enemies that had descended upon him after that, reducing the room of minions to the chaotic mesh of carnage that now existed.

Lokar swept out of the room in a sudden gust. Goldar was training incredibly hard, the question now was why? Had Lord Zedd's rebuke merely hurt his pride, or was there more to it than that. He would have to keep a closer eye on him.

"It's not true, you're lying!" Andros shouted grabbing the collar on Trip's jacket and shaking him.

"I wish I was," Trip said calmly.

With the exception of Jason and Tommy who were in the other room, all eyes were on Andros. Zhane was already moving toward them.

"Andros calm down man," he started. "What's going on?"

"This guy doesn't know where Karone is, he's been lying the whole time." Andros said his face was crimson and he spoke through clenched teeth.

"Andros, buddy you need a break," Zhane said trying to get between them.

"I am tired of you telling me to relax," Andros said shoving Zhane back.

Zhane staggered for a moment, more shocked by Andros' actions than anything.

"I told you that you weren't going to like the answer," Trip said trying to remain calm. "I can't change the truth, but it is what it is."

"You're lying!" Andros repeated pushing Trip back against the wall. "It can't be true."

Zhane had sat on the sidelines long enough. Without warning he rushed Andros knocking his arms down causing him to lose his grip on Trip before taking hold of his jacket and slamming him back into the other wall. Andros' eyes opened wide in a mixture of shock and fury.

"What is wrong with you?!" Zhane shouted, his face only inches from his friend's.

"He's lying!" Andros shouted. "It can't be true!" then something broke within the Space Ranger and he began to slump. "It just can't be true,"

Zhane guided him down, his grip on his jacket loosening. Andros sat down on the floor with his back against the wall, drawing his knees up against his body and resting his forehead on his arms stared down between his knees.

"It just can't be true." He repeated quietly.

Zhane took a knee and placed a hand on Andros' shoulder as he sat there for a moment coming to grips with what Trip had told him. Trip straightened his jacket and walked back toward the group. Without saying a word he sat down in one of the chairs and leaned his head back closing his eyes as he let out a deep breath.

Slowly Ashley moved over and sat down next to Trip.

"What did you say to him," she whispered to him.

"I think it would be best to let him tell you when he's ready." Trip replied.

Ashley nodded. She looked over toward Zhane. He returned her look of concern with a reassuring smile and a subtle nod. Jason and Tommy were at the door, the shouting had gotten their attention in the other room. Seeing that things had calmed down Jason quietly guided Tommy toward the storage bay where they kept the food.

"Can we go somewhere else for a bit?" Shawna asked Adam. "Maybe outside?"

Adam nodded as he and his friends slipped out of the main chamber down the main hall to the exit. The cool evening air greeted them with a freshness that Adam's friends hadn't experienced in days. The sun still hung just above the horizon casting long shadows over the mountainous terrain.

"Things are a little tense right now, huh?" Aisha observed.

"Yeah," Adam said with a sigh. "I promise it's not always like this. It just seems like there is too much going on right now."

"Maybe it would be good if we went to stay with relatives for a while?" Aisha suggested.

"For a few days maybe?" Rocky added.

"I don't know about that," Shawna said. "I feel safer here than anywhere else, but if it will help calm things down I guess I would be willing to leave."

"I don't want to rush into anything right now," Adam said.

"You sure?" Aisha asked placing her hand on his upper back rubbing it gently. "We could just go for a few days until you catch those fake Rangers and things calm down a little?"

"Unless those freaks use us for bait," Rocky commented.

"That wouldn't happen," Aisha said sharply. She tried to be reassuring to Adam, "They don't even know who we are."

"We don't know that," Shawna said. "And we don't have powers to protect us."

"I'm not going to send you out there with no way to defend yourselves." Adam said. "Zedd has been willing to hurt our friends and family to get to us, I'm not going to send you out there to be used like that."

Aisha sighed. "Maybe we could just work at staying out of the way for a few days then, stay out of the main chamber as much as possible?"

"I like that idea better," Shawna said.

"I guess we can try that," Adam replied.

"I just wish there was more we could do to help out," Rocky said looking out over the mountains. "I just feel so useless sometimes."

"I'm sure as time goes on the others will find ways for you to help out," Adam said. "It's just a rough transition right now, things were so quiet for nearly a year and then everything falls apart in less than two weeks. It's been hard on everyone."

Blue walked back into the makeshift home that he and the other Psychos had created in the bowels of the ship. The door slid closed behind him, whining as metal scraped against metal. Red was the first to greet him.

"So can we get to work now?" Red asked; his single minded focus still honed on carrying out the plan.

"I suppose." Blue replied wishing he could roll his eyes while morphed.

"So what's the next step?" Black asked.

"It's simple," Blue said. "Now that we've caused the world to see the Rangers as traitors we spread out into new cities and draw attention to ourselves, the Rangers will come incognito to locate us and then we can begin to pick them off."

"Incog what?" Yellow asked.

"It means they'll come in disguise, probably unmorphed so as not to draw attention," Blue said.

"So what do we need to do to get the Rangers attention?" Red asked.

"We just need to go out and terrorize the masses, either disguised as them or in," Blue shuddered for a moment. "Human form."

"Gross," Yellow replied. "How about we just do more stuff disguised as them?"

"Do what you want," Blue said as he checked over some of the displays on his workstation. "I need to take care of something important right now,"

"What could be more important?" Red asked.

"Something you couldn't possibly comprehend," Blue said hitting a few buttons. "Just split up, cause mayhem and wait, the Rangers will show."

With that Blue gathered up several small boxes from his workstation and disappeared in a blaze of dark blue energy.

"Alright," Red said with a fiendish grin. "Let's get to work."

Ashley stepped out of the Command Center to where Adam and his friends were standing around talking casually. She forced a grin which told Adam things were still a little tense inside.

"Trip is ready to explain what happened this morning." She said.

"Alright, I'm coming," Adam said. "Guys?"

"I think I'll just stay out here for awhile," Aisha said sitting down on the edge of the stone slab that made up the walkway, her legs hanging over the edge as she stared at the sunset.

"I think it would be best if we waited outside for now," Rocky agreed. "If you think it's important you can fill us in later."

"I'm kinda curious personally," Shawna said before Aisha threw her a reminding glance. "But I can wait until later."

Ashley turned back toward the Command Center as Adam followed closely behind her.

"What was all that about?" Ashley asked as the two walked inside.

"They're just trying to stay out of the way, not add anything to the tension."

"It has gotten pretty bad hasn't it?" Ashley replied. "I'm worried about Andros; he seems to be having the hardest time out of everyone."

"It's like when Josh was so distant. I think he just needs time to sort out whatever is troubling him." Adam said.

The two walked on in silence as they entered the main chamber where everyone was waiting. Tommy and Jason had already taken seats next to Kimberly. Billy was sitting in the second row behind Jason. Andros was standing in the back along with Zhane. Trip was standing in front of the holo-display, Circuit was perched on the rim of the display. Adam was puzzled for a minute, had he come back with Trip and Tommy originally? He supposed it didn't really matter.

"Are the others not coming?" Kimberly asked.

"No, they're just going to stay outside for a little bit," Adam said. "They haven't gotten to enjoy the fresh air much in the last week; it'll be good for them."

Adam sat down on Kimberly's left at the end of the row. Ashley wandered back to where Andros and Zhane were standing.

"Come join us," she said looking softly into his eyes.

Andros shook his head slowly keeping only loose eye contact.

"I think he's still going to need sometime, he's dealing with some pretty heavy stuff," Zhane said apparently privy to what Trip had told him.

Ashley nodded and took a seat in the second row next to Billy leaving a spot on her left incase Andros changed his mind.

Trip cleared his throat and began, "What I'm going to tell you will seem strange. I'm not sure I understand it all, but this is what happened this morning. I am a telepath, all my people are. This morning a powerful entity, or rather two powerful entities contacted me. Their power was immense and the nature of their contact was so intense that my body went into shock and for an instant I was technically dead. What I saw was a large dragon, long and serpent-like with six pairs of wings, two on its back and the others attached near the arms and legs, or possibly to the arms and legs. Behind it was a large fiery phoenix, wings spread wide, that burned a brilliant white so intense that the dragon's features were lost in the brilliance and all I saw was a silhouette. Then I could hear a voice speaking, a roaring like thunder one minute and gentle as the wind the next, he gave me the coordinates to the Delgati system and told me about Trey, Andros, and Zhane and about Andros' sister Karone. He also spoke of Tommy and his location, that he had been spared from the destruction of Angel Grove for a purpose and told me where I could find him and commanded me to give him the Quantum Morpher. Then the light faded and I felt my body collapse, I knew I had died, but then a sweet voice came like fire over me and I felt its warmth fill me and felt my body strengthen. That's when I woke up in the Medical Bay with this pressing sense of urgency on me; it was like my survival depended on my immediate departure." Trip was shaking as he relayed his story as the memories of his experience flooded back to the forefront of his mind. "You know the rest," he said with a heavy breath taking a seat.

"It sounds to me like what you're describing is the Dragon and the Phoenix that we keep hearing about," Jason said.

"It does appear they may be more than an abstract concept," Billy replied. "If the Masters were also some form of telepaths perhaps they saw these beings this way as well."

"You're still skeptical?" Kimberly asked turning around to face him.

"I'm just saying maybe they appear more fearsome than they are," Billy said. "Like the Wizard of Oz."

"You're comparing the source of all our power to a movie?" Kimberly asked.

"I just mean that we can't be sure they really have an actual form just because someone perceives it that way, I am fairly convinced that whatever this power is it has a consciousness."

"This is weird to hear," Tommy said. "I don't exactly know what you're talking about with these creatures, but the weekend before the attack on Angel Grove I had this deep need to get away for the city from the weekend. So I went up to my Uncle's Cabin, it's a quiet place and always helps me to clear my head. Then, when school was cancelled the next day I stayed up there. When I heard on the radio that Angel Grove was destroyed I knew I had nowhere else to go so I stayed there until Trip came. The funny thing was, I didn't go up there because I was afraid of the city being attacked or anything, I just felt like I needed to go somewhere quiet and peaceful."

"What I don't understand is why, if these beings are so powerful, why they didn't prevent the destruction of Angel Grove," Kimberly said. "If we had known that Zedd was going to use Serpentera we could have done something in advance."

Jason put a hand on Kimberly's shoulder as she began to cry. "I don't think it would have been that easy Kim," he said trying to be reassuring. "If Trip's right and this timeline was never suppose to occur then maybe that means somehow we can put things right and none of this will ever have happened."

"I hope so," Kimberly said with a sniff.

"It's not our fault or theirs," Jason said calmly. "The only one who is responsible for all this is Zedd and we bring him to justice, not just for Earth, but all the worlds and all the lives he's destroyed."

"So where do we start?" Adam asked.

"We start by finding those imposters and eliminating them." Jason said. "Then I say we take this fight to the source, all the way to Zedd himself."

"It may not be that simple," Trey said.

"I doubt it will be," Jason acknowledged. "But we need a direction. We've been on the defensive for too long, tomorrow morning we go on offense."

There was a strong sentiment of agreement among the other Rangers.

"Alright," Trey said. "Then let's figure out our opening move."

"Magnificent," Trakeena said as she walked through the massive egg chamber of their Asian expansion.

The young warriors had rapidly multiplied through the use Lokar's concoction resulting in a population explosion that far exceeded what she thought possible. If the European, African, and Australian expansions were going as well they would soon have enough stock to begin another colony in South America.

Beside her was Treacheron, like Furio his armor was chitin plate, though different in style. His face was also less humanoid in appearance with large mandibles tucked into the jaw line of his mock human features; small feelers were tucked against his forehead. His body was made of a mesh of deep blue plates interspersed with white. The plating on his legs was flared out into a false outer shell making his lower body appear much larger and providing an extra measure of protection. Twin claws were tucked into his chest, the carapace of the claws appearing as little more than thicker plating on the sides of his chest, a perfect stealth weapon. Locked into a sheath of plating at his side was a long curved sword. Its sheath keeping it drenched in a potent neurotoxin which filled the micro pours of the chitin blade.

"I thank you my Lady, it is a pleasure to serve you." Treacheron replied with a slight bow.

"Do our other colonies fair this well?"

"Furio has sent word that the European expansion has grown well. He is currently checking on our African expansion."

"And what of the Australian colony?"

"I regret to say that progress has been hampered, but is now moving forward."

"And the reason for this?"

"It seems a small town discovered our colony and tried to destroy it. While they ultimately failed, several tunnels were destroyed and many eggs were burned before our warriors could eradicate the human menace. Tunnels also had to be covered over and sealed to prevent the possibility of any survivors finding them again."

"I would like you to go there personally and see that the colony gets back on track, our timetable can not afford any substantial problems."

"I assure you my Lady I will see that the colony thrives."

"I know you will," Trakeena replied. "I look forward to seeing your results."

With another bow Treacheron departed preparing to make his way to the Australian colony. Trakeena turned away preparing to return to the North American Hive. She had much to do herself. Expansion had been going well there, but the short supply of food was rapidly becoming an issue. Both plant life and animal life were becoming scarcer. Several quiet towns had been devoured, but with the rate the colony was growing they would soon require a much larger food source to feed her army. They had also encountered problems crossing the fault line in their eastward expansion. The ultimate solution had been to create a flexible brace for the hundreds of miles of tunnels that laced through the area, but this again was slow due to the lack of food. Perhaps in this regard Lokar might have something to assist her, after all it was all for The Empire. She smiled at the thought; it was certainly all for someone's empire.

Blue was on the roof of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In the low light of dusk he would have been nearly invisible anyway, but he thought it best not to take any chances. Cloaked from sight Blue phased his body through the building, slipping down to the main communications node for the building. Returning to a normal state Blue removed the first black box from his belt and phased it into the relay system before him; the integration of his device becoming a permanent and untraceable part of the system. He continued around the room installing several more devices into various hubs within the room. Satisfied with his work he walked out the side of the building. There was only one more thing he needed to take care of.

The Rangers were eating in shifts. The makeshift kitchen and dinning area was simply too small to accommodate the large number of people they now had, it had been too small before Trip had brought the others. Billy had tried to figure out a simple solution to allow everyone to fit, but Jason had decided that there were far too many important matters that needed to be dealt with. Most of the guys had eaten first and were now working on that night's project. It was decided that after dinner the guys would at least get the lady's bathroom functional, leaving them the existing one to share. Trey had originally objected, but when he understood the matter as an issue of group moral he couldn't argue with the need to finish it quickly.

During this time they planned to discuss the matter of these new Rangers and what they could do to find them. Billy was certain that finding them would not be a problem; they seemed to want to be found. The real question that concerned him was what to do once they found them.

"I think we should start sleeping in shifts," Billy said as he finished welding a junction to the waterline.

"For what reason?" Jason asked attaching a showerhead to the top of the piping assembly.

The showers were little more than two metal rings with a curtain suspended between them over a section of raised circular stone with a drain at the base. A small set of metal shelves hanging down near the showerheads for personal items.

"I'm certain that these imposters want us to find them, they certainly have gone out of their way to call attention to themselves in the past." Billy began.

"I agree," Jason replied.

"The problem is that they have a way to jam our equipment that I haven't been able to counteract. So it may be profitable to have someone on watch to monitor the News for any recent developments."

"Andros and I should be able to do that," Zhane said securing another towel rack to the wall.

"Do what?" Andros asked as he came in holding a giant wall mounted mirror.

"Sleep part of the day to keep watch at night." Zhane said.

"We could do that," Andros agreed. "We've been out in space for so long that we have no real pattern to our sleep, we simply get it when we can."

"Having a night watch would be a good idea," Tommy said.

"It might be more helpful if we split into two teams though," Jason said. "Our greatest problem has been dealing with Zedd's constant bombardments. If we had two teams we could insure that one team was always available to deal with any threat immediately and the others could still rest."

"I like that idea in theory," Billy said. "But it is also likely that with Zedd knowing about our increased manpower he will also increase his attacks to compensate. Our forces are minimal compared to his; if he is determined to tire us out there is little we can do without ignoring an attack."

"Still it would be wise," Trey replied. "We lose nothing if we sleep in shifts, should something arise too big for one team to handle the other can join in. If we remain a single team we run the risk of the same thing occurring, but now have a time of inactivity where things may slip passed the Command Center's system's notice that a real person might catch."

"That is true," Bill admitted. "We need to divide the Zord power evenly or as evenly as possible between the two teams however. But anyway we do it will result in a shortage of Rangers for a team. Not to mention that if any of our five are in the other team we lose the ability to form the Mega Zord."

"How long until the Dragon Zord is rebuilt?" Jason asked.

"Few days maybe," Billy said. "But without Josh, or more specifically the Power Coin it won't have the power it previously possessed."

"That can be fixed," Circuit offered.

The owl had been perched on the metal rim of one of the showers listening to the conversation.

"How?" Billy asked surprised to hear Circuit speak without being directly spoken to.

"With a Trizirium Crystal, it's what scientists in our era used to power the Q-Rex. The yellow crystals were the first to be developed and are the easiest to manufacture. Later the blue crystals were developed which have a much more stable energy matrix, but are not as easy to manufacture."

"Is it possible to manufacture one with the Command Center's systems?" Billy asked.

"It would be safer to manufacture the equipment and components and assemble one manually," Circuit replied. "Zirium powder is easy enough to assemble using your Molecular Assembler; it's the process of converting that into Trizirium that is the issue."

"How long would it take to create a blue crystal then?" Billy asked.

"A week, maybe slightly less after the components are ready."

"How long for a yellow one?" Jason asked.

"A few days, but here in lies the problem," Circuit said cautiously. "The blue and yellow crystals resonate at different frequencies when in use. When those two frequencies combine it forms a resonant frequency with the very fabric of temporal reality."

"Meaning?" Zhane asked.

"That time is literally torn open," Trip said coming into the room, the door sliding closed behind him. He had apparently overheard at least part of the conversation. "Which is why Trizirium is used in limited quantities, and then mostly with Time Force equipment. We currently have three blue Trizirium Crystals in the present, one powers the Time Shadow, one powers the Q-Rex, and one powers Circuit."

"So if we manufacture a crystal to power one of our Zords it has to be blue," Billy said.

"Yes," Trip said adamantly. "If you require it for a power source, then you would want a blue crystal. Making a yellow one would be inviting destruction on your world."

"Then can you begin the process Circuit?" Billy asked. "We need the Dragon Zord as soon as possible."

"Alright,"

Circuit lifted from his perch and flew to the base of the door and landed. As the door acknowledged his presence and opened he sprung from the floor taking flight once again to reach the main console.

"So what can I do to help?" Trip asked.

"You can begin attaching those poles to the floor over by the door," Billy said pointing toward a section of black steel poles and thick plates of black steel, the centers of which were filled with an amber colored substance that was virtually opaque. "The anchor plates have already been installed, you just need to bolt them in and bolt the screen plates between them."

"Here I'll help you with those," Zhane said as he finished attaching the last towel rack.

"So back to dividing into two teams." Jason said. "We have one War Zord, three ships, the Q-Rex,"

"Technically our ships are both Mega Zords," Zhane interrupted.

"And so is the Time Shadow," Trip said moving on to his second pole. "And really the Q-Rex is as well."

"So we have one War Zord, and five Mega Zords." Jason said.

"That is true," Billy said. "But you have to remember that with the Dragon Zord and Titanus we can turn our Mega Zord into a War Zord."

"Right," Jason said. "But with the Dragon Zord you, Adam, and Ashley can form the Mega Dragon Zord."

"When the Dragon Zord is ready, which will take about a week I'm guessing." Billy reminded.

"Is there anyway to power it off another Power Coin?" Jason asked.

"I could make a few small modifications to allow it to run off other Power Coins," Billy said. "Were you planning on using it?"

"Yeah," Jason said. "It should probably be configured for Kimberly as well, but I'm not sure how'd she feel about it."

"Let me go enter the modifications into the computer real quick," Billy said getting up. "I can just adjust it to accept energy from any of our Morphers." He disappeared out the door.

"Who was Josh?" Andros asked.

There was a moment of silence.

"Is it a touchy subject?" Andros said half apologetic.

"To some more than others," Jason said. "Joshua Raine was our sixth, he was the Green Ranger. He died about a week ago destroying Serpentera before it had a chance to wipe out Earth."

"I'm sorry," Andros replied. "I know how tough it is to lose someone like that."

"Thanks," Jason said.

"When you say Joshua Raine do you mean The Joshua Raine?" Tommy asked.

"The Martial Arts Champion, yes." Jason replied.

"I wish I had had the chance to meet him," Tommy said. "What was he like?"

"A little bit of a loner, a little distant at times, but you could always count on him." Jason replied. "He held Cyclopsis off, one of Zedd's other War Zords, and even after that with his Zord nearly out of power he raced off to stop Serpentera without a moment of hesitation."

"Wow," Andros replied. "Sounds like a brave guy."

"He was," Jason paused. "Is,"

"I know I'm new to all this," Tommy said. "But what is the difference between a Zord, Mega Zord, War Zord etcetera?"

"Power output," Andros replied as Billy walked back into the room. "War Zords tend toward being bigger because of the space needed to generate more power."

"One rare exception is Cyclopsis," Billy said. "It draws power from an outside source. As a result it has a power output like a War Zord, but is much smaller."

"You get the modifications made?" Jason asked.

"Yeah," Billy replied beginning to attach another pipe to the waterline. "Have we made any progress on setting teams yet?"

"Not since you left," Trey said.

"I think the best solution would be for Kimberly and I to join with Trey and Zhane, or Trip if we don't want to split up the Space Rangers."

"We do work better together," Andros said. "But if you take Zhane you'll have our sixth Ranger, which means you'll be a stronger team."

"Wouldn't it make more sense to move Kimberly to the team with Trey, Zhane, and Tommy so you can still pilot the Dragon Zord?" Billy asked.

"Tactically it makes perfect sense," Jason said. "But you know Kim's been under a lot of stress, I don't want to place her in a group when she doesn't know anyone. Personally, I'd rather place the burden on myself to be part of the other team if Zords become necessary before we have that crystal ready."

"Fair enough," Billy replied.

"How about we make team one consist of myself, Tommy, Trey, Trip, and Kimberly?" Jason suggested. "Team two can be Andros, Zhane, Billy, Ashley, and Adam."

"That does leave team one heavier on Zord strength," Billy replied.

"I agree," Trey said. "Pyramidas is easily equal to two Zords."

"So we need to trade either Tommy or Trip over to team two," Jason said.

"Tommy is definitely a stronger fighter than I am, I know that from my history." Trip said. "But consider, if you move me over that leaves all our telepaths on a single team."

"Or you could trade Zhane for Tommy and Trip," Andros offered.

"Thanks a lot," Zhane replied. "But he's right; that gives more Zord power to team two and leaves you with a telepath."

"Then we should try that out first and see how it works," Jason said.

"Now we just have to decide how to break up these shifts." Billy said. "Zedd's attacks have been evenly spread through the day and night. If we assume sixteen hour shifts per team that gives us eight hours of overlap."

"We should divide that into two four hour blocks," Jason said. "Two of the attacks were very early morning and late at night."

"Though the biggest one was around midday," Billy said. "But, of course, there is no way to predict when attacks like that will occur."

"Well I propose that we run one shift from eight in the morning until midnight and the other from eight in the evening until noon." Jason said.

"Sounds good to me," Billy said.

"We should discuss the matter with the rest of the team though," Trey replied. "And someone will have to volunteer to forgo sleeping tonight."

"That is true," Jason replied. "Let's try and get this done before everyone finishes dinner and then we can discuss it."

General Hamren was sitting quietly at his desk going over the few reports they had managed to salvage from the wreckage of Mitchel Air Force Base. There was very little footage left from the security tapes. The material was interesting, but was so garbled that it was impossible to prove anything definitive. Still it showed the Rangers gun down a group of soldiers in the armory, but with the distortion it was impossible to tell from which Ranger the shots were coming from. He also had a few notes from Doctor Kauffman's office, but other than interesting notes that postulated the Rangers were possibly suffering from PTSD and a refusal of compliance to meet for therapy from the Pink Ranger, Kimberly Hart, nothing had survived. He had wished that he had gotten a copy of his call with General Lawler before he left; he would have to check with Captain Mitchell at the LSR facility to get a copy sent over. Before he forgot he buzzed his assistant and made the request.

The question he now had before him was how to use the information he presently had to make a case against the Rangers. There wasn't enough material here to get them locked away for war crimes, but if he could secure an order to have them brought in for questioning they would almost certainly refuse which would only help his case. What he really needed was a listing of all communications that had been sent to the UN from the Ranger's Command Center. However, such documents were restricted, and while he could cut through the red tape it would take time. He sighed and pressed the intercom button again.

"Yes Sir?"

"I need you to send a request for information to the UN requesting the documents sent by the Power Rangers and all reports that have been filed on Power Ranger activity from June Nineteen Ninety-Three until the present. And I need any files we have on the Power Rangers."

"That's just spooky,"

"Excuse me?"

"A Lieutenant Colonel Vanders just arrived with the files from the UN,"

"Send him in,"

"Yes Sir."

General Hamren rose from his desk as the door opened and a tall officer entered the room, his form looked a little scrawny for a soldier and a little young to be an officer. His hair was cut in a spiked flattop and his eyes were a piercing deep blue. He saluted as he entered the room maintaining eye contact with the General. Hamren reached out to shake his hand, his gesture was quickly reciprocated by the officer. The Lieutenant Colonel had an exceptionally strong grip for his size; that was impressive.

"I understand you have some files for me?"

"Yes Sir," Vanders replied. "I heard about the incident at Mitchel, terrible tragedy. I've been researching the Power Rangers for sometime," he held the thick file out for the General, Hamren took it and began to browse the contents. "When I heard you were investigating the latest incident I gathered up all my files and headed over immediately." The General nodded as if he had located something interesting. "What you have is all the files and reports on the Power Rangers from the UN, FBI, CIA, and the Pentagon. Everything up to the incident with the mysterious craft that was rescued from Zedd's forces the other day."

"This is outstanding," Hamren replied.

"Thank you," Vanders replied. "I've always thought these children were unfit to have the powers they do, but as a Lieutenant Colonel I've had a hard time getting others to listen, I figured this information will be better served in the hands of someone more capable and higher ranking."

"That it will," Hamren said. "I believe you might have enough here for me to accomplish what we both want to see."

"I'm pleased to hear it, thank you for your time General," Vanders replied saluting.

General Hamren closed the file for a moment and returned the Lieutenant Colonel's salute. Vanders turned and left the office leaving the General to his work. Winding down the halls that made up the buildings interior Vanders exited the building and returned to a black sedan parked out front. He paused at the front gate showing his ID and signing out before driving down the road; almost done.

"So we're all in agreement?" Jason asked having discussed the proposed plan with the others.

"Yeah, it sounds like a good idea," Kimberly said.

"It sounds like it'll help us all stay better rested and more prepared no matter when Zedd launches his attacks." Adam agreed.

Rocky raised his hand. Jason smiled suppressing a laugh.

"Yes, Rocky?"

"Do you want us to split up as well so one of us can work at the computer systems during the day, maybe divide us up into eight hour shifts?"

Jason glanced over at Billy for a moment. "I believe for the time we are going to leave the running of the systems to Beta and Circuit."

"We may even upgrade our system using Deca and Ivann designs to make the system more autonomous. It would be nice if our systems could teleport us out in the event of a life threatening emergency or scan for weaknesses in the enemy and then relay that information directly to our armor."

"We don't mean to be so pushy about this," Aisha said. "We just feel a little useless around her."

"We have plenty of renovations to still make," Billy said. "You're more than welcome to help with that, especially with the sleeping quarters since we have a limited time each day that work can be done in those when everyone is awake."

"Which does bring up another point," Jason said. "During the time a single team is on you will be expected to take care of personal matters as quickly as possible, preferably during the hours when both teams are active. During your shifts there will be work to do, which Billy and I will try and coordinate. These construction projects come after your Ranger duties however."

"We are almost done with the ladies' bathroom, there are only a few minor things to finish in order to make it functional, then we need to get the guys' bathroom done, and we need to do something about the kitchen and dining area."

"I think we should get a large table for the main chamber and just turn that room into a kitchen," Ashley said. "Then we could divide up kitchen duty between teams."

"I like that idea," Jason said. "Any objections?"

There was a silence among the other Rangers as they glanced around.

"Alright, we will begin working on that after the bathrooms are done." Jason said. "Now with those minor downtime issues decided, it is currently eight twenty-two, we need to decide which team is taking the night shift. Now Andros and Zhane have expressed that night or day has little meaning to them."

"I feel the same," Trey replied.

"Kim?" Jason asked.

"I might doze on and off the first few nights, but that's fine if you want to do it Jason," she replied.

"Then it's settled," Jason said. "Team one will take the night shift and team two will take the day shift; alarms will be set to go off at eight pm and eight am. We also don't plan to be rigid on when you go to sleep, if nothing's going on there's no reason not to get some extra rest because there will come a day when we find ourselves in short supply." Jason suddenly became more solemn in his expression. "We have one more thing to discuss," he said, his tone becoming serious. "We have four imposters running loose killing randomly, we need to deal with this immediately before more people get hurt."

"Now, one may be dead," Billy said. "And it's possible that these doppelgangers are really only interested in their opposites. From Kimberly's account it seemed that the pink one was interested in killing her alone. From their previous actions I think it's safe to conclude that they enjoy killing in general, but their focus in all the other killings seems to be to get to their Ranger counterparts."

"And which colors would those be?" Andros asked.

"Assuming the pink one is really dead, they would still have red, blue, yellow, and black." Billy replied.

"Do you think they are attracted to each of you as individuals or merely as color scheme?" Trey asked.

"Logic would dictate that they were made to combat each of us specifically as none of you were present at the time they were deployed. However, as Trey has pointed out before there isn't necessarily a method to their madness, so it's equally probable that they are interested in any Ranger that shares their color."

"That would leave Trip, Zhane, and Trey as unwanted to them then." Adam said.

"Unless they have some arbitrary way of dealing with encounters like these," Billy suggested. "In the mental state they seem to be in I think it is just as likely that the black one would see Trey as a target, maybe even Trip and Zhane since their uniforms have black in them. Of course Trey and Zhane might also be targeted by the yellow one since they wear gold."

"I have all five colors," Andros said. "By that logic they may all see me as a potential target."

"It's tough when everyone likes you," Zhane teased.

"It's entirely possible," Billy said. "We don't have enough information on our enemy and since they can jam our equipment we have no choice but to watch the news to try and locate them."

"Have you been able to figure out what that device we found does?" Jason asked.

"It's a jamming device of some kind," Billy said. "But it's too damaged for me to figure out exactly how they're jamming us. Which is something everyone needs to be aware of, they can jam our communications and teleportation, so it is very important not to split up when facing these things because you will be unable to call for assistance."

"Do we have a plan for dealing with them?" Adam asked.

"Gather data," Billy said. "We don't know enough to effectively deal with them, any News reports that may be related need to be stored for analysis. Other than that anytime they make a move we need to stop them, after more encounters we should gain a better understanding of what we're up against."

"How do you know they'll make a move?" Ashley asked.

"It's pretty clear they want us to find them," Billy said. "Their actions are too overt to go unnoticed, the rash of killings spread out too far for a person or persons to accomplish, the theatrics at the Trade Center. They'll make a move soon if they haven't already."

Vanders' car pulled into a parking structure near the UN Headquarters in New York. As Vanders turned off the ignition and stepped out of the vehicle, a figure in a black ski mask approached him.

"Where are those files you took?" demanded the masked figure.

"You're too late," Vanders replied tensing up in preparation for conflict. "General Hamren is already in possession of the files."

"We're going back right now and getting them," the man said.

"I don't think so,"

Suddenly the masked man pulled a gun on the Lieutenant Colonel. With his quick reflexes Vanders was able to knock the assailant's arm aside and stuck him in the gut. The man cringed. Then, taking hold of Vanders' shoulder with his free hand, he pulled him forward and thrust his knee into Vanders' chest.

Vanders gasped for air as the wind was knocked out of him. In a moment of panic he went for the man's fire arm. The man pulled back as he and Vanders grappled with the weapon. There was a loud crack as the gun discharged. A moment of silence followed as both men were frozen.

Then Vanders slumped over collapsing to the ground, blood splattered over the man's glove and weapon. A look of horror filled his eyes as he gazed down at the body on the ground. In a moment of panic he looked around making sure no one was watching before leaving the scene.

The man exited the back of the parking structure, as he passed by the street he cautiously released the magazine from the hand gun and tossed it down a storm drain before turning down an alleyway. Passing by a dumpster he tossed the weapon in along with his gloves and ski mask. He was an elderly looking man, clean cut with gray hair and strong facial features.

Then his face began to bubble and melt. A hand reached up tearing away a chunk of flesh as a black visor and blue crest became visible. Blue thought it was unfortunate for the Secretary of Defense that he had no alibi for the night. After all, he was the Power Rangers biggest supporter, probably the only one who could stop the General now, and had just accidentally shot the man responsible for giving General Hamren some rather incriminating evidence against both his department and the Rangers. It was also too bad that he would not have the opportunity to perform an autopsy on Lieutenant Vanders; he was curious how well his little genetic abomination resembled an actual human on the inside. It was unfortunate that he could not be relied on to have also delivered the information to the General; that had cost him some time switching things around. At least he was able to kill him for the inconvenience. Shedding the last of his false skin Blue vanished in a streak of dark light, it was time to meet up with the others.

Ashley was sitting along with Kimberly and Adam's friends watching the news looking for any signs of the imposters. Most of the news was the standard debate about the threat of Lord Zedd and if the military was really doing all it could to prepare. Various outspoken individuals also were calling for the Power Ranger's technology to be incorporated into existing military equipment. Flipping to another channel she catalogued a strange report about a viral outbreak in New York. Apparently the viral strain was unidentified and was rather potent, seven people were already dead, many more were in critical condition and there was talk of quarantine. The report concluded and Ashley was about to change stations when the title of next report caught her eye 'Rangers Gone Psycho?'

"Rangers gone psycho?" she repeated aloud.

"Have the Power Rangers snapped?" the man began.

"Guys get in here!" Kimberly shouted.

The other Rangers began filing into the room as the report continued.

"Earlier today five individuals who appeared to be the Power Rangers hijacked a bus in New York City teleporting the vehicle to the top of the World Trade Center along with the twenty-six people onboard." The camera angle shifted to show an angle looking up toward the Trade Center from the plaza below. "Shortly after this bizarre hijacking these five individuals began hurling their hostages from the top of the building before blowing up the bus apparently killing everyone inside." There was a moment of silence as the footage from the news helicopter of the Blue Ranger pitching a child over the edge of the building was replayed. "Horrific footage," the reporter said as the view shifted back to the newsroom. "Now the military arrived shortly after this incident and we received word that the Power Rangers were taken into custody for questioning, no word yet on the status of the Rangers." He turned to his co-anchor, a dark haired woman.

"In other news," she began. "Mitchel Air Force Base, which was recommissioned last year to help with the US' new tactical response plan for the eastern seaboard, was destroyed today."

"What?" Jason responded in shock.

"Local officials report that the blaze, which was called in by citizens, is now contained. There is no comment yet if this incident is related to the Power Rangers. At present rescue efforts continue, but no survivors have been found, we'll have more on this story at eleven."

"They destroyed the base," Billy said in dismay.

"But why?" Jason asked. "We weren't there anymore. Wouldn't we have looked more guilty if some of the people had survived as witnesses? Why did they destroy the base?"

"You error in thinking that they gained less through total destruction," Trey replied. "This enemy appears to be chaotic in thought and action. With the entire base destroyed, and any records eliminated it leaves a void of uncertainty."

"You're right," Billy agreed. "With everyone dead there are missing pieces which can be filled in anyway that seems logical."

"But why?" Ashley asked.

"Because they never intended for anyone to believe that we have completely snapped," Billy said. "At least not anyone in the government. They've set up a situation that makes us look guilty of whatever fears world leaders have had. They're preying on the paranoia that has existed since the Green Ranger's attacks and Lord Zedd's arrival."

"So you're suggesting that people are going to fill in the missing pieces with whatever they are afraid we might do?" Jason asked.

"Exactly," Billy replied. "I can't believe I didn't see it before. Everything else that happened was just a means to an end." Billy sat down for a moment collecting his thoughts.

"So how do we fight this?" Kimberly asked.

"I already sent our report to the UN, but we need evidence to support our claim if we really want to clear ourselves from suspicion." Billy said.

"And where do we get that?" Adam asked.

"The obvious place would be where ever the fakes reside." Trey replied.

"True," Billy said. "But we can't track them, and the odds are good that they're located either in the Lunar Palace or the Dark Fortress."

"Then our only other option is to capture one," Jason said. "If they make a move we go after them with everyone."

Trakeena cautiously approached Lokar's laboratory and banged the knocker down three times before stepping back.

"Enter," Lokar's voice called from within the foreboding room.

With some trepidation Trakeena pushed open the door and entered into Lokar's chamber. The ethereal glow of arcanery still chilled her, but she forced herself to proceed deeper into the room. Lokar turned to face her, a grin forming on his face that looked more malicious than inviting.

"Ah, Trakeena, what can I do for you today?" Lokar asked as several bolts leapt from his quills to his cloak.

"I came to report that the hive is developing well, nearly too well, we face a food shortage if we do not begin to devour larger populated areas."

"I can see where that revelation would be problematic," Lokar replied casually.

"I was wondering if there was anything you could do to provide my army with food until we can finally surface?"

"There is,"

Trakeena was unsure of what to make of his tone. "Would you be willing to help with my problem?"

"Perhaps," Lokar said turning his back to her. "But first there is a small matter I would have you take care of."

"Of course, how may I serve?" she replied trying not to over do her false humility.

"Do you have any assassins within the Vora?"

"Of course, we have many breeds that are adept at ambush and covert operations."

"I will give you what you need," Lokar replied coldly. "But in exchange you are to direct your efforts into eliminating these four problems," he turned to face her holding out a data slate.

Trakeena took the tablet and looked at the faces of the four individuals. "And where are these four to be found?" Trakeena asked.

"The information is all in the pad," he held out another small box.

"What is this?" she asked taking the box from him.

"A few aggressive fungus spores, within days it will have spread throughout the hive providing more than enough for your army. Especially with all the deaths that are near at hand thanks to my earlier gift. It consumes matter like a plague, including your soon to be dead warriors, but is sensitive to light. It requires a dark warm place to grow, and needs water to germinate after which any amount of moisture in the air will be sufficient."

"Thank you," Trakeena said with a bow, "I will put these to excellent use."

"Of that I am certain." Lokar said turning away from her as she left the room.

Trakeena emerged in the hallway happy to be out of Lokar's presence. Something about him never felt right to her. It was almost as if he knew more about what was going on than he cared to make known. She wondered for a moment if he knew about the other colonies? If he did he seemed unconcerned, at least for the moment. Right now her focus had to be on taking care of her promise. Help from Lokar always seemed to come at a price, but she was certain the price of failure would be even higher.

Blue materialized disguised as the Blue Ranger along with a Pink Ranger in an alleyway in New York. The Pink Ranger was little more than a crude replica made with Blue's cloning technology. She looked like the Pink Ranger in her morphed state and sounded like her, but that was all. The armor was barely enough to hold up against Earth weapons, it would be unable to deal with an attack from anything the Rangers might throw at it. Still it looked the part and for now that was all they needed.

"It's about time you got here," Red growled as Blue and his fake Pink appeared.

"You didn't have to wait for me," Blue said.

"Yes we did," Yellow replied.

"And why's that?"

There was a moment of silence.

"It's because Red wasn't sure how to make a scene without blowing our cover," Black blurted out.

Blue sighed. "All you have to do is act like the Rangers until you get a chance to stab someone in the back."

"Well what do you suggest?" Red asked.

"I think we should go 'help' out with the outbreak, I'd like to see what my little virus is doing."

"It won't hurt us will it?" Black asked.

"This batch won't," Blue replied. "It's a test run; the virus has a predetermined lifespan of about twenty-four hours and has a genetic timer to reduce the number of generations to about fifty. Given the rate of reproduction, within the first hour the virus should have exhausted its generational quota so it is no longer contagious and should be non-existent by tomorrow around two pm."

"If you say so," Red replied. "Let's go then.

The Psychos crossed their arms over their chest teleporting across town. As they materialized in front of New York Presbyterian Hospital they were greeted by angry shouts from people gathered outside. While their presence was a violation of military curfew the Sergeant had been understanding of their desire to be present and had been trying to get them to leave peacefully without involving force. Blue tried to ignore the pathetic flesh bags and made his way through the crowd to the barricade which was guarded by military personnel in hazmat suits and gas masks.

"What are you doing here?" The guard asked stepping toward Blue. "You're wanted for questioning."

"I'd be happy to answer any question you have," Blue lied. "First though we need to get a look at this virus, we may be able to cure it."

Red was suddenly hit in the head by a Swiss Army Knife. He turned toward his assailant.

"Take it easy Red," Blue cautioned using his com.

"You ingrate," Red said staring down the man. "Do you really think if we were guilty of blowing up that bus we'd be here trying to help you? Maybe we should just go, let you deal with this all on your own."

There was a sudden silence amongst the crowd. Blue looked back at the guard.

"I'm sorry, I can't let you in until you've been cleared by my superiors." The guard replied.

"Can you at least acquire a sample for me?" Blue asked. "We don't have much time."

The guard motioned to one of the other guards who quickly entered the front of the hospital and relayed the request to a radio operator before returning to his post outside.

"Now what?" Red asked through the com.

"We wait," Blue replied. "I need my sample then you can do whatever you want."

The guard held his hand to the side of his head listening to his orders.

"I'm sorry," he replied. "The US government will not cooperate with you until you've submitted yourself for questioning."

"There isn't enough time," Blue repeated pulling his blaster and put shot through the soldier's head, his gas mask melting into the seared hole.

Screams rippled through the crowd as the other Psychos pulled their blasters and began to remove the guards with ruthless precision. People started to scatter as the Rangers advanced toward the door, the remaining soldiers firing furiously at them to no avail. Blue tossed a device to Red which he recognized immediately as he turned it over staring at the large red button under the glass box.

"Once I have my sample we can find out what that thing does." Blue said putting a bolt through the chest of another soldier.

Red smiled as they proceeded inside, the last of the soldiers present falling to the ground.

"I think we've got something!" Ashley shouted.

The Rangers quickly ran into the room. The newscaster was already disclosing the details of the situation at the hospital.

"…As the Power Rangers attacked the soldiers guarding New York Presbyterian Hospital where those exposed to the strange virus are being treated. I have word…"

"Let's go guys," Jason said as all ten Rangers went for their morphers.

Blue plunged a needle into a man's neck before inserting a collection bottle and drawing a blood sample.

"There was no need for that!" One of the nurses protested. "You could have gotten a sample from his…"

The nurse was unable to finish her statement as Blue put a plasma bolt through her neck. Her body and head both fell to the floor.

"I hate it when people tell me how to do my job," Blue said looking at the terrified man lying on the bed before him. "Don't you."

There was no response from the man. Blue pulled out the collection tube and stored it away before pulling the needle from the man's neck and tossing it aside leaving him to bleed uncontrollably from the wound.

"Good people of New York enjoy what's left of your time here, we're going to take this sample and eliminate this virus even though you tried to stop us." Blue switched over to his com. "Red, three minute delay,"

The Psycho Rangers turned waking out of the room. As the door closed behind them Red pulled out the small device smashing the glass on it and dialed it up to three minutes before depressing the button. He tossed it into a linen basket that was sitting out in the hall as the group turned down another hall headed for the lobby.

"So what was the point of this?" Yellow asked.

"Just trying to bait the Rangers," Blue said. "And see how my little project is coming along. You all know what to do if this thing is a bomb right?"

"Yeah," Black responded. "But what if it isn't?"

"Plan B," Blue replied with a smile.

The Psychos emerged from the hospital to find fresh troops waiting for them, presumably drawn from the perimeter that had been established around the hospital. News crews were still arriving and setting up behind the newly established barricade, many aware that they faced time in prison for being there to cover the story. Blue could sense an incoming teleportation stream. He checked the time remaining on his HUD, this was going to be close, but that would make it that much better. He saw the counter hit zero, and was delighted as the ground shook with a deafening clap like amplified thunder. The hospital behind them lit white as a burning sphere of destruction radiated from the small device. As the blinding light forced everyone to look away and destroyed the optics of the cameras the Psychos leapt forward, passed the soldiers and over the barricade leaving the Pink drone to be consumed by the blast. As they tumbled to the ground they knit together new appearances taking the form on injured bystanders.

Blue suddenly sensed within the teleport stream more power than there should have been. Something was not right.

"Nobody make a move until I can assess the situation," Blue relayed through the com as he and the other Psychos skidded over the pavement as the hospital was consumed by the blast. The blast wave knocked others to the ground and shattered windows before it collapsed into nothingness.

The Rangers materialized just up the street from the barricade. Blue immediately noticed there were more, but the flash had disrupted his vision making it hard to focus on more than basic shapes.

"They have reinforcements," Blue said through the com line.

"How many?" Red asked. "I'm blinded."

"Eight, nine?" Blue said squinting. "Yellow, Black can either of you see?"

"No," Yellow replied. "Everything is washed out."

"Same here," Black said.

"Just as well," Blue said. "If they have help I need to reassess. Red, with your approval I suggest we withdraw without drawing attention to ourselves and regroup on the Dark Fortress."

"Fine," Red said hostilely. "But you better figure this out soon, I'm losing patience with your plan."

The Rangers were at a loss to react to the devastation before them. The hospital had been vaporized by the blast and people were sprawled out across the pavement, some bleeding, others merely disoriented. The soldiers that had been near the front of the building had gotten the worst of it, some were severely burned, a few looked unconscious; Billy couldn't tell if any were dead.

"I'm not seeing anything," Jason said scanning the area.

"Could they have teleported out before we arrived?" Adam asked.

"In order to do that they would have had to known we were coming," Trey said. "Otherwise it would look suspicious to the people if you arrived right after you escaped."

Billy noticed several of the people groping about as they got to their feet.

"I don't think they can see," Billy said. "The explosion must have blinded them,"

"Then here's what we're going to do," Jason said. "The five of us and Tommy will demorph and see if we can get in to help out. Trey, Trip, Zhane, and Andros can take up position on the roof and keep an eye out, if those fakes are here and make a move, do whatever it takes to bring them down."

"That's pretty dangerous," Ashley said.

"True," Billy agreed. "But I don't see another way. If we stay morphed it will only terrify these people."

The six Rangers powered down as the other four leapt to the rooftop of the nearest building keeping a lookout over the ledge. Jason and the others began to run toward the group of people wandering blindly.

"Is everyone alright?" Jason asked.

"What happened here?" Billy asked trying to make their arrival seem more convincing.

"I can't see," a woman replied, a mike in one hand, the other reaching out searching for a solid object.

Jason reached out and took her hand. There was a brief moment of shock.

"It's alright," Jason reassured her, "It's just me."

Jason guided her to the nearest van as the others moved in and began to help the other people to the various vehicles. Getting the last of the people propped against the various news vans present, Billy moved passed the blockade to where the soldiers were lying.

"Is everyone alright?" he asked. "Does anyone need immediate help?"

"Who are you?" one of the soldiers asked trying to crane his head around to see Billy.

"My name is William, I'm a civilian. Do you have a radio I could use to call for help?"

"Reinforcements are already on the way, for your safety please remain behind the barricade," the soldier replied breathing hard.

Billy wanted to object, but with more soldiers coming there was no reason to argue no matter how foolish he felt the soldier's comments were. Reluctantly he walked back to where Jason and the others were calmly talking with the reporters and news personnel. The family members of those that had been in the hospital were sitting on the ground around the vans in a state of shock, unwilling to speak to anyone for the moment.

"The soldiers said they have reinforcements on the way, they want us to remain behind the barrier." Billy said as he approached.

"How's your vision?" Kimberly asked as she crouched down next to a young man sitting on the ground.

"Still fuzzy," Red replied trying to focus on the Pink Ranger. "I think it's getting better though."

"What happened here?" she asked.

"Power Rangers showed up wanting a sample of the virus, when the guard didn't let them in they started shooting."

"Red, we need to start clearing out," Blue said over the com. "There are still four Rangers on the roof, and even with the people's vision impaired we can't act here without exposing ourselves."

"Are you sure it was the Power Rangers?" Kimberly asked. "It doesn't make any sense that they would do something like that."

"I know what I saw," Red protested, his voice raising a little, more in irritation to Blue's suggestion than Kimberly's comment. "At any rate," he began again pulling himself to his feet. "I think I should get out of here before I end up in a jail cell for breaking curfew."

There was a ripple of agreement through the crowd as the man's words hit home. It had been one thing to be in the area when things were calm, but after this it was certain that anyone the military found would be held for questioning. As the sound of distant rotor blades became faintly audible people began to disperse quickly returning to their vehicles to try to escape despite their visual impairment. The news vans were quick to load up; their equipment tossed in without concern for securing it as the crews climbed in and began to pull away carefully.

Jason and the others walked away from the scene as people fled. Heading down the street they turned down the alley behind the building their allies had kept watch from; the four Rangers leaping from the top of the building to join their friends on the streets below.

"We didn't see anything suspicious," Zhane said.

"I agree," Trey replied. "If these imposters were present in the crowd they were certainly well disguised and were able to act the part."

"We can't afford another disaster like this," Jason said glancing around. "They seem to be one step ahead of us, we need to find away to get them to come to us."

"I agree," Billy replied.

"Let's get back to the Command Center," Jason said as the group activated their beacons and vanished in an array of colors.

"I want some answers Blue," Red demanded as he paced the large room. "They were right there I could have grabbed that Pink Ranger."

"I'm working on it," Blue replied as he frantically worked at the computer. "And getting one Ranger, and at that, one that none of us particularly want is not a big deal, it's not like the Red Ranger was right there next to you."

These new intruders had come as a small surprise to Blue. While he had not intended to fight the Rangers, he had not been sure that the flash effect wreaking the other Psycho's vision would be enough of a deterrent. In that sense at least he was delighted that there had been additional interference. He had gone to great lengths to see that the Rangers were viewed as rogue elements. If Hamren did his job they very well could have the Rangers handed to them on a platter. With the information he had provided the General he knew that an emergency meeting had been called the next morning to discuss the recent events. And with the recent modifications he had made to the UN communications equipment there would be some interesting new documents concerning the Ranger's activities today for the UN to consider.

Blue cracked into the database of the Dark Fortress and pulled up a series of files on a group called 'The Lost' that seemed to be recently accessed. Images flashed on the screen showing three other Rangers from other worlds that had recently arrived on Earth. With the addition of these three that would account the extra power that he had detected; or at least it was close enough.

"Here are your extras," Blue said enlarging the file on the display.

The other Psycho Rangers gathered around to look at the file photos.

"Oh, another Red Ranger," Red said as a large grin spread across his face.

"And that is why you need to be patient and trust me," Blue said. "If you want all the time in the world to kill these Rangers we need to do this right,"

"And to think I was beginning to doubt you," Black said with a cackle.

"Who gets the extras?" Yellow asked rubbing her hands together with relish.

"Well there's enough for everyone to have two," Blue said. "How about, any remainders we find go to the Psycho or Psychos who makes their play things scream the loudest?"

"I like it," Red replied as the metal chamber began to reverberate with psychotic laughter.

The team of Rangers materialized in the Command Center. Billy was already moving toward the computer to file his report and transmit it before anything else happened. Those who were still morphed powered down.

"What are we going to do?" Ashley asked. "Those things are going to keep killing innocent people until they get us."

"We have to bring them to us, the question is how?" Jason said.

"It was so much easier to draw the pink one in, she couldn't get to me fast enough," Kimberly said.

"She was rather impulsive," Billy said as he finished up the report and sent it. "I wonder if that's a common weakness?"

"They don't seem to lack for patience right now," Adam said. "It's like they're toying with us."

"Why are they toying with us though?" Billy asked. "On the bridge of the Time Shadow one of them nearly killed Ashley and they were immediately recalled. When Zedd restrains them they try to push through that boundary, but when they seem to have free reign they take their time."

"The pink one was very interested in me living as long as possible before I died," Kimberly replied with a shudder as she recalled the event.

"So this whole thing is some kind of game to them?" Zhane asked. "That's disturbing."

"Wait," Trip said as if something had struck him. "I think I know who these guys are," he turned toward Circuit. "Circuit, bring up the data we have on the Psycho Rangers."

The holo-display lit up as the images of five terrifying figures appeared.

"That's her!" Kimberly exclaimed pointing at Psycho Pink.

Circuit began to narrate. "The Psycho Rangers were originally created by Astronema in an attempt to simultaneously draw off Dark Specter's powers and eliminate the Space Rangers. They were defeated singly by the Space Rangers, but were reconstructed through the use of a matter-energy converter. They were eventually imprisoned by the Space Rangers using the converter, but later released by Trakeena and finally defeated by a combined effort between the Space Rangers and the Galaxy Rangers, though one of the Galaxy Rangers was killed in the final battle with Psycho Pink."

"What are their known weaknesses?" Billy asked.

"While there is a level of uncertainty in this timeline the original Psycho Rangers were completely obsessed with their particular target and were completely knowledgeable in their target's fighting abilities, able to react to the Ranger's moves before they made them."

"That sounds about right," Kimberly commented.

"If they were that reckless why are they being so careful now?" Andros asked.

"Someone must be directing them," Circuit said. "Astronema originally tried to control them, but failed. It stands to reason if they are exercising any restraint it's because of one of the other Psycho Rangers. The other thing that needs to be considered is that the original Psycho Rangers were modeled after the Space Ranger personalities, it stands to reason that these new Psycho Rangers are modeled after your personalities."

"In other words they have a strong leader and a genius," Adam said.

"I think we can work with this," Billy said. "Thank you Circuit."

"Happy to be of assistance," the owl replied turning back to the console.

"Okay," Jason began. "Now that we know what we're dealing with Billy, Adam, and Ashley, I want you to start thinking about what you might do without any moral guidelines. I'll contemplate my own actions as well. If we can figure out what we're likely to do then maybe we can predict their next move. Trey, since you seem to have a fairly logical mind you take charge and work with the others to come up with a plan to lure these Psycho Rangers to us. Any objections?" Jason paused for a moment allowing anyone who wished to speak an opportunity. "Then let's do some brainstorming."

General Hamren was sitting before the assembled representatives of the Security Council and those present who had wished to sit in on the discussion, waiting on their verdict. He had argued his case since the meeting began at eight that morning. The debate had gone on for nearly three hours, but with the bulk of evidence he had against the Rangers he felt confident that the other world powers would see the logic in his request.

His efforts had been further aided as Secretary of Defense James Morgan had been indicted for the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Brian Vanders. While the General was not happy about the Vanders' death, it had removed James Morgan from getting in his way, and for that he was glad. Also, in another stroke of good fortune he had opened his briefcase this morning to find transcripts of the Power Ranger's reports from the day before concerning the incident at the Trade Center through the incident at the Hospital. It was this document that proved critical as the authenticated transmission indicated that the Rangers had indeed entered the premises by force in an effort to contain the virus. He was unable to prove that the resulting explosion that had destroyed the facility was done maliciously, but it was obvious from the damage done that it was not caused by any weapon the US military currently possessed.

The time he spent waiting outside while they discussed the issues amongst themselves had seemed to drag on, but at last he would have their answer. As the head of the Security Council rose to deliver the verdict Hamren's hands tightened slightly on the top of his briefcase.

"General Hamren," the man began. "Considering your request to create a taskforce to bring the Power Rangers in for questioning by any means necessary, in a unanimous decision the UN Security Council supports your proposal."

"Thank you," General Hamren replied. "I promise you that we will resolve the current crisis and restore order to our world."