Author's Note: I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed my changes. To those who were confused, Tommy came back as the original Green Dragon Ranger - I substituted him with Xander so that I could bring in Vida, and I was supposed to bring in Rebecca but decided to keep Adam.

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended in the making of this series. I simply own my OCs and anything that is unrecognizable from the show. Power Rangers belongs to Saban although Operation Overdrive was created by Disney.

Dedications: (I can't believe I forgot these last chapter. I apologise.) Big thank you to the following: Alex B Goode, Dark Yellow Dino and Butterflyxflyaway.

Warning: Rated T for safety.

Title: Secrets and Lies

Summary: Aliyah thought Rebecca and Tyler were the only family that she had left until she arrived in San Angeles six months ago. Now, after being approached by a man who claims to be her mother's brother, she is pulled into another life and death battle for Earth.

Aliyah's fists ached as she landed blow after blow to the punch bag, grunting she threw her body into each one. She spun and threw a roundhouse kick with her right leg, reeling in the satisfying connection the top of her bare foot made with the bag. The sound of her breathing and each hit filled her ears and she tried to let it fill her mind too.

She wanted to think about anything except the arguments that had transpired yesterday. She was still pissed off at Tori and the others, granted she never wanted to be a Ranger in the first place, but that didn't mean she liked giving up when she was one. In theory, being a Ranger was all she knew how to do, and the idea that her friends - best friends - were willing to come in and demote her and her new teammates annoyed her more than anything.

Then there was Cam, he had promised her a long time ago that he would never withhold her from battle, yet he had done just that when Thrax had arrived. He had held her until the others had taken off in the SHARC; he had turned to Andrew for help in keeping her at the base. He had purposely made sure that she couldn't leave. Forbidden her, even.

The sound of creaking cut through the low grunts and thuds of the punch bag. Aliyah glanced over her shoulder, curious as to who had entered the room. If it was Tori or Cam she was prepared to leave, instead she found another familiar blond leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded across his stomach and an annoying smirk on his lips. He was watching her.

Aliyah rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. It was only a matter of time until he showed up; she should've guessed that Tori and Cam would turn to him for assistance; he was, after all, the only person capable of 'talking' to her when she was feeling volatile.

"Was wondering when you'd show up," she said, without looking around.

"They're just worried about you."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"You're a danger to yourself and everyone around you when you're like this?"

"Nope."

"Ali..."

"Screw you, Bradley," Aliyah snapped. "Just go back to the Thunder Academy. I don't need help."

Hunter sighed and walked towards her. She was still punching the punch bag with a ferocity that could've taken down a small army of foot soldiers and a monster. He reached over her shoulder, grabbed her wrist and spun her around, ducking from an incoming punch.

"Hey, watch it!" He snapped.

"I always knew you were an idiot, Bradley, but this takes the cake!" Aliyah yelled. "You, of all people should know to never do that to me!"

"I'm trying to help. It's what I was called here for."

"I don't need help."

"You need to calm down."

"I'm fine!" Aliyah growled.

Hunter shot her a look of disbelief. "If you're fine why are you still shaking?" he asked.

"Because you're making me angry."

Hunter sighed and let her go. Aliyah retaliated by shoving him away from her and walking across the room to the table. She picked up her water bottle and took a drink, and then re-capped it, a smirk edging its way onto her lips. She turned swiftly to face Hunter, throwing her water bottle in his direction.

Hunter swatted it away and raised his fist to block a punch from Aliyah as she lunged at him. He blocked another punch, and then grabbed her leg as she kicked at his side. "Nice try," he said.

"Not finished," Aliyah said. She kicked at his legs with her free foot and the pair of them hit the floor. Hunter groaned and released her leg, and Aliyah took it as an opportunity to crawl away from him.

"Feel better?" Hunter asked, standing up.

Aliyah shrugged and straightened up.

"You know, you'd have landed that kick had you not been so angry."

"Yeah, right," Aliyah scoffed. Out of each of her Ninja friends, Hunter was probably the only that could match her blow for blow. It was partly the reason that she was always paired with him during training during their year as Rangers together. He was the only person that could give her a decent challenge.

"Do you want to tell me why you're so angry?" Hunter asked.

"Not really," Aliyah said. "I'd rather just kick your ass."

Hunter smirked and shrugged. He removed his jacket and set it over the side of the couch. "OK," he said. "I'll make you a deal. We'll spar - if I win, you tell me what's going on and who's pissed you off."

"What if I win?" Aliyah asked.

"Then I'll leave you alone for an entire year," Hunter said.

"A whole year?" Aliyah asked.

Hunter nodded. "You won't hear or see me for a whole 12 months," he said.

"Did you learn nothing from Shane?" Aliyah asked. "When it comes to bets, I always win."

"We'll see," Hunter said. "Come on, come at me."

Aliyah grinned. "If you say so," she said, jumping forward and aiming a kick at his head.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

Tori sighed and followed Cam into the games room. The rest of the retro rangers were sprawled out over the room, with Savannah and Bridge playing foosball while Vida kicked Adam's ass at pool. "Anything from Hunter or Ali?" the water sensei asked.

"Not yet," Cam answered. "Aliyah was training this morning. I sent Hunter over when he arrived, but I haven't seen or heard from him since."

"You don't think Aliyah's killed him, do you?" Vida asked, looking up.

"Excuse me?" Adam asked.

Tommy sighed and run a hand through his hair. "Aliyah's a little volatile," he explained to his old friend. "She doesn't like being told what to do and when to do it. In all honesty, she's a little too independent for her own good."

"You can say that again," Kira said. "Remember what she did to Trent?"

"And Hunter," Tori added.

"If she hates Hunter so much," said Adam. "Why did you bring him in to help her?"

"Because, believe it or not, Hunter is the only person that can get through to Aliyah right now," Cam explained. "Their relationship is weird. They hate each other with a passion, but yet understand one another better than anyone. Hunter's always been the 'go-to' person when Aliyah explodes."

"So, basically you're saying that they're each other's personal punch bags?" Adam asked.

Cam and Tori shrugged.

"Pretty much," Tori said with a nod. "Yeah."

"Secretly," Kira added. "I think Hunter enjoys it. I mean, I'm not trying to say that there is anything going on between them, Cam, but..."

"It's OK," Cam said. "I know what you're trying to say."

Adam frowned. He was confused again.

"Ever say day one," Tori said, taking pity on the retro black ranger. "There has been a dangerous chemistry between Hunter and Aliyah. They're both exactly the same, and for that reason they clash, but it's also because of that reason that they're dependant on one another. Their anger is what calms the other down."

"That makes no sense," Adam said.

Tori shrugged, half-heartedly. "It doesn't have to make sense to you or me, but as long as it does to them, that's all that really matters."

"Speaking of Rangers," Bridge said. "As anyone seen the others?"

"I overheard Andrew and Spencer talking, and according to them the Overdrive team, save for Aliyah and Mack, left yesterday afternoon. Something about not being needed anymore," Savannah replied.

"That's ridiculous!" Tommy exclaimed. "How can they not be needed? It is still their mission to find the Jewels."

"They seem to believe that is now our job," Savannah replied. "As every time a new jewel is located there is a threat to be taken care of, and without their Ranger powers they don't stand a chance."

Tori flicked her hair behind her shoulder and sighed. "So much for Aliyah's 'you don't need the cover of spandex to fight' theory," she said.

"Ali still feels that way," Cam defended. "I just don't agree."

"That's what you fought over," Vida said. "She wanted to go and fight, but you held her back."

"I wanted to protect her."

"Aliyah hates being protected."

"I know," Cam sighed. "Look, I feel bad enough already, OK?"

"Oh, I'm not trying to make you feel bad," Vida said, shaking her head. "I'm just pointing out that your mistakes are the same ones that Rebecca made. Rebecca held Aliyah back a lot, not just during the times that they were both on the same teams, but also growing up. Every time Aliyah tried to leave the academy, Rebecca was trying to stop her, it was almost like she didn't want Aliyah to have her own life or her own friends, she wanted Aliyah to train, train and train; but that's not Ali. She may do it now, but she only does it for anger management. Rebecca's over-bearing is partly the reason Aliyah is the way that she is."

"How do you know this?" Cam asked.

Vida looked surprised. "Aliyah told me," she said. "She tells me everything. Doesn't she tell you?"

Cam sighed and shook his head. "No," he confirmed, saddened by the idea of his own girlfriend not trusting him enough to be totally honest with him. "No, she doesn't."

The alarm sounded, alerting the retro team to danger somewhere in the city.

"We can figure out a way to help the others later," Tommy said. "Right now the city needs us."

The others nodded and followed him out.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

Tyler sighed as he walked through the courtyard of the Pai Zhuq academy. He had just returned to California from San Angeles and had decided to come visit Rebecca. There were many things that he wanted to say to her, many things that he needed clearing up, and she was the only person he could think of that would give him the answers to his questions. He had tried getting answers out of Andrew Hartford but his uncle had been very secretive.

Climbing the steps to the temple, Tyler bowed respectively and then entered. He found Rebecca standing at a large fountain. She had her back to him and seemed to be examining something in front of her. He grew closer, eager to see what she was up too. He stopped behind her and saw her staring at a ring in the palm of her hand. "I thought you already had an engagement ring?" he asked, startling her.

Rebecca jumped and spun around, her fist aimed at his head.

Tyler reacted quickly, catching her wrist and spinning her around. He pinned her hand behind her back and held her fast. "You're losing your touch," he said from over her shoulder.

"And you're getting foolish," Rebecca said. She tugged herself from his grasp and then turned to face him, punching him in his shoulder. "Don't sneak up on people."

"Ow," Tyler said, rubbing his shoulder. He shook his head and nodded at her hand. "What's with the ring?"

"It was my mother's," Rebecca said. "I found it in one of the rooms of the academy. Master Mao says that my mother left it here, the day before she left for Afghan."

"Ah," Tyler said, nodding. "So, what's so special about it? Other than the fact it's your mother's?"

Rebecca shook her head. "Nothing much," she said. "Except maybe for the fact that I intend to give it to Cam."

Tyler furrowed his brow. "Why Cam?" he asked.

"He called me the other night. He wanted my permission."

"Permission for what?"

Rebecca shot her cousin a calculating look. He wasn't serious? "Come on, Ty, think," she encouraged. "Why would I be sending Cam an engagement ring, I already have a fiancé and Cam's not really my type."

"True. But he is Aliyah's type."

"Not her original type, that's more Hunter, but she and Cam do share something special."

"So, wait, Cam called asking for your permission and now you're sending him your mother's engagement ring?" Tyler asked. His eyes widened as he suddenly realized what Rebecca was edging towards, and everything that had happened in San Angeles over the past couple of weeks, fell into place. "That's why held her back."

It was Rebecca's turn to frown in confusion. "Who held who back?" she asked, concerned.

"Cam," said Tyler. "He held Aliyah back from battle. He said he wanted to protect her, but you and I both know how she feels about being protective."

"Some more than others," Rebecca muttered. "Wait, why are you here? I thought you were the new green Overdrive Ranger."

"I am, I mean, I was..."

Rebecca stared at her cousin, confusion and fear coursing through her. If Tyler was here in Ocean Bluff and not in San Angeles where monsters were running amok then something had obviously happened to make him leave, and the fact that Tyler didn't look distraught meant that Aliyah was still alive. "Tell me everything," she said.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

Hunter straddled Aliyah's stomach and pinned her arms either side of her head. She struggled against him, but he held her firmly against the mat. "I'm ready to talk when you are," he said, grinning triumphantly.

"Then keep waiting," Aliyah growled. "Because I don't want to talk."

"Then I guess we'll just have to stay here," Hunter said. "Because I'm not letting you up until you start talking."

Aliyah screamed, hoping to deter Hunter and get him to let her go. Hunter cringed and shook his head, but he still maintained a firm hold on her wrists.

"You can scream all you want, Logan, but I've already told Cam and the others to not come and investigate," Hunter said. "They know that there's going to be a lot of screaming involved. They're just going to put it down to us arguing."

"GET OFF ME!" Aliyah yelled, struggling even harder against him. "I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD, BRADLEY, IF YOU DON'T GET OFF -"

"You'll what?" Hunter asked. "All you can do is struggle, Logan, you can't shift me, if you could you would've done it already."

"When I get out of here," Aliyah threatened.

Hunter smirked. "That's a threat," he said. "Not a promise. I know you well enough by now, Ali, you don't threaten. The fact that the only way you're going to get out of this mess is admitting what you did and/or said, and by then your anger will have swept away."

"My anger for you is never ending."

Hunter laughed. "Start talking then," he said. "Then I'll let you up and you can attempt to take my head off."

"I don't want to talk!" Aliyah replied, stubbornly.

Hunter shrugged and looked around the room. His eyes took in every piece of equipment they could before turning back to the white Ranger. "You know what I find odd?" he asked.

"I don't really care about you," Aliyah said.

"You can't stand being a Ranger," Hunter said, pressing on as if he hadn't been answered. "Yet, for the last five years, you've been a Ranger four times. How does that one work?"

"You tell me."

"I would if I could."

"I didn't want the blasted morpher the first time," Aliyah said. "But Rebecca insisted that I join the team, and then the second time I was roped into it, mostly to prove a point, but I still didn't want it. Mystic Force was different, if the prophecy hadn't have been real and the Lightning academy hadn't have been demolished then I would've walked away, but I wanted revenge on the master for destroying my home and my friends. He killed my grandparents, and the only reason I survived was because I was destined to do so."

"And what about now?"

"Rebecca sent me here because the evil forces were now aware that I existed," Aliyah explained. "She didn't tell me that I was being sent here to help with the Corona search."

"What if I told you that you weren't sent here to help with the Corona search."

"How would you know that?"

"I was the one who told Rebecca that you'd be safe in California," Hunter said. "I was the one who confronted her on her reasons to send you here in the first place. Come on, Ali, we may not care all that much for each other, but I know that you don't belong here."

Aliyah frowned. "Why would you do that for me?" she asked. "Especially if you hate me?"

Hunter shrugged. "I dunno," he said. "I guess I wanted to do something nice for a change."

Aliyah scoffed and rolled her eyes. The alarm blared loudly around them, causing them both to look up. When Aliyah didn't struggle against him, Hunter frowned and looked back down. "Aren't you going to demand that I let you up?" he asked.

"What for?"

"You're a Ranger, aren't you?" Hunter asked. "Don't you need to go defend the city?"

"I'm not a Ranger anymore, I was replaced. My whole team was replaced."

Hunter shook his head. "I spoke with Tori before I came to find you," he said. "They're not here to replace you. More to help than anything."

"Means nothing," Aliyah snapped. "My team still lost their powers, and then them lot showed up and started kicking ass. We can't fight without our powers, we're useless."

"I've never heard you bag on yourself before," Hunter pointed out. "The situation must be really grim for you to do so."

Aliyah glared at him. "What the hell am I supposed to do against the Evil Alliance without my Ranger powers?"

"What about what you were going to do to Lothor without your Lightning morpher?" Hunter asked. "Or, correct me if I am wrong, was it another Lightning Ninja that stated 'you don't need the cover of spandex to fight for what is right'. Where is that Lightning Ninja?"

"Shut up..."

"If anything Cam said is true, you lead the Overdrive Team to Scotland to fight Kamdor and Mig, your determination was that you could always try," Hunter continued. "What happened? Why aren't you trying?"

"Shut up..." Aliyah repeated, this time her anger was bubbling deep inside her. She clenched her hands into fists and shook violently beneath Hunter. Her eyes closed and she willed herself to not lose control, but the anger was too strong. She couldn't control it.

"Come on, Logan, get angry!" Hunter hissed. "You're not angry at Rebecca, you're not angry at Cam, you're not angry at the retro Rangers or me. You're angry at yourself. Admit it!"

"Why would I be angry at myself?" Aliyah growled.

"Because you gave up."

"I wanted to fight," Aliyah argued.

"Then why didn't you?"

"Cam held me back."

"When has that ever stopped you?" Hunter asked. "When have you ever let someone tell you what to do? When have you ever listened to someone other than yourself? Cam told you no, he held you back, but why did you let that stop you? Why did you go to Stonehenge? You defied Cam by going there, but yet you still gave up when Tori and the others arrived. Why?"

"I don't -"

"You let the team leave," Hunter said.

"They had no reason to stay," Aliyah said. "Why keep them from their normal lives if they've got no reason to be here anymore? It was their job to be Power Rangers, they dropped everything for that."

"What about you and Mack?"

"What about us?"

"If it was your job to be Rangers, why didn't you two leave?"

"Mack lives here," Aliyah said. "And Andrew is hell bent on keeping me in San Angeles. He won't tell me why."

"Why are you listening to him?"

Aliyah shook her head.

"Why aren't you defying him and leaving?"

"Where would I go?"

"Home."

Aliyah fell silent. How could she go home? She didn't have a home to go back too. The Lightning Academy was still gone, no one had seen fit to rebuild it, especially in the same place that it had been destroyed. Since learning the legend and the reason for the academy existence, not to mention the fact that it had been used as an evil pit for the underworld, no one believed it could be returned to its rightful glory. It had been violated and consumed by darkness. It was history now.

"I don't have a home," Aliyah admitted. "My home was destroyed."

"Not true. You were welcome at the Wind Ninja Academy and the Thunder Ninja Academy," Hunter said. "Plus you had Connor, I'm sure he'd be happy to have you back."

"I couldn't go to the Wind Ninja Academy."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not my home."

"Why not? You spent most of your time there during our time as Rangers."

Aliyah shook her head. The true reason why she couldn't return to the Wind Ninja Academy was because of Cam. He wouldn't have been there. Despite what was going on between them now, Aliyah still felt at home with Cam around. No matter where she went or what she did, as long as she could return to Cam at the end of the day, she was home.

"I couldn't go home," Aliyah whispered.

"What was that?"

"I couldn't go home because I already am home!" Aliyah snapped. "Cam is my home! No matter where he is... I will always be home."

"Then why are you angry at him?"

"I don't... I- I don't..." Aliyah stammered. She didn't know why she was mad at Cam, she didn't even want to be mad at him. She just knew that she was. She just knew that he had broken a promise by holding her back, he'd pulled a Rebecca and she was tired of everyone promising her and then breaking their word.

"Why can't you just admit that you made the wrong decision?" Hunter asked. "Admit to yourself that you're anger clouded your judgement and everything you decided at that point was wrong?"

"Because I'm not wrong."

"Ali," Hunter sighed. "It's OK to be wrong. Admitting when you're wrong is always uncomfortable. Knowing when you're wrong in the first place is tricky enough, and then there's making the right apology. But how you handle your admission can make a big difference."

"How is that supposed to help?"

"Because the sooner you admit that you made the wrong choice the sooner all this goes away," Hunter said. He released her and stood up. "In all honesty," he added. "Your anger at the retro team and Cam is just the tip of the iceberg. It's just something that you're using to mask your true problems."

"And what are those?" Aliyah asked.

"You're not mad at Cam because he held you back, you're mad because you didn't listen to him and Andrew when you were cursed," Hunter said. "You're mad that your foolishness put you out of battle for longer than you could handle. Cam only held you back so that you'd heal quicker and be able to defend yourself thoroughly; he didn't hold you back because he wanted too, he held you back because he had too. As for Tori and the others? Well, you could've kept fighting, but you didn't, you took one look at their arrival and gave up."

Aliyah glared up at him, but knew that he spoke the truth.

"You're strong, Logan," Hunter admitted. "But your pride is stronger... it is deadly. And, unfortunately for you, something that you cannot beat with a selfless act."

"Then what do you suggest?" Aliyah spat.

Hunter smirked knowingly.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

With Flurious' attempt to block the main road so that he could find the jewels without interruption demolished, the retro rangers returned to the base. Tori, Vida and Kira had gone off in search of Hunter and Aliyah, both girls' knew that it was a foolish idea to try and get Aliyah to talk to them, but they wanted to see how far Hunter had progressed.

This left Tommy, Adam, Bridge and Savannah to occupy themselves around the manor. Soon, Tommy and Adam retreated to the Overdrive base, and Bridge wrapped an arm around Savannah as they sat side-by-side on the couch in the games room.

"What's wrong?" he asked her, curiously.

"Why did they leave?" Savannah asked. "Mom and Dad never told me about the time where they ever gave up being Rangers. They always insisted that it was the best part of their lives, but never once did they tell me that they gave up, especially because of me."

"Because of you?" Bridge asked. "How is it because of you?"

"Because of all of us."

"Vannah, we're here to help them," Bridge said. "Not replace them. Your parents probably didn't tell you about this because they couldn't remember it. When we leave, their memories of this time will be erased. They won't even know who we are."

"That goes for Tori and V too?"

"Yes. They may remember this, but they won't remember us," Bridge said. "Your parents didn't leave because of us or because of you. They've just got some things that they need to work out."

"What if they don't come back?"

"We know that they will."

"What if they don't? What if... us being here screws that up? What if our presence is what changes the future? What if my Mom and Dad never become Rangers again?"

Bridge caught Savannah's hands and squeezed them. She sighed and lowered her head, her blonde hair falling down and covering her face. Bridge brushed it over her shoulder and kissed the side of her head. "You're worrying too much," he said. "We're not here to change anything. You still have your memories of your parents telling you about their lives as Rangers, right?"

"Yes," Savannah whispered.

"Then hold onto them," Bridge said, pulling her into a hug. "Nothing bad is going to happen, Vannah, not here and not in the future. Your parents will come back. You and I both know that she'll make them come back."

"What about her?" Savannah asked. "What if this is the end of the road for her too? This team was always one of her hardest, and it is the one that caused her the most heartache. We should tell her about what he did... we should tell her about the handprint, the repercussions."

"We can't," Bridge said, shaking his head. "You know the trouble it'll cause."

"But I can't stand the thought of her going through that turmoil again."

"It's not happening again," Bridge said. "She hasn't found out the truth yet, she's not experienced it yet."

Savannah groaned and dropped her head onto Bridge's shoulder. "I hate being here," she said. "I hate being here with them and knowing things that they don't, but not being able to tell them. If she knew... if she knew the truth. If only I could tell her, I could repay her for everything that she's done... or is going to do for me."

"I know," Bridge said, squeezing his girlfriend tightly. "But we can't meddle and if even if you do tell her, she won't remember it when we leave."

Savannah sighed and closed her eyes. She hated being here; hated being around her and not being able to do anything to stop the future from happening. She knew that she couldn't intervene with events that had yet come to pass, but sometimes she wished that she could, especially since it was to help a woman that played a very important role in her future.

To Be Continued...

Copyrighted ©

I don't really know how long this arc is going to be. I'm pretty much just writing it as it comes. There is so much going on, that I want to get as much of it in as possible, anything that doesn't make the cut will go into the Once a Ranger chapter of the deleted scenes story.

So, thoughts on part 2? I'll try and get part 3 out sooner rather than later.

Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated Wednesday, 01 October 2014 at 3:14am