Author's Notes: A quick chapter (or long chapter...) before burying myself in work. Probably won't get to update until early May. Curse me if you will, but I gotta do real job for a while.

Reviewer thanks: Richardc269, Bahamut Slayer (Not sure how you'll feel about clones after this.), alias093001 (I ready your last sentence in the old 60s Batman announcer voice.), Ghostwriter, Vodams, PenguinX (Possibly and yes.), brankel1, curly, qwerty avelat (I think David Yost just got sick of the glasses. And the overalls. I don't blame him, really.), CalcBoy91 (Glad to hear you like it. I pretty much used rape imagery in that scene. Really did not mean for it all to get that sexual...), Gaia'schild (It works on Will as well, as he's "not a man."), Willowxxx, falcon242 (They just couldn't get anything for Trini that had any effect on the show. They tried, but her character wasn't all that interesting to begin with... both her and Zack.), Twinfan89.

Darker Shades

Book 5: A Darker Shade of Blue

Chapter 21: Running

Will stared at Tommy, waiting for the serum to take effect. He'd lost track of time. He knew no one would bother them, and he really didn't care if they did. The serum took longer every time, and Will knew that it was because of Tommy's fading power.

He knew he could probably solve Tommy's problems with his Green Ranger powers. Just a few hours with the Command Center computer and the Morphing Grid, and Will knew there was very little he could not do.

But why? Why should he deny Tommy the suffering he so richly deserved?

Pain overcame him, and for the first time, Will allowed himself to be driven to his knees. He grasped his head as if to keep it from exploding.

The pain ebbed, finally, and Will slowly pulled himself to his feet, just in time for Tommy to open his eyes, at long last healed enough to regain consciousness.

"You ready for a third session?" Will asked softly.

Will had the satisfaction of seeing Tommy's face twist with fear and dread as he remembered the past hours of torture. He was breathing hard—gasping—but he wasn't tired or injured. The serum erased all evidence of harm. Will had methodically broken Tommy's arms and legs, and now they were completely whole. The only thing that couldn't be recovered was blood, which painted Tommy's clothes and pooled under him on the tile floor, staining a deep red where it touched the carpet.

"Come on, Tommy," Will said again, his voice still soft. "It's either this, or I go after Trini. I just want to know if you're ready."

Again, Tommy didn't answer. He just stared at Will, eyes wide and almost glassy with fear. Will considered... could Tommy have broken already? Was he going to buy a few moments' peace by letting Will go to Trini?

Will smirked, knowing that Tommy probably wasn't pushed that far, but the possibility was definitely there. "Okay, then," he said, shrugging and turning on his heel.

"Wait..."

It was barely a whisper, but Will's hearing was better than any human's. He stopped, still facing away, knowing he could imagine Tommy's expression as easily as seeing it.

"What is it you want?" Will said, his voice mocking. "You only have to tell me."

"Don't... don't leave me."

Will turned in surprise. Tommy's gaze was barely readable but steady. Was he just keeping Will from going to Trini, or... was there something else?

"What do you mean?" Will smirked. "Are you going to beg to be beaten? It's your turn, after all."

Tommy didn't react to that. It looked like he was going through pain just to put together words. "Please..."

Will moved forward, hanging on his every word.

"Please..." Tommy continued. "I... I don't want to lose you. Just stay with me. Don't do something you'll regret."

It was insane. Perfectly insane. Even after two beatings, even after torture that would break most people... Tommy still cared about him. Cared enough to sacrifice himself to keep him from destroying himself.

No... not him. He didn't care about Will. It was Billy. Tommy was doing this all for Billy, thinking he was being tortured by his best friend with an evil spell. Once he found out about Will, he would be just like the rest.

Will's face broke into a smile. "I'm only too happy to oblige," he said quietly. He picked up the kitchen knife from the end table and wiped the blood off it before beginning.

"Thanks, Kristen," Jason said, loading the last of the beer into the back of his car while Zack acted as look-out.

Jason's older sister laughed. "Just make sure to pay me back tomorrow. Honestly, I'm thrilled. I thought you spent too much time volunteering to do anything fun."

"Since when did I get that horrible reputation?" Jason said.

"Oh, please. You're the golden child." Kristen slammed the trunk shut. "Just don't get caught, okay, little bro? You know mom and dad are going to blame me." She cocked her head. "Though, you're pretty good at keeping secrets. I mean, you're so goody-goody, but none of us know where you run off to all the time. Even Dad has stopped asking."

"Study group," Jason said, his face unreadable.

Kristen smirked. "Yeah, right. Zack, you think you can keep my little bro out of trouble?"

"Full time job," Zack quipped. "Jas, we gotta meet Curtis for the stereo equipment. We done here?"

"Yeah," Jason said, getting into the car. "Thanks again, Kristen."

As they drove away, Zack let out a low whistle. "That was close."

Jason shrugged. "My sister's less delusional than my parents. She's always trying to guess what I'm up to."

Curtis was less inquisitive. He was more worried about giving them detailed instructions about the installation and care of the equipment, as well as dire warning of what would happen to them if any of it was hurt.

"Party starts in a couple of hours, but we can't move this stuff into Billy's and Tommy's until 6," said Zack. "So what do we do until then?"

Jason was about to speak, but his communicator beeped at that moment. He shot a worried look at Zack. "What's up, Alpha?"

"Jason," Zordon's voice sounded over the communicator. "Alpha informed me you wished to speak with me."

"I'll be right up, Zordon," Jason said. He cut the channel. "You wanna come up with me?"

Zack shrugged. "I think you'll probably do better on your own. Tell you what... I'll take care of this stuff. Meet you at Billy's at 6?"

"Be careful," Jason said, handing him the keys.

"Good luck," Zack said in answer.

Jason got out of the car and teleported up. Billy was no longer in the Command Center, for which Jason was grateful. He wanted to talk to Zordon without interruption.

"So," Jason began, "how's your special project going?" He decided the direct approach would be best. Zordon would figure out what he was thinking soon enough, anyway.

"It is progressing," Zordon said evasively. "One moment, Jason. Alpha, I sense an echo in the security feed. Would you mind checking the auxiliary security room?"

"Will do, Zordon," Alpha said, walking down the steps to the corridor.

"Zordon, what...?" Jason began.

Zordon silenced him with a look. He seemed to be waiting for Alpha to get out of earshot. Finally, Alpha's clanking footsteps faded in the distance.

"Jason, we do not have a lot of time," Zordon said quickly. "Alpha V has been tampered with. I also sense some corruption in the security feed, the archive footage, and even the Morphing Grid.

If Jason had expected anything, it wasn't that. His mind reeled, but he knew he didn't have time to panic. "What do I need to do?"

"Intercept Alpha as he returns from the security room and put him into emergency diagnostic mode. You can do that by pushing the top three of his chest buttons at once. It must be done manually. He cannot be allowed to reach the Command Center consoles again, now that he knows he's locked out of security."

"Right," Jason said, and he turned immediately to the dark corridor. He forced his brain to keep from thinking about who could have accessed the Command Center systems. It had to be a Power Ranger who did it... but he couldn't think of that. Not if he was going to complete his mission.

He met Alpha in the corridor, and was perhaps not surprised to see Alpha carrying a laser pistol. He rolled forward just in time to dodge Alpha's first shot, and then sprang to his feet and leapt to avoid the second. Alpha didn't have time to shoot a third time. Jason brought his hand down on Alpha's chest plate, and Alpha immediately powered down, pistol aimed straight at Jason's heart.

At that point, the fear and shock hit Jason like a sucker-punch. "What... the... hell...?"

He pulled the laser pistol out of Alpha's grip and stowed it in a storage room. Alpha was too heavy to move, so he left Alpha where he was and hurried back to the main room to report to Zordon.

"So... do you have any theories on who sabotaged Alpha... to the point where he almost shot me?" Jason said, laughing out of shock.

Zordon looked shocked as well. "I would not have sent you unmorphed if it had been that serious, Jason. I'm sorry. I did not think Lord Zedd's plans would be this lethal."

"Yeah, well," Jason said, "we don't know him all that well, do we? I mean, we could get in real trouble if we keep thinking he's just like Rita."

"Agreed," said Zordon. "I find I have been fighting Rita too long."

"Zack's been with me all night and day," Jason said. "I saw Kimberly teach aerobics this morning, and then I think she was supposed to take her little brother shopping today."

"That is confirmed," Zordon said. "She is currently in a shopping mall having an argument with her brother that's so loud I fear it will soon set off our alarms."

Zordon must be thrown, Jason thought. It wasn't like him to crack a joke like that. "I saw Billy here earlier. He was working specifically on security, and he said there was a power surge at his house last night."

"Sensors are unable to account for his whereabouts, as well as the whereabouts of Trini and Tommy," Zordon responded. "Both Billy and Trini would have the capability to take control of both Alpha and the Command Center, and Tommy..."

Jason broke in. "He'd be the obvious choice. He trashed the Command Center last time, but he might want to throw us off his scent by being more subtle." He scraped his hand through his hair. "Security feed doesn't tell us anything, does it?"

"It has been expertly wiped," Zordon said. "You will need to investigate in person. The problem stands, though, that I cannot sense Billy, Trini, or Zack anywhere on Earth."

Jason frowned. All of the technical geniuses—at least the ones with hands—were either shut down or suspects. He would have to branch out a little to investigate. "What about Billy's house?" He moved to the console that controlled surveillance. "That could be where everything is going down... unless they're at the Moon Palace."

"The Moon Palace is more probable," Zordon said resignedly. "Call Zachary and ask him to investigate Billy's house."

"Right," Jason said. He punched up his communicator, not familiar enough with the communication system in the Command Center to use the console. "Zack, come in."

There was a pause. "I read you, Jas. What's up?"

"We're going into 'oh shit' mode," Jason said, knowing the joke would keep Zack from freaking out. "One of us is under a spell, and the suspects are Tommy, Trini, or Billy. We can't find any of them, so we're pretty sure they're either at Billy's house or at the Moon Palace. I need you to investigate Billy's house, but stay safe. Don't engage."

"What makes you think something's up?" Zack asked, all business.

"We've got breaches in security, Alpha, and the Morphing Grid."

"Where's Kimberly?" Zack's voice was shaky, but he seemed to be steeled by Jason's abrupt orders.

"With her brother," Jason said. "She can't ditch him right now, but I'll get in touch with her as soon as I can."

"I'll report when I know anything."

Jason cut communication and turned to face Zordon. "We'll need to..."

But he was cut off. There was a sharp klaxon, and then the sound died, along with the rest of the power. The room went dim. It was only illuminated by Zordon.

"What the hell?" Jason jabbed at the controls, but they were already dead. The Viewing Globe was blank, and he could see the power out past the main control room.

"The Command Center power has been completely cut off," Zordon said. "I am able to maintain my link with this dimension only from reserve power." Zordon paused, his face growing more fearful. "I have lost access to the Morphing Grid."

"Dammit!" Jason hit the controls. "Our communication must have been monitored. I shouldn't have told Zack that much. Now whoever is doing this knows that we're on to them."

"Agreed," said Zordon. "At this level of preparation, we may even be dealing with more than one person."

Jason's stomach went cold. "I didn't even think about that. I assumed that one was under a spell, and the others had gotten captured. You think it may be all three of them?"

"That is a valid theory, but one upon which we cannot act." Zordon looked like he was concentrating, probably trying to gain access to systems that weren't available. "Luckily," he continued, "there are aspects of the Command Center that only I know about. Even Alpha does not have complete knowledge of the Command Center. If I can..."

Jason gulped. He was trying not to panic. With teleportation and communication down, he was essentially stuck in the middle of the desert. He wasn't even entirely sure he could morph, but he didn't want to try right then and break Zordon's concentration. In the meantime, he'd sent Zack into certain danger, their communications were still being monitored, which Zack didn't know, and Kimberly was entirely in the dark.

Not to mention all the party-goers who were going to show up in a few hours to a possible base for evil Power Rangers.

Zordon broke out of his semi-trance. At the same time, Jason saw ambient light coming from an as-yet-unexplored corridor completely opposite to the one that held their living and work spaces.

"Unfortunately," Zordon said, "I have been unable to establish a link to the Morphing Grid, and I can't gain control of the Command Center's main systems. I can't do it until whatever is blocking me is put out of commission."

"Which is probably something Tommy, Trini, or Billy has," Jason said. "And meanwhile, we're hours away, and Zack's walking into a trap. We can't do anything about any of it."

"Certainly, our options are limited," conceded Zordon. "But it is premature to say there is nothing we can do."

Jason glanced over at the light source. "What are your orders, then?"

"You have probably been worrying about morphing," Zordon said. "My connection with the Morphing Grid has been severed, but yours hasn't. However..." Zordon said a bit louder before Jason could even try morphing, "since our attacker has control over the Morphing Grid, you could be in incredible danger if you tried morphing. If you teleported out of here, the attacker might be able to redirect you anywhere he or she wants. If you tried to travel in your Zord, which I'm sure you're eager to, the attacker could deactivate your powers in midair. The attacker has shown that he or she has no compunction against killing."

"Right," said Jason. "Don't exactly want to be caught in a giant metal dragon that's falling. Those answer all the protests I might have against your plan. Now let's hear the plan."

Zordon gave a ghost of a smile. "I have been holding certain equipment in reserve, merely because they have not been necessary, with teleportation, Zords, and Billy's car. I will be able to infuse you with some of my own power, which will allow you to use this mode of transportation. You will be able to stay morphed for a short time without drawing directly from the Morphing Grid, and thus you will be able to avoid detection."

Jason frowned. "What about the risks to you, in this power transfer?" And to me, Jason thought, but didn't think it would be very brave to voice those concerns.

"I will not need to give you as much as I have Tommy, and you will not be in quite as weakened a state, so the dangers should be minimal." Zordon shot him an apologetic look. "I would not ask if it were not absolutely necessary. Your transportation should lead you directly to Angel Grove. There, your mission is to gain back control of the Command Center. All other concerns are secondary."

Jason felt his face flush with anger, but he held it back. He knew Zordon was making the hard decisions, even if those decisions were going after the device rather than saving his friends. He himself had made that decision before. "Understood. You'll know when I succeed."

"Then prepare yourself," Zordon said. "This may be uncomfortable."

Jason braced himself against a console. He remembered when Tommy had been infused with Zordon's power for the first time. He'd looked elated, almost wild. Jason had always sort of wondered what it had felt like.

And then he didn't have to wonder. The power slammed into him, infusing his whole body with warmth. No... cold. It was like both at the same time. It was a lot... way more than he'd ever... too much...

It ended. Jason realized he was on the ground, and he was gasping.

"Jason, are you all right?" Zordon's worried voice called out.

"I... I'm fine," Jason said, pulling himself up from the floor. "Just unexpected." He was unsurprised to see he was morphed. He was glad. He wasn't sure how to morph without using the Morphing Grid. "I'll contact you as soon as I've gained control."

"May the power protect you, Jason."

Jason waved his hand jauntily as he left, trying to reassure Zordon as well as himself. He followed the light source to a dusty, stale room. He'd walked past rooms like this when they'd used the outside entrance of the Command Center, but he'd never thought to explore the rooms.

"Oh, yeah..." Jason breathed, grinning behind his helmet. "Can't believe Zordon was hiding this."

In the center of the room, each on a lit platform, stood five motorcycles, each of a different color and fashioned after their old Zords. His, in the middle, was all Tyrannosaurus teeth and cherry red.

"Well, at least the desert drive is going to be fun," Jason said.

Billy paced his cell. He shot angry glances at the screen and wondered when the hell Goldar was going to enact this unknown escape plan.

The clone had stopped torturing Tommy for the moment and was playing with some mechanical device. It looked like some sort of remote control, or at least that's what the design looked like. In the meantime, Tommy was barely conscious. The clone had not yet healed him.

It was hell. Tommy's words, then his screams, then his dogged insistence on keeping the clone right there. Billy tried to ignore the tears that were coursing down his own face. They wouldn't help him, and he had to be ready to escape at a moment's notice. Perhaps Goldar would only be able to secure him the barest second in which to escape.

What Tommy had said at first had been hard to listen to, but Billy had been able to survive it, knowing from what he'd said to Trini before that he was just trying to goad the clone, who he thought was Billy. Those words weren't necessarily what Tommy actually thought, and Billy knew enough about him to know he would never really think those things.

But then... seeing Tommy tortured. Hearing him beg that the clone... Billy... would stay with him, because he didn't want to lose him. Didn't want Billy to do anything he would regret while under a spell. It was the single greatest thing anyone had ever done for him.

But that just makes it all hurt more, Billy thought. It's not a spell. It's not Lord Zedd, even though he's done his share of damage in this situation. It's me. I'm responsible. I made the clone, and so I'm responsible for everything Tommy's going through... everything Trini's going through. Any damage that clone does is all my fault.

Billy had been thinking of little else, even when he should have been trying to figure out each possibility in his escape, and what he would do after. He just knew he had to do something to make up for everything. And he had to do it before the clone could cause any more damage.

Tommy was no longer shaking. He hung limply in his bonds. Billy stared at him, wishing with all his might he could do something. He... he would. Billy knew he had to stop the clone. Even if it meant his own life. It was the least he could do.

The power flickered. Billy caught his breath. It flickered again.

Finster looked around wildly. "What...?"

It was all Billy needed. He timed a leap once he caught the pattern of the flickers. His toe caught in the flickering force field, but he ignored the pain. He launched himself straight at Finster, who only had enough time to look surprised before Billy kicked him in the face. Finster went down immediately.

Remembering that Finster was far more resilient than he looked, Billy went through the old scientist's pockets as quickly as possible. No teleporter. He'd have to make his way to the lab, or any nearby computer panel with teleportation capabilities. But he had to move fast. The clone had stolen his power coin and communicator, and he wouldn't last two seconds if Lord Zedd caught him. Even Goldar probably wouldn't be able to ignore Billy if he ran right in front of him.

Billy found a weapon in one of Finster's pockets, obviously for use in guarding the prisoner. It was better than nothing. Holding it in front of him, Billy ran for the exit, sacrificing stealth for speed.

The corridor was deserted. Billy tried to recall everything he knew about the Moon Palace from the maps Tommy had drawn. He knew to go toward light and heat, and the lab was near the living quarters. It was the brightest room in the Palace, Tommy had told him.

He ran, following light, adrenaline pushing the fear away. He wasn't even afraid for his own life. He was past that. He was just afraid of not being able to get to the clone in time. In the back of his mind, he was imagining what would happen when the clone got bored with Tommy and went for his other prisoner.

"But you were supposed to clean the lab!" a voice broke through the dim corridor. "It was your turn!"

"We're supposed to do it together," another voice said impatiently. "It's not like there's anything else to do here anymore. We can't even watch TV."

Squatt and Babboo, Billy thought. And they were headed to the lab.

Composing himself, Billy intercepted them, pointing the gun deliberately in their faces.

"Don't move," he said calmly. "You were saying something about a lab?"

Squatt and Babboo looked at each other, not even seeming to be surprised. They shrugged. "It's right over there," the blue one—Billy wasn't sure which was which—pointed out. "Second door on the left."

The gun in Billy's hand faltered. "Uh... thanks."

"No problem, weird human guy," the taller one said. "You might want to run."

Billy took him at their word and ran for it. From what he could tell, Lord Zedd had no idea how to inspire loyalty.

He reached the lab and immediately assessed the controls. They were all fairly unfamiliar, and he had no way tell whether he was going to teleport himself or start a self-destruction sequence on the Moon Palace. Though, admittedly, he figured it wouldn't be that easy to blow up the castle.

He looked around desperately... and, as if by magic, he saw one of Finster's teleportation devices, the same kind Tommy had used. He knew how those worked.

Praying that he was pushing the right button, he activated the device. The lab disappeared... to be replaced by green. He was at the park near the hospital.

Knowing that he was completely open to attack and Lord Zedd would know very soon, if not already, that he had escaped, he pocketed the teleporter, thrust the gun into his other pocket, and broke into a run.

It was near 6:00, and Kimberly was finally dropping off Kevin at his friend's house.

"I hope you get mono from your boyfriend," he said angrily, grabbing his backpack from the back seat.

"Yeah, and I hope you get seizures from your cartoons," Kimberly yelled over his slamming the door.

She gunned the engine, as soon as she saw he was in the house. She was furious that her mom had saddled her with her brother all afternoon. She was just glad he was going to be spending two nights sleeping over. She had been tempted, more than once, to teleport him to the middle of the desert that afternoon.

She didn't meet any cops, thankfully, and her parents were already gone by the time she drove up. It was official. Kevin was bad luck, and good luck came when he was away from her.

She parked the car and pulled some shopping bags from the trunk. She was about to go into the house, intent on changing clothes before running over to Tommy's and Billy's, when she saw Zack turn the corner, making her drop her bags.

"Give me a heart attack, why don't you," Kimberly said angrily. "What are you doing skulking around here? The party starts in an hour and my parents are gone. Shouldn't you be setting up?"

"Oh, damn, the party," Zack said. "I didn't even think of that. I parked Jason's car a street over." He looked at her seriously. "You're not gonna like this."

Kimberly steeled herself, knowing it would have to be something pretty damn serious if it made Zack forget about a party. "Lay it on me."

"We've got an evil spell problem," Zack said. "Someone hacked into Alpha and the Morphing Grid. Suspects are Tommy, Trini, and Billy, and they may be holed up at the Moon Palace... or over there," he nodded at Billy's house. "We can't find any of them, and now I can't contact Zordon or Jason at the Command Center."

Kimberly sat on a porch chair quickly. "Okay... why do we think they're over at Billy's?"

"I dunno," Zack said. "Following Jason's orders. I just thought... if we're dealing with all three, or if one of them is keeping the other two hostage, I needed backup. We can't let anyone get hurt."

"Right," said Kimberly. She unlocked the front door and shoved her bags into the house, and then locked the house back up. "Let's get over there... carefully. That house, what with Billy's lab and the extra security for Tommy, might be as dangerous as the Moon Palace."

Zack flashed her an unsteady grin. "I guess it's Morphin' time, then."

Will watched the screen in the lab. "Looks like it's just about to start," he said quietly.

He glanced down at Tommy, who was now lying in the cloning device... where Will had been born only hours before.

He had considered making more clones. He had considered it more than once ever since he'd begun his stand. Especially Tommy and Trini... the closest people to Billy.

He knew, though, he couldn't. No matter how lonely he was, no matter how lonely he knew he would be... he just couldn't do that to someone. He couldn't bring another clone into the world and make him or her suffer as he did. It wouldn't be right.

However, the cloning device served as a convenient hiding place. He couldn't allow Tommy to be rescued, but he couldn't guard him all the time. After one last look, Will closed the lid on the unconscious Tommy and began thinking of his other prisoner.

He glanced back at the outside security monitor. The Black and Pink Rangers were now cautiously making their way to the front door. They knew the lab door was too well guarded and the windows were too secure.

Will smiled. He had time.

He locked the inside lab door behind him and ignored the front door. He knew the security system would do its job. Instead, he turned sharply and walked toward Billy's room.

He knew Trini heard him, no matter how quiet the carpet made his footsteps. She'd been listening as hard as she could for hours. He smiled. He wouldn't have time for a great deal of fun, but...

She was gone.

Will stared at the bed. The bedstead was made of cheap metal, and it looked like she'd dislodged the bar where he'd secured the restraints. Scorch marks on the bed showed that she'd quietly suffered through electrical shocks until she'd freed herself. He felt the scorch marks. Still hot. Not enough time to even leave the room.

The closet.

"Trini, I know you're in there," Will said, keeping his voice calm. He started for the closet. "I do not wish to hurt you any more than necessary."

He was reaching for the closet when he felt something tackle him from behind. Something hard wound around his throat, and his whole head seemed to explode with pain.

Jason sped past Stone Canyon. The motorcycle was not faster than Billy's car, but that was only because he had to go across land.

"Just a few more miles," he said under his breath.

Billy nearly screamed in frustration when he met the third Putty patrol. He was staggering with exhaustion, but he knew he had to keep moving, and he couldn't let the Putties hurt any civilians.

As he punched the first Putty right in the Z, wasting no time, he reflected that the power upgrade the new Zords had given them was making the fights easier... as well as the training Tommy had given him.

Still, his entire body ached, and he felt like he'd been running for days. He couldn't keep this up, and he still had his clone to fight and his friends to save.

Taking a breath, expecting the pain he was starting to feel more and more, he fought on.

At the sound of yells, Zack and Kimberly looked at each other. They'd spent the past few minutes trying to bypass the security that would have usually responded to their power coins.

"We gotta get in there now," Kimberly said. She hit the small panel next to the door, usually hidden by the house numbers. "Dammit!" she yelled, holding her hand. "The whole thing's electrified."

"Screw this," said Zack. He summoned his Power Axe. "We don't have time to worry about property damage."

He swung the blade into the side of the house, aiming for a place that avoided doors and windows. The wall came away with the blade, and a few more swings produced a small hole that led into the kitchen. Billy had obviously not thought anyone would come through the wall.

"I'll take it from here," said Kimberly, stopping Zack from swinging again. "I think I can get in there and open the door from the inside."

"Hurry," Zack said. "We had to have attracted attention."

Kimberly crawled through the hole easily. She immediately sprang to her feet, ready for any attacks. None came.

"You okay, Kim?" Zack yelled through the door. "Open up, already!"

"Got it," Kimberly yelled back. Just on the top of the doorframe she found it: the quick security failsafe all of their houses had. She flicked it, and an almost-imperceptible buzzing went away. She unlocked the door.

The yelling had stopped, and the house was utterly silent. Zack motioned to the fresh bloodstains between the kitchen and living room, and Kimberly put a hand over her mouth, momentarily forgetting she was morphed. The two inched into the house, weapons ready for any attack.

They heard a weak coughing sound from Billy's room. They rushed forward in time to see Billy struggling from the floor, his throat solid black and red from bruises and burns. Trini was beside him, unconscious and shackled.

"Thank God you guys are here," Billy rasped at them past a damaged throat. "It was… it was Tommy. He was just here, but he must have left before you guys showed up."

Billy started to fall forward, but Zack caught him. Kimberly knelt next to Trini, removing her gloves so she could feel for a pulse.

"What did he do to you?" Zack said.

Billy ignored the question. "Is she okay, Kim?"

"Yeah… I think so," Kimberly answered. "These restraints are electrified, and I don't know how to get them off. Mind giving me a hand, Billy?"

Billy shook his head. "I tried. We both tried, but without the key we can't get them off, and Tommy has the key." Billy frowned. "Tommy had just taken mine off so he could try something… else… with me, and we both attacked him, but he was morphed. We couldn't reach our morphers."

Kimberly looked up from Trini. "What kind of spell was it, Billy? I mean, it can't have been like the one Rita put on him. Tommy hates Zedd. He couldn't be loyal to him."

Billy was visibly shaking. He looked away. "He… he said Lord Zedd approached him with… a job offer. Said that Zedd would restore his powers if he just worked for him." Billy looked up, fear and misery etching his features. "He… he took the job."

"No way!" Zack said, taking a step back. "Tommy'd never sell himself again, not after last time."

"I agree," said Kimberly. "But he's obviously under a spell, and Zedd's making him lie just to throw us off. I mean, evil Tommy wasn't the most honest person ever."

"I'm more concerned about what Tommy has planned next," Billy said quietly. "Do you think…?"

"Yeah, we gotta get back to the Command Center," said Zack. "I wasn't able to communicate a few minutes ago, but hopefully we can…"

He tapped his communicator. Nothing.

Billy ripped off his own communicator and opened it up. "There's nothing wrong with the actual devices. Either Lord Zedd is blocking our communication or teleportation like last time, or…"

"Tommy's done something to the Command Center," Zack finished for him. "Neither way is good. Jason was at the Command Center, and if the Command Center is blocked off, Tommy must have put him out of commission." He gulped. "That means we're on our own with one injured and one unconscious."

"And party guests coming in an hour," Kimberly reminded.

"Right," said Zack. "Because otherwise it'd be too simple."

"I suggest we make our way to my lab," said Billy. "If nothing else, we can use the car like last time."

"Which will take an hour," Kimberly commented. "Not perfect, but it might have to do."

"I'll take Trini," said Zack, pulling away his Power Axe.

The three moved cautiously through the house. Kimberly kept her Blade Blaster out, knowing that Tommy could attack at any second.

Billy unlocked the lab quickly, but Kimberly pulled him back so she could enter first and make sure it was safe. Seeing no one, she motioned the others in. Zack immediately headed for the covered gurney in the corner.

"That's not a good place for her," Billy said sharply. He quickly cleared a table. "Put her here."

Zack laid Trini on the table. "She doesn't look good. Billy, you have some serum in your lab, don't you? I thought I remembered..."

"Used up with recent experiments." Billy wasn't looking at him. He was busy with his computer. "I can't gain access to the Command Center." He pulled out a metal cylinder from his pocket. "Maybe I can..." He broke off as he started working. "I... I can't believe Tommy would join Zedd like that."

"I can't believe it either," Kimberly said, her voice firm.

"I mean, he..."

"No, I mean I really don't believe it," Kimberly spoke over him. "I don't know what game Zedd is playing, but Tommy's not playing along willingly." She took a breath. "I won't lie. There were times I thought he'd rejoin Rita. But not Zedd. His connection to Rita won't allow it, not even to save his powers."

Billy stopped working. "I... I promised Tommy... I promised him, a long time ago, that if he ever turned evil again..." He looked up at them. "He doesn't want us to save him. He made me promise..."

"Where are your bruises?"

Billy looked up sharply at Zack's words, his hands absently straying to his neck.

"I thought you said you didn't have any serum," Zack continued, his voice turning hostile. "Without the serum, it would have taken days for those wounds to heal. So what's going on, Billy?"

Billy's eye twitched. "I had a little serum..."

"Then why lie?" Kimberly demanded. "Why not give it to Trini?" She had her blade blaster trained on Billy now.

"I think we know what happened to Trini," said Zack. "And I'd like to know what's in this thing you were so nervous about me getting in to."

He made a move to the bed-like machine in the corner, but Billy intercepted him. Zack prepared to throw Billy off without hurting him... but then he realized he couldn't move his arm, and Billy's fingers were like iron around his arm.

"I do not think that would be wise." Billy's voice had grown soft and dangerous. He twisted his hand, and Zack was brought to his knees momentarily from the pain.

"Let him go!" Kimberly yelled. She was edging forward, trying to position herself between Billy and Trini.

Billy looked up at Kimberly, and she wondered how she had been fooled before. The look in Billy's eyes was barely human. He regarded her with amused contempt. "Go ahead, Pink Ranger. Fire on an unmorphed human."

"This isn't you, Billy," Kimberly said slowly.

"Interestingly perceptive," Billy said, a wry smile on his face.

"How are you doing this?" Zack spoke up. His voice was strained. He couldn't move without parting company with his arm, and he was confused as hell about that.

"There are several theories," Billy said. "You'll have to ask Trini about that."

"Billy..." Kimberly said slowly, "you're obviously under some sort of spell. I don't want to do this... but you'll thank me for it later."

In the microsecond before Kimberly pulled the trigger, aiming for a leg, Billy twisted Zack around to take the blast for him. Zack yelled, and Billy had raced across the lab before either of them could react. He punched a few keys on his computer, and then stood, smiling.

Kimberly realized she was no longer holding a blade blaster. She and Zack stared at each other, into scared eyes that were no longer hidden by helmets.

In that look, they instantly knew they had to retreat. With an incomprehensible yell, Zack picked up one of Billy's heavier machines and threw it at him. It didn't hit him, but it gave Zack and Kimberly enough time to grab Trini and start running.

They made it out of the house by the front door. "If we can make it to my house," Kimberly gasped, "we can maybe secure it against Billy."

"The man who designed that security system?" Zack pointed out. "No chance. We've got a better chance in your car."

"Both plans have flaws."

They stopped short. Billy had magically appeared in front of them, blocking their way to Kimberly's house.

"Where's Tommy?" Kimberly asked. "Did you turn him in to Lord Zedd?"

"All these interesting theories..." Billy smiled and shook his head. "How do you know what I said wasn't true? Who said Lord Zedd couldn't have two Rangers under spells, especially two who live in the same house? You can't say Tommy wouldn't do anything to preserve his powers."

This time Kimberly didn't have her helmet to hide how much Billy's words bothered her. Still, she said, "You're still lying. The last time you were under a spell, you wanted to make Tommy into the bad guy. You're repeating yourself."

"Do you really think all that matters?" Billy laughed. "I have control over the Command Center and the Morphing Grid, I've gained some mysterious powers, including super strength, speed and healing, I've denied you your power, you're holding up your unconscious best friend... and you're worried about your boyfriend."

They heard a motorcycle start up on an adjacent street. Zack and Kimberly glanced at each other. They were in the middle of the street, in full view of everyone and blocking traffic. They had to move this stand-off, and soon.

"You've got a point," Zack said, speaking before Kimberly had a chance to react. "But so does Kimberly. You're repeating yourself. Last time, you wanted something from us to give to your new boss. What is it this time?"

"So you're really still thinking in terms of ransom?" Billy said. "I'm simply here for destructive purposes. I control everything. I can give Lord Zedd everything he wants... including entertainment as I destroy you."

"Not buying it," said Zack. "You could have killed any of us at any time, but you haven't killed anyone. If you can actually deliver Zordon to Zedd, and I don't think you have, because that's his goal, and he wouldn't still be dicking around with us if he had Zordon. So... what's your real motive?"

Billy considered Zack coldly, and then laughed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Suffice it to say... I just want to hurt you. Make you all feel like I've felt all my life. And there's not much you can do about it. I can promise you, though, that if you come back into the house quietly—all three of you—you might live through this. Otherwise-"

He didn't get a chance to finish his threat. He was distracted by a motorcycle hitting him.

Zack and Kimberly stared as Jason, morphed as the Red Ranger, had throttled down the street on a red motorcycle. At the last minute, he skidded the bike on its side to hit Billy, who was thrown down the road, rolling for several feet. A streak of blood marked the road from Jason's motorcycle to where Billy landed.

Jason was already off the bike and running to Billy. Instead of helping him, however, he started going through his pockets.

"H... Holy shit, Jas!" Zack stammered. "Holy shit! Y-you killed Billy!"

"Didn't kill him," Jason said. "He's already healing." He grabbed something from Billy's pockets and pulled the communicator from his wrist. "Into the lab, guys! Hurry!"

Still shaken by seeing their friend splattered over the pavement, they still followed Jason as quickly as they could into the lab. As soon as they were in, Jason blocked off the door and reactivated security.

"That can't hold him off forever," Jason said. "Zack, I need you to block off that hole near the front door. Use one of these." Jason handed him one of their portable security stabilizers, something Billy had cooked up when they needed to secure an area temporarily. "Hurry. He's probably already waking up."

"Are you sure he's okay?" Kimberly demanded as Zack ran from the room.

"I'm sure," Jason said. "I heard enough to know he would be." He was pulling a syringe out of his uniform, which he gave to Kimberly before moving to the computer. "Brought some serum. Give Trini this. I'm going to need her help if we're going to regain access to the Command Center and the Morphing Grid."

Kimberly still glared at Jason, but she did as she was told.

Trini gasped awake as the serum instantly healed her. Kimberly steadied her on the table.

"T-Tommy," Trini said, breathing hard from the sudden awakening, or perhaps from panic. "Where is he?"

"We don't know," said Kimberly. "We... we haven't had a chance to look. We only just got away from Billy."

"Billy!" Trini looked wildly around. "He... he isn't here."

"He's outside," Jason said, "and I need your help to make sure he stays that way. Sorry, Trini," his voice softened, "but you're the only one who can do this."

Trini's face set in determination, and she hopped off the table and gently pushed Jason away from the computer terminal. "I'm strengthening security," she said. "What the...?" She began typing furiously. "He's hacked into the damn Morphing Grid."

"And has control of it," Kimberly supplied. "He made me and Zack unmorph. Jas, why are you still morphed?"

"Zordon infused me with some of his power," Jason said offhandedly. "Trini, he could be here any second."

"Yeah, I know," Trini said tightly. "How did you keep him off this long?"

"Jason hit him with a motorcycle," Zack said, returning to the room. "Extra security is set on the hole in the wall."

"Okay, later I definitely need to be filled in," Trini said. "Right now, though, I can keep Billy out, but it's going to take me hours to even start getting the Morphing Grid back."

"Just work on the Command Center, and then Zordon can do the rest," Jason said. "As long as we can teleport out before Billy..."

Kimberly screamed, breaking Trini off, as she opened the bed-like machine in the corner, revealing an unconscious and badly-beaten Tommy. At the same time, Jason launched himself across the room at Billy, who had just walked into the lab from the kitchen.

"I'm taking the fight outside!" Jason yelled behind him and he slammed Billy into the wall. "Get in Billy's car and get to the Command Center!"

"We need some serum for Tommy!" Trini yelled back, clearly torn between fear of Billy and concern for Tommy.

"Guys... wait..." Billy choked, his eyes wide with panic. "There's been a misunderstanding."

"Don't give us that bullshit again," Zack sneered. He's picked up one of the heavier components in the lab, and he was clearly ready to start throwing things again. "You've already tried to tell us that two beaten and unconscious people are actually evil. Who are you going to blame next... Alpha?"

"Actually..." Jason said.

Billy had stopped struggling, trying to gain enough breath to talk. "Throw Tommy the serum, Jason. I won't run."

Jason loosened his grip in shock. He knew evil Billy was a good actor, but...

"Jas, the serum," Kimberly said urgently.

Still staring at Billy, Jason pulled another vial of serum from under his uniform. He handed it to Zack, who passed it to Kimberly.

"So why the changed tune, Billy?" Jason said. "Evil spell wear out, or is this another game?"

Billy gulped, his eyes darting wildly about, but there was no longer any slyness about him. He wasn't predatory... just scared. "There was never an evil spell. I've been held prisoner at the Moon Palace since last night."

The four Rangers stared at him, the silence only broken by Tommy's gasp as he healed.

"What do you mean, you've been at the Moon Palace?" Trini said, her voice shaking. "I know exactly where you've been. How dare you..."

Trini, again, cut off short. There was a loud banging against the garage door, almost always closed ever since Billy turned the garage into a lab. The force field around it sizzled, but the force of the blows was enough to shake the door.

"It's a bit pathetic, Rangers," Billy's voice clearly sounded through the garage door. "I wasn't expecting you to hide like this, especially when you know it won't take me long to gain access. If an idiot like Zack can do it..."

The Rangers looked to the garage door, then to Billy, then back to the garage door.

"Uh, guys?" Tommy said weakly. "Since when are there two Billys?"

"That's not me," Billy said in a hollow voice. "It's... one of Lord Zedd's creations. He infiltrated the house last night when Tommy was gone, and then he delivered me back to Lord Zedd so he could take my place. I escaped from the Moon Palace a while ago, but I didn't have my power coin or communicator, and Zedd sent Putty patrols to slow me down. I... I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner."

Zack had peeked out of the garage window. He immediately jumped back. "It's true," he said shakily. "There really is another Billy out there."

"So Zedd made a Billy clone," Tommy said, pulling himself painfully from the machine. Kimberly steadied him: it seemed the healing serum didn't work on him as well. Faint lines traced the cuts on his skin, and he still had a few bruises. "That makes more sense than some of my theories. But he made the clone pretty exact. That clone is exactly like you, Billy… if you were evil and superpowered."

"We can figure this out later," said Jason, finally backing away from Billy. "Right now, we need to get control back of the Command Center and Morphing Grid. Billy, can you undo what the clone did?"

"I expect I can," Billy said, running to his computer.

Trini backed away quickly. Momentary flashes of fear and anger crossed her face. She hid them, though, by moving to Tommy.

"I don't like this," she said, inspecting Tommy's unfaded wounds. "The serum should have healed you completely."

"Has to be my connection to my power coin," Tommy said in a low voice. "Don't make a big deal out of it. We have more important things to worry about."

Trini nodded. She shot a worried glance back at Billy. "Thanks, by the way," she said to Tommy.

"He didn't…"

"No," Trini said quickly. "You gave me enough time to free myself, though I was too late to help anyone else," she finished bitterly.

Kimberly looked from Trini to Tommy, but didn't say anything. It wasn't the time for questions.

In the meantime, the pounding on the garage door was getting more insistent.

"He can't break through the force field with his bare hands, can he?" Zack said, positioning himself next to Jason to guard the door.

"We don't know how strong Zedd's made this thing," said Jason.

Billy was continuing to type furiously. "It seems the clone had a remote device, and he's moved all control to that. There's little I can do without the device."

"Yeah, I think I saw him with it," Tommy said.

"You mean this?" Jason asked, producing a metal cylinder. "I pulled it off him while he was unconscious… along with a few other things."

He tossed the cylinder to Billy, along with his morpher and communicator.

Billy breathed a sigh of relief. "If the clone bears as much resemblance to me as I think, I should be able to undo what he's done fairly easily."

The garage door was shaking violently, and Jason drew his sword. "Soon as you can, Billy."

With a crash and an electric sizzle, the garage door flew open… but not before the Power Rangers disappeared.

"Good work, Billy," Jason said, finally demorphing. "I didn't really want to fight that clone by myself."

"Welcome back, Rangers," Zordon said. "I take it we were wrong in our assumption of an evil spell."

"Zedd's made an evil clone of Billy," said Zack. "Freaky thing, too."

Billy, in the meantime, was already moving to a panel. "I was only able to gain teleportation, Zordon. We still need to gain access back to the Morphing Grid."

"Please place the remote on the scanning device, and I will be able to interface with it," Zordon said. "In the meantime, Billy, please see to Alpha. His primary functions have been corrupted."

Billy turned even paler, but nodded. "Where's…"

"He's just outside the security room," Jason supplied. "Don't turn him on. He was in some sort of attack mode when I shut him down."

Billy ran for the corridor. The other Rangers waited, not wanting to distract Zordon.

Kimberly helped Tommy sit on the steps, still pale. Both he and Trini had flinched away from Billy as he'd passed.

Jason edged toward the steps. "So… you and Trini have had the most contact with the clone," he said to Tommy in a low voice. "What are we dealing with?"

Tommy and Trini exchanged looks. They seemed to be silently debating how much to tell. There was a sort of understanding between them that scared the other Rangers more than what they might hear. Tommy and Trini had never been particularly close. If they were this much attuned now, that meant something truly horrible had happened.

"I didn't see much," Trini said shortly. "I came to Billy's house to help with the party and got blind-sided by the clone. He's strong… really strong. We know that. And I think his endurance is not just healing. He can withstand lots of damage. I punched several pain centers, and he didn't even flinch. I… was tied up in another room for most of the time." She looked at Tommy. "Tommy made sure he didn't get to me. He goaded Billy… the clone… into beating him so I could have time to escape."

Tommy was looking away. The others seemed to accept Trini's story, though Kimberly was watching her carefully. "I…" Tommy began. He swallowed, clearly trying to put his brain back together. He finally shrugged and smiled. "The clone doesn't just have Billy's looks and intelligence. He has his memories. He decided to recreate what I did to Billy when I was evil. That might have been just… you know… Zedd messing around with me, but I was able to goad him with stuff that would have worked on Billy. That would have only worked on Billy." Tommy grimaced. "He's also no slouch on torture. And he kept pumping me full of serum so he could start again."

"I'm not sure if I can ever really repay you," Trini said.

Tommy chuckled, breaking out of a reverie. "Amount of times you've saved my life…"

"Zedd's gonna pay for this one," Zack said darkly. "That clone coulda killed us all."

"But it didn't," Jason pointed out. "And it had opportunity. So what game is Zedd playing? If Zedd just wanted to kill us, he could have made the clone do it easy."

"Are we sure Zedd has full control over the clone?" Kimberly said. "I mean, what the clone has done seems more, like, personal, from what Tommy said."

Trini left the room abruptly. Zack made to follow, but Tommy held out a hand. "Wait…" He looked at Kimberly. "I'm gonna be okay, but I think Trini needs you now."

Kimberly gave Tommy a slightly startled look, but then nodded and got up to follow Trini.

Billy jogged back into the room. "I've had to leave Alpha in a diagnostic scan, but he should be operating correctly within the hour." He glanced at Tommy, flinched, and then looked away.

"How much do you know?" Jason asked him.

Billy continued to look determinedly away. "Everything. At least, since before I escaped. Zedd made me watch. Finster even fixed my eyesight when my glasses broke during my capture, just so I could have a front-row seat to everything the clone was doing."

"I'm sorry," Tommy said, drawing everyone's stares. "Billy… I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't know… well, I did know you were listening, but I thought you were under a spell. I didn't know…"

"You said what you had to say," Billy said. "It… wasn't easy to hear, but I knew you didn't mean a word of it. I'm grateful, in fact. I'm… sorry for what the clone did."

Tommy waved his hand. "Don't be. You couldn't help that Zedd picked you to be a clone."

Billy opened his mouth to say something, stopped, and then nodded.

There was a loud whirr, and then the lights turned back to normal in the Command Center. The Rangers looked up at Zordon, expectantly.

"Rangers," Zordon began, "I have restored power to the Command Center and control over the Morphing Grid. However," he continued darkly, "there is still much to worry about. I did not sense any resistance to my efforts from Earth. The clone was not trying to maintain his control, meaning…"

"He's got his sights set on something else," Jason finished. "Since we're all at the Command Center, he's changed his objectives. But to what?"

"I have not sensed any power surges from Billy's house, which means he has not teleported away. I can also not sense him anywhere else on Earth, so it is probable he has not left the house."

Jason, Billy, Zack, and Tommy all looked down, thinking. Then they looked at each other, panicked.

"The party!"

Will heard the doorbell ring as he put the final touches to the stereo system he'd carried from Jason's car. He turned on some music and smiled. "Party time."