Keys To The Universe
By Didi

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters; they are the sole property of Saban and company. I am not making any money off of this, though I wish I was, so please do not sue me. All you are going to get is pocket lint.

Note: Story picks up after the death of Zordon and before Lost Galaxy. I don't remember every little detail to any of the series so don't expect the story to be perfect.

Rated: R due to context and language. I reserve the right to change the rating if I feel like picking up the heat a little. Enjoy.

Summary: With Zordon gone, who is there to guard those he defeated before?

"Spoken words." [Thoughts]

Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. Life go did not want me near the computer for a while and... what can I do? Enjoy and thanks for the reviews guys, they are greatly appreciated.
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Chapter Twenty Nine - Chaos
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-Astro Mega Ship-

"You aren't really mad at them, are you?" Aisha asked tentatively as she jogged along side Trini who was power walking some of her steam off. "I mean, I know why they..."

"Of course I know why they did it," Trini answered heatedly then sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

"I think you're allowed, you've had a rough couple of days." Aisha smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

"It's just...."

"So stupid of them to have risked Billy's health like that?" Kimberly suggested as she led the way back to her room.

"Yeah but that's not why I'm angry with them either," Trini explained slowly as she shook her head. "I know why Billy is needed and under normal circumstances I won't even blame them."

"But?"

"But they didn't even tell me," she replied angrily. "I go off to get a bit and then come back to an empty infirmary. No note, no message, nothing!"

"Very inconsiderate of them," Aisha agreed with a nod. "I would have expected those three to do better, given all the shit you've had to put up with these last couple of days."

"They didn't even consult me," Trini muttered without much heat now. "For god sakes, do I look like I would be completely unreasonable about things with all hell breaking loose at the moment?"

"Of course not," Kimberly sympathized. It really did peeve her that Tommy would so something so incredible guy-like in many respects. She expected better from him. "You are the primary physician on board and you should have been consulted, no matter what your decision might have been. They've taken you for granted."

"I hate that," Aisha agreed with a frown.

"It's the stress," Trini acknowledge wearily. "We all do stupid things because of stress."

"Please tell me you're not making excuses for them," Kimberly begged as she opened the door and crashed on the bed for a bit. "Cause I'm going to kick 'your' ass if you are."

"They're not forgiven yet, if that's what you're asking," Trini said with a grin. "God, I wish I can take a shower. But I'm not willing to stripe down in this cold. Might end up with freezer burns or something."

"Yeah," Aisha made a face and turned to leave again. "I'm going to bring some coffee to the crew in Engine Room. You guys need anything?"

"I'll help," Kimberly offered, slowly getting up again as Trini climbed the bunk.

"No, stay." She gave the former Pink Ranger a push. "You've been on the bridge all morning and most of the afternoon. Take a nap while you can. You too Trini."

"What do you think I'm doing now?" Trini replied good naturedly as she laid down with a groan. "Wake me when Hell Week is over."

"Sleep well," Aisha wished to them before leaving.

Kimberly stared at the metal gray walls for a moment. "Trini?"

"Yeah?"

"We have to be up in fifteen minutes or less to help with the battle."

"I know," she murmured.

"Fifteen minute nap?"

"Yeah."

She paused. "Trini?"

"Yes?"

"What's going on with you and Jason?"

Trini smiled, realizing Kimberly less then subtle effort at getting information out of her while she was half dead. "Sherlock Holmes you are not." She sighed and rested her arms behind her head. "He's fond of me."

"Fond?" Kimberly asked in disbelief.

"Okay, okay. He likes me."

Kim rolled her eyes. "He 'likes' chocolate cake. He's 'fond' of football, baseball, volleyball and any other ball you can think of. He 'loves' you."

"He does not," she argued only half-heartedly.

"Of course he is. A blind man can see that the boy is head over heels for you."

Laughing, Trini leaned over the side and grinned. "We're taking it slow."

"May not have too much time left," she pointed out logically.

"True, but I think we're doing okay. Moving slowly pass friendship and..."

Kimberly burst out laughing. "Oh please.... Jason moved beyond that point years ago."

She blinked. "Kim..."

"You love him?"

She didn't answer for a moment. "I'm not sure. Never been in love before."

Kim nodded her head. "Does his mere presence make the world seem a less harsher place? Does he make her feel warm inside just by the thought of him? Does it hurt to think that you may not have tomorrow with him?"

Trini nodded her head slowly. "Is this love?"

"Yeah, I think so." She smile then shook her head. "Then again, what do I know?"
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"It doesn't have to look pretty as long as it'll take the pressure of traveling together. Weld them tight," Billy instructed as he moved to push another warhead into place. Grabbing the nearest glider, he tried to shake the sudden dizziness from his system.

"Whoa there," Ashley reached out and tentatively held Billy's arm for a moment, not exactly sure of his reaction. She watched as he squeezed his eyes shut and gripped the steel tight enough to turn his knuckles white. "Are you all right?"

Three deep breaths later, he nodded his head slowly. "Yes, thank you."

"Maybe you should sit down for a second," Ashley advised slowly, careful to keep him balanced as she helped him lower to the ground. "You look pale as a ghost at the moment."

"I'm naturally of a pale shade of color," he informed her slowly even as he conceded that he was not feeling as well as he had hoped. "But Trini often says that that my skin tone has nothing to do with such phrases as they describe the health in which other find..." he looked up at her slightly confused face. "Never mind. I think you're right about resting. I do not feel very stable at the moment."

"Billy, don't push yourself," Tommy advised from half way across the crowded bay. "I do not need Trini more pissed at me that she already is."

"And you know she's going to double our punishments if she find out you out cold from exhaustion," Jason added with a smile as he held the gliders in place while Carlos wielded the torch that would seal the two transportation devises together. "How are we doing?"

"We've got to work faster," Andros informed them as he and Cassie slammed their gliders together. "Rocky and Adam can only keep the single fighters occupied for so long."

"Don't worry about Rocky and Adam, they'll do their part in keeping the enemies distracted as long as we need them to," Tommy said as he helped Zhane to load the warhead into place. "I'm more concerned about Zhane and Tanya in the engine room. How were the repairs going when you guys left them earlier?"

Carlos winced as he finished welding his glider to Ashley. He was going to miss the old thing. Saved his life more than once now. But sacrificed had to be made and this was one of them. "The repairs were about sixty percent completed when we left. Zack and Tanya said that they could handle it."

"Those engines have to be running when we get these puppies off the ship," Jason frowned as he strapped the warhead into place and took the torch from Carlos to secure it. "Karone, you mind giving them a hand?"

Nodding her blonde head, Karone touched hands with Zhane for a second before turning, not once questioning the orders given. It felt incredibly good to be part of a team, especially a team that accepted her without reserve. Stopping briefly, she looked at a pale-faced Billy who appeared to be having trouble breathing. "Um..."

"I'm fine, don't worry." Billy assured her with a weak smile for her concern. "Just get those engines running again and I'll be even better."

She nodded again and took off, considerably cheered.

TJ watched the exchanged with quiet eyes as he loaded his glider with a warhead. It was not lost to them that Billy's attitude had drastically altered since... It made no sense but at the moment, he had more concerns to think about than another's behavioral patterns.

"You've looked better," Jason said as he handed the torch back to Carlos and joined Billy on the ground for a moment. Covered in sweat, he did not feel the cold that had Billy bundled in six layers of clothes. "Karone has fallen into your good graces?"

"Can't blame her," Billy murmured back quietly, praying that he does not up chuck the wonderfully hot coffee he had not three minutes ago.

"That's not how you felt when you came on load," Jason pointed out slowly but felt the tides have changed in Billy's heart. "What happened?"

"I'd like to say Trini's fist," which had Jason chuckling, "But I think it was the talk."

"You and Trini?"

"Yeah," he smiled admitting the Trini's gift has once again saved his sanity. "Or actually, my yelling and her listening without any judgment or opinions."

"Got it off your chest?" Jason asked quietly, watching as Cassie and Carlos argued over how to place the warheads together for maximum damage.

"Yeah," Billy nodded slowly. "Karone was a victim of circumstance, just like most of us are. We don't get to choose what you can and cannot do in life. Life does a damn good job of choosing for us." He smiled as Tommy and Andros rushed over to break up the impending fight that looks about to start between a fuming Cassie and an amused Carlos. "I should apologize to her."

"I don't think you need to," Jason advised gently. "I think having you smile at her ever once in a while is enough to let her know that you don't hate her and that you care."

"She's family," he muttered quietly, still a little in disbelief over his own line of thoughts. "Part of the Ranger family. I owe her an apology."

"If it would make you feel better..."

"It would," he nodded and silently thank Jason for his understanding. "Now if I could figure out what to do about TJ."

"Ah yes," Jason turned and watched the solemn young man heaved his glider toward Ashley's for the final link. "Now there is a hard nut to crack."

"Yeah, I certainly did not make it any easier," Billy admitted somewhat embarrassed. A small spark of anger still flared when he thought of TJ, but he had been ruthlessly stomping it down now. He needed to move pass this anger and guilt, this was not the time to be stalled by old tendencies.

Jason nodded his head in concession but added, "You were grieving. We can't blame you for that."

"Sure you can," Billy grinned lightly but his eyes revealed something else. "We were supposed to be pulling together for this fight. We were Zordon's children, his chosen ones. And then I walked in and caused that cold icy wall to be erected between the new team and old. Sure Trini and Kim and the girls tried to transcend it, and an admirable job they did too, but the wall was still at all times." He shook his head with regret. "I did a 'great' job carrying on Zordon's dreams there."

Patting him on the back, Jason got to his feel slowly. "We all deal with grief in our own way. It was likely that the wall would have been there even if you hadn't done anything at all. In case you haven't noticed, TJ isn't exactly going out of his way to make himself likable."

"Why is that, do you suppose?" Billy asked, his eyes following the Blue Space Ranger's movements.

"Don't know."

"Then I guess Trini has a new patient waiting in the wings."

"Guess so."
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"Is there anything we can..."? Demarci landed hard on his side as the entire ship rocked with an impact from a colliding ship. "Report!"

"Suicide fighter to port side," one of the engineers called out as he rushed to the elevator. "Engines two and three are down!"

"Get repairs going," the captain hollered back unnecessarily before turning back to the main viewer. "Rangers..."

"Sir," Rocky forestalled him. "With all due respect, you have enough troubles there as is. There is no need for you to worry about us."

"You are hopelessly outnumbered, Ranger. We can perhaps spare..."

"No!" Adam shook his head firmly. "Keep your men where they are and let us worry about the incoming fleet. You came with reinforcements when you can spare the energy to do so. In the meantime, we've got ourselves a nice little plan in the works."

"The Celestial Heavens smiles upon you, Ranger," the captain nodded his head in return. "We shall dispatch of these villains as quickly as we can and come help. Please keep us advised of your situation."

"Thank you, Captain," Rocky nodded his head. "May Zordon watch over us."

"Like wise, Ranger. Demarci out."

Adam raised his brows at his best friend for a moment. "May Zordon watch over us?"

Rocky shrugged his broad shoulders. "That's what they keep saying to us."

"Yeah but to use that kind of term...never mind." Adam shook his head and sighed. "We still keeping those guys running around in circles?"

"Yup," Rocky replied with a grin as he kept an eye on the autopilot. "It's like watching a dog chase its tail."

"Can't keep this up for much longer. They may be androids but they're not completely stupid."

"Remember the putties?"

Adam glanced over with a questioning look wondering at the sudden change in subjects. "Yeah?"

"It's like watching the putties fight all over again. Committed they may be, but not the brightest bulb in the universe." Rocky picked up his coffee and blew on it. "I hope Aisha went to take a nap. I know that she says that she's fine but it was less than twenty four hours ago that she was laid up with a brain explosion."

"Don't worry. Unlike most of the other members of this team, I think Aisha is sensible enough to know not to push herself to the max."

"You think so? I am not too sure. No offense to my darling's intelligence, but when it comes to needing to do what needs to be done, even the smartest of us go a little beyond the their sensibilities to get things done."

"We on Billy now?" Adam asked quietly, watching with a critical eye as at the formation of ships that were gathering.

"You have to admit..."

"I know, I know. He's not been himself since Zordon's death."

"Have any of us been?"

Thinking about it, really thinking about it Adam had to concede that they've all been acting up just a little over all of this. Not that traveling across the universe in an effort to stop a monstrous demon that's lived probably longer than some stars have was anything unusual. Just the same old stuff they're use to dealing with now. Adam rolled his eyes. "You're appetite hasn't changed."

"Thanks," he grinned. "By the way, Aisha thinks Knowledge. What about you?"

"I would concur."

"But?"

"But what?"

Rocky cocked his head to the side. "I heard a 'but' in there."

"Nothing much. I just thought that Billy could just as easily be Spirit."

That got a reaction. "More Jason or Tommy on that one."

"Soul?" Adam suggested.

"Who would be Spirit?"

Adam shook his head and sighed. "Knowledge it is then. You enjoy playing devil's advocate, don't you?"

"Yes."

"By the way, I still think you are Honor."

Rocky grinned. "And I still think that you are."

"I guess time will tell which one of us is right."

"Amen to that."

"And it's going to prove to be me."

Laughing, Rocky leaned back as he watched two ships run into each other due to the complicated movements of the ships auto piloting skills. "You're uncommonly arrogant about this."

"Aisha is Belief. You are Honor. Makes perfect sense to me."

"I'm not going to argue with you anymore cause we'll just end up going another round on this without any results."

"Thank you for conceding though."

"I'm not conceding," Rocky argued with a laugh. "I'm just saying that it's hopeless to argue over this."

"Okay, we'll drop it. By the way, how are you and Aisha?"

"Good." He nodded his head firmly. "Very good."

"Very good, heh?"

"Yeah," Rocky continued to nod his head, his mind somewhere else now.

The distracted look was more than enough to pique Adam's curiosity. "Rocky?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you evil are you hatching over there?"

Glancing over, he smiled. "I'm thinking how nice Aisha would look in white."

"White?" a brow rose in inquiry.

"Yeah, white. It is traditional you know. And with all her modern views of woman's rights and equality and all those wonderful things, Aisha's still a very traditional girl at heart."

Adam stared openly, jaw hitting the ground. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Rocky nodded his head again, his mind already moving quickly along that particular path. "I like to know what my girl wants. It's the little things like life that courts. I think she'd like yellow roses in her bouquet, what do you think? Spring? May? Be my best man?"

Laughing, Adam shook his head with amusement. "This trip just gets more interesting by the minute."
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"From here, we will be able to navigate the bomb," Billy explained as he hook the controller on.

"How do we protect it while it's getting pushed in?" Andros asked as he glanced at the counting clock on the main viewer.

"We don't," Jason murmured regretfully. "There isn't time or equipment for anything that extensive."

"But what if..."

"It's a chance we'll have to take," Tommy said as he took a seat. He was exhausted from the work and less than adequate sleep he has been getting lately.

"It's a huge risk," Zhane murmured his eyes troubled by this as he watched the converging ships. "How about if I go along and..."

"Are you nuts!" Tanya exclaimed, startling the silent Rangers around her. "Isn't one trip into La-La Land for two years enough for a lifetime?"

This startled Zhane. "I..."

"I totally agree," Kat nodded her head firmly. "That's a thumbs down from this quarters."

"But I..."

Kimberly shook her head firmly at him. "All those opposing the Silver Knuckle-Head's idea, say AY!"

"AY!" Came the unanimously shouted reply.

Smiling sweetly at Zhane, Aisha patted him on the shoulder. "And the ay's have it."

"Don't you just love democracy?" Ashley added with a laugh.

Andros laughed and mentally gave his friend a kick. "But we do still need to give the bomb some cover."

"We'll have to do it from here," Tommy point out as he took the pilot seat. "Whose our best shots?"

"Kimberly," Trini pointed out.

"Me?" was the reaction.

"Yeah you," the doctor replied with a roll of her eyes. "I seem to recall a flower monster you hit with your power bow."

"She's right," Zack added with a grin. "Oh by the way, engine three is at full capacity again, thanks to Karone and her inventive use of a monkey wrench."

The former princess of evil blushed as her brother looked at her questioning. "They needed a conductor but didn't have a proper one that fitted. I had Zack pound the wrench into a shapeless piece to fit as a rod."

Andros nodded his head and took it all in stride that they were using scrape metal to treat his beloved ship.

"Kimberly it is," Billy agreed with one hand absentmindedly rubbing his temple. "Who's the other?"

They all looked at one another. Rocky and Adam pointed in unison, "Jason!"

The former Gold Ranger nodded his head in acceptance of the idea.

"Okay, Jason and Kim on the cannons." Tommy looked over at the rest of the team. "Carlos and TJ on the lasers?" looking for objections.

"Other way around," Billy interjected. "The cannons have heavy blast yields, I don't want it interfering with the bomb's auto navigation system."

Adam shook his head for a moment. "I thought we were just going to point them in one direction and push."

"Exactly," Billy turned and grinned at them. "I don't want anything interfering with the direction of the bomb. Lasers are softer. Switch the teams' positions."

"Agreed," Andros nodded slowly, feeling the exhaustion.

"Boys?" Jason asked quietly.

Both nodded their head in concession.

Cassie smiled happily, "Ashley and I will stay in the engine room." Her friend nodded her agreement readily. "Okay with you, Zack?"

"The more the merrier. Right, Tanya?"

Tanya smiled. "Plus you at least know how to use the fire extinguisher."

Ashley laughed. "Took me while to learn it too."

"Trini has the medical bay," Kimberly pointed.

"As usual," she added with a resigned sign. "And I'm taking Billy and Aisha with me. I don't want to hear it, Billy." She added when the man in question opened his mouth to object.

Knowing the steely look in the former yellow ranger's eyes, Billy clamped his mouth shut and nodded his head. It was a battle he was not going to win. Besides which, he didn't think it was wise to piss her

"Andros, you want to pilot?" Tommy asked as he looked at the Red Space Ranger. It occurred to him that he was taking too much control; this was Andros' ship and home.

"No, I would rather sleep," and Red Ranger admitted reluctantly. He's body was screaming with the need to rest. He's been pushing himself harder and harder these past few days. "If it is all right with..."

"Of course it is," TJ interjected with a frown. "No need to work yourself into an early grave. I'm sure there are no objections." His tone indicated that that should be none.

Billy swallowed the retort and nodded his head toward the tired Ranger. "Get some rest, Andros. This is what team work is about." He turned and looked at the Silver Ranger. "You too Zhane."

"Someone has to be on communications," he pointed out.

"I'll handle it," Karone volunteered quickly

"Thank you, Karone," Billy replied, his blue eyes resting on the girl for a moment. "But..."

"But what?" TJ asked, not heated but expectedly.

Cassie elbowed the Blue Space Ranger hard.

Billy sighed and turned back to Karone. "But I thought perhaps you should rest."

"I'm fine," Karone replied, offering a tentative smile. She liked Billy this way, his eyes not full of heat and anger.

"But..." his eyes traveled to her belly for a moment. "Maybe Adam or Rocky can hold down communications."

"But I'm perfectly capable of..." Karone followed his gaze and blushed mightily. "Oh..."

"What?" Cassie and Ashley asked at the same time.

"The baby," Billy pointed out.

"What baby?" the girls asked, again in unison.

Karone blushed a deeper red. "My baby."

"Our baby," Zhane corrected.

There was silence.

"OH MY GOD!" Cassie squealed in the most high-pitched tone she could achieve.

The boys winced. "Does she have to do that?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you have to do that?" Carlos asked as he jogged along side his friend told the cannon ports.

"Do what?"

"Be so defensive about every little thing that comes out of Billy's mouth?"

"Was I?"

He glanced at his friend with irritation. There was only so much he could take, even for a buddy. "Has it become such a second nature to you that you don't even realize it when you're being a jackass?" He hadn't might it unkindly but someone needed to kick the boy hard enough to get his head out of the dirt. "Wake up TJ, we're at war right now. If Billy can bury the hatchet long enough to get the job done, the least you can do is that same."

TJ was silent as he parted company from Carlos and headed toward the cannon port. If asked rather he had seen the change in Billy, he would have replied no. But there was a change, he could see it when the man walked, talked and worked. He had considered that the release of the seal might have released something within the man. But...

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away for now. He had other things to concentrate on at the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ten bucks says that Andros is the godfather," Cassie betted her friend as they set up to guard the engine room against any disasters.

"That's not a bet," Ashley protested. "That's a given. Twenty says that I'm the godmother."

"You're on!" Cassie said as she slapped skin with her friend.

"Suit up ladies," Zack called as he scramble down the ladder toward them. "They're getting ready to launch that puppy."

"Do we have to go into battle mode?" Cassie whined as she moved into one of the monitoring stations. "Those helmets are heavy after a while."

"It's up to you but I would like to point out that the uniforms insolate heat," he ran one finger around the wall finely covered with a sheen of ice. "Might help. Just take the helmet off."

They nodded and morphed. The helmets came off almost immediately, spilling hair from beneath it. "You know something," Cassie commented as she set her helmet down on a console. I could never figure how the morphing grid can get my hair in there without something catching or snagging."

"Magic, my dear," Zack replied with a grin.

"And how come the suit always smells like plastic? I mean, come on, we can't get rose smelling uniforms?" Ashley asked light heartedly as she took a seat.

"Now there's a suggestion that I can deal with," Tanya replied with a grin. "Also, why do the girls always end up with Pink and Yellow? I think I look way better in black."

"No way in hell am I going to wear pink," Zack commented.

The girls laughed. "Oh I know," Tanya said giggling. "I think you're man enough pull off pink."

Zack shook his head firmly. "Sell it to Jason or Tommy." The engines suddenly roared to light. "Heads up ladies, we're going in."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That's the max," Tommy called out as he steadied the ship. "Adam?"

"We'll be within drop off point in six minutes."

"Then we'll be dropping out of high speed and turning around," Tommy reiterated. "Jason, Kim..."

"We'll cover the bomb from here." Kim nodded her head slowly, watching the speed from her position. "Make slow turns handsome, we don't want to miss."

Jason glanced at his instruments for a moment before addressing the gunnery, "TJ, Carlos, you'll be playing defense for the whole ship. Make it good guys."

"We're on it," Carlos answered.

Tommy looked at Jason for a moment as they noted that there was no reply from TJ. There was a nothing problem had to be resolved soon. "Trini, how's Billy doing?"

"I've given him and Kat a sedative, the pain was making them dizzy and I didn't need them upchucking on the deck. They're both knocked out for a while."

"And how are you doing?" Jason asked as he readjusted the targeting. With the auto target grid down, it was all up to the eyes to make the adjustments in second's time.

"I want a bath," she replied easily. "Other wise I'm just fine."

Tommy nodded his head as he counted down in his head on the distance to the drop off point. "Think about getting some rest yourself while you're at it, Doc. We're going to need you on a regular and pretty much timed basis. Next seal to go in twelve hours."

"Don't need to remind me. That nice clock someone put here is counting down the minutes," she muttered rather disgruntled by it.

Rocky laughed. "Well, you were bitching about not being notified."

"Rocky, tell Aisha to prepare black for your funeral," Trini replied quite calmly.

"Ouch," Rocky winced as he glanced over at the blinking light to his right. "Incoming transmission from the fleet."

"Open communications."

"Rangers," Elder Zilda greeted with her hand across her heart. "We are receiving reinforcement from KO-35 now. We should be coming to your assistance shortly."

Rocky shook his head quickly. "Elder, you are going to have to ask your people to slow themselves down. I'm reading your approach at a greater speed than is safe."

Zilda met the news with surprise. "We are attempting to rendezvous with you in hopes that..."

"We understand," Tommy replied keeping an eye on the distance. "But we're trying a few tactics here and require some space between us and that incoming enemy ships. We do not want the fleet caught in the back lash of the explosion."

"Explosion?" now the elder looked really confused. "What explosion."

"Drop off point in one minute," Rocky called out. "Elder, we're going to have to get back to you on that. Have the fleet drop 25% of their speed and we should all I coming out of his smelling like roses."

While a protest looked ready on the elder's lips, she nodded her head and resigned herself to wait for the show to begin. "Understood, Rangers. Good luck."

"You too," Tommy signed off without another word. "All hands, brace yourself for sudden deceleration."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"JASON!" Tommy called out taking the ship to half speed again. "What the hell was that?"

"That was you taking that turn too fast!" Jason replied calmly as he pulled the lasers up, sweeping the twelve to three mark with the high-powered energy weapon. "We need slower transitions, Bro."

"Tommy," Kimberly yelled over her shoulder. "We're targeting manually, you're going to have to give us a lot more warning that that!"

"I can't without us getting cracked like an egg," Tommy readjusted the ship's heading. That last one came too close for his comfort. "Can we move the bomb any faster?"

"Adam??" Rocky called out as he put the sensor readings on the right hand corner of the main viewer. "Yo Adam!"

"Quit yapping, Rocky!" Adam yelled back as he put the thrusters on the red and blue gliders, the end gliders, to the max. "That's all they've got that those puppies. I can't burn the others too fast, the heat may cause the bombs too go off prematurely."

"We're almost there!" Rocky yelled counting down the distance of the bomb to the center of the enemy squadrons, who were somewhat at a loss as to what the contraption was since it was not firing on them. "Ten kilometers..."

"Tommy," Andros called as he stumbled onto the command deck, his hair a mess and his jacket buttoned wrong. "I just thought of something..."

"You're suppose to be in bed, Andros," Jason reminded the exhausted ranger while keeping an eye on the enemy ships that were getting too close. "TJ, we need more cover on the left flank." There was no reply but the increase in power answered just as effectively.

"We'll going to have to ride the wave backwards," Andros explained as he took a seat by Tommy.

"What does that mean?" Tommy asked quickly.

"Five kilometers!" Rocky called out, all ears as to what the Red Space Ranger had to say.

"We were preparing the shields for the shock wave when the bomb detonates right?"

"Get to the point, Andros," Jason pushed.

"That shields aren't going to hold and we'll end up doing a lot of damage if we force the ship to hold its position. I've thought about it. With the kind of yield the gliders are hauling, plus the extra fuel on the gliders, the power of the blast could tear us."

Kimberly was distracted enough to turn in her seat for a few seconds. "And you just thought of it now?"

Andros nodded his head regretfully. "But we can put all the reserve energy to the front shields and put the ship on dead float. Then ride the shockwave backwards for as long as it is safe."

Tommy understood and put the ship in reverse. "Go with the flow until we can hold our own against the decreasing push of the release."

"Yes."

"Good," Tommy looked at Rocky and making the adjustments as he does. "Rocky?"

"One point five kilometers and counting."

"Tick off at ten seconds, Rocky," Jason requested with a final shot. The bomb had moved out of his range. "All hands brace for impact.

"10." Rocky called out as the rest of the crew grabbed the nearest solid object.

"9"

"8"

"7"

"6"

"5"

"4"

"3"

"2"

"1"

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Teaser line: "How did we not see that one coming?"