A/N: No, you guys aren't seeing things. I really am posting the next chapter of my epic piece of FanFiction. I apologize for taking so long doggone long to get this chapter out; but on a lighter note, I've just been promoted to assistant manager at my Subway. So yeah, I've been a little busy. Thankfully, I've managed to find enough time to sit down and fork this next chapter out for you.

When we left off, Molly and Trent managed to survive a cataclysmic explosion that destroyed the city of Reefside, courtesy of Archerina - and the rangers positioned in Angel Grove learned that Luna and Inferna were attacking Angel Grove, while Goldar camped out in the desert with a group of Tangas. If you're eager to find out what's going to happen next, I guess you'll have to read on and see.

On with the update!


~*~*~*~Reminder~*~*~*~

- This story is an AU. It follows the events of the series; but for the sake of my O.C. Molly, the time frame in which each season of Power Rangers has lengthened or been changed. So yes, this story does take place during the season of Dino Thunder, but everyone's ages have been altered to better fit this original idea of mine. If you cannot accept that, you might as well click away now.

- I WILL NOT BE INCLUDING ANY OF THE RANGERS FROM ANY POWER RANGERS SEASON THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER DINO THUNDER.

- I have changed Tommy's profession from being a science teacher to him being a history teacher. For one, I am HORRIBLE with science & chemistry, and I felt that writing about history would be easier for me. Besides, even though paleontology is a science of sorts, I feel that discussing dinosaurs has a historical aspect to it as well. So hey, it works!

- Tommy x Kimberly are the main paring in this story, but there are may other pairings that will be used as well. For obvious reasons, their relationship is going to be a bit rocky at the get go, and it will take a while for the pairing to actually take root. So please, be patient with me and enjoy the ride until we get there. There will be heartbreak, romance, and plenty of drama for you all to enjoy.

- Although I edit this story frequently, I do tend to make a mistake or two from time to time. If you happen to spot one that I have missed, kindly let me know so I can take care of it immediately. Do not insult my intelligence or my skills as a writer for such minor mistakes. It is quite unnecessary.

- Finally, I have made this story a personal challenge for myself, and I am attempting to write the entire story in the present tense. I wanted this story to feel as though it were happening right before our very eyes. It has been tricky, and I tend to mess up my tensing from time to time, but I have enjoyed this little challenge nonetheless. It will probably take some getting used to on your part, but I hope that it will eventually start to grow on you.

~*~*~*~Thanks for Reading!~*~*~*~


Disclaimer: I do not own the popular television series, Power Rangers. It is based off of a brilliant Japanese series, known as the Super Sentai series. I do not own rights to any of show's characters or fictional settings. They are being used in my story for entertainment purposes only.

As for elements in this story, I am the creator of Molly Hart, Samara Scott, Austin Scott, and many other original characters that are featured in this story. I am also the sole creator of this plot and all of its elements.

DO NOT REPRODUCE OR USE ANY ASPECT OF THIS STORY WITHOUT MY WRITTEN PERMISSION. Please, and thank you very much. Happy Reading!


"Blackout"

"Ladies and gentlemen, it would appear that two of the Power Rangers are trying to outrun the blast. Oh God, are they going to make it out in time? Where are the rest of their teammates? Whoa, whoa, whoa - Johnny, steady the chopper now. Johnny. Johnny - aah!"

Andros watches the news clip from Linda Cornell's report with widen, brown eyes, his teeth chewing nervously at his bottom lip. When the clip cuts away to a blue "Please Standby" screen, the Red Astro Ranger presses a large button on the keyboard in front of him and shuts down the holographic screen, the windshield of the Astro Megaship returning. He breathes out a shaky breath before turning towards Jen and Wes, who are standing directly behind him with equally shocked looks on their faces. They say nothing for a while, but finally take a deep breath when Wes scratches the back of his head.

"This is a nightmare." he says with a shaky breath. "The entire city was blown sky high by that attack, and we never saw it coming."

"What are the odds of Molly and Trent surviving an explosion of that magnitude?" Jen says, asking the question that is weighing heavy at the back of everyone's mind. "Should we tell the others?"

"I think we should wait until we know whether or not they're alright." Andros suggests. "There is no point in getting them all worked up if there is nothing to be worked up about. Besides, Samara is still training with Maya right now. I'd hate to break her concentration by telling her about Molly. They are best friends after all."

Wes and Jen nod in agreement, while Andros turns back to his computer and pulls up an image of the Megaship's radar system. There is a large green webbing onscreen, and the rangers can see a large red blip on the outer edge as it slowly inches its way towards the center of the rings. At this rate, it will not be long before the Master crosses paths with the Megaship. What worries the rangers even more is the sight of a smaller red blip closing in on the center at a much faster rate - the two blips belonging to the ships that Astronema and Hellina were aboard, according to the message they had gotten from Hayley a few hours earlier.

"What are our orders?" Jen asks when Andros turns around.

"At the rate they're closing in on us, a counter attack is probably needed." Andros says as he pulls a hair tie off his wrist, and pulls his hair back into a low ponytail. "I'd estimate that they'll be here in under ten minutes. We have to keep the Megaship safe no matter what, so I think that my team and I should head out on the Galaxy Gliders to try and slow them down."

"Do you really expect to leave us behind?" Wes asks, his eyes widening in surprise. "Andros, we have very limited knowledge on how to pilot the Megaship and work its controls."

"Damon knows how to pilot the ship, and of course, you'd have D.E.C.A. and Alpha to act as guides." Andros says as he closes the radar screen. "You guys will be more than safe here."

"Maybe there's another way we can stop them without sending you all directly into their path?" Jen suggests. "I know that your Galaxy Gliders are fast, but there is a chance that Hellina and Astronema's Velocifighter will strike you down before you can even get close to them. I say we stay here and use the Megaship's lasers to take them down."

"We can't take the risk of the ship being damaged." Andros argues. "It is the earth's only defense against the Master's Mothership when it arrives in our atmosphere. We have to keep the laser's fully charged and keep the shields at one-hundred percent. We would lose the ship if we went up against the Master at half the ship's usual strength."

"Jen, how did these events originally take place when you learned about them?" Wes asks as he turns to his girlfriend. "Perhaps we could use the events as a guide to get us out of this jam?"

"Wes, I've already told you and everyone else that things are different now. When the others and I first traveled here back in 2001, we altered the timeline by changing both yours and Eric's destinies. Things were never supposed to get this bad. For starters, the Comdrites never obtained the key to the Mega Power Zord because they didn't even know it existed. Karone never disguised herself as Astronema, so she could work as a double agent. Darkonda managed to kidnap her without Ecliptor's interference, and he brainwashed her into being evil through and through. All of the battles that have happened on earth have occurred much sooner as well, and the death toll is much higher now. What scares me the most is that the Megaship was never attacked, nor was Reefside destroyed. When the Master arrived on earth, all of us rangers were in the desert outside of Angel Grove. We weren't spaced out like this."

"I'm sorry that so much evil and negativity has taken place because of the few good deeds you managed to complete while here." Andros apologizes. Jen bites her bottom lip nervously, and Andros raises an eyebrow. "What's wrong Jen?"

"I can't keep this a secret anymore, and I really wish I would have told you sooner." Jen says before walking over to Andros and resting her hand on his shoulder. "The reason I was so adamant that you send Ashley to stay at the Command Center in Angel Grove, versus sending her to KO-35, was because I originally learned that she was killed when her pod crossed paths with the Mothership."

Andros does his best to remain calm, but he finds himself shaking with fear. "What do you...? How could you...? Ashley, why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to send you into a panicked frenzy is all." Jen sighs as she looks away, not wanting to look Andros in the eye. "I figured that if I could find a way to stop those events from happening, it wouldn't matter."

"There you go meddling with the destinies of others again." Wes says. "Although in this case, as with the others, it wasn't a bad call. Ashley and her children owe you their lives."

Before Andros can say anything, the Megaship jolts suddenly, knocking the three rangers to the floor. Just as the rangers move to stand to their feet, the ship is rocked another time, the force more violent than the first. The Megaship's alarms begin blaring throughout the room, while D.E.C.A.'s monotonic voice announces that the Megaship is under attack. Andros begins crawling across the floor, his eyes set on the Megaship's lasers; but before he can reach the control panel, the ship is hit by a force so violent, that the three rangers are tossed across the room. The lights blink out the minute the rangers hit the cabin's metal wall, and the backup generators start up, filling the room with a dim, red light. The shaking comes to a stop, and the rangers do their best to stay calm when the only sound they hear is each other's breathing.

"What the hell just happened?" Jen asks as she sits upright and begins feeling along the wall to find something to pull up on. When her fingers find the handle to a storage closet, she slowly stands to her feat, ignoring the dull ache at the back of her head. She raises her left hand to the pulsing point and winces when she feels a swollen knot.

"Something hit us hard enough that the engine failed." Andros says. "We have to get down to the engine room and get the generator up and running. There's enough oxygen on this ship to last for an hour. After that...well..."

"We need to get moving now." Jen says as she helps Wes and Andros to their feet. "We're going to need a flashlight or a glow stick to make our way there."

Andros flips the lid to his morpher open and punches in the code 9-1-1. Wes and Jen watch in amazement when a beam of red light emerges from the tip of the morpher like a flashlight. Andros motions for the two of them to follow him over to the control panel. The Time Force Rangers say nothing as Andros crouches down and pops a panel off the bottom of the control center. Andros works quickly, not bothering to tell his comrades exactly what he is working on. When the computer screens blink to life above Andros's head, they cannot help but to smile.

"I've got just enough power to seal all entry and exit points to the ship." Andros says. "I've also managed to get D.E.C.A.'s backup generator going. I just need to push this button right here and then..."

"Intruder alert. Intruder alert." D.E.C.A. suddenly speaks, causing the three rangers to jump in surprise.

"Damn it." Andros curses before heading for the doorway. "This has Astronema written all over it. My sister knows this ship like the back of her hand. I wouldn't doubt that she and Hellina are on board right now."

"Come in all rangers." Jen says as she raises her communicator to her lips. "The Megaship's power has been knocked out, and we need to get the core up and running again. Everyone try and meet at the engine room if you are able to; and please, be on high alert. Hellina and Astronema are on board the ship. We know that they are likely armed and dangerous. So please, use caution."

Andros nods to Jen in silent thanks, before motioning for her and Wes to follow after him. D.E.C.A. continues to shout her warning as they walk into the darkened hallway, and it makes them feel more tense. Without the usual sound of the Megaship's ventilation system, everything seems too quiet for their liking, almost as though they are in some science-fiction horror film.

The three rangers stay close together as they creep through the hallway, none of them wanting to be caught off guard in the dark. Andros whispers something about heading towards a ladder that is connected to the bottom level of the ship, before leading his two friends down a second hallway. Just as they near the ladder shaft, a blast of purple electricity flies past them and hits the wall right in front of Andros's face. Jen screams in surprise, before the three of them spin around and see Astronema standing just behind them.

"Karone, what the hell are you doing?" Andros shouts, his nostrils flaring. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Andros, be quiet and come with me now." Astronema says as she runs towards them and grabs Andros by the arm. "You two, head downstairs and to the engine room. My brother will rejoin you shortly."

Jen opens her mouth to protest; but before she can get a word in, Astronema is dragging Andros down the hall and out of their sight. Jen turns back to Wes and gives him a confused look before motioning her head towards the ladder. Not knowing what else to do, they climb down into the opening and into the bottom level of the ship.


Andros tries to pry his arm out of Astronema's grip, as she pulls him into her old living quarters. The sliding door actually slides shut behind her, and she quickly casts a soundproof spell around the door. Without warning, she shoves Andros onto her old bed, the Red Ranger letting out a surprised yelp when he lands on top of someone else on the bed. When Andros looks up, he is surprised to find that he has been tossed on top of Zhane.

"What's going on?" Andros slowly asks, before sitting upright. "Zhane, what are you doing here?"

"How should I know? One minute, I'm standing in the kitchen making myself something to eat. Next thing I know, the ship is being bumped around, I'm lying on the floor with a pastrami sandwich all over my shirt, and Karone is dragging me down the hallway in the dark. So yeah. That's that."

Andros turns to his sister who is staring at them with a nervous look on her face. Andros is unsure as to what is troubling the purple-haired beauty, but he knows it has to be something huge. Before he can question her motives, Astronema holds a hand up to silence him.

"Save the screaming and the lectures please." she says in a huff. "I don't have much time before Hellina tries to track me down. So I have to make this quick. The Master has made it part of her grand master plan for all of the Power Rangers' meeting points to be destroyed. It should be more than obvious at this point that she knows where you all have chosen to set up your bases of operation. Tommy, as you know, is currently under her full control. The Master has managed to rip intel from him without even having to lift a finger. She knows how Tommy split us all up and how he has defenses here on the Megaship, in Angel Grove, and how he had them in Reefside. I believe he is trying to force all of the rangers into one specific location so that it will be easier for him to take you all out. Nebia and Kitana already took care of Reefside, Luna and Inferna are in Angel Grove, and Hellina and I have been ordered to put the Megaship out of orbit."

"I'm sorry, but you're going to do what?!" Zhane shouts as he and Andros jump to their feet. "Karone, you can't go through with this. The Megaship is one of our main defenses against the Master's ship."

"Which is exactly why he wants it destroyed Zhane."

"You honestly don't expect us to let you go through with this insane plan, do you?" Andros snaps. "We have given up so much to help keep your double agency a secret from the Master, including the key to the Mega Power Zord; and now, you just expect us to let you destroy the Megaship? To hell with this plan of yours Karone. I won't allow it."

"Do you think this is easy for me?" Astronema shouts, her voice echoing loudly off the walls. "It is killing me, having to be the bad guy here, but I really don't have a choice. Right now, it is every man for themselves on the Master's ship. She is so close to her goal that failure is just not an option. So I am sorry, but this is how it has to be. I know that I am shattering every ounce of trust and love that you all have for me, but this is really the only option I have. I want you all to get on your Galaxy Gliders and get down to earth as soon as possible."

Zhane rushes to his wife and grabs her by her shoulders, forcing her to look into his green eyes. "Please, don't do this."

Karone's eyes fill with tears as she raises her right hand and gently caresses his cheek. "I'm sorry my love."

Astronema places a gentle kiss to Zhane's cheek before disappearing in a puff of purple smoke, leaving Andros in Zhane in complete shock. As if on cue, the door to the room whooshes open, filling the room with the sound of D.E.C.A.'s warning repeatedly looping out in the hallway.

"What do we do now?" Zhane asks, his heart heavy over the whole situation.

"What do you think?" Andros says, his voice low with anger. "We flee."


Zhane and Andros run down the bottom level of the Megaship, the two of them searching frantically for any sign of their friends. Wes and Jen were nowhere to be seen, so the two of them head for the engine room, where Jen had ordered that everyone meet not too long ago. The engine room door is wide open when they both arrive; and to their surprise, Maya and Samara are sitting on the engine room floor with Lucas and Katie standing nearby.

"Are you guys alright?" Andros asks in between pants.

"We're fine." Samara says as she rubs the back of her neck. "Maya and I were attacked by a group of Quantrons on the Simudeck. We would have been done in for, had Lucas and Katie not shown up when they had."

"I'm glad you guys are okay, but we have to get out of here now." Zhane says. "Andros and I ran into Karone. She says that the Master has ordered that the Megaship be knocked out of commission, as it poses a threat to her ship. Hellina and her are executing his plan as we speak."

"Why would Karone do something like this?" Maya asks, her heart hurting at the thought of being betrayed by the woman she has grown to love as a sister over the years.

"She's in way too deep." Andros says, the Red Ranger rather unsure of his sister's true intentions as well. "We can try and make sense of things later. Right now, we have to find Wes and the others and get to the Galaxy Gliders. They're our only means of escape."

Maya nods before standing up and offering a hand to Samara. Just as everyone heads for the doorway, Wes and Jen appear with Damon, Kai, and Carlos, the four of them all wearing guilty looks on their faces. Katie immediately senses that something is wrong, and she takes a step forward.

"Jen, what's going on?" she asks when she sees the tears in her friend's eyes.

"Hellina attacked the others in the workout room." she says. "She started a fire and used the smoke as a cover. She took Trip Katie."

"What do you mean she took Trip?" Katie asks as her eyes widen.

"We tried to stop her." Kai says as he gives Katie an apologetic look. "She was too strong Katie. There was nothing else we could do."

"Nothing else you could do? You could have fought harder!"

"Katie, calm down." Zhane says as he raises his hands in defense.

"No, I will not calm down." Katie roars. "Trip is a Xyberian who has the gift of knowing. Hellina probably took Trip so she could help the Master find the Sacred Arrow. Trip's life is in danger, and it's all your fault!"

"That's enough Katie." Andros snaps, causing the room to quiet. "Kai and the others had no way of knowing what Hellina had plan. She and Astronema both blindsided us. Yes, it is unfortunate that we're having to suffer all of these losses as of late, especially at the hands of my sister. I know that you are all angry and upset, but we do not have time for this right now. What we need to be doing is getting to the Galaxy Gliders and getting off this ship, unless you all would like to be crushed to death when this ship crashes onto the surface of the moon. Now let's get going."

Andros storms past everyone gathered in the doorway, leaving them all behind in silence. Cassie and TJ appear in the doorway a few seconds later, confusion on their faces. TJ opens his mouth to question what is happening, but silences himself when Carlos shakes his head. Without so much as another word, the rangers follow after Andros and head for the docking bay.


"Let's rock it!" Andros shouts to his teammates, as he orders them all to morph into their power suits. The Galaxy and Time Force Rangers follow suit, as they also morph into their power suits. The six Astro Rangers then summon their Galaxy Gliders to their presence, and hurry to split everyone off into groups - Andros and Jen, Zhane with Wes, TJ with Katie, Carlos with Lucas, Cassie, Maya, and Samara on one board, and Damon and Kai sharing the Yellow Galaxy Glider. Once everyone is securely on their glider, Andros commands that the cargo bay doors open. He then leads the troop, as he accelerates quickly out of the Megaship's gravitational force field.

"Everyone move, move, move!" Zhane calls out to everyone behind him, the Silver Ranger pressing his foot harder on the silver glider's accelerator.

The rangers zip through the opened space as fast as their boards will allow them to, only slowing down when they manage to hear a large explosion. The rangers come to a stop and look over their shoulders, just in time, to see the Megaship as it slowly falls towards the moon. The tail end of the ship, where the engine room is located, is spitting out fire and smoke at an alarming rate. The rangers watch with heavy hearts as several other explosions begin on various points of the ship, and the Megaship begins to fall faster into the moon's gravitational pull.

"Look, over there." Samara says as she points off in the distance. The rangers squint and can just barely make out the sight of Astronema and Hellina's Velocifighter speeding away in the direction of Mars.

"They got away," Katie growls, "and they took Trip with them. Come on you guys. We have to stop them!"

"Katie, the Galaxy Gliders aren't fast enough to catch up with the Velocifighter." Carlos says, as he tries to reason with the Yellow Ranger. "I know that Trip is your friend and teammate, but there is no way we will be able to catch up to him. We'll have to regroup and come up with a strategy to get him back."

"I'm worried about him too Katie." Wes says, as he sends her a sympathetic look. "Unfortunately, we have a much bigger problem. The Master is determined to track down the Animarium at all costs, and he is going to use Trip to do it. We need to contact the Wild Force Rangers and warn them, before it's too late."

"Wes is right." Andros agrees. "Let's get down to Angel Grove. We can use the Command Center's communication screen to get in touch with Tommy's lab. Tommy's house is on the outskirts of Reefside, so there is a chance that the rangers there all survived the explosion."

"I hope you're right." Katie hisses, before wrapping her arms around TJ's waist.

"Galaxy Gliders, Hang Ten!" Andros shouts, before leading the rangers towards the beautiful blue planet below them.


A/N: Things are really starting to heat up now. It is only a matter of time before the Master tracks down the Sacred Arrow; and then, there will be nothing stopping her from taking over the earth. Will the Power Rangers be able to rescue Trip before he gives up the location to the Animarium, or will it be too late; and now that the Megaship is destroyed, what is next for the Astro and Time Force Rangers?

The next update will be coming to you all soon with the answers to these questions and so much more. So go ahead and click that review button, let me know your thoughts on the recent insert to this piece of FanFiction, and keep your fingers crossed that my job doesn't have me working double shifts all this week. I love you all, and thank you so much for the support!

-KairiAngel13


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