CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
BARTELLO
He was pleased with how far their work had come. Alpha Prime was fully reassembled and nearly reprogrammed. "You're very talented, Sage," Bartello said. "Thank you for helping me figure out what was wrong."
Sage smiled at him. "No problem. Alpha Prime is important to all of us," she replied. "Are you ready to find out how successful we were?"
He nodded, waiting for her to reboot Alpha Prime. After a moment, he came to life. "Sage? What is hap-?" Prime began. His eyes fell on Bartello. "Bartello of Eltar! What a surprise to find you here! I thought you perished long ago."
"Hello, Alpha," Bartello replied. "Tell me... What is your opinion of Eltar's Great Wizard?"
Prime seemed to frown. "He betrayed us all... He is a horrible, evil man..." He paused. "He was the one who killed your brothers and apparently failed to kill you, wasn't he?"
Bartello flinched a bit at the casual mention of his brothers. Four of the five were dead, after all, and time had not made that any easier for him to face. "Yes, Alpha... It was Zell," he said softly.
"I fear something was wrong with me... I assume you and Sage fixed me?"
"We did," Sage confirmed. "Jared was tricked into reprogramming you to bring him to Zell."
"Jared? Aye-yi-yi! Did he hurt him? Oh, Justin will never forgive me, and rightfully so!"
"Jared's safe," Sage said quickly. "He escaped. He's back with Justin. You were badly damaged when a second incarnation of Serafine attacked the Alliance's base. Stone found you and called Bartello in to help."
"Stone? Stone is here?" Prime nodded. "Good. Zell's afraid of him, you know. His power levels pose a threat to him. The Eltarians used to believe Stone would overthrow Zell one day and destroy Eltar."
"Really?" Sage asked.
Bartello laughed softly. "Oh, yes. That belief was quite popular on Eltar. That's why Stone lived in the mountains, away from most people."
"From the little I know about him, he's a respected Elder now."
"People came to trust Stone when he and Talon began working on Zell's Elite Counsel. After Zell's fall, Stone earned their trust even more as he worked to fix a lot of the harm Zell had done. Zordon also vouched for him. After all, his mother was very close to Talon and Stone. She viewed them as older brothers in a way."
Sera would have married Talon, he added silently. They were family to Daphne. He tried not to think about Serafine or Daphne. He missed them both horribly, along with their brother, but losing Sera had been especially hard for him.
"Bartello..." Sage said softly. He looked at her. "Are you alright?" She added.
The Mystic was quite good at reading his emotions. He took a deep breath. "Yes... Just thinking too much, I suppose. My apologies," he replied.
"Alpha, now that you're fixed, go ahead and return to the Command Center. After they catch you up, you should go see Justin and Jared. I'm sure they miss you," Sage said.
"Yes, Sage. Of course," Prime replied. "Thank you for your help." With that, he teleported away.
"Is there anything more I can do for you, Sage?" Bartello asked politely.
"No, but if you'd like to talk, I'll listen," Sage replied.
"You are quite kind, but I'm fi-"
"Don't try to lie to a Shaman," Sage said with a slight laugh. "You aren't fine."
"I manage... I have for millennia."
"You don't have to do it all on your own."
"I have Zee to lean on."
Sage didn't push him, which he appreciated. Instead, she smiled at him politely. Bartello nodded at her before using the incubus version of teleportation to head back to Las Vegas to collect his brother.
Zee met him in front of the Las Vegas base. He looked concerned. "What's wrong?" Bartello asked.
"You're not going to like it..." Zee began.
"Zeenazene, just tell me," Bartello replied.
The fact that Zee didn't flinch at the use of his full name told Bartello everything he needed to know. This was bad.
"Reyes called a few minutes ago," Zee said urgently. "Carina's missing."
Bartello's chest felt tight. He tried not to react emotionally, but he knew Zee saw through it. "How long?" He asked.
"Three days. Tra'dai thinks it was a setup... It's awfully coincidental that we got called away because Alpha Prime just happened to land at Stone's place. I mean, of all the places, he landed in Las Vegas?"
Bartello slammed his fist against the outer wall of the base. "Goddamnit!" He cursed. Zee would normally have made a snarky comment about Bartello's use of foul language considering Bartello always lectured him about that, but he remained silent. "Of course it was, and I fell for it!"
"Someone knew Stone would have to call you, and with the Sisterhood here, it was only logical I'd follow." Zee sighed. "I'm sorry, Barty. But we'll find her. I told everyone here what was going on and they promised to help. I was just about to call you when you showed up."
"Did Reyes give any details?"
"Carina went out to the market. Reyes, Tra'dai, and Mya each got a message from her that she'd run into someone from her past and she'd be away for two days. They all tried to get details, but she never replied again. When she didn't return last night, they realized something was wrong. They searched, but she doesn't seem to be anywhere in Barcelona."
"Someone from her past..." Bartello thought about that. He'd known Carina for a long time. On Eltar, her name had been Cazza, but she'd changed it after being assigned to join Bartello's Chapter on Earth as the Chapter's Sorceress. Carina suited the beautiful, gentle young woman better anyway. Although Bartello kept everyone but Zee, Stone, and the Sisterhood at a distance, he cared for Carina deeply. It was hard not to when she tried so hard to take care of him even when he pushed everyone away.
He knew Carina had grown up in the same village he had, but she'd been born after he and Zee had gone into hiding. It was long after Serafine, Ash, and even Daphne were gone. Zell had fallen. Who did she know that might want to hurt her? He wondered. Come on, Bartello, think. You know her.
It came to him out of nowhere. "Son of a bitch..." He mumbled.
Zee cracked a smirk at that before he asked, "What is it?"
"Jezz! It's Jezz, Zee. She used to think he was extremely charming, and he helped mentor her in sorcery when she was very young. She always trusted that silver tongue of his. She'd go with him if he asked. Fucking Jezzeff has her!"
"Whoa... The rest I can ignore, but you just dropped the F-bomb! How bad is this, Barty?"
"Her faith in Jezz was strong. Even when Garron had him assassinated for murdering Vee, Carina wanted to believe he'd gone mad in his grief over Rosemary. She wanted to believe Jezz could be redeemed. She'll fall for his lies."
"Will he hurt her?"
"It's hard to say... He might, if he thinks that would benefit him more than manipulating her will. Carina's matured a lot since then... She's stronger. He won't react well if she fights him."
Zee hesitated, looking very much like the scared kid he'd been millennia ago when their brothers had started dying. "What do we do, Barty?" He asked softly. "What's the plan?"
"We call Hezzo... Because I do not believe for one second that Maegus, Grayzee, and Branz are actually traitors to the Rebellion... If Hezzo can get word to them that Jezz might be abducting people without any clear orders from Zell, they may know where he's likely to hide Carina."
"According to the Circle, they were original members of the Alliance, long before the Rebellion formed their Chapter."
"Zee... You've met them. They're a bunch of goons who party too much, but they're not evil, or stupid. They're spies."
Zee nodded. "You're right. It's worth a shot, but Hezzo told Vitti they defected to the Alliance. If he is lying to Vitti, why would he tell us the truth?"
"Hezzo owes me." Bartello and Hezzo had a complicated friendship, and he often wanted to kick Hezzo's ass, but in an emergency, Bartello knew he could trust him. Besides, if Carina being abducted didn't count as an emergency, what did?
CALEB
Caius was still mourning Ares, but he'd pulled himself together. He almost looked like his old self as he resumed training the Chosen full time, although Caleb noticed he'd lost weight and there were bags under his eyes.
It was just the seven Chosen and their mentor that day. Zedd was with Liza, not letting her out of his sight much if at all, and Rita had practically kidnapped Zordon to help him relax for a little while. Caleb agreed that was a good call. Zordon had been entirely too stressed with everything going on lately.
"Caius, look what I can do!" Brian declared. He proceeded to close his eyes. Flames shot up around him. Soon, his flesh seemed to turn into fire.
"Holy crap!" Ollie cried in surprise. "That's what you were talking about?"
"Now that's a power boost!" Tammy added.
"Are you alright, Brian?" Tia asked with concern.
"I can't completely figure out how it works... Thinking about that creep attacking my mom triggers it, but then I have trouble turning it off," Brian replied.
"How extraordinary," Caius said. "I've never seen anything like this before."
"So Quintus couldn't do this?" Brian asked.
"He never displayed this particular skill... Perhaps he didn't know..." Caius shook his head.
"Dad... Are you okay?" Caleb asked softly.
"I wonder if Quin had possessed such a talent if it could have saved him... I think too much for my own good," Caius replied.
Caleb wasn't sure how to comfort him. Brian saved them from the awkward silence as he reminded them, "Guys... I don't know how to turn this off."
Taylor sighed. "Here we go again," he said. He reached toward Brian, easily touching him and calming his energy down.
"I see we'll need to work on helping you master this new skill," Caius said as Brian returned to his usual form.
"That might be a good idea," Brian agreed with a grin.
Caleb noticed Angie standing a bit far away from the others. She was staring at Brian, but the look in her eyes was all Caleb needed to know something was wrong. He'd seen PTSD in Josh's eyes often enough to recognize it in his other friends.
"Angie... It's okay," he said soothingly. "You're safe."
"He was on fire..." She whispered.
"It didn't hurt him, Angie. Brian's fireproof."
"He was on fire... Like... Like I was..."
Caleb looked at Caius, who nodded knowingly. Caleb gently guided Angie away from everyone else. When they were alone, he hugged her.
"You're safe, Angie, and so is Brian," he said gently. "It's just an expansion of his Chosen powers."
Angie took a deep breath. She was trembling. Caleb cautiously reached toward her. She allowed it, continuing to breathe deeply until she seemed to calm down.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Angie, it's completely understandable why that would freak you out. You have every right to be traumatized by what happened to you," Caleb said patiently.
"I thought I was over it... I mean, after Bulk and I rescued Kim and Billie, my confidence came back, and I absorbed Morgana's powers, so I thought that meant I was okay."
"Trauma doesn't just vanish because you find a way to keep going. Trust me..." He tried not to think about his parents, but he couldn't help it.
Angie hugged him, which surprised him. "I know you understand trauma, Caleb," she said. "I wish you didn't."
He offered her a reassuring smile. That was when bullets rang out. Caleb automatically covered Angie with his body. Two bullets pierced his chest.
"Caleb!" Angie screamed. She immediately began gathering magic, shielding Caleb and trying to attack their hidden enemy at the same time.
Caleb was rapidly losing blood. Two men they didn't know showed themselves then.
"Hmmm... We each hit the boy once, so I suppose we're tied," the first man said. "Let's eliminate the little Sorceress as a tie breaker, Micah."
"Excellent idea, Niko," Micah replied. "Who knew hunting Chosen could be so much fun?"
"Stay back!" Angie shouted.
"Or what, little one? You'll attack us? Do it, Angeline... Surrender to your power and show us what you're capable of!" Micah encouraged her.
"Angie... Don't take the bait," Caleb said weakly.
Angie looked torn. "I don't know anything about Niko, but Micah's on the Rebellion's Most Wanted list... He's a serious threat," she replied nervously.
"Just keep shielding us... They're trying to trick you into using evil magic."
Angie knelt beside him, keeping the shield up. "You need a healer," she said. The trembling in her voice told Caleb how bad he was hurt, but so did the familiar sense of death calling him back to the Underworld.
"Save your strength. I'll be okay," Caleb lied. He was probably going to die, but hopefully he'd be able to fight his way back. After all, he was a Grant.
As Niko and Micah launched a stronger attack, the darkness seemed to swallow Caleb whole. The world of the living faded away and he was lost in the Underworld. This time, not even Casey greeted him.
ANGIE
She tried not to panic as Caleb's eyes closed and didn't reopen. His chest was no longer rising and falling, and he was entirely too still.
"Caleb... Please wake up..." Angie whispered. Usually when Caleb "died," a strong sense of his energy lingered, tethered to his body. Angie didn't feel that now.
He's not dead... Not really... He'll be back, Angie told herself.
"One down... Six to go," Niko said with a laugh. He flung a spell at Angie. It nearly pierced the shield.
Angie could feel her rage taking control. The temptation to use her magic to harm the two Alliance members was strong, but she knew that was what they wanted. They thought they could turn her evil. She had to prove them wrong.
"Guys!" Ollie called as he appeared with the others right behind him. He summoned his sword as easily as if he'd simply taken a breath. Brian followed suit with his own sword, manifesting fire in his free hand. Tammy pulled her sword out the old fashioned way, assuming a battle stance. Tia began to levitate.
"You okay, Ang?" Taylor called as he took in the scene.
"I'm fine, but Caleb's down!" Angie replied.
Caius rushed toward them. He knelt beside Caleb as Tia began strengthening Angie's shield with her magic.
"Caleb..." Caius said softly.
"Is he in the Underworld?" Taylor asked.
"Yes... But he's detached completely from his body," Caius said grimly.
"What does that mean?" Brian asked.
"He is dead," Tia said because no one else would answer him.
"So? Caleb dies a lot, right? He'll be back... He just needs a healer," Brian insisted.
Tia shook her head. "Unless Caleb finds a way to reconnect his soul to this plane, he will not return," she explained.
"So let's call Sage or Troy or any other Shaman and send them after him," Taylor suggested.
"It won't work," Caius said quietly. "Caleb needs to absorb the duplicate power... However, to activate that power, he must die... Truly die, as he did the first time he came into his powers."
"We can't help him? I mean, the first time, Sage saved him, right?" Tammy asked.
"The duplicate powers work differently... They test you before allowing you to absorb them. I fear that the Grant legacy is demanding Caleb do this on his own to prove he is truly worthy of the extra power."
"But why? The rest of us got our powers when we needed them the most," Angie said.
Caius looked deeply pained as he replied, "I still live... Which means the universe is uncertain which of us is meant to have this extra power. It demands an extra show of strength to earn the honor."
"Caius, even you needed a Shaman to return when your soul was fully disconnected from your body," Ollie said. "Can Caleb do this on his own?"
Caius sighed. "He must," he replied. "There is simply no other option. Either Caleb returns to us and claims the power, or the power chooses me and leaves him trapped in the Underworld for eternity."
"Eternity?" Angie repeated.
Two spells hit the shield at once, shattering it and knocking Angie and Tia to the ground. As they tried to recover, Niko and Micah advanced on them, leaving no more time to worry about Caleb's fate.
OLLIE
Knowing Caius was too distracted by Caleb's situation, Ollie immediately switched into Team Leader Mode. "Brian, flame up or whatever it is you just learned to do," he said. "Tammy—"
"I've got your back," Tammy promised without needing to be asked.
"Good. Tia, Angie, back us up with magic. Taylor, try and mess with the energy of their spells. See if you can weaken them."
Taylor shrugged. "Okay, I guess... Next time they launch a spell, I'll try to intercept it and hope I don't die... Because, depending on what sort of spell it is, it might not be as easy as it was the last time," Taylor said. Ollie knew Taylor had absorbed a spell before and converted it into pure energy, the day he'd absorbed his duplicate power. Hopefully, he could do it again.
They set to work. Brian looked at Caleb and seemed to use his emotions about that to trigger his new party trick. Angie and Tia clasped hands, combining their magic into a terrifyingly powerful force to be reckoned with. Ollie and Tammy ran toward their enemy, ready for a fight.
One of the men smirked at them. "Look, Niko... Toddlers with swords," he said.
"Don't underestimate them, Micah," Niko replied. "They might surprise us." As he was saying this, he shot a spell right at Tammy.
Taylor jumped in front of them, absorbing the spell into himself. He dropped to the ground and began struggling violently against an invisible force. Suddenly, he stopped struggling and went motionless. For a second, Ollie thought his plan had just killed Taylor, but then Taylor stood up. His eyes were glowing blood red. Taylor put up his hands and sent the spell back at Niko.
With a scream of pain, Niko hit the ground. He was bleeding from several places.
"Holy shit," Taylor said as his eyes returned to normal. "Not only can I mess with the energy of spells, I can redirect them, too! Also... That spell was seriously evil... I've never felt anything that dark before. Taking it in as just energy was really messing me up, so I sort of... Spit it back out at him, I guess. I held the spell and flung it back at him exactly as it was when he cast it."
"Thanks for the save, Taylor," Tammy said gratefully.
They turned toward Micah, who was inching backward away from them. He backed straight into the still-flaming Brian and gasped.
Brian wrapped his arms around Micah, holding him tightly against his body until Micah's flesh started to burn.
"Screw this!" Micah cried. He vanished in an instant.
"Brian... Did you just try to hug a guy to death?" Tammy asked with a laugh.
"Yeah," Brian replied, smiling. "I mean, clearly that man needs more hugs in his life!"
Ollie was the first to realize Niko had gotten back to his feet. In an instant, his sword was pressed against Niko's throat. "You really don't want to try anything stupid right now," Ollie said harshly.
"It wasn't a complete loss," Niko said coldly. "We still killed your little friend."
Ollie nearly impaled Niko for the comment, but Tammy touched his arm. "Don't," she said. "You're better than that."
Niko used the opportunity to vanish. Ollie looked at the others. "Brian, you can turn it off now," he said.
"Actually, I can't. I still have no idea how this power works," Brian replied. "Taylor seems to be the only one who can deactivate it."
Tammy walked toward him. She began singing softly. Soothing light flowed around Brian, visibly soothing him. He slowly calmed down, his flames dying away until he was just Brian again.
"She's like Black Widow in Age of Ultron..." Brian said with a laugh. "You know, telling Hulk, 'Hey, Big Guy... The sun's getting real low...' Thanks for de-Hulkifying me, Tammy."
"No problem," Tammy said with a grin.
Ollie looked toward Caius and saw he was holding Caleb close to him, clutching his hand and whispering something over and over again. "What's he doing?" Angie asked.
"Praying," Ollie replied. He didn't have to hear what Caius was saying to know that was exactly what he was doing.
Sage and Thorn appeared then. Thorn had tears in his eyes. Sage watched Caius carefully. "It's a very old prayer for the dead that Shamans use," Sage supplied. "It's meant to guide them safely on their journey. It's a source of comfort because it guides their spirits to their next life... But in Caleb's case, Caius is trying to guide him back to his body."
"Sage! Are you here to break rules and rescue him?" Brian asked hopefully.
"I wish I could," Sage said with a sigh as she watched Caius. "You know I'm fine with breaking all the rules, even the sacred Shaman ones, if it means protecting the people I love... Unfortunately, as I'm sure Caius already told you, Caleb has to do this on his own... Which is bullshit, and I'm not okay with it, but I understand what the consequences are... I faced them myself. The Universe will just test him again if he fails this time, or it will find a way to cut him off from his powers entirely and just kill him. Caleb is sort of on a Shaman's journey, like I was. The first time, when I got knocked into the past and ended up having Troy, I failed... I reached out to my father to get me help and bring me back. The second time, when I resurrected both Rocky and Caleb, I got stuck in the Underworld. Trust me, it was worse than the previous test. The Universe can be extremely cruel when it's trying to make someone stronger. I can't damn Caleb to a worse fate because I want to save him, even if it kills me not to run into the Underworld and help him."
"Caleb's not a Shaman, Sage," Ollie pointed out.
"No... But in a lot of ways, both he and Caius are similar to Shamans. They work with the dead. They have the power to walk the spirit realm. They can journey into the Underworld and return to tell the tale. That sort of power doesn't come without a price. In the case of the Grants, they have to die and find a way to come back. The reason Zell couldn't steal the Grant power from Maddie was because she hadn't died, so it was completely inactive. The rest of you inherited active powers, because even though a few weren't active when Zell targeted her, he woke them up. The Campbell one was especially strong because Liza used it briefly to give herself the power to extract and store them. To activate Maddie's power, Zell would have had to kill her, which he nearly did... But nearly isn't good enough to activate the Grant power. It's all or nothing."
Thorn slowly began walking toward Caleb and Caius. The others followed him in silence. Ollie's chest ached as Thorn dropped to his knees beside Caleb and took the hand Caius wasn't holding. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stop crying, and said, "You can do this, Caleb. I believe in you. I love you... Fight your way back to me. I'm here. I'm right here, Caleb." Then, he began speaking in the same language Caius was using, saying the words in unison with him.
"Thorn knows Shaman prayers? I thought he wasn't involved in this stuff," Taylor said in confusion.
"He's not involved, but he was still raised by a Shaman," Sage replied. "She taught us both this prayer when..." Sage sighed, looking at her feet.
"When what?" Ollie asked since no one else seemed to know what to do with Sage suddenly turning silent.
"When Josh's mother was dying. Our mother tried so hard to save her... She hated seeing Billy in so much pain. She asked me to try to help her, but even my energy couldn't do much... Thorn and I sat with her, praying over and over, but she still died... She-" Sage paused.
"Sage? What is the matter?" Tia asked.
"There was something around her... An energy..." Sage frowned as she seemed to be trying to remember what she had witnessed as a child. "I was still so young... I didn't fully understand my abilities yet... But I saw someone... And his face is on the edge of my mind, just out of reach..." She looked at Tia. "Can you ground me?"
"Of course," Tia replied. She took her hand and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to center herself.
Sage closed her own eyes and began to focus. Ollie wasn't sure what was happening, but he could feel it was important. Sage was on the edge of information they needed.
Sage's eyes flew open in shock after a minute. "Oh my God..." She whispered.
"What's wrong?" Ollie asked.
"The energy... It was the Warlock! The Warlock killed Josh's mother... He infected her."
"But why? Why would he target a random mortal?"
"We already figured out that she probably encountered a vizu, which was very likely Sunny. Darcy told us how helpful Sunny was on Eltar, so she's probably the one who somehow returned the medical records and the journal to Josh. Sunny doesn't show people her eyes because she doesn't want to hurt anyone, but we do believe she briefly showed them to Marilyn so she could try to warn her of what was to come. We'd assumed the vision was the reason she was killed, but what if we're wrong?"
"Then why else would the Warlock kill her?" Tammy asked.
"I think we need to figure that out... I'll talk to Josh and see if he and the Eltarians ever finished decoding his mother's journal," Sage replied. She took a deep breath. "But first..." She knelt beside her brother and began to recite the prayer along with him and Caius.
"He'll come back to us," Tammy said firmly.
"He'll come back to us," Ollie agreed. If they believed it hard enough, maybe they could be a light to guide Caleb back from the darkness.
CALEB
He had only been this cold once before... The first time he'd died. Caleb struggled to see, but there was only darkness around him. "Hello? Is anyone there?" He called. No one responded. "Casey? QB? Jason?" He paused. "Dimitri? Morgana, Raven, Xia, Quintus? Anyone?" He sighed. It seemed like he was truly on his own this time.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps. Someone was walking rapidly toward him. Then, they were running. Caleb knew he was in serious trouble. He braced himself for an attack, but still wasn't prepared when something dropped on top of him, knocking him to the ground. It began tearing at him, trying to shred him.
"You belong with us!" A creepy voice hissed.
"No I don't," Caleb replied.
"You should not walk the realm the of the living! You are dead! You are like us!"
Caleb desperately tried to fight off the soul attempting to tear him apart. "Get off of me!" He shouted.
A second soul arrived, and a third, then another, and another, until Caleb lost count. They were all trying to tear him apart. "You belong with us!" They shouted in unified whispers.
"Mom! Dad!" Caleb screamed. If anyone might be able to hear him and help him, it was the parents who had raised him.
You can do this, Caleb, his mother's voice called softly in his mind. He barely heard her, but barely was enough.
Don't fear it, his father added. You know what you are capable of.
"Don't fear it... Don't fear it... Embrace it..." Caleb told himself. He tried to take a deep breath, but he couldn't... He couldn't breathe at all, just like when he'd been dying the first time. He couldn't breathe!
As panic threatened to overwhelm Caleb, he heard a new voice in the darkness. "It's time to let go, Caleb... Be at peace. I can guide you to a safe place if you just let go," Casey said.
"Let go?" Caleb repeated.
"Just let go. It's alright, Caleb. You'll be safe with me."
He shook his head. "Casey would never tell me to just give in and die..."
"My sweet boy, you have suffered so much... You deserve to finally be at peace." She appeared to him then, the only light in the darkness.
"Casey..." He whispered, comforted by her familiar, kind smile.
"Stay with me, Caleb. Take my hand, and I promise you'll be safe." She reached toward him.
Caleb automatically reached toward Casey. The sensation of spirits trying to tear him apart stopped. He was hurt, and badly, but he knew Casey could help him. He had nearly grabbed her hand when he noticed a strange darkness in her eyes. He pulled back quickly.
"No... You're not Casey," he said firmly.
"Of course I am, sweet Caleb," she said gently. "Please, Caleb, come with me."
"If I go with you, I'll stay dead."
"Yes... You'll finally be at peace."
"The Chosen need me. If we aren't complete, we'll fail. I can't die, Casey. If I die, Zell wins."
"There are others who can fight him, Caleb. This should never have been put on teenagers. It is unfair that the Universe is demanding this of you."
"The Power Rangers are usually teenagers when each team's big battle happens, too," he pointed out.
"Zell is not some random monster with a bad plan to conquer Earth, Caleb. He's far more dangerous than Rita or Lord Zedd or any of the others the Rangers have had to face. This isn't a fight, Caleb; it's a slaughter, and you're being led straight to it!"
"Then I'll die with honor," Caleb said. "That's what makes us heroes, Casey... We don't let fear stop us from doing the right thing."
"There's no honor in dying! There are adults who can fight this battle, Caleb... Ancient Eltarians whose purpose it is to stop him. Zell is Eltar's problem. He should never have been yours."
"He became our problem the moment he formed the original Chosen. We're meant to be involved."
"I know your heart is in the right place, but this isn't the way, Caleb. Let the Eltarians handle their monster. That is as it should be."
Caleb looked at her with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Casey... But I can't leave my team," he replied. "I won't walk away from this fight."
He turned away from her, ready to run in whatever direction she was not. "Caleb, wait!" Casey shouted. "Don't do this! I'm begging you!"
"I have to," he replied. "It's the right thing to do... No matter what you may be telling me, I know that in my heart."
She suddenly reappeared in front of him. "I won't allow you to leave my Underworld."
He stared at her in shock. "You'd force me to stay here?"
"If I must, yes. You're a teenager, Caleb. You aren't ready to make this sort of choice. You don't understand the consequences."
"Actually, I do." He shook his head. "I'll fight my way out of here if I have to."
Casey sighed. "I was hoping to avoid this... I'm sorry, sweet Caleb... But I cannot allow you to leave." With that, she grabbed him by his shoulders.
Caleb suddenly felt the sensation of being unable to breathe again. He struggled to free himself from her grasp. Her hands wrapped around his throat. She began to strangle him, and he realized with horror that it wasn't his breath leaving him... It was his life force.
He didn't want to hurt her, but he knew he had no choice. I'm sorry, Casey, he thought. Then, he reached out to the energy around him. Giving in to his instincts, he touched the void of darkness and death surrounding him. He felt spirits grabbing onto him, and this time, he didn't fight them. Instead, he embraced their energy, taking it into himself and becoming stronger.
I... Am not... Afraid! He declared silently because he couldn't get words out as Casey strangled him. The power of the spirits filled his entire being. He used the energy to force Casey off of him, sending her flying into the void with an enormous amount of force. She vanished in the darkness and he knew it was over.
Caleb began coughing and tried to catch his breath. It returned to him. He could feel his body, fatally wounded. The bullets had done an enormous amount of damage to him. He could see the wounds on himself even though he was just a soul now.
"Noble Spirits of the Underworld... Lend me just a little bit of your strength," he said softly. "Please help me heal my soul enough that my body can be healed as well."
Hundreds of spirits seemed to flow through him at once. He should have been terrified, but now, he felt only comfort in their presence. He wasn't alone. He had an army at his side, and they were eager to help him.
The bullet wounds vanished. He felt significantly stronger. He smiled. "Thank you," he said. "Now... Could one of you point me toward the exit?" He added lightly.
A spirit appeared in front of him. She smiled sweetly. "Hello again, Caleb," she said.
"Marie," he said in surprise as he recognized her. "You're Captain Smith's daughter."
"You remember... Come with me, Caleb. You're ready. I'm allowed to guide you now." She extended her hand toward him.
Unlike when Casey had done it, Caleb knew there was no threat this time. He took Marie's hand and allowed the girl to guide him gently out of the darkest place he'd ever been.
"Marie... Why did Casey do this to me?" He asked softly.
"The Goddess of the Underworld has changed," Marie said sadly. "She is influenced now, by a darkness that should not be here... Caleb... He walks the Earth, but part of him did not return."
"What do you mean?"
"A small shred of the Great Wizard remains here, and it has affected this realm. He taints everything he touches, even this place. Our Goddess believed she could defeat him, and on her own, she might have been able to correct this problem... Unfortunately, she called upon a power that was not meant for her, and she could not handle it... Being vulnerable, part of his evil forced itself into her own soul when she tried to destroy him. As she absorbed it, she was tainted like I have never seen before... I do not know if she can be saved from this darkness... It is part of her now."
"Part of Zell is inside of Casey?" Caleb repeated.
"Yes... It is no longer sentient enough to be called the Great Wizard... It is Casey, however, she is guided by his desires. Her quest for more power so she could spare the children by defeating the Great Wizard herself caused her to become just evil enough for him to influence her." She paused. "You and your friends can no longer trust her, Caleb. You need to understand that."
He nodded. "I do... I wish it wasn't true, but considering she just tried to kill me for good, I know you're telling the truth." He sighed. "Thank you for helping me, Marie. I wish I could help you, too."
"I'm alright. I've been dead since 1964, Caleb. The only thing I need is for my father to finally find happiness again."
"I'm not sure I can make that happen."
"I believe in him. He'll get there on his own eventually... He just needs to let himself find love again." She hugged him tightly. Her touch was unexpectedly warm. Most spirits made Caleb incredibly cold, but Marie's touch was comforting. "This is where I must leave you," she said softly. The path ahead was much lighter, and Caleb knew he could get out on his own from here.
"Thank you, Marie," Caleb said again. He began walking down the long corridor, knowing he was on the right path. As he got closer to the end of the path, he started to feel his body.
Soon, he could hear three voices speaking in a language he didn't recognize. He knew the voices. Caius, Thorn, and Sage were calling him back. "I'm coming," he promised.
He felt himself slam into his body. He wasn't waking up. Suddenly, he heard Marie. "Give it just another minute, Caleb," she said soothingly. He realized that, somehow, Marie was healing his body.
"Something's happening!" Tammy said.
"He's healing," Ollie added. "Is Sage doing that?"
Sage, Thorn, and Caius were still praying over him and didn't seem to hear any of this. Caleb knew they were locked in a trance as they focused on trying to guide him back.
"It's not Sage," Taylor said. "I feel... Someone else..." Caleb could practically see Taylor frowning as he tried to figure out what he sensed. "The energy's familiar, but not... Kind of like... Captain Smith, merged with Darcy, but not quite..."
Caleb could see Marie's face in his mind. "Darcy?" He repeated. "Is your mother an aspect of Serafine?"
Marie smiled at him mysteriously. "Not exactly... It's complicated." She put a finger to her lips. "Shhh... It's not time for that yet, so don't tell anyone."
He was confused, but he trusted Marie, so he nodded. "I won't," he promised.
"Good. Now, it's time to wake up, Caleb. Be safe." She kissed his cheek before vanishing.
Caleb's chest began to rise and fall. "He's breathing!" Angie cried in relief.
A moment later, Caleb opened his eyes. Sage smiled at him, the relief clear in her eyes. Thorn pulled him into his arms and kissed him. Caleb breathed his scent in before looking at Caius, who was even paler than usual and looked like he was about to cry.
"I'm okay, Dad," he promised. He hugged his father.
Brian and Tammy grinned at him. Taylor nodded at him in acknowledgement. Angie was crying. Tia looked like she'd been holding her breath the entire time he'd been down. Ollie laughed in relief. "You had us a little freaked out there, Caleb," he said.
"Sorry, Guys," Caleb said.
"Hey, look who joined the club!" Brian said cheerfully, motioning toward Caleb's talisman.
Caleb realized what had happened. "It shattered," he said.
Taylor turned to Ollie. "Guess you're next, Fearless Leader," he said with a smirk.
"You're just a late bloomer," Tammy teased Ollie.
Ollie rolled his eyes. "Or maybe I just end up in near-death situations less often than the rest of you," he replied.
"Are you okay, Caleb?" Angie asked.
"I'm fine," he promised. He paused, taking a deep breath. "Sage... Thorn... I need to talk to you guys."
"Of course," Thorn said.
"It's okay, Caleb. You can tell us in front of everyone. They need to know, too," Sage said.
"You know?" Caleb asked.
"I have an idea of what this might be about."
He nodded. "Okay... So, when I first ended up lost in the Underworld, I was alone. Then, I got attacked by a ton of spirits... I'm not sure who they were or what they wanted, but they tried to tear me to shreds... Which really hurts, by the way. Anyway, I reached out for my parents, because I didn't know what else to do, and they just told me not to be afraid and to embrace it... Like in the big battle, when Zell cast that illusion spell on all of us and we got stuck in our worst fears. Before I could manage that, I sort of flashed back on the first time I died, and was panicking, and then... I saw Casey." He paused. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to have to tell his boyfriend and a girl he considered his own sister that their mother was infected with evil and might not be able to be saved, but he knew he had no choice.
Sage's face fell, like he'd already confirmed what she suspected. "Go on," she said.
"She offered me her hand... She told me if I just let go and went with her, the pain would stop and I'd be safe."
"Let go?" Tammy repeated. "You don't mean that literally, right? You just mean let go of fear or something?"
"No... I mean let go of life, Tammy."
"She told you to die?" Taylor asked in confusion. "Why would Casey do that? She's one of the good guys... She's a Power Ranger, and a badass Shaman, and the freaking Goddess of the Underworld... She sent Rita back, even after everything she'd done while she was evil. Why would she tell you to die?"
"Because she wants the Chosen to fail." Caleb sighed.
"Wait... What?" Ollie asked. "Why would Casey want that?"
"I didn't understand it at first, either," Caleb admitted. "She tried to make it sound like she was helping us. She said Zell shouldn't be our problem, because he's Eltar's problem, and we should let the Eltarian adults handle him."
"Well, we do have an abundance of those around since the Rebels started showing up, but it's not their job," Ollie said.
"The last time someone outside of the Chosen took down Zell, it was Zordon, and that's why Zell was able to come back... Zordon was never meant to kill him," Tia added. "This is our destiny."
"I think everyone has a part to play in his destruction," Angie said. "We're meant to kill a key part of him, though... The part the Chosen were supposed to destroy the last time, maybe the strongest part of him. He's fragmented throughout time, remember? So there's probably pieces for everyone, but that doesn't mean we're supposed to sit the battle out."
"That's part of what's going on," Caleb said. "He's fragmented... And Marie told me something I didn't know."
"Marie?" Brian asked.
"Captain Smith's daughter."
"Ah... That explains why I felt energy similar to his... But what about Darcy?" Taylor asked.
"Don't worry about that right now. It's not what we need to focus on," Caleb said quickly. Taylor looked at him questioningly, but he didn't ask anything else.
"When I refused to listen to Casey, she... She told me she wouldn't let me leave," Caleb said. He couldn't look at Thorn and Sage as he said it.
"What? My mother did what?" Thorn demanded.
"She grabbed my shoulders and I couldn't breathe... And when that wasn't quite enough to stop me from fighting against her, she started to choke me."
"Choke you? Who is she, Zell?" Taylor asked. "That's his fetish. I mean, that's part of how he killed Daphne and Serafine, right? And who knows how many others?"
"She choked you..." Thorn repeated softly, like he couldn't process the words.
"I'm sorry, Thorn... I hate that I have to tell you this," Caleb said. "And, Taylor... You're onto something."
"Was it actually Casey, or did Zell find a way into the Underworld to attack you?" Tammy asked.
"It's complicated... I ended up letting go of my fear and embracing the spirits... Because Casey was actually destroying my life force."
Thorn's hands balled into fists. His rage was clear, and Caleb knew Angry Thorn was not someone who could be allowed to get out of control. Caleb pulled Thorn into his arms. "I'm okay," he promised. "Please just listen, okay? This is important."
"She tried to destroy you, Caleb!" Thorn cried. "My mother..." As Caleb held him tighter, Thorn let go of his anger and started crying instead. "How could she?" He whispered.
Caleb kissed away his tears. "I'm so sorry," he said softly.
"No... I'm sorry. I'm sorry my mother hurt you... Again... And my aunt killed you... And..."
"Thorn... Stop," Caleb said.
Thorn took a deep breath as Sage rubbed his back. "Let him talk, Thorn," she said. "We need to know."
He nodded. "Go on..." Thorn said.
"The spirits gave me the strength to fight back. I managed to send her deep into the Underworld, away from me. The spirits helped me heal my soul, which was pretty seriously damaged between Casey's attack and the attacking spirits from when I first got there... And when that was done, I saw Marie. She's a really sweet girl, and her energy is soothing... She helped guide me out, and I asked her why Casey would have tried to kill me... I couldn't really believe it had happened." He sighed.
"What did she say?" Sage asked.
"When Zell used me to resurrect himself, a part of him stayed in the Underworld. That fragment was messing everything up and affecting the souls. Marie says he taints everything he touches, and he was tainting the Underworld, too. Casey must have realized he was there, and she decided to try to destroy him herself... To spare us, I think. I genuinely believe she was trying to do the right thing and protect us, but she tapped into some sort of power she wasn't supposed to use... It was never meant for her, but she didn't care. Her need for that power actually made her vulnerable, and when she destroyed that part of Zell, the energy was absorbed into her soul... He's tainted her with evil, and his desires are affecting her choices."
"Wait... Casey's possessed? How does a dead person get possessed?" Taylor asked. He paused. "Sorry," he added to Sage and Thorn.
"Don't be. She is a dead person," Sage said. "She's just our ancestor. She's not our mother anymore."
"She's not exactly possessed... It's more like part of Zell's energy became part of Casey," Caleb said. "I'm not sure how to explain it."
"Casey's a horcrux!" Tammy said suddenly.
"A what?" Taylor asked.
"Horcrux... Like in Harry Potter. Honestly, Taylor, we really need to catch you up on the classics. Josh hasn't introduced you to Harry Potter yet?"
"Josh prefers comic books... I've seen all the Marvel and DC movies," Taylor replied defensively.
"We're so having a marathon later... But, anyway, in Harry Potter, Voldemort, the bad guy, creates horcruxes. They're pieces of his soul that help keep him immortal. He has to kill someone to make each one, and then a piece of his soul is hidden in something else. Most are inanimate objects, like a diary or a locket... But one is inside of a snake, and one is inside of Harry. And those fragments of his soul can actually affect the object, animal, or person they're inside of. Zell's affecting Casey."
"It's not exactly the same, but I think that's the easiest way to describe it," Sage said. "I understand what's going on... By absorbing part of Zell into herself, she turned herself evil. She's not completely bad, but she's not herself anymore. She's tainted, and his desires influence all of her decisions."
"So, how do we fix her? Does anyone have a basilisk fang?" Brian asked lightly.
"This isn't a movie, Brian," Tia pointed out. "And I doubt it will be so simple."
"I don't think we can fix her," Sage admitted. "She's a Shaman. If she doesn't have the strength of will to cleanse herself of his influence, there may not be any hope."
"But if we destroy all the other parts of Zell and that one still exists..." Ollie began.
"Then he's not really destroyed," Tammy finished.
Sage sighed. "If we can't cleanse him out of her, then there's no choice... I'll have to destroy her," she said.
"You? You can't destroy your own mom, Sage!" Ollie objected.
"Actually, I think I'm the only one who has enough power to do it," Sage replied. "Look... I knew something was wrong with her. I accepted it might come to this a while ago."
"You sound like Xia," Caius said sadly, speaking for the first time in all of this. "She said that about her mother when we met her."
Thorn looked like he was going to start crying again. "That's everything I know about what's going on," Caleb said, taking Thorn's hand. "Come on... Let's go for a walk." He would have stayed with Caius, but Thorn looked so broken, he just wanted to help his boyfriend. His father nodded and he knew he understood.
As Caleb and Thorn walked away, neither spoke. Thorn clung to his hand like he was desperately clinging to a life line. Caleb knew the feeling.
CAPTAIN SMITH
He was a bit surprised when Hezzo showed up at the house. "Hello, Hezzo," he said. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Actually, there's something I can do for you," Hezzo replied. He pulled out a ring. It was oddly familiar to Captain Smith, and for reasons he didn't understand, he desperately wanted to grab it out of Hezzo's hands and cling to it for dear life. He managed to control himself and refrain from doing that.
"What's this about?" He asked.
"Maegus gave this to me," Hezzo explained. "It once belonged to the very first Wizard on Eltar... His name was Tylan, and he was one of the Three... You know the myth, I'm sure... Three incredibly powerful Wizards, the first of their kind, who lived in seclusion in the woods but came out to help whenever Eltarians faced a crisis until one day, they just... Didn't."
"Every Eltarian child has heard that story," Captain Smith replied. "They say it is just a story and these Wizards never existed, but if I accept that they did for a moment... Why would Maegus possess such an artifact?"
"Because, my friend... Maegus was one of their students. In fact, he was the very last person we know for certain completed his training." Hezzo paused. "Some time after they vanished, Maegus went in search of them, because he knew that they had been training Zell. He found them, long-dead... They were each murdered by that bastard. Tezzos was killed in their home, and all of his life force was stolen from him... It seems likely that, if he managed to come back, he'd have a hole in his energy and not last long at all. We had some theories on who he might have come back as, but we're not positive... M'Gah was brutally murdered. He choked and stabbed her because she fought like hell... She was a tough one. We think it was the first time he used that method to kill anyone, long before he used it on poor Serafine and Daphne. We believe we know exactly where she reincarnated. As for Tylan... He was too powerful for Zell, and Zell knew it, so he did what he always does when faced with a genuine threat... He dropped a building on him. Tylan was one of the most powerful beings ever to exist on Eltar. His magic was legendary. Maegus found him and realized he still had this ring... Somehow, Zell missed it, and that's good. It's probably the most powerful ring in existence. Tylan's wife, Kenna, infused it with magic. It connected them so they could literally access each other's powers in an emergency, and even after he lost her, he never took it off."
"Kenna... The first Sorceress," Captain Smith recalled. Thinking about Kenna made him smile. As a child, he'd been enchanted by the tales of her life. "I always loved the stories of her adventures. She was quite heroic, and I always envisioned her as the most beautiful woman in existence."
"Aye, that she was," Hezzo said fondly. "She died when I was quite young... Also murdered by Zell, which means he time traveled, because he was still just a kid when she was killed. We're actually the same age. Anyway, he never would have had the power to catch her by surprise and kill her at that age. Hell, I'm surprised he pulled it off at all." He paused. "Captain Smith, there's a reason you're so drawn to Kenna. You were married to her."
Captain Smith stared at him in disbelief. "That's not possible," he said.
"I told you we believe Tezzos and M'Gah returned... So did Tylan. This ring belongs to you, Captain." Hezzo handed it to him.
Captain Smith wanted to protest, but the ring felt right in his hands. He examined it before slowly sliding it onto his hand, right above the wedding band he still wore. It automatically adjusted so it fit perfectly in that spot. The ring began to glow with light, and power surged through Captain Smith. He suddenly saw flashes of memories that were not from his lifetime.
A beautiful redheaded woman, saving his life... Kissing her... Loving her... Kenna, he thought. Then, he saw others... A young girl, being attacked by men... A boy, standing beside him, helping save the girl who appeared to have powers like their own. Standing up in court, vowing to raise the girl and ensure she did not grow up to be evil... Calling her name... M'Gah... He looked into her eyes.
Kizzie, he realized. Dear God, M'Gah is Kizzie...
Then, he saw a strange boy with great power... Zell... They taught him until they realized what he truly was. They told him he was meant to train as a Sorcerer, which was his birthright and heritage, and they could no longer train him as a Wizard. It was true, but it wasn't the reason. They knew he was evil. They realized he'd killed Kenna, and his own grandfather, and even his parents... They could not save this boy. He was already a monster.
Grief filled him as he felt Kenna die... And then Tezzos, and M'Gah... And finally, the boy came for him. Kenna's spirit came to him as he struggled to survive and told him he had to let go... That fighting would only prolong his suffering, and it was his time... That they'd return one day and defeat this monster together...
Captain Smith dropped to his knees. He was overwhelmed with Tylan's grief, and it combined with his own. He thought of Carolena and Marie. He had lost them, just as Tylan had lost everyone he loved...
Hezzo put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Sorry," he said. "Maegus held on to the ring until it was time to get it back to you... He's undercover, Cap. He's not actually evil, but he used the connection he had to Zell as a boy to lie his way into the Alliance. He didn't turn on you, I promise... And he gave me the ring so you could remember."
"I thought my powers came from my mother... She taught me Sorcery as a boy... But after she perished, I stopped using them. My father despised magic. He wanted me to be a soldier and nothing more, so that is what I became. I only use magic when I absolutely must, and most people have no idea I have it. It's how I killed Jezzeff. He didn't know I had magic, so he never saw it coming. Even his visions didn't warn him. I had wondered why my magic was so abnormally strong... After all, I use it so rarely. It should be weak... Only Kizzie knows I have powerful magic. In emergencies, she's seen me use it. She keeps my secret. Raff knew, because he saw me use it on Jezzeff, but he promised not to tell anyone."
"We thought Raffitty might be Tezzos... His power to absorb the gifts of others was something Maegus expected Tezzos to return with because of how damaged his soul was... But the more we think about it, the more wrong that feels... We think it was Garron."
"Garron?" Captain Smith asked in surprise. He forced himself to get back on his feet, even though he was shaking a bit.
"He was stillborn. Zell literally breathed life into him. As he grew up, he was weak and sickly... He didn't start to get stronger until after his sister died. He became determined, and suddenly, he began gaining power. I think the trauma of losing her actually unlocked the same gift Raff had... He absorbed the powers of others. That's why he was able to help Raff learn to control his gift."
Captain Smith nodded. "It makes sense..." He sighed. "What am I to do with this knowledge?"
"Kick ass?" Hezzo suggested. "You need to master your magic, Cap. We need the First Wizard on our side."
"But I'm a Sorcerer by birth."
"Maybe... Maybe not. By the time you were born, Wizards had become superstitious because the Great Fake claimed he was a Wizard and the term seemed tainted. No one wanted to be associated with it. Maybe your mother's line was actually a Wizard line, but they started calling themselves Sorcerers. Most of them did. Maegus is one of the few who still proudly uses the term Wizard, and even in the Rebellion, they list him as a Sorcerer. Several of the Circle members are actually Wizards."
"He never completed his training... Yet he tainted an entire group of magicians," Captain Smith said, shaking his head. It bothered him deeply that Wizards refused to embrace their heritage because of that monster.
"Cap... M'Gah is-"
"Kizzie. I know. They're exactly alike. Kizzie even calls me 'Sir.' Besides, I'd know her eyes anywhere."
"You need to tell her."
"I will, as soon as she's a bit stronger... She's still recovering from Neighbelle's attack. It took a lot out of her to fight the tsunami by herself for as long as she did before the others joined her."
"Give her a kiss for me." Hezzo paused. "Will you be alright?"
Captain Smith sighed. "I have to be," he replied. "There simply isn't another option."
Hezzo nodded. "Too right... Anyway, I'm going to meet with Bartello. There's trouble. One of his Chapter members went missing."
"Can I assist?"
"Normally, I'd say yes, but I think you need some time. Process this, and then help Kizzie do the same. We're going to need you both soon."
Captain Smith nodded. "Very well. Good luck."
Hezzo left, and Captain Smith tried to begin to process everything he'd just remembered. He looked at the ring on his hand and felt tears in his eyes. "Oh, Kenna..." He whispered. And then, suddenly, he saw her face in his mind. Slowly, it shifted, until he was looking at Carolena.
He couldn't breathe as pain overwhelmed him. "You were Kenna..." He whispered. "My God... You came back to me and I lost you again..." The tears fell now, something he almost never allowed.
"Sir?" Kizzie called from the door. "Are you alright? What's happened?"
He shook his head, unable to speak as the grief became far too much for him to bear. He pulled Kizzie into his arms, holding her tightly and sobbing into her hair.
"Sir... It's alright... I'm here," she told him, gently rubbing his back and he continued to hold her. "You can talk to me."
"Not yet," he said softly. "Just... Remain with me. I need you here right now, Kizzie."
She nodded. "Of course, Sir."
He held the girl who was basically his daughter, just as M'Gah had been to Tylan, and he knew that everything was about to change. He'd thought he understood the battle they were facing, but now he knew it was so much more complicated than he'd known. They were in for the fight of two lifetimes.
He silently made a vow in that moment. This time, we'll be ready.